The values assigned to my grandfather’s estate when it was probated are listed here.
My determination of a adjustment factor of 13 to bring 1946 prices forward to today is shown here.
The extended string of assumptions I’ve made shows a rough guess of the estate:
- 1946- worth $8,085 gross, with $7,785 after the administratrix fee due to my grandmother.
- 2019 – worth about $105,000 gross and about $100,000 after the only listed liability.
Detail of the assets are:
| 1946 | 1946 | 2019 | 2019 | |
| $ each | $ total | $ each | $ total | |
| — | — | — | — | |
| cows | 132 | 1,980 | 1,716 | 25,740 |
| bull | 100 | 100 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| yearling | 47 | 658 | 611 | 8,554 |
| calves | 30 | 750 | 390 | 9,750 |
| spring pigs | 51 | 1,020 | 663 | 13,260 |
| chickens | 163 | 2,119 | ||
| horses | 400 | 5,200 | ||
| John Deere Model D tractor | 300 | 3,900 | ||
| John Deere Model B tractor | 150 | 1,950 | ||
| John Deere cultivator | 50 | 650 | ||
| three bottom (plow?) | 50 | 650 | ||
| 2 bottom plow | 50 | 650 | ||
| “other old machinery” | – | – | ||
| binder (horse drawn) | 20 | 260 | ||
| disk mower (horse drawn) | 40 | 520 | ||
| plows (horse drawn) | 40 | 520 | ||
| stacker (horse drawn) | 20 | 260 | ||
| hayrake (horse drawn) | 20 | 260 | ||
| small tools | 10 | 130 | ||
| elevator & hoist | 30 | 390 | ||
| manure spreader | 20 | 260 | ||
| wagons | 100 | 1,300 | ||
| hay rake | 20 | 260 | ||
| 1936 Ford V-8 Sedan | 300 | 3,900 | ||
| new hay, stacks, | unknown | unknown | ||
| hay, tons | unknown | unknown | ||
| household furniture | unknown | unknown | ||
| corn, bushels | 1.24 | 992 | 16 | 12,896 |
| oats, bushels | 0.80 | 802 | 10 | 10,426 |
| —- | —- | |||
| assets | 8,085 | 105,105 | ||
| administratrix fees (to Lydia) | (400) | (5,200) | ||
| — | — | |||
| estimated net worth | 7,685 | 99,905 |