The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
HUNT FOR GORMLEY,s ESTATE.
An Eccentric Farmer who Made Fortune
by Renting Sheep and Cows.

by Renting Sheep and Cows.
WATERFOWL n. Y, Sept. so John CORN
leys heirs trying to straghten out the affairs
OF about the most tangled up estate ever left TO
family OF boys and girls by an eccentric father.
Gormley died short time ago in the town of wilma
Jefferson county. and his neghbors believe that
he was the wcalthiest farmer that lived in the
northern part of New York State. He was the
son Of poor Irish immigrants who settled on a
little rocky farm whore II was hard to raise enough
to live on When he was old enough to drive
cows for neighbor. he was set at il, and with
cows and sheep and land the seventy years OF his
life were spent
His first venture in business to buy sheep
This he rented to o neighbor who was to return
him two sheep at the end Of three years. Every
dollar he could went into sheep. which he let
out on shares in the same way He had 500 sheep in
lees than ten years Then he turned his atten-
ton to cows. This was at the beginning of the
war when milch cows scarce and fodder
plenty. The cows he rented at $40 a year and
half the herd of many a well.to-do farmer was
his property. He had leases regularly prepared
in which the man who rented the COW agreed to
keep il insured feed il we'll and II he kept IL until
II was eight years old, he contracted TO return
two year old heifer instead of the COW 10 CORN
ley. In this way he kept his stock young The
was rented over three counties. jefferson. Lewis,
and ST. Lawrence and It took him three months
every year to go around and collect his rent With
the opening Of the Utica and Black River Rail
ro8d came change in his business II was
severe blow to him II tapped his territory and
farmers could ship their surplus hay TO market.
This brought down the rental value of cows and
for ten years or more So the price. Even at
this. with cows costing from twenty to thirty
dollars, the enormous interest he made is easily
figured
He was forced after time TO turn his attention
To real estate. Some farmers who hired cows
from him could not pay the rent. Then he took
notes, which gradually became mortgages and
then he had TO take the farms. He subscribed TO
nearly every local paper within radius Of seven
" Ave miles of his home for the purpose Of getting
the advertisements Of mortgage foreclosure sales
He was present hen the sales came OIL and il a
bargain presented itself he had the money in his
pocket TO pay down.
large amounts. and was never robbed save once.
That was when Rornum's show was in Water
with large number Of COW leases in it, but without
the money IL had contained. He refused TO tell
ne police how L much money he lest, II was one
time before he died lawyer, who did much bust
order tbet his children might know where 10 find
i should anything happen TO him. This he
os to d Es hs sS the hden hunt
records in three counties arc being searched. and
farm after farm they find he owned. Mortgages
that they never heard Of cows and sheep that they
never dreamed Of, they find belong to them.
The man had remarkable memory. He could
not write. His cow leases were all written. When
his pocketbook was properly arranged he could
pick out any mans lease. When his pocket
book was stolen he got friend 10 read the leases
TO him. and he placed them. one at time. in his
book again. For the purpose of testing him the
friend asked about a certain mans lease, and
Gormley ran them over touching the edges a. If
counting and brought II out Few knew that he
for him his excuse would be that he did not haye
his glasses with him
Three sons and Ave daug hters survive him,
oil well educated Two of them went TO Cali
are sett ing up their affairs without the aid Of a
lawyer. When farm is found belonging 10
them they get together and bid for it, the hig hest
bidder taking IT, The same plan is followed
1000 acres OF land in fourteen farms, with build.
ings and stock have been found 10 belong 10
him. is not believed that all the personal prop
erty will ever he discovered Lawyer L. j. Goodall
5000 900
Two sons and daughter are unmarried
The oldest son was married few years ago
tened the match by telling the that the girl
was after his money: then accusing the girls
1ather OF trying TO set trap for the SON. and get
ting up such row generally that he was not
he was there, and made his peace by telling how
he FASTENED the match by his opposition and
to show his good fait III he presented TO his son
deed OF $50 acre farm, all stocked, the house
furnished, and everything ready for the young
people to begin life as prosperous farmers.
Hundreds OF stories are told Of his freaks. Of
his abusing man right and left for his shftless-
ness: and then assisting him. Of his being as