The Sandy Creek Boys

By Jerry A Matney

The Sandy Creek Boys contains remembered stories that range from intimate to hilarious to hair raising, including episodes on a north Texas farm, in the nearby towns, at school, and a short stint in the local jail. The stories are based on the lives of Jerry A Matney and his three brothers, who grew up in Wise County, Texas. Several of the boys' childhood friends feature prominently in these stories, particularly the boy who loved to set off fireworks at school and the theater.
This coming-of-age memoir contains nearly 100 tales about the Matney boys, who found inventive and rambunctious ways to have fun in and around Big Sandy Creek. From the 1930s to the 1950s, these brothers and their boyhood friends entertained each other both in and out of trouble.
Most of the stories are related in chronological order, beginning with a short history of the Matney family's move to Texas and ending after the last boy enters the military. The Epilogue explains what each character in these stories ended up doing with the rest of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jerry A Matney
• Release date: Feb 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452410821

Jerry A Matney

Jerry A Matney was born in Wise County, Texas, where he was a four-sport athlete. He attended Decatur Baptist College on a football scholarship. After serving in the Marine Corps, Jerry attended Santa Ana College, Long Beach State University and Chapman University. Jerry served for 34 years as a teacher and school administrator for the Orange County Juvenile Court Schools. He served on the Fountain Valley School Board and as Mayor of Huntington Beach, California. He and his wife Nedra retired to Surprise, Arizona where he continues to write historical novels. You can contact Jerry at [e-mail]

Book preview

THE SANDY CREEK BOYS

A Memoir

by Jerry A. Matney

with Lauren Holley and D A Gordon

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 by Jerry A. Matney

Print copies available from:

http://www.thesandycreekboys.com

Cover art by Nan Gray

SLC, Utah

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Dedicated to Sam, Clyde, Audrey Faye, Jerry,

Jimmy, Benny, and Sammy (Bubba) Matney

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Foreword

The Sandy Creek Boys follows the antics of the four Matney boys who spent their childhood playing in and around Big Sandy Creek in north Texas. From birth until their entry in the military, the brothers and their friends found endless ways of entertaining themselves and getting into trouble, often at the same time. Although the names of a few characters mentioned in this book have been changed, The Sandy Creek Boys is based on the young lives of Jerry A. Matney, Jim R. Matney, Ben W. Matney, and Sam J. Matney.

The Sandy Creek Boys has been written with the best of intentions; it is published to entertain readers and to offer a reflection of the times and events of the era. It is not the author's intent to embarrass anyone. If someone feels they are unfairly depicted, the Matney family offers a sincere apology. Many thanks to those who contacted me and contributed to the revised edition.

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A Brief History of the Matneys

Jacob Mingus emigrated from Austria to Haywood County, North Carolina, where he married Sarah Maude Seabolt. Sarah's mother was a full-blooded Cherokee. Their daughter, Nancy Tabitha Mingus, married Samuel Stillwell, Jr. On his mother's side, Samuel's grandmother was Cherokee and a member of the Great Smokey Mountains tribe.

A born entrepreneur, Jacob built a turbine-driven gristmill on Mingus Creek in 1860. Jacob's turbine mill, which was more efficient than a standard mill driven by waterwheel, was the first such mill in the region. Jacob also built a wooden sluice that used gravity to carry water from Mingus Creek to his flourmill. The water spun a metal turbine, which in turn operated all of the belts and shafts that ground the corn and wheat into flour. Families came from all over the Smokey Mountains to see the new mill in operation.

Jacob's daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Samuel Stillwell, prospered and were blessed with a large family: seven daughters and two sons. Although the children were half Cherokee, most of them were fair skinned; all of them were healthy. Samuel and Nancy were proud of their fine family, but they feared for their safety because of the government's Indian Removal Act, which involved forced movement of several tribes, including the Cherokee. Because of their Cherokee heritage, the Stillwell family fled from the Smokey Mountains to Missouri, where they settled in Howell County.

