In Remembrance - Myrtle Rutherford Jones

Family Search has a calendar feature with the option of having them send you a message on the anniversary of birth dates and wedding anniversaries of your ancestors. Today I was notified that my paternal great grandmother Myrtle Lurie RUTHERFORD JONES would have been 120 years old. Honestly, I didn't need the reminder because for some reason her birth date always stands out to me. I'm not really sure why because she lived in Texas and I rarely got to see her. If I had to guess, it's most likely because of the time I spent with my Mammy (her daughter).

Myrtle RUTHERFORD (Grandma Jones is what I grew up calling her) was the first born and oldest child of James Walter RUTHERFORD and Ora Frances McCLUNG. She was born 2 October 1899, in Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas. *Her obituary says Mount Pleasant, Titus County, Texas -- Where her parents married in 1898* The earliest photograph I have of her is from around 1902. She is standing between her parents. The baby is her brother Jesse Newton RUTHERFORD who was born New Year's Day, 1902 (this helps date the picture).

 The next photograph I have was taken in 1904 when the next baby came along, Glennie Lillian, who was born 1 July 1904. Grandma Jones is standing on the right, Jesse on the left and baby Glennie is in the middle.

In January of 1908, when Grandma was only 8 years old, the family loaded up their covered wagon and headed North to an area known as Antelope Flat, in Foard County, Texas. At this time she was the oldest of four siblings, the baby, Flora was 9 months old.

Around 1912 Grandma's dad, J W RUTHERFORD, gave the community an acre to move the one room school house. Grandma attended school there. According to one of my favorite books, my husband bought me, Between The Wichitas, Grandma wrote that her first teacher was a Mr. Jim Burnson. (page 200).

I can remember this book sitting on the little wooden shelf on the back side of Mammy's brown sink. I didn't inherit it. My wonderful husband bought me one of my own. It isn't in circulation anymore.

Grandma must have met Grandpa John Arthur JONES at that school because according to John's brother Frank they also attended school there for a time. (page 416)

"The teacher at Antelope Flat lived over at Foard City. He drove a one-horse buggy without any top on it. We didn't miss any school days. Neither did the teacher.  Albert Haynie's children, his brother C. H. Haynie, Will Glenn, the Rutherfords, Henry Black, Bullions, Moody had kids in school there. The Joneses also. It was quite a while before we got to know everyone around for we didn't get to visit like they do today."

On Sept 18, 1916, one month before Grandma turned 17, she married John Arthur JONES at Burkburnett, Wichita County, Texas.



In early May 1918, the two had their first baby, a boy. Unfortunately, he didn't survive.  I'm not certain if Grandpa served in the war. There are many accounts of his brother Frank serving, but I haven't found any evidence that John Arthur did. He did however, register. He was self employed 1 mile SE of Truscott.



Around that time John found work with a childhood friend, Walter COODY. The two of them worked for a doctor in Burkburnett butchering and selling beef. They drove a Model T truck. During this time there was an oil boom. (page 334) While living in Wichita County Myrtle gave birth to two more children who born in 1923 & 1925.

I'm not sure when the picture below was taken but I wanted to include it here, since there are so few pictures of Grandpa JONES. It's taken from Between The Wichitas. My grandmother always had dark hair and so did her husband, Charles, but my dad had really blonde hair. According to John Arthur's WW1 registration he was tall with light hair and light blue eyes.



Around the year 1930-1931 John and Myrtle operated the chuck wagon for John's brother-in-law, J. M. CHOWNING's threshing crew. (page 327) They also worked  for the Charles HAMILTON Ranch for some time.

In 1934 the family moved to San Antonio where Johnnie went to work for the Humble Oil Company. Six years later, when their oldest child was 17 and their youngest child was only 6 months old, Myrtle became a widow. John died tragically in a vehicle/train collision.

Grandma then had to support five children ages 17, 14, 5, 3 and the 6 month old baby. She managed to remain in San Antonio for a few years before moving her little family back "home" to Truscott.  She used every dollar she had to buy a home, the old Mrs. Sam TURNER (Ollie Jane CAMPSEY) home, which served as a boarding house. (page 278). She even had to support her little family during WW2 when lean times were made even worse by rationing. My cousin Mike, shared this photo of her ration book with me a few years ago and I thought this is a great place to post it again.




