406 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



The Major, (I insist upon giving him his rather question- 

 able title, as he as well as every body else hereabouts, 

 insist upon bestowing upon me the title of "Judge,") lo- 

 cated upon this lovely spot about ten years ago, and by 

 the purchase of an "Indian Reserve," secured about 500 

 acres of timber, that is now worth from $30 to $50 an 

 acre. To this he has added about 1500 acres of as fine 

 rolling prairie as fancy could wish, about 1100 acres of 

 which is under substantial rail fences, mostly divided 

 into lots of 80 acres each, all having suitable watering 

 places for stock, which in the shape of horses, hogs, cattle 

 and sheep, particularly the latter, abound in proportion 

 to the size of the farm. Indeed, I believe he intends in 

 time to make a sheep farm that will produce an amount 

 of wool that will make some of the down east 100 acre 

 farmers look with wonder, and wonder if such things 

 can be. He has one little patch of Kentucky blue grass, 

 of 160 acres. He has as yet but one barn, but that is 

 a most noble one ; but let me tell you, his cattle and sheep 

 are not under the necessity of lashing themselves to the 

 fence to keep from blowing away, for he has erected 

 "cheap sheds" enough to shelter every hoof. He intends 

 in the course of a couple of years more to get the re- 

 mainder of his prairie under fence and in cultivation or 

 seeded down to grass, and then with a well fenced 1500 

 acre farm — well what then do you think he intends to 

 do? why, then he intends to build a house and get mar- 

 ried. For be it known, and ye down east marriageable 

 girls take notice, that this Illinois grandee is not yet a 

 very old batchelor, only 36, fine looking, full of life, and 

 as soon as he can get a nice, "snug little farm" ready, will 

 also be ready to give you a call. But not till after "the 

 new house advent." For be it known to his thousand 

 and one eastern acquaintances, that he now lives in a 

 log cabin that would be a rare show to some of his Broad- 

 way friends. 



Major Davis has introduced some fine improved horses, 

 cattle and sheep, the benefits to the country from which, 



