Esther and Gus
Esther’s Story
Esther Dorcas Humberd Coats
Written in December 1993
With italicized comments by the typist!
• One day, on April the Second 1926, in Ashland, Ohio, a bouncing baby girl was born to Anna Marie Humberd, and Russell Isaac Humberd. They named me Esther Dorcas Humberd. I was the only one of the seven children who was born in a Hospital.
I remember how, as I grew up, I would pretend to be a teacher, and would line up the dolls and sing and talk to them.
• As I grew up there were a lot of chickens in the nearby chicken house, and I enjoyed feeding the chickens, and liked to talk to them. I also remember that our family lived in several different homes in several different States. I remember one time I spent time with a lady named Audrey who would drive her car, and take me many places.
• My Pop was a preacher, and went many places to speak. One time, while the family was in the car, traveling someplace, Brother Johnny said to his father, “Step on the juice and go faster.”
• At one time I had a job in a very large house in a city north of Chicago, on the shore of Lake Michigan. I would scrub floors and wash windows. Later I worked at Zenith Radio, and at another time I worked for the Sunbeam Company. Another job was with a company called Carborundum.
• Near the end of World War II, we lived in Akron, and I had a job at Goodyear Aircraft. I worked in the huge building where they had built dirigibles, and were now building parts for airplanes used to win WW II. Without my help, who knows what might have happened to that war!
I remember meeting the Humbard Family, who also lived in Akron, and my Pop preached at the Humbard’s church. (Rex Humberd, often seen on TV, is a member of that family.)
• When I lived in Chicago, my roommate was a lady named Ruthie, and we lived above a church. Another roommate was named Shirley. We didn’t have to travel far to get to church!
I attended Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago, for one school year, and also spent almost a school year at Bryan University, in Dayton, Tenn. At one time I lived in Flora, Ind. where I worked at a furniture factory.
(This story does not tell everything in the order in which it happened, but it does tell many things that I remember happened, and that is the important part!)
At one time I lived near my sister Mary and her husband Harold in Chicago, and worked at Sears Roebuck for awhile.
One day, I went with a friend to the Chicago Evangelistic Institute, where I met Gustava Coats. What a momentous occasion! My friends and I were going to a Youth meeting, Gus went along, and has been along ever since.
Gus just happened to live across the alley from the home where I lived, and we dated regularly. At first Gus would watch me go to work, and later would meet me at the bus stop, then a little later would meet me as I got off work at Sunbeam.
• Then came the day Gus went with me to visit my family at Flora, Ind. That is the beginning of the long relationship Gus has had with my family.
Gus must have fit in with my family OK, because on June 16, 1951 we were married, by my Pop, at 3:00 PM in the Grace Brethren Church in Flora, Ind. My brother Paul was the Best Man, and my roommate Ruthie, was my Maid of Honor. Martha played the piano, or maybe that was Mary, I don’t remember for sure. There was a good crowd for the reception at my folks home, just outside Flora. We spent a short honeymoon at a hotel in Logansport. We could see a fire across the street from our hotel, and were sure glad we weren’t in that building.
We lived in Chicago where I continued to work at Sunbeam, and Gus was still attending the Chicago Evangelistic Institute. When the Institute moved to Iowa, Gus got a job at Hotpoint.
• We lived in Chicago when both Nancy and John were born, then in 1960 we moved to California where we stayed with Jim and Emmy for a few months. Later we moved into our first home, thanks a lot to Jim and Emmy. This is where we began our day care service. I took care of little kids aged from 18 months to 3 years old. We did this for 25 years, and we had almost 900 different children during that period.
In 1984 we moved north of Los Angeles to Palmdale, where we live now.
• Now back to the past, and a few other memories. While I was still a young girl, and we lived in Martinsburg, Pa., Mom or Pop found a couple of poems. They put them on the cupboard in the kitchen, and while doing dishes, I learned the poems. One was, “Will you walk into my parlor said the spider to the fly?” The other was “Poor little black sheep that strayed away.” I still enjoy saying them.
I always said that our Police dog, named Rover, had 52 puppies, but Jim wrote in his story that she had over 120. That’s a lot of pups.
• In 1994 my graduating class at Bean Hill, whoops I meant to say Cove High School, just outside Martinsburg, Pa., will celebrate our 50th class reunion. I am supposed to write a paragraph or so about my life since graduation.
I found report cards from my school days. I got an “A” in spelling. For “Food and Clothing” I received a “C” and a “D.”
When we telephoned Betty (Brother Johnny’s wife) a couple of weeks ago, I remembered that her brother, Dean, was my teacher in 5th and 6th grade. (Only four rooms in the whole school building, and there were two grades in each room.) On my report card Dean wrote, “Whispers too much,” and put a check after it. He did that once each year.
A couple of years ago I was showing my report cards to my Grandkids. I hoped they would notice that I got an “A” in spelling and arithmetic, but all Russell, the youngest boy, could see was, “Whispers too much” and the check mark! I told him that my brother John married the teacher’s sister Betty. Russell said, “Oh, he was your brother-in-law.” I said, not quite a brother-in-law, and they were not married until several years later.
Now, if I mention my report card, Russell always says, “Whispers too much!” When I mentioned this to Betty, she said her brother did that to most of his students. That made me feel better, but I’ll bet I was the only one who got a check mark too.
• Oh yes, I am really glad that I learned to play the piano when I was very young. The lady who gave me lessons was going to India as a missionary, and my lessons cost 50¢ an hour. I didn’t have too many lessons before I could play my first song, “Jesus loves me this I know,” with one finger.
I remember singing a duet with my mother at the Vicksburg church, when I was a teenager. The song was “Only Believe.” Mom played the piano and we both sang. I looked toward the wall and not toward the audience, I was so bashful.
While I was a student at Moody in Chicago, one Easter Sunday I sang in a choir of 4,000 people, at a meeting in Soldier Field. I wasn’t scared at all that time.
• At Vicksburg, my Sunday School class was held in the first and second row of the church (there were no separate rooms in the little church), and my teacher was Mary Dively.
One time after Sunday School was over, my Pop went to the front of the church and said, “I don’t usually do this now, but I want to give an invitation for anyone to accept Jesus as their Savior.” I took two or three steps to the alter and accepted Jesus as my Savior, and was later baptized.
God has been with me ever since in ways no one will ever know. After all, if you’ve been in one hospital, you’ve been in them all, and that’s about all I will say about that.
• O yes, I remember some jobs I had to do when I was very young. For example, I had to pick potato bugs. I don’t remember how much I was paid, maybe ten bugs for 5¢. I proof-read books before Jesse printed them. I would “tear down” the type, and put it in the little spaces in the special drawers, then Mom would set up the type for the next page. I also helped put the books together sometimes.
My favorite job was gathering the eggs. The chickens and I really had a nice time talking together.
• I recently heard from a girl friend, and she asked if I had a sister named Lois. I said that one time I did, but now she is called Martha.
One Christmas I wanted a doll bed so much that I asked my Mom if I could have one, and a doll bed was found under the Tree for me on Christmas morning. A few days later, a package came in the mail, and when it was opened, there was another Doll bed for me. I sure was glad about that.
• It was always a good time when we drove down from Chicago, and we all got together at Paul’s when they lived on the farm near Flora.
I remember one time I stayed with my Mom at her home in Winona Lake, while Gus was visiting his friends in Michigan. Mom and I would take our Bran Flakes and go down to the lake and eat our breakfast, and feed the ducks.
The last time we were at home in Indiana, was when we stayed at Mom’s home in Winona while she was in the hospital. That was the last time we saw Mom. When my Pop died, several years earlier, Jim and I flew home from California, for the funeral.
• I remember the good times Gus and I and Nancy and John, had going to Disneyland. We collected “S & H Green Stamps” and traded them for tickets. We got in free for three years, by using the stamps. Now it costs about $30 each to get in.
I remember one year, we visited back East and when we got home, we got on an airplane and flew to Hawaii where Nancy was living. Her husband Bob was in the Marines and was stationed there, and we stayed with them.
One time when we were visiting at Flora in 1979, I went “home” to Pennsylvania with Johnny and Betty. It was nice to go back to Martinsburg. It was the last time I was able to visit there.
One year on our anniversary, Nancy and John, our daughter and son, went with us to Catalina Island by boat. That was a nice boat trip.
• Well, after all of this I have come to the end of my story. We have come a long way in our 43 years together. There have been a lot of good times, and a lot of disappointments, but we are still getting along well.
And yes, God has kept us together through it all.
Love to all those who read this, and I hope it brings back memories of the good times we had over the years.
Love, Esther
These are the poems that Esther mentioned in her story
Po ‘lil Brak Sheep
Po ‘lil brack sheep dat strayed away.
Dun los’ in de win and de rain.
And de Shepherd he say,
“Oh Hirelin, go fin my sheep again.”
But de Hirelin he say, “Oh Shepherd, dat sheep am ‘ole and grey.”
And he say, “Oh Hirelin, go fin my sheep again.”
But de Hirelin, he frowin, “Oh Shepherd, dat sheep am bad and brack.”
But de Shepherd, he say, “Oh Hirelin, go fine my sheep agin.”
But de Hirelin he say, “Oh Shepherd, de res ob de sheep am here.”
But de Shepherd he smile, he hod it de mostest dear.
De Shepherd doe out in de dartness
Where the night was col’ and bleak.
And dat lil’ brack sheep, he fine it and lay it against his cheek.
But de Hirelin he frowns, “Oh Shepherd, don’t bring dat sheep to me.”
But de Shepard he smiles as he hods it tight,
And dat lil’ brack sheep wuz me!
The Spider and the Fly
“Will you walk into my parlor?” Said the Spider to the Fly.
“ ‘Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy:
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there.”
••
“Oh no, no,” said the little fly, “To ask me is in vain;
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”
“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the spider to the fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest a while, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”
••
“Oh no, no,” said the little fly, “For I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”
Said the cunning spider to the fly, “Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?
I have, within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?”
••
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “Kind sir, that cannot be.
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”
“Sweet creature,” said the spider, “You’re witty and you’re wise;
How handsome are you gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”
“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”
••
The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly fly would soon be back again;
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.
