Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-21

graziers in the West-men who from small
beginnings have become lords Of the soil
Among them is Capt James N. Brown, of Is-
land Grove Farm. near Berlin. The farm con-
sists of 1000 acres of land, 24O acres of it
timber; the balance originally prairie, but now
studded with beautiful groves of locust and
walnut, and divided aud protected by belts of
the same, which are the result of rigbtful steps
towards a permanent and beautiful prairie
home. Capt. BIS herd of thoTOughbreds
numbers about fifty, and he has plenty Of
other stock. The first premium silver cup
awarded him for thorough bred bull was at
the State Fair in Kentucky about quarter of
century ago, and was presented to Capt
Brown by Henry Clay, who was Chairman of
the Committee making the award. Cart B.
points to this cup-the first prize he ever re-
ceived for stOek-as the cause or stimulant to
exertion in the production of fine stock, which
has resulted in such eminent success for Capt.
Brown has since taken about four thousand
dollars worth of premiums at the different
fairs, three thousand dollars worth Of which is
in plate, and which of course he takes pleasure
in exhibiting to guests entertained at his hos
pitabs mansion. Mrs. Brown is described as
the worthy wife of q worthy farmer.
But Jacob Strawn is the great Illinois Gra-
zier. He is plain, blunt Western farmer,
short in stature, heavy in body land full of Drawn
and muscle. He was born in Bucks county,
Pa, in 1900, and removed with his family to
Licking county, Ohio, in 1917. Young
Strawn worked on his fathers farm in Ohio
three or four years, then bought 24O acres and
started in life for himself at the age of 20,
with the assistance of wife. This farm he
worked eleven years. when he removed to H.
linois, purchased $500 acres of land, and had
some $4,000 remaining. He increased his
lands and herds until he had reduced some 3d.
600 to cultivation, and for twelve or fifteen
wears he stall fed 1000 to 5000 head of steers,
and handled " as he terms it, 5000 to 5000
head per annum Latterly he has sold off his
lands, 50 that now Mr.. StraWn is possessed Of
about 10, 900 acres in all. Some seasons his
corn fields in Morgan county have measured
six miles in length, but with the encrOaeh
ments of age he has been restricting bis buai>
ness to more manageable limits, and does not
now keep over 100 horses or employ more than
100 to $50 men. His wealth exceeds ST.
100000.
At first, when his farm was Of reasonable
linits, Mr.. S. managed it all personally, devo
ting h whole energies to cattle, horses and
hogs, his reliance for success to tins day. As
his farm became unwieldly he rented portions
in this manner:
The tenant plows, cultivates and cuts up
the corn crop, and receives from the owner 8
price which varies from eight to twelve cents
a bushel, according to circumstances: Strawn
furnishing land, houses, frewOOd and pasture
for the COWS and work horses. The plan
worked SO well that it has been followed with
out change since the commencement. The
tenant gets extra work at fencing and other
| Jobs between crops, and on those terms with
| strict industry and frugality, can lay by some>
thing for a rainy day. The light prairie soil,
| free from stumps and almost devoid OF boul-
derd to impede the progress of the PloW, is 30
much easier to work than are Eastern farms
I
on SEQ acres of woodland in Ohio, than on
5000 and even more of prairie. Hence his
tenants can, at the small prices paid them per
bushel for corn,raising, live and support a
family, when surh weuld not perhaps be posi-
be in an older State.
Since 1881, Mr. Strawn recollects but two
failures of the corn crop; but the porientOus
word has often been applied to results which
we're actually to be ascrlbed to the shittless
m management of some prairie farmers. He says
he breaks his ground IN March, as soon ss the
frost is out, and in April plants; so that by
getting ahead of the heavy spring rains he Sc
cures q crop, where his neighbors have often
failed. Ia winter his farm tools and harness
are all repaired and made ready for use, for he
| il too shrew6 business man to suffer himself
TO be overtaken by work in hurrying season,
when he is unprep pared to get it out Of the way.
As he says himself, in published article
'sLook at our neighbors in the Spring, about
the time their corn should be planted. They
get in a great hurry, getting ready harness,
plows and almost everything belonging to their
business. Busting around, going to mill. get
ting part of load of wood at time, foI
they have not time enough to haul full load,
they are so extremely hurried to get tleir corn
planted. If they would keep at work all the
season, we would starve the lawyers, end whip
the doctors. Whenit comes rainy, bad weather,
90 YOU cannot plow, cut and split your wood
Make your tracks (wOrk) when it rains hard
cleaning your stables, OF fixing something
which you would hRYs to stop the pillow for
and fix, in good weather. FIX the fence OF
the gate that is off its hinges, or weatherboard
your barn, or patch the roof Of your house -
In other words, Mr.. strawn would have his
brother farmers do as he has done, and has
given notice publicly, that if they will scrupu
louslv observe his directions, be will guarantees
, success. His offer be eouches in the following
quaint terms: t'Do not fail to get into bed By
seven, and roll out early and attend to busl'
ness. There is no morning so dark, but what
: you can no something if the willis there. Fol
heavens sake, and that of your wife, children
and the State, let US all try it for three years
and if your creditors see you are trying hard
and making tracks in the right place, they will
have mercy on you. If they will not, come tc
Old Jake, and if be has it in his power he viii
help you. RemembeT,yOu must take his advice
: all through tie piece"
The Duke Of Wellington slept in a camp
bedstead to the close of his life, and it is said
that he would always get up instead of turning
oVer in bed, when once awakened in the morn
inq Jacob Strawn seems to have followed
IEe habit, for, in I newspaper article, from
Z which the preceding extracts are taken, h'
q saws: "When you wake up, do not roll over
but roll out. twill give you time to ditch al
your sloughs, break them up and harrow them
and SOW them with timothy" In eountr!
: where the vast amount of arabic land make
farmers careless as to great nicely Of details
/ he keepS his corn well cultivated, plows hi
{ ground deep deep, outs his grass at the TIM
when experience, rather than reading, ha
; taught him it contains most nutritive matter
and even spuds out bis cookie burs and dock
weeds in the pasture lots. His fences he make
high and strong his barns tight, and hi
stacks are fenced about 90 that the stock can.
;. not eat and waste the fodder as they choose
/ TTL.t ,.o-51r than that r,;tb ~ n r . -: