Gracie Hall-Hampton: The Arkansas Years, 1917-1953 - Softcover

Hampton II, Codis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1491831138 ISBN 13: 9781491831137

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2013

Synopsis

I have learned over the years that there is no greater feeling of accomplishment than to give something of oneself in hopes that others will benefit from that gift. The idea was planted in my being by my father’s way of raising his children. It grew in leaps and bounds and, in fact, was magnified when actually I began to listen to stories about my family history.

I took those stories passed on to me by my father, mother, grandmother, and other family members to form a story about my Grandmother Gracie Hampton. It was her lifestyle, environment, conditions and timeline in which she lived, that is the story’s anchor, and my inspiration. And make no mistake, even though I have used the real names of the Hampton’s family central characters, and most relatives, all words written as dialog in this book are mine and mine alone. I’ve adding my words as dialog, along with a few fictional characters to facilitate a story line of how it could have happened during the events noted.

At times, it was a struggle to keep an eye on my purpose in life. God knows I have been distracted many times. Often, by my own misguided actions. Yet, I’ve always returned to my roots, the foundation of my upbringing, the unapologetic belief that I can not only survive but thrive and compete in any environment. I learned that from my ancestors. My youngest son, once remarked, “I’m not sure who I am.” At the time, he was going through an identity crisis trying to find out where he belonged in life. My advice was simple, “Go look in the mirror. That’s who you are and who will get you where you want to go.”

I hope this book helps others remember who and where they came from.

Codis Hampton II

About this title

About the Author

"By going back to school as a young adult, I was introduced to Abraham H. Maslow, (1908-1970), A well respected psychologist and his famous Hierarchy of Needs. Mr. Maslow theory is that each individual is motivated by needs. So much so that we spend a lifetime going up and down a pyramid of needs beginning with Physiological, through Safety, Love/Belonging, and Esteem, up through Self-actualization. I found his pyramid of needs which details the different levels; addressed a lot of loose ends for me. It spoke to my life goals and the reasons for a lot of my decisions on certain matters.
I’d been chasing self-independence which led me to open a retail business. Success with no capital for expansion led to its closure. I wanted a career, not just a job. I needed to be in charge of my own destiny. In 1978, I left my beloved Milwaukee and moved to California where a Civil Service position awaited. It turned out to be one of the best decisions my wife, and I have ever made.
A few years before retiring from the “rat race” in 1996, I discovered my true love, writing. I started by publishing an online newsletter with my own opinionated articles leading off each issue. I graduated by writing my first book, Unchon-ni, a semi-biography tale about my military tour in Korea in the early sixties. In this politically charged year of 2013, most people have become accustomed to instant critique and sound bites from various media. The truth is often bent; twisted, shredded, and repackaged to resemble something that your conscious tells you is a lie. Independent thinking is not a lost art. Just because people with those types of opinions seem to dominate the landscape, they are still the minority, no matter their color or creed.
It’s these life altering events that shape a person, a family, a neighborhood, and a community. The truth must be treasured and not compromised. Those real experiences supply the foundation upon which we are built and thus enable us to do the right thing based upon facts. That is the creed upon which I’ve based my life in every circumstance. No matter what, somehow one should always do the right thing for all involved. It keeps one grounded."

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

GRACIE HALL-HAMPTON

The Arkansas Years, 1917-1953

By CODIS HAMPTON II

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2013 Codis Hampton II
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4918-3113-7

Contents

Acknowledgement I, vii, 
Acknowledgement II, ix, 
Chapter 1 A Tragedy strikes home, 1, 
Chapter 2 Gracie's Sixteenth Birthday, 42, 
Chapter 3 Gracie's Engagement—A Community Development for Entertainment, 75, 
Chapter 4 Sammy's On the Run—Gracie & John Hampton's Wedding, 102, 
Chapter 5 The Honeymoon & Shots Fired on the Road to Banks, 134, 
Chapter 6 John and Gracie Hampton's First-Born, 174, 
Chapter 7 The Significance of Four Years prior to The Crash, 196, 
Chapter 8 Ill Economic Winds Bring Harder Times & Personal Grief, 205, 
Chapter 9 1930-33 Hangovers, FDR Programs & Family Illness, 228, 
Chapter 10 Papa Warner's Grand Cuties, 260, 
Chapter 11 A Mixture of Southern Attitude, National Progress & War, 281, 
Chapter 12 The Aftermath of Winning a War While Losing a beloved Statesman, 312, 
Chapter 13 Little Hamp Revisits His Place of Birth, 324, 
Chapter 14 What's Next and What Should I Do?, 332, 

