In the winter of 1898 my parents set out to claim an Oklahoma homestead. By the time they paid the filing fee, built a dugout, and bought a few pieces of furniture, the money was nearly gone. But they were not discouraged, and the fact that they were hard working parents would soon make our lives easier.
Father went to work helping the farmers put up fences and buildings or doing whatever they had to do. They were nearly as poor as we were, so often they had no money to pay for the work. But most of them were honest, and they gave a pig, a calf, a few chickens, or maybe a bushel of grain, turnips, or beans in exchange for his labor.
With three small children, Mother could not “work out.” But she was one of the few women who had a sewing machine, so she sewed for many neighbors. She sewed so quickly and so beautifully that they paid her an enormous wage – 15 cents an hour.
With both parents working, it was only two years until we could afford to build a little log shanty on the claim.
Mrs. C. H. Campbell
Ordway, Colorado
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.
