ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN WARREN CO.
A Series Part 3
Traveling in those days was fatiguing, and not as safe as it might be, as there were the usual percentage of outlaws, that, driven from the more civilized locations, would flock to the new settlements where they were unknown and there follow their criminal practices until lynch law gave them their just dues or compelled them to move on. In the summer 1833 a young school teach, who had finished a term of school in Warren County, wished to travel to Eaton, Ohio, on important business. He had a horse, so he went from Williamsport to Lafayette, on a Wabash river steamer and when he reached the latter place he hired a single buggy and concluded to driving from Lafayette to Ohio. As driving was uncertain in those days he carried his saddle and riding bridle in the buggy with him in case a change from the buggy to the saddle became needful. Leaving Lafayette after breakfast the young man drove leisurely along until he reached Jefferson in Clinton County. There he stopped at a store and wrote a letter. While writing he observed among the various customers passing in and out of the little backwoods store two or more suspicious looking individuals that he could see through the open door, examining his horse and buggy with great interest. He thought but little of their conduct at the time. Soon after he left Shoemaker’s tavern, which stood near the middle of a twelve mile prairie he overtook a young man dressed in a blue surtout cloth coat, black pants, and white hat, riding a fine looking bay mare, about five or six years old. After passing the time of day he asked the traveler if he was going far on that road. The young teacher replied that he expected to go beyond Indianapolis. The stranger said he was going to Ohio and as he had never traveled that road he would be glad of company.
The Warren County man was surprised at this statement, for the newcomer carried no saddle bags, protmanteau, over coat or umbrella, had no girth to his saddle, not was there any shoes on the animal he was riding, in fact there was nothing about the horseman or his beast that indicated travel; and the young traveler was almost sure that he was one of the parties he had noticed at Jefferson, sizing up his horse and buggy the previous afternoon. He denied being there however, and said he passed the night at a cabin a few miles east of Jefferson. They had not proceeded over a mile when they overtook a man walking who probed to be an old acquaintance of the teachers. He readily accepted an invitation to ride in the buggy, while the horseman rode on ahead. His friend asked the teacher if he knew the fellow riding ahead and learned that he did not. The friend told him that the stranger was a suspicious character that had been loafing around Jefferson for several weeks with no ostensible business, consorting with tough characters and that he was no good.
The friend also told the schoolmaster that the “suspect” would probably follow him into the wilderness of the Black swamp, a desolate region on the Strawtown Road and there assisted by confederates, rob him of his horse and buggy and what ever he had of value. He further advised the teacher to change his route and take the Michigan road through Indianapolis. The teacher regretted he had no knife, pistol or other weapon and determined to procure them at the first opportunity.
After the friend left the buggy the stranger rode up alongside and regaled the teacher with his stories of his mare, that he claimed was a “singed cat” when it came running. The teacher was game and offered to take his buggy horse out of the shafts and run him a mile, the winner take both horses. The “suspect” weakened and said his mare was in no shape for racing then.
By the time the two arrived at Wynkoop’s Tavern in Kriklin, where the teacher stopped awhile until he could see the landlord privately of who he tried to buy or borrow a pistol. Mr. Wynkoop had none however, that would answer the purpose, so he started on stating his intention to go to Indianapolis by the Michigan road. The stranger said the Strawtown route was nearer and a better road. This the teacher knew very well for he had business in Strawtown and the idea of being driven out of his way by such a fellow annoyed him very much. He finally made up his mind that the fellow had no confederates and that he would be his match in a rough and tumble contest. So he kept on the Strawtown route. They had gone about three miles into the wilderness when there was a marked change in the manner and action of the horseman whose bearing become more insolent and imperious. It was evident that he intended mischief. He cast many glances at the horse and buggy then at the driver as if to doubt what manner he should begin the attack. He occasionally checked up his horse and rode it over to the side of the road occupied by the buggy. The teacher told him to trot ahead and he would keep up with him.
He would trot along for a few rods briskly and then show a disposition to lag back and get behind the buggy, which the teacher determined he should not do if he could prevent it. After the teacher had spoken to him several times, rather sharply for him to keep ahead, he at length dashed off some distance along the road, evincing his manner that he was in ill humor. Finally the teacher saw him take a pistol from his pocket and put what appeared to be a percussion cap on it. He put his hand in his pocket and drew out another instrument of some kind which he examined and replaced. He then fell back behind the buggy in spite of the teacher’s protests, who then drove rapidly ahead. The horse galloped after the buggy and the teacher suddenly checked his horse and hastily unwound the blanket from his Spanish saddle that was in the buggy, intending to grasp it by the horn and hold it in front of him as a shield, hoping the raw hide saddle tree might turn a bullet in case he fired at him.
