Howe-History

   I was born in Barton Co. Missouri, March 14, 1880. Near Kenoma and Golden city. We lived in a frame house.
    When i was 3 or 4 years old, I remember the menfolks had been cutting grass with a scythe and left it lying in the path. I ran into it and cut my leg. Grandmother carried me to the house. I was put in the cradle, and told if I didn't lie still my leg would drop off.   some of my Mothers relative's were visiting. A quilt frame was by my cradle, and I remember them quilting. I still have that scar on my leg.
     Grace and I would carry some eggs to market. One day we were walking down a railroad track to town. some wild cattle were off at a distance. We were afraid that they would see us and get us even though there was a fence along the track.
    I remember going by wagon to visit my grandparents at Bolivar Mo.
    A bunch of indians came in the house one day. Mother was afraid. they came on horse, tied them up, and came right in. They looked at everything in the house. Then they sat down at our large table and benches. It wasn't long before mother knew that they wanted something to eat.   She started cooking, and they ate. she kept cooking. She cooked everything in the house. Finally, they understood she didn't have anything else to eat, so they got up and left on thier horse's without a word. They left as quietly as they came. We thought we would all be killed. when father and the menfolk came home in the evening ther wasn't anything to eat.
     After I started school my father got me a pair of red top button boots. I didn't like them as they made so much noise when I walked up to the teachers desk to recite. It was embarrassing.
     There was a big nice house near us. they seemed to be well to do people, and they seemed stuck up or so we thought.
      Cora was born two years after me, and Gilbert three years after. We moved to "No mans Land" ,which is now the panhandle of Oklahoma, around 1887 or so. Father made a sod house with a dirt florr. Cow chips were burned for fuel.
      Dora was born in "No Man's Land". Our nearest town was Gate. Father had to go quite far for groceries.
      When it was time to go to Kingfisher County for the Run of 1889, Grandmother, Cora, and the menfolk left in their wagons. they staked out their different farms near Clear Creek. Father built a dugout sod house. the menfolk were able to come back for us after several months. A while befor we could leave it rained hard and the sodhouse started leaking so we had to go to the scholl house for a while. When we left, Grace and I had to herd and drive the cattle while we rode our ponies. There was more than once we saw wild cattle off in the distance, and we were afraid that they would mix with ours. Tumbleweeds were in abundance. When we rode into our place at Kingfisher it was dark. Grandmother had put a light in the window to guide us.

                                                as told to Edna and Neal Dull