It is said that farms and barns are in a continual state of evolution. Things change, grow, diverage, return, expand, and so much more from one season to the next. The Paul A. Goble homestead and farm in Northeastern Indiana was built in the 1860s and has been continuously in operation, and evolution, since.
The original Foursquare brick farmhouse now has at least six additions and the original barn has had two major additions. Currently home to the Johnson Family and "The Broken Animal Inn," the Farm now operates on an organic and free-range principle; producing eggs, raising endangered heritage breed chickens, breeding rabbits, rescuing goats, and allowing one very grumpy old horse to live out his retirement.
In The Beginning
How the Farm Came to Be
Using the location of the town of Laud, it would appear that the original plat for our property (or what is left of it) was Washington 13 and registered to "David Jackson".We have commented more than a few times that the barn just to the north of us is built on the same footprint as our big barn (minus the silo). Turns out the property to the north of us was originally platted to "Gobel". We purchased our property from the "Goble" family. Hmmm...
The family that inhabited our house prior to our purchase was the "Scott Rumsyre" family. Scott's father, Larry, lives across the road and just north of us. The original plat to the property that the "Larry Rumsyre" family owns was registered to a Rumsyre... It was plat 14.
In 1850, David and "Rebecca S." were newlyweds:
Jackson David 22 M Farmer
Jackson Rebecca S. 25 F
In 1870, David Jackson was 43.
Living in the David Jackson family were:
Jackson, Rebecca 46 Keeps House
Jackson, David 43 Farmer
Jackson, Elvira 20 School Teacher
Jackson, Roland 14
Jackson, H. Delmantha 7
(Modern Note: there was a 1 room school house on our property that was demolished in 2005. It would seem that Elvira may not have had a very far walk to work...?)
The real estate was valued at $6000.
David's personal worth was estimated at $1300.
David and Rebecca were originally from Ohio, but their children were born in Indiana.
1850 / 1870 Source: http://whitley.kneller.com/census/1870/Washington/498A_499B.html
In 1880:
Elvira was going by "Nora"
Roland was going by "R.P."
H. Delmantha was going by "Della"
It's a guess that R.P. married "Mattie"
By 1880, the household had changed a bit:
Jackson, Rebecca F 56 Wife Keeping House
Jackson, David M 53 Farmer
Jackson, Nora F 30 Daughter
Jackson, R. P. M 24 Son Farmer
Jackson, Mattie F 21 Wife Keeping House
Jackson, Della F 17 Daughter
1880 Source: http://whitley.kneller.com/census/1880/Washington/503A_504B.html
"Knowing" these people really makes a difference in how one feels when you walk through the barn and touch the 150+ year old beams and boards.
Indiana Farms and Farmers
- Indiana Farmers Markets
- Where to "buy fresh" in Indiana.
- Purdue Extension Agriculture Services
- Help for (and information about) the farm, the farmer, 4-H and all things agricultural.
- Indiana Farm Direct
- Direct from the Indiana farm to you...
Print Resources
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
Amazon Price: $9.60 (as of 10/12/2008)
Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World
Amazon Price: $10.77 (as of 10/12/2008)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Amazon Price: $9.57 (as of 10/12/2008)
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl
Amazon Price: $15.64 (as of 10/12/2008)
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)
The Broken Animal Inn
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