As soon as the highwayman caught sight of the black crooked horn or knob of the saddle as it protruded from the blanket, he took it for the but of a horse pistol, and instantly dashed off at full speed, looking as black in the face as a thunder cloud. The teacher saw the magical effect of the saddle knob and quickly covered it over with the blankets to keep the illusion that he had a pair of horseman’s pistols wrapped in the blanket.
From that time on the horseman’s ferocity seem to take abate, and he was more docile and civil in his language and manner. In time they arrived at the town of Boxley where the teacher stopped for dinner, while his unwelcome companion hurried on.
On resuming his journey the teacher carefully eyed every tree and stump on the road, fearing an ambush, but luck seemed to turn in Boxley and he finished his journey without any further annuances.
EARLY DAYS IN WARREN COUNTY
Taken From The Warren Review February 25, 1909
First Impression of the Wabash Valley Upon Early Settlers
Traveling in those days was fatiguing, and not as safe as it might be, as there were the usual percentage of outlaws, that, driven from the more civilized locations, would flock to the new settlements where they were unknown and there follow their criminal practices until lynch law gave them their just dues or compelled them to move on. In the summer 1833 a young school teach, who had finished a term of school in Warren County, wished to travel to Eaton, Ohio, on important business. He had a horse, so he went from Williamsport to Lafayette, on a Wabash river steamer and when he reached the latter place he hired a single buggy and concluded to driving from Lafayette to Ohio. As driving was uncertain in those days he carried his saddle and riding bridle in the buggy with him in case a change from the buggy to the saddle became needful. Leaving Lafayette after breakfast the young man drove leisurely along until he reached Jefferson in Clinton County. There he stopped at a store and wrote a letter. While writing he observed among the various customers passing in and out of the little backwoods store two or more suspicious looking individuals that he could see through the open door, examining his horse and buggy with great interest. He thought but little of their conduct at the time. Soon after he left Shoemaker’s tavern, which stood near the middle of a twelve mile prairie he overtook a young man dressed in a blue surtout cloth coat, black pants, and white hat, riding a fine looking bay mare, about five or six years old. After passing the time of day he asked the traveler if he was going far on that road. The young teacher replied that he expected to go beyond Indianapolis. The stranger said he was going to Ohio and as he had never traveled that road he would be glad of company.
The Warren County man was surprised at this statement, for the newcomer carried no saddle bags, protmanteau, over coat or umbrella, had no girth to his saddle, not was there any shoes on the animal he was riding, in fact there was nothing about the horseman or his beast that indicated travel; and the young traveler was almost sure that he was one of the parties he had noticed at Jefferson, sizing up his horse and buggy the previous afternoon. He denied being there however, and said he passed the night at a cabin a few miles east of Jefferson. They had not proceeded over a mile when they overtook a man walking who probed to be an old acquaintance of the teachers. He readily accepted an invitation to ride in the buggy, while the horseman rode on ahead. His friend asked the teacher if he knew the fellow riding ahead and learned that he did not. The friend told him that the stranger was a suspicious character that had been loafing around Jefferson for several weeks with no ostensible business, consorting with tough characters and that he was no good.
The friend also told the schoolmaster that the “suspect” would probably follow him into the wilderness of the Black swamp, a desolate region on the Strawtown Road and there assisted by confederates, rob him of his horse and buggy and what ever he had of value. He further advised the teacher to change his route and take the Michigan road through Indianapolis. The teacher regretted he had no knife, pistol or other weapon and determined to procure them at the first opportunity.
After the friend left the buggy the stranger rode up alongside and regaled the teacher with his stories of his mare, that he claimed was a “singed cat” when it came running. The teacher was game and offered to take his buggy horse out of the shafts and run him a mile, the winner take both horses. The “suspect” weakened and said his mare was in no shape for racing then.
