The Kings of Oak Springs: Aug 1877 Thru 1881 - Vol. 3

By Dr. Bill Smith

Volume 3 of “The Kings of Oak Springs” ebooks is a compilation of Episodes OS1-20 of “The Life in Oak Springs” series of stories that immediate followed, chronologically, the first 40 episodes of "The Kings of Oak Springs" series of family saga, historical fiction stories that are a part of "The Homeplace Saga" stories (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2). Originally published on HubPages, on line, this compilation as an eBook makes the stories more easily accessible to a wider reader base.

Volume 3 is distinctive in that it takes a broader view of the life in and growth of Oak Springs than just the King family viewpoint. Also, it is actually a month by month chronology of the growth of the community. Here, we really get to see a small town community grow, have growing pains, and prosper through good times as well as difficult times during these months and years.

We hope you will be able to identify with some of the good folks in Oak Springs as you explore your own family history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365190278

Book preview

The Kings of Oak Springs: Aug 1877 Thru 1881 - Vol. 3

The Kings of Oak Springs: Aug 1877 thru 1881, Vol. 3: Part of The Homeplace Saga

William Leverne Smith aka Dr. Bill

The Kings of Oak Springs: Aug 1877 thru 1881, Vol. 3: Part of The Homeplace Saga

Copyright 2016 William Leverne Smith aka Dr. Bill

ISBN #: 978-1-365-19027-8

The cover image is taken from the author’s personal collection of photographs that he took, personally.

Preface

This ebook is a compilation of the first 20 episodes of Life in Oak Springs and more first published at: http://homeplaceseries.hubpages.com/ - retitled to become part of the ongoing Oak Springs story begun by the King family. The episodes included here have been renumbered 41-60 to follow Vol 1 and Vol 2 of the King stories. The viewpoint in these 20 episodes is broader than just the King family, although they are included in the stories.

These stories are a part of the larger works of the author known as The Homeplace Saga series of family saga historical fiction stories, based at: http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/

These episodes occur from August 1877 through the end of calendar year 1881. They follow the 40 episodes of The Kings of Oak Springs stories.  That series had followed the time period of the American Centennial at the Homeplace: The Founding (1833-1876) collection of short stories. Some of these earlier stories are published on The Homeplace Saga blog. These OSx episodes move the story forward for the entire Saga series.

Each episode (or chapter) in this series is about 1,200 words so that they may be read with only a short time commitment, but we hope, will allow you to learn about the characters and learn to love them. We hope you will want to read more about them and the neighbors with whom they interact.

Stop by the HubPages site for the latest episodes, and, stop by the home blog, referenced above, for the latest information on The Homeplace Saga generally, found on various media platforms. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

You can also visit William Leverne Smith on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/William-Leverne-Smith/100836503289407

and also see The Homeplace Chronicles for occasional updates at:

https://www.facebook.com/HomeplaceSaga

Episode 41 - Aug 1877

Russell Nixon began providing the newspaper with stories about the community

Russell Nixon, a young farmer north of Oak Springs, with his wife, Norma, and young children, Elmira, 4, and Randall, born in January of the current year, began this summer to contribute a Locals column to the Oak Springs Enterprise. Nixon said he discovered he liked to get around and talk to people when he was working on the Sunday School organizing committee earlier in the year. He went around and talked to some of the folks in the valley about their interest. He soon realized he was keeping notes, so he would remember the conversations. After he got back home and re-read them, he also realized that others in the community would likely find the background information on some of the people as interesting as he did. He then went back to some of the folks he had talked with and got their permission to share some of the information he had collected. Jerry Potts, Editor and Publisher, liked what he saw that Nixon had written, as well, and began to include Nixon’s Locals column in the paper each week. It has become a quite popular addition to the already greatly appreciated weekly newspaper. Potts commented to someone that he and Alex McDonald were kept busy getting the paper composed, printed and distributed each week, and was pleased that Nixon was willing to participate with his Locals column. It was a nice addition to the hard news they normally relied on to fill the columns each week.

A recent Locals story included the following: Keith King, son of Karl and Katherine King, who live on their farm west of Oak Springs, recently returned to Jefferson City, where he will again attend Central High School in the fall. For the balance of the summer, he is employed as a clerk with the Walters Mercantile firm full-time, and will continue part-time during the school year. Karl added that based on Keith’s accomplishment in his first year of high school, there, last year, Keith would be undertaking college preparatory course work in the fall and moving forward. He also mentioned that Keith was staying with the Walters family. Mrs. Walters, Ann, was a sister of Katherine. They were very pleased that the Walters family was so supportive of Keith’s time with them there and his educational pursuits.

In another Locals story by Nixon, published by Potts, Nixon had talked with Sunday School Superintendent Silas Adams about his family’s arrival in the Oak Springs area earlier in the year: Silas Adams, his wife, Rhoda, and oldest son, 17-year-old Israel, moved to their farm west of Oak Springs in April. Silas said he was especially appreciative to Abner Wingfield, and his crew of workers, for having their house ready for them when they arrived. He also noted they had a younger son, 15-year-old Benjamin. Benjamin had remained living with family in the St. Louis area to attend high school, preparing for a Christian ministry. Silas reported that he and Israel were able to get a good crop planted after their arrival and looked forward to the fall harvest. They were also very pleased with the reception the community had shown to the Sunday School. Silas said being Superintendent of a working Sunday School was a great joy to him, and he thanked all those in the community who were sharing the experience.

Russell Nixon learned more about new town businesses

Oak Springs welcomed new business, and this summer it included both a new harness shop and a wagon works operation. Not coincidentally, they were both located near the farrier and blacksmith shop of Levi Weston. Hiram Parks, the proprietor of the new harness shop, is a first cousin of Levi Weston. Hiram’s father and Levi’s mother were brother and sister. Keeping it in the family, Trey, actually Hiram Parks III, is the son of Hiram. Hiram has a fine selection of harness products and does much of his harness work by hand, and a skilled hand it is. Located between the harness shop and Levi’s existing business and home, the wagon works will continue to be a work-in-progress for some time, according to Trey. Trey