The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-03-25
How One Pioneer
Made His Fortune
William H. Cherry of Blackfoot De-
pended Upon His Own Ideas and
Plans and Succeeded
NOW A MAN OF LEISURE


One of Blackfoot's pioneers who
has achieved success by independent
efforts relying on himself is Will
lam H. Cherry whose home is on
North Stout avenue Mr.. Cherry
came to Blackfoot in the spring of
1888, thirty-one years ago next
month and began the job of making
his fortune by working as a farm
hand, making fences and bitches
on the old Trego ranch west of town.
1t is a long step from working as
laborer at $3.50 a day, to the
station of capitalist loaning money
and looking after his income and
securities, but that has been the ex-
perience of the modest man who
sold fine stock ranch on Antelope
a few years ago, and moved to the
Grove City to enjoy the fruits of a
century of hustling on the ranch and
in the hills.
Did the Safest Thing
Mr.. Cherry did what has generally
been the most practical thing to do
on coming west. He spent his first
year or two learning at first hand,
the ms and outs of farming and
stock raising as they presented
themselves at that time, and got his
experience and education in the bust
ness while working under the plans
rendered good service, earned every
dollar he received, made good use
of it, and in that way laid the foun-
dation for his future fortune>
Others Made a Mistake
A good many men on coming west
invested whatever they had in some
thing they did not understand, lost
it all, and then started in discour-
aged, at the bottom of the ladder.
Mr.. Cherry is a careful man. He
studies every problem and analyses
it. He puts every dollar of his
capital to work to earn it's share
and to perform a useful service while
doing SO. At his homestead in
Antelope valley he accumulated
some stock and planned carefully
to keep his herd increasing. He
watched two points that are vital
in every mans business-getting
and preserving the increase, and
keeping down the expenses so it
will not use up the gains.
Did His Own Work
Mr.. Cherry did his own work as
long as he could handle it all. He
handled more stock by himself than
most men did. He put up more hay
alone by his own labor than most
men did. He fed stock alone in
winter that most men would have
employed(a helper for. He acted
out the belief that it is right for a
man to work to the limit of his
ability. He faced the storms of the
high peaks to bring down the win
ter's supply Of mahogany for fuel,
and when hay was scarce in spring
and hungry cattle could be grazed
few hours in midday by tramping
a trail thru deep drifts to get them
to a ridge where old grass could be
browsed, he spared no amount of
labor to play the hard grim game
and save the stock.
Planned for Success
Year after year, Mr.. Cherry sue
ceeded. At first, he had only the
work of his own hands to create an
income. As the years went on he
had stock and meadows creating in
come for him, and he engineered
those energies to make the most
of them. In good years he made
good money, and in hard years he
held his lines and played the game
hard. He planned to retire at the
age OF fifty, as successful man
should. He beat the plans a little
and retired at forty-six. He has
done his share of hard work, and
would be selfish If he went on doing
what younger men desire to do, and
what they need as employment.
Is for Good Roads
Mr.. Cherry is a good roads man.
Long ago he built roads up the
Antelope valley, thru rocks and boys
and around hillsides. He has put
up with the crude roads Of the
frontier and now wishes to enjoy
to the fullest, the smooth hard
roads of progressive community.
He approves of the road bonds, and
is not one who Is afraid of the day
Of settlement, for he loans money
on good security and men pay. Why
should not community or q county
borrow mOney and he confident NJ