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I was born in Alabama in 1888, up on a
plantation, I had come up pretty rough.
I went in service before you was born, cause I
went in service in 1914. I did some of everything,
I know you read of Big Bertha, that was a gun, it
could shoot 105 miles. Well, I helped unload it.
But you see, we went in when they didn't have
enough sheep to make no blanket, and uniform, wool.
And so they went to Saint Lazier and got some
sheep.
I had a brother, but I lost a brother in the
war, and a whole lot of relatives.
Worked for TVA. I started when they had horses
and mules to build levies. And I stayed with them
until they got some equipment to build. I worked on
South Holston, Watauga, Boone, and then I went to
North Carolina.
I said Alabama was the ... we was handicapped
down there. We had to do what the other man said
do. We had it pretty tough coming up. Pretty tough.
We had to go when that man said go and stay till he
said come back.
I went in ... I was born you know directly after
slavery ... and they uhh. We walked and walked and
walked. Of course you know we had one pair of shoes
a year. We wear them all the year and then grease
them and hang them up, and you get cold you put
them on.
And so ... I think that God had been good to me,
I don't know what you think. Because there was a
lot of them didn't get out of the nineties. And I
still thank him for pulling me over from 1900 up
until now.
The happiest moment? Just like it is now. You
got to thank God for what he did, and what I wanted
and didn't get it. You got to learn to treat your
mother right is one of them and your neighbors and
your friends. Just like you meet me, always make
you welcome to come in. Now that's the best advice
you can get.
You see I told you I didn't walk till I was way
up there, I had rickets, but I've been walking ever
since.
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Name: Harvey Tabb, 109 years old
Presently resides: Bristol, Va.
Born: Alabama 1888
Moved to present hometown: Bristol in
1936
Type of work after the war: Tennessee
Valley Authority
Family: Raised 11 children with his late
wife, Ella
Branch of service: Army Infantry
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