McCanna Farming Company Records, 1883-1982

Collection Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Farming

The farming series contains correspondence as well as documents pertaining to property and income taxes; farm and bank accounts; insurance policies; crop inspection, warehouse storage, and shipment, tenant and employee work records.

Most farm correspondence is dated between 1930 and 1934 and is primarily between Charles McCanna and the many creditors of the McCanna Farming Company. Also included are letters and documents that lend an understanding to the nature of the farm's depression-era finances and debts as well as persistent efforts to save the farm by Charles and Edwin McCanna, which culminated with a Federal Land Bank loan in March 1934. Also of interest is an appeal process undertaken by Charles McCanna to have valued farm employees excluded from military draft in 1942. During his appeal effort, Charles enlisted the aid of Senator Gerald P. Nye.

Farm finances include property and income tax records. The bulk of property tax receipts date between 1916 and 1925. Income tax records date from 1935 to 1946. Because most personal income was derived from the farm, personal and corporate income tax records are interfiled, and arranged chronologically. Farm correspondence from 1957-1962 between the farm manager, C. H. Erbele, and McCanna family members also includes some income tax records.

McCanna Farming Company accounts are well documented between 1916 and 1957. From 1916 to 1940 farm accounts were maintained in ledgers. Beginning in 1930, however, accounts were also itemized in a journal, which from 1930 to 1940 includes helpful cross-references between the two records. In addition, this series contains a nearly complete record of the McCanna Farming Company checking accounts from 1920 to 1957, including bank statements, check stubs, and canceled checks.

Augmenting farm financial accounts are grain production records dated 1912-1948. Most of these records consist of the date, consignee, shipment information, bushels sold, protein and weight, price-per-bushel, expenses, and net proceeds. Some records also include storage information and a dockage fee for contamination. After 1948, farm production may be gauged using scale and storage tickets. Tenants' records also illustrate land usage and production from 1956-1967.

Sub-Series 1: Correspondence

Box 1

Folder 1: Commodity Credit Corporation, 1940-1941

Folder 2: Commodity Credit Corporation, 1942-1943

Folder 3: Commodity Credit Corporation, 1944-1945

Folder 4: Henry F. Douglas, 1932-1934

Folder 5: C. H. Erbele, 1957-1960

Folder 6: Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank of Minneapolis, 1932-1934

