Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-10-30


ing of any description, are living to-
day, for those were strenuous times.
Never the less. in VIM. Sebrey we
find one who Hrst viewed the rolling
prairie of North Dakota in 1868. forty
years ago.
An Early milan Fight.
The Bird. 4th and 5th of July. that
year, he was camped on Apple Creek,
together with an artillery troop un-
der Sibley. Those three days were
ones never to be forgotten by Sebrey.
although he fought all through the
civil war after hat time.
Early the morning of the 3rd they
were apprised of the fact that the
Indians surrounded them on all sides
and it was then. they all believed. the
hours of their lives were few in
number. All there was left for them
to do. was to fight till the last man
fell.
However. such was not the case,
as the artillery possessed by the little
band, impressed the Indians with the
idea that their strength was greater
than it really was and retired at a
critical moment. During the lull
breastyorks were erected so when the
neXt attack was made, successful re-
s~istance was made. Soon after the
war. in 1872. Sebrey again came to
Bismarck from Minneapolis by wagon
At this time it was a town of tents,
the only store being in a log shack
near the river.
Although here in advance of boom
times. he was SO unfortunate as to
have disposed of his town property
before the rise in prices came. selling
for 5000 land which sold later for
$40. 100000.
1t was not until the year 1882 that
Sebrey removed to the country, where
he has lived ever since.
To this man who has seen Dakota
in its every stage of advancement
from wilderness to frontier. and from
frontier to statehood and power, there
remains no shadow of doubt as to the
future greatness in store for it or the
ultimate success of those pursuing a
conservative cOnrco opd who put r.
the best advantage the materials fur
nished by nature.
Three Successful Farmers.
Three of the most successful men
in Burleigh County are A. o. Ward
Martin Burgeois and Sperry. Living
neighbors to each other. they have
between them managed t gain pos
| session of the vest tract of rich bot
tom and timber land bordering the
Missouri for several miles immediate
ly north of Bismarck.
This stretch of hay land. beginning
at Wards and running north beyond
Sperry's is acknowledged to be the
best producing soil to be found for a
hundred miles in any direction.
Leave it to grow hay and the
amount produced staggers the stats
tician. Sow it to grain and the ex
IRENE limit of productive power in the
soil is reached. One and one-hal
acres of this ground planted with pc
tatoes produced this fall 100 bushels
This was a poor season.
1t is the hay which grows unfailing
ly each year that is most valuable t
these men. who are raisers of stock
Mr.. Ward is well known as a sheer
raiser. having a herd of from 1000 t.
5000 head.
The Sperry place. nestled at the
base of the high bluffs which overlook
| the bottom land to the river. is on
of the best equipped and complete
ranches in the county. The clean rec
barns of huge proportions. the fresh
/. pdluleu houses are HtlluS duUlLlOns
to the natural beauties of the sur
roundings. Here trees and timbe,
| grow in abundance without the exer
else of the great care and labor neces
sary on the prairie. Just below tn,
house runs the stream known as thu
Burnt Creek. which at this point new
er goes dry. Each spring the strean
overflows its banks thoroughly satur
ating the whole bottom. thus ~insurin.
moisture, leaving them independent O
the elements.
The Sperrys and his son, Lynn
are cattle raisers. and to this ent
they apply their time and energy ant
as a result are successful.
Martin Burgeois is a man vel
known throughout the vicinity as
business man and a farmer. He hai
raised much wheat and is also a sue
cessful stock men. He is at presen
contemplating going into the machine
and implement business in Bismarck