One time Mom and Dad were gone and Pat was babysitting. They had to do the chores, and one was to take the little tractor out and feed the pigs. Pat was 12 or 13 or so. When he was out in the field, he accidentally backed over a pig and killed it. He came back to the house, and we were standing by the big garage door talking about how he was going to be in BIG trouble. So he decided he would run away. He started out wanting Margy to go with him, and she was NOT going, so he tried to convince one of the rest of us to go. No one would go with him, and the way Susan could was if he carried her. He ran all the way to the railroad bridge, which was in the center of the section. By the time Mom and Dad got home, he was back home. And he never got in trouble, because it was his own 4-H pig he had killed.
Pat also always carried Susan down with him whenever he had to go to the fruit room in the basement.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The 1924 Chrysler
Sometimes it pays to be a packrat. I haven't found a good use for my first grade workbooks yet but I did find some stories I wrote in high school. I wrote this one when I was a junior (got an 'A' though probably not up to today's standards.
Last night, I sat down with paper and pen to find out the story of my Dad's first car. Of course, Dad didn't have much to offer. But luckily, my great-uncle was visiting for the evening at our house. Pretty soon, I picked up a lot of odd bits ad Dad and Uncle Matt reminisced.
Dad got his first car about 1934 or 1935 when he was about twenty years old. At this time, his parents and family were still living on the farm on which we live. Dad spent his time working in Starrett's in town for ten dollars a week. But in order to buy his first car he had to "float a loan" from the bank. This wonder was a 1924 Chrysler and cost all of the amazing sum of thirty-five dollars.
As Dad described the car, the light lit up in his eyes. It was a big black square box on wheels. The spare time hung on the back of the car. Only the back wheels had brakes, leaving the front ones with none. The car had two cylinders, whatever and wherever they are. Dad explained that the car wouldn't start most of the time and he had to crank it. Then he jumped in before the car took off.
Now, this is all Dad really told me until he started talking to Uncle Matt. And half talking to me and half to my uncle, I learned the rest.
One summer, Dad, some of his brothers and some of his cousins, went to the Black Hills in Dad's Chrysler. As they rolled along, Dad's cousin, Bob O'Kane, wound the car up to forty-five miles per hour, and then a bull jumped into the path of the car! They couldn't stop, so they rode right up on the bull. Everyone piled out and helped the bull from under the car and then watched the poor creature run off.
But this was only one episode in the Chrysler's life. On the same trip, as they were coming down a steep and winding hill road, my Uncle John got the car in high and couldn't get it into low. Pretty soon the car was speeding down the hill at forty-five mile per hour. On each curve, everyone leaned in toward the hill because all there was on the other side was a thousand foot drop-off. John applied the brakes but that did no good. Finally, after two miles of dangerous riding, the car stopped at the bottom of the hill, but the brakes were on fire. John pulled the car into a gas station and asked if he could have some water to put the fire out. But the attendant said that water was expensive in those parts and he would have to sell them pop. So they put out the fire with eight bottles of pop at ten cents apiece.
The trip turned out fine, but at times it seemed impossible. They went 120 miles on the spare time with the red inner-tube showing. But it never blew out.
The Chrysler survived the trip and never wore out until my Dad's future bride (my mother) borrowed it for a day. The rod burnt out and started to pound. Mom didn't know what was wrong, so when people asked her, she said, "Wait, I'll start the car and you can see." Well, finally, the rod drove right out the side of the engine. Dad lost his car, but gained himself a wife. But I think Dad will remember the Chrysler forever.
The 1924 Chrysler
Last night, I sat down with paper and pen to find out the story of my Dad's first car. Of course, Dad didn't have much to offer. But luckily, my great-uncle was visiting for the evening at our house. Pretty soon, I picked up a lot of odd bits ad Dad and Uncle Matt reminisced.
Dad got his first car about 1934 or 1935 when he was about twenty years old. At this time, his parents and family were still living on the farm on which we live. Dad spent his time working in Starrett's in town for ten dollars a week. But in order to buy his first car he had to "float a loan" from the bank. This wonder was a 1924 Chrysler and cost all of the amazing sum of thirty-five dollars.
As Dad described the car, the light lit up in his eyes. It was a big black square box on wheels. The spare time hung on the back of the car. Only the back wheels had brakes, leaving the front ones with none. The car had two cylinders, whatever and wherever they are. Dad explained that the car wouldn't start most of the time and he had to crank it. Then he jumped in before the car took off.
Now, this is all Dad really told me until he started talking to Uncle Matt. And half talking to me and half to my uncle, I learned the rest.
One summer, Dad, some of his brothers and some of his cousins, went to the Black Hills in Dad's Chrysler. As they rolled along, Dad's cousin, Bob O'Kane, wound the car up to forty-five miles per hour, and then a bull jumped into the path of the car! They couldn't stop, so they rode right up on the bull. Everyone piled out and helped the bull from under the car and then watched the poor creature run off.
But this was only one episode in the Chrysler's life. On the same trip, as they were coming down a steep and winding hill road, my Uncle John got the car in high and couldn't get it into low. Pretty soon the car was speeding down the hill at forty-five mile per hour. On each curve, everyone leaned in toward the hill because all there was on the other side was a thousand foot drop-off. John applied the brakes but that did no good. Finally, after two miles of dangerous riding, the car stopped at the bottom of the hill, but the brakes were on fire. John pulled the car into a gas station and asked if he could have some water to put the fire out. But the attendant said that water was expensive in those parts and he would have to sell them pop. So they put out the fire with eight bottles of pop at ten cents apiece.
The trip turned out fine, but at times it seemed impossible. They went 120 miles on the spare time with the red inner-tube showing. But it never blew out.
The Chrysler survived the trip and never wore out until my Dad's future bride (my mother) borrowed it for a day. The rod burnt out and started to pound. Mom didn't know what was wrong, so when people asked her, she said, "Wait, I'll start the car and you can see." Well, finally, the rod drove right out the side of the engine. Dad lost his car, but gained himself a wife. But I think Dad will remember the Chrysler forever.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Grandma's Craft Club?
This is really a partial answer to Deirdre's questions about Grandma, but I couldn't resist posting this picture. Dad HATES this Christmas decoration that Grandma made. This year when he was trying to give it away yet again, he mentioned that she made it in "her craft club". I don't know if that was the CC Club, but here's what Dad could remember:It was her and four other older women: Dorothy Farnsworth, Mrs. Wilkins, and two Dad couldn't remember. They used to get together once a week.
Dorothy Farnsworth (a neighbor, who lived on some of the land Dad farms now) told this story: They were all heavy-set women, and drove over to Rock Valley one day to exercise. As they all got out of Grandpa's Buick, the men came out of the elevator to watch them all get out of one car. While they were exercising, a woman came over to Dorothy and told her she shouldn't be doing that exercise. Dorothy said, I need all the exercise I can get, but the woman told her that was to increase your bust, and Dorothy dropped the weights immediately.
According to Dad, Grandpa used to say it was just an excuse to get together once a week, and have coffee and pie.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Family Crest
Motto means: To the strong and faithful, nothing is difficult.Red means: Warrior or martyr; Military strength and magnanimity
Stag means: One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony
History of O’Brien County, Iowa 1979: McCarty Family
The year 1845 was another of the bitter years for the Irish. The English were still doing their best to destroy the Irish who were Catholic and blight had destroyed the potato crop causing widespread famine. Late that year, Patrick McCarty, with his wife, Mary, and their ten children left Ireland. They landed at New Orleans in February 1846. From there, they went to Daviess County, Indiana and bought a farm. Their son, Patrick Henry (1832-1894) married Elizabeth Morgan (1836-1913) in 1861, three days before the Civil War began. The first child born in Montgomery, Indiana was their son Patrick Maurice (1862-1928).
Patrick brought his family to Walnut, Iowa in 1879. Later they farmed in the Boyden-Hull area, and were there at the time of the Great Blizzard of March 14, 1888. Patrick and three sons were in the barn milking when it struck. Since the house and barn were on opposite sides of the road, Patrick and the boys wondered if they could find the house. Patrick, trusting a dog’s natural homing instincts, held onto the dog’s tail with the three boys holding onto him and each other. They got safely to the house.
