Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1920 — A GRANDFATHER'S STORY [ARTICLE]

A GRANDFATHER'S STORY

From $143 to a Competence in Three Years. F. J. Chamberlain tells a story of his efforts before moving to Canada in 1916 to make a living. It was hard work. He had so many “ups and downs” that he became dispirited before he learned of the success of former neighbors of his who were doing well up in Canada. He sold his. holdings for a song, and had a sale of what effects he had. When he straightened up with his storekeeper and paid a few debts he found that he had $143 in cash, a good constitution, a wife and five children. He had saved some few things from the sale. These he put into a car with the effects of a couple of others, who like him were going to Canada. He went into the Gem Colony in Alberta in 1916, bought a piece of land and commenced operations. The money he placed In the bank, and started one of his boys out to earn enough money to supply the table. The older boy used his wages to break up the sod on the 160 acres. But let Mr.. Chamberlain tell the regt of the story, which he has signed over his own signature. He says: “I rented 70 acres and hired it put into wheat, thrashed 23 wagonloads for my share. We lived in the granary two years. “The first of December, 1918, I laid the concrete foundation for a” twentyfive hundred dollar house and completed it the last of January. I have nine head of horses and mules, five head of cattle, fifteen pieces of machinery, seven outbuildings paid for and half Interest In a thrashing machine. This is an old grandfather’s story, as my son-In-law came with four children from Idaho last March and bought 320 acres C. P. R. Irrigated land and we helped him develop 200 acres of It. They can’t say around here, ‘everybody works but father.’ ” Increased His Wealth Six Hundred Fold.

There are more stories of success in Western Canada. There’s that of Allan Nicholson of Hazelbridge. Manitoba. In speaking of it he says: “I shall never regret coming to Manitoba. I came here seventeen years ago. I think it was in the spring of 1903. My old home was at Le Mars, Plymouth county, Washington township, lowa, where I had been farming for a good many years. I had a farm of 248 acres, of which I owned 80 acres and rented 160. When I left In 1903 I sold my equity in the farm for $75.00 per.acre. The nearest station to my place was Dalton, and my old neighbors there will remember me very well. “When I came to Canada I rented three-quarters of a Section at South Plympton, near Springflteld, Manitoba. After a year or two’s experience at renting I bought my present farm of 320 acres, and am now engaged In mixed farming. I have always had good crops since I came here, and some of them have been bumper crops.

“If I went back to the United States today I could take back $5.00 or $6.00 to every- SI.OO that I brought into the country. My land today is worth from $75.00 to $85.00 an acre, and in addition to my grain growing I have made a specialty of high-grade Percheron horses, purebred Shorthorn cattle and purebred Berkshire hogs. I have had uniform good luck in connection with my stock, and today I would not sell my farm for a cent less than $30,000. “The older settlers of Le Mars, lowa, will remember me very‘well. I was greatly impressed with the country when T made my first visit here in 1903, and that Impression has been here. . “The climate agrees with us all. Before I came here my doctor’s bills were something awful. I, had no sooner got one paid than I was due for another one. Since we have been tn Manitoba $50.00 would pay all our doctor’s bills for the last seventeen years. „ “I think I am doing my old friends a kindness in letting them know how well I have done since I came here. This is certainly a country of opportunities. I have had no more good luck than falls to the fortune of any ordinary person, and I am satisfied I could never have done as well had I remained in the old home. I shall be pleased at any, time to give information to old: friends who care to write me about my experiences in this country.” v O. J. Broughton, Room 412, 112 W. Adams St, Chicago, HL, and M. V. Maclnnes, 176 Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich., Canadian government agents, can give information concerning all districts in Western Canada.—Advertisement