By: Sarah White (Oct 20, 1987)
Colon and Vasta White raised five sons and one daughter. When they married in 1925 they left Ravenden Springs and on the way to Ravenden they stopped and were married by the Justice of the Peace. They stayed at Ravenden until 1:00 AM that morning then caught the train to Marmaduke.
Colon was making a crop in Marmaduke. They lived in a large four room house as “cold as kraut”. Mother said she had brought enough covers for one bed. Papa White and Raymond his brother had been batching alone. She recalled that they had one old blanket and it was torn right down the middle. She divided her cover with Uncle Raymond and they all almost froze that winter. She got busy and made quilts as soon as she could.
They had their first two children at Marmaduke. Murrel moved to Michigan after finishing high school in Marmaduke. He went to an Electrical School and learned his life trade. Murrel worked for General Motors at Turnstedt in Flint Michigan. He was married and raised 5 daughters, Cathy, Cindy, Connie, Carol and Christina. They had five grandchildren at this time.
Wayne and his wife of almost 40 years (Rava Nell Stokes) both worked for Emerson Electric in Paragould Arkansas. They have two daughters, Bonita “Bonnie” and Diane. They have one grandson, Kristian.
Papa and Mother White moved back to Randolph County around 1930. They lived in the house Grandpa Jasper White built before Colon and Raymond were born. They both were born in this house. It had two large rooms and a kitchen. The front porch went the entire length of the front of the house. A ten to twelve foot breezeway ran between the two large rooms. There was also a back porch and a deep well of sweet water. The front main room had a large fireplace. All the boy’s names or initials were engraved on or around the old mantle. The wood burning cook stove that sat in the small kitchen helped warm the house. This is where Mother’s other sons were born. Paul, Loran and Darrell.
Papa White was working in timber cutting stave bolts. Stave bolts were used to make barrels. Cutting wood also kept the growing family warm. Life was hard!! He has told me of nights when he would come in and draw water to water his team and start cutting wood for the wood pile. Mother had her hands full taking care of five little boys.
Papa White and Raymond divided their properties up and Uncle Raymond kept the old house place. Papa and Mother moved about a half mile away in a new house that Papa built. This home is where Cora Mac was born.
The Whites moved back to Marmaduke in 1943 where they went back to farming. The children all grew up around Marmaduke and married girls from around the Marmaduke area, except Murrel. His wife, Mary, grew up around Doniphan Missouri.. They met in Michigan.
Papa White could not make a living farming and moved to Flint Michigan in 1952 where he worked for A.C. Sparkplug for five years. When he retired at the age of 62 he and Mother moved back to Marmaduke. All of the children at one time lived in or around Marmaduke except Murrel and Paul. But they did keep in close contact. Mother is still living here in Marmaduke. Three of her sons live within fifteen miles of her and closer.
Paul works as a tool and die worker. Darrell works as a meat cutter. Loran works as a welder for the Ark. Highway Department. Wayne works for Emerson Electric. Cora Mac married Robert Dowler and he also works as a meat cutter and store manager.
Colon and Vasta White raised five sons and one daughter. When they married in 1925 they left Ravenden Springs and on the way to Ravenden they stopped and were married by the Justice of the Peace. They stayed at Ravenden until 1:00 AM that morning then caught the train to Marmaduke.
Colon was making a crop in Marmaduke. They lived in a large four room house as “cold as kraut”. Mother said she had brought enough covers for one bed. Papa White and Raymond his brother had been batching alone. She recalled that they had one old blanket and it was torn right down the middle. She divided her cover with Uncle Raymond and they all almost froze that winter. She got busy and made quilts as soon as she could.
They had their first two children at Marmaduke. Murrel moved to Michigan after finishing high school in Marmaduke. He went to an Electrical School and learned his life trade. Murrel worked for General Motors at Turnstedt in Flint Michigan. He was married and raised 5 daughters, Cathy, Cindy, Connie, Carol and Christina. They had five grandchildren at this time.
Wayne and his wife of almost 40 years (Rava Nell Stokes) both worked for Emerson Electric in Paragould Arkansas. They have two daughters, Bonita “Bonnie” and Diane. They have one grandson, Kristian.
Papa and Mother White moved back to Randolph County around 1930. They lived in the house Grandpa Jasper White built before Colon and Raymond were born. They both were born in this house. It had two large rooms and a kitchen. The front porch went the entire length of the front of the house. A ten to twelve foot breezeway ran between the two large rooms. There was also a back porch and a deep well of sweet water. The front main room had a large fireplace. All the boy’s names or initials were engraved on or around the old mantle. The wood burning cook stove that sat in the small kitchen helped warm the house. This is where Mother’s other sons were born. Paul, Loran and Darrell.
Papa White was working in timber cutting stave bolts. Stave bolts were used to make barrels. Cutting wood also kept the growing family warm. Life was hard!! He has told me of nights when he would come in and draw water to water his team and start cutting wood for the wood pile. Mother had her hands full taking care of five little boys.
Papa White and Raymond divided their properties up and Uncle Raymond kept the old house place. Papa and Mother moved about a half mile away in a new house that Papa built. This home is where Cora Mac was born.
The Whites moved back to Marmaduke in 1943 where they went back to farming. The children all grew up around Marmaduke and married girls from around the Marmaduke area, except Murrel. His wife, Mary, grew up around Doniphan Missouri.. They met in Michigan.
Papa White could not make a living farming and moved to Flint Michigan in 1952 where he worked for A.C. Sparkplug for five years. When he retired at the age of 62 he and Mother moved back to Marmaduke. All of the children at one time lived in or around Marmaduke except Murrel and Paul. But they did keep in close contact. Mother is still living here in Marmaduke. Three of her sons live within fifteen miles of her and closer.
Paul works as a tool and die worker. Darrell works as a meat cutter. Loran works as a welder for the Ark. Highway Department. Wayne works for Emerson Electric. Cora Mac married Robert Dowler and he also works as a meat cutter and store manager.
