Looking back through pages of farm magazine
At the end of October 70 years ago, farmers and farmers' wives were reading the Farm Journal. It was a dark period in the...
Technology has dramatically changed the planting season for farmers
According to the last Farm and Dairy, 79 percent of Ohio’s corn is planted, way ahead of last year (Marlin Clark said that last...
What farmers, families were reading 60 years ago
I was just looking through the January 1950 issue of Farm Journal magazine (cover price: 20 cents), and here's what farmers and their wives...
Old property wills can make fascinating reading
Old wills, and I mean really old wills, are fascinating to read. They're a way to learn about how our ancestors lived, as well as seeing what worldly goods were important to them.
Encore column celebrates Rusty Iron’s 20th year
I was at the Portersville Steam Show grounds a week or two ago to check out their annual Spring Gas Up. While there, I...
Trucks now and then — they’ve come a long way
Anyone tried to buy a new work truck lately? If you have, you’ve probably come to the realization that truck manufacturers don’t consider trucks...
Meat and potatoes: A look back at life through food
Probably 20 years ago, I was prevailed upon by my late cousin Peg Townsend to write down recollections from my childhood.At first I was...
Author gave timely tips for 19th century women
Lydia Marie Child's "The American Frugal Housewife" published in 1832, contains a list of maxims for health that are worth a read.
Truck stops: Touring region’s auto museums
The last week in May, I spent three days in northern Indiana. When I left, the fields around here were still too wet to...
Rusty Iron: Columnist still brings a chuckle, 60 years later
In many of the weekly farm papers of the mid-1950s was a regular feature called The Song of the Lazy Farmer, which was a short and humorous observation on the passing scene, as well as the author's troubles with his wife Mirandy over his laziness.