By the time the two arrived at Wynkoop’s Tavern in Kriklin, where the teacher stopped awhile until he could see the landlord privately of who he tried to buy or borrow a pistol. Mr. Wynkoop had none however, that would answer the purpose, so he started on stating his intention to go to Indianapolis by the Michigan road. The stranger said the Strawtown route was nearer and a better road. This the teacher knew very well for he had business in Strawtown and the idea of being driven out of his way by such a fellow annoyed him very much. He finally made up his mind that the fellow had no confederates and that he would be his match in a rough and tumble contest. So he kept on the Strawtown route. They had gone about three miles into the wilderness when there was a marked change in the manner and action of the horseman whose bearing become more insolent and imperious. It was evident that he intended mischief. He cast many glances at the horse and buggy then at the driver as if to doubt what manner he should begin the attack. He occasionally checked up his horse and rode it over to the side of the road occupied by the buggy. The teacher told him to trot ahead and he would keep up with him.
He would trot along for a few rods briskly and then show a disposition to lag back and get behind the buggy, which the teacher determined he should not do if he could prevent it. After the teacher had spoken to him several times, rather sharply for him to keep ahead, he at length dashed off some distance along the road, evincing his manner that he was in ill humor. Finally the teacher saw him take a pistol from his pocket and put what appeared to be a percussion cap on it. He put his hand in his pocket and drew out another instrument of some kind which he examined and replaced. He then fell back behind the buggy in spite of the teacher’s protests, who then drove rapidly ahead. The horse galloped after the buggy and the teacher suddenly checked his horse and hastily unwound the blanket from his Spanish saddle that was in the buggy, intending to grasp it by the horn and hold it in front of him as a shield, hoping the raw hide saddle tree might turn a bullet in case he fired at him.
As soon as the highwayman caught sight of the black crooked horn or knob of the saddle as it protruded from the blanket, he took it for the but of a horse pistol, and instantly dashed off at full speed, looking as black in the face as a thunder cloud. The teacher saw the magical effect of the saddle knob and quickly covered it over with the blankets to keep the illusion that he had a pair of horseman’s pistols wrapped in the blanket.
From that time on the horseman’s ferocity seem to take abate, and he was more docile and civil in his language and manner. In time they arrived at the town of Boxley where the teacher stopped for dinner, while his unwelcome companion hurried on.
On resuming his journey the teacher carefully eyed every tree and stump on the road, fearing an ambush, but luck seemed to turn in Boxley and he finished his journey without any further annuances.
***
The reverse side also has a reverse side.
-- Japanese Proverb
***
Whispering Willow
By Willow
The first sign of spring; or is it? I was standing at the window in my living room the other day talking on the phone to a friend in Roselle, in Northern Illinois. We were just saying good-bye and I stood staring out the window at a bird pecking around in the moist ground. It suddenly dawned on me, “Diana there’s a robin in my yard!” She didn’t believe me. She laughed at me because I sounded so shocked. But it had taken a moment for me to realize the bird was a robin.
The reverse side also has a reverse side.
-- Japanese Proverb
***
Whispering Willow
By Willow
That evening while I cooking supper I looked out the kitchen window and there was two male robins hopping around each other. At first I thought it was a male and female, but it was two males. Their aggressive dance was like they were vying for territory.
With Spring still a few weeks away I was so glad to see the robin. The robin is supposed to be the harbinger of spring. I don’t know about any of you but I am tired of the cold. I want some warm sunshine and I want to get out and start planting my gardens. But to tell you the truth I haven’t seen any other signs of spring. Like pussy willows, new growth on the tips of the branches of our pine trees, daffodils or snowdrops poking out of the ground. Although, I have noticed some of the redbud trees along the Wabash had a red tint to their branches.
But I remember last year the robin appeared early, in a few days it snowed and I was putting breadcrumbs out to feed them I am hoping that isn’t the case this year. Hopefully we are truly on the verge of spring.
Hope Springs Eternally
Be Blessed
Willow
With Spring still a few weeks away I was so glad to see the robin. The robin is supposed to be the harbinger of spring. I don’t know about any of you but I am tired of the cold. I want some warm sunshine and I want to get out and start planting my gardens. But to tell you the truth I haven’t seen any other signs of spring. Like pussy willows, new growth on the tips of the branches of our pine trees, daffodils or snowdrops poking out of the ground. Although, I have noticed some of the redbud trees along the Wabash had a red tint to their branches.
But I remember last year the robin appeared early, in a few days it snowed and I was putting breadcrumbs out to feed them I am hoping that isn’t the case this year. Hopefully we are truly on the verge of spring.
