| Summary: | BUCHANAN—An inland post office by Long Creek on Sec. 30, 136-77 established Nov. 17, 1884 with Isena A. Goodwin postmaster; discontinued May 23, 1894 and mail sent to Williamsport. This post office was in Buchanan Valley where Robert Buchanan settled in 1883 and his place became a popular stopping place for the overland traveler from Bismarck to Williamsport. It was re-established as BOBTOWN. LIVONA A rural post office was established Dec. 31, 1883 on Sec. 18, 135-78 near Long Creek by C. C. Livingston and named for his wife Lavina. In 1885 the post office was moved to the northwest corner of the Livingston farm where it was maintained for 70 years. For 50 of those years, members of the Baker family served as postmasters. However, it was located in different houses during those years. Mail was supplied by Star Route out of Bismarck. The Livona Post Office was discontinued June 30, 1955, and taking its place at present is what is known as Livona Rural station, located in Burleigh County, half a mile north of the Glencoe Church. It has no connection at all with the original location of Livona. The old ferry boat landing, across the road from the last Livona post office owned by John Baker is today the site of a modern boat ramp. First Livona P.O.—1883 CAMP SHIELDS—A winter camp, named for N. Shields of Williamsport, and situated 18 miles west of Williamsport in the timber along the Missouri River banks about a mile north of the John Shermer place. Here some of the early settlers spent the winter months, moving to their homesteads in the spring. In March of 1887 flood waters caused many to be stranded for 24 hours. In the group were Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay and 5 children, Mr. and Mrs. N. Shields and 2 children, Mrs. Rodrich and the Mittlestedler brothers. CASSELMAN—William S. Casselman was postmaster when a post office was established on his farm on Sec. 8, 136-75 in Feb. 1886, but was discontinued Apr. 2, 1887, and mail sent to Steele. CORBINVILLE—Ben Corbin, Sr., early settler and wolf hunter, tried unsuccessfully to found a village on his land. When in 1896 there was an attempt to establish a mill and new town to be called Strasburg, the promoters could not agree on the site, and Ben Corbin came thru with the following humorous suggestion:— "I wish you would tell all those millers down south that if they can't agree, I will give a mill site, a town site, and a dam site on my half section of land in Beaver Creek Valley where they can run 2 or 3 months in each year by water and the rest of the year by gas, and catch fish enough to live on. The title to my land is signed by Ben Harrison and will be contersigned by Ben Corbin, two of the best men in this country. I will also give 10 acres to the first railroad, 1 lot to the first blind pig, 1 lot to the first store, 1 lot to the second blind pig, 1 lot 8 x 4 x 6 feet deep to the first editor (and will dig it myself), 1 lot to the third blind pig, 1 lot to the first blacksmith shop, 1 lot to the fourth blind pig, 1 lot to the first old maid, 1 lot to the fifth blind pig, 1 lot to the first wolf hatchery and 1 lot to the sixth blind pig. The deed to every lot must contain a contract that the buyer will allow no water to be drunk on the premises. It is one of the prettiest places in the country for a town site by a dam site, and Farmer Wallace will come down and build the dam. Signed: Ben Corbin. Take Notice: this land is for sale at $6.00 per acre. B.C." HORSEHEAD BOTTOMS (From "Paha Sapa Tawoyake" byWm.V. Wade; During the year of 1878 an old Sioux Indian Chief by the name of Black Eyes (Ista Sapa) came to our house near the foothills of Horse Head Bottoms about 45 miles down the river from where Bismarck is located. There was a very large cottonwood tree near our house and after looking around a long time, the old Indian said, "It was 50 years ago this winter (would have been about 1828) that we were camped on this bottom land just below here. There was lots of good grass here for our ponies and we drove them into camp every night so they wouldn't stray too far away. It was the "Wolf Month," meaning February, and it had been warm for a long time. One night the water started coming in over the ground from the river and before we could get out to higher ground we were surrounded by water and ice chunks. Our only chance was to get to high ground before we would all be covered up with water. We tried to carry our tepees and supplies but finally had to leave them and many of the women were drowned trying to save their children. Most all our old people drowned and many others. Most all our horses went under and you can still see their heads (skulls) laying along at the foot of the hills after so many, many years. Two Bears, (Ma to Nopa), a Yankton Chief, saved the lives of several women and children by carrying them from camp to the higher ground. They spent many days mourning and hunting the lost ones that they never found." Pratically the same thing happened to the James Gayton family and me in the Spring of 1877, only I was prepared, having my log canoe tied to the corner of the log house. I made several trips ferrying the people and their personal belongings out to higher ground and the last trip I ran the boat through a window into the house to rescue some household necessities. KERTZMAN—This post office, established July 3,1919 at Dana with John W. Schott as postmaster. It was discontinued in June, 1922 and mail sent to Hazelton. JV"%", < Last Livona P.O., discontinued 1955 Coal Butte, Parkhurst Coal Mine Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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