11-22-06

Only one or two times I have used some of the past write-ups. I am using an article from the eight years ago. It is one of my favorite stories because it talks about the businesses of Aubrey. The businesses were located near the peanut dryer on the east side of the railroad tracks. The article from October, 1999 is as follows:

Onega had a unique but familiar and accepted feeling when it came to the sunsets back during and after the Civil War. We cannot deny or close our minds to what history had to offer during this part of the pioneering and settlement of our local area here in North Texas. Some of us now at this time may not enjoy knowing what happened during the Onega sunset, but history most certainly has a way of not going away. The local customs were indeed an accepted an social norm.

Onega was not much different from any other small settlement back during it’s early days of the white settlers. The mothers with small children were trying to provide the bare essentials of education as it was and the hardships of just providing for the daily required elements to exist and yet stimulate love and happiness.

Even during my early lifetime, my brothers and sisters have given me much to think about and record so I can pass this along the next time we have a family get together. My oldest brother James is in his late seventies and has a sharp clean mind to recollect. His conversation is quick and to the point and requires an attentive ear.

We wait for others to record what we want to say, but wait is all that takes place. Nothing then is written down. Noah Jones, Jr., James Caddell, Bobby Goin, yes, our generation has indeed arrived and it is time to record history. I recall small huddles of conversation that had much meaning. It is just a matter of digging out the information and making a record.

One such conversation, was about a man named Uncle Zeke. Uncle Zeke, a black man of deep southern character, lived about two miles west of the Belew Cemetery on a sandy loam farm that was ideal for growing sorghum cane. Along with the cane came the production of sugar cane sorghum molasses, which in its day was a treat in our Mother’s kitchen. Farmers from miles around would bring their wagons loaded with sugar cane in the early part of the day before the sun came up. Then before the sun set, the wagons would head back home with the still warm syrup in the gallon shiny bright cans.

Uncle Zeke purchased the cans in the Aubrey stores. Jackie’s Mother and Daddy were one of Uncle Zeke’s clients at the mill. Jackie recalls as a child the adventure that was a yearly ritual which provided part of the provisions for their large family of eleven children.

Uncle Zeke and his wife (whom I vaguely recall) would also deliver the goodies in the bright shiny gallon buckets to Aubrey during the day to sell the surplus syrup, which was Uncle Zeke’s share for manufacturing the sugar cane. The journey into Aubrey, which was two miles from the Belew Settlement, would take Uncle Zeke and his wife all day to make.

Another group of businesses that did remarkably well during the time of Uncle Zeke’s syrup mill was the several blacksmiths that were in the Area. One of the latest blacksmiths to operate was the Judge Isom Blacksmith. It was located near the railroad track where Pud and Billie Wilson have their little City-Farm operation.

There was also a blacksmith and livery stable located on the corner of North and Cherry Street which was operated by the Phillips Family. Just a few years before these mentioned businesses were established, we are aware that the federal government through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, sponsored and funded the training of blacksmith work, which included the manufacture of wagon wheels, plows and grass cutting machines.

The photo this week is of Odell Blacksmith Wood Working and Horse Shoeing. The photo is very old and dark, but on the inside is Jim and Joe Jeffcoats and their families standing in the front of the outside.

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