WORDLESS WEDNESDAY : Amanda Elizabeth Dougan (Clark)

Madness Monday: "Who Are You"

This photo is the reason I started my search for who I am so many years ago.  While visiting my great-grandfather, he told me to go through his old photos in the drawer in the bedroom and take what I wanted.  As a little girl, I had always admired this photo and wanted to know who these people are. 

As I sat in the middle of the living room floor going through photos and asking who people were I once again decided to ask who these people were.  As my grandfather told me, I wrote on the back of the photo.  (I was young and didn't know better at the time).  The lady on the front row is Amanda Elizabeth Dougan Clark, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Dougan aka my gg grandmother.  I had always planned on naming my little girl after her, but it never worked out that way since I had both boys. 

"Grannie Clark's" brother's and sisters

That title was written by my grandmother, Amanda's granddaughter.  The handwritting on the left written in a totally different direction is that of mine as my grandfather began to tell me who people were.  There are two other handwrittings, that which is in green ink, and then the blue ink which is circled.  I have decided that these are actually not Clark Siblings, but instead Goodman siblings.  Amanda's mother Nancy became a widow during the Civil War when her husband died in Arkansas due to diesease.  She later remarried a man by the name of Marcus Goodman and they had several children together.  I have figured out a few of them, but I can not make out the green writting to the right of what says "Bill Clark".  I do not know who the elderly man in the front is either.  I also want to know who wrote:  "My Mom Susan".  I can not find a Susan on the goodman tree and don't know who she is.  Their identification has alluded me all these years.

Who are you?  How old is this photo?  Where was this picture taken?

No one knows, but one day I will figure it all out....

Surname Saturday: Dougan

DOUGAN

(note:  the following information came from the Ancestory.com surname informaton and family facts)

Scottish and Irish: variant spelling of Dugan.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4

 

Dugan Name Meaning and History

The motto, Virtve et Valore ("By Virtue and Valor") is derived from Old English rather than from the Irish translation of Ó Dubhagáin, meaning "dark" or "black." The motto is derived from the Old English word dūgan (preterite-present: dēag ‘it is useful’, dugon ‘they are useful’, dohte ‘it was useful’). Other definitions include "to avail, to be of use, to serve"; Ðonne his ellea deah ("when his valour avails"); "to be fit or strong".

Other variations include:  Dugan, Duggan, O'Duggan, Douggan, Deugan and Dewgan

 

 

My link to the Dougan name come from my ggg grandfather Joseph Dougan on my father's side of the family though his mother.

TREASURE CHEST THURSDAY: Alma & Gracie's Pitchers

Both of these pitchers belonged to very special women in my life...

The larger of the two belonged to Alma Elizabeth Clark(Evans) aka my great-grandmother.

the smaller pitcher belong to Grace Evans (Thompson) aka "Aunt Gracie" my great aunt.

Both of these women were very important in my life. 

When I was a little girl, I don't remember a day that the larger pitcher wasn't filled with "Sweet Tea".  Let me tell you, it was my favorite thing in the world to drink and she never went without.  I've used it several times, because it just brings back such sweet memories.  Every sunday after church that was the first thing she would make for me when we got home from church.  Several years ago, my grandmother gave me the pitcher and it sits a top a shelf above my fridge so family and friends can admire it, but it is always safe from harm.  The smaller of the two belonged to my great aunt Gracie.  Gracie is the baby sister of my great-grandmothers husband Clarence Evans.  First let me say that Gracie was the youngest of 7 and the ONLY girl.  She was full of spunk and meaness.  She was always pickin' at my grandpa and he at her.  I don't remember a time when they were together or even on the phone talking to each other that they weren't arguing.  

