Founding and Growth of Oak Springs

Founding and Growth of Oak Springs

Draft

Founding and Growth of Oak Springs - Patton Land Donation

This is an American Centennial Project by xxx xxxx. For this project, I talked with several of the older members of the founding families of the first settlements in this valley. This is a summary of what they told me.

As soon as Jake Patton and the other founding families had their land claims confirmed with the county government, Jake had been planning for and working toward formal establishment of a village or town in the valley. He wanted to have it be centered around his spring, blacksmith shop and the General Store. Toward this end, he first sought in 1841 and eventually, in March 1842, received authorization to open an official U. S. Post Office in the General Store. When he found the name “Oak Creek” was already spoken for, elsewhere in the state, he settled for “Oak Springs” which also seemed appropriate, as well. Jake Patton was named Postmaster, and Kate Patton was named Assistant Postmaster. The name “Oak Creek” had been given to the township when it was established in 1841.

From an early date, Jake had sketched out a town site, four blocks wide and six blocks long, north and south, split in half by a main street running between his original blacksmith shop and the original General Store. When the town site plat for Oak Springs was finally approved, in 1848, it followed those guidelines very closely. 

By having the vision for the town already in mind, and having it on land he owned, when new buildings were planned and built, they were built with this grid in mind. For example, the first hotel was just north of the General Store location, followed by a livery stable just to the north of that. What became “Central Avenue” ran north and south right in front, on the west, of those buildings. 

What became known as Patton Spring and Patton Run (now a part of Patton Park, of course) were in the southwest corner of that initial town site plat. Patton Run was the creek running from the pool at Patton Spring into Center Creek a relatively short distance to the southwest. 

Hand-drawn Draft of Town Plot - Oak Springs

[Click to see Enlarged View]

Oak Springs Town Plat and subsequent transactions

The initial Town Plat consisted of 26 blocks of 2 1/2 acres each. Each block was designated with a letter. Each block consisted of 4 numbered lots.

Central Avenue split the town plat north and south; two block to the east, divided by 1st Ave. E. and two blocks to the west, divided by 1st Ave. W. The eastern and western boundaries were therefore 2nd Ave E. and 2nd Ave W.

Patton Street ran east and west just north of the General Store. This left two blocks to the south, divided by First Street, South. The southern boundary of the town plat was designated Second Street, South. To the north, separating each set of blocks, were: First Street, Second Street, etc. This made the northern boundary Fourth Street.

Jake Patton retained ownership of Blocks K, O, S, R, and Q.

Owen Olson retained ownership of Block Z

Sale of lots:

1. Sep 1848 - Robert Baldridge - Block N, Lots 3 & 4.
2. Sep 1848 - Jake Patton - Block W, Lot 1, and Block T, Lot 1
3. Sep 1848 - Owen Olson - Block Y, Lot 2 and Lot 4
4. Sep 1848 - Victor Campbell - Block W, Lot 3 and Lot 4
5. Sep 1848 - Hugh Truesdale - Block W, Lot 2, and Block L, Lot 1 and Lot 3
6. Jun 1850 - Percival Jones - Block N, Lot 2
7. Jul 1850 - Jonathan Ames - Block X, Lot 1 and Lot 3
8. Jul 1850 - Wesley Mathison - Block X, Lot 2 and Lot 4
9. Nov 1850 - Ames & Mathison RE - Block J, Lot 4
10. Feb 1851 - Percival Jones - Block N, Lot 1 and Block M Lot 2
11. Feb 1851 - Ames & Mathison RE - Block J, Lot 2
12. May 1851 - Gideon Inman - Block J, Lot 1
13. Jan 1851 - Oak Springs Bank - Block G, Lot 3
14. Jun 1857 - Levi Weston - Block L, Lot 2 and Lot 4
15. Mar 1860 - Jerry Potts - Block J, Lot 3

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

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1843, Progress Report

Part 4 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. 

