Middletown transcript., 1870-02-19
THE PRINCE OF FARMERS,
an Eeening Nth Olirer Dalrymple, the great Whea
Farmer Of Tie West.

fdTWer o. Ne Wea.
Being in the northern region of Mime
sofa, we thought to visit Mr.. Dalrymple
and his wheat farm. We wished to see
the man who had turned over twenty hun
dred acres of prairiss I'd, and brought forth
forty-fve thousand bushels of Minnesota
wheat. We took the afternoon train from
the little inland village of Pennington to
Hastings, twenty miles below St. Paul, on
the west bank of the Mississippi. A ten
cent ferry-ride took us over the great riv-
er; thence We cross the narrow timber
bottom; thence up winding ravine, and
we emerge upon the broad prairie that
forms the delta between the St. Crox and
the Mississippi. Half mile onward and
we bring up before neat story and half
cottage, with wings and porticoes extend
ing from the side and end. A few acres
of smooth prairie lawn, set out with trees,
are enclosed with the house, and 40 acres
with the stable to the right. On all sides
beyond are seen wide pillows of dark fresh
turned soil This, we thought, must be
the great Dalrymple farm but first we
must see the colossus himself A knock
at a little side door was answered by a tall
slight, youngish looking man in slippers,
who was no other than Mr.. Dalrymple.
Our imaginary stiff-backed, strong armed
giant, was reduced to a courteous young
gentleman, as gentle as woman.
We were made at home in moment,
and before the cold had passed from our
fingers. we were well under way with the
story of his farm work and wheat raising.
He had finished his fall ploughing, he said
of two thousand acres the day before (No-
vember 18th, and his work for the year
was over. His thirty fat horses could now
have rest until spring, and he himself
would soon be on his yearly round among
his friends and the cultivated cities of the
East.
Mr.. Dalrymple is yet bachelor of thirty
eight summers, of frank, intelligent face
and Southern type of manners. He be-
longs to that rare and fortunate class in
whom the ideal and the practical blend !;
who readily adapt means to the ends; who
easily accomplish great results; who seem
in remarkable degree to be possessed of
the genius of success. He is transcen-
dentalist by nature, living his own life,
and carrying out his own ideas. He affects
no style; sets up no pretentions; is the
least assuming of all about his farm. His
cottage is plain without, but richly order
ed within. Books. papers, pictures, COM
Portable lounges, and easy-chairs meet the
eye in every corner.
Mr.. Dalrymple is of Scotch parents and
was born and raised farm boy till scven-
teen, in Warren county, Pa. He was
three years at Yale, taking practical
course of studies and attending law and
scientific lectures. Finishing his studies
near at home in 1856. he decided to try
his fortunes beyond the Mississippi, With
er the great current of fresh American life
was then flowing. He reached the border
settlements of Minnesota in early spring.
He didn't wait for clients or business to
find him, but at once threw himself into
the spirit of western life and sought him
out farm.
His first work, after weeks travelling
about, was planting corn for neighbor to
get money to buy beetle and wedges;
then he set to splitting rails and putting
up log snuhty On his prc-enlptlon claim,
eight miles from the infant village of Ro-
chester. He got forty acres ploughed,
borrowing the money at three per cent. a
month. In the fall he made for Chatfeld,
the hub of the Minnesota land excitement,
and opened law and land office with ten
cents capital. Other capital soon came to
him for investment, and be loaned money
and located land warrants at FIVE per cent
commission, clearing often over hundred
dollars a week.
In 1859 he opened his Office at St. Paul.
In five years he held cash balance of
$50. 900. He had enough, he said, of
pettifogging and claim collecting, and he
now resolved to crafty his taste and incli-
nations out of doors. He wished, also, to
demonstrate two things:
1st. That capital and labor could be
applied successfully to wheat raising on a
large scale.
I'd. That man could be farmer and
not be slave.