Homesteading

Blends interviews with historians, the stories told by descendents of homesteaders, and dramatic readings from pioneer diaries & letters to paint a picture of the people who struggled with daily life enduring hardships & successes they celebrated.
Production funding provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, the North Dakota Council on the Arts, the North Dakota Humanities Council, and by the members of Prairie Public
About the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed a landmark piece of legislation - the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment - which provided funding to public television stations serving audiences in Minnesota. Its mission is to help preserve and document the treasures of culture, history, and heritage that make Minnesota special, and to increase access to the natural and cultural resources we all share.

[@lambsack111]

These guys worked hard so that I can sit in a chair all day and write code. Definitely do not take this for granted. I love history videos like this one.

[@nzisobviouslydestinedtorul636]

It's a bit deflating thinking about this world that their hard effort led to. Oh yes, we can throw materialist metrics about, but I think the chase more than the catch in this context animated the soul. If our ancestors, and this goes for across the Anglosphere, could see what it is was they were inadvertently establishing and fighting for, I believe they'd turn around.

[@runningfast206]

@@nzisobviouslydestinedtorul636 Yup.

[@mns8732]

Its not difficult to see what made this a country with a strong citizenship, Gov provided opportunities for even the lowest classes to excell without indebtedness.

[@lambsack111]

@b b I work hard at coding so that I can provide for myself and my loved ones. It is not physically taxing but requires a good amount of mental energy. I think you are wrong and that these people would still approve. I am still providing a service to our society by working on products. All I was saying is that I am grateful for the hard work that our ancestors achieved in order for me to have a career that I love.

[@SUMMERFIELDish]

Me too

[@phyllisjeanfulton]

I’m 3rd generation removed from our G-R Volga land when my Great Grandfather at age 9 in 1870s came with his parents and siblings- he lived to be nearly 100 years old. I remember him well. I am 77 born in 1942.

[@judypritchard4670]

My great grandfather left Volga in 1899/1900 to move to Canada

[@karenlasslett5731]

I'm third generation. My great grandmother came with her family when she was eight years old in 1901. I believe she came from the Volga, I know it was Russia. Her family and my Great Grandfather's (from L'viv, L'vivs'ka, Ukraine) family are listed among the founders of Tolstoy Township in Potter County South Dakota.

[@donnaproto1802]

Phillis, you are so blessed to have such sweet memories.

[@adriel115_]

are you a buddhist?

[@figgy709]

Very cool video. My grandparents met and married on the boat from Sweden to America, they settled and homesteaded on the prairie of South Dakota, and my family still farm and live on the original land, bringing up the 5th generation. I have lived in SD all my life and not once have I ever looked across the land without thinking about the pioneers who busted their backs for us today. Oh, if they could see us now.

[@andreahawkins9701]

figgy709 we are related then? van osdel?

[@andreahawkins9701]

maybe as immigrant relations lol Dutch Germany ??NY judge??? my great great grandfather loved and Lincoln and put his statue on his lawn

[@sixsentsoldiers]

Ann Merrick - I'm so sick and tired hearing this kind of whining Bullshit. If you haven't heard, it's the strong that survive. They take what they want. It's just facts.

[@sixsentsoldiers]

figgy709 - Absolutely. Not many people stay close to their place of birth anymore.

[@idliketosay]

SixSentSoldiers riiiighhhhttt. Just like how illegal Mexicans are taking over US and their jobs. Karma a bitch ain’t it. But as you said, we’re tired of hearing folks whining abt this shit 😂😂😂

[@terpenator93]

Amazing, you had to be so strong to make it here back then. My family were homesteaders in ND outside of grand forks. We still own the land to this day and it’s made my family a fortune. So grateful for my hard working family.

[@41sandybeach]

Your family is on stolen land. Such a shame.

[@AsaAzanyah]

Yall STOLE them lands

[@HorseWaterDrink]

who else watches this old stuff because modern day BS is so sad.

[@dianejohnson5216]

Me

[@tericandeloro4082]

Right here! Hate the new stuff 😝😝😝

[@michaelmarsh5759]

@@dianejohnson5216 few

[@rosebudadkins6803]

Many have become feeble in mind & body. So sad. I was raised to work hard all my life. We had what we earned. Key word…..earned. Our reservation in S.D. One of the poorest. A once dignified and proud people, no more

[@stockinettestitch]

I love the Ingalls family too

[@kevinkennedy6170]

The farm we own had its original land patent signed by President Grant. Also own 2 more pieces of land that were land patented by President Coolidge and President Wilson. One still has the original log cabin from the 1890s and is habitatable. Hand sewn logs. Lumber railroad ran through the 40 acres. Rail grade is still visible despite the forest reclaiming the land. Old ruins and even a cemetery. Finnish homesteaders... UP of Michigan ghost town of Johnswood

[@kathrynjeanmarie6804]

Norwegian settlers were a tough people...Hard working...Probably not much tolerance for slacking....Im Norwegian....My dad was the most humble loving person...A carreer Electrical engineer after leaving the Farm In N.D...Both parents direct descendents of Norway....N.D..Minnesota....this was awesome ..much thanks...

[@ronginther1986]

My grandgather Alfred Stadem was born in a sod house in tye Bryant, SD area. His father Peter dug it and cut the sod into big brick-like bricks. Handy building material and cheap! No need to transport from nearest town. I am 81 in 2024 and about to publish his journals, as well as my mother's stories in a diary format for kids. My grandmother and her elder sister were orphaned in Norway, emigrated to the South Dakota in 1903, not for land and wealth but to work hard and join with God's Jesus-loving people. Norway, she said to us was getting colder toward God and churches' lost warm fellowship and turned formal and frosty. So much for a state church religion that lost its focus on Jesus Christ and love for others. God bless

[@janejones5362]

I am Norwegian and Celtic. One grandmother farmed on her own. Her husband was a sheepherder, and gone a lot. She was this generation and lived to her 90s. Another grandmother raised, alone, raised cattle and lived to her 90s. West side of North Dakota is cattle and wheat. Not much else in farming on any large scale. ND farming was on the east side of the state. You HAVE to deal with Winters -40°F, and colder. Animals have to eat year round. I lived in the Northwest part of the state for 7 years. I have asthma. I adjusted. Only sick twice. The cattle breed now, mainly black angus. Unpredictable temperaments, but very cold hardy. Mostly Lakota Sioux in this area. Very handsome people.

[@riggs20]

This has given me a whole new appreciation for the history and land of Dakotas, Nebraska, etc. My great-grandfather was born in 1891 in a small town in South Dakota. I've always wondered what they were doing out there in the middle of nowhere. Now it occurs to me he could have been a child of homesteaders!

[@someguy2062]

all of my great grandparents were homesteaders in Dakota - all my grandparents were born before north and south dakota became states - some of the original homesteads are still owned by some of my cousins

[@wildfood1]

What I find remarkable when I read accounts of isolated homesteaders is the sense of community they felt for their neighbors who lived miles away in many cases. They would often visit and overnight and were more familiar with people living ten or fifteen miles away than we are today with people living in the next apartment : )

[@chuckbowen5024]

My Grandma Cora (Irwin)Bowen homesteaded her own claim in Williams County ND in 1910.

[@strokerace5468]

My wife’s grandparents lived in Lisbon. Her grandad once spoke of his dad getting off the train and staking land and building a house for several children. I wished I had known to ask more questions when they were alive

[@terpenator93]

I drive by there all the time! Used to live in Enderlin!

[@SUMMERFIELDish]

My great grand parent were from Hungery and I wish I would have asked more questions. Our ancestors went through so much for family and country. Now our children, most if them, don't have any clue what hard work their families had to go through.

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I live in northern Minnesota but I’m not originally from here. My 85 yr old neighbor was driving me around telling me stories of his childhood, where he grew up, the old school house and so on, I asked how his parents ended up here, he said they got off the train at the wrong stop and didn’t have money to buy more tickets for the next train so they settled here. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard and scary life was, it’s hard and scary now and I have a house and food!!!

[@chippydoodle8731]

Hard life for sure! But I do LONG for simpler times. I think it would have been exciting to live and experience this time in U.S. history.

[@tlockerk]

First time you had to haul your rear to the outhouse with a updraft an haul water in 2 gallon buckets of water in below zero temp to cook in the romance disappears.

[@reader5033]

You

[@reader5033]

@@tlockerk hopfsazhkp

[@showmemo3686]

As long as I had a big house, central air and heat, running water, machine shed full of tractors and combines, etc. and a Piggly Wiggly up the trail; I'm okay with it, too. Back then. I'd have been dead 20+ years.

[@aaronmartin7001]

Probably have a Facebook tiktok and Instagram but you long for simpler times..... stfu

[@sharonwillis993]

Wonderful to be able to see and hear the struggles and understand what they these people endured

[@gusgama8464]

God bless the USA 🇺🇸 Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@dianelove8147]

Thanku! Love from sunny California

[@PracticalKen]

This is awesome! I have an 1858 diary from MN, before and after it became a State. Entries from Red Wing, Goodhue,, Albert Lea, and many other areas. Amazing when you can see the daily life from one person's perspective. I struggle sometimes reading the old cursive writing in the videos I posted showing/reading the entries. Thank you for sharing! 😀

[@rosemariejoy4578]

Although I do love the nostalgia of days gone by, I know that I would not have survived medically...I have overcome many illnesses throughout my life..and now at age 60, I am fighting lung cancer,....NEURO ENDO CRINE LUNG CANCER does not have a cure to this day. But with GODS help I have made it past the yrs thought to be the small amt to live with this desease...

[@BobHoffmannBHMY]

It's great that this program is available again from Prairie Public through KZbin. Two of my heritage strands were among those who founded the town of New Salem along the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883.

[@lesliekendall5668]

The 7 brothers from Bohemia reminded me of my own family. My great great grand-parents who came from Bohemia in 1881 originally homesteaded in Minnesota (dairy farming, surnamed Ourada) and then 5 of the sons (one being my great-grandfather) @ 1910 came to Boise, Idaho and the family of my great-uncle still lives on their original claim and is a Centennial farm.

[@RB-im5mk]

I watch this when I stop appreciating in how hard life was and how ignorant we are today.

[@kimnuyen4628]

Many came from Scandinavia don't cha know, ya betcha. ☺

[@Maridun50]

Well - the world's most famous homesteader is Charles Ingalls, thanks to his daughter, Laura's, Little House books. But I guess there are thousands of stories out there........

[@michaeldalton8374]

The only thing that differentiated the Ingalls from every other homesteader is the granddaughter writing the stories (Rose Lane). They lived just as thousands of others did.

[@Maridun50]

@@michaeldalton8374 I think another thing differented them: their music - Charles' violin - they read and recited poetry and hymns - they sang. Their cultural life was beyond most pioneer families at the same time of the struggles they shared with everyone else. And why take all the credit away from Laura? No need to fo that.

[@michaeldalton8374]

@@Maridun50 Credit is given where it is due. Rose Lane gave those sparse manuscripts all the zing that people love them for: thematic elements, pacing, color. It was her artistry and connections that made them fit for publishing. Laura basically had diary entries. After Lane’s death, even Roger MacBride had a go at sprucing up the drab style of Wilder in the last book “The First Four Years”. It still came out flat and lacking. Believe me, Rose Lane deserves credit for the Little House books. Furthermore, a lot of the homes had instruments. Guitars were not altogether uncommon. If you had no electricity, you made your own entertainment. We know about the Ingalls’ entertainment because of the books. We know little of how others spent their idle time. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@kathyyoung1774]

Sadly, nobody wrote them down. Write your family history and stories to leave for your descendants.

[@dellingson4833]

I'm 5th generation of family which homesteaded and came from Norway. By the way i'm in the red river valley of North Dakota.

[@jaketm4500]

I may be wrong but I think I've seen your last name within our family history.any relatives named ohnstad,Bjelde or any connection to the area of Aurland Norway?

[@dellingson4833]

@@jaketm4500 my Grandma in the 90's be4 she passed went to meet out cousins not far from Ohnstad. I would have to look at the family tree at my aunt's house. Small world right?

[@jaketm4500]

I have a great great and a great great great grandfather buried in the Nora lutheran church yard East of Gardner N.D.and my great grandmother and gr uncle's and aunts were all born at Gardner before they moved to the Eagle creek area of saskatchewan. Near Perdue sk. And yes it is a small world.its Uffda cold out so I figured it was a good time to dig into some history!

[@dellingson4833]

@@jaketm4500 My wife's family both sides are also from Norway they were water well diggers. My grandparent's and great grandparent's are buried at the Lutheran cemetery by the homestead farm maybe 20 miles north of Gardner at Reynolds, ND. Which is 15 miles south of me now. It's been a pleasure speaking with you.

[@kathybishop6623]

Moorhead my dad was from a farm near Roseau I'm an anderson probably have a million relitives.

[@TWOCOWS1]

fantastic. thanks. just one thing: the indians were not allowed to file for homesteading simply because they were not citizens till 1922. they were "independent nations" in treaty with the amercian gov. they chose that option when g. washington was in office! In order to homestead, they needed to give up their independent triablk/national identity, and become US citizens (like all the immigrants). There was that legal issue. The moment it was taken care of, the Indians could and did homestead. The did NOT need to give up being indinas, but being foreigners. They needed to become american citizens. In 1922, a law in DC made all indians citizens, with the right to vote

[@patriciawagstaff6302]

Great history of our ancestors in comparison to the strife we as a nation now must endure per the Covid -19 pandemic , the riots, and protesting all over this great country. I wonder what the history books will write about all of this . I fear that history will not be kind to some. Especially to those in the WH.... But thank you for your very interesting video. Pat- Michigan 2020

[@oralialafond9215]

Wow .. great video .. my grandparents homesteaded Oklahoma .. I'm glad there's historical information for us to see. Thank you

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

@@oralialafond9215 I’m from Oklahoma too, I wish I knew the history of my grandparents and further back. I no live there but would love to know more history of my family.

[@danielphipps7908]

The spirit of these people was great to know and learn about, the time of their lives and what they wrote for us is something else. The women who married during this time, had to know what they were getting into. Nothing romantic about homesteading. Hard work was mostly what they were up against.

[@jenniferwilliams7]

Wow, what a wonderful video! I have so much respect for those homesteaders!

[@user-ib5sv3vl5s]

My great great grandparents homesteaded the family farm. I'm proud to be 5th generation. I was born a century too late. Living off grid, horse drawn machinery/small tractors, honest work, etc. I have always had Interest in it, and have some. I have a big garden, milk my own cows, drink raw milk, make my own butter, and am expanding to cheese. I can and preserve and freeze my own foods. Like that better than processed foods. Homesteading is an amazing way of life few can do or handle today. I'm more at home at a threshing bee that infront of a computer or TV, but do use them occasionally.

[@pamthompson3170]

Those are all good skills to have.

[@Cryo837]

My grandma (100% Norwegian) was born in 1894 in Bottineau ND. Her family had immigrated from Norway but she was born in the U.S. Not being farmers in Norway, they fell for the immigration brochures and thought living in ND would be easy. It was not. So later they moved west from ND and became farmers (Dairy/Chickens/etc.).

[@shopsshire9282]

At 23 minutes and 37 seconds, when she mentions how they built the house on the border of their quarter sections, I I immediately thought, " Little House on the Border".

[@jampasurprenant1794]

I'm delighted to learn about the homestead .

[@babylover0990]

As far back as I can remember, my roots in America have always been in the Midwest, my great-grandparents on my mothers side settled in ND and on my fathers side in SD. Then my grandparents on my mothers side settled in MN and on my fathers side in WY and finally my parents in SD. My great-grandparents came to America through Ellis Island from Norway and Sweden. I wish I knew more about my family history, though. I'd love to write their stories traveling from Norway and Sweden, and everything up until they settled in ND or SD and then continue on writing up until to the present day. That would be such a great thing to leave for my children some day, the stories of their ancestors...

[@dellingson4833]

Mine came from Norway also through Ellis and i'm in eastern ND. Greetings.

[@BbqsecretsCa---BESTBBQRECIPES]

Did you write your story yet?. #DataDiggerDon would love to know. 🤗

[@JulieDeuxFois]

These homesteaders lived without electricity in these fortune shacks and survived... but now our governments won't let us build by ourselves and live off the land. it's a shame

[@sassyfrass4295]

We should do it anyway. These people did it anyway.

[@dellingson4833]

@Southeastern777 that's a big no.

[@prettytse7762]

They sold it to the Jewish.

[@kathyyoung1774]

And God help you if you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, the ultimate in Control Freaks, where even your mailbox paint color is special order and only one brand of swing set is allowed in your back yard. Our ancestors were individualists, not ants and worker bees.

[@jturtle5318]

Plant trees. Any kind, although I favor oaks, hickories, apples and other fruit trees. Then plant berry bushes under the trees, and perennials around those. Grow your own food and medicine. Watch Bealtaine Cottage on KZbin.

[@terinn7115]

Anyone watching this might enjoy the book 'Land of the Burnt Thigh' by Edith Eudora Kohl. It's a really terrific account of this very subject, at this very time, in this very location. Very comprehensive, quite funny at times.

[@horseyhead2]

Every time I drive across this country, I marvel at the strength of the pioneers. So impressive to make it all that way in those times. Hats off to your ancestors, you descendants! I wonder in this show though why that one fellow says the Norwegians were worse neighbors than the Dakota. I'm an east-coast city person (not Norwegian) so have no idea, but just wondering why that one fellow says that.

[@babylover0990]

I wonder the same thing, but mostly because I AM Norwegian...I hope my great-grandparents weren't one of those families they didn't like! I hope they were one of the Norwegian families that people did like as neighbors!

[@markroeder2491]

It was said by a stubborn Swede. They still resent the fact that the Norwegians were pretty much better at everything than the Swedes. LOL

[@kathrynjeanmarie6804]

horseyhead2 .

[@riggs20]

I took it as a joke about the rivalry between different immigrant groups. It could have just as easily been any other nationality. He just happened to use Norwegians as an example.

[@williamsullivan7981]

This video greatly enhanced my lesson on Westward Expansion. Thank you ! - William Sullivan - U.S. History - Sam Houston High School, San Antonio, TX

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

A great part of the American West my grandparents were Homesteaders in Nebraska.

[@jesuscares7]

My friends were homesteaders in NY State, my great-great-grandmother was a homesteader in Tennessee where she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse.

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

I love reading about them and seeing movies was a great part of the American event and always the books LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRY was my favorite.

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

why thank you Piet I completely agree :

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

Dee mine came from Denmark and Russia o one side and the British Isles on the other and went through Canada and settled in Nebraska,Minnesota and Iowa. My grandmother herself had an extremely hard life I guess I should write about it sometime as well as my own mother who lived through the 1930s drought in the midwest.

[@michaeltesluk623]

+Kristina Mikkelson Casanova It makes me sick that you ignorant people have pride in making a life off stolen land.You have nothing to be proud of unless you believe raping and killing people is a good thing as long as you benefit from it. If your not sure what I'm talking about read you history books. When your done with history books start with the legal books that will according to the laws at that time AND today give you the defenition of what you look at in the mirror EVERY morning. It's nothing to be proud of!

[@karenlasslett5731]

The guy that says people were much more gullible then. Really? I just lived through 2020, and I've seen some crazy shit that proves that statement wrong.

[@oledihardrosales3706]

My family on one side, left Iowa in 1862, with five children, and hit the Santa Fe Trail. They stayed in Santa Fe until spring of 1863 then set out on the Gila River Trail into Phoenix. The first State census and all others later show only 3 children. Somewhere through the trek 2 children were lost. The family settled in what is now, Walnut Grove, Arizona near Prescott. The other side left Kansas after the Civil War 1868 having fought for the North while uncles, brothers, cousins-- still in Tennessee and Kentucky--fought for the South--brother against brother. Family on this side left Kansas and some taking the Oregon Trail, others the Santa Fe. My Great-great-grandparents settled in Picket Post, Arizona, near Prescott. Love and marriage followed and eventually I was born. I'm trying to write a story for my grandchildren wanting them feel, as much as possible, the lives of the pioneers and what their ancestors endured. These documentaries are fascinating. Here lies the history of so many. Names on a piece of paper tell very little. I want our children and myself, to bring to life our past. Thank you for keeping our history alive.

[@701chevy9]

Born and raised in SW ND, very close to Gladstone. Farming, dairy and ranching. Hungarian, German, Scandinavian descent mainly, I believe my family came over in the mid to late 1800's.

[@europeanafricanledeplorabi6413]

Me , South African but I've been In Bowbells ND , beautiful place indeed

[@trankt54155]

Did you visit Devils Lake, ND?

[@europeanafricanledeplorabi6413]

@@trankt54155, no , only Jamestown

[@judya.shroads8245]

I just read an old book on a woman homesteader. She has a job taking care of a scottish man's home, while building on your property next to his. It's a fascinating journey for this lady.

[@Kmek24]

Are there multiple copies? I'd love to read it.

[@judya.shroads8245]

@@Kmek24 My book must be old, because it fell apart in three sections and the pages are folded down on the corners. It didn't matter to me, I've read it twice, so far. It may even smell musty. I can't smell. I will happily send it to you. I truly enjoyed it. They don't make most woman like that any longer. Message me your name and address, if you want it. I will send it freely to you to enjoy. I live in West Virginia. Thank you

[@judya.shroads8245]

@@Kmek24 When I go to my house thurs, I will write down the name and author of the book. The library maybe either has it or can order it from another library. Amazon has books for sale, also. Ok I only have the one copy, but I understand that you may want a cleaner book than what I have. I was in the Army and nothing seems to bother me any more. Lol

[@judya.shroads8245]

@@Kmek24 This is the title of the book that I read twice. Letters of a Woman Homesteader, by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. Copyright 1913, 1914, 1942. Hope this helps you.

[@wildfood1]

I'm reading that now, it's an audiobook on KZbin. That lady had a great attitude that would get her through any tough spot!

[@cob9834]

My 1800’s homesteaders Didn’t just make it somehow, many of them died, in childhood or young adulthood. The ones that did survive, were very very tough indeed.

[@thomasjayporter]

This is a brilliant tribute to people who left everything to settle the northern plains. It was an honor to be part of this production.

[@idliketosay]

Tom Porter I hope you feel the same way abt the illegal immigrants who have trekked thousands of miles from Southern American to the good ol’ US of A for a better life in the northern Americas. 👍👍.

[@shellc6743]

How do you feel about the native people who were forced to give up their land and live in reservations ?

[@j_jones_]

idliketosay stfu

[@shellc6743]

@Southeastern777 No wonder the rest of the world is appalled by US Americans.

[@shellc6743]

@Southeastern777 You will see .....

[@trankt54155]

I used to live in Kyle, Wanblee and Pine Ridge.......drove to RC during the weekends to hang out....our coach took days.....

[@tilesetter1953]

This is how a documentary should be done, bravo!!! Very little music and TURNED DOWN when people are talking, not like so called "history channel" (no caps) and the like.

[@Poetic_Justice1962]

I watched The Homesman, a movie about the Nebraska Territory in those times, and Hilary Swank, who plays the female lead, who was born in Nebraska, can trace her family roots back all the way to those times. I can very much recommend this film for its raw portrayal of the times of the Big Trails - the Oregon Trail - , and the way of living, and dying, back then.

[@chachas895]

Oké i look for that movie. I seen a movie. Its 2parts. The emmigrants and part 2 the New land. By Jan troell. Its about a s vedisch family. Its one off the best movies if seen. About pioneer. Seen it on losmovies. Its very long. In totaal more than 5 or 6 hours. Enjoy

[@chachas895]

I found the movie. Wacht ING now for about 30 min. Its great. Really good. Thanks. From the netherlands.

[@BbqsecretsCa---BESTBBQRECIPES]

Do you have a link that you can share for that movie please.

[@Yogirliej4dee]

Raising a family was hard then..but imagine having so many children just so a few survive to adulthood. Even now just having two kids is challenging but with modern hospitals.

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

My grand parents homesteaded Nebraska around the Hartington area ....around the early 1900s and in a covered wagon. They built a sod house where my mother lived until she was eight when the government took the land back in the 1930s because they could not pay for the taxes.

[@khodgesUSAF]

What about the peoples who were already living there like my ancestors....

[@ragtagarmy8428]

my grandparents came here in 1919 from germany

[@jinsvunsolved]

From Bavaria?

[@FarmsteadForge]

Very interesting... you would have had to of been a tough cookie to homestead in North Dakota. I grew up 5th generation on a homestead in Montana and am proud of it. Thanks for the video.

[@jennienorton2177]

Thank you for sharing this learned alot

[@oralialafond9215]

Thank you for posting this video! I found it very interesting and informative.

[@patriciakavanaugh5300]

My paternal Grandmother was a homesteader in south-central South Dakota, as well as one of her daughters. Tough women. My Grandfather was an Irish immigrant from Canada who came down to homestead also.

[@janupczak1643]

Back when people had GRIT.❤

[@laserbeam002]

Yeah, back when people had grit....and stole Native Americans land and either murdered them or starved many to death. By the 1890's there were only about 200 thousand Indians left where in the 1800's there were over 1 million

[@janupczak1643]

@@laserbeam002 I'm sorry, but you're talking apples and oranges. Yes, what was done to the Native American people was one of the two worst stains on American history. I've been a life long advocate for the the Native American people and our country's responsibility to "right the wrongs" perpetrated upon them in any way possible. (Not that I believe for one minute that could ever happen.) There is no way to ever make up for the way they were treated. Manifest Destiny be damned, it was all wrong. Period. On that subject you are preaching to the choir... However, it doesn't negate the fact that those early settlers, pioneers, inventors, AND Native Americans, all had an inner core or strength, both physical and mental, lacking today. We have become weak, lazy, and soft. I personally would not have the "grit" required to leave everything behind in live in a wagon train.We

[@laserbeam002]

@@janupczak1643 I totally agree.

[@janupczak1643]

@@laserbeam002 ❤👍

[@rogerthornton4068]

Some had grit and some hung themselves.

[@LindaCasey]

Wow .. great video .. my grandparents homesteaded Oklahoma .. I'm glad there's historical information for us to see. Thank you

[@annietomsik3717]

One land deed says Almanzo Wilder. That is the husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Awesome huh. The actual document.

[@lynnhauenstein4136]

That is cool, read all Ingalls books at least 3 times as youngster. Blizzards requiring ropes for pa to go to barn. Still remember it.

[@reneemclane1845]

I like the books, I could never watch the show. It was like Little House goes Hollywood.

[@reneemclane1845]

You can also find them on the US census.

[@Fairyviewroad]

@@reneemclane1845 I read all the books many times & watched the show. I loved both.

[@BbqsecretsCa---BESTBBQRECIPES]

@@Fairyviewroad Just curious where could a person get these books so they could read it?. Thanks

[@kathiegifford5112]

The Indians were included in the video. Remember the homesteader who said she hadn't seen another human in seven years when one day Indians put up their tepees near her home? She described them as very industrious. Remember the Indians filed for a homestead too which was eventually granted to them? The German homesteaders wanted the Indian homesteaders saying they were better neighbors than the Norwegians. Germans understood discrimination. They had been subject to discrimination in the lands they emigrated from similar to that experienced by the Indians. If you read the history of the Germans from Russia, you would realize that they suffered the confiscation of their land, farms, vineyards, crops, homes, churches and villages they had built in Russia for over 200 years, were starved and murdered and survivors were exiled to a god forsaken frozen Siberia where many died. In some important ways, Germans and Indians share a similar history of hardship. From the beginning of human history, survival has been the key purpose...it was a quest for resources to preserve life and stave off early death. There was no electricity, no refrigeration except for ice, no food preservation except for drying and salt, no flushing toilets to prevent disease, no telephones, no grocery stores, no A/C, no vaccine, no treated water, no advance weather reports, no motor vehicles, no ready to wear clothes. There was no political correctness...there was no time for that if you wanted to be able to eat and have shelter. It was daily hard work from sun up to sun down, and overcoming disease and starvation. Energy came from water, wind, animals and humans. Humans were enslaved to provide that energy for the strongest civilizations. It didn't matter the color or ethnicity of the conquered. It was what the conquered had or could be used for to further the survival of the conqueror. Everyone was trying to survive even if it meant others had to perish. Survival of the fittest. Today the weakest can survive. But just 120 years ago it was a whole different world for the majority of humans alive at that time period that many young people today can't begin to fathom.

[@jacintabyline]

Greetings (Kia ora) from New Zealand. What a wonderful documentary. I have been fascinated with the US homesteading act since I first read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as a young girl (and have since re-read many times including to my children). I was interested to see that one of the homestead claims shown was actually that of Almanzo Wilder (Laura's husband). New Zealand had the same hardy settlers, mainly British, Scots, and Irish - but also Europeans to a lesser degree, who helped to make our country and land what it is today. Thankfully though, being a more temperate climate, and no natural predators, they didn't have quite such a hard time. I so admire those good people who worked their fingers to the bone, just to have a place to call their own on what were then, very hostile plains.

[@LetsGoGetThem]

From the other side of the pond, I am Norwegian with a drop of American blood. My great grandfather bagged himself an American woman and moved back to Norway with her when work was done.

[@joshuatraffanstedt2695]

American isnt a race. Chances are she was of similar ethnicity to your great grandfather. English, Scottish, Norwegian, swedish, etc.

