JULY 1976
1 July 1976 Thursday
I
paid off my doctor’s bills today then went to Bullocks’ to pick up my pay
check. I made $240 but only cleared $190. One fifth of my paycheck went to
taxes and a I paid a tenth in tithing. I then spent a good part of the morning
and afternoon I trying to find Laguna Niguel out past Irvine Ranch. I finally
found it at 2:00 and the record archives there closed at 4:30 so I didn’t’ get
to use it much., In the evening I went
to the show and saw “Ode to Billy Joe”. It was pretty good but sad and
tragic. I called Meg and Steve Madsen tonight. It was really good to hear their
voices again.
2 July 1976 Friday
I
went into work today and worked 8 hours and so far I’ve made $336 at Bullocks.
Charline brough Denise down to spend the weekend with Mom and Dad and James’
nose was so out of joint because Dens e gets to spend an extra day down here.
In the news the US Supreme Court ruled to allow states to resume capital
punishment as the death penalty was not inherently cruel or unusual. Also, North
and South Vietnam were officially reunified. So much for losing all those boys
in Vietnam.
3 July 1976 Saturday
I went into work at 9 this morning and worked until 5:30. So far I made $360 working at Bullock’s. will get paid tomorrow and I have Monday off so it’s going be a nice week. Ater work Laurie Edmondson and I went to the show and finally saw :”Murder By Death” at the Cinedome. It was pretty funny. On the way home however, I was caught in the Beach Boy’s Concert traffic jam at the Angel Stadium and it took almost an hour to get home. These are the top songs on KHJ Radio. 1 SILLY LOVE SONGS –•– Wings 2 AFTERNOON DELIGHT –•– The Starland Vocal Band 3 MISTY BLUE –•– Dorothy Moore
4 SARA SMILE –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates
5 SHOP AROUND –•– The Captain and Tennille
6
MORE, MORE, MORE –•– The Andrea True Connection
7 GET UP AND BOOGIE (That’s Right) –•– Silver
Convention
8 I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU –•– The Brothers Johnson
9 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE –•– The Manhattans
10 LOVE IS ALIVE –•– Gary Wright
4 July 1976 Sunday
Today
was Fast Sunday and also the Bicentennial
of America’s Independence. I went to Sunday School at 10:30 this morning
and then stayed for Fast and Testimony meeting. We sang patriotic hymns in all
our meetings. I came home at 2:30 and Charline
and Dennis Wachs were down with James, Denise, and Michael. Dennis’ folks
Janet and walt Peavy were over
also along with Denni’s half-brothers Tom and Bruce. My sister Donna came over
for a while also but without Ken Jones.
She looks like she could have her baby at any time. Ken had to work today at
Knott’s Berry Farm. James, Dad and Dennis were having fun blasting off fire crackers all day long. They would put a can in water
then set of the fire cracker sending the cab propelling into the air. James was
blowing part plums which he thought was so funny. We had a Sunday BBQ dinner of
hamburgers and hot dogs. In the
evening Grandma Williams called and was
upset as she was mad at my Aunt and Uncle Bonnie and Bill with whom she and
Grandpa had been staying. She wanted me
to go to Buena Park to get them and
bring them to Mom and Dad’s. I left about 9:00 and it was like a battlefield that night with the air filled with gun
powder smoke and rockets going off everywhere. In the news President Ford went
to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In New
York more than 200 ships paraded up the Hudson River in Operation Sail.
5 July 1976 Monday
I
didn’t have to work today and I slept in for most of the morning. Grandma and
Grandpa Williams along with Aunt Minnie are down staying with us because
Grandma us upset with Bonnie for some reason.
I slept in the front room on the floor in the meantime. In the afternoon I went bike riding and rode
for about 30 miles. It felt good but my butt is really sore.. It was good for me,
however. In the evening, I went to the
Valley View LDS Chapel to meet some kids
who were going to the beach for Family Home Evening. I was able to get to know
Jeff Osborn our group leader better. I found out that we are related through
the Beardsley f Connecticut from the 17th Century. It was a nice
beach party where we sang hymns and camp fire songs. It sure was different than
the Cypress College Beach parties I use to have.
6 July 1976 Tuesday
I
went back into work at 9:45 and worked
until 6:15 at Bullocks. I’ve made $384
plus whatever I got paid
Sunday. I got into an argument with one
of the waitress. They think they are so hot. When I came home from work Mom
told me she put dad in the hospital. While he was working on the red pick up truck the radiator hose
broke and the water scalded him. Mom rushed him to the emergency room at the
Katella Stanton Hospital. I guess he will be alright although the doctors want
to keep him over night. My aunt and
uncle, Marie and Milton came over to see
Grandma and Grandpa. Marie fixed dinner
for everyone because Mom was pretty
shook up. Grandma has been reading my genealogy on the Danforth family . She is
interested in the Peacock and Bilberry side of the family. She told me that
Grandpa Mabry Danforth had helped build the Easth Hotel in Earth Texas.
7 July 1976 Wednesday
I
was up at 8 after sleeping on the floor
again. Dad called and wanted me to bring him a few grooming items which I did
before heading for work in Costa Mesa. I
worked d 8 hours and made $410. When I came home was too tired to attend Young Adults so I just
did the left over dinner dishes for
Grandma and Mom. Dad came home this
evening and I guess he will be alright
without any scaring. Mom and Dad are going
to take their vacation before Mom has to go to the hospital herself.
8 July 1976 Thursday
I
went into work and then after work I drove around Long Beach rather than going right home as I was
restless. I finally went to see Life Guard at the Westminster Cinema. Sam
Elliott was pretty good in it. There was a smog alert for Los Angeles and
Orange County today as it was hot 90 degrees. Mom and Dad drove Grandma, Grandpa, and Minnie
home to Yucaipa.
9 July 1976 Friday
This
date has always had a special meaning for me. Six years ago, John Cunningham
and I had gone to Disneyland and afterwards at D K Donuts at the Orange County
Plaza I told him how I felt about our friendship. Five years ago, this
night when I was back in Texas staying
on the farm with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson I experienced something that
allowed me to begin my journey to the Gospel.
Today is also Linda Prindle’s Birthday.
Didn’t do much today except go into work and watched TV in the evening.
I watched Donny and Marie but not much
else. In the news Harold Carswell who is a Supreme Court Nominee appeared in a
Florida Court and plead he was innocent of attempting a homosexual act with a
police officer.
10 July 1976 Saturday
Much
cooler today only in the 80’s. I feel like I don’t belong in California any but
I can’t go back to Provo because there’s no work there even if I did. There is
so many things that tempt me here. After
work to get out of the house I went to the Stanton Plaza theater and saw “The
Phantom of the Paradise” which was so good. I loved it and the music. All that
is in the news is the Israelis rescuing a hijacked plane at the Entebbe
Airport in Uganda These are the top 10 hits on KHJ. My
favorites are Afternoon Delight, and More, More, More. The Top Ten songs on KHJ
are-
1
2 AFTERNOON DELIGHT –•– The Starland Vocal Band
2
9 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE –•– The Manhattans
3
8 I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU –•– The Brothers Johnson
4
5 SHOP AROUND –•– The Captain and Tennille
5
6 MORE, MORE, MORE (Part 1) –•– The Andrea True Connection
6
1 SILLY LOVE SONGS –•– Wings
7
3 MISTY BLUE –•– Dorothy Moore
8
10 LOVE IS ALIVE –•– Gary Wright
9
4 SARA SMILE –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates
10
12 GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE –•– The Beatles
11 July 1976 Sunday
I
went to the Young Adult Sunday School Class this morning but not to anything
else. I haven’t met any friends there so not sure why I bother. I think people notice that I don’t take the
Sacrament. In the news the Democratic
convention opened in New York City
12 July 1976 Monday
Mom
and Dad left this morning to go back to Texas to see Grandma and Grandpa
Johnson. I guess they will be gone for about 10 days so I will have the house
to myself for a while. This morning
before Dad left he and I changed the points and plugs on the Pinto. It sure runs better. In the evening,
I went over to Kay Hale’s apartment for Family
Home Evening . she gave the lesson and it was really good. Jeff Osborn and I
visited afterwards. He wants me to go with him to fellowship some people. I said I really would like that. When we were ready to leave the
apartment, we saw the police coming up
the stairs. They were busting the dope party that was going on next door. It was really strange to see the police
arresting and hauling out people next door to where we held family Home
evening. Earlier this morning over at
Cal State Fullerton a man shot and
killed several people in the library there. I’ve never seen any good come out
of my experience at Cal State Fullerton. One of the men killed was s speech professor
r who had spoken at Laura Edmondson’s graduation.
