From Farm Boy to College Boy

The Provident Building where Boynton & Boynton had offices.

Today I got to actually look for places Great-Granddaddy worked and lived. His first stop after high school was Waco, Texas -- where I spent most of my childhood. How he got there is an interesting story, of course...

One day while picking cotton for a farmer at age 18, he decided he had had enough and didn't want to live the rest of his life in the country doing hard labor. He went home and told his mother he was going to find a job and earn enough money to go to the University of Texas. He figured he could make money as a typist and stenographer.

So, he headed 25 miles north to Waco and inquired about a position with Boynton & Boynton Law Office. He convinced them to give him a try in a month and they agreed. He went to a used bookstore in Waco, bought a book about shorthand, and headed back home to Eddy to teach himself and practice 12 to 14 hours a day! In September, he moved to Waco and started at the law office on a trial basis -- by October, they agreed he could stay on.

The parking lot where the grand Provident Building once stood. And yes, those are the Magnolia Silos (Chip & Joanna) in the background.

He took dictations for the lawyers, picked up steno gigs at the courthouse and even took dictation for WC Brann of Iconoclast fame now and again. After 18 months he had enough money to enroll in the University.