Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-08-29
Visit 10 an Illinois Farm.

Visit 10 an Illinois Farm.
Yesterday afternoon we rode out to the
farm Of Thomas Mcneil, situated six miles
south Of this city. It contains 1000 acres.
1900 have been broken, and 100 acres
are now in cropsl Less than two years
ago, this whole farm was what is called
wild land. Mr.. Mcneil then lived on a
400 acre farm (which he stills owns) in
the town of Owen, Winnebago Co., six
miles from Rockford. One thousand acres
ofthe present farm he entered with land
warrants at one dollar per acre. The
lother thousand he purchased year ago
last Noyem Der Of the Illinois Central r.
K. Co., for Sl9 per acre. He commenced
making Improvements upon this farm a
year ago last March, and he has since
that time expended about $4,000 upon
lit. He has built eight Tenant houses,
with out houses, &c, besides large two
story house in which he resides himself
and has built also taoelge miles of fence,
part Of it board fence and part wire. He
has ten families living on his plantation
for it is certainly deserving thst name
all Of whom are thriving and happy. Mr..
| Mcneil furnishes the seed, and they do
the work and give him half the grain they
raise. By this arrangement, Mr.. McNeill's
time is chiefly occupied in visiting the diff
feront portions of his domain, and seeing
how they all prosper. He and his worthy
wife seem to enjoy it as they should, and
are surrounded by happy and counten-
ted circle of families, ali Of whom are
prospecting to their hearts content In
one field he has 700 acres of wheat, and
in another 200, making 900 in all. He
thinks it can be safely estimated at TWEEN
ty five bushels to the acre, making an az
gregate of 20, 500 bushels. He has also
200 acres of corn and oats. The corn is
a lniddling crop, the oats heavy. Last
ear was the first crop he ever raised on
any part Of Of it. He only had then 900
acres Of wheat. The year before he broke
800 acres, last year he broke 500 acres,
and this year he has broken 500 more
The cost of breaking is SO per acre. He
keeps 100 head Of cattle, and about Is
horses. lie has three bountiful springs
which will water tho whole tract, and
as good as we ever tasted. He has also a
good Stone Quarry, out of which he has
already taken some two hundred cords of
stone. In short, bis farm is in every re-
spect, just what it should be to make it
one Of the most desirable homes in the
world. 1t lies Handsomely rolling, as far
as the eve can reach, and the soil is rich
and decp-no better can be found. Tol
an Eastern man, an account like this, of al
farm which, when only about half oft is
crop, yields an income of from 100000 tol
10000 seems to be fabulous. And it will
appear even more so when we state that
but few years ago, Mr.. Mcneil was a
poor man-poorer than nine-thnths oil
hose who will read this article. He Isl
entirely seIf-made. He was poor, but
honest and industrious, and with that or
ly as a capital to start upon, he now stands
up as one Of the richest and happiest men
in all this section of the country. Hell
came to Winnebago County, nineteen
wears ago, and when he arrived In Rock
ford, his entire inventory Of this world S
goods was span OF horses ana Wagon,
wife and three childrea, and fifty cents mi
money.
Mr. McNoill has five reapers in use on
his farm three Of the Rockford machines,
one of the Fountain Reapers and one OIL
Seymour q Morgan's self-rakers He
says they are all first class machines, all
doing their work up handsomely. The
only one we had an opportunity Of seeing
(as it was nearly night when we reached
there was the Fountain Reaper. Its
work was done in the best manner
I Freeport Journal.
ga few days ago a railroad train,
which passing through Macomb, l,,cripple d
a cow accidentally, tho fault being wholly
with the corporation in not keeping cattle
off the track. But the people became ter
rbly enraged, and when the train return
ed an iron bar was found lying across the
track. This was removed, but then an
excited crowd headed by the Mayor and