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Farming back in 1903!!!

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Rauville

10-04-2006 19:14:07




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Came across a complete 1903 Diary today that was handwritten by a young farmer in Clark County, SD. Thought it was interesting enough to share some excerpts with you. In looking through it, it's apparent that some things never change! Hope you enjoy it.
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4-1-03 Fine weather. Painted and striped wagon box.
4-17 Strong S. Wind. Sold my wheat at 64 cents. Got a case of beer from Watertown on the 5:10 train. Cost $2.55
4-24 Cool and windy. Sowed oats.
5-10 Took load of lumber out to claim. Slept on the lumber on the ground. Froze to death. Lumber cost $31.57
5-13 Built on my house. Very warm. Went down to the creek.
6-3 Shot at badger. Missed
6-9 Cool and rained AM. Sowed Flax. Puppy got fifth gopher.
6-24 Cool AM. Finished my house. Rented the Hog to Jim.
7-18 Hot. Stacked Hay. Fixed little Pigs.
7-23 Mowing Hay. Fixed the binder. Warm
7-29 Cool all day. Stacked Hay. Put up 3 good stacks.
8-6 Stacked Barley all day. Warm
8-8 Started cutting Wheat. Baked bread at night.
8-15 Cut Oats. Started at 10.30 AM, stopped at 6:30
8-23 Went to Sunday School.
9-1 Shot Parrie Chicken.
9-13 Froze hard last night.
9-18 Stacked Hay. Threshing started at 9 AM
10-9 Threshing Barley at Arthurs. Broke the blower gear at 4:30
10-10 Went hunting ducks at Antelope Lake. Shot 20 ducks.
11-14 Built a cow shed.
11-18 Cold west wind. Butchered a Hog.
12-3 Stormy NW wind all day. Social at night at depot. A dance to finish up with.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -

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Mike (WA)

10-05-2006 08:21:32




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 Re: Farming back in 1903!!! in reply to Rauville, 10-04-2006 19:14:07  
A case of beer cost about 4 bushels of wheat in '03. Still does, 100 years later. Who says parity is out the window?



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Nebraska Cowman

10-05-2006 04:08:06




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 Re: Farming back in 1903!!! in reply to Rauville, 10-04-2006 19:14:07  
Reminded me of something I read in one of Roger Welsch's books, "starving to death on my government claim' Way too true!



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noncompos

10-04-2006 19:33:17




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 Re: Farming back in 1903!!! in reply to Rauville, 10-04-2006 19:14:07  
If you don't intend to pass it down the family, or donate it to a museum, remember all those older writings, especially something like the diary, are (or were, when I was collecting, and almost certainly still are)highy prized and in much demand among collectors, and should be treated reverently (some people drink, some chase UFO's, some like old paper). Nothing like that, no matter how worthless it'd seem at first glance, should be thrown away without some research first. The trade term for most miscellaneous paper items is Ephemera.

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Rauville

10-05-2006 08:25:44




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 Re: Farming back in 1903!!! in reply to noncompos, 10-04-2006 19:33:17  
I've appreciated old things for a long time. NOT throwing things away is my problem.
This little diary really caught my attention, as the entry referring to thrashing at "Arthurs" would have been my Great Grandfather's place.
The young man that penned this diary came to SD from Woodgreen, Ontario, Canada to seek his fortune. His thoughts and words contained within these pages are all that remain of his adventure and legacy.

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Bob-Wyo

10-04-2006 19:22:22




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 Re: Farming back in 1903!!! in reply to Rauville, 10-04-2006 19:14:07  
Sure did Rauville, thanks for posting it, really liked 5-10 and 6-3.
Bob



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