Additional Material
Edward
Charles Allaway, a campus janitor, killed 7 people in a library at California
State Univ. at Fullerton. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was
confined at a state mental hospital.
13 July 1976 Tuesday
I
have the house to myself and I went into work at the tea room at Bullock’s and
worked from 9:45 to 6:15. The passed
pretty fast as I am getting used to the whole routine. However, I am not really
excited about working there. The assistant manager John just lives with his
girlfriend Terri who also works there instead of being married. Many of the
waitresses are old and gritchy. Karline
however is another Mormon so we get along pretty good. This girl named Linda was interested in the
Gospel for a while and I even brought
her a Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. When I cam home from work it seems so
quiet with Mom and Dad gone. I called Ralph Ludders tonight and e said that he and his girlfriend
Louise are going to get married sometime
soon. I guess that is good. I was his best ma at his marriage to Brenda
Maloney. I also called Steve and Meg
Madsen in Provo and it was oh so good to hear from them. They sounded in good
spirits. Said I would e back up sometime in September to pick up my things they
stored for me before heading to Washington DC.
14 July 1976 Wednesday
In
the news Jimmy Carter of Georgia won the Democratic presidential nomination by
an overwhelming margin at the party's convention in New York City.
15 July 1976 Thursday
In
the news school children from Chowchilla in Northern California were kidnapped
by 3 young men in a school bus. The 26 children were herded into a moving van
that was buried in a quarry near Livermore, Ca. and held for $5 million ransom.
The children escaped after 16 hours, and their captors were captured within 2
weeks. The men were sentenced to life in prison
16 July 1976 Friday
17 July 1976 Saturday
I
received a letter from Kath Ausderau of
all people today . It’s been a long time, almost a life time since I met her in
1973. Bob Hope was perming at the Orange County Fair today. These are KHJ’s top ten songs.
1 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE –•– The Manhattans
2 AFTERNOON DELIGHT –•– The Starland Vocal Band
3 I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU –•– The Brothers Johnson
4 MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT –•– Starbuck
5 LOVE IS ALIVE –•– Gary Wright
6 GET CLOSER –•– Seals and Crofts
7 GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE –•– The Beatles
8 DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART –•– Elton John and
Kiki Dee
9 ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC –•– The Beach Boys
10
LET HER IN –•– John Travolta
18
July 1976 Sunday
19
July 1976 Monday
20 July 1976 Tuesday
The
Viking unmanned spaceship landed on Mars
today and started sending picture back to Earth. It was really
exciting and I think of the possibilities if my children or
grandchildren colonizing Mars since now they think people can live there. It was 7 years ago we sent
Neil Armstrong to the moon.
21 July 1976 Wednesday
22 July 1976
Thursday
Mom
and Dad returned from their vacation in Texas this morning. They came in right
before I was getting ready to leave for work. They both looked bushed. Marty Robbins played at the Orange County Fair
tonight. His song Strawberry Roan will always remind me of Buddy Husky and his
friend Boyd.
23
July 1976 Friday
24 July 1976 Saturday
I
went to the Westminster Cinema and saw Ode to Billy Joe that was based on the
song. Robby Benson played Billy Joe McAllister who jumps off the bridge because
he was a homosexual and couldn’t live with himself. It was really sad.
25 July 1976 Sunday
Mom
went into the St. Jude’s Hospital in Fullerton
to have a hysterectomy and more work on his stomach by-pass bariatric. I
went in to see her this evening and she was in pretty good spirits.
26 July 1976 Monday
Mom
had her surgery today. It was my day off
so I drove down to Laguna Niguel to do some research on the 1900 Census
they have on microfilm there. It’s 30 miles from the house to 24000 Avila Road
in Laguna Niguel, where its located all by itself like a ziggurat sounded by
nothing. I found Grandpa Luke Johnson living in Putnam County, Tennessee . I
also located Uncle Whit Patton’s family but that is all.
27 July 1976 Tuesday
I
went back to Bullock’s Tea room and
worked from 9:45 to 6:15. Right afterwards I went to Fullerton to see mom who
is recovering at St. Jude’s. She wasn’t feeling all that well. I brought her
some flowers that I had bought along the way. In the news an Air Force veteran Ray Brennan
became the first person to die of so-called "Legionnaire’s Disease"
following an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. "Legionnaire's
Disease" struck in Philadelphia, Pa. 29 people died from the disease. The
disease was first identified after an outbreak at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel
in Philadelphia. It was identified as Legionella pneumophila and found to
infest water systems in general and the hotel ventilation system in this case.
28 July 1976 Wednesday
I
worked my shift from 9:45 to 6:15 and in the evening I bought same plain cotton
muslin and some embroidering threat to
make Donna baby a baby blanket. In the news a 8 .0 earthquake hit China killing at least 242,000 people,
according to an official estimate.
29 July 1976 Thursday
I
called in sick today . My nose and eyes itching so badly that I could hardy
stand up,
30 July 1976 Friday
I
saw Logan’s Run at the Orange Cinedome, which was really good. Michael York
lived in the future where once someone turned 30 they had to take a chance at
being renewed but no one ever is.
31
July 1976 Saturday
AUGUST 1976
1 August 1976 Sunday
Mom
came home from the hospital today. My head was real still stuffy and itchy and
my chest filled with mucus. I didn’t make it to church today because I felt so
awful.
2 August 1976 Monday
I
worked 9:45 to 6:15. John was not feeling well himself ad went home early . I am
still kind of feeling poorly with this cold. I stayed home tonight and watched
T. V. and worked on Donna’s baby quilt.
3
August 1976 Tuesday
4
August 1976 Wednesday
5
August 1976 Thursday
6 August 1976 Friday
Today
was my day of. I didn’t accomplish as
much as I wanted. I did go to the Huntington public library as they have a pretty good genealogical
section. Last night at the Anaheim Stake Center
I found Grandma Williams great-great grandfather John M Anderson and his
family in the 1850’s census for Union County, Arkansas. He was listed as a
planter and slaver. John M. Anderson
& Melinda had Martha Anderson married John Ervin Peacock and had John
William Peacock who married Maggie Wilson and had Minnie Gertrude Peacock who
married Mabry Danforth who had Grandma
Williams. In the evening, I drove to
Cypress College just to be out of the house. Being there made me melancholy. It
won’t be long before it's time for me to
go again. I wrote Wayne Tuck today
7 August 1976 Saturday
(Don’t Fear) THE REAPER –•– Blue Oyster Cult and 9 13 YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE –•– Lou Rawls songs out I like
8
August 1976 Sunday
9
August 1976 Monday
10
August 1976 Tuesday
11
August 1976 Wednesday
12 August 1976 Thursday
When
I went into work this morning John told me that he was going in for surgery and
would be off work for two weeks. That news was kind of surprising so I thought
that I better not wait any longer about
my own news. I told him that I was leaving the tea room and gave my two weeks’
notice. Mr. Wright won’t upset at all
but simply said “You can’t stop progress” which you can’t. I will always
remember his wisdom. Anyway, I was paid
$175 today and I saved out $20 but put the rest into my checking account. On
the way home I stopped at Zody’s on Chapman
and bought two shirts which were the first new clothes I’ve
boughten for myself for over a year. While there I saw that they
had a really nice stereo on sale for
$100 so I bought it to replace the old one that its turn table was broken on it although the radio was still good. I’m
going to let Piper and Richard Holmes
keep it if they want it. The new stereo is really neat
but I am going to have to be really careful about my money now. I called Meg and Steve
Madesen tonight.
