In a two-story log house on a homestead carved out of the pines and hardwood forest - and rocks! - in the Township of Rock Falls, Lincoln County, Wisconsin, my Dad was born 103 years ago today. They were still logging the Pinery then, and his mother sometimes worked as a cook in the logging camps, some of which were run by my grandfather, Christie Vaughan, who adopted my Dad. Christie and Annie gave him the love and support to overcome truly humble beginnings and go on to make a good home for his family. A one-room country school. Correspondence courses in electricity. Hearing the mill whistles celebrate the signing of the armistice in 1918. Dances at the country ballrooms - my Dad loved to dance! Hard work on the farm and in the woods. And at Page Milk Company. And at Allis Chalmers during WWII. Marrying my Mom during the Depression - a time that was deeply etched into the young couple. A bright, beautiful girl, who died at 4 of spinal meningitis while her little brother was in the hospital with pneumonia. I cant begin to imagine what heartbreak they went through at that time; I know it affected them forever. They loved to travel. After WWII, we drove to Washington, D.C., in 1946 to see Dads cousin Leslie. In 1950, we went with Sam Briggs and his wife and grandson Billy on a tour of the West - Lake Louise, Glacier, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug Store. Can you believe it - six of us touring the West in a little Ford sedan?! Dad always loved geography - he was curious about the world, and its people. I inherited that, I think; certainly didnt get any of his dancing ability! Thinking of you, Dad!
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 13:11:59 +0000
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