My Grandfather

My Grandfather


    The story I am about to Impart is true. I was told this after I asked about a man I saw in an old black and white photo. I seen it hanging on my cousins wall,

and asked my father who the man was that was standing next to this enormous log. My dad said that it was my grandfather, and he told me about how the

photo was taken. Your grandfather was a logger for many years of his life. I know this does not seem like something amazing. He didn't use a chainsaw or a

fancy piece of machinery. His tool of choice was a crosscut saw.

    You see your Grandfather was a logger in the 1920's and 30's. He is famous for cutting the largest tree to ever be milled by The Great Southern Lumber

Company in Bogalusa La. Him and great uncle Chancy worked all day to cut this one tree. It was so big that they had to take one end off the saw,  and walk

around the tree cutting as they went. I know for some that may not seem very big, but most don't take into account that the saw was six feet across.

    When this monster fell they got a load of logs from the limbs alone. Some of these limbs were thirty six inches at the tip. As for the trunk of the tree it took

up a railroad car by itself, and it took four team of oxen to get it out of the woods. That is eight oxen to carry one log. When they got the log to the mill they had

to dynamite it into four pieces to be able to get it on the mill.

    I know other people have stories of their ancestors doing great things, such as being war heroes and the like. Your grandfather was a simple man, only five

feet three inches tall. He went to work everyday, and done everything he could to provide for his family of thirteen. He stayed married to the same woman for fifty

five years until his death. He used to say that love is a tickling sensation between two crazy people. Smiling my dad says, " he must have been well tickled."



    I never had the pleasure of meeting my grandfather, and yet I have the feeling that he was a great man. He raised a family of thirteen, my dad being the

youngest. I have very few pictures of him, and although I may not have met the man, I love him deeply. If for no other reason than instilling in my father what it

takes to be a great dad. In my book he was a hero.



    Some facts to note: During the height of the depression the Great Southern Lumber Company (a steam operated mill) put out over one million board feet of

lumber a day. Many of the older homes in the south and along the east coast still carry their stamp to this day.

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