The first volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in the 186? when he lived in Georgetown, Minnesota, and worked as a Hudson’s Bay Company Agent. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. The first few pages of this volume contain undated ledger accounts of trade at the Georgetown post. The 1875 date first occurs when Probstfield inserted information on the daily activities of the family farm near Moorhead, Minnesota. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Morgan May's handwritten farm journal from February 9, 1861, through April 14, 1871. Morgan May, a farmer from England, was the first settler in the part of Washington County, Minnesota, now known as May Township. His journal provides a detailed record of the day-to-day operation of a large commerical farm including entries about the weather, crops, livestock, farm hands, implement and household purchases, barn construction, wages, travel and visitors as well as personal comments.
The farm of the John Farrell family who came to America from Ireland in 1849. They bought their first 160 acres at Lake Johanna in present-day Arden Hills, from Major McLean, the Indian agent, and the title was signed by President Millard Fillmore in 1868. The Farrell family donated the land for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Today Mounds View High School, the St. John's church, school and other parish buildings, the Arden Hills Ramsey County Branch Library, and the Minnesota Baptist Conference headquarters are on that property.
Hand-drawn land surveys made from 1869-1941 to determine and identify land ownership and/or section boundaries in various parts of Washington County. The volume includes an index on pages 638-641 that lists each township and section and the pages in the volume on which information is provided. A transcript of that list accompanies this document and can be found at the beginning of this document.
The second volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Depicted here is the homestead of Johan (Piekkola) Jacobson homestead, as well as his family, located on the Forstie Road. Left to right are Johan (Piekkola) Jacobson, Amanda Jacobson, holding Henry (Ham) in her lap; Axel Jacobson, Arvid Jacobson, Hann
Photograph of the Grant farm which was built in 1876. A wooden windmill, silo and several other buildings are visible. Four unidentified men stand in front of the buildings.
This card was made to illustrate the terrible locust invasions of Nicollet and other counties in the 1870s. This card specifically mentions St. Peter and Nicollet County, and is dated June 22, 1877.
The third volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1878, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Pioneer Charles A. Marks, his family and horses, are depicted in front of their remodeled home. The Marks family settled in Thomson Township in 1878. Charles A. Marks was the second county commissioner of Carlton County to serve from the Town of Thomson, in 1901. His original Finnish surname was Markkus. He operated a productive dairy farm located on the Midway River. One of his dairy cows can be seen between the three unidentified ladies. Presumably Charles Marks is the person holding the horses. He was born in Finland in 1854 and died in Thomson Township in 1921.
The fifth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Jens Forseth is with the oxen. Dorothy Kirkvold Forseth is in the buggy. Mr. and Mrs. Peder Bogen are standing with their children by the wagon. Jay Bogen and Ina Bogen Trulock. All are standing in front of the Peder Bogen home.
Stereoview of farmers with wagons drawn by teams of horses and oxen piled with bags of wheat wait to unload at Bruns' and Finkle's Elevator A on Front Street (Center Avenue) and 6th Street in Moorhead. The view is to the southeast from Front and 5th Street. Cord wood is visible stacked up at left and on flat cars on the Northern Pacific Railway tracks in distance at right. Farmers at the elevator can be seen manually dumping bags of wheat into hoppers on the north side of the elevator. A cloud of steam blows out of a pipe above the powerhouse on the right end of the elevator. Houses in south Moorhead are visible in distance beyond the elevator.
Interior view of the Agricultural Hall at the Bill King's Fair with plants on display; wooden flooring and the hall's decorations. The building was located at 24th Ave. S & Franklin Ave.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Interior view of the Agricultural Hall at the Bill King's Fair with plants on display; wooden flooring and the hall's decorations. The building was located at 24th Ave. S & Franklin Ave.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Threshing crew in St. Clair area with threshing equipment and 7 men, including Willie Hall, Manaige, Jake Chase, and Campbell Henry. Note on photo says,""Photo taken in St. Clair area. Hall, Chase and Campbell were all married to Foster sisters. Manaige was a Winnebago Indian."
