Staggs Family History

Ella Blanche (Wareham) Staggs

Chapter 1

Springfield, a little town just three miles from Eugene, Oregon, now a suburb, and near the banks of the Willamette Piver. I stood on its bridge which led to the Flour Mill in which my newly acquired husband worked as a miller. I watched, two fishermen and such large trout, beauties being caught.

Of course, this was 1910, and still a wild West and new country to me as I was raised in Indiana.

This river was the most beautiful body of water I had ever looked upon, rushing and tumbling over the huge rocks spouting its joy and tears in its own way on-tongue.

I also found later when torrents of snow water swept from the mountain sides and spilled into this same river, it was turned into a turbulent treacherous body of water. At this time it swept anything in its path. I saw millions of feet of lumber and logs from a lumber camp and along with this; hogs, chickens, household furniture and parts of old cabins being swept by the frenzied tides. This seemed to prove nature also had her moods.

Near the barks and a few yards above stood an old two-story house which at one time could have been white. It was weather worn but still livable and we rented two rooms.

It was the home of a widow, Brown. She was a comely, chubby, happy sort and saw at once. I needed someone to help in many ways, as a mother. Away from home for the first time and knowing very little, about the important art of cooking and at the same time feeling that tell-tale nausea on rising in the mornings, but after three months, how was an innocent girl (I now say ignorant) to know all these changes which go with love and marriage?

Now we must go to Eugene and buy our immediate needs for housekeeping. What an adventure, and what fun although I was a quite girl, now a Mrs., how important that sounded to me.

So, we did realize we must have something to be able to cook our food. My! Oh! Mv: why didn’t my mother teach me more about these surprises which I was to learn the hard way.

Well, we decided on a range with a warming closet above hot water tank in or on the back. Next was a dining table four chairs, then a rug. Now for some pots and pans. I was interested and excited about some dishes. I again remember how little I knew about buying.

After having a real salesman show me his many patterns, I. selected a set of dishes and would you believe it, yes it had such pretty pink flowers. He had sold me the best of course, Haraline.

Now for a bed, dresser and that was it. I had some silver given to me by my parents. Our first shopping had made quite a dent in my husband’s pocketbook. I soon learned he never bought anything unless he had the cash to pay for it. I also found money a very important item. Even if we could almost live on love. One of my memories tells me rice can become an unwanted pan-full unless correctly measured. Again, be sure cider is fresh not fermented. Can you see a newly married man coming home to supper and finding his precious innocent sweetheart walking around in a daze, giggling mood and trying to take up his food?

Each day I walked about a mile to buy a quart of yellow liquid from a farmer, yes I did know it was milk and came from a cow. Evenings when Richard had to sack flour, I would go to the mill with him. This was all new to me. He worked fast and I would count the sacks and marvel how efficient and of course how everything he was in my sight. I did not know much about the man I was to live with for fifty-five years, lacking two months.

The mill was owned by an old miller, Mr. Knoll and Richard received fifty dollars a month, our flour white and whole wheat, cereal which was wheat germ and corn meal.

Mrs. Brown our landlady had a large garden, and she kept us supplied with vegetables. I could smell the same never to be forgotten sweetness, which followed pans of hot bread, coming from her oven and, asked her to teach me to bake. She laughingly agreed. First, she gave me a quart jar of liquid and told me it was yeast, called beer or neighbor yeast. After all instructions, I could scarcely wait for results. I had flour on and in everything around me, but I did not mind. This batter would, I hope, be raised to the top of the pan. Before we went to bed, I covered it as snugly as a newborn babe and took my last peep.

Morning came, over the mountains bringing another day filled with love and wonders. Was the bread alright? No need wondering, there was batter all over the sides of the bowl and more on the table. Nothing could have delighted us more.

After breakfast and my sweetheart had left for work, I started the next step. It was adding more flour to the batter and kneading it thoroughly. Now back into the bowl to raise again, of course, well covered. This seemed important and necessary to me. In another hour it all had again doubled and now I was to knead and mold these special loaves.

Well, I kneaded and kneaded not knowing when to stop. But at last, my pans were again covered and set aside to raise. In another hour I had my oven ready and into the oven with one proud look, were my very first loaves of home-made bread.

In those days you baked bread or biscuits. There was no corner store.

Peeking now I watched those loaves turn to the most beautiful brown had (in my mind) ever seen. As I opened the oven, there was that delicious aroma which reminded me of my mother’s home. Brown crust on which I freely added yellow butter. Taken out of the. pans and covered to await dinner when my husband would find me, I thought marvel, and he did. He was proud and showed his approval by eating and commenting how treat a cook he had married.

Oh! My! all the things I would have to experience before I could cook. Again, I must go back and tell you about this most amazing and beautiful state which to me always is my state, Oregon. Roses growing everywhere and those I had known back in Indiana were in green houses. I had always loved the out-of-doors and all natures creations and now here was her best. Tall pines, firs and cedars crowding her mountain sides, while streams and rivers hugged the gorges and the rainbow trout thrived in abundance. Here were the home of the deer and the wildlife, so peaceful. Such sun rises and oh how heavenly the sun sets, and Richard and I never throw out all our travels could tire of watching the colors and patterns of the reclining sun.

My family could not understand, why I was not homesick. How could I be? Everything was so perfect. Loving companion, new home and so much happiness and contentment. No reason to return to my old home.

In December Richard received a letter from his father, who was in China. He built flour mills. He built the Northern Mills of China which were destroyed in later years by war.

Father Staggs was coming back to the states and suggested Richard find and buy an old mill. Richard heard of a very old mill owned by the Rast family and built in 1856, which had been idle for some time. It was powered by water, a creek Deer Creek, which run through the property. This was in Roseburg, Oregon, a lazy little town but growing and attractive, on first sight by the masses of roses.

After Father Staggs arrived, he visited us at Springfield, and I knew at once he was pleased, I was to join their family. He at once was to be precious to me. He traveled on to Roseburg and made plans to buy the mill.

It became “Staggs Mill” each paying half and time I did not know my husband had any money. He China for two years and had made money, saved it, to college where I met him in Valparaiso, Indiana.

So now we must -leave our first home and make a new home in Roseburg. Our furniture was sent but I insisted on taking a five-gallon jar of sour kraut (our, first try) and I carried on the train my jar of yeast.

We rented two rooms from a Mr. Parrot who lived with his daughter and six white Maltese Cats. They were beautiful but odd each cat had a pink and a blue eye and all were deaf. A little later we moved into a little white house with five rooms and was in a home again, after making it livable. I knew I must begin to prepare for our little one, who would arrive in April. It was now February.

Now again I must say how little I knew. As to sewing I had no machine and so must make these precious things by hand.

The way I figured my little one must have at least one dress for each day of the week. I purchased patterns and materials. Next white flannel for skirts. The flannel was so creamy and soft with a border embroidered with silk floss and such a pretty design. Then the little flannel shirts and at this time a tie pinned a flannel band tightly around the stomach to protect the navel on which was placed raisin. Now the poor little tad would have on this band, the shirt, a flannel shirt, a white skirt and a dress, a pair of cashmere white stockings, a pair of knitted booties, and if chilly made some short little jackets.

Such a time trying to understand now to cut and match these patterns but somehow, I managed to get them pinned, basted and when I sewed them the stitches were so fine you could scarcely see them.

I think I held some kind of a record. in timing for the making of my baby’s clothes because it took months.

A box arrived from home with more dresses, and it could never wear out these dresses before they would be too small. thing, these dresses were long at least a foot below its feet. After six months I cut them off to walking length.

It was Spring and flowers were a riot of colors, grass, trees, and just everything was beautiful to me.

The mill was now ready for its new owners “Staggs & Sons.” This town of Roseburg was rightfully a city of roses. Here to Umpqua another of Oregon’s wonderful waters flowed.

Our mill was run by water force so behind it skipped our swift little Deer Creek. We shipped in flour and grain from Portland and Father Staggs made the old-fashioned corn meal ground on the burr. Soon people began trading with us and as soon as our business allowed, we added coal, cement and wood, then some years later we opened a gas station.

April 13th marked my much waited event. My mother and youngest sister arrived from Valparaiso Indiana a week before. I began those teasing pains coming at intervals, then changing to the sharper ones. The doctor was called, and he asked me if I would try a new method of birth, which was called, Twilight Sleep but I refused because I had heard of a couple of cases where the babies had not survived. This method would relieve the pain. Now the pains became so severe I fainted from time to time, and the doctor administered chloroform and took my baby and after a few hours I found seven- and one-half pound lovely son in my arms.

No one but a mother can feel or know the amazement and love at that first glance at her child. He’s mine. I was blessed I was blessed by being given the pleasure of nursing my baby. He gained and it seemed all he did was eat and sleep which was natural, but I would have to awaken him to relieve the ache in my breasts, with the flow of so much milk. The doctor commented you sure have a wonderful milk factory.

Soon the house on the hill, this was converted into two apartments one for mother and father Staggs and we moved into the other. I have seen and heard of mothers-in-law, and I know I had the most loving kind, gentle and helpful yes mother.

I say truthfully in our ten years together there was always the same love and there to help without the asking.

She was a Southern Lady but one never ashamed to work. She loved to cook the old-fashioned dishes, and I can still hear her say I am cooking pig’s hocks, come to supper tonight. I am glad I could eat them then.

Father Staggs didn’t enjoy hearty meals, his was the dainty kinds and the younger who was somewhat frail and spoiled too, expected her form of diet.

Now I was told never start what I have done. Cook your meal, put it on the table and if they are hungry, they will eat. I certainly would have been in trouble if I had not listened to those words of wisdom. We had an extension phone from the mill tb our house. When Richard was away, I took the orders for grain flour, hay, etc. and gave them to the driver to be delivered.

At that time, I had to leave my baby. Mother Staggs would look in and at times laughingly say she would kidnap our baby. She loved him too. When little Richard was nine months old, I weaned him because I was again pregnant and wondered if he would be neglected if another child came so soon.

They say that during this time a woman gets funny ideas. Well, I did because I decided I wanted to go back home to see my mother in Valparaiso, Indiana for a visit. I kept thinking about it until it seemed I must go. I wrote her telling her I was thinking of coming for a visit. She immediately not knowing my condition, and still considering I was still her little girl, that she was coming out to see us and I could go back with her. She arrived a few weeks later the middle of September. Mother Staggs and Richard were sure that this would not change my mind.

Mother said, no it would be foolish to take a trip now at seven months. Now I know I was stubborn, I told them I am going, and no one can stop me. Mother said we ‘must leave at once. had already packed my trunk so-in the next few days we were aboard a train. The first night I was ill and no doctor on the train. Little Richard was a jewel no trouble at all and the next four days and nights were a pleasure, and I was feeling myself again. I was treated especially nice by everyone in our car. This train, I wonder how many traveled in 1912 when one car was equipped with a large stove like a range for the travelers to use to cook their meals.

At this time, I did not relish the order of foods and hurried back to relieve this nausea common in my condition. We arrived home and to me everything had changed. It was not my home and why was I here? How could my family understand I wanted to go back to my home.

No matter how attractive my family tried to make me enjoy this visit it became known, I was really home sick. Little Richard was now nineteen months, walking saying DaDa and keeping the family amused:

This was my parents first grandchild, so he was quite special. The aunts were showering him with all sorts of toys, clothes, and things I didn’t want him to eat.

The first of November brought the cold NorthWind, and the old hard coal heater sent beautiful blue and red flames trickling through the coals, sending warmth all through the house. There was the stove which away back (in used to be years) had an oven on the back. Here my mother baked bread and large crocks of beans. Whenever the church had dinners, Alice (my mother) was called for a jar of these brown baked beans. On the evening of November 11th, I awoke with a feeling of uneasiness and slipped out of bed. Putting on a warm robe I cuddled as near as possible to the comfortable warmth of the heater. Watching the colored pictures of the embers I began my first tantalizing pains. Now mother was brustling about. The doctor was on the way and I was on my way to my party (as my husband called it) because I knew it was just a matter of time until the puzzle (well it be a boy or girl) would be solved.

I now feel I was never concerned or worried just anxious to get it over. Dr. Blownt, with that little black bag which when a girl, I was told brought the babies, came in the door bringing a cold breeze and stood near the stove warming his hands and said well Blanche what will it be? I answered, just a healthy little one.

Soon the doctor was saying here show a little life and I heard him slap my baby and the joyful cry and doctor saying another boy. He was named William Randolph Staggs, taking the names of his two grandfathers. His head was covered with a crown of ebony and even his little ears were coated with fuzz. He was a picture of health. Well, Little Richard had a pal. I was bursting with pride and now I could go back to my beloved Oregon to my sweetheart.

But between snowstorms and doctors’ advice I didn’t leave until January and my mother was coming with me. What fun to again nut on my dresses and stand before a mirror and admire myself. Now we are again on our way back to my home and my mother as ever has taken our babies and all is well. I am nursing little Bill. Richard Jr. loves his little brother. He is a little man needed no diapers but with some new teeth and a fever his bowels began to give us trouble, and we had to discard pants for diapers. I had to care for little Bill, and my mother was in charge of little Richard.

Outside too, was cold and snowy and our train was sidetracked for some hours. When we arrived in Portland, Richard was there to meet us. This was one of those happiest days of my life.

I know my husband was proud of his new son and little family. I never left home again unless my husband was with me. Mother stayed a month and now I was on my own again. Here again was the old routine and how I loved it. It was such fun to be with my sweetheart.

Business was going well, and babies were growing and we were all happy. On weekends we would pack some supplies and babies needs and drive out to Winchester, a tiny town on the Willamette River and spread our rarp and cook over an open fire and enjoy natures lovely out-of-doors.

Our little boys thrived on this way of life. Little Richard was walking, and we drooled over every little word. Summer was hot and our bedroom was too warm, so my sweetheart suggested we put up a tent with a floor and take our beds outside.

Along the house flowed the race this water furnished power for our mill. It was always a worry because our sons loved. to wonder about. We had a little porch on the front of our home and above the steps we put up a little wire fence. Now our sons had a cozy place to play with their toys and most of them larded in the yard, but they were safe.

