Thursday, August 17, 1972
My mind runs back to when I was a small boy, down on Loop Creek, when a big white rooster speared me on the left leg. I can see my eldest brother, Bernard Garrett, chasing the rooster to kill him. I still have the scar above my left ankle. Also, I had a pet rooster named Dip, and we boys would put him on the grape vine and swing him out over a hole of water; he would fall off and some of the boys would swim out and get him.
Then we moved to Watoga while I was still a small boy – that was when I began to remember more. My dear grandmother and granddaddy, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, lived across the railroad. One day my mother left me with them while she went out for the day and I slipped off and went back home. When Grandmother came I hid until she went away.
I saw another brother, Harry, strike a big hog in the head with one of his fingers and the hog fell as if he were shot; he lay there for a few days and then was all right.
Then we moved to Raywood, where I started to school; then back to Watoga, and we met some nice people, especially the two Lang sisters, who have a business in Marlinton. There I met Mrs. Rookey, who took an interest in me out of a large family. I can see her bowing at the altar at the church. Oh, how I missed her when she was carried away to rest. She had a real nice daughter, Flossie, who married Marvin Dunbrack.
I remember one night there was a great storm. We were afraid, so mother took us to Mrs. Rookey’s, where there was a taffy pull going on. We felt somewhat at ease up there. The next morning, we found our back porch was ripped off and the roof moved. Do you remember those wind storms back there?
Well, we moved to Spice Run, where we lived for a number of years and then we moved to Mill Point, where I met some fine people. T. W. Hoggsett ran the grist mill and carding mill, in which I took much interest. Tom Beard took an interest in me, and so did Lanty McNeel. They were real fathers to me. Lloyd Wilson was always good to us boys.
We moved back to Spice Run and lived there until the death of my father, then I began to grow up. I worked on the sawmill and lumber yard and the shoe last plant until they left there.
In June 1929, I went to work on the Beard Section for the C & O Railroad.
In 1932, I married Miss Elisabeth Barrett. We have two girls and two boys; one boy departed his life some years ago; the oldest daughter, Susan, married Cardinale DeCosta and lives in British West Indies. She has three girls. The next daughter is single, lives in Hagerstown, and works as treasurer for the Way of Truth Industry of the Church of God. The oldest son, Samuel, is a song writer. He lived several years in Nashville but now lives in Lakeland, Florida.
I don’t know where many of the people from Watoga and Spice Run live, but if any should read this and remember me I would be delighted to hear from you.
A long ago boy who was in good old West Virginia.
Frank L. Garrett
Hagerstown, Maryland
Boys and Girls in Service
Frankfurt, Germany – U. S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Edward G. Rockafellow, son of Edward G. Rockafellow, of Mio, Michigan, has arrived for duty at Rhein-Main AB, Germany.
Sergeant Rockafellow, an aircraft electrical repairman, is assigned to a unit of the U. S. Air Forces in Europe, America’s overseas air arm assigned to NATO…
4-H CAMP AWARDS
Each year one camper is chosen as the “Spirit” of the week’s camp. Chosen for most nearly fulfilling the four-fold objectives of 4-H – Head, Heart, Hands and Health – was Ginny Mit-chell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reid Mitchell, of Marlinton. Also selected in conjunction with this award are the four Hs, those who exhibited outstanding qualities in each of these areas. There were Shirley Wilfong, Vicki Killinger, Marzella Hollandsworth and Melissa Rittenhouse.
Each of these five campers received a copy of “A Touch of Charisma,” presented by Harriet Johnson, Margaret Reynolds and Dr. Marshall Johnson, former 4-H members.
Receiving the reward of the 4-H Pin for successful completion of the charting project were Sarita Lantz, Ginny Mitchell, Nina Fowler, Vicki Killinger and Diane Shifflett.
The objective of the charting project is to have the 4-Her evaluate his physical and mental position and attitudes and to apply them to plans and hopes for the future…
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Sheets, a son, named Terry Wayne.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. David Vandevender, of Bartow, a son, named Joseph Lee.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Granville Blake, of Marlinton, a daughter, named Malinda Kay.
DEATHS
Mrs. Nettie Dilley, 91, of Hinton, a native of Slaty Fork. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Franklin Harold Weatherholt, Jr., 22, of Buckeye, a son of Franklin H. and Opal Marie Jackson Weatherholt. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Robert Burley Wilfong, 48, of Buckeye; born at Watoga, a son of Burley Wilfong and the late Anna Mae Wilfong. Burial in Ruckman Cemetery.
Mrs. Lucy Cassell Ryder, 85, of Turtle Creek, burial in the Arbovale Cemetery.
E. R. Ruckman, 85, of Westminster, Colorado; burial in Westminster.