Container
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Title
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Audio 744A
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1979 March 21
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:40
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Interviewer's Preface and Interviewee's Rejoinder : Roy Meier prepared Town of Spirit section in 1876-1976 Centennial, Ogema-Spirit Hill, July 2nd to 4th, Historical Album
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
02:30
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Roy R. Meier Born in Father's New House Near Course of New Road. : Born on December 26, 1902. Describes family picture taken in spring of 1903 (copy in SHSW Archives).
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
04:45
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Family Composition : Thirteen surviving children; one child died at birth. Roy Meier the seventh son. Describes picture of father Karl Albert Meier (later Albert C. Meier) at age twenty-one.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
07:10
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Origins of Meier Family : Migrated first from Germany, then from Wind Lake (Muskego), Wisconsin. Grandfather Siegfried Meier served in Civil War, went to Texas, then migrated to town of Brannan to locate homesteads for German relatives. Filed claim in section 26 on tote road from Jenny (Merrill).
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
09:10
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Locates Meier Homestead on Post-1881 Plat Map (copy in SHSW Archives) : Father's 160-acre farm adjacent to grandfather's. Albert Meier probably homesteaded in 1881 at age twenty-one; record found of taxes paid in 1883.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
10:40
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Town of Brannan Renamed Town of Spirit in 1923 : Adopted from Indian name for Great Spirit. Cites names of Germans who settled in town of Spirit; explains how railroads owned every other section.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
13:40
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Comments on German Settlement in Swedish Area : Baptist pastor Ostergren brought in Swedish settlers about the same time Wisconsin Central Railroad being constructed. Ogema area possibly first Swedish settlement in Wisconsin.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
15:00
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Describes Photograph of Albert C. Meier Farm, circa 1902 : Locates milk house, machine shed, barn from old homestead by Spirit River.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
17:15
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Explains Term “Tote Road” : Route for bringing supplies to headwaters for logging camps. Believes route followed road between Green Bay and Washburn at times when St. Mary's River frozen.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
19:05
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Religious Background of Mother's Family : Marheine family had belonged to state church in Germany; children sent to Methodist Sunday School in Oshkosh. Recalls children carried dime to buy a pail of beer, not to donate to church. Mother joined Zion Lutheran Church in German settlement after Roy's birth.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
21:55
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Religious Background of Father's Family : Grandfather met and married Eva Falikowski while in German army. Never joined a church. Father also joined Zion Lutheran Church in 1904.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
23:15
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Zion Lutheran Church in Town of Spirit Affiliated with Missouri or Wisconsin Synod
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
24:00
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German Settlement Demonstrates Americanism as European War Spreads : Zion Lutheran Church discontinued German-language services in 1915; Meier family stopped speaking German. Roy's eldest brother, Edward, enlisted in army; wounded at Cantigny.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
26:45
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Coercion against Germans in Area : Recalls incident where Kraft house in Tomahawk painted yellow.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
27:45
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Absence of German Teachers in Settlement : German school board members consciously hired teachers without foreign accent.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
29:00
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Origin of Roy Meier's “By-You Country” Nickname for German Settlement : German greeting “How goes it by-you?”
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
29:45
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End of Tape 1, Side 1
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:35
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German Settlement School Located in Section 26 : Swedes later built Stone Lake school after which former school building moved one mile east. New German Settlement school built in 1919.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
03:15
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Comments on Father's Intelligence : Wrote well; served on county board for several years.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
04:00
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Improved and Unimproved Acreage on Meier Farm, 1906-1917 : Father initially cleared four acres; gradually cleared stumpage with horses.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
05:35
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Recalls Seeing First Auto, 1906 or 1907 : Owned by Dr. Pierson.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
06:50
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Father Builds New Barn in 1906-1907 : 86' by 45' with large loft.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
07:50
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More on Clearing Land : Twenty-five acres cleared by 1915. Observations about homesteaders' preference for sites along streams.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
09:20
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Father Begins to Sell Butter in Tomahawk, circa 1890 : Replaced oxen with team of horses to market butter in Tomahawk, twenty-five miles away, once every two weeks. Describes routes to Tomahawk. Father unique since most area farmers produced enough milk and butter for own consumption only. No local market for butter at first since lumber camps preferred cheaper lard.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
14:50
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Father Sells Butter to William Bradley, Owner of Standard Mercantile Company : Tomahawk a growing logging and sawmill town. William Bradley a “very progressive person” who once spoofed New York financiers into believing Tomahawk a great wheat-growing area. Bradley built Marinette, Tomahawk, and Western Railroad; built Farmers Trading Company stores in Spirit Falls and Spirit; kept pure-bred bull at Spirit Falls for use by Albert Meier and others.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
19:55
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Father Delivers Butter to Booming Spirit Falls : Sold butter in stone crocks, prints, and tubs under label of “Spring Brook Dairy.”
