Pictures of Farming in North Dakota in the early 1900's
84My great aunt and great uncle used to own and run a large farming operation near Mapes, North Dakota. The numerous photos that I have included in this hub tell a story of their own. My mother was not quite 5 years of age when she got to visit the farm in 1930. It had been in operation for many years prior to her visit. Thus these pictures represent farming in that part of the country dating back to the early 1900's.
Some history...
In 1870 that part of the country only had a population of around 2,400 people.
Indians and buffalo roamed the prairie lands.
Large scale farming began in 1875 near the Red River Valley and was primarily brought about because of the westward expansion of the railroad.
Generous land grants also encouraged people to travel west and settle in that region.
Early tractor (perhaps 1920's?)
1902 Threshing machine
- History of Tractors
The first engine powered farm tractors used a steam engine and were introduced in 1868.
Old Tractors
This is where my great aunt & uncle used to have their farm.
How things used to be done...
Amazing antique tractors, cars and trucks collection
great depression
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north dakota
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North Dakota joined the United States by becoming it's 39th State on November 2, 1889.
By 1930 the total population had expanded to 680,000+ individuals calling North Dakota their home.
How my great aunt and uncle came to farm that land, I can only now speculate . But just knowing how farms were passed along from father to son, I would guess that my great uncle's parents probably secured the land from one of those land grants.
My great uncle had siblings in the area who also farmed and in fact, when one of his brothers died leaving a rather large family behind, he and my great aunt helped to rear that batch of children in order to help his widowed sister-in-law. They did not have children of their own so they just took on that self-assigned task as the natural thing to do.
Mapes is located in the northeast part of North Dakota west of Grand Forks. It can be found on a map by locating Grand Forks on Interstate 29 and then following highway 2 west. Elevation is at 1505 feet. The area is flat and one can see unobstructed views for miles.
If one sees a cluster of trees (or a grove of trees as my great aunt called them), the grouping is either growing naturally by a riverbed or was planted purposely to surround a house as a windbreak and for much needed shade.
According to one link I found, Mapes now has a population of about 159 people. Another link lists it as a ghost town with fewer people in residence.
My great aunt and uncle had a large operation and employed at least one man full time and perhaps more . In addition their relatives and neighbors would have helped each other for large events such as harvesting the crops and threshing times. Working together was common back then for major events.
During harvest time, the women would do the cooking and transport the food to the fields to feed the men. This was a monumental project in and of itself as the hungry men who were laboring needed the sustenance and calories to fuel them to keep going after the food breaks. The "cook house" which was on wheels would be hitched up to the large plough horses and transport the cooked food to wherever the men happened to be working.
Other times of the year, feeding the chickens, the turkeys, the pigs, the horses, and the cows would have kept anyone on a tight schedule in addition to the farming that was done.
Chores typically performed by women back then would have included the cooking and cleaning of the house; canning and preserving of food; keeping clothes clean and ironed; mending and sewing; not to mention the myriad little things that make a house a home. Gathering eggs and feeding the animals was also done.
My great aunt and uncle had many out buildings to house equipment, animals and the like on their large acreage.
My uncle was a master farmer who not only did a great job farming with what he had been given by way of inheritance and learning, but he kept abreast of the latest trends.
He harvested the best seeds for planting the next year. He planted not only wheat and corn, but flax and soybeans. He was way ahead of the curve on planting flax and soybeans and was rewarded economically.
Many farmers back in those days only raised one or two crops. If pestilence or weather intervened to cause crop failures, they had little reserve to call upon to help them out of their predicament.
History shows that not only the Great Depression but the drought that occurred in the 1930's devastated many farmers.
My great aunt and uncle survived and went on to farm for many years. This is a testament to their hardiness and smart farming techniques.
Many of their turkeys were sold at Thanksgiving time to a large distributing company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were very proud of this fact because that company only accepted the best of poultry.
When I was born, my great aunt and uncle were already retired and had sold their farm. So I never got to see it. I am just happy to have all of these photos and to have heard a little about their part in history with respect to farming in North Dakota in the early 20th century.
Farming pictures from the early 1900's in North Dakota.
