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Note: VERNON CHATHAM FAMILY HISTORY:
"I have always been a part of Baca County. I was born June 13, 1921, on my Dad's homestead, eight miles north and 2 1/2 miles west of Springfield.
"When I was almost three years old, my parents, Fred and Ethel, moved their family to Uncle Elmer Chatham's homestead, 1 1/2 miles southeast. I lived there until Uncle Sam called me to serve in the army in September, 1942.
"I went all eight grades to the North Liberty School. Some of my teachers were Mary Burton, Allie Gold, Dorothy Decker, Mrs. Mitchell and Eunice Newland. My brothers and sisters and I walked or rode horseback the 1 1/2 miles to school.
"After graduating (8th grade), my brothers and I drove the school bus for North Liberty School. The school bus was either Dad's car or my brother's car. During the summer, I worked for Mr. Skinner, Newt Arbuthnot and other neighbors.
"After serving the army in South Africa, Italy and Germany, I came back to Baca County in September, 1945. I went into farming and raising registered Polled Herefords with my dad. I also helped my brother, Ray, in Chatham's Garage & Welding. After Ray's death, I took over management of the garage along with farming.
"My wife, Mary, grew up in the Wiley and McClave, Colorado, areas. Her parents were Eli and Eva (Coleburn) Spitzer. Mary was working at the hospital in Lamar with my sisters at the time we met.
"We were married nine months later and moved in with my brother, Ray, on Dad's homestead. Two years later, Mary and I and a small son moved back to Uncle Elmer's homestead, the place we now own. The sod house that Uncle Elmer laid up as his second home is still standing. Our children knew it as their home. We have since moved into a mobile home.
"We have three wonderful children, George Marion, Ilene Fay and Paul Wayne. George and his wife, along with Ilene and her husband have entered the ministry in the Church of God. Paul and his wife have decided to stay on the farm and follow my footsteps by farming, raising cattle and doing mechanic and welding work. We have five (they have 9 grand children as of 1994 -- GMC) beautiful grandchildren who we dearly love to spoil.
"After raising our children, I continue to farm and do odd jobs while Mary went back to nursing for a time, the work she loves. She now pursues her hobbies of gardening, crocheting and quilting.
"Mary and I attend the Church of God where we have learned to love the Lord and his people.
--Vernon Chatham
(History Written for the Baca County History book, I believe it to have been written sometime after 1978. It was written before they moved from Elmer Chatham's homestead to a 3 or 4 acre place about 1 mile NE of Elmer's homestead. The place is located 5 or 6 hundred yards south of the "8 mile road" on the right hand side of the 2 mile road going west.] GMC
"Daddy said to tell you that in the Dust Bowl days, He and his brothers kept a tractor running night and day listing, to try and control blowing dirt. A lot of land that they listed was land that had been deserted by Tenants and landowners. They could get $.50 an acre if you turned it in to the Agriculture Conservation Service. During the Dust Bowl days, a lot of people lost their ground because they couldn't pay taxes or couldn't make payments on land." --Mary Spitzer Chatham in a letter (no date) but believed to have been written in 1990-91 when Ben or Sarah Chatham were doing a family history in Middle school at Grand Rapids, MN. (GMC)
"Pvt. Chatham Receives Medal" --Baca County Banner (Nov. 30, 1944)
WITH THE FIFTH ARMY, ITALY--Private First Class Vernon I. Chatham, son of Mrs. Fred L. Chatham, of Springfield, Colo., has been cited by his armored infantry battalion of the 1st Armored Division and awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for actual participation in combat against the enemy with Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark's Fifth Army in Italy.
Standards for the badge are high. The decoration is awarded to the infantry soldier who has proved his fighting ability in combat.
The handsome badge consists of a silver rifle set against a back-ground of infantry blue, enclosed in a silver wreath.
OBITUARY OF
VERNON I CHATHAM
Vernon Ira Chatham was born June 13, 1921 in a dug out on the south banks of North Horse Creek on the homestead of his parents Fred & Ethel Chatham, located 8 miles north of Springfield. He perished May 23, 1997 in a garage fire at his home less than 3 miles from where he was born.
