Draft Horses

Scope and Contents The Franklin Grove Collection contains a variety of documents detailing several facets of the community's history.  One series comprises minutes and treasurer's account books, (1932-1980) from the Cross Roads Community Club.  This club organized in the early 1930's to provide social and recreational entertainment programs for Franklin Grove families.  Another series partially documents the Franklin Grove Nursery from 1844 to 1884.  A.R. Whitney, owner of the nursery, developed the famous...

Scope and Contents These records partially document the history of the Lanan Farm in Kingston, Illinois from 1848-1978. Although few records in this collection deal with the early history of the farm, several land indentures and grants provide details of farm land transfers in the mid-nineteenth century. The major series of the collection is a complete set of farm account books (1915-l978) detailing various business transactions of the Lanan farm. These volumes contain extensive information on annual...

Scope and Contents The records in this collection partially document the history of the Wheatland Plow Match Association from 1898-1978. Complete materials from the first fifty-five years at the organization’s existence, 1877-1921, are missing. Nevertheless, the surviving records, particularly the meeting minutes, provide information on the Association’s discussions about each match program, the possibility of changing plow rules, decisions on the amount of prize money to be awarded, and nominations and...