I
discovered America November 5, 1915 in Tacoma, Washington (Birth Certificate, Vol. No. 17,
Register No. 1297). Welcoming me into this world was my Father, Benjamin Franklin Bales,
thirty-three years old (born 3/6/1882). My Father was a clothing salesman. My Mother was
there too! Ethel Florence Davis Bales, age twenty-nine (born 2/28/1886). She was listed as
a teacher. Dr. E. A. Montague attended my birth which took place at 8 p.m. in our home at
3623 South Sheridan Street. Having babies at home was commonplace then and is becoming
more common today than it has been in decades. Four brothers and sisters also greeted me
shortly after my arrival: Davis, Louisa (later called Mary, which was her first name),
Franklin, and Mabel.
Although I did not know it at the time (not until my birthday in 1989, according to Hallmark's "The Birthday Times"), Roy Rogers, Joel Mcrae, Bill Walton (a basketball player) were all born on November 5, although in different years. The year I was born 1,198 civilians, including 124 Americans, died when a German U-boat sank the "Lusitania". That month 31 died in Delaware when a munitions plant exploded. It was suspected to be a case of sabotage. Thomas A. Edison received the Nobel prize for physics that month.
The Birth of a Nation won the best movie award. W.C. Fields starred in Ziegfield Follies and Henry Ford produced his millionth car. Pack Up Your Troubles.. Keep the Home Fires .. M-O-T-H-E-R... Are You from Dixie and I Love Coffee were popular songs. The first Frigidaire was marketed and handball was invented. The first transcontinental phone call was made by Alexander Graham Bell. The Mayo Foundation began that year and lipstick came out in metal cartridges. One gallon of milk cost 35 cents; bread (one pound loaf) was 7 cents; 34 cents a dozen for eggs; the average income was $706; a three bedroom house cost $2,750 and the population of the U.S. was 100,546,000. (In 1944 the old house we bought in Searcy cost around $3,400 and we had to spend $500 on a new roof. The house had six rooms and five fireplaces. Part of it was built in 1872. We borrowed some money from Frank which we paid back in monthly installments.)
In June 1916 we moved to Albany, Georgia by train to be closer to Mother's folks. My sister Louisa (Mary) had the measles. A lady complained and mother, Louisa and I left the train in El Paso, Texas. Dad and the rest of the family went on to Fitzgerald, Georgia to stay with Mother's parents (Mr. and Mrs. James Franklin Davis.) After we arrived, some of the rest of the children had the measles. It was over sixty years before I was in Tacoma again, when we visited our son, David, and his family.
After the other children had gotten over the measles, we went to Albany, Georgia, where Daddy worked in Uncle Jesse C. Davis' grocery store on Main Street across from the Albany Theater. We lived at 622 Mercer Street.
Louisa told me on July 27, 1989 that the first lie she remembers telling Mother was when she was so fascinated by the picture, in which Billie Burke played, that she stayed to see it twice. She got home late, of course, and Mother asked her what happened. She said that when the show was over, she tried to leave, but there was a fat lady on each side of her, and they said: "Little girl, wait until the show is over." She could not get out. She wondered how Mother knew she was lying!
The first recollection I have out the dim haze of my earliest years was in the front yard of our home. I had been told that my Uncle Jesse Davis was an ambulance World War which was then raging. I thought I could hear the guns of this war in Europe! On 8/22/18 from France he wrote my Mother: "Dear Sister: You stated in your letter for me to ask for anything I wanted from the States. There are so many things I might want but three months subscription to the "Albany Herald" would be more to be desired than fine gold. Don't send paper for more than three months as that will be a plenty for the present. Love to all, Pvt. Jesse C. Davis, BH 43, A.E.F."
On April 13, 1918 Uncle Jesse wrote from Camp Gordon on YMCA stationery which had a flag at the top of the page and the words "With The Colors".
