Farm Establishment
What a Settler Needed
Costs and time required to establish a farm in Wisconsin
ca. 1850–1870
Basic Equipment for a Settler
Axe
Most important tool for land clearing
$2–3
Plow
For working the soil after clearing
$10–15
Scythe
For harvesting grain and hay
$2
Cow
For milk, butter, and later cheese
$15–25
Pigs (1–2)
Meat supply for winter
$3–5
Seeds
Wheat, potatoes, vegetables for first planting
$5–10
Total Cost for Basic Equipment
$50–100
In addition to travel costs already spent ($50–80 per person)
In Comparison: Cost vs. Income
Significance: Establishing a farm cost about 1.5 to 3 years’ income of a day laborer in the Eifel. Most immigrants therefore had to work as farmhands first to save the necessary capital.
The Long Road to a Productive Farm
Clearing the Forest
A strong man could clear about 2–3 acres per year – felling trees, digging out stumps, removing roots, preparing soil.
2–3 Acres/Year
First Harvest
After 1–2 years, the first cleared areas could be planted. The yields initially only covered the family’s own needs.
Year 1–2
Productive Farm (40 Acres)
A farm with 40 acres of cultivated land – enough for market production and modest prosperity – took 10–15 years of hard work.
10–15 Years
“These first years as farm laborers were hard, but they also served as an apprenticeship. The newcomers learned American farming methods and made contacts that would later help them build their own farms.”