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Elk Valley Farms Records
General Historical Information
Double LL Stores of Crosby, Inc.
Elk Valley Farms Records
Collection Overview
Title: Elk Valley Farms Records
Predominant Dates:1881-2001
ID: OGLMC1526
Primary Creator: Elk Valley Farms (1881-)
Extent: 18.5 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 05/31/2007
Subjects: Agriculture, Business and Industry, Larimore, North Dakota
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Elk Valley Farms Records have been divided into eleven series:
Series 1: General Historical Information
Series 2: Elk Valley Farms, 1879-2004
Series 3: Elk Valley Farms Elevator, 1901-1996
Series 4: Elk Valley Supply, Inc., 1975-1994
Series 5: Edison Farms, 1881-1941
Series 6: Crystal Springs Stock Farm, 1900-1922
Series 7: Charles Olmstead Materials, 1862-1917
Series 8: Double LL Stores of Crosby, Inc., 1980-1984
Series 9: J.B. Streeter Real Estate Company, 1893-1908
Series 10: Photographs
Series 11: Separated Materials
Collection Historical Note
"This land was located in 1881 by O.M. Towner and Associates. It passed into the hands of Messrs. Booth and N.G. Larimore, who organized a corporation by which it was managed as the Elk Valley Farm. The corporation was organized in Missouri and the land paid a handsome dividend on a valuation of $30.00 an acre from the beginning. The Elk Valley Farm gained a worldwide reputation from the visit of the foreign commissioners from the Worlds' Fair in 1893. The harvest was then in progress. Forty-three binders were working in a single field, cutting down the grain at a rate of 640 acres a day and it required three weeks to complete the harvest. One hundred and sixty four head of mules and a vast amount of machinery were required to do the work on this farm. In 1880, they had 8000 acres of wheat which yielded twenty four and one half bushels per acre. The cost of production was $4.00 an acre and that an average of 50 cents per bushel would give a profit of $8.25 per acre.
With the passage of time, this farm has been divided into about twenty smaller farms, known as the Elk Valley Farms, with Jameson Larimore, Jr. as head. Tenant managers run the farms."
--Source: Souvenir Book: Larimore, N.D., Diamond Jubilee, 1881-1956, page 17
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Jameson Larimore III, Larimore, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation: 2007-2920; 2010-3033; 2011-3122; 2012-3146
Related Materials: N.G. Larimore Papers: OGLMC 1082
Preferred Citation: (Description of item). Elk Valley Farm Records. OGLMC 1526. Box #. Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections. Chester Fritz Library. University of North Dakota.
Processing Information: Processed by Dan Ferris, Special Collections Student Assistant, from 2008 to 2012. Curt Hanson, Department Head, finished the processing and added the finding aid to Archon in June 2013.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: General Historical Information],
[Series 2: Elk Valley Farms, 1879-2004],
[Series 3: Elk Valley Farms Elevator, 1901-1996],
[Series 4: Elk Valley Supply, Inc., 1975-1994],
[Series 5: Edison Farms, 1881-1941],
[Series 6: Crystal Springs Stock Farm, 1900-1922],
[Series 7: Charles Olmstead Materials, 1862-1917],
[Series 8: Double LL Stores of Crosby, Inc., 1980-1984],
[Series 9: J.B. Streeter Real Estate Company, 1893-1908],
[Series 10: Photographs],
[Series 11: Separated Materials],
[All]
- Series 1: General Historical Information
- The first series contains biographical information on the Larimore family and historical information on Elk Valley Farms.
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Larimore Family Biographical Information
- Item 1: Genealogy of Thomas Jamison Larimore (1783-1852)
- Item 2: Death Certificate for Clay Larimore, 14 February 1937
- Item 3: Obituary for Jameson Larimore, Jr. (1905-1991), 1991
- Item 4: "A Trip to Larimore, Missouri", Larimore Leader/Tribune, 19 April 2007
- Item 5: Obituary for Jameson "Jim" Larimore III, 1938-2017
- Folder 2: Elk Valley Farms Historical Information
- Item 1: Souvenir Book: Larimore, N.D., Diamond Jubilee, 1881-1956, page 17
- Item 2: "Furrows Were Long on 'Largest Farm': Storied Elk Valley Land Still in Larimore Family." by Marilyn Hagerty. Grand Forks Herald. 8 June 1967
- Item 3: "Elk Valley Farms: Larimore's 'Ponderosa'", Larimore Pioneer, 15 June 1967
- Item 4: African Americans in North Dakota: Sources and Assessments, 1994, pages 62-67
- Item 5: "Old Letter Tells of Pioneer Spud Farming," unknown date and publication
- Series 2: Elk Valley Farms, 1879-2004
- This is the largest series in the collection, contains material directly related to Elk Valley Farms, and has been divided into eight sub-series.
- Sub-Series 1: General Correspondence, 1896-1957
- Box 1
- Folder 3: 1896-1916
- Folder 4: 1917
- Folder 5: 1918
- Folder 6: 1919
- Folder 7: 1920
- Folder 8: 1921
- Folder 9: 1922
- Folder 10: 1923
- Folder 11: 1924-1925
- Folder 12: 1926-1930
- Folder 13: 1931-1935
- Folder 14: 1936
- Folder 15: 1937
- Folder 16: 1938
- Folder 17: 1939
- Folder 18: 1940
- Folder 19: 1941-1942
- Folder 20: 1943-1957
- Folder 21: undated
- Sub-Series 2: Letter Books, 1881-1892
- The letter books contain carbon copies of hand written correspondence.
- Sub-Series 3: Executive Correspondence
- This sub-series contains correspondence and documentation related to several named individuals at Elk Valley Farms: Clay Larimore, Jameson Larimore Jr., Newell G. Larimore, Walter Larimore, A.P. Lord., and Oscar Trippett. Researchers should note that additional correspondence can be found in sub-series 1 and 2.
- Box 1
- Folder 22: Clay Larimore: Insurance Policy, 1896
- Folder 23: Clay Larimore: California Land Documents, 1897-1898
- Folder 24: Clay Larimore: Bank Books, 1916-1935
- Folder 25: Clay Larimore: Farming Contracts, 1930-1933
- Folder 26: Clay Larimore: Tax Documents, 1913-1928
- Folder 27: Clay Larimore: Tax Documents, 1930-1938
- Folder 28: Clay Larimore: Estate Documents, 1933-1939
- Folder 29: Clay Larimore: Miscellaneous Documents, 1898-1934
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Jameson Larimore: Miscellaneous Documents, 1901-1947, 1956, 1987
- Includes two telegrams from 1956 from Senator William Langer and Congressman Usher Burdick expressing congratulations to the city of Larimore for their 75th Anniversary
- Folder 2: Jameson Larimore Jr.: Farming Contracts, 1933-1937
- Folder 3: Jameson Larimore Jr.: Materials Related to Estate of Elizabeth Larimore, 1964
- Folder 4: N.G. Larimore: Miscellaneous Documents, 1902-1903
- Folder 5: Walter Larimore: Miscellaneous Documents, 1902-1926
- Folder 6: A.P. Lord: Correspondence, 1912-June 1918
- Folder 7: A.P. Lord: Correspondence, July 1918-1919
- Folder 8: A.P. Lord: Assorted Banking Documents, 1908-1918
- Folder 9: A.P. Lord: Business Receipts, 1917-1918
- Folder 10: A.P. Lord: Assorted Business, Government, and Legal Documents, 1918
- Folder 11: Oscar Trippett: Estate Materials, 1966-1991
- Sub-Series 4: Financial Information, 1882-1995
- Box 2
- Folder 12: Financial Statements, 1925-1948
- Folder 13: Financial Statements, 1949-1960
- Folder 14: Financial Statements, 1961-1970
- Folder 15: Financial Statements, 1971-1980
- Folder 16: Tax Documents, 1909-1919
- Folder 17: Tax Documents, 1920-1929
- Folder 18: Tax Documents, 1930-1939
- Folder 19: Tax Documents, 1940-1949
- Folder 20: Tax Documents, 1950-1959
- Folder 21: Tax Documents, 1960-1969
- Folder 22: Tax Documents, 1970-1980
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Asset Documentation, 1893, 1937, 1941, 1989, 1993, 1995
- Folder 2: Assorted Stock Certificates and Investments, 1882-1912
- Folder 3: Assorted Financial Documents, 1902-1938
- Folder 4: Bank Statements, 1916, 1938
- Folder 5: Assorted Receipts, 1900-1918
- Folder 6: Assorted Receipts, 1919-1920
- Folder 7: Assorted Receipts, 1921-1939
- Sub-Series 5: Tenant Farms, 1916-1987
- These files regard the individual tenant farms which were part of Elk Valley Farms.
- Box 3
- Folder 8: Edison Farm #1, 1934-1947
- Folder 9: Farm #1 (Home Farm), 1920-1987
- Folder 10: Edison Farm #2, 1934-1948
- Folder 11: Edison Farm #3, 1934-1948
- Folder 12: Farm #3, 1916-1987
- Folder 13: Farm #5, 1919-1987
- Folder 14: Farm #6, 1924-1944
- Folder 15: Farm #7, 1920-1987
- Folder 16: Farm #8, 1922-1974
- Folder 17: Farm #10, 1919-1978
- Folder 18: Farm #13, 1918-1977
- Folder 19: Farm #14, 1920-1973
- Folder 20: Farm #15, 1920-1987
- Folder 21: Farm #16, 1918-1987
- Folder 22: Farm #17
- Folder 23: Farm E.A. and E.E., 1936-1947
- Folder 24: Farm Pi (Pifer), 1930-1986
- Folder 25: Grand Forks County Agreement #133: Delmer Thorsell and Gladys E. Taylor, 1946
- Folder 26: Grand Forks County Agreement #134: Adolph Marien and Gladys E. Taylor, 1946
- Folder 27: Grand Forks County Agreement #176: W.E. Stormswold, 1946
- Folder 28: Grand Forks County Agreement #244: Elk Valley Farms/Tony Markovich, 1948
- Folder 29: Grand Forks County Agreement #245: Elk Valley Farms/Harley Ehlers, 1948
- Folder 30: Grand Forks County Agreement #299: Elk Valley Farms/Clarence H. Meyer, 1948
- Folder 31: Grand Forks County Agreement #365: Elk Valley Farms/John Farrell, 1948
- Folder 32: Grand Forks County Agreement #370: Elk Valley Farms/Don Shide, 1948
- Folder 33: Grand Forks County Agreement #373: Elk Valley Farms/William Shide, 1948
- Folder 34: Grand Forks County Agreement #374: Elk Valley Farms/Gust Johnson, 1948
- Folder 35: Grand Forks County Agreement #376: Elk Valley Farms/Sigurd Rasmussen, 1948
- Folder 36: Grand Forks County Agreement #377: Elk Valley Farms/E. Fanning, 1948
- Folder 37: Grand Forks County Agreement #378: Elk Valley Farms/Harold Warne, 1948
- Folder 38: Grand Forks County Agreement #379: Elk Valley Farms/H.H. Pifer, 1948
- Folder 39: Miscellaneous Farming Contracts, 1930, 1937, 1946
- Sub-Series 6: Mexican Land, 1909-1951
- This sub-series regards land owned by Elk Valley Farms in Mexico.
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Correspondence, 1911-1925
- Folder 2: Correspondence, 1926
- Folder 3: Correspondence, 1927
- Folder 4: Correspondence, 1928
- Folder 5: Correspondence, 1929
- Folder 6: Correspondence, 1930
- Folder 7: Correspondence, 1931
- Folder 8: Correspondence, 1932
- Folder 9: Correspondence, 1933
- Folder 10: Correspondence, 1934
- Folder 11: Correspondence, 1935-1936
- Folder 12: Correspondence, 1937-1947
- Folder 13: Land and Legal Documents, 1905-1951
- Folder 14: Financial Documents, 1913-1944
- Folder 15: Receipts, 1909-1925
- Folder 16: Receipts, 1926-1929
- Folder 17: Receipts
- Sub-Series 7: General Files, 1884-2003
- Box 4
- Folder 18: Elk Valley Bank, Litton Real Estate Transaction, 1910-1919
- Folder 19: Crop Yield Reports, 1928-1964
- Folder 20: Crop Yield Reports, 1965-1984
- Folder 21: Hoverson Farms Correspondence, 1997-2001
- Folder 22: Hoverson Farms Assorted Land and Legal Documents, 1995-2003
- Folder 23: Hoverson Farms Invoices, 1996-2003
- Folder 24: Lake Agassiz Sugar Corporation, 1961-1967
- Folder 25: Legal Documents, 1884-1908
- Folder 26: Legal Documents, 1914-1965
- Folder 27: Legal Documents, 1970-1994
- Folder 28: Legal Documents, 1995-1999
- Folder 29: Legal Documents, undated
- Folder 30: New Office Building, 1970
- Folder 31: North Dakota Worker's Compensation Bureau, 1919-1923
- Folder 32: Potato Warehouse Construction Correspondence, 1944-1955
- Folder 33: Potato Warehouse Construction Permits, 1944-1955
- Folder 34: Potato Warehouse Construction Plans and Material Lists, 1942-1944
- Folder 35: Potato Warehouse Receipts, 1930-1955
- Folder 36: Potato Warehouse Construction Informational and Promotional Materials
- Folder 37: Telephone Utility Annual Reports, 1931-1972
- Box 5
- Sub-Series 8: Ledger Books, 1879-2004
- This sub-series consists of bound ledger books related to Elk Valley Farms. Some of these have been placed in Boxes 9 and 10, while others have been placed on the shelves adjacent to the collection.
- Ledger 1: Elk Valley Farms Wage Journal Book, 1899-1919
- Ledger 2: Elk Valley Farms Cash Book, 1916-1919
- Ledger 3: Elk Valley Farming Company Cash Book, 1897-1916
- Ledger 4: Elk Valley Farms Journal Book, 1907-1926
- Includes Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, Meeting Minutes, and Other Documents
- Ledger 5: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1922-1929
- Ledger 6: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1898-1920
- Ledger 7: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1927
- Ledger 8: Elk Valley Farming Co. Stock Ledger, 1881-1903
- Ledger 9: Elk Valley Farms Employee Ledger Book, 1916-1917
- Ledger 10: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1938-1962
- Ledger 11: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1955-1978
- Ledger 12: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1955-1962
- Ledger 13: Elk Valley Farms Property Ledger Book, 1946-1980
- Ledger 14: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1931-2004
- Ledger 15: Elk Valley Farms Potato Ledger Book, 1935-1996
- Ledger 16: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1930-1955
- Ledger 17: Elk Valley Farms Ledger Book, 1979-2004
- Ledger 18: Elk Valley Potato Growers Association Ledger Book, 1956-1986
- Ledger 19: Elk Valley Farms Potato Growers Ledger Book, 1950-1955
- Box 9
- Ledger 25: Elk Valley Farming Company Stock Certificate Book, 1881-1903
- Ledger 26: Elk Valley Farms Stock Certificate Book, 1907-1921
- Ledger 27: Elk Valley Farms Stock Ledger and Journal, 1907-1921
- Ledger 28: Elk Valley Farms Wheat Ledger Book, 1879-1880
- Ledger 29: Elk Valley Farming Company Record of Larimore Town Lots and Farming Lands, 1900-1920
- Ledger 30: Elk Valley Farms Time Book, 1916-1918
- Ledger 31: Elk Valley Farms Employee Ledger Book, 1916-1929
- Ledger 32: Elk Valley Farms Employee Ledger Book, 1930-1935
- Ledger 33: Elk Valley Farms Renters Ledger Book, 1916-1929
- Box 10
- Series 3: Elk Valley Farms Elevator, 1901-1996
- Series 3 contains material related to Elk Valley Farms Elevator, which was incorporated separately from Elk Valley Farms. The series consists largely of financial information, although meeting minutes, correspondence and newspaper clippings are also included.
- Box 5
- Folder 3: Executive Binder, 1974-1994
- Contents of the folder were originally in a 3 Ring Binder. The original order of the binder was maintained. Contains sections entitled "Minutes & By-Laws", "Certificate Book", and "Transfer Ledger"
- Folder 4: Minutes of Meetings of the Board of Directors, 1975-1992
- Folder 5: General Correspondence, 1934-1936, 1960
- Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, 1948, 1953-1954, 1968
- Regarding elevator fires in 1948 and 1953
- Folder 7: Financial Documents, 1911-1914
- Folder 8: Financial Statements, 1975-1985
- Folder 9: Financial Statements, 1986-1995
- Folder 10: Tax Documents, 1926-1975
- Folder 11: Burlington Northern Railroad Correspondence, 1935-1996
- Folder 12: Burlington Northern Railroad Spur Agreement Blueprints, 1901-1974
- Folder 13: Burlington Northern Railroad Spur Agreement Leases, 1924-1996
- Folder 14: Assorted Legal Documents
- Ledger 20: Elk Valley Farms Elevator Ledger Book, 1942-1952
- Ledger 21: Elk Valley Farms Elevator Expense Account Ledger Book, 1962-1979
- Ledger 22: Elk Valley Farms Elevator Ledger Book, 1980-1995
- Series 4: Elk Valley Supply, Inc., 1975-1994
- Series 4 contains materials related to Elk Valley Supply, Inc., a separately incorporated business from Elk Valley Farms. This small series contains executive information and financial materials.
- Series 5: Edison Farms, 1881-1941
- Edison Farms was another farming operation near Larimore. In addition to geographic proximity, the Edisons were related to the Larimore family, through Sarah (Moore) Larimore, the wife of Jameson Larimore I. Elk Valley Farms had an extensive business relationship with Edison Farms.
- Box 5
- Folder 18: Correspondence, 1892-1920
- Folder 19: Abstracts of Title, 1883-1898
- Folder 20: Abstracts of Title, 1906
- Folder 21: Abstracts of Title, 1911
- Folder 22: Assorted Land Documents, 1889-1916
- Folder 23: Assorted Land and Property Lists, 1902, but mainly undated
- Folder 24: Public Land Certificates, 1883-1889
- Folder 25: Assorted Court Documents, 1894-1920
- Folder 26: Assorted Business Receipts, 1881-1914
- Folder 27: Tax Statements from Grand Forks County, 1935-1941
- Box 6
- Box 10
- Series 6: Crystal Springs Stock Farm, 1900-1922
- Series 6 contains materials related to the Crystal Springs Stock Farm, which has also located near Larimore. The nature of the relationship between Crystal Springs and Elk Valley is unclear,
- Box 6
- Folder 4: Correspondence, 1900, 1901, 1916
- Folder 5: Correspondence, April-September 1917
- Folder 6: Correspondence, October-December 1917
- Folder 7: Correspondence, 1918
- Folder 8: Correspondence, 1919
- Folder 9: Correspondence, 1920
- Folder 10: Correspondence, 1921
- Folder 11: Correspondence, 1922
- Folder 12: Correspondence, undated
- Folder 13: Assorted Receipts, 1916-1919
- Folder 14: Assorted Receipts, 1920-1922
- Folder 15: Assorted Receipts, undated
- Folder 16: Miscellaneous
- Folder 17: E.W. Cunningham, Correspondence, 1914
- Folder 18: E.W. Cunningham, Correspondence, 1917
- Folder 19: E.W. Cunningham, Correspondence, Undated
- Folder 20: E.W. Cunningham, Assorted Land, Real Estate and Tax Documents, 1913, 1914, 1917
- Folder 21: E.W. Cunningham, Business Receipts, 1914, 1917
- Series 7: Charles Olmstead Materials, 1862-1917
- Series 7 contains records related to Charles Olmstead (1842-1917), who ran a general store in Larimore. He was born December 28, 1842, in Orleans County, New York. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army, with both the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the Second Michigan Cavalry. He moved to Larimore in 1881. His connection to Elk Valley Farms is uncertain, as is how the Elk Valley Farms came into possession of these documents. Charles Olmstead died March 7, 1917, in Grand Forks County.