Both of these women were big parts of my life.  My great-grandmother taught me to cook, when to and not to pick vegetables from the garden.  (See earlier post on here for story), trust God, be a good mother, and LOVE.  The love that her and my grandfather shared was something you don't see everyday.  My great aunt taught me to sew, joke, play games on people and laugh.  She too also taught me how to cook.  Both women taught me how to crochett.  When I was a little girl, my great-grandmother taught me how to start it or "single chain" as they call it.  When I would get bored, I would sit and chain till I got tired and then rip it out and start all over.  One day when I was pregnant with my oldest son, my great aunt asked me if I wanted to learn how to make something with it instead of ripping it out.  So she showed me how to make a blanket.  So, I began making a baby quilt for my first child.  The night that I finally finished it, our electricity had gone out due to the weather.  So my grandmother got some old oil lanterns and I finished it like they would have in the old days.  It was kind neat to me to do it like that.  The funny part of this story is when I finished it, it fit a full size bed.  LOL!  My great aunt gave me the small pitcher when I moved into my first apartment after my divorce.  Shortly after that, she passed away.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but instead by the number of moments that take our breath away"

Submission #6: 818 W. Bells Blvd, Bells, Texas

Event #4:  Expand Your Knowledge

One of the task is to use Google Maps to map out an ancestral location and to create a map and embed it in your blog.  I did just that and more.  I expanded my research ability by remembering events and information given during a conversation that help led me to the information I was searching for.

Ok, Remember this barn from an earlier post....


Last year on Mothers Day, my son and I had all the rain we could handle for one week.  So he suggested that we get out and go take pictures.  I told him we couldn't due to the rain and he replied:  "So, you can still take pictures."  So, we got dressed, got my equipment and out the door we went with no plan of action in hand.  We ended up in Bells, TX in front of this barn where I grew up and have such fond memories.  I sat in the car as the rain came down and attempted to take a few shots from the car with my son's window down.  I happened to notice a local police officer drive by and he slowed down and put his break lights on as he passed me.  I then noticed that he was turning around.  I decided that he was probably coming back to check me out.   So, I did the smart thing and pulled into the driveway and decided to go knock on the door.

The lady of the house opened the door and with a grin I began explaning to her why I was there.  With a grin returned she offered to allow my son and I to enter her home and see how they had changed the house up.  Her and her husband were most gracious to allow me into her home, being a complete stranger.  The began telling me about buying the home and it being to small as their family grew and the remodeling they undertook some for more space, some because time and the prior owners had not been kind to the old house.

The remodeling was beautiful and they had done a wonderful job.  The front enterance and the back bedroom were still in tact and pretty much left alone other than a fresh coat of paint and new carpet and some new wiring.  We talked about how it looked before and the spot where a garden once grew.  They told me that when they moved in, there was a post sticking up and they tore it down.  They never new why it was there, only that grass would never grow.  The spot they mentioned was where the grapevine once stood.

This photo is of where the garden once grew I mentioned in yesterday's "Sentimental Sunday" post.  The bare spots that you see in the middle are where the grapevine once stood.  The tree line that you see to the left is where I use to stand to feed the cattle okra (LOL). 

Well, yesterday I played around with google map, trying to locate the actual spot.  However, I was unsuccessful.  I then began trying to locate someone who might know the actual address.  I called my grandmother since the farm belonged to her parents and she couldn't remember the address.  In my search I remember dog kennels being in the back yard where my swing once stood and a beautiful German Sheppard following me in the house.  They told me they raised German Sheppards.... (LIGHT COMES ON).  I googled "German Sheppard Kennel's in Bells, Texas".  BINGO!  I hit gold!  I emailed the owner of the website and told them I was not a stalker and if I had the wrong individual to PLEASE forgive my silly intrusion.  Laster that afternoon I received an email from the couple of the website telling me I had gotten the right people and I was more than welcome to come back and visit.  They have also graciously offered to allow me to take some of the barnwood to create a frame for my photo.

(Note:  Don't wait till your elders are to old to start asking questions.  Often times they loose preception of time and/or specific information that is important to your research.  ASK! ASK! ASK!  Each time you are with a group of elder family members get them talking about family events from the past.  It's best to take notes of who is in the group and record the conversation so you will not miss specific details.)
So here is the maps for the location of this barn:
Address:  818 W. Bells, Blvd, Bells TX


View Larger Map

The map above is stree view


View Larger Map

This map is the satalite view



View Larger Map
This last view is the terrain view of the area.

Madness Monday: The search for Joseph Dougan

So for the past year, I have been searching for information on My ggg grandfather Joseph Dougan.  The only information that I have been able to come up with is that he served for the Union in the Civil War for the state of Indiana.  Through an online contact, I have been able to acquire his marriage license and the pension papers his wife Nancy Cron Dougan received after his death.  He and Nancy had one daughter, Amanda Elizabeth Dougan (my gg grandmother).  So, I will show you the information I have and see if you can come up with anything....

