My dad was a great oral historian and story teller. I wish I had either recorded or written down all the stories he told with the names of those involved. There were funny stories, scary ones, ones about duplicity and getting even, ones about gun battles and feuds. I remember the stories but have mostly forgotten the old names of those involved.

One story I always remembered and enjoyed was about two men who were neighbors. One had a hog he wanted to fatten up. His neighbor already had a hog or two penned up in a log enclosure for fattening. Back then hogs were marked by the owner and ran free, feeding on the mast in the hills around about. Before they were butchered they would be penned up and fattened on corn and slop.

Anyway, the neighbor with the pen told the other neighbor there was no use building another pen, that he could put his hog in his pen and they would both take turns feeding them. When the hogs got ready to kill, the neighbor with the pen went out at night and had his boys prize up the log and enticed the neighbors hog with slop to stick its head through between the logs, then he let the log down choking the hog to death. Next, he got the hogs head out and went and told the neighbor the hog got sick and died. When the neighbor verified the hog was dead he was going to get rid of it because they would be afraid to eat a sick hog. The neighbor who killed the hog told him not to worry about getting rid of the hog that since it died in his pen he would do it. After the owner left, the man butchered the hog and thought he was real clever because he had tricked the neignbor out of his hog. Back then a hog could mean the difference between a family going hungry or not.

Now, some how the neighbor found out about the trickery. He bided his time. Since their property joined, he made himself a new deed which moved his property line over a few hundred feet and dated it to before his neighbor had bought his property. Back then deeds were just written on paper and dated. They were not recorded at the court house. Whenever there was a property dispute the case was decided by whoever had the oldest deed. He knew if his paper didn’t look older that he would not win his case so he put it up behind the cookstove and smoked it untill it looked really old. Next he took his neighbor to court over the strip of land. Because his deed was dated first and looked so old, he won the case and took his neighbors land, thus getting even for the stolen hog.

There is also another story about two of my ancestors on my Grandma Mary Jane Morgan’s side. This involved two of Mary Jane’s uncles. I don’t remember the names. Anyway, the two were brothers. They lived up on Camp Creek in Leslie County. One had a big corn field just about ready to harvest. The other was up in the mountains logging. The logger accidently let a log loose and it rolled down and destroyed the corn. They fell out over this and even though they lived by each other never again spoke to each other. They both lived for over 20 more years. When one brother got sick and knew he was dying, he made his family promise to bury him around the point so his brother wouldn’t be able to see his grave! And they did!

The Morgan’s are known to be a contrary bunch. My great grandpa morgan was known to get mad at his family and go to bed and wouldn’t get up. He had a big long beard. They said he would lay there and tie his beard in knots when he was upset. He lived to be up in his 80’s. He died after falling through a hole that had been cut out for a staircase on a house that his kin were working on down in Hyden. The house is still there today. Dad said he stepped backward and fell down to the floor below. He lived a couple of days and then died.

Oral tradition says that the first of my Morgan ancestors to come here came from North Carolina after killing a bunch of indians. The story is that some indians raped one of their sisters. The two brothers caught a bunch of indians sleeping in a barn. They bared the doors and set it on fire, burning them all. They had to leave because of this so they came to Kentucky, settling on Camp creek. I don’t know how much of this is true but almost all Morgan oral tradition has some version of a similar story so I guess there is a kernal of truth in this.

There were many stories about ’something’ stalking folks in the woods. Of course, back then there were bears and mountain lions which old timers called ‘panters’. Dad told about him, Lawton, and some others going coon hunting one night. Something started following them, it sounded big. They could hear it breaking twigs. It stayed just outside the light from their pine knots. They finally got so scared they built a big fire and stayed up all night keeping the fire burning to keep it at bay. Just before daylight it finally left. They never did know what it was but dad thought it must have been a bear.

Once grandpa Burhead was riding a horse up from Wendover. The road went around the mountain side. The road side was steep over the hill and up the mountain and there was a big laural thicked there. It was a mooneless night and it was pitch black. Something jumped out of the bushes and onto the back of his horse behind him. It stayed on the horse and he was half scared to death. Now, he had traded for a couple of chickens and had them tied across his saddle horn. He finally realized it was after the chickens so he cut them loose. When the chickens came off the saddle the thing on the back of his horse jumped off to. It was probably a ‘panter’ or a bobcat dad said.

