Return to the Land

The Farm

Farming has been the livelihood of the Millers for generations. Even on my maternal side farming sustained my ancestors. The farm was my parent’s refuge during the Depression of the 1930’s. Mother , being from an urban society, did not take to farm life initially but over the years the land imprinted on her the sense of belonging and a freedom of spirit. At the end of her life when she finally succumbed to poor health she did not want to leave her home and farm. Dad on the other hand always had a deep attachment to the farm, always trying to improve it and taking pride in his inherited land. From my earliest recollection the farm was my sanctuary and a place where all the troubles of the world vanished like mist on an early summer morning. Because my ancestors owned and farmed this soil a mysterious attraction has been ingrained in my soul. We humans do not own the earth but we should be good custodians of na ture’s magnanimous gift. I am as much a part of this land as the ancient oak trees shading our home. Initially Johnny W.A. Wright, my great-great-grandfather, was given a grant from the government that included a large tract of land beginning at Hollybrook and extending north to Wolf Creek Mountain. His son, David Oliver Wright, inherited part of this land, which would eventually come to be my farm on Nobusiness. The origin of the name Nobusiness is obscure. The story is told that when this part of the county was first settled a hunter ventured into this wilderness area and returned saying, ‘He had no business being in that overgrow n and forbidden place.’ Apparently, the name stuck and a century later it refers to our secluded picturesque valley. When I was a youngster, exploring the land, I found remains of a previous dwelling just north of our log cabin. I also found pieces of iron and pottery. Nearby there was an old apple orchard and an old barn west of our home. Just below the road were two large apple trees and a plum tree from which I remember eating delicious red fruit. These trees were very old but during good seasons fruit was plentiful. On warm summer days I would sit beneath these trees and eat the sweet apples and would imagine I had lived there before. Fruit trees played a vital role in the early settlements. These were hearty disease resistant trees, which provided food through the winter months. The fruit was often stored underground covered with hay or straw to prevent freezing. These trees were most likely my ancestors’ who lived and farmed the fields. With the arrival of modern machinery and tractors I removed these old orchards to make room for easier cultivation of the crops. With the demise of these wonderful fruit trees a piece of our history was lost. These trees had finally outlived their usefulness but in their prime they had served their caretakers well. My father, David Stafford Miller, came to own the Nobusiness farm through his grandfather. David Stafford was the second child born to John Harvey and Minnie Catherine Miller and was named after her father, David Oliver Wright . Before David Oliver’s death in 1910 he had deeded this farm to his daughter with the understanding that David Stafford would be the succeeding heir. John Harvey and Minnie Catherine helped provide for her father in his

105