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 4 of 4"

           Jake Patton applied for a Post Office shortly after the Oak Creek Township was organized. In October of 1842, a post office was approved, with the name “Oak Springs” – Oak Creek was already taken. The new post office would be located at the Patton General Store, with Jake Patton as Postmaster, and Kate Patton as Assistant. It actually began operation in March of 1843.  Henry McDonald earned the first mail contract from the Big Piney lumber camps to Oak Springs on a weekly schedule, which he would carry out along with his regular freight runs.  By the summer of 1843, Jake Patton, seeing the success of Donagan’s Tavern, also began construction of a two-story hotel immediately to the north of the Tavern. The north-south path between the Blacksmith Shop and the General Store was taking the form of a street, as he had hoped, and the hotel was built on the east side of the street making three buildings in a row, facing across the street to his Blacksmith Shop, and cabin, set back from the ‘street.’

In other social news of the community, Harry McDonald and Sarah Baldridge had married in June the previous year and were expecting their first child come August, to become the sixth McDonald in the household. As the wedding was being planned, the McDonald family had made the decision to add on to their house rather than build a new one.  Harry McDonald’s younger brother, Daniel, was now an active 5 year-old.

Hugh and Victoria Truesdale were parents a second time, a year ago, a son, Lewis, to join sister, Jane, now 6.            

In the spring of 1843, Frances and Elizabeth Holt, a young newly wed couple down from the north, purchased 160 acres and settled into their new house just west of Center Creek and on the north side of the East-West road. About a month after the Holt’s arrival, Jacob and Patsy Pryor bought the 160 acre farm just east of the Holt’s and built their house on the east side of Center Creek.

            Following the formation of Oak Creek Township and the election of the three trustees, in 1842, upon their recommendation, the County Commissioners appointed George King as Justice of the Peace. He was responsible to the Circuit Court Judge who came to hear any cases that might arise early in the first month of each calendar quarter. The county paid for use of the community building on a daily basis to be used as the courtroom.  There was little activity in those first couple of years.

[...to be continued... on Dec 6, 2013, with Part 1 of Summer 1848 Progress Report]

The Founding of the Homeplace Summer 1843, Progress Report Part 3 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1843, Progress Report

Part 3 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. 

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 3 of 4"

During his travels out of the valley in connection with the County and Township formation discussions, two separate interests wanting to locate very different ‘businesses’ near the General Store had approached Jake Patton.  One was an individual by the name of Ace Donagan who had just sold his tavern operation in Eminence and offered to build a new one near Patton’s General Store if he could get a long-term lease. It would include four rooms for rent on a second floor for visitors and travelers passing through and provide limited meals along with drinks on the main floor.  The second interest group wanted a church or community building, south of the General Store, for community meetings when the weather was not good and for occasional church services when circuit riders came through town, which they continued to do on an irregular basis. Early in the fall of 1841, Jake and Kate Patton decided to meet each of these needs at the same time. They entered into a lease agreement with Donagan for a piece of land just north of the General Store for a tavern, facing west as well, with a second floor with four rental rooms upstairs and a kitchen and bar downstairs. They also arranged a building contract for Donagan. Before winter arrived, they also built a modest ‘meeting hall’ just to the south of the General Store, with community help and donations, to be made available for community activities.

Earlier in the year of 1843 it was learned that the country to the west, including the lumber camps, had been established as Ashley County. The increasing population along the road in that direction had continued to contribute to the development of improvements in that road.  Most of the new families in the valley had come along that road.

What had been a trail, along Oak Creek to the southeast, was now developing into a road as well, toward the county seat of Eminence. A road to the north was developing about a quarter of mile west of the mill, through the Baldridge place. A few farmers several miles to the north were bringing their grains through the woods to be milled here in the valley.

[...to be continued... on Nov 15, 2013, with Part 4 of Summer 1843 Progress Report]

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

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]

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]

Surname Saturday - Bevins Family Line

Surname Saturday

Bevins Family Line

[This blogging exercise is part of the 'reverse research' for the major, and minor, characters in the forthcoming books in The Homeplace Series]

I began this Surname Saturday exercise on April 17, 2010, with BEVINS 1 and and next six posts were all related to taking the McDONALD family line, the maternal line, back to the earliest settlement in the Oak Creek valley in 1833.

In the meantime, in creating the history of the valley, from the four founding families and other early arrivals, much more has been learned of their inter-relationships and how these developed, through the Civil War period. I have recently, to provide context for Jennifer BEVINS' family history searches, in "Christmas at the Homeplace," currently, and "The Homeplace Threatened" in the future, as well as building the content of the developmental Wiki, expanded the connection of the 'past with the present' on a family level for The Homeplace Series, as a whole. In coming weeks in this series, more of the family surnames, and relationships, will be shared.

Frank and Mildred (McDONALD) BEVINS were the subjects of BEVINS 1 along with their four children, the primary characters in "Back to the Homeplace" with the unusual video will left by Mildred on her passing in last 1986. Subsequent McDONALD posts followed her line back to Henry and Laura McDONALD of the founding families. Although not as direct by surname, Frank's ancestry goes back to the founding families, as well, as will be recorded, briefly, below.

Ora B. and Sarah Jane (WATERS) BEVINS had one child, possibly others:

1. Franklin (Frank) Leonard BEVINS, born 9 Aug 1917, in Oak Springs, MO

Howard and Myrtle (TRUESDALE) BEVINS had one child, possibly others:

1. Ora B. BEVINS, born 1891, Oak Springs, MO

Lewis and Caroline (McDONALD) TRUESDALE had two children, possibly others:

1. James (Jimmie) TRUESDALE, born 5 Feb 1866, Oak Springs, MO

2. Myrtle TRUESDALE, born 1868, Oak Springs, MO

Lewis TRUESDALE was the son of Hugh and Victoria (PATTON) TRUESDALE, each of whom was an original settler in the Oak Creek Valley, the first couple to be married in the valley.

Caroline McDONALD was the oldest daughter of Harry and Sarah (BALDRIDGE) McDONALD, each of whom was also an original settler, as young children, in the Oak Creek Valley [See McDONALD 3, 4, and 5]

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

Bill  ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 2, First Plantings, Part 2

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 2, The First Plantings, Part 2

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on the first and third Friday of each month, going forward. See Story 1 (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4) and Story 2 Part 1 earlier. This is a serial presentation of the story, beginning in 1833, when four families decided to settle the land, the valley, that would become the setting of the first two books in the The Homeplace Series: "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" as well as the forthcoming third book in the series, "The Homeplace Forever." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 2006, respectively. The underlying premise of this trilogy is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

[Source: Currier & Ives, "Falling Spring, c 1868"; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov: accessed 25 Jan 2013)]

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

Story 2, First Plantings

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

This settlement group was especially prepared for this venture because they had a variety of well-developed skill sets in addition to having accumulated the necessary funds and credit to purchase their lands prior to their arrival. Each adult had also developed and established the habit of keeping a journal of their activities along with the usual weather, crop and animal details.

New settlers were entitled to purchase up to 640 acres, a full section, if they had the cash or credit available. In this first group to this valley, the Baldridges, the McDonalds and the Pattons each intended to stake out the full 640 acres in the beginning. Young Hugh Truesdale only had funds for 160 acres. However, since Jake and Kate Patton did not intend to be full-time farmers, they had agreed to lease out 320 acres of their land to Truesdale, when he felt ready to handle it. Only a small portion of these lands would be tilled in the first few years, of course, but planning for the future was a part of the process for these folks.

The Baldridge land laid out included a segment of the major stream, which they had come to refer to as Oak Creek, running inside the east edge of their property, with the falls and the pond at the bottom in the far southeast corner. The section also included a large open pasture on the ridge, with forest to the north and along the front face of the ridge, and perhaps forty acres of tillable land along the south border.

Henry and Laura McDonald had selected the 640-acre section diagonal to the southeast from the Baldridge section. This included the stream of Oak Creek below the pond running along the north edge of their property, with the bend of the river (where they were now camped and called Cardinal Corner) in the northeast corner of the property. The rest of the section, which sat relatively flat, six to ten feet above the level of Oak Creek, appeared to be excellent farming soil with few trees or major rocks to impede agricultural pursuits. Timber was readily available directly to the north of this property, across Oak Creek, where Hugh Truesdale had already begun to harvest it.

