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Period: to
1860-1914
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I arive in America
Due to high rates imposed by landlords in Ireland Ive decided to come to America, Ive passed through Ellis Island with my family (my son, my wife and I) we've all begun to work in factories for about $10 a week each and found a apartment just near the harbor where we finally landed in America. -
A Brilliant Idea
We've decided to move west and farm on our own land which we will get through the homestead act, Unlike in Ireland, we won't have to pay anyone to keep our land. We can save one or two dollars a month to go towards going west settling down somewhere near Nebraska. We've decided to move because we've had enough of New York and the sweatshops, we think that we can make a living by claming some land in the west and farming on it. -
Saved up enough, going west
Took the railroad west from New York to Nebraska and settled in as a farmer, We’ve claimed a plot of land and in 5 years hope to own it through the homestead act -
Got a reaper and thresher and our wheat production doubled.
We have been able to harvest crops much more efficiently and separate the seeds from the straw much faster now that we bought a reaper and thresher. -
Our Farm
We know own the 160 acres of our farm as it’s been 5 years that we have lived on and developed the land, so through the homestead act, we've been granted possesion of 160 acres of land in our farm! -
Prarie Fire (3)
the few flames which rose near the perimeter and so, we've hung on to our farm while the surrounding plains have been burnt black and bare. -
Prarie fire
It was about 4 or 5 this afternoon when I noticed a strip of redness on the horison moving steadily towards my farm and I, this was definitly a large fire, racing along the dry ground and grass of the prarie. I stopped gazing at the spectacle and began to take action, I walked around the perimiter of our farm along a strip which we had completley cleared of vegitation, leaving a bare strip of land which encircled the farm, I walked around this plucking up and strips of grass lying across it and -
Prarie fire (Continued)
Farm, I looked carefully for any blades of grass which fell across the line Flung them away. I the called the rest of my family, we gathered sacks and wet them from water from the well andgrabed and filled buckets, getting ready to stomp, smother or drown any fire blown over to our side of the ring. In about 1/2 an hour, the fire was upon us, we worked efficiently and stamped out