CHAPTER XXI.

MARSHFIELD, MO.-NORTH ITALIANS AND GERMANS.

INTRODUCTION.

Marshfield, Mo., is situated near the center of Webster County on the main line of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, and according to the census of 1900 had a population of 964 inhabitants. Twenty-six miles west is the city of Springfield, the largest city in that section of the State.

In that locality there are 10 Italian families from the province of Tyrol in Austria, also 4 families from Austria-Hungary, and 3 from Germany, the last 7 families being of the German race. The Italians have settled west of town and the Germans east of town, although this has been entirely due to their ability to secure land at a reasonable price, and not from racial prejudices.

The farms owned by the foreign-born range from 40 to 205 acres, the average being about 125 acres. The total acreage in the town owned by these two races of people comprises more than 1,371 acres, with a valuation, including improvements, of over $52,770. There has been no immigration to this town since 1893, and the majority of the people have been in the locality over twenty-three years. During that time they have become Americanized and the majority of the men are now citizens.

Marshfield is an enterprising town, and with its factory and small grain elevator it is able to handle all that the foreign families raise; consequently nearly all produce is sold in the local markets.

HISTORY OF SETTLEMENT.

Thirty-three years ago the first of the foreigners bought land in the locality and the last comer purchased his farm in 1893. The people came because of the opportunity to secure cheap land, some of which was held for sale by the railroad company. The first land was bought for $3 to $8 per acre, and the terms were very favorable to the purchaser.

Most of the Italians had worked in the mines of Illinois and Colorado before they came and had saved enough money to make a first payment on their property. Some of the Germans had worked in the United States, but the majority came direct from Europe, where they had been working either on farms or in the cities.

During the first few years, living was exceptionally hard for the new settlers. The natives, for the most part, looked upon them with suspicion. The foreigners themselves, having paid most of their ready money for the land, had very little spare cash to buy the necessities of life. The first year was spent in clearing little plots of land on which to raise garden truck and crops to feed the stock.

It is said that eggs could scarcely be sold at all during the first few years and butter would not sell for more than 5 cents per pound. Most of these men left their families during the winter to go to Colorado or Illinois to work in the mines for a few months. The money earned in this way helped to tide the families over until their land could be made more productive.

CLIMATE.

The climate of the locality is rather mild. The summers are generally warm and the winters open, with alternating periods of mild and moderately cold weather. The warm periods are very often sufficient to start the fruit buds early in February, in which case they are almost always killed by later frosts. Short periods of drought occur, but are not confined to any particular season of the year. With this exception the precipitation is well distributed throughout the year, as is shown by the accompanying table, which gives the average temperature and precipitation at Seymour, which is situated about 18 miles south of Marshfield, and at Springfield, which is 26 miles east. The records of these two sections are also representative climatic conditions at Marshfield and vicinity.

The highest temperature recorded at Seymour is 102 and at Springfield 106°. The lowest temperature at Seymour is 26° and at Springfield 29°. In the past twelve years the average date of the last killing frost in spring has been April 19 at Seymour and April 14 at Springfield. In the autumn the average date of the first frost is October 11 at Seymour and October 18 at Springfield. The earliest date of a killing frost in autumn at Seymour is September 13 and September 28 at Springfield. May 9 is the date of the latest killing frost in spring at Seymour and ten days later at Springfield. The average growing period is about six months.

Average monthly and annual temperature and precipitation, Seymour and Springfield, Mo. [United States Department of Agriculture. Summary of the Climatological Data for the United States, section 49.]

The topographic features of the locality are somewhat varied. The greater portion of the country has been subjected to severe erosion, which has caused many changes in the comparatively level surface of the elevated plateau. The town is situated at an altitude of about 1,500 feet above sea level, and the drainage is through rivers, streams, and small ravines. The farms of the foreigners are scattered, and as far as soil goes there is a slight difference between the land of the Italians west of town and that of the Germans on the east. The German farms are situated largely on what is known as the Clarksville stony loam. The surface 9 inches of this soil consists of from 20 to 50 per cent of rough, angular rock fragments and is light gray in color. The rocks prevent the soil from baking or cracking. Corn ranges from 15 to 30 bushels, wheat from 8 to 10 bushels, and hay from 1 to 14 tons per acre. This soil is believed to be the best in the section for the raising of all kinds of fruit, but the apple probably thrives the best.

West of town where the Italians have settled the land is largely composed of what is known as Clarksville silt loam. This loam has a surface soil of a yellow gray silt loam, with an average depth of 10 inches. Below this, to a depth of 3 feet, the material is a heavy, compact gray silt loam to a silty clay. Though there is a marked deficiency in organic matter throughout the type, the surface is quite free from stones, it has an excellent water-holding capacity, and responds readily to the application of manure. This soil was derived from the weathering of the limestone and shale. It seems to be especially adapted to wheat and clover, wheat averaging 10 to 12 bushels, corn 18 to 25 bushels, hay 1 to 1 tons to the acre.

AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.

The farms vary in size from 40 to 205 acres, but by far the largest number of farms average 125 acres. Much of the land is still covered with a heavy timber growth. Other areas are in brush and pasture, which alternates with areas under cultivation.

The crops raised by these people vary; corn and hay are grown for feed, and wheat finds a ready market in Marshfield. These three crops take up over 60 per cent of the cultivated land. The gardens furnish all varieties of vegetables, including beets, onions, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, etc. These are sent into Marshfield and are sold to the townspeople. The largest vegetable crop is the tomato crop. Large areas are set out each year and the tomatoes find a ready sale at the canning factory at Marshfield. It is said that $30 to $50 per acre can be realized from this crop.

Apples do well in the locality and some of the foreigners have from 10 to 15 acres in orchards. At harvest the apples are carefully graded, the perfect fruit being barreled and sold to local produce dealers. The Ben Davis variety is grown extensively, as this variety stands shipment the best. Many of the apple orchards are old, infested, and diseased, consequently much of the fruit is not marketable in this way. The apples not sold to produce dealers are disposed of to the canning factory. This method of managing orchards can not be said to be profitable; good apples ordinarily sell at $1 to $1.75 a barrel, and when sold to the canning factory they bring only 60 cents a barrel.

Nearly all the foreigners have fenced parts of their wood lots and pastures with wire, turning them into hog pastures and allowing the hogs to run wild and feed on acorns and other nuts. In this way the hogs can be raised for market at very little expense; and when sold at $8 to $9 a hundred, live weight, as was the case in the fall of 1909, this means a large per cent profit to the farmer. The Italians are found to keep an average of 15 hogs to a farm, while the average of the Germans is 50 per cent less.

Recently dairying has been well started throughout the section. This has proved profitable also. Natural pastures are plentiful and the grass abundant, corn grows well, and the pasturing season is long. Each foreigner keeps a cow and many keep five or more. One of the most successful dairymen in the section is an Italian whose son attended the dairy course at the Missouri Agricultural College. He sold $800 worth of butter in 1908. Some make butter, others sell cream or milk.

During the fall and winter many of the foreigners spend their time in cutting cord wood and drawing it into town, furnishing their customers with a year's supply. These occupations, together with the sale of poultry and dairy products, furnish money for their living necessities.

The Italians and Germans own over 1,371 acres of land in the vicinity of Marshfield, with a total valuation of over $52,000. Since coming into their possession the land has been improved, areas of timber have been cut off, stumps removed, and large areas placed in cultivation. All of the families own their farms and have no debts. They use the banks frequently as a means of investment, but several have invested a part of their earnings in additional land. Many have rebuilt their houses, and modern frame structures have taken the place of the old-time log houses erected during the first years of their settlement here. Barns and sheds have been built and improvements are constantly being made about the houses.

Though the Italians and Germans are not raising a large amount of produce, they are making good livings and are spoken of as very industrious. The merchants, bankers, and all that have dealings with them speak very highly of their honesty, integrity, and ability as farmers. In fact, it is said they are more prosperous and live better than old-time native farmers who are their neighbors.

The following table summarizes the agricultural condition of the two classes of foreigners in this locality. Contrary to the general opinion the Italian here is in advance of the German in every respect, the most notable difference being in the amount of produce sold.

The oldest foreign family in the locality is a German, who came thirty-three years ago. Three of the Italians came from Illinois before settling in the locality, and five were miners prior to their venture in agriculture. All paid cash for their land. It was woodland, very little or none of which was cleared, so four returned to the mines each year in order to supplement their incomes. In every case the Italians have increased their holdings of land, and the amount of live stock found on each farm is above the average found on other Italian farms of the State. All the farmers are free of debt, and the amount of produce sold is high considering the locality. In two cases the sons are at

home and contribute their work, and one family receives money from children working away from home.

The majority of the German families came direct from Europe. One homesteaded his farm, one paid cash, the remaining three paid part cash, and the remainder purchased on time. All but one have increased their holdings. The amount of live stock is small when compared with the Italians. The property of the Germans shows no indebtedness, and it is interesting to compare the farm income with that of the Italians.