The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-25

dent Hill, of the Great Northern railway,
which claimed about $4,000 acres OF iand IN
that vicinity as indemnity for lands lost 10
settlers within the limits OF It's orlglnli
grant, and Mr.. Hill made a contract by
which the colonists could go upon the lahus
al once, and when the railroad company
obtained title it would transfer the idnds
to the settlers on long time at "a per acrs.
This contract was one Of the advantageous
features of the plan, for before many OF
the colonists were notified by the railroad
company that title had been secured, the
settlement of the surrounding country and
the building of two lines of railroad INTO
the settlement and beyond it made tie
lands bought on long time at 81 per acre
worth nearly four times that amount
About one hundred families arrived the
first year. They planted potatoes, erected
small houses and prepared the ground for
the following years crop, when the cuitl-
walton of the great staple OF the country,
wheat, was begun. In the meantime store
buildings and various shops were erected,
and before the spring of 1879 there was the
beginning of a thriving village. Among the
first party of settlers were q number or
poor people from county Galway Ireland
At home they were fishermen, and they
knew nothing of anything else. When they
We're landed at Graceville they were asked
to help to erect the houses that were to
shelter them. The lumber was, on the
ground and there was the knd-hearted
superintendent to teach them how to work.
But they declined. THE Bishop brought
here. and he must care for US, they
stubbornly insisted.
SUCCESSFUL FARMERS.
Farming did not suit many of this class
and the dissatisfied soon found their way
to St. Paul, where they made what is
known as the Connemara settlement.
They are poor, and, while in better condi-
ton than they were in Ireland, there is
q wide difference between their condition
and that of those who remained at Grace
vile. The case of one of the latter may
be cited His name is Joseph Gallagher
and he lives five miles northeast of Grace
vile. He came to the colony sixteen years
ago from the west coast of ireland, alb
soiutely penniless. He settled on piece
of land, but was too poor to do much
farming, being obliged to seek work where
ever he could tind it. He chung to the land,
however and each year saw him farming
a little more. until finally he was able to
devote his entire attention to it. Now he
has farm of five hundred acres, and his
crop of wheat alone was last year SIX
thousand bushels. His farmhouse is real
ly mansion and the furniture and pic
lures show evidence of taste and refine
ment, the barns are models and a. grove
planted by Mrs. Gallagher is the pride of
the country for miles around. The value of
Mr.. GallaShers farm property is not less
than So, 900, and he owes no man dollar
The spring of 1879 brought one hundred
more families TO the colony and from this
time on steady, if not a very large,
tlement. Up to this time there was no
railroad nearer than Morris, thirty miles
was completed to Gracevflle and on twenty
miles west to Browns Valley, on the Da-
kota line.
Grac willie now has a population of near
ly 1900. The competition afforded by two
railways makes it a great wheat market
and enables a large roller Touring mill
with a capacity of five hundred bushels
per day, to continue in operation the year
round. There, are five large grain eleva-
tors, school buildings. neat little opera
house that Will hold about seven hundred
people, a large number OF brick blocks a
handsome city hail. two fine bank buildings
and many tasteful private residences. The
handsome new Church of the Holy Rosary
seats seven hundred people, and last Sun
day every seat and all the standing
room taken. There are two schools in the
town, the public school, which mas four
departments, and the Sisters The public
reputation.
Securing a team, I drove around the
country with the Mayor Of the town, VIII
liam ONeili, who was one of the pioneers
and is now one' of the leading men of west
ern Minnesota A half-mile drive from the
town brought us to the farm of James
Hickey. MIR. Hickey came to the colony
with nothing only twelve years ago. Now
Minnesota, much of which is valuable for
town lots. His house and barns are models
and represent an investment of more than
sic 600. His wheat crop this year he stated
reaches total of 11.o00 bushels, and while
the price is low, the yield of nearly twenty
five bushels to the acre makes it profitable.
In addition to accommodating this handsome
property Mr.. Hickey has been able to edu-
cate his children thoroughly.
THEY CAME WITH NOTHING.
that of Mr.. Hickey. The residence of Mr..
Cunningham is surrounded by fine grove
planted thirteen years ago He owns 400
acres of land, and in the years he has been
at Graceville he has been able TO educate
his family, placing two of his sons in the
professions, and one of his daughters is the
head of a department in the Graceville
Academy.
The nearest neighbor of the Cunninghams
is Edmund O'Conner. who rejoices in the
possession of section and half of land,
$50 acres. and his farm buildings are al
most as handsome as those of Mr.. Hickey.
Dennis Donovan came TO Graceville with
but 70 cents in his possession and no way TO
get anything except by the work OF his
hands This was fourteen years ago. Now
his farm, which / visited, contains $40 acres.
and his residence and outbuildings are
worthy of the estate upon which they
Dennis Donovan has become one of the
wealthy men in prosperous community.
Patrick Carsiey is the largest shipper OF
live stock in the county. He settled III
Minneapolis twenty years ago ana had q
very hard struggle to make ends meet IN
the city. Finally in sheer desperation he
came to Graceyiile In 1879. At that time,
without money, all he could do was TO plant
the ten acres prepared for him by the
Superintendent and then seek work to sup
| port his family wherever he could find IL.
| When he had saved enough ne purchased
a yoke of oxen and commences farming az