Story of Peter Bruner, a former slave.
(Evelyn McLemore)
Transcribed by Bonnie Snow
Peter Bruner, was born in Winchester, Kentucky, Clark Co., in 1845. His master was John Bell Bruner, who at that time treated him fairly well. When Peter was 10 years of age his master brought him and his sister to Irvine. After arriving in Irvine, Peter's master was very cruel to him. They got only cornbread, fat meat and water to eat. If his master's hunger was not satisfied, he would even take this little from them. The were tables to eat.
Once Peter, was taken into his master's house to nurse the children and was made to sleep on the floor with only a ragged quilt to line on and one thin one over him.
Often he was whipped because his mistress said the washing was not clean, when it was. On one occasion when he was beaten his master to a piece of sole leather about 1 foot long and 2 inches wide, out it full of holes and dipped it in water that was brined. He then took the leather and lashed the poor slave's back.
Joe Bruner, was a better master to his slaves than John. Once Peter stole some sugar and flour, that he and his sister might have pound cake, Joe caught him. He did not whip him however, because he knew that Peter did not often have enough to eat.
Peter, endured torture as long as he could and finally decided to escape. He went to Richmond, Kentucky on to Lexington. In his way he made a contract with a man to drive his horses to Orleans, but was caught while in Lexington. On his way they caught him and took him to jail and he remained until his master came for him. This did not down him, for just as soon as he could he escaped again, and this time got as far as Xenia, Ohio. but was again caught and brought back. This time he was severely beaten for three hours.
When 17 years old, Peter was hired out to Jimmy Benton, who was more cruel than John Bruner, but was again brought back. It was then that he tried to escape. This time he went through Madison Co. near Sugar Creek. This was about the year 1861, when the war had begun. Again he was caught and taken back, but this time by Joe Bruner. He escaped several times, but never could seem to get anywhere. Once when he and another slave, Phil, escaped they were caught and made to walk the entire distance barefoot. After this Peter, was chained each night to a chair. One morning while eating his breakfast he heard a knock at the door and on opening it he found a troop of Union Home Guards. Jim Benton and John Bruner were taken to prison. After this Peter went to Miller's Creek and worked at odd jobs for awhile.
When John Bruner was taken from Prison, he was much better to Peter. Soon after John was released from Prison, Peter escaped again. This time he had joined a regiment in the war. He went through hardships, cold, hunger and illness.
Often when they were awaken in the morning they would find their blankets frozen to the ground. He was sick several times. His feet frozen and other things would go wrong such as having a fever and once he had Variloid. After serving for awhile he was mustered out and returned to Winchester, where his mother lived. He stayed a short time and then went to Oxford, Ohio. Here he went to school, but soon decided he was not learning anything so decided to get married. In the spring he was married to Nannie Proctor. Again he made a mistake and during this time suffered hardships trying to keep a roof over their heads and food enough to eat. He worked at odd jobs, but could not find much to do and got very much in debt. He then went to Hamilton, Ohio and asked Mr. John Frye to loan him some money. He had asked Mr. Roberts for some and he would not loan it. However John Frye did loan him the money and Peter paid himself out of debt and bought a stone quarry from his mother-in-law. He sold a lot of stone from it, but finally sold this and took a job as engineer at Oxford, College. Dr. Walker was president at that time. It was here that Peter celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary. The teacher, faculty and seniors made this a happy day for him. He got a job as janitor under Dr. Thompson at Miami University. He worked here for 13 years under President Taft. He is a member of Bethel A. M. E. Church and has been for over 50 years. In 1918 he and his wife celebrated their golden anniversary.
Peter Bruner is still living (1936) but his eyesight is impaired. He is 91 years of age.
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Slave Narratives - Clark County - Mayme Nunnelley
The first records of Slaves in Clark County was given by a descendant of one of the members of the little band of Revolutionary soldiers who had been comrades and mess mates throughout the long bloody war. These fifteen families, some from Virginia and others from Maryland, started west-ward in the early spring of 1783 for Kentucky. They brought with them some horses, a few cattle, thirty or forty slaves and a few necessary household articles.
After many hardships and trials, borne heroically by both men and women, they halted on the banks of the Big Stoner, in what is now the eastern part of Clark County. Two years later another group of families with their slaves came to join this little settlement.
In some cases the owners were good to their slaves had comfortable quarters for them at a reasonable distance from the main house. Their clothing was given to them as they need it. In most instances the clothing was made on the plantation. Material woven, and shoes mad. The cabins were one and two rooms, maybe more if the families were large. The slaves ate their meals in the kitchen of the main house. A cruel an inhumane master was ostrazied and taught by the silent contempt by his neighbors a lesson he seldom failed to learn. In 1789 the general assembly passed an act in which good treatment was enjoined upon master and all contracts between master and slaves were forbidden. The execution of this law was within the jurisdiction of the county courts which were directed to admonish the master of any ill treatment of his slaves. If presisted (sic) in the court had option and power to declare free the abused slave.
Few traders came to Clark County as the slaves were not sold unless they were unruly. There was no underground railroads through this area.
