The Irish standard., 1907-11-09

church have been Fathers Ryan, Fox,
GEMS, Stritch, Mcdonald, Rhatigan
and Father o'Brien the present, pas
tor. Father Gents twice filed the po-
sition.
Out from the village but a short dis
tance in picturesque spot. are the
Protestant and Catholic cemeteries. In
the latter rest number of the old
settlers. Among them are Richard
Barry. John Barry. James Rice, P. D.
o'Phelan. Patrick Johnston, william
Mullan, Patrick Leonard, John Hay
den, p H. o'Hara, James Hickey. John
Robinson, Stephen Hopkins, Peter
Friend, John Taaffe, Joseph windorp-
ski, Joseph Finkler and Daniel Day.
Farming lands in the vicinity of
Graceville, in fact in any part Of Big
Stone county, will average well with
any other section Of the state. The
soil is a dark alluvial loan, with .
mixture of sand phosphate and other
fertilizing properties. 1t is from eight
cen inches to three feet deep and rests
upon hard limy subsoil. Wheat. oats,
barley, corn and fax are raised sue
cessfully and the tame grasses flour
ish abundantly. The soil is also well
adapted to the raising Of all the vege-
q to-
climate The present price Of farm
lands range from $25 to $40 per acre,
according to the improvements made.
And speaking Of farming brings to
mind an experiment tried in 1880, when
some twenty-five or more families were
brought to Big Stone county from Ire
land and settled on the lands, each
family receiving a quarter section or
100 acres, from. the fruits Of which
livelihood might be gained. This
experiment proved failure, in part
at least, for only five of these families
remained and they have become the
most Independent among the well-to-do
! farmers in the section mentioned. and
this may be said as we'll Of the children
as of the parents who were content to
stay. The larger part Of those who
became dissatisfied left the lands and
settled in st. Paul, taking up the
task of raising and supporting their
families as wage earners. 1t is need
less to add that the few out Of that
colony who built their hopes on tho
soil of Big Stone county at that time
have much to thank themselves for
now as they compare fortunes with
those who so suddenly changed to the
cities to battle for an existence. Like
in many other communities of this
western country the early settlers of
Big Stone county had obstacles to
meet and they met them with that
cheer and fortitude so proverbial Of
them. In their hopes and aspirations
they have succeeded beyond measure,
all Of which givesp romise for a still
brighter future.
-. ~.. - s. ~;
The Irish Standard representative
feels, in particular manner, under OBJ
legations to James Mulvaney Of Grace
vile and William Byrnes Of Barry for
kindly favors rendered while a visitor
there. Mr.. Mulvaney was "a western
er" before he came to Big Stone county
and Mr.. Byrpes was Minneapolitan.
Billy" as he is Familiarity known, is
the present efficient game warden of
that district and served in the same
position under Governor Lind.
One of the best known gentlemen in
that section Of the country, and who
has friends in every part of the state,
is M. ]. Mcdonnell. He is engaged in
the real estate business and collections
and is looked upon as one of the most
trustworthy and reliable surveyors in
the Northwest. Mr.. Mcdonnell came
to Houston county, this state, in 1851,
where he was elected to the legislature
in 1874, serving four consecutive
terms. He removed to Graceville in
1873 and has always taken an active
part in everything that pertained to
the history and advancement of Grace
Vile and Big Stone county.
In and around Graceville there are
number whose names will be familiar
to our readers, for many of the people
there at one time or another lived in
the cities. OF those now brought to
memory. may be mentioned John
Downs, A. Moran, Patrick Ryan, j. r.
Toner. Thomas Casey, M. j. Egan, Ed
Broderick, D. Aitkin, Patrick fIyland,
Robert McBrady, Jerry scanlan, Thos.
Ruddy, P. L. Fallon, Mrs. M. Keefe,
AnthOny Cawlev e. e. E3evn,ao ? r.