The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-03
wessTeR.s OXEN.
Tho Great Orator and Statesman EajoyiaI
the Quiet Of Hls Farm.

The Great Orator and Statesman EaloylnR
the Quiet Of His Farm.
When Mr.. Webster came 10 Marsh
field he found the land poor and the
soil thin. But this was no obstacle to
him. He was accustomed to say that
he did not want to buy good land. pre-
ferring to take that which was consid-
cred of little value and show that it
could be made productive by cultiva-
ton. One method of accomplishing
this result-a method in which he was
q pioneer-was by purchasing great
quantities Of menhaden and spreading
them upon his fields, an experiment
that extended its fragrance into adjOin-
ing townships, and linked the states
mans name with vile odors for many
miles around. In his various efforts of
this kind, however, he was remarkably
successful, and the soil which had been
reluctant to yield its increase to other
hands, in his became generous in
its bounty. A favOrite crop with him
was corn, of which he generally raised
six or seven hundred bushels. Another
was yellow turnips; of these he some
times planted as many as ten acres. OBJ
tanning from one thousand to one thou
sand and five hundred bushels. The
harvesting of them was regularly be-
gun on the morning after the State
election, which fell on the first Tuesday
of November. Notice was sent out to
the surrounding region few days pre-
viOusly and all who wished were invited
to come and participate in the pulling.
receiving three bushels of turnips for q
days work. Mr.. Webster indeed had
great faith in turnips as food for stock,
his faith being based upon an expert
ment made one fall with three yoke of
oxen. These did we'll upon the diet set
before them, and were SO eager for
their meal that it was difficult to cut up
the roots fast enough to satisfy them.
The farm yielded two hundred tons of
fine English hay and supported about
fifty head of young stock. from eight to
fifteen cows, and eight or ten yoke of
oxen. Of oxen MIR. Webster was al
ways fond, and was as good q judge of
them Us could anywhere be found. He
knew all his own by name, kept track
of their ages and peculiarities, and fire.
quently wrote home from the National
capital directing such and such q
yoke to be sold and replaced by others
in order to keep his stock always at tho
best On his return from Washington
they were among the first objects of his
thought. and sometimes, after entering
the house and greeting the members of
his family. he would, without sitting
down. go out to the barn to sec those
dumb members of his larger family, 60
ing from one to the other. pattihg and
stroking their faces and feeding them
from his hands. Equally fond was he
of showing them to his guests. On one
occasion, rs he stood thus with friend,
feeding them with ears of corn, his son
Fletcher amused himself by playing
with the dog. my son, said Mr.. Web
ster, '.you do not seem to care much
for this. For my part l like it. would
rather be here than in the Senate. 1
find it better company" Every one
remembers how, only about week be-
fore his death. he had them driven up
into the lane before the house in order
that he might see them for the last
time. Such glimpses as these are worth
whole volumes in revealing to rs the
real character of the man.-PrOcidcnc
Journal