"In those days Grandma Nellie's family had no motor vehicles. Only the horses and the wagon. When supplies were needed from Houston it was a long dusty ride into town over the old gravel road which is today Highway 17. Sitting on the back end of the wagon was high adventure. Crossing Piney River to reach the highway, waves from the wagon wheels radiated outward from our passage. Fish raced out of our path and occasionally a water moccasin slithered close by, making us feel good to be well above the water's surface. Rich soil in that river bottom brought forth many a fine corn crop when the Shryock's lived there." - George Shryock