It provides a interesting look into the pre-war south. Also I have not corrected any grammar or spelling errors.
Here are the two surveys that I had found.
1. State your full name and present post office address:
Robt. J. Williams, Gadsden, Crockett Co., Tenn.
2. State your age now:
81 year and 6 month
3. In what State and county were you born?
North Carolina Duplin County
4. Were you a Confederate or Federal soldier?
Confederate
5. Name of your Company?
Company I; 6th Tenn. (Inf.), Col. Stephen Regt.
6. What was the occupation of your father?
Farmer and Stock man
7. Give full name of your father:__________; born at __________; in the County of __________; State of __________; He lived at __________; Give also any particulars concerning him, as official position, war services, etc.; books written by him, etc.
Joseph Williams; Farow(?); Duplin co.; North Carolina; near Mt. Olive North Carolina; died before the war in 1859.
8. Maiden name in full of your mother: __________; she was the daughter of: __________ (full name) __________ and his wife: __________ (full name) __________; who lived at: __________.
Nancy Millard; Jess Millard; Saly Millard; in Duplin Co., N.C.
9. Remarks on ancestry. Give here any and all facts possible in reference to your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., not including in the foregoing as where they lived, offices held, Revolutionary or other war service; what country they came from to America; first settled - county and State: always giving full names (if possible), and never referring to an ancestor simply as such without giving the name. It is desirable to include every fact possible, and to the end the full and exact record from old Bibles should be appended on separate sheets of this size, thus preserving the facts from loss.
My grandfather Jesse Millard was born in N.C. His parents came from England. I do not know the ancestory of my grandmother Millard but her maiden name was Cherry and of english descent. My grandfather Williams was of Welch descent. I do not know the history of family but I know my grandfather Adam Williams and he lived to be about 100 years old and worked up to the last.
10. If you owned land or other property at the opening of the war, state what kind of property you owned, and state the value of your property as near as you can:
I was 21 at the beginning of war and owned no land or property
11. Did you or your parents own slaves? If so, how many?
My parents owned 10 slaves
12. Did your parents owned land, state about how many acres:
They owned 383 acres
13. State as near as you can the value of all property owned by your parents, including land, when the war opened:
About 5000.00 dollars
14. What kind of house did your parents ocupy? State whether it was a log house or frame house or built of other material, and state the number of rooms it had:
First house of logs contang 2 room 2nd of timber containg 6 rooms
15. As a boy and young man, state what kind of work you did. If you worked on a farm, state to what extent you plowed, worked with a hoe and did other kinds of similiar work. (Certain historians claim that white men would not do work of this sort before the war.)
I worked on farm until 17 years old and did all kind of work that the Negros did hoeing plowing etc and worked with them
16. State clearly what kind of work your father did, and what the duties of your mother were. State all the kinds of work done in the house as well as you can remember - that is, cooking, spinning, weaving, etc.
My worked _____ farm attending mostly to stock. My mother cook but she done the weaving and making cloth for the family. She was very industreas and grate weaver.
17. Did your parents keep any servants? If so, how many?
My mother kept only 1 cook and housemaid
18. How was honest toil - as plowing, hauling, and other sorts of honest work of this class - regarded in your community? Was such work considered respectable and honorable?
All families done part of the work and was considered honorable
19. Did the white men in your community generally engage in such work?
yes all that were not to laxy
20. To what extent were the white men in your community leading lives of idleness and having others do their work for them?
Very few
21. Did the men who owned slaves mingle freely with those who did not own slaves, or did slaveholders in any way show by their actions that they felt themselves better then respectable, honorable men who did not own slaves?
Generaly there was but little differnce
22. At the churches, at the schools, at public gatherings in general, did slaveholders and non-slaveholders mingle on a footing of equality?
Yes in my boyhood days
23. Was there a friendly feeling between slaveholders and non-slaveholders in your community, or were they antagonistic to each other?
No animostity among the respectable class
24. In a political contest, in which one candidate owned slaves and the other did not, did the fact that one candidate owned slaves help him in winning the contest?
Do no know as to above as I was to young to observe if any but think not now.
25. Were the opportunities good in your community for a poor young man, honest and industrious, to save up enough to buy a small farm or go in business for himself?
Any respectable young man had as good chance as any who owned slaves
26. Were poor, honest, industrious young men, who were ambitious to make something of themselves, encouraged or discouraged by slaveholders?
Any honest young man _____ all the encouragement of all as much as who owned slaves in my recollection
27. What kind of school or schools did you attend?
Common schools of the county until I was 17 year old
28. About how long did you go to school altogether?
About 2 years to common school, counting by month
29. How far was it to the nearest school?
2 miles. My father sent me to N.C. in 1858 and I attend school 2 years at Ft. M_____ a Military School, lived with my uncle and aunt Kesson.
30. What school or schools were in operation in your neighborhood?
Just old field schools taught by not very learned teacher
31. Was the school in your community private or public?
Both
32. About how many months in the year did it run?
4 to 6 months
33. Did the boys and girls in your community attend school pretty regularly?
Not very regular in my school days
34. Was the teacher of the school you attended a man or woman?
...
