I guess if you've never been to Grandpa & Grandma Campbell's farm, you're probably not sure exactly where it is or how to get there. It depends on what age you might be and what direction you were coming from. Dad, Mom and I lived in Springfield after Dad finished his service in the Marine Corps. That would make it about 1954. Our house was on Della Street that was one block north of Kearney and about 4 blocks north of Grandpa and Grandma Bear who lived on the corner of Missouri and Turner street. When going to the farm we would travel on Route 66 from Springfield, heading west on Kearney, to Strafford. In those days, Interstate 44 was in the process of being built but not yet complete. From Strafford we headed north on highway 125 until we came to what is now E Farm Road 80. I don't remember the name from back then, but remember a farm house on the right hand corner that told me this was the road. We headed east about a mile until we came to Uncle Bob and Aunt Wilmas house on the left and the Jim Dishman residence on the right side of the road opposite the lane to "the farm". The lane was about a 1/4 mile long and anyone at the house could see us coming. Dogs would bark, cousins would run out to the farmyard where cars were parked; all in all it was quite a welcome. To the east of my Grandparents farm was the farm of Uncle Bill and Aunt Lottie. Uncle Bill was Grandma's brother. Occasionally they would come for sunday gatherings but were less frequent when Aunt Lottie wasn't feeling well. If you continued east on the farm road it made a "T" with N Farm Road 243. A left turn took you to Mr. & Mrs. Rule's farm. This was a place that Dad had lived with his family when growing up. We went there once or twice and Dad showed me a rock in the front yard where he and Aunt Wilma had chiseled their initials.
Remember, Dad always said they had lived in every house in Strafford. Well, there weren't many houses in Strafford in the mid 50's, but I do remember Hokinson's General Store. Dad had gone to school with J.D. Hokinson (son) so we had occassion to visit there a little longer when we went to get any needed groceries. It was a big, old white building with a large porch, wooden floors inside and not very well lit.
When growing up Dad said he shared a bed with his two older brother, Donald and Ronald. Being the youngest brother Dad had to sleep in the middle of the bed in summer time. In the winter he slept on the outside. Of course Dad talked about walking to school but then most children from that generation did. When you look at the picture of Daisy and Dolly you notice my Dad and his brothers. Dad is in the back sitting on the white horse, Dolly. Uncle Don is in front with the dog and Uncle Ron is on Daisy.
At family gatherings on the farm everyone would refer to farms, homes, etc as "The old Dishman place" (example) It was a way everyone knew the place being talked about. Maybe someone new had bought the farm in the last 5 or 10 years and Campbell family members who had moved away still knew it as the Dishman place even though the Dishman's no longer lived there. I remember how funny I thought that was. To the best of my knowledge "the farm" is still there. A new house has replaced the one Grandpa and Grandma lived in. The old barns and out buildings are also gone, but I wonder if there are any oldtimers around Strafford who refer to it as "The Campbell" place?
Remember, Dad always said they had lived in every house in Strafford. Well, there weren't many houses in Strafford in the mid 50's, but I do remember Hokinson's General Store. Dad had gone to school with J.D. Hokinson (son) so we had occassion to visit there a little longer when we went to get any needed groceries. It was a big, old white building with a large porch, wooden floors inside and not very well lit.
When growing up Dad said he shared a bed with his two older brother, Donald and Ronald. Being the youngest brother Dad had to sleep in the middle of the bed in summer time. In the winter he slept on the outside. Of course Dad talked about walking to school but then most children from that generation did. When you look at the picture of Daisy and Dolly you notice my Dad and his brothers. Dad is in the back sitting on the white horse, Dolly. Uncle Don is in front with the dog and Uncle Ron is on Daisy.
At family gatherings on the farm everyone would refer to farms, homes, etc as "The old Dishman place" (example) It was a way everyone knew the place being talked about. Maybe someone new had bought the farm in the last 5 or 10 years and Campbell family members who had moved away still knew it as the Dishman place even though the Dishman's no longer lived there. I remember how funny I thought that was. To the best of my knowledge "the farm" is still there. A new house has replaced the one Grandpa and Grandma lived in. The old barns and out buildings are also gone, but I wonder if there are any oldtimers around Strafford who refer to it as "The Campbell" place?
Dad, it amazes me how well you remember things. I hope someday I can have a memory like yours. How much of this blog is taken straight from memory and how much from the journals you have?
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