Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-01
CENTRAL
The Tribune's Special Correspondent
Takes in the Townships of
Sterling and Mckenzie.
A Pleasant Chat With the Wife of
a Black Hawk War
Volunteer.
Mckenzie and Sterling All Right.

Mckenzie and Sterling All Right.
STERLING, July 19.-[Special. l-Leaving
B. F. Scovil's, your special visited the old
stamping ground of B. F. Fields, now
owned by Colonel Whitford of Bismarck
and farmed by Rufus 3. Anderson. This
is section 21-139.77. The house is a large
one, the granary and barn show that the
builder made calculations on seeding many
acres and figured on a big yield. In this
he met with disappointment, and becom-
ing involved and discouraged, left the
property to his creditors, and for the want
of proper care the house and outbuildings
are not in good shape. One hundred acres
are fenced for pasture, 100 acres are sown
to wheat, 40 to oats and 10 to corn. Mr..
Anderson is summer following a few acres.
This land is in a good location, good water
on the premises, plenty of hay close at
hand and a wide range for stock. 1t will
make a first class farm for some one hav-
ing the means tc run it and the start in
stock that the location justifes. Mr.. An
dersOn has a homestead on the southwest
quarter of section IA 1877, and has in
Is acres of wheat, 10 of flax and Is of rye.
His residence burned down a year ago.; so
he leased the WhitfOrd section. He has
eleven COWS and twenty head of young
cattle. He brought $500 into the CONN.,
try.
His experience since he came to Bur-
leigh is not encouraging. He report, the
loss of SIX crops, either wholly or partial
ly, and has raised two good crops. If this
seasons crop turns out well he will return
to the homestead on section IA. l met here
Mrs. Anderson, the mother of Rufus. She
is II and is a genuine type of good old-tlme
g~randmothers: She was born in East
Tennessee. Her father settled there in
1908. They moved to Illinois in 1880 IA
her husband volunteered from Sangamon
county, ILL.,, in the Black Hawk war and
served under Captain Abe Lincoln. Mrs.
Anderson frequently met him before he
ever dreamed of becoming president. She
relates many trying OrdeaJS that pioneers
to Illinois passed through, and lived to see
Sangamon county become prosperous and
many Of her citizens grow wealthy: Rufus
was born in SangamOn county in 1S41. He
with HIM. One son is off on q "Wlld-goOse
chase" This family deserves encourage
ment. They have been unfortunate. 1t
must never be said of Burleigh county that
the wife and children of one who served
under Capt. Abe Lincoln more than half a
century ago lacks for a friendly visit and
words of encouragement. Promising to
call again, | drove over to Charley Crum'S
on the northwest quarter OF section 22-l39-
". He was armed with a hammer and
pounding away at his 'doggoned granary.'
1t had been blown over twice this season
and he had called in several neighbOrS to
set it up. He says that the next wind will
get fooled. 1t is anchored, and when the
wheat that he has coming On gets into it
the wind cannot bulge it.
Charles f. Crum and Mrs. Anna Crum
and the two pretty little girl crums are
Illinois in 1882. At first Charley worked
the Sloan place, 8 miles north of Bismarck.
In 1883 he bought of William Thurston the
land he now lives on, and opened lao acres
of the quarter. This has been seeded
every year. He has had two good crops;
two fair crops, and two failures. He has
done all the blowing and seeding alone
this year. He has in crop 80 acres Of wheat,
80 of oats, 20 of corn, 8 of millet, 4 of rye
and l of potatoes. Although the nail has
touched his crop three times this season, 1t
is doing very well. One field of wheat is
extra good. He has got we'll started in
stock now; has 7 cows, 8 young cattle, 4
and 100 fowls; has all the machinery and
tools he needs. The residence is small
but warm, and is tastilv arranged inside.
Mrs Crum has a very s-iect and beautiful
collection of house plants. They told
their experience in Dakota freely, and
through to 1900. Charley says: "a. the
trouble of getting started and the land
opened up is passed from this on. l look
for a better margin on what l raise, as l
can run the farm without much hired help
and know better what to do and what to
plant s%hrubbery and berries and try to save
enough to build a good barn"
After a good hearty supper we sat out
side, looking toward the capital city, and
talked farm, boom times, stock, exodus,
hail, frost, hot winds, big potatoes, fall
--s.~ lsvl nSV fr ar ~ ,trtI nFfn~
II O'Clock and did not realize that the sun
had gone down hours before. This young
family will pull through if attention to
home and business is what is required. l
met here Mr.. l.. Dennison and Mr.. Norton.
They live in Sibley township and came
over to help, Charley set up his granary.
Mr.. Norton lost his wife last winter in
Bismarck. He is just starting again on the
farm. Mr.. Dennison vas born in New
York, lived in Michigan and came here in
1882. He settled on 160 acres of section 81
lao II in 1883; had 800 and a cow. He has
earned and built a good frame house and
barn; has in crop % acres Of wheat, y OF
cows-1 yearlin2 and 3 calves, and 5
horses. To use his own words-"No sods
on my house," meaning no mort
gage on the fam or stock. His wife is
with him. He spoke very e~ncouragingly.
I drove over to see Daniel CocanOur, also
Nol AoAl ivy ouo u
I met their wives at Mr.. Leathers'. They
are both new beginners-lately married,
Each has a babe in arms, and for those
who begun without money they are the
most cheerful l have met. Mr.. Cocanour
is on section 1919 II. He has in Is acres
Of wheat, 10 OF corn, 10 of millet and a gar.
den. Has a team, a COW and two calves.
His wife said: "He earned what we bave
in the country. We have a log house and
barn. If we get a good yield this year Dan
will improve the house. It's a nice cOu
try out here n a pleasant neighborhOOd."
He came here in 1883.
Mr.. Leathers is also on section 1919 II.
He came in 1883. Has a good small house
and barn. Has a team, a colt, a cow, two
steers and a calf; has 80 acres in crop, Is OF
it wheat and the rest corn, oats, millet and
garden. Mrs. Leathers is from Kansas
She does not receive encouraging reports
from there. She said: "If we get a good
yield this season we will push ahead and
break more land and add to our stock. We
would like to try a few head of sheep"
If a stock company was organized to let
out small lots OF, sheep through the county
it would pay all sc0ncerned. IT,
Adjoining Charles Crum on the north is
the home Of Charles Anderson. brother of
Rufus. The Skinner farm joins Ander
sons. Charles Anderson came to Burleigt
a b. oOE - II - - r,o. - n r .I~vvo I~1 ~ 1rrv~