REASOR/Roberson Pedigree Pie

Children of

1

REASOR/Roberson

2

3

REASOR/Lytle

4

5

ROBERSON/Seaton

6

7

1-7 Pedigree Chart Numbering.

SEE: https://pedigree-pie.fhtl.byu.edu/page

Generational Fathers Day

Fathers 

Generation 1 and 2

Edgar Webster REASOR

Generation 2 and 3

Garland Lee REASOR

 Generation 3 and 4

Generation 4 and 5

Generation 4 and 5

Generation 4 and 5

Family Portraits are Priceless

around 1908

Seated front left to right - Elizabeth CURL BELL (1839-1933), Rilla Madge REASOR, mother Elizabeth Jane BELL REASOR (1863-1947), Standing from left to right - unknown boy, John Washington BELL (1839-1916), unknown boy, Vollie Forest REASOR, Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR (1887-1985), Edgar Webster REASOR (1885-1953), Etta Gertrude Reasor HALL. 

around 1916

from left: Richard Sylvan "Bood" (1900-1967), Vollie Forrest (1895-1965), Etta Gertrude (1887-1965), Edgar Webster (1885-1953), Roscoe Craig (1883-1964), and their mother Elizabeth Jane BELL REASOR (1863-1947).

 1921

back from left - Richard Sylvan "Bood" (1900-1967), Edgar Webster REASOR (1885-1953), Lillie Bell LYTLE REAOSR (1887-1985), tucked back Elizabeth Jane BELL REASOR (1863-1947), Mary Alice BELL HAMMOND (1862-1927), Gladys Gwendolyn REAOSR LINTON SUDDARTH (1909-2000), Center from left - Gerald Lester REASOR (1914-1990), Glen Winford (1910-1984), skip to girls in front of Gladys are Opel Ruth Hall and Goldia Blanche REASOR GOLDMAN MILLER (1913-1998). front from left twins - Gordon Lloyd REASOR (1917-1999), Garland Lee REASOR (1917-2004). and their grandmother Elizabeth CRUL BELL (1839-1933).

around 1930

Children of Edgar Webster and Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR

1942

front left to right - twin Gordon Lloyd REASOR (1917-1999), Gerald Lester REASOR (1914-1990),
Glen Winford (1910-1984) , twin Garland Lee REASOR (1917-2004), back left to right - Gladys Gwendolyn REAOSR LINTON SUDDARTH (1909-2000),  Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR (1887-1985), Edgar Webster REASOR (1885-1953), Goldia Blanche REASOR GOLDMAN MILLER (1913-1998).

Ancestry Chain: RSC, BR, MRR, Garland Lee REASOR, Edgar Webster REASOR and Lillie Belle LYTLE, Daniel Breckenridge REASOR and Elizabeth Jane BELL, John Washington BELL and Elizabeth CURL.

Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR

Memories of Edgar and Lillie Lytle Reasor

written by Janet Kay Reasor Lehnhof in December 1988
My memories of Grandpa Edgar Reasor are tied to my memories of the farm in Crawford County. I can remember him standing in front of the kitchen windows and sharpening his razor on his long razor strap. Grandma was fixing breakfast on the big wood stove. Shiny cold linoleum covered the floor. The big table was against the wall and Sandi and I got to sit on the bench instead of a chair. Grandpa helped us ride on Betsy (Sandi says her name was Patsy) his horse and always took us out to visit the barn. We helped Grandma feed the chickens and gathered the eggs. I think I just got to watch Sandi gather the eggs. Daddy let us shoot a gun on one of our visits to the farm. I'm sure that is the only time in my life that I have shot one. After they moved to town Daddy helped Grandpa hang wallpaer in the front apartment. They used a big table and spread the paper with paste. It must have been on this visit that Grandpa yelled at Sandi and me to quit running and be quiet. The only other memory I have is of driving all night from Louisiana when Grandpa died. When we got to Grandma's we walked up onto the side porch, Aunt Gladys opened the door and saw it was Daddy. She called Grandma and shoved her into Daddy's arms. Cheryl and I went to the funeral home that night for the viewing. All my life I have remembered the image of Grandpa surrounded by more flowers than I knew existed. It was beautiful. Daddy took us up to see him and I can remember his handholding mine. Cheryl and I stayed with a baby-sitter during the funeral and so our first experience with death was a pleasant one. Grandma Lillie was a very special woman. I think her quiet strength and determination had a great effect on many people. My very most pleasant memory of Grandma was watching her brush out her hair at night and then braid it back up. I was so disappointed when she cut it off and had short curly hair like every one else. She used to sing the song "Five foot two, eyes of blue," and tell us that was her and her eyes would twinkle. From a very early age I sensed that Daddy was her favorite child. I don't know if he knows that, or if his brothers and sisters knew it, but he was. The cousins always made us feel a little like the 'rich kids' coming for a visit. Or maybe we made them think that of us. But Grandma always welcomed us with such pleasure. She always had a meal ready to eat. The meal always included canned peaches served in a bowl. We ate biscuits and gravy sitting on the bench against the wall and looking at her picture of peaches on the side wall. When dinner was over at noon, she threw a tablecloth over the table and we knew what we would have for supper that night. The highlight of our visits was to walk over to Patty's store for Grandma. It was usually to buy a loaf of bread or some bologna. But we somehow managed to get a little treat. I'm sure our children will remember the Green Bluff store in the same way. It was such a tiny little store, we always introduced ourselves as Wanda Roberson's girls and Patty would tell us how he used to be Wanda's school bus driver. The porch swing was the most entertaining toy Grandma had. in fact the only other playthings were a little red chair and two John Deere tractors. We also got to go up into the attic and play in the old clothes that were there. But the porch swing occupied most of our time. We tried hard not to hit the side of the house--but we usually did. I remember the morning glories that climbed up the porch post and bloomed in the morning. On one visit I went out into the back with Grandma and watched her catch a chicken, wring it's neck, pluck the feathers and then cook it for dinner. I couldn't eat any of that chicken and it was probably years before I ate chicken again. It was also a real novelty to go into town with Grandma. Everyone she passed said "Good afternoon, Mrs. Reasor." It so impressed me that everyone in English knew my grandmother. At that time we were still moving every year or so and never knew anyone. Grandpa and Grandma Reasor never visited us that I can remember. After Grandpa died Grandma came to visit. I remember her coming to Sacramento, California with Blanche Linton (our cousin), and probably she came other times. But she came to Denver the summer I graduated from high school and stayed several weeks. I sewed a blue wool dress and jacket for her. She was embroidering a quilt top that summer and when I got married a year later she sent me the top for a wedding present. It is the first quilt I hand quilted on my new oak quilt frames from Daddy. Both Mom and Daddy helped quilt it. But on this trip I got Grandma to write her life story. I am so glad that I encouraged her to write it. I am very thankful for the years we spent in Atlanta and the trips I was able to make to Kentucky and Indiana during that time period. My children all remember Great-Grandma Lillie. On our first visit to Indiana Lori was just two years old. After being in Grandma's house for an afternnon Grandma turned to Daddy and said, "You can see who runs this family," and pointed to Lori. Of course it was true at that time but I tried hard to rectify that point. On subsequent visits she would always want someone to sit right beside her and hold her hand. The girls were always willing to do that. In October of 1977 Mom and I made a special genealogy trip to Kentucky and Indiana. Much of the research we are still doing is in direct relationship to that trip. But those few days we spent in English were precious. I will not bore you with the long notes I wrote about that trip but I want to share some of the stories Grandma told us one evening when just the three of us were talking. They are a little disjointed but she aswered our questions and just talked. It was a special evening. Her father was a very good kind man. His right arm was paralyzed and he carried it in his pocket. He drove a team of horses. His wife thought he was hving dates and carrying on. They weren't happy. Grandma Lillie thought she resembled her father, they were all short and thin. A tree fell on his shoulder and cut "killed" a nerve. She was her daddy's pet. He died a year before she got married in January, she married in April. Edgar came over on the horse and she got up behind him and rode sideways behind him, just like riding a Honda. She held on tight. They ran horse races. They went to church Wednesday night and Sunday night at Union Chapel. He lived four and five miles away. She probably met him at a pie supper. The boys would bid on pies. They tried to find out who brought which pie. Hightest bid she could remember was $2.50. She usually took apple pie. They had several big apple trees. The boys would vote on the prettiest girl. The votes cost a dime or a penny. All the money was for the school. She planned on being a teacher but Edgar came along and she just got married. She said, "I think a woman has something to do with making a good man." When they got married they took a horse and buggy to Taswell then rode the train to English. The passenger train came twice a day, morning and night. They walked up to the court house up on the hill for a license then back down into the town to the Justice of the Peace. Edgar forgot to pay the Justice of the Peace and had to go back and pay him. They took the train back to Taswell, then the horse to her home. They spent the first two or three nights there. No one else was at the wedding except for one man. They didn't invite him he just came along. They had a big chivaree that night. People crawled under the house and shot guns off. After a couple of days they went to live with the Reasors. They lived there a year or two. Edgar's little sister Madge didn't like it when Lillie sat on Edgar's lap. She wouldn't let them get close at all. In 41 years of marriage Edgar was only gone two nights. He went on a horse to a meeting in Mifflin and came back before morning. "But he should have lived longer--he left me alone too long." Edgar said that Grandma Lytle was the meanest woman he ever met. Grandma Lytle talked to Lillie before she was married and told her getting married was as bad as dying. That making love with a man was the worse thing you could ever do. We asked her if she told her mother she was a liar, and she laughed and said no she couldn't ever talk to her mom like that. When her baby Gladys was born she had a doctor. She said if Edgar hadn't been there with her the whole time she would have just turned her face to the wall and sent the baby back before she got there. It was a long hard time but the other's weren't so bad. She had a midwife with Glen and couldn't remember about Goldia and Gerald. When the twins were born they sent all the kids to neighbors. She had Lee first and then the doctor told her there was anothr one. She thought, "Oh my goodness!" About ten minutes later Lloyd was born. Grandma Lillie had really bad sinus headaches. Two LDS elders were staying with them and invited her to a meeting. She said if she felt all right she would go. They gave her a blessing and she never had another headache. (Lillie cried as she told us this story.) The elders would walk through every six months. They would come and stay two or three weeks with them and with Carl Standiford. Edgar wouldn't let them ordain him to the priesthood. At this time, in 1977, there was a man at the senior citizen home that liked to come and visit with Lillie and just talk. She said, "He thinks I'm old enough to know all the answers but I've forgot most of them." In June of 1984 we were making a cross country trip. We planned on spending the first afternnon in English. A couple of days before we were to leave Aunt Gladys called and tried to persuade us not to come. She was afraid the visit would scare the small children. I really felt we should go anyway and we did. This is an entry from Mark's journal.he was five years old. He drew a picture of Grandma's house including a climbing tree and the porch swing. "June 23, 1984, We went to Grandma Lillie's house in English, Indiana. I holded Grandma's hand and watched her eat thru a straw. I found a railroad spike. She liked to hold my hand." My journal entry for the same day: We arrived in English about 3:45 and stayed with Grandma Lillie Reasor and Aunt Gladys for over an hour. She was much better today according to Aunt Gladys. For the past several days she had not roused at all but as soon as we walked in she smiled and wanted to know who we were. Grandma is in a hospital bed. She hasn't eaten anything for several months. Gladys gave her several drinks of 'Big Red' and ice cream stirred up like a float. That is all she will drink. She really has lost a lot of weight since I saw her in October. Of course, then she was still able to walk, and ate her meals at the kitchen table. It was only after she was 92 that Gladys moved in to help her. Today she wanted to hold everyone's hand. She would kiss their hand and pull them towards her when she wanted a kiss. I really think she did know who I was. After touching all the children she wanted to hold Hal's hands. She said, "I need to get to know this man." Bret was a little hesitant but everyone else was doing it so he did too. He went out and played and came back in and held her hand. She said, "What a pretty boy." When I told her we would have to leave she said, "Will I see you in the morning?" And she seemed very disappointed when I said no. I told her we loved her and she smiled. We all kissed her and then she looked at me and said, "I love you." That brought a few tears. What a special woman she was and is, kind, caring, and strong willed! I'm very glad we took this opportunity to visit and let my children meet their only living great-grandparent. In February of 1985 as Mom, Daddy, Bret, and I were driving to Grandma Lillie's funeral I pondered her life in respect to a speaking assignment I had the next week. The subject was to "Come unto Christ." And I thought what a perfect example her life was. As the church slowly grew in English she was able to participate in the programs of the church, but her entire life she exemplified a Christ like love and service to all she met. She wasn't caught up in the busy work of the gospel but in the real meaning of living like Christ and giving of oneself and your love. I loved, respected and admired this woman that we never called MaMa. She was always a little special to us because we called her a different name than all those Indiana cousins.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edgar Webster REASOR 1885-1953, Glenn and Gladys, Lillie Belle LYTEL REASOR 23 Feb 1887-18 Feb 1985

Garland Lee REASOR and Gordon Lloyd REASOR twins born 1917

Poem to Lillie Lytle Reasor on 80th birthday

written by granddaughter Lillie Linton Hammond on Lillie Reasor's 80th birthday, February 1967 In the hills of Crawford County in the year of '87 A little baby girl was born who came straight down from heaven. Her parents must've been so proud and felt so very well As they looked at her and beamed and smiled and named her Lillie Belle. She soon grew into a lady and at the age of twenty-one She met a man named Edgar who became her only one. They married in April and their happy life began And soon they had a baby girl named Gladys Gwendolin. Little Glen came next--in fact, the following year And thus their family grew and added to their cheer. Goldia Blanche was next in line to come into the world. But she was followed close behind by another boy named Gerald. Now we know four little children require a lot of care, But wait! It wasn't long until she gave birth to a pair. The twins were Lee and Lloyd and they really made a hit. Said Lillie, "When they come in twos, I think it's time to quit." The years passed quickly on the farm with much hard work & chores. The girls got married and the boys went off for other shores. Edgar and Lillie became grandparents before many years had passed And after that the grandchildren were coming pretty fast. Sorrow came to Lillie's life when Edgar passed away But she has peace an comfort knowing they'll meet again some day. So Lillie Belle, we think you're great and love you so much too. Just think of all that's happened, and so much because of you!

(twin) Gordan Lloyd REASOR 1917-1999, Goldia Blanche REASOR GOLDMAN MILLER 1913-1998, (twin) Garland Lee REASOR 1917-2004, mother Lillie Belle LYTEL REASOR 1887-1985, Gerald Lester REASOR 1914-1990, Gladys Gwendolyn REASOR LINTON SUDDARTH 1911-1993, Glenn Winford REASOR 1910-1984. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Talk given at Funeral of Lillie Reasor

Funeral Services for Lillie Lytle Reasor February 1985

Excerpt from talk given by son, Lloyd Reasor
Mom was 30 when I was born so I wouldn’t know of her as a young lady. But I have memories of her playing ball with us on Sunday afternoons. And how we would laugh at her, the four of us boys, and we would remind her that she threw like a girl, or that she swung the bat like a girl. I remember Lee and me standing at the corner of the stove as she prepared supper, cooking corn bread. And that she would clean off a spot on the stove and she would make corn cakes for us, just especially for us. I remember that she was such a good buddy that one time we killed a ground squirrel and cleaned it and talked her into cooking it. She fried it like a chicken. It wasn’t very big, but it was good. I’m sure more so because of the adventure.
She was always happy. She was never angry. Even in discipline we never saw her angry. We would get too rowdy on a winter day when we couldn’t get out of the house and she would call us to her and thump us on the head with a thimble. She seemed always to have a thimble on her finger. We would scream like we were being scalped. Then admit that, no, it really didn’t hurt and that we really enjoyed it, for we recognized it as an indication of her love for us. Sometimes when my twin brother and I would get into a fight, she would stop us and then she would make us kiss and make up. Can you imagine that? Having to kiss a boy on the lips, especially while you were still mad at him. She was a lot wiser than we gave her credit.
Mom’s only unhappiness, that I can think of, was when she was concerned for her family. I remember when Glenn was in the army in Texas and he had appendicitis. It was impossible to go there. I remember Dad saying, “Well, we will just trust in a higher power.” I remember that concern. I also remember her concern when a grandchild swallowed an open safety pin. But mostly I remember her and Dad together.
The memory pictures I have include their walks over the farm as they would plan the crops, or as they went to visit a neighbor. They left and returned in the wagon, sitting on the spring seat. Dad was so much heavier than Mom that his side of the seat was a lot lower so the seat tilted towards him and even if there had been room, she would be sitting right up next to him. I remember him sitting in the kitchen, between the stove and the table, drying the dishes as she washed, while they visited. They not only were lovers, they were good friends. They were always together. They were always sharing.
I asked her one day if she remembered the missionaries who taught her the gospel. She replied, “The elders didn’t teach me. Edgar did. They taught him, and he taught me.” They were baptized in 1909, back when the Mormon Church was not very popular. There wasn’t any place to attend church. But as they learned principles, they practiced them. I remember well the summer they found out about the Word of Wisdom; not to drink alcohol, and not to drink coffee, and that tobacco wasn’t good for you. Alcohol was not a problem. But I remember Dad had a sassafras or hickory twig in his mouth all summer. For not only did he smoke a pipe, he chewed tobacco. I remember the smell in the house as they roasted wheat, and oats, and barley, and any combinations of them trying to find a substitute for coffee;; because they learned that grain was good for mild drinks. It smelled terrible. It must have tasted as bad, because it worked, and they both quit drinking coffee. They didn’t have much church experience. I remember the missionaries coming to visit us on an evening. They would usually spend the night and the next day and that night, and then they would leave. Maybe the next summer we would see another pair of elders, and maybe not.

Ancestral Chain: CR / MRR /  Garland Lee REASOR 1917-2004, Lillie Belle LYTLE 1887-1985. 

Obituary of Edger Webster REASOR and Lillie Belle LYTLE

Edger Webster REASOR

Born: 24 Jun 1885 Dubois, Dubois, Indiana , son of Daniel Breckenridge REASOR and Elizabeth Jane BELL.
Married: Lillie Belle LYTLE 15 Apr 1908 at English, Crawford, Indiana.
Baptized: 24 Apr 1908 into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Died: 18 Jan 1953 English, Crawford, Indiana.



Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR
Born: 23 Feb 1887 Taswell, Crawford, Indiana daughter of James Warren LYTLE and Louisiana BROWN.
Baptized: 24 Apr 1908 into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mother of six children: Gladys Gwendolyn, Glenn Winnifred, Goldia Blanche, Gerald Lester, twins Garland Lee, and Gordon Lloyd.
Died: 17 Feb 1985 English, Crawford, Indiana.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Edgar Reasor and her son Glenn Reasor, a great-grandson, Todd Ramon Linton and all 5 of her brothers and her sister.

