F 612 .Cc6& M49 Copy i CLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED MINNESOTA eee FIFTY CENTS THE COPY A I oooooooooaoaeSeaeaeaeaeaeaeaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEE HD NHDI0M] fMNdjfifGfPCugTCT Ls 3 y ° q e Re a a er ‘ y ' ‘ ‘ ’ ¥ ! } ; : 4 € x et , 7 * Fl Z . 2 2 Pry - 4 % 4 y mn } a * 5 7; “a s & ts wid | ‘ 4 . * » , Pe it $4 “ ae a * § ¢ i. 1 ys : a" 4 “< le + rhe i t & £% G 4 : * ; - ” * ‘ s 4 , ee f ¢ 4 s , * » i 7 a ” ‘ I 4 la $ f mY ‘ / rm * c i a 4 , + \ - = % 1 * ‘ wi s f a ¥ Hie i] § ‘ 4 | % ’ A 7 4 ~ 5 Fr x & a [a] —eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee a OU TLINE MAP of CLAY COUNTY, MINNESOTA 7/42 7 /#/ leonn No. + tg FV EREILL SPLIN GG 7 /A40 NOTE :- | PPR Al REI E STATE ROTA UTE, STATE RWOFAD ay MEN ESV ILL E MSGiLL-WARNER CO., SAINT PAUL Red River Early Ohios—Clay County’s Pride SLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED MINNESOTA SOME FACTS showing the wonderful development of the Banner County of the Red River Valley in Minnesota PUBLISHED BY D. W. Meexer, Moorueap, MInneEsoTA Marcu, 1916 a 2 CLEANS Cl OUEN TT YS ale Si areAC La I), Clay County Comes Into Her Own Hers has been the tale that wagged the entire northern part of the state. What has been accomplished in Clay county has been used to advertise other sec- tions of Minnesota and North Dakota. In this publication nothing outside the county has been given space—there is no need of it. The only need is more space—to show the advantages of this splendid county, and to record the success of the men who have developed her resources. A Frosty Morning, on the Buffalo River, North of Glyndon George M. Gunderson, the boy on the cover, is a prize-winning, twelve-year- old product of Clay county. The corn is White Rustler and was grown by the lad in 1915. He was awarded second prize, in the ten county district in the middle western part of the state, at the First National Corn Show at St. Paul in December last. He won a trip to the State Fair on his ten ear exhibit at the Crookston show. He also won another trip to the State Fair in the State acre yield contest; but is three years too young—so he will only make one trip to the fair this year. } ©casez7382 YA Copyright 1916 by D. W. Meeker MAR 25 i316 CLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED 3 Alfalfa in Blossom Along State Road East of Glyndon Introduction When the first settlers reached Clay County they found a land of promise ; but none of them ever dreamed that it would become a land of plenty as itisnow. They built their homes near the openings in the timber that bor- dered the lakes and water courses in what was then a wilderness. Their houses were built of logs and roofed with split shakes or sod. If these pioneers could see this coun- try today they would not believe it to be the same land upon which they located in the late sixties or early sev- enties. While there has been con- tinued improvement during the half century that has elapsed since the first of the settlers came, the most wonder- ful changes have been wrought dur- ing the last two decades. About twen- ty years ago there came the first break when the three state drainage ditches were dug. At that time there were vast tracts of unoccupied railroad land-grant and state school lands in all parts of the county. A law com- pelling the railroads to pay taxes on these lands was passed by the state legislature, and the land was sold and soon became productive. The first step from exclusive small erain growing to diversified farming came when a few of the farmers began to raise potatoes for eastern and south- ern seed houses. This industry start- ed in a small way; but the demand for Clay County seed potatoes in- creased so rapidly that the potato rais- ing industry has become one of the most important in this section. Many Second Growth Clover Near Rustad, September 16, 1915 4 CMAY. | COU ANGE Seep OS ee AS erp Fourth Growth Alfalfa Stack from One Cutting—Cornfield in Background farmers now grow hundreds of acres of potatoes each year. They have root cellars on their farms where the po- tatoes are stored until late in the win- ter, when shipment is made to the southern and southwestern markets. Potato cellars and shipping houses are as numerous in the cities and villages as the grain elevators. While other varieties are grown the Early Ohios, known to the trade as The success in potato growing en- couraged the Clay County farmers to further diversify their crops. In or- der to maintain the productiveness of the soil they found it would be neces- sary to use a fertilizer. This led them to engage more extensively in stock raising and dairying. The cattle and hogs must be fed, and clover was found to take kindly to the soil and to withstand the winters. Then corn Pulling Out for Work in a Potato ‘‘Red Rivers’’ or ‘‘Red River Early Ohios,’’ are by far the leading prod- uct. The exceptionally fine quality of the Clay County potatoes has made them the standard. This is main- tained by the growers who spare no effort to keep them true to type and free from disease. Field on the E. D. Grant Farm erowing was tried on a small scale, until acclimated seed was produced, when it became one of the leading crops. Silos began to spring up on the farms and corn eribs lined up with the granaries. Then came the alfalfa. This splen- did forage plant has been the greatest The Shocks Stand Thick in This Flax Field CLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED 5 At E. C. Schroeder Farm—Sweet Pea Hedge 300 Feet Long of the surprises to the farmers. When the land is properly prepared and the soil or the seed innoculated, a good ‘‘eatch’’ is certain. Contrary to the opinion of many, it does not winter kill here. Last year three cuttings were made on the 1914 seeding, and in many Clay County fields the fourth could have been made in safety. The yield exceeds a ton per acre for each eutting and the fourth growth remains for pasture. Woman’s Sphere on the Farm Most important of the changes in rural life of recent years in Clay Coun- ty is in woman’s sphere on the farm. One of the greatest drawbacks was the isolated farm and the lack of com- panionship and social intercourse en- dured by the women. Drudgery and isolation are no longer the lot of the farmers’ wives in Clay County. Rural mail routes, telephones and the co-operative creamery with the Sheep Pasture—H. L, Wells’ “Willowbank Farm” 6 CLAY COUNTY 1LLDUSTRA TED separator on the farm have been im- portant factors. Comfortable homes with modern conveniences have helped to make hfe on the farm more pleas- ant. Frequent meetings of the Karm- ers’ Clubs and other rural organiza- tions have helped with the social side of the farm woman’s life. The unpro- tected farm buildings on the prairie have given way to the well-arranged farmstead, protected by groves of box elders and cottonwoods. Small fruits thrive in the gardens and in many in- stances apple, plum and cherry trees contribute to the table. Flowers and shrubbery have helped in a wonderful degree to make the farm home pleas- ant. Clay County Is Out of Debt The first settlers came to Clay Coun- ty in 1859 and located along the Red River on the Pembina Trail, extending north to Fort Garry, now Winnipeg. Close behind were the pioneers who reached the southeastern part of the county in 1862. The Buffalo River settlement came later, the advance guard arriving in 1870. They met and overcame all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Living in fear of Indian outbreaks, their crops devoured by grasshoppers, and with none of the Clay County Court House at Moorhead conveniences and few of the comforts of hfe, they held on until the North- ern Pacific Railroad was built through in 1871. Many of the men found em- ployment on the construction work of the railroad, and the money they earned was a Godsend to their fam- ilies and themselves. Settlers then began to flock into the country and conditions improved rapidly in every way. Clay County was organized in April, 1872, when the first county commis- sioners were appointed. The commis- sioners appointed the first officers of the county and divided the entire county into two election districts. In October, 1879, the contract was let for the building of the first court house, which is still standing on First Ave- nue North near Eighth Street. Three years later, in September, 1882, the first contracts for the erection of the present court house and jail were let. It was necessary to issue bonds to pay for the new buildings and to build roads and make other public improve- ments. In 1896 the bonded indebted- ness of the county was $148,000.00. This included a $40,000.00 bond issue, made in 1896, to take up the floating indebtedness of the county. Since that time the county has had no float- CLAW a CO) UMN RY; | ILLUSTRATED One of the Clay County Drainage Ditches—Automobile on Grade at Left ing indebtedness and the bonded debt was gradually reduced until, on June 1, 1915, the final payment of $42,000.00 covering principal and interest was made. Clay County does not owe a single dollar of bonded or floating debt, but pays cash for everything. This con- dition of affairs is due in part to the eareful management of its affairs by the county commissioners, and in part to the wonderful development of its resources during the past two decades. Drainage in Clay County During the last twenty years there have been dug in Clay County over 230 miles of state and county drainage ditches at a total cost of nearly $390,- 000. The first work was done by the state, when the Felton, Morken and Whiskey Creek ditches were construct- ed. These ditches proved so beneficial that an extensive system of drainage was undertaken, and it is now prac- tically complete. Many farmers have Ditching Machine at Work in Kurtz Township 8 CLAY COUNTY (ER wiS RAT ED supplemented this work by digging lateral ditches or underdraining with tile. The ultimate outlet of all the ditches is the Red River of the North. Most of the work of recent years has been done with ditching machines, and the earth taken from the cut is leveled to form a highway grade. The fertil- ity of the lower stratas of the soil is shown by the strong growth of vegeta- tion on the tops and sides of these grades. One of the illustrations shows a *‘drag line’’ machine at work making a seven-foot cut. The capacity of the pan is two yards, and from 800 to 900 yards of earth are excavated each day. Road Crew and Camp on State The machine moves by its own power, the pan forming the anchor and the machine moving forward as the cable is wound up. The other illustration shows one of the ditches that was dug about twelve years ago. Good Roads in Clay County Clay was one of the pioneer counties of the state in the good roads move- ment. After the passage of the Dunn Act in 1913 plans were made for con- structing an extensive system of state roads in the county, all being done by day labor with county equipment. Early in the spring of 1914 a complete New Steel and Concrete Bridge on State Road East of Moorhead COUNTY Gila ILLUSTRATED 9 Road Between Hitterdal and Ulen outfit of road machinery and a camp equipment were purchased at an ap- proximate cost of $15,000.00. A ma- chinery warehouse and repair shop was erected at a cost of about $1,- 800.00. The heavy machinery is stored in the warehouse and necessary re- pairs made during the winter. This equipment includes two tractors, two elevating and four push graders, con- erete mixing machinery, wheel scra- pers, automobile, three cooking cars and a complete camp outfit. Two more cooking cars are now being built for use during 1916. Beginning in 19138, a district high- way engineer was employed, working jointly for the state and county on the state and other roads. The work was continued under the supervision of the district engineer until the law was amended in 1915; and since that time has been performed by Eric Mar- tinson, road superintendent and en- gineer. During the past three years there has been expended on the state roads about $140,000.00, a large share of this amount being repaid the county by the state. This includes several bridg- es, the largest being the one over the Buffalo River on the Moorhead-Glyn- Push Grader Throwing Up Grade on State Road 10 CLAY COUNTY (PLUS TRATED Bridge on State Road Near Manitoba Junction don road. As shown in the two aec- companying illustrations, the bridges are of steel and concrete. One of the most important of the 1m- provements of the highways is the new road between Moorhead and Barnes- ville, 24 miles. Distances necessary to reach these cities have been materially shortened, as the route is diagonal. This road has been continued to the county line on the east, and laid out to the Wilkin County line on the south. The total number of miles of state roads designated in Clay County is 161. Over 62 miles of standard section earth grades have been built. Seven miles on the three roads leading into Moor- head have been graveled and turn- piked. During 1915 a total of 26 miles of grade was completed. Three steel and conerete bridges were erected— one on the Moorhead-Glyndon road across the South Buffalo—the second at the crossing of the North Buffalo east of Hawley, and the third spans the North Buffalo at Glyndon. Six concrete and steel ditch bridges were also built during the year. Plans for the work to be done dur- ing 1916 have already been adopted by the County Board, and $42,500.00 will be expended on six projects. The good roads movement is strongly sup- ported by the people of Clay County and the course of the County Commis- sioners in pushing the work meets with general approval. One hundred and fifteen samples of soil were taken from nearly every sec- tion of the county in the fall of 1915 and tested for acidity. These tests showed that the soils of Clay County contain practically no acid. They ran from neutral to alkalinity, but in no case was the alkali found to such an extent as to be detrimental to grow- ing crops. View on State Road—Averill in the Distance CLAY Jorgen Jensen School House Schools of Clay County The people of Clay have been staunch supporters of the schools of the county since the earliest settlement. Districts Nos. 1 and 2, Glyndon and Moorhead, were organized on Febru- ary 13, 1873, each with a large area of territory. The third district formed was in Parke township, and today it has the largest enrollment of any of the rural schools of the county. The oldest school building now standing is the Jorgen Jensen school house in District No. 8. This is a fine example of the work of the pioneers, who were always proud of the fact that their district never was in debt. COW NY. EU SERA HD 11 The manner of building this school house shows the community spirit of the early days. Each settler brought four logs to be used in building the walls. Then these logs were hewed and fitted together by the donors. To complete the building the joint note of the settlers was given as security for payment of the bill for hardware and lumber. The log walls are still in use, although they have been sided and a brick foundation has been placed un- der the building. A vestibule and bell tower have also been added. The free text book system is in force throughout the entire county. There are over 5,000 children of school age, the enrollment in the high and graded schools being 2,146; in the rural and semi-graded 2,586, and fully 300 at- tend the State Normal School at Moor- head, Concordia College and several parochial schools. There are 109 school districts in the county, five of them consolidated. Clay was one of the first counties to take advantage of the law providing for the consolidation of school districts and giving high school training. The first district formed was at Comstock, where the village and two rural schools were combined in 1909. This school proved so successful that in 1912 three The Thomas McCabe School House, Southeast of Sabin 12 CiZAY COMIN LY Sith SR ATED Oak Mound Consolidated School House, Kragnes Township other consolidated districts were with two districts. Felton followed formed—Rustad with two districts, last year with three districts, and one Glyndon with three, and Oak Mound district each in Kurtz and Moorhead Consolidated School, Comstock CmAY (COUNTY ThLUSTRATED 13 Rye Field Two Miles West of Ulen—L. Lofgren in Center townships voted to consolidate. Consolidation of the school at Hit- terdal and four of the rural schools of the neighborhood has recently been de- cided upon, and the new school house will be built next year. Growth of Clay County Banks Twenty years ago there were four banks in Clay County, and their com- bined capital and surplus was $218,- 103.01, and the aggregate deposits were $414,032.84. The number of banks has increased until there are now 17, and the capital is $740,443.46. On the same date, January Ist of the present year, the total amount on de- posit in the banks of the county had grown to $2,966,120.89—more than a seven-fold increase. During the twenty years that have elapsed the banks have paid dividends that amount to more than the banking capital of all of the banks of the coun- ty today. This tells the story of de- velopment and prosperity. Over sixty of the farmers of the county are stockholders of one or more of the banks. Here again is a change from twenty years