From the WPA Federal Writers Project - answers to Questionnaire - Arkansas HRS Form J

Interview done by: J. Dell T. Conley

more information on this settler ...

Early Settlers Personal History
1. Thomas Cole
2. Ratcliff, Ark.
3. Retired
4. Farmer
5. Dec. 25, 1857
6. Izard County, Arkansas
7. Laura A. Barnard, Sep. 20, 1883. Logan County
8. None
9. Life
10-11.None
12. Logs some hewed, some round pole, stick and clay chimneys split log floors
13. Tallow candles poured at home
14. 1932
15. Wood
16. Pork, venison, bear meat, turkey, corn bread, and wild honey
17. Spun our own thread and wove the cloth shoes were made at home hat also
18. -
19. Don't remember prices. Bought very little food or clothing
20. Widows and orphans were taken care of if they were in need, also a neighbor who became sick and unable to work, his crops was worked for him
21. Corn, some cotton, oats and wheat
22. Plow stocks were all made of wood (at home)
23. None
24. Wild grapes, summer huckleberries, wild goose berries were a common food
25. Log rollings, rail maulings, house raisings, hog killings were all common
26. Would rake a path around our farm fences then back fire to keep fires out of rail fences.
27. Six-mile Creek was so called because it was only six miles from its source to mouth, although it was about forty mile the way it ran.
28. Were none here
29. Log house with split log seats
30-31.
32. Subscription, each pupil paid about 50 cents per month
33. Webster Speller, Rays Arithmetic McGuffey's readers
34. First newspaper we taken was the Memphis Commercial Appeal
35. Batesville Independence county
36. -
37. 1909, Ratcliff
38. 1876 Russellville, Ark.
39. 1914 Ratcliff, Ark.
40. Not used here
41. None here
42. Arkansas Centennial in 1876 at Philadelphia, Ark.
43-47. None
48. Don't recall anything of interest
49. None
50. Can't Remember
51. Don't remember ever seeing any
52. None
53. None
54. None
56. 5 descendants
57. Mrs. Laura Harvell, Ratcliff, Ark.
58. Landon and Clifton Harvell, No great grandchildren
59. None 
 
Transcribed by Alisha Carey, Class of 2007