Articles from the Historical Society in Josephine County Oregon

Touchdown Willie Heston

2/11

country school three miles away. His quest for an education was very strong even at this age, as he would walk to school over prairie, often through blizzards.

Martin and his schoolmates would play games like, Blackman, sometimes called "Wolf" or "Pullaway" or another called "Darebase", and Martin excelled because of his exceptional speed.

Poverty and hardship were continually lurking around the Heston household during the seven years they lived in Kansas. Martin's two sisters, Rose and Elizabeth developed "Tuberculosis" following the "flu". They died within two years of each other.

In March of 1892, everyone in the Heston household was needed to help with earning enough money for the family support. Martin was, as usual, taken out of school to herd cattle. Martin and a friend decided to leave home and try for a job.

The time set for leaving was the following Saturday, when Martin's father would be in Kinsley, Kansas. Martin's most difficult job was telling his mother, whom he dearly loved and respected, that he was leaving home. He waited until they were to leave before telling her. Even though she thought him to be too young for such an undertaking, she hunted around and came up with a 50 cent piece which she gave to Martin with her blessing, kissed him goodbye and reminded him to be good, and careful. Martin got a job 135 miles away, by going from farm to farm until he was hired by a Mr. Patten at thirteen dollars a month.

Here he stayed, cultivating corn and helping with the haying, until July, when he took a job harvesting at a dollar a day for six weeks. When this work was completed, Martin went to nearby Anthony, Kansas and bought his first store bought suit and a ticket for home.

THE FAMILY HEADS WEST

Martin's father was a Civil War Veteran and had applied for a pension several years back through an attorney in Washington, D. C. After the pension was finally granted, J.W. Heston would receive six dollars per month, dating back to the time of his application. After lawyer's fees, the .. Continued - Page 3

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