How Many Worley's Can There Be?

I've come across one of those ancestors; the one who you can't peg down when it comes to his beginning but a lot of assumptions can easily be made, and have been made, and some of those assumptions are just wrong--terribly terribly wrong, and you just want some facts, not assumptions.

In an attempt at understanding this ancestor a little better, I decided to blog about him, because I've found that blogging helps me to slow down and really look closely at all the information I have and sometimes things jump out that I haven't noticed before.

The ancestor I'm referring to is Worley D. Linville. Some have him as Worley Daniel Linville and others still as Worley Daniel Boone Linville. But all the records I have found only say Worley D. Linville.

The 1850 census is always a good starting point because it was the first census to name all the individuals in the household, as well as listing their ages and birth places.

In the 1850 Randolph County, Alabama, census we find Worley D Linville age 34 born in KY, Margaret C Linville age 19 born in GA, Elizabeth Linville age 67 born in NC and little Margaret E Linville age 1 born in AL.

From this census record I can glean that Worley's parents may be found somewhere in KY during the 1810-1820 census periods and that his mother is most likely the 67 year old Elizabeth Linville who is living with him. Margaret C is his wife Margaret Catherine Newell, her name later comes from her death certificate where her full name is given as Margret Catharine Linville and her parents names are William P. Newal and Pricilla Jones. I have yet to find a marriage record for Worley D and Margaret Catherine. The most likely reason is the fact that Randolph County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1897.

Continuing my search in Randolph County there is in the 1840 census a Worley Lindville listed as the head of household with the following living with him:

2 males age 20-29
2 males age 30-39
1 male aged 50-59 - too old to be my Worley D. Linville but maybe he was named after his father.
1 female age 10-14
1 female age 15-19
1 female age 20-29
1 female age 50-59 - IF this is Worley D's family most likely the Elizabeth from the 1850 census.

Often in my research I will use Google to search for my ancestors. There has been a lot of valuable 'feet on the ground' research done before so much was uploaded to the internet. And then that research has been shared later on. It may not be actual records but the research is definitely worth considering. When I did this I came across the following from USGENWEB:

Historical Records of Randolph County: Sep 16, 1846

Larmbird [Lambert] Linville administrator of the Estate of Worley Linville [SR] deceased, stated Worley died interstate and the land cannot be divided equally among his heirs and that Daniel and William Linville (both full age and reside in Kentucky) Elizabeth Jackson late Linville, Elender Cassels late Linville both full age residents of Georgia, Rebecca Phillips late Linville wife of Wilkins Phillips of full age and residing in Miss It is ordered that notice be issued to *Merriam Linville and Mark Cassels to appear in Court in October. Is the above mentioned Daniel my Worley D. Linville that some say is Worley Daniel Linville? If there was a courthouse fire in 1897 where did the above information come from? I've searched FamilySearch for probate/estate records for Randolph County and there are NONE, most likely because of the fire. Are the heirs listed all children?  Also of note, most online trees have the following two women listed as possibilities for Worley Sr.'s wife: 1) Rachel Pugh and 2) Elizabeth Jackson. 

From the above Estate I have concluded that Elizabeth Jackson is the married name of his daughter not his wife. She married William Jackson on 6 June 1841 in Carroll County, GA.  And the Worley Linville who married Rachel Pugh 23 March 1829 in Hardeman County, TN was alive and well in Tippah County, Mississippi for the 1850 census. Meaning there is another Worley Linville out there that is not my Worley Linville.  For the time being, my tree will have Worley Sr.'s wife listed as Elizabeth LNU  b. 1783 NC

Now going back to that 1840 Randolph Co. Census, keeping in mind that exact birthdates aren't very accurate using census records, and using it in conjunction with the Estate information I discovered this:

2 males age 20-29 - Worley D. & Lambert
2 males age 30-39 - William & ?
1 male aged 50-59 - Worley Sr.
1 female age 10-14 - Eleanor Ellender (married Mark Cassells brother Absalom)
1 female age 15-19 - Merriam (Martha)* (married to Mark Cassells)
1 female age 20-29 - Elizabeth (married William Jackson 1841) or Rebecca (married to W Phillips)
1 female age 50-59 - Elizabeth LNU


There is a William b 1809 KY living in Mercer Co. KY in 1850 (<-- William in such a common name I can't be certain this is indeed the William mentioned in the Estate), Lambert b. 1812 KY living in Randolph Co. AL in 1850, Rebecca Phillips b. 1813 KY married to William Wilkins Phillips living in Pontotoc Co. MS, Elizabeth Jackson b. 1814 KY married to William Jackson living in Heard Co., GA, Worley Daniel? Linville b. 1816 KY living in Randolph Co., AL and Eleanor Ellender Cassels b. 1823 KY married to Absalom Cassells living in Troup Co., GA.

All of the above children show the state of birth to be KY - this is what I have found for Worley Linville in census records in the state of KY. The names beside the age ranges are estimates and if any children are married but living in the household with Worley Sr they could be spouses of children.

1810, Rockcastle County, KY - Worldly Linville (Rockcastle County was formed in 1810)

3 males under 10 -
1 male age 26-44 - Worley Sr.
1 male 45+ - Worley's FIL?
1 female age 16-25 - Elizabeth LNU

*** In the 1810 census directly beneath Worldly Linville is the household of a William Linville and a William Linville Jr. - It would seem plausible and likely that Wm Sr. is Worley's father and Wm Jr. a brother. The census for William Sr. says he's 45+ in 1810.

1820, Rockcastle County, KY - Worley Linville

3 males under 10 - Worley D., Lambert, & ?
1 male age 10-15 - William ?
1 male age 26-44 - Worley Sr.
1 female age 26-45 - Elizabeth LNU

1830, Laurel County, KY - Wirley Linville

1 male age 10-14 - Worley D.
3 males age 20-29 - Lambert, William & ?
1 male age 50-59 - Worley Sr.
1 female under 5 - Ellender
2 female age 5-9 - Merriam & ?
1 female age 10-14 - Elizabeth
1 female age 15-19 - Rebecca
1 female age 50-59 - Elizabeth LNU

There is another record for Worley being in Laurel County KY other than the 1830 census.
In Deed Book G, pages 338-339, Laurel County, KY you can find the following:

"Know all men by these presents that I, Worley Linville, am held and firmly bound unto William Brown in the penal sum of two hundred dollars, well and truly to be paid as witnesses my hand, January the 14th, 1840.

"The bond is [unreadable two words] obligation is [unreadable word] as the said Worley Linville hath this day bargained and sold unto the said William Brown a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being on Rockcastle River on both sides, the beginning in Laurel County and state of Kentucky, containing fifty acres [unreadable word] by the name of the said Linville old river place for the consideration of one hundred dollars ninety four for being paid in have and the said Linville binds himself and his heirs to make the said Brown a special deed when the other six dollars is paid and binds himself for the purchase money back if the land is ever lost in testimony. I have hereunto set my hand and seal to wit this 14th day January 1840.

"Worley Linville

"I assign the within bond to John Decker, December the 5th 1841. Signed: Wm Brown, Attest: Thomas B. Nichols

"I assign the within bond to Thomas Brown, August the 27th day 1845. Signed: John H. Decker, Attest: William Reynolds

"The value received, I assign the within bond to Wm Brown, Aug 1st 1846. Signed: Thomas Brown

"For value received, I assign the within bond to Wm McQuary this 25 of Nov 1847. Signed: Wm Brown

"I assign the with bond to Wm Reynolds this 27 of January 1849. Signed: William McQuary

"I assign the with bond to David M. Minks and William A. Dire this 23rd day Oct 1850. Signed: William Reynolds

"For value received, I assign my interest of the within bond to Wm A. Dyer, Nov 23rd 1851. Signed: David M. Mink

"For value received, I assign the within bond to David M. Mink, January 1st 1858. Signed: John Roberts

"For value received, I assign the within bond to Andrew Decker, Feb 21st 1860. Signed: D.M. Mink, Attest: William McGraw

"This the 21st day of August 1868, I assign the within bond to James Smith of all my interest and [unreadable word] of me and my heirs with none back me or my heirs. Signed: A.M. Decker

"For value received, I assign the within bond to Isaac Mize this 26 day of August 1870. Signed: James Smith, Attest: James Cooper, Wm Lickliter

"State of Kentucky Laurel County, SS
"I, R.L. Ewell, clerk of the Laurel County Court do certify that the foregoing bond from Worley Linville to William Brown with the different assignments, last assignment of James Smith to Isaac Mize 26th Aug 1870, was produced to me in my office, signed for record. The same together with this certificate hat been duly admitted to records. Given under my hand this 8th day of June 1874, R.L. Ewell, clerk."

