Black farmers continue the legacy of economic independence

Palmer Harrell

"Growing up in a rural area as a descendant of farmers, my attachment to the land began early in life," said genealogist and researcher, Antoinette Harrell.  Antoinette's great uncle, Palmer (Palmer Harrell), who is also called Buddy, would drive over in his green pick up truck to pick up Antoinette and her brothers every morning when school was out.

He would bring cheese and crackers and vanilla wafers.  She would be so excited to see the green pick up truck turn into the driveway.  They would go down to the field with him.  He planted butter beans, snap beans, corn, watermelon, and field peas.

Antoinette and her brothers would fill a hamper of beans for twenty five cents, and it was a big treat for them to go to the store with that twenty-five cents.  For lunch, Uncle Buddy ate lunch from among the things he grew, raw snap beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Antoinette said that was the way that she remembers spending the summer.  She says it was such a a treat, and that Uncle Palmer "gave us love and sweet memories."  These experiences are why she loves farming and gardening today.

Her cousin, Henry Wheat,  had a farm and cows.  Her mother would let his cows graze on their land because they kept the grass from being too tall.  He made his own syrup.  Antoinette only remembers him in two places, in church, and in the field.  He was often found picking greens or peas or growing something.  Antoinette remembers when some farmed with a mule and when they first started using tractors. 

Henry (Doris) Wheat taught them a lot about farming and planting food.  He spent most of the time in the field, and  they planted big crops which fed their families.  That was their livelihood.  There was a fish pond on the land, and sometimes Antoinette and her three brothers would go fishing with their cousin Bruce Wheat.  "Often we would only catch seven or eight crawfish, and we would still boil that seven or eight crawfish as if we had a whole sack of crawfish, and that was Summer entertainment for us,"  explained Antoinette.

The Wheats and the Harrells lived right next door to each other.  Emma Mead Harrell, Jasper and Palmer's mother, purchased 11 acres of land in 1902 and more land in 1904 during a time when women were not purchasing land on their own.  Out of 13 children, Jasper and Palmer remained attached to the land.  They always shared what they grew and gave food to other people.

Cousin Eugene Edwards on his tractor. Photographer, Walter C. Black, Sr.

Antoinette's 87 year old cousin, Eugene Edwards farms everyday.  He still drives and repairs his own  tractor.  In 1950, Eugene left for Detroit to find work at an auto plant.  A country man at heart, he found his way back down South to the land his dad purchased around 1930.

Euguene's mother, Annie, died at a very early age.  Her father, Tres Williams, was once a sharecropper for the McDaniels'.  Annie was married to Ben Edwards on Feb 7, 1921.  Eugene grew up on the land his father purchased in St. Helena Parish, LA.   When Eugene returned to the land, he vowed that he would never leave it again.

"He grows potatoes, corn, okra, tomatoes, field peas, and watermelon. He even raised his own livestock.   His son has also returned to the land and Eugene has "given his son a spot.  He has disked the land up so his son can have a place to grow crops," says genealogist and researcher, Antoinette Harrell.

Potatoes.  Photographer, Walter C. Black, Sr.

"There was a time when I didn't have a dime in my pocket, but I had plenty to eat...and did not owe anybody for the land,"  Eugene Edwards.

"Having your own water well, water pond, food, land, furnished wood, stove,  that's economic independence.  It does not get any better than that,"  Antoinette Harrell.

In the Field.  Photographer, Walter C. Black, Sr.

Antoinette was just recently out visiting Cousin Eugene.  She heard Cousin Eugene teach about hybrid seeds and regular seeds.  She sampled fresh English peas.  She said they were so sweet and good that they did not even need to be cooked.  She pulled English peas and turnip greens.  Another farmer who is 64 years old plants food and gives it all to the elderly and widows.

I love the capacity Antoinette has for bringing history to life.  The work of Walter C. Black, Sr. speaks for itself.  I am truly touched by the work of these two individuals.  Walter, the last photo with Antoinette and Cousin Eugene speaks volumes.  It symbolizes the past, present, and the future.  Join us for the Tuesday, April 12th episode of Nurturing Our Roots:  African American Midwives and Black Farmers, where we will interview Cousin Eugene Edwards, the grandson of midwife, Mandy Jones Wheat

Ruby Wheat Daniel (1928-1991) carried on the legacy instilled by her mother, Mandy Jones Wheat (1892-1977)

Ruby Daniel (1928-1991), shared by Michael Daniel

Ruby Wheat Daniel (1928-1991) was the youngest daughter of Mandy and Bass Wheat.  She and her husband Isaiah Daniel, Sr. had two sons.  Ruby taught her mother to read and write.  Mandy accomplished a lot as an African American female, farmer, midwife, herbalist, and healer considering the location where she lived in the South and the time period.