13
August 1976 Friday
It was really neat to talk to Piper and Richard Holmes again. They will graduate this Friday then wing over to Hawaii for a week. That’s really exciting. I am really happy for them that things are finally working out for them. I told them that I’d be up around the 1st of September and they said they’d be glad to put me up for a night or two. I’m really getting the itch to split from here. I asked them how Michale Allred was doing. Steve said he seemed more withdrawn and less dependent on people. I guess he’s not getting along with his summer roommates. Things have changed. I’d like to see him again when I am back up there but he probably won’t care whether I do or not. I hope he finds someone to marry soon.
14 August 1976 Saturday
I made up my mind to leave California for Washington DC. I need a new start far away and the National Library there will have lots of genealogical material I want and need. There's nothing left for me here in California but sad memories. DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART –•– Elton John and Kiki Dee is number one out here
15
August 1976 Sunday
16
August 1976 Monday
I gave my two weeks notice at Bullocks today. The assistant manager John was pissed but the manager was so understanding simply said "you can't stop progress" as if he knew I am young and Bullocks isn't going to be my career.
17 August 1976 Tuesday
It
feels like autumn us so much in the air. It’s unbelievable that we haven’t had
any summer this summer. July was so overcast bad dreary. Now August is here and
the air is cool and cloudy with the feel of fall. I was late into work today
but the way I felt they were lucky I came in at all. Last night U was so
stuffed up with a head cold and I couldn’t get any sleep. I felt really drabby
all morning. It seems like I just
get over one thing jut to come down with
something else. Charline and Dennis took the kids to go camping for two weeks up at Sequoia National Park.
Mom and Dad used to take us kids up[ there when we were little. Donna said that the doctor thinks the baby
won’t come until about the middle of September now. In that case I won’t get to
see the baby because I am leaving on September 1st. I’m kind of
wondering why in the world am I going
all by myself to a strange place like
Washinton DC. The Lord must have a
purpose in this adventure or it won’t be
successful nor accomplished according to His purpose.
18 August 1976 Wednesday
I
was tempted to sin today. I am so lonely. I went up to Cal State Fullerton to cruise. Tempted and tried I need a savior. One who can help my burdens to bear. I must tell Jesus He will deliver. He all my cares and sorrows will share.
19 August 1976 Thursday
President
Ford narrowly won the Republican presidential nomination over Ronald Reagan at
the party's convention in Kansas City. I need to control myself more Perfect submission all is at rest. I in my savior am happy and blest Watching and Waiting looking above. Filled with his goodness Lost in his love.
20
August 1976 Friday
A lot of old gospel songs from the Church of Christ has been on my mind
21 August 1976 Saturday
1
12 THIS MASQUERADE –•– George Benson is a melancholy some to match my mood "
22
August 1976 Sunday
I didn't go to church today. Not sure why. I don't know anyone in the Ward and being single and disfellowshipped I can't even take the Sacrament. I don't know what I am doing in California except I can't make a go in Provo. I am out of place in both places. All my old friends like Jerry Smith and Ralph Ludders are married and moved away. Who knows where any of the kids I knew in College are anymore like Kent Larsen, and the kids from the dorm at Fullerton have all scattered. It's been 5 years might as well have been 50. I feel so disconnected like a man without a country
23
August 1976 Monday
24
August 1976 Tuesday
I finished embroidering the baby quilt I am making for Donna's baby. She is due any momennt now. I drove down to Sear at he Buena Park Plaza to buy some backing and lace which mom said she will sew onto the quilt for me.
25
August 1976 Wednesday
26 August 1976 Thursday
It
was pay day today
27 August 1976 Friday
Donna
had her baby today, a little boy. She had to have a caesarian section though.
He was born at 7:07 p.m. in the Anaheim General Hospital on Ball and Knott Avenue in Anaheim. Instead of this being a
very happy occasion, instead it was one of heartache and hurt feelings due to
the inconsiderate attitudes of Ken Jone’s family. Donna almost died but they didn’t
even try to notify Mom and dad until after the baby was born. All we had was a phone call after it was all
over. Mom was so upset she was crying as she wanted to have been with Donna so
badly. When we rushed to the hospital. Ken’s family was all ready there and had
been so it hurt mom a lot to think that they couldn’t have tried a little
harder to inform Mom that Donna was in
delivery after all Donna entered the hospital; 8 hours before at 11 in the
morning. Only then in the evening does Mom and Dad hear anything. After knowing Donna was fine but not able to
see her, Mom and Dad left the hospital and I stayed behind to find t some
answers as I wanted to know when Donna
entered the hospital and when did the Joneses get there. Immediately Ken’s
parents began an irate bellicose rant calling me names. The old man even threatened
to hit me. I wasn’t scared, rather I was shocked at the crude and ridiculous behavior they
were showing in the hospital. The old lady and daughter steppe in to keep the old
man from hitting me right there in the middle of the hospital corridor. The
daughter had enough sense to take me aside and she gave me the answer I wanted.
I thanked her and left the old man and lady who were still ranting and raving. It was really so unreal. At home , Ken called me up and told me that
Donna hated her family and that he couldn’t have any consideration for her
parents who have done nothing for them.
I guess he forgot how mom and dad let him and Donna live at the house. I
tried to be polite because no sense reasoning with a lunatic but when he began
to become irate and say that Mom and Dad could not see Donna or the baby unless
he said so, I hung up rather than argue. However, when he called back and made
Mom cry when she begged to see the baby, it cut me to the quick and I’ll never
forgive him for humiliating my mother. Never.
28 August 1976 Saturday
Dad is so mad I can tell but is bottling it all up and mom's been crying all day. How I hate the Jones. This baby is mom and dad's grandchild and my nephew not just Ken's son. I don't know how this riff will ever be repaired. Mom never thought Donna would be able to have kids and almost died having this one. I had to work today and that helped getting away. It was my last day at Bullocks and will not miss anyone here.
KHJ tops songs on the radio now are LET ‘EM IN –•– Wings. YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE –•– Lou Rawls, I’D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT –•– England Dan and John Ford Coley, (Shake, Shake, Shake) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-8 (6) and PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC –
29 August 1976 Sunday
I spent the day up in Yucaipa with Grandma Williams. They have a trailer at 12389 4th Street #79 there in Yucaipa. My aunts and uncles, Bonnie and Bill Fagen and Marie and Milton Williams were there also. Bonnie and Bill moved from 5796 Honduras Way in Buena Park to 975 California Street pace 62 in Calimesa earlier this year. It was shocking to see Grandpa Williams as he was all curled up on the bed and he was down to 112 lbs. His cheeks were sunken in and he was so thin as I guess he had stopped eating. He was going into the hospital today for an operation on his prostrate so everyone had come up to see him. I think he has given up his will to will and it seems so pathetic. Grandma Willas is just a nervous wreck over his condition. It was a hot summer day at 100 degrees. Milton drove Grandma and Grandpa down to the hospital in Redlands. I went along to assist Milton with Grandpa. At the hospital, my Uncle R.L. Williams and Aunt Jerrie were there already. They had come down from Auburn in Northern California. It was so good to see them even under this condition. In the hospital Grandpa held my hand and gave me what seemed like a blessing. He acted like he wanted to die. Grandma was so upset and beside herself. Afterwards at 7 in the evening I went back home to Garden Grove although Grandma wants me to come back up again before I leave California.
30 August 1976 Monday
I
took my sister Charline and her kids to the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park.
They say it was the hottest day of the year
so far at 112 degrees in Van Nuys and 110 in Whittier. In Los Angeles it
was only in the high 90’s but with a smog health alert! At the zoo I took the kids’
to the children section and James and Denise got a kick out of the goats and sheep.
Denise wanted to see the elephants but I think they got the biggest kick out of
seeing the two headed snake. I think little Michael enjoyed himself too as much
as a toddler can. It was so hot and smoggy today that Charlien and I both had
difficulty breathing. We only stayed at the zoo until 3 because of the heat and
took everyone home to Corona. There I
said good by to my baby nephews and niece
as it will be a long time before
I will get to see them again. From
Corona I drove up to Yucaipa to spend the
night with Grandma Williams as she wanted to see me again before I took off for
Washington DC. My uncle and aunt, R.L. and Jerrie were still with her and we
had a good visit.
31 August 1976 Tuesday
This
morning at the Breakfast table, Grandma Williams gave us a start when she
slumped over and exclaimed, “I’m sick.” We gave her heart medicine
quickly but with her heart condition and
her worry about Grandpa, we were just so thankful that soon she became all
right again. This morning R.L. and I
took Grandma’s car in to have her air conditioning fixed. After dropping R.L. back at the trailer, I
drove on home to Garden Grove.
This month I hardly kept up this
journal. There was so little to write about with mainly go to work at Bullocks
that I left last Saturday. I never liked working there as I never made any
friends and it was difficult working with John and Terri as they often fought
at work. I didn’t like but one of the waitresses but I did love the Tea Rooms
spinach salads and the popovers that we served.
I will be glad to leave
California again as it doesn’t seem like home anymore, just where my folks
live. All my friends I had from high school and college have scattered or
married. Jerry Smith married and moved to Riverside and Ralph Ludders is in
Norco. He isn’t even active in the church anymore. Who knows where Kent Larson.
His mom said he somewhere in Escalante, Utah and John Cunningham may still be
in the military as far as I know. I have lost track of all my friends from
Cypress and Cal State and have never made any new ones since I returned. I even feel disconnected from the kids at the
Young Adults. I feel like I am just
biding my time here. I know Mom knows I
am unhappy being home. I also know they
probably got used to all us kids being gone and is weird having me home again.
SEPTEMBER 1976
1 September 1976 Wednesday
I
spent most of the morning packing the
Pinto and doing last minute things I needed to do before leaving. I had $400
made out in money orders and $100 in cash for my trip. I’m getting a bit
apprehensive but excited at the same
time. In the afternoon, Mom and I went to the movies together and saw “Murder
By Death” to do something together before we left. It was the only time Mom and
I ever went to the show just the two of us. I think she enjoyed it. This evening, I went to bed by 8 so to get
some sleep before I take off early. However, I only slept until midnight as I
just had a lot on my mind. I was thinking this is the last time I will ever
sleep in my old childhood room. I couldn’t sleep
anymore so I took a shower in the blue bathroom, shaved, and then got dressed
to leave. Mom and dad got up to see me
off and I left home at 12:30.
Additional Material
In
Utah church officials grew so alarmed about the homosexual “ring” that they
established The Institute for Studies in Values and Human Behavior with
psychology professor Allen Bergin as director. The Values Institute was charged
with producing a manuscript “which would set forth significant empirical
evidence in support of the Church’s position on Homosexuality . This book
funded by the LDS church would be
written for a “New York Times type of audience” by Bergin and Victor L.
Brown Jr., approved of by at least one general authority, published by a
popular eastern press, and made to appear as though it had no ties at all to
the church. The resulting book would be
then available as “secular evidence” to back up the church’s anti-Gay position.
2 September 1976 Thursday
I
left Garden Grove at 12:30 this morning . I can’t really believe it’s really finally happening after feeling
so despondent this summer being home. I drove through the night and reached St.
George at 9 and then drove into Provo which I reached about 2 in the
afternoon. The time went fast and now it
doesn’t seem like I was hardly on the road. Provo was beautiful as usual
however the leaves have already began to change. I drove over to Fairmount
Square where Meg Madsen was so glad to see me. We visited and talked for the
longest time catching up as I was so keyed up from being on the road. Mike Allred actually came over to shake
hands. I guess we have gone through too much
together to let what happened last spring stand between us. Meg took me over to
apartment 8 and asked the guys if I could spend the night there since there was
an empty bed. It was all right with
them. When Steve came home from Law
School we also had a good long talk about our lives. I sure love Meg and Steve,
I suppose because they love me. I finally went to bed at 11 almost 12 hours after I left California.
3 September 1976 Friday
I went onto BYU’s campus to look at my
education placement file. Mr. Prestwich gave me such an outstanding
recommendation. He is such a dear friend. My education instructor Bro. Squire’s
comments weren’t bad either although it could have been a bit better. I
shouldn’t have been so honest with him but just buttered him up and I suppose
it would have been better. I spent the evening
with Meg and Steve. They have been so good to me feeding me lunch and
dinner and taking me places. I went over
to Apartment 2, which was my old apartment to visit with Mike Allred but the
Neider boys were cutting up and acting so strange that I didn’t stay long. The
place in no way looks the same as when I lived there. It was so bare and empty.
It was just a place to sleep for Mike anymore as he even left “Juan Carlos” his
stuffed pinguin home in Star Valley, Wyoming.
I went and visited with Kathy Ryan, my old family group sister some and
she gave me the name of a lady to look up in Little Rock Arkansas with whom I probably could spend the night
there.
4 September 1976 Saturday
I
spent much of the day relaxing and visiting with friends before going to see
Piper and Richard Holmes finally. She was drying some green peppers for her
food storage so I helped her. It was really good to see Richard and Piper
again. The Pinto is really packed now after loading up all my stuff I had left
behind. I had forgotten how much I had left.
I went through everything and threw out or gave to Piper all the things I really didn’t need but had
just accumulated over time. I stayed
there until 4:30 and then went back to Fairmount to see Meg and Steve
Madsen. We played Monopoly, just the
three of us. I won because Meg and Steve would quarrel and not pay attention.
5 September 1976 Sunday
I
didn’t attend Church as today was Fast
and Testimony and I didn’t know any of the schedules. That wasn’t the real
reason however, just an excuse because
being in disfellowshipment I wouldn’t be able to participate and take the
Sacrament. I was really looking forward
to going to the Marriott center at 7:30
to hear Elder Brue R. McConkie. I went with Meg and Steve and we were a
little late so we didn’t get very good seats but we could hear him just fine. I
saw Mike Allred sitting with Leila Olsen, a family sister from a while
back. The air conditioning in the center not working well and with 23,000 people under
one roof my sinuses began to drain again from the humidity I suppose. After it was over and we went out into the
damp air, I caught another head cold. Elder McConkie’s talk was excellent
although it was really deep and you had to pay close attention to what he was
saying or you got lost. He talked about
Spiritual Progression and how perfection cannot be had in this life but it was
a progressive state of being. Steve and Meg said they enjoyed his talk also.
