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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] How did they live?
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 17:23:35 -0500


How did they live?

I was writing up some tidbits on how our ancestors lived for a family
history book I am doing for my family.
Thought others might be interested in the following:

Notes taken from Northwest Iowa History and Traditions 1804-1926, Vol I,
Chicago, 1927

Northwest Iowa was mostly destitute of timber for cabins and fencing and
with few deep ravines for shelter from fierce blizzards. Northwest prairies
long remained unoccupied after other portions of the state were settled. The
homestead act brought settlers. They could purchase 160 acres for $14.

Sod houses were made by running broadshire breaking-plow over wet prairie
and cutting into long strips and turning over. Sod strips were then cut with
spades into lengths suitable to handle and laid up into brick walls for
houses and stables. Poles of timber supported the roof of slough hay. Before
boards could be procured for doors, skins of deer and wolves kept out snow.

Utensils of a well furnished kitchen-iron pot, long handled fry pan,
skillet, coffee pot.

Bedsteads- Forked stake was driven into ground proper distance from corners
of room and upon it poles-usually made of hickory-were laid reaching from
each wall. Poles where they touched the walls rested in openings between
logs or were driven into auger holes. Upon these poles clapboard slats were
placed. On this framework the housewife spread her straw tick, or homemade
feather bed.

Food- Before there were mills, grain was ground between two stones. Much
corn was eaten after it was parched. Parched rye was a coffee substitute.
Green corn was dried and cooked with beans.
Sweetner-honey from bee trees or made molasses from cane grown like corn.
Staple meat-pork, fresh and fresh-salted for winter use, pickled and smoked
for summer. Also wild quail, prairie chicken.

It was said that "cornbread, with pork and rye coffee formed the prairie
bill of fare with occasional side of mustard greens."

Anyone else have any info???
Cathy

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