Hometown Monday - K is for Karen, Kayla, Kevin, and Kim

Hometown Monday - K is for Karen, Kayla, Kevin, and Kim

We are continuing this series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Saga" family story-telling, with a new twist. We have adopted a format from the: "Blogging From A to Z Challenge." Each week we will share a published except related to a person whose name begins with that letter. 

This series of posts is to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Saga." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well. [Links in the text, below, provide more information on that person or entity]

Today we look at names beginning with the letter J - our most numerous first letter given name.

For K, we have (with one long excerpt, below):

Karen (Bevins) Winslow - major character, she opens "Christmas at the Homeplace," see below.

Kayla Inman - daughter of Travis and Laura Inman - he has not yet seen her in person, as "Christmas at the Homeplace" story begins...

Kevin Winslow -  youngest son of Karen - see excerpt, below

Kim Stone - Niece of Christopher Ogden

Today, we start using excerpts from our latest novel, "Christmas at the Homeplace," which was just released on Friday, October 25, 2013, now available at Amazon.com… for Christmas purchases:

[Click to go to Amazon page]

This excerpt is the opening of Chapter One from "Christmas at the Homeplace" is from Tuesday, October 22, 1996:

“My primary goal, right now, is to finally have all four of my children here, together, at once, for Christmas this year, 1996, for the first time since the funeral of their father in the summer of 1993.” Karen Bevins Winslow realized, as soon as she spoke the words, that she was speaking as much to herself as to her good friend and neighbor, Virginia Hollingsworth. 

They had returned to Karen’s Homeplace Country Inn apartment following the all-day October meeting of the Bevins Trust. This had been Virginia’s last meeting as a trustee having retired after serving all ten years of the existence of the trust set up after the death of Karen’s mother, Mildred McDonald Bevins.  Virginia had been a life-long friend of Mildred and a nearby country neighbor, as well. 

Virginia, thinking her friend Karen would mention something relating to her new role as Chair of the Bevins Trust Board of Trustees, had asked what was next in her life. So, after a moment of hesitation, she smiled and replied, “Good for you. I certainly hope and assume that goal will be met. Kevin did say he was coming, didn’t he?”

“Yes he did,” Karen responded, sitting her teacup down. “But he is so dedicated to that research project of his, I am still worried that something will happen to keep him in Tucson.” Since she and Jason had moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Oak Springs, Missouri, in 1987, their youngest son, Kevin, had finished high school, graduated from the University of Arizona and earned his PhD in Optical Sciences there. 

He was now a Research Scientist working on an important government-funded research project in Tucson in a university-related research lab. “I just must have faith, and keep in regular touch with him so that he does not get too involved at work, again, to keep him away this time.”

“I’m sure Matt and the girls will help you, as well.” Virginia wanted to be supportive, but also didn’t like to see Karen putting the entire onus on herself for this goal she had set. Sitting at the kitchen table in the apartment, they continued to talk about the plans Karen was making.

Matt was Karen’s oldest son, now 34, and Kevin her youngest at 26. The girls, Lori, 32, and Erin, 29, had come to her and Jason in between the two boys. Matt and his wife, Susie, had moved to Oak Springs from the Boston area earlier this year, in time to get their son, Tyler, enrolled in first grade. Tyler’s little sister was three-year-old Emily.

Virginia asked Karen, “Have you talked to either of your girls, lately?”

“I talk to Lori about every week or ten days, depending on her flight schedules. She knows I like to know where she is.” Lori became an airline flight attendant right out of college. Based in Los Angeles, her flights took her just about anywhere her airline flew. “It’s been a couple of weeks since I talked to Erin, actually… I should give her a call, get the latest on her pregnancy.” Mark and Erin now lived in Austin, Texas. 

“You were pretty excited when you got that news, I recall,” Virginia teased. “When they arrived for their Labor Day visit and Erin shared her news, I thought you were going to fly away on the wings of happiness, young lady!”

