BRETHREN-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Leeton MO
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 16:03:09 EST

Merle, I sent a printout of your reminiscences to Ken's Uncle Earl Tompkins,
who now lives in Fruita, CO., but who grew up at Leeton--till he hopped a
freight in the 30's (he was a teenager) and thus followed his big brother out
to western Colorado. Today he sent us back a letter, longhand, and I thought
I'd send you bits of it. It's the longest letter we've had from him in the
38 years I've been in the family! He says:

"I left Mo. to Fruita in 1936 but did know of some of the places and names
during my school years. The Mineral Creek and cemetery I know of. I also
knew of #2 Highway from #13--a 3 miles to Leeton as I had walked it many times
while we lived near #13, which goes from Warrensburg to Clinton.

"We were members and did attend the Brethren church in Leeton, and it seems
Mr. James Mohler (quite an old man), he was pastor there then. I also knew of
some Wyatts. Forrest and his dad ran a feed business. A Lester Wyatt had a
clothing store once and later was a part owner in a grocery store, Wyatt &
Chism. We always called is 'Weight it & Cheaten." This Lester had a son
Owen, my age, and in our class in school and later operated Owen had an oil &
station business in Warrensburg.

"As to the Saxtons I knew of several I did not know Jake, my Aunt Maggie's
husband, who died before my time. Aunt Maggie had 2 sons, Delmar & Bertice.
They & she lived on a farm on #2 Road a few miles from Leeton... In Leeton I
knew of Lem Saxton, a rural mail carrier, and they raised a boy named Buddy,
and he and I played together and were good pals. I was 10 or 12 yrs old then.

"There also was a Clarence Saxton in Leeton and I think he had a wife was a
cripple & used a wheel chair. This Clarence --not too ambitious & a large man
& was always known as 'Shoat' and wasn't too much for work and everyone said
he was afraid of his shadow...

"The letter does mention Ira Saxton. As I recall his wife was a Mohler and
Ira was song leader there in Leeton Church. There was another Mohler - Kate -
she was an older widow and did laundry and other work in her home that people
broiught to her.

"There was another Saxton family & they had 2 Boys near my age - a Clement & a
Galen.

"Now as to my Aunt Maggie Saxton, who moved to Grand Jct area of Colorado.
This came about through the Brethren church. She corresponded by letter and
got married to a minister, Abe Weaver. He drove his car, probably a 1932-35
yr to Leeton & they got married & I recall we or the whole church membership
had a basket dinner in our yard as a going away, and so they drove back to his
farm in the Appleton (Colorado) area here.

"Just after I got to Foruita April 13th, 1936, I got typhoid fever and Ray & I
lived in an apartment in rear of the service station. Dr. Orr Sr found me
there with temp of 104 and I had a choice of going to the hospital or a house,
so Aunt Maggie took me in & cared for me for the 7 wks I was sick. I could
only eat baked potatoes and buttermilk. I finally got well & later met
Eleanor Reed & in 1939 we got married at her home. The Reeds dairy and Uncle
Abe Weaver married us, so you probably know of my & Eleanor our 3 boys from
then until today...

"Thats my few details of life from about 1934 or 25 & things I can remember
of, and I hope this may help in piecing together the life of the Saxtons &
Tompkins, but I have no knowledge of the Dunkers in Johnson County, MO..."

IUncle Earl is 83. Anyway, he obviously enjoyed your reminiscences about the
place he grew up. Just wanted you to know that those little details and
memories you put on the internet bring joy to lots of folks.

Jan T

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