Long before the formation of Hopkins County, when the native grasses were tall and the Indians were roaming about freely upon her soil, settlers began entering the area to form a life on the primitive lands. The Hargraves, the Greggs, and other families began settling the region that we know today as Sulphur Bluff, in the northeastern corner of the county. These settlers brought with them the first black settlers in the county. The black citizens were their slaves. Bound by a system of servitude and owned like cows, horses, mules, and other possessions, these black citizens had no choice in their location to Hopkins County. However, they quickly adapted to the region and went about aiding their owners or masters in forming a basis for the life that we enjoy today.

June Tuck, Hopkins County Historian, has done extensive research and work regarding the Civil War era of Hopkins County history, in her book, Civil War Shadows in Hopkins County. She states, "During the war, the slaves were for the most part faithful to their masters. Of course, the county patrols played an important role in their actions. For many years the story has been told by Julius Connor about a Confederate agent traveling through Hopkins County with a wagon load of supplies he had gotten out west, accompanied by two Negros, a young boy and an old man. While they were camped on White Oak Creek near Saltillo, in Hopkins County, Texas, a group of Negros murdered the agent by slipping up on him and hitting him on the head with an axe. They put his body in the water under a bridge that was near by. The Negroes were captured and slaves for miles around were gathered up to witness the hanging of the Negroes. One slave girl fainted at the sight of the death and destruction."

Tuck further states, " Hopkins County was on its way to being a large slave county. In 1860, the county had 211 slave holders, and by 1864 there were 333 slave holders in the county. In the 1850's, a male slave would sell for from $800.00 to $1200.00. A female slave, child bearing age, would sell for from $1000.00 to $1300.00. The cost of a slave in the 1860's did not vary much from the prices of the 1850's. A slave transaction can be found in the land deed records. It was treated as though buying a piece of property."

"On June 13, 1865, C.M. Ransom and wife, Susan A. Ransom, traded to R.P. Alexander a slave man, John, age 17, and slaves, Jane, age 23, and her children, Melton, age 4, and Harriet, age 2, for 320 acres of land. Alexander was from Georgia, coming into Texas in 1851 and settling in the White Oak community of Hopkins County," relates Tuck. "It seems strange that a person would still be buying slaves at that time period, since the Civil War was concluded."

Among other slave transactions in Hopkins County, recorded by Tuck, are the sale of a fourteen year old slave girl, Miranda, to Samuel Lindley, by Jacob Nidever, for $875.00, on February 7, 1857. Additionally, James Mooney bought Nancy, a five year and 6 month old slave girl, from M.A.E. Campbell, for $500.00, on January 27, 1861.

Slave trading and marketing were profitable businesses in not only Hopkins County, but points all across the southern United States. Tuck sites many incidents of white men buying and selling runaway slaves that they had captured and the bringing of slaves to Texas once the ravages of the Civil War were being felt in other parts of The South.

"W.T. King, of Madison, Parish, Louisiana, came into Hopkins County in April of 1864, and on the 13th of that month, he told Henry W. South that he had in his possession 63 Negroes belonging to a certain Mrs. McAlisson, a widow lady, who was in the state of Mississippi, when last heard of," states Mrs. Tuck. "He stated that he had first come into possession of the slaves while serving as their overseer, and that they had ran away in an attempt to reach the Yankee army. However, he and Confederate troops had overtaken and captured them near the enemy camp. He had taken charge of them and had them for two years. From this group, he sold to Mr. South, a sixteen year old boy, Allie, for $600.00; Malissa Ann, a girl of about 14; and Armstead, a boy of about 12."

As documented by Mrs. Tuck, many Texas counties were filled with slaves at the end of the Civil War, as slave owners in the battle areas of The Old South had sent them to Texas to prevent them from being taken and freed by the Union Army as it made its raids near their homelands. Tuck sites one John T. Simmons, who brought his cattle and 110 slaves to Hopkins County, but owned no land, and R.W. Lee, brought 104 slaves, and he owned no land in the county. "A closer examination of the records, indicated many more," reveals Tuck.

An interesting chart appears in Tuck's, Civil War Shadows in Hopkins County. The chart lists the following slave holders in the county from the tax rolls of 1864:
(Listed are the owner, number of slaves, and the estimated value.)

