Farming in Texas from 1850 to 1950 as pictured in archived government photographs, vintage postcards, old school yearbooks and newspapers. This was life in Texas as our parents, grandparents and ancestors saw it.

Tending Chickens in Lubbock in 1920s

A woman tends to her chickens on a farm near Lubbock Texas in the 1920s

Threshing Crew at Work

Very nice photo of a threshing crew at work in 1915 that includes 13 men, one boy, multiple mule teams and a steam powered tractor in Johnson County Texas. Many of the crew are named in this photo from 1915.

In 1915 nineteen men on a threshing crew broke for lunch near Cleburne Texas and gathered around a lunch shack when this amazing photo was captured.

Incredible photo of men, horses and machines threshing wheat on a farm near Floydada Texas in 1910

Sometime around 1890 every member of the Arthur Barton Cheves family and four horses were needed to harvest wheat near Petersburg in Hale County Texas.

In 1931 students were cultivating cotton on the state's 1,800 acre prison farm in Gatesville Texas when this photo was captured for the school yearbook. Student prisoners are working behind the plows while guards watch on horseback.

Workers unload live turkeys from farmer's trailer at poultry processing plant in Brownwood Texas in 1939

The Spring, Temple, and Blum family was picking cotton near Odessa in 1910 when this great old photo was captured with farmer's horse-drawn wagon in the background.

Repairing Clutch on John Deere Tractor

Great photo of man repairing clutch on an early John Deere tractor in El Indio Texas captured by famous photographer Russell Lee in March 1939

In 1919 J.N. Garretson used his Fordson Tractor to power his threshing machine on a farm near Clarendon Texas

Very nice photo showing horse drawn wagons at I.N. Harrison's Gin in Wellington Texas in the early 1900s

All suited up and holding bag she will drag behind her and fill with cotton. The cotton will be weighed and dumped into the trailer behind her. When full, the trailer will be towed to the nearest cotton gin . . . View full Size

Picking Cotton in Floyd County Texas

Sometime in the 1930s a family in Floyd County Texas posed for this great old photo of the Newberry family picking cotton. Dale Newberry provided this photo and was able to identify his Grandfather Harvey, his dad Orval, and uncles Skeet... continued

Joe Botelier plowing fields Floydada in 1905

In 1905 Joe Botelier was plowing a field with his two-horse team near Floydada Texas when someone captured this huge highly-detailed photo

Harvesting Wheat on Hutcherson Farm

Amazing photo of a man working on a combine to harvest wheat on the Hutcherson farm in Castro County Texas In 1923

Corn Harvest in Hall County

In 1900 Lora and Irene Hutcherson sat on a horse-drawn harvesting machine to pose with two unknown men during the corn harvest in Hall County Texas. Lora is sitting on the machine holding the reins and Irene is standing holding a shock of corn.

In 1910 a farmer near Claude Texas stopped his 3-mule team and posed for this photo of the kaffir corn harvest

Sometime around 1929 four combines were harvesting wheat on the Hutcherson farm near Hart in Castro County Texas when the event was captured on film in this huge image. S.C Hutcherson and Claude Hutcherson and three other men who were helping with the harvest appear in the photo.

Sometime between 1910 and 1930 this kerosene- powered Rumely Oil Pull tractor was used to harvest wheat in Deaf Smith County.

Farmers at FSA Meeting in Mason in 1939

In 1937 two farmers squatted against a brick wall in Odessa Texas to talk when an unknown photographer captured this highly detailed photo.

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Two Farmers in Spur Texas in 1939

Two farmers visiting in Spur Texas. Both wearing suspenders and one with the sweat stained hat so common among hard working farmers

Farmers Relax outside Store in Spur Texas in 1939

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Farm Scene Near Claude Texas in 1909

Two horse team pulls harrow in this scene from Armstrong County in 1909

In the 1920s Farmer W. J. Carter was planting his field near Gasoline Texas in Briscoe County with a horse drawn planter when his daughter Ethel brought him a drink of water in a pan . . . See it full size

In 1909 local farmers gathered in front of Farmers State Bank in Coleman to sell their cotton crop where cotton buyers would inspect the bales and make offers.

In 1936 Mrs. L.C. Hanks of Paducah Texas endorsed the Electrolux Kerosene powered refrigerator as a means of bringing modern conveniences to farm families.

Massive dust storm approaches farm homestead near Pampa Texas in 1935 . . . View full size

Four men, a woman, a dog and an early steel-tired tractor were all part of the wheat harvest team near Quanah Texas in the early 1920s

On December 1914 Kay Shuey and her dog, Snip, posed on top of a bale of cotton for this very nice photo in Quanah Texas

In 1937 a farmer in Goodlett Texas posed for this photo and spoke out about how his family had been forced from the farm they rented when land owners replaced them with tractors. ""Well, I know I've got to make a move but I don't know where to. I can stay off relief until the first of the year. After that I don't know. I've eat up two cows and a pair of horses this past year ..." Read more in the article

In 1964 T. C. and Dean Faver stopped to chat beside an irrigation well in Lamb County when this photo was taken for an ad promoting butane as a fuel for farm equipment.

