The Hayman's

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Spring of Thirty-Two
by Keith Hayman

The day started as always on the farm of George R. Hayman in the small farming community of Apple Grove, Ohio. The crisp and clean spring air felt good to George's oldest son Gerald after a long and cold winter in southeastern Ohio. The cows had been milked, grain was fed to the plow horses, the eggs were gathered from the chicken house, and a few other farm chores had been finished for the morning.

With the warm sunshine burning off the morning fog, the young man walked out to the family barn and rolled out his old Harley Davidson with the side car. After four or five good hard kicks, the old Harley came to life. It was a good time to go for a short ride up to the local store to catch up on the latest gossip.

Focie, the youngest daughter of Elisha Stover, a share cropper living in Apple Grove for the growing season, had finished milking the family cow. Focie's niece Clara Mae had spent the night, and wanted to walk with her to the local store to sell the left over milk from the morning milking. As they walked along the old gravel road, they heard a strange sound approaching them from behind.

As the young man traveled along the old gravel road enjoying the warm sunshine and cool breeze on his face, he noticed an interesting sight coming into view, It was two young ladies walking along, carrying pails of milk. The gentleman that he was, he rolled to a stop and offered them a ride in the Harley's side car. After exchanging a short glance at each other, Focie and her niece accepted the ride. After they climbed into the side car, Gerald eased the old Harley into gear and headed on up the gravel road to the local store.

A very small event in history can have a great impact on the future. Today, as I look at our large family that the good Lord has blessed us with, I can’t help but wonder about that spring day in 1932. What if Gerald's old Harley had not started?