On Her Own

Young Katie met and married Charlie Long. But things did not go well. One day not long after they were married he left and never returned. To disentangle herself from this marriage, Katie was forced either to wait seven years (for him to be declared legally dead), or to work, save her money, and obtain a legal divorce herself. She chose the latter and picked cotton to raise the money to pay for the divorce.

In 1908 the nineteen year old Katie Jane Adams left the Price farm and went to Rector, Arknasas, where her "Uncle" Dan Long (a relative of her former husband) lived. Upon her arrival there she secured a job at the local hotel working in the kitchen preparing food for the guests.

The hotel changed ownership while she was working there. While the first owners encouraged giving handouts to hungry hoboes travelling the railroad track through town, the later owner discouraged such actions. However Katie continued to sneak hot coffee and food out the back door to the hungry people who came begging. She enjoyed working there and soon became friends with Cona Jefferson who, also, worked there at the hotel in the kitchen. They went to the moving picture show together, dated together, and had many memorable times together. Years later Katie named her first child after this dear friend.

2012-06-04 11:57:40 RBaxter

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