davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1899-04-05
AMERICAS RICHEST FAR
MER.
A Missouri Patriarch Who Owns
and Manages $4,000 Acres
Fattens More Cattle Than Any
Man in the World.

A millionair farmer is clearly
to be reckoned a sort of latter day
miracle; all the more If he lives
in Missouri, and farms aIl-round
the year round.
Tarkio, Atchison county, is his
- local habitation, David RankinIhis
to' ~e. TO be strictly accurate,
=. =, David Rankin he has serv-
ore than one term in a state
lature. He owns and man
-. % a23,000 acres Of lands in
rs J:hlk pom county worth from $50
lts iP$1Cp an acre, and not in the
a s'market even at those figures. He
y has bought every acre of it since
( 1875. mostly from speculative
eastern holders, who were gleeful
Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1899-04-05

essary iron. but 8 friend stood
security, SO he got it, and thus
was enabled literally to set his
hand to the plough.
1t is no wonder he loves land,
and prefers it to all other invest
ments. From the fret it has
prospered him amazingly, though
from the first he has seldom sold
crude products. That first so. acre
farm had a herd of cattle on it
even before it was paid for. So
driving and thriving. the master
of 1t came to own 5000 acres by
the time the Civil war began.
That era of imitation sent prices
too high for his Judgment. He
kept on buying until he had 5000
acres, then went west. Atchison
county has much more than JUS
tilted his choice Of a new resi-.
dence. 1t is no longer a region of
one railway. a new one. the Tar
kia Valley, runs right through the
middle Of it, and Tarkio town, a
beautiful and thriving village,
has grown up migically in it's Is
years of life Naturally Rankin's
interests predominate. David
Rankin is president and princi.
pal shareholder in the towns
First National bank as we'll as
president of the Electric Light
and Power company, the Water
company, the Rankin Auditorium m
company and the 'TarkIo Brick
and Tile company. These varl
Gus enterprises represent the in.
vestment of over $1,000,0O0 of
Rankin money. In addition to
them Mr.. Rankin has trade rela-
tions with most of the trade cen
ters and is in touch with monied
men all over the country.
Surprisingly rich he has not
forgotten what it is to be poor.
As becomes his blood he is a
Presbyterian and strives to live
his religion as well as to believe
it. Liberal in support of his
church and it's works, he can be
depended on to be as liberal to
any tgood cause, especially the
cause of education. Tarkie col
lege alone has received from him
nearly 100000. He had given to
the institution above $25, 900 when
the fire destroyed the main build
ing. He ut once offered $4,000
toward rebuilding If as much
could be raised elsewhere. Since
then he has had a standing offer
to give to the college a dollar for
every dollar contributed outside.
BY his help the college has put up
Its present magnificent buildings
and holds it's place among high
class western institutions of learn.
ing. Needless to add, Mr.. Ran
kin's picture appears upon the
college button, or that his unique
and original objurgation, "Set
Fire." make an important part of
the college yell.
He has been liberal to other
schools than his home, to other
churches than his own United
Presbyterian.
Perhaps that is how certain
man and brother of African de.
scent came to rely so confidently
upon Mr.. Rankin as the Lords
almoner. The brother lived in q
Tennessee town, and combined in
his own person the offices of pas
tor of a church, and principal of
a school. Church and school were
in desperate need of money. The
| L
Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1899-04-05