Aiguier, U. 3 -- 1300.00 Blythe, W. F. 8 – 6500.00
Guardian for W. H. Simpson Bordens, John H. 4 – 3000.00
Aiguier, Ulysses 2 -- 1200.00 Boyd, John 4 – 1000.00
Alexander, R.P. 4 -- 3000.00 Brannum, Merrill 4 – 3200.00
Jesse hughes, Adm. Bridges, J.R.P. 1 – 1000.00
Allard, Aaron 6 -- 4800.00 Brinker, Harriett 4 – 3000.00
Angel, J. L. 2 -- 1300.00 Brown, G. W. 2 – 3000.00
Anthony, J.W. 10 -- 7000.00 Brumley, C.S. 2 – 2000.00
Armstrong, Matthew 1 – 1000.00 Byrd, John L. 2 – 1400.00
Ashley, J.S. 1 -- 1000.00 W.D. Byrd, Adm.
Askew, Mrs. E. J. 5 -- 4000.00 Cade, R. M. 9 – 7200.00

Askew, John 6 -- 4800.00 Callicoatte, J.B. 1 – 1200.00
Askew, R.L. 20 – 16000.00 Campbell, George 2 – 2000.00
Atkinson, Richard 7 – 5000.00 Campbell, Rachel 1 – 1000.00
Attaway, David 5 – 4000.00 Cannon, Erby 3 – 2500.00
Baker, B.A. 9 – 7200.00 Carroll, Ferdinand 9 – 5400.00
Baker, John 1 – 1200.00 Carter, Green 1 -- 600.00
Ballard, Thomas P. 30 – 34000.00 Cathey, R.B. 2 – 1500.00
Barnett, N.A. 10 -- 8000.00 Chaffin, T.B. 8 – 6400.00
Barrett, J. T. 4 – 3200.00 Chancey, Irvin 1 – 1200.00
Beecham, P. H. 3 – 3000.00 Childress, B. M. 1 – 1500.00
Beesley, R. J. 7 – 5500.00 Childress, W.T. 4 – 3200.00
Beeson, I. T. 3 – 1500.00 Christian, G. M. 1 -- 700.00
Bell, N. E. 7 – 5600.00 Clapp, David 6 – 4800.00
Bennett, Asa 2 – 2200.00 Clark, Dr. Pat B. 5 – 4000.00
Birdwell, Zach 7 – 5600.00 Cloud, Joseph 6 – 3000.00
Bishop, A, 1 – 1200.00 Cole, D. W. 2 – 2000.00
Bitteck, Francis 2 – 1600.00 Cole, Mary 4 – 2000.00
Black, A. H. 3 – 3000.00 Collins, Reddin 2 –1500.00
Blackwell, Joel 4 – 3200.00 Connally, C. P. 2 –1000.00
Blount, G. W. 1 -- 500.00 Cooper, Benjamin 5 – 4000.00
Copeland, E. F. 4 – 3200.00 Gafford, A. J. 2-- 1000.00
Corder, C. J. 6 – 4300.00 Gage, E. N. 3 – 2500.00
Cotton, L. G. 16 –12000.00 Garrett, James 9 – 7200.00
Cox, George W. 6 – 4800.00 Garrett, T.G. 59 –47300.00
Craft, Jesse 12 – 8400.00 Garvin, Silas 6 – 4800.00
Craft, W. J. 11 – 7700.00 Gibson, Wm & Thos. 3-- 3000.00
Craig, John B. 6 – 4200.00 Glass, Wily 1 – 1200.00
Crawford, M. L. 9 –7200.00 Godwin, P. J. 6 – 4800.00
Crisp, Carroll 13 –10000.00 Goodson, W. J. 24 – 9200.00
Crisp, Reddin 2 – 2000.00 Goodwin, T. A. 73- 58400.00
Crook, Emily E. 3 – 2500.00 Gorman, W. H. 7 – 5500.00
Mary F. Moore, guardian Grace, J. P. 1 – 1000.00
Curren, James F. 5 – 4000.00 Grace, S. W. 1 -- 600.00
Crook, Sarah J. 2 – 1400.00 Gray, S. W. 13 – 10400.00
Mary F. Moore, guardian Green, B. F. 6 – 5000.00
Dain ?, James 13 – 9600.00 Green, C.M. 1 – 1000.00
Davidson, Samuel 1 – 1000.00 Green, E. V. 1 – 1000.00
Davis, Mrs. C. S. 5 – 4000.00 Green, F.L. & wife 12—9600.00
Davis, Owen S. 3 – 3000.00 Green, W. H. 11 – 7500.00
Dawson, Wm. N. 13 –10400.00 Gregg, Josiah, Jr. 2-- 1500.00
Dean, Jesse 8 – 8000.00 Gregg, Josiah, Sr. 5 – 4000.00
Derrick, J. J. 2 -- 800.00 Gregg, Mrs. R. D. 5 – 3000.00
Despain, R. L. 4 – 1500.00 Grissom, John 6 – 4500.00
Dial, Anna 4 – 3200.00 Gunter, C.D. 6 – 4200.00
Dial, Joseph 10 – 8000.00 Hanson, T.K. & J.H. 24—19200.00
Dial, Martin 3 – 3400.00 Hargrave, H. H. 1 – 1200.00