Hope Springs Eternally
Be Blessed
Willow
***
Willows
Garden
By: Willow
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates
There are many methods for the preservation of herbs. The method most used is fusion. There are two types of fusion; hot and cold. The leaves, flowers and some whole plants are soluble in liquid, usually water.
The cold fusion consists of soaking in cold or hot water and sometimes milk for several hours. After the soaking the herbs are usually strained. A cold fusion is used when the active principals of the plant are highly volatile and can be damaged by heat. This will noted later in this text. Occasionally milk infusions are used to increase the healing ability of the herb poultices and compresses.
The hot infusion; the most frequently used of all herb preparations, is produced by pouring boiling water over the herb or herb part and then steeping the infusion in a covered container for fifteen minutes to a half hour, or even longer if the infusion is to be used cold. Herbal teas are usually infusions.
To make an infusion usually 1 teaspoon of an herb to a cup of boiling water is sufficient. But you may use more for weak teas. Use 2 teaspoons of a fresh herb. The leaves, flowers and berries should be should be slightly bruised to help release their aromatic oils.
When you are making aromatic teas for table use warm the teapot slightly, you can do this by pouring hot water into the teapot and let it set for a moment. Then pour the hot water of and begin your infusion, by pouring more hot water over the tea and letting it steep. Then you strain the tea into your cup. Most good teapots have strainers in the spout.
Herbal teas can be used piping hot with bruised seeds such as fennel, anise, caraway, coriander, or cumin for both taste and stomach-easing qualities or cold or with over ice. My mother is an avid ice tea drinker in the summertime. I remember she had a huge glass that had yellow, green and orange rings around it. She would fill it with ice and you could hear the ice cubes crackle as she poured the sweet tea over the top of them. Then she would stick a lemon wedge on the side of the glass and go outside on the porch and sit down. She would squeeze the lemon into the tea, stir it with a tall ice teaspoon and take a long drink. Her sigh was one of a thirst that was at last quenched. Al keeps a pitcher of tea in the refrigerator all year round and drinks it like water. There are many blends of tea you can use. From just simple green tea, or you can add peppermint, anise or just about any other aromatic tea for you taste.
To preserve an infusion for medicinal uses strain the infusion while it is hot and pour it into a bottle with a tight stopper. The bottle must be very full and the stopped made to displace its own bulk of the liquid. The hotter the liquid and the freer it is from air bubbles the better it will keep. A stopper with a perforated cork stopped may also be used, and the hole instantly closed with sealing wax.
There is another way of preserving an infusion. Make a very concentrated tea; three times as strong as usual. Add one part alcohol to every three parts infusion. ( with a ¾ cup infusion, use ¼ cup alcohol). Since this mixture is three times as strong as the average infusion it can be diluted with three measures of water and used when needed.
Enjoy and Relax
Be Blessed
Willow
**
Willows
Garden
By: Willow
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates
There are many methods for the preservation of herbs. The method most used is fusion. There are two types of fusion; hot and cold. The leaves, flowers and some whole plants are soluble in liquid, usually water.
The cold fusion consists of soaking in cold or hot water and sometimes milk for several hours. After the soaking the herbs are usually strained. A cold fusion is used when the active principals of the plant are highly volatile and can be damaged by heat. This will noted later in this text. Occasionally milk infusions are used to increase the healing ability of the herb poultices and compresses.
The hot infusion; the most frequently used of all herb preparations, is produced by pouring boiling water over the herb or herb part and then steeping the infusion in a covered container for fifteen minutes to a half hour, or even longer if the infusion is to be used cold. Herbal teas are usually infusions.
To make an infusion usually 1 teaspoon of an herb to a cup of boiling water is sufficient. But you may use more for weak teas. Use 2 teaspoons of a fresh herb. The leaves, flowers and berries should be should be slightly bruised to help release their aromatic oils.
When you are making aromatic teas for table use warm the teapot slightly, you can do this by pouring hot water into the teapot and let it set for a moment. Then pour the hot water of and begin your infusion, by pouring more hot water over the tea and letting it steep. Then you strain the tea into your cup. Most good teapots have strainers in the spout.
