John B. Goering’s journal – Chapter 3

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My teen age years, they were about as usual – started going out looking at Girls, as I think all do, and Mrs Red Jack Krehbiel (he was my Uncle — his first wife was Mothers Sister) had a sister she stayed with her other Sister. She genrely took her on Sunday and then called me to come over. Then she said would you take Emma home this evening and So I was glad to do it. She was a nice girl and good companey, but I just dident think she was for me. Later she became my Sister inlaw – Dave Schrag wife. I allways Prayed the Lord should show me the one he had for me. Then it happened that Dad cousin Wife died, and the Funral was in the Christian Church of Moundridge. The Parents wonted to go to the Funrel. It was raney day, in March, so Dad asked me to go along and take care of the team, so I did and there it happened. The Church was croudet and they where singing and waiting for the Preacher–he was in school at Bethel College (Rev Peter Wedel) coming with the train, and the train was late. We yong once where in the antrence and I was standing on the stairway. All at once my eyes seen 2 girls–I knew they be Sisters–and it was as a voice told me that is the one I have for you. I dident knew who she was for at least about 2 years. And so time went on, but I knew someday I’ll meet her. Then it came that my Sister got sick and they looked for help, and her oldest Sister Ida came and worked for them. On Sunday, Mam went their and Ida came to our place. One Sunday they invited Ida Sister and Brother. After I was done choring, I was going to meat them. Just stepped in the door and Tillie said that is the Boy that coulent take his eyes of us at the Funrel and we teas Jessie all time and she said I hope someday I’ll meet him. Then I knew her name and who she was–and so time went on and years went by befor I ever met her–and the first time I met her it was as if we would have known each other a long time.

May the 5th, 1912, we where Married. It came to pass what we longed for. We lived with My Parents. Dad had quit farming about 2 years ago (retired), so the next fault we took our Honeymoon–went to South Dakota. Dad never said aneything, but I notest he was on the alfalfa field quite often. (and) When we came back from our trip, they had moved a barn and where building a small Hous! What a surprice–or disapointment–we dident know what to think. Then Man & Dad came to us and said they decidet to do it because they think young peopel should be by themself and this is to be your place — and we thougt they were right, especley when the children came. it was better that way.

Time went on, we where Happy together and thankfull for what the Lord did for us. Sometime it was hard to make ends meet, especley in the deprecin time, hail, crop failiurs, as it is in life.

1936

Farming was difrent with tractors and combinds and all farmers looked for more ground to work and land in the settelment was getting higher at all time, so we decidet to look around. That was in the spring of 36 and some realestad man took us to that place north of Canton. A man in McPherson owed it and it was for sale-a halve Section. I looked at it and it looked good to me, but a littel to far out, but I took Mam out their. We looked it over and she liked it, so we started to see what we could do–put our place for sale to the nabors. Of course, we expected another adision to our Family and so it happened, April 11, and it where twins. Mam named them Harry Dean and Larry Gean. All looked well. I was going to take her to the Bethel Hospital, but she put it off till it was to late, so I got Sister Katie to help us out, and about midnite Mam fell in a convolsion (I called the Dr.) Then she came out of it and wonderd what was rong. I told her she was awful sick. She said, “Whats wrong, you all look so wored?” I told her she was awful sick and I called the Dr. She said, “What for, I am all well.” But befor the Dr. arrived she had another convolsion and the Dr. called a ambulance and maid arangment at Halstead Hospital, so we where on the way when she again awoke and said, “What is it windy?” I told her it was the noise of the ambulance we are thaking her to the Hospital–“You are awful sick!” she said, “What for?”, (again), “I am all well.”, and that was the last thing she ever spoke and she was all well in the Lord–and the next night she went to be with the Lord. That was on Easter Day in 1936, a Easter Sunday. I will never forget.

Coming next: Continuing on; the move to Canton

Notes about John B