When interviewed, Joe Robinson was living with his wife at 1132 Cornell Avenue in Indianapolis. He said the pension they received was barely enough for them to live on, and he hoped it would be increased. At the time of the interview, he was learning to read and write in a WPA class. The Robinsons had two children who were living in Chicago.
Joe was born in Mason County, Kentucky, in 1854. His owner, Gus Hargill, was kind to him and the other slaves. Hargill owned a large farm and raised a variety of crops. He always gave his slaves plenty to eat, so they never had to steal food. Hargill said his slaves worked hard to permit him to have plenty; therefore, they should have their share of the food.
Never sold, Joe, his mother, a brother, and a sister lived with the same owner until they were set free. Joe’s father, however, was owned by Rube Black, who was very cruel to his slaves. He beat them severely for the least offense. One day he tried to beat Joe’s father, who was a large, strong man; and Joe’s father nearly killed the owner. After that, Black never tried to whip him again, but at the first opportunity, he sold him to someone in Louisiana. They never heard from him or of him again.