—Lancaster Farming. Saturday. May 1. 1976 68 Partner Progress The foundation of the modern family farm lies m its heritage of the past. For the farm wife has al ways been at the side of her husband and in his absence in his place. The customary tradition of women of agriculture is well The Colonial farm wife combined Held work with traditional talk of raising a family. known—helping to build homes in the wilderness, breaking the ground, sowing the seed and harvesting the crops while continuing the numerous daily tasks of rais ing and caring for families. But history is dotted with in stances of the efforts of women of agriculture which went well above and beyond even these demanding tasks, according to farm life re searchers at Sperry New Holland. It is said the first person to set foot on Plymouth Rock from the Mayflower was a young woman of 19 named Mary Chilton. Her father be came violently ill just as the ship weighed anchor off Cape Cod and died before its land ing. Leading the way into the new land, this petite Pilgrim tilled the rocky soil to eake out an existence for her and her widowed mother. The original male colonists of Jamestown, Va., while cul tivating tobacco, complained constantly of the ban by the Virginia Company against bringing women to the col ony. Finally, when the set tlers were on the verge of open rebellion and threaten ing return to England, new company management changed the policy and ar ranged for the passage of 90 prospective brides. In Haverhill, Mass, a monument stands to honor Hannah Duston. A farm wife, she and her new-born child were among the women and children taken captive in an Indian raid in which her husband and all other males were killed. After several days of forced march, Han nah led a revolt one night, killed her captors with their own tomahawks* and scalped them as a warning to other raiders. She returned to her home to resume farming. Women founded early East Coast agricultural settle ments —Elizabeth Poole in Taunton, Mass.; Elizabeth Haddon in Haddonfield, N.J. and Madam Mary Faree who cultivated 2,500 acres in Pennsylvania. During the Revolution, farm wives—in addition to providing food and materials for the military and keeping the family farms going while husbands went off to fight for independence—took even more active rolls. Deborah Sampson of Plymouth, Mass, disguised herself as a man and under the name of Robert Short hffe fought throughout the Revolution. Although wounded twice, her secret remained undisclosed until during a bout with fever her in Agricultural The Farm Wife true sex was discovered by a doctor. Even after recovery, she carried a letter through Redcoat lines to General Washington. Western expansion is filled with -the heroics of farm wives as families migrated to tame, the wilderness. Re becca Boone followed her husband, Daniel, into the wilds of Kentucky and the widowed mother of Sam Huston took her nine chil dren into the mountains of Tennessee to homestead a farm and forever shape American history.' On both sides of the Civil War, the efforts of farm wives are rooted in history. After the battle of An tietam, the United States Sanitary Commission, founded and staffed by women (many from farm backgrounds) to oversee the health of Union forces, tended 10,000 sick and wounded, providing ' their only meals for many days. Mr. and Mn. Jamea Ottoman, and daughter, Dana, of Matin, Ore., National Farm Family of 1975, participate in nearly a acore of different civic activitiea. Lunchtime in the barnyard. Allie McPeek, a widow, lived on a small farm near Jonesboro, Ga, Her home was under fire for days when the Blue and Gray clashed there. She converted her home into a hospital and helped tend the sick and wounded of both armies as the battle lines constantly changed. Today, the roles of such partners in agricultural progress may have, changed somewhat, but their con tributions are equally im portant. Farm wives still can be found at their husbands’ sides in the, fields and bahind the wheels'of sophisticated machinery. Both partners also devotf a considerable amount of time today in civic work to better their agricul tural communities. The 1975 Farm Family of the' Year, selected in na tional competition sponsored by the USDA’s Farmers Home Administration and Sperry New Holland, Texas farm wife rakes hay, while her hfliband operate* round baler during harvesting operation. exemplifies this. Together, Mr. and Mrs. James Otto man, „of Malm, Ore., have been active in nearly a score of different civic endeavors, while farming 250 acres. Mrs. .Ottoman’s civic ac tivities have included PTA president; Girl Scout and 4-H Leader, American Auxiliary President, volunteer for blood banks, cancer and heart fund drives and the United Givers Fund. Thus today and through out history, the female role—the women of agricul ture prominently among them—deserve the words of an observer from France: “If I were asked to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of the American people aught mainly to be attributed, I shall reply... to the superiority of their women.” GARBER OIL CO. (texamJ Fuel Chief HEATING Dll. t Oil MUTING EQUIPMENT' AIR CONDITIONING MOUNT JOY, PA. Ph. 653-1821 Alfalfa, weevil, control- Hho. . needs n Maybe you do. Maybe We’ll scout your fields tell you. We’ll do more. We’ll advise on what to about an infestation th. needs treatment. We’ll probably suggest new Supracide® insecticide. We don't know of a weevil P. L ROHRER & BRO., INC. SMOKETOWN, PA Supracide® trademark of CIBA-GEIGY for metfiidathion EVERY WEDNESDAY IS DAIRY » DAY AT NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC. New Holland, PA If you ne§d 1 cow or a truck load, we have from 100 to 200 cows to sell every week at your price; ■ Mostly fresh and close springing Holstems. Cows from local farmers and our regular shippers including Marvin Eshleman, Glenn Fite, Gordon Fritz, Blaine Hotter, Dale Hostetter, H. D. Matz, and Jerry Miller. SALE STARTS 12:30 SHARP Also Every Wednesday, Hay, Straw & Ear Corn Sale 12:00 Noon. , All Dairy Cows & Heifers must be eligible for Pennsylvania Health Charts. For arrangements for special sales or herd dispersals at our barn or on your farm, contact - Abram Oiffenbach, Mgr. 717-354-4341 Norman Kolb 717-397-5538 control material that irks better, or longer. Also Controls Aphids, Spittlebugs & Leafhoppers. iretty complete serv du bet. it’s designed you time, and make more alfalfa. Call us. PH. 717-299-2571 '• / * S *■ T
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers