About the author: Stephen Lars Kalmon was reared on the farm featured in this book. For a few years he and his wife tried farming on their own. After a serious car accident made the decision for him, he left farming behind in 1966. He began his work-a-day career with a national dental company in 1972 and finished it as a Dental Supply and Equipment salesman for Sullivan Dental. Concurrently since 1976 he was a freelance writer for large and small dailies, weekly newspapers and small magazines. In the early 1980s after being fired by his first dental company he spent two years freelancing full time and wrote and edited two newsletters: THE TOMBSTONE TIMES, for Tombstone Pizza; and another for the Taylor County Memorial Health Center. He was a stringer for the Marshfield News Herald and a columnist for the Star News, Medford, for more than 10 years. He is the founder, editor and a writer for the Taylor County History Project, a community work. As encouragement for young writers he founded, directed, funded with his own and ad dollars, the Gilman Schools writing contest for 11 years and edited its literary magazine. He is a family man and is the father of eight children. Except for a six-year hiatus, he is a lifelong resident of Taylor County in Northern Wisconsin. This is his 53rd year residing on his farm which has been purchased by his son and wife.