The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-04-24
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, April "a. l907.
The olden Tint On the Farm.

When farmers are using improved
machinery and buying all their farm
ing implements in the stores, it will
be well to consider how their grand
fathers managed in 1920 to 1850. Every
thing was home made and hand made.
The wagon and every part of the har-
ness we're made at home, unless the
drawing chains were kept in stores.
Hames were cut from the base of
water oak or white oak trees, so as to
get advantage of the crook in the root
of the tree. .Plow stocks were made
on the farm or by some mechanic in
the neighborhood. A good pillow stock
cost about $1.25. If a farmer wanted
a wagon he often had to put in his
order 6 to 10 months before he needed
it. Every piece of iron except the
boxes in the hubs was made in the
shop. The price of a four horse wagon
was S125 to $3.50. Plow moulds for
shovels and twisters were made at
the furnaces. They weighed 7 to 10
pounds each. 1t took trimming and
hammering to get them in shape.
Tongue plows were made from iron
bars 4 inches wide. They were cut
off the proper length and hammered
into shape. A blacksmith with a good
striker could make 10 to ~ plows a
day. Horse shoes were made from
bar iron by splitting the same and
hammering out and punching the
holes. In later days horse shoe iron
was made at the furnaces. Horse
shoe nails were made byhand. Often
axes and hoes were made in the shop.
In fact all the axes used were thus
made. It took an expert smith to
make a good broad axe. Before 1920
nails were made in the shop for build
ing houses and the grain cradles had
not caused the reap hooks to retire
from the harvest field. Perhaps some
persons are living in the county now
who have seen wheat cut with a reap
hook. Wheat wa separated from the
straw by tramping with horses. If
there was a barn large enough the
bundles were united and scattered on
the floor. Four to six horses were
driven round and round and the straw
was pitched and turned and kept in
their track until the wheat was knock
ed out. Wheat fans were used to
blow out the chaff generally, but
many persons used the wind. They
would wait for a strong breeze and
pour the wheat and chaf slowly so it
would fall several feet. The chaf
would be driven out by the wind.
Flails were often used for threshing
wheat and oats. The cards, spinning
wheel and loom were as common in
those days as organs are now. The
clothing of men, women and children
was made in the home. There was
an expert coat maker or two in every
neighborhood, and they generally
made the "Sunday" coats for the
men whose wives could not do the
work well. Shoe makers went from
house to house to make shoes for the
families. Some of the lasts used were
about as much like the foot as the end
of a fence rail. Saddle makers also
travelled over the country patching up
and repairing saddles. Plow lines
were made at home. We do not be-
lieve that there are three young farm
ers under 40 years old in the county
who could make the rope works and
make a cotton plow line in a week, if
the thread was furnished. The cook
ing was all done in open fire places.
The pot rack was a necessary attach
ment to every kitchen fireplace.
Some of our handsome girls would
not know what pot hooks were used
for. Even the college graduates could
not "slay" a web of cloth, and they
would not know how to "hand
threads" or 'fll quilts" The boys
had to YEA home made hats and caps
with their home made shoes and
clothes. Some of the hats were terri
BILE to behold. They were genuine
wool. About 1920 and perhaps later
planks were sawed by hand. Can you
imagine two men saving all day
through a log? Puncheon floors were
not uncommon between 1900 and 1920.
Tallow candles, or generally Eight
wood' furnished light in the house at
night. Some of you young fellows
are ready to exclaim "What a hard
time they had" But they got on
we'll, had plenty to eat, made money,
laid the foundation for present condi-
tons and served their day and gen.