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The weather has been pleasant and William Wingate Sewall has been building a stable and hunting. He killed a buck with the finest set of horns he has ever seen. Sewall describes a great ride on his favorite horse, Sorrel Joe, while trying to corral a group of horses.
State Historical Society of North Dakota
1885-12-20
Howard Eaton provides updates on the location and activities of many people that William Wingate Sewall knew from the Medora, Dakota Territory, area.
State Historical Society of North Dakota
1888-03-22
Howard Eaton broke his leg a month ago and has been in St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City. The cattle business is doing well and Eaton has heard that the hunting has been good. Theodore Roosevelt sold 500 cattle and intends to bring in Texas steers this year. Eaton concludes with updates on many people from the Medora, Dakota Territory, area.
State Historical Society of North Dakota
1889-01-09
Howard Eaton updates William Wingate Sewall on his recent activities. He brought in 500 steers from Texas and spent three weeks on a Killdeer Mountain roundup. Eaton also had a successful hunting trip to Idaho.
State Historical Society of North Dakota
1890-01-07
Howard Eaton had to return to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to see his ailing mother. She passed away on February 9. They have had good winters in North Dakota but the range has become hardened. Commissioner Roosevelt has 350 to 400 cattle and sold half his horses. Sylvane M. Ferris and Arthur William Merrifield live at the old camp and intend to sell their stock this year. Joseph A. Ferris is still tending his store but will likely close soon. Eaton hopes to return to Idaho this fall for another hunting trip.
State Historical Society of North Dakota
1890-03-10
Commissioner Roosevelt was saddened by Patty Selmes’s letter. He wishes he could have seen Selmes and comforted her. Roosevelt describes his recent visit to his ranch and how he wished Selmes could have been there.
1896-10-05
Commissioner Roosevelt requests Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s opinion on an enclosed letter. The letter should also be shown to Douglas Robinson. Roosevelt will write a letter to Joseph A. and Sylvane M. Ferris in the meantime. Roosevelt recently had a nice luncheon and is indebted to two Italian diplomats who recently helped Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s sister and mother. The elk meat has not arrived.
1891-12-20
Handwritten revisions on two pages from Hunting in Cattle Country. Theodore Roosevelt recounts hunting antelope and arranging a carcass on a pack horse.
1905
Writing to his wife Alice from Joseph A. Ferris’s ranch in Dakota Territory, Theodore Roosevelt reports he finally received Alice’s letters and was so happy he could have cried. He shall start home in a few days from “the pleasantest and most successful trip I have ever made.” He is bringing home many trophies and is in great health. He describes a typical day and says after talking with the Ferris brothers and Bill Merrifield, he has decided to go into the cattle business.
1883-09-23
Theodore Roosevelt describes his hunting trip in Dakota Territory to his wife Alice. He describes traveling over the badlands with his guide Joseph A. Ferris, how the water made him sick, chasing a herd of bison, being charged by a wounded bull, and being awakened by wolves. He still has not killed a bison.
1883-09-14
Theodore Roosevelt details his arrival in Dakota Territory for his wife Alice including taking the train, staying in a hotel, viewing the land with Henry H. Gorringe, and hiring Joseph A. Ferris to be his guide hunting in buffalo country.
1883-09-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes that he has not had time to do much big game hunting while dealing with the cattle business and breaking in 52 new ponies. He also tells his sister to get some rest.
1884-12-07
Portrait of Joseph A. Ferris, storekeeper in Medora, North Dakota, near Theodore Roosevelt’s ranch.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
Unknown
J. Henderson Macaulay moved to Queensland, Australia, around a year ago and accepted a government position. Macaulay has made enough to retire on. Macaulay asks if Joseph A. Ferris is still living in Medora, North Dakota.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-19
Ray H. Mattison writes to Allyn F. Hanks regarding a research trip to Helena, Montana, and the development of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Mattison interviewed Wallis Huidekoper, Ella Myers, E. A. Phillips, and Arnold D. Ferris. He also researched at the Montana Historical Library and Montana State College.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-11-02