The Founding of the Homeplace Story 4, Fourth of July, 1833, Part 4

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 4, Fourth of July, 1833, 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), Story 3 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), and Story 4 (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 4, Fourth of July, 1833

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

Jake Patton, with an assist from Owen Olson, completed Henry McDonald’s four-wheeled freight wagon a few days before the ‘raising’ of the Olson cabin. As soon at it was ready, Henry, along with Harry, hitched up the mules and began driving the wagon around the valley each day, both to be sure the mules were trained and accustomed to pulling the wagon and to get each of them attuned to driving the mule pulled wagon. They tried a variety of loads, most being useful in moving goods around between sites. Before long, both Harry and Henry felt very much at ease with the mules and the wagon. They each became anxious to make the first freight run over the Big Piney trail a couple days after the Olson cabin was ‘raised.’

The Olson cabin ‘raising’ had to be postponed one day while a big thunderstorm rolled through the valley, but it went up very quickly on the following day. With one more day in between, Henry and Harry departed west along the Big Piney trail with full lists of items each of the families wished to have brought back on the return trip. They regretted not having a full load of goods to take with them, but that would likely come, in time. This time, they did have blacksmith items from Jake and Owen that they knew would sell in Big Piney. That was a start, at least, along with some other hand-tooled wooden and leather items from others in the valley. Kate and Victoria Patton had taken the lead among the women and sent along some preserves and food items they had made from native berries picked in the valley that they were pretty sure would sell in Big Piney because those items were not readily available there, to the best of their knowledge.

The McDonald men returned from their freight run to the Big Piney with most of the items they went for and some money from the sales they had made of the goods they had taken with them. The trip had been surprisingly uneventful. The mules and wagon each performed well. Robert Barksdale was especially pleased that the first two belts he had ordered for the mill were already there and were delivered on this run. With these now available, and with Jake able to make the first small saw blades, they looked forward to having a small, rough, early ‘saw-mill’ capability ready within a few weeks. 

Early in August the men got together and built two pole barns for winter hay. One was on the east edge of the forest between the Patton and Olson cabins and the other other equi-distance from the Barksdale, McDonald and soon-to-be Truesdale cabins. Shortly thereafter, as second cutting of hay was taken from open grasslands in sufficient quantities that all felt secure for their winter needs. 

During the third week of August, the Truesdale cabin went up as had been planned. As the fifth cabin, with the same basic design, it went up quickly and without any delay. Everyone felt a strong sense of relief, with harvest season approaching, that each of the families would now be set for the winter season with regard to housing accommodations. 

Hugh Truesdale and Victoria Patton were especially relieved on August 29th when who should arrive in the valley, down the Big Piney trial but The Reverend Mr. Jules Jenkins, still wearing his long black cloak and riding his big black Jack mule, Thunder, and leading a pack mule. The Reverend Mr. Jenkins preached his sermons, ate his meals, and performed the long awaited wedding ceremony promptly at 10 am on September 1, Victoria’s sixteenth birthday. As was his custom, following the wedding and lunch, The Reverend Mr. Jenkins packed up and headed southeast along the trail along Oak Creek to meet his next flock, where they were sure to be.

[...to be continued... on Aug 2, 2013, with Part 1 of Summer 1838 Progress Report]

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 4, Fourth of July, 1833, Part 2

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 4, Fourth of July, 1833, 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), Story 3 (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4), and Story 4 (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 4, Fourth of July, 1833

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

Sunday, June 23, was 4th Sunday, of course. Stories related to the freight run to the lumber camps and what was brought back continued to dominate conversations as everyone in the valley got together for their monthly social event. Of course, some discussions also related back to the visit of the Rev. Mr. Jenkins and to that of Big John, the trader. Young Harry McDonald spent some time talking to Sarah Baldridge about how she handled their chickens since that was now a new responsibility of his with the new coop coming into the family. 

It was noted by all that most of the grown food for the meal had come from the common garden, even though it was late getting started. All agreed they had been fortunate with good growing weather, but they all congratulated each other on the fine cooperation everyone had shown in getting the planting done well and early as possible along with a fine job of weed control with everyone contributing, especially the children and young folks. 