Herbal teas can be used piping hot with bruised seeds such as fennel, anise, caraway, coriander, or cumin for both taste and stomach-easing qualities or cold or with over ice. My mother is an avid ice tea drinker in the summertime. I remember she had a huge glass that had yellow, green and orange rings around it. She would fill it with ice and you could hear the ice cubes crackle as she poured the sweet tea over the top of them. Then she would stick a lemon wedge on the side of the glass and go outside on the porch and sit down. She would squeeze the lemon into the tea, stir it with a tall ice teaspoon and take a long drink. Her sigh was one of a thirst that was at last quenched. Al keeps a pitcher of tea in the refrigerator all year round and drinks it like water. There are many blends of tea you can use. From just simple green tea, or you can add peppermint, anise or just about any other aromatic tea for you taste.
To preserve an infusion for medicinal uses strain the infusion while it is hot and pour it into a bottle with a tight stopper. The bottle must be very full and the stopped made to displace its own bulk of the liquid. The hotter the liquid and the freer it is from air bubbles the better it will keep. A stopper with a perforated cork stopped may also be used, and the hole instantly closed with sealing wax.
There is another way of preserving an infusion. Make a very concentrated tea; three times as strong as usual. Add one part alcohol to every three parts infusion. ( with a ¾ cup infusion, use ¼ cup alcohol). Since this mixture is three times as strong as the average infusion it can be diluted with three measures of water and used when needed.
Enjoy and Relax
Be Blessed
Willow
**
RECIPE
Dublin Coddle
=============
1 pound bacon slices
2 pounds pork sausages
Some bacon fat or oil
2 large onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic
4 large potatoes, thickly sliced
2 carrots, thickly sliced
1 large bunch of fresh herbs, tied with string
black pepper
hard cider (apple wine) or apple cider
fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Lightly fry the bacon until crisp. Place in a large cooking pot. Brown the sausages in some bacon grease or vegetable oil. Remove and add to pot.
Soften sliced onions and whole garlic cloves in fat, then add to pot with potatoes and carrots. Bury the bunch of herbs in the middle of the mixture. Sprinkle with pepper.
Cover with cider. Cook 1 1/2 hours over moderate heat, do not boil.
Garnish with chopped parsley.
Serves 6
***
Dublin Coddle
=============
1 pound bacon slices
2 pounds pork sausages
Some bacon fat or oil
2 large onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic
4 large potatoes, thickly sliced
2 carrots, thickly sliced
1 large bunch of fresh herbs, tied with string
black pepper
hard cider (apple wine) or apple cider
fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Lightly fry the bacon until crisp. Place in a large cooking pot. Brown the sausages in some bacon grease or vegetable oil. Remove and add to pot.
Soften sliced onions and whole garlic cloves in fat, then add to pot with potatoes and carrots. Bury the bunch of herbs in the middle of the mixture. Sprinkle with pepper.
Cover with cider. Cook 1 1/2 hours over moderate heat, do not boil.
Garnish with chopped parsley.
Serves 6
***
According To Big Al...
"Listen to what I mean... not what I say."
I'm not normally a Pessimistic type person, but lately things are getting the best of me. I got in the habit of checking the obituaries while I was a general contractor in the Hammond area. This habit has been carried over after moving to this area and retiring. Deaths are something that is inevitable and I suppose as we get older we should have a more personal relationship in this area. During the past year I have experienced no less than 6 deaths of people I knew and had a personal relationship with. This past fall I made a trip up to the Hammond area and tried to look up 3 of my friends. I learned that all 3 died within the past year. This brings the grand total of 9 people that I knew personally and have passed away within the past year. I think this is far too many people or I know far too many people. Some days I feel like I have been cursed and that all my friends are destined to die.
I am not that old of a person (68) and not all the people who have passed away are older than I. I have been living in this area only about 7 years, but have been writing an article in “Little Bit” for over 6 years and have been playing for the seniors for over 3 years and consequently have came into contact and know quite a few people, maybe that is part of the explanation as to why I have experienced so many deaths. I have been retired from full time contracting work, but have done some small time work and fix it type for quite a few people. Three of the people I have done work for have died in 08. Three others have been friends and acquaintances. Most of the people have suffered their death via an heart attack. I have had high blood pressure for 8 or 9 years now. High blood pressure runs in my family on my dad's side. This is probably why these deaths are of so much concern to me?
Bob Crane an 80 year old customer of mine died from heart problems. He was the past Postmaster of West Lebanon and old time owner of the Carbondale Tavern. We talked quite a bit about high blood pressure and health in general.
Jerry Johnson was a good customer of mine who passed away 11-3-08 from heart problems. He was only 59 but had been suffering from heart disease for quite some time. I had just done some work for him and Linda Emery only about a month previous to his death.
