The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-01-09
A GRASSHOPPER SUFFERER.
An Incident Of the Dark Days Of
1874.

from Illinois in the fall of 1873. and To-
Gated six miles northwest of Sterling. in
Rice county. lie took up a homestead
and secured half section of railroad
land on eleven years time at $3.50 per
acre. Gebhardt had no money TO speak
of, barely in fact to obtain the promi-
nent necessities of life. With his own
team, however, he succeeded in break
ing forty acres, and although seed corn
that winter was $1.25 per bushel. Geb-
hardt managed to secure sufficient to
seed his forty acres--and feed his team
The spring and early summer he spent
in work industriously providing for
good start in the way Of vegetables and
small fruit, and just as the world APP
peared the brightest for him the Grass
hopper fen upon his fields, and in al
most less time than il requires to relate
it, poor Gebhardt was absolutely strick-
en- destitute. Not an ear of his corn
was lief, him, vegetables and small fruits
completely devoured, and with less than
two dollars comprising the sum total Of
his worldly possessions, Gebhardt found
his way to Topeka, an humble. though
earnest supplicant for help from the
Santa Fe Company. Up TO this time
the company had never received a dollar
from Gebhardt in payment on the land
interest had been carried for months.
and favors were entirely Oh one side.
Notwithstanding This. and contrary to
the oft-repeated declaration that corpo-
rations have no soul, the Atchison. To-
peka Il Santa Fe furnished Gebhardt
transportation to his old home in Hi
nois, and n more grateful man never
breathed than was he. Those in the
Office al the time he was handed his
tickets eastward, well remember the ai-
feciing tabeaux: the honest-hcarted
stalwart German upon his knees kissing
the hand of the Land Commissioner.
while with each kiss came Il food Of
tears and fervent protestations of a
gratitude fiat should be demonstrated
in something else than words. His de-
sire 10 return to Illinois was to obtain
provisions. and his promise of return
ing was promptly fulfilled, for early in
the fall Gebharlt was back on his place
in Rice county determined. as he so
strongly put it. that as the company
stood by him. so would he stand by the
land. With the seed furnished by the
Santa Fe company. Gebhardt sowed
fifty acres in wheat, and pushing on
with increased vigor, broke one hun
drcd acres which he put in corn, prom
ising To pay one dollar per bushel for
one hundred bushels, and ninety cents
per bushcl for another hundred bushels
for seed and keep of his team. His har-
vest set him upon his feet for the first
time. the wheat Welding eighteen and
the corn forty-iiye bushels per acre.
That summer Gcbliardt broke the bal
ance Of hi- homestead claim and enough
of his half section of railroad land TO fill
ont an even one hundred acres of wheat.
The following spring he put in one hun
drcd acres of corn, harvesting in the
summer and fall Of 1877. sixteen hun
dred bushels Of wheat. and upwards of
three thousand bushels of corn. Com
fortably fixed now himself. Gcbhardt
signed over the half section Of railroad
land 10 his two sons. and putting one
hundred IN ten acres Of his homestead
in wheat. helped the boys get i'm one
hundred and twenty acres Of their do
main. This spring the sons further in
creased their cultivated area by putting
in sixty acres of corn. The harvest was
Il busy one, the elder Gebhardi's whca;
yielding twenty-five bushels per acre
and the boys-which was on sod-eigh-
teen bushels to the acre. the corn aver
aging thriv-tivc bushels. Now ii was
Mr.. Gcbhardt determined ilat his wife.
who had seconded his every effort, and
shared his every sacrifice. should have
rest. And accordingly. after providing
her with the best that money could pur-
chase. sent her for n long visit 10 their
old home in Illinois. duly commissioned
10 secure anythin. she might fancy to
make more comfortable their new and
substantially built house. In The mean
time Mr.. Gcbhardt and his boys stuck
most faithfully TO the land. from which
their competence was gained. and be-
tween them. two hundred and twenty
acres were put in wheat, that now
promise grandly for next seasons har-
vest. Satisfied that the boy can man
age naiiers-and indeed with the har-
mony they have had. il would be pccil-
liar if they should prove deficient. Mr.
Gehharit. with I'll his payments met
promptly. his taxes liquidaied, Il com
Portable balance in the bank and fair
amount in his pocket. IS on his way 10
the "fadcrland.' for visit among his
people on the other side of the Atlantic
II was but few DAYS since he was in
the Office of the Santa fc company.
stopping over here 10 expressly call on
Colonel johnson and The old employees
who. back in the dark days of 1874. eX-
pressed SO much sympathy and helped
him so materially TO secure help 10 tide
him over. With fears in his eyes. and
in tones trcmulous with deep feeling.
Mr.. Gchhardt expressed gratitude that
knew no bounds. But how different the
emotions of the situation in 1873 aud
1874. -Four years ago he was 3 beggar
how he is almost in af'lueace: and
while his gratitude for the kindly acts
in the past is fresh and mreslrained a.
nj lis very inception. there is something |
in the man that tells stronger than
could words of a success in life MI the
swccter and dearcr for thc battle that |
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