Connecticut western news., 1876-06-16

they amounted to tens of thousands

they amounted to tens of thousands of bushels of fruit.
 When MT. Halladay bought the Ophir Farm he was in the full flood of his fnan- cial prosperity. He was the owner of the overland stage route. and was specu- lating in beef on the plains that brought him thousands upon thousands of dol lars. His mail pay from the government on the overland route amounted to about $1, ,50O, 900 year, and from his stages he received about $1, 500 day. He also owned steamship line from San Fran cisco to Portland, Oregon; a line from California to the Sandwich islands, and line to Australia. At this time it was estimated that he was worth about $10, ,OO0,OOO Soon he sold out all his steamship lines, and invested his money in the San Francisco and Oregon rail road. This investment failed, and there after Mir. Halliday steadily lost money. His immense real estate fell in value Snd his millions were lost almost as quickly as they had been acquired. He sold his overland mail route to Wells, Fargo L Go. in 1868 for $1, ,e50, 900, and received a cash check for the property.
 | For the estate in Westchester county, with the expenses of the buildings and the adoruments, he paid about 1850, ,OOO The chateau cost STA, ,00O. Mir. Halla- day now lives in Portland, Oregon, with a second wife. His first wife is buried, with several sonS and daughter, under the marble slabs of the tomb in the chapel in Harrison. Mrs. Halladay, the first wife, died in 1873, and was buried with Catholic rites. A large concourse | followed her to the grave, and the funer- al was an event of unusual magniicence. The farm of MT. Halladay was originally | bought and used for stock farm, but it never pal l, and the owner has steadily lost money since it's purchase. At one time there were over 150 horses breeding mares-on the place, but for the last few seasons not more than nine- teen or twenty horses have been On the farm. MT. Charles Ohle leased the 95O acres last year and is trying to work up the place.
 The breeding stable, which is as luxu- riously furnished as modern villa, is still kept up.
 The Ophir farm is now for sale, and several offers have been made. The Catholics desire the chateau for con- vent of the Sacred Heart, and they wish for 100 acres on the front park. They have offered $35, ,00O for the chateau and | 100 acres, but as the most of the acres they seek cost MT. Halladay $4, 900 each MT. Otis refuses to sell.
 Mir. Halladay has one son in San Fran cisco, Ben, Jr., and a daughter who is welded to French baron, who lives in Paris. Another daughter, who was the wife of 8 French count, died suddenly on the cars iu coming out from San Francisco. She was buried in the tomb in Harrison.
 The history of the novelties of the Ophir farm would fill volume. At one time large number of buffaloes were kept on it, and in the spring the greater number of them escaped from their in- closure, and ranged through the neigh boring woods. They were hunted and slaughtered by the farmers. In many cases they destroyed large amounts of property, and it is said that the Halla- day estate paid from $8,000 to $1O, 1000 for the damages.