Friday, October 31, 2014

The Founding of the Homeplace - The Henry McDonald Family Story

The Founding of the Homeplace


The Henry McDonald Family Story




From the short story collection:


Part V:

Centennial Family Bios 

Henry McDonald Family Story

This Henry McDonald Family Story was written for the American Centennial by Alex McDonald. It is based on information shared by members and descendants of Henry and Laura McDonald, one of the four founding families of the settlement in 1833 of the valley now known as Oak Creek Township.

Henry McDonald (1801-1872) was born in Kentucky as was his wife, Laura Wallace (1801- 1848). They married in 1821 and removed to the Big Piney River region of south central Missouri where Henry was employed in the logging business. Their first son, Harry, was born there in July 1822. In the late spring of 1833, the three members of the McDonald family joined a group of settlers migrating into the Oak Creek valley several miles to the east southeast.

Henry had sought out this particular valley because it had a good water source and the best land in this region, in his view. He wanted to be an independent farmer. That was his goal. From the moment that Henry and Laura arrived in this valley, Henry was totally dedicated to making the most of this opportunity that he had helped create. Laura and their oldest son, Harry, worked hard to support that family goal.

In July, 1838, sixteen years to the month after her first son, Laura (Wallace) McDonald gave birth to a second son, Daniel.

Early in their time in the valley, Henry saw that being the one, along with his son Harry, to make regular trips back to the lumber camps from whence they had come, to bring staples, supplies and continuing news of the outside world, would be a specific task they could perform while still meeting all of their farming goals. In fact, it would enhance them by providing them with some ‘control’ over what was obtained and made available to the folks, their friends, neighbors, and relatives, here in the valley. In early 1843, Henry McDonald won the first postal mail contract to the new Oak Springs post office from the lumber camps. Their good work allowed them to continue the service until the war suspended postal service.

Laura, his wife, was a Wallace, supposedly descended from Sir William Wallace the famous Scotsman. She was an avid reader and had inherited her family book collection. Her favorite book was “The Scottish Chiefs,” published in 1809, about Sir William Wallace that her father had purchased just before his untimely death and gave to her as one of his last wishes. She treasured it, reading it several times, and using it as a text from which her sons would also know ‘their heritage.’


Laura had difficulty with her pregnancies, and only had two sons, Harry, and several years later, Daniel. She died in May 1848 at age 47 when Daniel was just 10 years old. Laura McDonald was buried on a small rise along the south edge of their property that became known as the McDonald Cemetery; it later was expanded to become the Oak Creek Township Cemetery. Later, Henry was buried next to his wife.

Henry McDonald (1801 - Mar 1872)
married
Laura Wallace (1801-May 1848)

They had children:
Harry McDonald (11 Jul 1822-  )
Daniel McDonald (1838-  )

Harry McDonald (11 Jul 1822-  )
married in 1842
Sarah Baldridge (1822-  )

They had children:
Caroline McDonald (2 Aug 1843-  )
Thomas McDonald (1845-1862)
Patrick McDonald (1847-??)
Alex McDonald (1849-  )
Mahala McDonald (1852-  )
Rebecca McDonald (1855-  )

Daniel McDonald (1838-  )
married in Jun 1859
Jane Truesdale (1837-  )

They had one son:
William McDonald (31 Jan 1864-  )

Harry married Sarah Baldridge in 1842, when each were 20. Many assumed they would marry earlier, but they felt it was important to reach this stage of maturity before they wed. They had lived and worked closely together as youngsters since the settlement began in 1833 and knew each other for some time before that. An early connection was the chickens that were first her responsibility. As early as that first year, when Henry and Harry brought back a new coop of chickens on one of their trips back to the lumber camp, they became Harry’s responsibility, as well, and she shared the knowledge she had gained to help him be successful with the new batch. Over those early years, they were quite successful in growing their chicken flocks, both individually, and collectively for the benefit of everyone in the valley.

Harry and Sarah were still living with Henry and Laura when Laura became ill and died. Daniel was only 10 years old at the time. Sarah became, essentially, the “lady of the house.”

Whereas Laura had difficulties with pregnancies, Sarah did not. She had a daughter, Caroline in 1843; sons, Thomas in 1845, Patrick in 1847, Alex in 1849; followed by daughters Mahala, in 1852, and Rebecca, in 1855.

Daniel McDonald married Jane Truesdale in June 1859 and they lived in the Truesdale farm house as her parents had moved to a new home in Oak Springs.

Daniel worked with his grandfather, father and brother on the farm in the early years, and also assisted his older brother, Harry, with the freight business.

Daniel joined the union army along side Lewis Truesdale. They served together in Colonel Patton’s regiment throughout the war. They were among the first to return to the valley after the war ended.

Jane and Daniel had a son, William, in 1864. From an early age, William was a leader, encouraged by his mother to always do the best he could in every activity he pursued.

