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• Growing up in Uniontown
• Courtship with Denvil
• Denvil: Military Stories
• Life in Bentree
00:00 [CAWv1: Kate born at home in Uniontown; Betty born in Kanawha City (00:00-01:30)]
Kate: Okay, so what do you want me to say?
Mike: Well, tell me about something when you were growing up.
Kate: Oh dear. You may have to ask someone besides me. I don’t remember too much about when I was growing up.
Mike: Were you born at home or in a hospital?
Kate: I was born at home. Betty was born in Kanawha City [WV]. Then Mom and Daddy (and I think it was Uncle Gib and Aunt Mary) went out to Akron.
Mike: When was that?
Kate: Well, goodness, it had to be…there are two years difference between me and Betty. She was born in Kanawha City, and I was born in what was called Akron. But I don’t know, I don’t remember.
01:30 [CAWv1: Family events, early years in Uniontown (01:30-05:27)]
Mike: So, Gib and Mary moved there?
Kate: Yeah, they lived out there for quite a while. Then they moved back to Bentree. I don’t know what Uncle Gib done. Daddy drove long distance truck. Mom raised us, the biggest part of it. I know that Mom was the one bought the property, bought the house. Daddy was kinda funny about some things. It was up for sale, so she just bought it. I have no idea, don’t remember what it cost. So, whenever he came home, she told him. I don’t know whether he said anything or not. But she was sort of the go-getter. But, of course, Daddy was on long distance trucking, so it was left up to Mom. I don’t remember having any car, but I guess if we had to go anywhere Pa took us. Now Pa was Daddy’s father, stepfather, put it that way. They lived over across where you come back Hayne Road. Well, it was a couple houses on the left coming in, I don’t know if the house is still there or not. I know Amy and Joe Steel lived there forever, after Granny and Pa died. She come out there; she was from Jody, WV. And she hooked up…. I don’t remember if she was a first cousin of Granny. She married Joe Steel. I am not sure if she was an Osborne or what her maiden name was. I don’t know, they wouldn’t tell you nothing. They wouldn’t, we did not know anything about them. If Minnie might have lived, we may have gotten something out of Minnie, but the rest of them we did not know nothing. The only thing Mom knew was what Pa told her. He was a good fellow, a good guy. Granny Kiser was hateful. I don’t know if she did not like kids are what. Pa was a good guy. We didn’t do anything wrong according to Pa. I know that Elleen Osborne, that was Uncle Fred’s girl, Elleen.
5:27 [CAWv1: Recollections about Uncle Fred and Elleen (05:27-07:22)]
Kate: Do you remember Uncle Fred?
Mike: Yes, he smoked a cigar!
Kate: Yeah, well you know that I got in touch with Elleen. She lived in Dothan, back there at home--not too far, somewhere between--well off the main road going to Beckley. But she acted like she didn’t want anything to do with me. I don’t know what her problem was, so I just let her go. I told her we would like to go over and see her, she said be sure to call because I don’t stay at home, I have a boyfriend. So, I thought, well okay, she was odd. I know one time she was up at Granny Kiser’s and Uncle Fred’s (Granny’s brother). Now Amy was a cousin to Grandma and Grandpa Kiser; I don’t know how they hooked up. But I know that Granny (I’d done something, I don’t know what), Granny got up and slapped me. And me and Elleen I think was into it. Anyway, Granny slapped me and Pa jumped up and he said “Lola, don’t you ever do that again.” She didn’t. Made me so mad.
07:22 [CAWv1: Lola Kiser buried at Rosehill; has no gravestone (07:22-10:20)]
But you know me and Nancy went out to the cemetery. Mom did not get Granny a marker, and I don’t know why. We looked it up, but there was no marker. But I said to Nancy, if you could get everybody together and buy one of these smaller ones and put on Granny’s grave…so.
Mike: So, there is not a marker. What cemetery was it?
Kate: That is at Rosehill Cemetery. That is different than where mom was at. Mom is at Fairdalen. That is what I call it. What is it? Hill something. Anyway. [Laura is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Ellet, OH.]
[Mike asked where Rosehill was, and Kate did not know.]
Kate: Pa and Granny and Minnie and, I think, Uncle Frank and Aunt Roxie. Aunt Roxie was a sister to Grandma, she was the nicest thing. They are all buried out there. Aunt Hilda and Uncle Sam. It is in Akron somewhere. So, we are going over to the cemetery. We haven’t been over there. Me, Norma, and Nancy went over there the last time. There were men cleaning and working on the graves, so they told us just about where it was at. They had names on the markers. But Grandma Kiser did not have a marker.
10:20 [CAWv1: Family came back to WV yearly; stayed with Granny Rider (10:20-10:52)]
Mike: So, you must have come back to Bentree, then.
Kate: Well, we came back just for visits. I think every year we would come down. At least once a year. Mom would always have fried chicken and always a mess to eat. We would stay with Granny Rider, in the little house in Bentree.
10:52 [CAWv1: Kate and Denvil courtship (10:52-12:32)]
Mike: So where did you meet Dad?
Kate: I met him up to the filling station. There was a filling station up there that Birdly and them run. I met him up there.
Mike: When was that?
Kate: Oh, I can’t tell you, Mike. I don’t know. Hmm.
Mike: How old would you have been?
Kate: Well, you know, I don’t remember. I may have still been in school. I was married in 1945, and I graduated in 1943. I know Phyllis went to…your Daddy went up to Lansing to go to college. Well Phyllis went up to see him, and Daddy wouldn’t let me go. So, when Denvil and Damon came out to the house after he got a furlough. And Daddy said, “Well if you are you going to marry her ?…if you’re not, you can’t. So, I got married, down at Aunt Georgie’s.
12:32 [CAWv1: Denvil & Kate, early marriage years. Denvil military experiences (12:32-19:30)]
Mike: Who married you?
Kate: Cavender. [S.W. Cavender] He used to be a preacher up there. I forgot his first name. Married me at Aunt Georgie’s and kids was all there and Uncle Earl. Uncle Earl he just laughed. [Earl was an invalid, due to exposure to nerve gas in the war.] I never will forget that. I guess Jane and Patty, and I don’t remember whether Shirt [Shirley Backus] and them was there or not. Then, he went to Hastings, Nebraska, and I went out later on the train. We come back and we came into Akron. Well, we missed our ride from Chicago. I think there was cattle on the tracks. And we were late, we did not make good connections, so a policemen got us a room in Chicago. It was V-Day.
Mike: Now, he was already in the Air Force when you got married.
Kate: So, we stayed down home, it was not too long. But any way, I think Damon came out and picked us up. No, that is not right. I don’t remember how we got down home.
Mike: Now you stayed out in Nebraska awhile?
