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- He went back to Alabama, where he and my mother were married. After they were married they came to Texas, where my father wrote insurance and taught school.
Living conditions were very poor in that section. The only living quarters were dugouts, rock cabins and cabins built of little crooked poles. They had dirt floors, and because there was no lumber, blankets served as doors. The settlers had built their cabins near each other for protection from the savage Indians. Their only water was from pools and creeks, and had to be boiled before it could be used. Even with this precaution there was much sickness, chills, fever, typhoid, etc. My mother and I were sick all the time.
It was decided to move to the Arkansas Ozarks in search of health. My father rigged up a light "schooner wagon" with a big pair of horses, sold his land for 50 cents an acre, and started for Arkansas. Everything went well until we got to Stevenson's Ferry on Sulphur river, six mile south of Dalby Springs. When we got there the river was out of its banks all over the country, and we had to wait until the river went down. My father knew nothing about buffalo gnats and their danger until they had killed one of his horses. He discarded the wagon tongue, fashioned shafts, and went on with only the one horse. The load was light and the horse was strong.
We passed through New Boston, a village on a new railroad. It was there I saw my first train. The little train ran up to the depot all puffing and smoking and letting off steam. I remember how it looked, all trimmed with brass bands, its big bell-top smoke stack, the tender piled high with wood and the little dinky passenger coaches on behind.
From New Boston we drove to Woodard's Ferry on Red river. Jim Shults was running the ferry. Jim Shults later settled at Fulton and I have known him well. He is still living.
- We crossed the ferry into the Ellis field. The road passed by the Dan
Ellis home. When we got to the Ellis house, a man had just shot and killed
Dan Ellis. I remember how he looked on the ground with his arms stretched
out and his face up to the sun.
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