Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-13
JOHN FRANKS RANCH.
Best Equipped Farm !" Mower County.

tONnSnIp. MI J. FdltA tANuc MS pVc"ctNP-
tion claim in 1855, and all the settlers Of
those early days have only good words
for our genial and hospitablo friend
When the war broke out, he enlisted in
the service Of his country, going out with
Company X, 9.h Minnesota, which was
entirely a Mower County Company.
Since the close Of the war up to 40 years
ago, Mr.. Frank has been stationed at
Fort Smelling, a. Suffer Of the Fort.
During all these thirteen years, he KEEP!
his original preemp, ion in LIE Roy, and
made additions thereto until his iran ch"
now numbers twelve hundred; acres, all
in body. AS John had the reputation
Of having the finest and best equipped
farm in Newer county, if not IN all
Southern Minnesota, We concluded to &C.
cept pressing invitation to visit it.
We were not disappointed. The farm
was even more than our fancy had
painted 1t certainly seemed that John
had about everything that the most ambi-
It,ous farmer could ask. To give the
reader some idea Of the Improvements,
we will state that the owner keeps $22,-
ono insurance on the per,shable property.
The land is mostly high and beauti-
fully located. Fully 800 acres are under
cultivation. $50 acres Of timber, mostly
second growth, but large and thrifty
The supply Of timber in this section is
very much more abundant than twenty
years ago. The farm is watered by the
Little Iowa, a beautiful stream of water,
and a spring brook. In die years gone by
Mr.. Frank has raised larg crops Of wheat,
but the past two or three he has been
| gradually working out Of grain and GO
ing into stock. This year he raised about
400 acres Of wheat, and some corn and
FAX. He has seeded dow over 800 acres,
and next season will sow but 200 acres
of wheat He has now a fue start in
stock, having about l75 head Of cattle,
100 hogs and 80 Of the @rse kind. His
cattle are Of the short-h prn grade, and
look very fine. We were shown hand
some short-horn bull calf, worth 5000,
and several cows worth 1900 and $500
each. Also fine Spanish jack, for W hich
Mr.. Frank paid 800. lis hogs are of
the Berkshire breed, and are we'll worth
raising.
| The place is provided Yith every con-
| VI nience for doing the faf I'm work easily
and comfortably. We do 'b, if there are
half dozen farms il he state better
equipped than this one.
The farmhouse is 4 cOIu modious build
ing, two stories high, size pn the ground,
5ox56. I! is very convene billy arranged
a large din,ng-room, kltch en- and sitting
room. ali well-furnished. A richly fur
| nlshed parlor, and large and pleasant
sleeping rooms on the secd nd floor. The
cellar is the full size cf the house, always
we'll stored with vegetable rs which are,
safe from the ravages Of J hck Frost. On
the top Of the house Is a c|,pola IN which
is hung large bell, the rope coming
down into the dining room. This bell
calls the workmen up in the morning and
to their meals The first ringing Of the
bell IS at 4:l5 in the morning.
Mr.. Frank likes little recreation now
and then, 80 he has s room on the second
floor nicely fitted up with billiard table.
where he and his friends can enjoy bis
favorite game.
The workmen are lodged in
three neat cottages built especially tor
them. During the busy season, ten men
are employed, and in the winter four.
Two Of the cottages are occupied by men
with families.
The out buildings are good for sore
eyes, and an especial JOY to the heart Of
any farmer who loves his occupation and
is naturally nea: and systematic.
The barn, is 70x70, with large hay
loft. 1t has stalls for Sc horses, and
q department especially for mich cows.
Near the barn is we'll Of wafer and q
pump worked by windmill, where the
stock are watered.
There are two large granaries, one
about 25x60 in size, the other 25x7O
They have y capacity for all the grain Mr..
Frank can raise. and ne Is thereby able
TO hold his grain and 10 take ad.
vantage Of the markets. Near them are
located set of Howe's hay scales. As
he weighs nearly everything he has TO
sell, he is not generally cheated In that
direction.
The mex. point Of interest is the work
shop-a building 1895, containing a
blacksmith's forge and tools, carpenters
tools, in fact, tools Of almost every de-
scription needed Oh large farm. John
says he Is 80 fixed that he never has occa.
sion to borrow anything OF his neigh.
bors.
In the machinery shed we find steam
,hresher, five selCb,nders, one reaper,
three mowers, SIX seeders, harrows, corn
cultivators, plows and farm machinery
Of all kinds, besides number Of wagons,
carriages, s'eighs and cutters. This ma.
chinery IS all carefully cleaned and the
running parts oiled, at the time OF beng
put under cover.
The Improvements on this model farm
are valued at $4,000. 1t Is certainly the
best equipped farm in Mower county,
and Mr. Frank says It is net excelled 10
the state, and from what we know of
Johns reputation for truth, we have no
reason to doubt his word.
We very much enjoyed our visit to this
plantation, both on accouu, OF what we
saw of model farming, and Of that true
hospitality which Mr. an Mrs. Frank al.
ways bestow upon their guests.
CHEAP Charley bought = large stock
and II must be sold. See him before buy.
log.
Hayes Brothers.
There Is nothing In the line of iewelry,
silverware, plated or solid, that you can
not find at Hayes Brothers. jewelry store