USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 46
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
interested many who have thought little of it previous to this. This amount of seed covered about one hundred and thirty acres and this, together with what was sown otherwise, would bring the alfalfa acreage up to about one hundred and eighty acres for 1914.
This acreage was more than doubled in 1915 and in 1916 there were 204 fields of alfalfa with an average of about five acres to the field.
The livestock industry has grown with wonderful rapidity within the past few years and the number of cattle and hogs kept on each farm is increasing each year. The one serious drawback to the raising of hogs has been the scourge of cholera which has, at intervals, taken its toll of hogs in the county. In the year 1913 Redwood county passed through one of the worst scourges of hog cholera that it has ever experienced and nearly all parts of the county suffered heavy losses. At the beginning of November, 1913, when the county agent work was started in the country, a movement was started at once to hold the chol- era in check for the coming year, if such a thing were possible. At the various meetings held in the county during the winter the cholera situation was taken up and the uses of serum, sani- tation, etc., was discussed and by this means a clearer under- standing of the disease was made to the people of the county.
Early in the spring of 1914 when a few of the first cases of cholera were reported the matter was taken up in detail with the state livestock sanitary board and with a representative of the board most of the township boards in the county were vis- ited, and the matter of reporting outbreaks in their localities was taken up. At the same time the educational work was kept up at all meetings held in the county and a supply of serum was kept on hand for emergency use. Under this plan all outbreaks in the county were located and the disease did not assume the ravages that were apparent in 1913. This was, of course, due in part to a shortage of hogs in the county. In 1914 about 2,500 hogs were treated with serum with a saving of 90 per cent of the number treated, which shows very good results for the serum treatment, as in many of the herds the hogs were well advanced in the disease before the case was brought to the attention of the bureau. As a result of this careful watching there were but two cases of cholera in 1915 and these were of a very mild order. The direct organization of the work, handling of the serum, etc., was in charge of the county agent, J. E. Neil, and the results of this plan of work have been entirely satisfactory.
In the matter of the cattle industry, very rapid strides have been made. This industry shows up very prominently in the number of silos that have been built in the county during the past few years. In the year 1915 there were fifty-nine silos in
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the county on June 1st; in 1916 there were one hundred silos in the county on June 1st and this will have increased considerable by the time this goes to press. This method of handling the roughage is recognized by everyone who handles livestock, and the only reason that there are not more silos at present is a lack of capital on the part of some and the high cost of filling machin- ery. This, however, is rapidly being overcome by a number of farmers joining together and working co-operatively.
Nearly all types of silos are found in Redwood county, from the wood stave, which was one of the earliest types, to the cement stave silo, which is the latest. Within the past year a number of cement silos of the Keystone type, a cement stave silo, have been erected in the vicinity of Redwood Falls, where the blocks for this type of silo are made. This has also been true in the part of Redwood county adjacent to Springfield, where a number of the clay block silos have been built. Both of these types of silos are of the permanent variety and this is an important factor to consider in the erection of a silo. The silo is a wonderful monument to the development of present day agriculture and its appearance on the many farms throughout the county spells definite progress in the livestock industry in Redwood county.
The dairy industry, while it is not one of the largest indus- tries in the county, it has held steady within the past few years. There are at present five co-operative creameries in Redwood county located at North Redwood, Morgan, Brookville township, Wabasso and Wanda, which handle the major portion of the cream in their territory. These creameries have all been in operation for some time with the exception of the Wanda cream- ery, which was built in 1914 as a result of the consolidation of three old creameries located in Sundown, New Avon and Water- bury townships. Private creameries are in operation in several villages. Cream shipping stations are maintained in all of the towns of the county where there are no creameries and several of the towns have cream shipping stations in addition to the creameries.
The breeders of pure-bred livestock are increasing in num- bers each year and at this time nearly all breeds of cattle are represented, likewise hogs and horses. Among the herds of cattle that have gained considerable prominence outside the eounty is the herd of Holstein cattle owned by Gold, Wise, and Gold of Redwood Falls and the Hereford herd of R. W. Christy of Underwood township. Besides these are the Shorthorn herds of Peter Mckay of Delhi and Malcolm Dennistoun of Redwood Falls, who have figured very prominently in the county.
