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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
NORTH DAKOTA
HISTORY AND PEOPLE
OUTLINES OF AMERICAN
HISTORY
By
COLONEL CLEMENT A. LOUNSBERRY
Founder of the Bismarck Tribune
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1917
THE KEW YCr.K 1
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTsn. : I
TILDE.\ 1
Copyright 1916 by
CLEMENT A. LOTJNSBERRY
Washington, D. C.
Published 1916
To THE North Dakota Pioneers
and their successors, the fathers, mothers
and children of the North Dakota of today,
this work is affectionately dedicated, by
The Author.
October 31, 1916.
PREFACE
"I hear the tread of pioneers,
Of nations yet to be,
The first low wash of waves where soon
Shall roll a human sea."
— John G. IVhitticr.
More intensely interesting than a fairy tale is the story of the development
of the great Northwest. It is a story of adventure and of daring in the lives of
individuals not unmixed with romance, for there were brave, loving hearts, and
gentle clinging spirits among those hardy pioneers, and many incidents and choice
bits of legend have been handed down, which I hope may serve to make these
pages interesting.
It is a story with traces of blood and tears, illustrating "man's inhumanity to
man," for there were some among the early traders who had little regard for the
expenditure of these precious treasures, in their pursuit of "Gold ! gold ! gold !
gold !" that is "heavy to get and light to hold," as suggested by Hood — the
"Price of many a crime untold
*******
How widely its agencies vary,
To save, to ruin, to curse, to bless.
As even its minted coins express,
Now stamp'd with the image of good Queen Bess,
And now of a Bloody Mary."
It is a story of man's love for man, in the \\ork of the early missionaries, who,
in obedience to the command of the Master, went forth into the wilderness to lift
up and benefit the "untutored" savage, who only "sees God in clouds, or hears
Him in the wind," and to bring refuge to his white children, who had blazed
the way, and who were languishing in des])air. It is a story of heroic deeds^
of patriotic devotion to duty, of suffering and bloodshed and of development.
Whether I am the one to write the story, let others judge.
"Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us ;
Let us journey to a lonely land I know.
There's a whisper on the night wind, there's a star agleam to guide us,
And the Wild is calling, calling — let us go."
—Robert IV. Service, "The Call of the Wild."
vii
viii PREFACE
My family in all of its branches were among the early settlers of New York
and New England, frontiersmen and participants in all of the early Indian wars.
My mother's people suffered in the Wyoming massacre. Among the slain in
that bloody affair were seven from the family of Jonathan Weeks, her paternal
ancestor, who with fourteen fatherless grand-children returned to Orange County,
New York, whence he came, abandoning his well developed farm near Wilkes-
barre, as demanded by the Indians.
I knew many of the people directly connected with the Minnesota massacre
of 1862, and the incidents leading up to it, and the campaign following — settlers
in the region affected, prisoners of the Sioux, traders, soldiers, missionaries, men
in public life, and many of the Indians. One of the stockades built by the settlers
for defense, was situated on the first real property I ever owned, and in a log
house within this stockade, my first child, Hattie, wife of Charles E. V. Draper of
Mandan, N. D., was born.
In July, 1S73, I established the Bismarck Tribune, the first newspaper pub-
lished in North Dakota. There were then but five villages in North Dakota —
Pembina, Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown and Bismarck ; no railroad, excepting
the Northern Pacific under construction ; no farms, no agriculture, except the
cultivation of small patches by Indians and half-bloods, or in coimection with the
military posts or Indian agencies ; no banks, no public schools, no churches. It
was my fate to be one of five (John W. Fisher, Henry F. Douglas, I. C. Adams,
Mrs. W. C. Boswell and myself) to organize the Presbyterian Church Society
at Bismarck, the first church organization in North Dakota, in June, 1873, ^'id ^^
the autumn of that year I was instrumental in organizing the Burleigh County
Pioneers, developed through my direction into the North Dakota State Historical
Society, of which I was the first president.
I was at Bismarck when a party of Northern Pacific surveyors started west
to siirvey the line of the road from that point to the Yellowstone River, in the
spring of 1873, and saw the smoke of battle and heard the crack of rifles, as the
engineers were forced to fight, even before they got as far west as the site of
Mandan.
I saw Gen. George A. Custer as he marched to his last battle — the massacre
of Custer and 261 men of the Seventh United States Cavalry on the Little Big
Horn, by the Sioux. Accompanying him was Mark Kellogg, bearing my com-
mission from the New York Herald, who rode the horse that was provided for
me — for I had purposed going but could not — and who wore t!ie belt I had worn
in the Civil war. which was stained with my blood.
I saw the wounded brought down the Yellowstone and the Missouri, by Grant
Marsh, on that historic boat, the Far West, and the weeping widows whose hus-
bands returned not.
The trail of blood, beginning at the Atlantic, taking a new start at the Gulf,
extending to the Pacific, and, returning, starting afresh on the banks of the
]\Iissouri. came to a sudden check on the banks of the Little Big Horn but it was
not ended, the blood already spilled was not enough. The Seventh United States
Cavalry, Custer's Regiment, was again baptized in blood at \\ounded Knee,
and the end was not reached until the tragic death of Sitting Bull in 1891.
We have the Indians with us yet — in many instances happy and prosperous
farmers, their children attending the schools and universities, the male adults
PREFACE ix
having taken lands in severalty under the Federal Allotment Act, being recognized
citizens of the United States, and entitled to the elective franchise in the Slate
of North Dakota.
If I dwell upon Indian affairs, it is because I have been interested in the
Indians from childhood. After the battle of Spottsylvania I lay in the field
hospital beside an Indian soldier, wounded even worse than I. Not a groan
escaped his lips. I admired the pluck and courage, and the splendid service
of the Indian soldiers from the states of T^Iichigan and Wisconsin in the Civil
war. I have seen them in battle. I have known their excellent service as
Indian police, I have seen them in their happy homes, when roaming free on the
prairie, and I know their good points. Although I shall picture the horrors
of Indian wars in a lurid light, I have no sympathy with the idea that "the only
good Indian is a dead Indian." and I am glad to know that they are no longer
a "vanishing race," but their numbers are now increasing, and to feel that they
have a splendid destiny before them.
I have seen the growth of North Dakota from the beginning, I have per-
formed my part in its development, but in the words of Kipling's Explorer:
"Have I named one single river? Have I claimed one single acre?
Have I kept one single nugget? — (barring samples?) No, not I.
Because my price was paid me ten times over by my Maker,
But \'ou wouldn't understand it. You go up and occupy."
I feel it a duty, as well as a privilege, to contribute these pages to its history.
Clement Augustus Lounsbeerv.
Bismarck, N. D., October 31, 1916.
THE STATE FLOWER
(The Willi Rose)
THE WILD ROSE
The State Floiver—the Wild Rose,
Five petals of a pale, pink tint
Are round its heart of gold.
And hither, thither, ivithoitt stint,
It scatters o'er the world.
A touch of color, faint and fine
The artist at his best.
Beneath a careless, szuift ^design,
Supreme and self-confessed.
This flower that runs across the hill
With such unconscious grace.
That seeks some wilderness to fill
And make a heavenly place;
This masterpiece for common folk.
Lit with the artist's joy,
Let no unthinking, 'wanton stroke.
No ruthless hand, destroy.
■ — Marion Lisle.
"The forest has spells that enchant me
The mountain has pozvcr to enthrall.
Yet the grace of a wayside blossom
Can stir my heart deeper than all.
O sentinels! piercing the cloud land,
Stand forth in stupendous array.
My brow by your shadow enshrouded,
is humble before you today.
But peaks that arc gilded by Heaven
Defiant you stand in your pride!
From glories too distant above me,
I turn to the friend at 7ny side."
— From the French of Louis Frechette,
translated by Hon. J. D. Edgar.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XL
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
PART I
PAGE
Ix THE Beginning , 3
Occupied for Indian Trade 17
The Buffalo Republic 32
Foltnding of Pembina 40
The Louisiana Purchase 53
"When Wild in Woods the Noble Savage Ran" "]•]
Graft in Indian Trade 88
The Northwest Territory — A Chapter Apart 99
The War of 1812 117
PART II
Early Exploring Expeditions 139
The Conquest of the Missouri 154
The Conquest of the Missouri (Continued) 166
Including the Sioux Massacre of 1862 186
In the Sioux Country 205
Dakota Pioneers 220
The Conquest of the Sioux 237
The Conquest of the Sioux (Continued) 248
Dakota Territory 259
PART III
Dakota Organized 271
Dakota in the Civil and Indian Wars 282
Politics in Indian Affairs 307
Transportation Development 325
Red River Valley Old Settlers' .\ssoci.»ition 351
PART IV
Division of the Territory 365
The North Dakota Constitutional Convention — Ena-
bling Act 383
The State 414
The Codes of North Dakota 437
xi
xu
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
XXVIII. The Supreme Court 444
XXIX. Prohibition 461
XXX. The Press of N^orth Dakota 474
XXXI. Naming North Dakota Counties 483
XXXII. Stories of Early Days 487
XXXIII. Pioneer Settlers and Settlements 508
XXXIV. History of Banking in North Dakota 530
XXXV. History of Methodism in North Dakota 538
XXXVI. Historical Sketch of the University of North Dakota. . . 549
XXXVII. North Dakota Volunteers 561
XXXVIII. The Revolution in North Dakota • 586
PART I
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
CHAPTER I
IN THE BEGINNING
A TRAIL OF BLOOD
"Swiftly walk over the western wave, Spirit of Night."
— Shelley.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without form,
and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon
the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.
— Holy Scriptures.
Long before the earth took form, the universe existed. Compared with the
whole, the earth's proportion is that of a thought snatched from a busy Hfe,
a leaf from the forest, a grain of sand from the seashore, a chip from the work-
shop of Eternal Energy.
Perhaps it existed in impalpable dust, or fragrnents left when other worlds
or celestial bodies were created, hurled together by Almighty Force, forming a
burning mass, still burning in the interior, changing but not destroying the
material of which it was made. Gases from the flames still form, and finding
vent at some weak spot, the explosion and the earthquake follow, and portions
shake and tremble, cities are destroyed or buried, and the face of the earth is
changed.
Perhaps a crust formed upon the surface of the burning mass when this old
earth was young, which, shrinking as it cooled, gave the mountain ranges and
the depressions which make the beds of the seas and oceans, and out of the vol-
canoes, belching forth their clouds of smoke and gases, came the "darkness"
which "was upon the face of the deep," and when the darkness disappeared, and
life and growth became possible, "the morning stars sang together," for a new
world was born.
And that world took its course among the planets, the portion receiving the
direct rays of the sun becoming tropical, while immense bodies of ice formed at
the poles. "The testimony of the rocks" indicates that when the ice was broken
loose, and plowed over the surface of the earth, it was miles in depth. It broke
down, and ground to gravel and dust, mountain ranges, leaving here and there
3
4 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the boulders, forming new valleys and new plains, burying the immense mass of
vegetation of that earlier period, giving to the world its fields of coal.
Perhaps, under this enormous accumulation of ice, the earth was changed in
its axis, possibly by some convulsion of nature. The fact that a large portion of
North Dakota was, time and time again, beneath the waters, is apparent to any
observer, and in all of the eastern part of the state, the work of the ice is as
visible as the stitches of a seamstress upon a completed garment.
Neither life nor light was possible in the earth's earlier stages, and after the
creation of all other forms of life, man appeared, and into his organization there
was carried every element in nature, whether on the earth, in the waters which
surrounded the earth, or in the atmosphere — whether in the chattering ape or
creeping thing, in beast or bird, in fish or fowl, in life-supporting or life-destroying
principle, and to all these life was added, breathed into man, created indeed
from the dust of the earth by Divine Energy. And what is life? We may fol-
low matter and find it in its changing form, but when life passes from its earthly
tenement, who can say whither it goeth ?
Man ate of the tree of knowledge. That was God-given, and its use brings
its reward and its punishment, but death is essential to development, and is as
natural as birth. The seasons come, and the seasons go; winter has its work
no less than summer; the flowers bloom and fade, and so man is born, matures,
and falls into decay, and, like the dead worlds which have performed their mis-
sions, passes into dust to be born again into some new form of life.
"The stars shine over the earth,
The stars shine over the sea ;
The stars look up to the mighty God,
The stars look down on me.
The stars have lived a million years,
A million years and a day;
But God and I shall love and live
When the stars have passed away."
— Rev. Jahez Thomas Sunderland.
When man appeared upon the, face of the earth the strenuous life began.
Doubtless from the beginning he "earned his bread by the sweat of his brow"
and the quiet life of Abel invited the first flow of human blood, which has formed
a continuous trail that marks the course of human development. Without blood-
shed there has been no advancement, without bloodshed no redemption ; no great
reforms have ever gained a masterly headway without bloodshed ; no nation has
ever been established without its baptism of blood.
Persecution in the old world led to the peopling of the new, and everj' step
in the development of the new world is marked by human blood. There was
war between the French and the English colonists, war between the Dutch and
their neighbors, and cntelty in most revolting form by those who sailed under,
the flag of Spain and gained a permanent foothold in the country west of the
Mississippi River. And from the beginning the whites were at war with the
reds, driving them from one section, then another, destroying their homes, taking
from them their wealth of game, and planting within their breasts hatred almost
undying. Who does not remember the pathetic words of Tah-gah-jute called
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 5
■'Logan?" He was the son of a white man reared among the Indians, and was
known as a Mingo chief — a common term for those Iroquois hving beyond the
proper boundaries of the tribe. He was named for James Logan, colonial secre-
tary of Pennsylvania, his father's friend. All the members of his family were
killed in the spring of 1774, while crossing a river in a canoe, and after the
defeat of the Indians in the bloody war which followed, instead of suing for
peace with the rest, he sent this message to be delivered to John Murray Dun-
more, the last royal governor of Virginia.
LOGAN TO DUN MORE
"1 appeal to any white man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry,
and he gave him no meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him
not. During the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an
advocate of peace. Such was my love for the whites that my countrymen pointed
as they passed by, and said, 'Logan is the friend of the white man.' I had even
thought to have lived with you, had it not been for the injuries of one man.
Colonel Cresap, who last spring, in cold blood, unprovoked, murdered all the
relatives of Logan, not even sparing my women and children, and he an officer
in the white man's government ! There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins
of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have
killed many. I have glutted my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the
gleams of peace ; but do not harbor a thought that mine is' the joy of fear. Logan
never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to
mourn for Logan? Not one."
KING Philip's w.-\r
"Here still a lofty rock remains,
On which the curious eye may trace —
Now wasted half by warring rains, —
The fancies of a ruder race."
— Philip Frcncau. 1752-1832.
In July, 1675, the King Philip's war commenced. The old and friendly
chiefs, who appreciated the sturdy integrity of the Pilgrims, and their braves
who knew what war was, had passed away. The young men who followed them
had become proficient in the use of firearms and were chafing for war, and
determined to provoke it, but believed they would be defeated unless they avoided
shedding the first blood. So they wandered about committing depredations of
every kind, sometimes snatching the prepared food from the tables where they
appeared as unbidden guests at meal times. They killed the domestic animals
of the colonists, sharpened their knives on their doorsteps while boasting of
what they intended to do, and finally on Sunday. July 20, 1675, ^ party of eight
called at the home of a colonist and demanded the privilege of sharpening their
hatchets on his grindstone, well knowing that it would not be permitted in view
of the Pilgrim idea of the Sabbath. They went to another house where the
people were at church and ransacked the closets, helping themselves to food ;
they shot the cattle of other colonists and finally demanded liquor of one and
6 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
tried to take it by violence when he in his desperation fired on one of them wno
was slightly wounded, and their purpose was gained — the whites had drawn the
first blood, and war was declared and waged in all its fury.
Of the ninety villages which had been settled by the New England colonists,
twelve were utterly destroyed during that war, and forty others suffered from
fire and pillage. The isolated settlements were nearly all destroyed, the Indians
taking but few captives and these being held for torture or ransom.
The traditions of many families run back to King Philip's war, some of
the women and children escaping by being placed in an out-of-door brick oven
before which wood was piled when the men were called out for the common
defense. When the men returned they found the family safe, but the buildings
had been destroyed by fire. In Abbott's "History of King Philip," the author
graphically tells the story, and concludes with these words : "But the amount of
misery created can never be told or imagined. The midnight assault, the awful
conflagration, the slaughter of women and children, the horrors of captivity in
the wilderness, the impoverishment and mourning of widows and orphans, the
diabolical torture, piercing the wilderness with shrill shrieks of mortal agony,
the terror, universal and uninterrupted by day or night — all, all combined in
composing a scene in the awful tragedy of human life, which the mind of the
Deity alone can comprehend."
Plymouth and Bristol counties in Eastern Massachusetts witnessed some of
the most exciting episodes of the Indian wars, and the conflicts with King Philip
and his warriors occurred frequently in this locality. Their woods and the
country lying between the present cities have rung many times with the war
whoop of savages, and the waters of Mount Hope Bay, and the many lakes,
rivers, and large ponds, have assisted in the transportation of countless parties
of attack, and of escape, as well as great councils leading to transactions of far-
reaching consequence to the country.
King Philip and about five hundred lodges of his people numbering upwards
of three thousand, took up their winter quarters in 1675, near South Kingston,
R. I., on an elevated tract of land surrounded by an almost impenetrable swamp.
It was fortified by palisades, a ditch and a slashing of some rods in width, and
here as at Pequot Hill, they had gathered immense quantities of supplies. Decem-
ber 19, 1675, they were attacked in this position by a force of about one thousand
colonial troops and their camp and supplies entirely destroyed. More than
one thousand warriors were slain, and a large number were wounded ; few of
the women and children escaping, although many of the warriors reached the
swamp, and continued their warfare until the bitter end in the summer of 1677.
King Philip, however, was killed August 12, 1676, at Mount Hope, R. I. His
body was beheaded and quartered and the parts hung up in trees to be devoured
by vultures ; his wife and children being sold into slavery. This was the fate
of the captives generally. Those for whom there was no market were parceled
out among the colonists as ser\'ants. The tribes engaged in this war were the
Wampanoags, Narragansetts and Nipmucks.
Similar scenes were enacted in the W'yoming Valley, Luzerne County, Penn-
sylvania, July 3, 1778, when more than three hundred settlers were slain.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 7
EXTENDING THE FRONTIER
Before the Revolutionary war, steps were taken to extend the settlement to
the west, partly from the impulse to expand, to grow, and partly from a desire
to extend the frontier as a measure of protection. This ambition was the leading,
moving thought among the great minds of Virginia, and it was sons of Virginia
who blazed the way into the trackless wilderness, and took possession of Ken-
tucky, "the dark and bloody ground," where the battles were fought and the
minds cultured which made apparent the advisability of the purchase of Louisiana,
and contributed so much to its development.
As Washington, then a young surveyor and lowly citizen, extended the lines
of survey, he was watched by the red men, who dogged his footsteps and scalped
his unfortunate assistants who happened to fall into their hands, and often it
became necessary to drop the tripod and compass, and take up the rifle and the
knife. That which occurred in his case was true in the life of almost all of the
frontier surveyors, and the frontier farmer carried the rifle, as well as the hoe,
into the field where the work was done.
When the little band of Virginians passed down the Ohio River on their way
to the unknown land, muffled oars guided the Indian canoe behind them, and
stealthily treading feet followed their footprints on the land. When they sent
their representatives back to Virginia, it was the eloquence, the force and the
patriotism of Patrick Henry — and the loving sympathy of his wife, Dorothea,
a gift of God, indeed — which gave to the settlers 500 pounds of powder,
to Kentucky a name as a county in \'irginia, and the support necessary to the
life of that colony.
Startling and fruitful of results were the incidents in the years of warfare
which followed. We find in them the chain of forts, the campaign of "Mad"
Anthony Wayne, the battle of Tippecanoe and the war with Mexico.
The horrors of Indian war were again visited on the frontier settlers in the
Minnesota massacre of 1862, which brought the trail of blood home to Dakota
doors, the story of which will be told with considerable detail in this volume, for
it is important that the youth of this fair land should know something of what
it has cost to establish liberty, to extend the settlements, and to develop the
resources of this country, until now there is no frontier.
"But the Prairie's passed, or passing, with the passing of the years.
Till there is no West worth knowing, and there are no Pioneers ;
They have riddled it with railroads, throbbing on and on and on.
They have ridded it of dangers till the zest of it is gone ;
And I've saddled up my pony, for I'm dull and lonesome here,
To go Westward, Westward, Westward, till we find a new Frontier ;
To get back to God's own wildness and the skies \we used to know —
But there is no West ; it's conquered — and I don't know where to go I"
— /. W. Foley, "Sunset On the Prairies."
CHAPTER I— Continued.
OUTLINES OF AMERICAN HISTORY
THE FIRST TRADING POSTS — BORDER WARS FRENCH POSTS THE ALGONQUINS AND
THE IROQUOIS OR SIX NATIONS INDIAN ALIGNMENT IN THE BORDER WARS
THE TUSCARORAS A PATHETIC APPEAL THE CHEROKEES THE CREEKS, ETC.
ATTEMPTS TO ENSLAVE THE INDIANS — THE MASSACRE AT FORT MIMS.
THE FIRST TRADING POSTS
"When the cool wind blows, from the shining snows
On the long, bald range's crest,
I am drunk with song, and the gold days long,
And the big, bare sweep of the West.
Life is not fair, but I do not care.
If only I get my fill,
Of wind and storm, and the mellow warm
Of the sun, on the sage-brush hill !"
— M. E. Hamilton, "The Pagan."
In 1608, Samuel Champlain established Indian trade in North America as a
business by the construction of a line of trading posts, with headquarters at
Quebec. This was the beginning of the fur trade, which, extending along the
lakes and to the great Northwest, led to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany in 1670 ; to the struggle between the rival trading establishments ; to the
alignment of the Indians in favor of the French or English, and to the strife
along the border.
THE BORDER WARS
The English captured Quebec in 1629, but it was restored to France by the
peace of St. Germain en Laye in 1642. In 1654, Port Royal, now known as
Annapolis, N. S., was captured by the English, but was restored by treaty.
Compte de Buade Frontenac was appointed governor general of the French
possessions in North America in 1672, and under his administration, as early as
1680, the French had built military posts at Niagara, Michilimackinac (Mack-
inaw), and in the Illinois country.
Frontenac inaugurated a vigorous war against the Hudson's Bay Company
trading posts, and on the English settlements along the frontier. Sir William
Phips (or Phipps), governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1692-1694),
in 1690 in an expedition by land and sea from Boston again captured Port Royal,
but failed in his attempts to capture Quebec. During Queen Anne's war, 1705
to 1713, Port Royal having been restored to France, was again captured by
Col. John Nicholson, in 1710. and renamed Ann-apolis in honor of Queen Anne.
The next year the campaign against Quebec under General John ("Jack")
Hill, with 2,000 veterans under Colonel Nicholson, supported by a fleet com-
i ^
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 9
nianded by Sir Howard Walker, failed through disaster to the fleet from a storm
on the St. Lawrence River. Queen Anne's war closed in 1713, by the Treaty
of Utrecht, and was followed by a few years of peace, between the French and
English, the French gradually extending their dominion to the valley of the
Mississippi River, forming a chain of forts around the English whose settle-
ments were menaced at every point beyond the Alleghany Mountains.
FRENCH FORTS ON THE BORDER
As stated in Francis Parkman's "Half a Century of Conflict," "Niagara held
the passage from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, Detroit closed the entrance to
Lake Huron, and Michilimackinac guarded the point where Lake Huron is joined
by lakes Michigan and Superior, while the fort called La Baye, at the head of
Green Bay, stopped the way to the Mississippi by Marquette's old route of the
Fox River and the Wisconsin. Another route to the Mississippi was controlled
by a post on the Maurice, to watch the carrying-place between that river and
the Wabash, and by another on the Wabash where Vincennes now stands.
La Salle's route by way of the Kankakee and the Illinois was barred by a fort
on the St. Joseph, and even if, in spite of these obstructions the enemy should
reach the Mississippi by any of the northern routes, the cannon at Fort Chartres
would prevent him from descending it."
INDIAN ALIGNMENT IN BORDER WARS THE SIX NATIONS
The Iroquois, known as the "Five Nations" until joined by the Tuscaroras
of North Carolina in 1713, were composed of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas,
Cayugas and Senecas, the Tuscaroras making the sixth of the allied nations.
THE ALGONQUINS
The chief tribes of this family group were the Hurons or Wyandottes, Otta-
was, Crees, Chippewas, Urees, Miamis, Menominees, Chippisings, Pottawatamies,
Sacs, Foxes, Kickapoos, the Powhatan tribes in Virginia, the Mohegans, Pequots,
and other tribes of New England, the several tribes being free to exercise their
own preference — the Shawnee, Blackfeet and Cheyennes, and various other
lesser tribes.
The Algonquin tribes were bounded on the north by the Esqvumaux, on the
west by the Dakotas or Sioux, on the south by the Cherokees, the Natchez and
Mobilian tribes.
THE HURONS
The Hurons were a people of strong militancy ; they were first encountered
on the St. Lawrence River in the vicinity of Quebec. In their association with
friendly Indians they claimed and were usually conceded the right to light the
campfire at all general gatherings.
Their confederacy was known in their language as the Sendat, and finally
came to be called Wyandots (Wendat). In the treaty of January 21, 1785, they
are recognized as Wyandots. This treaty was also with the Delawares, Chippe-
was, and Ottawas. It was by the use of firearms obtained from the Dutch that
the Iroquois were able to drive the Hurons from the St. Lawrence, when they
10 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
fled to the Michigan peninsula and to Ohio, where they met new foes in the
Sioux.
The Recollet Fathers estabHshed a mission among the Hurons in 1615; they
were succeeded in 1626 by the Jesuits who remained with them until 1648-50.
The French made a treaty of peace with the Iroquois in 1666, which led
some of the Hurons to return to Quebec, where the Notre Dame de Foye was
founded in 1667. Some of the Hurons still reside in that vicinity.
THE IROQUOIS COUNTRY
In 1713 Canada was contiguous to the northern frontier of New England
and New York; all of the territory north of the St. Lawrence River belonged
to the French ; from the great lakes southward the country w^as claimed by both
French and English ; the boundary between New England and Canada and New
England and New York, occupied by the Dutch, had not been determined, and
was the cause of much trouble.
The Iroquois occupied nearly all of the valley of the St. Lawrence, the
basins of lakes Ontario and Erie, the southeastern shores of Lake Huron and
Georgian Bay, all of the present New York, excepting the lower Hudson Valley,
all of Central Pennsylvania, the shores of the Chesapeake in Maryland, as far
as Choptank and Patuxent rivers ; with the Tuscororas added the domain extended
from the Ottawa River to the Tennessee and from the Kennebec to the Illinois
and Lake Michigan.
The Algonquin tribes completely surrounded the Iroquois territory. The
Hurons of this family were invariably allies of the French, the alliance growing
out of the fact that at the very beginning of French occupation of North America,
Samuel Champlain assisted the Hurons in their warfare on the Iroquois, w^ho had
been their relentless foes since prehistoric times ; their enmity terminating only
with the destruction of their confederacy. The Iroquois on the other hand were
generally allies of the English. This alignment continued until the treaty of
1763, when the French made a treaty with the Iroquois. Thereafter the Indian
alignment depended upon local considerations.
On Jacques Cartier's first voyage in 1534, when he explored the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, he met and traded with the Indians on the present coast of Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick. On his second voyage the year following, he
ascended the St. Lawrence as far as Stadacona — which name gave place to that
of Quebec or Kebec, given by the Algonquins, meaning a contracted waterway —
unopposed by the Indians who supplied him with fish, muskrats, and other articles
in exchange for the trifles he had brought with him for barter.
THE BOURG.\DE OR STOCK.\DE VILLAGE
Iroquois villages discovered by Cartier and Champlain were of great strength.
In 1538, on the second of October, Cartier reached Hochelaga, at the foot of
the mountain, (Montreal), where he says "over one thousand villagers gathered
on the banks to greet them with the fervor of a parent welcoming his child."
"The bourgade was round in shape and compassed by a stockade of three
rows of stakes, the middle row perpendicular, the outer row inclined towards
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 11
it. The palisade was two lances high, and at several points adjacent to the
palisade were elevated platforms reached by ladders, on which were piled rocks
to be used as defensive weapons. The enclosure was entered by a narrow gate.
Within were fifty lodges, each fifty paces in length and twelve or thirteen paces
in width. In the center stood a common lodge."
Cartier says; "They take no account of the things of this world, being
ignorant of their existence."
Chamijlain, in 1615, writing about the Huron country in the (jeorgian Bay
and Lake Huron region, while resting at the bourgade of Carhagouha, a mission
of the Recollet Fathers, says that it "was surrounded for defense with a triple
palisade of wood thirty-five feet high," but when he reached the Iroquois villages
to the south of Lake Ontario, which resisted his attack and that of his Huron
allies, he found another palisaded town "much stronger than the villages of the
Allegomantes (Hurons) and others."
At one time when Cartier was concerned by the fancied hostile attitude of
the Indians towards him, he protected his fort by a deep ditch, but no attack was
attempted. There was a chain of unstockaded Indian villages from Hochelaga
up the river to Stadacona.
In 1605, George Weymouth visited Cape Cod, remained some weeks in trade
and captured and carried away five Indians intended for slaves, an incident that
led to the first encounter by the Pilgrim Fathers.
A PATHETIC APPEAL
The Tuscaroras were hard pressed in North Carolina, many of them having
been made captive and sold into slavery. In 1710 they sent a petition to the
provincial government of Pennsylvania, attested by eight belts of wampum,
embodying overtures for peace. By the first belt, sent by women of mature age,
the mothers besought the friendship of the Christian people, the Indians and
the government of Pennsylvania, in order to be able to carry wood and water
without risk or danger. By the second belt, the children implored room to sport
and play without the fear of death or slavery. By the third the young men asked
for the privilege of leaving their villages without the fear of death or slavery,
to hunt for meat for their mothers, their children and the aged ones. By the
fourth, the old men, the elders of the people, asked for the consummation of a
lasting peace, so that the forests (the paths to other tribes) might be as safe
for them as their palisaded towns. By the fifth, the entire tribe asked for a firm
peace. By the sixth, the chiefs asked for the establishment of a lasting peace
with the government, people and Indians of Pennsylvania, whereby they would
be relieved from those "fearful apprehensions they have for years felt." By
the seventh the Tuscaroras begged for "a cessation from murdering and taking
them" so that thereafter they would not fear "a mouse, or anything that rustles
the leaves." By the eighth, the tribe, being strangers to the people and govern-
ment of Pennsylvania, asked for an official path or means of communication.
Their petition was denied by the Pennsylvania authorities : but the fact that
it moved the Five Nations to take steps to protect them from further encroach-
ments of the white settlers who kidnapped and sold their young ])eople into
slavery liecoming known in the white settlements, grave apprehension was aroused,
12 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and confirmed by the Tuscarora war of 1711-13, which followed, beginning with
a massacre in which seventy settlers were killed and many wounded.
During the progress of this bloody war Col. John Barnwell lured a consider-
able number of Indians to meet him under a promise of making peace, but broke
the truce and carried them away to be sold as slaves. May 20-23, I7I3> ^t the
palisaded towns in Green County, North Carolina, 392 were taken prisoners, 504
were killed (192 scalped) and many wounded, making the total loss upwards of
one thousand.
Some of the Indians made captive during this war were sold as slaves in
South Carolina and some in the northern colonies.
In 1705 the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania enacted a law as follows:
"Whereas the importation of Indian slaves from Carolina, or other places
hath been observed to give the Indians of this province some umbrage for sus-
picion and dissatisfaction, such importation (shall) be prohibited after March
25, 1706."
June 7, 1712, while the Tuscarora war was being waged, an act was passed
by the same body forbidding the importation of Indian slaves but providing for
their sale to the highest bidder should any be imported.
INDI.\N CIVIL ORG.'iXIZ.\TIOX WOMAn's RICIITS RECOGNIZED
Among the Iroquois, Hurons and other Indian tribes, the mothers of the
tribe were allowed to choose the chiefs, subject to confirmation by the male
members, and their consent was required in the enactment of all important
measures. They owned the home. The first thought of the women was the
care of their husbands, and the children ; for them they cut and carried the fire-
wood ; for them they brought the water, planted, cared for, harvested and stored
the crops, they tethered the horses, rowed the boats, built the winter cabins,
pitched the summer tepee, the duty of the husband being to defend against the
tribal enemies and to supply the meat from the hunting grounds, and to be ready
for war at all times.
MARION AND HIS MEN
The Cherokees were a strong independent branch of the Iroquois occupying
the southwestern part of Virginia, western parts of North and South Carolina,
the eastern part of Tennessee and the northern parts of Georgia and .Alabama.
They joined the Carolina settlers and the Catawbas in their warfare against
the Tuscaroras (1711) but formed a part of the Indian league against the Caro-
linas in the spring of 1715. This league embraced the tribes occupying the
country from Cape Fear to the St. Mary's and back to the mountains, and in-
cluded the Creeks, Yamasees, Appalachians, Catawbas, Cherokees and Congarees,
in all about six thousand. About one hundred white settlers were slain in the
outlying settlements before there was any warning of danger.
Governor Francis Nicholson of South Carolina negotiated a peace with the
Cherokees in 1721, and in 1730, Sir Alexander Gumming, on behalf of the British
Government, made a treaty with them with a view to counteracting the efforts
of the French to unite Canada and Louisiana by a cordon of military posts
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 13
through the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. In 1750, the Clierokees were recon-
ciled to the Six Nations, the bloody warfare between them closed, and they
became allies of the British and furnished a contingent for the capture of Fort
Duquesne ( 1758) under the command of Col. George Washington, who was a
lieutenant-colonel in the command of Gen. Edward Braddock at the battle near
the Monongahela River (1755) known as "Braddock's Defeat." In this battle
General Braddock was killed and every officer in his command excepting Colonel
Washington was killed or wounded. Four bullets passed through Washing-
ton's clothing. An Indian chief who participated in the battle informed Wash-
ington, fifteen years later, that he had fired a dozen or more fair shots at him
and others made special efforts to kill him, but they could not hit him; that they
believed that some "Alanitou" guarded his life and that he could not be put to
death.
In order to supply their needs, the Cherokees on their return to their southern
homes took by force from the plantations food which had been refused them,
thereby provoking a quarrel which resulted in the death of several whites. To
avenge the Indian depredations and to secure the arrest of the guilty parties
an invasion of the Cherokee country followed in 1759, under Governor William H.
Littleton of South Carolina, with 1,500 men contributed by Virginia and the
Carolinas. Dissensions arose in the ranks of the invaders, and as smallpox was
prevailing among the Cherokees, Littleton accepted twenty-three hostages to
guarantee their good behavior and the surrender of the guilty. The hostages
having been placed in Fort St. George at the head of the Savannah River, the
Indians attempted their rescue after Littleton's departure and in the assault
one of the guards was wounded, whereupon his companions put all of the hostages
to death, and an Indian uprising followed, to quell which South Carolina voted
1,000 men and a bounty of £25 for each Indian scalp. North Carolina made the
same provision, and authorized holding the captives as slaves. Ma j .-Gen. Jefl^rey
Amherst, who commanded the British forces in America, furnished 1,200 troops,
among them the '"Montgomery Highlanders." The expedition left Charleston
in April, 1760, with instructions from General Amherst to take no prisoners,
to put to death all who should fall into their hands, and to lay waste the Cherokee
country. These orders were carried out as to a part of the country, and in
June, 1761, a stronger force was sent against them under Col. James Grant,
governor of East Florida, who enlarged the area of blood and destruction.
MARIf>N' AND TTTS MEN
"A moment in the British camp,
A moment and away.
Back to the pathless forest,
Before the break of day."
— William Cullcn Bryant, "The Song of Marion and His Men."
The Cherokee war of 1761 commenced with the report which prevailed in
1759, that the Cherokee Indians were murdering the frontier settlers of Carolina,
quieting down only to break out again two years later, when the 1,200 regulars
were ordered out on a forced march to their relief. May 14, 1761, they were
joined at (District) "Ninety-Six" by 1,200 provincials armed with rifles and
14 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
famous for their superior marksmanship, and this army of 2,400 men attempted
to force their way into the Indian country, through a dark defile in the moun-
tains, but the attacking party was received by a concentrated fire from the Indians,
poured upon them from every rock and tree, which forced them back to the pro-
tection of the main body — following them with hideous yells, and brandishing
their tomahawks as long as they dared continue the pursuit.
Then began preparations, aided by other forces of the "Anglo-American"'
army for waging war in earnest against the Indians, who would naturally fight
with desperation to defend the only pass into their country and would follow
up a victory with the crudest slaughter. At sunrise, the British lines having
formed in small companies, supporting the provincial riflemen, began to move
forward, soon coming in sight of the enemy, who appeared to be restlessly moving
backvi'ard and forward. The position of the forces and the action in this battle
are described by Col. Peter Horry in his "Life of Gen. Francis Marion," a
life-long friend and comrade in arms of the author, and in this battle first
lieutenant of a provincial company and leader of the party which explored the
dangerous pass in the mountains and was repulsed.
Gen. Francis Marion and his men were brought up in this school of warfare.
Marion was with Governor Nicholson in his expedition of 1759, and a captain
with Colonel Grant in 1761. When Lord Charles Comwallis adopted the same
methods to destroy the patriots in the Revolutionary war that Amherst had
ordered for Indian warfare, Marion starting with a force of sixteen men, soon
accumulated an army which drove the British troops out of the Carolinas. They
had burned the homes of the patriots, destroyed their crops, leaving women and
children without food or shelter, reducing many from affluence to abject poverty,
but with unbroken spirit, and yet Marion, whose heart went out to the Indians
in the bloody wars that had been made upon them, refused to allow his men to
retaliate.
THE CREEKS OR SEMINOLES
The Creeks occupied Florida and all that portion of Georgia and Alabama
extending from the Atlantic to the highlands. They came in contact with the
early explorers and De Soto wintered among the Appalachees, one of their tribes,
in 1539-40. The latter became strong friends of the Spanish, who established
missions among them and they had become christianized, and industrious, and
disposed to peace when, through attacks from the wild tribes, they became
involved with the Carolina settlers, and in 1708 Governor James Moore of South
Carolina led a strong expedition against them, destroying their villages, their
missions, fields and orange groves. Another expedition the next year completed
the work of destruction in which the English were aided by other Creek tribes.
The home of the Apalachees was in the region about Tallahassee. They
numbered from six thousand to eight thousand people. Governor Moore's expe-
dition carried away 1,000 as slaves; others fled to friendly tribes, and what
remained sought refuge with the French at Mobile.
The Creeks were allies of the English in the wars of the Revolution and
1812, and allies generally of the Carolina settlers in their warfare against other
Indian tribes. In 1812, they were visited by Tecumseh and his brother, the
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 15
prophet, and urged to make war on the whites, and occasional local outbreaks
followed.
THE FORT MIMS MASSACRE
Early in 1813, becoming alarmed at the threatening attitude of the Indians,
550 men, women and children — white, Indian, mixed bloods and negro slaves —
assembled at the plantation of Samuel Minis, near the confluence of the Alabama
and Tombigbee rivers, and built a palisaded fort where they became overconfident
of their security, as the spring and early summer had passed without manifesta-
tions of hostility; but on August 30, 1813, as the dinner bell sounded at noon,
1,000 savages who had been concealed in a nearby ravine, rushed the fort with
terrifying yells and effected an entrance before the gates could be closed.
The well-organized settlers made strong resistance as the battle raged within
that small inclosure, from noon until 5 P. M., but all fell except twelve who
cut their way through and escaped, and the negroes who were saved for slaves.
Not a white woman or child escaped. Four hundred of the inmates lay dead
when the battle closed, and about an equal number of Creek warriors fell in
the furious fighting.
The massacre aroused the whites of the southwest and Maj-Gen. Andrew
Jackson, seventh President of the United States, who was born in North Carolina,
and a Revolutionary soldier at the age of fourteen, bred in an atmosphere of
border warfare, and educated in its bitter school, was sent to punish the Indians.
The war was soon over, the Indians paying dearly for their bloody work.
THE FIRST SEMINOLE WAR
In the spring of 1817 the Creeks, who had then become known as Seminoles,
again began a war on the whites which through the rough and vigorous cam-
paigning of General Jackson resulted in the cession of Florida to the United
States by Spain in 1819.
THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR
This war, commencing in 1835. and lasting until 1842, was begun for the
purpose of forcibly removing the Indians from lands which they had ceded to
the United States and their removal to other lands. The cost in money was
nearly seventy million dollars; 61,000 soldiers were employed and the losses,
principally from disease, never fully ascertained, were frightful, but it gave the
United States a trained nucleus for the army of occupation in Mexico, which so
quickly followed and added lustre to American arms, which the Seminole wars
failed to bring.
CONFLICTS DUE TO THE FLM-t TRADE
The early history and conflicts in all the colonies arose from the fur trade, as
between the New York people and the five nations of Indians in Central New
York, also between the Dutch and English and the French and English. It led
16 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the Russians down our western coast and to contest there till the gold discovery
overcame it. The fur trade was the cause of the Oregon question in later years.
It was the universal impulse and cause of struggle.
THE BUFFALO AND BEAVER
It is estimated that in 1787 there were ninety millions of buffalo in the present
area of the United States proper. There were none north of the St. Lawrence
or northeast of the great lakes, but the abundance continued northward from the
great plains far into Canada. Indeed the vast herds swarmed from the plains
nearer the Mississippi westward to the Rocky Mountains; the abundance was
greatest in our territorial days and to preserve the great hunting grounds from
the Missouri to the Big Horn region and from the Bear Paw Mountains, down
to and beyond the Arkansas was the cause of the hostility and frequent Indian
uprisings, including the Sitting Bull wars.
The wealth .springing from the fur trade was enormous. The great wealth
of the times was concentrated from that source. This trade extended clear across
the continent — to the Pacific and led to the successive discoveries of gold which
did not lead settlement as the fur trade did. The fur trade founded the
towns and trading posts.
We are surprised at the numbers of the buffalo, but the beavers were found
in every state in the Union, and are yet to a limited extent. No other wild or fur
bearing animal was so universal. A considerable fur trade is yet carried on in
the older northwestern and western states.
In 1890 to 1895, North Dakota trappers had nearly extinguished the beaver
of that whole area. Desiring to restore them, a wise Legislature enacted a law
for their preservation, with a heavy penalty attached. The result was satisfac-
tory. LInited States surveyors in remote regions found thriving colonies of those
remarkable rodents in 1898. repopulating many choice streams in happy security.
CHAPTER II
OCCUPIED FOR INDIAN TRADE
THE Hudson's bay company — prixce rupert's land — the north-west and
X. Y. COMPANIES ALEXANDER HENRY's RED RIVER BRIGADE THE EMBARKA-
TION THE INDIAN HUNTING GROUNDS, ABOUNDING IN BEARS, BEAVERS AND
BUFFALO TERRORIZED BY THE SIOUX — THE PARK RIVER POST — ^STORY OF THE
BRITISH FLAG THE VICIOUS ELEMENT OF LIQUOR — SACRIFICE AND THANKS-
GIVING AN ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY — HUNTERS AND THE SPOILS CONTRACTS
WITH THE LORDS OF THE FORESTS EARLY TRADING POSTS PEMBINA POST
ESTAliLISHED.
"For mankind are one in spirit, and an instinct bears along
Round the earth's electric circle, the swift flash of right or wrong,
Whether conscious or unconscious, yet Humanity's vast frame,
Through its ocean-sundered fibres, feels the gush of joy or shame —
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim."
— James Russell Lowell.
THE Hudson's bay company — prince rupert's land
. In 1609 Henry Hudson, a navigator of English birth, sailing under the flag
of the Dutch West Indies, ascended the stream now known as Hudson River,
discovered by Giovanni de Verrazano in 1524. The next year he explored Hud-
son Bay, and perished on the voyage. In 1667, the Duke of York and Prince
Rupert formed a company in England for the exploration of Hudson Bay with
a view to trade, and two vessels were dispatched for the purpose ; one of them
the Nonsuch Ketch, commanded by Capt. Zachariah Gillam of Boston, reach-
ing Hudson Bay in September of the following year. The winter was spent in
that region at Fort Charles. They returned to Boston, and thence to London
in 1669, and proceeded to organize the Hudson's Bay Company, which was char-
tered by Charles II, May 2, 1670, the king himself, his brother the Duke of York,
and his nephew Prince Rupert, leading a long list of distinguished stockholders.
They were granted exclusive privileges on Hudson Bay and along the streams
flowing into the bay and their tributaries, embracing a vast region which came
to be known as Rupert's Land, including the Red River coinitry and the streams
tributary to the Red River, until restricted by the location of the international
boundary after the Revolutionary war.
The Hudson's Bay Company had full power to own, occupy, govern, sell
and convey, and were authorized to maintain armies and levy war, if necessary
for defense, but for more than one hundred years they had been content to con-
Vol. 1—2
17
18 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
fine their attention to the shores of Hudson Bay, and to trade with the Indians
visiting their factories, as their trading posts on the bay were called. But the
French traders from Montreal were occupying portions of their country, and
were pushing on beyond them, while strong opposition had arisen in England,
which demanded the annulment of their charter, or at least an equal opportunity
for trade. In 1797, the company extended their trade to North Dakota points
on the Red River, and to the Missouri River and other places west and north.
They continued to own, occupy and govern Rupert's Land until 1869, when
they sold their possessory rights to Great Britain, and in 1870 Rupert's Land
became an independent province in the Dominion of Canada, known as Manitoba.
The Hudson's Bay Company, however, continued in business as a commer-
cial organization, in direct competition with which James J. Hill built and
operated a fleet of steamboats and flatboats to such advantage that they willingly
formed a combination with him to control the transportation business of the
Red River. They still occupy and govern leased territory in the British posses-
sions. The building by Mr. Hill of his first steamboat was the initial venture
in the Canadian Northwest of the man who died in St. Paul on May 29, 1916,
leaving a vast estate, and a reputation unsurpassed in the world of commerce
and finance.
THE NORTH-WEST COMPANY ORGANIZED
In 1783 the rival Alontreal traders consolidated under the name of the "North-
West Company," and pushed its trade into new and hitherto unexplored regions.
Sir Alexander Mackenzie leaving on his first expedition on behalf of this com-
pany in 1789, exploring the Mackenzie River and making other important dis-
coveries, points on the upper Mississippi having been occupied.
The Hudson's Bay Company had greater resources and were pushing their
explorations with much vigor. In 1801 another company was organized, with
which Sir Alexander Mackenzie became interested on his return from Europe,
known as the "X. Y. Company," these initials being adopted for marking their
goods, in order to distinguish them from the "H. B." of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany and the "N. W." of the North-West Company. In selecting this title they
chose the letters of the alphabet immediately following the "W" of the North-
West Company, to let them know they were right after them, and intended to
make their opposition merciless.
ALEXANDER HENRY — THE RED RIVER BRIGADE
In the year 1800 Alexander Henry, a nephew of Alexander Henry mentioned
in connection with the early fur trade on Lake Superior, but known in history
as Alexander Henry, Jr., was the leader of an expedition which set out from
Lake Superior with Turtle River for its objective point. It was Henry's inten-
tion to establish his headquarters on that stream for use while in charge of the
Red River District to which he had recently been assigned by the North-West
Company. His party bore the title of "Henry's Red River Brigade."
The manuscript journals of Alexander Henry and David Thompson, 1799-
1814, edited by Dr. Elliot Coues, were published by Francis P. Harper, New
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 19
York, 1897. Doctor Coues was a surgeon in the United States army and the
medical officer on the boundary survey of 1872-1876, and was famiHar with
much of the country of which Thompson and Henry wrote. Thomspon, learned
in mathematics and astronomy, was in charge of the location of the boundary
line on behalf of the North-West Company of which he was the geographer.
THE EMBARKATION
After a portage of nine miles from Lake Superior to a point on Pigeon River,
Alexander Henry and his party left for the mouth of the Assiniboine, on the
Red River, July 19, 1800, where they arrived on the 17th day of August.
On starting from Lake Superior the men were each given a two-gallon
keg of liquor, and on the fifth day they reached the height of land where they
"finished their small kegs and fight many a battle."- — Henry's Journal.
At the first stop three leading Indians accompanying the expedition were
each given various articles of merchandise, including a scarlet-faced coat and
hat, a red, round feather, a white linen shirt, a pair of leggings, a breech clout,
a flag, a fathom of tobacco, and a nine-gallon keg of mixed liquors — two gallons
of alcohol to nine gallons of water being the usual mixture. After giving them
their presents, Henry made a formal address to the Indians, encouraging them
to be good and follow him to Turtle River, and not to be afraid of the Sioux,
but just as he was giving them their farewell glass, before their return to their
tents to enjoy their liquor, some of the women reported that they had heard
several shots fired in the meadow. A council was immediately held. Henry
ordered them to leave their liquor with him and put off their drinking until
the next day, but they had tasted the liquor and must drink, even at the risk of
their lives. They requested Henry to order his men to mount guard during
the night.
Tobacco, beads and wampum, the shell currency of the early fur trade,
were measured by the fathom. Six feet of the cured and twisted tobacco plants,
cut in suitable lengths, was called one fathom and had a value equal to one
beaver skin. Beads in number having a current value of 60 pence were called
one fathom ; six strings of wampum — one foot in length — whether in bunch,
bundle or belt, or in the form of loose shells sufficient to make that much
were called a fathom.* Canoes were also sold by the fathom, according to their
length.
Having reached the Assiniboine August 17th, on the i8th the party divided,
and that portion intended for the Red River embarked on the 20th. There were
four canoes in this party, carrying a total of twenty-one persons. Two horses were
led along the shore, and Henry claimed that these were the first introduced into
the Red River Valley by the whites. Such an assemblage of canoes was called
a "brigade," and the master, standing between the proprietors and the men, was
called the "bourgeois."
Each canoe was loaded with twenty-six packages of merchandise, or an equiv-
alent in baggage, each package weighing 90 pounds. The packages were so
* See "Exchange, Commerce and Wampum Hand Book, American Indians," "Bureau
of American Ethnology Bulletin No. 30."
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
„.„,ed <o. convenience ,„ .,.»po-uo^ ^:Z Z^ ^^'^^^ <^-
!r,:a;^l;r':•s^.r::■srI; »,... ».™. .,«,.,
Pierre Bonga, a negro «"»;« "fJ'LalZs' (son,e.in,es mentioned as Colore.)
Second canoe-E.ghth Micliael Lai. K , s„„,e,i,nes mentioned
aeric, «i.h «Yr G^: rfC- c-an^*: w.S l,i. wife; t.mit. JoacMm
as Lagace or La basser) voyage ' RainviUe m transcnb-
Z!,rnjJm. Jean Baptiste ^--t ;oy^|- ™^^^^^^^^ .,,e and two
Third canoe-Thirteenth, Jean Bapti.te Uemerais P j^f.
children; fourteenth, Jean ^apt^ste Laroc - Sr .o^J^^^ ^.^^^^^ ^^^_
teenth, Jean Baptiste Larocque, Jr.. -^^J^S^ll'''' ' „,idnran.
voyageur, -^dn.an ; seventeenth Fran o.Ro^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^_
Fourth '^-"^--Ef -"f • J,f'ctarks Bellegarde, voyageur, steerer; twen-
ductor, wife and child; "•"^^^'="^;;^^,^" ^ ^.^t Nicholas Pouliotte, voyageur,
tieth, Joseph Hamel, voyageur, midman . twenty nrst,
™'^"'^"' THE INDIAN CONTINGENT
T„ero were forty-five Indian canoes. '^^ ^ftelyZlVt^^'^i
Indians and the.r families, who -'''•"''"'f^^'^^^JZlL. goods on credit
engagtng in Itnntn.g and -"PP'"?- jf" ZT
to be paid for from the proceeds "'.*« f"="'„„„„,,. „ „,;„, „„ explorations of
FlLonth. a noted Indian me,,„o„e n - " °;;.1„, ,J,„, Corheau.
Ue„t.Z^M.Pih.^wasan,ongteIndans.^a^^^, y ^^^ ^^^^^„^, ^^,„
Short Arms, and Buttaio. iney j nttawas
'•Salteurs" by Mr. Henry, and a -f .-^^f" ^n r^^a ning for the winter
September 2. 1800. the brigade divided a ^^'^L Z Henry, Demerais.
near ihere Morris, Manitoba is -^^f^^s^^^ Be^uSiemll Lafrance,
Bellegarde, Daisville, Rogers, Benoit, the two Larocques
Barbe ChLrbonneau, McDonald and Bonga. going on to Park River.
.HE H.NTINC, OKCNHS-BEAKS, BE.VEK, B.EEAEO, .EEK AN. OTHEK CAME
-E.0.1 T^ivpr and its tributaries, and reported to
The large number of bears on R d ^^^J ^ J^^.k.ble feature. The ter-
be on the Sheyenne R-", -/ ,°^^- ^^'^ ! .iie was disputed ground, where
ritory contiguous to Devils Lake and *^ Sheyemiej ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^
it was dangerous for either t^- Sioux or O^pp^wa o^^^^^ ,^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^
favoritebreedingplacefo^heba ,*reU.y^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^
party advanced up *^ ^ ^/n;;;^-, ^.en "made so much noise" that they
bears They complained that Henry s men
could not kill bears and other large game.
HUNTING THE GRIZZLY BEAR
From a painting- by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1S33-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
HERDS OF BISON AND ELK ON THE UPPER MISSOURI
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 21
September 6th the Indians killed four bears and eight deer. While they
were pitching their temporary camp, a bear came to the river to drink. Henry
shot him, but he ran off, and was found sitting under a brush heap, grumbling
and licking his wounds. Another shot killed him. The next day seven bears
were noticed drinking from the river at the same time. Red deer were whistling
in every direction, and a wolf came near and was killed. The men killed a stur-
geon with an axe.
They arrived at Park River September 8, i8oo, about 2 P. M., and it being
plain that the Indians would go no farther up the river, it was determined to
build a post at that point.
TERKORIZED BV THE SIOUX
Tiie Sioux were the terror of all the neighboring tribes, and the enemy of
all. They wandered over the prairies in large bodies and in small, attacking
when they thought it safe, lying in wait in ravines or timber, to attack women
or children, as they came for water, berries or roots. They lingered about the
camps in the hope of securing scalps, when they would return to their home as
"big Indians," and bask in the sunshine of admiration.
For these reasons, there was an ever-present feeling of dread of the Sioux,
not only among the Chippewa, but also among the Mandans, Gros Ventres
(Hidatsa) and Arikaras, which led to like raids and like outrages by them
against the Sioux.
The Cheyennes formerly occupied the Sheyenne River country. They were
friendly to both the Sioux and Chippewa but the latter distrusted them, and
about 1740 fell upon them and destroyed their villages, and forced them to
flee across the Missouri River, when they became allied to the Sioux. There-
after, for many years, neither Sioux or Chippewa attempted to hunt in the Shey-
enne or Devils Lake country, unless in sufficient force to defend themselves
against any attack likely to be made upon them.
About the year 1780, the Chippewa went to York Factory on Hudson Bay
for supplies, leaving their old men and women in camp near Lake Winnipeg.
During their absence, the Sioux attacked their village and killed a great number
of the old men, women and children. The place where this occurred is now
known as Xetley Creek.
Some years prior to 1800, a wintering trader of the name of Reaume,
attempted to make peace between the Sioux and the Chippewa. The meeting
was held on the Sheyenne. They at first appeared reconciled to each other, but
the Sioux took guns and ammunition away from the Chippewa giving them in
return bows and arrows ; to some bows without arrows, and to some arrows
without bows, and after the Chippewa dispersed on the plains, followed and
killed many of them.
In the fall of 1805, there was a battle on the Crow Wing, between the Sioux
and Chippewa in which the Sioux were defeated, and on December 29, 1807,
an engagement took place between 30 lodges of Sioux and the Chippewa on the
Crow Wing, in which the Sioux lost 20 lodges and a great many horses. On
this date a battle was fought on Wild Rice River in which the Sioux were
defeated.
22 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
It required little more than the mention of the name Sioux to create a panic
among Henry's Indians. At one time two boys were playing Sioux to frighten
the other children. The Indians became alarmed; the warriors stripped to
breech-clouts for war, and the women and children were hurried into the fort
for safety. Henry's men were called to anus, and the appearance of some of
them is described as ghastly ; their lips contorted, eyes rolling and countenances
pale as death. Any trifling circumstance was sufficient to inflame their imagina-
tions, for the moment at least — on one occasion the slamming of a door caused
a sleepless night. But their fears were not always unfounded.
LOCATION OF TRADING POSTS
The choice of the trading posts was largely determined by the presence of
beaver dams. Park River, Pembina, Tongue and Turtle rivers, were particu-
larly dsirable on account of the dams along those streams. The same was true
of the Sheyenne and Knife rivers, and their tributaries, and other streams empty-
ing into the Missouri River or its branches.
The number of beaver dams on Park River influenced Alexander Henry
in his choice of it as a site for a trading post. There were beaver dams on
almost every creek. These were necessary to the life of the beaver, which in
the winter time fed on roots or shrubs to be found under the ice, and on the bark
of trees which they were able to fell and haul to their lodges for use in con-
structing and strengthening their dams, the bark being stripped for food as
required.
DEATHS AMONG THE BE.WER
About 1805, an epidemic broke out among the beaver. John Tanner in his
"Narrative" gives the following description of this calamity :
"Some kind of a distemper was prevailing among these animals, which
destroyed them in great numbers. I found them dead and dying in the water,
on the ice and on the land. Sometimes I found one that, having cut a tree half
down, had died at its roots; sometimes one who had drawn a stick of timber
half, way to his lodge, was lying dead by his burden. Many of them which I
opened were red and bloody about the heart. Those in large rivers and running
water suiifered least. Almost all of those in ponds and stagnant water died."
September 8th, Henry's party camped at Park River, and Mr. Henry and
Jean Baptiste Demerais went up the river about two miles, and saw two large
harts, and killed one on which the fat was four inches thick.
The farther they went up the river the more numerous the bears and red
deer became, and on the shore raccoon tracks were plentiful.
THE PARK RIVER POST
Park River, Mr. Henry states, was so named from the fact that the Assini-
boine Indians made a park or pound there for buffalo, heading them in from all
points, as they became alarmed from any cause, and then slaughtering the
number desired.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 23
The spot selected for the fort on September 9, 1800, was on the west side of
Park River, about tliree-quarters of a mile from the mouth. The buildings con-
sisted of a stockade, dwelling house, storehouse and shop, all made of oak, for
which 3,114 pieces of timber were used. They were completed on the 20th of
September, 1800, and a flagstaff 55 feet high was erected on the 28th. The
British Flag the "First Union Jack," a red flag, with the crosses of St. George
of England and St. Andrew of Scotland, presumably the first of any kind to
float in North Dakota, was raised every Sunday.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE BRITISH FLAG ITS ORIGIN AND HISTORY
The first historic mention of an ensign is the cross raised on a banner as the
emblem and sign of Christianity. This in the fourth century displaced the
monogram of Christ used by the earlier Christians, and was finally adopted as
the insignia of the Church of Rome and used by Pope Urban II during the first
crusade to indicate the special cause in which his armies were engaged; the
several nationalities being known by the form and color of the cross, which was
borne not only on their banners but on helmet, shoulder, breast and back. Thus
Italy bore the cross of blue ; Spain, red ; France, white ; Germany, black ; Eng-
land, yellow, and Scotland, the white saltire (diagonal cross) of St. Andrew, and
the crosses were arbitrarily retained after the crusades as a distinction of nation-
ality, superseded in the course of time by other devices designed by popular
choice or royal decree.
In the third crusade, the banner of Richard I (Cceur de Lion) King of Eng-
land, was a white Latin cross, and remained the English national ensign until
appropriated by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, as a badge of a faction,
A. D. 1265, and as early as the reign of Edward III in the fourteenth century,
the red cross of St. George on a white ground was adopted as the national banner
and the army badge.
Scotland retained her cross of St. Andrew, a white saltire, on a blue ground,
from the time of the crusades. The apostle Andrew, a brother of Peter, was the
first disciple chosen by Christ. He is the patron saint of Scotland, and Russia
has a Knighthood order of St. Andrew, the highest order in rank of that realm.
When in 1603, James VI of Scotland was crowned James I of England, and the
Scots claimed precedence for their cross of St. Andrew over the cross of
St. George, the king, to preserve the peace, on the 12th of April, 1606, com-
manded all subjects of Great Britain travelling by sea to bear at the mast head
the red cross of St. George and the white cross of St. Andrew united according
to a design made by his heralds. This flag was called the "king's colors." At
the same time all vessels belonging to South Britain, or England, might wear the
cross of St. George, and all vessels belonging to North Britain, or Scotland,
might wear the cross of St. Andrew, as had been their custom. All vessels were
forbidden to carry any other flag at their peril.
The "king's colors" was the "First Union Jack," and contained the blazonry
of the rival ensigns of England and Scotland, united by an earlier process than
that of quartering, in which the cross and the saltire were blended in a single
subject. This was effected by surrounding the cross of St. George with a
24 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
narrow border, or fimbriation, of white, to represent its white field upon the
banner of St. Andrew.
The voyages of the most celebrated English navigators were made under the
cross of St. George, but Jamestown, Plymouth, Salem and Boston, were settled
under the "king's colors;" many English vessels carrying the cross of St. George
according to royal permission. Under the cross of St. George two fleets, num-
bering in all twenty-eight ships, and carrying 1,700 passengers, sailed from Eng-
land, in 1630, and populated eight plantations in Massachusetts Bay Colony,
under the first charter, in which train bands were formed who bore this cross as
an ensign.
During the Civil war in England in 1641, the standard of Charles I was a
large blood-red streamer, bearing the royal arms quartered, writh a hand pointing
to a crown above, and a motto, "give Caesar his due." The badge of the royal
troops was red; that of the Parliamentary troops orange, the Scotch blue. The
flag in general use during the Commonwealth was blue, with the white canton
and cross of St. George, and a harp of Ireland in the field. This was also the
admiral's flag. One of the banners was quartered with those of England, Wales,
Scotland and Ireland. The first and fourth quarters, white with the red cross
of St. George for England and Wales ; the second, blue with the white saltire for
Scotland; the third, a harp with a golden frame and silver strings on a blue
ground for Ireland.
After the death of Charles I, the new council of state on the 22d of Feb-
ruary, 1648, restored the red cross as the flag of the navy. In the British colonies
the same flag was retained, except in Massachusetts Bay, where all flags had
been laid aside except upon Castle Island in Boston harbor where the colors
called the king's arms were displayed. In 1651, Parliament ordered the
restoration of the old standard of St. George as the colors of England, and they
were advanced by order of the General Court on all necessary occasions at Castle
Island.
In 1664, two years after the restoration, Charles II sent a fleet of four ships,
carrying ninety guns, 400 troops and four commissioners, to New England, where
they obtained 200 recruits, and the aid required, and sailed for New Amsterdam
bent on conquest, and with further volunteer forces from Connecticut and I-ong
Island achieved their purpose, changed the name to New York in honor of
James, the Duke of York, the king's brother — afterward James II — and raised
the cross of St. George over the Dutch tri-color. The British colonies in
America were then flying the cross of St. George from Labrador to Florida.
In Febniary, 1697, six Union flags, the revival of the "king's colors," were
shipped to New York, in response to an application for flags for "His Majesty's
Fort."
After this there were slight variations, such as a crimson flag with the cross
of St. George and a tree cantoned in the upper staff quarter, and a blue flag
with the same cross and a globe instead of the tree, until March i, 1707, when
the flag of the new nation of "Great Britain" in the reign of Queen Anne, was
ordered by Parliament to be composed of the crosses of St. George and St.
Andrew, the old "king's colors" — The "Fir.=t Union Jack" — joined on a crimson
banner, and that the flag of the admiral, who carried a red flag, should be disused,
and the "First Union Jack" substituted therefor. This was declared to be the
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 25
"ensign armorial of the United Kingdom of Great Britain," and was the national
flag for nearly a century under which the most brilliant naval battles were fought.
Under its folds the power of France was driven from the East Indies, and suc-
cessive conquests of her strongholds in North America led up to the Heights of
Abraham, where it triumphed at Quebec.
In the flag which the American colonies raised against Great Britain in 1775,
were the "king's colors" of the British flag and the stripes, red and white, of
the flag of the East India Company, and this was used until the adoption of the
stars and stripes, June 14, 1777.
On November 25, 1783, when the British sailed out of the harbor on the
e\acuation of New York, the cross was lost to view as an emblem of national
authority, with two exceptions, viz., the temporary occupation of the British in
the War of 1812, and a battle flag of the Southern Confederacy of i86i-'65,
described in an address by Col. William O. Hart of Louisiana, November 7,
1913, as designed by Gen. Gustave T. Beauregard; a red square, with the
St. Andrew cross of blue with thirteen white stars, one in the center, and three
on each arm of the cross. "This flag," said Mr. Hart, "is frequently made
oblong, but there is no warrant therefor, and such copies are not correct repre-
sentations of the original battle flag." When states seceded the emblems of
their former fealty to the Union remained fixed stars on the national ensign.
From the first day of January, 1801, the "Second Union Jack," the "Union
Jack" of today, superseded the flag of King James and Queen Anne. In con-
sequence of the legislative union, its blazonry must be incorporated with that of
Ireland to comprehend the three crosses — St. George, St. Andrew and St.
Patrick — in a single device formed by the combination of a cross and two
saltires. As before, the blue field of St. Andrew forms the field, then the two
diagonal crosses, the one white and the other red, are formed into a single com-
pound saltire of the two tinctures alternating, the white having precedence. A
narrow edging of white is next added to each red side of this new figure, to
represent the white field of St. Patrick, as the narrow edging of white about
the red cross represented the white field of St. George ; and, finally, the red cross
of St. George fimbriated with white as in the "First Union Jack," is charged
over all. In this device the broad diagonal white members represent the silver
saltire of St. Andrew; the red diagonal members, the saltire gules (red) of St.
Patrick, and the narrow diagonal white lines are added, in order to place the
saltire gules on a field argent ( silver) . It will, also, be observed that the diagonal
red and the broad diagonal white members represent the two saltires of St.
Andrew and St. Patrick in combination, and that the fimbriated red cross in front
gives prominence to the cross of St. George.
The Royal Standard was adopted January 4, 1801, on the union of Ireland
with Great Britain. The quarters were representative of the three countries :
England, three couchant lions on a red background in the first and fourth quar-
ters : Scotland, a rampant lion, in the second quarter, taken from the coat-of-
arms of James VI, and Ireland, a golden harp on a green background in the
third quarter.
Since 1864, the white ensign alone remains the naval flag of Great Britain,
the blue ensign the mark of the Royal Naval Reserve, and the red of the mer-
chant service.
26 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
LIFE AT THE POST
At 4 o'clock of the day the choice of site was made at Park River, a herd of
buffalo came down to drink within a few rods of the camp. At the southward
there were herds of them as far as the eye could see, and during the night the
camp was alarmed by a large herd at the river. From all directions came the
bellowing of the buitalo and the whistling of the deer. The next day a band of
deer, followed soon after by four bears, crossed the river, and a day later Mr.
Henry, climbing to the top of a tall oak, saw buffalo and deer on all sides.
A stage had been constructed at the camp, and the Indians loaded it with
choice meats and bears' fat. The men were employed cutting up and melting
bears' fat, which was poured into wooden troughs and sacks, made of deer
skins.
Bears made prodigious ravages in the brush and willows. The plum trees
were torn to pieces, and every tree that bore fruit shared the same fate. The
tops of the oaks were also very roughly handled, broken and torn down to get
acorns.
Grizzly bears were killed and many raccoons taken during the fall. The
great abundance of both red and fallow deer is frequently mentioned. The men
are reported as taking many wolves and some fishers. The female wolves
enticed the dogs from the fort, and when they came back they were horribly
chewed up by their wild cousins. The coons had two inches of fat on their
backs. The hunters came in from Grand Forks with thirty beavers. The stur-
geon continued to jump day and night and many were taken in nets extended
across the river — sometimes upwards of loo a day, weighing from 30 to 150
pounds each.
September 20, 1800, the day the fort was finished, the Indians having gone
a few miles above Park River, reported that they had killed forty bears, some
red deer, moose and a few beavers. The Indian lad at the fort killed two
bears.
THE VICIOUS ELEMENT OF LIQUOR
At this time intoxicating liquor was being used by the rival traders as a
leading element to attract trade, and was distributed among the Indians by the
keg, jug or bottle, to any who might apply — often without price — and some-
times used to incite the Indians to plunder, and in some instances to murder
those who interfered by successful competition. The Indians had become
demoralized and degenerated to an extent almost beyond belief. As one writer
described the situation : "Indians were warring with Indians, traders with traders,
clerks with clerks, trappers with trappers, voyageurs with voyageurs."
While the post was being built at Park River, the Indians were given a keg
of rum "to encourage them to pav their debts." and supposing the Indian might
now drink in safety, on September rSth, Mr, Henry began to trade rum, and they
were soon dnnik, men and women, and some of the children.
On September 21st, the Indians were sent nine gallons of mixed liquor, and
the following day paid their debts with pelts caught on their hunt, and received
more liquor, with the usual result. Henry took the children into the fort, for
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 27
their safety, and about midnight one of the Indians tried to chop his way through
the gate to get more Hquor. On September 28th, when the tlagstafl was raised at
the fort, the men were given two gallons of alcohol and some tobacco and Hour
"for merry-making."
SACRIFICE AND THANKSGIVING
October 17th, the Indians having killed a grizzly bear, thereby taking the
life of an uncommon animal, in order to properly render thanks to Manitou and
appease the spirit of the bear, it was thought necessary to give a feast, and
liquor was believed to be the most effective agent in gaining the favor of Manitou
and satisfying the bear's ghost. They secured the liquor and a quarter of a
yard of red cloth for a sacrifice.
AN ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY
After all, human passion unrestrained is about the same among all men,
and impulses are liable to take the same direction.
October 25, 1800, Henry's hunter reported that the leading Indians wanted
him to stop hunting so that Henry would be obliged to pay a higher price for
meat, whereupon the bourgeois ordered that thereafter the Indians should receive
no liquor excepting in exchange for meat. This created consternation among
the Indians disposed to make trouble. They attempted to bribe the hunter by
giving him a drum trimmed with all of the symbols of the Wabbano medicine,
and a number of different articles of superior value and high consideration
among the Indians, such as rarely fail to bring satisfactory results when given
to accomplish some particular object, but they were not sufficient to sway the
hunter from his loyalty to his employer.
On the retirement of the Indians, Henry treated his people to a gallon
of alcohol and a few pounds of sugar, in order that they might make a feast
after their arduous labor in establishing and building the Park River Post.
"October 31st, Indians drinking quietly.
"November 2d. Gave the Indians liquor after their successful hunt.
"November 4th. Gave the Indians a nine-gallon keg of liquor on their
promise to pay their debts on their return from the hunt."
Every opportunity was seized for an occasion to encourage the use of intox-
icating liquor for the reason that the trader's greatest profit was in its sale, and
gave him an advantage over the Indians, who, by its use became incapable of
protecting their interests. January i, 1801, the new year was ushered in by
several volleys which alarmed a camp of Indians near by. The men came run-
ning in armed, having ordered the women to hide themselves. But they were
agreeably received and got a share of "what was going" — some shrub and cakes.
Every man, woman and child was soon at the fort ; all was bustle and confusion.
Henry gave his men some high wine (alcohol), flour and sugar; "the Indians
purchased liquor, and by sunrise every soul of them was raving drunk, even the
children." On the 19th there was another drinking match among the Indians.
■ An Indian shot his wife with an arrow through her body and her supposed lover
through his arm.
28 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
HUNTERS AND THE SPOILS
A very successful winter was spent at Park River. Henry took at his station,
643 beaver skins, 125 black bear, 23 brown bear, 2 grizzly bear, 83 wolf, 102
red fox, 7 kitt, 178 fisher, 96 otter, 62 marten and 97 mink.
Michael Langlois, clerk on the Red River Brigade, who remained in charge
of the party at Morris during the winter of 1800- '01, had also a station at Hair
Hills (Pembina Mountains) that winter. The returns showed 832 beaver skins,
52 black bear, 20 brown bear, 4 grizzly bear, 1 1 1 wolf, 82 red fox, 9 kitt, 37
raccoon, 108 fisher, 60 otter, 26 marten, 68 mink and various other skins, bags
of pemmican, kegs of grease and bales of meat.
Andre Lagasse, "a voyageur, conductor," in the Red River Brigade was sent
from Morris to trade with the Indians in the Pembina Mountains the winter of
i8oo-'oi. With him went Joseph Dubois, "voyageur, steerer or helmsman,"
and later they were succeeded by Joseph Hamel, "voyageur and midman" in
the Red River Brigade.
Nicholas Rubrette and Francois Sint were employees of Henry in 1800 and
later.
CONTRACTS WITH THE "lORDS OF THE FORESTS"
Contracts were made with the Indians by Mr. Henry for the season. For
an agreement to procure sixty beaver skins they were allowed credit to the
extent of twenty skins. Thread and other necessarrx' little things were supplied
gratis. On returning from their hunt, if they paid their debts their credit was
renewed to the same extent as before. All transactions with the Indians of those
times were based on beaver skin values.
Articles given gratis to the Indians who took credit, were one scalper, two
folders and four flints each to the men, and to the women two awls, two needles,
one skein of thread, one fire steel, a little vermilion, and a half a fathom of
tobacco.
LITTLE CR.\NF., THE HLINTER
Little Crane, a Chippewa member of Henry's Indian Brigade, on September
12, 1800, while they were building the fort at Park River, was appointed "hunter"
to receive for the season the value of sixty beaver skins and to be furnished with
gun and ammunition, and clothing for himself and wife.
CROOKED LEGS
September 24-26, 1800, inclusive, Little Crane hunted with Crooked Legs,
Crow (Corbeau) and Charlo. The hunter killed a bear and a deer. Crooked
Legs killed a bear, and they, with Corbeau and Charlo. returned to the post, each
with a good pack of beaver skins. They found plenty of beavers, and only
killed what they could carry.
While celebrating at Park River, Crooked Legs stabbed his young wife, after
having been beaten by her, wounding her so severely that there was little hope
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 29
for her recovery. In the demonstration against him which resulted, his own son
joined, all being as it is written, "blind drunk," with Crooked Legs sitting in his
tent singing, and saying he was not afraid to die. But Mr. Henry opportunely
interfered, and Crooked Legs was forgiven by every one but his wife. On this
occasion, it is said that the Indians kept up the carousal until there was a rumor
that the Sioux were coming, when they ceased drinking. To his credit it is
recorded, that when Crooked Legs realized that his life was saved, he "sobered
up," and being a "great doctor," used his skill to cure his wife's wounds, which
attention seems to have been received by her with slight appreciation, but accept-
ing her censure with himiility, he urged her to take courage and live. Evidently
she consented, for in another tit of intoxication, it is alleged, she beat him
and severely roasted him with a fire brand.
CH.\RLO
T!ie career of Charlo as a hunter was very brief, and the first mention of him
in "Henry's Journal" shows him in a bad light, offering to sell his twelve-year-old
daughter to Mr. Henry for a dram of liquor, and his propensity for drink was
again demonstrated on September ir, 1800, when he received liquor in pay for
four bear skins. His brother Maymiutch, four days later, while hunting with
Mr. Henry killed the same number of bears.
Mr. Henry desired to visit CJrand Forks, and other points on the Upper Red
River, with a view to considering the possibilities of trade, and invited Charlo
to go with him, but Charlo feared the Sioux. However, on the promise of a keg
of liquor on his return he risked his life and went to Grand Forks, and by an
offer equally tempting, namely, "a treat" when he got back to Grand P'orks, he,
was induced to go on to Goose River, but here he balked. Goose River was the
limit. He returned to Grand Forks, received his "treat" and after the first drink
wanted to go at once and invade the Sioux country ; after the second he was
ready to go alone, and it was necessary to restrain him after the third. He
would advance to the edge of the darkness surrounding his camp fire, and shak-
ing his fist call the Siou.x "dogs," and "old women,"' and invite them to come
on and he would do the rest. He finally fell into the deep sleep of intoxication
and the Sioux troubled him no more.
After all Charlo was not worse than bis white cousins of a later ]ieriod. one
of whom after taking a drink of Moorhead whiskey was sure he could whip any
man in that city, and after each successive drink extended the area of his
influence until he became exhausted, when he murmured softly: "I tank I take
in too much territory."
Charlo's wife died and he obtained a keg of rum "to help wash the sorrow
from his heart," and to aid his friends in properly lamenting her departure. A
few days later his daughter died, and not long after still another daughter, and
Charlo had two more occasions for over-indulgence which he did not fail to
improve.
Something was always happening to Charlo. He was taken very ill and the
medicine man was called, but before he arrived Charlo's sister-in-law came and
sat beside him, screaming and howling, calling on his deceased wife by name and
frequently sobbing, but was soon the gayest of those in attendance. When the
30 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
doctor came he began beating a drum, singing, dancing, tumbling and tossing and
blowing on the sick man, until he worked himself into a foam, when, redoubling,
his exertions, he burst his drum, trampled it in pieces and went away exhausted.
His patient is described as having been "almost worried to death.''
January 15, 1801, Charlo died. His brother, Maymiutch, wanted liquor with
which to properly show his grief. He said he knew why his brother died, and
why his wife and two children passed away, all within a few months of each
other. It was because Charlo went to Mouse River and stole three horses and
the white men there threw "bad medicine" on him. He knew Henry did not
do it, but his friends advised him to take revenge on him. He would not do
that, but he did want some liquor. His brother he said was a bad Indian who
stole horses, cheated the traders, and never paid his debts, so that even though
they had caused his death he would not blame them, but his heart was oppressed
and he wanted a "drink."
EARLY TRADING POSTS
In 1664, Daniel de Greysolon Sieur Duluth established a trading post at Lake
Nipigon, extending his explorations to the region of Minnesota and Dakota, and
in 1728, was followed by Sieur Pierre Gaultier de la \"erendrye, who also built
a trading post that year on Lake Nipigon; in 1731, he built another on the Lake
of the Woods, and in 1733, still another on Lake Winnipeg. He visited the Red
River ^'?.lley and extended his explorations to Grand Forks, which appears to
have been so called by him from the confluence of the Red Lake and Red River.
In 1736, his son and twenty of his men were killed by the Indians on the Lake
of the Woods.
At this period rival factions of Montreal traders were occupying the country,
between whom bitter warfare was being waged, each trying to incite the
Indians against his opponents, and against the Hudson's Bay Company, which
was inimical to both, until the Indians were on the point of uprising.
In February, 1913, a leaden plate buried by \^erendrye at the present location
of Fort Pierre, S. D., was discovered by school children, and passed into the
possession of the state historical society in ]\Iarch, 1916.
THE SMALLPOX SCOL^RGE OF 1780
In the year 1780, appeared the great scourge of smallpox at the Mandan
Villages ; and through the Assiniboines, who attacked the villages during the
prevalence of the disease, it became epidemic throughout the whole Northwest,
continuing until 1782, entirely destroying some bands and depleting others to an
alarming extent. It is claimed that of one band of 400 lodges, but ten persons
survived, and of the large number of traders who had occupied that country
but twelve remained.
In 1783, came the North-West Company, composed of Montreal traders
consolidated. In 1784, Peter Grant, a young man twenty years of age. entered the
service of that company, and ten years later, about 1794, established a trading
post on the ground where now stands St. Vincent. It was on the east side of
the Red River, at the mouth of the Pembina River, then called "Panbian" River,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 31
and is mentioned by Alexander Henry as being the first post established by the
North-West Company on the Red River. Jean Baptiste Cadotte was at Red
Lake in 1796-7 and had a wintering establishment at the mouth of the Clear-
water River, in 1798.
The Red River country prior to 1797, had received visits from traders in the
winter, and there had been wintering establishments for the purpose of trading,
but no permanent posts until Pembina was established in 1801.
John Tanner, called the "^Vhite Captive," author of "Tanner's Narrative,"
was among the Indians in the Red River country in 1797, and found no Indians
or whites at Pembina, a short time previous to the building of the post there in
that year by Charles Baptiste Chaboillez, who named his post "Fort Panbian."
A considerable settlement of Indians followed the building of the post, and
in March, 1798, David Thompson was entertained by Chaboillez while locating
the international boundary line in the interest of the North-West Company,
visiting also, a post known as Roy's House on the Salt River, which like that
of Chaboillez at Pembina, and Grant at St. ^'incent. had disappeared when Henry
visited these points in September, 1800.
PEMBINA POST ESTABLISHED
The Park River post having been abandoned May 4, 1801, and the Langlois
party having joined Henry's, the reunited Red River Brigade moved down the
river to the spot selected originally by Chaboillez, and established the post at
Pembina. Chief Tabishaw and other Indians arrived on the 8th. Nothing was
then seen of the Indian settlement that was said to have been near the old Fort
Panbian, erected by Chaboillez, which had entirely disappeared.
CHAPTER III
THE BUFFALO REPUBLIC
RICHES OF THE INDIANS THE VAST HERDS OF BUFFALO A BUFFALO HUNT ON THE
SHEYENNE RUNNING THE P.UFFALO MAKING PEMMICAN — THE MISSOURI
RIVER BLOCKADED BY BUFFALO THE LAST GREAT HUNT.
"Upon the Michigan, three moons ago,
We launched our pirogues for the bison chase.
And with the Hurons planted for a space,
With true and faithful hands, the olive stalk,
But snakes are in the bosoms of their race.
And though they held with us a friendly talk.
The hollow peace tree fell beneath their tomahawk."
— The Oneida Chief to the Planter — Campbell.
RICHES OF THE INDIANS
The herds of buffalo afforded the chief means of subsistence of the Indians
while the beaver vi'ere the main source of emolument. The flesh of the buffalo
was dried or put up as pemmican for future use. the sinews furnished them with
thread, the skins gave material for tepees, raiment, bedding, carpets, canoes, bull-
boats, baskets, buckets and cases for pemmican and the fat of bears and other
animals, strings for their bows, ropes for tethering animals, lariats for catching
the young buffalo, and at the end were used for shroud and coffin.
For many years the Indians conserved the buffalo and endeavored to prevent
the slaughter of more than was necessary for their own consumption, I)Ut the
temptations offered by the traders were too great, and they joined in the work
of destruction for the means of procuring needed supplies and of gratifying tiicir
appetite for intoxicating liquors.
THE VAST HERDS OF BUFFALO
On nearing the Park River in September. 1800, Alexander Henry found
numerous herds of buffalo, sometimes forming one continuous body as far as
the eye could reach, passing sometimes within 800 feet of the party. Climbing
a tall oak at Park River, he noted the same conditions, and that the small timber
had been entirely destroyed by them, and great piles of wool lay at the foot of
the trees they had rubbed against. The ground was trampled as it would be
in a barnyard, and the grass was entirely destroyed where they had come to the
32
Courtesy of U. S. Treasurer. John Burke.
BLACK DIA:VI0ND
The famous buffalo used on the ten dollar bill.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 33
river for water. All the way to Pembina Mountains he found buffalo and in
great numbers about Turtle River, Grand Forks, Goose River and the Sheyenne.
One morning at Park River they were awakened by the moving herd, which
tramped continuously past their camp from before daylight until after 9 o'clock
in the forenoon. When the river broke up in the spring of 1801, large numbers
were drowned. They floated by the post at Park River for about two days in
an unbroken stream, and from Pembina to Grand Forks there was scarcely a
rod of the banks where they had not lodged. An early writer claims that in
1795 he counted in the streams and on the shore of the Ou' Appelle River, 7,360
buffalo, drowned by the breaking up of the stream. They were simply in incredi-
ble numbers and the prairies were black with them. About their camp in Pembina
in 1802, they had so completely destroyed the grass that Henry lost twenty-eight
head of horses from starvation, and one day a buffalo actually came within the
gates of their fort.
In 1803 Mr. Henry went to the Pembina Mountains and thence across the
plains to Mouse River and White Earth River, and for upwards of a month
was not out of sight of buft'alo for a single day.
In 1804 a prairie fire swept over the country around Pembina and Mr. Henry
reports that in going to the Pembina Mountains he was not out of sight of blind
and singed buffalo for a moment. They were wandering about the prairies,
their eyes so swollen that they could not see. Their hair was singed, and in many
instances the skin shriveled. In one instance he found a whole herd roasted,
either dead or dying.
In 1S05 Lewis and Clark, the explorers, counted fifty-one herds of buft'alo
from one standpoint on the Missouri River. They found the plains of what is
now Emmons, Morton, Burleigh, Oliver, Mercer and McLean counties. North
Dakota, supporting herds quite equal in extent to those described by Mr. Henry
in the Red River Valley.
In 1806 Mr. Henry went to the Mandan villages on the ^lissouri River,
and in the Mouse River country was compelled to barricade his camp at night
to prevent being run over by the moving herds.
In the narrative of John Tanner, the White Captive, among the Chippewa,
it is stated that one night as they lay in their camp near the Red River they could
hear the noise of a buffalo herd which proved to be some twenty miles distant.
In his words :
"A part of the herd was all of the time kept in constant rapid motion by the
severe fights of the bulls. To the noise produced by the knocking together of
the hoofs when they raised their feet from the ground, and their incessant tramp-
ing, was added the loud and furious roar of the bulls, engaged, as they all were,
in the terrific and appalling conflicts."
To this clamor was added the barking and howling of the packs of wolves,
which always followed the herd and preyed upon the calves, arid the weak and
disabled, or devoured the parts of animals left by the hunters. The Indians killed
them with bows and arrows and caught the young with nooses of leather.
William H. Keating, the historian of Maj. Stephen H. Long's expedition,
spoke of the buffalo as existing in herds of tens of thousands between the Mis-
sissippi and the Missouri rivers, and vast numbers in the Red River Valley on
both sides of the river.
Vol. 1—3
34 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Gen. William T. Sherman estimated that the buli'alo between the Mis-
souri River and the Rocky Moinitains at the beginning of the construction of
the Pacific railroads numbered 9,500,000.
The bones of the animals were afterwards gathered by settlers and shipped
out of ihe country by train loads and down the river by ship loads. It was the
privilege of the writer in 1887 to examine a pile of buflialo bones at Minot, N. D.,
brought in from the adjacent prairies. The pile was measured, and the weight
of bones belonging to a single animal obtained, and it was found that one pile
represented over seven thousand buffalo. Like shipments were being made from
other stations, and it was estimated that the bones which had been and were
being gathered in North Dakota represented over two million animals. Entire
trains were loaded at Bismarck in the early days with buft'alo and other hides,
from the. steamboats that came down the river.
When the Indian camps were captured at the battle of White Stone Hills,
in Dickey County, in 1863, the fat ran in streams from the dried buffalo meat
that was destroyed in the conflagration.
In one season Charles Larpenteur, an independent trader, obtained 5,000
buffalo hides at Fort Iluford, and" in 1845 Gen. John C. Fremont reported
that the output of buffalo hides by the trading companies had averaged 90,000
annually for several years, but this covered only the number killed from Novem-
ber to March, when the robes were at their best.
During the constrtiction of the Kansas Pacific Railroad William F. Cody
(Buff'alo Bill) contracted to furnish the men engaged on the work twelve buffalo
daily at $500 per month. One day eleven buffalo escaped a party of army officers
who were running them, but were all killed by Cody, who fired but twelve shots.
William Comstock, a famous buff'alo hunter, having disputed Cody's right
to the title of "Buffalo Bill," a contest was arranged near Sheridan, Wyo., and
starting with equal opportunities, Cody killed thirty-eight, and Comstock twenty
before luncheon. In the afternoon two herds were encountered and the contest
clo.sed with a score of sixty-nine for Cody and forty for Comstock.
Hunting one day with a party of Pawnees, who were glad to have killed
twenty-two, Cody begged the privilege of attacking the next herd alone, and
killed thirty-six, very much to the astonishment of the Indians.
A BUFF.\L0 HUNT ON THE SHEYENNE
In 1840 Alexander Ross, a Canadian trader, witnessed a buffalo hunt on the
Sheyenne River, of which he gives the following account:
"At 8 o'clock the cavalcade made for the buft'alo, first at a slow trot, then
at a gallop, and lastly at full speed. Their advance was on a dead level, the
plains having no hollows, or shelter of any kind, to conceal the approach. When
within four or five hundred yards, the buffalo began to curve their tails and paw
the ground, and in a moment more to take flight, and the hunters burst in among
them and began to fire.
"Those who have seen a squadron of horse dash into battle may imagine
the scene. The earth seemed to tremble when the horses started, but when the
animals fled it was like the shock of an earthquake. The air was darkened, and
the rapid firing at last became more faint, and the hunters became more distant.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 35
■'During the day at least two thousand buffalo must have been killed, for
there were brought into camp 1,375 tongues. The hunters were followed by
the carts which brought in the carcasses. Much of the meat was useless because
of the heat of the season, but the tongues were cured, the skins saved, and the
pemmican prepared."
For years buffalo hunting had been carried on as a business, under strict
organization. A priest accompanied the hunt to look after the spiritual welfare
of the hunters and their families. The women went along to do the drudgery
of the camp and care for the meat.
When the herd was reached there was the early morning attack, after due
preparation, each hunter killing from five to twenty, according to his skill and
equipment, and each was able to claim his own from the size or form or com-
bination of bullet and buckshot used by him.
When the meat was cared for another assault was made on the herd, with
which they sometimes kept in touch six to eight weeks, the attacks being repeated
until all of the carts and available ponies were loaded for the return trip.
In 1849, 1,210 half-breed carts were among the Pembina hunters. When
they halted at night the carts were formed in a circle, the shafts projecting out-
\vard. Tents were pitched in one extremity of the inclosure, and the animals
gathered at the other end. The camp was a complete organization, captains and
chiefs being elected to command. No person was allowed to act on his own
responsibility, nor to use even a sinew without accounting for it. No hunter was
allowed to lag, or lop off, or go before, without permission, each being required
to take his turn on guard or patrol, and no work was allowed to be done on the
Sabbath day. A camp crier was appointed, and any offender was proclaimed a
thief, or whatever the nature of the offense might be.
RUNNING THE BUFFALO
Charles Cavileer spent over fifty years of his life in the Red River Valley.
Mrs. Cavileer, his widow, is a grand-daughter of .\lexander Murray, one of the
Selkirk settlers, and a survivor of the Seven Oaks massacre; a daughter of Don-
ald Murray, one of the early merchants of Winnipeg, and on her mother's side,
a grand-daughter of James Herron, an old-time trader. Speaking of running the
buffalo, she said :
"I can see them now as they started on the hunt. I can see them rushing
into the herd of buffalo, the hunter with his mouth filled with balls, loading and
firing rapidly. Loose powder was quickly poured into the muzzle of the gun
and a ball drojiped into place, and the point of the gun lowered and fired, result-
ing often in explosion, for the reason that the ball had not reached the powder,
or had been thrown out of place by the quick movement of the gun. Riding
alongside of the herd, which was on the run with all the desperation possible
in frightened animals, they were shot down by the thousands in a single day,
and then the work of pemmican making commenced, on the ground where the
animals were slain.
M.^KINC. PEMMICAN
"The meat was cut into long strips from half an inch to an inch in thickness,
and these were hung on racks to dry, with a slow fire built under them in order
36 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
to smoke them a little. When dried and smoked slightly, they were placed on
the flesh side of a buffalo hide, and whipped until beaten into shreds, and then
mixed with hot tallow in large kettles. Poured into sacks while soft, the thick,
pliable mass became so hard that it often required a heavy blow to break it. It
could be eaten without further preparation, or could be cooked with vegetables
and in various ways. If handled properly it could be kept for many years per-
fectly pure and sweet."
There was always reason to fear danger from an Indian attack in hunting
on the plains. In 1S56, the Pembina hunters were attacked by the Yanktons,
near Devils Lake, and their horses, buffalo meat and supplies were taken from
them, the Yanktons claiming the parties were hunting in their country without
their permission and not for their own food, but for commerce, which they would
not tolerate.
In i860 Sir Francis Sykes spent the summer hunting in the Devils Lake
region, and the next svmnner a wealthy Englishman of the name of Handberry
'Organized a party for the same purpose. He was accompanied by Captain Cal-
vert, Malcolm Roberts, William Nash and Charles E. Peyton. George W. North-
rup was interpreter and guide. Their entire outfit was destroyed or carried
away and the party taken prisoners by the Tetons, but they were released the
next day through the friendly offices of the Yanktons, it being represented to
them that Mr. Handberry was a British subject and only passing through their
country. They were allowed one team by the Indians and escorted beyond the
danger line, but the other animals and their outfit and supplies were retained.
Two hunters were found on the James River who told the Indians that they
came to hunt and trap. The chief said to them, "We hunt, we trap; you go,''
and they were given to understand that if found there on the morrow their lives
would pay the forfeit.
Flunting on the plains of the United States became very attractive and many
titled persons felt and obej'ed the impulse so well expressed in the following
lines :
"I'll chase the antelope over the plain,
The tiger's cub I'll bind with a chain.
And the wild gazelle, with its silvery feet,
I'll give thee for a playmate sweet."
■ — Sonci of Ossian E. Dodge, i8so.
THE BUFFALO REPUBLIC
In the summer of 1865 General John M. Corse and staff visited Fort Wads-
worth on Kettle Lake, afterwards known as Sisseton, North Dakota, and par-
ticipated in a buffalo hunt arranged by the officers of the post, there being a herd
of buffalo in the vicinity estimated at 30,000.
The party numbered about 100, and was led by Gabriel Renville, a mixed-
blood Sioux, chief of the Indian Scouts, who conducted them to the vicinity
of the Hawk's Nest, a high peak in the coteaus or hills near this point. Renville
gave the signal, and he and his party of Indian scouts began whooping and yell-
ing, and rushed into the herd, followed by the officers and their visitors. One
lieutenant of the general's staff, who was riding the finest horse of the party,
t5
z
is
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 37
became so excited that he dropped one revolver and shot his horse in the back
of the head with the other. Renville was armed with a Henry rifle — a sixteen
shooter — and, making every shot good, killed sixteen buffalo. Charles Crawford,
a noted .Sioux Indian scout, armed in the same manner, killed fifteen, and others
killed their proportion.
Samuel J. Brown, one of the party, attacked an unusually large, fine-looking
bull, which he cut out of the herd and chased until he had exhausted his last
shot, when the animal turned on him and ran him more than three miles. Twice
Brown tried to avoid his pursuer or mislead him by dodging around a hill,
but the animal would slowly ascend it and as soon as he discovered his tormentor,
would again pursue him. The buffalo was finally killed by the soldiers in the
immediate vicinity of the camp.
The visit of General Corse, and the hunt were celebrated in the manner
usual at frontier posts. In the course of the feasting it was resolved that
Dakota should be called the Tatanka Republic ; tatanka being the Indian word for
buffalo. Maj. Robert H. Ross of the Second Minnesota Regiment, was chosen
president; Maj. Joseph R. Brown of the Minnesota Volunteer Militia, secretary
of war; Gabriel Renville, "captain-general of the forces operating against the
woolly buffalo and the wily Sioux," and Capt. Arthur Mills, quartermaster
general.
THE MISSOURI RIVER I'.LOCK.VDED BY nUFFALO
In 1867, Capt. Grant Marsh, proceeding up the Missouri River on the steamer
"Ida Stockdale," with Gen. Alfred H. Terry and staff' aboard, encountered many
buffalo when they reached the Elkhorn Prairie, about one hundred and twenty-
five miles above Fort Buford. The story as related by Marsh in J- Mills Hanson's
book, entitled "The Conquest of the Missouri," is as follows:
"Though these animals were so numerous throughout Dakota and ^Montana
that some of them were almost constantly visible from passing steamboats, either
grazing on the open prairie, or resting or wallowing near the river, it was in
the country above the Yellowstone River that they appeared in greatest numbers,
for here they were accustomed to pass on their northern and southern migra-
tions in the spring and autumn.
"As the 'Stockdale' approached Elkhorn I'rairie. the buffalo increased rapidly
in number on either bank ; vast herds, extending away to the horizon line of
the northern bluff's, were moving slowly toward the river, grazing as they came.
On arriving at the river's brink they hesitated, and then snorting and bellowing,
plunged into the swift running current and swam to the opposite shore. When
the 'Stockdale' reached a point nearly opposite the Elkhorn Grove, excitement
rose to a high pitch on board, for the buffalo became so thick in the river that
the boat could not move, and the engine had to be stopped. In front, the channel
was blocked by their huge, shaggy bodies, and in their struggles they beat against
the sides of the stern, blowing and pawing. Many became entangled with the
wheel, which, for a time, could not be revolved without breaking the buckets.
As they swept towards the precipitous bank of the north shore and plunged
over into the stream, clouds of dust arose from the crumbling earth, while the
air trembled with their bellowing and the roar of myriad hoofs. The south
38 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
bank was turned into a liquid mass of mud by the water streaming from their
sides as they scrambled out, and thundered away across the prairie. * * *
Several hours elapsed before the "Stockdale" was able to break through the
migrating herds, and resume her journey, and they were still crossing, when at
last they passed beyond view."
THE LAST GREAT HUNT
In his book entitled "My Friend, the Indian," Maj. James McLaughlin, gives
an account of what was the last buffalo hunt in North Dakota, resulting in
killing 5,000 of the noble beasts, now reduced to a few small herds preserved in
parks by the Government or individuals. ^lajor McLaughlin was then Indian
Agent at Standing Rock.