ago. The oldest bank in the county is the First National of Moorhead, organized in August, 1881, with $50,000 capital stock. On January 1, 1896, the cap- Filling One of the Twin Silos on the E. C. Schroeder Farm COWEN 14 CLAY ILLUSTRATED Marquis Wheat and Potatoes—J. T. Johnson Farm Near Ulen ital, surplus and undivided profits ag- gregated $60,757.81 and the amount on deposit was $121,299.25. Twenty years later, on January 1, 1916, the combined capital, surplus and undi- vided profits had increased to $120,- 616.51. On the same date the amount on deposit was $482,414.50. Henry Schroeder, of Sabin, is presi- dent and A. H. Costain is cashier. Mr. Costain began work in the bank in 1895, while still a student in the Moor- head high school. He has been asso- ciated with the First National contin- uously and became cashier in 1908. Mr. Costain is also president of the Baker State Bank, and one of the di- rectors of the Sabin State Bank. The Moorhead National is the sec- ond oldest bank in the county and was organized on March 5th, 1892, with $60,000.00 capital stock. The banking capital, including surplus and undivided profits, had inereased to $64,450 on January 1, 1896, and the deposits were $143,254.36. On the first of the present year the banking capital had increased to $132,058.72 and the deposits to $550,510.54. Front View of Corn Husker at Work on M. O. Valan Farm 15 ILLUSTRATED CHOMUEN TTY. CLAY ih A VERA SUL bata basal \ ANALALALA sere i a CANUUT AAWWUNUNt HURRRReAN iat AAA as ‘y AA wi SAM DU bak: “ atktescan : Yk: x Witness AR. Drying Seed Corn on the P. H. Lamb Farm—Seed Tested 97% ness in the county, being organized in June, 1894. The banking capital on P. H. Lamb is president and H. E. Roberts is cashier. Mr. Roberts came to Moorhead in 1898 and wasemployed January 1, 1896, was $57,769.86 and Oliver was born the deposits $44,773.92. These amounts had grown until on January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $74,912.81, and the deposits $327,047.68. Chas. R. Oliver is president and 8. O. Solum cashier. Mr at Laneaster, Wisconsin, and for sev- 1 peo DR fab) Bel Ls ~ pt oo eae Ste Sy, Ce RO ors a a80. 84 o nares SS a+ SS ala Bp a | Sane © =| ab) flo) a oS ie) Lommel wc fo} aeevs ox R2ODS sa oS 7 Se Oe ee Telctens 4 a en Soe As a ~ Peps ui pale at 42 ye ae Grn OSE a be ons a eS 24a ® 5 P. McCarthy Farm Filling the Big Silo on the J 16 CLAY COWEN FIN ILLUSTRATED Six Horses Hauling Husker and Two the Tank, M. O. Valan Farm eral years was an employe of the Wil- kin County Bank, now the First Na- tional of Breckenridge. He came to Barnesville when the Barnesville State Bank was organized in 1887 and for several years did all of the work. When the bank was reorganized as the First National, in June, 1894, he became the assistant cashier. A year later he was promoted to the position of cashier, and 16 years later was ad- vanced to the position of vice-presi- dent. At the annual meeting this year he was elected president. Mr. Oliver is also president of the First State Bank of Glyndon. S. O. Solum came to Clay County from Fillmore County in 1872. His first business experience was two years’ work in a lumber yard. He started with the First National as bookkeeper and was for several years assistant cashier. For the past ten years he has been cashier. Corn Husker at Work on M. O. Valan Farm, Kurtz Township Cie AY COUN TY ILLUSTRATED 17 Durum Wheat Field Near Ulen—-J. T. Johnson Is the Man The State Bank of Hawley was the fourth of the banks of Clay County, being organized on August 1, 1892, with $16,000.00 capital stock. There was no increase in the banking capital prior to January 1, 1896, and on that date the deposits were $25,789.33. On the first of this year the banking cap- ital was $56,568.70 and the deposits $316,251.97. L. Lamberson is president; H. P. Gunderson, cashier; Hans Rushfeldt, vice-president, is one of Hawley’s old- est merchants and potato shippers. The First State Bank of Glyndon was established in 1902 with $10,000 capital. On January 1, 1916, the cap- ital amounted to $14,288.00 and the deposits were $86,176.08. N. H. Stadum came to Barnesville when only four years old. In 1890 he started with the First National Bank of that city as bookkeeper and con- tinued with that bank until September, 1902. He then removed to Glyndon to become cashier of the First State Bank —and has continued to manage its bus- iness since that date. E, F. Krabbenhoft’s Fowls Are White—Even the Guineas and Pigeons 18 CLAY COUN LY LES TD ReAw ED Mangel Wurzels on the E. C, Schroeder Farm The First State Bank of Moorhead was established May 1, 1903, with $25,000 capital stock, which was in- ereased in October, 1915, to $60,000. On January 1, 1916, the banking cap- ital was $79,883.15 and the deposits $200,215.23. M. T. Weum, the president, was one of the organizers of the bank and has been the head of the institution from its inception. He is an old resident of Clay County, having located at George- town, where he engaged in the merean- tile business in which he is still inter- ested, in 1883. He came to Moorhead in 1892 and was engaged in business here for ten years. From 1902 to 1907 he was in Minneapolis, still retaining his interests here. While Mr. Weum has always taken a prominent part in local affairs, the only office he has ever held has been that of a member of the Board of Edueation. Filling One of the Big Silos on the Huntoon Farm OLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED 19 Putting Up Wild Hay on One of Martin E. L. Wilk’s Farms S. O. Westberg, the cashier, came to Moorhead in 1882, and since 1894 has been associated with Mr. Weum. This association continued when the bank was organized and Mr. Westberg became one of its employes. He kept moving up and is now the cashier. The First National Bank of Ulen was organized January 1, 1904, with $25,000 capital stock. On January 1, 1916, the capital had grown to $47,- 949.09 and the deposits were $182,- 698.67. C. J. Lofgren of Ada is presi- dent and Louis Lofgren is cashier. Louis Lofgren was less than five years old when he came to the United States from Sweden in 1871. He was in busi- ness at Park River, N. D., and at Ada in the banking and milling business be- fore coming to Ulen when the bank began business. The Security State Bank of Hitter- dal was organized March 16, 1904, with $10,000 capital stock. The banking capital on January 1, 1916, was $19,- 520.51 and the deposits $49,626.28. J. Solum is president and G. Gun- derson cashier. Mr. Solum is one of Winter Rye Field West of Ulen—Man Is Six Feet Tall 20 CLAY (COUN TY This TRATED Filling the Silo on the Emil Lambert Farm, Moorhead Township the pioneer business men of Hitterdal. He is proprietor of the hardware store and one of the owners of the Solum elevator. Mr. Gunderson was brought up in Clay county and for nine years was clerk in a general store. Later he was employed by the State Bank of Hawley for four years, and two years ago accepted his present position. The State Bank of Georgetown was organized May 2, 1904, with $10,000 capital stock. On January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $20,235.74 and the deposits $93,413.25. A.M. Eckman is_ president and Theo. 8. Nelson has been cashier of the bank since its organiza- tion. Prior to coming to Georgetown he had been assistant cashier of a bank at Hendrum. He was born in Fillmore County and removed to Norman Coun- ty with his parents when three years old. os The First State Bank of Felton be- gan business August 16, 1904, with $10,000 capital stock. On January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $18,819.04 and the deposits $64,181.01. C. J. Lofgren of Ada is president and Aug. Stiening is cashier. Alfalfa and Clover Side by Side—Stack in Background CipyAye (COUN TY ILLUSTRATED 21 Settings of Grain Stacks on C. F. Cornell Farm Near Rustad The First National Bank of Haw- ley began business with $25,000 cap- ital stock in June, 1905. On January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $34,- 743.55 and the deposits $129,587.34. H. F. Mensing is the vice president and G. O. Sjordal, cashier. Mr. Men- sing is an old resident of Hawley and is closely identified with the business interests of the village. He owns a fine farm adjoining the village and is also interested in other farm property. For many years he conducted an ex- tensive contracting and building busi- ness. He is president of the Hawley Lumber Company—one of the few in- dependent dealers in building material. G. O. Sjordal was born in Norway and has been a resident of Hawley since 1898. He has been engaged in the banking business for the past eight years. Mr. Sjordal is also treasurer of the Hawley Farmers’ Elevator Com- pany. The Sabin State Bank was organized in March, 1906, with $10,000 capital stock. The banking capital at the be- ginning of the year was $24,500.63 and the deposits were $56,385.59. Henry Schroeder is president and L. C. Fol- lett, cashier. Mr. Follett assumed his present posi- tion early in 1914. Prior to that time he had been associated with the Dakota Trust Company of Fargo for three years. The Comstock State Bank began business in 1909 with $10,000 capital. On January 1, 1916, the capital was $15,499.15 and the deposits $57,088.49. David Askegaard is the president and Eugene Askegaard is_ eashier. David Askegaard was for many years Filling Concrete Silo on the William Sprung Farm, Moland Township 22 CA EASYaC OVWEN Is ILLUSTRATED Early Ohio Potatoes in F. M. Rice’s Root Cellar vice-president of the First National Bank of Moorhead. He is an old set- tler and is well known as a leading farmer, grain dealer and merchant. Eugene Askegaard grew to manhood in Comstock and has been cashier of the bank since its organization. The Ulen State Bank was organized in 1910 with $10,000 capital stock. On January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $14,470.53 and the deposits $130,- 295.92. L. D. Foskett of Crookston is presi- dent and H. A. Johnson is cashier. Mr. Johnson has been with the bank since its organization. He is a graduate of the law department of the University of Minnesota. Mr. Johnson is also president of the State Bank of Donald- son, Minnesota. The Dilworth State Bank began busi- ness March 1, 1910, with $15,000 cap- ital stock. On January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $20,046.31 and the deposits $46,944.44. P. H. Lamb of Moorhead is president and J. M. Manning is cashier. Joseph M. Manning was born in Wis- consin. He taught school for five years and later was employed by the North- ern Pacific Railway in a clerical ¢a- pacity for six years. When the bank was organized he became cashier and still occupies that position. The Citizens State Bank of Barnes- ville was organized May 31, 1911, with $25,000 capital stock. On January 1, 1916, the banking capital was $33,- 700.60 and the deposits $153,812.04. J. S. Ulland of Fergus Falls is presi- dent and W.S. Lee is cashier. Mr. Lee came to Barnesville from Elizabeth and was one of the incorporators of the bank. He had been cashier of the bank he established at Elizabeth. Prior to that time he was for five years as- sistant cashier of the First National Bank of Eagle Bend. The Baker State Bank began busi- ness in February, 1912, with $10,000 capital. On January 1 the banking capital had increased to $12,630.42 and the deposits were $39,471.86. no dockage. Mr. Valan is a breeder of registered Duroe-Jerseys and has a model hog house, the largest and most complete in this part of the country. Two views of this mammoth house are shown— the exterior showing the method of Rustad Consolidated School House 68 CUAYS TCiOlW aN Ns CEO Se GAC Ae ETD The John Corneliussen Farmstead, Kurtz Township admitting sunlight to every part, and the interior showing the convenient arrangement of the pens. The house is 120x24, has cement floors through- out and is equipped with a heating sys- tem. Another illustration shows the 800-pound boar with Mr. Valan kneel- ing behind. Many of the Valan strain of Duroe-Jerseys are the sires and dams of other herds in Minnesota and North Dakota. Mr. Valan is one of the busiest men in Clay County, and is always ready to go to the bottom of anything per- taining to the farm. He is vice-presi- dent of the Clay County Farm Bureau and president of the Rustad Farmers’ Elevator & Trading Company. John Corneliussen is making a spe- cialty of raising seed grain and other seed on his Red River farm of 287 acres in Kurtz township. Tle has won nu- merous prizes on his seed and expects to win many more. In 1915 he had a 13-aere piece of wheat that yielded 636 bushels—a shade under 49 to the acre. This patch vielded over 40 bushels of barley each of the two preceding years. Mr. Cornelissen raises Marquis and Velvet Chaff wheat, and the average from 132 acres was 25 bushels. Swe- dish Select oats gave 70 bushels ma- chine measure. Last year, while some seed was saved, most of the corn went into the silo. Potatoes, clover and bar- ley are regular crops, and a six-acre plot was seeded to alfalfa last spring with the barley. Mr. Cornelissen came to Moorhead 33 years ago and has lived in this vi- cinity ever since. In 1892 he began farming on his own account. He paid $37.00 an acre for the land and esti- mates the cost of improvements made since to be about $40.00 per acre. The buildings are shown in the illustration. Modern improvements in the house in- clude hot water heat, gas lighting plant, bath room supplied by a pressure tank and sewer outlet to the river. Since the formation of the consoli- dated school district at Rustad Mr. Corneliussen has been its clerk. It is only three miles from the farm to Rus- tad and seven miles to Moorhead. Frank T. Schroeder’s Home Farm, Glyndon Township ChyAweNC. OW N LY ILLUSTRATED 69 Ready for the Threshers—J. P. Landin Farm, South of Moorhead Frank T. Schroeder is a native of Germany, who came to Clay County about 35 years ago. For two years before beginning farming he was sec- tion foreman on the Northern Pacific, and today he is the owner of 1,200 acres of the choicest land in Clay County. Potato growing and stock raising are the leading industries on the half-sec- tion home farm in Glyndon township. There are about 80 head of Polled An- gus in the herd and a registered bull is the sire. The farming operations here are conducted by three of Mr. Schroeder’s sons—Otto, Herbert and Walter. The Red River Farm, four miles south of Moorhead, has 480 acres lying close to the river. About 100 acres of potatoes are also raised on this farm each year. Plans are being made for adding a herd of cattle to the stock now on the farm. Three other sons— Frank, Emil and Henry—manage this farm. The first year Mr. Schroeder owned the River Farm he raised 17,000 bush- els of potatoes on 70 acres, and sold most of them for over a dollar a bushel —the price received for part being Sie2ae Mr. Schroeder is one of the stock- holders of the First State Bank of Moorhead and has numerous other in- terests. J. P. Landin came to Clay County in 1881 and bought land two miles south of Moorhead, where he has since been engaged in farming. He recent- ly purchased the James Anderson land, paying $100 an acre for it, and now has upwards of 230 acres in his farm. A 10-acre tract of the land, lying near the Red River, was cleared of timber and broken up last year. Corn will be planted on this land next spring, and Mr. Landin believes he will have a record crop. Mr. Landin and his son-in-law, Curt Ogren, will conduct the farm together. They already have 30 head of Guern- sey grade cattle and expect to increase their dairy herd. They will also raise potatoes and diversified crops. Typical Harvesting Scene Near Ulen COUNTY 70 CHAN ILLUSTRATED E. C. Schroeder’s Farm—From the Highway EK. C. Schroeder has helped to bring Clay County into prominence, and the good, old German name is now as well known to those who are interested in stock raising as it has come to be known of recent years to the potato gsrowers of the country. Mr. Schroeder began farming four- teen years ago, and potato growing was one of the leading industries of his farm in Glyndon township. A few years later he found it would be neces- sary to use some fertilizer to maintain the productiveness of the soil. His ex- periment with a herd of 80 grade Hol- steins was satisfactory; but there was no sale for the bull calves. Mr. Schroe- der made the important step, and the foundation for his splendid pure-bred herd of Holstein-Friesians was laid in November, 1909, by the purchase of 28 head of females. Residence on E. C. Schroeder Farm—Across the Velvet Lawn CLAY COUNTY DEA U SEE RATT ED 71 Part of E. C. Schroeder’s Prize Herd of Holstein-Friesians Then the grand senior sire of the herd, Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes, was purchased. His dam, Pietertje Maid Ormsby, was a superb animal with numerous records to her credit. Sir Pietertje’s get have won prizes and established records until the Schroe- der herd is now considered one of the few best in the country. There are so many high-bred, record- making, prize-winning animals of both sexes in the Schroeder herd that it is only possible, in a limited space, to refer to them as a whole. The herd has been built upon a splendid founda- tion, and the standard has been so well maintained that the Schroeder Hol- steins have a