35. In what year and month and at what place did you enlist in the service of the Confederacy or of the Federal Government?
In the month of May 1861 in Confederate army
36. After enlistment, wher was your Company sent first?
Jackson, Tenn. and then to to Union City, Tenn.
37. How long after enlistment before your Company engaged in battle?
Nearly 12 at Corenth
38. What was the first battle you engaged in?
None was discharged befor battle of Corinth or Shilo
39. State in your own way your experience in the War from this time on to its close. State where you went after the first battle - what you did and what other battles you engaged in, how long they lasted, what the results were; state how you lived in camp, how you were clothed, how you slept, what you had to eat, how you were exposed to cold, hunger and disease. If you were in the hospital or prison, state your experience there:
I was taken sick at New Madrid Mo. when our command was located ther and I was in hospitle several days with rhumatism
As I was 2nd Lieutentant of our Co. the Com_____ and Col. that it best for me to resign as I could not stand the campaign contemplated. So on this advice I resigned.
40. When and where were you discharged?
New Madrid, Mo.
41. Tell something of your trip home?
I received transportation from Gr Marten(?) home with discharge papers.
42. Give a sketch of your life since the close of the Civil War, stating what kind of business you engaged in, where you have lived, your church relations, etc. If you have held any office or offices, state what it was. You may state here any other facts connected with your life and experience which has not been brought out by the questions:
I was not able to work for 12 month. Then took up the study of Medacin in fall of 1862
43. What kind of work did you take up when you came back home?
I entered Medican after I was discharged and graduated in the term in 1865. I followed my professions with sucess until 1870 when my health was _____ and I embarked in the drug trade at Gadsden, Tenn. My health most of the time was very bad most the rutism. I give up my practice except office practice. I am affiliated with Christian Church since 1866. I have held no office except Mayor of our town and Postmaster I had a great love for Horticultur and took active interest in our county to develop the industry.
44. On a separate sheet, give the names of some of the great men you have known or met in your time, and tell some of the circumstances of the meeting or incidents in their lives. Also ass any further personal reminiscences. (Use all the space you want.)
...
45. Give the names of all the members of your Company you can remember. (If you know where the Roster is to be had, please make special note of this.)
The last members of our Company beside myslef was Jos. Wash. Lemond of Gadsden, Tn. who died a few days ago. As far as can remember the names of our Co. now given below the roster is in Nashville among the record in War department. (note: most of the names cannot be determined due to his writing) ...James M. Collinsworth, Capt.; Lt. McKinnet, Lt. R.J. Williams, Lt. E. Smith, John Arnold, Ord. Sgt., J.W. Mathews, C.T. Woodson, R.S.Matthews, John Mathes, Jr. Sam Mathews, I. Mathews, John Patterson. I will have to refer _____ roster for names of all Co. I cannot remember given names, but all have now passed over the rive except myself. So far as I know.
46. Give the NAME and POST OFFICE ADDRESSS of any living Veterans of the Civil War, whether members of your Company or not; whether Tennesseans or from other States.
...
1. State your full name and present Post Office address:
Thomas A. Ried (Reid), 526 Madison St. Jackson, Tenn.
2. State your age now:
83 years
3. In what State and county were you born?:
Tenn. County Madison
4. In what State and county were you living when you enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, or of the Federal Government?:
Tenn. Madison
5. What was your occupation before the war?:
Farming
6. What was the occupation of your father?:
Farmer
7. If you owned land or other property at the opening of the war, state what kind of property you owned, and state the value of your property as near as you can:
Land and Negrows, $5,000.00
8. Did you or your parents own slaves? If so, how many?:
Yes over 100
9. If your parents owned land, state about how many acres:
Several thousand
10. State as near as you can the value of all property owned by your parents, including land, when the war opened:
Between $100,000 200,000
11. What kind of house did your parents occupy? State whether it was a log house or fram house or built of other materials, and state the number of rooms it had:
Large two story frame, 10 rooms
12. As a boy and young man, state what kind of work you did. If you worked on a farm, state to what extent you plowed, worked with a hoe, and did other kinds of similar work:
Various kinds of work about the place
13. State clearly what kind of work your father did, and what the duties of your mother were. State all the kinds of work done in the house as you can remember - that is, cooking, spinning, weaving, etc.
One store in Denmark. Three water mills. Spent time tending these. Mother superintended the house hold affairs. Had a great deal of spinning done. Wove cloth for the negros. This by the older negros. Most of this work was done only by mothers gidance
14. Did your parents keep any servants? If so, how many?:
They did about two
15. How was honest toil - as plowing, hauling and other sorts of honest work of this class - regarded in your community? Was such work considered respectable and honorable?:
It was. The best men in the county did this.
16. Did the white men in your community generally engage in such work?:
They did
17. To what extent were the white men in your community leading lives of idleness and having others do their work for them?:
There were some idle as it is today butthe more a man had the harder he worked.