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
21:20
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Spirit Falls Grows as Logging Town : Had seven saloons, two hotels, but no church. Meier's uncle was blacksmith and constable.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
23:15
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More Comments on Father's Foresightedness
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
24:00
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Crops on Albert Meier Farm : Two acres of oats, one acre of corn, one acre of wheat and hay. Recalls brothers using scythes to cut hay. One of first in area to raise corn, red flint variety.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
26:05
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Planting Corn by Hand as Child
Planted four kernels:
“One for the blackbird,
One for the crow,
One for the cutworm,
And one to grow.”
Father began to use hand-planter about 1914.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
28:10
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Family Members' Chores : Girls worked in garden and field, but not in barn. Mother liked to milk cows; father not good at it.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
29:15
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Father Sells Potatoes, Rutabagas, and Cabbage : Sold in Spirit Falls and Tomahawk.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
29:50
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End of Tape 1, Side 2
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1979 March 22
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:30
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Origin of Roy Meier's Interest in History : Began in elementary school. He and mother milked together and talked about older days; he wrote down much of what she said.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
02:25
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Meier's German Settlement History : Revised several times because of new evidence.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
03:45
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Why Siegfried Meier Brought Germans to Area : Wisconsin Central Railroad Company probably subsidized Meier's efforts. Pastor Ostergren a member of state board of immigration.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
05:25
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More about Garden : Cabbage and potatoes grown in half-acre garden east of house; rutabaga raised in field.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
08:05
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Cousin's Husband Carl Sawales Builds Creamery, circa 1910. : Father had expanded market which included cream as well as butter; bought Empire cream separator. Reduced reliance on marketing vegetables.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
09:05
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Animals on Farm : Included hogs and chickens. Raised no geese, although neighbors did. Father replaced oxen with team of horses in early 1890s. Recalls father leading brood sow to Spirit Falls to be bred. Father raised sheep to produce wool for home consumption; family later sold wool locally as few continued to raise sheep.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
13:00
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Meier Belongs to Wool Pool : Statewide farmers' organization to obtain better price for wool, circa 1912-1920. Pool shipped wool by rail to Rib Lake. Roy Meier continued to raise sheep to provide wool for mother's knitting, despite problems containing them.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
15:15
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Shearing Sheep : Learned how to shear from mother; laid sheep on old door across sawhorses. Always bought pure-bred rams to reduce effects of in-breeding.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
16:50
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Description of Farmhouse in 1915 : Recalls cream separator bolted to floor in kitchen; points out marks from brothers' cork shoes on floor. Two bedrooms upstairs held boys and girls, respectively. Small pantry adjoined kitchen. Front (north) room was sitting room; west room was parents' bedroom.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
19:50
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Illumination in House and Barn : Used kerosene lamps until borrowed on life insurance policy to buy Delco plant in 1939. Installed lights in house and barn; bought iron and washing machine. Little reading done before advent of Reo lamps. Used kerosene lantern in barn until 1939.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
21:40
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Heating : Wood cookstove in kitchen and heating stove in south room; upstairs unheated.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
22:20
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Water : Father foresaw expansion of house, dug well near location of present kitchen door.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
23:00
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Addition and Changes to House : Addition built in 1914; describes structural changes made over the years. Roy Meier family shared house for many years with his mother.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
24:10
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Water First Piped into House in 1941 : First installed faucets; later built bathroom by walling off part of kitchen.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
25:20
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Water in Barn : Well dug near barn about 1920; water handpumped into tank.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
26:15
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Electrification in 1941 : Lake Superior Light and Power Company surveyed and offered service for five dollars per month. Price County Rural Electrification Cooperative organized; charged $2.50 per month. Nob-and-tube wiring in Meier house sufficient to pass inspection. Traded Delco plant to implement dealer for first tractor, a Model B Allis-Chalmers, in 1941.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
28:40
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End of Tape 2, Side 1
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
00:30
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Telephone First Installed in Meier Home, 1913 : William Bradley brought first telephone line into Spirit; Ogema Telephone Company organized in 1912 or 1913. Father and neighbors called to exchange temperature readings on cold mornings. Dial system installed after Ogema and Brantwood companies consolidated.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
04:55
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Radio : Brother owned six-volt battery radio recharged by wind charger, miniature windmill mounted on house roof. Recalls brother-in-law built own radio set in early-1920s; listened to Chicago stations.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
07:30
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Phonograph : After two family deaths, boys in 1920s convinced mother to buy Sears Roebuck phonograph to alleviate household loneliness, paid for by trapping weasels and muskrats.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
09:10
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More about Radio : Family listened mostly to news and weather.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
09:45
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Improvements to Road That Is Now County Trunk YY : Grass-covered center track between dusty ruts. Townspeople did road work to pay poll tax. Father hauled gravel from river bottom to fill worst spots. County neglected township roads in sparsely populated towns. Meier proposed blacktopping during first year on county board in 1961 after all vehicles immobilized for six weeks in 1960; no opposition because he introduced the issue “in a proper way. I explained it to 'em.”
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
14:55
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Local Impact of Railroad : Meier farm closer to railroad than to Merrill. Lumber and cattle shipped from Spirit Falls as late as 1943.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
16:35
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Cooperative Livestock Shipping Associations Fail Because Farmers Mistrust Them : Meier's father belonged to cooperative packing company at Wausau; Farmers, mistrusting cooperatives, often sent better stock to such buyers as Oscar Mayer Company. Roy Meier belonged to Price County Shipping Association, Ogema Cooperative Livestock Association (1920), and Equity Association of Price County (1940s).
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
19:30
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Meier Trucks Cattle, 1947-1952 : Hauled cattle from farms to Oscar Mayer buying station in Abbotsford; farmers frequently got 25-30 dollars more per cow from Meier than from other buyers, yet Meier often made 25 dollars per cow. Business “grew out of my hands” and sold when oldest son went to Korean War. Present trucker hauls to cooperative at Stratford. Includes anecdotes about farmer suspicion of cattle-buyers.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
25:30
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Other Cattle-Buyers : Names other local cattle-buyers.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
26:30
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Competition Leads to Price-Fixing : Buyers once approached Meier to join price-fixing scheme for buying young pigs.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
28:20
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Father Buys 86 Model Overland Touring Car in 1916 : Bought green Overland instead of Maxwell or Ford; may have reached 30 miles per hour.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
30:35
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End of Tape 2, Side 2
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
00:35
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Mail-Order Purchases : Parents ordered groceries from Steinmeyer, hardware from Shadbolt and Boyd; both shipped from Milwaukee.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
02:50
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Meier Farm Declines During World War I Years : Good income in 1917, but brother and sister overspent and by 1920 family sold hay for cash. Meier decided to reverse trend by rebuilding herd.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
05:00
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Roy Meier's Education, Employment, and Early Farming Years : One of few in neighborhood to finish eighth grade. Father raised older brother Ed to take over farm; Ed attended farm short-course run by first county agent, Griffith Richards, and joined potato club, then a calf club, forerunners of 4-H. Roy physically small, expected to learn trade, but began to manage farm in 1917 because father ill and another brother in army in France; others at home had no interest.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
12:10
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Meier Supplements Farm Income : Worked on town road-grading crew at age 15; later in logging camp during winter as soon as younger brother able to handle farm chores. Earned 100 dollars during first logging season; bought a second horse for 125 dollars Shows photograph of lumber camp dug into bank, where he learned how to whittle, tell lies, but not to chew tobacco. Use of team in father's time doubled logging wages; Roy Meier also earned money as tie cutter to purchase farm machinery.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
16:55
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Farm Machinery Purchases : Replaced Deering horse mower with McCormick; purchased another springtooth drag; bought hand corn-planter.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
18:40
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County Agent Encourages Meier and Neighbors to Put Up Silos, 1924 : Dan Nelson, Ed Pierson and Meier purchased doors and hardware from A.C. Tectonius, Milwaukee; staves shipped directly from West Coast. Describes silo construction.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
20:50
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Silage Improves Milk Production : Improved feed resulted in year-round milk checks. Farmers together bought Ross silo filler and cut corn, although at first didn't know how much corn needed to fill silo. Cooperative work “happiest time of the life for farming,” although created extra work for women.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
23:30
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Farm Building Improvements : Buildings in good repair. Widened barn walk, replaced wood stalls with stanchions just after 1924, and added water cups for cows.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
25:40
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Meier Rebuilds Dairy Herd : Raised all own heifers and often traded bull for heifer calves. Rebuilt Jersey herd, then joined Nelson and Pierson in switching to Guernseys in mid-1920s, with county agent's encouragement. Guernseys increased milk production; culls brought better price. Increased herd size from 12 to 16 about 1940.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
28:50
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Soil Acidity Limits Choice of Forage Crop : Raised clover rather than alfalfa because soil very acid until lime available by truckload. As much as ten tons of lime per acre needed.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
29:45
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End of Tape 3, Side 1
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
00:30
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Cash Income During Early Farming Years : Logging enabled family to purchase necessary machinery, especially during the 1920s, the hardest years; no two-week milk check exceeded 74 dollars by early 1940s.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
02:30
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Roy Meier Logs Farm Timber for Income : Logged own land for hemlock and some hardwood after marriage in 1927. Followed father's pattern of cutting only mature timber rather than clear-cutting. Hired boy helped with farm chores. Marketed only veneer until Tomahawk Craft Paper Company began to buy hardwood for pulping in 1940s.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
06:15
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Meier Supervises Work Program Road Crews in 1930s : Already Brannan Cooperative Creamery director. As county sideboard member, set up county, later federal government work projects for local unemployed men. Farmers also paid off federal feed loans by working on highway and fire-lane crews.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