••
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did he sing,
“Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple, there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.”
••
Alas, Alas! How very soon this silly little fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last.
••
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den
Within his little parlor but she ne'er came out again!
••
And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and eye.
And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.
Mary Howill (1799 - 1888)
This is my life, Gustava Coats
(25th day of April 1990)
IN THE BEGINING
• On the Ninth day of September 1921 there was a boy born into this world, in Hope, Michigan. My Dad died when I was around 3 yrs. My mother was not able to keep us so I was placed in an orphanage. One day a man came and took me and another boy with him. I remember that we got in a car, and he drove for a long ways. We arrived at a house in Beaverton, Michigan, and went inside. We saw pigs and chickens. Then the woman got me to come in the house where she played the organ for me. While she did that, the man and boy who I came with left. Soon they came back, they had forgotten to leave my clothes. This was the beginning of a new life for me. The names of my new Mom and Dad were Nancy Coats and Orin Coats. They gave me my room, and this was a new life for me.
MY MOM AND DAD
• Now a little about my Foster Mom and Dad. I don’t know too much about them. My Dad had three brothers. Two died and one, named Ike, came to see us. He came from Paulding (Canton), Ohio. He also had a sister and other relatives I don’t know about.
Mom was originally married to a man named John McGrath. While married, she had a son named John McGrath who died in 1921. That is the year I was born. Mom also had sisters she took care of until they died. She also had a brother who lived a short distance from us. Don’t remember what year he died. After her first Husband died, Mom married Orin Coats. Don’t know what year or date. Pop worked for the City of Beaverton on the W. P. A. as already mentioned.
Mom was strict with me, and just did not let me go just anywhere, when I was growing up. Did not want me to have any girl friends, or go out with them. When ever I got out of hand she grabbed me by the hair. I can remember she used to get a willow switch that got my attention.
I had a teacher who also was strict. She kept a stick, about foot long, and she used it too. In those days, teachers had control over the kids.
MY HOMETOWN
• Beaverton was a small town when my folks moved there. No cement or Black top streets. They were dirt, with no street lights, no sewers. Water was piped outside, and there was no inside plumbing. The “bathroom” was an Outhouse. No TV in those days, just radios. One time the local store that sold explosives blew up, and leveled lots of stores in the area. There were no cars, only horses and buggies or wagons. They came to Beaverton in about 1918. Three years after her son died, I came to stay with them.
• I had a wagon I used to play with, like it was a car. Also had a dog, and at one time a sheep, and a Billy Goat as pets. Later we had to get rid of them. The dog had to be shot for some reason. I cried, because I liked the dog a lot. I took him and buried him myself.
We had a flowing well in our yard. It was good water. We caught rain water to wash clothes. I helped wash clothes, clean house, milk cows, feed the chickens, pigs, horses, and cows. Shoveled snow in winter, there was coal, and we cut wood for the fire.
SCHOOL AND CHURCH
• Then the day came that I first attended the Beaverton school. As years went by we went to the Methodist Church where I attended Sunday School. As I grew up I enjoyed playing soft-ball, later basketball. I remember Christmas and Thanksgiving, times of giving presents and eating chicken and turkey.
We used to get out the old grey horse, hitch it to the buggy, and go to my Mom’s granddaughter’s house and Daughter-in-laws. It took us a couple of hours to get to their house.
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
As time went by we would have friends come and camp in our yard. We became close friends, their name’s were John and Fanny Morris. They had two boys and we had fun playing together. They came every year to stay for a week.
My Dad had a niece who lived in Big Rapids, Michigan. They would come and stay for a day. They had one boy who died when he was around 14 or 15. It was sad for them to lose him.
Then we had new neighbors move next door. We got to know them and the boys and I would play together. There was one girl, we used to play store together. We all got along good with each other, then they moved. Other people moved in. Others came and went, as the years passed.
I can remember one Christmas I got a train which had a light on front which would light up. Also a car that had a light.
At nights Dad and Mom and I would play checkers, dominos, and we would eat apples and pop corn, and listen to the radio. There was no TV to watch in those days.
LIVING IN THOSE DAYS
• Back home in Michigan again, we would sit on the river bank and catch fish. We could catch Bull-heads by the pail full. In winter we went ice skating. There was a hill next door to us, and I would take my sled, run and slide down the hill, and go half way across river. The river ice would freeze to 18 inches thick. Snow would get a foot deep. I can remember snow piled up after the snow plow went by, some at least 15 ft high.
We made our own bread, butter, sour kraut, and canned fruit. We had corn, beans, potatoes, and strawberries. We cut our own hay. Went out to the woods, cut wood for winter heat, and for cooking. We also had coal to burn. We would go to town every Wednesday to see an outdoor movie. This was during the summer. I learned to drive a car for first time when Mom-Dad bought a 4 door model A Ford. It was stick shift. Gas was 25¢ -35¢-40¢ at that time.
POP WAS INJURED, HEART ATTACK, THEN DIED
• One time while growing up Pop went across the river to milk the cows. He drove the horses and wagon, but after a long time we saw the horses come into the yard, but Pop was not driving them. We looked and found Pop lying in the wagon. He had fallen, but got into the wagon, then the horses brought him home. When he fell, a nail had gone into his wrist but was able to get into wagon before he passed out. Was a long time before he felt better.
• One day while we had people visiting us, Pop had a heart attack. He got over that for a little while, then he had another attack and Pop passed away, leaving me and Mom to carry on. I got a job, as I said, with the City of Beaverton. Pop had worked for the City during the time of the W.P.A., in the 1930’s.
As years passed, Mom’s health got so she could not do much. That left me to do the work around the house.
• Pop died in 1947. Then in 1949 Mom passed away, and that left me all alone. But before this I got to meet my brother Earl, who I did not know. It did not seem like we were brothers, because the family was all scattered here and there.
I INJURED MY KNEE
• One day, while I worked for the City, we were digging up a broken water pipe. I told the man who was in the hole to get out, and I would get in. I started to dig and all at once the hole caved in, knocking me to the one side. I was covered up to the waist. It had pushed my left knee against the side, hitting a stone. My boss and the guy pulled me out. My knee swelled up, I could not walk, and it was painful. Neither the Boss nor anyone else could take me to the Hospital, as they had to stay there. I got in the car and drove myself nine miles to the Hospital. They took care of me at once. Got out and went home to see Mom. She was very sick at this time. During the next morning, while I was in the Hospital waiting for surgery, they came and told me that my Mom had passed away. I got some crutches, stayed home, and after that I was left alone.
• After my surgery, I was on crutches for a long time. At one time I worked helping build a bridge. I can remember when a group of us planted lots of pine trees. Those trees are still there, real big, lots of shade.
WORKING ON THE FARM
• In the summer we would plow the fields and plant potatoes, corn, beans, strawberries, and cabbage. We had cows, pigs, chickens that I would have to feed. I remember the hen that showed up with little chicks. We would make our own bread, butter, and can our own fruit. We would have meat from pigs that we had on the farm. We lived near a river, and used to go fishing. We caught lots of them. We also had some geese on the farm. Sometimes my Mom’s daughter-in-law would bring us some deer meat to eat.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL CAME THE ARMY
• I took part in church, later became custodian, then Sunday School teacher. As years went by I got a job working for the City of Beaverton. Shortly after I finished High School, I was drafted into the Army. During my time in Service I was sent to Africa, then on to Italy where I was for three years. Then came the day when I was sent home! I can still see my Dad come running out to the gate to meet me. Mom saw me coming down the street. They were very happy to have me home.
• I was in the US Army, during WW II, from 1942, the year I finished High School, until 1945 when I was discharged. Where do I start with such a story, let's see! My folks felt hurt when I left in 1942, they did not want me to go. But I had no choice, I had to go.
TRAINING IN THE USA
• I first went to a camp in Kalamazoo, Michigan, then from there to a camp named Camp Claiborne in Louisiana. There we trained, I was a leader of a machine gun (50 Cal) group. My job was to place the guns in a field, and hide them. One time we got up and went on a 25 mile march. At a camp in Arkansas we also trained on an anti-tank gun. As this one outfit I was with, was getting ready to move out, I was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to the 88th Infantry, where I was for three months. We could go to town on a pass, and we also could go to a movie on the base, or go to the PX.
We were there for a while, then one day we were put on a train and landed in Norfolk, VA. We were soon loaded on a big ship, and off into the Blue Sea we went. At night the moon shone on the waves reflected white, from all the salt. After almost three to four weeks we finally saw land.
• Between the time I first reported to the Army, and the time I went overseas, I got to go home on furlough twice. Rationing was in effect at that time
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO AFRICA
• We didn't know where we were headed from Norfolk, but after many days on the ocean, we landed in North Africa. We were stationed in Oran, Africa. We stayed in North Africa for a month. In the day time it was hot, and at night it was cold. You could see for a long distance across the desert at night. One ship that left for Italy was strafed by a German airplane, but we got through OK when we went.
AND ON TO NAPLES, ITLAY
We then boarded another ship to Naples, Italy. We joined the Fifth Army in Naples. We landed at Naples, and a short way out of town we set up camp. Italian people and their children would line up for something to eat. I got to know a family and would give them extra food. One day they invited me to their home for supper, which was real nice. We ate spaghetti.
We stayed in Naples for two weeks, then off we went right into the shooting and the shelling. At one place we had to move a bunch of 105 Howitzers into a field of mud. These guns had to be dug in when they we were fired, or they would jump backwards. One night I had to fire one by myself. This went on all night. We had to crawl under barbed-wire while machine gun bullets flew over out heads.
THE BATTLE FOR CASSINO
• We battled up to Cassino. This place set on top of a mountain the Germans could look down on us. There was quite a battle before we took it. After this on to Rome. After we went on to the Gothic line. Some of the places we went thru were Salerno, and Anzio. After Rome it was on to Florence, Bologna, Venice, Milan. I have books on our trip which helped, although I remember these places anyway.
In one of our places in Italy, the thing I remember is the different people I met. A little girl who I made sure got left-over food, and I met her family. A young lad stayed with us and helped out in the Kitchen. The saddest thing I remember when me and two others came upon two young men, maybe 22 years old, who were laying side by side, dead. This is one thing I will always remember.
