The interviews conducted under both the WARBC and the NEH grants constitute the contents of
this collection. They include discussions with Otis and Blanche Arms, Austin Roberts, Louis
Waldon, Morris Moon, Albert and Frances Winchell, Harry Liebfried, Minnie Owens Drake,
Mildred Green(e), Charles Green(e), Vera Sullivan, Edith Harris Greene, Donald Irish, Jenny
Huffman Dewey, Flora Shivers, Vivian Roberts, and Floyd Revels.
COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW
Although today most blacks live in urban areas, in the last century many of them lived in
rural areas. Two Wisconsin farming communities which black families pioneered before the
Civil War were: 1) the Cheyenne Valley Community, located near Hillsboro in Vernon County,
and 2) the Pleasant Ridge Community, located between Beetown and Lancaster in Grant
County.
Early black Wisconsin families included the Greenes, Shepards, Grimes, and Gadlins of the
Pleasant Ridge Community, and the Revels, Roberts, Waldons, Shivers and Bass of the
Cheyenne Valley Community.
These Wisconsin pioneers were the descendents of black people from the continent of
Africa. During the 17th and 18th centuries they were brought to the southern coastal
states of Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In the early part of the
19th century they moved to the border states of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, before
migrating to the rural areas of southwestern Wisconsin during the mid 19th century.
These black settlers came to Wisconsin in search of land, freedom and opportunities for
their children. Wisconsin offered fertile, cheap land, protected escaped slaves by law and
permitted education of black children in public schools.
The early black settlers cleared land, hunted, fished, gathered and planted food for
their own use. Farmers, later, planted cash crops such as tobacco and ginsing. Some
engaged in lumbering.
Increased income allowed more purchases and more leisure activities. They bought more
land, newer farm equipment, cars, clothing, cameras and household appliances.
They built houses and barns and organized churches, schools and literary clubs. They
began to enjoy a more affluent life. Today many of these families have moved to urban
areas. They sent their children away to college and training schools. Some became barbers,
porters, teachers, restaurant owners and factory workers. Others fought in the nation's
wars. The Cheyenne Valley community near Hillsboro persisted longer than Pleasant Ridge
Community near Lancaster and other black communities.
Annual reunions, frequent picnics, weddings and funerals brought many former members of
these communities back together.