For now it is my opinion that Worley Daniel Linville is the son of Worley Linville Sr. and Elizabeth LNU and the grandson of the 1810 William Linville Sr. and wife unkown.

His siblings are William, Lambert, Rebecca Linville Phillips, Elizabeth Linville Jackson, Merriam Martha Linville Cassells and Eleanor Ellender Linville Cassells... possibly a brother or two who I have yet to discern and who weren't mentioned in the Estate or in this transcription of the Estate.
About 1848 Worley Daniel Linville married Margaret Catherine Newell. They had the following children who lived into adulthood:

Margaret Elizabeth b. 1849
Priscilla Frances b. 1852
Martha Jane b. 1854
Samantha Evaline b. 1857
Emma Josephine b. 1860
William Worley b. 1861
Isaac Marion b. 1865 - named after Margaret Newell's brother who died in the Civil War 9 June 1864
James Lafayette b. 1869

As stated before, in 1850 Worley Daniel with his wife, mother, and infant daughter Margaret, were found living in Randolph County, AL

In 1860 the family was still living in Randolph County, post office is listed as Rockdale. By this time Pricilla, Martha Jane, Samantha and Emma Josephine had been born. Also with this family is the 16 year old daughter of Worley's brother Lambert, Barbary E. Linville.

On 15 April 1864, Worley Daniel enlisted with the Confederacy and was elected First Lieutenant of Co. E of the 3rd Alabama  Reserves. Not much is known about his military career. His service records are only 2 pages long and I haven't been able to find any pension filed for him.

By 1870, Worley and his family, now with the three young boys; William, Isaac and James, are living about 50 miles North in Haralson County, GA. Their post office is listed as Tallapoosa. The year prior, in 1869 his daughter Priscilla Frances married Thomas Pope in this same county.

In November 1871 his oldest daughter Margaret Elizabeth married James F. Hughes in Haralson County.

In 1873, his daughter, Martha Jane, my ancestor married Jesse Josiah McClung in Haralson County, GA. They were married by JJ's maternal uncle Jesse G. Newman.

On 10 March of 1874, Worley Daniel Linville departed this life at the age of 57. He is said to be buried in Plunkett Cemetery, Collinsville, DeKalb County, Alabama.

Not long after his death, his daughters Samantha Evaline and Emma Josephine marry though I have yet to find marriage records. The 1900 census for these two sisters says they were married in 1874. Samantha E married Henry Washington Turner and Emma Josephine married her first cousin on  her maternal side, Isaac Johnson Harcrow. He was the son of W.L. "Lindsay" Harcrow and Lucinda T. Newell according to his Dearth Certificate.  Lucinda T. Newell was the sister of Margaret Catherine Newell.

In 1880 the widow Margaret is living with her three sons, William, Isaac and James in DeKalb County, AL not far from her married daughters Emma Harcrow and Priscilla Pope who are on the previous census page. Her married daughters Martha Jane McClung and Samantha Tanner are also living in DeKalb County very near one another but not as close to their mother and male siblings. Her oldest daughter Margaret Elizabeth Hughes is living in the neighboring county of Etowah.

In 1888, my ancestor, Martha Jane McClung dies at the young age of 33, possibly from childbirth.

The 1890 census is gone, but by 1900 most of this family has migrated to TX where in 1895 Margaret Elizabeth Hughes passed away at the age of 45. She is buried in Navarro County.
Pricilla and her family stayed in Alabama, where she died at the at of 77 in 1929.
It is said that Samantha died in 1902 in Wood County, TX - I can't find any record of her death. She would've only been 43. In 1900, Emma Josephine and her family are found living in Ellis Co and by 1910 they had moved to Haskell County where her mother Margaret Catherine is found living with Emma and Isaac's married daughter Laura Jackson. In 1919 the matriarch of this family passed away at the age of  88. Emma continued to live in Haskell until the age of 78. I was actually able to find her obituary from 1938 on Newspapers.com


William Worley became a prominent ranchman in the "Charlie Community". His first wife Fannie Owens died very young from fever in 1907. He remarried to a Louvenia Hellums. William Linville died in 1927 and was buried in Charlie, Clay County, TX at the age of 66.