Dear Mr. Bales: Well am still here but lieutenant said we were liable to leave any day. Had a big farewell reception for us last night at Piedmont Driving Club. I would have given worlds to have been able to dance. We were introduced to our officers and many of Atlanta's most prominent people. We could dance with any lady present and could break on Colonel's, Major's or Lieutenants. Had eats and the Unit was presented with a $7,000 donation for a surplus fund. Tomorrow night we have another farewell reception at M. E. Church and are presented with a flag. Look for our pictures in Sat or Sunday's Constitution.
"Say If possible please send me your inventory statement as I want it before we leave. Cannot come home but hope to see you after the "duration". Will give you final instructions on receipt of statement. The nearer the time to leave the more I desire to go to France.
"Say hadn't you better sell that hog as he surely will not gain much more in weight. Take out your share for keeping him, pay back S4.00 pigeon money and 25 cents American magazine turn rest over to Davis Bales for pigeon farm. He can go slow but keep building up. When I get back will go half & half after he gets pay for his work, if I can stay in France he can have it, also my book Can use books while I am gone but I will want them if I return. Can keep this letter for reference if you so desire. Keep up Collier's payments for me.
"Am waiting on table in kitchen this week having a good time, drilling, taking bandage lessons and hospital instructions. Let me hear from you. Yours, Jesse Davis (over) Am expecting mother, Jimie and May up tomorrow. Jesse."
Someone in my family informed me that when I was small I squeezed a small kitten so hard it died. I do not remember this but I have never been enthusiastic about cats in the house. My wife and all of our children are cat lovers. I tolerate them better at some times than other times. They act as if they own the place and you are there to be at their beck and meow.' Bunnie won me over, but I still do not like them getting under my feet. I have said more than once, but only jokingly, that I did not want to force my wife to choose me or the cats for I am afraid that I know whom she would choose! However, pets are important for children and can be therapy for older folks.
The first snow that I remember was so scattered, and so unusual, that the chickens were eating the snowflakes. It seems to me that by the time the snow ended the chickens had consumed all the flakes.
When I was five we lived next door to a family named Reece. Their mother ran a small store. They would get, without permission, cigarettes and give some to Frank and me. I only got a half of a cigarette at a time I smoked three halves (my total smoking career). My conscience bothered me. I went to Mother and said: "Mother, I have been smoking but I have quit. Frank is smoking also. They have promised to beat up anyone who tells on them. Do not tell Frank I told on him. Smell his clothes." She did and Frank quit smoking. If my suggestion to smell his clothes seems like a brilliant one for a child, it was not. It was simply a matter of self-preservation! I have never smoked since that day even though some kids once threatened me if I did not smoke. Many years later a doctor told me that I would have already died if I had been a smoker. Frank took up smoking again. After all he had quit under duress while I had quit voluntarily. He told me he could stop any time he wanted to quit. He had quit a number of times. What I think happened was this his want-to got shot to pieces.
My sister Mabel was a very few years older than I. When
I became frustrated I would throw a fit and kick and squeal. on the floor. Once she threw
a pan full of dishwater on me. For some reason it ended this type of conduct! I am sure it
had nothing to do with my later belief in immersion and not in pouring.
Mabel and I fought. She would win. The time came when a fight ended in a draw, I could never get her to fight again. Perhaps she thought it is best to quit when you see you can win no more.
We had some black playmates. One of my black friends was named Todd. He was considerably older than me and did some work for my father.
We moved from Mercer Street to Louisbourg Road where we attended church services at a country congregation. My first distinct recollections of Louisa (Mary) was seeing her in a nearby lake, or perhaps it was a pond, when she was baptized into Christ by brother Claus She later (7/27/89) told me that she dreaded drinking from the one cup (container), which contained the fruit of the vine for the entire congregation, when each Lord's day they partook of the Lord's supper.
Louisa said that around a half a mile across the field were we lived there was a railroad track. The trains sometimes woke her at night.
