Rediscovering memories

Marie Wheeler, Grandmother-in-law, was a young woman when her friends urged her to come to West River Country and file on an 80 acre homestead. There were available jobs, a chance to own some land, and adventure! Since Marie was an orphan, and accountable to no one, she heeded the call and boarded a train as far as Philip.

Her claim was near a little outpost called Marcus, and with fortitude, a strong faith in God, and good and caring friends, she made her way into the north country and picked a spot to put her shack.

When she wasn't at her homestead, she worked as a waitress, cook, and 'gofer' of a general store and eating establishment in Marcus. I would underscore this----Marie worked and Marie learned the English language. She was born in France, orphaned, and immigrated to America as a young child. When her aunt died, Marie was eleven years old. Basically, she raised herself from that point on.

So, the homestead shack was her first very own home. She loved all 160 square feet of it. She wall papered with newspaper, used apple crates for cupboards, kept a white tablecloth with bouquets of prairie flowers on her homemade table, and fulfilled the requirements needed to call this piece of ground hers.

When she was in her eighties she discovered her homestead shack was still in use. The daughter of her good friends invited Marie and her family to come and see it at her ranch, and so on a lovely South Dakota day, two carloads of us trekked up to Isaac's ranch. We loaded kids, food, and our spry little Grandmother and spent time reminiscing of homestead days.

We recorded Marie recounting how she paid $50 for her shack, and how the folks she bought it from hauled it to its new location. She also told us how she bought a Montgomery Ward saddle to ride her horse back and forth from Marcus to her shack. She was overjoyed to stand inside the doorway of her first home, and pointed out where she had placed everything.

For years the little cassette tape gathered dust in Justin's gun cabinet. Recently our daughter Jackie took it and recopied it onto a disk. Once again we hear Marie's voice, her laughter, and we relive that special day when the past  became the present, and wonderful memories were made.

Goodbye, Belvidere is a tribute to those brave and hearty souls who settled this country. And in 'A hundred and sixty acres', the brave and daring

Joanna takes a wild stagecoach ride with a driver who hitches broncs alongside of somewhat tame horses to complete his team. Meet Art Wheeler, the love of Marie's life.

Family stories are a treasure. On this beautiful October morning, I'm going to take the coffee cup outside and remember the folks who settled here before us to make this part of the world "home".

Have a good and Godly day!


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