Wayne County
History & Genealogy
FARMING IN THE PAST / HORSES
The following pictures were from extremely old and very large negatives my grandmother had. The negatives were so large compared to today’s negatives I could not get them printed to see what was on them. They were the size of a picture, anyway. Last year my daughter had taken a photography glass. Her teacher had allowed her to contract print the negatives for me. The teachers and students in her school were amazed at the size of the horses.
Not as long ago as many would like to believe, horses were vital to the family farm. Into the 1930’s and 40’s horses were in regular use.
Many of the large farm equipment at the time required horsepower to operate.
Large equipment required large horses.
Red Barringer & Kirby Smith. Kirby on Horse
During the war years when gas was rationed horses were the
major source of transportation. Even in events such as a military funeral
permission had to be granted in order to use motor vehicles for the funeral.
Mules were also commonly used on the farm
Clay Smith on mule
As Well as other animals! Daniel Smith with goat.
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