Marriage License

Joseph Dougan

&

Nancy Elizabeth Cron

12 April 1860

Spencer Co., Indiana

by:  John F. Thomas, Jr.

The marriage license states that the filed for the license on 9 April 1860.  The license was filed on the 13th day of April 1860.  However, at the bottom where the Clerk signs it the date is Jan. 31, 1865

Why is this document signed 5 years later?

Source Citation: Title: Spencer County, Indiana, Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol, Original Record Located: County Clerk's Office Roc; Book: 4;Page: 338.

Declaration for Widow's Army Penison (Page 1)

Document Dated:  31 Jan 1865

This document states that Nancy and her daughter(of Joseph) are residents of Rockport, Spencer, Indiana.  It also states on this particular page, that Joseph enlisted on 4th Day of January 1864, in Rockport, Indiana as a Private in Company F, Commanded by Capt. James A Pine in the 28th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers, 1st Calvery and while in service died in the hospital of disease at Pine Bluff, Arkansas on the 3rd of October of 1865. (think this is a mistake on the year).  This document also verifies that they were married on the 12th of April 1860 in Spencer Co., Indiana.  It goes on to talk about their only daughter Amanda Elizabeth Dougan and that she was born 22 March 1862. 

Declaration of Widow's Army Pension (Page 2)

On the second page of this document it shows that a Jonas Shaffer and a James R. Johnson of Rockport, Indiana as witness on behalf of Nancy and swore to the information given.

Question:  How can Joseph have died on 3 Oct 1865 and the document be dated 31 Jan 1865.

 

I contacted my cousin who provided these papers to me and she stated that Nancy filed for the pension on 7 Feb 1865.  The Surgeon General Office Record & Pension Burea says he died on 3 October 1864 in the Post Hospital at Pine Bluff, Ark of Chronic Dysentery.

 

This part of the document also states that Joseph died on 3 October 1865, but in Little Rock, Ark of disease. 

On Ancestory.com, I located the following information:

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records & Profiles

Name: Joseph Dugan

[Joseph Dougan]

Residence: Rockport

Enlistment Date: 1 Nov 1864

Rank at enlistment: Private

State Served: Indiana

Survived the War?: No

Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, Indiana 1st Cavalry Regiment on 11 Jan 1864.

Mustered out on 03 Oct 1864 at Pine Bluff, AR.

Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana

Source Information:

Historical Data Systems, comp.. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works.

Copyright 1997-2009
Historical Data Systems, Inc.
PO Box 35
Duxbury, MA 02331

The last bit of information also comes from Ancestory.com and states the following:

 

US Civil War Soldiers 1861-1865

Name: Joseph Dougan

Side: Union

Regiment State/Origin: Indiana

Regiment Name: 1 Indiana Cavalry

Regiment Name Expanded: 1st Regiment, Indiana Cavalry

Company: F,A

Rank In: Private

Rank In Expanded: Private

Rank Out: Private

Rank Out Expanded: Private

Film Number: M540 roll 20

Source Information:

National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online , acquired 2007.

So, my questions are:
1.  What year did Joseph Dougan died?  1864 or 1865
2.  Who are his parents? 
3.  Where is Joseph buried?  so far, my search has come up empty handed

Jospeh's wife Nancy later remarried of Marcus Layfette Goodman in Rockport, Indiana on the 15th of Jan 1868.  Nancy and Marcus had 7 children and eventually moved to Oklahoma.  Nancy and Marcus are buried at Bristow Cemetary in Bristow, Creek, Oklahoma.

Nancy Elizabeth Cron (Dougan-Goodman)

28 Jan 1844 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA

24 May 1921 in Bristow, Creek, Oklahoma, USA

Sentimental Sunday

EVANS FARM

Since today is Valentines and the 1st Anniversary of "Where I Come From", I wanted to give you a look into one of my fondest memories growing up. 

When my parents divorced, my dad, sister and I moved in with my great-grandparents.  They had a small farm located in Bells, TX.  The farm was located on HWY 82 in Bells,TX.  However, since they have built a new HWY82, they have now changed it to HWY 56.  The farm is can be located by looking for the Lion's Club sign at the start of the fence line, it will be on the right side as you heading east.

See the green grass in front of the fence line?  my grea-granmother Alma had okra right there.  I remeber many times going out with her to pick vegitables for dinner.  Often times if the okra had gotten to large, she would tell me to throw it over to the cows.  I would ask her why we were feeding it to the cows and she would tell me that it was to tough for us to eat. 

One afternoon, I was apparently bored.  Everyone was laying down taking a nap or dotting over little sister.  So I went out to play and be quiet so she could sleep.  I decided to go and play with the cows.  I had been picking okra as my grandmother did and non of the wanted to come to the fence at that particular moment.  So I did what every little 5 year old would do and go to them.  LOL!  Well, my plan worked!  They loved the okra and came to me.  Only problem was, they followed me right out the fence.  I at the time didn't see any problem with it.  However, I got bored and ran to play somewhere else and left them to fend for themselves. 

The phone rang and it was our neighbor, he was calling my grandfather to tell him his cattle was out.  Papa only thought it was our nasty bull who found his way out,  Oh, No!  It was all of them.  I don't remember the exact head count, but I can tell you it was a bunch.  My Papa and my dad went out and with the help from our neighbor and his 3 sons and a couple others, they managed to round them all back up.  As they brought them in, I was told to hold the fence.  LOL!  So I would stand in front of the gate and hollar "Shew Cow, Shew!  There was one particular that didn't like me saying that to her and she came at me, so up the tree I went.  She got out again..... OOPS!  I could hear my Papa hollarin' for me, but I decided that up in the tree was the best place for me.

Later that afternoon, after all the men had rounded up the cattle they ALL came lookin' for me and asked me if I knew how they got out.  I simply told them I had been feeding them okra and they walked through the fence.  As you can imagine that didn't go over well.  So off the the wheeping willow tree I was sent to locate an apporpriate switch.  I had to make yet again, several trips as I would always come back with the smallest, finest, and tinyest branch I could find.  Each time, Papa would send me back for a bigger one. 

I get it now Papa! 

Submission #5: Alma Elizabeth Clark

Alma Elizabeth Clark

Event #5  Expand Your Knowledge

One of the task is to create a Memorial Page on Footnote's Create A Page or the Facebook Application I Remember.  So I did!

(Note:  FB application would not work for me.  So I loaded it through Footnote's website first.  Then I uploaded it to FB.)

Within this page, I have been able to load photos, stories and information for other's to see and create yet another page for my genealogical history for others to view.  For me sharing a piece of the past is exciting and I hope to be able to help other's in their search for their links to my family.  I have also learned yet another source of information for my searches that may help with those dreaded "BRICK WALLS".

Event Submission #4: Biography of Joseph Dougan

Winter 2010 GeneBloggers Event #5 Write, Write, Write ask that we write a brief biographical sketch on one of our ancestors.  This is my biographic submission for this event.

Joseph Dougan

Born:  abt 1840 somewhere in Indiana

Died:  3 October 1864, Pine Bluff, Arkansa

Married:  Nancy Cron

12 April 1860

Spencer Co., Indiana

Records obtained show that Joseph and Nancy were married in Spencer Co., Indiana in 1860.  They had only one child:  Amanda Elizabeth Dougan (Clark).  Josephs wife Nancy is the daughter of Jon and Cron of Sumner Co., Tennessee and Maria Catherine Johnson of  Tennesse.  Both of her parents are buried somewhere in Spencer Co, Indiana.

One year to the date after Joseph and Nancy married the American Civil War began.  Records obtained show that Joseph enlisted on 14 Jan 1864 as a Private for the Union.  He served for the State of Indiana in Company A of the Indiana 1st Calvery, 28th Regiment.  He mustered out on 3 October 1864 in Pine Bluff Arkansa.  He died there in the hospital of diesease during the war.  At this time, I have not been able to locate a place of burial.  I am assuming that he is buried somewhere in PineBluff, Arkansas.  Nancy received a war pension after Josephs death.

Joseph's wife Nancy later remarried to Marcus Layfette Goodman on 15 January 1868 in Rockport, Spencer, Indiana and had 7 children together.  The couple migrated from Indiana, to Kansas and finally ended up in Oklahoma.  Nancy and Marcus are both buried at the Bristow Creek Cemetary in Bristow, Creek, Oklahoma.