That same year, Patrick bought the NW¼ of Section 9 in Carroll Township. The family lived in rented buildings on Section 4 while they farmed the land and build a house. Patrick had paid $16.50 per acre for the farm. Also in 1888, their son, James M. married Josie Dunn (1860-1945). They farmed in Floyd Township until Patrick’s death in 1894. Elizabeth and daughters moved into Sheldon and James moved onto the farm in Carroll Township. Prior to James and Josie’s wedding, Josie’s sister, Loretta had written to her warning her not to marry James as he read books, and would therefore be a poor businessman. Despite the handicap, by the time of his death he managed to own 640 acres in Carroll Township.
James and Josie had four children; Vivian (1889-1974), Lionel P. (Lyle) (1890-1943), Vetus C. (1894-1968), and Loretta (1901- ). They also raised twin girls, Arleen and Eileen (1916- ) whose mother died at childbirth. The twins’ father was James’ brother, Vetus.
Vivian married Matthew Weir (1893-1978) in 1921. They had seven children; Mary (1922), Veronica (1923- ), Ethel (1925- ), Lionel (1926- ), Rosella (1927- ), Loretta (1930- ), and Audrey (1931- ). Matt and Vivian spent all their farming days on Section 1 Carroll and were living in Sheldon at the time of their deaths.
Lyle married Mary O’Kane (1891- ) in 1912. They were the parents of fifteen children. They farmed the NE¼ of Section 8 Carroll until 1936 when they purchased the S½ of Section 26 in Hartley Township. Lyle died there. Mary moved to Sheldon and has 65 grandchildren and seventy-two great-grandchildren. Their children are:
Philip (1913- ) who married Dorothy Tilley in 1949. Three children.
James (1914- ) who married Cecelia Mulhern in 1937 and have eight children. They have always lived on Section 8 in Carroll.
John (1914- ) Zansen married Seraphine Z in 1937. They live on Section 32 in Lincoln Township. They have five children. Their daughter Karen, married Richard Kamradt in 1960 and they and their five children live on Section 4, Dale Township.
Lionel F. (1916-1921)
Rosemary (1917-1971) married Arthur Schoo in 1942. He died in 1963. They had no children.
Bernadette (1918- ) married Ed Krogman in 1945. Ed died in 1963. They had three children. Bernadette later married Harold Bell. They live in Sheldon.
LeRoy (1920- ) married Ruby Brower in 1945. They live on Section 26 in Hartley Township and have five children. Daughter, Therese married Orlan Lux in 1968 and have three children. They live on Section 26 in Lincoln Township. Daughter, Maureen married Larry Rawlings in 1969 and have two children. They live in Hartley. Son, Noel lives on Section 27 in Lincoln Township.
Edwin (Ned) (1922- ) married Ruth Wichman in 1945. They live in Sutherland and have seven children. The youngest, Todd, is still at home.
Richard (1923- ) married LaVonne Newell in 1946. They live in Hartley and have four children.
Clement (1925- ) married Beverly Shouse in 1945 and have four children.
Therese (1926-1943)
Deloris (1928- ) married Robert Bryant in 1946. They live in Sheldon and have five children.
Patrick (1929- ) married Joan McAlpine in 1953 and have five children.
Vernon (1931- ) married Ann Mosser in 1958. She died in 1961. He married Betty Brown in 1962. They have eight children.
Joan (1933- ) married Kenneth Wacker in 1953 and are the parents of nine children.
Vetus married Agnes Cajacob (1895- ) in 1919. They farmed the McCarty homeplace on Section 9 on Carroll until retiring to live in Sheldon. They had ten children and at present there are fifty-five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Their children are:
Francis J. (Frank) (1920- ) married Regina Pape in 1947 and are the parents of twelve children, five of which are still living at home on Section 16 Lincoln Township.
David (1922- ) married Rita Theisen in 1947. They have ten children, two of whom are still at home on Section 1 Grant Township. A son, Dan married Donna Harris in 1976 and they live on Section 4 Omega Township.
Robert (1924- ) lives with his mother in Sheldon and is engaged in farming with his brother, William, on Section 9 Carroll Township.
William (Bill) (1926- ) married Carol Downes in 1952 and are the parents of four sons. The oldest, Patrick married Laureen Peterson in 1973. They have two children and live in Sheldon.
Thomas (1928- ) married Theresa Pape in 1951 and have five children.
