A Revolution in the Heartland: Changes in Rural Culture, Family and Communities 1900–2000 Rex R. Campbell
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A Revolution in the Heartland: Changes in Rural Culture, Family and Communities 1900–2000 by Rex R. Campbell with Mary Campbell & Coleen Hughes Department of Rural Sociology University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri ©2004 Rex Campbell 1 A Revolution in the Heartland 2 © 2003 Rex Campbell A Revolution in the Heartland Table of Contents Dedication ......................................................................................... 13 Acknowledgements........................................................................................ 13 Obtaining Copies ............................................................................................. 13 Chapter 1: Introduction.................................................................... 15 Purpose of Book ............................................................................................... 17 Why Missouri? ................................................................................................... 18 Changes in Rural Families and Communities ........................................ 19 Chapter 2: The Changing Rural Culture .......................................... 21 What is “Rural”?................................................................................................. 21 Traditional Rural Communities ................................................................... 22 Rural Today......................................................................................................... 25 Technological Change and Social Change ............................................. 26 Five Generations .............................................................................................. 27 Time and Change............................................................................................. 28 Time of Impact .................................................................................................. 28 Agricultural Changes ..................................................................................... 28 Social and Cultural Changes ........................................................................ 29 Changes in Need for Money......................................................................... 30 What is a Community? ................................................................................... 31 Regions and Regional Cultural Variations............................................... 32 Part 1: Rural Missouri in 1900: The Threshold Chapter 3: Missouri Country Life—1900......................................... 34 The Geography of Missouri .......................................................................... 34 Rural Settlement Patterns............................................................................. 34 Missouri Counties ........................................................................................... 36 The Mining Industry in 1900 ........................................................................ 36 Agriculture.......................................................................................................... 38 Towns and Crossroad Stores........................................................................ 38 Mail-Order Trade .............................................................................................. 39 Population.......................................................................................................... 40 Minorities in Rural Missouri.......................................................................... 40 Chapter 4: The 1900 Rural Missouri Culture: A Focus on North and West Missouri............................................... 43 Life Expectancy................................................................................................. 44 Health Care Resources ................................................................................... 45 Transportation .................................................................................................. 46 Communications.............................................................................................. 48 3 A Revolution in the Heartland Schools................................................................................................................. 49 Churches ............................................................................................................. 51 Revivals................................................................................................................ 52 Local Government ........................................................................................... 53 Local Politics ...................................................................................................... 53 Farm Auctions ................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 5: Farms in 1900.................................................................. 57 The Farm ............................................................................................................. 57 The Farmstead .................................................................................................. 59 The Barn............................................................................................................... 61 Field Equipment............................................................................................... 61 Horses and Mules............................................................................................. 62 The Garden and Orchard............................................................................... 62 Chapter 6: Families and Homes in 1900.......................................... 65 The Home ........................................................................................................... 65 Household Wastes........................................................................................... 67 The Farm Family ............................................................................................... 68 Morality................................................................................................................ 70 Clothing............................................................................................................... 70 Home Remedies for Health .......................................................................... 71 Beliefs and Superstitions .............................................................................. 72 Chapter 7: Important Social Events in 1900.................................... 75 Courtship ............................................................................................................ 75 Marriage Ceremonies ..................................................................................... 76 Shivarees............................................................................................................. 76 Births..................................................................................................................... 76 Showers............................................................................................................... 77 Baptisms.............................................................................................................. 77 Funerals ............................................................................................................... 77 Wakes ................................................................................................................... 78 Quilting Bees ..................................................................................................... 78 Taking Down the Stove.................................................................................. 79 Family Reunions ............................................................................................... 80 Recreation........................................................................................................... 80 Chapter 8: Typical Farm Life............................................................. 83 Adult Male Roles............................................................................................... 84 Adult Female Roles.......................................................................................... 91 Children’s Roles—“Chores” .......................................................................... 96 Chapter 9: Life in Small Towns in 1900............................................ 99 Social Status.....................................................................................................100 Infrastructure...................................................................................................101 Electricity and Other Infrastructure.........................................................101 4 A Revolution in the Heartland Water and Sewers ..........................................................................................102 The Town Governments..............................................................................102 The Blacksmith’s Shop .................................................................................102 The Barber Shop.............................................................................................103 The Local Café .................................................................................................103 The Stables .......................................................................................................104