Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-06-20
PROSPEROUS
What a Tribune Correspondent Finds Up
the River.

What a Tribune Correspondent Finds Up
the River.
PAINTED WOODS, June 20.-[Special. J.
County Commissioner Gus Johnson's farm
is beautifully located. 1t is a gradual
western slope towards the river, and has a
heavy belt of timber along the river front.
From his house one can see many miles
up and down the river. His grain is a
dark green color and growing steadily.
You can see the rows of corn across the
field. His fifty head of cattle are rolling
fat and are as glossy as satin. Gus will
have a herder boy after this. He was born
Tuesday night, June 10th.
Ole Hanson, the ''village blacksmith"
whose farm joins Johnson's on the north,
has another beautiful location. His build
ings are of hewed logs, are neatly built.
His grain, corn and potatoes are very fine.
You cannot drive him out of the country
if you tried.
VIM. Mercer, one of Burleigh county's
first commissioners, has been a resident
for twenty years. He has a good 1850 acres,
part timber, and down among the timber
he has cleared up ten acres, all planted to
garden vegetables. William is getting
quite a family around him. They are all
bright and happy. The "latch string is
always out at the Mercer ranch, and Mr..
and Mrs. Mercer will do all in their power
to entertain visitors.
Il. w. Adams (north of Mercer's) has a
very choice piece of land. He is alone on
the farm and works fifteen hours a day.
He has planted sixty acres as follows:
Thirteen of wheat, fifteen of corn, four of
potatoes, two of ruta bagas, one of peas,
two Of assorted vegetables, tour of millet
and twenty of oats-all looking very fine.
He banked eighty cords Of wood last win
ter and is selling it to the boats.
He also h S It's chickens. This is a good
showing for q gentleman 80 years of age,
and alone: He would like to hire a mar
for a few weeks to weed his garden truck,
"The big rain made this summers crop a
winner, you bet"
Matthias Brown has a beautiful farm,
Like the others above mentioned, it slopes
to the river, and is skirted with timber.
He came here nine years ago. He former
" lived in 'Goodhue. county, Minnesota
diversifer; has in twelve acres of corn.
tour Of potatoes, eight of millet, eight OF
oats, four of barley, two of rye, two OF
vegetables; has fowls, pigs, cows, horses
and is fencing 200 acres for pasture. He
and his family are satisfied with their
home. He says "it pays to keep the land
clean and to take care of odds n ends"
Immediately north of Matthias Browns
farm is the Fairman farm. MIR. Fairman
is in Montana. His wife is holding dow n
the claim, which is a very good piece OF
land extending from the liver back to the
hills. Very little timber skirts this farm
The river has cut most of it out. Mr.. FAIR.
man has had either very hard treatment or
bad luck. He had built a good frame
house and was moving in his furniture
getting ready to occupy. to them, a "Home
sweet hOme," but while absent but a short
time the building and contents were de.
stroyed by fire. 1t was not prairie fire
either. This was very discouraging. Still
they are determined to stick and hang and
some day expect to come out ahead.
North of the Fairman farm is the old
Joe Taylor claim. 1t is mostly heavy tim
Der. more nearly perfect when Joe TOOL
1t twenty years e than any timber on
the river. JOe's vow that no wood butcher
should destroy the timber on his claim
While he owned it was lived up to. HI
has gone east to visit his old friends ant
publish a book giving sketches of history
OF his " experiences on the slope. Thi!
claim will yet prove valuable to someone
If it ever had any value it is there yet
Among this heavy timber are thousands
OF plum and juneberry trees, loaded will
fruit. The old settlers say this will be
great wild berry and fruit year. If any
picnic parties venture into this woods fol
berries, Joe Taylor's ghost will be there
50 look out for a sensation.