The Indiana Home

by Logan Esarey

With Pictures by Franklin Booth
And Bruce Rogers

Front Cover:

This is a wonderful, old book about Indiana. The book tells about various old villages, towns and settlements. It tells about the living conditions and the lives of the settlers.

This scarce book was published in 1953 by Indiana University Press, Bloomington. The book measures 7 ½ inches by 11 3/8 inches and contains x, 122 pages plus 8 plates drawn by Franklin Booth. The book is part of a Limited Edition of 1550 copies. The book comes in a slip case. The black slip case shows minor signs of wear and is in good plus condition. The covers of the book consist of paper covered hard boards and a cloth covered spine. The title is in gilt on the spine. The cover of the book itself shows no signs of wear to speak of. The spine is tight and the hinges are strong. The pages are printed on good quality paper and show no signs of rips. The tops of the pages are gilt and the fore edges are deckled. Exceptions noted, the overall condition of this book is very good plus to near excellent.

Spine

Title Page

Title Page - Verso

Contents:

Introduction
The First Inhabitants
A Cabin in the Clearing
The Indiana Home
Farm Life in the Fifties
The Settler Becomes a Citizen
Indiana Scenes from drawings by Franklin Booth

Limited Edition – 1550 copies

Excerpt – Farm Life in the Fifties:
Their daily work, their “in-comings and out-goings,” were all regulated by rules based on centuries of observation. Instead of becoming scientific they had become superstitious. They did much of their planting according to the phases of the moon and the signs of the zodiac. Potatoes and other vegetables which grow in the ground were planted in the dark of the moon lest they all go to tops. Melons were planted when the “sign was in the head.” Other crops had to be planted on a certain day. Hens and geese were set when the sign was right and a colt born on an unlucky day would never make a dependable work horse. The heavy corn shuck meant a cold winter. If the hogs were restless, “growled” after they went to bed, there would be a change in weather and the farmer prepared for it immediately. Everything from the chattering bluejay to the clouds in the sky had meaning and was intended by a kindly Providence to direct him in his work. If he failed to see or neglected to heed the warning it was the work of Satan. So speaks the “Dutch” blood in our veins-strong, industrious, plodding and safe…
End excerpt