gave rise to a renewed form of
''Set Fires" but fortunately some
one who knew the man came for
ward and explained matters. He
was farmer who had adopted
: Mr.. Rankin's style of harness, and
it was his own corn that he had
brought to town to sell.
Mr.. Rankin fattens more cattle
than any other man in the world.
Every year he buys and fattens
eight to ten thousand head. The
bulk of them come from Texas,
though Kansas, Nebraska. Iowa
and Missouri are fair sources of
supply. He has been known TO
buy 5000 head in bunch and
pay on them a freight bill of
$25 900. He has just now bought
5000 head If Texas cattle to be
delivered next November, paying
Tor them $50 head. His ship.
ments Of fat cattle begin In June.
From the 1st of June to the 1st of
September he ships two or three
train loads each week.
He keeps 10000 to 10000 head
Of hogs all the time, and sells fat
ones to the value Of $4,000 year
]y. All these he raises. In fact,
he never buys a pig except for the
infusion of new blood into his
breeding stock. Some years
back, while there was money IN
horses, he undertook the breeding
Of draught beasts, and built upon
his home farm, just outside Of
Tarkio, a horse barn very much
up to date. 1t cost $4,000, and
is an octagonal brick building,
four stories high. 1t is lighted
with electricity. Each stall has
its own incandescent lamp, and
the cupalo an arc light, which
turns midnight into day all over
the barnyard.
1t is worth while to look a little
into the genesis of this man and
his fortune. Physically, he is
tall, raw boned, sinewy, with keen
eyes, a weather. beaten face, gray
hair and beard. Primitive to a
degree, yet without roughness.
He knows life, knows men, yet
has never got far from the soil.
1t does not astonish you to find
that he was as young man fol-
lower and ardent admirer Of
Abraham. He grew up in ILL.,
nois, though he was born in Sui
livan county, Indiana, May 2S,
1885. The Rankins were of Scotch
Irish strain. David's father, a
poor farmer, must have been
something of nomad. He NOV
ed many times between the In
diana home and the final settling
in what is now Henderson county,
Illinois. David quit the schools
at the age of II, and set to work
for his living.
Doubtless he earned something
more, but it all went In the fam
lily fund. When he was free his
father gave him a colt, the first
thing he ever owned. Most smart
youngsters would have seen In it
! prospective saddle horse. David
was another sort. He sold the
colt for $52 and put the money
in calves, to grow while he worked
for more. Pretty soon he had
the chance to buy an S0.acre
farm. 1t took grit to go in debt
for it, with wheat at 25 cents a
bushel and firewood 81 the cord.
Those were the prices David's
Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1899-04-05

ab SoGCiuS 20 10 $lO hu acre IOr
their holdings because the rail-
way, you ses, had passed them
by.
1t gives a new idea of magnifi-
cent western distances to know
that the Rankin lands are scat
tered over an area Of forty odd
miles. Yet their owner visits them
all every little while. He lives in
a handsome house just outside
the town of Tarkio. Five o'clock
every fine morning finds him in
his buggy, whirling to his main
Office as fast as a spanking span
can carry him. He finds a conf.
dental secretary awaiting him: A
brief interval of talk, clear and
pointed instructions, a few notes,
mental and written, then he
whips away for a round of may be
half a dozen of his fourteen farms
before he thinks Of turning his
horses heads home.
The farms run from 600 to 3,
600 acres. To work them requires
between 100 and $50 hands, 700
horses, more than 100 wagons,
plows, harrows, planters, cultiva-
tors and seeders innumerable.
Each ranch is in charge of com
petent foreman, who gets $50 a
month and board. Farm hands
are paid 500 month and board.
Usually the foreman's family
runs the farm boarding house.
Besides the various foremen there
is farm superintendent, at sal
ary many n bank Official might
envy. 1t is questionable, however,
if his best endeavors are worth as
much as the eye Of the master.
All the land is arabic, yet but
little more than half goes yearly
under plow. Perhaps 1000 acres
are sown in wheat The remainder
Is planted in corn, and yields, in
average years, 100000 bushels.
Not a grain Of it is sold until it
has been transformed into fat
stock. In addition to his own crop
Mr.. Rankin buys whatever corn
his neighbors have to sell He
buys also their stalk fields. after
the corn is gathered, and turns
into them herds of cattle, to gath
er up their rich gleanings. Be-
sides all that he buys ton upon
tan OF cotton seed meal for feed
ing. Small wonder that his lands
grow and increase in fertility un-
der continuous cropping.
All land not under plow is laid
down In clover, timothy and blue
grass pastures. After standing
four years they are fallowed and
put In grain, the grain fields.
meantime going back into grass.
Thus part of the soil, originally
as rich as any in the world, is al
WAYS resting.
Once, at least, his iron-clad
rule against the sale of corn led
him into a funny mistake. 1t is,
of course, quite impossible for q
man who owns so many teams
and hires so many drivers to keep
all OF them accurately in mind
But there is an infallible Rankin
ear mark-at least Mr.. Rankin
himself thought so for a good
while. 1t is the wagon harness
He uses the old fashioned trace
chains, as being both cheaper
handler and more lasting than
the new tangled outfits of straps
and leather. SO whenever he
| Y,naE, n
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
FAMOUS COLE STOVES.
Pisls has the Only Heater for Your
Home,

