Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-05-07
FORTUNE CAME IN AUTO.
How Ono Farm Was Freed From 3
Mortgage by a Wife.

Mortgage by WIfe.
"AIy method Of adding to our incom
: is by keeping an inn for automobile
travellers" farmers wife who recent
ly paid visit of several weeks Il
New York city told the reporter. ON
farm is ten miles away from the near
est railroad station, and it was neNi
to impossible to get summer borders
1t was so difficult for me to market
my butter and eggs and chickens that
1t didn't seem worth while.
81 used to be always wishing we
could get nearer the station. 1t seemed
to me that if we could only get where
city people would be willing TO come
In the summer our fortune would be
made. l have always been a good
housekeeper. and my husband is
known all through our part Of the
country as a good provider. Some peo-
ple used to say that was the reason
we never could get rid of the mortgage
on the farm.
"The children and had all but per
suaded him to sell out and move to the
village when our eldest daughter sug-
gested opening an inn for the autumo-
bllists. who were continually stopping
at our place for water and other little
things. My two daughters set at work
and frightened up the house and
yards. Then they put out a sign at the
crossroads and another on the front
gatepost stating that we were pre-
pared to furnish meals and lodgings
for small parties.
"Then small parties soon began TO
come In, and they have been increasing
in size and number ever since. At
first there were only two rooms in |
which we could accommodate those |
who wished to remain overnight, but |
as my children have married off three
more have become available.
"Yes, both my daughters have mar
ried since we turned our farmhouse
into an inn four years ago, and during
the last year both sons married also.
That leaves me alone with Il niece to
look after the inn, while my husband
still devotes himself to the farm.
From the first our object in keep
ing the inn has been to brighten our
home and add to the value of the
farm. The house is old fashioned and
besides the kitchen there are eight
rooms. They were very bare when
we began to take in automobilists, but
now, thanks to the money that they
have left with us, there are not many
in this part of the country
where you would find more books and
more comfortable furnishings.
zone of the boys took course at
he agricultural college of Cornell uni
'ersity, and the other could have
lone that also If he hadn't preferred
he Institute Of Technology in Bos-
on. As soon as he finished there last
ummer he took job that was wait
ng for him, and then he got married.
lis speciality is electricity, and he !
Wired our house and put in electric ,
ellis almost two years ago. That is {
ne of the conveniences we would new /
r have had If we hadn't opened the !
nm.
I'VE don't pretend to give our visit
rs anything fancy to eat-just the
hlngs raised on the farm well cooked
nd served. My niece has studied do
nestle science, so she knows how to
ook by the new methods, while | can
o about as well as the next one with
ly old recipes.
You mustn't think we have had ',
hings all our own way. Several farm ,
RS who live near the road have put :
ut the Inn sign, and some Of thrm I
ave a good business, but as we be- /
AN first aud have kept our place ~ I
o the standard the visitors have con .
inued to stop with us instead Of 60
ng TO neighboring inns. Besides, we
laven't tried TO change our house very
much, only To freshen it up and make |
more comfortable
81 have found that