I was here only one term. Came in 1895--left in 96--Never came back until tonight. My mother sent for me--My mother was awful sick. My class was so low that I was ashamed to come back. I weighed 240 pounds. I went back home until 1898--on farm. I got to read my newspapers. I subscribed for the semi-monthly Atlanta Journal--I could read that. I saw advertised and so much money paid out for wages--I thought I would go into business. I started grocery store and meat market--I had $2,500 made on farm. Father used to run us off the farm at 20 so I rented some land. I was born 1870. I had been working for myself for years. 1898 I came to Birmingham. I failed in grocery business. "Credit." I made a lot of friends all over town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . They had lots of money but they owed a lot. It take lot to feed them. Took three years and little over to get all of money. Worked for Tenn. Coal and Iron Co. I leased some land from the Republic Iron and Steel Co. Leased 64 acres outside of Pratt City and went to trucking. I bought two mules for $40. It was a sale. They were old run down mules. They were blind--I worked there until I grew something. Farm about a mile from Pretts. Paid $1.50 per acre--now I pay $7. The company would not sell. I peddle vegetables to people here--ran two wagons--now I run three. Got new feed for horses. By fall had lots of stuff. Married in 1900--year after went to Birmingham. Second year I was able to buy two good mules--Had two good wagons made. Fall of second year had another which made three. Running three now. I employ six people--3 men and 3 women all the time. I drive the wholesale wagon. I raise between $3,500 and $4,000 worth of stuff each year. Have since the second year. I sell about $2,000 a year above expenses. Production increases every year. I learned all I know about trucking since then. I have fifteen head of cattle. Eight milking cows. I raise three crops. That is the highest. Third crop is not worth so much. 90,000 cabbages this year. Got the plants from South Carolina. I bought a piece of land in Oklahoma for $3,000 outside of 22 miles from Muskogee. Land rents now for $300. I own a lot in Red Bird. Have 2 children. 14 & and 17. They go to school. Won county prize year before last--196 bushels--this year received State prize 200 bushels. Plant eight and ten acres of cotton, 14 acres corn. Raise all my fodder. Three-fourths acres of new sugar cane, 150 gals. of syrup. I make butter $30 per hundred. $40 retail. I take two or three little farm journals and take the bulletin. These letters addressed to R. E. Park and to Booker T. Washington give information about the estate of John McKee: