The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, Part 2

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, 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), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4) and Story 3 (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 Threatened." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 1999, respectively. 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. 

[Source: Currier & Ives, "Summer landscape, c1869"; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002695754: accessed 17 Mar 2013)]

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.

Story 3, First Valley Visitors

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

Preparations were underway to build the McDonald cabin but actual construction had not begun. Most of the logs were cut and shaped, but the actual ‘raising of the cabin’ had not been scheduled pending completion of the final materials. Both the McDonald family and Hugh Truesdale continued to live in their tents at Cardinal Corner until their cabins were completed.  

The Baldridges, Robert and Susannah, Sarah and David, had only been in their cabin for a few days when the preacher arrived in the valley. The cabin was finally located at the base of the ridge about fifty yards west of the base of the falls, where it was planned to build the mill. During the preparation for building the cabin, Robert and David had discovered a small cave entrance just about ten feet behind the anticipated location of the cabin. This discovery certainly solidified the decision of the actual location of the house.

By digging out the entrance, just a bit, and construction of a door, a naturally cool-temperature storage facility became a ‘built-in’ home feature for the Baldridges. Each home needed a facility like this, either a cave or a springhouse on the moving water. Since this house was built away from the stream, they were fortunate to have discovered the useful cave location. 

Eleven year old Sarah had done such a conscientious job with the chickens that it was agreed the chicken coops would be moved with the Baldridges and they would continue to be her responsibility. She continued to gather the eggs and share them around the community.

Four days after the preacher left to the southeast, another visitor arrived from the northwest. He was a trader who called himself ‘Big John’ - he said he didn’t use a last name because it wasn’t necessary. Everyone remembered Big John, because he was. He carried a variety of trade goods in the pack on the mule he led, from tin cups to ribbons; from hammerheads and knives to calico cloth. He took hides, grain and other locally produced goods in trade; anything he could carry in his pack or consume along the way. 

Big John was about 6 foot 6 inches tall and muscular, really very large for the times. He wore buckskins, and walked with long strides. He initially spoke in a loud voice, and especially around the young folks, he told very tall tales. The adults wanted to remain wary of Big John, but he also had a conversational style around them that drew them to him. He regularly talked of activities and events at the lumber camps. He knew about people they knew. Big John was in no hurry to move on. He talked and traded and traded and talked. It turned out he preferred talking one-on-one with each person. In groups, he told stores and endeared himself to folks. One-on-one he was a business man of great acumen.

He made his own camp-site and generally prepared his own meals. He was not pushy as might be expected but rather let the people come to him. Over the few days he was in the valley, everyone traded something and he had endeared himself to everyone. 

By the time Big John arrived, Harry had one of his hides ready to the point he believed he would be able to trade it for some things he wanted. When the opportunity arose, Harry and Big John had a good one-on-one conversation. Big John, of course, having been alerted by Harry’s parents, was very thorough and careful in dealing with eleven year old Harry. This was a very big deal, to him.

[...to be continued... on May 3, 2013, with Part 3 of Story 3]

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, Part 1

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, 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) and Story 2 (Part 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 Threatened." These three books are set in the years 1987, 1996, and 1999, respectively. 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. 

[Source: Currier & Ives, "Summer landscape, c1869"; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002695754: accessed 17 Mar 2013)]

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.

Story 3, First Valley Visitors

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

When Jake Patton returned from the county seat in Van Buren with the news that the land claims had been successfully filed he also brought something new with him. He had walked to the south east, but on his return, he was riding a bay mare that would be foaling in the early spring of the following year. Everyone was anxious to see and greet the horse as well has her rider.

One other bit of news Jake brought was that the next settlements to the south were about five families and perhaps another dozen single men involved in a lead mining operation near the confluence of the Current and the Jack’s Fork rivers. Oak Creek emptied into the Current, to the east, about ten miles below the Oak Springs valley. That next settlement was ten to fifteen miles further to the southeast.

Work had continued on planting mostly corn, and some beans, on the ten-acre plots at each farm while Jake was on his trip, including at the Patton farm.  

The first circuit-riding preacher to find the Oak Springs valley this year since the arrival of our settlers arrived on June 12, 1833. The Reverend Jules Jenkins was a Methodist out of St. Louis. He wore a long black cloak and was riding a big black Jack mule he called Thunder and leading a pack mule. Coming into the valley from the northwest, he arrived first at the cabin of Jake and Kate Patton who invited him to stay with them for a couple of days. While he was there they arranged with him to return early in September to marry young Hugh Truesdale and their daughter, Victoria. The Rev. Mr. Jenkins agreed to arrive as early in September as his travels would allow.

The preacher conducted an evening service at the Cardinal Corner arbor, with all of the valley residents present. The weather held and this was still a central meeting place even though the first two cabins were completed and the Patton and Baldridge families now had their own residences to look after. The McDonald family and Hugh Truesdale served as hosts, since the meeting was held in their residential area.

The Rev. Mr. Jenkins managed to take at least one meal with each family during his stay. He spoke to the children about God as well as to the adults about their important responsibilities in God’s kingdom. He reminded them to read their bibles every day, and that he’d be back in a couple of months to see how they had progressed in their understanding of God’s will in their lives.

