Daddy planned to make a new start in Valley County, (Lake Fork) a place he grew to love. He was forty-four years old, strong, healthy and one of the hardest working men I have ever known. He farmed the two hundred acres of tillable land and again contracted out his labor and machinery to neighbors for extra income.
He left the milk cows, all but one, in Utah swearing he would never be a slave to them again, but had to eat his words when it became apparent that they afforded the only way to have a small steady income, to supply much needed cash. He brought home bum lambs from a big sheep rancher and started a herd of sheep. He also diversified with a small herd of Angus/Hereford cattle. Pigs and chickens were added to the mix.
Two hundred acres of timberland came in the purchase and would be logged and sold to pay off the mortgage and finally Daddy would own property free and clear. That was his dream. The sound of chainsaws echoed high on the hill at the edge of the property in the spring of 1951. Daddy investigated and found a small local timber company (part of a larger timber company) cutting timber on his new property. They claimed to have the timber rights on this property and had moved machinery into this part of the forest, using an old logging road for access instead of using the road that passed by our house. Daddy immediately sought legal help, but the sound of chainsaws continued.
After many heart wrenching months, the case was settled out of court. But what did he have left? Yes, the cash settlement paid off the lawyers and other bills associated with the court case. But the company harvested and sold the prime timber, leaving the land scared and ravaged. His dream of owning land, free and clear, again only a dream. Although I saw him bitter and defeated he still struggled on, thinking that more hard work would someday pay off. He somehow kept a positive attitude never losing his sense of humor. to be continued...Hugs To All...OWAV:)
PS...A one room school house with 10 students (some not in photo) and 1 teacher...Mona started high school the next year and I stayed at Wood Grove the next 4 years, when all county schools were consolidated...Mona had not wanted to leave Porterville, after starting school there and almost ready to start high school, she wasn't very happy about this move...I being younger, loved it from the very beginning.
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