The Founding of the Homeplace - Summer 1838 - Progress Report Part 3 of 5

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1838, Progress Report

Part 3 of 5

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on every other Friday during August and September. 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" and subsequent series stories, set in 1987 and 1996, to date. The underlying premise of this series is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

[See Story 1 (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4), Story 3 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), Story 4 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), and 1838 Progress Report (Part 1 and 2) earlier.] 

Characters in this series become actively involved in the study of their family history and snippets of that research appear, from time to time through the series (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.

Summer 1838, Progress Report

In this episode, we share "Part 3 of 5"

During the time the mill was being planned and constructed, Robert and Jake also continued to identify the location of various natural resources in the area that would be useful to the valley residents. Extractable bat guano in varying quantities was found in four caves, with smaller quantities in several smaller caves. Bat guano was valuable both as fertilizer and as a source of processed sodium nitrate for gunpowder. They had begun a modest mining operation during the second year in the valley and that had continued, as other responsibilities allowed. Jake was familiar with the process necessary to extract sodium nitrate from the guano for use in making gunpowder.

Two caves were identified with sufficient quality and quantity of saltpeter for making gunpowder, as well. Saltpeter, also known as niter, is potassium (or sodium) nitrate. When it is combined and ground together with charcoal and sulfur (when available), correctly and in just the right quantities, it produces black gunpowder. Sulfur lowers the temperature required to ignite the mixture, increasing the rate of combustion. Without sulfur, the powder is not as strong, and is somewhat dirtier. This requires more frequent cleaning of the barrel of the gun. Elemental sulfur was available at the salt lick they found near the central stream, downriver from Jake’s blacksmith shop.

Saltpeter earth, often called “peter dirt,” was mined from the caves. The peter dirt was placed in wooden vats or hoppers. Water was poured on top of the dirt. As the water seeped down through the dirt, it collected (leached) nitrates. The nitrate-rich water dripped into a trough at the bottom of the hopper, which drained into a large kettle. This liquid was then heated, and the water boiled away, leaving small, white, needle-like crystals of saltpeter in the bottom of the kettles.

Small quantities of low grade lead, iron and copper ore were also identified but no effort had yet been devoted to any extraction operations for them.

[...to be continued... on Sep 6, 2013, with Part 4 of Summer 1838 Progress Report]

"Dear Readers" - please read; Thanks!

Dear Readers,

In recent months, your numbers have ranged from 50 to 150 or so for each of these blog posts. 

I thank you for your loyalty.

I do not know who most of you are, of course, and that is fine; therefore, this note to each of you.

I am requesting your help and assistance here, if you can.

1. If you have read any of the first three books (Back, Revisited, Murder) in The Homeplace Series, and have not written and published a 'review' - I'd still encourage you to do so. I'd love to have it for my use, even if you don't want to publish it yourself. [If you have not read them, I still hope you will!]

2. I'll be publishing a new novel, "Christmas at the Homeplace," sometime in October. If you would consider reading an Advanced Reader Copy and writing a review, I'd really like to hear from you now. Just send a note to: billsmith2003 at gmail.com.

3. Late in October, I'll be doing a Virtual Book Tour for the 'Christmas' book. If you have a blog, and have any interest in participating, please let me know so I can include you on the invitation list.

Thank you, so much, for reading what I write. You are much appreciated! ;-)

Wiki Wednesday - Oak Creek Mill and Paul Gates family

Wiki Wednesday - Oak Creek Mill and Paul Gates family

Monday we began our discussion of the Oak Creek Mill and Mill Market with an excerpt from the 1996 novel, "The Homeplace Revisited."

We learned that Paul Gates had been primarily responsible, during the preceding nine years, for restoring the Mill and making it a leading tourism attraction in the area.

In "Back to the Homeplace" we had learned the initial problems that Paul, and his wife, Beverly Bevins, had when they came "Back to the Homeplace." In "The Homeplace Revisited" we see the results of their resolutions of their problems, for each of them, and their children, Scott and Heather, as well as his daughter, Sheila.

