THOMAS NELSON JR. 1738-1789

Early in the 17th century, Thomas Nelson came to America.  By hard work and wise decisions he accumulated a large estate.  He married and raised a large family, the subject of this piece being the eldest son, Thomas Nelson Jr.
When Thomas was 13 years of age his father sent him to England to be educated in the best schools of the day.  He returned to America in 1761 with a keen eye on the activities of the British Parliament before and during the administration of Prime Minister George Grenville who, in 1765 came up with the idea of the "Stamp Act" to fill the empty treasury.  Americans promptly rebelled at the idea of a tax on every piece of paper they used.
In 1774 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses which promptly sided with the Patriots against the "Boston Port Bill", which caused Lord Dunsmore, royal governor of Virginia to dissolve the Assembly.  The next day 89 of the members met in the local tavern and formed a new assembly.
Nelson was a member of the first meeting of the new assembly where they elected delegates to the the first Continental Congress in 1774.  He was reelected in 1775 where he moved to form a militia of the State.  Thomas Nelson was appointed to command one regiment, Patrick Henry commanded one regiment and Richard Henry Lee another.
Thomas Nelson Jr. was reelected in 1776 and voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence.
In the spring of 1777 he was forced to return to Virginia because of a sudden illness.
He could not stay inactive long because the British fleet threatened the Virginia shore and his regiment was called into action.  However Lord Howe chose to sail up the Chesapeake Bay to attack Philadelphia.
When General Washington was calling for local Militias and volunteers Nelson used his fortune to help pay expenses.  He also sent his field workers to surrounding farms left unattended to make sure those families crops were harvested.
In 1781 when Virginia became the major theater of the war and Yorktown was occupied by the British he kept his command together and in the fight by using his own funds.  When he noticed that the cannon fire was avoiding his home out of respect for him, he order the fire to be directed at that house.  The subsequent fire killed two British officers and routed the rest.
When Jefferson left the Governors office Nelson was elected to take his place, and after the British surrender at Yorktown he found his health declining and resigned his office.It was at this time that he was charged with mal-practice while Governor.  A full investigation cleared him of all charges and he retired from public life.  On January 4, 1789 Thomas Nelson, Jr. died, Patriot, General, Governor and American!......Medicineman!  

CAN WE TALK?

Some thirty years ago the following was published in an Ad by Frank's Service in the small news paper in Newcastle, WY:
   "Can We Talk?  There are some things on my mind I really feel the need to share with you.
   Do you have any idea what it feels like to grow old---to see young people lacking respect for you?  Oh, yesI've heard it all--times have changed---what used to be important just is'nt chic anymore---it's old fashioned and out of step.
    Let me just ell you something for you to think about.  I've been spit upon!  Some people today ignore me completely---as if I weren't even there.  But---mostly, I guess being shut up in the house and never being remembered at all is the the most dergading.
    There are times I wonder what the parents of he youth of today are doing to promote the attitudes currently popular.  Perhaps a program to reeducate the parents is in order.  The kids are so far gone, the roots are planted in apathy.  My great, great---oh, goodness, ever so many greats ago---was tenderly made by the hands of a lady named Betsy Ross.  Since my heritage began---men have fought for me---stood up for me in the face of extreme adversity---and, yes even died for me.  I've had many changes in my growth---my design and the number of stars in my crown have grown.  I think I'll "bust" sometimes when I reflect on the glorious changes.  And---then---the sudden reality of the changes in attitude toward me and my forbearers hurts me so.  I've been so proud to represent the great U.S.A.             
   I guess the best part of any good talk is getting some things off your chest.  But I hope you'll think about some of the heartfelt things I've said.  I do love you, America.
                                                                                                         OLD GLORY"
   This was written during the height of the Viet Nam War with all the "antis" and with soldiers on their way home being told not to wear their uniforms for fear of creating a scene.
   After 9-11 flags flew everywhere, houses, businesses, schools, churches, and even cars and trucks.  The American Flag was very popular then-----for awhile!.....Medicineman!

