Uncle Carl and Farming

I have no specific information as to when he became engaged in his threshing activities but my guess is that they peaked between 1915 and 1925. I base this guess on the large Hart-Parr tractors that he used for running the threshing machines. They were of the vintage of about 1910. There were three or four of these large tractors scattered around the barnyard when our family was living on the farm. In the lower garden there was a shed that housed three threshing machines and a corn-sheller. While we were on the farm only one of the threshing machines was used, one made by the Huber company and the largest of the three.

At one time I understand he ran three threshing operations but that had dwindled to one when we were on the farm. That was the run that included the nearby farms. He continued to do corn-shelling at times but that too tapered off the in the 1930s. The last threshing run ceased operation sometime in the mid-1930s and he did not use the equipment even for his own operations. He bought a combine and used that instead. I recall him taking Vincent and me along with him when he made an inspection to see various combines in operation.

He used smaller more modern models of the Hart-Parr tractors in addition to the large ones. They were used for plowing which was a heavier duty than his Farmall could readily handle, particularly with the three bottom plow that he had. On one occasion Jean and I were doing some genealogical research in the files of the Gowrie News. In the course of looking through the old issues of the News, I noticed an ad for Hart-Parr tractors to be had through the local Chevrolet/John Deere dealer listing my uncle as the local agent.

My uncle was in the forefront of new ideas in the field of agriculture. He was early in the use of mechanical corn-pickers and he did custom-picking often letting his own corn stand unpicked until the spring of the next year. He was one of the first to use rubber tires on his Farmall. He planted soybeans as a crop to replace oats early on. He made use of the government programs during the Depression years to grow odd crops and of course his growing of potatoes was unique in the community. He was an avid reader of Wallaces Farmer and he would attend the open houses at Iowa State College to learn of the newest developments on the agricultural front. Often on these trips he would take Vincent and me with him. I wonder if he were trying to interest the two of us in the future of farming as a vocation.

While he was very up-to-date farming wise he was extremely conservative in his religious outlook. I am sure that his views when he was confirmed were the same as when he died. He wanted a simple coffin but he wanted the most expensive copper vault to ensure that his body would be protected until resurrection day. Someday some archaeologist will come upon it and wonder.