[@LetsGoGetThem]

@@joshuatraffanstedt2695 "Race" is not a thing and has been disproven scientifically, when I say I have American ancestry I mean it like when I say I have Norwegian ancestors, in regards to nationality which is and never was defined by your genetics or "race".

[@joshuatraffanstedt2695]

@@LetsGoGetThem yeah I know that. The human race is all there is. But still the same. American isnt an ethnicity. Hows that?

[@DeerheartStudioArts]

certainly referring to finding a wife as hunting an animal ( like bagging a buck deer) is so insulting and outdated consciousness. It’s also called politically improper and incorrect!

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

Bravo! Well done, you honored their hard work and memories well.

[@richardmonson8657]

Fascinating. Today we have replaced “opportunity” with “entitlement.”

[@lynnhauenstein4136]

No kidding.

[@lynnhauenstein4136]

Bet they never expected that, gov media

[@coypu2005]

Yep. Sad isn’t it.

[@audreymuzingo933]

Can you explain? The land giveaways were entitlements by definition (you were entitled to receive a free land parcel).

[@danielkosciuszko9788]

@@audreymuzingo933 true but the land had no value unless they worked it. Today its different

[@daphneward3096]

My Granfather Jay (Joseph) Dart and his brother were two of those who settled near Towner/Denbeigh North Dakota

[@darleneferree3887]

hard work!

[@screeningmimi]

What a treat, thank you! My grandparents on both sides were Dakota homesteaders.

[@lenaintexas9740]

What a wonderful film! I enjoyed it very much, I actually might have my daughter watch this for a history lesson. Thank you so much for posting!

[@ronginther1986]

My grandmother Birgit Holbeck met my future grandfather at a young oeople's Bible study in Csnton, SD. My grandmother on the small farm of 80 actes originally had to peovide meals for a total of 7 girls and 2 boys. The family braved the 1930s and Dust Bowl, not to mention the post WW I Great Influenza. Mama Stadem as her adoring children called her gave passing Indians her best bread and jelly (a whole jar, of of which her children only a spoonful now and then. That was her love for Indians who had less and my grandparents strapped as they were did not begrudge Indians a meal. I am sorry about the Flandreau Indians and Norwegians. I went to Augustana Academy in Canton three years and graduated in 1960. Our outstanding basketball team we had played the Flandreau Indian school team. I trust they were treated well. My mother was widowed, so I did not have spending money and did not go to any games. One only I attended for selling entrance tickets, and I was so busy tryimg to keep boys from crashing I got no fun being there. A jar of local chokecherry jam or jelly with thick butter on homemade wheat bread--better than most any dessert! I would love a slice now! It cannot be bought.

[@takayama1638]

But the dagnabbed winter time up there! Whew. I cannae stand that kind of cold.

[@motherearth5462]

I love the Winters. I don’t like Heat

[@donald7212]

Imagine the heartache people felt loosing there so hard fought for homestead due to reason beyond there control (crop prices, banks) that we've done all we can do but we must leave all that we've known and worked and died for imagine if you can, that beaten down man finally having to say "it's going to be okay my family we'll find something else never loose faith in us".......

[@earllutz2663]

What an epoch story of grit and tenacity, of our ancestors and our County. Thank you for bringing the story to us.

[@Scipio_Americanus]

Epic not epoch

[@cheekymonkey2]

They came after the Civil War and before WWII. I'd say homesteading was better than suffering through wars.

[@Brimasmom]

Outstanding production. I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary and the education I took from it will live long in my memory. Thank you!

[@mlackey9812]

I too am the progeny of 1872 North Dakota German Homesteaders as well as 1889 Oklahoma Homesteaders. Wonderful stories from my Great Grandparents and their children, my Grandparents ( dob 1902, 03, 04, 05) Indians in TP's on the 4th of July, the sound of drums and chanting deep into the night alarming the children. Native Americans coming to their doors and such. Runaway 'teams' of horses, plowing 640 acres by horse and plow, loading and taking to town 5 tall wagons of wheat in the morning and then in the afternoon for days upon end to silo their grain and on and on.

[@n.elliottnoorlun8304]

Excellent program!! Very inspiring and artistically impressive from the video footage to the choice of music!!! ;o)

[@arielhaislip8870]

Thank you for putting up this video. I love it! Keep them coming!

[@DebAndTheDesertDogs]

Thank you. I enjoyed your production. My Mother was raised on a farm in South Dakota during the Great Depression but I was born & raised in California, so learning this history was quite impressive. I only know that my Mom came from very strong & hard working stock.

[@mochiebellina8190]

Like I thought 50 years ago, I was born 100 years too late. Look at me now forced to be masked like a buffoon.

[@snowyparker1462]

I was born in 2001 and you're not alone. Many of us my age want away from all this even more than some millennials do.

[@Scipio_Americanus]

Lol sure big guy. You would be eaten alive and begging to return to the present.

