Sizemore
Eli Rose, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
I am 60 years of age,and live in McDowell County, W. Va. I have lived in McDowell County about twelve months, but formerly lived in Wyoming County and other parts of this state. I was born in Wyoming County, W. Va.
I claim to have Indian blood in my veins-- it has been said by the older generations that my family we descended from Indian ancestors. I get this Indian blood on my mother's side. Her name was Virginia Sizemore before she married my father, Hoel Rose. She has been dead about 37 years. She died in Wyoming County, W. Va. She lived in Wyoming County for years and years before she died. I was told she died in Wyoming County, as I lived in Virginia at the time. She had raised 15 children. The youngest would have been about 16 years old when she died. She was what you might call an old woman.
Virginia Sizemore's father was Ned Sizemore, Jr. Ned Sizemore, Jr. was said to have died in Webster County, W. Va. I have seen him many a time. I was in the War and was wounded at Lynchburg, Va. and do not remember seeing my grandfather after the War. I do not remember that he ever spoke to me about his Indian blood, as it was since his death, and since the War that I that I lived with my people. It has always been said that they were Cherokee Indians. I never heard anything else.
I never got any money from the Government on account of my Indian blood. I never got any land nor applied for any in the Indian Territory.
My grandfather, Ned Sizemore, Jr., was a low, heavy-set man, and said to be a good fighter with his fists, but I never considered him a large man. I never heard of my grandfather preaching,-- in fact, he liked whiskey pretty well. His brother, George Sizemore, was a preacher, and I remember once hearing that he told grandfather, Ned Sizemore ,that he ought to stop that drinking, and grandfather is said to have replied, "I'll be starved if I mustn't!" That was a common word with him.
George Sizemore lived over in Wyoming County in his lifetime. I never heard of him living anywhere else. He was a powerful preacher here among the people. He was a hard-shell Baptist. I have heard him preach many a time. He was a very tall, spare man, red and rough.
The old man George Sizemore must have been at least 65 years of age at the time I heard him preach. His looks would have proved that he was half Indian, at least. I have seen a good many Indians in shows.