The Old Dillard Settlement

April, 2001

It was exciting. The men of the family gathered the wood and carefully laid it-in the oven-started the fire up and it was burning and was giving out the smoke all over the house. Taylor was yelling to put it out, "it is going to burn the house down!" John was doing his best getting the burning wood out and that wasn't fast enough for his dad, Taylor. Taylor went for a bucket of water, there was no stopping him, he dashed it into the oven and put the fire out. John said, "Now, I will start one in this other place," which happened to be the firebox, with his dad telling him not to take that thing out it'll burn the house and everything in it.

L. D. said his dad, John was 18 years old, and you can't tell that age anything because they know it all.

He discovered the right place for the fire anyway. The stove began to get hot, the stove caps were getting red, and no smoke coming out into the house and he said, "Mother, fix a pan of cornbread and let's see what happens." It happened the bread was so pretty and brown on top and bottom. The ladies of the neighborhood were called in to see the great miracle. This first stove of Marion County was, the talk of the whole community.

They, like so many large families have scattered, but somehow they do a good job keeping in touch. One of the IVES girls, Mable, married into the JONES family, and she sent a very neat poem which her brother, Dan, wrote and in turn Mable, (than you) sent it to me and I wan to pass it on.

I have mentioned several time how we use to depend on our chickens and all the other food-producing animals. I can just imagine up on Greasy Creek when Dan, who is very hard to keep up with now, how he must have gone out on the farm in the spring, looking and searching for the hidden nest of old hens, and how thrilling it was she would bring up a fine bunch of baby chicks. This meant more food for the family. I think the poem will bring back a few memories to our readers.

It might have meant more manners for Neville and Odale DAVIS. When we were all growing up, we were taught to not take the last of anything on the platter. Nevile's mother always had lots of food, but one morning there was one egg left on the platter. The temptation became too great for one of the DAVIS children. The statement was said, in a pitiful sigh, "Oh! He go the manners and oh!! How I wanted it."

With this poem, I bet there were plenty manner for the future.

The Little Speckled Hen

One day God made the fowl of the earth
Each has its place, each has its worth.
I remember a way back when--
The peril of our little speckled hen.

When I arrived, Mrs. Conniers was preparing their breakfast of pancakes. Even as a neighbor, I didn't know she had so much talent. She may need to come and prepare our Saturday morning breakfast sometime.

The children and some of their parents, whom were able to attend, were not loosing any time eating these delicious pancakes. I think their teacher, Ms. Waite, enjoyed the occasion too. Thank you for your invitation to speak to the class on, "as I grew up in this area."

I then went to another second grade. After telling them of my experience, t5hey had some interesting questions to ask. One was, "Did you ever get punished, and how?" I told them "yes"." Once upon a time, on of my little cousins, Jessie Bean, and I had a fight. (I didn't tell them she broke my bead in the fight), The teacher caught us, I believe the teacher was Garline James, and he put us behind the old one room school house doors to decide if we wanted him to give us five 'licks' with a switch, or we could give each other five licks. Our decision was made while the rest of the children had their "Opening exercises." I feel sure the teacher knew our decision before we told him, sure, we gave our five swats to each other. We didn't leave any stripes with the switch. Little children 'make up' in a short time especially if the parents stay out of it. My, when I would go home and tell mother of our little "squabbles" she would say, " I guess they didn't make anything off you." I am not sure about that, but that was the end and, again, friends we were.

Thinking back of ounce upon a time when my name was still Dillard, I found a letter from Alma (Davenport) Raines, addressed to Doretha Dillard. She sent me a pattern of a Dutch Girl Quilt. I didn't get around to making any blocks until about a month ago. It has been enjoyable, Alma and since you told me, you remember the pattern of the Dutch Girl pattern you do not have it any more, I will cut you a pattern - what goes around comes back around, I reckon.

It was good to talk to Alma, she tells me new of our relation. My little fighting friend, Jessie (Bean,) is moving from her present home but was not sure where. Perhaps Verda (Williams) Doshier will keep up with her. What good schoolmates and cousins I have.

The teachers and children are ready for summer vacation. I thought about how long the school terms are now compared to the School laws of the late 1800 and early 1900s.

One such law given was interesting. The power of the electors could, "Determine the length of time the school shall be taught more than three months in the year. It is expected that a school be maintained in each school district for at least three months in a year - - If there are funds in the treasury available for that purpose. This term could be extended beyond three months if the funds in the treasury to the credit of the district justify such extension.

It seems it must have been justified several times now days.

I have written several stories she told me. I treasure each of them and I shall read them over several times and remember her laugh. We will all miss you, Aunt Flo, and feel you have been an inspiration to us.

I was out at Myra and Jack Reece, sister and bother-in-law, last week. Naturally, I like for Jack to tell me more about when he was in WWII. Many of you have told me how much you enjoyed his articles in the past Echos, and I asked him to write this story for you 'old-timer' who remember once upon a time.

"In Memory"

By Woodrow Jackson Reece

Recently I wrote a short story of my meeting with Colonel Paul Tebbets, the office who dropped the first Atomic Bob on Japan, which sent us home again after more than three (3) years of fighting in the Pacific.

As is usual for me, a slight interruption caused me to forget what came next, and as I was writing for my sister-in-law she would like for me to add this to it.

As was covered in the first part of the story, some observation planes from his squadron had witnessed the fight from above and the Colonel, not satisfied with Army's version of the battle, he wanted a version from the boys who did the dirty work and he came to Luzon to talk to us. As noted ere this, questions came from both him and us in abundance: We asked him what he did once he heard "Bombs Away". He explained to us the weight of the bomb made it necessary to keep the throttle on climb in order to carry the load and not lose altitude (keep level flight in other words). This is his words to the best of my memory.

"At the call of Bombs Away, the plane jumped higher about, I'd judge fifteen feet. I gave the control maximum climb and full throttle and in a few seconds we were at about 50,000 feet. We swung around and sort of returned our path parallel to the way we came. Now remember not all aboard were battle-hardened veterans of the Air War. There was a nuclear physicist, a nuclear arms expert (he set the time for the explosion) and at least one engineer who assembled the bomb while in the air. Once of the scientists from the Manhattan Project and a few others I can't remember how and about three airmen whose job it was to keep other things away (waist, tail and belly gunners)."

He said as they came alongside the Drop Point, he rolled the plane slightly to starboard (right) s the others could see, for there were arms, legs, heads, bridge parts, whole roofs, and all that had been on the ground was now in the air. One of the civilians said, "My God, what have we done?" The huge mushroom cloud was just beginning to rise. To those who say it should not have been dropped, I says, "You were not ever there digging them out of the dugouts, caves, and bunkers with a rifle bayonet and grenades either, were you? Suffice it to say not many gave me much of an argument. I'd best stop this as of now. Some more from Old Jack for his western art which is still to be seen in this day and time, western towns, gun fights, cowboys and Indians, and gosh only knows what else.

Then there was Major Sen. Harry Collins who was Commander of the Rainbow Division (42^nd Div.) in WWII. It was the storied division that Gen. Douglas McArthur commanded in WWI. Also Navy Lieut. Edward "Bulch" O'hare, the first American Air Ace in WWII (5 enemy kills). Also there was Adm. S. Paley, chairman of the board of Columbia Broadcasting System. He was and is the father of Jane Paley, famous T.V. personality. Gen. Dave Tebbets, Pilot of the Plane, which dropped the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and allowed me to come home. Finally there was Sander Vanocur, a well-known media commentator who just everyone knows of. It has been a lot time and my memory is not what it once was, but if you are still alive Gen. and by some twist of fate should see this, "God bless you".