No doubt, Ruby, seeing these great achievements wrought out by her mother saw the importance of passing her mother's legacy on to future generations.  Ruby taught Mandy to read according to her son, Michael Daniel, who said his mother stressed that Mandy was a "shining example especially of African American independence."  She owned her own land.  She did not have to sharecrop.  She could work for herself.  "Don't ever sell the land," Ruby cautioned.


Ruby insisted that they preserve the family artifacts and keep the family legacy.  Mandy, only one generation from slavery, had started a legacy for her posterity by teaching them to be self-sufficient.  Ruby, mother of two sons, kept this legacy going by instilling the importance of getting an education and learning to appreciate black history and culture.

Ruby Daniel (1928-1991), shared by Michael Daniel

"Ruby taught her children the importance of preserving family artifacts, holding on to the land, and keeping the way of life taught by her mother.  She also prepared her sons to embrace modern-day advancements," said genealogist, Antoinette Harrell.

If you recall, I recently shared an article introducing Mandy Jones Wheat (1892-1977).  The last couple of days, Antoinette has been busy working with Mandy's grandson, Michael, unearthing family artifacts in Mandy's old shed.  "There is a close relationship between archaeology and genealogy.  An archaeologist's studies are partly based on artifacts.  A genealogist traces a family line using oral history, historical documentation, and other records," said Antoinette.

Artifacts need to be considered along with the records a genealogist uses to learn about a family's history.  "The type of house, everyday tools, type of materials, and way of life can  provide great insights about an ancestor.  For example, today's coffee pot would look much different than the percolator used long ago."

"Some of our ancestors were determined early on to pull themselves up by their bootstraps--some even without their bootstraps.  If they had a feather mattress instead of a mattress or pillow stuffed with hay or Spanish moss, you know they had accomplished something.  She had to have a great deal of respect."  explained Antoinette.

Mandy owned a 1912 model washing machine (see actual) during a time most people had a washboard and a #3 foot tub.  This had to have been an important item to her for use in sterilizing linens which she used for birthing and healing the sick.  Michael also rediscovered a 1964 Word Fair cup buried in the shed.

Ruby attended school in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.  In the 1940's, she moved to New Orleans.  Her husband discovered work was available in New York.  He went up on his own and found work and later sent for Ruby where they settled in Buffalo, New York.  Isaiah worked for GM where they built engines.  Ruby was a homemaker and an "avid photographer," explained Michael, "She took a lot of photographs between the 1950's and 1960's."

When asked what he remembered most about the family trips South, Michael replied, "The food and the trip down.  In the 1960's, lots of places were not accommodating to African Americans especially in Mississippi."  An African American and a new car was not a good mix.  Michael recalled how his mother would make sandwiches for the trip because they would not be stopping much after Bowling Green, KY.  His father seemed to know all the African American parts of towns where they could stop.

Brothers Isaiah and Michael Daniel, shared by Michael Daniel

Michael remembers the food being especially spicy and somewhat different than what they ate in New York.  He remembers having goat meat which he thought tasted pretty good.  He noticed that the young folks had a lot more respect for the older people in the South.  It was 100 degrees every day, and he and his brother had morning chores which included feeding the cows.

Isaiah and father Isaiah Daniel Sr., shared by Michael Daniel

Michael also remembers his mother teaching the importance of not using "undue language" and communicating well.  She would also show them photographs of family members to make sure they knew who their people were.  As time went on, he came to understand the importance of what she was doing.



"I am almost overwhelmed by so many people who are interested in this history,"  he said.  In reference to those who are not yet interested in their own history, he added, "As time goes on, you will realize the important significance of your ancestors to you and where you came from."

