Back in 1870, farmers in Ohio were earning about $1.23 a day, working six days a week. That added up to around $384 a year, not much, even for the time. But things were cheaper then too. You could buy an acre of land for $39, a cow for under $19, a bushel of potatoes for 92 cents, and a pound of rice for just 10 cents. Still, it was a hard life, and every dollar had to stretch a long way.
Farming meant long days, tough weather, and very little help beyond what your own family could provide. Most farms were family-run, and everyone, kids included, had a job to do. While there was no federal income tax back then, farmers still paid property taxes, and getting crops to market could be expensive. Many farmers felt squeezed by the railroads and banks, who they believed had the upper hand in setting prices and terms.
The U.S. was also on the gold standard at the time, with gold fixed at $20.67 an ounce. That meant money held its value, but it also made borrowing tough—loans were harder to get and harder to repay. Despite all that, farmers stuck it out. Their resilience, hard work, and strong ties to the land helped shape the country during one of its most challenging and changing eras.