Soon after, he began showing interest in farm land development. In 1900, together with J. L. Washburn and John G. Williams, they purchased over 200,000 acres (800 km²) of land  from the Northern Pacific Railway Company in Carlton and St. Louis county.
He started to look into agricultural property development shortly after that. In 1900, he collaborated with J. L. Washburn and John G. Williams to purchase over 200,000 acres (800 km²) of land from the Northern Pacific Railway Company in Carlton and St. Louis county.