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Not many reading this article can say they attended a one-room school, but my guest sure can. In fact, it gets even more exciting. She shared the one-room with her brother and sister. Also, the school was on the road where Lincoln rode his circuit and was there then since it was built in 1851. It served for 105 years. She literally grew-up on Abe stories and has even slept in two homes where he stayed during his circuit riding years, one her Aunt Doris’ home in Monticello, Illinois. Clark school was but a half mile from her home and she walked almost everyday only occasionally in bad weather going by car. She played sports but when she moved to Waveland - no sports for girls. Her father had rented a farm from Elmer Priebe whose family was from the Waveland area. He didn’t think he’d like living anywhere in Indiana but when he saw the beautiful new home and white fence surrounding the property he fell in love with it.
At Waveland, she sang alto in the choir (class officer, plays, yearbook staff) and got to play in a Donkey Basketball game. She had always loved playing sports (track, basketball, softball with her brother winging them at her and getting frustrated if she missed as it hit a barn and ruined the ball) so through many years she played women’s softball here in town. I remember what a great sports person she was pitching and fielding with the best. She also bowled when I did and she and her husband played couples volleyball and danced (square and ballroom). All this after working in the field all day.
So, how did a boy from Waynetown and a girl from Illinois transplanted to Waveland meet? At the Gingerboo! “We just hit it off. He was a nice farm boy who loved sports, too. We had lots in common!” He impressed her with the first date. He drove all the way from Waynetown to almost Parkersburg where they lived, picked her up, and they drove to Lafayette to see Doris Day in Send Me No Flowers, then he did the return trip. He had it all planned out and that was on a Friday the 13th, but evidently a lucky day for them as they never dated anyone else. They married January 15, 1966. She was 22 and it’s a neat story that her brother and sister both married at that same age. He has one sister Pauline.
What I remember about her was how beautiful she was and still is. What’s so nifty about that fact is that she is inside and out. Besides that, she loves genealogy, and they go on genealogy trips as a family. However, this year they went on a cruise to the Bahamas.
Travelling is something she so loves to do. She enjoys going with the Prime Timers of Roachdale (Nashville, Branson) the Historical Society (Savannah, Charleston), on day trips, and one of her favorites was to Bailey, Colorado where four Baileys went for the Gold Rush, one dying of mountain fever, and one came home with just a horse and a dog. The others were never heard of again. One of her ancestor’s brothers stayed in Bailey and another was killed in the Civil War, so her grandfather and the one from the Gold Rush were it out of so many boys. Certainly, she’s been on lots of trips and planning on many more.
Maple Syrup is important to her as well. Her family makes it with Shad Schenck – both families have made it for generations and the upcoming family members love it too and plan on continuing the tradition. Shad has built a new Sugar House which is awesome. The Schencks and Busenbarks on one side and Klines and Leggs on the other. With that major hint, imagine you have figured out by now that my guest is none other than Eva Bailey Legg, wife of Dave, (who passed away in 2011) a Waynetown graduate, farmer and all-around great guy. His family (for generations) and Eva now have been extremely active in the Waynetown Baptist Church.
Eva worked at Wabash College for 32 ½ years in Campus Services, being the first secretary in that department. Walking with ladies in the morning, often at noon and sometimes after work was not only her exercise, but her fun and camaraderie. It was a beautiful place to walk and there was always the track inside for bad weather times. They’d often stop by yard sales and it just relieved stress. Upon retirement of most of her walking ladies, the others have visited one in NC, another in SC and still another in GA so life-time friends made while walking!
Eva and Dave had two daughters. Sherry is married to Jay Young. Jay works at Purdue and Sherry for the USDA. I loved the story of the Hale name. Sir Henry Hale is a direct ancestor and the name Hale has come down through every generation. Sherry wanted to make sure Hale got in there so their oldest has the name within hers – Makhalea who is a Senior at Purdue in Ag Communication. She rides and shows Clydesdales and works for people who own Percherons. Son Shane just graduated from North Montgomery and works for John Deere. He will be attending school for Deere at Mattoon, Illinois. Eva’s daughter Susan is married to Kevin Duffy who works for Eli Lily. Susan works for Pittsboro schools. They too show horses. Their daughter, Autumn will go to Southern Indiana University to study nursing. She and Shane are just three weeks apart. Megan is a junior at Tri West and is on a travelling volleyball team that recently went to nationals. Katelyn will be in 8th grade at Tri-West and is on a travelling softball team.
Eva loves her Lord, family, genealogy, maple syrup and travelling and I want to thank this awesome lady for being my guest this week!