After the war, Daniel was in charge of the Oak Springs Freight Line Stations of the Weston - McDonald Freight Line with regular runs, eventually in three directions, to Houston to the west, Salem to the north, and Eminence to the south.


Henry McDonald died in March 1872 and was buried beside his wife in the McDonald Cemetery.



To be continued... next Friday.


Now in Print Edition and on Kindle, as well. Kindleunlimited read for free.

   


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



Dr. Bill ;-)

Friday, October 24, 2014

The Founding of the Homeplace - The Robert Baldridge Family Story


The Founding of the Homeplace

The Robert Baldridge Family Story




From the short story collection:


Part V:

Centennial Family Bios 

Robert Baldridge Family Story

This Robert Baldridge Family Story was written for the American Centennial by Alex McDonald. It is based on information shared by descendants of Robert and Susannah Baldridge, one of the four founding families of the settlement in 1833 in the valley now known as Oak Creek Township.

Robert and Susannah Baldridge arrived in the valley with their children, Sarah, 11, and David, 8, in late spring of 1833. Although Robert took out farmland as well, his real interest was in the spring-fed Oak Creek and the waterfall formed as the creek came off the ridge into the valley. His goal was a working grist mill in the area along with a saw mill. He felt the location was perfect and he hoped to build his home nearby and get to work on the mill as soon as possible.

The mill on Oak Creek was built slowly and methodically but was in operation for the second season of crops in the fall of 1834, with help from Owen Olson, in particular. Robert and David had worked closely with Jake Patton to examine and explore the area on both sides of the creek to be sure that the west side of the creek by the falls was the best location and that the soil and rocks in the area would support the mill as required. They visited back in the Big Piney area several time to get all the needed materials and Jake Patton use his blacksmithing skills to craft some the needed machinery items as well. 

As they had surveyed and explored the area, they also recognized some important minerals that were available in the caves and did some mining operations.

Robert Baldridge (1803-1862)
married
Susannah Unknown (1803-1862)

They had children:
Sarah Baldridge (1822-  )
David Baldridge (1825-  )

Sarah Baldridge (1822-  )
married in 1842
Harry McDonald (11 Jul 1822-  )

They had children:
Caroline McDonald (2 Aug 1843-  )
Thomas McDonald (1845-1862)
Patrick McDonald (1847-??)
Alex McDonald (1849-  )
Mahala McDonald (1852-  )
Rebecca McDonald (1855-  )


Sarah Baldridge married Harry McDonald in June of 1842. Their first child, Caroline, was born in August 1843. They lived at the McDonald cabin with Henry and young Daniel. Sons followed, Thomas in 1845 and Patrick in 1847. Alex arrived in 1849, followed by two more girls, Mahala in 1852 and Rebecca in 1855.

During the 1840s, Robert, Susannah and David Baldridge expanded their cattle business in the pastureland on the ridge on the north half of their property, west of the road that began to develop on the west side of Oak Creek along the eastern edge of their property. They worked with Victor Campbell and his sons in the western valley to enhance the breeding of each of their herds as well as with newcomers in the valley who each normally brought one to three head of cattle with them. The Baldridges essentially became cattle brokers and stockmen built from their position at the mill where they naturally came into regular communications with everyone in the valley as well as many persons coming to the mill from outside the valley to use the mill facilities. Over time, they also added storage and bought and sold excess grain and seed along with the lumber business.

Robert Baldridge served as Eastern Oak Creek Township Trustee from 1841 until 1847 when he was elected to the Oak Creek County Commission. He lost in his re-election bid in the 1857 election.

When Robert was elected to the Shannon County Commission in 1847, David, who was 23 at the time, took on added responsibilities in the family businesses. In 1846 they had brought in Riley Cooper, and his wife, Julia, from Houston, as well, to assist with the mill. They also added a forty-acre plot that Riley farmed on shares, as well.

When the town of Oak Springs was formed, in 1848, Robert and Susannah agreed to buy two city lots, build a house on one, and move there; which they did. David stayed living at the home near the mill.

Robert Baldridge served on the initial Oak Springs Town Council, beginning in 1848 and was re-elected through 1861. Councilmen in office during the war continued to serve until new elections were held in 1865; however, Robert Baldridge died in 1862.


David Baldridge never married. He served in the Civil War, first in an infantry unit, and later in Colonel Patton’s regiment. He was among the first to return to the Oak Creek valley after the war.


To be continued... next Friday.

Now in Print Edition and on Kindle, as well. Kindleunlimited read for free.

   



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



Dr. Bill ;-)

Friday, October 17, 2014

The Founding of the Homeplace - Building with Stone


The Founding of the Homeplace


Building with Stone




From the short story collection:


Part IV.

