Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-02-14
Hare and There from the WoolIy
West.

Amor, N. D., Jan. 25, 1912.
Editor Willmar Tribune:
Having been silent reader Of the
Tribune out here in the woolly west
for some over year, ! shall break
the silence and contribute to the well
come home paper few remarks,
providing the Editor don't assign it
to the waste basket.
4 Am located in Bowman County,
which is geograph ically the extreme
northwestern corner Of North Da-
kpta with Montana few miles to
the west and South Dakota few
miles to the south. As an American
born citizen Of the United States,
with the privilege Of availing myself
Of the opportunities given by Uncle
Sam in acquiring a quarter section
Of land only for the acceptance Of
the offer, I decided to take up the
struggles Of pioneering for the Sec
ond time in my life. The first time
was at Norway Lake, coming into
what was then Monongalia county in
1867. "
The Willmar Tribune is regular
visitor to my new home every Mon
day. I have three miles to the post
office and I assure you, Mr.. Editor, on
Mondays those three miles are the
shortest 3 miles. ever knew, when
I 60 to meet the Tribune and escort
it home where it is thoroly over
hauled by forty fingers, ten thumbs
and ten eyes until the last sentence
is swallowed: providing the lamp
don't go dry. The Tribune, in my
opinion is worthy Of it's installation
in every home in the country, yes
every state in the Union has many
a home which would readily approve
Of our opinion of having a paper that
the Minnesotans feel proud of. 1t is
straight forward, honest and fear
less and it's value increases materi-
ally after reaching a person located
hundreds Of miles from the old home
county, Kandiyohi.
And the Kandiyom County History
is another feature worth mention
ing. How many hundreds of times
| I wished I had it here these long
winter evenings. That book certainly
should be in the home Of any person
in the land, whoever and wherever he
is, that ever had any knowledge of
or ever lived in .Kandiyohi County.
Yes, it's leaves are already handled
by small fingers of the fourth gen
GRAFTON who are eager to learn about
the pioneer struggles and adventures
of their great grand parents. It is
a book that can be>handed down to
grand children and great grand
children with pride.
In the eighties, as an employee of
the Mccormick Harvesting Machine
Co. Of Chicago, was sent out into
what was then called the Dakota
Territory, travelling north and south
on the east side Of the Missouri Riv-
| er, Bismarck and south. The west
side of the river was then looked
upon as country of the wild, the
abode of the Indians, wild men and
cowboys. Just across the river was
pointed out to me Sitting Bull and
his tribe, about where Mobridge is
now located. In October, 1909, lit
tie over 20 years later, / again ap-
preached the same place by way of
the Milwaukee road, but not to stop
at the river but to proceed two hum
dred miles further over what was for
merly. known as the Indian hunting
grounds, and the cowboys wild and
woolly west. A town worth mention-
ling is Wak-Palla on the Standing
Rock reservation, the principal Will
age of the Indians. Its population
numbers about 200 descendants of
the ancient Sioux tribes. Three den
ominational schools are located at
this point and are all we'll attended.
It may be said that the Indians of the
Standing Rock Reservation have pro-
flied by the advantages offered them.
They are not found to rip, tear and
shred school districts into fragments
and splinters like the County Commits
sioners of Kandiyohi County did last
fall to School Dist. No. 1O4, which
l will honor with a remark or two
later on. !, Now back to the Indians.
Most of them are intelligent and well
educated. Their farms are thrifty in
appearance and their village is typ
zeal western town. At this place are
the ony living descendants of Sitting
| Bull-and one small family is said to
be the only ones that remain to per-
petuate his line of warriors.
Forgot to mention that approach
| ing the Missouri River are seen the
| mighty arches of a great bridge
swinging into the perspective, tower
| ing high above the trees that line the
river banks. This structure is said
to be the heaviest of all the Missouri
bridges. Have about 200 miles to
travel yet before I reach my destina-
tion-Bowman county.
| GABRIEL STENE.
il Ito be continued.)