This letter was written by Hoy Freeman and was transcribed by his grandson Frank E. Freeman. The pages were transcribed as written. Written in Oct. & Nov. of 1974 By Hoy Fay Freeman Started to school Sept. 1908 Silver Creek School 1 room at the age of four.  Folks didn’t Want Older Brother to go by him. Our House Sat on the inside corner of the North East fourty acres of a quarter Section of land two Roads entered our Building site from two directions North and East so we could take the North Entrance and Walk a quarter Mile North on a quarter Mile East or We could Walk East from our House and then a quarter Mile North. The two driveways forming a square and inside these two entrance roads was fourty acres of Orchard. The largest Apple tres and the largest and best apples I ever have seen raised in Kansas. Apricot trees & Pear trees also were very large. Charlie Critger the Men Who owned the farm and who’s family was Grown and Who’s Oldest children Were as old as my father said he Planted it fourty years before. Put a bucket of Rock Nails (Sq) (Nails) and a Bucket of Buffalo bones in the bottom of each hole as the earth here lacked lime and Iron both Vital to the production and Survival of fruit trees. I went two times there Primary grade 1908 and 1 st grade 1909. We Moved then to Sunny View Dist #95. Because I was younger than the second graders I started back in the first grade. This was in the fall of 1910. My New teacher was William C. McCort (Bill) By the way my Primary or first year teacher was Charley Williams and my 1909 teacher was Ed. Railing Who’s father Mother/Brother and sisters Lived in the District. Main Sports Was Black Man, Ban Ball, 2 Old Cat, rather than regulation Diamond this could be played with fewer players and Only about ½ as much play Ground. Extra Curricular activities was literary Sometimes Debate Our Orations were lengthy and had to be memorized. They were picked from current events Such as the Volstead Act Which Was at that time being debated in Congress. There were 3 for and three against licquor. I was lucky in that Our Community Was Strongly against Intoxicants and I truly believe I had the best Written Oration to that end and my Coach Was William Thomas Cloud of Winfield. It was Again Presented at the Presbyterian Church at Conway Springs Again I won. Later it was presented at the Auditorium at Wellington. Again I won Only One Medal Was Presented. A silver medal was Presented of Which I was Very proud. Later I went to literary Night at Silver Creek a small 1 room School and an overflow crowd it was zero outside and extremely hot inside and no Ventilation. I became ill and could not leave the room because of the overflow crowd. I fainted and had to be taken out. As soon as I reached the Cold Air I revived but in the Melee some one took my silver Medal. It had a good and strong pin fastener and would not come off by itself. At this school, still a one room but twice the size of the average Country school house had 1 teacher fourty two Pupils and 9 Grades This teacher held all classes himself Some teachers would use 9th Grade students usually Girls to Hold class and check grades of the 1st 2nd 3rd and fourth grades but at no time did he ever have students check papers or hold class. He also had or presented programs and good ones 2 hrs or longer, to always a Capacity Crowd. Every Month Except Dec And that month a lavish program and exchange of Gifts was held. In order to maintain an individual acquaintance with parents and others in the community he held a pie or Box supper about 3 times during the school term. This Man Rode a horse to and from school 5 mi each Way Started his own fire (coal) each morning and did his own Janitor Work. This Mans Salary was sixty dollars per month. Some teachers traveling long distances to and from school hired out of their salary, one of the older Male students to start the fire in the Morning Carry out Ashes carry in coal, Sweep and Dust. But not W. T. Cloud he did his own Janitor Work and rode a horse 10 Mi each day. Every Friday night Some school in a ten Mi radius would have a Literary program Schools closest were Science Valley, Silver Creek, Millerton, Bloody Run, Sometimes Crooked Creek, Six and ½ mi. There were 10 students in our class when we graduated in 1916 and I usually held third placd scholastically and Graduated in third place With a final aerage of 93 2/5% on 10 studies Would be an A rating on todays Method of grading. I’m going to leave my Education right there. I could not live long enough to finish this if I put down all I can remember. These two pages Skim only the Very top of of my Memory of the years 1908 to 1916 the year I graduated from the 8th Grade. The following year I started Working for E. T. Warren who was farming and raising Registered Pole and China hogs. I contracted Pneumonia Working with frosty feed topping & Grinding Feeding. In 1912, My Grandfather Nolte had a stroke that Paralyzed his Right side. They had not been to visit us for several years so as soon as he was able to ride the train they came to Visit us Stayed a year at our place and a year at Wakefields, Mothers sister, Who at that time lived on the Rosencran farm north of town.  