Cotton County Tid-Bits
Submitted by Earl D Mc Nees on June 29, 2002.
 

I was born on East Indiana St. 10/31/27.  Had a twin sister, weighted 8 lbs apiece.  Dr. Baker was my mothers doctor. Just a little history about our family, and If you want more, I think I can dig up some.  My grandfather on my dads side was the first Rock Island Railroad agent, had the first bakery, first theater. My dad, altho he left home when I was 3 1/2 yrs old, worked in the oil field and Wiley Post, Joe Post's brother, whom I delivered papers to when I was in high school, worked as a rough neck for my dad in the oil fields. My granddad on my mothers side, U. R. Slatten, took the first bail of cotton out of Cotton County.  He had to cross East Cash creek and take it to Comanche.  Quite a trip in those days. My mother worked for Earl Pinkerton when he was County Superintendent of Schools.  My granddad (mothers side) was also the janitor of the court house.  He lived in the basement there. Mary Grimes house is no longer there, but if you should drive by to where it once stood, you will see an old Chinese Elm tree that is still standing.  I planted that tree back in 1941.  I planted 4 of them that I grew from seed, and when they were about 2' tall, sold them to Mary for $.25 apiece.  There is only one standing today, and it looks kinda weather worn, like a whole lot!!!!!!!! Clayton Worden and I delivered papers for the town.  He had the North side and I had the South side.  I remember delivering papers one morning when it was only 2 degrees above 0.  We didn't know what chill index was back then, only knew it was damn cold!!!!!!!  My scarf even froze to my face it was so cold, but the papers were delivered. The last 12  years I lived in Walters, was in the house that my granddad (mothers side) built way back when, really don't know what year. We were so far out at the time, we didn't have a street address.  But, if it is still there today, the little sidewalk in front of the house still has the date ( 1936 ) WPA  how lucky we were to have a sidewalk.  Didn't have a telephone, but we had a sidewalk. Since the reunion, I have kept in touch with Toni Penn.  She and I were in the same class, and we e-mail each other almost daily.  That is how I keep tabs on everything and everyone. I remember a name, and I believe it was spelled Kagle.  Am I right, or wrong.  I think they were caretakers of the Walters lake at one time, for I remember one of them being struck by lightening.  The local people could tell you more about that than I could, for I think I was pretty young at the time, but did it make news!!!!!!!!!  I think I could just about write a book on the goings on, especially what all I did, but everyone around Walters knew everyone, so it wouldn't be news to anyone. Back around the early 30's or maybe a little earlier, something happened that only the old timers would remember if any of them are alive today.  My uncle Garland, my mothers youngest brother and a few more kids found some dinamite caps.  This is what happened.  On the Northeast corner of the old 3 story school house, near the corner, was quite a scar in the bricks.  Somehow, my uncle, a miget, (whom was also in the Wizzard of Oz) with Judy Garland., lit off the dinamite cap.  Needless to say, you know what went everywhere.  He lost a thumb, and the ends of 3 fingers.  I remember at times my mother picking copper out of him as it finally came to the surface, which at times, took  years to do.  Too bad, someone hadn't been there to retrieve those few brick.  That could have gone into the meusem. I don't know if you want to record any of this or not, but if you want, you can.  Every time I go back to Walters, which is becoming far and few between now days, as I will be 75 this Halloween, I always go to the cemetery and visit my kin.  They really do a good job of keeping it in top shape. thanks for letting me let you in of somethings that you were probably not aware of. Hope I made your day.

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