The Founding of the Homeplace - Summer 1848, Progress Report, Part 4 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1848, 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 1848, Progress Report

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

           On June 26, 1848, the plat of the town of Oak Springs was formally approved and the town was organized. It was four blocks wide and six blocks long, running north and south with Central Avenue being in the center of the north-south plat. Central Avenue was the street running in front of the General Store, Donagan’s Tavern, the Patton Hotel and The Livery and stable, as Jake Patton had envisioned it from an early day. The southwest portion of the plat incorporated Patton Spring, the pool, and a portion of Patton Run, the small creek running south and west toward Center Creek. Jake and Kate Patton donated the land to the city, reserving to their ownership that land on which sat the Blacksmith Shop, their house, the General Store, the Tavern land, the Patton Hotel and The Livery. The land west of Central Avenue and south of the shop was designated as a public use area to be developed as a park and fair grounds, which had become its common use through years of practice.  In addition, two blocks to the east that included the Olson home were included in the original town plot, donated by Owen Olson with the east block, where their home sat reserved to their ownership. These made the town plot consist of 26 blocks of 2 ½ acres each. Each block, designated by a letter, consisted of 4 numbered lots.

Sale of the rest of the lots would build a capital and operating fund for the town.  Initial Council Members, who each subscribed to buy two of the town lots immediately, were Jake Patton, Owen Olson, Victor Campbell, Hugh Truesdale and Robert Baldridge.

Jake and Owen already lived in the new town limits, of course. Victor Campbell pledged to build a new town residence before the winter set in, as did Robert Baldridge. Hugh Truesdale indicated that he, Victoria and Nellie would be doing the same in the summer of 1849 coincident with the marriage of their daughter, Jane, to Daniel McDonald, who would then move into the family home on the farm.

Around the valley, Joshua Cox and Nathan Bishop located near Victor Campbell farm on the Western Branch while Grant Carroll and Lawrence Johnson located near the Center Creek near Frances Holt and Jacob Pryor. Peter Simpson, Eli Rhodes and George King were the other Western Branch area farmers.

           

[This is the last in this series of posts]

The Founding of the Homeplace - Summer 1848, Progress Report, Part 3 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1848, 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 1848, Progress Report

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

           Jake Patton, now 52, continued to perform gunsmith work along with his many other interests. In 1846, he was elected a State Representative to the Missouri House from the local district and continued to serve in that role.  In 1844, he had added a livery stable north of the hotel to his list of business interests. Ralph Campbell, who had worked in the horse and mule breeding business, had gotten married (to Sally Rhodes) and was now managing the livery stable. He was also farming on shares a 40-acre plot of Patton farmland directly west of the Livery operation. To the north of that, Jake Patton had a similar shares farming arrangement with Reuben Ramsey and his wife, Becky. They were a new young couple that had just moved into the valley from Texas County to the west.  Both Sally Campbell and Becky Ramsey also worked part-time at the Patton Hotel in the kitchen and in housekeeping.

When Jake Patton was elected to the Missouri House, in 1846, Kate Patton became the Postmaster and Victoria Truesdale became the Assistant Postmaster.

In addition to the Ramsey couple, the new families in the valley over the past five years were headed by: Grant Carroll, Lawrence Johnson, Riley Cooper, Nathan Bishop, and Joshua Cox.

In 1847, Robert Baldridge was elected to the Shannon County Commission representing the north half of the county. While taking on these additional responsibilities, his son, David, now 23, took on an even more active management role in the mill operations.  In 1846, Riley Cooper and his wife, Julia, had moved from Houston to be an operator at the mill. Robert and David had met Riley on their trips to the Houston area and asked Riley to come work with them when he had expressed interest. As part of the move, Robert had purchased a 40-acre farm to the southwest of the mill that Riley and Julia Cooper farmed on a sharecrop arrangement.

In 1846 when Jake Patton was elected to the Missouri House, Owen Olson was elected Oak Creek Township trustee to replace him in that role. Likewise, when Robert Baldridge was elected to the County Commission in 1847, Hugh Truesdale was elected to the eastern Township trustee position. Victor Campbell had continued to serve as the western representative. On the roadways in the township, the main emphasis had been on improving the east-west road that ran along the north edge of the Patton property and along the south edge of the McDonald property.  Over time, this road became referred to more and more as “the Houston Road.” 

           

[...to be continued... on Jan 17, 2014, with Part 4 of Summer 1848 Progress Report]

The Founding of the Homeplace - Summer 1848, Progress Report, Part 2 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1848, 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. 

