The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-17

over in WISCONSIN,, august H.
The winning of Northern Wisconsin
from its wild state and transform :
ing it into a land of beauty with
wealth as a fitting background, is
one OF the romantic epochs that has
been written into the history OF the
Badger State in the last quarter OF
century. II was a comparatively few
years ago that the northern part OF
the state was a wilderness, with
mere and there small tracts Of land
that had been cleaned by the intrepid
pathfinders who hlazed trails for
others to tread and lend their cour-
age and energies to the Developing OF
a NV and untried country. Some or
these early comers became discoEr-
aged and returned - their former
homes, others travelled on to the west
hoping to better their condition.
Those who remained are now the
possessors OF fine farms and are
satisfied with result of their labors.
They have wrested gold from the
soil. Our trip into Wisconsin took
us to Ladysmith, a thriving city OF
nearly 1000 people. Less than TWEEN
ty.five years ago not a building
stood where Ladysmith Is now the
queen OF her zone. There was no
farmers, no creameries, no cheese
factories and no industries. Now
there are industries that distribute
money among employees five days
each week. There are farms, too, al
SO purebred stock. John Schmidt
and his sons settled in the zone
fifteen years ago. Today they have
nearly 800 acres Of land, alarge
part Of it under cultivation and for
ty head of purebred Holstein cattle
and q pure bred sire that the
Schmidts would not part with for a
great deal OF money. The Schmidts
have sold a great many calves to
Minnesota and Iowa farmers and ex-
pect to sell more. They have as pref
ty farm as anyone would care to
look upon. Their home Is a pretty
bungalow equipped with every con-
veyance and the surroundings re-
mind one of q garden on one of the
most fashionable streets in city.
Among others who have made ire
mendous success of farming in the
vicinity of Ladysmith Is Harry Davis,
who has eight head Of cattle, five of
them pure bred Guernseys. Then
there is J. f. Boyer who specialiZes
in pure berd, the Plunkers, Theodore
Gund, whose large barn and it's mo J.
dern conVeniences is the pride OF
the populace.
T. + y
Ten years ago Frank Hruska was
working on the 500 line section. He
bought piece Of land. His wife and
boy farmed while the husband and
father continued to lay ties and boil
ster up the rails. In the evenings he
titled the soil. Later he quit the
section and applied all his time to
the farm and today he has a piece
of property that he considers is
worth msre than $4,000. In spite of
all the talk that Is heard that farm
ing does not pay it can be said that
young men with energy. courage,
grit and brains are going into North
ern Wisconsin where they are build
ing a splendid future for themselves
and the country along the highways
are evidences Of gratifying success.
The big barns and silos, the cattle
tell the story how men have made
money in agricultural pursuit. The
creameries and cheese factories,
mild condensers are evidence to this
claim.
NJ. o. Emmons is farm editor of
The Ladysmith News Budget. He
talks enthusia stically of the future
of Rusk county. He predicts a more
wonderful development than has
taken place in the past few years