The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-04-23
PenniIess at the Start,

Avergaard, a Dane, came to Turner
county twenty-six years ago without a
cent He earned enough by manual
labor to buy a quarter section, which
ne made pay for itself He has been
doing this same thing ever since, and
now he owns absolutely unincumbered
lO5 quarter sections, well improved,
worth an average of $4,000. He is
still buying land.
Eugene HOicomb of Rapid City owes
his start to the fact that he was cred
tied almost entirely for bunch of cat
tie when he first went to Rapid City
nineteen years ago. He has had a
constantly increasing herd on the
ranges ever since, and is now rated
millionaire.
A boy ran away from Utica, N. Y,
in the seventies. 1t was a number of
years before his family found out his
whereabouts. Then it was reported
to them that Corbin Morris of Rapid
City, S. D., had already many cattle on
the range. Now he is rated at from
$500 900 to 81 ,000, 600, made without a
cent to start on.
c. w. Hyde of Pierre, S. D., has been
handling farm property and cattle for
sixteen years. Three years ago, when
he was going into company, an exam
ination by credit men resulted in an
estimate of 100000 over all liabili-
ties.
Rich Men of VermiIIion.
A small unpretentious store was
started in Vermillion twenty-three
years ago by NJ. d. Thompson. All
the profits of the business, started
largely upon a credit basis, was put
into land and cattle. Mr.. Thompson
has since dealt in cattle, land, lumber
and farm machinery, and is rated at
from 100000 to 100000. Thomp-
sons business associate, d. NJ. Inman,
went to Vermillion worth 100000 sew
enteen years ago. Profits in cattle
and land have now made this figure
$4,000
The VermiIlion firm of Lee & Prem
tiss, ranch, cattle and land men, is
considered worth $1,500,000. A. Z.
Lee, who was twice governor of South
Dakota, was a salesman in a store at
Madison, Wis, before he bought land
and cattle Prentiss had been a book
keeper. Now they own probably the
largest general store in South Dakota.
They began to buy land when it was
worth from $3.50 to s., and much of
this could now be sold for $62.50. The
firm has 10000 acres in South Dakota
and Nebraska, and feed on corn 1000
to 5000 cattle annually, besides keep
ing an equal number on their Nebraska
ranch.
There are not less than 100 other
men in the state who are worth from
10000 to $25O,000 and have made all
they have out of cattle or land.
The state has prospered with its citi-
zens. The entire state debt, bonded
and floating. is but 100000. Within
4 year there was a million dollars in
he school fund hunting investment at
} per cent. In the tC IN of Hurley,
having a population of 500, there is
1ne bank which sent $4,000 to New
York in order to put it out at interest.
Until last year money has been called
nto the state to move the crops in the
all. but it is stated that last fall there
vas not a bank in the state that need
I'd outside assistance.
Money Still to Be Made.
There is still money in the cattle
business. Yearlings of the Compound |
lass can be bought for S22 After |
eeding two seasons on the range |
hese will sell at $40 to $45, and have !
;old as high as $4S, This figure re-
mains after deducting the cost of the |
and and the interest on the money in
rested. Cattlemen figure that bunch |
# 81 900 cattle should yield $40 profit !
head if they are anything like well
elected animals.