My Family Farm

A Missouri Century Farm 1902-2002

The Wieland Farm, a 2002 Century Farm, is located in Phelps County, MO. A Century Farm is a tract of land that has been owned and farmed by the same family for at least 100 years.

Farm Details

Owners: John J. Wieland and his wife Margaret L. Wieland settled the farm from Scotland County, MO. They took ownership on September 6, 1902. Their son Oakle Wieland, and his wife Eunice, lived on the farm starting around 1935. Eunice still lives there today. Her children (my father and his siblings) currently own the farm.

Landmarks on or around the farm: Pea Ridge looms above the farm to the north, and Tick Creek, a Gasconade River tributary, has its year-round headwaters on the farm, originating at a small spring. The spring has never been known to cease flowing, as for example, during the deep droughts of the early 1930s, other farmers in the area would bring their livestock to the creek to get water, as it was the only water available. Roach Cemetery, with its distinct church and old, large pine trees is surrounded by the farm on three sides. The farm is also bordered on the southeast by "Old Wire Road", the original telegraph road between Springfield and Rolla. This road was a strategic route during the Civil War.

Farm grounds/Improvements: The original house burned and the current house was built in 1954. The original barn was torn down and the current barn was built in 1957. The smokehouse, granary, and springhouse are all original buildings, each over 130 years old. Other out-buildings have been built over the years as well. A pond was built on the farm in the 1950s.

Usage: There have been many different uses of the farm over the years. Various livestock animals were raised (cattle, hogs, chickens, etc.). Work horses were occasionally sold as well. In addition, many crops were raised, including wheat, corn, oats, and various other vegetables. Sorghum was grown and processed using a horse-powered sorghum press. During the 1950s, a dairy operation was run to produce milk for a cheese factory. The milk was placed in cream cans and left in the springhouse to keep it refrigerated, until a truck came by to pick it up. In more recent times, the farm was used as a cow/calf operation, and finally has been rented as both cattle pasture and currently as hay fields.

Pictures

The old house.

The old barn.

The smokehouse.

The granary.

The springhouse.

The cemetery.

The farm.

Created By: John F. Wieland
Last Updated: March 16, 2003