The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-12-20
4isFeAatrtuus.
A KdMAS FARM.
--latest Improvements, Fine Stock, Etc,
tEllIs Co., Kansas, star.)

CELLS Co.. Kansas, star)
Last Friday being leisure day with
us, we accepted the invitation 30 kindly
extended by that prince Of good fellows,
Thomas Lannon, to hop in that nobby
little buggy behind spanking" term of
sorrels and be off for a visit to the plan
tation of II. L. Smithes, which lies four
miles southeast of our city. On our ar
rival we found Mr.. smithes butte busy
planting and arranging the work for
large force Of men which he keeps en-
ployed; but trueto the styles and Gus
toms of true Englishman, he always has
time TO entertain a guest. After placing
at our disposal his choice brands of
liquors and cigars we seated ourselves in
an easy chair and proceeded to pump our
genial host as to what he had done, what
he was doing and what he intended to
do. We learned that his land possessions
consist of five broad sections, or 5000
acres in solid body. While we did not
drive over oyer this estate, with the aid
of field glass we could see the greater
portion. To give the reader some idea
of It's value for agricultural purposes, Mr..
S. informs us that there is not twenty
acres of the entire body but is suscepti-
BILE of the highest stage of cultivation,
except that which is Coarsed by Big
Creek, a living stream. The site which
he has selected for his residence is
beautiful location on the west bank of
Big Creek. While his residence is not
pretentious, it is two story with base
ment built throughout, with an eye to
comfort and convenience, and all after
the most modern style of architecture.
To this he proposes to build an addition,
or rather north wing which will add
both to its appearance and convenience
the work on the addition is already
commenced and will be pushed to COM
pletion, most probably under the skillful
eve of G. r. Wolfe. He has ordered from
Chicago, picket fencing with which he
will enclose about five acres and lay off
his grounds with gravel drives and
walks.
A large and Commodious barn with a
four foot stone correll enclosing about
two acres, is additional evidence of a
practical knowledge of a right beginning,
On entering his barn we were show the
carriage room which was a model in
neatness, with sponges, hose, brooms and
Wipers, in one corner is his harness and
saddle Cupbord, where his silver mount
ed harness and his fancy english saddles
are kept under lock and key; next we
were shown the portion in which his
machinery and farming implements are
kept, then to the wings where the farm
horses are comfortably stored away, from
there we were shown up stairs where he
is having double floor laid, which will
be parttioned off in bins for oats, barley
and chopped feed. We we're then taken
to the room which Lannon is pleased to
call the parlor. In this we found his
three "daisies" Maggie" Frank" and
LOU" Mr.. s. requested Lannon to strip
the blankets. and in minute the three
stood with ears pricked as if drive or a
chase awaited Maggie is thorough
bred mare, six years old, a blood bay with
black name and tail, and as pretty as a
picture, while her driving mate Frank is
dark horse, eight years old, full of life,
we'll proportioned, an easy g0er and great
powers Of endurance. When hooked up
this is by all odds the fastest and most
valuable team in Western Kansas. Lit
tie Lou is dark bay, black tail and
NAME clean cut limb without blemish.
She is a square trotter and comes from
good stock. She is six years old and is
his favorite saddle animal. This trio oc-
cupy box stalls, and receive the special
care of an experienced groom. Mr.. s.
pointed with pride to his yard of pure
LeghOrn chickens and trio of pure bred
Cashmere goats. He is lover Of high
bred stock, and says in few years he
will keep nothing in the way of stock on
his farm for breeding purposes except of
the purest blood the country affords.
Mr.. s. has done but little farming on
his place until the present fall, and as he
did not return from England until late
he has only about sixty acres seeded to
small grain. But he proposes to make
farming count next year, and for that
purpose he has kept fifteen breaking
teams running, until the freeze came He
has now over four hundred acres broke
which he will seed to oats, wheat, rye
and corn in the Spring. To this little
truck patch he will add enough during
the summer to give him one section, or
six hundred and forty acres for wheat
field next fall.
He expects to start for Canada in Feb
ruary where he will visit the most noted
breeders of short horns, and will select
from herds such animals as suits him
best.
Mr.. Lannon is his farm manager, and a
more practical, thorough and competent
man cannot be found in Ellis county.
We say thrice welcome to all such noble
hearted enterprising and go.ahead young
men as Henry E. Smithes.