As I have said my dad not only cared for his farm but he share cropped many of the farms near us. Each place was unique and a place of curious interest for me to study. However there was one farm that topped any and all the farms I ever farmed or that Dad ever farmed. That farm was my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Charles Hettericks’ farm.

As far as how the crops grew there was nothing really out of the ordinary and it was the same with the barn and out buildings. It was really very standard for the times. However, there were many reasons Dad, Ben and I wanted to go to Aunt Margaret’s. At her place she had six children that ran to greet us upon our arrival. With them came six dynamos of limitless energy and a million questions. They each had stories to tell and the competition for their story to receive top billing was intense!

My dad never could get enough of having his nieces and nephews around him. Dad was a man with a quick smile and liked to laugh, but when we were in their presence he laughed the hardest I think I ever saw him and he wore a smile the entire time we were there. It felt like to me that our approach to the hard labors in agriculture took on a lighter feel when we were at Aunt Margaret’s.

The children were as follows: Mary Ann the oldest followed by Eddie and then Bob, Ralph Thomas, Jim and last, but not least, Carolyn. They were much more entertaining than Ringling Brothers Circus. Now Mary Ann and Carolyn normally came out to great us and talk a minute with Dad. During a day they would make appearances bringing us fresh water or calling us to lunch. But as for the boys they were at our sides for as long as our jobs took, ready to help even though they hadn’t learned how yet. If Uncle Ralph asked for something from the truck like a grease gun or a can of oil the truck fell under siege as the boys raced to get what Uncle Ralph needed. Now my dad liked them being so eager but somehow he always managed to succeed to have each one bring him something so there would be no fighting over that issue later. (Trust me, there were four brothers so odds of a fight were good.) If we were headed to the hay field the boys rode on the front of the wagon. The same was true if we were hauling tobacco. When the truck was needed they rode in the back. It was so obvious Dad loved having them around as much as they loved being near their uncle. There was a bond there that lasted until my dad.

Now their enthusiasm carried over to Ben and I. Also, since we were older, I want to think we were enjoyable to be with like Dad. Ben and I had to be careful with sharp and heavy items as at least one if not more were at your side or behind you. Honestly when we would put in a long day there I felt very tired by the time Dad yelled “quitting time,” but those four boys were still going strong. At the end of a work day what Dad had set out to accomplish there was accomplished and the addition of a crew of children never seem to impede the work done. Of course by days end your head could be throbbing from answering ‘why?’ so many times. Until working at Aunt Margaret’s I never knew the world consisted of that many questions!

A highlight Ben and I looked forward to a home cooked meal from our Aunt Margaret. She was a cook of high status among cooks. Her meals were an event we talked about for days after. Only when we ate a meal Margaret made we took and extra half hour to let all the food to settle. It was just that good. By the way when we would begin to sit down to the table the boys worked so they were in between us since they had been in the fields also. Dad always had a boy on each side. He never had to reach far for anything as they saw to it he got it. Also as we ate Mary Ann served us at the table and Carolyn helped as much as she could (she was very small at the time but very willing).

Most all the farms we farmed were either vacant of residents or the residents were older and seldom ventured from their porch, but at my aunt’s children appeared and adventure was definitely on their minds. They enjoyed all the activity we delivered with whatever part of farming we were doing (even if it was cleaning stables) but I don’t think those children ever realized how much we enjoyed all they delivered. Especially my dad!

Rick Houser grew up on a farm near Moscow in Clermont County and loves to share stories from his youth and other topics. He may be reached at houser734@yahoo.com.