Farmers are front page news in 1898

Last week I covered what consisted of front page news concerning the railroad and now I want to share the farm news from the front page of the McCook Tribune, Jan. 14, 1898. You might be surprised at what information these farmers were willing to share with the general public!

S.P. Hart- Lives about one mile east of McCook and is quite an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. He had 900 bushels of winter wheat. At the beginning of 1897, he had 100 head of hogs, sold $1,500 worth during the year and began 1898 with 30 head. He began 1897 with 100 head of cattle and during the year sold $3,250 worth. He is now feeding 125 head bought during the year in addition to discharging $3,000 in obligations. Vegetables estimated at $100 and dairy and poultry products at $50 each.

O.S. Van Doren- Of Alliance precinct raised 5,000 bushel of corn and sold $400 worth of hogs and cattle during the year. He values the vegetables raised and $30; dairy products $25 and poultry products the same.

J.M. Henderson- Lives in Willow Grove Precinct about four miles north of McCook. From 200 acres of spring wheat he threshed 3,580 bushels, and had 200 bushels of oats and 800 bushels of hog millet.

W.N. Rogers -- Owner of Shadeland farm about three miles east of McCook, devotes his time and attention raising fine cattle. At the close of 1896 he sold $1,200 worth of registered Herefords and began the year 1898 with 51 head of them. He gathered 3,000 bushels of corn from 100 acres and cut 300 tons of alfalfa from 95 acres. He values his vegetables at $400, in addition to $300 worth of beets for stock. He estimates the product of his poultry at $100.

W.A. Stewart- Lives in the Perry precinct about eight miles from McCook. From 50 acres of spring wheat he threshed 1,200 bushels, and gathered 7,000 bushels of corn from 270 acres. Nine acres of rye yielded 160 bushels, one acre of millet 15 bushels, and he cut 20 tons of millet hay from 8 acres. He had eight head of hogs at the beginning of 1897, sold $50 worth and butchered meat for family use, and had 45 head at the beginning of 1898. He has 62 head of cattle now and had six head a year ago; sold $40 worth during the year. Estimated value of vegetables raised $40; dairy products $25 and poultry products $50 besides home consumption. He has bought and is feeding 50 head of steers.

C.P. Underwood- Lives in Beaver precinct just west of Danbury. He had in 160 acres of winter wheat and threshed 4,600 bushels. 160 acres of corn yielded 5,000 bushels; 15 acres of rye, 300 bushels. From 30 acres of alfalfa he put up 150 tons of hay. Began in 1897 with 110 hogs and after selling $900 worth during the year had 128 at the beginning of 1898. He had 47 head of cattle at the beginning of 1897 and a year later had 175 head. He values the product of his garden, dairy and poultry at $50 each. He states his crop of wheat cost less than twelve cents per bushel, including the cost of seed, all labor hired, interest on the cost of land, threshing, etc. To any person questioning the correctness of his assertion Mr. Underwood can furnish a tabulated statement as proof of the same. (As a note, wheat was listed at 81 cents per bushel in 1897.)

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