Return to the Land

The health department later identified the source of the salmonella typhi bacteria in the drinking water but how it contaminated their water system remains unclear. It was suggested that an old graveyard above their house, where previous typhoid victims may have been buried, could have possibly contaminated their water. However, this seems implausible. Typhoid plagued Lenore for a long time and it t ook about a year to recuperate with Grandmother’s nursing skill and care. She remained weak and unable to get around easily. Her legs were swollen and Grandmother would soak them daily with a salt solution. In the meantime, the relatives were still caring for the children. Claudine and Peggy were with their mother and grandparents on Kimberling and attending school at Hollybrook and later at Bland. Aunt Stella and Uncle Emory took Carol Jean home with them to Detroit, which would result in a permanent arrangement. They wanted to adopt her but Carol would resist until later in life. Carol remained close to her mother and family and currently lives in Dublin near her mother. With Claude gone Lenore had to subsist on a meager income. She applied for social security benefits for the children and received $50.00 a month. However, Lenore wanted to be self-sufficient, care for her children, and lessen the burden on her parents. After about a year she was able to purchase a small house at the Fox Finley farm that her brother Vaden owned. She had Claudine and Peggy with her. Bethel pleaded to come home but remained with her uncle Robert. Joyce stayed with her Aunt Nanny until age twelve when she rejoined the family and Carol stayed in Detroit. The house was off the main road and during the winter months the road leading to her house was nearly impassable at times. Uncle Vaden would take her to buy groceries since she had no transportation. She had a cow to milk, chickens, and a garden that she and the girls worked. They spent the summer canning food for the following winter. Life was becoming more difficult to make ends meet and keep the children in school. So she sold the place to a Mr. Whitt who was the principal at Hollybrook School and moved back to her parents’ home. After about a year she found employment at the Celonese Corporation in Narrows, Virginia. Celonese produced synthetic fibers for the clothing industry and was also a supplier of materials during World War II. Transportation was a problem for her and her brother Edgar, who was now established in the restaurant business in Dublin, encouraged her to move to a place where there was adequate housing and public transportation to Celonese. She soon moved to Dublin where she built a house. At this time Joyce, age 12, returned home. After nine years of being a single mother Lenore married Charles Jarrell. To this marriage came her first son, Charles (Chuck) E. Jarrell, Jr. born on July 7, 1953. However, this marriage was not made in Heaven and it quickly disintegrated resulting in a divorce. Chuck was raised by his mother. After grandfather died Minnie Catherine lived with Lenore the last few years of her life. Lenore’s siblings at times would give financial aid for her upkeep. She remembered what her mother had done for her and she more than repaid the kindness by caring for Grandmother in her final years. The public transportation system (bus line) was phased out of operation so Lenore bought a car. With her own transportation she was able to continue to work at Celonese Corporation now called Hercules Corporation. She remained loyal to the company for 33 years retiring in 1965. Her daughter, Claudine, became a nurse, advancing her education in spite of great

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