She is survived by 5 of her children: Gladys Linton of English, Goldia Goldman Miller of Grantsburg, Dr. Gerald Reasor of French Lick, Ind., Lee Reasor of Spokane, Wash., and Lloyd Reasor of Louisville, Ky.

She has 29 living grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She would have been 98 years old in 3 days.

Ancestry Chain: great-grandparents Edgar Webster REASOR and Lillie Belle LYTLE, Garland Lee REASOR (twin), MRR, BR.

Military Paper Work - REASOR

Edgar Webster REAOSR (1885-1953) registered for both WWI and WWII drafts.

Edgar Webster REASOR

World War I Draft Registration Card - 1917-1918 Record
"In 1918 when World War I was ended, Dad blew in a conk shell, people rang dinner bells, shot guns, hollered and made loud noises all through the country side, in the evening. We lived near Eckerty then. I guess I was 9 years old." (Memories of Gladys REASOR LINTON first child of Edgar and Lillie, Written 26 Sep 1976 )

Edgar Webster REASOR

World War II Draft Registration Card - 1942 Record

Garland Lee REASOR (1917-2004) began his U.S. Air force career in the army.

U.S.World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record

pictured: Garland Lee REAOSR (twin) and Gordon Lloyd REASOR (twin) in front of tent at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana

Name: Garland L Reasor [Lee became an career Air Force Navigator]
Birth Year: 1917
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Indiana
State of Residence: Indiana
County or City: Crawford
Enlistment Date: 21 Sep 1940
Enlistment State: Indiana
Enlistment City: Fort Benjamin Harrison

Branch: Signal Corps
Branch Code: Signal Corps
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the Philippine Department
Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Farm hands, general farms
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 68
Weight: 149

Name: Gordon L Reasor [twin brother of Garland Lee REASOR] [Lloyd became a WWII Air Force Pilot]
Birth Year: 1917
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Indiana
State of Residence: Indiana
County or City: Crawford
Enlistment Date: 21 Sep 1940
Enlistment State: Indiana
Enlistment City: Fort Benjamin Harrison
Branch: Signal Corps
Branch Code: Signal
Corps Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the Panama Canal Department
Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Farm hands, general farms
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 65
Weight: 133

The First Sixty Years Regarding Garland (Lee) Reasor
Military Service Pg 1-5

“…In September of 1940 I was 23 years old. I had worked as a farm hand most of the time since high school graduation and had been away from home most of that time also. I had worked three years in East Central Illinois on a large grain and cattle farm. Two years I had worked for the State Hospital at North Madison, Indiana as a farm tractor driver. This job was only possible because Reasor’s were dedicated Democrats and the Democrats were in office. Mchutt was governor. Lloyd and I drove our Model A ford to see the head democrat in Crawford County to get his endorsement for work. He lived on a mud road and it was winter time. While we were interviewing, the water on our 6 Brake line froze. We had to heat them with a wood torch before we could move the car.”

“Lloyd and I had both been hired at the hospital. Lloyd had quit and returned to Illinois to work. France had fallen to the Germans earlier in the year. I wrote to Lloyd suggesting that the U.S. would get involved and we should get in the Army and get Prepared.”

“The recruiter had promised that he would enlist us in the Army Air Corps. Lloyd immediately quit his job and came to Madison. The recruiter said he couldn’t get us in the Air Corps but could get the Signal Corp witch was the next best. We left Lloyd’s car parked on the street in Madison, took my car and went to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana to be inducted.”

“Mom and Dad were living on the farm but it did not occur to either of us to talk this action over with them. We did write them a letter after we were privates in the army earning $21.00 per month. After deductions were made for laundry, etc. the net was $15. To $18 per month.”

“We were accustomed to working from sun-up to sun-down. That changed immediately. We were housed in tents and the sergeant, after a few minutes drill, would say, “Go to your tents and wait.” we nearly went crazy with nothing to do.”

“We had [not] formed habit of using neither tobacco nor alcohol and that made us strange. Also, we actually volunteered for work assignments.”

“We did get time off several days later to go get Lloyd’s car off the street and take it home.
After some basic training we, with the 5th Infantry Division (the Red Diamond Division) were transferred to Fort Custer, Battle Creek, Michigan in December of 1940. Fort Custer was under construction. The buildings were incomplete and the mud was everywhere and deep.”

“Most of the personnel were much older than we. Many were the kind who got promoted, got into trouble, got busted back to private again and again.”

“Lloyd was promoted to corporal in a short time and I soon followed. Most of the corporals had 8-10 years of service.”

“Standard procedure of the times for most soldiers was to be broke the night of payday. Many owned their entire pay many times to Lloyds or I. They would pay their debts and start borrowing again. It was not usual to be offered $10 on pay day for $5 tonight. Even at $15. Per month we had nore money than we could spend.”

“Mostly what money that I spent was driving back and forth to the Louisville, New Albany area to see a girl I had been dating before I enlisted. Wanda Roberson had a great attraction for me. Many times I returned from a visit with her just in the nick of time reveille.”

“Lloyd’s initials were G.L. My initials were G.L. His first name was Gordon , mine Garland. In calling the roll, they first called Reasor G. We’d say which one. Then they tried G. L. Again we would question. For a while they used AS and GO but changed to Big Reasor and Little Reasor. Since we never missed a roll call, they finally just called Reasor and didn’t wait for a response. One morning I was ten minutes late and they didn’t miss me.”

“Battle Creek was a Seventh-day Adventist town. The Church provided many activities for the soldiers. We attended many of the activities and became very close friend[s] with the Langworthy family. Which included three lovely girls. We were at their home when Pearl harbor was bombed.”

“There was also a unit of the Church of Jesus Christ fo Latter-day Saints. I don’t recall how we found them but we did and became active in the Church. It was the first time we had been able to attend an organized branch. We received the Aaronic Priesthood and many blessings through the Church. We never went to the Seventh-Day Adventist meetings.”

‘The draft made a great change in the type of men in the Army. The new officers were ROTC college graduates and Many of the enlisted men were leaders in business and industry.”

“The Signal Corps job was to establish and maintain communications. The equipment was telephone and telegraph. Both had to be physically commect6ed by wire. The field pone was the kind you see on the TW show MASH. My assignment was installation The officer who used the phone always had the same pair of colored wires to his phone. Lloyd was a telegraph operator….”

Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR

Back Left: "Bood" Richard Sylvan REASOR b.1900, Edgar Webster REASOR b.1885 IN-d.1953 IN, Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR b.1887 IN-d.1985 IN, "Ella" Mary Alice Bell went thru life known as Ella Hammond b.1862 standing behind her sister, Elizabeth Jane BELL REASOR b.1863 IN-d.1947 IN, Gladys Gwendolyn REASOR LINTON b.1909.
Front Left: in front of "Bood" the blond boy Gerald Lester REASOR b.1914, taller boy Glenn Winnifred REASOR b.1910, two little boys are twins Gordan Lloyd REASOR b.1917 IN and Garland Lee REASOR b. 1917-d.2004 WA, sitting Elizabeth CURL BELL b.1839 IN-d.1933 IN, Opal Hall (with hand over her face) died at age 18, in front of of Gladys is Goldia Blanche REASOR GOLDMAN MILLER b.1913.

The life story of Lillie Belle Lytle Reasor.
as written for Kay....August 19, 1965,

Lillie had come from Indiana to Colorado to visit her son Lee and spent a month.

"The year 1887, James Warren Lytle lived on a small farm in a valley with cliffs on either side. He had six children. Namely Austin, Charlie, Lemuel, Rosa Monzelle, George Fredrick and Zena Monroe. On February 23, 1887 another little blond girl, that little girls name was Lillie Belle. Me. Came to live with them. The last of the family increase.

We lived in a four room house. Pretty full but we had fun. At Mifflin, Ind. When I was five years old I started to school. Had to walk 1 1/2 miles through mud and over creek, on footlogs. One time my sister Rosa fell off a foot log into the water. I got pretty scared. My teacher's name was Henry Dolittle. I went to a one room school through the 8th grade. We didn't have high school to go to then like we do now. I went to summer school instead. Studying to be a teacher which my mother wished me to be.

Back to the farm, we all had fun. Horse back riding, going to partys, apple pealing and cane stripping. We would work awhile then we'd all go out and play tag, or drop the handkerchief. The boys and girls went around together. Thats where I met my husband to be. We were at an apple pealing party. He took me home from there. Not in a car, no. We didn't have carsback then. We walked, rode horse back, or in a buggy. If a young man had a horse and buggy he was some 'pumpkin'! The girls were all after him. I generally rode on the horse behind Edgar.
That was my husband's name. Edgar Webster Reasor from Mifflin, Ind. He was borned in Dubois Co, Ind, near Birdseye.

Talking about horse and buggy days, one day my boy friend and I were walking along a road along came another boy with two fine horses to a buggy. He stopped and asked me to ride. I did. How silly! Anyway the next Sunday the boy I left went to the livery stable and hired a horse and buggy to take me to a church dedication. It worked. Ha. Guess we were naughty girls then, the same as now. No we didn't smoke, wear shorts, or drink.

I joined the Methodist church at Mifflin when I was about 15. The only church we had to go to. We enjoyed going to church and Sunday School. I never worked away from home. I did pick black berries and sell them for 10 cents per gallon, for spending money.

Back them days one could get a new calico dress for six cents per yard, took four yards for a dress. A new pair of shoes for $1.25 and we wore yarn stockings in the winter, which my mother knitted. In the summer cotton stockings, about ten cents a pair. We did very well selling berries at ten cents per gallon.

On April 15, 1908 Edgar and I were married. We rode in a buggy to English and got the license and were very quietly married. I had a white dress. We never had any honeymoon. Went back home. But oh what a charivari we did get. Even crawled under the house and shot guns. My husband had been converted to the Mormon Church. We were both baptized May 1909 by Mormon Elders. We had six children. Gladys Gwendowlin was born at Mifflin Sept 29, 1909. Glenn Winfred was born near Taswell Dec 16, 1910, Goldia Blanch March 18, 1919 at Taswell, Gerald Lester Dec 15 at Eckerty. Garland Lee Jan 21, 1917 and Lloyd Gordon Jan 21, 1917 at Eckerty. When the twins were 3 years old we moved to a farm near Grantsburg. Where they all grew up and went to school. Lee and Lloyd graduated from high school at Leavenworth, Ind. The children were all baptized in the LDS church. After children were all married we stayed on the farm awhile. Edgar contacted hart trouble. We bought property and moved to Endlish, Ind. He passed away in 1953. I went to work babysitting and am still babysitting."

!Letter excerpts from Lillie Reasor sent to ...Kay... 28 Nov 1977 "In regard to the kind of dress I wore when I was pregneant. We called them Mother Hubbards. Had a yoke at the top then gathered the rest and sewed onto the yoke. And let it hang loose around and long. In regard to nursing twins--I'd sit in a rocking chair. One on each knee and each one had a breast to suck on. Then they would go to sleep. I'd have to sit till Edgar came in and took one and put it to bed. Then I could get up with the other one and put him to bed. Never had a bottle for either one. I had a man to tell me one time I was as good as a Jersey cow. Ha. Boy it was fun raising two boys. A fellow don't know what he can do till he tries. Any way we raised two wonderful boys. Don't you think so"

!26 Feb 1978 "You were talking about my wedding dress. It was white and I made it myself. I embroidered it with white. Real pretty. It wasn't real long like most of them now. I didn't like long dresses.

!21 Mar 1978 "You asked about games we played when I was young. I remember one, we called 'Smile.' Everyone sat in a circle, one person went around to one at a time and tried to get them to smile. If they smiled or showed their teeth they had to give a 'forfeit,' like a pencil or knife, ring, or something they would want back. Then some one took a forfeit in his hand and goes to a person and says 'heavy, heavy hangs over your head.' He says fine or super fine, if it is a girls forfeit they say superfine, a boy is fine. What shall the owner do to redeem it? Then he tells some crazy thing they have to do. Like turn a somersault or stand on their head, roll over on the floor or some crazy stunt. We kids liked to play that, and tag. The kids all form a ring by joining hands and some one goes around to tap someone and start out running. If they catch you, you go into the ring for "soap grease." And another one was to drop a handkerchief behind someone. If he doesn't see it the one that dropped it gets back around and puts him in to the ring for "soap grease". Well probably you know how to play these games but they are fun to play.

!31 Jan 1978 "You wanted to know how we made soap. We lived on the farm and raised hogs. We butchered the hogs for our meat. When we butchered a hog we would strip the fat off the intestines. And rendered the grease out of them and made soap out of the grease. Or we used chicken fat or any other fat, fried bacon fat. We had a big iron kettle we would put everything in it. Some times I had meat scraps I'd put them in the kettle with some water and a can of lye and boil them until the meat scraps were cooked up with lye water. It would boil like jelly when it was done. Now there, ha ha! Is that the way you made soap? I guess you just had the pease and lye and a little water.

