The Kings of Oak Springs: The Arrival Months In 1876 Vol 1

By Dr. Bill Smith

Settling in Oak Springs, the King Family quickly becomes a part of the ongoing life of this southern Missouri Ozarks community, still recovering from the complete devastation during the late Civil War in 1876. While many of the residents of the Oak Creek valley, including the small town of Oak Springs, are returning residents from before the war, there are an increasing number, like the King family, who are arriving in this community for the first time.
Learn more about these characters who are central to the author's "The Homeplace Saga" series of family saga historical fiction stories. The Kings stories provide additional insights into the family relationships and the stories of the pioneer families and the new arrivals. Karl, Katherine and their four children, Keith (14), Kate (12), Kent (10), and Karla (5) fit right in as they observe and interact with their new neighbors, especially on "Fourth Sundays."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312293939

Book preview

The Kings of Oak Springs: The Arrival Months In 1876 Vol 1

The Kings of Oak Springs: The Arrival Months in 1876 Vol 1

William Leverne Smith aka Dr. Bill

The Kings of Oak Springs: The Arrival Months in 1876 Vol 1

Copyright 2014 William Leverne Smith aka Dr. Bill

ISBN #: 978-1-312-29393-9

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 The Kings of Oak Springs first published at: http://homeplaceseries.hubpages.com/

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/

The King family is introduced in this series of stories as another way for readers to gain a better understanding of and insights into the many families and characters of The Homeplace Saga set in the southern Missouri Ozarks, from 1833 to the present day.

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. You 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 1, The King Family moves to Oak Springs, Missouri, in 1876

The King Family arrives at the old Hamby Place

Ma and Pa King and their four kids, 14, 12, 8, and 5 moved onto a farm a mile outside Oak Springs, Missouri, which was still being rebuilt after being totally devastated and returned to nature during the Civil War. Returning residents were trying to rebuild and had encouraged new folks, like the King family, to become part of their small town in this valley of the three branches of the Oak Creek with good farm land along the streams as well as forests and rocky hills in between.

By this year of 1876, a dozen businesses made up the town and a few dozen families populated the valley that had numbered a few hundred before the war.

Both born in 1840, Karl and Katherine King had married just before the war broke out. They initially lived on a horse ranch owned by Karl’s father south east of Jefferson City. Karl had joined Colonel Patton’s cavalry regiment for his Civil War service. Being an excellent horsemen, he quickly became a leader and made Sergeant early on.

Their first son, Keith, was born in 1862 not long after Karl had joined the cavalry. Kate followed in 1864, since Karl was able to get home on furloughs from time to time. Katherine had stayed on the ranch, with his parents, but relations were strained with the effects of the ongoing war.  When Karl returned to the ranch, his older brother was in charge and often did things that Karl felt were improper. After the war, Karl and Katherine tried hard to make a go of it... but, always felt they were under the thumb. Second son, Kent, had arrived in 1866 and Karla followed in 1871.

Seeking a fresh start, Karl had heard of the Oak Creek valley from some of his comrades from the cavalry. He ended up corresponding with Gideon Inman, in the Land Office in Oak Springs. When they became aware that the old Hamby place - just a mile west of the center of Oak Springs was available, with a small creek running through it, he decided it was time to make the move.

The family arrived in the valley with their covered wagon pulled by two Morgan horses and two mules. They also brought a milk cow, a coop of chickens, a dog and a very pregnant sow pig. The family, of course, had tenting materials, both for the trip down into the Ozarks mountains and for their early stay as there was not a house on the property they had purchased.

Karl meets the Blacksmith

As Karl approached the blacksmith shop on foot, from Central Avenue, in Oak Springs, he could see the blacksmith, with his powerful biceps, working a piece of iron on the anvil. With the full white beard, and salt-and-pepper hair showing around a kerchief on his head, Karl recognized that this was Owen Olson, himself, and not his son, Liam, who was closer to Karl’s age. Gideon Inman, at the Land Office, had recommended that Karl initiate a conversation with Owen Olson as one of his first visits in town.

Karl looked around the shop as he waited for Owen to finish his task and be able to speak to him. He noticed that although all the tools showed age, everything was well organized and appeared to be in good, workable order.

I’m Owen, how can I help you? Owen said as he laid down his finished product and turned to Karl.

My name is Karl King. Gideon Inman suggested I come speak to you. My family and I just moved onto the old Hamby place, just west of town.

Extending his hand, Owen said, Pleased to meet you, Karl. Gideon did mention you would be stopping by. How are things going so far, out there?

Well, since you ask, we found the Hamby’s spring house on the creek, yesterday, in pretty good shape. I guess that is the highlight, so far. Karl replied with a grin. That is probably not what you meant, but I suppose I wanted to tell someone.

With all you do have to do out there, finding something you don’t have to do much with is a pretty big thing, it seems to me, Owen returned the grin, as well. Have you identified the home site, yet?

I know where it was, Karl said, But I’ve not explored it in any detail yet. I’ve identified the nearest crop areas that were worked up, and we’ve fashioned a canvas tent to live in for awhile. Those have been our priorities, so far.

Good places to start, for sure. Do you have a plow?

No, I was hoping to borrow one, or buy a used one, if possible. I have the mules and harness, but no plow.

Owen smiled. I have a suggestion that might work well for both of us.

I’m all ears, Karl said, very anxious to hear what Owen would be suggesting.

I’ve become pretty good at finding salvable goods on these farms that have been back to nature around here. I’ve got an old, usable plow I’ll fix up this afternoon, and bring it out to your place, tomorrow, if I can have ‘first option’ on things I find around the place. We still do a lot of things by barter around here, these days. I’ll bring the plow ‘on account’ and apply what I find, that you agree to trade, to the account. There will be a lot of things we can do for each other, over the weeks and months, and even years, ahead if we each work together. What do you say? Owen stuck out his hand.

Karl shook his hand, happily, and wondered what else there might be they might do together. Sounds fine to me. I’ll be curious what you find. I haven’t really looked yet, but it is time we did that. Thanks for the offer.

Owen replied, "I’ll bring my