The Greene & Pickens Black Families Association
Henry Eatman was born in 1851 to Mariah Richardson. It isn't known exactly where he
was born. However his parents were on different plantations. His father, Reuben
Underwood was on the Annett & Louisa Underwood plantation. His mother was on the
Richardson plantation at the time. When he got a little older he and his family were sold to
the Eatman plantation in Clinton. It was said that Henry was a short, nicely toned
handsome man. Due to his looks, he was trained as an overseer over the negroes. He
always told his grandchildren, including my grandmother, that he was a 12 year old boy in
slavery. His job was to tell Mr. Eatman if the negroes were stealing or not doing their work.
Henry was not able to pick cotton as a young man. For some reason, he could never grasp
the concept, so Mr. Eatman put him charge of the negroes. By the time Henry reached
adulthood, he became very promiscuous. By the time he got married he had about five
children with different women. However, it could have been more.
On January 11, 1877, he married a woman named Eleanora Pippen. She was the
daughter of W.H. Pippen & his Indian slave, Mary. Henry & Ella moved into a white
antebellum on Highway 14 going towards Aliceville. It isn't known who owned the house
before they moved into it. Along with the home was several acres of land that Henry
worked. His wife, Ella, was a domestic servant who took care of the household. She was
described her grandchildren to be a beautiful brown skinned woman. She had beautiful
long hair and a nice figure. She loved her children and her husband very much. However,
even though Henry had a loving family at home, he still loved to be with other women. He
took several trips to Mississippi in his little buggy to meet women. In the early 1890's Henry
moved a young woman named Annie Spencer on his property. He built her a little house at
the end of his property. Henry had about seven children by her, while he was married to his
wife Ella. Also, he met other women and had children by them. It was said by several
grandchildren that it wasn't known how many children Henry Eatman had.
However, Henry's infidelity was never discussed. It was also understood that Henry was
a man and he was going to do what he wanted. As he got older, he settled down and spent
more time with his family. When he was able to work the field, he would take a chair to the
field and work. When Henry & Ella both reached their early eighties, they sold the
antebellum home to Tom Giles and his family. Henry Eatman took turns staying with his
daughters. He told his daughter, Nettie Mae, that he wasn't leaving her house until the Holy
Spirit took him. A couple days after he said that, he died. In August of that same year, Ella
Eatman died at her daughter's home. It was never understood why Henry & Ella separated
and lived with different children, but they did. Henry & Ella were both buried at the Eatman
place in Clinton. However, the place is over grown and no one is allowed in there.
was born. However his parents were on different plantations. His father, Reuben
Underwood was on the Annett & Louisa Underwood plantation. His mother was on the
Richardson plantation at the time. When he got a little older he and his family were sold to
the Eatman plantation in Clinton. It was said that Henry was a short, nicely toned
handsome man. Due to his looks, he was trained as an overseer over the negroes. He
always told his grandchildren, including my grandmother, that he was a 12 year old boy in
slavery. His job was to tell Mr. Eatman if the negroes were stealing or not doing their work.
Henry was not able to pick cotton as a young man. For some reason, he could never grasp
the concept, so Mr. Eatman put him charge of the negroes. By the time Henry reached
adulthood, he became very promiscuous. By the time he got married he had about five
children with different women. However, it could have been more.
On January 11, 1877, he married a woman named Eleanora Pippen. She was the
daughter of W.H. Pippen & his Indian slave, Mary. Henry & Ella moved into a white
antebellum on Highway 14 going towards Aliceville. It isn't known who owned the house
before they moved into it. Along with the home was several acres of land that Henry
worked. His wife, Ella, was a domestic servant who took care of the household. She was
described her grandchildren to be a beautiful brown skinned woman. She had beautiful
long hair and a nice figure. She loved her children and her husband very much. However,
even though Henry had a loving family at home, he still loved to be with other women. He
took several trips to Mississippi in his little buggy to meet women. In the early 1890's Henry
moved a young woman named Annie Spencer on his property. He built her a little house at
the end of his property. Henry had about seven children by her, while he was married to his
wife Ella. Also, he met other women and had children by them. It was said by several
grandchildren that it wasn't known how many children Henry Eatman had.
However, Henry's infidelity was never discussed. It was also understood that Henry was
a man and he was going to do what he wanted. As he got older, he settled down and spent
more time with his family. When he was able to work the field, he would take a chair to the
field and work. When Henry & Ella both reached their early eighties, they sold the
antebellum home to Tom Giles and his family. Henry Eatman took turns staying with his
daughters. He told his daughter, Nettie Mae, that he wasn't leaving her house until the Holy
Spirit took him. A couple days after he said that, he died. In August of that same year, Ella
Eatman died at her daughter's home. It was never understood why Henry & Ella separated
and lived with different children, but they did. Henry & Ella were both buried at the Eatman
place in Clinton. However, the place is over grown and no one is allowed in there.
