Beech Tree News Network

How do you describe someone that is a good, decent, person? In my day we said they were “straight-as-a-string.”

That was James Oberhausen – straight as a string. We lost James recently – are they making any more good men like that? I hope so.

I never really knew James that well. When I lived in the country, we exchanged waves as he went by with a load of logs on his truck. He was always busy. I knew his sons, Jeff and Gary better; I had them as students in school years ago.

I really got to know James when I sold him timber off our place… two times, some years apart. I recall the last time more vividly. I’m sure it was no different than the first time; I knew James’s honest representation before even dealing with him. In the Bible book of Proverbs, we see, “A good man’s representation goes before him.” (L.B.)

James and I always dealt on shares. It suited both of us… I furnished the timber; he furnished the labor and equipment. We split everything right down the middle.

One day after the last cutting, James came by the house with my check in one hand, and a fist full of receipts where he had sold the loge, “Ill take my check James,” I told him, “But you can keep the receipts.”

“Don’t you want to check them?” He said.

“No need James.” I said. “You can keep them if you want to – all Ill do is pitch them in the waste basket.”

When you deal with men like James Oberhausen, you can sleep like a baby.

James’ obit. Mentioned, memories. Those are some of mine.

Kindest regards…