Karen beamed. “Yes, I suppose I might have. I knew how happy she and Mark were, and that made her 62-year-old mother very happy as well. Being a grandmother for the third time is still pretty special, at least to this one. The one sad note, of course, is that Jason isn’t here to enjoy it as well. He was so pleased to be a Grandpa when Tyler arrived. He was gone a few months before Emily joined us, of course.”

Jason Winslow had died in a car crash returning from Jefferson City on company business in early June of 1993. Emily was born late in September of that year.

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

Bill  ;-)

"Look Inside" now available at Amazon for Christmas novel

"Look Inside" now available at Amazon for Christmas novel

"Look Inside" option now available for "Christmas at the Homeplace" - just click on cover, above.

Also, Print edition and Kindle edition now linked. Kindle price is discounted if you also purchase a print copy. Aren't they generous! 

A number of folks have asked about getting all four books in "The Homeplace Saga" series - this is something to consider, perhaps.

Be sure to see the three novel video Book Trailers, in the right side bar - scroll down! 

"May we each have a Homeplace, if only in our minds!"

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Hometown Monday - We have a lot of persons for J

Hometown Monday - We have a lot of persons for J

We are continuing this series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Saga" family story-telling, with a new twist. We have adopted a format from the: "Blogging From A to Z Challenge." Each week we will share a published except related to a person whose name begins with that letter. 

This series of posts is to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Saga." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well. [Links in the text, below, provide more information on that person or entity]

Today we look at names beginning with the letter J - our most numerous first letter given name.

For J, we have (with one long excerpt, below):

Jack Evans - insurance agent; wife of Mona, father of Laura and Nicole; son of Doc

Jacob Howell - city manager in 1996

Jason Winslow - deceased in 1996; leading character in Back to the Homeplace; husband of Karen (Bevins) Winslow

Jennifer Bevins - local veterinarian by the summer of 1996 (in high school in 1987)

Jill Urich - wife of Danny, the McDonald's manager - in MBTHP, 1987

Joan - secretary in Ogden Law firm

Joe McDonald - deceased; father of Mildred (McDonal) Bevins in 1987

Jonathan Offutt - younger brother of Rhoda - Oak Creek Outfitters founder - first appears in Christmas novel

Josh - ISP technician team leader in 1996

Judy Watson - Librarian as the Public Library - introduced in Fall 1987 in MBTHP, as friend of Penny Nixon

Julie Barnes - Activities Director, Big Thunder Lodge - in summer and fall of 1996

Today, we start using excerpts from the forthcoming novel, "Christmas at the Homeplace," which will release on Friday, October 25, 2013, and be available at Amazon.com… for Christmas purchases:

The Judy Watson excerpt from "Christmas at the Homeplace" is from Chapter 6,  Saturday, August 24, 1996:

Brian Kirk and Jennifer Bevins were sharing another afternoon at the Oak Springs Public Library. This week, they had volunteered to work with Judy Watson, the Librarian, on some local history collections materials that had been received but not yet properly documented and stored for use by the public.

“It is hard not to read every piece of paper we come across,” Jennifer said to Judy, as Judy laid two stacks of paper on the table in front of them.

“I totally agree, Jennifer. That is partially why I’ve not done more with them, myself. I’d want to stop and read each one from beginning to end.” Judy paused and took a deep breath, then continued. “I really wish more folks would come and spend some time doing what you have volunteered to do here today. If they did, before you know it, we’d have a much more complete, and useful, local history section here at the library.”

“Have you asked folks to help out, Judy?” Brian wanted to be supportive.

“I’m sure not often enough… and probably not the right people, I must admit, Brian. We just have so many needs around the library.” As she spoke, Judy noticed her friend, Rhoda Offutt, sit down at another table, nearby. “Do you two know Rhoda Offutt? She is a retired school teacher who is also very interested in researching her family history.”

Jennifer replied, “No, but I do recognize her from seeing her around town.”

“Do you mind if I invite her over and introduce you?”

“No, that would be wonderful.” Jennifer watched as Judy approached Rhoda, and they both returned to the table where Brian and Jennifer were sitting. Brian rose to shake Rhoda’s hand as they were introduced. Jennifer did likewise.

The four new friends quickly found they had a number of common interests and concerns centered on doing family and local history research, and began to talk about others they knew with common interests. Rhoda mentioned that she had regularly worked some with Harry Flanders, at the bank, and his wife, Sarah, since they did have some ancestors in common. Rhoda shared that they each descended from the Campbell family in the west valley. Victor Campbell’s family had settled there in 1836, just a few years after the McDonald’s and the first settlers arrive in the east and central valley. This news led to more discussion of common and different information each of them found most interesting.

Brian was the first to raise the question of whether Oak Springs had ever had a local historical or genealogical society. Judy and Rhoda each shared what they knew about efforts to form such a group back in earlier times such as the town’s centennial. They seemed to agree that the idea never caught on with enough people for a lasting organization to take hold. That led, of course, to the question, “what about now?”

Springing from the interests they each were expressing, and noticing the spread of ages and interests among themselves, they began to talk about others, young, middle aged, and older who might now become interested if their interests were shared and they took a leading role. Judy said she would certainly support their efforts, as librarian, but could not take too active a role, personally. They then talked a bit about how each person that might get involved with such a project would have to realize part of their efforts would need to go to the ‘common good’ while part of their efforts would continue to be on their individual interests. 

They soon realized they were writing down notes of organizational priorities and other persons in the community to invite to join them. They also agreed they would want to involve the newspaper, the Oak Springs Enterprise in some way. Judy was quick to say she would be happen to connect them with her long-time friend, Penny Nixon, now Associate Editor of the paper. She was sure Penny would be happy to help out in such a community project.

Dividing up responsibilities, Rhoda agreed to make a list of others she knew, from her past work, that might like to be part of their initial planning. Brian agreed to apply his legal background to some research on similar organizations and what others were doing around the region and the country. Judy agreed to contact Penny and get her with Jennifer to talk about generating some publicity – about whatever it was they were agreeing to initiate. They decided to meet at the library in a week, to invite others who might be interested, and see where these ideas might take them.

Jennifer and Brian then tried to get back to sorting and labeling the stack of paper before them, but after about an hour they gave up. They realized all they were really getting done was talking about the new local history and genealogical society they were going to form. Their volunteer task would wait for another day.

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

Bill  ;-)

Fourth Sunday, August 1843

Fourth Sunday, August 1843

[Thomas Cole's "The Picnic," 1856, Wikimedia Commons]

Looking back...

The "Fourth Sunday" tradition, begun over 10 years earlier here in the Oak Creek valley, of what is not officially Oak Creek Township, continued in August 1843. This special social event, where all are encouraged, and perhaps even 'expected' to come is held south of the General Store, in the community building built in 1841, and in the nearby pasture of Jake Patton's place - at his request and encouragement. Everyone shared in a noon-time community 'pot-luck' meal - choosing to sit with new neighbors or old friends. A few announcements are usually made before, during, or after the meal (sometimes, all three) - before people start scattering into, generally, three groups… the men, the women, and the young folks…for afternoon social conversation and social activities of all kinds.

One special event on this particular Sunday was the introduction to the community of Caroline McDonald born to Harry and Sarah (Baldridge) McDonald on the 2nd of August earlier in the month. It was her first trip away from home. Harry and Sarah had married in June a year earlier.

Caroline had been the second child born in the east valley this summer. On June 15, Lewis Truesdale had been born to Hugh and Victoria Truesdale. 

A young couple that were especially interested in the babies seemed to be Ralph Campbell and Sally Rhodes. Ralph had only recently moved to the central valley from his west valley parent's home to work full time for the Oak Creek Mule Breeders partnership of Hugh Truesdale, Victor Campbell and Jake Patton (that began with conversations at Fourth Sunday gatherings a few years ago). Sally had come to town earlier this summer to work at the Patton Hotel, where Ralph was now living. They had known each other for years, and were now talking of getting married sometime next year (when they would be more 'mature'). 

Part of "The Homeplace Saga" series of historical fiction family saga stories

Surname Saturday - Truesdale, part 1

Surname Saturday - TRUESDALE, part 1

[Source: Currier & Ives, "Summer landscape, c1869"; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002695754; accessed 17 Mar 2013)]

Today we take a further look at the five "founding families" of Oak Creek Township, who first settled the valley in 1833. Hugh Truesdale was the youngest adult and married Victoria Patton in Sept 1833. Note that this report is "part 1" and is incomplete - reporting generally to about the early 1870s. Let's look at what we have. We do not currently report on Hugh's parents, though a little is known about them.

Hugh Truesdale (b. 1812) married Victoria Patton (b. 1818) in Oak Creek Township, the first marriage there.

Hugh and Victoria were the parents of three children:

1. Jane Truesdale, b. 1837

2. Lewis Truesdale, b. 15 Jun 1843

3. Nellie Truesdale, b. 1850

Jane Truesdale married Daniel McDonald (b. 1838) and they had one son, William (b. 31 Jan 1864)

Lewis Truesdale married Caroline McDonald (b. 2 Aug 1843). They had two children, a son, James (Jimmie), b. 5 Feb 1866, and a daughter, Myrtle (b. 25 Feb 1868)

Nellie had not married at the end of our current reporting period. At that time, she was a school teacher in Oak Springs.

****

A note for the future. It is known that the Truesdale women were strong women, leaders in their community. The Truesdale men (Hugh, Lewis) were strong leaders in their communities in their younger years, but each "imploded" later in life (stayed tuned for more details in later reports). James may be the exemption, but only time will tell.

"May everyone have a Homeplace, if only in their hearts."

Bill  ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace - Summer 1843, Progress Report, Part 2 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1843, Progress Report

Part 2 of 4

"The Founding of the Homeplace" stories 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 Saga: "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), 1838 Progress Report (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4) earlier, and 1841 Progress Report (Part 1).] 

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 1843, Progress Report

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

Hugh Truesdale had found much success in using mules on his farm where others were using oxen. When he met the Campbell men at an early Fourth Sunday valley meeting, they found they had much in common.  They quickly learned that sharing knowledge and experience was beneficial to each of their operations. By the end of 1840, they had formed a partnership, along with Jake Patton, to begin to breed mules for their own use as well as for sale to others. Jake Patton had earlier begun a modest horse breeding operation and was pleased to be able to expand use of some of his mares to the breeding of mules.  After spring planting season in 1843, eighteen-year-old Ralph Campbell moved to the central valley to work full-time with for the mule breeding partnership operation. Previously each of the workers had been part-time, supervised by one or the other of the three partners.

Two young couples that came into the valley in the spring of 1837 bought 160 acres each on the north side of the east-west road just north of Jake and Kate Patton’s most recent purchase.  Oliver and Deborah Dodson were to the west, and Jesse and Eliza Bartlett to the east. All four were in their early 20s and full of energy to be successful farm families.

In 1838, George and Marcia King settled about a mile south of the Campbell family, around two curves of the Western Branch. Also in 1838, Eli Rhodes, his wife, Emeline, and their four children had settled on the 160 acres downstream east of the King family. In 1841, Michael Duncan and his wife, Amanda, bought 160 acres a mile south of the Victor Campbell place, also along Western Branch creek, but upstream from the Rhodes family. In the spring 1842, Peter and Elvira Simpson came in from the west and settled on 160 acres along the Western Branch, between the Campbell and King home, locating on the north side of the stream near a fording location.

[...to be continued... on Nov 1, 2013, with Part 3 of Summer 1843 Progress Report]

October 14, 1996, Wedding of Ogden and Evans in Oak Springs

October 14, 1996, Wedding of Ogden and Evans in Oak Springs

From the archives of the Oak Spring Enterprise, Wednesday, October 16, 1996, Social News:

Christopher Ogden, son of Carter and Linda Ogden, married Nicole Evans, daughter of Jack and  Mona Evans, all of Oak Springs, at the First United Methodist Church on Monday evening, October 14, at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Clarice McCauley, minister at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Springs, officiated.

