The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-07
LIVING ON THE LAND IN IOWA.

LIVING ON THE LAND IN IOWA.
So far as success goes, the wife OF a
farmer IN the western part OF the
state of Iowa tells a very good story.
1t is a story of success at farming.
With her husband, she paid for some
of the land as high as $45 per acre.
II is another case where the constant
work and the proper kind of economy
won out. In letter from Ogden, Ia,
TO the Capital "A Farmers Wife"
says:
ain September, 1892, sixteen years
ago, my husband, then a young Illi-
nois man 26 years of age, started
northwest to seek a home. Going
first to Minnesota, from which state
he turned with apparent disgust, re-
turning to Central Iowa, where he Sc
cured an eighty acre farm with a
three room cottage and small stable
for $2,8OO, paying down 81 900, money
he had saved from his wages as farm
hand, and giving a mortgage on the
land for 1900 for fiye years at per
cent.
"ln the spring of 1893 we we're mar
ried and came to Iowa to live on this
farm. Starting in with two good
horses, a plough and harrow, wagon
and corn planter, two cows, one dozen
chickens, we went to work with de-
termination to win. The first year we
did some tilling, built cellar, plast-
cred and painted our cottage, bought
some machinery, paid our interest and
had 500 to pay as principal. In the
fall of 1895 we purchased another
forty acres joining the original eighty,
paying $42.5O an acre, or $l,70O.
"At the close of each year we al
ways pay all of our debts, our taxes
and interest, and always have a snug
sum to pay as principal, mailing It
point to pay the cash for everything
we buy, so far as possible. For we
arc firm believers in the motto Pay
as you go and then you won't owe.'
Have never run a store bill to exceed
| $40. II Is 50 much easier TO pay for
an article when you get 1t than after
II Is gone.
The spring of 1898 found us free
from debt with some money on hand,
so we bought another 100 acre farm,
| paying S45 an acre, which we have
! paid for by working hard and keep
| ing everlastingly at It.. This farm we
have always rented out at $500 and
! 1926 an acre.
"In 1901 we purchased another forty
! paying $40 an acre, which we have
paid for by close farming, raising
horses, cattle and hogs to sell, milk
ing from five to eight COWS, raising
about 200 chickens each year. We
have never kept a hired man, prefer
ring to do the work alone. In busy
seasons ! often help do light work in
the field, such as raking hay, plough
ing with riding plough, and picking
corn; work that / find healthful as
we'll as profitable, having never been
sick a day. It think it is a wife's
duty to help meet as well as help eat,
and in return the better half helps
me wash and Churn.
"In 1905 we purchased another eigh-
ty acre tract, joining the first two
named purchases, making us a lovely
200 acre home farm paying $40 an
acre with no improvements. This
farm we have improved by building
an addition to our house, Il $1,000
barn, three wells and windmills and
other small buildings, besides laying
10000 tile on the different farms.
1--WE have been very busy, but yet
have found time to make seven trips
TO Illinois TO visit home folks. We do
not find it necessary to work on Sum
days, as some do, but find IL pleas
ant recreation to drive to the village
church, three miles away, or rest
quietly in our own home, reading
good books or papers, among them
the Daily Capital. We are no misers
or spendthrifts, always having plenty
to eat and wear. We are cOntented
and happy. have not endeayored to
tell Of hard times or misfortunes that
have come TO us, as will come to all,
preferring to look on the bright side
of life and strive on, not forgetting
that the things Of the world are only
!, temporal, but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moth and
rust doth not corrupt or thieves break
through and steal
I'VE are at present preparing to
move to a small farm near town to
educate our children. have endeav-
,, ored to state facts as they occurred to
us, hoping some one may be benefited
thereby and determined to secure q
home, for what two have done surely
others may do."-Des Moines Capital
To Suit the Seasons.