Occasionally a covered wagon would go heading east and pa would grin at me and say, "They're going back to his wife's folks."
     Pa was not only a good church man but he was a good host. Seems preachers were always eating with us and especially if it was his first service on the charge. I had good reason for remembering for my red hair seemed to bother them to no end. A typical time went like this. The new parson sat at the end of the table at pats right. After grace had been said held look all around the table at we children then ask, (I knew it would come) "Well, Brother Kroth, how does it come that you have a red head in the family?" To that pa would calmly reply, "Well, my wife's father has sandy whiskers." So, with all minds relieved that I wasn't adopted or an orphaned cousin, but really belonged, I could start breathing and 'twas "Pass the butter, please."
     Our father was community minded. It seems he was always a school board member, serving as Clerk mostly, and filled various official offices in our Country Church. He was Sunday School teacher, alternate Class Leader for many years, Uncle Sam Clements and Frank Kroth being the others.
     Back in those days, before cars and airplanes had come along, Sundays at Bucks Grove were peaceful and quiet but this particular Sunday morning much pounding and activity were going on in repair- ing the big, red bridge over Cross Creek, jus t west of the church that had fared badly in the recent flood waters. Pa tied the ir team as usual and walked down and had a talk with the men. I don't recall if they quit and went home but I'm sure they were reminded of the fourth commandment.
     Father was a good scholar. His education was rather meager, but the best that could be had in those days of early learning. He attended school in the first school building of the community. It was a small building on Cross Creek where Joe Peasley's home now stands. They had a winter term and later a spring term of two and a half months. This was attended by the girls and small boys for the bigger boys had plenty to do on the farm in the spring.
     Pa's education did not stop there, however, for he was a great reader and kept up with the times.
     As I have mentioned before, he read and studied the Bible. Modern Theology would have gotten no where with him. One time it was suggested that the book of Job was a myth. He became quite indignant and said how he believed every word of the Bible from cover to cover, and he lived and died in that faith. I thank God for our Christian parents.
     Children and youth with their thirsty, open minds, who sat week after week listening to Sunday School and Class Meeting led by Charley and Frank Kroth and others as Sunday service, absorbed phrases that surprised even themselves. The prayers repeated successively were reverently and beautifully delivered, but they

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