Information compiled at the Jennings County Library by Denise Schaffer & Sheila Kell plus U.S. Census Records

     Poor Farms were tax-supported residential institutions to which people were required to go if they could not support themselves. They were started as a method of providing a less expensive (to the taxpayers) alternative to what we would now days call "welfare" - what was called "outdoor relief" in those days. People requested help from the community Overseer of the Poor, who was an elected official. If the need was great or likely to be long-term, they were sent to the poorhouse instead of being given relief while they continued to live independently. Sometimes they were sent there even if they had not requested help from the Overseer of the Poor. That was usually done when they were found to be unable to care for themselves (such as being unable to purchase firewood or food). Many times it would be women whose husband had died or left them, or older people who could no longer earn an income. Prior to Mental Institutions some people who could not care for themselves because of those problems also ended up at the Poor Farm especially if a family member who had been caring for them died. The names used to describe these people in census records changed over the years, including Pauper, Inmate and Patient. The year 1880 the Poor House had it largest population of any census year. Many of the census records are almost impossible to read so there may be errors especially with ages on the originals.

     The Jennings County "Poor Farm" has had a number of names, it has also been called the "Poor Asylum", "Asylum for the Poor", "Alms House", "Old Folks Home and "County Infirmary." There was a Poor Farm at one point in Geneva Township and it is listed as such in the 1860 census, but very little is known about it. John Berkman was listed as Keeper of the Poor House from 1859-1885. It was described in the newspaper early on as a dreary two story brick building standing on the banks of Big Creek, at the southern border of Vernon Township. It stated the present county road 200-E now ends in the barnyard, but heretofore before automobiles, the road turned south in front of the house, forded the river and proceeded on. A Notice to Builders for bids on carpentry and painting work on the Jennings County Asylum for the Poor was found in the June 10, 1868 Vernon Banner. Four hundred acres had recently been purchased from JOHN S. TORBET on Graham Creek in what is now Sections 31 and 36 of Vernon township; costing the taxpayers $8,500.00.
     From the June 24, 1880 Plain Dealer - "Mr. JOHN BERKMAN made us a business call the other day. Mr. B is Superintendent of the County Poor Farm and prides himself considerably on the way he has brought up the land. He informs us that he has this season seventeen acres of wheat that will average 20 or more bushels to the acre, ten of oats that will average 40 bushels per acre, and that what corn he has is excellent. He uses bone dust and other fertilizers intelligently. Last year at the County Harvest Home his was one of the best exhibits."
     On August 26, 1885 an article in the plain dealer stated "John Berkman moved to Rochester, Minnesota, Wednesday morning. He had come to Jennings county in 1842 and was superintendent of the Poor Farm for 26 years. Mrs Berkman was a strong aid. The duties were so arduous they feel great relief at being free from the responsibilities during the remainder of their lives. They so conducted themselves and their business, that they go away regretted by everybody." According to Ancestry.com Martha Berkman died in Minnesota in 1892 and John Henry Berkman died on July 9, 1900 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
     An article in the June 20, 1888 Plain Dealer stated that over 200 of the 400 acres purchased were in cultivation and a larger and better residence had been built, (it does not mention if this is a new building or just additions.) There were 4 mules, 30 hogs and 40 head of cattle; a large granary was being constructed and a new barn was being contemplated. The inmates grew and ate their own food; 200 bushels of potatoes were put away each fall, as well as milk, butter, bread and garden vegetables. Wheat usually was in the excess of several hundred bushels. The weight of a bushel of potatoes is around 55 pounds while wheat is around 60 pounds. The cost to the taxpayers to maintain the farm minus the cost of the improvements was $2,000 a year. Inmates numbered 21 males and 20 females, 10 of whom were children the article described them as poverty stricken and dirty. Some of them were called uneducated idiots (mentally deficient) who needed firm discipline to get their work done. Some of the men were allowed to vote, which the writer of the article did not understand. All in all the poor farm was well organized and ran in an efficient manner by the then Superintendent JOSEPH GORDON whose daughter BESSIE was living with him at the farm. GORDON was quitting and JAMES BLAND was soon to take over. JOSEPH GORDON'S wife died December 25, 1887 and her obituary stated "...she looked forward to the happy hours she could spend in the homes of her daughters with the greatest satisfaction. Soon she expected to be done with the heavy charge of the County Asylum, and with her husband and single daughter, and enjoy again all the sweet pleasures of her own home."
     The County Commissioners occasionally sent a committee to check on the status of things at the farm. Reports of these were written up in the local papers.
     The residence was an L shaped two story brick building with 26 rooms in all and a basement with four rooms; the interior was designed like a hotel with a fire escape. Two white wooden porches ran along the entire front of both stories of the building. A long brick building with jail house cells for inmates with senility or other frailties of that nature also housed a barber shop and wash house. There was a clapboard summer kitchen adjoining the main residence. The entire place was a working farm with 5 outhouses in a row, a slaughter house, five cisterns, one main barn, one corn crib and a smaller two story grain barn with tongue and groove planks on the second floor.
     In February 1985 after its use as a Poor Farm was over the main residence burnt while GEORGE and MARTHA FRANKS were living there, the fire started in a flue and completely gutted the newly remodeled section of the building. JOHN HAMMONS who had spent his childhood on the farm had purchased the farm and had planned to move in the next day.
     A Cemetery was also on the grounds, Poor Farm Cemetery

     In the booklet "Life Sketches of T. J. Stockton Sr." written in the 1880's he talks of a visit home about 1879 to this area from where he was living in Missouri. His uncle is the John S. Torbet mentioned above as being the person who sold the land for the Poor Farm to Jennings County "We went home with Robert Torbet (son of John S. Torbet), and wife and stayed all night, took breakfast, and they took us back to see aunt. Robert and I left our wives there and went to the county poor farm, which I think is one of the best I ever saw, and is conducted in the most successful manner possible. The overseers seemed to be very nice, clever people, and I think the right persons in the right place, their names are Mr. and Mrs. Berkman; after looking around over the farm, for it joined my father's farm, calling back to mind the events of fifty years ago, when a boy but eight years old; how great the change. I well remember that where there is now a great many fine dwellings there was nothing but timber that abounded with wild game. Within 200 feet of one of these structures I remember seeing father shoot a deer. This is Thursday the 2nd inst. and very warm and sultry; there is some appearance of rain so we took dinner with Mr. Berkman at the poor house, and then went through the building looking at the different inmates; after we bade them farewell we went across Graham Creek to a very old respected friend's by the name of Charles Graham."