Grandmother Goff’s low voice early in the morning meant a new baby. Such an exciting time! Claiborne Junior Wilson was born July 6, 1925, at the Hemphill place, the first Wilson born in Dallas County. It was so hot upstairs with no fans so they slept downstairs.
The Ringling Brothers circus came to Des Moines ten days later. Grandmother and Leora, mother of the Wilson kids, stayed home with baby Junior, two-year-old Danny, and the five-year-old twins, who’d be too hard to keep track of in a crowd.
The circus-goers were up before daybreak. The kids headed outside even before the roosters crowed. Leora fried chicken for their dinner, to enjoy with buttered bread. They drove the Model T to Des Moines. Once inside the circus area, Clabe told Doris to hang onto his finger so she wouldn’t get lost.
They watched the circus animals in their cages before the big show started. Grandfather bought pop for everyone. With seats near the middle of the tent, they could watch the acts in all three rings. Back home, the boys could hardly wait to tell about the fat clown, who opened a door in the front of him and a little dog jumped in and came out at the back.
And when they got home, they had a new grandmother. Leora had given her a new modern haircut.
His birth is recorded in Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots, when the family had just moved to the BC Hemphill farm SE of Dexter. Their story goes on in Leora’s Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression, which is most readers’ favorite Leora book.
Looking down at their pet squirrel, Junior is on the hood of Clabe’s “roadster,” which he made from a Model T Ford pickup. Clabe, Dale and Danny are at the left. These are the three sons they’d lose during WWII. Clabe Wilson died of a heart attack and a broken heart the next year. Their family story is told in Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II.
I love that photo! The look on Delbert’s face is precious.
Thanks, Darlene! Delbert was 10 years older than his baby brother.
Love that photo’
Thanks, Lori!
What a fun day that must have been for the kids! Delbert reminds me of Alfalfa from “The Little Rascals.”
Oh, he does, doesn’t he!
😀
A terrific story, Joy.
Thank you, John.
With a spike of hair standing up, Uncle Delbert would look just like Alfalfa in the “Our Gang Comics”/ The Little Rascals!!
He does, doesn’t he! Delbert was 10 years older than Junior.
What a nice picture that is, Joy. It must have been a good time for them to attend the Ringling Brothers circus.
Memorable!
Awesome photo and a wonderful story! 🙂
Thank you, Linda!
A great story and wonderful photo, Joy! Love Delbert’s expression! ❤️
Thanks, Lauren!
You’re welcome, Joy! I hope you have a good day and weekend. 💕
Thank you, Lauren. It’s a quiet one for us.
❤️❤️
What a precious photo and lovely story, Joy! Leora had an interesting look on her face! I hope you’re having a nice weekend.
Thank you, Miriam.
It’s so interesting to read about the daily lives of the Wilson’s during that era in time. Circuses were tremendously popular back then. Love the family pics and the haircuts! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. Oh, those haircuts! Leora was the barber for the entire family, also some neighborhood kids when they moved into town.
That saves money. I’m the barber in our family-haha!
Wow!