F1J~~SLAVE STORIES	Page One	23
(Texas)


L.1~WIS JONES, 86, was born a slave to Fred Tate, who owned a large p1~ntatioi on the Oolorado River in Fayette Co., Texas. Lewis‘ father wr~s born a slave to H. Jonce and was sold to Pred Tate, who used him as a breeder te build. up his slave stock. Lewis took hie father‘s n&~rne after ~m~nicip~.‘ tion, and worked for twenty—three years in a cotton gin at La Grpn~e. He came to Fort W!orth in 1896 and worked for Armour & Co. until 1931. Lewis lives. p,t 3304 Loving Ave., !ort Worth, Texas.



	“My birth ~ia in dc year l8~]. on dc plantation of Massa Fred Tate, what am on d.c Colorado River. Yes, euh, d.~.t ~in in dc etpte of Texas. ~y mammy am own~t~d. by Massa Tate ~id so am my patr~r and all my briidders ~nd sisters. How~ many br~xdders and sisters? L~wd A—mighty~ Vil tell you tcause yo~ asks and dis nigger gives d.c facts as ~tis. Let‘s see, I cau1t 1lect dc numbe~r. My pappy haire 12 chilIen by my mainri~y end 12 by anud.der nigger name Mary. You k.ep de count. Den dere ~zn Liza, him have 10 by her, ~nd dere ar‘ Mand~y, hirn have 8 by her, and d.ere ~m Betty, him have six by her. Now, let ~e ~ some more. I can‘T bring dc names to mind, bit dere am two or three othe‘~‘ whet have jus‘ one or two chullen by my peppy. Dat ~zri right. Close to 50 chilien, ‘cause my mammy dohe told inc. It ‚ s disaway, mv pappy ~in de bre~diitt nigger.

	“You sees, whe~~ I meets a nigger on tht plantation. l‘s most shot it a~m a brucider or sister, so I don‘t try keep track e±~ ‘em.

	“Massa Tate didn‘~t give rations to each family like lots of massas, but him have de ceokhouse and de cooks, ~nd ~11 de rations cooked by dem and. all us ni~gers set down to de long tables. Dere ~m plenty, plenty. I sho‘ wishes I could. hive some good rations like dat
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