10:20
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Meier Becomes Town of Brannan Raod Superintendent in 1941 : Supervised and hired crews during World War II years; earned forty-five cents an hour but paid own expenses.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
11:30
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Drought Helps to Depress Farm Income in Late 1920s : Sold animals for as little as 7 dollars per head to pay property taxes and telephone bill; clover dried up, so cut meadow hay to keep horses and two or three other animals alive. Milk production declined.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
16:30
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Brannan Creamery Cooperative Waits Out Wisconsin Cooperative Milk Pool 1933 Strikes : 100 percent local membership in Milk Pool; hoped Pool program would boost milk price. Walter Singler organized strike; creamery held butter rather than join. No violence or property destruction in neighborhood except for one incident of kerosene added to milk. Meier believes butter shipments would have been stopped had they been attempted.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
20:45
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Brannan Cooperative Creamery Sold after 1930s : Milk Pool dissolved when strikes failed. Brannan Cooperative sold to Laabs Company when regulations during World War II restricted truck runs and cooperative could not pay its way. Stockholders paid over 100 percent.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
23:50
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Meier Active on Cooperative Boards : Elected Brannan director in 1923 at age 21. Later area director for Pure Milk Products Cooperative; met other cooperators outside own area, including Paul Affeldt of Sparta.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
26:45
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Meier's Acquaintances through 4-H Leaders Conference : Recalls Mrs. Milo Singler, Vern Varney, Agnes Hansen.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
28:15
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Farmers' Union Has Little Local Impact during 1930s
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
28:40
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Few Local Foreclosures during 1930s : Meier's brother one of the few, but “I think that we were the type of people that were used to doing without and we accepted it, so perhaps this helped us.”
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
30:00
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End of Tape 3, Side 2
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
00:30
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Meiers Increase Production during World War II : Prices rose and government subsidized production increases. Children old enough to help while Meier worked more on roads. No vacant land nearby to rent so cleared hill that “should never be cleared” to increase cultivated land. Worked nine acres of farm across the road on half-shares, so Meier's total cultivated acreage reached forty acres, largest ever. “We farmed wherever we could get a plow into the ground.”
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
04:55
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Meier Returns Tilled Acreage to Pasture as Sons Enter Farming : Income needs changed when Meier began drawing Social Security before age 65 to help youngest son through college. Son Gene began to take over dairy herd in 1969 and pastured hillier ground. Younger son bought forty-acre farm for 6000 dollars before entering Peace Corps; family set aside nine acres in federal government's Soil Bank program. Later son added 4000 dollar farm with house and barn to bring tillable land to 55 acres.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
07:50
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Neighbors and County Agents as Sources of Information : Cites older people in community, county agents, forester Adrian DeVriend, farmers Ed Pierson and Dan Nelson. Did not attend farmers' institutes or short courses.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
10:20
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Wisconsin Agriculturist as the Most Useful Farm Publication : Successful Farmer and Hoard's Dairyman geared toward larger farmers.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
11:25
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Why Meier Never Joined General Farmers' Organizations : Farmers' Union “didn't conflict with us,” but Meier did not join township group. Found National Farmers Organization too militant; “I felt I was doing more for the farmers in our community [while hauling cattle] than NFO promised to do.” Likes Farm Bureau but no local group. Recalls Grange organizing activity in 1920s; “nearsighted” pastor discouraged Meier from joining a “secret organization.” Grange lapsed through lack of membership. Liked Grange emphasis on cooperation and family farming. Greed of nearby farmers, not corporations, endangers small farmers.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
18:15
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Meiers Support La Follettes : Father voted for Democrats after Republican party split, later leaned towards Progressive Republicans. Meier stayed with Republicans after neighbor Arvid Blomberg elected to state assembly, and after Robert La Follette, Jr. returned to Republican party in 1946.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
20:30
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Meier Slips Out of Assembly Race, 1962 : Meier asked to run for assembly about time town of Spirit and Hill supervisory districts consolidated. Meier deferred to his nephew Alan Blomberg as supervisor from newly created district.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
22:40
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“New” Democratic Party Not Active in Town of Spirit
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
23:30
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Meier's Public Offices : Town board in 1931 until became highway superintendent in 1941. Chosen town chairman and county supervisor in 1958 when Art Johnson wanted to retire. Became town treasurer in 1962 for six years, then withdrew from politics.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
24:45
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Finnish Population in Town of Knox : Atheist majority, a group of drinkers and fighters, pushed “communistic thinking into the area;” voted for Eugene Debs in 1920.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
26:40
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Objections to Present Property Tax Formula : Local people blamed present Democrats for diverting property tax credit after 1974; at the same time state surplus accumulated because of property tax increases. Meier always favored sales tax; “the people that spent the most money would pay the most tax.”
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
29:15
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Daylight Savings Time : Didn't like daylight savings time but felt “we could plan our work as we pleased” regardless.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
29:55
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End of Tape 4, Side 1 (there is no Tape 4, Side 2)
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1979 March 23
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
00:30
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Ropp's Calculator : Purchased about 1919 through agricultural newspaper; used to calculate height of tree, size of haystack, weights and measures, interest rates, and so on.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
02:25
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Purchases Farm Equipment Locally : Liked Ogema and Tomahawk dealers because they “didn't try to sell us something that we couldn't pay for.” Few breakdowns; farmers usually serviced own machinery. Nearest Allis-Chalmers dealer now fifty miles away in Stetsonville.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
04:50
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Early Farm Machinery : Hauled water for Nicholas-Shepherd steam engine and Red River Valley threshing rig about 1915.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
05:30
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Early Milking Machines : Most farmers had Surge milkers.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
06:15
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Laabs Creamery Subsidizes Improvements to Farm Milk-Cooling Systems : First cooled ten-gallon milk cans in water tank. Recalls how Brannan Creamery quality milk program emphasized milk storage hygiene on the farm. Meier bought can cooler in 1947 or 1948 when Laabs offered one cent premium to farmers purchasing them. In 1960s local creamery subsidized farmers' switch to bulk tanks for Grade A milk.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
12:00
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Seed for Oats and Corn : No seed dealers in neighborhood; raised own until hybrids came into use. Bought garden seed and clover seed from store or Northrup-King.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
13:55
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Home Medical Care and Childbirth When Meier Was Young : Midwife attended birth; later midwife assisted doctor. Roy Meier's children all born at home. Doctors practiced in Ogema and Prentice until 1950s. Recalls fifteen-mile trip to doctor in 1918, first experience with sulfa drugs circa 1950. Meiers now travel to clinic in Tomahawk.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
19:25
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Barn Construction as Occasion for Neighborhood Gatherings : Barn-raising and shingling might draw fifty men.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
21:05
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Herman Jahn Owns First Threshing Rig in Nieghborhood : Kerosene-powered Vance-Rumley thresher eventually replaced Jahn's early steam-powered machine.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
22:45
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Basket Socials and Dances : Functioned as fund-raisers.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
23:25
|
Traveling Threshing Crews Replace Neighborly Cooperation : Carelessness of crew influenced Meeiers' decision to buy combin about 1950.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
25:55
|
Herman Jahn Family Keeps Bees
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
26:40
|
Quilting Bees
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
26:55
|
Weddings : Albert Meier added dance hall and kitchen to house for first child's wedding in 1909. Wedding dances with shivaree for refreshment money replaced home wedding parties in 1920s.
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Tape/Side
5/1
Time
30:15
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End of Tape 5, Side 1
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
00:00
|
Introduction
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
00:30
|
Meier Neighborhood Disregards Prohibition : Meier and brother-in-law made home brew. Moonshine easy to buy, especially at dances; enforcement ineffective. Recalls violence, neighbor's death. Log cabin now on Meier property once used for moonshining. “I suppose Prohibition was a mistake... this is when our country first started to disregard laws.”
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
05:05
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Funerals and Suicides : Father's body embalmed at home, taken to church after wake. Suicides not taken to church; lifted over fence into cemetery. Tells story of local suicide in 1920.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
10:15
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1913 Telephone Lines Follow Settlement Language Divisions : Tells Norwegian friend's story of switching around telephone lines to German and Swedish settlements.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
12:00
|
Meiers Begin 4-H Groups for Own Children : Son Ron at age nine recruited father as club leader and four schoolmates as members for first, male group. Daughter's subsequent interest brought Helen Meier into 4-H as girls' group leader. Meier often meets children of former members of Busy Beavers 4-H Club at fairs.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
16:05
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4-H Important Medium for Meeting and Understanding People : Provides something “to work together at home” and a means to an education “that continues through your life.”
