Death and Texas Ingenuity. . .
All small towns have their fair share of old-timey stories.
There’s absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that all of those stories have been added to, changed or embellished (in one manner or another) with the passing of time. In Texas, with our reputation of doing (or trying to do) everything bigger and better; one can only imagine the amount of embellishment attached to a really good, old yarn. This story has been told as the gospel truth in Bosque County since Hector was a pup. For a fact, if there’s been nothing added to the story in that length of time – if nothing else, it’s a record of one sort or another in it’s own right!
It seems a large family, the Wards, lived on a remote ranch in the southern part of Bosque County, Texas. The huge ranch had been purchased early on in Texas history by the original Wards and they were obviously quite prolific having had 10 sons born to them. As the years passed and their sons grew up and married; a house was built for each couple on the ranch and consequently none of the Ward children ever really left home. They all worked on the ranch, were all very industrious, nose-to-the-grindstone types and as years passed each became quite wealthy in their own right.
The entire family, it’s said, were not only rich but thrifty to a fault. It’s a long-told joke that when one sees a dust devil/whirlwind in southern Bosque County it’s just one of the Wards with a teaspoon digging for a lost penny.
In time, the elder Mrs. Ward died and the entire family gathered to discuss her funeral arrangements. It was the consensus of opinion that she be buried in the local, town cemetery rather than on the ranch (which was the custom of the day). The deceased’s husband, the elder Mr. Ward, was not in agreement but acquiesced to the decision of his children with one condition attached.
When he died he wanted to be buried on the ranch come hell or high water and the whole family had to agree to abide by his interment wishes in order to get him to agree to his wife being buried in the town cemetery. The deal was struck, the elder Mrs. Ward was buried with great pomp and circumstance and everyone returned to the ranch.
The elder Mr. Ward, due to great senility and very bad vision, stepped on a rattlesnake three days later. The snake bit him and he, too, died. The eldest son, Henry then became the patriarch of the family. Now the story goes that Henry was the least intelligent of all the Ward boys – not a blooming idiot but a bit “teched” in the head and also the least successful of the siblings. Family tradition, however, is family tradition and Henry, being the eldest, now ruled the Ward roost.
Henry’s first decision was that his father should be buried beside his mother in the town cemetery. The other Ward children reminded Henry of their promise to their father that no matter what happened they’d bury him on the ranch. Henry would not be swayed and his decision was deemed final. Realizing Henry was immovable; one of the more intelligent brothers suggested that the least they could do was think of something that would make up to their father for going against his wishes – just in the event that his spirit was hanging around and knew what was going on.
After much discussion they all agreed that money – and money alone – was the driving force and great love in their father’s life. They decided that each of them would put $100 in the casket with their father just before it was lowered into the ground. Whether the elder Mr. Ward went to heaven or to hell he’d at least arrive well heeled and that should not only make him happy but hopefully garner forgiveness for his sons defying his wishes.
The funeral service was held the next day at the church and a long procession of mourners followed the hearse to the cemetery. They all stood silently around the grave as Henry stepped forward and requested the undertaker open the casket one more time before it was lowered into the ground.
The undertaker complied, opened the casket and stepped aside. One-by-one Henry’s nine brothers stepped forward and placed a crisp $100 bill in the casket. After the ninth brother had contributed, Henry stepped up to the casket, carefully gathered up all nine $100 bills and put them in his pocket. He then placed his pre-prepared check for $1,000 in his father’s cold hand and turned to the preacher with a question.
“Shall we pray?”
By -- Angela Blair
Death & Texas Ingenuity©2007
You are listening to "Lover's Waltz" written and sung by Steven Fromholz from his "Live At Anderson Fair" Cd
There’s absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that all of those stories have been added to, changed or embellished (in one manner or another) with the passing of time. In Texas, with our reputation of doing (or trying to do) everything bigger and better; one can only imagine the amount of embellishment attached to a really good, old yarn. This story has been told as the gospel truth in Bosque County since Hector was a pup. For a fact, if there’s been nothing added to the story in that length of time – if nothing else, it’s a record of one sort or another in it’s own right!
It seems a large family, the Wards, lived on a remote ranch in the southern part of Bosque County, Texas. The huge ranch had been purchased early on in Texas history by the original Wards and they were obviously quite prolific having had 10 sons born to them. As the years passed and their sons grew up and married; a house was built for each couple on the ranch and consequently none of the Ward children ever really left home. They all worked on the ranch, were all very industrious, nose-to-the-grindstone types and as years passed each became quite wealthy in their own right.
The entire family, it’s said, were not only rich but thrifty to a fault. It’s a long-told joke that when one sees a dust devil/whirlwind in southern Bosque County it’s just one of the Wards with a teaspoon digging for a lost penny.
In time, the elder Mrs. Ward died and the entire family gathered to discuss her funeral arrangements. It was the consensus of opinion that she be buried in the local, town cemetery rather than on the ranch (which was the custom of the day). The deceased’s husband, the elder Mr. Ward, was not in agreement but acquiesced to the decision of his children with one condition attached.
When he died he wanted to be buried on the ranch come hell or high water and the whole family had to agree to abide by his interment wishes in order to get him to agree to his wife being buried in the town cemetery. The deal was struck, the elder Mrs. Ward was buried with great pomp and circumstance and everyone returned to the ranch.
The elder Mr. Ward, due to great senility and very bad vision, stepped on a rattlesnake three days later. The snake bit him and he, too, died. The eldest son, Henry then became the patriarch of the family. Now the story goes that Henry was the least intelligent of all the Ward boys – not a blooming idiot but a bit “teched” in the head and also the least successful of the siblings. Family tradition, however, is family tradition and Henry, being the eldest, now ruled the Ward roost.
Henry’s first decision was that his father should be buried beside his mother in the town cemetery. The other Ward children reminded Henry of their promise to their father that no matter what happened they’d bury him on the ranch. Henry would not be swayed and his decision was deemed final. Realizing Henry was immovable; one of the more intelligent brothers suggested that the least they could do was think of something that would make up to their father for going against his wishes – just in the event that his spirit was hanging around and knew what was going on.
After much discussion they all agreed that money – and money alone – was the driving force and great love in their father’s life. They decided that each of them would put $100 in the casket with their father just before it was lowered into the ground. Whether the elder Mr. Ward went to heaven or to hell he’d at least arrive well heeled and that should not only make him happy but hopefully garner forgiveness for his sons defying his wishes.
The funeral service was held the next day at the church and a long procession of mourners followed the hearse to the cemetery. They all stood silently around the grave as Henry stepped forward and requested the undertaker open the casket one more time before it was lowered into the ground.
The undertaker complied, opened the casket and stepped aside. One-by-one Henry’s nine brothers stepped forward and placed a crisp $100 bill in the casket. After the ninth brother had contributed, Henry stepped up to the casket, carefully gathered up all nine $100 bills and put them in his pocket. He then placed his pre-prepared check for $1,000 in his father’s cold hand and turned to the preacher with a question.
“Shall we pray?”
By -- Angela Blair
Death & Texas Ingenuity©2007
You are listening to "Lover's Waltz" written and sung by Steven Fromholz from his "Live At Anderson Fair" Cd
