The broad ax., 1917-01-20
Charles E. Stump, After
Visiting the Potato King
James G. Grove of
Edwardsville, Kansas,
Resumes His Travels
Through Oklahoma and
Other Sections of the
Southwest

Nowata, Okla.-There is lots of
pleasure in getting away from the farm
and going around over the country to
see what is going on and how it is going
on, but you will find me dropping back
to the farm every day or so, and to me
this is much pleasure and joy.
Since writing to you last have been
in Kansas, but you will see that 1 am
out-in fact my last letter was from
Kansas. I had the pleasure of going
to several points in the state. have
been to the farm of our best potato
planter. I am sure that you have heard
of ]. G. Grove, the man who has be-
come wealthy in the potato business,
and it is because he knows how to put
potatoes in the ground and then how to
get them out, and then he has been
blessed with a family of his own to
help him do this potato act.
l have been to see him several times,
and the Lord knows that 1 have tried
hard to make good, and if have failed
it has not been because 1 failed to try.
1t was in company with Mrs. Norine
Davis, and Mrs. James Adams, of Kan
sas City that 1 made the trip to
Edwardsville, Kans. Getting off at
Groves station, the first thing to at
tract your attention is that fine red
brick mansion, standing on a hill. 1t
was there where Mr.. Grove and his
family spend their idle time, for that to
them is home, and it is a home 1 am
here to tell you. was so delighted to
look into this mansion.
1t is house two stories high, made
of some kind of fine brick. On the first
floor is his parlor, library, sitting room,
dining room, kitchen, and a large base
ment, but it is full of potatoes and coal
for the winter use. On the second floor
are the bed rooms, and on the top floor,
is place for his children. This would
make it three stories rather than two,
for there is winter playhouse for his
children, while they have a regular
playhouse, regular park for them-in
fact everything to make a home life is
to be found. 1 take pleasure in telling
you about this wonderful man, and his
nearly $500 acres of land. He is doing
his work and is doing it well and at
the same time he is getting ready to
help his people. He is putting good
men into good homes, and making it
possible for them to pay for their
homes. 1 consider this helping human
ity.
He has brother out there with some
good property. Well plenty to be
found, and at night had the pleasure
of meeting the-people of the community.
We are making great Roadway in this
country. Mr.. Grove was in Kansas
City, serving his county and state on
the jury, but his wife and daughters
and sons received the party and made
it pleasant for us until he got home.
We farmers can well understand each
other.
Spending the day there, 1 returned to
Kansas City, and next day had the
pleasure of talking to the people at the
Metropolitan Baptist church, Rev. D.
A. Holmes, pastor. The same was true
of the next afternoon, for 1 was called
upon to address the women there, and
it was some source of pleasure to talk
to these women.
Mrs. Villa Dwiggins, presided over
the meeting, and made big speech in
Producing me. She is one of the most
introducingest women in the country,
and when she was through those peo-
pie all knew me and there was not much
left for me to say or do. Well I had
a short say at any rate. 1t was one of
the meetings you read about, although
1 did not read anything about it.