The cenus showed that Reuben had property valued
at 1000.00 which was a considerable amount in 1850. It is believed that Herod and Reuben ran the Rollins Ferry on the Gasconade
River MO for many years so possible they money is for that purpose. There is a story on Rollins Ferry on this site. It
is quite a story in itself from what I have learned.
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Clyde Willson who many of us remember was quite a character. I recall him
as being funny, loving and he cared for his family a great deal. Since I am the youngest child I don't remember things
as well as my older sisters do but they will tell me if I am wrong.
Clyde worked at Cessna in the late 50's but mostly he worked in construction.
I recall him telling me he worked on the Bagnell dam in Lake Ozark Missouri
in the 1930s.
He loved to fish and at one time took up leather crafting. He made Mom some very
nice leather purses. But he didn't like to go to church. He also had a pretty quick temper if things went wrong.
Once we went to see all of his brothers and sisters (Mom, Dad, Gerald and me)
in a little Nash stationwagon. We slept in the car with the doors open out in the middle of no where.
Dad got lost one night some place in Georgia
and here we were driving through the middle of a little town with teenagers
all around us. Scared me to death.
Mom Willson, on the hand was the daughter of a preacher and was an avid church
member. On trips (which were seldom) we would stop at a church in anytown USA and she would go to church while Dad waited
in the car.
Mom Willson worked in the 50s at Boeing. I remember her wearing her jeans
and shirt and taking her black lunch pail filled with crocheting with her. She said that she would sit in the tunnels
at Boeing on her breaks and crochet.
One year in the 1950s she made red and white checkered shirts and dresses for
all of the grandkids. That was a sight to see - everyone dutifully wearing their checks for Christmas.
Mom always had a garden and some how everything she tried to grow - grew. Then
she had Gerald and me go door to door selling the vegetables. Ah, the things we did....
