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| Leo and Opal Wagahoff |
The following information appears in Raymond's 125th Anniversary book published in 1996:
Leo and the former Opal Herman married and lived on his father’s farm, east of Raymond, for several years. Leo farmed and worked part-time for Raymond Township, operating the road grader. He also ran the steam engine with the thrashing ring, which went from farm to farm at harvest time. The women followed, cooking dinner each day.In winter, it was butchering time. Since there was no
electricity, freezers, etc., the meat had to be cured, smoked, or fried down
and stored in large crocks, then covered with lard. Butchering usually consisted
of five or six hogs. When it was time to grind the sausage, the men jacked up
the Model A car and hooked the grinder on the back wheel. They seasoned it,
mixed it in large washtubs, and stuffed it in casings, which had been cleaned.
Making headcheese, rendering lard, and making scrapple were all accomplished in
one day.
Canning fruit and vegetables was another hot job. Everyone
had large gardens and had to can in order to have produce throughout the winter.
Canning was done with a coal stove.
Water was heated in a large black kettle outside for washing, which was done once or twice a week by hand. Later, washers were run by gasoline engines. Winter nights were cold when you slept upstairs with no heat. Leo and Opal became the parents of Harold, Robert, James, Mary Frances “Toot” (Mrs. Lester Walch), Kenneth, and Jack.
Although times were rough (sometimes we put cardboard in our shoes to cover the holes), because we lived on a farm, we had our own meat, milk, fruit, and vegetables, so we always had plenty to eat and lots of love.
Leo was born 12/21/1886 and died 3/22/79.
Opal was born 10/22/1900 and died 6/10/90. The couple was married in 1919.