Dickson, S. P. 1-- 800.00 Hargrave, H. M. 2 – 1500.00
Dillingham, J. C. 9 – 5400.00 Hargrave, J.P. 3 – 20000.00
Dowdle, R. A. 7 – 5600.00 Hargrave, Nancy 2 – 1600.00
Downing, G. W. 6 – 4700.00 Hargrave, Wm. 5 – 3500.00
Duncan, W. B. 1 – 1000.00 Harris, W. C. 1 – 1200.00
Dutton, Alfred 4 – 3500.00 Harris, Nathaniel 5 – 4000.00
Eaton, Alfred 3 – 2400.00 Hart, Cynthia A. 2 – 2000.00
Elliott, John P. 1 -- 600.00 Hart, J. G. 2 – 2000.00
Embry, B. F. 24 – 16800.00 Hedge, John & Bros. 2 – 2000.00
Ewing, Wilson 1 – 1200.00 Helms, Geo. W. 2 – 2000.00
Farrar, H. H. 8 – 6400.00 Henley, Hiram 9 – 7200.00
Ferguson, J. H. 2 – 1200.00 Herod, Wm. A. 2 – 1600.00
Ferrill, W. S. 2 – 2000.00 Hodges, Mrs. P. B. 7 – 5600.00
Ferrill, W. S. 1 – 1000.00 Hodges, Sam'l C. 6 – 4800.00
Finney, F. E. 27 –21600.00 Hodges, Sarah 4 – 3200.00
Fisher, A. P. 1 – 1000.00 Holderness, R. C. 15 –12800.00
Forbis, John 1 -- 800.00 Holderness, ? 1 – 1500.00
C. E. Kingston, Adm. Hopkins, Joslin 1 -- 600.00
Forbis, Lucy 5 – 4000.00 Hoskins, Charles W. 3 – 2300.00
Ford, A. E. 9 – 7200.00 Hoskins, Thomas 22 – 17600.00
Foster, David 3 – 2000.00 Houston, C. M. 5 – 3000.00
France, W. D. 1 – 1000.00 Agent for his wife
Frost, A. B. 1 – 1000.00 Houston, C. M. & Wife 5 – 3000.00
Frost, N. W. 2 – 2000.00 Huffman, D. M. 1 – 1000.00
France, Ford 6 – 4800.00 Jackson & McCoy 10 –7500.00
Fuller, James F. 1 – 1000.00 Jackson, A. W. 2 – 2000.00
Jackson, John 5 – 3500.00 McIntire, J. E. 4 – 3500.00
James, Thomas 2 – 2000.00 McLemore, A. 38 – 26600.00
James, W. M. 1 – 1000.00 Melson, A. T. 3 – 3000.00
Jenkins, Wash 2 – 2000.00 Melton, A. G. 8 – 6000.00
Jeter, James 6 – 4800.00 Milhollen, Jacob 3 – 3000.00
Johnson, David 6 – 5000.00 Miller, Wm. 3 – 2400.00
Johnson, Martha 3 – 2500.00 Miller, Wm. B. 2 – 2000.00
Johnson, Martin 1 – 1000.00 Millsaps, Emeline 2 – 2000.00
Johnston, A. C. 6 – 4800.00 Millsaps, Minty 1 – 1000.00
Jones, John M. 2 – 1000.00 Minter, John T. 2 – 2500.00
Jones, P. C. 6 – 4500.00 Minter, Joseph T. 15 –12000.00
Jones, R. M. 5 – 4000.00 Minter, S. A. 11-- 9000.00
Jones, W. A. 1 -- 800.00 Mitchell, E.T. 25 -20000.00
Kelly, V. M. 7 – 5600.00 No Land
Kennon, J. 1 – 1200.00 Moore, J. A. 1 – 800.00
King, J. B. 1 – 1500.00 Moore, Mary F. 2 – 1500.00
Kirkpatrick, JWM 16—14800.00 Moore, Dr. Sam 9 – 7200.00
Lancaster, W.D. 9 – 7200.00 Moore, Wm. 11 – 7700.00
Landers, Jane E. 2 -- 800.00 Morgan, Abel 1 – 1000.00

