Interview with Toney Pelfrey, July 2, 1992

Interview Summary

Toney Pelfrey discusses his family history, and talks about how his family came to own their farm in the Cane Creek area. He talks about his childhood on the farm raising most of their own food. He talks about how his family preserved their food prior to refrigeration. He talks about how their meat was butchered, his mother canning and making soap, and 'holing' vegetables in the ground to preserve them. He describes the house he grew up in, discussing its location, construction, and layout. Pelfrey discusses his military service in the Pacific region during World War II, and his farming and employment after returning from the war. Throughout the interview he discusses various aspects of country life, including education, religion, medical care, and stores. He talks at length about farming, and mentions some of the difficulties he faced as a farmer.

Interview Keyword

Cane Creek (Ky.) Heritage farms Powell County (Ky.) Home remedies Country stores Rural schools--Kentucky Farm mechanization Rural churches

Interview LC Subject

Agriculture--Kentucky Country life Family farms Farm life. Canning and preserving Food--Preservation--Kentucky Farms, Small. Military service Farmers. Traditional farming Employment--Kentucky Farm buildings Rural conditions World War, 1939-1945--Veterans. United States. Army. Agriculture

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.