Build your farm’s future based on its past
Farms are rooted in history and tradition. Just think of the piles of paper that detail your businesses’ expansion, hurdles and team. How well do you know the history of your farm? Here are just a few ways to explore and document your operation’s history.
1. Talk to the oldest person you know.
If you have a family member or a neighbor who’s lived in your area for decades, seek them out. Record what they say. The holidays are a great time to pick their brain.
2. Start small and work backward.
Another place to start is FamilySearch.org. You can set up a free account and plug in the information you know. Start with your parents and work back from there. The most valuable records you’ll start with are census records.
For example, the first record listed in a search for my grandfather Frank Veurink is the 1930 census. He lived in Grant Township, in Oceana County, Mich.
The record shows his age and includes several of his relatives. It also shows his father was a farmer. I can download, save or print this information.
3. Locate land records and deeds.
Land records are some of the earliest records in the U.S. As Americans moved West, it’s estimated 90% of men owned land.
The Homestead Act, which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862, allowed thousands of citizens, including former slaves, immigrants and women to become landowners. It resulted in 270 million acres, or 10% of U.S. land, being claimed. Montana, North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska have the highest number of successful claims. To search these records, visit GLORecords.blm.gov.
If your land wasn’t part of the Homestead Act, look for county- or town-level records.
You can also search FamilySearch.org/wiki. The site has land records for each state. Check the maps. You might luck out — I found a map of the land my great-grandfather and my great-great grandfather owned in Oceana County in 1913.
4. Use your local experts.
If you haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for, call or visit your county recorder’s office. Also, check out your area’s historical society or genealogical society. With a little time and effort, you’re bound to make a connection to your farm’s past.
Marge Kulba is the broadcast producer for Farm Journal’s TV programs. She’s also a devoted investigator of her family history.