Landrum, W. H. 5 – 3600.00 Morgan, Daniel 2 – 3000.00
Lee, R. W. 104 – 72800.00 Morris, C.D. 2 – 2500.00
No Land Murphy, Martha 2 – 2000.00
Lewis, Jeramiah 8 – 4800.00 Murphy, James M. 13 –10400.00
Lewis, P. T. 1 -- 600.00 Nelson, D.M. 2 – 1500.00
Lindley, B. 1-- 1200.00 Marg. E. Wells, guardian
Lindley, Eli 8 – 6400.00 Nelson, H.W. 18 –14400.00
Lindley, Riley 1 – 1200.00 No Land
Lindley, Sallie 2 – 2000.00 Nelson, H.W. 2 – 2000.00
Lindley, Samuel 11 – 6600.00 Agent for Mary A. Kidd
Little, Edmond 31 –24800.00 Nidever, M.A, 1 – 1200.00
No Land Parks, F. A. 3 – 3400.00
Locklear, Middleton 2 – 1800.00 Peel, Thomas P. 14 –10000.00
Lollar, L. A. 1 – 1500.00 No Land
Long, Mary Ann 1 – 1200.00 Pendleton, J. C. 1 – 1000.00
Lowe, A. 9 – 6300.00 Perry, Winston 4 – 2500.00
Mahaffey, M. C. 1 – 1000.00 Petty, James 3 – 2500.00
Mangum, W. A. 9 – 7200.00 Petty, W. S. 8 – 5600.00
Mann, J. W. 2 – 1600.00 Pierce, Catherine E. 1 -- 500.00
Martin, G. 1 – 1500.00 Pierce, G.L. & L.P. 1 – 1500.00
Martin, L. C. 19 – 17000.00 Polk, Taylor, Jr. 1 – 1200.00
Mauney, James M. 1 – 1500.00 Polk, Taylor, Sr. 11 –8800.00
Mayfield, A.B.P. 1 – 1500.00 Portwood, Mrs. E. O. 8 – 5500.00
McAfee, L. A. 6 – 4800.00 Posey, Elgin 9 – 7000.00
McCauley, Henry 2 – 2000.00 Posey, Leaden 6 – 4200.00
McCrumb, J. S. 1 – 1500.00 Pruitt, D. H. 8 – 6400.00
McCrumb, J.S. 1 – 1000.00 Proctor, Thomas 1 -- 600.00
McFall, J.A.C. 2 – 1600.00 Ratliff, Melinda 2 – 2000.00
McFarlan, Robt. 1 – 1000.00 Renfroe, Josiah 3 – 2500.00
McGee, M. J. 7 – 7600.00 Rogers, F.M. 5 – 4000.00
McGill, Thomas 10 –7000.00 Russell, Henry 2 – 2000.00
McGuyer, Ann 7 – 5600.00 Russell, Isham 1 – 1200.00
McGuyer, Bum 7 – 5000.00 Russell, Jane 1 – 1000.00
Rye, O.P. & Bros. 13 –10400.00 Turner, F. R. 1 – 1500.00
Settle, M. G. 2 --1600.00 Ury, Mrs. R. T. 12 – 9600.00
Sharp, J. E. 5 – 3000.00 Vaden, Elizabeth 3 – 1800.00
Sheppard, C. C. 1 – 1000.00 Vaden, Lodwick 14 –9800.00
Simmons, Dr. John T. 110 – 122000.00 Vaden, William 12 – 7000.00
Simms, James A. 13 – 11000.00 Vaughn, A. J. 15 – 9000.00
Simms, Jesse M. 9 – 900.00 Voss, Eli 6 – 5000.00
Simms, T. L. 1 – 1500.00 Voss, Mary 1 - 600.00
Smith, George L. 5 – 4000.00 Voss, Mary 1 -- 800.00
Smith, Josiah 26 –18500.00 Waits, James 3 – 3400.00
Smith, Mitchell 1 – 1650.00 Wallace, Wesley 1 -- 500.00
Smith Powhattan L. 13 – 13000.00 Waller, A. W. 2 – 1500.00
Smith, Sam W. 4 – 2800.00 Weaver, James A. 7 – 5600.00
Stephenson, J. J. 1 -- 1000.00 Weaver, Wm. E. 8 -- 6400.00
Stout, James S. 2 -- 1500.00 Weems, J. C. 2 -- 1500.00
Strouther, Dicy 16 – 11000.00 Wells, John T. 1 -- 800.00
Sturdivant, A. J. 2 – 2000.00 Wells, Joseph 10 – 6000.00
Tally, E. 7 – 7000.00 Wells, Rebecca 5 – 3000.00
Taylor, A. B. 10 – 8400.00 Wells, Texesa 4 – 3200.00
Taylor, Mrs. Ann 26 – 26000.00 Wells, Wm. G. 1 -- 800.00
Terrell, John 4 -- 3200.00 Westerman, W. T. 3 – 2400.00
Terrell, Z. R. 1 -- 700.00 Wethers, Stephen 1 -- 1000.00
Thomas, Anna 6 -- 5000.00 Whisenant, Davis 7 – 5600.00
Thomas, E. H. 6 -- 4000.00 White, E. M. 12 – 9600.00
Thomas, Sarah 1 -- 700.00 White, G. W. 1 -- 1000.00
John O. Hobbert, guardian White, W. S. 2 -- 1500.00
Thomas, Wm. P. 2 – 2000.00 White, W. W. 2 – 2000.00
Thompson, T. W. 4 – 4000.00 Wilie, J. C. 1 -- 400.00
Ticer, Elizabeth 4 – 3000.00 Williams, Mrs. C. E. 24-- 19200.00
Ticer, W. M. 4 – 2000.00 Williams, Jesse 8 – 6400.00
Tollett, John 1 – 1500.00 Woody, H. S. 5 – 4000.00
Tomlinson, E.J.W. 1 -- 600.00 Wynn, G. F. 5 – 4000.00
Tomlinson, J. A. 1 – 1000.00 Yates, George 5 – 4000.00
Tomlinson, S. G. 1 – 1500.00 Yates, Ira 1 – 1600.00
Towers, W. C. 4 – 3200.00 Yates, Wm. G. 1 – 1500.00
Townsend, W. A. 1 -- 800.00 Yewry, S.S. 7 – 5600.00
Trevillion, J. A. 2 – 2000.00 Young, Mary 14 –12700.00
Truman, Benjamin 1 -- 800.00

