Childhood
10-year old Walt Disney (center right)
Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago on December 5, 1901 to Elias (a building contractor) and Flora Disney. He had three brothers and a sister, Herbert, Raymond, Roy and Ruth. When Walt was only five years old, the crimes and sin in the colossal city of Chicago caused the Disney’s to move to a farm in Kansas in 1906. Life on the small farm peaceful and beautiful, however, it brought little profit for the family of seven. Walt loved the homestead. Reminiscing on it in his later years, he says, “It was set in green, rolling countryside and the apple and plum orchards were just starting to blossom. I thought it was a beautiful place.” Being around animals all the time influenced his later cartoons of animals because he became familiar with their characteristics, habits and shapes. When Walt was only six years old he started showing interest in drawing. Old Mr. Disney thought art was a complete was of time and that his sons’ life should consist of hard work and labor. However, Elias’ wife, Flora, saw the talent in her son and convinced her husband to buy him a set of colored pencils and drawing paper. Walt was thrilled, and drew all the time from then on. The Disney family was forced to move to Kansas City when Elias got typhoid fever. Mr. Disney set up a newspaper business, hoping to get more profit out of it than he did with his farm. With two older brothers (Herbert and Raymond) who have already moved back to Chicago, Roy who was seventeen and Walt who was eight were put to work delivering newspapers. They were not paid and Walt said he still had nightmares about walking up to his neck in snow. Roy encouraged Walt to get another job, and so earn money for himself. Taking Roy’s advice, Walt got up at 3 am every morning to deliver two newspaper routes, behind his father’s back. He continued to sketch and draw even considering his extremely tight schedule.