Old-time Merriman Town Characters

[Soapweed]

Bob Moreland (1923-2014) was my dad. Stan Moreland (1926-1999) was his brother. Stan wrote these memories in 1997.

Merriman Town Characters, from the book SHORT STORIES BY STAN, by Stan Moreland 1997

Merriman has always been known for having town characters. Two of the most well-known were Joe Gill and Sam Cadwallader.

Joe was a tall, thin man with a long and unkempt gray beard. He usually wore a light colored shirt, tie, and bib overalls. He just sort of moseyed around town not doing anybody any harm, but never offering to help anyone either. He told a lot of stories, but he didn't stick too close to the truth.

One funny thing happened right after World War II. Cliff Drafahl was operating the Standard Station on the south side of Highway 20. Joe hung out there a lot, and sort of made a nuisance of himself. He was very crabby, profane, and not too fun to be around. A lady tourist saw Joe sitting under a tree north of the highway, and thought he looked pretty intriguing. She asked Cliff how old he was. Cliff being quite a prankster said, "Why don't you go ask him? He is the sweetest old gentleman, and he's love to visit with you." With that encouraging information she strolled over to where Joe was resting, and she asked, "Sir, how old are you?" Joe said, "I was born in 1857, figure it out yourself, damn you!"

Sam, "Cad" as he was known, was also an old bachelor, and he didn't take much pride at all in his personal hygiene. He always had two dogs following him everywhere he went. If an odd smell or a suspicious noise would make its presence known on or about him, he would kick his dogs and let them take the blame. Every time he went into Chappell's Store to shop, Eila Chappell would follow him around until he left, spraying room deodorant in his path. When the place reeked of deodorant spray, you would always know that Sam had just been there.

 

[Soapweed]

Bob Moreland (1923-2014) was my dad. Stan Moreland (1926-1999) was his brother. Stan wrote these memories in 1997.

Merriman Town Characters, from the book SHORT STORIES BY STAN, by Stan Moreland 1997

Merriman has always been known for having town characters. Two of the most well-known were Joe Gill and Sam Cadwallader.

Joe was a tall, thin man with a long and unkempt gray beard. He usually wore a light colored shirt, tie, and bib overalls. He just sort of moseyed around town not doing anybody any harm, but never offering to help anyone either. He told a lot of stories, but he didn't stick too close to the truth.

One funny thing happened right after World War II. Cliff Drafahl was operating the Standard Station on the south side of Highway 20. Joe hung out there a lot, and sort of made a nuisance of himself. He was very crabby, profane, and not too fun to be around. A lady tourist saw Joe sitting under a tree north of the highway, and thought he looked pretty intriguing. She asked Cliff how old he was. Cliff being quite a prankster said, "Why don't you go ask him? He is the sweetest old gentleman, and he's love to visit with you." With that encouraging information she strolled over to where Joe was resting, and she asked, "Sir, how old are you?" Joe said, "I was born in 1857, figure it out yourself, damn you!"

Sam, "Cad" as he was known, was also an old bachelor, and he didn't take much pride at all in his personal hygiene. He always had two dogs following him everywhere he went. If an odd smell or a suspicious noise would make its presence known on or about him, he would kick his dogs and let them take the blame. Every time he went into Chappell's Store to shop, Eila Chappell would follow him around until he left, spraying room deodorant in his path. When the place reeked of deodorant spray, you would always know that Sam had just been there.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Those old characters seemed to around every small town. I remember as kids I had to sit quiet in church until the sermon then I got to slip out. I used to go sit with the old boys in front of the pool hall and get an education.

 

[Soapweed]

Those old characters seemed to around every small town. I remember as kids I had to sit quiet in church until the sermon then I got to slip out. I used to go sit with the old boys in front of the pool hall and get an education.

One neighbor has commented, "Show me a pool shark, and I'll show you a wasted childhood."

 

[loomixguy]

My town had plenty of them when I was a kid. Sadly, no more.....no more.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

A old fellow that worked for my Grandpa and then my Dad was like a G'pa to me. He grew up setting pins in a bowling alley/pool hall. He stayed with us one winter recuperating from something and him and I would go down stairs after supper for a game of Snooker.Well I might have beat him the first night but didn't come close after that. As he gained some strength back he wanted to play more games. I finally had to tell him I had to get my home work done.

 

[loomixguy]

There was a pair of old drunks here when I was a kid that knew exactly what to do to get a six month sentence at the state pen. They wintered every year up in Lincoln. When you'd see them show up in town you knew that spring had arrived.

There was another alcoholic who drove a fuel transport over 2 million verified accident free miles. The thing is, he couldn't back his rig up even three feet. He just couldn't do it. When his boss would trade & get him a new truck, he always told whoever he traded with that the truck may have 300,000 miles on it, but reverse gear is still brand new...never been used.

 

[Brad S]

Isn't there any euphemisms for old drunk and alcoholic?

My grampa was really against "the drink"
But he kept a top cowboy named chigger (later I learned it was jigger) around. All my grampa would grumble about chigg was "he wasn't near as good a cowboy after sundown" Chigg could spot a pull with amazing perception, and effortlessly slip a horse in and come out with his pull keeping everything all quiet. He was good enough at what he did - he didn't do something if he didn't want to. I never saw him on a tractor. He'd go to town once in awhile - I could push a pickup faster than he could drive one, but he might have been ... under the weather.

 

[leanin' H]

My town had plenty of them when I was a kid. Sadly, no more.....no more.

That's because we are now them! :shock: The entire reason I visit here is to surround myself with characters like BMR, Soap, Gcreek and yourself! Makes a guy feel better about himself. :lol:

We have a guy who basically a hermit out on the west desert. He didn't speak to anyone and everyone pretty much avoided him on his rare trip to town. I pulled him out of the barditch one muddy day and he and I have struck up friendship. When we get out his way, I always happen to have a package of steaks or one of my wife's famous pies handy to drop off to him. He is a good man in his own, shy, quiet way. Smells like he could'a used a bath more than once a year and is kinda rough around the egdes. But his heart, what counts, is in fine shape.

 

[Soapweed]

A few weeks ago, I had dinner at the local café. I sat across from a friend, and we were close to a pool table that was a new addition to the room. While admiring the ornately braided side pockets, I commented to Jim that it was a pretty fancy piece of furniture.

I then asked, "Jim, did you ever play much pool?"

Jim replied, "Yes, I used to play quite a bit."

Me: "Were you as good of a pool player as you were a calf roper?" (Jim rodeoed regularly in his younger days, and won several belt buckles for his efforts.)

Jim: "I spent quite a bit of time doing both, and did get pretty good at calf roping and at playing pool. I learned a lot of my pool playing ability from Doc Bunner."

Me: "I've heard that Doc was a superb pool shark. He was also a professional drinking man."

Jim laughed as he said: "One time I went in the Sand Bar in the middle of the afternoon, and Doc was in there in pretty sad shape. About that time a traveling man stopped at the bar, dressed in a business suit and tie. He ordered a drink, and then turned around to look at the pool table. He casually asked if anyone would be interested in a game of pool. Doc perked right up, jerked a little, and said that he would play. The salesman asked if he wanted to put some money on the deal. Doc thought that would be a good idea, and they settled on the winner getting a hundred dollars from the loser. Doc then said, "Jim, can you help me?" I said, "I can't help you, Doc. This game is one on one." Doc explained, "I mean, could you help me get over to the pool table." I helped Doc get to the pool table, and he proceeded to win the game and take the salesman's hundred dollar bill."