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Unit 4: Set 2. Pioneer Farms - Images

Introduction | Agricultural Census | Estella's Letter | Holmes' Letter | Images | Activity

This series of photographs by a Richland County photographer show the men, the machinery, and the horses required to manage the wheat harvest around the turn of the century. The machines were powered by steam.

five horse team plowing
Five horse team plowing, Wahpeton, ND
plowing with steam tractor
"Ploughing" with steam-powered tractor, Ink Farm
two teams reaping
Two four-horse teams pulling reapers
threshing on Dwight farm
Threshing on Dwight farm, Wahpeton, ND
threshing, Whapeton,ND
Threshing, Wahpeton, ND
House on the prairie
Farms in eastern North Dakota were often isolated
and lacked shade trees. The style of the house,
however, suggests the occupants had found a
level of financial security in wheat farming.
shocks of wheat in field
Early farm workers often remarked on the size of
the wheat fields and the absence of tree stumps
and other obstacles which often slowed the work
of farming in eastern states. These wheat shocks
await gathering for threshing.

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