Jim and Ben Davidson survey their herd of cattle on their farm near Sudan Texas in 1966 for an ad in a national farm magazine.

In the 1930s Melvin Collins and his wife Blanche Langford Collins posed with their horses on their farm near Earth Texas. Photograph courtesy of their great granddaughter, Tina Collins

In the 1920s a farmer in Lynn County near New Lynn Texas stopped his 4-mule team and posed with a young girl named Flossie Aycock, as her two little brothers and the family dog climbed on to the plow. Photo provided by KariLeanne Levacy-Torres. Flossie Aycock was her grandmother . . see it full size

In 1937 a man is using a 4 Mule Team to replant cotton near Stanton, Texas

Photograph of a wheat harvesting crew on Dick Buckles farm 20 miles south of Stratford in Sherman County in 1930

A four-horse team plows a field with rows that seem to reach to the horizon in Childress County Texas in 1938 . . . zoom in on this large photo

Tractor operator stops his early tractor and two row planter to pause for picture in Childress County Texas in 1938 . . . zoom in on this highly detailed photo

In 1914, D.L. Smith fell ill before he could harvest his crop. 19 of his neighbors showed up with their mules and equipment to harvest his crop for him. Mark Hanna from Childress captured the event on film. This tradition of farmers helping sick neighbors and widows with the harvest is one that is practiced today in small farming communities across Texas. . . . see this amazing composite photo full size

In 1939 Mike Murphy was a farmer near Perryton Texas when he posed for a large ad in a farm magazine.

Erath County Farmers Meet in Huckabay Tx in 1928

In 1928 a group of 33 unnamed Erath County farmers posed for a photo at a meeting in Huckabay, Texas.

Cattle belonging to A.B. Yearwood at the corner of College and Graham in Stephenville. It was common for farmers and ranchers to drive livestock through the streets at the time.

Cow in Trailer Towed by Car in San Angelo 1939

Man takes family milk cow to market in low sided trailer. Many families kept kept milk cows in their back yards in 1939 often staking them them out to graze in vacant lots.

Old Car Converted into Truck near San Angelo Texas in 1920

In 1920 a farmer and his wife posed for a picture in their old car they converted into a truck complete with rifle mounted on side. look closer

4H boys with sheep in San Angelo Tx 1940

Two teen-aged boys proudly show off their prize lamb in 1940. . . . Zoom in

The A. R. Michaels family at the original Paris Cox Farmstead in Estacado Texas

One of the first road graders is pulled by an oil powered tractor in Gray County Texas . . . Zoom in

Massive dust storm approaches farm homestead near Pampa Texas in 1935 . . . View full size

Plainview Texas Wheat Market in 1910

In 1910 local farmers brought bags of wheat to market in front of the First National Bank in Plainview Texas

Muleshoe Farmer plows a huge flat field in Bailey County with his two mule team in 1936 . . . View full Size

Digging a Livestock Tank with Horse-drawn plow in Hockley County 1936

Farm Near Ropesville in Hockley County Texas in 1939

Farm Family Ropesville, Hockley County Tx 1939

In 1939, a tenant farmer, his wife and their little boy posed on their porch near Ropesville Texas

In 1940 Eddie Schlottman showcased a 4-Mule team he had trained on a farm near Pep Texas in this huge highly-detailed image courtesy of his granddaughter Corinna Robinson

German POWs in Muleshoe Cotton Field

World War 2 German POWs tend cotton crop near Muleshoe Texas. With nearly seventy prisoner of war camps, Texas had approximately twice as many as any other state . . . read more and see photo full size

In 1915 a farmer in Bailey County Texas paused his mule team before plowing across a cow trail on the open plains to make his homestead ready to farm . . . see this huge photo full size

Daniel's Gin in Wolfforth Texas in the 1930s

Woman walks along highway past Daniels Gin and Model T pulling cotton trailer in Wolfforth in 1930's. Smoke fills the air in background from burning cotton burrs and trash.

Workers pose beside their trucks at a cotton gin in Slaton Texas in the 1930s. Fuzzy cotton seed is piled two-stories high in the background. The gin was owned by Hiram Wesley (Bo) Stotts . . . read more

In June 1938 famous photographer Dorothea Lange captured this photo of an unnamed man living on "Scratch Hill" outside Atoka, Oklahoma. "I'm going west because this country's through, there isn't anything here for anyone. I'm going west to Lubbock . . .

In the 1940s the Williams family raised hogs on their farm for family consumption and for the market. Their well-known rock house can be seen in the background

Farmers Talking in Downtown Glen Rose in 1939

Farmers chat over cotton seed sacks in Glen Rose in 1939. One of the farmers is wearing something unusual on his cap. A passer-by appears to be trying to figure out what it is . . . look closer

Landowner Joe Phillips, Mr. T.A. Knight and son Marvin whose family lived on the 360 acre half-section of land near Plainview, Texas for over 30 years.