There were hundreds of these stories told around the heating stove on cold winter evenings or on the front porch on cool summer nights. Who, what, when, and where? Daddy knew them all by name, keith, and kin. What a great shame that I didn’t realize their value until he was no longer here to tell them!

September 3, (Saturday)

 Potluck Lunch beginning at Noon

 At the home of Larry and Gail Hendrix

 Wooton, KY

Contact: vicky_1202@yahoo.com or dorothy.gail@yahoo.com

]]> http://vickiecole.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/169/feed/ 0 vickiecole http://vickiecole.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/things-i-learned-from-my-mother/ http://vickiecole.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/things-i-learned-from-my-mother/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:11:22 +0000 vickiecole http://vickiecole.wordpress.com/?p=167 ]]> To always go to church … we didn’t have to ask if we were going on any given Sunday (morning or night) or Wednesday … there was no question about it.

To be good to my husband … she and dad did not argue, fuss, fight or air any dirty laundry and they always showed affection for each other.

To work and how to clean … she always worked hard keeping her house clean and tidy; it was never an embarrassment if someone came by unannounced.

To be hospitable … visitors were always welcome in our house. When the church had a visiting preacher, he stayed with us. The kids slept on the floor (for as long as he needed our bed) and were happy to do it. She fed us all and included the neighbor kids when they were playing near our house.

About human relationships and human nature … mom understood that when girls are mean to you, they are jealous; and some people can only be friends with one person at a time; bad things do happen and there is no use just worrying yourself crazy; and sometimes you just have to laugh.

To be independent – depend on your own husband and take care of your own … she didn’t expect anyone else to take care of her 4 children, her home, her garden, her house. Then Mom took care of her own mother when she was no longer able to live alone and care for herself.

And, when the unthinkable happens, to survive with courage, pride, and grace…

*Vickie*

Saturday, June 11, 2011

I, too, want to join in with Larry C. in encouraging help for those in Haiti.  Some of the congregations here are also sending their 5th Sunday contribution to Haiti via Estes church of Christ.  We have been to Estes; Riley has preached there and is preaching there again at the first of February.  They are the ones who sponsored one of his mission trips.  Most of his professors worship there.  Encourage your children to take part in this effort as well.  When we were talking at Bev’s, Lindz was so touched by those people and was begging to be allowed to help them.  It doesn’t matter if it is just a couple of dollars – - let them feel useful; besides, they say those people live on about two dollars a day.    Thanks and God bless!

This dry, soft, and very tiny snow that set in almost a week ago has not taken our electricity, thankfully – yet.  It has snowed fairly regularly, but what snow finally dances its way to the ground has taken days to deepen to an inch or two (I know I live here on this volcano, as everyone accuses because I have the warmest spot in southeast KY), but I presume others have only minimal accumulation (in eastern KY).  It is the bitter cold and brutal winds that have engulfed 2/3 of the country that is bringing its own problems; however, the spotless, sparking snow is still beautiful.

Of course, as Larry says, I don’t have to be out:   I have my warm flannels, throws and house shoes I got for Christmas, along with a very comfortable home and a warm bed at night;  I have the internet and computer to stay busy with my next series of Sunday school lessons (Acts – The very first church and its growth); I have my books (right now, ‘Peter the Great’); I have TV shows (you have to get creative in this department with all the regular shows on vacation) and football games; I have my OCD covered – - you all know how I obsess over one certain food or snack and have to have a plenteous supply in my cabinets – - well, the only store that carries my latest candy obsession – Payday Avalanche -  ran out.  The owner said he would order more and when Larry stopped, he bought the entire box!  Doug said, “I will order two boxes next time.”  lol  I still have bags of my Dove milk chocolate and caramel, though, and two large boxes of oatmeal, so I am good – lol!

All joking aside, God’s world is beautiful.  “For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain . . .From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds of the north. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen . . . the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven . . . [to] water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater“  (Job 37 and Isaiah 55:10).     I hope you all are staying warm and cozy and somewhat happy : )

Then, we must put up our ugly little tree (for me, lol; most others, I am sure, have a big and beautiful tree) and buy at least a few new decorations.  All the wrapping paper and bows and bags must be bought, and don’t forget the tags and tape and tissue paper . . . then there is the job of getting everything wrapped, and in the process forgetting exactly who one of those gifts is for (??) and realizing you neglected to buy something for someone else!  Oh yes, and the joy of tracking errant packages to discover that one you have been waiting for was delivered to your front door six days ago!! (Now, you all know that I don’t like dogs anyway, right?  So, how do you imagine I feel about them after searching and finding my errant package with absolutely no packaging on it at all and the contents ground in the dirt and chewed and wallowed until it is mistaken for another object!  NOT LOL ing).

The house must be cleaned, and cleaned again, and cleaned again – - after the tree-trimming, and after the gift wrappings, and after the candy-making, well, you get the idea.  The Christmas cards must be bought and signed and sealed and mailed or hand-delivered.  There are the parties, pre-Christmas family or friend gatherings and dinners, and school programs and plays.  By the way, Larry’s company Christmas party was fabulous fun!  It was a semi-formal affair at the London Country Club (which of course entailed buying a new outfit!) with great food, generous gifts (all the ladies received Bath & Body Works gift cards, and all the men a coat with the company name on it), and uninhibited (thanks to an open bar) karaoke and dancing – - as you can imagine, I DID NOT participate in either of those three activities.  Vickie said she was very glad I did not drink, dance or sing, and I said, “Yes, and most especially we are all thankful I did not sing” – - although my dancing would have been a feat as well!” – lol.

Did you notice the common denominator in all those paragraphs – - words like ‘shopping’ and ‘buying’?  And besides all the money spent, there are countless decisions to be made (and since I am a bit obsessive-compulsive, decisions come very slowly to me) and the numerous plans to be laid.  And somehow (??), I am the party-planner/organizer for our family!  Plus, all this must be done in addition to all the other obligations and tasks that one must regularly do from day to day, and the church functions – - buying and filling of food boxes for the needy, buying and filling of fruit and candy bags for the children, church dinners and open houses (for you Vickie).

Oh yes, did I mention that December is hectic? (lol)  But, it is fun and filled with warmth and love and doing good.  It is a time of closeness with family and friends and reaching out across the miles with letters and cards and pictures.  It is sad and heartbreaking because of the ones that are missing, and sometimes can be difficult to get through, but that same sadness brings us closer to each other and makes us realize how much we love each other and want to be together.  The gifts are secondary.  However, snow would be nice!  The fun part about all this hecticity  (new word?) is our wonderful family!  Hope to see many of you at Mom’s this saturday the 19th.  Travel safely and may God bless each of you!

Larry, Riley and I had an evening out at the movies.  We watched 2012.  Very good graphics and action and some symbolism to the first time the world was destroyed by water.  We enjoyed it.  Riley preached on Sunday and we had a pizza hut lunch with Renda and her family, then Riley gathered all the clothes that was in his room – - floor, chair, bed, etc. , crammed it in a bag, stuffed his books and computer in his backpack and was ready to go – lol.

Hope everyone else had a great thanksgiving as well!

I remember when the Lewis boys first crossed our path; I think I was twelve years old and still employed by my parents as Vickie’s chaperone (LOL).  David and his two brothers came to Hurricane on their motorcycles and ended up connecting with some of the girls.  At that time, Bobby, the youngest was smitten with Kathy and Paul was head over heels for Vickie.  Mom always joked that Vickie’s first boyfriend (referring to Paul – - was he the first, Vic?) carried her Barbie dolls home for her (in an overnight case so he had no idea what he was transporting).  Later, Paul married another ‘Hurricane Girl,’ and David married Joann.  Before that, though, they livened up some of our Hurricane parties.  That was back in the day when kids did not automatically get cars at age sixteen, nor did they have to have movies, roller-skating, etc. for entertainment.  Most young people socialized with those on their particular ‘creek.’  Thus, all the young people that lived on Hurricane Creek would get together for wiener roasts at the abandoned one-room school building, or parties at various locations on the creek.  The majority of us were cousins so we were thrilled to have boys from another area come to join us.

I have fond memories of those times and of David.  My sympathy goes out to Joann, one of the sweetest, friendliest people I have ever known.  She was Riley’s Algebra teacher throughout middle school and is exceptional at her job.  They had four children – - JP, Jed, Rebecca and Sarah.