A Successful Farmer

Andrew J.Gale owns a farm which is located almost in the exact center of Superior to wnship. Here he has lived and labored for sixty-one years. His father came tothis county in 1829,not longafter the birth of Andrew J., and took up 160 acres of land at the very excessive price of 81.25 an acre. As early as in his eighth year, the young boy began to help his father in the hard work of clearing off the brush. His schooling was not neglected, however, and in the winter months he attended repularly the village school, which was conducted in a quaint little log structure. He used to dress in a jacket and pair of 'trousers made, not of seersucker or gingham, but of a more durable material, to wit, buckskin. It is safe to say that his mother was not kept so busy sewing on patches, as are the mothers of 1890. The young boy used to cut corn with a hoe and worked the ground with an old wooden plow drawn by six oxen. They raised flax, and both spun and wove their own cloth. They also devoted some attention to sheep.but were much annoyedby the depredations of the howling wolves which tbjen overran the country. Considerable opportunity was thus afforded for hunting. Many a nighl the young boy would perch himself in a tree and, from that elevation, amuse himself by shooting at the deer which at that time abounded. The pioneers lavished no money on fences. When they wished to prevent their cattle taking to the woods, they tied long poles on (heir horns, which would strike against the trees. The farmers in those days did not have self-binders. They used sickles. Men worked barder than they do now, but they were more sociable and unselfish. They were always ready to help each other. When Mr. Gale's barn burnt down many years ago, they all turnejl in and helped him raise a new one. The young pioneer, of whom we have been speaking, worked hard for his father uutil he was twenty-one. Then he took entire management of the homestead and for one year worked it upon shares. At the expiration of that time, ',he went to Genesee county and bought forty acres of land, paying therefor $180. He cleared the land and improvéd it so much that when the railroad was built, he was able to sell theproperty for $1,000. Thereupon he came back to Superior and purchased part of the old homestead. He was very poor at first and used to work very hard. Many a night he would laboruntil twelve o'elock, piling up stones for fences, while his industrious wife would sit in the house knitting. Mr. Gale has added land to his farm from time to time, so that he now owns 125 acres. For the most part he devotes his attention to general farming. He has a fine orchard, however, and iakes special pride in some apple trees, now hearing fruit, which were rU.ed from seed brouglit from New York in an early day. Mr. Gale owes much of his success to the endeavors of his wife, to whoro he was married in 1850. Threecliildren of theirs are now living, while two sleep in the village cemetery. Two of the sons are Btill on the old farm. The family are attached to the Methodist church. In politics they adhere to the democratie party. For Heveral years Mr. Gale has faithfully performed the duties of school director. He is a kindhearted man and very popular aruong all his nuighbora and Baociatea.