This is hand-written on the back of a 1905 sale bill of D. R. (Daniel) Wilson, who died in 1909. Georgia was his widow. She died in late 1917, so the sale may have been that fall. I believe the handwriting is their son Clabe’s:
—–
Public Sale
I will sell at the Georgia A. Wilson farm 5 miles south of Panora and 5 miles West of Linden and 4 1/2 east of Monteith and 2 1/2 miles North of Dale on
at 1 Oclock pm Sharp
136 head of live stock 136
5 head of horses 5
Bay mare 4 years old wt 1700 infoal. Black mare 8 years old, infoal wt 1300. Spotted horse 9 years old wt 1200. 2 spring colts.
4 head of Cattle 4
One good milk cow 3 years old. One yearling heifer. Two spring calves 1 steer 1 heifer.
127 head of Duroc hogs
All pure bred but can not be recorded.
60 head of spring shoats will average about 125 lbs. 8 old sows and 58 fall pigs. One pure bred male wt about 400
12 acres of corn in field 4 tons of clover hay in stack 25 acres of corn stalks 100 bu of potatoes
Farm Implements. 1 wagon good as new 3 in. Gasoline engine and pump jack in good running order. 1 Oscillating bobsled new. 1 End gate seeder. 1 Corn planter. 1 six shovel walking colvator [cultivator]. 2 [stirring] plows. 1 16 in Disc 8 wheel. 1 Iron wheel wagon and Hay rack. 2 section harrow. 2 good hog troves [troughs] and slop cart. 1 set of work harness 1 1 1/2 in. 1 set of single harness. 1 Buggy. 1 saddle and bridle. 6 Dozen Leghorn chickens. 1 Old Trusty incabator [incubator for baby chicks] good as new. Some household goods.
Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots
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Such a good looking man, Joy. If fact, your whole family is.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a detailed bill of sale.
Leora was plain-looking but gregarious. Clabe was more of a loner.
Such an imposing and commanding posture in the photo…and the detail about the sale? Fascinating. Thanks, Joy! 😉
Clabe was 29 in the photo. Thank you, Vicki!
🥰
Clabe was a very handsome man!
And Leora was so plain! I thought she was nicer-looking when she was much older.
I could see that.
What a good-looking young man! This was an interesting bill of sale…I had to smile! I like that ‘old trusty incubator’ for the little chicks. I wondered about the ‘new bobsled’…
I’d like to see that bobsled as well!
How interesting to see how things were so much simpler then. Today, someone having a sale would likely have to get a county permit, liability insurance, hire security, and screen the animals for diseases – among other things.
You’re right!
I’m not sure, but I remember an incubator in the old “stone house, second floor”. I vaguely recall the brand name was “Old Trusty”. Maybe (?) the bobsled was one pulled by a horse to remove stones from fields. Guthrie County is quite hilly for Iowa, but for our Wilson ancestors, luxury sledding seems a bit frivolous.
Mom told about sledding into her Goff grandparents’ house on White Pole Road in Dexter, from the place SE of town, and the horses wearing bells, and how wonderful that was. You need to start your memoir, Bob!
Antique collectors who may read your blog will likely drool when reviewing the items Clabe had noted were for sale. 🙂
Yes!
Your Aunt Darlene also told of Nancy pulling a sled from “the Hemphill place” into Dexter. Bobsleds were also used in the logging business. Nothing like in the Winter Olympics!
I wish we had more of Darlene’s stories!
It’s so cool to have access to such an old bill of sale. Love the list of unusual items. (Of course, they weren’t unusual back then!)
Thank you, Vera!