Manuscripts Collection
This collection is arranged by company or person into the following series:
Accession number: 16,604
Transferred from the Northwest Minnesota Historical Center to the Minnesota History Society in 2001.
Processed by: Alex Kent, November 2011.
Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project
grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
When the collection was processed, boxes 35 and 36 were combined into one box; hence, there is no box 36 in the collection.
Catalog ID number: 007413122
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons or places should
Kiene Farms was incorporated on March 1, 1917 by Frank Kiene, Hannah M. Kiene and Alfred A. Berr. It was located in Kennedy, Minnesota. The capital stock was $200,000 and was divided into 2000 shares at $3100 each. Besides the major crops of potatoes, wheat, barley and flax, the general nature of the business included buying, acquiring, improving, leasing, owning, selling and dealing in lands and tenements.
In 1951 Frank Kiene was president, R. [Ruth?] E. Anderson secretary and Ell Kiene vice president. In 1956 Ell Kiene became president after his father Frank Kiene died in 1954. In August of 1944, Kennedy Trading Company merged with Kiene Farms, Inc. Kiene Farms, Inc. also owned 46 shares in Kittson Farm Bureau Service Association.
The records include articles of incorporation, crop data, financial statements, ledgers and journals, cost estimates, inventories, stock certificates, tax statements, and general business correspondence.
Alphabetical subject files kept by Frank and Ell Kiene, and chronological subject files kept by Ell Kiene make up the majority of the records. They consist of records from business associates and include crop data, rental agreements, loan agreements, land sales and mortgage documents, deeds, insurance papers, accounts, legal papers, and related correspondence.
Mostly McCabe Brothers bills of lading related to wheat sales.
Mostly regarding interest/loan payments.
Includes Kiene Department Store records, Kiene Farms, Inc. real estate statements, rents and expenses, land sales, agricultural inventory, heavy duty scale test and inspection reports.
May be a payroll register.
Incoming and outgoing correspondence between Frank Kiene, Ell Kiene, Ruth Anderson, Kiene Farms Inc., Kennedy Trading Company, Home Furnishing Company, Northwestern Implement Co., Northwestern State Bank (W. H. Barr, J. E. Sundberg, A. E. Kronig), Fargo Glass and Paint Company, AGSO, Inc., Northwestern Furniture Mart, Geo. A. Clark & Son, Central Tractor Parts Co., Northern Mink Ranch, Bacon Brothers, R. R. Howell Company, Northern Jobbing Company, Overvold Electric Company, and many others.
Topics include general financial and business interests such as payments, orders, employment, shipping, planting conditions, irrigation, parts, crops, cattle, and land sales.
Alphabetical subject files (1901-1975) kept by Frank Kiene and Ell Kiene covering a wide range of topics from Kennedy Trading Company, Prairie Farms Inc., and other businesses affiliated with Kiene Farms, Inc. Includes accounts, applications, correspondence, certificates, legal papers, contracts, building and lot papers, pamphlets, news clippings, articles, mortgage papers, and tax records.
Accounts kept by Ruth E. Anderson.
Includes official death record and related papers.
Sterling Store joined Midwest Stores, Inc. circa 1938. Includes articles of incorporation for Midwest Stores, Inc., report on financial statements, correspondence, and related papers.
Regarding car accident that occurred while using a company vehicle.
Includes annual reports,
Frank Kiene was president of the board of directors of the Minnesota Potato Growers Exchange, circa 1924.
H. M. Wilcox Company bought the Kittson County Implement Company in April 1941.
Chronological by year than alphabetical by correspondent with topical files intermixed. These are likely a continuation of the general business correspondence and alphabetical subject files that were kept separately at first, and then kept in this one series beginning 1961 by Ell Kiene.
Frank Kiene was born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1876, the son of Gustav and Pauline Kiene. The family first moved to Goodhue County, Minnesota and then to Kittson when Frank was six years old. His mother died when he was nine years old. Frank Kiene married twice. His first wife Rena C. Calmer died shortly after they were married. He married Hannah Berg on June 11, 1915, and they had one son, Ell. Hannah died on March 1, 1924. Frank Kiene died in 1954.
These files, kept by Frank Kiene, document his personal finances and tax payments, include correspondence with business partners and the Minnesota Potato Growers Association, of which Frank Kiene was president (circa 1924-circa 1926), and contain Kiene Farms, Inc. records such as grain records, potato data/information, crop yields and sales data, land purchases, applications, and sale documents. Papers related to Frank Kiene's estate are also included.
Mostly McCabe Brothers bills of lading. Includes loan papers, grain chattel mortgages, Kennedy Trading Company accounts, and miscellaneous papers.
Mostly related to crop data, crop insurance, crop yields, farm plans.
McCabe Brothers bills of lading, inspection certificates and related papers, correspondence.
Between Frank Kiene and the Minnesota Potato Growers Exchange, business partners regarding renting land, crops, mortgages, payments, and contracts.
Correspondence between Ray T. Nelson and Frank Kiene (or the Frank Kiene Estate) regarding land rentals, crops, and payments.
Includes expense accounts, personal accounts, building costs, in-labor accounts, board accounts, and Kiene Farms, Inc. accounts.
Papers dealing with the legal and business ramifications of Frank Kiene's death. Includes final decree, letter of administration, warranty deeds conveying property, correspondence, estate valuations, inventories, Home Furnishing Company deal, correspondence with Figen & Figen, Faegre & Benson.
Ell Kiene was born in 1917 in Kittson County, Minnesota, the son of Frank and Hannah Kiene. He graduated from Kennedy High School in 1935 and the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1940. He was mayor of Kennedy (dates unknown). On January 29, 1949 he married Margaret Luverne Woldy and they had a son and daughter. Together they operated the large grain and livestock enterprises known collectively as Kiene Farms. Ell Kiene spent his entire life in Kennedy and died in 1971.
These files were kept mostly by Ell Kiene and include personal financial statements, ledgers, correspondence, tax records, grain and potato records, and soil sampling information Papers related to Ell Kiene's estate are also included.
Papers dealing with the business and legal ramifications of Ell's death.
Includes order of complete settlement for the Ell Kiene estate and decree of distribution, Minnesota notice to allow discharge, and a copy of the order discharging First National Bank of Duluth and L. Kiene as co-executor.
Includes some correspondence.
Includes estate.
Includes accounts kept by Ruth E. Anderson who served as secretary of Kiene Farms, Inc. (circa 1951) and who was also involved with several other family companies, often as treasurer or secretary.
The McCabe Brothers were grain commission merchants based in Duluth with offices in Minneapolis, Winnipeg, and Spokane that the Kiene's worked with in pricing and selling their grain. On August 26, 1929 the Kennedy Trading Company was mortgaged to the McCabe Brother's Company for $12,800.00.
The Kennedy Trading Company of Hallock, Minnesota was started in 1902 and incorporated March 20, 1917 with a capital stock of $200,000. The company started as a bulk tank station dealing in gasoline, light fuel oils, and related products. Later a general merchandise store was included that sold groceries, dry goods, shoes, and meats. The first board of directors was: Frank Kiene, president; J. E. Sundberg, secretary; and Ruth E. Anderson, treasurer. The Kennedy Trading Company also owned 17 shares of stock in Northern Jobbing Company of Chicago, Illinois. The Kennedy Trading Company was liquidated September 27, 1971 following the death of Ell Kiene.
The Northwestern Implement Company was organized in 1937 in Hallock, Minnesota. Its owner was Ell Kiene, who became president after the company was incorporated on April 1, 1948. The secretary was Ruth E. Anderson and Clara Paulson was treasurer. Ell Kiene was the sole stockholder. The company dealt in farm implements, retail hardware and grain shipping. Its main grain, wheat, was shipped to Pills Mills Company in Duluth. The company had a share or preferred stock in Kittson County Locker System in Hallock, Minnesota.
Includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes.
The Kennedy Implement Company was incorporated on April 1, 1908 by Frank Kiene, Lauritz Mlgaard and C. E. Johnson with a capital stock of $25,000 which was divided into 250 shares of $100.00 each. The nature of the business included wholesale and retail buying, selling and trading in tools, implements, produce, provisions, livestock, grains, hay, flour, and similar products. The company went out of business in 1925.
Includes gross income, officer expenses, expense schedule, gain and loss accounts, tax related correspondence.
The Sterling Store started January 1, 1937. At that time the store only dealt in groceries and a few meats. By 1942 Ell Kiene was the owner. The store was incorporated on May 1, 1945 with 1,000 shares; each with a par value of $100.00.
Ell Kiene was the president and treasurer, and sole stockholder. F. Moberg was the vice-president and Ruth E. Anderson the secretary. After incorporation the store expanded to include dry goods, meats, groceries, clothing, furniture, household appliances, farm machinery, supplies and other kinds of personal property. The store also dealt in livestock (cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and poultry), animal and poultry feeds and real estate of all kinds. It was merged with the Northwestern Implement Company on May 3, 1965.
Includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, meeting minutes.
Incorporated March 18, 1948; liquidated, September 27, 1971. The Prairie Farms, Inc. was organized to absorb the last of the Kennedy Trading Company holdings and some of Frank Kiene's personal holdings.
Includes articles of incorporation, resolutions, board of directors meeting minutes, and miscellaneous material.
Includes notices of excess acreage, schedules for livestock and grain, list of company tractors.
The Kittson County Implement Company was incorporated in 1919 and dealt mainly in farm implements. The first board of directors was C. E. Johnson, president, and Frank Bryden, treasurer. After they resigned Ell Kiene became president and Ruth E. Anderson, secretary. The major shareholders in the H. M. Wilcox Company bought the Kittson County Implement Company in April 1941. It was fully liquidated on March 16, 1942.
Includes chattel mortgages.
Includes service part orders, accounts, property statement.
Not labeled, may be from Sterling Store.
Incorporated March 22, 1948; liquidated July 31, 1971.
Includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, minutes.