Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-17
A GREAT DErECIIvE's Farm.
The Home OF tho Late Allan Pink
ertOu. or World. wide Fame,

Eighty-five miles south OF Chicago
Just ut the outskirts Of the village Of
Onarga, lies one of the most beautiful
farms in the State OF Illinois. 1t com
prises about three hundred acres, and
was purchased by the late Allan Pink
erton eighteen or twenty years ago. Al
that time the greater part OF 1t wa
swamp land, but Mr.. Pinkerton had II
thoroughly drained and instituted Q
series OF improvements, which were
kept up until it became the pride Of hal
part OF the State.
AS soon as the soil was in suitable
condition, several hundred Thousand
English Lar chas were planted, making
a forest of these beautiful trees, and
from these the farm derives It's name
A number of evergreen and deciduous
trees were also planted. At great ex-
pense smooth, solid dIiveways were
constructed, running through the farm
In different directions.
Mr.. Pinkerton took particular pride
in these. They are now beautifully
shaded avenues, and there are bloom.
ing shrubs and fanciful urns contain.
ing vines and flowers. A large sum
mer cottage, surrounded on all sides by
"a wide veraDda over which climb
hopeysuckles and roses of many vari
ties, stancs In the midst of an ext
sive lawn. Through this lawn wind
clean gravel walks bordered at inter
walls with exquisite flowers. Almost
every where flowers rare and beautiful
greet the eye.
An artificial lake with its rustic
bridge and little sail boat further adorn
the place. No expense had been spared
to render this one OF the most beautiful
of sum nier homes, neither did the great
detective stint himself In the Mdul.
geuce of his eccentricities. He Ger.
tainly must have had an eye to the
ridiculous when he stationed on each
side of the two entrances to his farm
the statues of Indian warriors with up
lifted tomabawks. They never inspired
fear, for the gates were almost always
omen, and the drives, walks and seats
under the trees tree 70 any who chose
70 cutter.
Mr.. Pinkerton delighted in animals
of all kinds. He had large number
Of horses, from the clumsy Norman
down 10 the little Mexican pony, dogs,
cats, chickens, geese, ducks and
pigeons. One of the curiosities of the
place is n small cemetery where rest
the bones of favorite animals. Theii
graves are marked by headstones OF
which are inscribed their names and
time of death. On one Of these is the
following tribute to pet horse named
Lady:
Here lies Lady, though not human
Truer far than many q woman
Larch Farm was Major Pinkerton'l
favorite residence. For years. winter
and summer, every Monday morning
his carriage was at the depot waiting
for the Chicago train, In which he wa
sure to be II be was able to sit up. III,
always remained at the farm Unit
Wednesday, when he returned to thu
city. On these visits he was invariatl,
accompanied by members of his force
whom he loved to entertain.
No sooner did he arrive At the farm
| cottage than, II the weather was warm
he DOTTED his city clothes and assumed
the air of q regular rustic, and AZ N
strolled about sans coat, his burly form
overtopped with broad. brimmed
coarse straw hat, he looked every incl
the rustic, too. He passed the tim
| lolliDg ON the grass, DOING on tn
veranda, fishing at the little lake
smelling his flowers and riding in hi
| carriage behind four small Mexical
ponies
OLce or twice every summer
brought with him from Chicago thirt
| OF forty policemen, whom he treated I
a grand dinner and an afternoon on tn
green swsrd under the tree. His ger
crosby to those in his employ wa
proverbial, and he never emed bette
pleased than when giving others pies
sure at his own expense.