The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-27
INTERESTING HISTORY OF
COUNTRY NEAR MEDORA

Medora, Sept. 27.-Volumes Of
ten regarding the interesting events
that occurred at Medora since 1880,
which was about the time the town
was started, and which time that Sec
ton Of the state was a wilderness,
and has been known ever since as
the bad lands. .'.''-.
Shortly before 1880 a trading post
was established at Medora and a
stage line was started from Medora
down into the. Black Hills. Sam
Townsend, noW an old man., but still
a resident of Bismarck, was one of
the first arrivals at Medora, and for
a long time was driver of one Of the
stage coaches into the Black. Hills.
About the first distinguished ar
rival at Medora was Marquis DeMor-
es, who was a rich nobleman. The
town was named after DeMores' wife,
who was Medora Won Hoffman. De-
Mores established a large packing
house at Medora and acquired a large
amount Of property. in the surround
ing country most of which is still in
tact and ctill belongs to. his estate.
While the large. packing, plant was
newer a success for DeMores, for a
long time it 5furnished q cash market
for stock rafsers in early days. and
during the early territorial days.
This large building remained stand
ing till 1907 when it vas consumed
by fire, though the large brick smoke
stack is still standing nj can be
plainly seen from passing trains as
they cross the little Missouri river.
Another early arrival at Medora
was J.. w. Foley, father Of North Da-
kota's eminent poet, James w. Foley.
The senior Foley was stationed at
Old Fort Abraham Lincoln at Bis
marck. which was an early infantry
and cavalry post to protect the white
people from attacks by the savage
Indians in pioneer days. 1t was from
this old post at Bismarck hat Gen
eral Custer, in 1874, marched his
little army to their awful death in
the Black Hills.
After reaching Medora MI. Foley
became a business associate of De-
Mores, and through the early day
struggles that took place in that far
west Foley always took the side of
DeMores. He is still an active resi-
dent of MedoraL, and for years he has
had charge of the DeMores estate, and
Is agent for the Northern Pacific Re
frigerator company. His residence in
Medora now marks thirty years.
Though at the time he reached Me-
dora. which was in 1883. he had no
national standing or following Theo-
dore Roosevelt was probably the most
noted character that ever made Me-
dora his home. In 1888 Roosevelt
came west in search of wild west
quarters where he could recuperate
his health, and Medora and the Bad
Lands was the place. he selected. He
established a ranch home at Medora
and spent a. great portion of his time
riding bronchos between the years Of
1883 and 1896. At this time Medora
was a little city of over 600 people,
and after North Dakota became a
state it was designated and still re-
mains SO, the county seat of Billings
county, at n time n of the great
est s~tock-raising counties in the west.
This section is still a desirable stock
raising section because of the fact that
the hills are filled with springs, and
stock can run at large all winter.
there being sufficient grazing there
through the long winter that often
times stock are found in the spring in
better condition than a large amount