From the WPA Slave
Narratives:
Louis Joseph Piernas - Harrison County
Foreword: Politically prominent negro in Bay St. Louis, in period subsequent
to reconstruction, the 80's and 90's. Lives the first street north of
Estabrooke St, on north side of street, third house west of Necaise Avenue. It
was stated to writer that Louis J. Piernas had repeatedly refused to give an
interview to WPA project workers, saying that after having served the
government over a long period of years, now that he was old and in need, its
agents had refused him Relief. Indeed, her first attempt to contact him
resulted in failure, she arriving just in time to see him disappearing down a
lane, and to be told by a pert colored neighbor, that "Mr." Piernas was on the
way to his "farm" and was too busy to talk to folks. This time she decided to
use different tactics and to forego social conventions in order to get him to
talk. Through the courtesy of Mr. John H. Lang of Pass Christian, she was
allowed to use his name in requesting the interview. Arrived at his tiny but
neat three room house, his elderly wife came to the door. The wife was bright
creamy color, with pretty long white hair. "May I see your husband?" She said,
"Wait, I call him." He soon appeared, a small mulatto in appearance, with gray
hair and beard, attired as if to go somewhere.
"Mr. Piernas," she stated, "the government is having us write the life stories
of very old colored people, and Mr. John H. Lang of Pass Christian has
suggested that your life has been a very interesting one and that perhaps you
would tell me about it."
Instantly he was attentive and complaisant and told his [story] courteously
and without bitterness. His English was excellent and no attempt will be made
to reproduce his slightly French accent.
Yes, Mr. John H. Lang is a very good friend of mine. I have known him all my
life. I was born March 11th, 1856, and will be 82 my next birthday. I was born
right here in Bay St. Louis, near what is called the Cowan settlement, but my
ancestors were here before the Cowans and had a land grant from the Spanish
government. I was born free, and so were all my fore parents. Some of them
fought with Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans - we always just called it
"Jackson's War."
My first American ancestor was a Spaniard named Piernas, and piernas, means
"leg". My father, however, was born in Havana. His parents died, and he came
back to his kinfolks over here. My mother's people came from San Domingo, that
is where we got the mixed blood. My father's name was also Louis Piernas and
we lived right there in the north end of Bay St. Louis, near where the
Peerless Factory now stands. My grandmother owned all that land at one time.
There was a little settlement of free mulattos there, Piernas, La Bat,
Barabino, Lassassare - we all spoke French. We kept ourselves seprate from the
real negroes, and had our own frolics and dances to which the white folks
would come sometimes. We went to church with the white folks at Our Lady of
the Gulf Church. I was christened there had my first communion there and was
married there.
Father Le Duc, the good priest, had a private school for colored children in
the church yard, we all went together, the free mulattos and the ex-slave
children. That was in 1868 when I went to school to Father Le Duc. We studied
both English and French. Later the school was moved from the Beach to Necaise
Avenue near Estabrooke St. and now there is a big church, school and convent
there for the colored. (St. Rose de Lima with 4 yr. accredited high school)
I went to New Orleans when quite young and went to the public schools there,
and then to night classes at Straight University, while learning the barber
trade. I never did get very far on in school, but I have continued to educate
myself all my life. I have always been a great reader, and educated myself
through reading.
(What are some of the books you have read?)
Well, among others, I read Gibbons Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, some of
Victor Hugo's novels, some of Shakespeare, Longfellow poems, and the like. I
cannot see to read much now, so I only keep up with the newpapers. I have
given my books away, some to St. Rose's school, some to the public library and
other places.
In my younger days I also used to play and organized the Promot Brass Band.
But more important, I organized the first colored Benevolent Association here,
59 years ago, and am the only living charter member. There are now 20 such
Associations in Bay St. Louis, and every colored person here, men, women and
children belongs to one. The Benefits pay for a doctor and medicine in
sickness, small weekly pensions in distress, and bury the dead. In my
Association the dues are 50 cents a month, with $2.00 additional per year for
doctor bills. In this way we are much better off than the poor white people,
who often have no way to meet these expenses. Nearly all our people in some
way or the other manage to keep up these dues.
Yes, I have a faint remembrance of the Civil War. (Negroes always say Civil
War) I was ten years old at the close. One thing I remember very distinctly. A
Federal boat went up the Jourdan River - you know I said that we lived near
the Beach in north part of Bay St. Louis, and not far from the mouth of the
Jourdan. The Yankees were after cattle, they wanted some fresh beef. There
were some Confederate cavalry men guarding the Coast. The boat slipped up
before they knew it, but they said it should not come out. All of us colored
children and grown folks too, got out on the Beach to see what happened. But
the Confederates ordered us to get back and into our houses, for they said,
"There is going to be a fight when that boat starts out, and you may get
killed." But I wanted to see what was going on, so I hid out where I could
see. There were four white men hiding in the loft of our house then, hiding
from the Confederate officers because they didn't want to go in the army. We
always helped them to hide and get away.
