Matewan Oral History Project Collection
Sc2003-135

Jesse Bowen Interview

John Hennen: Sound check on mike one, narrator's microphone. Sound check on mike two, interview.(tape cuts off) It's June 20, 1989, Tuesday. This is John Hennen for the Matewan Development Center preparing to conduct an oral history interview with Jess Bowens at his home in Blackberry City. It is approximately 12:15. Mr. Bowens, would you tell me when and where you were born and something about your...your parents and their families.

Jesse Bowens: Well, I was born in Johnson County, 1904....1904.

J: That's Johnson County, Kentucky?

JB: That's right, Paintsville.

J: And what day in 1904?

JB: What day it was?

J: What...what was the date?

JB: Uh...1904.

J: Okay.

JB: That makes me eighty-five.

J: Eighty-five years old.

JB: Past. January the thirtieth.

J: What were your parents names?

JB: My daddy's name George Bowens.

J: And your mom?

JB: My mother was named Massey Bowen.

J: Um-hum. And what was her family name 'fore she was married?

JB: She was a Folley.

J: Folley?

JB: Uh-hun. Before she was married.

J: Did you have any brothers and sisters?

JB: Yeah, I had...uh...Goldie and then I had Goldie, Gracie, Cynthia and Georgia, Massey and Dixie and Alkie Hanceford.

J: What was that last one now?

JB: Huh?

J: What was that one?

JB: Hanceford.

J: Hanceford?

JB: Uh-hun. Hance and Alkie. They (unintelligible)

J: Are any of your brothers and sister living still?

JB: I got one sister livin'.

J: Um-hum. Who is that?

JB: Massey...her name Massey, you know, Massey, named after my mother.

J: Okay. Where...where did you come with the children? Were you the oldest, the youngest, somewhere in between?

JB: You mean my kids?

J: When uh...relative to your brothers and sisters, were you right in the middle or were you older...

JB: I was the first one...

J: Your [sic] the very oldest?

JB: Uh-Hun.

J: Okay.

JB: And Goldie's the next oldest one.

J: Okay.

JB: Then Gracie next and you want the next one?

J: Sure, Go ahead. We'll get it all on tape.

JB: And uh...Gracie and Cynthia and Cynthia and uh...Georgie and Gol...Massey, and Dixie and Hanceford and Alkie.

J: Okay. What kind of oh, excuse me. What kind of work did your father do?

JB: He...he mined.

J: He was a miner?

JB: Un-hun.

J: In Kentucky?

JB: Yeah, he was. See he worked in the old mines where they didn't have no 'chinery or nothing. They shot it a dug it with a pick.

J: Um-hum.

JB: He was one of them old timey. He never did work in an electric mines. He was afraid of them you know. I went in electric mines in nineteen and twenty-two. No '21...'21...I went in '21. Next mine Offey,? Kentucky.

J: Where was that now?

JB: Down to Offey,? Kentucky.

J: Okay.

JB: I first worked at Two Mile, but it no electric mine, you know.

J: Yeah. When did you start uh...workin' in the mines?

JB: I started in 1915. In...in the first part of '15.

J: So, you were about ten or eleven years old?

JB: I's eleven.

J: What did you do?

JB: I loaded' coal first and my daddy give me a small shovel you know, I hep (help) my daddy. And uh...then worked that way about three or four weeks, and then he went to store one mornin' and he said "son, go in 'ere and load...load one and lay the track up." See, he shot it from solid and "lay your track up and load one." He come in and he said "go down to the store and get you some of them crackers I like down 'ere, brown sugar." (He's possibly talking about Gramham Cackers) Back in them days, better than it was now, you know, everything was a lot better. And he...he come in and said, "son did you put any slate in that car or rock or anything" I said "no." He said (Unintelligible) it had never been loadin' hear, you know. And I said, "no Pa." But you see I cribbed it up like a grave? Top shot to the house see, and cribbed it and well, let the drivers dig a whole and set in it and mules to haul a mule you know, back that first man (Unintelligible) against it and hooked to my car to it and took out and Issac? came out said, "Uncle George," superintendent they had him up 'ere, he said, You loaded the biggest car that ever been loaded here" Pa said, "no, it wudn't me" he said, "who was it" said, "this boy here" he said, "he got the record beat." It liked to killed some of 'em. They never did load two ton on a ton car you know.

J: And you were only eleven years old, at that time?

JB: Eleven or twelve years old. That's the biggest car of coal they ever loaded in two mile mine. Put me a big number four radiator in so I went using hit (it), you know. I like to load coal, buddy. I druther (rather) do that than anything. I worked in the mine forty-nine year and I druther be in the mine than anywhere to be at. I would been still 'ere but, they cut my me off on-count-of my heart, you know. But that doctor, when I was operated on, said my heart in good shape. But the Good Man above healed me honey. God can do things you know Lord I'm telling ya, I wouldn't give him. I went...then I left 'ere and went to Red Jacket in ole Mitchell Branch.

J: Went to Red Jacket when was this now about?

JB: Red Jacket, West Virginia.

J: And what year approximately was that?

JB: In 1928.

J: 1928, Okay. And who'd you go to work for there?

JB: Red Jacket...Red Jacket, all I know.

J: Red Jacket Coal Company.

JB: Uh-huh. Old Mitchell Branch, Bill...Bill uh...Lord how mercy I can't figure out his name. Anyway, he was big boss. And Cubine was a boss in the mine, you know. That's 'fore he was went to state, you remember old Cubine when he was state (police).

J: No, I'm sorry what's that name?

JB: Cubine old Cubine used to be state, you know, state law, you know, state.

J: Oh, okay.

JB: And, he gets that...that was 'fore he went to being law. I worked under him a long time and then uh...he's a good fellow, buddy, I'll tell ya old Cubine's a good man. Everybody I worked fer ...never worked fer a man in my life that I didn't go back and get a job 'ere. I's bullheaded I (unintelligible) over sometime I was a good worker I'd get a job I'd give it back and they come beggin' me back.

J: Now when you worked for Red Jacket were you in the mines?

JB: In the mines.

J: And was that...that was more mechanized than it had been when you were young?

JB: Back then you didn't have no right in nothing, buddy. You just...smokey as it can be and no air atall hardly atall. Shoot coal and then it's smoking everything, Lord I...'ese (these) young generation people couldn't go through want we went through honey.

J: Tough work huh.