When we lived fairly close to the Flint River, my brother Frank, who was three years older than I (April 4, 1912), and I with some neighborhood boys went down to the river and 'borrowed' a boat. They turned loose another boat or so as we went down the river. One of the boys got into one of the boats and it started to sink. They got him out. As we passed a bluff some boys threatened us with a rifle and we went back up the river. When we got home we found our parents were very much upset and we were sent to bed even though it was not night time. As I recall, they had watermelon that afternoon and were not given any of it. Of course, it is never a good idea to eat watermelon before one goes to bed!
One April Fool's day I told Daddy that there was a spider in his hair. I laughed with glee as he quickly combed his hair. I thought I had really fooled him.
I remember putting some pebbles in a paper sack and tying the paper sack to a chicken. The chicken ran off somewhat disturbed. Whether it interfered with the egg production, I do not know. Today I might have been arrested for chicken brutality.
While living in Albany I stared a family tragedy in the face for the first time. Our sister Ethel Florence was born April 27, 1920. She died on February 13, 1921. Since she died of spinal meningitis, we were not allowed close to the body. I remember looking through the window and seeing her body laid out on our library table which my sister Mary got after our parents died. Several years later Mary had a tombstone put on her grave. On December 14, 1929, W.H. Miller of the Albany Marble Works, wrote to Mary as follows:
"Miss Mary L. Bales
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Miss Bales:
I believe your letter of the 11th has been on the desk a day or two before I opened it this p.m. and found the certified ck. for your December remittance. I have been so busy that I just did not have time during the day to read my correspondence and at night I have been too fagged to take it up.
Yes, I find that you are correct in your opinion that you have now paid $30.00 and the balance is $7.00 including the two dollars Mo. Amos will get if I have not already paid him.
I wish all of my customers were as honest and truthful as you are tho I felt sure when I looked at you and listened to your voice that I was dealing with one entirely trustworthy.
Allow me to wish you as Merry a Christmas and as Happy year as you desire. If you have ? you will be blest and your cup of joy will be running over.
I am glad to subscribe myself. Your sincere friend and obedient servant"
W.H. Miller
I entered the first grade, in Albany at the Broad Street
Elementary School, when I was five years old. One day my teacher asked me to bring a
couple of forked sticks the next day as we were to simulate a camp fire on the sand table.
A stick would be placed in the forks and would hold the vessel over the "fire".
For some reason or other I got to school without bringing them. I was so humiliated that I
left school to go home. My brother Davis came after me on his bike. He did not ask what my
problem was but tried to force me to go back to school. I was stubborn and went home
anyhow. However, my Mother returned me to school. If Dave (and I am not blaming him) had
inquired as to why I was going home, he could easily have gotten the sticks for me. Of
course, I could have volunteered the information but I was too embarrassed and too
stubborn.
One of my schoolmates swore like the proverbial sailor This boy could swear what we called a blue streak. Some of the kids would ask him to swear and he would do it. The worst word heard my Father use was 'darn'. I heard it one time when on a cold winter morning he was cranking up the Model T. Ford. It, we called it, kicked. The crank reversed its direction. Sometimes they broke an arm. When the crank kicked him he said "darn".
One of my schoolmates was killed just before Christmas. This made me feel so sad.
There were a couple of gangs, which fought from time to time, who attended our school. I remember that one student was shot in the upper arm with a twenty-two rifle. He was riot badly hurt. When he returned to school there was a patch on his shirt sleeve. Years later my brother Frank told me that a boy had a twenty-two and gave it to him and said for him to use it. He did.
Clayton was born in Albany (May 4) as was Mildred.
In the front of a Bible, Daddy wrote: 'A Remembrance Dec. 25/22. From B.F. Bales, Davis Bales, Mary Louisa Bales, Mabel Bales, Franklin Bales, James Bales, and Clayton Bales. To Ethel Florence Bales, Wife and Mother who Love, Friendship and Fidelity we have enjoyed, Sincerely, B.F. Bales." And the names were written by Daddy Someone later in another handwriting wrote Mildred Bales.