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

Bill  ;-)

Echoes of the Ozarks - published short story

Echoes of the Ozarks

published short story

Happy to have received today, the hard copy of Volume VIII, Echoes of the Ozarks, an anthology of short stories by writers of the Ozarks Writers League (OWL), in which one of my Founding short stories appears. Always nice to actually see it in print with those of other admired authors.

The story, "First plantings," has appeared here in slightly edited form (especially the lead paragraph) earlier this year. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Bill  ;-)

Cross posted on Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar blog.

Hometown Monday - Oak Creek Mill

Hometown Monday

Oak Creek Mill

This is the fifth of an expected irregular series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Series" Family Saga story-telling, to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Series." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well.

Today, our excerpt is from 1996 when young lawyer, Christopher Ogden, to gather information for a Ten-Year Report for the Bevins Trust, visits Paul Gates at the Oak Creek Mill and Mill Market (learn more on Wiki Wednesday, as well): 

An excerpt from "The Homeplace Revisited" from Monday, August 19, 1996:

“I have really been impressed how you have developed this mill site, Paul. A family can easily spend a half-day or even a full day, right here on site.” Christopher arrived mid-morning and there were nine or ten cars, vans and trucks in the parking area. The mill site on the Bevins Trust Homeplace property had been developed slowly, but steadily since the spring of 1987, a little over nine years ago. Paul Gates saw the old mill and the surrounding ponds, ridge and forest as a wonderful opportunity for his engineering and people skills. His ex-wife, the former Beverly Bevins, was only interested in receiving an inheritance for her and her children with Paul, Scott and Heather. After initially returning back to the Homeplace, Beverly found herself unable to cope with the farm environment, which had been a psychological problem for her throughout her adult lifetime. 

Beverly had left Oak Springs for Jackson, MS, right out of high school. Her relatively few visits back to the farm had been contentious times; she hated being there, physically, but did not want to jeopardize what she felt strongly would be an eventual inheritance from the work of her parents and their forbearers. She had eventually married Paul and appeared to have ‘settled down.’ When the will required Beverly and her family to return to live at the farm for two years to qualify for an inheritance, she initially was violently opposed to it, wanting to ‘break the will.’ Once she realized this was not going to happen, she did her best (though it was not very good) to meet the requirements. 

Beverly’s husband, Paul, and their children, Scott, now 19, and Heather, now 14, had fallen in love with the rural setting, the mill and surrounding environment, and the nearby town of Oak Springs in the southern Missouri Ozark hills. They soon considered it home and each pitched in to help however they could. Beverly had returned to Jackson, MS, and was surprisingly cooperative with Paul and the Bevins Trust attorneys, primarily Carter Ogden, in working out a divorce settlement, child custody, and support arrangements. Paul and the children had been able to settle in, work hard and contribute to the family businesses within the Trust.

“Yes, it has been a labor of love, Christopher, there is no doubt about that. I am amazed, as well, how far we have been able to come and what a wide and loyal audience and clientele we have been able to develop. We‘ve had tremendous support and cooperation from our extended family and many, many other people in the community, as well, to get where we are today.” Paul was standing in the retail “Mill Market” set up in half of the lower floor of the two-floor Mill. Most of the products on display Christopher recognized as consignment items from other farmers and crafters in the area rather than purchased stock.

“You’ve used the mill as the draw, but it is the other ancillary activities that really create the memorable experience, that makes people want to come back, correct?” Christopher was looking at the well-placed signs around the room pointing out some of the other activities that various family members might want to do after they had seen the mill and visited the Mill Market.

“We hope they will see the mill, yes, and visit the Mill Market, but we want to have a number of activities to extend their stay, that is correct. If they stay and do more activities, whether at one of the ponds, along the nature trails, in the orchard, or bird-watching, they will likely come back in to the restrooms in the back of the Mill Market, and possibly pick up some more snacks or souvenirs.  And, the more variety of experiences, the more memories; and the more likely they will return for another visit.” Paul was always pleased to talk about the experiences visitors had at the mill. “And, as you know, we have seasonal activities well posted, on our web site, and in the brochures we hand out liberally, so they all know why they should come back next week or in a few weeks.”

