Stalking The Cornfields!

[Bell-Two]

Stalking The Cornfields

Saturday afternoon we went out to try and find some home sites that were listed on a mid 1800’s map. The corn has just been freshly cut and so the spotting of the sites would not be easy. We found the first one but not much was found, a small plain button front and a couple of buckles were the only old finds. We then moved to an adjoining field which turned out more productive. The old map was pretty good on location and we found the brick and glass admidst the corn stalks. I found a very nice suspender buckle which has a patent date of 1850 on it and a watch piece that has the name M. T. Tobias which turns out to be a mid century watchmaker from Liverpool England.

Anyone having any idea about the button please chime in....hint Dan...hint hint!


http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2755_zpsd16f9dfd.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2755_zpsd16f9dfd.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2753_zps4d41f409.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2753_zps4d41f409.jpg.html)

Doug found a button with an interesting back mark, it says Treble Gilt and has the very old style “Chicken Eagle” on it.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2754_zps9fa9a78c.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2754_zps9fa9a78c.jpg.html)

Diane made the top finds, her first find was a lovely 1850 Braided Hair Large Cent, and then just ten feet further down the same row she gets a 12-38 signal on her E-Trac and out pops her second Large Cent a very toasty 1826 Matron Head.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2749_zps59af980b.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2749_zps59af980b.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2750_zps9373132a.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2750_zps9373132a.jpg.html)



http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2751_zpsfa7f134d.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2751_zpsfa7f134d.jpg.html)


http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2752_zps031e0056.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2752_zps031e0056.jpg.html)


http://youtu.be/n35lWTCyGYE

[RIdirtdigger]

Those are some nice finds. I especially like the 1850 large cent. That's is pretty nice shape. Good job!!1

[OxShoeDrew]

Very impressive Tony! How come there are many abandoned house sites out there in the corn fields? Our people left homes to go out to the mid-west. Where did Ohioans go?

[Beartoe]

Is it possible that those homes were 1800 farm homes that went under during the depression era?

[Bell-Two]

Very impressive Tony! How come there are many abandoned house sites out there in the corn fields? Our people left homes to go out to the mid-west. Where did Ohioans go?

If you look at the old atlas maps you will notice that many of the fields have sites with the same family name, as a family grew land was apportioned out to the sons who built their own houses. As the older generation died off their houses would remain empty until they got torn down to make room for more crops. Today many of the old places that were still standing but abandoned get removed for more crop planting. At one time a farm would be a few hundred acres, now today a farmer has have much more to be viable. Several of my farmers who give me permission have over 3,000 acres under cultivation.

[OxShoeDrew]

Oh, makes perfect sense. I never thought of the consolidation that must have taken place to get these mega properties. Thanks!

[Full Metal Digger]

Awesome finds Tony! That 1850 LC Diane found has some GREAT patina on it. It's rare for them to look that good out of a cornfield! I found a button with a similar back mark. It was attributed to R & W Robinson 1834-48 Attleboro, Mass. Maybe yours is the same? Best wishes and HH, Dave.

[The Rebel]

WTG on the finds!

[Isaac]

Beautiful finds today Tony ... both the large cents are in wonderful condition in my opinion! The eagle back-marked button is very interesting as well...... HH

[aloldstuff]

Tony, some very nice finds especially the 1850 LC. I know that farming is a hard business but to cultivate 3000 acres....WOW

[del]

Great looking copper ,WTG Diane :cheering:

the Buttons with the eagle motifs have been up for debate a few times ...

some think they are British made imports with the patriotic design made to "sway" pubic opinion that they are of American manufacture because England was too unpopular just after the war of 1812 era.

And some believe these are of American manufacture and to show off some patriotic message perhaps a type of "buy American" pride and to distinguish our buttons from the imports .

it is quite possible that both these scenarios are correct as well. either way these type of buttons do date from just before 1812 to about the 1820's .

Dan