Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2020/Fall/105/Section068/George and Minnie Elkins

= George and Minnie Elkins =

Overview
George and Minnie Elkins are a newlywed couple who recently moved to Stokes County, North Carolina, looking for a brighter future compared to their past childhoods in Virginia. George and Minnie have found two well-paying jobs and are proud to have acquired their own land, house, and chickens.

Early Life
George Elkins, a white man, was born into a large poor family in Virginia where he was the oldest of nine children. George and his siblings’ academic careers were short lived with George receiving the highest level of education in his family at the seventh grade. After his brief time in school, George worked in two separate factories, the Southside Cotton Mill and the Kernersville Mill, as a child. During George’s childhood, child labor laws were not enacted, and children could work many occupations in industries, such as factories and textile, to support their families. The Elkins owned property and a house; however, the family lost their belongings as a consequence of their father’s alcohol addiction. George’s father also took his six dollars a week from the mills for alcohol, while saving only a few dollars for the family.

Adult Life
After his father’s death, George met Lola (Minnie), married her, and moved to the countryside away from the noisy cities. The couple preferred a quieter life and desired a smaller community to live. George would become a preacher for rural communities and eventually settled in Stokes County, North Carolina, where he and Minnie became the janitor and gardener for a school. The couple enjoyed their jobs and taking care of the school; however, George wished to return to preaching in the future. They owned a small house and sizable plot of land with chickens and enough room to invite guests to stay.

Child Labor Laws
The anti-child labor law movement began in the early 1900s to prevent children from working in dangerous facilities and provide opportunities for children to attend schools to learn, advance their careers, and enjoy their youth. Many communities opposed child labor laws because of children’s unique integration in the working environment due to their efficiency and availability. Throughout America’s history, children worked for families agriculturally, on crafts, and trade, indicating why communities opposed child labor’s historical significance and benefits for centuries. Children were paid less, smaller, and doubtful to strike against bosses and corporations, meaning factory owners earned more money, dealt with fewer issues, and reaped the benefits of child labor. Since the United States’ beginnings, kids have played a substantial role in providing and supporting their families; however, these humble acts turned cynical during the Industrial Revolution when children began working in industrial warehouses and factories. Many were forced to work long hours with little pay and hard conditions with agonizing jobs, such as climbing in machines and cramped spaces to clean. Often, these children were hurt and potentially followed by a child’s death. However, in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed, protecting children from working in unsafe conditions and allowing kids to pursue education and personal interests rather than manipulation into low paying jobs to support their families.

Religious Issues
After moving away, George quickly became a preacher for rural communities with little experience of faith or lost belief in God as a result of the grim times. George termed himself a “Holiness Preacher” for the poor communities where he taught about Jesus and religion in any suitable location. Prior to the Great Depression, Christianity was spreading fervently throughout the United States, however, as difficult economic times swept across the nation, many communities and churches of faith turned their backs on followers in desperate need of aid and comfort. These churches also felt the effects of the Great Depression and, unfortunately, couldn’t provide the supplies and services for their followers. George’s articulate preaching was no mistake, having read the bible seven times and planning to read it again to develop his faith to convert more people to God. George believed preaching was God’s calling for him and relishes speaking so profoundly, he demanded no money from his followers. As people lost personal belongings and loved ones, religious and moral intentions faded away, resulting in communities where many felt personal and social struggles for the first time since the Civil War. These communities suffered as citizens turned to crime and violence to provide for their families with little to no support from the government or church communities.

The Great Depression
After preaching, George earned a school janitor position in Stokes County, North Carolina. Minnie also received the school’s gardener job and was a proud farmer of the chickens they owned at their house. The Elkins were one couple out of nearly 15 million Americans feeling the consequences of the Great Depression. Families lost their jobs and couldn’t afford food, water, or shelter. However, the Elkins were lucky to earn two well-paying jobs and managed to stay afloat unlike millions of Americans during this time. The Great Depression occurred due to lacking investments, decreased work demand, and lower quality worker expectations. As companies refused to hire workers, expectations for employee quality from the stagnation in jobs declined due to the long duration of little job growth for Americans. Companies expected workers to be less efficient, unproductive, and lacking proper knowledge to for certain positions. Thus, confidence in companies dropped dramatically, causing fired workers, lower work demand, and companies to substantially lose money after losing investments