Having come into the valley from the northwest, the Rev. Mr. Jenkins left to the southeast, following Oak Creek. He said he knew there were some lead mining settlements in that direction that needed his attention.

With the planting approaching a conclusion for the season, and the days getting longer, Henry and Harry McDonald took a few evenings each week to go into the woods on the ridge north of their farm to hunt for deer. They had good success on a regular basis. The meat was shared across the community, of course. The hunter who bagged the game, however, had the option to keep the hide and other peripherals for their own use. Harry, in particular, was proud to have bagged three deer and was now learning to process and cure the hides. One of the hides, when properly finished, was destined to become new deerskin leggings his mother, Laura, had promised. She said they would work together on them so that he would know how they were done.

[...to be continued... on April 19, 2013, with Part 2 of Story 3]

Murder by the Homeplace: A Novella in The Homeplace Series

Murder by the Homeplace

A Novella in The Homeplace Series

[Now Available on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWZEX50
and in Print Edition]

We met Penny Nixon here, earlier, and now she shares a full story with us. I hope you enjoy it!

This novella is set immediately following "Back to the Homeplace" in the same location and 1987. Secondary characters take a leading role in this novella while the major characters from "Back to the Homeplace" play secondary roles.

Back of the book blurb:

A police radio scanner call of '419' - "dead human body" - on a bucolic fall afternoon in the south-central Missouri Ozarks small town of Oak Springs sends a part-time local newspaper reporter, Penny Nixon, on the adventure of her life-time. Warned by her editor to only look for 'human-interest angles' to the story, her actions bring her perilously close to interviewing the knife-wielding perpetrator of a bizarre murder. The victim is a recently disgraced young attorney who only weeks earlier was involved in a domestic violence incident with his 'banker's daughter' bride in this quiet small town.


Comments on 'Murder at the Homeplace' from advance reader Jason Bolger:

"I like how it's a different slant on the town, but still weaves in the characters from the books I enjoyed so much. I like how the reporter interacts with people, and it seems like the dialog gives a pretty good feel for the emotions, or the state of mind the characters are in at the time she talks with them. I also like how there are little "side mysteries" that are hinted at, but not explained.  This gives me a chance to imagine things on my own as a reader, and not have to be told every little thing.

This story was a nice read, I could put it down and come back to it without having to backtrack.  I guess it just stayed fresh in my mind over the few days that I picked it up and put it down. I really liked it, and am excited to check out the final book."

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

Bill ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace Story 2, The First Plantings, Part 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 2, The First Plantings, Part 4

"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, 2, and 3) 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 4 of 4"

Rocks collected from the plowing were taken to the nearby upper stream bed where a temporary ‘spring house’ was fashioned where the temperature would be cool for short-term storage of dairy products and garden products when they became available. Each of these projects were also used as a time when everyone could come together to join in a community effort. Meal times and these community projects provided the opportunity to discuss the next projects down the line, including the construction of log homes for each family.

The consensus was to build the Patton home first as it had abundant timber close by. The Baldridge home would be next, just off the ridge, using timber from the top of the ridge. The McDonalds would be third. It would require moving the most timber. Each cabin would be built on the same pattern with a large central area with two small bedrooms on the end opposite the fireplace. As these discussions were taking place, Hugh Truesdale formally approached the Patton’s with his desire and intention to marry their daughter, Miss Victoria - to the surprise of no one. He received approval, but only after her 16th birthday on September 1. They expected that a circuit-riding preacher would be coming through before too long and arrangements would be made to formalize the marriage at the appropriate time. With this arrangement in place, a cabin for the new Truesdale family would be built fourth.

On the “Fourth Sunday” of May the entire group was determined to continue a tradition from the community and churches of which they were a part in the Big Piney lumber camps. This one day a month was set aside as a social event with a community meal at noontime, and an afternoon of relaxed discussion and even some games for young and old. It didn’t need to be formal or fancy, but it was a celebration of the month gone by and a chance to look to the future in a positive way as well. This Sunday, the men were beginning to talk of the need to go back to the Big Piney area and get some supplies and bring a few items for each family that had been left behind. As soon as all the crops were in, they decided they could make such a trip.

The other critical decision made at this time was to send Jake Patton south to the county seat to the land office to formally file each of the four claims of land as shown on the surveys they had recently completed. This would take a few days, but it was critical that this step be taken as soon as possible.

Through these early days, after the garden plot was prepared, ten-acre plots for corn and beans were prepared for each family followed shortly be a second ten-acre plot for this first year. The McDonalds prepared a late third ten-acre plot, as well. These were each finished, planted and tended by the respective families as May became June.

[...to be continued... on April 5, 2013, with Part 1 of Story 3]

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 Homeplace Series - Book Blog Tour Plan

The Homeplace Series - Book Blog Tour

Background and Planning Information

'The Homeplace Series' of Historical Fiction/Family Saga story content covers nearly 200 years of family drama and growth in a fictional southern Missouri Ozarks community, Oak Springs, and the families at the center of that settlement and growth over the years. This Family Saga was begun in 2010 with the 'Back to the Homeplace' novel set in 1987 building a fascinating set of characters in three generations and their varied reactions to the unusual will of the family matriarch. It was well received but not heavily marketed. The second book in the series, 'The Homeplace Revisited,' set in 1996, focused on the next generation and might be considered Christian fiction. It was hardly marketed at all, except via the blog. 

