Six children were born to Gust and Hulda Carlson. Gust emigrated from Smolan, Sweden, to America in 1889. Their children were: Amanda Noren, Maude Holmdahl, Elmer,Clara Swisher,Ernest and Elder. We were born in the sod house built in 1891. My birth date is September 19, 1915. We were privileged to grow up in a Christian home.

We were also taught that working for a living never hurt anyone. I attended grade school in the Linda one-room school located close to the Covenant church, 2 miles south of the home place. We walked to and from school except when it was stormy, then Dad would take us with team and spring wagon, or sled. In my 8th grade year I rode a horse much of the time in order to have more time to help with chores and work at home. I accepted Christ at an early age, and joined the Herndon Covenant Church. Due to the lack of financial funds I did not go to high school. I stayed at home and helped with the farming, milking cows, raising sheep, hogs, and chickens. We raised our horses and broke them for farm work. I always enjoyed farming with horses. We saw the transition from horse power to tractors and automobiles. We boys changed off staying at home working, and getting jobs away from home for a few dollars. Many times for .50 to $1.00perday. The first winter after graduating from grade school I picked corn by hand for 1 1/2 cents per bushel and made enough money to buy my first 22 rifle, besides my clothes and mittens. Ernest and I bought our first used tractor in the thirties when we rented some ground. Later we rented the farm ground on the home place from the folks.

About 1941, I met Lois Rezner at the David Noren home. Lois was born to Lela and Walter Rezner, September 2,1922, in Sappa township, Decatur County. Walter was also born on this farm August 8, 1895, which was previously

owned by his father Garret Fred and Amanda Ellen Rezner. Lela was born October 3,1897, near Fairbury, Nebraska, moved to Oklahoma, then moved to Decatur county in a wagon. Their children were LeeOra Ellen Carlson, Alice Louise May, Doris Ann Staack, Maurine Kay Hartman, a brother Walter Wayne and Lois Marie. Lois attended the Logan country school, also walking to and from school, except during stormy weather. On one occasion during a blizzard when vision was zero, only the wisdom and instinct of the horses returned us home safely. Our fingers and toes were frost bitten regardless of the blankets. We took our lunches in syrup buckets, or paper sacks. Community activities centered around the school, literaries, box suppers, baseball, sleigh riding, horse back riding, rabbit and coyote hunts, and 4-H. Both of us remember hardships our families endured from droughts, dust storms and the great depression of the thirties. Lois was converted and attended Church as much as was possible. She completed grade and high school. She worked in the home for Dr. and Mrs. Wayne Brewster for $5.00 a week. She earned enough money to pay 6 month's tuition to a business college in Denver, Colo. Following that she did Secretarial and bookkeeping work for $40.00 per month.

My first date with Lois was to a donkey ball game. World War II interrupted the courtship, as I was drafted into the Army April 2, 1942. Privates pay was $22.00 per month. After basic training in California and Virginia, I was shipped overseas. I participated in "D' day invasion on Normandy Beach, and was also in the Belgium Bulge, ther continued through France and Germany. I was in the Army 3 1/2 years, being discharged November 1945. Lois and I were married April 7, 1946. For two years we farmed in Union Township, Rawlins County, growing wheat, feed, and raising cattle. Without rural electricity we did not have electric household appliances, lights or tools. We carried all the water we used in the house from a well about 100 yards away. We cooked on a kerosene stove. Kerosene and gasoline lamps provided lights.

In 1948 we moved from Union Township in Rawlins County to Harlan Township in Decatur County. We farmed there nearly eight years. We lived there when Edith was born January 11, 1949. We did quite well financially farming, and we were able to pay Dad and Mothe! Rezner cash for the Rezner home place in 1954. We did not move to the farm until February of 1955. We paid $60.0C an acre for the home pasture quarter. Edith attended grade and high school in Decatur county. She attended college at Salina, Kansas, then at Kansas University at Lawrence, Kansas, and graduated as a registered nurse in 1971. June 9, 1973, she married John Tate. They had two boys. Jay, born June 19, 1975, and Jaron born August 28, 1978. Electricity helped modernize farm homes and the work became easier and more enjoyable. At this writing (March 1987) we are stilJ living on the original "Rezner" farm. Despite various hardships, the plains of Western Kansas is a great place to live. 1974