I've had the following piece concerning Mom's first cousin, Jean DeHaven for quite some time. I want to include it into my Prairie Roots Newsletter. It's difficult to find space, in that I want the eight pages I write to as near as possible be equal in Daughery/Carrington information. I also ran snippets of Trail of the Jackasses, the book written about Jean's journey, and after that was over, felt that I should wait a bit to write anymore about this adventure.
Jean's mother was grandpa Fred I Daugherty's youngest sister and Mom was named after her. I wouldn't be surprised if someday a movie was made of this amazing endeavor. The book is excellent and I would highly recommend it. I found my copy either at Abe Books or Amazon.
From Argus Leader - 3/26/2012
"A Wessington man fulfilled a longtime dream of driving a 20 mule team and almost turned his story into a movie.
WHO: Jean DeHaven
BORN: Sept. 4, 1928, in Wessington (SD). Also lived in Spearfish and Wessington Springs.
BACKGROUND: His father and grandfather were prominent auctioneers and sale barn owners. He attended school in Wessington for four years, then his familiy moved to Spearfish. DeHaven attended the University of Utah for two years. He and his wife, Norma, who still lives in Wessington, were married in 1951. They were the parents of four daughters and one son. DeHaven died Dec. 3, 2003, at the age of 75. Rod DeHaven, who was the only American to run in the 2000 Olympics marathon, is his nephew.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Participated in basketball and the long jump in the Allied Olympics in Germany for the Army Team. Original owner of Highmore Livestock Sales Barn; also owned Wessington Springs facility briefly and worked at Kimball.
Put together a mule train in 1966 to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Park System being established. Joined by his 12-year-old son, Forrest, DeHaven traveled by covered wagon from Death Valley, Calif. to Wessington. Five other riders came along. National Park Service officials made arrangements to make sure he wasn't pulled off the road. Went out again in 1967, this time from Wessington to the World's Fair in Montreal, Canada, with the encouragement of residents in Pierre and Fort Pierre. Former Gov. Joe Foss assisted with plans. Served as the main gate attraction for the fair's first two weeks. Book written about his journey, 'Trail of the Jackasses' by Robert Wakefield. Spent a decade in negotion with studios such as Disney to make a movie about his trek by mule train after purchasing the rights from Wakefield. The movie was never made."
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my brother BOB WERDEL was with the mule train on the way to worlds fair....I (GIL WERDEL) was the mule skinner in 1968 on the way to fair in texas
ReplyDeleteStill trying to correctly answer comments on this blogsite. I loved reading your comments and hope that you continue to keep in touch.
ReplyDeleteCool reading this. Jean was my grandpa (my dads/dad) He was an influential part of my life and many others that knew him. There is much more to his story than just what is in this! Thanks! Rod DeHaven (Not the Runner)
ReplyDeleteAsk your dad whatever became of the mules after the wagon train was done at the world's fair?
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