Doris Nance McKinnon writes of her childhood in “Blessings of Laughter.” (Beverly Clinkingbeard photo)

By Beverly Clinkingbeard

Doris Nance McKinnon begins her story, “Blessings of Laughter,” with the Nance family arriving in Blanchard, Iowa, in 1936. John and Edna Nance came from Oklahoma and their link to Blanchard was John’s elderly parents.

John was a village blacksmith and set up shop in the former livery barn – a ramshackle building on the state line of Iowa and Missouri (now the east side of Hwy. M in Missouri and Hwy. M45 in Iowa). He shod horses and said he could start a job in Iowa and finish in Missouri. He typified the blacksmith Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote of, “Under a spreading Chestnut tree the village smithy stands…” The tree wasn’t a Chestnut tree, but a big tree of some variety shaded the smithy operation. It was fascinating to watch him pump the bellows and see the coals turn red, as did the iron object he was reshaping. That is how Mr. Nance provided for his family of ten at home. Later, he would pass his blacksmithing gift to two sons, Lonnie and Dennis Nance.

Meanwhile, the Nances kept the town entertained and these adventures and misadventures are packed between the cover of “Blessings of Laughter.” How different was childhood in the 30’s and 40’s? The book is available from Doris by calling 712-370-4458. Enjoy.

’Till next time…