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
18:05
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4-H Experience Helps Niece Gain Confidence to Succeed as Nurse : Niece Marie grew up with Meiers, who encouraged her to become a nurse; “we wanted each one of our children to have a career.” Meier sees 4-H program as “a medium we don't have otherwise.”
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
20:25
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No Opposition to Meier's Efforts on Town or County Board : Fairgrounds committee work as example of cooperation on boards.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
22:00
|
Establishes Park on Stone Lake while Town Chairman : Describes construction of boat landing and bathing beach planned to protect lake's natural features. Natural springwater available to public despite violation of state regulation. Town received financial aid from state and from forester Adrian DeVriend.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
26:00
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School Consolidation Splits Town of Spirit Residents between Rib Lake and Prentice : High school students boarded in Rib Lake until Meier began busing them circa 1935. Town of Spirit unsuccessfully resisted redistricting plans as communities grabbed territory to raise school district valuation. Consolidation closed German Settlement school, which already had declining number of students.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
28:55
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Spirit Lake Dam Causes Local Dissention : Original dam built for logging in 1916; Rib Lake Fish and Game Club later rebuilt dam despite some residents' opposition. State Conservation Commission suggested compromise to control water level, then dropped issue in face of town chairman Meier's rebuff.
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Tape/Side
5/2
Time
30:50
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End of Tape 5, Side 2.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
0:00
|
Introduction : Tape 6 was made during an automobile trip near Meier's farm. The tape provides information on farms and buildings that may be located on Price County plat map T. 34N.-R. 3E (Town of Spirit), Lincoln County plat map T. 34N.-R. 4E (Town of Tomahawk), and Price County plat map T. 34N.-R. 2E (Town of Hill). Interviewer and interviewee began by traveling east from Roy Meier's Spring Brook Farm on County Trunk YY.
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Tape/Side
6/1
Time
00:30
|
Spirit, Section 23: First Residence on Left after Meier Farm : Urban owners moved building to property. Woman is airline stewardess based at O'Hare International Airport.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
01:25
|
Interviewer Identifies Route
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
01:35
|
Spirit, Section 26: Meier Timber : Pine selectively cut; 350-year-old oak still stands.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
3:00
|
Spirit, Section 24: Albert Meier Clears New Right-of-Way to Spirit Falls : Meier Road to right (south) follows Spirit River; later-built road to left (northeast) shortened distance from German Settlement to Spirit Falls and Tomahawk. Road posted against heavy timber trucks in early spring until frost heaves settle.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
05:35
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Spirit, Section 24: Edward L. Thomas Farm : About ten tillable acres on a place no longer farmed.
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Tape/Side
6/1
Time
06:30
|
Spirit, Section 24: Emil Wallgren Farm (Near Intersection of County YY and Strucker Road) : Wallgren engineer for mill.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
06:55.
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Spirit, Section 24: R.H. Waterman Place : Present owner built second house with money from sale of land in Illinois.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
07:20
|
Swedish Settlement along Price-Lincoln County Boundary : Swedish families came down Wisconsin River from Michigan about same time as German settlement. No communication between area Swedish and German settlements until new road built.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
07:55
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Spirit, Section 24: Peter Johnson Farm Site of First Sawmill : Johnson also was Graywood postmaster. Mill employed twenty men; boarding house and basket factory on site. Millyard formerly connected to railroad. Mill has operated continuously since 1895.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
12:35
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Tomahawk, Section 19: Gene Meier Farm : Sugar maples for tapping on right. Anderson, then Bert Bergling families formerly owned farm.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
13:30
|
Spirit, Section 13: Spirit Youth Forest : Baseball diamond with grandstand and scoreboard in woods.
