Ben from Clutier Iowa

Bernard (Ben) was born in Clutier Iowa in 1916.  His was a hard life but, he didn’t know any better.  He had an older sister and a younger brother.  There was another brother, two years younger than Ben that didn’t make it a week.  He did not know it at the time, but that loss would shape the next fifteen years of his life.

By Iowa standards, they were the rich folk.  With just over 1000 acres of farm land, this young family was off to a good start.  The ranch had a three room house, a barn, a shed, an outhouse, and a coral.  The first year that Ben can remember, or remember his Dad talk about, they were able to plant 90 of the best acres closest to the river.  They made enough the first year to buy a wagon, two horses, and stocked up for winter.

Ben’s Uncle Jim had left him the ranch because he didn’t have any children of his own.  His Aunt Jenny died ten years earlier attempting to give birth to the first one. After she died Uncle Jim just didn’t care anymore.  Ben had been working the land for five years, but he did not understand how hard the paperwork was.  Uncle Jim didn’t believe in paper work.  He said that you look the man in the eye, give him your word, and then live by it.

To Be Continued . . . .