Daddy and M other moved often. Daddy must have had the wanderlust, or perhaps he could not pay the rent and had to move! (This statement is made humorously.) They were married in Coal City, Indiana by Andrew J. Tiptin, and elder in the church of Christ, on April 13, 1906. In around twenty-one years life they moved about the same number of times.
While we were living in Albany Daddy got a Job with Frank E. Block Company. It involved a lot of traveling as a candy salesman, and it required moving to Atlanta. We did not go to Atlanta as soon as he did. On Friday, 1923, Louisa wrote Daddy from Albany:
Albany, Ga.
Fri. 1923
Dear Daddy:
We received your cards to-day. We were glad to hear from you.
We are all well. James' room closed to-day on account of the measles. I suppose it will be closed for two weeks. They are spreading all over town. Mary Frances and Kinsley Bell have got them.
We finished our tests to-day. I made three in my Arithmetic test but she has not given our other papers back. I had to take my Physiology test today. I had not missed a question but I was absent those two days. We will get our reports Monday.
Mother expects to go to town to-morrow.
We got a letter from grandma to-day. She has had a chill.. I sure wish I was over there some of those straw berries she said she had.
I intend to make Franklin a birthday cake to-morrow. His birthday was last Wednesday.
Davis took some other boys out to Blue Springs this evening in the old car. They got five gallon of gas, one gallon of oil and greased the back end. One of the boys got a 1923 license. Franklin went with them.
They did not have band practice last night.
Henry Ford is in town. He expects to leave to-night.
Clayton said for you to come home. He wants to see you and wants you to bring him a stick of candy.
Mildred is growing and is getting cuter every day. Daddy, where do you think we are going to live? We are anxious to know where we are going to live.
We sent Uncle Jesse's trunk to-day.
Write us and tell us all of the news. Love,
Your daughter,
Louisa Bales.
Louisa did not include the month and the day on the letter. Frank was born April 4, 1912. Since she said his birthday "was last Wednesday," it was written on April 6th.
We did not all move at one time to Atlanta. Mother took
Mildred, and I know not who else, with her to Atlanta and Louisa, and perhaps some others,
went to Fitzgerald where Grandpa and Grandma Davis and Aunt Mabel Massey lived. On July 6,
1923 Mother wrote Louisa from 220 Cascade Avenue in Atlanta:
22 Cascade Ave.
Atlanta, Ga.
July 6, 1923.
Dear Louisa:
Are you all about ready to come to Atlanta! We are not located yet, but think we will take the place Raymond's are in they are thinking of taking three rooms. I went to look at such a nice place last Monday, but it rents for $40.00 per month and that is sure to much for us.
I took dinner with James and family last Tuesday. They sure have sweet and well trained children. James talked of going to Fitzgerald to spend reminder of week, but I don't know whether or not he went. He was sick last week, but was looking real well Tuesday.
Did you have a nice time the Fourth? I stayed at home all day and evening. Dad couldn't come back and I decided I would rather stay at home than to care for Mildred in a crowd.
She is looking so well again, and is so sweet, but awfully spunky.
I am sure you are pleased over your new dresses. You must all work real hard so Grandma and Aunt Mabel will know you appreciate your new things.
Bro Karnes is still holding meeting. I haven't been since last Sun. morning, but am planning to go tonight as I expect Daddy; before church time.
Uncle Jesse and wife were here a few minutes Wednesday morning. They expect to be here a week from next Sat. and we are planning to keep them awhile. His wife looks good to me and I imagine is a mighty fine girl.
All of you write to us often. You are not writing to us as often as I thought you would.
Lovingly, Mother.
We moved to Atlanta, Georgia when Mary was fourteen and in the eighth grade. She attended Joe E. Brown from which she graduated (11th grade) in the spring of 1927. Mary said we moved to an apartment which someone called the goat pen because it was so dirty. We lived on the ground floor facing Westmont. It was close to Cascade and Beecher Streets. Beecher Street crossed Cascade and Westmont. The street car tracks ended there. It was in West End. Stegars Drug store was located there. Westmont was on the left hand side as we came from the main part of West End in Atlanta. Cascade was on the right hand side. We later moved to Ben Hill, then to Utoy Road and then to Campbellton Road where we lived at the time of our parents' death.
On February 28, 1924, in Atlanta, the children wrote
Mother. Mary must have penned the letter on Mother's birthday.
"Dear Mother: We all wish you a Happy Birthday and wish that you will have many more. Your loving children, Davis Bales, Louisa Bales, Mabel Bales, James Bales, Mildred Bales, Clayton Bales, Franklin." Daddy also signed it: "B.F. Bales". We couldn't know that she would have only two more birthdays.
I attended Central Elementary School in Ben Hill at the edge of Atlanta. If memory serves me correctly we had to walk around two miles to school. Mary tells me that a Miss Mary Thomas and a Miss Burge were teachers there. One day I wore a new pair of red and black corduroy pants. The kids at school called me "little Red Riding Hood". I never wore those pants again. When we grow up we forget sometimes how powerful is peer pressure among children. Things we may laugh about, they may take extremely serious. Nowadays when wide ties are not exactly in, I wear them mainly because I get them for 25 cents each at New Hope Industries in Searcy. When someone says something about them, I reply: "How could one be out of style today?" They are now (6/8/91) coming back in style.
My brother Frank, me and two cousins, Lloyd and Ray Davis (whom we called junior), would roam the hillsides on the south side of Atlanta and hunt Civil War relics. There were still trenches and gun embankments for the artillery and picket holes. I have some lead bullets and two shell fragments which I found.
One day in the cool of the morning we ate the heart out of several watermelons in Ray's father's (Raymond Davis) watermelon patch. We threw the rest in a creek which had vines on its banks. Uncle Raymond found the evidence and tracked down the offenders.
During this period of time we visited occasionally the Civil War Cyclorama in Grant Park. It was a huge painting, which occupied a circular building, of the battle of Atlanta. There were veterans of this battle who pointed out various scenes to us.
I would visit the old soldiers' home where I met civil war veterans and got some autographs. I met four or five of "Lee's men".
One of my ancestors was on the Northern side and the other on the Southern side during the Civil War. As a child I learned the following ditty:
The costumes of the Civil War
Are something to dispute.
My granddad was a rebel
But he wore a union suit.
(This union suit was underwear.)
For a time we lived close to Fort McPherson, in Atlanta. From time to time we would visit with the soldiers stationed there. We got well acquainted with a Sergeant McGregor who was retired and lived in a small house close to us.
In Atlanta, we attended the South Pryor Street congregation. Dad led singing part of the time, as did Dr. Charles H. Paine. Sister, James A. Harding, the Paine family, and the Keckleys also attended. I remember during a meeting that I was sitting on the front chair of a series of chairs lined up against the wall during a meeting. I went to sleep and fell off. Another time in a Sunday School class I was not being quiet and Daddy thumped me on the head with pencil. I supposed he would have been arrested today for child brutality.
On another occasion I attended with the family a tent meeting. I walked out in my sleep and woke up on the running board of our car. Some kind of bug was biting me.
When we lived on Utoy Road, next to Pete and Anna Henson
and their daughter Ann Davis, who was the oldest child, seemed to think (at least we so
viewed it) that he had authority over the rest of the children. He was also over six feet
tall. He and Frank, for example, has some disagreements. One day Frank noticed that there
was a clothesline in the cornfield next to our house. He realized that he could run under
it without ducking and that it would catch Davis. So he swatted Dave and ran through the
cornfield with Dave in hot pursuit. Things worked according to plan. I can still see Dave
when he hit that clothesline. It seems to me that his feet reached the same level with his
head. He laid in the cornfield for a time as if he were dead. He got up finally and
continued the chase. He did not catch Frank. Children do not always realize the possible
consequences ot their pranks.
