Willard E. Hankel, born in 1904, came with his parents from Minnesota to North Dakota in 1916 where they farmed near Ludden. After his marriage in 1934 to Marie Kilzer they farmed for several years at Ludden and later at Oakes, N.D. They had a family of six children.

The Hankel papers document the history of the Hankel family going back a number of generations to Germany. The core of the collection is Mr. Hankel's farm diaries spanning from 1946 to 1995 that record his daily activities plus weather conditions. The only financial data is a ledger for 1941-1942. 
 

Personal and Family Papers |  Agriculture, Bonanza and Land Devolopment