Two large trees in the road near our home made a favorite camping place for homesteaders on their way West. When someone announced, “Covered wagon coming!” Father would saunter out to the road for a chat, and he brought back many interesting tales as to where the travelers came from and where they were going.
I well remember one Christmas. The temperature had been dropping all day, and by night it was bitter cold. Father came in and said there was a covered wagon outside and the people wanted shelter for the night. Mother agreed, and they came in, seven of them. They brought their bedding and spread it on the sitting room floor.
I used to think that to travel in a covered wagon would be the most wonderful thing that could happen to me.
Lillie K. Sprouse
Braymer, Missouri
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.
