General Notes

[basham.ged]
Info In Viola Basham Cathey Files  Bd 32
Info From Lula Mae Basham Correspondence
Bill and his brother grew up in Parker County. The brothers' favorite a
ct ivities during their youth were hunting and swimming. They swung fr
om a ro pe many times off the old Dennis bridge. At that time Bill felt th
at goi ng to school was to be avoided if possible. While living in Mexi
co with th eir father during a six month period, Bill and his brother conv
inced the t eacher that there was much more "recess" time in the United St
ates. They w ere allowed to play outside for longer periods of time whi
le the other chi ldren continued their lessons. Bill was quite good in ma
th which helped h im later in life. Bill married Effie Mae Bryan, daught
er of George and Pea rl Bryant, on August 14, 1939. At this time they bo
th were poor, so they s pent their honeymoon in a tent on the Brazos Rive
r. Hard work became a hab it with Bill and his wife. Bill worked on the ra
ilroad, in the oil fiel ds and raised peanuts.
During the depression he went to California to pick fruit for 15 c
en ts an hour each day. Bill and his wife ran a grocery, the first in Bro
ck a nd another in Spade, Texas. By then the Bashams had two daughter
s. In 19 50 Bill and his wife purchased a quarter section of land just out
side of B rock. The first few years were lean due to drought. Bill work
ed with Gu lf Oil and had to walk their lines at night to get some cash wh
ile maintai ning the farm in the day time. Needless to say, his wife w
as at his side a ll the way. One of her duties was to stretch a doll
ar as far as possibl e. About 1956, the Bashams started produce farming. W
hile picking as ma ny as 150 bushels of squash and 100 bushels of cantalou
pe each morning, se ven days a week, Bill and his family began to make a c
omfortable livin g. At one time they had several stalls in the public mark
et where they so ld their fresh produce. Even though it was no longer nece
ssary for th em to work so hard they started a new endeavor.
They planted fruit trees and began to sell peaches, plums, apples, et
c. T hey also began to raise bedding plants in the winter. Bill's reputati
on gr ew rapidly at the markets as an honest farmer who always gave mea
su re at a fair price in addition to living up to his word. Many tim
es he cou ld have gotten more for a product but had already given his wo
rd to anoth er buyer for a lesser price. Through hard work and inate selli
ng ability t he Bashams have done well. Bill and Effie Mae are both membe
rs of the Bapt ist Church at Brock. They both are community minded. They h
ave supported t he Brock Ind. Schools by their presence and many times thr
ough generous do nations. Bill served several years on the school board a
nd primarily as i ts president. He also served several terms on the Park
er County School Boa rd.
Henry is a 32 degree Mason, and both he and Effie Mae are membe
rs of t he Order of the Eastern Star. They have served as Worthy Patron a
nd Wort hy Matron. Effie Mae has served as election judge for her area. S
he also s erved as President and Secretary of the P.T.C. The Bashams are g
ood, hone st people who have worked hard for their accomplishments. O
ne of their dau ghters, Leta, has received her Masters Degree and has rece
ntly become a me mber of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Bashams have t
hree grandchildre n, Lisa, Patty, and Wesley. By Leta (Basham) Reiner Fr
om "History of Park er County" pages 152