Fannie A. McCullough Driver (January 19, 1857 - February 12,
Denied education and freedom, Fannie McCullough Driver found strength in family and the pursuit of a
Fannie McCullough, the oldest of twelve children, was born into slavery on January 19, 1857, on Ben McCullough’s cotton plantation near the Guadalupe River in Texas. Her mother worked as a cook while her father worked in the fields. Though her early years included moments of joy within her family, they were overshadowed by the constant fear and suffering that defined life under slavery.
Fannie recalled being denied even the simplest freedoms, including not being taught to read or write because educating enslaved people was against the law. Despite these injustices, her family’s strength and spirit endured. They found solace and unity in the songs they sang as they worked, using music as a way to cope with their pain and hold on to hope.
Her family was sold to the Foley Plantation near Hallettsville where the nephew of the plantation owner terrorized the enslaved people. When freedom came, it was Union soldiers, not the plantation owners, who brought the news. It is likely that much time had passed since the declaration.
As a free woman, Fannie cherished her opportunity to attend school and raise a family. Though she aspired to be a teacher herself, her education was cut short. Married twice, she had eight sons with her first husband Sol Driver, who worked as a broncobuster. In her later years, Fannie made an income working in fields and lived with one of her sons.
In 1937, Fannie was among more than 2,300 formerly enslaved people interviewed as part of the Works Progress Administration’s documentation of life under the system of American slavery. While the stories have limitations like stereotypical speech transcription and some offensive language, they are the largest collection of sources that document lives that would be otherwise unrecognized for their resilience in the face of hardship. What we know of Fannie’s life, we owe to this effort.
Daughter of Jim McCullough and Harriett James. Wife of Sol or Saul Driver.
"According to an interesting interview of a former slave herself, Fannie McCulloch Driver, age 80, stated she was "born a slave on January 19, 1857, on the Ben McCullough cotton plantation, which was located on the bank of the Guadalupe River, near Seguin, Guadalupe County ..." The document is three typed pages."
State: Texas Interviewee: Driver, Fannie Mccullough
Fannie McCullough Driver, 80, was born a slave on January 19, 1857, on the Ben McCullough cotton plantation, which was located on the bank of the Guadalupe River, near Seguin, Guadalupe County. Fannie's mother, Harriet McCullough, who was brought from Tennessee to Texas by Ben McCullough. Harriet's husband, Jim McCullough, and her six children were also brought to Texas. Fannie is the only surviving member. She says that Ben McCullough was a reasonable master; her last master, a Mr. Foley, had a nephew, Stewart Foley, who made life miserable for the slaves. Fannie remained with her parents until 1877, when she married Sol Driver, who was at that time an experienced "broncobuster". Sol and Fannie had eight children, all boys, of whom only two still are living. Sol died more than thirty years ago. Fannie married Jim Harvard. They had no children. Jim Harvard died years ago and Fannie still refers to herself as Fannie Driver. Fannie did not have a chance to go to school during slavery, but was fortunate to have gone for several years after emancipation. She lives with her son, Jim Driver, at 1304 Coleto St., Austin.
State: Texas Interviewee: Driver, Fannie Mccullough
"De folks in de early days always called me Fan, but my real name was Fannie McCullough. I'm eighty years old, and I was bawn on January 19, 1857, on Mawster Ben McCullough's cotton plantation. Dis place was on de bank ob de Guadalupe River, somewhere near Seguin, I think.
State: Texas Interviewee: Driver, Fannie Mccullough
"I kain't remembah many dates, but when it comes to somethin' dat happened to me in my life, I kin remembah back to de time when I was jes' beginnin' to walk. I sure kin'. I remembah how I crawled to a laghe ant-hill, and was stung by a big red ant. My uncle, Abe Wright, grabbed me and walked mighty fast to where mammy was washin' clothes on de bank ob de Guadalupe River. Tubs had been hauled to de bank ob de river, fires was made and de washin' was done right dere. De washed clothes was den brought back to de big house and hung up to dry. The Guadalupe was a very dangerous-lookin' river, and de water was very blue. While de wimmen was washin' de clothes dey would sing songs. Some ob 'em made up songs while dey washed, but I don't remembah none ob de words. Pappy and mammy was good singers.