The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-04-21
THE ROMANCE OF 4LOT.
How Sl50O Invested in Kansas City Mads a
Minister'S Fortune.
A FNe-Acre Tract Bought by Rev. David
Walk ia 1878 Sold By Him Re-
Gently for sec, 500.
kansas CITY Times Z

kansas City Tinaes.I
In Kansas City oftener than in any other
city, perhaps, instances occur of where large
fortunes have been made from real estate
thought to be worthless. The most notable
case, as well as the most romantic Is that of
Rev. David Walk, a minister of the Christian
sect, who in 1878 purchased five acres of
ground for 81 500, which he sold Saturday
10 Messss ]. s. Ford and II. p. Jacques for
SOC, 500. The property is located at Ninth
and Olive streets, and at the time of ac-
quiring it Mr.. Walk occupied the pull
pit in one of the principal churches
in Memphis. The circumstances leading
to the purchase are interestingly related by
Bfr. Walk. ''My health had been failing for
some time" said Mr.. Walk, ''and to recup-
crate it decided to take trip through the
West. Being, like most ministers, depend
ent on my profession for livelihood, and
conscious that the time would come when
should have to give up preaching l also de-
termined 70 look out for place near some
thriving city, where could retire from the
ministry and get my living from the ground.
The first places i visited in Missouri were
CarrOlltOn, Springfield and Bolton. Ateach
the people of our church offered to give me
q home If I would locate with them, and at
Bolton the church proposed to deed fifteen
acres of ground TO me, and build residence
rate there. When 1 left home L had
no idea Of visiting Kansas City, but being so
near it l decided to come here before accept
ing either of the propositions. accord
ingly did so, and found the people DESTROYS
of having me take charge of a little church
then being established. As liked the looks
of the town / accepted the charge, and pre-
pared TO bring my family here. Driving
into the country with a friend one day to
see Il / could find tract of land to my
liki'g ] came upon c0rnteld, i've acres OF
VIII III we're for sale. I bought the property
the next day, and after thirteen months L
mo ed to Cincinnati, where / took charge
of the largest church in our denomination.
Two years later / went TO Indianapolis, and
after four years to New Orleans, where
] am nov pastor of 8 church. 1t was
while az indianapolis that 1 glearned
that NV land was likely to make my for
tune. I received several letters from cap
italists ia Kansas City Offering to take the
property of my hands The first offer,
which was made three years ago, was of
So 900. A little while later somebody offered
$1,000. And a year ago l received letter
offering me $50 600 for the property NV re-
ply was On a postal card, and was to the
effect thSt had no desire TO sell, and that
expected some day to turn my acres into a
good garden. In a few days l received a
pleasant note from the gentleman asking me
what kind of vegetables l expected to raise
on ground worth S0,UOO an acre.
You came to Kansas City then, did you
not"
sYes. I came back for the first time since
my departure in 1879. and was not a little
surprised 20 see city on all sides of my
whilom cornfeld. had been here but few
days when 1 received an offer of 81, 900,
which l refused. The bids kept jumping up
5000 at a time, until a few weeks ago re-
ceived a half-dozen of $4,000. / came on to
Kansas City last week, and Saturday, as you
know, sold out for $50, 500. have said moth
ing CT the struggle it has cost me to keep pos
session OF my little tract. Preachers salaries
are not usually exorbitant, and 1t was often
hard for me to support my family and pay
the taxes small as they were. But l did it,
and have now competency"
Mr.. Walk is tall, robust, clerical looking
gentleman on the right side of fifty, and If
appearances go for anything will enjoy the
fruits of his timely investment for many
yeass to come. He said he should not at
tenzot to increase his fortune, but would
make a safe investment, where the interest
would be -Sufficient to support his family.
Messrs. Ford and Jacques will plat the prop
erty and place it on the market