He became ill While there and was confined to bed for several months and the the remainder of his life to a Wheel chair. He died in 1919 at Kingfisher Co Oklahoma. In 1913 Mother’s sister Margaret (Mag) Sheridan left her husband Milton Sheridan and come to our place bringing with her her baby daughter Whose Name Was Gertrude (Gertie) they stayed several years. Bethes (Mags) her oldest Daughter Married Bill Jeffery and Moved to Viola with him and His son Bustis (?) By a former Marriage, Margaret and Gertie Went then to stay with them later returning to her husband and other children of Which there were four besides those afore mentioned. In 1914 a storm of Cyclonic nature and Velocity came through our building site taking our barn and Chicken house. And Hog sheds, Which We built out of hedge and cottonwood limbs, Hog Wire and Straw. Not very durable but was the warmest kind there was. We had Six sows yet to Farrow and 2 with 10 and 8 pigs each and 60 head of shoats about 50 to sixty # Which We fed differently and of course kept separated Getting them ready for Market Between Nov 15 and Dec 15th demand at this season usually pushed the Market up about 10 c per lb. At this moment in time Wheat usually produced about 9 or ten Bu per Acre the County Average was 9 Bu! But 1914 our wheat made 26 Bu [per Acre some made as much as 30 Bu. We usually harvested with a header but this year we purchased a McCormik 7 ft Binder.(Not a McCormick Deering) as they were later known and still later I.H.C. and today. These machines were built by a man living Between Pratt andKingman Kanswho had 2 Midget sons namedKische Patent rights were sold to I.H.C.. This Man and his two sons moved to Wichita engineered Manufactured and sold the Kische feed Grinders or (Risky Mill) In 1945 When Boeing’s War Contracts were terminated, I Went to Work for Harry C. Brokelman sub-contracting and Building the Risky Mill. On south Seneca. Just as an after thought, this is where I lost my front teeth, caused By a Careless Worker leaving a sander disc loose. I don’t think I have ever mentioned the location of the farm we lived on. It Was 2 mi North and 4 ½ mi east of Conway Springs Kans. Which incidentally was our mailing address at this time We still traded or Shopped in Clearwater Mainly because we Banked at the State Bank of Clearwater which was operated by Bill Dale who retired about that time And we switched our accts to the Anson State Bank Operated By Mike C. Bishop who later Purchased Controlling interest in the Home State Bank which was taken over and Operated By his son until his death 6 or seven years ago. In 1915 I worked for Chester Pierson through harvest and drove a four horse team in a Gang plow Plowing for Frank Helern for many years a scattering of Native rock and a Cedar tree marked the Location of the Building site of Mr and Mrs Helem Who at that time had no children. It was their home after they were married. Jim Trimble had lived there many years before. These two families were neighborhood acquaintances of my father and grandfather. So much for 1915. But 1916 Was the year I graduated from Grade School so it was a year of accomplishment for both the teacher and I, By the way the teacher was Effie R Strinn (Wilk) at that time. 1917 also a mamorable year, I took a Job working for Ezra T. Warren. I took pneumonia was bedfast 16 days. Had to learn to walk again. I had lost from 152 lbs to 104. The Dr E.A.Evans of Conway Springs. When my fevers finally cooled I felt real good and wanted to get up. Dr Evans said you can’t stand up by yourself, I insisted I could, so he said if you can dress yourself you can Get up. I managed in 3 or four tries to get my shirt on but was ready by then to Cancel getting up. It was about a week before I was able to dress myself and still have enough energy to get up, but then I had to follow the Well to reach the rocking chair I sat there about ten minutes and asked for help to get back to bed. It was a week or more later before I could walk on my own all over the house. About two months before I could do light chores such as feeding the chickens, Gathering eggs, Pumping water which had to be pumped by hand. It took several ten minute turns a day for all of us to keep enough Water in the Stock. Our drinking water was in the Cistern up by the house. It was drawn by Pulley, two buckets and about 30 ft lariat rope. 1918 Worked for Parker