What Makes a Man

I recently wrote a letter to my paternal grandfather's brother, Bo.  I asked him about his memories of my grandfather, Charles Bryant Nall, who died when I was 20 years old. Today I received a letter back, written by Bo's wife Bette, relaying Bo's recollections:

...Since Bo was 4 years younger than Charles and the fact that Charles married so young, Bo doesn't seem to remember very many specific incidents while Charles was still at home. 

It seemed to Bo that when Bo was around 6 years old and Charles was 10 years old that Charles was already doing the work of a grown man. At this early age Charles worked in the fields planting and chopping cotton, cutting and bundling maize (milo) by hand, and helping tend the cows and hogs. By age 12 he was driving the family pickup wherever they needed to go. When he was 12, Dena was 10, Bo 8, George 6, and Larry, 4. Since he was the oldest he received the brunt of the workload. But back then everyone in the family did have to help out to survive. Anyway, his younger siblings were probably a nuisance to him. Many years this family didn't start their school year until after Thanksgiving.

Bo does recall that Charles was the only one old enough to go hunting and traping with Rufus and Uncle John Wheeler.

Farmers and Ranchers in the area said they would rather have Charles work for them than any grown man available. He was responsible and hard working. Some of the jobs he was hired to do included fence building and running farm equipment. Pay was $6/day. 

Charles did play football in high school. He was a valuable star player for the Benjamin 6 man team. But he played against his Dad's wishes. If he had an after school practice or was late getting in from a game, someone had to bring him home or he had to walk home (8 miles). And he also had to keep up with his home chores. It was such a hassle that it was shored lived. 

Sue and Charles were 16 and 17 (sept 18, 1952) when they married so neither completed school. After they were married Charles worked as a ranch/farmhand on a ranch north of Benjamin on the Little Wichita River. Part of his job included checking miles and miles of fences on horseback. For this job he was furnished his own string of horses. He would need a different horse each day. Bo remembered that Charles really liked that part of his job and that he earned $125/month and was paid once a month. He and Sue had a hard time living out there and making ends meet. So he and a family friend (E.J. Ward) started roofing houses together. One aspect of their roofing houses together included tar foofing using hot pots. Because of this enterprise it was necessary to move to Childress, Texas for a time. 

During this time the rest of the family moved from the farm into Seymour (1953). Charles and Sue then also moved to Seymour where they were able to buy a small house. Willie Belle and Rufus had acquired one also, across the street. 

This is when Charles went to work for John M. Edwards at the M System grocery store there in Seymour. He soon became manager. Bo worked for him after school and on weekends while he was in high school. After some time passed Charles became the manager for several M System stores. During this time he also trained and became a licensed pilot so he could check on the stores. 

Charles was a really good brother and a respected upstanding man! We both loved and looked up to him. 

I really appreciate the time taken to answer my questions. I loved learning about my Bampy's younger years.

Until next time,
Becky Drake

Charles, Dena, Bo, George and Larry