1978 December 19

INTRODUCTION

MARIUS DUEHOLM SETTLES IN TOWN OF BONE LAKE, POLK COUNTY
Scope and Content Note: Harvey Dueholm's father, Marius Dueholm, emigrated from Sonberg, Denmark, at age nine; worked in Polk County woods until 1898 when, at age 17, he bought 80 acres of land. Farm comprised east half of northwest quarter of Section 27 in Township 36 of Range 16; later considered to contain the least waste-land, most productive soil of any 80-acre homestead in Blue Lake township. Purchase price of $320 lowered $20 to compensate for two- or three-acre pond, which actually constituted an asset; cows watered there in summer months. Marius in 1906 married a Jensen whose parents had homesteaded land one-half mile from Dueholm's acreage in 1874. Marius Dueholm and bride moved into partially completed two-story 18'x18' house with small basement in late summer 1906. Two screened porches and full basement included in 16'x16' addition constructed when Harvey Dueholm six years old. Harvey Dueholm one of ten children, five of whom lived to adulthood.

MARIUS DUEHOLM EARNS ADDITIONAL INCOME
Scope and Content Note: After marriage began driving wool wagon for Barron Woolen Company three months a year, just as did his brother-in-law, Jens Jensen. Later, the many contacts made while driving wagon for 11 years proved politically useful.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DUEHOLM FAMILY LIFE
Scope and Content Note: All cows and horses named; animals meant much to Marius Dueholm. Family retained such Danish customs as coffee every afternoon and gift exchange on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Recalls father's wish to be buried under the “basket tree”; indicative of Marius Dueholm's love for his land.

MARIUS DUEHOLM BUYS ADDITIONAL LAND IN
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm accepted wife's objection and refused $1,800 sale price for 80 acres east of homestead in 1918. Purchased 105 acres west of farm for $3,900 in 1920 when he realized expansion necessary. Steadily cleared additional acreage for cropland.

HARVEY DUEHOLM BEGINS FARMING AND MARRIES
Scope and Content Note: Harvey Dueholm assumed increasing responsibilities on parents' 185 acre farm as Marius Dueholm became politically active. Marius Dueholm died of cancer in 1936; Harvey expanded barn in 1937. Purchased another 80 acres with house and barn east of parents' farm for $1,700 in 1938. Paid carpenter 30 cents an hour to repair fire-damaged house; moved in with bride, Hazel Smith, in 1940.

DUEHOLM PURCHASES PERMANENT FAMILY HOME; FINANCIALLY SUPPORTS MOTHER AND SISTER
Scope and Content Note: War-induced construction supplies shortage meant Dueholm unable to rebuild barn on parents' farm which burned November 10, 1943. Purchased 80 acres just north of parents' farm; had barn and “very comfortable” house after addition built in 1946. Dueholm paid all bills incurred by mother and ill sister, who remained on original family homestead.

ADDITIONAL LAND ACQUISITIONS
Scope and Content Note: In 1957 purchased 80 acres about two and one-half miles from 345 acres already owned; included about 25 acres of field land. After land purchases of 40 acres in northeast quarter of Section 28 in 1961 and 60 acres in Section 21 about 1963, total farm acreage stood at 525.

DUEHOLM SELLS DAIRY HERD IN
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm elected to state Assembly in 1958 but with help of his four sons, “farming went very well” until fall of 1964 when experienced hired man quit after an argument with Dueholm's brother. One buyer bought dairy herd in two installments in 1964-65 after Dueholm realized farm a money-losing operation. “It just felt like part of me went at the same time” when cows sold for average of $200 and heifers for about $45 at private sale.

LAND USE SINCE HERD SALE
Scope and Content Note: For a number of years, Dueholm bought cattle in spring to be sold in fall; neighbors rented land, mostly for hay. Dueholm and wife gradually gave all land, except 80 acres, to their four sons jointly. Only two sons continue to farm part time.

COMPOSITION OF MARIUS DUEHOLM'S DAIRY HERD
Scope and Content Note: Primarily “native” shorthorns and grade Guernsey cows; never purchased a pure-bred cow. Recalls cows bred at neighbor's farm for $2 to $5.

END OF TAPE 12, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

DESCRIPTION OF FARM LIVESTOCK
Scope and Content Note: Marius Dueholm generally kept three horses and never more than 19 head of dairy cattle. Brucellosis (Bang's disease) entered dairy herd in early 1920's, but “the herd surprisingly didn't deteriorate too much.” Harvey Dueholm lost majority of two herds because of Bang's; recalls 26 of 36 cattle confiscated by government officials testing for brucellosis in 1937. Calf pneumonia frequently killed calves born in winter months.

DUEHOLM BEGINS MILKING REGISTERED GUERNSEYS
Scope and Content Note: First registered heifer purchased as oldest son's 4-H calf about 1950. Registered Guernseys comprised one-third of dairy herd when sold in 1964-65.

COMMENTS ON THE RISKS BULLS INVOLVE
Scope and Content Note: After several anecdotes which illustrate the dangers of keeping bulls, Dueholm concluded that artificial insemination has saved many lives. Dueholm used both bulls and artificial insemination in later farming years.

FARMING TECHNIQUES CHANGE IN
Scope and Content Note: Three-year crop rotation of corn, oats and hay, with no fertilizer except manure, used until county extension agent suggested grassland farming about 1940. “Never made more money farming in my life” because could farm “very cheap(ly)”; e.g., received $1,500 from American Soil Conservation Service (ASCS) for not raising corn; limed fields and raised alfalfa; put up hay and grass silage; sprayed herbicides and “drilled” rather than “checked” corn so less erosion occurred.

MORE COMMENTS ON LIVESTOCK
Scope and Content Note: In addition to cattle and horses, raised a few chickens and kept two sows which both had litters each spring and fall; sold piglets if litter size exceeded 14. Recalls began raising horses “about the time that we should have gone out of it;...(but) we liked horses too much.”

TRACTORS
Scope and Content Note: Most area farmers used tractors before Dueholm purchased Ford tractor in 1942; paid $1,120 for tractor, cultivator, plow, lights and pulley. Purchased second Ford tractor in 1948 when no other make available; Fords were “cheap” and “handy.” Seldom used small Ford tractors after purchased John Deere Model A in 1949 and a powerful International Harvester 300 Utility in 1954.

MILK MARKETING IN BONE LAKE AREA
Scope and Content Note: Early Bone Lake Cooperative Creamery burned Christmas Day 1914. Cream delivered to rebuilt Bone Lake Cooperative Creamery three miles from Dueholm farm until 1937, when Land O'Lakes Creameries, Inc. constructed a drying plant and accepted whole milk. Dueholm joined other Guernsey dairymen in protest of Land O'Lakes' failure to pay according to butter-fat content; marketed cream to Four Corners and Turtle Lake Cooperative creameries and retained skim milk for hogs. Later sold whole milk; butter creameries later on disappeared completely from Polk County.

END OF TAPE 12, SIDE 2

INTRODUCTION

MORE ON MILK MARKETING
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm shipped milk by can to private Four Corners factory and Turtle Lake Cooperative Creamery; began marketing to Land O'Lakes Creamery after bulk tank installed on farm in 1957.

DUEHOLM MARKETS GRADE A MILK
Scope and Content Note: Extensive mastitis outbreak in dairy herd cost Dueholm thousands of dollars and postponed switch to Grade A operation until January 1953; “should have started before that.”

LIVESTOCK MARKETING
Scope and Content Note: Hogs and cattle generally shipped through Luck Cooperative Shipping Association by railroad to Farmers' Union or central South St. Paul stockyards. Stock haulers trucked from area farms to St. Paul beginning about 1930. Told several anecdotes to illustrate cattle buyers' questionable buying methods; “they didn't go around the country for their health.”

