Father, Sons and Grandson 
THE HISTORY OF OUR SEED BUSINESS 
• We apologize to our old customers for this reprint. 
• We want our new customers to know all about us. 
• Maybe our old friends would also enjoy reading it again. 
THREE GENERATIONS of 
SEED and PLANT GROWERS 
•• I * 
THOMAS CONDON (The Founder) 
JOHN R. CONDON 
(President) 
LEONARD R. CONDON 
(Secretary-T reasurer) 
LEONARD CONDON, Jr. 
(Vice President) 
|-x (ipMiration Beginning’ away back in the ages of the old Cradle 
,aT and Rake when everything on the farm was done 
by hand and back work, Dad started farming with Mr. Greenlee, a 
pioneer farmer of old reliable Scotch parents. 
In those days land of course was cheap, but money was scarcer than 
hens’ teeth and crops very poor on account of inferior seed and lack of 
proper cultivation; therefore you may know it was mighty hard sledding 
for a good many years; still, I guess it was a good thing, for during 
those lean seasons, when it was hard to produce enough to pay the in¬ 
terest on the mortgage set Dad to thinking and figuring how to make 
both ends meet, and he concluded the best way out was to use extra care 
in selecting his seed, breeding it up to the highest standard possible and 
to spare no labor in preparing and cultivating the seed beds after plant¬ 
ing. This worked out well and really was the motive or incentive in¬ 
stilled in him in pioneer days, inherited by we boys that prompted us a 
few years later under Dad’s supervision to engage in the Seed growing 
business in a large commercial way. 
2nd Generation It was during those .early days that John and 
m, iu vciiciuiivii Leonard were born and as we grew up under Dad’s 
careful instructions we naturally followed his trend of thought, so at 
the age of 13 we both started working out on a small truck farm at the 
enormous wage of 40c a day. Well do I remember my first day: The 
boss started John picking peas and I weeding asparagus, and honestly 
the rows looked a mile long. We stuck to it though, even if it was hard 
work, and I’ll never forget if I live to be a hundred how proud we were 
when we took our first pay home to Mother. She, too, was proud of us, 
for while we worked hard and were dirty, she knew it was honest toil 
and the folks needed the money, and we were glad to help even though it 
was only a little. 
"As You Sow So Shall You Reap" 
Well, this went on for a few 
years, Mother insisting we go 
to school winters and garden in summer. As time passed we realized 
more fully the necessity of planting good seeds to produce good crops, 
for we saw many failures from poor seed; consequently we went into 
the seed-growing business on our own account, and today we personally 
grow on our own farms and rented ones thousands of bushels annually 
of beans, peas, corn, radishes and other seed crops, so we are still actual 
farmers and really more so than ever before, and we know full well the 
necessity and wisdom of planting only the best seeds that grow, for the 
old proverb, “As you sow so shall you reap,” is more in evidence today 
than ever. Being actual producing farmers and gardeners, we know 
your needs in seeds and understand your wants, your trials and your 
troubles, so please do not hesitate to inquire for any information on 
gardening and farming not given in this book. We are here to serve 
you, and we want to help you this year to grow Bigger, Better and More 
Profitable Crops. 
The Trial Grounds Tell the Truth Roc ^ Riv f r 
Valley Seed Farms at Rock¬ 
ford, Illinois, we conduct one of the most extensive Trials of Vegetables. 
Farm and Nursery Crops, Flowers, etc., in the country. You are cordially 
invited to visit us and inspect these growing crops. Our display of 
Tulips, Paeonies, Gladiolus and other flowers will be a gorgeous sight 
from early spring until late fall. 
3rd Generation In doses' we want to introduce to you, Leonard 
Condon, Jr., who, since his graduation from College 
5 years ago has been in charge of the Garden and Flower Seed Depart¬ 
ments. Looking forward with pleasure to serving you this year, we are, 
yours sincerely 
CONDON BROS., SEEDSMEN 
Living in the country farming our own farms, and with the most modern cleaning 
equipment in the world, we are in position to give you the very finest qualities on 
Garden, Farm and Field Seeds at the LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES. 
Our Nursery stocks are all State Certified, and the growing of same, as well as the 
filling of your Nursery orders will be under the direct supervision of an expert 
Nurseryman, who has been in our employ for many, many years. 
Over 1,000,000 Planters Use CONDON'S Seed Plants and Bulbs Annually. Guaranteed to Please 
