DOWN ON HIRAM'S FARM

((Note-I've since found the missing page and added it to this post. This new material
is in red)


Listed on the same page of the 1870 Federal Census Agricultural Schedule as Jonathan Phelps West is his younger brother Hiram Ferdinand West. Born six years after John in 1838, Hiram's household included his wife "Villa M" (Arvilla Mary Ballard), their daughter Clara M. (2 years old), their son "Winnie H." (Hiram Winfield, 9 months old) and a farm worker, Charles Richards. Hiram's occupation as listed as "farmer/blacksmith". Looking at the Farm Schedule it doesn't seem that Hiram was having as much success at farming as J.P, but again the second page of the document is missing on Ancestry.com so I don't have a complete picture.

Here's my transcription:

Acres of Land:
improved-50
wood-land-50
other un-improved-0
Present Cash Value:
Of farm-600 (dollars)
Of farming implements and machinery-25 (dollars)

Livestock June 1, 1870:
Horses-1
Mules and asses-0
Milch cows-2
Working Oxen-2
Other cattle-7
Sheep-0
Swine-1
Value of all livestock-315 (dollars)

Produce during the year ending on June 1, 1870:
Wheat:
Spring-25(bushels)
Winter-0
Rye-0
Indian Corn-0
Oats-0
Barley-0
Buckwheat-25(bushels)
Rice-0
Tobacco-0
Cotton-
Wool-5(lbs)
Peas and Beans-2 (bushels)
Potatoes: Irish-100(bushels)
Sweet-
Orchard Products-
Wine-
Produce of Market Gardens-
Dairy Products: Butter-225(lbs)
Cheese-
Milk Sold-
Hay-35(tons)
Seed: Clover-
Grass-
Hops-
Hemp
Flax
Flax-Seed
Silk-cocoons-
Sugar: Maple-
Cane-
Molasses-
Bees: Wax-
Honey-
Forest Products-
Value of Home Manufactures-
Value of Animals Slaughtered or Sold For Slaughter-160(dollars)
Total Value:Estimated Value of All Farm Production Including Betterments and Additions to Livestock-715(dollars)





So Hiram's farm was smaller than J.P.'s by 90 acres, yet the land itself was worth only $50
less than his brother's. The value of livestock is less as well, probably reflecting the fact that while J.P. had eleven sheep, Hiram had none. As for crops, Hiram raised smaller amounts of two, Spring Wheat and Buckwheat. And yet he had a hired hand where J.P. didn't!

Why?

The answer to that might be the entry for Hiram West on the 1870 Federal Census Industrial Schedule which I'll discuss next.