One day mother Staggs found Billy outside and ask me how he got out. I didn’t know. I put him on the porch, and we watched from the window, Little Richard was still playing with his toys, and Billy began his jabbering which it seems his brother understood, but no one else. He soon scrambled to the fence and putting those little feet between the wires reached the top. One little foot straddles and as his lifted the otter he lost his balance and just rolled down the steps and then he began trying to get Richard to come out with him but Richard although the older of the two was not the aggressive type, but Bill had a way of changing his mind. He was always a little afraid of his brother’s wild stunts. It was on one Thanksgiving and dinner was just about ready when Mother Staggs said, “Where is Billy?” She looked out the window just in time to see him crossing the race on a narrow board. He had just about reached the other side when over he spilled in the cold water. Never a sound but his Daddy was there and pulling him out he said to me, “Get these wet clothes off of him.”

I was shaking worse than this little rascal, but we were soon being served the turkey and were thankful to have been rear. The water was too deep, and he would have drowned. I began to depend on my older son, which was only nineteen months older than Billy to try to keep him away from trouble or to tell us.

One day Richard came running, yelling Billy is in the barn. We had two broad mares, which was taken for a bill of feed or debt. They always living on pasture were wild bring coreled in a barn. Richard their Daddy was the only one who could walk around them in the stalls. He had tamed them with lumps of sugar and carrots. Anyone else they would kick. We all ran and Mother Staggs said “Don’t scream Blanche, you will not only scare the horses but Billy also.” Their Daddy saw him in the stall and Minnie was stepping quietly around him. I heard Richard say Billy come out of the barn now, don’t run, walk.

For once he did and although his daddy was happy, he had obeyed and was safe and he explained the danger that he must never enter the barn again. He turned him across his knee and warmed his little behind a rosy red.

These little sons had a language o£ their own and could understand each other but to us it was a puzzle.

One of those gossipy neighbors told a friend of mine their daddy had lived in China and that was her solution. I had never known him at that time. This was now the beginning of 1914 and men were without jobs. Times were bad.

A spur of the railroad run to the mill property where he unloaded our cars of supplies. It was easy for these men (who were called tramps) .to come to our place where they could build a fire near the creek under the mill. Here they would cook and sleep.

Some asked for work to get a meal. Richard could always find work as unloading cars, spuring and splitting wood which we sold. He never turned anyone away. For a while I prepared the meals but with my little ones and another on its way he decided he would send them to the restaurant. He would not give them money because some would use it for drink but tell the restaurant owner to feed them.

One afternoon late we saw flames, our mill was on fire not only the loss, our insurance had terminated a week before so we really were in trouble. We suspected some of these men had built a fire where the oil from machinery had leaped through, but we thought it was an accident. Next Richard’s_ sister was taken ill with a bursted appendix and was in the hospital for some time. In September while my doctor was celebrating at the country fair and he was a noted pediatrician I began again my welcome advent. No doctor but my nurse arrived. She was a woman of words, words off the record and what she called this doctor, who she had been with at other times before was not for innocent ears.

She said, don’t worry I had rather be alone. She waited as long as I could wait and as I always rather be on my feet until the last, put me to bed safely and our third son Harold Wareham Staggs was born weighing only five pounds, the cord had wrapped around his neck .and he had not been getting enough nourishment and when a few days later I saw him for the first time, he was so thin and a pitiful little creature I cried. Nurse said you should have seen him when he arrived.

I had a nervous chill when I heard someone trying to get in our filling station and was quite ill for a number of days but soon the old milk depot was ready for action and he became a little ball of butter, my little pet.

Father Staggs loved Richard and Billy, would walk around holding their hands and sneak over to a grocery across the street and buy them candy. He would say to me, “Blanche, don’t Give the little ones too much candy.” This afternoon before he took his nap he called me and said, “Blanche, watch the little boys.”

He never believed in nicknames but called them Ichie and Buddy. This was his last long hap. How we missed him. He had roughish blue eyes, small boned, wore his hair long, pure white and goatee.

He loved to quote Shakespeare and Whittier and when young acted in Shakespear plays. His first wife was an actress. She died when her third child was born. Her name was Gilbert. He married again our present Mother Staggs, who always called herself, Ida Antha. She raised two of his children, the baby did not live. Never any better woman, a mother to me.

She later had three girls and my sweetheart.

Going back to Billy and Richard during summer after their naps I gave them each a nickel for a cone. The drug store was just across the road.

One day the telephone rang and Mr. Johnson the druggist said, the boys are here and want cones. How many? Billy has a five-dollar gold piece. I had been busy taking an order for hay and Billy had climbed up to the cabinet where I kept a money box and took what he thought enough for cones Well the money box had a new hiding place. Wonder what next?

It seems troubles came too close together. It was a very warm day; Mother Staggs took the boys while I was finishing an ironing. I had gone to the wood yard and had picked a few barrel staves with paint on them to make a quick fire. I had finished and was putting all those little clean clothes away. I heard a cry of fire, hearing a cracking sound, I went to the stairway, and all our clothes were up there so I ran up and loaded my arms with the children’s clothes. I had carried down three loads when Richard came in calling Blanche, where are you? I came down and he took me outside saying, “what are you doing?” Don’t you know that the roof could fall on you anytime?

Well, I was not quite myself since Harold was born so took time to faint. We were all safe, but what the fire had not destroyed the water had so we were without everything except the beds which were still in the tent where we were still sleeping. I was ill again and whenever anyone asked about the fire, I fainted.

Richard took us with tents and beds out to our favorite camping grounds on the river and here we would live until our house could be repaired and I was strong again. Now the war had begun in Europe.

So, after the house was repaired, so Mother Staggs could live there, he turned what business was left over to her and we left for Powers Oregon. Before I go any farther, I must tell you about some of the good times we had while in Roseburg as on April 1st. April Fool’s Day. Richard was always doing something or surprising us. He could think of the most uncalled for jokes. His mother had their supper at six. About 3:00 in the afternoon, he came in our apartment and “Said get the boys and get out as soon as you smell smoke.” He had crawled upon the roof of the kitchen and covered the chimney with an old piece of tin. Mother Staggs must start a fire in that old cook stove. She placed a layer of kindling and the wood and proceeded to light the =ire. Now she began the biscuits, which Father Staggs could not be happy without, sifting the flour and baking powder and salt into a bowl. At that time a blue cloud of smoke poured toward the ceiling. In a few minutes she was sneezing and tears leaking from her eyes. Opening a window and door she began throwing wood out the window. As if by accident Richard appeared and said, “Mother what are you doing?” She explained and he said, “Well try it again.” Now more carefully she did as before and after lighting it. Just as soon as the flame but that sappy pine she saw a puff and with it another cloud greeted her.

I had taken the boys outside and was laughing so hard I dared not go in. She said “Richard, what is the matter?” I think she saw that tell-tale twinkle his eye, and he said, “there must be something wrong with that chimney that is shutting off the air.” She looked at him and he said, “What day is today?” She had a contagious laugh, and everyone joined while. Richard removed the hazard from the chimney, and she continued with the biscuits.

Then thinking brings back memories I ha& almost forgotten as at different times both Richard and drivers would be gone. Mother Staggs, the children and I would stay at the mill answering phone calls and selling to the customers. It was a very warm day and a wagon with a man and woman who looked worn and bored signs of the mountain people drove up to the platform and said they needed a sack of flour, but they had not money and wondered if they could trade a canary for the flour. I looked at Mrs. Staggs and she said, “Would you trade two canaries for the sack of flour?” When they left there was no record on the books for the sack of flour, but we each had a yellow canary.

Later mine furnished a dinner for a mother cat that I had been feeding. I had some fun too. My sister, Julia, had just arrived from the East with a trunk of new clothes and as she unpacked a little joke formed in my mind. “Why not?” “We were the same size, and I had been called turns.” I told Julia my little scheme and I picked an attractive suit with a picture hat, shoes and gloves. I didn’t look too bad. My husband was always pleased with my appearance. I will say he was all man and never missed seeing a good-looking woman. I went out the front door my sister said, I would never have recognized you. I laughed and said, “Watch out the window, I am going to the mill to order hay for my horse.”

To get back to the mill it, was quite a distance back to the mill office. I was twenty-four still timid, discrete and loved this husband very much. Now my walk was changed to a happy co lucky swagger. As I came closer to the platform, I saw he had seen me and was wondering who that new doll could be.

Coming closer I turned my face so he could not see my profile, how he was getting nearer. When I was too close, I turned mv face toward him and said, hello! and looked into his eyes. What I saw was amazement and surprise. I said, “Whom were you expecting and he said, not you and he put his arms around me and said, where did you get the clothes?”

Then there was another time I called husband at the mill from our extension at home. Changing my voice, I ordered a ton of hay for some ponies which would be delivered at once, I gave an address. It was late, the drivers had gone home so he had to load the hay alone. Now the address was a little merry-go-round that came in with a carnival and the ponies needed a gasoline for the engine instead of hay. He went to the address and when he say the ponies he drove back to the mill and unhitched the team, fed them, and came to the house.

Dinner had been waiting, I met him, with the usual kiss and asked him why he was so late, and he said he had to make the last-minute delivery himself, and nothing was ever said, until I couldn’t stand it any longer. I called using my voice, and said how much longer do I have to wait for that hay for my ponies? How he laughed. We did have fun with our troubles.

Another little story which was not so funny at the time, the first of each month he would collect the feed bills because when they received their pay, he found it a good policy to be there before someone else got it.

He loved to play pool or billiards and before coming to dinner at six he would stop collect and have a game. Now dinner was ready, boys fed and still no Richard. This was happening a little too often and I was probably tired. I didn’t mind his playing pool. I put the boys to bed, then asked Mother Staggs to watch them. She brought some sewing and said, “where are you going and with nothing more than, “I am going to learn how to play pool,” I left.

It seemed, I saw a little amused expression pass over her face but not comment. Now it was about 9:30 and a very dark (not stormy) night and about five blocks to the pool hall. It was owned by a man who attended our church and no drinks were served, just cards and pool. When I found myself in front of the hall, I felt paralyzed (like my boys at the dentist’s office) but as long as I had gone this far, well here goes. As I entered Mr. Church came to meet me and said, “Are you alright?” I saw Richard’s jacket hanging on the wall and said, “may I go back there?” He walked back and looked and said, “Yes, Mrs. Staggs, go on in.”

My tears were too near, and I was trying to put on a bold front. How I wished I was home. Richard was playing and his back was toward me, and I walked in, all card players and pool too couldn’t believe their eyes. Everything was as the still of the night. Later when it was over and some days later, I could laugh.

Walking over to the wall I hung my jacket beside my husbands, and it was then he looked to see why the quiet. Boy it only took a minute to grab both coats and say let’s go home. He never said a word, but my walk was almost a run as soon as we were home and inside, he left. But I didn’t go to bed just sat and sat around tit midnight. I heard that much loved footstep and the door opened and he came in with a hot pineapple pie and said I thought we would enjoy a nice pie, and we sure did. No words and later one evening after dinner he said, “would it be alright if I go up and play a game of pool?” I kissed him and said, you know it will. At that time women were never found in pool halls or bars.

Love is Such a Precious Thing

Chapter II

Looking back and dreaming of the interesting enjoyable and sometimes almost tragic experiences we encountered while living these first years of our married life. I decided in my crude way to tell some of these happenings hoping my grandchildren will not only see our way of living at that time but give a chuckle or see us in the light of young people starting their new married life.

We were very, very happy. Married in the East, but settling in that (to me awesomely primeral) state, Oregon. I will at this time begin by telling you we lived in Roseburg where with our first three, Richard Jr. 6, William, 5, and Harold, 2, sons, we started on this move prompted by World War I. Richard, my husband had a couple of years before, traded a team of horses and a wagon to a stagecoach man for a new Interstate car which he having no mechanical knowledge could not use. I can still remember how Richard sent for a book which would acquaint himself with the workings of this new type of gas engine. I must tell you, my husband always said, “If you want to do anything and want to work hard enough you can conquer whatever, the problem, and I have seen him prove it many times. As I said, he was called to report for war work, which at the time I did not understand.

We were to go to Powers, Oregon which was I imagine around 75 miles from Roseburg over untraveled, what was then called trails on which were then traveled by covered wagons and few stages. In these now days no one would think of traveling trails on which we cut brush, trees and etc., to get the car through and on ridges with narrow one-way (I called) paths where you might hear the bells of a wagon telling us to get off some place. Remember these were mountains, not hills, and looking down into these canyons, my first time, was with fear but I must not let it be known to our little ones. I know that my husband was thinking it and hoping, what he expected of me.

But such a country endowed with beauty, without words to express its vastness. Trees of pine, and cedar waiting for man to soon cut and use for ships, and our first planes were used in World War I.

I must not forget to mention this car was built so high I had to liften to the outside step, by my good natured husband. There were two seats in this car and one he removed to make room for our few belongings: a trunk, an old iron bed, and our provisions.

On each side of our pet “Betsy” as we called it Richard had attached a sort of a cupboard and in these were supplies for cooking, pots, pans few dishes and cups, fishing equipment in one end and food supplies in the other. I imagine you will wonder about the food. There were five of us. Here was the diet: potatoes, onions, flour, a few cans of milk, bacon, baking puc, salt lard, macaron beans, First Aid supplies, an axe, rifle, and shot gun and matches.

No gasoline stations, for miles and miles. At this time, we bought gas in, five-gallon cans and had to carry our drinking water too. What an adventure but youth can be so wonderful. Traveling had to be in the light of day. This vehicle was equipped with carbon lights, so if it rained, no lights. We had curtains attached to the car, which we kept rolled up in warm weather ‘but when it rained and it surely poured, we got wet, and we would have to camp and dry out. At night even in the hot weather it was cold. As the sun slipped behind the mountains.

We, unless bad weather, would spread our tarps on the ground and sleep like babies. When we cooked it was over a fire on an old grate and I had a large cast iron fry pan and a large three-legged iron pot in which I learned to prepare what we called delicious foods and I’ll agree with our three growing healthy sons, two hard working parents. I believe it wouldn’t take too much to make us enjoy our meals. Then the old coffee pot, blackened by open fires and little time to scour always brought an aroma to all woodsmen and camper too, in this area as well.

We were always able on this trip to find cold streams where the water was Natures champaign. Here all clothes were discarded and bath with water fights. At rivers I washed my clothes, Indian style.

Boys all wore denim coveralls and I kaki skirt, and middle blouse. I remember Harold (2 years) needed warm underwear. and we stopped at the country store before we left civilization and all we could find was a flannel shirt which reached below his little feet.

