Although my life as a pioneer in Beaver County, Oklahoma lasted less than nine years, many incidents have remained in my mind about my family.
My parents were Manford Paasch and Jennie (Morrison) Paasch. They homesteaded a claim south of Knowles in 1907. At this time they had only one child, Olive. They lived in a dugout which they made themselves. The next year a son, Neil, was born. Three years later a daughter, Blenn, was born.
The family returned to Kansas in 1912, and the following year I was born. Two years later a son, Warren, was born. As doctors were scarce and transportation limited. I can recall my mother telling of my father's going during the night for a neighbor to assist a this child's birth. Since there were only trails to follow, he became lost and was several hours returning. During that time the baby was born, with my mother alone with four small children. That was only one of the many courageous happenings in the life of a pioneer.
In 1917 we moved a few miles nearer to Knowles on a farm with one sod room and one frame. Another child, Dovea was born while we lived there. She was born in 1921.
Although there were now six children in the two room house, we still found a place for the school teacher.
We children attended the Pleasant View School which consisted of mostly children of the Paasch descendants and was often taught by one of them. We attended church at Zelma. In 1922 we left Beaver County.