CHAPTER 1

A Tragedy strikes home

Harriett was behind in her chores, thus the reason she rushed to get supper ready on this evening. It was Friday, and as has been the Hall household tradition, fried fish was the main entree along with a side-dish of smothered potatoes, prepared in such a way as one would notice the steaming pearl like surface onions speckled throughout the bowl. She gently placed a serving bowl of hot and creamy vegetable soup on the table alongside the hot buttered biscuits. Already on the table was a bowl of leftover fried chicken that had been reheated for this festive like supper. There was a small can filled with molasses along with a bowl of fresh churned butter to accompany the meal. Bowls of creamed corn and fried okra with freshly cut carrot sticks and sliced tomatoes helped to make up the feast.

She took a step back from the table to view the entire scene so that she could make sure she got everything on the table. The oblong table had three chairs, a two-person bench and a stool, just enough to seat everyone in the Hall family. "Oh, the corn fritters," she said out loud turning to take them off the iron stove top and placing the semi-warm pan on the table. Just in time too, as she could hear the creaky wheels of the family's horse drawn wagon coming down the hill headed for her cabins front door. She knew the sound of the horse team because she heard them returning from old man Jennings' farm six days a week over the last few years. Sometimes seven days a week during the planting and harvesting seasons of the year. She could count on her husband's old hunting dogs, Sadie, the Mama dog, and her three young pups barking at the sight of Frank Hall and the kids coming home.

Harriett, patted her short cropped hair, checked to ensure her full bodied apron was spotless as could be while covering her modest house dress. She smiled as she was once again pleased at the preparation she had put in to make this meal for her loved ones. She opened the front door, shielding her eyes with her right hand and stepped out on the porch into the late evening sun.

It was quite a scene, Sadie and the pups were barking and milling around the walkway to the cabin. You could also tell that Mama Dog was making sure one of the pups didn't run out in the road only to get trampled by a spooked horse or worse, run over by the wagon wheel. "Sadie, stay back there now," commanded Edward Hall, nineteen, the only boy and oldest child of the Halls. He was sitting in his customary place beside his father as the wagon came to a stop in front of the walkway.

"Whoa, whoa team," shouted Frank Hall as he attempted to calm down the skittish horses that were obviously annoyed by the barking and jumping around of the little pups. In defense of the pups, the eight week old dogs had not been around long enough to know if this wagon full of people and especially those two strange and mammoth animals were friend or foe. They were just doing their barking, jumping around, and turning flips routine to alert whoever was there that a possible intrusion of people, wagon, and exceptionally large animals were going on here. Sadie had stopped barking and looked on in amusement at her offspring's act.

"Hi Mama!" Eighteen year old Versia, seventeen year old Lummie, almost thirteen year old Gracie, and eleven year old Lena yelled almost in unison out to their Mama.

"Hey girls, get yourselves in here so you can help me finish setting the table," Harriett instructed half scolding. Gracie and Lena jumped out of the wagon at her command, ran and tried to hug Harriett as shooed them inside the cabin.

The two oldest girls, body style and facial features identical to their mother, moved slow and deliberate like the young ladies they thought they were each waiting for Edward to give them a hand at getting down from the wagon. Afterwards, Edward told his father that he would take the team and wagon down to the half built barn house/stable, unhook them and be back in a flash for supper.

Frank playfully bent his lean five-nine frame down to the dogs' level. By now, he was through stroking and greeting Sadie, nodded his head in approval as all of his attention now turned to his cute and petite five foot, brown skinned wife still standing in front of the cabins doorway looking like a little angel with the slowly disappearing evening sun glistening off her face. There were no words as they both embraced in appreciation of each other. With the pups still barking, arms around the others waist, Frank and Harriett went inside, closing the door behind them.

"How was it?" Harriett asked.

"A day like any other day this time of year, worked our butts off from the time we got there until we left," replied Frank.

At various time throughout the years, the entire Hall family members, excluding Mama Harriett, worked in some capacity for Lee Jennings farm for over eighteen years. This was in spite of the Hall household sitting on land that was given to Harriett by her father, Pete Belin. Old man Belin, like Mr. Jennings' father was an early 1800s settler in the Pleasant Hill community of Banks. By the time, Harriett whom he nicknamed "Haig" and her four brothers became adults they each received forty acres. For Frank and Harriett having the land was one thing, working the land was a slow process. Oftentimes it cost more money than they ever could save. It was even harder to get a local loan on the property. None of the forty acre properties was what one would call prime farming land and all needed a lot of work even with all the brothers helping each other out. Something always came up.