JB: Lord have mercy, I was at McCarr when I come over here in 1920, 1930 and went up on the hill to get me a job and Fred Sizemore...I went up 'ere early that morning and I stayed 'til two o'clock 'fore he come out and another fellow's with me come up I'd been up 'ere about twelve and he come up 'ere. And Fred said, "boys I'll talk to ya when I eat a bit, I'm hungry." I said, "well." A man works that way in a mines he gets hungry. So, he went into the office 'ere and that fellow went 'ere too and I went with him. Fred eat. I never did like to bother anybody when eatin', you know, and I didn't say nothing. This fellow said, "you the boss" he said, "I's suppose to be" he said, "you got other place to load coal" "yeah" said, "dry" he said, "no, it a water hole". And uh...

J: A water hole? Now...

JB: If they any water in it.

J: Uh-Huh.

JB: So, he said, "I don't want no water hole" he said, "that's all I got." Well, he got done eatin' and I said, "got a place fer a man to load coal in?" said, "I told him I got a water hole" I said ...he said, "you want hit (it)" and I said, "yel, I'll take it." I knowed the trick, you know. (Laughing) I worked in the mines knowed what it meant. And went up to...the next morning went up to work and it's so dusty you couldn't stand it. That fellow said, "wait a minute, I ask fer the job first." He said, "I can't hep (help) what you do, I got the water hole you want hit (it)." And he said, "no I don't want no water hole" I knowed (Laughing) the trick they had. And so, I can't keep from laughing. Buddy, I stayed...I drove one entry 'ere 29 rooms deep and 28 inch high coal. And the 28th room I drove it in 'ere about 100 feet, good size (unintelligible) come in he said, "Jesse" he said, "I'm paying you five cents more on a car" I said, "well you pay me fer the rest of my life you wudn't pay me fer working in that water hole down 'ere. You can have it if you wont (want) it. It still 'ere buddy, it's never been bothered. You take that low coal, you know, it's pain to load 'at (that). I like low (or load) coal. And water ever more...you have a little timber, you know, on your knees and hep (help) move it and take it out away from ya load coal that way.

J: Uh-Huh.

JB: That many room deep, you see.

J: About uh...say in 1930 what was your wage approximately? What kind of money were you making in 1936?

JB: Well, I loaded 25 or 30 cars a day, but, didn't get nothing fer it. I got a dollar a day that's all I get.

J: A dollar a day.

JB: Dollar a script, everyday. Had to wait fer the time sheet to come in before we'd get it. That's the reason I tell these people now...these young generation...if this union done away with honey. I'm telling you the truth, I went through something. I'm going... I got some grandchildren, I'd hate...I got some good friends and I got...anybody I'd hate to see 'em go back and do what I went through.

J: Yeah.

JB: My baby over in McCarr, happened to be off some Sunday, she was afraid of me. You don't know how you feel when you own young'un scared of you. I guess she thought what it is...see I'd go to work 'fore (daylight)...she's in the bed and I come in ten or eleven o'clock. Well, you had to clean up in the (bathhouse)... drag our tools out. You couldn't...they wouldn't haul your tools out. They'd drag 'em out, you know. You had to drag your tools out. I bought a lot of peoples tools half price.

J: Did you have to supply your own tools when you worked?

JB: Yeah, you had to buy your own tools.

J: Buy 'em from the company?

JB: Uh-Huh. Buy 'em from the company that who you'd buy 'em you couldn't go and buy 'em. But, I just bought one set and I never did have to buy no more. I wanted to quit I had about three shovels (laughing) uh...I don't know how many... When the company went to furnish their stuff, you know, when the union come in. When (unintelligible) come up on the hill and we gettin' .25, .30 cents a car and had to be a curtain right 'ere, you know. If it... hump...alma seams got rows in it, you know, little humps and things in it. And, uh...my place had a hump in and I pull the track and the trackman come back and pull it back over, you know. And, it had holes in it. I told Fred about it. Fred said "that's alright Jess." Well, you know, that beat all. I got my statement in and they even dock you. Just piece of a car...a half a car. You got thirty cents fer it and they loaded it up and you couldn't hep that hole that's in it...it let it go out, you see. And, the curtain didn't drag all way across it you...you get docked half a car. So (unintelligible) took and come up that one morning...every time he come up he cut he'd cut us, you know. 'At morning he come up 'ere cut us down to a quarter a car and thirty cents. They had a black bottom, they called a black bottom car you know and uh...hit was thirty cents the othern a quarter. I dropped, I believe it's, twenty-two cars. I told her (maybe his wife) I said, "no, I'll quit 'fore I do this. I said, "I can't hep it." To Mr. Coffey (sp ?) I said, "Mr. Coffey, I can't hep that hump in it, they pull my track over everytime." And, I said, "Fred said they (unintelli-gible) made by Friday." Fred said, "I'm the responsible for it." Said, "give 'im...give it to 'im." Said, "I'm the blame fer it." He said, "I hain't had time to get nobody shoot it off." You know, they can shoot it off that hump off. So they give it back to me. But, Lord have mercy, you never see daylight home when I come in. Raise me a little garden (unintelligible) buddy, had to use it. I got Frank Charles help me, his boy big ole boy to hep me. I give him fifty cents or a dollar to hep me of the evening plant me a garden and hep me raise me a garden. It was a hard time I went through something honey, I tell you.

J: Now, earlier than that back in the say 1920 and 1921 when you were still working over in Kentucky, I guess. Was there any union activity gonna on there?

JB: Well, they started, but then tried to get a union, you know. In 1920 'ere they tried to get a union and uh...they couldn't get ...it was hard.

J: How did the company react to uh...to the union trying to get organized there?

JB: Well, they talked to us, come around and talk to the people and try to get 'em to join the union, you know, join the union. I didn't know nothing about the union. My daddy he belonged to it I didn't I was under age then I couldn't join it.

J: So, your father was still working then?

JB: He was workin' he joined it. And, they had a meetin', they called a union meetin'. Each man do the talking, you see, and Newsome got to speak and fell dead. They said he had a...he had a, let's see, what was it they claimed him. Back...they wudn't no such thing as heart attack, you know, or nothing. I mean fainted... fainted...really he never fainted he had a heart attack, what it was. Well, in 1920 I went to Coal River you see it's West Virginia line on the band mill worked awhile and that's 1929 I mean 19...and 19. I'd worked in the mines, you see, and I didn't know nothing about no union. And uh...fellow said, "we get two dollars a day and had...cost seventy-five cents a day fer board and to sleep you know.

J: Company housing.

JB: Uh-huh. Company, boardin' house.

J: Oh, I see.