Jean (1929- ) married Robert Abels in 1950. They had nine children.
Betty (1931- ) married Robert Youngers in 1955. They live on Section 26 Carroll Township. The oldest of their seven children, Tom, married Lisa Letner in 1974. They have two children and live on Section 10 Carroll Township.
Patricia (1934- ) married John Rodkewich in 1969. He died in 1974. They had two children.
Charles (1935- ) married Theresa Penning in 1964. They have two children.
Margaret (Peggy) (1938- ) married Robert Naughton in 1961 and have three sons
James and Josie’s youngest daughter married Leland Coonan in 1923. They had four children.
There are members of five generations of McCarty’s buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Sheldon. Throughout the years, members of the family have been active in affairs of church, school, community, cooperatives, and the Democratic Party.
I typed this from the book (History of O'Brien County, Iowa 1976) on our shelf at home (most of the strange punctuation and grammar aren’t mine). I think Mom told me Grandpa wrote it. Apparently he first wrote something much longer, but it was edited down quite a bit. I remember him saying that was to make room for the 3 pages the Klu Klux Klan got. I’m not going to type their section up. Sorry.
NW¼ of Section 9 in Carroll Township is just ½ mile east of the farm at the top of the hill, where Pat and Laureen McCarty farm now. NE¼ of Section 8 in Carroll Township is the farm.
Patrick brought his family to Walnut, Iowa in 1879. Later they farmed in the Boyden-Hull area, and were there at the time of the Great Blizzard of March 14, 1888. Patrick and three sons were in the barn milking when it struck. Since the house and barn were on opposite sides of the road, Patrick and the boys wondered if they could find the house. Patrick, trusting a dog’s natural homing instincts, held onto the dog’s tail with the three boys holding onto him and each other. They got safely to the house.
That same year, Patrick bought the NW¼ of Section 9 in Carroll Township. The family lived in rented buildings on Section 4 while they farmed the land and build a house. Patrick had paid $16.50 per acre for the farm. Also in 1888, their son, James M. married Josie Dunn (1860-1945). They farmed in Floyd Township until Patrick’s death in 1894. Elizabeth and daughters moved into Sheldon and James moved onto the farm in Carroll Township. Prior to James and Josie’s wedding, Josie’s sister, Loretta had written to her warning her not to marry James as he read books, and would therefore be a poor businessman. Despite the handicap, by the time of his death he managed to own 640 acres in Carroll Township.
James and Josie had four children; Vivian (1889-1974), Lionel P. (Lyle) (1890-1943), Vetus C. (1894-1968), and Loretta (1901- ). They also raised twin girls, Arleen and Eileen (1916- ) whose mother died at childbirth. The twins’ father was James’ brother, Vetus.
Vivian married Matthew Weir (1893-1978) in 1921. They had seven children; Mary (1922), Veronica (1923- ), Ethel (1925- ), Lionel (1926- ), Rosella (1927- ), Loretta (1930- ), and Audrey (1931- ). Matt and Vivian spent all their farming days on Section 1 Carroll and were living in Sheldon at the time of their deaths.
Lyle married Mary O’Kane (1891- ) in 1912. They were the parents of fifteen children. They farmed the NE¼ of Section 8 Carroll until 1936 when they purchased the S½ of Section 26 in Hartley Township. Lyle died there. Mary moved to Sheldon and has 65 grandchildren and seventy-two great-grandchildren. Their children are:
Philip (1913- ) who married Dorothy Tilley in 1949. Three children.
James (1914- ) who married Cecelia Mulhern in 1937 and have eight children. They have always lived on Section 8 in Carroll.
John (1914- ) Zansen married Seraphine Z in 1937. They live on Section 32 in Lincoln Township. They have five children. Their daughter Karen, married Richard Kamradt in 1960 and they and their five children live on Section 4, Dale Township.
Lionel F. (1916-1921)
Rosemary (1917-1971) married Arthur Schoo in 1942. He died in 1963. They had no children.
Bernadette (1918- ) married Ed Krogman in 1945. Ed died in 1963. They had three children. Bernadette later married Harold Bell. They live in Sheldon.
