LEGACIES
OF THE LAND A special commemorative edition honoring our rich farm heritage
Sept. 21, 2016
C2 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
legacies of the land
Globe Gazette
Century Farms Program Taking Pride in Our Rural Heritage
ince the land of Iowa was opened up to S settlers in 1833, agriculture has been the heart of Iowa. The family farm represents the traditions and heritage upon which our State was built. Today, those individuals and families, who followed in the foot steps of their ancestors, continue to pro-
duce crops and livestock on that same land. The Century Farms Program recognizes and honors those individuals who have owned the farm land for 100 years or more. The program began in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration, when over 5,000 certificates and farm markers were distributed across Iowa at local ceremonies.
The program was sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, with the endorsement of the Iowa American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. Members of the original Century Farm Recognition Committee were Ronald R. Woodin, Deputy Adjutant General of Iowa;
James Meimann, Iowa Department of Agriculture; Gene Maahs, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Murray Goodman, Iowa American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and Kris Lischefska, secretary. Since 1976 over 15,000 families have been recognized. The Awards Ceremony is held each year at the Iowa State Fair.
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 | C3
Daniel R. & Lana F. Miller Charles City — 1901
Wirth-Rhoades Family LLC St. Ansgar — 1904 The 2016 Wirth-Rhoades Century Farm is the west 80 acres of a 240 acre farm now owned by the Wirth-Rhoades LLC. Partners are siblings Duane “Dusty” Rhoades, Raymond Rhoades and Vicki Ross-Rhoades. The east 160 acres received the Century Farm Award in 1995. Great grandfather John Wirth and Aloise Krizek lived in New York City and were married in 1870. They had emigrated from the Czech Republic in 1863. They had day jobs and made cigars at night. In 1890 they went to Iowa and bought the farm from Isaac and Jennie Patterson. John wirth died in 1893 and left Aloise the east farm. The norh 80 acres was sold in the early 2900s. This Century Farm, the west 80 acres, was purchased by Aloise Wirth for $65 per acres for a total of $5,200. In 1934, Grandfather John Wirth, Great Uncle Joseph Wirth and Great Aunt Louise Wirth inherited the farm. In 1937, Louise & Henry sold their share to John for $1. Great Uncle Joseph died in 1940 and Grandmother Josephine inherited the farm. Alice Wirth and Darwin “Dusty” Rhoades bought the farm from Josephine in 1974. The Wirth-Rhoades
LLC was formed in 1998. Darwin passed away in 2000 and Alice in 2004 and Duane, Raymond and Vicki became the owners of the LLC. Duane Rhoades’ son, Duane Jr., lives in the farm house, which was built in 1915 by John and Josephine. The house and outbuildings were put up on about 5 acres. The remaining 75 acres are still in production. Kevin Koster of St. Ansgar farms the land on a cash rent basis. Kevin also has a Century Farm from 1910. Barn and corn crib are also original buildings. Other buildings have been torn down. Some of the original trees from a wind break remain. The original farm(s) raised corn, oats, flax and hay. Livestock were cattle, pigs and chickens. Family history has been preserved by Great Uncle Henry Wirth, written down by Alice Rhoades, who took care of him when he broke his leg in 1948. The family history was published by Lois Rhoades for the 1997 reunion. An update will be published for the 2017 reunion. Also preserved are “The Billy Letters,” written about the farm by Grandmother Wirth to Uncle Bill Wirth when he was serving in the US Army in England. We are proud to be the fourth generation owners of the family farm.
The Miller Farm was purchased for somewhere around $8500. It was 160 acres and has remained 160 acres. First in the family to own the farm were George and Polly Harrington, Daniel’s great-great uncle. It then went to his grandfather, Harold Miller. Daniel’s father died and his grandmother Anna Miller took over the farm. It next went to his mother, Ruth Miller and seven siblings. Daniel and Lana bought the farm in 2000
from his mother and six siblings. The operation at first was hogs, dairy cattle and range chickens. In October, they caught them all. Now it is just crops, corn and soybeans, no livestock. Original buildings are the barn and the granary. The legacy is that is just goes from generation to generation. The goal is to keep it in the family so it is good for the next generation, or next grandsons. It is important to keep it in the family, as family farms are disappearing.
