Moving from Wisconsin, Simon Nicholas
home-steaded in South Dakota in the 1800s with his wife and at
least nine children. At a farm near Miller in Hand County (halfway
between Huron and Pierre), he raised cattle and small grains. In
1909, well into his sixth decade, Nicholas retired, moved to town
and began to plan a sale.
The sale bill listed 22 head of horses, 18 head of cattle, 16
hogs, a registered boar and a selection of farm machinery. Free
lunch was offered to 1,000 men. If that many showed, the sale was
surely the premier social event of the season in Hand County in
1909.
Unfortunately, Simon’s golden years were short-lived.
“Great-granddad sold the farm, moved to town and was killed in a
wreck with a team and wagon a few years later,” notes Roger
Nicholas, Simon’s great-grandson. “He should have unloaded more of
those horses, I guess.”
A retired farmer, Roger is haunted by the items listed on the
sale bill: The offering of farm equipment and miscellaneous items
remains tantalizing. “Wish we collectors could go to this sale,” he
muses, “but we’re 95 years late.”
Farm Collector reproduces some of the most spectacular
advertisements used to promote farm equipment and farm products in
days gone by. To submit a vintage advertisement for possible
publication, send it to: Iron Age Ads, Farm Collector,
1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609; or submit high-quality
digital images by e-mail: editor@farmcollector.com
