To the Editor:
When my ancestors came to America from “the Old Sod,” they emigrated from various countries, mainly England and what was then Austria (now the Czech Republic) to the United States. All four of my great-grandfathers were farmers at some point in their lives.
Charles Marples came over from Derbyshire, England. He initially settled in Minnesota. Briefly moved to Ray County, Mo., where his father-in-law Peter Isley lived. Together they intended to go to Denver, Colo. ,Territory; but were halted at Saline County, Neb. due to American Indian raids in 1867. Both men died in Gage County, Neb. Both had farms and livestock.
Another great-grandfather, George Washington White, was already a U.S. citizen at birth. He migrated to Bloomington, Neb. Later, he farmed in Phillips County, Kan. He was said to have been a jack-of-all-trades being skilled in veterinary medicine (occasionally treated human patients), was a member of various fraternal orders; worked for awhile for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad as well as the Union Pacific. His rail pass enabled him to travel all over. At the end, he was engaged in real-estate and insurance at Sugar City, Colo.
Yet another great-grandfather was Wilhelm Hampel. He came from Unter Langendorf, Moravia, Austria. He came to America with his parents. His father was Wilhelm Paul Hampel who died in Olmitz, Kan., in 1922. The younger Wilhelm Hampel farmed, but later became a great carpenter and a well-known home-builder in Great Bend. Some of the houses he built still stand today.
The last great-grandfather was Rudolf Riedl. He came to America from what is now Sumvald, Czech Republic. Like the others, he was primarily a wheat farmer; but occasionally milo and corn. He wanted to leave a legacy of land to his kids. But, he ran out of land before he ran out of his 13 kids, so he “homesteaded” land in Wyoming, growing, wheat, rye, barley, beets and potatoes.
One man whom I admire wasn’t a relative. He was Albert J. Brunswig Sr. (1852-1938). He came to Marshall County, Kan., from France. He was a go-getter. Not only did he farm, but he built early grain-elevators. He was active in the Masonic order getting his basic three degrees at Beattie; then he received the 4-14th degrees at the Lodge of Perfection at Marysville (which later went defunct). He got his 15th-32nd degrees at Leavenworth. And, finally received the prestigious 33rd degree in 1925 after he moved to St. Joseph, Mo.
Brunswig had grain-elevators in Missouri which shipped grain by rail to Ft. Worth, Texas, and all over the nation.
Our nation relies on farmers. There are fewer of them today than when I was growing-up. Those who survive are farming bigger swaths of acres. Yet, it takes bins or elevators to store all that grain.
Humans need to eat to survive. Thus, we need the American farmer. We need bins and grain-storage or elevators to preserve that grain in good condition. I believe in fair, global trade. The key word is “fair” trade. I believe in trucks, trains, and ships to transport grains. In olden times it was as basic as a team of horses and/or mules with a wagon to haul grain to market.
Food-security IS national-security. Furthermore, I am dismayed at President Biden a few years ago saying in an open-microphone that truckers wouldn’t have a job in five years. He was wrong on his timeline, thank goodness. But, how many people believe his balderdash nonsense?
Americans need to look after ourselves first, foremost and forever.
James A. Marples
Esbon
