Return to the Land

acquired in the eastern Kimberling Valley, near Porchie Helvey ’s farm, where they grew hay and corn for silage.

At the conclusion of World War II in 1945 a normal way of life was returning to America and farming became an attractive endeavor. Vaden purchased a new Farmall A tractor and the necessary implements to farm. Since the children were too small to operate farm machinery Ina took it upon herself to operate the tractor. Between the dairy operation and taking care of the children it soon became necessary for her to have additional help. Vaden hired part-time and on several occasions full-time farm hands. As the children grew older they also did their part in the farm chores. Vaden Jr. and Larry took on the farming and Lois and Barbara helped in the dairy. This family had a work ethic that is not comparable today. To them, their hard-working ways were just a way of life. By the early 1950’s Vaden had stopped public works and purchased a new Ford milk hauling truck and operated a route from Wythe County to The Leatherwood Dairy Processing Plant in Bluefield. In those days milk was collected in 10-gallon milk cans. Each can was lifted by hand from the cold water cooling tanks at the dairies, loaded onto the truck, stacked, and unloaded at the plant. He certainly earned his way with this endeavor. Eventually, the responsibilities of the trucking business became too demanding and he returned to practicing his original skills and was employed by R & T Electric just west of Bluefield in Falls Mills, Virginia. At the death of his father, John Harvey , it became apparent none of Vaden’s siblings were interested in farming. So he made arrangements to buy out his brothers and sisters. Thus, keeping the original family farm on Kimberling in the family. He actively farmed the land as well as that of cutting and hauling prop timber to the coalmines in southern West Virginia. His oldest son, Vaden Jr., married in 1953 and lived in the old Kimberling home and worked on the farm. Later after seeking his fortune in the world Vaden Jr. acquired the original Miller home place. Vaden Jr. bought additional land and lives in a new modern home on the original Miller farm. Vaden Jr.’s daughter Cheryl Arlene Miller currently inhabits the old house. Thus the Kimberling Miller farm has remained in the family since our great-grandfather Lorenzo John Miller acquired it in the mid-1800s (Charles T. Miller had owned some portions of the land). This all became possible through Harvey Vaden ’s insight and progressive business acumen. In 1966, Vaden and Ina expanded their farming operation and were able to buy a beautiful farm on Kimberling east of the original Miller farm. This farm contained 218 acres with flat bottoms and open fields. They bought this land from Eva Morehead, widow of Everette Morehead, to whom the Millers were related by marriage. Uncle Vaden was adamant about paying bills on time and not accumulating debt. He was concerned how he was going to pay for the new farm but needless to say the farm was paid for in short order. He sold his home and farm on Route 606 and continued working at R & T Electric. They had long since given up the dairy business after their children had married and left home. A cow-calf beef operation was begun at which they were successful. In 1973, Uncle Vaden retired from public works and

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