Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

There are State of Texas Historical markers both in Archer City and Decatur, TX that Jesse James camped or stayed there. it seems that James' sister married a Confederate friend of James, and after the war was a rancher in/around Archer City, south of Wichita Falls, and the other place was in the country just north of Decatur, which as a crow flies not to far south of Archer City.

I made up the connection between Ken Lay and James.s I have no way of proving this connection. But there could be either a blood or marriage connection. Just Sayin...RJS

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

Wow. Open mouth insert two feet!
You’re a better story teller than I thought. Thanks for the truth. You were born too late. You would have been a great politician today.
Did you ever sell the Brooklyn Bridge or maybe some swampland in New Jersey?
Keep writing RJ but I’ll keep my salt shaker close when I read your stories from now on.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Mauwehu: You are too kind. No need of salt shaker. Amusing your comments about politics. I graduated college in 1957 and was an officer in the Young Democrats club. See in the 50's there were no Republicans in Texas!

I then got an invite to a BBQ on Lyndon Johnson's ranch as a young democrat. Bill Moyers' and some others were in my class, along with Pat Boone. I responded that i would attend. However, I got orders from the Sec. or the U.S.Air Force ordering me to active duty as a 2nd Lieutenant. I had to write "landslide Lyndon, and decline my earlier acceptance. When I started earning a regular paycheck and seeing all the taxes i was paying, I switched over and have been a Republican ever since.

In later life, I served as the Republican precinct chair for my precinct for more than 10 years. Right or Wrong, I've been red ever since.

I came by storytelling due to my father being a big storyteller. We came from an earlier age when the family's entertainment at home was weaving stories.

I suggest you start writing down your families' stories before those who know them are all gone. I know a number of tricks to elicit those memories, if you are interested. Just Sayin...RJS

Reel hip Loc: San Diego, Ca

Nope ! My way of being a smart A**!

Bob When I get time I'll have to read "The Ballad of Ken Lay".

ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

Frank and Jesse James were farmers who joined the Confederacy when Union soldiers over ran their farm
during the war and destroyed it. The brothers tried to be legitimate farmers but when times got tough, they resorted to robbery to survive.

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

RJ— I guess all that would put you about 85 years old. That’s a lot of stories!
When I got married 49 years ago, my wife had an 80 year old grandfather. At all family gatherings and sometimes during the week we would talk for hours. He would tell me stories about the old days and family history. He would give me relics from time to time. His other grandchildren would ask me “ how come Gramp gives you stuff and never us?” To which I would respond “ you spend some time with him and he will give you things also”
He was a great man. He would never say a negative word about anyone. I knew when he didn’t care for someone because he would say— there’s something about that guy! But that was it. Strong Christian man who would tythe daily. If he made 10 dollars today he would bring a dollar to the church today. I miss the guy. Now I’m the go to guy for his family history. I guess no one else listened.
I’m with you on the Republican thing. I started out a Democrat too. Someone put it right when they said a conservative is a liberal that’s been mugged. Whole lotta muggin going on!!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Mauwehu: You were wise to listen. I suggest that his role was important and someone should have written those stories down, which probably falls to you. As a friend has famously said, "We have lived past our expiration date, so there isn't much time left!"

As a member of the board of directors of Tejas Storytelling assn. I am charged with the duties of helping encourage the 17 various storytelling clubs in Texas and Oklahoma to grow, and to others to start clubs. It is not difficult, all you need is a few friends to get together and tell each other stories. These stories can be almost anything, such as you heard from your grandfather. Write them down, use a computer, whatever. Amazon has small, inexpensive recorders that would hold a lot of stories if you choose that route.

I have written 2 books, the second one should go to print in a month or so. Nothing fancy, just my stories. My motivation was that I only had one grandparent to get to know. All the others were gone, so I felt cheated i didn't get to ask questions and learn what their lives were like. So, I decided not cheat my grandchildren. You can do the same by writing yours. Lulu Publishing will print even one copy for you! Let's stay in touch, yes, I am about a month away from 86! just Sayin...RJS

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

Absolutely RJ!
So about those memory tips?
I’ve done word association. I had an acquaintance whose name I could never remember. His name was Antoine. He shaved his head which I thought looked like an ant. From that day on ant= Antoine.
Are you really the head of some story telling groups or should I pull out that salt shaker??