Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-07-11
SEVENTEENTH YEAR
". Il. C14HILL,
A Soldier and Pioneer Farmer of Apple
Creek Township.


! A Soldier and Pioneer Farmer of Apple
Creek Township.
s W. E. Cahall, so long and generally
known as ''old reliable" could relate, if he
would do so, many interesting and thrill
ling incidents that he has witnessed in his
IS years pilgrimage in Delaware, Virginia,
Kansas and Burleigh county, Oak. But he
is TOO modest to give more than brief
: outline. So the reader desirous of getting
at the bottom facts must tread between the
lines" or take down the map and open the
history OF the country and trace our pio-
neer neighbOr through career that will
reveal the real character and metal of
truly one of the historical characters of
Burleigh county; also the experience of a
brave, plain-spoken, upright, industrious
tarmer-ctizen. w. E. Cahall was born in
the little state of Delaware in the year
1885, and grew up among the peach and
cherry orchards along the Atlantic coast
Of that state. AS he approached manhood
he venJured away from home, going down
to old Virginia, the home Of Washington
and Jefferson. While residing in that
state the anti-slavery agitation in the more
northern states began to stir the hot Vir-
{ ginia blood. The raid of John Brown on
Harper's Ferry, his capture, trial and exe-
cutiOn added to the excitement and bitter
ness between the abolitionists and the
slave owners. The agitation of this ques-
tion extended to all classes, north and
q south, leading finally to an attempt
throughout Virginia and states farther
south to secede and establish new gov
ernment. This movement met with
the determined opposition of the
president and that portion of the
United States congress that did not join
the south, and they were supported gener-
y ally by the people north. War became IN
eyitable. The unavoidable conflict must
be fought out, troops were called for on
both sides, and W. f. Cahall took his stand
Il with his convictions, his friends and fel-
/ low-citizens. He volunteered and enlisted
in the Sixty-seventh Virginia regiment,
Imboden's brigade With this branch OF
the army of Virginia he served during the
war.
They met the union forces under Gen.
sral Sigel at New Market. They were in
the engagement at Fishers Hill, at Straus-
berg, also met General Milroy at Winches-
ter, and later on met Sheridan's forces at
the time of ''the ride to Winchester twenty
miles away" to rally his scattered forces
They continued to fight the troops under
Sheridan while he was making the raid of
ruin and devastation down the Shenandoah
), valley. During one of these fights MIR.
NCahall was wounded, and not long after
]. the confederate forces, surrounded, out
numbered and Over-pOWered, surrendered
i and returned to what was left OF their
4 homes and kindred. Mr.. Cahall
soon after returned to Delaware
He L tried that state until 1872,
and then moved up the Missouri to Bur
A leigh county. He wintered on Burnt
\ Creek, near where it leaves the bluffs,
( about nine miles above Bismarck. In 1874
slected a quarter Of section 30-138-79, now in
4 Apple Creek township. He built a cabin
Z and began his other improvements, and
4. there for seventeen years his little lantern
4 has hung out to light. the path of the
prairie schooners over the old Folt Rice
( travellers going south from Bismarck was:
.'GO down past Suttle's to Apple Creek.
4 then to Cahalps, and he will put you on the
\ right track" Many belated strangers
have found shelter there, and: hundreds of
IF settlers have been guided to land claims
I by this plain pioneer settler.
81 opened up eighty acres of my claim,
/ built better house ana larger barn, set
"A out trees anu for years raised vegetables,
@ oats and corn When wheat was first in
4 troduced I tried it with success. With po-
4 tatoes, vegetable and corn I have never
u had a failure. have lost both wheat and
Oat crops by hot winds and hail. The last
h two years grain raising has not paid. am
Il mot as strong as used to be, 80 have had
TO hire some help when seeding and culti-
waiting. II you get good crop this is
easily paid for, but when you lose crop
Ii Ny reserve forces and fund has been in
i stock raising. have a fine bunch Of cat
tie: generally keep about forty or fifty
head, aud as fast as they get ready for
market j turn them off. During all the
8drouth and trouble we have had did not
4 saw two dry years follow each other as it
1 did in 's8 and 49,; 1 did not like to see SO
many new beginners. get discouraged over
sSthe first disaster and leave-to go where
before they get started again The same
thing will occur. "The stayers" will do
80 many to quarrel over hay meadows, and
with the city trade picking up we will be
n able to sell at good price--Of this am
sS very glad. ] have In crop 16 acres of corn,
n 70 OF Wheat, II or mtllet, ID OF oats, OF POI
y 8tatOes and 5 Of garden. 1t all looks very
good, never better. ] am very much inter-
ested In the sketcheso Of history the TR1B-
sUNE Is giving. We used to get together
and talk war and pioneer life over, but
" that day is past now, some have gone west,
others quit farming, and quite a number
5s Il have died. Stop again when down this
way '',R4s 3-S7 sft,, }s5 4 555
The Grand Forks Herald, in speaking Of
/ East Grand Forks calls that city saloon
gslyille'' and adds: .'With thirteen saloons,
I one brewery, one wholesale liquor estab-
= sSlishment, seven men undecided where to
sSty, East Grand Fol rks seems to ( be in a
fair way to fight the devil. n At
ss5s