The Dickinson press., 1906-10-20
reason of its connection with the con-
struction of the Northern Pacific railroad,

reason of its connection with the con-
struction of the Northern Pacific railroad,
The bonds of the Northern Pacific which
had been so recently placed at nearly
par fell to 10 cents on the dollar, sweep
ing away the fortunes of thousands who
had invested their all in the securities of
the company.
In 1882 Hiram B. Wadsworth and w.
l.. Hawley of Minnesota shipped in 200
head of young cattle for ranging on the
plains west of the Little Missouri river
and established ranch sixty miles up
the river from Medora. Other ranching
interests rapidly followed the establish
ment Of this, the first ranch of impor-
tance in North Dakota. In 1881 Joseph
and Sylvane Ferris and A. w. Merrifeld
came to the Little Missouri region and
engaged in hunting.
In September, 1883, Theodore Roose-
welt came to Medora, North Dakota, for
the purpose of hunting. Joseph Ferris
accompanied him on his hunting expedi-
ton and on September II, 1883, on the
plains of North Dakota MIR. Roosevelt
killed his first buffalo. On the trip Mr..
Roosevelt became interested in the sub
Ject OF stock growing, and on his return
purchased the Maltese Cross herd Of
cattle and placed them in the hands of
Sylvane VI. Ferris and A. w. Merrifeld
on the Chimney Butte ranch seven miles
south of Medora. He added several
hundred head to the bunch that fall ard
the next year established the Elkhorn
ranch, thirty-fve miles down the river
from Medora. This ranch was in charge
of Sewall and Dow. On the two ranches
he had some 5000 head of cattle, and
twice year visited these ranches and
participated in the round up, one season
remaining until Christmas. Theodore
Roosevelt was not TEDDY" on the range
but" MIR. Roosevelt" always, the men show
ing their respect for him in his absence
as we'll as in his presence. During the
present summer his son, Kermit, rode on
horseback from Deadwood to Medora,
accompanied by Hon. Seth Bullock, and
spent few days with the ranch friends
of Mr.. Roosevelt. During his stay at
Medora Mr. Roosevelt was one summer
deputy sheriff, and was as fearless and
faithful in the performance of his duty as
he expects his appointees to be. Mrs.
Roosevelt visited the ranch in the sum-
mer of 18oo He retained his interests
in North Dakota cattle growing until the
spring of 1893 before the Cuban cam
paign, when he closed out with profit.
After his election as president Mr..
Roosevelt wrote as follows:
WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON,
November 10, 1924.
My DEAR JOE AND SyLvANE:
No telegram that | received pl ased
me more than yours, and | thank you
tor it.. Give my warm regards to Mrs.
Joe, Mrs. Sylvane and all my friends.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
The Medora President
The logs that were in the Chimney
Butte ranch headquarters were taken to
| St. Louis and to Portland and re-crccted
as they appeared on the renge. and were
a leading attraction at the Louisiana Pur-
and were then returned to Bismarck,
where the Roosevelt cabin became a
permanent exhibit in the custod, uf Il e
State Historical society.
Marquis de Mores came to North IT,
kota in April, 1883, short time before
Mr. Roosevelt, and invested large sums
of money in stock growing and in the
packing industry, his intention being to
grow the stock and kill them on the
range, shipping in refrigerator cars to the
eastern markets. He built a fully
eguipped slaughter house at Medora,
with all the appurtenances necessary for
the economical handling OF all the by
products. He built cold storage houses
at Bismarck, Fargo, Duluth and other
points and carried on an enormous busi-
ness until 1886, when he realized that he
was in advance of the times and with
drew, returning to France.
In 1883 Sir John Pender engaged in
cattle raising near the Roosevelt and de
Mores ranches, and the late M. Lang of
Yule came from Scotland to look after
his interests. Commodore Henry Cor
ringer was never interested in cattle but
purchased the cantonment business from
Frank Moore, the pioneer post trader.
He brought in a carload of horses and
ran tourist outfit through the Bad
Lands. Mr.. Hostetter also had large
investments in this vicinity. Hon. A c.
Huidekoper of Pennsylvania and asso-
ciates became interested in this region
and afterward made heavy investments
in land and stock, closing out in 1906 for
the sum of $500, 900 to Fred Pabst of the
Pabst Brewing company. The Eaton
brothers, formerly of the Custer Trail
ranch, were also among the early factors
in the development of that region. The
| very first, however, to establish stock
business west of the Missouri was E. c.
.. Paddock, who was engaged in freighting
to the cantonment at the Little Missouri
| in 1879. He brought in herd of COWS
, to supply the cantonment with milk.
The terminus of the Northern Pacific
, railroad remained at Bismarck until 1880
, when the work of construction com
menced west of the Missouri river. Ths
, winter preceding track was laid acros.
: the Missouri river on the ice and mucl
! of the heavy material was pushed across
the river that winter on the ice bridge
. During the construction of the bridge
. cars were transferred by boat. The roat
, crossed the western boundary of the stat
and was extended to the Yellowstone ii
!, 1881.