“You are a real leader in having a web site, Paul. Do you think it is making a difference?” Christopher knew that Internet access issues were being discussed in Chamber of Commerce meetings. Many local businesses were very reluctant to take on the additional costs that would be required for each of them to have a web site. There were probably less than ten businesses in the whole area that had taken the plunge, so far.

“Yes. We are bringing in business, especially among college folks up in Rolla, from Springfield, and from the St. Louis area; even an increasing number from Arkansas. Not a lot yet, but I see it growing every week. I try to ask a good sample of our guests, every week, how they heard about us. More and more guests are mentioning the web site. And, those tend to be guests who are spending more money here, as well. I wouldn’t want to do without it! I feel there is strong growth potential to draw in more guests from further away.” 

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

Bill  ;-)

Summer 1838, Progress Report, Part 2 of 5

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1838, Progress Report

Part 2 of 5

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on every other Friday during August and September. 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" and subsequent series stories, set in 1987 and 1996, to date. The underlying premise of this series is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

[See Story 1 (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4), Story 3 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), Story 4 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), and 1838 Progress Report (Part 1) earlier.] 

Characters in this series become actively involved in the study of their family history and snippets of that research appear, from time to time through the series (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.

Summer 1838, Progress Report

In this episode, we share "Part 2 of 5"

           From the second year in the valley, Henry and Harry McDonald had established a regular bi-monthly ‘freight trip’ back over the mountains to the northwest to the lumber camps region to exchange hides and extra produce for basic supplies, staples, and general goods supplied through the general store. It started as a small operation, as planned, but had grown as the number of residents in the valley had increased. As that second year passed by, the trail was continued to be widened so that four-wheel wagons could easily navigate the entire trail, essentially becoming a poor grade road, allowing more freight and people to move each way.

          The Baldridges had gotten their mill in full operation for the second season of crops, in 1834. They had proceeded slowly and methodically. Robert had examined the area very carefully, usually with his son, David, and often accompanied by Jake Patton, as well. They wanted to assure the best location for the mill taking into account the water flow, the rock formations, and the stability of the soil and the rocks in the area. They initially were able to construct a large stone foundation on the valley side of the pool at the base of the falls. For the gristmill, the single story millhouse was constructed of hand-hewn posts and beams, from the trunks of carefully selected tall pine and oak trees. Owen Olson was able to contribute much labor to this effort. They constructed the wooden waterwheel on a horizontal axis. It was fed by a well-conceived millrace system from the top of the falls. Robert could vary the waterpower to the waterwheel via a series of gates on the millrace. With just two buhr stones, this mill could produce corn meal or whole-wheat flour from wheat. More complex milling would wait until later. 

          From time to time, Robert had made several trips back over to the lumber camps to acquire and bring back the various materials and manufactured parts that were required for the mill construction. Often times, Jake used his blacksmithing skills to adapt materials obtained to the specific needs of this new mill operation. After the gristmill was completed, they immediately moved ahead to construct a sawmill in front, powered by the same waterwheel, making optimum use of the power generated by the falling water on the waterwheel through use of necessary belts and gears. While continuing as an apprentice to Jake, Owen also contributed to the construction and operation of the mill, as needed. Cooperation among the families of the valley was a hallmark of the success they enjoyed.

[...to be continued... on Aug 30, 2013, with Part 3 of Summer 1838 Progress Report]

Wiki Wednesday - Oak Springs Bank - Flanders/Campbell family business

Wiki Wednesday

Oak Springs Bank

Flanders/Campbell family business

On Hometown Monday, we introduced Oak Springs Bank related characters Harry Flanders (1987, 96 era) and Victor Campbell (mid-1800s era). Today, we want you to visit the Wiki entry for the Bank to see how they are related.

Here you will learn the history of the bank through some summary information, part of which was developed from the 'research' for the Founding of the Homeplace set of short stories.

You also read about other family members (Lisa and Doug) who are intimately involved in the first to books in the series (time-wise): "Back to the Homeplace" and "Murder by the Homeplace." I hope you will read these two books to learn more details of these stories and characters in this setting.

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

Bill  ;-)

Hometown Monday - Oak Springs Bank - The Flanders/Campbell Family

Hometown Monday

Oak Springs Bank

The Flanders/Campbell Family

This is the fifth of an expected irregular series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Series" Family Saga story-telling, to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Series." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well.

Today, we will introduce two supporting characters, Harry Flanders and Victor Campbell. This post today, along with the companion post on Wednesday, serve to demonstrate how characters, and families, carry through from the Founding to the Present as "The Homeplace Series" continues.

1) Harry Flanders was introduced in "Back to the Homeplace" as the town banker, but we also learned how long a history he had with the Bevins family members on a personal basis. (You will see on Wednesday, at the Wiki, how Harry is related to the Campbell banking family.)

The following excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" is from Friday, May 8, 1987:

The aisles of the Wal-Mart were full of shoppers getting ready for the weekend just like she was. Karen guided her cart toward the beverage display. Jason needed his Diet Coke, she noted from her shopping list.  Of course, I'll drink it too, but calling it his makes him feel good. It was a running joke for how many years? Whether we are living in Missouri or Arizona makes little difference, does it. Life goes on. For all the big events we focus on, it is really all the little things in life that make it worthwhile, she reminded herself.

"See you are stocking up for the long week-end, too, Karen." Harry Flanders was standing not three feet away, filling his cart with Diet Coke, also. They shared a laugh.

"I didn't even see you, Harry. I must have been in dreamland somewhere."

"We're all entitled once in a while."

"You doing the shopping while Sarah helps Lisa with wedding preparations?"

Harry chuckled, "She is still doing plenty of shopping, thank you! My girth may not look like it, but I do prefer my Diet Coke. Sarah will get three bottles and complain it weighs too much. I come in and get eight or ten for a long weekend. I don't want to run out!"

Karen nodded her understanding. "Seriously, how are the wedding plans progressing?"

"Quite well, really…  about a month to go now. I even think Doug will show up, finally. He has been so nervous since he got to Oak Springs. Last night, he came over to the house and talked about the arrangements for over an hour. A pleasant and welcome development."

"As I recall, you were pretty nervous before you and Sarah tied the knot, too."

"That was a long time ago." Harry sighed, letting his guard down just a little. "You were part of those long ago times, too, weren't you?"

"Clear back to the one-room country school house, Harry. Remember Oak Creek School #4? Our biggest concern was what our mothers had put in our lunch boxes."

"And who would pitch first in the ball game after lunch." Harry's normally stern face softened as he recalled long hidden memories. "I never wanted to admit you were a better pitcher than I was."

"Do I actually hear you admitting it now, Harry Flanders. After forty some years, finally, a full confession!"

Karen's face flushed. She realized her voice had risen. Several people nearby had turned to listen to this "confession" being made by the banker in the beverage aisle.

"Yes. I confess that you could pitch a baseball better than I could when we were ten years old. I was better by the time we were twelve, but, at ten, you were better." He chuckled out loud at the image.

"You could put that ball right over the pasture patty we used as a home plate every time."

"You never slid into home plate, either, as I recall," Karen grinned. "What carefree days. Our kids did miss out on a few things growing up in towns and city schools."

"Thanks for the memories, Karen. I'll try to keep this wedding, and the rest of life, in perspective. When I get too serious, I can recall those ball games in the pasture next to Oak Creek School #4 and smile."  

"Will we see you at Graduation at the High School next week?"

"I'll be there. It is always a joy to see all those fresh faces going out into the world. Wouldn't miss it."

2) The Campbell Family was the first to settle in the Oak Creek Valley after the initial settlers, arriving in 1836 following the initial 1833 settlers. See the information in the Wiki, on Wednesday, to see the connections through the years.

The following excerpt is from the "Summer 1843 Progress Report" Short Story:

"Victor Campbell, along with his wife, Camilla, and their two teenage sons, Ralph and Delbert, had settled on 160 acres along the Western Branch creek below the ridge line in 1836.  All three men were experienced with working with mules in their agricultural pursuits. They brought a total of seven mules with them along with a herd of six beef cattle."

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

Bill  ;-)

Wiki Wednesday - Oak Springs Realty - the Inman Family

Wiki Wednesday

Oak Springs Realty

The Inman Family

Origins of the firm

  

Neither Oak Springs Realty nor the Inman family are particularly central characters in The Homeplace Series. But, they serve as great examples of the necessary supporting 'characters' that bring family saga stories to life. We began this story with our Hometown Monday post.

We first met Travis Inman in 1996 in our second novel, "The Homplace Revisited," as a soldier serving a National Guard active duty tour in Bosnia, as the husband of the sister of a main character. Currently, his return to Oak Springs following his year in Bosnia, when his youngest daughter was born - he had yet to see her -  plays a key role in the forthcoming "Christmas at the Homeplace."

Virginia Hollingsworth was introduced in "Back to the Homeplace" as a neighbor and close friend of the deceased family matriarch whose video will is at the heart of the central story of this novel. Late in the novel she is disclosed to be playing an even more important role in the story. It "turns out," as more history of the community is disclosed, that Virginia's maidens name was Inman - she was a great-aunt of Travis Inman.

See Oak Springs Realty on the Wiki to see the history of the firm in Oak Springs and where Travis and Virginia each fit in the family line.

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

Bill  ;-)

Hometown Monday - Oak Springs Realty - the Inman Family

Hometown Monday

Oak Springs Realty

The Inman Family

This is the fourth of an expected irregular series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Series" Family Saga story-telling, to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Series." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well.

Today, we will introduce what began as two minor, supporting characters. This post today, along with the companion post on Wednesday, serve to demonstrate how characters, and families, tend to grow as The Homepalce Series grows.

1) We first met Travis Inman in 1996 in our second novel, "The Homplace Revisited," as a soldier serving a National Guard active duty tour in Bosnia, as the husband of the sister of a main character. In the forthcoming "Christmas at the Homeplace," his return to Oak Springs following his year in Bosnia, during which time his youngest daughter was born - he has yet to see her -  plays a key role.

The following excerpt from "The Homeplace Revisted" is from Sunday, September 1, 1996, Chapter 19:

"Nicole’s sister Laura’s husband, Travis Inman, was part of the U.S. Army contingent of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His presence, however, was very strong in this home with multiple photos of him, in uniform and with his family, throughout the house. In talking about Travis, they all expressed hope that his unit would return stateside before the year-end holidays, if they did not get extended.

Six-month old Kayla, who Travis had not yet seen in person, kept Laura fully occupied. Twenty-eight month old Zach, on the other hand, had been looking forward to Nicole’s arrival enthusiastically. They had hardly arrived and Zach wanted her to go with him to his room to show her something or other. Not wanting to interfere with Zach’s excitement on seeing Nicole, Christopher decided he should go out on the Patio and check out the burgers with Jack and some man-talk."

2) Virginia Hollingsworth was introduced in "Back to the Homeplace" as a neighbor and close friend of the deceased family matriarch whose video will is at the heart of the central story of this novel. Late in the novel she is disclosed to be playing an even more important role in the story.

The following excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" is from Monday, March 2, 1987, Chapter 6:

"Their neighbor was in her garden near the road. Diane moved Marilyn in that direction.

"Hi, Virginia. Beautiful day isn't it." Diane dismounted and walked toward her friend. Jennifer watched as Virginia Hollingsworth left her spading fork stuck upright in the freshly turned soil and moved to greet Diane. A seventy-year old woman really shouldn't be turning soil by hand, she thought, but Virginia had done it every spring that Jennifer could remember. It must be all right for her. Hard work had been her life, and she appeared to thrive on it.

Virginia was wearing a straw hat held on by a paisley scarf, tied under her chin, and her usual gardening outfit. It was the same every year, the cotton skirt and yellow sweater, too, Jennifer noted. Does she have several or does she wash them a lot? They were always neat and clean. But they were always the same.

What a contrast, Jennifer noted, between her mother and the older woman in the garden. A dedicated schoolteacher, her mother never had a garden. The horseback rides were about the only nonschool-related activities her mother indulged in. Gardening seemed part of the housewife role, Jennifer thought, not part of the working career life of her mother.

Diane looked like a career schoolteacher, too. Of medium height and well proportioned, she wore her blond hair short. Her blue eyes sparkled with intelligence. Jennifer had been very disappointed she had not been allowed to enroll in her mother's English classes. A shame it was, too, because Diane had a reputation as an excellent teacher.