At this time, no information is known about Joseph's parents or whether he had any sibilings.  Documents in posession at this time are copies of the marriage license between he and Nancy and a copy of the pension papers that Nancy received after his death. 

Their daughter Amanda Elizabeth was born on 22 March 1862 in Spencer Co.,Indiana.  She married William Henry Clark of Indiana in 1878 in Labette Co., Kansas.  The couple moved from Kansas to Texas and finally settled in Fannin County.  They had a total of 13 children together.  Their daughter Alma Elizabeth Clark-Evans is my great-grandmother on my father's side. 

My grandmother tells of a story where "Grandpa Clark" as he was so called, had obtained a recipe from local traveling medicine shows for an ointment to cure cancer.  My grandmother still has the actual recipe he wrote down in her possession.  She said she can remember "Grandpa Clark" using the ointment and cutting cancer off of various members of town when she was a little girl, including "Grannie Clark". 

Photo given to me by my great-grandfather Clarence Evans

Place of photo unknown

The woman on the front row is Amanda Clark, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Dougan.  The men standing next to heron the left is her husband William Henry.  The others so the photo states are her sibilings.  It was not until recent that I relized they are not Clarks, they are Goodmans.  We do not know who the man is on the front.  It seems as if the photo had been cut at the bottom per the had writting on the back. (see next photo)

On the back of this photo there are actually 4 different handwrittings.

The title "Grannie Clark's brother's and sisters and then that in the lower right corner that says "Grandpa's Brother is that of my Grandmother (Granddaughter of Amanda).  The handwritting in the left corner that starts with "Grandpa Clark(Evans crossed out) is that of mine when I was about 15 when I first obtained this photo.  (I didn't know any better at the time) .  Then there is the handwritting that use the green ink and I am unsure who it belongs to or even what it says.  The handwritting that has everything circled is also unknown as to whom it belongs to.  However, if I could figure out who Susan is, I could narrow down the handwritting to her daughter.  But at this time, I don't know who Susan is.

Submission #2-My Family - Word clouds - WordItOut

My Family - Word clouds - WordItOut

Well, I am rappidly working through my events and completing as many of the task as possible on Day 1. Here is my second submission for the Winter 2010 GeneaBlogger Games. This event is #4 Epand You Knowledge. The Task is to complete a surname visualization using Wordle or Word It Out. I have choosen Word It Out for this competiton. I already have a surname visualition posted in my sidebar from Wordle and didn't think that it would be fair to use that one since it was created at the beginning of Where I Come From.

Surname Partial Listing:
Baker
Bardin
Beasley
Campbell
Clark
Cordell
Dougan(Dugan)
Evans
Faleris(Faleri-Greek Lineage)
Hall
Inge
Keng
Maness
Scopis (Sgoupakou-Greek Lineage)
Walker
Williams

Wordless Wednesday

AMANDA ELIZABETH DUGAN CLARK-Updated

BORN: 22 March 1862

"Somewhere in Indiana"

DIED: 5 May 1949,

Sherman, Grayson, Texas

Parents:

Joseph Dugan

Born: 1840 in Indiana

Died: 3 Oct 1864 in Little Rock, Arkansas

Nancy Elizabeth Cron

28 Jan 1849, Nashville, TN

24 May 1921, Bristow, OK

Married to: William Henry Clark in 1878 in Kansas

Children born to this union:

1. Henry L., 1880 - ?
2. Emma Elnora, 1881-1978
3. Alice Mae, 1883-1978
4. Sylvester, 1883-1897
5. William "Willie" Augusta, 1887-1974
6. Charlie L., 1889-1970
7. Mable, 1891-1987
8. Ida Isbelle, 1894-1982
9. Wilburn Cisney, 1895-1917
10. Ira E., 1898-1981
11. Cora Etta, 1900-1981
12. Alma Elizabeth, 1903-1978
13. Baby Boy Clark, 1906-1906

For years, I have understood that my Great-Grandmother was adopted, but recently I learned that I somehow had misunderstood. It was another grandmother instead. I recently was able to locate information regarding Amanda and her parents. Her father was Joseph Dugan who was born in 1840 somewhere in Indiana. He served in the Civil War uner the Command of Captin J. Pine in F. Company in the 28th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Calvery. During the Civil War he died in Arkansas on 3 October 1864 of disease as so many others had. Amanda was the only child that Joseph and Nancy had. Amanda's mother Nancy was born 28 Jan 1849 in Nashville Tennesse. After the loss of her husband she remarried Marcus L. Goodman and together they had 8 children.
Information collected from Census Records shows that Amanda and her family have lived in Fannin County,, Grayson County and Collin County, Texas along with Indiana, Kansas and Missouri.