D. L. Pisle has just received a
large shipment Of the original Coles
hot blast stoves, which have gained
such an enviable reputation here.
The stove holds fire for thirty.six
hours without attention. 1t burns
wood, chips, bark, leaves, paper and
corn cobs, and with this fuel, much
of which is ordinarily wasted, it heats
your house evenly day and night. 1t
will heat a room from zero to so de-
grees in five minutes. The combus-
ton is perfect, and little ash is left.
Ashes are removed only once each
month-six times during the winter.
1t Is the most economical wood stove
in the world. 1t will pay for itself
twice over in fuel saved in one sea-
son. 1t is necessary to build only
one fire each winter. The stove is
light and consequently, easily moved
and set up. 1t is cheap, economical,
clean, convenient, safe and durable.
Cold weather is coming. Prepare
for IL
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Ladies Can Wear Sh es

One size smaller after using Aliens
Foot-Ease, powder to be shaken in
to the shoes. 1t makes tight or new
shoes feel easy; gives instant relief to
corns and bunions. It's the greatest
comfort discovery Of the age. Cures
swollen feet, blisters and callous
spots. Aliens Foot. Ease is a certain
cure for ingrowing nails, sweating,
hot aching feet. At all druggists
and shoe stores, 25c. Trial package
FREE by mail. Address, Allen S.
Olmsted, LIE Roy, N. Y.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
A Pleasant Surprise.

A number Of friend surprised Miss
Evelyn Brock Friday evening at hel
home on East Seventh. A dainty
lunch was served and the evening
was spent very pleasantly by all.
Among the features Of the evening
wasa fiash.light picture taken by
John NALL who furnished the merry
crowd with all.night suckers. Those
present were: Misses Monroe, Cuth.
bert, Augustine, White, Suffer, Tol.
bert, Baldwin, Faulkner, Forney,
Emma and Anna Tate; Masters Coop.
er, Faulkner, Smith, Johntz, Drisco,
Monroe, NALL, Stoddard, Ballinger,
Robinson, Burroughs.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Drink Graln.O

after you have concluded that you
ought not to drink coffee. 1t is moi
medicine but doctors order it, be-
cause it is healthiul, invigoratlng and
appetizing. 1t is made from pure
grains and has that rich seal brown
color and tastes like the finest grades
Of coffee and costs about t as much.
Children thrive on 1t because lit is q
genuine fqpd driak containing moth
ing but nourishment. 10 and 25c at
grocers.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
dyspepsia is the cause of IN.
- tod suffering. BY taking Hoods
Sarsapailll the digestive organs are
toned and dyspepsia IS CURED.
Excursions Via Santa Fe Route.