Among some of the old wills compiled by Dr. George F. Doyle of Winchester, we find wills as follows:
"John Briston in his will dated April 27, 1840 frees his negroes, the executor to go to Todd County and buy land and divide it between the negroes and they were given a cow, three horses and he expressed a desire for them to go to Liberia. They were to be given a certain amount to defray their moving expenses, and buy them provisions and each negro was given his blanket."
"Henry Calmes, in his will dated 1831, divided his slaves among his wife and children." (B7-p654)
"John Christy in his will 1848 says at the death of his wife all his land and slaves are to be sold and the proceeds divided among his children." (B 11-p.346.
"In some old wills enough slaves are to be sold and all outstanding debts paid and those left to be divided among his heirs."
"A will dated 1837 says at the expiration of eight years after his death all negroes above those bequeathed are to be offered to the Colonization Society, if they are of age, to be transported to Liberia and those not of age to continue to serve the persons to whom they are allotted until they come of age, boys 21 and girls 18 when they are to be offered to the Colonization Society to be transported to Liberia. None of them are to be forced to go. Those that do not go to to Liberia are to continue to serve the persons to whom they are allotted until they are willing to go. Three persons by name to be hired out the seventh year after the death and the money arising from said hire to be given to those that go to Liberia first, $10.00 a piece if there should be so much and the balance given the next one to go."
"In the will of Robert Lewis, February 20, 1799, he sets three of his slaves free and gives them the use of 200 acres of the northwest of the Ohio, their life time. There were to be five hired out until their hire amounts to 120 pound each, then they were to be freed. As the other younger slaves became of age, they are to be freed."
From the following will dated June 22, 1840 it shows the slaves were able to accumalate (sic) an estate:
"Allan, Charles June 22, 1840 Oct 26. 1840
"A free man of color. Estate to be sold and the proceeds distributed as follows: To Ester Graves, a woman of color belonging to the heirs of Rice Arnold, $100.00; balance of money to be divided equally between the children "I claim to be mine". Jerrett, Charles, Ester, Carolina, Granvill and Emil, all children aforesaid. Charolette Arnold and all belongin to the heirs of Rice Arnold and also Sally, Alfred, Mary, Lacy, Hulda, Catherine, and Maud, children of Ester Graves aforesaid, slaves of Bengemine Graves; also two children of Mary Allen, a slave belonging to Patsey Allan names Lesa and Carolina, the sixteen children to receive an equal share of the money arising from the sale of his estate."
Clark County did not have an auction block or slave market but every New Years Day in front of the Courthouse owners would bring their slaves to be hired. It was told by one of the old citizens a few years ago, (died two yeas ago) that he walked nine miles one bitter cold day to hire some slaves. These could be hired for a definite time or until they brought certain amounts of money.
In 1812-1814 Winchester, the County Seat of Clark County boasted of a weekly newspaper, issued every Saturday. From the advertisement column of this paper we learned that Dillard Collins was willing to pay $10.00 to get his run away slave, Reuben, and a similar reward was offered for one "Soipio" who had taken a French leave from his master, (donned) in his master's new clothes. Another ad in this paper ways (sic) one Walter Karrick offered to trade a negro ( sic) woman for "Whiskey", oyder (sic) and flour.
"A story is told of a slave "Monk Estill" who helped or rather belonged to Col. James Estill of Madison County. I 1782 in a battle known as Estill's defeat, which occured on the grounds where Mt. Sterling now stands in Montgomery County, Col. Estill and twenty-five men attacked a party of Wyandotte Indians by who the slave was taken prisoner.
"In the thickest of the fight, Monk called out in a loud voice; "Don't give away, Marse Jim, there's only twenty-five Indians and you can whip all of them."
"Col. Estill was killed and the men retreated. Monk escaped from his captors and after many hardships joined the white comrades.
"On his shoulder he carried a wounded soldier twenty-five miles to Estill Station. His young master gave him his freedom in recognition for his bravery and supported him in comfort the rest of his life."
In Clark County are many small negroe settlements formed by the old freed slaves after the war. Some had accumalated a little and bought a small piece of land and others had homes given to them by their owners.
Mr. Archilles Eubank was the largest slave holder of his day, Mr. Colby Quinsenberry was second, in Clark County.
"The story is told that at the time of General Morgan's last raid on Winchester, an old faithful slave of Dr. Hubbard Taylor, (a noted Physician all over this portion of Kentucky at this time) who was always careful of his mater's interests, and without the consent of his master, saved his very fine riding horse, "Black Prince" from being pressed into service of the Confederates. Ab (the slave's name) learned that Morgan's men were good judges of horse flesh and had taken several horses just as the Federals did when they needed them and he determined to conceal price, whose groom he was. He put him there in the smoke house along with the meat, but prince pawed and made disturbances until he took him out and took him to the cellar persuading him to descend the steps and left him there. He came up to hear that several horses had been taken from the cellars of the men, then he hastened back to get Prince. He brought him out of the cellar and took him to the laundry room and sat there with him conversing him to keep quiet until all danger passed. When Prince became restless and wanted to paw his way out, old Ab would say, "Now Prince, you quit dat you's in danger of being tanken by the bad soldiers." Old Prince would stop instantly and listen to his groom."