was a young colt that was hitched for the first time. When his son, Joe arrived home from school, his mother immediately sent him off to the back field, when she noticed that the horses weren’t moving, but standing in one place for a period of time. Joe hurried back, and found his father lying face down on the ground. He turned him over, only to find that he was dead. The eleven—year-old unhitched the horses which had never moved, and took them home. He then told the sad news to his mother and sister Pat.

Over night Joe, only eleven years old, had to assume the duties of a farmer. His mother was left alone with two children to raise. Ambrose, who was now older, had enlisted in the Navy prior to Joe’s death, and was not at home to assume the responsibilities. Mary had to depend on the farming operation for a living, since there was no Widow’s Allowance, or any other form of government assistance at that time.

They had a mixed farming operation and, with the help of many good neighbours, struggled to carry on.

One day, they were cutting sets out in the yard, and dipping them into a chemical to eliminate disease. Unnoticed, the young ducklings that were Joe’s pride and joy, drank from this mixture. Soon, they were all found dead, which was quite a loss.

It was a huge task to keep the fences around the pastures repaired. Once a neighbour’s cow managed to break the fence and come into the field with their animals. Joe and his cousin, Bill Whalen, were back in the field and witnessed this episode. Bill picked up a pitch fork to chase the cow away. The fork slipped from his hand and pierced the cow’s side. The cow ran furiously into the woods, pitch fork and all. The cow eventually dropped the fork somewhere, but the boys couldn’t find it, and were forced to return home without the much-needed pitch fork. It was a long time before anyone dared to tell the story.

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