I would set the date at mid-winter 1928. There was always money raised at a pie and box supper. After the program they picked a friend of ours from St. Joe to sell the pies. He was busy with his selling and I and a friend were just looking on and listening. He called for a dollar bid and I said, louder than I meant to, “A dollar!” I had no intention of bidding, as I had no money with me at the age of 10. As I recall that was a lot of money back then!
Well, our friend heard me say that and down went the hammer. Pointing right at me he said, “Sold to the little boy over there!”
I thought I was going to fall through the floor! But I didn’t. As it turned out it was the teacher’s pie, and he paid for it and ate with her. I didn’t have any appetite for pie that evening!
Marion McMillion
Apple Valley, California
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.
