My father plowed the fields for corn planting with a plow that was pulled by the two horses we had. During the depression era, everything was done this way as there were no tractors or machinery. Everything had to be done by hand. My brother and I would then plant the corn by walking from one end of the field dropping the grains of corn by hand in the rows. We would do this from early morning until dark. But we never seemed to mind, and we always felt we were lucky even though we had to work hard.
Etta Reiker
Union, Missouri
Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.
