The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-10-04
OLD GLORY WAVES OVER COLONY
Mennonite Purchasers of Richards
Ranch Hoist Stars and Stripes.

fti''Sti S'S OSS'S eAts L
Huron, S. D.. Oct. PAS the result
of an interesting incident in connection
with the sale Il few days 6 of the
S92, 000 r. O. Richards ranch, situated
near F~orestburg, Sanborn county, the
stars and stripes will for the first time
fly over a Mennonite colony in South
Dakota. The property consists of 1000
acres of land, and without doubt is the
best improved bonanza farm in South
Dakota. The purchasers are Russian
Mennonites, who are organized into a
colony under the name of the Hutter-
tscho Boulder Gemeinde.
In the center Of q plot of ground in
front of the $4,000 dwelling house on
the tract Mr.. Richards erected a flag
pole, from which the star spangled BAN
ner eve failed to wave to a South Da-
kota breeze on the Fourth OF, July and
on the birthday anniversary of any
member of h Richards family. When
the sale of the farm to the Mennonites
was being concluded for the lump sum
Of $4,000, Mr.. Richards expressed a
willingness to give the purchasers the
flag and pole. However, the Mennon-
ties discard all ensigns and banners,
and Trey stated they did not care TO ac-
cept the flag and pole and were willing
that Mr.. Richards should remov them.
In closing up the sale of the land the
question of assigning a lease to an adj
joining school section came up for adj
justment. Mr.. Richards declined to as
sign the school section lease to the
Mennonites unless they would agree to
hoist the banner every Fourth of July
and keep it flying to the breeze for n
period of twenty-four hours. When the
Mennonites stopped to consider that
upon h school section 100 head of cat
tie secured their feed each year, they
decided to lay aside their prejudice
toward flags INC banners of all kinds
and accept the proposition of Mr.. Rich
ards. In h presence of prominent Wit
nesses. among them Hon. Coe i. Craw-
cord, the republican nominee for gov
rnor of South Dakota, the Mennonites
solemnly promised to hoist the Amer
lean flag on every Fourth of July in
the future. Thus was old glory for the
first time forced to wave over a Mem
MONTE colony in South Dakota in CON
sideration of a lease of a school sec
ton.
The 2.OOo-acre tract upon which the
Mennonites will now locate their col
ony is situated in the heart of the beau
tiful native timber district of the
James river. Mr.. Richards, who is q
Huron banker, commenced buying the
land twelve or fifteen years ago, dur
ing the years of partial crop failures in
that part of South Dakota.
Fully 100000 was expended in i'm
provements alone. Where ten or a
dozen years 6 nature was in its wild
state, today stands, miles from the
nearest town, a beautiful $4,000 dwell
Ing house, with all modern improve
ments in the way of waterworks, heat
Ing, lighting, etc. The dwelling is sur
rounded by spacious blue grass grounds
adorned with all varieties of trees and
shrubs. Near the dwelling is a thrifty
orchard a fine VINEYARD. which is hear.
Ing. an artesian lake stocked with game
fish. large barns, cribs and sheds, and
In the surrounding pastures, all sup.
piled with flowing water from the as.
tesian well, Craze herds of fine sheep
horses and cattle.