Page 21 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine
P. 21
HISTORY OF SLATON
Edward (age 11) was given very little Herman and Mary’s children are Rita,
hope, and his funeral clothes were Lawrence, Mary Catherine, Walter,
made ready. Thankfully, he survived. Edward, Vera, Lorine, Joe, Leon,
Ronnie, Donnie, and Joleen. Joe and
That was just one of many hard times. Joleen are still living. The twelve had
The family worked long hours in the 14 spouses total, of whom five are
fields or at the house, where it wasn’t still living. Herman and Mary had
unusual to can over 1,000 jars of food. 69 grandchildren, 57 of whom are
It was especially hard on the family in still living. The couple established a
1945, when four of the seven brothers simple legacy for their children and
were drafted the same year. (The other grandchildren: 1. Always be willing
three brothers and the youngest sister to help others. 2. God will take care
also served in the armed forces as they of you. And 3. Smile! The legendary
came of age—a huge contribution to "Schilling Smile" has been passed
our country’s welfare by one family!) down for generations.
But there were happy times, too. Herman and Mary Schilling are
Everyone always looked forward to examples of the courageous, hard-
Sundays because those were days for working, and persevering pioneers
parties and dancing, no matter how who built the communities where
old you were. To this day, some of America’s family values were
the kids (cousins and friends) still established. Slaton, Texas is lucky to be
his family took over the farming comment on how good the meals one of them.
operations, and some of them still were when they ate at the Schilling
live there today. Herman and Mary home. Mary could
were instrumental in helping build St. fix a meal in no
Joseph School, where all twelve of their time, and somehow,
children attended all eight grades. there was always
more than enough.
Times were often challenging. Unlike Happily, the seven
modern medicine, back in the 1920s brothers all made
and 30s, there were no shots for it home safely
measles or mumps, so they all took from their military
their turns with chickenpox, scarlet service and went on
fever, etc. One winter, seven of the to become farmers.
twelve children came down with (Joleen retired as a
typhoid fever. Father O'Brien stayed colonel in 1997.)
with them through the night when son
Lubbock Senior Link 21