The buffalo had been located 100 miles west, on the head waters of the
Cannonball River. It was in June, when the buffalo was at his best. The camp
was made according to tribal customs, and all of the honors were accorded the
traditional beliefs. Two thousand Indians were seated on the prairie, with dtie
regard to rank, forming a crescent-shaped body, the horns of the crescent open-
ing to the west. Running Antelope, the leader of the hunt, was seated in the
rear of a painted stone, made to represent an altar. Eight young men had been
selected to go ahead and spy out the buffalo. The chief addressed them relative
to the importance of their mission, and the necessity of caution, and closed by
administering to each a solemn oath, during which the men in the semi-circle put
away their pipes. Running Antelope filled the sacred pipe, which was lighted
with much ceremony, and offered to the earth in front of him to propitiate the
spirits which make the ground plentiful, and then to the sky, invoking the bless-
ing of the Great Spirit. He took a puff, and passed it to the chief of the
scouts ; the latter placed his hand holding the bowl of the pipe on the altar, and
then took a puff, each following his example.
When the ceremony was over every man owning a horse was on his feet,
gesticulating and congratulating the scouts on their good fortune. Three bushes
were set in the ground, and if in riding anyone succeeded in knocking down all
three of the bushes, a great amount of game would be killed. Major McLaughlin
led the race, and it was his good fortune to knock down all three. The Indians
were happy. All seemed well. When happy the Indian is exuberant in his joy,
and his cup of happiness that day promised to be filled to the very brim. Gall,
Crow King, Rain-in-the-Face, John Grass, Spotted Horn Bull and other noted
men were there. The march lasted four days. There were about six hundred
mounted hunters in the party, and many thousand buffalo were quietly grazing
on the slopes of a hundred elevations as they advanced upon the herd. Some of
the hunters were amied with bow and arrows, but most of them with repeating
rifles, and in a few moments the hunt became a slaughter. The Indians killed
buffalo until they were exhausted, and when the day's work was done over
two thousand animals had been slain. -Several of the Indians were hurt, one
dying of heart disease during the excitement of the slaughter. The attack was
renewed on the herd the next day with even greater success, and when it was
concluded over five thousand had been slain, and the meat preserved for the
I'li'tiis by D. F. Barrj-, Siipcrinr. Wis.
Sioux '\\'anioi-
NOTED SIOUX
Crow King
John Grass
Eunning Anttlope
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 39
winter's food supply. Frank Gates and Henry Agard each killed twenty-five
buftalo, and many others had made enviable records.
It was contemporaneous with these results that William E. Curtis, the noted
traveler, accompanied by the author of these pages, visited the Yellowstone River.
They were entertained at Glendive by Capt. James M. Bell of the Seventh
U. S. Cavalry, who organized a buffalo hunt for their entertainment. They
reached the grounds, twenty miles down the river, from Glendive, about noon,
and encountered a herd of about four thousand, but being there to see and not
to be a part of the performance, Curtis and Lounsberry were not mounted.
However, they were allowed to creep up the cut bank of a stream to within easy
range, when they fired and the stampede commenced. The soldiers then rushed
in among the herd shooting as they rode alongside of the running animals.
Seven were killed, that being all that was needed for a camp supply of meat.
The great herds of buffalo and of the cattle and horses which succeeded
them have passed and are gone, so far as free range is concerned, and the open
countrv which once knew them shall know them no more.
CHAPTER IV
FOUNDING OF PEMFJNA
THE POST NAMED ORIGIN OF THE NAME — THE FIRST FARMING POULTRY RAISING
AND MANUFACTURES THE FIRST CHILD PIERRE BONGA--THE FIRST WHITE
CHILD MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES AND TRADING STATISTICS BUFFALO, THE
HUNTER EFFECTS OF THE LIQUOR TRADE AT PEMBINA THE STAIN ON THE
RECOPJD NORTH-WEST AND X. Y. CONSOLIDATION FIRST FAMILY NAMES
HENRY SUFFERS FROM THE SIOUX — TRIAL OF THE NEW POLICY CHANGE IN
MANAGERS OUTLYING POSTS WITHDRAWN — ANARCHY AND HOSTILITY — A
NIGHT ATTACK POSTS ON THE RED RIVER — EARLY TRAFFIC ON THE RED RIVER.
"And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades
of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better
of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians
put together." — Jonathan Swift.
THE POST .AT PEMBINA
May 17, 1 801, Alexander Henry selected the spot for building a fort at
Pembina. The post was completed October i, 1801, and thereafter Henry's
scattered forces made their headquarters at Pembina.
The post was named "Fort Panbian," and was later called the "Pembina
House." It was built on the north side of the Panbian River — afterward changed
to Pembina — between that and the Red River, 100 paces from each, on land
afterwards entered by Joseph Rolette, and in 1870, James J. Hill, subsequently
president of the Great Northern Railroad, purchased of Air. Rolette the identical
ground on which the establishment stood, embracing five acres, where he built a
bonded warehouse for trade with the Indians and settlements in Manitoba.
Norm.an W. Kittson, a later trader at Pembina, and identified with transpor-
tation and other interests of the Red River country and of Minnesota, was a
relative of Alexander Henry. Henry's post consisted of a storehouse, 100x20
feet, built of logs. Later a stockade and other buildings, including store rooms,
shops, warehouses and a stable for fifty horses, were added.
The Hudson's Bay Company built, the fall of 1801, a post on the east side of
the Red River, near Peter Grant's old post, and the X. Y. Company built just
below Henry on the Pembina River. The Hudson's Bay Company built a post,
also, on the Pembina River at the Grand Passage, which was destroyed by fire
April I, 1803.
40
CAMP OF PEMBINA HALF-BREEDS WITH THEIR 'RED RIVER CARTS"
OLD FORT PEMBINA, 1840-84
Norman Kittson's trading post.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 41
ORIGIN OF THE NAME
The name of Pembina, aj)])lied to the post and the mountains, previous to
1 80 1 known as Hair Hills, is claimed by recognized authorities to be derived from
the Chippewa words ancpemiuan sipi, a red berry known among the whiles as
the "high bush cranberry."
The early efforts to create the "Territory of Pembina" were antagonized
because it was alleged that the word was insignificant, and when in the debates
in Congress it was pronounced "Pembyny," by a usually well informed congress-
man, all efforts in that direction ceased. Early in 1882, the Bismarck Tribune,
then edited by the author of these pages, used "North Dakota" in the date line
of that paper, and from that time the friends of "North Dakota" were united
in their efforts to secure "North Dakota" for the name of the proposed new state.
Dakota had become noted for its great wheat fields, and it was desired, also, to
retain whatever benefit might accrue from that fact, as the famous farms were in,
the northern part of the territory.
THE FIRST F.XRMINC
John Tanner claims that the cultivation of Indian corn was introduced on the
Red River by an Ottawa friend of his of the name of She-gaw-kee-sink, and it is
known that Indian farming was carried on successfully for many years by the
Arikaras, Mandans and Hidatsa, at the Alandan villages, prior to the advent
of Alexander Henry. They raised corn, potatoes, squashes, etc., but to Henry
belongs the credit of the first attempt to raise vegetables and corn in the upper
Red River Valley. He was the first white farmer in North Dakota. May 17,
1801, he planted a few potatoes and garden seeds on the site of Peter Grant's
old fort, and harvested iv; bushels of potatoes October ist. The other vegetables-
had been consumed by the horses.
The following year on May 15, 1802, he began to sow his garden, and
planted a bushel of potatoes, received from Portage La Prairie.
May 7, 1803, he planted potatoes, turnips, beets, carrots, onions, sowed cab-
bage and planted cabbage stalks for seed. Three days later he finished planting
eight kegs of potatoes. The yield October 17th, amounted to 420 bushels of
potatoes from 7 bushels planted, exclusive of those used, destroyed and stolen
by the Indians, estimated at 200 bushels : 300 large heads of cabbage, 8 bushels
of carrots, 16 bushels of onions, 10 bushels of turnips, some beets, parsnips,
etc. One onion measured 22 inches in circumference at the thick end ; a turnip
with its leaves weighed 25 pounds, the leaves alone 15 pounds. The weight
without the leaves was generally 10 to 12 pounds.
April 28, 1804, he was working in his garden, and September 9th, gathered
cucumbers and made a nine-gallon keg of pickles. October 22d the crop gathered
was 1,000 bushels of potatoes — the product of 21 bushels — 40 bushels of turnips,
25 bushels of carrots, 20 bushels of beets, 20 bushels of parsnips, 10 bushels of
cucumbers, 2 bushels of melons, 5 bushels of squashes. 10 bushels of Indian corn,
200 large heads of cabbage, 300 small and savoy cabbage : all of these exclusive-
of what had been eaten and destroyed.
Here- is doubtless the first record of Indian corn grown in the Red River
42 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Valley. Henry claims that he furnished the Indians at Dead River, Manitoba,
seed corn and seed potatoes in 1805.
POULTKY KAISING AND MANUFACTURES
In 1807 Henry brought a cockerel and two hens from Fort William to
Pembina. One hen died, and the other began to lay Alarch 29, 1808. May 8th,
she hatched eleven chickens and seven more were added later in the season;
giving him a tlock of eighteen chickens, the first domestic fowl raised in North
Dakota.
At this time there was a manufactory at Pembina, where Red River carts
were made, and a cooper shop turning out kegs and half barrels.
THE FIRST CHILD, PIERRE P.ONGA
March 14, 1801, the first child, not of Indian blood, was born at Pembina,
to Pierre Bonga and his wife, both negroes. Pierre Bonga had been a slave
of Capt. Daniel Robertson of Mackinavv, brought home from the West Indies,
and was in the first canoe of the Red River Brigade of July, 1800.
An amusing story of riding a buffalo is told of him at Pembina. A bufifalo
cow had fallen on the ice near the fort, and in her struggle to get up had become
entangled in a rope, but finally gained her feet, when Pierre and Crow (an
Indian) got on her back, but without paying any attention to them, she attacked
the dogs, and was as nimble in jumping and kicking as she was before taking the
load of nearly four hundred pounds.
In the fall of 1802, Joseph Duford of the X. Y. Company threatened to kill
Bonga, and himself received a sound beating. Bonga left numerous descendants,
one of whom was an interpreter at the Fort Snelling treaty of 1837.
THE FIKST WHITE CltlLD
The first white child was born at Pembina December 29, 1807. Its father
was John Scart of Grand Forks, and its mother was a native of the Orkney
Islands, who dressed in men's clothes and for several years had been doing a
man's work at Pembina.
MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES AND TRADING STATISTICS
Jean Baptiste Demerais, interpreter for Henry's Red River brigade, had
charge of the garden, horses and fishing, etc., at Fort Pembina the first season,
and the winter of 1801-2, took at his station near where Morris, Manitoba, now
stands, 130 beay.er skins, 8 wolf, 2 fox, 3 raccoon. 38 fisher, 2 otter and 5 mink.
BUFFALO, THE HUNTER
Buti'alo, a member of the Henry expedition of 1800, in 1801, was chosen
hunter for the post at Pembina. As recorded in the annals of the post he was
one of the most demoralized in his domestic relations, offering, like Charlo, to
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 43
-sell his nine-year-old daughter to Henry for a dram of his '"mixture" at Park
River. In the spring of 1803, he quarreled with his wife, and struck her with
a club, cutting a gash in her head six inches long from the effects of which she
was so long recovering that she was believed to be dead, and a year later he
repeated the brutality by stabbing his young wife in the arm; all of which
was attributed to his frenzied condition while in his cups.
MICHAEL LANGLOIS
^lich.'iel Langlois of the Red River Brigade, after the trading post was
established the fall of 1801, on the Pembina River, was sent to the Pembina
Mountains, then known as Hair Hills, to establish a post at the foot of the
steep, sandy banks, where the river first issues from the mountains, and the
X. Y. Company sent four men there to build alongside of his establishment;
<ilso, aside from the two houses mentioned, there was another trading post in
the Pembina Mountains, known as the De Lornie House, where Henry called
on his rounds, visiting his several outlying posts that winter. These trips were
made with dog sledges and snow shoes.
The following winter of 1801-02, Michael Langlois took at the Pembina
Mountains, 200 beaver skins, 24 black bear, 5 brown bear, 160 wolf, 39 fox,
14 raccoon, 57 fisher, 5 otter and 15 mink. In September, 1802, he was ordered
by Mr. Henry to Red Lake, but failing to make that point, spent the winter
at Leech Lake, accompanied by Joseph Duford. The winter of 1803-04, he passed
at the Pembina Mountains post with Le Sieur Toussaint and turned in 182 beaver
skins, 51 bear and 148 wolf. Maymiutch, Charlo's brother, an Indian who went
up the river with the "brigade" while under the influence of liquor, shot at
Michael Langlois December 21, 1803. The following season, 1804-05, Langlois
was in charge of the same station with James Caldwell. The returns of catch
are as follows: 16 beaver skins, 37 bear, 251 wolf.
Other employees at Fort Pembina in 1801, or about that period, who con-
ducted the work of the post, were Jean Baptiste Le Due (possibly Larocque),
Joachim Daisville, Andre La Grosser, Andre Beauchemin, Jean Baptiste
Larocque. Jr.. Etienne Roy, Francois Sint, Joseph Maceon, Charles Bellegarde,
Joseph Hamel, Nicholas Pouliotte and |oseph Dubois — all of Henry's Red
River Brigade.
JOHN CAMERON
John Cameron who had been at Park River the previous season, was sent by
Mr. Henry September i, 1801. to Grand Forks, to build a post there, and he was
followed by the X. Y. Company ; wherever the one company went the other was
sure to follow. Cameron took in at Grand Forks, the season .pf 1801-02, 410
beaver skins, 22 black bear, 2 brown bear, 30 wolf, 20 fox, 20 raccoon, 23 fisher,
20 otter and 6 mink.
September 20, 1802, he was sent from Pembina for the same purpose, to
Turtle River, and took in ;^;^~ beaver skins, 40 bear and 114 wolf. The winter
of 1803-04, he passed at Park River with Joseph Ducharme and the post turned
in 147 beaver skins. 25 bear and 14 wolf.
44 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
AUGUSTINE CADOTTE
AngiiFtine Cadotte was sent September 20, 1802, to the Pembina Mountains,
to trade with the Crees and Assiniboincs and remained there through the winter,
taking 30 beaver sl<ins, 47 bear and 364 wolf. April I, 1803, he was sent to
Grand Forks to rebuild the post there, erecting a building 100x20 feet in extent,
the same size as the original post at Pembina. The X. Y. and the Hudson's
Bay Company followed, and that spring the Hudson's Bay Company erected a
new post on the north side of the Pembina River at Pembina.
JOHN CREBASSE
fohn Crebasse with Mr. Henry at Fort Pembina, in the winter of 1801-02,
took in 629 beaver skins, 18 black l:)ear, 4 brown bear, 58 wolf, 16 fox, 39 raccoon,
67 fisher, 24 otter, 6 marten, 26 mink. At the same place he passed the follow-
ing winter, 1802-03, with Mr. Henry, taking 550 beaver skins, 38 bear and 104
wolf.
The winter of 1805-06, John Crebasse was in charge at Grand Forks, and
Mr. Henry at Pembina. Crebasse turned in from the former station 343 beaver
skins, 24 bear, 310 wolf, 171 fox, 75 raccoon, 59 fisher, 27 otter and other skins.
Of course there were other products of the chase from all of these points
each year.
JOSEPH DUFORD
Joseph Duford, a member of the X. Y. Company, who threatened to kill
Pierre Bonga, and was the companion of Michael Langlois at Leech Lake
the winter of 1S02-03, was with H^enry Hesse in charge of the Salt River post
in 1804-05, and it appears on the returns of Salt River for that winter, that
they turned in 160 beaver skins, 24 bear and 346 wolf. Duford was killed by a
visiting Lidian. October 30, 1805, and under this date the following particulars
are given :
A visiting Indian and his chief had accepted a quart of rum and were being
entertained at the fort. In the course of the night they quarreled, made up,
fought their battles with the Sioux over again, sang war songs, discussed the
Sioux, boasted of their own exploits, sometimes maneuvering as in actual battle,
with a pipe stem for a weapon, and finally the chief fell, exhausted and the other
continued the performance alone, until he worked himself into a frenzy and
thinking he was really in a battle and the Sioux were upon him, grabbed his gun.'
called upon his imaginary comrades to follow him and fired — mortally wound-
ing Joseph Duford.
The next morning when sober, the Indian was in great distress, insisting
that he intended no harm, that he knew that he was a bad Indian ; that he had
killed three of his own children, but he had never hurt a white man before.
According to the record — "he was forgiven."
ETTENNE CFI ARllONNEAU
Etienne Charbonneau went up the river with Henry's Red River Brigade
to Park River, and the winter of 1803-C4 was with Henry at Fort Pembina, where
they turned in 211 beaver skins, 29 bear and 37 wolf.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 45
For the winter of 1804-05, the returns of the catch at Fort Pembina were 829
beaver skins, 36 bear and 102 wolf.
There were ten grizzly bear skins in the returns of that year from the three
posts, viz. : Salt River, Pembina Mountains and Pembina post.
THE STAIN ON THE RECORD
"Oh ! stay not to recount the tale —
'Twas bloody — and 'tis past,
The firmest cheek might well grow pale
To hear it to the last.
The God of heaven, who prospers us,
Could bid a nation grow.
And sliield us from the red man's curse
Two hundred years ago !"
— Grenville Mcllcn.
From the 28th of August, 1801, to the close of the year 1804, the record of
the life at Fort Pembina is a series of complaints, demands, quarrels and casual-
ties, the revolting details of which involve the characters of many brave Indians,
who doubtless merit honorable mention, but who appear at best as "trouble-
some" and many of them as answerable for a long list of crimes, invariably
with direct reference to an abnormal state of mind, attributed to over-indulgence
on one side and criminal adulteration of the means of it on the other.
The record of Alexander Henry, as made up by himself, during five years
of the early history of the Red River Valley, is bad enough. Others were work-
ing on the same lines. In some of their journals the record is far more shameful
than Henry's, and of his Doctor Coues says :
"The seamy side of the fur trade Henry shows us with a steady hand that
we can scarcely follow with unshaken nerves, is simply hell on earth ; people
with no soul above a beaver skin, fired by King Alcohol in the workshop of
Mammon."
Ingenious excuses were framed by the Indians for obtaining the stimulant
which the white traders had encouraged them to use and taught them to prize
above all things, and in the dealing out to them of the poison, there was often
a nefarious liberality, let alone their questionable forms of trade, for which there
can be no condemnation too severe.
Henry in commenting on the degeneracy of the Indians, said :
"The Indians totally neglect their ancient ceremonies, and to what can tiiis
degeneracy be ascribed but to their mtercourse witli us ; particularly as they
are so unfortunate as to have a continual succession of opposition parties to
teach them roguer}' and destroy both mind and body with that pernicious article,
rum! What a different set of people they would be, were there not a drop of
liquor in the country! If a murder is committed among the Saulteurs (Chippewa),
it is always in a drinking match. We may truly say that liquor is tlie root of all
evil in the Northwest. Great bawling and lamentation went on, and I was
troubled most of the night for liquor to wash away grief."
The use of intoxicating liquor rouses the passions, among all races of men ;
it deadens the sensibilities, impairs and frequently destroys the memory. Love
and virtue cannot long endure where alcohol holds sway ; prosperity cannot abide
46 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
in the home of the man who is addicted to its use, his business will fail, his
home will be broken, and his parents, his wife and daughters may expect to
go in sorrow to their graves. There is no evil known to man that can or does
bring the distress to the human race that follows its unrestrained use.
Perhaps it has been, and may be used to some advantage in medicine and
mechanic arts, but there is absolutely no compensation that it has given or can
give the world, for the ruin it has wrought in its use as a beverage. A noble
race that peopled the plains and forests of North America have been nearly
destroyed by its use and the white man's greed for gold, and countless thousands,
aye, millions of white men have been unfitted for life's duties, not to speak of
the murders and suicides, and of the miserable wrecks in the hospitals for the
insane and in the penitentiaries and jails.
The flagstaff for Fort Pembina, a single oak stick, "seventy-five feet without
splicing," was erected November 28, 1801, and at the raising the men were given
"two gallons of high wines, four fathoms of tobacco, and some flour and sugar,
to make merry." But it was not alone the aborigines who exceeded the bounds
of sobriety, for it is written, that on New Year's day the men of the X. Y. Com-
pany and the Hudson's Bay Company came over to Fort Pembina, and the
manager treated the company assembled to "two gallons of alcohol, five fathoms
of tobacco and some flour and sugar, the neighbors and everybody else of both
sexes and all classes losing their senses, and according to the narrator, 'becoming
more troublesome than double their number of Indians.' "
Good drinking water was scarce on the hunt and in the midst of the winter
of 1801-02 (February 28th), Henr\- returned from hunting almost famished,
and declared that "a draught of water was the sweetest beverage he ever drank."
Of the Indian when not degenerated by the use of intoxicants it may be said
there is no selfishness in him. His anger and his appetite in those days were
uncontrollable, but there is no human love stronger than his for home and kindred,
and he seldom forgot to recognize "discretion" as "the better part of valor."
and for that he has been called cowardly. No matter what the Indian's prospect
for success in battle might be, the moment that he realized that his women and
children were in danger he would retire. Their protection was his first con-
sideration. Aside from that his creed was a life for a life, a scalp for a scalp.
If the Indians traveled a thousand miles, enduring privation and dangers that
were appalling, it was for scalps to recompense for similar losses. It was not
the love of blood.shed, or for the wanton destruction of human life. It was for
revenge, none the less sweet because indulged by the untutored tribesmen.
NORTH-WEST AND X. Y. CONSOLID.\TION
In 1805 Hugh McGillis, partner in the North-West Company, had charge of
the Fond du Lac district, with trading posts at every available point on the south
side of Lake Superior, across the country to the Mississippi River, up that
stream to its source, and down on the Red River. The company had extended
its .sphere of activity even to the very center of the Louisiana purchase ; tbev
were reaching out to the headwaters of the Missouri River, and pushing their
way on to the Columbia and to the Arctic seas.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 47
The headquarters of Mr. AlcGilHs were at Leech Lake, and he, also, had
an important post at Cass Lake, Minnesota.
Cuthbert Grant had charge of the post at Sandy Lake, near grounds covered
now by Aitkin, Minn., and had a number of other posts in the surrounding
country.
Robert Dickson was an independent Canadian trader, having his main jjost
on the Mississippi River, near what is now St. Cloud, and another at Cass Lake,
in charge of George Anderson.
At all these posts English goods were being sold without the payment of
duties; most of the posts being fortified, and many of them flying the British
flag, the "Second Union Jack," which, since 1801 had embraced the cross of
St. Patrick in addition to those of St. George and St. Andrew. Canadian traders
assumed the right to make or break Indian chiefs, and were holding their friend-
ship and confidence by the presentation of medals, and using intoxicating liquors
to demoralize and debauch them.
Alexander Henry was much concerned in February, 1806, when he heard
of Lieut. Zebulon Montgomery Pike's expedition, which was then at Leech
Lake, understanding that it was proposed to force the traders to pay duties on
the goods used by them in trade in United States territory.
The population of the Red River country in 1805 is given by Henry as
seventy-five white men, forty women, mixed-blood, and sixty children, mixed-
blood. The women were the wives of the traders and their men, all Indian and
mixed-bloods, and the children were all mi.xed-bloods, although returned as
whites.
The Indian population was given as 160 men, 190 women and 250 children.
FIRST FAMILY NAMES
The family names of nearly every mixed blood family, now or recently
residing in the Turtle Mountains, may be found among the employees of the
several fur companies operating on the Red River or in that region. Among
those mentioned by Alexander Henry in connection with the fur trade in the
Red River country are the following:
Francois Allaire, Michel Allaire, Michel Allary, Francois Amiot, Antoine
Azure, Joseph Azure, Alexis Bercier, Joseph Bercier, Antoine Bercier, Joseph
Boisseau, Francois Boucher, Louis Brozzeau, Augustin Cadotte, Michel Cadotte,
Murdoch Cameron Duncan Cameron, Antoine Dubois, Francois Dubois, Nich-
olas Ducharme, Pierre Ducharme, Pierre Falcon, Michel Fortier, Pierre Fortier
Jacques Germain. .St. Joseph Germain, Antoine Gingras, Jean Baptiste Godin,
Louis Gordon, Alphonso Goulet, Jacques Goulet. Jean Baptiste Goulet, Francois
Hamel, Francois Henry, Francois Houle, Jerome Jerome, Francois Langie,
Jacques Laviolette, Jean Baptiste Lemay, Louis Lemay, Pierre Lemay, Duncan
McGillis, Hugh McGillis, Alexander McKay, Alexis McKay, Ambrose Mar-
tineau, Fly Norbert, Alexis Plante, Joseph Plante, Augustin Poisier, Andrew
Poitras, Duncan Pollock, Joseph Premeau, John Roy Ross, Augustin Ross, Jean
Baptiste Ross, Vincent Ross, John Sayers, Angus Shaw, Alex Wilkie.
January i, 1805, Mr. Henry learned of the consolidation of the North-West
48 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Company and the X. Y. Company, and gave the following as his views of the exist-
ing conditions :
"It certainly was high time for a change on this river. The country being
almost destitute of beaver and other furs, and the Indians increasing in number
daily from Red Lake and the Fond du Lac country. The X. Y. had been lavish
of their property, selling very cheap, and we, to keep the trade in our hands, had
been obliged to follow their example. Thus by our obstinate proceedings we
had spoiled the Indians. Every man who had killed a few skins was considered
a chief and treated accordingly; there was scarcely a common buck to be seen;
all wore scarlet coats, had large kegs and flasks, and nothing was purchased by
them but silver works, strouds and blankets. Either every other article was let
go on debts and never paid for, or given gratis on request. This kind of com-
merce had ruined and corrupted the natives to such a degree that there was no
bearing with their insolence. If they misbehaved at our houses and were checked
for it, our neighbors were ready to approve their scoundrelly behavior, and
encourage them to mischief, even offering them protection if they were in want
of it. By this means the most notorious villains were sure of refuge and resource.
Our servants of every grade were getting extravagant in their demands, indolent,
disaffected toward their employers and lavish wdth the property committed to
their charge. I am confident that another year could not have passed without
bloodshed between ourselves and the Saulteurs."
In May, following the consolidation of the two fur companies, the Indians
were encamped about the fort drinking, when one Indian stabbed another to
death. The murdered man left five children and the scene at his burial was
heartrending. In the carousals that followed a son of Net-no-kwa, the foster
mother of John Tanner, the "White Captive," had his face disfigured for life,
and another Indian who came to his relief met the same fate.
HENRY SUFFERS FROM THE SIOUX
July 3, 1805, a large body of Sioux fell upon a small camp of Henry's Indians
on the Tongue River, and killed or carried ofif as prisoners fourteen persons —
men, women and children. Henry's father-in-law was the first one killed. His
mother-in-law reached the woods in safety, but finding that one of the younger
children had been left by the young woman in whose charge it was placed, she
kissed the older children and went back for that one. She recovered the child,
but was stricken down by the Sioux. Springing to her feet she drew a knife and
plunged it into the neck of her antagonist, but others coming up, she was dis-
patched.
All of the bodies of the dead were shot full of arrows. The skull of Henry's
father-in-law was carried away for a drinking cup, and indignities perpetrated
on other bodies too horrible to descrilie.
TRI.\L OF THE NEW POLICY
From the time of the consolidation of the companies there was a change in
policy — a change in the grade and strength of the liquors sold to the Indians, and
in the profits, which were greater, and f rnni that time on there were no presents,
rhotos by D. F. BaJTj'. Superinr. Wis.
Chief Gaul
Rain-in- the-Face
Sitting Bull
Bull Head
NOTED SIOUX
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 49
and no liquor given to induce trade, but an amicable arrangement was made
between the North-West and Hudson's Bay companies whereby strife, for a
while, ceased, and the Indians were obliged to pay for whatever they received.
But this happy condition did not continue to exist, as we shall see later. It was
bad enough before.
October 6, 1805, the Hudson's Bay Company built their new post at Pembina,
and Alexander Henry, in carrying out the new policy, immediately made a divi-
sion of the Indians, giving the Hudson's Bay Company, Tabishaw and other
troublesome Indians among their portion, and thereupon refused to make the
usual distribution of liquors ; being determined that they should not taste a drop
while they lay around the fort idle, but gave them credit for many necessary
articles. Some flattered, some threatened, and others caressed him; still others
declared that they would not hunt, but to no purpose, they were still refused.
"With no X. Y. to spoil and support them in idleness, we obliged them to pay
their debts," wrote Mr. Henry, "and not a drop was given them at the fort."
CH.\NGE IN MANAGERS
Mr. Henry was succeeded for a short time at Fort Pembina by Mr. Charles
McKenzie, and then by Mr. John Wills. John Tanner in his Narrative says,
relative to his experience with the latter, that Mr. Wills called the Indians
together, and giving them a ten-gallon keg of rum and some tobacco, told them
that thereafter he v/ould not credit them to the value of a needle, but would give
them whatever was necessary for their convenience and comfort in exchange
for whatever they had to sell. He not only refused them credit, but in many
instances abused the Indians for asking it. Tanner was ordered away from the
fort because he asked for the accommodation which had hitherto been extended
him, and in his distress for the necessaries of life, he went to the Hudson's Bay
Company's agent, and was given the credit desired.
When he brotight in his peltries Mr. Wills forcibly took possession of them,
and threatened to kill him when he demanded them, and did draw a pistol on
him when he came to recover them and turn them over to the Hudson's Bay
Company, pursuant to his agreement.
OUTLYING POSTS WITHDRAWN
The winter of 1805-06 the opposition having dropped out, there was no longer
reason to keep up outlying posts. Henry's return of the catch at Fort Pembina
that season embraced 776 beaver skins, 74 bear, 533 wolf, 276 fox, 63 raccoon,
140 fisher, 102 otter, 271 marten and 141 mink.
One year later the Hudson's Bay Company reestablished its trading house at
Pembina, in charge of Hugh Heney. who arrived at the post September 12, 1807,
with two boats from Hudson Bay for the Hudson's Bay Company. Mr. Heney
extended the usual credits to worthy Indians, notwithstanding the previous under-
standing with Alexander Henry. The population of the Red River country in
1807, not in the employ of the fur companies, aside from Indians, numbered
forty-five, known as "freemen."
On September 12, 1807, the post at Grand Forks was reestablished by Alex-
Vol. 1—4
50 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
ander Henry's sending his cousin, William Henry and seven men there from
Fort Pembina. A week later, on September 19th, Hugh Heney sent a boat and
a skiff and six men to Grand Forks to establish a Hudson's Bay Company post
at that point.
AN.^RCHY AND HOSTILITY
The spring of 1808 opened at Fort Pembina upon scenes brutal and lawless
in the extreme, but so familiar had these crimes become to Alexander Henry
that in his journal he briefly alludes to the murder of an Indian by his wife, and
to a disturbance on that day, when the Indians in camp at the fort used some
kegs of high wines that had been given them by William Henry, then in charge
of the fort, and as a parting treat a ten-gallon keg of alcohol, gratis.
Chief Porcupine's son was murdered, receiving fifteen stabs from a relative,
and Mr. Henry observes : "Murders among these people are so frequent that
we pay little attention to them. The only excuse is that they were drunk."
A NIGHT ATTACK
The fort at Pembina was attacked by a party of 200 Sioux at midnight of
July 22, 1808. There were then twenty-two men bearing arms, fifty women and
many children encamped in the vicinity.
Alexander Henry defended the fort with the men encamped outside, nine
men inside, and a mortar loaded with one pound of powder and thirty balls,
which had recently been added to the equipment.
At the hour of attack the Indians had been drinking heavily, and were gen-
erally asleep in their tents. Their arms were in the fort and the gates were
closed, but when roused they clambered over the stockade and secured their
arms, hurrying the women and children into the fort.
The piece when in action was aimed in the direction where the Sioux could
be plainly heard addressing their men. and no such noise as its roar had ever
been heard on the Red River before. The balls clattered through the tree tops
and some took effect, for the lamentations of the Sioux for their fallen comrades
could be distinctly heard.
For a few moments only the firing continued and the Sioux were next heard
at some distance, then farther ofif, farther and farther. .About sunrise they could
be dimly discerned filing away to the southward.
Their pursuers found the stain of blood where the Sioux were first heard, and
evidence of a hasty retreat. On the spot where they put on their war bonnets
and adjusted their accoutrements, making ready for the assault, upwards of one
hundred old shoes were found ; also some scalps, remnants of leather and bufi'alo
robes, saddle cloths, pieces of old saddles, paunches and bladders of water for
their journey — and a lone grave on the prairie where one of their dead had been
left. The loss at the fort was one dog killed by the Sioux shots.
POSTS ON THE RED RIVER
The furs sent from the Red River posts in 1808 included 696 beaver skins. 161
black bear, 956 marten, 196 mink, 168 otter, 118 fisher. 46 raccoon. There were
THE STEAMER YELLOWSTONE ASCEXDIXG THE MISSOURI RIVER IN 1833
From a painting by Cliarles Bodmer from "Travels to tlie Interior of North America in
1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied. 1843.
SNAGS, SUNKEN TREES, ON THE MISSOURI
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of Nortli America in
1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA ' ' 51
also shipped 3,159 pounds of maple sugar. The provisions consumed at Fort
Pembina by the party of that year, consisted, among other things, of 147 buffalo
(63,000 pounds), 6 deer, 4 bears, 775 sturgeon (weighing from 50 to 150 pounds
each), 1,150 other fish, 140 pounds of pounded meat and 325 bushels of potatoes.
Alexander Henry was ordered August 3, iSoS, to the Saskatchewan, to take
charge of that district (where he lived three years) and in a few days bade fare-
well to the Red River, after sixteen winters among the Chippewa.
He was drowned in the Columbia River near St. George, May 22, 1814, on
the way in a small boat from St. ( ieorge to board a vessel called the Isaac Tod,
which lay at anchor outside the bar at the mouth of the river.
The post at Pembina, seized by Governor Robert Semple, ]\Iarch 30, 1816,
was maintained until 1823. Charles Hesse and Alexander Fraser were there
when it Vias taken over by the Hudson's Bay Company.
CH.ARLES HESSE
Charles Hesse was a clerk in the employ of the Xorth-West Company at
Grand Portage in 1779, and is mentioned in connection with Red River matters
by Henry, October 16, 1801, when he and his young wife arrived at Red Lake.
On Februarj' 22, 1804, they went to Red Lake for maple sugar. September i8th
Hesse left Pembina with eight men to reestablish the post at Park River, which
was accomplished the first of October. At the same time Augustin Cadotte
reopened trade at Salt River, to oppose the X. Y. Company.
In one of the battles between the Siou.x and Chippewa Hesse's property was
destroyed and all his family were killed, except a daughter, who was taken pris-
oner by the Sioux. Hesse invaded the camp alone in the hope of effecting her
rescue, and the Sioux had such great admiration for his bravery that they gave
him an opportunity to redeem her. He succeeded in raising a considerable sum
for that purpose from his fellow traders, but his daughter refused to go with
her white father, preferring her dusky Sioux warrior who had treated her kindly.
E-XRl,"!- TR.M-FIC ON THE RED RIVER
There was traffic of considerable importance on the Red River in these
early days. Some of the ladings by the North-West Company from Pembina
in 1808, bound for the mouth of the Assiniboine and Mouse rivers, were as
follows :
A long boat — Angus McDonald, Charles Larocque. Pierre ]\lartin, Jean Bap-
tiste Lambert, 282 bags of pemmican, i bag potatoes, 42 kegs of grease, 2 kegs
of gum, 224 pieces, 2 pair of cart wlieels, i leather tent, I oilcloth tent, i cow
(buffalo, slaughtered), bark and wattap (for repairing canoe).
A boat — Joseph Lambert, Pierre Vandle, .\ntoine Lapointe, 2 kegs of gum,
5 kegs of grease, 107 pieces, i bag potatoes, i pair cart wheels, i leather tent.
I oilcloth tent, i cow.
A Lake Winnipeg canoe — Houle (may be Francois) Charbonneau, Fleury,
Su])rennant, 21 bags pemmican. i keg of potatoes. 3 kegs of grease, 24 pieces,
1 buffalo.
52 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
A canoe — Andre Beauchemin, Joseph Bourree, 20 packs, W. W. 2, 13 bags
of pemmican, i bag of potatoes, 3 kegs of grease, 36 pieces, i buffalo.
A canoe — Angus Brisbois, Jean Baptiste Larocque, Jean Baptiste Demerais,
20 packs, W. W. 2, 9 taureaux, 3 kegs or grease, 2 bags of potatoes, ;i2 packs
and McD.'s baggage, 2 bales of meat, i buffalo.
A canoe — Louis Demerais, Joseph Plante, Cyrile Paradis, Michael Damp-
house, 10 packs, W. W. 2, 2 kegs of grease, 2 bags of potatoes, 12 pieces and
Henry's baggage, 2 buffalo and 4 bales of meat.
L. L. canoe — Charles Bottineau, Jervis (Gervais) Assiniboine, 22 kegs of
grease, 1 bag of potatoes, 10 bags of potatoes. 32 pieces, i buffalo.
S. canoe — Antoine Larocque, Bonhomme iNIenteur, 10 kegs of grease, i bag
potatoes, I cow.
CHAPTER V
THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE PURCHASE — DISCOVERY AND ACQUISITION OF LEWIS
AND CLARK THE JUNE RISE IN THE MISSOURI RIVER THE ARIKARA VILLAGES
— GREAT HERDS OF BUFFALO, ELK AND OTHER GAME MANDAN VILLAGES FORT
MANDAN THE WINTER OF 1804-O5 IN NORTH DAKOTA THE BEAUTIFUL
NORTHERN LIGHTS — VISITINg' TRADERS — SACAJAWEA, THE BIRD-WOMAN THE
MISSOURI FLTR COMPANY THE RETURN OF THE MANDAN CHIEF.
"Though watery deserts hold apart
The worlds of east and west,
Still beats the self-same human heart
In each proud nation's breast."
— Oliver Wendell Holmes.
DISCOVERY AND ACQUISITION
The Mississippi River was discovered by Fernando de Soto, a native of Spain
who in 1519, accompanied the governor of Darien (now Panama) to America,
leaving his service in 1528, to explore the coast of Guatemala and Yucatan in
search of a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. After explorations
and military service under Pizarro in Peru, early in April, 1538, he undertook
the conquest of Florida, then a vast region under the Emperor Charles V of
Spain, sailing with a large expedition, and arriving at Tampa Bay, then called
Espiritu Santo, May 25, 1539. Seeking gold he explored the rivers of Florida,
contending with Indians and pestilential fever, and marched to the northwest
and reaching the Mississippi River in the spring of 1541, he marched southwest
and northwest in his discoveries, and to the White River, his western limit, then
proceeding south in March and April, 1542, along the Washita to, and follow-
ing, the banks of the Mississippi, during May or June, he contracted the fever
and died at the age of forty-six. His body wrapped in a mantle was buried in
the stream.
Spaniards have the reputation of being unsuccessful colonizers and de Soto's
followers were no exception to the rule. A statement in verse by Prof. William
P. Trent, in 1898, accurately describes the quality of their policy, and its results :
"Thine hour has come : a stronger race
Succeeds and thou must fall.
Thy pride but adding to thy sad disgrace,
As wormwood unto gall.
53
54 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
And yet thou hast but reaped what thou hast sown,
For in thy pride of strength,
Thou didst the kingdom of the mind disown,
And so art sunk at length."
In the seventeenth century, Robert Cavaher Sieur de La Salle, emigrant from
France to Canada in 1666, and founder of La Chine, in 1669, was leader of an
exploring expedition to the head of Lake Ontario and subsequently to the Ohio
River and down that river to the site of the present City of Louisville.
In the autumn of 1674, he went to France, and as the result obtained a grant
of Fort Frontenac and the settlement May 13, 1675. In 1678, having estab-
lished in Canada a center for the fur trade of French and Indian settlers in
opposition to another organization, he obtained permission from the French
government to carry on western explorations for five years, to establish po.sts
and have exclusive control of the trade in buffalo skins, exception being made
to trade with the Ottawas who disposed of their furs in Montreal.
In this voyage of discovery, with a company of about thirty men, he sailed
for La Rochelle, July 14th, and having established a post, and near the mouth
of the Niagara River, built a boat of 55 tons, called the "Grift'on," in August,
1679. set out on his expedition, passing through Lakes Erie, St. Clair, Huron
and Michigan to Green Bay, thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph's
River, where he established a trading post called Fort Miami, then ascending
the St. Toseph's, he crossed to the Kankakee and sailed down until he reached a
village of the Illinois, with whom he treated and in January, 1680, having partly
built a post near the present site of Peoria, called Fort Crevecoeur, he retraced
his steps to Canada from the mouth of the St. Joseph's, striking across Michigan,
made his way overland to Lake Erie, and then to his post at Niagara. There he
assembled another party and set out again for Fort Crevecoeur with supplies,
but finding the fort abandoned he explored the Illinois River to its mouth., and
returned for recruits and supplies. December 21, 1681, he started with a party
from Fort Miami, ascended the Chicago River, crossed to the Illinois and
descended to the Mississippi, and camping with the Indians kept on until the
river divided, exploring each channel to the Gulf of Mexico, and on April 9,
1682, erected a cross and a monument bearing the arms of France and the inscrip-
tion: "Louis the Great, King of France and of Navarre, Reigns This Ninth of
April, 1682." at the mouth of the Mississippi, and ran up the French flag,
taking formal possession of the country tlirough which the river flowed. The
chanting of the Te Deum, the Exaudiat and the Dominc Salvum fac Regem, was
included in the exercises, which closed with the firing of a salute and cries of
"\'ive le Roi."
Possession was proclaimed in the following words as translated for Sparks'
Life of La Salle:
"In the name of the most high, mighty, invincil)lc and victorious prince,
Louis the Great, by the grace of God, King of France and of Navarre, four-
teenth of that name, this ninth day of April, 1682, I, in virtue of the coiumis-
sion of His Majesty, which I hold in my hand, and which may be seen by all
whom it may concern, have taken, and do now take in the name of His Majesty
and of his successors to the crown, possession of this country of Louisiana, the
seas, harbors, ports, bays, adjacent straits, and all the nations, people, provinces.
SEVEN BEARS AT THE KIVER
From ])aiiiting by E. W. Demiiig, illustrating an incident mentioned by Captain Henrj', ISOl.
THE WOUNDED BEAR
From painting by E. W. Deming, illustrating an incident mentioned by Captain Henry, 1801.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 53
cities, towns, villages, mines, minerals, fisheries, streams and rivers, comprised
in the extent of said Louisiana, from the mouth of the great river St. Louis
on the eastern side otherwise called Ohio, Aligin, Sipore or Chukagona, and this
with the consent of the Chaonanons, Chickachas and other people dwelling
therem, with whom we have made alliance, as also along the river Colhert, or
Mississippi and rivers which discharge themselves therein, from its source,
beyond the country of the Kious or Nadoucessious, and this with their consent,
and v.'ith the consent of the Motantes, Illinois, Mesiganeas, Natches, Koreas,
which an: the most considerable nations dwelling therein, with whom also we
have made alliance, either by ourselves or by others in our behalf, as far as its
mouth by the sea or Gulf of Mexico, about the twenty-seventh degree of the ele-
vation of the North Pole and also to the mouth of the River of Palms; upon
the assurance which we have received from all these nations that we are the
first Europeans who have descended or ascended the said River Colbert ; hereby
protesting against all who may in future undertake to invade any or all of these
countries, people or lands, above described, to the prejudice of the rights of His
Majesty, acquired by the consent of the nations therem named. Of which, and
all that can be needed, I hereby take to witness those who hear me and demand
an act of the notary as required by law."
Sixain was then in possession of the Floridas and of the country west of
Louisiana, which territory embraced all of the country lying between the AUe-
ghanies and the Rocky Mountains, drained by the streams entering the Gulf of
Mexico, and their tributaries. It embraced West Virginia, part of Pennsyl-
vania, North Carolina and Georgia on the east, and parts of Montana, Wyoming
and ('olorado on the west, and all of the present states of Iowa, Missouri,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota and parts
of North Dakota, New Mexico and Texas.
On La Salle's way back to Canada, he laid the foundations of Fort St.
Louis on the Illinois, and in November, 1683, reached Quebec. He then pro-
ceeded to France and proposed the settlement of the Mississippi region and
the conquest of the mining country of Mexico then held by Spain, and April
14, 1684, he was appointed commandant of all the country from Fort St. Louis
to the mouth of the Mississippi. He then, on August ist, headed an expedition
of four ships with 280 colonists to go by sea to the Gulf of Mexico, stopping at
Santo Domingo, but they passed the mouth of the Mississippi, early in January,
1685, and landed at the entrance of Matagorda Bay, where he built a fort, called
St. Louis, and made an attempt at settlement, but it was savagely attacked by
the Indians and Spanish, who claimed the country, and it proved a failure.
January 7, 1687, he undertook to make his way back to the Illinois, and on March
19th, was shot and killed in a revolt of his men.
I.I.MITS AND TR.\N.SFER
The line defining the drainage basin of the Mississippi River on the west
constituted the limits of "Louisiana" as proclaimed by La Salle, and was adopted
as the "Louisiana Purchase." The River Palms which was the eastern limit of
Louisiana, flows into Palm Sound, now called Sarasota Bay, its mouth being
opposite the southern extremity of Palm Island, now called Sarasota Key.
56 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The first transfer relative to the Territory of Louisiana was a grant of com-
mercial rights as far north as the Illinois River for a period of ten years by
Louis XIV to Antoine de Crozat, September 14, 171 2, subsequently transferred
to the Mississippi Company, and the entire region known under the name of
Louisiana together with New Orleans and the island on which that city stands
was ceded to Spain by treaty of November 3, 1762. Then representatives of
France, Spain, Great Britain and Portugal met at Paris, February 10, 1763, to
define the boundaries of their respective possessions in North America, and
France ceded to Great Britain the territory east of the Mississippi and north
of latitude thirty-one degrees, and the Mississippi became the boundary between
Louisiana and the British colonies. The Red River and its tributaries including
parts of North Dakota and Minnesota and the Canadas became the undisputed
property of Great Britain. On April 21, 1764, Spain ceded to Great Britain
all of her territory east of the Mississippi River and south of latitude thirty-one
degrees.
September 3, 1783, in the settlement of boundaries at the close of the Revo-
lutionary war, the LInited States received from Great Britain all that part of the
original Louisiana ceded to the latter by France in 1763, viz., the Territory of
Louisiana, east of the Mississippi River and north of latitude thirty-one degrees,
and Great Britain ceded back to Spain the territory south of latitude thirty-one
degrees and east of the Mississippi River, which the former had received by the
treaty of 1763, effectually closing the Mississippi to the United States. Then
came the retrocession by Spain of the colony or Province of Louisiana to France
in 1800.
October i, 1800, by the "Treaty of San Ildefonso," Spain retroceded to
France the colony or Province of Louisiana, with the same extent it had when
France originally possessed it, south of latitude thirty-one degrees and east of
the Mississippi River. This was a secret treaty and Spanish officers still held
possession.
April 30, 1803, for the sum of $15,000,000, the Republic of France ceded to
the United States the Territory of Louisiana with the same extent that it had
in the hands of Spain, and when France possessed it, and the United States
accepted the territory between the Mississippi and Perdido rivers. The terms
were arranged on the part of the L^nited States by James Monroe, who had been
a major in the Revolutionary war, afterwards secretary of war in ]\Iadison's
cabinet during the War of 1812, and fifth President of the United States. He
was sent to France by President Jefferson, of whom George F. Hoar, senator
from Massachusetts said : "When we recall Jefferson we recall him with the
Declaration of Independence in one hand and the treaty for the annexation of
the Louisiana Territory in the other."
The treaty was signed by Robert R. Livingston. United States minister to
France from 1801 to 1804, and James Monroe, on the part of the United
States, and Barbe IMarbois, on the part of France. Livingston had been instructed
to negotiate for New Orleans and the Mississippi boundary line: the object of
the United States Government being to remove all cause for irritation between
this Government and the French, but Napoleon directed ^Marbois to offer to
transfer the whole of Louisiana. He said: "I renounce Louisiana. It is not
only New Orleans that I wish to yield, it is all the colony, without reserving any-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 5T
thing." Provided, he could secure 50,000,000 francs. He secured 80,000,000
francs, 20,000,000 of which were to be apphcable to the extinguishment of
claims against France, and 60,000,000 were to be paid in cash to France. Napo-
leon was in need of money, having sacrificed 200,000,000 francs in his expedition
against Santo Domingo in 1802-03, without result.
The region comprehended in this purchase included all the country west of
the Mississippi not occupied by Spain, as far north as British Territory, and com-
prised the whole or part of the present states of Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho,.
Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.
The American flag was first raised in New Orleans, December 20, 1803. By
act of Congress March 26, 1804, the territory was divided into two govern-
ments, that of "Orleans," including the present State of Louisiana west of the
Mississippi, and a portion east of the river, and a section called "Louisiana,"
comprising all the country north and west of that river. April 8, 1812, the
Territory of Orleans was admitted into the Union under the title of the State
of Louisiana, and on the 14th of the same month the remainder of the region
east of the Mississippi now under the jurisdiction of the state was added.
The name of the remainder of the territory which had been organized as the
"Territory of Louisiana" with its capital at St. Louis on March 3, 1805, was on
the 4th of June, 1812, changed to "Missouri."
On the day of the Louisiana Centennial Celebration, April 12, 1912, the
courthouse commissioners floated over the new courthouse in New Orleans, a
magnificent Louisiana flag, consisting of a solid blue field with the coat-of-arms
of the state, the pelican feeding its young in white in the center, with a ribbon
beneath, also in white, containing in blue the motto of the state, "Union, Justice
and Confidence." This flag had been in use previous to 1861, and after 1877,
but was not legalized as the state flag until July i, 1912. Together with the
stars and stripes it now waves over the state house whenever the General
Assembly is in session, and on public buildings throughout the state on all legal
holidays and whenever otherwise declared by the governor or the General
.Assembly.
The last conflict of arms between Great Britain and the United States, closing
the War of 1812, was a great battle of which Gen. Andrew Jackson was the
commanding oiificer, fought at New Orleans, January 8, 1815, now a legal holiday
in Louisiana. The British were defeated. Accounts of casualties differ. Some
give the loss to the British as 2,000. killed, wounded and captured, and the
-Americans as seven killed and si.x wounded ; otherwise reported eight killed and
fourteen wounded. James Monroe in a despatch at the time said : "History
records no example of so glorious a victory obtained with so little bloodshed on'
the part of the victorious."
WESTERN EXPLOR.^TION
In. 1776, John Ledyard of Connecticut, accompanied Captain James Cook on
his third voyage around the world, in the hope of reaching the Pacific Coast for
the purpose of exploration. Captain Cook was murdered by the natives of the
Sandwich (now the Hawaiian) Islands, and his expedition returned to Eng-
58 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
land, but persisting in his efforts to explore the Pacihc Coast, armed with
passports from the Russian Government, procured through Thomas Jefferson,
then United States minister to France, Ledyard, in 1786, left St. Petersburg,
intending to go by land to Kamschatka, cross on one of the Russian vessels to
Nootka Sound, enter the latitude of the Missouri, and penetrate through to the
United States: departing on his journey with full assurance of protection while
passing through Russian territory. Two hundred miles from Kamschatka, he
went into winter quarters, and while preparing for his journey the next spring,
he was arrested February 24, 1788, by an officer of the Russian Government,
and, forbidden to proceed on his explorations, was conveyed by day and night
in a closed carriage direct to Poland, where he was released and given to under-
stand that if again found in Russian territory, he would be hanged. Broken in
health and spirits, he died in Cairo, Egypt, January 17, 1789, at the age of
thirty-eight. Many extracts from his letters to Jefferson have been published.
In 1792, Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state in the cabinet of George
Washington, President of the L'nited States, proposed to the American Philo-
sophical Society a subscription to engage some competent person to explore
Pouisiana, by ascending the Missouri River, crossing the mountains and descend-
ing to the Pacific Coast, as Lewis and Clark finally did.
Capt. Meriwether Lewis of the First United States Infantry, then stationed
at Charlottesville, \'a., on recruiting service solicited his selection for this service.
Tie was to be accompanied by a single person only, and Andre Michaux, a dis-
tinguished French botanist, received the apjiointment. They went as far as
Kentucky, when the French minister recalled Michaux, on the plea that his
services were required elsewhere by his government in liotanical research. Thus
a second attempt to explore Louisiana failed.
THE UNITED ST-\TES IN THE PURCHASE OF LOUISIAXA
In 1801 Thomas Teff'erson was inaugurated President of the United States.
Spain had ceded Louisiana back to France and Napoleon Bonaparte was pre-
paring to defend it against the whole world, luit the war clouds of Europe were
threatening. Spain had denied to the I'nited States rights ])reviously enjoyed in
Louisiana and there was dissatisfaction with France through her attitude in
the Floridas. The Mississippi was practically closed to the United States. A
proposition had been submitted to the United States Congress, to appropriate
$5,000,000, and send an army of 50.000 men to seize the mouth of the Mississippi
River. Robert R. Livingston, United States minister to France, was in Paris,
endeavoring to arrange the matter amicably with the French. He was joined by
James Monroe, of ^'irginia, commissioned to assist in the work, in whose hands
the sum of $2,000,000 was placed to secure the cession of New Orleans and the
Floridas. While these negotiations were pending with no apparent likelihood of
success. President Jefferson had proposed to Congress that an expedition be
sent to trace the Missouri River to its source, crossing the highlands, and follow-
ing the best water communication to the Pacific Ocean.
Congress had made this appropriation, and Captain Lewis, who was then
President Jefferson's private secretarv-, had been chosen to carry the plan into
effect. Suddenly Napoleon's policy changed and he demanded the L^nited
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 59
States take not only New Orleans and the Floridas, but the whole of Louisiana,
and the price finally agreed upon was 80,000,000 francs (about fifteen million
dollars) the French commissioners insisting, however, that the compact must be
signed and sealed without delay. The envoys assumed the responsibility and
completed the treaty, which was ratified by a vote of twenty-four to seven in the
L'nited States Senate, October 20, 1803. The purchase price included 20,000,000
francs for the payment of the debts of the Louisiana Province which the United
States assumed. The total e.xpense of the purchase up to June 20, 1880. was
$27,267,621. The population of the ]jrovince at the time of the purchase did not
exceed go.ooo.
With the conclusion of the treaty. Napoleon, who realized that he must
lose this vast possession, was happy in the thought that it would not fall to
England, and that he was free to attack that nationality in another direction.
Greatness had been "thrust upon'' our country. Jefferson was perplexed,
for he did not believe that the constitution warranted this transaction. The
0]jposition stormed and ridiculed. The East was bitter in its opposition, but
those who were pushing their way westward, knew there was no longer danger
of attack upon our country from the West. The South rejoiced.
THE LEWIS AND CL.-\KK E.VPEDITION
The instructions to Captain Lewis were signed June 20, 1803. It was not
then known that Louisiana had been ceded to the L^nited States, though sicch
treaty was signed on the 30th of x^pril, for the information did not reach this
country until about the first of July. There were no ocean liners in those days,
no steamships, no cables to transmit news now flashed across an ocean or a con-
tinent in a moment : therefore Captain Lewis bore the passports of both the
French and English ministers, the latter for use on the western part of their
trip.
Captain Lewis had been intimate with the Indians; he was familiar with
their habits and customs, their hopes and fears, and the tender spots in their
hearts, and Jefferson knew that nothing but the impossible would divert him
from his purpose. He could confide in his capacity and courage, for he had
known him from boyhood, and for two years had employed him as his private
secretary. He caused him to take special instruction on scientific subjects and to
make other needful preparation for his work. His instructions required him
to study the soil and climate, the topography, the inhabitants, etc., and urged
upon him the importance of extending to the Indians the most friendly treat-
ment.
Tuly 5, 1803, Captain Lewis left Washington, proceeding to Pittsburgh, and
reaching St. Louis in December of the same year, spent the winter in furtlier
preparation for work, at the mouth of \\'ood River on the east side of the
Mississippi River, outside of the jurisdiction of the Spanish officers.
William Clark, a younger brother of Gen. George Rogers Clark, was asso-
ciated with Captain Lewis. He had been in the regular army, had resigned on
account of ill health, and had served as a captain of militia His rank on the
expedition was second lieutenant of artillery until January 31, 1806, when he
was promoted first lieutenant. He was promised, however, before undertaking
60 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the expedition the rank of captain of engineers, and was to have equal rank
and authority with Captain Lewis. He was so recognized by Captain Lewis.
His ofificial signature was captain of engineers.
In addition to Captain Lewis and Captain Clark, the party consisted of four-
teen picked men from the United States army — born and bred among the
dangers and difficulties incident to frontier life, nine young men from Kentucky,
two French watermen, an interpreter, a hunter and the colored servant of
Captain Clark, named "York,'' also, a corporal and six men and nine water-
men, who were to return when they reached the Mandan nation.
Their means of transportation was a keel-boat fifty-five feet long drawing
three feet of water. It carried one large square sail and twenty-two oars, and
had a deck of ten feet in the bow and stern, affording cabin and forecastle.
Midships it was fitted with lockers, which might be raised for breastworks in case
of need. There were, also, two open boats, one of six and the other of seven
oars.
After spending the winter at Wood River, they broke camp May 14, 1804, at
4 P. M. and made four miles that evening, the next day making ten miles, and
reached St. Charles the third day. St. Charles then had about four hundred and
fifty inhabitants, relying principally for stibsistence upon hunting and trade with
the Indians.
THE JUNE RISE IN THE MISSOURI
On the 23rd they found a small American settlement at Goodman Creek, and
in a few days evidently encountered the "June rise" in the Missouri River, for
they speak of the cut banks of the river falling so rapidly as to force them to
change their course instantly to the other side. The sand bars were shifting
continuously, and the current was so strong, that it was scarcely possible to
make any headway. Some days by the aid of .the sail, even, it was impossible to
make more than four miles.
The current of the river at the time of the June rise is about seven miles an
hour. The river runs nearly bank full from the melting snows in the mountains,
and the heavy rains of that season, and wherever the current strikes the shore it
quickly cuts away the banks, which tumble in ; several rods of the bank often
disappearing in one day. The water is extremely muddy, but when settled is
considered perfectly pure and healthful, and is clear above the mouth of the
Yellowstone River, where that stream joins the ^Missouri.
THE .\RIKAR,\ VILL.^GES
Lewis and Clark arrived at the three Arikara villages about three miles
above the mouth of the Grand River, October 8. 1804. The villages extended
up the river about four miles, and numbered about two thousand six hundred
men. The first composed of about sixty lodges, was on an island three miles
in length, covered with fields of com, beans, potatoes and squashes. The prin-
cipal chiefs of the first village were Kakawissassa or Lighting Crow, Pocasse
or Hay and Piaheto or Eagle's Feather.
The chief of the second village was Lassel and the chief of the third village,.
^VILLIAM CLARK
MEEIWETHER LEWIS
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 61
Ar-ke-tar-na-shar, who accompanied the expedition to the Mandan villages for
the purpose of negotiating a peace treaty between the Arikaras and Alandans,
who were then at war.
Lewis and Qark met the Indians in council at their respective villages, and
after stating the object of their visit, urged the importance of maintaining peace
with the Mandans and Hidatsas, especially in view of the aggressive disposition
■of the Sioux. In token of their appreciation of the friendly advice given them,
the Indians stipplied them liberally from their store of corn and beans. They
also gave them a quantity of large, rich beans, collected by the gophers ("prairie
mice" as written in their journal), and secured from their burrows by the
squaws. In return they gave the Indians a steel corn mill and other appropriate
presents.
Several Frenchmen were living at the Arikara villages ; among them Joseph
Gravelines and Anthony Tabeau, traders, were active in bringing the Indians
together for a conference on October loth. Another meeting was held on the
nth at the upper Arikara V^illage, and another on the 12th. On the 14th they
passed the forty-sixth parallel.
Gravelines accompanied one of the chiefs to the Mandan villages in connec-
tion with the proposed peace negotiations, and a peace treaty was finally arranged
between the Arikaras, Mandans and Hidatsas. now known as the Berthold
Indians, which has been maintained between these tribes for more than one
hundred years.
Sergt. Patrick Cass, who accompanied the expedition, visited a large number
of Indian lodges, and in his memoirs left a very interesting description of the
Arikara lodge or dwelling house, as follows :
"In a circle of a size suited to the dimensions of the intended lodge, they
set up sixteen forked posts, five or six feet high, and lay poles from one fork
to another. Against these poles they lean other poles, slanting from the ground
and extending about four inches above the cross poles; these are to receive the
ends of the upper poles that support the roof. They next set up four large
forks fifteen feet high and about ten feet apart, in the middle of the area,
and poles or beams between these. The roof poles are then laid on, extending
from the lower poles across the beams, which rest on the middle forks of such
a length as to leave a hole at the top for a chimney. The whole is then covered
with willow branches, except the chimney and a hole below to pass through.
On the willow branches they lay grass and lastly clay. At the hole below they
build a pen about four feet wide and projecting ten feet from the hut, and hang
a buffalo skin at the entrance of the hut for a door. This labor, like every other
kind, is chiefly performed by the squaws."
The ground on the inside of the lodge was excavated for about a foot and
a half below the surface, and the earth from the excavation was thrown up
against the poles, forming an embankment which added to the warmth and
served as a protection in case of attack. The lodges were large enough to admit
the horses belonging to the family, separated by a partition from the living
part.
In approaching the Arikara villages the expedition had passed through a long
strip of country occupied by the Sioux, who were threatening and defiant in their
attitude. Captain Lewis in his journal, thus writes of them:
62 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"Relying on a regular sujiply of merchandise through the channel of the St.
Peters (Minnesota) River, they viewed with contempt the merchants of the
Missouri, whom they never fail to plunder when in their power. Persuasion or
advice with them is viewed as supplication, and only tends to inspire them with
contempt for those who offer either. The tameness with which the merchants
of the ]\fissouri have hitherto submitted to their rapacity, has tended not a little
to inspire them with contempt for the white persons who visit them through
that channel. A prevalent idea among them, and one that they make the rule
of their conduct, is that the more illy they treat the traders, the greater quantity
of merchandise they will bring them, and that they will obtain the articles they
wish on better terms; they have endeavored to inspire the Ricaras (.\rikaras)
with similar sentiments, but, happily without considerable ef?ect."
Yet the Sioux were- in the possession of some good qualities. The late Gen-
eral Gouverneur K. Warren served among them as an officer of the United States
army, and knew them well, and in his reports spoke kindly of them. In 1855,.
he wrote :
"I have always found the Dakotas exceedingly reasonable beings, with a very
proper appreciation of' their rights. What they yield to the whites they expect
to be paid for, and I have never heard a prominent man of their nation express
any opinion in regard to what was due them in which I did not concur. Many
of them view the extinction of their race as the inevitable result of the operation
of present causes, and do so with all the feeling of despair with which we should
contemplate the extinction of our nationality."
The Sioux claimed a vast extent of country and within its limits were at
all times ready to contend for what they regarded their rights. .A.mong the
characteri.stics of the Sioux was their fondness for intoxicating liquors, and
they would make almost any sacrifice to obtain it ; but of the Arikaras it was
said by Lewis and Clark :
"We were equally gratified at the discovery that the Ricarees made use of
no spirituous liquors of any kind, the example of the traders who bring it to
them, so far from tempting, having, in fact, disgusted them. Supposing it was
as agreeable to them as to other Indians, we had ofifered them whiskey, but they
refused it with the sensible remark that they were surprised that the father
should present to them a liquor which would make them fools."
On another occasion they observed that no man could be their friend who
tried to lead them into such follies.
None of the Missouri River Indians were then addicted to the use of intoxi-
cating liquors, excepting the Sioux, who obtained it from the British traders
on the Minnesota River, and the Assiniboines who secured it from the P>ritish
traders on the Assiniboine River.
The attitude of the Arikaras was friendly, and in speaking of the Sioux who-
had closed the way to trade to them, forcing them to rely on the Sioux for
arms and ammunition, their principal chief said the door to their country was
now open and no man dare close it.
There were some things, however, they believed to be essential to their
happiness. They were poor, but they would give anything for red paint. They
were tender-hearted and very proud. When one of the soldiers of the expedi-
tion was punished by whijaping, an Indian chief cried aloud in agony. He said
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA m
his people sometimes exacted the penalty of death for misdemeanors, but never
that of being whipped, not even from children.
GREAT HERDS OF BUFFALO
October i8th the party reached Cannonball River, and in their journal great
herds of Inilifalo, elk, deer and goats (antelope) are noted. From one point they
counted fifty-two distinct herds of buffalo and three of elk. The great plains
surrounding the location of the future City of Bismarck were literally covered
with Ijuffalo, elk. antelope and other game.
Arriving at Sibley Island on the 20th they made note of the deserted Mandan
villages in the vicinity of Bismarck and Mandan, and the old fortified village
about a mile from the site of the present capital of North Dakota. The beau-
tiful plains and the presence of coal near the locality where Washburn is situated
were specially attractive features.
The Mandans informed Lewis and Clark that it was about forty years since
they left their villages about Bismarck and Mandan, and moved up to the- Knife
River.
MANDAN VILLAGES
October 27, 1804, they went into camp for the winter at a point a short
distance below the mouth of Knife River, in latitude 47 degrees, 21 minutes, and
47 seconds, and the computed distance from the mouth of the Missouri, 1,600
miles.
On the second day after their arrival, an extensive prairie fire raged in the
vicinity of the Mandan villages, resulting in several serious accidents. One
woman, caught by the fire with a half-white baby in her arms, dropped the
child on the prairie, covered it with a green or uncured bufifalo skin, and made
good her own escape from the flames. The fire passed around the child, leaving
it uninjured. The Indians accepted this incident as proof that the whites were
good medicine, and this to a large extent, accounted for their kindly disposition
toward the expedition.
October 29th, they had a council with the Indians, and gave appropriate
presents to the chiefs of each village. To Black Cat the Grand Chief, they gave
an American flag. *
The chiefs made or recognized that day by Lewis and Clark, were as follows:
Of the first or lower Mandan village, situated on the present site of Deapolis,
then known as Matootonha, first chief, Shahaka or Big White ; second chief,
Ka-goh-ha-mi or Little Raven ; inferior chiefs were Ohheena or Big Man, a
Cheyenne captive adopted by the Mandans, and She-ta-har-re-ra or Coal.
Of the second village, called Roop-tar-hee, the only one situated on the north
side of the Missouri River, they made Pose-cop-sa-he or Black Cat, the first chief
of the village and the grand chief of the whole Mandan tribe. His second chief
was Car-gar-no-mok-she, or Raven Man Chief ; the inferior chiefs were Taw-
nuh-e-o Bcl-lar-sara and Ar-rat-tana-mock-she, wolf man chief.
The third village in the immediate vicinity of the present site of Stanton, was
called Mah-har-ha and of this Ta-tuck-co-pin-re-ha or white bufifalo robe un-
folded, was the first chief, and Min-nis-sur-ra-ree, or Neighboring Horse, and
64 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Le-cong-gar-ti-bar, or Old Woman at a Distance, were recognized as inferior
chiefs.
Half a mile from this village was a Minnetaree village called Me-te-har-tan.
Of this Omp-se-ha-ra, or Black Moccasin, was first chief, and Oh-harh, or Little
Fox, second chief.
The Ahnaways, called Souliers by the French, lived in this village. They
merged with the Hidatsas about thirty years later, and have since been recognized
-as a part of that tribe. The Souliers numbered, at this time, about 50 men, the
Hidatsa .450, and the Mandans 350.
The fourth village was called Me-te-har-tan. The principal chief was Mar-
noh-tah, or Big Thief ; he was at war and was killed soon afterwards.
The chiefs recommended were Mar-se-rus-se, or Tail of the Calumet Bird,
Ea-pa-ne-pa, or Two-Tailed Calumet Bird, and War-ke-ras-sa, the Red Shield.
The fifth or Hidatsa village was on the north side of the Knife River, ij4
miles above its mouth, near Causey. It was the home of Le Borgne, Mau-pah-
pir-re-cos-sa-too, the dominating influence in the Mandan villages, but he was
absent at the time of the arrival of Lewis and Clark. The chiefs recommended
at tlie council for recognition were Sha-hake-ho-pin-nee, or Little Wolf, Medi-
•cine and Ar-rat-toe-no-mook-ge, Man Wolf Chief, who was at war. He was
represented by Cal-tar-co-ta, or Cherry on the Bush, by whom the usual chief's
presents were sent to Le Borgne.
When David Thompson of the North-West Company visited the Mandan
villages in 1796 he found in the five villages 318 houses and seven tents. There
were then two villages on the north side of the Missouri River, united in one
heiore the visit of Lewis and Clark. This village was about three miles from
the other Mandan villages on the Knife River.
FORT MANDAN
Lewis and Clark established at their, camp a post which was known as Fort
Mandan, consisting of two rows of huts or sheds, forming an angle where they
joined e?ch other. Each row had four rooms, fourteen feet square and seven
feet high, with plank ceiling, and the roof slanting so as to form a loft above the
rooms, the highest part of which was eighteen feet above the ground. The body
of the huts formed a wall of that height. Opposite the angle the place of the
wall was supplied by picketing, and in the rear were two rooms for stores and
provisions. The American flag was raised over Fort Mandan for the first time
December 25, 1804, and this was probably the first time that the flag floated in
North Dakota.
THE FLAG ON FORT MANDAN
The flag raised by Lewis and Clark over Fort Mandan was the flag adopted
by the United States Congress January 13, 1794, with fifteen stripes and fifteen
stars, instead of the original thirteen stripes and thirteen stars provided by the
act of June 14, 1777. Congress first met in Washington November 17, 1800,
and Ohio, the seventeenth state, was the first one to be admitted in Washington
and bears the date April 30. 1802. After that there were no states admitted
A MANDAN VILLAGE
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
WINTER VILLAGE OF THE JUNATARRES
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1832-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 65
for ten years, or until Louisiana joined the Union, April 8, 1812. But not until
the act of April 4, 181S, was provision made for adding a star for each state
admitted.
OUR FLAG AND ITS DAY
"Your Flag and my Flag !
To every star and stripe
The drums beat as hearts beat
And fifers shrilly pipe !
Your Flag and my Flag —
A blessing in the sky:
Your hope and my hope —
It never hid a lie I
Home land and far land, and half the world around,
Old Glory hears our glad salute, and ripples to the sound 1"
—Wilbur D. Nesbit.
Since the dawn of our republic there have been at least four distinctive flags
for which their devotees were willing to sacrifice their lives. They were the
"Pine Tree State," the "Rattlesnake," "Liberty and Union," and the "Stars and
Stripes" of 1777.
Flags of various designs had been in use by the soldiers of the American
colonies in the early days and Revolutionary as well as more recent exploration
periods, the "Bear Flag." for example, now being jealously guarded by the
Pacific Coast pioneers.
The "New England Flag," used during the Colonial and Provincial periods,
was white, bearing the red cross of St. George, with a pine tree in the corner.
The pine tree is still borne on one side of the flag of the State of Massachusetts.
The flag which was carried at the siege of Boston bore the crosses of St. Andrew
and .St. George in the corner. ,
Two years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on October
21, 1774, the patriots of Taunton, a small town in the State of Massachusetts,
as a protest against Briti.sh rule, raised over the "Green," in the center of the
town, a flag inscribed "LTnion and Liberty." It was the first flag of the z\meri-
can colonies in opposition to the British, and has been immortalized in verse by
Hezekiah Butterworth under the title of "The Red Flag of Taunton."
ST.\RS AND STRIPES
The first stripes used on the American colors were borne by cavalry in 1775.
The colors presented to the Philadelphia Light Horse Troop, organized 1774,
were made of bright yellow (for cavalry) silk, forty inches long, thirty-four
inches broad, and had thirteen blue and silver stripes alternate in the corner or
canton. Over the crest in the center of the banner, a horse's head, were the
letters "L. H." (Light Horse). Underneath was a scroll, with the words. "For
These We Strive," and on the sides an Indian and an angel blowing a trumpet.
The flag that flew from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., first
run up January i, 1776, was composed of thirteen red and white stripes, with
the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew emblazoned on the blue space, instead
66 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the stars. In February of that year from the fleet on the Delaware River the
same flag floated.
THE ELEVENTH TOAST
At the celebration by Congress of the first anniversary of the signing of the
Treaty of Alliance, Amity and Commerce, which took place at Paris, February
6, 1778, whereby France recognized the independence of the United States, this
being the first treaty made by the United States with any foreign power, thirteen
toasts were drunk. The eleventh honored the flag in a practical manner :
"May the American stripes bring Great Britain to reason."
The flag then had thirteen stripes.
"My forefathers were America in the making;
They spoke in her council halls ;
They died on her battlefields;
They commanded her ships;
They cleared her forests.
Dawns reddened and paled,
Stanch hearts of mine beat fast at each new star
In the Nation's flag.
Keen eyes of mine foresaw her greater glory;
The sweep of her seas.
The plenty of her plains,
> The man-hives in her billion-wired cities.
Every drop of blood in me holds a heritage of patriotism.
I am proud of my past.
I am an American."
— Elias Liehcrman.
The United States flag was first seen and saluted in foreign lands February
14, 1778, flying from the United States ship Ranger as she sailed into the harbor
of Brest, in command of John Paul Jones, and received from the French
commander the salute from the guns of his fleet.
The decline of the royal ensign took place on the 25th of November, 1783,
when the British troops evacuated New York, the stars and stripes being hoisted
in the city while the royal ensign was run down.
PROPORTION'S ADJUSTED
June 14, 1777, the United States Congress adopted a resolution that the flag
of the thirteen independent states should be thirteen stripes alternate red and
white, and that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a
new constellation. The thirteen original states in order of settleinent, were :
Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland,
Rhode Island. Delaware, North Carolina, New Jersey, South Carolina, Penn-
•sylvania and Georgia.
The original domain of the United States over which the flag held dominion,
comprised the thirteen states with the additional area acquired by conquest from
Great Britain ; the whole being bounded on the west by the Mississippi River,
on the south by the thirty-first parallel of latitude, — the Florida boundary, — •
on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the north by the British possessions.
The part of the area called the Northwest Territory, in which New York, Penn-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA ' 67
sylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia originally held claims, was
subsequently relinquished to the general government. Its domain is today (1916)
estimated at three million six hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred
and eighty square miles, including insular dependencies.
The public announcement of the adoption of the flag and the design, occurred
on September 3, 1777, and it was first displayed at l^'ort Schuyler in 1777, on
the site of the present city of Rome, N. Y., where there was a garrison of about
eight hundred men to whom the new statute regarding the flag was announced
on the evening of the second day of August, and a flag, composed of cloth
cut out of wearing apparel, but complete according to the statute, was made, and
the next day, with due formality, the drummer beating the "assembly," and the
adjutant reading the resolution, the flag of the republic was raised on the north-
east bastion of the fort, that being nearest the camp of the enemy. This much
is absolutely certain regarding the flag's nativity. It cannot be antedated, and it
had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes, and January 13, 1794, in order to add
two more states, — Vermont (which produced many strong pioneers for the
western states, and celebrated her one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary
July 12, 1916) 1791, Kentucky, 1792 — the flag was changed by law to take
etfect May i, 1795, to comprise fifteen stripes alternate red and white; the Union
being represented by fifteen stars, white in a blue field, and this was the national
flag during the War of 1812, and the one which was apostrophized by Francis
Scott Key, the "Star Spangled Banner," while waving over Fort McHenry, Sep-
tember 14, 1814, adding Tennessee, 1796, Ohio, 1802, and Louisiana, 1812; but
from quite evident considerations of expediency, in the face of rapidly accumu-
lating states to be represented, it was found necessary to settle upon the number
of stripes and stars, and on April 4, 1818, the act was passed and approved by
President James Monroe, that required after the Fourth of July following, the
flag of the United States should be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and
white, and that the union should comprise twenty stars, white on a blue field.
Also, (Section 2) it was further enacted that on the admission of every
new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag, and that
such addition should take efifect on the Fourth of July next succeeding such
admission.
The first flag of this description was hoisted on the flagstaflf of the old house
of representatives at Washington on April 13, 1818, and up to the present time
this regulation has been observed upon the admission of each new state to the
Union, except in respect to the United States revenue flag, the stripes on which
number sixteen, running vertically, but in 100 years of vicissitude more or less
aggrandizing, the banner seems to have become in a measure self-adjustable,
for in 1912, by measurements in the process of preparing the pattern it was
found that while the proportionate size of the blue field to the rest of the flag
had not been increased, the proportion of blue in the national emblem had grown
in a marked degree, while the stars had diminished in size.
THE COAST GUARD FLAG
The Coast Guard was created by act of Congress Januarj- 28, 191 5, and takes
the place of the Revenue Cutter Service, established in 1790, and the Life Saving
68 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Service which dates back to 1848, and constitutes a part of the miHlary forces
of the United States.
The distinctive flag flown from the foremast on all coast guard cutters causes
many inquiries as to its origin, and the following extracts from the annual
report of the United States Coast Guard for 1915 will therefore be of interest.
"Nine years after the establishment of the Revenue Cutter Service, the
forebear of the existing Coast Guard, Congress, in the act of March 2, 1799,
provided that :
" 'The cutters and boats employed in the service of the revenue shall be
distinguished from other vessels by an ensign and pennant, with such marks
thereon as shall be prescribed by the President. H any vessel or boat, not
employed in the service of the revenue, shall, within the jurisdiction of the
United States, carry or hoist any pennant or ensign prescribed for vessels in such
service, the master of the vessel so offending shall be liable to a penalty of
$100.'
"Under date of August i, 1799, the secretary of the treasury, Oliver Wolcott,
issued an order announcing that in pursuance of authority from the President
the distinguishing ensign and pennant should consist of 'sixteen perpendicular
stripes, alternate red and white, the Union of the ensign to be the arms of the
United States in dark blue on a white field.' "
This picturesque flag, with its vertical stripes, now so familiar in American
waters, was arranged with historical detail, inasmuch as in the union of the flag
there are thirteen stars, thirteen leaves to the olive branch, thirteen arrows, and
thirteen bars to the shield, all corresponding to the original number of states
constituting the Union at the time of the founding of the Republic. The six-
teen vertical stripes in the body of the flag are symbolical of the number of states
composing the Union when this flag was offlcially adopted. Originally intended
to be flown only on revenue cutters and boats connected with the customs service,
in the passage of time there grew up a practice of flying this distinctive flag from
certain custom-houses, and finally, by direction of the Secretary of the Treasury,
in 1874, it was flown from all custom-houses. From then until 1910 it was
displayed indiscriminately on custom-houses, customs boats, and revenue cutters.
In order, therefore, that this distinctive ensign, the sign of authority of a
cutter, should be used for no other purpose as originally contemplated. President
Taft issued the following E.xecutive Order on June 7, 1910:
"By virtue of the authority vested in me under the provisions of section 2764
of the revised statutes, I hereby prescribe that the distinguishing flag now used
by vessels of the Revenue-Cutter Service be marked by the distinctive emblem
of that service, in blue and white, placed on a line with the lower edge of
the union, and over the center of the seventh vertical red stri])e from the mast
of said flag, the emblem to cover a horizontal space of three stripes. This change
to be made as soon as practicable."
"Upon the establishment of the coast guard, which absorbed the duties of
the Revenue-Cutter Service, the ensign described above became the distinctive
flag of coast guard cutters, which if flown from any other vessel or boat within
che jurisdiction of the United States will subject the offender to the penalty of
the law."
a
00 iL
2. ^
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 69
THE WINTER OF l804-'05
The winter of 1804-05, was a cold one. The mercury sometimes dropped
as low as 47 degrees below zero, and yet there was much of interest occurring
during that winter. The Indians were frequent visitors, bringing their corn
and game in exchange for the work of the blacksmith. Arrow points, made from
iron hoops, and battle axes from a cast-off sheet-iron stove, were of particular
value to them. While the Indians were jealous of the reputation of their wives
and daughters, and resented any advances made by their brother Indians, they
were not averse to attentions from their white visitors, and were solicitous to a
degree for York, who was preferred to any one of the party.
The soldiers visited the lodges, sometimes dancing for the amusement of the
Indians. York generally accompanied them and was the star attraction at all
times, entertaining them with his stories. He assured them that he was a wild
man until caught and tamed by Captain Clark, and told them other stories of like
character.
The Indians made it a rule to ofTer food to the white men on their first
entrance to their homes, indeed, there was nothing too good to place before them
and urge upon them, and the union of the whites with the natives, may account
for the light hair and blue eyes found among the Mandans.
The women were noted for their industry and for their obedience to their
husbands' commands. When their husbands desired to make a present to the
little garrison of meat or corn, they brought it "on the backs of their scjuaws,"
whose services they were ready to lend for any other purpose for a slight con-
sideration, or as an act of friendship.
Many little incidents occurred during the winter to endear the whites to
the Indians of these villages, but nothing more than the fact that when the
Sioux made a raid and killed some of their hunters. Captain Clark turned out
nearly his entire force, armed and equipped, and offered to lead the Indians
against the Sioux.
THE BE.\UTIFUL NORTHERN LIGHTS
The extreme cold did not interfere seriously with the Indian sports, and
Captain Lewis speaks of the beautiful northern lights, still characteristic of
North Dakota. He writes :
"Along the northern sky was a large space occupied by a pale but brilliant
color, which, rising from the horizon, extended itself to nearly 20 degrees
above it. After glistening for some time, its colors would be overcast and
almost obscured, but again would burst out with renewed beauty. The uniform
color was pale light, but its shapes were various and fantastic. At times the
sky was lined with light-colored streaks, rising perpendicularly from the horizon
and gradually expanding into a body of light in which we could trace the floating
columns, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating, and shaping into infinite
forms the space in which they moved."
Much of the winter was spent in gaining information from the Indians in
relation to the country, and as to the number, habits, customs and traditions of
the several tribes.
70 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Rene Jessaume had resided at the villages about fifteen years. He was
entirely familiar with the language and habits of the Indians, and was accordingly
employed as a Alandan interpreter, and immediately took up his residence at the
camp of the explorers. In the course of the winter Toussaint Charbonneau was
employed as an Hidatsa interpreter, and he and his good wife Sakakawea, the
"Bird-Woman," who became the Shoshone interpreter after reaching the plains
of Montana, also took up their residence at the fort. Joseph Gravelines was the
Arikara interpreter, and John B. LePage, who was also employed at the Mandan
villages, the Cheyenne interpreter.
VISITING TRADERS
Hugh McCracken, an independent trader, associated usually with the North-
West Company, was at the Mandan villages at the time of the arrival of Lewis
and Clark, for the purpose of trading for bufjalo robes and horses. The
explorers took advantage of his presence to send special copies of their pass-
ports to Mr. Charles Chaboillez and asked the friendly offices of the North- West
Company on their trip to the Pacific Coast. In due time they received a reply,
with the assurance that the North-West Company would afi^ord them every
assistance within their power.
They were, also, visited during the winter by Charles McKenzie and Francois
A. Larocque of the North-West Company, and later, by Hugh Fleney, of the
Hudson's Bay Company. Some of these parties visited Fort Mandan several
tirnes during the winter, and were allowed to trade at the villages without any
interference.
When the river was breaking up in the spring, the Indians fired the prairie,
and drove the bufl'alo on to the ice and killed many of them on cakes of ice and
towed them ashore. A large number were drowned, and many of these were
taken by the Indians and used for meat.
During the winter a large number of specimens were gathered or prepared
by the party, and shipped to President Jefferson by the barge which left the
villages the same day that Lewis and Clark left for the Pacific Coast.
The river broke up on the 25th of March. 1S05, and April ist, the boats were
again placed in the water. Captain Lewis notes that the first rain since October
iSth, fell on that day. They had spent a winter of bright sunshine, and such
winters often occur now as well as 100 years ago.
One day they were out on the river bottoms, in February, and killed 3,000
pounds of game, among the lot thirty-six deer. Deer are still found on the
river bottoms. Tlie buft'alo are gone, but myriads of ducks and geese still
come and go.
At the time of their departure for the Pacific Coast, Corporal Richard Warf-
ington, whose term had expired, but who was held in the service for the purpose,
left in the barge for St. Louis, with Joseph Gravelines, pilot, and six soldiers.
They carried the specimens intended for the president, and were accompanied
by an Arikara chief, who went to Washington in charge of Mr. Gravelines. The
chief died in Washington, but Gravelines returned to the tribe in i8ofi. with the
presents received by the chief, and a message from the President to the tribe.
On the 7th of April, 1805, the party then consisting of thirty-two persons.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 71
pulled out of Fort Mandan for the Pacific coast via the headwaters of the
Missouri. The names of the party were as follows :
ROSTER OF THE COMPANY
Commissioned officers: Captains, William Clark, Meriwether Lewis. Non-
commissioned officers : Sergeants, Patrick Gass, John Ordway, Nathaniel B.
Prior and Corporal Richard Warfington, detailed for Washington; privates,
William Bratton, John Colter, John Collins, Peter Cruzette, Joseph Fields,
Reuben Fields, Robert Frazier, George Gibbon, Silas Goodrich, Plugh Hull,
Thomas P. Howard, Francis Labiche, Baptiste LePage, Hugh McNeill, John
Potts, George Shannon, John Shields, John B. Thompson, William Werner,
Joseph Whitehouse, Alexander Willard, Richard Windsor, Peter Wiser, York.
The interpreters were George Drewyer and Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-
Canadian voyageur, the latter accompanied by his wife Sakakawea, and a child
born February ii, 1805, in the camp of the explorers at the Mandan villages.
Drewyer was a half-blood Indian, and was the hunter of the expedition. He was
afterward associated with Manuel Lisa in the fur trade as George Drouillard.
They used six canoes and two pirogues (a boat made out of a long soft wood
log) for their trip above the Mandan villages. One of the canoes was sunk the
next day.
THE RETURN
The expedition returned from the Pacific Coast to the Mandan villages, Sep-
tember 17, 1806. Fort Mandan had been destroyed by an accidental fire, but
they were most cordially received by the Indians. They gave Le Borgne full
recognition on his reporting that he had not received the presents sent him by
Cherry on the Bush, and presented him with a new lot befitting his station. They,
also, gave him the swivel gun which had been used to salute or "talk," as they
called it, to all the tribes with whom they had dealings on their trip. This gift
was received by Le Borgne with great satisfaction, and carried to his headquar-
ters with much ceremony.
Independent British traders established a post at the mouth of the James
River in 1804, after the expedition had passed that point and when Lewis and
Clark returned in 1806, it was in charge of James Aird, representing Robert ,
Dickson, then operating on the headwaters of the Mississippi and on the IMinne-
sota rivers.
Hastening to St. Louis tlie explorers gave by their arrival the first infonna-
tion relative to them which had been received in the states since they left the
Mandan villages in April, 1805.
Charbonneau not wishing to return to the states, remained at the Indian
villages. Rene Jessaume was employed as an interpreter, and accompanied the
Mandan Chief Shahaka to Washington with Captains Lewis and Clark.
It was the middle of February, 1807, before they reached the national capital
and on March 3, 1807, Captain Lewis was appointed governor of Louisiana
Territory. He died October 11, 1809, at the age of thirty-four years, while in
that position. His death was attributed to suicide, but there is reason to believe
72 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
that he was murdered and robbed at the inn where he was stopping on his way to
Washington in connection with the adjustment of his accounts. The owner of
the inn where he died was tried for his murder but the evidence was not suf-
ficient to convict. The body of Governor Lewis, when found, had but 25 cents
in money on it, and the inn keeper after his acquittal, displayed considerable
money which he had suddenly acquired. It is not probable that Governor Lewis
would have taken an official trip without money for the payment of his bills. His
body was buried within the limits of the State of Tennessee near the spot where
he was shot, and a monument was erected by the state to commemorate his life
and work.
March 12, 1807, Captain Clark was appointed by President Jeif'erson briga-
dier-general of the militia of the Territory of Louisiana, and agent of the Lhiited
States for Indian afl:"airs in that department.
He was reappointed by President James Madison, February 11, 181 1. Louis-
iana having been admitted as a state April 30, 1812, and the Territory of
Missouri having been created, he was appointed governor of that territory by
President Madison, July i, 1813. He was reappointed by President James Mon-
roe, January 21 1817. On the admission of Missouri as a state, January 24,
1820, he became a candidate for governor but was defeated by Alexander McNair.
In May, 1822, President Monroe appointed him U. S. Superintendent of
Indian Afifairs, and in October, 1824, he was appointed surveyor general of the
states of Illinois and Missouri. In 1825, he negotiated several treaties with the
Indians, and had an advisory influence on the treaties made that year with his
old friends, the Mandans, Gros Ventres (Hidatsas) and the Arikaras by Gen.
Henry Atkinson and Maj. Benjamin O'Fallon, U. S. Indian agent. General
Clark died September i, 1838, in his sixty-ninth year.
TOtJSSAINT CHARBONNEAU AND THE BIRD-WOMAN
"And the pleasant water-courses,
You could trace them through the valley,
By the rushes in the spring-time,
Bj' the alders in the summer.
By the white fog in the autumn,
By the black line in the winter,
And beside them dwelt the singer."
■ — Henry IV. Longfellow.
Toussaint Charbonneau's Indian wife sang merrily as a bird, and was known
as the "Bird-Woman." By birth a Shoshone of Wyoming, and daughter of a
chief, she was captured at eleven years of age from the Snake Tribe of Shoshones
by the Missouri River Indians, in one of their battles with her tribe, and had
been sold to Charbonneau, who lived with the Gros Ventres at the Mandan
villages. She was reared by the Gnjs \'entres, wearing their costume, and it
was they who named her "Tsa-ka-ka-wea-sh." which in the Indian language
means, according to Prof. Orrin Grant Libby, of the North Dakota Historical
Society, Bird-Woman. As written in Gros Ventres, "Tsa-ka-wa" signifies bird,
"wea," woman; "sh," the. It was said she was uncommonly comely.
Before being taken from her native tribe, she had traveled over much of
VIRGINIA GRANT
Granddaughter of Sakaka-
wea. Photo liy A. P. Porter of
Lander, Wyoming, for the
Early History of North Dakota.
SIOUX WOMEN DANCING— FASHIONS OF 1912
(Mandan Fair, 1912)
L,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 73
the country, east and west of the Rocky Mountains, and thus was able to furnish
vakiable information relative thereto. Because of her belief in, and devotion to
her husband, she had confidence in the white men who were making their way
to the land of her birth, and with much earnestness urged that her presence
in the camp with her child, would be a means of protection to them, and her
ability to talk with the mountain Indians a real help.
So far as known, she was the first Indian convert to the Christian religion,
west of the Missouri River, and the first pioneer mother to cross the Rocky
Mountains and carry her babe into the Oregon country. While she crooned to
her chubby brown baby during the long winter, a new light would come to her
eyes at the thought of her far away home.
On the way she made and mended the moccasins of the explorers, taught
them the mountain Indian methods of hunting bear, told them how to make
carriages for transporting the boats around Great Falls, Mont., showed them
how to find artichokes stored by the gophers, and warned them against the waters
they must not drink. She found eggs of the wild fowl and berries, and made
ointment to cure sores and insect bites, and when her husband no longer knew
the country, she became the guide. She was the only woman to accompany the
expedition, and was guide, interpreter and protector. She protected the party
when they were threatened by hostile Indians, secured for them food and horses,
saved their journals and valuable papers at the risk of her life, when their boat
capsized, and was the only one of the party who received no pecuniary reward
for her services.
Captain Clark thus describes her characteristics :
"She was very. observant. She had a good memory, remembering localities
not seen since her childhood. In trouble she was full of resource, plucky and
determined. With her helpless infant she rode with the men, guiding us unerr-
ingly through mountain fastnesses and lonely passes. Intelligent, cheerful, re-
sourceful, tireless, faithful, she inspired us all."
Thus it is always with the good woman, encouraging man to dare and to do.
At his side at birth, in sickness and in death, helping and encouraging in hours
of distress and peril — "first at the cross and last at the tomb."
The influence of the Bird-Woman on her tribe gave a wonderful impetus to
the uplifting of the Shoshones, from the day she greeted her brother, Camehawait,
a chief at the head of the Snake Indians, who visited the camp of Lewis and
Clark on the plains of Montana. Sakakawea was the true guide who remained
with them to the end.
She had recognized the Indians as they approached, as being of her tribe ;
among them an Indian woman who had been taken prisoner at the same battle
in which she had been captured, but escaped. Her brother did not become known
to her until she began to interpret. Then her joy knew no bounds. Though
much agitated, the Bird- Woman concluded her work of interpreting the council
between her brother and Lewis and Clark, and then learned, that of her family
only two brothers and her sister's child survived ; the others having been killed
in war or had died from other causes. She then and there adopted her sister's
orphan child (Bazil) and took him with her to the Pacific Coast.
Returning with Lewis and Clark to the Mandan villages, she remained in
that country until after the smallpox scourge of 1837. Subsequently she returned
74 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
to her own tribe, then located in the Wind River country, and there hved until her
death, the night of April 8-9, 1884, at the Shoshone Mission, Wind River, Wye,
in the home of her adopted son, Bazil. She was then upwards of one hundred
years old, blind and deaf. The obsequies were conducted by the Rev. John
Roberts, D. D., who had known her many years, and who kindly furnished for
this history the facts here stated in relation to her death. They are corroborated
by A. D. Lane of Lander, Wyo., who was at her house a few hours after her
demise, also by Harry Brownson, an old-time resident of Bismarck, afterward
an employe of the traders' store at Shoshone agency, and others personally known
to the author, who knew her, and that her name, as known to the Shoshones,
was "Sacajawea," meaning "to launch or push ofif the boat."
Her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, was the interpreter at the time of the
treaty of Gen. Henry Atkinson with the Mandans and Gros Ventres at the Man-
dan villages on the Missouri in 1825. He spent the winter with Maximilian at
Fort Clark, 1833-34, was with him at the battle of Fort Mackenzie, and, in 1838,
was met by Charles Larpenteur when he went down the river to go east on a
visit. Several of the Bird- Woman's descendants are now living on the Shoshone
reservation, and a photograph of her great-granddaughter in Indian costume,
taken specially for it, forms one of the illustrations of this history.
Her son, Baptiste, the baby, born in North Dakota, who was carried by his
mother across the continent and return, was educated by Gen. William Clark
at St. Louis, where young Baptiste Charbonneau was located as late as 1820. He
was an interpreter and guide with Capt. Benjamin L. E. Bonneville in 1832-35,
is mentioned in the journals of Lieut. John Charles Fremont at Fort Bridger
in 1842, and that vear was with Sir William Drummond Stewart on a buffalo
hunt in Wyoming.
Her adopted son, known as "Old Bazil," was prominent in tribal affairs on
the Shoshone reservation.
Chief Washakie, of Wyoming, who recently "passed to the other shore" at
the age of about one hundred years, knew Sacajawea, and held her in tender
esteem.
There is a monument to her memory near Fort Washakie, at the Shoshone
Mission. \\'ind River, Wyo., now United States Indian cemetery, erected
by the State of Wyoming.
Her statue in the park at Portland, Ore., erected through the efforts of
Mrs. Eva Emery Dye and others, at the time of the Portland International Expo-
sition, a fine production worthy of the object, to perpetuate her memory, is, also,
in the name of "Sacajawea" the spelling adopted by the Wyoming State Historical
Society.
In February, 1906, a movement was inaugurated by ^Irs. Beulah M. Amidon,
of Fargo, N. D., to raise funds for a monument to the Bird- Woman to be erected
at the state capital. The bronze statue at Bismarck, designed by Crunelle, is of
heroic size, twelve feet in height, representing an Indian woman wrapped in a
blanket, with a pappoose strapped upon her back.
The Legislature of North Dakota assumed the expense of the granite pedestal,
but the statue was paid for by a fund contributed by the Federation of Women's
Clubs and the school children of the state.
SAKAKAWEA
The Shoshone Indian Bird-Woman
Who in 1805 guided tlie
Lewis and Clark Expedition
from the
Missouri River to the Yellowstone.
Erected by the
Federated Club Women and School Children of
North Dakota.
Presented to tlie State, October, 1910
(Statue at Bismarck)
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 75
On the bronze tablet are the words :
Sakakawea
The Shoshone Indian Bird-Woman
Who in 1805 guided the
Lewis and Clark expedition
from the
Missouri River to the Yellowstone.
Erected by the
Federated Club women and school children of
North Dakota
Presented to the state, October, 1910.
The artist sketched the figure and costume at the Indian reservation at Elbow
Woods, N. D., and won the approbation of Spotted Weasel and James Holding
Eagle, who inspected and criticised it in its early stages.
It stands on the east side of the capitol grounds on a large block of rough
granite, facing the west, the baby looking over her right shoulder. One foot
is in advance of the other as if she were walking. The dedication took place
October 13, 1910, the ceremony of unveiling being performed by Miss Beulah
Amidon, of Fargo, N. D. The invocation was by Bishop Wehrle of the Bismarck
diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, and was followed by an address by Miss
Hattie M. Davis, superintendent of schools of Cass County, who originated the
idea of having the members of the women's clubs and the children of the state
raise the money to pay for the statue. The presentation speech was made by
Mrs. N. C. Young, president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, Judge
Burleigh F. Spalding of the Supreme Court accepting on behalf of the state.
Frank L, McVey, president of the state university, made the principal address.
It was fitting that this remarkable woman, distinguished alike for intelligence,
bravery and capability (and her child) should be honored by the women and
children of North Dakota, and it matters little whether the name meaning "Bird-
Woman" in Gros Ventre or "The launch of the boat" in Shoshone is accepted ;
that she was one and the same there can be no doubt.
THE MISSOURI FUR COMP.iiNY
Although borne on the rolls of the regular army until February 27, 1807,
Captain Clark tendered his resignation immediately after his return from the
Pacific coast, and became interested in the organization of a company which was
incorporated as the St. Louis Fur Company, and after many vicissitudes finally
reorganized as the Missouri Fur Company, the members of the original organiza-
tion being Benjamin Wilkinson, Pierre Choteau, Sr., Manuel Lisa, Auguste Cho-
teau, Jr., Reuben Lewis, William Clark, Sylvester Labadie, Pierre Menard,
William Morrison, Andrew Henry and Dennis Fitzhugh. William Clark, then
known as Gen. William Clark, was agent of the company at St. Louis.