Kate: Yes, I stayed. I had a room out there. I don’t remember how long I was there. It was out in nowhere. They had little towns…just nothing there but corn. You would look for miles, and all there would be was corn. And then if someone wanted to get off the train, they would just stop and let them off. But we rode a fast train, it was called Zephyr. But a nice fast train. I came back to Akron, not for very long. I cannot remember if I stayed there. He went to San Antonio, Texas, Texarkana. He was all over Texas. I cannot remember some of the other places he was at. But it was before we were married that he was in Texas. Because when we came home, he was going to be shipped overseas. So he went to NY, I don’t know how many days it was until they shipped him out. And he went to the Port of Lavera, France. Because I remember him telling me that the Red Cross was not very good to them. I talked to Randall [Fernandez], and he said the Red Cross was not very good to us. Well, I talked to Bill Miller, and he said you know the Red Cross was not very good to us. So, I don’t have much use for the Red Cross. Now they might do good, but they sure did not help Denvil or Bill or them.
17:43
Mike: So, he went into France. Then where did he go, Germany or where did he go?
Kate: He went to Germany. He was stationed in Wiesbaden. He was stationed there all the time he was there. But he never stayed there too much; he flew all over. He never stayed on the base very much.
He told you about the time he was up on the border of Russia, and these guys came out. I don’t know what they were doing up there, maybe there was …they went up there for something. It was on the border of Russia. Anyway, he was walking down the street, and he strapped the gun on him. He saw these two guys, one on each side, come out. He just got his gun out and when they got to him, he just poked one in the belly with the gun. So, they backed off. But they had something in mind, but that gun saved his life.
19:30 [CAWv1: Denvil’s army gun and memorabilia (19:30-21:05)]
That was the gun that Roy Hill dropped down in the privy down there at Valley Tech. You know they fished and fished and got that out of there.
Mike: How did he get it?
Kate: I don’t know how he got it. He may have borrowed it or something. I don’t know.
Mike: So, what ever happened to the gun?
Kate: Well, Bus got the gun. He better have it.
[Mike agreed he better have it. Unfortunately, the gun was “lost” while he was in Georgia.]
Mike: I remember in the past there used to be quite a bit of army stuff. Is there anything left?
Kate: No, there was… I don’t remember…there was a…I don’t know what happened unless it is up to Robin’s. I don’t know. There was some medals, I think a letter folder. I will check when I get home and see if there is anything else.
21:05 [CAWv1: Denvil’s army stories; Kate working (21:05-25:55)]
Kate: I remember him telling me about flying across the English Channel. They thought they were not going to make it because the weather was bad and the wings iced up. They had to land in a corn field somewhere over there. I do not remember where it was at. But, they flew all over. I don’t know if they had a mission. Your daddy, if he got started [talking] he was all right, but to get him started was …. Then he kept in touch with one or two of those men, but I don’t know whatever happened.
Mike: Well, now he must have been out of the service about the time I was born.
Kate: I did not get pregnant until after he came home. He was up in NY because he was telling me about going to Coney Island and riding the roller coaster. He did not like NY very well. I am sure he told me more than that, but it has slipped my mind.
23:23
Mike: So, when he got out of the Air Force and came back, were you in Bentree at that point or where were you?
Kate: I was working. I worked doing the war for Civil Service. It was downtown [Akron] somewhere because me and Betty rode the Greyhound. That was the only way we had to go anywhere. So, we rode the bus and we had lieutenants as bosses, because I inspected gas masks. I don’t remember what Betty done; she could maybe tell you. But we worked. I don’t remember the pay, but it must have been pretty good. We picked strawberries for 3 cents a quart. They were huge. It did not take many to fill a basket. Then I worked I worked in a factory over at Hartville, weaving baskets. I don’t remember how we got there. We must have had a ride over there. It wasn’t too far. They grew good vegetables, dark dirt, celery, and everything. I asked Nancy, a while back, if they still had that and she said yes. They go over there sometimes; they have flea markets and what not. Then they go to Amish town and eat. The Amish are good cooks.
25:55 [CAWv1: Denvil & Kate lived in Bentree when he got out of the service (25:55-29:25)]
Mike: So, you were in Akron when he came back from service.
Kate: Yes, and that is the time that he and Damon came out. Then we went back to Bentree and stayed with Mother and Daddy [Workman]. They were in the house by the creek. We stayed in their house a little while. But then Bus McGraw and them lived over there and had a house. It was about four rooms, and your Daddy and me rented that. I think that Wayne’s used to live there for a while. No, that is not right. We lived at the old store house…right in front of where they lived. The store was on the front, and then there were several rooms on the back. That is where your daddy and I stayed. Then when Bus McGraw got the house empty, we got it.
27:36
Mike: When was I born?
Kate: You were born…I think we were still living in the store building when you were born. I could remember that picture of you in the stroller. Well, we were still living in the old store house. Because I can remember the boys, Dale and them, playing with you.
Mike: So, then you moved to the other house across the creek.
Kate: Yes, that was across the creek; we lived there a little while. We started to build that house. But you know Uncle Gib would get to his drinking, and then he would get on one of the drunks, you know, and then Denvil would have to work what he could.
Mike: Now Dad had gotten the job at Union Carbide, right?
Kate: He had the job before he went into the service. He worked down there.
29:25 [CAWv1: Outdoor privy and copperheads; O’Dell’s—neighbors (29:25-33:10)]
Mike: So how long before you moved into that house?
Kate: Oh goodness we moved down there, I don’t remember when. I think I had Bus up at the McGraw place, because Bus McGraw was the one that named him Bus. So, I am sure I had Bus up there. Because there was no water or bathroom down there at the house.
Mike: Well, I remember the outdoor privy.
Kate: Yes, up on the hill. Copperheads all over.
Mike: How long before you built the bathroom? It must have been quite a while, because I must have 6 or 7 years old by then.
Kate: I don’t remember. I don’t know that I have that right because Margie O’Dell and Leck lived down below us. And they had that spring, you remember the spring. You went down there for some reason and Jimmy slapped you across the face, and I went down. I don’t know what that was about, but I tell you it burnt me up. He said he did not do it. I said the prints are on his face. I thought maybe Margie came out and popped off. And I thought I’ll beat you little gal. So, I waited for her. There was a little old restaurant where the old store was, you remember. Well, Margie O’Dell worked in there some. She was there and I blocked her in. I think I slapped her because she took a warrant out on me. And Granny Rider went with me--I think it was to Mt. Nebo to pay my fine. It was $5. And I said to him, “Well what if I slap her again?” He said, “Just run up here and pay your fine.” But anyway, that was before I think, because Margie O’Dell watched you what time I had Bus. And she just let you do what you pleased because I had you broke and that went down the drain, but she was really good to you. Some of this stuff comes back to me.
Mike: I can remember clear as a bell that outdoor privy.
33:10 [CAWv1: Apple trees in back; snakes; putting drain under the road (33:10-37:40)]
Kate: Yes, it was just up there on the hill. We had a transparent apple up there.
Mike: Yes, there was a banana delicious [that is what Denvil called it]. The best apple ever.
Kate: You can hardly find that apple now. But they made the best pies. When Robin and Romney was there I think we had the bathroom. We got rid of the privy. We had Digger and he got bit by a copperhead up there. Because I know they had to take him to Charleston. But then every time you turned around there was a copperhead. After your daddy died there was one in the garage. I went to go into the garage and, of course, there was big pieces of metal about where the door was. When I got the door opened wide enough, there lay the copperhead. He did not lay there--he was coiled. But it was cold; that was all that saved me. He did not move because it was cold. I did not know what to do. I could either step back or step in. So, I stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. Well, that was fun. We had a little old window [up high], if you’ll remember, in that bathroom. And I finally got out of that thing--about tore my legs up. So, I went over to get Delmas, and he came over and killed the snake. Then he killed one out by the gas meter. That was after you left home. You remember we kind had a place for the water to come down and run down across the road. And it was as bronze as can be. It was a young one; he was not old, that is their color. They are beautiful, just like a new penny. Remember you kids and your daddy a putting the pipe under road…well that was fun, too wasn’t it.
Mike: That was quite an invention. We had to go over trench and dig in his yard…dig down 4 or 5 feet to take that pipe over to the creek.
Kate: Well, that belonged to Moon. He just ran it. But Delmas was a good guy. A real good fellow. Your daddy worked hard. Every once in a while, them stories come to me.
Mike: Well, if you think of any you should write them down.
37:40 [CAWv1: Miscellaneous events and dates (37:40-39:25)]
Kate: I’ll ask Nancy if she knows any. Betty might know. Me and Nancy used to go up to Betty’s. Betty and Wendy lived beside the cemetery, in a little old house. We would go up in the summer and visit, you know. We’d stay in that cemetery reading all them tombstones. And then they moved to… must have been Saegertown. Do you remember? You all went up there and stayed. That was in Saegertown up over the post office.
Mike: Yes, I remember that summer. That was when you were pregnant with Robin.
Kate: No, Barbara watched you all, her and Doyle came over and watched you all because we had to go to Akron.
Mike: Well, I was thinking it was then because I was 9 or 10.
Kate: You know you were 9 or 10. I don’t know how old Bruce was. He was a little older than you.
Mike: I think one year older than me.
Kate: Then, I come home, had Robin. But then I had to go back every so often, I don’t remember. Daddy was real sick. Daddy died the 18th of May and Robin was born the 4th of April. And then Mickey died in between there, too. Because I remember Don took me over to the funeral home after everybody left to see Mickey.
39:25
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• Grandma Lola Kiser was not a nice person
• Cecil Kiser Stories
00:00 [CAWv2: Grandma Lola Kiser was not a nice person (00:00-01:42)]
Kate: We was sitting on the porch. Can you remember we kinda had a cement porch out front? Well, me and Nancy was sitting out there with Granny Kiser. Granny was hateful, and I said something (I don’t know what it was, I don’t remember). And Granny said “Well, you little devil you.” And I said, “Well, if I am a little one, you are a big one.” I don’t remember what else was said; I cannot remember. Nancy kinda remembers that. Granny was a sight.
01:42 [CAWv2: Laura was good to us kids; Cecil was strict (01:42-02:02)]
Kate: Me and Nancy, some fella was coming out to get us. He was driving a new car…you know what I am talking about…he wanted to take us for a ride. Daddy wouldn’t let us go. So, we didn’t get to go. That must have been when Daddy was working in at Main TV. Cause he was home then. Mom wasn’t that strict on us. Daddy was. Mom was good to us. We would go ice skating every night.
02:02 [CAWv2: Recollections of Cecil by Kate and Mike (02:02-04:30)]
Mike: I don’t remember too much about Grandpa. I remember he had a stump thumb or finger. It was cut off or something and he would pinch.
Kate: Pinch you. Then he would pinch like this…he did that to all of us. That hurt.
Mike: The other thing I remember was that he talked a lot about moving down to WV and retiring down there.
Kate: Oh yeah! He loved WV. He’d come down every fall and they would all go hunting. Do you remember that? It was Roy Marsh and Dan Moore and Daddy and Denvil and whoever else it was. I know that Shep and Dan Moore was real buddies. He came back talking about seeing this big rattlesnake; he said honestly that was the biggest thing he ever saw--that it would fit inside one of these old, galvanized washer tubs. He said that snake would have filled that thing up. But he'd come down and we’d make biscuits, me or Mom. He liked Karo syrup. So, we always had biscuits, eggs, and bacon or whatever. And he would get that Karo syrup out and eat it on one of his biscuits. He just loved to come down there. Well, Mom always liked to come down. That was home.
Kate: Nancy liked to come down, but I don’t know about Norma and Don.
04:30
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• Cecil Kiser Camping Stories
00:00 [CAWv3: Trips to Akron; Cecil hunting in WV (00:00-06:59)]
Kate: We went to Akron at least once a year.
Mike: I always remember that with anticipation, going to Akron.
Kate: Well, we had the same things growing up. We always went to WV. We came down at least once and year and maybe more (I don’t remember). But I know Daddy would come down every fall to hunt.
Mike: Who did he hunt with?
Kate: Roy Marsh and Dan Moore and if Denvil was off, he went. But I know those were the main two, Roy and Dan.
Mike: Now were those mostly day trips?
Kate: No, they camped out. Boy, I don’t know. I don’t remember. They would be gone at least a week. They thought that was big stuff. Camping out. I don’t know if they went toward Clay and that direction, or where. I don’t remember.
Mike: I can remember some about that them going out hunting.
Kate: Well, I don’t remember too much. But I know they all liked to hunt, and of course they all liked to gab, too.
2:03
Kate: I can remember one time Daddy come back and they run across a rattler in the woods. And he said it could have filled a washer tub. It was so big, and it couldn’t go anywhere because it was cold. But he used to bring in squirrels and of course we always had them fried up or stewed and had gravy and biscuits. And Daddy got a wild turkey one time and Mom plucked it, and it was delicious.
Mike: What else did they hunt for?
Kate: Daddy was mainly squirrel hunting. I cannot remember that they did any deer hunting. I don’t remember that. I just remember Daddy coming down in the fall to hunt. I would get Karo syrup because he liked Karo syrup and biscuits. That is what we would have for breakfast of course with eggs and bacon. That was hunting season.
Kate: Dan Moore has been gone for a long time. He was just one of the Moore’s there. I don’t know how Daddy come to know him. Maybe through Shep [Morris] or maybe Denvil, I don’t know. Nice fella. And it kinda fell apart when Dan died. I cannot remember who else went, but I know those four going and having a good time. And Daddy had all the equipment you could need.
Mike: I remember that tent. But we set a tent up in the yard, was that the one they took. That was a big Army surplus tent.
Kate: I think it was. Of course, he had them Coleman lanterns and stoves. The stoves they had were about this long and they were green. I don’t remember…do you? I remember the stoves and of course they would cook out on them. I don’t know who did the cooking, maybe it was Dan. I don’t know whether Shep cooked or not. I don’t know whether Daddy cooked or not. I think it was Dan, but maybe they all pitched in.
05:53
I miss Shep. He was around longer than the rest of them.
Mike: Did he ever have a job?
Kate: Yeah! I don’t remember if he worked at the charcoal plant or where it was, he worked. I don’t remember. He always had money in his pockets. Maybe he played poker (I don’t know) when them fellers would get together.
06:59
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• Dixie Grade School
00:00 [CAWv4: Recollections about Dixie Grade School (00:00-02:52)]
Mike: When did they build that grade school in Dixie?
Kate: I don’t know. I have no idea.
Mike: There was an old building out in front. Maybe that was the school building before they built the new one. Do you remember that there used to be a lunchroom?
Kate: Are you talking about the school building that is there now? I don’t remember. I remember something about it and then I don’t. It seems to me like it was wood.
Mike: Yes, it was,
Kate: And I believe they tore that down and started from scratch. But I don’t remember what year it was. I know that some of the boys went to the new one ‘cause I can remember some of the teachers. I remember there used to be a ball field there.
Mike: I imagine it is gone, but we used to play ball there. Is that what you are talking about?
Kate: Well, yeah! There was just a big field. But you know I can’t remember. Do you remember your daddy fixed the back stop? So, I don’t know. Maybe Bus would remember. You weren’t all that old when Daddy went down and fixed the back stop.
Mike: I remember him coming down and welding it up.
Kate: I think he got Alloy to pay for it or something. I don’t remember too much about it.
02:52
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• Mike’s Teachers at Dixie Grade School
00:00 [CAWv5: Mike’s teachers Dixie Grade School (00:00-02:00)]
Kate: I don’t know if she was ever married or not.
Mike: Miss McCutchen. I know I had her for fourth grade. She was a really good teacher.
Kate: Yes, she was. She brought some of you all out of the kinks. Then you had Miss Hughes.
Mike: Well, let’s see. Miss Clonch, was my first-grade teacher; Miss Hughes, second; Miss King, third; Miss McCutchen, fourth and fifth; Mr. Hoover, sixth; and Ralph Keenan,
seventh and eighth. [Keenan was the school principal.]
Kate: Hmmm. I can’t remember Hoover. I know I have the grade cards.
Mike: You have the grade cards?
Kate Yes, I do. I was trying to think about that King. Miss Hughes, I remember and Ralph Keenan and Miss McCutchen.
Mike: Is Ralph Keenan still alive?
Kate: As far as I know he is, I don’t know.
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• Going to hospital to deliver Mike
00:00 [CAWv6: Kate going to hospital to deliver Mike (00:00-02:00)]
Kate: Well anyway, you know your daddy worked over about every evening and there wasn’t anybody to take me to the hospital, so Sam Moore took me. And he had this Ford, it was a four door, but I don’t know what make it was. But it had a little truck on the back of it and then a wheel on the trunk. Can you remember them like that?
Mike: I can remember them like that, but I don’t…
Kate: Well, anyway, the further we went the faster he went. I never did forget that. I ought to tell Bernice about it. I remember…I don’t whether she came to the hospital or not. I don’t remember.
Mike: Was it snowing?
Kate: I don’t remember if was. That was in January. My goodness Michael, that’s been 55 years ago.
Mike: 56
Kate: 56, well. I don’t remember.
Mike: They kept you in the hospital a long bit.
Kate: 10 days
Mike: 10 days, my goodness
Kate: They knocked you plumb out.
Mike: Things have changed a lot.
Kate: Oh, my goodness. And I was in the hospital 13 days with Robin. I got home before she did. She was in Children’s Hospital out in Akron. I had problems with her.
02:45 [CAWv6: Kid’s injuries (02:45-03:37)]
Mike: You were talking about Shot driving off the bridge or something.
Kate: No, he was on a motorcycle. And the bridge was slippery, it was wood. He can tell you about that one. Broke his ankle, I think, broke something. And Bus come down, sliding off the hill and broke his arm.
Mike: Yeah, I remember that.
Kate: Ran into a fence
Mike: Three or four of them on a sled and he was on the bottom and ran into the fence. I remember his arm just…limp.
Kate: I guess Robin was the only one that didn’t break a bone.
Mike: I am going to have to turn the air conditioner back on.
03:37
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• Living in the store building in Bentree
00:00 [CAWv7: Living in store building in Bentree (00:00-01:03)]
Kate: When you were born, we lived on the other side of the store. The store building that was in front of Mother and Daddy’s place. It was maybe two or three rooms.
Mike: Was it the front or on the side? I don’t remember which building it was.
Kate: Well, you remember the bridge across the creek, the road? Well, going this way, when you turn down where Mother and Daddy lived, it sat right here. The old store building did because they didn’t have any garage or anything there. Where you start up the hollow, well there sat the store, right there. When you got off the bridge, there was the store. And we lived on the back side of it. Cause I have a picture where you were in the front yard, about 6 months old, in the stroller.
Mike: I remember that picture.
01:03 [CAWv7: Moving from store building to Bus McGraw’s house across the creek (01:03-03:12)]
Kate: Yeah, I don’t know where it is at. But I got it somewhere. And I got one where Dale was holding you. But I can remember when we moved, we moved over across the creek into Bus McGraw’s little old house. I think he built a house (him and I forget what her name was). Then Bus was born, and we lived over there. Bus McGraw called him Bus. That is where he got his nickname, Bus McGraw. They were around for years. And then he had a brother Billy and Violet was his mother; she run the post office, for a while, her and Bill. But now that was years ago. And then there was Lily and John McGraw. That was…they had a son…what was his name? Big guy, drank all the time, he did. What was his name? John and Lily were the best people. And then Uncle Jack was married to Violet. He used to drink a lot. He’d come down to Georgie’s or somewhere, and I always said, “Hi, Uncle Jack.” And he said, “Well, I am not your damn uncle.” That was Uncle Jack for you. I didn’t know if he was drinking then or not. He might have been, but that is what he said. But we always called him Uncle Jack. Wasn’t a very big fella, just a little fella. Him and John both. John was just the opposite of Jack.
03:12 [CAWv7: Recollections of early years in Bentree (03:12-04:47)]
Mike: Now you never lived in Bentree when you were younger, right?
Kate: No. We lived out home [Uniontown]. We used to come down every summer. That is how I met your Daddy was up at the store. Don’t you remember your Daddy talking about how he worked for Grandpa Mullins for 50 cents a day. He finally got mad and told him to take his blank thing…and he just quit.
Mike: They were pretty tight with the money.
Kate: Can you believe 50 cents a day? Mother was just about as bad. She was worse than Daddy. You ask Daddy for something he would give it to you, but now Berthie, she’d hem-haw around about it. I know I went up there to borrow some money for Robin or something, I don’t know what it was. Or maybe it was for me. And she hem-hawed around there, and Daddy said, “Write her a check Berthie!” That was the end of that. Now, I tell you, I guess that is where they got their money.
04:47
-
• Bentree recollections
00:00 [CAWv8: Bentree Recollections (00:00-00:58)]
Kate: She probably could have told you lots. [I don’t recall who this was we were talking about.]
Mike: I saw her at the ??
Kate: Yeah, you told me that Judy…
Mike: She is supposed to be sending me some information.
Kate: Well, she stayed with them.
Mike: Yeah, I remember her.
Kate: Cause Mother worked in that store. I don’t remember what her wages were; I don’t remember. I know one time…I don’t know when it was…wasn’t it Jimmy that slapped you across the face? Well, I laid for Margie. And I thought, well, I’ll get her.
-
• Bentree recollections
00:00 [CAWv9: Kate’s fiery disposition—altercations with Margie O’Dell, Bertha (00:00-00:58)]
Kate: She was to be there on the lower end of the building, the store. I don’t remember. But I think Margie worked there. Anyway, I went up there. You wasn’t very old. And I blocked her in. I slapped the tar out of her. So, she took me with a warrant, and I went up to Mount Nebo and had to pay a fine of $5. I said to the fellow, “What if I hit her again?” He said just run up here and pay your fine. But I got mad at, I don’t remember if that was that day or not, I got mad at Mother. She was in the store. And I don’t know what she said to me. And Damon was with her. And boy I’ll tell you she made me so mad that I picked up a paint can. I don’t know what it was a gallon or a quart. And I threw that across that store, and it went all over the place. She said, “Now Catherine, behave yourself.” I can remember that so well. She said before that time, that she didn’t want Denvil to marry me. But he didn’t pay any attention to her.
00:58 [CAWv9: O’Dell’s and Schuler’s in Bentree (00:58-10:18)]
Kate: But you know, then Margie O’Dell watched you, when I had Bus. Just let you do as you please. [Apparently, Kate and Margie resolved their differences.]
Mike: They are dead now?
Kate: No, Margie isn’t; Leck is. But no, she went up there to Damon’s [Workman Family Reunion]. Margie and Roy. You know Margie and Leck were married. Well, they just swapped husbands. And Margie married Roy and Jeanette married Leck. Leck was a pretty good fella. She was up there because Patty Workman told me that. Maybe you just missed her and didn’t know who she was.
Mike: I don’t know.
Kate: Well, she was there. Been a long time since you have seen her. But I had you broke from your diapers. Well, it was break over, because she just let you do as you pleased. And she was good and clean and everything. Good housekeeper. And she had a bad eye, if you remember. I don’t know what the problem was, I don’t remember.
Mike: Now there was another O’Dell there. Lived up the road. Ralph O’Dell was one of the boys.
Kate: Well, that was Cecil and Mrytle, if you will remember; lived down there just over across the fence from Aunt Georgie.
Mike: Right. Now are they related?
Kate: Leck O’Dell was related somehow or other, but I don’t remember how. But it was Ralph and Shirley, CeCe, Hermie, Allie Marie, and Dot went to church down there with us.
Mike: Now there was a, I don’t know if it was the same group of O’Dell’s, but there was one that lived around on Bell Creek. I can remember a girl that was a little older than I was, but she babysat for us.
Kate: They lived across the road from us. In the stucco house there. Owned three houses, I think across the road there. Schuler’s lived in bottom one, and Peg O’Dell is the one that babysat. Well, they are all out of state somewhere. I don’t know where. Other than that, I don’t know anything about them.
Mike: I was trying to think of her name. I couldn’t remember what it was.
Kate: Peg. She was black headed.
Mike: I remember she was pretty.
Kate: Yeah, a real pretty girl. All of them O’Dell’s hooked up somehow or other. But now, I was trying to think. Oh, shoot. What was the one…what did we call him? Used to sit on that wide place across from where Aunt George’s house was, across the road. He’d sit out there. What was his name? Abe. We called him Abe. Then there was Tootie. Tootie had the bad eye. Now Tootie is dead and so is Abe. I don’t know if Cece is still living or not. I know Allie Marie is. As and far as I know, Dot is. Dot married, I think it was Shirley’s brother. They went to church down there at Bell Creek. We always called her Dot. She had, I think, two or three kids. I know she had a couple of boys. And as far as I know, they are still living. I know Allie Marie is. Allie Marie was a pretty girl.
Mike: What ever happened to the Schulers?
Kate: You know, the girl is in California. And I forget what the boy’s name was, nice looking boy.
And who was it died, it might have been Fred Gross. Somebody died, and I went to the funeral. I was sitting there talking to Patty Pinson. And some guy come up and Patty said to me, “Do you know who he is?” I said no, I don’t know him. Tim, Tim Schuler. Nice looking. Nicest guy you ever met. That is who it was. But I didn’t know him. He lives down at there at Dixie. Just down there close to the schoolhouse. You know there was a little old creek that came out of that hollow there. Up that creek was where Mom was married. And Bird, what was his first name? [Benny] That was his last name; he was the preacher. Anyway, it was up that hollow that he lived in a shanty. And that is who married Mom and Daddy. But now that is where Tim lives. And both of his parents are gone. I forget the girl’s name, Patty? Cathy? I don’t know. I don’t remember. Tim looked a lot like his daddy.
10:18 [CAWv9: Mullins recollections, in Bentree (10:18-13:18)]
Mike: Now Audrey Mullins. How long has she been gone?
Kate: Oh, I don’t remember. See Mom’s been gone, what six years? So, she has been gone at least 12. She didn’t have an easy life, I’ll tell you. Audrey had a hard life. You know Guy used to come up to the house all the time drinking. Well, you know Delmar and all them drank. But you know they kind of changed their ways. And Gordon used to drink a lot, and Pat used to drink a lot. All of them boys drank. And Neely didn’t; I didn’t know that he did. But they all quit.
Mike: Where are Audrey’s boys?
Kate: Delmar’s dead. Bob and, what did we call that girl? The one that Henry Legg married, oh boy. [I think it was Bid.]
Mike: Kack?
Kate: No, Kack lives down there, still lives down there in the bottom. They built kind of an A-frame something. And she still lives there. Boo lives over across the mountain somewhere, I don’t if it’s Endore or where it is at…Lizemores maybe. He’s a preacher. Boo is a good guy. Emma Jean lives down there in Georgia, ever since she’s been married to George (he got killed in Alaska). Parachuting, I think; you know he has always been in the service. And I think he got killed up in Alaska, but she lives in Columbia, South Carolina. Bid. We called her Bid. Bid and Bob live down next to Summerville, South Carolina. They built homes down there. Kack still lives in Bentree.
13:18 [CAWv9: Who is still living in Bentree? (13:18-16:15)]
Mike: We saw Bernice [Eugene’s widow] when we there at Robin’s church. And we were talking a little bit; she said she did not like to go to Bentree anymore, nobody there she knows.
Kate: Somebody will die…I’ll see it in the paper. And I wonder who it is. Because there is nobody hardly…Patty and Jacqueline are still there. Patty Pinson and Jacqueline, her daughter. And I think Bea [Morris] is still there. Bernice Legg, that is Porter’s wife, is still living. Marie [Morris] (Orb’s wife) is still living. You know I found out, here a while back, that she is an Osborne. I want to try to get down there to Bentree and at least go and see some of these people.
Mike: You should do that. When I saw Calvin over there at the Workman reunion, he said he would like to have you come down.
Kate: Well, I know Patty has been after me to go down. But I don’t know where Patty is at right now. Last time I called, I got no answer so she might be down in Florida, because Laura Jane still lives down there. The youngest of her kids. And Andrew is down there somewhere, supposedly, I don’t know where. Trying to get him a business started. I don’t know. I can’t figure that fellow out.
Mike: He was always a wheeler dealer.
Kate: Oh, my goodness. I just don’t know whether he was ever honest with any others. Now he was good to me. But…I don’t know. He always has plenty of money, I’ll tell you. I don’t know where it comes from, but he’s got it. Been married three or four times. Patty said, “Well Kate, you know that he was a womanizer.” I said, “Well, yeah.”
16:15 [CAWv9: Rider descendants from Bentree (16:15-24:23)]
Mike: Ever hear anything from the Rider’s?
Kate: No, I think they are all gone.
Mike: Mary Jane?
Kate: Oh, you mean married Kelly? Her and Kelly is around. But I don’t know, she never calls, and I don’t either.
Mike: Do they still live there in Gum Springs?
Kate: Still live there. I know when Mom was living, she invited us over. We went over and had dinner with them.
Mike: Well, next time we come down, we should see if we can visit.
Kate: I never thought about it. I am sure she wouldn’t care. Jane was always sort of different. Mom said she was a Backus. They were kinda funny-turned people. Shirt [Shirley Backus] was sort of odd at times. Walt [Backus], he was just Walt. But they are all gone, but the kids. Now Jane is the only one left of that bunch. Shirt and Walter are both gone. Cause I always called him Shirt, and I know Georgie, that’s who he married, you know. He married that Holcomb; she was a sister to Delmas’s wife. Lived across the road from us. Well, she was a sister to (what was her name anyway?). I know when he come back, you know, they finally moved back and bought Simon’s house. That is who lives there now, Georgie. But I used to call him Shirt, you know, she said, “Don’t call him Shirt; he doesn’t go by the name Shirt.” And I said, “I didn’t know him by anything but Shirt.” She said call him Vernon…that was Uncle Gib’s name. But she didn’t want me to call him Shirt. And I said that is all I knowed him by, was Shirt. But living out in Ohio, I guess that was a disgrace.
Mike: He lived in…?
Kate: Up next to Cleveland, somewhere.
Mike: Didn’t he live in Virginia at one time? I remember going over there, I thought it was to visit him and it was kind of up on top of a mountain.
Kate: I don’t remember Shirt living there.
Mike: Maybe it was somebody else, but I have this vague memory of something over in Virginia.
Kate: I don’t remember. Shirt was on the police force out there somewhere.
Mike: Now Roy Rider. Ummm. I know he is dead. Any of his kids still living.
Kate: Mary Lou.
Mike: What’s her name?
Kate: Osborne. Mary Lou.
Mike: Is that any kin to the Osbornes?
Kate: I am sure it is, but I don’t know where they connect up. They connect somehow or another. Because Mae is a kin to us too, did she tell you?
Mike: Yeah, I knew that.
Kate: Her mother was an Osborne
20:37
Mike: Now Mayflower. Is she dead?
Kate: Oh, yeah, Mayflower has been gone a long time. Uncle Grat. Well, I tell you they used to just carry on. I tell you, I always liked Mayflower. Always liked her.
Mike: I can remember going up there for Independence Day. What were those boy’s names?
Kate: Billy, Jimmy…oh, shoot…Mayflower was married to…these last kids, I don’t think she was married. I am not sure about that. But I know she had Tyke, we always called her Tyke. And Charlotte, they were by the first bunch. And then she had a son…I know his name as well as…he was in Chicago for years and years. And then somebody told me that they moved south after he retired. I can’t think of his name. I know it as well as my own. But then the second bunch she had with Bill Barker was Billy and Jimmy, and I think one of them…I am not sure…I was going to look it up in the phone book, lives in Oak Hill or Fayetteville. And there is Peachie. Peachie was a Barker.
Mike: Not Calvin’s wife?
Kate: Yep.
Mike: Oh, really!
Kate: But I remember when they got married. Everybody said he’ll not marry that girl. I remember that so well. And he was the one who chose Peachie.
Dianne: There is quite an age difference there.
Kate: I don’t know. They were running up and down the road, I don’t know. I don’t remember.
Dianne: Was she from Bentree?
Kate: Oh, yeah! The upper part of Bentree.
24:23
I am going to try to get down to Bentree. I thought I’d go sometime when Janet was going over to Wilson’s and she could drop me off. But Wilson’s stay on the go so much, either that or they come over to Janet’s more than they used to. Because there is nobody else to go to. So…then they go a lot. I thought that is the thing to do, is to go. Janet’s mother had some kind of a spell. Janet forgot to…six hours I think she didn’t know where she was at or nothing. So, Janet made arrangements to take her to the doctor and have all kind of tests. And they couldn’t find a thing. And she just couldn’t remember any of it. And she is fine, only Mr. Wilson says you don’t drive anymore. Because she isn’t allowed to drive. Of course, they don’t know what kind of a spell it was. They run all kinds of tests on her. So, they are going while they can, and I don’t blame them. They’ve got the money and they got everything to go on, go. They’re kinda like that. They belong to these…oh where you got these motor homes. What do you call them RV’s? I don’t know some kind of club or something.
26:35
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• Bentree remembrances
• Recollections of Grat and Roy Rider
• Recollections of Aunt Georgia, Uncle Earl, and Billy
00:00 [CAWv10: Recollections of Grat and Roy Rider (00:00-04:50)]
Kate: Him and Uncle Grat.
Mike: I can remember Roy…drinking a lot.
Kate: Yeah! Him and Uncle Grat both drank. And he had a good wife. His first wife….What was her name…a good women. She was a Dennison, from out home, Lightmore. What we call Lightmore. We used to go over there roller skating and swimming. Virginia was her name. Good woman. She put up with a lot, from Uncle Roy. I think he courted on her about all the time he lived with her. And, of course, the three kids belonged to Virginia. He never had any kids by Mayflower. But then after she died, he finally married Mayflower. He changed his way of living, too. Him and Uncle Grat both. Uncle Grat lived with Granny [Posie Rider], you know.
Mike: He never married, right?
Kate: No, he was married to Laura…was her name. They lived…she lived out in Ohio but next to where Ray lived. Ray Rider. They had that one child. And Ray lived up in Cleveland, and Ray died about three or four years ago, at least…maybe longer. Because Mom and Nancy and them all went up to Cleveland, when he was in the hospital, to see him. And Ray, I know, had one child that was killed. I think he was riding in the back of the truck and fell out and killed him. And Tyke, you will remember, went with Ray for a long time, and I think she had two or three boys that belonged to Ray. Nicest looking boys you ever saw. They were handsome boys. They looked like Ray. Do you remember Ray? Well, he was Uncle Grat’s boy. He used to come down to the house all the time (when he’d come in from Ohio) to see me. But Mom and them went up to see him when he was sick. I don’t remember what he had, unless it was cancer. So, there are people up there next to Cleveland, his wife and children. She may be married again; I don’t know but they still lived up there. But then Tyke married somebody else, but I’ll tell you those boys were handsome boys. I didn’t know Tyke had died until Patty had told me. I knew she had something the matter with her, but don’t remember what. Because one time when we went to Florida, we went to see her. There were three of them Mayflower had before she was…I don’t know if she married a Barker or not. I don’t remember…probably did, I don’t remember. But the younger ones were Barker’s; the others were Thomas’s. That was their name; Benny Thomas was his name. Benny had Charlotte and Tyke. And then the other three were Barkers. Mayflower…I can remember going up there and she could just whip up anything. She made the best biscuits you every did eat out of…
Mike: I was going to say I remember her biscuits.
