The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-12-05
Founders of Carleton.

SOlae Extracts From Van Ostran.l's Diary
The LEADER scribe has for
several years past had in his
possession the diary of Fred A.
Van Ostrand, formerly of Mar
ion, New York. He was for the
years 1869, 1870 and 1912, the
trustv clerk of the great Durfee
q Peck Company who had the
trading monopoly of the Upper
Missouri country during that
period. Van Ostrand was a
young man, and died at Fort
Stevenson in the autumn of 1872
shortly after the completion of
this diary. His remains were
sent to his home in New York
for interment.
The managers of the Durfee
& Peck Company were natural
ly supposed to have kept cases
on the coming Northern Pacific
railway that was to hurl them
from the pedestal of monopoly
in this region of the Northwest:
The members of this hopeful
land company have for the
most part, passed to the great
beyond, with no legacy 10
their worth save memories of
disappointed hopes and broken
fortunes. The land company's
venerable president, Mr. Brad
ford, is a justice of the peace,
and town librarian for Tyndall
the county seat of BonHomme
Count, South Dakota. Mr..
Marsh, secretary and treasurer,
was the Durfee. & Peck agent
in charge of Forts Stevenson
and Berthold, with headquar-
ters at the latter place Mr.. Bru-
va was the government contrac-
tors local manager at the forts
named. Mr.. Tappan was agent
for the Fort Berthold Indians:
THE DIARY.
Fort BERTHOLD, 1872.
Tuesdsy, February 2O.-I find my cal
culations Of going down on the first boat
are all at sea. and no prospect of such a
l thing happening this year. This Ii how il
is. We have seen by tho report of the
, Secretary Of the Interior that the N. p. R
! X. is to be completed to the Missouri al
+ Heart River in July and it has occurred
to several of Us here that We can get &
: claim, and acquire tract of land on APP
pie Creek it will he near the crosring oi
E the Missouri, by tho road, and good
chance Of being near town. To thai
: end Messrs. Happen, Bradford. Marsh
Bruya. White and Van Ostrand have
formed a CO partnership undor the name
of the, Missouri River Land Company
sud firm to locate claims near Apple
Greek, m Ike mprovem ants thereon; cut
wood and have timber for sale, and any
other business that may lie thought allow
able. Mr.. Bradford is president. Ma, sh
secretary and treasurer: and Bruya, super
lntendena. He (Bruya) is to remnin ON
one of the claims and is to have charge
! of the five ..en who occupy CT aims for the
remainder of US. The claims are to be
laid out mile long and fourth "i Il
mile wid,-two joining to5atns: AID
three double claims. side by slue, SO that
survey is made and out Of the half ws can
prompt 40 acres each. Sucl, is the plan
The party have got under way. Bradford
Marsh, Tappan aud Bruya. go down with
teams, men. provisions, tools, sc. They
left here this afternoon. The men got off
in the forenoon. They will get. the thing
Ill running order if possible Before re-
, turning. Az to the result if we can carry
| our present design, and the word comes
along it can hardly fail to be profitable
; il will necesstate my remaining up here
unit the time tn prove up and get e pat
ent for the land.
FIT. BEnTnoLD, Feb. 81. The Apple
Creek expedition has been favored with
, the best of weather so far. Every day
warm enouh to thaw little. They left
Fl. Stevenson, Wednesday last. The Fl
Buford mali came down ON Sunday. A
detachment with teams came up from
the Fort this p. NJ, for the cannon aud
squad of men here. Return tomorrow.
The Rees aud most of the Gros Ventres
have come in though only part intend
to remain at present. lively trade in
> peltries this aft .rnooM.
Jim got we'll enough to be at work
on a wagon box. attend to the chores.
John cooks. Turns his squaw of and
> takes her back every few days.
. Old Escelapious DR.. McLeod-Ed. has
. been on gay old drunk ever since Tap
. pan left. The Major having turned over
to him the brandy he took away from him
last summer. Tho old fellow keeps seclu-
. ded good deal of the time.
The gossips are busy with the reputa
I tiou of "my lady Howard" Altogether
we have enough of excitement to keep
from rusting.
Er BrRrHOLD. March A,-Ouf fears for