The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
DAVID RANKIN, KING OF CORN AM

TARK1o, Mo-, Sept. 10.--David Rankin
OF this town wears the double crown OF the
Kingdoms OF Corn and Cattle, and II any
one should ask by what right he can point
to his books, which show that be fattens
more steers for the market than any other
man in the world, and that he grows more
corn than any other man In the United
fstates.
It Is no uncommon thing for him to buy
5000 steers from the ranges and ship them
to his ranches to be fattened, paying
freight bill of s25 900 for that one ship
ment His dominion extends over farm
of %, IFS acres, of which IA, 900 is planted to
corn and 1000 to wheat.
He does not sell bushel Of corn, but, on
the contrary, he sometimes buys as much
as 1883 900 bushels in year. He feeds 1t
all to cattle and hogs. The first law with
King Rankin Isl aThou shalt not sell corn"
He has given to his neighbors two other
sayings that are characteristic Of the man.
They are:
Hard work and close attention to busi-
ness, even at the age of 80, will keep man
young" And:
@Never keep man who can't raise two
acres OF corn every day he goes into the
field"
Although in his eighty first year, Mr..
Rankin superintends the working Of his
great farm. Every day that is not too stormy
finds him driving around the fourteen
ranches into (which his holdings are divided.
They include choice prairie land in Atchison
and Nodaway counties, with about 5000
acres overlapping in Fremont county, la.
He makes the trips in a top buggy that is
generally covered with either mud or dust
l. I,.a 49,, h<,~a
but not otherwise remarkable.
Il was 80 in May he said recently, 'but
I have no idea Of quitting work yet. l
froze my face some years ago when was
out in bad storm, and 1t causes some
trouble to one of my eyes. However. I
can get around, and I propose to as long as
can SIT up in this buggy"
Mr.. Rankin Is rawboned Scotch
freshman, over six feet in height. Age and
work have not succeeded in STOPPING his
shoulders. white beard conceals the
lower half OF his face, and shaggy gray
eyebrows that meet shelter keen gray eyes
that look upon all visitors kindly.
In summer he drives around in his shirt
sleeves, wearing q plain straw hat. In
winter he wears a long, shaggy ulster Of
bearskin, and a fur cap whose peak is
pulled down far over his eyes, so that the
storms find nothing but his beard exposed.
AHow came you, farmer, to be q mill
lonaire?" he was asked.
Climb In hero and III tell It better as
we go along" he replied. 'Well,' he con-
tinued as he shook the lines and the well fed
horses started off at good gait, 1T isn't
hard thing to do il a man starts in here
and has any HUSTLE
But wouldn't capital help somei'
IF man shows any hustle he can borrow
all the capital he wants, I've paid IL and
20 per cent. for money, and made money
with it for myself and the lender.
Il came here from Henderson county. H.,
in 1885. The first money ever had was
$50 which got from the sale Of q colt my
father gave me. Twas Representative in
the Illinois Legislature for two terms, but
came to Missouri because loved farming
better than politics.
MY first purchase Of land hero was at |
SO per acre. Land beside It now Is selling |
for SIS and 500 an acre
There lie no better land in tho world. |
On these hills the dorm sol ID eight feet |
deep, and in the bottoms 10 is a. deep an |
you'd care to dig. have seen corn grow
ing from soil thrown up from tho bottom |
OF a well dug down to fifty feet.
SYou couldn't say that OF old New York |
tu te, could your Now. II you want to |
set ONE Western farming, look yonder.'
He pointed with his whip to long line !