Christopher and Nicole were attended by her sister, Laura (Mrs. Travis) Inman, as Matron of Honor, and by Brian Kirk, as Best Man.

Dr. Jennifer Bevins, half-sister of the groom, served as hostess at a reception for guests held in the Fellowship Hall following the ceremony.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Ogden spend their wedding night at the Big Thunder Lodge.

Hometown Monday - Harry, Heather and Ivy this week

Hometown Monday - Harry, Heather and Ivy this week

We are continuing this series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Saga" family story-telling, with a new twist. We have adopted a format from the: "Blogging From A to Z Challenge." Each week we will share a published except related to a person whose name begins with that letter. 

This series of posts is to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Saga." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well. [Links in the text, below, provide more information on that person or entity]

Today we look at name beginning with H and I. For H and I, we have (with two excerpts, below):

Harry Flanders - banker - outside trustee of the Bevins Trust - see first excerpt, below

Heather Gates - daughter of Paul and Beverly (Bevins) Gates - sophomore in high school - see second excerpt, below

Ivy Grapes - friend of Peter Bevins - in Oregon - introduced in "Christmas at the Homeplace"

The Harry Flanders excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" is from Saturday, April 25, 1987:

        Waiting in Harry Flander’s office at the Oak Springs Savings Bank took Jason back to his old office in the Salt River Towers in Arizona. The interior decor was so similar, Jason noticed: Walnut paneling… full bookcases… spacious desk and brown leather chairs. This was in contrast to the view out the window. Outside the bank office window was the greenery of a small Missouri community.

        The town square was very active this Saturday morning in late April. All the comings and goings of the old downtown square shops were quite visible from the banker's office window. There is a man in coveralls going into the Coast-to-Coast store to get some yard work supplies. The young mother with three children in tow headed for the Buster Brown shoe store.  A teenager coming out of the Rexall Drug Store on the corner reading a comic book.

        "Sorry, I got tied up a few minutes out there, Jason. I didn't mean to keep you waiting." Harry came into the room, almost breathless.

        "No problem, Harry. I'm enjoying the view. My office in Arizona had a similar window but it was on the tenth floor and looked out over the valley. There's no urban sprawl out this window.”

         "Not that you can see, you're right. We are beginning to experience the problem, though. Since the college was built out west of town, more and more of our good farmland on that side of town is being taken up with development. Can you believe we have such a problem, right here in Oak Springs?"

        "I guess we can be thankful our place is north and east of town. Maybe we'll be safe for a few more years." Jason took a seat by the desk as Harry settled in behind it. "I came in to arrange for our crop expenses money. It certainly was a good thing the trust provided for financing. Farming is a costly venture."

        "You are right, Jason. Farming these days is all business for those who have survived… big business in most cases.

        Jason nodded his head in concurrence. "Our suppliers expect a check the first of the month. If having the financing available isn't handled properly, the costs are even higher." He handed Harry a folder of papers. "I think I have all the papers you need right here. Bart was a big help to me in compiling some of figures you need."

        Harry Flanders reviewed the papers in the file carefully. Jason noticed that Harry was looking for specific items as he went through each sheet of paper. He did not take much time, but he was very thorough. "Very well done, Jason. You followed the guidelines very closely. We appreciate that. It helps us keep the money circulating. That's real good for the economy."

        "I understand your daughter is making a real contribution to the economy, too, Harry! How is the wedding coming by now?"

        "Did you need to remind me, Jason? It is six weeks away yet. I may be broke before that time!" Harry beamed with pride, regardless of his words. "I just hope Doug doesn't back out now that we've gone this far."

        "You're joking, I assume."

        "Yes, although he has really been jumpy the last few days. I could understand his nervousness in a new town those first few weeks. Then he seemed to settle in comfortably. Now he seems so preoccupied. I've tried to talk to him, but he says he is fine. Hope so!" He had finished checking Jason's papers and was filling out a form. "This will authorize the transfer of funds you need. Thanks for the good information."