When the men in the Yankee boat had slaughtered all the beef they wanted, they
started out. The Confederates hidden behind bushes, began to fire on them and
the Yankees fired back with big guns, so there was a little battle. Soon the
Confederates began to run and never stopped till they got across the county to
Gainesville on Pearl River. You know Gainesville used to be the county seat,
but the courthouse burned in 1853 with all the records, and afterward it was
changed to Shieldsboro (now Bay St. Louis.)
(What do you think of the Yankees coming in and taking your cattle and
destroying things?)
They took my grandmother's cattle with the rest, but the Yankees had to eat,
and it was war. You know Sherman said, "War is hell," and it's that way in
China and Spain today.
My mother was Adele La Bat, she was born here. My father was a brick layer by
trade, he laid the foundations of Our Lady of the Gulf Church, and of the old
Jackson House which burned at Gulfside (Negro Protestant Educational Center at
Waveland). They called it the "Jackson House", but President Andrew Jackson
never had anything to do with it - it was some other Jackson.
My first work as a child was with my uncle in the oyster business, but after I
learned the barber trade in New Orleans, I came back here and set up a shop.
This was in 1877.
I never saw anything of the Kluklux clan in my life, they didn't bother around
here. What I know of them is through reading.
I think Judge Hugo Black is all right and that he will hold his seat. I think
that he has proved that he is a friend to all religions and colors. I'm sure
that he will be fair to Catholics and negroes.
I have held several offices in my life time. The first was when I was
appointed a member of the Bay St. Louis School Board. We had separate schools
for white and colored then, but at that time in towns, the Board had to
consist of three members, two white and one colored to represent the colored
schools. Now in towns, all Board members are white, but the country color
schools have colored trustees. I served on the Board with Col. Posey, and
Capt. J. V. Toulme.
After that I was elected secretary and auditor of Bay St. Louis 1884-86, I
think. Then I was Supervisor for Beat 5, Hancock County which includes the
town of Bay St. Louis, two terms of 4 years each. I ran against some of the
most prominent citizens, one an ex-Confederate soldier. There were the two
parties at the time, Democrat and Republican, but I was elected on a coalition
ticket, composed of some from both parties. I forget the exact years, without
going to my records.
I was appointed post master of Bay St. Louis under Benj. Harrison, and
altogether served under five presidents, being out for short times while
Cleveland and Wilson were presidents. The post office was only 4th class when
I was appointed, but I soon worked it up to third-class. (It is second now.)
I have been Chairman of the Republican Party in this county for 40 years and
have voted in every general election. I may not live to see it, but I believe
the time will come, when colored Democrats, will be allowed to vote in the
Democratic primaries. I am a Republican, but if a man wants to be a Democrat,
that is his right.
The last election was so one sided and now there are divisions in the
Democratic party. I think perhaps by 1940 there will be a new party, composed
of dissatisfied Democrats, most of the Republicans and other elements.
This man Lewis has it in his head to be President. I feel that he is a very
dangerous man, and in a place of power would turn out to be another Hitler.
(Would you mind telling me whether the offices you held, yielded you enough to
provide for your old age?)
They did not. I am right now receiving State Assistance. When I was in office
emoluments were not what they are now. As postmaster, I had to employ three
clerks, and the government paid only one. Salary for the other two had to come
out of my pocket. When all expenses were paid, I had little left. I own this
little house, and a good sized truck patch, where I raise vegetables. I only
get $4.00 a month Old Age Assistance. Louisiana does much better. It does seem
that with her sales tax and other taxes, Mississippi could do better for her
old people and her schools. There is too much wrangling going on. If Harrison
and Bilbo would stop scrapping and work together, they might get us in better
shape.
He showed me through the tiny house, with its three tiny rooms one behind the
other. Rather shabby rugs and matting covered the floors, chairs and dressers
were quite worn. The wife was at a sewing machine in the middle room, working
with some dainty summer material, probably a dress for some neighbor.
In the front room was beautiful four poster bed with canopy. Piernas said that
he had bought it in the early days of his marriage, and that many people had
tried to buy it from him but that he did not intend to sell it.
Leaving, he gave the writer a cordial invitation to return, and said he would
be glad to give any further information.
Interviewer's Questions in ()
Interviewer: Unknown
Transcribed by Ann Allen Geoghegan
Mississippi Narratives
Prepared by
The Federal Writer’s Project of
The Works Progress Administration
For the State of Mississippi
