Wichita eagle., 1889-04-04
CAPTAIN JANE SMITH.
The Enterprise and Industry Of a
Plucky Georgia Woman.
How She Made Hundred-Acre Farm More
Than Pay for Itself - Independence
Achieved Under Great Difficulties
A Visit to the Smith Farm.

By the roadside three miles and half
from this town there il comfortabe-leok-
ing cottage with a big old-fashioned stone
chimney, and in the background the stable
and corn cribs, writes a correspondent of
the New York Sun from Shiloh, Ga. There
are forty comfortable matronly hens pick
ing about the yard, and under a tall IVY
covered tree is little log house from which,
on rainy days and evenings, you will hear
the noise of the loom and the droning of the
spinning wheel. In the front room of the
cottage is an aged lady who rises to meet
the stranger, and says blandly: Who are
youl"
When he makes known his business, she
calls to some one at the spinning wheel:
Jane, a gentleman wishes to see you"
Miss Jane appeared at the door in a home
spun frock and greeted the stranger.
mo, don't want my name IN the papers.
have only small farm, and l don't see
that my business interests any one else"
said she, rather Indignantly. Some notice
in the local newspaper had offended her,
and she refused to talk; but on disavowal
of any discourteous intent she consented to
tell her story.
Mss Jane Smith IS known among the peo-
pie of this neighborhood as Captain Jane
Smith," and has won tins distinction by the
energy and courage with which she has
worked her way to independence on hun
dred acre farm. Left on rented land with
only mule, two COWS and four hogs when
her brother went TO the war. she and her
sister have, out Of crops of their own tillage,
supported themselves and their aged
mother, bought the farm, and built
comfortable house. Their brother had just
planted crop when he was called
away TO fight for his home; and the neigh
bors seeing his anxiety fer the welfare of
his mother and sisters he was leaving with
out protector, promised to see that the
crop was tended until his return. Turn
ing away from these home cares to the
stern fortunes of war, he set his face to-
ward the enemy, sitting care as best he
could until al last he buried 1t in sol
dier's grave.
In the midst of their grief those young
women realized that their own hands must
make support for themselves and their
mother or they must be dependent on their
ueighbors. With heroic resolution to be
independent they set to work. The neigh
bors came and plQwed the crop, and Miss
Jane and her sister did the rest with their
own hands.
Rising at four O'clock summer and win
ter, they worked field till after sunset and
fed the stock in the dark. From supper
time TILL ten o'clock there was a constant
clack and clatter of the loom, with the hum
ming of the wheel rising above 1t. They
spun and wove the cloth for their garments.
and the white and colOred counterpanes
that they wove IN elaborate patterns, with
six sheets Of harness, are apparently new
twenty years after they were made, and
would almost cause q store bought counter
pane TO turn crimson with shame.
Every thing they used, except coffee, was
made at hcme, and III war times they made
that by drying chips of sweet potatoes.
They raised every thing 10 eat-corn, wheat
sorghum sirup, vegetables, hogs, chickens
and every thing that could be produced on
the farm.
By such industry and economy they had
saved $3.50 By 1879 when they bought the
farm for 800, paying $50 cash. In four
years they paid the other 1850 and went on
with other Improvements. Three years
ago Miss Smith built new house for $500,
paving the carpenters s. % q DAY as the
work was done.
Mss Smith believes in fat hogs. She a.
ways raises hogs, and never has lean ones.
The four killed this winter weighed 953
pounds net, and the largest ,275 pounds.
The smoke house is well supplied with hams,
shoulders. SIDES, fowls, lard and sausage
meat Their plan is to salt the meat aud
let it hang til March, when the salt is
rubbed off, and the pieces are washed and
packed down in ashes. The hams are put
in sacks and keep perfectly.
- never XIII hogs till they are two years
DID, said Mss Smith. 'Itis easier 10 keep
grown bog than pig. When it is over
year old il takes less feed"
In the lot was q mule that Miss Jane
picked out OF stable three years ago and
bought for S1l9 The mule is as gentle as
pet dog, ana Miss Smith says she would not
sell it for SITS. The old mule that was
bought by Mr.. Smith two years before he
went TO the war Is still there. He is
thirty-three years old, and still able 10 do
good work Miss Smith hitched him up
yesterday and ploTed I'D the garden