THE ROCK GOT BIGGER, THANK GOD
• Now I have a true story to tell. It may seem made up but it really happened. I know because it happened to me. While in Italy we pulled into a place where we set up guns and the kitchen and dug holes for us to sleep. We started to dig for a hole about 15 ft from where we had set up the kitchen. While digging we soon hit a stone. He wanted to quit but I said let’s keep digging. To my surprise and his, the stone got bigger and bigger. He quit and went somewhere else.
I dug a little more, and the stone still got bigger, so I gave up. I moved back about 15 feet and dug in beside a hill and put up my tent and went to bed. About 2 o’clock in the morning the Germans began to shell us. Shells were falling all around us. All of a sudden I heard a Big Bang.
The next morning when we got up we saw where a shell had landed right at the corner where the other guy and me were first digging our fox hole. There was a piece of the shell that came through my tent. The Captain asked who was in that tent. I told him that it was me. He thought I was very lucky. But it was the Lord who was watching over me, and prayers of people from churches. Then at another place where we were, a shell landed close to me and some others, but no one was hurt. At one time I was sent to the Hospital because my finger was mashed while unloading stuff from a truck.
CAPTURED GERMANS
• We had a German cook with us for awhile. He could make pancakes really good. The Germans used 12 year olds to fight. I can remember when we captured 200 Germans who gave up. I can still in my mind see them marching by. I had to be a guard and watch them when we got them in the stockade. We had snow, rain, mud, and the winters were cold, and the summers warm. At night when we drove our trucks, we would use special lights so we could see where we were going. I drove trucks and jeeps, at different times.
ROME, PISA, FLORENCE, VENICE
• We got to visit Rome. We saw the Coliseum where lots of people lost their lives, and where they had horse races with Chariots. We stayed in the center of Vatican City and saw where the Pope would come out to speak to the people of Italy. As we traveled through Italy we went to Florence and Venice, saw the leaning tower of Pisa. And the leaning tower does lean, I saw it in person. Venice was surrounded by water, and the people got around in boats. In the center of Venice there were hundreds of pigeons.
MET A LOT OF PEOPLE
• Along the way I met a young man. He took me home with him, and I stayed there over night. Then along the way I got acquainted with another family. Got to go home with them. In the first family I met, the mother was expecting. I was invited to come after the baby’s birth. I was to be the Godfather. Did not get to go. The Boy is about 47 years if he lived. Wish now I would have got their names, addresses and gave them mine.
I can remember when we use to dig deep holes for things left over from the kitchen and would just get done, and move out next morning.
HOME AGAIN
• One day we were to go to Switzerland, but instead we headed in another direction. We ended up in Naples and were put on a ship. There I met a guy from home that I grew up with. We were going to be shipped to Japan, but they gave up and we were on our way home, which was OK by me. I will never forget the G.I.’s that I saw who had been killed. That is what war does. Never proves anything.
RIBBONS
• While in the service, I received a ribbon for being a Sharp-Shooter. The gun was a 30-30, and also the 50 Cal machine gun. I also got a good conduct medal, plus over seas ribbon, plus one for service award for the years served.
I REMEMBER ITALY
• One thing about Italy was mountains, winding roads, and woman carrying things on their head, and an old guy behind them with a cane. I often wonder why I never kept in touch with the ones I met. We moved a lot so was hard to keep in touch.
I had to look in a book I have of Italy to get names of places I spoke of. Just think, I got to see all of this and it cost me nothing. But sure would have been better under different times, then being there fighting. It was great to get back home. My folks were glad to have me home. This wraps up my time in the Army. Hope you all enjoy this. I almost forgot one outfit I was in, was one of the outfits that landed at Normandy. I was sent to another outfit. After finding this out I was pleased in one way, but sure feel sorry for those who were there.
Now it was back to farming, milking cows, feeding chickens and pigs.
EVANGELISTIC INSTITUTE
• While going to church and talking to different people, I heard of Chicago Evangelistic Institute. But before I forget, after I got out of the Army I went to a youth meeting at a church 8 miles from where I lived, and there is where the Lord “called” me. I will never forget that night. It was like some one took hold of me and pulled me to the alter. That was the beginning of a new life for me.
MORE FRIENDS, ONE WAS VERY SPECIAL
• After Mother passed away, I got acquainted with a family who had two girls and one boy. Their last name was Smith. We became close friends. Went to see them many times. When they were in bed one time, I crawled through a window, slept on couch. When they got up in the morning they were surprised to see me, but glad to have me.
Then one time I brought a message in a church that they went to. We had lots of good times together. Now Mom and Dad Smith are both dead, and their kids are grown up and have kids of their own.
While at the Chicago Evangelistic Institute (C.E.I.) I taught Sunday School. While visiting with a friend, we went to a jail to talk to guys in jail. Later I met a young lady who lived in Louisville, Kentucky. In the summer we would drive down there with her and two others. We did this several summers. We would go to a Christian Camp. G. I.’s would come there, and we would talk to them and help them. There were quite a few who came to the Lord.
