In the early 1880s M.D. Carrington and T.B. Casey, grain dealers of Toledo, Ohio became familiar with the James River Valley and in connection with their business in 1882 bought 30,000 acres of railroad land from the Jamestown Northern Railway, (now the Northern Pacific). This land, 21 1/4 sections was found in both Foster and Wells counties and cost $168,380. The Foster county land was -principally in the vicinity of Melville and Carrington. They organized the Carrington and Casey Land Company and Lyman R. Casey came to the Dakota Territory as their general manager. It was under his advice that the company purchased large tracts of land that later came to be known as the Livingston Farms.
They had no intention of carrying on a large farm or any farm when they first started. In 1883 they began breaking from 40 to 60 acres on each of the many quarter sections, intending to sell the lands thus partly improved to the new settlers. They could receive more money for partly improved land. Since sales were slow, they were obliged to crop the land and make use of the money that had been spent for breaking. They began by cropping 1,500 acres it 1884. The experiment proved profitable and additions were made from time to time in the amount under cultivation with profits resulting every year in spite of the low wheat price that was received. B5 the year 1896 they had 8,000 acres under cultivation and had continued to break up to 1,000 acres additional each year.
The ranch was divided into five farms, known as the Livingston Farms. Each farm had its own set of fine buildings and nice groves, and was connected with telephones. Well-built graded roads were con strutted between the farms for transportation.
Wheat was the staple crop, but flax growing was added and was found to be profitable. They maintained a herd of about 100 cattle and 100 hogs as well as chickens. They raised everything that was needed for food for the workers and their teams.
They had 100 head of work horses which includes about 20 brood mares, most of these horses were Percherons. There was a barn boss who kept the horses fed, cleaned the barns, and hauled the feet that was necessary. All the other men had to do was to harness and unharness their teams.
Several Scandinavians, commonly known as "newcomers" were employed by the ranch. One o the farm bosses, R.P. Groves, taught these workers the rudiments of the English language in his spar time. Peter Elton, one of these Scandinavians, was employed as repairman and troubleshooter on the spread. He would have been comparable to today's mechanic. Workers received about $18 per month besides room and board. Many early settlers worker on the ranch as well as proving up their own homesteads.
The ranch had its own blacksmith and harness shops and regularly employed a baker to make bread for the laborers.
The building layout was under the direction o John W. Rogers, who became an employee of the ranch in 1889. The buildings included a residence for the superintendent and his office, a dormitory and dining hall for the men, large barns for the stock, hog pens, machinery hall, two elevators with a capacity of 40,000 bushels each with numerous small granaries on the farm. In 1896 the farm was using 24 binders, 7 headers, 2 threshing machines, 20 gangplows, 14 drills and many wagons.
When in full blast the ranch was a small city in itself during the threshing season as many as 200 men were employed, 350 mules and 125 horses furnished the mobile power for the ranch. Later as many as four threshing machines were kept busy bringing the crop in.
There were two sets of buildings, the main residence and the other one located five miles away, the present Doeling farm. The Maurice Carr farm by Bordulac was the wintering place for the cattle. Section I in Bordulac Township was the area used for herding the cattle.
The land was summer-fallowed every fourth year. Diversification of crops was practiced too, so the land was kept in good shape for the people who wanted to buy it. They were always willing to sell when the opportunity arose. The sale price of the land was between $10 and $12 an acre in Foster County.
They used coal for fuel. This was purchased for $3 a ton from the mines at Burlington and was delivered right to the farm.
Farming continued on the ranch until 1906 when the Company decided to dispose- of their holdings in the county and the big ranch was sold to L.B. Hanna of Fargo and Mr. George Palmer, who had been serving as the superintendent of the Ranch. A few months later these men sold 17 sections to Senator Pierce and his associates, who formed the Ransom County Immigration Association. This company proceeded to become active in farming and the selling of the land for years.
Hanna and Palmer retained the land in section 3331-29-Northeast 1/2 of 32, which included the ranch buildings. They continued to farm as a partnership until 1919, during which time they divided the land. Mr. Palmer kept the home place and a section and three quarters of land with Mr. F.F. Reimers as the manager.
Mr. Hanna inherited the Palmer Estate in 1933 and it became the Hanna Ranch. Later this portion of the holdings was sold to F.F. Reimers.
For years the farm was known as the Hanna Stock farm, the former governor having stocked the farm with Aberdeen Angus cattle. Upon the death of the former governor, the Hanna Estate had the farm for years with K.D. Hooten as manager. In a span of about eight years the farm had a number of owners. First Hooten bought the farm, but soon sold it to Lyle Dawson of Mandan. Dawson sold the farm to David Johnson and the latter sold it to Darold Anderson. This portion of the farm consisted of 960 acres on the east side of the road. It became known as the Bordulac Stock Farm.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 30