In the early years of the 20th century on the prairie lands of Saskatchewan Province the main farm crops were grains. Grandpa and his son Clint were no exception to the rule. In a letter to his step-son Ray dated July 12, 1913, Grandpa stated Clinton had sown 11 ½ acres and was working on 15 acres more. Grandpa had sown 32 ½ acres of oats, and thought he would be set to sow 50 acres the following year. He had built a hen house 16’ X 20’ for their 140 baby chicks and 17 one-year-old hens. They also owned 5 hogs, 4 horses, 4 oxen, 1 milk cow and a calf. He pleaded with Ray to come take up a homestead so he too might “have a house and 160 acres of fine land of your own where people can’t say ‘get out’”
During harvest time 30 or 40 men followed the threshing machine through the countryside as they done all of the farmer’s crops. One year Cora Lawton was hired as the cook. She followed the men through the entire harvest season. A man was hired to help her with the cooking. All ate outdoors for the three meals a day Cora cooked. As fresh vegetables were hard to get the meals were mostly meat and potatoes. The men ate on long wooden tables that were loaded on wagons and hauled from farm to farm. Little Clara set the tables and in later life said they seemed like they were half a mile long.
Not until all the men were done eating would Cora, her helper, and her three children sit down to eat. Clara also remembered that the helper played the harmonica, and it was one of her fondest memories recalling sitting on his lap in the evening as he played mournful tunes in the fading light of the setting sun.
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