The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-08-01
"reminiscences Of Professor R. F.
Humiston.

O0UII1ISCouC0S VI UIVu000VS ~
Z Humiston.
Our friend 4. p. Miller, so long the |
proprietor and editor Of the ADVANCE,
contributes to the American Spectator,
Of Boston, q few prominent incidents |
in the life of Prof. h. F. Humist0n.
the active agent in founding tho Wor-
thfngton colony. There is no man liy-
ing so well qualified to do honor to
Prof. Humist0n's memory rs Mr. Mil
Ter. We are unable to give the article |
entire, in one jssue of the ADVANCE,
but We shall give from week to week !
extracts from it, which will afford the
reader the substance nf this we'll writ
ten and heart felt tribute to the mem
ory OF man every way worthy of nf |
fectiOnate remembrance. -, :, !
= -Aftes-alludinR to Prof. Humtston's
connection with the colony Mr.. Miller
tells an::inciaent: of the Professors
6rst at soke OF luck iu:g gaining property.
n ss1sEas. ~. 4 llxenruxx. s .
"a How liz acquired this fortapo afIerds,
chapters In his history. The CLEVELAND
Iustitut0tuasE situated on Universfey
Heights, in the suburbs of the city,
andaie had the foresight and nerve to
purchase the property and enter upon
= man y struggle to pay tor it. The
growth Of the city, and the consequent
appreciation Of real property, made
h,m y rich man. And this investment
leads us back, logically, 10 another one
which he always alluded to as the
"nest egg of his fortune"
The story Of how lle came to make
this investment is one Of intense inter
est, and is worth 4 score Of hOmilies
upon the text, Honor thy father aid
thy mother" Here is the story which
the Professor some times told with a
magnetic glow which made every WORD
alive.
While he was still a youth unde,
twenty years of age, his parents became
dependent upon their children for sup
port. For various reasons, the other
children lett the burden to the youth,
then just beginning his career as
teacher. He assumed this labor of love
cheerfully, and by dint Of great econ-
0my and hard labor, supported the
family of three persons IN comfort.
He succeeded as teacher, and after a
few years was sent rs delegate to ali
educational convention at Rockford,
III. At that time there Was no railroad
Chicago, and his route lay by water to
thence by stage to Rockford. On the
way, and especially while Oh the lake,
\ scriptural passage kept coming to
him. ringing in his minds ear, with
iteration and reiteration. saying,
Honor thy father. and thy mothe:
that thy days may be long in the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee"
Gradually it impressed itself On his
mind, that the emphasis and burden
of this scriptural rOndeau lay upon the
closing words, 1.-THE land which the
Lord thy God giveth thee" Before he
reached Chicago, strong faith pos
seesed him, that before lis return he
would be the possessor Of tract of
western land, given him rs a reward
for his cheerful performance OF fliai
duty, in hOnoriug and supporting his
parents. Between Chicago and Rock
sfOgl..l ailsk ttasli ed -fpfa The
night att country f,fn. When the
young teacher xWoke the next morn
ing. lie noticed another man in the
room making Ills toilet. IIe was Il sun-
Drowned sturdy-lookiug man, and he
soon made known the fact that he
was the surveyor of y new railroad line
which had been projected from Chicago
that tba road would go to KucKfnrd,
and that he intended that day to notify
some uf his friends before lie fact be-
came generally known, This was n
Providrntial ''hint" or "strHWo to
the young teacher. lie went on to
Rockford, attended tho convention,
and then ascended to the cnpola Of the
court house and over lOOAed the town.
From this elevation he selected y block
of vacant lots in the immediate suburbs
and soon learned that they were for
sale. The conditions were five dollars
! in hand. and balance IN several annual
payments. The young teacher smiled
in wardly, and meekly complied with
the conditions. The deed was soon
III his pocket, and he returned to his
home feeling thnt the promise and the
prophecy had been fulfilled. A few days
after his return. he received II letter
from the former owner of the ''land"
Offering him $50 for his bargain. This
offer was politely declined. Next came
an offer uf 500; and offers continued to
come. until they reached ST 500. Ie
then replied that he would 90 to Rock
ford. and SEQ what the property MAS
| really worth. The visit was made soon
| afterwaId and the lots were sold for
So. 500. Thus. upon nominal invest
mont Of S., he secured the ''nest egg"
Of his fortune, \ fortune which he he
lipvad was u "Providential gift" for
his loyalty to his father aud mother.