I found this interesting...UFO's in North Dakota?
farming
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tractors
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Hubs about South Dakota...
- South Dakota Road Trip Vacation in the 1950's with Family Photos
Come along with our two families as we explored the Mitchell Corn Palace, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands,Custer State Park and more on our vacation trip in the 1950's. My Dad took many black and white photos and assembled a scrapbook of this journey wh - Vintage Postcards - Cosmos and more in South Dakota - 1950's Photos
My husband (when he was a boy) took a trip to South Dakota with his mother and uncle as I had also done with my family in the 1950's. Many of the (now) vintage postcards and other souvenirs that they picked up are included in this hub. Learn more abo
Farming under a feudal system...
tractors
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2008 Kubota Tractor B7800 4x4
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Disney Pixar Cars Diecast Tippin Tractor F872
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turkeys
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CommentsLoading...
You have a family wealth of American history to be proud of. I've enjoyed viewing your hubs and being transported to that era.
Hello KoffeeKlatch Gals,
These pictures really do tell a story all their own. Glad that you liked this peek back into some farm history from the early 1900's. Appreciate your comment.
Peggy, i just love your pictures. Your stories are terrific and the pictures ass to them. I love reading family histories. Up and awesome.
Hi Marv,
Thanks for your interest in Mapes, North Dakota. Wish that I could have seen the big farming operation that my great aunt and uncle had in that area of the country, but I was born a generation too late as they had already retired. Thanks for your comment. Appreciate it!
I love these photos. I have traveled numerous times through Mapes and I've often wondered what Mapes was like in it's hayday. Today there's a sign on Highway 2 that says Mapes, but it looks to be no more than a farm from what I can tell.
Hi Don,
By the time I came along, most of my relatives that had done farming were already retired. I'm glad to have these photos of what it had been like on a large farm in North Dakota. Thanks for your comment, votes and the share.
Hi Peggy,Those are neat pictures. My grandparents were retired or semi-retired when I was a kid.About all they had was a garden and some chickens. My mothers folks leased there land and later moved to town.I vaguely remember being around when workers were out with equipment to harvest, sort of a threshing bee.I also got exposed to some of these things working on rural papers but everyone took me for a city boy.Which I was.Vote up, interesting beautiful and sharing.
Hello Fatigmon,
Nice to know someone that knows Mapes where my great aunt and uncle did their farming in North Dakota. I had heard about the massive amounts of food that would be prepared for the people during threshing times. Thanks for your comment!
I'm certainly glad that I found this hub. Growing up I lived in both Petersburg and Lakota. How many times have I traveled through Mapes, ND, I'd never be able to count them. I am old enough to remember hauling bundles and feeding the threshing machine. The women at that time spent the entire day cooking to feed hungry threshing crews. When I think about those days I remember the food. Great hub, thanks.
Hi Duchess,
I created this hub some time ago. I should probably break up the photos with more text capsules in between. In any case, I am glad that you liked seeing these vintage photos of what farming was like back in the early 1900's on a large farm in North Dakota. Thanks for your comment.
Another wonderful Hub Peggy W. and another Must share. I love the old photos. They certainly portray a true picture of the hard work and way of life. Thank you for sharing this one!
Hi Mark,
I agree. Those were the days of "early to bed and early to rise..." with little time in between to get into too much trouble. Children worked right alongside their parents depending upon their age and capacity. It was hard work but rewarding as to the feeling of accomplishment. People also worked with their neighbors and friends during busy times of the year such as harvest time. Glad that you liked this look at farming in the early 1900's as seen on my relative's farm in North Dakota. Thanks for your comment.
Good insight to what it was like to work the land 100 years ago. The work was very hard with simple rewards and no drug problems or fed-up teenagers either. A much healthier existence than nowadays. Beautiful hub, very educational.
Hello craftdrawer,
So happy to hear that you enjoyed seeing these old photos of my great aunt and uncle's farm in North Dakota. This shows much about a large farming operation in the early 1900's and the effort that was expended in running such a business. Thanks for your comment.
I really enjoyed reading about your great aunt and uncle and the photos are amazing. It's great to preserve family history and be able to share it with others!
