Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-15
Thriving by the Plow-An "Old Set
tiers" Progress in Nebraska.

rranKln, VINO was rOIeSSOf OF l. o.
litical Economy to the infant nation,
placed the pillow first and last among
the factors of the nations wealth. The
pillow is first because until the land is
cultivated and made to yield its in
crease, a nation-which is an inter.
dependent and civilized community
is impossible and, however great a
people may be in commerce and man
features, the pillow is also last, because
the dependence upon the farmer fol
bread never ceases. Farming, there
fore, is always essential and he who
farms his own land is on the certain
road to comfort and sufficient affiu,
ence. The following is one example
in Nebraska. But,
He who by the pillow would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive.
And the subject of this brief notice
has filled the conditions of Franklin,
"wise saying" He was not afflicted
with the constant fever for moving
which leads so mady pioneers to quit
that which is good, is search of some
thing better. He got a farm arc
stuck to it, and his farm has stuck by
him. Neither has he engaged il
speculation of any kind but has
made his position by industry in one
business.
George Adams left Crawford coun.
ty, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and set
tied on Government land in Cass
county, Nebraska, about ten miles
from the Missouri and on the banks
of Weeping Water His whole
wealth consisted of two yoke of cat
tie; and he had to go into debt fol
his land, that is he had to borrow the
money to pay the Government price
for the 16O acres he entered. What
is the result of his adventure? In
1878 he had 100 acres in wheat
which yielded 20 bushels per acre, OF
1900 bushels. This wheat he sold al
go cents per bushel, realising So, 1892
He had 10 acres of rye sown for feed
and, after pasturing this rye during
the Winter and Spring, Mr.. Adams
reaped 100 bushels, II bushels pei
acre. He had 100 acres of corr
which pieldcd 5000 bushels, an aver
age of 4l3 bushels per acre, and
worth 80 cents per bushel. Mr.. AID
ans sold pork which realized 800
cattle 1861 and horses $3.50. The
labor employed on the farm was thai
of one man at $40 per month, Mr.
Adams and boy aged IL years. lie
cut with header 245 acres of grair
for neighbors at 81 per acre; and the
profit thus made paid the expense o.
harvesting and selling his own pro
duce. In 1874 Mr.. Adams had 81
acres of wheat, from which he obtain
ed 1890 bushels-about 144 bush
els per acre in the worst year Nebras
ka has ever known-which he solo
for 81 cents per bushel, $996.30. He
had 100 acres of corn which yielded
2,400 bushels, or 20 bushels per acre
worth SO cents per bushel, and IL
acres of rye, in pasture, which also
produced 1870 bushels Of grain. Mr.
Adams also sold 1925 worth of pc
tatoes and $3.50 worth of pork. II
the course of his farming operation.
in 1874, Mr.. Adams set out acres ir
orchard and broke 100 acres of raw
prairie, the labor employed being the
same as in 1873. The farm of this
individual pioneer now comprises 48C
acres of prairie, 40 acres of native
timber, and 10 acres of planted tim
Der. In the planted portion there
are cottonwoods of IL years growth
Is inches in diameter, and black
locusts which have been cut twice fol-
fuel, and of which the trees of thirt
growth are 20 feet high. Mr.. Adams
has good frame house, a barn 4Ox5C
feet, 1000 worth of farm machinery
80 hogs, 20 head of cattle and /;
horses. His present indebtedness:
does MOI exceed $500; and, altogether
he is worth not less than $4,000.