18. Did the men who owned slaves mingle freely with those who did not own slaves, or did slaveholders in any way show by their actions that they felt themselves better than respectable, honorable men who did not own slaves?:
Altogether depending on the man. The way he conducted himself this had nothing to do with the man.
19. At the churches, at the schools, at public gatherings in general, did slaveholders and non-slaveholders mingle on a footing of equality?
They certainly did.
20. Was there a friendly feeling between slaveholders and non-slaveholders in your community, or were they antagonistic to each other?:
That had nothing to do with it.
21. In a political contest in which one candidate owned slaves and the other did not, did the fact the one candidate owned slaves help him in winning the contest?
Depends upon the man and his popularity
22. Were the opportunities good in your community for a poor young man - honest and industrious - to save up enough to buy a small farm or go in business for himself?:
As a general rule they were encouraged and assisted
23. Were poor, honest, industrious young men, who were ambitious to make something of themselves, encouraged or discouraged by slaveholders?:
They were encouraged
24: What kind of school or schools did you attend?:
Subscription schools
25. About how long did you go to school altogether?:
Three to nine months a year
26. How far was it to the nearest school?:
Quite a short distance
27. What school or schools were in operation in your neighborhood?:
Academys Schools four miles. Several small schools equally as near.
28. Was the school in your community private or public?:
I attended both private and public
29. About how many months in the year did it run?:
Three to nine months
30. Did the boys and girls in your community attend achool pretty regularly?:
Some did and some did not.
31. Was the teacher of the school you attended a man or a woman?:
Men and somen
32. In what year and month and at what place did you enlist in the Confederate or of the Federal Government?:
May 15, 1861 in Jackson Tenn. Confederacy
33. State the name of your regiment, and state the names of as many members of your company as you remember:
Six Tennessee Regiment Company "K" Maney Brigade Cheatham Division Army of Tennessee. I can name all the men 140. Now living G.H. Robertson, D.T. Phillips. Will furnish all other names on request.
34. After enlistment, where was your company sent first?:
Union City
35. How long after your enlistment before your company engaged in battle?:
From April 6 to October 8
36. What was the first battle you engaged in?:
Shiloh
37. State in your own way your experience in the war from this time on until the close. State where you went after the first battle - what you did, what other battles you engaged in, how long they lasted, what the results were; state how you lived in camp, how you were clothed, how you slept, what you had to eat, how you were exposed to cold, hunger and disease. If you were in the hospital or in prison, state your experience here:
Corinth, Miss. Camped there had several little fights. Murfreesboro, Dec. 28, 1863 Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863. Mission Ridge, Sept. 22, 1863 and Nove. 2, 1863. Cat Creek, Nov 6. 1863. Rocky Face, May 1864. Resaca, May 15 and 16, 1864. In Front Atlanta, July 26, 1864. Jones Boro, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 1864. Love Joy, Sept. 2 and 3, 1864. Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864. Overton Hill, Nov. 15 and 16, 1864.
38. When and where were you discharged?:
April 26, 1865. Greensboro, North Carolina
39. Tell something of your trip home:
After we surrendered every 5th man carried his gun from Greensburo to Greensville, Tenn. to protect ourselves from bushwackers, we stacked arms took train to Nashville.
40. What kind of work did you take up when you came back home?:
Farming
41. Give a sketch of your life since the close of the Civil War, stating what kind of business you have engaged in, where you have lived, your church relations, etc. If you have held an office or offices, state what it was. You may state here any other facts connected with your life and experience which has not been brought out by the questions:
Farming. Texas, Tenn. Member the Methodist Church. Merchantile business. Spectated in land. Have lived a quiet peacable citicen.
42. Give the full name of your father: __________; born __________ at __________; in the county of: __________ state of: __________. He lived at __________. Give also any particulars concerning him, as official position, war services, etc.; books written by, etc.
Thomas Ried (Reid); Gulfport; Chattam county; N.C.; lived in Madison county, Tenn.; Farmer, Merchant and miller. Held no public offices. Elder in Old Presbyterian Church.
43. Maiden name in full of your mother: __________; She was the daughter of _________ (full name) __________ and his wife __________ (full name) __________, who lived at __________.
Hanna Caroline Greer; James Greer; Delia Greer; near Jackson, Tenn.
44. Remarks on ancestory. Give here any and all facts possible in reference to your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., not included in the foregoing, as where they lived, offic held, Revolutionary or other war services; what country the family came from to America; where first settled, county and state; always giving full names (if possible) and never referring to an ancestor simply as such without giving the name. It is desirable to include every fact possible and to that end full and exact record from old Bibles should be appended on separate sheets of this size, thus preserving the facts from loss:
Great grand father Dr. Thomas Reid of Scotland. Grand father David Reid, North Carolina. Father Thomas Reid, N.C.
45. Give the names of all the members of your Company you can remember: (If you know wher the Roster is to be had, please make special note of this.)
...
46. Give here the NAME and POST OFFICE ADDRESS of living Veterans of the Civil War, whether members of your cmpany or not.
NAME POST OFFICE STATE
...
(Reid, T.A. Pension No. 11709)