Oral History Project Midwives of Lincoln County, Arkansas

By Gladys Turner Finney

Mary Hill, Grady
Mamie Freeman, Grady
Ellie York, Yorktown
Carrie Berry, delivered Ora Dean White Donaldson
Mary Whitfield
Hester Collins, delivered Gladys Turner Finney
Mrs. Lewis

Biography of James "Jim" Bluford

By Gladys Turner Finney

Preface
Researching my Bluford and Turner families was a labor of love. It was my intent
to connect my family from 1870 when African-Americans first appeared in U.S.
Population Census, by name, to my generation. And, so I have done. Perhaps, more
research could have been done, were resources available, as seen on popular television
programs: African-American Lives, Who do you think you are, Researching Your
Roots.

Only one branch of the Bluford Family was researchable and that was George Bluford,
my maternal great grandfather, who was born in South Carolina about 1866, migrated
to Louisiana, and eventually to Arkansas about 1909.

I can only imagine how great the the research was hindered by lack of the 1890
Federal Population Census, destroyed by fire. The disconnect of 20 years 1880 to
1900 is a very long time in the lives of families. Many were lost, died or disappeared.
My disappointment was the inability to connect with present day descendants of
other lines of the Bluford Family.

The oldest family member found on the Bluford Family Tree was Betsey Simkins,
born about 1820 in South Carolina, 200 years ago.

I had the good fortune to know 3 of 4 of my grandparents and 4 of my great
grandparents. This is a blessing when one consider the impact of slavery on the
African-American family. I represent the third generation post slavery.

Biography of James "Jim" Bluford
James, "Jim" Bluford is believed to have been born in the state of South Carolina.
The county of his birth is unknown. He is the earliest known progenitor of my Bluford
family. His birth may have been, 1830, 1832 or 1840. His parents and siblings are
unknown, as well as any events pertaining to their lives, birth or death. His wife
Mary Bluford's maiden name is inferred to have been Simkins, based on her mother's
name, Betsey Simkins.

In 1870, James and Mary, according to the Federal Population Census for South Carolina,
lived in Saluda Division, Edgefield County South Carolina with their children, Jessie 14;
Harry or Horry, 12, Emma 10; Jim 8; Will 6; and George 4.

Mary Bluford was born about 1840 in South Carolina. There is no history of her family. In
the 1900 Louisiana Federal Population census, she is recorded as "Mary Bliffard," a sixty
year old widow, living in Madison Parish, Ward 4 with her son, his wife Savannah, and two
grandsons, Ebbie and James Bluford. The census worker reported that she was the mother
of thirteen children but only four were still living. George Bluford and his descendants
are the only known descendants of James, "Jim," Bluford and Mary Simkins Bluford.

It is unknown when and under what circumstances the Bluford Family migrated to
Louisiana from South Carolina and what family members migrated with them. It
seems that James "Jim" Bluford is deceased by the time of the 1900 Louisiana Census.
He is not reported as part of the family. It is also unknown if any other Bluford family
members migrated to Lincoln County Arkansas in 1907 with George Bluford besides his
nuclear family.

James "Jim" Bluford was born during slavery and the question of his slave master has been
an ongoing matter of research. There were no Blufords listed in the 1850 South Carolina
census records. There were six caucasians, "white," Bluford families listed in the 1860
South Carolina Census. I've been told the Bluford name is  "not"common in South
Carolina.

Not until 2019, I learned a Bluford Plantation existed in Pineville, St Stephens Parish,
now Berkeley County. The Bluford Plantation dated back to the 1700s, owned by
Philip Williams and later purchased by Peter Sinkler. Peter Sinkler died childless and
left the plantation to his sister, Elizabeth Sinkler Dubose and or/her son, William Dubose.
Julian Dubose was the next owner. In 1903 the house was purchased and developed into
a Hunt Club.  Library of Congress (HABS-SC-236. South Carolina Historical Society.

James Bluford Timeline:
Slavery-1830-1863- Bluford Plantation?  No documentation.
                                 Berkley County, South Carolina                                               
Post Slavery-
1870-Saluda, Edgefield County, S.C.
1880 Cooper, Edgefield County  S.C.