PB Snyder Strawberry Farm Plainview Tx in 1910

Picking strawberries on the P B Snyder farm six miles south of Plainview in 1910.

Did you ever pump an aluminum tube to siphon water from an open ditch? Here's how it was done in Hale County Texas in the 1950s. Some farmers were so good at it they could set a tube with one hand and from the far side of the ditch ... See full size

Steam Engine powers a silo on a farm near Plainview Texas in 1912 as men on horseback and farmer's wife look on . . . take a closer look

Very nice image of Joe Phillips on his Farmall Tractor in Hale County Texas in 1950s

In 1910 a tractor salesman demonstrated a steam powered tractor on a farm near Vega Texas . . .  see full size image

Almost every small town in the panhandle had a grain elevator dominating the skyline. This one is in a small town in Potter County shows trucks lined up to unload freshly harvested wheat in 1939. The elevator would lift the entire truck . . . continued

Steam Tractor Plowing Farm Near Amarillo Tx around 1910

A. M. Archambault & Company developed the first farm steam engine in 1849. The steam engine was later expanded into the steam traction engine with powered wheels and steering capabilities . . . view full size

Windmill and Farm Implements for sale Dallam County Tx 1939

Farm implements for sale in front of Dalhart store offering Cocacola and local newspaper.

Sometime in the late 1800's a lonely farmer had a photograph taken of himself on his homestead on the Texas Panhandle. Then he turned it into a postcard and advertised for a wife to join him on his farm near Texline Texas . . . view it full size

In 1936 the cows at the Terra Blanca Dairy farm near Canyon Texas were content and covered from the cold blasts of arctic air that sometimes blasts the Texas Panhandle

Sometime in the 1930s a father and son stopped their work in Hall County Texas to pose for this photo by famed photographer Dorothea Lange with their horse-drawn planter . . . see it full size

Very rare photo of famous musician Bob Wills picking cotton with his cousin in the mid 1920s

Sometime in the 1890s, Jim Harper proudly posed with his prize Jack for this wonderful old photo of early life in Hall County Texas

On a farm near El Indio Texas in 1939 a woman runs her clothes through the ringer as her children play and hundreds of chickens fee nearby.

At a pump house on a farm in Maverick County a Model T bus is parked near clothes drying on the line and a young boy plays with his dog in 1939

In 1939 a Maverick County farmer works to fix a flat on his old car while his chickens rest in the shade under the car and his son relaxes nearby

John Deere Tractor Breaking Ground in 1939

An early John Deere tractor pulls a one-way in Maverick County Texas in 1939 in this rare birds-eye view

The photographer must have been perched on a windmill when he took this amazing birds-eye view of an early John Deere tractor coming at him in 1939

Digging a ditch on a farm near El Indio Texas in 1939 required a tractor and two men

Photo from early 1900's picture postcard depicts C.W. Thagard's Oat Farm near Floydada Texas.

In 1954 T.H. Chatham, well known Floyd County Farmer from Lockney appeared in a national ad

Combine unloading milo grain in to a GMC on a farm near Lockney Texas in 1954. The photo was part of an ad for a two-speed truck axle.

In this wonderful old photo from 1945, eleven month old J D Woody pets a calf on his grandparents farm in Dougherty Texas 20 miles west of Matador 17 miles east of Floydada. Debbie Brauneck provided this photo of her father from her mother's collection

In 1928 a salesman demonstrated his Model E Cotton Stripper on a farm near Ralls Texas in Crosby County

Boy Drinks from Burlap Covered Jug

Drinking water from jar covered in wet burlap on farm near Ralls, Texas in 1939

Rapping a glass jug in wet burlap would keep the contents slightly cooler than if it was left uncovered . . .

Thirsty Farmer Drinks from Canvas Bag

On a hot summer morning on a farm near Ralls Texas in 1939, a farmer pauses for a cold drink of water from a canvas bag. Hung from tractor fenders, car hood ornaments and side view mirrors, military vehicles or from a cowboy's saddle horn . . . read more and view large image

Farmer in Crosby County Texas changes plow points and makes final adjustments to his 4-row lister planter in 1939.

Laundry Day on the farm in Crosby County Texas in 1939

Farmer's wife hangs laundry on clothes line to dry on farm near Ralls Texas in 1939.

Crosby County Farmer 1939

Farmer sits on his new tractor in 1939 on a farm near Ralls Texas.

Allis-Chalmers Tractor with planter and go-devil attached Ralls Tx 1939

The "Go Devil" was a popular attachment for tractors in the 1930's through the 1960's.

Resources:

West Texas History & Memories

Early Life in Texas County by County

Books about Texas People and Places

Amazing People from Texas County by County