Folded in half amongst Grandma Tracie’s things was the auction bill from her parents(Louis and Louisa’s) farm in Iowa. Louis would have been 60 years old and Louisa was 54 years old at the time of the auction sale. The obituary for Louis says he came to Park Rapids in 1916…I question that…after his farm and livestock was sold why would he stay in Iowa? Louisa’s obituary has them coming to Park Rapids in 1914. Apparently whomever wrote the obit for Louis was in error. Since Louisa died first in 1929 and then Louis in 1932 it was probably Emma or one of her sisters who couldn’t quite remember when.
I scanned the fragile sale bill the best I could. They apparently had a sale and then came north to Minnesota to be near their daughters Tracie and Emma. Tracie and Emma were both newly married to James and Rubert.
PUBLIC SALE
I will offer at Public Auction at my farm 8 miles west of Logan, 3 miles east of Readers Mill, 8 miles west of Persia.
Friday February 27, 1914
The following property, to-wit
7 head of Horses and Mules
One pair of matched Percherons, aged 5 and 6, weight 2800 lbs; one brown horse, 5 years old, weight 1300; one pair of spotted ponies, 7 years old weight 1700; one mule, weight 1050; one yearling colt.
17 Head of Cattle
Nine good milk cows, five fresh now, four fresh in the spring; five heifers coming two years old, fresh in spring; two fall calves; one Red Poll Bull, 3 years old.
24 Head Hogs
12 bred sows, good ones, farrow in April; 11 head fall shoats; one yearling boar.
Machinery
One Moline wagon and bed, one truck wagon and bed, spring wagon, good 14-inch gang plow, 16-inch walking plow, 16-inch riding plow, McCormick corn binder, McCormick mower, McCormick hay rake, corn planter and 120 rods of wire, Jenny Lind cultivator, New Departure cultivator, bobsled, 3-section harrow and cart, endgate seeder, fanning mill, hog rack, feed grinder, set work harness, set driving harness.
Miscellaneous
Some stove wood, 100 bu. Early Ohio potatoes, 450 bu. Early Silver Mine Oats, 800 bu. corn, 6 1/2 tons alfalfa hay, 4 1/2 tons timothy hay, 5 doz. chickens, three ducks.HOUSEHOLD GOODS- - - Two heating stoves, two cupboards, 8-foot table, dresser, two commodes, sofa, kitchen cabinet, two beds, and other articles.
FREE LUNCH AT NOON SALE BEGINS AT 10:30 AM
Terms: All sums of $10 and under Cash. On sums over $10 a credit of twelve months will be given on bankable notes bearing 8 percent interest.
Louis Stuve, Prop.
Tupper and Son Aucts B. J. Wood Clerk
The Logan Gazette, Logan Iowa
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I had not heard the term shoat before, I looked it up it is a young hog that has just been weaned.
For you non farm people:
As for the hogs…they farrowed or were to give birth in April.
Coming fresh means a cow or heifer will give birth and then produce milk. Milk Cows freshen after they have been dried up in preparation to give birth, heifers have never been bred before so they will freshen after they give birth. Most milk cows are allowed their calf only a short time, it is put in a pen with other calves and fed with a special pail…a pail with an teat on it. I used to feed the calves on the farm, those calves are pretty aggressive they will suck on your hands or your clothing anything that they think will give milk.
Free Lunch now that is one way to get people to the farm and keep them happy!
Farm auctions sometimes were so sad as the farmer had died. Other times in our area the family was moving to Florida. The ones I use to visit when I was living in far southern Iowa were usually the changing of hands of the property as people retired. My dad's auction was a big mistake being in the middle of winter and had a low attendance.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting piece of history you have! And I thought it was touching to read that they moved to be closer to their daughters. Wonder what they served for the free lunch . . .
ReplyDeleteI reread the add and 100 bushels of potatoes was a surprise for me. We only grew potatoes to keep the family feed but I wonder if they fed them out to livestock.
ReplyDeleteWhat a find! Those auctions were an event for the neighbors, and so sad for the family wandering around, watching their possessions pass on for a pittance. My father-in-law's farm equipment was sold that way and it was like a big reunion of all who ever knew the family, not just the ones who came to buy.
ReplyDeleteThose Percheron's were BIG horses!!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting find! How wonderful you have those old family documents.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful piece of history- sad to give up the farm, but it does give you an insider view to the farm life. Very sweet to move closer to their kids- I think today alot of retired people travel and then come back home to be close to family. Back then it seems the kids often left the farm life. I know my dad did. He joined the air force. He told me once he just couldn't see picking cotton for the rest of his life.
ReplyDeleteOhi Connie, that is a great find, very nice.Blessings Francine.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a gang plow and will do some research on it. The payment notes are interesting - anything over $10 had a year note. $10 clearly was a lot of money at that time. The advertisement is a treasure.
ReplyDeleteProbably during the 1870s, additional bottoms were added to riding plows, which were then called gang plows.
DeleteWhile gang plows may have as many as four bottoms, the two- and three-bottom versions were the most popular. Not all gang plows were ridden, however. Some required the operator to walk behind the plow, especially the lightweight walking plows with multiple 8-inch bottoms, which were popular in orchards and vineyards.
That's a fascinating look at family history. You can find out much more than just what the advertisement of sale says.
ReplyDeleteI bet the free lunch was a real draw. Can't have a good auction without an audience :)
ReplyDeleteIt must have been hard to sell all you own basically and the life you were used to unless you were so tired that it would be a reprieve. LOL! I've known lots of farmers that move to town and sell the farm but I always feel bad especially for the wife as it takes years to make a "home".
ReplyDeleteIt's very cool that you have that clipping.
ReplyDeleteI may be a city girl now, but I grew up on a small farm in Oregon. I know about calf buckets. I also bottle fed pigs and lambs.
Gosh, that's sure a piece of history, something you would never see these days. More than a century ago, life was sure different than today. I read it all with interest and glad I didn't grow up on a farm. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why I knew what a shoat was--LOL! None of our relatives raised pigs. Dairy cows.
ReplyDeleteGlad they kept that. :)
Interesting! I love that you are documenting all this.
ReplyDelete