African Americans, Italian immigrants are indebted to the community midwife

Midwife, Mandy Jones Wheat (1892-1977)

Mandy Jones Wheat, the daughter of Joe Jones and Lizzie Banks was born December 15, 1892 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.  She was married twice.  Her first husband was Adam Gordon, Sr., and her second husband was Bass Wheat.  As a small child, genealogist, Antoinette Harrell, can remember Mandy as a "church mother" who also attended the old white church with the wooden benches. At first glance, one might think that Mandy, dressed all in white and seated with her cane, was sleeping, but as Antoinette recounts, she was paying attention, watching, and listening and would not say anything until service was over and as you walked by, she would gently stick out her cane to stop those who had been talking to correct them (All photographs shared by grandson, Michael Daniel).

I wonder what it must have felt like to look out over that congregation and remember that she birthed so many generations between 1930 and 1960 into the world.  Mandy was a midwife for at least thirty years.  Not only was she a midwife who delivered thousands of babies, but she was also a herbalist and healer in her community during the days when African Americans and Italian immigrants were not allowed to be treated in hospitals.

Antoinette first became curious about Mandy after interviewing her son, Bishop Willie K. Gordon, Sr. who shared what he could remember of her.  Fortunately, Antoinette felt a deep desire to learn more about Mandy especially because the story of the midwife is most often neglected by researchers.  "This is noteworthy history that would otherwise go unmentioned. How could you not talk about the midwife who did so much to bring lives into the world?" said Antoinette.  She could not find any records to document Mandy, so she posted what she had gathered from Gordon on Facebook.   Miraculously, Michael Daniel saw the post and responded that Mandy was his grandmother.

We are far from reaching the fullest potential of Facebook for genealogical research.  Hopefully, we can learn from the successful ways the Antoinette uses it to locate extended family and share her many research finds while in the field (Follow Antoinette on Facebook).  Antoinette called Michael and met with him at the Amite Branch Public Library where he shared a wealth of photos and midwife records of Mandy Jones Wheat.

Mandy delivered some of her grandchildren and thousands of other African Americans and children of immigrant Italians.  She would walk to their homes if they did not come to get her by mule pulled wagons.  She would stay at the homes of those she assisted sometimes for great lengths of time providing care.

Mandy rarely had a quite moment because she also tended those who were sick, and she was the only person in the area where people could find care.  "Mandy understood the herbs that it took to heal. She saved many lived with her wisdom and knowledge about herbs, tree bark, and tonics," said Antoinette Harrell.

Historical home of Mandy Jones Wheat in Amite, LA

Michael Daniel shared the fact that even after hospitals started treating African Americans, the community still kept going to Mandy because of the trust she had established during her many years of dedicated service.  It is important to understand as well that while Mandy was a very prosperous landowner, the community could not always pay her for her service using money.  They bartered using chickens and other items.  They were good neighbors who learned how to live and survive with each other using what they had.

During times when her family had little, she kept them from going without.  She was a female black farmer who owned her land and grew everything.  She raised livestock and grew fresh vegetables.  She  knew how to preserve meats and would call her family to "come down to d'house.  We got something," recalled her grandson, Eugene Edwards.  She would have smoked beef for them.   He remembers his grandmother giving his family their first cow.

Cow named Lillie Bell on Mandy Jones Wheat's place

She as affectionately called D'Mandy because of her dialect.  She would often use the letter "d" in front of words.  According to her grandson, Michael, this was a mixture of the English and Creole languages.  Michael shared his appreciation for the work Antoinette is doing to share the history of midwives, "I am glad someone is trying to preserve this history" which occurred at a time where African Americans and Italian immigrants could not find healthcare.  Michael's mother, Ruby Wheat Daniel, is the daughter of Mandy and also the person who kept the photographs and history before it was passed to Michael.  It was Ruby who taught her mother to read.

Ruby Wheat Daniel, shared by son, Michael Daniel

Michael even remembers some of the things he was given by his grandmother when he was sick:

• boiled pine tree sprouts mixed with honey and lemon (colds)
• bolied roots
• boiled corn shucks

Stay tuned to this blog to learn more about Mandy Jones Wheat and other unearthed history. Also, be sure to join us for an upcoming Nurturing Our Roots BlogTalkRadio Show on April 12 where two grandsons of Mandy Jones Wheat will discuss the legacy of this prominent midwife.



If anyone knows the names of any of the people who Mandy Jones Weeks birthed or treated please contact us: 
Antoinette Harrell  504-858-4658
                             afrigenah@yahoo.com