Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-01
Experience of a Farmer who began the
World without One Cent.

A letter-writcr in the Tribune at New
town, N. Y, tells the following experien.
ces of thriving and wealthy farmer who
was one of the early settlers of New York
State
Jonathan Rowley, of Camillus, (now
Elbridge,) Onondaga comfy, N. Y, who
is still living, or was two years since, in
formed me that he purchased his farm of
capitalist in Albany, about fifty years
ago, on credit of six years, at SIS an acre.,
that in the winter he engaged farmer,
who had been down with load of wheat,
to take himself, wife and child back to
Elbridge for 81 so, where We worked for
their board until spring, He then hired
a house, put his bed, wife and children
into it, took his ak, hand-saw and auger
in his hands, and started early in the
morning for his future home, and cut his
way three miles through the wood fell
Eastwood trees such as he and his wife
could handle, built him shanty, and got
it done before six o'clock P. M. He then
took his auger, went to the stump of the
first tree he felled, bored hole in the
top, took from his pocket the last six
pence he had in the world, dropped it in,
made plug, drove that in the hole, 'and
that is the last have ever seen of it"
said he,
In answer to my inquiry why he dis
posed of his last cent in that manner, he
replied-"I knew 1 had to depend on my
hands, and had so little, l was deter
mined to begin without cent. In the
spring." he continued, Z" 1 and my wife
cleared off two acres, and planted it with
corn. My wife would nurse the child,
wrap it up and place it in the crotch of the
roots of large tree, and pile and burn
the brush. During harvesting l worked
for old Judge Munro for wheat to eat,
carried it to Skaneateles, nine miles, on
my back to mill. I carried one-and-a-
half bushels at time, and it took day.
The second year l used up my corn be-
fore my wheat came in, and l went again
to the Judge and agreed to chop one acre
for him, and he advanced to me bushel
and half of corn. had nothing to eat
while doing it but johnnycake and maple
sugar. l took in my pocket some large
Jumps of rock salt, which occasionally
held in my mouth; that made me drink
freely, and kept the water from injuring
me, and assisting in satisfying nature
My two acres of wheat came in good, but
my pantaloons were worn out, and l had
to part with twenty bushels, at 2s. Cd. a
bushel, to get new pair. My wife was
better clad and did not need any addition
yet. The third year had three acres of
wheat and one of corn. bought COW
and one hog, and l have never wanted a
bushel of grain or pound of pork since.
l also built me a good log cabin the third
year. l have raised large family of
boys and girls, and we have always had
a plenty of everything. But it was hard
work to pay for my land, as wheat was
only worth about SO cents bushel. The
last payment made got 40 cents bu-
shell for it at my barn"
But" said l, "Uncle Rowley, how
did you enjoy yourself when you were
living on corn-cakes and maple-sugar ?"
He replied by slap on the shoulder,
and said, "I assure you my young friend,
those were the happiest days of my life.
We really took comfort then"