Question

In "Home Place Retold," why was siblings from one family marrying siblings from a neighboring family a common practice?

Answer 1

Welcome to open study (: do you mind pasting the story?

Answer 2

what does that mean? Pasting the story?

Answer 3

Do you mind copying the story "home place retold" and pasting it here?

Answer 4

yea sure

Answer 5

Long story though

Answer 6

HOME PLACE RETOLD

The painting showed a farm that was “home place” to Elizabeth Linscheid. She was a first generation American who spoke German with her family. Elizabeth wore long black dresses and kept her hair pulled back with a part in the middle. Although she was born in The States in the 1890s, her parents had left Europe only a decade before her birth. In 1881, more than 50 such families fled religious persecution in Europe. They were Mennonites, a religious group similar to the Amish. Those Mennonites, and small other groups like them, finally settled in the wide-open spaces of mid-west prairie.

They became merchants, carpenters, teachers, clergy, and (most often) farmers. Their landscape was Watonwan County in western Minnesota. Young families worked hard to build a life. They came from a farming tradition that included methods unknown to many Americans. As usual, new ideas were viewed with some doubt. A good idea was hard to ignore, however, and these newcomers were soon using crop rotation and potassium for fertilizer. Their practices produced better crops than older farms and they soon gained status as first-rate farmers.

Even so, Elizabeth’s father took work off the homestead to make some extra income. Supporting a big family was common among farmers, too. As the children grew, they went to school, and in time, left to make homes of their own. It was common for many children from the same family to find spouses among the children of a single neighboring farm. Turn-of-the-century public records include interesting wedding notices.

“There was a double wedding in 1899 when John E. Hubin married Minnie Rupp and Amalia Hubin married Jacob J. Rupp. A triple wedding took place in December 1905 when Edward Hubin married Tillie Rupp, Katie Hubin married Edward J. Rupp, and Mary Hubin married Henry H. Rupp.”

Imagine finding that detail in a family history! Those matches might seem surprising in modern times. They were normal to young couples in the early 20th century who had fewer choices than today. Neighborhood parties around 1900 included close friends and double cousins.

This custom disappeared as the community grew, but the seasonal rhythm of country life remained in place. In mid-summer, the mulberry trees bore sweet black fruits for canning jelly. In August, the threshing rig changed grains into cash and flour. Fresh pastries were a part of daily life with cabbage rolls served on special occasions. These treasured family memories inspired a later “home place” owner to order a tribute painting.

The owner at this time was granddaughter to Rudolph and Elizabeth Linscheid Kramer. Her parents had lived on the land during World War I. By then, a second house had replaced the old home. The original was used to store seed corn and farm machinery. It seemed the “home place” memories would soon be forgotten. Then a young artist (who was also related) set up his easel and began to paint.

Paul Kramer painted in the pasture as cattle grazed nearby. There were mounded gopher holes beneath his feet. Kramer felt close to his subject. His parents had owned a dairy farm. Though the house was the focus of his work, his painting also included the old weathered barn. Local barns where attached to the house and stood low to the ground. The style gave shelter from snow and wind. The tall wooden silo had fallen to harsh storms. Only a faint outline of the ruined stone base remained.

Today, Paul Kramer’s paintings, which hang in a Minnesota museum, highlight the connection between the town’s past and its future. Great great-grandchildren retell the story of early days in Watonwan. The descendants of the Linscheid farm have traveled to find their own “home place.” They became professors, writers, engineers, and (of course) fine artists.

Answer 7

@tatumlee are you still there? I really need help

Answer 8

Yes I am reading, what are the answer choices if there are any?

Answer 9

People wanted to keep farming practices a secret.
The communities were large and extensive.
People wanted to combine their land into huge farms.
The communities had very small populations.

Answer 10

which do you think the answer is?

Answer 11

I really don't know but my best guess would be B but I am sure I am wrong

Answer 12

b is very much the opposite of the answer, but good try (: the answer is d, "Those matches might seem surprising in modern times. They were normal to young couples in the early 20th century who had fewer choices than today"

Answer 13

Oh, ok thanks a whole lot for the help @tatumlee because I really needed it.

Answer 14

of course (: