WOMEN'S WORK, CHILDREN'S WORK, & FARMING METHODS
Robert A. Taylor>UIS Collection T-Z>UIS Collection T-Z, Segment 1
- WOMEN'S WORK
- Made soap with lye water from an ash hopper, and used hog fat. Made soft soap once a year and stored it in the basement, and used it for washing clothes. Bought soap for washing themselves. Washed clothes on board, did not have a machine. Sister did most of washing. Sisters made quilts in a room upstairs, and did not have neighbors help. Had rag rugs made with old clothes woven on a frame. Sisters put straw under them and nailed them down. Had a carpet stretcher with hooks that were put in the rug and pulled it. A man took care of the garden.
- CHILDREN'S WORK
- Milked 3-4 cows as young as 3-4 years old. Milk was made into butter and cheese. Recalls tending to cows and calves as a child. Went to the field at 13 years old to operate walking plow. Later on did anything he was assigned. Had 3-4 hired men in 1890.
- FARMING METHODS
- Changes in Farming Methods; Farmhouse