In Missouri, Samuel and Nancy's daughter, Sara Jane, met and married Joseph Matney, a young farmer living in Howell County near West Plains. Although Sara Jane was four years older than Joseph, he was attracted to the slender dark-eyed girl. Joseph's parents, John David Matney and Catherine Goss, moved their family from Indiana to Howell County in the 1850s. Although John was a good farmer, his family lived an average country lifestyle. Joseph and his siblings attained some schooling and all of them could read and write. Joseph's younger brother, Solomon, became a successful sawmill owner, but Joseph preferred to farm.

In 1861, Joseph and Sara Jane began their family with the birth of a son, Eli. However, that same year Joseph was drafted into the Missouri Militia to fight for the United States of America in its war with the Confederate States of America. The State of Missouri was divided, with county against county and family against family. Joseph was captured by the Confederacy at the battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas; after several months he was exchanged for some Southern prisoners held by the North. Although Joseph returned home ill, he recovered and he and his wife produced a large family of four daughters and three more sons. In 1870 they christened their third son William Samuel Matney.

William Samuel (called Sam) developed a strong right arm and became an outstanding baseball pitcher. His oldest brother Eli became his catcher, while his brother John became a left-handed first baseman. Because his brother Thomas was six years younger, he was too young to play ball with his older brothers.

Heading for Texas

In 1888, when Sam turned eighteen, his older brothers invited him to go to Texas with them. As it turned out, the timing could not have been better for Sam as he was in a bit of trouble with the law. The Howell County sheriff wanted Sam for firing his pistol within the city limits of West Plains. A month earlier, Sam had been showing off for some girls when he shot himself in the little finger of his left hand. This incident not only placed him at odds with the law, but it also ruined his chance of impressing the young ladies of the county, who now considered him a bit too rowdy. Sam eagerly packed his pistols and few belongings for the adventure with his older brothers. He never forgot his foolishness with the pistol, however, because his finger remained crooked for the rest of his life – perhaps to remind him of his folly.

Joseph equipped his sons with new horses and saddles for their journey. He also gave each of them a Winchester rifle to go with their pistols. They were now well armed for their long trip. Joseph had faith that no one would challenge his armed sons because they had learned to hunt when they were young and each was an excellent shot. He reminded his wife that their sons would not go hungry as long as they could find game to shoot. Before they left, Joseph warned his sons to stay clear of the Indian Territory as it abounded in outlaws and killers.

With their belongings packed on their horses, the Matney boys rode south through Arkansas for several weeks until they reached the small town of Mena, Arkansas. Here they decided to enter the mountains in the Indian Territory to cut off some of the distance and to see some Indian country. Were they not part Cherokee? Why should they be afraid of their heritage? After they stopped to camp in a nice pine forest they spied a large campfire on the opposite hill. The next morning they kept their eyes out for the strangers behind them.

Eli said, Boys, I make out that there are at least three guys followin' us. When we reach a clearing, raise up yer rifles and show them that we are well-armed and we don't want no one tailin' us. All three boys raised their Winchesters into the air to show their firepower. By noon there was not a person to be seen. Apparently the outlaws decided to seek prey that was not so well armed.

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Sam and his brothers were impressed with the pine forest around them; they especially liked the small town of Broken Bow. Eli said, Boys, remember this place. We could have us a fine sawmill up here if we could raise the money for a mill. Keep this place in mind.

At the village of Harris they crossed the Red River on a ferry and then headed due west for Paris, Texas. North Texas had many opportunities for enterprising young men who had some training or marketable skills. While in Missouri, Joseph Matney had apprenticed his boys to the local blacksmith, who taught them the smithy trade; all three boys became skilled blacksmiths, although Sam excelled. The boys had also gained experience working for their Uncle Solomon at his sawmill in the Ozark Mountains. With their training and skills intact, the Matney boys landed in Paris, Texas ready to make their marks in life.