I did not mention but a month before we left Roseburg our home burned, and we lost most of our clothes also our insurance policy had elapsed a week before so when we left, we had around two hundred dollars and very few belongings. So, you see we were not overburdened with clothes and we did have washings often. But we were a happy lot. It was late summer and wild berries were abundant.

Large juicy blackberries never touched by man. Only birds, squirrels, bear lived here. One-night across the creed-from our campfire a cougar, smelling the fresh fish we had eaten for supper, crept sneakily back and forth and every, now and then shrieked his cat-like challenge which the boys thought funny.

Richard never allowed any one to scare or put fear in their hearts. We found streams and although I was afraid of water, I never said anything that would make them realize it. They were like little Indians. How they loved to camp as small as they were. Each had to help, and it was a lark with them. Here is where these sons of ours learned to love Mother Nature’s creations and her children.

Their daddy never tired of showing and explaining and teaching them about the moon sun, stars how the coal was formed, about fishing and hunting. Always reminding them only fish for food and hunting deer just enough for our supply. We killed young rabbits for our evening meal or fish because it was the only meat we could get, and supplies were getting low.

As we traveled curve after curve, we say the biggest hottest sun and the biggest cold moon. The lake and rivers were the bluest and as they danced through rock bound canyons their sounds echoed sometimes singing joyfully while again it was as if a change of mood, or of temper was unliked and moans or terror passed while the waters rushed on its unending journey. No one need visit other countries until he has witnessed the beauty of our country. To me the Oregon Country cannot be surpassed. I must get back to our trip to Powers.

When we did arrive, we were in need of food. The little town was set up for War work and the store was owned by the lumber company. Here Richard found he could get a five-dollar coupon book which would allow us to shop at the company store. It was a problem to decide what we needed most and the food that I would stretch the farthest and make the heartiest meals. Richard was to start Monday, and it was now Saturday so he went after deer. They were plentiful and he was a good hunter, so we were proud and happy when he came back with a young buck.

We were over a mile from the town of Powers and had a two-room shack or cabin. The living room had a table made from a log built by who knows, a bench and chair whose seat was laced with deer thongs. Richard put up the old iron bed for he and I and Hal and made a place to sleep for Richard and Bill of pieces of old timber lashed together. And got straw from the old hermit who owned our cabin and made it for a mattress. They slept as happily, and it was fun, and I guess comfortable. The kitchen was connected to the living room by a step, and its floors were hacked out of logs and worn and rough. Walls seemed unable to meet in many places. Here the wind, rains and snow poured through, and it was always a problem to heat and never was warm.

Of course, a kitchen should have a stove, but this one was so small. A dirty rusted, ugly piece of junk and I soon learned why whenever it rained it put out the fire, so cooking was a joy and never sure because meat could change from a roast to a stew. Many times, we were glad it was soup. The little oven could never be sure what it would turn out. We had to eat hot cakes or biscuits.

I could make biscuits, so it took some time to get the roof patched above the stove and still, the rain poured from the corners, and I wore boots while the rain drops spattered joyfully all around me. Sunday, Richard tried to fill these holes and cut wood because tomorrow he would report for work at this lumber camp. We were surrounded with mountains covered with forests of pines and cedars.

From the cabin windows I could see the huge trees being cut, hear the sound of timber, then the crash as the pine thundered to earth with the sounds as of thunder. The first days here was a part of my new life.

Water to be carried because my husband was away until dark which come early in the winter months and with it cold. We could see snowcapped mountains glisten all around us.

Richard’s first day was to be a whistle punk. His duty was to give orders for, the loggers who chained these fallen trees ready for moving. I am sorry but I have forgotten what the number of whistles meant. He was shifted to all sorts of jobs which a lumber jack must learn.

The use of an axe, so sharp, one hit could sever a leg. The use of a saw, two men working as one team. One thing told to me by the women, very dangerous was high lead. The loggers went to near tops of the pine and blasted out its top and as it fell the tree seemed to whip the logger back and forth as if taking revenge. Richard had never done work that hardened his hands, his was mental and his hands become scalded and blistered although he wore heavy gloves. His clothing had to be warm. The loggers wore red wool underwear, heavy wool socks, boots made to order, which surely made a hole in our pocketbook. The pants were called tin pants. They were dipped in a solution, which kept the rain from soaking through and when he took them off at night it was funny to see them standing all alone. Cap with ear flaps and mittens. At night he ate his supper at about seven. To go where they were logging, they had to be at the train track at 5:30 a.m. and it took two hours to reach the timber line. Most of these loggers lived in old shacks, some made of old freight cars.

They were I would say a few blocks from us, but I guess I had better say it was through this timber and brush area. When I went to meet them, I found the families unlike I had ever known before. They were hard working people, unlearned, unreformed and far from the cleanness I had until now known.

But they were friendly and was willing to help me. One family a man and his wife and two sons, who were well fed and not plump just fat as was the mother and father and grandmother. They had a little wagon and invited me to go to the little town a mile away or so, to get supplies from this only store, winding by Powers Lumber Co.

My three sons and Mrs. thighs two ran ahead exploring and having fun so did not realize the distance. This was war time, and we could not buy only so much wheat and flour. I had to take substitutes as corn meal, which being a Yankee, I had never acquired a taste but soon learned I must introduce to my family. My first shopping was a trying experience. What to buy until I could get another check which was two weeks later.

I was never extravagant but had been able to buy what we needed. It’s odd how soon a town woman can adjust herself and become a logger’s wife. Now I had learned from my husband his secret and why we were working here. At this time the I.W.W. a group of men ruling against the government (as the reds now) were destroying the machines and materials used in the lumber camps, not only slowing up the production of lumber but causing shortage of lumber used for ships and planes to be used in this World War I.

Richard was chosen with a few others to seek out and report those who had I.W.W. cards. He had been supplied with car and literature. He became friendly and they accepted him as one of them. As soon as he located one, he had him immediately taken to a stockage away from there and held. He did well but some began to wonder why a man began an education would be working as a logger. He had told me never let a good marksman being trained, with a 32-20 rifle by my husband and had killed deer and even beat my brother in a shooting gallery. Besides the rifle I had a shot gun and at night when he was not home, I kept them loaded and while the boys slept, I waited. He had always warned me if you have to use the gun shot to kill.

We kept nothing anyone could be interested in around the house. One night Richard was at a meeting. I was always wondering if he were safe. The cabin being so small we had added our tent as sleeping quarters. The three boys were asleep. I heard a noise and of course picked up my loaded rifle. It was dark but a full moon hovered peacefully above as I watched a man quietly creeping around the entire tent, but the opening was into the house. I stood in the door with cocked rifle following his every step. Where he went, I will never know. I expected him to try the cabin door but never heard him climb the steps. I still clutched my rifle, and it seemed a lifetime when I heard Richard’s voice and his special knock at the door. I never allowed our boys out of my sight. We became more and more concerned, and the mill owners began to hear complaints.

They knew nothing of his work, and he was shifted to other camps which he wanted to continue work. At that time these logging camps had 14 hours work, dirty sleeping quarters, bed bugs, food scarce, and unfit to eat. All camps from California, Oregon, and Washington were the same. As loggers became more dissatisfied, the camps became now buzzing with discontent. Richard was their speaker and finally all the camps along the cost were wanting shorter hours, more money, cleanliness in quarters and better mess.

Richard was picked to represent the camps at Powers. Now a little sideline. Having lost our clothes in the fire Richard had to have a suit and we, our money was still low. We were compelled to buy war bonds, the money taken from our checks.

We talked it over and Richard went to a secondhand store and bought, yes, a secondhand suit and this one he had to take. It was a grey not a plaid but a funny design and rough texture. Far from the clothes he had worn back in England. But to me he was as handsome as every and I knew he was pleased and proud to be their representative because he was always ready to fight, for anything he considered right. The men in his family were ministers, and abolitionists, and were fighters for their causes.

Of course, the owners were sure this meeting in Portland would never uphold their loggers. That evening while the owners were celebrating at a big dinner, Richard sent a telegram from Portland to the owner, saying the loggers will be given an eight hour with overtime pay, clean quarters and better mess.

The newspaper wanted Richard to run as a representative for the labor party. It was quite an honor, and I know it must have been a temptation, but we talked it over and decided after the war we wanted to go back east to put our sons in school and he wanted to take more college work. The old man who owned the cabin we lived in, had planted some apple trees years ago and also raised potatoes for his own use. One day he came to see us and brought apples and potatoes. They were small but how we needed them. I always used my white flour then had to use the corn meal. This old, dilapidated stove with all its faults added another curse which was. smoking and while I cooked and baked the corn bread my eyes swam in tears and gritted my teeth. Hating the war and living like we were, and this was bad for my disposition but through it all we were happy. Now I can’t see why? In the winter our sons never saw their daddy only on Sunday and after cutting in the logging camp all week, he had to cut wood for ourselves and Sunday I had to learn that art of spitting or hot meals.

We heard of a woman who had some chickens to sell and I can’t remember the price but it must not have been much because we bought them and after some time we had a pen for them to lay and sleep in. The daytime, we had to watch them. The woods were filled with all kinds of wild animals. The people around us saved their table scraps and we got some corn from the apple man, and I am more surprised now that they did lay and they made good chickens meals and soup.

The boys were healthy but during cold rainy season Hal had croup. There is nothing more frightening when you see a child drawing at his throat for air. About the most I could do was heat butter and poke it down his throat. If you remember this was the time the flu epidemic hit the U.S.

The army had had to fill the camps, with soldiers to speed the production of lumber. The loggers were lagging and each tine when they received their pay, they soaked their troubles in whiskey, and this lasted until the money was gone. Fights and fights and fights where knives played and blood ran. It was a common event. There were only two doctors and the town doctor, I think thought he ruled the universe, but I imagine he was tired and disgusted. So, when Hal had this bad attack of croup which did not act to my remedy. Richard rushed to his home and knocked, and a voice answered and he said my son is choking to death with croup and the doctor answered I am taking a bath and Richard yelled back be damned come at once or I’ll come in after you and he came. Taking a towel, he dipped it in cold water and put it around his neck and gave him medicine then stayed with him more than an hour. He wasn’t so bad after all, just tired and worn from his joy too. When I think back, it must have been a dream.

You can’t imagine this great country. How we loved it. We needed no amusements for it took all our time just living.

Such beautiful skies, so dark but still all bright with the star candles aglow. Winds sending the pines perfume across the earth at times in gentle murmurs and then again angry winds with unknown strength. Heavy trees wreathed and fell in its wake. Morning came with dawn calling the sun back and another glorious sky welcoming all. Mother nature’s families to again peace and joy. All was well after the eight-hour law, and the camps were having no trouble with labor. Richard was through so we went to Brookings Oregon in the same car, and it was a lark are worries were over, but were they? Brookings was on the coast and another town owned by the logging company.

We rented a little cabin four small rooms but with water and lights. It had been used by one of the camp owners. Again, we needed supplies, and Richard went to apply for work. This was a sawmill and the lumber was taken out by ships. The man who interviewed Richard listened to his story and had been blacklisted. There we were three children and another on its way and out of money and food low. I think this is the first time he really begged but this man was a good man and said he would give him some work but was not sure for how long.

Here we were again trying to figure what food to buy with a five-dollar coupon book. Richard proved himself but beside him worked a detective for mill owners and he knew it. Within a month Richard had one of the be jobs which was running a monorail. This machine pulled the lumber and loaded the ships. We became good friends of the manager and his wife, and they wanted to help us.

Now there were rumors of peace. In May our fourth son was born. Such a doll weighed 10 1/2 pounds, and I rowed this was the last. Richard said, we will name him Robert L. and I said what is the L for? He laughed and said, the last. This little hospital was a company hospital for emergencies. The serious cases were taken to the larger city. My nurse was delighted to have a woman so she said the company pays for the eats so we’ll the best.

She was a character; she had acquired the loggers code and used it beyond the limit. While I was there a logger was brought in from the camp with an injured leg which had to be amputated.

These walls were so thin every word could be heard. The nurse began some of her favorite curse words and hurrying into me handed me the crustiest piece of toast I had ever seen and said chew this and make as much noise as you can. The doctor is going to operate and did I chew and crunch and smack my lips. I was home in ten days. Mother Staggs and Edith who had been taking care of the family left. How we hated to see her go. But to tell the truth there was not enough room for us all. We loved her and she loved us. Richard had a wonderful garden. It was foggy until noon and then. it cleared and around four you could see those gray clouds of fog sail in, so our beautiful large tomatoes never ripened.

The rest of the garden was a picture and did we enjoy and need it. You can imagine my laundry problems, three boys, a baby which meant diapers every day. One day I’ll always remember. My lines were filled and a heavy wind over the Pacific roared in breaking the line and switching the sheets and remaining wash to the ground and through this clay soil. “Beigh now.”

I sat down and shed a few tears, but not for long. I had another washing which I needed. Behind this little house was a dense growth of woods, wild blackberries (large and juicy) and the most beautiful rshodendrans. Behind these run a little happy creek, babbling and carrying many lazy little fish, which Richard and Bill loved to bring home. California poppies, geraniums, and more. I’ve forgotten, surrounded this cabin. And the little front porch became a cozy little nest for Bobbies basket.

The boys went to school, most of the children were Indians and very interesting playmates.

While here in Brookings, Richard would leave after work on Saturdays and get home early Sunday with a deer. Meat was scarce, so we depended on wild game, pheasants, wild turkey, rabbit, and fish also the Chetco River flowed into the Pacific here and many times the tom cods would appear in large schools.

The families would take tubs or their boilers and dip them from the river. These we dried. The only pork near us was from a little store where the owner raised hogs which fed on acorns. The meat was lean and thin. We would grind it and mix with venison which made a kind of a sausage. This I fried and put in large crocks and poured hot lard over the top to seal it, but it never stayed sealed very long our growing family could enjoy food.

Richard and Bill started to school. Its pupils were mostly Indians, but the teacher enjoyed her work. We were there almost two years. I forgot to mention that fatal epidemic of flu which swept U.S. during the war did not affect our little but we were compelled to wear face masks whenever we were out of our yards. These I made, two for each of us, from and they were boiled and dipped in carbolic acid, after each use. Not one case was known in our district.

Here Richard and Bill received the hardest punishment ever given them. Their daddy had taken the three boys (Hal was small) but always doing unfore seem tricks) down to the mill pond. This was where the logs were dumped after being brought down on flat cars from the woods. He had told and shown them how dangerous it was where these immense logs bobbed around in the water.

He reminded them that the skilled loggers could easily slide off and badly hurt or drowned, between or under then. He also explained that they should never come down here alone. One day while he was working on the monorail loading lumber, one of the mill men motioned for him to look at the mill pond. Shutting off the machine he wasted little time getting to where he saw his boys, He was not only frightened but angry (a failing he had when young). He saw them on a log bunching around and saw they were unable to get off. He called “Stand still” and soon he had them safe. He could not leave his work but said, “Go home and do not leave the yard.” When he came home the boys were taken into the shed and given a punishment I will never forget. I often wonder, did they?

He brought them in and put them to bed without supper. The only time in their lives I know I suffered mentally as much as they did physically. Never again were we worried about the millpond. Whenever one or the other of us disciplined the other never joined in the dispute no matter how much we disagree.

Now we were again ready for the longest trip “Old Betsy” our covered wagon (car) would make. It was the first of August 1919. Bob was only fifteen months old and against all rules I still had not completely weaned him. Truce signed. We left this foggy region and the next few days we had entered an entirely new boiling sun. My husband having a light skin began to burn.

Now you probably didn’t know but Betsy had no cover over us. The third day Richard’s face, hands, and arms were so burned and swollen he could not drive and became ill. Now we know he was poisoned by those violet rays.

At Gold Beach we stayed a week. After he was able to use his arms and hands, he found stakes and with what tarp we could salvage from an old mountain wagon, he covered our car. Now looked like the old, covered wagons of that day. It’s hard for me to remember many of our experiences but I will never forget Richard wanted his sons to see and learn so he decided we should go to a point farthest of the west coast to see a light house. We left the main road and after some miles saw the light house and the prettiest spot we had camped so far. It was a level spot under a grove of trees, and it was about sundown. We had to hurry to erect the tent, so we didn’t have time to look about us. The sun was setting over the Pacific, hung as a framed picture, only nature could paint.

It was a prayer so lovely. After our hurried meal, we were too tired for arguments. We just piled in and slept. As dawn brushed away the darkness faint traces of morning rose. All at once I was awakened by a sound, not the boys. Now Richard was awake and up and outside. Coming in he said get dressed quickly. It is a wild bull but don’t awaken the children. I was shaking or quivering like our beautiful aspens. Richard had the rifle and a shot gun loaded. The bull was now so close the dirt which he pawed was hitting our tent. Richard knew before long he would change at he knew if he were wounded our chances were few, but as usual he never lost presence of mind.

Out the back of the tent he went, cranked old Betsy and she was with us this time and what a noise she could make. His idea was to draw the bull’s attention from the tent.

Just at this time the lowering of cows did the job. Around the mountain loomed a herd of milk cows and he went to meet them we found we had pitched oar tent on the spot where he waited each morning for his herd.

He seemed to forget us. We took time to visit the light house, and this was the quickest packing on our trip. Richard went behind the mountain. The owner had a dairy and made cheese which was taken out by ship once a month. The owner said he paid $3,000 for the bull but could not a vouch for his actions because he became wild. Never came to the barn. All through the desert country it was so hot I couldn’t see how we could finish but the boys were always interested. Hal was like a little Indian. Bill always so tired if there was a job and little Richard feeling sorry takes over his own and Bills, Bob coming through find. My sweetheart burned, I know he must be tired but always interested, explaining all new things why and how.

After traveling all day and seeing a rattle snake I wouldn’t sleep on the ground and so he emptied the back of the car and made a bed for Bobbie and me. The others slept on the ground.

One evening while Richard was getting the beds (I mean putting tarp on the ground) I cooked and bed the boys. I had his meal in the frying pan which was a large iron skillet. We had fried potatoes and. bacon. We could carry little food because of the heat. Now Richard after this hard day and everything ready for night. He sat down and I took the old trusted fry pan and was carrying it to his plate, tipped on a vine and down went fryed food and all upside down in the sand.

What do you think any man would do? I cried and he just said, you are tired gathered up potatoes, bacon covered with sand and washed off as much sand as he could and ate it with some bread and coffee, then laughed. No matter how hard it was he had a way of making it easy. How he loved life and living it. Through Nevada and Arizona, we saw the cacti, tumble weeds and sage and Indians.

At Flagstaff which was a railroad stop we filled up with gas and oil & water. The station agent told Richard he could not go through this desert country, and we were foolish to take a chance, but being you and a husband who always said, if you will work hard for what you want you can accomplish it, and I will never doubt it. How lucky we were coming to a but where an old rancher lived. He was so glad to see someone and have someone to talk to. We stayed that day and night. He gave us some mutton. He had a flock of sheep. He also said, if we would stay, he would give us half of his land. How anyone coup live in this desert? So, we left to more desert and the next day the sky was dark and there were signs of rains. We were in a valley with mountains on each side of us.

Soon the sky was alive with streaks of lightening, coming all around us playing near the car, then the clouds separated, and a deluge of water poured into the sand and began raising up around the car higher and higher until we had about decided the desert was stronger than we.

The sun was above us and the sands were drinking the waters soon after the motor was dried, we continued on our way, knowing how lucky we were to be able to know life and wonder at natures mysteries. Following these (what they called roads) at times we used shovels to get us through and out on the trail to boil until we were low on water. All the way through Utah we fought heat and water and when we hit Salt Lake, we found a beautiful flowered clean town. Each little cottage was a picture of those who dwelled here, Morman. We bought some provisions and found delicious fruit. The cherries were the largest and the best tasting we had ever tasted.

More desert, we needed rest and our clothes must be washed so we kept hoping to come upon an oasis. Rock Springs, Wyoming was a blessing and then we came upon the most unusual unbelievable spot. Rounding the road and mountains there lay the glorious waters of Green River, our dream. Richard pitched our tent between two ridges. After what was called baths, we slept but were awakened by a terrific wind, our tent came down and rain aplenty but as always, my sweetheart herded us into the car and after shower we sat up housekeeping again. We were told that this was a natural occurrence for the winds to sweep through the openings between these ridges. This was a picturesque setting on oasis for us after all this heat and so little water. We all took advantage and come out clean. After a few days rest we were ready to continue to Cheyenne, and would you believe it here was the first campers park we had ever seen. We arrived late but the same routine, pitch the tent and get something to eat and we were low on food.

Richard found a little restaurant just being closed and all he could get was as large pot of soup and some bread and how we ate. Later after he had slept the boys became ill, vomiting and bowels acture.

It must have been the soup. But these little hard-boiled sons of ours after a couple of days rest, were as good as new. A few yards from our dilapidated tent was a new tent which hosed a young doctor and his new wife.

As they watched our family boys now clean but just little overalls which needed an iron, and I think they must be thinking we must be a family of gypsies. But before the day ended Billy was enlightening them. He told them where we came from and where we were going. They had never known there was such a family and civilized too, who could do without the necessaries they had always needed. Another day packing and adding a little food. Morning always dawned with happy noises from our boys, and we were now all piled in the car off to where?

The roads were beginning to be like the roads we knew in the East. We were headed for the corn and hogs states with rich ground. It would be an all-new country. Sand would be behind us.

So many things I forgot to relate as back in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Richard took the boys to a mine where they were mining coal. They were interested and he told them how nature had after years and years coal was formed by partial decomposition of vegetable matter, without the free access of air, under the influence moisture, pressure and temperature. He explained it in words they understood.

A few years later my sons were attending a Catholic School in Chicago. In geography Class the sister was asking about minerals and of course Billy (ten years) raised his hand saying he saw a coal mine. She said, can you tell us about it? Billy being sure of himself said years and years ago nature piled ferns and greens and on top of water, oils from decayed animals Layer after layer and it became veins of coal. He was quite pleased with his knowledge. But sister said, No Billy. God made it. He was on his feet immediately and said, my daddy told me, and he always tells me the truth. That ended the geography lesson for the day. I must again, remember that desert heat but as soon as the sun sank it was cold, and we heard the coyotes call as that iced moon beamed over us. The horizon was crowded with stars. The wind moaned and tossed her breezes about the tumble weeds and sage brush. These sounds became the warning of the rattle snake and I spent many hours frightened. But the children and Richard slept. We crossed the border into Nebraska althrough it was still hot the fields changed completly now. Saw corn mostly, and following the North River through the state to the North Plateau, Grand Island and finally after many weary days we were in Omaha and now hello Iowa another corn and hog state and such black soil, a rich state with more rivers and more and more corn and hogs. Here we followed a road which had two branches no signs, few any place in these years. We took what we thought the most traveled and just before dark was back to where we picked our road. It was too late, so we camped. We tried each evening to find a school yard and here would be a well and we could stay overnight.

Each day we were getting closer and had more vegetables and fruit. On through this rolling, hilly country, our family stayed well always having fun and worn out at night. Des Moines and over the state to Davenport and across the old Mississippi to Illinois. Every day seemed longer and longer and both Richard and I were beginning to count the miles. Illinois the state we lived in for almost 25 years. How large it all way. We had lived during the war in the back woods, with one store and without all these lights, roads, and other conveniences. It was strange to our boys. A few more days and we were in Joliet, Ill. which was not too far from Valparaiso Ind. where my parents lived.

Again, we camped hoping to see our destination in the nest drive. Things were going pretty well, and we were not too far from Valparaiso. Bang and a tire was gone. We were near a farm who by luck had a phone. Richard called my brother, and he said, I’ll be there soon.

By then this man and wife had heard some of our story and said we’ll put your car in the barn, and you can get it later. My brother came with a Ford and somehow, loaded a happy, tired, soiled family as my mother said on seeing us tramps or gypsies.

She hurried us into the house fearing someone might see us and find out we were her family. We bathed and found enough clothes to prove we were human. I often wondered if her family after 33 days of rough outdoor living could have looked as she expected us.

I did feel we could have shown her a trick or two. She and her family had lived in this little town all their lives and of course knew its people. Then mother was socially minded belonging to Lodges and Church circles, and our appearance would have caused quite a topic of conversation. I felt hurt but this was not the least my family could compete with those town people. For three years during the war, we had roughed it and knew what times during it had meant. We were in war work helping to win the war which these people never understood.

Richard went to Gary, Indiana twenty miles from Valparaiso and found work at the steel mills. It was fourteen-hour workdays and next weeknights. My mother having girls did not understand healthy normal boys which keep me in a highly nervous state. The little ones had never lived in a girl’s house where everything must stay in its place. Also, my mother was the head of the house. She loved my family, but I knew the sooner we could leave the better it would be for all of us. My dad was a quiet patient lovable man and was well pleased with our boys.

After month we had a little money, and Richard went to Chicago and found work with the Commonwealth Edison Co. It was just a job 50 cents an hour. He rented a house $10.00 a month.

On a Saturday he went back to the country and put on an old tire someone gave him and brought it to Valparaiso, and we loaded or filled our old trusty car and started for Chicago 44 miles to go. We were, no one but us knew, how happy to be together again. After getting us at our new home the next week we added more old furniture discarded by my mother years ago.

We had three iron beds and a coal stove, boxes for chairs, our housekeeping was crude, but as Richard would always say, it won’t be this way long. We’ll do better. We put Richard and in school. The house was old and near Wentworth and State Street near Cisero. Cisero was headquarters for the beer Gangsters during probation days. So, if my mother could see us now. This house had an upstairs and we picked it because it would be the warmer. We put up the stove and it was now fall. The North Wind was giving us its warning. We had very little cash and no coal but the boys in the neighborhood, this was a poor settlement, told our boys how they got their coal. They went with them and showed them how the coal cars switched, and coal rolled off. My boys though only 9 and l0 were thrifty and had learned many things about needing so soon they were bringing sacks of coal for the heater. All I had to cook on was a little gas plate and an oven which could be used on a plate.

As I look back I wonder how we managed to get by that first winter and kept alive. We were still proud, but the time came when we were glad for help. Living out west our boys had not been bothered with the children’s common diseases. Now in school was a nest for all those pestilent nightmares. First Scarlatina, all had it, and we were quarantined. When they began to recuperate, I kept them on a little cubby hole of a porch and to entertain them, taught them all the bones of the body and where they were located. I told them stories and sang nursery rhymes to my own music. Then when back to school and it was mumps, whooping cough, and measles. I was by now a skeleton and later destroyed all my pictures. Richard too was lean. He became acquainted with a butcher at the Fair Store who had been watching him buy meat the cheapest and most he could get for the money.

He asked Richard about his family, and he told him about our hardships and after that conversation whenever he would go for meat, he had bacon ends, ham hocks, soup bones, and cheap odds and ends for some small price. How delicious and how wonderful to find a human being who understood trouble.

We did manage through that winter and Richard being a good worker received a better wage and also a promotion from sweeping floors to winding armatures. We needed clothes badly then came sickness. Little Bob had bronchial pneumonia. We did not dare to lie him down for fear of choking. We found a doctor who knew our needs. I have often wondered if he had known our pains and sorrow too. He was not only a doctor but a needed friend. After Bob was well, things looked brighter. This neighborhood was mostly a rough class of Italians and a smell of garlic. These Italian boys were always in trouble, fought with knives. We took our boys to St. Cecelia, a Catholic school although we were not of that faith. Bill could really recite his Catechism. For years after he had grown and was in college, he always stopped to see Sister, who was Superior then. Hal started to school at six and I’ll say I often tried to figure, he was just a little troublemaker. But being my son, I didn’t confess to myself an answer.

Bill and Richard were always bringing him home. Of course, the kids were afraid of Hals big brothers. In August my fifth son was born. The evening was filled with lightening, thunder, heavy rain. We had retired and all asleep. I awakened to see a beautiful display of lightening flashing from one cloud to another. Climbing or rolling out of bed, I felt my first pains. I walked as far as Richard’s bedroom and stood framed in the doorway. He awakened as he saw me, I mumbled between pains, “Get the doctor.”

My sister Julia was visiting us, and I will never forget she was so excited and was trying to find a belt. Richard was having shoe trouble. It sure sounded silly to me, but he hurried across the street telephoned for the doctor and Mrs. Mulso came to take care of me. I was too busy with labor pains to care. I always stayed on my feet. It seemed easier for me, but I finally said I must sit down, and I did but still no doctor. Then I said I can’t wait any longer. Baby Howard was born in ten minutes, and doctor was soon enough to say all is well. My baby was such a good child. A few weeks later I took the flu, and I went to bed and baby was with me. We were alone. I was so ill and so tired I told Richard, “I just can’t go on and can’t fight any longer.”

