MERLE AND FRANCES WOOD

From 'Echoing Footsteps', published 1967, Powder River County Extension Homemakers Council

By Frances Wood

The Collins homestead next passed into the hands of Ker Dunlop, a land speculator who acquired the title. He leased the place to various people, and finally to us in the spring of 1931. We continued our lease until 1942 when we contracted to purchase and received the deed in 1947. We had bought, in 1938, an adjoining half. section from Standish Johnson for five steers. My husband, Merle, came from Iowa to what is now Powder River County in 1912 as a small child, with his parents and older brother and sister to visit his uncles, the Smiths, in the Olive community. In 1926 the Wood family came, bringing with them a start of registered Herefords and leasing Mrs. Glenn's place on Foster Creek. 1, Frances, first came to the area as a guest of the Glenn family in 1925. We have two daughters: Barbara Roberts of Miles City, and Laura Dyer of Ennis.