Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-10-24
Locating It.

marck Tribune overIanders.
Locating It.
in the northwestern part OF Dlckey
county on the Hankinson-B Bismarck
line of the 500, Merricourt nestles
among the foothills in the famous
Merricourt valley. 1t is in a region
that is known to be as fertile, if not
more. as any other part OF the state.
With a rich soil which is very reten-
tive of moisture, nothing is impossl-
Bile of growth. The farmer coming
into North Dakota could do no bet
ter than to come to the Merriconrt
valley and secure a home While the
price of the land is not prohibitive.
Fertile M%erricourt Valley.
Dickey county is noted for its fer
/ tility. Many fall fairs and market
days have been held in various towns
in. the county to exhibit the corn,
the grain and the vegetables grown
in that county by its farmers. The
Merricourt valley, like the James Riv-
err valley, is recognized as a wonder
full farming region. <
Settlln0 inc AOunty.
The first steps in the settlement
of the county am when the Great
Northern penetrated to Glendale, in
1883. There were at that time the
towns of Hudson, Keystone, Ticeville,
Port Emma, Eaton and Yorktown, but
Glendale was the only railroad town.
Three years later the Northwestern
came north from Aberdeen to Lud-
den and Cakes, and a year later the
Sco-cane west from Hankinson on its
way to Bismarck and Merricourt vas
founded.
Towns are so close to it that it has
not a large territory, and its popu-
lation has never been over what it
now is-100. but its business me are
. enthusiastically for its growth. and
It has a thrifty class Of farmers who
are hard to beat. Thus, while the
actual population Of the town is
territory. for there lies its wealth.
Place Of Historical Interest.
( - MerricOurt has a history connected
with the campaigns against the In
dams in the Sixties. 1t was at White
stone Hill, close by. that one of the
fierceSt battles Of the campaign took
place. where the Sioux We're given 4
terrible beating and all their wint ::
supplies fell into the bands OF the
troops. A monument was erected in
1909, under the leadership Of E. r.
Kennedy. II. F. Eaton and Theodore
Nortbrup. old timers and veterans on
W\Nhitestone Hill. to the memory If
the soldiers who fell in the battle.
Chasing the Sioux.
Sullv was coming from Omaha 30
Devils Lake bent on overtaking tie
Indians. who had committed the dep
relations at New Ulm. MIMI. and
Snirit Lake, Iowa. The Sioux, abort
1000 strong, with the squaws. chill
dren and supplies, were hunting buf-
falo and had killed nearly all their
winters meat. They were temper,
arily encamped in Il gully off White
stone Hill when Major A. E. Hou% sc,
commanding an advance scouting
party of Sully's command, came with
ing sight of them Sept. 9, 1868. The
Indians sighted him at the same time
aud watched him disappear into the
gully AMI follow it up until he came
face to face with the camp. He hai
supposed it only Il small party. bui
as he came face 70 face with it -
saw his party was in a trap. Tie
whole Indian strength was. there.
Ready for tile Fray.
Rejoicing. the Indians put off the
massacre and painted themselves, tle
squaws nreuaring for the feast. One
scout. a half-breed, escaped and sped
southwark in the direction of the
main command twelve miles back
The scouting party caught in the tran
parleved with the chiefs and attempt.
ed to put off a battle until help came.
The older Indians prevented the
younger ones from beginning the mas.
sacre at once because Of their Gus.
tom OF committing such crimes ar
sunset. Just before sunset the, In
dians. intent in their preparations.
We're taken By surprise by the rush
Of the command Of Sully. The bat
lie began and lasted until dark. When
it ended. several hundred Indians had
been killed, hundreds wounded ana
hundreds of women and children
taken prisoners. The rest escaped to
the west and stayed the winter with
other tribes friendly to them. Their!
supplies and horses all became the
property of the troops.
Twenty soldiers were killed. fifty
wounded and several mortally hurt.
TO these the monument Which is east,
~ seen from Merricourt, was erected.
Will Get the Midland. na
Merrisourt besides being on the 500
bids fair to have another road before
long. The Midland Continental from
jamestown to Edgeley proposes to
build south TO Merriconrt on it's way
to the gulf. The same road is now
building north OF jamestown to Vim
bledon on its proposed route to PEN
bina. This will give Merriconrt two
roads traversing much of the state
in two different directions.
Artesion Water Plenty.
Merricourt is located in the grea,
artesian basin and good well with a
pressure Of from 40 to 80 pounds can
be had at a very nominal cost. The
water is soft and splendid for stock
as well as for human consumption.
Easy to Get Coal.
The town is within easy access OF
the coal fields of western North pa.
kO.a and a1co hac uOnd rai1rOod IN.