in Depression era, farming

What the Whitchers Owned in 1934

Value of Inventory Personal Property Jan. 1st 1934

[Note from Lisa: I’ve transcribed Hattie’s inventory to the best of my ability below, and you can refer to her handwritten page at the end of the post. Note that the subtotals don’t add up correctly, but, even so, this is an interesting snapshot of their farm and ranch in 1934, during what was one of the toughest years of the Great Depression. An inflation calculator shows that their total worth of $6566.20 would have a buying power of $115,046.19 in today’s dollars.]

Percheron draft horses pulling a plow

Percheron horses pulling a plow. Photo by Pete Markham via CC BY-SA 2.0

Horses

  • 17 mares some broke each $40.00
  • 3 broke Geldings $50.00 each
  • 1 Mule $50.00
  • 2 2-yr.-old Mares $35.00 each
  • 4 saddle horses $40.00 each
  • 1 Percheron Stallion $300.00
  • 1 yearling Gelding $20.00
  • 1 Colt $10.00
  • 2 2-yr.-old Geldings $35.00 each

Total of horse value $1510.00

Hogs

  • 9 shoats $3.50 and 1 Sow $6.00

$28.50

Poultry

  • 27 Turkey hen 1 Tom $1.50 each
  • 20 Guineas 25 cents each
  • 4 dozen Chicken hen 40 cents each & 6 roosters 25 cents each

$68.20

Machinery

  • Haystacker $40.00
  • Sweep $10.00
  • Rake $15.00
  • 2 mowers $15.00 each
  • Rotary Hoe $40.00
  • Gangplow $20.00
  • Eli or Go-Devil $10.00
  • Wagon & Rack $20.00
  • 4 sets Harness $15.00 each
  • Saddle $40.00
  • Auto $100.00
  • Household Furniture $300.00

$595.00

Feed on hand Jan. 1st 1934

  • 50 bushel shelled corn 43 cents per. bu.
  • Cake 6 T. at $30.00 per Ton
  • 800 lbs. Salt at 75 per hundred
  • Alfalfa Hay 25 T. at 4 per Ton and 250 Tons of Prairie Hay at $2.50 per T.

$932.50

Cattle

  • 125 Cows and 2 yr. old Heifers at $22.00 per head
  • 59 calves at $8.00 per head
  • 4 bulls at $50.00 per head

Total $3422.00

Value of Property $6566.20

Value of Inventory January 1, 1934

Value of Inventory January 1, 1934