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Tape/Side
6/1
Time
14:10
|
Comments on Severe Winter of 1979
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
14:50
|
Spirit, Section 13: Gary Failing Property : City people who moved building to property; owner commutes to work in Wausau.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
15:15
|
Tomahawk, Section 18: Old German Settlement Road Passes through Here
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
15:30
|
Spirit, Section 13: Frescura Property Owned by Chicago People.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
15:45
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Tomahawk, Section 18: Amandus Johnson Farm : Johnson a log-house builder who ran logging and milling operation, then farmed. Discussion of farm structures and functions. Several grandsons built houses on farm; one owns Denny's Restaurant in Tomahawk. Johnson and three other farms comprise this Swedish settlement.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
20:20
|
Spirit, Section 12: Another Farm Part of Old Swedish Settlement (Presently Mayda Olson)
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
20:50
|
Spirit, Section 12: Farm for Sale
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
21:20
|
Tomahawk, Section 7: Swedish Settlement's School House and Free Lutheran Church
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
22:15
|
Spirit, Section 12: “Pretty Herman” Johnson's Farm on Left (Corner of County YY and State Highway 86)
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
22:45
|
Grocery Store and Burned-Down Tavern at Intersection of Routes YY and 86
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Tape/Side
6/1
Time
23:05
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Spirit, Section 1: Isaac Stone's Middle Farm (NW Corner of YY and 86 Intersection) : Stone also had farms at Spirit Falls and Stone Lake.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
24:30
|
Spirit, Section 12: “Pretty Herman”Johnson's Old Farm : Schoolteacher tried dairy farming, sold herd recently. Carl Johnson farm on plat map.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
25:05
|
Preacher Wolfstran Leads Free Lutheran Congregation in Swedish Settlement.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
25:30
|
Bradley's Telephone Line : Followed Swedish Settlement Road (now State Highway 86) to Spirit Falls. Was tote road for Bradley's Farmers' Trading Company.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
26:10
|
Spirit, Section 12: Hilmar Olson Road.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
26:50
|
Spirit, Section 1: Harry Evans Farm (First Farm on Right Since YY and 86 Intersection) : Present owner served on town board and cleared land with Meier. Comments on steel silo.
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Tape/Side
6/1
Time
27:30
|
Spirit, Section 11: Beginning of Old Norwegian Settlements : Harold Arneson farm currently owned by Roger Nyberg.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
28:05
|
Spirit, Section 2: Ron Meier Farm : Ron is preserving old schoolhouse.
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|
Tape/Side
6/1
Time
28:30
|
End of Tape 6, Side 1
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
00:00
|
Introduction
|
|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
00:30
|
Isaac Stone “Home” a Formality that Allowed Him to Log Property
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
02:05
|
Spirit, Section 3: German Settlement Cemetery and Norwegian Lutheran Church : Meier's parents buried here. Tells story of parents' first meeting.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
03:05
|
Spirit, Section 3: Schoolhouse Enlarged Once, But Now Closed : Children now go to Prentice school.
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
03:25
|
Spirit, Section 10: Marheine Farm Has Log House : Meier's cousin, Rhinehart Marheine, current owner of farm occupied since 1879. Logs floated down Marheine Creek to Wausau.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
05:35
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Spirit, Section 3: Green Lantern Roadhouse at Intersection of 86 and County Trunk D
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
05:50
|
Spirit, Section 10: Old Andreae Farm Now Belongs to Ron Meier
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
06:25
|
Spirit, Section 3: Machine Shop Constructed by Chicagoans
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
06:45
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Spirit, Section 10: Wilson Farm : Swedish settlement area no longer recognizable by Swedish names.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
07:00
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Spirit, Section 4: “Crick” Johnson Farm
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
07:10
|
Village of Spirit: First Town Hall Site of First School; Now Machine Shed
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
07:40
|
Village of Spirit: Brannan Creamery : First building, which burned, housed factory and family. Second building now used as a garage.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
08:45
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Township Fair Started during World War II : 4-H leaders began fair when county fair was cancelled; town erected cattle shed for second year. Township fair still held.
