May 8, 1977. I have been ask to write down some dates and Happenings of our lives by the JC Jr. So will do my best to make a short history of our lives. I (Flora Bessie Blessing) was born at Merril Texas, November 18, 1898. Merril was an inland town a few miles south of Grapevine Texas in Tarrant Co. where the airport is now. My father, John Belden Blessing and my mother, Sarah Barbara Patten came from Tennessee when very small children by wagon train to Euless, Texas. Dad came from Shelbyville Tenn. & Mother from Lynchburg Tenn. They grew up there and got acquainted there. Married near Arlington, Tex where “Six Flags” is now located. I well remember playing on the Creek and rocks in the old Watson Community and have relatives & friends buried in the Watson Cemetery at (Six Flags). My grand parents (The Blessings & Pattons) are buried at the Calaway Cemetery near there at Euless. My father & mother, 1 brother, and 1 sister (J.B. & Virgie) are also buried there along with numerous relatives. James Comer Hall Sr. was born November 7, 1904 in Denton Co. at Crum. His parents were James Laffette Hall and Ida Mae Rhoderick. There were married in Denton Co. Texas and Comer was born there also Wallace, Irene, Ross, Elmer, and Ella Mae. They moved to Iowa Park Texas (Near Wichita Falls in 1916 and farmed there until the year 1921 when they moved on the Mob Moore farm near Burkburnett Tex. My father owned a gin and farmed at Merril until 1901 when he moved to Temple Okla. We farmed east of Temple until the opening of the “Big Pasture” in Comanche Co. Okla. We leased a quarter of the Indian Land from Hilton Nason 6 miles south of Randlett Okla. We built a 2 room box car house and broke out the land for 3 years lease on the Land. Hilton Nason was a grandson of Quanah Parker (Chief of the Comanche tribe). Every summer Quanah Parker and all his tribe would camp on the land we had leased. When Dad’s days work was finished he would go to the camp and smoke pipes & talk to the Indians. When they would see him coming they would begin saying Chemuck (their word for smoking tobacco) for Dad would take a sack of tobacco for them to smoke. My first school was in a Canvas Tent and seats were two by twelves (2” by 12”) boards placed at each end was a bale of shingles. (Not very comfortable for an 8 hr sitting) My father also owned the first gin in Comanche Co Tx. Was built on our lease. 2 yrs Pater Randlett was surveyed and soon made an inland town. The first 2 yrs on the big pasture we were 25 mile from the nearest store & post office. We were the first family to move into the Big Pasture but in two years we had several neighbors and I still correspond with one of the girls who became a life long friend to my sister (a friend 75 years) Burkburnett was a town across the river from us but we had to ford the river as there were no bridges across Red River at that time. We-my parents, my brothers & sisters tried to cross when the river was up and water was one mile wide. We drove into swimming water for ¼ of mile till we came to 4 ft water then the gray horse balked and dad had to climb out onto the wagon tongue and unhitch the team and ride horse back to the Texas bank. We were all left in the wagon until he could take us out one by one horse back for ¾ of a mile to the Texas bank. We lost our New Bain Wagon in the quick sand but were happy no one drowned in that severe rolling red water. We had lots of narrow escapes trying to settle a new country and I do mean new, for Okla didn’t become a state until 1907. It was called Indian Territory until 1907. We moved to Munday Tex in 1914. We only stayed there 2 years then went back to Burkburnett where Dad put in the business and lived there through the oil boom. We moved onto the Bob Moore farm in 1919. There is where I got to knowing Comer and we were married September 30, 1923 in the old 2 story home on the Moore farm. Jack Taylor and my Dad came to Amherst and bought land in Aug of 1923. Luther also bought 85 acres joining dad’s quarter on the North Side of Amherst City Limits. No buildings were in Amherst except a hotel (Run by Hassel Land Co.) and the Depot. Luther and Stella moved to their land and built a house in the fall of 1923. We (Comer & I) moved to Amherst in fall of ’24 and Edwin was born on Jan 21st 1925 in my parents new 2 story house uncle Thad and Dad had built that summer of 1924. Mother was in bad health and passed away Feb 13 (on Friday) 1926. Comer and I had rented a farm from Victor Oxfords father and farmed 1 year but when mother passed away Comer and I moved in with Dad a I kept house for Dad, Ray and J.B. and Virgie as well as Comer, Edwin, and myself. I had very little time to Loiter as I did all the house work