The Winter Of A Hill Farm

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THE WINTER OF A HILL FARM

by Barbara Thomson

A small house and barn are tucked away in the wooded hills on a crook in the old road and it makes one wonder what kind of farming coud have existed in these rocky folds years ago.

An 1853 map of Dutchess County does not show the house at the distinctive crook, but it does appear on the 1858 map under the name of Griffen Story. In 1844 Griffen Story bought 291/2 acres from Rowland and Mary Story. In 1862 he sold that lot and two other adjoining parcels, the whole totaling 1271/2 acres, to James Henry Siglar, for $3000.

The 1865 Federal Census includes agricultural data for individual farms. Here we find the Siglar family, values of land, stock and tools, crops raised and yields. According to the Census, "The harvest of 1864 was seriously affected by drought except potatoes of which there was a full crop. Average of all crops was more than half". Rye and apples yielded 1/2 crop, corn 2/3, buckwheat 1/3 and flax of which very little was sown was almost an entire failure.

James Siglar, his wife Sarah, four young children and Joseph Muneau, age 15, a servant, born in New York County, all lived at the farm. Siglar had 107 improved acres and 20 unimproved at a cash value of $3000. Compare this figure with that for Catherine and Elizabeth Fulton ( George Zitz's farm on Shookville Road). (They had 110 improved acres, 20 unimproved at a cash value of $6500, more than double for the hill farm.

Comparison of the 1865 figures for crop production with the figures for yield in this area today retell the story of continuing improvement in agriculture (our "return to the good earth people" take note) .

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James Siglar raised 120 bushels of Indian corn on 6 acres. Today those six acres would produce 600 bushels of ear corn or 90 ton of silage. 60% of his improved acreage was used for pasture with 10 ton of hay cut and providing grazing for 3 cows, a calf and 4 horses. Today an acre of pasture would yield about 21/2 ton of grass hay. Other figures for that farm are: 6 acres of oats — 8 bushels harvested, 15 acres of winter rye — 100 bushels, 1 acre of buckwheat — 25 bushels, 1 acre of potatoes yielded 75 bushels. 100 fruiting apple trees harvested 1 bushel apiece compared to 20 bushels per tree today.

Siglar also raised 6 hogs, some poultry and made 250 lbs. of butter from 3 cows.

In 1874 Sarah Siglar sold the farm to John Wilkinson for $3600. A year later the 1875 census shows that the improved acreage was less by 17 acres, the unimproved acreage more by 26 acres and 12 were listed for woodland. He raised oats, winter rye, corn, potatoes, had 100 apple trees, 10 cows and no sheep.

Assessment figures for 1889 show that the farm was now owned by his wife, Mary Ann with only 82 cultivated acres, 20 in timber and 25 listed as comparatively worthless, rocky, mountain or swamp. The value of the farm was now listed as $1016 and ten years later at $762.

In 1912 the 1271/2 acre farm was sold to Frederick Wilcox. In 1934 271/2 acres were taken off and this is the part of the Siglar farm that is now the home of Helen and John Wisbauer on Knob Hill Rd.

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