Congratulations To All Heritage Farms & Century Farms
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Globe Gazette
Pam Schwieger, Derk Schwieger, CS76, Inc. Dows — 1916 This is the fourth Century Farm in the Schwieger family. The first of the four was homesteaded in 1871 by Johann Schwieger and his wife Anna Gertrude, and purchased in 1872. There are many stories about the family down through the years and Pam Schwieger wrote a history a few years ago. First farming the land were Johann and Anna Gertrude, then J.W. Schwieger, then two uncles, including Oliver, a World War I veteran. Next were Carlyn and Pam Schwieger and after Carlyn’s sudden death in April of 2012, Pam Schwieger and their son, Derk for the last four years. Johann Christoph and Anna Gertrude (von Blum) Schwieger were the first owners. They purchased the second Schwieger Century Farm in 1880 and the third in 1891, farming until their deaths in 1912 and 1913. In 1916, their son Johann William (J.W.) and Flora Estella (Melcher) Schwieger purchased the fourth Schwieger Century Farm, recognized as a Century Farm at the 2016 Iowa State Fair. J.W. and Flora farmed their lifetime except from 1914 to 1920 when he served as Franklin County Sheriff and she cooked for the prisoners in the jail. J.W. returned to farming in 1920 and farmed until his death in 1955. Many sons of Johann Christoph farmed the land. Lou Schwieger and his wife Anna Margartha (Zimmer) farmed until 1934, when they purchased the Dows Hardware Store. Fred Schwieger and Ethyl (Morelan) Schwiever farmed until he served in law enforcement for 26 years, serving as Franklin County Sheriff from 1931 to 1943. Fred
sold his farm to his nephew Howard Schwieger in 1942 and purchased a hotel in Iowa Falls. Oliver Schwieger farmed his entire life except during World War I. Howard Schwieger and his wife Yvonne farmed from 1920 until 1970. Howard was raised in the Franklin County jail and graduated from Dows High School. All land was sold to relatives; nothing was inherited. The family has a history of giving land to the Morgan Methodist Church, which held services in German for many years. Both Johann Christoph and Anna Gertrude Schwieger were born in Germany. He came to America in 1861 and became a naturalized citizen in 1874. Anna Gertrude came to America in 1865. They met in Freeport, Illinois. For
the move to Iowa, Johann bought a new halter, horse and wagon and a smoked hog for them to take to their 160 acres in Morgan Township. Price for the land was $2.50 an acre and included a small wooden shack. They traveled the last 115 miles with the horse and wagon after floods in Manchester, Iowa, had them departing the train. Purchased in 1880, the second Schwieger Century Farm had an artesian well that still flows today. The Schwieger farms had test plots every year. Neighbors were amused when Howard’s son, Carlyn, painted each start of a new variety with spray paint so that Pam, whowas raised in an apartment and couldn’t recognize varieties, could load them into separate wagons to be weighed. The family raised hogs,
cattle, sheep, chickens, horses, cats and dogs. The farm also housed wolves, coyotes, fox, opossum, racoons, skunks, creek otters, snapping turtles and pheasants. Most recently have come a pack of coywolves and a mountain lion. Carlyn attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Farm Operations, the first in his family to graduate from college. He spent all weekends and holidays working on the farm. In 1976, Carlyn incorporated the four Century Farms into C.S. 76, Inc. He married Pamela (Hite) Schwieger in 1969. Pam was a graduate of the University of Northern and taught instrumental music. They continued to farm until his death. Their son, Derk, left the farm for college and law
school in 1990. He currently handles cases in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and Iowa. Both Carlyn and Derk were active in Franklin County 4-H and both were involved with livestock judging. The farm always came
first. Carlyn, Pam and Derk walked every acres of the farms, weeding by hand before chemicals were used. At two years of age, Derk took naps between bean rows and they sometimes forgo which row. Derk teases that it could have been a child protection case today. With heart issues, Carlyn refused to get a pacemaker until the crops were planted. On April 27, 2012, Carlyn and Pam planted corn until 9:30 p.m. It was cold and windy, almost sleeting. Five days earlier Carlyn had celebrated his 74th birthday with his requested chocolate cake. On the morning of the 28th, it was raining, and Carlyn didn’t respond when told not to hurry getting up. According to a reading of his pacemaker, he had died in his sleep at 3 am, a farmer to the end. Pam and Derk look forward to adding their first Heritage Farm (150 years) in 2022. They honor the hard work and frugality of past relatives who farmed the land by hanging their pictures, passports and immigration documents in the farm home.
