Some of my favorite memories of growing up in western Arkansas are those which centered around the little church on the hill during the 1930�s. This church was the center of all social activity in the area.

The largest family in those parts was the Elzie Schidt family.(Not their real name) There were sixteen children. The oldest was sixteen and the youngest a newborn. The newborn arrived on the oldest�s sixteenth birthday. There were three sets of twins.

Elzie won a new John Deere tractor in 1935 in a contest at the county fair. We called it a �Jonnie-Popper�, for it made a popping sound. Elzie built a four-wheeled wagon from an old truck chassis to pull behind the tractor. On this he placed three bench seats.

Sunday mornings Mrs. Schmidt would spruce up the entire brood and they would all come to church on the wagon. One of the older boys would drive the tractor. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt would sit on the front seat holding several of the younger children. (usually awaiting another.)

The second seat would be occupied by the older girls, all scrubbed and dressed in smart dresses. Beautiful lot, too.

The third seat would have several older boys, collars buttoned and hair combed. The floor would have the rest of the brood rough-housing together.

It was a real sight to see them going perhaps six miles per hour down the dusty country roads. At the church the tractor would arrive with a �Put-zif-Put� while everyone watched. Then the engine would stop with a "Fif-Fif-Fif ~ Chug!"

Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt would dismount first with the entire brood following close behind. When they entered the church house they occupied almost half the seats. I remember once the preacher said as they entered, "Folks, we now have a quorum."

The Schmidts were very active in the church and in community affairs. Till this day I wonder how they found the time.