The first volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in the 186? when he lived in Georgetown, Minnesota, and worked as a Hudson’s Bay Company Agent. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. The first few pages of this volume contain undated ledger accounts of trade at the Georgetown post. The 1875 date first occurs when Probstfield inserted information on the daily activities of the family farm near Moorhead, Minnesota. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Morgan May's handwritten farm journal from February 9, 1861, through April 14, 1871. Morgan May, a farmer from England, was the first settler in the part of Washington County, Minnesota, now known as May Township. His journal provides a detailed record of the day-to-day operation of a large commerical farm including entries about the weather, crops, livestock, farm hands, implement and household purchases, barn construction, wages, travel and visitors as well as personal comments.
The farm of the John Farrell family who came to America from Ireland in 1849. They bought their first 160 acres at Lake Johanna in present-day Arden Hills, from Major McLean, the Indian agent, and the title was signed by President Millard Fillmore in 1868. The Farrell family donated the land for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Today Mounds View High School, the St. John's church, school and other parish buildings, the Arden Hills Ramsey County Branch Library, and the Minnesota Baptist Conference headquarters are on that property.
Hand-drawn land surveys made from 1869-1941 to determine and identify land ownership and/or section boundaries in various parts of Washington County. The volume includes an index on pages 638-641 that lists each township and section and the pages in the volume on which information is provided. A transcript of that list accompanies this document and can be found at the beginning of this document.
The second volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Depicted here is the homestead of Johan (Piekkola) Jacobson homestead, as well as his family, located on the Forstie Road. Left to right are Johan (Piekkola) Jacobson, Amanda Jacobson, holding Henry (Ham) in her lap; Axel Jacobson, Arvid Jacobson, Hann
Photograph of the Grant farm which was built in 1876. A wooden windmill, silo and several other buildings are visible. Four unidentified men stand in front of the buildings.
This card was made to illustrate the terrible locust invasions of Nicollet and other counties in the 1870s. This card specifically mentions St. Peter and Nicollet County, and is dated June 22, 1877.
The third volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1878, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Pioneer Charles A. Marks, his family and horses, are depicted in front of their remodeled home. The Marks family settled in Thomson Township in 1878. Charles A. Marks was the second county commissioner of Carlton County to serve from the Town of Thomson, in 1901. His original Finnish surname was Markkus. He operated a productive dairy farm located on the Midway River. One of his dairy cows can be seen between the three unidentified ladies. Presumably Charles Marks is the person holding the horses. He was born in Finland in 1854 and died in Thomson Township in 1921.
The fifth volume of Randolph M. Probstfield s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in 1873, after he had settled at his farm in Oakport Township on the Red River. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Jens Forseth is with the oxen. Dorothy Kirkvold Forseth is in the buggy. Mr. and Mrs. Peder Bogen are standing with their children by the wagon. Jay Bogen and Ina Bogen Trulock. All are standing in front of the Peder Bogen home.
Stereoview of farmers with wagons drawn by teams of horses and oxen piled with bags of wheat wait to unload at Bruns' and Finkle's Elevator A on Front Street (Center Avenue) and 6th Street in Moorhead. The view is to the southeast from Front and 5th Street. Cord wood is visible stacked up at left and on flat cars on the Northern Pacific Railway tracks in distance at right. Farmers at the elevator can be seen manually dumping bags of wheat into hoppers on the north side of the elevator. A cloud of steam blows out of a pipe above the powerhouse on the right end of the elevator. Houses in south Moorhead are visible in distance beyond the elevator.