Congratulations
to All Family Farms
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
C6 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
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John A. & Marilyn A. Middleton Eagle Grove — 1914 The James Brothers, bachelors, were the first owners and were John Middleton’s grandmother’s brothers. She married a Middleton and the farm was inherited from then on. The farm next went to Burdette Middleton, John’s father and then it went to John.
Anders & Cindy Knudsen St. Ansgar — 1906 The Knudsen Cen tury Farm originally came down through Anders great grandfather and grandfather on his mother’s side. Knute Haugen was the first, then Anders’ grandfather Alfred Haugen. Next his mother and an aunt owned part and an uncle another part. Anders bought pieces
at the time, his first 80 acres in 1981 and the second 80 acres in 1991. His parents, who had three children, still own 80 acres. Anders got out of college in 1983. Originally the farm was 80 acres; 81 including the school acre. It is now 240 acres. It was a dairy farm at first, evolving to beef and sheep with corn, hay and soy-
beans. The last 30 years it has also been a pig farm. Anders sees the importance of the farm as the continuation of values and pride, complete with endurance. He likes to farm and his four daughters appreciate it. The family was involved with FFA and 4-H and all the daughters would like to come back and live on the farm someday.
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There were 240 acres in two sections. John’s brother got the other 120, which is also a Century Farm. The farm is now 120 acres. In the late 1970s it was combined livestock and grain and now is strictly grain farming only, corn and soybeans. There are no original buildings. The legacy is sentimental more than anything else.
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
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Gregory R. & LuAnn K. Brandt Woden — 1889
Geneva Brackey, Mike & Kim (Brackey) Isebrand Forest City — 1866 Hans and Margit Holtan purchased the 160 acres of this Heritage Farm for $267 on April 6, 1866. It is still 160 acres. Thomas and Aaste Holtan next bought the farm on February 15, 1894. Norman and Agnes (Holtan) Brackey bought the farm May 15, 1938, followed by Duane and Geneva Brackey on January 1, 1970. Along with Geneva Brackey, Mike and Kim (Brackey) Isebrand have owned the farm from March 29, 1996 to the present. The operation at first was cattle (dairy and beef), hogs, chickens and grain. That operation has continued. There are no original buildings. The oldest building is the house, which was built in 1903. The history of the farm started in March of 1862 when Hans and Margit Holtan left Norway with two sons, both of whom died during a measles epidemic and were buried at sea. The boat was quarantined before they were allowed to land on an island near Quebec, then they continued the journey by cattle train.
Another son was born in late July in a Wisconsin train depot. Their final leg was by wagon to meet up with with Hans’ brother, Eivend. Hans worked with his brother for five years until they could immigrate to Forest City in 1866. They drove in a covered wagon with their two little sons, Halvor and Thomas, until they reached friends who had encouraged them to move to Iowa. A two-room log cabin was built on the Holtan’s newly acquired land. The family increased to eight boys and two girls. There was no crop failure, but a tornado tore a devastating path in June of 1882, leveling the barns, granary and corn cribs. The roof was torn off the lean-to of the house and trees were twisted and uprooted. But the stock was unharmed, with horses still tied to their mangers. A cow lost one horn. The Holtan Family History was compiled in 1950 by George Holtan, Agnes Brackey and C. Carl Holtan. Mike and Kim Isebrand utilized the history for this condensation of the history of the farm.