Thus, old man Jennings had come to know Frank Hall as a "nigger he could count on". He might not say it like that to Franks face but Mr. Jennings had grown to respect the hard working Frank and his family. He knew any money he paid Frank or the family members would be used to attend to their own property. Although the children attended school outside of the planting season from March to late June and harvest time in late September through October, Arkansas schools were closed down to allow for all hands on deck at these peak farming periods. There were areas on the Halls' land where they planted the normal food staples such as tomatoes, cabbage, greens, corn, potatoes and beans. Therefore, they had the double duty of attending to their small crops while working for extra money at the Jennings' farm.

The girls washed up and finished setting the table, at least what little was left to do and were already seated while waiting on the rest of the family. Frank and Harriett took their place at the table about the same time as Edward came rushing through the door so as to not miss any food or let it get cold. Edward looked like his father, same body style and disposition.

"Did you wash your hands after messing with those horses?" Harriett asked in her deep southern county motherly way.

"Yeah mama, outside."

"Did you ...," Harriett started to ask.

"I know Mama, the water was cold, but I put a lot of the bar soap on my hands to clean them proper," Young Edward added.

"Oh yeah Versia, you gonna have to ask Rollie Mama to get us some more of that homemade bar soap. Besides, somebody else beside you has a special day coming up Sunday, and we want her to be clean and smelling fresh in church, seeing how it's her birthday doings and all," Harriett instructed.

The two youngest girls smiled at the thought of Sunday doings, even though her actual thirteen birthday was today. Nothing was more crucial than the planting season at this time of year. So they looked forward to the festive atmosphere and knowing that she was going to have her favorite chocolate icing cake made and served with some freshly made ice cream. "Yum," Gracie and Lena thought.

Yet that was not what the giggling was about. The girls could not help but imagine what feelings were going through Versia's mind as she thought about becoming the wife of Rollie. Rail Parker was nicknamed Rollie because he was a chubby nineteen year old young man. They were to be married Saturday after next. Girls being girls, just the thought of the wedding night produced an almost uncontrollable giggle. Lummie just looked at the two girls as if they were acting like children.

"Girls, if you are through, can we say grace now?" Papa Frank, as he was sometime called by his kids, interrupted.

As they clasp hands, Frank asked for a blessing of the meal and thanked the Lord in his most personable way for the food provided on the table and for the health and welfare of his family.

"Yeah, let's eat," summarized Edward.

Yes, there was a not-so-minor day coming up this Sunday. Little Gracie would be a year older. The following weekend would be truly memorable as the first of the Hall children would be getting married to a Parker. The family knew a little about the Parker family because they were part of the Gravel Ridge community.

Clement and Cora Parker had three boys, Clement Jr.; Rail (Rollie) and Sammy. Their oldest boy, Clement Jr., had enlisted in the US Army over a year ago. They say his segregated unit was fighting alongside French soldiers in the War. The United States joined its Allies in Britain, France, Russia, Belgium, and Greece to name a few in the "Great War" of World War I by declaring war on Germany the previous month. That was on April sixth, to be exact. Although the war, caused by economic and territorial issues between the Allies and the Central Powers of Austria-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, and Turkey had been ongoing since 1914, there was little evidence that concern over the war had reached this community. That is, except in the households of parents and relatives of men and women who were serving directly or in support of the US interest in the war.

Rollie's parents had a pretty large sized farm, maybe a hundred acres of land, maybe a hundred twenty-five, the Halls didn't know for sure. They were pretty much self-sufficient in that they grew most of their food, had a few mules and horses. Edward, who was one of Rollie's best friends told the family the Parkers also had a couple of dairy cows, a few cattle, a few of goats, and several hogs with pigs along with a passel of chickens.

The Parkers had already given Rollie a section of the land to settle on in order to start preparing for a family of his own. In fact, he was finished with the little two room house he'd built, with the help of family and friends for his soon to be wife. It was conveniently located about two miles down the road and up a small hill from Clem and Cora Parker's farm house. Although semi-surrounded by a bit of forest land it was ideally located to overlook the Parkers' land and beyond. Edward had reassured Papa Frank his daughter would be in capable hands with Rollie.

The Hall family was obviously enjoying the tasty food so Lummie thought this may be an opportune time to ask for a little permission of her own. Since nobody knew, but Edward, at least so she thought, she just blurted it out amid the general chit-chat of her parents at the table.

