In 1940, while teaching in a country school, I had no car, so I had to travel to the teachers’ meetings by train. Later that year, I promised four of my students a trip riding the rails if they earned a State Reading Circle certificate. All four of them earned their first train ride ever. It was just a short ride, about 20 minutes long, but they loved it.
Trains have been an important part of my life. Many times, the train has been my only means of transportation.
Mary E. Stockstill
Waynesville, Mo.
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.