John immediately gained an opportunity to go to work in a general mercantile store, while Eli went to work as an assistant to a cotton gin operator. Cotton was becoming the king crop in the fast growing area of East Texas. Only Sam preferred to continue working as a blacksmith. His skill in making shoes for horses and making iron tools and welding steel together landed him a job with the smithy Arte Johnson. Thus, the Matney boys settled into their new environment.

Paris was becoming a major port of entry into Texas because the river landing at Jefferson was drying up. Jefferson was located on Cypress Bayou on the Cypress River. The river flowed through Caddo Lake and down the Cypress River to empty into the Red River at Shreveport, Louisiana. For many years, drifting logs on the Red River had totally clogged the river, which caused the smaller streams and bayous to flood and back up. This phenomenon created a natural shipping port for the town of Jefferson. Thousands of bales of cotton and other farm products were shipped down river weekly to markets in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Settling Down in Texas

In the late 1800s men began to dynamite the logjams along the upper Red River, and the effort eventually unclogged the main channel for river traffic as far as Wichita Falls, Texas. However, because the water now flowed freely and no longer backed up into Caddo Lake and the Cypress River, the shipping port of Jefferson was left high and dry. Boats continued on up the Red River to Denison and Wichita Falls, where new ports of entry into Texas developed and shipping points for cotton and other goods became available. The towns that benefited the most were Paris, Bonham, Denison and Wichita Falls in Texas and Waurika in Oklahoma.

In 1896 Sam Matney met Frankie Porter who was the granddaughter of William Monk, a local Methodist minister. Reverend Monk had been a successful preacher all over Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico. He helped establish Southwest University at Georgetown, Texas, and with his own hands, he built the first Methodist Church in New Mexico. Reverend Monk was a widower and Frankie Porter traveled the church circuit with her grandfather to care for him and fix his meals. She found the tall, redheaded Cherokee, Sam Matney, to be too fascinating to forget.

Not only was Sam attractive, but also he was the best baseball pitcher in North Texas. Frankie soon learned that Sam was the most popular young bachelor in Paris. With Reverend Monk's approval, they began to court and attend dances around the community. Sam saved enough from his salary at the blacksmith shop and from playing baseball that he could buy a ranch. In the meantime, the Matney boys pooled their savings and purchased a sawmill near Broken Bow in the Indian Territory. They acquired some timber leases from the Choctaw and began producing lumber, which they shipped down the Red River to Shreveport, Louisiana.

After completing their third year of sawing and milling lumber, the boys banked their profits and began to look for a buyer for their sawmill. However, federal agents moved in and confiscated all of their property. It seems that they had not gone through the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to obtain their lease with the Choctaw Nation. They thought that because they were part Indian themselves, they did not need the government's permission to sign a timber lease with the Choctaw.

The federal government took all of their equipment, wagons, mules and harnesses, along with the lumber that had not already been shipped down the Red River. In an attempt to cheer his brothers Eli said, Boys, at least we have banked a good part of our profits and we wuz lookin' for a buyer anyhow. Even though we have lost our mill and mules, we made some good money, so let's just be thankful for what we have and move on.

John agreed, It ain't no use fightin' the government, and like maw always said, 'There ain't no use cryin' over spilt milk.' I just want to buy a business and settle down.

With their profits, Eli moved to Bonham, where he bought himself a cotton gin; John opened a dry goods store in Gainesville; and Sam bought three hundred acres along the Big Sandy Creek bottom in Wise County.

Starting Out at Sandy Creek

Sam raised cattle, horses, corn, cotton, watermelons and peanuts. He even built a small sawmill on Big Sandy Creek, because he could not get sawmilling out of his system. (Although the proper name was Big Sandy Creek, local people just called it Sandy Creek. Much of the time it wasn't all that big anyway.)

Sam married Frankie Porter and built her a two-story house near the Valley View Elementary School and Valley View Church. The home was sided with cedar because Sam learned that cedar weathered well and resisted termites better than any other lumber. The home had four bedrooms and two indoor bathrooms on the first floor. However, the bathrooms did not have a source of water. Water had to be transported into the home from a well in the backyard. Most farmers along Sandy Creek still had outhouses and very few had running water.

