MixonM Cassette 1, Side 1
Media
Part of Interview: Mixon, Mildred Cochran
Title
MixonM Cassette 1, Side 1
Source
Mildred Cochran Mixon Interview
Date
1988-08-31
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:30: Mrs. Mixon is aged 74 in 1988. She was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on July 19, 1914. Her two older brothers suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, so her mother (while still pregnant) moved the two boys and a young daughter in order to take advantage of the therapeutic springs. Mrs. Mixon's father and two more daughters stayed behind in Calhoun, SC. Her father worked as a farmer and a brick mason. He was also a local magistrate. The group stayed in Arkansas for a year. Mrs. Mixson was one month old upon the family's return to Calhoun.
2:00: She was originally named Cora Estelle, after the two women who helped with the birth. She was later renamed Mildred.
4:21: Mrs. Mixon believes she was born in her mothers Hot Springs apartment.
4:55: When the family reunited in Calhoun, the family lived in a house near the railroad. It was destroyed by fire. The family's new two story home had three downstairs and two upstairs bedrooms, and a squared off porch with swings.
9:10: Mrs. Mixon married her brother-in-law Floyd. Her sister Edith died at a young age.
10:30: The most recent houses in that area to be built in three decades was her family's house, the Callis home, and the Burnett home.
12:00: The Callis (?) home was built around 1925.
14:01: Her father was Wiley Newt Cochran. Her mother was Veldora Sears Cochran.
15:08: Her father Wiley owned land that stretched from their house all the way to "The Branch" (where black community was) in the direction towards the old Calhoun schoolhouse. They discuss land transactions.
16:30: Her father inherited the land from his parents. He was a brick mason. She imagines that he and his brother John Wesley Cochran worked together with the Cochran family brickyard business. It was located "in back of" Hal Boggs house. John Wesley Cochran owned the business. Several of the first buildings at Clemson contain Cochran brick, though Mrs. Mixon can only specifically recall that the Trustee Building contained some of their handiwork.
20:30: Her father Wiley was also involved in farming. Local blacks helped with day to day operations (Jack Brown is specifically recalled). Wiley Cochran owned a sizable portion of land, most of which was utilized for cotton and corn production. The family had its own chicken coop and pasture land for horses and cattle.
23:19: Wiley Cochran also acted as a local magistrate though it cannot be recalled how long his term nor what his pay if any was.
26:13: Megginson is interested in local politics. Mr. Clinkscales was once mayor in Calhoun. P.S. McCollum was remembered as influential business man, though it cannot be recall whether he held office of any sort. Mrs. Mixon registered to vote at the Norman Boggs store. There was no literacy test associated with the process. She thinks people may have voted at the schoolhouse. Mrs. Mixon can only recall white people in Calhoun voting.
31:21: Audio ends.
Side 1
00:30: Mrs. Mixon is aged 74 in 1988. She was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on July 19, 1914. Her two older brothers suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, so her mother (while still pregnant) moved the two boys and a young daughter in order to take advantage of the therapeutic springs. Mrs. Mixon's father and two more daughters stayed behind in Calhoun, SC. Her father worked as a farmer and a brick mason. He was also a local magistrate. The group stayed in Arkansas for a year. Mrs. Mixson was one month old upon the family's return to Calhoun.
2:00: She was originally named Cora Estelle, after the two women who helped with the birth. She was later renamed Mildred.
4:21: Mrs. Mixon believes she was born in her mothers Hot Springs apartment.
4:55: When the family reunited in Calhoun, the family lived in a house near the railroad. It was destroyed by fire. The family's new two story home had three downstairs and two upstairs bedrooms, and a squared off porch with swings.
9:10: Mrs. Mixon married her brother-in-law Floyd. Her sister Edith died at a young age.
10:30: The most recent houses in that area to be built in three decades was her family's house, the Callis home, and the Burnett home.
12:00: The Callis (?) home was built around 1925.
14:01: Her father was Wiley Newt Cochran. Her mother was Veldora Sears Cochran.
15:08: Her father Wiley owned land that stretched from their house all the way to "The Branch" (where black community was) in the direction towards the old Calhoun schoolhouse. They discuss land transactions.
16:30: Her father inherited the land from his parents. He was a brick mason. She imagines that he and his brother John Wesley Cochran worked together with the Cochran family brickyard business. It was located "in back of" Hal Boggs house. John Wesley Cochran owned the business. Several of the first buildings at Clemson contain Cochran brick, though Mrs. Mixon can only specifically recall that the Trustee Building contained some of their handiwork.
20:30: Her father Wiley was also involved in farming. Local blacks helped with day to day operations (Jack Brown is specifically recalled). Wiley Cochran owned a sizable portion of land, most of which was utilized for cotton and corn production. The family had its own chicken coop and pasture land for horses and cattle.
23:19: Wiley Cochran also acted as a local magistrate though it cannot be recalled how long his term nor what his pay if any was.
26:13: Megginson is interested in local politics. Mr. Clinkscales was once mayor in Calhoun. P.S. McCollum was remembered as influential business man, though it cannot be recall whether he held office of any sort. Mrs. Mixon registered to vote at the Norman Boggs store. There was no literacy test associated with the process. She thinks people may have voted at the schoolhouse. Mrs. Mixon can only recall white people in Calhoun voting.
31:21: Audio ends.
Rights
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.