As you can see from the chart, most of the Hopkins County slave owners were small slaveholders with less than ten slaves. The duties of most slaves involved doing domestic duties around the home for the women, and helping in the field for the men. The relative new frontier that was called Hopkins County had not been cleared for large scale farming, thus large plantations were not the "norm" for this area of the country.

If you will examine the chart closely, you can find slaveholders with the same name as many of the black citizens of Hopkins County, today. They include Askew, Bell, Dial, Henley, Goodson, Lewis, Vaden, Nelson, and Lindley. Many black citizens of Hopkins County can trace there ancestors to these former slaves, who came to the area in bondage.

Following the Civil War, many families migrated from the devastation of war in the Old South and located to Hopkins County. Many former slaves of these families made the trip to Texas with their former owners and established black families here in the county.

After the Civil War, many white landowners in the Old South found that their homes had been destroyed, their crops and out buildings burned to the ground, livestock stolen or killed, and a large tax assessment on the land by the Reconstruction Government. Thus, many packed their salvageable belongings in wagons and headed West. The same families had been slave owners prior to the war and had former slaves that were like members of the family. These black people had served them many times for generations and although they were essentially free from the bonds of service, they had no money, few job skills, and no home. These former slaves found it much more to their advantage to follow their former masters to Texas, than they did a life of uncertainty in the home area. Many accepted the challenge.

Certainly, when you observe the patterns of any group of people you will find that some are basically good and kind, and others are mean, vindictive, and difficult taskmasters. Thus, slave owners fell into all ranges of kindness toward their slaves. Some treated them with dignity, compassion, and kindness, while others were brutal, abusive, and destructive. The scale of treatment spanned the spectrum in all areas of The South.

