Name/Title
Farm Journal Illustrated Directory of Allegan County 1916Entry/Object ID
2022.88.23Description
Directory with about 250 pages of listings of Allegan farms with abbreviated information that could include acreage, boards, telephone, # of children, house and lot, ownership, retirement status, tenancy, number of horses and cattle.
Directory also displays a selection of advertising, facts about Allegan County, list of officials, "Handy Things to Know" about common and uncommon measurements, seeds per acre, suitable distances for planting trees, shingles and nails required in a roof and advertiser index.
The final ±30 pages are a general classified business directory that includes blacksmiths, commodity (eggs, butter) buyers, canneries, dry goods, mills, groceries, hardware, harnesses, meat markets, physicians, shoe repair and "women's furnishings"[?] plus spraying formulas and calendar, farmers' bulletins, and advice for treating cow, poultry and horse ailments.Context
The number of listings and advertisers speaks to the economic importance of agriculture in Allegan County in the 1916. In addition, the advertising hints at the desires and concerns of local farmers.
From the introduction that begins on page 5:
"Allegan County, with a total of 6,217 farms in an area of 833 square miles, is distinctly a farm county. More than 88 per cent. [sic] of the entire area of the county is in its farms, and more than 74 per cent. is under cultivation. The farms are, as a rule, of more than average size, less than 3 per cent. being under ten acres. ... The farm population ... is almost exclusively native-born white. There are but few foreign, and 67 negro farmers in the entire county ... The largest single crop is ... corn ..." The next largest crops were grapes, potatoes and oats.Collection
1870 Fruit growing, farming, agricultureCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2022.88Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionDimensions
Height
9-1/8 inWidth
6-1/4 inBook Details
Publisher
Wilmer Atkinson CompanyDate Published
1916Location
Box
024 Basket Factory, Fruit Exchange, Fruit GrowingCondition
Overall Condition
FairNotes
end-papers separated from coversRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
House, Edwin Harvey 1875-1958Create Date
January 12, 2023Update Date
January 13, 2023
