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Writers' Day: A Rite of Spring...or A Wild Onion Tale Written and Read by Mike Watson Writers' Day 2026 The coming of Spring brings to mind an old story. When I was a young sprout, likely the late 1960s or very early 1970s, there was an occasion when, along with our Dad and Uncle Roy, I was witness to a comical scene at Fred Pickerell's store, located at Gadberry. It was a lazy spring day and several men were gathered at the store, including Monty Gadberry, Joe Gadberry, Paul Frankum and Carl Turner. Mr. Fred was busy around the store while the others talked and joked. After a time, Mr. Fred started moving boxes around, apparently searching for something unseen by the men. Finally, when asked about his quest, his answer was: he smelled something rotten and thought it was some spoiled goods. He continued his diligent search and the men continued their conversation. The offending odor was not found before we took our leave, as I recall. Dad or Uncle Roy explained later that Mr. Turner had been quietly munching on wild onions, which were concealed in the pocket of his over-alls. That was the offending odor Mr. Fred could not locate. Mr. Turner never said a word, but surely knew what was unfolding around him, and kept that knowledge to himself. Still, on early spring grass-cutting days, when I see or smell wild onions, plentiful in many lawns and along roadsides, that country store scene replays in my head, and smile to myself. Mr. Fred did not catch on, at least not right away. #2 The reckoning of time and placement of events in proper order is often a daunting task. As an historian - a dumpster-diver for history, one might say - I find the memory to be quite fragile. We often remember an event in vivid detail, but the sequence leaves us lacking. In recent civil court case research, I discovered that in the late 1870s and 1880s local attorneys were using the death R.A.C. Martin as a time reference when questioning witnesses in court or when taking depositions. Robert Alexander Campbell Martin was the Cashier of the Bank of Columbia, shot and killed in the "Jesse James" Gang's robbery on 29 April 1872. It was not the robbery of the Bank, but Mr. Martin's death. For example: "...was this before or after the sudden death of R.A.C. Martin..."? Certainly, for many of us, it is difficult to remember specific dates. The lawyers knew this specific day would forever be impressed in the memories of citizens of Columbia and Adair County. Witnesses could more readily state if a specific incident was before or after the "sudden death" of Cashier Martin. Here is another time-event reckoning story, related by the late Welcome Hamon, long-time Glensfork correspondent to the Adair County News and Statesman. This particular contribution was printed in his column in the News, 23 November 1971: "...a story told by H.K. Taylor. Bob Cabbell, a close neighbor of the Taylors, married before he was 21. Mr. K. and brother, Will, went down to Cabbell's to hear what they Bob's parents would have to say about this marriage. "Mr. Ches Cabbell, Bob's father, said, 'Someone is going to get into trouble. Bob isn't 21.' "Mrs. Jane Cabbell, Bob's mother, said, 'I don't know how old Bob is, but I know how old Joe is. He was born the day of the Zollicoffer fight--the Civil War Battle at Mill Springs, thus 19 January 1862.' But she didn't know the date. "Mr. Cabbell said, 'I don't know how old Bob is. He was born the night the storm blew down the big tree at Uncle Robin's spring.' But he didn't know when that was." Mr. K. Taylor was Herschel Kenyon Taylor, commonly called "K" or "Mr. K," born 1871, died 1949, the father of Mrs. Ruby Taylor Johnson Marshall, and grandfather of Joe Johnson. We modern-ites may do much the same when 'reckoning' if using only our fragile memories. Personally, I can pinpoint certain events that help me: The day President Reagan was shot; the day the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded; the day the Twin Towers fell; and there are many others. Births, Deaths, Marriages, Divorces, Accidents, and more make deep impressions each person. Looking into yourself, do you do this odd type of time-event reckoning? If not, you are an anomaly, certainly. This story was posted on 2026-04-07 19:34:01
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Mike Watson - History:
Place Names in Adair County: families memorialized Adair Heritage Association will meet March 10 Downtown Walking Tour on March 21 Snow-Go once again... New Year's Superstitions Ghost tales from old Adair County Upcoming programs from the Adair Co. Genealogical Society A few adverts from the 1963 Adair County High yearbook It's beginning to feel a lot like... the end of summer vacation Doors: Mr. Ben White, and Roley-Casey Creek Program a success View even more articles in topic Mike Watson - History |
 
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