Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-11-18
HOW ONE MAN MADE
HIS FARMING PAY.

In the thriving little town of Cohas-
set, Mimi, J. /. Jellison is striking
example of what one can accomplish
If one only sets out to do something
with will and determination.
Seven years ago, says the Mime
apolis News-Tribune, Mr.. Jellison was
a resident of Duluth, and for three
years had been engaged in the wall
paper and paper-hanging business,
trusting to luck to get an odd job and
faring rather poorly. Today he is a
prosperous farmer, owning $50 acres
of land, 500 of which contain pine,
the other $50 being partially cleared
for agricultural purposes. He esti-
mates his holdings at no less than
$4,000. He has accumulated this
property unaided by any one outside
of the members of his own family,
The story which Mr.. Jellison tells is
an interesting one:
II came to the conclusion that was
not getting along as well as I ought
to" said he to a representative of the
News-Tribune few days ago, when
on one Of his periodical visits to
Duluth, 'and having heard Of the pos
sibilities of the northern part of
Itasca county, decided to launch out
to try my fortune. 1t was quite an I'm.
dertaking with a large family of eight
children to provide for, but was sat
isfied that if I ever got a start
would make the rifle all right. /
came home from work one night and
announced my intention to my wife.
She was thunderstruck at the PROPOSE
ton at first, but later on acquiesced.
and on the following morning bright
and early we began to pack our house.
hold goods for shipment. This COM
pleted, went to the land Office and
filed on 100 acres OF land. The sum
total Of my finances was $40, and it
required considerable scheming to
get myself and family started had a
railroad friend who exercised con-
siderable influence in the freight de-
partment, and through him secured q
rate of $40 to Cohasset for car Into
this my entire family and household
goods were bundled, and when we
reached our destination found that
there was no hotel or house obtain
able, SO got permission from the rail-
road company to occupy the car until
| could build a log shanty. In two
weeks time this was completed and
we set about to clsar off the land and
do some planting. Mind you, had but
$50 left after paying for the car, and
with this / had made the purchase Of
considerable quantity of provisions.
All these | toted on my back to our
farm which was seven miles away
from the railroad track. The soil
on my land was so fertile that we had
no difficulty in raising all kinds OF
garden produce, and, although the
fierce, we managed to get along toler-
ably well, and the following year be-
gan to make money. Everything that
we grew on the farm found a ready
market, and by being prudent in the
matter of expenditures l was soon
enabled to purchase a few acres OF
pine lands, and this has been con-
stantly added to until as stated,
now have 500 acres of such. am
clearing up my farm, too, right along,
and it will soon be one of the finest
in northern Minnesota. And when /
say this it means considerable, be-
cause there are northern Minnesota
farms that cannot be beaten any
where
eve have thriving little town at
Cohasset and we are anxious for more
people. We are anxious to show them
what is in store for all who have
desire to better themselves and who
have the nerve to tackle the PROPOSE
ton l did. If thy have ready money
so much the better for them"