world-wide reputation. Their superiority has been proven by winning prizes over all competitors, and by establishing milk and butter producing records. Mr. Schroeder’s farm is one of the show places of the Northwest. Every- thing about the home and the farm buildings is kept in order. The illus- trations show the park-like grounds and the admirable arrangement of the fine buildings. They do not show, how- ever, the scrupulous cleanliness of the interiors of the buildings where the aristocrats of the herd are housed. The Schroeder farm is operated like a well constructed piece of machinery. Here is practiced diversified farming in all of its branches. Potatoes are one of the staple crops, and corn is another. Extensive tracts are seeded to alfalfa and clover, and a good-sized patch of mangel wurzels helps to provide bal- Younger Members of E. C. Schroeder’s Prize Herd of Holsteins is) CLAY COTW IN ETN ILLUSTRATED Residence of Henry Schroeder Near Sabin and Part of the Buiidings— anced rations for the herd. Watts Siding is located at the farm, and Mr. Schroeder’s potato cellar and warehouse are on the south side of the track. Grain and other produce are loaded at the farm. The distance to Moorhead is less than five miles, the state road being only a quarter of a mile north of the farm home. Henry Schroeder is the father of the potato industry in Clay county. He began growing potatoes for Eastern seed houses in 1893 and has made it the leading feature of his farming op- erations for over twenty years. In 1894 he shipped eight carloads of seed potatoes to Eastern and Southern points. Four years later the shipments from Sabin aggregated 148 carloads, most of them being shipped by Mr. Schroeder. The 1914 acreage of potatoes, grown by Mr. Schroeder, was 550; and com- bined with his sons, was 800. The larg- est number of bushels harvested by them in one year was 110,000. In 1915 the combined yield of their several farms was 86,000 bushels of potatoes. Mr. Schroeder has handled and shipped as many as 400 carloads of potatoes from one crop, but he now has so many other interests that he is not shipping much of the product of other growers. He raises Early Ohios, Cobblers, Triumphs and White Ohios, anew potato that he developed on one of his Sabin farms. Several years ago a few of the white potatoes were found among the Early Ohios and these were saved and planted the next year. In 1915 Mr. Schroeder produced 4,000 bushels of White Ohios. Mr. Schroeder was one of the pio- neers in growing both red clover and alfalfa and now makes it a rule to keep 100 acres seeded to each of these for- age crops. Last year he made two cut- tings of clover and timothy from old potato ground that had been manured, and the yield was five tons to the acre —three and one-half from the first and one and one-half from the second cut- ting. He has a fine herd of Holstein grades with one of the best buils from the herd of his son, E. C. Schroeder, as sire. Apples for use on the farm are mostly home grown in the orchard east of the house. It has always been Mr. Schroeder’s aim to produce the best of everything, and he keeps his land in condition to do this. His potatoes are the stand- ard in the markets, and his grain is of CUAY COU NEY ILLUSTRATED Tree Bordered Driveway on Right the highest grade and free from foul seed—weeds have no place on the Schroeder farms. Mr..Sechroeder has numerous other interests—he is president of the First National Bank of Moorhead and of the Sabin State Bank. He was one of the organizers of the Clay County Potato Growers’ Association and is one of its officers. He has been one of the most active members of the Clay County Farm Bureau since its organization. When Mr. Schroeder left his home in Germany he was less than 16 years old. He came to Douglas county, Minnesota, and worked for the settlers during the summers and falls. For several years he spent the winters trapping in Doug- las and Otter Tail counties. In 1878 he came to Clay county and secured a tree claim. Since that time he has increased his holdings until the Schroe- der farms include several thousands of acres of the choicest land in the Red River Valley. Loading in Potatoes at Henry Schroeder’s Warehouse, Sabin 74 CEVA: COMIN ALW. IAB TUS a 1s Ca ID At the Louis Altenbernd Home Farm, Sabin Louis Altenbernd has made a suc- cess of potato growing and general farming in Clay County. He came from Lawrence, Kansas, in 1903 and bought a 240-acre farm, now his home place, adjoining Sabin on the south. The first year he raised 75 acres of potatoes, and is now one of the exten- Sive growers, raising about 400 acres each year. He is also one of the heavi- est dealers of the county, and besides the four root cellars on his farms, with storage capacity for 26,000 bushels, he has five shipping warehouses on track. The combined capacity of the cellars. and warehouses is 106,000 bushels. Mr. Altenbernd’s warehouses are located at Sabin, Baker, Rustad and Downer on the Great Northern and at Watts on the Northern Pacific. The Rustad house is owned jointly with M. O. Valan of Kurtz township. Mr. Altenbernd began to deal in potatoes in 1904, and the shipments in one year aggregated over 500 carloads. He is the owner of 1,400 acres of un- encumbered land in Elmwood and AI- hance townships, all within six miles of a shipping pont. While potato raising is the leading feature of Mr. Altenbernd’s farming operations, he raises other crops on a large scale. He has 90 acres of alfalfa, and the usual corn patch is 100 acres. He raises some stock and owns a big bunch of fine horses. The home farm has a fine set of buildings, and all are well equipped and modern. The elevator, part of which is shown in the illustra- tion, is of 17,000 bushels capacity. All the grain is cleaned in the elevator, and all feed used on the farms is ground at home in a roller mill. Mr. Altenbernd is a director of the Comstock State Bank and of the Clay County Potato Growers’ Association. The Pleasant View Dairy Farm is appropriately named and the view from the home may well be imagined Loading in Potatoes—Cellar on Louis Altenbernd Farm CLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED 7d “Pleasant View Dairy Farm”—Home of A. H. Braman, Alliance Township from the opposite view shown in the illustration. It is the home of A. H. Braman and his son, John H. Braman, and is the west half of section 12 in Alliance township. The home quarter was located by A. H. Braman as a homestead in 1885. The following spring Mr. Braman moved on the claim, which has been his home con- tinuously for the past 30 years. Dairying has been one of the lead- ing industries of the farm and for many years Mr. Braman sold his but- ter, poultry and eggs to regular cus- tomers in Moorhead. Mr. Braman was one of the first farmers of Clay Coun- ty to raise diversified crops, and is an extensive grower of potatoes. The market town is Baker, two miles north of the farm. Mr. Braman considers Clay County the garden spot of the northwest, where crops never fail. There is no more public-spirited citi- zen in Clay County than Mr. Braman, and few have been more active in the affairs of his community. It was large- ly through his efforts that the Baker rural mail route was secured before the county system was established. In school and township matters, and in- cidentally, in polities, Mr. Braman has ever been a factor. Early in the eighties Erick Johnson came to Clay County and located in Eglon township. He made a success Scene on the Erick Johnson Farm, Eglon Township, Near Hawley 76 CLAY COUN LY 1hhUS TRATED Ernest Schroeder’s Farm Home—Model Buildings Well Arranged of farming and has now retired from the active management and removed to Hawley. The farmstead shown on this page is the Johnson home on the 200 acre farm, located along the banks of the North Buffalo river. The dis- tance to Hawley, the nearest market town, is a little over two miles, and the Northern Pacific station, Manitoba Junction, is only one mile from the farm. A diversity of crops are produced on the farm, including corn, potatoes and a ten-acre patch of alfalfa. Stock raising is also a feature, and it is an ideal tract for this purpose. The farm is now operated by Henry Estrim. Ernest Schroeder managed his 4383- acre farm in Glyndon township last year, but did not make it his home until December. As on all the Schroe- der farms, potato growing is one of the leading industries. Mr. Schroeder will diversify his crops and raise some cattle. The farmstead is one of the best located and conveniently arranged in the county. It lies on the west bank of the South Buffalo and is on the Moorhead-Glyndon state road. It is only six miles east of Moorhead and is near to Glyndon and the shipping station at Watts. Barnyard of the H. C. Possehl Farm, Baker CLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED 17 Scene on the H. C. Possehl Home Farm at Baker H. C. Possehl located at Baker in the spring of 1902, coming from Iowa. He bought the L. H. Baker farm, 250 acres, adjoining the townsite, and a year later purchased from Mr. Baker the general store. For eleven years Mr. Possehl was post master at Baker and was one of the promoters of the rural mail route starting from that village. Mr. Possehl later purchased the Evans farm, 480 acres, in section 10 in Alliance, and now operates both farms. He also deals extensively in potatoes and has a cellar and ware- house on the Great Northern track at Baker. Mr. Possehl is also interested in the automobile business at Barnes- ville. The illustrations show the buildings on the home farm. Frank P. Thompson is one of the old settlers of Elmwood township and one of the leading farmers of the Sabin- Baker neighborhood. He located on the home farm in 1880 and has been an industrious and thrifty tiller of the soil. His fine farm home, shown in the illustration, is modern and complete in every way. Mr. Thompson is one of the men who accomplish things with- out making much noise about it. Potatoes and grain are the leading crops, about 70 or 80 acres of the for- mer being grown each year. A fair- sized herd of Shorthorn cattle is kept, and fat steers can always be found on the Thompson farm. Mr. Thompson attends closely to the business of the farm. He is also inter- Part of Frank P. Thompson Farmstead, Alliance Township 78 CRAVE TC OU Nya ORS ASI HAD Farmstead of E. O. Peterson, One of the Pioneers of Parke Township ested in the general affairs of the local- ity and is a stockholder in the state banks at Sabin and Baker. Even O. Peterson located in Parke township in the early eighties, coming from Wisconsin, where he learned the trade of a miller. He has been one of the leading farmers of the southeast- ern part of the county during his 32 years’ residence. General farming and dairying is Mr. Peterson’s system, and a visit to his 290-acre farm will con- vinee any one that he has been success- ful. His farmstead is well located and conveniently arranged. The buildings are ample and are well protected by a fine grove. A long range view of the farmstead is shown in the accompany- ing illustration. Besides taking an active and leading part in the affairs of his community, Mr. Peterson is president of the Haw- ley Farmers’ Elevator Company and one of the stockholders of the Hawley State Bank. Victor Johnson arrived in Clay Coun- ty on New Year’s day, 1903, from his former home in Illinois. At that time the only improvement on the west half of section 15 in Oakport township was the turning over of the sod. Mr. John- son has prospered, and the illustration shows the fine farmstead of ‘‘Oakport Center Farm,’’ four miles north of Moorhead. Mr. Johnson has grown corn suc- cessfully since he began farming in Clay County. He is a general farmer, diversifies his crops and keeps his land in good condition, His cattle are Hol- stein grades and are being bred up, a full-blood bull heading the herd. Mr. Johnson is president of the Oak- port & Kragnes Telephone Company, and has taken a leading part in all the affairs of the community. “Oakport Center Farm”’—Home of Victor Johnson Caras COU Ni Y ILLUSTRATED 79 Residence and Buildings on August Hoppe Farm, Alliance Township August Hoppe, one of the prominent farmers of Alliance township, is a na- tive of Germany. He emigrated to America and resided in Winona Coun- ty, Minnesota, going from there to South Dakota, where he engaged in farming for eight years. In 1894 Mr. Hoppe trekked 220 miles across coun- try, from near Aberdeen, with his family, bringing nine horses and twelve head of cattle. He purchased the home quarter section for’ $10.00 per acre and began to develop his farm. Mr. Hoppe now owns and op- erates a half section of fertile land and produces fine crops of corn, potatoes and grain each year. Part of Mr. Hoppe’s buildings are shown in the accompanying illustration. Louis Miller, who now owns and farms the west half of section 1 in Holy Cross township, has had many vears’ experience as a farmer in Clay County. For many years he was fore- man on the Roehm farm near George- town and gained the reputation of be- ing one of the best farm managers in this part of the state. Later he con- ducted a butcher shop at Georgetown, and resided in Moorhead for a few years. The call of the farm, however, was too strong, and Mr. Miller again engaged in farming in the Sabin neigh- borhood. A few years later he bought his present farm and has improved it in many respects. He raises potatoes, other diversified crops, and has a well selected herd of cattle. Mr. Miller Scene on the Louis Miller Farm, Holy Cross Township 80 CLAY COUN DY Ae UsS i RAD The A. H. Miller Farmstead, Moorhead Township has always taken an active part in the affairs of his community, and was one of the leaders in the formation of the consolidated school district at Rustad. He is also vice-president of the Rustad Farmers’ Elevator Company. A. H. Miller is a busy man, and would never accomplish all that he does if he did not keep moving. Be- sides managing the half section home farm in Moorhead township, he con- ducts the farming operations on a quar- ter section southeast of Glyndon. Ile also sells silos, deals extensively in eat- tle and is the official crier for most of the auction sales held in the western part of the county. Mr. Miller formeriy resided at Free- port, Ill., and came to Clay County in the spring of 1910. During the six years Mr. Miller has been a resident of Clay County he has made a record. He is raising stock on the home farm and growing diversified crops. His herd includes a registered Shorthorn bull, and a full-blood Chester White boar is the swine sire. Last year he raised corn to fill his 300-ton silo. About 25 acres each of potatoes, alfalfa and clover are raised each year. Next spring he will seed about 30 acres to sweet clover, and will be the first Clay County farmer to grow it extensively. Cattle, Hogs and Poultry on A. H. Miller Farm Craw 1C:O UN TY ILLUSTRATED 81 Otto Morrow Farm—Alfalfa in Foreground Mr. Miller made the county record as an auctioneer when he conducted the big sale on the Barnes farm. In eight hours on the block he sold over $35,000 worth of personal property. The Miller farm is five miles south- east of Moorhead and two miles south of Dilworth. Otto Morrow is a successful farmer of the younger generation. He is fully abreast of the times in all matters per- taining to the farm, including stock raising. Mr. Morrow’s 800-acre farm is in Glyndon and Moland townships, and the buildings are located on the south bank of the North Buffalo River. He has made a specialty of growing corn and potatoes. A fine field of al- falfa was seeded last year, and the stand is one of the best in the county. The farmstead, as shown in the illus- tration, is beautifully located and well sheltered. Glyndon, the market and shipping point, is only two miles dis- tant from the Morrow farm. Since J. P. McCarthy came to Clay County six years ago he has been one of the busiest farmers in this section of the state. His farm, six miles south of Moorhead in Kurtz township, shows the work of an experienced and pro- gressive farmer. Mr. McCarthy be- lieves in plowing early and deep. He is not content with doing this, for he raises stock and turns under the ma- nure. Mr. McCarthy diversifies his crops and is a successful corn grower. The farm is on the state road, and there is a ditch on the north as well as a new one on the south line. . McCarthy’s Farm Buildings, Six Miles South of Moorhead 82 CLAY CORWBN ETS ILLUSTRATED General View of the Home Buildings on the “Riverside Farm” The ‘‘Riverside Farm,’’ owned and operated by Martin E. L. Wilk, is one of the finest of the big farms of the county. Mr. Wilk came to Clay Coun- ty from Calumet, Michigan, ten years ago, and for seven years confined his farming operations to raising small grain. He was successful in growing grain, but believing the net income could be increased has revised his plan and is now engaged in diversified farming. There are 900 acres of the farm under cultivation, and a great variety of crops are produced. Corn has been raised every year since Mr. Wilk began to operate the farm and last year seed was secured and two big silos were filled. Each year the aere- age of alfalfa is increased and three crops, at least, will be cut from 30 acres this year. Mr. Wilk is also an extensive stock raiser and has