My brother Frank was fleet of foot and could easily outrun me. Once when in an open field we thought we heard an airplane. But Frank looked behind us, saw a snake playing with its"rattler", hollered "snake", and took off. He had a head start. But I was so highly motivated that for once I caught up with him.
I never did like to fight, but Frank seemed to like it. When he stayed sometimes with Grandpa and Grandma he would walk through a cotton mill community where he could usually find a fight. On one occasion when we were in the Oakland part of Atlanta, two or three fellows stopped us. Frank grabbed one them, swatted him twice and they ran. On another occasion, when we had been to the swimming pool, some of them chased us. They could not catch Frank but they caught me. Frank picked up half a brick, came back and persuaded them to let me go without them harming me!
I remember us driving in a Model T Ford from Atlanta to Fitzgerald, Georgia, a trip of around 200 miles. It was not unusual to have several flats on a round trip. Daddy would patiently change tires and when it became possible would vulcanize the tube and put it back on. A small scrapper was used, then a paste was put on it, lit with a match and a patch put on it. An Uncle told me that when Daddy ran out gas, he would get a gas can and go off down the road hunting a filling station. He whistled while he walked.
Daddy was a mild tempered, good natured person. But, Daddy's patience could wear thin. I well remember, when we lived next door to the Hensons, that sometimes I had to draw water for Susie (the cow). With one gulp that cow could put away a bucket of water and asked for more. One day I griped (likely I griped more than one day) and Daddy heard me. As he came to correct me, the only thing he could find was a round leather belt for the sewing machine. When he got through switching me I never again griped audibly about drawing water for the cow.
On one occasion Dave was being chased by a bumble bee. He had heard if one hit the ground the bee would pass one by. He did, but the bee had not heard this and Dave was stung.
When it came time for the Saturday night bath, we took turns bathing in a galvanized round tub. In the winter time we put it close to the woodburning stove. One time Frank lost his balance and sat on the hot stove. He that sitteth on a hot stove shall surely raise again.
We rented a house from Lee Rosser. Lee lived just behind the house. One day he was looking for his belt. He found it around the cow's neck. He was drunk, had an encounter with our cow and I assume he was trying to choke our cow.
April 7, 1926 from Route 1, Box 241 in Atlanta, Mother wrote to her Mother, Mrs. James F. Davis in Fitzgerald, Georgia:
April 7, 1926.
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Ones at Home:
I received mamma's letter. I have stopped ever so many times to write to you, but pens and pencils were not to be found. I always intend to keep some on hand but the children get hold of them for school.
I had an abscessed tooth taken out yesterday, and have felt badly ever since. The root was wrapped around the jaw bone and then broke off, so it was not easy thing to pull. Bro. Adamson, begins our meeting the last Sunday in May Can't you arrange to visit us during the meeting?
Franklin was fourteen years old last Sunday. The snap-shot of him was not good.
Raymonds' have opened up another bake-shop. They have struck a big thing - did better last week than at any time and I suppose summer business will be still better, for so many women do not bake during the summer. Louisa intends to help them in shop as soon as school is out so don't know whether I will get down this summer or not, we took sixty-one eggs to the hatchery last week so guess will have my hands full. Davis is doing well. He made $150.00 last week and $15.00 last Monday, so I expect him to get back into school next fall. Ben is doing real well with machine business.
Are Mabel's all well? Tell Massey he had better try the front stairs next time.
Charles' boys are getting married awfully young. Davis said the girl Richard married was in her twenties. Richard won't be seventeen until June.
I have a lot of work to do so must quit. Write to us soon. I want to go to town Thursday, so expect to get your birthday day present.
With love, Ethel.
We were poor but as far as I recall we never went hungry. I also recall Daddy taking groceries to people who had less than we did. I remember at least one cold winter night when we all slept in the front room where the wood stove was kept going throughout the night.
At the time of his death Daddy worked for Singer Sewing Machine Company. He also sold real estate for a time.
Email:Mail@jonbales.com 