Growing Up in the Mission Field

John Washington Bell's log cabin about the time the family was baptized, 1908.

front row: Elizabeth CURL BELL (1839-1933), Madge REASOR, Elizabeth Jane BELL REASOR (1863-1947), back row: Richard "Bood" REASOR, John Washington BELL (1836-1916), Calvin REASOR, Vollie REASOR, Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR (1887-1985), Edgar Webster REASOR (1885-1953), Gertrude REASOR HALL BROWN

A Tribute to Elizabeth Curl Bell written by Lee Reasor in 1977: Elizabeth Curl the daughter of Richard Curl and Mariah Steproe, was born on Christmas Day in 1839 at Mauckport, Harrison, Indiana. She was the third child in a family of nine children. She married John Washington Bell and lived in Crawford Co, Ind. Elizabeth Curl Bell was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 30 May 1905 at the age of 65. She apparently took this important step alone. Her husband John and none of her children were baptized with her. However, a cousin of John (William Roberson) was baptized the previous day by the same Elder. In 1905, there were three other families with members of the Church in Crawford County; two Lutz families of Sulphur and Hyrum J. McDonald of Taswell. Brother McDonald was baptized in 1895 and ordained an elder in 1896. Sister McDonald (Sereptia Isabell Brown) is the daughter of Elbern [Elbern is the older brother of Louisiana BROWN LYTLE] and the granddaughter of William (Billy Nineteen) Brown. She and two of her daughters were baptized in 1918. [Sereptia Isabell Brown McDonald (1863-1931) was a first cousin of Lillie Belle LYTLE REASOR. Hiram Jasper McDonald baptized in 1895 decided to move his family to Salt Lake City, Utah. They went by train to Idaho. They lived there 3 or more years, there he purchased a team of horses and a covered wagon and come on to Salt Lake City, Utah. He couldn't find the kind of work needed to support their family of nine children so we moved back home to Indiana in 0903. (see history written by Flora Pearl McDonald)] There must have been a change in Elizabeth after her baptism because the following year her daughter, Elizabeth Jane Bell Reasor, known as Jennie E., was baptized with Jennie E's daughter Etta Gertrude. They were baptized on 11 Sept 1906. Jennie too had to stand alone without her husband. Daniel Breckenridge Reasor, the husband of Jennie had died in 1904. The year 1909 was a better year for the missionaries in southern Indiana. The records show that several persons joined the Church. Among these were several of the grandchildren of Elizabeth Curl Bell and children of Elizabeth Bell Reasor. Four of her sons; Edgar, Vollie, Calvin and Richard (Bood) with Edgar's wife Lillie Belle Lytle all joined on 24 April 1909. The water in the creek must have been very cold that early in the spring. Daughter Madge was only 6 years old so all of the Reasor children were baptised except Craig, the oldest. Madge was baptised at age 8 in 1911 and Craig was baptised in 1957 at age 74. The influence of one individual now becomes apparent. One member in 1905 Three in 1906 Eight in 1909 Sixteen in 1926 Edgar and Lillie had all six of their children blessed increasing the total to 14 by June of 1917. All the children were later baptised, the three youngest in 1926. Opal the only child of Gertrude was baptised in 1924. Three of Edgar and Lillie's children elected not to become active in the Mormon Church and none of their children or grandchildren are now members. A branch of the Church was organized locally and Goldia became active. Her children were all adults by then and are not now members of the church. Lloyd had four children and five grandchildren. Lee has five children and 10 grandchildren [by 1988 - 21 grandchildren]. Therefore counting the in-laws, there are 31 additional members in these two families. Adding 31 to the 17 in 1926 makes a total of 48 members. In the meantime, the work has been done for John Washington Bell and partly for Samuel W. Bell, his father. Elizabeth Curl has been sealed to her father and mother. The sealing work has been done for the Reasor line as far back as the revolutionary war (1735). This assures the potential for a completed family for all those who have been baptized in person or by proxy. It seems to me that as a young man that there was only one other family of Mormons in the county, this was the Fouts family of Sulphur. At the present time there is an active branch with a small chapel in English. The attendance sometimes reaches 60 at meetings. This group is supported by Lillie Belle Lytle Reasor and daughter Goldia Reasor Goldman Miller. In summary then, if you believe in the Restored Gospel, Elizabeth Curl Bell has truly been a Savior on Mt. Zion. She introduced the gospel to her children and grandchildren who have passed it on down. Those who have followed her have been somewhat diligent in having the work done for her ancestors. I am Lee Reasor, a great grandson and I am getting to know her better and love her more. I can still remember her as being bed fast at Grandma Reasor's. She wanted always to kiss Lloyd and I when we went to visit. Written this 30 day of August 1977. Sources used include the U.S. census, the church records of the Indiana Southern Conference, and personal knowledge. Elizabeth Jane was married as Jennie E. and listed on the grave marker for her unnamed son as Jennie E. [Family tradition tells the story of Gerald moving away from Indiana and finding the church. He became active, it was about 20 years later that he found he was active in the Reorganized church. He was happy and stayed there.]

Edgar and Lillie REASOR children. (Lee and Lloyd are twins.)

