History: Cash Crops of early Willard/Hendren
Contact: Shari

Surnames: Campbell, Duxbury, Leach, Libby, Zgodovina

----Source: Spominska Zgodovina (Historical Memories of Willard, WI)

1) Lumber

Logs/lumber was hauled into Willard and set up to dry, then loaded onto the train bound for the cities. Most was used for fuel, but certain woods were cut for making boxes or furniture.

2) Pickles

The pickle factory was located along the RR tracks, just south of the depot, built in 1910 by Libby McNeil & Libby Co. of Chicago, IL. Ira Leach and George Campbell managed the station. Richard Duxbury also managed it. Station closed in 1920 or 1921.

3) String Beans

String beans supplemented the farmer's earnings, after the pickle factory closed down. The Neillsville Canning Company went from farm to farm at first, to collect the beans. Later on, the farmers would bring the beans to collecting stations around Willard.

4)Sugar beets and Sugar cane were tried for a few years, also.

5) Peas

Peas were popular from about 1930 to 1938. The vinery was located on the east side of Cty G, about a quarter mile south of Willard, on the Pete Schmidt farm.