SEGMENT: FARM EQUIPMENT, FARM WORK, & TOWNS
Bert Aikman>UIS Collection A's>UIS Collection, Segment 15
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- FARM EQUIPMENT
- Bert describes machine that picked up hay from ground & dumped it on wagon. It was similar to a stacking machine for wheat. It was faster than a "pitcher." Describes difference between a straight harpoon hay-fork & a double harpoon hay-fork. Mentions eagle-claw hay-fork, also called grapple-hook. Bert let anyone use his grapple-hook for free. Grapple was for putting hay in stack or into a barn. Grapple-Hook was set on derrick. Bert describes how the grapple-hook was used to stack hay.
- FARM WORK
- Bert says there was an art to much farm work. Mentions people thought farmers were the dumbest people on earth, but Bert notes they really were quite intelligent. Many were blacksmiths on the side. Neighborhood blacksmith saved farmer trip to town. Talks of the "curse of the 9-hour law", where it was illegal to work a person more than 9 hours. Once shops started to shut down on a schedule farmers had problem getting work done in town. Bert mentions he told his hired-hands that they had to work until work was done.
- TOWNS
- Best blacksmith was in town. Name was Shocktoe. Later Shocktoe moved to Nilwood, IL. Kessler put in barn after blacksmith left. Kessler had a truck that he used to deliver groceries to farmers. The grocer Mr. Winfield shipped a lot of eggs to St. Louis. He also sold cow-hides. Mr. Winfield was a good merchant who looked out for the farmer.