He sat down beside me and took my hand. I can still hear him say, “Blanche, you can’t leave me now. What would I do without you. Get well, everything will be all right.”

Always a little doll, ate slept, and grew. Harold started to school and three weeks later, on his way home from school, Bill was with him waiting for the streetcar to pass. Hal just ran into the streetcar. I had just dressed, and I heard Bill screaming streetcar hit Harold. A neighbor took my baby and Mrs. Mulso and I ran to the corner where the street cars were all stopped police getting information and etc. A young man came to me and asked if I was looking for the little boy who had been hit and I told him I was his mother. He explained the police had taken him away in their car and probably would give him aide at a doctors on the corner of State St and Went. The cars were running again and we went to State and found he knew his name but had a skull fracture. Police had again taken him to a hospital. I called my husband in Chicago and he said for me to go home and he would be at the hospital as soon as he could get there.

My baby was only three weeks old and I was not well. Richard arrived at the hospital and found they had bandaged his head and I had taken him home. Poor little fellow was trying to be brave. He was to come back to the hospital the third day but the second night he began crying with pain and we immediately called our doctor. Richard had already taken off the bandage and such a sight. Infection, had started, face was beginning to swell. Doctor said, if we didn’t get that infection stopped soon, nothing could be done. If we had only known what Richard learned in his work later. We could not only help our boy but sued the streetcar company. The wound had been covered and not cleaned; dirt still remained. We applied hot towels all night and could see results because when the doctor arrived in the morning the swelling was less. Such a little prince he was so patient and such pain. We had burned his head from the hot clothes.

We kept warm damp compresses over the wound for days. Now the doctor put on a pad and said, don’t let anything hit this would, head because it is so tender. We sat up at night for fear of his hurting it. Doctor changed bandages and said it was much better. One night he screamed and. was holding his head. Doctor was called and when he arrived pulled off the bandage was a large blood clot. He didn’t have time to explain, just took out a knife and opened the wound, blood flew. Poor little Hal. Doctor said I must take him to the hospital. He was there a couple of months. With wet pad, and electric fight built above his head. Doctor said it must heal from the bottom. For days they probed and worked each day. Two extra nurses, loved him, and made quite a hero of him. After he did get back, he wore a heavy pad around his head and the sisters at St. Cecelia watched him and even came to our house and prayed for him. Now with all these expenses we were again low on funds and winter coming on.

Just before Christmas someone at the Edison Co. where Richard worked, heard about our needs. They sent a nurse. I still had pride, but we were cold. She said, what do you need most? I said, fuel. We had the hard coal heater my mother had given us. The next day a truck unloaded a ton of hard coal. Did you ever see the glowing ember send its display of colors, tossing its stream of beauty and wearing dreams as you watch?

When you are worn, things take in a different meaning. Now Christmas and what could we do for a Christmas dinner. Many parents have had the same problem and many not as lucky as we.

The nurse who had sent us coal, was our guardian angel. The day before Christmas, a man came to my door and asked what my name was and when I told him he said, he had a basket for us. I thanked him and he left. All the children nearby upset me trying to see what was in the basket, two chickens, potatoes, celery, fruit, nuts, and candy. One of the boys, I don’t remember said, all for us? I was almost compelled to cook this meal now. Our family was hungry but tomorrow was Christmas and all were looking forward to Christmas, so I waited. I am glad we experienced hardships. Now we can understand and sympathize although sympathy is not what we wanted. All this made us stronger and brought our family closer together. In this same community during prohibition, just behind us, was an old warehouse where we saw trucks loaded with liquor leave. We lived in no fashionable vicinity; rent was cheap, so here we lived.

We still had more worries. Harold had a busted appendix and one month apart, Bob and Howard had broken arms. It was then Richard joined the National Guard which was being formed and made up of men from Commonwealth Edison, International Harrent Co., Gas, and many more which I have forgotten.

This added a few more dollars. Why oh why, Richard was taken ill? Many reasons, hard work, long hours, and not enough food, had finally drained him of strength. Heart bad. A doctor who was a blind specialist found his tonsils were badly infected, so he was taken to Mercy Hospital and while on the operating table had a hemorrhage and so for a year although he went back to work, he was not well.

Richard was reliable and began working with Safety Work, which was something new and First Aid he was given a new type of job and a raise in salary. We found a better house rear the high school. Richard had interested Richard and Bill in scouting and had become a Scout Master himself. In high school Richard played tennis and Bill football, and they worked for their merit badges and at 15 and 16 became Eagle Scouts and had the honor of having their Eagle Scout pins, pinned on by Senator Dedeen. We moved to a better house and Harold had joined the scouts. I had always tried to keep my boys from fighting. These neighborhoods had always had a bully, so as we came into different school, this time it was Hal.

Each day, the boy who was the bully at this school, with two other boys, would push him off the walk and call him names and try to provoke ham to fight, but when he told me, I said, just ignore them. Today as he came for lunch, I was at the window and saw these boys pushing and knocking him around and when he came in, I was so angry, I said, “are you a coward?” He looked at me in surprise and said, “mother you told me not to fight.” I said, Harold, I didn’t understand. When they come by, I want you to go out there and fight even if they lick you, as long as one fights, OK, if the others join in the fight, your uncle will be with you. My brother-in-law was there for lunch. Hal, or I guess none of us ate lunch. I said, Hal, get the first punch in because they will not expect you to fight. The boys appeared in front of the house as Harold walked out. He came face to face with the two bullies and walked towards one and gave him an unannounced and unexpected punch in the nose and mouth. It took a minute for the boy to realize what had happened and Harold had given him a couple more, knocking him down. (Believe me it wasn’t the strength that floored the boy). We watched behind the curtain while the two other boys began to yell, lick him Hal. The surprised bloody nose kid, just ran home. Harold came in washed and although he was late, I told him to go on to school. The two boys were late, but had gone ahead and told the teacher why they were late.

The teacher said nothing but told Harold she would like to see his mother. I went to school the next morning, and the teacher asked me what had happened. I told her the story from the beginning and how I had tried to keep Hal from trouble and then now I told him to fight. While I talked, I noticed a look of amusement about her. She then said the boy had caused so much trouble, the other boys were afraid of him, and this was the best thing that could have happened. Harold became a leader in his school. No fights.

He was Mayor in Junior High and became the colonel in R.O.T.C. for all the schools in Chicago and this gave him to ambition which has followed him through his life. Bob was a quiet boy, during our sieges, he ate some liquois and became violently ill, vomiting and bowels uncontrollable. The doctor at Children’s Memorial hospital diagnosed his case as poison. He could not keep anything on his stomach for weeks. Poor little fellow was skin and bones, ate browned flour made like a gravy until one day he had his first food which was a bread roll, and he retained it. He also had bronchial pneumonia, and I sat with him on my lap not daring to lay him down for fear of choking to death. He was always a good child, no trouble at school. He sang in C Choir in Lindbloom High School. He liked to help me in baking cakes and after he married his wife was surprised when he baked her a birthday cake. On weekends their dad always said mother needs help so she can have a little time.

So, all the family worked until chores were completed before they went their ways to whatever Saturday was planned. Bob was in R.O.T.C. He followed scouting but became disinterested. His Scout Master showed little interest. He was a policeman, and I imagined didn’t have enough time with them. Bob always liked his home. Howard was active in R.O.T.C. but reserved. Made good grades, not too interested in sports played a little football. I remember Richard was called to school and Principal said Howard refused to sell tickets to a dance. Richard said, he thought that if he didn’t dance and wasn’t interested in it why he should sell the tickets.

We moved to the outskirts of Chicago. Here we planted a large garden, and I had some chickens. It was our first chance and land enough to enjoy such a project. We had vegetables enough to let me can, which was different. Bill was now in his first year in college at Wake Forrest, North Carolina. He had received a scholarship and was to play football. Here his team was called the Iron men, but he was sent to the hospital with broken nose, ribs, and a kidney disorder. After this first year and not being able to pick classes for his course he left Wake Forrest and went to Illinois. He decided he couldn’t follow his course and play football. He loved this game. But he finished an honor degree in Math. Bob and Howard were in 7th and 8th. Again we moved back to Chicago. It was too far for Richard to commute being such late hours. He was beside his work in the Edison Co. in the National Guard, Safety First Aide and Captain of Chicago Red Cross and also working in Scouting. Besides taking class in North western to advance in his Edison Work. Richard Jr. was now in Illinois and doing well also taking time to compete in Bridge and lost the tournament because he wanted to come out with flying colors.

After two years decided he wanted to work so he came home and found work as a meter reader for Commonwealth Edison. Harold finished high school and during the vacation I went down to our farm at Stella Mo. and Harold, Bob and Howard were there for the summer: Here we had fun and also did the first work they had known, and I know at times felt terribly abused. But they did fish. We did not farm but had a cow which Harold and Bob milked. I didn’t learn because I knew I was sure to be caught with the job. This cow was to have a calf and both Harold and Bob were interested. One morning Hal was up early to see if she was alright and found she was in labor. Although he knew nothing at all about cows. She needed help badly and he took over and there was a healthy little calf. He was so proud, and Bob was so disappointed.

We went back to Chicago, and we moved to Kedzie into a nice bungalow. The street showed a line of these houses hugging each other. Bill was in College, Richard working and now Harold was ready to select his college.

He had decided to be a veterinarian. Illinois had no course so he applied to Manhattan Kansas and was excepted for a year but if next year they had these of their own to fill the quota Hal would have to look for another school.

Bob was finishing high school and Howard had a couple more years. Richard had worked advancing in his work at Edison and National Guard. How proud I was now I have some clothes to attend First Aid meets where all large companies competed and saw my husband’s team win.

Richard work through First Aid had now been appointed First Superintendent of Safety and training in Commonwealth Edison Co. The man he picked to work for him were some of his First Aid men. This company had needed something to stop the deaths caused by the Electric Power. The new department left to him, took a lot of imagination and initiative. And I am proud to say the company had very few accidents after its first year. He also was advancing in the National Guard. Well in 1934, Bill graduated in Mechanical Engineering and decided to go to New York City to take an examination in some Chemical Company.

He stayed overnight in Chicago with us and took a plane and at Detroit the wing hit a tree landing. He had told us he was thinking of entering training in Navy to become an aviator.

After the plane accident in which no one was hurt badly the young man who was with Bill said he was going on to New York by train. Bill said, well if I am to become an aviator, I better take a plane. He passed his exam in the chemistry but didn’t want the job. So, after the semester was over and he had passed exams he came home. Signed up at Great Lakes and was sent to Pensacola Florida for further training. Howard was in Ill. and became ill in his third year. He was taking medicine so quit and came home. Richard married and he and dad bought a two flat building in Oak Park. Richard and Dot lived upstairs and brought with them our little Virginia Anne. Bill was sent to San Diego California a year before and he had a little girl Louella (Twinkle) our family was swelling. Harold finished his D.V.N. in A & M Texas and married. Bob had a year at Illinois and transferred to Missouri, was there a year. Bob left college and took over our farm in Stella. A year later Bob married Virginia Graham. Completed his course at Pensacola and gotten his wings and was sent to San Diego, Cal. to join the Pacific fleet. Here he received the Old Gold, $100,000 contest and was married to Grace Glasser.

Harold was in Bryan Texas where he finished his Veterinarian degree and came back to Chicago and married Jean Sammons. Things began to happen, Hal started his doctoring in MO. Received a telephone message from a ham radio operator for dad and we came to his place and talked to Bill, he had a station of his own. It was around Thanksgiving, and the streets were a sheet of glass. We slid and finally found the place, and we heard Bill’s voice. How’s everything etc. then we talked to Grace and finally, we were told a grandchild was on its way. Our first grandchild. The operator said, Bill if you could only see their faces. We were happy and proud. Well, she was born Lou Ellan, named for me and Graces mother Ella, mine and Graces. Well, she was quite a baby. Next came Bob & Ginny’s baby, a boy, our first grandson. Blued eyes and light brown hair, just the opposite from Lou Ellan, whose hair was jet black and brown eves.

Bobby was such a beautiful baby, but we’ll never know for sure, but probably something happened at birth leaving him ill for the rest of his life. His mother and daddy spent sixteen years of constant care to keep him comfortable and well taken care of and loved but finally pneumonia was too much a battle, and he passed away leaving heartaches and a never forgotten love.

This is November 16, 1963. I am writing and as granddad says, playing sick and he has all the work to do. We were in Neosho shopping and as I stepped over a curb, fell spraining both ankles. I never like to do things by halves, so although the pain has subsided, I am still unable to put pressure on my feet, and we leave for Florida around the 15th. But I’m a tough old bird, living with six men, you had to be.

But back to my wonderful life. I have been asked, would you like to live your life over and my answer is, no. Why? Because with the things you have experienced and learned while older, there are things you would do differently which could spoin the whole pattern of that life. So, I feel with all our joys and sickness and hardships, we were very fortunate and became a better husband and wife really cemented together, I would say.

But back there while Bill was busy in the Navy Air Force, Grace now had little Diana, a doll. I was there when she was born. Bill was there too and took pictures of her arrival home, etc. I’ll always remember the many pecan trees around their hone. So much to remember and not enough time to write it. Why did I not get this idea before? Well, I was doing too many other interesting things and so much happening which kept me busy (just talking to myself). Butch, our cat, is taking advantage of my sitting around and cuddles up beside me and sleeps or grooms himself. He is still keeping his coat in a satin finish and at thirteen years can relish his kidneys and liver, which Grandad always has on hand. He knows our habits and never fails to be on dock when John brings the fresh warm milk at night. No little ones to pet. The Hill’s take good care of him while we are South in the Winter. So, he still has his good food, and they allow him in their home and on cold nights he sleeps on a rug behind their stove.

Now we will skip back to Berwyn, where we lived with Dot and Richard in a flat above us. It was a cool evening on October 2nd when Dorothy informed us, she was going to the hospital. In the car she was having constant pain and such a ride and no police. When we arrived at the hospital, no room was ready, and she was having her labor pains. The last I saw of her was in a chair being taken up in the elevator. Not too long we had the news, Natalie had arrived. Virginia was twenty-one months and no bother at all. Just a little lady and so much fun.

