George Whittell's boat on Tahoe ............
Why am I thinking of Bill James, simple, it's morning, I did a thorough search of the kitchen, needing something for breakfast, nothing sounded or looked good, and then, it hit me, a Peanut Butter sandwich, and that is why I am thinking of Bill James. I am one of a very few who think of him.
I forget when I first met him, it was in Reno, and he had married in to the family.
He was an Osage Indian, from Oklahoma, but knew little of his early life. He had left the reservation at an early age, and somehow ended up in Nevada. He became a barber, at one time had a few shops around Nevada. Tonopah, Fallon and some other cities. The story goes that on one occasion, a friend and customer of his, George Whittell, walked in his shop and told him he was heading to Carson City to bid on some land around that lake up in the mountains and wanted Bill to accompany him and perhaps buy some of the "cheap" land that was up for sale. Bill did not go, why would anyone need or want land up in the mountain, around a lake, Lake Tahoe,
George bought some land, lots of land, and became a millionaire.
When I think of "nice" people I have known, Bill James heads to the top of the list. He was not sure how old he was, records on the reservations in those days were non existent, and he was not sure what his real, Indian name, might be. IF he knew, and could prove it, he could have been very wealthy. The tribe sold land, lots of land, and Bill had money coming to him, but, he could not prove who he was. He thought he was named after the famous outlaw, Jesse James. In those days the Indians did not use family names, etc., no birth certificates, delivery by a mid-wife ... he knew who his was ... but, she had passed on, and she was the last one who could help him.
Bill had a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast, almost every day, and he lived a long life, no one was sure how long, but some though ..... at least 100.
So this morning, I am having a peanut butter sandwich and a coffee for breakfast, and thinking of Bill. I doubt that anyone else is ... so, have one, and think of Bill James along with me.
