Why did they bear so many children?

have you ever been to a cemetery that predates the 20th century? They are full of kids. Infant mortality used to be very high. Plus, there was no government assistance or old age benefit system, so it was your offspring that were your insurance program, so you had many children to make sure you had some that made it to adulthood. Further, the migration from farm to city was in progress at that era, and on farms your kids were your work force. The attitude hadn't yet changed with the newer urban culture. Add that to the lack of practical birth control, and there you are. lots of kids per family