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 1848, Progress Report

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

           Throughout the 1840s, following getting the mill up and running smoothly, Robert, Susannah and David Baldridge had expanded their cattle business in the pastureland on the ridge on the north half of their property. Dense forest of oak, hickory and pine covered the western and northern borders of that land. The road from the north ran along the east side of the property just west of Oak Creek which flowed from the Big Spring several miles north of the county line and near the Baldridge property line down to the falls. When Victor Campbell had brought his small beef cattle herd into the west valley, it had enhanced cattle breeding opportunities for everyone, as had the arrival of one or two cattle each with other new residents of the valley. Robert, Susannah, and David had effectively become cattle brokers, stockmen, from their position at the mill where they saw most everyone a few times a year.  During this same period, they had added some modest grain storage capacity where they stored, sold and exchanged excess grain with their customers in the valley and beyond.

Last summer (1847), Owen Olson and Jake Patton entered into a set of agreements where by Owen 1) became the primary blacksmith at the Patton Shop, 2) purchased outright the land the Olsons had been working on shares with the Pattons, and 3) purchased the additional forty acres directly north of their original land. Liam Olson, now 14 years old, began an apprenticeship as a blacksmith under his father with additional guidance from Jake Patton.  Owen’s wife, Anna, and their daughter, Allison, now 11, in addition to helping on the farm and garden, also continued to work closely with Kate Patton and Victoria Truesdale at the General Store and the Patton Hotel to do the work that needed to be done, whether clerking, housekeeping or other activities.

Earlier, in 1843, organized as Ashley County, the area directly to the west of Oak Creek Township in 1845 was officially organized as Texas County, named after the Republic of Texas. In 1846, the town of Houston was organized near the Big Piney River somewhat south of where the lumber camps had been. 

           

[...to be continued... on Jan 3, 2014, with Part 3 of Summer 1848 Progress Report]

The Founding of the Homeplace - Summer 1848, Progress Report, Part 1 of 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Summer 1848, Progress Report

Part 1 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 1848, Progress Report

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

           Fifteen years in the valley and the original families suffer their first adult death – Laura, wife of Henry McDonald, and mother of Harry and Daniel, passed away in May. She was just 47 years old and just didn’t wake up one morning. She left Henry with a nearly 10-year-old son, Daniel, to look after.  Laura was buried on a knoll just south of the Cardinal Corner on McDonald land. That acre was subsequently surveyed and officially donated by the McDonalds to the Township for an official cemetery.

Meanwhile, also in the McDonald household, Harry and Sarah McDonald had added two sons, Thomas, now 3 and Patrick, now one, to go along with daughter, Caroline, to be 5 years old in August. Henry and Harry continued their regular weekly freight runs along with their farming operations. Henry McDonald had added the 320 acres to the north, across the river that included the front of the ridge along with the eastern side of the pool on Oak Creek near the Baldridge property. In addition to the farmland along the creek, they obtained ownership and access to the timber on the ridge as well as the caves there and the resources within.  Harry and Sarah (Baldridge) McDonald had further added the northern half of this same section that was largely pastureland and represented an eastward extension of the Baldridge pasture. This represented Sarah’s continued involvement with the Baldridge family cattle business.

Just to the west of the McDonalds, Hugh and Victoria Truesdale had also been able to purchase the additional 160 acres to the west of their place, as planned. Their children, Jane, 11, and Lewis, 6, were becoming more involved in the farming activities and the animals used there.  Hugh continued to be involved in the mule breeding operation and developing improved agricultural techniques. He took the lead in the valley sharing information with current and new farmers arriving to grow the community as much as possible.

           

[...to be continued... on Dec 20, 2013, with Part 2 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]

Discussing the origins of "The Homeplace Saga" writings

Discussing the origins of "The Homeplace Saga" writings

[Photo courtesy of Barbara Poole]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Bill  ;-)

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, Part 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, 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), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4) and Story 3 (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 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 4 of 4"

The agreement revolved around a sharecrop arrangement on the northeast corner of Jake’s property, to the east of the shop and their cabin. Recognizing that it was getting late in the season, Jake said he would talk to the others about possibly getting some seed for a modest corn and bean crop  this first season as well as a small garden. Without making a firm commitment before talking to the others, he said he assumed they would all work together to get them a cabin built sometime during the summer. He felt certain that Robert Baldridge would see the young man as a strong positive asset as it came time to begin building the mill, but he didn’t say anything about that until he had talked to Robert. 

