Family Patriarchs are not saints.

 

 

Incredibly, family patriarch and provider of his large clan Martin Van Buren Shive spoke, said, and did every blessed thing the stories passed down insisted.

The bastard was a spiteful old sinner…cranky does not begin to describe his temper…words that son of a bitch could say…his wife would weep at the vile vernacular when Martin exploded in one of his rages…

 

 

Many more true tales hovered about.  Subsequently, at Martin Van Buren Shive interrment, over six hundred town residents gathered around the grave to hear final words from the Baptist preacher.

 

Then, one by one, each passed by the mound of dirt, either to toss black dirt or to spit on it.  Some spoke words in their own vernacular, expressing heart-felt wishes.  One frequently used phrases were “May you rot in hell" or "Thank you for all you did for our country" or....

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My great-great-great Grandfather was Martin Van Buren Shive. The Christian name is a family name, why I don't know.

 Apparently my description of this patriarch of the family is accurate according to my aunt who told all sorts of random stories. She also said that he was one mean sonofabitch. 

To give him some praise is that he fought in the battle of Bull Run , Shiloh, and more battles during the Civil War . He eventually was injured in the leg, sent home to Illinois. He lived in constant pain, which might have contributed to his personality, or if he was always a sonofabitch.

600 people did not show up  to his funeral.  More like 50. 

 

We do not know if the community hated his guts or if they actually treated him with the respect a Civil War veteran deserves. His children (my gr-gr-grandfather)said he was a mean old so and so. Whatever.

 The Wed. Words above were provided by River back in 2016. . The underlined and italicized words are the gems. This writing challenge was created by Delores, who has since passed the baton to others.  Check back with River.