The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 1, The Trek, Part 2

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 1, The Trek, Part 2

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga continues here on the first Friday of each new Month. See Part 1 in November 2012. This is a serial presentation of the story, beginning in 1833, when four families decided to settle the land, the valley, that would become the setting of the first two books in the The Homeplace Series: "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" as well as the forthcoming third book in the series, "The Homeplace Forever." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 2006, respectively. The underlying premise of this trilogy is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

[Source: Currier & Ives, “Home in the wilderness,” c1870; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov : accessed 31 Dec 2012)]

Characters in the trilogy become actively involved in the study of their family history and snippets of that research appear, from time to time through the trilogy (one example). This serial presentation begins to share that ‘research’ in Story Form, and, some of the Stories represent 'writings of the family' that were ‘discovered’ in the process of that research. Each Story is an essay or report of the activities of the initial four families and their descendants that settled the Homeplace – the farm and the surrounding valley.

Story 1, The Trek to the Homeplace

In this episode, we share "Part 2 of 4"

Preparations for the trip had been underway since the previous fall in anticipation that this would be the spring when the move would be made. The distance they would travel was probably no more than twenty-five miles, as the crow flies, but they would not be crows flying. Following the animal and Indian paths they had marked off on the way over, and especially on the way back, would be closer to thirty-five miles. On the way back, they had cleared a path about four feet wide to accommodate their oxen pulling one-ox carts with the provisions they wanted to initially have in their new Homeplace. They would not try to take all of their furniture on this first trip; they would make at least two more trips before winter arrived. The group would be taking four oxen pulling four carts of provisions along with two bulls for backup and future breeding of the four milk cows making the trip. They had worked together to construct the carts over the winter and believed they were all ready to go. The move to the new Homeplace would likely take as much as four or five days, even with good weather, and how likely was that?

The ground they would be traveling consisted of rugged hills, springs, creeks and caves. There were still Indians, Delawares and Shawnees, who came through from time to time, mostly in the fall and winter, but they had not encountered any on this most recent trip nor had they seen any signs of recent visits. There was much wild game, of course, and signs of many more than they saw. Hunting, trapping and selling furs to traveling buyers and back here at the lumber camps would be a critical part of their new lives.

Some people described these folks and their neighbors as two-thirds hunter and one-third trader and lumberman. Young Truesdale and the McDonalds were determined to tame some of the land in their new ‘Homeplace’ valley for farming along with hunting and trapping. The Baldridges and Pattons would also have farming plots to provide for their families. They were also confident that other families would follow, as the Barksdales eventually needed to justify building their mill. Being the first to stake out their claims on the best fields was an important part of the planning for this group, the recent trip, and their expectations for the future. They would also take along some razorback hogs and two coops of chickens for a good start at their new lives.

Corn and bean seeds for immediate planting, along with garden seeds and several kinds of plantings would be priorities on this initial trip, as well. Jake would be taking his basic blacksmithing tools and materials, of course. Some of their needs could be met on occasional return trips, so those considerations were very important in keeping this first trip to basic essentials only.

[...to be continued... on January 4, 2013, with Part 3 of Story 1]

Note: Story 1, by William Leverne Smith, was originally published as a Short Story, "The Trek to the Homeplace" in the anthology: Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VII, 2011, published by the Ozarks Writers League (pp. 55-64).

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 1, The Trek, Part 1

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 1, The Trek, Part 1

Beginning today, "The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will be shared here on the first Friday of each new Month. This will be a serial presentation of the story, beginning in 1833, when four families decided to settle the land, the valley, that would become the setting of the first two books in the The Homeplace Series: "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" as well as the forthcoming third book in the series, "The Homeplace Forever." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 2006, respectively. The underlying premise of this trilogy is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family.

