During the early 1900s, Grandpap and Grandmother Jordan rode the train from their home near Monteith, Iowa, to Key West, Minnesota, to visit the Goff family one August, bringing a trunk full of nice apples from home. The Goffs lived too far north for apple trees to thrive. It was such a big treat, because they bought apples by the barrel during the Minnesota winters, when they lived there from 1903-1905.
Sisters Georgia and Leora Goff, about ages 10 and 13, enjoyed driving the rural roads with Grandpap in a one-seat buggy pulled by a horse. David Jordan was a jovial man and taught them songs, like “Ke-mo, ki-mo.”
"There was a frog lived near a pool Sing song ketcha ketcha ki-me oh He surely was the biggest fool Sing song ketcha ketcha ki-me oh Ke-mo, ki-mo Del-O-Ware Hee-ma ho and in come a salasicker Some time Penny went a link tum nip cat sing song Ketcha ketcha ki-me oh.”
Those Iowa grandparents stayed three or four weeks, so there were several rides with Grandpap. Georgia and Leora took turns driving. One time Georgia had the horse on a trot and Grandpap, with a twinkle in his eyes, said, “Georgia, don’t make the horse go so fast–we will get home too quick.”
From Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots