Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , APRIL 2 < 1 , 1802 15
\ Bnpotb Specimens Plucked from the Record
f Madison Oounty ,
FROM POVERTY TO COMPARATIVE WEALTH
A Favored Region Amply Rewards the
Thrifty and Industrious.
DRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF THE BLESSED
A Remarkable Percentage of Woll-to-do
Tillers of the Boil.
EARLY STRUGGLES AND LATER REWARDS
Inntructlvo Furls Otenncil from tlio Kspe-
rloncn of Nolirmliii 1'nrincrs Ittiturlcnl
nnil KtutUtlcnl Hollow of a 1'oorloM
County Wiishotl by they
Madison county lies Inland the fourth
county from the river on the east and the
third from the north line of the stale. It Is
bounded on the east by Stanton county , on
- the north uy I'lorco , ; vest by Antelope nnd
Hoono. and south by 1'latto. The Elkhorn
river runs through the county from west to
east , near the northern boundary , forming a
valley which for fertility of soil , cannot bo
excelled. The higher pralrlo lands nro of
deep rich soil , well adapted to a variety of
crops and ] ust rolling enough to make farm
ing easy and drainage perfect. There isper
haps , no other county in the state with so
* - - largo n percentage of Iboonliro population of
thrifty , well-to-do and oven wealthy farmers.
The county is largely lolllod with Germans
whoso native thrift , industry and habits of
economy nrn provorelnl.
Madison county was organized January 21 ,
1803. In that year the population was only
140 : two years later. In 1B70. it had increased
to 1,183. nnd in 1875 , to ! ) ,171. In 18SO it
reached 5.587 , nnd in 18UO , 13fi09 , a gain in
ten years of 8.082. In area Madison county
has 57lJ squnro miles , or : ir 3i40 ( acres , of
which , exclusive of town lots , 177,721 ncrosaru
improved , and 149,933 unimproved. The as-
aessed valuation In 1801 wast,83T.2SOagalnst
fl,252WJ : In 1SSO. The estimated actual
valuation f-r 18'Jl was $1B,211,0 ! > 0. The bunk
deposits per capita In 18'Jl was S50.S3and the
total bnnk deposits $01)4,805. ) According to
the assessors' returns there was raised in
the county in 1801 , acres of wheat , 11,801 ;
corn , 81b02 ; oats , 28b ( S ; barley , 1)32 ) ; flax ,
0,103 ; rye , 250 ; millet , a,9 0 , and meadow ,
t'5,720.
By tno same moans wo find that in 1S91
there were in the county 20,20J cattle , 20DUO
bogs , 8,810 horses , 503 mules nnd 511 sheep.
Good unimproved farm lands can bo bought
for from $12.50 to $20 per acre. Improved
farms , such as nro for sale , nro offered at $15
to $25 per acre , according to Improvements
/ nud location. The best improved farms ,
' , ' which constitutes the majoilty of the culti
vated lands of Madison county , cannot bo
bought nt any prlco. Poor , sandy lauds , of
which there are but a small per cent can ba
bought for $8 to $12 per acre , and they nro
not unproductive by any mentis. There
is only a small bolt of sand In
the county nnd there nro plenty of
prosperous farmers making fortunes on Iboso
same lunds. Madison countv is coming to
the front in other Hues as well ns that of a
farming community. She has within her
borders seven Important towns with an ag
gregate population of over 7,000. Norfolk In
the northeastern portion of the coanty stands
fit the head with a population of 4,510 , Madl-
f son , the county neat , In tbe southeastern
portion , with 1,200 , Battle Creek in the
northern part near tbo center , east and west
with 500. Burnett , on the west line , 500 ,
Meadow Grove In the northeast , with 200 ,
Newman's Grove In Iho southwest corner ,
GOO , \Vnrnorvlllo , n few miles south of
Norfolk , with 3,000. There nro in the coun
ty live flouring mills , six elevators with a
storing capacity of 100,000 bushels. There
are sixty-seven miles of railroad- that
county. Norfolk has the largest boot sugar
factory in this countv. The unylum for the
insana is also located there and the city has
electric llgnts , street railways and water
works. The north Nebraska 'normal school
is located at Madison , which is also the
county sent. Norfolk is also lay ing the foun
dation for a $50,000 hotel , the clti/ons aiding
the enterprise with a bonus of $10,000. The
Fremont , Elkhorn & Missouri Valley and
Union Pacific roads brings the population
within casv distance ot Omaha and gives nn
outlet to Iho products of the farm and fac-
to'ry. As for the chances for homos and the
success ot these who nro already tilling
, . Madison county aoil lot the farmers spnak
- > - for themselves.
A Thrift-G rmun.
August Bittnor is a representative Gor
man farmer who has made himself rich by
farming In Madison county. Ho landed in
Now Vork direct from Germany with ono
lonesome penny in his pocket. Ho worked
six months to got money cnouch to continue
hU journey west , bringing up in Madison
county , live mlles southwest of Madison ,
where lie selected a homestead on which ho
now llvos. Ho then wont to Columbus nnd
worked a month to get the necessary $15
homestead fee. In splto at his poverty ,
grasshoppers and all the other drawbacks of
these early days , ho prospered ,
and now owns 500 acres of land ,
well improved , ull fenced Into
ilolas , and well stocked. Ho bought his second
end quarter section in 1877 , for $300 cash and
another eighty in 1884 for $050 cash and two
years nco still another 100 for JJ.OOO cash. It
required u good many years of toll nnd hard-
y slih ) to reach the point where anything more
than a moro living could bo made , but it
camu nt last. Mr. Blttner has a model rural
home. Hlshouao cost $3,000 nnd ono barn
51x0 i foot $1,000 , besides other houses and
buildings bringing the aggregate amount
spoilt in buildings up to jOUO. * ! llo has a
largo orchard and nil kinds of small fruit.
Ha la a stockholder in one of the Madison
banks nnd has plenty of money at Interest.
lie rulsos grain nnd buys moro and foods
stock. Kverv dollar ho has has beau made
on a farmllo maintains that a poor man
can come hero now and inr.ko a start much
easier than when ho came. 15 oil Jos that the
futurn of the country ls now assured whllo
, t that time no ono knew whether Nebraska
would ever be a place lit lor white men or
not.
Mi rtln imtncr.
In October , 1S03 , Martin Ulttnor , a brother
of August nnd Gottleib , whoso names appear
elsewhere , secured a homestead live mlles
west of Madison. After locating his claim
bo wont back to Columbus and wonted throe
jears to get money enough to pay his fooi
and open up his now placn. Ho broke bis
land with oxou and raised craps ot grain
which ho was forced to divide with the
pesky grasshoppers for seven successive
years. It took him about twelve years to
begin to make monov , uut ho stayed with it
and now hits a beautiful farm of 700 acres ,
highly improved. In IbSJ ho bought a half
section nt $ T per ncre , nnd two years ago
bought 220 acres moro nt ? 15 nn acre. His
land Is all fenced Into Holds and 500 of it is
under cultivation. The buildings are amont , '
the best In the country , surrounded by ex
tensive groves , orchnras and other conven
iences equal to eastern homw , feeds about
100 head of cattle a year , using all the corn
ho can rulso and buying moro , Hus 220 head
of cattle on tha pluco now and U feeding UK ) .
Mr. Bittncr has made this handsome littlu
fortune by farming only , nud the farm does
not tell it all ho has plenty of money loaned
out.
nought Clulm.
Joseph Wohoukol is ono of the smaller
farmers of the countv who came In n later
day. In ISisO ho phid $150. all ho had. for a
homestead ownca by another man. Ho then
went to work chorine around nnd husking
com in tbo winter to get something to live 011.
Ho uroKo his land aud then rented ground
from hit neighbors on which to raise some
thing to cat pending the rotting of his god ,
The next year be had u good crop on hli own
land and begun to llvu comfortably. Five
years auo ho reached out for another eighty
BttlOan acre. Ills throe forty's are welt
improved wllhUluu bulldmci , orchard , fences
and groves. Ho has put Iota of money In nn
provoiuouts and owes every coat of it to his
farm. AHhongh he T" " not amont : the flrst
o settle In MadUon county , anil yet got bis
land cheap , he think * there Is n better shower
( or a poor man hero now than when ho came ,
( ieorge Hrjrnnt ,
Oeoreo Bryant Is the owner of ono of the
nicest llttlo inrnn in Madison county. Ho
took a homestead six miles southwest of
MadUon In 1370 , nnd worried through the
grasshopper years alone with his neighbors.
Ho has smco added 100 acres to It , making a
half section. It Is all under cultivation and
well Improved In every way. Mr. Bryant
hai a splendid bouse and ample barn and
hecl room. At flrst ho sold some corn , but
of late years feeds It all and buys more. Lnst
year's corn crop was rather poor , averaging
thlrty-flvo to foity busnols per aero on his
farm. liixlsoj some wheat every year. Ho
has mot with some tosioi , especially hogs , of
which ho lost 13.000 worth at least. As an
example of the hard times the early settlers
encountered and tbo small amount of money
they were permitted to handle , .Mr. .Bryant
states that at ono tltno tor sixteen months at
n stretch ho never handled ono cent. Ho
bought bis Hour wilt ) butter and eggs and al
most wont naked. Ho lives In better style
now , and dug his prosperity all out ot the
soli.
r. V. llnrnrs.
P. VV. Barnes Is known ntnonR hit neigh
bors as the original proprietor ot the slto ot
the city of Madison. Ho pro-omptod the
quarter section the center of which Is now
about the center ot too oily , in the Bprlnc of
19)7 , never uroaminR that some day n county
snat town would spring up on his
patcb of wild land. But li did , and Mr.
Uarnos Is now cotter llxod than ho wus then.
In fact , ho had nothing but his ulunn these
days , not oven nolRhbors. llo boucht lum
ber in Omaha at S15U a thousand to build a
shanty , and wont to Columbus , forty-eight
miles , for his mall. Mr. Barnes staved In
Columbus a year before comlnp to Madison
county , nnd then drove cattle throujjh for
other parties. Ha nroko his land with oxen
and raised crop1 * under the well known dim-
culttoi of that period. But ho saved a llttlo
uiotiov and bout-lit , inoro land In later y.can ,
perhaps over n thousand acres In all , selling
off some and buying more , but ho always
stuck to his tlrst lovo. Ho now owns only
SOOacios of land nnd pays no attention to
farming , having established the Flrit Na
tional bank several years ago. The city of
Ma'llion has mndo Mr. Barnes wealthy , but
it nil grow out of that pro-omption claim on
which ho btavod pioneer life and expected to
farm It wb.Ho ho lived. From that llttlo ven
ture ho has disposed of $50,000 worth of lots
nnd hat some loll. When Mr. Barnes began
life In Madison county there was not a reader
or a bridge across a stream ; the poitofllco
was forty-eight miles nway , the nearest general -
oral supply place was Omaha , ISO mlles , nnd
the nearest crlst mill on Logan crack , sov-
onty-flvo miles distant. But the most dls-
couraglne thing was the grasshopper , which
troubled more or loss every voar nnd finally
rounded up with n grand throe voars1 ban
quet , during which time , In 1372-a-4 , they
took everything.
( iottlolli lllttnor.
Gottlelb Bittnor , who Is now ono ot the
largest farmers In Madison county , lives on
Union creek , a few mlles west of Madison.
Ho settled there in I860 , In company with
some brothers , brothers-in-law and bis aged
mother , all taulug homesteads. Ho had a
small amount of moans to start with , which
was a Dig thing in these days , and has Im
proved his opportunities so well that ho now
owns a largo number of farms bought from
his neighbors who were less thrifty nnd
could give his cnoek forJSO.OOO. Ho is
strictly a farmer , raises corn , heirs nnd cattle
tlo and hauls the manu.o on to nls fields.
StivrmlVouil. .
C. F. Haaso resides on his splendid llttlo
farm of 320 acres , two nnd a half miles from
Norfolk near the sugar laotory. His history
is similar to that of many of the representa
tive farmers of Madison county. Ho first
took a homestead and settled on it , but had
absolutely nothing to live on. and in early
years , 1871-y , used to walk to Norfolk witn
Ins saw and buck on his back , no matter how
severe tbo weather , and saw wood for some
of the six or eight families who lived there.
The 43 or 50 cents ho could make In that way
was absolutely necessary to keep his family
from starving. Ho is now worth at least
S1S.OOO , and has made it all strictly on the
farm. Ho has never speculated , bought nnd
fold , or any thing of the kind , and might have
been worth moro money If ho could have
kept stock earlier In his farming history.
IV. II. Lowe.
W. H. Lowe Is one of the best known men
in Mudison county , being identified with the
early settlement of the county. Ho homesteaded -
steaded land In ( Jumlng county in 1S < ! 9. sold
his claim and came to Norfolk in April , 1871.
Like many others no claims ho allowed good
opportunities to go by and for that reason ho
has not prospered aa'ho inieht have done. In
the grasshopper years , 1874-5-0 , he could
nave bought quarter sections of choice lands
almost anywhere from $150 to $ .200 which ore
now worth $5,000. Can call to mind fifty
men who were forceu to remain on their
claims , because nobody would uuy them , and
are now corapaantively wealthy raon , made
so from the nroduet of the soil. In the
twouty-throo years ho has boon hero has
never known of u drought sufficient to af
fect crops to any extent. The grasshopper
days were the times .that tried men's souU
null stomachs too , but that Is all past. Mr.
Lowe spoaUs encouragingly of the boot sugar
industry and says it cannot fail to become an
important source of Income to the farmer.
True there are some discoursing features
connected with the management of the
business under present conditions , but a few
years will suftlco to place the manufactories
In the hands of the people and in the mean
time farmers will leurn all about raising and
marketing the ntants. So far It la all ex
periment , but oven the llrst year with us
was not altogether unsatisfactory. Mr.
Lowe claims thut beets assaying 14 to 10 per
cent of saccharine against 0 to 11 per cent in
the old countries , raised on land worth 25 or
$ .10 per acre against $000 land In Germany ,
and yield about the sumo number of tons per
aero without fertilizing Is bound to bo a pay
ing business.
An r.ljjI'ty-Acro Kiivm.
Thirteen years ago J. K. Herr bought
eighty acres of laud near Norfolk for $000
and farmed it In the usual manner , raising
corn , hogs and cattle and never dreamed
that his llttlo farm would over oo of value
for anything but farm laud. Norfolk did
not boeln to grow for several yoar.ulxor
that , but now it is crowding Mr. Herr oft
his land. Ho platted one forty mid sold it in
auro lots at $1 ! > 0 a lot , nnd has been olfcrcd
SJOO an aero for the other forty. Mr. Herr
U u well known shipper of live stock and for
year ? paid fSl ) a car to Chicago. Ho can ifow
got a car to Omaha for ? S. Ho tells of ono
of his neighbors wuo wont to mill and had to
wall throe weeks fur his grist , BO ho took his
ox loam and wont to plowing near the mill
and came homo with moro money In his
pocket than ho haJ over had boforo. In
these days men were always willing to work ,
but they could not always got tbo chance to
work for monoy.
Htiirtinl lit the Itotttim.
George Williams is ono of the successful
Madison county farmers , who started at the
bottom and camu out on top. Twenty yours
ago ho pre-empted 100 acres and later homesteaded -
steaded another quarter section. In hU ef
forts to got a foothold ho underwent the
usual privations common to Nebraska pion
eers. Ho had no money to work with but
managed to exist until ho r.iisca .something
to live onVcut to Sioux City to mill ,
clguty-tlvo mlles , and got bis family sup
plies us best ho could. When the grasshop
per years came on , instead of solllne out for
what ho could got as many did , ho bought
land as law ns ill an acre and has since paid
as lilch as J100 per acre , Jiu ucnv owns 600
acres all In Madison county , worth on an
nvcraeo $30 to # .13 per acre. In answer to
questions Mr. Williams said : "No ono but
tboso who experienced It can have an ade
quate idea of the difficulties under which we
pioneer * made our start. There were no
roads nnd DO bridges across tbo streams and
it sometimes toalt a month to go to town or
to mill and return , A man without a dollar
can coma right bora now and go to work us
wo did then and make a start quicker and
cosier than wo did. MoH of the o wealthy
German farmers all around us worked hard
and nearly starved for a dozen long years before
fore they reached Ihu point whera fortune
began to smile on them. True ,
they had the land but what man
and family would bo willing now
to barely exist , under inconveniences
and exposures for twelve to fourteen years
for 100 acres of land even at present prices ,
whllo at the time wo mention land was
worth a mere nominal sum and we b'ad no as
surance that It would over we worth mucti
more. YOJ , sir , homes are eatler and quick
er made DOW under present conditions than
then.
Struck It Jtlcli.
Ferdinand I'asewallc U ono ot tba wealth
iest men in Madiioa county and ho made
it all by tAklnt : land under pre-emption
ana homestead acts. Ho came to Hamilton
county In ISO * In company with four other
families from Wisconsin and established his
homo on a pro-omptlon claim near where
Norfolk now stands. Ho olsohoraestoadod n
quarter section , giving up for it a pony team ,
a wngon to fit It nnd &JOU In hard cash , for
Mr. Pasowalk , unlike most ot the early sot-
tlcri , had some money $1,500 when ho catna
bore. Ho also bad thrco teams of hortos
which ho used In breaking his lands. When
ho first came Norfolk consisted ot ono llttlo
pen oral merchandise store , kept by John
Olnoy , who for two years hauled his goods
from Omaha , 123 miles nwny. liitor on , the
Fremont , Elkborn nnd Missouri valley road
was extundcd to Wisnor , only twenty-eight
mlles distant. That was very convenient.
Omaha was the nearest point where lumber
or general supplies could bo bought and Losran
Crook , seventy-live mlles nway , was the
neuron grut mill. The flrst time Mr. I'.iso-
walk wont to mill he bought hU wheat at
West Point and drove to Lo an crook to
have it ground. Of course ho asked the
miller when ho could huvo It ground , for that
was an Important question nt that time. Ho
was told that it would bo about four weeks it
ho waited fur his regular turn , but that It ho
would pay 50 cents n bushel besides the toll ,
ho could hnvo it next morning. Mr. P. had
the money nnd paid It. "For , " snld ho , "my
neighbors were out of Hour and I wanted to
got back and loan tbom some. I did not sell
it. Men who had money had to wait. I got
along the best I could , raising corn , hoes ' nnrt
cattle until conveniences llnallv camo. 'Then
Norfolk began to grow , a thing wo did not nt
llrst , nor for many year * expect , until It is
now quite a city , ntnbniclntr within its corpo
rate lines some of my farm lands * 1 have 150
plattrd lots nnd forty ncroa not platted with
in the city limits. I own 10J acres In
Stanton county nnd 110 whore I live. Last
year I paid $305 taxes and have SJD.OOJ loaned
out. Of course the growth of the city of
Notfolu nai made mo moat of my money , but
I took uiy chances with othorn on the farm
and would bo well oft now If Norfolk had
never existed , as I made money farming even
when Omaha was thn nearest market. "
Mr. Pnsownlk Is estimated to be worth
from $150,000 to $200 000.
Lost It 111
C. H. Snldor , who llvoi at Tildon , was a
homesteader , hut afterward pro-emntod his
land , borrowing the commutation foe from
W. ii , Lowe of Norfolk. Ho prospered , ana
four or live years ago Hold his land for $1,500 ,
cash nud wont Into the mercantile business
and lost his monoy.
nimlu It nil Farming.
William Dommer lives near Mr. Haas and
his history as a farmer Is similar. Ho was
obliged to "chore around" for a llttlo hionoy
with which to buy broad for his family. But
ho stuck to It until ha could raise something
to oat , and continued to farm , and nothing
clsn , until now ho owns i)20 acres of llrst class
land , well Improved , and is worth easv
$15,000.
( Tnnios I. . Grant ,
James L. Grant ownsiono of the finest
farms In Madison county , nineteen miles
northwest of Madison. In Novcruoor , 1S71 ,
ho secured a homestead nnd timber claim ,
and still owns both , with another half sec
tion added , making a section in all. Mr.
( Jrontaays : "I have uo entire section im-
nrovod , 400 acres under plow nnd the
balance pasture. The homestead quarter
has two sots of buildings , bearing orchard
and walnut trees. Twenty acres of
the timber claim is considered the finest
grove in northern Nebraska , and I have
water works on that quarter that cost mo
$1,000.
"Wo had pretty tough tlmos for the flrst
few years , but have come out nil right. I
was oaten out by grasshoppers two seasons.
but in the twenty yoiira I hnvo been here I
hove made $ CO,000 worth of property , or an
average of $1,000 a year. Corn with us
averages about 45 bushels and oats 40 ,
though plenty of it goes GO or 70 bushels per
acre , I thinlc that a man can begin at the
bottom hero now n great deal easier than
when I came , becauseho can always cot
something to do and got money for doing it.
I have never complained , never been a cal
amity bowler , and I believe the people of this
section of the country have made more money
than any eastern men in the same length of
time. "
HnilXoTouin.
N. L. Bryant is one of the oldest settlers
of Madison countv , taking a homestead throe
and a half miles east of Madison , in 18GO. In
relating his experience he said : "I hud no
team , nothing but my two hands nnd a small
kit of carpenter tools. I worked at carpen
tering to got money to buy un ox team to
break my land with. I built a house 12x12 ,
and paid $5 a day for a team to haul the lum
ber from Columous , whora I paid an enor
mous price for It. I paid $5 an acre for the
first live acres of breaking , so as to have a
patch on which to raise something to eat.
Wo got our supplies , groceries and provis
ions from Columbus , and I paid 30 cents u
pound for bacon. I worked along for thir
teen years before I began to mauo anything
ahead , and then bought nnothur quarter sec
tion joining me. I still own it all and have
it well Improved : good house , big barn ,
groves nnd 100 apple treoi. I have besides a
n I co home in Mudison nnd no.v rent my land
for grain rout. Year before last my "share
brought $800 nnd I still have last year's crop
on hand. "
KOHCIH I.iko Komuiirr.
In the fall of 1S05 Herman Braasch and
Fred Waggoner came to MadUon county
from Wisconsin , to look up a location for
themselves and a number of their neighbors
who desired to make homes in a now country
where lands were cheup. They chose a loca
tion near where Norfolk now stands , and
wont back and made their report. Thn next
spring thirty-two families , w'.th Herman
Braasch at their head , arrived at the prom
ised land and prepared to take possession.
At that time there was no other white per
sons In that part of tbo country and Omaha
was the base of supplies. Madison county ,
which had been hold back ns an Indian reser
vation , had not been surveyed. Accordingly
Mr. Braasch got Bill Sharp , aCuming county
settler , who was a surveyor , to come over
and survey the portion upon which the col
ony desired to squat. Surveyor Sharp had
neither compass nor chain , but some of tno
boys in the Immigrant company had pocket
compasses , and the HUGH fioin the only
"liorso team" in the outfit wore made to
do service for n chain. A school section corner -
nor on the line of Cuining county was taken
for a starting point and n survey made which
answered for Ilia establishment ot equuttors'
lines , and , indeed , proved nftorwara to bean
an approximately correct survey. In the fall
of the same year the government surveyors
came , and each head of n family entered Hit )
acres under the homestead la > v. To
avoid dispute as to choice of farms ,
thirty-two numbered tickets were
made corresponding with tbo numbers of thn
land a drawing had which batislled all par
ties.The entire company of homesteaders
wore woruttiKUion who had saved enough to
buy u yoke of cattle and some kind of a
wagon , Mr. Braasch , jvuo was the acknowl
edged loader and the moneyed man of the com
pany , had a horse tomn and six cows , and but
llttlo else. Ho had no monoy. At that time
common board lumber was worth $75 and
flooring $100 per thousand In Omaha. So
lumbar was out of the question. Each fam
ily built n log bouse with clay floors nnd
thatched roofs. The upper floors wore also
clay , laid on split wlllows.and the "daubing"
between the lo s was protected from thoolo-
mcuts with prairie buy nailed on tba logs in
successive layers , sblngla fashion. The men
built their houses , made their hay , and then
struck out for Omaha nnd worked through
tbo winter on tbo Union I'acitia at $ i per
day. Mr. Braasch says thov never could
have got through if It had not been for this
chance to work , as their money wan all gone.
Ho smiled when asked if a maa could maka a
start hero now at present prices or land as
easily us when land could bo bad for nothing.
"Why , " said ho , "ayoko of cattle nt that
time was worth $150 , and oven t M , and was
hard to k'flt. Wo had to go fifty-six mlles to
mill , and sometimes had to wait a week for
our grist. There were no bridges and it svaa
simply an awful trip to mill orto Omaha for
supnlHM. Now , if a man hai no team , ho can
work for good wages and buy ono , and ho can
go in debt for bis land and pay tor it , and oil
the time can have every con von ion oo
and comfort at his door , I never
feed much stock but raised and sold grain
which I hauled to Sioux City , Omaha and
Fremont , Stock could not bo hud for n long
time after 1 came hero. With tba exception
of grasshopper years wo have alwayb had
good crops. The man who came bero with
mo all live around Norfolk and all have douo
well some of them are rich. I have eleven
children and they are all doing well. I bad
a half section hero , but had not enough for
all tbo children so I sold fifty-five acres nt
$150 par acre and 120 for $ ' 200 an aero and I
have thirty ucrea bore whore I live.
Mr. UraascQ has a pleasant home Just out-
slJo the corporation of Norfolk , where bo
first settled. Ho Is now past the. ago for act-
Wo f rm worn but U a fair typo of tUe
VU
thrifty , truff&l Gorman-farmers with which
MadUon county is largely populated.
Snttlor Bros , nro a'moog the largoit land
owners of Madison caanty , nnd have mndo a
success of farmlngV""Mr. Saltier says
"Wo came lo this oouflfjr twelve years ago
from Maryland wltboumoans ( , ; saved a little -
tlo money by worklngitiard , and borrowed
some from friends In tUo oast. Our flrst venture -
turo was the pnrcbnsnftf a timber claim 100
acres for J-Ti for the tract , nnd sold it
within n year for $30i > j' ' 'Tho same quarter
section sold recently f , $3,500. Wo bought
land along as wo cotU4n at prices varvln ;
"
from $ T 00 a quarter to-J,200 a quarter "sec
tion. I claim that if Vsvcry good quarter sec
lion of land In this county was rented nnd at
grain rent at the usual rate one-third the
crop with the present price of grain , sar ! SJ
cents for corn , the snino for oats nnd 70 cent !
forwhoat.lt would pay a fair raw of Interest
on a valuation of $50 per aero. Ot conrso I
moan If It wa rented Jto good working ten
ants. As an example , our SOO-acro farm last
year yielded at the rate of M.30 par aero at
grain rent , nnd another of olghty-ilvu acres
yielded $1.'J5 an acre on the same terms. "
The Saltier Bros , have mot with ono dlv
couraelng foalura in their farming oxnorl-
once , which Is ihuy Invested Heavily In line
stock , especially horsas , and lost money in
the operation owing lo the f.ict that line
stock Is not at the present time appreciated
as It should bo in this tmrt ot the state.
Wllllum 7nU.
William SCutz came direct from Germany to
Wisconsin In 18159 , and one year Liter moved
to Madison county , whore he has lived over
since. Ho landed hero with money enough
to buv nn ox team and a cow , and homesteaded -
steaded 109 acres two miles north of where
Norfolk now stands. In 1S7D ho bought an
other quarter section for $1,100 , The place
Is well improved and well stocked , and Is
farmed by his son , Paul /Cut ? . Mr. X.utz h is
usually foci the c.Utlo of his own raising , but
usually sells grain. His son , 15. W. Eutz ,
was soon at the Norfolk National bank , in
which institution the old gentleman is n
shareholder , and stated that his father would
not sell his farm for less than $ i > J an acre.
There nro no Improved farms within a rea
sonable distance of town that c.in bo bought
for less than ? JO per acre , and from that lo
S100. Of course wo all worked hard , but nro
satisfied with our success. Wo hnvo had sev
eral grasshopper years which cleanou us oul
pretty well , but aside Irom that we huvo
never had n failure. Wo raise as hleh ns
scvoiity-Ilvo bushels of corn per acre and an
average of , say fifty-five , bushels. There U
no doubt but that Industrvtvid frugality will
win success for any man on n M.idlson
county farm. As for the beet sugar business ,
I am not so sure. There ara some features
of it that docs not commune ! It to farmers nt
present , but in time I think it will prove to
bo a good thing. So fur it is all experiment
nnd has not been entirely satisfactory.
Spectacles , Dr. Cullunoro , Boo building.
It Is said that the Actor * ' Fund fair In Now
York will in mnny respects oxreed anything
of the kind over- given in Gotham , It will
begin May 2. The cash contributions thus
fnr amount to 33,000. Many valuable gifts
other than money h.vvo also been received.