I was at C. E. D. about 3 years. While I was there, I stayed in the boy’s dorm where I became close friends with my room mates, Earl Lindsey and Bill Corey. As time passed one girl that I use to take to Kentucky got me, and others, to go to youth services. One night she came with another young lady. I think I “lost it” because I fell for her (Esther). Later we were married!
At about the same time Earl became engaged, then Bill, then me. Earl was married the 15th of June, Bill was married on June 17, and Esther and I was married on the 16th of June, 1951.
Esther worked at Sunbeam Corp. I used to wait at the bus stop for her, when she would come home. She lived across the alley from me. I would look out the window and watch her go to work. Later on, I would take her to work . Then came the day that I was to take her home, which was in Flora, Indiana, to meet her folks. Well guess what, I passed the test. This was a beginning of a long relationship as I met Paul’s, Jim, Martha, Mary and other relatives.
As time went on what do you know, there was a wedding, and Esther and me got married. Esther’s Dad was the minister who married us.
LIVING IN CHICAGO, WITH NANCY AND JOHN
• We lived in an apartment in Chicago. I got a job with Hotpoint Corp., where I worked for about 12 years.
Then I dropped out of Chicago Evangelistic Institute, they moved to Iowa.
• Then one day there was added to our lives in the way of a 7 lbs, few ounces, a Beautiful young blond haired girl. We named her Nancy Ann, she was born on April 14, 1952. Well now, this gave us someone to keep and love.
Then one day Earl called and wanted us to have his sister Eileen come to Chicago and be with us. We got her a room with two other girls, Marge and Opal. As time passed, she met a young man named Cletus, and what do you know, they got married. Her Mom and two sisters came and stayed with us at our May Street apartment until after the wedding. We all had lots of good times together. I can remember when Eileen, Opal, Marge and another sister of Earl’s would come to our place for dinner. Sometimes they would stay with Nancy while we would go out.
• Then one day there came along a Bouncing Baby Boy born January 21, 1955. We named him John Gustava. Well now we had two lives in our life, which was a joy. We spent lots of time going down to Esther’s home at Flora, where we stayed with her folks.
This story is not in one, two, three order, it is difficult (and not necessary) to keep it in order.
LIVING IN CHICAGO
• While we lived in Chicago we would go home to Beaverton. We stopped and visited with Earl, and visited their church and then we would go and see Bill and Ann, then back home to Chicago. Lots of times I preached at the Beaverton Methodist Church. One time to I spoke to the young people at Bill’s church.
We still keep in touch with Bill and Ann. We would go to their home and play monopoly. We had lots of good times together. We moved, they moved, then we were on our own.
There were times we went to stay with friends, John and Fanny. One time we went up to see Marion, I got choked up when we had to leave. On the way to Fanny’s there was a big storm. We saw fire balls flying through the sky. Flint, Michigan had a tornado that night. There were times when we went to see Earl, my brother. This was when Nancy and John were only three or four years old. I can remember when we had to live on a few pennies. One time Mom (Esther) found a $5 bill in the Bible, it was like getting a Christmas present.
A VISIT TO FLORA
• Pop and Mom Humberd came and stayed with us a few times. One time we packed up and went back home (Flora) to see Mom and Pop Humberd. It was quite a trip, we went by train. While they visited with us, there were times when I would take him to different churches to speak. They would take us shopping and get things for us, clothes for Nancy sometimes.
LIVING IN CHICAGO CONTINUED
• We met lots of Friends in Chicago before we came to California.
One time Don and Martha came to stay with us in Chicago. Martha woke up during the night, with a yell. Found out she and Don had a mouse in bed with them. Later on went out into the garage, looked in a sink and there were four little mice. While at the May Street house we got our first TV set. It was a nine inch set, with a round tube. Got it from Harold. While at May St. I worked at the Hotpoint warehouse. Sometime I took the train 3/4 of the way, then caught a bus to work. I worked across the street from the White Sox Ball Stadium.
• The first car I learned to drive was a model A Ford. Over the years I owned a Plymouth, a Hudson, two Ford coupes, a Chevy coupe, a Studebaker, a Chevy 4 door, Terrplane, De Soto, Packard, a Chevy 2 door, ‘62 Chevy, a Pacer, a two door Olds, a Willeys, a Chevy Nova, and a Ford Fairlane. These are some of the cars that I owned, and I thought it would be interesting information.
MOVED TO CALIFORNIA
• At one time, while we lived in Chicago Esther did proof reading. She made enough money to buy new pans, and set of Melnack dishes. We still have some of those dishes. We got a chance to come to California. We stayed with Jim and Emmy. Later we got a home of our own, on Shoshone Street in Encino. Five years later we sold the Shoshone house, and moved to McLennon. A few years later we moved to a house on Oak Park Street in Van Nuys.
• I can remember how nice it was to take Mom (Esther) and Nancy to the Newberry store to get things on layaway. It was always a good feeling to do this.
Mom (Esther) started day care service. We stayed in this for 25 years, and took care of lots of different kids. After we retired, we sold the Oak Park house and moved to Palmdale. We sold our first Palmdale home on 4th street, and moved to 3255 E Ave, a mobile home where we live now. Just 2 miles from Nancy and Bob and the Grandkids.