Church Garland Lee Reasor: I am a member of two of the greatest organizations in existence First, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints and will make continual mention of this membership, as it has had a great influence on my activities. Second, I am a member of the United States Air Force and have spent nearly half of my life in the service of my country. Service to my fellow men, to my country and to my God have been very closely interwoven in both my thought and actions. I became a service man to my country because of the time of my birth and circumstances. However, I became a member of the church by design of my parents. I will be forever grateful to them for that day in June when I was 9 years old. I cam still remember the two mile walk to the creek. We, my twin brother , my older brother, my father and the two Elders, were jolly and talkative until we reached the swimming hole. We three brothers were baptized there in the manner prescribed by God. Our spirits as well as our bib overall were dampened on the walk back home as we meditated on what had happened to us. Gladys Reasor Linton: Dad would let us ride the horses on Sundays and sometimes to church, if a revival was going on in the church other than ours. I’ve let a boy walk me home from our church and lead the horse behind. Goldia Reasor Goldman Miller: Eckerty was known for its Camp Meeting Grounds with its large barn-like tabernacle. Each summer for about ten days or two weeks they had Camp Meeting. This was a social event as well as religious. Everyone looked forward to it. We, along with people from miles around, would hitch up the team, put some hay in the back of the wagon with a comforter over it for the children to ride on, a few ears of corn for the team, and a large picnic lunch, and load everyone up for a day and maybe an evening service at camp meeting. We weren’t members of this denomination and never did get too involved, but it was a good place to visit with all your friends and hear some shouting gospel preached. Upon arriving at the grounds you found a good place in the grove of trees to put your wagon. The team was unhitched and tied to a tree so they couldn’t bother the lunch or eat all the hay the children rode on. At noon we came back to the wagon, found a level spot and spread out the table cloth with the lunch on it. Everything tasted good. If anything was left, it was supper I suppose. I remember being at the evening sessions, and we children going to the wagon, climbing in and going to sleep. I guess we walked into bed in our sleep when we got home. Goldia Reasor Goldman Miller: Mom and Dad had been baptized and become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the firs year they were married, about 1908. After we children started to school at Roberson School and became acquainted, we started going to Sunday School at Union Chapel. This was an undenominational church. Various denominations had church there. We all attended as this was the social life at this time. Dad always thought these people didn’t have the true gospel and not one of us ever joined even though we did attend. The Mormon elders visited us about once a year in the summer. Dad often remarked that he had us all baptized. We used to get the Liahona paper from the Church and enough Gospel to help us know the Word of Wisdom and some of the Church teachings. Goldia Reasor Goldman Miller: We attended Sunday School and church services at the Union Chapel near the Roberson School. Dad and Mom and his folks were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, commonly known as the Mormons. Gladys, Glenn and I were baptized by some missionaries in a creek near what is now Hemlock Cliffs, when I was nine years old. We later had a Chapel, an active branch of the Church at English, when Mom and I attended as long as she was able. Garland Lee Reasor: He and Aunt Gerturde were the only ones active in the Mormon Church. He told an interesting story that happened right after his baptism. He had developed the habit of taking the Lord’s name in vain. He, with Mom and Grandma Reasor joined the church the year he was married. Shortly after wards he was plowing hit a rock, and the handle hit Dad’s ribs causing severe pain, and as was his custom, he swore loudly at the horse, the rock, the plow and everything in general. He said the swear words echoed and re-echoed from the surrounding hills for minutes, pounding in his ears, and he never swore again. I never heard Dad take the Lord’s name in vain. He had great difficulty living the Mormon’s law of health. My earliest recollection is of Dad with a corn cob pipe or a chew of tobacco. After several attempts, he finally kicked the habit. As with other necessities, he grew his own tobacco. The plant was favored also by a worm which grew to the size of the gig finger and was exactly the color of the green tobacco leaves. Especially young boys could search for the pests and pull them off the plant to be destroyed before the plants themselves were destroyed. Gordon Lloyd Reasor: We never worked on Sunday. After noon on Saturday we’d go to English. There we visited while Mom and Dad did the trading (shopping). On Sunday we always went to church, doing only the necessary chores, like milking the 5 or 6 cows, gathering the eggs, feeding the horsed and hogs, and in the winter, feeding the cows. Usually we went to Sunday School and church at Union Chapel, a small community, non-denominational church where anyone could hold service excerpt Catholics or Mormons. We were told that the charter forbade that. This chapel was just one mile from home and we always walked. Most of the meetings were of the Holy Roller type, but sometimes Methodists or Christians or Baptists would preach. One time two women held a revival there for two weeks. They were called “Stand-ups” as all one had to join was to stand up art their sear when invited to do so. LeRoy and Mae Roberson stood up and joined. After the revival was over we never heard from the two women again. Probably the collection plate was too bare for a return to be considerer. But Dad remained aloof from all these churches. He and Mom, along with most of Grandma Reasor’s family were baptized into the Mormon church the year after they [Edgar and Lillie] were married. However there was no opportunity to attend their services as non were held near by. We went to these meetings though. Dad sat on the benches on the west side with the other men. He was larger than most, 5’8”, 180 pounds. And Mon sat opposite with the women. One time a Christian preacher was preaching. I thing Rob Cole got him to come. At the conclusion of the meeting he surprised everyone by announcing that Bro. Cole would give the prayer. We’d never heard him pray. So as we stood following the closing song. Rob looked across the still building and said to his wife, “Hattie, you say it”. And she did. The visitors and unmarried sat on the benches towards the rear of the small building. The back rows were where the local rowdies sat as they repeated aloud what the preacher was saying. Dad would condemn such action. But I suspect he was amused at the less disruptive events. One time though, one fo the boys rode a hourse in one door, up the aisle and around the stove in the center of the building and own the other aisle and out the other door. During one revival, when the feelings ere high, all our friends wre being ‘saved’. They put considerable pressure on us to do the same, go to the ‘mourners bench’ and pray through. Dad knew of this pressure and told us that he’d never tell us not to. But we were not convinced. And shortly we watched our friends back slide. Garland Lee Reasor: Another form of diversion was church. We always went to Sunday School and church. The chapel was called a Union Chapel and any denomination except Mormons and Catholics could hold services in it. Usually we walked the mile to the chapel. Occasionally we would go home with someone for dinner or they would come home with us. Dad was a good bible student but he would never teach a class. Maybe he didn’t believe the lessons he was expected to teach. Mom always took part and helped in any way she could. As we grew older the girls in the neighboring communities were more desirable so it was nothing to walk three of four miles to meetings. Lloyd and I were always together. We have learned later that gangs had been formed by boys in these communities to run us home. None ever showed themselves in our presence. We were very mild mannered and had no fights but maybe the reputation of our uncles wes sufficient to protect us. Once or twice I rode horseback and then walked my girl home leading the horse. At least twice a year a denomination would sponsor a religious revival and this would give the people night social activities for two revival or three weeks. The Reasor family were faithful in attending but none were influenced to the point of going to the alter and being saved. One evangelist was foolish enough to insult the young people, so some of the boys including at least two Reasors devised a way to show their displeasure. A length of stove wood was about the same height of an axle on a 1930 automobile. Two boys lifted up the car while a length of stove wood was placed under the axle. When the preacher started his car it wouldn’t move. The rear wheel which was clear of the ground would only spin faster and the engine was fed more gas. When he finally got going he never turned back. Garland Lee Reasor: Even though there was not a organized unit of his church locally until he had retired, he had all we children baptized. He apparently thought it was the best. Since there was no local organization, the whole family were faithful attendees at the community protestant church. Anyone but Catholics and Mormons were allowed to use the chapel for services. He had definite ideas about Sunday. It was a day to go to church, rest, and visit. I can recall very few times that work was so urgent that it had to be done on Sunday. Gordon Lloyd Reasor: Among my early recollection of Dad is that he smoked a pipe and chewed tobacco, too. In fact he raised his own long green. He’d just crumble some in his pipe to smoke. And for chewing , he’d take a bite off the twist of long green, and then a small corner off the plug of bought tobacco he had in his pocket. One summer he read in an LDS paper, Liahona, the Elder’s Journal, published in England. I don’t know how he got them, that tobacco was not good for the body. So he quit! It must have been a struggle, for he seemed always to have a piece of hicory bark in his mouth, that summer. And they stopped drinking coffee, too. Garland Lee Reasor: In 1956 we [Lee and Wanda] were living in Sacramento, California, and the LDS Temple in Los Angeles had just been completed. I wrote Mom to invite her to visit, and we would visit the new temple for sealings. Much to my joy and surprise, she came accompanied by Blanch (Linton). [Lillie was sealed to Edgar for eternity.] Dad had received the Aaronic Priesthood when the church was organized in English, Indiana, but I understand that he felt like he didn’t have enough knowledge to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood as an elder. In order to be sealed as husband and wife for time and eternity in the Temple, a male must be an elder. Therefore, I had the great honor of being proxy and receiving the priesthood for him and then being sealed as him to Mom as her husband for time and eternity, there by, creating an eternal family. I was also sealed to this family as a child. I can testify to you in all soberness that I felt the influence of Dad very strongly during these proceedings and that influence gave complete approval of what was happening . Since this time both Lloyd and Godia have joined the eternal family being sealed in the Temple.