"I think Rollie's brother Sammy is sweet on me," She nervously started.

Whatever Frank and Harriett were talking about halted when they heard the words "sweet on me" come out of Lummie's mouth.

"I kinda like him too." Continue Lummie since it was out on the table. Sensing the mannerism of her dad when dealing with an uncomfortable subject, she quickly added, "Papa Frank, nowadays some girls are already married at my age. Um not talking about getting married by next Saturday but I just want to know if yawl will let me see him. Papa, I like him, I do like him too."

"So, you talkin' bout seeing him like a girlfriend and boyfriend kind of seeing or are you just talkin' about seeing him at church of just walking down the road or something?" Asked Frank.

"Mama?" Lummie asked while soliciting help from her mother who knew of her interest in Sammy and his in her. She knew that her daughter liked the young man months ago. His interest in her just came to Harriett's attention almost a week ago.

Taking a long pause and looking at the faces around the table, Frank fixed his gaze on the only other person beside Lummie who seemed to know about this potential pairing, his wife. "Harriett?" He simply asked.

"Frank, Sammy's a nice young man; he just turned eighteen and is working with his daddy. He asked me for our permission to talk to Lummie. You weren't here that time he tagged along with his brother, who was here to see Versia. That's when I let him know ..., that ..., that, he had to talk to you too."

Frank turned his glance toward Versia and when their eyes met, his oldest daughter sheepishly looked back down at her food and continued to eat without comment. It was obvious she knew something was going on too.

"Frank, Lummie will be eighteen herself next year," his wife reasoned.

Frank sat back in his chair, looked up toward the ceiling as if the answer was somewhere in the rafters, and tried to sort out this development. How could this have happened without his knowledge, and worst yet, how come Harriett didn't tell him sooner about what was beginning to look like a done deal whether he approved or not. After all, the boy was a Parker and if they approved would see that he took care of his family if it came to that. Resigned to that fact, Frank began eating again but not before he told Lummie that she, Harriett and him would talk about this later.

"Now is not the time," he stated as he stuffed his mouth with a piece of a now cold molasses and butter garnished biscuit

Lummie smiled nervously as she glanced at the approving faces around the table. All that is, except Frank and the two youngest girls, Gracie and Lena. The little gigglers had found another potential couple in which to amuse themselves.

Rollie and Sammy Parker having hooked up the two horses to the supply wagon climbed up in and took their seats. Rollie was in the drivers' position with Sammy sitting next to him, wondering when he would be allowed to drive to the local town of Banks. "Get up there horses," Rollie ordered after making that tsk, tsk, tsk sound with his tongue that came from bringing the tongue to rest against the roof of his mouth three times. The horses understood it to mean move out, and they do so as Rollie guided them to stop at the family house front gate.

Clem, short for Clement, Parker was a tall dark skinned black man as evidenced by him bending his head down and sort of contracting the length of his body in order to exit his front door. He stood about five feet nine and weighed upwards of two hundred and fifty pounds. He looked back after stepping out into the yard headed for the wagon and yelled back for his wife. "Come on Cora. We gotta go."

Cora Parker, who filled in as the acting school teacher for black people in the Bradley County, Arkansas community was an attractive brown skinned black woman who carried herself in a most regal way. Some may even say it was because of her twelfth grade education by a convent of nuns in the township of Little Rock Arkansas. The fact that she never knew her mother or father, both of whom were slaves was both a blessing and a curse. The blessing was the fact she was raised as an orphan in the convent, and the curse being not knowing her family.

Sammy, the eighteen year old and youngest of the Parker's three boys jumped out of the front seat into the bed of the wagon and took a seat on one of the two bags of dry beans that would be used to barter with old man Purvis at the Banks-Gravel Ridge Country store. He was followed shortly by Rollie who tied the team reins to the wagons brake handle before taking a seat in the bed of the wagon.

Clem helped Cora up into the wagons seat, walked around to the driver's side, climbed up and grabbed the reins. In what seemed like one motion, he wheeled the team slightly to the left made the "Tsk, tsk, tsk" sound and shouted "Let's go horses, get up there Minnie." The team obediently followed instructions at the sound of Clem's voice.

The family, taking time off from their fields was off on their normal Saturday morning visit to town in order to trade with Skeeter Purvis, one of the few white owned stores nearby that would trade or do any kind of business with black people.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from GRACIE HALL-HAMPTON by CODIS HAMPTON II. Copyright © 2013 Codis Hampton II. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1491831138
• ISBN 13: 9781491831137
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 362