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McCanna Farming Company Records
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 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
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Farming],
[Series 2: Banking],
[Series 3: Family],
[Series 4: Photographs],
[All]