Just 2 weeks ago, I learned of the death of “Big Mike”, a friend and fellow musician who died from his truck turning over. Apparently it was in the Commercial News and I get the Journal Courier so I was not aware until his wife Jeanie ran into Donna and informed her of what had happened.
Alvin York (Sarge), my neighbor and friend died December 21 at the age of 80 from an apparent heart attack. He had been having health problems for some time also. I always went out of my way to talk with Sarge about politics and his health.
Randy Blanton a friend and husband to Jo Lynn passed away on 9-14-08 from an apparent heart attach. He was only 58 and had just started to learn how to live and enjoy his live.
Elsie Fields died at the age of 67 and was the mother of Richie and Kathy whom I know quite well and David whom I don't know of . Kathy and Marty are also past customers of mine.
The 3 people that I learned of in Hammond was Frank Ghee a customer and fellow worker died from an heart attack at the age of middle 70's. Steve, a good friend and worker for me died from an heart attack. He was in his early 60's and had been suffering from heart problems for years. The last of the 3 was Harold Broster my ex brother in law who was a good friend even after he and my sister divorced. He was about 74 and had been suffering from heart problems and diabetics. We learned of his death after failing to get thru to him on the phone and Donna Found him listed under the death list for Hammond as of 4-30-08.
This is quite a list for only one year. You will note that heart attacks from heart disease heads the list of reasons for their deaths. In fact this is more people than I can account for within the past 10 years of my life. My best friend Marty Moen, whom I considered more like a brother than a friend died of a heart attack while eating his breakfast. He was only 61 and was going to retire in a month when he reached 62 years of age. My younger brother Kenneth died when he was 51 from a massive heart attack. He was a type I diabetic which he incurred at the age of 16.
Maybe some of my readers can understand why I am sometimes obsessed with health issues and heart problems in particular and tend to write about these issues and quote from doctors in many of my articles. It is because I am concerned and care.
"Listen to what I mean... not what I say."
THE GRIM REAPER
I'm not normally a Pessimistic type person, but lately things are getting the best of me. I got in the habit of checking the obituaries while I was a general contractor in the Hammond area. This habit has been carried over after moving to this area and retiring. Deaths are something that is inevitable and I suppose as we get older we should have a more personal relationship in this area. During the past year I have experienced no less than 6 deaths of people I knew and had a personal relationship with. This past fall I made a trip up to the Hammond area and tried to look up 3 of my friends. I learned that all 3 died within the past year. This brings the grand total of 9 people that I knew personally and have passed away within the past year. I think this is far too many people or I know far too many people. Some days I feel like I have been cursed and that all my friends are destined to die.
I am not that old of a person (68) and not all the people who have passed away are older than I. I have been living in this area only about 7 years, but have been writing an article in “Little Bit” for over 6 years and have been playing for the seniors for over 3 years and consequently have came into contact and know quite a few people, maybe that is part of the explanation as to why I have experienced so many deaths. I have been retired from full time contracting work, but have done some small time work and fix it type for quite a few people. Three of the people I have done work for have died in 08. Three others have been friends and acquaintances. Most of the people have suffered their death via an heart attack. I have had high blood pressure for 8 or 9 years now. High blood pressure runs in my family on my dad's side. This is probably why these deaths are of so much concern to me?
Bob Crane an 80 year old customer of mine died from heart problems. He was the past Postmaster of West Lebanon and old time owner of the Carbondale Tavern. We talked quite a bit about high blood pressure and health in general.
Jerry Johnson was a good customer of mine who passed away 11-3-08 from heart problems. He was only 59 but had been suffering from heart disease for quite some time. I had just done some work for him and Linda Emery only about a month previous to his death.
Just 2 weeks ago, I learned of the death of “Big Mike”, a friend and fellow musician who died from his truck turning over. Apparently it was in the Commercial News and I get the Journal Courier so I was not aware until his wife Jeanie ran into Donna and informed her of what had happened.
Alvin York (Sarge), my neighbor and friend died December 21 at the age of 80 from an apparent heart attack. He had been having health problems for some time also. I always went out of my way to talk with Sarge about politics and his health.
Randy Blanton a friend and husband to Jo Lynn passed away on 9-14-08 from an apparent heart attach. He was only 58 and had just started to learn how to live and enjoy his live.
