The settlement was not successful. The Lincoln family's corn crop produced a disappointing yield, partly because it was planted directly in the sod of the tallgrass prairie, and many of the members of the family then developed severe cases of malaria associated with living in the Illinois wetlands. Following this came the winter of 1830–1831, known to pioneers as the "Winter of the Deep Snow". It was a particularly harsh winter for the area, with lengthy periods of sub-zero temperatures and snowfall totalling . The Lincoln clan faced serious hunger. According to one report, "Abraham rode to nearby homes seeking food for his family."