Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-01-30
DOING THINGS.
How An Fastener Recouped His Lost
Fortune in North Dakota.

The Dayton Ohio Journal of recent
date, gives our Land Man Powell the
following complimentary notice:
"Mr. Albert M. Powell n of the
Dayton immigrants who settled in
North Dakota in the boom times of
s83, is still there, has stuck to Devils
Lake during the hard times and has
weathered through adversities. He is
now on the crest of the present revival
and besides other interests he has the
Powell farm of 115 acres, from which
twenty bushels Of flax was harvested
In reading the above one might in
fer quite naturally that the "Powell
farm" comprised only 115 acres;
whereas the Inter Oceans map of
Ramsey county just published, show
that Powell's land holdings in this
county aggregate 1890 acres, and an
undivided one-half interest with his
brother-in-law, George W. Mooers,
in 1899 acres. A very conservative
estimate of the average value would
in the Judgment of the Inter Ocean,
be 500 per acre, which makes MI.
Powell's landed interest aggregate the
quite snug sum Of $$44, 720. Seeing
this unique monogram on his letter
head, "Started business in 1888 on
$780, the Inter- Oceans represen-
tatlve asked the deacon for an expla-
nation and he modestly replied:
"Well, that's no fake-I some times
wish it was. I inherited approx
mately $13, 500 from my fathers estate,
he having a widow and nine children.
He had failed twice in his life but
afterwards paid dollar for dollar and
left quite a, competence, his life in
surance alone aggregating what in
those days was regarded as an un-
usually large sum, SIS, 900.
CATER school days I went into the
grocery business at Dayton making
quite a success then as a. silent part
ner in a wholesale ciger and tobacco
business, "dropping a few thous-
and, then to Fargo, N. D., in the
boom days OF 1882, and buried there
in town lots close on to $12, 900; then
to Cando and Devils Lake where fol
over two and a half years I worked
like a beaver as financial man an(
%bookkeeper for the pioneer firm of G.
L. Budde at the munifcent figure O
$40 and $50 per month. I resigned t.
keep books for the old Devils LAX
flour mill at 81, 900 a year but in
few weeks was thrown out in the cold
cold world-Banker Fulton. of GRAM
Forks, who held a controlling interest
felt that he had to give the place t
his protege, Mr.. George Norton.
had 800. 80 to the good, $75 of which
got from Mr.. Fulton for my l~acerate
feelings and to drop my law suit.
walked the streets of Devils LAX
three days and cried my eyes out thre
nights but my English pside woul
not let me go back to dear old Obi
stranded, and face the sI-told-you
so friends. I picked up an old vol
umn which had this wise comment
Young man, if you can give faithfl
and valuable service to another, 70
are worth many times as much t
work for yourself-so strike out
Knowing I had mighty little to lose
and possibly something to gain
made up my mind to try real estate
loans and insurance, as that did NJ
take much stock in trade, except coul
age, nerve and hard work. I rente
desk room from Huesgen, the jewel'
in the basement Of the First Nations
bank. My first loan was made De-
A, 1SS4-$350-and my first fire il
policy written Feb. 2. 1888
on which my commission was s
And say, Mr.. Reporter, excuse m
I can't "reminiscences any longer, f
there comes Mr.. N. to close up tn;
a, 500 loan on his three quarters
Ninnewaukan township. But sa!