Mrs. Knox visited Leora often. “You folks don’t need to go out for entertainment,” she said. “You have it at home.” Aunt Georgia sometimes stayed with them. Once after Delbert, Donald, and Doris had baths in a tin tub with Cuticura soap, Georgia lined them up in Mrs. Knox’s old-fashioned ferns for this well-loved photo.
Riches - 1920s Soft black soil curls behind the plow’s blade. Squeak of leather harness, links a nickering brown horse to Dad’s guiding hands.
His workshoes trod new furrows in the garden, causing a commotion. The black richness reveals fat earthworms. Swooping robins follow Dad’s big boots, then wing away with their prizes. I caught a robin once at Grandmother’s, and took it to bed. “Lawsy, girl.” She came to tuck me in. “You’ll have lice.” But a robin of your own is a fine thing for a girl of four. So is a ride on Dad’s shoulders when he’s done ploughing the garden.
Oh, I wish someone had taken a photo of Doris on her dad’s shoulders! She said that after the twins were born, she rarely got to sit on her mother’s lap anymore, so the attention from her father was probably especially welcome.
After Danny was born in 1923, they moved to a farm near Dexter. Doris talked about her father allowing her to help feed the livestock, especially the cows and horses. Precious memories.
You can find more stories from the years the family lived in Stuart in Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots. There are few photos of Clabe Wilson during those days, except for when he wore a badge as a nightwatchman–after the last one had been killed in a bank robbery attempt.
Rich, black soil! How often we’ve wished for such soil instead of our red clay!
Oh my! Do earthworms like red clay?
I love your “precious memories!” 🙂
Bless you, Nancy!
What wonderful memories! The photo couldn’t be more adorable!
Thank you, Liz. I was delighted when Mom mentioned the detail about the color of her dress.
You’re welcome, Joy. A memorable dress for a little girl, then!
This photo! Those smiles! 💝💝💝
And Joy…I hadn’t thought about Cuticura soap in years! Talk about a memory tucked away. I’m pretty sure I can smell it! I think it’s what was used for all sorts of cleaning at my Great Aunt Bea’s house…deep in Ohio farm country. 💝💝💝
Oh, Vicki! The soap detail and the color of her little dress! I’m thankful I got to go through old photos with Mom. She knew all the backstories!
The memory that the dress was BLUE gingham also really touched me, Joy! How did you know? I didn’t even say that part! Love you, my friend! 💝💝💝
Goosebumps and hugs, Vicki!
Xo! 😉❤️😉
Precious indeed.
Words fitted together with elegance (Cornish hens not mentioned). Dark, rich soil yielded so many earthworms, placed in a coffee can and escorting two cane poles to the farm pond. By the way, I have “funded” nephew, Charly to restore the Scar pond to former glory, maybe better than ever. Time table unknown, but Charly is efficient and hard-working. Cousin Bob Scar
Oh Bob, your notes just get better and better! That pond, and on a historic farm. I’ll bet that’s where they ice skated!
Mostly before 10th grade, I skated probably 3 times a week after school. Especially years the pond froze over with little wind. Hand-me- down figure skates, smooth surface, and nearly frost-bitten fingers and toes walking 3/4 of a mile back to the barnyard as the light faded. A rather long sentence. Mrs. Knapp would comment in the margin!!
Ah, Mrs. Knapp! Well, I love your story.
I LOVE the photo!!!! and the history!
Thank you, Vickie! I’m the fourth in a line of oldest daughters and became the keeper of the photos, Purple Hearts, telegrams, letters. . . and stories! The generations before me lived well into their 90s. I’m so blessed!
That is an understatement!!! I know your kids are young, but unfortunately, the kids don’t want any of this stuff. I hope that changes.
I am also the memory keeper, because if it was up to my brother, it would all be in the garbage. lol
Vicki, make sure the stories are written down! Grandma Leora left a hand-written memoir. What a treasure!
The picture of Doris, Donald and Delbert is lovely, Joy, and it’s so nice reading about your family.
Thank you, Tim. I’m blessed to become the keeper of the pictures. . . and the sharer of the stories behind them!
You’re welcome, Joy. 😍 And it’s a blessing for us that you do share the pictures and the stories behind them. 💖🙏
Wonderful photographs and memories! 🙂
Thank you, Linda.
That is the most adorable photo! You are so fortunate to have these photos and memories.
Oh thank you, Darlene! Two children in the school were given a free box camera in 6th grade. One was my mother, Doris. But the letters and photos were because of the older brothers in the Navy! Yes, I’m so blessed by them all. Remember 14-year-old Darlene’s quips (she became my Aunt Darlene!)? Her one remaining son enjoyed it, saying she’d never called them taters but could imagine a teenager sounding “folksy” when writing her brothers overseas.