Teachers at Grady Colored School (Arkansas) Oral History Project

By Dr. Gladys Turner Finney

Mrs. Humphery (President L.A. Davis, Sr. Sister
Mrs. Boulware
Gladys McGill
Bob White
Miss Patton
Mrs. Mamie Holmes
Vesta Johnson
Mrs. Berthala Austin
Miss Emma Bell Lee
Rose Marie Ward
Mrs. Molette, wife of Dr. Molette
Miss Marshall, wife of Dr. Marshall, UAPB Dean of Freshman
Silver T. Holmes Smith
Miss Long
Miss Ruby Phillips
Mr. Jim Phillips (Principal)
Mr. Lawson (Principal)
Mr. Nixon (Principal)
Professor C.F. West (Principal

Source: Ivory Donaldson
             Earnest Donaldson
             November 19, 2018

The Bend School Teachers
Mrs. Alphanie Murphy
Mrs. Ella Moore
Rev McKissic
Mattie Williams
Consolidated with Grady Colored School

Source: Mrs. Jearline Williams, May 13, 2020
              Dr. Charles O. Davidson, May 15, 2020 Additions/> July 13/2021/> Owen Freeman; Stanley Scott I; Mrs. Rennie Bea DeBruce; Elesteen Pratt, Cafeteria; Hazel Seale, Cafeteria Zelda Pearce, Music Teacher; Mary Harris, English Teacher; Zeretha Daniels, Elementary Teacher Mrs. Dorothy Geater
Source: Odell Seale

Professor Samuel Vaster, Educator & Principal, Vaster School, Moscow, Lincoln County, Arkansas

Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Sr. left and Mr. Samuel Vaster, right

By Gladys Turner Finney

Since 2002 I had hoped to obtain enough documented material to write an article
on the esteemed Principal of Vaster School, Professor Samuel Vaster, without
success. Each time I visited my Aunt Earnestine Bluford Johnson who lived on
Bitely Road at Moscow, across from the crumbling school, and whose children
had attended Vaster, the urgency was rekindled.

Professor Vaster was a respected teacher of African-Americans growing up
in the vicinity of Tamo and Moscow.  My earliest recollection of him is
before school age when I walked one day with my maternal aunts Earnestine
and Savannah Bluford and their brother Jerry Bluford to school. It was a long
trek from my maternal grandparents' country farm home. That particular day the
older kids at recess were playing "pop whip" which did not hold and a number of
the students collided with me who was on the side line. I remember Professor
Vaster disciplining them.  My mom always said the school was five miles distance
as she had walked it as a child.

I recalled that every obituary or funeral program mentioned Professor Vaster
including my parents. And so did just about everyone who died from the two
communities of Tamo and Moscow who had attended school under him.

I do not know the chronology of Vaster School. I believe its precursor may have
been Union School where I started first grade in 1941.

The school which became known as Vaster High School during racial segregation
was built on Bitely Road at Moscow and had its demise after the desegregation of
public schools in Arkansas stood there exposed to the elements and crumbling.
The cornerstone and name were gone. The Jefferson County School District said
it did not know what became of the records. Others surmised that the last principal
Professor Peter Daniels may have known. I was never able to access Professor
Daniels prior to his death.

Professor Vaster and the dedicated teachers of Vaster School should not be lost
to history. Thus, it is my intent to preserve the oral history information I have
obtained through interviews and other research.

Telephone Interview: Dr. Charles O. Davidson, December 30, 2017.
Dr. Davidson was at Vaster High School, 1955-56; 156-57 School Years.

Dr. Davidson graduated from AM&N College (now the University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff) After Professor Vaster retired, Davidson became
Assistant Vice-Principal to the new Principal, Professor Peter Daniels
School Superintendent was Mr. Dial.

Primary Grade Teachers:
Miss Mamie Johnson, Miss Johnnie Johnson (sisters)
Mrs. Dorothy Jeters
Miss Evangeline Crawford, 4th & 5th Grades
Mrs. Ruby Daniels (wife of Principal)
Miss Rennie Bea, 1st Grade
Dorothy Kelley, 2nd Grade

High School Teachers
Mrs. Carrie Gilbert. English
Mrs. Marinda Henderson Buckner, 58-59; 59-60, English
Mr. Charles O. Davidson, Mathematics & Science, Boys Coach
Orange Freeman, Coach
Professor Peter Daniels, Mathematics & Science
DeArthur Grice, Assistant Principal

Bus Drivers
Roy Collins, Jr.
Otto Hall
Rev. Willie Nolton
Stanley Scott

Dietitian & Food Service, Ms. Mary Brown
Lunch Program started?
1956 Gymnasium was built

School operated on a split session, Summer Session
& October to April Session.

