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Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma 
Date: Not given 
Name: John Dowdy (Negro) 
Post Office: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
Residence address: 
Date of Birth: October 1, 1856 
Place of Birth: Richmond, Virginia 
Father: Information on Father: 
Mother: Information on Mother: 
Field Worker: Harry M. Dreyer 
Vol. 26 Microfiche 6016891 #207

Dowdy and his family lived on the same plantation for good many years. Latter they were scattered, being sold to different plantation owners. When he was a small boy, his mother was tied to a tree by the son of his master and severely beaten with a heavy strap for no reason. They were not permitted to learn to read or to write. If owners learned that any of the darkies tried to write, upon many occasions they would have index fingers cut off, in order that they could not write or communicate with relatives or friends. Negroes were sold for prices ranging from $2.00 to several thousands per head. Master had a daughter from own (sic) slave. She was very beautiful to Negroes and became a great Baptist Evangelist. She waited tables in the colored quarters and was sold because Master's wife wished to get rid of her. The buyer of best looking Negro woman, paid $3,500 for this Negro evangelist and stated at the time she was purchased that she was now free. 

Dowdy when nine years old, had to keep the flies off of [the] son of his Master when he came back from the Civil War wounded and because he (Dowdy) dropped to sleep as [a] boy would, the Master's son reached out from his bed, knocked him down and sicked the dog on him to bite him. Son died a few days later of his wound and the darkies followed him to his grave. Dowdy came to Oklahoma City by train by the way of St. Louis and Kansas City in 1891, and lived with other Negroes here in the City. He could not give much information on his days around Oklahoma City because of his memory at this age seems to fail him. But his memory was clear about early days in the South. He said that there is a burial ground of Indians near Choctaw, but did not know exact location.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Sullivan, Donald L.  donald.l.sullivan@lmco.com, 09-2000.