They Were Farmers...

...But I'm Not

When I was young, my mom started a small garden in our back yard. We helped her grow tomatoes, green peppers, and green onion. There were other veggies from time to time, but I can't quite remember what they were. I'm pretty sure I'm the one who decided on the green onion, I think my mom mainly wanted tomatoes. I remember we cleared out grass and weeds to make room for plants. We watered the plants and got excited when the vegetables came in. In later years, she would grow tomatoes in big pots instead of putting them into the ground. She was always growing something, beautiful plants were through the house.

Since then, I've come to realize something. I kill plants. I've had many house plants... they die. I've started gardens from plants, seedlings, and seeds. They die. One year, I had my tomato plants getting along pretty well. Then I transferred them into the soil... that was it. Found out the soil had been sprayed for termites. My little baby tomatoes quickly died. I tried large pots after that with sad results. It occurred to me today, several ancestors could have taught me to do it right.

Waldron family in 1880. Source Ancestry

Aaron Waldron is my 3rd great-grandfather, his son Aaron is my 2nd great-grandfather. In 1880 they were both listed as farm laborers. As a matter of fact, they were both farmers all of their lives.

The Johnson family in 1880. Source Ancestry

This census shows Burwell Johnson and his son Samuel Mitchel, my 3rd and 2nd great-grandfathers. I am not sure of Burwell's occupation, but Samuel was also a farm laborer. In later years, he would do odd jobs. But he always returned to farming.

Hickenbotham family in 1910. Source Ancestry

Now the Hickenbotham's looked a bit different in censuses. In 1910 all the males were listed as laborers in iron mines. James is my great-grandfather. He also listed his occupation as a WPA laborer in the 1930 census. Later he would drive a cab around the county. But he also owned a farm. The family grew many different vegetables and raised pigs. Their vegetables would be sold by the bucket.

Time and time again, I go through censuses or talk to relatives, and learn so many from my past were farmers. I wish I had their knowledge. I've started a new batch of seedlings. Fingers crossed!