CRAWFORD CO, AR - Josiah Waddle - WPA Life History

Sup. G. B,--Doug.--III, A, D, 1 (Arthur T. Ricard) 

October 19, 1936 

Omaha, District #2 MR. JOSIAH WADDLE--PIONEER SETTLER (COLORED) 

Mr. Josiah Waddle was born in Springfield, Mo., August 7, 1849. His
father, Thomas W. Waddler, was owned with some forty other slaves by a
Mr. Waddle, who had a large plantation near Springfield, Mo. All slaves
in the early days took the name of their owners. Although few years
later a Mr. Childers became owner of Josiah, be still kept the name of
Waddle. 

When twelve years old, at the time the Civil War broke out in 1861,
Josiah had devoted all his spare time to learning the mechanical and
blacksmithing trade. When the U. S. Soldiers came to Missouri they
camped on the banks of Wilson Creek ten miles from Springfield. Since
Josiah became very useful around this camp, the soldiers in return
would explain to Josiah that the war was to banish slavery and free all
slaves. He was with the 11th Kansas Cavalry for six months, when he was
sent to Van Buren, Arkansas, by his owner to work for the Creek
Indians, his owner to receive $300.00 for his twelve months' service.
In 1863 he returned to Springfield and offered to become a soldier in
the army, being then only fourteen years of age and anxious to get away
from slavery, he took care of the captain's horse and slept in same
tent with the captain. Later Josiah travelled to Ft. Leavenworth, where
all captains more congregated. Soon, however, all troops scattered and
left Missouri. 

Since Josiah was stranded, he went to Fort Scott the same year, 1863,
being well built for his age, he was accepted into the service in the
U. S. Army, where be served two years and seven months, receiving his
honorable discharge Oct, 9, 1866. He then returned to Fort Scott, where
he stayed with Captain George Clark for several months, after which he
went to Topeka, Kansas where he lived for ten years. 

He then went to his sister in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1877, where
he learned the barber trade, coming to [Council?] Bluffs the following
year. Two years later 1880, be moved to Omaha, where in addition to his
barber shop, he organized and lead a fifteen piece colored band and
orchestra, which for several years furnished music for county fairs,
chatauquas, carnivals, etc. 

Mr. Waddle says that he attended President Garfield's funeral, and also
cast his first vote for President Grant. 

While traveling over the country, he met and married Miss Belle Moore
at Enid, Oklahoma on March 21, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Waddle live at
2807 No. 24th Street, where Mr. Waddle enjoys relating his early
pioneer experiences to the numerous visitors calling at his home. (1) 

SOURCE OF INFORMATION[:?] 

(1) Josiah Waddler 2807 No. 24th St. 


Credit: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project 
Collection.

Crawford

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