along with washing & ironing & cleaning. I missed my Mother and could not understand why God would take her and leave me with such an arm load. But I held up for six years taking care of a baby, a retarded sister & brother, along with Comer and Dad. Ray married in 1927/8. We moved to the Fieldton Community in 1928 and farmed with Dad until he bought ½ section near Dimmit (at Flag). Comer & I moved there in 28 and Ray & I divided our part of the Blessing estate (mother’s part) to Stella if she would keep Dad and JB & Virgie. We made 2 crops at Flag . Then went back to Fieldton to pick cotton and Comer also worked at the gin at Amherst, as we didn’t make any crop during the Depression Year on 1930. JC was born Oct 29 1930 while we were at Stella’s house. We then moved on Jed Robinson’s Place at Littlefield and farmed 2 years. We barely made expenses as it was very hard times ad the depression was still on. We moved [words illegible on copy] (Littlefield). Comer worked for a rock crusher and construction co. so we spent one summer at Big Springs then went back to Littlefield and picked cotton in the fall and got enough money together to make a payment on 85 acres off of Spade Ranch land near Baines Switch in 1937. We later bought the other 85 acres off Slim Watts. We put down an irrigation well on the first 85 acres. JC & Edwin went to school at Spade until Edwin was in high school. Then were transferred to Auton HS. Edwin and Neda Butler were married in June of 1938 and build a small house on our place to live in till he would be able to do better as he had been licensed to preach at the age of 15, when in High School. But Uncle Sam called him into the service in 1940. He spent 2 years with the armed forces in Europe Namely (Italy, Africa, France, Germany and wound up at “Berchis Garten” when he was sent back to the states to fight in the Pacific but the war ended while he was in the USA so he did not have to go to the Pacific. Those two years were Hades to our whole family. But when he returned we all tried to forget the nightmare we had been through and start to live again, and Edwin started to college at McMurry. They lived in Abilene and pastured a church at Blair the first year. Then went to Hawley to pastor for 2 years. He finished at McMurray in 3 years, then went to Dallas to SMU. _____ must say the first year at McMurry his Donna was born. I was down there a week before she came and when I called she had arrived. Comer caught a plane and flew down. The third year at McMurry Jan made her appearance but they soon moved to Euless to pastor the First Methodist Church there for 3 years while he attended collage at SMU. He also go his second degree in 3 years along with pasturing a church after he finished his degree at SMU. He was sent to Pampa to pastor a Church there. He didn’t have much of a church or parsonage so moved the Church and built a newer brick one, also a new brick parsonage. He named the Church Dr Parks Methodist Church. At the end of the first year his membership had brew to five times its size when he went there. We moved North of Littlefield ___ mile in 1943. As Comer & Walter Lyles had exchanged farms. We did not have an irrigation well so had to get a loan on our farm to put down our first well, it only lasted a short time when we had to drill well which is still being used. JC Jr went to school at Amherst and finished high school there. He married Betty Ann Campbell on June 22, 1950 at Amherst Methodist Church by his brother Edwin L. Hall to this union was born two sons. James Henry Hall was born at Amherst and only weighed 2 lb 6 oz at birth. Was kept in an incubator until he weighted 5 lbs. (born Sept 14-1951 Timothy Bruce was born Mar 24-1954. They moved to the Hall farm when the boys were very young as the was was not over and we didn't want to loose both boys in a war. So we moved to a rented farm so JC could farm our place. He lived there until the boys were nearly ready for high school, then he moved to Littlefield and both boys finished school there. Bruce was in the band four years and was drum major. Jim started to college at Levelland and Bruce went to (Lubbock) at Texas Tech. Jim only went one semester decided to quit and married Linda Strickland. They have made their home in Littlefield ever since. Bruce is still at Lubbock and still plays with a band of musicians. JC farmed over 400 acres of land for several years after Comer retired. Comer was forced to retire on account of his health at age 64 which was 1968 (or 69) so he let JC have his equipment to farm our place. Along with Alma Tuckers farm. He was a good farmer but was forced to give it up because of how prices for farm products and too much expense for farming. In fall of 74 he was ready to quit farming and try to find work elsewhere. So go a job at the Ford House as head mechanic. But only worked there a few months. He and Betty Ann came to the Parting of their ways in Spring of 75 they got a divorce. She went to college in Levelland and prepared to teach school and JC went to Kerrville in the spring of 75. He went to work at the State Park in the same year. Betty is now teaching school at Morton Texas and is married to Clyde Yearly. Jim is living in Littlefield and works for REA. Bruce is in Lubbock hoping to finish his Master degree. JC and Harried married April 1st 1979. Jim and Bruce were attendants at the weddings. Edwin & Charlotte married on St Patricks day in 1978. To date we all live here in Kerrville and work here. Donna married Roy Vance in year of 78. She also lives here in Kerrville. We are really enjoying being close to our families again. We have always lived near JC, but Edwin and Donna have not been close since the war was over except 2 years that Edwin was school councilor in Littlefield. We have had our ups & downs in life. Heart aches and disappointments. Be we have had a happy life too to look at all angles for there have been no deaths in mine and Comers children. Too we have all known what real love for each other is. We have received love and respect from our children and grandchildren and that is the greatest gift of mankind. "Love and Respect" We have always managed to be together on special occasions and enjoyed every minute we were together. Edwin has never been too healthy since he was 6 years of age. He developed Rheumatic Fever from bad tonsils. We had to have his and JC's tonsils removed when they were 5 years old. Edwin had membranieous croup when 3 years of age. Then took leakage of the heart at 7 years of age. Both had mumps when we lived at Bainer Switch. Then Edwin had concussion while in the army over sea and had a severe heart attack while pa storing a church at Clinton Okla and was in a Okla City Presbyterian Hospital for several weeks. Finally was brought to Scott & White at Temple and they finally got him up and on his feet again. After recuperating he went to work at the State School for the Blind at Austin. Then after a few years was sent to Kerrville State Hospital. JC was always a healthy person and worked long hours on the farm until summer of 74 when he had an accident on his motorcycles one night when he had been to set tubes and see about his irrigation wells. He was lucky to come out alive. He had several broken ribs and bruised and cut all over. Comer and I both have had our time and serge of Hospitalizations but are still up and trying to take care of ourselves at ages 74 and 80 years. We have tried to live an honest and clean life and had no serious trouble or misunderstandings with anyone. So I guess we can look back and say we've had a "good life" to take it all around. We lived in or near Lamb Co. Texas for 51 years. We have attended the Methodist Church together since 1925. I have belonged to the M-Church 67 years to date. Comer and JC enjoyed farming together North of Littlefield several years and made some real good money when prices were good. They harvested as much as 8,000 lb of grain per acre and as much a 1 1/2 bale of cotton per acre. JC ran the combine and Comer hauled off grain. I also had a hand in the procedure as I spotted trucks for JC to empty grain in. We always had plenty of vegetables to eat for anything we liked in the vegetable line would grow extremely well. An I always filled 250 jars and our deep freeze with good eats. We left lots of friends in Lamb Co but have made several here in Kerrville. I regretted very much to leave my friends but what broke my heart was having to leave my sick sister & brother for we were very close in family ties. And my sister depended on me solely to comfort her after her husband Luther passed away. There were 7 of my family passed away inside of 3 years time. Listed as they died were JB Jr, Luther, Aunt Lena, Florice, Doyle, Stella, and Ray, and my daddy and Virgie had passed away a few years before that. But, we all hope to meet again in the great Beyond and God willing, I'll join them again in a short time as the years are slipping away too fast. I Love Life as much as I did years past and we have so much to live for now as JC and Edwin have married two fine girls with very sweet children. We seem to have known them for years. They are lovable and Devoted to their mothers and that means so much. Living a Life of devotion for others has been our boys lives and I'm proud to say and to see someone that returns that love and devotion. The reason Comer and I came to Kerrville to live was on account of his failing in