McCanna Farming Company Records, 1883-1982
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
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
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 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
- Folder 13: Bank of McCanna RE: George E. West Account, 1923-1924
- 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
- Folder 1: Bank of Garske, January-June 1924
- 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
- Oversize Folder 20: Correspondence
- Box 3
- Sub-Series 2: Check Stubs
- Sub-Series 1: Correspondence
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Farming],
[Series 2: Banking],
[Series 3: Family],
[Series 4: Photographs],
[All]