My father and grandfather were constantly on the lookout for business opportunities. Grandfather found many diverse opportunities. In his lifetime, he was an owner of dray lines, at least one cafe and hotel, three or more gasoline stations, a barber shop, a furniture and undertaking business, shoe repair shop and... I probably have forgotten some of his ventures. My father primarily looked for ways to diversify his gasoline business. We didn’t know it at the time but his station included many of goods and services now found in what we call farm supply stores and convenience stores.

I suspect I...