Issaac spent most of his life in Palacios, Texas. He died there in 1949 at the age of 84.

James Lafayette passed away two years earlier in 1947 at the age of 77 in Haskell County, TX where he had lived for at least 40 years.

The thing I have learned about this family - whether it be the children of Worley Sr. or the children or Worley Daniel - many of them passed down that crazy name. Worley Sr.'s daughter Rebecca named a son Worley Phillips, my Worley named a son William Worley, Martha Cassels named a son Worley Absalom Cassels. Next generation - Worley Daniel's daughter Emma named her first born son Worley Harcrow,  Isaac Marion named a son John Worley and somewhere back in time there was that Worley Linville who married Rachel Pugh and settled in Tippah County Mississippi. Who was he named after and how is he tied into this family? Maybe that can be my next line of research.

Until next time,
Becky


Please be sure to check out my sister-in-law's post at Days of Our Lives  on her German immigrant ancestor and his final resting place.

Life On Antelope Flat

 

This blog post will not be comprised of my words but words from my ancestors and distant relatives that were preserved by the Truscott Historical Preservation Association in their publication Between The Wichitas, published in 1985.

This book sat on the shelf at my Grandmother's and I can remember skimming through it when I was still too young to understand the wealth of information and memories it held. While researching my Jones line last year I kept remembering that my grandmother had a book that she said had stories about her ancestors. I couldn't remember much more about it other than the word Wichita. She passed away in 2010 and I'm not sure what happened to her copy so I did a search online and I eventually found the book. I told my husband how much I would love to have it and to my surprise he bought it for me for my birthday. It was the perfect gift. And now I wanted to find a way to share this gift with any of you who share a few of these relatives with me.


While there is a lot of information about the John Calvin Jones family in this book, this post will primarily be about my Rutherford line-- my second great grandfather James Walter Rutherford, his wife Ora Frances McClung and the memories their children shared.

I recently came in contact with a woman on Ancestry who descends from James and Ora's daughter Glennie. She shared a couple wonderful pictures with me, and then she and I began emailing and eventually have connected on Facebook. This post will be for her and all the other long lost relatives I have out there ... may we soon connect.



The James Walter and Ora Frances Rutherford Family - Minus my Great Grandmother Myrtle Jones

 

 

The above picture was one that my new found cousin shared with me. Seated are my 2nd great grandparents and standing behind them left to right are their children, Laverne, Lona Belle, Opal, Elba, Glennie and Jesse Newton Rutherford. My great grandmother Lurie Myrtle Jones isn't pictured as she and her family were living 5 hours away in San Antonio. That would date this picture between the years 1934-1944.

James Walter Rutherford was the son of Thomas Franklin Rutherford and Martha Ann Wright. He was born 7 April 1877 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Ora Frances McClung was the daughter of Jesse Josiah McClung and Martha Jane Linville. She was born 1 July 1880 in DeKalb County, Alabama. The Rutherford family had made their way to Texas by 1880. The McClung's didn't come until 1895. On Christmas Day 1898 James Walter and Ora Frances were married in Mt. Pleasant, Titus County, Texas.

 

The newly married couple weren't in Titus County long. On 2 Oct 1899 the couple had their first child, my grandmother, Lurie Myrtle Rutherford who was born in Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas, where the family shows up in the 1900 census living just a few households away from his parents. James and Ora went on to have three more children while living in Santa Anna, Jesse Newton, who was named after her father, Glennie, and then Elba. In 1907 James Walter purchased 338 acres at a place called Antelope Flat in Foard and Knox Counties. In January of 1908 the family loaded up a covered wagon and made their way some 150 -175 miles north.




Jesse, baby Glennie, Lurie Myrtle circa 1904



James Walter, Ora Frances, baby Lurie Myrtle and infant Jesse Newton

Here is a recollection of the trip as recalled by their son Jesse who would've been six at the time.

"Their stock, other than the team, consisted of a milk cow and a brood sow which was strapped in a crate on the wagon. A stove was carried inside the wagon and used for warmth and cooking purposes.

On the journey from Santa Anna to Antelope Flat, Jesse spent most of his time hunting for the family, mainly quail and other small game.
 

Upon reaching the Brazos River, which was overflowing due to heavy rains in the area, they had to wait a few days before attempting to cross.

After arriving at Antelope Flat, they removed the wheels from the wagon and lived in the wagon until a more permanent shelter could be made."

And here is what was shared by their daughter Opal who hadn't been born yet, but remembered the stories her mother would tell:

"In January 1908, they loaded their wagons and hack with what they could carry, with Mr. Peratte, the man from whom James Walter had bought the land, driving one. Opal recalls her mother saying she bought canned salmon for supper each night along the way -- along with a bottle of red-pepper sauce. It took a week to move; so, needless to say, the pepper sauce lasted a long time. At Antelope Flat, they camped in wagons and tents near a tank while building their houses."

Opal was the first child born after moving to Antelope Flat. She was born 3 December 1910.

I've done quite a bit of searching online for more information about Antelope Flat and the closest I could find was a place still on the map today called Antelope Flats but I don't feel that is the same place. From my book, Antelope Flat (no 's') is said to be "located northwest of Truscott, in the very northwest corner of Knox County, with part of it extending into the southwest corner of Foard County." The flat was given it's name from the antelope herds that loved the open country.

In 1909, the Antelope Flat School District 19, was formed by the Knox County commissioners court. The first the school house was located on land owned by a Dr. Kincaid but later James Walter donated some of his land so that the school could be located in the center of the community and closer to the newly opened public road.

Here are memories shared by my great grandmother, Myrtle Rutherford Jones:

"In 1911 or 1912 Papa let them-- the school district-- have an acre to move the one room house over there. We had a big wood stove in the middle of the room. The boys got the wood and carried water from a family that lived a short way south. A few years later, Papa dug a cistern and it was still there when they left the farm and went to Knox City. My first teacher was Mr. Jim Burnson, a fine teacher who taught all the grades"

 

A Ms. Clara Brown wrote:

"The Antelope Flat school had long desks which could seat two pupils at once. The water supply was rain water which fell on the roof and was guided into a cistern by gutters. If it did not rain, they hauled water from dirt stock tanks to fill the cistern. Water was drawn up from the cistern with a rope and tin bucket; then the water was poured into another bucket and carried into the building. Everyone used the same tin dipper."

James and Ora's daughter Elba remembered carrying cornbread to school during WWI when there would be "wheatless" days.

 

 The Antelope Flat school was in existence from 1909 - 1933. This little school building was the center of all community activity. Community spelling bees, arithmetic matches, box suppers, as well as serving as the communities place of worship. Every year the community also held a Easter egg hunt.

As the community grew children would begin their school years at Antelope Flat but then by 8th grade they would commute eleven miles to the nearest High School in Truscott. Below is the first school bus used to transport children.



James and Ora's daughter Opal remembered attending Antelope Flat for seven years and then one year at the Truscott school.

"(We) had to walk only one-fourth mile to school but with the deep snows in those days, it seemed farther. In those days you started school at age seven. Before that time, she was working in the field chopping and picking cotton. When Opal was eleven years old, her older sister Elba was driving the mules to the header barge; and her job was to ride in the header barge and keep the wheat pushed back. Opal was soon covered with wheat, and her father had to stop the header and help dig her out." 

 

Their daughter Lona, who was born 12 April 1915 remembered attending school until 8th grade... she remembers:

"(We) stayed out of school a lot to work in the field as their parents needed their help, although it was not easy to make up grades. Times were hard, but they never realized it. They went to church on Saturday night and Sunday as did almost everyone else on Antelope Flat. Occasionally they would have a singing or a party which was enjoyable."

James and Ora's youngest daughter, Laverne,  was born later in life about the same time two of the Rutherford grandchildren were born; Edwin was Myrtle's oldest child born in March 1923, and Dorothy was Glennie's oldest born in  Jan 1924 while Laverne was born in June of that same year.