Diane was back on Marilyn and returning to the road. Jennifer waved a goodbye and pulled alongside Diane again. "You ever wish you had time to garden, Mom?"

"Not really, to be honest… too much exposure to dirt and the elements. I hate bugs. I prefer the air-conditioned classroom, thank you!" With a laugh, Diane slapped Marilyn into a quicker pace up the road."

*****

It "turns out," as more history of the community is disclosed, that Virginia's maiden name was Inman - she was a great-aunt of Travis Inman.

See the our next post, Wiki Wednesday, when we look at Oak Springs Realty on our developmental Wiki page - and see a history of the firm and the family that has owned it through the years in Oak Springs. 

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

Bill  ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace: Summer 1838, Progress Report Part 1 of 5

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1838, Progress Report

Part 1 of 5

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on every other Friday of during August and September. 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" and subsequent series stories, set in 1987 and 1996, to date. The underlying premise of this series is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

[See Story 1 (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4), Story 3 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), and Story 4 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4) earlier.] 

Characters in this series become actively involved in the study of their family history and snippets of that research appear, from time to time through the series (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.

Summer 1838, Progress Report

In this episode, we share "Part 1 of 5"

Laura McDonald gave birth to a boy on July 18, 1838, sixteen years, to the month, after the birth of her first son, Harry.  This was a cause of cautious optimism among their family, friends and neighbors across the Oak Springs valley. This was her third pregnancy since arriving in the valley, and the first to go full term. Laura and her husband, Henry, named the boy Daniel. 

Life on the farm had been good, as hard as it was. Each year since they had arrived was better than the year before. They had survived snow in the winter and hot spells in the summer. But, the crops in virgin soil had been thriving for the McDonald family. 

Henry and Harry gave first priority on their time to their crops and the animals they depended upon for tilling the soil and agricultural pursuits. In their second year, they found that they could spare the time, and benefit from making regular freight runs over to the lumber camps and back, benefiting the other valley residents as well as themselves. Although still a teenager, Harry developed a special interest in caring for their animals and looked to adding to their number.

The Truesdales, Hugh and Victoria, had given birth to a daughter, Jane, the year before. The Olson’s had added two children to the population, a boy, four-year-old Liam, and a girl, one-year-old Allison. The population of the valley had also increased with five additional families arriving, each settling in the western part of the valley, three along the western stream (Campbell, Rhodes, King) and two along the center stream (Bartlett and Dodson), above, north of the Patton’s place.

Hugh Truesdale also put a priority on developing and adding to his agricultural pursuits. He was pleased to help with construction on the mill because that would help make his crops more valuable. 

Jake and Kate Patton had been able to follow their original planning fairly closely. Jake now had his blacksmith shop and gunsmith business in full operation. He had built an addition onto the Blacksmith Shop for his gunsmith business where Jake specialized in three models. The first one used a .38 caliber ball and had a 34 inch-barrel. It weighed 17 pounds. The second was the common Kentucky flintlock, .45 caliber ball, with a 44-inch barrel. The third was the newest model, a .32 caliber percussion squirrel rifle that only weighed 9 pounds.

Nearby, to the east of the Blacksmith Shop, they built a small General Store building that was Kate’s pride and joy. Her daughter, Victoria Truesdale, enjoyed helping out in the store as well. In the summer of 1837, Jake and Kate also officially purchased the 320 acres directly north of the Shop and Store. They had been keeping their horses there, in the pasture area just north of the woods, but they had now made it official. At this early date, Jake was thinking ahead to the future developments in the valley. The north edge of this new land fell along the road from the west and also ran along the south edge of his property that Hugh Truesdalae farmed as well as the south edge of the McDonald land. Jake could already envision a town being built on the ground north from their General Store, perhaps even someday reaching that east-west road. He could see, perhaps, the main street running from the front of the General Store straight north to the main road. The freight wagons were already using that path. It was a natural path, it seemed, that followed the natural contours and gently rolling landscape.

[...to be continued... on Aug 16, 2013, with Part 2 of Summer 1838 Progress Report]