Source: Charles O. Davidson, 12/30/17
              James Dade, 5/22/20

Professor Vaster Masonic & Community Affiliation
"Republican Mass Meeting"
Negro Republicans endorsed R.M. Galbraith for appointment as postmaster
of the Pine Bluff Post Office.
Samuel Vaster, Secretary of meeting.
Daily Graphic, Pine Bluff, April 3, 1921.

"Leading and distinguished masons 50th Anniversary"
50 years ago the first grand lodge of Colored Masons in the state of Arkansas
was organized in the city of Little Rock. Fourth Grand Master M.A. Clark is the only
still donating his time. He is in attendance. John H. Johnson was the second. Professor
Joseph Corbin was the third grand master, 23,000 members. Owns 200,000 real estate
in Little Rock. Samuel Vaster of Moscow in attendance.
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, 11 August 1922, p.6.

"650 Visitors Will Be in City of Ceremonies"
Samuel Vaster of Moscow in attendance.
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, August 6, 1922, p.7.

Negro Republicans Endorse Captain R.M. Galbraith for city appointment as postmaster of Pine Bluff Post Office. The mass meeting was held at the Miller Theater Building on State Street. Rev. A.W. Winston in attendance. H.M. Thomas, Chairman; Samuel Vaster was Secretary of Meeting Source: Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, 03 April, 1921, p. 2. -------------------------------------
World War I Draft Registration Card, 1917-1918, Jefferson County Arkansas, 17December, 1880, Black, FHL, Roll Number 1530467 Draft Board 2

Sergeant John H. Corbin

By Dr. Gladys Turner Finney

Sergeant John H. Corbin was born free in Ohio about 1842. His parents, William Corbin,
born about 1798, and Susan Mordecai Carter Corbin, had been enslaved in Virginia. His mother
was born in 1804 and was emancipated at age nineteen by John Parkhill of Henrico County
Virginia. William and Susan were married, January 23, 1825 in Ross County, Ohio. Susan Corbin
died February 9, 1874 in Cincinnati, Ohio. William Corbin died January 29, 1875 in Cincinnati,
Ohio.

John H. Corbin enlisted in the military October 16, 1861, at Camp Wood, Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin. He fought as part of the 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company A.
The 14th Wisconsin was mustered into federal service of the United States, January 30, 1862.
John H. Corbin was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant on August 31, 1862. He reenlisted on December 12, 1863, and was reappointed Quartermaster Sergeant. He was discharged on
October 9, 1865 at Mobile, Alabama.

The circumstances of how John H. Corbin came to be a member of the Wisconsin Company 14-A
are unknown. "Company F of the 29th Wisconsin Infantry was the only African-American Unit
credited to Wisconsin. It was composed of Black soldiers who agreed to take the place of white
Wisconsin residents. Most came from Illinois or Missouri. A handful also joined from other states"
according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

John H. Corbin married Virginia C. Baker on February 8, 1871 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They
had three children.

He migrated to New Orleans and shortly after his arrival obtained employment as teacher in the public schools. He soon became principal of McDonough School, Number 5. The school was
located in the historic West-bank Algiers Neighborhood.

John H. Corbin died September 19, 1878 in New Orleans during the Yellow Fever Epidemic
along with his brother, Henry A. Corbin, who had been Private Secretary to Governor P.B.S.
Pinchback. "The high estimate in which he was held by all who knew him was attested by the large number of people who attended his funeral and evinced in their sorrowful faces how deeply they
felt the loss they had sustained." Honorable William G. Brown said of the two brothers in a
condolence to a cousin in Cincinnati: "With different dispositions, straight-forwardness and integrity
will inevitably command esteem."

After John H. Corbin death, his widow, Virginia C. Corbin, applied for a Civil War
Widow's pension which she received until her death July 4, 1903.

Sergeant Corbin was the brother of Professor Joseph Carter Corbin, founder of Branch Normal
College, now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He was the maternal uncle of Cyrus
F. Adams and John Quincy Adams, prominent newspaperman of the late 19th and early 20th Century.

Sources:
Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 772.
Civil War Widows Pension Application
The New Orleans Weekly, 30 November, 1878, p.2.