2017 Spring Newsletter

W. L. LEWIS—One-half mile north of Fontana is the splen did farm of Mr. W. L. Lewis. Mr. Lewis was raised in New Hampshire and lived in Jackson county, Ohio, 24 years and purchased his present farm recently and moved to it last fall. His farm con¬sists of 390 acres, all under fence. His son, C. H. Lewis, lives with him and they cul vate the farm to gether. Their crop this year is 125 acres in corn, 22 acres in oats and a large crop of potatoes and beans. On the farm are two orchards of over 400 trees, 100 being over 20 years old. Mr. Lewis’ crop is very fine, indeed, evidencing good cul va on. One field of about 20 acres was in silk a week ago, and we believe if there is a field of corn in the county that will average 60 bushels to the acre, that this one will do it. Mr. Lewis is in great good humor with Kansas. A. PATRICK—-Between Mr. Lewis’ and Fontana is part of the farm of Mr. A. Patrick,a gentleman who came there in March, and purchased three quarters of land immediately on three sides of town, and has 200 under fence in cul va- on, having built this spring 1,200 rods of fence, cul vated 120 acres in corn, 20 acres in millet and 2 acres in onions. Such men as Mr. Patrick are an acquisi on. He is now build ing a windmill. < J. H. BRUNER--East of Fontana resides Mr. Bruner, the “land prince” of Osage. Mr. Bruner owns in Osage 1,740 acres of land. His home farm lying immediately on the Marias des Cygnes river, comprises 1,000 acres, all under fence. He has several tenants on his farm. There is in corn 250 acres. He has a meadow of 20 acres of red top, and 400 fruit trees. Mr. B. fed last winter 170 steers and 200 hogs; also bought and shipped 300 hogs. He is a most energe c, enterprising ci zen. C. W. GREEN—A mile and a half north of Fontana is the farm of Mr. C. W. Green. He was raised in Vermont and has lived in Miami county 19 years. He owns a farm of 80 acres, cul- vated 35 acres in corn, fed last winter 30 head of hogs. No man stands higher among his neighbors than Mr. Green. SOUTH OF FONTANA,and southeast, are the farms of Mor gan Ross, Wm. Kerr, J. L. Hutcheson, Wilson Palmer, Rev. T. F. Richardville, John F. Brown, W. L. Beck, Nicholas Mills and others, all good ci zens, good farmers and owning nice im¬proved farms, but who we did not meet or had no op portunity to obtain sta s cs. IRISH SETTLEMENT—Immediately west of the German bend and in the northwest part of the township, is the Irish se lement, and among the finest and richest por ons of the township, and in the highest state of cul va on, in the

midst of which is Harmony school house. There is Mike Cunningham, from county Kent, Ireland, who has lived in Osage 21 years and owns a nice farm of 190 acres. There is Morris Cunningham owning 160; Thorns. McGrath 53 acres, and one of the best fellows in all the world; Mike Allen 160 acres; Mrs. Moran 160 acres; Cornelius and John Donahue 160 acres, two splendid men; Richard Collins, 110 acres; Mr. A. Manly 80 acres; D. Ireland 80 acres,, and John Pickering 160 acres. Me. P. has a fine residence and is a very successful farmer; also Mr. John Folks. Mr. F. was raised in England and came to Miami county 19 years ago. He owns a farm of 220 acres, has an orchard of 200 trees, cul vated this year 75 acres in corn; is an honored ci zen and a good farmer. WALTER AND THOMAS INMAN—On the west side of the township these gentlemen own a nice farm of 80 acres. They moved here 16 years ago and have 60 acres in corn. Corn crop has averaged 40 bushels per acre. Have an or chard of 200 trees. He would be glad to make a note of the farms of J.M.Surb er, J. T. Walthall, P.B. Rich, John Dodd, A. J. Ticknor and many other, but me and opportunity did not allow us to call and see them, or find these at home when we did call on them. GEO. ROOKSTOOL--In the southwest corner of the town ship resides Mr. Rookstool. He was raised in Indiana, has lived in Osage 10 years, owns a 160-acre farm, all under fence. He has 100 acres in corn, 2 acres in orchard, and owns a flock of 110 sheep. He is a valuable ci zen and an enterprising farmer. H. D. BECK--Our last hours in Osage were spent under the hospitable roof of Mr. H. D. Beck. Mr. Beck owns a splendid farm of 120 acres. He has built a large two-story stone res idence. Has an orchard of about 150 trees. Mr. Beck is one of the old residents, having lived here over 20 years. No por on of Kansas has a be er popula on than Osage,and among her best ci zens is H. D. Beck. He is. a prosperous farmer and may prosperity a end him all his days. This sketch is imperfect-- me forbids a fuller historical sketch—but as it is, it will furnish proof to our friends in the East that Kansas is not only a good State, but Miami county is one of the good por ons of it, and it demon strates what energy and pluck will accomplish in this fa vored land. Mainly, if not every ci zen named, is the archi tect of his own fortune, and as they have done, others may do, only with advantages that they did not, at the newness of the country, possess.

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