The largest single subscription was Hdwin
Booth's , $1,500. Mrs.ICtiml.il his ttlvon
fl.ll'O. ' Thu receipts of Daniel Dougherty's
lecture wont $1,400. The Consolidated Gas
company gixvo $1,000. Fourtodii subscriptions
of $500 ouch , eight of * | fi.Vj each , nnd VITV
many of smaller sumsranglng fiom $ 00
down were received , ui \
WOODBURY'S FACIAL SOAP
Fnr the RUnbtalp ami Complexion.
Tlii. rc ut < * * ) jwirs1 o | * ricncu.
At 2 > , tiufr.k ( tr Mcnt Ij mall.
coc. A f4pii > io Cake anil 1S4 pngo
lloi.h on DcnnatiihiKjr ml Iloaiity ,
imtniUftV mi Skin , Sculp , Neriou ,
nil MorMkDii < LH9oa anil tholr trult *
nttnt sent puultnl. tOr.t IH flcnrO'
_ nts , IMrth .Mjrk < . MoltM , V rl . India
' Ink mill Piiwtlrr > M rk , S < nr , I'llUim ,
ReilueM of NoMifSuperlliKiua I'fllr , 1'lra.
plea , etc , removed. Ceninltatlou rnnnt olllco or bj mall.
JOHN H. yVOODDURY , Dfirpiatological Institute ,
15J5 1Vet42ad Klrcgjt , 2Vew 1'ork City.
Eaby's cheek is lilte-n pencil ,
Is. it Madame Uupperrs bleach ?
No ! but baby's mamals-oheek
Volumes' to Its praise tyotH speak !
Cull ror-.Muiflvltu p9rf 'iuitl
fal" of. Mrs. J. lli'iisim 216 tli bt. , Omalii , Neb.
MHOFF'S
STORE.
ReM3d to 1514 DOUGLAS St
TRADE MARK.
If you want the whiskey wtiicliviii 1101
scald the throat , burn the stomach not
cause headache and nausea , but is smooth
nnd pleasant to the taste , of exquisite
bouquet and guaranteed to be positive ! }
pure , rich and wholesome , call for
and taks no other. You may know it by
the above qualities and the proprietary bottle
tlo in which it is serv'c'3.1 For sale at all
first-class drinking pkj and drug stores
12 DALLEMANfUi. CO. , Chicago
Dll.K.0 , WEST'S NKHVU SVNO IMAIM TUISVC1.
llKNT.n Bueclbofor HrJtarU iMitinon , Klti , Nja.
ralxla , Ueadic'.iu , Merrout fnmrv.lon eau oj by at.
conol orlobaooa , WuLutulgpjf ; Mental DjprunUa
BofloDliiK of tHa llruln , mount Iniinlty , misery ,
decaydua'h , I'riiumiira OI4 V < 9 , llirMnnuii , I.jii
of I'owor In eUhunuif. Imputuncy , taticorrlioai anl
ollt-'emalo Woiknajioi , Involuntary J-oiioi , Soir-
matorrhoeacausuj by ovor-axartlun of tlia br.itn
Bolf-nbu 'Jovor.ln luUonojffj A munttl'j troatiugnt
II , U far IV by mill Wa Uutrantai glx b < i oi t >
cure. Kaohordar for * box 4 wtlii | | will an1 writ
ten guarantee to refund Itbttl ourJl. Ouarantae
lituudonlyby A. HUiruturjiUruitilat , solo agonu tf
IS. cor. lull nnd t'aruuiu nU.aDiu.iUa , Neb.
lleivuroof luiltatlons ' Mr
_ CURB
A DOIT an ! Cotnplote Treatment. couiUtlax of
BuppOiltorte * . ointment la C'apmlei , alia In Jlox
anai'tllii * I'osUlTo Curj for Kxtornal , Inturnal
litlnd or UleeJtni licUlnj , Cliroulo. Itecenc ur
lleiedltary t'ltoi. Tins Uoaiedy liiti nuror ba > m
known tofull. II per box.ii forln sent by mill ,
Wby auSorfrona tbii turrlbla Ulioai ) wbjai writ'
ten Kuaranvea li positively iflven wild 0 t t i or
refund tbe money U noi'carji. Bonl > tatnp tor
free Bamplo. lluaraatoa Uiual by ICuUn & Co
Uruggliti , Bolo Aiioatj. corner lit'.j nua
treet . OuiaUa. Neo.
CONSUMPTION.
1 h io a pcaitlre remedy for tti tboTe due&s * ; by III
DM thouiindi tl caul of llie wont klad anil of lung
Ktandmff lure been cured. Indeed BO itron li my f altU
lu it * ctllcicy. t bit I will und TWO DOTTUJ nirr. . witb
HVA.LUA1II.K TUKATISI ! oa thU dbeue la any iuf.
fu t aba will tend mo tbeir KipreM and I * . O. ddr n ,
V. A. Slucuui , ni. V. , 183 I'curl St. . N. Y.
A'WINNING HAND
In that great and exciting game which Is ever
being plajed between Health and Ufoon ono
side , nnd Disease and Death on the other , Abil
ity Is the Joker , Experience the KlRlit ikracr ,
and Skill the Lcrt. And those are all held by
America's unrivaled Specialists ,
DRS. BETTS & BETTS
Whose marvelous success In eUcctlng speedy
and permanent cures In nil diseases of a privateer
or delicate nature is the wouder of the age.
Syphilis.
Conorrliooa.
Sporrnatorrhoen.
Stricture ,
Hydrocolo ,
Varlcocolo ,
Pllos ,
Lost Manhood ,
Somlnnl Woaknosa ,
Fpmalo Weakness.
? J25i ! al Diseases ,
Kldnoy Troubles.
Blndderand Urinary
Difficulties
v
All scientifically , safely , speedily and perma
nently cured. _
Send Four Cents for 1'JO pags Hook , hand
somely illustrated.
Consultation Free. Call upon , or nddresa
T.'itli ,
stamp g g
DRS. BETTS& BETTS
19 South Mth St , N. E. Corner 14th
nnd DouRlas Sta.
Omaha , Heb.
Wo ppnd tlm mirvolnus French
Itcmcily CALTHOS free , ninl i\
local guarantee that Cuiiios will
HTOI > DlMlmrac * if F.tnUnlonn ,
CUIIR Nnrrmntorrhcn. arlcix-clo
and UESTOKK Ixnt Viepr.
Use it and pay if satisfied.
AJJrt ! ! , VON MOHL CO. ,
Slid lintrlcin iefnU , Clatlnnitl , Ohio.
FINE SPECTACLES
and RUB Glasses ,
'or ' the correction of nil defect * of vision
Solid Cold Spectacles
From WTO upward
Fine Steel .Spectacles
I'romSl.OO upward
Protect nnd Improve your eyesight.
5Tour eyoi tested ireo by a practical
Optician.
MAX MEYER & BRO. CO
Kstalillsheil ltd' * ; . FAUNAM mid Ibtli.
DR. J. E , McGfUEW ,
THE SPECIALIST
IN THE TKEATiHENT OF ALT. FORMS
OF PfiXVATE DISEASES CONOR-
RHOEA , STRICTURE , SYPHILIS ,
CrLEETAND ALL WEAKNESS AND
DISORDERS OK YOUTH AND MAN
HOOD. IMMEDIATE RELIEF WITH
OUT LOSS OF TIME FKOMUUS1NESS.
Write fore icul.its.
N. E ConHllll.iii I l > 'miam SU. , Omxlu.Xob
If not , Jt soon will bo
mil wo would boglud
o iuvvo you moot it
iiilf wny , with ono of
our LAWN MOWERS.
C.ARDEN IIOSK ,
WWB NKTTING.for poultry yards
TIIHLL1SKS , etc.
1511 Dodge St.
mm OF MEN
Easily , Quickly , Permanently Restored.
tVenbiiCH , A'ervou.neii , Jleblllly. and all
tbo train of evils from early errors or later ei ceases ,
the result * of overwork , ckkneBs , worry , etc. full
itronxlli , dOTeljuptuont , nud tonu plvrn to every
organ aud portion ol llio body , Hlmplo. natural
Dietlioda. Immediate Improvement w > cn. failure
Ioi | > oi8lblo ' 'OUO reference * , book , explanation )
and pnxifs mailed denied ) f reo. Address
ERIE MEDICAL CO , , BUFFALO , N. /
1)11. K.O. WKSTH NKIIVKANDHUAINTHKAT-
MKNT , a tpeclno for Uyitorl * . Dltilnaii , r'lti , Nun
ralicla , lleadacbe , Nervoui 1'rostraton cauiod b/
alcobolor tobacco , Wakufulnen. Mental Ueprci-
ilon , boltnenof the Drain , cuuiliiif Iniaiilty , uilnery ,
dociy.deatti. I'rcmaturo Old Aao , llarrenen , l.oji
of I'owortn either tax , Icupatuacy , l iucurrhoa and
all Kemale Weakneaaai , Involuntary Irtiioi , tipor-
matorrboa cau > ud by uvur-vxartlon of tlia brain ,
heir abunu over IndulKonce. A moiitli'i troatuiuut
ll.Cforti , by mall. Wuguurantooilx boxes to euro.
Kacb order fordbuxei , trllb n will tend written
KuaranUeto refund If not cured. Uuarautoolnutl
by Goodman UrueCo , , HID 1'araam bt,0inaba.
BLACKWELL'S EVERYWHERE ,
SMOKING
TOBACCO ,
Whether on the hills ganihiR ; In
the place of business ; or at home ,
It always tills that niche of com
fort a good sinoUc. Put up In
handy packages , and rcco nlrcd
everywhere as a Pure Granulated
Leaf Tob.icco of the hlfxhrst quali
ty ; It recommends itself to every
smoker's use. Sold everywhere.
BULL DURHAM
Is always uniform in quality. Pure , sweet and clean.
THE IDEAL OF FINE TOBACCO.
BLACKWELL'S DURHAM TOBACCO CO. ,
DURHAM , N. C.
l > THE RIPANS TABULES regulate the stomach , liver and
P * bowels , purify the blood , are pleasant to take , safe and
always effectual. A reliable remedy for Biliousness , Blotches
on the Face , Bright's Disease , Catarrh , Colic , Constipation ,
Chronic Diarrhoea , Chronic Liver Trouble , Diabetes , Disordered
Stomach , Dizziness , Dysentery , Dyspepsia , Eczema , Flatulence ,
Female Complaints , Foul Breath , Headache , Heartburn , Hives ,
Jaundice , Kidney Complaints , Liver Troubles , Loss of Appetite ,
Mental Depression , Nausca , Nettle Rash ,
Painful Digestion , Pim- pics , Hush of Blood to
the Head , Sallow Coin- plexion , Salt Rheum ,
Scald Head , Scrofula , Sick Headache , Skin
Diseases , Sour Stom- ach , Tired Feeling ,
Torpid Liver , Ulcers , Water Brash and every
other symptom or dis- case that results from
impure blood or a failure in the proper performance of their
functions by the stomach , liver and intestines. Persons given
to over-eating are benefited by taking one tabule after each
meal. A continued use of the Ripans Tabules is the surest
cure for obstinate constipation. They contain nothing that can be
injurious to the most delicate. Price : One gross § 2 , sample bottle
15 cents. For sale by Druggists , or sent by mail postage paid.
Address THE RIPANS CHEMICAL COMPANY , New York.
Mine. A. Eupport's Face Bleach
can l > c used n lifetime without harmful
ci'i'ect though this is not necessary , asvhun
the complexion has once been cleared by
it , it remains so if proper care is taken.
Freckles , Moth , Pimples , Blackheads , Ex =
ccssivc licdncss or Oilincss , ami in fact all
skin blemishes arc quickly eradicated by it.
It docs not take a month , but in a few daya
it will show wonderful improvement.
One botllo S3or three boltlM fnr $ B. Cull fnr ! > nok "How to ha
Beautiful" MMU. A. KUri'KKT , 0 EAST I1T1ISTUKET , SUW YO11K.
For sale in Oinaliii by Mrs. J. Bontori , JJ10 South 15lh Slrcot.
Winning to Introduce out
FOR 30 &AYS CRAYON PORTRAITS
iul ut the Hiinio Ituio ox *
ml our buslnpBa anfl
inukc new ciiBtomerB , wo
Imvo decided to innka thfe
tSicclnl OfU-r : Bend us ii
Cabinet I'lcturo , Photo-
Rrnph. Tlntypc.Ambrotjrpe
urDaRurrutjrpo of ynursolf
or nny nioniticr nf jour
kfarully , llrlni ; nrdcad , nnd
fwo will mnko you n
OKAVONrOKTKAIT
Fitii : : OK CIIAKUK ,
provided you oihlhlt It to
your friends ns ft immplo of our work ,
nnd use your Influence In nerurlnu no future orders. I'lace
_ _ nnmo nnd nddrces on tack of picture and It will no returned
In perfect order. We make any clmnRO in picture you wisli , not Intorfcrlna with ttio likeness
llcfcr to nny t > nnk In ChlcnKO. Address nil mall to
THE CRESCENT CRAYON CO. , Opposite New German Theatre , CHICAGO , ILL.
l > . S.Vo will forfeit f 100 00 to nnyono nondlni ? us iilioto nud not rocclvlnc nnyon picture
ns pur this offer. Till * nlTcr I" Iwinn-lldc.
-HOTEL
LAFAYETTE
Lake Dltnnotoukft , Minn.
Reason of IBM begin ? Jane
4th. Lending bum in or
Jlotcl f > r I do Unit. Mrry
roam fur. < tlialukt * . Henltli-
ful location. All modern
eonirortUallyconcertflllne
Ec * ner > bout < f llsmiiffnnrtj
- - -
Bulllnc1 , Fiequci.t trams In and fioin ht , 1'aulnntl Mlnnrapollflf one hour from Kt. I'aul.30 mimiti- * from Mm-
neai.'olld , addresa , 3D. * V. 'EXoloozu.1doF 04 ilrrut Aurtltcru HuUdlaid bT. 1AUJU MIAN.
The UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS
that the
Behr Bros. & Go's.
PIANO
Ifnvc atlnliiptl , nnd the lilfjh prnlso ( hey Inno rliultoil from llio worMV MOST \IK- \
NOWNKI ) A HTISTS. from UK ; press anil from a pillii : ! luii n' iirojiiilleoil In favor of
Itlcr iiuikc-i , It Is t-jiTu to iissiiniD tliat Uitt Iiistniuiutil niiiit bt ; pinsussol of UNCO.U
MOS ATTHIUUTKH.
ATTHIUUTKH.MAX MEYER & BRO. CO. ,
Sole Agents , Omaha , Nebraska.
Established 1866.
CHIOHESTrti'S ENQUCI1. RED CROSS
THE OHIOINAL AND CCNUINC TU on ) j Hnfi' . Hurtml rttiallt nil fo
I.iullcrt , a k ( JrugtUlfor C&ltkttttr tnglitk 7/iamonJ JJramt I * Iteil oJ Gold
LOIM Kr lil wltb tina rltbou 'J'cLo no oilier Mini * Xtfutf JSultitilvtiont /inUnlfonl.N
fiipi tl > o rJ toxtti , j-lnk wr i''rr | , r diinir4 > rnu * . . AlIruiililicrMn m
. ftutiiiiii r > r i > nl uiif . iilmonul * . und ' 111IIIr tar l.udl. . , " Inlrlltr lj rt-lurn Mull.
lO.IIIIO Tull-nonlili. KiniT'tn
DP"
1316 Douglas Street , Omaha , Neb.
Tb eminent perlallit In nervoui , chronic , private , Ulool , > kln and urinary dlsoasci A recular and
rQKlfttcred graduate In medcine , aa diplomat und cerittlcaten > lio\r. Is itill truntlnir with tliu iircutust lucceit
eaturrli , ipvrmaturrbooa , loitt uanUood , setnlnal Wfuknuii , nlvbt lossoi , tin potency i/pldltk , ttrtoturi * . icon *
arrhuua , itlevt. > arlcoruloctc , J c mercury u eJ. Now Iruatmunt forlos ofHiil power , J'urllet unable U
vltlt mu mnj bo treated at homo by corroii'tm.lur.co , Meilliloe or ln > trument < sent by mull oreiprni
ourelypackud.ni ) mark * tctndlcuto rent nt or lender. Ono iicrionnl Interview preferred. Consultatlua
frao. Corroipondeneo itiictly private. Uuok ( M/il rl j ul IJfe ) luiil tte . Ollluu uoundla , in. U > 'J p. u.
BundAjiilUa.ni.loUui.b ua UuuvIu > reply.
INTERESTPAIDOHDEP05ITS
ATQMAHA10AN&TRU5TCO.
SAViM&S BAMK
5E.CDR. IB" * DOUGLAS5T5 ,
CAPITALS : 100.000.00
DIRtCTOnSJAUWYMAM-C.W.NASH
. . .
IHMIOARO'Cliy-CBAHTON'C.B.LAKC.
JJ.OFIOWN-THOS'U.KIMBALU ,
Or , Bailay , $ [
The Loading
Dentist *
Third l-'loor , P xton nioj'c.
Tcluplionu 1085. Kith anil Furimm Sti.
A full * ct ut teeth on rubber for 15 Perfect fll
Ti-utli without plntoi ur removablu brldiii ) work
Juut the Ihluji for uln eri or publloipeakon. never
Uiupdown.
TEETH EXTRACTED WITHOUT PAIN.
All tilling at reasonable ratei.all work narr nto *
Bt tbli out for