Volume 6 , Issue 50

Memories of a Childhood Growing Up in Osage County

"I was born in Tulsa, 1958. My father was Jeff Parks, born in Avant, OK (1929-2002) oldest son of Hazel and Herb Parks. Herb and Hazel Parks had 5 kids, all born in Avant. Jeff, Lee, Darlene, & J.R. were born at the old home place by the Swingin' Bridge over Bird Creek. Only the youngest, Betty Jane, was born in a hospital (b.1946).

Hazel was a Randolph born in Beaumont, KS, but moved to the Barnsdall, Avant area as a young girl and youngest child, after her father died when she was 5. She had a brother, Harry Randolph, and sister, Violet Barthell, in Avant.

nHerb Parks was the son of Jefferson Davis (JD) Parks (b.1862), St Clair County, MO. (d.1934), Osage County, OK, buried in Barnsdall. Herb also had 2 brothers that lived in Avant or Osage County area. Myrland (Buck) Parks and Ray Parks. And 3 sisters in the area. Lola (Lole) Parks m. (name?) Mila Parks Turner and Belle Parks Krewitz.

Though I lived in many states, the best of my childhood was spent on my grandparents farms in Osage County, Oklahoma. Every day was Easter. I collected eggs from the hens and yelled, 'Run, grandma, run" as the rooster flogged her while she was warning ME to be careful.

Up before dawn, headed for one of the ponds, knowing I would have a stringer of Bass and Perch by the time grandma yelled out the backdoor, 'Terry Lynn??!!!! BREAKFAST.' Eggs and buttermilk biscuits with gravy, and fresh side, (I liked mine with the rind on). Then I cleaned my fish, 'cause daddy said, 'You Fish, You Clean!' Then it was time to go look at the baby pigs. 'STAY AWAY from the SOW, she'll eat you like slop!'

If dad was there, I would go out to the silo with him and grandpa and have a little 'nip.' Our secret from granny and mom. Then it was time to saddle up my horse, Sugar, and ride the 'Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born.' I was a girl, and an only child, But I was never lonely there. I developed my imagination riding, walking, and fishing, in this Wonderland. I could cover what seemed like miles of another world where there wasn't another house or person on the horizon 'til I came home.

I was every TV cowboy from Tom Mix, to Roy Rogers, and sometimes Tonto, because my grandma was Indian, and I was Proud, but so sad that my granny felt being an Indian was so dirty that she denounced all rights in humiliation. I would snub my mare to a tree and order Strong Milk, 99% Bourbon, and 1% Milk from an imaginary barkeep. Then head off to save my home, OKLAHOMA, from them scalpers, bank robbers, and horse thieves. I always wore the white hat and you should have seen my pearl handled six shooters, with the jeweled holsters.

There were 4 treats in Barnsdall -- one was the tiny hamburger hut that served grilled burgers with mustard, and asked, 'ketchup? We ain't got no ketchup.' Another was the oil well that main street dead ended into. Then the Tastee Freeze where I walked from the Indoor Pool; ate Frito Chile Pies; listened to 10 songs on the jukebox for a Quarter; waited to be picked up.

Then grandpa and I would pick blackberries, 'Watch for the Snakes.' Grandma would make cobbler, and pour cream over it, 'hot.' AHHHHHHHHHHH!... Just before dark I would go up to the hayloft and swing off the rope 'til grandma called me for dinner.

The old people (like me now) would play Pitch as I slept soundly with the crickets, so anxious for morning to come again. If I could bring back one person to listen to, it would be my g-uncle, Ray Parks, Avant. My dad loved him for his wonderful stories and odd wisdom, but I was too young to appreciate them. I guess that is what I am looking for with this entry. Someone to share the good old days with. Now they are my good old days, and so much has been lost with the death of my daddy.

Anyone out there with ties to this area or that might have known this family or it's stories, I would be ever so grateful if you would share them with me. So far my best ones are that my g-grandmother, Eliza Jane Allison, was married 5 times. Schneeberger, Randolph, Harman, Beckner etc. She led a hard life with the death of her first 2 husbands at a young age. Marrying again to provide for her 5 children. Being left again. Finally, in her 80's (in the 1960's) she became a womans libber by co-habitating with the final man in her life. The people of Barnsdall banded together and gave them 2 choices. GET OUT - or - Marry!

My other favorite was hearing the stories about my dad running Moonshine. Funny how many warnings rang in my ears during this recitation. BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAFEST PLACE I'VE EVER BEEN. I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS EXPERIENCE TO EVERY CHILD BORN.

I gave my kids their first six years on a farm, and am eternally grateful to God for it all. Just let 'em try to 'Tell Me Something Bad about Tulsa!' Cause I'm doing The Oklahoma Swing and passing on from my daddy that BOB WILLS is STILL THE KING!" -- Terry Parks Johnson - Emai: tjfemscor8@aol.com   |  View or Add Comments (3 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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