The following list includes the various other breeders of pure- bred livestock in the county who have gained considerable promi- nence. Short Horn Cattle : Peter Mckay, Delhi; Thomas Mckay,
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Delhi; Banker & Dennistoun, Redwood Falls; Henry Petri, Red- wood Falls; C. T. March, Redwood Falls; M. W. Dennistoun, Redwood Falls; Douglas Allen, Redwood Falls; Charles Garn- hart, Redwood Falls; D. M. Tiffany, Redwood Falls; John Roh- lik, Vesta ; Frank Petri, Lucan ; Nash Bros., Tracy ; D. F. Riordan, Lamberton; Wasson Quinn, Lamberton. Hereford Cattle : R. W. Christy, Vesta; Frank Sheffield, Springfield; C. H. Fredriksen, Clements, Nash Bros., Tracy; W. H. Cook & Son, Sanborn. Polled Durham Cattle : Archie MeDougal, Wabasso; J. M. Little, Seaforth. Aberdeen Angus Cattle: William Peterson, Belview; D. R. McCorquodale, Delhi; John Stevenson, Delhi. Holstein Cattle : Fred Hoepner, North Redwood; Gold, Wise & Gold, Redwood Falls; H. S. Kleckner, Redwood Falls; Byron Sweeley, Tracy; Charles Hensch, Sanborn. Jersey Cattle: William Bonde- son, Walnut Grove; Axle Bondeson, Walnut Grove. Duroc Jer- sey Hogs: J. M. Little, Seaforth ; Peter MeKay, Delhi; Thomas MeKay, Delhi; R. E. Fuller, Redwood Falls; J. F. Connor, Red- wood Falls ; Michael Skow, Springfield ; H. C. Lau, Tracy ; Wasson Quinn, Lamberton. Poland China Hogs: Thomas MeKay, Delhi; Douglas Allen, Redwood Falls :; C. T. March, Redwood Falls; Ernest Beerman, Wanda; T. A. Allen, Walnut Grove; D. F. Riordan, Lamberton. Chester White Hogs: John Ruder, Delhi; J. A. Metcalf, Redwood Falls; H. S. Kleckner, Redwood Falls. Percheron Horses: R. E. Fuller, Redwood Falls; C. C. King, Redwood Falls; Banker & Dennistoun, Redwood Falls, Jens Scott, Vesta. Clydesdale Horses: D. A. Dennistoun, Redwood Falls.
The poultry industry of Redwood county is one of its steady assets. Large numbers of poultry are kept on every farm and the production of eggs from Redwood county ranks among the best in the state; likewise the shipments of live poultry from the country surrounding the towns. The reliability of the farm flock is well recognized in the county and on many farms the poultry take charge of a good share of the grocery bills. A poultry show is held each year at Walnut Grove and there are several fanciers around this town who have taken a keen interest in the poultry business. A poultry exhibit is also held in connection with the county fair each year at Redwood Falls which has shown an increasing number of entries each year.
The farm improvements in Redwood county are among the best. Large commodious houses occupy the place of the older ones which housed the early settlers and the large barn and house with its spacious surroundings is one of the common sights on Redwood county farms. On many farms in the county the houses are entirely modern, being equipped with electric light, furnace or hot water heat, running water throughout the house, with laundry room and labor-saving washing machinery on the in- terior. Large groves which form a protection from the severe
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winds in winter are seen on every farm and their value is counted among the valuable farm improvements.
A friendly community spirit is maintained between the busi- ness men and farmers, which is one of the most lasting and bene- ficial steps to be found in any community. The banking institu- tions of the county offer encouragement to agricultural enter- prises such as loaning money to build silos and offering premium money for exhibits of the various agricultural products in the county, all of which tend to cement friendship and help towards that ideal relationship between town and country that goes along with the well-balanced community.
