Author: Mandy BananaJam
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The Cream Rises to the Top: Owen S. Mitchell’s Fight for Justice
Owen’s heart sank at the sight of Dandy’s lifeless calf on the barn floor. The vet’s diagnosis confirmed his worst fear: contagion had infected the herd. Facing ruin, Owen didn’t back down. “He gave me his word,” he declared in court, determined to prove that honesty should prevail.
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Keep an Eye on the Baby: Daisy’s Journey to Stay Close to Her Family
Daisy leaned her head against the bus window, the rhythmic hum of the tires carrying her thoughts back through the years. Sylvia’s advice echoed softly in her mind: “Keep one eye on the baby.” It wasn’t just about watching over them as children, Daisy realized—it was about being there, always. Every journey she’d taken, every…
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Abner Mitchell’s Final Hour: A Wisconsin Pioneer’s Reflections
Abner Mitchell’s 84th birthday brought his family together one last time, gathering in the glow of the parlor’s firelight. As the mantel clock ticked toward midnight, Abner shared stories of war, faith, and the land he built in Wisconsin, leaving behind a legacy etched in both the soil and the hearts of his descendants.
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Pleasant Times and Seasons in Pyatt Hollow
Pleasant Pyatt lives through seasons in Pyatt Hollow, as he faces love, loss, and resilience. Through drought, fire, and family upheaval, Pleasant’s journey captures the spirit of survival in the Ozarks during the Great Depression, culminating in a new chapter of faith and community at the dawn of spring.
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A Guest and a Stranger: The Resilience of Carrie Bergum
In the cold sanctuary of Lost Island Lutheran Church, Carrie Bergum sat surrounded by the remnants of her family, her heart weighed down by yet another loss. The organ began a familiar hymn, “Jeg er en gjest og fremmed, som mine fäder här…” – I am a guest and stranger, like my father here. The…
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Folklore and Faith: The Legend That Was Reverend JT Barton
In the heart of the Ozark hills, where legends grow like dogwood trees, the story of Reverend JT Barton endures. Born of Cherokee blood and raised along Brushy Creek, JT straddled two worlds—one rooted in the wilderness and the other in faith. With a Bible in one hand and a Winchester rifle in the other,…
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Salesmanship in Print: O.H. Raleigh’s Civic Voice
In the quiet light of a dusty print shop, where ink lingered in the air like the scent of ambition, Olger Herman Raleigh—known as Herman to family—found his calling. Born to Norwegian immigrants on the vast farms of Iowa, Herman’s path might have seemed set in soil and harvests, yet he felt the pull of…
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“Oscar will not die”: The Prophecies of Mary Tinker
On February 11, 1940, the Irondale Assembly of God congregation prayed for young Oscar, who was gravely ill. Mary Tinker Pyatt prophesied he would live, but that someone else must die in his place. Three days later, Mary fulfilled her own prophecy when she herself died, leaving behind a legacy of faith for her family.
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Mining for Joy: Delmer’s Musical Legacy
Delmer Earl Roney, a lead miner in 1961 Missouri, balanced hard labor with a passion for music and family. Known for his fiddle skills, he played in local gatherings despite personal struggles and a troubled marriage. Delmer’s legacy includes a dedication to foxhunting and cherished memories of joy and music.
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Unraveling the Medical Mysteries of the Past: Alma Josephine’s Ancestral Story
Alma Josephine (pictured above) held many roles over her short lifetime – secretary, Lutheran, teacher, wife, and mother. But it’s her role as the subject of a family medical mystery that is most intriguing to me. Could a genetic condition be the answer to why she and her sisters died young? Or was it simply…
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My Kindred Chronicles 