LeRoy (1920- ) married Ruby Brower in 1945. They live on Section 26 in Hartley Township and have five children. Daughter, Therese married Orlan Lux in 1968 and have three children. They live on Section 26 in Lincoln Township. Daughter, Maureen married Larry Rawlings in 1969 and have two children. They live in Hartley. Son, Noel lives on Section 27 in Lincoln Township.
Edwin (Ned) (1922- ) married Ruth Wichman in 1945. They live in Sutherland and have seven children. The youngest, Todd, is still at home.
Richard (1923- ) married LaVonne Newell in 1946. They live in Hartley and have four children.
Clement (1925- ) married Beverly Shouse in 1945 and have four children.
Therese (1926-1943)
Deloris (1928- ) married Robert Bryant in 1946. They live in Sheldon and have five children.
Patrick (1929- ) married Joan McAlpine in 1953 and have five children.
Vernon (1931- ) married Ann Mosser in 1958. She died in 1961. He married Betty Brown in 1962. They have eight children.
Joan (1933- ) married Kenneth Wacker in 1953 and are the parents of nine children.
Vetus married Agnes Cajacob (1895- ) in 1919. They farmed the McCarty homeplace on Section 9 on Carroll until retiring to live in Sheldon. They had ten children and at present there are fifty-five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Their children are:
Francis J. (Frank) (1920- ) married Regina Pape in 1947 and are the parents of twelve children, five of which are still living at home on Section 16 Lincoln Township.
David (1922- ) married Rita Theisen in 1947. They have ten children, two of whom are still at home on Section 1 Grant Township. A son, Dan married Donna Harris in 1976 and they live on Section 4 Omega Township.
Robert (1924- ) lives with his mother in Sheldon and is engaged in farming with his brother, William, on Section 9 Carroll Township.
William (Bill) (1926- ) married Carol Downes in 1952 and are the parents of four sons. The oldest, Patrick married Laureen Peterson in 1973. They have two children and live in Sheldon.
Thomas (1928- ) married Theresa Pape in 1951 and have five children.
Jean (1929- ) married Robert Abels in 1950. They had nine children.
Betty (1931- ) married Robert Youngers in 1955. They live on Section 26 Carroll Township. The oldest of their seven children, Tom, married Lisa Letner in 1974. They have two children and live on Section 10 Carroll Township.
Patricia (1934- ) married John Rodkewich in 1969. He died in 1974. They had two children.
Charles (1935- ) married Theresa Penning in 1964. They have two children.
Margaret (Peggy) (1938- ) married Robert Naughton in 1961 and have three sons
James and Josie’s youngest daughter married Leland Coonan in 1923. They had four children.
There are members of five generations of McCarty’s buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Sheldon. Throughout the years, members of the family have been active in affairs of church, school, community, cooperatives, and the Democratic Party.
I typed this from the book (History of O'Brien County, Iowa 1976) on our shelf at home (most of the strange punctuation and grammar aren’t mine). I think Mom told me Grandpa wrote it. Apparently he first wrote something much longer, but it was edited down quite a bit. I remember him saying that was to make room for the 3 pages the Klu Klux Klan got. I’m not going to type their section up. Sorry.
NW¼ of Section 9 in Carroll Township is just ½ mile east of the farm at the top of the hill, where Pat and Laureen McCarty farm now. NE¼ of Section 8 in Carroll Township is the farm.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Josie #3
More from Grandpa's tapes -
Josie’s relatives lived down in Akron. After Jim died, she would furnish the car and John and James would have to drive her down. Eileen and Arleen would go along. Even if they drove their own car all the pay Josie ever gave them after putting up with her all day was to say three Hail Marys for them. At that time it was very unusual to drive to Akron (50 miles) and back without having at least one flat tire so it wasn’t a joyous trip. On top of that, coming and going, Grandma would start the rosary in her slow, slow way and they were expected to answer that all the way down and back. They soon learned that Josie was a little deaf and after she would say her part of the prayers the rest of them would carry on a conversation on any subject they wanted pretending to be answering her prayers so they got along all right.
Josie raised Eileen and Arleen, twin daughters of Veatus Cantious and Mary Gannon McCarty. (Veatus was Jim's brother). Their mother died at childbirth. Josie adopted them in 1930, after Jim’s death. He would never adopt them.
Josie’s relatives lived down in Akron. After Jim died, she would furnish the car and John and James would have to drive her down. Eileen and Arleen would go along. Even if they drove their own car all the pay Josie ever gave them after putting up with her all day was to say three Hail Marys for them. At that time it was very unusual to drive to Akron (50 miles) and back without having at least one flat tire so it wasn’t a joyous trip. On top of that, coming and going, Grandma would start the rosary in her slow, slow way and they were expected to answer that all the way down and back. They soon learned that Josie was a little deaf and after she would say her part of the prayers the rest of them would carry on a conversation on any subject they wanted pretending to be answering her prayers so they got along all right.
Josie raised Eileen and Arleen, twin daughters of Veatus Cantious and Mary Gannon McCarty. (Veatus was Jim's brother). Their mother died at childbirth. Josie adopted them in 1930, after Jim’s death. He would never adopt them.
Josie #2
In Grandpa's words -
During the depression when they were going to high school, James and his family brought her in milk at seven cents a quart. They were glad to get that money because that bought their paper, pencils, school supplies and gave them a little money on the side. (Money went a long ways in those days). Josie never washed the milk bottles for them or gave them a treat. On top of that when they walked into the house she would be sitting on her chair and would invariably ask them to sit or kneel down beside her chair and she would recite some religious prayer or poem or give them a lecture. At that age they were not too happy to receive such advice.
Once James was late coming home from school as he had to stay after for a discipline problem. If Lyle knew that James would automatically be out of high school. He was driving a horse and buggy so he had to hurry to get home in time. As James walked in Josie told him to kneel down beside her chair. “This afternoon” she said, “I think we should have a little talk about sex.” James said he had a sudden inspiration and said “Just what in the devil do you want to know about sex?” Josie got angry and threw him out and he got home without his dad finding out he had to stay after school.
During the depression when they were going to high school, James and his family brought her in milk at seven cents a quart. They were glad to get that money because that bought their paper, pencils, school supplies and gave them a little money on the side. (Money went a long ways in those days). Josie never washed the milk bottles for them or gave them a treat. On top of that when they walked into the house she would be sitting on her chair and would invariably ask them to sit or kneel down beside her chair and she would recite some religious prayer or poem or give them a lecture. At that age they were not too happy to receive such advice.
Once James was late coming home from school as he had to stay after for a discipline problem. If Lyle knew that James would automatically be out of high school. He was driving a horse and buggy so he had to hurry to get home in time. As James walked in Josie told him to kneel down beside her chair. “This afternoon” she said, “I think we should have a little talk about sex.” James said he had a sudden inspiration and said “Just what in the devil do you want to know about sex?” Josie got angry and threw him out and he got home without his dad finding out he had to stay after school.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Josie stories #1
From Grandpa's tapes:
Josie was a religious fanatic. She was one of those old time bigoted Catholics. James’ folks didn’t bring them up that way but the generation before them were as bigoted as the Protestants were to them. If you weren’t a Catholic you were going to go to hell for sure. In later years when she was staying down at Marguerite Wulf’s mother’s house, Nell Donahue, she showed how fanatic she was. On Good Friday Josie would go to the church at 6:30 in the morning and she wouldn’t leave until evening. This Good Friday, along toward noon, some lady came over and told Nell that Josie had wet her pants and it had run down the floor almost to the alter rails. Nell picked up a pair of clean panties and went over to the church and started to scold Josie about going on in such a way. Josie said “Well, that’s the kind of a Catholic you are and I’ve been here all day with Jesus.” So she didn’t make much head way in telling her to have a little cleanliness about herself.
Another time she was staying at Nell Donahue’s when Marguerite was going with Howard and, of course, he was a Lutheran. Josie wanted to go for a ride. She had broken her hip some time before and it had never mended properly. When the ride was over she was so stiff that she couldn’t get out of the car without help. It took quite a bit of help so Nell went in the house to get Howard who was visiting. Nell asked him to help Josie, but when Josie saw him coming near the car she said “Go away. I’ll not have any help from a Protestant pup!” Nell said, “Good! Then you can sit in there and rot.” Josie sat and rotted for about two hours in the hot sun and finally she let the Protestant pup help her out of the car.
