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HH: As I understand, you did a variety of things when you first arrived in the Philadelphia area. What are some of the things that you did?

TM: I worked for Lou Barton and worked on a farm. Two seasons I worked for Lou Barton.

HH: I see. But you also started an insurance business, didn't you?

TM: A little bit, yeah. Well, that was serving as a life insurance agent to, life insurance agents have to go out at night, so it doesn't really work very well with farming. [Laughs]

HH: I see. So you worked in the New Jersey area on somebody else's farm?

TM: Lou Barton for two seasons. He's the man that started Medford Lees.

HH: I see.

TM: [Laughs] You know, he helped me. And then I worked for him for two years. You want me to rattle on? [Laughs]

HH: Yes, please.

TM: I worked for him for two seasons, and then he arranged an eight thousand dollar loan for me, and that's how I started farming. I bought a small farm on Church Road, that road right up here, and started farming. Joseph Haynes's company, right here in Medford, another Quaker tractor dealer, he was good enough to sell me a tractor that he could have sold to twenty-five other people, probably. But he sold me the tractor and that's how I got started. A little dinky tractor.

HH: How many acres did you have?

TM: We bought a hundred and, a little over a hundred acres that farm was probably 8 acres, and probably tillable. We grew tomatoes and strawberries, sweet corn.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 1994 JACL Philadelphia. All Rights Reserved.