Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-29
Worlds Most Successful Farmer

~ ~ N'ooA SbSSSSS'O' 0IFHSI'
Most of our readers would be deeply
Interested IN the career of a most sue
cessful farmer David Rankin. who
died q f"W days ago at his home in
Tarkio. Mo. 1t is ri especial interest
to as because of his remarkable ga =
ree.' as \ farmer and business man.
Tie Kansas City Journal, in d lengthy
editorial on the life of this man. calls
him the most successful farmer in the
world, and thus We feel Il personal
desire t. know more OF him Til.
newspaper says OF him Tile end
came while he was IN the midst of his
g1cat activities. and all about him
we're the evidences Of his industry.
philanthropy and public spirit. From,
his window he could look out upon d
happy and prosperous community
which he had helped materially to
buiid. His bank did the largest bust
ness in Tarliio. his manufacturing es-
tablishment employed the most men,
his college was filled with pupils. his
auditorium was the pride Of the town
and from all SIDES stretched the broad
and fertile acres from which he reaped
such generous revenue. To crown all
this he san about him d family of
young nlcn and women whom he had
II Il Il
the possibility of want. David Rankin
WAS 4 happy mau.
Although this biz. Missouri farmer
was worth several millions of dollars
at the time OF his death. never in all
his NOR" than - Years of life and
work and association with his fellows
had he uonc dill Intentional wrong nor
was there d man vino held a grudge
against him Since d boyhood OF bitter
poverty he had worked hard and had
been kind and considerate to all. Tn
til he was nearly 80 years of age he,
seldom had shoes for his feet. and
when he married he had no money in
his pocket after paying The minister.
mcnts and applied himself with dill
isencc to the business of farming. He
WAS never anything but a farmer and
sto, kman because he had devoted his
life 20 that occupation He might have
retired years ago as most farmers of
afl'uencc do, but he didn't. From his
first few acres his landed interests
grew until he had $4,000 acres under
cultivation with 200 men blowing, cul-
twain" and Harvesting his crops.
According to our exchange, this
great hearted farmer Of the West gave
the world an example OF what may be
done by applying the same energy and
intelligence 20 farming as to any other
buSin, -. We are nut surprised at tn"
accomplishment of our RockefelerS
AMI Carnegics. cur James j. Hills ana
the Thousand and one other masters of
the art "f creating wealth. but when a
iarmrr actunlulateS d massive fortune
in manner which cannot be uues-
toned as to it,. honesty and the meth
DDS OF taking the advantage OF those
things which God has showcred upon
us in this fertile country. w" arise in
fellow til" olG poverty creating way >
of his fathers. He cot the most out of
the lana that At wa~ capable Of pro-
du"ing. He never SOLD buSlci OF
corn, but fed it I'll. Thousands Of lit
tie mouths Ncr" dependent upon INN,
and he saw that they wcr, illcd. and
that their owners wore happy. accord
ing to the hrut" understanding OF hap
piness. This han devoted every wake
full minute to study OF MS interests ana
OF those with whom he came in con-
tact. He was never satisfied with
mediocre results. He WAS the pioneer
of new industrv-unc ~ the very
first IT businessmen farmers.
life of this farmer First OF all, he
was Il happy man. We are t"ld-happy.
no doubt because H. was content He
saw in his WORK and his daily life an
tn other farmers. and
diving. he has left il Il beQueSt to the
world-to enter with heart and soul
into the work before us. whether it he
farming or preaching. railroad build
ing or new spaper work. His honesty
anG his ind lstrN We're blessed in more
ways than one. About him were his
happy family who have We hope. in
herited The Instincts of their father.
and also that his woikmen have all