Prepared for a scheduled family get together in honor of Bill on February 26, 1966
By Dan H. Goering
Introduction:
I wish to share some of the experiences I had with Bill. I realize there are time gaps, some of which, others in the family may want to cover. In the meantime, I hope my relating the times which I cherish, will be of interest. I’m sure I’ve not covered many other incidents I might have, if only I were a more accomplished writer.
From a very young age, Bill and I shared many activities. Our projects ranged from building totes from wood scraps and pieces of tin to create caterpillar tractors and plows and discs, etc. to the building of a couple chick houses about 2 feet wide and 3 feet long. We anticipated raising a few chickens. At a later time Bill fabricated the tallest paper of stilts in the region. For these projects much lumber was available form the pile which was hauled home from the oil field several miles to the west. Lumber discarded by the drillers was free for the hauling.
Bill and I had a partnership — raising pigs, then sheep, etc. Our sheep finally produced enough wool, which supplied us with enough cash for the purpose of a used bike which we shared, too. We drew duty roster together also. I still have a scar on my shin from a cut incurred while chopping wild sunflowers in the ditches of old 81 Highway, which at the time ran East to West on the South boarder [sic] of our farm.
Editor: the road currently known as old 81, which runs diagonally from Moundridge to McPherson, was then called the Meridian Road. Need to add citation.
Bill and I shared the measles, and scarlet fever as well. I remember us cutting firewood by the creek and hearing the kids at school out for recess. We waited to get sick last, but were quarantined from school with the rest of the family members. Bill evidently recovered from the childhood diseases much stronger than I did. The time the folks took us to see Twin Mounts, others could run all the way of the slopes. I was too weak to go far. Bill always was fast on his feet. In tag games in grade school, Bill and Florence were always the last ones caught. He was known to chase cottontail rabbits until they were totally exhausted. Edna Flickner gave Bill the nickname, “Haza-Foose”.
Bill had to take third grade over because his eyes were out of whack, which impeded his study. So from Third Grade on Bill and I were in the same classes through Eighth Grade. One noon as we shared the same desk while eating lunch, the County Superintendent, Miss Hawthorn, stopped by and remarked, “oh, Twins!”
The whole county came to McPherson for graduation services. After everyone got their diplomas we all marched in a parade. Lunchtime we had a family picnic in the park, which our sisters and probably Mom had prepared. About one-half mile south of there the Inman brothers were giving airplane rides in the Ford Tri-motor. Bill, Herb, and I ran over there, paid our 50 cents each. The plan was fully loaded but the time Bill and Herb got in so, I got to ride in the co-pilot seat with dual controls in front of me. Boy! What a thrill for a spring day in 1935.
Bill’s far-sighted vison came in handy when he set a number of rabbit traps in the field of sunflowers just south of the barnyard area. There were so many rabbits, they had runs traveling through the field. He set traps in places where he could view them from the hay-loft with the drop door open and tell if rabbits had tripped the traps. This operation was so successful that Dad would take several at time (live in gunny sacks) to Hutchinson, sell them to a buyer and bring Bill the cash. Disaster struck, however; he had about a dozen in the brooder house when somehow the door wasn’t properly secured and the rabbits all escaped. I don’t think Herb or I to this day will admit to be at fault, but to be sure, Bill was very unhappy for quite some time.
As the summer of ‘35 wore on, one evening, a group of us were outdoors on the southside of the house watching some small clouds floating in front of the moon. We speculated how neat it would be if we lived close enough to town so that those that wanted to play football or basketball could choose to do that and walk home. Our dreams were later fulfilled with the move to Canton in later summer in ‘36.
Several of us brothers were big dreamers. In particular, Al was the most like that with a very scientific mind. Al speculated how high he could jump if he could get on the moon. He also proposed making the combine self-propelled. Another dream he had was that of building a giant tube from California to New York, pumping out the air, so that a vehicular could be propelled to high speeds and allowed to coast in this vacuum from station to station. Bill, Al and I shared a lot of great ideas.
Late Summer, Bill and I were enrolled at Moundridge High and Dad made arrangements for Viola Uncle Ben’s to ride with us. I believe Frieda rode with us on Mondays, but stayed in town with someone most of the time. Frieda, I believe, was in the Senior Class that year ‘35-‘36.
This was the year that our family served as custodians at the Eden Church. That provided quite a lot of work for us all. By early spring the folks had learned about the Canton property and were considering entering the dairy business which would provide a good work ethic for all us boys and more income as well. Mom and visited the Canton place just a matter of weeks before her passing. What a loss that was for all of us — but with encouragement from several uncles the move was accomplished late that Summer.
Following the move to Canton, Bill decided not to enroll at Canton, but chose to help with the farm work instead. So now I was in line to graduate from High School in ‘39. Whereas he went to 1940.
By this time, I had taken over an unused portion of tuition, that Al had abandoned at Wichita Business College where I took some stenographic training. During this period, Bill and I sort of lost track of each other. When I worked at Bethel College Farm for tuition credits, I believe Bill had gone to Chicago. Soon after Pearl Harbor, Bill and John Morris, who also was in Chicago;, joined the Air Corps.
Bill had his maroon ‘37 Ford parked in the garage at Canton with blocks under the axle to keep the tires protected By this time, my friend Oliver Unruh, roommate at Bethel, suggested we take Model A and make a trip to Colorado and a little beyond. The only thing was, I needed to furnish a couple of tires. His brother Dan and friend Harold, would also go and share expenses. I contacted Bill and asked if I might borrow two tires. He said sure, just as long as I mount them back up when we were finished with them. Knowing the ‘35 Ford wheels had a close enough bolt patter to the Model A wheel, I bought two used wheels which would mount up OK, the tire size of the ‘37 Ford wheel, and off we were.
Bill joining the Air Corps coincided with the dream Dad related to us one morning at breakfast. This was long before Pearl Harbor. Dad said he dreamt that a plane touched down in our pasture and took Bill with them. Later when Bill was in basic training, Dad went down and visited with him — Bill told me on our recent trip to the East Cost, etc. — that Dad was very moved by the treatment he got on the base — including a tour of a bomber. I want to say here, Dad told Bill: “Brothers look out for brothers”. While I was at CPS Camp at Hill City, South Dakota, working without pay on that dam project, Bill sent me several letters and several times enclosed what he called a saw-buck, so I could buy a little something once in a while.
Then, after I got transferred to Norristown and Grace and I were married and I was determined to switch my classification and re-enter service as IAO, a neat thing happened We had come to Canton a short time before the annual rendition of the Messiah at Lingsborg. Well, Elva, Frieda ad Dad and Grace and I went to hear it. When the program was nearly over, I told Grace, “You know what, I think Bill has come home for a visit.” When we arrived at home, I ran up the stairs, and sure enough, there he was lounging in a bed in the West Room.
Dan