Introduction: When I began to research E.G. Paddock on Ancestry.com, I was happy to see a photograph of him on horseback; photos of individuals are such treasures. I found a document with a newspaper headline stating that E.G. had been indicted for murder, but the newspaper clipping was not included and there were no details about the “results” of that indictments. I sent my collaborator, Stephen Hamilton, a request asking him to do some searching of old newspapers for me; not long after, he sent back several; some of which included the entire courtroom proceedings. Very interesting, indeed.
Later, while doing more research, I found this trial was a big item in the history of the town of Medora and the Badlands, as such, it is included in many historical and travel guide books about the area.
When E.G. Paddock died in Santa Clara, California in 1920, the headlines in a local paper read: Friend of Teddy Roosevelt is Buried. So, Googled, E.G. Paddock and Theodore Roosevelt, this search brought many results. The first reference of these two “characters” together was a an incident Roosevelt included in one of his books: he was told that E.G. Paddock had threatened to “shoot him on sight”; he immediately mounted his horse and rode over to Paddock’s home and confronted him. It appeared they were not the “intimate” friends as Paddock claimed.
The main characters included in my story are my 3rd Great-Grandfather, E.G. Paddock (brother of my 2nd Great-Grandmother, Louisa M Paddock( who married Timothy Lynch), Marquis de Mores (E.G. Paddock’s boss for a time, also indicted for the murder of Luffsey Riley), and Theodore Roosevelt; these three ended up becoming business associates through the organization of a Cattlemen’s Association.
For the story of E.G. Paddock (Elbridge Gerry), I have used information from my Ancestry.com Tree (his profile page) Facts (Timeline), newspaper clippings, and references to him found in books (historical and travel guides) for the Badlands area of North Dakota. I include the weblinks at the end of this document.
E.G. Paddock was born abt 1839 in Newbury, Ohio, to Thomas and Laura (Odell) Paddock. In the 1850 Census, age 11, his parents have moved their family to Black River, Crawford, Wisc. 9/25/1858, age 21, he married Martha Barrett in La Crosse, Wisc. and their first son, William, was born. About this time, E.G. Paddock claimed to be the first white man to pitch a tent in what is now Denver, Colorado. In the 1860 Census, age 21, Paddock, wife Martha (23) and son, Wm (1) are listed in Nevada Gulch, Arapahoe, Kansas; at the same location, his brother, L.A. Paddock, age 23 and his wife Olive (20); appears both brothers were involved in the Gold Rush at Pikes Peak, and arrived there about 1858. E.G. is said to have been hunting and trapping on the Little Missouri River in 1863. In the 1870 Census, Elbridge Paddock, age 31, and his wife, Martha (32) are listed in Leaf Valley, Douglas, MN; his wife died there 1/10/1873, age 40. Martha, wife of E.G. Paddock was the sister of Olive, the wife of his brother L.A. Paddock. Note: Laura Odell, mother of L.A. and E.G. Paddock was the sister of, Mary Odell, mother of Olive and Martha Barrett, making the married couple's first cousins. Martha’s sister Olive had died about four years earlier, 5/20/1869, age 29.
1/23/1875, Elbridge G Paddock purchased 160 acres in Douglas County, MN at the Alexandria Land Office.
In 1878 E.G. Paddock turned the first herd of cattle loose in the Badlands… they were purchased in MN and driven over land by the E.G. to the Missouri river and ferried across to Fort Lincoln. When the Northern Pacific was being built through the Badlands in 1880 he was milking 30 cows; he supplied milk to the Cantonment (a military garrison). (Source: his Obituary)
[7] Book: Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The Badlands Cantonment established in 1879 to provide order
The 1880 Census lists “Ellgagy” G Beddonage, age 41, single (alone, no children listed with him) Billings, Dakota Territory.
Personal Note: I viewed this 1880 Census, the written name appears to be Ellgage G. Paddock no where near resembling “Beddonage”. This is a good place to note that the Census records for E.G. Paddock list birth dates of abt 1839, 1840, 1841, 1845; I have found no birth records for him, the date I use comes from Ancestry Family Trees.
"Little Misery." Paddock's cabin in foreground, 1880. Courtesy Haynes Studios Inc.
[4] Book: Explore! Theodore Roosevelt National Park… (Touring the South Unit /pg 45) The (Paddock) creek was named for one of Medora’s most intriguing bad guys, E.G. Paddock, who at one time had a cabin near the creek.
[1] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands
The Town of Little Missouri.