6 September 1976 Monday
For
Family Home Evening we played Monopoly again. This time with Mike Allred along
with his roommate Joel Matkins. While we were playing, Terry Haake dropped by
and it ws strange to see him again though there was no bitterness between us, instead I was kind of glad to see
him. The game was touch and go all night long, with it finally be between Meg,
Mike and me. Then it was between Mike
and me. Everyone wanted me to concede to call the game but I wouldn’t. I wanted
the game to last as long as it could to be with Mike. It was around 1:30 in the
morning before we all left Meg and Steve’s place and we all went to our own apartments. Everyone had school tomorrow except me but it was a very fun night. It was
friendly old times.
Additional Material
At
the University of Utah The Gay Service Coalition is formed as an outgrowth of
the Gay Consciousness Raising Group to replace the defunct Gay Community
Service Center. Ray Henke continues to operate the Gay Hot line 533-0927. The nucleus/hub of the organization was the
Monday meetings held at Orson Spencer Hall at the University of Utah
7 September 1976 Tuesday
This morning, I went to devotional at the
Marriott Center to hear President Spencer W. Kimball speak regarding divorce
and marriage. He stressed marrying
within the faith. After the Devotional , meg Madsen and I went to pick up the
kids and we went to Salt Lake City so I could help her do her genealogy. While there we accomplished some things. When I came back to Provo I
worked on it for her also from the notes
I took. Her family name is Evans. I
went to bed fairly early because I was leaving out tomorrow.
8 September 1976 Wednesday
At
3 in the morning, I woke up hearing this awful noise outside like someone was
yelling in pain. I looked out the bedroom window but didn’t see anyone. Then
there was pounding at the front door and
I jumped into my pants and ran open the door. Bill Forsythe from next door said that a roommate of his
was having a seizure and that they needed help with him. I ran next door followed by the kids from the
apartment. There this kid named Mike was having a diabetic seizure. The kids
had called BYU’s Health Center and Security
but they were a long time coming. I told them they should call the Provo
Police and the Utah Valley Hospital but no one was listening to me. We were
holding him down when the BYU paramedics
finally arrived and they said to let him go. Mike then immediately took
a swing at the paramedic and hit him right in the mouth and knocked a tooth
out. Mike then ran out of the apartment down the street before breaking into
this lady’s house on the corner. He
smashed through the glass doors and then
ran back to the Fairmont into Meg and
Steve’s apartment. They woke up out of a
deep sleep and saw this strange man in
their room. At first they thought it was me sleep walking. Then he ran into the
kids’ room and jumped through the bedroom glass window landing on his head in a
pool of blood and glass. The family was
hysterical still thinking it was me and had tried to commit suicide. When I head the glass shatter I ran
over to there and finally Meg and Steve
knew it wasn’t me. By then the Provo police arrived and ana ambulene.
Lights were flashing everywhere. Meg and I informed the police what had
happened and it was like a nightmare. Finally,
around 4 I was able to return to bed as did everyone else. I slept in until
11 and even then I was so groggy. I went
over to Steve and Meg Madsen’s to see how they were holding up and they were
completely zonked out having stayed up to calm the kids. Steve talked me into staying another
night so as to try and get a good night
sleep before taking off. I agreed as I was
in no shape to be on the road. So, I went up on campus to the Harold B Lee
Library to do some last minute genealogy. When I came back to the Fairmount
Meg said she and Steve were going to the
movies in Salt Lake City and they wanted me to come along. They informed me
that Mike Allred was coming also. I guess we all need to get away from the
trauma of last night but I thought it strange the show they picked to go see
was “The Omen”. However at 6, some kids
broke down one of the apartment fences and Steve had to call the cops to report
it. By this time, meg was desperate to get away from Provo before something else happened. Coincidentally as we were getting ready to
leave, two old family sisters Sesame and Daisy came by the Fairmount . We
visited for only few minutes as we just had
to leave. Before going to the show in Salt Lake we stopped at this hamburger
joint called “The Iceberg” and we bought
ourselves the best shakes I ever had. The picture started at 9:30 so we didn’t
get out until 11:30. Then it was an hour drive back to Provo. I surprisingly enjoyed the movie. At the Fairmount I said Goodbye to Mike as I
would be gone before I see him tomorrow.
This was the first time since I have known him that I actually got to
say Goodbye rather than just disappearing.
9 September 1976 Thursday
I
went over to Meg and Steve Madsen this morning to say goodbye. They were so
good to me as they fed me and gave me a place to sleep. They are good Latter
Day Saints. I left Provo at 9:30 and it wasn’t as hard to leave as I thought it
would because everything is so different, not being a student any longer. I
just didn’t belong here anymore. I drove
through Spanish Fork Canyon into Price
then down to Moab before stopping to get some gas and something to eat. Around Canyonlands I don’t think I ever saw
such beautiful and spectacular scenery. It was magnificent. In Moab it rained off and on until I left
Utah around Monticello. I then drove
into Cotez Colorado through Durango when it began to get dark. As I was driving down highway 84 into New
Mexico where I pulled over to take quick snooze but suddenly I got an eerie
feeling that something was out in the woods in the dark so I started the car
back up and left and drove on into Santa Fe.
I was super tired and I feel like
the Lord was giving me the strength to
go on so I drove another two hours to
Highway 40 going east to Santa Rosa.
Then I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and I pulled into a
rest stop. There I tried to get some sleep in my jammed packed Pinto. I drove
800 miles today.
10 September 1976 Friday
I
had a restless sleep in the Pinto as it
was almost impossible to get
comfortable. Only the driver seat wasn’t packed with my stuff I took with me.
It wasn’t real cold or I would have been in real trouble. After walking up at dawn,
I was on the road again and drove two
hours down Highway 84 until I hit Interstate 40 into Clovis and soon I was in
Texas. It was only a half an hour from
Clovis to Muleshoe, Texas and then less th n hour to Littlefield and into Hart
Camp. I finally arrived on the farm at 11:30. Grandma Johnson said they had
been looking for me to come in ever
since yesterday. It was so good to see them again as it’s been two years since
I last saw them when they came through Provo with my Uncle and Aunt J.W. and
Pauline. Grandma said that they have
their plane tickets and reservation to
fly out to California this coming Wednesday. They are so excited to see Donna’s
baby if Ken lets them. In fact, I think the only thing keeping them here right now is my coming. I saw J.W. and
Pauline and also visited with my cousin Kay and her husband Clay Cooper. I sure
like him. I also saw little Neil Ballard
for the first time. He is the cutest little wart and looks just like Kay. I
heard that my cousin John has separated from his second wife Carla.
11 September 1976 Saturday
I
wasn’t up until 10:30 as I was exhausted from the long drive. Grandma and
Grandpa went into Littlefield to go shopping and while there they saw my Aunt
Beulah Danforth who was also shopping
and she said she would come over to the
far tomorrow to see me. I didn’t do much today but rest.
There really isn’t much to do on the farm anyway. I tried to get the smell of
sour milk out if the pinto which had spilt and it really stank. Later Grandpa
and I went to the gin where we played dominoes for a while with his cronies. In the evening, I watched
some television and wrote Mom a letter
to tell her what happened to me in Provo and why I was delayed getting to the
farm. It was cool at night so it really feels like summer is behind us. I have
used up so much of my traveling money that I’m getting a little apprehensive
about having enough to live on until I find work in Washington.