Research for the third book in the Series led the author into researching (creating) the family history back from early in the nineteenth century in the southern Missouri Ozarks, including the Civil War era and its impact on the family and community (see first short story collection, below). Along the way, a Murder Mystery (occurring immediately after the end of the Back to the Homeplace story) novella was written. Another novella, celebrating Christmas at the Homeplace, is planned. The third novel in the Series, The Homeplace Threatened, will be completed in 2014. As noted below, at least two novels/novellas/collections will eventually fill in the historical gaps in the family story.

In addition to the fiction works listed below, the story development can be followed at The Homeplace Series Blog: http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/

and the 'Beyond the Books' transmedia storytelling developmental wiki:

http://homeplace.wikispaces.com

The time has come to mount an on-going media marketing campaign for the full 'The Homeplace Series.'

We project one tour about every three months or so over the next fifteen to eighteen months (and beyond) in the following order:

Back to the Homeplace (2010 novel set in 1987) - late Apr 2013

***tagline: If you haven't read it, it is new to you!

Murder by the Homeplace (2013 novella set in 1987) - June 2013

The Homeplace Revisited-2nd edition (2013 novel set in 1996) - Sept 2013

Christmas at the Homeplace (2013 novella set in 1996) - Dec 2013

American Centennial at the Homeplace (2014 short story collection on the Founding of the Homeplace and the Oak Springs community's first 40 years, 1833 to 1870s) - Mar 2014

The Homeplace Threatened (2014 novel set in 1998) - Jun 2014

Future: 

1880 into 1930s (undetermined format-either short stories or novella)

Mid-1930s to 1980s (undetermined format - novel prequel most likely)

***

Selected bloggers are being contacted to participate in this projected Book Blog Tour (one or more segments). If you would like to participate, or know someone who might be interested in participating, I need an email, Subject: The Homeplace Series Book Blog Tour, from each blogger with the following information:

Name of blog

Blog URL

Name of blogger

Contact email address

Send an email with this information to: billsmith2003 at gmail dot com

Thank you, on behalf of Vision to Action Publishing (http://eduscapes.com/v2a/) and Author, William Leverne Smith

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

Bill ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace Story 2, The First Plantings, Part 3

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 2, The First Plantings, Part 3

"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 and 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, "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 3 of 4"

Finally, for their other two quarter sections, Jake and Kate Patton chose to go a mile west of the southwest corner of their first properties and a half mile south to stake out a 320-acre parcel that included Center Creek, as they had now come to calling it, diagonally bisecting the western half of this parcel. The western two-thirds of the property was wooded along the creek, and had an additional small, but significant, spring of its own on the north edge, feeding southwest into Center Creek. This 320-acre parcel still had nearly 100 acres of pasture or tillable land in the eastern portion. Jake believed the area where the small spring fed into the creek would be an ideal location for his blacksmith and gunsmith operation. Eventually, Kate Patton hoped to open a general store there, as well; but that was in the future planning stage only.

In those early days in camp, along with moving timber, surveying and plotting land, and preparing the first garden and planting plots, everyone was alert to identification of the local edible berries and greens, along with the roots and herbs in the area to supplement game hunting treks to provide sustenance for the group. Fishing was good right from the start so their menu was well diversified. Wild turkeys were found to be in abundance as well. Warning and alert procedures were in place from the beginning to warn of unexpected intruders of any kind, and it was not long before they arrived, of course.

Wolves could be heard each night from the second day away from the Big Piney lumber camp region, but they seemed to keep their distance. Signs of bear were seen early on arrival in the valley, but none were actually seen for the first couple of months. Panthers, cougars, and other mountain lion species could be expected, but none were detected in the early days in the Oak Springs valley. Each of the men carried their long-rifles on any tasks away from the central camp. Harry also had a long-rifle now that he was an eleven year old. David carried a bow and quiver of arrows, with which he was quite proficient. He provided a turkey for the group in each of their first three weeks in the valley. Though three years younger, David was nearly as tall as Harry, and his father had encouraged a very strong sense of responsibility at a very young age. 

Practical considerations in the early days in camp at Cardinal Corner led to appropriate ‘out-house’ accommodations downriver from the camp site closer to where the animals were kept. Pens were constructed for the pigs but they didn’t always hold. This was a constant, but expected, source of irritation to especially the young folks, especiall Harry and David, because they were expected to run them down and return them to the pens. The chickens were initially left in the coops. Young Sarah Barksdale had pretty much adopted the chickens as her project. She fed them morning and night, and stopped by regularly during the day, around working in the garden, to collect any eggs that had been laid, hopefully before they were broken. Victoria Patton had taken on the primary responsibility for milking the four cows morning and evening. Others helped out, from time to time, but she felt she related best to the cows and wanted to do it.

[...to be continued... on March 15, 2013, with Part 4 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 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.