Civil War Interview Questions

What do you feel are the main issues that caused the war?
What changes have you made in your daily life since the war started?How do you feel about Emancipation Proclamation? Do you feel it is needed? Do you feel it will help the country come back together or will it keep the country apart?
What battle had the biggest impact on the people in your part of the country? Why?
How are the soldiers being treated in your part of the country?
What is the general mood of the citizens in your part of the country? Do they support the war? Do they feel our country will be stronger or weaker once the war is over?

Sarah: Where and when were you born?
Clara: I was born in Tazewell County in 1902.
Mary Ann: Where in Tazewell County?
Clara: At Falls Mills Virginia, that's about ten miles east of Tazewell.
Sarah: Who was your mother and father?

Clara: My mother was Nana Leedy and my father was H.M. Henderson Kidd and they were married in 1873.

Sarah: Where were they born and raised?

Clara: Daddy was born over here above Bastian, between Bastian and Suitor and mother was born over on Kimberlin.

Mary Ann: Who was she?

Clara: She was a Leedy, my grandmother was married twice she married a Muncy and then a Leedy. My mother was raised behind Salem Church. My grandmother was a Clark and then she married a Muncey. She had two children by him a girl and a boy. Then my step grandfather was in the Army and was held prisoner somewhere and he died in a prison camp during the Civil War, and he was born in 1807.
Mary Ann: Do you know if he fought for the North or South?
Clara: The South, he was my step-grandfather, Grandfather Leedy was my real grandfather. Muncey was mother's stepfather.
Sarah: What did your parents do for a living?
Clara: Farmed I guess, Daddy had a farm when I was born.
Sarah: Where was it at?
Clara: It was in Bastian. Do you know where Suiter is? It was right there, where Bill Umbarger lives now.

Sarah: Who was your mother and father?

Clara: My mother was Nana Leedy and my father was H.M. Henderson Kidd and they were married in 1873.

Sarah: Where were they born and raised?

Clara: Daddy was born over here above Bastian, between Bastian and Suitor and mother was born over on Kimberlin.

Mary Ann: Who was she?

Clara: She was a Leedy, my grandmother was married twice she married a Muncy and then a Leedy. My mother was raised behind Salem Church. My grandmother was a Clark and then she married a Muncey. She had two children by him a girl and a boy. Then my step grandfather was in the Army and was held prisoner somewhere and he died in a prison camp during the Civil War, and he was born in 1807.

Mary Ann: Do you know if he fought for the North or South?

Clara: The South, he was my step-grandfather, Grandfather Leedy was my real grandfather. Muncey was mother's stepfather.

Sarah: What did your parents do for a living?

Clara: Farmed I guess, Daddy had a farm when I was born.

Sarah: Where was it at?

Clara: It was in Bastian. Do you know where Suiter is? It was right there, where Bill Umbarger lives now.

Sarah: What was your father like?

Clara: Daddy had a mustache, brown eyes, tall.

Sarah: What was your mother like?

Clara: She was tall, large.

Sarah: Who were your grandparents?

Clara: Mother daddy's name was Eli Leedy.

Sarah: What was your grandmother's name?

Clara: Mary Ellen Clark

Sarah: Where were they born and raised?

Clara: Over on Kimberlin, up the holler.

Sarah: What did they do for a living?

Clara: I don't know.

Sarah: What were they like?

Clara: Just plain old country people.

Mary Ann: Do you remember anything special about your childhood that you did with your grandparents?

Clara: Grandma Leedy lived with us for years, both grandmothers lived with us for a long time. Grandmother Kidd, daddy's mother, she didn't live with us but four or five years. Her and grandpa and