Chapter 27
A FATHER’S UNDUE SUFFERING
1934
David ushered in the year 1934, attending the Dixie Classic New Year’s football game, between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Louisiana Centenary Gentlemen, held at Fair Park Stadium in Dallas, Texas. He was in the company of Mr. Hurd Miller and a young man from Fort Smith. Although an invitation had been extended to his son, David Conger Shapard, it went unanswered. David’s brother, Sumner Shapard may have joined them at the event, as he and his wife Benetta had been residing in Dallas, Texas, since mid-1933. While the atmosphere was thrilling, with over 12,000 in attendance, the game ended in a tie of 7 all. Arkansas scored first in the second quarter, answered shortly after by Centenary. The third and fourth quarters were quiet on the scoreboard, however, the Arkansas crowd cheered as the Razorbacks pushed within 14 yards of the endzone, only to be quelled by an unsuccessful field goal attempt for the win.
While David unquestionably devoted time for enjoyable social diversions, he equally applied his efforts towards his occupation and fraternal work. For the year 1934, he earned $2,754.90 in wages from the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Furthermore, his sales volume for the year had been so impressive that he, not only became a member of the distinguished $100,000 Corps of the Southern Century Club of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, but also won an all-expense paid trip to the 75th anniversary celebration of the company to be held in July in New York City. In anticipation of his trip to New York, David purchased a brand new 1934 Ford V-8 from the Sheridan Motor Company of Fort Smith.
As for his fraternal involvement, over the last year, David had been on the fifteen-man Advisory Committee to the Masonic Home Association Board who were in charge of the Masonic temple of Fort Smith. Just prior to the great depression, the Masons of Fort Smith had invested $410,000 in the construction and furnishing of the Masonic temple. The lethargy of the depression had proved greatly distressing to the organization in their ability to repay the loan. In February, the Masonic Home Association Board and the Advisory Committee completed a year-long negotiation with the lending agency, developing and enacting a new finance plan that extended the loan over a ten year period. The new plan made the payments easier for the organization with less chance of default.
To celebrate their success, the Masons of Fort Smith hosted a victory celebration at the temple on March 16, 1934. The elaborate program attracted the largest gathering of Masons in the history of the region. Well over 1,000 Masons, from Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma attended the event in which the twelve leaders of the various masonic bodies were honored. David Shapard was distinguished and recognized at the celebration for his excellent work as the Commander for the Fort Smith Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons.
For three days in early May, the Fort Smith Scottish Rite Masons held their 17th annual reunion at the temple. David Shapard, along with six other men, were elected to the Executive Committee in charge of the reunion. They made elaborate preparations for the event in advance of the arrival of hundreds of members from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The last two days of the reunion, degrees from the 4th to 32nd were conferred by the Knights Rose Croix and the Fort Smith Council of Kadosh.
On May 24, 1934, David Shapard had the great pleasure of attending the college graduation of his niece, Barbara Shapard, from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. David’s brothers Edwin Shapard, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Sumner Shapard, of Dallas, Texas, and their wives also attended the event, along with Barbara’s brothers Edwin III and John. It was a grand celebration and long overdue reunion for the Shapard family. After graduation, Barbara remained in Texas for many years teaching elementary school.
Near the end of June, David wrote a letter to his son offering for him to spend the summer in Fort Smith earning $200 helping his father. His son did not accept the offer.
During the last week of June and the first week of July of 1934, the United Commercial Travelers held their City Championship Golf Tournament, open to every club in Fort Smith. Forty-four men entered the two-week tournament that was held on the greens of the U. C. T. Country Club. David Shapard claimed victory as the fourth flight winner, with a 5 and 4 win over Mr. Leon Hattaway.
In a bit of hilarity, during the tournament, some of the men passively remarked on recent news stories, from various parts of the country, pertaining to marathon golfers who determined to play the most holes in a single day. Upon hearing the conversation, David Shapard, the ember of the club, told of his record setting efforts on the U. C. T. gold course, with W. F. Broderick, back in 1927. The men were greatly entertained by David’s retelling of the events of that day - from teeing off at 5 a.m., and ceasing at 7:30 p. m., both men having 117 holes or 13 full rounds of golf to their credit. David had 627 strokes for the day, and Mr. Broderick recorded 657 strokes. David bantered with the men, saying, “That’s my record for somebody to try and beat!” The gauntlet had been thrown and the challenge was accepted, and a two-week marathon golf tournament, open to all Fort Smith players, was held by the United Commercial Travelers Country Club, from July 16th, and ending July 29th. From what accounts could be gathered, David Shapard’s 1927 single day record remained unbeaten!
Although David was the inspiration for the marathon tournament, he unfortunately was unable to participate as he had previous obligations to attend the 75th anniversary celebration of the Equitable Life Assurance Society held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. David was the guest of his company for the trip, which he won by producing the highest sales volume for the year of all the Equitable agents. Before departing, he wrote to his son David Conger Shapard, wishing him a happy 21st birthday and sending him a stunning $65 gold octagonal pocket watch and chain, inscribed “To David Shapard from Dad, your twenty first birthday, July 29, 1934.” In the letter, David also informed his son that he was leaving on the 19th of July and would not be returning until early August, yet, that he would be glad to hear from him at any time. There was no reply from his son.
On July 19th, David E. Shapard readied his new Ford car for the long journey. For his enjoyment, David arranged for three beautiful single ladies to accompanying him on the trip - Miss Nora Paget (1889-1944), who was a secretary at the Masonic temple; Miss Rose Kehrea who was an Equitable Life Assurance agent, and her sister Miss Freddie Kehrea. The jovial traveling party arrived in New York, after a multi-day road trip by way of the Shenandoah Valley to attend the celebration, and relished in the first-class accommodations of the Waldorf-Astoria. After the event, David, did not return immediately to Fort Smith, but instead treated his lovely companions to a week-long vacation adventure by motoring to Washington D. C., Philadelphia, Canada and Niagara Falls. Upon their return, David took them to Chicago to attend the World’s Fair - A Century of Progress International Exposition, where they marveled at the latest wonders in innovation, technology, automobiles, manufacturing, etc. There is some evidence to suggest that David and Miss Paget developed romantic feelings for one another on this trip, and began dating discretely afterwards.
Arriving home to Fort Smith on Sunday, August 5th, David was delighted to find a letter and a package in his mailbox from his son. Upon opening the letter, the joy of the moment, as well as, the happiness of last two weeks, drained with each word read. Unbeknownst to David, while he was on his vacation, his son David Conger Shapard had married Miss Tenny Belle Jennings, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Swafford Jennings, at the First Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas, on July 22, 1934. David’s son, nor his ex-wife Elise, had informed him of the wedding, excluding him entirely from the event. As the letter continued, his son unmercifully berated his father for abandoning him as a boy and for breaking up their family. He spited his father for rendering an innocent child and his mother to a state of poverty, and denounced his father as a low-life and the antithesis of how a husband and father should behave. Before concluding, his son informed him that he was aspiring to become a lawyer had earned everything in his adult life on his own merit and no longer needed anything from his father. Within the package was the gold pocket watch David had sent his son for his 21st birthday, acrimoniously returned to sender.
Perhaps at no greater time in David Shapard’s life were the principles he learned through his Christian upbringing and Masonry better put to the test, than at this moment. Albert Pike, the former Sovereign Grand Commander of Scottish Rite Masonry of the Southern Jurisdiction stated: “Every degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite from the Fourth through the Thirty-Second, teaches by its ceremonials as well as by its instruction that the noblest purpose of life and the highest duty of man is to strive incessantly and vigorously to win the mastery of everything of that which in him is spiritual and divine over that which is material and sensual: so that in him also, as in the universe which God governs, harmony and beauty may be the result of just equilibrium.”
David took pen to paper and lovingly tried to reason with his son, stating: “As you suggested, I have read and re-read your letter, and the more I read it the more sympathy I have for your poor, ignorant, misinformed soul as to the true conditions of your circumstances, and may the Lord have pity on you if you do not acquire any information as to the true cause of your having lived apart from your father all the years that you have.” David suggested that his son come to Fort Smith and inquire of many disinterested parties about the particulars of his parents’ marriage, to discover the truth for himself.
He further wrote, “I am very sorry that you have formed the opinion of your father that you have, and I assure you that if you had all the facts as they actually are and not from a prejudiced mind you would have a different opinion. As time goes by and you come to the point where you realize that you have made a mistake, remember that your father still loves you and is willing to have you come to him at any time for advice, council, or for information… Wishing you and your wife lots of happiness and success in life, and hoping that some day our relations will be more pleasant. With love from your Papa.” David expressed that he would hold his son’s pocket watch, and would be glad to send it back to him at any time.
A few weeks later, David learned that his son had passed through Fort Smith, with his new wife, while on their way to visit her parents in Conway, Arkansas. David wrote to his son letting him know that he became aware of his travels and that he was sorry that he had not been given the opportunity see him and meet his bride. He further relayed the interesting news that he had known his son’s father-in-law, Elias Swofford Jennings (1855-1946), for about 25 years. David remarked that when he sold hardware for the Webber-Ayers Hardware Company and then the Atkinson-Williams Hardware Company, he often saw on the road Mr. Jennings, who was a traveling salesman for the Oliver-Finnis Company. The letter went unanswered from his son.
In an unexpected turn of events, on October 16, 1934, the day of David’s wedding anniversary, he was stunned to receive a telegram from Elise, stating: “This time twenty two years ago was the happiest day in my life and time nor conditions can ever cause me to cease loving the one whom I have been the happiest with and the saddest without.” For the first time in years, Elise softened her heart to David. Perhaps it was her son’s recent wedding that got her reminiscing, compounded with the guilt of having forever stolen that moment from David. Perhaps it was repentance for her part in the divorce and now her loneliness. Perhaps it was regret for prejudicing her son’s mind against his father, with the short-term intent of hurting her husband, only to witness the suffering of her beloved son in the long-term. Perhaps it was her Christian faith finally taking perfect root in her heart. Perhaps it was all of it. In any case, it was an olive branch extended in peace, and David was grateful.
Although David had no intention of rekindling a relationship with Elise, as too many things had been said and done that destroyed the respect, confidence and love that existed between them, he did desperately desire a relationship with his son. David replied to Elise’s letter; “I have not understood your actions for some years, and if you are sincere in what you have wired me, what have you told or allowed someone else to tell our son to cause him to treat his father as he has. I sent him, on his twenty-first birthday, a watch that would retail for about sixty or sixty-five dollars and it was returned to me with about as insulting a letter I have ever read, and there has been absolutely no legitimate reason why he should feel toward his father like he does. Now, if you are sincere in this telegram, it is up to you to tell this boy the truth about everything that has happened between you and me, and if you will, the feeling that exists between all three of us will be considerable better. Do right always and always things will be right.”
While Elise agreed and worked gently to reestablish the relationship between her son and his father, she quickly realized that it was not as easy to undo in a man what was easily done in a boy. Like clay that was once pliable and now hardened, David Conger Shapard was now a twenty-one year old married man, in law school, and tenaciously resolute in his opinions. For the rest of the year of 1934, David Conger Shapard refused any and all contact with his father.
The holidays passed for David E. Shapard as they had for the last many years. In preparation for Christmas, he tended to the needs of the thousand underprivileged children of Fort Smith and beyond through the outreach of the Amrita Grotto. On Christmas eve, however, he drove to Muskogee, Oklahoma, to enjoy Christmas as the guest of his brother Edwin and his family. The following day, their older brother Sumner called to spread some holiday cheer.
Sumner Shapard had a very active lifestyle, working as a salesman for a New York firm while headquartered in Dallas. Although his mind was perfect and his body had no pains, recently his heart had begun to sputter when he walked too far or exerted himself. About five months before Christmas, Sumner was waiting on a customer when he fainted. Upon examination, his doctor informed him that his heart was giving out and that he must no longer engage in strenuous work.