JB: Boardin' house. And, man come out 'ere and said, "You ever worked in the mines?" I said, "yel, I worked so long." I told how long I been working in the mine. He said, "we'll give you five dollars a day if you come work fer us." So, I went up 'ere I went and got up 'ere and got me a job and come back. And, old man come out livin' in the tent, you know. I didn't know nothing about no union, never heard nothing about no union. That's how crazy I was. And, he said, "you going to work fer 'em" I said, "yeah." He said, "I advise you not to honey" he said, "my boy" he said "you got a dad and mother ain't ya." I said, "yeah." I'd hate your daddy or mother one tell me something or tell one of my boy something" he said, "it's dangerous." I said, "Why, I hain't scared of nothing." And, I didn't I wudn't have sense enough to be. So, I come on back to the boarding house and I said (unintelligible) a boardin' house. And, I studied it over and I said, "no I'll not go." 'At old man might have been tellin' me the truth, you know. So, I never stayed on the band mill 'ere. I work 'ere, I believe it's three months. First went 'ere, thirty-six of us went. They take us out 'ere and pay our way 'ere and we had to pay by workin' it out and pay it back to 'em, you know. And, uh...thirty-six of 'em went. And, the first day of work they said if you get your money you had to put in ten day notice, you know. They said you could put you in one. I said, "no I come out 'ere to make me a little money. I stayed three months. And, the ten days up they got their money and Lord and everybody went. I didn't know soul 'ere just them people 'ere, you know. And, I offered the company my money...just give me enough to go home on, they wouldn't do it. And, a'ter that's over with, you know, I got I didn't care I got used to more, I stayed 'ere.

J: Now, this was when you were working at the mill at this time?

JB: Uh-huh, Uh-huh, the mill, a lumber mill, you know, where they saw. I worked everything around. Stacked...heped stack the lumber and everything it be done. (Unitelligible [sic]) You do what they told you to do, And uh...so me...I got that 'ere wood square...I's bad to cuss them days. They told me said "you better watch square can fine you a dollar." I kind of watched him. I got to talkin' to his girl..ole big boy like me...I got to talkin' to his girl and it's gettin' pretty steep. And I told him, "I wanted to go home." I said, "I put in ten days notice when I first come here and I stayed ten days" I said, "all the rest of 'em went home." And, he said, "you want to go home?" I said, "sure I want to go home." I said, "I can make more back in the mines than I can here. It's hot here." I said, "I ain't used to this hot sun." Lord honey, that lumber yard it was floor, you see, lumber you had to work and that hot sum coming down. Buddy, back them days, I believe it was hot again as it's ever been now. And so, he said, "do you want go?" I said, "sure." He said, "had you put your ten days notice in?" I said, "yeah" He said, "come down to the office t'night." A'ter I eat supper and went down to the office. He said, "give this feller his money...this feller his money" and said, "if you don't." He said, "you have to put ten days in 'ere." He said, "he's put in ten day notice when...ten days a'ter he'd been here." "Yes, but it's out. He said, "listen, buddy" he said, "he's underage" he said, "you better put it in or he make you pay 'im every day that ten days here. Well, they said, "okay then." They wrote me a check. Give me enough to get a train fare to Huntington. Wrote me a check, you know, so it be safe, they told me to be safe, it was safety. Well, I come back to Huntington and worked 'ere awhile. Went down to Ashland with my half brother worked down 'ere awhile. Put my check in my...wrapped up and keep it hid, you know. Nobody knowed what I had. And, I come home. Other boys down...Denny (unintelligible), he's one that cashed my check...

J: What was the name?

JB: Huh?

J: Who was that now?

JB: Denny ? . Feller that run the store. And, he said...they said, "did you put you any back with you Jesse?" I said, "yeah I told 'em what (amount). They said, "Ahh" said, "you never put that back" them boys said, "you couldn't make that much." And Denny said, "yes, he did" said, "I cashed his check fer him" said, "he's tellin' you the truth." They didn't believe it, you know. I put back three hundred and eighty dollars and never ag'in as long as I live. But, that was big money back then. And, I went back in the mine. I been in the mines ever since then. I worked about forty years, but count it all, you know. But, I count fer that being out. I was out about a year or something like that. I liked the mine better than anything they was. You go in 'em by winter time it was warm, cool in the summer time. That's the reason I like it. And then, I still be in 'ere yet if they'd let me go, but I hain't got the breath enough to work now like I did.

J: When you were working in the mines during the uh...during the 1930's, how much work were you able to find? Did you work full time?

JB: Work day and nights.

J: Did you?

JB: Yeah, we had well, my baby and she when we come over 'ere she was about a year old she was born in 1928. And uh...February the four...the first day...second...first day of February and uh...come over there to Alburn. Well, up 'ere at Red Jacket we would get out early a little early. They had a certain time to come out. And you get a car to clean you up over here to Alburn. Slow gettin' cars, breakin' down all the time, old equipment, you see, was slow. You had to clean it up 'ere at the (unintelligible). And my baby's asleep when I went to work and sleep when I come in of a night. And, I happened to be off some Sunday something happened substation wouldn't be no juice (electricity), you know. I had...my baby was afraid of me, you see, wouldn't let me tetch (touch) her. You don't know how you feel, buddy, when you own young'un scared of you. I guess she thought what's that old thing doing here.

J: This is because you never really spent the time with her, is that it?

JB: Never around none, you see. I'm gone all the time. Get in the bed when I go to work and in the bed when I come, and, everything. And I've...like I tell a lot of people around here now, I said, "boy you're lucky" Oh, said, "we seen the hard." I said, "you seen the heavenly, time what I seed (seen). Buddy, I'd hate to see the young generation have to through what I went through. My poor old dad his hands and his arms and his face just blue places on it where coal...where he dug it and it hit him. I hain't got much in me. I got a little of it in me, but you see, I work around machine work, I didn't have to dig none. And, he dug it...he started diggin' it solid see my daddy was a...when he died he was a hundred and ten.

J: Is that right!

JB: Uh-huh. He was a hundred and ten he worked all his life. My daddy been married three times. He had four kids by his first wife and she died. And then, he married again and she died at the house. Back in them days they didn't have no hospital or nothing I don't guess. And uh...had the baby and she died having it. Well, him and Ma got together and they married and uh...Pa died and Ma died a little after Pa died.

J: When did you get married?

JB: Huh?

J: When did you get married?

JB: 1924.

J: And then uh...

JB: I's twenty years old.

J: What was your wife's name?

JB: Mary Jane Pack.

J: Pack?

JB: George Pack's girl. My kids grandpa both of 'em name George. (Laughing).

J: Where was she from?

JB: Johnson County, I think. We lived...like you live over here and I lived over here. We lived that close to one another. And, the first time ever I met her and seed her we lived over 'ere in the head of Lick Creek, Lick Branch 'ere. I was going over 2 mile, up 'ere to work. I's just a little ole thing and she was little. And, Uncle Bud little boy from (unintelligible). I kept lookin' at her and I told him I said, "that's the prettiest little girl I ever seed in my life." he said, "that gonna be your sweetheart?" Buddy, back in them days boys wudn't like they are now and girls they didn't claim one another, you know. Why, I put him plum to the house with a rock. I could throw a rock good. I laughed about that and I turned around then after me saying that...little fat thing and her arms look like a band on her. Well, I thought it was the prettiest girl I ever seed in my life.

J: How old were you?

JB: I was about...eight or nine years old just a little ole thing, you know. Didn't think about claiming no girls. Lord, now little bity things claim one another. Little big ole young'uns say that's my boyfriend and that's my girlfriend. Why Lord, you never heard nothing like...you said something to some girl back when I was growing up they'd slap the side of your head off.

J: Who would? The girl would.

JB: Yes sir, Lord. I...one slap me one time. Went drinking... ...that was a long time before I thought about marriage...and we's drinkin' and going along and we was talkin' things we are not talked about. You know how a boy and girl was. I's high (drunk) enough and I just mentioned something to her and she slapped me, Lord how mercy...

J: You mentioned something to her.

JB: She learnt me something 'ere buddy, that other boys laughed and said if that'd been me I'd slap the side of her head off. I said I needed it. I's one did it. I's the blame fer it, you know. (unintelligible) I's mean as I could be, but when I done something they hollered and I done it I didn't say nothing. And they laughed at me and said I was caired (cowered). They'd slap the side of her head off, but now, that's being foolish buddy.

J: So, how did you court your wife then?

JB: Huh?

J: How did you court your wife?

JB: Oh, me and her went to talkin' together...we just talked anywhere from Feb...from March to July. The sixteenth day of July. We didn't go together long. We knowed one another and talked to one another, you know. We'd meet one another. And going down on Sunday...we's off that way (from work)...meet one another on the road and stand and talk maybe hours at a time. And she was talking to George Perry. I didn't think...him and her been going together fer over a year and I didn't think about gettin' her. I took all his other girls I could take away from him. Me and the other woman's brother...me and him run around together. And, one day we got down 'ere...I was going down the road and she was coming up over in front of the uncle's house and we stood 'ere and talked, I guess, a hour and a half. I said to her...she said, "I better go" said, "Mother'll whup me." I said, "what about me walkin' up the house with you?" She said, "okay." So, I went on up 'ere. And Larrie (Laura ?) her sister, youngest sister and she run out and she went to hollering fer her mommy. And see, my daddy her daddy into it over a partnership fence. You know how old people get into it over a partnership fence. Oh yeah, old people got into it over...

J: Get into over what?

JB: A partnership fence. Run a fence between the line.

J: Oh yeah, okay.

JB: (Laughing) Marion said to me...said 'fore that...he said, "you hain't mad at me cause her daddy's mad are ya?" I said, "no, you can't hep it, I can't hep it. You know how old people do, get into a little spuddle. But, back them days hain't like now. They'd been fightin' them now or something like that you hain't got no sense I call it now. So, I said (unintelligible - her mother or father name) come to the door and said, "what is it said?" Said, "Lord, you know who Mary Jane got!" and said, "who is it?" said, "that Jessie Bowens!" I can hear it just as plain as it was yesterday, buddy.

J: This is her mother?

JB: That's her mother, you know. So, I went up the house with her. I just over went over...I went over home and Ma amd Pa laughed at it. Said, "wait to George comes" said, "Ole Jesse be left behind." I said, "well, that's alright" I said, "I'm gonna take her" I said, "I never have failed on one yet when I took a notion for one." He laughed at me. Well, Saturday evening I went over 'ere. And I said, "now George coming in the morning" I said, "who's gonna be the big dog?" I said, "you know how I am now." I said, "I want to know!" I said, "he come here and take you away from me...and take you" I said, "me and him go together, I guess!" (fight over her) "Now" I said, "I'll be plain with you now." Them days I didn't care fer nothing. I didn't have sense enough to. So, she said, "Lord Jesse, I didn't...never did care nothing about George. I just went to him to pass time." Said, "he was beggin' me to marry him, beggin' me to marry him" and said, "I wouldn't have him." I said, "well, okay." Well, the next morning I went over early. Ma and Pa laughed at me. Said, "you'll see, you'll come back." I said, "okay, wait and see." Come in...he come up the road a sangin', you know. He went dressed up fine. He had on a white...his daddy had plenty, you know, and they went dressed up.

J: This is George you're talking about or somebody else?

JB: Her boyfriend, you know, George Perry. And, his daddy and mother had plenty and we had it hard. So, I just had a pair overhalls on. He come up the road singin'. I heared him a coming. My heart beat (hits his chest - thup thup). I said to myself 'Lord he ain't takin' her.' Well, they had two big rockin' chairs settin' in front of the fire. Grate place...wudn't no fire. And she said, uh...George come in and said, "howdy Jesse" I said, "howdy George" he said, "howdy Mary Jane" she said, "howdy George." He went in the kitchen and said, "(?-her mother's name) what's this mean?" She said, "I don't know" said, "he been last three or four nights comin' over here and talking to her...and they're talkin' and I don't know what it means." And, he got a long breath and he set in 'ere and talk to them awhile. And, he come back and said, "who you gonna talk to me or you...Jesse" (She) said, "I wouldn't have you George. I told you I didn't talk...I didn't...wudn't have you!" And, (laughing) that tickled me when she said that, you know. And, George went...he just went down the road. He wudn't gone very long he come back and wudn't satisfied tried it again, you know. He come in. He said, Mary Jane said, "listen" said, "I love you" and said, "he don't love you! She said, "I can't hep it George. I wouldn't have you on a Christmas tree."

J: (Laughing)

JB: Ah...he did, you know.

JB: Never thought about marryin', you know. And, some said...her uncle...cousin said, "at the weddin'." I said, "you're crazy as you can be. I wudn't have no woman sunshine ? door." I didn't say a word then, you know. We tried talkin' together and the more we talked together I said, 'at's my one.' I told my mother...I worked at (unintelligible) in Huntington I mean. I had a life time job down 'ere if I would have stayed with it. All I had to've done just set up...run a mixer, you know, one of them ole big mixers. Set up 'ere I'd my collar and tie they had to heat it.

J: A concrete mixer?

JB: Uh-huh. No, one of them electric...it run (by) electric. By batt'ry or something 'ere, you know. And, down 'ere in Huntington. I's once on the sand...first on the gravel pile, two of us on the gravel pile and over on the sand was one. I wanted over 'ere. And I got over 'ere...that's harder. One day the feller poured cement into the mixer...he was off. And boss ask, said, "can you handle that" I said, "Lord I do work at nearly anything." I thought I could. I never seen nothing I wouldn't tackle, you know. I went and poured cement. (Laughing) Well, waited about two weeks. Settin' waiting fer the man to come out. He didn't come...to run the mixer. They said...he said, "well, (unintelligible) that man 'ere been pourin cement, he art (ought) to know how to handle it." He said, "do you know how to handle it?" I said, "I'll try." He said, "that's all we need, somebody to try" So, buddy, I got up 'ere the first two or three rounds I's showin 'em. But, we poured a foot to three feet more every day than he did. He come back, you know. And, the man wanted me to take the job. Back then days they wudn't no such a thing takin' your brothers job or nothing, you know. So, I had it...that's when I was going to get married. I told old woman I said...and uh...my mother's sister...my mother, my grandma and his grandma sisters, you see. And, he'd went and married and had everything you'd need in the house and had the house paid for. And, his old woman lived three wee...I believe, four months and she died. He said, "Jesse, I'll never marry no more as long as I live. He said, "I'll sale you the place and you can just pay what you can won't charge no interest. And said, "you said you're going to get married." I said, "yeah, I'm going to get married." Well, I come home and told old woman about it. I said, "we got peeaner (piano), got everything we need in the house. And, the man told me said you got a life time job. And, guarantee you a life time job.

J: And who was this you were working for now?

JB: Uh...built streets and things, you see..made streets. I heped put...a...you know where you go to Huntington and go on that bridge, railroad bridge?. I heped pour 'at concrete and put them bricks in 'ere.

J: Okay.

JB: I guess it's brick...maybe concrete over top of brick now, I don't know, it used to be brick. Street cars come through 'ere you know. So, old woman's mother said, "now listen, if she changed water it kill her." (Meaning - if he moved his wife to Huntington and she drank water she wasn't used to, it would kill her)

J: If she changed what?

JB: Change water. You know how old people used to think if you went to some other place and changed water it'd kill ya, you know.

J: Oh, drinkin' water you mean.

JB: Yeah, drinkin' water, you know.

JH: Oh, yeah.

JB: It tickled me how couldn't keep... (from laughing) Well, I didn't want her to die, you know. And, I said, "well, okay, I just stay off it" We worked down 'ere...but, see we's married 5 years I mean, 4 years fer our first one to come around and five years for little over five years before the next one come around...a kid. I seed I couldn't make it in 1928 my first baby was born 'ere...I couldn't make it. And, I told her, I said, "honey, I'll go to Red Jacket and go to work" and I said, "I'll take me enough stuff with me and shanty (one room dwelling). I said the first payday I get... you stay with your mommy...I said, "the first payday I get I send you every bit of it...take care of you and the baby. I'm gonna leave here. I can't make it here." She said, "well, no." said, "I ain't gonna do it." I said, "I have to honey." I said, "We can't... I can't make here...I just can't. Work half the time when I work and half a time we wudn't, you know. And Red Jacket I...Red Jacket worked everyday, you know. And I said, "they're working good 'ere." And, I said, "I can make it 'ere pretty good. So, at the house... got shed (rid of) of our stuff and moved it around. And I's up...I stayed all night with daddy and she over at her mother's. She...I would stay over 'ere 'cause I just couldn't stand to think of leavin' the next morning. That was the hardest thing to go off and leave my baby and her you know. I had to, 'cause I seed I couldn't make it. So, I come back out 'ere and she lived out front and I had to got down by her house. She hollered, "wait a minute Jesse." I said, "what is it, honey?" Said, "wait a minute." I thought she was gonna put the baby down and let me see the baby, you know. Here she come with the baby and a suitcase with her clothes in it. See, her mother's tellin' her she would die if she change water, you know. She said, "I just got one time to die. I'm gonna with him. She went with me.

J: She went to Red Jacket with you?

JB: Yeah, right over at Red Jacket. So, we had...we had come out here and stayed awhile. I sometimes...just...you know...I's full of meanness. I shouted, "honey, let's move back out to Kentucky." She said, "Jesse, you can go if you want to, I ain't going!" Said, "I like back out here better than I do at home."

J: She liked Red Jacket better?

JB: Around here. She likes out here better than any place we lived.

J: Right around here where your living now?

JB: Where we're living now. She heped me build this house. She's the one when we sanded the floors...it's hard wood flooring...she's the one that waxed it and everything. My old woman was a good worker and good clean little ole thing.

J: When did you build this house?

JB: Huh?

J: When did you build this house?

JB: Nineteen....we moved in it in 1949. Been here just...this December the 18th (we'll) be here thirty-eight...thirty-nine year.

J: Tell me something about uh...living around Red Jacket? What kind of things did people do for entertainment when they worked in the mines back in the '30's and '40's?

JB: Do how?

J: For entertainment what would you do? Did you go to baseball games or go to the movies?

JB: The only game I knowed of is this old football game. They played football down here at No. 6 store over 'ere. It's built up now...Charlie Montgomery's Store in 'ere...that used to be a big bottom in that place in 'ere. And uh...men come going to Matewan one day four of 'em, they got their arm broke, you know. They didn't have nothing to put on it. And, I said boys...

J: They got their arms broke playin' ball?

JB: Yeah, football, you know. Grabbin' one another and throw 'em. I said, "I couldn't play that." One of 'em said, "why?" I said, first thing, four or five of 'em jump on me, they'd all have me to fight." I didn't care. But, a'ter I got married, buddy, that settled me down. I didn't want to get in jail, you know. But, I never was in jail. I was put in 'ere one time. I's crossing the road track. They kept me awhile.

J: The little jail there in Matewan?

JB: No, it's down in Huntington.

J: Oh, in Huntington.

JB: I was workin' down 'ere, you see. That's long before we got married. I come...the train pulled ahead and everybody else's going across. I went across and the law throwed a gun on me. In them days I had a temper. And I told 'em I said "who...who...hit you with a book (woke you up)." And he pulled that gun on me and said, "your under arrest." I said, "what've I done?" He said, "you's ridin' that freight train." I said, "you crazy!" Handcuff me, buddy, took me down and put me in jail. Wouldn't let 'em give me nothing. Everytime I'd say anything they just give...just double it, you know.

J: How long did they keep you down there?

JB: Three or four days. He found out...they wudn't...I said I told him down 'ere that, "I wudn't..." And that man said, "no he hain't." All I had done just called up 'ere where I's boardin', you know, you know. All I had done was just told him that. And my half brother tried to get me ? .

J: Now, this was down in Huntington right?

JB: Uh-huh. When I worked down 'ere before I got married 'ere. Lord, I tell you, sometime this mouth here get you in trouble quicker than anything, buddy. (Laughing) I learnt that. I's high tempered. I know how I used to be. I'll tell ya, I didn't have no sense. A'ter I got married that settled me down. Lord, I used ...back when I was boy...it come up everytime...my daddy moved so much. And, everytime we moved we have...I'd have everyone to fight, you know.

J: When you moved into a new place?

JB: Uh-huh. And, he'd moved around all the time. Moved over on Trace Fork and then from 'ere back over to Lick then 'ere over on Hurricane then 'ere over on Two mile. Wherever we moved I have ever one of them fightin'.

J: So, you had to whip the local boys, or fight the local boys when you moved in somewhere?

JB: Move in 'ere they tried you out, to see what you do, you know. We'd fight and have a time 'ere, buddy. But, that just suited me back in 'em days, I liked it. I come in one time and come in didn't have nothing but this thing on. Shirt all torned open and everything, bloody as can be. Lord have mercy.

J: When you were a boy did you ever try out any of the moonshine around the area?

JB: Oh, they had plenty of it 'ere, buddy. In fact, some took first time...some of the grandchildren one time...up 'ere at ? ? did...he's sheriff. He knowed I knowed stuff. Ole judge got me up 'ere and said--a woman up uh...above Mouth Fork they call ole Sally you know Sally Linten--and said uh..."you ever see old Sally run" They'd had a steel they called ole Sally, you know. "No," I said, "never did see her run but I seed her walk" (Laughing) I never did have to come back over 'ere no more. Lord, I was scared to death had a whole bunch of...they made some indictments, you know. But, I just left...that old judge said "ever see anybody (Unintelligible)?" I knowed what he was talkin' about. I said, "what you mean? Like my daddy go squirrel huntin' with? A big ole long gun barrel. Said, "no, pistol." I said, "no, I never...I don't know what your talking about." And he said, "they ain't no use talkin' to 'im, he's one of them (unintelligible) and he won't tell nothing. (Laughing) (They) Turn me loose. And, come back along them boys said, "what'd you tell?" See I knowed a whole lot, but (unintelligible) get ya in trouble, get you hurt here, buddy. You report them men selling liquor, you know. They's a whole lot of 'em. I had a uncle making it and sellin' it, you know.

J: Did you? What was his name?

JB: Bud Moore (sp?) and Morgan his brother's boy. They'd make it and sell it, you know. Why, I had to do something...tell a lie (to the judge) (laughing). (They) never did summons me back in front of the jury. That done me the best good ever was. If I'd told something, everytime court started they had me up 'ere. That's what you do...keep your mouth shut sometime and it'll save you a whole lot of trouble, buddy, I'm telling ya.

J: Did you ever go to...now when did you move into the Matewan area?

JB: In 1928.

J: '28. When you were workin' at Red Jacket?

JB: Uh-huh. I moved up Rutherford Holler. House is tore down now I lived in.

J: And when did the union get back in the mines then?

JB: In nineteen, thirty...let's see...thirty-three, I believe it was, thirty-three. Now to the best I remember it '33. They would call you out you know to join the union and uh...get out a whole bunch you know they just take you maybe you's president or maybe and take ya out and talk to ya. And I's afraid of it...afraid of the mark of the beast you know. And...

J: Afraid of what?

JB: I's afraid it was the mark of the beast. I'm afraid of it.

J: Afraid the union might be that?

JB: And, I wudn't hardly join it. They said, "well, if you don't, you'll not work." Well, I said, "I'll have a way some way." Some more talk to him and said, "no, it ain't no mark." Well, I wudn't join it. But, now buddy, we had a time gettin' the union. I'll tell you that, but if we don't watch you gonna lose it. I lost many, many nights sleep layin' out and fightin' for the union. I see the men whupped.

J: Is that right? Now where would that have been over in Red Jacket?

JB: In Kentucky. One fellow...we went one place...tall fellow ...and the fellow up on the temple...great big ole fat fellow...and uh...Lord have mercy (unintelligible) anyway he was big too you know and this fellow up on the temple 'ere said, "you big pus gutter" and called him a you know what a "son-of-a-what" said, "I guess, for a little I come down and stomp you on the earth." Curtis Coleman who it was. Curtis said, "come on down!" He said, "buddy, I'll meet ya half way." He said, "you won't do it" he said, "come on, I'll show ya." Well, he's crazy do it a bunch of men like that about 150 or 200 men, you know. Young man's crazy walk out and try to fight somebody like that.

J: This was the big guy coming down off the temple?

JB: Gnna whoop this big guy we had with us, you know. And, he come right up to ready to hit him and then they grabbed him. Lord, they beat him. (Laughing) I begged for 'im. That's the first time I ever begged for a feller. When they left had to take and carry 'im home. Lord, they all time...see they was so many the law couldn't do nothing. Everybody heped 'im they had to put the whole bunch in jail you know.

J: Yeah.

JB: And uh...they didn't do like they did this time the strike here in this little place. Shoot and tear the trucks up. Now, the truck can't hep it, honey. It's the man in it that doing the work of the one doing. Now, you get in that car...you got a car? You get in that car it got gas in it and you step on the car it's gonna go ain't it. Like I told 'em, you fellers going at it back'ards. We made 'em...if we went to 'em and talk to 'em and then when they dumped their coal and next time we give a whupin'. And, it went pretty good.

J: So, you give, for instance, you give the scabs one chance and then if they didn't come around then you get a little tougher with 'em?

JB: Yes sir. We'd give a little bit more. Like uh...when I's in the union over 'ere we had fellers come in 'ere and wudn't join the union. And, I's 'mittee (committee), I told 'em, I said, "if you work you gonna join the union." I said, "I'm one of 'em." I said, "you gonna join it." Said, "we'll not do it." I said, "well, you'll not work." They went on and signed up and come up to work. I said, "Fred you gonna work 'em?" Fred said, "I have to, Jesse." I said, "no, if you do," said, "we'll all go home." He said, "don't you fellers belong to a union?" They said, "no, We ain't gonna join." He said, "well, you just well go off the hill and uh..."

