Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2021/Fall/Section018/Jonn H. Abner

Overview
Mr.John H. Abner was a cotton mill worker who was interviewed by Joseph A. Micheals on November 15th, 1938 about his experiences of working after the great depression.

Biography
Mr.John H. Abner, interviewed by Joseph A. Micheals on November 15th, 1938, was a cotton mill worker who was born in Burke County, North Carolina in 1868. Mr.Abner had worked in the cotton mill industry for 50 years until he was laid off at 68 years old due to the Social Security Act of 1935, which required all individuals to retire at age 65. Like Joseph A. Micheals, many elderly people were at a loss for work which presented many economic hardships. For Mr.Abner, this meant working on his son's farm illegally to accumulate funds. In addition to Mr.Abner’s occupation, he was a father of eleven children and was a christian. While life was difficult for Mr.Abner, he thoroughly enjoyed his children, religion, and even occupation.

The Cotton Mill Industry
During the Great Depression, many cotton mill workers were let off due to the declining economy. One of the main problems is that Cotton Mill owners decided to decrease the labor without increased pay for the now fewer workers that were expected to produce the same amount of product. With more implementations such as Social Security act of 1935, the cotton mill industry began to decline even more with fewer workers and lower pay.

Great Depression
The great depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place during the 1930s. It was a result of the stock market crash of 1929, which sent Wallstreet into panic and wiped millions of investors. The great depression had various effects on social, political, and economic institutions.

While the great depression had severe effects on the economy, it was acts like the Social Security act of 1935 that would affect individuals like Mr. Abner. The social security act provided general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, disabled, and any disadvantaged Americans.