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Show surpassed his sons in labor. It was common for him to carry two sacks of one hundred weight wheat at a time, and it was said that he had such strength in lifting weight on a shovel, that the burden broke the handle. It was a common occurrence so his family was forced to hide a shovel for their own use. Thereafter, Grandfather used a stout, green, hawthorne branch for a handle which was more resistant to weight. His profession was farming and stock raising which he did in wholesale quantities, but his knowledge spread to the techniques of wheelrighting, blacksmithing, and building construction. He rarely employed the help of a professional in repair work. He believed strongly in the saying, "There is no such thing as 'It can't be done'". He remolded his implements and sharpened them to razorlike efficiency, repaired his own wagons, adjusted his own header, and sweated diligently over the task of shoeing a nervous horse. On two occasions, he built ox carts by hand completing all the work himself. One time while shearing his spring sheep, he revealed a typical reaction. While straddling and shearing a protesting creature, a fellow sympathizer butted Grandfather into a somersault. Whereupon, grandfather, after gaining his equilibrium, determinedly set to work on the rebellious upbraider, shearing him as if to say, "I'll teach you a lesson for getting smart with me!" He was interested in winning the respect and admiration of his fellow neighbors, and though he was strong for justice within his household, he had little to say concerning others, leaving the influencing power of morals to their discretion. Though he gained a wholesome flood of happiness from public approval, he was modestly sober when praised and responded unemotionally to flattery, for he was always conscious of his limitations. He liked the thrill of satisfaction that came to those who realize a useful produce of their own making and realize the delight of accomplishment. In a spare moment he would survey a piece of good work with silent satisfaction, but he left little room for this reverie; he went right on figuring and planning for some other task. His hobby seemed to be contracting for as much hard work, aside, from his own duties, as he could accomplish for the welfare of his religion and community. Because of much pioneering in these valleys, he volunteered more often than he was asked to contribute to the building of the railroad and church buildings. Aside from this, he was constantly busy trading and accumulating land. One of the biggest contracts he undertook was the construction of one mile of railroad near the sight where the Golden Spike was driven connecting the Union Pacific Railway. It was on this occasion that he enlisted the services of a twelve year old daughter as cook for the crew of construction men. Though she protested and had never cooked before, he insisted that she go. |