Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-12-12
AN IDEAL
Community
Why Not Follow the Plan of the Nc
Brides in Wisconsin

a reader OF the Reporter, VINO re-
sides in the state of California, offers
the following suggestions for ideal
living, in an Ideal community where
Equality and Justice is enjoyed by
everyone:
In 1901 Daniel Mcbride came from
Scotland to New York, bringing with
him Margaret, his wife and capable
wife, and a patrimony of five thou
sand dollars. They at once invested
the money in farm of one hundred
acres within easy reach of the city
BY Daniels particular desire Mar
garet was his full and equal partner
in all business and financial matters
as well as in domestic affairs. This
was regarded as singular, by many
people.
They very soon saw that there is
no easier way of making money than
by letting other people make it for
you by giving, as they increase in
numbers around you, more and more
value to your land.
They saw this to be particularly
true in new c<lntry, near rapidly
growing city. SO they decided to buy
land whenever they could and to sell
only when, by so doing, they could
buy more.
In 1907, having by thrift and indus
t,.y made their farm very profitable,
the land having more than doubled
in value, they sold half of it for six
thousand dollars, and going a little
farther out from the city thew bought
farm of one hundred and twenty
acres for ten thousand dollars, pay
ing down the six thousand and going
in debt for four thousand. Being
good managers and workers they
saved enough in four years to pay
off the debt. They now had, clear,
the fftv acres and the hundred and
twenty. In 1871, so had the city
pushed out and increased its value
they sold the fifty acres for twenty
thousand dollars, with which they
bought eighty acres only a triie
farther out.
From the two hundred arres, by
means Of skillful farming and good
markets they cleared, in two years,
three thousand dollars.
In 1914 foreseeing the demand,
they laid out the hundred and twenty
acres in streets and lots, spending, for
that purpose, the three thousand dol
lars. None of those lots would they
sell. though offered great prices Tor
some of them. But they leased them
at terms that were not only fair but
generous, even in view of the tenants.
In 1919, the lots having more than
doubled in value, they were re-rented
for five years at double the rentals
of the first five.
They now had an income OF many
thousands a year, which they con-
tinued to invest in such pieces of land
as they could buy.
In 1920 their two children, Henry
and Lucy, born in 1901 and 1903, well
educated, trained to work, having no
money to spend except as they
earned it, being capable and trust
worthy. were taken into equal part
nership with the Parents.
Lucy had developed a genious for
business, for bookkeeping and bank
ing, and at her suggestion the Nc
Brides started a bank, that enabled
them to do more business in Real
Estate and which soon became a very
large and profitable business in itself.
Lucy was made manager and cashier.
In 1922 Henry married Agnes Nc
Farland of another prosperous Scotch
family. The five, Daniel and Mar
garet, Henry, Agnes and Lucy organ
lied the Mcbride Real Estate and
Banking Company.
The five members of the company
equal owners. and workers, received
equal dividends and wages, but not
needing even half their wages fo1
their living they put the dividends al
back into the business, to buy more
land and secure more lots and blocks
to rent. No land was sold, but wher
ever piece of land could be had at G
reasonable price they bought it. The
Bank, wisely managed. soon had hun
dreds of depositors, and the cit!
pushed out and doubled land values
over and over and the Mcbride Com
pany flourished.
Within the next twenty-five years
Joseph, Rachel and Benjamin hat
been born to Henry and Agnes, ha'
been as wisely and carefully traine,
and educated as the parents had bee
and had been taken into the compan
as equal partners with the olde
members.
Lucy never married, but she love
Henry's children as if they had bee
her own, and living with her fathe
end mother next door to Henry, run