Cholera nearly wiped out Mouw’s herd twice

FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, from pg. 6 big type vision!

With his inbred streak of Dutch stubbornness and steadfastness, he stayed with his idea of a larger size animal. Poland China breeders didn’t like his animals at first, so most of his sales were to local farmers. Many farmers in Sioux County benefited by his work to have an animal that knew how to grow well and was thrifty.

A good businessman with a splash of showmanship in his personality, Mouw showed his animals with confidence. Whether at a county or state fair, or even with sales at his farm, he knew what the Poland China breed could achieve. But it took a while for others to see that the improvements he had bred into his hogs were useful.

In fact, his big type Poland China hogs were made fun of. At the St. Louis World’s Fair (probably 1904), his hogs (which looked like giants when compared to the regular stock) were regarded as a joke. That is, until Oct. 4, 1917. Mouw had advertised one of his boars, Gerstdale Jones, as one of the greatest boar he had ever owned since Chief Prince.

Buyers speculated Gerstdale Jones would sell for the incredible price of $5,000. But when it sold for $6,600 (a world record at the time), the agriculture world could hardly ignore how the big type pigs were replacing the “hot bloods” which had been popular.

The story is told of when Mouw participated in the Illinois State Fair. The judge was not awarding any of the Mouw animals any premium — nor giving them any attention. Mouw said to the judge in his Dutch accent, “I guess you do not like my hogs.” He took a big roll of money from his pocket before he said, “but the farmers do.”

It took 30 years before his hard work paid off. During that time, cholera nearly wiped out his herd twice. At times he was deeply in debt, he faced many discouraging times and mockery by his peers, yet he prevailed. Finally things began to change for the better. He was getting the sales he needed and the recognition of having good breeding stock.

It wasn’t an unusual occurrence for the farm to put an animal in a crate, bring it to town, load the crate on a train and ship to the buyer’s railroad station closest of their choosing.

There were many advertisements in papers by other sellers of breeding stock who claim their genetics could be traced back to a Peter Mouw animal.

That should come as no surprise as Peter Mouw would eventually become known as the “father of the big types.” Many Poland China bloodlines can still be traced by to these hogs raised in northwest Iowa. He was respected by all livestock producers for the improvements he made to their livelihoods.

Mouw was 70 years old when he died on a Sunday morning, May 15, 1922. As usual, he had gone out to do his chores. This time when he opened the barn door, he was knocked down and trampled by his horses hoofs as they came rushing out.

Stephen De Jong, his son-in-law and farming partner, found him alive though mortally injured. Despite the best of care, he soon died with a prayer on his lips.

Although there are no descendants who walk the land where Mouw’s boots left an imprint, many of his descendants follow in his footsteps of walking with the Lord. They have been — and are — a blessing and encouragement to me and others.

Thanks to: “History of the Poland China Breed of Swine” by Davis, Joseph Ray; Duncan, Harvey Samuel, 1882-, Peter Mouw’s great-grandson Earl DeJong and his family for their help in writing this essay.

Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v