Folder 7: First National Bank of Grand Forks, 1932-1934

Folder 8: First National Bank of Saint Paul, 1932-1934

Folder 9: Harold King, 1927-1929

Folder 10: E. C. Lebaken, 1930-1934

Folder 11: The Massey-Harris Company, 1933-1935

Folder 12: Edwin T. McCanna, August 1960-July 1961

Folder 13: Edwin T. McCanna, August 1961-December 1962

Folder 14: Minerva (Mrs. Reuben) McCanna, 1957-1966

Folder 15: Midland National Bank and Trust Company, 1933-1934

Folder 16: Murphy & Murray, Incorporated, 1932-1934

Folder 17: Nils Nilson, 1929-1934

Folder 18: North Dakota Agricultural College, 1939-1953

Folder 19: Northwest Bancorporation, 1932-1934

Folder 20: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, 1933-1934

Folder 21: Office of Defense Transportation, August 1943

Folder 22: Potato Crop, 1947-1949

Folder 23: Selective Service Appeal, January-October 1942

Folder 24: Anton H. Swarstad and his estate, 1931-1934

Folder 25: Ulland Mortgage Company, 1932-1934

Box 5

Oversize Folder 1: Farm Correspondence

Sub-Series 2: Finances

Box 1

Folder 26: Corporate Insurance, 1954-1955

Folder 27: Crop Insurance, 1948-1955

Folder 28: Property Taxes, 1923-1925

Folder 29: Income Taxes, 1935-1943

Folder 30: Income Taxes, 1935-1937

Folder 31: Income Taxes, 1938-1941

Folder 32: Income Taxes, 1942-1943

Folder 33: Income Taxes, 1944-1945

Folder 34: Income Taxes, 1946

Folder 35: Checking Account, 1927-1930

Folder 36: Checking Account, 1930-1934, 1940

Folder 37: Checking Account, 1944-1949, 1955-1957

Folder 38: Checking Account, 1953-1956 39Special Trust Account, 1933

Folder 40: Special Account, 1946-1947, 1949-1950

Folder 41: General Ledger, 1916-1927

Folder 42: Building Repair Statements, 1948-1950

Folder 43: Building Repair Statements, 1951-1953

Folder 44: Building Repair Statements, 1954-1957

Box 2

Folder 1: Receipted Statements, A, C-F, 1931-1947

Folder 2: Receipted Statements, G-L, 1943-1956

Folder 3: Receipted Statements, M-R, 1928-1956

Folder 4: Receipted Statements, S-T, W, 1941-1956

Folder 5: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1957

Folder 6: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1958

Folder 7: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1959

Folder 8: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1960

Folder 9: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1961

Folder 10: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1962

Folder 11: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1963

Folder 12: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1964

Folder 13: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1965

Folder 14: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1966

Folder 15: Deposit Slips, General Account, 1958

Folder 16: Commodity Credit Corporation, Wheat Loans, 1938-1939

Box 5

Oversize Folder 2: Farm Finances

Oversize Folder 3: Cyclone and High Wind Insurance, 1935-1955

Oversize Folder 4: Crop Insurance, 1953-1954

Oversize Folder 5: Mill & Elevator Insurance, 1943-1950

Oversize Folder 6: Farm Vehicle Insurance, 1945

Oversize Folder 7: Property Taxes, 1883, 1916-1921

Oversize Folder 8: Income Taxes, 1937-1946

Oversize Folder 9: Commodity Credit Corporation Wheat Loans, 1938-1939

Oversize Folder 10: Receipted Statements, 1928-1956

Oversize Folder 11: Bills Paid, Operating Account, 1958-1962

Oversize Folder 12: General Ledger, August 1925-December 1929

Oversize Folder 13: Partnership/Corporation Ledger, 1920-1929

Box 6

Item 1: Bank of McCanna Check Stubs, 1920-1929

Item 2: Bank of McCanna Check Stubs, 1923-1930

Item 3: Elk Valley State Bank Check Stubs, 1931-1935

Item 4: Elk Valley State Bank Check Stubs, 1935-1939

Item 5: Elk Valley State Bank Check Stubs, 1939-1942

Item 6: Elk Valley State Bank Check Stubs, 1946-1950

Item 7: Elk Valley State Bank Check Stubs, 1950-1953

Item 8: Security Trust and Savings Bank of San Diego, California, Check Stubs, 1951-1952

Item 9: Unidentified Check Stubs, 1943-1944

Box 7

Item 1: Farm Financial Journal, 1930-1949

Box 8

Item 1: Farm Ledger, 1927-1929

Item 2: Farm Ledger, 1929-1940

Item 3: Grain Shipment Account Book, 1912-1947

Item 4: Grain Production Summary Journal, 1930-1948

Item 5: Scale Ticket Book, 1938-1949

Box 12

Folder 1: Farm Management File, 1957-1964

Folder 2: Farm Management File, 1964-1966

Folder 3: Farm Management File, 1966-1969

Folder 4: Farm Management File, 1969-1976

Folder 5: Farm Management File, 1977

Folder 6: Farm Management File, 1978

Folder 7: Farm Management File, 1979

Folder 8: Farm Management File, 1980

Folder 9: Farm Management File, 1981-1982

Folder 10: Acreage & Crop Yield, 1975-1977

Folder 11: Corporate Dissolution, 1960-1961

Folder 12: Articles of Partnership, AUG 1976

Folder 13: Deeds & Mortgages, 1885-1955

Folder 14: Deeds & Mortgages, 1891-1939

Folder 15: Deeds & Mortgages, 1901-1934

Folder 16: Federal Land Bank Mortgage, 1934-1949

Folder 17: Elevator Lease, 1911-1950

Folder 18: Charles McCanna Accounts, 1946-1957

Folder 19: Charles McCanna Estate, 1956-1960

Folder 20: Check Register, 11 OCT 1953-13 OCT 1953

Folder 21: Tenant Records, Robert Kyllo, 1956-1967

Folder 22: Correspondence, Eleanor McCanna, 1956-1966

Folder 23: Miscellaneous, 1916-1950

Oversize Folder 1: Items:

Separated and placed in the Oversize File Cabinets.

Item 1: Homestead Certificate: #1726 to Simon McCanna, 13 April 1890

Item 2: Homestead Certificate: #1975 to Simon McCanna, 1 March 1883

Item 3: Homestead Certificate: #1976 to Ira Brooks, 1 March 1883

Item 4: Homestead Certificate: #4711 to Thomas Taylor, 15 May 1883

Item 5: Homestead Certificate: #4737 to Katie Gorman, 10 February 1885

Item 6: Homestead Certificate: #870 to Nellie Taylor, 13 October 1886

Item 7: Land Patent: #85491 to the heirs of Simon McCanna, 23 June 1914

Item 8: Land Patent: #6293 to S.A. McCanna, 13 October 1923

Item 9: Warranty Deed: William and Josephine Murphy to S.A. McCanna, 29 September 1890

Item 10: Warranty Deed: Leanna and L.F. Mason to Katie McCanna, 20 August 1892

Item 11: Trustee's Deed: Joseph Bookwalter to S.A. McCanna, 29 October 1889

Item 12: Sheriff's Deed of Foreclosure: Bridget and David McCanna to Simon McCanna, 19 July 1892

Sub-Series 3: Warehouse

Box 2

Folder 17: Correspondence, 1949, 1955-1956

Folder 18: Exchange Tickets, 195 19 Potato Crop Inspection and Shipment, 1944- 1946, 1950

Folder 20: Potato Crop Inspection and Shipment, 1947- 1950

Folder 21: Bills of Lading, 1947-1949 22 Grains Inspection and Shipment, 1945-1951

Folder 23: Grains Inspection and Shipment, 1948-1951

Folder 24: Seed Records, 1951-1956

Folder 25: Storage Records, 1947-1949

Folder 26: Storage Records, 1950-part one

Folder 27: Storage Records, 1950-part two

Folder 28: Storage Records, 1951

Folder 29: Storage Records, 1952

Folder 30: Storage Records, 1953-part one

Folder 31: Storage Records, 1953-part two

Box 3

Folder 1: Storage Records, 1953-part three

Folder 2: Storage Records, 1954

Folder 3: Storage Records, 1955-part one

Folder 4: Storage Records, 1955-part two

Folder 5: Storage Records, 1956-part one

Folder 6: Storage Records, 1956-part two

Folder 7: Storage Records, 1956-part three and 1957

Box 5

Oversize Folder 14: Seed Records, 1951-1956

Oversize Folder 15: Commodity Credit Corporation, Crop Loans, 1945-1946, 1950, 1955

Oversize Folder 16: Commodity Credit Corporation, Loan Settlements, 1953-1954

Oversize Folder 17: Newspaper Grain Quotations, 1947

Oversize Folder 18: North Dakota Public Service Commission, Monthly Statement, November 1947

Sub-Series 4: Tenants

Box 3

Folder 8: Alfred Marien, 1955-1967

Folder 9: Delmer Thorsell, 1956-1962

Folder 10: Duane Trosen, 1956-1967

Folder 11: D. W. Whalen, 1955-1968

Box 5

Oversize Folder 19: Marien, Thorsell, Trosen, and Whalen, 1955-1967

Ledger 1: 1909 Grand Forks County plat book with annotations

Sub-Series 5: Publications

Box 3

Folder 12: "The Link," Moorman Mfg. Co., January 1948

Sub-Series 6: Employee Time Books

Box 9

Folder 1: 1906-1912

Folder 2: 1911-1920

Folder 3: 1919-1926

Folder 4: 1927-1934

Folder 5: 1935-1938

Folder 6: 1939-1946

Folder 7: 1948-1951 and Miscellaneous

Series 2: Banking

The banking series contains correspondence of the Pembina County Holding Company and the State Bank of Starkweather as well as correspondence and financial reports of the First State Bank of Backoo, Bank of Garske, McCanna Bank, and Pembina County Bank.  In index to the bank correspondence is available here.

