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Stories
Stories about people who lived in Mosier Valley
Portion of a Slave narrative as told by Andy Nelson taken from the WPA Slave Narratives.
ANDY NELSON, 76, in leader of a small rural settlement of negroes known as Mosor Valley, ten miles east of Fort Worth on State Highway #15. He was born a slave to J. Wolf, on a Denton County farm, and his mother belonged to Dr. John Barkswell, who owned an adjoining farm. At the death of his father he was sold to Dr. Barkswell. When freed, he and his mother came to Birdville and later moved to Moser Valley, which derives it name from Telley Moses, who gave his farm to his slaves, and sold parcels to other negroes.
"I don'member much 'bout de war, but I was bo'n in slavery near de line of Tarrant County, in 1861. My master was named Wolf, but 'bout de and of de war he sells me to Dr. Barkswell, who owns my mammy. When de war is over we gits out and comes to Birdville and after three years Master Moser gives my mammy 17 acres of lan'. He owned lots of slaves and gives 'on all some land for a hose."
"For ten, twelve years after de war, de Klux gits after do niggers who is gittin' into devilment. De cullud folks sho' quavered when they thought de Klan was after them. One nigger crawls up do chimney of de fireplace and that nigger soon gits powerful hot and has to come out. You should of soon that nigger. He warn't human lookin'. He is all soot, fussed up, choked and skeered. Day warn't after him but wants to ask him if he knows whar other niggers is hidin'. I was too young to git in no picklement with do Klux."
"Years after dat, I'se married and have four, five chillens, and I'se comin' home. I'se stopped by seven men on hosses and dey all has rifles and pistols. I says to myself, 'De Klux sho' have come back and dey is gwine to git me. It sho' looks like troublement.One of dem weighs 'bout 135 pounds and has dark hair and complexium, and he says to me. 'Nigger, whar's do lower Dalton crossin'? Dare was two crossin's of de Trinity River, de upper and do lower. I says, 'De upper crossin' is back yonder."
"He says, I knows what de upper crossin' is, I'se askin' you whar de lower one is. Don' fool with us, nigger." Dere was a big fellow, 'bout 250, settin' in de saddle and sorta ant goglin' with his gun pointin' at so. De hole in de end of dat gun looked big as a cannon. He was mean lookin' and chewin' a quid of terbaccy. He says. 'You is goin' with us to de crossin.' Lead de way.' Dan I gits de quaverment powerful bad. I knows I'se a gone nigger.I says to dan, 'I done nothin', and de big fellow raises his gun and says, 'Git goin', nigger, to dat lower crossin', or you'll be a dead nigger.'
"On de way I never says a word, but I'se prayin' de good Lawd to save dis nigger. When we reached de crossin', I says to myself. 'Dis am de end. De little fellow says, 'Do you know who I is?' I says. 'No.'He says, 'I'se Sam Bass." I'se heared of Sam Bass, everybody had in dem days. He was leader of a band. He says, 'We don' want nobody to know we been here. Which you ruther be, a dead nigger befo' or after tollin'?'"De big fellow says, 'Make a sho' job. A dead nigger cain't talk,' and den starts raisin' de gun.I wants to talk, but I'se so skeered I can' say one word. Don Sam Bass says, 'No, no! Let him go,' and den I knows de Lawd has heared dis nigger's prayers.'Dey tells me dey's comin' back if I tells and I promised not to tell. I'se skeered for a week after dat.In a few weeks, I heared dat Sam Bass is killed at Round Rock. Dan I tells."
ANDY NELSON, 76, in leader of a small rural settlement of negroes known as Mosor Valley, ten miles east of Fort Worth on State Highway #15. He was born a slave to J. Wolf, on a Denton County farm, and his mother belonged to Dr. John Barkswell, who owned an adjoining farm. At the death of his father he was sold to Dr. Barkswell. When freed, he and his mother came to Birdville and later moved to Moser Valley, which derives it name from Telley Moses, who gave his farm to his slaves, and sold parcels to other negroes.
"I don'member much 'bout de war, but I was bo'n in slavery near de line of Tarrant County, in 1861. My master was named Wolf, but 'bout de and of de war he sells me to Dr. Barkswell, who owns my mammy. When de war is over we gits out and comes to Birdville and after three years Master Moser gives my mammy 17 acres of lan'. He owned lots of slaves and gives 'on all some land for a hose."
"For ten, twelve years after de war, de Klux gits after do niggers who is gittin' into devilment. De cullud folks sho' quavered when they thought de Klan was after them. One nigger crawls up do chimney of de fireplace and that nigger soon gits powerful hot and has to come out. You should of soon that nigger. He warn't human lookin'. He is all soot, fussed up, choked and skeered. Day warn't after him but wants to ask him if he knows whar other niggers is hidin'. I was too young to git in no picklement with do Klux."
"Years after dat, I'se married and have four, five chillens, and I'se comin' home. I'se stopped by seven men on hosses and dey all has rifles and pistols. I says to myself, 'De Klux sho' have come back and dey is gwine to git me. It sho' looks like troublement.One of dem weighs 'bout 135 pounds and has dark hair and complexium, and he says to me. 'Nigger, whar's do lower Dalton crossin'? Dare was two crossin's of de Trinity River, de upper and do lower. I says, 'De upper crossin' is back yonder."
"He says, I knows what de upper crossin' is, I'se askin' you whar de lower one is. Don' fool with us, nigger." Dere was a big fellow, 'bout 250, settin' in de saddle and sorta ant goglin' with his gun pointin' at so. De hole in de end of dat gun looked big as a cannon. He was mean lookin' and chewin' a quid of terbaccy. He says. 'You is goin' with us to de crossin.' Lead de way.' Dan I gits de quaverment powerful bad. I knows I'se a gone nigger.I says to dan, 'I done nothin', and de big fellow raises his gun and says, 'Git goin', nigger, to dat lower crossin', or you'll be a dead nigger.'
"On de way I never says a word, but I'se prayin' de good Lawd to save dis nigger. When we reached de crossin', I says to myself. 'Dis am de end. De little fellow says, 'Do you know who I is?' I says. 'No.'He says, 'I'se Sam Bass." I'se heared of Sam Bass, everybody had in dem days. He was leader of a band. He says, 'We don' want nobody to know we been here. Which you ruther be, a dead nigger befo' or after tollin'?'"De big fellow says, 'Make a sho' job. A dead nigger cain't talk,' and den starts raisin' de gun.I wants to talk, but I'se so skeered I can' say one word. Don Sam Bass says, 'No, no! Let him go,' and den I knows de Lawd has heared dis nigger's prayers.'Dey tells me dey's comin' back if I tells and I promised not to tell. I'se skeered for a week after dat.In a few weeks, I heared dat Sam Bass is killed at Round Rock. Dan I tells."
UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!!