Born September, eleven, nineteen twenty three in the old brick house on the "People's Place" (name of owners), a mile and one half southeast of Huntsville, Ohio in Logan County, Ohio. Farms were often called after an original owner until a new owner lived there for a generation or so then the farm took on the new owner's name.
My father was a tenant farmer at the time of my birth. The last of his six children. He was not a wealthy man and it's the truth that the doctor at my delivery needed some hay for his cow. Doctors were not wealthy in those days either. The agreement was Pop should deliver approximately one ton of hay to the doctor's cow shed in Huntsville. This was loose hay (not baled), hauled to town by team and wagon. That tone of hay was, probably, worth around $15-$20 delivered.
Not much to tell about my early childhood. Coal oil lamps and wood stoves. A kitchen that served as the family gathering place. Where the gossip of school and community was passed about. I, being the youngest had little to offer so I listened. There is no doubt that I know much more about my family, about each sister and brother than they know about me. I went through my maturing years pretty much alone as the others scattered soon after high school.
Even though I was the youngest, which might indicate being sheltered and spoiled, I became independent and perhaps even a loner. I liked to explore the countryside by myself as a teenager. Sunday afternoons found me on a four-five mile circle around the home farm. (The name of Schlumbohm finally attached to the 325 acres north of Huntsville in 1945). This farm was held by the Schlumbohms until 1978 when it was sold to a neighbor. This sale drove a rift, a division within the Schlumbohm family. Perhaps it is better said that I was the one split off. Better said that I split myself off. The effects of this farm sale changed my life in a negative way. For reasons that I couldn't overcome, it seems to have effected my life even now.
Moved to Findlay, Ohio early fall of "65". at age 42 with wife and 4 children. A falling out with my father over his refusal to allow me to start buying in on the farm at Huntsville which had been my goal.
Wold War II seemed to have disrupted my life as it did many other young men. I graduated from high school in 1941, the year the U.S. became actively involved. Intending to enter college and find out what I should become, profession wise, I had to abandon that plan. There was no choice but to enter the armed forces or stay home and produce food for America and the allies. I became a farmer along with father and brother. We worked hard to produce the needed crops and livestock. Many friends and acquaintances went off to war and it became a burden to see them go while I stayed home. I worked harder to alleviate some quilt that I and others felt, especially when news came about the death of someone you knew, while serving in the armed forces. Five died in service from our small rural community.
The hard work on our large farm had an effect on my that was surprising. I saw it as a macho challenge of some sort. The technical advancement in agriculture was intensified because of the war effort. This began to spark an interest, for me to become a farmer though I did not yet realize it and it did not come to the surface until several years later.
Meantime, I decided it was time to go to war for me. I became a G.I. in 1945. (the year the family got its name on some land.) My service time only lasted one year. I enjoyed it. Nothing to hard for this farm kid. ( I was 23 years old, hardly a kid). That same year, Japan surrendered then Germany did likewise. I was slated to hit the beaches of Japan as a telephone wire layer. A dangerous job we were told. Get a line up to the advance out-post from the rear command while everyone else was dug in. No radio communication to be interrupted.
Until then, I worked for the Schlumbohm family. No wages. Pocket money and the family car at my disposal. The war ended.
I was let out of the army on a hardship separation. (I was my father's only helper and he was in poor health) (bad back).
Too late for college. Pop couldn't pay for the farm himself. I was stuck. I really decided at the time that I like the farm life. Changes in equipment came fast. Advancement in all areas of crop and livestock production was rapid. The challenge was there and I accepted it.
I became the pusher in production and modernization of the Schlumbohm farm. Many changes were made in the next 15 years. I threw myself into development of a livestock and crop enterprise. Wanting to become a big operator and I became one although I was limited to what a 50 horsepower tractor could do. At least I went as high as I could go.
One thing was missing. I had no land or a promise that I could ever own the home farm. I modernized the farm. Built it's reputation but was denied the chance to own it. I almost had it in my name some years later but Pop's sudden death closed the book,
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