While looking through my book, I noticed on page 50, where they mentioned Grandma chaperoning a hay ride. It said during those days it was an accepted fact that an adult was to always accompany group outings and that Mrs. Myrtle JONES frequently did so. I couldn't imagine with all that was on her plate she still found the energy to want to chaperone events.

"One week the springs of 1942, the boys decided to give a hay ride. They worked Saturday for Carl Haynie to get the use of his wagon and team. Everyone chipped in money and the girls bought food for a wiener roast. 

Mrs Myrtle Jones chaperoned that outing, as she frequently did, taking her young children and sitting calmly by the campfire wile the teenagers played walking games." 

Grandma also worked for eight years in the Truscott school lunchroom. I can remember Mammy telling me that someone gave them a pig and Grandma would feed it using the left over scraps from the school lunchroom. I seem to also remember she did laundry for extra income, but I'm not certain of this last memory.

Here is a photograph shared by my cousin Kaye from 1957. The women are wearing collages so it could have been Mother's Day or Easter.




I remember one trip to Texas to celebrate Grandma's 90th birthday at the nursing home. My Aunts Jeannie and Cathy served a large beautiful cake and there was punch. There was a small mention of it in the Munday Courier. I was hoping for a picture. I was only 9 at the time but I remember it was a big celebration. I did find where her 75th and 77th birthday was celebrated as well.

I've posted on Facebook and even made mention in a blog post that my grandmother, Myrtle's daughter, moved with her family to Arkansas in the mid '60's. I can still remember long distance phone calls between my Mammy and her older sister Frances. I'm sure there were phone calls to her mother too, but what I remember most were the cassette tapes that she would record and mail home to her mother. I even had to record a few (when I was too young to fully grasp why). As the years wore on Grandma JONES' hands became too arthritic to write and her eyesight was failing, long distance phone calls were expensive so to communicate they would mail cassette tapes back and forth. I was lucky enough to inherit Grandma's last tape she sent Mammy. You can watch the video below to listen.

Before she gave up writing all together, Grandma sent this letter. It was in short hand, which it is my understanding, how she would often write. She was 91.  My Dad's cousin Gayle transcribed it for me below.

Grandma died in July of 1994. I remember her funeral well. It was so hot. July in Texas.We gathered at a small white church. They sang 'In The Garden' and she was laid to rest in the Truscott Cemetery where the rest of her family is buried.

The Nalls gathered at the Seymour Motel before the service.
Back Row: Dad (Johnny Nall) Cathy Gardisser, Mitch Nall, Mike Nall, Bampy (Charles)
Middle Row: Me (Becky), Mammy (Sue) Jeannie, Jeff, Jennifer, and Tom Calvert
Front Row: Matthew and April Gardisser, and Jeremy Calvert.

Before wrapping this up, I thought I would include a picture I have of one of her few visits to AR.

Maybe 1981

Until next time,
Becky

The Passing of Mr. and Mrs. James Walter Rutherford

Lately, I have felt a little run dry when it comes to new genealogy finds. Yesterday, however, I came across a new FREE resource from Texas Tech University. In doing so, I have found many articles mentioning a lot of my Texas ancestors. Most of these finds have been little gossip tidbits about so-and-so visiting so-and-so but I have also found a few obituaries. Today, I would like to share the obituaries of my 2nd great grandparents, James Walter Rutherford and his wife, Ora Frances McClung. If you click on the headlines you should be directed to the actual newspaper articles if you would like to read them first hand. Otherwise, I have transcribed them for your convenience.

James Walter and Ora with 6 of their 7 children. Myrtle Jones is missing.

