The Peterson Farm

My grandfather in the course of his lifetime acquired 200 acres of prime Iowa land and at the time of his death the Peterson farmhouse was certainly above average for a country residence. My impression is that the farmstead was really a showpiece with most of the modern conveniences. In addition he had purchase the lot in Gowrie where my grandmother’s house was later built. This lot he had used for a couple of corncribs where the corn crop could be stored for sale at an appropriate time.



Original Peterson farmhouse and granary, circa 1883. From left, Carl, Jonas, George, Emma, Esther.




Peterson farmhouse, east side, shanty to the right, circa 1950

Transfer of the corn crop could be made relatively easily in the wintertime, a time of low farm activity. In addition the condition of the road in the winter would facilitate the transfer. Roads in those days were probably un-graveled and in the spring, summer and fall months could be muddy indeed, hampering if not inhibiting altogether the hauling of heavy loads of grain. Even in the early days we were on the farm there were two miles of un-graveled roads on one of the two alternative routs from the farm to the town of Gowrie. When corn was being shelled this was the route prescribed by my uncle Carl (assuming that the roads were passable) in order to be easier on the horses’ hooves. The horses were never shod when we were on the farm, but I think in earlier times some of them were, particularly those used for non-farm work (transportation). Horseshoes would of course protect the horses’ feet.

I don’t know offhand the order in which my grandfather acquired the parts of the Peterson farm. The first acquisition was certainly the “home 80.” The account I have heard regarding this is that this 80 acres and the adjoining 80 acres of the Woodard farm were one piece of land at the time my grandfather bought the “home 80.” Old Mr. Woodard was also interested in purchasing part of the original piece of property. He and my grandfather drew lots to see who would purchase which half. My grandfather got the east half which I think was the better land and had a slight rise on which he built the farmstead.

The east forty and the north forty came next I think but I don’t know the order. The last piece to be bought was the south forty. This land had low land in the southeast extremity. At the time of the purchase (the story goes) he could have bought the whole 160 acres of which the south forty was a part for no additional cost. The land was low and wet however and he decided against it, figuring I suppose that the land would never be much good for farming so he would only be paying taxes on it. This was a mistake of course I think one of the fewer ones in his financial dealings.

These acquisitions could be elucidated further by looking in more detail at the papers I have of my grandfather’s or by researching Webster county records. Looking at the papers if a project I must undertake as part of this looking at my past — whether the research at the Webster county courthouse will ever be done is another question. I shall write more of this later.

My mother relates that my grandmother felt the financial pressure during each of the acquisitions of the parts of the Peterson farm and was relieved when each period of debt was over. I suppose that each purchase had its effect on the resources for everyday living which would have impinged directly on her.

Another avenue for evaluating my grandfather, and my grandmother also, will be the early letters, copies and translations of which I have dating from the late 1870s and early 1880s. These also I will write about at a subsequent time after re-reading them more thoroughly. These cover the period shortly before and after my grandparents’ marriage.