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He's a large man, about six feet tall and 185 pounds; and
he comes from a large North Carolina type family, six brothers
and two sisters.
He's the same age as Mr. Eisenhower, 67, but I can honestly
say he doesn't look to be over 60. One can easily tell just
by looking at him that he has worked hard all his life; but
even though this is true he isn't "tattered or torn"
from his labors.
One can tell by his face that he's a friendly man and one
who's easy to "get along with." He was raised in
North Carolina and didn't move to Virginia until the first
of his five daughters was ready to start school.
He purchased a 140acre farm, with a big pre-Civil War house
on the land, in Chesterfield County, ten miles this side of
Richmond. It was on this estate that he brought up his daughters,
largely by himself; his wife died at an early age.
This farm was later sold to one of his sons-in-law. But,
he still resides there, looking after a large amount of the
work and filling a full time job as caretaker of a perpetual
care cemetery located on the land.
This is just a brief biography of this man whom I consider
to be great among men. He's my grandfather and I consider
myself to be greatly blessed to be his grandson.
He has twelve grandchildren in all.
Some people gripe about their elders talking about their
childhood, but I can think of few things I'd rather do than
hear Granddaddy tell about some of the things he did as a
lad.
One time, as he was about to return home from town with his
horse and wagons, a girl hopped up onto the seat by him and
insisted that he give her a ride. Granddaddy didn't want to,
but the girl insisted, so he drove the wagon over to a cone-shaped
woodpile and maneuvered two of the side wheels onto it. He
then drove around that woodpile, with the angle of the wagon
to the ground, ever increasing, until the girl got scared
and jumped off. Granddaddy triumphant then went home.
This is just one example of his ingenuity. He is a true master
of the American art of improvisation. His ideas for inventions
are far too numerous to recall, but there is one I'd sure
like to have. It's a sweeper attached to the front end of
a car to brush pedestrians off the road.
I could go on and on about my granddaddy but space doesn't
permit. Still, I hope I've given you a good idea of what this
man is like.
Be careful and don't gobble too much of that gobbler on Gobbler
Day.
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Great
Among Men 