The first owners of the Brandt Century Farm were August & Caroline Brandt. They purchased the 160 acres for $1600. August passed away in 1929 and Caroline in 1934. The 160 acres passed to their son Henry Brandt in 1935, valued at $14,000. Henry Brandt died in 1964 and the land passed to his son & daughter-in-law, LeRoy & Teresa Brandt. When LeRoy Brandt died in 1988, the land was divided into two sections. One section of 80 acres sold to Raymond and Darlene Brandt. When Raymond passed away in1995, Greg and Anne Brandt inherited the land. Current owners are Greg & Anne Brandt. Inherited from Raymond Brandt, Greg Brandt’s father. LeRoy Brandt, Raymond Brandt’s first cousin, was the son of Henry Brandt. August Brandt, first owner, was Henry Brandt’s father. The original operation for August, Henry and LeRoy was livestock of dairy cows, pigs and chickens. LeRoy’s
children talked about staying in the barn with the cows during the winter to stay warm. LeRoy also had a welding shop on the farm when he owned it. They had the full 160 acres with corn, beans and hay. The 80-acre parcel owned by Greg and Anne Brandt still has a portion of the original house and a corn crib that was converted into a shop. Greg and Anne live on this parcel and Greg’s brother, Marlin Brandt, farms the land. Only grain is raised, no livestock.
Greg wanted to keep the farm house for the family memories. So a major renovation was done in 2010, keeping the core of the home with wooden walls and the main structure. Farming has always been important to Greg and Anne as they love what rural America has to offer. Owning farm ground is a legacy, so they see it as important to keep in in the family for years to come, continuing the heritage through their children and grandchildren.
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
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Halvorsen Estate - Harry Stone Forest City — 1865 T he Halvorsen Estate Heritage Farm was first called Maple Hill, but has not been known by that since the 1950s. During the Civil War, three families from Wisconsin moved to Iowa to settle. They included Lois Halvorsen’s great great grandmother and her sister and family. It became the Lunstrum family farm, a Swedish name that meant land and stream, as it was next to a stream. The first to own the farm was great grandmother Sarah Olson and her husband Levor Olson. Andrew Lunstrum married Sarah’s daughter and it became the Andrew Lunstrum farm and then was sold. During the depession, Lillian Lunstrum Halvorsen bought the farm. Her husband was a postman in Forest City during the week and came out to the farm on the weekends. With the husband’s income, she refused to sell the farm even in hard times. Lillian died in 1954 and Lois’s father bought the farm. Since a little boy he had gone to the farm on weekends to help. He served in WWII, but was into farming with grandma, and went by Stone, his middle name. He passed away last year, having inherited the farm from his mother. The Estate is still in his name. The Stone Halvorsen Estate owns the farm now. In 1976 the State of Iowa started honoring Century Farms. Ardith Halvorsen went to the courthouse and found Century Farms. Next year Lois Halvorsen’s farm across the road will be a Heritage Farm. When Krieger’s Nursery sold, the watering can went to her farm. The Stone Halvorsen farm was originally 40 acres then became 120 when great grandmother married the neigh-
bor man, Andrew Lunstrum. It is 120 acres now. At first the operation was cattle, hogs, chickens and grain, then known as Maple Hill. Andrew owned the farm up on the hill and grandma had a farm down the hill. It is all grain now, corn and soybeans. The original barn and granary were on Andrew’s farm. Sarah’s homesite is gone now. The importance of the farm is that the family has been there so many years – Lois Halvorsen sees it as “our whole life.” “We have to keep it going.” Grandma’s siblings wanted it sold. She said “no.”
Jerry Mark, Corabel Mark Iowa Falls — 1902
he Mark Century Farm was first in the T family in October 17, 1902. It is northwest of Iowa Falls on the west side of Juniper Avenue, the South side of Hardin road (C-73) and the east side of Killdeer Avenue, in Lee Township of Franklin County.
Charles Mark, grandfather of the present owners, was the first owner. Next came father George Mark and it then went to the George Mark Trust. The original cost of the land was $90.04 per acre. There are no buildings on the farm. Current crops are corn, soybeans, and CRP.
Congratulations Heritage & Century Farms
Proud to be a partner in your success for the last 100 years.
