Back in those days almost everyone had large families, so several in one family would be going to the same one-room schoolhouse at the same time. There were 12 in my family and I have an old report card that says 6 in my family were going at the same time. Four families had the last names of Hawk, Batt, Fish and Miller. Our teacher was Della Miller and she called us her menagerie.
On the back of your grade card was a place called “Industrial Work,” and listed chores for both boys and girls and your parents gave you a grade on them before signing your card, Also on your card was “Deportment,” how you acted in school. The teacher gave you a grade in that, too. The name of the school was Mt. Everett and I was one of the Hawks.
Mrs. Raymond Jobst
Parnell, 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.
