From Soil to Sustenance: Solitude on the Plains
The solitude of rural Kansas offered settlers a life away from the hustle and bustle of the city and an area to call their own. The passing of the Kansas-Nebraska act in 1854 officially established the Kansas Territory. Despite the harsh climate and the risk of tornadoes, droughts, floods, grasshoppers, and more, many settlers were attracted by the promise of good soil and inexpensive lands. However, farm life was not for everyone though. Long days and even harder work made for an interesting but difficult life. No two days were the same on the farm and there was no promise of success and little time to rest. Though many early settlers were financially ruined, perseverance prevailed and there were, and are, many successful crops in Kansas.
The items on this page allow viewers to peer into the lives of farmers in rural Kansas from the 1800s. They tell stories of hope and progress on the Kansas prairie.
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In an attempt to develop the American West, the Homestead Act of 1862 made it so that any U.S. citizen who intended to farm was provided 160 acres of land. After five years, the individual was entitled to the property for free minus a small registration fee.
With this certificate, John W. Reed was awarded 120 acres of land in Concordia, Kansas in 1875. Founded in 1870, Concordia, Kansas resides in Cloud County which is present-day in north central Kansas. Homesteading was a thankless job. With the acreage came lands covered in trees and brush, unpredictable weather, and long treks to the market.
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Documenting life in Kansas from the 1870s to the turn of the century, Sod and Stubble chronicles the life of the Ise family and their neighbors as early homesteaders in Osborne County, Kansas. The author, John Ise, was inspired to write the novel after listening to his mother’s memories of adventure and adversity. “It is a story of grim and tenacious devotion in the face of hardships and disappointments, devotion that never flagged until the long, hard task of near a lifetime was done." -John Ise (from the preface).
With Ise having written the first edition with hidden identities and shifted timelines, Von Rothenburger republished the book revealing the true identities of the Ise family. A film adaptation of the book is currently in post-production.
The library houses the Personal Papers of John Ise in addition to various copies of Sod and Stubble.
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Farming Photos circa 1890
Farm work was often a family affair. The days were long, and the work was tough. Many families were agriculturally self-sufficient. From growing their own crops to tending to their own livestock, farming was a full-time, year-round job.
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Anonymous Kansas Farmers Diary, 1884-1899
This diary belonged to an anonymous farmer from Winfield, Kansas. The diary chronicles the daily happenings of life on the farm including livestock and planting activities, business exchanges, weather, and more. Diaries were commonly kept in the nineteenth century to track daily activities. The pages shown in this display document the buying and selling of farm animals, breeding records for livestock, and agricultural activities.
Diaries are a form of autobiographical writing. They offer a look into history and the lives that may be forgotten today. Often kept chronologically by date, they offer a more complete record of the past.
The library houses many diaries on various topics from all over the world and throughout history. From farm life to the experiences of war, history is preserved.
Click the images to view page transcriptions
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James Findley Harrison Diary, 1869-1870
James Findley Harrison (1825-1907) journaled about his life adventures and eventual settlement in Linn County, Kansas in 1866. Harrison was an active community member and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The inside front and back covers of the diary are complete with drawings and writing by Harrison. The diary chronicles daily life on the farm including weather patterns along with crop and livestock activities.
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Small Hymn Book, 1830
Hope a composition by John Snyder, 1852
“How great and cheering is the influence which hope exerts upon those who are laboring under afflictions.”
At times the solitude of rural life can be unforgiving and ruthless. Families would look for glimmers of hope in the little things. The feeling of relief when a crop survives a storm; or the excitement that comes with a good birthing season among the livestock. Writing and attending church services also allowed for a break from the stressors of rural living. It is hope that encourages people to continue on no matter how difficult things get.
“Feelings of despair will sometimes overcome you, but they may soon be driven away and hope can again come to your relief and by its soothing influence again revive your drooping spirits.”
-Hope by John Snyder
