The Old Dillard Settlement

July 2002

I heard one Sunday I never remember hearing, and I don't know why. Mary Davenport told us what Lee used to say when he didn't want to be a bother about something. He would say, "I don't' want to be a flea in you sock." John said I don't now how you and Mary Lou Dillard could have kept from hearing it," because Bazze, her dad, and Uncle Frank were always using that phrase, "don't be a flea in a sock", or however they used the term.

I have told you the story of the wonderful white teacher's desk that both of my grandfathers, "Doc" Dillard and Great grandfather George Davenport had a hand in constructing. Grandpa "Doc" needed it for the school in the area, and was looking pretty good with the center part of the desk higher than the lowered sides. There was a drawer for the teacher's use and a space for her chair to scoot under when not in use. There was plenty of legroom for the teacher, but here was the problem. Grandpa Davenport told Grandpa Dillard to put a front to it so the legs were out of view of the children. The front was fixed. The white teacher's desk had more purpose as time went on. It was used for church to put the Communion on when we had church at the Mull schoolhouse. Later, when the school house was torn down, this dear little table found it's home in the Mill Church of Christ where it was used for the same purpose, until a podium and Communion table could be purchased. As I heard expressed Sunday, " remember Grandma Cora sitting on the edge while teaching our Bible Class," and another spoke up as remembering Lee using it the same way. It was a thing always expected to 'just be there', until Sunday, June 30, 2002, it was gone. It was a shock to walk into the classroom and the first thing noticed was its disappearance. Evidently, it had been stolen.

The visible table is gone, but haven't I been telling you to make memories along the way? We have done just that, and I hope and pray I can keep the lovely memories I have of my life.

He told of Rufus Holt and L. B. Kellbrew running two stores, but couldn't remember the owner of the third store.

There is still a post-office in the town, which is more than most of the communities are blessed with, such as Freck, Rush, and Mull.

What a wonderful place to live as a young boy, Noel, with Clear Creek on one side of town and Hog Creek on the other. The Creeks are still there for the enjoyment of the neighborhood.

They are not far from the Everton Park. I enjoyed a picnic there once, and plan to do that again.

When asked what other entertainment was provided there, Noel said, "Well, parties." Yes, I remember those kind of parties, we call them "Play Parties". Did you have 'Candy Biting', play 'Please or Displeased', and 'Old Johnny Miller'? You and Alma try to recall some of the parties of once upon a time, and let me know.

I would like to know about the history of Everton, and the next time I pass through, I want to stop at the City Hall to obtain some of it's past records.

Congratulations to you, 100-Year-Old Everton!

I hope you survive to be more than 200.

Back in our parents' time, known as once upon a time to me, cars were a rarity. I have told you different times of the reactions my grandfathers had to 'such a thing as that four wheeled auto'.

Evidently, they were not the only ones who had a hard time with their vehicles. It seems if anything can make a 'feller' lose his temper, and old car will. I've felt that anger a few times myself, but I never did beat one up with a hammer, like my grandpa Dillard. It seemed one of the Ott men had a car of such.

I understand Sherman's mother was riding in the car with him. They were having several problems as they drove along. For one thing, the road was rough, rocky and full of mud-holes from the heavy rains. The old car spluttered along then got stuck.

Mr. Ott, patiently got it out of that problem. Notice the word patient. With a few more things happening to bear on the nerves, he still held his peace. This was really appealing to Sherman's mother, to see a man holding hi peace with all the trouble.

When they had a flat, that was the last straw, but you know, that man never uttered a bad word or acted mad at all. This was one of the most admired things in this relative she had seen, and she just had to tell his wife, "you have the best, most patient husband, with all the trouble we had with the car, he never once lost his tempter." The wife was 'baffled' because she knew her husband really had a pretty high tempter.

My daddy use to compare people to iron, and the iron is of no use until it is tempered, and a 'feller' is not much without a temper. Anyway you look at it, I reckon Mr. Ott 'filled the bill'.

He did express how we wished these things could, and perhaps would go into a future museum, which someone, someday, will put together.

One of his experiences as he wrote, "I'll never forget the time in the Monte Cristo I dropped my flashlight and broke it and had to crawl out to the light on my hands and knees! I've never entered another mine without at least 2 sources of light. Who could forget their look at the old truck in the Philadelphia?" (He didn't say what kind, year make and, of course the color.)

DeLukie also wrote, "As we made new friends I always manage to excite people about Rush and eventually took them for a visit. They in turn have taken many of their friends and families to the area. As people have reported to me over the years, I have felt like an unknown travel agen for Rush."

His youngest child, "Bubba", developed a great love of the area and enjoys its many recreation facilities. Bubba, there are things you once enjoyed you are not permitted to do now such as rock-hunting (for keeps), exploring the mines, etc., but the scenery is still beautiful and a canoe trip can be an enjoyable experience as of yet. I hope you continue to come up and take advantage of this part of the Ozarks. I think you will too because as your father wrote. "I've also had the pleasure of getting to know many people that live in the area of Rush. Also during these ensuing years, I have purchased property in the area and would like to spend at least some part of my life as a resident."

I think I can speak for all the folks, especially, in the Mull and Caney communities, we hope you will come live among us, but in the meanwhile, we will continue to enjoy your visit and all the wonderful sermons you present to us.

The Rush Mines and surrounding mines are certainly a large part of our history of "Once Upon a Time" and we lost a wonderful source of information when Mr. Dirst and Lee Medley left us.

Any of you having stories to tell of the old days in the Mining time period, why don't you drip me a notation of it so we can all enjoy it together?