The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
FOUR CATAWBA FARMERS.
How They Have Found Agricu1-
tura1 Life Profitable.

Six miles east Of Newton, about fifteen
years ago, Mr.. J. Forney Wilson began
farming on rented land He had one
mule and no children large enough to
give him any assistance He raised
corn, wheat and cotton. His wife raised
chickens and kept her two COWS well feed
and we'll MIXED. After three years, they
bought with their joint savings 100 acres
OF ordinary pine land. This in a few
years was producing 20 bushels of wheat
to the acre. Additions were made to the
size Of the farm every few years The
family also increased in size, sometimes
the additions appearing in pairs. But in
spite of the fact that more food and
clothing was needed every succeeding
year for the family, the net profits grew
larger each year. Four years ago, Mr..
Wilson bought highly improved farm of
leo acres, three miles south of Newton
for which ne paid $4,000 He cleared on
this farm the first year $3.50. He never
parts with any of his land. What he does
not cultivate himself he has farmed by
tenants. He is now worth 1000.
M. M. CLINE.
Manuel Cline. as everybody in Catawba
county calls him, is money making
farmer He has 700 or $40 acres of land
in the Gravel Town" section of the
county. 1t was bought from time to time
from his savings. He raised and educated,
in boarding schools, a family of five
girls aud three boys. The children are
now all married and doing well. He now
has his second wife, and q happier,
healthier, more prosperous pair cannot be
found on farm of equal size in North
Carolina. Mr.. Cline makes more wheat
to the acre than any other man in the
county. He makes abOu- 1900 bushels
wheat and 5000 bushels corn a year He
keeps about twenty-five Berkshire brood
sows and supplies the farmers of half a
dozen counties with high grade pigs
j. E. MINGES.
Ten years ago John hinges walked into
the office of the Newton EnterDrise with
string of catfish to pay for year s
subscription to that papar. He was then
living on rented land. He was very poor.
He had not much to SELL but he made it
a rule that what money he got from any
source should be held on to. When any
thing was needed from town, something
had to be taken from home TO swap for
it, and it was general something that
could not be sold for cash. II the fish
declined to go into his sini.- baskets, or
the apple crop failed he gathered up pine
knots and sold them at big prices. Finally
his savings mounted UP to $3.50. He
bought from Mr.. ]. r. Gather so acres OF
poor land seven miles east of Newton.
He has added adjoining tracts until he
now owns 400 acres. He has brought il
up in fertility erected comforta Bile build
ings. set out orchards, has it we'll
stocked with horses. mules and cattle and
takes his family to church on Sundays
in handsome two-horse carriage. His
specialties in farming are cotton, wheat
and sweet potatoes. OF the latter he
has for sale this spring 1000 bushels,
and he is getting a fancy price for them.
Caleb M. Setter.
Caleb NJ. Setter lives on a one hundred
acre farm. two miles from Newton He
always mas the first bale of cotton or the
market He makes about Is bales year
He makes it a rule to sell il as fast as it
is picked and ginner, and, having no fer
tilizer or store bills TO pay, his cotton