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Hemp
was a plentiful crop used mainly for rope making. It was
also spun into a gunny sack like material which was used to
make clothes for slaves.
A
large hand-hewn stone called the Hemp Stone sits in the yard
of the late Dr. John Bell, in recent years known as the home
of the Bell Sisters. The Bell residence is southeast of
Monroe City on Route W. The stone is said to weigh over a
ton. It was turned by horses.
Joe
Hardy’s great-grandmother Hornback, with the help of
slaves, was in charge of making clothes from this durable
cloth. One year she would weave enough cloth for pants for
all the slaves; the next year she would weave enough cloth
for shirts.
This
was no small task. The Hornbacks owned a thousand acres and
there were thirty-four slaves who helped with the farm work.
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The
Hemp Stone