From the Crowell, Foard County News, Thursday 17 Aug 1950

Pioneer Truscott Resident Dies Saturday, Aug. 12
J.W. Rutherford Buried at Truscott Sunday Afternoon
Funeral services for J. W. Rutherford of Knox City, who died Saturday, August 12 in a Knox City hospital, were held at the Truscott Baptist Church last Sunday afternoon, August 13, at 3:30 o'clock. Ralph E. Branum pastor of the Truscott Baptist Church, was in charge of the services. The following favorite songs were sung, "Saved by Grace" Nearer My God to Thee" and a special quartet sang "Land Where We Never Grow Old". Internment was made in the Truscott Cemetery under the direction of the Womack Funeral Home of Crowell.
James Walter Rutherford was born in Mississippi on April 7, 1877. He came to Texas at the age of six. He was married or Ora McClung at Mt. Pleasant, Texas, in 1898. He moved to Truscott in 1908 and lived there until 1944 when he retired and moved to Knox City. He is survived by his wife and seven children: Mrs. Myrtle Jones, Benjamin; Jesse N. Rutherford, Truscott; Mrs Fletcher Collier, Thalia; Mrs Willard Traweek, Foard City; Mrs. Farris Caddell, Truscott; Mrs E. E. Thompson, Knox City; and Mrs Robert L. Holmes of Iowa Park. All of the children were present for the funeral. He is also survived by three sisters Mrs. Marion Close, Kirkland; Mrs Lillie Price, Odessa; and Mrs Margaret Hosch, Grandfield, Okla. who were also present for funeral services.
Pall bearers were Stan Westbrook, John Bullion, John Black, Bruce Eubank, Mart Chowning and Ozzie Turner. Flower girls were Norma Jones, Clara Jones, Faye Black, Nettie Black, Annie Haynie, Peggy Traweek and Patsy Owens.
Those from out of town attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher B. Collier and children, Mary, Jimmie, Patsy Anna Marlene and Carolyn, of Thalia; Mr. and Mrs. B. L. rater, Mrs Theo Richardson and children, Mrs. Joe Monds and children, Shirley and Velma Ruth, of Duncan, Okla; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Davis and son, Randall, Joe L. McClung, Oris J. Davis of Marlowe, Okla; Reece McClung of Electra; Will Glenn and Mr. and Mrs Edwin Jones and Juanella Kaye of Benjamin; Mr. and Mrs Clarence Woodward, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Godsey Mrs. McCarty, Mr and Mrs. E. E. Thompson and chldren Je. E. Lee Arnold, Armitta, Peggy Anita, and Ray Lynn and Bill Cummings of Knox City; Sgt and Mrs Robert L. Holmes and children Robert, Ronnie and Larry, Mrs. J. C. Skipworth and son, Eugene, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin B. Bishop and sno, Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Cook and Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Young Jr. of Vernon; Mr. and Mrs. Willard Traweek of Foard City; Mr. and Mrs. Clint Blakeley of Fort Worth; Mrs. Walter Weems, Mrs Georgia Beard, Mrs. Lillie Price of Odessa; Mrs. C. L. Staton of Borger; Mr. and Mrs Edmund Close and Sue, Mr. and Mrs Marion Cose and Louna Lisenbee of Kirkland; Mrs. Margaret Hosch and Grady Hosch of Grandfield, Okla, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Langston.

From the Knox City, Texas,  Knox County Herald 17 July 1958

Funeral Held at Truscott For Former Resident
Funeral services for Mrs. J. W. Rutherford, 78,  former Truscott resident were held in the Truscott Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon at 3:00, conducted by the pastor Reverend Jack Davis assisted by Reverend Bill Hall pastor of the Gilliland Baptist Church and Reverend David Stevens pastor of the Truscott Methodist Church.

Mrs. Rutherford died in the Ford County Hospital Monday morning following a serious illness of several weeks. She had been in ill health for a number of years. She made her home with her children until she went to live in the rest home in Crowell this year.

Pallbearers were Jim Jones and Bryant Bate of Truscott, Harry Traweek of Crowell, Carl Haynie, J B Eubank Jr., and John Bullion all of Truscott.
Ora Frances Rutherford was born in Piedmont Alabama to Martha and Joe McClung on July 1st 1880. In 1898 she was United in marriage to JW Rutherford who preceded her in death on August 12th 1950. To this Union was born six daughters: Mrs. Myrtle Jones of Benjamin, Mrs. Glennie Collier of Thalia, Mrs Elba Traweek of Foard City, Mrs. Lona Noron of Midland, Mrs. Laverne Holmes of Roswell, New Mexico, and Mrs. Opal Caddell of Truscott, and one son Willard Rutherford of Gilliland (<-- This is a typo. Her son is Jesse N. Rutherford)
At an early age she joined the Baptist Church in Coleman County. At the time of her passing she was a member of the Truscott Baptist Church.
The Rutherford's lived on Antelope Flats, near Truscott, and lived in Knox City for several years.
Survivors are her seven children: one brotehr Joe McClung of Marlow, Okla; two sisters, Mrs. Winnie Studdard, Piedmont, Alabama; 32 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Burial was in the Truscott Cemetery beside her  husband. Womack Funeral Home in Crowell was in charge of the arrangements.

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