1871-1875 Activity Summary

Building with Stone

Victor Campbell was asked to share his memories of “Building with Stone” in Oak Springs.

In the years immediately before the war came upon us, at the bank we had been discussing building a stone building for the bank. So, with this in the back of my mind, as I went about my work in the years away, I was watching stone construction, who was doing it, and what would be required to do it here. I knew we had limestone hills, just east of town. The questions was: would we be able to use them?

In 1866 as we were considering options for the bank as well as the community, we had a physical survey done of Section 36, directly east of Oak Springs. Based on that information the bank purchased that section of land, previously believed to be ‘worthless,’ but that was with respect to agricultural interests. Subsequently, we entered into a joint venture with Roland Muldrow, Spencer Fielder, and Reginald “Archie” Archer to open a limestone quarry and begin constructing the bank and other stone buildings, homes and structures in the valley. These three gentlemen, respectively, were a quarry manager, a master stonemason and an apprentice stonemason. Other workers were identified and brought into the operation as and when needed. Work on the bank was to begin in 1870.

With the cooperation of Owen Olson, Patton Road was extended east of town, through his property, along the ‘half-mile’ line and into Section 36. This road provided access to the forthcoming limestone quarry and and a ready route to construction sites. A road along the west side of the NW quarter of Section 36 was also prepared, running the half-mile straight north from the Patton Road to the Houston Road. The Houston Road ran along the north side of Section 36, of course.




To be continued... next Friday.


Now in Print Edition and on Kindle, as well. Kindleunlimited read for free.

   



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


Dr. Bill ;-)

Thursday, October 16, 2014


The Founding of the Homeplace

Building with Stone




From the short story collection:


Part IV.

1871-1875 Activity Summary

Building with Stone

Victor Campbell was asked to share his memories of “Building with Stone” in Oak Springs.

In the years immediately before the war came upon us, at the bank we had been discussing building a stone building for the bank. So, with this in the back of my mind, as I went about my work in the years away, I was watching stone construction, who was doing it, and what would be required to do it here. I knew we had limestone hills, just east of town. The questions was: would we be able to use them?

In 1866 as we were considering options for the bank as well as the community, we had a physical survey done of Section 36, directly east of Oak Springs. Based on that information the bank purchased that section of land, previously believed to be ‘worthless,’ but that was with respect to agricultural interests. Subsequently, we entered into a joint venture with Roland Muldrow, Spencer Fielder, and Reginald “Archie” Archer to open a limestone quarry and begin constructing the bank and other stone buildings, homes and structures in the valley. These three gentlemen, respectively, were a quarry manager, a master stonemason and an apprentice stonemason. Other workers were identified and brought into the operation as and when needed. Work on the bank was to begin in 1870.

With the cooperation of Owen Olson, Patton Road was extended east of town, through his property, along the ‘half-mile’ line and into Section 36. This road provided access to the forthcoming limestone quarry and and a ready route to construction sites. A road along the west side of the NW quarter of Section 36 was also prepared, running the half-mile straight north from the Patton Road to the Houston Road. The Houston Road ran along the north side of Section 36, of course.

To be continued... next Friday.

Now in Print Edition and on Kindle, as well. Kindleunlimited read for free.

   



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



Dr. Bill ;-)

Friday, October 3, 2014

The Founding of the Homeplace - The First School


The Founding of the Homeplace


The First School




From the short story collection:


Part IV.

1871-1875 Activity Summary

The First School

Lewis and Caroline (McDonald) Truesdale, along with his sister, Nellie, set the stage for the first school in Oak Springs during the planning phase of their return to Oak Spring in late 1865. Nellie had been attending the same girls academy that Caroline had attended during her teen years. Nellie already knew she wanted to become a teacher. The plan became for Nellie to return to Oak Springs, to assist Caroline with the baby, but also to continue her studies under Lewis and Caroline through the spring. Sometime during the summer of 1866, she would return to school in Jefferson City to continue her education with a focus on being ready to teach in a new school in Oak Springs, probably for the 1869-70 school year. Lewis and Caroline would organize a subscription school and build a building, enlisting help from the community. They knew that doing this would also help attract prospective new residents to the valley.

Jerry Potts joined with Lewis and Caroline in creating the subscription school, which they named “The Patton School” in honor of Jake and Kate Patton. Jake Patton entered into an agreement to provide land for the school to be located between Patton Road and Patton Spring (Lot 1, Block Q). This was across the road south from the Livery Stable business, and west of where Lewis and Caroline were building their new home (Lot 2, Block Q). Nellie would continue to live in the Patton cabin, just southeast of that location (southeast corner of the same block), once the new Truesdale house was completed.

The first innovation of The Patton School was that transportation would be available from both the east valley and the west valley to and from school during the fall and spring school sessions. Two carriages were built that would accommodate up to eight adults or up to sixteen children. Two livery stable workers were assigned, one primary, one back up, to make the two “school” runs. After the fact, several of the families said having the transportation available was the primary reason they were able to participation in the school for their children.