Emporia, Kas., Street Fair. $?.45
for round trip Sept q, 2S and 20. Re-
turn limit Sept, 80.
Abilene, Kas., Corn Carnival, one
fare for roupd trip Oct. II and ~.
Return limit Oct. IS.
Newton, Kas., Street Fair, 1888
for round trip Oct. /, 2, 5, 4, 5, 6 and
Z. Return limit Oct. 9.
St. Louis, Mo-, St. Louis Fair,
$ll.95 for round trip Oct. /, 2, 8, A.,
5 and 6. Return limit Oct. 8.
Topeka, Kas., G. A. r. & s. A. V.
" So for round trip Sept "a to 80
incl. Return limit Oct. 2.
Kansas City, Mo-, P. Of P. P. and
X. K. 1870 for round trip Sept. y to
Oct. incl Return limit Oct. 8.
Wichita, Kas., State Fair and
Races 1921 for round trip Sept. "a to
80 incl. Return limit Oct. 2.
Salina, Kas., Street Fair, So cents
for round trip Sept. "a to 80 incl.
Return limit Oct. 2.
All persons intending to take in g.
A. r. at Topeka or Street Fair at Sa-
lima should advise agent A. 7 4 s.
F. SO special arrangements can be
made II necessary.
W. X. ROBERTSON,
Agt. Santa Fe Route.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
HoW's This?

We offer One Hundred Dollars Re.
ward for any case Of Catarrb that
cannot be cured by Halls Catarrh
Cure.
+. j. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O.
We, the undersigned, have known
+. j. Cheney for the last Is years and
believe him perfectly honorable in all
business transactions and financially
able to carry out any obligations
made by their firm.
WEST & TRUAx, Wholesale Druggists,
Toledo, 0.
WALDIYG, KINNAN & MARVIN, Whole
sale Druggists, Toledo, 0.
Halls Catarrh Cure is taken inter-
nally, acting directly upon the blood
and mucous surfaces Of the system.
Testimonials sent free. Price 75c.
per bottle. Sold by all druggists.
Halls Family Pills are the best.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Aztec Calendar.

The Santa Fe route has issued a
handsome six months calendar, July
to December, 1899, which contains
six separate reproductions in colors
Skill inches. Of 4. A. Burbank's Gel
ebrated portraits of Pueblo Indians
one for each month.
These are the same reproductions
used in Brush and Pencil" and can
not be obtained separately for less
than $3.50. In fact some Of them al
ready command high premium.
The "Aztec Calendar" also has an en-
graved cover containing a reproduce
ton Of the ancient Aztec calendar
stone.
0btainable for 20 cents by applying
to W. j. Black, G. P. Agt., A. T. & S.
T. Ry., Topeka, Kas. May be ordered
by mail.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Endured Deaths Agonies.

Only roaring fire enabled j. M.
Garrettson, Of San Antonio, Tex, to
lie down when attacked by Asthma,
from which he suffered for years.
He writes his misery was often so
great that it seemed he endured the
agonies Of death; but DR.. Kings New
Discovery for consumption wholly
cured him. This marvellous medi-
cine is the only known cure for Asth-
ma as well as consumption, coughs
and colds, and all throat, chest and
lung troubles. Price SOC and $l.00.
Guaranteed, Trial bottles free at j.
M. Gleissner's drug store.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Abilene High School.

Miss Ruth Fritz visited the higt
school last Friday.
The pupils were pleased to have
Miss Rea Wilson lead the singing fol
them once more.
The sophomores will take upScott's
Lady of the Lake and the freshmen
Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield as
classics.
The Junior Greek class has been en-.
larged. Our librarian, Mae Barcus,
is studying it.
Hermie Lee is absent from school
on account Of sickness.
The seniors had test in civics
Thursday.
Society officers were elected this
afternoon.
Robert Ballinger enrolled with the
juniors this week.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
A Letter From Ed Little.

