Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-04
Model Farm Near
Dunlap G,ues Great
Vic,u of Valley

Dunlap, Aug "A mile north of the
town OF Dunlap there lies one of the
most beautiful and in many respects
the most model farm in this part of
Iowa The place includes about LOU
acres and is owned BY H. I. Durham
one of western Iowa's pioneer farmers.
Mr.. Durham came to Iowa With his
parents in 1850. He was a mere 'hiid
then, Lut . years of age. His father
located on this farm and his sen sue
ceeded him as it's owner. lie has con-
tinucd to reside here during all these
years. When the elder Durham located
here he erected a tWo-rOom log house
on hill just d few rods from the site
of the present home. He surrounded
this place with row Of cottonwood
trees, and inside this row he planted a
line of fruit trees a few of when sun
live and bear apples. The log house
has long since vanished but the cotton
wood trees remain and many of them
have attained diameter of two to|
three feet and height in propolticE.
This point was selected among her
reasons because of the beautiful view
it presents of the Boyer river valley.
From the hill on which this pioneer
house was located this valley may be
seen from Denison to Logan. Today
with the fields of ripened grain, most
of it in shock, the spots of green al
falfa, the great corn fields, the ro'es
of trees, most Of which mark the sites
of farm homes, the brown ribbon like
roads which divide the country into
quarter sections presents view which
calls to mind a remark made ccncern-
ing our last horticultural congress
show. 1T Is the most beautiful sight
between the two oceans The present
farm home is on the roadside just a
little lower down than the side of the
old house. 1t is on the hillside and the
view is almost as good as from the
hilltop.
The present house is interesting in
many ways. 1t is large and roomy'
with a fine old fashioned fireplace. 1t
is modern in every way except in
shape It's frame is made Of sills and
beams hewed from oak and walnut
logs. It was built in the late sixties or
early seventies. 1t has full basement
is heated with big Lenox Torrid Zone
wood furnace and has complete gas
lighting, and hot and cold water with
motor driven wash machines and laun-
dry fixtures in basement and in kitch-
en-.
Across the road and below the house
is big red brick barn with all frame
work hewed walnut and oak timbers.
This was erected in 1878.
Stock Farm.
Perhaps the most interesting part OF
this farm is the stock Mr.. Durham
now has about 400 head of pure bred
Hampshire hogs. His crop of pigs this
year is excellent and they are thrifty.
The owner is very much in love with
this breed of hogs He finds them we'll
suited to his needs because they will
Craze almost as well as cattle Wnile
they are prolific breeders, reasonably
quick in maturing and are good size.
The Durham farm has wheat this
year which will yield close to forty
bushels per acre and corn which looks
now as tho it would yield 100 bushels
per acre The sight Of this farm and
this Boyer valley from this wonderful
vantage point is mighty good for sore
eyes. 1t is especially beneficial to those
eyes long accustomed to gaze princi-
pally upon paved city streets and bare
office walls.
Glover Pastures.
Scattered thru the hills in the most
beautifully wooded clover pastures
there are ranging now between 300 and
400 head of registered Durham cattle
of the hornless variety. Mr.. Durham
has a reputation as a breeder of these
cattle, tho he does not belong to the
class Of breeders who make a speciality
of show stock. He insists that groom
ing and feeding cattle for the show
ring is business within itself which
is separate and distinct from the bust
ness Of breeding for general utility.
Mr.. Durham has certainly made a
remark able success of his business as
farmer and stock raiser. All this has
been done thru the slow process OF
diligent labor and the exercise of pru-
dence and care in the management OF
his affairs A number Of his sons have
farms of their own while two live on
the old home place with their families
and have charge of the general work
while the elder looks after the regis
tration of his stock and it's general
care. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Durham are
somewhat advanced in years. Their
own family is all grown and all are
married. There are fourteen grand
children in the family now. Both thel
elders are still active and they have
no notion of leaving the old farm. City
or town life has no attractions forl
them which anywhere near approach
the love of the old home with it's beau
tiful outlook, it's substantial comforts
and the never ending interests INSOFAR
able from stock and growing farm
life.
NO WAY TO GET BoRERS OUT.