While recovering his health, Sumner and his wife Benetta visited her sister, Mrs. George Bass (1880-1957), and brother, Dr. Edwin E. Sanger (1884-1968), for a few weeks in Yukon, Oklahoma. Dr. Sanger’s daughter, Sunshine Sanger (1922-?), recalled that when uncle Sumner and aunt “Net” would visit that he did not drive and always had a colored chauffer. During that era, colored persons we not allowed to sleep in the hotels in the town of Yukon, so the chauffer would either have to drive to Oklahoma City for accommodations, or else the Sanger’s would discretely permit him to sleep in the basement of their house. Sunshine liked her aunt and uncle very much, and described aunt Benetta as “so kind and loving.” Her memory of Sumner was that he was a great storyteller, with a contagious laugh, and was “charming, intelligent and austere – a perfect Southern gentleman.”
Benetta’s nephew, Dr. Paul Weldon Sanger (1906-1968), son of Dr. Paul Sanger (1874-1933), who was a newly practicing physician in Yukon, learned of Sumner’s health situation and offered Benetta employment, commencing on January 1st of 1935, in his office as a means of income. Benetta and Sumner agreed to the generous offer, and immediately rented a small apartment in the town. Before moving to their new home of Yukon, they spent Christmas visiting their daughter Jane, son-in-law Dr. David Ingram, and grandchildren Betty (1923-2015), Jane (1925-?), Peggy (1926-2014) and Patricia (1930-?) in Houston, Pennsylvania.
In Yukon, Sumner passed the days quietly, at one point penning a brief autobiography. However, sitting in idleness was absolute misery for him, and he struggled mentally with losing his ability to work and to be useful. After much reflection, he settled that life is not worth living without purpose, and made the decision to return to work. On Monday, January 21st, Sumner took the train from Yukon, Oklahoma, to Dallas, Texas, and resumed his usual salesman route for the week. During the day he traveled around the city selling his wares, while resting each night in the comforts of his old familiar Dallas apartment at 807 North Madison Avenue.
In the early morning hours of Friday, January 25, 1935, Sumner’s heart finally gave out and he passed away at the age of 59 years old. His remains were transported to Yukon, Oklahoma, where the funeral service was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Bass on Monday January 28th, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, by Rev. Hallmark of the Methodist church. David Shapard, Edwin Shapard and Sumner’s wife, Benetta, and their two daughters, Dorothy and Jane, were in attendance, as well as, many other friends and family members. Sumner’s body was buried in the Yukon Cemetery, in or near the large Sanger family plot.
Sumner had been the entertainer of the family, and in his absence, Benetta, though social, became less talkative, more reserved and reclusive. After Sumner’s death, Benetta resided for a while in Yukon with her sister and brother-in-law, Emma and George Bass. Later she rented a room around 15th and Shartel in Oklahoma City. In her elderly years, she lived with her daughter Jane Ingram in Houston, Pennsylvania, where she passed away at 85 years of age, on September 1, 1962, at 4:20 in the morning. She was cremated, and her ashes were sent to Yukon, Oklahoma, where she was buried next to her beloved husband.
David Shapard was absolutely devastated by the sudden loss of his brother. Sumner had always been a father figure to him and had been an amazing example of manhood throughout his life. Even after Sumner moved away from Fort Smith, he made it a point to return every four to five months to stay connected to his brothers and their families. He was dearly loved and greatly missed by so many.
Compassionately, over the last year, Sumner had been periodically visiting with his nephew, David Conger Shapard, in Oklahoma City to talk things through about the strained relationship between father and son. Apparently, the two men had developed a very close and agreeable relationship. Out of respect, after Sumner’s passing, David E. Shapard twice tried to call his son, at his last known phone number, to inform him of his uncle’s death and imminent funeral. Both times his calls were ignored.
David then wrote a letter to his son, care of his mother-in-law Mrs. E. S. Jennings (Eva Iola Willbanks Jennings) at Conway, Arkansas, since his son had refused to give him his new address in Oklahoma City, informing him of the sad news. The Jennings family relayed the letter to David’s son, which for the first time in six months evoked a response to his father. His son wrote only five sentences in reply, three of which expressed his sorrow about uncle Sumner and how he was “dearer to him than all the rest.” Although the funeral had passed, David’s son did travel, the same day he received the letter from his father, to Yukon to give his condolences to his aunt Benetta.
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