English, Indiana LDS Chapel in 1976

Edgar Webster REASOR (1885-1953) and Lillie Belle LYTLE (1887-1985)

Lillie and Edgar REASOR in the farm house kitchen washing dished.

Kitchen
Goldia Reasor Goldman Miller:
When we moved there [100 acre hillside farm near English, IN], someone had started a cellar under the kitchen. They had dug out some dirt and gathered in a few rocks, then I guess the job got too big for them. Dad hitched the team to a low sled and went around over the farm and gathered up long, sort of square rocks and brought them to the house. Rocks were plentiful on our farm. After the dirt was dug our and moved away, Dad proceeded to wall up the sides with these rocks that he had shaped with the chisel and sledge hammer so they would fit together. They were laid in concrete and when finished, a concrete floor was poured making a good solid room. Shelves were made across one end to old the many jars of fruit that were canned every year. Later the cream separator was put down there, where the cream was separated from the milk. We had to do this before and after school each day. Later, when electricity came to the country, Dad put an electric pump in the cellar and running water in the kitchen.

If we had a bushel or two of peaches or some other fruit or vegetables that needed to be worked up, Dad would take time out from the other work to help us children peel while Mom canned.

Goldia Reasor Goldman Miller:
Dad was a very high-strung, strong willed, person. He was the head of his household, and we all knew it. When he told we children to do something we knew we better do it. He was always very affectionate with Mom. She often sat on his lap and was shown attention. When they had to go to the store in the wagon, he always helped her in and out of the wagon. Later when we girls weren’t around to do the dishes, he would sit in a chair and dry the dishes while Mom washed. They always did things together. He liked to have her out where he was working around the shop or such to find things for him or hand them to him as he worked.

Garland Lee Reasor:
Meals were a total activity. The balance of the family would wait for an hour for someone to come from the fields or woods or berry patch. We didn’t need a dinner bell because Mom usually could reach the absentee by calling. Her voice reached most any area a member might be. I suppose we waited to give everyone an equal chance for at our house left-overs were definitely never a problem.

At times when there were too many visitors to set around the table, the procedure was different. The men, the visiting women and enough of the older children to fill the seats ate at ‘first table’. When they finished, the table was cleared and reset. The family women and the rest of the children would then eat what was left. The same priority was used in sleeping. When company spent the night, the younger children slept on the floor. Dad and Mom were great hosts, and we had relatives each summer to spend several days.

Garland Lee Reasor:
He was not very demonstrative, but he used to slap Mom on the rear while she was clearing the table and sometimes full her down on his lap and kiss her neck. At the community church the older men sat on the right side of the chapel and the women on the left facing each other. There was no opportunity to hold hands in church.

Garland Lee Reasor:
We had made to order family nights. It takes a lot of talking and laughing and singing to get a bushel of corn shelled. This would be an evening chore for the family. The shelling corn was removed by hand from the cob and usually caused blisters. It then was taken by horseback to the mill to be ground into meal for making cornbread. In the summer the whole family participated in peeling fruit and shelling or breaking beans for canning. Hog killing was an all day affair and sometimes even included the neighbors. The fire was started before daylight in order to bet the water hot no three so four hogs could be butchered before dark If things went smoothly we could count on fresh liver for the noon meal. Of course we ate ears, tail, feet and everything.

Gordon Lloyd Reasor:
In the winter evening we would sit in the kitchen by the hot cook stove and shell a ‘turn’ of corn. I always had a blister on my hand before we were through. But I enjoyed the storied he told while we worked. About Ole Shep, the dog he had when we were babies. How Old Shep wouldn’t let anyone come near us when we were out. Sometimes he wouldn’t even let Mom near us. And how Ole Shep would lay and guard his coat all day… or protect the wagon. During the deep snow of the winter of 1917-18, we were nearly one, trials were shoveled in the snow for walkways, and how Ole Shep would stand in the trail and make people walk around him.

And he would talk about the team of little mules he once had, named Tom and Jeff. And how he entered them in a pulling contest. He said a loaded wagon would have corn cobs placed in front of each wheel and the team would be hitched to the end of the wagon tongue. And he gestured with his hands as he told how these little mules would squat real low, and pull together until they moved the wagon.

Gordon Lloyd Reasor:
My very first memory of Dad is of his coming in from the field while I was quite young, probably about 4. He would sit in the straight backed hickory bottomed chair between the kitchen table, and the wood box and the cook stove. And Lee and I would run and climb upon his lap and wrestle and play with him. While he laughed loudly, he always did. And Mom would look up from her cooking with approving glances.