While at the McLennon and Oak Park houses, I worked at Mulholland Jr. High School. I was there for 23 years. Got hurt a couple of times. Once I had surgery for a hernia, then years later, one for a damaged knee.
• John stayed in the San Fernando Valley working at Northridge Hospital where he is now a Chaplain. He sure did lots of things before being a Chaplain, like radio announcer, he got involved with little league baseball. Later tried out for Angels Big League ball, and did some Paramedics work.
NANCY MEETS A MARINE
• Our Nancy worked at different stores in the Valley. One day she met a Marine named Bob, they got married and moved to Hawaii where Bob was stationed in the Marines. While they were there we, including John, flew to visit them.
Then one day, to Nancy’s house, came a Bouncing Baby Boy, named Robert, but now known as Nicky. Then came a Girl named Robin, but 12 hours later, she passed away. Later came along another Girl known as Kristina, then another Bouncing Boy named Russell. Three great, wonderful Grand Kids.
MULHOLLAND JR HIGH
• So lets go back a little way in my story. While at the house on Oak Park Street, I got to meet my Brother Eddie for the first time in 58 years. Years earlier, while in Chicago, we had my half-sister Anna stay with us. Don’t know where she is now.
Now for a few things while at Mulholland Jr Hi. It was years of lots of work, getting to know the teachers and students. One time they bussed black students to our school. At lots of schools they had fights but at Mulholland we had no trouble. That is the way it should be.
I can always remember when Christmas came around, I would get cakes, candy and other goodies from people at the school. One day the Principal and Vice Principal and some teachers, called me into multi-purpose room. They had a table set up and then gave me a plaque about my years at the school. It was a surprise to me. I made lots of friends while there. Different students would send me invitations to plays and programs they were having.
• When John and Nancy were growing up if I said that we were going to do something they always told me, “You said so,” if I did not do something I had promised, so I would not complain. I used to play ball with John (Buddy). After a long time I would want to quit, but he always said one more, so on we would go for a while.
Always remember when I tried to teach Nancy to drive a car. Some fun! We would take Nancy to the Ice Capades and when Nancy did Candy Stripe work at the local hospital, she wrote a short article and got a $25 prize. That was real nice.
• I can remember when we first came to California. I wondered how I was ever going to find my way around all these freeways going every which way, but learned how to get around before too long.
• We came to California in 1960, we moved to Palmdale in 1987. We now live in a mobile park. Wish we were back in a regular home with front-back yard. Weather in Palmdale is nicer than Chicago, but windy too.
VACATION IN MICHIGAN
• On July 28 1990 I drove to Beaverton, Michigan, my home town. After a bad rain-dirt storm that made my car look like I drove through a mud puddle, the wind blew so hard I could not see the front of the car. This was at a place called Parachute. On the other side of Denver I ran into a real rain storm, traffic had to stop twice, it was so bad. But we got through it OK. There was lots of construction going on, along the way. Stayed with Norma and Lyle in Gladwin. Norma made meals good enough for anyone. One meal we had real Salmon, the first time I have ever had it, it sure was good. Then for the first time in 45 years, we went fishing. I caught 3 small fish, about 4 inches long.
One evening we sat around a fire roasting marshmallows, and talked. That was a first in I don’t know how long. It was nice. Went up town Gladwin they were having side-walk sales, with lots of different things for sale.
The day before I got ready to leave it rained, boy it sure came down. It would be nice to get some rain here in the California desert. Went to see Marion, my sister, and her kids, August and Rose Marie and Kelly’s new baby. The baby sure was cute.
Norma’s mother was the daughter of my adopted mother’s brother. So you can figure out what relation she is to me. She sure fixed, as I said, far out meals! Which means they were really good!
• The weather was cool, going to Michigan, some nights it got cold, down in the 50’s. Coming home it was nice until we got to Las Vegas, but from there to home it was very hot. Gas prices were kinda high, $1.50 at some places. It was a long drive to Michigan and back to California.
It was nice to see lots of old friends. I think the sad thing of my trip was when I learned of people I grew up with and knew, and now found them in a retirement Hospital for people up in years. Three of the four knew me, but one did not. I had to tell her who I was, which was a surprise, because she knew me so well. When I left I cried, it hurt to see them in a home for the aged. O’ yes there were 169 or 170 at our reunion.
A stone dug into one of my new tires, caused it to go flat. Cost $8 to have it fixed. Other than that, the car ran great with no problems, which was nice. Traffic was not bad at all, but there were lots of trucks on the highway, both going and coming. Saw three accidents. One truck was upside down with a body in a yellow bag a short ways from it. Don’t know what happened. Lots of beautiful country. Lots of Desert too.
A FEW ODDS AND ENDS
• Now back to home and picking up where I left off earlier.
I am busy taking Esther to Doctor hoping to find out what is going on after two surgeries.
This is May 15, 1991. Got back to writing this again, thought I better write a little more about my beginning, and give the name of my “real” Dad and Mother. My Dad’s name was Gustava Newman. He lived in Holly, Michigan. My Mother’s name was Mary Noltey. Have no idea where they came from. I do know that my Dad died when I was about 2 years old. My adopted parents came from Paulding (Canton), Ohio, as I already said. They came to Beaverton in about 1865.
