Taras Guryevich Gaponenko

Taras Guryevich Gaponenko
Taras Guryevich Gaponenko was born on March 5, 1906 in the village of Staraya Zavoron (Smolensk region) into a poor peasant family. Lost his parents early. His mother died when he was 5 years old, his father – when he was 8 years old. They stayed alone with their sister, who was 6 years older than Taras, and they went to the people. In the summer, my sister, a thin girl, labored in the surrounding villages, and Taras grazed pigs, receiving one measure of rye and 5-6 measures of potatoes per season. In winter, interrupted than necessary. One winter Taras had to drive two blind beggars, trampling down half of the country roads of the Elninsky district of the Smolensk province with his little sandals. Lapti Taras wove himself.