The second floor of the house was unusual in that it did not have an attic or trusses to support the roof. The roof was built as a self-supporting structure where the beams connected to each other to support the shingle roof. For light and ventilation, Sam built two dormers with windows that could be lowered and raised by sashes. They had no electricity because the only farms that had electricity were the ones fronting on the main highway between Bridgeport and Decatur. Because the Matney ranch was a half-mile north of the highway it would be too expensive to extend the electrical line to the ranch.

Soon, Sam and Frankie gave birth to a black-haired, dark-skinned son named Robert Lee (who they called Lee). With his dark complexion, Lee well represented his Cherokee ancestry. Within four years they added two red-headed daughters to their family. Billie and Thelma carried the red-haired genes of their Goss heritage from their great-grandmother, Catherine, and their father, Sam. (The red hair gene still continues to crop up among Matney descendents.) Sam and Frankie then added two blond, blue-eyed boys, Clyde and Homer, who derived their genes from the Porter side of the family through their mother Frankie.

The Matneys immediately became part of the Sandy Creek and Valley View communities. Many of the families on Sandy Creek in 1910 were dairy farmers who milked their cows early in the morning and then again at night, seven days a week, rain or shine. Socially, the families got together for card games, dominoes, harvests, picnics, barbecues, fishing and croquet games.

One popular activity was called noodling. Adults and kids circled a large river seine around a treetop or a hollow bank in the creek. All fish they caught were placed in burlap sacks and divided equally among the families. While noodling and fishing, everyone had to beware of cottonmouth snakes and snapping turtles. The most popular domino game was called Forty-Two: even though the game was played late into the night, the farmers were still able to get up at daylight to milk their cows. Dairy barns had to be kept clean and sterile or their milk would not be approved for sale at the Tennessee Dairy in Decatur. The dairy plant sent inspectors to all dairy farms on a regular basis, whereby they made suggestions or ordered corrections to the farmer's cleaning and sanitary processes.

Milk was a good cash crop for the farmers and most of the dairy barns were better built and more modern than their homes. Almost all dairy barns were built of cinder blocks, which were manufactured at the Bridgeport Brick Plant. Many of the homes were also made of brick in order to be fire resistant: the greatest fear of any farmer was fire.

Sam continued to pitch baseball until he tore his shoulder when he was forty years of age. After that he stayed home to care for his ranch and sawmill. He also worked as a blacksmith in the coal mines at Bridgeport until the mines were closed due to flooding.

Sam was too old for World War I and his son, Robert Lee, was born with a clubfoot, which made him ineligible for military service. Sam's other two sons were too young to be drafted, however, the husbands of both of his daughters served in the U. S. Army in Europe during World War I. The Germans gassed Thelma's husband, Clem Spencer, while he was serving in the Army in France; this caused him to lose one of his lungs. He suffered from severe emphysema the remainder of his life. Virgil Piott served in the Army and fought in many European campaigns.

(Both men had sons who fought in World War II: Rusty Spencer in the Army in Europe where he drove Army trucks over the same lands that his father had fought over. Rusty carried gasoline for General Patton's Tank Corps. Virgil Lee Piott served in the Marine Corps Air Wing in the South Seas. He flew in ammunition and supplies and flew wounded Marines to base hospitals.)

Although Robert Lee had a clubfoot, he was still a good farmer. Because he had trouble walking, Sam had to buy riding plows and other riding farm equipment for him. However, Lee still liked the sawmill more than farming, and Sam allowed Lee to run the sawmill. Clyde and Homer were still young and it seemed that all Clyde wanted to do was play baseball and basketball. Homer liked working with livestock; he especially liked raising horses and mules. Clyde became an outstanding shortstop and played for Valley View and he occasionally played for Decatur. He hit singles and doubles and had a batting average well above three hundred. He also led his team in hits and stolen bases. Clyde's cousin, Walter Matney, pitched AA baseball for Shreveport, Louisiana while Cousin Homer Matney played center field for AA Mobile, Alabama and later in AA Fort Worth, Texas (these were farm teams for the Brooklyn Dodgers).