Hall 4 mi South of Clearwater and One Mile West Highlight, 1st Armistice Celebration (Barbecue) Nov 11, 1919 1919 we Moved Back to Clearwater We lived a block West and 1 block south of where I now live Some People I recall working for that year, was Herman Tjaden Thomas E. Spur, Jay B Whitesell, Bob Whitesell, Jew A Webb, William A. Young And a couple of Weeks for Jobel Thomas Jr as clean up boy I Bought My first car, a Model t Roadster from CA Beal for $200.00 1920 the year Henry Ford was sued by Dodge Bro’s who was Sis Brother in law. Plus a group of wallstreet Stock Manipulators whom he referred to in his publication called the DearBorn Independent Which was an industrial Magazine, as wall street Jews. For which he had to print a retraction. All Ford Agencies Were under contract for so many cars per year instead of Monthly allotments. Our contract/meaning Mead And Botham Brother in laws By the Names of Charley Mead and Jack Botham, called for 72 cars per day, Six trucks and 10 tractors, We unloaded and Set up/they came knocked down, Meaning without Body, fenders, Wheels, tires, Coal Box & Wiring. Wiring was two Small Wire Looms, One for Coal Box, Spark Plugs and timer, the Other for 9-27 Light System Which Was Magneto Lights and crank Starter, Except on special Orders When someone ordered one With Self Startr. These required Battries generators and Starters, Which Were 6 Volt X 6 amp 15 Amp, and from 30 to 50 Amp for headlights. This Was Considered a sophisticated System. I want to say here while engineering & Sophistication are words describing the utmost in Accomplishment, I remember a car costing More than three thousand dollars Called the Paige Detroit, this car had push Button Steering Column shift. This was about a 1912 or 1914 Model, Other Cars popular At that time Were the Saxon a small Low built car that had a top Speed of Abt 50 mi Per hr, The Crow Elkhart A six cylinder car that Purred very evenly, The Hudson, The D-45 Buick, a Six Cylinder, About a 1915 or 16 Model. We would drive this car to Wichita Park Out on West Maple Street about 3 Blocks West of the Masonic home. The lady who lived here was a cousin of the Kids Who Owned the Buick. I guess I should tell you this is Wichita Kans. We would walk from her home to the Street Car tracks Which Was at Seneca & Maple sts We Would ride from there to the Crawford Theater Which then was Vaudville and I would say the best in the West. Such entertainers as Jolson, Canter, Durante, Brice Cohen. There were numerous Feminine entertainers but their names escape me I could mention here a few of those who were headlining the films at that time, One I watched every chance I had was William S. Hart. A Serial that was Popular in the teens Was Hairbrush Harry and Belinda who’s names I have forgotten. But the Villan and they had to have one in this Serial was Rudolph Valentino With a big Handlebar Mustache and and a natural inclination for the Part. Others who played comic Parts were Harlod Floyd, Patty Arbuckle and others Chaplin I was at this time working for Thomas E. Speer his children whom I worked for from time to time were the ones who owned the D-45-Buick. These were four Girls Anna, Mary, Mabel & Winnifred And two Boys Wendel and Roy This is by no means all I can remember of the year 1920 -. In conclusion I Rec’d 26 dollars Per Month. Our time clock Alarm was set for 15 min to 4 Oclock. We fed 27 Steers for Mr Speer and Milked 32 head of cows by Hand, cooled the Milk and delivered, tagged, and loaded it on the train at Baysville by 8 Oclock this was a distance of three Miles. With a blind Mare Called Vergie and a Buck Board. This milk sold for a better price because it was whole Milk and reached Wichita fresh. Only those who got on the ball Cooled and reached this early Morning train could sell fresh Milk. All others separated their milk and sold sor cream to the Creamery. I might add that we fed 289 head of cattle for the Boys and pulled hedge Rows Cut out Posts & Wood and burned the brush. We finished our evening meal about 9 Oclock we were usually in bed by 10 Oclock In 1921 I stayed at Speers until after harvest which was accomplished with binders. A Deering Binder Mr Speer said he bought the year Wendell and Winnifred Were born which was 1899. That year Fred K Faker who was a custom thresher from Schulte threshed our wheat which was in Shocks. Then shipped into his Steam threshing Rig to Protection Kans for a later threshing run of headed Wheat. Clearwater At that time had two Railroads the Missouri Pacific Which We still have And the Santa Fe Where we loaded and shipped this Steam Rig This train had lots of Switching of cars Made 45 mi the first day (to Rago) the next Night at Belvidere and the folowing P.M. at Protection. We each carried our bed roll as no body had bed accomodations for about 13 to 15 men. Protction had a new park just north of town with Very Small trees. There were no trees large enough for Shade but it had Grass about 8 in high which had an appeal as a place where we could spread our bed rolls Without Getting dust and dirt on them. So as an after thought we asked the depo agent if it would be OK. He said lots of boys making the harvest stayed there but went in after dark and came out about day Break and no one knew the difference so after dark we crossed the road and spread our bed rolls. I never could get comfortable and finally got one foot off the blanket only to find out that grass was sand burrs, So we kept our feet on the blanket until we got our shoes on and Picked up our beds as Carefully as possible, and remembering two stacks of hay about 300 ft North of the Depot which I learned later was the Bob Marx farm. There was a hay rack North of the stacks which we pushed up to the stacks and Picked Some hay off the stack into and spread our Rolls only to find out the hay was about half sand burr’s. The next two nights I rented a room at the dale Hotel which was Operated by a Mr Finch. I tried desperately to pick and clean My Blankets of Sand Burrs but they were so sticky I Finally bought new ones. These were cotton flannel Blankets and cost about 1.00 each. Our engineer was a young Single Man from Goddard Ks Who’s name was Joe Campling who had the fore thought to Pick up a discarded 8’X10’ rug at Speers which he gave me and Eric Salsbury who also was short on bedding We would Spread this on the ground and About Midnight Would cover with our blankets. We would lay the 8’ way on the carpet and about 2 or 2:30 AM it would get real cold and we could lap the 10’ way over us. Our temperature was up to 114 during that first two Weeks. The heat was suffocating until about 11 P.M. And at 2: AM we were freezing. People have lived in this county All their lives and if they’ve never worked at night and always slept inside in a comfortable bed they do not know how wide these temperature changes are. I was doing what I could to learn the proper operation of these Giant and unexceled Power Plants of the plains. Besides Being Portable they were the most Powerful and efficient of any Other Power available And I think they would still excel under a dead load These Juggernaughts of the Plains Symbolized on land and its commerce and transportation what the Ocean liners did to the commerce and travel between nations. We finished in 1921 a Shock Run (threshing) here and Shipped to Comanche Co and finished a long stack run of headed wheat The heat was exausting by day and nights were too cool for comfort.The water was bad and most places had hard and gippy, almost everyone not native to the area got sick for about two days. I didn’t want to be a quitter so I forced myself to stay until the end of our run. But swore I would never come back but next year went out before harvest. I had worked with wheat headers, and learned to stack with headed wheat and bundles from my father. As harvest swung into full swing I went out with a man by the name of John Loesh as a stacker at 10>00 per day I was familiar with the header operation they used 6 head on a header which was a push machine. After a field was opened up you were turning the same way all the time so we tied three head to the beam and used the other three on the swing. It was easy once the horses knew what was expected of them. The header Reel and elevator was all in front of the horses with a trail wheel and platform behind them. The trail wheel had a small seat with a Wing board that the operator stood straddle of. You could turn a perfectly square corner. You stopped youre inside team turned the trail wheel side ways with the Wing board, turned your swing team out from the beam and made a Castor and Pivot turn the team tied to the beam would walk side ways until the turn was completed. I was asked to run the header one day after dinner. As there was no one at the stack I cold cut the first load, While Mr LoeshWent down to the pasture to tell a farmer, that had been watering horses at the tank not to leave the gate open any more something he had been doing every day. As I finished cutting the round and pulled up to the stack, Mr. Loesh drove up in his Buick Coupe he was bloody all over. I drove him to Protection and Dr W.G. Ramey cleaned him up & sewed him up while I went next door and bought him a new shirt. Dr gave him some medicine and he drove home he seemed to be in a one shape. [As I climbed on the header he told me where he was going and said he wanted to straighten him out on a few things. I never did ask him if he got him straightened out. I Just presumed he did as he never Went back any More.]

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