The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-09-30
FROM NOTHING TO 100000
IN SEVEN YEARS.

| ior some twenty three years, ana
while he labored long and hard, he
never did seem to be able to get any
thing ahead He heard of the Rose
bud country, and the opportunities
offered the poor man, and he decided
to east his lot with the west Of the
river country.
They arrived at the home of his son
just across the line in Tripp county
in the month Of June 1912. All Of
Mr.. Ronnlngs earthly possessions at
that time consisted Of team Of horses
wagon and harness and wife and
four children who were still at home.
He wanted some land, but he had no
money with which to buy or even
make first payment, neither had he
been so fortunate to draw a number
in Uncle Sans land lottery. He made
| his home with his son and worked
at day labor to support his family.
Ia due time two homesteaders in that
neighborhood failed to make good on
their homesteads, so Mr., Ronning con
tested their claims and he won the
contests.
he filed homestead entry on l60
acres of Mellette county land in 1918,
and in 1916 he filed on an additional
100 acres, on both of which entries he
made final proof in due course OF
time, and besides he bought and paid
for his sons SO acre farm in Tripp
county, and he is now the owner of
400 acres and he doesn't owe cent on
it.
Shortly after coming to the Rose
bud country, the Indians stole his
team of horses, and this left him with
his bare hands with which to fight
the battle of life. While the loss of
his team was severe blow and con-
siderable of handicap, yet he did
not lose heart. Mr.. konning com es
from sturdy Norwegian stock, and he
made the best of his misfortune. He
got job at dollar day during the
having season and thus provided his
family with the necessaries of life
During the winter he moved bis fam
lily across Big White River to Lyman
county in order to give his children
school advantages.
In 1914 he built modest home on
his homestead and from that time OIL
he apparently began to prosper. Mr..
Ronning had saved enough from his
modest earnings to pay for his little
home. The family began to improve
their land. They were industrious
and frugal, and gradually the new
farm was improved and stocked.
They got fifty acres under cultivation
and cropped it each year; they MIXED
cows, raised hogs and chickens, in
fact devoted their energies and atten-
ton to mixed farming.
Today Mr.. Ronning owns 400 acres
OF fine land and all the horses, cattle
and hogs that this land will conven-
iently support. He hrs nice home
with all the necessary outbuildings IN
the way of stables and sheds.
He was man nearly fifty years Of
age when he came to this county, with
not a dollar in money, wife and four
children to support, team of horses
that were stolen within six weeks after
be landed, leaving him with nothing
but his bare hands. 1t was enough
to discourage much younger man
but Mr.. Ronning is made of the right
kind of stuff. He had plenty OF grit
and ample faith that he would finallg 2
succeed. In other words he "stuck
aid won."
sin seven short years he acquired 40,
acres Of land, we'll stocked with all
kinds of domestic farm animals and
we do not believe that 100000 IN
cold cash would be any inducement
for him to part with his possessions
and leave the county as he entered it
seven years ago. He supported his
family during all this time and yet he
does not owe any one dollar
Mr.. Ronning has made success OF
farming in Melette county, and has
demonstrated, beyond question, that
anyone with an equal amount OF de-
termination and sticktoitiveness can
do likewise. Ittook him twenty three
years to leacn the Lesson that success
1 L. A.: l. =.