The story of this image
The Period from 1898-1915 was a time of progress and expansion in North Dakota. This period of time in North Dakota history is called "The Settlement Period". During this time, the railroad expanded their lines in the state bringing settlers to North Dakota from all over the world and other states in the Union. The Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroads went to great efforts to attract people to the state. One way to do this was to distribute flyers and photographs promoting the rich farm land of North Dakota.

This photograph is an excellent example of how North Dakota was promoted to potential settlers to the state. These types of photographs were staged by the photographer to convey that North Dakota was a place that people could still own land and lead a prosperous life. The caption under the photograph reads.

"READY FOR FALL PLOWING, NORTH DAKOTA. OCTOBER 1905. Fall plowing is done in Morton County, North Dakota, during October and November. Notice the rich, natural grass in the door yard in the above photograph. Taken on Wm. Knowel’s farm near Flasher, Morton County, North Dakota. Fine lands hereabouts for $12.50 to $18 an acre."

The people coming to North Dakota were a mixture of many nationalities. The main immigrant population was the Norwegians followed by the Germans from Russia. However, Poles, Irish, Swedes, and Danes also chose to settle here. These people were brought together to form who we call North Dakotans.

Coming to North Dakota meant hard work and there was always plenty of it. In the spring and fall, the hard prairie soil had to be broken up with steel plows pulled by oxen or horses. The fall brought the harvest and grain had to be cut with machines. The grain was processed by running it through a machine called a thresher that separated the kernels of grain from the chaff.

Life on the prairie was isolated. Most settlers lived in homes made of prairie sod or in small wooden houses. Wood for these homes was brought into North Dakota by the railroads. There were no trees and the grass was tall and thick.

Despite the hardships endured by the settlers they were confident that life could be good in North Dakota. More and more people came to the state. This immigration lead North Dakota into a period of prosperity and bright dreams.