Hi katyzzz,
Obviously you have an attraction for old tractors. Thanks for your comment on these pictures of farming in North Dakota in the early 1900's. It was quite an operation according to the stories I heard from my mother and of course, these pictures tell a story of their own.
Hello Keith Tax,
I agree with your statement. Having spent my childhood in the countryside of Wisconsin, I will always appreciate the country and nature. So glad that this hub about farming in North Dakota brought back good memories for you especially since you still do some on the side. Appreciate your comment.
You sure know how to write good hubs, Peggy and that old tractor got me in on this one, it drew my like a magnet
You bring back a lot of memories of growing up farming in NE Wisconsin. We had two Farmall M tractors and a newer Oliver, a green beast. Now I farm on the side and bought a WWII era 38 hp John Deere. They say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Hello Alissa D,
You have my permission to use them and if at all possible please give a link back to this hub as the source. I would love to see the webisode in which some of these pictures may be utilized. Any way possible to leave a link to that here after it is assembled?
Hi Peggy,
I am with the Alliance of the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN). We are looking for old, vintage farm photos to use for the background of some webisodes. I was wondering if I could use a some of your photos.
Hi Mrs. J.B.,
Glad that you enjoyed these family pictures of farming done by my great aunt and uncle in North Dakota going back to the early 1900's. Thanks for your interest and comment.
I just love love love stories like this. The pictures alone were fabulous. Thanks for a great story.
Hi Jeremy Woods,
Others may have suggestions but this is where I would start...
If your grandfather owned the land that he farmed, there should be records showing that. Tax records in the county? Land grant? Or perhaps court records? Do you live anywhere near New Rockford, North Dakaota? If so perhaps someone still lives there that remembers your family? Has anyone in your family researched geneology records?
Hope this helps.
If anyone else comes along and reads this, perhaps you can help Jeremy? Thanks!
My great grandfather,and grandpa was from New Rockford,North Dakota...We have a family history there...I am pretty sure my grandfather was a farmer there... How would i find out ??? My email is Hollywood-76@hotmail.com
Hello Eiddwen,
Nice that you have memories of visiting your grandmother's farm. I never got to see the farming of my great aunt and uncle in North Dakota as they were already retired when I knew them, but my mother and family did. These photos are from an old family album and of course I heard many stories through the years. Glad you liked this! Thanks for the comment.
I don't know how I've missed this hub because I thoroughly enjoyed every single word and picture in it.
I stayed very often at my grandmother's farm when i was little and I loved all you photos. You are so lucky to have so many to cherish. I am now going to read some more of your work.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Take care.
Hello billyaustindillon,
Yes, farming has certainly evolved but obviously still means hard work especially during certain seasons of the year...planting and harvesting probably being the busiest times. Glad you enjoyed these old photos of some of my family members in North Dakota going back to the early 1900's. I also found it interesting about the UFO's. Back when my great aunt and uncle were alive, I never heard them mention anything about that.
Lovely old photos - there is something about black and white photos. The old tractor with the metal rims is amazing. The evolution of farming is such a great testament to how society developed. We tend to forget that in modern times. The hard work, the food, the inventions and the values. That was interesting the UFO deal.
Hello Brooke Shenberger,
So happy that you will be able to utilize these old family pictures for your 4-H project regarding agriculture in the early 1900's. This certainly fits the parameters of that assignment. Thanks for letting me know! :-)
Hello Tractor,
Yes, I also like the pictures of those old tractor tires as well as all those old farming pictures taken in North Dakota in the early 1900's. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Our 4-H group is doing reports and displays from 1900's our family got "agriculture" your pictures and info is great Thanks so much for posting :O)
Wow, just love those old pics, especially of the Tractors
Greetings Putz Ballard,
So happy that you liked these pictures of farming in North Dakota when my great aunt and uncle farmed that land in the early 1900's. I never got to see it, but my mother did as a child and as a young adult before they finally sold it and retired. They did not have children to carry on the tradition. It was hard work, but also rewarding in many ways.
I take it from your comment that you like farming? Thanks for taking the time to post your comment.
I loved your hub and pictures, especially the old farmhouse. Nothing like the farm way of life.
Hi Journey,
I was fortunate to end up with all these old farming photos of my great aunt and great uncle who used to live in North Dakota. So glad that others are enjoying the view and bit of history as well. Thanks for the comment.
Wow Peggy, this is awesome. Thanks for sharing this bit of history with us. Very interesting and I love the pics.
There are a few hills in Iowa...and when the corn is high it might obscure a clear view. Ha!
Bill Bryson said of his home in Iowa that you only had to stand on a phone book to get a view. He also said a dead cow drew a crowd (-:
Hi Plants and Oils,
I have heard stories of when my aunt and uncle would travel, if there were mountains and trees, he used to comment that things like that were blocking his view. Ha! Guess he liked those wide open spaces.
As they say..."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
And they built most of the homes, to boot!
Dakota sounds very flat and extensive - miles and miles of miles and miles.
Just imagine building all those homes...starting gardens, etc. over and over again. Not to mention making new friends. Amazing!
Thanks for the added details.
From what I recall, Mary and Laura were born in Wisconsin, then they moved to "Indian Territory" where Carrie was born, back to Wisconsin, then to Minnesota, then another place in Minnesota, then Iowa, then back to Minnesota, then one place in Dakota, then the final place in Dakota, De Smet. And that was all in about 12 - 14 years!
Wow! That IS a bunch of moving and re-settling!
It is very good. I think the father suffered from seriously itchy feet - from the biography, they moved around even more than it might suggest in the books, and he didn't like staying anywhere more than a year or two.
Am sure he did what he thought necessary at the time? I've not read the Laura Wilder biography, but am sure it is interesting.
No, I've not seen anything on television, just the books, and I read a biography of Laura Wilder recently, too.
When I was a child, my view of the books was quite different - now I tend to think her father was a bit selfish, dragging the family around like he did.
Hello again Plants and Oils,
I also loved those books and the TV series that they made with her books as a basis. Have you gotten to see the "Little House on the Prairie" TV series in England?
It is great. My only previous knowledge of farming in Dakota (or anything about Dakota) comes from Laura Wilder's books!
Hi Plants and Oils,
Glad you stumbled upon this hub of farming in North Dakota in the early 1900's. It is an interesting part of history even if it was not some of my family members involved.
Thanks for the comment.
This is a fascinating hub - stumbled!
Hi kiran, I agree. The photos just about tell the entire story. Thanks for your comment.
Excellent hub ! and the pics speak volumes - thanks a lot :)
Hi C.S. Alexis, Glad that I could share this with you! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Hi Melody, I think that they enjoyed it, but it certainly was hard work. Of course if you are working for yourself it makes all the difference. Thanks for the comment.
This was so interesting. I have some kind of fascination with the farmers of this era and how they worked so hard. Really appreciate you sharing the photos and story. Thank you.
I guess they had a wonderful life in that beautiful place.
Hi Pete, Yes, my uncle was a learned man but not due to formal schooling. In fact, as was common back then, he did never even get as far as high school with any kind of formal education. But he was smart, kept up with the latest information regarding agriculture, the best seeds, the best farming techniques, even smart marketing regarding the sale of his turkeys, etc. so that he became very successful. Lots of hard work!!!
Hi Nolimits Nana, I thought that the historical aspect was particularly nice also. The photos tell the story... Thanks for commenting.
Hi G-Ma, Glad that this could bring back some good memories of your visits. It was a great farm from what I hear. Thanks for the quick comment.
Your uncle was a brilliant man. No one recognizes that kind of cleverness. You are lucky to have so many pictures of your family. I just have a few that are more than fifty years old.
Thanks for an interesting historical hub. Love the photos.
OMG that was great as I was born in Devils Lake ND...1939...wow I should get some of my mom's pics out and use the digital camera...was a great history for me to read...cause my memories are mostly of visits as a child...Thanks. Nice farm by the way...:O) Hugs
Peggy W Hub Author 5 weeks ago
Hello daisynicolas,
I am so grateful that I was interested in learning the things I did about my family history. Wish I knew even more but many of the people I could ask are now gone. My mother was a great person for telling stories about the past. Glad that you enjoyed this. Thanks for your comment.