Harold and Jean had moved his practice to Cassville and here their first child was born, a blue eyed golden haired, little girl, Barbara. To me always Babs a retiring little tot as she grew and much pampered by her mother Jean. I have seen her buy bacon two or three times and that was what Babs wanted. As she grew older and would stay overnight with us I would. cook our meal and she would sit beside me, and I would place whatever food I was serving on her plate and set it before her. She would look it over and say, I don’t like that, I don’t want this. I would talk to grandad and pretend not to hear, and she would finally eat. Then she would go home, and Jeanne would ask her what gram had for dinner and she would tell her what she had eaten. Jean told me she never ate those foods at home, and I told her I just put the food on her plate and that was all. I still can hear her say gram, I don’t like this, and I would never hear her. I have told her since she is a young woman, and she enjoyed hearing it.

Well Babs was born in May then, in June along came Bill’s Susan and in September another girl Suzette Richards. Harold had his leg broken while doctoring by an Angus Bull and when he was removed from the cast to a brace; the brace broke, and he was back to the cast then to a new brace and finally to crutches with the Doctor’s report he could not follow his practice because he could never use his leg.

Just before a little son had arrived our second grandson Steven. Dark eyes, brown hair. All during these years Jean was suffering from asthma. They sold their home and practice and left for California where Harold would regain the use of his leg which he was sure he could do, and he did with the sure spirit of I can do it. He took work as a meat inspector with the government which he held for probably two years. Jeanne still was trying many medicines, but nothing seemed to give her much relief. Harold now was called to become assistant to the state inspector of chickens, turkeys, and meat which proves an interesting work and a good position.

They moved to Sacramento as this work was a new branch added to Agriculture department. All men were Veterinarians and so now he started a new life. A new home and with a new son. Daivd, who was cursed with his mother’s sickness. Both Joanne and David spent much time under oxygen tents. But Jeanne didn’t let this keep her from Scout leadership.

The doctors kept trying new medicines but finally her heart could not withstand all these attacks and on one of her checkups died in the hospital. Sometimes we wonder why such a needed lovable, kindly lady had to leave and please don’t say the Lord’s will. Never. These earthly diseases will always answer for our departures not a God. A creator does not create to destroy. Anyway, God in my sight could not have anything to do with death.

Jeanne, I’ll always remember as a blue eyed lovely, patient loyal woman, mother and wife even with all her sickness, she never seemed to be sad. I’ll always hear her call us and say I have a lemon pie in the oven, and you know Harold doesn’t eat pie, so I’ll expect you for dinner. We were saddened and wondered how Hal could do it alone but as sad and lonely his first thoughts were for his little family. We went to Jeanne’s funeral and stayed a month. Harold interviewed many women who were to cook, take care, of his home and most of all his children. Of the many persons interviewed was a colored woman.

David only three would not have any confidence with people. He and his mother had been so close. But before Mable left he was or her knee and she was telling him how she would love to come into their home and help them. Hal decided she was the one. A nurse was what David needed, and he liked her.

Well Mable is one of the family and they all love her. She has been with them to see David in school and doing well. In Hal’s last letter, David had had a slight cold but was back in school and as Hal says I don’t see what we would do without Mable. She is a lovely, reliable woman and we do not worry about the children or Hal as long as Mable is there.

Harold has dedicated his life to his family and although know how very lonely he must be. No one will know all his thoughts and actions are toward making his children happy. How many men could have been able to continue as he has done. We are really happy too. If we could only give him the purple heart because he has a heart of gold.

Now bringing in around 1942 when war was declared, Howard was ill so I came to Stella with him to stare and Dad was to retire with kidneys and a bad heart. Richard Jr. was drafted so the house in Oak Park was sold and after a year Richard came down to Stella with Dorothy and two little girls. We bought the Carter place and Dot lived there. Of course, Bill was in action and so much happened at that time with Richard Jr. now in the Pacific and a red cross telegram stating he had been wounded in action and one saying the same of Bill. It now is a blurred dream. Bob was called and with Bobby ill, Howard not well and my one ease Richard was with me again.

These days were nightmares. Dots, Grace and Virginia without their husbands. The second red cross telegram Richard had been wounded the second time. But they were alive and that’s all we knew.

After Howard became better he decided he must join the Army, so he left for California where he was placed in an officers training school. Passed and refused but to join as a regular. He was sent to Japan, here he was editor of the Army’s paper, the Dragon. Then shifted to the hospital where he was called to put things in order, but when the action in Korea started, he was sent there with his company. Another nightmare. Their company was to get to the 31st parallel. At Tajon most of the company was wiped out and he with others were taken back with battle fatigue or Shell Shock. Brought back to the Fitzsimmons Hospital, a wreck. His company was called “The Ghost Company”, very few alive. The war was over, and Richard was back in Chicago with his family. Bill still with the Navy Air Force but back in the States.

Bob returned to his family without leaving the U.S. and home because of wife and son’s illness. Stella became our home. Dad had worked until he had been head of his department, sold war bonds, and was asked to go to Washington, D.C., to put into operation his plan of selling bonds but declined. His health was becoming a problem. From ulcers to kidney stones and heart trouble was making his time short with the company. At 57 he retired and after this, we really tried the farmers life but on a much smaller plan. Up to now we owned a farm & houses at Stella. Our home had probably five acres of land. First we had a place back of our home plowed for a garden. Well I had sent for a catalogue on whose covers showed tomatoes red, cucumbers crisp, peppers nothing so green, cucumbers fairly alive and everything else under the cover whose seeds we must order. With the blank sheets to fill in, we started yes, beans, some peas, carrots, lettuce, onions, radishes, beets, turnips and, oh, yes, I loved parsnips, but we must have potatoes and corn.

Well, I guess with tomatoes and pepper plants which we could bur- here that would be enough, and this land was really rocky, and I pulled stones off of the beans trying to break through the soil, but I should not have been concerned.

It was not too long before the seeds began. to send up the sprouts of green. Little leaves of lettuce and what fun to watch our garden come alive. Peas pushing up and after watching aver_ day, there was a lull. I had also bought another kind of catalogue which had little balls of feathers, yes chickens starring from its pages as i£ to say you must buy me. Well, of course, I had a Mourisse poultry house waiting for such as these.

I immediately sent an order for 50 white leghorns and grandad had bought an electric brooder for 50. Now this was the day. The mail had brought 104 of the peepiest little fuzzy birds to me. It had turned cool. It was March, so we decided we had better bring the brooder into the kitchen until the weather settled. So, Grandad hooked up the brooder and we put in the feed trays and water fountains. We had covered the floor with papers. Now the transfer from the boxes, they had arrived into the brooder, such a noise; peep, peep and nothing but peeps.

A hundred was quite a few. These busy healthy little creatures were hungry, and it wasn’t long until they were eating and drinking, and the peep became less. They soon discovered how to hover under the lights and by night were pretty well adjusted to their new quarters, I went to bed but around midnight the chorus of peens became loud, I put on the kitchen light, and they all wanted to eat at once. I kept the trays filled at all times as I did their water fountains, so they could eat anytime. It didn’t seem long until little tail feathers appeared and the yellow fuz was being replaced with white feathers and you could see them grow. But as they grew, quarters became smaller and what were we to do?

The weather didn’t help. The north wind was still sending shivers, so grandad said, we will have to build on an addition to the brooder. Down on the floor they were still in the kitchen. Why did I buy so early. Because the book on chickens stressed the idea to get early layers. Hammer, screen, nails, saw and the extension was soon another room for the chicks.

I put piles of newspapers on its floor so I could remove them as soon as they became soiled to add more. Then another extra bulb for their hover. All was well except this every blasting cheeping, but it was not too bad in the daytime but at night after they had hovered for a sleep, it was a nightmare when they each decided it was snack time. Now with all this commotion, I had to see that the trays were filled and how the water disappeared. But now the Spring weather began to torment as, one day warm and the next cold. Then one day I decided to get them outside and grandad found the addition he had added to compensate for their growth just was not made to go through the kitchen door, but with the hammer and his line of conversation, which was right to the point. We succeeded on moving these little chicks, (which now had a few little feathers on their tails) by filling a basket with chirps and flutters and exercises of their wings.

Outside the sun was beautiful and such scratching and getting off balance and fluttering of wings, the day was a success, but we had to again get the basket and again fill it many times before we finally had those noisy cheeps back in their cage and eating like they had never tasted food before. A month later we removed all chicks and their winter home into my Missouri poultry home, by putting in a partition we made a home for them away from the hens. Well, they were not educated to get upon the roost, so I had to each evening one by one, remember a hundred of them, upon their perch and they were up and down but I still loved these dumb little bunches of fluff. I had food and water where they could eat and drink to their hearts content and what little pigs and how they grew.

It wasn’t long until their white feathers covered them and now, they were able to get up on the roost alone. But it seemed there were always a few to spoil the record. They were either too full or too I don’t give a d- so I continued to baby them.

Six months, they began to sing. So, I sold my laying hens and after a thorough cleaning and with all new straw covering the cement floor, I opened their doors and such a commotion there all tried coming through at once. In the evening, after they had become acquainted with their new home, I opened the door leading to their yard. Now they really enjoyed life. I began looking for the first egg and I spent a lot of time between the chickens’ house and our home. I heard a little cackeling sound and I didn’t wait a minute and there was a pretty white egg, these were white leghorns. Well soon I was selling eggs, and I was a real businesswoman. Next year I change to Hampshires those eggs were brown.

Now let’s go to garden which I had had to neglect for the chicks. Boy! how it had grown, radishes ready for a taste. Grandad had put in the tomatoes and peppers. But the peas had furnished many jewelry meals for the bunnies, so they didn’t get a chance. But with blossoms dropping and green beans appearing I never realized how many beans could form on one plant.

Well jars were washed and scalded, and I began my first canning and if I had kept to beans, I would never have had room or jars for anything else and who in the neighborhood wanted beans. Everyone had gardens. As summer lost to autumn our tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onions were a problem. Oh, My! the cabbage, which was now made into kraut. What in the world would we do with so much food. Also, it was berries to can with peaches, and raspberries and blackberries and I even made apple butter etc. Then jellies and jams. But I never had so many cucumbers which of course I had to make into pickles. But it was such fun. Now it makes me tried to even think about it.

Cabbage ready so kraut was next. I could go on and on about all the vegetables I canned. Tomatoes canned and quarts and quarts of chili sauce. Then in our little orchard were cherries and raspberries and of course we had to buy peaches and apples to make apple butter.

During the time my garden was growing I started reading again the magazines filled with pictures in. color of flowers And I wondered why I didn’t have time enough each day to do things around the house which I intended to do besides cooking, washing and ironing, baking and cleaning. But I decided I would haye that time after the canning was over. I soon knew better.

One of our farmers brought a young beef and before that was taken care of, he brought a hog. Well, we cut it up salted some down made sausage, bacon, and smoked the hams. This lasted until around the last of November. I was so full of meat I could hardly roast a turkey for Thanksgiving. No garden but still laying hens. My poultry house had a long feeder which was filled with grain and stood about two feet above the floor and on each side of the tough a platform where the hens could fly up and eat, near by a trough of grit and four water fountains.

I had handy equipment. In the winter after the house was thoroughly cleaned, I added a lay of clean straw on the cement floor. My hens had warm feet. When it was freezing weather I would scatter cracked corn on the straw, and I would laugh at the scratching and jabbering. I fed warm mash and kept their fountains free of ice. My hens layed in winter. It shows a dumb city woman can become a farm woman and if she wants to work.

We both enjoyed our new way of life and although worn out at night each morning as shadows of night disappeared and brought a picture sky, we were ready for what next. can say truthfully that no other couple could have had any more fun and enjoyed this new life as we did. Learning so many new things. This was the starting of our returned life and some people get bored.

These last twenty years we spent in Stella, out west and winter in Florida were never to be forgotten. Our lives were a pleasure, and we found so much happiness together after raising our five children to be able to do some of the things we enjoyed. Summers, the first at the farm where we loved raising gardens, flowers, and animals. Some summers later in the West where we had our trailer and traveled at our leisure from state to state, visiting those wonderful State Parks which so many do not understand how economical, comfortable and wonderful it is to see all of nature’s creations and how enlightening for the young ones. Each winter a different place; Yellowstone, Tetons, Yosemite, missions, old cities, Indians Settlements, Mormon’s beautiful state and Salt Lake and its beautiful Cathedral.

Carlsbad Canyon, white sands Texas with its broad, broad miles of cattle country. California with its immense forests, fruits, climate etc. Oregon, my pick probably because our first years of life together. But such forests, mountains, rivers, flowers, fishing and hunting and oceans. Three sons born here. But back to Stella, where we had four farms. These farmers were considered our partners and shared equally in our increase of cattle, milk grains, and etc.

We supplied seed and farmers their labor and had satisfied partners. Had a herd of milk cows, hogs, and beef cattle on each farm.

Times were hard during the drouth, and we cut down on our herds, picking the best. Streams low but we managed Indian Creek bordered each of the farms. On one farm where we had a spring, we cut the fence and allowed farmers without water to use it. At all hours of the night, we could hear them filling milk cans for their cattle. We were lucky to have a deep well at our home which was never dry. Berries dried on the vines. Gardens, not enough to can. It was a bad four years for the average farmer, and not any gain for the owners. But as soon as the rains came again (the farmers have to work hand to hand as partners of mother nature) they again are happy and work night and day seeding and planting and hoping. There’s is surely a life of hope and luck. I will now go along and insert some things I like to remember.

An article I sent to newspaper I wrote for from 1952 till 1963. Speaking about gardens, here I was with a pile of the most miserable looking dahlia bulbs (One year I had left them in the ground, and the freeze had taken them) These bulbs were shriveled. What should I do? I looked for instructions for planting them but all I could find was a list of 1951 dahlias.

After grandad left for the day I found a shovel, pick, fertilizer and a pair of. gloves (which I always discarded after the first hour) I selected a row in the vegetable garden. If I could get them planted, I was sure there would be no argument on. this space in his garden. I knew he wouldn’t go so far as to dig them up.