registered sires for the several breeds. He has a fine herd of Holsteins with two registered bulls and a number of full-blood cows. Twelve cows during the month of Jan- vary of this year gave average gross Holsteins on Martin E. L. Wilk’s “Riverside Farm,” Near Georgetown CHaAAYS IC ONULN DY. ILLUSTRATED 83 Near Georgetown, Owned by Martin E. L. Wilk returns of over five dollars each. All of the cattle are tested frequently and the herd is kept free from tubereu- losis. The horse sire is a grey Percheron of fine type. Several of the mares are full-blood, and there are several well set up grades. The Yorkshire ‘‘ bacon hog’’ of the Canfield strain have been raised successfully for several years. The grandmother of the head of the herd was an imported sow. Wooded pastures are located along the banks of the Buffalo river, which winds diagonally through the farm. The buildings of the farmstead are conveniently located and_ supplied with many conveniences, including electric light, the current being gen- erated on the farm. Shipping facili- ties could not be better, as Douglas siding is located on the western border of the farm. Georgetown is distant only half a mile from the farm limit, and two and one-half miles from the farmstead. The distance to Moorhead is fourteen miles by the state road. Mr. Wilk is president of the George- town Farmers’ Elevator Company and a director of the Moorhead National Bank. Alfred Olson is the owner of one of the big farms of the county—2,300 acres in Kragnes and Oakport town- ships. All of the land, except the tim- Georgetown—Farmers’ Elevator in Background 84 CADW OF WAN Aas Seep RSAC Br) Woodlawn Farm—Home of Alfred Olson, Oakport Township bered pastures, is under cultivation. tion, and practically all of the land is Part of the farm adjoins Kragnes sta- within two miles of that shipping point. A Few of the Horses in Alfred Olson’s Barnyard, Woodlawn Farm CiypAye, ‘COW N LY LEU sf R Av ED o 2) oO M. W. Gee Farmstead, Oakport Township Wheat is the heaviest crop, and other small grains are also extensively grown. Each year 160 acres of corn is planted, and this field is equaled in size by the potato patch. Another quarter section is kept seeded to tim- othy. : The first two cows Mr. Olson owned were full-blood Holsteins, and for sev- eral years his herd sires have been registered Shorthorns of the milking strain.- Now his herd numbers about 50 head of red cattle, the Holstein marking having been bred out. There are upwards of 60 head of work horses on the farm—some of them are shown in one of the illustrations. The farmstead on ‘‘ Woodlawn Farm”’ is located in a grove of natural oaks. While the illustrations are win- ter scenes, they show the snow lying as it fell. Mr. Olson came from Sweden in the early eighties, and for fourteen years was foreman on the Dalrymple farm at Casselton. In 1895 he came to Clay County and bought the first 965 acres of his present farm. He is vice-presi- dent of the Northern Potato Growers’ Sales Company, and has served on the township and school boards for many years. Martin W. Gee is one of the content- ed farmers, and he has every reason to be. His farm in Oakport township ecar- ries as good soil as there is in the coun- ty. The farmstead includes ample buildings and is protected by an abun- dant growth of natural trees. Mar- kets are near at hand, and the Oak Mound Consolidated School is within easy walking distance. Nearly 900 acres are included in the Gee farm, and every variety of crops is produced. The farm is well stocked with eattle, and no farmer owns bet- ter horses. Mr. Gee was one of the first farmers in this part of the county to diversify his crops. He has raised corn for several years and is one of the leading potato growers of the lo- eality. Mr. Gee is always careful to select the best seed obtainable. White Holland Turkeys, M. W. Gee Farm, Oakport Township 86 CLAY ClO IN DY La nS RAND) Residence of Carl Brandt, Sabin Mr. Gee is closely identified with the live things of the county—he is treas- urer of the Northern Potato Growers’ Sales Company and one of the direc- tors of the Kragnes Farmers’ Elevator Company. Carl Brandt is one of the more re- cently located Sabin farmers, yet he is the pace-maker for some of the older settlers. He came from Ohio in 1909 and owns 250 acres—15 adjoining the village. His main farm is -one mile north, and the other tract is south of the village. Two years ago Mr. Brandt seeded a patch of Alfalfa in May and made three cuttings the same year, the acre yield being over three tons. His patch has since grown to 30 acres. Mr. Brandt grows potatoes extensively and believes in fertilizing the land. Last winter he hauled manure from a dairy farm at Moorhead, and spread it on ten acres to be planted to potatoes. He Acre Yield on Carl Brandt’s Manured Patch—179 Bushels More Than Field CLAY COUNTY [ILLUSTRATED 87 Silver Lake—Boat Landing and Residence of T. T. Woodward estimates the cost to be $10.00 an acre and is more than pleased with the re- sult. The acre yield on this part of the field was 343 bushels and on the balance, 164—a gain of 179 bushels. All parts of the field were cultivated alike. The difference in the yield is plainly shown in one of the illustra- tions. Mr. Brandt is raising Holstein grade cattle and has increased his herd dur- ing the past year. This necessitated enlarging his barn and extending, in other ways, the building equipment of the farm. T. T. Woodward’s farm is ideally lo- eated on the shores of Silver Lake, southwest of Hawley village. His land lies along the west shore and to the north and west of this beautiful lake. Mr. Woodward’s picnic grounds have become quite an outing place—very popular with the people of the country as well as those of the towns. Mr. Woodward came to Minnesota from Rockland county, New York, in 1873, and located in Hawley township. He is engaged in general farming and makes a specialty of growing Improved Northwestern Dent corn—in 1914 he had especially good results. Another specialty is the raising of Percherons. Mr. Woodward has several brood mares, and, after breaking in the colts, places them on the market when three years old. The farm elevator, shown in one of the illustrations, is a great labor sav- ing institution. It is built in the hill- side; and grain is dumped into the bins from the upper level. That is the last time it is touched—everything being done by machinery operated by a gas- Elevator on T. T. Woodward Farm i 2) G Cb E CO) WIN AE NE TE We 1 TUS) ADP TR a TP, WD) Four Settings of Grain Stacks—A Common Sight in Eastern Clay oline engine. The system elevates, eleans and grinds the grain—then spouts it to a wagon on the lower level or to any other place in the elevator. Stephen N. Lee was born at Rollag, Norway, and came to the United States with his parents when only six years old. They first settled in Iowa county, Wisconsin, and later removed to Good- hue county, Minnesota, where Mr. Lee was educated. From 1879 to 1884 he was engaged in the mercantile business at Kindred, N. D. He retired from business and returned to his farm in Parke township. In 1890 Mr. Lee was elected a mem- ber of the Lower House of the Minne- sota Legislature, serving during the session of 1911 and the special session of 1912. Mr. Lee’s farm of 240 acres is twelve miles northeast of Barnesville. His specialty is dairying, and the butter made on the Lee farm always com- mands a premium in the market. The cattle are the milk strain of Short- horns, graded up to three-quarters or better. Corn has been grown for the past ten years and some ripe corn was harvested in 1915. Barley is one of the crops that has proven especially suc- cessful when sown on ground where corn or potatoes have been grown. Clo- ver, both red and alsike, that furnish the hay ration for the cattle, and small grains are the other leading crops. Residence of Hon. S. N. Lee, Parke Township CLAY COUN DY aU S RAVE D 89 Residence of J. T. Gee, Kragnes Township J. T. Gee is one of the leading farm- ers of the county and one of the men who has aided materially in building up the community. His 480-acre farm is located along the Red River in Krag- nes township. General farming and stock raising are the methods on Mr. Gee’s farm, and he has been very sue- cessful. Diversified crops are grown, and the rotation plans are carefully followed. There is system on this farm, and everything is in its plaee— no loose screws anywhere. The farm- stead is exceptionally well arranged and kept as neat as a pin. Shipping points and markets are of easy access. Barnyard Scene on J. T. Gee Farm, Kragnes Township 90 OM ANNE (CO) (OP INP AN Wb IG UPS AB IRAN SE 11D) Plowing With Three Gangs