122 



MINNESOTA STATK HORTICULTURA). SOCIKTY 



a nursery, but in the winter of 1873 and ,874 most all of hi. 

 trees were killed, which left hi,n practically penniless. Being verv 

 much discouraged, he left Milton and went to Winona, a place 

 he had seen on his travels, and liking it well came and settled 

 here on seven acres of land and immediately set to work raisin^ 

 vegetables and small fruits and planting an orchard 



The apple trees which were not killed iu his nurserv he had 

 shipped here and with them started a large orchard, planting mostlv 

 Utters Red, Wealthy, Ben Davis. Fameuse. Transcendent and Dr- 

 ange crab. 



In the meantime, while the orchard was growing, he made his 

 livnio with small fruits and vegetables. He also had a large vine- 

 yard which was a good source of income in the earlier days, when 

 fruit of any kind sold at a good i^rice. In this way he managed 

 o clear his farm from debt. Desiring to own more land he 

 bought sixteen acres more and later on bought eighty acres. This 

 left him again very heavily in debt. In the summer of 1884 he 

 received the first returns from his orchard. The trees bore verv 

 arge crops, and as apples in those days were considered a luxurv 

 his returns were large. This was very encouraging, and he de- 

 cided that fall to plant the entire farm in orchards the following 

 spnng. But that fall was very dry. and the trees bearing heavilv 

 followed by a cold winter, resulted in the killing of nearly the en- 

 ire orchard This, of course, was a great disappointment, and 

 he often said that the hardest work that he ever did in his life was to 

 grub out those apple trees. A few Ben Davis trees which were too 

 hard to grub out he cut off above the ground. The trees sprouted 

 and have been growing and bearing fruit ever since. He often said 

 If he had treated the others likewise he would have been well repaid 

 for his negligence. After this misfortune he immediately set to 

 work plowing up the land, first planting it with vegetables for 

 some years and then later into small fruits and orchards again 

 m the meantime making his living out of the hotbeds, early and 

 late vegetables and small fruits. This shows just what he was 

 made of. He was not very easily discouraged. This misfortune 

 would have discouraged a great many. 



With careful planning and economy he managed to clear his 

 farm from debt and build a better house and barn. He always 

 cared a good deal for the protection of his family and also his 

 stock. He has planted a beautiful and effective evergreen wind- 

 break on the west side of his house, which will long stand as a 

 memorial. 



After the disastrous winter of 1884 and 1885 eastern and 