Newspapers in Dakota publicized the country as a hunters' paradise. The Bismarck Tribune in February 1880 claimed that 2 hunters in 6 weeks' time killed 90 deer and antelope and 15 elk. It alleged that they shot 11 of the elk in about 15 minutes. Other Dakota newspapers made similar claims. E. G. Paddock and Howard Eaton, professional guides for hunting groups, ran a continuous advertisement in the Mandan Pioneer… a site on the Little Missouri about 15 miles north of the new settlement of "Little Misery." And about the same time Howard Eaton and E. G. Paddock established a ranch 5 miles south of the new town.
Little Missouri and Medora.
(The Dickinson Press) Marquis de Mores and C. E. Haupt are the head of Northern Pacific Refrigerator Car Company and have built a large slaughterhouse with capacity for slaughtering and preparing two hundred beeves daily for the market… Only a few months previously the Marquis de Mores had established the town of Medora opposite Little Missouri on the east bank of the river, which he named for his wife.
Lawlessness in the Little Missouri Region.
The Bad Lands Cow Boy summarized the situation:
From all parts of Dakota and Montana came reports of depredations of horse-thieves. . . . Several men have been hung for horse-stealing, but the plague still goes on. We wish to be placed on record as believing that the only way to cure horse-stealing is to hang the thief whenever caught…
Roosevelt the Buffalo Hunter
At the beginning of 1883 about 10,000 buffalo ranged south of Dickinson near the Rainy Buttes and the headwaters of the Moreau and Grand Rivers. As the year progressed, slaughter by white hide hunters reduced the herd to about 1,200… Between September 14 and October 23, 1883, most of the remaining buffalo were quickly killed… For several years these towns did a thriving business in buffalo bones which were shipped east to be converted into fertilizer. As the great buffalo herds were destroyed, domestic cattle began to take their place on the vast open range.
Badlands Ranches in the 1880's.
End of information use from [1] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands
Personal Note: There are many photos of the Badlands area in this book and interesting essays about Theodore Roosevelt. Under the caption, A Typical Cattle Drive: a description of a cattle drive from Texas to the northern range in the 1880’s. Under the caption: Roosevelt and the Marquis de Mores, there are a pair of letters exchanged between the two men relating to rumors that they were “enemies”. A quote from the book: This exchange of correspondence apparently ended the incident. Except for this incident, Roosevelt's relations with De Mores, so far as is known, were amicable. On several occasions he visited the Marquis and Marquise at their "chateau" overlooking the Little Missouri. (There is an etching of the Marquis de Mores.)
Newspaper clippings from the Bismarck Tribune (see, E.G.’s Media):
7/18/1881, Telegram. E.G. Paddock acted in self defense and hold him justified in the shooting of William S. Livingston.
7/29/1881, Paddock’s Discharge. Mr. Livingston rode up… armed with a gun… making hostile demonstrations… Mr. Paddock was justified in the act, it being clearly in self defense.
In 1883, while E.G. Paddock is working for Marquis de Mores both men are indicted for the murder of Luftsey Riley (many different spellings of Luftsey). All newspaper clippings that I have are from the Bismarck Tribune or the Bismarck Daily Tribune.
6/29/1883, Captured Cowboys; Threats made against Marquis; Confrontation; Gunfight. The sentiment… the marquis would have been justified in killing every one of the assailants… The cause... for the attack… they did not want him to occupy the land and were desirous of driving him from the country.
7/6/1883, The Case. Marquis, landowner, fences off land for protection of his sheep. Hunters want to be free of this obstruction. Was the killing self-defense?
(9/8/1883, Roosevelt arrives in Little Missouri, North Dakota; Marquis de More’s slaugherhouse was two weeks from completion as was his ranch home, “Chateau de Mores” in the town of Medora which de Mores founded and named after his wife.
[1] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands
Early in 1884, there began to be an initiative to form a stockmen’s organization to enforce range rules… Roosevelt lent his support… he issued calls in the local newspaper for a meeting in Medora on December 19, 1884… they called it the Little Missouri Stockmen’s Association…
9/2/1885, Change of venue. Marquis de Mores and E.G. Paddock will be tried in Bismarck.
3 Clippings for 9/19/1885
On The Rack. The Marquis de Mores on Trial, Charged with Murder. Jury Members. Witness Testimony. E.G. Paddock testified and Marquis tells about the shooting and threats made against him. Description of the gunfight. Testimony and cross examination of Marquis. Opening Arguments. Mr. Long, prosecuting attorney in contempt of court, remanded to jail.
9/24/1885, Marquis de Mores was lodged in the county jail yesterday morning, and will remain until the close of the trial. He and E.G. Paddock are indicted for the killing of Luftus Riley. The trial will be opened on Sept. 10th.
9/24/1885, Call for dismissal of the indictment against Eldridge G Paddock of Murder by Mr. Theodore K Long, District of Attorney for the County of Morton. Marquis de Mores having been acquitted on the same indictment.
[2] Book: Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands…
(pg 240) Through spring and summer 1887, Medora eroded. E.G. Paddock loaded up the buildings he owned onto flat cars and hauled them to Dickinson, where he had bought lots. [3] Book: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (pg 377) E.G. Paddock had moved to Dickinson, taking the old Pyramid Park Hotel with him on a flat-car.
1888, E.G. Paddock married Katie Mitchell
9/20/1895, Bismarck Tribune, Paddock was a west-bound passenger on this morning’s train. E.G. Paddock, one of the best known hunters and guides of the Badlands country.
[1] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands
The Winter of 1886-87
Then subzero weather in late December, which lasted until mid-January, formed a crust of impenetrable ice from the melting snow. Cattle could not get through the crusted snow to the grass below. As a result, many of them perished.
Medora continued to decline, until it was almost a ghost town. The village of Little Missouri across the river fared worse, and eventually disappeared… Most of the outfits which were backed by eastern or foreign capital withdrew from the business.
Personal Note: there is a paragraph, The Further Career of the Marquis de Mores: he returned to France; he dreamed of augmenting the power of France in Africa… went to Tunis in 1896 to lead an expedition into the Sudan… (was) lead into an ambush… French colonial officials later recovered his body and returned it to Paris, where he is buried.
The Chateau de Mores is now maintained by the State Historical Society and is one the the “sights to see” in the Medora vicinity. There is a photo, the “Chateau” looks tiny in the mostly landscape picture.
1900 Census, E.G. Paddock, age 61, wife Katie (33), (children) Wallace 20, Ellen 14, listed in District 2, Billings, ND
8/13/1907, Bismarck Tribune, Mrs. and Mrs. Paddock leaving on an extended trip through Montana, Colorado, California and New Mexico
8/29/1909, Bismarck Tribune, E.G. Paddock to Bismarck to take care of his business interests here.
He has a 11 acre fruit orchard in California. which he considers worth $14,000. It has made a nice advance in price since he bought it last year.
1910 Census, Eldridge G. Paddock, age 71, wife Katie, age 40, listed in Campbell, Santa Clara, CA. Occupation: Farmer. Industry: Orchard. Renting Farm/House.
1911, City Directory, San Jose, CA. Elbridge G and Kate Paddock. Occupation: Orchardist
1920 Census, Elbridge G. Paddock, age 81, wife Katie, age 51, (children) Howard E 15, Elbridge G 12, listed in Redwood, Santa Clara, CA. Occupation: Farmer. Industry: Fruit Farmer. Employer. Owns home, Mortgage-free.
E.G. Paddock died 10/30/1920 in Campbell, Santa Clara, CA. He was buried at the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.
[7] Book: Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park
In June, 1926, the Vallombrosa brothers, Louis and Paul, sons of the Marquis and Marquise de Mores, commissioned (a statue to honor their father)… The statue and granite stone base were shipped from Paris, France, to Medora… the community the Frenchman founded in 1883. Inscription: In 1883, two notable individuals traveled along similar, yet later diverging paths from the eastern United States to a hamlet located on the west bank of the Little Missouri River in southwestern North Dakota. Both men, the Marquis de Mores and Theodore Roosevelt, were to distinguish themselves as wealthy cattle ranchers within months of arriving on what was then the western Dakota frontier. The names of both individuals continue to resound through the historical chapters that shaped this part of the American landscape.
Eleven years after the death of E.G. Paddock, 3/28/1931, Bismarck Tribune published this: Dickinson man proves that Marquis de Mores did not shoot Riley Lufsey. He was present when the bullet… was extracted... It was fired from a 45-75 gun. The firearm carried by the Marquis that day was a 50-95 express. (see, E.G.’s Media)
FRIEND OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT BURIED
Elbridge G. Paddock, who Aided in Surveying Northern Pacific, Passes Out.
North Dakota Pioneer Had Been A Resident of This County Several Years
A large number of friends of Elbridge Gerry Paddock gathered at the funeral parlors of the Santa Clara Undertaking Co. at Santa Clara Monday afternoon to pay the last respects to the memory of one who had had a most eventful life.
The service were in charge of the Rev. William Lloyd of Centelia M. E. Church of San Jose, and many beautiful floral tributes showed the respect in which the deceased was held.
Mr. Paddock passed away on October 22 at the advanced age of 80 years, about 20 of which had been spent in this valley, he having resided on Moorepark and Leigh avenue for a time, and for the past 12 years at a ranch home on the San Tomas road, where he died.
The deceased had had a most interesting and varied career. He was one of the early pioneers of North Dakota and for a time was engaged in the cattle business when ex-president Theodore Roosevelt was engaged as a cowboy in that region. He was also a guide and scout under General Custer through the many Indian wars of the early days. Later he became associated with the surveying party that laid out the right of way for the Northern Pacific railroad.
Mr. Paddock delighted to relate experiences of the early days, especially during the times in which he was intimately associated with the ex-president. When Mr. Roosevelt became president and an appointment for deputy United States marshall was before him he at once named Mr. Paddock.
The deceased often told of the remarkable personality of Mr. Roosevelt and his influence over men, illustrating with many an anecdote of things which occurred on the range in the early days. Another fact greatly appreciated by Mr. Paddock was the memory of the ex-president. This was illustrated when some years ago Mr. Roosevelt was addressing an audience at San Francisco he glanced about the audience and stopped in the midst of his speech to point out and call to the platform his former friend, Mr. Paddock.
Mr. Paddock is mourned by his widow, Mrs. Katie Paddock, one daughter, Mrs. Ellen A Condon, four sons, William, Wallace G, Howard El, and Elbridge Paddock, and one sister, Mrs. Helen Tarbell.
Personal Note: An “intimate” association with Theodore Roosevelt?
A confrontation between the two men is related in several books.
[3] Book: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
(pg 281) They had unpleasant news for him (Roosevelt): his foreboding of “trouble,” after rejecting the Marquis’ claim to the Elkhorn range, had been justified. E.G. Paddock--now more and more the power behind the throne of de Mores--had stopped by the ranch-site in late September, accompanied by several drunken gunmen. Finding Roosevelt away, the gang accepted lunch, sobered up, and rode off well stocked with beans and bonhomie. Since then, however, Paddock had begun to declare that the Elkhorn shack was rightfully his. If “Four Eyes” wished to buy it, he must pay for it in dollars--or in blood. Roosevelt, on hearing this, merely said, “Is that so?”
Remounting his horse, he road back upriver to Paddock’s house at the railroad crossing. The gunman answered his knock. “I understand that you have threatened to kill me on sight,” rasped Roosevelt. “I have come over to see when you want to begin the killing.”
Paddock was so taken aback he could only protest that he had been “misquoted.” Next morning Roosevelt left for New York, confident that from now on his ranch-site would be left in peace.
[4] Book: Explore! Theodore Roosevelt National Park…
pg 68-69
One serious problem did occur while the ranch was being built. Because the land on which Roosevelt’s ranch was being built was owned by the government, Roosevelt did not have anything more than squatter’s rights to the land. While Sewall and Dow were building the ranch, they lived in a small dugout cabin they had built. One of Medora’s most seedy characters, E.G. Paddock, had a nasty habit of making claims to every old shack that existed out in the Badlands. Apparently, Paddock once arrived at the ranch with a drunk posse and ill intent. Roosevelt was away on a hunting trip, but Dow had the presence of mind to fix everyone a nice meal inside the ranch house while subtly showing them the vast array of weapons kept indoors. From that moment on, Paddock seemed less belligerent toward the men from Maine. But he apparently still had it in for Roosevelt and sought to gain some benefit from Roosevelt’s “claims” to the land. Rumors circulated around that Badlands community that Paddock was going to shoot Roosevelt the first chance he got. When Roosevelt heard this news, he immediately rode to Paddock’s house and confronted him. Roosevelt’s words for Paddock were very blunt. Hagedorn quotes Roosevelt as saying, “Paddock, I understand that you have threatened to kill me on sight. I have come over to see when you want to begin the killing and to let you know that, if you have anything to say against me, now is the time for you to say it.” Paddock claimed that he had been “misquoted.” This response apparently satisfied Roosevelt, concluding this particular episode with Paddock.
[5] Book: Theodore Roosevelt in the Field
pg 164) There was the time when another rancher, E.G. Paddock, purportedly threatened to kill Roosevelt on sight because of a disagreement over the ownership of the shack at Elkhorn. Manly and direct, Roosevelt galloped up to Paddock’s shack near the Pyramid Park, knocked on the door, and, once it was opened, said: “I have come over to see when you want to being the killing.”
Personal Note: I’m going to include a couple of other “confrontations” Roosevelt shared with his readers because they are good examples of the “stories” of the time; the stories are reminiscent of the Western movies and TV series of my childhood.
In another encounter, equally confrontational, a band of four or five “Indians” saw Roosevelt out riding alone on the prairie and “whipped their guns out of their slings, started their horses into a run, and came on a full tilt, whooping and brandishing their weapons.” With no time to be scared, Roosevelt hopped of his trusty Manitou and raised his rifle, knowing that it was a fool’s errand for them to ride toward a man with a steady gun. It worked like magic. He and Manitou stood firm as the “party scattered out as wild pigeons,” and he bagged another story, in this case reinforcing his perspective on the place of Indians in the West.
...preceding this story is a story of Roosevelt (using his memory of the hours he had spent boxing with his classmates at Harvard)… Roosevelt was not intimidated… the man had made a simple mistake: he had stepped well within arms’ reach of Roosevelt, and his heels were too close together. In his knuckles and biceps, Roosevelt called up the memory… “As I rose, I struck quick and hard with my right just to one side of the point of his jaw, hitting with my left as I straightened out, and then again with my right.”
In briefly recounting his leading role in such a great Western story, Roosevelt placed himself amidst the men of the West as he described their habits in his Badlands writing. Here he was amidst a brawling, swearing, gunslinging set of trappers, mountain men, and cowboys… a fight in the front of the Skinner & Dunn Saloon; shots from an amused cowpoke’s revolver making a “tenderfoot” dance; a Shaker chair raised overhead, ready to crack to pieces in a barroom melee. Roosevelt’s stories burned with the self-reliant voice he adopted in his rambles through the Badlands, and he collected many more experiences that would stock his writings and build the legends of his time in the West.
References to an amicable association between E.G. Paddock and Theodore Roosevelt:
[2] Book: Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands…
pg 148) Roosevelt’s newest enthusiasm… to organize a regional cattlemen's association…. Howard Eaton called a meeting that included… E.G. Paddock…
After drumming up interest… Roosevelt rode into Medora and had lunch with de Mores, any tension that existed between them apparently at rest…
pg 154) Roosevelt opened the stockmen’s meeting… Those present included a roster of familiar names… E.G. Paddock, the Marquis de Mores, Howard Eaton…. Roosevelt was elected chairman… De Mores was named a committee of one to liaison with a Montana-association committee that lobbied the territorial legislatures…
pg 156) To pass the cold winter nights, the cowboys played old sledge, casino, checkers, and chess and read books--Roosevelt was surprised to find them reading and “in large part comprehending” Henry Cabot Lodge’s book Studies in Literature. Medora was quiet in winter… There was nothing to do in town but drink or attend the occasional dance, such as those held at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Roosevelt opened one such “cowboy ball” by dancing the lancers with Paddock’s wife, acknowledging that Paddock “knew all the steps far better than I did. He could have danced a minuet very well with a little practice.”
The following book contains the Bismarck Tribune Newspaper transcripts of the Indictment and Court Case for the Murder of Luffsey Riley.
[6] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands
References
[1] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/hh/thro/throc.htm
[2] Book: Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands…
[3] Book, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
[4] Book: Explore! Theodore Roosevelt National Park…
[5] Book: Theodore Roosevelt in the Field
[6] Book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Dakota Badlands
[7] Book: Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park
https://books.google.com/books?id=msr9LS_O8z8C&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=E.+G.+Paddock+and+Theodore+Roosevelt&source=bl&ots=1U91bLMFem&sig=w46RW_-9FrDtxT2mxz7nHb9lD5Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs8u7a5tLJAhUJHh4KHV2vC1MQ6AEIQjAI#v=onepage&q=E.%20G.%20Paddock%20and%20Theodore%20Roosevelt&f=false
Howard Eatom paddock. So. Of E G paddock is my father. E.g. Paddock and Howard Eatomwere fast friends. I have many letters from the Howard Eatomranch, which still exists in
ReplyDeleteNE Montana, a dude ranch and still is. They refer to all of this information. Would be happy to share. Marilynn paddock brandmeyer