Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-01
JOHN Z. WHITE.
Four Years in the S~addle-Seven Years
at the PlOw. . ,Yf

Thought IL llOI GOO ldle Ill Gllc dlLclnUOu u
drive over into White township and drop
in on Cordner, Bratton, Wagner and White.
About three miles directly south of the
station l drove off from the road a few
rods to a neat, little white house, where
two little shaggy Scotch terrier dogs gave
a barky welcome. West of the house was
a large frame barn, a wagon shed and
granary; north, a thrifty grove of trees;
along the road was q rod wide fire break,
made by summer following; southwest
was a pasture fenced in, and several head
of glossy horses quietly grazing, and ff-
teen or twenty porkers were squealing for
the corn growing in the field west OF them,
where an active, silver haired, q~uick-speak-
ing farmer was driving a spirited S.year-old,
attached to a cultivator, up and back
through the corn rows. With the two lit
tie, faithful watch dogs permission, l
walked at to the edge of the corn and
hailed the "plow boy" 1t was John p.
White, born in the empire state of New
York in 1889. He unhitched the restless
mare, and, seated III the field, we con-
verSed for over an hour. John received
mental training from teachers who urged
the boys on with a goad, admonished them
with threatenings of the fools cap and
Ounce block. He held his own with his
school rivals and escaped many a "thrash-
ing" by behaving himself. At play he was
the same, and could plump marbles, play
skinny" skate, swim, run, jump and
wrestle with the best of them. In his
youthful days the neighbors had log roll
inNS hnlISn " rn1iNrs manila SJJrlr fO n
apple bees and tatfy pullings. John was
there and played with the New, York
bellies at Button, button! Who has the
BUTTON" He measured tape" kept toll
gate' and acted as escort to Queen of the
May he helped stir the boiling cider and
apples at apple butter makings;. gathered
apples and carried them to the cider mills;
helped make peach butter; and peel
and cut pumpkins to dry and make into
sauce. lie went nuttiDg and brought home
chestnuts, beech nuts. hazel nuts, WalnutS,
hickory nuts and butternutS; he swung the
cradle in the harvest; raked and bound
grain and threshed grain with a fail; he
could fell a tree, trim and cut it into sec
tons or split it into rails or posts as quick
as the other boys; he grew taller II
stronger; attended military musters and
camp meetings, JOINT debates and county
fairs and rode at races.
In 1860 he became a voter, n state and
national affairs were thought of. In 1861
Sumpter was fired upon, Ellsworth was
killed, troops assaulted in the streets of
Baltimore, Washington menaced and the
first battle of Bull Run fought. Three
hundred thousand troops were called for
and the young men Of Syracuse Joined the
different companies then forming. John
joined company A, Tenth regiment, New
York cavalry. Col. John z. Lennon of
Buffalo, N. Y. August, 1861, they were
ordered to Washington and entered into
active service at once. They served with
Gen. Bayard who fell at fredericksburg.
With Gregg-a brave and restless leader;
also under General Judson Fitzpatrick, who
was ever on the 90. They rode to the rear
of Richmond: raided into the interior of
Virginia; were first on this flank and then
on that of our own and the opposing
forces. They were under Mcclellan, Burn
sides. Hooker, Pope, Meade and Grant
often detailed for escort and messenger
duty to the front of the lines; guarded the
headquarters in the field; met the famous
Black Horse Cavalry under Stuart; had
several brushes with Early and Mosby;
charged batteries and protected the rear of
advancing and retiring troops.
They gathered up the wounded n
buried the dead, guarded trains of sup
plies, cut the wires and tore up railroad
tracks, guarded bridges and destroyed 9TH
ers, gathered food and forage, escorted the
SlSLdl " pSs CulllCu 1879 VI uuSCt "ClC
reviewed by President Lincoln and cabi-
net while stationed at GeesDurg, and later
on patro:ed the city of Washington and
the Potomac river when President Lincoln
was aSsaSSinated.
In 1868 John P. White re enlisted for an
other three years, or during the war. He be-
came captain of CompanyA and served until
August, 1865, when he was mustered out,
as the war was over, and in 1866 he re-
ceived special honors by being breveted
major Tor merltorious and gallant service.
Il was actually four years in the saddle.
OF the 107 of Company A. who first left
Syracuse, only seven returned sound.
was with us. He was severely wounded at
Brandy station and died in Libby prison.
Chester's brother, the doctor. was in the
war. He was a musician. [ will never
forget the great bands we had. 1t was
sOul-Stlfring to have our bands get out in
the evening and play a national air, and
then the Johnnies would answer by hav-
bic war. l bear no ill will against those
who opposed US. In wal we fought; In
peace we should be friends. One country
and one flag is what we want. Since the
war | have been in active business pur-
suits in different parts of the country. In
1868 l lived in ParkerSburg, West Va. Dur
ing the year three business meN had been
murdered. evidently for Doodle. No cleW
could be got of the murderers. One day a
man that no one would suspect of such
deeds, came into my place Of business and
when l least suspected such action. made
an attack on me with a Ratchet. Here is
where he struck me Showing the scar on
his head). We had a death struggle and l
downed him. Assistance came and he was
jailed and tried before Judge Loomis, and
to the establishment of everyone he was
proven to be the murderer of three in adj
dition to the attempted murder OF
me. He was convicted and hung.
1 ca me to Bismarck with the Bradford
Lumber company in the spring of the
boom. 1 kept their books. 1 had been
keeping books for a number Of years, and
on account of my health, in 1883 I left a
salary of $1,000 per annum and moved out
onto this homestead that l had selected;
and here | am. improved in health and
own 800 acres of as good land as you can
find in Dakota. 1t is in town 1873 rs,
known as White township. l have in 45
acres of wheat. 10 of oats, IL of corn, 20 of
millet and tried 2 acres of alfalfa, from
which I have just cut three tons. l have
lost one crop, had two poor crops and
three good ones. One season I only got
my seed back; the next I had Is bushels
per acre of wheat and a large yield OF oats
and vegetables. In 1888 I raised 25! bushels
per acre and received 90 cents for it, in
1888. II bushels and sold it at IS and 20
| cents 7 have five cOwS. l have done well