Gangsters

I finished reading Brothers Notorious, the story of the Shelton Gang.  Carl, Bernie, and Big Earl, ran the gang that The Saturday Evening Post called "America's bloodiest gang".  They came to power in the roaring twenties bootlegging during Prohibition, and turned to gambling when Prohibition ended.  At the peak of their power, they controlled the vice in central and southern Illinois (including East St. Louis) to the point that even Al Capone didn't venture south of Chicago out of respect for them.
They started as farm boys near Fairfield, IL and amassed large land holdings (which they farmed) presumably purchased with bootlegging and gambling money.  In the late 30's and 40's, Peoria became the queen city of their gambling empire.  Carl lived in a house on Knoxville Avenue, and Bernie had a farm on Farmington Road.  They supplied, owned, or took kick-backs from taverns, night clubs, and gambling dens all over downstate Illinois.
After World War II, the Chicago mob and the St. Louis mob decided to move in on the Shelton territory.  Most of the Sheltons met violent deaths, and the few remaining Sheltons escaped to Florida in 1951.

Prior to reading the book, I had only known bits and pieces of the lawlessness and corruption that took place back in those days.  There is a great deal of history around here that isn't often advertised. I would like to do a little more research on the subjects and era.

Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
Ezekiel 7:23

 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Proverbs 4:17

Desert Pete

I enjoyed hearing Bro. Ed's "Desert Pete" story and analogy again Sunday, so when we got home Sunday evening I looked up the Lyrics to the Kingston Trio song.


                                           DESERT PETE

Billy Edd Wheeler

I was travelin' west of Buckskin on my way to a cattle run, 'cross a little cactus desert under a hot, blisterin' sun. Thirsty down to my toenails, I stopped to rest me on a stump, but I tell you I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump. I took it to be a mirage at first. It'll fool a thirsty man. Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can. "This pump is old," the note began, "but she works. So give'er a try. I put a new sucker washer in 'er. You may find the leather dry.

Chorus:
You've got to prime the pump. You must have faith and believe. You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive.
Drink all the water you can hold. Wash your face cool your feet. Leave the bottle full for others. Thank you kindly, Desert Pete.

Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire. Under the rock you'll find some water left there in a bitter's jar. Now there's just enough to prime it with, so don't you go drinkin' first. Just pour it in and pump like mad and, buddy, you'll quench your thirst.

(Chorus)

Well, I found the jar, and I tell you, nothin' was ever prettier to my eye and I was tempted strong to drink it because that pump looked mighty dry, but the note went on, "Have faith, my friend, there's water down below. You've got to give to really get. I'm the one who ought to know."

So I poured in the jar and started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound of water bubblin' 'n' splashin' up out of that hole in the ground. Then I took off my shoes and drunk my fill of that cold refreshin' treat. Then I thanked the Lord, and I thanked the pump, and I thanked old Desert Pete.

(Chorus)

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psalm 63:1

Clean-out

We got the wheat sown the last day of September, and on the way to church today we noticed that it is all up with a nice, full, even stand.

Last Sunday we went to T- town for church to help Daughter #1 serve lunch.  It was a nice day and we enjoyed the worship, fellowship, the lunch, and the leftovers.  I helped run the dishwasher over the noon hour, which was a new experience for me.

We vacuumed out the combine and the platform, and cleaned out the auger cart and truck in preparation for harvesting our Non-GMO soybeans.  It takes a couple of hours, so you don't really want to do it more than once a season.  But after a couple of days of harvest, it rained.  We switched back to corn for a couple of days until soybeans were fit again.  Then we had to vacuum and clean out the equipment all over again.  It's a pain, but the premium is worth it.

Because of several passing showers, harvest is progressing slower than we would like.
On Friday, the old farmer's talented wife ran the combine much of the day because of the absence of our other help.  I spilled a little corn running the new auger cart, but we accomplished what we had hoped to for the day.  We finished the field we were working on and got the last load into the elevator just before closing time.

It is raining again now, and more predicted for tomorrow, so we may have another couple of days of break.

Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.
Ezekiel 4:9