Unidentified rural photo; image might be of road construction; water tower in background; equipment may also have been used for farming; summer foliage; sepia tone photograph.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
The fourth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Grandma Emelia Ulrich Hilke with two teams of horses in a field. Photograph is inscribed, "Grandma Hilke at Good Thunder, Emelia ULRICH Hilke (Mrs. Frederich)."
Ten men with threshing equipment. Note on back of photograph says, "Norman family threshing rig. Left to right, George W. Norman (standing by horse) and Lee R. Norman (on the engine)."
Threshing crew with steam engine, thresher, and bundle rack. Nick Scherer and Nathan Day at Quiggle farm, north of Amboy. Oscar Robinson on wheelbarrow.
The sixth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield's personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Randolph Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts�discuss�weather,�agriculture, visitors, household expenses, and many other details of family life.
The seventh volume of Randolph M. Probstfield's personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life. This diary spans July 21, 1882 to September 9, 1884.
Exterior photograph of the Farm House, purchased by the University of Minnesota in 1882 to serve as the new site for the School of Agriculture and Experiment Station. This became the St. Paul campus of the University.
Tron Midtaune's home built in 1882. They lived in this for nine years. Six children born in this time. Andrew Hexum standing near the corner. Mrs. Jens Ramlo (Christine Midtaune) and Caroline Midtaune at the door. Tron Midtaune is near the door.
Photograph of the first Chemistry-Horticulture building at University of Minnesota Farm, St. Paul campus. The new head of the first Horticulture department was Samuel Green, 1888.
An undated broadside issued by the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company, which contains the same lithograph described in the item "through Golden Valleys in Minnesota" (below), but identified as being a different Farm belonging to a different couple. Single-page broadside, printed, includes text and engraving, black ink on thin pale yellow paper.
The eighth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield's personal journals, which he wrote out in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1884, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with personal information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses, and many other details of his family life.
Group of horticulturalist professors on an outing. Pictured L-R in top row: Samuel B Green (MN), LC Corbett (WV), SC Mason (KN), B Von Herff (Ohio College), W.R. Lazenvy, L.R. Jones (VT), R. McGinnis, Chas F Wheeler (MI), E.S. Goff (WI), S.A.Beach (NY), Stintson.
A photograph of six men on different machines. A water wagon, threshing machine, leaded bundle wagon, one empty bundle wagon and four teams of horse's.
A photograph of a steam tractor, horses pulling a water wagon, several men, threshing machine, horse drawn buggy, team of horses pulling a grain wagon. Included in the photograph is Truman and Louis Erdahl on the water wagon.
The ninth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield's personal journals. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Exterior Photograph of the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture which opened in 1888 with a 2 year practical course which included lectures and training in animal breeding, feeding, farm hygiene and veterinary science.
Exterior view of the George Murray home in Rolling Green Township, Martin County on the north shore of Pierce Lake. The picture includes Richard Murray with the team, Kate Murray by the gate, Gladys Murray and mother by gate. George Murray and James Lampert are to the north with the mules and mowing machine but are less visible.
An 1889 broadside issued by the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway (predecessor of the Great Northern Railway) containing a lithograph of a prosperous Marshall County, Minnesota farmstead. 3) Single-page broadside, printed, includes text and engraving, black ink on thin pale yellow paper, 9 x 26-in., fragile, but encapsulated in polyester.
It took many people to thrash grain. Most of the work was done pitch forks. The pile in the rear is the straw blown out from the thrashing machine after the grain has been separated.
The tenth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield's personal journals. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Group photo of members of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, Row 1: Prof. W.M.Hays, A.W.Latham, R.L.H Jewett, Clarence Wedge, S. Hilliman, J.M.Undersood, A.H.Heins. Row 2: Wyman Elliot, J Grimes, W W Pendergast, Wm ?, J.L.Harris, Wm. Mackintosh, D. Akin. Row 3: E.W.Randall, J.R.Cummings, E.R.Pond, H.?, W. Liggett, J.H. Bass, L. Hoyt, John Cooper.