Elsie Fields died at the age of 67 and was the mother of Richie and Kathy whom I know quite well and David whom I don't know of . Kathy and Marty are also past customers of mine.
The 3 people that I learned of in Hammond was Frank Ghee a customer and fellow worker died from an heart attack at the age of middle 70's. Steve, a good friend and worker for me died from an heart attack. He was in his early 60's and had been suffering from heart problems for years. The last of the 3 was Harold Broster my ex brother in law who was a good friend even after he and my sister divorced. He was about 74 and had been suffering from heart problems and diabetics. We learned of his death after failing to get thru to him on the phone and Donna Found him listed under the death list for Hammond as of 4-30-08.
This is quite a list for only one year. You will note that heart attacks from heart disease heads the list of reasons for their deaths. In fact this is more people than I can account for within the past 10 years of my life. My best friend Marty Moen, whom I considered more like a brother than a friend died of a heart attack while eating his breakfast. He was only 61 and was going to retire in a month when he reached 62 years of age. My younger brother Kenneth died when he was 51 from a massive heart attack. He was a type I diabetic which he incurred at the age of 16.
Maybe some of my readers can understand why I am sometimes obsessed with health issues and heart problems in particular and tend to write about these issues and quote from doctors in many of my articles. It is because I am concerned and care.
Big Al
***
All progress is based upon a universal innate desire of every organism to live beyond its income.
-- Samuel Butler
All progress is based upon a universal innate desire of every organism to live beyond its income.
-- Samuel Butler
***
Do you know of any special houses in this area? I do! My Grandma lives in a big house on Lincoln street in Williamsport. This yellow house was owned by a lot of people. The house has 16 rooms, 2 kitchen's and 2 bathrooms. That's a lot of rooms to play in! This house has changed over the years. There is a picture that shows no trees in the yard and the yard was one bigger. I even have a special “hideout” in the back yard!
After researching the deed to my grandparents house I found some interesting information. A deed is a paper saying that you own land or a house. My Grandma's house was built around 1887. A man named Clark Lincoln Messner owned my grandparent's house at one time. I think that Lincoln street was named after Clark Lincoln Messner. I have been told that this man may have owned a Messner theater in Williamsport.
This house is special to me because me and my family spend every holiday there. My grandparent's have lived in this house for 23 years. This is the longest that anyone has lived in this house other than the Messner family.
Mallory's “Take”
by: Mallory Kerst
by: Mallory Kerst
Do you know of any special houses in this area? I do! My Grandma lives in a big house on Lincoln street in Williamsport. This yellow house was owned by a lot of people. The house has 16 rooms, 2 kitchen's and 2 bathrooms. That's a lot of rooms to play in! This house has changed over the years. There is a picture that shows no trees in the yard and the yard was one bigger. I even have a special “hideout” in the back yard!
After researching the deed to my grandparents house I found some interesting information. A deed is a paper saying that you own land or a house. My Grandma's house was built around 1887. A man named Clark Lincoln Messner owned my grandparent's house at one time. I think that Lincoln street was named after Clark Lincoln Messner. I have been told that this man may have owned a Messner theater in Williamsport.
This house is special to me because me and my family spend every holiday there. My grandparent's have lived in this house for 23 years. This is the longest that anyone has lived in this house other than the Messner family.
I will be on the radio with Willow this weekend. Listen to 103.1 on Saturday morning! Thanks for reading my stories!
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CRYTOQUOTE
RVZTLFR
EXAMPLE
To solve the puzzle, one letter stands for another. As in the word "EXAMPLE" above "R" stands for "E". Sentence structure and grammar rules and sentence structure are another clue.
XVZ BZGZBNZ NRKZ QTNS VQN Q BZGZBNZ NRKZ. -
DQMQWZNZ MBSGZBP
Last Weeks Answer
The world is but a canvas to the imagination.-- Henry David Thoreau
Here's a tip on this weeks puzzle: Z = E
CRYTOQUOTE
RVZTLFR
EXAMPLE
To solve the puzzle, one letter stands for another. As in the word "EXAMPLE" above "R" stands for "E". Sentence structure and grammar rules and sentence structure are another clue.
XVZ BZGZBNZ NRKZ QTNS VQN Q BZGZBNZ NRKZ. -
DQMQWZNZ MBSGZBP
Last Weeks Answer
The world is but a canvas to the imagination.-- Henry David Thoreau
Here's a tip on this weeks puzzle: Z = E
