Marc Wilson interview with Chester H. Lauck, Willie Major Fair, Frank Smith, P.D. Vincent, Wilburn Cagle, Boyd Goodner, Kermit Campbell, and Robert Jackson

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. In this recording, Marc Wilson interviews eight men from Montgomery County, Arkansas. He begins with radio celebrity, Chester Lauck, who tells two humorous stories about watches and horse trading. At minute 7:07, William Major Fair reminisces about his life and recounts how his parents moved from Alabama. He then discusses aspects of rural life, including corn and cotton growing; religious meetings called Brush Arbor Meetings; clothing; hog killing time; helping his father cobble shoes and construct buildings, along with describing how they looked; Decoration Day celebrations; and superstitions about planting and doing chores by the moon. At minute 22:30, he tells several stories, some of them humorous, about hunting, his friend Whistlin Bill avoiding a jail sentence, and a stagecoach robbery, possibly led by the notorious outlaw Jesse James. He ends his interview at 29:52 discussing if the good ol days were really better. At minute 31:15, Frank Smith recalls three men from their community. He begins with Whistlin Bill Fryer, who supposedly buried treasure, avoided a jail sentence, played the fiddle, and told tall tales, some of which he repeats. Smith then discusses B. Gallion, another community entertainer, repeating some of his tall tales about hunting dogs and bugs. The third man is Richardson, who spent his life trying to find buried treasure. Smith ends with two jokes, the first a Pat and Mike joke about Irish and Irish-Americans, involving a cyclone, and a bawdy joke about two young African-American boys. In between the jokes, Smith theorizes how what is considered funny has evolved since he was a child. 46:32: P.D. Vincent explains the origins of the name of Sock City, Arkansas, and why it later was renamed Pencil Bluff. He recalls the rough early days of the town, which included poker games, fights, and kidnappings. At minute 50:29, Wilburn Cagle remembers his friend Whistlin Bill and tells stories about him. Boyd Goodner tells a Pat and Mike story about bugs at minute 53:23. At minute 54:27, Kermit Campbell recounts a story about when Bushwackers killed a local man, Mr. Wilhite, during the Civil War. At minute 58:10, Robert Jackson remembers Belle Starr visiting his home, located near Starrs childhood home, when he was a child. Chester H. Lauck (1902-1980) was born in Alleene, Arkansas, and moved to Mena, Arkansas. He graduated high school and from University of Arkansas. He performed as a radio celebrity in the Lum and Abner show from 1931 to 1954. Afterwards, he worked for Lion Oil Company. William Major Fair (1887-1972) was born near Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, and remained in the county where he worked as a farmer. He married Lillian Harberson (1891-1974) in 1907, and they had six children including, Grady Joseph (1912-1984), Clovie Mae Singleton (1913-2002), and Lois Maxine (1925-1925). Charles Frank Smith (1906-1986) was born in Belcherville, Texas, and moved to Oden, Arkansas, in 1914 where he worked as the postmaster and lived on a large cattle farm. He married Audie Forbes (1912-2007) in 1937, and they had four sons, William Carl (1938-2014), Edward Elmer (1940-2018), Charles Ronald (1946-2021), and Mike. P.D. Vincent was born in Oklahoma and moved to Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, in 1932, where he worked as a farmer and professional guide. Wilburn Cagle (1911-1976) lived near Oden, Arkansas, where he worked for the Arkansas Highway Department. He married Gladys Rhea Goss (1919-1966) and their children include Daniel R. Cagle (1941-2014) and Janet LeBlanc. In 1967 he married Wanda Jean Fryar (1930-1996). Boyd Goodner (1925-1975) was raised in Arkansas and moved west in the 1940s, but returned to Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, where he owned a large cattle farm and a general store. He married Lola Beatrice Vickrey (1925-2002) in 1943 and had at least one child, Sheila Ann (1953-1953). Kermit Campbell (1910-1977) was born and raised in Yell County, Arkansas. When he was young, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. In approximately 1939, he moved to Montgomery County, Arkansas and married Gladys O. Fountain (1917-2001). They had at least one child, John William (1942-2008). Campbell also owned a general store in Oden, Arkansas, and worked for the U.S. Forest Service in various jobs including, crew foreman, and fire watch tower officer. Robert Jackson (1910-1983) was born in Shannon County, Missouri, and moved to Montgomery County, Arkansas, when he was 14. He married Ethel Leonard (1904-1992) in 1936 and had at least three children, Everett Leon (1938-1991), Daisy Louise (1945-1945), and Leslie Robert (1949-2019). He worked in farming and logging. Chester H. Lauck (1902-1980) was born in Alleene, Arkansas, and moved to Mena, Arkansas. He graduated high school and from University of Arkansas. He performed as a radio celebrity in the Lum and Abner show from 1931 to 1954. Afterwards, he worked for Lion Oil Company. William Major Fair (1887-1972) was born near Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, and remained in the county where he worked as a farmer. He married Lillian Harberson (1891-1974) in 1907, and they had six children including, Grady Joseph (1912-1984), Clovie Mae Singleton (1913-2002), and Lois Maxine (1925-1925). Charles Frank Smith (1906-1986) was born in Belcherville, Texas, and moved to Oden, Arkansas, in 1914 where he worked as the postmaster and lived on a large cattle farm. He married Audie Forbes (1912-2007) in 1937, and they had four sons, William Carl (1938-2014), Edward Elmer (1940-2018), Charles Ronald (1946-2021), and Mike. P.D. Vincent was born in Oklahoma and moved to Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, in 1932, where he worked as a farmer and professional guide. Wilburn Cagle (1911-1976) lived near Oden, Arkansas, where he worked for the Arkansas Highway Department. He married Gladys Rhea Goss (1919-1966) and their children include Daniel R. Cagle (1941-2014) and Janet LeBlanc. In 1967 he married Wanda Jean Fryar (1930-1996). Boyd Goodner (1925-1975) was raised in Arkansas and moved west in the 1940s, but returned to Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, where he owned a large cattle farm and a general store. He married Lola Beatrice Vickrey (1925-2002) in 1943 and had at least one child, Sheila Ann (1953-1953). Kermit Campbell (1910-1977) was born and raised in Yell County, Arkansas. When he was young, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. In approximately 1939, he moved to Montgomery County, Arkansas and married Gladys O. Fountain (1917-2001). They had at least one child, John William (1942-2008). Campbell also owned a general store in Oden, Arkansas, and worked for the U.S. Forest Service in various jobs including, crew foreman, and fire watch tower officer. Robert Jackson (1910-1983) was born in Shannon County, Missouri, and moved to Montgomery County, Arkansas, when he was 14. He married Ethel Leonard (1904-1992) in 1936 and had at least three children, Everett Leon (1938-1991), Daisy Louise (1945-1945), and Leslie Robert (1949-2019). He worked in farming and logging. A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.