Page 30 - voices-2024-04

is Julia’s father, the one who sent the roses. He they are not my family, they had similar strug-
had only been sick since Thursday. The doc- gles. What do my Italian immigrant grandpar-
tor thinks he had a stroke. Sunday afternoon ents and the Okie (Oklahoma) homesteading
things worsened. “He never regained con- family have in common with the Dodsons?
sciousness; he did not know he was suffering. They all went out of their comfort zone to
His breath just grew fainter while he passed build a better life for their family. Perhaps you
away.” can relate?

I also found on the internet that William tried Now it is time for these things to return to
his hand at many trades. He ran a store in Taft, the family they came from. Unlike the time
Oregon and had a boat for transporting goods. when they arrived at my father’s house it is
The box has a pad of unused receipts for “Dod- easy to find connections on the internet now.
son and Cook Dealers in General Merchandise.” I could mail the items to the North Lincoln
It also has the bill of sale for the schooner County Museum and be done with it. There is
which was named “Nenamosha.” Google says an administrator with the last name of Dod-
William was a barber for a while. The box son on the Wiki tree pages who I could email
contains his pink apprentice barber license for and arrange to get them there. But before I
display by his chair. It expired April 30,1922. do, let me ask, “Do you know these people?” I
Not listed in Google is that he became a notary thought this might be a good opportunity to
in 1948. I have a certificate with the gold seal. discover a connection within our Toastmasters
This is the most recent item in the black box. community. We talk a lot about the power of
networking, so I wonder if you can introduce
I have had a wonderful time with this journey me to the Dodsons? If you can, please contact
through history. Holding a document written me at Leelaseeber@gmail.com. Stay tuned for
a hundred years ago is humbling. I feel better a follow up story about the return of the black
connected to time and humanity. Although box and its contents.

1948 notary commission
Certificate of Farm Name “Rose Lodge” 1914

30 ONE COMMUNITY