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MY FATHER AS I REMEMBER HIM
By: Winnie Lee Bracewell Seed

I always thought of my father as a strong, hard working and intelligent
man who loved and cared for his family very much. My earliest impression of this was when, at about two or three years of age, I had a very serious illness. I remember how he walked the floor with me in his arms. In those days remedies were homecrafted. Finally, he thought of something to do that might help. His idea worked and I was soon well.

Papa was a very religious person, and one of my early memories was attending church at the old Mt. Pleasant Church. We had to drive about four miles in a "hack" as it was called then, each Sunday morning, then again to services that night.

     While we still lived at this old pioneer home, he worked in the blacksmith shop and also on the farm, where the older children did their share to help. He was very strict with all of us but we loved and respected him. There wasn't much for entertainment in those days, but I can remember when we had a little time, he loaded us all in the wagon and went camping and fishing on the creek. Sometimes we would spend two nights there.

     In about 1904 we moved to Bedias after the railroad came through and the town began to grow. Dad built his shop and worked as a blacksmith for many years.
My father was very proficient with iron work. I can remember so many things he did with iron. He was granted a patent for a plow which he invented. With all these many tasks, he was always ready to help any one in need. Once I saw him make a little pine coffin for a child. He lined it with white material. There was not a dentist in Bedias, so sometimes people came to him to have their teeth pulled. Other things I remember were his measuring out medicines such as quinine and calomel.

     He was interested in civic affairs and was a member of the school board several times. In fact, he was a board member and had to resign so I could take a teaching position in the Bedias school in 1922. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday School at the Baptist Church.

     His hard work, resourcefulness, and helpfulness earned him the respect of all who knew him. I remember him as a loving father who loved me as well as each of his other children.