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Memories of Golde Dicks Markham (1996) Golde Markham Dicks 76/125

One classmate at school was older than any of us. We tried to get her to leave with us,

but no way could we bribe her to go. She was very timid—even visiting the outhouse at
recess and at noon because she didn’t want to ask Mr. Ogsbum to-be excused.
As soon as this girl entered the privy on April Fool’s Day, it was my job to close and
latch the door on her from the outside—so she couldn’t tell on us. We never knew if Mr.

Ogsbum or one of the younger students going to the privy opened the door for her.
I think Percy Witt was the first principal of that school. He committed suicide. Mr.
Ogsbum or George Graham could have been the next principal. I started off in the eighth

grade at Mason. I was in the first class who graduated from the tenth grade in 1927.
By this time I was disgusted with the school because I had to take boring subjects such
as agriculture to get credits to graduate. Having lived on a farm, I already had all of the
“agriculture” I wanted.

I really wanted to take typing and shorthand. I had a chance for a free ride to and from
Lake City High School where I could have taken these subjects, but my parents would not
approve. I went back to Mason for my junior year. At the end of that first semester near

Christmas, I had had enough of judging cows and culling chickens since I had no intention of
living on a farm anyway. So I decided to drop out of school.
Eric Markham and I were already engaged and Eric had a job. When I told him I was
dropping out of school, he suggested we get married right away, so I knew Eric was as

anxious to get off the farm as I was.
On the last day of that semester, I told Pa, “I’m not returning to school!”
He answered, “You have to!”

I stated in no uncertain terms, “I’m getting married and it doesn’t matter whether or
not you agree. If you don’t go along with my plans, 1’11-elope and get married anyway.”
He saw how serious I was and that I’d carry out my threat. He knew that I had enough
determination for a throng of people.

The next day 'he told me that if I was determined to get married, he would tike for me
to have a home wedding. I already knew who11 wanted in my wedding; in fact, Eric and I
already had made our plans. But Pa decided who would' be invited, and he hand-wrote the

invitations and mailed them. It didn’t make any difference to Eric or me how many attended.
Only two witnesses were required.
Golde Dicks and Eric Markham were married on Sunday afternoon, January 8, 1928.1

wasn’t quite 20 years old.
After I got married, I finished high -school through a correspondence course from the
American School. I made good grades and received my diploma about thirty years later on

October 30,1959. This was an accredited school and was recognized by school boards.

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