The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-18
The WeaIthiest COlored Man in
the State is j. G. Groves.
A Potato Raiser at Edwards.
vile, WyandOtte County.
STARTS WITH IS CENTS
Walked With Penniless Bride
to Their Present Home.
Now Owns 400 Acre Farm and
Town Properties.

Wyandotte, April 1S.-By raising the
humble potato, J. G. Groves, of Edwards
WIFE, Wyandotte county, has achieved
the distinction of being the wealthiest
negro in Kansas, if not in the entire west.
staring with only Is cents capital he has
made over one hundred thousand dollars
IN eighteen years, owns city property and
some of the finest farms in the state. He
IS a confident believer in the future of
me negro and in an interesting interview
his race.
I do not claim to have made any
greater progress than many other colored
farmers, but do believe that COM
nenced HE under as pressing difficulties
age Of 20 was obliged to start out for
myself. 1 had absolutely no experience
what was the best thing for me to under
take l had but limited education and
Iognd 1t very hard battling with the pref
4 left my home in Greene county, Ken
lucky, March %, 1875 with exactly S1.25
capital. worked my way to Kansas
city without being obliged to draw on
that sum. It was not long before dis
covered that there was no place for me
in the stores or factories of the town, and
after several attempts and failures to Sc
cure a position sought work on a farm
having spent thirty-fiVe cents of my dollar
and twenty-five cents.
1T was several weeks before I could
get work on farm and when finally did
secure a place 1t was at almost starva
ton wages, 40 cents per day, and I was
! l.
than being forced to roam the streets and
beg so gladly accepted the offer, deter
things: By keeping my eyes open. always
/ attending to duty and doing more, rather
| than less. than was required of me, soon
succeeded IN having my wages raised to
| 70 cents per day; this was considered a
| very fair price and I felt that was on
! the road to fortune By staying at home
/ evenings instead of gambling or attend
/ ing the theater and by keeping a careful
watch over the pennies I succeeded in ac-
/ CumulatlnR what seemed to a small
/ fortune by the fall of the year following
my engagement.
Following the advice of some adventur-
Gus friends I foolishly gave up my job
| on the farm in the winter when business
savings hunting something better; failing
to find it returned to the farm in the
| spring, and after working a short time
without being able to save anything
| borrowed SO from the man with whom
| boarded and once more started in search
In Kansas City I married a penniless
! girl and We both walked to Edwardsville,
| where We secured small room, having
| after paying a months rent in advance,
| just rs cents remaining 1 arranged to
raise q crop of water melons and potatoes
on shares, and six acres of white, three
of sweet potatoes and three acres of
one-third of the proceeds from the farm
| after all expenses we're paid. We man.
aged to save enough out Of the amount
rent a farm of sixty acres for a cash
rental of 1893 per year. After paying one
aetly $40 to defray the expenses of the
next crop.
In 1852 I drew out of the firm and
started for myself Everything was car
ried on by a strictly cash system. 1 had
no one to back me for dollars worth,
therefore 1 had only my hard work and
determination to succeed to depend upon.
The first three crops on my own farm
were a success and from the proceeds all
of our debts were paid. By December,
1885, had saved in cash 200 This was
only accomplished by the most careful
saving During these five years of hard
work I did not buy myself one whole
Sunday suit of clothes, and my wife went
to church in the cheapest of calico gowns.
1T was pretty risky business paying
out every dollar we had saved by five
years hard work and close living, and
running ourselves 81, 400 in debt, but we
wanted a home of our own. 1 felt cramp-
ed on rented lands and I knew that ]
should succeed much better when I was
On December IL, 1886. the note for the bal
ance of the cost of the farm was paid
with interest, and commenced the new
year free from all debt.
4 bought all the land adjacent my farm
as rapidly as possible, as the value of real
estate was increasing each year. In 1895
I made my last addition and 1 now have
a farm of 400 acres of fine potato land ap-
praised at $50, 000 In addition to this oWr
Groves Park, city and town properties
and a fruit grove containing ten thous-
and trees