For a print edition, please contact the editor of our Special Publications, Jennifer Mertz.

STORY INDEX Introduction Population of Indiana's northeast counties grew by 81 percent this century Tracking railroads: Since 1900, number of local lines reduced from five to two Longtime area auto dealers have 'seen it all' Amish continue long-held traditions - except on safety issues Cars accelerate lives of Noble County residents The price of cars: How much did it cost to drive one off the lot? Electric Interurban connected area to Fort Wayne, beyond LaGrange residents rally to save historic brick streets U.S. 6, Ind. 3: Kendallville's routes to growth Agriculture ever-changing, advancing in Noble County Comparisons: How far did the dollar stretch? Growing onions, peppermint made 'scents' in early 1900s The Gaby farm: Family-owned and celebrating over 150 years A changing culture impacts 4-H County fair continues to be a big social event Thriving through the times: Downtown Kendallville adapts to a century of changes Dekko's philanthropy remains a 'valuable resource' Rinkel family still at the wheel of Greenfield Hills Commerce nothing new to Shipshewana: Town thrives as one of fastest-growing tourist areas in state Making do during the Great Depression: Retired hatchery owner recalls tough times, bright moments Mill a 'Star' business in Ligonier: Firm has been grinding wheat into flour for 113 years Elmer E. McCray had a major impact on Kendallville Richard R. Cole has long legacy Female executive has seen many changes in workforce Working women: From assisting war effort to competing in global markets Wolcottville a center of commerce, industry in 1800s Mongoquinong area was early LaGrange County commercial center 'The cheapest hired hand we ever had.' Electricity made life brighter, easier down on the farm Monument company's history set in stone Historic Corn School dates back to 1906 Agriculture ever-changing, advancing in Noble County By DAVE KNOPF The News-Sun ALBION - Devotion to corn is one of the few things that has not changed about agriculture in Noble County over the last century. Accounts of the early 1900s show corn was grown on around 20 percent of the county's total farm acreage, more than any other crop. In 1998 corn was still king but shared the title with soybeans, each crop covering 35 percent of the total farm acreage. One of the century's big agricultural changes has been in total farm acreage itself. According to the National Ag Statistics Service, farms comprised 249,834 Noble County acres in 1900 but only 181,806 acres in 1997, the most recent year for which figures are available. Indiana farms of 1900 were characteristically tidy, well-kept, and of a size averaging 102 acres in Noble County, with 2,459 farms in all. Horse power had replaced oxen toward the end of the 1800s, some commercial fertilizer was used as well as livestock manure to maintain soil fertility, and crop rotation with legumes had become a common practice. Besides corn, important local crops in the early 1900s were wheat, oats, rye, barley, onions and potatoes, while important on the local livestock scene in addition to hogs and dairy and beef cattle were sheep and laying hens. Also in the early 1900s, according to the book "The Natural Heritage of Indiana," notable improvements were being made with crops and livestock, and practices were begun of liming soil to reduce acidity, terracing hillsides, building better drainage systems and installing erosion check dams. The tractor, first introduced in 1928, is to the farmer of 1999 what the horse was to the farmer of 1900. Along with it mechanization has produced other, more specialized pieces of equipment such as combines and planters which in some cases incorporate the latest in computer and satellite technology. Those technological advances, along with an abundance of inorganic fertilizer and pesticides, have made it possible, and indeed cost-effective, for farms to be larger in size while also making it more capital intensive to be in business. The result, which has also been contributed to by other factors including national and world economic conditions and more regulation, is that Noble County not only has fewer total acres in farms but fewer farms as well at 942, although the average number of acres per farm has risen to 193 acres. From 1992 to 1997 alone the number of full-time farms in Noble County declined 14 percent but, according to Noble County agriculture and natural resources extension educator Doug Keenan, "the average market value of agriculture products sold per farm increased 26 percent over the same time period. This indicates that our farms are becoming larger and more efficient with the changing agricultural conditions." Besides corn and soybeans, today's major Noble County agricultural commodities also include hogs, dairy and beef cattle, and wheat. Gross agricultural sales for the county in 1997 were $58.8 million, of which crop sales made up 52 percent and livestock sales made up 48 percent.