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The Writings Of Sam Konkel – A Voice Of The Plains: Part 2
Konkel’s Clever Wagon Fix: The 1910 Farm Hack That Went Viral
In today’s world, viral content spreads through social media, but in 1910, the power of print media was just as effective—especially in agricultural communities that relied on newspapers for the latest farming tips. Sam Konkel, a frequent contributor to Missouri Valley Farmer, shared his practical advice on how to prevent wagons from jamming using simple chains and clevis fastenings. Within weeks, his tip was published in at least 20 newspapers across multiple states, from Kansas and Oklahoma to Wisconsin and even Pennsylvania and Louisiana.

Konkel’s advice spread because it solved a common and frustrating problem for farmers and ranchers who relied on wagons for daily transport. The fact that it appeared in widely circulated farming and regional newspapers, such as The Snyder Signal-Star (Oklahoma), The Neodesha Register (Kansas), and The Pointe Coupee Banner (Louisiana), suggests that editors saw immediate value in sharing it with their readers.
This was the early 1900s equivalent of a viral post—practical, widely relatable, and easily implemented. Just as farmers eagerly exchanged tips at feed stores and town gatherings, newspapers functioned as a social network, passing along useful knowledge to keep the wheels—literally—turning. Here are many of the publications where this news was shared
Payne County Farmer (Yale, Oklahoma) · 16 Feb 1910, Wed · Page 7
The Plainview News (Plainview, Nebraska) · 17 Feb 1910, Thu · Page 7
The Herington Sun (Herington, Kansas) · 17 Feb 1910, Thu · Page 7
The Melvern Review (Melvern, Kansas) · 17 Feb 1910, Thu · Page 4
Neodesha Register (Neodesha, Kansas) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 3
The Argyle Atlas (Argyle, Wisconsin) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 6
The Snyder Signal-Star (Snyder, Oklahoma) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 6
The Talihina Democrat (Talihina, Oklahoma) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 4
The Alva Pioneer (Alva, Oklahoma) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 9
The Texhoma Times (Texhoma, Oklahoma) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 2
The Republican News Journal (Newkirk, Oklahoma) · 18 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 6
Pointe Coupee Banner (New Roads, Louisiana) · 19 Feb 1910, Sat · Page 7
Ness County News (Ness City, Kansas) · 19 Feb 1910, Sat · Page 6
The Madison Spirit (Madison, Kansas) · 24 Feb 1910, Thu · Page 3
St. John Daily Capital and the County Capital (St. John, Kansas) · 24 Feb 1910, Thu · Page 2
Courtland Journal (Courtland, Kansas) · 25 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 3
The Humboldt Herald (Humboldt, Kansas) · 25 Feb 1910, Fri · Page 2
Butler County Democrat (Hamilton, Ohio) · 2 Mar 1910, Wed · Page 7
The Davis News (Davis, Oklahoma) · 3 Mar 1910, Thu · Page 2
Cameron County Press (Emporium, Pennsylvania) · 3 Mar 1910, Thu · Page 7
The Jetmore Republican (Jetmore, Kansas) · 11 Mar 1910, Fri · Page 2
The Silver Messenger (Challis, Idaho) · 19 Apr 1910, Tue · Page 2
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