To those who have known folks in Indian Cove:
As your recall the folks who lived in the Cove, what do you remember about them? Thinking about any one of them who influenced or intrigued you, what could you tell us? What pictures come to your mind, what voice, what story? What is it they did, or didn’t do, that tell most about them? When you remind us, we will no doubt say, “Oh, yes! I remember!”
Wikipedia says a character sketch is… a rough-and-ready rendering or thumbnail portrayal of an individual, capturing, in brief, that person’s physical characteristics, psychological attributes, and the like.
Gary put me up to this, and I think you will understand why, when you read what he has to say. He was down from Filer a week ago, helping me take care of our 97 year old father, Wesley, who had requested to go live back at the Cove again. We were talking about my book, Pigtails and Other Tales, my stories of growing up in the Cove, and we imagined how rich a second book would be if it was full of character sketches! I believe any one of you readers who have known folks in the Cove, could do a ‘rough-and-ready’ sketch of someone. Listen to Gary on this by clicking down below on ‘comments.’
Gary came up with at list of “Covites,” and you can see them at the end of his letter. Single out a person to tell about. Let me know, okay? Together we can make a collection of character sketches.
I’m thinking on what he said: Remembering and telling stories of those before us, giving honor to their lives, helps validate our own stories. Stories give grounding to future generations.
Email me at mrs.peirson7@gmail.com about the character sketch you are preparing.
DitchWriter 
Fellow Covite,
You and I are unique group of people. We are the children or friends of the pioneer families who developed this land from desert. Given the world population and scarcity of water, most available land has been put into production. There will be very few people in the future who will have the opportunity to be pioneers like our parents in bringing a desert into farm production.
I am saddened when I ponder that when our generation is gone most likely the stories of these unique individuals will be gone. Would you willing to help me put together a compilation of character sketches, pictures and stories of these individuals as a way to give meaning and honor the toil they gave here?
What drew them to the Cove? When did they come? What were they like? What were their strengths, their weaknesses, what made them unique? Were they funny, serious, adventurous, reserved, loud, soft? Share stories of times spent with them.
Now obviously few of us can do everybody on the list, but could you do some of them? The writing doesn’t have to be polished. Simple descriptions, short stories, funny stories, thoughts, taped, or video are fine. Just remember to be kind in your storytelling.
Remembering and telling stories of those before us, giving honor to their lives, helps validate our own stories. Stories give grounding to future generations.
Feel free to make copies of this request and send it to other family members or persons that you think have stories to share. My list probably isn’t complete so feel free to add other names to the list.
I am not sure of who is all on the executive board (president, vice president, secretary, etc) of the procrastinators club. I’ve held one of the offices, for some time. But I pray inspiration will strike relatively soon because time is flying by! Please. This will not be complete without your stories.
Menno and Lina Snyder
Wallace and Elaine Swager
Don and Edith Pancoast
Nathan and Leanna Miller
Wilbur and Lucille Wilson
Dan and Almeda Good
Emil and Mary Johnson
Sigert and Helen Johnson
Ida JohnsonCarl Johnson
Cecil and Jan Hampton
Tim and Edith Shenk
Jake and Leona Reimer
Vernan and Norma Kauffman
Joe and Margaret Black
Nathan and Leanna Miller
Paul and Barbara Miller
Gene Richardson
Aaron Brubaker
John and Donnie Brubaker
Dave Shenk
Amos and Veola Shenk
George and Hannah Hilty
Bob and Bea Rippe
Jim and Evanna Hamilton
Bob and Lois Good
Willard and Ola Hooley
Milton and Mavis Landis
Floyd and Edna Landis
Claude and Katie Barber
Wes and Doris Hooley
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Great list – one minor correction on my aunt’s name – it’s Leanna, not Leona, for Nathan Miller’s wife.
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The postcards asking for contributions to a Cove book are all mailed out, except for Melissa, used to be Johnson! Waiting for her address. And the card sent to Doris Batch (Pancoast) won’t reach her, because I forgot to get the zip code from Deb (since Lodi has 3 zip codes.) That makes 187 folks contacted. Whew! Now for memories to roll in! You could say that we are stirring the pot, and what a tasty stew we will simmer, together.
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Folks are starting to call and email–and I hear stories are on their way. So very exciting!
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