T. Little received a letter Friday
from his son Lieut.. Col. Little. II
was written at Yokohama, Aug. 26,
and says that Mr.. Little expected the
regiment along every day, The
weather he adds, is like Kansas the
scenery beautiful, the people polite
and the farms marvelously well titled.
With the letter came japanese tenn
pie card supposed to bring good luck.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28

Was grandly shown BY Mrs. John
Bowling Of Butler, Pa, in a three
years struggle with malignant
stomach trouble that caused distress.
ing attacks Of nausea and indigestion.
All remedies failed to relieve her un-
til she tried Electric Bitters. After
taking it two months, she wrote: 81
am now wholly cured and can eat
anything. 1t is truly grand tonic
for the whole system as l gained in
weight and feel much stronger since
using it," 1t aids digestion, cures
dyspepsia. improves appetite, gives
new life. Only SOC. Guaranteed, at
j. M. Gleissner's drug store.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Shifting Soil.

Real Estate Transfers Reported by Able 8
Ellison Abstracters.
Travellers ms Co to Leona M Thavel
pit Of mel 20 pit Of sci 17-1S-l, $1,000
Dickinson county to E L Sommers lts
1879 II IS End st Lebolds 4tt
add, 1921.
Same to Geo 81 Peter 1t so on lst ST
Lebold's LIST add, $S5.
W W Day to Geo Kloepfer W! sci and
WI sci set II and swl sw3 20-15-S
$4,000.
John Johntz to Flora Keel Its l6 II
blk Is Fairview add, $l5.
Dickinson county to same Its 13 IA
Is l6 q "a bk 7 Fairview, $S.45.
Belle H Wilson to Bank of Herington
Its II 10 81 Is blk 80 Harrington,
$1,000.
Dickinson Co to D L Asper 1t 10 blk 16
Richland Park add Abilene, 81
cents.
Same to same Its IL 70 blk 9 same
add, "a cents.
J + Condor to W S Knight Its 81 bk
81 Herington, 1885.
Dickinson county to Mass Nut Life
ms Co W! nwi 6-l4.S, 1926.
M H Rice to A + Holmes 1t 9 blk 10
Manchester, $l36.Sp
John Leary to J F Rush Its 6 s Blk "A
Herington, $50.
Dickinson county to Flora A Keel Its
blk 7 Fairview add, $l.S6.
Reuben A Scott to j 4 Wallace nj mel
22-12.l, $500.
EB Malott to D W Allison e! 1t 5 W
10 IT 1t A blk 4 Abilene, $75.
J W Creech to Peter Popp Its IA l6 IS
blk 1873 Creech add Herlngton, $50.
N B Robson to Mass Nut Life ms Co
WI nwi 6-14-3, $500.
Trus Western Home lodge No go 10
Otto Mrs Nancy Fix 1t s blk s j
M Fishers add, $l6O.
J H Nelson to D M Cox Its SO 38 40
3rd st Solomon, $1,000.
F H Davis to H Southworth 1t 2 in H
Hodge & Reeds sub Of Its 4 6 5 10
Sd st T & NJ add, $1,000.
Dickinson county to G A Rogers 1t rs
Blk 22 Rogers Park add, s26.l9.
Same to W T Harris Its 81 80 9th st
Solomon, $l.69.
Hattie L Faulkner to Morgan c Tyler
Its 25 rs blk IS X & H add, 81.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
MONUMENT TO TOM SMITH.
Abilene Will Remember the Cowboy
Time Hero.

J. B. Edwards is pushing plan to
put up monument over the grave Of
Tom Smith, the first marshal of Abb
lene who could manage the cowboys
and who was killed while making an
arrest. He has picture of him of
which 100 copies will be printed to
be sold at 30 cents each, the proceeds
to 90 to the monument fund. Every
body should help it along.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
The Ladies.

The pleasant effect and perfect safe
ty with which ladies may use Syrup
of Figs under all conditions makes it
their favorite remedy. To get the
true and genuine article look for the
name of the California Fig Syrup Co.
printed near the bottom Of the pack
age. For sale by all druggists.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28

Details Of the Suicide Of william
Buckingham.