- Box 6
- Folder 22: Biographical Materials
- Folder 23: Civil War Enlistment and Discharge Papers, 1862, 1865
- Folder 24: Civil War Assorted Documents, 1862
- Folder 25: Civil War Pension Materials, 1865-1914
- Folder 26: Correspondence: Hiram Olmstead (brother), 1888-1913
- Folder 27: Correspondence: Knights of Pythias, 1883-1916
- Folder 28: Business Correspondence, 1886-1917
- Folder 29: Business Documents from Elk Valley Farms and Elk Valley Bank, 1882-1914
- Folder 30: Business Receipts
- Folder 31: Business: Fire Insurance Policies, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1913
- Folder 32: Assorted Legal Documents, 1870-1913
- Folder 33: Patent Assignments to Olmstead, 1877-1878
- Folder 34: Guardianship of Lena M. Olmstead, 1883-1887
- Folder 35: Grand Forks County Fair Association, 1903-1906
- Folder 36: Stock from the Larimore Improvement Company, 1902
- Series 8: Double LL Stores of Crosby, Inc., 1980-1984
- The 8th series consists of one accounting ledger book from Double LL Stores in Crosby, North Dakota. The business had dealings with Elk Valley Farms, beginning in 1980.
- Series 9: J.B. Streeter Real Estate Company, 1893-1908
- Series 9 contains one ledger related to the J.B. Streeter Real Estate Company, which was likely located in Larimore. The ledger is dated 1893-1908. The firm had numerous dealings with Elk Valley Farms, as evidenced by entries in the ledger.
- Series 10: Photographs
- Box 6
- Folder 37: Larimore Family Members
- Photograph 1: Women's Relief Corps, Appomattox Chapter No. 6, 1903
- Members had to be relatives of Civil War Veterans. Includes Lizzie Mathews (later Mrs. Walter Larimore) and Ellen Olmstead (Mrs. C.H. Olmstead)
- Photograph 2: Lizzie Mathews (Mrs. Walter Larimore), undated
- King Studios, Northfield, Minnesota
- Photograph 3: Unidentified group of school children and teacher, May 1877
- Photograph 4: Group photograph (Jameson Larimore Jr. second from the right), July 1956
- Photograph 5: Jameson Larimore Jr., undated
- Folder 38: Various Exterior Photographs of the Elk Valley Farms Elevator
- Folder 39: Various Interior Photographs of the Elk Valley Farms Elevator
- Folder 40: Interior Photographs of the Elk Valley Farms Elevator with People
- Folder 41: Elk Valley Farms Elevator Fire, 14 December 1953
- Series 11: Separated Materials
- The contents of this series were separated and placed in the Oversize File Cabinets.
- Oversize Folder 1
- Item 1: Poster: "Forty-three Deering Binders at work on the Elk Valley Farm, Larimore, North Dakota, in the presence of the Foreign Commissioners of the World's Columbian Exposition." The poster includes the autographs of the Foreign Commissioners., 29 August 1893
- Item 2: Plat map of Larimore, showing the location of Elk Valley Farms, undated
- Item 3: Illustration of Elk Valley Farming Co., drawn by Capel Rowley, undated
- Item 4: Loose Letter Book Pages, 1902-1903
- Item 5: Civil War Document: "Volunteer Descriptive List and Account of Pay and Clothing of Charles Olmstead, Private", 29 August 1862
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: General Historical Information],
[Series 2: Elk Valley Farms, 1879-2004],
[Series 3: Elk Valley Farms Elevator, 1901-1996],
[Series 4: Elk Valley Supply, Inc., 1975-1994],
[Series 5: Edison Farms, 1881-1941],
[Series 6: Crystal Springs Stock Farm, 1900-1922],
[Series 7: Charles Olmstead Materials, 1862-1917],
[Series 8: Double LL Stores of Crosby, Inc., 1980-1984],
[Series 9: J.B. Streeter Real Estate Company, 1893-1908],
[Series 10: Photographs],
[Series 11: Separated Materials],
[All]