The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-09-22
Indiana Wege Pioneers in
Producing Flint va4itiss
Of Corp
CORN AN ANCIENT CROP

=
For Centuries Corn Was Rails
ed by Indians Along the
Missouri River :.
Major Murphy has written the
following interesting letter to
the Minneapolis journal:
In your editorial of Aug. IL,
agriculture Of the Indians, 7"
you refer to the research work
among the Midasta Indians of
North Dakota by Rev. DR.. Gill
bert L. Wilson Of Minneapolis,
and particularly regarding the
variety of corn immemorially
raised" by those Indians.
Because the Arickaree, Mandan
and Gros Ventre (Hidasta) tribes
raised corn, a 'sdivine gift from
Ti-ra-wa," father spirit, the In
dams along the Missouri river
north of where Washburn now
stands undoubtedly represented
the most advanced aboriginal
civilization north Of the ANecs.
Corn and the buffalo were the
two great gifts from Ti-ra4wa-
hut corn was the greater. The
raising of corn (they also raised
squash, which was dried and pre-
pared for winter use) had a dis
tinct civilizing influence on those
Indians.
The fact that corn was success
sfully raised in the region now
known as North Dakota ITO
years ago, as well as for cen
turies before, wa likely the cul-
-minating reason why the part Of
the union embracing Idaho,'
Washington ani most of Oregon
Is United States territory in
stead Of British. In 1904 Captain
Lewis of the army and Merri-
weather Clark were commission
ed by President jefferson, to ex-
plore the Missouri river region.
cross the mountains and take pos
session Of that country in the
name of the United States. This
expedition consisting of % men
left St. Louis in the spring OF
1904, but because of high water,
bad weather conditions, sickness
and the capsiMng Of the boat
containing the supplies, the ex-
pedition did not reach the point
since known as Fort Clark, about
l6 miles north Of where Wash
burn now stands, until late in
October. Now the point is this !:
Only for the supplies-"7O bas-
keta'' of corn and the pemmican
obtained from the Indians refer
red to-Lewis and Clark would
have been Obliged to return to
st. Louis to renew the nee essary
suppliesin order to continue the
trip across the mountains. Had
they done so, the exploration
would have been delayed two
years, and in the meantime the
expedition commissioned by the
British crown would have reach
ed the territory now known as
Idaho, Washington and Oregon
first. Piloted by the Bird Wo-
man (Sac.a-ca-wea) and fortifi-
ed by the corn grown In North
Dakota, the outfit crossed the
mountains end planted the Stars
and Stripes. Notwithstanding
these facts, there are people who
think North Dakota is not a
tcorn state. Z
The writer had charge Of the
Arickaree, Gros Ventre and Man
dan for four years, being com
missioned by President Harrison
4 in May, 1859, and therefore has
4 some knowledge concerning them
their Traditions, language, agr
culture, history, etc.
Those Indians were among the
very few tribes who were never
at war with the United Estates,
but on the contrary were al
ways friendly and helpful. White
peace loving, they did not ne.
glect preparedness, Z and built
and lived in stock kaded forts in
order to protect themselves
against the, raids Of the Sioux.
ss The Arickarees were probably
the braNest and most efficient
Il 81 scouts ever employed by the
army. This was Custer 3 tribute
81 to them. Nine of these scouts
4 were killed with Custer at the
hatttle Of Little Big Horn. II
this onnection Curley Head, tht