In the early 1400's philosopher Thomas A' Kempis advocated a frame of mind that many, many slaves learned to adopt, so that they could withstand the harsh conditions of slavery. Kempis said, "Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as especial favors. If you remember the dignity of the giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God." Slaves learned to trust in God and this trust helped them to overcome the injustices of slavery. They learned to trust in God to make things right and to sustain them through sales, destruction of their families, and harsh treatment from their masters. Heaven brought on a new meaning for the slave who had been sold away from his family. It truly represented a place where once again family ties would be reunited and a place of peace and comfort. Thus, the religious convictions of the Negro have always run "deep" and been a source of unfailing comfort and sustainable well being.

The following account describes the difficult situation some Negro slaves found themselves fleeing from:

"Our Marse was not around much....he had an overseer that was as mean as a snake. When he would go to whip a nigger, he would make 'em strip down naked. Then, he would take a cat-o'-nine- tails whip and bring the blisters to that pore nigger's backside. Once he had blisters all over 'em, he would take a leather paddle and bust those blisters. The blood would be running from the slaves back from his neck to his toes. In some cases I've seen that old overseer take salt and rub it into the marks on a slaves back!"

"I've seen Old Mammy take that pore whupped slave and get a bucket of lard and a soothing rag and go to work on his back. Them slaves would be hurtin' bad for a couple of weeks but that overseer wanted him back on the job!"

On the other end of the spectrum we find slave owners that cared for their slaves and worried about their well being:

"Mr. George Wynn, a slave owner in the Tazwell community of Hopkins County gave his slaves land upon emancipation, so that they could establish the community we now know as Birch Creek. Each slave was given 60 acres and some of his descendents still own the property in Hopkins County."

Somewhere along in the middle, we find many slave owners seeing themselves as benevolent patriarchs to a lower classed black slave. They elevated themselves to a position of being more knowledgeable-----more able to learn----and just all around more intelligent that their Negro slaves.

However, in many cases, unbeknowence to the white master, the slave was actually much more intelligent, skilled, and capable of learning, had he been given the opportunity to fullfill his capabilities.

As one former slave accounted, "We black folks learned at an early age to juggle our behavior in public and to keep our real skills and opinions to ourselves. You let a master or overseer lay stripes on your back and 'den see how long it takes you to learn to keep your thoughts to yo'reself. Kids learned this form of behavior from the cradle up!"

In Wilma King's account of nineteenth century slave conditions, Stolen Childhood, she gives the following account of former slaves that found freedom following emancipation:
"Many Negroes found themselves with little more than hope, when emancipation finally came at the end of the war. They were penniless.........the lost, the homeless, the forgotten citizens, the unshepherded.......and the government's promises of 40 acres and a mule failed to materialize. Most Negroes were better off staying on and working for their former masters, if that master had decency and kindness in his or her heart. At least in this situation, they had a roof over their head and some guarantee of food to eat, while leaving the comforts of what they had always known, provided no provisions for food, clothing, and shelter. Many emancipated Negroes left the plantation of their birth and found conditions more unbearable than when they had been slaves."

Dr. John T. Simmons' one-hundred and ten slaves represent the largest slaveholder on the list of 1864 slaves in Hopkins County and Mitchell Smith's one slave valued at $1,650.00 is the highest priced slave on the list, that is listed separately. The one slave could have been a child bearing aged female, who was expecting a child or possibly could have been a skilled laborer that was male and at a prime age. Only supposition on our part can possibly acertain the slave that was worth more than others. Many slaves were brick layers, stone masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, and other skilled artisans, and brought a premium price on the slave market. Nevertheless, slaves in Hopkins County were valuable property and by the sheer numbers made a lasting contribution to the formation of early day Hopkins County.

Many, many Hopkins County slaves were the illegitimate children of their owners, black members of the family. When one looks through the records, the term mulatto appears in many, many census renderings following the Civil War and the persons were the result of children who were from a black slave woman and her master. These mulatto children were many times despised by the white mistress, but the practice was very, very common. Many of these slaves upon their freedom, became the landowners in the black communities of Hopkins County, as the fathers of these children would provide for them in the will and had a stronger affection for them than the other slaves. Purusing the records of Hopkins County slaves, one finds that a large percentage of the black citizens of the county can trace their heritage back to just such a beginning.

Slavery times were unbearable for many black citizens. However, the ensuing years following emancipation were in some cases even worse. Although they had some more responsibility and the freedom to choose in some matters, the Reconstruction Years and the Jim Crow Days of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a trying time for the black citizen. Equality has always been a struggle for the black man and progress has come "one inch at a time," as he has traveled down a many times long and lonesome road!