Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-09-21
HORACE GREELEY'S FARM SOLD.
Nobody TO Bid Against His Dau . liter.
Miss Gabrielle. Who Pays $4,000.
From the New York suH.

hVh<tSL y Il Il VI NOLU.
Nobody TO Bid Against His Dau liter.
Miss Gabrielle, Who Pays $4,000.
From the New York Sun
After the death of Horace Greeley
it was intended that his farm at Chap
paqua should be sold and the proceeds
divided between his daughters. Ga
brielle and Ida, the latter of whom
was the wife of Colonel Nicholas
Smith. For some reason this was
not done, and when Mrs. Smith died,
more than year ago, the farm was
still unsold Colonel Smith, who had
lived on the farm after Mr.. Greeley's
death, removed to Shelbyville, KY,
with his three children, and the farm
was rented in part.
Miss Gabrielle NJ. Greeley recently
brought a friendly suit for the sale
of the farm, and it was ordered to be
sold The time of the sale was fixed
for yesterday noon in front of the
Postoffice on Main street, Chappaqua.
The Postoffice consists of little shed
jutting out on the end of piazza
which runs along the front of coun-
try feed store 1t is set with small
glass panes bearing the numbers OF
the letter boxes, SO that a person driv
ing past can see if he has letters with
out alighting.
At noon about twenty of the vii
layers, farmers and storekeeperS who
CHANGED to be ia the neighborhood
gathered on the stoop and retailed old
stories about Mr. Greeley. A few
hundred yards down the road could
be seen the gate of the Greeley farm,
and Immediately in front of the post
Office was the swamp on which Mr..
Greeley expended so much money in
his effort to convert it into good
ground. Presently the auctioneer,
Israel A Haight, appeared. Heow
a pickle factory in the town, and is an
old resident He is a small man, with
ford complexion and stiff gray mus
tache and hair. No one came up on
the trains from the city except report
ers
Soon after ~ o'clock Miss Greeley
drove up alone in top buggy, with
a spirited bay horse Miss Greeley
was dressed in deep mourning for her
sister. Her brown hair was brushed
down plainly over her forehead, and
the healthful color i'll her cheeks
showed how we'll her stay for several
months past at Chappaqua had agreed
with her At her feet was large
bunch of brightly colored leaves. She
refined up the horse opposite to the
auctioneer, and spoke to her lawyer,
Mr.. Porter.
Auctioneer Haight stood on the
highest of the three steps of the stoop
and said the sale would begin. A
dozen urchins deserted their play and
stood near his feet Mr. Haight read
the long legal description of the prop
erty, which said that the farm consist
ed of about seventy-seven acres, or
chard, meadow and woodland.
What am | offered for the proper
ty?"
Miss Greeley leaned out of the side
of the buggy toward the auctioneer,
and SAID in clear, musical voice,
$50, 600
Thank YOU" said Mr. Haight.
THAT settles it said a dozen
voices; mo one will bid against
her"
No one did bid. The auctioneer
pleaded for $500 advance, $3.50, 800,
$50, and S25, but no one made sign.
He dilated on the value of the farm,
said it was going dirt cheap, and call
ed on the bystanders by name to bid
higher, but there was no response.
Then he took a short recess and again
offered the property.
Il will take so advance he said.
'Who will bid $1,000. Won't you,
DR."
The doctor addressed examined his
pockets in spirit of humor, and de-
clined to bid
Ten thousand dollars once; fair
warning. Ten thousand dollars twice.
Ten thousand dollars third time
Gone, Sold to Gabrielle NJ. Greeley
for $40, 600"
Miss Greeley smiled pleasantly, and
said she was glad, as she did not
want the old farm to go out of the
family She had no plans regarding
it just at present, but would put it in
repair and probably move there next
year.
There are two houses on the farm,
one near the gate and the other on
the hill. The latter is unoccupied.