The Old Dillard Settlement

May 2002

This is getting to be "Strawberry Shortcake" time and I can't prevent my thoughts form returning back to the years of once upon a time when mother would make the best shortcakes in the world. There were no little yellow cakes with a "dip" in the center to be filled with strawberries, she made a crust; not quite as short as the regular pie crust. She rolled the dough out flat and baked it on cookie sheets. It was seasoned with butter on top of the crust and sprinkled with sugar, as best as I remember, because this is the way I have continued the shortcake making. The berries were mashed in a large crock bowl with plenty of sugar put in and given a good stirring. This made the berries juicy and ready to be placed between the crust stakes. She would put a piece of crust, a cup or two of berries, another crust, more berries and so on until all the contents were stacked on the large platter. My! How pretty and good tasting with the thick fresh cow's cream mixed in!

Grandpa Dillard had a strawberry patch "once upon a time" and I don't think he had too much trouble getting pickers, since he had several of the family around. Grandchildren were a big asset at this time of picking. I was told Willodean Smith Barnes, a granddaughter, was one of the fastest pickers of the bunch. Myra said, "Willodean was always a better picker than me or Willodean's twin sister, Evelyne. She had longer arms to reach and grab them, and besides, Evelyne and I were probably thinking about fixing our hair, nails, or making a red clay mud pack for our face." I think boys could be added to the list of thoughts too.

Grandpa "Doc" Dillard's birthday was the 10^th of May and it was a big treat to have strawberries for the occasion and Decoration at Desoto's dinner on the ground.

Many of you readers may remember getting on the back of a truck and heading over across the Old Dillard Ferry to Searcy County to pick betties. The few cents we worked out was a blessing because not many cents were floating around.

What memories we all must have of those days and the taste of the shortcakes made in the old-time way.

Bill became an Engineer of some specialty, but interesting enough, he and his wife were owners of racehorses that won several top awards. Another interesting part of his life, Bill became a real muscle builder and his picture was shown in Body Building Magazines. Even though Bill has experienced three Strokes, he continues to excerise and not let the strokes "get the best of him" and it is paying off.

In thinking of our old friends and relation, don't forget the Davenport Reunion at Bullalo Point, Saturday, May 25^th. We will share potluck together, and have a wonderful time at the #3 pavilion. Thanks to Doris May Davenport Woods for keeping us informed about these things. I would like to quote from her letter, "We have lost many dear loved ones, but have many left to see and visit with." So true, Doris.

Once upon a time, the way I understand it, and I sure can be corrected at any time and be glad to know the truth, our Ancestors came from England. They settled in Virginia, then as most of our ancestors did, spread out. The Davenports seemed to take a liking to Alabama and became residents there for some time. How Arkansas began to interest them is beyond me, but it did. William and his wife Mary Catharine Cauthorn Davenport packed up their wagon in 1861, with about five of their children and to Arkansas they came. Our grandfather George, was one of those children. They first settled at George's Cree.

Grandpa George and Grandma Martha Moore Davenport moved to another creek, Water Creek, near the Old Dillard Settle, known then as Maumee. They raised several children Mary, Ida, Tom, Oliver, Charlie, Jim, Virgil, Genie, Elizabeth, Lona and Whit. I believe all but Ida and Elizabeth lived and died within this area.

So many stories have been told of this family that books could be written. For instance, Uncle Whit fell desperately in love with Rosa, one of the "Doc" and Lizzie's daughters. He was somewhat older than their baby daughter, and I am sure he knew Grandpa Doc would never give permission for his 13 or 14 year old child to marry at that early age, so they slipped off and "tied the know", meaning they got married anyway. After Doc found out, he was furious and got his gun to try a remedy to the situation but when Grandma told him, "Doc, you will scare that little girl to death," he calmed down. They lived together "till death do us part." I have heard many time when they their first child, Floy, she was played with like a doll. I believe that, and I also have been told she played with dolls after marriage, so what better practice could she have had?

I recon the Davenports and Dillards must have liked each other away back when, because more of them were married to each other, although their ages were in a different bracket than Rosa. You know, all their marriages lasted until the end of life, so they must have had an everlasting love and that is what we all need now. See you, Kinsman, Saturday.

