The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-16
Washburn Their
Trading Point

In the SOS Washburn Mill Fury
nished Flour for Settlers ;
North Of Minot
In conversation with Mr.. and
Mrs. W.. L. Millar Of Burlington,
Tuesday as we were all seated in
front Of their comfortable tent
at No Mans Land, where this
couple is spending a fortnight
consorting with their neighbors
Of the old pioneer days in North
Dakota, they related many of,
their experiences Of early days.
Mr.. and Mrs. Miller have lived in
their present Location for over
thirty years, Mr.. Millar coming
here in '84 followed by his FANNY
two years later. The Millars
formerly resided at Alexis, I'LL.
The nearest point to be reached.
by rail in those days was Bis
marck and from there they were
obliged to go overland hauling
their seed grain and household
effects with OK teams
In those days one single log
cabin, owned by Erik Ramstad,
marked the present site of the
city of Ainot. At that time there
were eight children in the Mill
ar family and the younger mem;
bers could scarcely contain their
delights at the strange sights and
new experiences, but to the
mother and the older children
the transition from the comfort
and conveniences of the old
home to the little Log cabin, with
bleak and cheerless surround
ings produced feelings sadly in
contrast to the delight Of the
younger members.
Mrs. AIiAar related to us her
first experience with Indians.
As she was attending one Of the
children one day, she looked up
and in the door Of -he shack
stood three Indian women, each
having three huge dirk knives in
her belt. Noting the blanched
face and look Of consenternation
on Mrs. Millar's face, one old
squaw pulled knife from her
belt and ran her thumb over its
edge to test it's keenness. Cali
ing her son, John, a boy of ten,
she instructed him to jump on a
horse teethered few rods away
and go to Mike Muir s place, a
mile distant, and get Mr.. Muir
to come at once. There was nc
other aid within miles as Mr..
Millar was at Washbnrn with a
load of grain to get supplies
of flour.
1t seems that Mrs. Muir from
her window had seen the squaws
as they went to the Millar place
and suspecting Mrs. Millar would
be frightened, had dispatched
MIR. Muir post haste to- her aid.
His timely arrival saved the
situation, but not BEFORE Mrs,
Millar had experienced a terri
BILE fright. Upon Mr.. Muir's ar
rival the squaws were persuaded
to go on their way, strong
language being necessary even
then to- make them comply.
Mrs. Millar says that was the
only Fright the Indians ever gave
her. Later cn there would be
great lands OF redmen PASS and
even emp witlEL u few rods Of
thy J;..,lse but ,hat WAS the last
time she was ever alarmed.
Many time she has been
great herds of antelope grazing
on the open prairie within gun
shot of their home. The sight Of
deer was daily occurrence, a
drove Of them were seen quite
frequently grazing . along the
valley within sight of the cabin
home.
The only weapon Of any kind
Mr.. Millar ever owned, he says
was an old shot gun.
It surely must have required
considerable pluck upon the part
of this mother Of eight little
schildren to remain at an insoiat-
ed cabin with her little flock
with bands Of Indians, wild ami
mails and not infrequently un-
scrupulous men roaming at large
through this section.
Mr.. Millar relates how at that
early day they were obliged TO
trek their grain to Waahburn or
DEVILS Lake to get it ground
into flour, precious possession
IN. those days. Wheat was worth
/ but 40 cents to 55. cents per bu-
shel and flour $500 per cwt. On
K xil,nsa +r;nc For. 0riSf he wOll1d