Vernon grew up attending the North Liberty School where he finished the 8th grade. Vernon then engaged in ranching and farming along with his brothers and Father. He and his brothers stayed fighting to save the land from wind erosion during the Dirty Thirty`s when many other`s simply abandoned the land and fled to other parts.
September 9, 1942 Vernon was drafted to the army. He serve 3 years and 3 months during the heat of World War II. He saw 5 major battles in the European campaign.
A short time after the war was over Vernon married Mary Spitzer, January 5, 1947. They were married in Lamar, Colorado. To that union was born three Children.
Except for the time he spent in the army, Vernon spent his entire life as a rancher and farmer in the Big Rock community, doing a little mechanic work on the side. He was proud of his fine registered Polled Hereford cattle. His ranching and farming operation was located two miles south of his Dad`s homestead and was a part of his Uncle Elmer Chatham`s original homestead.
Vernon was an active member of the First Church of God here in Springfield. He was a leader from time to time in the Big Rock 4-H Club. He was always a good neighbor and willing to help anyone he could. He never knew a stranger.
Vernon was preceded in death by parents, Fred & Ethel Chatham and two brothers, Frank & Ray. He is survived by is wife, Mary; two sons, George (Laura) of Grand Rapids, Minnesota and Paul (Elizabeth) of Springfield; and one daughter, Ilene (Louis) Anderson of Brighton, Colorado. He is also survived by one brother Oran of Wiley and two sisters, Ola Schibblehut of Lamar, and Vela Frank of Granada; also nine Grand Children: Benjamin, Sarah, Luella, Derek, Stephanie, Linda, Ivan, LaDonna, Isaac; and one great-Grand child, Katie.
Eulogy for Vernon Chatham
by
George Chatham, His Oldest Son
Although our Dad worked hard all his life as a Rancher and Farmer and that is a very rich part of our heritage that we are all proud of, Dad was more than a Rancher and Farmer. Livestock, buildings, and ultimately the land will pass away, put hopefully what my Dad produced in us his Children and Grand Children, will not pass away. The real lasting heritage of my Dad was his character and the character he and Mom help to reproduce in us his children. In this day and age in which character and integrity is so often lost, my Dad was the most honest and real person I have ever known. He was never two faced with anyone. What you saw was what you got. If he gave you his word, he kept his word.
The most important person in the world was Jesus Christ to my Dad. His favorite verse in the Bible was Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. My Dad didn`t just claim those words, he lived out those words in his priorities of life. Thus, Church was more important that finishing the field on Wednesday evening or getting the harvest in on Sunday. As a result the lasting legacy of my Dad, will not be the few humble material things he left behind, but the eternal kingdom he invested all his life in. Although we all will miss him terribly, this day is not a day of hopelessness, but a day of celebration. We now have someone up in heaven, cheering us on to that great day when we all can be together again.
PLAINSMAN HERALD (Thursday, May 19, 2011)
1942--First large group of boys drafted from Baca County. Edward L. Eden, Laude Canton, Vernon I. Chatham, Edward D. Pearce, Jim M. Crill, Alvin E. Wilson, Hilard D. Ross, Fredrick E. Seeley, Curtis G. Watson, John J. Schweicher, Austin D. Smith, Vernon C. Wilson, Evan S Darymple, George R. Brown, Cleo C. Wilerson, Neil W. Cook, Cecil P. Trahern, Herschel C. Fipps, Benjamin J. Myers, Myrl A. Greenlee, Robert L. Gains, Harry C. Birt, Twenty two left Springfield on September 9, 1942, departed on the train for Fort Logan in Denver.
Clifford Larry went into the Air Force the same day, he and Carl Long entertained for the farewell.
When they arrived at Fort Logan they got their uniforms and physical, then back on the train to Ft. Knox, KY for basic training. After Christmas times changed, most sent to different camps, some to Camp Campbell and overseas.
There were great soldiers, good Americans fought for their country and won the WWII. Bob, Alvin and Myrl all went overseas England and North Africa.
The Amcerican Legion sent them off at the depot in Springfield and gave them good advice, "When you come home we'll be there to help you." Most just came home and went to work, as far as I know, Neil Cook, Myrl Greenlee and Edward (Bob) Eden are these great solders still here.
It was good times, war was over and time to enjoy life. Time has certainly changed. But now we need to fight for our country, this is our war! --Submitted by Mable Eden
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