RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD FARMS,
Scope and Content Note: Wileden's father wanted to climb “agricultural ladder”; left family farm in 1903 to become hired manager on 160-acre Brown farm, “probably one of the best farms in the whole area.” Moved to Connell farm to be hired manager from 1905-1907, then returned to Brown farm. Operated Brown farm on share-rent basis; corn a major crop, at first flint corn, later dent corn. Other crops included wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. Increasingly planted only seed certified for use by college of agriculture. Essentially a dairy farm with 12-15 milking cows in a mixed herd. One of Wileden's chores as a boy was to pump cold water around the eight gallon milk cans to keep them cool until picked up by neighbor who operated milk route.