Of early tractor companies, few survived
During the years of World War I and after, at least until the severe agricultural depression of 1921, tractor manufacturers and wannabes, as well as not a few charlatans who only hoped to sell stock in non-existent tractor companies, were thick on the ground, especially in the Midwest.
The Neys have it: Hay tools invented in Canton
There were two different Ney companies in Canton in the late 1800s and early 1900s, both making hay tools such as barn hay forks, carriers and track.
A lesson in the sand casting process
This week I’m going to attempt to kill two birds with one bush – er, that’s not right – but you get the idea....
The town International Harvester built
A short history of the rise and fall of Benham, Kentucky.
Encore presentation shares fond farm memories
(Author’s note: This is an “encore” presentation of this column, which was first published in 2002.)
Christmas on the western Pennsylvania farm where I grew...
Farm news: Some things haven’t changed in the last 70 years
As some of you may have gathered, I have an extensive collection of old farm magazines from the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. I like...
Five more developments in agriculture
This week is the rest of a list of what I consider to be the 10 most significant new developments in agricultural machinery during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th.
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.
Automobile history can sometimes repeat itself
I’ve often heard it said that “what goes around comes around” and “there’s nothing new under the sun.” Here’s an example of that, and,...
Hand-written memories retell saw mill story
About half a mile from the one-room school I attended was a saw mill that was owned by a farmer named Harvey Smith, and that was operated by Smith and his oldest son, Harold.