It was a warm day, and I worked all morning digging out rocks which I had been told were left by- glaciers thousands of years ago. I finally succeeded in burying them and also most of my enthusiasm I had had about dahlias. It had been a long hot job for a not too young woman. Just before evening grandad arrived home overflowing with information of the planting of dahlias and after his lengthy oration I finally, between sentences made him understand that the dahlias were all safely resting in a cozy row in his vegetable garden. What conservation! I certainly could not have planted them deep enough! Out of the vegetable garden we went, and I stood by and watched him dig up my hard day’s work, then he made a deeper and better bed. Now it was up to the dahlias to come through. I wondered if it had been worth the trouble.

Two weeks later, after that beautiful, needed rain, it seemed they were all peeping through at once, so I felt a revived interest and hope that when each planted had been staked and I would have strength to appreciate their beauty.

Tonight, as I met grandad, at the back door, guess what? He was carrying a basket and he fairly beamed as he offered me some entirely new kinds of yes dahlias. What would you do? I think I’ll just plant them though. I never expected to start a dahlias farm.

These last twenty years are so precious to me because my sweetheart and I were so close together. In this little town of Stella Mo. where we lived was about as small as you can find around two hundred population. These were the people, but I know there were as many hounds and cats. Richard always fed every stray animal that passed through our yard and soon there was a well-worn path. We had to feed our own in the kitchen or stand Guard outside. We had at different times counting “Copper” police dog given to us in Chicago by Dr. Allen, Richard’s friend in the Edison, to a little dog left by an old man grandson, who didn’t feed it, so his path finally just settled down what was the use of going back home, to sleep when we put out a rug for him. Don’t know if he had a name but we tagged him “Sleepy” When we went south in the winter Leona said he waiting and watched for a week then would go back to the old man. We always told the old man we were leaving and to be sure and feed him. In the spring when we returned he soon returned his little tail wagging and I am sure he smiled. Well we had cats too, little girl, a beautiful persuan, Poody cat a large red shaded cat given to us by Mamie, whose cat had had during its life time too many and at fifteen years produced this one kitten, whose mother was an elete and father an alley cat but it was red and so beautiful. I did now like cats but we were having mouse trouble and so I took him to become a mouser. The first night I put him in a box beside my bed and he slept well until around three, he began and little sort of meow. I got up warmed his milk and fed him, put him back in. the box and heard nothing until morning.

When I sat down, he would cuddle in my lap and was cuddly of course he was just to stay in the house until he was large enough to stay outside. Richard kidded me and said don’t you think he is old enough to go to the garage. Well, he never did sleep outside, but he was a good mouser. We had him for I think more than ten years, when one day he came home we think he must have been hit by a car and in a few days it was over.

Now I said no more cats, but I went down to the barn and Mr. Hill said just look at the mother cat, she had five kittens and is not able to feed them all. I looked and among them was a red kitten which must have been “Poody Cats” and I looked too long, for here I was going up to the house with it in my arms. I gave it warm milk in a saucer, and it drank at once so you can guess how hungry it was. Howard named him Butch. Well, he had the best kidneys and liver which Richard got for him.

Harold altered him and he was really something so large and lazy but with a lot of training he did not bother our parakeet or chickens. When we went south Leona and John took care of him and in cold weather he slept behind their heater, and he still had his liver and kidneys which we paid for, and Leona taught him to eat other things. Another cat we called “Lucifer” he wasn’t kept in the house but was well fed. Quite a roamer and met his fate trying to steal a chicken dinner. Among other pets was a pig, presented to Richard by the Edison Com. as a start on his life as a farmer. A lamb, Richard bought me from a farmer whose ewe had twins and did not have enough milk for both.

This we had (when Virginia and Tallie were with us) and we fed with a bottle and as it grew older it became frisky, and we when we fed it, we were on the other side of the fence and held the bottle through the wire. Finally, we had to take it to the butchers and when we brought the meat home it stayed in the locker for some time. Then there was a colt whose mother had an abscess on her breast and refused to nurse it. Well, I was the one to care for it, I taught it to eat out of a dish pan and kept it in the yard until every time I came out the back door to empty my dish water it thinking I had food, drenched me, so it was corralled and taught to eat oats etc. We had one milk cow so when one of our Herford’s had a calf and died. Guess they brought the calf to me. Our cow had just had a calf and had so much milk, I took this calf to her and she with her own nursed it. My neighbor said she would live to see me with a young mule but that I never got. But such fun and work too. Every day new beautiful problems. In the summer we traveled west. One of the musts if you love State Parks, for me was Yosemite. Here is one of them that seems to me more untouched by man is “Yosemite.”

Such beautiful waterfalls and peaks. The most striking and widely known mountains of Yosemite are the great domes and cliffs El Capitan and the Half Dome. Bridabreil, Yosemite, Vernal and more I’ve forgotten, falls at their best during melting season. Here with us were two granddaughters, Virginia and Tallie. Another never forgotten is the Grand Teton where we visited for two weeks, Wyoming not far from Jackson Hole and boundary of Yellowstone Park which borders Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and as the other parks is filled with magic. Here with Tallie and Virginia we saw the many many geysers which gush forth streams of hot water and steam. Here in Geyser Basin were bubbling and giving off fumes of sulfurs. One point I’ll never forget was Artists Point and Five Hole Canyon. We stayed at Mammoth cabin and later at the main Camp. All through here, I forget to mention the geyser, Old Faithful which was nearest to the main camp of course was the most noted. But we saw others farther in that were more beautiful.) Nature seemed in a state of unrest. Old Faithful erupted every sixty-three minutes, sending ten to twelve thousand gallons of this boiling water 140 to 180 feet high. In the evening, they pour colored lights upon her and it’s another never forgotten sight. Why is it so many think they need to travel abroad to see beauty. Here we traveled up from seven to 9000 feet where mountains tops covered with snow were guarded with a white canopy of satiny white clouds. Huge forests densly populated with fir and juniper. As we traveled around these steep curves, below us wound sparkling waters of many blue green streams and rivers at other points these waters dipped over precious forming falls with veils of spray and foam to deep revines below, on to flow leisurely through canyons and give the fishermen a paradise in which the rainbow trout. Ready to be shifted to a waiting creel. Each summer found our trailer over packed ready for another joyful and interesting trip west. Through the bad lands of South Dakota with its miles of barren waste then to the beautiful black hills with their slopes covered with dark geen tines. Besides these we visited Rockev Mt. National Park near Denver, and of course Pikes Peek, crater. Lake southern, Oregon its water te.re a azure blue bottom of a volcano and nearly two thousand feet deep, good fishing trout and salmon.

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico I never forget. We walked these miles of caverns and saw stalactites and stalagmites with so many different colorings and I’ll never forget the bats at sunset they have a place to buy a box of lunch about halfway down. As I think back another one of our snooping around was in New Mexico where we received permission to visit an old Indian turquoise mine, where we could hunt for some of these precious blue stones. We drove to the end of nowhere, left the car and continued through sand, rocks, cacti, pinyon pines. Reaching the shaft grandad descended on an old ladder into the mine, me, I stayed above (chicken yes) there were many chips and rocks with turquoise embedded in them. After my pockets of my jeans were crammed I walked back to the car. The altitude and sun did not add to my confort. I tried to rest under a pine which was so small it furnished no shade. Here a jack rabbit hopped his way down the mountain side, the only creature I could see in this God Forsaken country. The snow breezes were cooling but it must have been a problem for even the Indians to find enough food and water. Grandad finding nothing worth keeping came down and after lunch (which we brought, persuaded me to go another shaft, this had been mined by the Tiffney Co. We walked some distance through a long tunnel to another mine by that time being afraid of snakes. I said visit as many mines I was tired (a good excuse) and I beat it back to the car.

It wasn’t too long when he came in sight with a rattle snake dangling in each hand. I took a picture of him and his snakes and decided I was through of exploring but when we drove down the mountain I wanted to see the inside of an old cabin, where it had been used to chip these stones. At the rear was an opening where the door had once stood. Against my better judgement curiosity lead me to step up into the doorway, but only one foot reached, when it heard the rattle and down came my foot missing the snake close enough to but either the fangs or tail against the leg of my jeans. I sure gave out a scream, a hollywood producer would appreciate and yelled snake which brought grandad. I wasted no time getting inside that car. This I knew was the last time I could be lead in a place where a rattle snake could live. Grandad of course saw the funny side and said I never knew you could get around that fast. But on the way back to our trailer he stopped at an Indian pueblo and bought me an Indian ring. Oh so many many beautiful dreams and as he reminded me a few days before he passed away (dream over all those beautiful travels and wonderful times we had together). As I write tears of happiness fall knowing how very lucky we were to be able to travel and see all these unlimited beauties. “Thanks Creature.” It seems I could write forever about our togetherness these last twenty years of his retirement when we were able to do these things. I almost forgot Bryce Canyon; it was in Utah. It was filled with spires, domes and fantastic figures in pink and white sandstones. I remember Sunset Point and Inspiration Point and of course as probably I forgot to mention they have evening programs in all these National Parks. Our girls always liked riding. Of course, Sequoia Park in the Sierra Nevada in California, held those giant Sequoias, they are the largest and one of the oldest living members of the forest kingdom. Many have names, one of the largest is called the “General Sherman Tree” and named as to possibly the oldest living thing in the world estimated about 3500 years old.

There was Kings Canyon which is also in the Sierra Nevada, in California which have the Redwood and Sequoias. Going back to our then home in Missouri was Hots Springs in Arkansas. The park has bath houses and a Medical Center operated under rules and regulations approved by the Secretary of Interior. A recreational area for the improvement of health, rest and enjoyment. These waters will just about cure anything. The pine forests have the trails, bridal paths, etc., with horseback riding and hiking and also programs and campfire time in the evening. As I think over these National Parks, I remember so many different incidences as one evening at dusk when Tallie and I met a bear in the path while on our way to the rest room. Trailer life on these trips was a blessing, not having to worry about lodging and food. We have owned different trailers. One a Shultz, which we had at Moab and we found one place to park, that was beneath the road. It was so unbearable hot and all the dust settled in and around this stop. At this time, the grounds for miles were covered with tents make shifts of all kinds in their sandy expense. This was the starting of the strike for uranium and if you did not have a gauger counter, you were not with the mob.

Grandad had different ideas. One was to move on away from this hot crowded frenzied crowd. We had to take everything out of the trailer to clean this mess of dust and sand and looking around, we saw how many needed housing. As we were debating the subject, a young man approached and asked if he could buy our trailer. Well, Grandad agreed, and we put out clothes and what was necessary in the trunk, packed the other personable things to ship home then the young man said, he had to go to a town a hundred miles or more to get the money and he was such a nice fellow, Dad said O.K. He would be back by noon. Before very long after he left, another man called on us and wanted to buy it, but we said it was already sold and he said, have you the money and grandad said no, but I’ll have it by noon tomorrow. He told us he would give us $500 more in cash, but Dad said, not unless he doesn’t get back. The young fellow got back, had not slept or eaten, anyway it was all cleaned and we left. So when, we did get home we again were in the market for another trailer. in these years, most people thought those who traveled in them must be gypsies or a little funny in the head. We went back East and took our two granddaughters home in Chicago. Then on our way back to visit my parents in Valcariso, Indiana, we saw a sign trailers for sale. We had visited a number of trailer lots so we stopped and saw our first Snarton which we bought. It was clean, but we bought a new mattress. The refrigerator was new. Well, we still had car hitch on our Packard, so went on the Valpo, then back to Stella Missouri. We were excited and proud to own one, because you can’t get a better make. By winter it was polished and gore over both inside and outside. The bedroom had a small closet and this grandad made into a pullman toilet. Most trailers in these early years were with them. It was 28 ft., the largest we had, had and you can imagine how many things I thought I needed. Other years in Florida, we had rented cabins, where we could cook. In November, about the 3rd, we were really packed and up with the beautiful dawn, a little nippy, but that didn’t matter. Spirits and excitement high. I was to direct his backing out into the highway. He started the car and started the backing operation and as much as I tried, Oh Weil, the neighbors were in bed. He finally told me to forget it, and after backing and twisting, going ahead and starting over, he was on the highway. I got in and off we went. I kept looking behind and he said, it can’t get away, take it easy. We laughed and everything was fun.

That night, we had a little trouble getting into a small space in a trailer park but only lost a vent off the top of the trailer, of course, the limb of the tree did that. We decided to go toward Texas to avoid a cold passing through. But at night it was below and after we finally camped and got warm, we had no heat in the car, we were back on par. Next day Mississippi was warm and green with the roads clear. Many pleasant winters were spent in the many different Florida towns. The first time we were in Florida was in 34 and we were in Miami in a little cabin for three weeks and meals at those eating houses were 25 cents with meat two or three vegetables some kind of greens, desert and coffee.

Richard was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, working too hard. So, Edison Co. gave him a vacation. Roads were bad and we had rain through Georgia and cars were in the ditches, a clay which was slick. When we started coming down each year, we had a trailer and would leave Stella around the first week in November and it would be cool and with a fire in the evenings wherever we stopped for the night, we were cozy. One winter we stopped at Homosassa, where we stayed a week at Trade Winds trailer park. The fishermen were well supplied, so we were invited to a fish dinner. We did not on this trip get oysters as Grandad had an attack of arthritis, which kept him out of the river.

Then we traveled on to Englewood, farther south in the tropical belt and enjoyed sunny days. At night the dew placed a sleepy drip upon the roof, but mornings brought the sun to dry and shire among the palms, which surrounded us. This trailer park is on a small island and looking out the Gulf is on one side, while the bay is behind us. The Gulf has a snowy white beach for swimming and there were many shells, these although I had enough, I could not resist, such beautiful coloring. In the park, “Gulf to Bay” were those who had rather fish than eat. The common ones blues, trout, red and mackerel. Here Dot and Susie visited us. Susan had a ball, wading and swimming and finally a sunburn she would never forget. The cocoanut pars were loaded with fruit.

We visited the Jungle Gardens at Sarasota with its beautiful carders of trees and shrubs and vines. Its stream winding through this paradise with its banks filled with those long legged, long necked, broad, billed flamingos, scarlet plumage and under wings lined with a coat of black. When they sleep one leg is drawn up under the wing and there they rest, each using only one leg. The peacocks proudly strolled through the careen adorned in colorful blues, trailing their long, gorgeous tails, which when spread reminds one of a harp of gold, blue and green and from which music must flow. There are also the swans both black and white, whose movements are so graceful.

