A Rare Hot Toddy

John F. Baxter, my grandfather, went with my father, Johnie Baxter, and I to visit Jan and Bruce Slagle when my Dad was first getting started on building a new house for the Slagles in the early 1960's. They lived just north of Success, Arkansas, on a little side road that ran along the Arkansas-Missouri state line. They lived on the Arkansas side in a "basement" house (the upper story had never been built although they had lived there many years).

Grandpa and Bruce seemed to know each other very well. Bruce was still in the sawmill business with a pallet mill set up near his house there. So it is very likely that their paths had crossed in their earlier lives with both of them working in the timber business in the area surrounding Success, Arkansas.

Plus, although I didn't realize it at the time, they were related by marriage. By my best figuring, Bruce Slagle was the brother of my grandfather John F. Baxter's brother's (Walt Baxter's) wife (Cythia C. "Si" Slagle Baxter) ... or my grandfather's sister-in-law's brother.

This is one of the two times I ever knew of my grandfather, John F. Baxter, to take a drink of any alcoholic beverage. Bruce offered him a "toddy," and he accepted.

The only other time I ever saw my Grandfather take a drink of alcohol was when his younger brother, Elmer Baxter, came from Michigan to visit him the summer I stayed with them in Rockford between my third and fourth grades (just before they moved back south). Grandpa, Grandma, Elmer and his wife (Sadie?), and myself rode the city bus downtown to go shopping. Elmer bought a fifth of whiskey. And after we got back to Grandpa's house, Elmer fixed himself and Grandpa a "hot toddy."

Dad later told me that the one time at the Slagle's house was the only time he had ever seen Grandpa take a drink.

2011-03-26 16:42:29 RBaxter

See additional information on the Individual Data Info Page for John Faunzie Baxter.