Rural Women
in Nodaway County
Rural Farmwives
Rural farm wives played an important role within their communities and families. These women kept their families clothed, fed, and supplied with what they needed, as well as participate on the farm.
Often times, women were partners to their husbands on their farms and, as such, took on many different chores. Women, as well as the children, helped raise livestock and crops, build fences, and milk the cows. Because of their participation in the farm, the entire family could take pride in their efforts when they posed for the ubiquitous picture - the family posed in front of their home and farm.
A family from the Hughes Township in Nodaway County, Missouri.
Candles also were an important part of life in the past. Before electricity, they allowed us to see early in the morning and after it got dark at night. There are many different ways to make candles. A common mixture was to render fat from a cow into tallow and mix it with beeswax. Strings could be dipped into the fat and then placed in a mold to form candles.
To make your own beeswax candles follow the link below.
Nodaway County Angus Steer entries at the St. Joseph Interstate Show.
Women were encouraged to take part in community activities. Many women, such as those in the photograph below, participated in organizations such as 4-H or exhibited family livestock in local livestock shows.
Farm wives also made products such as candles or lye soap. The soap was made by creating lye, a cleaning agent, out of ashes and mixing it with animal fat. The mixture is stirred smooth and placed into molds for a few weeks until it is ready to be used. The end reult is a safe, soft soap that can be used on all skin types.
Follow this link to find a recipe from the Smithsonian for lye soap.