In 1940 my Great Grandpa Clarence Mann sold off his farm equipment. As of April 1st in the census of 1940, he was 61 years old, renting a home at 640 West Bismark in Beatrice for $12 a month with 4 people in the household. He noted he was seeking work and had been unemployed for three weeks (that would be about March 4th). He reported income of $200 in all of 1939.
This sale bill would likely have been posted in the Post Office, banks and many other businesses in the area. There isn't much here, probably the last of the farming equipment he ever owned. He had been a full-time farmer for many years. In the next few years, he went to work at Dempster Mills in Beatrice.
PUBLIC SALE
Monday, Mar. 4
Commencing at 1:00 o'clock
Horses
Bay mare, 10 years old, wt 1150 lbs.Implements
Kentuck press drillDempster two row cultivator
P. & O. two row disc cultivator
John Deere 12 inch gang plow
Case one row lister
One row cultivator
McCormick mower
Hay rake
Manure spreader
Three section harrow
Mitchell box wagon
Hay rack
Steel wheel truck wagon
Four wheel trailer
Five shovel garden plow
Harness
Two sets of work harnessSet of leather nets
Forks, scoops, 3 rolls slat cribbing
Hog trough, grindstone
Other articles too numerous to mention
Terms: Cash
C. L. Mann
Ruyle & Ruyle, Auctioneer and Clerk
It's sad to see sale bills indicating someone left the farm, but as a genealogist, I'm fascinated by the listing of items for sale. It gives me clues into that person's life.
ReplyDeleteVirginia, wouldn't it be nice if a list of who bought those items was printed in the paper following the sales? I guess that would be too much to ask for. Thanks for taking the time to read!
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