Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1920 — STILL PROSPERING IN KANSAS [ARTICLE]

STILL PROSPERING IN KANSAS

A. M. Clark Buys Fine Farm and Pays $54,000 for Same. A. M. Clark, formerly of Milroy township, Jasper county, and who will be remembered as a former clerk in the grocery department of the old B. Forsythe department store of this city, and for the past decade has been* living on a farm near Gardner, Kan., has purchased the farm on which he has resided for the past 12 years or more, paying $225 (per or a total of $54,000 for same. The farm was owned by James Irvin, who ’had purchased it in 1869 from tne original owner w*ho entered it from the government. In speaking of the deal the Gardner Gazette says: The relations between Mr. Clark and Mr. Irvin as landlord and tenant, have been ideal. All their relations have been represented by the spoken word—never a contract in writing—but there hasn’t been a word of disagreement and always has there existed a fine relation of friendship and faith. When Mr. Clark rented the farm, he had as about his only capital, character, health and courage. Two other things he had. He knew how to farm and he knew how to work. Now, after a dozen years, he is the owner of this splendid farm—one of the best in this part of the state. He will make it pay, as he ’has in the past and will have a real home. Meanwhile as the years go by, the increase in land values will go on, returning him a substantial sum upon his investment, for such land is going up to S3OO per acre or more within a few years. We find that we have made quite a story of this simple transaction. But so muc/h lay behind it, so much of friendship, faith, honor and industry, that we have felt moved to record it as something more than a cold business transaction. Alva writes The Democrat under date of Meh. 8, and says that he is done sowing oats and has all his corn ground plowed. “Have TOO acres of wheat in and 40 acres of oats, and will have 70 acres of corn. You can see by the clipping enclosed that I have been hustling since I quit clerking in dear old Hoosierdom. Farming beats it all if a fellow will hustle. it was sure a lucky move for Clark.”