Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-22
AN AUTOBIOGRAPH
In Outline Of the Late Senator Ben
Hill, Written by Himself for q
Friend.
His Early Life and Struggle for an
EdueatiOn-Hew He Became
Stakeholder.

The following brief but interesting auto
biography of the late Senator Hill was writ
| ten and given by him to his friend, the late
DIR. w. II. White. In 1879, and il was found
among his fathers papers by Mr.. w. Woods
| White, who has kindly consented to its pub
LEGATION. 1t ia as follows:
was born in Jasper county, Ga, Septem-
Der IA, 1923. / was the seventh of nine chill
dren and the fifth of six brothers.
Ny father was a small farmer, owning a
few slaves only. All his sons therefore. did
all farm work and all his daughters did all
household work. Ny mother cut and made
the clothes we wore, and most of them were
spun and wove on the plantation.
/ worked in the farm from the time l was
eight years old, and black and white came
and went alike in all work
Ny father was man OF common educa-
ton, but was extensively read and of great
influence in his neighborhood.
hen L was ten years old lin 1889 my
father moved 10 the county of Troup, a new
county, and his lands were all in the woods,
and l helped clear them.
walked the entire distance from the old
TO the new home, over 100 miles, helping to
drive the cattle
My father would always have a school
house, church and temperance society
near his house. He was always trustee of
the school, class-leader and steward in the
church and president of the temperance
society.
Some of my earliest and sweetest recollec-
tons are connected with these institutions
and my fathers zeal in them.
The black people always attended church
with the whites; and all of us, black and
white, were encouraged to become members
at very early ages. The rule WAS for the
children to work in the farm until the crop
WIS made and then go TO school until it was
Alxa4as l. fFaNr In arrVN rod IN
school again until planting time for another
crop.
This was my life until was sixteen years
old. / was then continued at school all the
time with view to a collegiate education.
My father was not able to send all his chill
dren to college; only one besides myself de-
sired a college course, and L alone grad
uated.
After / was pronounced prepared to enter
college, my father decided he was not able
to send me.
A family consultation was held. My
mother insisted on my going. She had al
ways had what was called her "patch, which
was near the house, and was cultivated by
her house hands when not needed at house
work. This patch had always been my
mothers pin money amounting from $50 TO
800.
Ny mother said she would contribute this
to my college expenses and would make my
clothes at home besides.
An old aunt of my mothers who lived in
a small house In my fathers yard, and had
some means (emall) and no children, agreed
TO contribute as much more. My father
agreed to add the balance, and 1 promised
that all my college expenses OF any kind
should not exceed $500 per annum. l
promised my mother l would take the first
honor in NV class redeemed this promise.
The proudest day OF my life was when
wrote to my parents that had taken the first
honor in my class and all the honors of the
literary society of which l was member.
HOW BECAME A SLAVE HOLDER.
The cook, Marian, came by my mother,
and was near her age. She also raised nine
children, Just the number my mother raised.
One of the cooks children from birth was as
signed TO one of my mothers children.
From our childhood we played together,
worked together and would fight for each
other against all the world. Stronger ties
than these were never formed. Ii was an
alliance offensive and defensive.
married in 1S45. My wife had seven
slaves, large and small, left her by her father,
who died when she was an infant. We thus
began life with eight slaves.
When my father and mother died, the
slaves selected their owner among the chill
dren and / had 10 take two more, who would
20 Will no OtucT Cbllu, Pdlo tuSlus
My wife had one other brother left an
orphan with her. He married several years
after we did, and determined not TO keep his
slaves. They were not willing TO go out OF
the family and 1 bought them. / now had
fourteen slaves.
I was a professional man living in town
and did not need them. i was not willing
to hire them out. The result was 1 bought
some land near the town and moved on it |
with the slaves and told them to support |
under my protection.
The slaves increased and married wives |
and husbands and raised children and TO |
keep them together 1 bought them ALL
i also bought several others who lad 10 be |
sold and who selected me as their owner.
In few years my small place was Insult. |
cient for them, and rather than part with |
Them l bought larger plantation in the |
county and placed them on it, and removed |
with my family back to town.
i was thus a STAKEHOLDER from 1S45 to |
1865, just twenty years. |
My slaves increased from eight to sixty
seven, and during all that time there were
out two deaths among them.
l realized no profit from them, and all of |
hem will testify that cared better for them
han they have been able TO care for them
elves 'since freedom came"