Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-03-04
"REMINISCENCES RECALLED.

"REMINISCENCES RECALLED.
Incidents Of the Early Days Of North
Dakota Told by Capt. Mediums Of
Jamestown.--J. w. Raymond's Early
Life In Territory.
jamestown Alert: Yesterday the
Alert contained notice Of the death
In California, OF Capt. ]. w. Raymond,
one Of the pioneer settlers Of North
Dakota. In speaking OF the death Of
Capt. Raymond, his former partner
and life long acquaintance, Capt. s..
Is. McGinnis who Is spending few
weeks In the state on visit from
San Diego. CAL, related. much that
was Of local interest to old timers IN
Jamestown, and North Dakota Capt.
McGinnis said: 81
My first acquaintance with j. w.
Raymond was In New Castle, Pa,
where he was conducting q large dry
goods house with l. s. Hoyt under
the name and style OF Hoyt and
Raymond. The old bridges and dead
walls" near New Castle, where they
have not been exposed to the ele-
ments, are still to be seen bearing In
large type, in poetry and prose,
announcements Of the great bargains
to be procured at s.Hoyt and Ray
mond's. " They were the leading dry
goods house in the young city Of New
Castle. i.
About the year 1870, through Mr..
i Raymond's endorsement Of the note
OF an old time friend in the City Of
New York he lost the accumulation
Of several thousand dollars, all his
savings since coming out of the war.
He went to the great northwest,
stopping at st. Paul where he found
himself without money. His first
venture was in selling hotel registers.
enabling him to make his expenses.
HE then went to Duluth. The
Northern Pacific was about that time
nut under construction. He formed
a partnership with N. X. Hubbard,
dealing in supplies mostly in demand
| by the working men and camp fol.
lowers. They had in most part q
rough line Of customers, gamblers,
Indians, and half breeds of both sex.
es. They sold their good from tents.
When they reached Brainerd the
Headquarters hotel had been con.
structed, and in this hosterly Daniel
| Z. Raymond their only son, was born
! in 1872. The railroad finally reached
Bismarck to which place Mr.. Ray,
mond brought his wife and child
The journey from Fargo to Bismarck
was a long and tiresome ride in q
day coach, In which Mrs. Raymond
had to ride.
She told me when she reached
jamestown the only place for refresh.
ments was in box car, which was on
the side track at the east side of the
bridge over the James River. The
only thing she relished was good
cup Of tea. This box car became
quite noted as a place to get a good
meal. AN: .sG
"The first few days of. their life
In Bismarck were full OF alarms for
the few ladies residing on the east
side Of the river. The Indians could
often be seen on the west side near
N. Lincoln in conflict with the sol
diers. Bismarck was a town Of the
toughest sort, murders were Of al.
most nightly occurrence, and the i'm.
provised cemetery on the hill above
the tents soon became filled with
tough characters who had stdied with
their boots on Mr.. Raymond
promised his wife that If she could
endure such life in ten years they
would move back east.
On the Goth OF June, 1876 occurred
the Custer massacre and to Bismarck
came Mrs. Custer, and the grief
stricken relatives Of the massacred
officers. Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond were
noted for their hospitality and enter
tainment. They at once extended the
hospitality OF their home to the
stricken ones, which home became a
haven OF rest and quiet until their
departure for the east.
aMr. Raymond started good bust.
ness. having established the Bank of
Bismarck and in connection ran a
wholesale grocery and supply store.
In the meantime Eber H. Bly, built
the Sheridan House where the mag
nificent new depot stands.
sG1nE tho Snfh nf IIlno 1894 r w