We smaller children drove the cows behind the wagons when we came to Kansas by covered wagon, and we had the time of our lives. When we got to one river, it was out of its banks. I think it was the Neosho. We had to layover two days, but on the third day, my father said we had wasted enough time. He put the family all in one wagon, tied one team to the back and tied the cows to the sides. Father drove, and we started across.
Very soon the water was in the wagon bed. All of us climbed on top of the bunks and held as many things out of the water as we could. About halfway across the river, both horses and cows had to begin swimming. All we could see of the horses were their ears bobbing up and down! By some miracle, those animals swam us safely across.
Mrs. J.G. Sitz
WaKeeney, Kansas
Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then CAPPER’s WEEKLY asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from CAPPER’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.