         "That's the least I can do, Harry. I'm just thankful Bart has been so helpful. We make a pretty good team, actually." Jason got up to leave.

         "Glad to hear it. Makes all our work easier."

         Jason extended his hand. "Thanks, again, for your assistance."

         Harry came around the desk to shake hands. They walked to the door together. "That's what I'm here for. Keep me up to date on how things are going."

The Heather Gates excerpt from "The Homeplace Revisited" is from Saturday, August 24, 1996:

         Jennifer and Heather were going over the horse breeding plan that Heather had begun to develop following their discussion with Diane. Jennifer shared with Heather that her check on Sunshine was entirely positive. Heather was now tracking Sunshine’s cycle and would keep Jennifer aware of her status. Together they had checked the semen sources and were ready to move ahead when the time was right. 

         Diane joined them, reviewed the plans, and gave her approval to move ahead. She had one additional bit of information for Heather. “If you are to use this for an FFA project, there is one other thing we need to do, I think. You need to have a more personal investment in the project. I have talked to both Bart, and your father, Paul, and we all agree that this foal of Sunshine should become your foal to raise as your own horse. Would you like that?” 

         “Really? Is that possible? It would be wonderful? But, how can it be possible? I don’t have any money to buy it?”

         Diane replied: “We need to work out a formal agreement of course, but that is not difficult. You have already shown a real dedication to our horse operation with your everyday work ethic. We love having you working here, and both the horses and our customers love to have you here. We already have our ‘credits’ system in place for boarded horses, like Christopher’s Shadow and others, for example. Some of the work you do will build ‘credits;’ as it grows, we’ll board the horse here and let the horse earn credits, as well, as a trail horse. As it works out you can learn how that works as part of your FFA project as well. OK?”

          “Thank you, so very much. I will work very hard to earn this opportunity. You really mean it, don’t you? Wow! Thanks!”

          “We really mean it, yes. Right, Jennifer?” Diane looked at her daughter, then back to Heather.

Jennifer replied, “Yes, we do! Welcome to full membership in the team here.”

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

Bill  ;-)

Discussing the origins of "The Homeplace Saga" writings

Discussing the origins of "The Homeplace Saga" writings

[Photo courtesy of Barbara Poole]

You may or may not have noticed the change in the title of this blog recently to: "The Homeplace Saga" blog. Two essays I shared recently, and the feedback I received, from some 'fresh sets of eyes' helped me realize the need for a slight "rebranding" of my writings, if I may use that term. 

Part 1 of these discussions clearly set the series of family stories we have been creating here as in the Family Saga traditions of literature. I hope you agree, and continue to enjoy the ever growing number of stories available right here, including the every-other-week on Friday Serial Posts on the Founding.

The Part 2 of the discussions focused more on the origins of the stories in the 1987 novel "Back to the Homeplace" and the resulting additions created by the positive reactions to that set of stories, the characters, and the setting. This is the first publication of some of these discussion issues.

The continued development of the wiki: "The Homeplace Saga: Beyond the Books," continues to the collaborative development of the many dimension of "The Homeplace Saga" as an extended series of fiction works stretching from 1833 to the present based on extensive research of the Southern Missouri Ozarks, family relationships, farm and business development in the region, environmental agricultural issues and social issues including AIDS/HIV, domestic violence, and interpersonal relationships both in the private and governmental contexts.

Reader response to these developments has been gratifying. Thank you for your support.

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

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Hometown Monday - E, F, and G this week

Hometown Monday - E, F, and G this week

We are continuing this series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Series" Family Saga story-telling, with a new twist. We have adopted a format from the: "Blogging From A to Z Challenge." Each week we will share a published except related to a person whose name begins with that letter. 

