Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters, 1862-1912

Go directly to the collection, Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters, 1862-1912, in American Memory, or view a summary of resources related to the collection. History topics include:

Introduction | The Homestead Act and Homesteading | The Great Plains | Great Plains Shelters | Courtship and Male-Female Relationships | Women's Lives on the Great Plains | The Economy and Politics in the 1890s

The Economy and Politics in the 1890s

The 1890s were a momentous time for the United States. Probably the most significant event of the decade was the Depression of 1893. This economic downturn made a difficult economic situation—for farmers, workers, and anyone already in debt—even more trying. Farmers in particular were hard hit by the general deflation in the value of money (made worse by the depression). Deflation—the opposite of inflation—meant that people who borrowed money paid those debts back in more valuable money. Farmers—through the grange movement and eventually the Populist Party—agitated for policies that would promote inflation. Even so, the policies of the federal government—such as ending the use of silver as a money medium—continued to be deflationary. The continuing fall in crop prices made farmers' lives even more difficult.

A letter from Uriah to Laura and their children written October 18, 1893, contains interesting information about his working and the costs of various items. At this point, Uriah was in Kansas looking for another place to establish a farm.

I had some (1/2 loaf) of your graham bread left, and I bough a 5 ¢ loaf of white bread (I could not [get] graham) and 10 ¢ worth of nice boiling beef and it made me two soups, and four messes beside. I have bought no butter or any other kind of spread for my bread; I thought if you at home could do without it I could, besides I will have to be very saving with my money…
… Tuesday 17" I shoveled corn 2 1/2 hrs in the forenoon and finished the job, so you see I have earned 50 ¢.

Letter from Uriah W. Oblinger to Laura I. Oblinger, Sadie Oblinger, Nettie Oblinger, Maggie Oblinger, and Lillie Oblinger, October 18, 1893

In the winter of 1894, Laura was living in Minnesota without Uriah. A letter from Laura to Uriah, February 25, 1894, dealt with the full range of Laura's financial and work responsibilities, which were made more challenging by the fact that she was quite ill at the time.

…the training school begins the 5' of March & I want to be able then to let her [Maggie] start in & not miss a day. it will rub us awful close to pay her tuition, but she is trying so hard that I think it is best to make the sacrafice for her…

I thought 10 loads [of firewood] would run me till next fall then the wood question would be settled but it has been such terrible bad weather & since I have been sick we have had to have so much night fire that I dont think it will run me till fall…

I will pay Mr Jacks, for I promised to & I will make my word good I have made a bill at the mill for feed for the hogs of a little over $2.00 & I promised to pay it as soon as you sent me the money & so I will. I shall have to get Nettie & Lillie both a pair of shoes, as they are almost barefooted; and I am out of feed for the hogs. So I guess I better pay what I promised & then lay out the rest in wheat for the hogs & trust in Providence for our groceries

Letter from Laura I. Oblinger to Uriah W. Oblinger, February 25, 1894

With a partner, read through the letters from 1893-1896 (you may divide the letters), looking for information about the effects of the depression and Uriah's political views on the Populist Party, which was popular among many farmers of the time.

Isaac Ware, Southwest Custer County, Nebraska

• What financial problems did Uriah and Laura suffer during this period?
• What were some of the political issues of the time? What were Uriah's views on these issues?
• What did Uriah think of the Populist Party? (Hint: Look for references to "pops.")
• Find out more about the election of 1896. Based on his comments, to which party did Uriah belong?

In the picture on the right, note that the man on the right is holding a newspaper, the Alliance Independant, a populist paper published in Lincoln, Nebraska. Do you think Uriah subscribed to this paper? Why or why not?

Introduction | The Homestead Act and Homesteading | The Great Plains | Great Plains Shelters | Courtship and Male-Female Relationships | Women's Lives on the Great Plains | The Economy and Politics in the 1890s