Originally published in the Goering Gazette, July 1989
Larry remembers being pushed into an oil barrel by Pat. Now why did Pat push him, who cleaned him up, and why does Larry remember this?
Harry’s early memory (one of them) is of going to the outhouse. When he was done with his chore, a feisty rooster wouldn’t let him out and he had to call for help. There is another outhouse story. At a farm sale Elva went to the outhouse and was ready to come out just as the auctioneer was readying to sell the outhouse, lock, stock and barrel!
From John–“Herb and Len always got special attention. I didn’t, I was healthy!”
At Peaceful School Art and Martha remember carrying buckets of water into ground squirrel holes to watch the ground squirrels come out. It was a recess pastime. See what today’s kids are missing!! Speaking of Peaceful, does anybody remember going to get a drink under the pump and having his/her tongue freeze on? Art remembers it painfully clearly.
Aunt Emma gave Frieda her first bath. Therefore, Frieda’s name is Frieda Emma. Elva gave John his first bath (so why isn’t John’s name, John Elva??? It’s something to ponder about).
Mother never liked her name, Jessie. When another little girl was born, Dad insisted she be named Jessie Johanna. Mother didn’t really want that but finally consented if the baby would be called Joan.
Memories of Mother included some of the following: Mother took time to play with the children. She taught us how to play Rook and we played a lot of it until she was afraid it was taking a hold of us, then she discouraged it. She also taught us croquet and often played with us. Mother sang a lot — we remember Eye is on the sparrow, Red Bird (something about an Indian maiden).
Bill tells the story about catching cottontails. He had about 30 which he was going to take to Hutchinson to sell. When he went to get them, they had all been let go. Herb wants the record set straight that it wasn’t him that let them out. (Does anyone want to fess up?)
Frieda and Elva were asked what it was like to have yet another baby in the family. Elva says they were never told that another baby was on the way. One morning they came downstairs and there was a new baby on the table. One time she was cleaning closets and drawers and found some new layette items and that’s how she knew another baby was on the way. Elva resented some of this. She felt old enough to be informed.
Elva remembers John’s delivery. She was 16 at the time. She was not prepared for the birth, didn’t know anything about birthing. Dad went for the doctor but didn’t come back in time. So she helped how she could and remembers this as a very traumatic time. When the doctor came he said she done very well, then handed her John and said she might as well give him his first bath. Elva remembers this was a very cold January. The clothes froze solid on the line. She remember dark flannel diapers and one time tearing up sheets to make diapers. She remember bushel baskets full of socks.
There were other things that weren’t always pleasant. Elva had to stay home from school often. They were suppose to have written excuses to miss school but the school didn’t even bother to ask Elva for an excuse. Herb remembers sly remarks from some people about the family size. Nobody remembers any sex education.
Most remembered big family reunions and playing with cousins. Someone told the story that LeRoy (Uncle John’s) passed flatus and some of the rest stuck a match to it to see if it would explode. Herb thinks this little experiment was tried on a number of occasions.
Elva says that a lot of things have been forgotten and maybe it was best that way. Several remarked about how they couldn’t remember a lot about their youth and that forgetting might have been a way of coping. But somehow, everyone grew up. Everyone sort of took care of each other and loved each other and helped each other through the rough times be they emotional, social, or financial. Elva started being the little mother at 9 and soon Frieda helped. Everyone is grateful for the mothering and the unselfish giving these two did. They remember Frieda’s reading of Bible stories. Dad was a good role model and kept the family together. And that’s why we’re all here!