[Source: Currier & Ives, “Home in the wilderness,” c1870; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov : accessed 31 Dec 2012)]

Characters in the trilogy become actively involved in the study of their family history and snippets of that research appear, from time to time through the trilogy (one example). This serial presentation begins to share that ‘research’ in Story Form, and, some of the Stories represent 'writings of the family' that were ‘discovered’ in the process of that research. Each Story is an essay or report of the activities of the initial four families and their descendants that settled the Homeplace – the farm and the surrounding valley.

Story 1, The Trek to the Homeplace

In this episode, we share "Part 1 of 4"

            “They’re back. The men-folks have returned from t’other side of the mountain.”

            Eleven year-old Sarah ran thither and yon looking for kinfolk and friends to tell that her pa and the other men were coming down the mountain path.

This was the spring on 1833, and four men had gone over the mountains to the southeast in search of a location for a mill on a spring fed creek along with abundant farming land in the adjacent valley for their families.

            Sarah’s father, Robert Baldridge, wanted a mill of his own after working for his father for nearly ten years here on the Big Piney River in south central Missouri. Robert and Susannah, his wife, along with Sarah, and their son, David, three years younger than his sister, had been preparing to make this move for a couple of years now. A young farmer, a farm family, and a blacksmith family planned to join them on the move, when the time was right. That time was drawing very near.

            Hugh Truesdale was a mature twenty-one year-old young man who wanted a fresh start in new territory as well. He was big and strong, intelligent, and hard working. His father wanted him to be a mill operator here, but Hugh was headstrong and determined to make his living working the land in a new, pristine location.

            Henry McDonald, with his wife, Laura, and their son, Harry, eleven years old, also wanted a new start in a new place. Laura had lost three babies, here, and yearned for a less congested life, away from the active logging environment here in the heavy pine forests. Henry wanted to farm his own land like his father had done before they came to the Missouri logging camps from Kentucky.

            Jake Patton was one of five blacksmiths in the area. Jake was also an accomplished gunsmith. However, he was most often found working at shoeing the many teams of oxen used to pull the cut pine timber to the river for transport, down the Big Piney River, then down the Gasconade and the Missouri River to St. Louis. He and his wife, Kate, and their fifteen years old daughter, Victoria, had made the commitment to join this group in finding a new life over the mountain, where the streams flowed south, not north like they did here.

            The three men dressed in buckskins, axes hanging from their belts, and carrying their Kentucky long rifles, powder horns and pouches, strode down the path and now approached the Baldridge home. Susannah had come out to greet Robert, along with Sarah and David. She saw Henry and Jake behind Robert, but asked, “Where is young Truesdale? Is he alright?”

            “He volunteered to stay behind, to guard our properties and to begin cutting timber for housing for when we all get there! We found the place we were looking for. It is a virgin valley fed by three springs – one large one back up on the ridge to the north, and two smaller ones to the west across a great valley of excellent soil and healthy air. The larger stream is ideal for our mill. The middle stream will accommodate Jake’s needs as a blacksmith, and there is plenty of land for farming. Fish are abundant in the streams. We need to make the move now, before others discover it and compete for the best locations. They’ll be following, soon enough, I’m sure.”

             Laura and young Harry McDonald arrived to greet Henry. Kate and Victoria were not far behind to meet Jake. It was a happy reunion all around. As it was still late afternoon, the families soon were back at their own homes beginning final preparations for the move. The men had agreed as they walked the return path that they would try to get packed and start moving in five days. There was no time to lose.

[...to be continued... on December 7, 2012, with Part 2 of Story 1]

Note: Story 1, by William Leverne Smith, was originally published as a Short Story, "The Trek to the Homeplace" in the anthology: Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VII, 2011, published by the Ozarks Writers League (pp. 55-64).

"The Homeplace Series" continues...

"The Homeplace Series" continues...

Following the publication of "Back to the Homeplace" in 2010 and "The Homeplace Revisited" in 2011, I have taken what may appear to be a 'hiatus' from The Homeplace Series in 2012. This is partially true, and partially untrue. This post, November 1, 2012, is intended to share with you a bit of what has been going on as well as to introduce the beginning of a more active blog posting period leading to things to come in the series.

First, let me say an additional THANK YOU to the hundreds of people who have bought and read the first book, "Back to the Homeplace." For no more than I was able to do in the way of publicity, this was a remarkable achievement. It is still available in both trade paperback and ebook format - see the sidebars of this post. "The Homeplace Revisited" was marketed even less, and sold less - no surprise - but is also still available, and I hope interest in it will build with the renewed activity here and elsewhere.

I made substantial progress on the First Draft of the third in the trilogy, "The Homeplace Forever," set in 2006, put frequently was pulled away from it be a number of distractions - that I will not bore you with here. Let me just say that I will finish this book, but not in 2013, as I had hoped.

What were some of the distractions? Well, one thing was... being a family history buff, I kept writing in little stories about the history of this family starting back in 1833 when the Homeplace was first settled. I did a lot of research on the history of the region, for example. My characters were doing this research on their family, as well, of course, and I found myself getting more interested in the founding story, and perhaps in what happened during the Civil War on the Homeplace, for example, than I was in the story I was supposed to be telling in the recent past...

Next, several instances got me 'reinterested' in writing mystery stories... I had created a character, Penny Nixon, ... many of you have read the four blog posts about her writings (one, two, three, four). Well, I now have made substantial progress on First Draft of a mystery novel, "Murder by the Homeplace," with Penny as the central character in a story taking place in the Oak Springs valley just at the time the "Back to the Homeplace" book is ending, in the fall of 1987. Many main characters of the first book become supporting characters in the mystery story. More on this as we move forward... ;-)

Finally, starting tomorrow, Friday, November 2, 2012, I am beginning a series of Friday posts. I am committed to the first Friday of each month, for up to twelve months, likely longer. I hope to also have posts on some of the other Fridays, as well, as time goes by, and the 'muse moves me.' We will see how that goes. So, there you have it. The update and the look ahead. I look forward to your participation and to your comments - I so value them, here on the blog, on Facebook, or on Google+... perhaps even Squidoo - my most recent new writing platform (see this example).

*****

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

Bill ;-)

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - Bart Bevins Interview

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - Bart Bevins Interview

[Hi! I'm Penny Nixon. I am a reporter for the Oak Springs Enterprise. My dad, the editor, Dick Nixon, has encouraged me to write stories for the paper about my hometown, Oak Springs, MO, beginning in early 1987. This is the first of several interviews with local residents and visitors. These articles will appear in the weekly edition of the Oak Springs Enterprise. I hope you enjoy my stories.]

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Bart Bevins, the third of the four Bevins siblings involved in the estate settlement of their parents regarding their beloved "Homeplace" farm, located just east of the town of Oak Springs (recall that we talked to his older sisters, Karen and Beverly, earlier):

Penny: I recently talked to your two older sisters about coming back to Oak Springs because of the will of your mother. How do you feel about that?

Bart: I'm always glad to see my sisters and their families, of course. With regard to the will, I really don't know what to think, honestly. I really don't know why we've all been asked to 'commit to the farm for two years.' I've already committed myself for a lot longer than that. I don't know how much more I can do. We'll have to see what Phase 2 of the will says.

Penny: You don't sound very happy about it. 

Bart: The uncertainty is what I am unhappy about. I assumed I'd at least be able to keep farming this land for the family. Now, that is all up in the air. Not knowing what comes next - that is the hard part. I'm certainly not happy about that.

Penny: You really don't know what comes next, then?

Bart: Not a clue. I thought I had my Mom's confidence in the way I ran the farm. Now, even that is in question. Sorry, I can't say any more than that. Probably shouldn't be talking at all.

Penny: Thank you very much for talking to me, Bart. Perhaps we can talk, again, after you know more about the will.

Bart: Perhaps. We'll see.

Well, that was the interview. I hope you found it useful. Letters to the Editor are always welcome. Please be kind. Penny, out.

*********

These interviews lead up to the beginning chapter of "Back to the Homeplace." Have you read it yet? Available in sidebar links both in Kindle and Print Editions.

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - Beverly (Bevins) Gates Interview

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - Beverly (Bevins) Gates Interview

[Hi! I'm Penny Nixon. I am a reporter for the Oak Springs Enterprise. My dad, the editor, Dick Nixon, has encouraged me to write stories for the paper about my hometown, Oak Springs, MO, beginning in early 1987. This is the first of several interviews with local residents and visitors. These articles will appear in the weekly edition of the Oak Springs Enterprise. I hope you enjoy my stories.]

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Beverly Bevins Gates, the second of the four Bevins siblings involved in the estate settlement of their parents regarding their beloved "Homeplace" farm, located just east of the town of Oak Springs (recall that we talked to her older sister, Karen, earlier):

Penny: How would you describe the motivating factors that have brought you back to Oak Springs from Jackson, Mississippi, for a two year commitment to your parents' farm?

Beverly: You get right to the point, don't you, Penny? Well, I am thinking only of my children's inheritance. I have two young children, a boy and a girl, Scott and Heather, that deserve their share of the family inheritance. If we have to come back here for two years, that is what we have to do. 

Penny: You don't sound real convinced this is a good idea, even though you are here.

Beverly: You are right about that. My husband and I each have careers in Mississippi. We took a leave of absence, but it won't be the same, when we get back, even though it is supposed to be. It just doesn't seem right, to me, to have to make this kind of commitment, just to get an inheritance.

Penny: Thank you, Beverly, for talking to me about your decision. I hope we can talk, again, after you know more specifically what the will requires of you to qualify for that inheritance you seek for your children.

Beverly: Let's see what happens; then we'll see.

Well, that was the interview. I hope you found it useful. Letters to the Editor are always welcome. Please be kind. Penny, out.

*********

These interviews lead up to the beginning chapter of "Back to the Homeplace." Have you read it yet? Available in sidebar links both in Kindle and Print Editions.

Penny Nixon's 'My Hometown' - Karen (Bevins) Winslow Interview

Penny Nixon's 'My Hometown': 

Karen (Bevins) Winslow Interview

[Hi! I'm Penny Nixon. I am a reporter for the Oak Springs Enterprise. My dad, the editor, Dick Nixon, has encouraged me to write stories for the paper about my hometown, Oak Springs, MO, beginning in early 1987. This is the first of several interviews with local residents and visitors. These articles will appear in the weekly edition of the Oak Springs Enterprise. I hope you enjoy my stories.]

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Karen Bevins Winslow, the oldest of the four Bevins siblings involved in the estate settlement of their parents regarding their beloved "Homeplace" farm, located just east of the town of Oak Springs:

Penny: I understand that in coming to this upcoming meeting on your mother's will that you and your husband, Jason, have committed to devote the following two years to the farm. Is that correct?

Karen: Yes, that is correct. The terms of Phase I of the will provided to us last fall were very clear. We needed to make the commitment. Knowing how strongly our mother felt about this land, that has been in her family for over 150 years, we decided it was critical that we make this commitment.

Penny: What are you sacrificing by being here? It must be a lot, at your stage of life.

Karen: It may be a big sacrifice, or, it may be an even greater opportunity. We really do know now, at this time. None of us know what this Phase II will reading will involve, except that if we want to be a part of it, we had to make the commitment. We have made that commitment, and we will see what happens.

Penny: I understand both you and your husband have put your careers on hold, for now. Can you tell us a bit about what that means?

Karen: Yes. My husband, Jason, is a partner in a Financial Planning firm in Tucson. He has been for nearly 20 years. He has taken a leave-of-absence, and his partners will carry on. My career has been as a nurse. I have also taken a leave-of absence from my position there. Some of our friends, trying to be supportive, suggest it is much like those folks who accept a political appointment back in Washington, D.C., when a new president takes office. They take a leave-of-absence, find out how it goes, and make the next decisions as that time arrives. I suppose it is a reasonable comparison, but not nearly as sexy as a political position.

Penny: Do you still have children at home?

Karen: Oh, yes. Our youngest son, Kevin, is a senior in high school. We are already missing some of his basketball games. He has already been accepted at the University of Arizona, in the fall, but we do hate to miss those final high school activities of his.

Penny: You have three other children, as well? What do they think of your decision?

Karen: Yes. Matt, the oldest, is married and lives in Boston. Lori is a flight attendant out of Los Angeles, and Erin is in college at the University of Texas in Austin. They are each doing fine, on their own. They each say they support our decision. They see it as a bit of an adventure, actually.

Penny: Did I hear correctly that all three of your siblings came back, as well? Are you surprised at that?

Karen: I really cannot speak for them. Jason and I made our own decision to come back, based on our feelings and situation. I have to assume they each did the same. You'll have to ask them about their motivations.

Penny: Of course. I hope to do that. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me today.

Karen: No problem. I know people want to know about this will settlement. We'd like to keep it private, of course, but that just won't happen in a small town. Perhaps we'll talk again when we know more.

Penny: I'd like that. Thank you.

Well, that was the interview. I hope you found it useful. Letters to the Editor are always welcome. Please be kind. Penny, out.

*********

These interviews lead up to the beginning chapter of "Back to the Homeplace." Have you read it yet? Available in sidebar links both in Kindle and Print Editions.

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - What makes it special

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - What makes it special

[Hi! I'm Penny Nixon. I am a reporter for the Oak Springs Enterprise. My dad, the editor, Dick Nixon, has encouraged me to write stories for the paper about my hometown, Oak Springs, MO, beginning in early 1987. After I write a little about the town, I get to do some interviews with local residents and visitors. These articles will appear in the weekly edition of the Oak Springs Enterprise. I hope you enjoy my stories.]

Oak Springs in the home of Ozark Community College. With the opening of Ozark Community College a few years ago, a new way of life has opened up here in Oak Springs. Young people can stay in Oak Springs and go to college; they don't have to move away. After high school, there is now a place to study, play sports, do drama, write for the school paper and many of the other things we knew we would miss when we left high school. Now, we continue these activities in a new, higher education environment. 

With the community college we also got a McDonalds Restaurant. For a town our size, this is pretty special. We still like our local cafes, but having a McDonalds has become the new, 'in place' to eat and hang out with friends. The sports teams like to congregate her and talk over the game or the practice session. Everyone can come and feel a part of the team.

Well, those are my first thoughts. I hope you liked them. Letters to the Editor are always welcome. Please be kind. Penny, out.

****

Read "Back to the Homeplace" to learn more about life in Oak Springs, MO.

Just read Jan 2012 Sales Reports

Just read Jan 2012 Sales Reports

Thank you to all my readers who continue to buy both of my current fiction books in Print and Kindle Editions. It is very gratifying. If you just bought, and read, Back to the Homeplace, please come back and buy and read The Homeplace Revisited. I would love to hear from you, individually. To make it easy, and as a reminder, just click on either one you want that you don't currently have, to the left or to the right, in the sidebar!  ;-)

Happy Reading!  ;-)

Have you read "Back to the Homeplace"??

Have you read "Back to the Homeplace"??

Perhaps you should take a look at it; available in print or Kindle editions!


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

Download Homeplace Novels to your Kindle - Today

Download "Homeplace" Novels to your Kindle

Today

Now that you are becoming accustomed to the Kindle you got for Christmas, I hope you will take a few minutes to download one or both of my novels, today. Just click on the Amazon ads in the sidebars, and you have direct and complete access.

They are each good to read as you wait in a doctor's office or at the barber or beauty salon. I hope you enjoy the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.

 *********

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

Bill ;-)

Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year 2012! 

From the Bevins Family and The Homeplace

Join the fun and family in 2012, starting with "Back to the Homeplace" and "The  Homeplace Revisited." Click on the cover in the sidebar!  ;-)

Christmas Gift for the Author

Thank you to Larry and Annette! Neat!

 *********

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

Bill ;-)