The county has within its borders three high schools which maintain agricultural departments, located at Redwood Falls, Morgan and Lamberton. At each one of these schools a compe- tent agricultural man is employed whose duties are to teach agri- culture in the schools and to carry on extension work among the farmers of the district. These men have taken up various phases of agricultural development in their districts, among which might be mentioned the boys' and girls' club work, which con- sists of corn and pig contests for the boys and bread baking and gardening for the girls. Many other lines of work are also un- dertaken by these men, such as testing seed corn, pruning fruit trees, etc.
The county agent work was started in Redwood county on November 1, 1913, which made Redwood county one of the first counties of the state to take up this line of extension work. Under this new form of agricultural development a part of the expense is born by the state, a part by the United States Govern. ment, and the remainder is raised in the county. In Redwood county the work was started in 1913 with J. E. Neil as county agent. One of the first steps that was necessary was to get in touch with the people of the county and perfect some means of keeping in touch with all parts of the county at all times. The purpose of the work being to bring together the farmers of the county for mutual co-operation and to get in touch with some of the problems that were confronting them. Among the things which were taken up at the beginning of the work was the con- trol of hog cholera and the introduction of alfalfa. These two projects occupied a good share of the time of the first years work during which time there was no direct organization in the county to plan out and direct the work. It being necessary for the agent to take up such work as he deemed advisable to be done or which was necessary at the time.
During the first year many miscellaneous problems came up besides the major ones, such as the selection of seed corn, en- couragement of boys' and girls' club work, pruning fruit trees, the selection of desirable sires among cattle and hogs, etc. This
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continued until February, 1915, at which time the Farm Bureau was organized with representative men in nearly all of the town- ships of the county. By this plan a close contact was kept with all of the outlying parts of the county and more thorough and effective work was secured. Another phase of the work which occupied considerable time was the organization of farmers' clubs. This is one of the most effective means of developing community spirit and the result among the farmers' clubs of the county have shown this to be true. While most of the clubs were organized on the social basis many of them have taken up the commercial and educational side as well. Many other lines of work have been taken up, among these are the selection of breeding stock, farm management, drainage, silo construction, etc. This work was developing in standing and benefit to the people at a very rapid rate, but owing to a lack of funds the work was discon- tinued on August 1, 1916. This is a much regretted step by those in the county who were closely associated with the work and who were aware of what such an organization could do for the farmers of the county. The marks of the work of the organization and the county agent have been made and a great deal of credit is due to the loyal people who stood back of the plan in spite of an opposing board of county commissioners and the continuous deriding of those people who are found in every community and who oppose all progressive movements. During the brief period which this plan was in operation a big step in advance was made and the sudden lack of funds which caused the discontinuance of the work can only be marked with regret.
There are three farmers' co-operative shipping associations in this county, with headquarters at North Redwood, Morgan and Belview.
The railroads maintain stockyards at Belview, Delhi, North Redwood, Redwood Falls, Gilfillan, Morgan, Clements, Rowena, Wabasso, Lucan, Milroy, Wanda, Sanborn, Lamberton, Revere and Walnut Grove, this list embracing all the railroad stations in Redwood county except Wayburne.
Redwood county is acknowledged as being among the best and most prosperous stock-raising and agricultural counties in Minnesota. Its people are wideawake and keep step with the progressive march of the times in all that pertains to a civiliza- tion of happiness, industry and culture. The first permanent settlers of the county were farmers, and their object in coming was to till the soil.
All had many lessons to learn. Many of the pioneers were from foreign countries, and all the conditions were new. Some were farmers from the eastern states, and they, too, found cir- cumstances absolutely changed. Some were men who had pre- viously been engaged in other occupations, but who saw in the
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opening of Minnesota an opportunity to secure a farm, together with the health and longevity that come from outdoor life. All of them, regardless of their previous circumstances, were able and willing to work; they had industry and courage and they were determined to win.
In the face of obstacles of which they had previously no knowl- edge they started to carve their fortunes in the wilderness. The country was new, there was no alternative but that success must be won from the soil, which was their only wealth and their only help. And in spite of all the obstacles and inconveniences, and notwithstanding the fact that in the face of many disasters hun- dreds of the pioneers left the county, those who stayed, and those who have come in since, have met with unbounded success. Nor is the end yet reached, for the county has in its agricultural and dairying resources a mine of wealth yet undeveloped, which, when the years roll on, will grow more and more valuable as the people become, through scientific methods, more and more able to utilize it.
The farms of Redwood county are similar to the farms of any other county having a rich soil. It has its good farms and its poor farms. Or, better stated, it has its good farmers and its poor farmers. Agriculture, like every other trade or profession, has its successes and its failures, but perhaps not as many com- plete failures.
The high altitude gives to Redwood county an ideal climate. Its mean temperature for summer is 70 degrees, the same as middle Illinois, Ohio, and southern Pennsylvania. The extreme heat that is felt in these states is here tempered by the breezes of the elevated plateau. Its higher latitude gives two hours more of sunshine than at Cincinnati. This, with an abundance of rain- fall, 26.36 inches annually, on a rich soil, accounts for the rapid and vigorous growth of crops and their early maturity. There is a uniformity of temperature during the winter season in southern Minnesota, with bright sunshine, dry atmosphere, good sleighing and infrequent thaws that make life a pleasure in this bracing, healthy climate.
There was a time in Redwood county when, like all new lands, the first consideration was to build good barns for the housing of the flocks and herds, and the home was the most inconspicuous object in the landscape. As the farmers prospered, the log house disappeared, and now there are few log houses in the entire county. Now the farmer's house vies with the city residence, and has many of the modern conveniences. Where electric light and power cannot be secured, gasoline engines furnish power, and a number of farm houses are lighted by their own gas plants. By the use of elevated tanks in the house or barn, or pneumatic tanks in cellars, farm houses often have all the sanitary conveniences
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of a house in town. Farmers realize the value of keeping their property in the best of shape. Houses and barns are well painted, lawns are carefully kept and flower gardens show that the people recognize that the things which beautify add a value to life as well as to property.
The rural telephone reaches practically every farm house, which, with rural mail delivery and the newspapers, places the farmer in close touch with the great markets and with the cur- rent of affairs of the outside world. There is no longer any iso- Iation such as existed in the early days when pioneering meant privation ; no longer any need for the denial of many of the luxuries as well as the comforts of life. The farmer can have his daily newspaper and his daily market reports; he can have the advantage of the circulating library, and his table can be sup- plied with whatever the village or city market may have to offer. The changes of the half-century have been more marked in scarcely any direction than in the condtions which surround life on the farm. The plodding ox which did the field and farm work has disappeared; the gang plow, the mower, the seeder, the harvester and the steam thresher are doing the work so laboriously and imperfectly done by the scythe, the cradle, the hand-sower, the flail and the horse-power thresher. The buggy, the carriage and now the automobile are almost universal among the conveniences of the farm, while the sewing machine, the organ and the piano are familiar objects in the inner life of the farm home. The future doubtless holds still more in the way of conveniences and comforts, but it can give nothing beyond what the great service the farmer has rendered and is rendering the country in the way of its development merits. There cannot but be deep regret, however much it is in the nature of things, that so few of those who bore the heat and burden of the day in the years of beginnings, have survived to enjoy the fruits which their labors produced.
"Their epitaphs are writ in furrows Deep and wide,
The wheels of progress have passed on: The silent pioneer is gone. His ghost is moving down the trees, And now we push the memories
Of bluff, bold men who dared and died In foremost battle, quite aside."
The threshing activities in Redwood county mark the birth of a new industry. The threshing of the grain each fall seems to be a sort of a natural part of the year's work and little is thought about it and the many changes that it has gone through in the past generation. In looking back over the development of the
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county it is easily seen, however, that the threshing of the grain is one of the most important parts of the scheme that goes to make up the agriculture of the county and a little mention of its place is perhaps well founded.
This region was primarily a grain country and for many years was used for that almost entirely, and from the time the first crop was grown the threshing of that crop was of direct impor- tance. When the earliest settlers came to this county and began growing wheat there were few markets; the roads were mostly trails which followed the higher lands and threshing at that time was much more difficult than at present.
The first machines were small, were run by horsepower and had to be moved from place to place by means of horses. The machines were fed by hand and the straw had to be taken away from the rear end of the machine with horses. This was usually done by means of a "bucker," the straw being pulled off to one side and burned to get it out of the way. The horsepower was soon supplanted however, by the steam engine, a small twelve to fourteen horsepower engine that also had to be pulled about with horses. These engines were a great revelation and soon crowded out the old horsepower. They were small and light and burned straw. This did away with a lot of the horses that were required to run the old horsepowers. Soon after the steam engines came into use and began to be moved with their own power the trials of the thresher began to grow less. The self-feeder and the blower came into use nearly the same time and this made a decided difference in the size of the crew about the machine. The first feeder came into the county about the year 1894. The self-feeder is still in use but has been modified into what is known as the wing-feeder. This is especially true of the larger machines. The blower has come to stay with very few changes, bringing a great deal of satisfaction to farmer and thresher as well. The first gasoline engine was used in the county about the year 1907, and at the present this type of engine is growing rapidly and taking the place of the old steam engine. There are still a few straw burning engines in the county, but these are gradually de- clining in favor. This type of engine was a great boon in the early days when coal was scarce and straw was worthless to most people.
Right along with the changes that have taken place in the ma- chines, many other factors have entered in. The first threshing rigs complete cost in the neighborhood of two thousand dollars, while at the present time one of the larger rigs will cost in the neighborhood of four thousand dollars and many of them more, depending on the engine used. The price of threshing, however, has varied little during this time. During the early days oats were threshed for three cents per bushel and wheat for five to
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
seven cents per bushel, and these prices are about the average today. The crew at the present being about half as large as formerly. At the present time there are many private rigs, or rigs owned by three or four parties, in different parts of the county, and their use appears to be coming more general. In favorable years the threshing season usually lasts about two months, much of the grain being threshed from the stack. Some shock threshing is being done in all parts of the county, but in general the people do not wait for the machine but prefer to stack their grain instead.
Wild and Tame Grasses of Redwood County, by S. F. Scott, cashier of State Bank of Vesta. The wild grasses of Redwood county are numerous and different varieties thrive in the various kinds of soil and conditions. The upland grows the bluejoint grass which makes good pasture and hay. The lower lands grow the blue top grass which makes a fine grade of hay. The sloughs grow the ordinary slough grass and also the winter grass, which has a triangular stem and is of a rank dark green color and is not eaten by stock except in the winter time. It grows in water mostly and the cattle will walk on the ice in winter and eat it greedily.
The tame grasses most grown are timothy, red clover or the different varieties, alsike clover and white clover. There is a new clover appearing with a yellow bloom and it resembles al- falfa in some ways more than it does clover. The name of it is not known locally.
Alfalfa is being grown quite successfully of late years and there seems to be no difficulty in securing a good stand if the seed bed is firm enough and the seed is not covered too deeply. Inoculation is not found to be necessary but an application of lime would be quite beneficial. It is also good policy to apply a good coat of manure on the ground before seeding alfalfa. The greatest drawback to a good stand of alfalfa is to have the ground too loose when the alfalfa is seeded. On that account, the best results have been from sowing the seed on corn ground and making a fine seed bed by disking and dragging the corn stubble without plowing it. The disking and dragging is done several times between spring and the time of seeding and when the weeds have been eradicated the alfalfa is sown at the rate of eighteen pounds per acre, sometimes along with a nurse crop of barley sown at the rate of one bushel per acre and sometimes the alfalfa is sown alone. Broadcasting is considered the best way to sow, as a drill is apt to plant the seed too deeply in some places, and by broadcasting the seed is not buried so deeply. The roots rapidly grow in length and thickness and keep increasing with age.
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