The Community Ditch

By Ben Hoskins

What is it like to be a pioneer? Why would a person or family ever consider moving out on undeveloped wilderness land and attempt to make a life there?

I suppose there are many reasons that would cause people to pack up and move. But most of the reasons could be summed up with the word ESCAPE. Escape a food shortage and starvation that existed in Ireland during the nineteenth century. or life under a brutal dictator in some foreign country, or the dirty slum life in a city.

Also, pioneering offered the opportunity to realize the American dream. A new and exciting adventure, a chance to be independent, be your own boss, and, of course, a healthy place to raise a family.

This fictional tale gives the reader a window into a few of the many obstacles that pioneers faced in one of the last major family farm experiences of America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638448488

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The Community Ditch

Ben Hoskins

Copyright © 2021 by Ben Hoskins

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

To my Grandmothers

Frances (Fanny) Hoskins, an Irish immigrant.

Pearl Claar, born in a sod house somewhere out on the western Kansas prairie.

PART I

Chapter 1

For three generations the Brooks family had been scratching out a living on a poor patch of land in the Ozark hills south of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. The only notoriety this little village had was the Battle of Pea Ridge back in ’62.

Raggedy was just a boy growing up during that time in history. His young life revolved around a few neighbor friends and their homemade fishing poles. His nickname as a kid fit him well but once he became a grampa, Old Raggedy became his handle.

Old Raggedy lived next door to the Lannins. After the war and the slavery era ended, Old Raggedy started working for them. The Lannin plantation was some of the best bottomland in Northwest Arkansas. The Lannins also made their money from the Lannin chicken processing plant in Bentonville.

Old Raggedy admired and respected Mr. Lannin and now had something special on his mind and decided to ask for his advice. He knew that Mr. Lannin was as honest as the day is long and would give him the truth of the matter.

Someone is at the front door, John, will you answer it? Mrs. Lannin asked.

"Hi Raggedy. What can I do for you?

We gotta talk business wit’ you, Mr. Lannin.

Well, let’s sit out here on the porch. So what have you boys got on your mind? John asked.

Billy Joe was a honky-tonkin’ over at the Green Frog last Saturday night and some o’ the boys were talkin’ ’bout free farms in Idaho jess fer the takin’.

Billy Joe got this here paper and I need to show you, Mr. Lannin. Tell us if this is real and if we otta be a thinkín’ on it.

Well, give me a few minutes to read this over.

*****

There is not much here, Raggedy. It looks like this is from investors looking for farmers to partner up with on a homesteading project out in Idaho.

Well let me ask you, Raggedy. Do you know where Idaho is? Do you know how long it would take to get there from Arkansas?

We looked on this here map and it is way out yonder by Oregon, Raggedy commented while pointing at a map of The United States.

John Lannin explained, Well, this brochure is from investors looking for farmers to partner up and homestead this new farming area. The land will be given out by the government through a raffle system. Do you know what that is Raggedy?

Like drawin’ out of a hat, Mr. Lannin.

Yes, but according to this brochure, you would need to move there and build a house on your farm. It must be a minimum of nine feet by twelve feet. The farm parcels are 160 acres, so there are four parcels every mile. You get to keep 80 acres. The other 80 goes to the investor. You don’t get to take title to the farm until it is proved up. Probably take you about three to five years. Homesteading farmland is hard backbreaking work, Raggedy. Aren’t you and Gladness a little old to be taking on such a huge project?

Gladness likes the plan, Mr Lannin.

What about Ellie May? What are your plans for her?

"Nana is a tough ole hide. She also likes the plan and wants to go out yonder with us. Billy Joe and me are wantin’ to do this Mr. Lannin. We had a meetin’ last night and we done figured me and Billy Joe could go do the farmin in Idaho. Peggy Sue can run Billy Joe’s slop route and feed the pigs and chickens and Gladness can milk old Betsy and Martha