The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1923-02-16
NEGRO 12O YEARS
OLD LIVES AT
COFFEEVILLE
Remembers Battle of New
Orleans in 1915

VI IHiS place mas discovered what he
claims to be the oldest and most ec-
centric negro in the state. Uncle
Joe. Bishop, commonly known among
the negroes as "Dady" Joe, lays
claim to being around 12O years of
age. The life of the old negro has
been interesting, and he tells it him.
self with remarkable clearness of
mind in spite of Father Times long
visit with him.
Bishop was born within seven
miles of Petersburg, Va, and lived
there until he was eight years of
age. He was owned by an old man
named Bishop, who at his death will
led Joe to his grandson, a George
Bishop, George seems to have been
sowing his wild Oats about that time
and in a drunken spree sold his
young slave, but having recovered
his equilibrium had the contract de-
clared void on account Of his condi-
tion at the time Of the sale and re-
gained possession of the negro boy.
When Joe was eight years old his
master carried him through Men,
phis and there taking boat they
proceeded to New Orleans, where
Joe was placed upon the block and
sold. A. Mr.. Kirkman of Florence,
Ala, bought him. He stayed with
kirkman until seven or eight years
after the emancipation proclamation
Kirkman having in the meantime
moved to a place known as Kirk
mans Switch in Grenada County,
Miss.
For the last 25 or 80 years Bishop
has lived on a place within two miles
of Coffeeville formerly owned by N.
A. Pittman and now owned by DR..
H. 0. Leonard. Strange to say that
although Bishop has lived within two
miles of Coffeeville for the past Is
years and within 15 miles of Coffee
vile for the past 50-odd years, he
has never been in the town of Cof-
feeville but one time, and that some
40 years ago, when he came to act
as a witness for someone in securing
a pension.
At the time Bishop came to
Coffeeville some 40 years ago the
town was on what is known as the
hill, some half-mile from the present
site Since that visit the business and
residential part of the town as well
as courthous and Jail have been
moved to its present site in the valley
which move was occasioned by the
Illinois Central Railroad benig plac-
ed there.
Daddy Joe's chief recollections
are of war. He recalls them not by
the name war, but by the names of
men connected Herewith. For in
stance, he recalls the Battle of New
Orleans as Jackson's war, and AYERS
that Jackson there whipped Packing
ham, who was killed in the battle. He
refers to the war between the states
as Lincoln's war. During the Civil
War Daddy Joe was employed, as a
fireman in factory that nodded
bullets for the Confederate army on
the road to Selma, Ala. When asked
about pay he said that the white
folks got that but said that he liked
to make bullets for the army and was
employed there for three years. He
remembers Taylor's war as he called
it. Daddy Joe was glad to be made
free negro and said that he had
had better time since he was set
free than he had before.
Daddy Joe has never been married
had never ridden in an automobile
until Dec. %, when C. p. Owen
brought him to Coffeeville. He had
on new huit that he had had for
two years but which he put on that
udy IOT ttic 1ttSL tiiiC. AAC Aao VA VAN
brogan shoes that he claims to have
had for II years. On his visit to
Coffeeville both white and negro un-
tied to do the old citizen homage and
showers of nickels, dimes, quarters
and quite few dollars were given
the old negro TO make his Christmas
happy one.
Old negroes living here say that
when they were young boys that
Daddy Joe was too old TO work and
his claim of being 100 is not disput-
ed by any one. In spite of his age he
retains a full head Of hair, which is
distinguished and aristocratic APP
pearance. He is hale and hearty, has
fairly good eyesight and to all out
ward appearances gives promise of
living several more years.