Holt collier, Mississippi
Holt Collier -- Was born in Greenville in 1848, died in Greenville August 1st, 1936, and he was through almost his entire life a remarkable colored citizen of Washington county. He was an ex-slave and a Confederate soldier. He did a great deal for the uplift of his race. He achieved great distinction as a hunter of big game, killing bear all over the country, some on grounds where Greenville homes and public buildings now stand. He gained notice by being in the hunting party of President Theodore Roosevelt, when he came to Washington county in quest of this sport. Holt Collier in relating this colorful incident in his life said: "The President of the United States was anxious to see a live bear the first day of the hunt. I told him he would see that bear if I had to tie it and bring it to him." Collier made good his word. Before the day ended the President had seen the gay old bruin. Upon his return to Washington Mr. Roosevelt sent to Holt a rifle duplicating the one he had used on the hunt, and which Holt had so admired.
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Holt Collier talks about how its hard to be a slave and how his life moved from one place to another because of exchanging slaves. He have some hard experience from slave like being attacked by animals and other things. He also talks about how he was sold to other slave owner. He didn't like how the slave owner talked about him. He had to go to hunting to get food for the slave master and he think that it was dangerous because he got attacked by animals and almost died. After he worked there for a couple of years, he could kill or hunt more then 2212 bears for the slave owner. He would take the skin from the bear and sell it. The slave owner sell them for thousands of dollars but the slave owner only give a little amount to the slaves. He changed place to places and work.