Lois and Jim Herbst’ Centennial Farm

Story and photos by Neoma Foreman

Lois Hawkins Herbst laughed and said, “When we bought my parents farm in 1996, I said if we lived 20 years, it would be a centennial farm. Well, here we are.”

The farm was purchased by Benjamin Galvin on Nov. 20, 1916. He farmed there and raised his family. After their deaths, the farm went to their daughter and husband, William (Bill) and Iva (Galvin) Hawkins, on Sept. 22, 1949.

Bill and Iva farmed the land, raised cattle and sheep, grew sorghum and did whatever it took to make a living. They built a garage by the side of the old house and lived in it until they could afford to build a new house on the same site as the old in 1970. Bill did most of the work of building the house and lovingly crafted it from kitchen cabinets to a marble hearth fireplace.

After their deaths, all of their children had homes of their own, but their son, O.M. (Bill) Hawkins, purchased the home place in May of 1980. However, he decided he didn’t want to live on it and was going to sell it to the nearby rock quarry. That was when Lois and Jim decided they would like to live there and purchased it on March 4, 1996.

They lived in Appleton where they both had employment, but came to the farm every weekend and remodeled things like they wanted them to be.

The Herbst’ are content to live on land that has been “Rooted” by the family for over 100 years. They rent the land to a neighbor who keeps the pasture mowed and trimmed and has it filled with pretty cattle. They sit on their deck and watch the turkeys, deer and even coyotes that frequent the two ponds on their property. They plan for it to go to their children after they no longer need it.

Who knows? The farm might see a bi- centennial with family ownership. Their children are Andy Herbst, Ann Pennell and Alice Claypool.

EARLY BEGINNINGS – Maggie Galvin and daughter, Iva, in front of original house which the Galvin family purchased in1916.

HERBST CENTURY FARM –  Jim and Lois Herbst in back of their house overlooking ponds. Her parents built the “new” house in 1970.