J: Now, about when is this your talking about?

JB: that was back in...a'ter the union got started, you know, good.

J: '30's and '40's?

JB: In '30 uh...around '38, '39 something like that, best I can 'member it. So, they said, "well, if we had do 'at we could do it. They joined the union, you know. Didn't want to pay a due of ten dollars, I believe, it is, you know. And, if you went in pre-charter it didn't cost nothing, you see. But, when you had to be made join, ten dollars, then it got up high.

J: Ten dollars for the year?

JB: Ten dollars for joinin'. Then so much a month, you know.

J: Oh, I see, okay.

JB: And we had one fellow drives a truck gonna whup me over 'ere at Alburn. If he'd come on over 'ere...I had a brand new batt'ry belt, buddy, I wore him out he'd come at me.

J: Had a brand new what?

JB: Batt'ry belt. (laughing.......) I had to many 'ere backin' me, you know. I told him, "you gonna have to join the union." He said, "you crazy" I said, "you won't have a truck anymore you'll do it." Buddy, I said, "I'll tell ya right now..." He jumped out of that truck and started it...but he didn't come on. But, Lord, them fellers standin' on the store porch 'ere. (Laughing) They'd got 'im so quick he never got through 'em. I knowed what to do. And, I's glad he didn't come. But, I bought me a new belt and somebody stoled my belt that day. Oh, Lord, Lord, it's uh... people.

J: What uh...did you ever go to revival meetings around here?

JB: Yeah.

J: Where were they held or different places?

JB: Different places. We used to have 'em up here all the time, here at Blackberry City. 1930, I mean '32, '31 and '32 I got saved in '32.

J: At Blackberry City?

JB: Yeah.

J: Tell me what that was like. Was it a big meeting?

JB: Well, pretty good crowd all the time. Bigger crowd than it is now. The people these days ain't got sense 'nough to go to church, honey. They don't look...people don't look where they going to go to. They get one little bit (unintelligible) but, now for God...to meet God you going go you going to be punished now, honey. Said...feller come here me and told me, said, I's crazy said uh..."only hell is the grave." I said, "I've dug a many grave" I said, "I never seen no fire in it" I said, "the Bible says you go up forever and eternity never will burn up. The rich man didn't" I said, "he's still 'ere." Hell's not the grave. But, now you can't tell me that, honey.

J: Do you remember who was preachin' when you were saved?

JB: Old man Glen Meade and uh...Glen Meade and Brother Gibson and uh...that fellow that lives up Freeburn. Lord, I can't think him and his boy preached. They held a big...they took time about (turns) holdin' revival, you know.

J: Were they from right around here?

JB: Uh-huh. Used to be up here at uh...battery shop now. It used to be a church house 'ere.

J: So, you started going to church after that?

JB: I went and started in 1932 or '33 one I forget which.

J: What church did you go to?

JB: Free Pennicost (Pentecostal). See, I got saved when I was about eighteen years old in the Baptist Church. They turned me out, cause I wouldn't join in, but you show me in that Bible where you join a church and I'll hush, honey.

J: Oh, so they were gonna make you join the church?

JB: They made me join the church and I wouldn't join I was afraid of it. I just be plain. My mother never could read none, you know. And, she al's (always) did tell us...my mother wudn't no Christian, but, buddy she raised us up the very best she knowed how...if we got something or other (stoled) she found out where we got it and she'd whup us and make us go and tell the person we stoled it. Now days you go and tell this person what they got, my young'un don't know such thing as that. Now, a young'in do anything, honey. I've been one myself. And, I couldn't lie to my mother save my life. I could have lied to her and save myself a lot of hard whupin's. My mother could whup! Now, buddy, she could do some whupin' I thought she could whup the best with a whip better than anybody ever I'd seed. I thank her fer every lickin' she took me. Because, I might have been like my brother...they let him by with things...see where he's at. He didn't live long. He got in trouble and went to the pen (penitentiary). And, drank all the time, Lord, have mercy. If I'd caught one of mine drinkin' or smokin' or drankin' coffee, I'd whupped them good, honey. I'd made 'em swallow a cigarette if I'd ever'd cetch (catch) 'em. I blame my mother and daddy fer lettin' me use it when I was little. They whup me over things they art-not (should not have) whup. But, something that cause you death, I think, the art (ought) to raise the young'un better. I don't believe my young'un art to smoke. My mother and daddy smoked. My mother smoked and old stone pipe. You don't see them any more.

J: She smoked a pipe?

JB: Old stone pipe, you know. And, my daddy smoked too and chewed. And, they let us (smoke). Pa saw 'em one day he said, "young'uns art to have what...do what you do." I said no sir, "Mine'll not!" My young'uns never...I used to drank a little and I quit in 1929. I said quit, I got drunk, buddy, I like to died.

J: Did you get drunk on bootleg liquor or moonshine?

JB: Moonshine liquor. We got those...I could drank it and I'd buy as high twelve or fifteen gallons at a time. And, I sold a little bit of it just enough to pay fer it, you know. I drank it like drankin' water, buddy.

J: Wow!

JB: I loved it, ole moonshine liquor. Got it out of Peter Creek, up here, you know. And, so, old woman worried about it, quarreled at me. Went down here, me and two more color feller. And, they said, "got any money?" And, I had sixty-two dollars. And, I just lied. I said, "no, I got forty cents." And they said uh...they said they had nothing. Ole Meg run a restaurant place down 'ere where John Nenni used to run it 'ere last. I don't know who's runnin' it now. Anyway, went in and bought a pint come back over at bus, railroad station.

J: Now, who was it that you bought it from down there now?