Meat was continuing to be obtained by hunting wild turkey, deer and supplemented with rabbits and squirrels. No hogs had yet been slaughtered for food. Two of the four sows had recently had litters of eight and ten, respectively, while the other two were due in the next couple of weeks. Assuming they were also successful, when weaning time arrived, the litters would be divided among the four families as previously agreed. The second litters later in the fall would also be divided in the same manner.

The men reminded themselves that the next couple of months would be breeding period for the four milk cows, as well. Each seemed to be healthy and was continuing to produce well, as expected.

As the conversations turned to the future, one of the first items of business was to determine that everything was in place to be ready to ‘raise the cabin’ for the McDonalds.’ Henry confirmed that everything was now in place, and, stated that it would be nice to get it done at the first opportunity. With no objections, the decision was made to do it on Tuesday, subject to weather, of course, so everyone had a day in between to do what other things they needed to do.

Following that decision, they also agreed to aim for completing the Olson’s cabin later in July, and Truesdale’s cabin by mid- August. Discussions among the men then turned to the need to harvest some of the long grass in nearby pasture lands as winter feed for the animals. A tentative plan to ‘put up some hay’ was made and agreed. They also discussed the possibility of constructing a pole barn to protect some of the hay put up from the weather for the winter. They decided to each think about the best approach and discuss it further in the future.

[...to be continued... on July 5, 2013, with Part 3 of Story 4]

The Founding of the Homeplace - Story 4, Fourth of July, 1933, Part 1

The Founding of the Homeplace

Story 4, Fourth of July, 1933, 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), Story 2 (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4), and Story 3 (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 4, Fourth of July, 1933

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

Shortly after Big John had left the valley, the men decided to send Robert and David Baldridge and Henry and Harry McDonald on the first freight run back to the Big Piney lumber camps with two wagons each pulled by an ox. With the latest knowledge of their trades with Big John, each family prepared a ‘wish-list’ and a ‘to-do list’ for the men when they are in Big Piney. 

Although they were a day later returning than some had hoped, on Friday, June 21, just before noon, the little party was spotted coming off the northwest ridge and into the valley along Center Creek. Robert and David Baldridge turned off to drop off part of their load with Jake and Kate Patton while Henry and Harry McDonald kept moving directly to their home base at Cardinal Corner. No one was happier to see them, of course, than Laura McDonald. 

As they were unloading the blacksmith supplies Jake had ordered, Robert shared with Jake that he had arranged to purchase the grinding stones and some key gears and belts he needed for the mill, later in the year. Robert was pleased that he was able to make the necessary contacts to confirm the deal while they were on this trip. They would plan to bring them back on a later trip, likely in the early fall.

The trip had been a complete success with all the ‘hoped-for’ items along with most of the ‘wish-list’ items as well. There were a few substitutes, of course, but that was to be expected. Each of the wives got a couple of small furniture items from their storage that they had missed greatly and really appreciated receiving. Fresh basic staples and supplies were appreciated by everyone. Henry had been able to obtain another coop of young chickens that would allow expansion of that part of their agricultural output and be useful for future breeding, as well. These would be kept at their Cardinal Corner location with some appropriate exchanges with the Baldridge flock from time to time.

Henry McDonald also brought back four young mules that had recently been broken to pull a medium-sized four wheel wagon. With their arrival, Henry also put in an order with Jake Patton to build such a wagon for him. On their return trip, Henry and Robert took the time to identify the locations along the trail from Big Piney that would need to be widen or ‘improved’ in order for such a wagon to make the trip. Henry said he would lead the effort to get those ‘improvements’  made during the next couple of months along with the other work planned. 

An added bonus from this trip was picking up mail for the valley residents at the Big Piney post office. Hugh Truesdale had three letters from his parents who he discovered had moved to Jefferson City. Laura McDonald had a letter from an aunt and a sister back in Kentucky. Kate Patton had a letter from her mother, now living in Louisville, Kentucky. Susannah Baldridge had a letter waiting for her from a sister in Illinois. Everyone was happy to get their letters as well as being reminded to write letters themselves, to be taken out on the next freight run.

[...to be continued... on June 21, 2013, with Part 2 of Story 4]