Maeker, Hugo 1982-12-02
Hugo Maeker tells of his German heritage and customs as well as his life in Wilson, Texas, concerning his occupation as a farmer and cotton gin owner, and culture. Note: The last of side 2 is inaudible at times.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Hugo Maeker
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: December 02, 1982
Location: Wilson, Texas (?)
Interviewer: James Senseney
Length: 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Family origin—Germany,
Both parents moved to America from Germany,
Ages,
Arrival Galveston, Texas,
Grandparents,
Great-grandparents,
Gonzales County,
Migration of parents to Wilson area,
Came from Karnes County,
Moved in 1916,
Parents’ marriage,
Ages,
Father born 1871,
Mother born 1881,
Married in Gonzales County,
Reasons for moving to Wilson area,
New country,
Farming,
Location of acreage,
Bought current land, 1925,
Land owner company,
Farming occupation,
Wilson area description in 1916,
Ranch land,
Dry,
Crops planted,
Cotton,
Sorghum,
Not irrigated,
Big town for shopping,
Tahoka,
Slaton,
Wilson,
Once larger than today,
Mercantile building built (1917),
Owner—Mr. Green,
Frame, wood house,
Three-room house with land,
House built by father,
Family,
Children,
Deaths,
Survivors,
Areas siblings settled in,
Occupations,
Farmers,
Engineering,
Church,
Lutheran Church at Wilson,
Lutheran Germans,
Schools,
Wilson, Texas,
He did not go to school there,
Wife went to school there,
Business,
Mr. Green—Mercantile,
Closed (1917),
Language,
Got away from German at school,
Spoke German at home,
Customs,
Christmas,
Santa Claus,
Presents,
Meals,
Bought foods,
Home-grown foods,
Meat,
Preservation,
Smoke houses,
Sausage smoked,
Bacon salted,
Made sausage in winter,
Sausage making,
Preparation,
Mostly pork sausage,
Some beef mixture sausage,
Preserved in smoke houses,
Relationship with others in community due to German background,
During World War I,
Problems,
Language offenses,
Ku Klux Klan,
Problems and activities,
During World War II,
No problems,
Customs (again),
Easter,
Gathered wild flowers to make nest for eggs,
Colored eggs to gather,
Prohibition,
They did not drink,
Crops grown (again),
Problems,
Dry years (1918),
Dust Bowl years (1930s),
1918 Freeze,
Losses,
Skins salvaged,
Farm implements.
Tape 1, Side 2: Kitchen work,
Store bought items,
Food raised,
Molasses from sorghum,
Cotton gin in Wilson, Texas,
Owners,
TAPE IS INAUDIBLE AT TIMES,
Harvesting cotton,
School,
CANNOT UNDERSTAND REST OF TAPE.
Range Dates: 1871-1982
Bulk Dates: Early 1900s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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