The Munsons of Texas — an American Saga
Inset 19
I REMEMBER GRAND PAPA
by Mary [Kennedy] Giesecke
"Grand Papa"
Mordello Stephen Munson
1825 - 1903
As I look back at my childhood, seems I spent lots of it in my Grandfathers home. I loved it and felt my importance as he called me, "My beloved grandchild". I wonder why I was the one of our family to be picked. Perhaps I was a problem child and my parents thought his influence good or maybe my mother knew how lonely he was after his dear wifes death and felt that he needed me. Anyway I tagged along as he took a morning look at his rose garden, a few yards west of the house. There he would cut the dead blooms off and always came home with a fresh bouquet. At night snuggled up to him in his big "four poster" bed as he told stories of his boyhood, his family and the war in which he fought throughout. Some mornings he would ride into Brazoria as he had once done daily when a practicing lawyer there. He never brought me or any of the grand children a gift or candy on his return as he wished them to be glad to see him alone. His gifts were love and patience.
His kitchen was about twenty feet from the house and was ably presided over by "Uncle" Bob and "Aunt" Dolly Rivers. Their two boys, Birl and Robert let me play with them. In the fall we raked leaves, picked up pecans. Many squirrels and doves were about and he would allow no one to shoot a dove as they are santioned so often in the Bible.
At Christmas we were all expected to be present and the table was full at noon with grown folks. So we children would walk a mile down the woods and be back ravenous. My Grandfather was very strict about ones behaviour at the table and we were taught to keep arms at ones side while cutting food and to ask to be excused when finished. A Blessing was always asked and that special one is used by some of his descendents. "The Lord make us thankful for this food and all His blessings for Christ's sake".
Mary Haile Kennedy
1885 - 1985
On Christmas morning our stockings were hanging at his fire place, always an apple and box of fire crackers which we would light on the cement pavement by the front steps. I remember on one of our walks we'd each have an orange and I was eating the peeling when my Cousin Adriance said that any one who did that would have "fits". I spent an uncomfortable day.
Grand-papa had eight children and took six of his deceased brothers children. In my time, all his children were married or away except Uncle Armour who managed the ranch. When he married and brought "Aunt Lila" home my Mother and Auntie Murray spent days preparing the dinner for her home coming.
Grand-papa's oldest brother was married but had no children. They seemed to be very close and at one time made a pact, "Should one die before the other, he would try to communicate with the one left", but sorrowfully Grand Papa said that never happened. There were some things peculear to him as his [sh]irts should be home to be made. He purchased latest white percales and linen and my Mother made the shirts, the main body percale and cuffs and collars and front panel were linen. He also liked a dainty cup for his coffee, which should be a certain texture. He never went to the barbar but with a small pair of gold handled scissors trimmed his mustach and beard and one of the boys cut his hair.
He made a rule never to be late. He'd go to the R. R. station an hour ahead of time for the train to arrive. He also dreaded fires, so the kitchen was off from the house and only candles were used for lighting as he feared kerosene lamps. How pitiful it was after his death, his loved home burned. He also decreed that none of his descendents should be punished by whipping as he thought he'd had enough for future generations. His step-father, Major Caldwell, believed in strict ob[ed]ience and the little boy had to obey, thus displine was administered by his Mother, but Grand-papa did not hold it against him, for in after years when the Major had moved to San Marcus, he often visited Mordello, died at his home. One of Grand-papas sons was named George Caldwell. I was visiting my Grand-papa when my brother William was born. Uncle Henry from the Vann Place took him and me up to see the new baby as I was at Grand-papas. Grand-papa named him William Benjiman Munson after his and Papa's brothers, as William was a skinny baby he was always called bones by Grand-papa. I was also at Grand-papas a few days later when Bascom was born.
A time we looked forward to was the several months we spent on the beach in Grand-papa's roomy house. At first my Mother and Aunt Hannah, Henry's Mother took charge (a few years later Aunt Hannah and Uncle George built their house across the "stile"). A tall negro, Napolean was the "Chief Cook and bottle washer".
Early in the year, my father and a negro man would go down and start a garden, it was away from the house, so the chickens would not know. This supplied the household with vegetables, as there were no ice boxes, feeding a crowd was a problem. The house was always full as Grand-pa wanted all his family and friends visit him thee.
The long porch was a place to watch the croquet games, also at a certain spot, the sun showed it was 4 PM and the children chanted, "Watermellon time Bathing time". Being a tall man and a good swimmer, Grand-papa always went in the water up to his neck with all the children hanging on. Some nights a quilt was spread on the porch, he'd talk of the heavens. There wee two stars, one large and one small, he'd say "thats you and me up there". Napolian when off duty played ghost by putting a sheet over him-self, altho we knew who it was, my sister Emma would run to my Mother in fear.
An hour of each day, Aunt Hannah would read a chapter from such "homey" books as "Quechy".
My brother George was born in the beach house which was destroyed by the storm of 1900. Also Sister's Sarah and Helen died there.
The last two years of Grand-papas life he requested our family to live with him. Our house was also destroyed.
My Mother, to the last was a faithful daughter. My sister Adelaide, the baby, gave such pleasure to Grand-papa. It has been a sorrow I was away at school when he passed and I never saw the house where I was born and now that I am as old as he at the last, I love to go to the home place and "Remember Grand-papa."
Grand-papa was M. S. Munson, born in Liberty County, Texas on the 24th day of April 1825.