Josie also didn’t believe in taking a bath. She said if you changed your underthings that was all that was necessary. Marguerite tells about when she and her mother picked up Josie bodily and put her in the tub to clean her up. Josie stiffened out straight as a board. They had to crack her in the stomach to get her to bend and get into the water. They scrubbed her up no matter what she believed.
Josie was a religious fanatic. She was one of those old time bigoted Catholics. James’ folks didn’t bring them up that way but the generation before them were as bigoted as the Protestants were to them. If you weren’t a Catholic you were going to go to hell for sure. In later years when she was staying down at Marguerite Wulf’s mother’s house, Nell Donahue, she showed how fanatic she was. On Good Friday Josie would go to the church at 6:30 in the morning and she wouldn’t leave until evening. This Good Friday, along toward noon, some lady came over and told Nell that Josie had wet her pants and it had run down the floor almost to the alter rails. Nell picked up a pair of clean panties and went over to the church and started to scold Josie about going on in such a way. Josie said “Well, that’s the kind of a Catholic you are and I’ve been here all day with Jesus.” So she didn’t make much head way in telling her to have a little cleanliness about herself.
Another time she was staying at Nell Donahue’s when Marguerite was going with Howard and, of course, he was a Lutheran. Josie wanted to go for a ride. She had broken her hip some time before and it had never mended properly. When the ride was over she was so stiff that she couldn’t get out of the car without help. It took quite a bit of help so Nell went in the house to get Howard who was visiting. Nell asked him to help Josie, but when Josie saw him coming near the car she said “Go away. I’ll not have any help from a Protestant pup!” Nell said, “Good! Then you can sit in there and rot.” Josie sat and rotted for about two hours in the hot sun and finally she let the Protestant pup help her out of the car.
Josie also didn’t believe in taking a bath. She said if you changed your underthings that was all that was necessary. Marguerite tells about when she and her mother picked up Josie bodily and put her in the tub to clean her up. Josie stiffened out straight as a board. They had to crack her in the stomach to get her to bend and get into the water. They scrubbed her up no matter what she believed.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Ned the Dog
Another story from Margy:
When Susan was little, Uncle Ned sold Grandpa a dog for 13c, and they named it Ned. Once it ate a toothpick, and it got stuck sideways in his butt. He acted fine, but when he tried to sit down, he would hop up and howl in pain. Grandpa took him into the vet because Susan was so attached to him and was crying. In town, Ned got away from him, and was hiding under the car. Grandpa wasn't happy to be on his hands and knees in front of the vet's office, trying to get a dog out. They had to do surgery on the dog, the only pet who ever got such treatment.
One time when everyone was gone, Mike and Pat cut the tail off of Ned. He bled like crazy, until they threw him in the feed bin, and the ground feed clotted the blood. Later that night, Margy was out burning the trash, and Mike came out of the shadows, saying, "We cut off Ned's tail, and he almost died. Susan is going to be so mad."
When Susan was little, Uncle Ned sold Grandpa a dog for 13c, and they named it Ned. Once it ate a toothpick, and it got stuck sideways in his butt. He acted fine, but when he tried to sit down, he would hop up and howl in pain. Grandpa took him into the vet because Susan was so attached to him and was crying. In town, Ned got away from him, and was hiding under the car. Grandpa wasn't happy to be on his hands and knees in front of the vet's office, trying to get a dog out. They had to do surgery on the dog, the only pet who ever got such treatment.
One time when everyone was gone, Mike and Pat cut the tail off of Ned. He bled like crazy, until they threw him in the feed bin, and the ground feed clotted the blood. Later that night, Margy was out burning the trash, and Mike came out of the shadows, saying, "We cut off Ned's tail, and he almost died. Susan is going to be so mad."
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Twin Stories
I overheard these at McCarty Christmas this year:
- One time Grandpa went to Sanborn. He pinched some woman's butt and then kept walking as the woman yelled "John McCarty"! Apparently John got in trouble for that one.
- Another time Grandpa was stopped by someone (Margy knows her name) who worked at the grocery store. "Which one is your wife?" she asked. "The one you go to church with or the one you go to the grocery store with"?
- Shortly after John died, Grandpa was at a family function. One of John's grandkids ran up to him saying "Grandpa, Grandpa, they told me you weren't coming back"!! (Try to read that without tearing up)!
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