JB: Old Meg (Daniels) something other run a beer joint, sold it, you know, bootlegged it. Went out 'ere to the railroad station and went in the toilet. They said, "here you take the first drink you don't want to drink that other)." I took a big swallow. They looked at it and held it up. Said, "no, you ain't took your part" said, "you give a nickel more than we did" said, "take you another one." So, I took another one. And they finished and drunk it. One of said, "let's go across the river." I said, "why go over 'ere fer?" He said, "I got some money." I said, "wait I got to go to the bathroom." I went in 'ere and I took...I had latch pin or two in my pocket book...I took it out and wrap my money up in my shirt tail. Pinned it in 'ere so I wouldn't loose it. Come on over 'ere to Mr. Hatfield...Sam Taylor...first went to Sam Taylor. And uh...went in 'ere...old Sam...old man Sam'd knock ya in the head all the time. I didn't know it. And, I set down and I oh, I was dope, you know. I was feeling that stuff. And, I sat down and an ole big fat woman just jumped on my lap, just jumped right in my lap and I shoved her out of my lap. He said, "now, don't do nothin' like that." Well, I said, "listen, she don't have no business settin' in my lap. I'd had a drink, you know, I didn't care. And, dope that way, something in it, you see. They said, "come on and let's go that way. We go down Mr. Hatfield...Mr. oh...what's their name. His old woman...he died and then old man Chambers lived with her fer years and years 'ere in 1928. Anyway, went down 'ere. We drunk six pints of liquor.

J: Where were you now?

JB: Over on Kentucky side down 'ere over from Matewan. And, honey, drunk 'at, that table...poured out the seventh...that table raised up. I said, "boys, I ain't gonna drank it. And, they says, "yes you will!" I said, "no!" I said, "ain't nobody gonna make me do nothin', buddy." I said, "listen I'm a man of my own." I just had that stuff in me and I seed I was gonna get in trouble, I didn't care. So, I told 'em, I said, now and uh...that feller said...they said, "we paid fer it." He said, "we put it back in the bottle. He don't have to (drink it) if you don't want to." Said, "if he's gets down we got a good bed in here fer 'em to lay in." And, I said, "no, I don't need no bed." So, he took the liquor back and put it in the bottle...back in the bottle...and give their money back to 'em. Come up 'ere at that little walk way bridge that come across the creek 'ere where that water tank was. And, a feller had a little old dog...had it tied 'ere. It snapped at me right by the lag (leg). And, when it snap at me by the lag (leg) I went crazy, I reckon. I kicked that dog one and that man come at me and I went at him. I went across that bridge reachin' fer him. Went in Matewan. I took ever place in 'ere in...they said. That's when Cubine got on to me, you know. He mock me next day or two he met me. He said, "Jesse, I beg fer you. If I catch over 'ere again I'll have to I'll sure put you in jail." I said, "buddy, you catch me that way you do it."

J: Now, you fought this guy all the way into Matewan is that what happened?

JB: I went all through Matewan and places in town they was playin' pool. I's tellin' 'em it's their time to move.

J: Oh, I see.

JB: I had that fight (laughing). Nobody wudn't...they knowed I's drunk, you know...didn't pay no attention to it. And, then, them two colored fellers fit (fought) all the way up to mouth of Rutherford holler. And, they went on up the road. It's a wonder old Squire Hatfield hadn't seen us and put us in jail.

J: Squire Hatfield?

JB: Squire Hatfield. You know old Squire didn't ya? And, I waked up...I come home...come up 'ere Bill Jordan house. Old Bill...I don't remember going in 'ere, but he told it on me...said I come down and (I) said "Mr. you got a toilet?" And, he said, "yeah." Said...I said, "where's it at?" He said, "right out 'ere." And, said I went to the toilet and come back out. He said, "let me hep ya across that walk...a little ole walk creek up, you know. Said I told him said, "I don't need no hep." He said I walked that just as good as anybody could. I don't remember being down 'ere or nothin'. I was crazy drunk. I come on home...ole woman down to her neighbor's house. Pretty white sheet on the bed...I didn't know where I was at...I got in with all that muddy clothes on, you know, where we'd been fightin'. They said I hit one, then the other one grab me and they get me down, this other one pull him off and said when they'd pull him off, I knocked him down. (Laughing). And, I fell all the way up through 'ere, you know. (It's a) wonder we hadn't killed one another. And, when I wake up ...standing over 'side of they bed...had a thirty-eight special right on me. I couldn't speak. I's just dead to the world. She said, "Jesse, what you mean?" I said, "huh?" I couldn't say nothing.

J: Now, who's holding the gun?

JB: I said my wife. Holdin' a gun. She said, "I have a notion of shootin' you son-of-a, you know what"...that's 'fore she ever joined...belonged to church...she said, "shoot your brains out" said, a person like that." said, "just look how that bed looks!" I hear a word, but I couldn't talk, you know. I got so I could talk. I said, "you ain't got your nerve." And uh...I come out of that bed. When I come out the bed, she run. Took the gun up the holler and hid it. Well, I went on up the creek. Next morning about two or three o'clock, Lord, I waked up. I heard water runnin' and I wanted a drink so bad, buddy, I was dyin'. Lord, I'd just give anything fer a sup of water, and I couldn't move. (It's) cold just had on thin clothes, you know. It cold...a big frost on the ground. Lord, I happen to move and right over in that creek I went, on my belly. I drunk that water down and I throwed up stuff I know I never did eat, buddy. Lord, awfulest lookin' stuff I ever seed in my life. I come on home. Old woman had breakfast ready. Went in and took my old clothes off, put my bank clothes on (clothes wore at the mines). She never spoke to me and I never spoke her. I's too bad off (sick). I went on to work...she had my bucket packed...but I didn't take no bucket. I couldn't eat no way, I's too nigh (near) dead. I come back home that night. And, I seed I had to have a drink, I had some 'ere. I went and got it and went to take a drink...Loretta little bitty thing, just got so crawl, you know, how the young'un crawl around, wudn't near a year old...and she said...come to me...ever time I'd go to take a swaller she'd go crying. I said, "daddy'll quit honey." And old woman said...you know what she called me? Told me said, "when you get up on the hill (grave), you ain't got sense enough to quit." I made a dive at her and she run. That's only time ever I slapped my wife when she called me (son-of-a-bitch) Used to be if a woman call me that I'd slap 'em. I couldn't hep (help) it. I'd slap my mother if she call me 'at and she kill me. But, if a man call me 'at I'd hit 'im with my fist, buddy. I just couldn't take it. I just be plain with you. And, uh...that's only time I ever slapped my little ole woman. I love my wife. And, I still love the little ...I'd give anything in the world to have hit (his wife) back here with me. That's her picture right over 'ere. I thought it was the prettiest thing I ever seed. And, (time) went on two or three months. And old woman said, "Jesse." I said, "what honey?" Said, "you told the truth." I said, "what I'd tell the truth about?" I said, "You said I tell lies." She said, "you sure have done quit." She said, "I've seen people offer you a drink and you didn't take it." I said, "when I tell ya something I mean it." So, buddy I ain't drunk none since. 'At's in 1929 and uh...February I believe it was.

Matewan Oral History Project Collection