It was nice to be at Freck Cemetery. Perhaps some of you know it as Water Creek or Bums. It is a beautiful, peaceful place, and so great to see some of the folks who come to decorate the graves. It is like all the other Community Decoration Days of today's culture or should I say practice. Some go on Saturday, some Sunday and other days it's any hour of the day. It is all right, but wouldn't it be nice to see each other at this special time?

We have relatives in the Stone Cemetery, which many of us cannot be at the appointed Decoration Day; we then go at the first opportune time, so this makes me understand just how I miss seeing every one, as was the costume "once upon a time."

Since our attention has been turned to Wars, Death, and Heroes, I would like to quote a story written many years ago in The White River Chronicles by S. C. Turnbo. (This was a real hero action, calling for help in time of need, "Hebrew: 4:1 6," during the Civil War times.)

"Saving Her House Through Tears And Prayer"

A man by the name of Joe Allen lived on Shoal Creek in Taney County, Missouri. His cabin stood on the east bank of the creek near one-fourth mile below Protem.

When the war broke out Allen claimed to be a southern man but refused to enlist in the confederate army. As the war progressed Joe proved to be a bad man and kept the worst of company. Peter Keesee, who lived on Big Creek on what is now the Sam Holett place, was a union man and when the war warmed up to red heat Keesee took his family and sought safety among his friends who lived on Little North Fork.

"A few hours after I was compelled to desert my home on Big Creek," said Mr. Keesee "Joe Allen and his clan come along and finding that we were gone set fire to my dwelling and reduced it to ashes".

I went on and as soon as I had got my family in safe quarters. I lost no time in making preparations to retaliate on the destroyer of my residence. Joe Allen had burned my home and I was determined to burn his, but I asked a few of my intimate friends to assist me at the burning and they promised to aid me. It was war times and who cared for burning a house when the enemy burns yours? My heart was hardened and with those that had promised to help me. We mounted our horses and rode off toward Shoal Creek.

We went at a rapid gait and it did not take us many hours to reach Joe's cabin. Of course, Joe was not there but his wife, whose name was Alwilda, and two or three little children were in the house.

The wife and children were destitute. Their clothes were in tatters and they were nearly without food. It was shameful for a man to turn a mother and her little ragged children out of doors. But I cared nothing for that I was wanting revenge for the loss of my house.

"I informed Mrs. Allen at once what we had come for and as I not desire to deprive her of what few household property she had in the house I ordered her in a peremptory way that she must carry her household effects out of doors. She protested in piteous words not to destroy their only place of shelter. It seemed that I possessed the heart of a savage and refused to listen to tearful entreaties. In reply, I told her to hurry or I would set he house on fire before she carried her things out. With loud sobs and her eyes bathed in tears she began to move out the few bedclothes and scant furniture. She saw that it was useless to plead with a barbarian and went on with the work. We waited in silence until the despairing woman had carried all her effects to a safe distance so that they would escape the flying sparks from the burning hut. We now began to make preparations to set the building on fire for I was anxious to see it go up in flames. "At this moment, the now nearly crazed woman renewed her pleading to me not to wipe out their only shelter. She prayed that I might repent of my wicked design of burning their cabin and that she could not help what Joe had done and begged me and my friends to return back home and leave her house to shelter herself and helpless children.

She looked up toward heaven and I saw her tear stained cheeks, and as the tears were streaming down her face, she implored the good Ruler of heaven and earth to soften our hearts that we might abandon our heartless work and go away without destroying her only place of abode.

She stood and prayed as if her heart was broken. Her little children were standing there with her holding her and crying. It was a heart-rending scene.

A few minutes before this Satan had control of my heart. But as I listened at the poor helpless woman's piteous sobs of grief and heard her devoted prayers and saw her children huddled about her, my wicked thoughts of burning the house began to soften.

The spirit of revenge was leaving me and an impression of pity was taking the place of my stony heart. Her prayers were too much for me and I yielded to the influence of her supplications.

"Turning to my companions I said, "men, we cannot afford to burn this house," and I told the weeping woman that she was at liberty to carry her stuff back into the hut for it was safe as far as we were concerned for we had got out of the notion of putting fire to the building. The nearly distracted woman could hardly believe it until I assured her that is was true.

Then she gladly put away her tears and sorrows and rejoiced that I changed my mind. Though Joe Allen had wronged me and it was my desire and intention to treat him likewise but the tearful prayers of his helpless wife had turned my reckless heart into one of mercy and I thank God to this day that I did not burn that cabin."

Our hearts can be softened.