Weston Wagons West - Ep. L30 - Levi and Otis Weston Worked Closely Together

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 1, 2, and 3, 1880, the Sales Office held their First Anniversary event. Trey Parks as owner representative and Alfred Weston, Sales Manager, were there each day, all day, to meet and greet their customers, as well as to show off and demonstrate new merchandise, wagons and implements available to visitors. Each person attending was registered for a drawing for the entire event. Each person was entitles to one chit in the drawing for attendance plus one additional chit for each purchase of $1 or more each of those days. New wagon models as well as Deere implements available to order were displayed in the yard around the Sales Office. Merchandise and accessories were on display in the Sales Office. A representative of Deere and Company was in attendance, as well, to provide technical assistance and assistance in placing orders for implements.

Levi Weston had his own business to look after, of course, but as part owner, he spent some time each day also mingling with guests in and around the Sales Office. Hiram Parks, also co-owner, hung out the “Out to lunch” sign at his Harness Shop and spent some time at the Parks Wagon and Implement Sales Office, as well. Otis Weston went across the street during his morning and afternoon breaks to observe the activity at the Sales Office. As expected, all three days saw a continuous stream of farmers and businessmen coming and going through and around the Sales Office. Otis noticed that his brother, Alfred, always had his sales order book handy and was often writing out orders when he walked nearby.

Winners in the First Anniversary drawings were announced the following Wednesday, April 7, by publication in the Oak Springs Enterprise as part of the Thank You to the community. Earnest Potter was the Grand Prize winner receiving a $5 store credit. Hiram Carver received a $3 store credit. J.P. Polk, Bryce Taylor and Jed Cunningham each won a $1 store credit. The event was deemed a resounding success.

The Chamber of Commerce formally agreed to take responsibility for the 4th of July Celebration for 1880. Augustus Ward agreed to chair a committee to plan the event subject to getting volunteers for the committee with experience from prior years to assist in meeting the goal of a fine community event. Several persons previously involved did volunteer. Augustus committed to make a record of what he learned along with the planning done this year for use in future planning of the event.

The Chamber approved a resolution that urged those interesting in continuing the Oak Creek Valley Fair to form a formal Association for better recognition, legal status and funding opportunities for the Fair. Simeon Bishop and Levi Weston were among a group of men who agreed to take the actions necessary to create a formal Association.

On Wednesday evening, May 5, Levi Weston attended an informational meeting at the Community Building led by State Representative Lewis Truesdale and a representative of the State Department of Revenue related to the rules in place for the newly authorized local school taxing districts. It was learned that local school officials expected to hold an election in August, under these new rules, to authorize establishment of an official local school district under the recently approved state law.

An announcement in the May 12th edition of the Oak Springs Enterprise reported that Simeon Bishop, Levi Weston, and three others had formally organized the Oak Creek Valley Fair Association. The announcement urged community members who supported the Fair to join the Association in one of several ways listed. The first Saturday of August, that was the 7th, was announced as the date of the Fair for the year 1880.

Fair Association representatives received approval from the Town Council to construct a pole barn on Lot 2 of Block U, city property, directly south of the Olson Blacksmith Shop and near Patton Pond. This barn would be used to house animals for the Fair in August and other uses during the year. Levi Weston made the presentation to the Town Council on behalf of the Fair Association. Other items on the Town Council agenda included an update on the addition of 3 steel bar jail cells to the Town Hall. They also discussed the progress toward hiring a Town Marshall.

Near the end of June, Levi Weston talked to Jacobi Inman at the Inman Realty Office. He learned from Jacobi, who had served as the Oak Creek Township U.S. Census Enumerator, that the decennial census had been completed and all the required paperwork had been turned in. Jacobi said that he enjoyed the work and appreciated all the cooperation he had received from local residents. But, he also added, “I’m certainly glad it is over and done!”

Levi Weston enjoyed attending the 4th of July program each year and seeing how it seemed to grow each year. As he and Otis walked over to Centennial Park to take in the 2 p.m. program this year, Levi shared with Otis something new that would be happening this year that he had learned over at the Sales Barn recently. J.W. Norton was the Sales Barn Manager. While he and Levi were talking about the next sale, J.W. mentioned that he had been practicing ‘carrying the flag’ for the 4th of July celebration. That led them to talking about the new town organization that had just been officially formed in recent weeks, the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Jack Patton Post. Levi did not serve in the Union Army during the war, so he had not been involved. He had, however, heard Augustus Ward, the Chairman of the 4th of July Committee this year, mention that such a group was being considered. He didn’t realize it had actually come about in Oak Springs.

J.W. told Levi that it happened quickly as the idea was presented to the local men who had served in Jake Patton’s Cavalry Regiment during the war, most of them in the Company commanded by Lewis Truesdale. Lewis had recruited a number of these men to come and make their homes in the Oak Creek valley and Oak Springs, of course. There was still a lot of loyalty there. As the current State Legislator for this area, Lewis would be giving the keynote address at the afternoon 4th of July program. J.W. had said that four of these men, representing the G.A.R. Post, would be carrying in the U.S. and Missouri flags that would adorn the stage for the program. He added that he would be carrying the U.S. flag on its staff. G.W. Mason would carry the Missouri flag. He added that Willis Garrett and Theodore Warden would flank them as they marched in and presented the flags to open the ceremony.

Otis asked what J.W. had meant by ‘flanked’ as Levi was telling the story. Levi then explained that the men would march four in a row, with the flags carried by the interior men, the other two were outside, on each side of them - that was called ‘flanked.’ Otis was anxious to see how that would occur, as they approached Centennial Park just before 2 p.m.

This episode continues the Levi Weston family saga fictional stories. Levi Weston family stories were included, from time to time, in the ‘Life in Oak Springs’ and ‘The Kings of Oak Springs’ stories elsewhere here on HubPages. Those stories occurred during the 1876-1886 time frame. This present series is reliving that period but from the viewpoint of this Weston family, through this second set of 20 episodes.

As noted in Episode L1 of this series of historical fiction family saga stories, all of the characters in this episode are fictional. Activities and events are consistent with known historical facts, but are entirely fictitious. The Weston characters, as well as the McDonalds, were first created as a part of “The Homeplace Saga” stories. The first 20 episodes of this Lx series filled in the early years of the lives of Levi, Jacob and their family.

Some of the stories of the "American Centennial at the Homeplace: The Founding (1833-1875)" collection of historical fiction family saga short stories have also been published on "The Homeplace Saga" blog, found at the link, below, including those introducing Levi and Jacob Weston.

These first 20 episodes of the Levi Weston story have been compiled into an ebook: “Weston Wagons West: Levi Weston, L1-20 (1823-1874).” Thank you for your support.

“The Homeplace Saga” historical fiction family saga stories are the creation of the author, William Leverne Smith, also known as “Dr. Bill.”