THE RETURN OF THE MANDAN CHIEF
In 1807, with Pierre Choteau in command of a trading party numbering
seventy-two men, an attempt was made to return the Mandan Chief Shahaka,
76 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
who had accompanied Lewis and Clark on their return to Washington, together
with his wife and child, and the wife and child of his interpreter Rene Jessaume.
Lewis and Clark had agreed on behalf of the United States to guarantee the
safe return of the party to the Mandan villages.
The chief was under the escort of Ensign Nathaniel Prior, who had been a
sergeant with the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
When they reached the Arikara villages they were attacked by these Indians
on account of the Mandan chief, but Choteau had anticipated treachery, and was
prepared for it. After an hour's fighting he was able to withdraw with a loss
of three killed and seven wounded, one mortally. Three of Prior's party were
wounded, including the interpreter of the chief. The Indians followed the party,
and continued the attack from along shore as they proceeded down the river,
until the Choteau party singled out a chief whom they recognized and shot him,
when the Indians retired.
The Indians had met with heavy loss, but to what extent was never known.
Shahaka having returned in safety to St. Louis, awaited an escort, and the first
contract made by the reorganized St. Louis Fur Company, thereafter to be known
as the Missouri Fur Company, was for the return of the Mandan chief to his
tribe. In the contract the Missouri Fur Company agreed to engage 125 men,
of whom 40 must be Americans and expert riflemen, for the purpose of escort.
They were to receive $7,000 for the Indian's safe return. The party consisting
of 150 men left St. Louis in the spring of 1809, Pierre Choteau in command,
arriving at the Mandan villages September 24, 1809, the chief laden with presents.
He had been entertained by President Jefiferson at his country seat of Monticello
and had been honored and feted from the time he reached St. Louis until his
return, but his account of his experiences not being believed, he fell into disre-
pute, and was finally killed by the Sioux in one of the attacks by that tribe on the
Mandan villages.
In 1807 Manuel Lisa, the first and most noted upper Missouri River Indian
trader, passed through the Arikara villages, where he had a trading post, visiting
them, in detail, with entire safety, immediately preceding the attack of that year
upon Pierre Choteau's party.
(The several maps illustrating the early explorations, the Louisiana Purchase, and the
extension of boundaries of the United States, were prepared for the General Land Office,
Washington, D. C, and are used by courtesy of that office.)
CHAPTER VI
"WHEN WILD IN WOODS THE NOBLE SAVAGE RAN"
THE EXPEDITION OF LIEUT. Z. M. PIKE TREATY WITH THE SIOUX ON THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI — THE CHIPPEWAS SMOKE THE PIPE OF WABASHA SUBSTITUTING
THE AMERICAN FOR BRITISH FLAGS AND MEDALS GAME THE WINTER CANTON-
MENT HOSPITALITY OF THE TRADERS — ALEXANDER HENRY'S VISIT TO THE
MANDAN VILLAGES — IDEAL INDIAN HOMES SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE INDIANS.
"I am as free as nature first made man,
Ere the base laws of servitude began,
When wild in woods the noble savage ran."
— Dryden's Conquest of Granada.
CONDITIONS ON THE FRONTIER IN 1805
In 1805 Spain still held dominion over the country west of the Missouri River,
although she had already ceded her possessions to France, and from France they
had passed to the United States, which had entered upon the exploration of the
country. Capts. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had spent a winter in
what is now North Dakota, at Fort Mandan. They had traced the Missouri
to its source, locating the Cannonball, Heart, Knife, White Earth and Yellow-
stone rivers, and had given the world the first reliable information relative to
the plains of Dakota, then popularly supposed to be in the heart of the great
American desert. They reported a land abounding in game of all kinds, peopled
by a brave and intelligent native population.
Pembina was already on the maps of the period, together with the Pembina,
Park, Turtle, Goose, Sheyenne and James rivers. Devils Lake and Lake Traverse.
The Minnesota River was then known as St. Peter's and at its mouth was located
Fort St. Anthony. There was no St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota, and in
California no San Francisco. Chicago in Illinois, and St. Louis, then in Louisiana
Territory, were frontier villages of little importance. There was no occupation
of the great West for development, save the lead mines near Dubuque, no wagon
roads, aside from trails, and no means of communication, excepting by canoe
and pony. There had been some early exploration by the French and by the
Spanish, but until the expedition of Lewis and Clark, but little was known of
this vast country, towards which the center of population of the United States
is rapidly shifting.
77
78 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
pike's expedition
The object of Pike's expedition was to select sites for military posts on the
Mississippi River; to survey its waters to the source of that stream; to acquaint
the traders with the change of ownership of the country and investigate their
alleged unlawful conduct in the sale of goods without the payment of duties
imposed, and to endeavor to bring about peace between the Sioux and the Chip-
pewas and enlist their friendship on behalf of the United States. The roster of
Lieutenant Pike's party was as follows :
First Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, First Regiment U. S. Infantry, command-
ing; Sergt. Henry Kennerman; Corps. Samuel Bradley and William E. Meek;
Privates John Boley, Peter Branden, John Brown, Jacob Carter, Thomas
Daugherty, William Gordon, Solomon Huddleston, Jeremiah Jackson, Hugh
Menaugh, Theodore Miller, John Montgomery, David Owings, Alexander Ray,
Patrick Smith, John Sparks, Freegift Stoule and David Whelpley, in all one
officer, one sergeant, two corporals and seventeen men. His interpreters were
Joseph Renville and Pierre Rosseau.
They left camp, near St. Louis, August 5, 1805 ; their means of transporta-
tion being one keel-boat seventy feet long. On their arrival at Prairie du Chien
September 4th, where they spent several days, they were saluted by the Indians
with a volley of musketry, and it is claimed that some of the Indians who were
under the influence of liquor, tried to see how close they could shoot .without
hitting the boat. Lieutenant Pike informed them of the object of his expedition,
especially as to the matter of peace with the Chippewas.
On September 23, 1805, he negotiated a treaty with the Sioux — represented
by Little Crow (grandfather of Little Crow, leader in the Minnesota massacre
in 1862), and Way Ago Enogee — for a tract of land nine miles square at the
mouth of the River St. Croix, also a tract of land extending from below the
confluence of the Mississippi and St. Peter's rivers up the Mississippi to include
the Falls of St. Anthony, embracing nine miles on each side of the river, for the
sum of $2,cx)o. Congress confirmed this treaty April 16, 1808, but there is no
record that it was proclaimed by the President. It is scarcely necessary to add
that it embraced the land on which Fort Snelling and the cities of St. Paul and
Minneapolis now stand.
When Lieutenant Pike arrived at the headwaters of the Mississippi, he was
treated with great cordiality and courtesy by the traders and their employees.
Coming one night to a sugar camp he was given his choice of beaver, swan,
elk or deer for supper, and though sugar and flour were worth 50 cents per
pound, and salt $1, there was no stint in the supply.
Among the traders he met were Joseph Rolette and associates at Prairie du
Chien, Murdoch Cameron at Lake Pepin, Jean Baptiste Faribault and Joseph
Renville on the Minnesota, Robert Dickson on the Mississippi and Culhbert
Grant and Hugh McGillis in the Red Lake country.
The traders were naturally pro-British and were controlled by British influ-
ences. Cuthbert Grant was still flying the British flag, but explained to Lieutenant
Pike that it was owned by an Indian and he was not responsible for it.
Flatmouth, one of the Red Lake band, and Tahmahah, a Sioux, became great
friends of Lieutenant Pike. Flatmouth rendered him great service, and Tahma-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 79
hah adopted him as a brother, and entered the service of the United States as a
dispatch bearer, and it was his proud boast that he was the only Sioux who was
an American.
Joseph Rolette guided the British forces at the time of their capture of Prairie
du Chien. Tahmahah was a prisoner of war there. When the British evacuated
the fort they hoisted an American flag and fired the fort. Tahmahah, at the
risk of his life, saved the flag and was awarded a medal of honor.
Zachary Taylor, then major Twenty-sixth Infantry, U. S. A., afterwards
President of the United States, was defeated by the Indians in his efforts to
punish rhem for the Prairie du Chien affair. He was subsequently stationed at
Fort Snelling.
ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI
On the way up the Mississippi River Lieutenant Pike found much game.
There were many herds of deer and antelope and elk were so numerous that
Chief Thomas killed forty in one day. They occasionally killed a bear, beaver
were abundant and the buffalo plentiful later in the season.
At the mouth of the Crow Wing River they found evidence of a recent and
severe battle between the Sioux and Chippewas, in which the latter were vic-
torious.
October i6, 1S05, Lieutenant Pike went into winter quarters, erecting a
stockade at the mouth of Swan River, about four miles from the present Village
of Little Falls, Minn. The structure was thirty-six feet square, with blockhouses
on the northwest and southeast corners.
Here Lieutenant Pike left a sergeant and part of his command, and pushed
on for the headwaters of the Mississippi with the remainder, extending his
explorations as far as Cass Lake. January 8, 1806, Lieutenant Pike visited the
trading post of Cuthbert Grant at Sandy Lake, where there was a large stockade
built in 1796, by the North- West Company.
Lieutenant Pike found that the Indians of this region had great respect for
the Americans. They did not consider them like either Frenchmen or English-
men, but as white Indians, and understood that they were fierce in battle and
ready at all times to defend their rights. The explorer came upon one party of
Indians who were insolent and threatening in their attitude until informed that
they were Americans, when their manner immediately changed, and they extended
to them every possible courtesy.
The prices at Grant's post for some of the staple articles were as follows :
W^ild oats, $1.50 per bushel; flour, 50 cents per pound; salt, $1 per pound; pork,
80 cents per pound ; sugar, 50 cents per pound ; tea, $4 per pound.
Lieutenant Pike visited Hugh McGillis, who had a trading post at Leech
Lake, and the next day Mr. Anderson, at the trading house of Robert Dickson,
on the west side of the lake.
Robert Dickson had a trading post near what is now St. Cloud, Minn., with
branches at several points, including the post on the Missouri River. He cast
his fortunes with the British during the War of 181 2, but after the war, returned
to Lake Traverse, N. D., where he was the agent for Lord Selkirk. He had a
Sioux wife and four sons.
80 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
February 12th Lieutenant Pike went on to Cass Lake, and on the iSth left
Leech Lake for the stockade. On the 15th the Chippewas were in council with
Lieutenant Pike on the subject of peace with the Sioux. Wabasha was a leading
representative of the Sioux, and having agreed with Lieutenant Pike to make
terms of peace with the Chippewas, sent his pipe by the hand of Lieutenant Pike
to be used as his representative in the peace negotiations. The British traders
had given the Indian chiefs medals and British flags and many of the chiefs
were indebted to them for their offices. Lieutenant Pike was instructed to take
up these medals and flags wherever it was possible to do so, and substitute the
American flag and medals, believing that the efl^ect upon the Indians would be
salutary. They all smoked Wabasha's pipe and most of the chiefs gave up their
British flags and medals and received American flags and medals in return.
Lieutenant Pike returned to the stockade March 5th, and on April 7th left
for St. Anthony Falls, where they arrived April nth. He claimed that his
boats were the first to pass up the Mississippi above the Falls of St. Anthony.
Having been promoted brigadier-general he was present at the battle of York,
in upper Canada, April 2"], 1813, and was killed by an explosion of the maga-
zine at the fort after its surrender.
FORT ST. ANTHONY
The fort built at the mouth of the Minnesota River was at first called Fort
St. Anthony, but in 1824, when Col. Winfield Scott visited the post he suggested
that St. Anthony, the name of a saint of the Prince of Peace, was not a good
name for the fort ; that the name was foreign to all of our associations, besides
being geographically incorrect. The name was accordingly changed to Fort
Snelling and the fort became the nucleus around which the first settlements were
made in the great Northwest, and from which' they were extended to the Dakotas
and still westward.
THE MANDANS •
The Mandans are first mentioned in history by Sieur de la Verendrye, who
visited them in 1738. In 1750 they were living in nine villages, near the mouth
of the Heart River. Two of these on the east side of the river, almost extermi-
nated by disease and by war with the Sioux, consolidated, and moved up to near
the mouth of Knife River, where they were later joned by the other villages.
Here they were found by Lewis and Clark. They were then estimated at 1,250,
and in 1837 their number was placed at 1,600. In that year they were stricken
with smallpox, but thirty lodges, or about one hundred and twenty-five people,
only remaining, and forsaking their villages after the scourge, they finally settled
down at Fort Berthold in 1845. Their number in 1905 was 249.
A VISIT TO THE MANDAN VILLAGES
July 7, 1806, Alexander Henry left Pembina for the Mandan villages, accom-
panied by Joseph Ducharme and Toussaint A^audry, interpreter. The roads were
heavv from recent rains and the horses often sunk to above their knees in mud
FOKT CLARK, OX XHK MISSOURI, FEBRUARY, 1834
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
FORT U.XliiN. ON THI, MISSOURI
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1832-3-4," by Maximilian. Prince of Wied, 1843.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 81
and water. At night the mosquitoes were intolerable, the horses breaking away
from their fetters on several occasions. July nth they reached old Fort de
Tremble, on the Assiniboine River, where in 1781 the Crees and Assiniboines
and other Indians of that region undertook to inaugurate a massacre of the
whites then in the Indian country. Three men were killed at the fort. The
Indian loss was fifteen killed, and fifteen more died of wounds. The fort was
then abandoned. July nth Henry reached a North- West trading post on the
Mouse River (at Brandon). The Hudson's Bay and X. Y. companies also had
trading posts there at that time. F. A. Larocque was in charge of the North-
West Company post. Charles Chaboillez, Jr., Allen McDonald and Hugh
McCracken were also there, and they accompanied Mr. Henry to the Mandan
villages.
After crossing the Mouse River they kept a lookout for the Sioux. Mr.
Henry writes : "We must be on our guard against the Sioux, the natural ene-
mies of all tribes in these parts. They perpetually wander about in search of
straggling Mandans or Gros Ventres (Hidatsas) and sometimes cross the River
la Souris in hope of falling in with Assiniboines and Crees, who frequently hunt
along this river."
July 19th they reached the Mandan villages. The women were hoeing corn
some distance from their village with well armed Indians on the lookout for fear
of the Sioux.
Mr. Henry speaks of the large quantity of corn, beans, squashes, tobacco
and sunflowers raised by these Indians, and of their manner of caching
(secreting) their produce where it would not be likely to be disturbed by their
enemies in case of an attack.
Mr. Henry's party met Jean Baptiste Lafrance with a small stock of goods,
which he brought from the Brandon House for the purpose of trade at the
Mandan villages. As soon as Black Cat, their Indian host, learned who Mr.
Henry was, he produced the flag given him by Lewis and Clark, October 29,
1804, and kept thafflying as long as they remained.
Mr. Henry relates that he saw the remains of an excellent large corn mill
which Lewis and Clark had given the Indians. They had broken it and used the
iron to barb their arrows ; the largest piece, which they could not work into any
weapon, was used to break marrow bones of the animals killed in hunting.
Henry's party crossed the Missouri in boats, made of willows and buffalo
skins, called bull-boats.
Six Arikaras came into the village while Mr. Henry was there to treat for
peace. Some of their people had accompanied a Sioux war party the fall before
and killed five Mandans. The Mandans had made a return visit, killing two
Arikaras and had sent them word that they intended to exterminate the whole
tribe. These emissaries had accordingly come up to make peace. The Hidatsa
were called into council, about thirty arriving on horse back at full speed. The
Arikaras were directed to return at once to their village and tell their chief.
Red Tail, that if he really desired peace he must come in person and then they
would settle matters; and if he did not come they would find him as soon as
their corn was gathered, and show him what the Hidatsa and Mandans could
do when exasperated by Arikara treachery.
About 100 Mandans came in with their horses loaded with meat from a
82 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
day's hunt for buffalo. It was the custom of the Mandans to hunt in large bodies
and to completely surround one herd and kill all of the animals so as not to
alann the other herds.
When the hunting party returned they would divide with the neighbors,
where there was no one to hunt for them, before resting themselves, and some-
times all was given away and others in turn divided with the generous givers.
THE MANDAN CIRCULAR HUTS
The circular hut where Henry lodged, measured ninety feet from the front
door to the opposite side. The whole space was first dug out to a depth of about
iy2 feet below the surface. In the center was a fire place, about five feet square,
dug out about two feet below the surface. The lower part of the hut was con-
structed by erecting strong posts about six feet out of the ground, set at equal
distances from each other. Upon these were laid logs as large as the posts to
form the circle. On the outside were placed pieces of split wood, seven feet long,
in a slanting position, one end resting on the ground and the other leaning against
the cross logs. Upon these beams rested rafters the thickness of a man's leg,
twelve to fifteen feet long, slanting enough to shed water, and laid so close that
they touched each other. Four large posts in the center of the lodge supported
four square beams on which the upper end of the rafters were laid. At the top
there was an opening about four feet square which served for chimney and win-
dow. There was no other opening to admit light, and when it rained even this
opening was closed. The whole roof was well thatched with willows, laid on
to a thickness of six inches or more, fastened together in a very compact manner
and well secured to the rafters. Over the whole was spread about a foot of
earth. Around the wall to the height of three feet or more, earth was laid to
the thickness of about three feet, for security in case of attack and for warmth
in winter.
The door was 5 feet broad and 6 high, made of raw buffalo hides, stretched
on a frame and suspended from one of the beams which formed the circle. Every
night the door was barricaded with a long piece of timber supported by two stout
posts on the inside" of the hut, one on each side of the door. A covered porch,
7 feet wide and 10 feet long, extended from the door.
At the left of the entrance was a triangular apartment, fronting the fire, con-
structed of square timbers, twelve feet high, calked tight to keep out the draft
from the door. On the right of the door was an open space to hold fire-wood in
winter. Between the partitions and the fire was about five feet, occupied by the
master of the hut during the day, seated on a mat of willows. 10 feet long and 4
feet broad, raised from the floor and covered with skins, forming a sofa or couch.
Here he sat all day and sometimes through the night, smoking and talking with
friends. At the left of this apartment were the beds, at the other end of the
hut was the "medicine" stage, containing everything the Indian valued most. Here
or on the wall near, he kept his arms and ammunition. Next to this was the
mortar and pestle for grinding grain. The remainder of the space was vacant.
This was a typical Mandan hut, seldom occupied by more than one family.
July 2ist in visiting the upper village they passed extensive fields of corn,
beans, squashes and sunflowers ; the women and children were employed in hoeing
?Sii-
•,v.r»*i*n-r-»~!^f^tS-?^ —
DOG SLEDGES OF THE MANDAN INDIANS
From a painting by Cliarles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America In
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of VVled, 1843.
INTERIOR OF THE HUT OF A MANDAN CHIEF
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America In
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 83
and clearing their plantations. On the road there were natives passing and re-
passing, afoot or on horseback, the whole view presenting the appearance of a
country- inhabited by civilized people. At the fourth village the inhabitants fol-
lowed them in crowds and made fun of them. Here they found Charles McKen-
zie, whom Lewis and Clark met at the Mandan villages, and James Caldwell,
who had a temporary trading post there in the interest of the North-West
Company. Le Borgne was the chief of this village. He was absent at the Chey-
enne villages in connection with a proposed treaty of peace, and Henry and party
accompanied the representatives of the Mandan village tribes to the place of meet-
ing— a point west of Sugar Loaf Butte, southwest of Bismarck, on the west side
of the Missouri. The meeting would have resulted in war had not the women
and children accompanied the warriors from the Mandan villages, x^s a peace
treaty it was a failure.
In preparing for the trip to the treaty grounds, which was to be somewhat in
the nature of a fair, where every one showed his best products and his best
clothes, Henry states he was surprised to see what a store of treasures the people
of the Mandan villages had on hand ; he was confident they had provisions enough
cached to last them at least twelve months.
One of the pastimes of the Mandans was running long foot races in order
to be prepared to take care of themselves if dismounted in battle. The race was
at least six miles. They made it entirely naked, and, on their return, covered with
perspiration and dust, they would plunge into the Missouri. They also indulged
in horse racing, during which they would carry on their warlike maneuvers on
horseback, feigning their dilTerent attacks upon the enemy, giving their strokes
of the battle axe and thrusts of the spear.
Mr. Henr\' speaks of the custom of the Indians to bathe in the river morning
and evening, without regard to sex, their neighbors or visiting strangers, and other
customs no longer practiced among the tribes since the advent of religious
instruction.
.\N OLD B.\TTT.IiFrEID
Henry visited the battle ground where about 1790, some 600 lodges of the
Sioux attacked and attempted to subdue the Hidatsas. They had made peace
with the Souliers and Mandans and, therefore, pitched their tents between the
Hidatsas and Knife River, thinking they would be able to cut ofT their water sup-
ply. Here they remained fifteen days, keeping guard, but the Hidatsas, mounting
their best horses, would reach the Missouri in spite of the Sioux (tliough several
were killed), and thus secured an abundance of water. The Sioux compelled
the Mandans to supply them with food, during the siege which was raised after
several skirmishes, leaving 300 dead on the field of battle.
Another account states that the Yanktons and Tetons were fiercely engaged
with the Hidatsa and the battle was first going in favor of one and then the
other, when reinforcements of Hidatsa arrived, accompanied by a large party of
Crows. Observing with what fury the battle was raging at the front, they
determined to surround the enemy by turning to the left, without being seen, as
the countr\- permitted this movement and they rode up a deep vallev so far away
as not to be in sight of the enemy. Keeping on the south side of these rising
84 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
grounds, they went full speed into the valley which led down to the rear of the
enemy. There they fell in with a great number of women who had accompanied
their husbands in full expectation of destroying and plundering the Mandan vil-
lages. j\Iany of these were killed and others taken prisoners. The party then
appeared on rising ground in the rear of the Sioux and attacked with fury, dealing
death and destruction on every hand. The Sioux, overpowered by numbers and
exhausted by fatigue, were obliged to give way, but their retreat was cut oft' and
they were so hard pressed that they were obliged to throw themselves into the
Missouri and attempt to swim across. Many were killed in the river and but few
survived to return to their country. The villages were surrounded by a stockade,
mainly built of driftwood, at the time of Henry's visit.
July 28th, Henry left the Mandan villages, accompanied by Mr. Charles Mc-
Kenzie and James Caldwell. The party consisted of ten men with twentv-tive
horses. July 30th, they found the plains in many places covered with water.
August 3d, they passed the Dog Den, and the next day eight of their horses broke
their tethers, being frightened by a herd of bufTalo. The buffalo were so numerous
that they had to build a barricade around the camp to prevent being run over. It
was with the greatest difficulty that they were able to cross the Mouse River, the
banks- where they reached it being low and miry and the river overflowed. At
the head of the Turtle Mountains they found several recent camps of the Assini-
boines. The Mouse River region was said to be infested with horse thieves at this
time, and that probably accounts for the fact that the lost horses, although hobbled,
were not recovered.
The trip was for the purpose of purchasing horses and was a failure, and
resulted in the North-West Company withdrawing from the Mandan trade.
THE .\RIK.\R.\S
In 1770, French traders established relations with the Arikaras (sometimes
mentioned as Rees, Ricarees or Aricarees) then occupying their villages below the
Cheyenne River, in what is now South Dakota. There were then ten powerful
villages, but they were reduced by war and disease to three, when found by
Lewis and Clark. Their number was then estimated at 600 warriors, or about
2,100 people. In 1888 they were reduced to 500, and the census of 1905 placed
their number at 380.
THE IIID.\TS.\
The Hidatsa or Gros \'entres, of the Missouri, or Minctarees, as they were
called by Lewis and Clark, were first known to the whites when living in the
vicinity of Knife River, in North Dakota. They occupied three villages near the
Knife River, and when visited by Lewis and Clark, numbered 600 warriors, or
about 2,100 people. They learned agriculture of the Mandans, and when the
trading post was established at old Fort lierthold, they moved up to that point.
Reduced by war and disease, the population in 1905 was only 471.
Since the removal of these allied tribes to Fort Berthold, they have been
known as the Berthold Indians.
The census of 1910 shows a slight increase in the number of these Indians
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 85
among wliom are many noble specimens of humanity, who have the commendable
pride in their ancestry common to all humanity.
IDEAL INDTAN HOMES
When first visited by the whites, these Indians were living in ideal Indian
homes. Their circular earth-covered huts were comfortable in summer and shel-
tered the old and infirm in winter. Of food and the means of clothing there was
an abundance. They were strong and fleet, and as the sun "arose from his bed
in the dark" — to adopt an Indian figure of speech — it gave warmth and gladness,
and when it "dropped below the light.'' they slept, with none excepting the Sioux
to make them afraid. Their women laughed in their hearts, and the light sparkled
in the eyes of their children, like the sunshine dancing on the waterfall. The
Great Spirit made their hearts good, and there was no one to tell them lies, until
the white man went among them, carrying the blighting curse which has always
followed, and always will follow the introduction of mto.xicating liquor as a
beverage among an ignorant people.
The Mandans, Arikaras and Gros \'entres having spent the summer raising
their crops of corn and vegetables, prepared secure places for caching their sur-
plus, lest marauding Sioux might capture the camp during their absence. Only
the old and infirm, and the young and helpless, were left at the summer home,
the active force retiring to the Bad Lands for the winter.
This winter exodus usually occurred in October. The Indians having credit
with the traders were trusted for the supplies of ammunition or other things nec-
essary for their winter equipment, while some deposited their war bonnets of
eagle feathers, or other valuables, as a pledge that they w'ould pay when they
returned from the chase. Many left valuables consisting of dnmis, rattles, lances,
not required in the winter camp, in charge of the trader within his fort, feeling
that they would be safe in case the ever-feared Sioux should make an attack
upon their village during their absence.
During the winter absence the summer camp was in terror lest the Sioux attack
them, and great anxiety prevailed in the winter camp, lest their loved and helpless-
be attacked while defenseless.
The independent traders usually made it a point to accompany the Indians
to their winter camps, and gather the fruits of trade in the field, leaving the
established traders to glean whatever might be left.
During the hours of preparation, the women would patiently await their
turn to sharpen knives and axes on the grindstones furnished by the trader for
that purpose, while the young men dressed in their finest trappings, and painted
in the height of Indian fashion, would ride their gaily caparisoned horses pell-mell
about the camp, or engage in horse racing or games. The old men organized, and
the "soldiers" took charge, and then the duly appointed haranguer announced the
orders governing every step in the preparation for the move, commencing with
"pull down your tepees and get ready to move !" Their lodges were quickly pulled
down by the women and the poles either tied in bundles 5or convenience or used'
for the travois. The women did all of the labor ; they saddled the ponies, har-
nessed the horses and dogs to the travois, packed and loaded the goods, and,
if necessary to cross the ^Missouri or other stream, paddled the men across in
86 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"bull-boats"; their horses, fastened by long lariats, made from strips of buffalo
skins, swimming in the rear.
The march being taken up, the head of the family took the lead, followed by
his horses, dogs, women and children, household effects, and camp equipage; the
very young children and puppies being strapped on the travois.
No chief was so great that he dared disobey the warriors, or head men of the
tribe called "soldiers," who were in absolute command. They directed the march,
selected the stopping places, lingered at the rear to prevent loitering, and none
could hunt without permission, or separate in any manner from the column.
The winter camps were in the Bad Lands, formed by erosion, usually 200 or
300 feet below the general level of the prairie. They were cut by numerous
gullies and ravines, called breaks, giving small valleys, affording shelter, excellent
winter grazing, and an abundance of timber for fuel and for erecting their tem-
porary homes. There was also an abundance of game, consisting of deer,
mountain sheep, bear, beaver, wolves, and as the winter advanced in severity, buf-
falo came in for shelter. The grasses matured before frost, and when winter
came they were in the condition of hay, and the animals quickly learned to paw
away the snow, and feed as contentedly on the sun-cured grasses thus exposed,
as the stock in the eastern farmer's barnyard at the hay or straw stack, though
on food of much better quality.
It was these features which led Theodore Roosevelt in 1881 to become
a citizen of North Dakota, establishing a cattle ranch at Chimney Butte, near
Medora, in the verj' heart of the Bad Lands.
To guard against storm, or in preparation for surrounding the buffalo, when
there might be no time or opportunity for grazing, the women stripped bark
from the young cottonwood trees, or the limbs of the last year's growth, which
made good food for the Indian ponies.
The place having been selected for the winter home — which was liable to
change at any time if conditions did not prove satisfactory — the skin lodges
were erected, and then the women felled the timber and erected temporary cabins
covered with poles, rushes, reeds or long grass and earth. The chimneys were
built of sticks and clay. The buildings stood in a circle opening at the rear into
an open space, covered in the same manner as the houses, used in common for
the horses.
SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE INDIANS
Notwithstanding the manifold duties of the women, they found time to attend
the meetings of the several societies, or clubs, to which they had become attached.
Some of these societies, organized much after the plan of the women's clubs of
the present day, were known as the "White Cow Band," the white buffalo being
a sacred animal ; one was the "Goose Band," and still others were distinguished
by names descriptive of some esteemed game, such as the "Black Tailed Deer,"
etc. Indians having several wives, each belonging to different societies, found
it rather strenuous sometimes, as it was customary for each to entertain with
feasting and dancing in turn. Some of their defenseless husbands made that
an excuse for gambling, but when their losses of the necessaries of life became
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 87
unbearable, their wives seldom failed to break up the game, and teach their hus-
bands a much-needed lesson.
The men spent most of their time hunting, watching the stock, visiting,
gambling and telling stories, until the buffalo made their appearance, when all
was hurry and bustle.
Thus the seasons would pass, several ''surrounds" of buft'alo happening each
winter, and in the spring they would return to their permanent camp, where
the women would prepare the ground and plant and harvest the crop; the men,
as before, devoting their attention to visiting, gambling, hunting and war.
CHAPTER VII
GRAFT IN THE INDIAN TRADE
ETERNAL VIGILANCE THE PRICE OF LIBERTY THE COUNTRY OVERRUN BY INDIAN
TRADERS THE UNITED STATES AS A FACTOR ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN
FUR COMPANY THE LORDS OF THE LAKES AND FORESTS — FORT WILLIAM — THE
SELKIRK PURCHASE AND COLONY THE SEVEN OAKS MASSACRE — SELKIRK VISITS
THE RED RIVER COLONY CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED.
"It is the common fate of the indolent, to see their rights become a prey to the active.
The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which con-
dition, if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of
his guilt." — John Philpot Curran, Speech upon the Right of Election, l7go.
GRAFT IN THE INDIAN TRADE
The use of public office for the purpose of gain to the individual is now called
"graft," and those who prey upon and mislead the people for their own personal
advantage, are called "grafters," but it is no new thing in the world. In 1804
Captain Lewis commented upon this system then in vogue in Louisiana, under
Spanish rule. The governor had assumed to himself the exclusive right to dis-
pose of trading privileges aiuong the Indians, selling licenses for personal gain.
They were offered to the highest bidder, \arj'ing in value according to the extent
of the country they embraced, the Indian nations occupying that country, and
the period for which they were granted. They yielded all the income to the
authorities the trade would bear. The traders at this period supplied the Indians
with arms, ammunition, intoxicating liquors, and, indeed, anything they wished
to buy, charging them exorbitant prices, and the governor profited by the excess.
OTHER LINES OF GRAFT
But graft did not end with Spanish rule, nor with the retirement of the
British traders. The history of the fur trade, and the development of the West
is full of instances, and it is well for the people to remember, even yet, that
"eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Joseph Rolette, an early Pembina trader, was too successful in the estima-
tion of his rivals, and too popular with the Indians to suit their purposes, and so
they elected him to the Minnesota Legislature, and by that means got him out
of the way for a time at least.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 89
Gen. William H. Ashley, who was one of the most successful of the early
traders, was disposed of by being sent to Congress, and it was charged that at
the end of his term he was paid a large salary to stay away from the Indian
country.
When Indian treaties were made for the alleged benefit of the Indians and
to promote the interests of trade, the "grafter" was on hand to claim his share
from both the Indian and the traders. The Minnesota massacre was largely the
result of his work.
When the Indian traderships ceased to be attractive, attention was turned to
the military traderships. It was freely charged at the time of the impeachment
proceedings against United States Secretary of War William W. Belknap, that
the Fort Buford, Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort Rice traderships paid $i,ooo
per month each for the influence that controlled the appointments. Lesser sums
were paid by the smaller posts. It was also charged that the Indian traderships
contributed to a fund that paid a salary of $5,000 per annum to the one whose
influence secured the appointment of the trader.
When the Indian lands were opened to settlement the "grafter" very fre-
quently claimed, for his influence, 50 per cent of the contract price for surveys.
When the mail routes were established, and the transportation routes opened,
he was still there, and when counties and cities were organized, he lingered near,
and he is sometimes found about legislative halls.
COUNTRY OVERRUN BY TRADERS
Traders, both Spanish and American, were operating in 1805 in the country
around St. Louis. British traders had overrun Minnesota and the Dakotas,
and the Spanish authorities had equipped galleys to patrol the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers, in order to protect the interests of licensed traders and pre-
vent the occupation of the country by others.
The Indians, themselves, had no objection to traders, for the opportunity
to trade gave them the means to buy the essentials to Indian happiness. They
were generally friendly to the British traders and unfriendly to the Spanish, and
would frequently lie in wait to destroy the galleys, or to attack the Spanish traders
making their way up the rivers. Occasionally they would be incited by one trader
to make war upon another, and they were quick to recognize the advantage in
trade held by the British over those of the United States, by reason of the high
duties the latter were compelled to pay on the leading articles the Indians desired
to buy.
There was little, if any, attention paid to the international boundary, and
goods were being shipped into the United States territory without the payment
of duty by the British traders. Rival British traders occupied the whole of the
Canadian boundary ; the British flag was flying over their fortified posts at almost
every available point for trade, and when the hour of national distress came, they
led the Indians as their allies in the War of 1812.
Although the Hudson's Bay Company claimed the Red River Valley and had
made an attempt to occupy it, the aggressive force was the North-West Company,
which was occupying every available point for trade.
90 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
THE UXITED STATES AN INDIAN TRADER
Lieutenant Pike left the impression among the Indians and traders that it
was the intention of the Government to not only interfere with and restrict the
sale of intoxicating liquors, but to establish Government stores at which goods
should be sold to the Indians at cost, allowing them a reasonable price for fur
in exchange for goods, and in accordance with this policy, an attempt to do this
was made by the Government. The treaty with the Osage in November, 1808,
by Capt. Meriwether Lewis, then governor of Louisiana, provided that the L^nited
States should establish permanently a well assorted store to be kept at Fort
Clark, Mo. (also known as Fort Osage), for the purpose of bartering with
the Indians on moderate terms for their furs and peltries, such store to be kept
open at all seasons of the year. This article of the treaty was eliminated by
amendment, in the treaty of 1822, the United States paying the Indians $2,329.40
to be relieved from that provision of the treaty. Similar agreements had been
made for trading facilities with other Indian tribes, from which the Government,
also, secured release.
It was believed that it was the true policy of the Government to draw the
Indians within the plane of civilization, and that to furnish them goods at cost
and pay them the full value for their peltries, would be an object lesson that would
lead them in that direction.
The factories established by the Government were mainly east of the Mis-
sissippi River. There was only Fort Osage west of the Missouri.
While undertaking to furnish the Indians with goods at cost, the Govern-
ment issued licenses to other traders desiring to enter into competition. The
private trader advanced supplies, and whatever the Indian might require when
he started on the hunt, generally accompanying him, and securing his furs as
fast as taken. The Government stores could not give credit, nor could they sell
intoxicating liquors to the Indians, but the private traders smuggled liquors into
the country and satisfied their yearning for it. The Government traders were
required to sell American goods, but the American blankets and other goods
were not then equal to those imported, and could not be sold to the Indians in
competition with English goods. The private trader usually spoke the Indian
language, was personally acquainted with the Indians and had an interest in
securing trade and in the profits resulting therefrom, but the Government trader
was a salaried person, had nothing to gain by making sales and nothing to lose
if he failed. The system was abandoned in 1822, largely through the persistent
efTorts of United States Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, who led the
assaults upon it in the interests of the American Fur Company, having its west-
ern headquarters at St. Louis.
THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY
The American Fur Company was organized under a charter granted by the
State of New York, approved April 6, 1808. John Jacob Astor was the com-
pany. Auxiliary companies were organized for special purposes and special
places, and called by various names, Astor retaining a controlling interest in
o
B
cr
O
o
to
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 91
each, and merging the business of each with that of the American Company, for
whicli he sought the markets of the world.
The Pacific Fur Company, organized June lo, 1810, was one of these special
organizations. A part of the company was sent by sea to the mouth of the
Columbia River on the Pacific coast, and other members went overland, leav-
ing the Arikara villages on the Missouri River June 12, 181 1, reaching Astoria
the following January. In 1816 Congress passed an act, excluding foreigners
from the fur trade in the territory of the United States, excepting in subordinate
capacities under American management. This was brought about, in part, by
the activity of the traders during the War of 1812, on behalf of Great Britain,
but due largely to the influence of Mr. Astor. This gave him the opportunity
to take up the interests of the North-West Company in the United States, which
he consolidated with the South-West Company, previously organized, and the
Pacific Fur Company, and enabled him to recoup his previous losses on the
Pacific coast.
The American Fur Company was reorganized in 1817, and a western depart-
ment established with headquarters at St. Louis. Ramsey Crooks became the
general agent, assisted by Robert Stuart. Russell Farnham was the chief repre-
sentative on the Mississippi, and to him is given the credit of being the first to
carry the trade of the American Fur Company into the Missouri River region.
Pierre Choteau, and his associates, became interested in the'company in 1829.
The Missouri Fur Company was reorganized in 1818, its membership then
consisting of Manuel Lisa, Thomas Hempstead, Joshua Pilcher, Joseph Perkins,
Andrew Wood, Moses Carson, John B. Immel and Robert Jones.
FORT WILLIAM
For many years Grand Portage was the headquarters of the fur trade on
the great lakes, but under the treaty of amity and commerce of 1794, between
the United States and Great Britain, known as the John Jay treaty, it was pro-
vided that all British forts within the territory of the United States should be
evacuated within two years. Accordingly Grand Portage was abandoned, Fort
William — so named for William McGillivray, the Montreal manager of the
North-West Company — was established, and the headquarters were transferred
to that post.
Fort William overlooking the bay on the north side of Lake Superior was
surrounded by a palisade and in its center stood the headquarters building, with
its walls hung with costly paintings, and beautifully decorated. There was a
council chamber and parlor where the members of the company, known as part-
ners, and their guests were entertained. The dining room, supplied with tables
for the various employees as well as for the managers, the partners and their
guests, was 60 by 30 feet in extent. There were private rooms for the partners
at either end of the dining hall, which was flanked by sleeping rooms, and a
large kitchen and other conveniences. There were, also, the general store,
within the stockade, the canteen or liquor store, the warehouses and workshops,
and the home of the resident partners and employees. Several hundred persons
were usually camped in the vicinity of the fort, some seeking pleasure and others
waiting for employment when the busy season should commence.
92 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The members of the company who spent the winters in the field were called
the "wintering partners." Others were at Fort William in order to receive and
forward general goods and furs, and still others, at Montreal, managing the
general interests of the company, buying and selling supplies and products.
They practically controlled the trade of the lakes and forests, and the streams
entering the lakes.'
Washington Irving wrote of the power of these autocrats :
"The partners held a lordly sway over the wintry lakes and boundless forests
of the Canadas, almost equal to the East India Company over the voluptuous
climes and magnificent realms of the Orient.''
And of its decadence:
"The feudal state of Fort William is at an end ; its council chambers no
longer echo in the old world ditty ; the lords of the lakes and forests have passed
away."
The annual meeting of the company was held at Fort William, and on these
occasions, and on holidays, banquets were given to the visiting partners that were
almost regal in character. The tables were supplied with every luxury from the
east and the west — with game from the forests, and choicest of the finny tribes
from the lakes and streams, and the most costly wines and liquors. As the
morning hours approached and the festivities reached the carousal stage, restraint
was relaxed and the doors were thrown open, when the voyageurs, servants and
attendants were permitted to look on and laugh, if not to participate in the merry
pranks and songs of the wine-heated partners and their guests.
THE VOYAGEURS
The canoe, which was the only means of transportation between the East and
the West, was made of birch bark, and carried from one and one-half to four
tons of freight, or an equivalent number of passengers, and swiftly sped over
the lakes and streams, manned by voyageurs, merrily singing some favorite ditty,
such as:
"Row, brother, row ; the stream runs fast.
The rapids are near and the daylight is past,"
and when the rapids were reached, they would as merrily carry boat and freight
over the portage, around the rapids, or, from one stream to another, and pass
on, singing:
"Faintly as tolls the evening chime,
Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time."
Also for the evening the following was a favorite :
"Sing nightingale, keep singing,
Thou hast a heart so gay;
Thou hast a heart so merry,
While mine is sorrow's prey."
Several hundred descendants of these people became residents of North
Dakota. They had passed through all the experiences to be encountered in
ATTACK ON THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS AT SOUTH KINGSTON
From Abbott's King Philip.
THE \OVAGEUR8 AT THE PORTAGE
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 93
frontier life, beginning with the happy Hfe of the voyageur, participating in the
dangers of war, and in the excitement of the chase, setthng down, at last to
the quiet life of the rancher and farmer.
Peter Grant, who established the first trading post at the mouth of the Pem-
bina, heretofore mentioned, was an interesting writer. Of the canoe service he
said;
"The North- West Company's canoes, manned with five men, carry about three
thousand pounds. They seldom draw more than eighteen inches of water, and go
generally at the rate of si.x miles an hour in calm weather. When arriving at a
portage, the bowman instantly jumps into the water, to prevent the canoe from
touching the bottom, while the others tie their slings to the packs in the canoe
and swing them on their backs to carry over the portage. The bowman and
steerman carry the canoe, a duty from which the middlemen are exempt. The
whole is conducted with astonishing expedition, a necessary consequence of the
enthusiasm which always attends their long and perilous voyages. It is pleasant
to see them, when the weather is calm and serene, paddling in their canoes, sing-
ing in chorus their simple, melodious strains and keeping exact time with their
paddles, which effectually beguiles their labors. When they arrive at a rapid,
the guide or foreman's business is to explore the waters previous to their running
down with their canoes, and, according to the height of water, they either lighten
the canoe by taking out part of the cargo and carry it overland, or run down
the whole load.
THE SELKIRK COLONY
In 1801 Sir Alexander Mackenzie published an account of his explorations,
which attracted the attention of Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, who conceived
the idea of colonizing a consideraljle number of the homeless people of his own
land where a strong and loyal community might be built up. He endeavored to
interest the Hudson's Bay Company in a colonization scheme, but failed to secure
concessions from them; it being their policy to prevent settlement and to retard
development, and hold the country for the Indian trade entirely. Thereupon he
proceeded quietly to purchase, through his own resources and the assistance of
his friends, a controlling interest in the stock of that company, and having accom-
plished this, on May 30, 181 1, the company sold to him 110,000 square miles of
the land, embracing all of the Red River within the British possession, and the
streams tributary thereto, witli other lands. Selkirk was materially assisted in
accomplishing his purpose by the accounts of the explorations of Lewis and Clark
published in England and other foreign countries.
THE SELKIRK PURCH.\SE
The country purchased by Selkirk, without other consideration than his agree-
ment to colonize it, covered an area of upwards of seventy million acres, described,
in detail, as follows ;
"Beginning at the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, at a point on 52° 50'
north latitude, and thence running due west to Lake Winnipegoosis, otherwise
called Little Winnipeg; thence in a southerly direction through said lake, so as
94 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
to strike its western shore in latitude 52° ; thence due west to the place where
parallel 52° intersects the western branch of the Red River; thence due south
from that point of intersection to the height of land which separates the waters
running into Hudson Bay from those running into the Missouri and Mississippi
rivers; thence in an easterly direction along the height of land to the source of
the River \\'innipeg, meaning by such last named, the principal branch of the
■ waters which unite in the Lake Saginalis ; thence along the main stream of those
waters and the middle of the several lakes through which they flow, to the mouth
of the River Winnipeg, and thence in a northerly direction ihrough the middle
of Lake Winnipeg to the place of beginning, which territory shall be called
Assiniboia."
The grant embraced nearly all of what is now Manitoba, and a small portion
of North Dakota. Having thus secured the land, Selkirk sought to interest in his
colonization scheme the Scotch Highlanders, who were at that time being evicted
from the Sutherland and other estates in Scotland. The Sutherland estate em-
braced some seven hundred square miles of well populated territory. All tenants
within a defined district were ordered to vacate within a given time, and when
that time expired, if any remained, they were forcibly evicted, whether sick or
well, and their homes given to the flames. It was partly to meet the needs of this
class of peojile, to find "homes for the homeless," who formed the bulk of his
colony, that Selkirk undertook the work of colonization.
Lender these conditions it was not difficult to obtain colonists, and that year
he dispatched seventy persons to the Red River ^'alley, who arrived the year
after, followed by fifteen or twenty more the next year, by ninety-three in 1814;
by 100 in 1815; about two hundred and seventy being Scotch Llighlanders, of
whom 130 became permanent settlers.
The first party was in command of Capt. Miles JNIacdonnell, who had seen
service in the British army, the colonists meeting with opposition and petty an-
noyances from the start by agents of the North-West Company, who were, also
opposed to the settlement of the country. Other parties leaving England for
the colony were interrupted and annoyed by North-West Companv influences ;
some of its designing members having purchased stock in the Hudson's Bay
Company, hoping to defeat Selkirk's project.
The colonists were not only distressed before they left for Rupert's Land, as
the country came to be known, but there was sickness and trouble at sea, and
when they arrived at York factory, Hudson Bay, September 24, 181 1, they were
landed without any previous preparations to receive them, and even the sick were
without shelter. Their trip to the Red River the next spring, through an unset-
tled country, though by canoe, was an arduous one.
After they reached the Red River they were aimoyed in every conceivable
manner, by persons dressed in Indian garb, threatening them and committing
petty depredations upon their property, for the purpose of frightening them ; out-
rages which it was intended should be attributed to the Indians. Finally 140 of
the colonists were led away by agents of the North-W^est Company, who prom-
ised them land in Canada, a year's provisions, and other considerations, but the
more sturdy ones refused to leave. June 25, 1815, these were attacked by the
Bois Brule, as the half-bloods were called, one of their number killed, several
wounded, and their homes burned. Those who survived were driven away, but
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 95
were piloted to the Hudson's Bay Company factory, on Lake Winnipeg, by
friendly Indians.
The distrust natural to the Indians had gradually been displaced by a liking
for the colonists, not only because they offered a market for meats the traders
refused to buy, but for their sturdy integrity. Unlike the majority of their race,
whose preconceived opinions, as will be noted further on, were not flattering to
the whites in general, they had found white men who were not liars, and were
not trying to harm or take advantage of them, and though they ridiculed their
"tender feet,"' they stood ready to act in their defense, and all eflforts to induce
them to attack the colonists failed.
On the arrival of the new settlers in June, 1815, the colonists who had been
driven away, returned and rebuilt their cabins and harvested their crdps. Because
no preparations had been made to receive the colonists of that year, and on ac-
count of the scarcity of provisions, seventy-five of the strongest went to Pembina
where there was a deserted trading post, which was fitted up for their comfort,
and a lumiber of new cabins erected. The buli'alo were, also, abundant near
Pembina, and pemmican could be obtained for food from the Indians.
The succeeding winter was a severe one, the mercury sometimes falling to
45 degrees below zero, with deep snows. Their supplies of foocj jdvere very low,
but with pemmican obtained from the Indians, fish — caught through holes in the
ice — from the river, and an occasional dog, which they relished under the cir-
cumstances, they managed to subsist during the winter, and in the spring they
gathered the seed-balls of the wild rose and acorns, which, cooked with buffalo
fat, afforded nutritious aliment.
During the trouble with the settlers in the summer of 181 5, Governor ^^liles
Macdonnell had been arrested and carried away from the colony by Duncan
Cameron, the Xorth-West Company governor, acting as an alleged Canadian
officer, and the artillery belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company post had been
seized, on the ground that it had been used to break the peace, when used in
defense of the colony. But among the new arrivals that year was Robert Semple,
a former officer of the British army, who assumed the duties of governor of the
colony. He spent a portion of the winter at Pembina, where the Xorth-\\'est
Company had a trading post, known as the Pembina House. This he seized, and
arrested the managers — who were afterwards released — and, also, in ]\Iay, 1816,
attacked and razed a post belonging to the company, known as Fort Gibraltar,
which was in charge of Cameron, using the material to strengthen the defenses
at Fort Douglas, the Hudson's Bay Company post, and to rebuild the homes of
the settlers.
Fort Gibraltar was erected for the old X. Y. Company, the :Montrea! rival of
the North-West Company, represented by John Wills.
The stockade was made of oak logs, split in two, fifteen feet high. There
were eight buildings, viz., four. 64, 36, 28 and 32 feet in length, respectively, and
a blacksmith shop, a stable, a kitchen and an ice house. Twenty men were
engaged a year in its construction.
Fort Douglas, the site of the settlement of the Selkirk Colony, was one mile
below the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. Here was the residence
of the governor. Selkirk gave it the name Kildonan, in 1817, in honor of the set-
tlers who came from Kildonan parish in Scotland.
96 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
111 the spring of 1816, the settlers left their quarters at Pembina, known as
Fort Daer, occupied winters by members of the colony until 1823, and planting
their crops, looked for favorable returns and for peace, yet fearing the worst,
for the retaliatory measures adopted by Governor Semple had made bloodshed
almost certain.
THE GOVERNOR AND SETTLERS KILLED
On June 16, 1816, the settlers were again attacked by the Bois Brule, and
the governor and twenty-one out of twenty-eight of his officers and men were
shot and killed at Seven Oaks, whereupon Fort Douglas was surrenderd to the
representatives of the North-West Company. The attacking party was com-
manded by Cuthbert Grant, and the attack was planned by Duncan Cameron,
the chief officer of the North- West Company, especially instructed to destroy the
colony. Through many kindnesses done the colonists, and through being able to
speak their languages, he had succeeded in planting the seeds of discord, and in
leading away the major portion of the colony before the attack of the previous
year.
It may be doubted that murder was intended. The I\Iontreal traders had been
the first to explore and open the country to trade, followed by the Hudson's Bay
Company at every important point. The Hudson's Bay Company's grant to
Selkirk embraced much of a country which the North-West Company regarded
their own by right of discovery or original French leases or grants, and by occu-
pation. Selkirk jiad given them a limited time in which to leave the territory,
and his agents had captured their Fort Gibraltar and razed it, taking absolute
command of the river, interrujiting their communication with their frontier posts
and paralyzing their business ; and he had also captured their post at Pembina.
He failed to supply his colonists with provisions or means of cultivating the soil,
but had not neglected to furnish them with arms and ammunition, and a battery
of artillery, and Governor Macdonnell had thoroughly drilled them, exciting the
belief that the colony was to be used as a military force to crush the North-\\'est
Company and utterly destroy their business. This Cameron was expected to
prevent.
At Sault Ste. Alarie, on his way to this colony, Selkirk learned of the murder
of Governor Semple and his party. His expedition consisted of about two hun-
dred and fifty men; among them 100 men of the DeMeuron and Watteville
regiment, whom he had hired to go to the colony and defend it, if need be; 150
canoe men and other employees. He immediately proceeded to Fort William,
the headquarters of the North-West Company, and, acting as a magistrate, ar-
rested all of the principal men connected with the company, and sent them to
Canada for trial. He wintered at Fort William, proceeding to his colony the next
spring, and upon his arrival in June, restored order and confidence. He gave deeds
for the lands on which his settlers had made improvements, made treaties with
the Indians for the extinguishment of their title to the lands he claimed, made
a treaty of peace with the Sioux, and, though a Protestant, he urged the Catholic
authorities to establish a mission at Fort Douglas, and for this purpose gave
twenty-five acres for the church, and a tract of land, 5 miles long by 4 miles
wide, promising any additional aid he or his friends might be able to render.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 97
THE CHURCH AND SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED
For 150 years the Hudson's Bay Company had owned and occupied Rupert's
Land. They had generally prospered, and their stock had paid large dividends,
and yet, in all that land, there was neither church nor chapel, priest nor teacher —
not a single school had been founded. Uut this condition was to prevail no
longer.
In February, 1816, selection was made by the Bishop of Quebec of the person
to establish the mission requested by Selkirk, and for which his colonists had
petitioned. July 16, 1818, Father Joseph Provencher and his companion. Father
Joseph Severe Dumoulin, arrived at Fort Douglas, and established a mission
which thereafter was known as St. Boniface. Soon after their arrival grasshop-
pers visited the Red River country, and completely destroyed the crops of the
settlers, forcing the new colonists, who arrived that year, also to go to Pembina,
where there was already a considerable settlement.
Father Dumoulin went to Pembina the latter part of August, and Septem-
ber 8, 1818, celebrated mass at Pembina, the first Christian service within the
limits of what is now North Dakota.
He founded a school, which was placed in charge of William Edge, and when
the Vicar General (Provencher) arrived in January, 1819, there were sixty
pupils in the school, and 300 people in the parish, while at St. Boniface, the foun-
dation of Winnipeg, there were about fifty. The first teachers in the school at St.
Boniface were the two Misses Nolan, Pembina girls and daughters of the trader.
Of the commercial advantages of Pembina, the Vicar General thus wrote to
the bishop :
"That post is for the present very important. From there I. with all of the
colony, receive all of my provisions. I shall continue to build there.''
He spoke of his chapel at St. Boniface, 80x35 feet, and his "shop" at Pem-
bina, 24x18 feet, with a presbytery, 60x30 feet. He was disquieted by the infor-
mation that Pembina was on the American side of the international boundary line,
and admitted that his plan had been disarranged by the information, but he
intended "to continue to build, for Father Dumoulin must spend the winter
there."
In 1819 and 1820, the grasshoppers again destroyed the crops, leaving the
colonists entirely dependent upon Pembina for subsistence. Provencher spent
the winter of 1819-20 at Pembina. Almost every one had left St. Boniface
for the winter.
In 1820 Provencher was appointed coadjutor bishop of Quebec with the
title of Bishop of Juliopolis, and May 12, 1822, was consecrated. He returned
to St. Boniface in August, 1822, after an absence of two years from the colony,
to find that the Hudson's Bay Company had insisted upon the withdrawal of the
priests from Pembina, for the reason that it was on the American side. This was
determined by observations made by David Thompson for the North- West Com-
pany in 1798, and confirmed in August, 1823, by Maj. Stephen H. Long, the
priests having withdrawn the previous January.
.Some of the settlers after the withdrawal of the priests founded the parish
of St. Francis Xavier, and others went to Fort Snelling, and various points in
the United States, the colonists generally returning to St. Boniface, as they had
98 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
been in the habit of doing, each spring. Father Diimoulin was heart-broken over
the destruction of the interests he had built up at Pembina, and returned to
Canada, where he died in 1853.
Hudson's bay company and north-west company amalgamated
Regarding the amalgamation of the Hudson's Bay and North-West com-
panies, the following letter was written by Alexander Lean to Peter Fidler, both
members of the Hudson's Bay Company, at London, !May 21, 1821 :
"I received your esteemed favor of the 14th August last from Norway House.
I thank you much for the information it contained. I shall now, in return, give
vou such intelligence as will, I trust, not only be agreeable to you but to every
individual in the service.
"In the first place, all misunderstanding between the honorable company
and the North-West Company is totally at an end. You are to know that the
honorable company caused it to be announced in the Gazette and daily papers,
that a general board of proprietors would be held at their house on Monday, the
26th March last. It was so held and many of the Hudson's Bay and North-West
proprietors attended. Tendency of this meeting was to promulgate that a union
between the two companies had taken place. I cannot enumerate the resolutions
which unanimously passed on the occasion, let it suffice for me to acquaint you
that it appears to have been a well-digested plan, which eventually will tend to
the advantage of both companies.
"Mr. Garry, a gentleman of the honorable committee, accompanied by Mr.
Simon McGillivray, has embarked for New York, from thence to Montreal in
order to proceed to the company settlements, the North-West stations and Red
River. If you should see Mr. Garry you will find him a gentleman in every
respect, and deserving respectful attention. The whole concern will be appor-
tioned into shares to which the North-West agent will be entitled.
"I was present at the general board (being a proprietor) and after the busi-
ness was concluded a mutual congratulation passed between the governor, etc.,
and myself, and I sincerely wish every individual, a fellow laborer in the same
vineyard in which I was till lately, joy on the happy event."
Peter Fidler was a surveyor and a very well-known officer in the service of
the Hudson's Bay Company ; John Wills, the Pembina manager of the North-
West Company, is mentioned in the will of Mr. Fidler, dated Atigust 16, 1821.
CHAPTER VIII
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY
VINCENNES THE KEY — CLARK AND HAMILTON WAYNE AND THE TREATY OF GREEN-
VILLE— POST VINCENTS OR VINCENNES JOHN TANNER, THE WHITE CAPTIVE
AT OLD PEMBINA — PE-SHAU-BA's RECOLLECTIONS AND DEATH LORD SELKIRK
AND TANNER THE SHAWNEE PROPHET MESSENGER AT PEMBINA THE SIOUX
AT THE GATES JEFFERSON TO ADAMS DRAWING THE LINE — HARRISON AND
TECUMSEH ^BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE THE PASSING OF TENKSWATAWA.
"For one by one, the scattered race
Hath slowly dropped from time and space.
All silently they slipped away,
As shadows pass at close of day.
So vanish like the morning dew,
The older clans before the new."
— Susan H. IVixon, "Indian Toztm."
VINCENNES THE KEY
The country north of the Ohio Ri\er had come into the possession of the
United States through the capture of Post \'incents. or Vincennes, by Col. George
R. Clark, with the co-operation of Patrick Henry, who was the first governor
of Virginia and held the office by successive re-elections until 1779, and was
again elected at the close of the Revolutionary war.
The post, which was of great importance for trade, was located on the east
bank of the Wabash River, in Indiana, 150 miles above its junction with the
Ohio River, and was taken from the British, who had acquired the territory in
1763, and had held it for a period of nineteen years.
The fort was built by Francois Morganne de la Vincenne, an officer in the
service of the King of France, in the fall of 1702, on the site of the present
City of Vincennes. The plot of ground was held until 1839, when it was
divided and sold in lots. It owed its origin to military necessity for protecting
French possessions, and was one of a contemplated chain of forts to connect
Canada with Louisiana. It was built of logs, and when it was torn down in
1820. the logs were used in the construction of private houses.
The Indians were friendly and assisted in building the fort, and ainong the
tribes surrounding the location was the Shawnee. It was one time called "Fort
Sackville'' by the British, in honor of Sir Thomas Sackville, earl of Dorset, and
prime minister of Great Britain when that governinent assumed possession of
the territory, but the change was never acknowledged by the citizens of the
'' 99229IJ
100 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
town. Colonel Clark changed the name to "Fort Patrick Henry," but it did not
stand. The founder of the fort was burned at the stake after a battle with the
Chickasaws, on Easter Sunday, 1736. He refused to join in the retreat, and
remained with his wounded and dying soldiers in the hands of the Indians.
The British commander, Henry Hamilton, lieutenant governor and superin-
tendent, held the fort when besieged by Colonel Clark, and notes of capitulation
between officers were exchanged February 24, 1779, Great Britain surrendering
to Virginia for the following reasons :
"The remoteness from succor, the state and quantity of provisions ; unanimity
of officers and men in its expediency; the honorable terms allowed, and, lastly
the confidence in a generous enemy." During the siege one of Clark's men was
wounded, and in the fort seven men were badly wounded out of a garrison of
seventy-nine men.
The most powerful Indian in the country was "Tobacco's Son," who was
friendly to Clark.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SURRENDER
This was one of the most important periods in its consequences in the history
of the American Revolution, for the reason that owing to this conquest, and the
consequent civil and military control of the Northwest, we were able to secure
in the Treaty of Paris, made by representatives of Great Britain and the United
States after the close of the war, the concession of the Mississippi River for
our western boundarj'.
The land lay between the Alleghanies and the Mississippi, embracing the
states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The
states of Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut, claimed
a portion of this country by virtue of their charters from the king, but each, in
turn, surrendered, New York, Virginia and Maryland not yielding until 1781.
THE TREATY OF PARIS, I783
The definitive treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain was
signed at Paris on September 3, 1783, by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and
John Jay, on the part of the United States, and David Hartley for Great Britain,
between Prince George III, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France
and Ireland, defender of the faith, etc., and the United States of America, con-
sisting of the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia,
acknowledged by his Britannic Majesty to be free, sovereign and independent
states.
After the conquest by Clark the country around Vincennes became a part
of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1784 Thomas Jeflferson proposed that
■Congress should divide the domain into ten states, but the proposition failed.
In 1786 the Northwest Territory treaties were made by the United States with
the Shawnees.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 101
THE ORDINANCE OF I787
In 1787, a bill was passed by Congress entitled "An Ordinance for the Gov-
ernment of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio."
The ordinance was modeled after the constitution accepted by the people of
the State of Massachusetts in 1780, and Daniel Webster said of it: "No single
law of any lawgiver, ancient or modern, has produced effects of more distinct,
marked, and lasting character, than the Ordinance of 1787."
It forever prohibited slavery or involuntary servitude, "otherwise than in the
punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; pro-
vided, always, that any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or
service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original states, such fugitive may
be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or
services as aforesaid."
It declared that "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education
shall forever be encouraged."
Relative to the treatment of the original owners of the soil it clearly sets
forth that : "The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the Indians ;
their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent;
and in their property rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded'or disturbed,
unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in
justice and humanity shall from time to time be made, for preventing wrongs
being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them."
The movement for the organization of this territory had been initiated by
an organization of the officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary war, to whom
land scrip had been issued which had little value, and it was hoped that the sale
of the fertile lands in this region would enable them to use or dispose of their
holdings. Soldiers, trappers, hunters, and others who had passed beyond the
Alleghanies, had excited an interest in the country which demanded its develop-
ment. Further treaties with the Indians were necessary, however, in order to
develop the country.
WAYNE AND THE TREATY OF GREENVILLE
An important movement having been decided upon by the United States
Government, which Gen. Anthony Wayne was commissioned to lead, he passed
the spring and .summer of 1793 at Fort Washington (now Cincinnati, Ohio) in
recruiting and drilling his men, proceeding on October 7th of that year to the
region now designated as Darke County, where he erected Fort Greenville, passing
the winter there.
After repeated failures to negotiate treaties of peace with the Indians, he
gave them fair warning and then declared war, which ended August 20, 1794,
in a victory for Wayne. The result was that on June 10, 1795, a council of
delegates from the Indian nations convened at Greenville and on August 3, 1795,
the Treaty of Greenville was signed by Ma j. -Gen. Anthony Wayne, commanding
the armies of the United States, commissioner on behalf of the United States
for the occasion, and ninety chiefs and delegates of twelve tribes of Indians, viz..
102 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanoes, Ottavvas, Oiippewas, Pottawatamies,
Miamis, Eel River, VVeeas, Kickapoos, Piankashaws and Kaskaskias, yielding to
the United States their rights to all the territory south and east of the line then
fixed. The line passed up the Cuyahoga and across the Tuscarawas Portage to
the forks of the Tuscarawas near Fort Lawrence, and then south of west to
Loromie's Store, thence west by north to Fort Recovery, and thence southwest-
wardly to the Ohio River, opposite the mouth of the Kentucky.
The lands north and west of the point named were conceded to be Indian
lands excepting 150,000 acres granted to George R. Clark and his warriors, the
post at Vincennes, and the lands adjacent thereto and the lands at other places
in possession of the whites and six miles square at Chicago, Fort Wayne,
Defiance, Sandusky and other points forming a complete chain of forts from the
mouth of the Illinois and along the great lakes and a considerable tract at Detroit,
the Indians agreeing to allow the free use of harbors, mouths of rivers and of
the streams and portages throughout their vast domain and in addition to benefits
received under former treaties they were to receive $20,000 in goods and presents
and $9,500 annually forever for the surrender of their advantages. — injuries and
expenses sustained in the Indian wars by the United States being taken into con-
sideration. As small as these annuities were they were divided among the sev-
eral tribes and to each a certain portion.
JOHN T.\NNER, THE WHITE CAPTIVE
Among the characters who left their mark on the early days of the Red
River was John Tanner, son of a clergyman who emigrated to the Ohio River in
1789, and with his family had been settled but a few days, when John, then a-
lad of twelve years, was captured by an Indian from Lake Huron.
His mother died in his early childhood. His father married again, and feeling
himself aggrieved he fancied he would prefer living with the Indians. Accord-
ingly when he was punished for a misdemeanor by being confined to the house,
he slipped out unnoticed and ran to the woods where there was a favorite walnut
tree, and being found there was carried away by Manito-o-geezhik to make his
wife's heart glad, for she mourned a son lost by disease.
The child was adopted into the family, but Manito-o-geezhik becoming dis-
satisfied with him tomahawked him, and threw him into the bushes for dead,
but telling his squaw where she could find him. She, hurrying to the spot, found
him still alive and nursed him back to health.
Later, Manito-o-geezhik sold him to Net-no-kwa, a noted woman, who was
a wise and influential chief of the Ottawas. She gave Manito-o-geezhik two ten
gallon kegs of whisky, a number of blankets, and other presents, for the boy.
Manito-o-geezhik had treated him cruelly, telling him he was going back to
his home to kill his people, and after an absence of three weeks brought him
his brother's hat which had a bullet hole in it, and told him he had killed the
whole family. Recognizing his brother's hat. Tanner believed him, but nearly
thirty years after, he found that the Indian had captured his brother and tied him
to a tree for the night, and he managed to escape and returned to his home.
Net-no-kwa was always very good to Tanner, and he learned to love her as
he would a mother. She dressed him well, allowed him to play with other
children and gave him enough to eat.
PONCA INDIANS ENCAMPED ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSOURI
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
I in; I'lltST KNtUl'XTER
From Abbott's King Philip.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 103
In 1792, Net-no-kwa had moved from her home on Lake Huron to the Red
River country to hunt beaver, and on her way her husband was killed, and her
son and son-in-law died, and to drown trouble she resorted to stupefaction by
liquor, contrary to former temperate habits, and thereafter she had occasional
periods of intoxication, when she would give nearly all she possessed for liquor
for herself and companions whom she treated as royally as her means would
permit.
Tanner remained with his foster-mother, and cared for her, until long after
he became a man. He grew into a mighty hunter, so great that the Indians
became jealous of him, and one tomahawked him when he was asleep in his tent,
and another shot him, and, although severely wounded in both cases, he
recovered.
Although taken away from his home when so young, and entirely forgetting
his mother tongue, having been trained in Indians ways of thought and expres-
sion, he stated that he had always been conscious of his entire dependence upon
a superior being and invisible power, but that he had felt this conviction much
more powerfully in time of distress and danger, and knew that the Great Spirit
saw and heard, when he called on him to pity the distress of himself and family.
Tanner was noted for his integrity and bravery, and it is related of him
that he once brought two parcels of fur to the Red River trading post, one of
which he sold to pay a debt to the North-West Company trader, intending to lise
the other to settle with the Hudson's Bay Company, but in that he was violently
opposed by the trader of the former company, who when persuasion failed to
change his purpose, threatened him with bodily injury, and Tanner still per-
sisting in having his own way, the trader placed a pistol to his breast, when
Tanner, undaunted, pointing to his bare bosom, told him to "fire away," declaring
that though he was a stranger in a strange land, a captive and a slave, he would
not raise a weapon against any man and then refrain from killing him because
he was afraid.
This exhibition of courage gained him the liberty to dispose of his furs to
suit him.self, and pay his just debt to the rival company.
AT OLD PEMBIN.A.
Net-no-kwa. accompanied by Tanner, arrived at Pembina the day before
the advent of Chaboillez in 1797, and found no indications of whites having been
there before. ..
Tanner was among the Indians then hunting in that region, trapping along
all of the streams emptying into the Red River as far north as the Bois dcs Sioux
where he spent one winter, often killing as many as 100 beaver in a month. He
took that number one month on the Bois des Sioux, without the aid of a gun,
and in his hunting he sometimes killed as many as twenty animals with a
single ball, using it over and over again.
In Mr. Tanner's "Narrative," he states that about the year 1800, it was no
uncommon thing for an Indian to give five or six prime beaver skins for a quart
of Saulteur liquor, — a gill or two of alcohol, the rest water.
On the Mouse River, in the course of a single day, Net-no-kwa sold 120
104 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
beaver skins, with a large quantity of other furs, for rum, at the price of six
skins for a quart.
"Of all of our large load of peltries, the produce of so many days toil, of
so many long and difficult journeys, one blanket and three kegs of rum only
remained besides the poor and almost worn out clothing on our backs," was
Tanner's sorrowful reflection.
The price they paid per quart was, fairly, the equivalent of $i8, and, as
Tanner says, "They put a great deal of water in that."
pe-shau-ba's recollections and death
Among the Ottawa friends of Net-no-kwa, was an unusually bright and
good Indian Chief named Pe-shau-ba. He was good to every one, and especially
to young Tanner. He always gave of his substance to help others, and often
interfered to stop trouble, and no matter how freely he gave, he always had, if
not an abundance, enough to supply his own wants and to divide with his
intimate friends, but he became very ill, and calling Tanner to him, addressed
to him the following words, as related in Tanner's "Narrative" :
"I remember before I came to live in this world I was with the Great Spirit
above, and I looked down and saw men upon the earth. I saw many good and
desirable things and, among others, a beautiful woman, and as I looked down
day after day at the woman, He said to me ;
"'Pe-shau-ba, do you love the woman you are so often looking at?' I told
Him I did. He then said to me : 'Go down and spend a few winters on earth.
You cannot stay long, and you must remember to be always kind to my children
whom you see below.' So I came down, but I have never forgotten what He
said to me. When my people have fought with their enemies, I have not struck
my friends in their lodges. I have disregarded the foolishness of young men
who would have offended me, but have always been ready and willing to lead
our brave men against the Sioux. I have always gone into battle painted black,
as I am now, and I now hear the same voice that talked to me before I came
into this world. It tells me I can remain here no longer. To you, my brother,
I have been a protector and you will be sorry when I leave you, but be not like a
woman. You will soon follow in my path."
He then put on the new clothes Tanner had given him, walked out of the
lodge, looked at the sun, the sky, the lake and the distant hills, then came in and
lay down composedly, and in a few moments ceased to breathe.
"Farewell, sweet lake, farewell, surrounding woods.
To other groves, through midnight glooms, I stray,
Beyond the mountains, and beyond the floods.
Beyond the Huron Bay —
Prepare the hollow tomb, and place me low,
My trusty bow and arrows by my side.
The cheerful bottle and the venison store,
For long the journey is that I must go
Without a partner, and without a guide.
He spoke, and bade the attending mourners weep,
Then closed his eyes and sunk to endless sleep."
— Philip Freneau, "The Dying Indian."
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 105
LOIiD SELKIRK AND TANNER
In 1816, Thomas Douglas, fifth Earl of Selkirk, Baron Daer and Shortcleugh,
while visiting this country became much attached to John Tanner and located
his family on the banks of the Ohio River. Tanner, when Lord Selkirk found
him, had grown to manhood, and had married an Indian woman and after being
recognized by his family through the exertion of Lord Selkirk, brought several
of his half-blood children into the United States. Returning afterwards for
his two daughters, he found that their mother, believing he was about to desert
her, had given one of their daughters to an Indian, who had agreed to murder
Tanner, and in the attempt shot him, but not with fatal efTect. He was found
by RIaj. Stephen H. Long, the explorer, and his party, in 1823, on the Rainy
River, alone and uncared for, having been abandoned by his wife and daughters.
Dr. Edward James, of the Long Expedition, reduced his life and adventures
to writing and published them in 1830, under the title of "Tanner's Narrative."
This production confirms much that was written by Alexander Henry.
■THE SHAWNEE PROPHET
The Indians of America, no less than the white men of Europe, and the brown
men of Asia, have had many prophets and messiahs, who have taught them spir-
itual things.
In November, 1805, there arose a prophet among the Shawnees of Ohio, who
called himself Tenskwatawa (the "Open Door"). He was twin brother of
Tecumseh, conspicuous in American historj' immediately before the War of
1812, by reason of the setting on foot of an Indian confederacy to hold the Ohio
River as a boundary beyond which white settlement should not be advanced.
The Shawnee prophet, at the height of his popularity was about thirty years
of age, and is said to have possessed a magnetic personality of extraordinary
power, notwithstanding the physical drawback of the loss of one eye.
His friends claimed that he had gained superior insight and knowledge of
spiritual things by means of a trance, in which he was believed to be dead, and
preparations were made for his funeral, but he revived, and announced himself
the bearer of a new revelation from the Master of Life.
He warned his followers against the use of intoxicating liquors, depicting
the horrors of drunkenness in such light, that intoxication became almost un-
known among the Indians during the period of his influence. He required a return
to the primitive life, all property to be in common, according to the ancient laws
of the tribes, and all the white man's tools must be discarded, and his customs
renounced. He denounced the witchcraft practices and mechanical juggleries,
reserving to himself the power to cure all diseases, and stay the hand of death
from disease or wounds by supernatural skill. He forbade intermarriage with
the whites, and the adoption of their dress and firearms, and admonished the
young to respect the aged and infirm. They must give up their dogs, and keep
a fire burning in the lodge.
His followers carried their virtues to such an extent that they even emulated
the whites of New England, and burned their witches, roasting one subject four
days, before death came to her relief.
106 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
His fame extended to the extreme Southwest, where the Indians had looked
for a messiah under whose influence "the earth should teem with fruit and
flowers without the pains of culture, when an ear of corn should be as much
as one man could carry, and the cotton as it grew should of its own accord take
the rich dyes of human art, and the air should be laden with intoxicating per-
fumes and the melody of birds."
Under the vigorous preaching of a former prophet, many in the Southwest
gave up their flocks and herds, their apiaries and orchards- — for they were becom-
ing civilized — and returned to the forest to take up the simple life of their
fathers. The influence of the Shawnee prophet extended to all western and
southwestern tribes. The Chippewa killed their dogs, ceased, in a measure, to
fear the Sioux, and tried to lead the life taught by the one they had learned to
love and look upon as a redeemer. They had mysterious rites of confirmation
peculiar to their religion.
THE SHAWNEE PROPHET's MESSENGER AT PEMBIN.\
Tanner's "Narrative" describes the efifect at the Pembina Post of the Prophet's
doctrines :
The next spring (1806) we had assembled at the trading house at Pembina.
The chiefs built a great lodge, and called the men together to receive information
concerning the Great Spirit. The messenger of the revelation was Manito-o-
geezhik, a man of no great fame (not Tanner's foster-father) but well known
among the Chippewas. Little Clam took it upon himself to explain about the meet-
ing. He sang and prayed, and proceeded to detail the principal features of the
revelation brought by ^lanito-o-geezhik : The Indians were to go no more against
their enemies; they must no longer steal, defraud or lie, they must neither be
drunk, nor eat their food nor drink their broth when it was hot; and henceforth
the fire must never be suffered to go out in the lodge, summer or winter, day or
night, in storm, or when it was calm. They must remember that the life in the
body and the fire in the lodge are the same, and of the same date. If they suf-
fered their fires to be extinguished, at that moment their lives would end. They
must not suflfer a dog to live. The Prophet was himself coming to shake hands
with them, but Manito-o-geezhik liad come before that they might know what was
the will of the Great Spirit, communicated to us by him, and to inform them that
the preservation of their lives depended upon their entire obedience.
They understood that they were not to kindle a fire with the steel and flint
of the white man, but with the fire sticks of the olden times, nor were they to use
the firearms obtained from the whites, but the bows and arrows given to their
fathers.
Many of the Indians killed their dogs and threw away their steel and flints,
and endeavored to do as Manito-o-geezhik had instructed Little Clam to say to
them. They moved about in fear and humility, and distress and anxiety were
visible in every countenance.
Under this inspiration, and the promise that the Sioux should not hurt them,
they went to the waters of the Upper Red River, where Tanner hunted for
beaver, and Little Clam relying on the promise, led a party of ten warriors and
their families towards Devils Lake but the whole band was cut off by the Sioux.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 107
When found, the body of Little Clam was shot full of arrows and on the camp
ground were many bodies of women and children. Only one man escaped.
About this time, a leading chief and forty young men came from Leech Lake
to Pembina to learn more of the message from the Prophet. The arrival of his
messenger and the ceremony of shaking hands, is thus described by Tanner:
"When we arrived, he at first maintained a long and mysterious silence before
announcing that he was the forerunner of the Great Prophet who would soon
shake hands with the Chippewa and reveal to them his inspired words, and set
forth the new manner of living which they were hereafter to adopt.
"When the Indians had gathered in the lodge, we saw something carefully
•concealed under a blanket, in figure and dimensions bearing some resemblance
to a man. This was accompanied by two young men, who it was understood
attended constantly upon it, made its bed at night, as for a man, and slept near
it. But when removed no one went near it, or raised the blanket which was
spread over its unknown contents.
"Four strings of mouldy and discolored beads were all the visible insignia
of this important man.
"After a long harangue, in which the prominent features of the new revela-
tion were stated and urged upon the attention of all, the four strings of beads,
which we were told were made of the flesh of the Prophet, were carried with
much solemnity to each man in the lodge, and he was expected to take hold of
each string at the top and draw them quietly through his hand.
"This was called 'shaking hands with the Prophet,' and was considered as
solemnly engaging to obey his instructions and accept of his mission as from the
Supreme.
"All the Indians that touched the beads had piously killed their dogs; they
gave up their medicine bags, and showed a disposition to comply with all that
should be required of them. But in time these new impressions were obliterated,
medicine bags, flints and steels, the use of which had been forbidden, were
brought into use, dogs were reared, women and children beaten as before and the
Shawnee Prophet was depised."
THE SIOUX AT THE GATES
During the meeting where they went through the ceremony described, the
Sioux were lying in wait to attack Fort Pembina, and at its close when the gates
were opened to turn a horse out to graze, they fired and killed the horse.
The Chippewa who were feasting and dancing after the ceremony took up
arms at once, and pursued the Sioux, but without result.
The attacking party proved to be only Waneton, mentioned in connection
with Major Long's expedition, and his uncle. The influence of the Prophet re-
mained for two or three years, during which time there was less drunkenness,
and less fear of the Sioux.
Tanner did not kill his dogs, throw away his flint, or keep his fires burning,
but confesses that he was sometimes uneasy.
JEFFERSON TO ADAMS
Ex-President Thomas Jefiferson to Ex-President Adams gave his opinion of
the Prophet in the following terms:
108 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"The" Wabash Prophet is more rogue than fool, if to be a rogue is not the
greatest of folhes. He rose to notice while I was in the administration, and
became, of course, a proper subject for me. The inquiry was made with dili-
gence. His declared object was the reformation of his red brothers and their
return to their primitive manner of living. He pretended to be in constant com-
munication with the Great Spirit. * =^ * I concluded from all this, that he was
a visionary, enveloped in their antiquities and vainly endeavoring to lead back
his brethren to the fancied beatitude of the golden age. I thought there was
little danger in his making many proselytes from the habits and comforts they
had learned from the whites, to the hardships and privations of savagism, and
no great harm, if he did. But his followers increased, until the British thought
him worth corrupting, and found him corruptible. I suppose his views were then
changed, but his proceedings in consequence of them were after I left the admin-
istration, and are therefore unknown to me ; nor have I ever been informed what
were the particular acts on his part which produced an actual commencement of
hostilities on ours. I have no doubt, however, that the subsequent proceedings
are but a chapter apart, like that of Henry and Lord Liverpool, in the book of
the King of England."
It is admitted that there is no doubt that the Shawnee Prophet really sought
the good of his people, and believed in the beneficial effects of his doctrines,
although it is claimed that his inquisition was shocking in its cruelty.
TERRITORY ACQUIRED
Through the Treaty of Paris the United States acquired the territory Great
Britain claimed by right of discovery, and would have held notwithstanding the
natural rights of those dispossessed. Upon the organization, in 1788 of this addi-
tion to the Union, named the "Northwest Territory" Gen. Arthur St. Clair was
appointed the first governor and was made commander-in-chief of the militia
therein, to order, rule, and govern conformably to the ordinance of the 13th of
July, 1787, entitled "An ordinance for the government of the territory of the
United States northwest of the River Ohio.'' The commission took effect the
1st clay of February, 1788, to continue three years, and he held the post until
1802. In the beginning of his administration he met the tribes who complained
that the whites were not willing to regard the Ohio River as a boundary, at Fort
Harmar (now Alarietta) — erected in 1785-86 on the right bank of the Muskingum
River at its junction with the Ohio, in honor of Gen. Josiah Harmar — in order
to make treaties with them; and in his address he reminded them that they had
been allies of Great Britain in the Revolutionary war, and the loss of the lands
was one of the consequences of defeat. The first division of the Northwest Ter-
ritory was into Ohio and Indiana. Ohio was admitted into the Union and Michi-
gan was created, and the boundaries of Michigan extended to take in a good
part of North Dakota.
DRAWING THE LINE
It was when the religious excitement attending the rise of the Shawnee
Prophet was at its height, that Tecumseh took advantage of it to incite the Indians
'''^K^ ^
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George Washington
•John Adams
Thomas Jefl'erson
James Madison
James Monroe Jolm Quincy Adams
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FEOM 1789 TO 1S29
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 109
of the West and Southwest to resist the further advance of the whites, drawing
the hne at the Ohio River, as later, Sitting Bull drew it at the Missouri.
Messengers were sent to every Indian nation, and representatives of the
various tribes of the Northwest convened at the headquarters of the Shawnee
P'rophet at Greenville, Ohio, in order to learn the new doctrine and receive con-
firmation of the belief in him through his dreams and repeated revelations and
predictions; among the latter the eclipse of the sun in the summer of i8o6, which
he claimed as a proof of his own supernatural powers.
The movement was a revolt against the breaking down of old Indian customs
and modes of life and the encroachment of the whites on their domain.
HARRISON AND TECUMSEH
Tecumseh and the Prophet held a tract of land on the Tippecanoe River, one
of the tributaries of the Wabash River. To this place in the western part of
what is now Indiana, Tecumseh and the Prophet, with their following, removed
in the spring of 1808. They laid out a village known as the Prophet's Town,
and attracted to this center a large number of Northern Indians.
Gen. William Henry Harrison had served under Major General St. Clair
.and Gen. Anthony Wayne, and commanded Fort Washington (now Cincinnati)
in 1795, and was secretary of the territory northwest of Ohio in 1797. In 1801,
lie was appointed governor of the new territory of Indiana, which comprised the
present states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, nearly all in the pos-
session of the Indians, with whom as superintendent of Indian affairs, Harrison
made treaties. The year of his appointment he went to the French Village of
Vincennes, and in June, 1808, Tecumseh sent a deputation of Indians to him
there with a message from the Prophet. This was followed in August, by a visit
from the Prophet in person who was entertained at \'incennes two weeks ; Gen-
eral Harrison forming a very favorable opinion of him and his abilities. The
party carried a supply of provisions on their return to Tippecanoe.
In June, 18 10, Geneal Harrison sent two agents to Tippecanoe to more fully
acquaint himself with the designs of. the Prophet, and invited Tecumseh to meet
him at A^incennes on August 15th, for the purpose of an interchange of friendly
greetings, but Tecumseh came with an armed force of seventy warriors. They
met in a grove of trees southwest of the Harrison mansion, in front of the
porch. General Harrison on the porch. Chief Tecumseh in the grove. The grove
and porch remained until 1840; the main house and grounds in good preservation
until 1835.
Tecumseh, in response to Harrison's assurance of friendly feeling, insisted
on an exact interpretation of his words in language which implied that Harrison
lied when he said the Government was friendly to the Indians, for it had cheated
them and stolen their lands. This tenninated the interview by Harrison's order,
and Tecumseh and his warriors withdrew.
In the following autumn. General Harrison was informed by a chief that the
attitude of the Prophet was hostile, and Gen. William Clark, governor of Mis-
souri, wrote to General Harrison that belts of wampum had been sent to the
■tribes west of the Mississippi, with an invitation to unite in a war against the
United States.
110 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE
A year later, on the 26th of September, 181 1, General Harrison in command
of a military expedition against the Tippecanoe confederacy, left Vincennes,
with, as it proved, a fallacious hope, that the advance of the forces of the United
States army would frighten the Indians into abandoning their designs against
the Government.
He sent a message to the Prophet's Town, "directing the assembled Indians
who were at Tippecanoe, to return to their tribes ; that stolen horses should be
returned and murderers of white people be delivered up."
The agent of the governor having delivered this message, returned to head-
quarters, and on the 29th of October the army, numbering about nine hundred
men, began their march ; on the night of the 5th of November encamping within
ten miles of "Prophet's Town," and meeting parties of Indians in the vicinity
of the villages. On the 6th of November two interpreters were directed to com-
municate with some of the Indians, but they refused to hold communication with
them except by gestures. The forces of General Harrison encamped for the night
within a mile and a half of the town, sending forward a flag of truce.
The Indians at first refused to answer and tried to cut his messenger off from
the rest of the army, but later sent out three Indians to inquire the reason for
the advance of the army.
The messenger they said had gone another route, and they had missed him.
General Harrison agreed to suspend hostilities until the next day, for pur-
poses of treaty, and that night his army slept on their arms.
Tecumseh was absent in the Southwest and had left orders that war was to
be avoided at all hazards until his return, but early in the evening the Indians
held a council, and formed a plan, which during the night was changed, it was
said through the deception of the Shawnee Prophet, who told them that one-half
of Harrison's army was dead, and the other half crazy, and before daylight the
entire force of the Prophet's anity was creeping through the grass upon the out-
posts of General Harrison's camp, and before the men had been roused for
reveille an hour before daylight, a single shot of a sentinel surprised by an Indian
creeping upon him. broke the stillness. The wild yell of the Indian fired on was
followed by the war whoop, and the entire Tippecanoe force was upon them;
at first overwhelming the guard, who fell back on the camp which was prepared
for immediate action.
The Prophet, directly taking his position on a hill in the rear, prophesied suc-
cess to the Indians who would be safe from all harm, spurring them to action by
the shriek of his war song, and under this influence they made bold to fight in
open battle, rushing right upon the bayonets in the hands of their antagonists,
who with a last fierce charge put the Indians to flight, just as the dawn broke over
the field of carnage.
"Day glimmers on the dying and the dead.
*********
The war-horse masterless is on the earth.
And the last gasp hath burst his bloody girth !
And near, yet quivering with what life remained
The heel that urged him, and the hand that reined."
— Byron's Lara.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 111
The loss of the United States forces in killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe,
including those who died from their wounds soon after, was fifty, and the total
loss in killed and wounded i88. The Indians left thirty-eight dead on the field
of battle, and with those they carried with them their loss must have amounted
to an equal number.
On the morning of the 8th of November, iSii, "Prophet's Town'' was de-
serted, and tlie United States troops moved slowly back to the fort at Vincennes.
The Prophet's influence was overthrown, and the Universal Indian Confederacy
was a dream of the past.
General Harrison was promoted to major general, and fought the Battle of
the Thames River, October 5, 1813, defeating the allied British and Indians,
including Tecumseh, in the recovery of American territory. Tecumseh was
killed. The Thames River flows between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, discharging
into Lake St. Clair, and the battlefield was near the site of the present City of
Chatham, Ontario.
General Harrison died in the executive mansion at Washington, April 4, 1841,
after an illness of eight days, at the close of a month's administration as Presi-
dent of the Lhiited States.
THE PASSING OF TENSKWATAWA
Many Indians who after the defeat at Tippecanoe at first seemed inclined to
treat, joined the British forces during the War of 1812, but at that period the
Shawnee Prophet was shorn of his prestige, and faith in his doctrines had dimin-
ished to almost complete extinction.
Pensioned by the British government, under whose flag he had fought in that
war, Tenskwatawa at its close became a resident of Canada, but in 1826, rejoined
his tribe in Ohio, from thence removing to Missouri, and subsequently with his
band to Kansas, where he died in 1837 in the month of November — which seemed
to hold a strange fatality for him — and is buried in an unknown grave.
To him might Joaquin Miller's counsel well apply:
"Speak ill of Iiim who will, he died.
Say this much and be satisfied."
"A CHAPTER APART"
LORD LIVERPOOL VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH — SIR JAMES CRAIG H. W. RYLAND
CAPT. JOHN HENRY ORDERS IN COUNCIL IMPRESSMENT OF SAILORS PRE-
LIMINARY LETTERS — THE SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.
The chapter apart involving "Henry and Lord Liverpool," which President
JeiTerson places on a par with the "subsequent proceedings" of the Shawnee
Prophet episode, left an ineffaceable impression upon the page of the political
history of the century.
Capt. John Henry, whose origin is subject of dispute, came from somewhere
in the British Isles in 1793 to Philadelphia, where he became editorially con-
nected with the public press. During the unpleasantness with France he served
in the United States army as a captain of artillery, hence his title, and at its
close once more took up the profession of journalism. Some of his articles in
opposition to a republican form of government had a wide circulation, and
showed a discrimination so keen, and a knowledge of the internal affairs of the
republic so intimate and apparently so useful for shaping the policy of foreign
powers that they aroused interest on both sides of the Atlantic, and were called
to the attention of the chief actors in the stirring events immediately preceding
the War of 1812.
Thomas Jefferson of \'irginia, the most prominent figure in the L'nited States
during his term of service, 1801-1809, was serving his two terms as President
of the United States. In 1790 the country was divided into two political parties,
the federalists and the republicans, the cabinet of President Washington being
composed of warring elements. Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state, represented
the republicans and was an unyielding advocate of state sovereignty and decen-
tralization. Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, charged by Jefferson
with the desire of creating a monarchy in America, stood at the head of the
federalists, and established the Bank of the United States against the protest of
Jefferson, and of Edmund Randolph, the attorney-general. In 1791 Jefferson
carried on a correspondence with the British minister in relation to alleged
violations of the treaty of peace with Great Britain.
The year 1799 brought a chansre in public opinion in favor of the republican
party, and Jefferson was elected President and was inaugurated March 4, 1801.
Then followed the Louisiana Purchase, the exploration of the continent to the
Pacific Ocean, and the re-election of Jefferson for the presidential term com-
mencing March 4, 1805, the year of the Shawnee Prophet uprising.
In a message to the Tenth Congress President Jefferson thus refers to our
relations with the Indians :
"With our Indian neighbors the public peace has been steadily maintained.
112
Andrew Jackson
ilartin Van Buren
J
m
^
^
m
IB
William H. Harrison
Jolin Tyler
James K. Polk Zachary Taylor
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1829 TO ]849
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 113
From a conviction that we consider them as a part of ourselves, and cherish
with sincerity tlieir rights and interests, the attachment of the Indian trihes is
gaining strength daily, is extending from the nearer to the more remote, and will
amply requite us for the justice and friendship practiced towards them. Hus-
bandry and household manufacture are advancing among them, more rapidly
with the southern than northern tribes, from circumstances of soil and climate ;
and one of the two great di\isions of the Cherokee Nation has now under
consideration to solicit the friendship of the United States and to be identified
with us in laws and government in such progressive manner as we shall think
best."
ORDERS IN COUNCIL
In iSo6, approaching the period of the Henry letters, the country became
powerfully excited by the loss of its profitable foreign trade as a neutral through
the British "orders in council," and Napoleon Bonaparte's Berlin decree blockad-
ing European jjorts, and still more by the right asserted by Great Britain of
searching American vessels, which were boarded and the sailors impressed as
subjects of the king. "A practice," as proclaimed by Henry Clay, "which can
obtain countenance from no principle whatever, and to submit to which on our
part would betray the most abject degradation."
The ships and commerce of European nations had been destroyed by the
wars being waged, and the United .States being neutral profited by it, her vessels
carrying from port to port the products of France and the dependent kingdoms,
and, also, to those ports the maiuifactures of England. Great Britain and the
United States held undisputed sway on the ocean, but American ships carrying
to Europe the products of French colonies were often captured by British cruisers'
and in May, 1R06, several European ports under French control were Ijy British
orders in council declared in a state of blockade, though without being invested
by a British fleet. United States vessels attempting to enter these ports were
captured and condemned by the British. France and her allies also sufifered from
these orders, and in November, 1806, Napoleon issued a decree at Berlin declaring
the British Islands in a state of blockade, authorizing the capture of all neutral
vessels attempting to enter these ports. Thus the commerce of the United
States was made to suffer by both nations.
IMPRESSMENT OF SAILORS
Great Britain had searched American vessels, and at the time of the war had
taken from them by force every seaman supposed to be of British birth, to the
number of more than six thousand men, and compelled them to enter the British
navy to man their great fleet. The British claimed that the United States
Government "encouraged individuals to enter her marine, and become traitors
to their country; false certificates of citizenship," they declared, "and an ear-ring
in the ear, made an Englishman an American, and the Yorkshire dialect or the
west country pronunciation would contradict the solemn assertions that they
were Americans."
From 1803 to 1811 British cruisers captured goo American vessels, many of
them laden with valuable cargoes.
Vol. 1—8
114 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
THE EMBARGO
In June, 1807, occurred the attack on the United States frigate Chesapeake,
sailing out of Hampton Roads, by the British man-of-war Leopard, in order to
secure men which were claimed as British, but whom the commander of the
Chesapeake refused to deliver, as he knew of none such being on board.
The Leopard replied by firing on the Chesapeake, which was unprepared for
action, boarded her, impressed four sailors, and then abandoned her. Securing
the sailors was evidently all the British commander desired, as the Chesapeake
under her own commander put back, much damaged, into Hampton Roads, and
the incident was closed. It was this outrage, however, that roused the war
power of the nation to retaliation, and amidst the wildest excitement President
Jefferson issued a proclamation interdicting the harbors and waters of the
United States to armed British vessels, and ordered the ports protected by a
sufficient force. In consequence of the continued hostility of France and Great
Britain the law passed by Congress in December, 1807, laying an indefinite
embargo on the ports of the United States and forbidding American vessels to
leave those ports, although violently opposed by the federalist party, was an act
of prudence in order to preser\'e the seamen, ships and merchandise of the
United States from danger. Taking into account the alternate decrees from the
British government and from Bonaparte, there were sufficient orders in existence
to render liable to capture all American vessels afloat, so that in searching the
pages of history the reason for the embargo is plain, and President Jefferson's
order, far from being an offense, was a wise measure for defense.
One of the first acts of Congress under President Madison, in February,
1809, was the repeal of the embargo, to take effect on the fourth of the ensuing
March, at the same time prohibiting all intercourse with France and England
until either nation should revoke her hostile edicts.
At this period Jefferson retired from office, following the example of President
Washington, and declining the nomination for a third term.
Across the Atlantic, Robert Bank Jenkinson, second Earl of Liverpool, was,
in 1809, secretary for war and the colonies, and held the British premiership
from 1812 to 1827.
Robert Stewart Castlereagh, a native of Ireland, was prominent in British
politics in the years when Henry was writing. It was through his instrumentality
that the act of union was passed, for which he was execrated by a large number
of his countrymen. In 1805 he was secretary for war and for the colonies.
Subsequently in the ministry of foreign affairs, he supported Lord Liverpool,
who was always opposed to liberal ideas. In 1812 he was a leading member
of the British House of Commons. .Sir James Craig was governor-general of
Canada, and through him and his secretary, H. W. Ryland, the secret correspond-
ence came about. On the igth of June. 181 1, in the midst of the discontent
among the Indians, he left Canada, and died in Januan,', 1812.
PRELIMINARY LETTERS
Within March and April, 1808, Captain Henry wrote six letters, two letters
from Montreal to H. W. Ryland, secretary of Sir James Craig, with whom he
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 115
had become intimate, and on the loth of April Craig forwarded the tirst four
to Castlereagh, and it has been claimed that he intimated that Henry was
ignorant of the use to which his letters were put at this time. On May 5th the
last two letters followed the first four to Castlereaeh.
These letters are calendared in Canadian archives. Their contents are made
up of remarks on the state of public opinion, clippings from the newspapers
sustaining his opinions, with allusions to the diplomatic mission of George
Henry Rose, afterwards promoted and knighted, who was sent by the British
government to Washington on a special commission respecting the affair of the
Chesapeake and Leopard impressment case, and the close of the negotiations.
Canadian historians believe it "impossible to draw even a shadow of wrong-
doing from the proceedings."
THE SECRET CORRESPONDENCE
Apparently the object of the secret correspondence which followed was to
obtain the most trustworthy information for the use of Sir James Craig and
other representatives of Great Britain in this country concerning the internal
affairs of the Union, the extent of the disaffection in New England toward the
National Government caused by the embargo, which they had magnified to pro-
portions agreeable to their own projects, but of the actual depth to which it
had penetrated the body politic, they were still in doubt. They desired to know
what the policy of the United States would be on the inauguration of James
Madison of Virginia, who was President from 1809 to 1817, the effect of the
attitude taken by him on the public at large, and especially to gain a knowledge
of the certain prospect of war between the United States and Great Britain, if
such was imminent.
This mission, at the suggestion of Ryland, Captain Henry accepted and
fulfilled, playing with distinction his mischievous part in precipitating the resort
to arms by the United States. He was given credentials which authorized him
to receive any communications which it was desirable should reach the British
government, the correspondence to be carried on in cipher. Ryland's letter in
whicJi the proposition was made gave the correspondent reason to expect as
compensation an advantageous position under the British government.
Sir James Craig's instructions, "secret and confidential," the authenticity of
which was afterwards vouched for by Ryland in a letter to the Earl of Liver-
pool, were dated February 6, 1809.
Captain Henry wrote fifteen letters between the 13th of February and the
22d of May. 1809, when he was recalled to Canada. He passed three months
in New England in that emplovment, reporting continually to Craig by letter,
stating that according to his judgment the federalists, rather than submit to the
continuance of the difficulties and duties to which they were subjected, would
exert their influence to bring about a separation from the general Union, and in
the event of war would establish a northern confederacy, in which Massachusetts
would take the lead, and ally itself with Great Britain. War was not probable.