Also, many different ducks, geese, stork and many other water fowl. At one spot, caged in a small pool, were two alligators living in peace and quiet but gruesome nevertheless to the sight. Poinsettias, hibiscus, and the flame-vine were scattered through this Jungle Garden, each afire with color. The azaleas and camellias were in bloom.

With the sunset across the bay and the full moon dancing in the waves, Susie will remember her visit in Florida where she also bathed in baby oil and picked oranges. Here in Sarasota, she saw the Ringling Brothers Circus at their quarters. The wonderful museum which at this famous gallery, I saw “Whistlers Mother” the original, a number of Rembrandts and others. Not being an art student, I’ll forget this. In these trailer parks, we met interesting people, people from all walks of life, doctors, lawyers, ministers, and then those who had worked a lifetime at their little jobs and saved.

These elder citizens many fishermen, or farmers, who really loved life, were of course, fishing but wives roaming the beaches not only hunting for shells but making pins, ear bobs, and all sorts of pictures and other gadgets, some pretty, a few useful but mostly just something more to collect dust. We dabbled in all these new attractions. Another interesting feature was the cypress trees. These trees live in the water and have to keep their roots above water to be able to breath. Richard enjoyed getting the unusual ones. Some resembled animals, and others freaks. These had.to have the bark removed and treated and after days of drying was ready to use. Richard made lamp bases and gave to friends. All these things. I have none. Had no way, after we came down here to live, to bring them and no place to put them. Yes, we fished and always gave most of them away. Richard and I would rent a boat, and we had our motor and go out mostly on rivers and sometimes on the gulf. I was always afraid of storms, so did not go out far. We had been caught in a storm on Jackson Lake, while in Yellowstone and just made it. Richard and a friend were in an area, where fish were plentiful when a fog rolled in and they landed many miles from our camp and was brought home in a car.

I loved to troll, but Richard always loved to cast. I guess you’ll guess I was always getting my line balled up when tried to cast. Going back to Stella in the Spring was fun. Putting in a smaller garden each year and finally no garden because we only stayed a month and was on our way West.

I missed my flowers. At one time, I had 125 African violets and a yard of flowers, Iris, my hobby, somewhere near two hundred fifty or more different varieties. Now I can see that’s life, “change”. I try not to regret these changes and remember how beautiful and how much enjoyment we found, while passing through these different stages. My eyes are becoming a problem so I think I had better try to complete some of our last few years together. We shuffled and enjoyed it and finally became good enough to be in these local tournaments and we were on the final play when Richard had a heart attack and could not finish. I lost on the last round. He played very little after that.

In ’65, he decided to buy a permanent place to live. We sold our trailer at Linger Longer and packed to go North for the Summer.

We had been interested in a new trailer park at Buena Vista and the day before we started north, I said, let’s look in Buena Vista. So, we went up one street and down another looking for sale signs. We found two that we liked and were invited in to see them, but we couldn’t decide. We came down another street and saw this 48-foot Spartan. Richard’s favorite trailer. The owner would be home at five, so we came back later. We liked everything about it. It was like new. A woman whose husband was blind had built on a screened porch with a connecting bedroom, shower, bowl, washer and dryer. So, we had three bedrooms. We decided at once. There were five orange trees, shrubs, and flowers in the yard. She would let us know next day. We offered her six thousand and she wanted eight. The next morning, we came back and she accepted our offer. We went to the lawyer and had all the papers signed, gave her a check and she was to stay until July. We, being all packed, left for the north. We went first to Valparaiso to see Julia, my sister, who was ill. From there to see Natalie, who was soon to graduate from Illinois and leave for training, with the Peace Corps. She was having examinations, so we stayed at Urbana that night and took her to the Pancake House for breakfast. It makes me hungry. Once, we traveled in our Cadillac to Barrington, Illinois to see Richard and Dot. Now we headed for my sister, Mary and her husband’s home in Webster, Wisconsin. Here we stayed and enjoyed their home on Devil’s Lake, which lies just below her picture window. Her yard shows her love of flowers and his lies in a garden. Richard was not feeling too well when we left for Missouri. Passing through the outskirts of a small village, was a hidden 30 mile zone, no houses, no town, just a road, some distant from the town. We must have been traveling around 50, because that was Richard’s speed. All at once, we heard a siren, but never thinking he was after us. He, came up, motioned us to the side of the road and Richard said to me, probably wants to see my driver’s license. The Cop said let’s see your driver’s license. He looked at it and said, you were exceeding the speed sign. Well, we both said not unless it was in town was there any kind of speed sign. He said, come on back and I’ll show you. We followed him back a few miles and behind the road stood the sign. Richard said, we didn’t see it and anyway we are three miles from town, and nothing here. He said, you’ll have to come back to town with me. Richard looked at him and said, I have seen these speed traps before. We went back and there were two men in the office. Officer talked and he said, $15. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut and said my husband lived in Chicago 25 years and was in safety and training and we have visited all over the states and never ever has he paid a fine. Richard said, I would go before a judge, but I’m not well and want to go home, but I understand it all. You should have seen their faces. They said, nothing. When we reached home, we just rested a few days. Now we decided we would get a U-Haul and take what we could use when we went back south. In the middle of August 1965, we left our Missouri home for the last time together. When we arrived in Buena Vista, Richard was tied but could not rest until all this load was unloaded. Then we had bought an antique love seat, which we had given Bill’s wife, and they had never taken it. The trailer was for eight days and as Richard always watched his money; if he had not, we would never been able to have had enough to enjoy these last years. So the next morning, we left for St. Augustine and after delivering the satee, stayed at Bill’s all night and again was on our way to Buena Vista. Richard was very tired but insisted on settling things in our new home. I told him now we can take our time at getting things settled, but he said, we can rest when we get it all done.

He said, I am going to have this screened porch made into a cabana and a carport on the other side. This done, he put in flowers, trees, painted floors in the cabana and the rest of these new parts and by November, he seemed satisfied. The middle of this month, Bob and Ginny came to see us. Bob, he and some Missouri friends, went deep sea fishing. Dad was not feeling well but insisted on taking us to Weeki Wachee to see the mermaid show. It is about thirty-five miles from here.

While there, he seemed very tired, but he said he was alright. We should have eaten there, but Bob wanted some of the fish he had caught, so we hurried home and, of course, dinner was late. After dinner, we sat around and talked. They were leaving for home the next day. Around eleven, Bob and Ginny went to bed.

We had just gotten to bed, when Richard got up and. said, I am going to sit up in my chair a while, my heart doesn’t feel so good. I got up and he said, don’t get up, I’ll be back in a little while. Somehow, I became greatly disturbed and dressed. By this time, Bob and Ginny were up. Richard began with terrible paints and said, call the doctor. I told Bob, call the ambulance and we called the hospital. I talked with the doctor at his home and told him Richard’s condition. He was filling up and choking with water and terrible pain. When we arrived at the hospital, the nurses had a pump ready and used one in the nose and another in the mouth. Richard kept trying to tell them about the pain. But they had to get the water out before they could give him a shot. By then, the Dr. had arrived, and Richard was deathly still. The doctor told me, I’m afraid I can’t do anything.

He, with three nurses, worked for so long over two hours and he was breathing again. He was still just inside the emergence entrance. The doctor had him moved into his room with oxygen. After twenty-two days there, we brought him home. He seemed to be gaining and walked outside, but just a few steps. He was to see the doctor, but before the appointment, I told him we are going today, you don’t feel too well. Arriving at the doctors, Dr. De gave him one look and said, you have yellow jaundice, and he told me to take him to the hospital. He had been at Tarpon, but they had better equipment at Mease than at Clearwater, so I took him there. Dr. Hale told me he was in a bad condition with his heart without these complications. Such a patient, brave man. Always smiling, never complaining. Everybody loved him. His roommate, also was a heart patient, so room has equipped with oxygen tanks. I rented a room across from the hostital, but was with him constantly until I became so tired the doctor said, I would be in bed unless I got some rest at night.

But if he wanted me, they would call and I would go over. He could not sleep and when he did, all kinds of shapes of animals seemed to come toward him. I kept a light on all night. It was too much of these new medicines, I am chemically poisoned. They operated, because his foods were not digesting and he had a 23% of a chance, but as he said, I can’t live this way. He came through and they cleared the jaundice, but he needed oxygen so much and his kidneys became bad, and a tube was connected. All these days he kept preparing me and advising me, telling me all these organs are just as old as the heart. He talked of our wonderful life together, telling me he could never have had a better one. He was always worrying about the patient in the room with him.

The doctors and nurses always trying to help him. Even when the nurses were shifted to another floor, they would come by to see him and do some little thing for him. The head nurse brought her husband to meet him. The doctors attending the other patient, would stop and talk. The doctor who operated on him said, I wish I could have known him before and he told me it may sound funny, but he was the sweetest man I have ever met. He wanted to come home so badly, even a day or an hour. Dr. Hale said, if he could have known that he could have gotten there it would have been a happy day in his life. But the first day of May he said, Blanche, I am too tired to fight any longer, I am ready to go. The only reason for staying was you, but you have five wonderful sons, who will never let you down. Please do not be said too long, I want you to be happy. Go and do what you like. The woman who’s husband was in the same room with Richard said, I have heard him each day talking to you and if my husband would ever talk to me as he did, I would get down on my knees. I have never heard anything so beautiful. All the boys had gone back to their homes and thought Dad was improving as he wanted them to think. Julie, my friend, a retired army nurse, wanted to stay anytime I needed her. The morning of May 1st, the doctor told me, he has been living on nerve and willpower hoping to get home and hadn’t the strength to live through today. I telephoned Julie. She came and was with me all day and he kept smiling. He told everyone he was fire. At eight, in the evening, Julie said, go over and get some rest. I was so tired and Richard insisted, so I told her I would be back by midnight. With all my knowing it was nearby, the end, I slept. At a quarter of twelve, I awoke and was so nervous, I could hardly get into my clothes. Don’t ever tell me there is nothing in telephony because now I know. I ran to the hospital and after midnight, the doors are closed, but a nurse was waiting for me. She said, why, Mrs. Staggs, what’s the matter? Have you been running? She made me sit down and then I said, is Richard alright? All at once, I knew. Doctor Hale was there and had stayed all night. He wanted to give me a tranqualizer but I said, I am alright.

I had seen him sick for five long months, fighting for breath with no rest, without food, which he could not digest. Every night, taking the cover from his try and hear him say what’s new today, Jello and broth. I did not see him again after kissing him, when I went to rest at eight. He had tried to have Julie come over with me and rest, but she had promised to stay until I came back. She walked in the hall, and he was sleeping when she came back. In a few minutes, he seemed to give a sigh of relief and was gone. Boys were called and all, but Hal came. A private funeral. No flowers requested, but many from Chicago, other’s money given to heart fund. I never shed a tear, but that terrible, heavy feeling inside. Dorothy stayed with me a week and how I needed her, so patient, loving and kind.

Then the tears finally came and with such a relief. Now my beautiful life had lost what he been so dear to me. I kept remembering and so much to remember and he had said, you have so many beautiful dreams. After Dorothy left, they wanted me to go home with them, but I decided I should be alone, until I could learn what I must do. This trailer seemed so large and so a part of Richard. Everything I touched had been in some way connected with him. The first of July, Bill, Grace and I went to Missouri. At Stella, we packed what few things I would take back to Buena Vista. Bill cleaned the basement and Grace packed some things for me. It was such a relief, then they went south. I staved with Bob and Ginny. They brought me back to my home in Stella many evenings, while I prepared to get furniture ready to remove. I had written Virginia and told her, they had just married, if they could come down, she could have some of these things. I told them to get a U-Hal at Neosho and so we loaded what they needed. After they went back home, I told Bob and tinny to take what they wanted .and then told John and Leona to help themselves. I wanted to get away from it all.

I was heartsick seeing all my home gone forever. Leona and John were so good to look after the house and what business was left. Before Bill left, he, Bob and I, put the farm up for sale. I took a train to Great Lakes and was with Virginia and Wayne, I think, ten days, then went to Richard and Dot’s in Barrington. Bab’s was to be there Aug. 1. She had been in Boston, a Scout Counselor, so I saw her then flew back to Florida, where Howard was very ill. I was now alone.

I began to shuffle and play Bingo and go out with Julie and Howard. I didn’t like to be alone, and Richard had told me to do things.

The first of December, my sister, Mary and her husband came down from Wisconsin and I was so glad they said they would stay with me. I had bought a parakeet, and he had been so much company for me. He could really talk because I had the time to train him.

So Blue-Boy and I became pals. He talked slowly and plain and had at least 150 words and phrases. Had breakfast with me, and said, breakfast ready? Blueboy wants toast. Mary and Duby spent the winter with me. Mary did all the cooking and most of the housework and I began feeling better. We were visiting at a Missouri friend’s home, and she was going north. She said, why don’t you buy my house? Look it over. With no idea of buying, I at once became interested and we went home and I said, maybe I will buy a house. Next few days, we began looking around and although I did not buy my friends home, I did buy one. Duby moved everything I wanted to take and, in a few weeks, we were in my new home. I had new furniture, so it was fun, deciding and buying. With it seemed to me so much paperwork, it was now mine. This was the last of January 1966.

The change gave me something to do and also a new lease on life, but in September, I was in the hospital with a heart attack. Back home again, after a month, Julie and Howard stayed with me a couple of weeks. I was fortunate to have Mary and Duby again in December to be with me until about March. The house was settled before they left, I did buy drapes later.

I visited the doctor every two weeks and then feeling better, then once a month. In May, I didn’t see him until August and now it will be December. The last two weeks I have been so tired, and I sleep every afternoon and sometimes in the mornings. I guess I am just getting old, but I do bath and dress. Every afternoon, walk downtown, when Julie walks and we go out to dinner. The last week, I dug the sod out of a stretch of ground and yesterday bought some day lilies, and they are planted. Today we have a shower to bed them down.

As I look back over my life, it would take hours, months, and many years to relate all the love, enjoyment, patience, excitement, and pleasure, I have had. So wonderful to dream of companionship we have known. Now watching my grandchildren starting their dream stories. My wish to all, as happy a life as I have had and remember. My love to each. I have so many events which I could not find space. I am getting too tired to write more. With so much love to you all,

“Gram” Ella Blanche Stages

Before this is ended, I must add our first grandchild (Twinkle) Lowellan and her husband, John, gave us our first great grandchildren, Crystal, Christopher, and Cindy, which starts another generation. Wonder what this will bring? I hope some peace.