C10 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
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Wayne R. & Lisa J. Koehler Charles City — 1866 The original purchase for 260 acres was $2,100 or $8 an acre. It was purchased by Anna Barbara Hirsch. Wayne Koehler’s great great grandmother. George Frederick Hirsch of Hazel Green, Wisconsin, selected the land to purchase in 1866 with a $50 down payment with $500 due on June 15, 1866. Balance of $2,900 was due on October 15, 1866, but George died in August of 1866. Anna wasn’t prepared to go to Iowa on her own. She canceled the agreement for 350 acres then purchased 260 or those acres and recorded the deed. She had six children ranging in age fro 17 to 2 and delayed five years until 1871 before moving the family to Iowa. Anna was on the farm from 1871 until 1894. Wayne’s great grandfather, M. A. (August) Hirsch was on the farm from 1871 to 1913. It then went to George Koehler who was on the
farm from 1914 to 1968, Wayne’s grandfather. Next his uncle Rolan Koehler was on the farm from the 1950s to 1972 before it went to Merlyn Koehler from 1986 to 2000, Wayne’s father. It has been with Wayne and Lisa Koehler from 2000 to the present. Wayne is currently farming the land. The current farm is 100 acres. Originally the farm had a lot of livestock, cattle, hogs, chickens, sheep and horses. In an 1896 Floyd County plat book, M.A. Hirsch is listed as a breeder of English Shire horses and Poland China hogs. Crops were oats, hay and corn. The farm now has corn, soybeans and hay. Terraces, a grassed waterway, tile drainage and no-till soybeans help to preserve the land. No original buildings remained. Merlyn Koehler removed obsolete buildings and built grain bins and modern buildings. In the 1980s the two-story house was remodeled into a single-story ranch home.
Gary D. Hove Thompson — 1916 Gary Hove’s grandfather, Hans Hove, bought the farm in March of 1916 for $21,000. There were 160 acres originally and it is 160 acres now. The original operation was “a little of everything.” Beef cattle, hogs, hay, and a little
corn. It is now in grain, corn and soybeans. The house is original. The original barn burned down in a big fire in 1955. Legacy of the Hove farm is that Gary’s grandfather bought it, then his father bought it. Gary bought it in July of 1979 and is farming it. It has been farmed by the Hove family, nobody else.
Malek Family Trust: Thomas and Marilyn Malek, Trustees, Tiffani Malek Keckler & Alissa Malek Neu Garner — 1875 The Malek Farm was originally 160 acres, then was divided with 80 going to an uncle and 80 to Thomas’s father. It is 80 acres now. Original price was $900 for 160 acres, or $5.63 an acre. When purchased in 1875, it carried 10 % interest. The farm fist went to Frank and Mary Haydar, his grandmother’s parents, then to his grandmother, Caroline Malek. His father and mother, Edward and Eileen Malek next had the farm. Thomas and Marilyn Malek bought the farm from his parents December 19, 1997. The first operation on the farm was
“everything.” Cattle, hogs, chickens, corn, oats and hay. It is now in grain, corn and soybeans. The farm is rented out to another farmer who farms the land for Thomas and Marilyn. They note they are not very far away from a Heritage Farm, nine more years. His Cousin Bob’s half became a Century Farm last year. The importance of the farm is that his grandmother was born on the farm, as were his father and uncle. Thomas was raised on the farm and their daughters were born and raised on the farm, forming the work ethics which carried through and continue to carry through.
LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Globe Gazette
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Ken & Phyllis Armstrong Hampton — 1865 The 80-acre Armstrong Heritage Farm was purchased by Lemon & Mary Jane Armstrong for $1.25 an acre for a total of $100 in 1865. They farmed it until their deaths in 1892 and then five children inherited. They were the great-great grandparents of Ken Armstrong. Merle & Ida bought out his siblings and since then the farm has been purchased. Merle & Ida farmed the land from 1892 to 1935, then Ken’s father’s uncle, Roscoe & Mary, farmed the land from 1935 to 1976. Ken and Phyllis have owned the farm from 1976 to the present. They moved in in 1986 when their daughter Sue was 18 and had grown up on another farm. A neighbor now rents out the ground. It is still 80 acres. The first operation was basic grain, cattle, hogs and chickens. It is now in corn and soybeans, with no livestock. The house is half original, stating out as a two-room cabin and undergoing several renovations over the years. A two-story addi-
tion was added. In 1915 the original two-room cabin was torn off and another two stories added, with expanded dimensions. The cellar is still the original size. The granary is the original out building. Legacy of the Armstrong Heritage Farm is that it’s a home base where everyone can come back. A reunion every year started in the1950s, their grandfather’s generation and now are spread out, with usually a dozen people in attendance. Both Sue and her younger brother are in Mason City. Lemon Armstrong was born in Pennsylvania, one of 14 children. Two older brothers went to Ohio and Lemon followed, hurting his health clearing trees. So he looked further west and listened to a brother-in-law, moving to Iowa in 1857. The Armstrong Heritage Farm was not the first family farm in Franklin County, but that first one was on flat ground and was flooded out right after breakfast, following a cloud burst up river, and the horses had to swim. They rented until 1865 then chose higher ground.
Elizabeth Oleson Dows — 1878 The Oleson Farm was homesteaded and then purchased. Elizabeth’s grandfather Rasmussen Oleson had five brothers. Then it went to her grandmother Annie. Her father Lawrence next had the farm, then it went to her Uncle LuVerne Oleson and then to his wife Juanita. The farm went to Elizabeth three years ago in 2013. The Century Farm was originally 80 acres and is still 80 acres. Elizabeth has added 36 acres to it.
At first, the farm was self-sufficient, with cattle, hogs, grain, gardens and chickens, like almost all farms around there. Now it is in grain, soybeans and corn. The cattle barn is original. The wooden silo is very unique, and has 24 16” slats, 14 feet around, a double octagonal. Elizabeth just had it restored this summer. An ice house has sawdust around it. For the family, the importance is that it’s just been in the family so long. It is important to Elizabeth to keep it restored.
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Lawrence & Joanne Blake, James Blake Stacyville — 1902
he Century Farm has always been called T the Blake Farm. It started out as 120 acres at under $100 an acre. Then 40 acres were added later and then it started growing and 60 acres more were added on. It is 220 acres now. Lawrence’s great grandfather Henry Blake built the house and barn. His father Corbin followed then Lawrence. Now his son Jim
Blake is on the farm, and was at the ceremony to pick up the Century Farm award. The operation at first was cattle, hogs, chickens and ducks. “A little bit of everything,” including hay, corn and oats. It is now all in corn. The legacy of the farm is that it’s home. It’s a nice, clean place and buildings are kept in good shape. Just to see it again is special.
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Congratulations
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
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Fure Family LLP - DeLyle Fure, Bruce Fure, Madonna Brue & Diane Bazey Thompson — 1906 he Fure farm was settled in 1857 by StefT fen Larsen and was granted Homestead status in 1885 by President Grover Cleveland. Ole and Bertha Fure bought it by Warranty Deed for $5400 but had to mortgage it and obtained ownership again in 1906. They were the great-grandparents of the four children. Clemet and Anna Fure, grandparents, bought the farm in 1911 for $10,800. It 1962 the farm was sold to Jenning and Marceline Fure for $1 and considerations. They were the parents of the current owners. In March of 1966 the farm was again owned by Clemet Fure until September of that year, when it was transferred back to Jenning and Marceline for $2815. Marceline became the sole owner upon the death of her husband, Jenning, April 1, 1984. She rented it to a neighboring farmer who cur-
rently farms it. In the years Jenning and Marceline owned the farm, they had cows, chickens, pigs and crop farming. The Fure Family LLP and the four children became the owners through inheritance upon her death in 2011. Like most farmers in the early 1900s, Fures raised livestock and grew grain crops. Their eleven children all helped on the farm growing up. The only remaining building on the farm is the house. Three sons were interested in buying the farm when Clemet and Anna decided to move to town. It was decided by drawing straws to be fair. Memories of growing up on the farm are the legacy of the land for the four children. The years included country school, milking cows by hand, walking bean fields, sledding down the hill during winter, family gatherings and playing baseball together.
