| " O Dat Land of Kansas" Onie's Memories |
| "I packed my truk in de ole spring cart, An' now I 'se ready fer to mak de start. My calico dress and his new blue genes will look mighty find in' de monin" |
| written for Earl and the rest of us (reprinted in Onies own words) |
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| My brother Earl the youngest of eleven said to me one day. Sis why don"t you write a story as you are alone so much and your memory goes back so far tell me how our mother and dad started out together and just what road they took to land in Colorado built the Old homestead where we all lived so happy together then to part and each one go their way. I said Earl I'll do that the best I can and just the way I heared it. I was 5 years old when I took my first trip in a covered wagon so I will go back 40 years more as mother and dad used to sit by the fire in the old cook stove with the lid off the top he and mother would pop corn over the red hot coals sit for hours tell us the story of how they started life together in old Indiana in the little log cabin. Earl had come to see me one day after he had returned from a trip to west coast in the fall of 1949. He asked- How is your story coming on? I want to hear it. So I read what I had written. He laughed he cryed he said all of that I did not know we'll make a book and call it ____________.. Now that he is gone I'll rewrite it and try to forget the sadness that keeps me from telling so many funny happenings of our lives on the farm and the praries out west. As long as we have our health and God to guide us on we should not complain. Tho' many sorrows have come to us- I did not live in those days in which I am about to tell you. Those were the days of 1870 and 1875 the covered wagon days of long ago in the first days of my mother and dad. Chapter 2 First "little Joe" my dad at the age of one and one half years was taken to the home of an uncle. His mother died soon after his birth. He had two only sisters Harriet and Eliza both older than he. Joseph Lewis Cook was my dads name. After being taken into the home of this uncle it seemed that he did not have the best chance in life not much schooling was made to work very hard as every one in those days did. This Uncle "Wash" as he was called was a big stropping fellow the hard boiled type ide say with a heart of gold and a will to live one the level very jolly and honest as the days were long. Never attended church nor did he think of the hereafter. He'd just smile and say he'd manage fer to some how git along and not blame the world ner grumble 'bout his bein treated wrong. He loved "little Joe" my dad. He chewed toacco and could swear ( ? always said) "by note" could sing and laugh untill you'd think he'd raise the roof. He took good care of my dad untill grandpa got married again then one day grandpa come and got "little Joe" dad said she was a very cross step mother one day when Harriet, Eliza and he ran into the kitchen for bread and jelly they were sent out immediately without it. " No piecing between meals here" she'd say as they had been doing before. Their hearts were broken as they couldn't understand why? Things had changed so I'll never forget her myself as she pulled my hair one time I just couldn't open the door I didn't understand the old fashioned latch. It's queer how children never forget, isn't it? Chapter 3 Back to Uncle Wash In a short while my dad left home went back to "Uncle Wash" the only home he ever had untill he was married. He was very good looking and not a lazy bone very hones and thoughtful of others. He loved to play checkers and was called the champion checker pool and billared shark from "Jimtown. He went to school at a little log school house between Jimtown and Salem. This small village being the home of the Smith Sisters. Now at this school house is where he first met my mother "Hattie Ann Smith". I think the prettiest girl in all the world her eyes were blue her hair was golden color and always a smile for everyone. Now she and my dad really fell in love. Pa always said a case of love at first sight. No other would do but Hattie Ann. Aunt Lou she sister was just as pretty a little older she was keeping company with John Lackey a big tall hard to get guy. Never saw a stranger very jolly as he and my dad were pals they worked together in capturing these two Smith Sisters. There were 13 in the Smith family two sets of children. My grandfather Smith married the second time to my mothers aunt a sister to her own mother. She having died when my Mother and Aunt Lou were small girls. They loved thier aunt which made the family very happy and very close to each other. There were 5 brothers 3 sisters of their own and 2 half brothers and 2 half sisters, making one dozen Smiths. The Cooks and Smiths all attended the same school. Ma always said my dad was the best looking and the smartest in school, tho' he liked his fun always playing jokes on someone like to tease my mother. Ma said he'd take another girl by the arm look back over his should say good bye Hattie I'm walking with Harriet tonight. Ma said she was the homiliest and dumbest girl in school. Never blowed her nose just let it drain. Never understood why he didn't take her instead. Well gues Pa that he would treat'em all alike. I will say my dad never saw a stronger a happy howdy to everybody. Make no difference to him rich or poor homely or beautiful they all looked alike to him except my Ma. I think she had him worried as well as she said "I didn' let him know I cared." Well after they finished this school and I believe my mther at the age of 19 my dad 24 become engaged and were married. Aunt Lou and Uncle John decided they could not let them get ahead so they all decided on a double weddding. The Wedding day come round, a very big affair. Guess my Pa and Uncle John got too much of I don't know what it could have been away back then but Ma said they both got real tight and almost broke up the wedding party grandpa Smith and grandpa Cook decided to talk to these two your gents but guess they didn't get very far as the wedding bells had already rung out. |
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