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Burlie & Eddie Rowland "First 100 Years Nolan County Texas" (1985)
Burlie L. Roland was born September 10, 1896, in Comanche County. As a young boy he moved to Nolan County with his parents, John and Cassie Roland, four brothers, Willie, Charlie, Lester and Marion; four sisters, Pearl, Edith, Ethel and Jewel. The Rolands lived in the Nolan and Hylton areas.
Eddie Mae Modrall, daughter of Willie and Etta Modrall, was born July 6, 1899, southeast of Blackwell on the Modrall homeplace. She had four brothers, Ollie, Milton, L.T. and Nelson; five sisters, Willie, Etta, Barbara, Gladys and Edith. As a young girl, Eddie playing the fiddle, her dad, Willie, Ollie Johnson and Harve McPeeters playing other instruments provided music for the dances in the homes of the area. She attended Blackwell School.
Burlie and Eddie were married June 13, 1915, in Blackwell. They lived east of town on the Horne farm, where their first son, Valton, was born in July 1916. The beginning of the seven year drouth found them moving to Foard and Wilbarger Counties. When they returned to Balckwell in 1919 Burlie operated the town dray, hauling mail and other freight. He worked for Bob Reeves for about 14 years. They lived south of town on Oak Creek, where their other children John Willis, Bill, Eunice, Burlie Jack, Cliburne, Charlie Ray and Patsy Ruth were born.
Many fond memories were made when they lived on Oak Creek. I can remember when our boys were small and Dad would put one of them in an old five gallon bucket and carry them around while he did his chores. This was a special time for a little boy visiting his grand-dad. Easter was always fun for everyone. The grandchildren would hunt eggs down by the creek. They never knew if the eggs would be hidden under rocks, in trees, in a hole or maybe even under the cow chips.
In June 1965, Dad and Mama celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Family and friends came from near and far to make it a very special time. Mama was all dressed up in a new dress and Dad wore his usual khaki suit. You always knew Burlie Roland by his khakis, old hat and a cigar in his mouth.
Dad had worked for R.H. "Bob" Jordan for 32 years when he retired from ranching in 1967. He and Mama bought the Evans' house and moved to Blackwell. We came to visit them just before they moved to town, and they brought us to see where they would be living. Mama and I were in the house and Dad was outside watering the yard. I looked out the window to look around and was greeted by the full force of the water hose. I was soaked and so was the bedroom. Mama was so upset. The harder she scolded Dad the harder he laughed. This is the one time I remember him really laughing out loud. Dad never had much to say and had a very dry sense of humor. If you knew him well enough you could tell when he was joking or when he thought something was funny.
Retirement found Mama and Dad with time to work in their yard and have a garden. Dad was in the yard most of the time. You could almost tell the time of day by where he was sitting in the yard. He would follow the shade from one end of the yard to the other. Dad died in May 1969. Valton Died in April 1935 and Cliburne died in May 1959. They are buried at Blackwell Cemetery.
Mama still lives in Blackwell. it amazes everyone that she lives alone, takes care of her home and yard, and has a garden every year. She can still do a fair job playing her fiddle.
By: Mrs. Charlie R. Roland - 1985
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I
first met Burlie and Eddie Roland in December 1957, shortly before I
married their youngest son, Charlie Ray. They were living in
the old Judge Hanna house on Oak Creek. It was very cold and I
was surprised to see an old pot-bellied stove and a wood cook stove
being used to heat the old two storied house. Mama cooked on
that wood stove until the early 1960's.