At a turtle’s pace the Great Depression continued to creep along for the worse. Then in 1934 crops underwent a drastic change for the worst. By midsummer, Daviess County was reported to be the hardest hit county in Northwest Missouri and there was less moisture in the vicinity than ever before.
Thousands of acres would produce nothing at all. All the small grain crops were burned and gone. Early in the spring, the corn crop appeared to be the best for many years, but the drought had taken it’s toll. Now, even the largest part of the crop was gone.
Corn on the Grand River bottom was also lost, both that which was planted early and that which was planted late. It had fired both at the top and at the bottom. The corn in the river bottom was the last to go because of the seepage of the river. Now, even the seepage was gone.
As far as the pastures were concerned, they too were depleted. Some farmers cut trees down so their horses and their cattle might have something to eat.
— researched and presented by Wilbur Bush, Gallatin, MO
