The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-07-02


that the single check was for 81 900
He had received this amount for his
FAX alone. Other grain and products
brought $4,000 more last year, and
Oscar expects to beat this consider.
ably this year. So, you see. besides
the nerve that has stood by him, the
man is blessed with unusual judg.
ment and ability, combination OF
qualities that bring certain success
and wealth to the industrious worker
Oscar Micheaux was born at Me.
tropolis, Massac county, in southern
Illinois. His grandfather was q
Frenchman - hence the name Mi.
cheaux-and his father was a masters
child. Oscar worked on his fathers
farm near Metropolis and went to the
public schools, his education ceasing
at the age of II, however, after he had
received two years training at the
Metropolis high school. At this age
Oscar braved the world to make him.
self. And he tackled pretty strong
job to start with--that of carrying
crossties from barges on the Ohio
ldIe1
employed by the Mt. Vernon Car Man.
ufacturing company. After working
for this company some time, followed
by a two months experience at coal
mining, Oscar left for Chicago, looking
for larger and more profitable fields
and finally worked up to securing a
place with the Pullman company o.
tober l, 1902.
Oscar has travelled well over North
and South America, is well acquainted
with the world and its customs and is
a quick judge of men. His talent for
sizing up people is sort of second
nature, and every now and then he
lets down a man boasting of big trav.
els and experiences. "Now, the next
time you go telling us of these places"
he usually says to his victim: Make
suah you've been there for there are
people who have been around"
l recently came upon Oscar in a
corn crib, picking seed corn. Don't
you ever get lonesome?" inquired of
him, among other things. Lone.
some?" he smiled. "Why, I am too
busy; l study everything everywhere
and all the time. Things are mighty
interesting to me. Look here at this
corn-look at the wonderful plan and
composition of lido you think
could get lonesome in this corn crib?"
Here, no doubt, is che key to the
young mans character, to his assiduity
and success. He's busy. If not with
his body, then with his mind, and
every day adds it's portion of knowl-
edge and profit.
He is an admirer of Booker T. Wash.
ington, OF course, and follows minute
ly the precepts of that great leader
III the negro is to rise as race" Os-
| car said to me, "his education must
be along industrial lines. The negro
has been taking just what the white
man would give him-menial labor and
| subordination. But you must remem.
Der he was brought here by the white
people against his will, is not to blame
for being here, and the white people
should help him and not retard him.
IL Is the gloom of ignorance and vice
| tnat makes so many colored men
brutal; light and education leading to
industrial progress and the establish
ing of farm homes in the great west
Will take a great percentage of the
negroes out of the shadow"
And Oscar has been doing his part
toward helping this very aim along.
He has at different times had articles
published in the Colorado American
Magazine and the Chicago Defender,
telling of the opportunities for the
negro in the great west, and encour.
aging them to take up government
lands and to establish independent
homes on the fertile prairies. Herein
lies their social salvation, he believes,
as well as worldly advancement.
AS an immediate step in this direc-
ton, Oscar is planning to purchase re-
linquishments in Trip county for two
OF his sisters, just graduated from the
Great Bend high school, Kansas. He
estimates the farms can be secured
for $1,000 each, and that they will be
worth $1,000 each when placed in cul-
tivation. And it is rumored-not with.
out foundatiOn-that Oscar is looking
for third REIMBURSEMENT for third
young lady who will prove a mighty
interesting homesteader, to Oscar,
when she arrives here.
Oscar is well known and we'll liked
by every one in western Gregory coun.
ty. His life here has been exemplary,
and he has made good in every par.
| ticular. At the banks his word or sig
nature is all the security they ask, for
his credit is gilt-edged. When one of
his notes falls due. he is right there
to take care of it. He is a practical
man in every way and is not afraid
to borrow a dollar when he sees he
can make $3.50 or So with it. And he
always makes: there are no losses to
speak of. He is already a wealthy
young man, and If his present ability
and progress continue, he will be
very wealthy man in years to come.
He has system for everything he
undertakes, and he invests in no dead
weights. "If l secure loan for an
investment and have so much interest
| n - q LOT ~ oh