Although having little desire or knack for running a farm, he did half-heartedly give it a try. In his mid-years, apparently he hired help and share-cropped his farm. In later years he neglected the farm totally, letting the cattle and his house shift for themselves and letting his fields deteriorate. His farm was known as the "Wild West." Johnny Tom was known as being tight-fisted with his money, never paying his bills on time. He was also quick to borrow tools, but slow to return them. Whenever he needed money, he would wander out into the fields hopefully to find a young cow, lamb, or foal he could sell.