Bidville Decoration Day Happy Occasion in Hills - Crawford Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Judy Harvey Date: 1 Jun 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** This was in some of my husbands grandmothers papers. I don't know which paper it came from. Bidville cemetery is located in Crawford County, Arkansas. Thought you might like to put it on Crawford County info. I'm sending it typed up. I was afraid the scanned copy couldn't be read. Judy Sunday, August 8, 1948 Hills of Home By Isabel France Bidville Decoration Day Happy Occasion in Hills Bidville decoration was one of the endless happiness for mountain folk. Their cup of blessings overflowed.The day was made to order,cool as late September and beautifully habited. The luster of deep violet haze blended with cloud shadows to chart the course of avery hollow. Bedtimes the sunlight enhanced the living greens of forest trees and tarried on mountaintops. Echoes were propertied as tunes from Heaven…the soft summer music of spring fed mountain streams made mingle with the rustle of breezes among the tree leaves. Wood thrushes, blue-birds, orioles and canaries balleted "each and everyone" with a sweet welcome back home." Red-headed woodpeckers declared themselves "half afeard’ of such a crowd. They clapped up together in wonderment. Soft voiced Doves quieted the fears with gentle words. Beautiful for situation, Bidville, Arkansas is located in the Crawford County of the White Rock mountain area. The road winds through magnificent scenery. There is such a profusion of exquisite creations the prodigal is humbly mindful of "the bountiful Giver of life". Uncle Cader says that it will stretch him to make Heaven but he can spend one day away back in the Bidville mountains and see Heaven kissing the earth. The hardest old heart will be soft as a dead ripe pawpaw that won’t hold handling! Moses realized the extreme boundary of happiness when he climbed Mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah and viewed the promised land. These salt of the earth mountaineers planned wisely and worked long hours for the suitess of their Decoration day . Stock-proof fences were built around the cemetery and the assembly grounds. There were new heavy oak seats and tables. New clearings for "hitching posts." Everything was spick and span. Distinguished for their warm cordial hospitality and for their uniform, seven days in every week kindness, these folk treat you so good ( if you are likeable) that Uncle Lewis Seabourn always said they made a body want to go live with them .The kindness is continued after one is enrolled in the cemetery. Every care is taken of this final resting place. Friends , relations and the descendants of William Shepherd, Methodist minister, who was killed by bushwhackers in 1862, placed a historical marker at his grave. A fitting memorial that closes a sad chapter in the lives of all concerned. Mr. Shepherd whose sons were in the Federal army at the time of his death, was a strong union sympathizer. He was killed by Southern sympathizers, neighbors who had lost loved ones. "Wreaths of victory, palms of glory," ran through the wind as one read the stones message. Descendants of staunchest Southern Confederates helped to provide a way for the marker. "What mean those tears in your eyes?" one old "Confederate" asked an old "Federal". "Been eatin’ onions," was the gruff answer. "Yep, I’ll allow with you that 86 years is a long time to spend a hating. Now let’s spend our time in lasting joy. Gordon McKenzie, program chairman; declared that it was the best Decoration, yet. A Fort Smith, Arkansas preacher went around reading car licenses and he said there were cars from 17 different states. Every early day settler was represented- Mulkey, Wright, Shepherd, Griffith, nealy, Smith, Jackson, Caselman, Mullens, Campbell, Schrader, Drummonds, Darling, Meadows, Boles, Rucks, Woods, Harrison, Orrick, Province, Stokes, Sloan, Francis, Parnell, Rush, Cherry, Parker, and France. Mr. And Mrs. Ben Wells came all the way "back home" from Bakersfield,California. Aunt Catherine Jackson, painfully afflicted for more than a year, had her children bring her to the decoration so they could all be "together" again, for one more homecoming. Not everyone reads the Bible, but all people can read the life of a Christain in this grand woman. Mrs. Noah Terry of Sunset and Mrs. Francis Edwards had to sit in wheelchairs , but they loved every detail of the hoisting, uplifting day. Wesley Hair, a gifted singer and a good man, lined up his choir of Parnells, Birchfields, Rucks, Campbells and visiting talent to sing as only happy thankful hearts can sing. The gathering was not short for preachers. They were from Arkansas to California, thick as politicians. Uncle Gus Rucks said "They were all good folks, lovers of fried chicken and hickory smoked ham, stuffing and dumplings, cakes and pies, same as he. Rev. George Schrader of Okmulgee, Ok., won the hearts of his hearers. He always does. Born and reared down on Big Frog Creek, he had told the "boys" for the last 10 years that he probably wouldn’t make another Bidville Decoration Day. They half way believed him until this year when he appeared looking ten years younger. "Now what do you say to the likes of that!" exclaimed Uncle Benton. "Without a doubt, George will fudge around and make the century mark."