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Second World War: Gasoline Was Rationed

By Capper's Staff
Published on August 27, 2012

During the Second World War, gasoline was rationed, as was coffee, sugar and several other things. We lived on a farm and had eggs to sell, but they were only 11 cents a dozen and at times hard to sell.

My husband worked at the Marathon filling station, and they had to have ration stamps to get gasoline. My daughters worked’ in town and rented an apartment there because of gasoline rationing. We had a garden, milk cows, and hogs and chickens, so we didn’t go hungry.

Lillian Stewart
Marshall, Illinois


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.