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
10:15
|
Beginning of Drive to Highest Point in State
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
10:35
|
Spirit, Section 9: Tilson Residence
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
10:50
|
Spirit, Section 9: Methodists Start First Church in Spirit : Lutheran church began in 1900.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
11:15
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Spirit, Section 4: Pederson Farm Now Belongs to Road Boss
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
11:30
|
Spirit, Section 9: Post Office : C.B. Nelson was postmaster and store owner.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
11:40
|
Spirit, Section 4: Blacksmith Shop
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
11:45
|
Spirit, Section 9: Bradley's Farmes Trading Store Now Divided into Apartments
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
12:10
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Spirit, Section 4: Ed Pierson Farm : Silo that Pierson purchased with Meier and Nelson has since burned.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
12:25
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Spirit, Section 9: Spirit Baptist Church Is Pastor Ostergren's Congregation
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
12:45
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Spirit, Section 4: Twin Silos; One Is Mate to Meier's
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
12:55
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Spirit,Section 4: Kardell Farm Part of Swedish Settlement
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
13:05
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Spirit, Section 8: Fred Anderson School, Once Enlarged, Is Now Residence
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
13:20
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Spirit, Section 8: Andrew Swan Farm Also Part of Swedish Settlement
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
14:05
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Spirit, below Route 86: Headwaters of North Branch of Spirit River : Logs floated to Wausau.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
14:40
|
Spirit, Section 8: Vacant Property
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
14:45
|
Spirit, Section 5: Summer Place for City Residents
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
14:55
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Spirit, Section 6: Jacobson Road Intersects Route 86 : Store and St. Peter's Mill at corner.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
15:15
|
Town of Hill, State Watershed Area : Meier owns letter verifying that logs were floated from Pearson Lake to Wausau.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
16:35
|
Hill, Section 1: Swanson Stand of Sugar Maples Part of Helen Meier's Home Farm : Television booster tower now there.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
17:10
|
Hill, Section 12: Virgin Timber on Pearson Homestead : Highway relocated to preserve area.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
18:45
|
Hill, Section 12: Pearson's Lake Flows into Wisconsin River
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
19:25
|
Hill, Section 2: Town Road through Watershed : Other side drains into Chippewa River.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
20:25
|
Hill, Section 11: Highest Point in Wisconsin
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
22:15
|
Hill, Section 11: Former Dairy Farm Now Tree Farm : Ginseng raised there.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
23:00
|
Hill, Section 2 or 11: Ring's Hill
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
23:10
|
Hill, Section 11: Tim's Hill and Lake Named (Misnamed) after Logger Tim Gallahan : Pastor Ostergren's garden once there, as was school Helen Meier attended.
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
24:40
|
Hill, Section 10: Cemetery Where Helen Meier's Parents Buried
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
25:05
|
Hill, Section 10: County Trunk C Connects State Highways 86 and 102
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
25:45
|
Hill, Section 10: Christofferson Farm : Skilled Norwegian masons.
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
26:00
|
Hill, Section 3: Intersection of Old and New Routes 86 : Filling station and tavern formerly at junction built about 1920.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
27:10
|
Spirit, Section 9: Route 102 Passes through Ostergren's Swedish Baptist Settlement : Nelson, Olson families part of Swedish Baptist settlement. Olson grandsons built up “wonderful” Guernsey herd.
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
28:30
|
Spirit, Section 16: Swedish Road Ended : German Settlement teacher Missy McDonald walked two miles to reach school.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
29:05
|
Spirit, Section 16: Town Road Extended to A. Johnson Farm
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|
Tape/Side
6/2
Time
29:25
|
Cheese Factory Road Borders Sections 9 and 16 : Graywood basket factory owner Wahlstrand built factory that never produced any cheese.
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Tape/Side
6/2
Time
30:00
|
End of Tape 6, Side 2
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Tape/Side
7/1
Time
00:00
|
Introduction
|
|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
00:30
|
Remainder of Drive Postponed
|
|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
00:55
|
Sense of Community Weaker Now Than In Past : Farm consolidation has reduced population. People tend to work more independently of each other.
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|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
01:55
|
Ron Meier's Meadows Farm (Town of Spirit, Section 2) an Example That Small Family Farm Is Still Feasible : Limited herd to eighteen cows; bought home and tractor outright rather than on credit. Ron's acreage would once have supported two families. Timber has given Price County farmers another crop; cut-over land is now producing harvestable trees.
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|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
04:25
|
Participation in Community Affairs, 4-H Work, and Church Characterizes the Successful Farmer : Milk check does not indicate success. “Happiness in life is not doing what you like to do, but like what you're doing, and this is success.”
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Tape/Side
7/1
Time
05:40
|
Man's Relation to the Land : “We never own any land....; we are stewards of this land.”
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|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
06:45
|
Changing Family Life in Price County : Poor quality of soil will slow agricultural changes in Price County. Family farms but fewer of them.
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|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
07:40
|
Land Values Will Affect Size of Local Population : Retirees, rather than young people, will continue to move into the area.
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|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
08:30
|
Property Tax Increase Over 100 Percent between 1974 and 1979 : State legislation altered tax-sharing formula with town; state tax credit to individual farmers dropped by over 50 percent.
|
|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
11:05
|
Inadequate Communication Leaves Legislature and Consumer Unaware of Rural Problems and Needs : Urban interests control legislature. “There will be no need of us trying to take a militant stand on this. It's a case of, again, information; information and lack of information.”
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Tape/Side
7/1
Time
12:50
|
Conclusion : Exchange of hopes that interview will be useful to future researchers.
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|
Tape/Side
7/1
Time
14:00
|
End of Interview Session
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