ELECTRIFICATION IN BONE LAKE AREA
Scope and Content Note: Marius Dueholm provided $200 for development of Luck Light and Power Company in 1921-22 but initially refused to purchase $150 transformer. Gasoline engine and kerosene lanterns used until $4.50 minimum electric service began in 1937. Marius Dueholm one of last area farmers to grant Wisconsin Hydro Electric Company, which purchased Luck Light and Power in 1930, right-of-way for cross-country Cumberland to Pine City highline. Recalls eventual $350 cash settlement succeeded Depression-related area bank closures. Some area farmers later joined rural electric cooperatives; Dueholm supported rural electric cooperative objectives, but never joined.

ETHNICITY OF BONE LAKE AREA
Scope and Content Note: Predominantly Danish, with some Norwegian and Swedish.

AREA INHABITANTS POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Scope and Content Note: Most area farmers, some even before naturalization, voted in every election. Recalls Marius Dueholm, naturalized in March 1902, consistently voted.

LUTHERAN SECTS PREDOMINATE IN BONE LAKE AREA
Scope and Content Note: Three area Lutheran churches included two Danish and the Norwegian Zion Lutheran church in northern Bone Lake township. “Singing Danes” and “Praying Danes” appellations used to distinguish between the two Danish congregations. Church attendance greatly increased after the two small Danish churches merged in 1960's; Zion church remained separate. Recalls Marius Dueholm one of few in area to vote, for Catholic candidate Alfred Smith in 1928 U.S. presidential election; indicative of widespread anti-Catholic sentiment.

END OF TAPE 13, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION EXTENDS INTO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm never thought about it while attending school, but “we were really going to parochial schools.” Each school day during World War I began with singing of “Onward Christian Soldiers.”

COMMENTS ON AREA PREJUDICES
Scope and Content Note: Anti-Catholic sentiment led to short-lived Ku Klux Klan activity in Luck-Milltown area; “didn't amount to anything” and died out by 1928. Indians employed by area farmers to clear land, but not considered equal to whites. Some anti-Semitism expressed as Adolph Hitler came to power in Germany but not a widespread or long-lived prejudice. Neighbors generally tolerant of each other.

COMMENTS ON HAZEL SMITH DUEHOLM'S ANCESTORS
Scope and Content Note: Hazel Smith's mother opposed marriage to Progressive, Lutheran Harvey Dueholm, frequently referred to as “Noisy” Dueholm, because Smith family traditionally “Republican first and Methodist second.” Hazel's father a long-time Clam Falls mail carrier; grandfather Rodney Smith the first Polk County highway commissioner; great-grand- father homesteaded in Town of Lorraine in 1874, an area reserved exclusively for Civil War veterans. Maternal great-grandfather a Civil War veteran who moved to Wisconsin from Pennsylvania.

AREA SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Impromptu visits between neighbors supplemented by barn dances, house parties, local debates, discussions led by the county extension agent, and meetings of area Parent-Teacher Associations and Luther Leagues. Neighborhood children generally visited on Sundays.

ANECDOTE ILLUSTRATES ANIMAL HANDLING MAXIM
Scope and Content Note: Never considered dropping a run-away animal's lead rope.

DUEHOLM FAMILY SHOPS IN LUCK
Scope and Content Note: Most often bought groceries at N.J. Christiansen store in Luck; seldom patronized Bone Lake store. Woolen goods purchased from Barron Woolen Company; other clothes mail-ordered from Sears-Roebuck and Company. Recalls Marius Dueholm very money conscious but a “very, very good provider”; often bought fresh fruit.

FEED GROUND AT AREA MILL

END OF TAPE 13, SIDE 2

INTRODUCTION

WHERE MEN GET TOGETHER TO TALK
Scope and Content Note: Talked when met on the road. Recalls trips to Luck very long because Marius Dueholm stopped and talked to everyone he met.

LIQUOR CONSUMPTION DURING PROHIBITION
Scope and Content Note: Some “home brew” made, but men didn't drink in presence of women, and no women drank. Frequent barn dance fights perhaps attributable to “moonshine's” high potency.

BONE LAKE TOWNSHIP ROAD MAINTENANCE
Scope and Content Note: High degree of revenue sharing with state government meant roads well maintained, even though swamps prevalent in Bone Lake township. Recalls Marius Dueholm believed 1920's poll tax a justified tax although some area farmers refused payment as protest. Describes snowplowing procedure with horses and first day on road maintenance crew.