12 September 1976 Sunday
I
went to the Littlefield Church of Christ with Grandma and Grandpa this morning. It’s been five years since I had been there. It was so strange and
unfulfilling after experiencing Mormon Sacraments. After knowing the Gospel of Jessu Christ in
it’s fullness I could never be content to go back to the Church of Christ. They
just don’t have the Holy Ghost or the power of the Priesthood. This afternoon
Mom called back here to tell Grandma and Grandpa not to bother about coming out
to California as Ken that Bastard said Mom and Dad could not see the baby
anymore. Grandma was so upset as she was so looking forward to seeing Donna’s
baby. Aunt Beulah Danforth was going to come over from earth but I missed her when
we attended the evening service. I felt uncomfortable because I know Grandma
was hoping I would see the error of my way and would repent and return to the
fold. It was most uncomfortable. When we
were back at the farm, J.W. and Pauline
called and wanted me to come over and spend the evening with them.
13 September 1976 Monday
I
slept in until 10 this morning from staying up so late with J.W. and
Pauline last night. I told Grandma that I was going in to Lubbock
to see if I cold locate my Aunt Lala Peacock who is my Grandma Williams Aunt. However,
when I got there I couldn’t find her address
so instead I went to the public library and in their genealogy section I
found some important things regarding Elijah Carter and his wife Martha Ann
Warren. They were my Granny Rose’s grandparents. I found that they were married
26 October 1841 in Tallapoosa County Alabama. Then I found that Bastian
Fenter’s wife was Barbara possibly a Weeghburg from around 1760 in
Virginia. Grandma Johnson mother was a
Fenter> it was a pretty fruitful day although Lubbock was pretty sweltering
and it looked like it would rain all day but it didn’t.
14 September 1976 Tuesday
It
was a gloomy overcast day. I went into Littlefield to try and find anything in
their library about my people but the library there didn’t amount to much. I called mom today and she was feeling so
much better. She said that Ken Jones
wouldn’t let her see the baby “because she was too interfering”. I hate him so much. Mom said she finished the quilt I embroidered but won’t give it t Donna because Ken would
throw it in the trash. Mom said I should
go to Plainview to see Grandpa’s sister
Aunt Jerry Smith because she is really interested in genealogy. In the evening, I just stayed home with
Grandpa and Grandma and watched some Television with them.
15 September 1976 Wednesday
This
morning was terribly upsetting because Grandma started in on me for being a
Mormon. She started off criticizing the
General Authorities then attacking my testimony. I was getting so upset that I
just got up and went to the car and drove off. I was so hurt and upset. I think
she was taking her frustration over not seeing Donna’s baby out on me. I first went over to my cousin Kay Cooper to see if I could stay there until I got over
being upset but she ha d gone off to church with Pauline. I then decided to
just go back to the farm , pack up my things and leave. I love grandma more
than words can express but the church
means more to me than family, friends or my life. I have a lot of trying to get
my head straight but I am a true blue dye in the wool Mormon and I thank God I was able to see the light . however back at
the farm Grandma was crying over so much grief and sorrow that it broke my
heart to se her sob so. Grandpa didn’t
want me to leave in this condition so I said I’d stay a little longer but I don’t know if it can
ever be the same between us anymore. I
left in the evening to go to Plainview to visit with Aunt Jerry and her husband
Gail Smith. She told me so much about
Grandpa Edd Williams and Granny Rose and the clan when they lived in Dickens.
16 September 1976 Thursday
Today
was a much better day but it hard to be myself
completely after the harsh words
spoken yesterday. I told Grandpa
that I was going into Lubbock to try and find Aunt Lala Peacock again but
before I could get onto the paved highway, the Pinto became stuck in the mud
that the dirt roads turned into from the rain last night. It had rained almost an inch last night with
lots of thunder and lightning. I had to walk about a mile back to the farm with mud up to my ankles. I was so mad that I
kept cussing this red West Texas mud. Grandpa took his truck and tried to pull
me out with chains but J.W. had to use his tractor to pull me out. Finally, when I was pulled to the highway I
was able to get off and see Aunt Lala in Lubbock. As it turned out she didn’t
know much more about the Peacocks than what I already knew except she said how Bill Peacock was run out of Johnson County by
the Klu Klux Klan. The roads began to
dry when I returned to the farm but the side of my Pinto is stained from where
the mud had splattered.
17 September 1976 Friday
I
decided I should stay home on the farm with Grandpa and Grandma. It’s been so
cool here that I don’t know how the cotton is going to mature if it don’t get
any hotter. I sure have had a lot of black eyed
peas and fried okra since being back on the farm.
18 September 1976 Saturday
I
drove into earth going through Amherst
where I was born. I wanted to visit with Aunt Beulah Danforth but when I got
there she wasn’t home. So, I drove back to Hart Camp and over to J.W. and
Pauline’s place. I asked if I could go
to church in Spade with them tomorrow in the morning. I just don’t know if I
can handle going with Grandma and Grandpa again. I also spent some of the afternoon
visiting with Kay and John Cooper. After that I didn’t do much else and in the
evening just watched television with Grandma and Grandpa.
Additional Material
First
annual workshop for the Gay community was held at St. Mark’s Cathedral. 20
people attended with Hal Carter and Paul
Larson facilitating the meeting. (39). Nucleus/hub of the organization
is made up of members from the Monday meetings at the University of Utah in
Orson Spencer Hall. Editor Ray Henke
19 September 1976 Sunday
Today
is Grandpa Johnson’s 75th birthday. I was up this morning to go with
J.W. to the Spade Church of Christ where J.W. is an Elder. Pauline didn’t go
because she had to take her mother Mrs. Sullivan to the doctors however Kay, John and little Neil
was at church. Coming back to Texas sure
made e appreciate the gospel more and
especially the light and truth of the restored
by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I’m not
a perfect Latter Day Saint by any means but again I thank God we have a modern prophet on the face of the
earth again, Spencer W. Kimball. After church was over we returned
to J.W. and Pauline place where Pauline fixed a birthday dinner for
Grandpa. It was delicious and Pauline was always a good cook. It looked like it
was going to rain for most of the day although
it never did. In the late afternoon, Mom called to wish Grandpa a happy
birthday. I was able to talk to her some and to little James who was the house.
It was a nice Sabbath but I long for the fellowship of the Saints. Even more
then love of family I love the Restored Gospel.
20 September 1976 Monday
I left Grandma ad Grandpa’s farm at 9 this morning to get on the road. There was still hurt
between us I could tell. I’m just sick over it but what can I do about it?
Nothing. I drove over to Spade then to Petersburg to find where the Peacocks
were buried. I drove out to the cemetery and found the graves and tombstones of
Grandma Maggie Peacock which is huge and
Grandpa Peacock that just said JW Peacock and nothing else. I was prompted
for some reason to call Grandma Williams ‘Cousin Alvis “Booge” Peacock
who lives in Petersburg. I am so glad I
listened to the prompting of the spirit because he and his wife Rachel let me
look through an old suitcase full of pictures that had belonged to his mother
Josie Bilberry Peacock. They let me take all that I wanted which I gratefully did. They were more
precious to me than gold. After a long visit I drove from Petersburg up to
Plainview to spend the night with Aunt Jerry Smith. While there I went to visit
an old man named J.T Bilbrey that Booge
Peacock told me to go see. He was the son of Leonardo Bilbrey and half brother
to great great Grandma Maggie Roden Wilson.
He was a nice man and we visited some. He had a old walking cane that
his father Bill Bilberry had carved and said that his father was a chair maker.
I didn’t stay long just long enough to see him for a little bit as I was a
total stranger to him. Then I went back
to Aunt Jerry’s where we visited about family for a long time. She also gave me
the name of a lady in Cass County with whom I could spend the night once I
reached east Texas.
Additional Material
Years later the Western Peacock Family Association erected a tombstone with his full name and birth and death dates.
Playboy magazine released an interview in which Democratic presidential nominee Jimmy Carter admitted he'd "looked on a lot of women with lust." Carter was interviewed for the November issue of Playboy, and he admitted that he had committed "lust in my heart."
21 September 1976 Tuesday
I
woke up at 8 and after a good breakfast provided by Aunt Jerry and Uncle Gail,
I said my goodbyes. I was so happy to share the Williams Family tree as Aunt
Jerry was so interested in it, After leaving Plainview I drove down off the
Caprock into Dickens County, which took about an hour and a half. Both my great
grandparents Edd Williams and Rosalee Perser are buried in the Dickens
Cemetery. I stopped at the County Court House and retrieved some
birth and marriage records for family
members before heading down to Stonewall County through Spur where by Uncle
Oscar Lewis Williams is buried. He died as a baby in 1922. Grandma Williams was born in Stonewall County
so I stopped in the little town of Peacock named after her grandfather. Its
located on road 2211 off of Hwy 380. I loved this little old town as it was so ghostly. I stopped in front of a
store that had some old men sitting on the porch. I talked to them who said they knew Bill
Peacock and were living there when Grandpa Peacock died. They said his death
was pretty suspicious and said that they thought he was poisoned. I asked if
they knew where the Bilberry cemetery was. They pointed me towards the Orianna Cemetery
just west of town. So, I drove out to the country cemetery where many of the
Bilberrys are buried. It was such a pretty place with wild flowers and bramble bushes. I wish I would have taken
pictures but I didn’t. From there I took
Hwy 83 into Abilene to visit with Grace Shue, one of Grandma Johnson’s Fenter
cousins. I was disappointed when I found
out that she had just left to go to Hawaii.
So, I didn’t get to see her but left a copy of the Fenter Family
history with her husband. He had me go
visit Ruby Fenter Francis but she didn’t know anything about the family. It was
getting late so I spent the night at a Motel 6 that cost me $20.
Additional Material
Autumn
1976- Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought published “Solus” the first
personal essay by an acknowledge 40-year-old homosexual teacher in a Mormon
publication. It was the desperate
writing of a lonely Gay Mormon male. “In a life time of church activity, I
have yet to hear a single word of compassion or understanding for homosexuals
Spoken from the pulpit.” The issue also published Wilford E. Smith, a BYU
sociologist’s results of sex surveys he had administered to thousands of
students during the previous twenty years. Ten per cent of active Mormon male
students reported homoerotic experiences, 13 percent of inactive Mormon males
and 2 per cent of active LDS female students reported homoerotic experiences.
22 September 1976 Wednesday
I
was really disappointed going to Abilene as I drove out of my way basically for
nothing. I left this morning and was on
the road to Palo Pinto County, stopping in Gordon to see what the town was
like. Grandma Williams’ grandma Minerva Holt Danforth is buried there. It was
mainly hill and ranch country. I went to the Palo Pinto County Court house but
there weren’t anything about the Danforth’s there except for Claud Mayo and
Alice Danforth in 1897. From Palo Pinto I drove an hour north to Jacksboro in
Jack County where Grandma Johnson people lived. I wanted to see what the place
looked like since the Fenters and Mcleods all lived there in the 1870’s. What a desolate looking country. Cousin Grace Shue pretty well got all there was to get out of the court
house there before although I did find Flora McLeod’s marriage
date to George W. Patton. She was
Grandpa Roderick McLeod’s only sister.
It was getting late in the day and I want to get to Cleburne In Johnson
County before dark. So, I left and stopped in Fort Worth. It was an hour drive
from Jack County but at the court house
there was nothing in there but for stuff after 1879 . Cleburne was directly
south 30 miles but traffic in Fort Worth slowed me getting down there. Once I reached the town I called up Grace
Peacock, a daughter of Morgan Peacock and a niece of Grandpa Bill Peacock. She
lives in her father’s old home and se was so glad to see me and she told me
where to find Grandma Martha Ann Peacock’s
grave in the Cleburne Cemetery.
She also gave me a picture of the
Peacock clan. As it was getting late I drove back to Fort Worth to spend
another night at Motel 6. I didn’t get all the information out of Johnson
County that I would have liked to have gotten
and am sure I’ll have to go back again some other time.
23 September 1976 Thursday
I
left Fort Worth this morning and drove through Dallas then straight across Interstate
30 into east Texas only stopping in
Commerce along the way to see where Grandpa Johnson was born. I finally reached
Linden in Cass County at 3:30 with just
enough time to stop at the court House to do some digging for the Persers who
are Granny Rose’s people. It was a gold mine for dates and I managed to get as
much as I could in the short time I was there before they closed. I then had to
find Urmadean Perser who is a distant cousin. I didn’t know her married name
but I found that Grandpa Williams’s sister in law Aunt Pearl was living in
Linden in a rest home so I went to see
her. She told me where I could find Urmadean Vestal and she even called
her for me to make sure I could spend
the night there. She even gave me
something she had written on Grandpa Edgar Lewis Williams my great grandfather
that I could copy. Afterwards I went and found Urmadean and her husband Charlie
Vestal. They were so good to me, taking in a virtual stranger, more or less.
They fed me and then I went to bed. Urmadean said she didn’t know much more
information to give me as her father Archie Perser died when she was a little
girl.
Additional Material
The
first of three debates between U.S. presidential candidates Gerald Ford and
Jimmy Carter air in prime time; they are the first presidential debates ever
televised in color, as well as the first debates between major party nominees
for U.S. President since 1960.
24 September 1976 Friday
After
a great breakfast with the Vestals, I said my goodbyes and drove into
Carterville to stop in the Corinth Baptist Cemetery where I found the graves of Grandpa William
Perser and Martha Carter as well her father Elijah Carter although the name on
it was spelled Eliga. I was so excited by these finds because I had so little
information on the Persers. Leaving Cass
County I drove 50 miles north to Texarkana then over into Lafayette County Arkansas
where I stopped at the Court House and found the marriage date of Grandpa John
Ervin Peacock and Martha Ann Anderson. I thought Lafayette County absolutely
beautiful and driving north to Little Rock, the Carter Family’s song The Wildwood
Flowers kept playing in my head. Before reaching Little Rock II grove through
Fenter Township in Grant County. I found a little cemetery but there was nothing there I could use. By the time I reached Little Rock it was dark
and I called Kathy Ryan’s friend Sister Geisler. She came out to a gas station
I was calling from and I followed her home. She lives near the Little Rick
University. Sister Geisler was a sweet, wonderful woman for taking me into her
home like she did. She asked me to stay until after Sunday so I could attend
church with her. She rally was such a sweet special person. At her place I went
to bed early as I was very tired.
Additional Material
US
District Judge William Orrick sentenced newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst to
seven years in prison for her part in a 1974 bank robbery. She was released
after 22 months after receiving clemency from President Carter.
