December 24th a blizzard came that day Mother said she worked very hard stripping the cracks in this log cabin she used paper strips of cloth any thing to keep the cold wind from whistling through. My dad getting home rather late from the saw mill Said Hattie its a pretty bad storm Mother said yes Joe our baby will be here tonight and what will we do for a doctor? Well he thought for a moment "I'll send Jace down to the foot of the hill theres an old german lady who will come and take care of you I', sure we will make it allright. Hattie sure enough Den was Christmas just before day the bird-flew over in that storm. didn't have a girl. The night before Xmas my dad said now Hattie as he sat there by the fire place in one end of the cabin. You know these children have got to have something in their stockings and I'm afraid old Santa won't be able to make the grade I am going to get out the sorghum Jug- and make some taffy I'll wrap it nice and put it down in their stockings in news paper just like candy kisses I suppose well anyway Jace said he had quite a time gettin the paper soaked off black sorghum candy next day. Morning came Pa said boys come in and see your new Christmas present they all walked in stood there a while looking at-Denver Well! Floyd said lets feed him to the hogs. I guess that taffy had gotten Floyd kinda discouraged trying to get the paper soaked off. When Denver was two years of age. Elsie came along the first girl and how pleased and happy said if they could only have another girl (as they all seemed to come in pairs) Ma tho't a pair of girls wuld be wonderful. They still lived in this little log cabin when Elsie arrived.
Chapter 7
"The Rockies at Greeley"
One day our dad got a very good offer for his saw mill and as he thought the farm would be best for the boys (still having his herd of cattle) He said Hattie- I think we should go to the moutains or very near As our Uncle had given them several invitations to come on farther west. Mother agreed so they begin to get ready for another big move Dad rigged up a covered wagon they started driving the cattle the dog follow on the side of the wagon a coop full of chickens fresh eggs and milk all the way which took a long time to make that trip Pa tied the Bull behind the wagon and led him as this way he walked up faster the feed box was fastened to the end gate and the bull would reach his nose down in and with his long tongue he kept the grain cleaned up. One afternoon all at once they missed little Den they stopped the wagon Pa looked everywhere then some one said look in the feed box. There he was sound asleep he had fallen off the bed down into the box. That bull had rolled hin around and with his long tongue had licked his face and hair untill he had a regular marcelle Floyd was supposed to watch Den but some how he got away mother was always afraid she'd lose some of usl As rhey rode along. One bright sunny morning Mother said she tho't she would take inventory so she started counting she missed "little Jim" She yelled out- Pa wheres Jim? O Hattie I gave him to that rich farmer back there where we camped last night you know Hattie this man said he needed a boy about Jim's size and he said we had plenty of our own he promised Jim a poney and saddle said he' give a good home. Jim wanted to stay. I told him well I guessed I'd leave him tho't best not to tell you right then. Now Mother cryed for days as she said she loved little Jim just like her very own. Pa was a little wreckless never took anything serious He said now Hattie we've got about all we can manage of our own and that will be a good home for Jim who knows we may have another half dozen. So on they traveled west whenever they passed a field of corn or a stick of hay the boys would ride up beside the wagon point to the cornfield and say. "Heres a good cornfield "pappy" as in those days the farmers were always glad to share their corn hay or any grain they might have. Covered wagon folks were always welcome to water and feed. They alast arrived at my Uncles farm or ranch near Greeley there they lived untill Dad found a farm to put his herd of cattle on at last he rented a place with pasture and grain and hay so they got started out more later that bird followed along left me (Onie)flapped his wings flew on guess he tho't I'll hand them a pkg this time and I guess Mother was happy as that made the 3rd pair and 2 girls. Mother was very much pleased over this move as there were no Indians to take the cookies. My dad soon got work on the Union Pacific R.R. Said he got top wagesl. 75 cents per day with his team Mother made butter to sell to market at Greeley 80 lbs a week at 10 cents per lb. A very rich cattle man who was a neighbor and had a large family become very good friends and neighbors. One day Mrs. McMillen as was their name become very ill. Mother heard about it and called to see if she could help. Finding they needed a laundress Mother took the washing and helped out untill Mrs.McMillen was well again. Mrs; McMillen called one day and handed mother a $10 bill - those were the wash board days- No machines. A ten dollar bill then was so much money like manna from heaven. We all Kept well and happy with plenty to do Mother and Dad always looked ahead working hard to support us all and making plans for the future. 2 years after I was born another boy came along Euris M. about the cutest baby I ever saw I will always remember I tryed to watch him for mother and keep him our of mischeif. He sucked his thumb and my one job was to pull his thumb out of his mouth unbutton and button up. That kept me pretty busy He never quit untill after he started to school. the teacher soon broke him of that. The next one was Joe R. guess Dad decided if they ever got to see old Indiana again they'd have to make a break. Its now at this time he had saved enough for a trip back east and enough to clothe them well. No Birds in sight Said he had been watching his chance to get us all together for a train ride Now little Joe arrived on schedule was about 1 1/2 years old. The road ahead looked clear the Sun Shined bright. Dad walked into the kitchen one day where Mother was very busy. Say! Hattie how'd you like to get the children ready for a train ride? Mother thought for a moment. Said Well! Joe what on earth do you mean? do you mean for us all to et on a train at one time? how on earth can we get them all ready for a train ride-? Pa said Ma I've decided to take the the whole family to Jimtown and Salem I want our kinfolks to see our family, and see what a fine bunch we have. We'll make them a nice visit we'll write and tell them we're comming through by rail- not the covered wagon- Now Pa it seems to ne thats a big order do you know I will have to make clothes for 8 suits for the older boys. all by hand. Well! Pas said I'll take the older boys for the into Greeley and see if I can buy them store suits. You know they have never had store suits and hats- Ma said she thought it would be wonderful to go easr and see their kinfolks her sister and brothers. "Counsins by the dozens" with 10 of us Pa checked and double checked. He said Ma I'll only have to buy 2 full fares and two half fares for all of us. Pa alway did a fot of figurin and I guess he figured now was the best time to take the trip berfore Jace and Harry got any older. Well the day came for Pa to begin to get us ready He said Ma you see that their necks and ears are clean and comb their hair nice. So she did and everyone with clean overalls Pa took off for Greeley in the wagon 5 boys and himself all for new suits and new shoes and hats. The first new Sunday shoes they ever had as they always wore buckle plow shoes on the farm.
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