WILLEFORD - THOMPSON

Across the Fence 



By Arvord Abernethy 

In Paul Harvey’s daily radio newscast, he usually mentions some couple who are celebrating a lengthy anniversary that day. Many come from Nebraska, so he comments on the fact that Nebraska must be a healthful state. I could almost say the same about Hamilton County as it has been my pleasure to know and visit some of our senior, senior citizens. 

Such a treat was mine when I got to visit Mrs. Sam (Manie) Thompson last week. Manie was one of the Hunter Willeford family who landed in Hamilton on November the second in 1904, coming from Gonzales County, Texas. 

The other children who came were Raymond, Albert, Jack, Roland, Mrs. John (Rettie) Shipman, and Mrs. George (Mittie) Phillips. Mrs. C. J. (Lola) Thomas and Mrs. Grady (Mignon) Anderson were born here. 

Manie well remembers her first night in Hamilton as they stayed at the OK Wagon Yard which was located in the vicinity of the Greene Chevrolet Co. [Cotton Belt Railroad Depot at South Railroad and Main Street.]

Judge James A. Eidson owned a large tract of the land north of Hamilton, so Mr. Willeford rented some of the land and they moved out there. The house set near where the Bryan Parrish home sets today. 

The other children attended the Ondee School which was across the Leon River. This made a five mile walk to school, but they were fortunate to have Mr. DeArman, who ran the mail back between Hamilton and Hico, to often give them a ride to school. The recesses at Ondee was very typical to those of all schools; games like Wolf Over the River, and the great American sport, baseball. 

In two or three years, the Willefords moved to the ranch home the Edisons had built for themselves. It was over on the Old Stephenville Road where the G. D. Neals now live. At that time the house was a two-story rock house with eight rooms and six fireplaces. The Neals bought the place in 1938 and have since removed the top floor and modernized the ground floor. 

Manie remembers that one room downstairs was used for storage and that is where her father kept his syrup barrels. Mr. Willeford was quite a syrup maker, as he had a large family of husky children to help. When it came time to harvest the cane, one would go along with a big knife and strip the leaves off, another would come along and cut off the heads and the third person would cut the stalks and pile them. 

After the juice was squeezed out through the mill, Mr. Willeford usually saw to the cooking, as he wanted to see that a high grade of syrup was made. Any pulp from the stalks that might be left in the juice would soon come to the top when the cooking started, so he would skim that off. Then came the careful watching to see that the cooking was just right. By the time it was cooked there would be yellow foam on it that Manie said was as sweet as candy. Candy was a rare item in those days, so that foam helped sweeten up the days work. They called the foam “Buckleg” a word they probably coined them selves. The Willefords soon learned how to make that good pulled sorghum syrup taffy. They would put up enough syrup that they could sell some by the gallons or barrel. 

Hunter was not only Mr. Willeford’s given name, but it also told what his hobby was. He was a great hunter and fisherman. Several years ago, I heard someone telling of how long he could stay under water while grappling for fish under river banks. This desire to hunt and fish led Mr. Willeford to rent a farm on the Leon River. 

Manie well remembers the big Leon River flood in 1908. It had rained very hard, so Mr. Willeford told Albert that they had better go down and get the hordes out of the river bottom pasture. Just before they got to the horses, a head rise came down and they had to go back. The water rose rapidly, but they were able to hold on to the top wire of the fence and get out. They had six horses to drown. 

As a young lady of 14, Manie was attending a party that was held under the Live Oak trees over where they first lived, and there she met a young man by the name of Sam Thompson. They were probably playing Snap when their eyes first met and Sam thought, “My, what a pretty lady.” And he snapped her right up. It was three years before they stood before Rev. John Adams, an uncle of our late Marion Adams, and he pronounced them man and wife. 

Hamilton County has always been their home. Manie recalls how their children gave them a special 40th Anniversary celebration as they thought that had been a long, long time, but they got to celebrate their 65th anniversary before his passing a few years back. 

I remember one of the first times that I was around Mr. Sam Thompson. I was over at David Massingill’s and Sam and a crew was baling hay with a horse powered baler. It was about 10 o’clock in the morning when I heard him say, “Boys, let’s shut it down for awhile and go to the meetin’,” A revival was going on at Providence Baptist Church, so they stopped every morning and went to the services. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had helped organize the church in 1916. 

They also helped organize the Littleville Baptist Church after they moved into Hamilton. One of the first things they did was to invite Bro. T. Lynn Stewart from the First Baptist Church to come out and hold a meeting in their backyard. Anna Bellel and I helped in the music. If you ever wanted to see someone enjoy their religion, you should have seen Bro. Sam. There was always a great big smile and a warm handshake awaiting you. 

If you should get to visit Manie sometime, you will feel the warmth and happiness that her 91 years of life have given her. They reared eight children who have given her a good number of grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren. Her three children here, Norman, Mrs. Gladys McKandkess, and Mrs. Frances Railbourn, along with the grandchildren, visit her often, so she never has a dull moment. She spends some of her time reading, listening to good music and studying her Bible. Her’s has been what you call a full life 

Shared by Roy Ables

ACROSS THE FENCE