Walter Elias Disney was born December 5 , 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Elias and Flora Disney. He had three older brothers and one younger sister. When he was very young his parents decided to move the family to a forty five acre farm outside of Marceline, Missouri. Working under their father's watch was very tiresome and laborious for his older brothers. However, Walt enjoyed his job as the animal caretaker. The farm had cows, pigs, chickens, and ducks. Walt took care of these animals and considered them to be his best friends. Walt's first drawings were of these animals, they would be his inspiration in the future.
As a kid, Walt sketched pictures on anything he could find. His Aunt Margret would bring him crayons and paper every time she visited. Walt said as a child one of his favorite memories is of her raving over his pictures. When he was seven he and his sister, Ruth, found a barrel of fresh tar. They spread the sticky substance on the side of the house trying to draw, not realizing that it wouldn't come off. Their creation became a permanent part of the house. His parents weren't happy. Another creative venture was Walt creating a circus in the backyard. Again, Walt's parents weren't pleased with the surprise, but that still didn't stop Walt from doing what he loved. Fortunately, his brother, Roy, recognized how special his little brother was and enjoyed making him happy. They established a brotherly bond that would last forever.
In 1908 when Walt was seven, his life became more difficult. His two oldest brothers had become very frustrated with the demands that their father, Elias, put on them to keep the farm running. They decided to leave home, but made sure they kept in touch with the family. This forced Walt's father to take on the heavy work of the farm. When Elias contracted typhoid fever the family had to sell the farm. They moved to Kansas City and invested their money in a paper route. Walt and Roy were expected to deliver the papers no matter what. The job was not easy. They awoke every morning at 3:30 am to sell papers, went to school, and then sold papers again after school. Walt was not a strong student. He suffered from dyslexia and was often caught doodling during class time. Soon Roy realized why the older boys left home and left too. Walt was sorry to see him go but he continued to make the best of his hard life. |