Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 167, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1915 — BAREFOOT BARON OF KENTUCKY DIES [ARTICLE]

BAREFOOT BARON OF KENTUCKY DIES

WAS THE LARGEST LANDHOLDER IN THE BLUE GRAM SECTION. CLEMMONB NEVER RAISED TOBACCO Worth Million and a Half and Novar Used a Telephone—Read Borrowed Newspapers—Eccentric. Lexington, Ky— Rankin Clemmons, who died at the residence of D. B. Cawby, a tenant on one of his farms, near South Elkhorn, in this county, where he had made his home for nearly a year, was the largest individual holder of lands in the blue grass region of Kentucky, probably the wealthiest citizen of this county, and a man of many eccentricities. Mr. Clemmons owned between 8,000 and 9,000 acres of land in Mercer, Jessamine, Woodford and Fayette counties, of which about 14000 acres are in the latter. All of Mr. Clemmons' lands are of high quality, none being valued at less that 1100 per acre, while much of it is estimated to be worth from |125 to >l5O an acre. In addition Mr. Clemmons is understood to have held considerable personalty, Including cash, pending deals for more land and his estate Is estimated at nearly 81,500,000. A notable feature of Mr. Clemmons* acquisition of great wealth was the fact that he had never engaged in speculation or dabbled in city property, or stocks and bonds, but had amassed his wealth from the direct products of the soil. His whole life was given to the accumulation of his fortune, his entire being seeming to be centered to that end. He had apparently no other interests, few attachments, no recreations and many eccentricities, and by the latter he was most generally known In this county. He had up to the end of his life gone barefooted in the summer time, except when he came to town; had never bought a newspaper or book; had never ridden in an automobile or upon an electric car, used a telephone or, as far as is known, sent a telegraph message. He was, however, a shrewd and alert observer, and kept well informed on current events through association with others and perusal of newspapers which happened to come into his hands without cost, and was not averse to utilizing modern farming implements in his agricultural operations. However, bls life business was that of agricultural financier rather than farmer, he personally working little of his vast domain of blue grass land. The farming upon his property was. done almost entirely by tenants, though he himself had dally done hard manual labor throughout his long life. ▲ peculiarity was that he would never raise tobacco, not even on the shares with his tenants, as is the almost universal custom in the hurley; belt If a man wanted to raise tobacco upon his land Mr. Clemmons would rent him the ground at 840 an acre. “I don't know anything about raising tobacco," he would say, “but if you want to raise it upon my land you eaa go on and do so, and give me your note at 840 an acre per annum, which people say tobacco land is worth, and pay it when you sell the crop." He never wore a watch in Ms life, although he at one time had two clocks in the house, one of which was an ancient brass timepiece, probably an heirloom, but both of these wore stolen many years ago and were never replaced. The sun was his timekeeper, he going to work by Its rising and considering it time to quit when it had set He never used a vehicle for travel, but came to town on horseback, he having made Ms last visit here several weeks ago by that meth? od. Only one time in his 90 yean, as far as there is any record, did Mr. Clemmons "blow himself" In an extravagant outlay of money. This was when he got married some sixty yean ago. On that occasion he not only bought himself a nice horse and new buggy but paid 850 for a set of harness, as he himself was wont to relate. But when the wedding festivities were over the buggy was placed In the barn, never to come out again. Its leather decayed and Ml apart, its wheels rusted In Idleness, and the whole vehicle with the lapse of time fen to pieces. Also Mr. Clemmons, In honor of one great event of his life, purchased extravagantly of wedding garments. Complete as any dandy could have It a broadcloth suit, a pair of fin* soft leather boots, and even a plug hat, which was In the fashion at that day, were bought to adorn the bridegroom, but they were never worn but once. After the marriage Mr. Clemmons said he must now go back to work, and the stovepipe hat, the soft leather boots and the broadcloth suit were hung upon nails In the attic and there remained untfl a few years ago, when the hard-up thief who took the docks likewise cabled off the wotting rates-