When my mother was a girl she was staying with some kinfolks for one month.  These people owned several slaves and among them was one old man-servant who was very old and had served out his usefulness.  It was war time and food was scarce even for the white folks.  The younger and stronger slaves got most of the food, and old Tom was always hungry.  My mother finding this out, and feeling sorry for him would slip him bread and other food through a hole in the kitchen floor.  A short time after this, my mother married and moved to a home of her own.  Old Tom never forgot her kindness; and finally persuaded his master to give him to my mother, who kept him until his death.

ESTILL CO.  (Evelyn McLemore)

Story of Peter Bruner, a former slave: 

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[TR:?] were tables to eat from.

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 lie 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 took a piece of sole leather about 1 foot long and 2 inches wide, cut 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 when Peter stole some sugar and flour, that he and his sister might have a 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.  On 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 again 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.