[@kathyandersen8243]

We live in the high desert.and live on a dirt road.we have a mule .chickens.horses and goats.i have hauled water.i had cold water .we had super size snakes.they tried to eat our chicks and our full grown rabbits.in cages .they were the size of your arm and at least 4 or more ft.long.we had hundrens of quail.i didnt see a neighbor for6 months.and my best friend was looking for her dog.i jump in her pickup.we found the dog.i have a broken back in 2 placess.a famale problem.need eye surgery.and lame in the right foot.i have been taking care of my husbandwho is bed ridden for 5 years..imgoing toplant a garden.and put in fruit trees.im not dead yet.still have hopes and dreams .homesteading lives on.❤

[@Jersey.D3vil]

I love this type of history, but I feel so very conflict considering how this land was acquired.

[@tlockerk]

I have a photo of my great-grandmother (I interviewed her and her youngest sister) and her siblings sitting ontop their soddy in NW KS (also a German from Russia). They both hate the dirt house, stories of snakes dropping through roof.. Oh, Loved your book, Deborah!

[@mlackey9812]

My grandparent grew up in Sodies as well. Snake and Scorpions were not an uncommon sight. Apparently quite disturbing when they fell onto the bed covers in the night!

[@lissablue176]

I’m loving all that I’m finding. Age 8/10: I read all the western books, Kit Carson etc. I’m still interested in our early history.

[@ABeautfulMess]

My husband is Native American from South Dakota and German..we live in Huron..I'm from DC

[@trankt54155]

I think I may have met him....Was he in Pine Ridge Res.?

[@PaulaakaPaben]

My Germans from Russia Grandparents homesteaded in SD. I grew up in SD.

[@pamthompson3170]

My grandma told the story of the time when living in a little house with a wood stove for heat that it got so cold at one night that a crate of eggs sitting by the stove froze. She said that they had put my dad and Uncle Max in bed with them and they were ok.

[@kathyl6677]

The Wheat King. hahahahaha My great great grandpa, in Williston, ND, called himself the cattle king of Prussia.

[@Maliique]

43:12 "They rushed for Southwest North Dakota", had to pause. funny though. South west north

[@herbbearingseed]

Can I see more of that wonderful blue?Wow! can't watch the show being distracted. thanx,

[@mjcard]

I wish young people and people coming to North America knew this history. I am Canadian and my great grandparents were homesteaders and the description of their lives I was told is similar to many of the details in this excellent documentary. When people talk about entitlements and rights, they have no idea upon whose backs those things are established. Too bad some rich movie maker wouldn’t hire some big names and make a movie about the reality of the times.

[@christiebiscuts2340]

Same here. Homesteaders in the cypress hills.

[@carmichael2359]

I have a special love for the Dakotas being settled because of growing up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. And lo! and behold: didn't you all put almanzo Wilder's cl aim filing in this video!!!! That was such a neat thing for me to get to see!

[@au131951]

I miss America. It doesn't feel like America anymore.

[@kayazzara108]

Hopefully, we will start to turn the about to crash Titanic around on the 20th.

[@PAPITO_49]

My G-Granddad was a sod buster in North Platte, Nebraska from 1879-1900. My grandmother born 1899. In 1900 he sold out 4 farm and an ice house and moved to San Diego, California, died 1937. Edis family

[@TimNelson]

Well done!

[@Sonic45003]

Sadly many American don't even know their own roots and forget where they come from . Sometime a little moderation is needed and a little understanding of hard life of his own citizen when wealthy are fat as ever and most of middle class clearly despear !

[@markevanger4791]

My Grandmother Mary Smerud, homesteaded southeast of present day Maddock near land homesteaded near my Grandfather Julius Rosendahl.

[@jacquietremain5743]

Me. I've always felt I was born in the wrong time. Not because of some false romantic idea but more because at 69 years old I've never ever felt right. Especially now as the end of this world is approaching quite quickly now. Human beings were not made to govern themselves in any part of the earth. We are completely war like. We admire the wrong people. We r cruel to wildlife and domestic animals. We r extremely selfish. I love to look back to perhaps a more physical but satisfying time. Sadly even then children and wives had to cope with drunken or brutal husbands. Always hopeful that the new system on earth will be how it should be. Its nice to dream. 🤗😊🐈

[@shirleybalinski4535]

We homesteaded in Alaska before it became a state. We were covered under Lincoln's Homestead Act. Our papers had his picture & a scroll on the top. Most people do not realize Alaska was covered under the Act up until the late 1950's when a statehood happened. It was the " Last Frontier ". We lived similiar to the Homesteaders talked about in this video.

[@MiracleFound]

My great-grandparentsmet in Clarksfield Minnesota. They lived less than 5 miles apart in Norway and had never met there. My Norwegians settled in Yellow Medicine County Minnesota.

[@entrepreneurcity3317]

I'm thinking about becoming a homesteader. They were some of my heroes. Them, the ppl of the Appalachia, and southern share croppers ... tough times don't last long but tough people do.😤💯💯💯

[@Scipio_Americanus]

Sure buddy. You would eaten alive. Stick to playing your video games lol

[@entrepreneurcity3317]

@@Scipio_Americanus I hear you buddy but a better idea is maybe you should stick to your stupidity