Unfortunately names which might have added weight to the expression of his
views were left out.
Although this correspondence came to an end on the 22d day of May, 1809,
116 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and Craig did not resign as governor-general of Canada until June, 1811, no
evidence can be found that he filed any claim for services, but according to a
letter of Ryland from London to Craig, Captain Henry had applied for the
vacant office of sheriff of Montreal, but no reference to it was made by Craig
in his letter of June 4th, written a week before he left Quebec. Captain Heni-y
was in London in 1810 and 181 1, and it is said applied to Lord Liverpool for a
position, without result, and after waiting in vain until November, 181 1, he
offered the entire correspondence to the President of the United States, James
Madison, for a sum variously estimated at $10,000 and upwards, which was paid.
President Madison sent the papers in a special message to Congress in March,
1812, and they were referred to the committee on foreign aff'airs, and became
the subject of a brief debate in Congress. Henry Clay of Kentucky declared in
a speech before that body that there was "no doubt that the Indian tribes on the
Wabash had been incited by the British, and what could be thought of an
emissary having been sent to stir up civil war?" Publicity was thus given to an
alleged attack upon the credit of the federal party which was accused of a design
to destroy the Union, of which these papers were supposed to contain the proof,
and the sensation produced was made use of to intensify the feeling of enmity
towards Great Britain, until the true contents were made known, then the inci-
dent was soon closed, as according to the terms of agreement Captain Henry
was not to appear before the committee and had sailed in the same month for
a permanent residence in France.
On the British side the subject was brought up in the House of Lords, and
Lord Liverpool's defense of Sir James Craig was the sum and substance of
parliamentary proceedings.
In this atmosphere, thick with internal conflict clouding the dawn of the
republic, wherein immoderate expressions of sectional, individual, state and
national rights were tempered by the noble ardor of patriotism, and a ray or
two of the liberty that has since "enlightened the world," Henry sold his
papers, and Madison made the most of them.
The battle of Tippecanoe, which Canadian historians deny was fermented
by British influence on the Northwestern Indians, was claimed in the debates
of Congress to be the commencement of the War of 1812.
CHAPTER IX
THE WAR OF l8l2 THE STATE OF THE NAVY — BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE BUILDING
THE FLEET THE VESSELS ENGAGED THE ACTION THE SURRENDER THE OPER-
ATIONS OF THE ARMY AFTER THE WAR THE TREATY OF GHENT.
THE WAR OF l8l2
The Twelfth Congress of the United States, which met the year 1811, in
November, declared war against Great Britain on the 18th of the following June.
A proclamation was issued against a solemn protest by the federalist party,
appeals being made to the patriotism of the people. Among the members who
were determined upon war were Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun
of South Carolina.
The committee on foreign relations at once proposed an arraignment of
Great Britain for persevering in the enforcement of the "orders in council,"
refusing to neutralize the right of trading from one hostile port to another such
port until France should abandon her restrictions on the introduction of British
goods. France had suspended her decrees, but the grievance of impressment
was constantly renewed by Great Britain. The committee recommended the
enrollment of the militia, an increase in the number of regiments, and a call for
volunteers, and reported resolutions for repairing the navy and for authorizing
the arming of merchantmen in self-defense. New frigates were voted, and a loan
of Si 1.000,000. Over one thousand men went out from one small fishing port,
that of Marblehead, Mass., to help man the frigates in defense of the seas. Re-
solves were passed in several of the legislatures, pledging the states to stand by
the national Government.
THE STATE OF THE N.WY
In the course of the year 1791, was completed the first census, or enumeration
of the inhabitants of the United States. They amounted to 3,921,326, of which
number 695,655 were slaves.
The revenue, according to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury,
amounted to $4,771,000, the exports to about nineteen, and the imports to about
twenty millions.
A movement for building a navy having been inaugurated by Congress in 1794,
against great opposition, by the passage of an act for building "four forty-fours
and two thirty-six's;" in 1798, and the following year, during the administra-
tion of President John Adams, it assumed proportions of considerable import-
ance and consisted of "six forty-fours, three thirty-six's, seven thirty-two's, and
117
118 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
four fifteen to twenty smaller vessels of war." Its rapid construction compelled
the admiration of the great powers, who, unaware of our resources and natural
energy, wondered at so sudden a development of naval force. In the words of
Samuel L. Knapp, the American editor of an English history of the United States
by John Howard Hinton, published in 1846:
"It seemed a dream to all the world, that a navy could rise upon the bosom
of the ocean by the power of an infant nation, in so sudden a manner. The fabled
pines of Mount Ida, were not formed into ships for the fugitive Trojans more
rapidly than the oaks of our pasture-grounds and forest were thrown into naval
batteries for the protection of commerce and our national dignity."
Under the act of March 3, 1801, all the ships and other vessels belonging
to the navy of the United States were sold, with the exception of thirteen, and
those were most of them frigates, yet from this remnant was taken, in the sum-
mer of that year a squadron of three frigates and a schooner, to which another
was added early in the year following, to subdue the corsairs in the harbor of
Tripoli, whose reigning bashaw had declared war against the United States, and
blockaded American commerce in the Mediterranean, because of the refusal of
the United States to purchase immunity from capture and slavery by the cor-
sairs, from the sovereignties of Morocco and Algiers. The first battle settled the
supremacy of the United States over their foreign foes, "showing," it is recorded,
"our superiority in naval tactics and gunnery over anything those pirates could
produce."
Peace was made on the 3d of June, 1805, on favorable terms. "And then
ended," says the historian Knapp, "a war which surprised the nations of Europe.
They had often smiled to think the United States, a new-born nation, should be so
presumptuous as to suppose that she could put down these predatory hordes,
which had exacted tribute from all the commercial world from time immemorial,
but it was done, and the lookers-on were astonished at the events as they trans-
pired. The Pope, who had ever been deeply interested in all these pagan wars,
or rather, all these wars against pagan powers, declared that the infant nation had
done more in five years in checking the insolence of these infidels than all the
nations of Europe for ages. The thunders of the Vatican had passed harmlessly
over these pirates' heads through more than ten successors of St. Peter, until the
United States had brought these infidels to tenns by the absolute force of naval
power. The head of the church saw that the people of a free nation had felt the
degradation of paying tribute, and were determined to do so no longer than they
could concentrate their energies, and direct them to bear upon the general foe of
Christendom. The whole was indeed a wonder, that a nation that scarcely had
risen into the great family of independent powers, should be able to grapple with.
and in a measure subdue, these barbarians who had been for so long a time the
scourge of mankind. We had not taken one power alone but all, from the .Atlan-
tic to the Red Sea. The Doge (of Venice) who had been wedded to the Adriatic,
.and promised for the dower of his bride the dominion of the seas from the Delta
■of Egypt to the Straits of Gibraltar, had never in the pride of aristocratic strength
claimed the honor of humbling the 'insolent Turk' to the extent that the United
States had done in a few years. The arm of liberty, when properly directed, was
always deadly to despotism. These exertions gave our flag a rank among the
nations of Europe in these classical seas in which so great a proportion of all the
ilillard Fillmore
Franklin Pierce
James Buchanan
Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1849 TO 1869
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 119
sea-fights in the annals of man had taken place, from the early ages of fable and
romance to modern times. The corsair, who had been the terror of the world,
was now found a furious, but not unconquerable foe, and the barbarians, whose
tremendous fierceness had been the tale of wonder in every age, seemed in our
mode of warfare less dangerous than the aboriginals we had been contending
with from the cradle of our nation."
THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE
"Oh, for a son of bright-eyed glory.
That sweeping o'er the chorded shell,
Should in sublimest numbers tell
The patriot hero's deathless story."
— Ode by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Oxford, June 15, 1814.
Interminable discussions have arisen respecting every particular of this en-
gagement, but only well-established facts are included in this sketch.
When the United States Congress, in the autumn of 181 1, authorized the
building of new frigates, it became the initial movement in the action which for
the first time placed an American squadron in opposition to the British in line
of battle. Likewise, it was the first defeat Great Britain had suffered when all
her force was either captured or destroyed. British domination was supreme on
the Great Lakes, and it appeared to be the purpose of that government to assume
control of the vast territory of the west, and divide its dominion from Canada to
Mexico with the United States ; the Ohio and Mississippi rivers forming a
natural boundary. The capture of the far-reaching Territory of Michigan had
given them the advantage of the command of Lake Erie, and a strategic position
of which it was the United .States' design to relieve them. Losses had been
sustained on land, but at sea the men whose rights had been violated had gained
victories which soothed the wounded pride of the republic, whose navy Great
Britain arrogantly boasted would soon be "swept from the ocean," for the War
of 1812 was fought wherever the frontiers of the two countries met. It was
carried down to the Gulf of Mexico, so as to cut off the United States from the
west, on the sea coast all along the Atlantic shore from Maine to Mexico, and
on the coast of the gulf, ending at New Orleans. To lay waste the whole
American coast, on which they were then waging predatory warfare, from Maine
to Georgia, was the avowed intention of the British.
July, 1813, the navy consisted of the war vessels contained in the following
list:
Names Guns Names Guns
Constitution 44 Isaac Hull lo
United States 44 Conquest 8
President 44 Hamilton 8
Macedonian 38 Raven 8
Constellation 36 Scourge 6
Congress 36 Governor Tompkins 6
New York 36 Scorpion 6
Essex 32 Growler 5
Adams 32 Fair American 4
120 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Names Guns Names Guns
Boston 32 Viper 12
General Pike 32 Lady of the Lake 3
Madison 28 Pert 3
John Adams 20 Juha 2
Louisiana 20 Elizabeth 2
Alert 18 Ontario i
Argus 18 Adeline —
Hornet 18 Asp _
Oneida 18 Analostan —
Trouna Despatch —
Revenge* 16 Ferret —
Syren 14 Neptune —
Nonsuch 14 Perseverance —
Enterprise 14 Aetna bomb
Carolina 14 Mary bomb
Comet* 14 Spitfire bomb
Duke of Gloucester 12 Vengeance bomb
President 12 Vesuvius bomb
Petapsco* 12
In addition there were a number of revenue cutters and about one hundred
and seventy-eight gunboats. The vessels in italics had been captured from the
British since the war began, and those with the asterisk were hired by the United
States. Of this list the Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), launched at Boston,
October 21, 1797, is now out of commission and preserved for exhibition as a
relic in the Boston Navy Yard, and the Constellation, launched at Baltimore,
Md., September 7. 1797, having been used for years as a training ship at Narra-
gansett Bay naval station, in the State of Rhode Island, was in June, 19 13,
ordered to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, another of the countr>''s proud possessions,
to be equipped for service as an object lesson of illustrious record.
nUir.DING THE FLEET
Lieut. Oliver Hazard Perry, then twenty-seven years of age, and living in
Washington Square. Newport, R. I., was promoted to the rank of master-
commandant, and sent by the navy department in the spring of 1813 to Lake
Erie to command the fleet which had been ordered built there. He arrived at
the Port of Erie, then known as Presque Isle, on March 27th. This was a
trading post established by the French in 1749, as one of the chain of forts which
was to unite the Canadas with Louisiana. It was a small village of a few
log-houses besides the post, and a tavern, and contained about four hundred and
fifty inhabitants.
Perry found at Erie, Capt. David Dobbins, a sailing master in charge of
naval affairs on Lake Erie, also a shipwright from New York of the name of
Noah Brown, who was building the fleet. Captain Dobbins had suffered the
loss of a privately-owned vessel captured by the British. Fie superintended the
building of si.x vessels for Perry. When the master-commandant arrived t^vo
brigs, the Niagara and the Lawrence, were in process of construction at the
mouth of Cascade Creek. Their frames were of oak, the decks of pine, the
outside planking of oak. They were no feet in length, and had a breadth of
beam of 29 feet. In the building of these crafts permanency was not consid-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 121
ered, for they were built of green timber cut in the forest there for the purpose
of gaining that one battle, and if they lost it the vessels would be good enough to
surrender.
On the 9th of August, 1813, Lieut. Jesse D. Elliott arrived at Erie with 100
men and was assigned to the Niagara, and on the 12th the squadron ran the
blockade by the British of the Port of Erie, with the object of joining forces
with Gen. William Henry Harrison. On the 19th General Harrison and staiT,
with a number of Indian chiefs, arrived for the purpose of arranging a plan of
action between the land and water forces, and it was decided to move upon the
enemy as soon as the army was ready.
THE VESSELS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT
J. Fenimore Cooper, the novelist, who had exceptional and superior sources
of information, and a personal acquaintance with the principal officers engaged
in the battle, in his book, entitled "The Battle of Lake Erie," published in 1843,
gives the English official account of the metal of both parties as follows :
ENGLISH SQUADRON
Ship Detroit — 19 guns, 2 long 24's ; i long 18 on pivot; 6 long 12's; 8 long
9's ; I 24-pound carronade ; I 18-pound carronade.
Ship Queen Charlotte — 17 guns, i long 12, on pivot: 2 long 9's; 14 24-pound
carronades.
Schooner Lady Prevost — 13 guns, i long 9. on pivot; 2 long 6's ; 10 12-pound
carronades.
Brig Hunter — 10 guns, 4 long 6's; 2 long 4's ; 2 long 2's; 2 12-pound car-
ronades.
Sloop Little Belt — 3 guns, i long 12, on pivot; 2 long 6's.
Schooner Chippeway, i gun, i long 9.
Guns 63, metal; total, S51. Average as to guns. i3'2 pounds each gun.
AMERICAN SQU.XDRON
Brig Lawrence — 20 guns, 2 long 12's; 18 32-pound carronades.
Brig Niagara — 20 guns, 2 long 12's; 18 32-pound carronades.
Brig Caledonia — 3 guns, 2 long 24's ; i 32-pound carronade.
Schooner Ariel — 4 guns, 4 long 12's on pivots.
Schooner Somers — 2 guns, i long 24 ; i 32-pound carronade.
Schooner Porcupine — i gun, i long 32. pivot.
Schooner Tigress — i gun. i long 32. pivot.
Schooner Scorpion — 2 guns, i long 32, i 24-pound carronade on pivots.
Sloop Trippe — i gun, i long 24, pivot.
Guns 54, metal; total, 1,480. Average as to guns, 27^4 pounds each gLin ; or
about double that of the British.
"Such," writes Cooper, "is Captain (Robert H.) Barclay's account of the
force. That he has not diminished his own is probable, as he has certainly not
exaggerated the American. The Trippe had a long 32, instead of the 24 he has
122 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
given her, while the Scorpion is beheved to have had a long 24 and a 32-pound
carronade. The remainder of the American metal is thought to be correctly
given. * * - An officer of great experience, one friendly to Perry, who
had seen much service in battle, visited the squadron on Lake Erie and Lake
Chaniplain, before they were separated, and he told me that he thought the
Lawrence and Niagara, could they have got within effective distance immediately,
sufficient to have defeated all of Barclay's force united, especially with a stiff
breeze."
OFFICERS OF THE OPPOSING FLEETS
The commodore of the British fleet was Sir James Lucas Yeo, and of the
American fleet Isaac Chauncey, but there were no officers of that rank at the
battle of Lake Erie. There were two commodores on the side of the British,
Capt. R. H. Barclay and Capt. R. Finnis, opposed to two commanders on the
American side, Lieut. O. H. Perry and Lieut. J- D. Elliott.
Alaster-Commandant Oliver H. Perry was in command of the American
squadron. The other officers were :
Brig Lawrence (flagship) — Lietit. John J. Yamall.
Brig Niagara — Master-Commandant Jesse D. Elliott.
Brig Caledonia — Lieut. Daniel Turner.
Schooner Ariel — Lieut. John H. Packett.
Schooner Tigress — Lieut. Augitstus PI. N. Conckling.
Sloop Trippe — Lieut. Thomas Holdup.
Schooner Porcupine — ^Midshipman George Senate.
Schooner Scorpion — Sailing-^NIaster Stephen Champlin, who fired the first
American shot.
Schooner Somers — Sailing-Master Thomas C. Almy.
The Ohio, Capt. Daniel Dobbins, was not in the battle, having been sent to
Erie for provisions and supplies, and was at Erie during the action.
Capt. Robert Heriot Barclay, thirty-six years of age, commanding the British
squadron, had fought with Nelson at Trafalgar, had lost one arm fighting the
French, and was destined to lose the other in this battle.
THE .VCTION
(From the American Point of View)
The date of the battle is September 10, 1813. Perry, in his report, calls it a
three hours' engagement. It was a cloudless autumn day with a light breeze
blowing and a smooth sea. The ships of the British squadron had been freshly
painted in the harbor of Maiden, and presented a gallant appearance as they
swung into action, flying the red cross of St. George at the masthead.
At 11:45 A. M. the squadrons were a mile apart. The Detroit fired a
24-pounder. the shot passing beyond the Lawrence. At 12:15 Perry made sail
with the Lawrence, the Ariel and the Scorpion, to get at close quarters and to
engage the Detroit, the Hunter, the Queen Charlotte and the Lady Prevost.
There were but seven guns of long range on the American vessels to thirty-one
on the British vessels. Perry's guns were of heavy calibre, Barclay's were of
longer range. The roar of the gtms was heard at Erie.
Ulysses S. Grant
Rutherfonl B. Hayes
James A. Garfield
Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland
PRESIDKNTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1869 TO 18S9
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 123
The total number of men and boys engaged on the American side, according
to the roll that drew prize money, was 532 ; of these 432 were on deck, one-fourth
being regular naval seamen. The official report of the British shows that they
had 450 men on deck, 150 of whom were picked men from the British navy, and
240 soldiers from the Forty-first Regiment of the Line and the Newfoundland
Rangers.
At 2 130 the Lawrence, the Ariel and the Scorpion had been in action two hours
and forty-five minutes.
A broadside from the enemy carried away the bowsprit and masts of the
Lawrence, riddled her hull and silenced her gims. Perry transferred his colors
to the Niagara, crossing the half-mile of intervening space in a small boat under
a heavy fire, continued his firing from her decks, and signalling his fleet for close
action, opened a cross fire upon the British flagship, which example was followed
by the rest of the American squadron.
At 2 45 the British squadron's line was broken. According to John Chapman,
a gunner on the Queen Charlotte, by the carrying away of one of her sails she
was at the mercy of the wind, and ran foul of the Detroit, becoming entangled
with her. It is certain that the Niagara ran across the bow and stern of the
two British ships, raking them fore and aft with her starboard broadside, and
■continuing her course, poured raking fires into the Lady Prevost and the Hunter
with her port battery, and the remaining vessels of the American squadron
followed his lead upon their British opponents for eight minutes.
At 3 P. M., or fifteen minutes from the time the wind was fair for the attack,
an officer appeared on the talTrail of the Hunter, waving a white handkerchief
as a signal of surrender. The Chippeway and the Little Belt crowded on every
inch of canvas in the endeavor to escape, but were overhauled by the Trippe and
the Scorpion.
(From the British Point of View)
The sources of information for the observations which follow are the letters
of Lieut. Gen. Sir George Prevost, headquarters at Montreal, from whence
dispatches containing reports were transmitted to Downing Street, London
Captain Barclay thus describes the opening of the battle from the time h
perceived the American fleet in motion in Put-in Bay :
"The wind, then at southwest and light, giving us the weather-gage, I bore up
for them, in hopes of bringing them into action among the islands, but that
intention was soon frustrated by the wind suddenly shifting to the southeast,
which brought the enemy directly to windward. The line was formed according
to a given plan, so that each ship might be supported against the superior force
of the two brigs opposed to them. About 10 the enemy had cleared the islands,
and immediately bore up, under easy sail, in a line abreast, each brig being also
supported by the small vessels. At 11:45 I commenced the action by firing a
few long guns; about 12:15 the American commodore (reference to Perry "),
also supported by two schooners, one carrying four long 12-pounders, the other
a long 32 and 24 pounder, came. to close action with the Detroit; the other brig
of the enemy, apparently destined to engage the Queen Charlotte, supported in
like manner by two schooners, kept so far to windward as to render the Queen
e
124 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Charlotte's 24-pound carronades useless, while she was, with the Lady Prevost,
exposed to the heavy and destructive fire of the Caledonia and four other schoon-
ers armed vvith long and heavy guns like those I have already described. * * *
The action continued with great fury until 2 :3o, when 1 perceived my opponent
drop astern, and a boat passing from him to the Niagara, which vessel was at
this time perfectly fresh. The American commander bore up, and supported by
his small vessels, passed within pistol-shot, and took a raking position on our
bow; nor could I prevent it, as the unfortunate situation of the Queen Charlotte
jjrevented us from wearing ; in attempting it we fell on board her. My gallant
First Lieutenant Garland (J. Garland) was now mortally wounded, and myself
so severely that I was obliged to quit the deck. * * * Never in any action
was the loss (of ofificers) more severe; every officer commantling vessels, and
their seconds, were either killed or wounded so severely as to leave the deck.
The weather-gage gave the enemy a prodigious advantage, and enabled him to
choose both his position and distance ; so that his long guns did great execution,
while the carronades of the Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost were prevented
having much effect."
In a letter of the officer who took command of the Detroit on Captain Bar-
clay's being wounded, he describes the deplorable situation of that ship, which
"was unmanageable, every brace cut away, the mizzen topmast and gaff down,
all the other masts badly wounded, not a stay left forward, hull shattered very
much, a number of guns disabled, and the enemy's squadron raking both ships
ahead and astern, and the squadron not in a situation to support ; in consequence
of which the Detroit struck; the Queen Charlotte having previously done so."
THE SURRENDER
The defeated officers were received by Perry on the deck of the Lawrence,
to which his colors had been returned when the fleet ceased firing. It was at the
close of this battle, in the first flush of victory, that Perry sent by Midshipman
Dulany Forrest of the Lawrence the penciled dispatch to General Harrison:
"We have met the enemy, and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner
and one sloop." and to the secretary of the navy, William Jones of Pennsylvania,
the following:
"It has pleased the .Mmighty to give to the arms of the L'nited States a signal
victory over their enemies on the lake. The British squadron, consisting of two
ships, two brigs, a schooner and a sloop, have this moment surrendered to the
forces under my command, after sharp conflict."
At 9 o'clock the United States fleet rendezvoused at Put-in Bay, north and
west of what is now the City of Sandusky, Ohio, on the west border of Lake
Erie, which was one of the best harbors on the lake. The captured sh^ps were
valued at $225,000, and the victory established the supremacy of the United
States on the lake, and by co-operation with General Harrison the release of
Michigan from British occupation.
" 'Twas a victory — yes ; but it cost us dear ;
For that company's roll, when called at night,
Of a hundred men who went into the fight,
Numbered but twenty that answered 'Here !' "
— Nathaniel Graham Shcpard, "Roll Call."
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 125
The loss to the United States in the battle of Lake Erie was twenty-seven
dead, ninety-six wounded ; of which numljer twenty-one were killed and sixty-
two wounded on board the Lawrence, whose whole complement of able-bodied
men before the action was about one hundred.
The total loss to the British was three officers, thirty-eight men killed, nine
officers, eighty-five men wounded. Among the killed was Capt. Iv. Finnis of the
Queen Charlotte, who fell soon after the commencement of the action, "and with
him." reports Captain Barclay — with both arms gone he could not have written —
■'fell my greatest support."
The Lawrence carried the wounded of both fleets to Erie. The dead on
board the vessels of both squadrons, with the exception of five officers, were
buried at sea. Each form was sewed in a canvas shroud, with a cannonball for
weight, and at the rising of the moon on a clear September evening, they were
lowered over the side, describing circles as they sank slowly out of sight in the
clear water.
The British, with Tecumseh as ally, were at Maiden with 5,000 men, ready
to cross the frontier, and September 23d Perry conveyed 1,200 troops up the
lake and took possession of Maiden. When the army in co-operation with the
fleet reached that point, they found the fort had been evacuated by the British,
and Tecumseh's Indians, who had retreated along the Thames River — which
flows between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, emptying into Lake St. Clair — and
Harrison followed in pursuit.
On the 27th Perry reoccupied Detroit in conjunction with the army, and on
the 2d of October Master-Commandant Elliott ascended the Thames River with
the Scorpion, the Porcupine and the Tigress. On the 5th the battle of the
Thames River was fought, with Harrison, who had been promoted to major
general, in command. The allied British and Indians were defeated, and Tecum-
seh was killed. The battlefield was near the site of the present City of Chatham,
Ont. The British loss was nineteen regulars killed and fifty wounded, and
about six hundred prisoners. The American loss in killed and wounded
amounted to upwards of fifty. General Harrison died in the Executive Mansion
at Washington, April 4, 1841, after an illness of eight days, at the close of a
month's administration as President of the United States.
AFTER THE WAR
American territory having been recovered. Perry's fleet rendezvoused at Erie,
and the Lawrence, the Niagara, the Ariel, the Caledonia and Scorpion were at
the conclusion of the war dismantled and laid up in Erie and all subsequently
condemned and sold. The colors of the British Detroit, Lady Prevost, Hunter,
Little Belt and Chippeway were sent to the Xaval Institute Building at Annapolis.
Master-Commandant Perry was jiromoted captain, his commission bearing
date of the victory, and reaching him on the 2qth of November, 1813. He con-
tinued in active service until his death of fever in 1819, at the age of thirty-four.
COLUMniA THE GEM OF THE OCE.\N
The United States, in the ^^'ar of 1812, had only twenty ships equipped for
warfare on the open sea, and of these three were antiquated, while England had
126 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
between six and seven hundred armed vessels, many of them hne-of-battle ships^
of which the American navy was entirely destitute. It was Britain's proud
boast that she not only "swept the surface of the vast Atlantic," but was "mistressr
of the seas ;" yet when the opportunity came to prove it in this war her great
ships had not men enough to work them or their guns. Out of fifteen sea com-
bats with very nearly equal forces the United States was victorious in twelve,,
and more than five hundred prizes were made by the Americans during the first
seven months of the war. In the War of 1812, as in the recent war with Spain,
American gunnery showed its superiority. Sir Howard Douglas, in his "Treatise
on Gunnery," thus gives his reasons for British failure: "The danger of resting
satisfied with superiority over a system so defective as that of our former oppo-
nents has been made sufficiently evident. We became too confident liy being
feeblv opposed; then slack in warlike exercise, by not being opposed at all; and
lastly, in many cases inexpert for want of drill practice, and herein consisted
the great disadvantage under which, without suspecting it, we entered in 1812
with too great confidence into a war with a marine much more expert than that
of any of our European enemies."
It was not for any special regard for the United States that Napoleon parted
with Louisiana, but after it had passed out of his hands, this was what he realized
that he had done: "I have given," he said, "to England a maritime rival that
will sooner or later humble her pride."
At least the outcome of the war was sufficiently convincing, for as President
Woodrow Wilson says in his work, entitled "History of the American People" :
"The war, itself, was no doubt sufficient guarantee that another for a like purpose
would never be necessary."
It was Britannia's ambition to "rule the waves," but Columbia became the
"gem of the ocean."
THE TREATY OF PEACE
Early in the year 1814 the British government had indicated to the United
States its willingness to end the war, which was costing the empire, it was esti-
mated, ten million pounds sterling a year, with no perceptible gain. The "orders
in council" had been repealed five days after war was declared. In the three
years' conflict, by the assertion of our rights on the high seas, our sailors had
been freed from impressment, which had lasted more than twenty years, and the
situation resolved itself into the defining of boundaries and the terms of peace
greatly to be desired on both sides.
Among the most salutary results of the war were the recognition by the world
of the rights of the United States on the ocean and en the American continent,
and owing to the necessity of doing without foreign importation, the introduction
into this country of the power loom in order to supply the increasing demand for
the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods.
The treaty of peace was signed on Christmas eve, 1814, and two weeks after
this important event, of which the country was as yet unaware, had taken place
in Belgium, the War of 1812 was closed by a battle in the South. There the
British sent Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham, brother-in-law of the Duke of Welling-
ton, with 12,000 men, veterans for the most part from the battlefield of Spain,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 127
to take New Orleans, and on the 8th of January, 1815, the American Gen. Andrew
Jackson received him at an entrenched line, which had been thrown up across
a strip of land below the city, and repelled him, sending him back with a loss of
2,500 men. General Pakenham was killed. The American loss was eight killed
and thirteen wounded.
"Now fling them out to the breeze, —
Shamrock, thistle and rose, —
And the star-spangled banner unfurl with these,
A message to friends and foes,
Wherever the sails of peace are seen and
Wherever the war wind blows."
— Alfred Austin, "To America."
THE ERIE SQU.XDROn's SLOW DECLINE
The brig Niagara was never sunk, but simply settled in the mud. July 20,
1820, Commander D. Deacon reported to the navy department from the Erie
station: "Heretofore the seamen and marines have been quartered on the brig
Niagara, but she has become so rotten and leaky in her upper works and decks
that I have been obliged to prepare a large workshop in the navy yard for their
accommodation. * * * j hj^ve hauled the brig into the basin and moored her
to the shore. She is so rotten that it will be impossible to caulk her for sinking."
November 23, 1823, Master-Commandant George Budd reported: "The
Niagara lies in the little bay, beached ; she lies in about four feet water. She is
rotten and in a complete state of decay, totally unfit to be repaired. I would
suggest the propriety of tearing her to pieces."
This was not done, for in the reports of the secretary of the navy for 1824
and 1825 both the Niagara and Lawrence are mentioned as much decayed and
sunk in the mud, and it is recommended that they be broken up or sold. They
were sold August 6, 1835, at Erie.
The Lawrence and Niagara both settled in Miser_v Bay, an arm of Presque
Isle Bay, Erie harbor, the uppermost part of the Lawrence only two or three feet
lielow the surface of the water. It was so near the surface that pieces were
sawed off and made into souvenirs. The Niagara was six or seven feet below
the surface.
Thirty-five years after the last date given in the Government reports for the
sale of the Niagara and Lawrence, Leander Dobbins, son of Captain Dobbins,
is known to have had an ownership in the, Lawrence, which seems to have claimed
more public interest at that lime as Perry's headquarters during the battle; Perry,
according to the detailed reports of both combatants, not having been more than
a half hour on the Niagara, and yet it is to her guns and the change of the wind
in her sails to southeast that we owe the turn of the tide from defeat to victory.
In 1876 the Lawrence was raised by Leander Dobbins and Thomas J. Viers
of Erie, and taken to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, where it was
housed, put on exhibition and entirely destroyed by fire.
In the winter of 1912-13, amid snow and ice, the Niagara was lifted from
Misery Bay. rebuilt and rerigged for exhibition at the celebration of the centen-
nial of the battle of Lake Erie. It was launched June 7, 1913, and towed across
the bay about iJ/S miles, where it was moored at the foot of Sassafras Street in
128 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the City of Erie. An eye-witness says : "The ribs seemed to be in a good state
of preserv'ation, and were used in the rebuilt vessel. Some of the inside plankmg
of the original Niagara was also used. Under the deck floor all around the vessel
the original planks were used, three in width, each about twelve niches wide."
On the Fourth of July, 1913, the celebration of the centennial of Perry's vic-
tory, the commemoration of 100 years of peace between the two English-speaking
nations, and the campaign of Ceu. \\'illiam Henry Harrison, was opened in
Put-in Bay by the firing of a salute at dawn. The graves of the officers, both
British and American, who are buried on the island were decorated with flowers,
and the cornerstone of a monument to be erected there was laid by the Grand
Lodge of Ohio Masons. Addresses were made by Col. Henry Watterson of the
Louisville (Ky. ) Courier-Journal and by ex-Senator John J\L Whitehead of
Wisconsin. Referring to the dying words of another naval hero, for whom the
Lawrence was named, which Perry nailed to his masthead. Colonel Watterson,
at the close of his peroration, proposed the following sentiment : "On land and
sea, in glory and in peril, whenever the republic rides the waves too proudly, or
is threatened by foes within or without, let us take them as a message from
heaven and pass them on to our neighbors and teach them to our children, 'Don't
give up the ship.' "
TRE.\TY OF PE.\CE AND .\MITY — ^TRE.ATV OF GHENT
"Concluded at Ghent, December 24, 1814; ratification advised by the Senate,
February 16, 1815; ratified by the President, February 17, 1815; ratifications
exchanged, February 17, 1815; proclaimed February 18, 1815."
This treaty was composed of a preamble and eleven articles. Five of these
articles, relating to boundaries, were left to the decision of commissioners, who
disagreed, and they were finally determined by the convention of August 9, 1842,
which concluded the Webster-Ashburton Treaty — Daniel Webster, Secretary of
State, for the United States, and Alexander, Lord Ashburton, Her Majesty's
Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States.
The remaining articles were on the declaration of peace, the cessation of hos-
tilities, the release of prisoners, cessation of hostilities with Indians, abolition
of the slave trade, and ratification.
The preamble sets forth that :
"His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, desirous of ter-
minating the war. which has unhappily subsisted between the two countries, and
of restoring, upon principles of perfect reciprocity, peace, friendship and good
understanding between them, have for that purpose, appointed these respective
plenipotentiaries, that is to say :
"His Britannic Majesty, on his part, has appointed the Rt. Hon. James Lord
Gambler, late admiral of the White, now admiral of the Red Squadron of His
Majesty's fleet: Henry Goulburn, Esq., a member of the Imperial Parliament,
and under secretary of state, and William Adams. Esq., doctor of civil laws;
and the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate thereof, has appointed John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry
Clav, Jonathan Russell and Albert Gallatin, citizens of the United States, who,
Benjamin Hanisun
William McKinley
Thcoikire Roosevelt
William H. Taft
Woodiow Wilson
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1889 TO THE PRESENT, 1016, WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF CLE^■ELAND FROM 1893 TO 139T
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 129
after a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers, have agreed
upon the following articles :
ARTICLE I
"There shall be a firm and universal peace between His Britannic Majesty
and the United States, and between their respective countries, territories, cities,
towns and people, of every degree, without exception of places or persons. All
hostilities, both by sea and land, shall cease as soon as this treaty shall have been
ratified by both parties, as hereinafter mentioned. All territory, places and pos-
sessions whatsoever, taken by either party from the other during the war, or
which may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only the islands
hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without delay, and without causing
any destruction or carrying away any of the artillery or other property originally
captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain therein upon the
exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, or any slaves or other private property.
And all archives, records, deeds and papers, either of a public nature or belonging
to private persons, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands
of the officers of either party, shall be, as far as may be practicable forthwith
restored and delivered to the proper authorities and persons to whom they
respectively belong. Such of the islands in the Bay of P'assamaquoddy as are
claimed by both parties shall remain in the possession of the party in whose occu-
pation they may be at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty,
until the decision respecting the title to the said islands shall have been made in
conformity with the fourth article of this treaty. No disposition made by this
treaty as to such possession of the islands and territories claimed by both parties
shall in any manner whatever be construed to affect the right of either.
ARTICLE II
"Immediately after the ratification of this treaty by both parties, as hereinafter
mentioned, orders shall be sent to the armies, squadrons, officers, subjects and
citizens of the two powers to cease from all hostilities. And to prevent all causes
of complaint which might arise on account of the prizes which may be taken at
sea after the said ratifications of this treaty, it is reciprocally agreed that all
vessels and effects which may be taken after the space of twelve days from the
said ratifications, upon all parts of the coast of North America from the latitude
of twenty-three degrees north to the latitude of fifty degrees north, and as far
eastward in the Atlantic Ocean as the thirty-sixth degree of west longitude from
the meridian of Greenwich, shall be restored on each side ; that the time shall be
thirty days in all other parts of the Atlantic Ocean north of the equinoctial line
or equator, and the same time for the British and Irish channels, for the Gulf
of Mexico and all parts of the West Indies ; forty days for the North seas, for
the Baltic and for all parts of the Mediterranean; sixty days for the Atlantic
Ocean south of the equator, as far as the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope;
ninetv days for every other part of the world south of the equator, and 120 days
for nil other parts of the world without exception.
Vol. 1—9
130 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
ARTICLE III
"All prisoners of war taken on either side, as well by land as by sea, shall be
restored as soon as practicable after the ratifications of this Treaty, as hereinafter
mentioned, on their paying the debts which they have contracted during their
captivity. The two contracting parties respectively engage to discharge in specie
the advances which may have been made by the other for the sustenance and
maintenance of such prisoners.
.\RTICLE IX
"The United States of America engage to put an end, immediately after the
ratifications of the present treaty, to hostilities with all the tribes or nations of
Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such ratifications, and forth-
with to restore to such tribes or nations, respectively, all the possessions, rights
and privileges which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in 1811, previous
to such hostilities; provided always ihat such tribes or nations shall agree to
desist from all hostilities against the United States of America, their citizens
and subjects, upon the ratification of the present treaty being notified to such
tribes or nations, and shall so desist accordingly. And His Britannic Majesty
engages on his part to put an end, immediately after the ratifications of the
present treaty, to hostilities with all the tribes or nations of Indians with whom
he may be at war at the time of such ratifications, and forthwith to restore to
such tril)es or nations, respectively, all the possessions, rights and privileges
which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in 181 1, previous to such hostili-
ties. Provided always that such tribes or nations shall agree to desist from all
hostilities against His Britannic Majesty, and his subjects, upon the ratifications
of the present treaty being notified to such tribes or nations, and shall so desist
accordingh'.'"
Relative to the African slave trade Article X has the following:
''Whereas, the traffic in slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of human-
ity and justice, and whereas, both His Majesty and the United States are desirous
of continuing their eftorts to promote its entire abolition, it is hereby agreed that
both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavors to accomplish so
desirable an object.""
The question assumed a more practical form in Article VIII of the Webster-
Ashburton Treaty, which reads as follows :
"The parties mutually stipulate that each shall prepare, equip and maintain
in service on the coast of Africa a sufficient and adequate squadron or naval force
of vessels of suitable numbers and descriptions, to carry in all not less than eighty
guns, to enforce, separately and respectively, the laws, rights and obligations of
each of the two countries for the suppression of the slave trade, the said squad-
rons to be independent of each other, but the two governments stipulating, never-
theless, to give such orders to the ofiicers commanding their respective forces as
shall enable them most effectively to act in concert and co-operation upon mutual
consultation, as exigencies may arise, for the attainment of the true object of
this article, copies of all such orders to be communicated by each Government to
the other respectively."
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 131
Articles relating to the stippression of this traffic have been incorporated in
the treaties with Great Britain of 1862, 1863, 1870 and 18'jO, the last named
calling a convention at Brussels of all the great powers, "In the name of God
Almighty."
The Treaty of Ghent closes with the following article:
ARTICLE XT
"This treaty, when the same shall have been ratified on both sides, without
alteration by either of the contracting parties, and the ratifications mutually
exchanged, shall be binding on both jjarties, and the ratifications shall be
exchanged at Washington, in the space of four months from this day, or sooner
if practicable. In faith whereof we, the respective plenipotentiaries, have signed
this treaty, and have thereunto affixed our seals. Done, in triplicate, at Ghent,
the 24th day of December. 1814.''
.Signed : Gambier, Henry Goulburn, William .\dams, John Ouincy Adams.
J. A. Bayard, H. Clay, Jonathan Russell, Albert Gallatin.
SLAVERY
In concluding, some general facts in relation to slavery may be of interest.
The first attempt to establish a trading post in the Dakotas ( 1726) was for tlie
purpose of securing slaves by the purchase of captives from warring tribes or by
kidnapping for supplying the market in the West Indies, following the precedents
established in Africa.
Pierre Bonga, one of Henry's Brigade, which instituted the first permanent
settlement in Dakota Territory-, was a slave brought from the West Indies. York,
Captain Clark's slave, was the most attractive feature in the Lewis & Clark
Expedition. Both left descendents in Xorth Dakota. Other slaves were brought
into the Dakotas by army officers. John Tanner, the white captive, was a slave
among the Indians and sold as such from time to time, and there was some traffic
in _ captives sold as slaves by the Indians. The system of contracts with the
voyageurs resulted in virtual sla\-ery in many cases through the system of fines
and advances made by the fur companies.
The creation of the Territory of Dakota was made possible in 1861 by the
withdrawal of the representatives from the slave-holding states from Congress.
Prior to A. D. 1441 slavery, which had existed in some form from the
beginning of human history, had generally been confined to captives in war.
Tribes and even nations were subjugated or carried away captive. Such was
the case with the Israelites, who, in their distress, '"hung their harps on the
willows and sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept." The time they were
carried away into Egypt was recognized as an epoch from which time was
reckoned. Captives were generally put on public works. The temple at Jeru-
salem was builded bv captives and their children. Captivity was recognized by
the prophets as the just reward of iniquity: unfortunates were sometimes sold
into captivity for crime or debt, but not on account of color.
In A. D. 1441 two captains of vessels sailing under the flag of Portugal seized
a number of Moors who were taken to Portugal, but were allowed to ransom
132 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
themselves, and in doing so included in the price paid ten black slaves. In 1445
four negroes were made captive and taken to Portugal, and in 1448 a factory or
trading post was established on the small island Arguin, from which several
hundred black people, taken captive in tribal wars or kidnapped, were obtained
by their agents and sent to Portugal each year, while slaves secured by other
traders were taken to Tunis and Sicilv.
In 1492 the trade of the Portugal company had fallen to 300, but the dis-
covery of America added a new impetus to the trade in human beings, in which
Columbus took an active part, the Spanish having engaged in the trade, sending
large numbers of Indians to Spain and to the West Indies. Preference, however,
was given to the negro slaves, regarded more valuable than the Indians in a
ratio of four to one.
In 1500 Gasper Cortereal, in the service of the King of Portugal, seized fifty
natives on the coast of Labrador, carried them to Portugal and sold them as
slaves. Returning the next year for more captives he is supposed to have been
lost at sea.
In 1520 Lucas \''asquez de Ayllon, a Spanish explorer, enticed a large num-
ber of Indians from the coast of South Carolina on board his ships and sailed
Tiway with them as captives. Two of his vessels were lost at sea and most of
the remaining captives died. He returned five years later when he met with
fierce opposition by the natives. His best ship ran aground and most of the
crew were killed by the Indians.
Giovanni da Verrazzano, who visited the coast in 1524, kidnapped an Indian
boy and carried him away to France He tried to capture an eighteen-year-old
girl, but she made such an outcry they feared to accomplish this purpose, being
some distance from their vessel.
In i5<Sg De Soto, lured into the forest in a search for gold and populous
and wealthy villages, forced his captives to carry supplies on his long marches,
striking terror into the hearts of the Indians visited by his extreme cruelty. At
the battle of Mobile, where he suffered so severely, his captives were released
ty the enemy and joined in a battle which nearly ruined his expedition.
The first negro slaves were landed in England in 1553, and in 1562 that
country engaged in the slave trafific. Sir John Hawkins is credited with begin-
ning the traffic, Queen Elizabeth being a sharer in the profits. Four English
companies were chartered for the slave trade, Charles IT and James TI being
members of the fourth company, with the Duke of York and James 11 at the
liead. Later the Royal African Company received aid from Parliament, their
companies furnishing slaves to America, and in 1713 the privilege of supplying
them to the Spanish colonies was secured to the English for thirty years, during
which period 144.000 were supplied under their contract.
The French and Dutch were also ensraeed in this trafific. In 1605 George
Wevmouth made a trip to the Maine coast for the purpose of trade and captured
and carried to England five Indians whom he gave to his friends as slaves.
In t6tq a Dutch man-o'-war sold twenty negroes to the colony at James-
town, but thev were carried on the roll as servants, and probably treated the
same as the white indentured sen'ants who constituted a considerable portion
of the colony. The same year the King sent over 100 convicts from English
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 133
prisons, to be sold as servants to the colonists, and this system was pursued for
many years against the protests of the people of the colony.
In 1624-5 there were in the colony thirty-three Africans who were listed
as servants. The first servant for life in this colony, of which there is any
definite account, was John Punch, a negro. He had run away with two white
servants. They were all catight. The period of servitude of the whites was
extended four years as punishment, but John Punch was sentenced to servitude
for life. Slavery was made hereditary by law in \'irginia in 1662, when it was
provided that the issue from the mother should follow her condition of servitude.
Slavery had existed in the English settlements in the Carolinas from the
beginning of the life of these colonies, and in 1672 Sir John Yeomans, governor
of South Carolina, brought several negro slaves from the Barbadoes. Slavery
prevailed in all of the colonies, and all of them made a practice of buying and
selling captives taken in war with the Indians. Those for whom there was a
market were sent to the West Indies and the others parceled out among the
colonists for such use as they were fitted.
The Carolinas in 1702-1708 sent three expeditions against the Indians warring
against them and almost the entire population of seven large villages were made
captive and sold as slaves. It was a common practice to kidnap the children
of the Tuscaroras and sell them into slavery, and this was the cause of the
Tuscarora war of 1711-13.
So common had been the practice of sending Indians to Pennsylvania to be
sold as slaves that the provincial cotmcil of that colony in 1705 enacted that
"Whereas the importation of Indian slaves from Carolina or other places hath
been obser\'ed to give the Indians of this province some umbrage for suspicion
and dissatisfaction, stich importation be prohibited j\Iarch 25, 1706."
June 7, 1712, an act was passed bv this council forbidding the importation
of Indians for slaves, but provided for the sale of those which had been imported
for that purpose. The prisoners taken by Col. John Farnwell in his campaign
against the Indians in the Tuscarora war were advertised to be sold in the
Massachusetts and other colonies, and to take in these captives Pennsylvania
appears to have adopted this later prohibitory provision.
The invention of the cotton gin in 170,'^ caused a great increase in the demand
for slaves in that portion of the South adapted to the growth of cotton.
Previous to 1776, 300.000 negro slaves had been imported by the colonies.
At the first census, in 1790. the slaves in the United States were distributed as
follows :
New Hampshire 158
Vermont 17
Rhode Island Q.'^s
Connecticut 2.350
Massachusetts none
New York 21,324
New Jersey 1 1423
Pennsylvania .?7,?7
Maryland 103,036
Virginia 293,427
134 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
North Carolina 100,572
South CaroHna 107,094
Georgia 29,264
Kentucky 11 ,830
Tennessee 3.417
Total 697.897
The number increased in 1806 to 893,041, in 1810 to 1,191,364, and in like
proportion until i860, when the slaves in the United States numbered 3,953.760,
and the total number of blacks who had been bought or kidnapped and carried'
away from Africa had reached the enormous figure of 40,000,000, and the
trade was still being carried on.
As early as 1776 slavery had become a menace and it was resolved that year
by the Continental Congress that no more slaves should Ije imported into the
colonies, but when the Constitution was adopted action was postponed on this
question.
July 27, 1787, however, Congress passed by a unanimous vote a bill introduced
by Nathan Dane forbidding involuntary ser\itude in that jiortion of the United
States constituting the Northwest Territory.
The treaty of Ghent between the United States and Great Britain (181 5)
denounced the traffic in slaves as irreconcilable with the principles of humanity
and justice, and both powers agreed to use their best endeavors to accomplish its
destruction. In the Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) it was stipulated each
government should prepare, equip and maintain to serve on the coast of Africa
a sufficient and adequate naval force, carrying in all not less than eighty guns,
to enforce separately and respectively the laws, rights and obligations of each
of the two countries, and to act in concert and co-operation in the suppression
of the slave traffic. Other strenuous treaties followed, but under the existing
treaties and agreements with France and Spain a certain number of cruisers
were being maintained on the east and west coasts of Africa, and in the West
Indies, for the su])pression of the trade which under the laws of these countries
was then recognized as piracy. France and Spain having become parties to
this compact each country maintained its separate squadron.
In January, 1015, Capt. O. S. Willey, who was an officer on one of the
vessels of the United States patrol, read a paper before Burnside Post, Grand
Armv of the Republic, Washington, D. C, from which the following facts have
been gleaned :
"In 1858 the United States brig of war Dolphin, commanded by Lieut.
John A. Moffitt, captured off the Island of Cuba the American brig Echo of
Boston from the west coast of Africa with a large cargo of African slaves.
The prize was taken to Charleston, but in view of the hostility there to inter-
ference with the slave trade, was sent to New York, where she was sold and the
captives returned to Liberia.
"In December, 1858, the Wanderer landed a cargo of slaves on the coast of
Georgia, followed by another the next year, and a third attempt was made in
t86o. but it was reported and believed at the time that she landed her cargo near
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 135
San Antonio, Cuba. She was seized by the United States and condemned
and sold.
"Early in the spring of i860 the American bark William of New York was
captured by the Wyandotte of the United States patrol with 680 slaves on board
from the west coast of Africa for the trade in the United States. Every vessel
passing was boarded by the patrol, sometimes as many as forty or fifty vessels
a day. Among the slavers captured that spring were the American bark Wild-
fire of New York, having on board 520 slaves, captured by the Mohawk and
taken to Key West, and the French bark Bogata with 411 slaves. This capture
was by the Crusader, with which Captain Willey was then serving."
Under our laws slave-trading was piracy, but the only person convicted and
executed for this crime was Nathaniel Gordon, who, in November, 1861, was
convicted and executed in the State of New York. In other cases the officers
and crews escaped through being used as witnesses in proceedings against the
vessels which were sold, and in some instances returned to the slave trade, as
was the case with the Wanderer.
Captain Willey described the hold of the ordinary slaver, where the cajitives
were confined during the voyage of several weeks across the seas, as a room
80 or 90 feet in length, 35 or 40 feet in width, and 6 or 7 feet in height. The
floor space was largely occupied by water barrels on which planks were laid,
which formed the slave deck and on which there was room to sit ujiright Init
not to stand erect. Twenty-five or thirty open barrels were utilized to accom-
modate the calls of nature and the pangs of sea sickness. The only openings
were the hatches, eight to ten feet square, which were closed during bad weather
for several days at a time. Into such cjuarters were cast a thousand or more
naked men, women and children, the resulting fikh being indescribable and the
odors overpowering. Many did not have room even on the floor to recline at
length ; they crouched on the slave deck, pillowing their heads against each other.
Occasionally as many as could be accommodated with standing room in the
deck were driven up and the crew dashed a few buckets of water over them.
No other measure of cleanliness was undertaken. Those put over them were
sometimes fiendishly brutal, ever ready with a kick or blow, and the females
were denied the protection accorded to female brutes.
The William and the Wildfire each sailed from the West Coast with 1,000
slaves. Of these 2,000 human beings 680 were landed from the William and
520 from the Wildfire. The remainder died enroute.
The boarding crew from the Wyandotte weighted and consigned to the deep
twenty-one bodies from the William, death's harvest of the preceding night.
The Mohawk crew did likewise with fourteen bodies from the Wildfire.
The passage across was usually made in from eight to ten weeks, never less,
more frequently in excess. The horrors of the "middle passage" across the
western ocean were surely not of such a nature as to improve the physical
condition of the wretched, docile savages, for notwithstanding their supposed
savagery, they were docile and reasonably tractable towards their white masters,
inspired, perhaps, through fear and ignorance.
The captives cost from $5 to $25 in the first instance and were sold at from
$150 to $400 after their delivery in the United States.
PART II
CHAPTER X
EARLY EXPLORIX'G EXPEDITIONS
LOXg's YELLOVVSTOXE 1-:XPI£DITI(J.\ FIRST STEAMHOAT OX THE MISSOURI THE FIRE
BOAT THAT WALKS OiX THE WATER LONg's INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY EXPE-
DITION— JOSEPH RENVILLE. GUIDE — FEASTED BY THE WAHPETONS — CHIEF
WANATON THE DEBATABLE LAND REJOICING AT PEMBINA' RETURN OF THE
HUNT — DOG SLEDGES AND TRAVOIS — RED RIVER CARTS — ARISTOCRACY OF THE
PLAINS — EXPEDITION OF MAJ. SAMUEL WOODS OPENING OF NAVIGATION ON
THE RED RIVER — ON THE MISSOURI RIVER LOUISIANA FUR COMPANIES.
"By mutual confidence and mutual aid
Great deeds are done and great discoveries made."
— Homer's Iliad.
"Wliat was only a patli is now made a high road."
— Martial Epigrams, Book y, 60.
long's YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION l8ig-l820
James Monroe, as President of the United States, was desirous of protect-
ing the frontier from British aggression, being convinced that the whole western
country took a great interest in the success of the contemplated establishment of
a military post at the mouth of the Yellowstone River; that it was looked upon
as a measure better calculated to preserve the peace of the frontier, secure to us
the fur trade, and break up the intercourse between the British traders and the
Indians, than any other which had been taken by the Government, and he ex-
pressed a willingness to assume great responsibility in hastening its consummation.
Accordingly. Alaj. Stephen II. Long was selected to conduct the expedition
to the mouth of the Yellowstone, or to the Mandan villages, as a part of the
system of measures which had for its object the extension of the fur trade. The
newspapers of the period took a very rosy view of the great benefits to follow
in the wake of this expedition, and were confident that it would strike at the
very root of British influence. An able corps of scientific men were included in
the party, several of whom accompanied him to the Red River three years later.
Their instructions followed those given to Lewis and Clark, but the importance
of selecting a point near the forty-ninth parallel of latitude, where a s])here
of influence might be established, was strongly impressed upon them.
Great preparations were made for the expedition, and in all about eight
hundred men assembled at St. Louis, and other points, but the summer faded,
and was succeeded by the chilly blasts of autumn, and nothing was accomplished,
139
140 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
although five steamboats were engaged to take them up the river and an
expenditure of over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was made the subject
of congressional inquiry.
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT ON THE MISSOURI
A Steamboat 75 feet in length, 13 feet beam, drawing 19 inches of water,
was built for the engineers of this expedition, and named the Western Engineer.
It was the first steamboat to enter the waters of the Missouri, and the only boat
of this expedition put into requisition on that river. It reached Council Blufls
on the west side of the Missouri River, twenty-five miles above Omaha, Neb.,
September 17, 1819, and the engineers went into winter quarters near that point,
— which became Fort Atkinson, abandoned in 1827, — but Congress failing to
provide the necessary money to continue the expedition to the Yellowstone, it
was diverted to the Rocky Mountains. A very large percentage of the soldiers
at the winter cantonment died of scurvy.
The Alissouri Gazette of May 26, 1820, contained a description in detail of
the Western Engineer, which fully justifies the emotional element in Whittier's
tragic verse :
"Behind the scared squaw's birch canoe
The steamer smokes and raves,
The Gazette said : "The bow of this vessel exhibits the form of a huge serpent,
black and scaly, rising out of the water from under the boat, his head as high
as the deck, darting forward, his mouth open, vomiting smoke, and apparently
carrying the boat on his back. From under the boat at the stern issues a stream
of foaming water, dashing violently along. All of the machinery is hid. Three
brass field pieces mounted on wheeled carriages, stand on the deck. The boat is
ascending the rapid stream at the rate of three miles an hour. Neither wind nor
human hands are seen to help her, and to the eye of ignorance the illusion is
complete that a monster of the deep carries her on his back, smoking with
fatigue, and lashing the waters with violent exertion."
It was a scene calculated to paralyze with fear the "untutored mind" of the
savage, although it bore a flag on which a white man clasped the hand of an
Indian, a typical act of friendly intercourse, backed, however, by bristling guns.
The Indians might well have called it the "fire boat that walks on the water,"
as they later did the Yellowstone. For the kind of terror it inspired it may
have been the prototype of the "fighting tanks," "land battleships," or "cater-
pillar tractors," made by the Holt Manufacturing Company of Peoria, 111., for
an agricultural implement to meet some of the difficulties of modern farming
and used in the great European war. As appropriated by the British in Sep-
tember, 1916, from a revolving turret on the monitor plan, defended by com-
plete armor, a murderous fire pours forth in a perpetual stream of bullets from,
as described, "a fire-belching, death-dealing monster," with almost incompre-
hensible means of locomotion, propelling itself forward by a gasoline engine,
passing over all manner of obstacles and entanglements, laying its own track as
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 141
it moves along. The London Times refers to them as "unearthly monsters,
cased in steel, spitting hre, and crawling laboriously, but ceaselessly, over trench,
barbed wire and shell crater." The Germans, like the Indians, have a supersti-
tious horror of it. "Will we ever forget," they cry, "our first sight of the thing
as it came at us out of the morning mist?"
The Rocky Mountain expedition was important, and tlie report interesting,
but unfavorable to the development of the country for agricultural purposes,
and had the effect to retard progress in that direction, and to prevent congres-
sional action with reference to opening the country to settlement.
long's INTERNATI0N.\L liOUNDARY EXPEDITION
In July, 1823, Maj. Stephen H. Long's expedition to locate the boundary
between the United States and Canada at its intersection with the Red River of
the North, and thence eastward to Lake Superior, reached Pembina, and finding
the exact location, on the 8th of August, marked it with an oak post, raised the
American flag, and fired the national salute. The entire settlement, consisting of
about three hundred and fifty inhabitants, was found to be on the American
side, with the exception of one log cabin, and there was great rejoicing among
the people, who congratulated themselves that all the bufiialo, also, were on this
side. The Hudson's Bay Company, the Roman Catholic Fathers, and other
distinctively British interests, finding that Pembina was in the United States, had
already moved down the river to Fort Douglas, in order that they might be on
undisputed British territory.
Among the reasons for the expedition, was that of investigating the extent
■of the fur trade in the Red River country, and the various reports originating
with the conflicting trading interests, the character of the country along the
northern border, then unsurveyed, and to make inquiry into the character and
customs of the Indian tribes inhabiting the country.
In command of the party was Maj. Stephen H. Long, topographical engineer,
U. S. A., assisted in his researches by James Edward Calhoun, astronomer and
topographer; Thomas Say, zoologist and antiquary; Samuel Seymour, landscape
painter and designer; and Prof. William H. Keating, mineralogist, geologist and
historiographer, and the report prepared l)y the last named was from notes made
by these several parties.
Col. Josiah Snelling of the Fifth I'nited States Infantry, furnished a guard,
consisting of a sergeant, two corporals, and eighteen soldiers, commanded by
Lieut. St. Clair Denny, until the return of Lieut. Martin Scott, who had been
•connected with the expedition after it left Prairie du Chien, and who again
joined it in the Red River \'alley. They traveled overland from Wheeling,
W. Va.
JOSEPH RENVILLE, GUIDE
After leaving Fort Snelhng, Joseph Renville, who had been one of the inter-
preters of Lieut. Pike's expedition, was the Sioux interpreter and guide
•of Major Long's. His mother was a Sioux of a prominent family, and his
father a French trader. He was a man of unusual ability, speaking both French
142 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and English fluently, and is credited with having translated much of the New
Testament from English into French, and from h'rench into his mother tongue
from hearing it read. He had no education, except the practical kind, which
he was able to acquire from his surroundings. During the War of 1812, though
a native of the United States, he joined the Indian allies of the British Govern-
ment, and held the rank and drew the pay of a captain in the British army. He
was distinguished as an active and humane officer, and was successful in repress-
ing the depredations of the Sioux ; preventing them from sharing in the bloody
and disgraceful acts perpetrated by other Indian allies of the British. After the
war he retired on half pay, but resigned his commission in order to engage in
trade on the American side; his old trading post being at the head of the Red
River, which was made headquarters of the Columbia Eur Company, of which,
in 1822, he was one of the leading organizers.
The Columbia Fur Comi)any had a station on Big Stone Lake, in charge at
the time of the Long expedition, of a trader of the name of Moore.
FE.-VSTED I!Y THE WAHPETONS
As Major Long approached Big Stone Lake, he met a band of Wahpetons,
who invited his party to their village, where they prepared a feast for him,
consisting of the choicest cuts of the buffalo, and while partaking of it he
explained to them the object of his visit, which seemed to interest and please
them much. As they were about concluding the feast, the major was informed
that another had been prepared for them, and lest he might oft'end, the second
invitation was accepted, Init before that was finished, another was ready, at
which was to be served the choicest food in the power of the Indian to offer —
a dog had been killed for the occasion !
In the evening Major Long returned to the skin lodge of the chief, where
another feast was spread, and he then received the assurance of that distinguished
individual, Tatanka Wedhacheta. that he would send messengers to his people
who were absent hunting, and whom they might encounter, directing them to
supply his needs.
ENTERT.MNEn BY CHIEF W.\N.\TON
Wanaton of the Yanktons, was then regarded as one of the great men of
the Sioux Nation. When Major Long arrived at Lake Traverse, this renowned
chief killed three dogs, and gave him and his party a royal feast. A pavilion
had been formed by connecting several skin lodges, carpeted with tine buffalo
robes, and the air was filled with the odor of sweet grass which had been
burned for its perfume. The dinner cotirses consisted of buffalo- meat boiled
with Indian turnips, the same vegetable, without meat, in buffalo grease, and,
finally, the much esteemed dog meat, which, after tasting. Major Long declared
he no longer wondered was regarded as a dainty dish. The feast jirepared for ten
was said to have been sufficient for one hundred men.
Wanaton wore moccasins, leggings of scarlet cloth, a blue breech-cloth, a
shirt of painted muslin, a frock coat of fine blue cloth, with scarlet facings, but-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 143
toned and secured around his waist by a belt, "a blue cloth hat, and a handsome
Mackinaw blanket.
The next day Wanaton paid Major Long a return visit, when he wore the
full habit of an Indian chief; the most prominent part of his apparel being a
mantle of buffalo skins of a fine white color, decorated with tips of owl feathers,
and others of various hues. His necklace had about sixty claws of the grizzly
bear, and in his hair he wore nine sticks, secured by a strap of red cloth and
painted vermilion, to represent the number of wounds he had received in battle.
His face was painted with vermilion, and he carrieil, and fre(|uently br(jught into
use, a fan of turkey feathers.
THE UI''.l;.\T.\13LE L.\ND
The Indians regarded the country between the ISois de Siou.\ and Turtle River
debatable land, it being claimed by both the Chippewa and Sioux, and neither
venturing to hunt in the region without being jirepared for war, many sanguinary
conflicts resulted.
Major Long had advanced only aljout nine miles into this region when he
encountered a party of about seventy-five Sioux, who were very threatening
in their attitude, but he managed to escape them and pushed on to Pembina,
where he was entertained by a trader of the name of Nolan, who had been
stationed there several years, and whose daughters taught in the school at
St. Boniface.
Nearly all of the male inhabitants were out on a buffalo hunt, and the
village was almost destitute of provisions, as was also the exploring jiarty, but
on the return of the htinters the next day there was an abundance.
RETURN OF THE HUNT
The procession consisted of 115 carts, each loaded with about eight hundred
pounds of buffalo meat. There were 300 persons, including the women, in the
train, and 200 horses. Twenty hunters rode abreast, firing a salute as they passed
Major Long's camp.
EXTENT .\ND VALUE OF THE FUR TR.\DE
The value of the trade of the Ked River region south of the boundary, annu-
ally, as given to Major Long by a member of the Columbia Fur Company, was
$64,877, embracing beaver, bear, buffalo, marten, otter, fisher, elk. mink, musk-
rat, lynx, swan, rabbit, wolverine, buffalo cow skins, wolves, moose, and fox ;
buffalo being by far the greater item, amounting to 400 packs, of ten skins each,
$16,000, The value of the beaver was placed at $4,000; of the fisher, $11,250;
muskrat, $8,000, and lynx, $5,600. In addition to the above aggregate, there were
1,000 bags of pounded buffalo meat, or jjemmican.
DOG SLEDGES AND TRAVOIS
Prior to 1800, the only means of transportation used on the plains of North
Dakota was the dog sledge in winter, the Indian travois in summer, and the
144 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
packs by men or animals. The dog sledge was much like the toboggan, flat-bot-
tomed with a guard or dash-board in front, wide enough to seat one person, and
long enough so he could recline if desired, as the dogs skipped along over the
prairie. The driver could jump on or off when the animals were moving at high
speed. A passenger, wrapped in furs, could sleep in perfect comfort as the sledge
glided along from seventy-five to ninety miles a day, each sledge drawn by three
dogs, with a driver to each sledge. There were frequently as high as twenty-five
sledges in a train. The dogs were held in check by a strong cord attached to the
leader. The dogs responded to a motion of the whip or hand, to indicate the
direction, every dog knew his name, and all became attached to their masters,
especially when treated kindly. They were fed a pound of pemmican a day.
A trained leader was worth $20, and others from $8 to $10. Their life of use-
fulness on the train ran from eight to twelve years. A dog sledge would carry
about four hundred pounds.
In winter dog sledges were used for both freight and passenger service ; the
allowance of load per dog on a long journey being 100 pounds. One of the
traders claimed that he had transported 1,000 pounds by the use of six, and, part
of the way, eight dogs, from the Mandan villages on the Missouri, to the Red
River posts. In summer the dogs were frequently used to carry buffalo meat
from the place where the animals were killed to the points where the women
were engaged in curing the meat for the trade or for the winter store.
Two poles were crossed and fastened over the shoulders of the dogs, with a
piece of hide underneath them to prevent chafing; the other extremities dragging
•on the ground. It was secured to the animal by strings- around the body, while
a bar was fastened to the poles at the rear, keeping them a proper distance apart,
and serving to support the meat.
The travois for use on the ponies were made in substantially the same way,
except that the poles about sixteen feet long were fastened to the saddle
on either side of the animal, the rear end dragging on the ground, and were
capable of carrying about five hundred pounds. They were also called the traville
and by some the travees.
RED RIVER CARTS
The Red River cart made its appearance in 1801, and is first mentioned in
history by Alexander Henry, who gives its proportions as about four feet high,
wheels with only four spokes, placed perpendicularly, without the least leaning
outward. Made entirely of wood, unpainted and weather-stained, the creaking
of their wheels could be heard a mile or more. They were drawn by one horse
•or an ox or cow.
They were used for the transportation of furs and other supplies long dis-
tances, the goods for the traders being shipped in by this means, and the pro-
ceeds of the chase shipped out in the same manner. From the description given
by Mr. Henry, one may readily imagine the variety to be found in a train of
from one hundred to five hundred Red River carts when on the summer chase,
or engaged in transporting freight to and from the settlements.
These carts, capable of conveying about five pieces (450 pounds) according to
Mr. Henry, or, say, from 500 to 800 pounds, were each drawn by one horse, ox,
RED RIVER CART, 1801 TO 1871
GRAND FORKS IN 1874
U j
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 145
or cow. Mr. Henry was doubtless thinking of the possibilities of using oxen for
transportation when he exclaimed: "If we had only one horse in the Northwest,
we would have less laziness, for men would not be burdened with families, and
so much given to indolence and insolence."
He thus describes the first train pulling out in 1802 :
"The men were up at break of day, and their horses tackled long before sun-
rise, but they were not in readiness to move before 10 o'clock, when I had the
curiosity to climb to the top of my house, to examine the movement and order
of march. Anthony Paget, guide and second in command, led oft with a cart
drawn by two horses, and loaded with his own private baggage, casse-tetes
(liquors), bags, and kettles. JMadame Paget follows the cart with a child one
year old on her back, and very merry. C. Bottineau, with two horses, and a cart
loaded with ly^ packs, his own baggage, and two young children, with kettles
and other trash on the cart. ^ladame Bottineau with a young child on her back,
was scolding and tossing it about. Joseph Dubois goes on foot, with his long
pipestem and calument in hand. Madame Dubois follows her husband, carrying
his tobacco pouch. Anthony Thelliere, with a cart and two horses, loaded with
i^ packs of goods and Dubois' baggage. Anthony LaPoint, with another cart
and two horses loaded with two pieces (180 pounds) of goods, and baggage
belonging to Brisbois, Jessaume, and Pouliote, and kettles suspended on each
side. M. Jessaume goes next to Brisbois with gun, and pipe in his mouth, puff-
ing great clouds of smoke. M. Pouliote, the greatest smoker in the Northwest,
has nothing but pipes and pouch. These three fellows having taken the farewell
dram, lighting fresh pipes, go on, brisk and merry, playing numerous pranks.
Don Severman, with a young mare, the property of M. Langlois, loaded with
weeds for smoking, an old Indian bag, Madame's property, some squashes and
potatoes, a small keg of fresh water and two young whelps. Next come the young
horses of Livermore, drawing a traville, with his buggy, and a large worsted
mask, queucate, belonging to Madame Langlois. Next appears Madame Cam-
eron's young mare, kicking and rearing, and hauling a traville, which was loaded
with a bag of fiour and some cabbages, and a large bottle of broth. M. Langlois,
who is master of the band, now comes, leading a horse that draws a traville,
nicely covered with a new pointed tent, under which are lying his daughter and
Mrs. Cameron, extended at full length, and very sick. This covering, or canopy,
has a pretty effect. ]\Iadame Langlois now brings up the rear, follow-ing the
traville with a slow step and melancholy air, attending to the wants of her daugh-
ter. The rear guard consisted of a long train of dogs, twenty in number. The
whole forms a string nearly a mile long."
Following the travois and the Red River cart came the stage and transporta-
tion companies. The Hudson's Bay Company contracts, which gave them con-
trol of much of the Canadian Northwest, were terminated in 1869. and the Mani-
toba government was organized in 1870. That year the first United States land
office was opened in North Dakota at Pembina. There w'as then no regular mail
to Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, and no means of communication, except in private
interests, between Manitoba and the outside world. Therefore, in the spring of
1 871, the stage route was extended from Georgetown to Winnipeg, a contract
having been let to Capt. Russell Blakely, of St. Paul, to carry the mail to Winni-
peg, the first stage arriving at Winnipeg September 11, 1871. In 1878, the rail-
146 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
road having been extended to Winnipeg, the stage and transportation company
transferred its line to Bismarcl-;, and opened up a daily line of stages to the Black
Hills. About the same time a line of daily stages was established from Bismarck
to Allies City, Mont., and another from Bismarck up the Missouri River to
Fort Buford and down the river to Fort Yates, and still another from Bismarck
to Ellendale. A government line of telegraph was also established from Bismarck
to Fort Yates, and north to Buford and thence to JNliles City and Fort Keogh.
THE .ARISTOCRACY OF THE PL-AINS
The aristocracy of the plains consisted of the traders, their clerks, the buft'alo
hunters, and their families. The traders enjoyed every lu.xury, and always kept
the finest liquors for entertainment. They were liberal, and honest, in their way.
The buft'alo hunters were most improvident in dress and living. "In many
instances," J\lrs. Cavileer states, "their wives wore silk velvet, and the most co.stly
fabric of other manufacture, even in the buft'alo camp. The style of dress was a
matter of much concern among the women. The waist w^as close fitting, with
'mutton-leg' sleeves, the folds of the round, plain skirt falling to within si.x
inches of the ground. They wore moccasins, mostly beaded or embroidered with
quills, and leggings. A graceful feature of their costume was a broadcloth
blanket, thrown carelessly over their shoulders, while a line silk handkerchief was
so fastened over the head and face as to display most bewitching eyes to the best
possible advantage. The hair was neatly braided and coiled at the back of the
head. They had charming manners, with an oriental tinge." These were the
nut brown women of the plains, the wives and daughters of the traders and their
clerks.
The tents or tepees were carpeted with skins, and, at times, with expensive
brussels rugs, and vi-ere often exceedingly rich in drapery. In the "Bridal of
Pennacook" John G. Whittier draws a fascinating picture of primitive life in
the habitations of Indians like their neighbors:
"Roof of bark, and wall of pine,
Through whose chinks the sunbeams shine,
Tracing many a golden line
On the ample floor within ;
Where, upon the earth-floor stark
Lay the gaudy mat of bark,
With the bear's hide, rough and dark,
And the red deer's skin.
"Window tracery, small and slight.
Woven of the willow white,
Lent a dimly checkered light ;
And the night stars glimmered down,
Where the lodge fire's heavy smoke
Slowly through an opening broke,
In the low roof, ribbed with oak,
Sheathed with hemlock brown."
EXPEDITION OF M.\J. S.\MUEL WOODS
In 1849, in accordance with a suggestion of William Medill of Ohio, United
States commissioner of Indian afifairs. to send an exploring expedition to the Red
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 147
River X'alley, Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, United States secretary of the interior
in the administration of President Zachary Taylor, of Virginia, approved the
undertaking, believing that the best way to prevent anticipated and remedy exist-
ing evils — such as the illegal traffic in liquor carried on by the British traders
with the Indians — vvoidd be to purchase a moderate portion of the Indian country
and open it to settlement. Another object was to investigate the danger to the
settlements reported to be threatening on account of the destruction of their main
dependence, the buffalo. It was also a part of the project to select a site for a
military post which afterwards became Fort Abercrombie on the Red River in
Richland County.
The expedition, conducted by Brevet Alaj. Samuel Woods, captain Sixth
United States Infantry, then stationed at Fort Snelling, at the head of navigation
of the Mississippi River, near St. Paul, Minn., consisted of Second Lieut. Ander-
son D. Nelson, Sixth United States Infantry quartermaster and commissary,
having in charge a mountain howitzer. Second Lieut, and Brevet Capt. John
Pope of the topographical engineers, and Dr. James Sykes, acting assistant
surgeon, medical officer. Lieut. John William Tudor Gardiner and Second Lieut.
Thomas F. Castor, with Company D, First Dragoons, numbering forty men,
were to meet him at Sauk Rapids, and were intended for the garrison of Fort
Gaines, later known as Fort Ripley, then a military post on the Mississippi
opposite the mouth of J\Iohoy River ten miles below the Crow Wing River, about
forty miles above Sauk Rapids. As directed by George W. Crawford, of Georgia,
then secretary of war. Major Woods was to select a point for the military post
not exceeding 200 miles west of Fort Gaines.
They left Fort Snelling Jtine 6th. proceeding to the Turtle River country
northwest of Grand Forks, theirce north to Pembina at the northern frontier of
the United States, where they arrived .\ugust ist, and returned to Fort Snelling
September 18. 1849.
Jonathan E. Fletcher was Indian agent on the Upper Missouri, having a vast
extent of country in his charge, and he had reported that some attention must be
given the Red River country in order to prevent injustice being done to American
traders by unlawful and injurious interference by British subjects, and to put a
stop to our Indians being supplied with ardent spirits, and the great destruction
of game by persons from the British side of the line.
He called attention to the great and wanton destruction of the buffalo, caus-
ing discontent among the Indians, leading in one or two instances to murder of
persons so engaged. The buffalo, it was alleged, was almost the only means of
subsistence of some sixty thousand Indians in that region and the Upper Missouri,
and it was apparent that they must soon disappear under the prevailing condi-
tions, through their destruction by other than Indians. He was confident that it
would result in sanguinary and exterminating wars among the Indians, or cause
them to precipitate themselves on the advanced settlements in order to procure
the means of subsistence.
He spoke of the considerable military post being maintained by the British
across the line, then known as Fort Garry, for the protection of its citizens, and
the preservation of peace and good order which suggested the propriety of a
military post on the American side of the line.
Mr. Fletcher dwelt particularly on the evils of the trade in ardent spirits
148 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
among the Indians, introduced by British subjects. The hquor was supplied in
some instances with a view to breaking down the business and the influence of
the American traders ; to annoy and discommode them by purchasing with
whisky all of the surplus provisions the Indians had to sell, but more especially
to keep the Indians from obtaining furs, well knowing that they would not hunt
or trap while they could obtain liquor. It was .said that the Hudson's Bay Com-
panv would not sell liquor to anyone, and it was true that they would not sell to
the Indians at any price for money, but they did exchange it for anything the
Indians had to sell in the way of furs or provisions.
Norman W. Kittson was then a licensed trader at Pembina, and it was his
estimate that the population of the Red River, on both sides of the boundary,
was 6,000, that one-third subsisted by hunting buffalo, and that they killed about
twenty thousand bufifalo annually.
Mr. Fletcher charged that British subjects were holding councils with the
Indians on the American side of the line, with a view to prejudicing them against
our Government and against our system of trading with the Indians. He urged
the great danger to the frontier citizens from inadequate military protection,
and the importance of this feature was demonstrated by the Indian outbreak of
1862. He also urged the advantage the British traders had over the Americans
by reason of their ability to purchase without paying tarifl:' rates.
.\ letter from Henry M. Rice, an Indian trader, was also presented, in which
he charged that the British trader at Rainy River assembled the Indians on the
American side and made them presents to influence them against trading with
the Americans and to prevent the Americans from trading in that country, and
they sent out agents with whisky to buy, with a view to controlling, the wild rice
crop, thereby depriving the trader and his employes of the means of subsistence.
The trade was not regarded of value to the British but it was their purpose
to destroy it, more especially to prevent Americanizing the Indians. They also
feared to have the Canadian Indians learn the facts regarding the American sys-
tem of trade among the Indians, and the low price at which they sold their goods.
Mr. Rice stated that in the summer of 1848 a party of 1,200 carts visited the
country south of Devils Lake and destroyed buffalo by the thousand for the
meat, tallow and tongues. Mr. Rice, afterwards an influential United States sen-
ator from Minnesota, urged the purchase and settlement of the country, and that
the half-breeds, British subjects by compulsion, not by choice, be encouraged to
occupy the purchased portion.
The plan to open the Red River country to settlement, formulated in 1848,
was enthusiastically received by the half-bloods, but was met in silence by the
Indians, and was used by the Hudson's Bay Company as a means to prejudice
the Indians against the Americans. The opening was consummated twenty-five
years later.
At Pembina they found Father George Anthony Joseph Belcourt, located
about a mile down the river from Norman W. Kittson's trading establishment at
Pembina, where he had been located eighteen years, and had a school for the
education of the Chippewas and the children of the half-bloods, of whom there
were a considerable number ; Kittson, as stated, placing the population along the
international boundary at fi,ooo, and Major Woods reporting 177 families in the
vicinity of Pembina, 511 males and 515 females.
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 149
In addition to tlie school building which was two stories in height, there was
a chapel on the grounds.
Relative to the half-bloods, Father Belcourt wrote Alajor Woods:
"The half-breeds are mild, generous, polished in their manners, and ready to
do a kindness; of great uprightness, not over anxious of becoming rich, content-
ing themselves with the necessaries of life, of which they are not at all times
possessed. The greater number are no friends to labor; yet I believe this vice to
proceed more from want of encouragement, and the small prices they receive for
their products, than from laziness, and this opinion is grounded upon the fact
that they are insensible to fatigue and exposure, which they endure with lightness
of heart when called upon to do so in the course of diverse occupations. They
have much openness of spirit, and their children manifest good capacity when
taught ; still we could wish them to possess a little more perseverance. They are
generally gay and fond of enjoyment ; they affect music, there being but few,
comparatively speaking, who do not play on the violin. They are a fine physical
conformation, robust and full of health, and of a swarthy hue. We see but slight
dissensions in their families, which are for the most part numerous. The men
commonly marry at the age of seventeen or eighteen and as a general thing are
of good morals. The half-breeds number over five thousand souls. They first
established themselves at Pembina, near the mouth of the river of that name in
1818, when they had with them a resident Canadian priest. They had also erected
a church, and were engaged in the cultivation of the soil with great success
when Major Long visited the country, and having ascertained the latitude,
declared it to be south of the 49th degree. St. Louis being the nearest American
settlement of any size, and the distance being very great, it was out of the ques-
tion for the residents of Pembina to hold intercourse with it, except by incurring
great expense as well as danger. The Hudson's Bay Company profited by the
inability of the colonists to communicate with the states, to give public notice that
all inhabitants who were established on the American side of the line should
descend the Red River and make settlement about the mouth of the Assinaboine
River, under penalty in case of failure so to do of being refused all supplies from
their store. At that time even more than at present, powder, balls, and net thread
for fishing were articles indispensably necessary to their subsistence. In short,
they were obliged to submit."'
EARLY TR.JiDERS AND SETTLERS
At the time of Major Woods" expedition the Hudson's Bay Company had a
building a few feet south and were building extensively about two hundred yards
north of the international boundary. Norman W. Kittson was represented at
that time by Joseph Rolette, a son of the one of that name met at Prairie du
Chien by Lieutenant Pike.
The Selkirk colonists were then engaged in farming on the Red River, north
of the boundary, and they reported thirty to forty bushels of wheat, forty to fifty
bushels of barley, forty to fifty bushels of oats, and 20O' to 300 bushels of pota-
toes per acre, as the usual yield.
150 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
RED RIVKR MOSQUITOES
The mosquitoes were an ever-present annoyanc6. At the site of the proposed
niihtary post it was said they hterally filled the air and it was impossible to talk
without inhaling them. "They choked down every expression," wrote Major
Woods, "that would consign them to the shades. They condemn the displeasure
and sing cheerily over the torture of their victims." The horses began to fail,
attributable, principally, to the ever-increasing army of these insects, that did
not allow the horses to rest by night nor quietly feed upon the grass. "The suf-
fering of the horses was painful to behold and irremediable. The men would
industriously strike out with both hands, from morning till night, scarcely able
to talk without inhaling Some handfuls of them."
At the site that afterwards became Fort Abercrombie they set up a square
post and marked on it "163 miles to Sank Rapids, July 14, 1849." ^t Goose
River they encountered a vast herd of bufl:alo. At Turtle River they found an
old earthwork, said to have been erected by the Chippewas for defense against
the Sioux. It covered about an acre. Two or three years before, the old fort
had again been occupied by a band of Chi])pewas, but they were driven off by the
Sioti.x and five or si.x were killed.
The country north of the Sheyenne was the acknowledged land of the Chip-
pewas, while that south was claimed by the Siou.x. Their claims extended up the
Sheyenne to Devils Lake, back to the Missouri River.
The Chippewas at Pembina were then tmorganized. Thr(jugh the suggestion
of Major Woods they elected Sakikwanel (Green Feather) principal chief,
Majekkwadjiwan (End of the Current) first second chief, and Kakakanawak-
kagan, (Long Legs) second chief. The election was later approved by the Indian
authorities. The tribe had been without a head since it liad separated some
years before from the mother tribe on the Great Lakes. The new dignitaries
were properly saluted by the firing of guns and appropriately instructed as to
their duties and responsibilities.
While on the plains that season the Chippewa hunters had been attacked by
the Siotix and several scalps had been taken on each side. Following the return
of the hunters there was a scalp dance. The scalps were ornamented with rib-
bons and feathers, and, fastened to the end of a stick, were borne in the dance
high above the heads of the dancers. Those who bore them had returned from
the war, heroes indeed, arrivitig in advance of the main body of hunters. They
always expected trouble with the Sioux and were prepared for it, and were
organized under a captain, whose orders they implicitly obeyed.
OPENING OF N.WICATION ON THE RED RIVER
\\'hile traffic on the Red River began with the work of the voyageurs in the
Indian trade, even before the advent of Henry's Red River Brigade, and every
branch of the stream had been reached by their boats, the goods for the wander-
ing traders being packed on the backs of men to their temporary trading posts,
it was not until 1858, that the first steamboat was built for operation on the Red
River of the North, at McCauleyville, ^linn., by Capt. Anson Northrup, for
whom it was named ; this would carry from fifty to seventy-five tons. The ma-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 151
chiiiL-ry was brought overland from Si. Paul and the timber was cut on the Red
River. It was operated one season and then passed into the hands of the
Hudson's Bay Company and its engine was transferred to a saw mill.
The Freighter was a 200-ton boat operating on the Minnesota River. An
attempt was made to transfer this boat from the waters flowing into the Gulf
of Mexico to the Red River tributary to Hudson Bay. There have been sea-
sons when this could have been done, but in this case the attempt failed. The
Freighter grounded in the inlet of Big Stone Lake and became a wreck. Her
machinery was sold to the Hudson's Bay Company and was used in the Interna-
tional, built at Georgetown, Minn., in i860. She operated for many years on
the Red River, exclusively for the Hudson's Bay Company, until competition
forced her into private traffic.
In 1871 the Selkirk was built at McCauleyville, by James J. Hill and Capt.
Alexander Griggs. She was operated for general traffic. In 1872 the two lines
w^ere consolidated and run under one management. In 1875 the merchants of
Winnipeg built the Minnesota and Manitoba at Moorhead. One of them sank
and the other soon passed into the hands of the other company. The Com-
pany was styled the Red River Transportation Company, and they built the
Sheyenne and Dakota at Grand Forks, and the Alpha at McCauleyville. The
Grandin was built at Fargo, together with a line of barges, and used for trans-
porting grain from the Grandin farms to the Northern Pacific Railroad. Numer-
ous other barges were built at Moorhead, which were used for transporting goods
down the river to Winnipeg, where they were broken up and used for lumber.
The Pluck was built on the Mississippi, and transferred by rail to the Red River
from Brainerd, by Alsop Brothers. In 1881 they built the Alsop and a line of
barges, operating boat and barges until 1886.
ON THE MISSOURI RI\'ER
The mackinaws or small boats with a crew of five men, would start from the
trading posts down the river, requiring thirty days to reach St. Louis. The men
would leave St. Louis in the spring, returning after about sixteen months. They
were paid $220 for the round trip, up the river one season and back the next
spring. Carpenters and blacksmiths were paid $300 per annum. The traders
were paid $500 per annum.
Gen. John C. Fremont, writing of his trip from St. Louis to Fort Pierre
in his memoirs, says: "For nearly 2^ months we were struggling against the
current of the turbid river, which in that season of high water was so swift
and strong that sometimes the boat would for a moment stand quite still, seem-
ing to pause to gather strength until the power of the steam asserted itself, and
she would fight her way into a smooth reach. In places the river was so embar-
rassed with snags that it was difficult to thread a way through them in the face
of the swift current and treacherous channel, constantly changing. Under these
obstacles we usually laid up at night, making fast to the shore at some convenient
place where the crew could cut a supply of wood for the next day. It was a
pleasant journey, as little disturbed as on the ocean. Once above the settlements
on the Lower Missouri, there were no sounds to disturb the stillness but the
echoes of the high-pressure steam pipe, which traveled far along and around the
152 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
shores, and the incessant crumbling away of the banks and bars, which the river
was steadily undermining and destroying at one place to build up at another.
The stillness was an impressive feature, and the constant changes in the character
of the river shores afforded always new interest as we steamed along. At times
we traveled by high perpendicular escarpments of light colored rock, a gray and
yellow marl, made picturesque by shrubbery or trees ; at others the river opened
out into a broad delta-like expanse, as if it were approaching the sea. At length,
on the seventieth day, we reached Fort Pierre, the chief port of the American
Fur Company, on the right bank of the Missouri River about thirteen hundred
miles above its mouth."
In the Knife River region the crumbling banks disclosed thick beds of lignite
coal, used by Lewis atid Clark for blacksmithing purposes : and which has become
an important item of commerce and is required by law to be used in heating the
public buildings of North Dakota. It is so abundant that it is practically the
only fuel used in some parts of North Dakota. Some of the beds are upwards
of thirty feet in depth.
LOUISIANA FUR COMPANIES
In 1712 Antoine de Crozat was granted a monopoly of trade in the Province
of Louisiana, as noted under "Louisiana Purchase" in Part I, having a trading
house on the site of Montgomery on the Alabama River, and another at Natchi-
toches on the Red River. Pierre Le Moyne d'lberville established Fort Rosalie
on the site of Natchez in 1716. After five years in possession, Crozat resigned
his patent, and was succeeded, in 1717, by a company organized by John Law, a
Paris banker, known as the Mississippi Company, whose patent was to last
twenty-five years, or until 1742. Their activities extended as far north as the
mouth of the Grand River, in South Dakota. In 1722 an attempt was made by
M. de Bourgemont to establish a trading post five miles below Grand River,
known as Fort Orleans, but all the inmates of the post were killed by the Indians
in 1726 as the result of well founded complaints of ill treatment by the traders,
and in 1732 the Mississippi Company resigned its patent to the crown of France.
In 1762 the French governor general of Louisiana granted authority to Pierre
Ligueste Laclede and his partners, their organization being known as the Louisi-
ana Fur Company, to establish trading posts on the ]\Iississippi River, and on
February 15, 1764, Auguste Chouteau, representing that company, selected the
site of St. Louis, twenty miles below the mouth of the Missouri, for headquarters.
October 21, 1764, the king of France ordered that portion of Louisiana west
of the Mississippi to be turned over to the king of Spain ; the cession was accepted
by the Spanish on November 13th of that year, and August 11, 1768, Spanish
troops took possession of the Louisiana Fur Company's post at St. Louis, giving
place in July, 1769, to the Spanish lieutenant governor, Don Pedro Pieruas, who
assumed civil authority.
May 26, 1780, a band of Indians led by British regulars from Fort Michili-
mackinac or Mackinaw — established by French Jesuits on the Michigan side of
the strait between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, conquered by the British in
1760 — surprised the people outside the wall of brush and clay, built the previous
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 153.
year around the settlement of St. Louis for defense, killing from fifteen to
twenty persons, and then attacked the village, but were repulsed.
Spain held possession of the territory until 1800, when it was retroceded to
France, as related in Part I, and was ceded to the United States in 1803. On
June 2, 1 819, the first steamboat reached St. Louis, direct from New Orleans.
She was named the Harriet. The first steamboat built in St. Louis was not
launched until twenty-three years after.
The Mississippi Company was reorganized in 1832, and during their occupa-
tion trading posts were established in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and
lead mines were discovered in Northern I,ouisiana extending from the 33d degree-
north latitude to the Canadian territory.
. CHAPTER XI
THE CONQUEST OF THE MISSOURI
EARLY TRADIXG POSTS ON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER YELLOWSTONE TRAPPERS
AMBUSHED ATTACKED BY THE ARIKARAS — THE LEAVENWORTH EXPEDITION
PUNISHING THE ARIKARAS THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN MISSOURI RIVER
TRADERS ROCKY MOLJNTAIN Fl^R COMPANY INDIAN TREATIES OF 1825 — THE
COLLIMBIA FUR COMPANY DIXTSIONS OF THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY IN 183I
COLTER AND FINK, CHARACTER SKETCHES.
"Careless seems the great Avenger ; History's pages but record
One death grapple in the darkness 'twixt old systems and the word ;
Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne.
Yet the scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own."
— James Russell Lowell.
E.\RLY TRADING POSTS ON THE YELLOWSTONE
There were several po^ts at tiie mouth of the Big Horn, where it joins the
Yellowstone River in Montana, not far from the Custer Battlefield ; the first
built in i<So7, b)' Manuel Lisa, the noted Indian trader — as previously mentioned
— and abandoned the ne.xt year. One, called Fort Benton, was built at this
point in 1822, and abandoned in 1823. In 1822 Gen. William II. Ashley and
Andrew Henry built a post at this point, but gave it up after the first winter.
In 1825, it will be seen, it was visited by the Atkinson Commission and the site
described. Fort Cass was three miles above the mouth of the Big Horn, built
by the .American Fur Company in 1832, sometimes known as Tulloch's Fort, and
abandoned in 1835.
YELLOWSTONE TRAPPERS AMBL'SHED
During the winter of 1822-23, the Missouri Fur Coinpany had maintained a
force of hunters and trappers on the Yellowstone and its branches. The party
originally consisting of forty-three men, who wintered at the mouth of the Big
Horn River, were reduced to thirty by desertion. They had abandoned their
winter quarters and were returning to their station with their catch of furs,
when, on May 31st, they were ambushed by the Blackfeet.
Robert Jones, who joined the Missouri Fur Company in 1818, and Michael
Immel, the leaders of the party, and five others were killed, and four wounded.
They lost their entire outfit of horses and equipment, and from $15,000 to $20,000
154
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 155
worth of furs, some of which were recovered through the good offices of the
Hudson's Bay Company officials.
ATTACKED BY THE ARIKARAS
General Ashley, from his trading post at the mouth of the Yellowstone River,
in 1823 planned an expedition for trading and trapping on that stream and its
tributaries, intending to extend his operations to the Columbia River. He organ-
ized a party of ninety men in the spring of that year, which he concentrated at
the mouth of the Cheyenne River, with the intention of sending forty men across
the plains with horses, the remainder to go on by boat. On the morning of May
30th, he reached the Arikara villages, and spent three days there, purchasing
about fifty horses for his Yellowstone expedition, but on June 2d he was attacked
by the Indians, and of his men fourteen were killed, eleven wounded, and one
died of his wounds. Practically all of his horses were killed, and much of his
property was stolen or destroyed. The Indians numbered about six hundred, and
the attack was without the slightest provocation or warning.
General Ashley gave his loss as follows: Killed, John Mathews, John Collins,
Aaron Stevens, James JMcDaniel, Westley Piper, George Flage, Benjamin F.
Swecd, James Penn, Jr., John Miller, John S. Gardner, Ellis Ogle, David
Howard. Wounded, Reece Gibson (died of wounds'), Joseph Mouse, John Law-
son, Abraham Ricketts, Roljert Tucker, Joseph Thompson, Jacob ^Miller, Daniel
McClain, Hugh Glass, August Duffer, and Willis, a colored man. *
This company was succeeded by Smith. Jackson & Sublette, in 1826. They
had great success, though they met with numerous mishaps. On one of their
expeditions, nineteen of a party of twenty-two men were killed by the Indians,
and their property taken, but through the Hudson's Bay Company, in this
instance also, most of the property was recovered. Later the firm became Fitz-
patrick, Sublette & Bridger.
PUNISHING THE ARIKARAS
June 18, 1823, Col. Henry Leavenworth left Fort Atkinson (Nebraska, near
Council Bluffs, Iowa) with Companies A, B, D, E, F, and G, Sixth United States
Infantry, for the purpose of punishing the Arikaras. He took with him several
pieces of light artillery, manned by details from his command, and was accom-
panied by eighty volunteers, armed and equipped by the fur companies, and from
600 to 800 Sioux, organized by Joshua Pilcher, of the Missouri Fur Company;
the .Sioux expecting a free hand in the matter of scalps and spoils.
The roster of officers of this expedition included Col. Henry Leavenworth,
Maj. Adam R. W'ooley, Brevet Maj. Daniel Ketchum. Captains Bennett Riley
and William Armstrong, Lieutenants John Bradley, Nicholas John Cruger,
William X. \\'ickliffe, William Walton Morris, Thomas Noel, and Surgeon John
Gale.
The officers of the volunteer command and the .^ioux Indian contingent were
Gen. William H. .Ashley, Captains Jedediah .Smith and Horace Scott, Lieutenants
Hiram Allen and David Jackson, Ensigns Charles Cunningham and Edward
Rose, Surgeon Fleming, Quartermaster Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Serg.-Maj. Wil-
156 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Ham L. Sublette, of the Ashley party, and of the Missouri Fur Company and
Indian contingent, Maj. Joshua Pilcher, president of the J^Iissouri Fur Company
and sub-agent of the Sioux, Captains Henry \'anderburg and Angus McDonald^
First Lieut. jMoses B. Carson and Second Lieut. William Gordon.
The appointment of these officers was contimied by Colonel Leavenworth,,
in special orders, except that of General Ashley, who was brigadier-general
in the Missouri Militia. IMlcher was sub-agent of the Sioux, appointed by
Major O'Fallen.
The entire command, as organized, including regulars, mountaineers, voya-
geurs, trappers, and Indians, mustering as variously estimated from 800 to 1,200,
was styled the "^^lissouri Legion.''
The distance from Council Bluii's, Iowa, to the Arikara villages, was said to
be 655 miles, and the time consumed, including the stop for reorganization, was
forty-eight days.
There were two Arikara villages, a short distance apart, overlooking the
river, and so situated as to fully command the channel, fortified by a stockade
of timbers 6 to 8 inches thick and 15 feet in height, with earth thrown up on the
inside to a height of about 18 inches. About three-fourths of the Indians were
armed with London fusils (flint-lock), procured through British traders; the
others with bows and arrows, and war axes. The warriors belonging to the
villages numbered about six hundred.
The ground covered by these villages was above the mouth of the Grand
River that flows through the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to join the Mis-
souri in South Dakota, near the border line between South and North Dakota,
and, in 181 1, was about three-quarters of a mile from the channel of the Mis-
souri, on Dead Alan's Creek, which now flows through a timbered bottom, where,
in 1823, there were sand-bars and the river channel.
The Sioux auxiliaries awaited the arrival of Colonel Leavenworth at the
mouth of the Cheyenne River, whence the advance was made. They arrived
at the Arikara villages August 9th, and the Arikaras coming out to meet the
Sioux, an engagement took place, in which the whites did not participate, as the
Sioux were between them and the enemy.
August loth Capt. Bennett Riley, with a company of riflemen, and Lieut.
John Bradley, with a company of infantr)', were posted on a hill within 100 paces
of the upper village, screened from the enemy's fire. Lieut. William Walton
Alorris, with one 6-pounder and a 5^1-inch brass piece, commenced an attack on
the lower town. Sergeant Perkins, with one 6-pounder, was assigned to Capt.
Henry Vanderburg, of the Missouri Fur Company, who was in command of the
volunteers. Maj. Daniel Ketchum was ordered to the upper village with his
command.
The fire was continued from early in the morning until 3 o'clock in the after-
noon. The Sioux lost two killed and thirteen wounded. Some of their number
were in the meantime harvesting the crop of the Arikaras, assisted in their work,
later in the day, by the soldiers, for the purpose of obtaining supplies ; General
Ashley's men having had no food for two days. Colonel Leavenworth lost two
men wounded during the engagement. The Arikara loss was heavy; Chief Grey
Eyes being among the killed.
When the Sioux discovered that they were not to be given a free hand in the
UPPER MISSOURI RIVER SCENE AT "DROWNED MAN'S RAPIDS"
Steamer Rosebud homeward bound
STEAMER SELKIRK
Floating palace of the Red River of the North. Built in 1871
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 157
attack upon the Arikaras, they commenced to parley with them and finally dis-
appeared altogether. The Arikaras were much terrified and hastily made a
treaty of peace, but failing to surrender the property taken from General Ashley,
Colonel Leavenworth threatened to attack them again, when they fled. He tried
to induce them to return and re-occupy their villages, but did not succeed. They
left the mother of Chief Grey Eyes, old and infirm, in one of the lodges, sup-
plied with water and food. Colonel Leavenworth placed her in one of the best
lodges, with an increased supply, and left the village undisturbed, but before he
was out of sight, the lodges, numljering 141, were all fired and cjuickly destroyed,
except the one occupied by the Indian woman, whose domicile was not invaded.