The initial plan was for the school to run from mid-September in the fall to mid-December and then from mid-January to mid-April in the spring. Classes would be five days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

It was also arranged for Alex McDonald to teach each afternoon, 1:30 to 3:30, the older children, aged 10 through 13, in history, literature and the classics. He would also serve as substitute teacher if Nellie Truesdale was unable to be in the classroom. Alex had been working with Jerry Potts at the print shop and continued to do so.


As so often happens, all the pieces were not yet in place for the 1869-70 school year, so the start was delayed a year. During early 1870, however, subscriptions began to be received, fairly quickly. These included, from east to west:

East:
Penelope Street, 12
Oscar Street, 9
William McDonald, 6
Charlotte Crane, 6
Jason Garrett, 13
Sharon Garrett, 10
Dora Garrett, 7
Fred Gower, 11
Samuel Gower, 8
Vicky Wingfield, 12
Peter Wingfield, 7
Vic Campbell, 6

West:
Bonny Die, 12
Lula Die, 8
Vance Rhodes, 12
Earl Rhodes, 8
Alice King, 11
Hattie Cox, 13
Roy Cox, 10
Ada Bishop, 13
Pearl Bishop, 9

The twenty-one (21) students broke out this way by age groups:

Charlotte Crane, 6
Vic Campbell, 6
William McDonald, 6

Dora Garrett, 7
Peter Wingfield, 7

Earl Rhodes, 8
Lula Die, 8
Samuel Gower, 8

Oscar Street, 9
Pearl Bishop, 9

Roy Cox, 10
Sharon Garrett, 10

Alice King, 11
Fred Gower, 11


Bonnie Die, 12
Penelope Street, 12
Vicky Wingfield, 12
Vance Rhodes, 12

Ada Bishop, 13
Hattie Cox, 13
Jason Garrett, 13



The fall session of 1870 went remarkably well for an opening term. An overnight snowfall the first week of December caused some anxiety, but was not enough to disrupt picking up and delivering the children very close to the scheduled time. Nellie Truesdale proved to be an excellent teacher and beloved by the children. Some parents had been concerned about Alex McDonald teaching the older students, but he demonstrated an intense interest in his subject matter in a way that was infectious to the students so that they learned much and were enthusiastic to continue.


To be continued... next Friday.


Now in Print Edition and on Kindle, as well. Kindleunlimited read for free.

   



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


Dr. Bill ;-)

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Today's Thoughts on… the family saga… "The Homeplace Saga"… series of stories


Today's Thoughts on… the family saga… 
"The Homeplace Saga"… series of stories


I have recently been asked to write a monthly post on the Worldwide Genealogy Blog along with a number of other genealogy bloggers… from around the world - thus, the name of the blog. It will appear on the 11th day of each month.

The subject I will be writing on is: "Keeping Family History Stories Alive through Fiction." The post on October 11 is simply labeled, "Part A." It is an introduction to the upcoming series of monthly posts. The point of the article series is for people to consider using the amazing family stories we all come across in our family history research as the basis for writing fiction stories based on those real stories.


This is essentially where my "The Homeplace Saga" here got its origins… the stories I've gotten from research and observation - about family relationships. I've now created this amazing "place" with all these amazing, yet ordinary, people whose lives we can share and interact with. They just keep telling me their stories to share with you.

The current book in the series - a collection of short stories
Direct link to Amazon.com

And now, all of them are available free, to you, if you have the Kindle Unlimited account with Amazon.com. There are now available in this series: 1) three novels, 2) one novella, 3) one short story collection, and 4) one ebook. There is this free blog, that has posts back to March 22, 2010. There are also a couple of what I call developmental wikis, as well (educational websites related to writing historical fiction based on family history research).

Two more ebooks are pending, based on stories that have been shared on HubPages, and are now available for all readers at:

1) http://homeplaceseries.hubpages.com/ - 45 articles (or hubs) - each 1200-1500 words with 3 images each - These include "The Kings of Oak Springs" series and several miscellaneous related stories of "The Homeplace Saga." This is a great place to start, for easy reading! ;-)

2) http://drbill-wml-smith.hubpages.com/ - 60 articles (or hubs) - all in the various branches of the "Weston Wagons West" series of stories where the descendants of the three Weston brothers have interacted with my ancestors over the past  nearly 400 years here in America. One line of this story intersects with "The Homeplace Saga" folks in Oak Springs, as well.

3) http://drbillsmithwriter.hubpages.com - 150 articles (or hubs) - where about 20 have to do with family history and this series of stories - the rest are on a variety of topics, includes about 25 or so related to Heritage Tourism and perhaps another 20 related to book reviews and recommendations.


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


Dr. Bill ;-)