McCanna Farming Company Records, 1883-1982

McCanna Farming Company Records

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Collection Overview

Title: McCanna Farming Company Records, 1883-1982

Predominant Dates:1922-1957

ID: OGLMC1255

Primary Creator: McCanna Farming Company (1881-?)

Extent: 12.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 07/08/1992. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Agriculture, Business and Industry

Languages: English

Abstract

Founded in Grand Forks County in 1881

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The McCanna Farming Company Records date from 1883 to 1982 and have been divided into four series as follows:

Series 1: Farming

Series 2: Banking

An index to the bank correspondence is available here.

Series 3: Family

Series 4: Photographs

Collection Historical Note

In 1881, brothers David and Simon McCanna established the McCanna Farming Company in Elm Grove Township, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. The following year, David moved to Towner County near the future site of Cando. Simon, however, remained in Grand Forks County and, in 1883, founded the town of McCanna, 37 miles northwest of Grand Forks city. In 1885, Simon married Katherine O'Gorman. Eight children were born of the couple, three of whom died in infancy. The remaining children, were Charles D. (1884-1957), Edwin T. (1886-1963), Ralph (died in 1927), George M. (died in 1938), and Reuben (1892-1947).

Within a few years, the McCanna Farming Company grew into a diverse business. The farm raised pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle as well as spring wheat, durum, barley, and oats. Over one hundred horses and mules were required to operate the farm's machinery. In a letter written at the turn of the century, Simon boasted of owning 2,400 acres in Grand Forks County; several large barns; 90 horses, including Percherons and Clydesdales; 75 head of cattle, most of which were registered Polled Angus, Holstein and, Durham; and the "best of machinery to operate my farms." He claimed to have made over $60,000 since settling in Grand Forks County.

When Simon died in 1906, control of the farm passed to his oldest son, Charles. Charles directed the farm operation throughout the remainder of his life. In 1911, under the direction of Charles' brother, Edwin, the McCanna family established the Bank of McCanna, a state-chartered institution. Five years later, Edwin and George were listed as founding directors of the Bank of Garske, in Ramsey County. Sometime prior to 1922, the McCanna family also bought controlling interest in a third bank, the First State Bank of Backoo, in Pembina County. By 1922, Edwin was president of all three banks.

In July 1925, the Backoo bank was moved to Cavalier and renamed the Pembina County Bank. That December, Edwin appointed his youngest brother, Reuben, assistant cashier of the Cavalier institution. The McCannas sold the Pembina County Bank in August 1929. In June 1930, the Bank of McCanna collapsed. As a result, the McCanna Farming Company, already deeply in debt, was in jeopardy of financial failure. The McCannas moved quickly to protect the farm by selling the Bank of Garske in July 1930. Only the McCanna Farming Company's solid reputation and Edwin's financial contacts prevented foreclosure. In March 1934, the McCanna Farming Company refinanced its debt through a Federal Land Bank loan.

The McCanna Farming Company survived the Great Depression and accompanying drought. During World War II, the farm raised a variety of small grain crops, pork, and beef. Twenty men worked there in the busy season. Following the war, the farm was worked increasingly by tenants and farm production was limited generally to small grains and potatoes. After Charles' death in 1957, the McCanna Farming Company was reorganized as a partnership, and a manager, C. H. Erbele, was employed to oversee farm operations. In addition to directing farm tenants, Erbele corresponded with McCanna Farming Company partners, calculated their individual and corporate taxes, and distributed their dividend checks.

Subject/Index Terms

Agriculture
Business and Industry

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Margery McCanna donated additional material on July 8, 1993 (Acc.93-1929).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Margery McCanna, granddaughter of Simon McCanna

Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.92-1829

Related Materials: Charles McCanna Papers: OGLMC 636

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). McCanna Farming Company Records. OGLMC 1255, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in January 2016.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Farming],
[Series 2: Banking],
[Series 3: Family],
[Series 4: Photographs],
[All]

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

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Farming],
[Series 2: Banking],
[Series 3: Family],
[Series 4: Photographs],
[All]

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids