Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-10-23
An Irish Landlord in America.

Most Of us never heard of William
Scully an American citizen who died
in England last week leaving a fortune
estimated at $50, OO0. 600. To an earlier
! generation, however mis- name was very
familiar and the story Of his life is an
Interesting and important chapter in
American history. "Lord" William
Scully was the name he used to b"
| known by and he owned more farms
| than any other man on this continent
| or perhaps in the world. He was a ma
tive Of Ireland, possessed of com
| Portable fortune, and he came to this
| country in 1851 and began to buy up
| large tracts Of land in the middle West
which he divided into small farms
which he leased to tenants. mainly
| ne WHY arrived immigrants. FOR Il cash
rental. incidentally he was widely
cx"cratcd by certain sections of the
population in the west for his attempt
to foster 'Irish Iandl"rdiSm" in free
America. So bitter did the sentiment
against Srully become that Illinois
passed i law declaring an alien inca
pablo of holding lands in Illinois and
requiring all such to sell their holdings,
within three years. This law was de
clar"d unconstitutional by the United
States Supreme court. Then Illinois
passed Il law declaring an alien inca
came a naturalizcd citizen OF the Unit
c.i states
Lord Scully was a scientific farm
sonal inspection. In 1851 he came to
the United States to invest money In
land. Landing at Philadelphia. he
bought horse and spade and started
west searching for land. He rode on
horseback from Philadelphia through
the states of Pennsylvania, Indiana
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska,
and Wisconsin. testing the soil with his
SPADE. He gave two years to the trip
ana then ne bought about -W,ooW acres
in the states mentioned. Much Of his
land cost him only $1.25 an acre. Hav-
ing bought his lands, Scully proceeded |
to establish his tenants. He drew his |
own leases and for years looked after |
the business himself, living with his |
family at Lincoln, III. Under the terms |
of the Scully leases the tenants made |
their own improvements, and paid the |
taxes ~ til" lands. If a tenant threw
up his l"aS" he lost his Improvements.
TIL" rent was low. in many cases only |
to from $l.2J To 81 an acre
SCuily WAS cXacting with his tenants.
fic compelled them to pay their rent
promptly and t" pay their debts. Yet
Scu!ly RENTED 4 part ANA sometimes
all # the rent. He never "rai+cd To
rent on Il tenant. He never disyI4,,"i
4 t"n1ut vino paid 81 an acre in "r,l"r
t" rrfIt til" ltnd u some %" clsn uhr
offered s.. II" never removed from a
farm The. family 0f u dcc"a',"d tenant.
In fact. Il man who leased Il Scuilv |
farm c"ujI build \ home on it. certain
pf passing it on to his children if th.v
Ii"sir"d it. To a large extent ScuIIv
lived down tn" prejudice which was
bitter against him in tn" country year.
ago. In recent years he has lived in
Washington. Ills two sons now live
there ana inherit his wealth.
Here are some nf the rules to which |
al Scully tenants had to subscribe. II
would be we'll if all farmers followed ,
'hcm. those who own their land as well
Is th"s" who lease 1t.
Tenants must be temperate.
They must pay their debts
They must not quarrel with their
lciEhbors. l.
They must build their own houses |
md barns and plant their own orch
trdS.
They must make money for them
selves over and above tho money with
\ hich they pay their rent.
Their stock must be well fed
The il machinery must show good
are.