History of Mercer County, North Dakota, 1882 to 1960

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library 2014
• Subjects: Bluff The; Flint; Indian; Manuel Creek; Mercer; Salt Mountain; Stanton; Steamboat; The Bluff; Beaver Creek
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/16123

LANDMARKS Picture Rock This rock is located about three miles northeast of Zap, N. D., near the Peter Boeckel farm. There is one true petroglyph, that of a human hand, the other markings are indistinct; but look like a deer or antelope, and several symbols. Whether these are the handiwork of Indians or an earlier race we cannot say. Flint Pits Only two flint pits have been found in Mercer county. One is on the Gottlieb Isaak farm north of Golden Valley, where many broken and unfinished arrowheads have been found. The other pits, or as some call them quarries, are on the Matt Crowley ranch, south of Golden Valley. Medicine Butte Medicine Butte, located in Sec. 11, Twp. 142, Rge. 89, is the highest point of land in Mercer county. The name undoubtedly is of Indian origin. It is possible that here is where the medicine men of the tribes, living at the mouth of Knife river, conducted the ceremonies instructing and initiating the youths of the tribe in the mysteries of their societies. "Four Paw" Farrington said; there was plenty of bad medicine there in the early days, in the shape of numerous rattlesnakes. Salt Mountain The Salt Mountain mentioned by Charles Le Raye, an early French explorer, must be the alkali butte on the August Brecht ranch, Sec. 35, Twp. 145, Rge. 90. All early explorers refer to alkali buttes as mountains of salt, because the spring water in their immediate vicinity was alkaline and tasted salty. Coal Bluffs Bluffs located on the Missouri north of Stanton, contained a fair sized vein of coal. They were a landmark for the early steamboat pilots. At this place a steamboat piloted by Captain Grant Marsh was attacked one time, by a large band of Sioux. The channel of the river was very narrow, and ran close to the bluff. The Indians shot down at the boat from the bluff, but did very little damage. Manuel Rock Manuel Rock is a large sandstone promontory located west of the old river town of Expansion. It is also a landmark of the pilots. Nearby is Manuel Creek, where Ft. Vanderburgh and Rock Village were located. It was named after Manuel Lisa, an early fur trader. Goodmans Creek A tributary of Spring Creek in the northwestern part of the county. According to the story of Wolf Chief, some seventy-five years ago a big battle between the Rees and Sioux was fought here. The Sioux were defeated with a loss of 200 men. The Rees declared themselves "Goodmans," and hence the name. ANTELOPE VALLEY—lias its beginning on Beaver Creek near 30 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.