Kate: She made the best biscuits and had little to do it with. She made them out of water. She was a good cook. Uncle Roy liked to cook, so he cooked. We used to go up there all the time.
You always remember that Aunt Mary cooked the best pinto beans.
04:50 [CAWv10: Recollections of Aunt Georgia, Uncle Earl, and Billy (04:50-11:36)]
And Georgie made the best fried tators. I can remember going to Aunt Georgie’s a lot…when Uncle Earl lived. Used to go up there and put you kids in bed with him.
Mike: Now he was…
Kate: Gassed. [Nerve gas]
Mike: In the war. Gassed was it? That was WW I right?
Kate: Yeah, it didn’t come on for…don’t know how long it was after he got out the service.
Mike: Now, I remember he didn’t have any physical control.
Kate: No, he had no control; he shook. And he couldn’t talk, if you remember. He could mumble around. Aunt Georgia could figure out what he was saying. She knew. She had to feed him, if you remember. She fed him…did everything for him. And then Billy came along, and Billy had what you call water on the brain. Now I know what that was. He wasn’t quite normal.
Mike: Now, Uncle Earl. What was his last name?
Kate: Lee.
Mike: He was injured in the war. He must have been really young.
Kate: Yeah, I can remember seeing a picture they had. I don’t know if it burned up or not. But in his uniform, you know. Taken there with knee pants on, that come up to here. I can remember that.
Mike: Well, I can remember that very vividly. But it was not…what would I say…a comfortable situation. It was a little scary. But was his mind…
Kate: Mind was okay. It just affected everything about him, but his mind. He used to sit around. I remember when me and Denvil got married down there, all them young’uns was there…Jane and all the rest of them, you know. Uncle Earl just sit there and laughed. I never did forget it. I used to take Robin up there and put her in his bed. There was some of you boys that were sort of afraid of him, but Robin wasn’t a bit afraid of him. That just tickled Uncle Earl to death.
7:59
Mike: He lived a long time.
Kate: Yes, he did. I forget how old Uncle Earl was. But Aunt Georgie really had her hands full. And she had Billy. We just aggravated Billy to death, us kids. We had some kind of a toy monkey, and he was afraid of it. We aggravated him to death.
Mike: Now who is Billy?
Kate: That was the one that they said had water on the brain. He died …
Mike: How old was he?
Kate: I think Billy was…early 20’s. Maybe hadn’t hit 20 yet. But she had both of them to take care of. She lived on a government pension. Always had plenty. She always had her a new car. New car back then didn’t cost but two or three hundred dollars. I can remember that, and she’d give him a shove and he’s…If you remember…well I don’t guess you would know. But she would give him kind of a shove like to the car. And his feet would take him right to the car, but he couldn’t do anything. And she always took him out for rides. Sometimes she would let somebody else drive the car and take him. I can just see him now. Chewed tobacco. If you remember; they all chewed tobacco back them. I can remember Grandpa Rider chewing that tobacco…spitting. And they would come to the house and then Mom…him and Billy, both. But I remember being up there. I was always…now Aunt Mary was good to me….she was a good old soul. But I always stayed down around Aunt Georgie’s most of the time. Cause I was always big buddies with Patty. And I…more than anything I went to Aunt Georgie’s. It’s just not the same…I guess there is nothing there [in Bentree]. I have not been down through there forever. I guess it was when…I don’t know who died…maybe it was John Rider. I don’t remember. John or Shirt or somebody.
11:36
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• Bentree remembrances
• Uncle Grat injured mining coal in Bentree
• Who has the old photos?
00:00 [CAWv11: Uncle Grat injured mining coal in Bentree (00:00-04:27)]
Kate: That’s when he was a young boy.
Mike: Grat, right?
Kate: Uncle Grat.
Mike: So, what happened to him?
Kate: Well, I don’t remember, but I thought it was coal coming off the mountain in one of those little old four-wheel things that run on a track up the mountain and back down. That’s what bought the coal off the mountain then.
Mike: That was at that little tipple, they had at the bottom?
Kate: Yeah, that it. I don’t know where the Opera House was.
Mike: So, they took him to the hospital?
Kate: They took him to Charleston. I don’t know how they got there, but they took him to Charleston.
Mike: So, his skull must have been fractured.
Kate: Had to be because they put a plate in his head.
Mike: Did that affect him?
Kate: Well, you know, I was just a sittin’ here wondering whether it…I thought it did, but I am not sure, Mike. He was always Uncle Grat to me; we never paid any attention to it. I know when he came up there to stay with Granny Rider that he tore up everything she had…trying to fix something.
I remember the shed out from the side of the house there. You know, the well was set out there in the front, what we call the back door anyway. And you went in, and they had a place there…in the front of the house where they had the post office. I don’t know whether you remember that or not. Well anyway, then they had the well where they drawed the water. Uncle Grat put anything they didn’t use very much out in the shed. And he tore up everything. I know he tore up the house, trying to fix it up. Oh, I don’t know…but I can remember, too, when the post office was down there in what Mom called Scotford. That was what was on her death announcement.
Mike: Well, let’s see. Damon has a topographical map of that area. And it has Clay County on it (1908 is when the survey was done). And it has Scotford there.
Kate: Yeah. Well, I think Clay County went down further than what is now. From what I understood. Clay County, the line was there about Aunt Mary’s, if you will remember. [They actually lived in Nicholas County. The boundary line was within a few yards of their house.]
Mike: Yeah
Kate: Well, it went on down the road, and I don’t remember if Scotford was in Nicholas County or it was in Clay County. I don’t remember.
Mike: Well, it wasn’t Bentree, I know that.
Kate: No, it was Scotford. And then Mom said that…now I…she had a picture of Uncle Grat and Grandpa Ryder standing in the doorway of the post office. Now who got it, I don’t know. [I have included a copy of this photo on the website.]
Mike: That is one of the reasons I would like to visit Jane. To see what she has.
Kate: Well next time let me know, and I will call Jane up.
Mike: Ok.
Kate: Now in the wintertime they go down south all the time. Her and Kelly.
Dianne: Something that was said in passing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sherry not a good person to talk to.
Mike: For photos.
Dianne: Yeah, something was said about, “Oh, Sherry has that picture.”
Mike: Oh, okay.
Dianne: It wouldn’t surprise me, with Grandma living with her parents, if she didn’t become heir to quite a few pictures.
Mike: Yes, that’s a good idea.
Kate: You’re right, she is a very nice person. A very nice person. That might be a good idea.
04:27
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• Scotford name changed to Bentree
00:00 [CAWv12: Scotford name changed to Bentree (00:00-02:05)]
Kate: Bentree…don’t know whether he bought the coal mines or what, but anyway it had something to do with coal. His name was Benjamin Trees. And they called it Bentree.
Mike: Yeah, I’ve heard a couple different stories. I think it was Damon saying something about…I don’t know if it was a coal or lumbering company, by some name. I am not sure…but I would like to see if I could find out the real story.
Kate: Well, that’s Mom told me, I don’t know whether it was coal or maybe it was lumber. I don’t know because they did lot of lumbering back then. But I know the guy’s name was Benjamin Trees. And they changed it from Scotford to Bentree. I don’t know, my goodness, I don’t know how long ago that’s been.
Mike: Well, I know it was after 1908, because that was when that map was made.
Kate: Well, that’s sitting down, you know where Gauley Hollow is? Well, it’s sitting between the charcoal plant and the sawmill, Elswick Sawmill. It sits back just about the mouth of the hollow in there. The building...the post office.
Mike: Now it would have been…
02:05 [CAWv12: Who has all the old photos? (02:05-05:05)]
Kate: But you see I’m going by what Mom told me. And there is a picture, and I don’t know who got the picture. [I have the photo.] I know nothing. I don’t know how many pictures was left. Normy came and took what she wanted...I don’t know where any of the pictures went. But I didn’t get any. Nancy didn’t get any. And I don’t think Betty got any, so it laid between the two. Normy had a lot, Nancy told me. Cause I know Nancy told me, “Now, Kate when you go over to Normy’s, look at the pictures she’s got.” Well, you know it is so seldom that Normy asks anybody, but she did ask me, but she had put them all up.
Mike: Well, it would be nice to make copies of some of that stuff.
Kate: Nancy said to Normy, “Why don’t you give Kate her pictures?” She said, “Oh, I might some time.” So, I don’t know. I just didn’t say anything. If I had it to do over, I’d say something. A lot of things that was done, nobody opened their mouth. Nancy said Betty did. I said yeah she did. But I said I’d like to show Mom two nights [the wake]. And Betty said, “Well, I’ve got to go home on Wednesday.” Wendall said, “I’ve got to work the next day.” And so, we just showed Mom one evening and that was it. Nobody said anything, so that was our fault, too. Now Betty ought to know a lot about growing up. I don’t know whether Betty would tell you anything or not. I don’t know.
Mike: Well, hopefully they’ll come over.
Kate: I hope she does. I got along better with Betty than Nancy did. Nancy was on down the line.
05:05
-
• Interrupted interview w/Kate
00:00 [CAWv13: Interrupted interview w/Kate (00:00-01:00)]
Kate: Now I am telling you, Mom was the feller that could tell you the stories. She had the best memory.
Mike: She did have a good memory.
Kate: Yes, she did. And I don’t. I don’t have a good memory.
Mike: Get you wired up here. Okay, let’s see. It’s July 5, 2006, right. [It might have been July 4.] Tell me what you can remember about Dad’s military service. Any stories.
Kate: Well, you know I don’t know the year that I went out on the train. He was stationed in Nebraska.
Mike: Hold on a minute, let me……
01:00
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• Denvil’s military service
• Denvil and Kate rode train from Hastings to Akron
• In Chicago on V-Day
00:00 [CAWv14: Denvil’s military service (00:00-01:51)]
Kate: Ready
Mike: It’s ready. So you went out to Hastings…
Kate: I went out to Hastings, Nebraska. Rode the train out. And it was just, just out [in the middle of nowhere]. Just nothing there.
Mike: Why was he in Nebraska?
Kate: I don’t remember why he was. They had sent him there before they sent him overseas, you know. You know he was in Texas, all over Texas. And then they sent him to Nebraska and we rode the train to Akron on V-Day. We hit a car or an animal, I don’t know which it was. But it caused us to be late getting into Chicago…so missed our ride to Akron.
Mike: You and who else?
Kate: Denvil. Me and Denvil. And since it was V-Day there was a big celebration in Chicago. So, we didn’t have any place to stay; but a policeman found us a place. I guess we went out the next morning and got the train. I don’t remember. And then Damon come out home and got us. And ….
01:51
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• Continuation: Denvil’s military service
• Denvil in New York prior to going to Europe
• Encountering Russian soldiers on the border
• Crossing the English Channel; landing in a cornfield
00:00 [CAWv15: Denvil in New York prior to going to Europe (00:00-01:40)]
Kate: I think Damon drove to Akron. I don’t know whether that is right or not. But I don’t know how we got home unless it was Damon. Then he shipped out to New York. I forget how long he was in New York. I don’t remember. But he was good to write to me.
Mike: Do you have any of those old letters?
Kate: Yes, I kept a few of them. Yeah, I got them. I think they are in there in the drawer. I had kept a whole slew of them, but I thought well…I went through them, and I just burned some of them up. But he usually was a coming or going. Then I’ll tell you the story about the gun. I just wondered if you remember anything about…
Mike: I remember him telling some of the stories, but I just don’t remember any of the details.
01:40 [CAWv15: Encountering Russian soldiers on the border [CAWv15: (01:40-04:00)]
Kate: Well, I don’t remember too many. I remember where he had bought the gun. And I don’t know whether the rest of the guys…wasn’t anybody with him, I don’t think. It was just him…up on the Russian border, somewhere.
Mike: In Germany?
Kate: I don’t know whether it was Germany or not, but he …they had flew up…maybe it was. Does Germany border Russia?
Mike: I don’t think so. I think it is Czechoslovakia in between, or something.
Kate: Well, there was somebody in between because he was on the border. Apparently, he must have been over into Russia because he just told me that he saw these two guys coming. He told me he was ready for them. He would have killed them. I guess they didn’t know he had the gun. I am sure they didn’t. But I don’t remember what the one guy said to him…must have said something. And Denvil put the gun in his stomach, and the guy stepped back. But I figured your daddy got out of there, too. I don’t remember what was said. But he was ready for them. I was sort of glad that he had the gun with him. Bus...I tried to call him on their telephone, but she didn’t pay the bill, so they didn’t have one.
Mike: So, you don’t know whether he has the gun or not? [Unfortunately, the gun was lost.]
Kate: I don’t know whether or…I told him he better not get rid of the gun. And I told him he better not get rid of Daddy’s watch, either. Cause you know Faye sold his car while he was in jail. He don’t have no car.
04:00 [CAWv15: Denvil crossing the English Channel; landing in a cornfield (04:00-06:31)]
Denvil told about crossing the English Channel. It was wintertime and they just…he thought for sure they were going down because the ice had gathered on the wings, but they made it. I can’t remember any details about these stories. He told me they had to land in a corn patch one time. I don’t know what went wrong, but something went wrong. And I thought well…the pilot must have been a pretty good pilot if he landed in a corn patch.
Mike: Did he have any tales to tell in any of those letters?
Kate: No. I don’t think he did. I will find the letters. I don’t think so. But you know I never thought about it. I thought we would have a ripe old age, you know. But it wasn’t planned that way, you know. And what he did tell me, I didn’t remember.
Mike: I wonder if anybody else would remember those stories.
Kate: Damon might. Did Damon know any?
Mike: I really didn’t ask him about what he knew. I talked to him a little bit yesterday but nothing that I recorded or anything.
Kate: Well, I can’t remember anything else.
Mike: It’s been a long time.
Kate: Yep…and I am sure he didn’t tell me half of them but…I can’t remember them. So…
Kate Workman Vol1 & Vol2 were recorded on July 7, 2003 while driving from Beckwith, WV, to Clarkston, MI.
Kate Workman Vol3 - Vol12 were recorded on July 19, 2003 while driving from Clarkston, MI, to Peninsula, OH.
Kate Workman Vol13 - Vol15 were recorded on July 4, 2006 at Beckwith, WV.