Memories

Jimmy Johnstone and Inga Senrud were married during the time when World War I was being fought by both Great Britain and the United States. Since Jimmy was a British citizen, he wanted to wait until after the war was over to become a naturalized citizen, as he wished to remain loyal to his native Scotland. He thought that if he were to file for citizenship papers, it would take too long and he would not have been able to serve either of the two countries that he loved. He remained a subject of King George V of England until the war was over and finally became a citizen of the U.S. in 1922.

Of course there is always a family to follow: James H. was born on April 27, 1919 and died in a drowning accident on October 17, 1938. Sara E. was born on July 7, 1920 and lived and worked with her parents. She eventually moved into Ekalaka and later worked at Dahl Memorial Hospital. Albert “Bill” was born on April 30, 1922. He married Loretta “Pete” Pierce. Bill entered the U.S. Army in November of 1942 and served lots of action overseas. He received two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. You can read of his life in “Shifting Scenes Vol. I,” page 383. John T. “Johnny” was born on October 16, 1924 and married Dorothy Burdick. They made most of their lives on the home ranch.

The Johnstones had a variety of occupations including raising a large herd of Hamiltonian horses, including some horses for James Hunter.

In the spring of 1925 they sold the horses since Jimmy moved to a farm northeast of Medicine Rocks to try his luck at farming. This only lasted until the fall of 1928 when the Johnstone family returned to the ranch. They had decided that farming was not the life for them.

The “Shifting Scenes” article states that George “Pokey” Clark lead the home ranch while the family was on the farm. Yes I, like a few of you, remember Pokey Clark. My most vivid memory of him is that he had a 1926-28 Chevy two-door, black car. It was very well kept. He sold it to me for $50. It didn’t run very good and I sold it, I believe, to Vernon Parks. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that car today!

On a side note, Pokey Clark’s parents lived in Nebraska, Custer, South Dakota, Camp Crook, South Dakota, Stagville Gulch, and finally moved to Ekalaka in 1902. Pokey married Cora B. Davis, had one son named Raymond, a step-daughter and several grandchildren. Raymond graduated from Carter County High School in 1924 and James “Jim” did in 1951. I believe Jim was his grandson. In looking at the 1951 graduating class, I feel some of you readers will remember him.

After the farm experience, Jimmy Johnstone went into the sheep business until 1945 when, with the encouragement of Bill and Johnny, the family started to raise Hereford cattle.

After many years, lots of hard work and Carter County challenges, time passed and the family increased in size. Jimmy and Inga enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They retired and moved to Ekalaka in the fall of 1966. They celebrated fifty years of marriage on July 30, 1968.

Inga passed away at the age of 77 on February 27, 1972 and Jimmy passed on April 30, 1974 at the age of 91.

This article has gotten rather long but this history reminds us yet again of individuals coming from a foreign country, uniting into a family and making a life in Carter County. They should be remembered.