MySource:Srblac/Donna Reichard Ferguson Memories

On father John “Jack” Reichard
Dad (John “Jack” Reichard) managed a lumberyard in Mellott Indiana. He played baseball with the 3-“I” team; I stands for Indiana, Illinois & Iowa. He knew Mordecai (“Three Finger”) Brown of the (baseball) Hall of Fame. (Mordecai played with the Chicago Cubs at the turn of the 20th century). He was interviewed by the Cubs baseball team but had 3 children and didn’t go. (His 3 oldest children were Zulieme, Kenneth and Keith. By then it was at least 1909 and he was 32). He played with the ‘Dairy Maids’ in Crawfordsville, pitching a no-hit game when he was 49 (in 1926). Dad played Spanish Guitar.

Dad was a mathematician. He only had a 9th grade education but also had a beautiful scribe. He virtually would turn an apple into applesauce trying to teach me fractions. Keith took after his dad, not me!

On mother Effie Mae Cooper Reichard
Hoboes had our house marked! We lived 1 block from big 4 RR and mom’s apple pie was notorious. She never refused them as they came with hat in hand. Both mother and dad ran Reichards Grocerx. (The spelling “GROCERX” was intentional, perhaps it means Grocer-RX, a grocery and pharmacy). Mom was prone to giving candy for buttons. Dad would say “Effie, you’re teaching the children to cheat!” She was too kind and always caring.

Mom took in laundry to support us during the depression. She had 5-6 customers, washing and ironing, picking up and delivering for $2 a basket. She played piano.

On sister Zulieme Reichard Orr
Zulieme hated her name. She played popular as well as classical piano. Her son Kevin won the Morris B Saks contest month playing Boogie.

Sis trained all the the dogs in our family. She loved to make candy and was so talented in making southern belle dolls dressed up in various color of crepe paper. They would cost $50.00 each today.

On sister Naomi Reichard Peebles
Naomi’s family is mostly responsible for keeping the county’s Quaker church (oldest in the city) open.

On brother Keith Reichard
Our poodle Bo-K would start barking when he heard Keith walking home from a block away.

On brother Kenneth Reichard
Kenneth graduate from Wabash College. He played football and was nicknamed ‘Paddock’ - whatever that meant! Ken played guitar with friend Chester Weikel on the local radio station. The program was a ½ hour long and sis Naomi knows more about what years. He was renowned in Montgomery city for his deliverance of Masonic sermons. He and Keith were always considerate and kind. Two wonderful brothers.

On WWII
I was a lieutenant in the WACs during WWII. The WACS promoted me! Our company was slated to go overseas. I had passed the OCS test and was told by my Major to make a choice. I opted for overseas. First morning in El Turck Africa I looked up and saw Merrill McCoy from my street (all of 3 blocks long) up on a telephone pole. Talk about utter awe!

On the (Crawfordsville) neighborhood
There were two families in the neighborhood besides ours of Cooper relation. Aunt Minnie lived with her daughter Estel (Simmons) and Everett Cooper with wife Bessie and 3 sons.

Grandfather (Emmanuel) Reichard built their home the corner of Liberty and Russell. After his death grandmother (Mary Ham Reichard) rented out the lower level.

On her early years
John (Ferguson) and I were married and immediately following the reception we left for Oakland CA. I was always the hobo.