DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Reuben Gaines' memoir, undated

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Page 41

PAGE 41 Buxton.
Joe 8 years of age. One thumb John Baker was quite active and played different roles in the History of Buxton. He was well known when he was appointed as police Officer for several years during the same period as Bill Pierce; Edd peterson; Tom Roman and Charlie Watson. The most surprising event that took place in the last remaing years in Buxton was who was going to be the next Post Master. The most prominite names for the position was Erick Brown; John Baker and two others. I talked to John Baker about the position and he said he would be the next Post Master and I said to John "dont do any wishful thinking with me for you should know that you have only one chance in a hundred to get by Erick Brown who is also the last superintendant of the consolidation Coal Company, in Buxton, and with all the high and mighty supporting him I wish you would let me know how you are going to cause this existing Miracle to favor you?. He was so sincere that I almost believed him but really it looked hopeless. He remarked "Regardless of what you think my chances are, I will be the next Post Master". And he was to every body' s amazement.
John Baker was the best at Checkers in Buxton and if he had not been around I would have been on top for when we played he would always come out one or two games ahead. He lived in DesMoines the latter part of Buxton and he met a young kid about 16 years old that carried his Checker Book around under his arm by the name of Eddie Robinson so he bested John Baker about like John beat me and from then on John only won a game occasionally from him. He worked shining shoes at the Royal Union Bldg. in DesMoines. He took his Checker playin seriously where he advanced to the Checker Tournament at the State Fair and won the State Championship for several years. 
Bob Blakey left Buxton in its last year and went to Midway which was between 19 Mine and Haydock. The group threw an oyster and whiskey party and Bob Blakey was dead before the party was over and even a year before Bob Blakey died my Cousin Lina died from the same kind or party and left a husband and orphaned two Children. 
I am going to take you back to my Club Room for a short visit; ofcourse the Dice are being thrown the length of the pool table. Daddy Red is in a losin streak but a young tough outlaw of only 125 pounds in disturbing Daddy Red by holding up the game from time to time. His came is Louis Phillips and some of his gang warned him to stop but he used a four [insertion] letter [/insertion] word directed at Daddy Red and I could see that the 280 lb. giant was getting his bets off of the table and was getting ready to go into action. Louis Phillips backed away from the table and so did Daddy Red. He picked up an oak chair and slamed it down on Louis head who was knocked to the floor on his hands and knees but now there was not too much of the chair left but Daddy Red Whammed him with what was left which knocked him flat on the floor. I knew louis had a gun in his hip pocket so when he got up I grabbed him and pinned his arms to his body, so when he made no effor to get his gun I turned him loose, His gun was on the floor he picked it up & le

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PAGE 41 Buxton. Joe 8 years of age. One thumb John Baker was quite active and played different roles in the History of Buxton. He was well known when he was appointed as police Officer for several years during the same period as Bill Pierce; Edd peterson; Tom Roman and Charlie Watson. The most surprising event that took place in the last remaing years in Buxton was who was going to be the next Post Master. The most prominite names for the position was Erick Brown; John Baker and two others. I talked to John Baker about the position and he said he would be the next Post Master and I said to John "dont do any wishful thinking with me for you should know that you have only one chance in a hundred to get by Erick Brown who is also the last superintendant of the consolidation Coal Company, in Buxton, and with all the high and mighty supporting him I wish you would let me know how you are going to cause this existing Miracle to favor you?. He was so sincere that I almost believed him but really it looked hopeless. He remarked "Regardless of what you think my chances are, I will be the next Post Master". And he was to every body' s amazement. John Baker was the best at Checkers in Buxton and if he had not been around I would have been on top for when we played he would always come out one or two games ahead. He lived in DesMoines the latter part of Buxton and he met a young kid about 16 years old that carried his Checker Book around under his arm by the name of Eddie Robinson so he bested John Baker about like John beat me and from then on John only won a game occasionally from him. He worked shining shoes at the Royal Union Bldg. in DesMoines. He took his Checker playin seriously where he advanced to the Checker Tournament at the State Fair and won the State Championship for several years. Bob Blakey left Buxton in its last year and went to Midway which was between 19 Mine and Haydock. The group threw an oyster and whiskey party and Bob Blakey was dead before the party was over and even a year before Bob Blakey died my Cousin Lina died from the same kind or party and left a husband and orphaned two Children. I am going to take you back to my Club Room for a short visit; ofcourse the Dice are being thrown the length of the pool table. Daddy Red is in a losin streak but a young tough outlaw of only 125 pounds in disturbing Daddy Red by holding up the game from time to time. His came is Louis Phillips and some of his gang warned him to stop but he used a four [insertion] letter [/insertion] word directed at Daddy Red and I could see that the 280 lb. giant was getting his bets off of the table and was getting ready to go into action. Louis Phillips backed away from the table and so did Daddy Red. He picked up an oak chair and slamed it down on Louis head who was knocked to the floor on his hands and knees but now there was not too much of the chair left but Daddy Red Whammed him with what was left which knocked him flat on the floor. I knew louis had a gun in his hip pocket so when he got up I grabbed him and pinned his arms to his body, so when he made no effor to get his gun I turned him loose, His gun was on the floor he picked it up & le