National Affairs: 8 Husben

The Whiteville, N. C. News Reporter last week published the full text of an application for old age assistance filed by one Annie Bell Bowden, colored, of Cumberland, Md.:

“To hume it Mae Concearn: This is to sertify that Annie Bell Bowden is living with 8 th husben. Mother and father’s home at Moorehead, N. C. Mother name Mary Elizer, Father Willie Henry Nobles and she was the mother of twenty one (21) children.

“Mother was bit by a snake. Father was kicked by a mule and died from it. Husben No. 1, Judge Mitchel shot to death gambling in Florida. Left me with 2 children. No. 2 husben, Harvie Brown Rumelision was froze to death from drinking, left 2 children. No. 3, Jim Henry Johnson, home, Macon. G. A. died of Bright deces, left 10 children. No. 4 husben Shaw Lewis died with stroke diging wells, left 11 children.

“No. 5 husben George White from Hope Well, Va. got burnt up, fell in lumum pot* at Petersburg, Va., left two children. No. 6 husben, Willie Brown, native of Richmond, Va. he died from launching ships at Carolina Ship yard, wilmington, N. C. No. 7 husben, Charlie Moten from Horrie County, S. C. died from cramp, 1 child left.

“The husben that I am living with now name Henry Bowden, Cumbland, M. D. making a total of 8 husben. Yours truly, Annie Bell Bowden. Her age is 87 years.”

The welfare officer said: “Annie, you didn’t write this, did you?”

“No mam,” said Mrs. Bowden, “but I supposed it.”

* The “pot” in which black George White perished was an aluminum-melting crucible, large enough to hold a dozen men.