FEDERAL WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA) AND FEED-LOAN PROGRAMS DURING
Scope and Content Note: Some area farmers paid federal feed loans by earning $5 a day doing WPA road improvement work. In 1936, Dueholm used horse team for cash-paying road work rather than doing fall plowing.

IMPACT OF DROUGHT DURING
Scope and Content Note: Except for 1935, drought throughout 1930's beginning in 1931; “it wasn't only the price was bad, but the drought was so bad (in) those years.” Recalls Marius Dueholm bought oat hulls and paid $24 a ton for two tons of hay after only four loads cut in 1934.

WISCONSIN FARMERS' UNION ORGANIZES IN EARLY
Scope and Content Note: Widespread foreclosures meant “nobody could be too radical”; lynchings sometimes proposed. Recalls American Society of Equity president George A. Nelson's opposition to Farmers' Union changed to enthusiasm once aware of his own imminent foreclosure. Many “conservative” Republicans in Town of Bone Lake never joined Farmers' Union; Equity and national Farmers' Holiday Association remained active.

COMMENTS ON WISCONSIN FARMERS' UNION PRESIDENT KENNETH HONES
Scope and Content Note: Marius Dueholm believed Hones misrepresented state legislators and dispersed poor advice.

COMMENTS ON WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL
Scope and Content Note: Land O'Lakes Creameries, Inc. director Jens Jensen opposed the Wisconsin Cooperative Milk Pool but most area farmers, including Marius Dueholm, withheld milk and cattle from market during three 1933 strikes. Strikes had only limited success but “couldn't blame them for holding their milk” because “nobody was getting hardly anything.” Relates how one large neighborhood family survived the Depression.

END OF TAPE 14, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

DUEHOLM JOINS WISCONSIN FARMERS' UNION IN
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm helped Farmers' Union field man H.S. Halverson, a former lumberman with Marius Dueholm, recruit several other area farmers after he had joined himself.

COMMENTS ON WISCONSIN FARMERS' UNION DIRECTOR HERBERT MITTELSDORF
Scope and Content Note: Frequently testified on neighbors' behalf at 1930's foreclosure mediation board hearings; later criticized by neighbors helped for being too radical. Disagreements with Guy Clark and Kenneth Hones perhaps stemmed from red-baiting charges.

FURTHER COMMENTS ON KENNETH HONES
Scope and Content Note: “By and large, Ken Hones did some pretty good work.” Cites difficulty of heading any farmers' organization because farmers basically conservative and independently minded.

COMMENTS ON WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION “OPERATION NORTHWEST” MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IN
Scope and Content Note: Although many friends became Farm Bureau members, Dueholm didn't join when approached because his philosophy conflicted with that of the organization. Dueholm believed U.S. government had right to enforce good conservation methods; favored city annexations. Believes recently enacted farmland preservation legislation a “speculator's paradise.”

COMPARES FARMERS' UNION TO FARM BUREAU
Scope and Content Note: Farmers' Union believed “what's good for the country is good for the Farmers' Union”; generally took a broader view of such issues as state aid for education than the Farm Bureau. Dueholm became a stronger Farmers' Union member after witnessing organization's lobbying efforts with Wisconsin legislators.

DUEHOLM STRONGLY SUPPORTS ZONING LAWS
Scope and Content Note: Most farmers opposed to zoning, but Dueholm opposed to seeing good farmland, land “that should be feeding people 300 or 400 years from now,” being used for housing developments.

COMMENTS ON NATIONAL FARMERS' ORGANIZATION (NFO)
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm joined NFO but remained a member only for short time. Agreed NFO somewhat successful in publicizing farmers' problems, but “they're really anti-coop” and resemble Farm Bureau in their opposition to government intervention. Recalls one NFO meeting at which Cong. Alvin E. O'Konski spoke.

COMMENTS ON NFO BEEF WITHHOLDING ACTIONS IN
Scope and Content Note: Dueholm would have withheld cattle if had still been farming then.

END OF TAPE 14, SIDE 2