Mr. Tronnier, a Prescott native, talks about his immigrant family and their experiences moving to Wisconsin from Germany. He discusses his time working for the railroads and the history of the Prescott, Wis. area. He also talks about the Missisippi river and boating.
Prescott, Wis.
7 Archival description results for Prescott, Wis.
Frank Stirratt and his sister, Pearl Stirratt were longtime residents of the Prescott, Wis. area, descendants of early settlers of Oak Grove Township. After working as a bookkeeper as a young man, Mr. Stirratt returned to Oak Grove where he farmed for more than 40 years. He helped organize and was actively involved in a local creamery, served as town clerk, and later as Prescott's city clerk. Pearl Stirratt kept house for her parents and later for her brother.
In this interview, Mr. Stirratt recalls his years as a farmer, and both he and Pearl discussd Prescott: its businesses, how its residents lived, and how it changed over a period of several decades.
Mrs. Slack and Mrs. Cole relate information reagarding James Ruben Rice, and early settler of Prescott, Wis. and his son, David Oren Rice. The women also provide information regarding the Rice families and their connections with Prescott and Pierce County history.
Mr. and Mrs. Most lived on a highly prodcutive farm in the Prescott area. They discuss the specifics of their farming and mention being among the first in their area to use commerical fertilizers. Over the years, both Mr. and Mrs. Most have taken active involvement in the Prescott Community and in this interview detail their civiv and governmental affairs.
Mr. Mercord provides recollections of Prescott, Wisconsin during his youth: river boats, flour mills, and commercial activity. He talks about changes over the years and extensively describes the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. As such, he also discusses river travel and types of boats. In the final piece of the interview Mr. Mercord deals with his his experience with the Ku Klux Klan in Rochester, MN during the 1920's.
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.
The Bletsoe sisters, Maude and Myrtle, were born and raised in the Prescott area. The Bletsoes relate many stories of their childhood, family, and the Prescott area. Both women discuss their grandparents' farm in England and the duties associated with running a farm. The women also relate part of the story of the "Sea Wing" sinking on Lake Pepin.