USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 10
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The pioneer farmers' first work, with the exception of those indi- viduals who were fortunate enough to secure lands upon the fertile
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
prairies, was to clear away the forests which covered their newly chosen farms. This at the very beginning was a great obstacle to their prog- ress. Only small patches of ground could be cleared at first and these were planted to corn. The ground was plowed with a wooden mould- board plow and a team consisting of several yoke of oxen. It usually took two persons to do the plowing, a man to hold the plow and either a man or boy to drive the team. In a few years plows with iron mould- boards were introduced, but as they would not seam well in all kinds of soil they were not considered a success at first. Besides, as the ground was full ot roots, of new stumps and standing trees, the wooden mouldboard was less liable to break than one of iron, so it was better adapted to the conditions than the iron one. The cultivation was done with the hoe at first, then came the single-shovel plow, which was in use for a number of years. Among the trees, stumps and roots both the plowing and cultivation were tedious, laborious and disagreeable work. This condition continued for a number of years, until the stumps had decayed sufficiently to make it possible to remove them. The first fall wheat was sown among the stumps and trees, after the plowing had been done with the same implement and the same team as were used in plowing for corn. The grain was harrowed in with a wooden toothed harrow. The farmer who did not have even one of those rude implements would cut a small tree, trim off part of the limbs so as to leave a bushy end. hitch his team to it and use that as a substitute for a harrow.
On the prairies the work of plowing and cultivating were less dis- agreeable and could be done more rapidly. There was no clearing to be done, and this saved a great deal of hard labor. The first work was to turn over the prairie sod, and this was done with the same kind of a plow and team as in the newly cleared timbered lands. As the sod was turned over a man followed about every third furrow, dug into the top of the furrow with his foot or with a hoe and planted corn. covering it in the same way. In some instances the corn was dropped in the furrow very near the outside, so that the edge of the next fur- row when turned over would he directly over the grain. The corn would then come through between the two furrows. Dr. A. C. Jack- son says that on the farm of his father, Colonel John Jackson, the first year's crop was not cultivated from the time it was planted until it was husked.
In harvesting the corn the stalk was not utilized as is done at
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the present day. The prevailing practice was to pull the ear from the stock, husk and all, hant the corn to a pile and then husk it. The husk was utilized for feed, and as much of the grain as was not needed for home consumption was hauled away to market. As soon as large crops of corn were grown husking bees became the fashion. The corn was pulled from the stalk and hanled to a pile, as when the farmer him- self or he and his family did the husking. Then a number of neighbors assembled and everybody husked. This was repeated at the home of each farmer until all had their crops husked.
Wheat was harvested with the cradle, such an implement as a reaper or harvesting machine of any kind not then being dreamed of. Besides the cradle, the sickle, also, was in use at that time. But that was used only in wheat that had blown down or grew among stumps and trees, making ît extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to cradle. And for the first few years that was a large portion of the crop. It was well that only a limited area could be sown, because had there been a greater acreage it doubtless would not have been harvested. The work of harvesting with those old time implements was extremely slow in comparison with the way it can be done with our improved harvesting machinery. The threshing was done either with a flail or the grain was tramped out with horses. Both processes were very slow, the former being about as slow as harvesting with the sickle. When horses were used a threshing floor was made out doors by smooth- ing the ground and tramping or beating until it was as solid as it could he made. The horses were ridden by boys while two men worked the grain toward the center of the floor and threw ont the straw.
In the early 'Jos a machine was in use which threshed out the grain and dispensed both with the use of the flail and the tramping of the horses. This machine consisted of only a cylinder and was operated hy horse power. When the threshing was done by any of these meth- oxds the grain had to be separated from the chaff by fanning with a sheet, the wind blowing the chaff away. There were no fanning mills then but they were introduced a few years later, the exact year not being known. These mills were in their crudest form but were con- sidered a great improvement over the winnowing sheet. All of this labor had to be done in order that the farmer might produce a supply of wheat sufficient to provide bread for his family and if possible a small surplus to sell.
Corn and wheat were the two leading crops grown then. as they
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
have been ever since. Other crops that were grown were oats, rye, potatoes, buckwheat and flax. Oats were fed in the straw, only enough being threshed out to furnish seed for the next year's crop. A patch of potatoes was planted on every farm for home use, but there were very few, if any, grown for market. The crop being a bulky one and the markets so distant made the growing of potatoes as a market crop wholly impracticable. Flax was raised for home use, the product being manufactured into linen for a part of the family's wearing apparel. Those who grew buckwheat hauled it away to mill and had it ground to be made into buckwheat cakes, which constituted no small portion of the winter's food supply.
No attention was paid to the rotation of crops. Corn was planted after corn and wheat after wheat, and that was continued year after year. Sometimes these crops were alternated, but only as a matter of convenience and not to prevent the exhaustion of the soil. It was not necessary at that time to give any attention to this matter, which has come to be one of the most important questions the farmer of the pres- ent day has to consider. When the timber was first cleared away the land was full of fertility and nobody then had any idea that these lands would ever cease to furnish sufficient nourishment for any crops that might be planted. Had the same care been exercised in conserving fertility then as the farmers are compelled to exercise now the soils would never have become impoverished, as so many of them have, and it would be just as easy to raise good crops as it was when the land was first brought under cultivation. In one of his personal memoirs the late John W. Irwin states that the wheat crop of 1834 was one of the best that was ever harvested on Elkhart prairie. The yield was good and the grain weighed sixty-five pounds to the measured bushel. He also states that the year previous to that. 1833. there was a heavy frost as late as June 10, which injured the wheat and froze the blades all off the corn, but both recovered from the shock and put forth a vigorous growth until the crops were matured. The richness of the soil was doubtless the most potent factor in the restoration of the crops after they had been thus partially destroyed. And it was this native fertility which had more to do than any one thing with the successful farming of those days. But the abundant crops produced so early did not prove an unmixed blessing. The supply of wheat became so great and the demand was so limited that it became a difficult matter to dis- pose of it. For a little while there was a demand for wheat on the
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
part of the newer immigrants, as they would bring none with them, but after the best lands were taken up immigration to this county ceased for a time and this demand fell off. As a consequence the price of wheat and other grains became very low. Wheat was exchanged for goods, the wheat being taken at thirty-seven and a half cents a bushel, while an enormous price was charged for the goods. The production of good crops, the result of good soil, was not sufficient to make farming prof- itable then, as those things alone can not make it profitable now.
The hay crop, which has grown to a crop of great importance, in the earliest days consisted of the native grasses. When there were only a few settlers here the prairie grasses furnished an abundant sup- ply of hay for their horses and cattle. When the prairie lands were all taken up each farmer on those lands set off a portion of his farm for a meadow, but this was sufficient only for the owners, and those farmers who had settled in the timber had to secure a supply elsewhere. There was an abundant growth of grass on what were then known as wet prairies, which we now call marshes. At first every farmer could find a sufficient supply of this marsh grass near his home if he had none on his farm. But in a short time the lands containing small marshes were occupied, and those who had none had to go some distance from home to the big marshes to procure a supply of hay for their winter's feed. Some of the farmers on Elkhart prairie in the early thirties went fully ten miles to what was then called Cornell's marsh to make their hay. What was then only a marsh, a hundred acres or more in ex- tent, has been known for the past thirty years as the McVitty farm, one of the best and most productive farms in Jefferson township. This hay had to be mowed by hand, then thrown together and hauled from the marsh on a small sled drawn by a yoke of oxen. The ground was so soft that a team of horses and wagon could not be driven over it. Only a small bit could be hauled out at a time in this way, and it took a number of these sled loads to make a wagon load. . And the same method of making hay had to be employed on all of the wet prairies in those days. Nobody would have thought then that nearly all of those marshes, which were utilized only for the purpose of furnishing coarse hay, would some day be counted among Elkhart county's most pro- ductive farms.
It was not long that this was the only source of supply for win- ter forage. The more progressive farmers began at an early day to experiment with other grasses and the experiment proved successful.
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.As early as 1835 timothy is known to have been grown, and in 1838 red top began to be tried. On the rich soil both of the prairie and the newly cleared timbered lands timothy made a great growth and proved to be an excellent forage crop. The continued sowing of timothy, how- ever, probably had much to do with the exhaustion of the soil's fertility from which our agriculture suffered in later years. Red top was sown among the girdled timber which had not yet been removed. One of the reasons for trying red top was that it had been recommended as a crop which would thrive in the shade and in wet places where timothy did not do so well. And it seemed to be a very profitable crop for a time, but in later years it has found little favor among our farmers. The first clover concerning which any definite information can be ob- tained was grown in about 1845. Nathan Smiley, of Elkhart prairie, began growing it at that time and was the first man who is known to have raised it. Other farmers soon began to grow this crop, and in a few years it became quite popular. As early as 1852, in his first annual report as secretary of the Elkhart County Agricultural Society, C. L. Murray made the statement that all of the leading farmers of the county had begun to experiment with clover. Most of them began with a small patch in the orchard or in some out of the way corner to ascer- tain whether it could be grown upon their land. It was not used as a renovating crop, however, as it is now, but for hay and for seed. When grown for hay it was the common practice to sow timothy or red top along with it, because it was thought that this increased the yield. Land plaster was sown on the clover fields in liberal quantities to make a heavier growth. Though both the first and second crops were frequently removed the land was somewhat improved by the respite it had from the continuous growing of other crops. It was some years later before farmers as a rule began to raise clover especially for the improvement of the land.
At the time when the first settlements were made here wild fruits grew in abundance and these were used by many of the people before there were any fruits cultivated. There were wild strawberries, rasp- berries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, phuuns and a number of other fruits, all of which were considered luxuries in pioneer days. Fruit growing was begun at an early day, apple orchards being set out as soon as a few acres of land were cleared. In the strong, fertile soil the trees grew rapidly and began to bear fruit at an early age. There are yet in existence parts of old orchards that were set in the latter
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
30s or early '40s. The rows are crooked and look as if the trees had been set in the woods, as some of the older residents say was occasion- ally done. It is thought that some of the trees may have been pro- cured from the celebrated Johnny Appleseed, who, it is said, passed through this section of the state several times toward the end of his career. At first the fruit was mostly seedling, but the farmers soon began to improve their orchards by having them grafted. As in nearly everything else the progress in the improvement of fruits was gradual. Those farmers who were the most progressive along other lines also manifested the most interest in this branch of their farming. It was many years after the county was settled before fruit growing was taken up as a specialty. But after the industry began to develop it grew from year to year until it became one of the important industries of the county. So far as can be ascertained the first real fruit specialist was Henry P. Hanford, who had a fine fruit farm of nearly one hundred acres just south of Bristol and who began fruit growing about 1860. The same farm is at the present day the leading fruit farm of Elkhart county, being owned and operated by former county auditor George Milburn. There are several square miles of hilly land south and south- east of Bristol which are devoted almost exclusively to fruit growing, and the fruit produced in that section of the county is known far and wide as being equal to any grown in the state.
The development of the live-stock interests of the county is an important feature of our agriculture and, could sufficient data be se- cured. would be worthy of an extended article itself. But, unfortu- nately, no complete record of this development has been kept and the data which are accessible are only fragmentary, so it is doubtful whether there ever can be a satisfactory history of this industry written. The first stock kept by the pioneers was scrub stock, none of the improved breeds being represented. The hogs were the old-fashioned elm-peelers and the name doubtless was about as appropriate as any that conkl be found. They had long legs, long bodies and long noses. It used to be said that they could poke their snouts through a rail fence and root up the first two rows of potatoes on the other side. No doubt they would have fulfilled the requirements of the southern planters who, accord- ing to Bill Nye. had no use for a hog that couldn't outrun a nigger. They were not kept up, but were permitted to roam all over the woods, which meant that they could go anywhere and everywhere. Each owner had his mark for identification and the mark was recorded. The mark-
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ing was done in the spring, and the stock was then turned out, probably: not to be seen again until fall. The animals had no commercial value. so it was considered a waste of time to take care of them. Hogs were then kept until they were over two years old before they were slaugh- tered for meat. They were fattened either partially or wholly on acorns and nuts, which were called nast. When these products of the forests were plentiful they were often sufficient for the fattening of the swine. In the years when they were scarce corn was required for the purpose. The secretary of the county agricultural society, Charles L. Murray, in his first annual report to the state board of agriculture in 1851, described the swine of that period, and a part of that descrip- tion may be reproduced here. He said : " We have all kinds of breeds of hogs among us, but principally the long-nosed pointer sort. with legs to correspond; the marauding propensities of this 'lean kind' make them easy to keep. When it comes to ' root pig or die ' they carry the instrument to do it, and when it is necessary to get over a fence into their neighbor's good things they show a wonderful agility in climbing in and, if hard pressed with dogs or clubs, in jumping out. But when it comes to fattening in a pen, pouring in corn seems a waste of grain, as it takes an immense quantity to lay even the hair; that being the nearest idea of grease you can gather from their looks after a month's feeding. But, added to all their running qualities, thank Heaven they are fast running out." From this description it will be observed that very little progress had been made in swine breeding during the first twenty years after the county was settled.
The first swine of an improved breed of which there is any definite knowledge was brought here in 1850. Elisha D. Irwin, who is still living, purchased of a man named Bothwell in the eastern part of Noble county a sow of the breed known as the Irish Grazier and brought her to his farm on Elkhart prairie. At the same time Jesse D. Vail, of Benton township, sent with Mr. Irwin and bought a pig of the same man. Mr. Irwin brought both of them in a wagon, the distance he hauled them being over thirty miles. Both Mr. Irwin and Mr. Vail bred this strain of hogs for a number of years. They were so far superior to the native breed that a ready sale was found for all surplus stock for breeding purposes, and in five or six years they were exten- sively bred all over that section of the country. The swine referred to were white and of attractive appearance. They somewhat resembled the old Chester Whites, but those who bred them pronounced them su-
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
perior to that breed. It required about eighteen months to mature and fatten them, so it can be readily understood that they would not be adapted to present day conditions. Just after the Civil war Mr. Irwin brought from Illinois several Poland China hogs, and this breed at once became popular, because they matured and fattened at a much earlier age than any other swine then known. This popularity has continued to the present day, and it is safe to assert that there is in this county more Poland China blood than there is of any other breed of hogs. To Mr. Irwin, as far as can be learned, must be given the credit of introducing into this county two of the improved breeds of swine, both of which became popular and each one of which was the means of increasing materially the profits of those who engaged in swine breeding. For a time the Berkshires were popular, especially along in the '70s. About the same time the Chester Whites were also quite extensively bred, but neither of these is largely represented in the county at present. Both of them were supplanted to a great extent by the Poland China. During the past fifteen years the O. I. C. swine have become quite popular in certain sections, particularly in the south- east part of the county. The Durocs have been introduced but not to any great extent. However, this breed gives promise of becoming one of the profitable breeds of the future.
The cattle which the pioneers brought with them were scrubs, but as a rule they were a better type of animals than were the swine. They were kept until they were four years old before they were slaughtered. and when marketed at that age they brought from twelve to fifteen dol- lars. They were neither of the beef nor the dairy type, but were used for all purposes. The cows furnished the family's supply of milk and butter, but that was all. The steers on a good many farms were trained for work, the ox team then being in continuous use. Such animals as were not used for either of these purposes were killed for beef. The breeding of blooded stock as a specialty or as a branch of general farming was not begun until after 1850. The first blooded animal con- cerning which there is any positive knowledge was a Short-horn cow. owned by Alexander Irwin. This cow was purchased in 1833 of a man who was driving a herd of blooded cattle through from Pennsylvania to this state and selling them wherever he found a buyer. Whether they were pure-bred animals or only a good type of grades is not known. Mr. Irwin bought the cow referred to expecting to establisli a herd of that breed of cattle on his farm, but he died in 1835 and his
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plans never materialized. The ordinary scrub cattle were all that were to be seen here for over two decades after the county was settled. The first man to bring pure bred cattle into the county and engage in breed- ing them was John D. Elsea, of Benton township, better known in that section of the county as Squire Elsea. He established a herd of Short- horns which became known far and wide as the finest herd of cattle in the county. His foundation stock came from Wayne county, Indiana. The first animal of this breed that he had was presented to him by an uncle who lived in that county. It is believed by some individuals that the blood came originally from the celebrated herd of General Sol Mere- dith, of Cambridge City, but there is now no evidence to establish this as a fact. \ few years after Mr. Elsea established his herd Joseph Rippey engaged in breeding the same class of cattle, his foundation stock having been procured from the Elsea herd. Mr. Rippey con- tinued breeding Short-horns until a short time before his death, which occurred in May, 1893. Archibald Kinnison, another Benton township man, also engaged in the breeding of Short-horns soon after Mr. Elsea did. he, too, purchasing stock of Mr. Elsea. For many years these three men were known as among the leading Short-horn breeders of northern Indiana. The Elsea herd was continued by Edwin D. Elsea. a son of John D. Elsea, until about two years ago, when Mr. Elsea sold the greater number of his animals at a dispersion sale. Mr. Rippey's herd was disposed of at public sales in 1890 and 1892. only a few indi- viduals being kept by him, and these were sold at a sale shortly after his death. W. W. McVitty, of Jefferson township, was for a long time engaged in the breeding of Short-horns, and he also gained quite a reputation as a breeder. A part of his foundation stock was pur- chased by Mr. Kinnison. Mr. McVitty died in 1883. but his herd was continued for some years afterward by his wife and daughter. Philip F. Nye, also of Jefferson township, is at present one of the lead- ing breeders of Short-horns in the county. The foundation stock for his herd was procured largely from the Rippey herd. It will be ob- served, therefore, that much of the same blood has continued through the leading herds of Short-horns in the county since the first importa- tion by Mr. Elsea in the '505. While there are not as many herds of pure bred Short-horns as one would expect to see a half century after their introduction into the county, the blood has been pretty thoroughly diffused and there are comparatively few farms outside of the dairy farms upon which it is not represented. The grade Short-horn is the
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prevailing type of cattle bred by the average farmer of Elkhart county. The breed was first crossed upon the native cattle, and the breeding up has continued until most of the progressive farmers have high grade Short-horns on their farms.
About twenty years ago the Herefords were introduced, and a great effort was made to bring them into popularity. It was freely predicted by the more enthusiastic Hereford breeders that they would supplant the Short-horns in a few years, but that prediction failed to come to pass. Several herds which had attained some prominence were dispersed and the breeders of them quit the cattle business after hav- ing expended considerable money for which they received no return. Their failure was not due to lack of merit in the breed, but to the ex- travagant prices paid for foundation stock. At present some of the leading farmers of Clinton township are interesting themselves in the Herefords, and they may yet become a popular breed in the county.
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