Making a Home
A Community in Conflict
Working for a Living
Farming in the Great Corn Belt
Abraham Lincoln in McLean County
Farming Resources – Newspapers and Magazines
Bloomington Pantagraph
Since the 1850s the Bloomington Pantagraph has provided daily reports on local and regional markets and informative articles on recent farm news. The newspaper has also sponsored farm events.
The Bloomington Pantagraph hired Arthur Bill, its first dedicated farm reporter in 1897, to provide up-to-date local and national farm news.
Sponsored Events
Pantagraph sponsored Farm Day events included demonstrations of new equipment and farming practices.
In August of 1916 Bloomington’s Pantagraph both sponsored and reported on the local tractor show. Advertisements promoted the sale of many of the tractors and equipment demonstrated during Farm Day.
Magazines
Many farming magazines were available to those wishing to learn about the latest agricultural innovations and news.
Farmers Voice
In 1909 Pantagraph farm writer Arthur Bill was named editor of the Farmers Voice, first published in 1861.
Because Bill was based in Bloomington, numerous stories of regional farmers were published in this magazine.
Successful Heyworth farmer Richard Britt recorded the following in his diary:
“Remained at home all day, reading Prairie Farmer.”
— Richard Britt
April 1865
The cover of the July, 1911 edition featured images of the George Perrin Davis farm near Gridley. Inside the magazine, a story detailed the farming practices of Davis’ tenant S.H. Seitz.
