Memorial day in Oak Springs - 1996 - Fifteen Years Ago

Memorial day in Oak Springs - 1996

Fifteen Years Ago

Each year, for Memorial Day, in recent years, the Bevins bunch take turns being sure that flowers from The Homeplace garden are taken to and are properly arranged at the graves of Frank and Mildred Bevins, Jason Winslow, and Donnie Bevins. They also place a flower at each of the McDonald and Bevins grandparents and great-grandparents graves, as well.

The High School band and the local American Legion Post conduct a ceremony each Memorial Day Monday morning to remember those we have lost.

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

MCDONALD in the 1860 U.S. Census in Oak Springs, Missouri, area

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in Back to the Homeplace). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

MCDONALD in the 1860 U.S. Census in Oak Springs, Missouri, area

There were two household entries, one after the other...

The first entry, all born in Missouri, except as noted:

Harry McDonald is 38, farmer, born in Kentucky

Sarah McDonald is 38, housewife, born in Kentucky

Caroline McDonald is 17

Thomas McDonald is 15

Patrick McDonald is 13

Alex McDonald is 11

Mahala McDonald is 8

Rebecca McDonald is 5

The second entry:

Henry McDonald is 59, farmer, born in Kentucky

Daniel McDonald is 22, farm worker, born in Missouri

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Flora and Fauna Friday - Hickory

Flora and Fauna Friday

Hickory

Trees in the genus Carya (from Ancient Greek 'nut') are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia.

Hickory flowers are small, yellow-green catkins produced in spring. They are wind-pollinated and self-incompatible. The fruit is a globose or oval nut.

Hickory wood is very hard, stiff, dense and shock resistant. It is highly prized for wood-burning stoves, because of its high energy content. Hickory is popular for cooking barbecue and adds flavor to the meat. Hickory is sometimes used for wood flooring due to its durability and character.

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Four generations at The Homeplace

Four generations at The Homeplace

The Homeplace Series, books one and two, so far, are dealing with the most recent four generations of our McDonald/Bevins family. Family history study has already revealed some of the earlier generations back into the early 1800s.

Today, we want to share a 'chart' of these four generations up to the start of 'The Homeplace Revisited" on 15 August 1996 (nearly 15 years ago):

1st generation (now both deceased)"

Frank and Mildred (McDonald) Bevins

2nd generation:

Karen Bevins and her late husband, Jason Winslow

Beverly Bevins and her first husband, now divorced, Paul Gates

Bart Bevins and his wife, Diane

Peter Bevins

3rd generation:

Matt Winslow and his wife, Susie (Susan)

Lori Winslow

Erin WInslow

Kevin Winslow

Donnie Bevins (deceased)

Jennifer Bevins

Christopher Ogden (biological son of Bart Bevins)

Scott Gates

Heather Gates

4th generation:

Tyler Winslow

Emily Winslow

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Book Trailer for 'The Homeplace Revisited' Released

Book Trailer

'The Homeplace Revisited'

With release of the 2nd novel in The Homeplace Series just a couple of weeks away,

Here is the Book Trailer, to further whet your appetite for the book:

Thanks to Annette Lamb with the 'eduscapes channel' on YouTube and Vision to Action Publishing for producing this book trailer.

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Tuesday Profiles - Bart Bevins

15 August 1996 Profile

Bart Bevins

54 years old

This Profile is the second of a series of weekly profiles of major characters in the "Back to the Homeplace" novel that also appear in "The Homeplace Revisited," as of the beginning of the second novel, 15 Aug 1996.

Bart Bevins was born May 13, 1942, to Frank and Mildred (McDonald) Bevins, at the Oak Springs hospital; the family lived at the Homeplace farmhouse near Oak Springs, Missouri. 

He attended Oak Creek School #4, a one-room school near the Homeplace, from kindergarten through the 8th grade, when he went to town for high school.

He graduated from Oak Springs High School in the Class of 1960.

(Diane Spencer and Linda Winters were classmates in high school.) All three went to Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. Bart and Diane graduated in 1964; Linda graduated a year later.

Bart received his B.S. degree in Business Administration; Diane in Secondary Education - English; Linda started in Theater Arts but graduated in General Studies.

Bart Bevins and Diane Spencer were married on June 15, 1960, at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Springs. Bart joined Oak Springs Realty and Diane had accepted a position as High School English teacher at Oak Springs High School. Linda Winters joined Oak Springs Realty in the summer of 1965.

Children born to Bart and Diane in Oak Springs:

Donnie, born in 1968, died in 1987 

Jennifer, born August 3, 1971, 25 in 1996

Bart worked at Oak Springs Reality from the summer of 1965 until the summer of 1978 when his mother asked him to take over the farm operation after his father, Frank, died in the late spring. Bart and Diane build their new home shortly thereafter. He has continued with farm operations responsibilities to this date; working through the Bevins Trust since 1987.

Civil War Note - Alex, May 21, 1861

Civil War Note

Alex, May 21, 1861

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in "Back to the Homeplace"). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

I found the following note on a yellowed piece of paper in among the notes I found of my mother, Mildred. Who do you suppose wrote it? Can it really be someone from the Civil War era? Who was this Alex?

Looking Back: 'Back to the Homeplace' Reviews, Part 2

As we look forward to the release of "The Homeplace Revisited" in less than a month, if you have not read "Back to the Homeplace," the first novel in the series, you may want to do so; available in print and on Kindle. Below are some additional quotes from Reviews of the book.

Comments from Reviews of 'Back to the Homeplace':

"This is honestly one of the best stories about a family saga that I have read in some time. I also found out that there will be a sequel, which is going straight on my wish list. It's a high-ranking recommendation from me!"

Missy W - from review on Amazon.com


"The concept, the times, the settings were all intriguing."

Laurel-Rain Snow - from review on Amazon.com


"The families are realistic with normal family dynamics, and it is easy to care about what happens to them. The reader understands how each character's personality - the temperamental one, the team players, the loner - influences their role on the property."

L. Brandau - from review on Amazon.com


"I thought this book had an amazing storyline. I started reading it and really couldn't put it down. One of my favorite things about the book was the news blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. I was only 9 in 1987 so I loved seeing what t.v. shows were on and what music was big! It brought back a lot of memories from my youth.,, The characaters were very real in this book. The way their lives all twisted together was captivating. The trials they faced were all very real."

Book Loving Mommy - from review on Amazon.com

Surname Saturday - GATES

Surname Saturday - GATES

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in "Back to the Homeplace"). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

The Paul and Beverly (BEVINS) GATES family

Paul GATES was born on 17 Mar 1945 in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1968. From 1968 through 1986 he worked for several firms doing engineering work.  He has worked with the Bevins Trust in Oak Springs since 1987.

Beverly BEVINS was born 14 Apr 1941 near Oak Springs, Missouri, the daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS. Beverly graduated from Oak Springs High School in the Class of 1959 and immediately moved to Jackson, Mississippi. There she was engaged in clerical and secretarial employment.

Paul and Beverly (BEVINS) GATES were married in Jackson, Mississippi in June of 1977.

Paul and Beverly GATES had two children:

1. Scott GATES, born 1978 in Jackson, Mississippi

2. Heather GATES, born in 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi

Paul GATES has as daughter, Sheila GATES, born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1968, to a previous marriage. She moved to Oak Springs with Paul and Beverly and their children in 1987.

Paul and Beverly were divorced in 1988.

Beverly subsequently returned to Jackson, and married Winston T. THESHOLD, III - 'Winnie' - in 1991.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Looking Back: 'Back to the Homeplace' Reviews, Part 1

As we look forward to the release of "The Homeplace Revisited" in less than a month, if you have not read "Back to the Homeplace," the first novel in the series, you may want to do so; available in print and on Kindle. Below are some quotes from Reviews of the book.

Comments from Reviews of 'Back to the Homeplace':

" ... is a beautiful story of family. I love family sagas and stories about family secrets. Hence this book was a perfect read for me... I could easily identify with the characters. If you've ever had a big family, you would totally relate to them. Every character was so real. Their emotions, their problems were very realistically presented. Each character was so well-defined that I felt like I knew them."

Misha Mathew, "My Love Affair With Books" blog


"This family tree has some branches that do not always seem to come from the same roots. When the limbs are shaken, some surprises fall out. But despite themselves, most members persevere, grow on their new home sites, or return to their former lives to reassess themselves or make peace."

Jack L. Kennedy, Joplin Independent


"This very intimate story of one family, and how they manage to stick together through the thick and thin of every day life, is one story you won't want to miss! ...

Cyndi Beane Henry "Texicanwife" - from review on Amazon.com


"The characters seem very down to earth and real, with problems that we all face, I found it interesting that a few were addicted to Diet Coke, and would make trips to Walmart to purchase it, for me it doesn't get any more real than that! The descriptions of the birds, landscape and the Homestead in general were so vivid that it is easy to visualize it, and at one point when the author describes a vee of Canadian Geese flying overhead, I could just imagine hearing them honk."

Brenda Casto - from review on Amazon.com

May 18, 1996 - Saturday - Jennifer Bevins graduated Vet Med school

May 18, 1996 - Saturday

Jennifer Bevins graduated Vet Med school

Item in the Wednesday, May 18, 2011, Oak Springs Enterprise, 

Fifteen Years Ago column of 'In Years Gone By'

Jennifer Bevins, a member of Oak Springs High School Class of 1989, and a Pre-Vet graduate of the University of Missouri Class of 1993, received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in university graduation ceremonies in Columbia today.

Dr. Bevins will open the Bevins Veterinary Clinic on the grounds of the Bevins Stables and Horse Trails east of town in July where she will conduct her large animal practice. The Bevins Trust has assisted Dr. Bevins in purchasing his large animal practice from Doc Evans, long time Oak Springs veterinary. Doc Evans is relinquishing his large animal practice as a step toward his retirement while continuing his small animal practice. Doc Evans encourages all of his large animal clients to go to Dr. Bevins for their continuing veterinary needs. The two will work closely together during this transition period.

Dr. Jennifer Bevins is the daughter of Bart and Diane Bevins, life-long residents of the Oak Springs area. Bart was active in a local Real Estate business from 1965 to 1978 when he returned to The Homeplace farm after the death of his father as the farm operator. Since 1987, Bart has been the farm operations manager for The Bevins Trust. Diane Bevins was the Oak Springs High School English Teacher from 1965 to 1993 when she resigned to assume full-time management of the Bevins Stables and Horse Trails business locally.

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'The Homeplace Revisited' will be available in about a month. Get to know the family.

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

A Wednesday Recipe - Mountain Buttermilk Bisquits

A Wednesday Recipe

Mountain Buttermilk Bisquits

From: STATEOFTHEOZARKS' COOKIN' ... [Josh, thanks for allowing this reprint!]

MOUNTAIN BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (more or less) buttermilk

Mix all dry ingredients together. Mix buttermilk and cooking oil together. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and mix until you have a medium stiff dough.

 Pour onto a well-floured board and knead a few times. Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out biscuits with biscuit cutter and placed in a well-greased pan.

Bake in oven at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes.

-- PAGE 41, MISSOURI HOME COOKIN' BY PEARLIE B. SCOTT, M.C. ART COMPANY INC., NASHVILLE 1999

NOTE: If you are not a subscriber to STATEOFTHEOZARKS.net, the on-line magazine and weekly email, be sure to sign up in the white box on the front page, or elsewhere, as you read some wonderful stories of our Ozarks!

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Tuesday Profiles - Karen Bevins Winslow

15 August 1996 Profile

Karen Bevins Winslow

62 years old

This Profile is the first of a series of weekly profiles of major characters in the "Back to the Homeplace" novel that also appear in "The Homeplace Revisited," as of the beginning of the second novel, 15 Aug 1996.

Karen was born July 24, 1934, to Frank and Mildred (McDonald) Bevins, at The Homeplace farmhouse near Oak Springs, Missouri. 

She attended Oak Creek School #4, a one-room school near the Homeplace, from kindergarten through the 8th grade, when she went to town for high school.

She graduated from Oak Springs High School in the Class of 1952.

She was a classmate of Harry Flanders, now the local banker, all thirteen years. 

She graduated from Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, in 1956 with a degree in Nursing.

Jason Winslow was born in Washington , Iowa, on July 1, 1934. He graduated from Washington High School in the Class of 1952. He went to Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, graduating in 1956 with a degree in Finance. He went directly to Southwest Missouri State University, in Springfield, and earned his MBA in 1959. While in Springfield, working for a CPA firm, he became interested in Financial Planning. During this time he also met Karen Bevins. He applied for a job with a Financial Planning firm in Tucson, Arizona, and was accepted.

Karen Bevins and  Jason Winslow were married on 27 November, 1960, at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Springs and moved to Tucson.

Children born to Karen and Jason in Tucson:

Matt, 1962, 34 in 1996

Lori, 1964, 32 in 1996

Erin, 1967, 29 in 1996

Kevin, 1970, 26, 1996

In 1987, Karen had been in her 16th year at Good Sam's hospital in Tucson when they moved to Oak Springs, Missouri, where she was born and lived until she graduated from high school.

Both Karen and Jason have been active in the Bevins Trust since it was created following the death of her mother in 1986.

Jason died in an automobile accident returning from Jefferson City, the state capital, on Bevins Trust business, on March 26, 1993.

Between about 1989 and 1992 Jason and Karen remodeled and added onto her parents farmhouse, always know as The Homeplace, into The Homeplace Country Inn with ten rooms to rent and a large Heritage Room meeting room. Karen has continued to operate and manage the Country Inn since Jason's death. It is nearby both the Bevins Stables and Horse Trails and the Oak Springs Mill.

5th Annual Author Extravaganza - June 18, 2011

5th Annual Author Extravaganza

Town Crier Bookstore, Emporia, Kansas

June 18, 2011

William Leverne Smith, otherwise known as Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith, has again been invited to return to Emporia, Kansas, where he was a university professor for 15 years to participate in the 5th Annual Author Extravaganza. This major book signing event will occur shortly after the release of Dr. Bill's second novel, 'The Homeplace Revisited.' Also available for sale and to be signed will be his first novel, 'Back to the Homeplace' (released Spring 2010) and '13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories' (released March 2010). He will be accompanied by his wife, Nancy, who last summer published her book, with their daughter, Annette Lamb, through Visions to Action Publishing, 'After Glow: The Poetry of Laura Wilson Anderson.'

The Homeplace Chronicles on Facebook

'The Homeplace Chronicles' 

on Facebook

Come join our Facebook Page

The Homeplace Chronicles

Surname Saturday - WINSLOW 1

Surname Saturday

WINSLOW 1

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in "Back to the Homeplace"). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

The Jason and Karen (BEVINS) WINSLOW family

Jason WINSLOW was born on 1 Jul 1934 in Washington, Iowa. He died 26 Mar 1993, in an automobile accident just outside of Jefferson City, Missouri. Jason worked as a Financial Planner in Tucson, Arizona from 1960 to 1987. He worked with the Bevins Trust from 1987 until his death in 1993.

Karen BEVINS was born 24 Jul 1934 near Oak Springs, Missouri, the daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS. Karen  was a practicing nurse from 1956 through 1987. Since 1993 she has bee the operator and manager of The Homeplace Country Inn and has served as a trustee of the Bevins Trust since 1987.

Jason and Karen (BEVINS) WINSLOW were married at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Springs, MIssouri, on 27 Nov 1960.

I. Jason and Karen WINSLOW had four children:

1. Matt WINSLOW, born 1962 in Tucson, Arizona

2. Lori WINSLOW, born in 1964 in Tucson, Arizona

3. Erin WINSLOW, born in 1967 in Tucson, Arizona

4. Kevin WINSLOW, born in 1970 in Tucson, Arizona

II. Matt and Susie WINSLOW had two children:

1. Tyler WINSLOW, born 1990, Boston, Mass.

2. Emily WINSLOW, born 1993, Boston, Mass.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Epilogue of "The Homeplace Revisited"

Epilogue of "The Homeplace Revisited"

I hope that sharing "the ending" of my second novel, here, will encourage you to become a regular follower and join with me in a new adventure in the continuing saga of this fictional family.

Epilogue

Life goes on.

The Homplace familiy saga continues.

Although the 'third book' in The Homeplace Series will probably not be published until 2014 (Set in 2001 - about the time of the 15th anniversary of the Bevins Trust) the family saga will continue to develop in a variety of new ways.

Follow the story on FACEBOOK at The Homeplace Chronicles and here at The Homeplace Series Blog.

Starting in July 2011, the stories of the Bevins family, the Bevins Trust, Oak Springs and all related story elements will continue in a variety of formats (some currently unimaginable) based here including (possibly):

1) regular blog posts

2) local newspaper stories (Oak Springs Enterprise, including a Years Gone By column) in excerpts

3) short stories and novellas

4) graphic novels

5) television series

6) multi-media or simulation, such as Second LIfe

7) videos

8) (what would you like to see) - come to our FACEBOOK page and tell us. Or, visit the blog and leave a comment.

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)