72 years old born on May 20 1926 in South Holland IL, Great grandfather was from Holland, Father moved farm from South Holland to Momence, family immigrated directly to Illinois, Ancestors were involved with agriculture, talks about uncle taking over the farm from father and him taking over the farm, Describes other relatives in the areas. Lived on vegetable farm in South Holland, farmed with horses, uncle and father grew onions, harvested in fall and stored over the winter and then sold in the spring, also had cattle, lived on a diverse farm, grandfather would go to market in Chicago.
CHILDHOOD WORK
Childhood work included feeding chickens and milking cows. Was a typical farm for that time. Favorite chore was collecting eggs. Family sold extra milk and eggs from the farm. Notes he weeded in the fields. Describes harvesting onions. Did not like cleaning barns and chicken coops.
CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES
Had neighbor kids around, played ball in the pasture, not really close but about a quarter mile away, would walk to see friends, played football, a lot of softball, he was a pitcher but he would play all positions, would rotate positions in the pastures,
FARM WORK
Farm work was work and not a learning activity, learned mostly by experience, had one brother and sister, girls worked around the house more,
CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Did not work on Sunday, everybody always went to church on Sunday morning. Belonged to a Christian Reform Church. When I was little they also had services in the afternoon that were in Dutch. Grandparents and parents spoke Dutch. Americanized when he was growing up, every ethnicity group has its specific customs that make them different.
