The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-17
How a Boy Bought a Farm.

from Hte 81. LOUIS Journal u H"'C"""e'
Several years ago, youth of sixteen
years, OF good sense, and fhlr En~
lish education, not having profitable
employment sat his fathers home in
Kentucky, sought for employment
among his enierprisinH nelghoors
few miles distant; and although wages
were low in those days OF gold and sil>
yer currency. he saved from his first
years wages $40. He was then II years
old. healthy, lively looking, aspiring
and ambitious to become useful, noble,
and perhaps great. He had already
learned that money loaned at high rates
OF interest was oppressive to the bOr-
rover, and reacted on the lOaner, and
in the falling OF prices OF nearly all
articles in the commercial world; that
men sought justification for their bank
ruptcy aud delinquency in the fact that
they had paid large rates of interest
Feeling, therefore, that llberal1ty, as
we'll as justice, was necessary to every
mans dealing with his fellow men, ne
loaned his $40 to an exemplary, enter
prising and prosperous trading man In
his neigh borhood, at the lowest rate OF
interest known in business IN tnat
State, viz: six per cent. per annum. he
worked another year, clothed hlmselI
in neat kentucky jeans, and DINER
cheap but neat articles OF apparel, ana
went TO Il country school three months
,
the ruGiments of Latin and something
of the higher branches of mathematics,
working for prosperous and liberal
farmer evenings and mornings to pay
the boarding; and at the end OF the
second year, or when he was eighteen
years of age, he had saved 500 more.
His character for integrity and indus
try began TO be better known in the
neigh Dorhood, and his services were
sought for.
He worked on a farm and rode as col.
lec;ur for trading men and the Sheriff
of his county; and at the END OF MS
nineteenth year had saved Sll0 more.
With the interest accumulated on his
other TWO years wages he had now
$500; and was comfortably clothed, and
had Il good business education, which
he improved from one winter to Rnoth-
er. Till he became scholar, both liter
ally and scientifically. His influence
and usefulness increasing, he had, at
the age oftwenty years. $3.50: At TWEEN.
ty.one he had accumulated $500, and
/ was we'll known for his activity of life,
as young man of intelligence, virtue,
and usefulness, as we'll as young man
OF very attractive manners and ways.
He moved 10 Western State where
land WAS cheap. and entered l6O acres
by "A land warrant, which he purchased
with $50 of his money. He made
coed selection of land, in good region
OF country; he used portion OF the
balance ui Ills money in improving his
lard, buying little stock, and u few
implements tor farming, and the second
YEAR he raised ii small crop. Having
gone to his Few neiEhborhood with
roon; 500 i'll money, and used it eau
iuusly, he Ivy degrees gained the name
Of a res possible citizen and good pay
master, and his influence rose gr"du-
ally from his appearance among his
new and scattering neigEDors. Year
after year he raised Il crop, continuelng
10 read the best newspapers periodicals,
and books, which still further improv-
ed his mind till sheep, cattle, and other
stock grew up in nOcks around him,
more land adjoining him being pur-
chased from time to time, till now he
finds himself, when scarcely arrived at
the middle O! life, gentleman farmer
OF wealth, surrounded by comfort and
many luxuries, esteemed by neighbors
both far and near, and would receive
the suffrage of those who know him to
any office for which he might be noml-
ue!ed, irrespective of party politics, so
firm in their confidence in both his abil-
ity and integrity.