Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-31
drainage. and vet level enough to pre-

drainage and yet level enough to pre-
vent washing of the surface. The en-
| tire tract was covered with a dens.
growth OF wild grass and not a fur
| row had been broken. The major part
| of the land belonged to the Northwest
ern railway, which was glad to sell II
| to Mr.. Cook at SIS an acre. The re-
| mainder was purchased from private
parties at S22 per acre.
$50 Miles Of Trees.
The first year Mr.. Cook put up build
ings and broke the land on five half
sections. establishing at the same time
sub farm on each OF the half Sec
lions broken, placing a foreman Oh
each of these half sections. The near
est tree in any direction at that time
was fifteen miles. He Immediately be-
gan the planting of $50 miles Of trees,
placing them eight feet apart in dou-
BILE rows along the section lines as wilma
breaks around the buildings and SUBJ
farms. These trees, today, tower from,
thirty to seventy-five feet in height,
and the necessary thinning furnishes
wood for fuel on the twenty three sub
farms, for the central plant, and also
much lumber.
In 1883 Mr.. Chas. w. Cook (de-
ceased) decided to become a breeder
of thoroughbred cattle. He had been
for years one of the largest feeders OF
grade cattle in the country. In this
year he made his first importation of
purebred Hereford cattle consisting OF
306 head, the largest single importa-
ton ever made. Mr.. Cook started out
to make this farm the most perfect of
it's kind in the country, and before his
death in 1899, his expectations had
been more than fulfilled. He was fire.
quently termed The farm builder of
western Iowa." and his indomitable
courage induced many others to settle
In the same section with the result.
that in and around Odebolt may be
found as prosperous a class OF farmers
as well as extensive class. as there is
in the state of Iowa or any other state,
for that matter
In 1889 Mr.. Cooks son, Albert E.,
already mentioned, completed his coll
lege work and took charge of portion
of the farm as assistant under his
father Under his direction the last
eight farms We're equipped and the
system of bookkeeping and office rout-
inc now used on the farm developed.
He had telephone system installed
which now connects the twenty-three
sub-farms with the central office. He
also planned the central plant of
Brookmont. and erected cribs, elevators,
machinery halls seed houses and stock
yards. In 1900 he purchased the
shares of his brother and sister in the
fathers estate and became sole owner.
Four Schoolhouses on One Farm.
There are today on this great farm,
four school houses for the accommo-
dation of the children of farmers on
boring farmers There are also two
churches just outside the farm limits.
The work on the farm is divided into
three departments, viz: farm, seed and
livestock Each of these have man
ager The livestock division has
charge of breeding, rearing, fattening
and selling all the livestock handled
upon the farm. There are about $500
head of steers fattened annually on the
farm.
Under the supervision of Mr.. A. e.
Cook it has been demonstrated, beyond
doubt, that it is not necessary to
procure seeds from other states If those
grown are properly handled and prop
erly treated. AS matter OF fact, both
corn and oats and other small grains
on the farm this season which have
been bred thereon, show up much bet
ter than those imported from other
states. A rigid system Of rotation Is