In my real family there were 14 children. Anna, Marion, Eddy, myself are the only ones left. Oh yes, there is Tony, my half brother. These are the only ones I know of. Got a picture of a young girl that is supposed to be related. As for me, I was born September 9, 1921. At one time I thought I was born in 1922, but everything that I have when adopted shows 1921. So I will still be 70 on 9-9-91.
• Now for a few humorous things. When Nancy was growing up, I remember when she was learning to walk she would put her hand under her left jaw as if she was holding herself up. Other things she is noted for, is her tongue partly sticking out between her lips. Then there was a time when she played with her little potty pan, put her feet in it, thank goodness it was empty. There were lots of places we visited together.
• Then a few things about John. I can remember we played ball a lot. One day when he was supposed to be in school he skipped class. The principal told me about it, and he put John on yard clean-up duty. I told the principal to give him more to do. We used to go to ball games together. One time he rode in a Police car in Santa Ana. I went to Angel Ball game nearby, then went back picked him up. I will always remember, “One more, one more,” when playing ball with John.
• In July 1992 I bought plane tickets at a low cost and went home for the 50th Class reunion. We were very busy getting things ready for our lunch. It was in a nice hall that belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Had fun blowing up balloons. There were about 40 of us. This was Friday, July 31. It was good to see everyone. Had a good time together. Then on Saturday night Aug 1, 1992, we had an open house for all of those who went to Beaverton Hi. There were 150 of us. Saw and met people I had not seen, I believe, for 35 years, long time eh!
While home I stayed with a class mate, Clyde Grant, and his wife Marion. It was real nice of them to have me. I then went to Bad Axe, Michigan to see my sister and her kids. Had a good time with them. I was there 4 or 5 days. Came back home and stayed with Clyde. Went to church while there.
I was supposed to be back home on the 19th of August, but came home earlier. Stopped to see Jesse, Joyce, Paul’s, and Susan. Was good to see them, then back to Flora to see Mary’s. Spent some time with Martha and Don. Harold and Mary took me to the airport where I got on a plane headed back to California. Had a long wait in Chicago. I had rented a nice car in Lafayette, it was a Buick, 4 door. Real nice car, white.
• Well things have been gong along with a few problems, and with lots of good too. Sometimes things seem gloomy, but there is always a light shining. I just pray and trust in the Lord that things will work out, and pray that all of my family will pray and trust in the Lord also. We know He can provide.
• In December I got news that one of my class mates died, they said he got depressed and hung himself. How sad. He was full of life when I was home, and he was at the reunion. One never knows. There are lots of people hurting. With the world being in such a mess. I just wonder if God cries over the way people are doing. God forgives us all.
• I must not forget two wonderful people who were part of our lives. They are Marie Humberd and Russell Humberd. Known as Mom and Pop. Always remember how Mom loved playing scrabble and aggravation. Pop’s favorite was checkers and dominos. He always would say hurry, or come on, or something to get us to play faster. We would hope Pop would come to our house and throw money around on the floor for Nancy and John to run and pick it up. At times Pop (Humberd) would walk around mumbling to himself. Wondered what he was doing. Found out that he was learning Bible Verses. I believe he knew most of the New Testament.
I remember Mom’s (Humberd) cookies and cinnamon rolls. When Esther and I went to see her in the hospital I spoke about her cookies, she answered, “Yes I did make them good didn’t I.”
I can remember when we would go down to Flora, when we lived in Chicago. Stayed up stairs, and enjoyed the good meals and good times we had.
• Don’t want to forget Johnny and the nice times we had together and the jokes he would tell. He was always full of life. And as for Betty, she was the more quiet one, but full of fun. I can remember Jim and Emmy when I came out to California. They brought Esther to the airport to meet me. They were always doing nice things like that. I remember one time when Jim made a sign and walked on the street to get a sidewalk built for the Junior High School students to walk on, instead of in the street. Can remember Emmy, how excited she would get when picking out different kinds of materials for a dress or a blouse
• One time I can remember when I was driving along on a gravel road when all of a sudden I had a premonition that I was going to crash. Up ahead was a bridge that crossed a good sized creek. Just before I got to it I hit a chuck hole in the road, a spring broke hitting the tire, and throwing the car over the rail, landing upside down. When I came to I was standing inside on roof of car. There was just enough room to get out of one door. I was OK though.
• I can remember when we would get Blue Chip Stamps or Green Stamps and trade them in for Disneyland tickets. We did this for about 4 years. Had a good time each time. One time Linda gave us stamps so we could go.
Thanks to Linda and Dan we still can get tickets at a discount. Makes it nice.
• As long as I live, there will always be a magnet drawing me back home to Beaverton where I grew up.
• One time Esther and me were on our way home when a car pulled in front of us on the Freeway. He went off onto the off-ramp, then all of a sudden he made a U turn, came back on Freeway. Thought we were going to hit him, but something picked us up and we floated in air until he was far ahead. Wow!
• One time a Hurricane named Esther was off the Florida coast, Mom said. “And Gus’t up to 90 mi hr!”
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