Neighbors helping Neighbors

Photo by Jake Gard on Unsplash

Many of us have heard stories of the olden days when our pioneer ancestors first settled on the plains. If they were lucky to acquire land via the Homestead Act, they were required to build a home or more specifically a building of a particular size with windows and doors. In addition to this they were to improve the land by clearing it to use for fieldwork. What does this have to do with family history today? Let’s look.

The reality is that it would be a rare person who could accomplish all those requirements alone. Often neighbors helped neighbors. They had “barn raising” events where they came together to frame and build a barn. They assisted each other by sharing tools and equipment. Prior to tractors, neighbors worked together to shock and harvest their crops. People knew that they needed each other to success in this environment.
 
As this spring approaches, farmers are anxiously waiting to get in the fields to prepare for spring planting. Recently a family friend and farmer had an unexpected illness that kept him hospitalized for some time. My heart warmed when I heard how several neighbors already had volunteered to get his spring field work done so that he could focus on recovery. I have seen this happen many times over the years. Neighbors got together and took care of the field work so the family that had experienced loss or illness had one less thing to worry about. No one expected to be paid or wanted attention or notice for doing this work. It is simply what was done. It makes me happy to know that this practicing of helping each other still happens today. There also are more formal organizations that help facilitate such as Farm Rescue.
 
I’d like to think that this practice is partly from those early lessons on the plains—if you didn’t help each other and work together, you might not survive the harsh conditions of the prairies. We are a few generations removed from those early days but perhaps it is in the DNA of the people.
 
As you continue to write your family history, remember to include these noteworthy moments. There are examples across all walks of life where people helped others. Perhaps it was the kindness of a neighbor during a tough time in your life or a loved one’s life. Or something you remember from the recent pandemic. While we focus a lot on all the dates and places in family history, we are really capturing information about people. Let’s capture those special moments in our family that tell us more about them. Happy writing!