Anthony R. & Renee J. Holmes Dows — 1916 Holmes Farms were founded by Frank and Sarah Hackbarth, who owned the farm from 1916 to 1938. They were the Great Grandparents of the current owner, Anthony (Tony) Holmes. The price was $290 per acre. Floyd and Juanita Hackbarth then owned the farm from 1938 to 1985. Floyd was Tony’s Great Uncle. Floyd and Juanita’s children inherited the farm in 1985. They were Floyd E., Virginia, Gary and Nancy.
Kevin & Kristie Koster St. Ansgar — 1910 Herman Koster, Kevin’s great grandfather, was the first owner of Koster Farms. His grandfather Louis Koster was the next owner, then his father, Darwin Koster. Kevin purchased the
farm seven years ago from his father. The farm was originally 240 acres and is still 240 acres. Like all farmers did back then, the operation was cattle, hogs and sheep. Louis gave up milking and Darwin had feeder cattle. Kevin had
feeder cattle for 15 years and now has an elk hobby. Original buildings are the house, barn and granary. The importance of the farm is that it’s a way of life, and our income. It is a tradition – in our blood.
In 1977, Floyd rented the farm to Anthony (Tony) and Renee Holmes in 1977. Floyd’s children sold it to them in 1995. Tony’s mother is a Hackbath, Frank’s granddaughter and Floyd’s niece. Tony and Renee currently farm the land and own and rent other land, growing mainly corn and soybeans. Livestock was raised and fed in earlier years. There are no original buildings left on the farm. This farm means very much to our family. It meant so much that we were able to rent a farm with so much family history tied to it and then now to own it.
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LEGACIES OF THE LAND
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Knutson Trust, Ila T. Knutson, Trustees Sharyl Nestor, L. Timothy Knutson & Gary J. Knutson Northwood — 1866 The Knutson Heritage Farm was inherited from a man who died in the Civil War. Sharyl Nestor’s great grandfather Olaf Knutson married the man’s widow. His son Oliver inherited the farm. It next went to her father, Cornell. Ila T. Knutson put it in trust when Cornell died around 1992. Originally the farm had 320 acres, which were divided among four sons, including grandfather Oliver. It is 80 acres now. First operation of the land included animals, cows and horses to farm. It is now CRP mostly, Conservation Reserve Program. A portion of the log cabin still exists. The importance of the farm now revolves around family gathers, with grandchildren visiting grandparents. Children of Sharyl’s generation all moved away after high school. The hope is that it will stay in trust for the next generation of six grandchildren.
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Wednesday, September 21, 2016 | C15
Globe Gazette
Our partnership is a PROMISE. Grain Millers, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned company. We have always depended on direct farmer relationships. In addition to farm gate pricing and contracted grower production, we offer a Sustainable Grower Program and agronomy advice to help you get the most out of your operation. When you sell to Grain Millers you are selling into facililities that are widely known as some of the most technologically advance mills in the world. Our mills can be the engines of your market!
We Buy Organic & Conventional Non-GMO: • Oats • Wheat • Barley • Triticale
• Corn • Soybeans • Flax • Rye
• Family Owned Company • Farmer-Focused • Agronomy Advice • 30 + Years Experience
Jessie VanderPoel - 952.983.1277 Jessie.VanderPoel@grainmillers.com Sam Raser - 952.983.1311 Sam.Raser@grainmillers.com
10400 Viking Drive • Suite 301 • Eden Prairie, MN 55344 grainmillers.com | 800.232.6287
LEGACIES OF THE LAND
C16 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Globe Gazette
Proud SuPPorter of our LocaL farm famiLieS & their LegacieS!
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Globe Gazette
LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Marjorie A. Sorenson Britt — 1902 The Sorenson Family Farm was first in the family with H.P. Sorenson, Marjorie’s great grandfather. It next went to her grandfather Edmund P.M. Sorenson and then to her father Russell S. Sorenson. Marjorie bought the farm in 1964. Russell S. Sorenson is the grandfather of her daughter, Marcia Gerdes. The farm was 160 acres at first and is 160 acres now. The operation was in grain and pasture. Now it is in grain, corn and
soybeans. Part of the original house is now a garage. The barn is also original. The legacy of the Sorenson Family farm is that it has been in the family for more than 100 years. They just applied for the Century Farm designation this year. Marjorie doesn’t live there; her grandson Jeremy Barnes and his family live there, and Jeremy is buying the farm. It was very important that family continue to live on the farm, and the farm provides lots of memories.
