The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-08
COMFORT OF THE FARMER
OMAHA BEE POINTS TO MADISON
COUNTY SUCCESSES.
WHY BE AN OIL KING roDAYa

phonei
Omaha Sunday Bee. Oct. 27-Do
dreams come true7 Could one dream
Of greater luck than going into new
country as a young man and penniless,
settling down upon the unbroken prai-
Ties, and finding ones self, just at
Hfe's prime, with lands worth close
up around the 100000 mark. with
sleek herds OF cattle around ones
barnyard, with the respect OF the COM
munity, with q modern home and mod
ern Injuries for ones comfort, with
crisp, fresh country air to breathe
from morning until night, and with no
difficulty in the world to worry over
for the rest Of ones life?
And yet It's not luck, after all. Nor
Is Il a dream. Such cause for content
ment on earth has come to hundreds
and thousands OF ordinary men--just
plain folks--all over these fertile
plains OF Nebraska as the result of
foresight and persistent effort proper
ly applied. Tie story of success, as
success in this world goes, Is no UNI
common tale in the Nebraska farm re-
gions Of today. Productive expanses
OF fertile soil, comfortable and even
luxurious modern homes, we'll painted
and we'll built barns and substantial
cribs, up-to-date and expensive farm
machinery, good looking modern car
riages and fat looking herds Of live
stock, are today common pictures
painted here and there and every
where over these broad prairies. and
Il 10 the story of failure that attracts
interest and attention, rather than the
commonplace story of success.
There was a time when kings OF fl
nance had deep meaning for the west
But today kings of the farm land are
of more Importance. Today the Ne
hraska farmer, who walked into this
section without a cent to his name
thirty years ago, and who homesteaded
n quarter section of land worth home
stealing is as independent as czar,
or more 80, and as care-free as care
free could be. Gloomy forecasts or
financial distress have no alarm for
him. secure as he Is from panic's per-
lis, and on Easy street" through a
calm knowledge that his crops go on
growing, his cattle taking on beef,
even while their master sleeps. 1t is
little wonder that this uncrowned en-
peror Is taking Joy out of life, without
a mixture of the city's nerve-strain,
realizing as he does that each passing
l, and more TO
his material well-being.
From nothing to fame and fortune
20 a niche among the honest rich
and desirable citizens"-at the age OF
4S. To walk into virgin paradise at
the age Of 10 and to be Independent oil
the wolf, to be independently rich I'M
der so! From a dug-out and home
stead to possession of $50 acres OF the
Nnest farm land in all the world, a
modern home equipped with every con
venience, to a place Of honor in the
legislature of the commonwealth and
10 be a young man still Does 1t not
SAVIOR of a romance or magazine
story for Sunday afternoon readings
Why be an oil king?
Nor is ones imagination called into
play to weave this story The hero Of
Shis particular tale is Thomas e. Al
derson of Madison county, Nebraska
And his is but the usual success tha'
has been attained by persistent farm
ing In Nebraska. AS youth or ~
Young Tom Anderson and an Older
brother came to Madison county. Thai
was in 1871. Anderson had been borr
back in Iowa county, Wisconsin, DC
tober 26, 1852, and he had a yearnine
for the new west. His yearning was
that of money-maker. First 10
eating on a farm three miles south
east Of Norfolk, then moving to the
present site of Creston in Platte coun
", Tom Anderson in 1874 returned tc
Madison county and took a claim
eight miles southeast of the present
city of Madison. Upon that claim ne
still resides, though differently en-
vironed.
Coming to Madison county In 1874
with no capital save their courage anc
willingness to work, John w. Ray and
LOUIS w. Nay NJ" S"AN'S
acres Of fine farm land five miles wes'
of this city, stand out as notable ex
amples of the success that can be at
tanned from Nebraska's soil through
persistent effort. Undaunted by the
fact that during the first three years
Of their life in this country their crops
were ravaged by the grasshoppers
these two young brothers, today under
As, kept stiff upper lips and made
good" Continuously for third OF
century they have farmed the land OF
which they live. They took home
steads and later added to their claims
Farming has been their only occupa
ton.
Besides farming today 1000 acre
of land bordering on the Elkhorn rive
and there is no prettier valley II