25 September 1976 Saturday
When
I was up this morning Sister Geisler
fixed a big breakfast and told me where to find the Arkansas historical
archives in Little Rock. When I went
there I couldn’t make hide nor hair of anything there and no one was there to
assist. I really needed more time to find out how it operate s which I didn’t
have. I did find an article on John Fenter who was a grandson of Christian
Fenter which gave me some information on the family. Christian was a blacksmith
and his son David Fenter fought in the war for Texas Independence. He was
supposed to have been at the Alamo but he had taken sick and stayed behind.
After spending some time at the archives,
I went to the Little Rock Main library where they had a genealogical
section that was better. I also went to the University of Little Rock to look
around the campus. I felt so much older than the kids on campus. I was
surprised to see so many squirrels on
the campus ground and they just scamper everywhere. Little Rock is a pretty city but it didn’t
feel like home o me. In the evening, I went back to sister Geisler to sleep.
26 September 1976 Sunday
Sister
Geisler fixed a nice breakfast and I was able to get cleaned up for church
although I felt kind of awkward that I didn’t have any church clothes to wear
and I think Sister Geisler noticed that I didn’t take the Sacrament. I left right after Sunday School thank Sister
Geisler for her kindness and hospitality before hitting the road. It was about
a 2 and half hour drive into Memphis, Tennessee where I crossed over the Mighty
Mississippi. Since I was so close to Tate County, Mississippi I made a detour
40 miles to go see where Grandpa Danforth was born but I didn’t really expect
to find anything because I did not know where to look. I went to Sentaobia but being Sunday the
Court House was closed by I stopped to get something to eat and buy some
gas. This girl asked me where I was from
and I said California and she said she thought I wasn’t from Mississippi
because I didn’t talk like I was from here. I thought that was so funny. I didn’t stay long as I wanted to get to
Cookeville before nightfall which I doubt I would as it was 300 miles away. I
took Interstate 40 and reached Nashville by 4:30 and I stopped long enough to
get some gas and stop at a McDonald’s to get something to eat. I drove from there into Cookeville, which was
another hour and a half and stopping to look up the Pattons in a phone
book I saw that they lived outside of
Cookeville in Bloomington Springs. I
finally was able to find their home around the intersection of Tennessee State
Route 56 and Tennessee off of Route 291, north of Baxter and west of Cookeville
off of Martin Creek Road. The old house
had a front porch filled with baskets of sweet potatoes and as I pulled into
the dirt drive way four people came out to see who could have been pulling up.
I got out of the car and said that I was Wilburn Johnson’s grandson and they
appeared so excited and said you came all the way to see us? They almost scooped me up and had me come
into their home. Verdie and Dewey Patton were Grandpa’s first cousins on his
mothers said. Mae was Dewey’s wife and their son Ben Patton was living with
them all in the house. They treated me
as long lost relative and had me set down to supper with them and I had to
answer all their questions about how Grandpa and my mom was and why I came all
the way to Tennessee. It was getting late,
which was around 9 for them and they gave me a bed to sleep in.
27 September 1976 Monday
I
woke up to homemade biscuits that Mae made right in a wooden trough filled with
flour and just mixed all the dough right there and patted them down. They were the best biscuits I ever eaten in
my life. Afterwards they began to tell me stories about the Pattons and some of
what they knew about the Johnsons, which wasn’t a whole lot. However, I did
confirm that Grandpa Luke wasn’t an orphan, which I had been led to believe all
these years. I knew he had two sisters and some McHenry Half Brothers but that
was all. Al I knew from Grandpa Luke’s death certificate was his father was Tom
Johnson and his mother a woman named Milly.
They pointed me in the direction of some of McHenry relatives that lived
nearby. I found their place and it wasn’t much more than a county cabin in the
woods. Rid McHenry was Grandpa’s first cousin and his father Jim McHenry and
Luke Johnson had the same mother. Rid McHenry was an old man almost 90 and he
sat bundled with a quilt. He answered what he could but when I asked if he knew
who Millie’s last name was he just said he couldn’t remember. His wife was this
little old woman smoking on a corn cob pipe and hadn’t said a word the entire
time I was there until she piped up and said, “I thought you said she was an
Elrod” and he said agreed and said yep that was her name. I was so excited I thank them so much and
then left rather than impose any longer.
So, after all this years I finally found out who Grandpa Luke’s mother
was “Millie Elrod.” was going
to leave today but Dewey and Mae insisted I stay longer and so I did. They were both about Grandpa and Grandma
Johnson’s age while Ben was more like mom’s age. I had such country fare for
supper and I was amazed that the green beans that they served were from seeds
from plants that had been grown on the place for over a century so it was like
eating a bit of history. I never had beans like them before and they were delicious.
Verdie said his Aunt Famie Patton Lock died from complications of childbirth
and was buried in a small cemetery at the end of the Patton land in Bloomington
Springs. The grave was not marked and I
asked wasn’t it illegal to bury people on your property and he seemed irate a
bit and said it better not be. He remembered his aunt as a small, pretty woman.
28 September 1976 Tuesday
I
spent another day with the Pattons and also went into Cookeville to see what I
could find and also to visit with Polly Scott, who is Verdie’s daughter. Her
mother died when she was a baby and she was raised by Dewey and Mae. She said
that when her mother died Verdie closed up the house she died in and it had
never been entered for 50 years. She
said that Laura Scott in east Tennessee is the oldest daughter of Famie and she
might know more about Frank Patton who married a second time after Maggie Stone
died.
29 September 1976 Wednesday
I
left for a road trip to LaFollette to see Laura Scott. Mae offered to pack me a
lunch but I just asked for the left over breakfast biscuits. She said that they
were cold but I said hot or cold they are the best biscuits I ever had. It was
about an hour and half drive and the landscape was really different with the
drive being a lot more mountainous but not like the Rockies. Laura Acott was
happy to see me and I told her I was looking up the Patton Family Tree. She
told me that Frank Pattons real name was Benjamin Franklin Patton and died near
Chattanooga not long after he mother Famie did. She said his second wife was
Merkie Haney who had another second family with her. The Pattons from the first marriage didn’t
care for her and after he did they lost track of that bunch. She didn’t really know much beyond her
immediate family as she lived in east Tennessee for most of her married life. I
drove back to Bloomington Springs to spend another night. I had such a good
time with them telling me stories of bushwacking tales they heard that went on
during the Civil War with their mother’s father killed during the Civil War by bushwhackers.
People were killing each other over old feuds and loyalties to either the Union
or the Confederate. They told me that it was doubtful that Grandpa Luke was
nursed by a black woman because they didn’t know of many black folks who lived
in the area as that Jackson and Putnam
Counties weren’t really large farm counties. They said they heard the story of
Sam Pattons daughter chopping up some guys that had attacked her father and
brother during the Civil War. They didn’t know much about the Stone families.
30 September 1976 Thursday
I
think the Pattons would have been happy for me to stay longer but I really
needed to get on the road as it’s 600 miles from here to Washington DC. Before
leaving they called me into the front room and said they had a family counsel
and they wanted me to have a family picture of Luke and Maggie Johnson with all
their kids. Grandpa looked about 10 years old in the picture so it must have
been taken just been taken in Texas and sent to them. What a treasure that is.
Mae packed me food for the trip and I thanked them for all their hospitality
and I really felt connected now to my Mom’s roots. Once on the road I stop at the Cookeville post
office to say good by to Polly Scott before hitting the road taking Highway 81
north. I finally stopped for the night in Lexington Virginia after driving
through the Shenandoah Valley. Grandma Johnson’s Fenter folk came to the
Shenandoah Valley in the 1740 but not sure I had any other ancestor from this
area. Maybe some of he Pattons passed this way. It was spectacular scenery but
no time to sight see
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