Jacques, Mrs. William

• 1972-11-21 (Creation)

1 folder

This interview features an account of the early history of the Jacques Seed Company of Prescott. In it, the founder's wife details how William Jacques first got started in the experimental seed corn business. Neither Jacques or his wife were children of farmers. As the son of a lawyer, who owned some farms, William Jacques became interested in expierimenting with corn that could withstand northern climates after attending the Unversity of Wisconsin-Madison's law school. Following military duty at the Mexican border and state-side service during World War I, Jacques brought his wife, whom he married in 1917, to Prescott in 1925. In the interview, Mrs. Jacques describes how the family aquired its original acerage and how the company began drying seed corn. Mrs. Jacques also describes marketing of the product and explaines how Jacques Seed Company expanded and set up test plots in neighboring states.
Mrs. Jacques speaks of her husband's death in 1966. Finally, Mrs. Jacques states that even though working with corn was Mr. Jacques' primary concern, the company also worked with alfalfa, oats, soybeans, and sunflowers. She also explains how the company hired high school students to detassel corn during the summer months.
Mrs. Jacques, several times in the interview, admits to not knowing the answer to some questions but she often refers the interviewer to someone who may know the answer.

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• Jacques Seed Company
• Prescott, Wis.
• Seed Corn
• Military Service
• Seasonal Workers