BENJAMIN HARRISON ????-1791

Benjamin Harrison's ancestors emigrated from England in 1640.  His paternal ancestor married into the family of the King's Surveyor-General thereby giving him access to choice properties.  He thereby laid claimed to a huge estate which remained in the family at the time of the Revolution.
Like most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin had much at stake. 
He attended school at William and Mary but never graduated because he was called home at the death of his father when he and two of his four daughters were struck by lightning at their home in Berkley Virginia.  Although he was still a minor he managed the properties very well.
Harrison at a very early age was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses where his sharp mind and sound judgement soon won him a leadership position.  He was always in favor of self governing and became more and more wary of the King's long arm of control, such as the Stamp Act and movement of more troops into Boston and other towns.  He was convinced that there was a systematic scheme to enslave the colonies.
Harrison turned down the Governors offer of a seat on the executive council and became one of the first seven members from Virginia to the Continental Congress in 1774.  Reelected in 1775 he was appointed to the committee to meet with General Washington in Cambridge too plan the formation of the army.
Benjamin was there to vote for the Declaration and then place his name on the document in August.
At this point it is time to point out that every member whose name was on that most important document had much to lose when they signed their name.  We must always remember that they pledged "Their Lives, Their Fortunes, and Their Sacred Honor"!
Harrison became Governor in 1782 and served two terms and retired from public life.  He was again elected Governor in 1791, but died suddenly the same year.  His wife, a niece of Mrs. Washington, died the next year........Medicineman!   

"SOW IN TEARS"

This little message is lifted from the web site "Endurance", an on-line ministry  of Dave Dravecky and his wife.  It comes from the pen of Joni Erickson Tada and those who know her story will appreciate it all the more, so here it is; when she was just entering adulthood she suffered an accident leaving her paralyzed from the neck down.  Joni went through tough times, painful times, shed a lot of tears but kept on striving. She learned to paint and write with pen or brush in her mouth.  She marketed a line of greeting cards, painted by her.  Joni wrote books, got married and wrote the following:  "What a promise!  Think of it.  When you sow in tears, you will enjoy a marvelous and abundant return on your investment.  But, you may be thinking, when have I ever gone out weeping, carrying seed to sow?
If you have ever reached through an invisible wall of pain to embrace God with willful thanks, you have sown in tears.  If you have ever been rejected by a dear one and yet turned the other cheek in love, you have sown in tears.  If you have patiently endured physical afflistion, or responded in love through a difficult marriage, then Psalm 126:5-6 could be your life verse.
When you hurt physically or emotionally, it's hard to muster a patient or godly response.  Pain has a way of screaming for our undivided attention.  But when you either offer a sacrifice of praise to God in the midst of your hurt, or respond in faith to a heartbreak of hardship, you are sowing in tears.  Take heart, for one day God will reward you with sheaves of joy--all because you were faithful through tears."....Joni Erickson Tada!
Medicineman!

SECOND AMENDMENT---

What is it that our law makers do not understand about the Bill of Rights to our Constitution (which ALL have sworn to uphold)?  I speak here to the Second Amendment!
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
So, that being as plain as one can make it, why do citizens and politicians and news media of all kinds jump on the band wagon and shout for more Gun Laws?  After all, we are a civilized people (?) who must protect our people.
Get real.  Use your head.  Think about what you just said.  People are people--some good and some bad.  It has been so since Cain slew Able (and he did not use a gun). 
Gun laws, and more gun laws do only one thing; they disarm the law-abiding citizen, not the BAD ASS!...........Medicineman!

FAMILY!

Baxter Black, Cowboy Poet, penned a poem called "Just Friends".  In this poem is the line, "We're close, we'er just not near."
Last night our family got together (that is 3/5ths of us did) to attend a dinner/dance/show portraying a USO show of the Korean War era with a Bob Hope impersonator, a band with '50's music, dancing and a crowd of mostly the "older crowd" containing a lot of Veterans.
The show was the result of a ton of effort from members of Fort Caspar Museum Association and Friends of the Wyoming Veterans Museum.  As attendees approached the entrance they were met with a display of beautiful antique cars of the '40's and '50's.
The evening was a treat for those of us who lived through that period, and a chance for those of my family's age to appreciate their family heritage!  I enjoyed it all!....Medicineman!

POOR PITIFUL PELOSI

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and the "Old Guard" have lost control of the House of Representatives; shoved aside by what has come to be known as the "Squad".  Newly elected, young, first timers have taken over.
Normally newcomers to the floor are given orders, told where to sit, be quiet and mind your manners and speak when spoken to.  Not this time!
Rep. Alexandra  Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Tulsi Gabbard, (who is now running for President) make up this team of far-left "goof-balls."  This group of "newbies" is dragging a bunch of the old timers along with them, to make things worse, while Nancy smiles and gets her TV time and makes statements she does not even believe herself.  Nancy desperately needs "The Big Gavel"....Medicineman!I