Wilemon, Peary 1971
Peary Wilemon, longtime area farmer and ginner, reviews the history of the Wilemon Gin, the origin of Maypearl, the evolution of gin machinery and the changes in transportation in relation to agricultural economics. Current agricultural trends and ginning process are discussed along with some clarification on the Wilemon Gin records.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Wilemon Peary
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: April 23 and August 27, 1971
Location: Maypearl, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Carpenter and David Murrah
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Grandparents came from Alabama (1850),
Cotton gin built in Maypearl (1903),
Discusses Italy Cotton Oil purchase,
Father became manager and owner,
Father’s death (1934),
Has been gin owner since 1934,
History of a farmer-owned gin related,
Traces origin of Maypearl,
Family history reviewed,
Trinity University at Waxahachie mentioned,
Family engaged in gin and farm work,
Sharecropping and use of farm machinery discussed,
Farm production,
Explains crop rotation,
Discussion of Wilemon cotton gin,
Steam power and early machinery described,
Electric gin first used (1915),
Gin records maintained by family,
Ginning organizations listed.
Tape 1, Side 2: Stresses importance of cotton compress,
Need for compress explained,
Gives location of compress,
Alfred Pendleton mentioned,
Gin machinery listed,
Examines use of green boll trap,
Names insect problems encountered,
Boll weevils and flea hoppers among the problems,
Speculation on success of insect control.
Tape 2, Side 1: Historical review of Wilemon Gin,
Partnership which ended in 1948,
Review of Maypearl gins,
Has been engaged in farming operations since 1934,
Variety of crops listed,
Cites regional variation of farm size,
Thresher operation discussed,
Mentions Wilemon grain storage facilities,
Milo—new crop in 1955,
Examines process of merchandising grain,
Grain and cotton records are combined,
Missouri-Pacific railroad mentioned,
Railroad had spur to Maypearl,
Speculates on community attitude toward railroad,
Discussion of dependability of trucking,
Notes effects of urban growth,
Future of cotton and grain production examined,
Studies transportation-cotton gin correlation,
Large cotton volume occurred from 1919-1953,
Proportionate cotton decrease explained,
Results of diversification of interests.
Tape 2, Side 2: Describes fertilizer operations,
Began in Blackland (1952),
Need for fertilizer cited,
Ginning process reviewed,
Traced cotton seed transaction,
Explanation of gin records,
Cotton house storage,
Cotton buying reviewed,
Mentions records and procedures,
Cotton classing explained,
Gin records discussed.
Range Dates: 1850-1971
Bulk Dates: 1903-1955
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