The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-15
THE ROMANCE OF A Lot.
How 81 500 Invested in Kansas City Made
Rev. David Walk a Fortune.

How 81 500 Invested In Kansas City MADE
Rev. David Walk a Fortune.
Kansas City Times.
In Kansas City oftener than in any other city,
perhaps instances occur where large fortunes
have been made from real estate thought to be
worthless The most notable case, as we'll as
the most romantic. is that of Rev David Walk
o minister of the Christian sect, who. iE 1878,
purchased five acres of ground for 81, 500, which
he sold Saturday to Messrs. j. FL. Ford and FL.
p Jacques for $66,500 The property is located
at Ninth and Olive streets, and at the time of
acquiring it Mr. Walk occupied the pulpit in one
of the principal churches in Memphis. The cir
cumstances leading to the purchase are interest
had been failing for some time," said Mr..
Walk, land to reccperate it decided to
take q trip through the West. Being
like most ministers, dependent on my profession
for livelihood, and conscious that the time
would come when l should have to give up
preaching, l also determined to look out for a
place near some thriving city. where | could re-
tire from the ministry and get my living from
the ground. The first places visited in Mis-
souri, were Carrolton, Springfield and Bolton.
At each the people of our church offered to give
me q home If / would locate with them, and at
Bolton the church proposed to deed fifteen acres
of ground to me and build a residence on 1t ii l
would accept the pastorate there. When left
home had no idea of visiting Kansas City, but
being so near it decided to come here before
accepting either of the propositions. / accord
ingly did so and found the people desrous of
having me take charge of little church then be-
ing established. AS I liked the looks Of the
town / accepted the charge and prepared to
bring my family here Driving into the country
with friend one day to see If I could find q
tract of land to my liking, l came upon corn
field, five acres of which were for sale. bought
the property the next day, and after thirteen
months l moved to Cincinnati, where | took
charge of the largest church in our denomina
tion Two years later went TO Indianapolis,
and after four years to New Orleans, where /
am now pastor of church. 1t was while at
Indianapolis that learned that my land was
likely to make my fortune | received several
letters from capitalists in Kansas CITY Offering
to take the property off my hands. The first
offer, which was made three years ago, was of
$4,000 A little later somebody offered $40, 000
and a year ago | received letter offering me
$3a, 900 for the property. My reply was on q
postal card, and was to the effect that had no
desire to sell, and that expected some day to
turn my acres into good garden. In few days
received pleasant note from the gentleman
asking me what kind of vegetables expected to
raise on ground worth $15. 900 an acre.
''You came to Kansas City then. did you not?'
"Yes came back for the first time since my
departure in 1879, and was not a little surprised
to see city on all sides Of my whilom cornfeld.
had been here but few days when / received
offer of $4,000, which / refused. The bids
kept jumping up SIS, 600 at time until few
weeks ago received half dozen of $50. 900.
came on to Kansas City last week, and Satur-
day, as you know, sold out for sec, 500. have
said nothing of the struggle it has cost me to
keep possession of my little tract. Preachers
salaries not usually exorbitant, and it was
often hard for me to support my family and pay
the taxes, small as they were. But did it, and
have now competency
Mr. Walk is a tall. robust, clerical-losking
gentleman on the right side of fifty, and if
appearances go for anything will enjoy the
fruits of his timely investment for mauy wears
to come. He said he should not attempt to in
crease his fortune, but would make o safe in
vestment where the interest would be sufficient
to support his family.