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The large family was doing well until the Great Depression, which caused problems in the American and world economies. The price of cattle became depressed and farm products had no market. People did not have money to buy anything, even food. The Matney family grew all their own vegetables and raised their own beef and pork, but they did not have cash money. Lumber was the only product that kept them afloat.

Although the economy hampered the Matney household but they could survive except for one problem. The glue that had held the Matney family together, Frankie Matney, developed a severe case of diabetes. She began to have attacks of passing out due to insulin shock. Because doctors knew very little about the disease, she was not properly treated. Frankie died in 1930 from a heart attack and life at the Matney ranch was never the same. Sam Matney went into a funk and lost interest in the ranch and sawmill.

Clyde began spending more of his time playing baseball and basketball. Many of his games were played against a good friend named Armon Shannon, who came from Paradise. Armon married Oleta Brown in 1930. Oleta and Clyde were good friends who had danced together many times at the local country dances. Oleta and her husband Armon were always trying to get Clyde a date. Finally, Oleta offered, Clyde, you just have to meet my cousin, Audrey Faye Minor. She's a very cute girl, and she has just returned from living in Amarillo with her sister, Gladys Nall. Why don't you come to the New Year's dance at the Shannon Plantation and I'll introduce you to her.

Clyde and Audrey Faye

Clyde always dressed like a real dandy, and the young men who knew him called him Jelly Bean. Clyde usually dated older girls and he even dated one or two who were already married. When Clyde met Audrey Faye he saw a young girl who was shy and wore thick glasses; he was quickly attracted to her, especially her long, black hair. Although Clyde was nine years older than Audrey Faye, something about this young, thin girl intrigued him. They danced well together and were impressive when they danced the waltz.

Audrey Faye was embarrassed about her dresses because Clyde always dressed to the extreme. All she had to wear were hand-me-down dresses from her older sister, Ruby DeForrest. Ruby had married Johnny DeForrest when she was young and he was already an old man. Ruby was a waitress and hostess at the Baker Hotel in Dallas. Johnny made good money as a sales representative for U. S. Steel, and Ruby spent most of her own money on new clothes.

Despite the age difference, Clyde fell in love with Audrey Faye and they began talking about marriage. Although Audrey Faye was only fifteen years old, she made up her mind to marry Clyde. However, if they married in Texas there would be a requirement for a blood test and a waiting period after obtaining a license before they could actually marry. There would also be questions about her age, and due to the proximity of their residences, they might be required to show birth certificates to prove their eligibility for marriage. Clyde and Audrey Faye decided to drive to Ada, Oklahoma where fewer questions would be asked and they would not have to show their birth certificates. Clyde took his older sister, Thelma Spencer, to actually obtain the license. Due to the distance and the poor condition of the road, Homer helped them drive to Ada; Homer also served as Clyde's best man.

Because of Audrey Faye's age, Thelma obtained the license at the courthouse and the wedding party went to the Justice of the Peace in Ada to have the marriage performed. Because of the confusion regarding the license, the Justice almost married Clyde to his sister Thelma. All of them had a big laugh about the near mistake.

Clyde moved his new wife into the Matney ranch, but Audrey Faye had trouble adjusting to ranch life and to a house that was always full of relatives. Billie Matney and her son Virgil lived with them most of the time and at times Opal and E. B. Boyette also lived at the ranch. Homer still lived at home, however he and Mamie Watts had become engaged. Homer began assisting his father in running the ranch, while Clyde began operating the sawmill. Robert Lee Matney had purchased a large mill and moved it to a tract of timber on the Trinity River near Boyd. Even with the depression, they were selling several varieties of lumber to Waples and Platter in Fort Worth. E. B. Boyett became a log wagon driver at Clyde's mill while Faye and Opal helped run the ranch home and prepared the meals for the nuclear family.

With encouragement from Sam Matney, Clyde gradually settled into family life and quit playing baseball and basketball. He began to help