Amanda, along with her husband and several children are buried at West Shady Grove Cemetary, behind the little country church in Collin County, TX. When Amanda passed away she was living at 424 W. Cherry St., in Sherman, TX with her daughter Cora.

Joseph Dugan & Nancy Elizabeth Cron

JOSEPH DUGAN

&

NANCY ELIZABETH CRON

12 APRIL 1860

SPENCER COUNTY, INDIANA

For year's I have search for my Great-Great Grandmother Amanda's parents. Until recently I have had no luck in finding any information. Recently Debbie A. wrote to me with information regarding her parents. She has since sent me marriage Certificates for both Amanda's Father and Step-father. The license attached is that of her parents: Joseph A. Dugan and Nancy Elizabeth Cron.

Not much is known about Joseph Dugan. The only information we have to date is that he served during the Civil War. He was a private in Company F, commanded by Captain J. Pine, in the 28th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Calvary and died during the war of disease on 3 October 1864 in Little Rock, ARK. Joseph was born abt 1840, somewhere in Indiana. I do not know where Joseph is buried at this time.

Mystery Solved

I am so very excited about the information I received today. While on my journey searching for "Where I Came From", I have met a few bumps in the road. On my father's side, I could not locate my great-great grandmother's parents. Yesterday, I received an email from Ancestory.com and someone else had her in their tree and sent me the information I was looking for. So now my journey on that side may continue. I will post more to this story in the near future when I am through with "My Family Quilt: My Mother's Side.

STAY TUNED!

Alma Elizabeth Clark Evans

Alma Elizabeth Clark

Dec 26, 1903 - Sept 8, 1978

aka My Great Grandma

My great-grandmother is the daughter of William Henry Clark born 17 Nov 1854 in Indiana and Amanda Elizabeth Dugan Clark born March 1862 in Indiana. My grandmother is one of 14 children.

My great-grandmother was a wonderful cook, and was always prepared when company showed. No matter who many people seemed to show up unannounced, she always found a way to feed them all, and not one person ever left hungry. My favorite memories of her are from "Thanksgiving" and "Christmas" when I would wake up in the morning and run to great everyone who had arrived. Her and my grandmother Lydia Mae Clark Campbell would be in the kitchen preparing our feast. I also loved when she would cook Pinto Beans aka (RedBeans here in the south) becasue she had a special coffee cup that hung by the crockpot that was specifically for my tasting pleasure. I always got the first cup! For my birthday's she would always make me "Chocolate Cake" and that was the best part of the day.

When I was little, we lived on a small farm in Bells, Texas and there was a creek out behind the barn. We had problems with Rattlesnakes and Copperheads where we lived due to the creek. I remember swinging in my swing hanging in the Wheeping Willow tree in the back yard and Grandma racing out towards me screaming with a garden hoe in her hand. For a small child, that is pretty frightening. Actually, she had an eagle eye for those darn pest and apparently there was one wrapped around my swing. It was nothing for her to be in the garden and see her just wack a snake and continue her chores.

Grandma always kept me out of trouble. No matter what mess I got into, all I had to do is go to her. We had a garden out on the side of the house by the drive way and had lots of vegitables growing, everything from corn, greenbeans, potatoes, and cabbage. Usually for dinner of something we would go out and pick tomatoes, or onions or cuccumbers or something. So one day me being the little helper I was thought I would go pick cabbage for dinner. Only thing was, I picked all of it.... two rows worth. Grandma shook her head and told me to go replant before grandpa got home. Well, needless to say, I wasn't done when he drove up.

One of my other favorite memories was when we would go out to the garden and as she picked okra for dinner or whatever meal she was serving, she would thought the tough ones over to the cattle. I loved picking them and feeding to them. It also, ended up getting me into trouble. I wanted to feed them okra one day and they were not near the fence, so I opened the gate to go in and feed. Being a small child.... I forgot to shut the gate. Needless to say that whipping willow tree my swing was in.... we got to know each other pretty well.