The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-10-05
ON
The Fertile Missouri Valley-Fine Farms
and Comfortable Homes.
Deep Creek and Poverty Flat-Reminiscen-
ces, Pleasant and Notifying.

Leaving Diamond, we took the road dow
the gulch. The road leads down through
CANYONS with steep, bare rocks on either side,
which gradually give place TO high, sloping
hills, crosses bridges over fumes, and finally
debouches on to the Missouri valley, one of
the most fertile and hourishing sections Of
our Territory. At the mouth of the gulch
three roads run of, one the stage road to
Canyon Ferry and Helena; another five
miles to Edmonson's Ferry, up and across
Beaver creek, and striking the Helena and
Bozaman road a little this side of the Spokane
House; the third, three quarters of 8 mile to
Johnson creek, when it in turn forks, form
ing the upper and lower roads up the valley.
al the mouth of Confederate lives Chas
Barker, formerly an old-time miner OF
Whites Gulch, but now g. 'noble farmer
(for particulars see the H~usb0ndmGN) whose
fis. crop on new ground looked very well.
AT this place we met Johnny Nolan, whose
ranch is a little farther down than Barker
and nearer the hills-being at the same time
above and below. After using our persuasive
@ pOWEL6 jill L. ANO4nn VIZ : Ills pan
cess, we crossed the creek and rode on to the
home of John Link, the praises Of whose
vegetables may be often seen in the columns
of the paper above quoted. Mr.. Link was
not at home, and from there we j%ourneyed to
the old Duncan place, now managed by Nelse
Bump, whom everybody in the Territory
knows-or ought to. The last time we were
at this house it was filled with young people,
gathered there to welcome Mr.. John O'Neill
and bride, who are now living near the Half
Way House on the Bozeman and Helena
road. -Four years have passed since then,
but as we rode up to the old place, and to the
same gate through which we led our horse
on that evening the memory of that time was
very strong upon us, and as we entered the
house imagination filed the rooms with smil-
ing, joyous faces; again we heard the sound
of the violins, and the tread of the dancing
feet, again we looked into happy eyes into
whose brightness no shadow had yet crept,
and though that evening is buried, with
things not SO pleasant, in the graveyard OF
the departed past, memory still holds sway,
and recalls the happy hours of the long-ago.
Some of those happy hearts are stilled in
death, some have gone to brighten other
homes, while others, perhaps, heavier than
in those old days, ''knoweth their own bitter
tness.'' But times change, and we change
with them.
After spending q pleasant half hour with
MIR. and Mrs. Bump, we crossed the creek
through the willows, past the old Confederate
school house, and came out to the lower road.
Around and above here are the ranches OF
Buckingham, Fisher, Estes, Dunlevey Bros,
Thomas aud others, all of those which we
saw showing signs Of improvement since our
last visit to these parts. We crossed over to
The upper road, leaving on our left the ranch
of r. A. johnson, whom we had met be
tween RAIDERS and Diamond, and Who is
surely growing rich from his honest labor,
and made d Decline for Doc Hinton's, where
we found a stranger who told us that Mr..
Hinton had sold out and was now living near
the old quartz mill On Duck Greek. AS we
~regained the main road w passed the new
Duck creek church, now nearly completed,
and q few rods farther on stopped to inter-
view Mr.. Roberts, who was Just coming in
from his fields, which are gradually extend
ing, and which yield him an abundance. A
little farther on is Sherman's place, and just
beyond is the Duck Greek school house,
where the young ideas Of the vicinity are
taught to shoot-and play ball.
Here is the corner of j.. O.. chickering's
farm, which is q witness OF what q man Of
resolution and energy can accomplish IN
Montana. Six years ego Mr.. 2. had only
100 acres Of land, grasshoppers and the ele-
ments had combined against him for several
years, and to add to his seeming discourage
ments he was in debt besides. But with
characteristic Yankee spunk he never gave
up; he would not be kept down and now
he is out of debt, has 1900 acres under fence
the largest farm on the Missouri valley, ii
not ID the Territory-a thriving young Or
chard bears evidence TO his enterprise, q
handsome and commodions residence has
taken the place Of the little log cabin which
witnessed bis early struggles, and Fortune,
tired of battling against a man who never
knew when he was beaten, has turned her
face his way and given up the contest. In
addition to this farm Mr.. Pickering has re-
Gently purchased the old Estes ferry, includ-
ing some good hay land, has improved the
approaches to il, graded and improved the
road over The Duck Creek divide, and now q