| Chapter 5 "little Joe" Now at this time my dad had a very good start and 40 acre farm of that good black Indiana soil a team of horses a new log cabin in which they started life together. To them was born Jason. Harry and little Frankie on this farm in the little log house. Ma said they were so happy there. Pa had mentioned several times how he'd like to see the west especially that Kansas land- Little Jim well one day he came home said " Hattie how'd you like to have little Jim? Who's little Jim Joe? mother asked. Well Hattie he's a little boy over here and he has no home the place where he's staying is no good for him. Well Joe! she said it seems that I have about got my hands full, but you go and get him. God will help me as she always would say. Now dad was off in a minute and in a little while here he come leading "little Jim" by the hand he was so ragged and dirty his hair full of lice. Well! Mother said asd she looked him over. Joe you'll have to shave his head as we must get rid of these lice and i'll give him a bath so dad shaved poor little Jims head mother bathed him nice and clean wrapped him in a blanket and put him to bed while dad went to town to buy some new clothes,. First new clothes little Jim ever had, he was soon back with a large bundle handed it to mother here they are? She opened it to find a pair of red topped brass toed boots Ma said she wished we could have seen his eyes beem. My dad was just as happy so they dressed him up and now little Jim had a new home. This made them feel so happy to that little Jim had a home with them. "O Dat Land of Kansas" "I packed my trunk in do 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" This song, I'll never forget as my dad and mother always sung it throughout the years they spent together. My dad would always laugh when he sung this song he'd say Hattie remember Dat Kansas land? I will say he was a good looser never worried ovcer spilled milk. He's always say never look back, it might spoil your future. One day as my dad was playing pool at Jimtown. A husky bully type rode up his horse dropped the reins walked into the poolroom up to my dad - slapped him on the shoulder said "Now I believe your name is Joe Cook? Yes Sir! said my dad well Joe! I just got back from Kansas the land of sunshine. The farden spot of the world. How 'bout tradin farms I've got one of the finest pieces of bottom land close to Fedonia not dad remembered that mother had som Indiana cousins who had moved to Gredonia some few years ago so my dad went home. Sat down got all set to break this news to her. Well Hattie I've seen big Bill Kansas Bill He wants to trade farms he's got a nice Kansas farm says he'll trad sight unseen and throw in a team of good mules and know they're tough and just the thing to drive to a covered wagon out on the rocky roads. (I'll say rocky roads) now poor mother I don't remember, but I guess she tho't if thats what Joe wants we'll take a chance for we've always wanted to see the West. Dad soon made the trade sight unseen took Big Bills word for it always tho't the other fellow just as honest as he. Now mother had something to think about. (You women of today with your beautiful cars you luxurious trailors never satisfied) God bless you- Well the covered wagon was soon in tip top shape a nice bed in the back under the back under the bows on a nice bed spring a big straw tick there's where the children rode except for the baby he sit on mothers lap. I remember mother said she cooked on a campfire beside the road- all the way. It ws a long way to Fredonia Pa said they were over 3 months on the road I believe about 13 weeks. all told. As they rode along ma said they would sing that song "O dat Land of Kansas" One day as they were riding along Pa said. Hattie I' got a feeling we'll soon be in Fredonia. No road signs not many farm ouses along the way So. they had to guess just about where they were Well! Pa said he lowed they were pretty near Fredonia. So mother said. Oh! please stop the wagon Joe and I must get out my white bonnet and my new calico dress and Joe you must put on your new genes- for you will have to go into that bank where Hudson is. Hudson being an old Jimtown banker who went to Fredonia in an earlier day. Well in the distance they saw a smoke rising above the hills. It soon appeared to be a town Yes! dad said thats Fredonia Hattie we'll soon see our new home. So mother said Joe if theres a creek near I must wash the boys faces and come their hair. Jason, Harry and little Jim. Frankie the baby only 6 months old- Now as they drove into town looking for a bank where they tho't maybe they would find Hudson. All at once mother cryed out there Joe! There's the bank. So they pulled up to the hitchin rack Pa got out Hattie you sit here I'll go and see just where our land is located Pa walks up to the window said I'm lookin for a man by the name of Hudson. A fine looking fellow looks over hiks glasses said "I'm Hudson who are you? I'm Joe Cook from Jimtown and shook hands.Can you show me by these papers (which my dad pulled out of his pocket just where my land is located. After looking the papers over carefully Well! said Hudson Joe by these papers you've got no land this place is nothing but rocks and hills "Won't raise beans. Poor Mother sitting out there waiting to go to her new home. I guess my dad choked up a bit for he turned around thanked Hudson and walked out his head down and up to the wagon. Well Hattie! he's beat us out of our forty acres Hudson says can't raise beans on it. Mother starts to cry then looking up to see Hudson coming toward the wagon he shook hands with Mother Said Joe you are\all tired out now drive over to my house untill we can figure out a way. Just make youe selves at home unhitch your team and feed them give the children a rest let them play. and don't feel too bad for we will work some thing out. In a few days Pa and Ma were living on Hudsons farm a beautiful 80 acres of real bottom land everything furnished. They got a good start on the Hudson farm. half interest in everything. They lived there one day the Stork flew over kinda low another- left Floyd in the meantime little Frankie passed on to heaven. I am sure Mother was very sad. No difference how many how much to do this was a terrible loss to them as she said Frankie was another one of Gods perfect babys one most of us have never seen. After Floyd came. Dad decided to purchase a saw mill. Tho' he kept some land for his cattle he built a little log cabin down on the river by the mill. I'm sure they had 2 rooms and a sawdust floor as Ma said along this river was where the indians had their reservations once in a while. Mother and Dad would attend one of their war dances. Mother did her baking of bread pies and cookies and when she heard the indians comming she'd run and hide everything in sight as when these indians would slip up to the windows peek in to see if there was any thing good to eat many times they walked in raked the cookies off the table into the corner of their blankets and then go on down the road. There was an indian boy they liked very much he helped with the chores his name was Denver- and that's where Denver Rosco got his name. This bird with the long bill received another order this time for a girl. |
 |
| page 2 |
 |