on the John Olness Farm, Kragnes Mr. Gee arrived from England in 1883 and the next year bought the first 80 acres of his present farm. While cultivating this land he worked part of the time for other farmers. From time to time he bought more land. His fine farm is a monument to his industry and thrift. The illustra- tions show the farm residence, sur- rounded by trees, and part of the other buildings. John Olness has farmed extensively and successfully in Clay for over twen- ty years. He came from Norway in 1888 and located at Kragnes, where he was employed in a general store. Two years later he became a partner and later the sole proprietor of the busi- ness. He was also engaged in the farm machinery business and managed one of the local grain elevators. After engaging in farming Mr. Ol- ness disposed of his other interests and retired from the mereantile busi- ness. He now has one of the best of the big farms in the county and was one of the leaders in growing diversi- fied crops. Mr. Olness grows corn and potatoes and fills out his thousand-acre farm with small grains, alfalfa and other forage crops. He is building up a fine herd of cattle and has two full- blood Holstein bulls. An accident to the negatives pre- vents a proper showing of the Olness farmstead. It is one of the best ar- ranged and most complete in the Northwest. All of the buildings are lighted by electricity, the current be- ing supplied by the plant on the farm. The farm home has every convenience of a city residence. All of the land is in Kragnes township, and the farm- stead is only a short distance north of Kragnes station. Part of the Buildings on the John Olness Farm, Kragnes CLAY COUNTY ILLUSTRATED 91 Home of Henning O. Krabbenhoft, Near Sabin H. O. Krabbenhoft is one of the pros- perous farmers of the county, and has been identified with many of the things that have proven beneficial to the com- munity. He came from Schleswig- Holstein in 1874 and purchased land in Elmwood township, where his 960- acre farm is located. In his farming operations Mr. Krabbenhoft is always in the front rank. He first began to Threshing Scene at H. O, Krabbenhoft Farm, Near Sabin CHEFAS YS CONG EN Aas No) ins) TEESE URS MRC PAC TE iu) The Gilbert Richards Home, Moland Township experiment with alfalfa in 1902 and has a 24-acre field at the present time. For many years he has raised corn and favors the Northwestern and White Dents. Seed from the 1915 erop of Northwestern has tested 100 per cent. Mr. Krabbenhoft is a heavy grower of potatoes, and has only a three-mile haul to Sabin. Clover and the small grains are also leading prod- ucts of this farm. Mr. Krabbenhoft raises beef cattle and keeps a herd numbering about 40. About 30 Per- cheron horses are kept busy the great- er part of the year. One of the illustrations shows Mr. Krabbenhoft’s home; another is a threshing scene on the farm. The barns and other outbuildings are am- ple and conveniently arranged. Mr. Krabbenhoft is vice-president of the Comstock and Holy Cross Farmers’ Insurance Company and is one of the directors of the Northwestern Hospi- tal Association, Gilbert Richards has been operating his farm in Moland township for the past two years and is getting the land in good shape. He has a well arranged set of new buildings located close to the bank of the Buffalo River. Corn and potatoes are leading crops, and small grains are also grown. Mr. Richards has two patches of alfalfa— the one started last year was seeded with barley as a nurse crop. The cat- tle are Shorthorns, and the swine are Yorkshires of the Canfield strain. ‘“Mrs. Bryan,’’ the old brood sow, and her litter of sixteen are shown in one of the illustrations. Since the beginning of farming in Clay County there has never been a crop lost through drought. The dry seasons usually give an average crop of good quality. The straw, perhaps, short, but the heads long and well filled. With over 200 miles of state and county ditches, surplus moisture is not detrimental. “Mrs. Bryan,” Mother of a Sixteen-to-One Family CLAY COWAN-DY. ILLUSTRATED 93 A. C. Huxley Farmstead, Alliance Township The A. C. Huxley farm, the north half of section 15 in Alliance township, has netted the owner an average of 10 per cent annually on a valuation of $100 per acre for the past seven years. The farm is located three and one-half miles southwest of Baker and has a most complete set of new buildings. Everything is modern—the silo is con- structed of vitrified brick and the 10,000-bushel potato cellar is conerete. There is a fine dairy barn, a milk house and a pump house. Then the farm- stead is a model of neatness. Corn is grown every year and seed was saved last season. There are 15 acres of alfalfa, and more will be sown this year. Clover is another favorite crop. The demonstration potato plot, shown in one of the illustrations, made the county record in 1915 with a yield of 363 bushels to the acre. B. F. Moore is the resident manager of the farm. Mr. Huxley resides in Barnesville, and his town house is a beautiful brick bungalow. Between times Mr. Huxley eries auction sales and has few open dates during the season. John Oberg came to Houston County from Norway in 1879. He removed to Wisconsin, and in 1882 arrived in Clay Gilbert Gunderson Farm Home Near Hitterdal 94 CLAN GNC ORUEN EE Yee Sin RANT 71) John Oberg Farm East of Kragnes County. The first year he dealt in horses and did sub-contract work on railroad grading. In 1884 Mr. Oberg engaged in the general merchandise business at Kragnes. Seven years later he sold his store and bought 685 acres of land in Kragnes township. He now owns and farms 1,007 acres. Since 1891 Mr. Oberg has been en- gaged continuously in farming. He has specialized in wheat, but also raises other small grains, corn and about 50 acres of potatoes each year. His cattle are principally Shorthorns. A trial patch of alfalfa has proven satisfactory, and a larger acreage will be seeded this year. Mr. Oberg was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Moorhead and has been its only vice-president. He was also one of the organizers of the Kragnes Farmers’ Elevator Com- pany and of the Oakport & Kragnes Telephone Company. Mr. Oberg has other interests in the county, and is always ready to do his share to help build up the community. The H. T. Alsop farm, 225 acres, is located in Moland township, two and a half miles north of Glyndon. This is being made a dairy and stock farm and upwards of 50 head of the milking strain of shorthorns are now kept. Yorkshire hogs are also raised quite extensively. There are twelve acres of alfalfa on the farm, and corn and potatoes are among the leading crops. Fred Seaton, one of the owners of the farm, is the resident manager. Buildings on H. T. Alsop Farm, North of Glyndon—Fred Seaton, Manager CLAY ClO NAY ILLUSTRATED 95 Guernsey Herd Owned by R. B. Webb, Glyndon R. B. Webb is a native of New York state and came to Clay County from Wisconsin 38 years ago. In 1876 he bought a farm south of Glyndon for $8.00 per acre. Three years later, in order to have the advantages of bet- ter schools, he sold the farm for $15.00 per acre and moved to Glyndon. For the next thirteen years Mr. Webb bought grain for one of the elevators at Glyndon, and sold farm machinery. we RP oe re pee Later he retired from business and en- gaged in potato growing, dairying and general farming. He is now making dairying the leading feature and has a fine herd of Guernseys. The cows, several of them full blood, and the registered bull are shown in the illus- trations. Another picture shows the dairy barn and silo. Dairying has necessitated the raising of corn and clover, which has been supplemented R. B. Webb’s Dairy Barn and Silo, Glyndon 96 CEEAWE COWEN YS Sains wish AgiaH DD Glyndon Consolidated School House by a fifteen-acre patch of alfalfa. Mr. Webb has been one of the coun- ty commissioners of Clay County for over twelve years. Six years ago he was elected chairman of the board and has since held that important office continuously. Glyndon Glyndon is the oldest town in the county, and School District No. 1, the first district organized, has become a consolidated district with a smaller territory than the original district, yet the enrollment today is 217. The vil- lage is located at the crossing of the main line of the Northern Pacific and the Winnipeg line of the Great North- ern. The village has grown to be an im- portant shipping point, especially for potatoes and grain. Potato warehouses and elevators are so located on side tracks that shipment may be made by either line of railway. Glyndon has kept pace with the development of the surrounding country and is a fine mar- ket town.