The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-25
GREATEST FARM
DAVID RANKIN RAISING CORN ON
 23,OOO ACRES.
Feeds 1t All to His Cattle Never sells q Bushel, But Often Buys Grain to Fatten Steers for Market-Keep Things Moving by Tele-
 phone.

The corn on David Rankin's 2S.oo0 acres of land Is fast ripening and as practically every man, woman ana child in town is in some way interested in or connected with ID. R's" corn crop, most of the discussion of the town IS about 1t. When the weather Is talked about the discussion is as to whether 1t is a good day or a bad day, too nor or too cold, too wet or too dry for "D. corn ID. R" Is the greatest farmer in the world. From the porch or the leading hotel here a view in any oireo- tion catches nothing but acre after aore of waving corn, just tassled anu Jus' at the critical stage Of US Pros,1| Five miles away are the oiuHs wnion T. mark the course of the Missouri as it rushes on to the Mississippi BetWeen Tarkio and this range of bluffs there is nothing but corn. Like s,ea., hiI1owv sea, field after field completes the picture. and over the unduiatins hills for acre after acre David han kin reigns supreme.
 Like The Humblest Farmer.
 Az David Rankin, the absolutely un- conventional, thoroughly American anu most untypical millionaire corn King he works ninety-six hours during the week and spends his Sundays as he has always spent them in the seventy-n wears of his life. With not wheel turning on any one of his fourteen ranches and with none of his men doing that but which absolute necessity re- ouires, he attends church in the morn- ing and in the afternoon remains quiet ly in his splendid suburban home, just outside Tarkio.
 The only thing that bothers this Ma poleon of farmers just now Is the strike of the employees of the packing houses They have caused him lot of difficulty in getting his trainloads of fattened stock to market Instead of St. Joseph. Omaha and Chicago. he has been obliged to seek other markets. The corn prospect has ceased to be trouble to him. and were 1t not for the strike situation he would be at peace with all the world.
 Thinks It Due to Democratic Party.
 The career of this farmer Is stranger than fiction. and, at that. is but the story of unremitting toll and labor and the ability to grasp opportunities as they came within reach.
 David Rankin's parents were Of Scotch and German ancestry, and at the time of the birth of their son were re- sidents of Sullivan County. Indiana. On May 2S, 1925. David Rankin was born. With his parents he moved to Henderson County, Illinois, in 1886, and
 
 fate. Henderson County is one of the western tier of counties of the State, and borders on the Mississippi river Buhlington, Ia., being the nearest city of importance. Shortly after the family reached this section of the country the head of the house become reduced by stress of circumstances to next door to poverty Money was unknown. and the only method of exchange was the bar
 -I~ p-Aa was rarely obtainable, and MT. Rankin relates that the finest piece of bread he ever ate was made from wheat which was ground in the family coffee mill.
 RevoIted Against Poverty.
 The family reached the point where the constables notice was tackled on the door and David's nature revolted. By strenuous efforts. he with his broth CT, succeeded in postponing the sale. and finally redeemed the property, and this was his start In life. With his brother he concluded to go into busi- ness on his own hook, and by working by the day the two managed to secure a yoke of oxen. With this they went to work for neighbors and assisted in clearing off the bottom land surround ing Oquawka and made thereby the first money which either had ever pos sessed.
 Land was cheap Tn the Mississippi bottoms at that time and eventually David was enabled to purchase few acres By helping his neighbors and getting parcels of land in exchange for labor his possessions increased, until at the beginning of the war he was known as a man of means through Western Illinois. and at the end of the war his fortune had doubled.
 It was in the early seventies that he entered politics in Illinois. and was twice elected by the Republicans to the Legislature.
 nomination for Congress. but was de- in the nomination of Colonel B. F. Marsh. of Hancock County. who Is still in Congress. Mir Rankin claims that his defeat for this nomination Is the greatest thing that has happened in his career.
 Tn the early eighties the eldest son of the Rankin family and concluded his education. His father called him Into his room one day and asked him as to plans for the future. The elder Rankin had supposed that the son, with his col lese training. would seek some mercan- tile pursuit. or one of the professions. or at least would ask for a position in the First National Bank. of Monmouth. a good share of which David Rankin own ed at that time. His son replied: "I think I will be A farmer, father" and this so surprised and overjoyed the father that the very next day he started for the West to look up a suitable place for the son to locate.
 Upon the trip he was riding through