Below is another picture that was recently shared with me. Left to right is my great grandmother, Myrtle holding Edwin, Ora holding Laverne, and Glennie holding Dorothy.

Antelope Flat 1924

 Laverne remembered that she went to school at Antelope Flat for three years....

"Her teachers were Miss Campbell, Inez Eubanks, and Mrs. Madole. In the first grade, there were three children: Dorothy Collier, Wrowena Nichols, and Laverne. Their school activities were very limited. They played baseball, but the big thing was putting boards across the borrow dith and walking on them. When Mrs. Madole taught, she lived in one side of the school building. In the winter she would as each student to bring a vegetable and milk, sugar and cocoa. Boy, could she make a good stew and hot chocolate for their lunch, cooking it all on the old round pot-bellied wood stove.

One week the girls made the best play house out of tumble weeds from the Rutherford farm. The school house was on their farm, but Mr. Rutherford had given the land for it. He decided that since we had the weeds all in one place, he could burn them and get rid of the seeds-millions of them. So that's what he did, and there went the playhouse."

 

Laverne and Opal shared quite a bit of memories from when they were growing up. I will start with Opal's memories since she was the oldest of the two:

"(Father) raised his own mules, and he drove the fast ones: but the ones the girls drove to the go-devil harrow and cultivator were slower. With only one boy in the family, the six girls had to work hard.

Travel back in the early days was by horse-back, hack or wagon. They got their first car in the early teens - or rather about 1915. It was a Dodge touring car--open in the summer, but in the winter they had side curtains to put on to make it a little warmer."

 

"Drinking water was also a problem. They had a well, also a spring, which their father walled with rock, but they could not drink water from either one. They also had a tank which would fill with good rains, but they got their drinking water from a well on Matt Black's place about two and one-half miles west of their home. The Black's lived in a dug out. As a small child, Opal used to wonder why they had their lamps lit in the day time. Kerosene lamps were all they had to give light at that time.

They had to make their own entertainment. One of Opal's fondest memories of those years is getting her father to play the piano. Their favorite was "Oh, Those Golden Slippers"; after so many years, Opal can still hear that tune as he played it.

They would all gather around the piano and sing hymns. He was also a wonderful bass singer and also played the violin. In fact he played for the W.O.W. when he was single and after moving to Truscott. He also picked the guitar.

As Opal grew older, they went to parties, candy pullings, ice cream suppers and fruit suppers. There were singings at different homes on Sunday nights. They had a Union Sunday school; and once each month, they had church on Saturday night, Sunday morning and Sunday night. The only two preachers Opal can remember are Bro. Balch and Bro. E. G. New. Each August they would have a revival meeting--sometimes lasting two weeks. They would enjoy that, for they did no work in the fields during that time.

In the summertime, they made lots of ice cream. Someone would go by wagon to Truscott and get the ice in 100-lb. blocks; and they would turn the crank by hand and make ice cream. At times, families would gather at the North Wichita River to seine fish; and they would really enjoy those fish fries.

Mrs. Rutherford (Ora Frances) was kept busy cooking, washing on the rub board, ironing with the sad irons heated on the wood stove. With six children, she was kept busy. She also raised chickens and turkeys.

Each fall they would butcher several hogs, their main source of meat for the entire year. They would render the fat in the wash kettle to make enough shortening to last until the next November."

Next are memories shared by the youngest Rutherford child, Alta Laverne :

"They didn't have radios, and their entertainment was getting people together with guitars and fiddles and the Rutherford's piano to make music. Laverne loved for Daddy to play "The Spanish Fandango" on guitar. He could play the piano too, even though by that time his fingers did not bend very well. Laverne remembers, "He could sing bass like I've never heard anywhere else when we would go to the church revivals under the old brush arbors! I can still hear him and Mr. J.T. Holmes singing that bass"

We always attended revivals of all denominations when we started going to church at Truscott every summer. But before going to service, we would go to Bates Grocery Store and get cheese and crackers and Delaware Punch drink and have our supper.

The good old medicine shows always came to town in the fall. The song "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" used to blare out over the loud speakers. They would walk the streets on the old wooden sidwaks--go by the café and smell the hamburgers--on to the drug store. What a treat to get an ice cream cone or a coke in a glass.

At that time of year, they knew it was not long before cold weather and time to kill hogs. Their dad would build a big fire under a barrel of water. When it began boiling, he would shoot a hog, scald it in the barrel, and hang it up to start scraping it and then cutting it up. Next morning for breakfast Mrs. Rutherford would have hot biscuits, tenderloin, and syrup and butter.

They pulled boles, and took bales of cotton to Truscott to be ginned. If Mr. Rutherford was late getting home, his wife would start worrying. The family would go out in the yard and listen for the rattle of the old wagon and team harness. He would usually buy a bushel of oranges and apples--a very special treat. Of course he always brought Laverne all-day suckers and stick candy.

Grain harvest was an exciting time also. Mrs. Rutherford cooked for the threshing crews. Laverne remembers eating her smothered chicken and their father's home-cured hams.

Mr. Rutherford finally got his combine; and the last summer Laverne was home he had more sunflowers in his field that he had wheat. He asked if they could pull them out; he would combine a swath, and pull more. They worked hard, and he made a good crop.

Of course, the tractor was the greatest thing ever, but Laverne missed the old horses. Her dad would come in, and she would meet him to drive the horses to the tank for water. He would be so tired, but she'd ask him to play ball with her, and he would.

When Laverne was about three, she had been in the cotton field with him and her mamma. She had a little flour sack her mother had for Laverne to pull boles in. That night Laverne's dad gave her a silver dollar for working. " I am sure I did not deserve it, but I still have that dollar," she says today.

Christmas Eve was a very special day. They would go to Truscott and visit until late afternoon--o home and Laverne and her Dad would light the old lantern and go to the pasture and cut down a cedar tree for their Christmas tree. her mother would pop corn, and they would string that and decorate the tree. Laverne still has a little cedar chest and rocking chair she got for Christmas on Antelope Flat--also a pair of brown gloves with fur (fake) on the tops. They are really worn but have such good memories attached she could never part with them.

Mrs. Rutherford was sick a lot when Laverne was young so Laverne started cooking and keeping house. Her mama taught her to crochet when she was sick in bed."

There is another brief memory of JW and Ora Rutherford shared by a neighboring family by the name of Nichols. Bill and Venice Arp Nichols had purchased a new Ford touring car in early 1929. In January of 1930 Venice  was due to have a baby "any day now"....

"Venice's youngest brother Oscar Arp, was staying with them. As the time drew near for the baby to arrive, Bill and Oscar would go out and start the car to be sure it would be ready when they needed it to go to a neighbor's to call the doctor. When the time arrived; the car started; but to their surprise, it would  not move, the wheels were frozen.

Oscar started off on foot to get Mrs. Rutherford (Ora) and later realized his feet and hands were frostbitten. Mr. Rutherford (James Walter) took them back in his car. In the meantime, Bill had gone by horseback to Hoss's house to borrow his car so he could drive to Pete Moody's to telephone Dr. Clark in Crowell."

One more memory from my book before I wrap things up. In the back of the book it lists the names of the individuals mentioned and the page numbers they appear on. Next to James Walter Rutherford are the page numbers, 30, 42, 76, 119, 200, 253, 332, 392, 499, 526-529, and 614. I have scoured these pages but one page number listed gave me a chuckle. On page 42 I cannot find his name or a reference to his family anywhere. But.... there is one little snippet that I wonder if it might be speaking of him. The small paragraph only says, "In the 1920s three local sisters turned over the family outhouse one Halloween, however; their father was in it. After tearing out the bottom boards, he crawled out! He was furious and blamed everyone in town except his three daughters."

James Walter Rutherford lived to be 73 years old. He died 12 Aug 1950. Ora lived another eight years and passed away 14 July 1858 at the age of 78.

I'm curious when they left their farm on Antelope Flat and moved into town in Knox City.

I hope those of you who read this enjoy these stories and memories that were preserved for us. And I hope even more that you will take the time to share your memories too so that those who come after us can have a glimpse into their past and where they came from.

Until next time,
Becky