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The Pinecone
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July 2016
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G ROW I NG U P W I L D A N D F R E E
Jan
Thomson
Texas is a special kind of place. Jan Thomson, a native Texan,
swears that it is so! Her recounting the pleasure of growing up
there begins with some historical facts that deserve special
attention – follow on, please.
In 1836, Texas was a Republic, not part of the then-United States
(Texas became a State in 1845). Along the Rio Grande River,
the Republic of Texas bought vast acreage from the Comanche
Nation for $1.25 per acre. This land was granted to the Central
Pacific Railroad (the second railroad across the U.S.) to generate
funds for extension and completion of the Railroad line; it was
completed in 1864. Pioneers in Conestoga wagons were on the
move westward, searching for arable land that would support
farming and ranching. Texas made these settlers an offer that
was almost way too good to be true - 100 year leases for range
land along the Rio Grande River equivalent to 48 square miles. In
addition, settlers also were able to buy (but not lease) additional
land to farm, erect homes, barns, and other out-buildings. Two of
the pioneers, Joe Neely and his wife, Mary, accepted the offer from
the Texas Republic – a 100-year lease plus purchase of additional
acreage. Joe and Mary had 2 children, Joe and Tom. Son, Joe,
married Adele in 1924, and they had 2 children, Jan and Betty Jo.
(The name Joe is included in each generation’s children.)
Jan recalls an idyllic childhood that had very few restrictions –
she remembers “growing up wild”, “growing up free”. Unlike
today’s parents who schedule play-dates for their children and/or
enroll them in summer camps or sleep away camps, Jan and Betty
Jo were allowed to do whatever struck their fancy. She recalls
their efforts to dig a
tunnel through a hill;
they rode horses to the
mountains for the day;
they took quilts from
the home, went up into
the hills, and made
tents with the quilts
and spent the night –
almost unbelievable.
Summertime was a
special season for
Jan and Betty Jo –
streams and rivers
for swimming and
for fishing, as well.
Cooking out by the
rivers, grilling their fish – and yes, they learned how to gut the
catch. In their teen years, approaching adulthood, Jan recalls her
first kiss when she was 12 years old. A business head on her
shoulders even then, she told the young man that it would cost
him a dime to kiss her – he did pre-pay and the kiss happened!
Jan met Dudley, her husband-to-be, at college. Married for 47
years, they have 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great grands.
Dudley passed away in 1999. Life was good for their large brood,
but a bit more “structured” than the freedom Jan and Betty Jo
enjoyed. Jan relives her childhood with some regularity. Precious
memories continue to warm her heart. Priceless.
- Jacqueline Besteman, Resident
Betty Jo and Jan goofing off at the “old school house” on
the land in Texas where they grew up and still visit often
Jan and Betty Jo on the ranch