Omaha daily bee., 1892-04-24
EARLY STRUGGLES AND LATER REWARDS
Instructive Facts Cleaned From the Expe-
riencc of Nebraska Farmers Historical
and Statistical Review of a Peerless
County Washed by tho Elkhorn.

third from the north line OF tne state. ~ is
bounded on the east by Stanton county, on
the north py Pierce, vest by Antelope aud
Boone. and south by Platte. The Elkhorn
river runs through the county from west to
east near the northern boundary, forming
valley which for fertility Of soil, cannot be
excelled. The higher prairie lands are Of
deep rich soil, well adapted to variety of
crops and Just rolling enough to mako farm
ing easy and drainage perfect. There is, per-
baps, no other county in the state with so
large percentage of the entire population of
thrifty, wel-to-do and even wealthy farmers.
The county is largely settled with Germans
whose native thrift, industry and habits Of
economy arc proveroial.
Madison county was organized January 81,
1868. In thai year the population was only
40: two years later, in 1870. it had increased
to !, 1873, aud IN 1875, to 3,lT. In 1880 it
reached 5.5s7, and in 1890, 1869, gain in
ten years of S,0S2. In area Madison county
has $40 square miles, or 36S,6iO acres, of
which, exclusive of town lots, III, 72l acres are
improved, and 149, 93S unimproved. The as
sessed valuation in 1891 was 81 ,SS7. 2S6 against
81 ,252, ,332 in 1880. The estimated actual
valuation f.r 1891 was Sl3,2ll,0O0. The bank
deposits per capita in 1891 was $50 So, and the
total bank deposits 1894 sos According to
the assessors returns there was raised in
the county in 1891, acres of wheat II SCI;
corn, 81, 500; oats, 2S,S6S; barley, 9S2; flax,
3,lO3; rye, ESQ; millet, 1926, and meadow,
95,726.
BY the same means we find that in 1891
there were in the county 26,2O2 cattle, 26,O36
hogs, S,340 horses, SOB mules and 54l sheep.
Good unimproved farm lands can be bought
for from $3.50 to $50 per acre. Improved
farms, such as are for sale. are offered at Sl5
to S25 per acre. according to improvements
and location. The best improved farms,
. which constitutes the majority of the culti-
waited lands of Madison county, cannot be
bought at any price Poor, sandy lands, of
which there are but small per cent can be
bought for s. to Sl2 per acre. and they are
not unproductive by any means. There
is only small belt of sand in
the county and there are plenty of
prosperous farmers making fortunes on these
same lands. Madison county is coming to
the front in other lines as well as that of a
farming community. She has within her
borders seven important towns with an ag-
gregate population Of over 1900. Norfolk in
the northeastern portion of the county stands
. at the head with population of 1910, Madi-
son, the county seat, in the southeastern
portion, with 1900, Battle Greek in the
northern part near the center, east and west
with 500. Burnett on the west line, 500,
Meadow Grove in the northeast with 200,
Newman's Grove in the southwest corner,
800, and Warnerville, few miles south of
Norfolk, with 1900. There are IN the coun-
ty five Touring mills, six elevators with
storing capacity OF 100000 bushels. There
are siXty-seven miles of railroad in that
county. Norfolk has the largest beet sugar
factory in this county. The asylum for the
insane is also located there and the city has
electric lights, street railways and water
works. The north Nebraska normal school
Is located at Madison, which Is also the
county seat Norfolk is also laying the foun-
daton for $4,000 hotel, the citizens aiding
the enterprise with a bonus of $4,000. The
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley and
Union Pacific roads brings the population
within easy distance of Omaha and gives an
outlet to the products of the farm ana fac
tory. AS for the chances for homes and the
success OF those who are already tilling
Madison county soil let the farmers speak
Tor themselves.
Thrifty German.
August Bittner is representative Ger
man farmer who has made himself rich by
farming In Madison county. He landed IN
New York direct from Germany with one
lonesome penny in his pocket. He worried
six months to get money enough to continue
his journey west bringing up in Madison
county, five miles southwest of Madison,
where he selected homestead on which he
now lives. He then went to Columbus and
worked a month to get the necessary SIS
homestead fee. In spite of his poverty,
grasshoppers and all the other drawbacks of
and now owns $50 acres Of land,
we'll improved all fenced into
fields, and well stocked. He bought his sec
ond quarter section In 1877. for $500 cash and
another eighty in 1884 for $3.50 cash and two
years ago still another 100 for $4,000 cash. 1t
required good many years Of toll and hard
ship to reach the point where anything more
than mere living could be made, but it
came at last MIR. Bittner has model rural
home. His house cost S3 900 and one barn
54x64 feet 81 900, besides other houses and
buildings bringing the aggregate amount
spent in buildings up to $1,000. He has a
large orchard and all kinds of small fruit.
He is u stockholder In one of the Madison
banks and has plenty of money at interest.
He raises gram and buys more and feeds
stock. Every dollar he has has been made
m N In IN m n
can come here now and make start much
easier THAI when he came Besides thar the
future OF the country Is now assured while
= At that time no one knew whether Nebraska
would ever be q place fit for white men or
not.
Martin Bittner.
In October, 1868, Martin Bittner, brother
of August and Gottleib, whose names appear
elsewhere, secured homestead five miles
west of Madison. After locating his claim
he went back to Columbus and worked three
years to get money enough to pay his fees
and open up his new place. He broke his
land with oxen and raised crops OF grain
which he was forced to divide with the
years. IL took him about twelve years TO
begin to make money, but he stayed with it
and now has beautiful farm of 700 acres
highly improved. In 1882 he bought a half
section at 81 per acre, and two years ago
bought 220 acres moro ut SIS an acre. His
land Is all fenced into fields and 500 of it is
under cultivation. The buildings are among
the best in the country, surrounded by ex-
tensive groves, orchards and other conven-
fences equal 10 eastern homes. Feeds about
100 head OF cattle year, using all the corn
he can raise and buying more Has 220 head
of cattle on the place now and is feeding 100.
MIR. Bittner has made this handsome little
fortune by farming only, aud the farm does
not tell IL all-he has plenty Of money loaned
out.
Bought Claim.
Joseph Wehenkel is one of the smaller
farmers OF the county who came in a later
day. In 1850 he phid $3.50, all no had, for a
homestead owned by another man. He then
went to work choring around and husKing
coru in the winter TO get something to 1--we on
He broke his land aud then rented ground
from his neighbors on which 10 raise some
thing to eat pending the rotting of his sod
The next year he had q good crop on his own
land and began TO live comfortably. Five
years ago he reached out for another eighty
at $40 an acre. Ills three forty's are well
improved with.ine buildings, orchard, fences
ana groves He has put lots OF moasy in I'M
proysments and owes every osnt OF 1t to his