Copyright © 2020 William Stone.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

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WestBow Press

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0293-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0294-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0292-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020916059

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/15/2020

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1     Promise Made

Chapter 2     Discovery: A Dreaded Disease

Chapter 3     A Life-Changing Decision

Chapter 4     Things Are Going Well

Chapter 5     Heartbreaking Complications

Chapter 6     The Long Train Ride

Chapter 7     The Curviest Railroad in America

Chapter 8     Wild Rides and Bedbugs

Chapter 9     Life in the City and the Importance of One Red Apple

Chapter 10   Good News!

Chapter 11   Building Paradise

Epilogue

PREFACE

In 1965, after a short illness, my father went home to be with the Lord. I was twenty-three at that time and attending college.

Thirty years later, when my mother was nearing the end of her earthly journey, I realized I knew very little about my heritage, and I began a quest to discover my roots for my own knowledge and enjoyment and so that my four sons and their families would not have to start from scratch if and when they wanted to discover their heritage.

A few years ago, I wrote a book that contained the research I had been conducting about my family history for twelve or so years. I gave copies to my sons and daughters-in-law, and they read it to their children, for which I have been extremely grateful. About a year ago, my youngest son asked a simple question: Dad, why don’t you write this same story but as a novel?

After thirty-nine years of teaching in elementary schools and on the university level, I had no ideas of pursuing anything but my retirement. However, his question continued to haunt me: What if …?

I had the time, but without ever trying to do any serious writing, I certainly had doubts. As I began the process, however, I felt blessed to be able to tell the story of my grandparents, J.P. (1865–1956) and Nola Girdner (1873–1946) and their four children. Faced with a serious health threat and with the knowledge that their comfortable lives would be viciously uprooted, they would be required to come face to face with the unknown.

With the assurance of Romans 8:28, the Girdners learned how true that promise would be as God led this incredibly brave and godly family to the fulfillment of their dreams: their own little slice of heaven they called Shadyvale.

This book tells the story of one family, but the issues its members faced could easily have been those of any family around the turn of the last century.

I hope you will be entertained and inspired as you follow the footsteps of this amazing family.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I acknowledge Sharon (Girdner) Larkin, my first cousin once removed. During the past twelve years, I have conducted research into my family heritage, and during that time, whenever I ran across that proverbial brick wall, I often turned to Cousin Sharon for help. She is the most remarkable researcher I have met. She has a unique talent for discerning information in historical documents such as census records, military records, old wills, property deeds, and personal diaries and letters. She has a memory that I consider a steel trap. She can easily recall names, dates, relationships, and other obscure information just off the top of her head better and far more accurately than anyone else I know. She has bailed me out of seemingly impossible research problems countless times. She is quite remarkable!

I had originally asked her to cowrite this book as she is an extremely talented writer. However, due to the tragic passing of her beloved husband, she could not devote the time required to help write this book. For that I am profoundly disappointed. She will recover from her incredible loss, and I certainly encourage her to consider writing her own book. There are intriguing, untold stories of both J.P.’s and Nola’s parents that she could develop into possible best sellers.

Sharon is the granddaughter of Stanley Girdner, one of the characters in this book, so she knows the stories well. I will forever be grateful for her invaluable help in the research, preparation, and completion of this book.

I also thank my grandparents, James Pleasant (J.P.) Girdner and his wife, Nola (Lockhart) Girdner (the main characters of this book) for the spiritual teaching, guidance, and heritage they provided to their family. I remember sitting on the shady banks of the Oak Creek irrigation ditch listening to Nola tell Bible stories to me, my brothers, and our cousins. J.P. was one of the most hard-working men I have ever known, and Nola was the faithful and steadfast rock that kept the entire Girdner family on the right path.

Though they are consumed by the responsibilities of life, my sons and their families have been an encouragement to me; they often asked, How’s your book coming? I am so grateful that they and my grandchildren are walking with and serving the Lord. I am daily reminded of 3 John 1:4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

I am at a loss for words for how I can give adequate acknowledgment and credit to my lovely wife, Dr. Sandra Stone. She is a retired university professor, researcher, editor, and writer. She has written numerous articles and book chapters, and she currently has three books to her credit. She is retired, but she continues to write. She is an outstanding writer who encouraged me as I was writing this book. She was always willing to listen to me when I thought through portions of this book, and she graciously offered her ideas, suggestions, and corrections.

Sandy is the absolute love of my life. She has been my inspiration, my counselor, my caretaker, my companion, and best of all, my best friend for fifty-five years.

Sandy, I owe this book and my whole life to you. Words cannot express my love and gratitude for you. With all my heart, I love you!

CHAPTER 1

Promise Made

I t was mid-April 1905, and the weather was perfect. Spring had finally broken winter’s icy grip on the landscape, and summer was still a month away, so it was not yet hot. The leaves on the trees were still in their infancy. After a particularly harsh winter on the windswept plains of southeastern Kansas, folks were quite anxious to get outside to handle springtime chores such as tilling the soil, planting crops, and making repairs to roofs, barn doors, and fences and to call on friends and neighbors they had not seen for some time.

It was a few minutes past ten o’clock one night, and J.P. and Nola knew that it would take them a little over an hour to get home. They had already said goodbye to their dear friends Fred and Abbie, with whom they had spent the day visiting, listening to Abbie play the piano, singing, and playing board games well into the evening. When J.P. and Nola would visit with friends, they would often play games such as the Landlord’s game, Round the World, Man in the Moon, Mountain of Happiness, and Lost in the Woods. That night, however, they played one of their favorite games: Charades. Everyone had enjoyed the time they had spent together, but J.P. was much more reserved than usual.

He was outside hitching his horse to his spring wagon while Fred held a lantern to provide some light. Nola was packing a box of fruit and bread that Abbie had just made into the back of the wagon.

The night seemed like any other. The moon was almost full, so J.P. knew that Old Peg would have enough light to make the seven-mile journey home. A breeze was rustling softly through the trees. They heard a great horned owl hooting as it watched over its favorite hunting ground. It had rained a little the day before, so with the leftover moisture and the gentle breeze, the night air was a bit cooler than usual. With each wisp of breeze came an earthy, herbal smell from the still slightly damp prairie. The clouds from the previous day’s storm had cleared leaving thousands of glittering, twinkling stars visible.

As J.P. snapped the reins and shouted, Old Peg began the journey home while Nola wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.

Safe journey home, friends, Fred said as he put his arm around his wife.

J.P. and Nola waved goodbye to their dearest friends, who were silhouetted against the dim light of the hurricane lamps shining through the open door and windows of the Bascom home.

At first, their trip seemed like so many others J.P. and Nola had made. On the prairie in southeastern Kansas, families did not have neighbors close by; the family closest to the couple lived almost two