Both of my sons were in the Second World War. We rationed many things; we couldn’t even buy any kind of material to make dresses. We who raised little chickens and bought chicken food in 100-pound feed sacks used the feed sacks to make our dresses and slips. The feed sacks came in many different colors with flowers, etc. We tried to buy two or three feed sacks of chicken food alike to use for a dress, or trade with a neighbor if they had or needed one the other had. But we were more concerned about the boys in the War.
My youngest son had his 18th birthday on the ship taking him to war, after he had been several months in training in the States. He had never spent a night away from home till he was inducted. Even when he had worked for a farmer all day, he walked two miles to the farm and back every day. They tried to get him to stay overnight, but he insisted on being home every night.
Our older son was injured in the service, the youngest was in the military police; he was gone three years. They are now grand-parents and have their own homes.
Ruth Jincks
Bethany, 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.
