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Note: Newspaper Business: When I was about eight, Papa purchased the Rising Star, Texas Leader plant. It was a family venture. In 1916 we moved to Tolar, Texas and published the Tolar Messenger. Then, in 1918, we acquired the Fort Towson (Oklahoma) News. This is where we stayed until the family gradually drifted apart and went out of the publishing business. Papa was Justice of the Peace at various times and the paper handled by Orvil, Paul (Paul Garner Hardin), or me (Floyd Abijah Hardin). Tra and Orvil worked as printers in different locations and Paul published a paper in Talco, Texas. Later, when Ira went into military service as a career, Orvil continued as a printer and Paul went to work for Brown and Root and acquired a Master Plumbing and Electrical license. Papa had a natural gift in the literary side of publishing. (To some degree this was my interest, rather than the mechanical phase.) This encouraged me to get more schooling and eventually I was able to complete my Masters in Counseling and Guidance. This was helpful in my position as Co-Director of the Welfare Department in different Oklahoma counties. I retired in 1974. (Source of above: Letter dated 12/4/1979 written by Floyd Abijah Hardin) Floyd Abijah was 15 years old when his family moved to Ft. Towsen, Oklahoma. He graduated from the Ft. Towsen High School in 1925. After high school, he worked on his father's paper as a "Printer", and went to "Southeastern College". During WWII he served in the U.S. Army from April 1944 through September 1945. When he reported for training at Ft Sill, Oklahoma, like all of the other recruits, he knew that he would soon be shipped to war as son as he completed his training. About the middle of his training, they asked all of the recruits of any of them could type. Floyd was raised in a print shop where he learned everything about printing, including how to type, so he raised his hand along with several others. They were all given typing tests, and then without giving them any more information, continued their training. After he completed his training he received his orders. To his surprise, he was assigned as "Company Clerk" right there in Ft. Sill and never had to go overseas. By this time, he was already married to Joyce and they had two children. When the Korean war broke out, he was again called back into the Army. And again, because of his classification, served stateside. Floyd graduated from Oklahoma State with a Masters degree in Social Services and Counselor. He first went to work with the Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare in February 2, 1937 in Hugo, Oklahoma. He was later transferred to Colgate, and in 1940 he transferred again to Tablequah, Oklahoma. In 1943, he was promoted to "Director of Oklahoma Department of Welfare", and moved to Idabel, Oklahoma, and eventually to Ada, where he continued to work until his retirement in 1971. Floyd, at 90 years old, was still very sharp-minded, with a mischievious sense of humor. (Source of above: Ira Wayne Hardin)
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