Self-Sufficiency During the Depression Era

A series of dry years in the early '30s accentuated the hard times in this part of the state. Crop yields were very low because of the drought. Grain prices were at a historic low. There was not enough hay and grain to feed the animal population. All this made it necessary for farmers, like we were, to borrow money for seed for new crops, and for feed for our animals. There were Federal loan programs to bail us out temporarily, but we had successive dry years and it was pretty bleak for a while. The government feed and seed loans were eventually satisfied, but they were a cloud on the farm family finances for a long time.

Rex O. Wonnell
San Jose, California

Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.