Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-03-29
TIVE IIlinois Fasaners nnd era.

Two 1nD00o8 sk04DeR8 me- 6B0
The Prairie State can boast of some {
the most extensive and successive farmer
and grazies In the West-men who ffoa
small beginnings have become lords Of tb
soil. Among them is Capt. James \
Brown, of Island Grore Farm, near Berlin
The farm consists of 1900 acres of lard
$40 acres of il timber; The balance origin
ally prairie, but now studded with beauti
fol groves Of locust and walnut, and divi
ded and protected BY belts Of the SANK
which are the result of 1ghtful steps Ia
wards permanent and beautiful prairi
home. Capt. BIS herd of thoroughbred
numbers about ffty, and be has plent,
Of other stock. The first premium silve
cup awarded him for a thorough bred bul
was at tbe State Fair in Kentucky about
quarter of a century ago, and was present
ed to Capt. Brown BY Henry Clay, wb'
was Chairman of the Committee making
the award. Captain B. points TO this cul
the first prize be ever received for stool
-as the cause or stimulated to exertion il
the production of fine stock, which has re
suited in such eminent success; for Capt
Brown has since taken about four thousand
dollars worth Of premiums at the differ
ent fairs, three thousand dollars worth o.
which is in plate, aud which Of course be
takes pleasure in exhibiting 10 guests en-.
tertained at bis bospitable mansion. Mrs
Brown is described at the worthy wife of g
worthy farmer.
But Jacob Strawn is the great Illinois
Grazier. He is plain, blunt Western
farmer, short in stature, heavy in body,
and full of Drawn and muscle. He was
born in Bucks county. Pa, in 1900, and
removed with his family 10 Licking county
Ohio, in 1917. Young Strawn worked on
bis fathers farm in Ohio three or four
years, then bought 240 acres and started
in life for himself at the age of 20, with
the assistance of wife. This farm be
worked eleven years, when be removed to
Illinois, purchased $500 acres of land,
and had some $4,000 remaining. He in
creased his lands and herds until be had
reduced some $4,000 to cultivation, and
for twelve or fifteen years he stall fed s.
BOO to 5000 head of steers, and "han-
He'd" as he terms it, 5000 to 5000 head
per annum! Latterly he has sold off his
lands, SO that now Mr.. Strawn is possessed
Of about 10000 acres in all. Some sea-
sons bis corn fields in Morgan county have
six niles in length, but with the
Of age he has been restrict
ng his business TO more manageable linn
is, and does not now keep over 100 horses
DR. employ more than 100 to 200 men,
His wealth exceeds 81, 100000.
At first, when bis farm was of reasoable
limits, Mr.. S. managed il all personally,
aeyoting his whole energies TO cattle,
horses and hogs, his reliance for success TO
his day. AS his farm became unwieldy
he rented portions in this manner:
The tenant plows, cultivates and cuts up
he corn crop, and receives from the owner
] price which varies from eight to twelve
ents bushel, according to circumstances:
Strawn furnishing land, houses. frewood
md pasture for the cows and work horses.
The plan worked so well that it has been
ollowed without change since the COM
The tenant gets extra work
t fencing and other jobs between crops.
ind on those terms with strict industry and
can lay by something for rainy
lay. The light prairie soil, free from
tumps and almost devoid of boulderd to
impede the progress of the plow, is so
much easier to work than are Eastern
arms, that Strawn estimates he has spent
more labor ON 500 acres of woodland in
)hio, than on 5000 and even more Of
'rairie. Hence his tenants can, at the
mall prices paid them per bushel for corn
aising, live and support family, when such
Fould not perhaps be possible in an older
state.
Since 1881, Mr.. Strawn recollects but
wo failures of the corn crop; but the por-
entous word has often been applied to re-
ults which were actually TO be ascribed
D the shiftless management of some prairie
srmers. He says be breaks his ground in
iarch, as soon as the frost is out, and in
April plants; so that by getting ahead of
be heavy spring rains ho secures crop
'here bis neighbors have often failed. In
inter his farm fools and harness are all
epaired and made ready for use, for he
too sbrewd business man 10 suffer
imself to be overtaken by work in a
urrying season, when be is unprepared
|, get it out of the way. As he saws
imself, in published article. "Look at
ur neighbors in the Spring, about the
ime their corn should be planted. They
ct in great hurry, getting ready har-
ess, pIows and almost everything belong
lg to their business. Bustling around,
DING to mill, getting a part of load of
god at time, for they have not time
, maui q full load, they ere so extremely
urried to get their corn planted. If they
,ould keep at work all the season, we
'ould starve the lawyers and whip the doc
os. When it comes rainy, bad weather
0 you cannot plow, cut and split your
rood. Make your tracks work when it
aims hard, cleaning your stables, or fixing
which You would have to stop
he plow for, and fix in good weatber.-
Fix the fence or the gate that is off its
hinges, or weatherboard your barn, or patch
he roof Of your house." In other words
Or. Strawn would have his brother farmers
10 as be has done, and has given notice
publicly, that if they will scrupulously OBJ
erve bis directions, he will guarantee sue