Bernice's mother, Flora, died in 1918 of eclampsia. Bernice and her family lived with Grandpa Jesse Trent for about a year after Flora died. The family lived with Grandpa Hines the second year, and the following year, her father, Ben, married Flora's sister, Leah Rebecca Trent.

Bernice recalled Grandpa Trent telling many stories about the Civil War during the time she lived with him. Shen Jesse was 12 years old he was the oldest boy at home. Three women, including his mother, lived together east of Granby near Natonis. It was a common experience for guerrillas from both the north and the south to come searching for food and horses. The women had a cave nearby where they hid two horses and they had a straw tick covering a trap door to conceal their food supply. One night when a group of "bushwackers" came by, all the children were bedded down on the tick. One of the women was not easily daunted by the query, "What you got down there?'
'Nothing but kids. If you want 'em, take 'em. That'll be less trouble for us.' And the bushwackers left without checking!

Bernice and her cousin, Rachel Trent, looked enough alike to be sisters. Rachel thought Bernice was a lot of fun. She used to come over and help Rachel's mother at harvest time. "She liked to flirt with all the single men. We used to ride on the single tree on the wagon. One day we went to pick tomatoes. When the single men came by, we threw tomatoes at them." Rachel Trent, 1997.

1920 United States Federal Census:

Name: Charles Hines
Home in 1920: East Benton, Newton, Missouri
Age: 64
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Iowa
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) [Head]
Spouse's Name: Menervie Hines
Father's Birth Place: Virginia
Mother's Birth Place: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes

Household Members: Name Age
Charles Hines 64 (paternal grandfather to Bernice)
Menervie Hines 60 (Minerva is her paternal grandmother)
Bernice Hines 11
Andy Hines 10
Gladys Hines 8
Russell Hines 6
Lowel Hines 4
Benjamin Hines 30 (This is Bernice's father)
Margarett Barnett 89 (This is Bernice's maternal great grandmother.)


1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Bernice C Hines
Home in 1930: Neosho, Newton, Missouri
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1909
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Lodger
Race: White


Household Members: Name Age
Raymond B Stokley 25
Emma E Stokley 26
Raymond B Stokley 11/12
Bernice C Hines 21
Gladys E Hines 18