Clabe Wilson was strict with his sons about gun safely. When they went hunting together, a boy was not allowed to carry his own gun until he was twelve years old and could demonstrate how to carry it safely, especially while crossing over a wooden fence or through a wire one.
In the photo, Dale and Danny are both holding guns, but Danny was only 11 so he couldn’t carry one on a hunt until the next May. (He later earned a reputation for being a “crack shot.”)
Unemployed men with sons in the Navy or CCC were cut off relief jobs first. The Wilsons couldn’t afford to buy meat so Clabe and his sons hunted and trapped. Mostly they ate squirrel and rabbit, which they brought to the kitchen already dressed and ready for Leora to fry or bake. Trapping meant pelts to ship to Sears through the mail to trade for goods ordered from the catalog. A few times a raccoon or opossum became their meal.
The Roadster
The “roadster” was the Model T truck the two oldest Wilson brothers drove to Des Moines to join the Navy. Clabe took off the top and cut down the windscreen. This photo exists so they’d have it to send with a letter to their “Navy boys.”
Clabe sold the roadster that fall, 1934. The small town of Dexter (population of 748 in 1930) was too small for any kind of public transportation, but the family lived without a vehicle until the spring of 1939, when Clabe was hired as a tenant farmer. Yes, no car for nearly five years.
More from Leora’s Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression.
Even though my brothers were allowed guns, Dad was adamant on gun safety too. They used them mostly to shot gophers. We never ate wild game as dad raised cattle, pigs and chickens to eat (and to sell) Mom planted a huge garden so we had lots of vegetables. (which I preferred). We didn’t have a pet squirrel but we had a pet antelope.
After the family finally moved to a farm again (1939), they had livestock and chickens again, and hardly had time to go hunting. A pet antelope! How fun, Darlene!
It was fun. She was an orphan and we named her Bambi.
How dear.
What a great photo! I’ve never been a gun person, but I have some friends who love to hunt.
How interesting that you mention the boys not being able to use a gun until they were 12. I’m reading a novel to my seniors at assisted living, following the same theme. https://www.amazon.com/As-Brave-You-Jason-Reynolds/dp/1481415913.
There is a tradition in this family of learning how to shoot a gun when a boy turns 14. The two grandsons know little about this. The older grandson, who knows nothing about this tradition, is pressured into taking part. When he fires the gun, the kickback is so strong that he knocks out three teeth. This book (written for 10-12 year olds) is so good that I may blog about it.
The boys were allowed to shoot them, but not carry them when they went out hunting. Even when the brothers were older, there were people they didn’t along with them if they carried guns! That book does sound like an interesting blog post. An interesting choice to read to seniors! How did you choose it?
A fantastic story of survival. Thanks, Joy (No car for five years? Wow.)
Very small town, only Clabe drove. If he’d be hired on a WPA job out of town, he’d have to pay for the ride. He had to turn down a job in Waukee because all his pay would have gone for the ride. Tough times.
All of these heartfelt glimpses of the past prompt gratitude, dear Joy. So much can be taken for granted. Remembering the hardships in our families feels important. Empowering.
Xo! ❤️
Thank you, Vicki. I’m thankful I finally listened to Mom’s stories of those days. It sure helped me understand them all a little better.
And I’m so happy you welcome us into the fold by sharing! 🥰❤️😉
Bless you, dear Vicki.
Much love to you, Joy! 🥰💝🥰
I think average families were more gun-safety-conscious than they are now?
Probably because they used them nearly every week. No days, with only certain times for hunting each species needing thinning, it may happen only once or twice a year. I don’t think Guy has ever been hunting. Mom was surprised that Dad didn’t, but he grew up on a farm and didn’t have to live like pioneers.
That makes sense.
[…] early that year. Clabe, Dale, Danny, Junior, and Rusty. Dale and Danny are holding shotguns. Here is a story about Clabe’s gun […]
Great post, Joy. Having strict gun safety rules is the right thing to do. Going hunting with their dad must have been a learning process. They sure look good in that picture.
Thank you, Tim. Mom said that her dad was the more patient parent. I noticed that in family pictures, he was holding the baby.
I want that vehicle! His gun safety rules were spot-on. I remember my granddad being very strict about respecting the firearm and its handling. Good teaching. – Alan
I’d like a ride in one! Thanks, Alan! (Still praying for your dear mom, and the rest of you.)
Clabe was a wise father and did a fine job mentoring his sons. From what I learned from “Leora’s Letters”, the boys began helping to put food on the table when they were children. And they never stopped helping-no matter where they were in the world!!! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. I wish I’d known Grandpa Clabe.