Poelma cousins pose on a Minneapolis Moline
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
GAINES – Cousins Arthur Poelma, left, and Ralph Poelma posed together for this picture in 1920. They are standing on a Minneapolis Moline tractor that had an electric starter, electric head lights and a front-wheel drive.
The photo was taken on one of the Poelma Farms at East Gaines.
Editor’s note: Ralph Poelma died on July 7 at age 98. He was a full-time farmer until he was 87. He gave 28 gallons of blood as a donor, a period spanning about 75 years. His cousin Arthur lived to be 88. He died on Oct. 4, 2004. Both are buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.
