St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-05-28
HOUGHTON FARM.

Mr. Valentine purchased sixteen
years ago about five hundred acres
of land in the Schunemunk Valley,
near Mountainville, Orange county,
N. Y, and wishing to disassociate
his new enterprise entirely from his
active business life and reputation,
he gave the farm his wife's maiden
name. Subsequent purchases and
leases increased the holding, at one
time, to a thousand acres in body.
But small part of this was culti-
waited; the purpose was to control
the neighboring wood and water, Sc
cure extensive mountain pasture, and
surround the farm proper, lying in
the valley, with natural scenery of
rare beauty. The latter was never
ceasing source of enjoyment to the
owner and the hosts of friends and
visitors always welcome to the place.
Houghton Farm was for a few
years of public interest, agriculture
ally, and promised to be of some i'm
portance. There were then but half
a-dozen experiment stations in the
country, and the fact that one public
spirited citizen had instituted in
A America a work similar to that of
Lawes & Gilbert in England, was
worthy of attention. Once fully en-
listed, Mr. Valentine treated the farm
with his characteristic generosity.
In organization, buildings, livestock,
general equipment, and land i'm
provements, expenditures were lib
eral, and nothing withheld which
promised to add efficiency. If there
was a fault, it was in too lavish out
lay, and undertaking too much at
the outset. The proprietor was a
man of large ideas, unbOunded gener-
ositv, and the indomitable energy Of
Yankee business, which would not
tolerate delay When the first gen
eral manager Of the estate assumed
his duties and asked instructions, all
he received was an ample bank de-
post, a check-book, and sign to place
over the office desk, having in big
letters the single word, Results"
This became the motto and the am
bition of Houghton Farm. But
while impatient, Mr.. Valentine was
kindly so and showed his feeling
mainly in words of encouragement,
offers of help, and in a wonderful in
spirat:on to more and better work,
which he impaired to all associated
with him.
As soon as Houghton Farm be-
came fairly organized and equipped,
Mr.. Valentine proposed to make it a
permanent institution. Friends were
consulted, trustees selected, articles
of incorporation filed, the farm sur
veyed, the deed drawn, and the Sc
curities set apart for the endowment.
This trust was dedicated to the
progress of agriculture in America"
and embraced property scheduled at
about 100000, and well-invested
funds insuring an annual income of
at least $4,000. All was in readi-
ness, and the time for organizing the
board and making the transfer was
set, when suddenly all had to be laid
aside indefinitely. One of those I'M
expected reverses Of fortune came, so
common to business life. Beginning
with heavy defalcation by an old
friend and trusted broker, other dis
asters followed, and Mr.. Valentine
felt compelled to defer his dearest
project and again devote himself alb
solutely to business, to recuperate
his fortune. The experiment work
at Houghton Farm was suspended,
the fine stock dispersed, and the place
merely held as a summer residence.
Mr.. Valentine was a man who
never forsook a friend and never
abandoned good work once entered
upon. His interest in agriculture re-
manned undated, and there is no
doubt he cherished the hope of renew
ing the public work of Houghton
Farm. Perhaps the day was not
distant. Recently he expressed his
purpose of restocking the farm, and
purchased several fine breeding
horses and few choice cattle. Only
few weeks ago he gave orders to
again buy compliment of registered
Jerseys. How soon other steps
would have followed we cannot tell
Always of frail physique, the strain
of the last few years was too much.
AS friend has said: His mind and
soul were too great for his weak
body" and almost without Fremont
ton the end came, in his sixty-fourth
year. With the death of Lawson
Valentine, dies Houghton Farm.
Well there may be public sorrow, for
we have lost a true and generous
friend of agriculture Country Cen
tleman.