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Before the big float a lot of work had to be done. My dad and a few other farmers in the area would work for months cutting down the giant pine trees. They would work during the summer months in the low areas by the creek so when the rains came in late Fall and early Winter it would be easier to get the logs into the creek to make up thier float. There were no tractors back then and no farmer had enough Oxen to move the huge logs, so they depended on the rain and the rising water
This year I'm telling you about was special because it would be thier last float. The "Dummyline" was only a few miles to the south of our farm, and by the next timber harvest the Train would be close enough that they could use thier steam powered Skidders to drag the giant logs to a spot where they could be loaded onto the train cars. Pa was excited about that because floating logs was real hard work and very dangerous.
Just about this time I was getting deeply interested in her story then she paused, searching for something, here it is She said, pulling out a can of Prince Albert smoking tobacco. Impatient, I asked, what happened next grandma? She said just hold on Son and let me get this cigarette rolled and we'll talk some more.
Grandma had slowed down quit a bit lately because of a fall she had on the back steps of the house. As a result of the fall and complications from Diabeties, She lost one of her legs at the knee and now spends most of her time in a wheel chair.
As She rolled the cigarette I remembered when She lost her leg and summoned me to the hospital to roll up a few Prince Albert smokes for her. Holding back emotions from the memories of her lying in that hospital bed, I asked if I could help with her cigarette. She said no, thats alright Son, I can manage.
Now where were we, oh yea, Pa was getting ready for the float Well the rains came and the water started rising. That gave Pa and the other men a chance to get thier logs into the creek. Uncle Will Marson was on the float with Pa and there was one other Man but I can't remember his name, but they were all hard workers and very good swimmers. They would create a jam of