SOD CORRAL. 3T1 



well started. We had also managed to procure a good cow, a 

 hog, and a few hens. But man proposes while God alone dis- 

 poses, and the twenty -fifth day of July, a gentleman arrived in 

 company with his wife, " his cousins, and his aunts." I refer to 

 G. Hopper, Esq., (now well known in all of the northwestern 

 States). He paid us but a flying visit, staying only three days. 

 But that was long enough, as when lie left only from two to 

 three feet of bare corn stalks were all we could see of our twen- 

 ty-five acres of corn, while our garden, though " lost to sight 

 was yet to memory dear." This was slightly aggravating, but 

 worse, every neighbor within one hundred miles was served 

 the same. In fact, this year he took all but our courage, which 

 at that time, would hardly pan over one-half ounce to the 

 bucket. About this time, my wife and I took account of stock, 

 and wrote on the leaves of the year's record, " Busted," and 

 commenced again on money sent us by kind friends in the East, 

 which, used prudently, lasted us for a year, when as a family 

 we again became self-supporting. Since then we have each 

 year raised a crop, though not always up to the average, and 

 we have done well. To-day we have a deed of one hundred 

 and sixty acres of land, and another one hundred and sixty 

 almost ready to deed as a timber claim, which will make three 

 hundred and twenty in all. I have one hundred and twenty- 

 five acres under cultivation, which will be in crop this year 

 (1880) as follows : Sixty acres in corn, thirty-five in wheat, 

 ten in barley, five in rye, ten in grass, millet, and five in 

 sorghum, potatoes and truck. 



SOD CORPvAL. 



My farming would be called mixed husbandry, as we 

 devote attention to horses, cattle, hogs, and grain. Horses I 

 am not improving as I ought. For cattle, I have only native 

 cows, but Rome was not built in a day, and I look forward to 

 the near future, when an infusion of Short-Horn blood will give 

 us some fine grade steers, costing no more to keep and paying 

 a much larger profit. In the Summer, which is here eight 

 months of the year, I herd on the broad prairies, costing not^ 



