While Grandfather was fighting in the Civil War, he hid out in all kinds of places to escape capture. But eventually he was captured and held prisoner for quite some time. While he was imprisoned, the enemy entered the home where Grandma and their five small children were waiting for him to come back. They took many things, including all of their bed covers and their supply of cured meat, hidden in the attic. Grandma put all the children to bed on one featherbed and covered them up with another. His family, as well as he, endured many hardships, not knowing whether he would ever come back to them.
Mrs. James F. Kidwell
Clarence, 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.