health caused by working in the fields of polland and chemicals. I knew I must get him away from all this palland and as we had visited in Kerrville several times as both boys were here along with a good VA Hospital. I could think of no better place to go and have not been sorry I moved. We sold our home in Littlefield also our 177 acres of irrigated land and bought a home in Kerrville. The next year after living here 1 year Donna came here to live with the two boys and Roy Vance. The too have a nice home as well as Edwin and JC. Jr. We all enjoy our get together and all have good jobs. This is a wonder place to live as the climate is not on the extremes in winter or summer. Mr. and Mrs. Hall came to the plains near Southland, Tex in the fall of 1923. Mrs. Hall's mother (your Grandmother Rhoderick) lived there and also Gene was living there. Mr Hall was engaged in farming at that time and Buddy, Elmer, Ella Mae & Francis were all children at home in school. They grew up and married there. Ella Mae married Clyde Turner. They had 3 children Billie Joe, Charles, and Donna Letta. She later married Roy Moore. Elmer married Mary Lou Ross. They have 2 children Francis Lou & Ross Buddy married Ruth. They adopted 1 boy, Billie Joe. Francis married (Pete) Raymond Lancaster. They had 3 children, Hazel Ruth, Travis and Curtis. Mr & Mrs Hall (your Grandparents) lived on Grandmother Rhoderick's farm and when she passed away, Mr Hall bought the brother's part in the farm then before he died the place was turned over to Buddy to take care of Mother Hall. He still maintains the home place. Pete & Frances live in Slaton Texas at 155 Crosby Street, 79364 is area code. p 806- 828-3235 Buddy lives on Home place and gets his mail on RFD 2, Post, Texas 79356. Roy Moore & Ella Mae live at Hemet California (92343 area code) hone 714-925-5161. Elmers phone is 385-3342 Littlefield [address illegible on copy] Irene Steaman lives in Wichita Falls, her phone is 817-692-4974. Ross Hall- Wichita Falls, phone 322-9855. This is all I have addresses & phone n. of his (Comers) relatives. I know Hazel Ruth lives at Paducah. Travis lives near Post and Curtis lives in San Angelo. I didn't mention about Dad's work as a ginner. He loved the cotton gins and started with them while young. He owned several during his younger life, and was lucky to never have an accident while operating one. Ray also liked ginning. He had some fingers cut off in the saws. Dad operated a gin when they had to carry the cotton to the stands in baskets. So got busy and invented the telescopic suction to the gin which is still being used. He had a man in Burkburnett make a miniature suction for him to send in to Washington and before he was able to sell to gin companies. Two gins in Dallas had bought the copy from the man that made the miniature one. So, they started making the suctions and Dad never realized anything out of his invention. Several lawyers tried to get Dad to sue the companies at Dallas but Dad said no if they could stay in business stealing from him to let them have it for at least he would have the pleasure of seeing people (farmers) unload their cotton quick & easy where they would have had to carry their cotton up steps in a basket and he lived to see a lot of bales ginned from his invention. Well, 58 years ago tomorrow Comer & I were wed. We had our wedding on Sunday morning at mothers home on the Bob Moore farm at Burkburnett, Texas. The pastor of First Methodist Church came before Church time and tied the knot. His name was Montgomery. We had a few relatives and several friends there and all stayed for a lovely feed at noon. Little did we think or care where we would be 58 years from that date. All we wanted was to be close together from then on and that we have done unless sickness overtook one of us. We have had a good life I guess as compared with most people our age. We married shortly after World War One and just before the Depression hit our land. So we didn't have time to get a foothold before the depression and it took hard work & labor to ever get a start. But we were stout and full of energy as well as determination. So we set out to make it on our own. And came out with about as much as those who had some backing. Though we had disappointments and grief we also had good times and laughter. If we had meals to eat and a bed to sleep in we were happy. We also had two lovely boys that made our lives complete. So I think compared with life today we did as well as most young couples today. There is a lot more to do with today. There is more money to spend and more to spend it for, but I don't think people are as happy today for life grows cheaper every year and love seems to be dying along with modesty.