Probsfield Cabin

Probstfield Farm has been an important part of the Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota area since the early years of white settlement. However, the history of Probstfield Farm would not be complete without a history of the man who created the farm, Randolph Probstfield. He was born in Coblenz, Germany where he lived for twenty years, received his education and then promptly immigrated to America. Probstfield established his name in the Red River area of northern Minnesota, most notably by helping to build the first steamboat which played a large role in the creation of the Hudson Bay Company trading post in Georgetown.[1] In 1862, Governor Alexander Ramsey chose Probstfield as one of three commissioners, meant to bring organization to Clay County. This same year Catherine Probstfield gave birth to the first of their thirteen children.

Construction on Probstfield farm began in 1868, on a plot of land seventy-one acres in size, located a few miles north of the future city of Moorhead. The creation of the Probstfield Farm propelled Randolph to be a figurehead of the developing communities of Fargo and Moorhead. Probstfield had high hopes for the valley: representing the area politically, personally investing in education, and widening the horizons for farming potential. Probstfield proved that the Red River farmland was able to yield more than just corn, but tobacco, sugar beets, tomatoes, and fruit trees, as well. Probstfield ensured that education was available in Clay County, by constructing the first schoolhouse and even teaching. He also served one term in the Minnesota State Senate under the People’s Party (1891-95), where he fought for schools and game laws.

Today, Probstfield Farm continues to provide for the community. Once a year the Probstfield Farm Living History Foundation hosts a locally grown and prepared food feast. Food served at the feast features local chefs from restaurants in the Fargo Moorhead Area. Anyone is welcome to come and experience what the Red River area has to offer. The proceeds from the feast go to restoring the Probstfield cabin, the oldest standing structure in the Red River Valley.[2]

Probstfield was a pioneer of the Fargo/Moorhead Area. He laid the ground for many different sectors of life in the Red River Valley. He proved to the Department of Agriculture that the Red River Valley was a fertile and viable location for farming and organized the first school board in the area.[3]

[1] California Thorson, “Probstfield, Randolph M. (1832–1911),” MNopedia, May 31, 2018, https://www.mnopedia.org/person/probstfield-randolph-m-1832-1911.

[2] Chelsey Englehard, “From Harvest to Table: Historic Probstfield Farm to Host Annual Community Supper,” INFORUM, September 4th 2017, https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/4321470-harvest-table-historic-probstfield-farm-host-annual-community-supper.

[3] “Probstfield Farm, ‘History and Research,’” probstfieldfarm.org, December 12, 2014, https://probstfieldfarm.org/farm/historical-links-and-research/.