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 George
W. Smith, Born February 24, 1909. Died June 11, 1974.
This was the son of
Jefferson Smith and Esther Snake Hide Berry Smith. He was married to Ethyl
Lee Hogart Smith. She was born December 11, l911. She died March 22, 1993.
When the builders were
building the brick home at the edge of the bridge outside of Ralston, as
builders will do, many nails were dropped. When Go-Shin the boy was either
ten or eleven, he stepped on one of those nails. His foot was severely
infected before he told his parents. At the time the only thing to be
done, was to amputate. After this he wasn't able to run and play.
He was fitted with an
artificial leg which had to be changed yearly. It did enable him to get
around fairly well. It was heavy and required strength to carry it around
but it did help to give him support. The burden undermined his health. The
weight affected his spine. This causing chronic pain. He had numbers of
operations but at last he could not have any more. A lighter plastic leg
was purchased before he died but he could not adjust to it. His physical
activity diminished.
As a young man he bred
quarter horses for racing. They were trained and he raced them at the
track. He liked developing new lines of stock and he left a strain that
was picked up by horsemen.
Some asked, "why was a
crippled boy sent to a military school?" The answer being that it was
simply a way to get an education. Like all Osage boys Go-shin was sent to
a military academy. This one in particular was Mexico, Missouri.
Go-shin told of his
experiences there. He said the Osage boys were separated and apart from
the other boys. One day Russell Wagoshae, a friend, and Hub Little Bear
was walking past Go-shin- Russell said some greeting in the Osage
language. It was a matter of courteously greeting one another as was the
custom. The Coronal overhead them speaking their own language and as a
result Go-Shin was put on report having to march around the flag pole.
This probably was the worst punishment that could be given to a boy with a
heavy artificial leg. Go-Shin said he learned the lesson well.
Go-Shin's wife, Ethyl Lee
Hogart Smith was born December 11, 1911 and died March 22, 1993. Because
of a difficult childbirth with Robert she was never able to have any more
children.
Ethyl had been living in
New Orleans for a couple of years and happened to see Go-shin while he was
in his uniform from school. They had kept in touch by letters and at this
time they fell in love with each other and were married. Go-shin was
twenty-one, Ethyl was eighteen.
Lewis Grammer and Go-shin were life long
friends. Maybe someone who has never experienced a daily life enduring a
physical challenge may have no understanding of the courage necessary to
carry on with sanity when there is a constant grinding struggle to exist.
The pity being unless one has suffered the same sort of injury they will
probably never understand. For this we can look back on these folks in
order to draw strength to bear our own. |
