The Saga Begins

Once upon a time in the small rural community of Glidewell, Missouri, there were two families who were instrumental in my appearance in this world. Glidewell is about 6 miles north of Springfield. It sets on Highway 13 and Glidewell Road. That is...old highway 13...the one that is 2 lanes but was the main state highway before the four lane one was built. On the Northwest corner was Gamblin's Grocery and Gas...on the Southwest corner was Dilley's garage...on the Southeast corner was Keiner's Korner Grocery and Gas. I'm not sure what was on the other corner, but just up the hill east on Glidewell road was the school house. Glidewell School. I think at that time it had 8 grades in four rooms, then the kids went to Willard High School. Glidwell Baptist Church was just south of the intersection. The activity in this community centered around the church and the school.

At the north end of Glidewell, on the corner of Hiway 13 and O Hiway, lived Paul and Ruby Squibb and their two daughters, Anna Lee and Wanda. They had two children who died at birth before Anna Lee was born and one daughter after Wanda...Mary Lou, who died at 9 months of age. Paul was a farmer and carpenter. Ruby was busy with the children, the house, garden and feeding farm hands.

At the south end of Glidewell, lived Carl and Elsie Murray and their four children, Jerald, Billy, Max and Ollie Mae. Carl was a farmer, and land owner. Elsie was also a homemaker with all the duties that come with a family of six.

It just so happened that Jerald Murray married Anna Lee Squibb and Billy Murray married Wanda Squibb. Max Murray married Ella Sue East (from Willard) and Ollie Mae Murray married Don McQuarter (from Willard).

Billy and Wanda were married on January 1, 1949. They didn't waste any time starting a family, because I (Donna Mae) was born on October 17, 1949. Their son, William Jerald (B.J.), was born April 21, 1952 and another daughter, Karla Kay, was born October 7, 1953.

Billy and Wanda lived on a farm of 160 acres on North Grant Street Road (today it's Farm Road 145) in a rock house. About a quarter of a mile south on the same road lived Jerald and Anna Lee and their four children, Carl David, Jeanette, Mary Lee (my age) and Andy (B.J.'s age).

When Anna Lee went to work at Commerce Bank, our cousins got on and off the bus at our house and stayed with us in the summer. When my mom went to work at Sears, we all stayed with Grandma Squibb.

Grandpa and Grandma Squibb had the best barn to play in. We climbed up to the loft and made tunnels, or forts or houses out of the bales of hay. They turned their old chicken house into a play house for us. The kitchen had a cupboard and a table and chairs. The living room had a sofa and chair and rug on the floor. There was a bookshelf with lots of books and, I think, even a lamp. We played and played in that house. They used a big part of it for storage, but we didn't even notice. That was our house! Grandma would fix lunch and bring it outside for us--always with kool-aid to drink.

Grandpa and Grandma loved to fish and sometimes took us with them. They got a boat and I can remember going to the lake with them. They also had a pond that we fished in sometimes.

Grandpa and Grandma Murray built a swimming pool and filled it with spring water (soooo cold). We learned to swim there and usually went as a family on Sunday afternoons along with the cousins. Sometimes momma would take us swimming during the week. We would stop at Gamblin's store and get a popsicle for a treat.

Grandpa Murray took us to pick walnuts one time. Then he sold them and gave us the money. He also had some horses. I think they were all Walking horses or Foxtrotters. He gave the boys each a colt to raise.

I have a scrapbook that momma put together with old family pictures and pages of family history..."Organization of Glidewell Baptist Church"; "Founding of Glidewell Community"; and "History of Glidewell School". They are so interesting to read.



To be continued.....