| The inheritance and division of farmland was illustrated during the visit Rae,
Leon, Bonnie, Rick and I
made after the reunion to the Kampa homestead in Duelm. We visited Ralph
and Sally Kampa in their farm home which was built over 40 years ago on the site of the original
Joseph F. Kampa log home. They got there in
1870 and raised the family and the youngest son, Louie, inherited the farm. Then it was passed to
Ralph when Louie retired in the 1950's or
60's. Some land was sold off or rented until recently all but 8 acres was sold. Now Ralph, Sally and
their bachelor son Kevin live in the farm home. There are some out-buildings on the property which are
very neatly painted and placed on a well groomed lawn.
Ralph is in declining health and very quiet. Sally has health problems too but is outgoing and talkative. Both are in their 80's I believe. Sally told us that Ralph was a spoiled young man when they married and implied that she has been the strong force in the marriage. I remember Louie's sister Pauline Robinson-- my dad's aunt -- who also raised a spoiled only child, Vernon. I was around them as a boy. She too, as I recall, was the dominant person in the marriage. Her husband Sherm was a mild mannered guy who she could rule. Vern and his wife and family of 8 kids lived with his parents until they died, never held a job and died of cirrhosis of the liver. Incidentally, most of the females in my dad's family were very strong personalities and as were all the men. -- from a July 24, 2007 e-mail |
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