From My Farmhouse Kitchen

When I was in high school, cream bars, orange sherbet all the really cool girls went popups and vanilla ice off to the big town to shop at cream for our pop floats. (I the mall for their clothes. have to say pop, as my My mom ordered mine brothers and sisters were through the mail-order cata- quite adventurous, we log. While I will admit it didn’t just stick with root was easy to dream as I beer. Almost any flavor of turned the pages of the cata- pop would do.) Despite all logs, it still wasn’t quite the that yum, the Schwan’s same as seeing all the dress- man wasn’t necessarily the es for real. favorite though.

Even so, it would be a The Avon lady was. She very exciting was special, but day when the rarely came package arrived calling unless it in the mailbox was to visit. — because you Because our knew those new Avon lady was clothes would my Grandma surely come Louise with a bit of the Reemtsma. model’s charm. Yet when the new outfit arrived, it sadly didn’t have the same look on me as it did in the catalog. It just didn’t appear as glamourous … (gulp) or was it me? Many of these farm-to-farm companies began in the horse and buggy days. The W.T. Rawleigh Company had its start in 1889 by a man whose education was only rural schools. William

In recent years, one might say I have Thomas Rawleigh had been born on a finally arrived as my visits to the malls farm in Wisconsin. have become more frequent. There are some perks at this hands-on shopping. If a new outfit isn’t quite right, back on the rack it goes — immediately. Occasionally there are items which are acceptable; but most often not, mirrors don’t lie. If my farmer who shops with me doesn’t like something, all he has to The idea of owning his own business had developed at a young age. While still a youth, he convinced his father to let him work for someone else for $20 a month. After several months, his wealth amounted to $120. He gave his parents $100 of that sum. do is say, “That makes you look old At which time he left the farm to and/or fat.” At which time all speed pursue an independent sales career records are broken on the trip back to with a horse borrowed from his dad, the dressing room to quickly dispose of who wasn’t too keen on his son’s the offending clothing article. notion. Although he still had $15 to But wouldn’t you know it, now that I have made it, the really cool girls I graduated with are probably ordering from the modern mail-order system: the online stores. his name, it didn’t really belong to him. The buggy he filled with four types of “Good Health Products” was mortgaged, so basically he didn’t have a penny to his name. He was all of 18 years old. In those days, he wasn’t

Yes, I have to chuckle here a bit. even old enough to vote. This shopping from home is nothing new under the sun. People have been doing it for quite some time … centuries, in fact. Today Rawleighs is still delivering items to their customers’ homes via their website. I hope there has been a biography written of his life, as it will

Why, when I was growing up in the probably be an interesting read. previous century, there was the Watkins man, the Rawleigh man, and the Schwan’s Ice Cream man. It was a real treat to have the last one come — especially during the summer. Ice It is quite possible that Mr. Rawleigh’s business idea came because their farm might have been visited by a salesperson from the Watkins Incorporated Company. This

FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

By Renae B. Vander Schaaf company started about the time Rawleigh was born. Although born and educated in Ohio, Joseph Ray Watkins moved at the age of 21 to Stearns County in Minnesota with his parents Benjamin and Sophronia Watkins.

After his marriage to Mary Ellen Herberling from Ohio, he and his bride settled in Plainview, Minn. The obliging wife let him experiment in the kitchen in the development of a liniment which was used to soothe sore muscles. Once success was achieved, he established the J. R. Watkins Medical Company and took to the streets — going door to door to make a living.

As this husband-and-wife business grew, the special sales buggy made for him in St. Cloud, Minn. became a fleet of buggies scattered throughout the region. The business was moved to Winona, Minn. (You know, I think it is time to plan a road trip as Plainview and Winona both have historical sites and museums with Watkins history.)

This liniment which gave Watkins his start is still in use today. Watkins products can be purchased at stores or online.

Wisconsin and Minnesota can be proud of these two men and Schwans. But what about Iowa? Well, several people have recently told me of Jewel Tea. This one is new to me, but it certainly would have been a favorite. Hot tea is my beverage of choice.

The Jewel Tea Company was started by the son of an Iowan grocer. Frank Skiff called his business Jewel Tea, because anything at that time which was superior was called a ‘jewel.’ In Chicago, with $700 in his pocket, Skiff took his horse and wagon and went door to door with a baking powder he manufactured, teas he packaged, spices and extracts. He roasted coffee beans once a week to sell on his route.

The company partnered with Hall China to manufacture dinnerware just for them. Its “Autumn Leaf” design was a popular one. While this company is no longer in business, it won’t be lost to history because there are collectors who seek out Jewel Tea items.

Something as simple as vanilla flavoring aided these door-to-door salesmen. I don’t know if it was because vanilla was one of the top items cooks were fastidious about, or if it was because the vanilla industry was manipulate. It is also a difficult crop to grow — which contributes to its availability.

Rawleigh spent considerable money to obtain vanilla for his customers. In 1924 the company began curing vanilla in Mexico, West Indies and France. He bought plantations in Madagascar. He didn’t completely manage to resolve the vanilla problem thoroughly, as there still appears to be a monopoly on it.

All these companies sold similar items that busy housewives would need. I suspect very few farms were without the salves that both Rawleigh and Watkins sold. Rawleigh had a fly killer that was definitely needed in the barn. I still prefer Watkin’s black pepper and their real vanilla in my

See FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, pg. 7