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Wednesday, September 21, 2016 | C17
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GRAHAM COUNTRY
Home of the Solution Based Engineers!
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641-201-1751
C18 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Wayne & Ruth Wetherell, Wendy Jensen Orchard — 1855 The Wetherell farm was originally homesteaded. An original entry shows a Certificate of Location from the United Stated to James Clark dated November 7, 1854. The patent from the United States of America to James Clark is dated June 15, 1855. The owners of the farm were James and Lucinda Clark from 1855 to 1897. Emory and Elsie Dodge were the next owners, 1897 to 1966. Ralph and Pauline Dodge owned the farm from 1966 to 1974, and then Glenn and Jean Wetherell from 1974 to 2016. They were parents and grandparents of Wayne Wetherell, who took over the farm with his wife, Ruth, in 2016.
Where legacies live on. Globe Gazette Obituaries
Globe Gazette
Gary Schoning Sheffield — 1915
The farm was 80 acres and is still 80 acres. The barn is original and was used for dairy. It is no longer in use. The land is now used for grain farming. Wayne and Ruth are now retired and their oldest daughter lives on the acreage. Their youngest daughter and her husband farm the land. Each generation had either purchased or inherited the land or a combination of both. The family is proud of the legacy the land holds and the tradition of farming. Wayne and Ruth are pleased that their children are continuing that legacy and that they are able to honor Wayne’s parents and grandparents with the Heritage Farm award.
This Century Farm was purchased for $25,640 and was 191 acres and is now 191 acres, except for one acre for a school, which was within one mile. Gary Schoning’s great grandfather, Wilhelm Schroeder, was the first family member to own the farm. It next went to William Schroeder and then to Gary’s great uncle, Willie. When Willie died, his wife Henrietta, Gary’s great aunt, inherited. Then Gary’s dad, Louis Schoning, bought it. His mother was a Schroeder. Each had one child. Gary bought the farm in the 1980s, following the crash in 1982, and has owned it since then. The original operation was pasture, with hay, corn and oats. Soybeans came in the
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1950s. For cattle, there were 20 acres of pasture by the house. It was one of the first houses in Franklin County. A windmill with batteries supplied electricity. Three brothers farmed together, and all three had Century Farms. Albert Schroeder was Gary’s grandfather and had the first Century Farm of 160 acres. The 1999 Century Farm was the one Gary gew up on. The house was “awesome,” with walnut woodwork. The barn and house are original buildings, along with the corn crib, the hog house and the chicken house. The barns all matched. The legacy of the farm is “everything, what we grew up on. It is bad to see people sell farms and lose their roots.” The heritage is that it’s 101 years old and what he lives on.
We salute this years local Heritage and Century Farms! Congratulations to all families as we honor your hard work and dedication!
Globe Gazette
LEGACIES OF THE LAND
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 | C19
Max & Betty Wedeking Marble Rock — 1882 The Wedeking Family Farm was first in the family in December 1882. The price paid for the farm was $26 per acre The original owner was William Wedeking, great-grandfather of Max Wedeking. His grandparents, W.D. & Mary Wedeking were the next owners, followed by Max’s father, George Wedkeing and then by his mother, Lola Wedeking.
The farm was originally 160 acres. It is now 80 acres. Original operation was corn, oats, cattle, pigs and chickens. It is currently corn and beans, no livestock. In the past, Max & Betty did raise sheep, pigs, dairy cows, chickens, corn, beans, oats and hay. There are no original buildings from 1882. The legacy of the farm is that is has been in the family over 100 years.
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907 N. 14th Clear Lake, 16455 LarkStreet Ave, Mason City,IAIA50428 50401 (Next to Dean Snyder Construction, Across the street from Behr Iron & Metal South ofThomas Hwy. 18Machine) West) (the old
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C20 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Globe Gazette
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