1880 After closing my winter term of school we made preparations to commence housekeeping. I did not wish to teach during the summer, as it is a very poor business for a married man to teach at that time. I rented Mr. Fred Cogdill's farm for one year paying $150 00/100 cash in advance. As he could not secure another place, we only occupied the east room and as I only cultivated 12 acres of ground, he took the remainder, 28 acres, giving me one half of the crop in the field, putting it in corn. I concluded to follow the business of market gardening, as Stanberry promised to be an excellent market. Of course my first attempts on common farm land were not expected to make much of a showing. My plan was to rent one year and during that time to buy a piece of land more suitable to my business. This I did in August, buying out Wils Stockton who had 30 acres of new land located in the S.W. of S.E. quarter of section 12, Town 62. Range 33. I had boarded with him while living on this place during the winter of ,77-8 and knew much about it. The terms of the sale were One third to be paid on taking possession March 1st 1881, one third March 1st 1882 and the remaining third on March 1st 1883. I was to pay no interest while he had possession after which time I was to pay 10% on all that remained unpaid. As my funds were out on interest, this arrangement gave me a chance to meet my obligations without pressing my brother for money. The price agreed on was $600 00/100 or $20 00/100 an acre. The land was fenced on three sides and enough timber was on it to furnish fuel for many years. About one acre was in cultivation, the rest of the cleared land being covered with brush piles and stumps. The improvements were estimated to be worth about half of the purchase money. The winter was mild, there being very little snow. This proved very fortunate for those living in Stanberry as many spent the winter in tents and sheds, while at work building. The season was not very favorable for gardening, as the rainfall was light. Wheat was almost a failure, there being but little sown; oats were pretty fair and corn about an average. as the summer was dry. The corn crop of this year over the whole country was very large as it proved much better elsewhere. I sold over 460 bushels at 20 cents delivered in town. My sales after what I paid out for delivery my corn amounted to over $200 00/100. Besides this, we had 25 bushels of applies for our share and our firewood furnished in the timber. In September we went down to visit my folks in DeKalb, Minnie never having yet seen them. I secured my old school, agreeing to teach for $37 50/100 per month as an affect(??) against $42 50/100 received per month during the hard times for two winters before. ++++++++++++++++++ Lori