Miscellaneous

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I started threshing by hauling bundles in 1920 at the age of 14 at Orchard, Nebraska, 100 miles west of Sioux City, Iowa. In 1921-1922 I graduated to the straw stack. If kids now a days stacked straw under blower at 100 in shade and in muggy Midwest weather ugh. 1922 through 1925 went the rounds of neighborhood threshing. One week I hauled water from horse tank to double cylinder Advance steamer, I think.

We kids on the bundle racks used to throw belt with wet bundles for a little rest, but braving the wrath of the separator man was terrifying.

My folks sold out in 1925 and headed for California n two Model T's. It took two weeks. The old plank road at Yuma; Arizona, was being replaced with black top. Had eight flat tires a short distance from desert service station carpet tacks on the pavement. Changed and patched them all and pumped them up and glared at man sitting in front of station.

My first job in 1927 in San Diego was driving a team of mules on an old dump wagon from old steam shovel to road fill at 50 cents an hour figured I was in paradise after no pay on the farm for years.

Enough of chatter always wanted a steamer and I saw an ad in ALBUM for one by an old steamer man at Grangeville, Idaho; a Mr. Northway has a place known as The Hobby Farm. I answered the ad to find out all about it and later sent him a check and went after it. It was an 1895 Russell in good shape. I've used it in many parades. I steam cleaned it and gave it two coats of paint. It sits in front of my market always.

Courtesy of Reuben T. Nelson, 601 North Broadway - 132 W. Washington,

Escondido, California 92025.