The bulk of bank correspondence is between the cashiers of the First State Bank of Backoo/Pembina County Bank and the Bank of Garske and Edwin or Charles McCanna. Walter R. Weaver was the cashier of the First State Bank of Backoo and the Pembina County Bank. C. N. Nilson was the cashier of the Bank of Garske. Correspondence records day-to-day bank operations. Customers, deposits, loans, foreclosures, bank failures, and state audits, as well as road conditions, train schedules, farm production, and the weather are common topics.

Of special interest within the correspondence series is the 1924 restructuring of D. W. McCanna's debt, the First State Bank of Backoo's move to Cavalier in 1925, the 1929 sale of the Pembina County Bank and subsequent creation of the Pembina County Holding Company, and the unexpected events surrounding the June 1930 closing of the McCanna Bank.

Bank financial reports are nearly complete for each month from January 1925 through the summer of 1929 for the First State Bank of Backoo/Pembina County Bank and the Bank of Garske. Reports consist of an overall statement of resources and liabilities as well as an itemized list of monies due from other banks, expenses and interest paid, loan payments, loans written, and deposits made during the reporting period. Loan and deposit entries include names, dates, and amounts. This series also contains an itemized financial statement of the Bank of McCanna at the time of its closing.

Sub-Series 1: Correspondence

Box 3

Folder 13: Bank of McCanna RE: George E. West Account, 1923-1924

Folder 14: Bank of McCanna, January, June-December 1930

Folder 15: Bank of McCanna, 1931

Folder 16: Bank of McCanna, 1933-1936

Folder 17: First State Bank of Backoo, 1922

Folder 18: First State Bank of Backoo, 1923

Folder 19: First State Bank of Backoo, 1924

Folder 20: First State Bank of Backoo, January-July 1925

Folder 21: Pembina County Bank, July-December 1925

Folder 22: Pembina County Bank, 1926

Folder 23: Pembina County Bank, 1927

Folder 24: Pembina County Bank, 1928

Folder 25: Pembina County Bank, January-June 1929

Folder 26: Pembina County Bank, July 1929-January 1930

Folder 27: Pembina County Holding Company, 1929-1935

Folder 28: Bank of Garske, February, April-December 1921

Folder 29: Bank of Garske, January-February 1922

Folder 30: Bank of Garske, March-April 1922

Folder 31: Bank of Garske, May-June 1922

Folder 32: Bank of Garske, July-August 1922

Folder 33: Bank of Garske, September-October 1922

Folder 34: Bank of Garske, November-December 1922

Folder 35: Bank of Garske RE: P.P. Engh, 1922-1923

Folder 36: Bank of Garske, January-February 1923

Folder 37: Bank of Garske, March-April 1923

Folder 38: Bank of Garske, May-July 1923

Folder 39: Bank of Garske, August-October 1923

Folder 40: Bank of Garske, November-December 1923

Box 4

Folder 1: Bank of Garske, January-June 1924

Folder 2: Bank of Garske, July-October 1924

Folder 3: Bank of Garske, November-December 1924

Folder 4: Bank of Garske, January-February 1925

Folder 5: Bank of Garske, March-April 1925

Folder 6: Bank of Garske, May-September 1925

Folder 7: Bank of Garske, October-December 1925

Folder 8: Bank of Garske, January-June 1926

Folder 9: Bank of Garske, July-December 1926

Folder 10: Bank of Garske, 1927

Folder 11: Bank of Garske, January-March, June-December 1928

Folder 12: Bank of Garske, 1929

Folder 13: Bank of Garske, January-June 1930

Folder 14: Bank of Garske, July-December 1930

Folder 15: Bank of Garske, January, March-June, August- November 1931

Folder 16: State Bank of Starkweather, 1930-1935

Box 5

Oversize Folder 20: Correspondence

Oversize Folder 21: Monthly Reports, First State Bank of Backoo, January-June 1925

