Record Keeping of an Early Day Farmer
Entries in the account book of Henry Detwiller and sons. Henry Detwiller died in 1900 and later entries were made by Andy and Bill Detwiller.
| Cash | $3.00 | ||
| Land and Real Estate | |||
| 800 acres @ $10.00 | 8,000.00 | ||
| TOTAL | $8,003.00 | ||
| Livestock | |||
| 17 horses | 910.00 | ||
| 18 Cattle | 300.00 | ||
| TOTAL | $1,210.00 | ||
| Fixtures and Implements | |||
| 2 harvestors | 90.00 | ||
| 1 drill | 50.00 | ||
| 1 mower | 20.00 | ||
| 1 horse rake | 10.00 | ||
| 2 gang plows | 50.00 | ||
| 3 single plows | 10.00 | ||
| 2 20-tooth harrow | 20.00 | ||
| 1 16-16 disc | 10.00 | ||
| 2 wagons | 60.00 | ||
| 1 buggy | 20.00 | ||
| 2 pr. sleighs | 12.00 | ||
| 1 threshing machine | 300.00 | ||
| 7 sets harness | 105.00 | ||
| 1 reaper | 50.00 | ||
| TOTAL | $917.00 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $10,130.00 | ||
| Produce | |||
| 750 bushels wheat @ $ .60 | $450.00 | ||
| 60 bushels flax @ $1.25 | 75.00 | ||
| 75 bushels oats @ $ .33 | 25.00 | ||
| 40 bushels barley @ $ .33 | 13.00 | ||
| 20 bushels rye @ $ .35 | 7.00 | ||
| 75 ton feed @ $5.00 | 375.00 | ||
| TOTAL INVENTORY | $945.00 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS AND INVENTORY | $11,072.00 | ||
| Liabilities | |||
| Mortgage Payable | $2,638.92 | ||
| Interest Payable | 343.55 | ||
| $2,983.47 | $2,983.47 | ||
| Bills Payable | 945.00 | 945.00 | |
| Total Liabilities | $3,928.47 | $3,928.47 | |
| Net worth | $7,143.53 |
February 27, 1889:
Went to Cooperstown today and settled account with Hammer and Condy. Paid cash $20 and gave my note for $21 for balance.
March 6, 1889:
Loaned to R.H. Pratt for a few days $20.
March 5, 1889:
1 drew out $7.
March 24, 1889:
Sold W. LaPlant 24 bushels wheat @ $ .39 a bushel.
April 6, 1889:
Traded Fred's wheel and a note due November 1 for a buggy.
July 16, 1889:
Bought of Gull River Lumber Company for barn.
16,700 feet lumber for $400.81:
2 x 4 x 14 @ .19;
4 x 6 x 16 @ .27;
2 x
6 x 14 @ .24.
January 1, 1904:
| real estate | $4,000.00 | ||
| 6 horses | 600.00 | ||
| 1 cattle | 30.00 | ||
| 3 hogs | 10.00 | ||
| 12 chickens | 3.00 | ||
| 70 bushels wheat @ .70 | 49.00 | ||
| 200 bushels barley @ .30 | 60.00 | ||
| 325 bushels oats @ .33 | 107.00 | ||
| household furniture | 100.00 | ||
| cash | 3.00 | ||
| $4,962.00 | |||
| Liabilities | |||
| real estate mortgage | 500.00 | ||
| bills payable | 216.00 | ||
| interest payable | 13.00 | ||
| 729.00 | |||
| NET WORTH | $ 4,233.00 |
April 1, 1904:
bought on account 100# sugar $5.50
baking power .25
broom .40
wash board .25
5 gallons kerosene $1.00
April 4, 1904:
bought harness $8.75
April 5, 1904:
traded 23 bushels barley @ .30 for 11 bushels flax
@
$1.00 paid balance in cash $3.50.
April 20, 1904:
bought share in Jessie Farmers Elevator $25.00
April 20, 1904:
bought 1/2 cord birch wood $3.70
April 20, 1904:
got George shod $1.00
April 27, 1904:
bought lumber for buggy shed $12.15
April 27, 1904:
bought:
| Neck yoke | 1.25 |
| Spreaders | .35 |
| Trace chain | .30 |
| 5 Sweat pads | 3.10 |
| Coffee | .15 |
May 7,1904:
To Thompson Brothers bought 2 sacks flower $5.70 lantern globe .25
May 19, 1904:
To A. Larson brown sugar .50
May 21, 1904:
To P.E. Nelson casting for churn .85
July 24, 1904:
Bought a Deering harvestor traded a horse and gave note for balance.
March 2, 1905:
Bought cow at Lewis sale $20.00
March 29, 1905:
Got contract for school land and paid interest
April 1, 1905:
Sold Dave and King to Sells for $300.00
April 1, 1905:
Bought team of mares from S.M. Summerville $400.00
April 5, 1905:
Paid Joe Rogers $70.00 for work @ $1.25 a day
June 14, 1905:
Paid George Crawford $1.25 a day for pulling mustard
March 22, 1905:
Paid George H. Lashway $100 @ $20.00 per month
November 4, 1904:
Bought SW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 36-147-59 payable:
| $120.00 January 1, 1905 | |
| 120.00 January 1, 1911 | |
| 120.00 January 1, 1916 | |
| 120.00 January 1, 1921 | |
| 120.00 January 1, 1925 | |
| Interest @ .04% |
Work schedule of Alfred Larson April 1, 1910:
April 1 hauled hay
2 hauled manure all day
3 Sunday
4 harrowed
5 clipped horses and harrowed
6 drilled wheat - Farmers Monarch Elevator burned
9 sowed wheat
16 Sawed wood and went to town
17 blizzard all day
21 plowed for oats
May 1 packed for oats
4 sowed the oats
9 started to break
14 broke all forenoon - first good rain
Sept. 17 sold butter 5# $1.75
1905 crop sold:
762 bushels wheat a .64
120 bushels barley @ .33
111 bushels flax @ .86
6070# flax straw @ $2.00 per ton
Received from threshing machine $67.20
Bought 40 bushels Blue Stem wheat @ .70
Bought 65 bushels macaroni @ .67
Total crop sold in 1905........... ........... ........... $1,186.00
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial Page 1