The Welsh. louisiana, Post gives
the following details Of the suicide Of
William Buckingham, formerly Of
this city, on his farm six miles north
west Of that town at l a. m. Tuesday,
he shooting himself in the right side
OF the neck with both charges Of a 10
guage shot gun.
"Mr. Buckingham, in company
with his brother Alvin has been doing
carpenter work at Jennings nearly all
this year. He has been in poor
health for several weeks but contin-
ued to work. Monday he told his
brother.in-law, David Dudley, that
he was going home and said, Good
bye; you won't see me again I'm 60
ing home to die As William was
often joking, no special note was
made of the remark and its terrible
import was not for moment sus-
| pected. In the forenoon he went to
the depot and bought a ticket for
Crowley but did not 60. After the
train left he went to Agent Porter and
had the ticket redeemed, He talked
in rambling manner and was unde.
cided where to 60. Before the west
bound train he bought a ticket for
Welsh and said he was going home.
He complained of his head paining
him and at times showed clearly by
his talk that his mind was affected.
When he left the train at Welsh he
did not appear to recognize his ac-
quaintances. To questions asked he
gave incoherent answers or none at
all. A livery rig and teamster were
engaged and he left in short time
for home saying almost nothing on
the way. His wife and daughter aged
Is years were home; the son aged IS
years was away. Albert, his brother,
was also at the place, having lived
with William since the formers wife
died about two years ago. 1t is re-
ported that Mr.. B. said nothing at
home as to his rash intentions, and
in due time the family retired for the
night. 1t was seen, however, that
something was wrong with the. man.
"At a. M. the family was aroused
by the report Of shot gun. William
was not in bed and could not be found
about the house. A terrible suspicion
flashed upon the minds Of the family
and they at once started in the drec-
ton Of the shot. At distance of a
quarter of a mile east of the house
William was found lying dead with
the fatal gun at his side. Death had
been instant. Both barrels Of the
gun had been discharged, but it had
been instantaneous.
"Not line Of explanation was left
by him so far as could be learned to-
day. He lived happily with his fam
lily and the only cause that can be as
signed for the suicide is temporary
insanity.
"Mr. Buckingham was about 40
years old. He moved to Welsh some
nine years ago from Abilene, Kas.,
and has always been an industrious
man. His sad end is greatly deplored
and is a terrible blow to his family
and a shock to the community"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Best Ever Named.

Chapman Standard; The Republic
cans Of Dickinson county have the
best county ticket that has been pre-.
scented in several years. 1t is made
up Of representative, capable and
energetic men who are well fitted for
the work Of the offices they seek.
This ticket merits and no doubt will
receive unanimous and enthusiastic
Republican support.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
CITY Teachers Examination.

An examination for persons desir-
ing to teach in our city schools will
be held in the superintendent office
in the Garfield building, Saturday,
Sept. goth, 1899, beginning at $50
o'clock. j. H. NIEsLEY,
Superintendent.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
A Successful Opening.

Mrs. Tolbert's millinery store led
the procession of fall openings, and
has been crowded day and evening
for the past three days. She has
handsome display Of millinery and
the ladies have appreciated its
beauties.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
Mr. Lusher Is Here.

j. l.. Lusher was brought back
from Lawrence by Sheriff Robson
Friday afternoon. He was captured
there and confessed to stealing the
gray mare he was driving from VIM
Tool, a farmer 10 miles north Of Sa
lima, and the harness from Tom
White, a mile east of Salina. The
buggy was stolen here also. He is
in iail.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-28
GA - TO n Z A.
Bears I'll. HIhs Kind You Have Always Bought
''; 4 '' MMZzN
Editors Awful Plight.

F. M. Higgins, Editor Seneca, Ills. i,
News, was afflicted for years with
Piles that no doctor or remedy help.
ed until he tried Bucklen's Arnica
Salve, the best in the world. He
writes, two boxes wholly cured him.
lnfallible for Piles. Cure guaran-
teed. Only 25c. Sold by j. M.
Gleissner, druggist.