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The Letter
As we began to take stock of all that was in there, I came across an unopened letter postmarked 1918. At first I was spinning tales in my head as to why he would have not opened and read this letter. With a closer look I saw that it had been addressed to Pvt. Sam Dagg and was stamped “returned to writer.” Martell didn’t open the letter because he knew what was inside, he had written it. There were many other letters and papers in the trunk pertaining to Samuel John Dagg.
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On Sitting Bull’s Vest
While there were many important Indian leaders during the expansion of the West, Sitting Bull is one of the most familiar. He was an important political and spiritual leader. His leadership was integral to the success of the Lakota at the Battle of Little Big Horn, and his final surrender at Fort Buford was a true turning point in American history. In an interview with Darrell Dorgan in the summer of 2004, Ron His Horse is Thunder (formerly Ron McNeil) reflected on his great, great, grandfather, Sitting Bull. His great grandfather was Sitting Bull’s nephew and adopted son One Bull. He said Sitting Bull is often called “Chief” and…
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The Last Cattle Drive II
This story was written and posted with many pictures in Writin’ for the Brnd’s Tales of the Ranch in 2022. North Dakota Horizons magazine has published an edited version in their last summer issue; sadly this is the last year of the magazines publication. I am grateful for the numerous times they published a story of mine. They always brought my articles to life with beautiful layouts. It’s fitting that my last article for them is The Last Cattle Drive. Author note: This story was told to me by Lloyd Lester in 2017. He typed the original story and in subsequent conversations added details. Lloyd worked on the Martell ranch…
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Pioneering Women in Rodeo
Published in the Cowboy Chronicle; Publication of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame June 2023 Theodore Roosevelt, attending the Wild West show that was part of the entertainment for his Rough Riders reunion, graciously bowed to the diminutive teenage girl and applauded her success. Roosevelt had watched in awe as she roped a running steer and beat all the cowboys for first prize. He told her none of his Rough Rider troops could have done a better job. It was 1900 and the vice-presidential candidate had put together the second Rough Riders reunion in Oklahoma City. Roosevelt’s brief but transformative ranching career in North Dakota set in him an…
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Western Artists: Preserving our History
Published in The Cowboy Chronicle December 2022. Following is a more detailed version that was not published. Stories and art have always been part of human history. The written word evokes powerful images and emotions. The visualization of a story brings new clarity and a sense of reality. When Theodore Roosevelt chronicled his life in North Dakota with the book Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail, Frederick Remington was commissioned to do illustrations for the book. Roosevelt wanted the artwork to bring his experiences to life. The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame has recognized North Dakota artists since its inception with the Arts and Entertainment category. Since then, five…
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North Dakota Farmers and Ranchers Go to Washington!
“Proudly owned by the North Dakota Farmers Union” is not something you would expect to see over the door of a popular restaurant in Washington DC, just a mile away from the White House. Yet there it is, proudly serving locals and visitors since 2006. The farmer owned Founding Farmers restaurant is the first of its kind anywhere. Along with six other restaurants now in its group, these restaurants serve and educate 45,000 people a week. Through their ownership of the Founding Farmer Restaurant Group farmers are helping consumers and Beltway residents better understand and appreciate family farm agriculture and rural America. The restaurants food is sourced from family farms…
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Historic Homesteads – Minot Daily News
2021 – 2022 Edition Photos from the Martell Family archives Information provided to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame by Mary Pat Martell Jones Charles Martell was inducted into the NDCHF in 2019
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On the Edge of History: A Profile of Medora’s Doug Ellison
“It is the romance and drama of history that still holds my interest. Growing up on a ranch was a reflection of the Old West, so that is the era that first attracted my attention. All of history is interconnected, so one theme leads to another.” Doug Ellison There has always been a certain romance to the American West. There is mystery, excitement, beauty and wide open spaces where adventure and opportunity awaits. Indeed this was true even back in the day when the west was first being settled. Men and women living in crowded tenements and working long hours in often grueling jobs, saw the west as the land…
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The Old Cottonwood Reflection
The summer of 2022 is winding down and soon the fall leaves will be floating by in the breeze. The end of a season is a natural time of reflection. It always goes by so fast – in the spring it seems the summer months will be long enough for so many plans. At the end of every summer I lament what didn’t come to pass, but this summer did start with a lovely day showing my sister and two of her girls a special place with a significant history. As you enter the Yellowstone – Missouri Confluence Center, a majestic cottonwood now over 200 years old, stands guard at…
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Telling the Stories of North Dakota
Published in the Summer 2022 edition of North Dakota Horizons magazine Over a thousand years ago, a Native American carved symbols into the rocks at what is now Writing Rock Historic Site in Divide County. These were not random symbols; each had purpose, meaning, and told a story. Humans have built their cultures, preserved and passed on knowledge, communicated ideas, and entertained with storytelling since the beginning of their existence. What began as oral tradition, evolved to stories written, acted and, in the modern world, also presented on film. Canticle Productions, a North Dakota-based film and theater production company, showcases stories that are as personal to North Dakota as the…
