The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

Chicago. Nov. lA-With Inc death in
London Of William Scuily. better known
az Lord Scully. leaving an estate of
$50, 900, the richest farmer in the world.
one Of the most remarkable figures in
the history Of Illinois and the Middle West
passed away.
Tho lord OF an immense area Of the most
productive farm lands in many States, ne
presented the strange phenomenon of a
landlord Of the European type, only on m
Immensely larger scale than is possible
there, holding sway over nearly loo con-
tented tenants. composed mostly OF free
born American citizens.
Yet aristocTatic as was this owner of
10000 acres OF farms under cultivation,
almost autoeratic as was his rule. Un-
/ changeable European as he was in his
entire makeup. he was himself one Of the
pioneers, and nifty years ago toiled
through the forests and prairie wastes,
space in hand, seeking fortune IN the un-
tried West
Mr. scGily has made more money out
OF farming In Illinois alone than any
other man that ever came into the State.
The amount OF the annual rent roll from
his little kingdom has long been con
siderably over $4,000. The expense at
/ tached 10 the gathering OF this princely
income has been summed up in the saiar-
/ les Of a few agents and clerks.
4 This plan, with its foreign colonization
/ attachment, went along without inter
-uption until few years ago. when Mr..
Seuily became the main object at which
. Nf~.Ha fae.
/ the legislature Of Illinois.
Il then became necessary for him to be-
come citizen Of the United states. and
no took UP hts residence in the old John
A. Logan house.
Mr. Scuuy's Statement.
In response to inquiries from news
paper man, Mr.. Scully. not long before
his death. made the following statement:
The first thing you want TO know is
who I am I am William Scully. neither
lord nor viscount but during my resi-
dence in Ireland and England a gentle
man Of those countries Ny ancestors
estates were in Balleconey and Shrone-
hin. We were OF the land-oVning class.
and people Of wealth, but We have not
been titled. The title lord" was given
me in Illinois years ago. do not know
how II originated, for 1 had never told
any one I was a lord
Il was q young man fifty years ago.
had Inherited considerable wealth and
was ambitioUs 70 add 10 It. I was unlike
the great majority OF the young men
around me. I was stUdious and indus
trious. | was determined to do some
thing worth while in my lifetime. and
never 10 lose a moment setting about il.
Just ~ the time when 1 was seeking
fields for my work I was attracted 10
the United States. I was q farmer. ]
had worked in the fields on our Irish es-
tates and had. learned the economies Of
agriculture al schools. So ] was more
than a farmer. I was scientific farmer
The people Of the United States were
at that time very eager to induce persons
With brains and money TO come and as |
sist them in the development OF this Won /
derfUl country. I was interested / knew
! had the money and I was pretty sure i
1 had the brains man must be sure
of this 10 be successful. Reputable news
papers were printing invitations TO Euro |
peans 70 come TO the United States The |
United States Government invited men
70 come / mention this because I have
been attacked as an alien since came
here and invested my money here. II
have no complaint 10 make. wishing
merely 10 say that came upon the solici- /
tation of the United States government. /
Selected Rich Lands.
Just fifty years ago I landed in the
United States. / had money TO invest in
my line Of business. which was farming |
People told me Of wonderful stretches Of |
rich soil in the Central West. 7 deter /
mined TO see them. I secured horse and /
4 spade. and set out from Philadelphia /
upon tour Of personal investigation. I /
rode that horse and used that spade |
thoru6h the States Of Ohio. Indiana. III /
nois. Missouri. Wisconsin. Iowa. Kansas. /
and Nebraska. ! learned what I wanted 4
tc know concerning the depth and quality /
Of the soil. Il was the richest in the
world.
After two years of investigation / set
tied upon North Central Illinois as the
place I sought The prairie was almost
IN those days, and the farm
houses were few I chose my land with
great deliberation. I not only selected
the richest soil could md. but I secured
land on straight line between the cities
Of st. Louis and Chicago. I knew there
would be a railroad between those cities
and that rich prairie land close to that
railroad would be valuable
I secured my land very cheap. II COM
manded no value in those DAYS more than
the governments price of S.25 for II.
Numbers Of men who had gone to the
Mexican war had been given land script
when they returned. emitting them to 80
acres OF land each. A great deal Of this
scrip covered Illinois land, and much Of IL
was sold fof song by returned soldiers
who did not care TO farm IT,
My Illinois land is the most valuable 1
have Farms around mine sell for from
20 to $40 an acre. My lands in Bates
County. Mo; Gage County. Nebr.. and
Marion County. Kans., were purchased in
lfter years, some Of It as recently as
.hTee years ago. II is good land. but
ioes not command the rents can get for
ny Illinois land. This is not so much, be-
,ause the Illinois soil is richer. as it is
lJe to the fact that the settlement of
Illinois is older, the farming more scien-
if1c. and the railroad facilities better.
Feeling Against Him Subsided.
ct do not care 10 say much about the !
ceiling which arose against ME here in l
he United States in former years. 1t
las all subsided now. I am a naturaIized
itizen of the United States and have my
amily here. The efforts 10 secure the ,
.doption OF an anti-aliel law in Illinois ,
vas due TO envy, more than anything /
Use. I had done nothing to deserve any /
uch attacks. The adoption of the meas
ire which compelled me to Fay my own
axes was a fruitless measure MY ten
nts were paying the taxes. made their 7,
ents so low they could afford to nay
L.. w., .l-o 60 .......-..ll.l .