Since Hugh Truesdale could only purchase a 160 acre plot at the beginning, he was allowed to choose that quarter section between the Baldridge and McDonald land that had a small portion of Oak Creek coming out of the Baldridge pond from the north and curving to the east along the north edge of the McDonald land. In essence, it was a westward extension of the McDonald property. The comparable quarter section immediately to the west would be his next purchase, when he could handle it. The two quarter section portions immediately to the south of the quarter section Truesdale selected were purchased by Jake and Kate Patton to lease to Truesdale. As before, this land was effectively a westward extension of the same quality of land as selected by the McDonalds.

[...to be continued... on March 1, 2013, with Part 3 of Story 2]

Note: Story 2, by William Leverne Smith, was originally published as a Short Story, "First Plantings" in the anthology: Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VIII, 2012, published by the Ozarks Writers League.

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 2, First Plantings, Part 1

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 2, The First Plantings, Part 1

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on the first and third Friday of each month, going forward. See Story 1 (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4) earlier. This is a serial presentation of the story, beginning in 1833, when four families decided to settle the land, the valley, that would become the setting of the first two books in the The Homeplace Series: "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" as well as the forthcoming third book in the series, "The Homeplace Forever." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 2006, respectively. The underlying premise of this trilogy is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

[Source: Currier & Ives, "Falling Spring, c 1868"; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov: accessed 25 Jan 2013)]

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

Story 2, First Plantings

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

The settlement party of 11 persons fell into a daily routine that combined meeting current needs and accomplishing long-term tasks needed for a successful stay in the “Oak Springs” valley. 

Among the first tasks for the new residents were to use the oxen to pull some of the trees that Hugh Truesdale had felled to the common campsite to use for a cooking ‘lean-to’ and as permanent supports for the tents for the first few weeks. Some of larger branches were also available to begin construction of a rough corral and pens for some of the animals. Henry and Harry McDonald drove the oxen following Truesdale’s guidance to locate the trees and bring them across Oak Creek and into a staging area in Cardinal Corner. The trees were allowed to dry, were stripped of leaves and branches (stacked and piled for later use), and cut to proper sizes for their intended use.

Robert Baldridge had apprenticed as a surveyor as a young man in Kentucky and had taken enough surveying work in later years to maintain and increase his qualifications. In his earlier visit to the valley, he had identified the base survey markers that had been in place a few years. By 1833, this valley existed as part of the far north west end of Ripley County, Missouri. Robert and his son, David, along with assistance from Jake Patton, allocated some early time to laying out and marking the key lines each family would need to claim their individual lands.

Following the pattern the weather had been in as they trekked from the lumber camps to their new valley, every several days a thunderstorm rolled through the valley followed by hot and humid days. This was actually a very fortunate circumstance because it gave them an excellent opportunity to observe water run-off patterns both for their camp and for planning garden and planting plots. 

They had agreed that a community garden made the most sense for this first season since it was already late in the year for some plantings. For this reason, a nearby spot in the newly named “Cardinal Corner” was identified and plowed as one of the early tasks. A drag was constructed from tree branches to drag over the plowed ground to break up the bigger clods in this virgin soil, since they did not bring a harrow. The cast iron plow Jake had brought worked well. They were careful to watch for boulders in the ground, so as not to risk breaking the plow at an early date. Henry McDonald and his son, Harry, took the lead on the plowing and dragging, assisted by Hugh Truesdale. Hugh continued to allocate some time each day to felling more trees joined by the other men from time to time.

Once the community garden plot was roughly prepared, the women took the lead in final preparation and layout of the garden for planting. Kate and Victoria Patton used rake and hoe to finish the preparation for planting the seeds. Susannah and Sarah McDonald planted and covered the seeds as had been agreed. Laura McDonald kept an accurate written plot map, marked each planting, and assisted getting all the materials to the right places as needed. They also prepared barriers around the garden to keep out the pigs and other animals as best they could. They also installed a couple of scarecrows. Before long, green spouts could be seen throughout the garden plot. 