This series of posts is 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. [Links in the text, below, provide more information on that person or entity]

Today we look at E, F and G. For E, F, and G, we have (with an excerpt, below):

Emily Winslow - dau. of Matt & Susie Winslow

Erin (Winslow) James - daughter of Jason and Karen (Bevins) Winslow

Frank Bevins - deceased (father of Karen Bevins)

Gary NLN - owner of four-plex where Doug Johnson lived in 1987 - in MBTHP (Novella: "Murder by the Homeplace")

George Chambers - outside trustee of Bevins Trust; see excerpt below

Grover and Hedda Inman - parents of Travis - Oak Springs Realty - they actually first appear in the forthcoming "Christmas at the Homepalce" set in the last quarter of 1996

A George Chambers excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" from Wednesday, February18, 1987:

Jason Winslow wrapped his hands around the warm mug of coffee. Maggie Jennings had just set the mug in front of him. She had been the waitress at the North Side Cafe for at least twenty-seven years, Jason reflected. She served them when he first came here with Frank Bevins, Karen's father. Karen and Jason were married later in the year. That was twenty-seven years ago last November 27. George Chambers, Frank's best friend over the years, was with them that day.  Now Jason was waiting for George to join him today.

"That hot coffee sure looks good, Jason." George hung his tan topcoat on the peg on the wall behind Jason. He shook Jason's hand and moved to the chair opposite. A stately gentleman in appearance, George had always looked out of place in Oak Springs, Jason felt. The 'drooping' pipe he smoked gave him the appearance of a rural Sherlock Holmes. He hadn't changed a bit in ten years, Jason observed.

"I haven't tasted it yet, but it sure is nice and warm.  February in Missouri is colder than I remember it." Jason sipped the hot liquid. "It is good. Thanks for meeting me, George. Real nice to see you again."

"The pleasure is all mine. Frank was my best friend. You and Karen and the others have been like part of the family to me." He stoked the pipe, relit it, and continued. "I wish there was more I could do for you all. It seems like there have been tensions building since Mildred passed away. Is there any way that I can help?

Jason smiled. "You are very perceptive, George. I really can use your help, the benefit of your experience. Karen and I made the decision to come back here because we thought it was the right thing for us to do. But, each day that goes by, we feel more inadequate. We've been away from here for over twenty-five years. We talked about it last night. Did we make the right decision, coming back?"

"You never know for sure. I suppose I should have come out to Arizona when I retired.  But I still love it here. Even during the winters. How did you and Karen convince yourselves to come back here anyway?"

"It wasn't an easy decision, by any means. How well do you know the terms of the will Frank and Mildred left?" Jason sipped more of the coffee.

George took a moment before he replied. "Well... bits and pieces. Bart and Diane have not kept their opinions to themselves, of course. Rumors are they might contest it. You'd know about that, I suppose. Everyone in town has some knowledge. It hasn't been published in the paper yet or anything like that, but it might be a good idea. That might put some rumors to rest and let people get on with their lives."

Jason nodded in agreement. "This thing about us all being required to come back and actually live on the Homeplace for two years was the hardest part. For us, I had my partnership interest in the financial planning firm; Karen was in her sixteenth year at Good Sam hospital. It was hard to leave the desert we had grown to love." Jason looked to the east, seeing only a bare wall.  "But the Homeplace is special, too. It has been home, our other anchor, for many years… all of Karen's life, of course. It's been a vital part of my life for these twenty-seven years that we’ve been married. My parents never had any land of their own. They always rented. Dad worked in town the last few years before he died. Coming back here to visit is always special. We just couldn't see letting it go. We also didn't know how the others would respond. Peter and Beverly coming back was a surprise to us, but we're glad they did."

George was listening intently. Jason realized he was rambling and that George was letting him get it off his chest. George continued to putter with his pipe then re-lit it. He reminded Jason more of an old college professor than a retired farmer… the tweed hat on the table beside him, the brown sweater, and the pipe...all very collegiate. George had been involved with the County Conservation Commission in recent years, Jason knew. Also served on the bank board. He was well respected in the community. Rock solid.

"Did you talk with Frank and Mildred about their will, George? I am really curious where they came up with some of the provisions." Jason decided to plunge ahead with some questions that just had to be asked.

"Not really, Jason. We were very close friends, but we were also very private about our personal affairs. I do know they were anxious for their Homeplace to be kept together and not broken up among their children as they had seen happen in other families. I'm sure they wanted to be fair to everyone, as well, but I'm also sure some of the provisions were to try to keep the whole intact. Does that help?"

"Some, yes. That explains why we each get eighty-some acres to use as we please for the two years, but do not get ownership. That seemed strange, but now I understand better. Karen and I feel like we only have half the information we need, only part of the operating rules of some game. We are being asked to make some crucial decisions on very limited knowledge."

George drew on the pipe and lit it again.

Jason noted that the pipe seemed to go out at the most convenient times.

George finally responded to Jason's concern. "Perhaps it was intentional. To see how each of you would react; farmers rarely have enough information to work with. Weather is always unpredictable. You have to just do what you believe is right and make the best of it. All decisions require constant review. Do you replant a washed out crop or wait until next year. That kind of thing."

"But we really know so little, when you come right down to it. I thought, when we were in Arizona, that I knew what we would want to do. Now that the reality is here and now, I feel very inadequate."

"When you had a problem with a financial plan that seemed insurmountable, what did you do? What approach did you use there?"

Jason hesitated only a moment. "I would research the facts, determine alternatives, and review them with people I felt could assist me in understanding all the key possibilities. A good solution would always show up, sometimes several." A smile came on Jason's face. "The same applies here, doesn't it? I've let the fear of the unknown throw me out of normal problem solution approaches. Thanks, George!"

"Frank and I used to have some pretty interesting 'discussions' about farming techniques.  He farmed by instinct, what his father had taught him, what he learned over the years. I was more apt to learn from 'expert sources' such as farm magazines, radio shows, newspapers, agriculture school reports, or the extension service. One of my favorites has always been Leonard Hall. He had a column in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. I used his ideas for a "Balanced Farming Workbook." It has the soil maps and field maps of the farm. I list work to be done in each field. Things like terracing, building waterways, and planting fences of multifloral rose. Also, ordinary tasks like the seeding to various crops and amounts of lime and fertilizer to be used. I still keep the notebooks and discuss plans with my tenant farmer. It even includes the dates of pasturing and harvesting. Frank said at first that was silly. One year I got him to start writing things down. He was real surprised how useful it was the next year. I think Bart still keeps the notebooks. You might want to ask him about them."

“I will do that, George. Thanks!” Jason replied.

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

Bill  ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace Summer 1843, Progress Report, Part 1 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1843, Progress Report

Part 1 of 4

"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, 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 1843, Progress Report

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

In 1841, the Oak Creek valley had become part of the newly formed Oak Creek Township of Shannon County, which was split off from Ripley County.  Jake Patton had attended meetings for several months leading up to the official organization as an informal representative of the residents of the valley.  Whereas townships were normally set up as six miles square, because of the topography of the area, Oak Creek Township became six miles north and south but ten miles east to west, in the extreme northwest corner of the new county. From the pool of the falls, the township extended two miles north, mostly rugged forest. The eastern boundary of the township was three miles to the east, generally following the top of ridge dividing this valley from the Current River watershed to the east.

None of the families that had settled further south along Oak Creek were included in this township that ran four miles south from the pool; they were all in the adjoining township to the south.  In addition to the original five families (Baldridge, McDonald, Owen, Patton and Truesdale) in the eastern valley, the five who had arrived by 1838 were now in the new township plus four additional families who had settled since that time.  The heads of these households were: Jesse Bartlett, Victor Campbell, Oliver Dodson, Michael Duncan, Frances Holt, George King, Jacob Pryor, Peter Simpson, and Eli Rhodes.

The organizing law called for the election of three township trustees to be responsible for roads, river crossings, cemeteries, and interacting with elected County officials on these and other issues. When the elections were held, Robert Baldridge was elected for the eastern valley, Jake Patton for the central, and Victor Campbell in the west.

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 ridgeline 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.

[...to be continued... on Oct 18, 2013, with Part 2 of Summer 1843 Progress Report]