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Jonathan Little says, ‘I grew up in Montello, Wisconsin, but spent half of my growing-up years on the Whirry farm that my great--grandpa William Whirry and grandpa Jim Whirry bought.
Jonathan Little’s grandpa Jim Whirry in 1938 is on a hay rack driving Molly and Joe.
Jonathan Little’s grandfather Jim Whirry buys a new Allis Chalmers WC tractor in 1939 for $900, though the list price was $1,200. The 1939 WC had rubber tires, a 22-horsepower engine and 30 horsepower ‘at the belt’ when using the pulley drive. Best speed in fourth gear was 10 miles per hour. The WC had an electric starter as well as front and back lights as standard equipment.
Jonathan Little’s grandfather Jim Whirry poses in 1952. Little says, ‘(He) loved that 1939 Allis WC so much that in 1953 he bought a 1951 Allis WD. I rode on the top of that tractor, hanging onto the air-intake stack, hour after hour for a few summers as Grandpa cultivated corn.’
Jonathan W. Little in 1998 leaves radio management to help launch TroyResearch, a consumer-opinion market-research company that does worldwide entertainment and media research for radio, television and movie clients. Prior to that he enjoyed a long career in radio in Madison, Green Bay and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He was a newsman, disc jockey, music director, program director, operations manager, general manager and owner. South-central Wisconsin listeners will remember his golden voice on WISM and Z104. He was in 2008 inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame.
Jonathan Little’s parents, Jack and Mickey Whirry, pose in 1980 on their tree farm south of Montello, Wisconsin. She saved her husband’s life July 16, 1969, after a tractor-cranking accident. Jack Whirry said, ‘Coming into the shed, she found me pinned against the wall with blood running out my nose.’
Farm memories keep coming in response to my column “Farewell to Our Family Farm.” This is the fourth in what has become a series of farm stories that are too good not to share.
John Sumwalt
John Sumwalt is a retired pastor and the son of dairy farmers. He is the author of “Shining Moments: Visions of the Holy in Ordinary Lives.” Email johnsumwalt@gmail.com or call 414-339-0676 to reach him.
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Jonathan Little’s grandfather Jim Whirry buys a new Allis Chalmers WC tractor in 1939 for $900, though the list price was $1,200. The 1939 WC had rubber tires, a 22-horsepower engine and 30 horsepower ‘at the belt’ when using the pulley drive. Best speed in fourth gear was 10 miles per hour. The WC had an electric starter as well as front and back lights as standard equipment.
Jonathan Little’s grandfather Jim Whirry poses in 1952. Little says, ‘(He) loved that 1939 Allis WC so much that in 1953 he bought a 1951 Allis WD. I rode on the top of that tractor, hanging onto the air-intake stack, hour after hour for a few summers as Grandpa cultivated corn.’
Jonathan W. Little in 1998 leaves radio management to help launch TroyResearch, a consumer-opinion market-research company that does worldwide entertainment and media research for radio, television and movie clients. Prior to that he enjoyed a long career in radio in Madison, Green Bay and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He was a newsman, disc jockey, music director, program director, operations manager, general manager and owner. South-central Wisconsin listeners will remember his golden voice on WISM and Z104. He was in 2008 inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame.
Jonathan Little’s parents, Jack and Mickey Whirry, pose in 1980 on their tree farm south of Montello, Wisconsin. She saved her husband’s life July 16, 1969, after a tractor-cranking accident. Jack Whirry said, ‘Coming into the shed, she found me pinned against the wall with blood running out my nose.’
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