[...to be continued... on February 15, 2013, with Part 2 of Story 2]

Note: Story 2, by William Leverne Smith, was originally published as a Short Story, "First Plantings" in the anthology: Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VIII, 2012, published by the Ozarks Writers League.

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 1, The Trek, Part 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 1, The Trek, Part 4

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on the first and third Friday of each month, going forward. See Part 1 and Part 2 earlier. This is a serial presentation of the story, beginning in 1833, when four families decided to settle the land, the valley, that would become the setting of the first two books in the The Homeplace Series: "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" as well as the forthcoming third book in the series, "The Homeplace Forever." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 2006, respectively. The underlying premise of this trilogy is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

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

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

Story 1, The Trek to the Homeplace

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

The weather continued to hold, cool and breezy, on day two so they got another early start. A few dark clouds could be seen in the west, but they were not threatening as the little caravan moved up, down and around the hills through day two. They all followed their same routine through the evening of day two, except they were careful where they made their campfire and got out the canvas tents to sleep under because it appeared they would have rain before morning. And they did. The storm arrived around four am and was filled with thunder, lightning, wind and heavy rain that lasted into mid-morning. They did not attempt to break camp but stayed hunkered down with regular inspections of all their equipment, and the animals, to be sure nothing was being damaged by the storm. 

As they were familiar with Ozarks storms, they were not surprised when the sun came out as soon as the storm had passed. Henry walked ahead on the path a ways to be sure it appeared passable as the others broke camp and prepared to move out, shortly before noontime. This would be a short travel day, but that was expected as they had planned the trip. They were pleased they only had to make one stop during the afternoon to repair a washout of their path. They stopped early at the next spring location and spent some additional time checking their loads and being sure the storm had not caused any damage they had not discovered in the morning.

Day three followed the same routine and as they made camp for the evening, they felt comfortable that they would arrive at their destination in the afternoon of the fourth day, if all went well. With that prospect in mind, everyone was anxious to get their chores done and get to bed so that day four could begin early.

When they stopped for noontime on day four, Robert was pleased to announce that this was the spring that fed the middle of the three streams in ‘their valley’ and they should arrive there in two to three more hours. Perhaps in an hour and a half or so, they would be on the ridge where they could look down into ‘their valley.’ Each person was diligent in their noontime activities, but the tension in the air could be felt by each person as the minutes ticked away.

Most of the following hour was driven through a forest of oak and hickory trees, followed by a half hour or so of mostly white oak trees. As they passed by one especially impressive giant white oak, the valley opened up before them. Henry, still on the lead cart, shouted out: “This is the place. There is our new Homeplace. Welcome home.”

The caravan descended the ridge and moved toward the larger spring fed stream on the eastern end of the valley. This stream came off the ridge in about a fifteen-foot waterfall into a pond that then extended east and south. Hugh Truesdale walked toward them from the edge of the forest where he was working, as they approached. “Welcome to Oak Springs!” he said as he greeted them. “This spot is everything we were looking for, and more. Let me show you a good place to make camp for the night, and I can share what I have learned since you left me a while back.”

They proceeded perhaps three quarters of a mile southeast where they came upon a bend in the river with oak and hickory trees abundant. “We can make our camp here in this protected area a bit upstream from the bend and put the animals downstream from us, still in protection of the trees.” As he spoke, two bright red cardinals flew by and took up residence on a nearby hickory limb to watch as the camp was being set up. “Cardinal corner,” young Sarah exclaimed.

As soon as he could, without looking too obvious, young Hugh Truesdale found his way over to Miss Victoria and, taking her hand said, “I sure have missed seeing you, Miss Victoria. I hope you had a good trip to our new home.”

She looked him straight in the eye, squeezed his hand just a bit, and said, ”I missed you, too. Let’s get to work on our new home.” And they did. 

[...to be continued... on February 1, 2013, with Part 1 of Story 2]

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

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 1, The Trek, Part 3

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 1, The Trek, Part 3

"The Founding of the Homeplace" saga will continue here on the first and third Friday of each month, going forward. See Part 1 and Part 2 earlier. This is a serial presentation of the story, beginning in 1833, when four families decided to settle the land, the valley, that would become the setting of the first two books in the The Homeplace Series: "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" as well as the forthcoming third book in the series, "The Homeplace Forever." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 2006, respectively. The underlying premise of this trilogy is the desire of the family matriarch to retain the family farm in the southern Missouri Ozarks in whole and in the family. 

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

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

Story 1, The Trek to the Homeplace

In this episode, we share "Part 3 of 4"

For the trek to the new ‘Homeplace,’ there were six adults, all in their early thirties in age and each experienced with the animals and able to backup each other as needed. There were four youngsters: the fifteen-year-old Victoria, eleven-year-old Harry and Sarah, and eight-year-old David. Each took on designated daily responsibilities and each was expected to carry them out each and every day. 

The caravan started up the path early on the morning of travel day one. Henry, walking along with the lead cart, shouted, “Get up!” to the ox named Blue pulling the first cart with the two bulls tethered to the back corners following along. Laura was actually in the lead, carrying a rifle, and walking about 20 years ahead of the first ox and cart. Harry followed with the second cart pulled by the ox named Buddie trailing two of the milk cows. Susannah, also carrying a rifle, trailed the second cart, and was available to assist in any way needed, including driving a cart, if necessary. 

Miss Victoria drove the third cart, pulled by the ox named Laddie, trailing the other two milk cows. Jake drove the fourth and last cart, pulled by the ox named Topper, loaded down with the blacksmithing gear and topped off by the chicken coops, strapped over the top and carefully braced to remain relatively level. Razorback pigs didn’t like leashes, but they were on two leather strings of five each, with Sarah and David each in charge of one string. Kate followed along behind, wielding a mean bullwhip that ‘encouraged’ the pigs to follow along appropriately. Kate also kept an eye on the trail behind and to the sides for unexpected ‘wildlife,’ whether two-legged or four legged.

The normal din of the pigs and the chickens was broken occasionally by a shouted “Gee” or “Haw” to move an ox to the right or to the left. They all kept a steady pace for perhaps a mile and a half when Jake shouted “Whoa!” to stop his ox and cart. Three more “Whoa!” signals could be heard coming from up the line, as the whole procession came to a halt. “I want to check the straps on the chicken coops,” Jake yelled out, as he moved around the cart to check on the several fastening points. Seeing they were all taut and balanced, he yelled to Henry in the lead cart, “Move out.” That was followed by “Get up” from Henry, then Harry, then Victoria and finally Jake… and the caravan continued forward.

They followed the marked and cleared path up to and along the first ridge, following the ridge until it gave away to a curved path down off the ridge, across a saddle and up to the top of the next ridge for a ways. This pattern repeated as three or four miles was covered. Around noontime, they approached the edge of a ‘bald’ area, an open field, with a spring on one end, among the trees, with a stream running from the spring. This was a good place to stop and rest the animals, as well as the people. They let the animals have some water and graze while the people ate their lunch, as well.

By the time an hour had passed, they were on the move, again, following the marked and cleared path. During the afternoon, they had to stop twice to do some additional clearing to allow the carts to pass cleanly. Not bad for the first day. The evening stop was at another spring and stream they had identified. This stream still ran to the north. By noontime on day two, they would be stopping at a spring and stream running to the south.

Jake and Robert got the animals around, watered and hobbled for the night near their camp where they could graze. The pigs were left leashed, but the leashes were tied to trees branches to allow them to wander a bit, in their own area, but unable to chew on the leases. The chickens were fed and watered in their coops.

Henry and Harry were assigned to hunt some squirrels, pigeon, rabbit or other small game for the evening meal. The women and other young ones each had camp responsibilities to complete. As the hunting was successful, the evening meal was complete and everyone, except the first watch person, got to bed in good time after a long day on the road. The campfire was kept going well, all night, and one of the adults stayed on watch, in shifts, throughout the night.

[...to be continued... on Januray 18, 2013, with Part 4 of Story 1]

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

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

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 1, The Trek, Part 2

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

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

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

Story 1, The Trek to the Homeplace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 1, The Trek, Part 1

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

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

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

Story 1, The Trek to the Homeplace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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