This is the children in 1923 two years before they wrote the letters.
The family sold out and went to Oklahoma in 1923. They worked on a dairy farm and Melton and Gertie milked cow for money. Daddy talked about this time. He said they lived in a house owned by the dairy farmer and it seemed that daddy looked back on this time with pleasure but I am sure Gertie and Melton did not like working for another man. The Powell's had always owned their land and lived a independent life.
In 1925 they were back in Carroll co. AR. and Melton went to California trying to make some money. This was a failure because in one of his letters he has no cash and wants to come home but has no money for the trip.He worked in the fruit industry in California as did some of his relatives, namely His sister Tea and her husband Paul Collier. Aunt Tea lived in California the rest of her days but Melton made his way back to his family and the farm. There he died in 1954.he is lying in the red clay of Arkansas near Alpena not many miles from his first home in Carroll co. Arkansas.
All the powells in this family are dead now and soon I will join them.
4 comments:
You know they had troubles then just as our families do today. I am glad my Lord never gives me more than I can bare. I don't know how I would deal with troubles like Helen and even Fleta Mae has to bare. They just kept going and that is what you and I will do...just keep on truckin'. Hope next year is not your last Sister unless your health is gone...and then I do hope the Lord will take you to Him and from us.
That's a story similar to one in our family. It was in the depression when so many Oklahomans were leaving for California that my grandparents came to Oklahoma. A grand uncle game them a place to stay and a couple of dairy cows to get started and they got a foothold. My dad likes to say that his family was so poor that they became Okies after the Okies became Californians.
Dear Patsy, I've so enjoyed reading your last few posts, how wonderful to see those old letters! It's amazing how we can learn so much of their lives in those short notes.
New Year is a time for celebration of love, of life, of friendship. It's the time to thank God for wonderful friends, and to bring to their lives as much magic as they bring to ours...so here's celebrating our friendship and praying that its magic continues forever. Happy New Year to you and yours dear Patsy! xoxo
Pat I think you and I are in a race.....
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