The Olson couple had the evening meal with the Patton family and then set up a temporary camp on the edge of the woods near the Patton cabin. During the evening and the following morning, Jake made the rounds of talking to the other families to let them know what he was thinking about the Olson couple and getting their reactions to the tentative plan. Each agreed that it was really Jake’s decision to make, but they were each generally supportive with no objections. Robert confirmed that an extra strong and willing hand would indeed be useful. Appropriate compensation procedures would not be a problem. They also were able to come up with the seed needed to plant a ten-acre plot and a small garden this late in the season. Hugh Truesdale said he would happy to teach Owen how to fell and prepare the trees needed for a cabin if Jake was willing to have them use some of this timber. He concurred that having Owen do most of the physical labor himself would be a good way to assure he was fully vested in the project. Hugh also agreed to help with getting the planting plot done, teaching Owen all the processes along the way, so he would be able to do his own in the future. Victoria had already expressed pleasure to her father at the prospect of having another young woman in the community of nearly the same age.

With those assurances, Jake confirmed the arrangements with the Olsons the next day and everyone got to work to make it happen.

After talking with his parents, Harry decided what he wanted to try to trade with Big John and visited the trader’s camp late morning the next day. As he arrived, Jake, Owen and Anna were just concluding some trading with Big John to acquire a few household items and tools that would be useful that they had not been able to carry with them, if they had ever had them at all. 

Big John was pleased to see Harry come back and with the proposals he had. They each did a little careful haggling to make the resulting trades feel good to each of them. When they concluded their trades, Big John began to pack up his goods with the intention of heading down the Oak Creek trail to the southeast early in the afternoon. In a few hours he did just that, promising to return in a couple of months.

[...to be continued... on June 7, 2013, with Part 1 of Story 4]

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

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 3, The First Valley Visitors, 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), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4) and Story 3 (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 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 3 of 4"

Big John asked Harry to tell him how he had come to have this fine deer hide. Harry shared with Big John some details of the hunt as well as talking about what he had done to cure the hide. Big John then, very carefully, provided a critique and some suggestions about the quality of the particular hide he was wanting to trade. Big John knew, of course, that how he dealt with the youngster would have some impact on his relationships with the adults in the community as well. 

They then began talking about trade goods. What might Harry be interested in obtaining in exchange from Big John that Big John had in his pack? What was the value of the hide with respect to these items? Did Harry have any other items he might want to consider trading? Big John was careful to make that point that an immediate decision on a trade was not necessary and how important it was for each of them to feel they had a ‘good deal’ when they finished. They talked about long-term and short-term satisfaction issues.

Harry expressed an interest in some tools of his own so that he wouldn’t always have to use those of his father: a claw-hammerhead, an axehead, a skin scraper, perhaps. Big John showed Harry the tools he had and discussed their relative worths along with some positives and negatives of each. After some further discussion, Big John suggested that Harry talk to his parents about their discussion and come back tomorrow if he was still interested in some specific trade talks.

Harry met Sarah Baldridge leaving the garden area as he headed back to talk to his parents. She wondered why he had been talking to Big John, by himself. Harry explained what he had been doing and how interesting it had been to talk to Big John ‘man-to-man.’ Sarah wanted to make fun of Harry, but quickly realized how serious he was about doing a man-thing, on his own. So, she was positive and encouraged him in talking to his parents. 

Meanwhile, Jake, Kate and Victoria Patton had more visitors arrive from the northwest. A young couple, Owen and Anna Olson, by name, came walking down the trail off the ridge, each with a medium sized pack on their backs. They followed the Center Creek directly to the Patton cabin which was actually their intended destination. 

Owen was a powerful young man of Norwegian stock who wanted to learn to be both a farmer and a blacksmith. He had talked to a number of blacksmiths at the lumber camp. From those discussions, Owen and Anna had decided to come find Jake Patton, the blacksmith. Now, here they were.

Jake was flattered, of course, that they had come this far to see him. On the other hand, he had to be skeptical as to their intentions and how they might fit here in the valley, if that was really their intention. They did seem to be very sincere if quite naive in their expectations. Jake felt is was important to find out as much as possible about them by keeping them talking. He asked about the different folks they had contacted and the lumber camps and decided he could make a pretty good judgement based on those answers. They did show him their marriage certificate.

It did not take Jake long to conclude that Owen and Anna were very sincere, they had a strong work ethic, and seemed to be willing to do whatever it took to earn the way of life they sought. However, they also had no money and few supplies with them. They did not have a backup plan. They were putting everything they did have at risk to make this work. Following further discussion, Jake came to an agreement with the young couple to give them the opportunity to earn their dream if they would live up to the expectations they were presenting. Jake also made sure that they fully appreciated how difficult it was likely to be and that nothing was certain about the arrangement if they did not hold up their end of the bargain. They totally agreed to give it all they had, individually and together.

[...to be continued... on May 17, 2013, with Part 4 of Story 3]

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 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 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).