Memories

To continue on with my memories of our early neighbors including, Frank (Bun) and Margaret (Peggy) Castleberry, who had a home built up the road from us up to the north. Again, Bud Heckman and his crew were the builders, and I was included in a little part of it.

Shifting Scenes has some very interesting articles about the Castleberry families, including the Frank and Ida Castleberry family. It was written by Marshall Lambert (Volume I, pages 136-139). Frank (Bun’s dad) came to Montana from Texas in 1885 at the age of 15 and his mother, Ida, came to Montana from Cherokee, Iowa at the age of three with her parents, Jacob and Mary Speelmon. Frank Castleberry and Ida Speelmon were married on September 8, 1897.

Frank and his brother-in-law Will Speelmon had the occupation of breaking horses—some things have changed. To this union three children were born, Myrtle, Lee, and Frank (Bun). Later, Marshall Lambert joined the household in 1923. I have, as I’m certain many of you do, precious and fond memories of Lee and Marshall.

Now back to Bun and Peggy Castleberry, our north neighbors. I will quote Bun on some of his history and life activities, he has a unique way of saying things.

“In 1909 the stork dropped me alongside of Russell Creek. At the age of four I had appendicitis. Doctor Sherrill who had a hospital in Camp Crook, South Dakota, came over and brought his nurse with him. They took out the ruptured appendix; the dining room table served as an operating table and kerosene lamps for light. I survived.”

Well again, times have changed.

Bud went to school in Ekalaka and he states his first and second grade teacher was Miss Chilton. She later married Steve Hoit Sr. who owned a drug store here. His third and fourth grade teacher was Miss Huntington. She later married Bill Yates.

In early spring of 1928, Gregg Newman was “pretty badly crippled up,” reported Bun, and the hired man was leaving. So I “went up to help out,” he continued. (This ranch was where the Hammel Ranch is today.) Bun worked about four weeks until a man came along and wanted a job. Wages from Gregg were $10.00 a week with the understanding that Bun could trap muskrats, which he took over 100, and sold for $1.00 each.

The 1930’s brought drought and grasshoppers and the Castleberrys, Sam Anderson, and Frank Chambelain found a place near Piedmont, South Dakota to get through winter. Bun was supposed to help trail but found a job cutting down trees with Dan Hedges on the Hunter place. Sorry, no chain saws at this time.

A fellow by the name of Frances Olson, better known as Rain-in-the-Face, took his place. Bun, Sam Anderson, and his wife Alice trailed them back home in the spring of 1937.

Bun continues his article with this statement: “In the fall of 1941, my dad passed away.”

He and his mother went into partnership with the ranch. Ida Castleberry passed away on October 11, 1973.

Bun also describes his marriage: “In the fall of 1942, the County hires a new health nurse by the name of Margaret Argo. I chased her until September 1945, when I finally caught her; we were married September 11, 1945.”

Later, Bun and Peggy moved into the new house and one of the first projects he did was plant a shelter belt from his property south to Cleveland Street just south of Rankin and Helen Dean. Because of his health, he found out he couldn’t take care of it and made the agreement with each of us. “You pay for the recording of the deed and you can have the land and shelter belt behind you.”

A couple of last thoughts: Some of us who knew Peggy remember that she had a strong and outspoken nature, but she had a heart of gold. We all thank Bun for the shelter belt because it stops the wind and snow, but we enjoy the pheasants, doves, many different birds, and of course, the deer. This may be a little long but Bun had such an interesting and old timer life to share. I’ll share more about special neighbors next time.