Oversize Folder 22: Monthly Reports, Pembina County Bank, July-December 1925

Oversize Folder 23: Monthly Reports, Pembina County Bank, 1926

Oversize Folder 24: Monthly Reports, Pembina County Bank, 1927

Oversize Folder 25: Monthly Reports, Pembina County Bank, 1928

Oversize Folder 26: Monthly Reports, Pembina County Bank, January-June 1929

Oversize Folder 27: Monthly Reports, Bank of Garske, 1925

Oversize Folder 28: Monthly Reports, Bank of Garske, 1926

Oversize Folder 29: Monthly Reports, Bank of Garske, 1927

Oversize Folder 30: Monthly Reports, Bank of Garske, 1928

Oversize Folder 31: Monthly Reports, Bank of Garske, January- September 1929

Oversize Folder 32: Summary Report, Bank of McCanna, June 1930

Sub-Series 2: Check Stubs

Box 10

Item 1: Elk Valley State Bank, 1930-1931, numbers 1-1155

Item 2: Elk Valley State Bank, 1933, numbers 1858-1983

Item 3: Elk Valley State Bank, 1933, numbers 2155-2235

Item 4: Elk Valley State Bank, 1946-1947, numbers 1a-122

Item 5: Elk Valley State Bank, 1949-1950, numbers 466-549

Box 11

Item 1: Elk Valley State Bank, 1943-1945, numbers 9607-11686

Item 2: Elk Valley State Bank, 1947, numbers 12858-13181

Item 3: Elk Valley State Bank, 1947-1949, numbers 13843-15416

Item 4: Elk Valley State Bank, 1955-1957, numbers 16669-16939

Series 3: Family

The third series contains correspondence, insurance policies, bank accounts, wills, newspaper clippings, and other personal documents. Insurance policies, checking account statements, and canceled checks make up the bulk of this series. Most documents date between 1946 and 1957. Correspondence, dated 1950, is between Charles and Eleanor McCanna and their niece, Margery. Newspaper clippings include family obituaries and reports of a McCanna family member's feared loss during an earthquake in Italy. Of interest are canceled wills of Charles, Edwin, and their wives from 1948-1955. Other McCanna family documents can be found in the Charles McCanna Papers, OGLMC 636.

Box 4

Folder 17: Margery McCanna Correspondence, 1950

Folder 18: News Clippings, Obituaries

Folder 19: Charles and Eleanor McCanna Health Insurance, 1951-1956

Folder 20: Reuben McCanna Estate Financial Papers, 1959- 1960

Folder 21: Katherine McCanna Checking Account, 1930

Folder 22: Charles and Eleanor McCanna Checking Account, Elk Valley State Bank, 1954-1957

Folder 23: Charles and Eleanor McCanna Checking Account, Red River National Bank, 1954-1957

Folder 24: Charles and Eleanor McCanna Checking Account, First National Bank of San Diego, California, 1956-1957

Box 5

Oversize Folder 33: Charles and Eleanor McCanna, Personal Property Insurance, 1947-1955

Oversize Folder 34: Charles and Eleanor McCanna, Automobile Insurance, 1951-1952, 1954-1955

Oversize Folder 35: Charles and Eleanor McCanna, Health Insurance, 1946, 1950, 1954

Oversize Folder 36: Family Wills, 1948-1955

Oversize Folder 37: George Michael McCanna, Phi Delta Phi Fraternity Initiation, January 1911

Oversize Folder 38: Reuben McCanna Estate, 1959-1960

Series 4: Photographs

Separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.

Photograph 1: Bird hunting ca. 1900

Photograph 2: Margery McCanna ca. 1950

Photograph 3: Farm employee's son, Francis, age four ca. 1948