It is hard to select a “single favorite” photo. So, instead of trying to find my favorite one to write about, I started looking at photos and stopped when I found one that “spoke” to me.
The Photo
The photo that I chose to write about is one of Rod’s grandfather Alexander Joseph Thomson. It is a modern photo and not extremely unique. However, it spoke to me because everything about it said, “Farmer.” His hat and clothes are typical of farmers of his era. And, I love his stance – leaning on the fence post. It personifies a farmer in every way.
Farm Life
The Early Days
Alexander J. Thomson (being specific because his uncle William Alexander Thomson also went by Alexander) was born March 4, 1907 at Palmyra, Nebraska to Herbert & Blanche (Klinefelter) Thomson. He grew up living and working on the family farms.
The various Thomson families owned several farms in the Palmyra area. However, Herbert also owned a couple of 320-acre farms just a tiny bit more distant. One farm was near Stettler, Alberta, Canada and the other just down the road in Halkirk (between Calgary and Edmonton). The farms were only a little over 1300 miles away from the family’s farms near Palmyra, Nebraska.
According to one of his cousins, Alexander accompanied the family farm equipment and animals on a train to the Canadian property when he was a teenager. Now, I am not exactly sure when that would have been as he arrived in Canada the first time in 1919 or 1920, which means he would have been no more than 13 upon arrival. But, it is possible that he went with his father and his uncle on the trip.
He took other trips back and forth at later dates. One was in 1926 when he went with his Uncle John to manage the harvest on their farm. Although he was not listed with his parents when they went in 1928, he was in Canada as he is shown in a picture taken there at that time. I have not yet; however, found documentation of all the family’s trips.
Later Years
Alexander later purchased land near one of the farms in Canada. However, he lost the farm for reasons that have yet to be uncovered. Thus, settled for life in Palmyra.
Alexander and his wife Donna (Van Allen) Thomson lived on a 160-acre farm just southeast of Palmyra. There they raised their six children. Alexander and Donna had cattle, pigs, and chickens. And, in the fields, he grew corn, milo, and winter wheat. The family also had a large garden and fruit trees. While the pasture and treed areas were ideal for hunting game.
It was said that he was always the first one to finish planting, shucking corn, etc. One thing, however, held Alexander back from doing more with farming. That was his asthma. By 1937, he was suffering terribly from it. He even went out to McCook, Nebraska where some relatives lived in hopes of getting relief in a different climate.
Due to ongoing issues with asthma, he had his boys out working in the fields when they were very young. He would wheeze while standing on the edge of the field while his sons James and Howard worked in the field with the old Farmall tractor or the little Ford. As such, they became very adept at working the farm equipment .
Unintended Crops
Per Rod’s sister Jackie, the photo is said to have been taken when hemp was found growing in the ditch on Alexander’s farm. Likely everyone thought it would be fun to have a photo (although I can’t tell what is growing there based on the photo) and he likely went along with it as he liked a good joke.
The Family Farm – After Alexander
Alexander died suddenly Aug 14, 1964 of a heart attack. Given the age of the picture and the date of his death, the photo must have been taken between 1960 and 1964. Jackie noted that if you look close, you can even tell that he isn’t wearing his dentures, which he apparently didn’t like to do.
Donna continued to live on the farm for a time. Howard and James farmed and hoped to one day take over the farm. But, it wasn’t meant to be. James died a mere 4 years later.
Various family members, including Donna, their daughter Rachel, and their daughter Virginia lived on the property after that. Still, remembrances of Alexander remained on the farm. After Donna died 12 years later, Rachel found his false teeth sitting on a shelf in the kitchen!