Artifact - Mold board plow

Description - Brownish-black-steel blades, worn

Date Used - 1840

Distinguishing Features - Cracked in places, red painted

Is it Unique in any way? - Yes, it looks very worn down, very heavy

Function - It was used to turn up dirt for farming

Purchased or made? - It was issued

Usability - Kind of difficult, because they were often pulling it by oxen, then you had to direct it and help push too

How did it work? - Its steel blades dug into the dirt and turned it up for farming

Source of information - Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods, Mahomet

(NO PICTURE YET AVAILABLE)

Artifact - Minnie Balls

Description - Grey, made of steel

Date Used - During the Civil War and some time after

Distinguishing Features - 3 groove, many scratches

Is it unique in any way? - No

Function - To shoot people

Purchased or made? - It was probably issued to the soldier

Usability - Simple, because you just load it and shoot

How did it work? - You put in your gunpowder. The load the minnie ball. Then aim and fire.

Source of information - Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods, Mahomet

(NO PICTURE YET AVAILABLE)

Artifact - Home-made corn planter

Description - Blue, wooden, long

Date Used - 1050 (civil war time)

Distinguishing Features - scratched away paint, rusty, but in pretty good shape

Is it unique in any way? - Handle goes in and out

Function - to plant corn

Purchased or made? - Unknown

Usability - easy, because you just pushed it

How did it work? - A person walked along the field and pushed the handles in and out which pushed the corn into the ground

Source of information - Early American Museum, Lake of the Woods, Mahomet

(NO PICTURE YET AVAILABLE)