mothers - des moines, may 8 -- In 1875 mothers didn't have the luxury of taking Sundays off - even on Mother's Day. Lisa Elm, who works at Living History Farms and greets visitors at the Tangen Family Home, pumps drinking water Sunday. "This type of family would have typically had six children," said Elm. Given that fact, it's not surprising that even Mother's Day couldn't have been a rest day. photo by david peterson miDes Moines, Ia.