It was charged that the lodges were burned by Lieut. William Gordon and Capt.
Angus McDonald, employes of the Missouri Fur Company. Gordon was one of
the survivors of the Blackfeet attack on the Big Horn, and was noted as one of
the most intrepid of the frontiersmen. In 1824 he had some further bloody
experiences on the Yellowstone, again spending the winter on the Big Horn, with
a band of Crows, causing a number of the Blackfeet, in various encounters, to take
up their abode in the "Happy Hunting Grounds," whence none have as yet
returned.
When in their villages on the Cheyenne and Grand rivers, the Arikaras
depended upon agriculture, rather than the chase, for food, bartering corn with
the Cheyenne and other tribes for buiTalo robes, skins and meat, hunting in the
fall and winter, exhanging the skins obtained by barter and the chase, with the
traders for cloth and other things required for their ornament and comfort.
Before the traders came, they made cooking utensils of pottery, mortars of
stone for grinding their corn, hoes from the shoulder blade of the buft'alo and
elk, spoons from the horn of the buffalo, wedges for splitting wood from horn,
brooms from stiff' grass, knives, spear and arrow heads from flint, and were com-
paratively a well-dressed, well-fed and happy people.
After the destruction of their villages in 1823, they rejoined their relations
in Nebraska, sojourning there two years, returning to the Heart River, and to
Knife River, in 1837, and finally settling at Fort Berthold, in 1862.
LEA\-ENW0RTI1 AND THK TRADERS
The Missouri Fur Company had furnished about forty men for the exjiedi-
tion of 1823, to punish the Arikaras, and had operated with the troops in the
attack upon the villages, but Colonel Leavenworth reported that in making the
treaty of peace, he met with every possible obstacle which it was in the power
of that company to throw in his way. He was very indignant because of the
destruction of the Indian villages, and severely censured the officers of the Mis-
souri Fur Company for their interference, excepting from blame Capt. Henry
Vanderburg and Lieut. Moses B. Carson, of that company. These gentlemen, in
turn, stated that they were extremely mortified at having been selected as the
oJjject of Colonel Leavenworth's approbation, and claimed that he had left
impassable barriers to the restoration of peace. ]\Iajor Pilcher's criticism was
that the treaty of peace had been made before the Indians had been properly
punished.
In reply to these adverse views of Major Pilcher, Gen. Edmund Pendleton
158 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Gaines, in his report to tlie secretary of war, fully sustained Colonel Leaven-
worth, claiming it was his right and duty to determine the degree of punishment
due the enemy, and to dictate terms of capitulation, and insisting that the victory
most acceptable to the enlightened and victorious nation was that obtained at the
least expense of blood. The general-in-chief of the army, and the President also,
sustained Colonel Leavenworth.
It will be remembered that Lewis and Clark were received by the Arikaras
with cordial friendship. Their changed attitude was attributed to the influence
of the Sioux. They were dependent upon the Sioux for arms and ammunition
and were gradually led astray by tliem, and after the afl'air with Colonel Leaven-
worth, they became intensely bitter in their hostility.
Notwithstanding tlie outrage of the Blackfeet, there was no attempt made to
])unish them, and the Alissouri Fur Company soon afterward retired from the
Upper Missouri, and was succeeded by the American Fur Company, which had
posts at the Forks of the .Sheyenne, and three posts in the ^'alley of the James.
Lisa's Fort, occupied by him, and acquired liy Joshua Pilcher, the head of the
Missouri Fur Company in 1812, was on the right or south bank of the Missouri,
about twelve miles from Fort Clark. After the Leavenworth campaign Major
Pilcher named it Fort Vanderburg in honor of Capt. Henry \'anderburg.
THE PURPOSE OF THE C.\MPAIGN
The following extract from the dispatch of Alajor-General Gaines to the
United States secretary of war, dated July 28. 1823, discloses the real purpose
of the Leavenworth expedition :
"The trade itself, however valuable, is relatively little or nothing when com-
pared with the decided advantage of that harmonious influence or control, which
is acquired and preserved, in a degree, if not wholly, by the constant friendly
intercourse which the trade necessarily afifords, and by which it is principally cher-
ished and preserved. If we quietly give up this trade, we shall at once throw it.
and with it the friendship and physical power of near thirty thousand warriors,
into the arms of England, who has taught us in letters of blood (which we have
the magnanimity to forgive, but which it would be treason to forget), that this
trade forms rein and curb by which the turbulent and towering spirit of these
lords of the forest can alone be governed. I say alone, because I am decidedly
of the opinion that if there existed no such rivalship in the trade as that of the
English, with which we have always been obliged to contend, under the disad-
vantage of restrictions such as have never been imposed upon our rival adver-
sary, we should, with one-tenth the force and expense to which we have been
subjected, preserve the relations of peace with the Indians more efifectively than
they have been at any former period. But, to sufTer outrages such as have been
perpetrated by the Ricaras and Blackfeet Indians to go unpunished, would be
to surrender the trade, and with it our strong hold upon the Indians, to England."
MISSOURI RIVER TRADERS
Thomas Forsythe, a St. Louis trader, visited the Upper Missouri country in
1797. There was then a post known as "Trudeau's" or the Pawnee House, near
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 159
what is now Fort Randall. There were clerks representing British traders at the
Alandan villages near Knife River and at other points, but no permanent estab-
lishments.
Lewis and Clark, in 1804, found traders, mentioned elsewhere more particu-
larly, at the Arikara villag^es, and after they passed up the Missouri River
Loisell's post was established thirty-five miles below Fort Pierre in South Dakota,
and was found in full operation by them on their return from the Pacific coast
in 1806.
Ramsey Crooks, afterwards general agent of tl^e American Fur Company,
and Robert McClellan, were also found in the Missouri River trade at this time,
and Robert Dickson, then also operating at the headwaters of the Mississippi
and on the Minnesota River and at \'ermilion, midway between the mouth of the
James and that of the Vermilion River. There was a post also at the mouth of
the Big Sioux (now Sioux City) which forms part of the border line between
South Dakota and Iowa, with headwaters far above Sioux Falls.
Cedar Post, established and destroyed by fire as early as 1810, was near what
is now Chamberlain on the ^lissouri in South Dakota, on Cedar Island. Fort
Atkinson, in Nebraska, was near the Council BlufTs, which are in Iowa, about
twenty five miles above the modern city of that name, which is across the river
from Omaha. It was established in 1819 and abandoned in 1827, and was, in its
day, an important military post. St. Joseph, Mo., in the early history of the
fur trade was known as Black Snake Hills. J. P. Cabanna's early post was ten
miles above Omaha. This locality was the theater of activity in the fur trade
for many years.
A new post, built by the Missouri Fur Company in 1822, was known as Fort
Recovery. Charles Bent, Lucien Fontenelle and James Dripps were members of
this company. Dripps built several posts on the Missouri River. Fontenelle
went to the mountains and became prominent in the fur trade in that region,
shipping one season 6,000 pounds of beaver skins down the Yellowstone by macki-
naws. This fur was largely used in the manufacture of hats, until about 1834,
when silk came into use in its place. There was a trading post on the Missouri
known as Fort Lucien, but its exact location cannot now be given. One of the
early posts, known as Hanley's, was at Fort Randall, and Brasseau's was in the
same vicinity.
Fort Clark, mentioned in the Osage treaties of 1808 and 1822, was forty miles
below the mouth of the Kansas River where it joins the Missouri between
the states of Kansas and Missouri, and was subsequently known as Fort Osage.
Fort Lookout, built by the Columbia Fur Company in 1822, was on the west
bank of the Missouri near what is now Chamberlain, .S. Dak. There was an
Indian agency at this point for a number of years. This company had posts
at the mouths of the Niobrara. White, Cherry, James. Sheyenne, Little Sheyenne,
and Heart rivers.
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY
In March, 1822, .Andrew Henry and William H. Ashley advertised for and
obtained 100 young men to go to the source of the Missouri River, on a contract
of from one to three years. They left St. Louis on the 15th, in two keel boats.
160 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
One of the boats was sunk, and much property lost. Near the mouth of the
Yellowstone, the Assiniboines ran off about hfty head of horses that were being
led along the bank, compelling the party to stop at the mouth of the Yellowstone,
where they established a trading post. Out of this beginning grew the Rocky
Mountain Fur Company. The membership consisted of William H. Ashley,
Andrew Henry, Jedediah S. Smith, David E. Jackson, William L. Sublette,
Robert Campbell, James Bridger, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Samuel Tulloch, James
P. Beckworth, Etienne Provost, and others. Ashley, who takes various titles in
history, from captain to general, from his connection with the Missouri Militia,
was a member of Congress several times from Missouri, and at this time lieu-
tenant governor of that state. The number of men who lost their lives with the
Rocky Mountain Fur Company is estimated to be about one hundred.
April 14, 1822, President James Monroe granted a license to trade on the
Upper Missouri to Gen. William H. Ashley and j\Iaj. Andrew Henry. These
appointments caused considerable anxiety on the part of Gen. William Clark,
in his capacity of United States superintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis, and
to his anxious inquiries, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, then United States
secretary of war, expressed the hope that their conduct would be such as not to
disturb the peace and harmony then existing between the Government and the
Indians on the Missouri, but rather to strengthen and confirm them.
INDI.^N TREATIES OF 1825
Treaties between the United States and the Arikaras, Gros- Ventres, Mandans,
Sioux, and Poncas were made in 1825, by the authority of the United States
■Congress, through a commission composed of Gen. Henry Atkinson, United
States army, and Maj. Benjamin O'Fallon, United States Indian agent in charge
■of the Sioux on the Missouri River.
The commission left St. Louis March 25, 1825, arriving at Council Bluff's, on
the Missouri in Southwest Iowa, on the border of Nebraska, April 19th, and
remaining at that point until ]May 12th; their equipment consisting of eight keel
boats, supplied with sails, cordelles, poles and paddles.
The "cordelle" was a long line by which from twenty to forty men, on shore,
towed the boat when necessary. It was attached to the top of a high mast which
served to lift the line above the brush and other obstructions on the bank and
was the main reliance, especially when the current was strong and the winds
adverse.
The boats were named Beaver, Buffalo, Elk, Mink, Muskrat, Otter, Raccoon,
and White Bear, all familiar names in the fur trade, which governed the pre-
dominating thought on the frontier at that time.
There were in the expedition convoying the Indian Commissioners 476 men,
forty of whom were mounted and kept the boats company by land. Gen. Henry
Atkinson was in command of the expedition, with Col. Henry Leavenworth sec-
ond in command.
TRE.ATY WITH THE ARIKARAS
The expedition arrived at the Arikara villages July i8th, and a treaty with
the tribe was concluded, in which they agreed to remain at peace with the whites,
io surrender to the United States authorities any one trading unlawfully in the
STEAMER JOSEPHINE
Type of Missouri River Steamboats, 1876.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 161
Indian country, and to aid in apprehending horse thieves, with which the country
was infested. Since then they have been at peace with the whites.
After this treaty, the Arikaras recognized the right of the Sioux to the country
south of the Cannonball River, which joins the Missouri south of Mandan and
Bismarck, and retired to the Knife River region, northwest of that point, which
they have continued to occupy.
The expedition arrived at the Mandan villages on the 26th of July, where
they made treaties of the same import with the Mandans, Gros-Ventres, and
Crows. Trouble was imminent with the Crows at this point. They had found
the cannon unguarded, and had succeeded in spiking it with mud, rendering it
useless for the time being, and had become very insolent and unreasonable in
their demands; whereupon Major O'Fallon knocked one chief down with his
pistol, and Interpreter Edward Rose broke his gunstock over the head of another.
General Atkinson assembled his troops at once, and the affair was over.
They left the Mandan villages August 6th, and arriving at the mouth of the
Yellowstone on the 17th, found three sides of General Ashley's fort, established
in 1822, standing, and relative to the site it was recorded in the journal:
"The position is the most beautiful spot we have seen on the river; being a
tongue of land between the two rivers, a perfectly level plain, elevated above high
water, and extending back to a gentle ascent at a distance of two miles."
General Ashley, with twenty-four men, came down the Yellowstone while
they were there, on his way to St. Louis, and went down the river with General
Atkinson. He had 100 packs of beaver; a "pack" containing about eighty skins,
dependent upon the size of the skin. A portion of the expedition had been
120 miles above the mouth of the Yellowstone, in the hope of meeting and
treating with the Assiniboines, but those Indians were absent on the summer
hunt. The expedition left the mouth of the Yellowstone August 26th, on their
return trip, which was accomplished without having had any trouble with
the Indians.
General Atkinson reported that he found no interference by the British of
any sort. He did not favor the establishment of a military post in that region,
but if that policy should be adopted, he recommended the mouth of the Yellow-
stone as the proper place for it, and that a dependent post be established near
Great Falls.
In all the treaties made with the Indians by General Atkinson and Major
Benjamin O'Fallon, embracing the Poncas, Sioux, Mandans, Gros-Ventres, and
Arikaras, it was stipulated that the Indians might be accommodated with such
articles of merchandise, etc., as their necessities might demand, and the United
States agreed to admit and license traders, under mild and equitable regulations,
the Indians agreeing to protect such persons.
The leading idea of the treaties was trade with the Indians, and the pro-
tection of the persons engaged in it. There was no thought of benefitting or
civilizing the Indian.
MORE RECENT TRE.'VTIES
Under these treaties the United States, in a measure at least, became re-
sponsible for the debts of the Indians to the traders, and as a result of the
162 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
treaty of 1837, with the Sioux, $go,ooo was appropriated for the payment of
such debts. One hundred thousand dollars was provided for the same purpose
in the treaty with the Sacs and Foxes, and $2oo,(X)0 to the Winnebagos, and,
in 1851. $495,000 was provided to pay the debts of the Sioux to their traders;
the distribution of the latter sum becoming the leading element in the Sioux
massacre of 1862.
It is the old story over again — the loss of homes to pay for unnecessary and
unwise expenditure of borrowed money, or goods purchased on credit — for in
ail cases the money was taken from the purchase price of the Indian lands,
and was claimed by their creditors.
INDIAN DEBTS TO TRADEKS
Illustrating the credit system which these treaties tended to encourage, an
imported three-point blanket costing $3.50, was sold to the Indians at $10, to
be paid for in furs at traders' prices; guns costing $13, were sold for $30;
gunpowder costing 20 cents a pound, was sold at $1, and all other goods
required by the Indians at proportionate prices. The Indian dollars were
in the form of furs ; one buckskin, one or two doe skins, or four rat skins,
being acceptable for a dollar. Three dollars were allowed for an otter skin,
and $2 a pound for beaver skins. The price for goods was about one-half lower
when the Indians returned in the spring with their catch of furs, and could
exchange furs in hand for goods.
It was estimated that if the traders were paid the full credit price for
one-fourth of the goods they sold in that way, they would be amply remunerated
for all goods sold on credit.
The usual articles of merchandise taken into the Indian country were three-
point blankets, red and blue in color, red and blue stroud — a coarse cloth for
clothing — domestic calicos, rifles, shotguns, gunpowder, flints, lead, hoes, axes,
tomahawks, knives, looking-glasses, red and green paint, copper, brass and tin
kettles, beaver and other traps, bridles, saddles, spurs, silver ornaments, beads,
thread, needles, wampum, horses, etc.
There was a struggle among all the traders to obtain the beaver skins.
Thomas Biddle, writing from personal knowledge of the fur trade, to Gen.
Henry Atkinson, gives the following account of the bickerings between traders : —
"The Indians, witnessing the eflforts of these people to cheat and injure each
other, and knowing no more important white men, readily imbibe the idea that
all white men are bad. The imposing appearance of the army equipment of the
white men (reference to the Yellowstone Expedition of i8ig), and the novelty
and convenience of their merchandise, had impressed the Indians with a high
idea of their power and importance, but the avidity with which beaver skins are
sought after, the tricks and wrangling made use of, and the degradations sub-
mitted to in obtaining them, have induced a belief that the whites cannot exist
without them, and have made a great change in their opinion of our importance,
our justice, and our power."
A GROUP OF OLD TIME TRADERS
Colonel Robert Wilson, seated: Left to right standing; John Smitli
"Jack"' Morrow, A. C. Leighton
I
— WUMMMiI
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA I6S
INDIAN OPPOSITION TO SETTLERS
The ability of the Indians to find a ready market for their furs^ and other
products of the chase, and to obtain credit, led them to bitterly oppose the
encroachment of settlers, and in this they were encouraged by tlie traders,,
whose interests were identical with the Indians' in this respect. In some
instances the Indians refused annuities due them from the United States
Government, and murdered their fellow tribesmen for accepting presents from,
the United States officials, believing that they had, in some manner, betrayed
their interests.
It was under the influence of the traders that they refused to make treaties,,
and under pressure from them that they consented, when it was possible to.
realize considerable sums to pay alleged debts, due from the Indians to the
traders.
THE COLUMBIA FUR COMPANY
When the Hudson's Bay and North-West companies consolidated irr r82T,.
about nine hundred men were thrown out of employment, and a number of
these sought connection with American companies. The Columbia Fur Company
was organized by Joseph Renville, a trader found on the Minnesota River by
Pike's expedition in 1805, from men experienced in the fur trade. Though
having a small capital, with headquarters at Lake Traverse, on the northeast
border of South Dakota, where Renville had been engaged in trade previous to
the War of 1812, they established a line of posts on the JMissouri River in 1822;
among the number Fort Tecumseh at the mouth of Bad River, in Central South
Dakota^afterwards changed in location and named Fort Pierre, occupying land-
across the river from Pierre, the capital of South Dakota. The Premeam
House was located on the west side of the Missouri near the present Northi
Dakota state line, Fort Defiance established by discharged employees of tha-
American Fur Company being known as Harvey, Premeau & Company, was"
located at the mouth of Medicine Knoll Creek, which is northeast of Pierre six
miles above the Big Bend of the Missouri. There were, also, Fort Bonis, at the
mouth of the Cannonball, and Mitchell's Post, near the present site of Bismarck
on the land afterwards entered as a homestead by J. O. Simmons. They also
had a post near Mandan, on the Heart River, where there were large Indian
villages, abandoned as a result of war with the Sioux and disease; the remaining
Indians removing up to the Knife River where they were followed by the
traders. Licenses were issued for the Arikara villages and for the Heart River
as late as 1831. William Laidlaw and Kenneth McKenzie, former employees oF
the Hudson's Bay Company, were active in the developmerrt of the interests of '
the Columbia Fur Company, afterwards becoming permanently established at
Pierre and Fort Union in connection with the American Fur Company.
The trading posts were called "forts" because they were almost invariably
fortified, in order to guard against attack, and to afford shelter to friend'y ■
Indians, who might come to the fort to trade, if pursued by their enenr^s. .
There were usually two bastions or block-houses on diagonal corners, built of
logs or stone, equipped with both artillery and musketry, so arranged that every. ■
front could be raked by the fire from the fort, in case of attack.
164 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Fort Clark was on the west side of the Jvlissouri River, near Fort Mandan,
built by Lewis and Clark. Tilton's Fort, built by James Kipp in 1822, stood a
little above Fort Clark. Its abandonment was forced in 1823, by the hostility
of the Arikaras, and in 1825 Kipp re-established a post at the mouth of the
White Earth River, northwest of the Fort Berthold Indian Agency, which was
sold to the American Fur Company in 1827.
DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY
Teton River post, at the mouth of the Bad River, near Fort Pierre, was
owned by P. D. Papin, Henry Picotte and Carre Brothers, under the firm name
of P. D. Papin & Company. The post was built in 1828-29, and sold to the
American Fur Company in 1833, Picotte thereafter becoming one of the man-
agers of their vast interests on the Missouri with headquarters at Fort Pierre.
Sublette & Campbell also had a post in this vicinity established about this time
and sold, in 1833, to the American Fur Company.
^In a letter to Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, dated October 24, 1831, Thomas
Forsythe spoke of the several divisions of the American Fur Company — details
of whose organization have been previously given — operating above St. Louis.
The division of Joseph Rolette, of Pembina and Prairie du Chien fame, in-
cluded all the Indians from the Dubuque mines to a point above Fort St.
Anthony, now Fort Snelling, and up the St. Peters River (now Minnesota),
to its source, and also all Indians in the Wisconsin and upper part of Rock
River region. J. P. Cabanna had the Indians below Council Bluffs, and August
P. Chouteau had the Indians in the Osage country. Mr. Rolette procured his
goods at Mackinaw, at the head of Lake Michigan, and shipped them by
mackinaw boats across Lake Michigan, through Green Bay and the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers in Central Wisconsin, to Prairie du Chien on the east bank
of the Mississippi River. From Prairie du Chien they were forwarded up the
Mississippi by keel-boats and by smaller boats to other points.
Fort George, twenty-one miles below Fort Pierre, was built by Ebbitt &
Cutting in 1842, for Fox, Livingston & Company, and like the other establish-
ments became a part of the American Fur Company's trade monopoly.
COLTER AND FINK: CHARACTER SKETCHES
Colter and Fink are samples of the characters who sought the frontier under
the stimulating influence of the fur trade, or to take advantage of the oppor-
tunity to get beyond the restraint of law.
JOHN colter's RACE FOR LIFE
John Colter was a soldier with the Lewis and Clark expedition, and re-
quested and received his discharge on his return to the Mandan villages, desiring
to remain in the Indian country. He was the first to explore the headwaters of
the Yellowstone.
At one time he traveled over five hundred miles among the Indians, returning
unharmed, but on another occasion he was robbed of all his clothing and of
Photo by Sweet. Miiiiieapnlis
VIEW OF MINOT IN 1887
THE BONE INDUSTRY, MINOT, 1889
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 165
every means of defense and of subsistence and turned out on the prairie, with
500 yards the start, and told to run !
He was followed by several hundred whooping, yelling savages, and outran
them all, followed to the last by one Indian who stumbled and fell, when Colter
turned on him and killed him with his own weapon. Thereafter he was on the
prairie several days before he reached safety.
MICKIE FINK, OUTLAW
Mike Fink, or Alickie Phinck, as he usually wrote his own name, joined
Ashley's expedition to the Yellowstone, in 1822.
At Pittsburgh he was barred from the turkey shoots, being an expert shot,
and at St. Louis he had a court record for paring a negro's heel with a ' shot
from his rifle, because he thought it would look better after such an operation.
He had two chums, one named Carpenter and the other Talbot. It was their
custom to entertain their associates by each in turn shooting a cup of whiskey
from the other's head.
Finally they quarreled, and in due time their reconciliation was announced,
and Fink, as evidence of their renewed confidence in each other, suggested the
cup of whiskey test. The first shot fell to Fink, and Carpenter took his place
without flinching, though not without fear, for he knew his man. As Carpenter
fell, shot through the forehead. Fink remarked: "Carpenter, you've spilled
the whiskey." He then deliberately blew the smoke out of his rifle barrel, and,
finally, as he felt compelled to say something, cursed the whiskey, cursed his
rifle, and cursed himself.
Later he boasted that he killed Carpenter purposely, and Talbot killed him
on the spot. Talbot came to his death by drowning.
The vigilance committees organized in Montana in connection with the de-
velopment of the mim'ng industries, disposed of a number of the lawless char-
acters infesting this region, and the early courts at Bismarck convicted many
and sent them to the penitentiary at Fort Madison, la.
CHAPTER XII
THE CONQUEST OF THE MISSOURI— CONTINUED
FORTY YEARS IN THE HANDS OF INDIAN TRADERS KENNETH m'keNZIE, "kING
OF THE UPPER MISSOURI*' FORT UNION ESTABLISHED FIRST STEAMBOATS ON
THE UPPER MISSOURI FORTS GLARK, m'keNZIE, MORTIMER AND BUFORD
BATTLE OF FORT m'keNZIE THE USES AND ABUSES OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR
IN THE FUR TRADE THE SMALLPOX SCOURGE OF 1837, AND CHOLERA EPIDEMIC
OF 1845 OUTLAWS — BEAR RIB PAYS THE INDIAN PENALTY FOR TREASON.
They are slaves who will not choose
Hatred, scoffing and abuse,
Rather than in silence shrink
' From the truth they needs must think :
They are slaves who dare not be
In the right with two or three.
— James Russell Lozvell.
Lewis and Clark, the explorers, as shown in Chapter Y, Tart One, found the
natural inclination of the Indians disposed them to hospitality; their first impulse
being to offer food with a greeting in words of friendship for the white men.
They were eager for trade that would enable them to obtain means of defense
against other tribes, and the articles and implements essential to their comfort
and development in Indian life; but under the influence of the Indian trade, as it
was prosecuted, their disposition changed and their attitude generally became
one of unrelenting hostility.
For forty years the Upper :\Iissouri region was without law, without the
influence of schools or churches; given over to an inordinate desire for gain,
and to the unrestrained passions of men. Not until Dr. Walter A. Burleigh,
and other Indian agents commenced the culture of grain, and the missionaries
gained a foothold, was there the slightest advance toward civilization.
"the UPPER MISSOURI OUTFIT*'
Among the traders who joined Joseph Renville in the organization of the
Columbia Fur Company, consolidated with the American Fur Company in 1827,
to whom allusion has been made, were Kenneth McKenzie and William Laidlaw.
The latter had charge of their business at Fort Tecumseh and vicinity, and the
Upper Missouri was placed in charge of Kenneth McKenzie. Their organiza-
tion was a part of the American Fur Company and was known as the Upper
Missouri Outfit. Daniel Lamont was a member of this organization. Their
166
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 167
headquarters were at Fort Tecumseh, built in 1822, at the mouth of Bad River,
moved to higher ground in 1832, and christened Fort Pierre.
Kenneth McKenzie left St. Paul in the spring of 1828, with fifty men, to
build a trading post at the mouth of the Yellowstone. The point selected for
the post was on the north bank of the Missouri River, almost directly on the line
between the present states of Montana and North Dakota, on the identical spot
where Mondak, Mont., now stands. Mondak was named "Mon" for Montana
and "dak'' for Dakota, established as a rival to Buford, and across the line in
Montana in order to avoid the prohibition laws of North Dakota. The post
was called Fort Union, as it was intended to bring all the lines of trade to a
union at that point. The goods for the Upper Missouri Outfit were shipped
aniuially from New York to St. Louis, and thence on, up the river by boats
owned by the company, to Fort Pierre, Fort Union, and other Uppei Missouri
River points.
Fort Union was 200 feet square ; the stockade built of logs i foot in diameter,
12 feet in height, set perpendicularly, the lower end two feet in the ground.
There were two block-house bastions, 12 feet square, pierced with loopholes, on
diagonal corners of the fort. There was one opening, a gate of two leaves,
12 feet wide, and in one of the leaves there was a small gate 33^ by 5 feet. As
described by Edwin T. Denig, for many years bookkeeper at the fort, in a letter
to John James Audubon, the celebrated ornithologist, who visited it in the
summer of 1843, and remained two months and four days in the vicinity; —
"The fort was destroyed by fire, in 1831, and rebuilt that year, the bastions,
30 feet high, being built of stone surmounted by a pyramid roof. There were
two stories, and the upper one had a balcony for observation. A banquette
extended around the inner wall. The entrance was large, and secured by a
powerful gate, changed to a double gate in 1837, on account of the dangerous
disposition of the Indians because of the smallpox epidemic.
"On the opposite side of the square from the entrance was the house of the
liourgeois, or master, a well-built, commodious two-story structure, with glass
windows, fireplace, and other modern conveniences. Around the square were
the barracks of the employees, the storehouses, workshops, stables, a cut stone
powder-magazine capable of holding 50,000 pounds, and a reception room for the
Indians. In the center of the court was a tall flag-stafif, around which were the
leathern tents of half-breeds in the service of the company. Near the flag-staff
stood one or two cannon trained upon the entrance of the fort. Somewhere
inside of the inclosure was the famous distillery of 1833-34 (built, as will be
seen, by McKenzie). All of the buildings were of cottonwood lumber, and
everything was of unusually elaborate character."
In connection with the description of the house it was said: — "In the upper
story are at present located Mr. Audubon and his suite. Here from the pencils
of Mr. Audubon and ]\Ir. (Isaac) Sprague emanate the splendid paintings and
drawings of animals and plants which are the admiration of all, and the Indians
regard them as marvelous and almost to be worshipped."
Fort Union always had a large force of clerks, artisans, and others employed
about the place, and was the most extensively equipped of any trading post. It
was built for trade with the Assiniboines, as well as a distributing point.
In May, 1867, the material used in the construction of this famous old trading
168 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
post, was sold to Capt. William Galloway Rankin of the Thirteenth United
States Infantry, then stationed at Fort Union, and used in the construction of
Fort Buford. Charles Larpenteur, first mentioned in Part One in connection
with bufifalo hunting, who had been at Fort Union most of the time since 1833,
engaged in the Indian trade, was the last trader at Fort Union, and traded that
year 2,000 buffalo robes, 900 elk hides, 1,800 deer skins, and 1,000 wolf pelts;
total value, $5,000. After Fort Union was dismantled, he built an adobe building
at that point, 96 feet long, but finding it necessary to move to Buford, he built
a log building there 120 feet in length.
FORT BUFORD
The Fort Buford reservation was extended to 30 miles square, by executive
order promulgated through Headquarters Department of Dakota, July 16, 1868.
In 1 87 1, Alvin C. Leighton was appointed post trader at Fort Buford,
arriving on the steamer Ida Reese, May 5, 1871 ; and May 8th, that year, the
opposition stores were closed, and May 14th, Charles Larpenteur left on the
steamer Andrew Ackley.
KING OF THE UPPER MISSOURI
Kenneth McKenzie was fond of display, and wore a uniform of blue with
gold braid. He was known as the "King of the Upper Missouri." At one time
he ordered from England a coat of mail, but for what purpose never developed.
His difficulties in tr\'ing to secure liquor, which he deemed absolutely essential
to his trade, caused him to retire and engage in the liquor business at St. Louis,
with a capital of $60,000 as his share of the profit from the Upper Missouri trade.
During a trip to Europe he was represented by J. Archibald Hamilton, and
was finally succeeded by Alexander Culbertson, in 1835. In 1845, new opposi-
tion iiaving developed, in the firm of Harvey, Premeau & Company, he returned
to Fort Union and remained until the following spring.
His son, Owen McKenzie, born of an Indian wife, developed considerable
ability, but was dissipated, and was killed by Malcolm Clark on one of the
company's boats near Fort Union, in 1863. He had been in charge of a trading
post at the mouth of the White Earth River, an important point for trade, for a
number of years. Dissatisfied with the action of Clark, who tlien represented
the American Fur Company, an assault was made and he was killed in self-
defense.
THE YELLOWSTONE FIRST STEAMBOAT ON THE UPPER MISSOURI
Before the advent of the steamboat the furs had been sent down the river by
mackinaws to St. Louis, where they were collected, weighed, repacked, and
shipped by steamboat to New Orleans, and thence to New York. Here they
were unpacked, made into bales, and shipped to Europe: excepting some of the
finest, particularly the otter, for which China afforded the best market.
McKenzie's success had been so great in opening up trade on the Upper Mis-
souri, that he urged that a steamboat be built for that trade. The American Fur
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 169
Company having adopted his recommendation, the Yellowstone was built at
Louisville, Kentucky, in 1830, and left St. Louis on its first up-river trip April
16, 1831, in command of Capt. B. Young, arriving at Fort Tecumseh, June 19th,
and returning to St. Louis with a full cargo of furs.
March 26, 1832, this vessel left on her second trip up the Missouri River,
reaching Fort Tecumseh May 31st, where she remained several days, in the
meantime the fort's location and name being changed to Fort Pierre, named for
Pierre Chouteau, who was a passenger on the boat which went on to Fort Union.
This was the first steamboat to reach the mouth of the Yellowstone River. She
returned to Fort Pierre June 25th, having made a successful trip, and thereafter
annual trips were made by American Fur Company steamboats to Fort Union.
The Indians called the Yellowstone the "fire boat that walks on the water,"
and were so enthusiastic over the trip that they declared they would trade no
more with the Hudson's Bay Company, which, up to that time, had the major
portion of the trade of the Blackfeet and Assiniboines.
STE.VMER ASSINIEOINE — FIRST STEAMER ABOVE THE YELLOWSTONE
The steamer Assiniboine accompanied the steamer Yellowstone on its annual
trip to Fort Union in 1833, having Prince Maximilian for a passenger. She
continued her trip some distance above the Yellowstone but was forced into win-
ter quarters by low water, and during the winter her crew built Fort Assiniboine.
She was burned at Sibley Island in May, 1835, on her down trip.
FORT ASSINIBOINE
Fort Assiniboine, built by the crew of the steamer Assiniboine in enforced
winter quarters, was occupied that winter by Daniel Lamont, whose party secured
in trade from the Indians 170 red foxes, 1,646 prairie foxes, 18 cross foxes, 74
badgers, 269 muskrats, 89 white wolves, 196 white hares, 5 swan skins, 4,200
bufifalo robes, 37 dressed bufifalo cow skins, 12 dressed calf skins, 450 salted
tongues, 3,500 pounds of dried meat. The fort was abandoned in the spring
of 1835, and was burned by the Indians. Its exact location is not now known, but
it marked the first advance of steam navigation above the mouth of the Yel-
lowstone.
THE ANNUAL STEAMBOAT
For the nearly forty years that Fort Union was maintained as a trading post,
the arrivals of the annual boat were events which were considered worthy of
detailed description by Capt. Hiram M. Chittenden in his "History of the Amer-
ican Fur Trade": "On these occasions," he says, "the dreary routine of the
trader's life suddenly changed to unwonted activity. The long looked-for annual
boat was in sight! — the great event of the year — with news from the outside
world, and all of the business matters that made up the purpose of the journey.
"The fort manned its guns (for it had several small cannon mounted in the
bastions), and a hearty salute was fired. The boat vigorously responded. Every-
body about the fort crowded to the scene, the bourgeois, for whom a respectful
space was made in the crowd, and the clerks, artisans, storekeepers, groups of
170 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
free trappers, and bands of Indians, forming in all as wild and motley a crowd
as a boat ever met in port.
'Immediately upon landing, and even before the interchange of salutations
was complete, the unloading of the cargo was begun. No time was to be lost in
the navigation of the Missouri. Should the spring rise go down before the return
of the boat, she would have to stay up all the year, as happened with the steamer
Assiniboine in 1834-5.
"Night and day the roustabouts (deck hands) of the boat and the engagees
(employees) of the fort, were busy carrying off the goods and carrying on the
furs. A banquet on the boat, and another with the bourgeois, completed the fes-
tivities, and almost before the denizens of the fort had taken their eyes from
the strange visitor, she hauled in her lines, and was speeding back to St. Louis."
From St. Louis to Fort Union was 1,760 miles. From a record kept by
Charles Larpenteur from 1841 to 1847 the average speed of the steamboats from
St. Louis to Fort L'nion was forty- four miles a day for the up trip and 123 miles
for the down trip; the time for the up trip ranging from eighty days in 1841 to
forty days in 1847, 'i^d for the down trip from thirty-one days in 1845 to four-
teen days in 1847. O" the down trip in 1832 the steamer Yellowstone carried
1,300 packs of robes and beaver. The weight of beaver shipped July 11 that year
was 10,230 lb., and they expected to take on 120 to 130 packs from Pierre. Lucien
Fontenelle left Fort Union that year on September 24th with 6,000 lb. of beaver
from the Yellowstone, shipped in mackinaws as stated in Chapter XI.
FORT CLARK
Fort Clark was established in 1830 by James Kipp — previously mentioned as
having also built Tilton's Fort — under the direction of Kenneth McKenzie, for
the jMandan trade. It was on the right or south bank of the Missouri River,
fifty-five miles above the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge at Bismarck, on a bluff,
in an angle of the river, on the opposite side of the river from Fort Alandan —
built by Lewis and Clark in 1804 — and was named for Governor William Clark,
the Captain Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The fort was 132 by 147
feet, substantially built, and one of the most important posts on the ^Missouri
River, aside from Fort Union.
Having been abandoned by the traders, who had moved to Fort Berthokl, it
was in the possession of the Arikaras in 1862, when, most of the warriors being
absent on their winter hunt, it was attacked by the Sioux and entirely destroyed.
The last vestige of the Mandan villages, later known as the "Ree" Village, having
disappeared, the Arikaras joined the Alandans and Gros-\"entres (Hidatsa) at
Fort Berthokl.
FORT PIEGAN
In 1 83 1 James Kipp built Fort Piegan for the Black feet trade, at the mouth
of the Marias River, and when he went down the river with his furs, the next
spring, it was burned by the Indians.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 171
Through an interpreter, Jacob Derger, who had become acquainted with the
Blackfeet when in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, Mr. McKenzie suc-
ceeded in getting the Ulackfeet and Assiniboines to make a treaty of peace. The
treaty is dated November 29, 183 1, and was made at Fort Union. McKenzie
represented the Black feet, who had been at war for many years with the Assini-
boines, and was mentioned in the treaty as Governor McKenzie, ambassador of
the Blackfeet, Piegans and Bloods, and the Indian parties were designated "Lords
of the soil extending from the banks of the great waters unto the tops of the
mountains upon which the heavens rest," and they solemnly covenanted to "make,
preserve and cherish a firm and lasting peace, that so long as the waters run or the
grass grows, they may hail each other as brothers, and smoke the calumet of
friendship and security, and forever live in peace and as brothers in one happy
family." Tahatka, also known as Gauche, was a party to this treaty.
As a result of this treaty, in 1831, David D. Mitchell established Fort
AIcKenzie, si.x miles above the mouth of the Marias River and a few miles only
from the point which afterwards became Fort Benton, the head of navigation on
the Missouri River. It was built in the regulation manner, 140 feet square, with
an exceptionally strong gate, and stood 120 feet back from the river.
The returns from P'ort McKenzie for the season of 1834-5 were 9,000 buffalo
robes, 1,020 beaver, 40 otter, 2,800 muskrat, 180 wolves, 200 red foxes, 1,500
prairie dogs, 19 bears, 390 buffalo tongues brought down to Fort Union by keel
boats and mackinaws with a force of thirty-five men.
From the first the fort promised excellent results, and was maintained until
1843, when, through the wanton murder of three Indians by inmates of the post
(Chardon and Harvey), its abandonment was forced, and its site is now known
as Brule Bottom. Harvey murdered the wounded and scalped them, and forced
the squaws in the fort to execute the scalp dance about their remains. After-
wards Harvey deliberately murdered one of his co-employees, at Fort Union, and
flourishing his gun, which was yet smoking, shouted : "I, Alexander Harvey, have
killed the Spaniard. If there are any friends of his that want to take it up, let
them come on !"
Maximilian's visit
The annual boat which arrived at Fort Union in 1833 brought a distinguished
visitor in the person of Maximilian, Prince of Wied. There was accompanying
him an artist of the name of Charles Bodmer. They were visiting at Fort
McKenzie when a number of Blackfeet, or Piegans, a tribe of the Blackfeet con-
federacy, were encamped about the post.
BATTLE OF FORT m'keNZIE
The Piegans had been drinking heavily of intoxicating liquors, and singing
most of the night, and early in the morning of August 28, 1833, they were attacked
by the Assiniboines without the slightest warning, and many of them killed before
they could be aroused from their slumbers. The gate of the post was thrown
open, and they were hurried into the fort as rapidly as possible, though some
were killed at the very gates before the defense was fully organized, the women
172 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
having blockaded the gate by crowding into the narrow passage-way with their
burden of horse and camp equipment of every nature.
Maximilian thus describes the thrilling scene : "As fast as the Piegans got
in, they mounted the palisades and opened fire. When it was found that the
attack was intended for the Blackfeet, and not for the whites, Mitchell ordered
the men to stop firing. Two of the employees, however, persisted in firing, and
went outside and killed a nephew of the principal chief.
"While all of this was passing, the court yard of the fort presented a very
strange scene. A number of wounded men, w^omen, and children were laid or
placed against the walls ; others in a deplorable condition were pulled about by
their relatives amid tears and lamentations. White Buffalo, whom I have men-
tioned, and who received a wound in the back of his head, was carried in this
manner, amid singing, howling, and crying. They rattled the scliischikitc (sic)
in his ears, that the evil spirit might not overcome him, and gave him brandy to
drink. He, himself, though stupefied, sang without intermission, and would not
give himself up to the evil spirits. Otsequa-Stomik, an old man of my acquaint-
ance, was wounded in the knee by a ball which a woman cut out with a pen-
knife, during which operation he did not betray the least symptom of pain.
Natan-Otanee, a handsome young man with whom we became acquainted on our
visit to Kutonaoi, was suffering dreadfully from severe wounds. Several Indians,
especially young women, were likewise wounded. We endeavored to assist the
wounded, and Mr. Mitchell distributed balsam, and linen for bandages, but very
little could be done. Instead of suffering the wounded who were exhausted by
loss of blood to take some rest, their relatives continuously pulled them about,
sounded large bells, and rattled their medicines or amulets, among which were
the bear's paw's which White Bufl'alo wore on his breast.
"Only a spectator of this extraordinary scene could form any idea of the con-
fusion and noise, which was increased by the loud report of the musketry, the
moving backward and forward of the people carrying powder and ball, and the
turmoil occasioned by about twenty horses shut up in the fort."
The main body of the Blackfeet was ten miles away, and messengers having
been sent hurriedly for their help (to quote from Maximilian), "They came
galloping in. grouped from three to twenty together, their horses covered with
foam, and they, themselves, in the finest of apparel, with all kinds of ornaments
and arms, bows and quivers on their backs, guns in their hands, furnished with
their medicines, with feathers on their heads ; some had splendid crowns of black
and white eagle feathers, and a large hood of feathers hanging down behind,
sitting on fine panther skins lined with red ; the upper part of their bodies partly
naked, with a long strip of wolf skin thrown across their shoulders, and carry-
ing shields adorned with feathers and pieces of colored cloth. A truly original
sight."
The Assiniboines, who proved to be the best fighters, finally withdrew toward
the Bear Paw Mountains, only retiring when their ammunition was exhausted.
M.AXIMILIAN, PRINCE OF WIED
Alexander Philip Maximilian, Prince of Wied (Neuwied), was a major-gen-
eral in the army and a scientific author of distinction in Rhenish Prussia. He
HORSE RACING OF SIOUX INDIANS
From a painting by Cliarles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
FORT MACKENZIE, AUGUST 38, 1833
From a painting by Charles Bodmer from "Travels to the Interior of North America in
1833-3-4," by Maximilian, Prince of Wied, 1843.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 173
came to North America as a naturalist in 1832, arriving in Boston on the Fourth
of July, and returned to Europe on a Havre packet from New York on July 16,
1834. His "Travels in the Interior of North America," in three volumes, trans-
lated from the German by Hannibal Evans Lloyd, were published in 1843. He
brought with him a skillful illustrator, Charles Bodmer, a Swiss artist, from
whose sketches plates were engraved and reproduced in the work.
From the translated preface of Maximilian to his great work, the following '
data are taken: At St. Louis on April 10, 1833, the party joined a fur-trading
expedition on its annual trip by the steamer Yellowstone to the posts of the Upper
Missouri, by the advice of Gen. William Clark and Maj. Benjamin O'Fallon.
On the 22d they were at Fort Leavenworth, and on the 2d cf Alay reached Belle-
vue, just below the present Omaha. May i8th they had the first sight of buffalo,
and arrived at Fort Pierre, the company's main post, among the Sioux the last
of May.
At Fort Pierre the travelers were transferred from the Yellowstone to the
Assiniboine, a more recently-built boat and larger, but with a lighter draft. The
description of this, "the first steamer above the Yellowstone," on a former page,
embraces the item that the prince was on board. Passing the Arikara villages,
they steamed into the land of the Mandans and the Minnitaree (Hidatsa), where,
on June i8th, they landed at the company's post. Fort Clark, remaining there one
day, and then moving up to the mouth of the Yellowstone River, where Fort
Union was reached on the 24th of June. Two weeks were passed at Fort Union,
and then they embarked on a keel-boat, and continued their journey to Fort Mc-
Kenzie at the mouth of the Marias River among the Blackfeet. During their stay
there of two months, they were initiated into the mysteries of the fur trade,
and witnessed the battle between the Blackfeet (Piegans) and Assiniboines, as
described in notes quoted, and Maximilian observes that the song of the Assini-
boine warriors resembled that of the Russian soldiers heard in the winter of
1813-1814.
In company with Toussaint Charbonneau, Lewis and Clark's former inter-
preter, they attended various ceremonies, dances and feasts, sketched many por-
traits of the chiefs, and studied the manners and customs. The succeeding winter
was spent at Fort Clark, and on the breaking up of the ice the following spring
they went down the river, and May i8th were at Fort Leavenworth. Coming
down in the Assiniboine, there was a fire on the steamer (at Sibley Island, near
Bismarck), and much of their collection, which was uninsured, was destroyed,
in view of which contingency the prince advises other travelers to insure their
collections. They went east, homeward bound, by way of Niagara Falls and
New York.
In the author's preface he declares that the works of American writers on
this subject, with the exception of Cooper and Washington Irving, "cannot be
taken into account," as in writing for their countrymen they "take it for granted
that their readers are well acquainted with the country." He has "endeavored
to supply the deficiency to the best of his ability," but "a faithful and vivid pic-
ture of these countries and the original inhabitants can never be placed before
the eye without the aid of a fine portfolio of plates by the hand of a skillful
artist."
The journal of Alexander Culbertson, then a young fur-trade clerk, confirms
174 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
these interesting reminiscences of Prince Maximilian. Culbertson accompanied
the prince from Fort Union to Fort McKenzie, and says the prince was from
"Coblentz on the Rhine." Kenneth McKenzie, subsequently, visited him at his,
palace at Coblentz. He was in this country hunting for experience and oppor-
tunity to view frontier life, and with his presence at the battle of Fort McKen-.
zie, and the hardships endured in his camp at Fort Clark the following winter, it
may be assumed that he got his full measure of experience, which enabled him to.
write so entertainingly and accurately of the Indians. He also published a book
entitled "A Systematic View of Plants Collected on a Tour on the Missouri
River,'' and his library and collections are among the chief treasures of Neuwied.
He died in 1867, at the age of eighty-five.
CH.-\RDON AND HARVEY
Francois A. Chardon had charge of Fort McKenzie for some years, and his
colored servant having been killed by the Indians, he planned to attack them when
they should next come to the post to trade. Accordingly, Alexander Harvey^
one of the most desperate men in the fur trade, as has been shown, acting in con-
cert with Chardon, trained the post cannon on the gate, and was to fire the
moment the gate was opened, when it was expected the Indians would flee in a
panic and abandon the rich furs which they had brought for trade. The gate
was thrown open, Chardon began firing, but Harvey's shot being delayed a
moment, the Indians scattered and but three were killed and three wounded.
Chardon scarcely dared go beyond the gates of the fort after that, and the
post was finally abandoned ; the company feeling obliged to dispense with the
services of Harvey, who established an opposition company known as Harvey,
Premeau & Company, in 1845, as stated, with headquarters at Fort Defiance,
previously mentioned as located six miles above the Big Bend of the Missouri,
and continued in business several years.
The uneasiness of the Blackfeet, however, was attributed by Laidlaw of the
Upper Missouri Outfit, who was then at Fort Union, to "certain retrenchments
of liquor heretofore given them in their ceremonies, the discontinuance of which
has become absolutely necessary for the better regulation of that post."
Sublette's fort willi.\m
In 1833 McKenzie's success had been so great that furs valued at upwards of
$500,000 were shipped from the Upper Missouri. This led to competition, and
that fall William L. Sublette and Robert Campbell, spoken of in relation to a
division of the American Fur Company, established a new post at the mouth of
the Yellowstone on almost the identical spot where Fort Buford was later built.
They put in an immense stock of goods, hired popular clerks and interpreters,
who had formerly worked for McKenzie, and a fierce rivalry was the result ;
McKenzie giving his men authority to use any means necessary to hold the trade,
and to pay any price necessary to obtain it. As high as $12 was paid for beaver
skins, the usual price being $3, and smuggled liquors were freely used by both
contestants, with the result that Fort William, as the post was called, was aban- ,
doned the following year.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 175
Fort William on the Missouri was completed on Christmas day, 1833. It was
150 feet front, 130 deep. The stockade was of Cottonwood logs 18 feet in length,
hewn on three sides, set three feet in the ground. The trader's house was a
double cabin, 18 by 20 feet, with a passage between. The store and warehouse
were 40 feet in length, 18 feet wide. There were two bastions, a carpenter shop,
blacksmith shop, ice house, meat house, etc. It was later moved back from the
river on account of the rise cutting away the bank, called Fort Mortimer, and
occupied under that name by Fox, Livingston & Company, alluded to in connec-
tion with Fort George in 1842.
LIQUOR FOR THE YELLOWSTONE TRADE
In accordance with the act of Congress of July 9, 1832, prohibiting the intro-
duction of liquors into the Indian country, inspectors were placed at Fort Leav-
enworth to prevent shipments by boat. The boats which went up the river in
1 83 1, and the early boat in 1832, had been iintrammeled. Sublette and Campbell
prevailed upon Gen. William Clark to allow them to ship liquors, and a like privi-
lege was granted to Mr. Chouteau, of the American Fur Company, but his
shipment of 1.400 gallons of liquor was confiscated at Fort Leavenworth, and
other shipments were intercepted and confiscated.
In 1833 Kenneth McKenzie, having failed in an attempt to get a considerable
amount of liquor by the inspectors, is quoted as saying: "They kicked and
knocked about everything they could find, and even cut through our bales of
blankets, which had never been undone since they left England."
THE DISTH^LERY AT FORT UNION
He could scarcely rest tmder his failure to secure intoxicants, which he knew
the opposition possessed, and against the advice of the officers of the American
Fur Company, who were certain to be held responsible for his acts, he estab-
lished a distillery at Fort Union in 1833, arguing that to manufacture liquor in
the Indian country was not equivalent to introducing it, and, therefore, was not
a violation of the law. He shipped men to Iowa, and set them at work raising
corn for his still, and in the meantime secured a supply from the Mandans for
present needs, and succeeded in making, as he expressed it, "as fine a liquor as
need be drunk, from the fruits of the country."
He was a lavish entertainer, and took great pride in his post, and when a
party of opposition traders visited him, he entertained them in his accustomed
manner, showing them all of the features of the post, including his distillery,
dilating on its merits, but when they took leave he refused to sell them liquor,
and charged them traders' prices for their supplies. This offended them, and
one of them, Capt. Nathaniel Wyeth, noted for his expedition to the Columbia
River, made complaint on his arrival at St. Louis, which resulted in the destruc-
tion of the distillery, and it was with great difficulty that the company retained
its license.
To meet this evasion of the law, Congress passed the drastic legislation of
1834, under which steamboats, or any other means of conveyance, might be con-
fiscated if found carrying liquors into the Indian country, and prohibiting its
manufacture.
176 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Illustrating the use of alcohol in the Indian trade, Charles Larpenteur relates
that he went to an Indian camp when it was so cold that his mules were frozen
to death in the shelter provided for his team, and the Indians were suiifering for
the necessaries of life, and yet he secured i8o buffalo robes for five gallons of
alcohol, on which the whole camp got drunk twice. He obtained thirty more
robes for "goods," there being no more liquor, and hardly any robes, left in
camp.
As George Bancroft, the historian, says, in speaking of the influence of
whisky on the Indians: "Whisky as applied to the noble savage is a wonderful
civilizer. A few years of it reduces him to a subjection more complete than
arms, and accomplishes in him a humility which religion can never achieve. Some
things men will do for Christ, for country, for wife and children ; there is nothing
that an Indian will not do for whisky."
In the attack by the Indians on Fort McKenzie, the defenders managed to
get some alcohol to the Indians, and by that means stopped the battle, and on
another occasion when the Indians became troublesome at Fort Union, they were
supplied with whisky mixed with laudanum, which put them all to sleep, but for-
tunately none were killed by the experiment.
ILLICIT TRADE AT FORT WILLIAM
Notwithstanding the strict laws and rigid inspection, Sublette & Campbell
had been able to secure all the liquor necessary for their trade, and in opening
their post at Fort William gave a striking example of its use among the Indians.
Charles Larpenteur, who was in charge of the liquor sales, says :
"It was not until night that we got ready to trade. It must be remembered
that liquor was the principal and most profitable article of trade, although it was
strictly prohibited by law, and all boats on the Missouri were thoroughly searched
at Fort Leavenworth. Notwithstanding this. Mr. Sublette managed to pass
through what he wanted. * * '^' The liquor trade started at dark, and soon
the singing and yel'ing commenced. The Indians were all locked up in the fort,
for fear that some might go to Fort Union, which was about 2i4 miles distant.
Imagine the noise! Five hundred Indians with their squaws, all drunk as they
could be, locked up in that small space! * * * Gauche (the Indian chief)
had provided himself with a pint cup, which I know he did not let go during the
whole spree, and every now and then he would rush into the store with his
cup, and order it filled, and to 'hurry up'.
"The debauch continued during that entire night and well into the next day,
Gauche being the leading figure until the end, while Indians in stupor from drink
lay in every direction.
"Back in the mountains whisky was sold at $5 a pint, but here at the opening
the price was $1 per pint. Salt and sugar, and later coffee, were the same price."
SMUGGLING LIQUOR
Writing to Gen. Henry Atkinson in 181Q, Thomas Biddle observed: "So
violent is the attachment of the Indian for it (intoxicating liquor) that he who
gives most is sure to obtain the furs, while should anyone attempt to trade with-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 177
out it, he is sure of losing ground with his antagonist. No bargain is ever made
without it."
In 1843 the Omega was the American Fur Company's annual boat, carrying
supplies for the Yellowstone trade. Joseph A. Sire was master, with Joseph
La Barge at the wheel. John James Audubon, the celebrated ornithologist, was
a passenger, one of a party of scientists. The boat carried a supply of ardent
spirits for the use of the party, under permit from the Indian authorities, and
the usual supply for the Indian trade, in defiance of the laws governing inter-
course with the Indians.
Captain Sire had anticipated inspection at Fort Leavenworth, but they escaped
that post, and at Bellevue there was no inspector, but at Hart's Bottom, a few
miles above Bellevue, Capt. John II. Burgwin, of the First LTnited States Dra-
goons, brought the boat to by a shot across the bows, and presented his creden-
tials as inspector. Mr. Audubon presented his card, and expressed a desire to
see the commandant of the military camp about four miles distant, and Captain
Burgwin courteously accompanied him to the camp. While he was thus engaged,
Captain Sire prepared for inspection. There was a track around the boat, in
the hold, and cars for moving heavy freight. The liquor covered by the sci-
entists' permit was freely exposed, and its quality tested, but the traders' supplies
were loaded on the cars, and with muffled wheels, silently moved from one part
of the boat to another, while the inspectors were peering into the dimly lighted
corners, to make sure that nothing was escaping their attention, and the boat
passed on with a clean bill. The trick, however, was discovered and could not
be used again.
The next year, 1844, the Ninirod made the annual trip with the same officers.
The Indian agent at Bellevue made a most rigorous inspection. Every package
was broken and every bale pierced by sharp pointed rods. While this was going
on a consignment of flour in barrels for the trader at Bellevue was being unloaded
and placed in the warehouse, and that night, while the good man slept, the barrels
were reloaded, and the boat proceeded up the river without the usual clearance.
The liquor was packed in the barrels of flour.
Hiram M. Chittenden, in his "History of the American Fur Trade of the
Far West," says: "The depths of rascality into which this traffic (in liquor) fell,
might well stagger belief, were they not substantiated by the most positive evi-
dence. The liquor was generally imported in the form of alcohol, because of the
smaller compass for the same amount of poison. It was stored in every con-
ceivable form of package. In overland journeys it was generally carried in short,
flat kegs, which would rest conveniently on the sides of pack mules. When car-
ried by water, it was concealed in tlour barrels, in bales of merchandise or any-
where it would most likely escape discovery. * * * j,^ retailing the poisonous
stuff — a pure article never found its way to the Indians — the degree of deception
could not have been carried further. A baneful and noxious substance to begin
with, it was retailed with the most systematic fraud, often amounting to sheer
exchange of nothing for the goods of the Indian. It was the policy of the shrewd
trader to first get his victim so intoxicated that he could n,o longer drive a good
bargain. The Indian, becoming more and more greedy for liquor, would yield
up all he possessed for an additional cup or two. The voracious trader, not sat-
isfied with selling his liquor at a profit of many thousand per cent, would now
178 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
cheat in quantity. As he filled the cup, which was the standard measure, he
would push in his big thumb and diminish its capacity by one-third. Sometimes
he would substitute another cup with bottom thickened by running tallow into
it until it was one-third full. He would also dilute the liquor until, as the Indian's
senses became more and more befogged, he would treat him to water, pure and
simple."
Later on, the difficulties of obtaining intoxicating liquor increased to such a
degree that coffee was used to a great extent to take its place. Pots of coffee
were kept ready for use, and with sugar, was almost as efficacious in composing
the Indian's mind and disposing him to liberality in trade as alco'nol, with none
of its evil effects.
N.\TUR.\L DISLIKE OF THE ARIKAR.\S AXU CROWS
It will be remembered that Lewis and Clark were surprised to find that the
Arikaras indignantly refused their offer of intoxicating liquors.
Charles Larpenteur states that the Crows in 1833 roamed over the prairies in
considerable bands, and thus describes their attitude toward the liquor question
as he observed it the next day after a trade, as a visit for that purpose was called :
"They had just made their trade at the fort, one day's march from where we
were. The Crows did not drink then, and for many years remained sober. It was
not until a few years ago, when they were driven out of their country by the
Sioux, and became a part of the tribes on the Missouri, that they took to drinking
with the Assiniboines. As they did not drink, their trade was all in substantial
goods, which kept them always well-dressed and extremely rich in horses ; so it
was really a beautiful sight to see that tribe move."
Like other tribes, when the curse of intoxicating liquors became fastened
upon the Crows, their riches, their homes, and their pride disappeared.
IN MILITARY AND CIVIL LIFE
In later days a visit to the military trading posts would have shown similar
frauds, equally disreputable, practiced upon LTnited States soldiers, with a view
to separating them from their money. Soldiers in drunken stupor might be seen
lying around the trader's store, reminding one of the dead upon a battlefield.
The proceeds from the pay-table having been squandered, usually within two or
three days, by a large percentage of the soldiers, an era of temperance and good
order would prevail until the next pay day.
In civil life frauds upon those who habitually linger around retail liquor
stores after pay day are quite as pronounced. They may be held in check, some-
times, by municipal restraint, but the result is the same.
From its earliest history the use of intoxicating liquor has proven harmful.
demoralizing and disgusting, in its general results. There is no need to dwell
on the suffering of widows and orphans, or even to recall the miserable wrecks
and tragedies which come to one's notice during the course of an ordinary human
life. It is enough to know that there is no place in the employ of great industries
for the man who uses intoxicating liquors. He is not a safe man in any official
position, and business interests under his management are almost certainly
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 179
doomed to failure. The life insurance companies reject him as a risk ; he is looked
upon with disfavor in society, and is at a disadvantage in every walk of life that
is open to him. ^laximilian, in his account of the great smallpo.x scourge, speaks
of the enervating influence of ardent spirits.
m6rT.\LITY among the INDIANS — THE SCOURGE OF 1837
The smallpox scourge of 1837, whicli was variously estimated by the writers
of that period to have destroyed from 60,000 to 150,000 Indians — the true figures
from later information being about seventeen thousand — originated from a case
on the steamer St. Peter, the annual laoat of the American Fur Company, on its
way up the Missouri to Fort Union in June of that year. Every possible means
was adopted to keep the Indians away from the boat, but knowing that it was
loaded with supplies for them, they were certain that these efforts were part of
a plan to defraud. At Fort Clark, then in charge of Francois A. Chardon, a
Mandan chief stole a blanket from a watchman on the boat who was dying with
the disease, and though offered a new blanket and pardon for his offense, the
infected blanket could not be recovered and the contagion was spread by this
means.
Jacob Flalsey, an e.xtremely dissipated man, who was in charge of Fort
Union, and was returning from a temporary absence, was a passenger on the
boat, and although he had been vaccinated, was sick with the disease on his
arrival at Fort Union. One of his clerks, Edwin T. Denig, and an Indian also had
the disease, whereupon it was determined to adopt heroic measures for defense,
"and have it all over with in time for the fall trade." Accordingly, thirty squaws
stopping at Fort Union were vaccinated with the real smallpox virus from the
person of Halsey, and a few days later twenty-seven of them were stricken with
smallpox.
Entire Indian villages had been exposed while crowding around the boat,
and Indians from the boat, or who had visited it, went to the Black feet, Assini-
boine, and other tribes, and when the epidemic was at its height, the Indians came
in from the chase for the fall trade, crowding about the fort in spite of every
effort to keep them away.
The contagion began to spread about the middle of June, and raged as long
as there were Indians who were not immune to attack. The victims were seized
with severe pains in the head and back, and death resulted generally in a few
hours, the disease taking its most malignant form. In the words of an eye-
witness of the scenes: "In whatever direction we go, we see nothing but melan-
choly wrecks of human life. The tents are still standing on every hill, but no
rising smoke announces the presence of human beings, and no sounds but the
croaking of the raven, and the howding of the wolf, interrupt the fearful silence."
Henry Boiler, who was eight years engaged in trade on the ]\Iissouri River,
in his book entitled "Among the Indians," states that in one family all had died
save one babe, and as there was no one to care for that it was placed alive in the
arms of its dead mother, and, wrapped with her in her burial robes, laid on the
scaffold, the Indian method of burying the dead.
Prince Maximilian is quoted as writing at the time of the scourge : "The
destroying angel has visited the unfortunate sons of the wilderness with terrors
180 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
never before known, and has converted the extensive hunting-grounds, as well
as the peaceful settlements of these tribes, into desolate and boundless ceme-
teries * * * The warlike spirit which but lately animated the several tribes,
and but a few months ago gave reason to apprehend the breaking out of a raging
war, is broken. The mighty warriors are now the prey of the greedy wolves,
and the few survivors, in utter despair, throw themselves upon the whites, who,
however, can do little for them. The vast preparations for the protection of the
frontier are superfluous; another hand has undertaken the defense of the white
inhabitants of the frontier, and the funeral torch that lights the redman to his
dreary grave, has become the auspicious star of the advancing settler and the
roving trader of the white race."
In the translator's preface to Maximilian's "Travels in the Interior of North
America,"' may be found a letter from the prince, dated New Orleans, June 6,
1838, in which he bears corroborative testimony to the efforts of the company's
officers to retard the progress of the plague. He says that the smallpox was com-
municated to the Indians by a person who was on board the steamboat which ran
up the previous summer to the mouth of the Yellowstone River, to carry both the
Government presents and the goods for the barter trade of the fur dealers ; and
the translator, Hannibal E. Lloyd, adds that it was the American Fur Company's
steamboat St. Peter which carried the annual outfit and supplied the Missouri
River forts, and that Larpenteur. in charge of Fort Union, says the vessel arrived
June 24, 1837 ; that the officers could not prevent intercourse between the Indians
and the vessel, although they exerted themselves to the utmost.
The smallpox epidemic was the direct result of the demoralizing influence of
the use of intoxicating liquors. There was neglect on the boat which was mak-
ing its way into the heart of the Indian country, and criminal disregard of danger,
and neglect on the part of the authorities at Fort Union. There was not a delib-
erate purpose to murder the Indian families vaccinated with the smallpox virus,
and "have it over," but the result would have been the same had that been the
case. Alfred Cummings, United States superintendent of Indian affairs, in
reporting the result of investigations on his trip to the Upper Missouri tribes in
1855, said of the smallpox scourge of 1837 : "Every Indian camp from the Big
Bend of the Missouri to the headwaters of the Columbia and Puget Sound was
a scene of utter despair. To save families from the torture of the loathsome
disease, fathers slew their children, and in many instances inflicted death upon
themselves with the same bloody knife. Maddened by their fears, they rushed
into the waters for relief, and many perished by their own hands, gibbeted on the
trees which surrounded their lodges."
With reckless abandon, born of the excessive use of intoxicating liquors and
of ignorance, the Indians took no precautions against the disease, which was
allowed to run its course. Some blamed the whites for introducing it and
threatened vengeance, while others regarded it a judgment of the Great Spirit
for their warfare upon the whites, who, they then realized, were their true
friends.
The Sioux suffered less than other Indians, for the reason that they scattered,
and the families isolated themselves as much as possible. The smallpox again
prevailed among the Indians in 1856, but to a much less alarming extent.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 181
CHOLERA IN 1845
In 1845 cholera prevailed throughout the West, on the Great Lakes, and on the
Missouri River steamers, and to some extent at the trading posts, and in Indian
villages. There were many deaths among the men on the steamboats, but cholera
cannot abide where cleanliness and fresh air are the rule, and it was quickly
stamped out.
A COUNTRY WITHOUT LAWS
A lawless condition, as has been said, prevailed on the Upper Missouri for
forty years, from its occupation by the American fur traders in 1822 until the
organization of Dakota Territory in 1861. There was nothing to restrain the
evil propensities of men. Theoretically, the laws of Louisiana, Missouri, Minne-
sota, and Nebraska had been successively extended over the country, but there
was no means of enforcement, and the United States laws governing intercourse
with the Indians were not obeyed.
Murders were the frequent results of envy, jealousy, hatred, malice, or the
excessive use of intoxicating liquors, and generally speaking, no punishment was
attempted beyond an occasional reprisal. The condition grew from bad to
worse from year to year and when Fox, Livingston & Company, known as the
"Union Fur Confederacy," retired, in 1843, ^^'^^Y l^ft fifty or more lawless charac-
ters in the Indian country. Incidents were numerous of murders from one cause
or another, causing but a passing comment.
MASSACRE OF THE DESCHAMPS
The Deschamp family consisted of the parents, ten children, and a nephew.
Francois Deschamp, Sr., was accused of killing Governor Robert Semple, of the
Selkirk Colony, June 16, 1816, as related in Chapter VH, Part I, after he was
wounded by Cuthbert Grant ; of robbing and murdering others wounded in that
affair; of having twice robbed Fort Union, and of being concerned in numerous
other crimes. His son, Francois, Jr., was the interpreter at Fort Union, and had
interfered with the family relations of Baptiste Gardepe, another employee of
the fort, who had demanded satisfaction of the Deschamp family, and they had
made several attempts to kill him. Finally a conspiracy was formed at Fort Union
to kill both father and son, and in accordance with the arrangements, Gardepe
killed the elder Deschamp with a blow from a rifle, completing the murder with
a knife, while the young man was merely wounded. This was in July, 1833.
There were then about seventy men at Fort Union, and a number of half-blood
families at Fort William, where the Deschamps resided, and where some of the
men from Fort Union lived ; Fort William having been abandoned by the
opposition company.
During a carousal following the departure of the annual boat June 28, 1836,.
Madame Deschamp aroused the vengeance of her sons by the taunt that if they
were men, they would avenge the death of their father, whereupon they killed
Jack Rem, whose family hurried to Fort Union, and a party was raised and sup-
plied with arms by McKenzie, who surrounded the Deschamp house, and finally-
182 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
set it on fire. Before the affair ended they had killed the mother and other
members of the family, in all eight at this time, and one, a child of ten, died the
next day from wounds. One of the assaulting party, Joseph Vivier, was killed,
and one wounded.
OTHER -.LAWLESS ACTS
•s
A good-looking young fellow at Fort Union, Augustin Bourbonnais, made
advances to the Indian wife of Kenneth McKenzie, who directed John Brasseau,
the undertaker — ready to undertake any job. ranging from the burial of the dead
to furnishing the victim — to shoot him.
Bourbonnais, having been forced out of the fort, was lying in wait outside,
threatening to shoot McKenzie at sight; instead, he, himself, was shot by Bras-
seau, but not fatally, though laid up nearly a year from his wound.
Christmas, 1838, the hunter at Fort Union was killed and thrown into the fire
by two of his co-employees, who were tried by the drum-head court-martial
which regulated the affairs of the fort, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged.
The court, however, being in doubt as to its authority to carry out the sentence,
it was commuted to thirty-nine lashes, and when John Brasseau showed a dispo-
sition to put too much vigor into the whipping, the Court would say : "Moderate,
John, moderate." Two men were caught stealing horses belonging to the fort,
and there was then no moderation. Brasseau brought the blood at every stroke.
It was freely charged that McKenzie was directly responsible for the attack
by the Crows upon the outfit of Thomas Fitzpatrick in 1833. They ran off'
150 horses, looted the camp of $20,000 worth of furs, equipments and mer-
chandise ; some of the furs, plainly marked, being sold to McKenzie, who
refused to give them up unless paid what they had cost him.
Narcisse Le Clerc was proceeding up the river to engage in trade on his own
account. A shot across the bows stopped his boat, and the American Fur Com-
pany took possession of boat and cargo. Le Clerc sued the company in the
United States Court at St. Louis, secured judgment against the company, and
McKenzie's outfit was charged $9,200 for their "unreasonable restraint of
trade."
In 1843, W. P. May, a Rocky Mountain trader, came down the Yellowstone
with his winter catch of furs and proceeded down the Missouri in a boat built
for the purpose. He was fired on by some of the Fox, Livingston & Co.
desperadoes and his boat and cargo seized.
Fort Clark became headquarters for thieves and other criminals of the Upper
Missouri, who committed depredations upon the Sioux, dressed as Arikaras,
and upon the latter dressed as Sioux. Nor did they confine their attentions to
the Indians entirely, but held up and robbed white trappers and others when
opportunity offered. There has been a story current on the frontier since those
times that a party of seven miners, proceeding down the river from Montana,
were waylaid by Indians — or whites garbed as Indians — and robbed of $30,000 at
a point a short distance below Fort Clark, and that the trader at Fort Clark got
the gold in the "course of business."
On the way down the river from the Upper Missouri, returning from his
investigation in 1855, Alfred Cummings, United States Superintendent of Indian
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 183
Affairs, stopped at Fort Clark and lost seven mules, stolen from his outfit during
the few hours he was there.
These are only samples of the numerous outrages of that period by whites
on the Upper Missouri.
OUTRAGES UY INDIANS
In view of the outrages by whites against each other there is little room to
criticize the perpetration of Indian outrages against the whites. Up to 1833 the
whites at Fort Union hunted at will throughout that region, but later there was
scarcely a boat or mackinaw, passing down the river, that was not fired on by the
Indians. They would attack the men at the wood yards and in the hay fields and
timber camps. Stock was run off within 200 yards of Fort Union, and the
tribes were constantly at war with each other.
THE WILD BONAPARTE OF THE PRAIRIES
Among the Assiniboines was a chief of renown named Tahatka, or Gauche,
described by Father De Smet as "a crafty, cruel, deceitful man, a bad Indian in
every sense of the word ; his life was full of horrors." Gauche led his tribe for
forty years, and was one of the parties, as stated, to the McKenzie treaty of peace
at Fort Union. He was sometimes called "Neenah-yau-henne," the "man-who-
holds-the-knife," with which it was said he could cut a rock in two, owing to the
strong "medicine," or supernatural powers, with which he was believed to be
endowed. By the whites he was sometimes called the "Wild Bonaparte of the
Prairies." He had no difficulty in raising a large band of warriors whenever
he elected to go on the war path against other tribes.
It is related that he raised a large party to attack the Blackfeet, on the occa-
sion of their return from one of their annual trips to the fort for the purpose
of trade. An examination of their trail revealed to him that they were rich in
horses, and well supplied with intoxicating liquor, and he reasoned that the
follovi'ing night would be given over to carousal, so he selected as the psychologi-
cal moment for attack the hour of stupor, early in the morning after their
debauch. His deductions turned out to be correct, and finding them utterly
unable to defend themselves he captured 300 horses, killed and scalped a large
number of men, women and children, and followed up the victory by the usual
celebration.
One member of his party had remained at Fort Union, and the Blackfeet,
hearing of his presence at the fort, sent word to him that they were hunting for
the Assiniboines for the purpose of making peace with them and invited him
to accompany them, but he was reluctant to go. Finally they sent a horse, fully
equipped, which was to be his if he would go with them. This his cupidity led
him to accept, and in the act of mounting he was riddled with bullets within
200 yards of Fort Union.
BEAR RIP. SUFFERS THE PENALTY
As time passed the Indians on the Upper Missouri became more and more
troublesome, and more determined to drive the whites from the country, refusing
184 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
their annuities and regarding as traitors those who accepted presents, lest it
might in some manner involve the loss of their homes. United States officers
who came to them bearing gifts were no longer looked upon with favor. Bear
Rib was prevailed upon to receipt for the goods for his tribe, and October 8, 1862,
Governor William Jayne reported his death. The Indian penalty for treason is
death. Bear Rib knew this, of course, but his cupidity was stronger than his
loyalty to the traditions of his tribe, and he paid the forfeit with his life. Civil
government had been inaugurated in Dakota ; its settlement under the free home-
stead law of May 20th of that year having commenced, and the Indian outbreak,
fully described in another chapter, was in progress, but preceding that story
is much of interest yet to be told.
Dr. Washington Mathews, who served some years as medical officer at Fort
Berthold and at Fort Stevenson, wrote, in a personal letter to Dr. Elliott Coues,
editor of Charles Larpenteur's Journal, as follows:
"The Hidatsa moved up the Missouri from their old villages on Knife River
to the blufifs on which Fort Berthold was afterwards built in 1845. The Mandans
followed soon after, and the Arikaras joined them in 1862.
"Soon after the Hidatsa moved up, in 1845, the American Fur Company
began, with the assistance of the Indians, to build a stockaded post which they
called Fort 'Berthold,' in honor of a certain person of that name (Bartholomew
Berthold) of St. Louis. This was built on the extreme southern edge of the
blulif, on land which has since been mostly, if not entirely, cut away by the river.
'Tn 1859, an opposition trading company erected, close to the Indian village
(but east of it and farther away from the river than Fort Berthold), some build-
ings, protected by a stockade and bastions, which they named Fort Atkinson (the
second of that name).
"This was the fort at which Boiler (author of 'Among the Indians') had
his trading post. In 1862 opposition ceased and the American Fur Company
obtained possession of Fort Atkinson, which they occupied, transferring to it the
name of Fort Berthold. They abandoned the old stockade, which was afterward
(December 24, 1862) almost entirely destroyed by a war party of Sioux.
"This was a memorable Christmas eve in the annals of Fort Berthold. The
Sioux came very near capturing the post, but the little citizen garrison defended it
bravely, and at length the Sioux withdrew. * * * xhe first (I think) mili-
tary occupancy of the fort was in 1864, when Gen. Alfred Sully assigned a com-
pany of Iowa cavalry to duty there under command of Capt. A. B. Moreland.
"In the spring of 1865 this company was relieved by one of the First United
States Volunteer Infantry (ex-Confederate prisoners) under command of Capt.
R. R. Dimon. In the same year Captain Dimon's company was relieved by one
of the Fourth United States Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Capt. Adams
Bassett. In 1862 Fort Berthold received the traders from Fort Clark, leaving
that fort in the possession of the Arikaras.
"In the spring of 1866 regular troops came into the country, and a company
of the Thirteenth Infantry, commanded by Capt. Nathan Ward Osborn (colonel
Fifteenth Infantry, August 5, 1888, now deceased), succeeded the volunteers.
"When the troops first moved in the traders were obliged to move out and
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 185
built quarters for themselves outside. After the troops were withdrawn the
traders returned for a short time and then made way for the Indian agency."
The United States troops were withdrawn from Fort Berthold when the con-
struction of Fort Stevenson was begun in 1867. Fort Stevenson was abandoned
in 1883, and the reservation was sold at private sale to a syndicate from Cincin-
nati represented by Hon. L. C. Black.
CHAPTER XIII
LXCLUDIXG THE SIOUX -MASSACRE OF 1862
PRIMEVAL INGRAFTING OF MAN's INHUMANITY TO MAN INDIAN WARS
TREATIES OF 1837 AND 1851 TRADERS AND THEIR ACCOUNTS THE SIOUX
MASSACRE OF l862' — ORIGIN AND EXTENT OF THE TROUBLE FACTS GLEANED
FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS SCENES AND INCIDENTS RELATED BY TONGUE AND
PEN OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE WAR ATROCITIES OF INDIAN WARFARE — COST
TO INDIANS AND SETTLERS.
"And I have seen his brow.
The forehead of my upright one, and just,
Trod by the hoof of battle to the dust.
******
Ay, my own boy ! thy sire
Is with the sleepers of the valley cast.
And the proud glory of my life hath past,
With his high glance of fire.
Woe ! that the linden and the vine should bloom
And a just man be gathered to the tomb! "
— Nathaniel P. Willis, The Soldier's Widow.
In 1520, the Spanish carried away large numbers of the inhabitants from
the islands of the West Indies and the Carolinas, and sold them for slaves : com-
mitting outrages, outranking in studied and fiendish cruelty anything ever charged
to American Indians.
De Soto came with bloodhounds to run down, and handcuffs, shackles and
chains to bind, American Indians it was his purpose to enslave. It is not too
much to say that Christian monarchs encouraged exploration in the search of
new worlds, and to exploit and to hold as vassals or slaves the conquered people.
From Africa, 40.000,000 people were stolen, kidnapped or purchased from
warring tribes, before the slave trade was abolished and the tide of public
sentiment turned in humanity's favor.
In the Carolinas, Indians made captive in their raids upon the setlements, or
in the punitive expeditions sent against them because of such raids, were enslaved
under authority of laws enacted for the protection of the settlements, until the
Indian and negro slaves outnumbered the inhabitants and became a menace.
The first outbreak in Virginia and the first encounter in New England were
based on the terror and dread of the white men from previous outrages com-
mitted in Florida and on the Labrador Coast.
In the Virginia uprising, March 22, 1622, the Indians partook of food in
the morning from the tables of colonists whoin they intended to slaughter at
noon, and in the first surprise 347 colonists were killed, and in the warfare which
186
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 187
followed the eighty plantations in \'irginia were rdduced to eight, Jamestown
and two others escaping through warning given by a Christian Indian, and the
4,000 settlers were reduced to 2,000, while the Indian tribes engaged were nearly
destroyed. The colonists were restrained by law from making peace on any
terms, and each year sent three expeditions against them to prevent them from
planting crops in the spring, or harvesting should any be raised, and to destroy
their homes should any be rebuilt. In 1636 a peace was arranged, but not of long
duration.
April 18, 1644, Opechancanough, brother and successor of Powhatan, respon-
sible for the massacre of 1622, again attacked the \'irginia colonists, killing 300
in a few hours, when, realizing their own helpless condition, they fled. Opechan-
canough, made captive, was treacherously shot by his guard, whose family had
suffered in the uprising, and dying of his wounds the Powhatan confederacy was
ended, and now no tongue speaks the dialect of the tribe of Powhatan.
Then came the war of extermination by the Pequots, a powerful tribe of
4,000 warriors in the Connecticut ^'alley, in 1637, and then the King Philip's
War of the Plymouth Colony, inaugurated July 20, 1675, and the Swamp tight
of the following autumn, all of which are treated in detail in other parts of this
volume. In 1621 the servants of a Dutch director murdered a Raritan war-
rior on the west shore of the Hudson near Staten Island. August 28, 1641,
a nephew of the murdered warrior of the Raritans, to avenge the death of his
uncle twenty years before, killed an old man of the Dutch Colony. In January,
1642, steps were taken toward punishing the Raritans for the later murder. The
first demand for the offender was refused, the Indians holding that he did no ,
wrong in avenging the death of his uncle, but they finally agreed to the surrender.
While these negotiations were pending, a Hackensack Indian was made drunk
and was beaten and robbed, and to avenge his wrongs killed two of the Dutch
Colony.
The Hackensacks had been attacked by the Mohawks and fled to the Dutch
Colony for protection. Pity was shown them and they were supplied with food
and finally scattered, some going to the Raritans. Some of the Dutch decided
that then was the time to avenge the three murders and other alleged outrages,
and attacked them March i, 1642, under the leadership of an "ex- West India
convict," killing eighty men, women and children. Babes were snatched from'
the care of mothers and thrown into the river, and when the mothers jumped
into the stream to rescue them they were prevented from landing.
Eleven petty tribes joined the outraged tribes, followed later by eight other
tribes, and a long and disastrous war resulted. The homes of the colonists were
burned, their animals slaughtered, the men killed and the women and children
made captive; in this displaying a larger degree of humanity than the Dutch
aggressors, who had found profit in selling them fire-arms and teaching their
use. The attack was made after the tribe had offered to surrender the murderer
and pay a suitable indemnity.
In the massacre at Fort William Henry in July, 1757, the English defenders
had surrendered after a six days' siege, and were marching out unarmed,—
accompanied by refugees returning to the British lines or their homes under the
terms of their surrender, — assured of full protection, when about a mile from
the fort the Indian allies, promised opportunity for plunder as the price of
188 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
co-operation, fell upon them and slaughtered several hundred men, women and
children before the French were able to restrain them.
The Wyoming massacre, near Wilkesbarre, Pa., occurred July 3, 1778. The
attack upon Fort Forty where about 400 old men, women, and children had
gathered, mainly for refuge, was made by 400 British and Tories and 700
Indians. About 200 of the defenders were killed, — massacred principally by the
Indians under every circumstance usually accompanying Indian warfare. Queen
Esther, a half-blood, to avenge the death of her son, tomahawked fourteen
wounded. On the 5th the fort surrendered, when the Indians, throwing olT all
restraint, swept through the Wyoming Valley, burning, torturing and killing.
The total number killed is conservatively placed at three hundred.
The Sioux allies in Colonel Leavenworth's expedition against the Arikaras
(1823) we have seen made the same demand, and they engaged in the opening
attack with great zeal, but when it became apparent that they would not be
permitted to destroy and kill a conquered people, "subsequent proceedings inter-
ested them no more," and they withdrew completely disgusted with the ways of
"civilized warfare."
THE SIOUX MASS.\CRE OF 1862
The settlement of Dakota was retarded by the Sioux massacre of 1862.
While it fell with greatest force on the frontier settlers of Minnesota, it extended
to Dakota, thirty-two settlers within the limits of North Dakota having been
killed during the uprising, and many others driven away never to return. Fort
Abercrombie was besieged and in the campaign which followed several important
battles were fought on North Dakota soil. The friendly Wahpetons and Sissetons,
many of whom jeopardized their lives to protect the captives taken by the hostiles,
camping near them and threatening them with a counter war if harm came to
them, were granted reservations in Dakota, and their descendents have become
worthy citizens of the state, engaged in various lines of business.
The facts have been gathered for this work from many sources ; from the
report of Thomas J- Galbraith, then agent of the Sioux; from the story of the
escape of the missionaries by Rev. Stephen R. Riggs, thirty-five of his colony
having been conducted to safety by friendly Indians ; from the Reminiscences
of Samuel J. Brown, who with his mother and other members of his family
were captives in the hands of the Sioux from the beginning until the close of
the uprising ; from "Recollections of the Sioux Massacre of 1862" by Oscar
Garrett Wall, who was one of the defenders of Fort Ridgeley and a participant
in the campaign which followed and in the battles fought on North Dakota
soil; from officers and soldiers who participated in the campaign; from citizens
who suffered in body, mind and estate, and from an examination of official
records.
THE TREATY OF 1837
Under the treaty of 1837, the Sioux ceded all of their lands east of the
Mississippi, and all of their islands in said river, to the United States. They
were to receive $300,000 to be invested for their benefit at 5 per cent interest ;
$110,000 to pay to the relatives and friends of the Sioux having not less than
'^SS'
SPOTTED TAIL,
Government chief of Sioux tribes, 1868
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 189
one-fourth blood ; $90,000 for the payment of the just debts of the Sioux Indians
interested in the lands ; an annuity of $10,000 in goods to be distributed among
them ; and to. continue for twenty years ; $8,250 annually for twenty years for
the purchase of medicines, agricultural implements and stock, and for the
support of a physician, farmer and blacksmith ; $10,000 for tools, cattle and
other useful articles to be purchased as soon as practicable; $5,500 annually
for twenty years for provisions, and $6,000 in goods to be delivered to the
chiefs and braves signing the treaty upon their return to St. Louis.
Fifteen annual payments had been made under this treaty when the treaty of
1 85 1 was signed.
THE TREATY OF 1 85 I
Under the treaty of 1851, the Sioux ceded all lands owned by them in Iowa
and Minnesota, for which they were to receive $3,303,000, of which $2,748,000
was to be permanently invested for their benefit, the Government paying thereon
5 per cent interest for a period of fifty years. The interest was to be applied
annually under the direction of the President of the United States for agricultural
improvement and civilization, for educational purposes, for the purchase of
goods and provisions, known as their annuities, and for an annuity in money
amounting to $7 1 ,000.
The appropriation for the fulfillment of the treaty of 1851, covered these
several amounts and the sum of $495,000 to enable them to settle their affairs
and pay their just debts, and the expense of their removal to other lands, and for
their subsistence for one year after reaching their new home. The appropriation
also provided for the sixteenth payment under the treaty of 1837.
THE CL.MMS OF THE TRADERS
It was the custom of the traders to make advances to the Indians in the way
of arms and ammunition for their hunting expeditions, for blankets and clothing
and other necessary articles, to be paid for on their return from the hunt. The
Indians had been thus accommodated not only by the licensed traders but by
those trading with them without authority, and there were large sums claimed
to be due from the Indians including balances running back to the treaty of
1837. Some were due from deceased Indians and other sums from dishonest
ones, who had defrauded the traders or attempted to do so. A portion was
for supplies furnished them as a tribe, for cattle, etc.
The traders who received the benefits of the Traverse de Sioux treaty were
Bailey & Dousman $ 15,000
N. W. Kittson 2,850
Gabrielle Renville 621
S. R. Riggs for American Board 800
P. Prescott 1 .334
Franklin Steele 3.250
Henry H. Sibley 66,459
Joseph R. Brown 6,564
190 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Joseph Provincelle 10,066
Joseph Renville, Sr., Estate i7,S40
J. B. Faribault 22,500
Alexander Faribault 13,500
Joseph Laframbois 11 .300
R. Fresnier 2,300
Martin McLeod 19,046
Lewis Roberts 7,490
William Hartshorne 530
Francis Labatte 500
J. H. Lockwood 500
Henry Jackson . . . ." 350
Hazen Mores 1,000
R. i\IcKenzie 3.500
W. H. Forbes 1,000
Total $210,000
The aggregate amount of these claims, as originally presented was $431,735.78-
The money was paid to Hugh Tyler, as attorney for these parties, for settlement
in full, as above.
The claims against the Wa-pa-koo-ta band were as follows :
Alexander Faribault $ 42,000
Henry H. Sibley 31,500
Duncan Campbell 500
James Wells 1,000
Augustine Root i ,000
Alexis Bailey 9,000
H. L. Dousman 4,000
Philander Prescott 1,000
Total $90,000
The money was paid for these parties to General H. H. Sibley.
The claims against the Med-a-wa-kan-toan band, as filed under oath with
Governor Ramsey, were as follows :
H. H. Sibley $ 37,722.07
McBoal & Odell 639.93
Alexis Bailey 20,108.00
James Wells 15,000.00
Frs. Labatte 5,000.00
Philander Prescott 1,182.10
Alexis Faribault 9,000.00
J. B. Faribault 13,000.00
Joseph Buisson 2,000.00
Franklin Steele 7,000.00
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 191
Henry G. Bailey 483.00
Estate of O. Faribault 2,000.00
Joseph J. Frazer 5,000.00
Augustine Rock 5,000.00
Joseph Renville estate 2,000.00
W. G. & G. W. Ewing 3,750.00
$128,885.10
These claims were settled in full acquittance for the sum of $70,000, paid
Hugh Tyler as attorney for the parties named.
The claims presented by H. H. Sibley were for and on behalf of the American
Fur Company. There was also paid to the half blood Indians $65,000.
Congress provided that no portion of the money appropriated should be paid
to attorneys, and yet there was paid to Hugh Tyler the sum of $55,250 for
"discount and percentage.'' Ostensibly the payment was made by the half-bloods
and traders from the sums awarded them, but there was a feeling among the
Indians that this money had been wrongfully taken from them, Tyler came
among them as a special agent of the Interior Department, and disbursing agent
accompanying the commission which made the treaty, paying the expenses of
entertaining the Indians on the occasion, giving him the acquaintance necessary to
enable him to make his claim for the share on account of alleged services
rendered.
The Indians were not satisfied with the settlements made under this treaty;
they could not understand why the tribe should pay individual debts or losses
incurred in dealing with deceased or dishonest Indians. They generally denied
that the tribe owed anything and insisted that if there was money due from them
they should be permitted to settle their own debts, and that they should be paid
the money their due under the treaty. They felt that they had been deprived
of their land and were being defrauded of the money they were to receive for it.
The Indian acknowledgment of full payment for the fulfillment of the treaty,
so far as it related to these large sums, was signed by twelve chiefs and head
men of the tribe, some of whom the Indians were not satisfied to regard as
such, while those who had opposed the settlement of course did not sign. The
payment was witnessed by Thomas Foster, John C. Kelton, U. S. A., Charles D.
Fillmore and W. H. Forbes. It was made by Governor Alexander Ramsey, of
Minnesota, ex-ofificio Superintendent of Indian AiTairs in that territory. The
U. S. Senate after full investigation by a committee, appointed under its authority,
accepted Governor Ramsey's accounts and authorized their settlement. The
evidence on which the Senate acted may be found in Senate document No. 6,
first session 33d Congress, and Senate document No. 131, same session.
THE TREATY PAYMENT FOR 1862
It has been charged that the treaty payment for 1862, which was the imme-
diate cause of the outbreak, had been delayed through the manipulation of
dishonest agents in collusion with others : that an attempt had been made to
force the Indians to accept currency, then sadly depreciated, and that a delay
192 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
followed while the currency was being reconverted into gold. But this was
not true.
The annual appropriation for 1862 was $150,000. While it should have been
available July ist, it was not made until July 5th, and then a question arose as to
whether it should be paid in coin or currency. Upon full examination it was
decided by Salmon P. Chase, U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, that it must be
paid in coin. It was in the nature of interest on the public debts, and it was the
policy of the Government to so pay the interest in order to protect its credit;
the life of the nation depended upon it. The soldiers were being paid in a
depreciated currency, those who furnished supplies and munitions of war were
so paid, but the debt to the Indians it was held must be paid in coin. The
requisition of the Indian Office for the money was made July 25th, and in due
time the money was sent from the U. S. Mint, and reached Fort Ridgeley on the
evening of the outbreak. The amount so sent was $71,000, that being the amount
alloted for annuities. There were also annuity goods in the warehouse on the
reservation, which it was the intention to distribute at the time of the payment
of the money annuities.
UNE.\SINESS PRECEEDING THE OUTBREAK
The Civil war was in its second year. President Lincoln had called for
300,000 more volunteers, and among the settlers on the frontier who had enlisted,
were the Renville Rangers from the immediate vicinity of the Indian agencies.
The war spirit was at work, animating the red men as well as the whites. It was
rumored among the Indians that the negroes had taken Washington and that
all of the white men had gone to war, leaving only old men. women and children,
and that the Government was using their money for the war, and to take care
of the negroes. War was an ever present topic of conversation and troubled
them in their dreams. Little Crow stated that whenever he looked to the south-
ward he could see the smoke of battle, and hear the war whoop of the white
soldiers. Nevertheless, the Indians came to receive their annuities in gala attire.
They engaged in horse racing and in other sports, happy as Indians can be when
there is no immediate cause of complaint.
By July 1st, the Indians had arrived in large numbers, which were increasing
daily. They had come from their hunting grounds and from their homes, and
were prepared to stay for a few days only. July 2d, a detail of 100 soldiers
under the command of Lieut. Timothy J. Sheehan of the Fifth Minnesota
Volunteer Infantry, came to guard against possible trouble during the payment.
July 14th, there were 779 lodges of Indians, in camp about the agency, suf-
fering from lack of food. July i8th, they reported that their condition was
unendurable, and July 21st, the agent arranged to count the Indians preparatory
to issuing annuity goods. They were not counted however, until July 26th, and
until August 4th, no efifort had been made to relieve their necessities. That morn-
ing the Indians warned Lieutenant Sheehan that they were coming to make a
demonstration ; that they were coming armed, but intended no harm. A few
moments later several hundred warriors surrounded the camp, yelling like a
thousand demons and firing their guns wildly. Though ready for war. they
came for food. The warehouse was broken open and the distribution of food
LITTLK CROW
Leader of the Indian revolt and war of
1862
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 193
commenced, but, the soldiers training artillery on them, cleared them from the
warehouse. Then the agent consented to act and issued food, but wholly inade-
quate in quantity.
INDIAN COUNCIL DECIDES FOR WAR
The Indians withdrew in ugly mood and held a council, at which it was
decided to commence war at once, but Standing Buffalo, a chief of the Sissetons,
and a few others, protested, and it was finally agreed to wait a little while. On
the 6th of August, another council convened, and an agreement was reached to
return to their homes and hunting grounds and await the call of the agent, who
consented to issue the annuity goods then in the warehouse. The issue was
commenced that day, and all the Indians having disappeared on the evening of
the 7th, the soldiers on August nth, returned to their station.
But the Indian hearts were bad. As they roamed over the country in small
parties, the events of the past few weeks were under almost constant discussion,
and the voice of the majority of every party was for war. But the coimcil had
decided to wait and they waited. Standing Buffalo had warned the whites of
their first decision for war, though to do so endangered his life, and at the
same time told his white friends that he had been a member of that council,
and was bound by its action, as all were who had participated.
BEGINNING OF THE OUTBREAK
On Sunday August 17, 1862, a band of twenty Indians were hunting near
Acton, Meeker County, Minnesota. One of the party robbed a hen's nest of
the eggs on which she was setting. The chief protested and a bitter quarrel
ensued, and the chief and four of the party withdrew among accusations of
cowardice, and threats that there should be war regardless of the action of the
council. Later during the day the i)arty of five heard shooting and feared that
the war had commenced and they would be forever disgraced because of their
opposition to it. In this frame of mind they called at the home of Robinson
Jones, who accused one of them of having borrowed a gun which he had not
returned. After leaving the Jones place they went to the home of Howard
Baker, near by, and asked for water; Jones following them, accompanied by
his wife, and the quarrel was renewed. To Mrs. Baker's inquir>' if he had
given them liquor, Mr. Jones replied that he had not, that he had "no liquor for
such red devils."
The Indians challenged the white men to shoot at the mark. Jones, again
using offensive language, said he was not afraid to shoot with them. After the
shooting the whites did not load their guns, but the Indians reloaded, and without
warning, fired on the whites, killing Mr. Baker, and a Mr. Webster and Mrs. Jones.
Jones, who was wounded, attempted to escape, but was felled by another shot.
Mrs. Webster was in a covered wagon and was not molested. ]Mrs. Baker, with
a child, fled to the cellar and the Indians made no search for her, but they returned
to the home of Mr. Jones and killed Clara B. Wilson. They took some horses
from another neighbor and hastened to their camp, which was reached late in
the evening.
19i HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Reporting what they had done, a council was called, and being confident that
the whites would demand the surrender of the murderers, immediate war was
agreed upon. They hastened to the home of Little Crow, who lived in a brick
house built for him by the Government. They filled his house, flocked in his
garden and door yard, and with one voice demanded that he lead them. He
consented, and without waiting for his breakfast, led the way to the Redwood
Agency, which they had decided to attack that morning. Runners were sent to
other tribes to warn them that war had commenced and to ask their co-operation.
As they proceeded on the way to the Agency, the woods and hills reverberated
with their whoops and yells, and as their war cry went echoing down the valley,
the warriors were aroused from their slumbers and hastened to join tiieir ranks,
which increased rapidly in numbers.
At 7 o'clock Monday morning, August i8th. armed, but scantily clad, they
squatted on the steps of the several Agency buildings, and the homes of the em-
ployes. At a signal the awful work began, and in a few moments every white
person at the Agency was killed, excepting two or three of the Vi'ounded who
escaped in the confusion. Plunder, rapine, and outrage of every kind were inci-
dents of the massacre. Young warriors who had never shed human blood, found
new pleasure in torturing, maltreating and murdering defenseless women and
children, and boys spent the forenoon shooting into the bodies of the dead and
otherwise mutilating them.
The first report of the trouble having reached Fort Ridgeley at lo A. M.,
Capt. John S. Marsh, with forty-six men. hastened to the relief of the Agency,
leaving but few effective men at the fort. .\s they hurried on they passed the
smoking ruins of farm houses and the bodies of several murdered settlers.
THE r..\TTLE .-^T THE FERRY
.\t the ferrv' in front of the Redwood Agency they found the boat ready for
them to cross in charge of White Dog, who had been regarded one of the most
trusty of the friendly Indians. He urged them to cross and meet the Indians
in council, and see if the trouble could not be arranged. The decapitated form
of the old ferryman was lying where he fell. The soldiers discovered signs
of an ambush and at their first show of uneasiness White Dog gave the signal,
and the Indians springing from the tall grass fired, and twenty-six of the soldiers
fell at the first volley. The Indians rushed upon the survivors and tried to
engage them in a hand to hand conflict, but they gained the timber. In an effort
to cross the stream Captain Marsh was drowned, when the survivors made their
way back to Fort Ridgeley. Of the wounded two escaped, after suffering almost
incredible hardships. Lying concealed in the high grass, they could hear the
pleading and groaning of their wounded comrades, and realize their suffering,
and when all was still they knew that death had come to their relief.
.\FTER THE REDWOOD .\GENCY MASS.^CRE
The night after the massacre of the defenseless and unsuspecting people at
Redwood Agency, and the slaughter of Captain Marsh's men, was spent by the
Indians in dancing. There was excitement everywhere. Those eager to tell
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 195
what they had done, sat impatiently waiting their opportunity to tell their story.
Amid the pounding of the tom-tom, the singing of war songs, and occasional
whoops and yells, — as a particularly striking tale was related, — the wild flourishing
of clubs, knives, and tomahawks, the dance went on. The hideous Cutnose, who
was one of the thirty-eight executed at JMankato, boasted of having gone to a
white man who was cutting hay, assisted by three men and his wife, and pre-
tending to be very friendly, offered his hand, and as the man reached out to
receive it, he stabbed him. They grappled, and the knife, which had remained
in the flesh, was crowded farther in, and the man fell dead at his feet. At the
conclusion of his recital the tom-tom started up its beating, and the fiend was
greeted with whoops and yells for a prolonged period. And so the dance went
on, only interrupted by atrocious recitals of this character and worse.
But for the anticipated pleasure of telling such tales, and of hearing the stories
of others, the young men would have followed Little Crow's advice and attacked
Fort Ridgeley on the first day of the outbreak. The thought that there was
more real pleasure in murdering defenseless women and children than in fighting
armed men, led them to put off the assault on Fort Ridgeley until after the attack
on Xew Ulni. Besides, on the first day they could reach and murder in their
homes the unarmed settlers before they heard of the uprising.
.-\II-KEE-P.\H''s REBUKE
.'\h-kee-pah, who refused to join in the dance, was accused of being a coward
and taunted with not having "killed one white man, no, not even a babe," and
jumping to the heart of the circle of men who were accusing him. and by his
earnestness commanding their attention, declared that there was "no bravery in
killing helpless men and women and little children, and only cowards would
boast of it." He took advantage of the opportunity to tell them what he and
his tribe would do to them if they harmed one of his relatives, some of whom
were among the captive mixed-bloods.
CONDITIONS AT FORT RIDGELEY
Fort Ridgeley was the only reliance of the settlers. They hurried to it from
all directions in the hope of gaining protection. On the evening of August
1 8th there were congregated there 300 refugees, terror-stricken, crouching,
cringing, crying, praying, some nearly crazed. There were less than thirty
soldiers to protect them against the many hundred warriors likely to attack the
fort at any moment. On the 19th the Indians in large force appeared before the
fort, in such close proximity that some could be recognized by the use of a
glass, and held a council. It was seen that there was dissension among them,
and they retired, deferring attack until the next day. That evening reinforce-
ments arrived. The force defending the fort then consisted of Company B, Fifth
Minnesota Regiment Infantry, two officers and fifty-seven men, Company C
of the same regiment, one officer and fifty men; the Renville Rangers, one
officer and fifty-one men ; twenty-five effective men organized from among the
refugees, and an ordnance sergeant of the United States Army in command of a
detail for the howitzers. There was also Dr. Alfred Muller, the post surgeon, the
196 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
post sutler, and Justus Ramsey and Cyrus G. Wykoff, who had arrived Monday
evening, the iSth, with $71,000 in gold for the purpose of making the Indian
payment. Lieutenant Timothy J. Sheehan was in command.
THE ATTACK UPON NEW ULM
On August 19 an attack was made by a large force of Indians on New Ulm,
a town of about 1,500 inhabitants, whose defense was conducted by Judge Charles
E. Flandrau, in command of about three hundred hurriedly organized volunteers,
imperfectly armed. They fell back at the first assault by the Indians, who
gained the outskirts of the town, but were repulsed and the buildings in the
vicinity burned to prevent the Indians from using them for shelter. But
advancing under cover of the smoke, which a shifting wind blew up Main street,
they gained the very center of the town, to be again driven out. At niglit they
retired.
After the first day's battle about forty buildings were burned in order to
prevent their use by the Indians for shelter ; intrenchments were dug, and every
possible means used for strengthening the defense against the attack which was
renewed the next morning, the Indians withdrawing about noon. The town,
however, was abandoned, and the wounded and the women and children were
sent to Mankato in a train of one hundred and fifty-three wagons, guarded by
citizens and soldiers.
THE ATTACK ON FORT RIDGELEY
The attack on Fort Ridgeley was commenced August 20th at i P. M. The
Indians charging furiously, whooping and yelling, were met by a deadly fire of
shrapnel and musketry at close range which quickly drove them from one of
the buildings, of which they had gained possession. The attack continued till
night, when they withdrew. During the battle that day the ammunition, which
was in an exposed condition, was safely removed to one of the stone barracks,
and at night the fort was strengthened by intrenchments. The men were cheered
by the results of the first day's battle. There was no fighting the next day, but
on the 22nd the attack was renewed, and from every direction the Indians were
seen creeping toward the fort, their heads turbaned with grass or wreathed in
wild flowers, the better to hide their movements. At a given signal they again
made a rush upon the fort, capturing the sutler's store and one of the wooden
barracks. One of the buildings was fired by a cannon shot from the fort and
the other by the Indians who tried to reach the fort under cover of the smoke.
Clouds of arrows, with burning punk attached to the tips, were fired upon the
buildings in an efTort to burn them, but the heavy rain of the night before pre-
vented that result.
During the progress of the battle the Renville Rangers, several of whom
spoke the Sioux language, hearing Little Crow give the order to make a rush
and club muskets, shouted back to them, "Come on! We are ready for you."
They met the charge with a withering musketry fire, sustained by the artillery
loaded with canister, and the Indians were again repulsed. Into a camp shelter-
ing the Indian women and children, ponies and dogs, which had been pitched ni
RED CLOUD
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 197
a deep ravine some distance from the fort, twenty-four-pound shells were dropped,
and bursting, made sad havoc among them.
The din of battle was terrific. There was the rattle of musketry, the roar of
cannon, the shriek of shell and the explosion, accompanied by the yells of the
charging Indians and the shouts of the officers and men. In the midst of the
battle it was found that the ammunition for the muskets was short, and with
that exhausted there would be no hope. Powder was obtained by opening the
ammunition of the artillery. Iron rods were cut into slugs to take the place
of bullets, and the women took up the work of making cartridges. At night the
Indians again retired, defeated, but the siege continued five days longer. It was
raised on the 27th by the arrival of William R. Marshall and Colonel Samuel
McPhail with one hundred and seventy-five mounted citizen soldiers, and the
next day General Henry H. Sibley reached Fort Ridgeley with twelve hundred
men.
ATT.\CK UPON FORT ABERCROMBIE
August 19th, Air. Russell and three employes engaged in building a hotel at
Breckenridge, Minn., were killed. Charles Snell, the mail driver, was also
killed about the same time. Mrs. Scott who lived at Ottertail crossing, was
shot in the breast, and her son killed. She literally crawled sixteen miles on
her hands and knees to Breckenridge, which had been abandoned, and took refuge
in the saw mill, where she was found and while being conveyed to Fort Aber-
crombie, Dakota, where the citizens had taken refuge, the team was captured
by the Indians and the driver was killed. The settlers, however, recaptured the
team and she was sent to the fort without further injury.
Fort Abercrombie. consisting of three buildings, the barracks, officers' quar-
ters, and commissary, was garrisoned by Company D, Fifth Minnesota Regiment
Infantry, commanded by Capt. John H. \'ander Horck. The settlers were
organized by Capt. T. D. Munn, and about seventy teamsters who had taken
refuge at the fort were commanded by Captain Smith. The teamsters were
en route from St. Paul to Red Lake with annuity goods for the Indians, and
liarrels of pork, corned beef, sugar and other provisions were used for a barricade.
Three hundred head of stock which were corralled near the fort were a constant
temptation to the Indians, who set fire to the straw stables. Walter S. Hill,
volunteered to go to St. Paul for re-enforcements : escorted by thirty-two men
he passed safely through the Indian lines, but on the return of the escort Edward
Wright and Mr. Schultz of the party were killed. In a later sortie Mr. Lull
met his death.
The attack was made on Fort Abercrombie at 5 A. M. on the 3rd of Sep-
tember. Captain John H. \"ander Horck, when visiting the picket line that
morning, having been mistaken for an Indian by one of the guards, was painfully
wounded. Lieutenant Groetch was therefore in command during the attack,
which was carried on with desperation until about noon, when the Indians retired.
.\t the close of this engagement it was found that there were but 350 rounds
of ammunition left for the muskets, Init there being an abundance of ammuni-
tion for the artillery, cartridges were manufactured from that and an ample
supply provided for the next attack, which occurred September 6, at day-
198 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
break. The fighting was hot and furious, but the Indians were again repulsed
with heavy loss. During the two engagements Company D lost five men, one
killed and four wounded, and there were several among the citizens and teamsters
who met with casualties. The Indians hovered about the fort until September 23d,
when the siege was raised by the arrival of re-enforcements.
THE BATTLE OF UIRCII COULEE
August 31st, a burial party was sent from Fort Ridgeley to bury the dead at
Redwood Agency and such other bodies as might be found. The condition of
the dead, exposed to the summer sun for ten days, was horrible. After burying a
large number, they camped at Birch Coulee on the night of September ist, in an
extremely unfavorable position, and were surprised by the Indians at daybreak,
September 2d, the battle lasting all day and until late in the evening. The com-
mand numbered 150 men, exclusive of seventeen teamsters, commanded by Maj.
Joseph R. Brown, whose wife and children were then captives in the hands of
the Sioux, who had put a price upon his head. The troops were Company A,
Sixth Minnesota, under Capt. Hiram A. Grant, and the Cullen Guards under Capt.
Joseph Anderson. There were seventeen wagons parked about the camp, which,
with the exception of the one which contained a wounded refugee, — Mrs. Justina
Kreiger, who had reached the camp the previous evening, — were turned over for a
barricade. Ninety horses connected with the camp were shot within fifteen min-
utes after the battle commenced, and the wagon in which Mrs. Kreiger lay during
the battle, was literally shot to pieces, the box and running gear being splintered
into a thousand fragments. Some of the spokes were shot away, the blanket in
which she was wrapped contained over two hundred bullet holes, and a dose of
medicine she was attempting to take was shot from her lips, and yet she had
but five slight wounds. The story of her sufferings, of her family murdered, and
of her own wounds, will be found near the close of this chapter.
The camp at the beginning of the attack was completely surrounded by several
hundred Indians, whose whooping and yelling while firing at close range with
deadly effect, spread consternation in the ranks of the small army of defenders.
The war cries of the Indians, the beating of their tom-toms, the groans of the
wounded, the neighing and struggling of the wounded horses, the storm of bullets,
the smoke of battle, the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry, and the
desperate efforts of the soldiers to throw up entrenchments : — using the one spade
and three shovels, all the tools they had in camp, supplemented, however, by
swords and bayonets, pocket knives and tin plates, — were memorable incidents of
the battle. At the close of the engagement 26 soldiers lay dead, and 45 wounded
were suffering in fearful anguish for want of attention, and especially for water,
which there had been no means of procuring. The next morning it was found that
the ammunition was practically exhausted, and in another hour the whole command
would have been killed by bullet, bludgeon or tomahawk, but re-enforcements
were approaching and the Indians fled.
FIDELITY OF THE FRIENDLY INDL^N'S
Notwithstanding the fidelity of the Sissetons and Wahpetons living in the
vicinity, the buildings of the Yellow Medicine Agency were burned on the 24th
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 199
of August. On the evening of August i8th Chaska, one of the noblest of his race,
and anotlier Indian, warned the missionaries, Rev. Stephen R. Riggs and Rev.
Thomas WilHanison and associates, — who were devoting their lives to the Indians,
working for their good, and residing about six miles away, — of their danger, and
urged them to flee. Other Indians joined in piloting them to a place of safety
for the night, and through their aid and guides, their party numbering thirty-five,
reached a point near Fort Ridgeley August 22d, during the progress of the battle
at that place. Their trail was discovered, but fortunately was obliterated by the
severe rainstorm of the previous night. During the night after the battle, one
of the party succeeded in reaching the fort, but was advised that there was little
hope for it to hold out against another Indian attack, and that provisions were
becoming low, and it was decided that it was better for the missionaries to try
to reach the settlements, which they were successful in doing after four days and
nights of weary traveling, guided all the way by their faithful Indian friends.
The Renville family, honored in North Dakota as well as in Minnesota, were
among the helpers of this party to escape.
The family of the Indian agent and others from the Yellow Medicine Agency,
sixty-two in all, were guided to a place of safety by Other-Day and other Indian
friends, reaching Shakopee August 22d, after intense suffering. Ah-kee-pah
literally camped with Little Crow, and in the vicinity of his captives, originally
numbering 26, but finally increased to 270, including the family of Maj. J. R.
Brown, — threatening him and his hostile band with dire vengeance if injury was
done to them. Even Little Crow endangered his life by yielding to the demands
of the friendly Indians in behalf of the captives.
THE BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE
September 23d, the last of the series of battles during the uprising, was fought.
A large force, consisting of parts of the Third, Sixth and Seventh Minnesota, and
the Renville Rangers, supported by artillery, gained a decisive victory over the
Indians, resulting in the surrender of two hundred and seventy captives, on Sep-
tember 26th, just forty days from the beginning of the outbreak. Here sixteen
Indians were buried from those killed in the battle, many of the dead and most
of the wounded were carried away.
SUDDEN CONVERSION OF HOSTILES
After the battle of Wood Lake the fighting spirit took its departure from the
greater portion of the Indians in the hostile camp, and as the soldiers advanced,
every man, woman and child old enough to walk, displayed flags of truce. White
rags were fastened to the tepee poles, tied to cart and wagon wheels, attached
to sticks in all conceivable places, and in the most ludicrous manner. One Indian
having thrown a white blanket over his horse, tied a bit of white cloth to its tail,
and wrapped an American flag about his body, sat on his war steed, calmly waiting
for the troops to pass.
ATROCITIES OF THE SIOUX
The wounded in the hands of the Sioux were tortured by every conceivable
device to make death one of prolonged agony. Wives were compelled to witness
200 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the torture of their husbands until death ended their suffering, and were then
carried away captive. Mothers were compelled to witness the murder of their
little ones, and to hear their screams and shrieks under the pains of torture pre-
ceding their death. Helpless infants were left to starve by the side of their
murdered mothers, or to be consumed in the homes that were burned. Little chil-
dren wandered for days, terrified and ahungered, before they reached a place of
safety, and women, wounded, bleeding, and nearly crazed, wandered for weeks,
before they were found and given care.
UNSPEAKABLE OUTRAGES
Neither tongue nor pen can tell of the sufferings of the refugees, nor faithfully
report the tales they told, nor picture the terrors encountered by them in their
flight for safety. At one point they came upon twenty-seven bodies of settlers,
overtaken in their flight and murdered, and mutilated, some put to outrage
unspeakable. Two settlers on the way to the Redwood Agency came upon the
bodies of a woman and two children. They went to the nearest home and to
the home of several neighbors. The result was the same. There were dead
bodies at each. At one the father, mother and two children were all murdered.
They returned hastily to their own settlement and spreading the alarm the settlers
assembled to determine what to do.
Starting for Fort Ridgeley, they were met by a band of marauders, the leader
of which was well known to one of the settlers, who had hunted with him, and
they were always great friends. The Indian appeared glad to see his friend,
greeting him cordially and kissing him, claiming that the murders had been
committed by the Chippewas and promising the protection of the Sioux, prevailed
upon them to return to their homes. They traveled some distance together, and at
noon stopping to feed their cattle and lunch, their Indian escort accepted food
from them, and. after lunch, motioned them to go on. but soon followed and
robbed them of their valuables. Another party coming up fired upon them, killing
all but three of the men of the party at the first volley.
Mrs. Tustina Kreiger, the wounded woman mentioned in connection with the
battle of Birch Coulee, told her story to the Sioux Commission as follows :
"Mr. Foss, Mr. Gottleib Zable, and my husband were yet alive. The Indians
asked the women if they would go along with them, promising to save all that
would go, and threatening all that refused, with instant death. Some were willing
to go ; others refused. I told them that I proposed to die with my husband and
children. My husband urged me to go with them, telling me that they would
probably kill him and perhaps I could get away in a short time. I still refused,
preferring to die with him and the children. One of the women who started olT
with the Indians turned around, halloed to me to come up with them, and taking
a few steps towards me, was shot dead. At the same time two of the men left
alive and six of the women, were killed, leaving of all the men only my husband
alive. Some of the children were also killed at the last fire. A number of the
children yet remained around the wagon ; these the savages beat with the butts of
their guns until they supposed they were dead. Some, soon after, rose up from
the ground, with blood streaming down their faces, when they were again beaten
and killed.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 201
"I stood yet in the wagon, refusing to get out and go with the murderers;
my own husband, meanwhile, begging me to go, as he saw they were about to kill
him. He stood by the wagon, watching an Indian at his right, ready to shoot,
while another was quite behind him with a gun aimed at him. I saw them both
shoot at the same time, lioth shots took effect in the body of my husband, and
one of the bullets passed through his body and struck my dress below the knee.
My husband fell between the oxen and seemed not quite dead, when a third ball
was shot into his head, and another into his shoulder, which probably entered his
heart.
"Now I determined to jump out of the wagon and die beside my husband, but
as I was standing up to jump, I was shot; seventeen buckshots, as was afterwards
ascertained, entering my body. I then fell back into the wagon box. I had eight
children in the wagon-bed and one in a shawl. All of these were either my own
or else my step-children. What would now become of the children in the wagon
I did not know, and what the fate of the baby I could only surmise.
"I was seized by an Indian and very roughly dragged from the wagon, and
the wagon was drawn over my body and ankles. I suppose the Indians left me
for a time, how long I do not know, as I was for a time quite insensible. When
I was shot the sun was still shining, but when I woke up it was dark. My baby,
as the children afterwards told me, was, when they found him, lying about five
yards from me, crying. One of my step-children, a girl of thirteen years of
age, took the baby and ran off. The Indians took two of the children with them.
These were the two next to the youngest. One of them, a boy four years old,
taken first by the Indians, had got out of the wagon, or in some way made his
escape, and came back to the dead body of his father. He took his father by the
hand, .saying to him, "Papa, papa, don't sleep so long." Two of the Indians came
back and one of them, getting off his horse, took the child away. The child was
afterward recovered at Camp Release. The other one I never heard of. Two of
the boys ran away on the first attack, and reached the woods, some eighty rods
distant. One climbed a tree : the youngest, age 7, remaining below. This eldest
boy, 8 years of age. witnessed the massacre of all who were killed at this place.
He remained in the tree until I was killed, — he supposed. He then came down
and told his brother what he had seen and that their mother was dead. While
they were crying over the loss of their parents, August Gest, a son of a neighbor,
cautioned them to keep still, as the Indians might hear them and come and kill
them, too."
Here these children remained in hiding three days, and then spent eight days
and nights of terror in reaching the fort. Once when they saw a team with a
family coming toward them, and were about to rush to them in joy, a party of
Indians concealed from view captured the family and drove off. They could hear
the screams of the woman until they disappeared in the distance.
Mrs. Kreiger. recurring to the scene of the massacre of their party, said :
"My step-daughter, aged 13, as soon as the Indians had left the field, started
off for the woods. In passing where I lay, supposing me dead, and finding the
baby near, crying, she hastily took it up, and brought it off the field of death in
her arms. The other girl, my own child, six years old, arose out of the grass and
two of the other children that had been beaten over the head and left for dead,
202 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
now recovered, and went off towards the woods and soon rejoined each other
there. I was still lying on the field.
"The three other children returned to the place of the massacre, leaving the
boy in charge of the 6-year-old girl. As they came to the field they found seven
children and one woman evincing some signs of life. * * * ^11 these were
covered with blood, and had been beaten with the butts of the guns and hacked by
the tomahawks, excepting a girl whose head had been severed by a gunshot. The
woman was Anna Zable. She had received two wounds. — a cut in the shoulder
and a stab in the side. They were all taken to the house of my husband by these
three girls. They remained in the house all night doing all they could for each
other. This was a terrible place, as hospital for invalid children, with no one
older than thirteen years of age to give directions for the dressing of the wounds,
nursing of the infant children, and giving food to the hungry, in a house that had
already been plundered of everything of value."
Early ne.xt morning Mrs. Zable and the children who had rescued the wounded
children, went to the scene of the massacre to look after Mrs. Kreiger who was
supposed to have been killed, but being frightened, they hid in the grass, and
while there the Indians drove up with the ox team belonging to their party and
stripped the clothing from the dead. They plundered other houses, and fired the
building in which the wounded children had been placed, and all of the seven
little ones were burned. Mrs. Zable and the five children lingered in the vicinity
three days, and then spent eleven days and nights before reaching Fort Ridgeley.
When the party went back to the scene of the massacre, they left the baby asleep
in a house, but they could not return to it and never afterwards heard of it. The
6-year-old child fell exhausted on the way, but the children cared for it, until
it gained strength, a little nourishment having been obtained from a melon rind
found in the road. When they came in sight of Fort Ridgeley, Mrs. Zable, crazed
with grief and wounds, and exhausted by exposure and want, insisted that the
fort was a camp of Indians and fled as a party advanced to their rescue.
Mrs. Kreiger lay where she fell August i8th, until the next night about mid-
night. At this time two Indians approached to ascertain if life was extinct. "The
next moment a sharp pointed knife was felt at my throat," said Mrs. Kreiger,
passing downward, cutting not only the clothing entirely from my body, but
actually penetrating the flesh." She saw one of these inhuman wretches seize
Wilhelmina Kitzman, who was her niece, and the child cut and mangled, was
thrown on the ground to die. The other child of Paul Kitzman was taken along
with the Indians, crying most piteously.
After this experience Mrs. Kreiger again became unconscious, but when she
revived she found her own clothing, which the Indians had thrown away, and
covering herself as best she could, made her way to Fort Ridgeley, wandering
about, hiding in the grass and the timber until September ist, when she was
rescued by the soldiers, and next day lay in the only wagon that was not turned
bottom upwards for defense at the Battle of F)irch Coulee, as related in that
connection.
The number of citizens killed during the outbreak was 644, 32 of whom
were in Dakota. The number of soldiers killed at the several battles was 93, making
a total loss of life of 737. To this list of casualties must be added the many
wounded. Two hundred and seventy captives were surrendered.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 208
THE COST OK Till-: OUTI'.KEAK TO THE INDIANS
The property of the two Indian agencies belonged to the Indians and was paid
for out of their appropriation. The crops growing on the agency farms were
for their support, and whatever injury came to these was an injury to them. All
of the dwellings (excepting two Indian homes), stores, mills, shops, and other
buildings, with their contents, and the tools, implements and utensils upon the
Yellow Medicine Agency were destroyed or rendered useless. The value was
$425,000.
At the lower or Redwood Agency, the stores, warehouses, shops and dwellings
of the employes, with their contents, were destroyed, together with eight houses
belonging to the Indians and occupied by them, and a new stone warehouse nearing
completion. The value was $375,000. Adding to this the destruction of fences,
loss of crops, and of lumber and supplies, the loss to the Indians on the reservation
alone was not less than $1,000,000.
The fund of $2,748,000 on which the Government had agreed to pay them five
per cent per annum, was forfeited, and they lost the interest thereon from that time
forward. The treaty of 1851 was abrogated by the act of February 16, 1863 (vol.
12, Federal Statutes at Large, p. 652). They had received under the treaty
$2,459,350, less the sum paid for depredations. They also lost $300,000 deposited
to their credit under the treaty of 1837.
Four hundred and twenty-five Indians were tried by a military commission on
the charge of murderous participation in the massacre. Three hundred and twenty-
one were convicted and 303 were sentenced to death. President Lincoln commuted
the sentence of all but thirty-nine. Thirty-eight of these were hanged at Mankato,
Minnesota, December 26, 1862. One was pardoned by the President. Two were
later hanged at Fort Snelling, and still another at Mankato. Among those hanged
was a negro half-blood. Two others convicted were released after three years'
imprisonment.
Little Crow was killed July 3, 1863, by Chauncey Lampson, near Hutchinson,
Minnesota. It must be said to the credit of Little Crow that it was through his
efforts that the captives in his camp escaped massacre. He saved them, even at
times when his own life was threatened on that account, but it was because he
feared the vengeance of the Sissetons and Wahpetons who were persistently
demanding their release or at least that no harm should come to them.
THE COST TO THE SETTLERS
The loss of propertv and crops destroyed belonging to the settlers was even
greater.
The $71,000 in gold, whicli arrived at Fort Ridgeley on the day the outbreak
commenced, was paid under act of Congress to the settlers as part payment for
Indian depredations. The amount so paid included, also, other items appropriated
for their benefit amounting in the aggregate to $204,883.90.
The burning of Sioux Falls, the death of Joseph W. Amidon and Edward B.
Lamoure, an elder brother of Hon. Judson Lamoure, of Pembina, in the attack on
Sioux Falls are mentioned in another chapter. The garrison at Fort Randall, the
activity of the settlers and the "preparedness" shown at Yankton, where the
204 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
settlers in that section of Dakota assembled for defense, doubtless prevented an
outbreak among the Yanktons inhabiting that region.
These are only striking incidents of Indian warfare, followed by a long list of
bloody afifairs, in which the Indians gained nothing. Other incidents have been
mentioned in other chapters. The story of the massacre at Fort Phil Kearney
and the Custer massacre will be told in subsequent chapters. Today the whole
world realizes what War is. Now (October, 1916) 14,000,000 soldiers of
Christian nations are at war. The "beasts" come out of the land, and from under
the sea — and from the air — all engaged in the destruction of human beings, sparing
not innocent children, weak women, decrepit old men, or the sick and wounded in
hospitals. And for what? Anarchists, in their warfare on all forms of govern-
ment, killed a son of royalty, and the war of August, 1914, began, coming like a
storm from a clear sky. sweeping over and involving nations in no way responsible
for its beginning, and making the hymn of H. \\'. Baker — No. 199 of the Episcopal
Prayer Book — appropriate for every opening day :
"O God of love, O King of Peace !
Make wars throughout the world to cease,
The wrath of sinful man restrain.
Give peace, O God ! give peace again."
CHAPTER XIV
IN THE SIOUX COUNTRY
BEGINNING OF CIVILIZATION IN THE LAND OF THE DAKOTAS — THE OLD HAND-PRESS
THE FIRST DAKOTA NEWSPAPER THE FIRST PERMANENT NEWSPAPER THE
TREATY OF 185I THE MASSACRE OF LIEUTENANT GRATTAN AND HIS MEN THE
VERMILION SETTLEMENT HARNEY's PUNITIVE EXPEDITION FORT PIERRE AS A
MILITARY POST — THE BATTLE OF BLUE WATER OR ASH HOLLOW FIRST ORGAN-
IZED SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA — FOUNDING OF SIOUX FALLS — DAKOTA
CHRISTENED BIG SIOUX COUNTY ORGANIZED ^TOWNSITES ON THE SIOUX THE
TREATY OF 1858 CAPT. JOHN B. S. TODD FORTS RANDALL AND ABERCROMBIE
ESTABLISHED THE BON HOMME SETTLEMENT — THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE — ELK
POINT — CHARLES MIX COUNTY THE PONCA AGENCY DAKOTA TERRITORY
PROCLAIMED CHARLES F. PICOTTE FIRST DAKOTA POSTOFFICES.
At the doorway of his wigwam
Sat the ancient arrow-maker,
In the land of the Dakotas,
Making arrowheads of jasper,
Arrowheads of chalcedon5%
At his side, in her beauty,
Sat the lovely Minnehaha,
Sat his daughter, Laughing Water.
— Henry W. Longfellow.
IN THE LAND OF THE DAKOTAS
Beginning with the treaties of 1825 by the Indians on the upper Missouri
River and the estabhshment of the organized fur trade on that stream and its
tributaries, events rapidly followed, tending to confirm the Indian fears that
their hunting grounds would soon be taken from them, and to stir them to fierce
resistance. The Dakotas were contemplating encroachments on their weaker
western neighbors, when they beheld a wave of white settlement coming from
the West as well as from the South and East, crowding toward the very heart
of the Sioux countrv\
In 1832 Fort Pierre had become the head of the fur trade on the upper
Missouri, and steamboats had begun making regular trips to that point and
beyond.
In 1838 Jean Nicholas Nicollet, assisted by Second Lieut. John Charles
Fremont of the United States Topographical Engineers, appointed for that
purpose by President Martin ^^an Buren, came to Fort Pierre on the steamer
205
206 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Antelope for exploration. Leaving the Missouri River at the mouth of the
James, or Dakota River, they extended their explorations to the Devils Lake
region, returning East via St. Paul.
It was while in ^^'ashington preparing his report that Lieutenant Fremont
made the acquaintance of his future wife, Jessie Benton, daughter of Senator
Thomas H. Henton of Missouri, which ripened into affection and resulted in an
elopement, and an assignment of Fremont for exploration in Iowa, followed by
pathhnding in the Rocky ^vlountains in 1842-44. Fremont came to be known as
the Great Pathfinder, and, in 1856, was the first republican candidate for
President of the United States, and later a distinguished major general in the
Civil war. It will be noticed that the foundation of his fame and that of his
love for the beautiful daughter of Senator Benton were laid in the land of the
Dakotas — the land of the arrow-maker's daughter, Minnehaha.
Overland immigration to Oregon commenced in 1841. In 1847 Ltah was
occupied by the Mormons, and for the protection of immigrants and others
passing over the country, and of the frontier settlements, military posts, as they
had been projected, were established, followed by the creation of new territories
and the admission of new states. In February, 1848, gold was discovered in a
mill-race at Coloma, Cal., by James W. Marshall, a native of New Jersey, who
had just finished building a sawmill, by Indian labor, for Col. John A. Sutter,
a Swiss, w'ho resided at a fort near Sacramento. The gold was in the form
of a long, irregular pumpkin seed and was tested at Monterey. The first few
months Marshall employed about one hundred Indians from Monterey to wash
out gold at Webber Creek, six miles from Coloma. There were then only three
white men in that region, but the discovery of gold turned the tide of immigra-
tion in that direction.
Fort Kearney was built in 1848, and the trading post on the north fork of
the Platte known as Fort Kearney was purchased in 1849 and converted into a
military post, bearing the name of Fort Laramie.
THE OLD HAND-PRESS
As early as 1843 a printing outfit was brought to Lancaster, Grant County,
Wis., for the first weekly paper of that lead-mining region. It was subse-
quently owned by James M. Goodhue, a talented and progressive editor, who,
being ambitious for a larger field, closed his office and removed to St. Paul in
the autumn of 1848. On the same steamer with him was a young man from the
same village, named John B. Callis, who helped Goodhue unload his freight
upon the river bank at the Village of St. Paul.
Fifty-eight years later, September 6, igo6, Gen. John B. Callis, the noted
colonel of the Seventh Wisconsin Infantry of the Iron Brigade, rested on his
crutches in the splendid office of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press during the Grand
Army encampment for that year, and narrated to reporters how he had brought
.the first font of type and the first press into the town, with "Jim" Goodhue,
famous in its development.
It is not well known how many poor pioneer printers of the Northwest had
inherited that little machine, to print "final proof" sheets in far-away frontier
townsites. It met its fate at Sioux Falls and was buried and forgotten among
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 207
the scrap-iron. Later still it became known to Senator Richard F. Pettigrew
that at the back door of a humble house of his home city was the platen of the
much-traveled old press, serving in the useful capacity of a door-step. The
senator bought it and gave it an honorable place among historic relics of the
Northwest territories in the State Historical Society.
THE FIRST DAKOTA PRINTING PRESS
The first printing press in Dakota was purchased at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848,
and was the gift of Oberlin College students to Rev. Alonzo Barnard, a
Presbyterian missionary, about to be stationed at St. Joseph, now Walhalla, N. D.
It was brought up the Mississippi in the summer of 1849, from Cass Lake in
canoes down the Red Lake and Red River to Pembina, and from there trans-
ferred to St. Joseph, in a Red River cart, and thence to Fort Garry, now
Winnipeg, where it was used by Dr. Schultz in printing the Northwester, the
first newspaper published on the Red River.
THE FIRST I)AKOT.\ NEWSPAPER
July 2, 1859, Samuel J. Albright established the Dakota Democrat at Sioux
Falls City, the first newspaper published within the limits of Dakota Territory.
Mr. Albright had been connected with the Free Press at St. Paul. At the date
of the issue of the Sioux Falls Democrat there were less than two score of people
at Sioux Falls City. The publication was suspended in March, i860, during the
absence of Mr. Albright, until December, i860, when it was revived as the
Western Independent, and was published occasionally thereafter until March,
1861, by J. W. Stewart. According to the record given above, Mr. Albright's
was not the first printing press in Dakota. The Dakota Republican, the first
permanent newspaper in Dakota, was established by J. Elwood Clark and James
Bedell September 6, 1861.
THE TREATY OF 185I
Minnesota Territory was organized in 1849. The plains west of the Missouri
River were occupied by Indian Tribes claiming them under undefined hereditary
rights, or by the power of might. The Laramie treaty of 185 1 defined the
boundaries of their several claims. The Mendota treaties of 185 1 ceded Indian
lands lying on and extending to the western boundary of Minnesota Territory.
These treaties were made without the consent of the masses of the tribes and
were not accepted by them. There were bad hearts and hot blood among the
Indians.
Fort Rilev in Kansas and Fort Ridgeley in Minnesota, the main reliance of
the settlers of Dakota in 1862, as related in Chapter XIII, were built in 1852.
THE MASSACRE OF LIEUTENANT GRATTAN AND HIS MEN
In June, 1853, two young Indians fired their guns into the air, in the vicinity
of a frontier military post, contrary to military regulations, lest alarm be created
208 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
among passing immigrants or others having a right to be in the Indian country
limit. Henry 13. Fkmming, then stationed at Fort Laramie, was sent to the Indian
village with a detail of soldiers and demanded the surrender of the two young
men. The Indians failing to comply with his demand, he ordered his men to tire
on the Indians, killing three and wounding several others, and seized two young
braves whom he carried away for punishment. Indian depredations followed as
a natural result.
August 19, 1854, Lieutenant John L. Grattan of the Sixth United States
Infantry, who was placed in command of a detail of seventeen men, which he had
increased by unauthorized volunteers to thirty-one, went to the Indian village
of Singing Bear, and demanded the surrender of the Indians who had committed
this alleged depredation. There were upwards of a thousand Indians in the camp
awaiting the payment of their annuities and preparing for their autumn hunt.
Singing Bear, who was friendly to the whites, asked for time, which was denied,
and Lieutenant Grattan ordered his men to fire. Singing Bear fell mortally
wounded, and though he pleaded with his men not to retaliate, in less than five
minutes Lieutenant Grattan and his thirty-one men lay dead, sacrificed to the fury
of the Indians led by Little Thunder, father of Spotted Tail, who succeeded Sing-
ing Bear in command of the camp. Their vengeance fell like a bolt from heaven —
not a man from the command of the indiscreet young officer escaped.
The Indians then formed into small bands, and many immigrants and others
suffered the loss of life or property as the result of Lieutenant Grattan's rash act.
THE \'ERMII.ION SETTLEMENT
Nebraska Territory was organized in 1854. At \'ermilion, S. D., on the
l)order of Nebraska, Robert Dickson, and subsequently the American Fur Com-
pany, established trading posts, as related in Chapter XI, and Capt. Henry
\''anderburg of the Leavenworth Punitive Expedition of 1823, settled there in
1855. Alexander C. Young, who came to Fort Pierre in 1834, retired from the
fur trade and settled on a ranch near Vermilion at the same time, and Henry
Kennedy in 1859. In this year a Norwegian colony located here, among them
Ole Olson, Henry Severson and Syvert H. Myron, and James McHenry erected
a store building, the first permanent improvement in the village. George Brown,
Parker N. Brown, Marcellus Lathrop, Miner Robinson, Ole Bottolfson and about
a dozen other settlers came that year. Mrs. Lathrop and Mrs. George Brown
were the first white women to settle in Clay County. Hon. Andrew J. Harlan
and a number of others came in 1861.
Notable events in the history of the territory were the first wedding ceremony,
which took place at Vermilion in i860, when Jacob Deuel — for whom Deuel
County, South Dakota, was named — and Miss Robinson were married; the first
Methodist service, i860, conducted by the Rev. S. F. Tngham, who reached
that village October 13, i860; the Presbyterian Church, built in 1861, claimed
to have been the first church edifice erected in South Dakota, known as Father
Martin's Church, Rev. Charles D. Martin, pastor, where was held the first
religious meeting and where was installed the first church bell aside from the one
by Father Belcourt at St. Joseph ; the first term of court in Dakota, Judge Lorenzo
P. WilHston presiding, convened at Vermilion the first Monday in August, 1861.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 209
Harney's expedition
Growing out of the Grattan massacre, the Harney expedition was authorized
March 23, 1855, and sent to punish the Indians. Four companies of the Second
United States Infantry, then stationed at Cariisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and
two stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., were ordered to proceed to Fort Pierre and
establish a military post at that point. The expedition was to consist of about
a thousand officers and men, some being then stationed at Forts Laramie and
Kearney, Neb., and others to be assembled at points designated.
For the transportation of troops, equipment and supplies the Government
purchased the steamers William Baird and Grey Cloud and chartered others.
Supply depots were established at Forts Laramie, Kearney and Pierre.
FORT PIERRE .\S .\ MILIT.KRV POST
The purchase and occupation of Fort Pierre as a military post in 1855 was
really the beginning of the occupation of the Dakotas for other than trading
])urposes, excepting an occasional settler identified with the Indians in some
manner.
For the supply depot at Fort Pierre, Quartermaster General Thomas S. Jessup
negotiated for the purchase of the trading post at that point, through Honore
Picotte, representing Pierre Choteau, Jr., & Company, on behalf of the American
Fur Company, the delivery being made by Maj. Charles E, Galpin on behalf of
said company. The purchase price was ^45,000. The contract called for delivery
June I, 1855, and with such delivery Fort Pierre ceased to be a trading post and
became a military establishment.
The buildings at Fort Pierre numbered twenty, within a stockade inclosing
about two acres. They included a store building, a 100 by 24-foot warehouse,
quarters for the employes, sawmill, shops for the blacksmith, carpenter and
saddler, stables and powder-house, the latter of concrete and the others of logs.
July 7, 1855, the Arabia arrived with Company G, Second United States
Infantry, numbering 100 officers and men. The Grey Cloud followed with
Company A. eighty-two men, and the William Baird with Company I, fifty-four
men, under command of Capt. IFenry W. Wessels. Maj. R. Montgomery, the
regimental commander, and the first commander of the post, arrived the next
week with Paymaster Maj. .Augustus W. Gaines, Capt. Parmea T. Turnley,
Assistant Quartermaster Capt. Marcus D. Simpson, Assistant Commissary of
Subsistence Capt. Thomas C. Madison, assistant surgeon, and Lieutenant Gouv-
erneur K. Warren of the Topographical Engineers. August 2d, Capt. Nathaniel
Lyon arrived on the Clara with thirty-seven men of Company C and thirty-five
of Company B. Capt. William M. Gardner arrived on the Genoa August loth
with eighty-two officers and men. Captain Lyon, six years later a distinguished
brigadier-general in the Civil war, was killed at Wilson Creek August 10, i86r,
and Lieutenant Warren became a major general of distinction in the same war.
Captains Charles S. Lovell and Alfred Sully, with Companies A and F,
marched o\erland from Fort Ridgeley, Minn. Captain Sully, in 1861, was colonel
of the First Minnesota, and afterwards brigadier general in command of the
-Sully expedition of 1863-64, which fought several battles on Dakota soil. Fort
Sully was named for him.
Vol. 1—14
210 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
THE BATTLE OF BLUE WATER OR ASH HOLLOW
Being ready for the campaign, the expedition marched into the Sioux country.
September 3, 1855, Little Thunder, an unusually stalwart and intelligent Indian,
and his band, were at the mouth of a broad canyon on the north fork of the
Platte River, engaged in their annual autumn hunt — preparing their winter supply
of food. Their women and children were with them; grazing for their horses was
good, and there was plenty of fuel for the care of the meat ; buffalo, deer and
elk were abundant. It was an ideal hunting ground, and it was evident they
feared no attack and anticipated none. But Brig.-Gen. William S. Harney,
according to the purpose for which he was sent into that countrj^ attacked them
with Companies E and K, Second Dragoons; G, Fourth Artillery; A, E, H, I and
K, Sixth Infantry and E, Tenth Infantry, without warning. Harney's loss was
five. The Indian loss was eighty-six killed and seventy wounded, among them
many women and children. But this was the only battle of the campaign. The
Indians sued for peace and a treaty of peace followed.
AFTER THE BATTLE
General Harney's command returned to the several supply points, and General
Harney to the work of establishing a permanent military post on the Missouri
River.
Fort Pierre was not a suitable place in his opinion, owing to lack of timber
and meadow for a permanent military post. Lieutenant Warren surveyed 270
square miles on the proposed military reservation, finding but lo.ooo acres of
meadow and timber land. Accordingly another point was selected and the force
at Fort Pierre was distributed in the main to other points for the winter.
Captains Lovell and Sully with their companies remained at Fort Pierre.
Captain Wessels established a winter camp five miles above Fort Pierre, on the
east side of the river. Captain Gardner, Camp Miller, eighteen miles above on
the east side ; Captain Cady, Camp Bacon, ten miles above Fort Pierre ; Captain
Howe, Camp Canfield, between the White and Niobrara rivers.
Fort Lookout, opposite Chamberlain, had become an important trading post,
and was ambitious to become the permanent military post. The headquarters
was at this point under Capt. Nathaniel Lyon.
After the battle with Harney's command Spotted Tail and two yoimg braves
from his father's camp came to the fort, in full regalia, and offered their lives
to save their tribe from further punishment.
Fort Pierre was abandoned in May, 1857. as a military post, though its occu-
pation was continued by Captains Sully and Lovell until 1858, when they
returned overland to Fort Ridgeley. Captains Albemarle Cady and Marshall S.
Howe were among the officers of that period at Fort Pierre.
After the sale of Fort Pierre for a military post, a trading post was established
four miles above Fort Pierre by Joseph La Frambois, known as Fort La Frambois.
It was here that the Indian chief Bear Rib, as narrated in Chapter XII, was
murdered May 27, 1862, by men of his tribe, for receiving annuities intended for
Indians who had refused to receive them, fearing that it involved the sale of
their land, which many of the Indians were determined not to permit.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 211
FIRST ORGANIZED SETTLEMENT IX SOUTH DAKOTA
That portion of South Dakota east of the Big Sioux, ceded by the Mendota
treaty of 1851, left in unorganized territory by the admission of Minnesota in
-May, 1858, was organized by the last Territorial Legislature of Minnesota as
Big Sioux and Midway counties, Sioux Falls being the county seat of the former
and Medary of the latter. Flandrau, or Flandreau, as it came to be officially
known, was the county seat of Rock County, also created by the Minnesota
I^egislature.
William Wallace Kingsbury, the last territorial delegate in Congress from the
Territory of Minnesota, continued to draw his pay as a delegate from Minnesota
until the end of his term, March 3, 1859, and to be entitled to a seat in Congress
as such. He resided at Endion, Minn. He came from Towanda, Pa., and died
at Tarpon, Fla., April 17, 1892.
FOUNDING OF SIOUX FALLS
In Jean X. Xicollet's report of his explorations, published under the title of
"Nicollet's Travels in the Northwest in 1839," he gave a graphic description of
Sioux Falls which attracted. the attention to that region of Dr. J. M. Staples of
Dubuque, Iowa, who organized a company consisting of himself. Mavor Hether-
ington of that city, Dennis Mahoney (afterwards editor of the Dubuque Herald),
Austin Adams, George P. Waldron, William Tripp. Wilmot W. Brookings and
Dr. J. L. Philips known as the Western Townsite Company of Dubuque, Iowa.
In October, 1856, Ezra Millard, then of Sioux City, Iowa, later of Omaha.
Xeb., and David !M. Mills, representing this company, went to Sioux Falls for
the purpose of locating a townsite at that point, but their first sight of the falls
was interrupted by a party of Sioux Indians, who angrily turned them away and
ordered them to stay not beyond the rising of the morning sun. The Indians
appeared to be in possession and in earnest, and so they went ; but Mr. Mills
returned a few weeks later, built a house, staked a claim, and held his ground
until the next spring, when he was joined by Jesse T. Jarrett, Barclay Jarrett,
John McClellan, James Farrell and Halvor Olsen. Jesse Jarrett was in charge of
the party and located for the Western Townsite Company 320 acres, described
as the NW '4 Sec. 9 and NE '4 Sec. 16, T. lOi, N., R. 40 W., 5th P.M., naming
their location Sioux Falls.
In June. 1857. the Dakota Land Company was organized at St. Paul for the
purpose of colonizing that portion of the lands ceded in 1851 at Mendota. not
included in the pending bill for the admission of Minnesota, which would be left
as unorganized territory if the bill passed.
Judge Charles E. Flandrau of St. Paul. Jefferson P. Kidder, Alpheus G. Fuller.
Joseph E. Gay, Samuel J. Albright. Baron Freidenreich, James M. Allen, Franklin
J. Dewitt. Byron M. .Smith. Colonel William H. Noble and others were associated
in this enterprise. Colonel Noble had laid out and worked a road across the
unsurveyed country. The purpose of the company was to acquire desirable lands
for settlement and townsite purposes and to lay the foundation for a new
territory.
The following members of the company, or its employes, left St. Paul early
212 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
in June, 1857, going by steamboat on the ^klinnesota River to the most available
point, and thence o\erland to the Big Sioux, viz. ; Franklin ]. Dewitt, Alpheus
G. Fuller, Samuel A. Medary. Jr.. J. K. Brown, Col. William H. Noble, B. F.
Brown, James L. FisUe, Artemas Gale, James M. Allen, William Settley, Byron
M. Smith, A. J. Kilgore and Arnold Merrill. On leaving the Minnesota River
they divided into three parties.
Alpheus G. Fuller, Byron M. Smith, Col. William H. Noble, .\rtemas Gale,
James M. Allen, A. J. Kilgore and James L. Fiske reached Sioux Falls about
June 20th and found the Dubuque party mentioned abo\e had preceded them.
They were warmly welcomed, however.
D-\KOT.\ CHRISTENED
The St. Paul party organizeil, located 320 acres by land scrip, voted that the
new territory they came to found should be called Dakota, and that Sioux Falls
City should be its capital.
The party headed by Dewitt located at Flandrau, in the unorganized county of
Rock, and the one headed by Medary located at Medary in Midway County.
Sioux Falls was to be the initial point for their operations.
The Sioux Falls contingent left James McBride and James L. Fiske to repre-
sent them, and the Dubuque party Jesse Jarrett, Barclay Jarrett, John McClellan,
James Farwell and Halvor Olsen in charge of their interests.
In July. 1857, the Indians became very threatening and some of the party
left on that account.
August 23, 1857, Jesse T. Jarrett, John McClellan. Dr. J. L. Phillips, Wilmot
\\'. Brookings, David M. Mills, A. J. Kilgore, S. B. Atwood, Smith Kinsey, James
Callahan and Mr. Godfrey returned, armed and provisioned to hold the ground
selected. They brought a saw mill and other equipment. Mr. Brookings was
appointed superintendent. Later James M. Allen, William Little, James W.
Evans, James I.. Fiske and James McBride arrived and erected several buildings,
including a store and three dwelling-houses.
That fall James M. Allen, William Little, James W. Evans, James L. Fiske,
James McBride. James McCall and C. Merrill of the St. Paul colony arrived.
In 1858 John Goodwin and wife, Charles S. White and daughter Ella, and
Amos Duley and wife came. The latter later returned to Lake Shetek, Minn.,
where Mr. Duley was killed, and his wife and daughter made captive in the
Sioux uprising of 1862. They were ransomed by Maj. Charles E. Galpin, acting
for Dakota settlers. William Stevens, Samuel Masters, Henry Masters, J. B.
Greenway, George P. Waldron and Margaret Callahan, who later wedded J. B.
Barnes, Joseph B. Amidon and family, John Lawrence, Berne C. Fowler,
J. B. Barnes, John Rouse, James W. Lynch, Jefferson P. Kidder, Samuel F.
Brown and N. F. Brown were settlers that year, and Alpheus G. Fuller returned
from Washington, having been unsuccessful in securing recognition by Congress
as a delegate for the proposed new territory, to which position he had been
appointed by the county commissioners of Big Sioux County.
The Alinnesota Legislature had created the counties of Pembina, Rock, Big
Sioux and Midway, and when admitted as a State, portions of Pembina and
Rock, and all of the Big Sioux and Midway were left in unorganized territory.
JUDGE JEFFERSON P. KIDDER, 1865
Delegate to Congress from 1S75 to 1879.
Judge of the United States District Court,
first Dakota district from 1865 to 1875 and
from 1879 to 1883. Died in office.
COLONEL ENOS STUTSMAN
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 213
BIG SIOUX COUNTY ORGANIZED
This county was organized by Governor Alexander Ramsey of Minnesota, by
the appointment of \\'illiam Little, James McBride and A. L. Kilgore county
commissioners, James AI. Allen register of deeds, James X. Evans sheriff, James
L. Fiske judge of probate, Wilmot W. Brookings district attorney, Dr. J. L.
Phillips and James AlcCall justices of the peace. The Dakota Legislature of
1862 changed the name of the county to Minnehaha, and confirmed the acts of
the officers after the admission of Minnesota.
TOWNSITES ON THE SIOUX
Townsites were also located by the Dakota Land Company at Flandrau, Rock
County (now Flandrau, Moody County), at Medary, Midway County, fifteen
miles north of Flandrau on the Big Sioux, where the Government trail crossed
that stream ; at Renshaw, twenty miles north of Medary, and at Eminja, in
\'ermilion County, and Commerce City at the great bend of the Big Sioux, half
way between Sioux Falls and the Missouri River.
There were about a dozen settlers at Medary, but in 1858 they were driven
out by the Indians. Flandrau was also abandoned, and an attempt was made to
drive out the settlers at Sioux Falls, which did not succeed until the uprising
of the Indians in 1862, when Joseph B. Amidon and his son William were killed
by the Indians and Sioux Falls became depopulated for nearly six years. After
the settlers left, the Indians burned the village. Wilmot W. Brookings, George
P. Waldron and family, Berne C. Fowler and wife, James W. Evans, Barclay
Jarrett, Charles S. White and family, William Stevens, Mrs. Amidon and family
and John McClellan went to "S'ankton ; Amos Shaw went to Vermilion ; Dr. J. L.
Phillips and Henry Masters and wife returned to Dubuque, Iowa. There was
another person there named Foster, who was with the Yankton party, which was
aided by Lieut. James A. Bacon of Company A, Dakota Cavalry, to make good
their escape. This company, consisting of forty-one men, was encamped at Sioux
Falls when the Indians attacked.
THE TRE.\TY OF 1 858
.\pril 19, 1858, a treaty was negotiated at Washington by Charles E. Mix,
commissioner on behalf of the United States, and sixteen Yankton Sioux chiefs —
three of them represented by Charles F. Picotte. their agent — ceding the lands
to the United States in Southeastern Dakota described as follows :
Beginning at the mouth of the Tehan-kas-an-data, or Calumet or Big Sioux
River; thence up the Missouri River to the mouth of Pa-hoh-wa-kan or East
Medicine Knoll River ; thence up said river to its head ; thence in a direction to
the head of the main fork of the Won-dusk-kah-for or Snake River; thence down
said river to its junction with the Tehan-san-gan or Jacques or James River;
thence in a direct line to the northern point of Lake Kampeska ; thence along the
northern shore of said lake and its outlet to the junction of said outlet with
the said Big Sioux River; thence down the Big Sioux River to its junction with
the Alissouri River.
214 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
This cession included all islands in the Alissouri River from Sioux City to
near Fort Pierre.
CAPT. JOHN B. S. TODD
Capt. John B. S. Todd, a cousin of Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham
Lincoln, was on duty at Fort Pierre as captain of Company A, Sixth United States
Infantry, resigning September i6, 1856, to become sutler (military post trader)
at Fort Randall, and to become a member of the firm of Frost, Todd & Co., who
had trading posts at Sioux City, Elk Point and midway between Elk Point and
Vermilion ; one at the latter place, one on the James River and one at Yankton.
It was the active influence of this company that brought about the treaty of
1858, one of the firm being in Washington while the negotiations were pending
and while the treaty was before the Senate, by which it was ratified March 9,
1859, being proclaimed March 31. 1859. As licensed traders they had the right
to occupy Indian territory, and through their employes were able to select and
occupy the lands desired for townsite purposes, while the Government, under its
treaties, was in duty bound to prevent others from doing so.
The election of Abraham Lincoln as President, in i860, naturally increased
the prestige of Captain Todd, who was appointed by Mr. Lincoln a brigadier-
general of volunteers September 19, 1861, his appointment expiring by limitation
July 17, 1862. General Todd was elected delegate to Congress when the territory
of Dakota was organized, and remained a factor in its politics, business and
development until his death. January 5, 1872.
FORT RANDALL ESTABLISHED
In the spring of 1856 General Harney selected the site for the military post
at Fort Randall, which was named for Lieut. Col. and Paymaster Daniel
Randall, then recently deceased, and on its completion became an important
link in the chain of military posts designed for the protection of the advancing
settlements.
The first troops to arrive at Fort Randall to begin its construction were
eighty-four recruits under command of Lieut. David S. Stanley. He and
Lieut, and Quartermaster George H. Page built the fort, the buildings from
Forts Pierre and Lookout having been removed to Fort Randall by Maj. Charles
E. Galpin, on the steamboat D. H. Morton. Lieut.-Col. Francis Lee commanded
the first garrison in the spring of 1857. Lieut.-Col. John Munroc of the Fourth
United States Artillery, was in command of Fort Randall in i86t, then garrisoned
by four companies. Three companies were sent east, leaving one, in command
of Capt. John D. Brown, who left without leave at the breaking out of the Civir
war and became a colonel in the Confederate army. He was succeeded at Fort
Randall by Lieut. Thomas R. Tannett, who resigned to become a captain in a
Massachusetts regiment on the side of the Union. In December, 1861, Capt.
Bradley Mahana of the Fourteenth Iowa was assigned to duty at Fort Randall.
FORT ABERCROMBIE
Fort Abercrombie was authorized by act of Congress, approved March 3,
1857, to be established at the most eligible site near the head of the Red River
GENERAL JOHX B. S. TODD
First delegate to Congress from Dakota
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 215
of the North, in the vicinity of Graham's Point in Minnesota. It was buiU on
the west side of Red River, by a force under the supervision of Lieut. -Col. John
J. Abercrombie of the Second United States Infantry, which arrived August
28, 1858, and spent the winter there. The fort was abandoned in 1859, but
reoccupied and rebuih in i860 by Maj. Hannibal Day of the Second United
States Infantry.
Captain Markham of Company B, Second Minnesota Volunteers, relieved the
regulars some time in July, 1861, and was succeeded by Capt. Peter Mantor with
a detachment of Company C of the Second Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, who
were found there by Company D, Fourth Minnesota Volunteers, under Capt.
T. E. Inman, mustered into the service October 10, 1861, and immediately
dispatched to Fort Abercrombie, arriving October 22, 1861. Captain Inman
remained in command of the fort until the last of March, 1862, when he was
relieved by Capt. John Vanderhorck, commanding Company D, Fifth Minnesota
Volunteers.
Fort Abercrombie was the nucleus for the first settlement of that region in
1858-59 and one of the principal points of Indian attack during the uprising of
1862, as described in Chapter XIII.
THE BON HOMME SETTLEMENT
In May, 1858, a party en route to Pike's Peak, from Dodge County, Minne-
sota, settled at Bon Homme, D. T., concluding to look for gold in the grass
roots of Dakota rather than in the rocks of distant Pike's Peak. The names
of the party were John H. Shober, John Remune, Edward and Daniel Gifford,
Fred Carman, John Mantle, John Tallman, Thomas J. Tate, W. W. Warford,
George Falkenberg, Lewis E. Jones, Aaron Hammond, wife and child; Reuben
Wallace and H. D. Stager. Another party from Dodge County, Minnesota,
arrived November 12, 1859, consisting of C. G. Irish and family,, John Butter-
field, Jonathan Brown and family, Francis Rounds, Cornelia Rounds and George
T. Rounds. C. E. Rowley and Laban H. Litchfield arrived December 26, 1859.
Most of these became permanent settlers. William M. Armour settled in this
county in 1858, but went on to Pike's Peak in 1859.
The settlers were, however, ejected by the military authorities in the fall of
1858, and moved across the river. Their cabins were torn down, and the logs
thrown into the river or burned. This course was taken with all settlers on land
covered by the Yankton treaty of 1858, and the settlers were not suffered to
return until the following spring, when the treaty was ratified and proclaimed.
John H. Shober was a lawyer, and became prominent in the affairs of the
territory. George I. Tackett was a settler in 1839.
FIRST IN EDUC.XTION FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE
Aside from the Pembina Mission, Bon Homme had the first school, and built
the first schoolhouse in Dakota. The building erected by Shober and other
settlers was 14 by 15 feet, built of logs, with no floor, and one six-pane, 8 by 10
window. A monument at Bon Homme commemorates the erection of this school-
house. Miss Emma Bradford, whose father, Daniel Bradford, and brother Henry
216 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
came in i860, taught this school that summer. The pupils were John, Ira and
Melissa Brown, Anna Bradford, Anna, Mary and George McDaniels, George
and Delia Rounds.
THE SETTLEMENT AT ELK POINT
Eli B. Wixson came to Dakota in 1859, and July 22 settled at a place he
named Elk Point, and built a large log hotel. The name was given by the
Indians on account of a runway for elk between two points of timber.
In 1857 William P. Lyman, Samuel Mortimer, Arthur C. Van Meter and
Samuel Gerou settled on the James River, near Yankton.
OTHER SETTLEMENTS
There were also settlements opposite Forts Pierre, Randall and Abercrombie
and at Brule Creek,, but each was independent of the other with no concerted
action.
Joseph La Plant settled at Big Sioux Point in 1849. John Brughier came
to Fort Pierre in 1836. He located near the mouth of the Big Sioux River in
May, 1849. John C. McBride, Christopher Maloney, Antoine Fleury, Adolph
Mason, Robear Primeau, Archie Christy, Gustav Christy and James Somers
were of this settlement prior to the organization of Dakota Territory. Paul
Paquette settled on the Big Sioux in 1854, and operated a ferry. Austin Cole
selected lands near the ferry in 1857, and became a settler in 1859.
Milton M. Rich, Mahlon Gore. E. B. Lamoure and Judson Lamoure settled
at Brule in i860. Other settlers that year were M. B. Kent, Myron Cuykendall,
A. B. Stoddard, Amos Dexter, Orin Fletcher, John Reams and Thomas C.
Watson.
George Stickney and family came to Elk Point in i860, Mrs. Stickney being
the first white woman to take up her abode there. John R. Wood and family,
however, came about the same time ; also William .\dams, Myron Sheldon,
Hastings Scanimond, David Benjamin, N. J. Wallace. J. A. Wallace and Michael
Ryan. Among other settlers at that time in the vicinity of Elk Point were Elmer
Seward, Lester Seward, Thaddeus Andrews, Carl Kingsley, Patrick Comfort,
Nicholas Comfort, Thomas Olson, John Thompson, J. O. Taylor, Chris Thomp-
_son, J. E. Hoisington. William H. H. Fate, James Fate, Thomas Fate, Ole
Bottolfson, Hiram Stratton, E. C. Collins, William Flannery, K. P. Ronne,
Runyan Compton, M. D. Weston, Alvin Cameron, R. H. Langdon, David Pennell,
Sherman Clyde, John Donovan, David Walters, David Green, Howard Mosier.
Solomon B. Stough, Daniel Ballinger. Silas Rider, Hegeick Townsend, Anthony
Summey, Josiah Bowman, Charles Patton, Preston Hotchkiss, James Phillips,
Benjamin Briggs, F. W. Smyth, Jacob Kiplinger, Patrick Carey, Daniel Con-
tiolley, Michael Currey. Wesley McNeil, George Geisler, J. W. Vandevere,
Timothy Brigan, L. K. Fairchild, Henry Rowe, C. W. Briggs, C. M. Northrup,
Hiram Gardner, William Baldwin, Frederic Strobel, D. M. Mills. W. W. Adams,
Joseph Dugraw, M. LI. Hoyt, J. P. Benner, Michael Ryan, Charles LeBreeche,
Joseph Y'erter, Desire Chaussee and Antonia Rennilards.
MONUMENT ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST SCHOOL-
HOUSE IN DAKOTA TERRITORY, LOCATED AT BON HOMME
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 217
IN CHARLES MIX COUNTY '
There were a few settlers in Charles Mix County in 1858, engaged in con-
tracting in connection with Fort Randall. In 1861 the population was about fifty,
among them F. D. Pease, E. M. Wall, Felicia F'allas, Colin Lament, John Mallert,
E. Fletcher, G. A. Fisher, Joseph Ellis, Joseph \\ Hamilton, Colin Campbell,
William Bartlett, Abel Forcess, John Archambault, Paul Harol, Napoleon Jack
and Cardinelle Grant. Grant, reputed to be the first white settler in Dakota, was
born in Canada in 1765. Hamilton was a son of Major Thomas Hamilton of the
United States Army, and had been a sutler at Fort Snelling and Fort Leaven-
worth, built in 1827, and was known as Major Hamilton. He was credited with
saving the life of General Kearney and 100 soldiers, who had appeared unarmed
at a council with the Indians. Discovering a purpose to massacre the whites.
Major Hamilton seized a fiaming fire-brand, mounted a keg of powder, and told
the Indians that unless they immediately threw down their arms he would fire
the powder and destroy all, both whites and Indians. The Indians threw down
their arms and the council proceeded without further danger.
THE I'ONCA AGENCY
This agency was the first settlement west of the Missouri River. Among the
settlers at the Agency and in the vicinity, 1858 to 1861, were J. Shaw Gregory,
James Tufts, Robert M. Hagaman, Peter Keegan, Jonathan Lewis, Harry Hargis,
Joel A. Potter, George Detwiler, Robert Barnum and Charles McCarthy, who
as sheriff of Burleigh County was drowned by breaking through the ice on the
Upper Missouri, in 1875. Gregory was a son of Rear Admiral Francis H.
Gregory, and a man of ability. Gregory County was named for him, and Potter
County for Joel A. Potter. The Bijou Hills were named for Antoine Bijou, an
early trader in Charles Mix County, according to some authorities, but old
settlers in the vicinity declare the hills were named "Bijou" because of a great
number of crystals of gypsum sparkling in the sun, and visible at a great distance
on the steep rain-washed surface of the blue clay, which forms the bulk of
these elevations. Bijou, meaning jewel in French, would naturally suggest itself
for a name to the French voyagcurs on the river, who could easily gather the
crystals from the blue clay along the bluffs when boating.
DAKOTA TERRITORY PROCLAIMED
The settlers at Sioux Falls having proclaimed the unorganized territory, left
out when Minnesota was admitted, a new territory to be known as Dakota, a
mass meeting was held at Sioux Falls, September 28, 1858, and it was ordered
that a meeting should be held on the fourth day of October for the election of
two members of the Council and five members of the House of Representatives.
An election was held and the alleged legislature met and elected Samuel
Masters governor, and passed a memorial to Congress for recognition as a
territory.
A year later another election was ordered, to elect a delegate to Congress and
the various county officefs and members of the Legislature.
218 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
At this election an alleged \ote of 1,689 was cast for Jefferson P. Kidder,
and 147 for Alpheus G. Fuller, for delegate to Congress. Congress refused to
recognize the organization, and it was questioned whether there were that many-
people in the territory. The Federal census of i860 gave the number as 2,128, of
whom 1,600 were in the Pembina district, largely mixed-blood Indians, while
an enrollment under the direction of the Governor of Dakota, in 1861, showed
a population of 2,376, of vyhom 603 were in the Red River district. The persons
taking this census were Henry D. Betts, Wilmot W. Brookings, Andrew J. Harlan,
Obed Foote, George M. Pinney and J. D. Aloore.
The settlements were known as the Red River district, embracing Pembina,
St. Joseph and other adjacent settlements, population 603 ; Vermilion and Big
Sioux districts, with settlements at Brule Creek, 47; Point on the Big Sioux,
104; Elk Point, 61; Vermilion, 265; Bottom and Clay Creek, 216; Sioux Falls
district, 60; Yankton district, 287; Bon Homme district, 163; Western district,
with settlements at Pease and Hamilton, 181 ; Fort Randall, 210; Yankton agency,
76; and Ponca agency, 129.
The census in the Pembina district was not accepted as correct, for the
reason that the greater part of the settlers were out on their annual hunt at the
time it was taken.
The census of i860 showed 84 horses, 19 mules, 286 milch cows, 318 oxen,
338 other cattle, 22 sheep and 287 swine within the limits of Dakota, and the
following farm products, viz.: 915 bushels of wheat, 700 bushels of rye, 250
bushels of oats, 280 bushels of peas and beans, 9,489 bushels of potatoes, 1,670
pounds of butter, 1,112 tons of hay, 20 gallons of maple syrup.
When Dakota Territory was organized, in 1861, gold was discovered in
Montana, and that fact added to the push of immigration, and to the alarm of
the Indians and the need of protection for settlers. Kansas was literally bleeding
in the strife between the pro-slavery and free-state elements.
CHARLES F. PICOTTE
Perhaps no name deserves more consideration in the early history of the
Dakotas than that of Charles F. Picotte, son of Honore Picotte and the daughter
of Two Lance, known to the early settlers of the Missouri slope as Mrs. Major
Galpin, a full-blooded Sioux, her father a brave and influential chief. When eight
years of age young Picotte was placed in charge of the Rev. Father Peter John
DeSmet, the Belgian missionary, who sent him to a boarding school at St. Joseph,
Mo., where he remained fourteen years, acquired a liberal education in French
and English, and, returning to his tribe at twenty-two, was employed by his
step-father in trade with the Indians.
FIRST D.\KOTA POST OFFICES
.An examination of the records of the Post Office Department shows the
following facts relative to the establishment of early Dakota post offices : Pem-
bina, 1855, Joseph Rolette, postmaster; Sioux Falls City, then in Nebraska Ter-
ritory, James M. Allen, June 15, 1858; J. L. Phillips (Joseph B. Amidon,
assistant), June 6, 1861 ; Sioux Falls, James Andrews, June 24, 1867; St. Joseph
CHARLES F. PICOTTE
Half-breed Sioux. Pioneer of Dakota
Territory
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 219
(now Walhalla), Charles Grant, January 20, 1855; ^ledary (Midway County),
John W. McBean, January 6, 1857, succeeded by Gustave Kragenbuhl, August
3, 1857; Greenwood, Alexander H. Redfield, September 29, 1859, succeeded by
Walter A. Burleigh, June 28, 1861 ; Fort Pierre, Edward G. Atkinson, September
7, 1855; Niobrara, Bonneville G. Shelley, March 10, 1857; Ponca Agency, J. Shaw
Gregory, March 14, i86o, succeeded by John B. Hotifman, July 31, 1861 ; Ver-
milion, Hugh Compton, March 25, 1855, succeeded by Samuel Mulholland, April
17, i860; Yankton, Downer T. Bramble, April 17, i860; Elk Point, Eli B. Wixon^
July 9 i860; Fort Abercrombie, Jesse M. Stone, August 9, i860; Bon Homme,
Aloses Herrick, October 2, 1861, succeeded by Richard M. Johnson, December
17, 1862; Fort Randall, John B. S. Todd, January 18, 1857, succeeded by Jesse
Wherry, September 29, 1861. J. Shaw Gregory became postmaster at Fort Rice,
established January 8, 1866.
CHAPTER XV
DAKOTA PIONEERS
THE CEDED LAND IN DAKOTA — THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER TOWNSITE COMPANY — •
YANKTON FOUNDED — THE TREATY OF 1858 THE FIRST CABIN HOME^ — COL.
ENOS STUTSMAN — THE FIRST SURVEYS DAKOTA TOWNSHIP LINES AND SECTION
LINES THE PEMBINA SETTLEMENTS THE CUSTOM HOUSE MOSES K. ARM-
STRONG WILLIAM H. MOORHE.aJ) — JOSEPH ROLETTE AND THE MINNESOTA CAPI-
TAL BILL SETTLEMENTS NEAR FARGO THE FIRST FLOUR MILL THE FIRST
FARMS IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY — OTHERS IDENTIFIED WITH DAKOTA PRIOR TO
1861 — DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN THE BLACK HILLS THE PICOTTES, GALPIN, PARK-
INS AND GERARD THE FIRST LAND OFFICE THE FIRST LAND ENTRY IRON
HEART : A trapper's THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
"Westward the course of empire takes its way
The four first acts already past.
A fifth shall close the drama with the day:
Time's noblest offspring is the last."
— Right Rcv'd George Berkeley, Bishop of Cloync.
Thi.s mystical verse from lines "On the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learn-
ing in America," by Bishop Berkeley (1684-1753), contemporary with the great
poets Pope and Swift and deservedly as popular, who, in the hope of Christianiz-
ing the Indians, made a futile attempt at settling and establishing a college in
Newport, R. I., in 1729. These lines are illustrated in the capitol at
^^^ashington, the national seat of government, by a large painting that represents
a party of immigrants among the mountains, making their journey under the
greatest difficulties. The women and children and old men are in wagons drawn
by oxen and horses, the men and boys on foot or riding horses and mules. There
is courage, resolution and bravery shining in every countenance which compels
admiration for the heroic party from all observers. Sixty years ago this painting
was true to life ! It was then a realistic portrayal of the popular method of
going West.
THE CEDED LAND IN DAKOTA
The ceded land in Dakota left in unorganized territory by the admission of
Minnesota to the Union, May 11, 1858, extended from the present boundan,' of
Minnesota to the Missouri River, where it is touched by the Iowa line : up that
stream to the mouth of the White Earth River and thence north to the inter-
national boundary, and this tract became attached to Nebraska until the creation
of Dakota in 1861.
220
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 221
THi; UPPER iMISSOURI RIX'ER TOWNSITE COMPANY YANKTON FOUNDED
In February, 1858, the Upper Missouri Land Company was organized for
the purpose of taking possession of townsites on the Missouri River, by Capt.
John B. S. Todd and associates, inckiding D. M. Frost, Louis H. Kennedy,
Edward Atkinson, A. W^ Hubbard, J. K. Cook. Dr. S. P. Yeomans, and Enos
Stutsman, secretary.
The treaty with the Yanktons of April ly, 1858, ratified March 9th and pro-
claimed 2ilarch 31, 1859, as described in Chapter XI\', was made possible by the
activit)' and influence of this company among the Indians as well as at Wash-
ington. Members of the committee in charge of the treaty, were Charles F.
Picotte — of whom special mention has been made — William P. Lyman, Zephyr
Rencontre and Theophile Brughier. Picotte was granted a section of land by the
treaty which was chosen at Yankton. Other locations were made by employes
of Frost. Todd & Co.. in the interest of this townsite company, and the first
surveys were made in accordance with their suggestions. A like grant was made
to Rencontre, half a section to Paul Dorain and quarter sections to certain half
breefls.
THE FIRST CABIN HOME
.\ware of the purpose of the Missouri Land Company to gain possession of
the townsite at Yankton, C. J. Holman, his father, W. P. Holman, Johnson
Burritt, Gilbert Bowe. Harry Narvea, Stephen Saunders and others, came to
Yankton in March, 1858, and built the Holman cabin, which was abandoned
after two attacks by the Indians, upon the advice of the mihtary authority ; no
treaty ceding the Indian lands having been negotiated at that time.
This party was supported by Charles F. Booge, John H. Charles, Billis
Roberts, Benjamin Stafford and others, of Sioux City, Iowa. The Holman
cabin was the first improvement made at Yankton. Early in April, 1858, George
D. Fiske and Samuel Mortimer came to Yankton, representing Frost, Todd &
Company, who as licensed traders, claimed the right to remain on Indian lands.
C. J. Holman returned in May and built another cabin, and though opposed by
both Indians and the traders, was suffered to remain. The Fiske settlement is
recognized as that of the first white person to establish a permanent home in
Yankton.
The trading post was built in July. 1858. under the supervision of William
P. Lyman, the Picotte grant was surveyed by George M. Ryall, of Sioux City,
at that time.
James ]\I. Stone, running the ferry at the James River crossing, selected land
adjoining the Picotte tract, which lay next east of the Todd tract, the original
townsite at Yankton.
The settlers in Yankton County in June, 1858. were George B. Fiske, Samuel
Mortimer, William P. Lyman. Samuel Gesou. A. B. Smith, Lytle M. Griffith and
Frank Dupuis.
The treaty ceding the Indian lands having been negotiated in April, 18^8,
Hon. Joseph R. Hanson reached Green Island, Neb., opposite Yankton, in
August, 1858, and began a period of watchful waiting for the opening of ceded
222 . HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
land. His party consisted of Horace T. Bailey, John Patterson, Kerwin Wilson,
Henry and Myron Balcom. The only buildings then at Yankton were the trader's
store and the Holman cabin.
COL. ENDS STUTSMAN
Col. Enos Stutsman came to Yankton in 1858, from Sioux City, where he
was engaged in the practice of law, and became identified with the townsite com-
pany. He was elected to the first Territorial Legislature, which met at Yankton
in 1862, and was chairman of the council judiciary committee. At the second
session of the Territorial Legislature he was president of the Coimcil. and
again president of the Council in 1864-65. In 1866 he was appointed
agent for the United States Treasury Department and in July, 1866, visited
Pembina in that connection. In 1867 he was elected to the House of Repre-
sentatives in the Territorial Legislature from the Pembina district, and became
speaker of the House. He was re-elected to the House of Representatives in the
Legislature of 1868-69, ^"^ elected to the Council for 1872-73. He built a hotel
at Pembina, and took an active interest in the development of the red River
Valley. Stutsman County, North Dakota, was named in his honor. He died at
Pembina, Januan,' 24. 1874.
It is a matter of record that in October, 1858, Enos Stutsman, secretary of
the townsite company, came to Yankton with Frank Chapell and J. S. Presho.
David Fisher, blacksmith, and Lytle M. Grififith, carpenter, came at the same
time. Francis Dupuis had rafted from Fort Pierre the cedar logs for the traders'
store and he was also there.
In the fall and winter of 1858, while the ratification of the treaty with the
Yanktons was pending, A. H. Rsdfield, special Indian agent, and Maj. Charles
S. Lovell, United States army, visited all of the settlements on Indian lands in
South Dakota, and destroyed all on unceded lands, acting under departmental
instructions : the Indians succeeding in driving ofif some from ceded land, claim-
ing they had not consented to the treaty of 1851, at Mendota, nor to the later
treaty.
DOWNER T. BRAMBLE
Downer T. Bramble came to Yankton in the fall of 1859, from Ponca, Neb.,
and erected a store building, the first frame building at that place, 24 by 80 feet.
In 1861, his building became the offices for the territorial government. The only
other buildings at Yankton then were the Indian traders' store and the log house
built by Charles F. Picotte, and the Ash Hotel; all built of logs. Mr. Bramble
was a member of the Council in the first Territorial Legislature, and was identi-
fied for many years with the business interests of Dakota, as the head of the firm
of Bramble & Miner.
Henry C. Ash came to Yankton in 1859 and built a large hotel ; Mrs. Ash being
the first white woman to make her home at Yankton and her daughter Julia
(Mrs. C. W. Bates), the first white child in the town.
MOSES K. ARMSTEOXG
Pioneer of Yankton County, 1859. Member of first and mie-
ceed.ng legislature. Territorial delegate to Congress, 1870.
Served two terras, retiring March, 1875.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 223
MOSES K. ARMSTRONG
Moses K. Armstrong reached Yankton October 12, 1859, and took an active
part in assisting the settlers in the adjustment of their settlement claims to the
public surveys. He was elected to the House of Representatives in the first
Territorial Legislature, 1862, re-elected to the second Legislative Assembly, and
was elected speaker on the resignation of Hon. Andrew J. Harlan. In the fifth
session of the Territorial Legislature, he served as member of the Council, and
was elected president of the Council in the sixth Legislative Assembly. From
1871 to 1875, he was delegate to Congress from Dakota Territory, and at the
request of Col. Clement A. Lounsberry of the Bismarck Tribune, introduced a
bill for the division of Dakota, and for a division of the Pembina land district,
creating the land offices at Fargo and Bisinarck. Similar bills were introduced
in the Senate at Mr. Lounsberry's request.
THE FIRST SURVEYS IN DAKOTA
The surveys in the colonies were of tracts in irregular form, excepting in
Georgia, where in 1733, eleven townships, of 20,000 acres each, were surveyed
into lots of fifty acres.
The new surveys gave townships of thirty-six sections, each one mile square,
containing 640 acres, or quarter sections of 160 acres.
The system of surveys of public lands in vogue throughout the United States,
was adopted May 7, 1784, by Congress, upon a report by a committee of which
Thomas Jefferson was chairman. The origin of the system is not known, beyond
the facts reported by the committee.
In the Government Building at the World's Fair of 1893, in Chicago, there
was exhibited the original standard surveyor's chain, authorized by Act of Con-
gress, May 18, 1797, for executing surveys of Government lands. The chain
was made by David Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia, in 1797, and was still in the
same hardwood box in which it was sent out by the manufacturer.
The first surveys were made at Sioux City, Iowa, by J. M. Marsh, in August,
1849; the section lines were run in August, 1853. by Charles Lewis. The
boundary between Iowa and Dakota was located by these earlier surveys, and
extended north from the Iowa line to Big Stone Lake in 1859, the survey being
made by James Snow and Stephen Huston.
The exterior lines of eighty townships in Dakota were run on the lands in
the Big Sioux region ceded in 1851, left out of Minnesota by the admission of
that state in 1858. The subdivisions of some of these sections were made by
Thomas J. Stone, of Sioux City, in 1859. The surveying party which made the
survey of 1859, came overland from Dubuque, Iowa. Thomas C. Powers, after-
wards United States senator from Montana, and identified with the steamboat
interests on the Missouir River, notably of the "Black P Line," was one of this
party ; also William Miner, identified for many years with Bramble & Miner at
Yankton, in general trade.
The township lines were run at Sioux Falls by W. J. Neely in June, 1859,
and some of the section lines by John K. Cook in September, 1859. Cortez
Fessenden and Moses K. Armstrong, in 1864, ran additional township lines, and
Carl C. P. Meyer the sections lines that year.
224 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The township lines were run at Flandreau, by \V. J. Neely, in September,
1859; the section Hnes by Richard F. Pettigrew, in September, 1870. Pettigrew
was delegate to Congress from Dakota Territory, 1881-83, and afterwards United
States senator from South Dakota.
John Ball surveyed the township lines at Yankton, in September, i860, and
the section lines in October of that year.
The township lines were run at \'ermilion, by John Pjall. in October, i860,
and the section lines by him in Xovember of that year.
At Elk Point the township lines were run by F)all in i860, and the section
lines by Fessenden in 1861.
At Springfield, the township lines were run by John Ball in October, i860,
and the section lines by Cortez Fessenden in August. 1862.
The township lines at Tyndall were run by Ball in October, i860, and the
section lines b)- Fessenden, in August, 1862.
At Canton, the township lines were run by Cortez Fessenden in 1862, and the
section lines by Fessenden. Mellen and Nye. in 1863.
At Parker, the township lines were run by Armstrong, in September, 1866,
and the section lines by George 1'. Waldron. in October, 1867.
At Pembina, the township lines were run by .Armstrong, in -September. 1867,
and the section lines by him in October. 1868.
The township lines at W'ahpeton were run by M. T. Woolley, in September,
1870, and the section lines by Horace J. Austin, in 1870.
The township lines were run at Grand Forks by George N. Propper. in Sep-
tember, 1870. and the section lines by George Mills, in September. 1873.
The township lines were run at Fargo by R. J. Reeves, in October. 1870. and
the section lines by J. W. Blanding. in Xovember. 1871.
At Bismarck, the township lines were run by Charles Scott, in October, 1872,
and the section lines by George G. Beardsley. in November, 1872. After the
completion of the railroad as far as Bismarck, the twenty-eight townships along
the line from Windsor Station to Steele, had their exteriors run by Gen. William
H. H. Beadle and Charles Scott, in 1873, and the stibdivisions were completed
by these deputies, viz., General Beadle, five townships: Richard F. Pettigrew,
fourteen ; Amherst W. Barber, five ; Mark Bailey, four.
THE HOMF-STEAD L.\W — STORY OF THE FIRST L.\ND OFFICE THE FIRST L.\ND ENTRY
The Homestead Law became effective May 20. 1862, after a forty years'
battle for its enactment. It became one of the cardinal principles of the republican
party, brought into power by the election of Abraham Lincoln in i860: success
in part being due to the secession of the southern states in 1861.
The surveyed lands of Dakota Territory became open to homestead entry
on the first day of January, 1863. Land officers had been appointed for the first
land office in the territory, at Vermilion, and many intending or actual settlers
were eagerly awaiting the day. On the last night of the old year a group of
friends were having a social chat at the new office, expecting a rush of business
on the opening day. One of these was the young printer, Mahlon Gore, from
Battle Creek, Mich., who, in i860, became a pioneer of the settlement. Be-
fore they realized the lateness of the hour, the register said, "Here, Gore, didn't
CHARLES CAVILEER
First settler in North Dakota, 1851
/
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 225
you say you meant to be the first man to make a homestead entry? The clock just
struck twelve, it is New Year's Day and the Homestead Law is in force, so now
is your time if you wish to head the list." Accordingly the entry was immediately
made, for the S. E. >4, N. E. y^ section 9 and the S. W. >4 of N. W. 34 and
lots 3 and 5, section 10, township 92 north, range 49 west, fifth principal meridian,
as the homestead of Alahlon Gore, and became the first land entered in Dakota,
under the public land laws. This is the story as related to Amherst W. Barber,
one of the early surveyors of the territory. After forty years of successful
journalism Air. Gore passed away in 1916, at Orlando, Fla.
Following Mahlon Gore's entry were those of John Guardipe, John B. Le-
Plant, Joseph Benoit, Peter Arpan, Clammor Arpan, on January i, 1863; Frank
X'erzni, William Alathers, Benjamin Gray, January 2d; Johnson Farris and
Martin \'. Farris, January 3d ; Charles La Breche, Benjamin Guardipe, Charles
Chaussee, January 5th ; John Brouillard, January 9th ; George Stickney, January .
13th. June 15, 1868, Joseph Rolette, of Pembina, made the first entry of public
land in North Dakota, at the \'ermilion office, and the first legal transfer of land
in North Dakota was made — that described in Part One — of a part of this tract
to James J. Hill, the great railroad builder, on which he established a bonded
warehouse for shipments on the Red River in the Fort Garry (now Winnipeg)
and Indian trade.
Those who had settled upon public lands prior to the surveys, were allowed
ninety days preference in which to file their claims to homestead or pre-emption
entries. The names of only those who made entry during the first few days are
here given.
THE PEMBIN.\ SETTLEMENTS THE CUSTOM HOUSE
The settlement at Pembina mentioned in detail in previous chapters, had a
history covering fifty years before any settlement was attempted in South Dakota.
The surveys, excepting one tier of towns east of the Red River in i860, were not
commenced in that region until 1867, and the land did not become subject to
entry until 1868.
Norman W. Kittson, referred to in Part One, in the Red River country and
Minnesota, became identified with the Indian trade at Pembina in 1843, '^"d in
1853 was appointed postmaster at that point. In 1855 he was elected to the
Council in the Minnesota Legislature. The customs ofiice was established at
Pembina in 185 1, with Charles Cavaleer agent. Mr. Kittson was succeeded as
postmaster and custom house officer by Joseph Beaupre, of St. Cloud, Minn.,
a contractor for wood and supplies. Beaupre was succeeded at Pembina by
James McFetridge, who was a member of the Council of the second session of
the Territorial Legislature, 1862-63. Joseph Rolette, frequently mentioned in
Part One, in 1847 led a raid on the British traders across the international
boundary and burned their buildings. He was elected to the Minnesota Legisla-
ture in 1853 and 1855. William H. Moorhead settled at Pembina in 1856. Peter
Hayden, found at Pembina in 1867, by Moses K. Armstrong, surveyor, claimed
to have resided there since 1821.
226 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
WILLIAM H. MOORHEAD, A PEMBINA SETTLER OF 1857 A STORY OF TOWNSITES
INDIAN TRADE AND BUFFALO HUNTING
William H. Moorhead was born in Freeport, Armstrong County, Pa., Sep-
tember 20, 1832; was educated in the public schools of Pittsburgh and Allegheny.
He left Pittsburgh April i, 1852, arriving at St. Paul, Minn., May ist, where
he worked at his trade of carpenter for two years. The summer of 1854 and
the following winter he spent at Sauk Rapids, trading with the Winnebagoes,
who were subsequently removed to Blue Earth County. Returning to St. Paul,
he organized a company to lay out townsites in Northern Minnesota and the Red
River Valley. These were the days of paper townsites, laid out on land secured
at $1.25 per acre, and sold to the guileless at $2 per lot; — "just the cost of re-
cording the instruments," in the language of the circulars, which were discussed
.in the country stores throughout the eastern states, and resulted in hundreds of
families moving west. There were mill-sites everywhere and waterpowers with-
out number, but no improvement of a permanent character. The company con-
sisted of Mort Kellogg, J. K. Hoffman, Joseph Charles, E. R. Hutchinson,
William J- S. Traill, a Jvlr. Horn, and Moorhead. All were residents of St. Paul.
Moorhead, Hoffman and Joseph Charles were the committee to lay out the sites.
Procuring a surveyor they went by skiff up the Mississippi to Crow Wing River,
and then proceeded up that stream to the mouth of Leaf River, and up that
stream to Leaf Lake. From that point they made an overland trip to Otter Tail
Lake, a distance of four miles, and from there to the outlet, and laid out Otter
Tail City, which became famous in the early history of Minnesota, and was the
site of the United States land office, afterwards moved to Duluth. From Otter
Tail they went down that river forty miles, and laid out another town, which
was called Merriam. They nailed a tin plate to a tree and marking the name of
the "city" thereon, proceeded to St. Paul, and having purchased provisions,
cooking utensils, tools, etc., they returned with two loaded teams, and erected
five log houses at the outlet of Otter Tail Lake. At "Merriam" they erected
temporary quarters, but it being impossible to get supplies, they cached their
outfit and never returned for the buried articles. In it was a compass worth
$80. At Leaf City, after leaving Merriam, they met Joseph A. Wheelock, after-
wards a noted St. Paul editor, his brother, and others, who were as destitute of
provisions as themselves. They made their way to St. Paul, where they offered
their shares at $100 each. They valued their property at $150,000, but as a
matter of fact they were penniless. Moorhead traded one share to his landlord
in St. Paul for his winter's board, but in the spring the shares were without value
and the paper town scheme was ended.
In the spring of 1857, Mr. Moorhouse met Hon. Joseph Rolette at St. Paul,,
together with James McFetridge, who were buying goods to take back to Pem-
bina, and they engaged him to erect their new buildings at the mouth of Pembina
River. They left St. Paul July 7th, and arrived at the mouth of the Pembina
River the ist of August. Moorhead completed the buildings and remained
with Rolette as a clerk, until February, 1858. when he made a trip to St. Paul
with a dog train, not seeing a house after he left Pembina until he reached the
Mississippi. He left St. Paul with a loaded train March i8th and arrived at
Pembina March 30th, the dogs drawing 450 pounds of merchandise. The trip-
BURLINGTON SCHOOL BUILDING
In this building was held the first term of court in Ward Couiity. Thirty-two criminal eaf?es
were tried in three days
^rWMjfflT^^^^-
FIRST POSTOFFICE IN NORTmVESTERN NORTH DAKOTA
Established at Burlington. James Johnson, first Postmaster
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 227
was a hard one, as he became snow-bHnd, and it was with great difficulty that
he found the way back.
June 8th he left Pembina on a buft'alo-hunting expedition, returning in August
with htteen carts loaded with furs, hides and pemmican. That fall he went to
the Lake of the Woods and Lake Rosa, to trade with the Chippewas, obtaining
much fur, and thence to the Turtle Mountains, where he had good trade with
Indians and half-bloods. The same was true at Devils Lake and where Minofc
now stands, where he remained during most of the winter. In the spring of
1859, lis went to St. Paul with twenty-five cart loads of robes and furs which
he exchanged for goods, loading his carts in return for Pembina. He made
several trips of that kind, with unvarying profit, until the spring of 1861, when
he was compelled to remain in the garret of his house twenty-two days by the
high water of that spring. The water was then five feet higher than it was during
the season of high water in 1882, the ''spring rise'' remembered by many of the
settlers of that time.
After the water went down, Moorhead moved to Walhalla, where he engaged
in trade with the Indians. He was scarcely nicely located before the Indian war
broke out. resulting in the Minnesota massacre of 1862. The Indians were on
good terms with Moorhead as he was at their treaty, on the plains of Nelson
County, in Northern Dakota, when the tribes of Sioux, Creeks, Chippewas and
Assiniboines, who for years had been at enmity, always hanging on each other's
trail, murdering the women and children of the hostile tribes, met, and buried
the hatchet, smoked the pipe of p^ace, and thereafter dwelt together in harmony,
but, as they expected him to sell them ammunition, and not liking their attitude
because he refused, he moved to Devil's Lake, where he remained during the
summer and winter of 1862. There were then about one hundred families of
half-bloods and Indians at the lake.
In the spring of 1862 Moorhead returned to Pembina Mountains, and about
the first of May the band of Little Crow, embracing Little Six, Medicine Bottle
and others, about one thousand strong, pitched their tepees around his place.
Among them, as a prisoner, was the son of William Myrick, about eight years of
age, who was ransomed by Frank Gingras for one sack of pemmican. His
father had been killed by the Indians and robbed of his possessions. The Indians
left for the plains as usual in June, when Mr. Moorhead made his spring trip to
St. Paul with his carts, requiring forty days for the trip, and then went to the
plains on a bulYalo hunt. That fall he married Lizzie Rivier, and made his wed-
ding tour to Mouse River, leaving November loth with five carts and one travois.
They got lost in a snow storm, and it took seventeen days to make the trip.
Moorhead built a house after his arrival at a point iVz miles from where
Towner is now located. He remained there during the winter, trading with the
Sioux, and found among the Indians a boy ten years old, who had been so long
among them that he had forgotten his name and could not talk much English.
All he could make known was that his parents lived on a hill in Minnesota. The
lad was never able to learn who his parents were or what was their name.
The buffalo were very scarce during the spring of 1863, and as a result many
families suffered with hunger. Many of the inhabitants of the plains had to
boil their raw hides and harness to keep from starving. Moorhead had 2=;o
tongues of buffalo, nicely dried, which he had saved for Governor Ramsev of
228 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Minnesota, Jesse Ramsey, and other friends in St. Paul, but he gave them to the
starvmg ones.
April lOth the hunters started for the mountains, leaving Moorhead and
family with about eight pounds of pemmican, to follow. They rejoiced when
able to kill a badger on their way, but after traveling about six miles farther,
they overtook their party. Every pot was boiling with a piece of fat buffalo.
They had encountered a herd of buffalo and had killed 300. The stale pemmican
was thrown away and the party remained three days, living on the fat of the
land. For eighteen days they were not out of the sight of buffalo, while pursuing
their way to the mountains.
MOORHEAD, LAMOURE AND OTHERS DATE OF LAND ENTRIES
Hon. Judson LaMoure made the second pre-emption entry in North Dakota,
December 19, 1870. At the same time William H. Moorhead, Charles Bottineau
and fourteen others, made entry, and during the next eleven days, eleven more,
making twenty-eight entries of public lands, and all about Pembina, prior to
January i, 1871.
Outside the Selkirk and Pembina settlements, Lewis Lewiston built a home
where Moorhead is situated, in i860, and raised 100 acres of oats that year.
Moorhead was then known as Burbank Station, on the stage line extended from
St. Cloud, Minn., to Fort Abercrombie and thence to Georgetown, in 1859.
Walter Hanna broke one acre in 1858. Richard Banning raised one acre of
potatoes in i860.
Clay County, Alinn., was then known as Breckenridge, and Wilkin as Toombs
County, and settlements were progressing well in the Red River \'alley until
interrupted by the Indian war of 1862.
JOSEPH ROLETTE AND THE MINNESOTA CAPITAL BILL
"Jolly" Joe Rolette was one of the early characters in Dakota whom the City of
St. Paul, Minn., has embalmed in its history as one of its saviors.
Rolette was a trader without method and with little idea of the value of money,
and, if the whole truth were to be told, it would appear that the opposition traders
sent him to the Legislature in order to take him away from his business, and leave
the trade open to them without his competition, which was entirely too sharp. His
career in the Legislature and the fact that the bill removing the capital from
St. Paul to St. Peter was disposed of by him, while a member of the Legislature,
excites the inquiry as to how it happened.
One who was present in those old times, says drinking and carousing was not
an uncommon thing at the capital ; indeed, a jug of intoxicating liquor was placed
in the hall of the House of Representatives, and a decanter set on the speaker's
desk for the use of the members. Interested parties left Rolette — who as a mem-
ber of the committee had the bill removing the capital to -St. Peter in charge — in
a room in the Merchants Hotel, and provided sufficient entertainment to keep him
jolly and forgetful, until the Legislature adjourned.
The bill was introduced in and passed the Council and had also passed the
House of Representatives and was in the hands of Rolette, chairman of the Com-
JOSEPH ROLETTE
Who entered the first public land in North Dakota. June 15, 1868
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 229
mittee on Enrolled Bills. A resolution was ofifered, directing Rolette to report the
bill. A call of the House was moved. Rolette sat in his room at the Merchants
Hotel, and the members under a call of the House 123 hours without a recess.
They then adjourned, but on assembling Friday, the president, Hon. John B.
Brisbin, ruled that the call was still pending, and again on Saturday, with the same
result. Finally, late the last night of the session the call was dispensed with, and
the committee reported Rolette still absent, and their inability to report a correct
copy of the bill in his possession, and they were compelled to adjourn without
the bill having been signed by the proper officers.
At that time Pembina was in a legislative district, embracing all of North
Dakota east of the Missouri River, and much of Northern Minnesota. When the
first Legislature met in Minnesota, it was in the Minneapolis legislative district,
and when the first session of the Dakota Legislature, in 1862, met, it was in the
Sioux Falls legislative district
SETTLEMENT NEAR FARGO
Li July. 1858, Edward Griffin, Robert Davis and Walter Hanna, of Redwing,
Minn., arrived at a point on the Red River seven miles south of what is now Fargo,
near Fort Abercrombie, and located the Townsite of East Burlington. Fort Aber-
crombie was built in August of that year, and two companies of soldiers were sta-
tioned there. Griffin and party spent the winter at a townsite called Lafayette,
near the mouth of the Sheyenne River, about eleven miles north of Fargo, where
Charles W. Nash, Henry Brock, Edward Murphy, and Harry Myers were holding
the townsite for St. Paul parties. Pierre Bottineau had Frank Durant and David
Auger holding a townsite on the Dakota side called Dakota City. George W.
Northrup, mentioned in part one as interpreter and guide on a buffalo hunt, was
holding a nameless city one mile north of Sheyenne, also on the Dakota side.
George Myers and Harr>- and Richard Banning were holding a townsite at Ban-
ning's Point, one mile south of the Sheyenne; Northrup had a trapping party with
him. There were fifteen people then connected with these several townsite claims.
THE FIRST FLOUR MILL
In the spring of 1859 Randolph M. Probstfield came to the locality, where he
found Adam Stein and E. R. Hutchinson. George Emerling came with him.
Emerling went to St. Joseph (now Walhalla) where he built the first flouring mill
in North Dakota, excepting a small mill built by Father Belcourt at his mission.
Stein and Hutchinson became permanent settlers at Georgetown, and Probstfield
seven miles north of Fargo, at Oak Point.
Probstfield was able to purchase supplies at Lafayette. Enroute to the Red
River Valley they encountered Anson Northrup with a heavy train of wagons and
forty-four men, moving the machinery of the steamer North Star from the upper
Mississippi River to the Red River. Northrup sawed the timber by means of a
whip saw, and put a steamer on the Red River in 1859, as he had contracted to do.
He collected his bonus and left the proposition of manning it to be solved by other
parties.
The persons named and James Anderson, living one mile north of Fargo.
230 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
known as "Robinson Crusoe," were practically the only settlers on the Red River
south of Pembina at this time, March, 1859.
THE FIRST FARM IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY
Georgetown was established in 1859, by James McKay for the Hudson's Bay
Company; a warehouse, store building, shops, etc., being erected. Robert McKen-
zie was the first in charge. McKenzie was frozen to death returning from Pem-
bina with supplies, and was succeeded by James Pruden, who was followed by
Alexander Murray; Mr. Probstfield taking charge in 1864. At the time of the
Indian outbreak in 1862, there were thirty men employed at Georgetown. Peter,
Joseph and Adam Goodman, brothers of Mrs. Probstfield, were in 1861 settlers
in the Red River Valley. Charles Slayton and family came in 1859, and in 1861
Zere B. Slayton settled one mile north of Fargo.
In 1858 Edward Connelly came into the country with a party of twenty,
employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1859 he broke fifty acres for that
company at Georgetown. This was the first farm opened in the Red River
Valley.
The origin of Dakota farming is given in Chapter IV, Part One. Indian
fanning and the first white farmer, Alexander Henry, 1801, are there men-
tioned, but in December, 1870, there was not a bushel of wheat, oats, barley, rye
or corn produced in North Dakota for export — none whatever, excepting, pos-
sibly, a few bushels in the settlements about Pembina and the Hudson's Bay
station at Georgetown. Hon. Judson La^Ioure states that the only land under
cultivation at that time, aside from a few small patches for gardens, was by
Charles Bottineau, ten acres ; Charles Grant, five to eight acres ; Antoine Gingras,
twenty to twenty-five acres ; John Dole, two or three acres ; all at Pembina.
There were, perhaps, two acres at Abercrombie. Nier Either and Peter Sta-
moure broke twenty acres each in 1870, which was put under cultivation in 1871,
but in 1870 all of the land under cultivation in North Dakota for every purpose
would not exceed one hundred acres.
OTHERS IDENTIFIED WITH D.\KOTA PRIOR TO 1861
Francois Jeanotte was born on the Mouse River in North Dakota in 1806, his
father a French-Canadian, his mother a Chippewa. His father, Jutras Jean-
notte, was engaged in trade on the Mouse River at the time of the Lewis and
Clark expedition. Previously, when on the Qui-Appelle his party was attacked
by Gros Ventres, his son killed, and his first wife scalped and left for dead, and
he was badly wounded. Again attacked by an Indian, he wrenched the gun
from him and killed him. At seven years of age, his twin sister was found still
alive, scalped, and with fourteen wounds on her body. This was on Beaver
Creek, a tributary of the Assiniboine. Francois, at twelve years of age (1818),
went to Pembina with his mother, and stayed two years at the Big Salt and Little
Salt rivers, where the Hudson's Bay Company had a trading post. In 1820 he
states a Chippewa war party found a trading post near Minot.
Basil Clement arrived at Fort Pierre in 1840, at the age of sixteen, and was
employed by the American Fur Company ; spending that winter at the mouth of
the Grand River. Bruce Osborn was also a clerk there at that time. Clement
EARLY SETTLERS OF NORTH DAKOTA
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 231
spent the winter of 1841-42 on the Cheyenne. In 1843 he returned to St. Louis
on the steamer Prairie Bird with Honore Picotte and Michael McGilHvray,
coming back Christmas Day. He spent the winter at Camp Trader at Swan
Lake (South Dakota). The next winter he was on the Wind River (Wyoming)
with James Bridger, a hunter, trapper and explorer at Fort Union in 1844-45,
who gave some of the earliest information regarding the discovery of gold in the
Black Hills. John Robinson, uncle of Jesse and Frank James, of Missouri, was
with Bridger in 1844. The next winter Clement was on the Cheyenne River
with Joseph Jewett, trader; the next at the mouth of Thunder Creek on the
Moreau, the next with Frederic LeBeau, and on the death of LeBeau he had
charge of his post. In 1848 he went to the Black Hills with Paul Narcelle, trap-
ping and hunting. The winter of 1849-50 he was again at the Moreau.
In 1863 he was interpreter for Gen. Alfred Sully on his expedition, later
interpreter at Fort Randall, and was intimately associated with Dakota history
for over sixty years.
Paul Narcelle was a clerk at Fort Pierre, and after his trip to the Black Hills
with Clement he moved to a ranch at the mouth of the Cheyenne River, in 1887,
and died in 1889.
John F. A. Sanford, son-in-law of Pierre Chouteau, Jr., member of the Amer-
ican Fur Company, was a sub-agent of the Indians at Fort Clark in 1833.
Charles P. Chouteau was a son of Charles P. Chouteau, Jr., member of the
American Fur Company, changed to Charles P. Chouteau, Jr., in 1842, and in
1854 to Charles P. Chouteau Company. His wealth was rated at $18,000,000.
Louis Archambault was at Fort Clark in 1843, with the American Fur Com-
pany, and in 1873 a rancher near Fort Rice.
Louis Aagard came to Fort Pierre in 1844 and was at Fort Clark under
Joseph des Autel, with the American Fur Company, in 1846-47, an interpreter
for the Peace Commission at Fort Rice in 1868, and a rancher in 1873 '^^ Aagard
Bottoms, near Bismarck.
Chas. C. Patineaud, interpreter at Fort Berthold, was one of the seventeen
defenders of the post in 1S63, when attacked by Indians. He came to the Mis-
souri River some years previous to 1855, when he was in charge of a winter trad-
ing camp on the Little Missouri.
Simon Bellehumeur, trapper and hunter on Red River in 1804.
Forrest Hancock, trapper on the Yellowstone in 1804, met by Lewis and Clark
on their return in 1806.
William D. Hodgkiss, in charge of Fort Clark 1856-59, came to the Missouri
River prior to 1840.
Antoine Garreau was met by Lewis and Clark at the Arikara villages in 1805,
and by Maximillian at the Mandan villages in 1833. His daughter, Maggie, mar-
ried Andrew Dawson, who was in charge of the American Fur Company's trade
at Fort Qark in 1849, and Fort Benton, 1856 to 1870, when he returned to Scot-
land, leaving a daughter at Fort Berthold.
Pierre Garreau, son of Antoine Garreau, trader at Fort Clark and Fort
Berthold, interpreter for the Pierre Chouteau Company, died at Fort Berthold,
1870.
Charles Bottineau, a brother of Pierre Bottineau, who was born in North
Dakota and died at eighty-seven years of age, in 1895.
232 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Charles Bottineau was a son of Pierre Bottineau and partner with Charles
Grant, trader at St. Joseph.
Charles Grant was a trader at Pembina, in 1850, and partner of Charles
Bottineau at St. Joseph.
John B. Bottineau of this family practiced law in Minneapolis many years
and his daughter, Marie M. Baldwin, is a graduate of Georgetown College and
in 1916 was employed in the Indian office at Washington. She was born in
North Dakota and as a child roamed the prairies with her tribe.
Antoine Gingras was an Indian trader at Pembina in 1850. He engaged
later in farming and had sixty acres under cultivation when the Pembina Com-
pany was organized, and was then the largest taxpayer in North Dakota.
Reuben Lewis, brother of Meriwether Lewis, was a partner of the Missouri
River Fur Company, 1809; in charge in 181 t of the Manuel Lisa Trading Post
above the Gros Ventres villages.
Peter Wilson came up the Missouri River in 1825, and later became the agent
of the Mandan Indians.
Francois Renville was employed by Norman W. Kittson at Pembina as mail
carrier in 1832.
Jean Pierre Sarpee was a member of the American Fur Company. His
brother was an independent trader in 1832, at Fort Sarpee above Omaha.
Peter Beauchamp, 1840, was a trader and Arikara interpreter at Fort
Berthold for the American Fur Company at the Arikara villages and Fort Clark,
trapping and hunting.
Joseph Buckman was a trader and postmaster at Pembina in 1861. He was
a member of the Dakota Legislature, and died in 1862.
Joseph Guigon at Fort Berthold, in the employ of the American Fur
Company.
Joseph Gondreau, blacksmith at Fort Pierre, was in the employ of the Amer-
ican Fur Company at Fort Clark.
Charles Primeau, who was a clerk for the American Fur Company at Fort
Union in 1831, had a brother who was killed by Indians at Apple Creek in 1832.
He established a trading post above Fort Clark, which he sold to Hawley &
Hubbell. Two years later that firm abandoned Fort Primeau and it was occu-
pied by the American Fur Company, Gerard having charge of the post from
1857 to 1859. He was at Fort Berthold December 25, 1863, when that post was
attacked by Two Bears' band of Sioux, as was also Charles Malnouri, who came
there in i860.
In 1869 Gerard became an independent fur trader, and in 1872 a government
interpreter, and was with Reno's command at the time of the Custer massacre,
June 25, 1876. Later he was engaged in trade at Mandan.
David Pease was a partner with Hawley & Hubbell at Fort Berthold, and
agent at the Crow Indian Agency. A. C. Hawley, of the Hawley & Hubbell
Company, was deputy United States marshal in Northern Dakota in 1873.
Charles Primeau was interpreter at Fort Yates and died in 1897.
Jean B. Wilke was at St. Joseph in 1847. An affray occurred at his place in
1861 between Sioux and Chippewa Indians, in which several were killed.
Joseph Fisher was a teacher in the Pembina district of Minnesota Territory
in 1850.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 233
Father Andre Lacombe, Roman Catholic clergyman, was in the Pembina dis-
trict, census of 1850.
Maj.-Gen. William P. Carlin, a lieutenant in General Harney's Punitive Expe-
dition of 1855, was for several years identified with North Dakota as commander
of the military post at Fort Yates.
Lucien Gerou came from St. Paul to Pembina in 1856, and was in the hotel
business at Pembina.
Joseph Montraille, a half-breed mail carrier, was employed by Norman W.
Kittson at Pembina in 1856.
John Cameron was a farmer, ten miles south of Pembina, in 1856.
Antoine Gerard was at Pembina in 1856, employed by the Hudson's Bay
Company. He kept the stage station and ferry at Acton.
Joseph Lemae was a custom house officer at Pembina in i860.
Robert Lemon was a partner, in i860, of Charles Larpenteur, an independent
trader, to whom allusion is made in Part One, and was succeeded in 1862 by
La Barge, Harkness & Co.
Andre Gonzziou, in the employ of the North-West Company. Killed by
Sioux when buffalo hunting with the Mandans.
THE PICOTTES, GALPIN, P.\RKINS, AND GERARD
A tribute was paid in Chapter XIV to Charles F. Picotte, son of Honore
Picotte, and the daughter of Two Lance, and a brief sketch given of his early
life and superior educational advantages.
Charles E. Galpin was an employee of the American Fur Company and super-
intended, as noted in the reference to that period in behalf of that company the
transfer of Fort Pierre to the military authorities of the Harney Punitive Expe-
dition of 1855. Later he was engaged in trade at various points on the Missouri,
in competition with the Pierre Chouteau Company. He was in opposition to
Hawley & Hubbell — the firm consisting of A. C. Hawley, James B. Hubbell and
Frank Bates of St. Paul — at Fort Berthold. His title of "major" was acquired
from the fact that army officers assigned to take charge of Indian agencies were
usually of the rank of major, and the Indian traders and military post traders
became majors by courtesy. Major Galpin was distinguished for his courteous
manners, and for his efficiency as a trader. He married the widow of Honore
Picotte, who engaged in the Indian trade on her own account after the death of
her husband, and continued it after the death of Major Galpin on the Cannon
Ball River. Her daughter. Amy, now (1916) a widow, who married Henry S.
Parkins, still manages their large interests at the Cannon Ball.
Hon. Henry S. Parkins was associated with Jack Morrow of Omaha, Col.
Robert Wilson and Maj. Samuel A. Dickey, post trader at Fort A. Lincoln and
first postmaster at Bismarck, then known as Edwinton. Parkins was a member
of the North Dakota State Senate in 1895.
Major Galpin took an active part with his stepson, Charles F. Picotte, not
only in securing the assent of the Indians to the Treaty of 1858, but also in the
ransom of whites made captive during the Sioux uprising. Major Galpin died
at Grand River in 1870.
Charles F. Picotte was a devoted son, and his devotion, not only to his
234 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
mother, but to his tribe, was appreciated by the Government. He received a
section of land, as stated, which he selected at Yankton, and also an annuity of
$3,000 for ten years from the United States in recognition of his valuable aid
in negotiating the treaty. Mention has been made of the building erected by
him associated with Moses K. Armstrong, in Yankton, used for the first terri-
torial government building in the territory, and he was the sergeant-at-arms of
the House of Representatives at the first session of the Dakota Legislature. It
was due largely to his influence and that of Major and Mrs. Galpin, that the
captives taken by the Sioux in the uprising of 1862, were returned to their homes
unharmed. He used his fortune in the entertainment of his Indian friends,
became dependent on his salary as an interpreter, and died at the Greenwood
Agency.
Joseph Picotte, nephew of Honore Picotte, was a member of the firm of
Primeau, Picotte & Boosie, independent traders, supplied by Robert Campbell
of St. Louis.
Frederic F. Gerard came from St. Louis to the Missouri with Honore Picotte
in September, 1848, then nineteen years of age, was employed at Fort Pierre, and
went to Fort Clark in the spring of 1849. He learned to speak the Arikara
language and for many years was a reliable Arikara interpreter. In 1855 he
accompanied Basil Clement on a hunting trip to the headwaters of the Platte
River, bringing back a winter's supply of buffalo meat. There were five Red
River carts and seven men on the expedition. They found cholera prevailing
on the Platte. After his return he went to Fort Berthold with Honore Picotte.
IRON HEART A TRAPPER's THRILLING EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC STICK
Iron Heart was a prominent Sioux chief taking part in the battle of New
Ulm, an incident of the Sioux massacre of 1S62, described in Chapter XIII.
Francis de Molin, one of the earliest settlers on the Indian Trail and mail route
from Grand Forks to Fort Totten (on which two years later William N. Roach,
afterwards United States senator from North Dakota, carried the mail), married
a daughter of Francis Longie, an old time Indian trader, who was at New Ulm
at the time of the Sioux massacre of 1862. He had a narrow escape then as he
had many other times, but in each case was saved by the Indian relatives of his
wife. At one time he was ordered to leave the country, but his wife's friends
formed a bodyguard around him and so marched him to safety. An old Indian
asked him when a prisoner, what he thought about their whipping the whites in
the war of 1862, and pointing to a rock, he replied that when he could split that
with his head they could whip the whites. After the war was over the old chief
told him that what he said then was true: they could not whip the whites any
more than they could split the rock with their heads. The life of one of Longie's
men captured by the Indians was spared on condition that he paint himself and
wear breech clouts, but after the first day he rejected the Indian apparel and
told them they could kill him if they liked, but he refused to wear that kind of
clothing. If he must die, he would die like a white man, and the Indians,
respecting him for his bravery, adopted him after that, and defended him against
hostile tribes. He appears to have had the benefit of "second sight" and feeling,
having for warning an involuntary rising of the hair on his scalp to meet the
BLIRLINGTON HOUSE EST 1884
FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN BURLINGTOX IX AL'IUL. l^^^. JAMES JOHNSON IN
FOREGROUND
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 235
attack of the Indians when in the vicinity, ahhough not the stirring of a leaf
in an unusual manner betrayed their presence. It is recorded of him that while
trapping for beaver on the Sheyenne River he became seriously alarmed by this
phenomenon, and when he started to make his exit after a night spent in
hiding, he found himself completely surrounded by Indians. He was taken
prisoner — they had killed his horse — and they then held a council as to who
should kill him, but his wife's relatives again prevailed upon them to give him
a show, and they consented that he should be allowed to reach a hill near by
and then get away if he could. Backwards he proceeded towards the hill, with
his gun ready, expecting treachery, but they did not follow him. Iron Heart
was in charge of the party.
Iron Heart was a preacher in 1895 down on the Sisseton agency, but he used
to tell a story of his "brave" deeds which he thought a great joke. His heart
was bad, and in order to gain peace of mind it was necessary that somebody
should be killed. Accordingly he got a party of young men together, and started
out to war, but he traveled a long way before he found any white settler with
surroundings of a character to justify demonstrations. At length perceiving a
woman and a child alone in a tent, they went in and demanded something to eat,
and having received it, determined to await her husband's return and demand a
double sacrifice, to which she retorted that he would kill them with "a stick,"
that weapon being plainly visible in his hand, as he came whistling home with a
deer on his shoulder. ^leantime one of the Indians, while they were holding a
caucus — with the deer in anticipation — to decide who should have the coveted
honor of doing the killing, one Indian, never having taken a scalp, being on the
verge of tears in his anxiety, a treacherous hand pulled a trigger without consent,
the gun snapped and he was killed by the man "with the stick," who put the
entire party to rout. It is understood that Iron Heart did not claim that his
name resulted from this incident. He declares he was never so badly frightened
before, and that he was sure the man had nothing but a stick.
The first winter de Molin was on his ranch, which is thirty-five miles from
Fort Totten on the one side, and 100 miles from Grand Forks on the other;
these being the nearest settlements, winter set in in November and the snow
drifted even to the top of his house. Not having heard from him for three
months, Maj. James McLaughlin, who was Indian agent at Fort Totten, sent an
Indian out to find him and report. He had lost his first wife and having married
a part-blood, he became, under the laws of the Indians and the then rulings of
the department, one of the tribe, and entitled to draw rations from the Indian
Department. There was a Chippewa half-blood living on the lake five miles from
de IMolin and they were short of supplies, but managed to live by borrowing
from one another. The messenger came on snow-shoes and found them, and
they rigged up a dog sledge and went into Fort Totten with him for supplies.
The snow was waist deep, and dog and men were completely exhausted when
they reached an Indian camp near the agency. After resting they went into
headquarters, leaving their dog and sledge at the Indian camp, but when they
returned, the next day, with their provisions, they found the Indians had killed
their dog and had a feast on his remains the night before ; so they had to "pack"
their provisions thirty-five miles through the deep snow on their return home.
Senator Roach's mail carriers sometimes had to rely upon the dog sledge to
236 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
get the mail through. On one occasion a son of Colonel Smith, a half-blood and
a white man were coming through with the mail by dog train, and got lost in a
blizzard. They had three dogs in their train. They had killed one for food and
one had frozen to death. They lay in a snow bank two days and nights but
finally reached de Molin's, staggering from exhaustion, and fell at his door. Their
lives were saved by the provision he was able to make for them. The Indians
were very troublesome at times and even his Indian wife feared to remain with
him.
In 1873, two Indians from Fort Totten killed the de Lorme family, near
Pembina, and returned to the agency, where Major McLaughlin ordered them
captured dead or alive. After their arrest one of them got away, and after being
shot through the legs raised himself and defied them, but the soldiers killed him.
The other went to Standing Rock, where he raised a war party of 400. They
killed a stage driver, and it became very threatening for a time.
MAJ. JOHN C.\RL.'\ND
Maj. John Garland was identified with the history of Dakota as a captain in
the Sixth United States Infantry. He was major in the Twenty-third Michigan
Regiment at the close of the Civil war, 1865, and had charge of the Indian ponies
surrendered by the Sioux after the Custer massacre in 1876, which were taken
overland to St. Paul, and sold for the benefit of the Indians. His son, John C
Carland. has filled the offices of United States district attorney and district judge
of South Dakota, and later United States circuit judge.
CHAPTER XVI
THE CONQUEST OF THE SIOUX
christianizing the dakotas — american missionary board stations at lake
calhoun — lac qui parle — traverse des sioux — the initiative of cul-
ture— translation of the bible into the sioux eagle help's vision
Simon's conversion — early settlers of spirit lake — after the sioux
MASSACRE of 1862 — CHURCH OF THE SCOUTS — SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT IN
prison REMOVAL OF THE SURVIVORS AND PARDONED TO DAKOTA — JOSEPH
RENVILLE, DOCTOR RIGGS AND ASSOCIATES — THE PILGRIMS OF SANTEE FOUNDING
OF THE RELIGIOUS PRESS — THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE — THE SABBATH —
MEN OF MARK AMONG THE MISSIONARIES — PROPHETS AND BLACK GOWNS.
Fling out the banner ! let it float
Skyward and seaward, high and wide ;
The sun, that lights its shining folds,
The cross, on which the Saviour died.
Fling out the banner ! angels bend
In an.xious silence o'er the sign ;
And vainly seek to comprehend
The wonder of the love divine.
— Bishop G. IV. Doane.
CHRISTIANIZING THE DAKOTAS — THE INITI.\TIVE OF CULTURE
In 1834, a Dakota village of about four hundred people existed on Lake
Calhoun, extending to Lake Harriet, now embraced within the city limits of
Minneapolis, Minn. Here that year the Rev. Samuel W. Pond and his brother,
Gideon H. Pond, commenced the spiritual conquest of the Dakotas. In 1835,
they were joined by the Rev. Jedediah D. Stevens and Dr. Thomas S. William-
son, also a medical practitioner, and Lake Calhoun became a station of the
American Missionary Board. They immediately began a systematic study of
the Sioux language in order to better reach the understanding of the natives, and
by 1837, they had gathered a vocabulary of five or six hundred words, this. Dr.
Stephen R. Riggs declared, forming the basis of the Dakota graminar. Two
houses were built 'of tamarac logs, in one of which a school was established with
half a dozen pupils, principally mixed-blood girls. In 1836, at the request of
the Indian trader, Joseph Renville, a three-fourths blood Sioux (first mentioned
on the Minnesota River in Part One), a congregation of seven members was
organized, principally of the household of Mr. Renville, who rendered invaluable
aid in the translation of the Bible into the Dakota language, until then a rude
237
238 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
spoken dialect. The Bible was translated and hymns composed or translated,
and reduced to written form in the Dakota tongue. It was the beginning of the
creation of the literature of a nation.
In an upper room — lo by 12 feet — of a log house, Doctor Riggs lived and
worked for five years. Here his first three children were born, and here his
grammar of the Dakota language was prepared, and the greater part of the New
Testament translated.
Mr. Renville had great influence over the Sioux. The members of his own
family learned to read, and some of the "Soldiers' Lodge" (council of warriors)
were next to learn.
In the lower room of the Williamson Building, twenty-five or thirty men
and women gathered every Sunday, to whom Doctor Williamson preached and
being a physician he was often able to contribute to their temporal welfare.
They sang Dakota hymns composed by Mrs. Renville, and Mr. Pond prayed in
their language.
Mr. Renville's home at Lac qui Parle was known as Fort Renville, having
been built for defense as well as trade with the Ojibways (Chippewas). It con-
sisted of a store building, a reception room with a large fireplace, and a bench
running almost around the room, on which the men sat or reclined. Mr. Ren-
ville sat in a chair in the middle of the room, with his feet crossed under him
like a tailor. Verse by verse the Bible was read, Renville translating into the
Dakota language, written by Doctor Riggs or Mr. Pond, and again read from
the Indian language.
Thus from week to week the work went on until the missionaries became
entirely competent to make their own translation, which was finally completed
in 1879. Denville died in March, 1846, at Lac qui Parle.
In the prosecution of their work they encountered the most bitter opposition,
which was engendered in savage breasts by ignorance and superstition, and in-
tensified by the malice, jealousy, avarice and licentiousness of white frontier
traders.
Eagle Help is claimed by Doctor Riggs — from whose book, "Mary and I,"
these facts are principally obtained — to have been the first Sioux to read and
write the Dakota language, and to have been of great help in the work of trans-
lating the Bible. Eagle Help was not only a warrior but a prophet. After
fasting and praying and dancing the circle dance, a vision of the enemies he
sought to kill would come to him. In his trance or dream, the whole panorama
• — the river, lake or forest, and the Ojibways in canoes, or on the land, would
appear before him, and the spirit he saw in his vision would say, "Up, Eagle
Help, and kill."
On one occasion having had a vision. Eagle Help got up a war party of a
score of young warriors, who fasted and feasted, decked themselves in hostile
array, danced the "No Flight Dance," listened to real war stories by the old men,
and went ofif to war, first killing two Mission cows. When they returned, after
many days, without having seen an enemy they blamed the missionaries for
Eagle Help's false vision.
lean N. Nicollet and Lieut. John C. Fremont visited the camp soon afterward
(1839), and induced the Indians to pay for the cows. Eagle Help accounted for
ALANSON W. EDWARDS
Fargo pioneer
CLEMENT A. LOUNSBERRY, BISJIAECK
ERASTUS A. WILLIAMS
Photo at twenty-one years of age, when Bismarck pioneer, lawyer and legislator
captain in Twentieth Michigan Volunteers
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 239
his failure as a war prophet by the claim that his knowledge of the Christian
religion had destroyed his powers.
The treaty of 1837, providing for the education of the Sioux, Doctor Riggs
held, had proved to be a handicap rather than a help, because the traders induced
the Indians to oppose the use of the money for that purpose and to insist upon
its being turned over to them for general purposes; and lest there might be a
treaty some time that would permit the missionaries to get the money, they
ordered the Soldiers' Lodge (Council of Warriors) to prevent the children from
going to school.
In the work of the missionaries the women were not only taught ordinary
household duties, but to spin, knit and sew, and the little girls to do patchwork,'
that is, sew pieces of calico of various colors, cut in squares, together to form a
quilt or counterpane for a bed.
"Before the snows had disappeared or the ducks come back" in the spring,
the annual hunting party would return laden with rich furs and other products
of the chase, and the traders would then reap their harvest; to be followed by a
long period of distress among the Indians dependent on hunting for their
subsistence.
In January, 1838, a hunting party of Sioux divided while in the vicinity of
the present site of Benson, Minn., leaving three lodges there alone, which were
visited by Hole-in-the-Day, a Chippewa chief, accompanied by ten warriors.
The Sioux, although near starvation themselves, treated their guests hospitably,
killing two dogs and giving them a feast, and in return the Chippewas arose at
midnight and murdered the entire three families. In 1839, 1,000 Ojibways on a
peaceful mission, left Fort Snelling, in two parties; one by way of the St.
Croix River and the other by way of Run River, and on their return to their
homes both parties were followed by the Sioux in retaliation for the death by
two young Ojibways of a prominent member of the Lake Calhoun Village to
avenge the killing of their father by the Sioux. A terrific slaughter ensued and
as a consequence the Sioux fearing to remain at Lake Calhoun removed to the
Minnesota River and with them the missionaries who established themselves in
a station at Lac qui Parle now in Minnesota.
In 1840, the rate of postage was 25 cents on letters, and although Lac-qui-
Parle was less than two hundred miles from Fort Snelling, the nearest postoffice,
it was sometimes from three to five months before mail could be obtained from
there at Lac-qui-Parle.
In 1840, when Doctor Riggs visited Fort Pierre, where there were about
forty lodges of Tetons then encamped, he decided that the time had not yet come
to carry the work into that region, but in later years it was transferred to
Dakota.
In 1 84 1, Simon Anawangomane (the Simon Peter of the Sioux) became the
first Dakota brave to embrace the Christian religion. A considerable number
of women had become converted, but the braves were not willing to follow their
lead. It was hard for Simon to give up taking human life, says Doctor Riggs,
and still harder to give up his surplus wives ; but after three years of wrestling
with the proposition, he yielded and led the Christian warrior band, becoming
a bright and shining star to lead their way. He put on the white man's clothing
and planted a field of corn and potatoes. The braves, knowing his mettle, let
240 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
him alone, but the women and children pointed the finger of scorn at him, which
he resisted, but the temptation of strong drink mastered him and Simon went
back for a time to his old Indian dress and ways, but in 1854 returned to the
church. At first he only ventured to sit on the doorsteps, then he found a seat
in the furthermost corner, advancing by degrees to his old place, and for more
than twenty years he took a leading part in christianizing the Sioux ; the last
ten as a licensed exhorter. He was wounded in the battle at Wood Lake, and his
son, who was wounded at the same engagement, died of his wounds.
The mission at Traverse-des-Sioux was established in 1843, tiy Doctor Riggs
and associates. That year two Sioux on the way to meet the missionaries were
killed by Ojibways sneaking in the grass, and to avenge their death their friends
shot the horse belonging to the mission and later two oxen at intervals met a
similar fate at their hands.
Traverse-des-Sioux was situated twelve miles above the present City of
Lesueur, Minn., twenty-five miles from Lac-qui-Parle. St. Paul was then a
mere collection of grog shops, depending principally on the Indian trade. The
enterprising Indians from the Minnesota River would go to St. Paul, buy a keg
of whiskey, have a carousal on part of its contents, fill it up with water, and then
go to Dakota and trade it for a horse.
By 1848, the attitude of the Indians toward the missionaries had so changed
that the Soldiers' Lodge was placed at their service.
The Dakota Presbytery, organized in 1845, licensed and ordained George
H. Pond and Robert Hopkins, ministers of the Gospel, and Rev. Moses N.
Adams, Rev. John F. Alton and Rev. Joshua Potter came to that region for work
among the Dakotas. Reverend Mr. Hopkins was drowned July 4th of the same
year. In June, 1849, the Christian work was extended to r>ig Stone Lake.
In 185 1, the army offices at Fort Snelling had collected a Sioux vocabulary
of five or six hundred words. The collection of Doctor Riggs had then reached
3,000, in two years more it had doubled, and in 1856, reached 10,000 words.
The Dakota Dictionary when published in 1874 contained 16,000 words.
In 1852, Doctor Williamson erected buildings at the Yellow Medicine
Mission.
In 1857, the mission-house at Lac-qui-Parle was burned and the station was
moved to Hazelwood, six miles from the Yellow Medicine Agency, and there
rebuilt. The Indians from Lac-qui-Parle followed to the same place.
At first the Dakota children were educated in the families of the mission-
aries, but at Hazelwood a boarding school was established, starting with twenty-
pupils.
EARLY SETTLERS AT SPIRIT LAKE
In 1857, when there were about fifty settlers at and near Spirit Lake, Iowa,
Inkpadoota, who was the leader of a hunting party of Wahpetons, visited that
locality. Game being scarce and the party in bad humor, they made demands
on the whites which were not readily complied with, so the Indians helped
themselves, and were insulting to the women of nearly the whole settlement.
Four women were carried away captive ; one of whom, Mrs. Marble, was treated
kindly, having been purchased by friendly Indians and ransomed. One slipped
from a log on which she was required to cross a stream, and while in the water
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 241
was shot by the Indians. Another, Mrs. Noble, was killed in Inkpadoota's camp,
and Mrs. Abbie Gardner was returned to her family through the good offices
of John Other-day and other Indians friendly to the mission. One of the sons
of Inkpadoota took refuge in the Yellow Medicine Camp and was killed in an
eiifort made to capture him. The annuities having been stopped until the Indian
murderers were surrendered, Little Crow with a hundred braves having under-
taken to punish them, reported that he had found and fought them, killing a
dozen or more, and the government accepted his statement as true and restored
the suspended annuities, but little Crow's story was not believed by the friendly
Indians.
For twenty-seven years the work of Doctor Riggs and his associates had
moved steadily forward, when the mission moved from Lac-qui-Parle ^ to
Traverse-des-Sioux and seventy-five communicants had been gathered into the
churches. The clouds seemed lifting, the prospects brightening, when there burst
around them that terrible cyclone of blood on the fatal i8th day of August,
1862, when the Sioux massacre began, their churches and homes were laid in
ashes, their members were scattered and the missionaries compelled to flee to
St. Paul and Minneapolis. Apparently the missionary work among the Dakotas
was doomed.
The friendly Indians made a cache in which they buried money and valuable
books belonging to Doctor Riggs, and the library at Hazelwood. Spirit-Walker,
Robert Hopkins, Enos, Good Hail and Makes Himself Red, were sent after Mrs.
Huggins, of the mission, who had been protected in the family of Spirit-
Walker.
The seed sown in the hearts of some of the Indians bore fruit, not only at
the time of the massacre, but in the prison camp, where the work of regeneration
gained its greatest headway. During their confinement, the prison became a
school and an interest in the Christian religion was awakened and fostered that
later largely contributed to the civilization of the Sioux.
THE CHURCH OF THE SCOUTS
Hundreds of Indians were captured and imprisoned at Mankato and Fort
Snelling, and, in their confinement, these Indian captives sent for the very mis-
sionaries they had rejected when free. They listened eagerly to the story of
redeeming love. A precious work of grace sprung up among them and hundreds
were converted. Three hundred Indian braves were baptized in a single day
at Mankato, and organized in the prison a Presbyterian Church, the "Church of
the Scouts." When they were released and returned to the agencies, in 1866,
they formed the nuclei of churches and schools and Christian communities. The
next spring the families of the condemned prisoners were sent to Crow Creek
Reservation, Dakota. The prisoners not executed were taken to Davenport,
Iowa, where, at Camp McClellan. they were guarded by soldiers for the next
three years. Then their irons were removed and later they were allowed to go
to town and sell bows and arrows and other things of Indian make, or go to the
country to work. About thirty per cent of the Indians died of disease during
their confinement; smallpox prevailing among them adding much to the losses.
Something over one hundred men, women and children were added to the camp,
although not condemned.
242 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Thirteen hundred Indians were sent to Crow Creek, Dak., in 1863, 300 of
these passing away before June 1st and the ravages of disease continued.
Little Six and Medicine Bottle, who were indicted for complicity in the
massacre, were captured later, tried, convicted and hanged.
In 1866 the surviving prisoners, among them members of the "Church of the
Scouts," were restored to liberty and joined their families on the Niobrarra River.
Simon Anawangomane and Peter Bigfire were licensed to preach, and Davis
Renville was ordained a ruling elder.
During the campaign against the Indians the Wahpetons and Sissetons in
the employ of the Government, formed camps at Lake Traverse and Buffalo
Lake, known as the Scouts' Camps. These camps were within what afterwards
became the Sisseton Reservation in North and South Dakota, and formed a
bulwark against the roving bands of Sioux who infested the country.
Fort Wadsworth had but recently been established, and there were a number
of friendly Sioux employed there. Solomon Toon-kan-shacehaya, Robert Hop-
kins, Louis Mazawakinyanna and Daniel Renville were licensed to preach in
1867. Louis went to Fort Wadsworth and commenced religious work there.
Rev. George D. Crocker was post chaplain at the fort. John B. Renville and
Dr. Thomas J. Williamson were engaged in religious work in the vicinity and
at the fort. In 1868, they were joined by Doctor Riggs, John P. Williamson and
Artemus Ehnamane, a native minister. John B. Renville and Peter Bigfire had
settled at the head of Big Dry Lake, Dakota, where a camp-meeting was held in
1868, and about sixty persons added to the native church. Another camp-meeting
was held at Buffalo Lake. A church was organized at Long Hollow, and Solomon
was selected to be their religious teacher. In 1869 Doctor Riggs again visited
Fort Wadsworth. Dr. Jared W. Daniels, the new agent, was then on the ground.
The annual camp-meeting was held at Dry Wood Lake. Doctor Daniels com-
menced to build a dormitory and school at that point, and W. K. Morris became
the teacher. It was then John B. Renville moved to Lac-qui-Parle to the reserva-
tion. Daniel Renville was also there and Gabriel Renville was at the agency.
Ascension was then the leading church with J. B. Renville pastor. Daniel Ren-
ville was chosen pastor at Goodwill. Solomon at Long Hollow, Louis at Fort
Wadsworth, or Kettle Lake, as then called, and Thomas Good at Buffalo Lake;
Louis later going to Manyason. In 1871 there were eight native church organ-
izations in Dakota.
Amherst W. Barber, who has rendered much valuable assistance in the prep-
aration of this work, visited the Big Sioux River Indian settlement, in Dakota,
in connection with his work as a United States surveyor in 1873. There was then
a white teacher there, a handsome church, and a schoolhouse for the Indian set-
tlers occupying comfortable log houses and lands allotted to them, and now, in
1916, they and their children enjoy all the rights of American citizens and are
accorded the respect due them as such. They were pardoned warriors from
Little Crow's band.
THE PILGRIMS OF SANTEE
The pilgrims at Santee numbered 267, with Rev. Artemus Ehnamane and
Rev. Titus Ichadorge, pastors. The Flandreau, or River Bend Church, num-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 243
bered 107 members, Joseph Grow-old-man, pastor, and the Lac-qui- Parle Church
41 members. The Ascension Church on the reservation had 69 members with
Rev. John B. Renville, pastor. The Dry Wood Lake Church had 42 members.
Rev. Daniel Renville, pastor. The Long Hollow Church had 80 members. Rev.
Solomon Toon-kan-chachaya, pastor. The Kettle Lake or Fort Wadsworth
Church had 38 members with Rev. Louis Mazawakenyauna, stated supply, and
a church at Yankton agency had ig members in charge of Rev. John P. Williamson.
FOUNDING THE RELIGIOUS PRESS
In .May, 1 87 1, a publication known as lapi Oaye, or Word Carrier, was estab-
lished in editorial charge of Rev. John P. Williamson. The paper was at first
printed wholly in the Sioux language; after the first year a portion in English.
THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE
The first general conference was held in 1871, on the Big Sioux, where a
number of Indians had taken homesteads, and these homesteaders in due time
(twenty-five years) received unrestricted patents to their land and were admitted
to all the rights carried by United States citizenship.
The Dakota Mission had been connected with the American Board of Com-
missioners for Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church ; but in 1870, Rev.
Albert L. Riggs, a Congregationalist minister, went to the Santee Agency and
established the Santee High School, with Eli Abraham and Albert Frazier assist-
ants. Doctor Daniels, who had built an Episcopal house of worship at the
Sisseton Agency, having been appointed on the recommendation of the Rt. Rev.
Bishop H. B. Whipple, resigned, and Rev. Moses N. Adams was appointed in
his stead.
In the month of June, 1872, when the roses on the prairie began to bloom and
the grass took on its richest green, a conference was held at the Church of Good-
will, Sisseton Agency, Dr. Thomas S. Williamson, then of St. Peter, Minnesota,
and Rev. John P. Williamson of Yankton, Rev. Joseph Ward of Yankton, and
the Pond brothers, and Rev. Albert L. Riggs and Thomas L. Riggs of Santee,
lieing present ; the visiting clergymen driving from two to three hundred miles
for the purpose. The gathering of the natives was very large.
The following spring a treaty was made by Agent Moses N. Adams, William
H. Forbes and James Smith, Jr., United States commissioners, by which the
Wahpeton and Sisseton Indians released their claims to Northeastern Dakota,
on account of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and that year a brick schoolhouse
was dedicated at the Sisseton Agency.
In closing an account of the conference at Yankton Agency in 1873, Doctor
Riggs writes : "And hands received the sacrament which, but for a knowledge
of this dear sacrifice, might have regarded it their chief glory that their hands
were stained with human blood," adding "Just as we close, in strange contrast
with the spirit of the hour, two young Indian braves go by the window. They
are tricked out with all manner of savage frippery, ribbons stream in the wind,
strings of discordant sleigh-bells grace their horses' necks and herald their ap-
pearance. Each carries a drawn sword which flashes in the sunlight, and a
plentiful use of red ochre and eagle feathers completes the picture."
2U HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
In the winter of 1873 a mission was established for the Tetons opposite
Fort Sully. The Indians threatened to burn the mission house, hostiles crowded
about the place, and their camps were noisy with singing and dancing, prepar-
ing for war.
That year. Agent Moses N. Adams erected a building for a training school
at the Sisseton Agency, and that winter it was used for training girls under the
care of J\Ir. and Mrs. Armor. Mr. and Mrs. Morris cared for the boys in other
quarters. There were sixteen of each. In 1874 a church was erected on the Sisse-
ton Agency at a cost of $1,800, and the Dakota House at the Santee Agency
was completed at a cost of $4,200. That year Doctor Riggs visited Fort Berthold.
Maj. Lawrence B. Sperry was the agent. Rev. Charles L. Hall, married but a
week previous, was ordained and sent to the Berthold Agency, and for forty
years has been doing most excellent work for the uplift of that tribe of Indians.
The conference at the Sisseton Agency in 1876 was welcomed by Agent Maj.
John G. Hamilton, who has supplied infomiation of incalculable value in the
preparation of this history. At this meeting a Dakota ]\Iissionary Society was
organized, and $240 was raised for a mission to be stationed at Standing Rock.
David Grey Cloud was selected for that work.
A letter written by Mrs. Stanley, wife of Gen. David S. Stanley, to the New
York Evangelist, calling attention to conditions bordering on the Missouri River,
in 1870, served to help.
At the Conference of 1877, Rev. John Eastman, the youngest of the native
clergymen, took a leading part.
The following matter prepared by Rev. R. L. Creswell in 1896, gives addi-
tional facts in this connection :
"There are now (1896) amongst them 19 ministers, 21 congregations, 1,280
communicants, and 862 Sunday school scholars. They expended last year for
missions, $1,350 and for other expenses, $2,700, in all, over four thousand dol-
lars for church purposes. There are, also, 10 Congregational churches with 670
communicants. These two great denominations have many schools filled with
Dakota pupils. In 1872, at Sisseton, Dakota Territory, they organized the Dakota
Indian Conference for the purpose of uniting more closely the Dakota churches,
stimulating the Dakota workers and advancing our Savior's Kingdom. This
conference meets annually and is the great event of the year for this tribe.
"In 1875, the Native Missionary Society was organized, 'to send the gospel
to the heathen Indians.' Under its auspices there are thirty-one Women's Mis-
sionary societies and several Young People's bands in successful operation. They
carry on several mission stations and collect and expend annually $1,200. In
1880 they organized Young Men's societies, 'in order that their young men might
grow in the love and spirit of God.' In 1885. they affiliated with the General
Association of the Whites. Their Twenty-fifth Annual Conference was held
September 13-16, 1895, at Mountain Head, S. D., at the northern end of the
Coteau of the Prairies. This was the hunter's paradise in the olden time. In
1823. 4,000 buiifalo skins, besides other valuable furs, were shipped from this
locality. It is a picturesque spot, well adapted to such a peculiar gathering.
Two hundred and fifty delegates and 1,000 spectators were present. They
were gathered from all the thirteen Sioux agencies. The opening exercises con-
sisted of an address by Rev. John P. Williamson, D. D., on 'Sociology,' and the
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 245
presentation of the 'Fundamental Points of the Gospel Message,' by the Rev.
A. L. Riggs, D. D. Then with prayer, praise, reading of the Word, and with
warm words of Christian greeting, the regular work of the conference was
ushered in. The discussion of such themes as Ts no band of the Dakotas yet
prepared for citizenship?' 'What are the Indians to do for a living?' "What
may be, and what may not be done on the Sabbath?' occupied the day sessions
of Friday and Saturday. The Flandreaus, the Sissetons and Wahpetons were
thought to be quite well fitted for citizenship. The Indian should work for his
living like white folks. Only works of absolute necessity and real mercy should
be done on the Sabbath day. The Y. M. C. A. occupied the evening sessions in
the interest of the young men. They were addressed by Secretary Copeland, of
Winnipeg, on 'Study of the Bible,' and by Dr. Charles A. Eastman, of St. Paul,
on 'Our Bodies.' He is a trained Christian physician of their own race. Rev.
Charles R. Crawford and Rev. John Eastman, native pastors, discussed these
important questions, 'What is it to be a Christian and how shall a Christian
fulfill the duties of his position.' The Dakota Presbytery and the Dakota Asso-
ciation convened on Saturday and heard reports from all their churches and
mission stations. Pleasant and profitable missionary gatherings for the women
and endeavor meetings for the youth were also held. The large auditorium was
thronged at every session, with hundreds hanging about the doors and windows,
all intensely interested in and gravely listening to the discussions. Many took
notes which will be repeated to smaller gatherings, and thus the whole tribe will
be largely reached and benefited.
"The speeches were brief, earnest, pointed. The speakers stopped at once
when through. The Indian has not yet learned to speak against time. The sing-
ing was sweet and soul-stirring. Hundreds of Indians, spending day after day
in such discussions, and 200 Indian women singing gospel hymns and engaging
in prayer and bringing their gifts to send that same glorious gospel to their
degraded sisters elsewhere, were grand sights to see.
THE SABBATH
"The Sabbath dawned most gloriously. The picturesque blufl^s around the
church were covered with the white tepees of the Christian Dakotas. Prayer and
praise went up in the early dawn to the Great Spirit, whom they now worship,
'in spirit and in truth.' At 11 A. M. a vast audience gathered out of doors and
the crowning services of the whole series began. Hundreds of Dakotas sitting
in ranks on the grass listening reverently to the gospel from one of their own
race, singing heartily in their own tongue 'All hail the power of Jesus' name,'
and receiving joyfully the symbols of our Saviour's love, formed a scene never to
be forgotten.
"May the richest blessings of heaven rest upon the work and the workers
among the Dakotas. Its final and complete triumph is assured."
MEN OF MARK AMONG THE MISSIONARIES
The Rev. John P. Williamson, D. D., of Greenwood, S. D., was born in 1835,
the first white babe bom at Lac-qui-Parle, Minnesota. He has taken his sainted
246 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
father's place, has grown up in the work, speaks both languages fluently, and is
greatly revered by all the Dakotas, who lovingly call him "John." He is the
general superintendent of the Presbyterian work among the Dakotas. The Rev.
A. L. Riggs, D. D., of Santee, Neb., whom the Indians called "Zitkadan Hash-
tan" or "Good Bird," when a babe at Lac-qui-Parle, with his brother, Rev.
Thomas L. Riggs, are men of might in the Congregational department of the
work. They are sons of the Rev. Stephen R. Riggs, who entered the work in
1837. Rev. John Baptiste Renville of lyakaptapte (Ascension) is the young-
est son of the famous Joseph Renville. His is the longest pastorate in the
Dakotas. He is an able and eloqttent minister, a faithful pastor and a genial
Christian gentleman. He is the owner of a good farm and a comfortable home
well furnished, and is greatly beloved by both whites and Indians.
Rev. Artemus Ehnamane (Walking Through) was a famous warrior in his
youth. He participated in the early bitter contests of his nation with the Chip-
pewas, danced the scalp dance on the present site of Minneapolis (then a wind
swept prairie), was converted in the Mankato revivals of '63 and is now pastor
of a very large native congregation. Rev. John Eastman, a young man of prom-
ise, is a Presbyterian pastor, and Government agent for the Flandreau Band. He
claims for his people, "every adult a member of the church and every child of
school age in school."
PROPHETS AND BLACK GOWNS
In the early days of the work of the mission among the Dakotas, a new
prophet arose in the southwest (Tavibo), known as the Nevada prophet. The
spirit of God, so to speak, was working among the Indians of almost every
tribe. From far distant Oregon they sent representatives to Nevada, and on
their return they sent a mission to Gen. William Qark, of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition, then residing at St. Louis, for his judgment on the Nevada prophet.
The party spent a winter at St. Louis, where one of them died, the others return-
ing home the next spring. In answer to their Macedonian call Rev. Fr. Peter
John DeSmet, born in Belgium in 1801, who came to the United States in
1821, was sent to the Flatheads. Father DeSmet, mentioned in Chapter XIV as
having charge of the education of Charles F. Picotte, left Westport, Missouri,
April 30, 1840, with the annual expedition of the American Fur Company in the
caravan of Capt. James Dripps on the way to Green River. At the Cheyenne
village Father DeSmet was hailed as a minister of the Great Spirit, and as the
chief met him, shaking his hand, he said : "Black Gown, my heart was filled with
joy when I learned who you were. My lodge never received a visitor for whom
I feel greater esteem. As soon as I was apprised of your coming I ordered my
great kettle to be filled, and in your honor I commanded that my three fattest
dogs should be served."
Father DeSmet, at a council, stated the object of his visit, and the Indians
assured him they would provide for the "black gown" (priest) who might be sent
to them. When he was yet a long distance ofif, the Flatheads sent an escort of
warriors to protect him. They claimed that in a battle with the Blackfeet, in
which sixty of their men were engaged five days, they killed fifty Blackfeet with-
out losing one man ; that the Great Spirit knew they were going to protect his
messenger and so gave them power over their enemies.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 247
The trappers and traders had assembled in great numbers at the Green River
rendezvous, where an altar was built on an elevation and surrounded with boughs
and flowers, and mass was celebrated, a great number being present. After his
address the Indians deliberated nearly an hour and then said, "Black Gown, the
words of thy mouth have found their way to our hearts; they will never be for-
gotten. Our country is open for thee. Teach us what we have to do to please
the Great Spirit, and we will do according to your words."
On several occasions Father DeSmet visited the Dakota Indians, and the
same cordial greeting was given him by all the tribes, regardless of their relations
to each other. Their souls went out to him as the visible representative of the
Great Spirit who had the power to quiet their troubled minds when in contact
with them.
The story of the Shawnee prophet, an earlier Indian character, is told in a
previous chapter in Part One and further information as to the christianizing of
the Dakotas is related in connection with the Sioux massacre, after which the
conquest of the Sioux was carried to Dakota soil.
JVlany of the missionary establishments that have spread and multiplied
among the Sioux are the direct outgrowth of the labors of the pioneers, both men
and women, herein mentioned. Alfred L. Riggs, the founder of the Santee
Mission Training School at Santee, Nebraska, passed away on April 15, 1916,
after forty-six years of successful work in the footsteps of his father, the noted
translator.
From that inspiring hymn, "Onward, Christian Soldiers," written by S. Bar-
ing-Gould (1865), the following lines are selected:
Like a mighty army-
Moves the Church of God ;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
AH one Body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers.
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before !
CHAPTER XVII
THE CONQUEST OF THE SIOUX— Continued
THE RELIGION OF THE DAKOTA INDIANS — THE GHOST DANCE — THE PROPHET OF
THE DELAWARES TAVIBO WOWOKA's GOLDEN RULE SHORT BULL KICKING
BEAR DEATH OF SITTING BULL — THE BATTLE OF WOUNDED KNEE — END OF THE
GHOST DANCE CRAZE — EVER PRESENT FEAR OF INDIANS AMONG THE PIONEERS
FRONTIER HARDSHIPS — THE BLIZZARD RED RIVER FLOODS.
"Thy spirit, Independence, let me share:
Lord of the lion heart and eagle eye,
Thy steps I follow with my bosom bare
Nor heed the storm that howls along the sky."
— Tobias Smollett (1721-1771), Ode to Independence.
Hope Springs eternal in the human breast. The Indians of America, no less
than the white men of Europe, and the brown men of Asia, have had many-
prophets and messiahs, who have taught them in spiritual things.
Among the Indian teachers, one of the most noted was the prophet of the
Delawares, who claimed to have visions in which he received instructions from
the Master of Life, who taught a return to the simple life of the red man as the
only avenue to Indian happiness. His followers were required to give up all
they had acquired from the white men and return to the fire sticks and bows and
arrows of their fathers, when it would be possible for them to organize and drive
away the white men who were encroaching upon them.
The story of the Shawnee prophet has already been given in these pages.
Born during this period of excitement another Indian prophet appeared in
Nevada, Tavibo, said to have been the father of the Indian messiah of 1890. He
taught the resurrection of the dead and restoration of the game and the disap-
pearance of the whites, leaving their effects and improvements to be enjoyed by
the Indians.
To bring about these results it was taught that there must be obedience to the
ten commandments, and in addition they must cease using intoxicating liquors
and refrain from gambling and horse racing. The propaganda was carried on
secretly, and it was accompanied by a dance, which was the forerunner of the
ghost dance. Since 1871 there have been other messiahs, all teaching substan-
tially the same thing, their highest hopes being centered on the return of the game,
and the disappearance of the whites, when the Indian should again enter on the
life enjoyed by their fathers.
When Tavibo died, in 1870, he left a son, Wovoka, then fourteen years of age,
who had been reared in the land of his father, Mason Valley, Nevada, and who
248
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 249
dreamed his dreams, and as he says when the sun died, meaning an ecHpse, he
went up into heaven and saw God and all of the people who died long ago, and
returning from his sleep he told his people what he had seen and heard, and his
fame went out to all Indian lands, and the tribes sent their wise men to see and
know of him. Dakota sent its representatives and the delegates declared that each
one, though of different tribes and language, heard Wovoka in his own tongue..
And Wovoka told them that they must not hurt anyone or do any harm to any-
one ; that they must not tight and must always do right for it would give them
much satisfaction ; that they must not tell any lies or refuse to work for the whites
or make any trouble for them; that when their friends die they must not cry.
He charged them that they must not tell the white people but that the son of God
had returned to the earth ; that the dead were alive and there would be no more
sickness, and everyone would be young again ; this might be in the fall or in the
spring, he could not tell, but they must dance every six weeks, every night for
four nights and the fifth night till morning. Then they must bathe in the river
and go home, and when they danced they must make a feast and have food that
everyone might eat. And he gave them some new food and some sacred paint,
and promised that he would come to them sometime.
And thus equipped the wise men of the tribes returned to their people to teach
the return of the ghosts and inaugurate the ghost dance. For the ghosts were
coming and they were driving before them vast herds of antelope and buffalo and
other game.
One of the Indians who was present at the Mason Valley conference with
Wovoka said of the meeting :
"Heap talk all the time. Indians hear all about it everywhere, Indians come
from long way ofT to hear him. They come from east; they make signs. All
Indians must dance, everywhere keep on dancing. Pretty soon Big Man come.
He bring back all game, of every kind, the game being thick everywhere. All dead
Indians come back and live again. They all be strong, just like young Indians
and have fine time. When Old Man come this way then all Indians go to the
moutains, high up away from the whites. Whites can't hurt Indians then. Then
while Indians go way up high big flood come and all white people get drowned.
After that water go away, then nobody but Indians everywhere, all kinds of game
thick. Indians who don't dance, who do not believe this word, will grow little,
just about a foot high and stay that way. Some will be turned into wood and
will be burned in fire."
The returning delegates brought this new religion to the Dakota Indians in the
winter of 1889 and 1890. Sitting Bull was its chief exponent at Standing Rock.
Kicking Bull and Big Foot were at the Sheyenne Agency and Short Bull was
the demonstrator at the Rosebud. Short Bull had visited Wovoka; he had
touched the hand of the Messiah ; had received from him the holy bread and the
sacred paint and had listened to his words ; he had received messages through
him from his friends in spirit-land and had been told of their homes and their
employments, and of the vast herds of buffalo and other game and had been
assured that the day was soon coming when there would no longer be any whites
to make them afraid. He told the Indians that they were living the sacred life;
that the soldiers' guns were the only thing of which they were afraid, but these
belonged to their father in heaven, and they should no longer fear the soldiers.
250 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
He said: "If the soldiers surround you four deep, three of you on whom I have
placed the holy shirt, shall sing a song which I have taught you, passing around
them, when someone will fall dead. The others will start to run, but their horses
will sink. The riders will jump from their horses and they will sink also. Then
you can do to them as you desire. Now you must know this that all of the race
will be dead, there will be only 5,000 living on earth." He urged that they should
dance and be prepared for the time when these things should come.
And thus they were prepared for the events of 1890. The agent at Pine
Ridge was frantic with fear. He telegraphed every day for troops. In August,
1890, 2,000 Indians met for the dance near Pine Ridge Agency and refused to
give it up when ordered by the agent to stop. They leveled their guns, threaten-
ing armed resistance to any interference. At the mere rumor of coming soldiers
they fled to the Bad Lands, where they were joined by malcontents from other
agencies. Short Bull at the Rosebud and Big Foot at the Sheyenne, also persisted
in the dance.
Octbber 9, 1890, a party of Indians under Kicking Bear left the Sheyenne
Agency to visit Sitting Bull. He had invited them to visit him at his camp on
the Grand River to inaugurate the ghost dance there. The dance had begun
at Sheyenne River in September.
Sitting Bull's heart was bad. He had broken the pipe of peace which had
hung on his cabin wall since his surrender in 1881, declaring that he wanted to
fight, and that he wanted to die. He had ceased to visit the agency. As a young
man he refused to live at the agencies. He had spent the summers on the plains
and the winters in the Bad Lands, or mountains, or in the timber on the Mouse
River. Though a medicine man rather than a warrior, he had great influence with
the Indians, drawing them to him and wielding them and the malcontents of
almost every tribe against the whites.
Agent James McLaughlin, of the Standing Rock Agency, visited Silting Bull's
camp to induce him to return to the agency but he failed and the dance went on.
Col. William F. Cody (Bufl^alo Bill) was employed by the Indian ofiice at Wash-
ington to go to his camp, in the hope that he could influence him, but without
avail. Major McLaughlin, who had succeeded much better than the other agents
in controlling the Indians under his charge, advised against Sitting Bill's arrest
at that time, lest it should lead to an outbreak, but his arrest had been determined
upon by the Indian office. It was known that he intended to join the malcontents
at the Pine Ridge Agency and that he had been invited to come there for "God
was about to appear." He had asked permission to go but had prepared to go
without permission. So on September 14, 1890, it was determined to make the
arrest without further delay. There were some forty Indian police available and
two companies of military, by forced marching from Fort Yates, were placed in
supporting distance.
Sitting Bull's arrest was made withovit resistance, but the police were imme-
diately surrounded by one hundred and fifty or more of his friends on whom
Tie called to rescue him. Whereupon they rushed upon the police and engaged in
a hand-to-hand battle. One of Sitting Bull's followers shot Lieut. Bull Head,
the officer in command of the Indian police, in the side. Bull Head turned and
shot Sitting Bull, who was also shot at the same time by Sergt. Red Tomahawk.
Sergt. Shave Head was also shot. Catch the Bear, of Sitting Bull's party, who
FOUETEEN FOOT LIGNITE SEAM ON LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER, NORTH-
WESTERN DAKOTA
X
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 251
fired the first shot, was killed by Alone Man, one of the Indian police. There
were eight of Sitting Bull's party killed, including his seventeen-year-old son.
The Indian pohce lost six killed or mortally wounded. Most of Sitting Bull's
followers joined the Indians in the Bad Lands.
Two weeks later, under the humane and fearless work of the military officers,
most of the Indians who fled to the Band Lands on the approach of the military
had been induced to return to their agencies.
Big Foot's band and a few of Sitting Bull's Indians only remained in the
field. Big Foot had agreed to surrender. He was ill with pneumonia, and the
army physician had made him comfortable in his tepee. The pipe of peace hung
on the center pole of his lodge. A white flag floated from the middle of his camp
in token of his surrender. The women and children stood about the doors of
the tepees, watching the soldiers in their camp, without thought of harm. The
camps of the soldiers entirely surrounded the Indian camp. The military officers
had demanded the surrender of the Indians' guns, in order to remove the tempta-
tion of another uprising, and had promised food and clothing, and transporta-
tion for their return to their respective agencies. A group of soldiers stood near
the tepee of Big Foot. The Indians had been requested to come out of their tepees
and deliver their arms. About twenty worthless pieces had been surrendered,
while fully two hundred were known to be in their possession. A party of soldiers
were searching the tepees for more arms. There was a growing feeling of anger
among the Indians. Yellow Bird was circling about the camp, incessantly blow-
ing a whistle made from an eagle bone, and urging the Indians to resist, possibly
reminding them of the promise to Short Bull that someone should fall dead and
the soldiers would be in their power. Presently he ceased blowing the eagle
bone and threw a handful of dust into the air. At that moment Black Fox, a
young Indian from the Sheyenne Agency, fired on the soldiers, who instantly
responded with a volley at such close range that their guns almost touched the
Indians, many of whom fell dead or wounded. Their survivors sprang to their
assistance and a hand-to-hand struggle followed. Nearly all the Indians had
knives, some warclubs, and many had guns hid under their blankets, prepared for
just such an event. While the hand-to-hand struggle was going on about the
tepee of Big Foot, the artillery opened on the Indian camp. There was the white
puff of smoke, the roar of cannon, the shriek of shot and shell, the rattle of
musketry, and the screams of women and children, as they fled to the prairie
for safety, followed by volleys of musketry, and the dash of cavalry, cutting them
down regardless of age or sex.
In but a few moments 200 Indians and sixty soldiers lay dead or wounded
upon the battlefield. Big Foot lay dead in his tepee. The men were mostly killed
about his skin covered tent, the women and children were nearly all killed in
flight, their bodies being scattered over the prairies for a distance of two miles
or more. After the battle a gentle snow fell, spreading a mantle of white over
the bloody scene. Many of the Indians wounded were frozen or perished in the
blizzard which followed. Two babes were found alive among the dead on the
third day after the battle and were reared and educated by white officers.
The Indian dead were buried in a single trench. The Indians built a fence
around the grave, smearing the posts with sacred paint from the hand of the
Messiah. Among the soldier dead were Capt. George D. Wallace and thirty-one
252 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the gallant Seventh Cavalry. Lieut. Ernest A. Garlington and Lieut. Harry
L. Hawthorne were among the wounded.
The first troops arrived at Pine Ridge November 19, 1890. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles was in command of the campaign. Some three thousand troops were sta-
tioned at various points in the Lidian country. Upon the first approach of the troops
most of the Indians fled to the Bad Lands, carrying away part of the agency herd
of cattle, and destroying their own homes and the homes of those who were not in
sympathy with them. Under the pacific work of General Miles and his officers,
most of the Indians had been induced to return to their respective agencies, and
in a few hours more, at most, it was expected the ghost dance uprising would be
over without a single depredation upon the whites.
After the battle of Wounded Knee 4,000 Indians immediately took the war-
path. The agency was attacked and serious loss was likely to result both to the
whites and to the Indians, but wiser counsels prevailed and on January 12, 1891,
the hostiles surrendered to General Miles and the ghost dance war was over. The
Indians gave up their arms and returned to their agencies. Kicking Bear and
Short Bull voluntarily surrendered and were sent to Camp Sheridan, until all fear
of trouble was over.
There was nothing in the teachings of Wovoka that necessarily led to war.
"Do right always and do no harm to any one" was the golden rule laid down by
him, and it is quite equal to that of Jesus, "Do unto others as you would be done
by," or the older rule of the Chinese teacher, "Do not unto others that which
you would not have them do unto you." The Indians were doing no harm in
their dances. True, they were expecting much and hoping for it soon, but when
the spring time passed and the summer faded and the chilly blasts of autumn
were again upon them and the ghosts and the game came not, their good sense
would have returned and the excitement would have died out as the fires lighted
under the inspiration of a former Messiah flickered and died.
Had the advice of Major McLaughlin and General Miles been accepted, or
had the matter been left entirely in their hands, there would have been no blood-
shed. It was the frantic appeals of the agent at Pine Ridge that brought the
military. Their coming resulted in a stampede of the Indians to the Bad Lands.
The foolish conduct of Yellow Bird and Black Fox brought on the wholly unpre-
meditated battle of Wounded Knee. They struck the match that kindled the
flame of battle.
But the surrender of January 12, 1891, came very near not being the end.
The Indians were quiet in their homes near the agency. Their ponies, except a
few held in camp for emergency, were grazing on the bufifalo grass covered plains
near by. There was activity in the military camp. The Indian sentinels signaled
their chief and the Indian camp was in turmoil. There was instant preparation
for battle and for flight. Boots and saddles and the assembly sounded in the
military camp and cavalry and infantry moved into place for the march. General
Miles had sent a messenger to the Indians to assure them, but still they were
afraid, and the rumor flew that all of the women and children were to be mas-
sacred, as those were who were at Wounded Knee. A single shot from foolish
Indian or careless soldier there would have added another bloody page. But
there was none. The troops took up their line of march and the Indian country
was again without soldiers to make the red men afraid.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 253
In the hearts of the Indian the principles taught by Wovoka hve. The hope
that the dead and the game may return, no longer exists, at least they are not
expected in the spring, nor when the prairie chicken begins to fly, nor when the
berries are ripe in autumn. The pipe of peace hangs on the cabin wall, and
emblazoned on their hearts is the motto: "Do not fight. Do right always and do
no harm to anyone." Hungry sometimes. But they are learning that the Great
Spirit will listen to the music of the plow and the hoe and supply their wants,
and they know that the sunshine and grass never fail, and that the cattle can take
the place of the bufifalo.
FRONTIER HARDSHIPS
The hardships of frontier days were many. There was the constant dread
of Indian attack, and the knowledge that the apparently friendly Indian was
bound by the regulations of his tribe ; that the soldier's lodge, or warriors in
council, governed. There was no certain protection unless backed by force and
a will to direct it.
There was lack of food for weeks and months at a time and lack of proper
clothing. There was danger from wild animals and from storms. In the Red
River Valley after the grasshopper raid of 1818 the country was left barren of
seed, and Selkirk sent an expedition overland to Prairie du Chien to obtain a sup-
ply at an expense of some six thousand dollars. The expedition left Prairie du
Chien April 15, 1820, with three Mackinaws loaded with 200 bushels of wheat,
100 bushels of oats and 30 bushels of peas. They passed up the Mississippi
River to the Minnesota, up the Minnesota to Big Stone Lake, and then by means
of rollers under their boats made a portage of i J/2 miles into Lake Traverse, then
into the Bois de Sioux and thence into the Red River, arriving at Pembina June
3d. all of the way from Prairie du Chien by water excepting ij^ miles. Only
that difference between the waters emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and those
wending their way to Hudson Bay. There were five weeks in 1852 when there
was uninterrupted canoe communication between the Red River and the Minne-
sota, and boats actually made the trip from Pembina to St. Paul.
As to the conditions that year at Pembina we have the testimony of Cliarles
Cavileer, the collector at Pembina. There were no herds of lowing kine and no
fields of waving grain. There was the trader's store at Pembina, the United
States Customs Office and some seven buildings pertaining to the trading post.
There were several half-breed families in the vicinity.
Cavileer and a companion were in the cock loft of the custom house where
they were confined during the flood, excepting as they got out in boats. Cavileer
said : "In this loft with one companion I spent over five weeks surrounded by
water over five feet deep, extending from the River O'Maris to the Minnesota
Ridge. There was thirty miles of open sea. One night it blew a furious gale.
The waves rolled over the roof and every moment we expected 'the frail build-
ing to go over, but we were saved by being in the lee of the Kittson buildings.
There were seven of these arranged in an L shape made of heavy oak logs. Some-
times we went visiting, returning in our canoes the visits of the fair maidens to
our bachelor quarters, and sometimes we went hunting ducks and geese by rowing
around among the timber, and had much success in hunting duck eggs among the
254 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
driftwood. Notwithstanding the flood, we Hterally feasted on the fat of the
land." Cavileer insisted that he never had so much fun in his Hfe as he had
during those five weeks. Conditions had changed some, however, prior to the
latest flood of 1897, when canoeing was not so pleasant a pastime in the streets
of some of the Red River Valley cities. There were floods also in 1828, 1861,
1873 and 1882. Surveys have recently been made with a view to Government
action toward relieving the valley from the disastrous eft'ects of these floods,,
which are not as severe, however, as they were in the early days.
And there were blizzards, too, in those days. General Fremont speaks of one
that came up during his explorations. The word blizzard was not used until
after the war in connection with these storms. They were known as nor-westers.
Rosecrans used to say "fire low, boys, give them a blizzard in the shins," when
resisting the charge of the enemy. A shower of shot and shell might be more
terrific to meet than a storm driving particles of ice at forty to sixty miles an
hour, as the blizzard does, but the blizzard is bad enough.
Fortunately these storms were not frequent and are in a great measure dis-
appearing before the development of the country, even though callow youths
and tenderfeet are inclined to give the name to every winter storm. There was
a blizzard which prevailed for three days in February, 1866. In December, 1867,
there was another. Hon. Donald Stevenson had forty-five wagons drawn by oxen
loaded with supplies for Fort Ransom. They had left St. Cloud and had reached
their destination and were on their return trip. Stevenson followed them by
stage. He was approaching Fort Abercrombie, or rather nearing the dinner sta-
tion east of Abercrombie, when the storm came upon them. A fine mist came
creeping over the prairie. They knew too well what was coming. Before they
could button down the flaps on the stage the storm was upon them in all its fury.
It was striking the driver and team fairly in the face, blinding them. It was
with the utmost difficulty that the team could be kept facing the storm. Every
few moments one from the stage would be obliged to get out and help remove
the icicles which were closing the eyes of the driver. A building could not have
been distinguished five feet ahead of the team or on either side of it. The beaten
road was hard and by instinct the horses sprang back to that when their feet
touched the soft snow. Finally the team stopped and refused to go any further.
They were at the door of the dinner station. It was the third day before Mr.
Stevenson was able to reach his train. Twenty-one of his oxen had perished.
Several of the wagons were literally buried and five of them were left until
spring. Several of the men had been fifty hours in the storm without food. On
the way to the train Stevenson found two men from a Fort Ransom dog train
carrying the mail, sitting against a tree, where they had taken refuge, frozen to
death. A third was found unconscious in the snow. He was taken to the station
and his life was saved, but not his fingers and toes. When Stevenson undertook
to relieve the dogs on their sledge one of them in his frenzy sprang at his throat.
There was another fearful blizzard in 1873. For three days there was no com-
munication between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Not a soul passed between the
two places. There were no telephones then and the telegraph wires were down
and the wagon roads and railways were blockaded. Scores of people returning
from market perished in the western part of Minnesota, some within ten rods
of their homes, which they were unable to locate.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 255
GRASSHOPPERS TOO WERE A TERROR OF THE TIMES
In the Selkirk Colony in 1818, "in waves of silver drifting on to harvest"
apparently, rolled the grain. But one bright day the sun was suddenly darkened,
a cloud resting over the land, but it soon settled down and proved to be caused
by myriads of grasshoppers. They completely destroyed every green thing. The
trees were stripped of their leaves and the branches of the green bark. The
fields were as barren of vegetation as though swept by flame. Along the water's
edge by the river the grasshoppers lay in rows, where swept by the waves,
from four to nine inches in depth. The stench from them was sickening. The
next year they again appeared in increased numbers, having been hatched on the
ground. Seventeen years prior to this time they had appeared in even greater
numbers, as recorded by Captain Henry, then interested in trading at Pembina.
They visited the Missouri Slope in 1858 and 1873. In the Red River Valley
in 1873 they drifted on the railroad track and were crushed on the rails to such
an extent that it was necessary to sand the track before the trains could move.
MOSQUITOES OF THE VALLEY
The mosquitoes were almost unbearable in the timber and the valleys. Maj.
Samuel Woods speaks of them, and of the terrific thunder storms and the condi-
tion of the prairies, in his report of his expedition to the Red River Valley.
His expedition left Fort Snelling June 6th, and arrived at Pembina August i,
1849. They left Pembina on their return trip August 26th, and reached Fort
Snelling September 18, 1849. They were fifty-seven days going up and twenty-
three returning. It rained much of the time on the way up, and on their
arrival at Pembina there was a raise of twenty feet and the river was out of its
banks. The teams mired on the open prairie, and though they waited nearly four
weeks at Pembina they were obliged to give up on account of the roads a con-
templated trip to the Pembina Mountains. Even the thickly matted turf of the
prairie would not support the weight of the wagons.
On the rainy days they had the most terrific thunder storms, when the rain
would fall in torrents and the heavens were in a flare of light and "thunder broke
over us appallingly," wrote Major Woods. They were driven from the timber
by the mosquitoes, and being on the high, open prairie, "the thunder broke over us
in such smashing explosions that for two hours our position was torturing beyond
description. Many left their tents and stood out regardless of the pelting rain,
nor was this an idle or unreasonable apprehension, for only a few days before
we had the thunder bolt amongst us in its dire eft'ects, and we knew our camp
was the most probable object if there was another stray one at leisure." Only
a few days before the camp had been struck by lightning and Lieutenant Nelson
had been seriously injured.
In the fall of 1914 Dr. Joseph E. Dixon headed an expedition to carry the
United States flag and the greetings of the President to the Indian nations. The
expedition was organized by Rodman Wanamaker, and was accompanied by
Indian Inspector James McLaughlin and Edward W. Deming, the noted artist.
The speeches of President Wilson and Secretary Lane were carried by phono-
graph and were as follows :
256 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
President Woodrow Wilson: "The Great White Father now calls you his
'brothers,' not his 'children.' Because you have shown in your education and in
your settled ways of life stanch, manly, worthy qualities of sound character, the
nation is about to give you distinguished recognition through the erection of a
monument in honor of the Indian people in the harbor of New York. The erection
of that monument will usher in that day which Thomas Jefferson said he would
rejoice to see, 'when the red men become truly one people with us, enjoying all
the rights and privileges we do, and living in peace and plenty.' I rejoice to
foresee that day."
Secretary Lane of the Interior Department: "I have been chosen by the Big
Chief in the White House to sit up and watch, to keep the wolves as far away
from you as I can. You know that I stand here as the voice and with the hand
of the great man in the White House. He loves to do justice above all things.
He will do justice to you."
Rodman Wanamaker, founder of the expedition: "These sacred ceremo-
nies, begun at Fort Wadsworth, and now completed on your own Indian
ground, will strengthen in your hearts the feeling of allegiance and loyalty to
your country, to be eternally sealed as a covenant in the national Indian memo-
rial, to stand forever as the pledge of a new life and peace everlasting."
Doctor Dixon spoke in person : "The flag is more than a piece of colored
bunting. The red stripe in its folds is symbolized by the red blood in your
veins and mine, by the red glow in the sunset, by the red in your ceremonial
pipe.
"The white stripe finds a symbol in the white cloud that floats in the sky, in
the white snow that drifts across the plains, in the purest thought that goes
from your heart to the Great Mystery.
"The field of blue with the white stars you may see every clear night as you
look into the great dome above your heads.
"It is the only flag in the world that takes the heaven and earth and man to
symbolize. This makes out of it an eternal flag, and we ought to be eternally
loyal to it.
"I therefore dedicate the American flag to justice, mercy and fair play to
the North American Indian."
The idea of interesting the Indian in citizenship and loyalty to the flag was
the prime object of the expedition. Many of the wards of the government had
had no understanding previously of what the flag meant, and a large number had
seldom seen it except when raised on their reservation.
In order to give the red men a deeper interest in the emblem and its signifi-
cance, two flags were carried each time a tribe was visited. One of these flags
was the one raised at the Fort Wadsworth services. The other was presented
for the use of the tribe. The ceremonies attending this presentation were
always made impressive, following as nearly as possible those held in New York.
What this flag came to mean to the Indian, after its significance had been
explained to him, might be gathered from the fact that the Taos Pueblos in New
Mexico voted that the flag should be preserved with two canes which were given
to the tribe by Abraham Lincoln and which are handed down from generation to
generation.
Doctor Dixon explained to those he visited that the white man wished to be
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 257
more friendly to the red man; that he wanted to treat him more as a brother
and otter to him greater opportunities.
Then the allegiance signed by representatives of the thirty-two tribes and
attested by President Taft was presented for their signatures. The chiefs and
old men of the tribes were always called on to take part in the various features
of the rites. The signatures were both by pen and by thumb print.
Following is the allegiance : "We, the undersigned representatives of vari-
ous Indian tribes of the United States, through our presence and the part we
have taken in the inauguration of this memorial to our people, renew our
allegiance to the glorious flag of the United States, and offer our hearts to our
country's service. We greatly appreciate the honor and privilege extended by
our white brothers, who have recognized us by inviting us to participate in the
ceremonies on this historical occasion.
"The Indian is fast losing his identity in the face of the great waves of
Caucasian civilization which are extending to the four winds of this country,
and we want fuller knowledge in order that we may take our places in the
civilization which surrounds us.
"Though a conquered race, with our right hands extended in brotherly love
and our left hands holding the pipe of peace, we hereby bury all past ill feelings,
and proclaim abroad to all the nations of the world our firm allegiance to this
nation and to the Stars and Stripes, and declare that henceforth and forever in
all walks of life and every field of endeavor we shall be as brothers, striving
hand in hand, and will return to our people and tell them the story of this
memorial and urge upon them their continued allegiance to our common
country."
The original signers of this document were : Plenty Coos, W'hite Man Runs
Him, Medicine Crown, Two Moons, Red Hawk, Edward Swan, Shouklerblade,
Red Cloud, Big Mane, Drags Wolf, Little Wolf, Richard Wallace, Frank
.Schively, Louis Baker, Black Wolf, Wooden Leg, Milton Whiteman, Willis
Rowland, John P. Young, Reuben Estes, Henry Leeds, Reginald Oshkosh, Rob-
ert Summer Yellowtail, Many Chiefs, Chapman Schanandoah, Angus P. McDon-
ald, Tennyson Berry, Mitchell Waukean, Peter Deanoine, Deanoine, Delos K.
Lonewolf and Joseph Packineau.
It is estimated that the Indian memorial which Mr. Wanamaker has started
in New York Harbor will cost approximately one million dollars. The top will
be a large statue of an Indian. The base will be a museum in which will be an
art gallery replete with pictures of North American aborigines. Also animals
of the chase, weapons and various sorts of articles used by the Indians will be
placed there.
It is planned to make this the most complete museum of Indian life in
existence. Authentic books on this race will be one of the features which it will
embrace, as well as a history, which will be preserved there in such a manner
that if any great calamity ever befell this country these records would be left
intact so that anyone coming after might find them and thus learn the history of
these early Americans.
Mr. Wanamaker first became interested in the North American Indian
through Doctor Dixon. He explained to Doctor Dixon that he wished to do
sometliing for his country. The latter replied that he might well take up the
258 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
case of the Indian. Doctor Dixon became interested in tlie red man seventeen
years ago while out West on a reservation. He saw that the ideas he had gath-
ered from books concerning the Indian were not true to life. This was the
start of a study of them.
Doctor Dixon is high in his praise of Mr. Wanamaker, saying he "is more
than a philanthropist. He is a patriot in every sense of the word. He wants to
convert the heroism of yesterday into the inspiration of today."
The Iroquois Indians adopted Doctor Dixon into their tribe, naming him
"Flying Sunshine," from the speed with which he traveled and the messages of
good cheer which he brought to them.
The expedition gathered many Indian rehcs, many drawings and paintings
of Indian life and by phonograph many Indian songs and speeches.
CHAPTER XVIII
DAKOTA TERRITORY
CREATION OF DAKOTA TERRITORY STEPS LEADING UP TO THE LEGISLATION — ACTIVI-
TIES OF CAPTAIN TODD AND ASSOCIATES — THE BILL REPORTED BY THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT — THE
HOMESTEAD LAW — VETOED BY BUCHANAN PASSED BY THE NEXT CONGRESS —
APPROVED BY LINCOLN — THE ORGANIC ACT OF DAKOTA, APPROVED BY BUCHANAN.
- THE DAKOTA BILLS
Bills were introduced in the Thirty-fifth Congress by Senator Graham A.
Fitch of Indiana, and Alexander H. Stevens of Georgia, for the creation of
Dakota Territory, but failed to receive consideration beyond reference to the
proper committees.
The Thirty-sixth Congress convened December 5, 1859. A short time before
its meeting, Capt. John B. S. Todd and Gen. Daniel M. Frost, who had been in
Washington in the interest of Dakota Territorial Organization, made urgent
appeals to the people of Dakota to hold meetings and formulate petitions for the
organization of the territory.
Meetings were accordingly held at Yankton and Vermilion, November 8, 1859.
Downer T. Bramble was president and Moses K. Armstrong secretary of the
Yankton meeting. Gen. Daniel M. Frost of St. Louis, was present and urged a
Strong memorial to Congress. Capt. John B. S. Todd, Obed Foote and Thomas
S. Frick were members of the committee on resolutions, George D. Fiske, James
M. Stone and Capt. John B. S. Todd were appointed a committee to draft a
memorial. Joseph R. Hanson, John Stanage, Henry Arend, Horace T. Bailey,
Enos Stutsman, J. S. Presho, George Pike, Jr., Frank Chapell, Charles F. Picotte,
Felix Le Blanc and Lytle M. Griffith were present.
The memorial formulated and adopted at this meeting was also adopted by
the meeting at Vermilion, — at the house of James McHenry — of which J. D.
Denton was chairman and James McHenry secretary. Doctors Caulkins and
Whitmers and Samuel IMortimer were appointed a committee on resolutions. The
meeting adopted the Yankton Memorial, which was signed by 428 citizens of
Dakota, and was presented to Congress by Capt. John B. S. Todd at its meeting
in December.
A bill was introduced in Congress early in December, 1859, by Senator Henry
M. Rice, of Minnesota, but when brought up for consideration the slavery ques-
tion being involved, the bill was tabled, and no further action was taken at that
session. Congress adjourned June 20, i860.
259
260 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
A second convention was held at Yankton, January 15, 1861, in response to
the urgent appeals of Captain Todd, who was then in Washington and another
memorial was forwarded bearing 478 signatures, comprising practically all of
the citizens of Dakota.
A bill was pending in the House providing for the admission of a delegate to
Congress under the Sioux Falls organization and for the creation of the office
of surveyor-general. This bill was bitterly antagonized by Galusha A. Grow,
who claimed that organization was no more entitled to respect than a vigilance
committee ; at the same time stating that he was in favor of the organization of
a territorial form of government for Dakota and that in due time a bill would be
reported for that purpose.
February 15, 1861, Senator James S. Green reported from the Senate Com-
mittee on Territories, Senate Bill 562, for the creation of the Territory of Dakota;
also the bill for the creation of the Territory of Nevada. The bill was made a
special order for the next day. On February 26th, it was called up by Senator
Green and passed without objection. March 1st, Mr. Grow called up the bill
in the House, moved the previous question, which was seconded and the bill
passed without debate and without opposition. The bill was approved by Presi-
dent James Buchanan on March 2, 1861. Its companion bill, Nevada, was passed
and approved at the same time. The Arizona and Colorado bills were passed
at the same session, the four, largely through the masterly management of Galusha
A. Grow, the father of the Homestead Law.
The agitation for the Homestead Law commenced in 1846. In the Thirty-
sixth Congress it was introduced in the Senate by Senator Andrew Johnson of
Tennessee, Senate Bill No. i, and carried to a successful issue by Mr. Johnson
in the Senate and Mr. Grow in the House, January 20, i860, but was vetoed by
President Buchanan, January 22, i860, on the theory that Congress had no
right to give away public property. The bill was reintroduced at the second
.session of the Thirty-sixth Congress, passed in the Thirty-seventh Congress and
approved May 20, 1862, by President Abraham Lincoln.
Captain Todd has been mentioned frequently in ])rcvious chapters. It will
be remembered that he resigned his commission in the United States army to
become identified with D. M. Frost & Co., or Frost, Todd & Company, as it
was for a time called, in the fur trade.
(ien. Daniel Marsh Frost, a general in the Missouri State Militia and in the
Confederate army. 1861-5, was a native of New York, appointed to the mili-
tary academy in 1840 and commissioned a lieutenant in the United States army,
resigning in 1853 to engage in trade. He was the head of the firm bearing his
name, with headquarters at St. Louis, where he died, October 29, 1900.
Next to General Frost and captain, afterwards general, John B. S. Todd,
Dakota is indebted to Senator James S. Green and Galusha A. Grow for its
■organization as a territory.
Senator James .S. Green was born in \'irginia, moved to Alabama and then
to Missouri, where he commenced the practice of law at Canton in that state.
He was a presidential elector on the Polk and Dallas ticket in 1844 and elected
to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses; was charge d'affairs to Colombia
in 1853 and appointed minister to Colombia, but did not present his credentials.
He was elected to the United States Senate for the term commencing March 4,
1855, ^"d served to March 3, 1861. He died at St. Louis, January 19, 1870.
LIGNITE BED IN BILLINGS COUNTY, DAKOTA
Thirtv-tliree feet in thickness
COAL MINE IN BILLINGS COUNTY, DAKOTA
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 261
Galusha A. Grow, a representative from Pennsylvania, was a native of Con-
necticut, admitted to practice law in 1847, elected to the Thirty-second, Thirty-
third and Thirty-fourth congresses as a free soil democrat and to the Thirty-
tifth. Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh congresses as a republican. He was
speaker of the House in 1857, and in the Thirty-seventh Congress. He was
re-elected to the Fifty-third. Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth and Fifty-
seventh congresses, declining a renomination. He died March 31, 1907, at
.Scranton, Fa. The Homestead Law was the crowning achievement of his
]>olitical life.
Rev. John P. Williamson, mentioned in connection with the Sioux, states
that the word Dakota, in the Sioux language means friends or allies, the Dakota
nation being a nation of friends; that Minnesota might be translated hazy water,
not muddy water as held by some, nor many waters, as translated by others ;
that the Sioux name for the Missouri River was Minne-sho-she, meaning muddy
water, and from the mouth of the ^'ellowstone to its confluence with the Missis-
sippi, it justifies that name.
Dakota Territory, as created, extended from the Red River of the north and
the western boundary of Minnesota, to the eastern boundary of Washington and
Oregon. It included all of Montana and most of Idaho, embracing 350,000
square miles, containing, according to the census of i860, a white po]Hilation
(including mixed bloods) of 2,376, of whom 1,606 were in Pembina County.
March 3, 1863, the Territory of Idaho was created, extending from the
twenty-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington, to the eastern boun-
dary of Washington a*nd Oregon, and May 26, 1864, Montana was created from
Idaho Territory, and at the same time the Black Hills region and the greater
part of Wyoming, including the Wind River and Bighorn country, was attached
to Dakota Territory. Wyoming Territory was created July 25, 1868, and a part
of Dakota was later attached to Nebraska, leaving a territory of approximately
149,000 square miles.
In Minnesota territorial days. Blue Earth County embraced nearly all of
South Dakota. Pembina County was directly north of Blue Earth County, tak-
ing in all of the present North Dakota, part of South Dakota, extending east to
Rainy Lake and Lake Winnipegoosis, taking in about one-third of Minnesota
Territory.
In 1856 Pembina County was the Seventh Legislative District in Minnesota
Territory and was represented by Joseph Rolette in the Council and R. Carlisle
I'urdick in the Flouse of Representatives.
Blue Earth County was in the Tenth Legislative District and was repre-
sented in the Council by Charles E. Flandrau and Parsons K. Johnson, and by
Aurelius F. de la \^ergue and George A. McLeod in the House of Representa-
tives. In 1857 P. P. Humphrey was elected to the Council, Joseph R. Brown,
Francis R. Baasen and O. A. Thomas to the House of Representatives. In the
Seventh District Joseph Rolette was returned to the Council ; Charles Grant and
John B. Wilkie were elected to the House of Representatives.
In the Minnesota Constitutional Convention, the Seventh District was rep-
resented by James McFetridge, J. P. Wilson, J. Jerome, Xavier Cautell, Joseph
Rolette and Louis Wasseur. The Tenth District was represented by Joseph R.
262 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Brown, Charles E. Flandrau, Francis Baasen, William B. McMahon and J. H.
Swan.
The Organic Act of Dakota is as follows :
AN ACT TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT FOR THE TERRITORY OF DAKOTA,
AND TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF SURVEYOR GENERAL THEREIN.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of Ameriea in Congress assembled, That all that part of the territory
of the United States included within the following limits, namely : commencing
at a point in the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the
forty-ninth degree of north latitude crosses the same ; thence up the main
channel of the same, and along the boundary of the State of Minnesota, to Big
Stone Lake ; thence along the boundary line of the said State of Minnesota to
the Iowa line ; thence along the boundary line of the State of Iowa to the
point of intersection between the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers ; thence up
the Missouri River, and along the boundary line of the Territory of Nebraska,
to the mouth of the Niobrara or Running Water River; thence following up
the same, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the mouth of the
Keha Paha or Turtle Hill River ; thence up said river to the forty-third parallel
of north latitude; thence due west to the present boundary of the Territory of
Washington ; thence along the boundary line of Washington Territory, to the
forty-ninth degree of north latitude ; thence east, along said forty-ninth degree
of north latitude, to the place of beginning, be, and the s'ame is hereby, organ-
ized into a temporary government, by the name of the Territory of Dakota :
Provided, That nothing in this act contauied shall be construed to impair the
rights of person or property now pertaining to the Indians in said Territory,
so long as such rights shall remain unextinguished by treaty between the United
States and such Indians, or to include any territory which, by treaty with any
Indian tribe, is not, without the consent of said tribe, to be included within the
territorial limits or jurisdiction of any State or Territory: but all such territory
shall be excepted out of the boundaries and constitute no part of the Territory
of Dakota, until said tribe shall signify their assent to the President of the
United States to be included within the said Territory, or to affect the authority
of the Government of the United States to make any regulations respecting
such Indians, their lands, jjroperty, or other rights, by treaty, law, or otherwise,
which it would have been competent for the Government to make if this act
had never passed: Provided, furtlier. That nothing in this act contained shall
he construed to inhibit the Government of the United States from dividing
said Territory into two or more Territories, in such manner and at such times
as Congress shall deem convenient and proper, or from attaching any portion
thereof to any other Territory or State.
Sec 2. And be it further enacted. That the executive power and authority
in and over said Territory of Dakota, shall be vested in a governor, who shall
hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and
qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The
governor shall reside within said Territory, shall be commander-in-chief of
the militia thereof, shall perform the duties and receive the emoluments of
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 263
superintendent of Indian affairs, and shall approve all laws passed by the
legislative assembly before they shall take effect; he may grant pardons for
offences against the laws of said Territory, and reprieves for offences against
the laws of the United States until the decision of the President can be made
known thereon; he shall commission all offices who shall be appointed to office
under the laws of said Territory, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully
executed.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be a secretary of said
Territory, who shall reside therein, and hold his office for four years, unless
sooner removed by the President of the United States; he shall record and
preserve all the laws and proceedings of the legislative assembly hereinafter
constituted, and all the acts and proceedings of the governor, in his executive
department; he shall transmit one copy of the laws, and one copy of the execu-
tive proceedings, on or before the first day of December in each year, to the
President of the United States, and, at the same time, two copies of the laws
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate,
for the use of Congress; and in case of the death, removal, or resignation, or
other necessary absence of the governor from the Territory, the secretary shall
have, and he is hereby authorized and required, to execute and perform all the
powers and duties of the governor during such vacancy or necessary absence,
or until another governor shall be duly appointed to fill such vacancy.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That the legislative power and authority
of said Territory shall be vested in the governor and a legislative assembly.
The legislative assembly shall consist of a council and house of representatives.
The council shall consist of nine members, which may be increased to thirteen,
having the qualifications of voters as hereinafter prescribed, whose term of
service shall continue two years. The house of representatives shall consist
of thirteen members, which may be increased to twenty-six, possessing the
same qualifications as prescribed for members of the council, and whose term
of service shall continue one year. An apportionment shall be made, as nearly
equal as practicable, among the several counties or districts for the election of
the council and house of representatives, giving to each section of the Territory
representation in the ratio of its population, (Indians excepted) as nearly as
may be; and the members of the council and of the house of representatives
shall reside in, and be inhabitants of, the district for which they may be elected,
respectively. Previous to the first election, the governor shall cause a census
or enumeration of the inhabitants of the several counties and districts of the
Territory to be taken ; and the first election shall be held at such time and places,
and be conducted in such manner, as the governor shall appoint and direct;
and he shall, at the same time, declare the number of the members of the
council and house of representatives to which each of the counties or districts
shall be entitled under this act. The number of persons authorized to be elected,
having the highest number of votes in each of said council districts, for members
of the council, shall be declared by the governor to be duly elected to the
council; and the person or persons authorized to be elected having the greatest
number of votes for the house of representatives, equal to the number to which
each county or district shall be entitled, shall be declared by the governor to be
elected members of the house of representatives : Provided, That in case of a
264 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
tie between two or more persons voted for, the governor shall order a new
election, to supply the vacancy made by such tie. And the persons thus elected
to the legislative assembly shall meet at such place and on such day as the
governor shall appoint; but thereafter, the time, place, and manner of holding
and conducting all elections by the people, and the apportioning the represen-
tation in the several counties or districts to the council and house of repre-
sentatives, according to the population, shall be prescribed by law, as well as
the day of the commencement of the regular sessions of the legislative assembly:
Provided, That no one session shall exceed the term of forty days, except the
first, which may be extended to sixty days, but no longer.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That every free white male inhabitant
of the United States above the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been
a resident of said Territory at the time of the passage of this act, shall be
entitled to vote at the first election, and shall be eligible to any office within
the said Territory ; but the qualifications of voters and of holding office at all
subsequent elections shall be such as shall be prescribed by the legislative
assembly: Provided, That the right of suffrage and of holding office shall be
exercised only by citizens of the United States and those who shall have
declared on oath their intention to become such, and shall have taken an oath
to support the Constitution of the United States.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted. That the legislative power of the Terri-
tory shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation consistent with the
Constitution of the United States and the provisions of this act; but no law
shall be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil ; no tax shall
be imposed upon the property of the United States ; nor shall the lands or other
property of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or other property of
residents; nor shall any law be passed impairing the rights of private property;
nor shall any discrimination be made in taxing different kinds of property;
but all property subject to taxation shall be in proportion to the value of the
property taxed.
Sec. 7. .-hid be it fnrtlier enacted. That all township, district, and county
officers, not herein otherwise provided for, shall be ajipointed or elected, as the
case may be, in such manner as shall be provided by the governor and legislative
assembly of the Territory. The governor shall nominate and, by and with the
advice and consent of the legislative council, appoint all officers not herein
otherwise provided for; and, in the first instance, the governor alone may
appoint all said officers, who shall hold their offices until the end of the first
session of the legislative assembly, and shall lay oft' the necessary districts for
members of the council and house of representatives, and all other officers.
Sec. 8. And be it fnrtlier enacted. That no member of the legislative
assembly shall hold or be appointed to any office which shall have been created,
or the salary or emoluments of which shall have been increased while he was
a member, during the term for which, he was elected, and for one year after
the expiration of such term ; and no person holding a commission or ap])oint-
ment under the United States, except postmasters, shall be a member of the
legislative assembly, or shall hold any office under the government of said
Territory.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted. That the judicial power of said Territory
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 265
shall be vested in a supreme court, district courts, probate courts, and in justices
of the peace. The supreme court shall consist of a chief justice and two asso-
ciate justices, any two of whom shall constitute a cjuorum, and who shall hold
a term at the seat of government of said Territory annually, and they shall hold
their offices during the period of four years. The said Territory shall be
divided into three judicial districts, and a district court shall be held in each
of said districts by one of the justices of the supreme court, at such time and
place as may be prescribed by law ; and the said judges shall, after their appoint-
ments, respectively, reside in the districts which shall be assigned them. The
jurisdiction of the several courts herein provided for, both appellate and origi-
nal, and that of the probate courts and of the justices of the peace, shall be as
limited by law: Provided. That justices of the peace shall not have jurisdiction
of any matter in controversy when the title or boundaries of land may be in
dispute, or where the debt or sum claimed shall exceed one hundred dollars;
and the said suijreme and district courts, respectively, shall possess chancery
as well as common-law jurisdiction, and authority for redress of all wrongs
committed against the Constitution or laws of the United States, or of the
Territory, aflfecting persons or property. Each district court, or the judge
thereof, shall appoint its clerk, who shall also be the register in chancery, and
shall keep his office at the place where the court may be held. Writs of error,
bills of exception, and appeals, shall be allowed in all cases from the final
decisions of said district courts to the supreme court, under such regulations
as may be prescribed by law ; but in no case removed to the supreme court shall
trial by jury be allowed in said court. The supreme court, or the justices
thereof, shall appoint its own clerk, and every clerk shall hold his office at the
pleasure of the court for which he shall have been appointed. Writs of error
and appeals from the final decisions of said supreme court shall be allowed,
and may be taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, in the same
manner and under the same regulations as from the circuit courts of the United
States, where the value of the property, or the amount in controversy, to be
ascertained by the oath or affirmation of either party, or other competent witness,
shall exceed one thousand dollars ; and each of the said district courts shall
have and exercise the same jurisdiction, in all cases arising under the Consti-
tution and laws of the United States as is vested in the circuit and district courts
of the United States; and the said supreme and district courts of the said
Territory, and the respective judges thereof, shall and may grant writs of
habeas corpus in all cases in which the same are grantable by the judges of the
United States in the District of Columbia ; and the first six days of every term
of said courts, or so much thereof as shall be necessary, shall be appropriated
to the trial of causes arising under the said Constitution and laws ; and writs of
error and appeals in all such cases shall be made to the supreme court of said
Territory the same as in other cases. The said clerk shall receive, in all such
cases, the same fees which the clerks of the district courts of Nebraska Territory
now receive for similar services.
Sec. io. And be it further enacted, That there shall be appointed an
attorney for said Territory, who shall continue in office for four years, unless
sooner removed by the President, and who shall receive the same fees and
salary as the attorney of the United States for the present Territory of Ne-
266 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
braska. There shall also be a marshal for the Territory appointed, who shall
hold his office for four years, unless sooner removed by the President, and who
shall execute all processes issuing from the said courts when exercising their
jurisdiction as circuit and district courts of the United States; he shall perform
the duties, be subject to the same regulations and penalties, and be entitled to
the same fees as the marshal of the district court of the United States for the
present Territory of Nebraska, and shall, in addition, be paid two hundred
dollars annually as a compensation for extra services.
Sec. II. And be it further enacted. That the governor, secretary, chief
justice and associate justices, attorney, and marshal, shall be nominated and, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed by the President of
the United States. The governor and secretary to be appointed as aforesaid
shall, before they act as such, respectively take an oath or affirmation before
the district judge, or some justice of the peace in the limits of said Territory
duly authorized to administer oaths and affirmations by the laws now in force
therein, or before the chief justice or some associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States, to support the Constitution of the United States
and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective offices; which said
oaths, when so taken, shall be certified by the person by whom the same shall
have been taken ; and such certificates shall be received and recorded by the
secretary among the executive proceedings ; and the chief justice and associate
justices, and all other civil officers in said Territory, before they act as such,
shall take a like oath or affirmation before the said governor or secretary, or
some judge or justice of the peace of the Territory who may be duly commis-
sioned and qualified, which said oath or affirmation shall be certified and trans-
mitted by the person taking the same to the secretary, to be by him recorded
as aforesaid ; and afterwards the like oath or affirmation shall be taken, certified,
and recorded in such man[n]er and form as may be prescribed by law. The
governor shall receive an annual salary of $1,500.00 as governor, and $1,000.00
?-s superintendent of Indian aflfairs ; the chief justice and associate justices shall
each receive an annual salary of $1,800.00; the secretary shall receive an
annual salary of $1,800.00. The said salaries shall be paid quarter-yearly at
the Treasury of the United States. The members of the legislative assembly
shall be entitled to receive $3.00 each per day during their attendance at the
session thereof, and $3.00 for every twenty miles' travel in going to and return-
ing from the said sessions, estimated according to the nearest usually traveled
route. There shall be appropriated annually the sum of $1,000.00, to be ex-
pended by the governor, to defray the contingent expenses of the Territory.
There shall also be appropriated annually a sufficient sum, to be expended by
the secretary of the Territory, and upon an estimate to be made by the Secretary
of the Treasury of the United States, to defray the expenses of the legislative
assembly, the printing of the laws, and other incidental expenses ; and the secre-
tary of the Territory shall annually account to the Secretary of the Treasury
of the United States for the manner in which the aforesaid sum shall have been
expended.
Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That the legislative assembly of the
Territory of Dakota shall hold its first session at such time and place in said
Territory as the governor thereof shall appoint and direct; and at said first
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 267
session, or as soon thereafter as they shall deem expedient, the governor and
legislative assembly shall proceed to locate and establish the seat of government
for said Territory at such place as they may deem eligible; which place, how-
ever, shall thereafter be subject to be changed by the said governor and legis-
lative assembly.
Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That a delegate to the House of Rep-
resentatives of the United States, to serve during each Congress of the United
States, may be elected by the voters qualified to elect members of the legislative
assembly, who shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges as are exercised
and enjoyed by the delegates from the several other Territories of the United
States to the said House of Representatives. The first election shall be held
at such time and places, and be conducted in such manner, as the governor shall
appoint and direct ; and at all subsequent elections, the times, places, and manner
of holding elections shall be prescribed by law. The person having the greatest
number of votes shall be declared by the governor to be duly elected, and a
certificate thereof shall be given accordingly.
Sec. 14. And be it further enaeted, That when the land in said Territory
shall be surveyed, under the direction of the government of the United States,
preparatory to bringing the same into market, sections numbered si.xteen and
thirty-si.x in each township in said Territory shall be, and the same are hereby,
reserved for the purpose of being applied to schools in the States hereafter
to be erected out of the same.
Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That temporarily, and until otherwise
provided by law, the governor of said Territory may define the judicial districts
of said Territory and assign the judges who may be appointed for said Territory
to the several districts, and also appoint the times and places for holding courts
in the several counties or subdivisions in each of said judicial districts by
proclamation to be issued by him ; but the legislative assembly, at their first or
any subsequent session, may organize, alter, or modify such judicial districts,
and assign the judges, and alter the times and places of holding the courts, as to
them shall seem proper and convenient.
Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That the Constitution and all laws of
the United States which are not locally inapplicable shall have the same force
and effect within the said Territory of Dakota as elsewhere within the United
States.
Sec. 17. And be it further enacted. That the President of the United States,
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall be, and he is hereby,
authorized to appoint a surveyor-general for Dakota, who shall locate his office
at such place as the Secretary of the Interior shall from time to time direct,
and whose duties, powers, obligations, responsibilities, compensation, and allow-
ances for clerk hire, office rent, fuel, and incidental expenses shall be the same
as thoSe of the surveyor-general of Nebraska and Kansas, under the direction
of the Secretary of the Interior, and such instructions as he may from time to
time deem it advisable to give him.
Sec. 18. And be it further enacted. That so much of the public lands of the
United States in the Territory of Dakota, west of its eastern boundary and east
and north of the Niobrara, or Rtmning Water River, be formed into a land
district, to be called the Yancton district, at such time as the President may
268 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
direct, the land office for which shall be located at such point as the President
may direct, and shall be removed from time to time to other points within said
district whenever, in his opinion, it may be expedient.
Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, That the President be. and he is hereby,
authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a regis-
ter and receiver for said district, who shall respectively be required to reside at
the site of said office, and who shall have the same powers, perform the same
duties, and be entitled to the same compensation, as are or may be prescribed by
law in relation to other land-offices of the United States.
Sec. 20. Aiid be it further enacted. That the river in said Territory here-
tofore known as the "River aux Jacques," or "James River," shall hereafter be
called the Dakota River.
Sec. 21. And be it further enacted. That, until Congress shall otherwise
direct, that portion of the Territories of Utah and Washington between the
forty-first and forty-third degrees of north latitude, and east of the thirty-third
meridian of longitude west from Washington, shall be, and is hereby, incorpo-
rated into and made a part of the Territory of Nebraska.
Approved, March 2, 1861.
Attest: Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Tames Buchanan.
PART
CHAPTER XIX
DAKOTA ORGANIZED
THE GOVERNOR AND TERRITORIAL OFFICERS — CENSUS AND POPULATION LEGISLA-
TIVE APPORTIONMENT — ELECTION PRECINCTS AND JUDGES OF ELECTION — THE
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS AND ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES RESULTS OF ELECTIONS —
DELEGATE TO CONGRESS — MEMP.ERS OF FIRST LEGISLATURE THE FIRST LEGIS-
LATIVE ASSEMBLY — THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE — LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL
OLD settlers' ASSOCIATION THE PUBLIC PRINTER A WESTERN WIFE.
In April, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed the following officers
for the Territory of Dakota : Governor, David Jayne of Springfield, 111. ;
secretary, John Hutchinson of Minnesota; chief justice, Philemon Bliss of Ohio;
associate justices, Lorenzo Parsons Williston of Pennsylvania and Joseph L.
Williams of Tennessee; district attorney, William E. Gleason of Maryland;
United States marshal, William E. Shaffer of Missouri ; surveyor-general,
George D. Hill of ^Michigan. Hon. Newton Edmonds of Ypsilanti, Mich.,
who was appointed chief clerk in the surveyor-general's office, arrived in June,
1861, and gave the required notice that under the direction of the commissioner
of the general land office, the surveyor-general's office was directed to receive
preemption declaratory statements of settlers until the opening of the local land
offices, and that such statements would be received as soon as the townships were
platted.
The governor and United States marshal also arrived in June. The first
official act of the governor was to appoint persons to take a census ; those so
appointed were Henry D. Bette, Wilmot W. Brookings, Andrew J. Harlan,
Obed Foote. George M. Pinney and John D. ]\Iorse, who were designated census
agents.
Brookings was assigned to the Sioux Falls District, Harlan to the Brule
Creek settlements, Foote to the Missouri River settlements, embracing Yankton,
Pinney to the Missouri River settlements, embracing Choteau Creek, j\Iorse to
the Niobrara region, and Bette to the Red River.
The population, as returned by these agents, was 2,376, of which the number
of whites in the Red River District was 51 males and 28 females, 264 mixed-
blood males and 260 mixed-blood females, a total of 603 ; but as heretofore
stated, this census as to the Red River country was not accepted as correct, as
the greater portion of the people were then absent on their annual buffalo hunt.
The United States census of the previous year showed a population for this
region of 1,606, and the census of 1850, 1,135 (correct number, 1,116). The
number returned by Maj. Samuel Woods in 1849 for the Pembina region
271
272 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
showed 177 families, 511 males and 515 females, white and half-blood families, a
total of 1,026. They had boo carts, 300 oxen, 300 work horses, 150 horses for
the chase, 1,500 horned cattle, a few hogs and no sheep (31st Congress, ist
Session, H. Docs. 42 and 51 ). The census agents of i86i gave the distribution
of the population of the several districts as follows : Red River, 603 ; Urule
Creek, 47; Point on the Big Sioux, 104; Elk Point, 61 ; Vermilion, 265; Bottom
and Clay Creek, 210; Sioux Falls, 60; Yankton," 287 ; Bon Homme, 163; Pease
and Hamilton settlements, 181; Fort Randall, 210; Yankton Agency, 76; Ponca
Agency and vicinity, 12Q — total, 2,376. In South Dakota there were 25 mixed-
bloods on the Big Sioux, 5 at Elk Point, 7 at \'ermilion, 9 at Yankton, 128 at the
Pease and Plamilton settlements, 47 at Yankton Agency, and 34 at the Ponca
Agency, a total of 255 ; added to the 60^ reported at Pembina, gave a mixed-
blood pojudation of 858 out of the total of 2,376. To this should be added at
least 1,000 more, mostly mixed-bloods, not reported in the Pembina District.
LEGISL.VnVE DISTRICTS .\ND .APPORTIONMENT OF MEMBERS
July 2y, 1861, the governor issued his proclamation dividing the territory
-into Council and Representative districts and apportioning the members to the
several districts.
First Council District — That portion of Dakota lying between the Big Sioux
and Missouri rivers, bounded on the west by the range line between ranges 50
and 51, and that portion lying west of the Red River, including the settlements
at Pembina and St. Joseph, two councilmen.
Second District — All that portion bounded by the \'ermilion River on the
west and on the east by the range line dividing ranges 50 and 51, two councilmen.
Third District — All that portion bounded by the V'ermilion River on the east
and on the west by the range line dividing ranges 53 and 54, one councilman.
Fourth District — All that portion bounded on the east by the range line
dividing ranges 53 and 54, and on the west by the range line dividing ranges
^/ and 58, two councilmen.
Fifth District — All that portion bounded on the east by the range line dividing
ranges 57 and 58 and on the west by Choteau Creek, one councilman.
Sixth District — All that portion bounded on the east by Choteau Creek and
on the west by a line west of and including the Hamilton and Pease settlements
and all that portion of Dakota Territory situated between the Missouri River and
the Niobrara River, one councilman.
The territory was divided into eight representative districts. To the first,
two representatives; to the second, one; to the third (the Pembina country),
one; to the fourth, two; to the fifth, two; to the si.xth. two; to the seventh, two;
to the eighth, one.
FIRST ELECTION ORDERED
An election was ordered for September 16, 1861, for the election of members
of the Legislature and a delegate to Congress ; and election precincts were estab-
lished as follows :
First Representative District — At the house of Thomas ]\taloney; judges of
ANDREW J. FAULK
Governor of Dakota Territory from September, 1866, to
May, 1869
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 273
election, James Summers, William Mathews and Thomas Maloney; and at the
hotel of Eli Wixon at Elk Point, judges, Sherman Clyde, William Frisbie and
K. P. Romme.
Second District — At the house of William Amida ; judges, George P. Wal-
dron, Berne C. Fowler and John Keltz.
Third District — At the house of Charles LeMay, Pembina; judges, James
McFetridge, Hugh Donaldson and Charles LeMay. Also at the house of Bap-
tiste Shorette (Charrette) at St. Joseph; judges, Baptiste Shorette, Charles Bot-
tineau, Antoine Zangran.
Fourth District — At the house of James McHenry ; judges, A. J. Harlan,
Ole Anderson and A. Eckles.
Fifth District — At the house of Bligh E. Wood ; judges, Ole Oleson, Bligh E.
Wood and Ole Bottolfson.
Sixth District (Yankton) — At the house of Frost, Todd & Co.'; judges,
Moses K. Armstrong, Frank Chapell and J. S. Presho.
Seventh District — .\t Herrick's Hotel, Bon Homme; judges. Daniel Gifford,
George M. Pinney and George Falkenberg.
Fighth District — At the house of F. O. Pease ; judges, J. V. Hamilton, Ben-
jamin Estes and Joseph Ellis. And also at Gregory's store; judges, Charles
Young, James Tuffts and Thomas Imall.
Any free white male inhabitant of the United States, residing in the territory
March 2, 1861, when the organic act was passed, and in the precinct at the date
of this proclamation (July 29, 1861 ), who was a citizen of the United States or
had declared his intentions to become such, was entitled to vote upon subscribing
to an oath of allegiance.
THE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
July 30, 1861, the governor issued a proclamation establishing judicial dis-
tricts as follows : All that portion of Dakota Territory bounded by the east line
of the territory and on the west by the range line dividing ranges 53 and 54, was
constituted the First Judicial District. All that portion of the territory bounded
on the east by the range line between ranges 53 and 54 ( dividing Yankton and
Day counties) and on the west by the line dividing ranges 57 and 58 (dividing
Yankton and Bon Homme counties) constituted the Second Judicial District.
All that portion west of the line dividing ranges 57 and 58 constituted the Third
Judicial District.
Judge Williston was assigned to the First Judicial District, and the place of
holding court fixed at Vermilion. Judge Bliss was assigned to the Second Dis-
trict and the place of holding court fixed at Yankton. Judge W'illiams was
assigned to the Third District, and the place of holding court fixed at Bon
Homme.
The first term of the court was to be held in the First District on the first
Monday in August, 1861, and thereafter on the first Mondays in May and Sep-
tember of each year.
In the Second and Third districts on the third Monday in August and tliere-
after annually on the first Mondays of May and September.
It will be noticed that no provision was made for courts in the Red River
274 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
settlements, and when a land office was established it was opened at Vermilion,
and the first filings on North Dakota lands were made at that office.
PERSONNEL OF OFFICERS
Governor Jayne was a townsman and friend of President Lincoln. He
served with credit two years. At the election in 1862 he was awarded a cer-
tificate of election as delegate to the Thirty-eighth Congress, and served from
March 4, 1863, to June 17, 1864, when he was succeeded by John B. S. Todd,
who had contested his election, when he returned to Springfield, 111. Todd was
elected delegate at the first election, as a non-partisan, although known to be a
democrat.
The judges were all men learned in the law, and of excellent character.
Judge Bliss resigned in 1864 and went to St. Joseph, Mo., and engaged in the
practice of law. Judge Williston was transferred to Montana in 1863 and was
succeeded by Ara Bartlett of Illinois. Judge Williams returned to Tennessee
on the expiration of his term.
The Town of Williston, N. D., was named in honor of Judge Williston. who
was greatly admired by Mr. James J. Hill, the great railroad builder.
John Hutchinson came from Kansas, although credited to Minnesota, where
he had previously resided. He was appointed on the recommendation of Secre-
tary of State William H. Seward. He brought his family to Yankton and
became a bona fide citizen of Dakota. Hutchinson County, S. D., was named
in his honor. He served four years as secretary of the territory and was reap-
pointed but resigned to accept the consulship to Leghorn, Italy. After his return
he engaged in the practice of law at Chicago.
Surveyor-General Hill is credited with the first practical and persistent efforts
to induce immigration to Dakota Territory, and with having secured the settle-
ment of the first considerable Dakota colony, known as the New York Colony.
He served four years and returned to Ann Arbor, Mich.
United States Attorney-General Gleason served four years and was then
appointed associate justice in place of Judge Williams, and later consul to Bor-
deaux, France, returning to Baltimore on his retirement from that position.
United States Marshal Shaffer served about a year and resigned, desiring to
enter the military service, being an ardent Union man. lie returned to Mis-
souri.
Gleason and Shaffer were bachelors ; only Hutchinson brought his family to
the territory. The governor and chief justice brought their wives as far as Sioux
City, where they remained, owing to lack of suitable accommodations at Yank-
ton, the temporary seat of government. Some of the officers joined the Todd
faction and opposed the early developed aspirations of the governor to succeed
General Todd in Congress.
The Sioux Falls element had taken the lead in the movement for territorial
organization, overlooking the importance of an organic act. They elected a dele-
gate to Congress and sought his recognition. They were defeated by the Yank-
ton movement and the strong influence brought to bear by the masters of politics
from Missouri. Todd controlled the situation from the very beginning. The
misfortune of 1862. through Indian hostilities, ended for a time the early aspira-
tions of Sioux Falls to become the capital.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 275
THE INITIAL POLITICAL MOVEMENT
The first political convention was held at \'ermilion, June i, 1861. George M.
Pinney was chairman and A. W. Puett, secretary.
The resolutions declared allegiance to the Union, the Constitution antl the
laws, and pledged cordial support to the governor and secretary, favored the
passage of the Homestead Law and the policies of the administration, and
denounced monopolies of every nature, especially in connection with the public
lands. The convention nominated A. J. Picll for delegate to Congress.
It was claimed that all present except Pinney were from Vermilion and that
he was not a voter under the organic act, having come from Minnesota in May
after the creation of the territory in March.
Mr. Charles P. Booge, trader at the Yankton Agency, was nominated for
delegate to Congress at Bon Homme early in September.
Capt. John B. S. Todd was a candidate for delegate regardless of party,
desiring to keep away from partisan issues, believing that if elected he could
accomplish most without antagonizing either party. The location of the capital
at Yankton was known to be in line with his personal interests.
Mass conventions were held, generally of a non-partisan character, for the
nomination of members of the Legislature.
The Yankton convention was called for August 24th, by John Stanage, James
M. Stone, Downer T. Bramble, William Miner, William Thompson, Frank
Chapell, Fnos Stutsman, D. Fisher, Moses K. Armstrong and J. D. Morse. Dr.
Justus Townsend was president and J. D. Morse, secretary. Moses K. Arm-
strong and John Stanage were nominated by acclamation for representatives and
Enos Stutsman and Downer T. Bramble for the council. Moses K. Armstrong,
James M. Stone, J. R. Hanson and James M. Allen were appointed a committee
on resolutions.
The resolutions endorsed the war policy of the administration in all of its
endeavors to put down the rebellion and preserve the Constitution and the Union
of States; they expressed appreciation of the act of Congress in granting Dakota
self-government, and pledged support of the officers of the territory in their
efforts to preserve peace ; they urged economy of time and money in the Legis-
lature, prompt action and an early adjournment, and instructed the nominees to
that end. They also favored a James River ferry charter and the election of
Todd to Congress. All of the nominees being democrats, there was some dis-
satisfaction. Stone and Hanson published a protest against the use of their
names on the Resolution Committee without their knowledge or consent, and
pledged their utmost exertions for the defeat of the ticket. An opposition ticket
was put in the field with J. B. Greenway and William Thompson for the council
and James M. Stone and Otis B. Wheeler for representatives, but the regulars
were duly elected.
DELEGATE TO CONGRESS
The result of the election for delegate to Congress was as follows: Total
vote cast, 585; John B. S. Todd, 397; A. J. Bell, 78; Charles P. Booge, icx);
C. Booge, I. Mr. Todd having received the highest number of votes, was elected
for the term ending March 3, 1863, taking his seat December i, 1861.
276 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The vote cast in the Pembina precinct was 15 and in the St. Joseph precinct
171, all for Todd for delegate to Congress.
Those elected to the council were : First District — Wilmot W. Brookings,
Sioux Falls, and Austin Cole, Sioux Point (James McFetridge, Pembina,
received 173 votes and Brookings got but 84, and tiled notice of contest; not
received, however, until after Brookings was sworn in). Second District —
Henry D. Bette and John VV. Boyle of \'ermilion. Third District — Jacob Deuel,
west of Vermilion River. Fourth District — Enos Stutsman and Downer T.
P)ramble, \'ankton. Fifth District — John H. Shober, Bon Homme. Sixth Dis-
trict— J. Shaw Gregory, Mix'ville or Fort Randall.
House of Representatives : First District — John C. McBride, Elk Point, and
Christopher Maloney of Sioux Point. Second District — George P. Waldroii of
Sioux Falls. Third District — Hugh Donaldson, Pembina. Fourth District —
Lynian Burgess and A. W. Puett of East Vermilion. Fifth District — Bligh E.
Wood and Jacob A. Jacobson, West Vermilion. Sixth District — Moses K. Arm-
strong, Yankton, and John Stanage, James River crossing. .Seventh District —
George M. Pinney and Reuben Wallace, Bon Homme. Eighth District — John L.
Tiernon, Fort Randall.
The failure to recognize the vote cast for McFetridge left the settlements in
the northern part of the territory without representation in the council, although
actually having nearly one-half of the population in the whole territory.
THE FIRST LEGI.SLATIVE .\SSEMBLY
The first legislative assembly convened in Yankton, March 17th and con-
tinued until May 15, 1862. At the temporary organization of the council, Enos
Stutsman was elected president, but on the permanent organization John H.
Shober was elected in his stead. The members were sworn in by Judge Bliss.
Prayer was offered by Rev. S. W. Ingham, Methodist clergyman of Vermilion,
who was elected chaplain. James Tufts of Mixville was elected secretary;
William R. Goodfellow, of Elk Point, messenger, and Charles F. Picotte, Yank-
ton, sergeant-at-arms.
The members of the House of Representatives were sworn in by Judge Bliss,
prayer was offered by Rev. D. D'. Metcalf of Bon Homme. George M. Pinney
of Bon Homme was elected speaker; Joseph R. Hanson, chief clerk; James Allen
of Sioux Falls, assistant clerk ; Daniel Gifford, Bon Homme, enrolling clerk ;
lames Summers, Sioux Falls, sergeant-at-arms ; Ole Anderson, East Vermilion,
fireman ; A. B. Smith, Tower Butte, messenger, and Rev. D. D. Metcalf, Bon
Homme, chaplain.
George W. Lamson, private secretary, read the message of the governor at
the meeting on the second day.
THE governor's MESS.\GE
The governor called attention to the vast area of the territory as then organ-
ized, extending from the 97th to the iT3th degrees of longitude, embracing an
area greater in extent than all of New England combined with Xew York, Penn-
sylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, including the vast basins and mountain
WILLIAM A. HOWARD
Sixth governor of Dakota Territory, 1878 to 1880. Died
in oflRce, 1880
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 277
ranges, and waters flowing southward into the Gulf of Mexico and northward
into Hudson Bay. He spoke of its excellence of soil and climate, of its
capacity for raising numerous herds of cattle and the production of wheat and
other agricultural products, and prophesied that the great wheat-growing belts
of this continent would be developed in the valleys of the Red River and Sas-
katchewan, and that before a generation passed more than a million people would
be found residing in the Missouri Valley alone; that the Pacific Railroad would
be completed, connecting the two oceans with iron bands, and the trade of India
and Japan would be found passing through Dakota on its way to the Atlantic,
and that towns and cities would spring up along the great highways of traffic.
He spoke of the mineral wealth to be developed in the Black Hills and Wind
River region, and of the vast resources of coal. He urged the importance of
schools and of military preparedness for protection from a savage foe. He
denounced slavery, which had caused trouble in other territories, in most vigor-
ous terms, and urged laws forever prohibiting involuntary servitude excepting
for crime; and that they declare by legislative enactment that labor shall be
honored, respected and rewarded, leaving no room for a privileged class spum-
ing labor and the laborer — a class exalted above common sympathies and cares,
sacred against vulgar necessities and scorning occupation.
He warned against bank men and bank charters and the evils of a pernicious
paper currency. He urged a stringent election law, and suggested memorials to
Congress for military roads, a geological survey and in favor of a Pacific Rail-
road and a Homestead Law.
He reviewed the progress of the Civil war and congratulated the territory
on its ready response to the call for volunteers to garrison Fort Randall, thus
relieving the regular army for duty in the field.
PARTIAL JUSTICE TO PEMBINA
The contest of McFetridge for a seat in the council received no attention, on
the theory that the Pembina region belonged to the Chippewa Indians ; there-
fore, the Legislature memorialized Congress for a treaty to extinguish the Indian
title, and passed a bill giving that region one councilman and two representatives
in the next Legislature.
LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL
Yankton and \'ermilion were contestants for the capital location, with Sioux
Falls a dark horse in the race. The contest lasted twenty days with varying
shades and was finally settled in favor of Yankton; Vermilion got the univer-
sity and Bon Homme the penitentiary as a result of the manipulations ; and
George M. Pinney, who was the uncertain element in the battle, resigned his
position as speaker and was succeeded by John L. Tiernon. As an incident of
the contest Lieutenant Plughoff of the Dakota Cavalry, in command of twenty
men, appeared in the hall of the House of Representatives and took a position
by the side of the speaker. A committee of investigation was appointed and a
demand for an explanation filed with the governor, who replied in writing that
such action was taken at the verbal and written request of the speaker of the
278 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Flouse of Representatives, claiming that from threats and representations
received from reliable sources he feared the business of the House would be
interrupted by violence and he called upon the governor for a force to protect
the House in the lawful pursuit of its duties. The indignation of the House
resulted in the speaker's resignation and John L. Tiernon was elected in his
stead.
The session of the Legislature passed civil, criminal, judicial and probate
codes and other wholesome laws and defined the boundaries of Clay, Cole (now
Union). Bon Homme, Charles Alix, Brughier (now Buffalo), Jayne, Hutchin-
son, Lincoln. Minnehaha. Brookings. Todd and Gregory counties, in the southern
part of the territory, and Stevens, Cheyenne and Kittson counties in the northern
part.
The Old Settlers' Association was chartered during this session of the Legis-
lature, with J. B. S. Todd, J. S. Gregory. James Tufts, W. W. Brookings, E.
Stutsman, J. H. Shober, Reuben Wallace, D. Gifford, E. Gifford, X. McDonald,
C. F. Picotte. John Stanage, J. B. Amidon, G. P. Waldron, B. M. Smith, A. C.
Van Meter, J. Deuel, J. R. Hanson, A. G. Fuller, D. T. Bramble, M. K. Arm-
strong, J. M. Allen. Austin Cole. F. Carman. J. \Mierry, IT. C. Ash. John L.
Tiernon, J. M. Stone, W. P. Lyman, W. H. Granger, C. W. Cooper, R. M.
Johnson, Norman VV. Kittson, L. M. Griffith, F. J. DeW'itt, J. C. McBride, Chris-
topher Maloney, H. S. Donaldson, James McFetridge, William Mathews, M.
Ryan, John McClellan, J. B. LaPlant. A. Mason. Peter Arpin, John Brouillard,
W. W. lienedict. Ole Bottolfson, Ole Anderson, C. Lawson, A. B. Smith, George
Brown, Moses Herrick. J. McCase, John Lefevre. Felix Leblanc, George Bour-
ret, H. Bradley, Joseph Chattelion and A. W^ Puett. charter members.
THE PUBLIC PRINTER
Josiah Trask having been appointed public printer by the secretary of the
territory, John Hutchinson. George W. Kingsbury arrived at Yankton on March
17, 1862, to assist in the legislative printing, expecting to remain during the
legislative session only, but from that day to this (October, 1916) has remained,
during fifty-four years, becoming identified with every feature of "Dakota His-
tory." In 1915 he contributed two volumes of "Dakota History," published by The
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, which will prove of value as long as
time shall last. He came from Lawrence, Kans., by stage from St. Joseph, Mo.
The Dakotian at Yankton was the first newspaper established after the passage
of the organic act. and was published by the Dakota Printing Company. Frank
M. Ziebach and William Freney. members of the company, had been engaged
in the publication of the Sioux City Register. During the session of the first
Legislature a mock legislature was opened, with Frank M. Ziebach governor,
and this afforded the leading and most attractive means of entertainment during
the legislative session. The Press was later established, and in time consoli-
dated with the Dakotian under the management of George W. Kingsbury.
Ziebach later established the Scotland Citizen, one of the ablest papers in the
territory.
The first Legislature did its whole duty and deserves the highest praise.
Even at that early date the wives, sisters and daughters of the pioneers had
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 279
taken their place among the elements working for present and future good.
The following tribute to the western wife, published in the National Maga-
zine for February, 1905, deserves a place in these pages :
A WESTERN WIFE
By Will Chamberlain
Jefferson, South Dakota
She walked behind the lagging mules
That drew the breaker thro' the soil;
Hers were the early-rising rules,
Hers were the eves of wifely toil.
The smitten prairie blossom'd fair.
The sod home faded from the scene;
Firm gables met the whisp'ring air,
Deep porches lent repose serene.
But with'ring brow and snowy tress
Bespeak the early days of strife ;
And there's the deeper-wrought impress —
The untold pathos of the wife.
O western motlier ! in thy praise
No artist paints nor poet sings,
But from thy rosary of days
God's angels shape immortal wings !
DAKOTA INDIAN AFFAIRS
The following information relative to Indian agencies was furnished for this
history by the Indian office :
Section 2 of the Act of June 30, 1834, entitled "An Act to provide for the
organization of the Department of Indian Aiifairs (4 Stat. L., 235)" provided
"and be it further enacted, That there shall be a superintendency of Indian
Affairs for all the Indian country not within the bounds of any state or territory
west of the Mississippi River, the superintendent of which shall reside at St.
Louis, * * *" This superintendency seems to be known, in the reports, as
the "Central Superintendency," at that time under the Department of War.
The Act of March 3, 1847 (9 Stat. L., 203), authorizes the secretary of war
to establish each superintendency, agency and sub-agency either by tribes or
geographical boundaries.
Section 5 of the Act of March 3, 1849 (9 Stat. L., 395), transferred the office
of the commissioner of Indian Affairs from the jurisdiction of the secretary
of war to that of the secretary of the interior.
The Yankton Sioux Reservation, located in the extreme southern part of
Dakota Territory, consisting of 400,000 acres, 2.000 Indians, was created by
treaty of 1858 (11 Stat. L., 743).
The Ponca Reservation, consisting of 576,000 acres, 735 Indians, was created
by the "Ponca Treaty" of March 12, 1858 (12 Stat. L., 997).
The Fort Berthold Reservation, consisting of 8,640,000 acres, having super-
vision over the Arikara, Gros Ventre and Mandan tribes, was established by
unratified agreements of September 17. 1851, and July 27, 1866, and executive
order of April 12, 1870.
The Lake Traverse (Sisseton) Reservation, composed of 1,241,600 acres,
280 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
1,496 Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Sioux Indians was established by treaty
of February 19, 1867 (15 Stat. L., 505).
The Devil's Lake Reservation, composed of 345,600 acres, 720 Sisseton,
Wahpeton and Cuthead bands of Sioux Indians, was established by treaty of
February 19, 1867 (idem).
The General Sioux Reservation, comprising the following agencies, in all
25,000,000 acres, in charge of Brule, Ogallah, Miniconjou, Lower Yanctonai,
Oncpapa, Blackfeet, Cuthead, Two Kettle, Sans Arc and Santee bands of Sioux
Indians was established by treaty of April 29, 1868 (15 Stat. L., 635)
Grand River Agency, 6,000 Indians.
Cheyenne River Agency, 5,000 Indians.
Whetstone Agency, 5,000 Indians.
Red Cloud Agency, Wyoming (temporarily on North Platte River when
report of 1872 was made), 7,000 Indians.
Crow Creek (Upper Missouri) Agency, 3,000 Indians.
The Act of March 2, 1861 (12 Stat. L., 239-240), organized the Territory of
Dakota and prescribed the duties of the office of the governor, and, among other
things, said :
"* * * he shall perform the duties and receive the emoluments of super-
intendent of Indian Affairs * * *"
Section 6 of the Appropriation Act of July 15, 1870 (16 Stat. L., 360-361),
provided :
"And be it further enacted. That the President be, and he is hereby authorized,
to discontinue any one or more of the Indian superintendencies, and to require
the Indian agents of such superintendencies to report directly to the commis-
sioner of Indian Affairs."
Presumably under this authority the Dakota superintendency was discontinued
in 1870 and the agencies named above appear thereafter as "Independent
Agencies."
The same authority gives the names of Indian agents and traders in Dakota
Territory in 1872 as follows:
INDIAN AGENCIES AND AGENTS IN DAKOTA TERRITORY, 1872
Sisseton Agency, M. N. Adams.
Devil's Lake "Agency, W. H. Forbes.
Grand River Agency, J. C. O'Connor.
Cheyenne River Agency, T. M. Kones.
Whetstone Agency, D. R. Risley.
Upper Missouri Agency, H. F. Livingston.
Fort Berthold Agency, J. E. Tappan.
Yankton Agency, T. G. Gassman.
Ponca Agency, H. E. Gregory.
INDIAN TRADERS IN DAKOTA TERRITORY, 1872
E. H. Durfee and C. K. Peck, Fort Berthold Agency.
E. H. Durfee and C. K. Peck, Grand River Agency.
GILBERT A. PIERCE
Eighth governor of Dakota Territory,
1884-1887
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 281
E. H. Durfee and C. K. Peck, Cheyenne Agency.
Thomas G. Cowgill, Mouth of White River.
Frankhn J. DeWitt, Fort Thompson Agency (Crow Creek), at or near the
site of old Fort Lookout, and at or near the mouth of White Earth River,
Dakota.
George W. Howe, Ponca Agency.
Downer T. Bramble and William Miner, Yankton Sioux Agency, opposite
Fort Randall, known as White Swan.
James Fitzsimmons and Andrew J. Miller, Republican County, Dakota.
Downer T. Bramble and William Miner, Yankton Agency.
Joseph Bissonette, Sr., Whetstone Agency.
George W. Howe, Ponca Agency.
Francis D. Yates, Whetstone Agency.
Thomas G. Cowgill, Cheyenne Agency.
Fort Thompson was named for Clark W. Thompson, of La Crosse, Wis.,,
builder of the Southern Minnesota Railroad from La Crosse to Wells, and Man-
kato, Minn., and superintendent of Indian Afifairs on the Upper Missouri in
r862.
CHAPTER XX
DAKOTA IN THE CIVIL AND INDIAN WARS
COMPANIES A AND B, DAKOTA CAVALRY THE TERRITORIAL MILITIA ORGANIZED
OPERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE INDIAN UPRISING OF 1862 SIBLEY's
EXPEDITION OF 1863 — BATTLES OF BIG MOUND, BUFFALO LAKE AND STONY
LAKE — DEATH OF DOCTOR WEISER, LIEUTENx\NT FREEMAN AND LIEUTENANT
BEAVER BATTLE OF THE MACKINAW SULLY's EXPEDITION OF 1863 BATTLE
OF WHITE STONE HILLS — SULLy's EXPEDITION OF 1864 — BATTLE OF KILLDEER
MOUNTAIN BATTLE OF THE LITTLE MISSOURI OR "WHERE THE HILLS
LOOK AT EACH OTHER" SULLY AT BRAZZEAU's POST ON THE YELLOWSTONE
SITE OF FORT BUFORD SELECTED FORTS STEVENSON, SULLY AND WADSWORTH —
FISK's EXPEDITION — THE BATTLE OF RED BUTTES THE WHITE WOMAN CAP-
TIVE— THE MASSACRE NEAR FORT PHIL KEARNEY — THE GREAT SIOUX RESERVA-
TION.
The governor of Dakota having heen authorized to raise two companies of
cavalry for patrol and garrison duty, recruiting stations were established at
Yankton, \'erniilion and Bon Homme. J. Kendrick Fowler was appointed
recruiting officer at Yankton, Nelson Miner at \'ermilion and James M. Allen at
Bon Homme ; and Company A was mustered into the United States service in
April, 1862, with Nelson Miner, captain; J. Kendrick Fowler, first lieutenant;
and Frederick Ploghoff, second lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers were
A. M. English, first sergeant ; Patrick Conway, E. K. Wilson, F. P. Hobler,
William Neunian, Ben F. Estes, J. B. Watson and Horace J. Austin, sergeants ;
George Falkenberg, David Benjamin, Joseph Ellis, William Young, C. H. Stager,
C. H. Brurud, Amos Shaw and Adolph Mauxsch corporals ; A. Hanson and
E. Wilkins, buglers ; A. Jones, farrier, and Timothy Pringle, blacksmith.
Privates : M. ^Vnderson, J. Allen, R. Alderson, C. Andrews, B. Bellows, W.
VV. Benedict, Robert Burkhart, John Betz, John Bradley, John Bell, N. Cusick,
D. Campbell, N. EUingson, J. Floeder, N. Felling, J. Gray, J. Ilaggin, J. Johnson,
C. Lewison, J. Ludwig, J. D. Morse, T. A. McLeese, A. Munson, P. Omeg, C.
Olson, L. E. Phelps, H. M. Pierce, George Pike, J. Solberger, J. Tallman, T. J.
Tate, B. H. Wood, J. Wells. H. Woodrufif, J. Cramer, George Hoosick, H. Snow,
A. Gibson, Michael Fisher, J. H. McBee, John Claude, John Collins, S. Delaney,
Thomas Frick, J. O. Ford, B. F. Gray, E. Harrington, Ben Hart, J. Kinney,
Charles Long, Merrill G. Lothrop, J. Markell, John McClellan, M. J. Mind, O.
N. Orland, O. Olsen, J. O. Phelps, James E. Peters, R. A. Ranney, P. Sherman,
J. Trumbo. A. J. Drake, T. H. Weegs, Charles Wambold, Charles Wright and
W. H. Bellows."
282
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 283
Lieutenant Ploghoff resigned and James Bacon was commissioned second
lieutenant in his stead. Lieutenant Fowler also resigned. The company, after
receiving their equipment, was stationed for a short time at P^ort Randall under
Lieut. Col. John Pattee of the Seventh Iowa.
In July Lieutenant Ploghoff reached Yankton with twenty-five men. Captain
Miner was at Vermilion with a part of the company; a portion under Lieutenant
Bacon was stationed at Sioux Falls. Sergeant English was at Yankton with
another detachment. This organization proved of great importance in the
Indian war which commenced in August, 1862, as related in a previous chapter,
when Sioux Falls was burned, several persons killed, and practically the whole
territory abandoned excepting Yankton. Pembina, Fort Randall, Fort Aber-
crombie and the upper Missouri trading posts.
August 30, 1862, the governor called out the militia of the territory, and
Charles P. Booge was appointed adjutant-general and Robert M. Hagaman, aid-
de-camp.
General Booge appointed Moses K. Armstrong aid-de-camp; Downer T.
Bramble, brigade quartermaster; Joseph R. Hanson, judge advocate, and Rev.
]\Ielancthon Hoyt, brigade chaplain.
At a meeting at Yankton August 30, 1862, to organize a company of militia,
with Enos Stutsman president and George W. Kingsbury secretary, sixty men
were immediately enrolled and twenty others soon added from the homestead
settlers. Those enrolled were Enos Stutsman, Downer T. Bramble, William
Bordeno, W. N. Collamer, David Fisher, James M. Allen, Newton Edmunds,
Moses K. Armstrong, H. T. Bailey, Joseph R. Hanson, John E. Allen, George
W. Kingsbury, J. C. Trask, Obed Foote, George Brown, Parker V. Brown,
William P. Lyman, Charles F. Rossteuscher, Charles F. Picotte, Thomas C.
Powers (afterwards U. S. senator, Montana), Augustus Fligh, William High,
Lytle M. Griffith, James Falkenberg, Nicholas Felling, Antoine Robeart, A. S.
Chase, Samuel Grant, John Lawrence, William H. Werdebaugh, John Rouse,
Saumel Jerome, George N. Propper, George W. Lamson, William Miner, John
McGuire, Washington Reed, James M. Stone, Joseph S. Presho, Charles Noland,
John Smart. William Thompson, Bligh E. Wood, James F. Witherspoon, C. S.
White, A. B. Smith, Charles Wallace, O, B. Wheeler, F. M. Ziebach, D. W.
Reynolds, Henry Bradley, Samuel Mortimer, John Bradley, Jacob Arend, J. M.
Reed, T. J. Reed, Charles Nolan, P. H. Risling, Berne C. Fowler, J. W. Evans,
James Fawcett, Henry Arend, Dr. A. Van Osdel, Rudolph Von Ins, John
Stanage, Gouzaque Bourret. Hans Shager, John Lefevre, William Stevens,
George Granger, Charles Philbrick, Inge Englebertson, L. Olson, Henry Strunk,
Lewis Peterson, John Johnson, Peter Johnson, G. P. Greenway, Ole Peterson,
John Keltz. Barre (Jlson, Charles McKinney, Christopher Arend, Pierre Dupuis,
George Mathiesen. Richard Mathiesen, Peter Nugent, William \'an Osdel,
Samuel Van Osdel, J. N. Hoyt.
At the meeting for organization next day F. M. Ziebach was elected captain ;
David Fisher, first lieutenant, and John Lawrence, second lieutenant ; B. F.
Barge, first sergeant ; Antoine Robeart, Samuel Mortimer and F. Wadsworth,
sergeants ; George W. Kingsbury, A. S. Chase, Obed Foote. H. T. Bailey,
Downer T. Bramble. J. C. Trask, John Rouse and Newton Edmunds, corporals.
A stockade inclosing 400 feet square, embracing the Ash Hotel and several
284 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
other buildings, was built, and here the women and children were generally pro-
vided with beds and the men were camped. The entire population of Yankton
County, excepting the settlement at Gayville, which fled to Nebraska, found
refuge here, and were joined by those at Bon Homme and other near-by places.
Some from Vermilion and Elk Point found safety at Sioux City.
Strike-the-Ree, chief of the Yanktons, who was friendly, advised the settlers
to flee, as he felt certain that he could not hold his young warriors who were dis-
posed to join Little Crow's bands, who were on the war path; but the advice of
the chief was rejected, after a meeting participated in by married men only, who.
decided by one majority to stay and fight if necessarj'. After this decision they
all engaged in hurried preparations for defense.
The stockade was to have been built of sod, with a ditch in front; but by
the time it was completed on the north side, attacks were made by the Indians,
at the ferry and several other places, one of the skirmishes lasting nearly an
hour, when it was completed with logs, posts, or any other available material. A
cannon was planted at the gate and the militia and Company A were active in
scouting.
There was preparedness everywhere, and as the advices from Little Crow's
operations were encouraging, the Yankton Indians resumed their peaceful atti-
tude; yet on September 6th, there were several sharp skirmishes and every
settler who had not already sought safety in the stockade did so or joined with
the organization for defense.
The uprising lasted forty days ; after that was over some of the settlers
returned to their homes; some never returned. Sioux Falls was practically
abandoned for six years.
A militia company was also organized in the Brule Creek settlement with
Mahlon Gore captain ; a stockade was also built and a detachment of Company
A stationed there during the fall. A number of settlers lived in the stockade
for some time, including the Methodist circuit preacher, Rev. J- L. Paine.
Stockades were built by returning settlers at Vermilion and Elk Point. Many
settlers sent their families to their former homes.
The massacre at Sioux Falls occurred September ist. The Norwegian fam-
ilies at Gayville went to St. Helena, Neb., and organized, with Ole Sampson,
captain.
Sergt. A. M. English was particularly active in escorting the settlers to Yank-
ton and other places of safety. .September 6th he joined the Yankton party, with
his command, adding materially to the military strength. Captain Ziebach had
taken great precautions and was already well prepared, as were all, and in pre-
paredness they found safety: but the main feature of that day of anxiety and
real danger was the arrival of Capt. Nelson Miner with forty men of Company
A. The Yankton Indians recognized it and dissuaded the hostiles who were in
force a short distance away from any further attack. This incident was the
turning point, and to the brave defenders of Yankton the credit was due. Strike-
the-Ree no longer urged the retirement of the white settlers.
Dr. Walter A. Burleigh raised a company of loo Indian braves for the com-
mon defense at the Yankton Agency, where he had but recently arrived with
his family. This also had great influence on the young Yankton braves and kept
them from breaking away from the restraint of their chief and joining in the
STRIKES-THE-REE AT NINETY-TWO YEARS OF
AGE
Oiief of the Yankton Sioux tribe
INDIAN" TKAVOIS
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 285
work of destruction commenced by Little Crow, who was even then becoming
discouraged by the resistance of the Sissetons, and the rumors of preparation
that reached him from every direction. The resistance met at Fort Ridgeley and
New Ulm was unexpected, and he realized that the time spent in dancing and
rejoicing over the first day's terrible work could never be regained.
October 7th, Governor Jayne ordered the enlistment of four military com-
panies, trusting to future legislation, or orders from the war department, to pro-
vide for their pay and equipment. Commissions had previously been issued to
officers for recruiting Company B, which was immediately organized, with Wil-
liam Tripp, captain ; T. Elwood Clarke, first lieutenant ; the latter subsequently
built Fort Hutchinson at the James River crossing, which became an important
element in the defense of Yankton. It was built of logs with quarters for 100
men.
Among other officers commissioned under the call of (Jctober 7th were Capt.
A. J. Bell, Lieut. M. H. Somers, Capt. A. G. Fuller, Lieut. John R. Wood and
Lieut. W. W. Adams.
Those enlisted were subsequently mustered into the United States service and
paid from date of enlistment. Captain Fuller and Lieutenant Fisher erected a
block-house on the Ash Hotel lots but it never reached full completion, Minne-
sota, Nebraska and Iowa troops coming to Yankton and other parts of Dakota
in such force that it became unnecessary.
INDI-VN CAPTIVES RESCUED
December 31, 1862, two women and si.x children, who had been captives
among the Indians since August 22d, taken in the Minnesota massacre, reached
Yankton. The persons were Mrs. Julia Wright, Mrs Laura Duley ; Mrs. Wright
was accompanied by her daughter, aged five years, and Mrs. Duley by her daugh-
ter, aged nine years ; a niece of Mr. Duley, aged five years, and Rosana and Ella
Creland, aged nine and seven years, daughters of Thomas Creland, and Lille
Everett, daughter of William Everett. Mr. J. M. Duley, formerly of Sioux
Falls, who moved to Lake Shetak, Minn., was killed by Little Crow's bands and
these women and children made captive. Mrs. Wright was the wife of John A.
Wright. The women had been forced to walk from the place where captured to
the Missouri River and the children much of the way. They were first taken in
the direction of Devils Lake, and then to the Missouri River near Standing
Rock, where they were released through the influence of Major Galpin and his
good wife, the mother of Charles F. Picotte. The major sent twenty horses and
a supply of provisions for this purpose, a horse and provisions being given for
each captive. Another story of the rescue of this party is that Four-Bears of
the Two-Kettle band of Sioux followed the Indians for a long distance and
finally secured their release for eight horses, and that it was he who turned them
over to Maj. John Pattee, who sent them to Yankton. Pattee was in command
of an expedition in search of captives. A large number of captives had been
recovered at Cani]i Release after the battle at Wood Lake, mentioned in Chap-
ter XIII.
286 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
THE SIBLEY EXPEDITION OF 1863
After the massacre of 1862, Little Crow and such warriors as cared to share
his fortunes or feared to remain, went to Canada or sought refuge on the plains
of, Dakota. Little Crow subsequently returned and was killed.
Gen. Henry H. Sibley, moving from Fort Ridgeley, Minn., in 1863, was sent
to pursue the hostiles and further punish them for their depredations. Gen.
Alfred Sully was ordered to move up the Missouri River in co-operation with
him. Sibley's force numbered 4,000 men, consisting of the Sixth, Seventh and
Tenth Minnesota Infantry, Third Minnesota Battery and a regiment of mounted
rangers, enlisted for the purpose.
The expedition crossed the Red River at Fort Abercrombie, and followed
the Sheyenne through what is now Cass, Barnes and Ransom counties on the
way toward Devils Lake. The worst drought ever recorded in the history of
Dakota prevailed at that time. Springs, lakes and streams usually affording an
abundance of water, were dry. The earth was parched and the atmosphere
almost like the blast from a furnace. Two hundred and fifty wagons carried
his supplies.
THE B.XTTLES OF BIG MOUND, BUFF.XLO L.AKE AND STONY L.KKE
Proceeding southwesterly from Devils Lake, General Sibley encountered the
Indians at Big Mound July 24, 1863, and twelve miles farther west at Dead
Buffalo Lake, about thirty iniles east of the Missouri River. The Indians pro-
fessing a desire for peace, sought a council with the troops and during the
conference Surgeon Josiah S. Weiser, of the mounted rangers, approached the
council, and was immediately killed by one of the Indians, supposing him to be
the commanding officer. General Sibley had previously been warned of the
purpose of such a conference, the Indians intending to massacre the officers and
then attack and destroy the troops. The conference was had without his knowl-
edge. The Indians were in great numbers and General Sibley's command was
divided, 1,400 infantry and 500 cavalry being with him some distance in advance.
Immediately following the death of Doctor Weiser, Col. Samuel McPhail at-
tacked the Indians with two companies of his regiment supported by Lieut. CoL
William R. Marshall, Maj. George Bradley and Capt. Alonzo J. Edgerton
and artillery commanded by Lieut. John C. Whipple, and also by the com-
mand of Col. William Crook and Col. John T. Averill, and the battle of
Big Mound was on. Col. Robert McLaren remained in command of the
camp. The Indians occupying the hills and ravines were dislodged and put
to rout, leaving large quantities of supplies and camp equipage, which Colonel
McLaren was detailed to destroy. General Sibley joining the command, they
pursued the Indians to Dead Buffalo Lake, where a still stronger force was
encountered on the 26th, when another sharp engagement was had with con-
siderable loss to the Indians, and they again f^ed toward the Missouri. Here
the command remained a day, recovering from the severe marching and fighting
in the Big Mound battle, and for the purpose of destroying the large amount of
property hidden in the reeds and about the lake, and thrown away by the
Indians in their flight.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 287
The number of Indians here engaged appeared to have been largely increased,
and as the soldiers followed their trail toward the Missouri River they found
and destroyed much property.
THE BATTLE OF STONY LAKE
On July 28th General Sibley again engaged the Indians at Stony Lake, their
force having been largely increased by parties returning from the hunt.
General Sibley speaks of the force he met here as being a greater number
of Indians than ever encountered in any previous conflict on the American Con-
tinent. So great were their numbers that they formed two-thirds of a circle
around his lines five or six miles in extent, seeking some weak point for attack,
rushing back and forth endeavoring to keep out of range of the unerring frontier
riflemen who emptied many saddles, and wary of the artillery which had pre-
viousy wrought much havoc with spherical case shell. The firing was rapid and
incessant on both sides. Artillery and long-range rifles were a new element of
warfare to them, and becoming discouraged they again fled with the troops in
hot pursuit.
At Big Mound the number engaged was estimated at 1,500 to 2,000; at
BufTalo Lake at 2,000, and of the 10,000 on the war path 2,000 to 2,500 were
estimated by General Sibley to be then in his immediate front.
General Sibley pursued them on the 29th and that night camped on the banks
of Apple Creek, a few mounted Indians being then in sight. On the 30th Colonel
]McPhail was sent forward with the mounted rangers and artillery to harass and
if possible interrupt their flight across the Missouri River, Sibley following with
the remainder of the column. The Indian women and children crossed the
Missouri River the preceding night ; and when Sibley arrived at the mouth of
Apple Creek the hills west of the Missouri were swarming with Indians. The
Indians in their flight had cached much property in the hills of Apple Creek
and the Missouri, but had left much in the willows and timber.
General Sibley made his camp opposite what was then known as Burned Boat
Island, from the incident of the Assinaboine being destroyed by fire on its way
down the river with Maximilian's party in the spring of 1834, but now called
Sibley Island. It was later granted to the City of Bismarck for park purposes
by an act of Congress, but finally restored to the public domain. Here General
Sibley remained two days, sending up rockets at night and firing cannon occa-
sionally by day, hoping to get into communication with General Sully, ordered to
meet him at this point.
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT BEAVER
On his approach to the Missouri River, Colonel Crook was directed to clear
the woods on the flat north of Apple Creek of Indians, which was done. Lieu-
tenant Beaver, a young English gentleman acting as aid-de-camp on General
Sibley's stafif, was sent with an order to Colonel Crook. Taking the wrong trail,
he was pierced by Indian arrows at a point about five miles below Bismarck.
A private of the Sixth Minnesota, Nicholas Miller, who had taken the same
trail, was also shot to death by arrows. On the next day Colonel Crook's com-
288 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA'
mand destroyed a large amount of propert}- which the Indians had left on the
east side of the river in their flight, including 150 wagons and carts.
BATTLE OF THE MACKINAW
Immediately after General Sibley left the Missouri on August 3d, the Indians
returned and secured a large amount of property cached by them which Colonel
Crook did not find ; and while engaged in this work a mackinaw appeared com-
ing down the Missouri River, having on board twenty-one persons, including
several women and children. The Indians attacked them, killing all and sinking
the boat. The occupants of the boat, however, killed ninety-one Indians and
wounded many others before their ammunition failed. This is the story told
General Sully a few weeks later by an Indian captive and confirmed from other
sources. General Sully found the wrecked boat on arriving at the Missouri with
his expedition.
THE LOSSES IN BATTLE
The Indian losses in these several battles were very large, the troops counting
many abandoned on the field, but there is no definite information as to the
number. In the Battle of Big Mound it is certain the losses were very heavy,
as the fighting was frequently at short range, but in the other engagements the
Indians had become more wary.
General Sibley's losses were three men killed and four wounded in battle and
one John Murphy killed by lightning, besides Dr. Josiah S. Weiser (treacherously
killed at the peace conference preceding the battle of Big Mound), Lieutenant
Beaver and Nicholas Miller at Apple Creek, and Lieutenant Ambrose Freeman of
Company D, Minnesota Mounted Rangers, who was hunting a short distance
from Sibley's command the first day of Sibley's engagement with the Indians,
when he was pierced by Indian arrows and buried on the field with appropriate
honors. His body and that of Doctor Weiser were later recovered through the
efiforts of Hon. Joel Weiser, of \'alley City, a brother of Doctor Weiser.
The body of Lieutenant Beaver was recovered and buried with Masonic
honors in a grave resembling a rifle pit. a lodge being opened for that purpose,
of which Capt. J. C. Braden was master. Ten years later Captain Braden, then
grand master of the Minnesota Jurisdiction, and Grand Secretary A. T. C. Pierson,
came to Bismardv to constitute the Masonic Lodge, and told the story of Lieu-
tenant Beaver's death and burial. They went to the place next day and exhumed
the body and removed it to St. Paul, where it was buried and the grave cared
for at the expense of General Sibley.
Lieut. Fred J. Holt Beaver was an ordained clergyman of the English Church.
He spent two years in New York and came to General Sibley with letters from
John Jacob Astor and Hamilton Fish, and accompanied General Sibley as a
volunteer aid-de-camp. On Memorial Day, May 30th each year, his grave is
appropriately decorated by the soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Private Nicholas Miller was killed near where Lieutenant Beaver was shot.
Private John Murphy was killed by lightning, and Private John Piatt was mor-
tally wounded by an Indian whom he had previously wounded. Private Joe
Campbell killed the Indian.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 289
• A son of Little Crow was found on the prairie exhausted, and taken prisoner
by General Sibley on his return to Fort Ridgeley, followed by Indian scouts until
he crossed the James River going east.
Among the officers who took a prominent part in this campaign were Capt.
Alonzo J. Edgerton, afterward chief justice of Dakota Territory; Capt. Eugene
M. Wilson and Col. John T. Averill, afterward members of Congress from
Minnesota; Col. James H. Baker, commissioner of pensions; Col. William R.
Marshall, governor of Minnesota, and Col. Samuel P. Jennison, secretary of
state; Capt. Oscar Taylor, John Jones, Jonathan Chase, Peter B. Davy, later
a North Dakota farmer, and Capt. Abraham L. Van Osdel, prominent in Dakota
history. Charles Bottineau accompanied Sibley as a guide.
GENERAL SULLY's EXPEDITION OF 1863
In connection with General Sibley's expedition another was sent from Sioux
City, under the command of Gen. Alfred H. Sully. It consisted of the Sixth Iowa
Cavalry, under command of Col. David S. Wilson; the Second Nebraska Cav-
alry, Col. Robert W. Furnas ; one company of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry under
Captain Willard ; three companies of the Forty-fifth Iowa Infantry and an
eight-gun battery. The expedition was accompanied by seventy-five army wagons
and seventy-five civil employes. They left Yankton June 26, 1863. They went
• by steamboat to Swan Lake, leaving that point August 21, reaching Long Lake
on the 28th, where a lame Indian was found who told General Sully of Sibley's
battle and that the Indians lost fifty-eight killed; that soon after Sibley left
Apple Creek, the Indians attacked a mackinaw boat, mentioned elsewhere. On
the 29th General Sully sent two companies of the Sixth Iowa, under the com-
mand of Capt. D. W. C. Cram, to the mouth of Apple Creek, where they found
General Sibley's fortified camp, and reported that they saw the mackinaw boat
mentioned by the lame Indian.
September 3d they found the remains of many buffalo recently killed and
numerous Indian trails all leading toward their favorite resort. That day scouts
located four hundred to six hundred lodges of Indians in a ravine, the warriors
numbering at least one thousand two hundred.
Some two hundred Indians surrounded and captured General Sully's guide,
Frank La Frambois. They were Indians who had fought in the Minnesota
massacre, and in the battles with General Sibley, and in the attack on the mack-
inaw ; and they told La Frambois that they did not see why the soldiers should
come out to fight them unless they were tired of living and wanted to die. La
Frambois escaping, ran his horse ten miles to give his commander the informa-
tion he had gained as to the identity, strength and purpose of the Indians,
consisting of Santees, Cutheads, Yanktonais, Uncapapas and Blackfeet. General
Sully immediately galloped a force to the attack under Col. Robert W. Furnas,
and the result was the
BATTLE OF WHITE STONE HILLS
The battlefield is in Dickey County, North Dakota, about fifteen miles west
of Monango. Congress granted the State of North Dakota a section of land
290 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
for park purposes, on which the beautiful monument shown in ilhistration here-
with is situated.
The battle occurred September 3, 1863, the forces engaged being the Second
Nebraska Cavalry, commanded by Col. Robert W. Furnas, from whom these
facts were obtained through Capt. James A. Emmons ; the Sixth Iowa Cavalry,
commanded by Col. D. S. Wilson ; and one company of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry,
commanded by Captain Willard, in 'all about one thousand two hundred men.
The aids to General Sully were Capt. J. H. Pell, Captain King and Lieutenant
Levering of the First Minnesota. The number of Indians was estimated
at one thousand two hundred warriors, the whole number not less than
three thousand. Maj. E. A. House in command of 300 men of the Sixth
Iowa had located the Indians, and his scout had reported to General Sully,
who hurried Colonel Furnas to his assistance. The latter encountered them in
the evening, and attacked at once from the direction opposite the approaching
troops under Colonel Wilson; while Maj. Edward P. Tenbroeck, with two com-
panies of the Sixth Iowa, charged through the center of the camp. General
Sully, in personal command of one company of the Seventh Iowa and the bat-
tery, hurried to the fight. The battle became a hand to hand affair and on
the arrival of Colonel W'ilson the Indians fled, leaving their dead and wounded
on the field. The dead numbered about two hundred and the wounded about
the same. One hundred and fifty-eight were captured, including Big Head and
thirty warriors, who surrendered to General Sully. General Sully's loss was
25 killed and 38 wounded. Lieut. Thomas J. Leavitt, Sixth Iowa, was
mortally wounded. The Sixth Iowa lost 11 killed and 21 wounded; the Second
Nebraska 6 killed and 13 wounded.
After the battle the troops pursued the Indians in every direction and killed
and wounded many. General Sully caused fires to be built, while buglers
sounded the rally to bring back the pursuing forces; scouting parties the next
day found the dead and wounded in all directions, and ponies and dogs attached
to travois loaded with buffalo meat and other supplies, ttirned loose on the
prairies by the Indians. General Sully estimated that they burned from forty
thousand to fifty thousand pounds of dried buffalo meat, as one item of -the
destruction that followed the battle. They also destroyed 300 deserted lodges and
other property of great value to the Indians. It was their winter supply of meat
and represented more than one thousand slaughtered buffalo. Capt. R. B. l\Iason,
wagon master, said the fat ran in streams from the burning mass of meat.
They found in the camp or on the dead, loot from the Minnesota massacre, and
from General Sibley's supply trains, and from those murdered in the mackinaw
at .Apple Creek. The expedition returned overland to Fort Pierre and down
the river to Yankton.
sully's expedition of 1864
General Sully had been selected to command an expedition in 1864 to further
continue the punishment of the Indians who had been engaged in the Minnesota
massacre of 1862, begun by General Sibley that year and continued by him and
General Sully in 1863. The Indians were concentrated west of the Missouri
River, harassing the frontier settlers by raids in Dakota, Minnesota and Ne-
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 291
braska, and attacking the transportation on the Missouri River, and the im-
migrant parties passing over territory they regarded as their own. They
embraced remnants of Little Crow's bands, Uncapapas, Yanktonnais, Blackfeet,
Minneconjous and parts of other tribes.
General Sully's headquarters were at Sioux City. He had selected Com-
panies A and B, Dakota Cavalry, as his body guard, assigning other troops
concentrated at Yankton, for the protection of the Dakota settlements. The ren-
dezvous of his command was at old Fort Sully near Fort Pierre. It consisted of
the two companies of Dakota Cavalry, Pope's Battery, the Sixth Iowa Cavalry,
Brackett's Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry, three companies of the Seventh
Iowa Cavalry and one company of Nebraska Cavalry. They were joined by the
Minnesota contingent under the command of Colonel Thomas, at Swan Lake;
this contingent consisting of the Eighth Minnesota Mounted Infantry, six com-
panies of the Second Minnesota Cavalry and the Third Minnesota Battery.
The expedition left Fort Sully June 24th, and reached the Missouri River
July 3d, and established Fort Rice, on the west bank, a few miles above the
mouth of the Cannon Ball River. This fort was built by Col. Daniel J. Dill
with four companies of the Thirtieth Wisconsin which came by steamer, aided
by two companies of cavalry detailed for the purpose, and it became the supply
point for General Sully's expedition and for many succeeding expeditions.
On the way they encountered some Indians at the mouth of the Little Shey-
enne River, when Captain Fielding of the topographical engineers was shot
from ambush and mortally wounded, and one of the soldiers with him was
shot. The three Indians responsible were pursued by Capt. Nelson Miner, of
the Dakota Cavalry, and literally riddled with bullets and their heads brought
into camp.
General Sully had had twenty years' experience in the Seminole, Mexican
and border wars, and several of his officers had participated in the campaign the
previous year.
July i8th he left Fort Rice, reaching Heart River in the vicinity of Dickin-
son, when he corralled and left an immigrant train which he had relieved from
the Indians' attack, and some of his heavier supplies, guarded by a part of his
force, and proceeded to the Knife River where his scouts reported a large force
of Indians whom he attacked.
BATTLE OF KILLDEER MOUNTAIN
At Killdeer Mountain on the 28th General Sully encountered a force esti-
mated by him at 1,600 lodges, representing 5,000 to 6,000 warriors. The Indians
were expecting him and were ready for the fray. They were so well posted
and so great was their confidence that they did not take down their lodges, but
commenced their tactics of circling around his command, each time drawing
nearer, until they had come within 200 yards. Then fire was opened on them
and many saddles emptied, when they drew off to a greater distance pursued
toward their camp by the cavalry. Now thoroughly alarmed, they were trying to
save their women and children. The troops opened on them with artillery.
The attack was made with eleven companies of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, three
companies of the Seventh Iowa, two companies of Dakota Cavalry, four com-
292 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
panics of Brackett's Minnesota Battalion, Jones's Battery, Pope's Battery, ten
companies of the Eighth Minnesota Mounted Infantry, six companies of the
Second Minnesota Cavalry, two sections of the Third Minnesota Battery and
seventy scouts, the whole force numbering 2,200.
The attack was made in front, the Indians attempting to flank Sully on the
left and then on the right and rear, the battle line extending in a circle of about
three miles. They attempted counter attacks, but were repulsed at every point.
Major Brackett made a furious attack, which they countered, in which many
Indians were killed, their attack being repelled by the aid of Jones's battery.
They made a heavy attack in the rear by a newly-arrived force, which was
also dispersed by the same guns.
Sully closed upon their main camp and put them to flight, the artillery driving
them out of their strong position in the ravines and on the hills, the cavalry
pursuing. The battle lasted all day, but by sunset there were no Indians in sight
and the troops slept on the battlefield.
Colonel McLaren was detailed next day to destroy the large amount of prop-
erty the Indians had left in their flight, gathering into heaps and burning at least
forty tons of dried bufifalo meat packed in buffalo skins, great quantities of dried
berries, tanned buffalo, elk and antelope hides, household utensils, consisting of
brass and copper kettles, mess pans, etc., saddles and travois and lodge poles,
which were gathered in heaps and burned. The woods were fired in order to
make the destruction complete.
The loss of the Indians was very large, many dead being left on the field.
Sully's loss was five killed and ten wounded.
Capt. Nelson Miner, of the Dakota Cavalry, relates that being hard pressed
at one point, he dismounted and in the fight forgot all about his horse, but when
the battle was over his horse was by his side, having followed him wherever
he went.
LOCATION OF THE BATTLE OF BIG MOUND
From an article in The Record for June, 1896, by Capt. J. W. Bumham,
who was a sergeant in the Sixth Minnesota and present at the Battle of Big
Mound, July 24, 1863, the following extract is made. Captain Buniham writes
from notes written at the time.
'■July 24, 1863, our regiment went into camp on the shore of an alkaline lake
to the right, while the Indians occupied the hills and valleys to the left. The
general had every soldier to his place, but the scouts (half-breeds or friendly
Indians) went out and parleyed with the Indians. Doctor Weiser, surgeon of the
mounted rangers, joined one of these parties and commenced talking to the
Indians in their own language, and giving them, out of his own pockets, tobacco
and hard bread, when he was suddenly shot and killed, three of them firing
at once and all standing close to him. Directly after this firing was heard to
the rear, not explained till the next day, when it was learned that Lieutenant
Treeman of the rangers, G. A. Brackett, the beef contractor, now as then a
well-known citizen of Minneapolis, and two Indians scouts were hunting ante-
lope. The Indians cut them oft' from the command and when the vollev that
killed Weiser was heard they fired and mortally wounded Freeman. The party
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 293
then hid in the tall rushes on the shore of a little lake till night came, when
the scouts started for camp. Soon after Freeman died. When Brackett tried
to reach camp he became lost and after a long tramp reached the track, but so
far back that he kept on to Camp Atchison, which he reached in four days,
nearly dead from hunger and fatigue, having had nothing to eat except raw
frogs.
"The first movement against the Indians was by the battery, which threw
shells among them, killing several. When they fell back they were charged by
the rangers, followed by a large force of infantry. The rangers followed
them for sixteen miles, killing many and losing some men themselves. In a
charge made over a rocky ridge in plain sight of camp, the lightning struck,
killing one man and horse and knocking down two more. Until their return
they supposed a shell from the battery had fallen short and struck among them.
"This battle of Big Mound was a striking scene. The lonely lake, the rocky
hills, the naked, yelling Indians, soon discomfited and flying, the battery of four
guns all doing their best, the charging cavalry with sabers drawn, the infantry
following, while over all was the darkened sky, the heavy rolling thunder and
the incessant lightning with but little rain. It was a view to be remembered
by a looker-on, as I was that day.
"July 26. Reveille at 2:30; marched at 4 a. m. Went fourteen miles, find-
ing Indian property all the way and scattering Indians in sight. They made
a stand on the shore of a small lake, where lay the body of a buiTalo so long
dead that we did not need sight to be aware of its presence. We called the fight
here the Battle of Dead Bufifalo Lake.
"They made a stand and the artillery and cavalry drove them several miles,
the infantr)' mostly going into camp. Some two hours later, when all seemed
peaceful and serene around camp, though we could hear the boom of the cannon
in the distance, a large force of Indians made a dash to cut off a party of
foragers out cutting the coarse grass and reeds on the shore of the lake. This
was all we had to feed our mules, as the immense herds of buffalo had eaten
all the good grass.
"This attack was repulsed by a company of rangers who, more by accident
than design, seemed to be on the right spot at the right time. Some fifteen
Indians were killed here and in the main battle. The men cutting grass and
the teamsters were terribly frightened. Supposing themselves out of danger
most of them were unarmed. This was a mistake they did not again make.
"About this battle ground lay hundreds of dead buffalo more or less stripped
of hides and meat, for we had come upon the Indians while in the best of their
hunt. There were still so many Indians near that we could not allow our ani-
mals to graze except on one end of a rope with a man at the other end, and the
best grazing was very poor. All the forage obtainable was of the kind that
grew upon the lake shore.
"July 27. We made a long march of twenty-three miles, passing over
battle ground of previous days, finding large quantities of Indian property, like
axes, hoes and trinkets, besides tons of meat and hides, tent poles and tents. A
captured squaw reports large reinforcements to the Indians. We camped at
294 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
night on the stony shore of a sweet water lake near which we fought them
next day and called the Battle of Stony Lake.
"July 28. Reveille at 3 ; started at 5 A. M. The Tenth in the advance.
When the command was in motion, and our regiment about half a mile out, pass-
ing over a ridge, a great force of mounted Indians dashed upon us. At once
Whipple, of the battery, with two guns opened on them with shells, and our
regiment was deployed right and left from the head of the column, the men
about far enough apart to touch fingers when their arms were extended. The
Indians were in great force, variously estimated from one thousand five hun-
dred to three thousand, and all mounted. They came close up to the line and
nearly every man, as he put on his bayonet without waiting for orders, thought
they were going over us. I thought so at any rate, but they recoiled. We
got one or two shots apiece at them, when they went around us and attacked the
flanks, where another regiment repulsed them. They fell back and attacked
the rear, where another regiment and Captain Jones and two guns of the bat-
tery again beat them ofl:. They then returned to the front. As we lay in the
grass in the still morning air we could hear the sonorous voices of their leaders
urging another charge. But they came not. After waiting two hours for them
we marched on all day, keeping the order of formation to resist another attack.
We found one Indian asleep and captured him and his pony. He was dressed
in fighting costume of a Dacotah v\'arrior: a breech cloth and a pair of moccasins,
with a buffalo robe along for a bed. He said he was a Teton and belonged
west of the Missouri. He was released with an admonition.
"It is said we killed eleven Indians in this fight, but we saw no bodies. We
killed more in the previous battles. Unlike them we lost no man this day,
nothing but one horse, and he was so weak that the Indian who got him was
overtaken and killed before night. We camped this night on Apple Creek.
"July 29. Reveille at 1 130 ; marched at 3 A. M. We spent about three
hours crossing the creek. The wagons were pulled through by men with ropes.
We went about three miles, when the Missouri Valley was before us, just
below the site of Bismarck, the river about eight miles ofif. The general expected
the Indians would be unable to cross, but we could see them in crowds on the
opposite bltififs. He had sent ahead the cavalry and the guns and we soon saw
the latter rapidly firing. We hurried on, fatigued as we were, under a broiling
sun, thinking a battle was going on, and found the cavalry had been repulsed
from the thick grave by Indians shooting arrows and the artillery was shelling
them out. They saw very few Indians except those across the river on the
blulTs. They were flashing their mirrors in the bright sunlight in answer to
the reflections doubtless visible from the glittering barrels of our Springfield
rifles.
"We were marched within about a mile of the timber and two miles from
the river, where we lay for three hours, when we were ordered into camp on
a bench near the creek and about two miles from its mouth, where we arrived
about 5 P. M., completely exhausted with hunger, thirst, fatigue and lack of
sleep, having marched about twelve miles that day.
"Meanwhile the Sixth Regiment skirmished the woods, but saw few Indians.
When they approached the river they found hundreds of carts and wagons,
and tons of stufif that the Indians were unable to take across the river. On
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 295
the bank they were hailed from the opposite shore : 'We do not want to fight
the whites !" and were answered by a scout who talked with them for some
time, but when the men approached the river to fill their canteens hundreds
of shots were fired at them from the tall grass opposite, but the shots mostly
fell short and did no injury. Today Lieutenant Beever, General Sibley's vol-
unteer aid, was lost in some way. He was sent by the general with an order
to Colonel Crooks, commanding the skirmishers in the woods. He delivered his
order but did not return. A private of the Sixth is also missing. Our mules
and horses are entirely exhausted and men nearly as far gone. Many of them
are dropping out of the ranks to be picked up by the ambulances. During
the last few days a very common sight was to see a mounted man fall behind.
He would get off and lead the horse and very often he was still unable to keep
up. A shot would then, finish the horse, the saddle and bridle would go to the
nearest wagon and the soldier go on afoot. At this camp we had grass and
water, but, as before, our animals would not be safe beyond the end of a rope.
"July 30. The long roll beat twice in the night. Indians all around and
shots are continually being exchanged. We could hold no grotmd beyond the
reach of our gtms. Rockets were sent up and guns fired both night and day
to signalize Lieutenant Beever. With all our care the Indians ran oft" a few
mules.
"A detachment of 700 men were sent out to skirmish through the woods
again and find the missing men if possible. The cannon went with them, and
while writing this in camp I hear the guns speaking out occasionally.
"We heard bad reports during the day from the river bank, and the general
sent down reinforcements, but about 10 P. M. the troops all came in, having
suffered no loss. They killed a few Indians and found the bodies of the missing
men. Lieutenant Beever carried three revolvers and had evidently made a
vigorous fight, and had been shot with three arrows. His horse had been
killed with a bullet. Like most of the army he wore his hair short, and the
Indians had cut around his head endeavoring to scalp him, but were unable to
pull it off, so they scalped the long whiskers from one of his cheeks. The
soldier, having longer hair, was scalped in the usual manner. During the night
under a strong wind the Indians set the grass on fire, but a line of men with
wet blankets met it and soon put it out.
"August I. Had a bad time of it last night. Indians prowled around
camp all night. Single ones were fired upon many times by the gtiard. About
midnight a large force crawled up on the burnt ground and fired a heavy volley
into the camp, shooting through many tents and killing a mule and stampeding
the herd of beef cattle, which broke away, but fortunately were stopped and
driven back. No men were shot, though the firing was kept up on both sides
most of the night. In the reduced state of men and horses, especially the latter,
all we could do at this time was to repel attack. We had already marched
farther than our supply of provisions would warrant, and this day we marched
twenty miles towards home. We had no sooner left the camp than the Indians
took possession, and only a small force followed us. Our camp tonight has
plenty of good grass and water."
296 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
LOCATION OF THE KILLDEER MOUNTAIN BATTLEFIELD
The curator of the North Dakota Historical Society in 191 5 visited the Kill-
deer Mountain Battlefield in Dunn County and the result was published in the
Fargo Forum as follows :
"Bismarck, N. Dak., August 15. — For work accomplished and results obtained
the trip of H. C. Fish of the State Historical Society and S. S. Campbell of
Sentinel Butte was one of the most successful this year. They were both pleased
and gratified by the hearty co-operation they received from so many in Dickin-
son and in Manning and at Killdeers.
"The trip was unique, for after forty-six years Mr. Campbell expected to
point out the place of the battle between Sully and the Sioux which occurred
July 28, 1864. He had not visited the old scenes since, and the whole light was
in his mind as he saw it then. But what helped to keep the scene so vivid was the
constant reading of his old diary which he kept in 1864 during the whole of the
Sully campaign. Many of the old troopers for years after the trying march
wrote to Mr. Campbell and wanted to know when and where different events
occurred. And, too, some of the old soldiers wanting a pension applied to Mr.
Campbell to give the exact place where they were hurt. The small diary with
its well fingered pages has kept the old days well in mind.
"Tuesday morning of last week the two gentlemen left for Manning on the
stage and they were met at the county seat by Superintendent Melby, who was
very much interested in getting a correct idea of the old days, and taken to the
Killdeers. It was very fortunate that Mr. Melby took the party direct to the
home of John Ross, who lives adjoining the Diamond C Ranch in the east. The
father of Mrs. Ross was in the same campaign and Mr. Ross knew the family of
Mr. Campbell in the old days of Minnesota. All the courtesies that could be
desired were extended to Mr. Fish and Mr. Campbell in their search for the old
routes.
"On Wednesday morning Mr. Ross took the party up over the hill to the
Diamond C Ranch buildings and Mr. Campbell at once recognized the lay of the
land, and when they went out to the south of the spring and the house he said,
'This looks just like the old Indian camp. If it is, there is a dry coulee just over
there to the south.' The dry coulee was found.
"On this broad open space south of the old spring 1,600 Indian tepees were
arranged. Mr. Campbell said that they camped the first night after the battle
just west of the Indian camp. The thickest of the battle occurred on the ranch
of John Ross, where the Indians made the last stand before their camp was taken.
The camp of the second night was at the spring on the old Craig Ranch, some
eight miles east of the battle grounds.
"The course of events taken from Mr. Campbell's diary is interesting. They
started from Sioux City Tuesday, May 31, 1864, and gradually made their way
up the Missouri to Fort Rice and then across country to the Indian stamping
grounds. On July 25 the whole army of Sully corralled their extra horses and
teams some place fifteen or twenty miles south of Dickinson.
"There were also fifty teams of the emigrants bound for Idaho who were
going along under the protection of the army. This enormous corral has not been
located and it is the wish of the society to have some of the old troopers help us
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 297
find the place. After the corral was established the troopers took nine days'
rations for a rapid march into the Indian country. On July 26th the army
marched one mile and grazed their horses till 2 o'clock. Then scouts came in and
reported that they had a skirmish with the Indians. Mr. Campbell's battalion
was put on double quick for nineteen miles. July 27th the army marched twenty
miles and grazed their horses and then marched ten miles and camped on Knife
Creek. At this place there were many petrified stumps and trees. The day of the
battle, July 28th, the army marched twelve miles before light and grazed their
horses and took breakfast. After breakfast they went four miles and met the
main body of the Indians.
LONG LINE OF BATTLE
"The anny formed a line of battle and for nine miles there was a running
fight. This started at 9 o'clock in the morning and all day long the right bat-
talion fought the Indians hand to hand. ]\Iany of the Indians had only war clubs
and bows and arrows and very primitive guns, but from behind every rock and
group of trees the arrows showered upon the troopers. At one time a very large
force of the Indians came in from the rear and attempted to capture the batter}"-
of twelve cannon. They made their way with all the fiendish glee they could
muster, but they did not reckon on the gunners. They waited until the Indians
got within 200 yards of the batter\' and then let two charges go. This made an
awful swath in their ranks, and the Indians turned like a pack of frightened
sheep before the onslaught of wolves and fled, followed by a terrific saber charge
by the troopers. This stand was the turning point in the battle. From this time
on the soldiers had the Indians on the run for the hills and the saber was
exchanged for the revolver. They soon had the Indians over the hills among
the brakes. That night under the silent skies the dead were buried on the camp-
ing grounds, and horses were picketed over the grave to destroy all signs of the
place.
INDIANS HID IN HILLS
"The next morning, on Friday, July 29th, the soldiers tried to follow the
Indians, but they could not do it with success because of the brake back of the
hills. The army turned back and in the dr>' coulee south of the Indian camp tons
of meat, both jerked and pemmican, 1,600 tents, poles, clothing, blankets were
burned.
"That afternoon the army marched eight miles east to the spring at the old
Craig Ranch. Just as the dusk was creeping over the army 600 Indians drove
fiercely through the camp and tried to stampede the horses. The two outer
guards were killed, but other than this not a shot was fired or a person hurt. It
created a great deal of excitement for a time, but the night brought on nothing of
importance. This night was vivid in the memory of Mr. Campbell. He well
remembers looking towards the battle grounds many times and seeing the constant
light of the torches the long night for the dead and wounded or for some things
which were hidden in the flight.
"During the next two days the army made their way back sixty-seven miles to
298 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the corrals. In the battle at the Killdeers, or, as the Indians call it, 'Ta-ha-kouty,'
or the 'place where they kill the deer,' some 2,200 soldiers were actively engaged
against 5,000 or 6,000 Indians. Sully reported some 150 of the Indians killed
and 5 soldiers killed.
"From this battle ground up to Yellowstone and back to Fort Rice the Indians
kept at their heels and the army had to be on their guard constantly."
BATTLE OF THE LITTLE MISSOURI, OR "WHERE THE HILLS LOOK AT EACH OTHEr"
Returning to his camp on the Heart River in order to reach a pass through
the Bad Lands, known to one of his Yankton Indian guides. General Sully on
August 5th camped at what is now Medora, "where the hills look at each other."
In order to pass through the Bad Lands, it became necessary to cut into the hill
sides at many points. The Indians attacked the camp from the hills that evening,
and at one point cut off some of the horses, which, however, were recaptured;
and next day, on several occasions, they attacked the working parties. The
immigrant train, having women and children moved by oxen, impeded the march
and lengthened the column to three or four miles, making it necessary to double
up the line for protection, and yet at many points in the Bad Lands they could
only pass in single file. The danger to the immigrants added to the difficulties
of the situation, and to the anxieties of the general. On the 6th every butte
(hill) was covered with Indians, some of the hills were 300 feet in height,
others sharp-pointed, almost touched, as well as looked at each other ; some were
low, others mere banks of clay or scoria, as good as those built for defense;
others resembled chimneys or other ruins of a burned city, for they had been
formed by burning coal mines and the erosion which followed. It was necessary
to climb up steep hillsides, plunge down into deep gulHes, pass through wooded
ravines, crawl along narrow gorges, sometimes in the beds of dry streams, and
without water that hot day in August until late in the afternoon, when they
reached a small lake and springs, where the Indians had concentrated in an
€fifort to keep them from water. There was fighting almost every step of the
way, but the Indians, wary from the battle of July 28th, had little heart for
close-range fighting. At the lake and springs the encounter was sharp, but the
Indians again fled, having lost very heavily in the ten-mile battle in these Bad
Lands of the Little Missouri.
As Sully movetl forward the next morning he encountered about one thousand
Indians. The skirmishes were frequent, but when they reached the open country
they saw a cloud of dust made by fleeing Indians about six miles away ; and
that was the last seen of them for several days.
General Sully estimated the Indian losses in the battle of the Little Missouri
at not less than one hundred killed ; some of the officers of his command esti-
mated the number as high as three hundred.
General Sully continued on to the Yellowstone, where he arrived August
I2th, meeting the steamers "Chippewa Falls" and "Alone" with supplies. The
steamer "Island City," loaded with supplies, struck a snag and was sunk near
Fort Union. The boats had gone up the Yellowstone as far as Brazzeau's post,
where Sully crossed over by fording, intending to go northeast in the hope of
again striking the Indians. The country at the Little Missouri was covered by
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 299
■myriads of grasshoppers, which had entirely destroyed the grass ; and on reaching
the Missouri and Yellowstone he found the waters rapidly falling; so he changed
his plans and returned down the Yellowstone to Fort Union, where he arrived
on August i8th, and selected the site for a military post, resulting later in the
■establishment of Fort Buford. Sully then continued down the Missouri River
to Fort Rice; first establishing Fort Stevenson, where he left a company of
the Sixth Iowa Cavalry under Captain Mooreland, and another at Fort Berthold
for the protection of the Gros- Ventres, Arikaras and Mandans, who had been
friendly to the whites during the prevailing Indian troubles. He also left one
•company at Fort Sully; some of the command returned to Yankton and Sioux
City, and some marched overland to Fort Wadsworth, which had been built that
summer under General Sibley's jurisdiction for the protection of the friendly
Sissetons, who had done such excellent service during and following the Min-
nesota massacre. The garrison at Fort Wadsworth July 31, 1864, when visited
by Captain Fisk's expedition, was in command of Maj. John Clowney. It con-
sisted of three companies of the 30th Wisconsin, viz: Company B, Captain
Burton ; Company E, Captain Devling ; Company K, Captain Klaats, and Com-
pany M, Second Minnesota Cavalry, Captain Hanley ; Third Section Third Min-
nesota Battery, Battery Capt. H. W. Western. Capt. J. E. McKusick was
quartermaster of the post. Maj. Mark Downie and Thomas Priestly were then
there. George A, Brackett, with a train of 150 wagons, was camped near the
post.
fisk's expedition
When General Sully reached Fort Rice he was advised that a party of
immigrants known as the Fisk Montana and Idaho Expedition, consisting of
88 wagons and 200 men, women and children, escorted by 47 soldiers, detailed for
the purpose at Fort Rice, which left that point for Montana and Idaho August
23d, had been attacked by Indians near the Bad Lands and twelve of the party
killed and several wounded ; that they were fortified and had sent in an officer
and thirteen men who had left the camp after the third day's battle to procure
assistance.
General Sully immediately sent a force to their relief under Colonel Dill,
consisting of 300 of the Thirtieth Wisconsin, 200 of the Eighth Minnesota and
100 of the Seventh Iowa. They left Fort Rice September i8th and returned
with the immigrant train September 30th. Colonel Dill lost one man on the
trip, his fate not being known.
THE BATTLE OF RED BUTTES
Captain Fisk's party left Fort Rice August 23, 1864. The battle of Red Buttes,
as the attack on Capt. James L. Fisk's expedition was called, occurred September
2, 1864.
When 160 miles west of Fort Rice and 22 miles east of the Bad Lands near
Dickinson, one of the wagons met with an accident. Two men and one wagon
were left to assist the man with the overturned wagon ; also a guard of nine
soldiers. Another man of the immigrant party had returned to the dinner
300 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
camp to recover a lost revolver. Of this party eight were killed and four
afterward died of wounds. One escaped through being sent to warn the train,
which corralled, and a party was sent to their defense. The fight continued
until sunset. One of the defenders, Jefferson Dilts, being more reckless than
the rest, and who was mortally wounded, was credited with having killed eleven
Indians, and many others were known to have been killed.
The immigrants lost in this affair one wagon loaded with liquors and cigars,
and one containing among other things 4,000 cartridges for carbines and several
carbines and muskets, and they also "lost" a box of poisoned hard bread. The
corral was formed in low ground and six of the dead that were recovered were
buried that night by lantern light.
A terrific thunderstorm occurred that night and water next morning was
from one to three feet deep in their camp. As they moved next morning they
were surrounded by drunken Indians, some smoking cigars, some of the Indians
being reckless in their intoxicated condition. The train moved about two miles
and again corralled.
Moving oiU the next morning, they were surrounded by a much stronger and
more desperate force which attacked on both sides of the train. Reaching suit-
able ground, the train corralled and fortified, building breastworks of sod about
six feet in height and large enough to inclose the entire train, and made ready
for a siege which continued sixteen days before relief came. The next day they
were again surrounded by a force of from three to five hundred Indians, but
the mountain howitzer in the fort kept them at a respectful distance and no
further casualties occurred.
That night Lieutenant Smith with thirteen men returned to Fort Rice for
reinforcements which were, it will be seen, promptly sent by General Sully.
The men of Fisk's party who were killed were Louis Nudick, who went back
for his revolver; Walter Grimes and Walter Fewer, teamsters; and the wounded,
Jefi^erson Dilts and Albert Libby. Six soldiers were also killed and four
wounded. The fort was called Fort Dilts, in honor of Jeft'erson Dilts, the
wounded scout who died of his wounds and was buried under its walls. A spring
was found near the fort, which furnished an abundance of water.
THE WHITE CAPTIVE
The Indians had a white woman captive in their camp, Mrs. Fanny Kelly, of
Geneva, Kan., captured near Fort Laramie, July 12, 1864. On the next day the
Indians formed on the adjacent hills and sent three unarmed warriors forward
with a flag of truce. A party went out to meet them, when they planted the
flag on a stick and retired. Attached to the stick was a letter reading:
"Makatunke says he will not fight wagons, but they have been fighting two
days. They had many killed by the goods they brought into camp. They tell
me what to write. I do not understand them. I was taken by them July 12th.
They say for the soldiers to give forty head of cattle. Hehutahunca says he
fights not. But they have been fighting. Be kind to them, and trj' to free me
for mercy's sake. Mrs. Kelly."
"Buy me if you can and you will be satisfied. They have killed many whites.
Help me if you can. Uncapapa (they put words in and I have to obey) they say
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 301
for the wagons they are fighting, for them to go on. But I fear for the result
of this battle. The Lord have mercy on you. Do not move."
Other correspondence followed. Mrs. Kelly again wrote:
"I am truly a white woman and now in sight of your camp, but they will not
let me go. They say they will not fight, but don't trust them. They say How
d'ye do. They say that they want you to give them sugar, coffee, flour, gun-
powder, but give them nothing till you see me for yourself, but induce them,
taking me first.
"They want four wagons and they will stop fighting. They want forty cattle
to eat. I have to write what they tell me. They want you to come here. You
know better than that. His name Chatvaneo and the other's name Porcupine.
Read to yourself. Some of them can talk English. They say this is their
ground. They say go home and come back no more. The Fort Laramie soldiers
have been after me but they (the Indians) run so, and they say they want knives
and axes and arrow iron to shoot buffalo. Tell them to wait and go to town
and they can get them. I would give anything for liberty. Induce them to show
me before you give anything. They are very anxious for you to move now.
Do not I implore you for your life's sake. Fanny Kelly."
"Aly residence formerly Geneva, Kansas."
For the ransom of Mrs. Kelly, Captain Fisk offered three good American
horses, some flour, sugar and coffee, or a load of supplies, but the Indians did
not give her up. Mrs. Kelly was ransomed later by a priest on the Canadian
border.
Capt. James L. Fisk enlisted as a private in the Third Minnesota Battery
September 20, 1861, and was promoted captain and A. Q. M., volunteers, May
29, 1862. He resigned June 12, 1865. He conducted successful expeditions to
Montana and Idaho in 1862 and 1863, and a fourth expedition without military
protection, to Alontana in 1866. This expedition reached the Missouri River at
Fort Berthold via Forts Abercrombie and Wadsworth, July 20, 1866; Fort
Union, August 2d; and Helena, Mont., September 29th, via Fort Benton, with-
out accident or exciting incident, while other trains on the line through Nebraska
had fighting all the way. One train was reported to have lost seventy men near
the Yellowstone and the whole route was said to be strewn with fresh-made
graves.
A few days before the arrival of Captain Fisk's 1866 train at Fort Union, about
2,000 Indians came to a point on the opposite side of the river to trade. When
the traders went to meet them the Sioux fired on them, wounding two, taking
a portion of the goods. The condition of the Indian mind at this time is well
illustrated in the incidents leading up to the massacre of Colonel Fetterman's
command near Fort Phil Kearney.
THE MASSACRE NEAR FORT PHIL KEARNEY
The massacre of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Fetterman and his command
near Fort Phil Kearney, December 21, 1866, was an incident in the life of
Dakota Territory and a natural sequence of the attempt to drive the Indians out
of the country, the possession of which had been guaranteed to them by both
law and treaty.
302 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
In the spring of 1866, Gen. John Pope, commanding the District of Mis-
souri, which inchided Minnesota, Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska, created the
Mountain District and assigned Col. Henry B. Carrington to its command.
General Pope's orders contemplated the erection of new military posts, one near
Fort Reno, one on the Big Horn and a third on the head waters of the Yellow-
stone.
Fort Reno, fomierly known as Fort Conner, was to be moved farther west
on the Virginia City trail. Colonel Carrington's headquarters had previously
been at Fort Kearney, Nebraska Territory. April 13, 1866, the preliminary
order was issued for the proposed new movement. His command consisted of a
battalion of the Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, then stationed at Fort Kearney, 220
men. May 19, 1866, 1,000 recruits having arrived for his regiment, he marched
two days later, reaching Fort Reno, on the Powder River, June 28th. The
country about Fort Reno being unsuitable for a permanent post, the first of the
new posts was erected at Piney Forks. It was built between two streams, Piney
Creeks, which came from deep gorges in the Big Horn Mountains about five
miles apart. It was built on a plateau about 600 by 900 feet in extent, a portion
touching the Little Piney. Here a stockade was built of pine logs from the
abundant supply in the immediate vicinity. A hill half a mile distant commanded
a view of the Tongue River Valley and the road for eleven miles, was utilized
for a signal station. There was excellent water, cold, pure and clear; good
grazing, good meadows and an abundance of timber and coal, in the vicinity.
It was in the very heart of the Indian hunting grounds, with an abundance of
buiifalo, elk, deer, bear and other game in the surrounding country, which was
occupied by Indians of several tribes, including Crows, Shoshones, Cheyennes,
Arrapahoes and Sioux, who had hunted here in undisturbed possession of the
country.
The Crows and Shoshones were friendly to the whites and one band of
Cheyennes professed to be friendly. The Cheyennes were well armed and sup-
plied with powder recently obtained through the Laramie treaty.
Under General Pope's orders immigrants were not allowed to go through the
country unless well organized and in large parties, and they were forbidden to
trade with the Indians, or under any circumstances to furnish them with
whiskey.
The post had a garrison of two companies when first built. As early as July
31st, Colonel Carrington reported evidences of hostility and that it was apparent
the Indians intended to harass the whole line of transportation from the Mis-
souri River to the Montana mines. Much live stock had been stolen from
settlers and from small parties and from the Government or traders' herds.
Colonel Carrington reported that he was convinced he would be compelled to
whip the Indians and that they had given him every provocation. Wagon trains
passing through the country were worn out by being obliged to camp on high
hills, away from water, so persistent were the Indians in their attacks.
The day before Colonel Carrington arrived at Fort Reno, forty-three Indians
drove away two head of stock near the fort at midday, and on June 30th the
herd of stock belonging to A. C. Leighton, the post sutler, were run off. July
14th, Colonel Carrington was informed by the friendly Cheyennes, representing
176 lodges, that the Sioux would allow his command to remain in the country
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 30it
if they returned to Powder River (Fort Reno) ; that Red Cloud's forces num-
bered 500 and he was in control of the Indians in the vicinity, and that the
Sioux claimed that the treaty for a road through that country did not mean two
roads; that they did not agree to this and would not allow but one. They
objected particularly to a road north of the Big Horn and accused Colonel Car-
rington of coming into the country to take their hunting grounds from them.
July 17th the Indians attacked the train of Brevet Major Haymond, which had
arrived at Piney Forks two days before, and drove away 174 head of stock.
Haymond pursued but was forced to return with the loss of two men killed and
three wounded by arrows. lie found in Penn Valley the bodies of Pierre Gas-
seaux (French Pete), his partner, Henry Arrison, and four others, one being
Joseph Donalson, a civilian Government teamster. Gasseaux's Sioux widow
said the Sioux came to their place and found Black Horse, of the Cheyennes,
and other Indians trading; that they whipped Black Horse, who had delivered
to them a message from Colonel Carrington, counting "coos," almost the equiva-
lent in Indian "honor" to taking their scalps, on his party. Gasseaux was on his
way to report to Colonel Carrington when killed, as Black Horse told him he
would be. This was the beginning of new hostilities which were based on the
report by Black Horse that the troops intended to remain in the Big Horn region.
The project of building a fort on the Yellowstone was abandoned. The post
on the Big Horn was to be called Fort C. F. Smith. Carrington's new post was
already named Fort Phil Kearney.
July 2ist, Lieut. Napoleon H. Daniels, in charge of a wagon train, and
one corporal was killed. July 23d Kirkendall's train was attacked but the
Indians fled on the approach of the troops under command of Brevet Lieu-
tenant Colonel Kinney. The body of Terrance Callary of Company G, i8th
Infantry, who had been hunting buffalo was found; he had been killed before
the presence of the Indians was discovered. In a skirmish at Reno Creek, one
soldier and one teamster were killed, and after the work of building the fort
commenced, scarcely a day or night passed without depredations of some sort
by the Sioux.
August 1 2th the Indians ran off horses and cattle belonging to citizens en-
camped at B'ort Reno ; on pursuit by the troops some of the cattle were recaptured.
August 14th Joseph Postlewaite and Stockney Williams were killed, four miles
from Fort Reno. August 17th the Indians drove off seven horses and seventeen
mules from Fort Reno. August 29th Colonel Carrington reported that the
post on the Big Horn (Fort C. F. Smith) had been successfully established;
that this was timely — as on the day previous to the arrival of the troops the
Indians had robbed a citizen's train of 100 mules ; that the Indians had molested
trains as far west as the Wind River, in one case only one man out of twelve
■escaped unhurt ; that the total number killed up to that time was thirty-three
whites and thirty-seven Indians. In the case where the eleven whites were killed,
the Indians had been entertained by Mr. Dillon, the head of the party when sud-
denly the Indians commenced shooting their entertainers.
The Indians were reported divided, the young men favoring war, the old men
counseling peace. Dissatisfaction with the Laramie treaty was their principal
cause of complaint, coupjed with the fear of losing their hunting grounds, then
occupied by Colonel Carrington's command.
304 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
In November a mail party of twenty soldiers and seventeen miners was
attacked by 300 Indians ; the miners lost four horses. Lieutenant Bradley re-
turning from Fort Benton was attacked and his chief guide, Brennan, killed.
James Bridger, sent to interview friendly Crows, who were camped in the
vicinity, reported that it took half a day's ride to go through the camps of the
hostile Sioux ; that he was so informed by the Crows who had been importvmed
by Red Cloud and others to join in the war against the whites. Almost every
band of the Sioux were represented and some of the Gros-Ventres from the
Missouri River; they said they would not touch Fort Reno but intended to
destroy the two new posts ; that they would have two big fights at Pine Woods
(Fort Phil Kearney) and Big Horn (Fort C. F. Smith).
A fight was also had at Fort Phil Sheridan in which eight Indians were killed,
three subsequently died of wounds and many others were wounded. A citizen's
party near the fort, who were playing cards by their camp fire, were fired upon
by the Indians and three wounded. September the 8th the Indians attacked a
citizens" train near Fort Phil Kearney, driving off twenty mules ; October loth
twenty Indians attacked ten herders near the fort, driving ofif thirty-three horses
and seventy-eight mules. October 13th the Indians attacked a haying party, killed
one man and ran off 209 cattle, burned the hay and destroyed the mowing ma-
chine. The same day they stampeded the Government herd and wounded two
herders. September 14th Private Alonzo Gilchrist and on the i6th Private Peter
Johnson were killed. September 17th the Indians drove off forty-eight head of
cattle which were retaken on pursuit. September 20th they attacked a citizens'
party near the fort. One Indian was killed and one wounded. September 23d
they drove off twenty-four head of cattle owned by a contractor. In a sharp
skirmish the cattle were recovered. The hay party was again attacked and on
their return to the fort they found the bodies of Mr. Gruell and two teamsters
who had been to Fort Smith with supplies. They met twenty soldiers and seven-
teen miners who had been corralled by the Indians and fought two days before
relieved. Depredations were committed about Fort Reno on the i/th, 21st and
23d of September. Several head of government stock were run off and Casper
H. Walsh killed during these operations. In an attack on a citizens' train W. R.
Petty and A. B. Overholt were wounded. September 27th Private Patrick Smith
was scalped alive and mortally wounded, but crawled half a mile to the block
house where he died the next day. An attempt was made to cut off the picket
near the forts by the Indians who killed Smith, and other supporting parties,
but they were driven off by shell fire. Bailey's party of miners arrived that day.
They had lost two men killed and scalped by the Indians. September 17th
Ridgeway Glover, a citizen artist, who left the fort without permission, was
found two miles away dead, naked, scalped and mutilated.
Septemlier 25th the Indians took ninety-four head of stock from Contractor
Chandler's herd. A short fight occurred in which five Indians and a white man
known as Bob North, their leader, was killed ; sixteen Indians were wounded.
During the month one citizen was killed near Fort Smith. October 4th Colonel
Carrington reported the loss of one soldier, scalped on the wood train. October
13th two were killed and one wounded of the wood party. Indian activities
were reported late in November with occasional loss of stock.
December 6th Indians attacked the wood train. Lieut. Horatio S. Bingham
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 305
and Sergt. C. R. Bowers were killed. Bowers killed three Indians before he
fell. The Indians showed their respect for his bravery by leaving him unscalped.
Five other soldiers were wounded. The Indian loss was estimated at ten killed
and many wounded.
Thereafter Indians appeared about the fort almost every day until the 19th,
when a train was reported corralled on the hill and attacked by a large force.
December 21st the wood train was again reported corralled about a mile and a
half from the fort. A force of eighty-one officers and men and two citizens,
James S. Wheatley and Isaac Fisher, were sent to their relief, under the command
of Brevet Lt. Col. William Judd Fetterman and Lieut. George W. Grummond,
accompanied, without orders, by Capt. Frederick H. Brown. They were attacked
near the train when they rashly followed the Indians in flight nearly five miles.
Here they were surrounded and all were killed. The bodies of Colonel Fetter-
man and Captain Brown were found near four rocks where the last stand had been
made, each with a revolver shot in the left temple, and it was believed they had
shot each other. The bodies of Wheatley and Fisher were found naked with
105 arrow shots in one and many in the other. The Henry rifle shells and the
pools of blood about them told the story of the execution done by them. Pools of
blood indicated the point where sixty-five Indians fell in the desperate conflict.
Three of these were near Lieutenant Grummond. All of the bodies were shock-
ingly mutilated ; hands, feet, ears and noses were cut off, muscles of the arms
and legs severed, eyes and teeth dug out and shocking indignities to other parts
of the bodies perpetrated.
The dead were : Officers, Capt. and Brevet Lieut. Col. William J. Fetterman,
Capt. Frederick H. Brown, and Lieut. George W. Grummond.
Company A, second battalion, i8th Infantry: First Sergt. Augustus Long;
First Sergt. Hugh Murphy, Corpl. Robert Lennon, Corpl. William Date ; Pri-
vates Frederick Ackerman, William Betzler, Thomas Burke, Henry Buchanan,
Maxim Diring, George E. R. Goodall, F'rancis S. Gordon, Michael Harten, Mar-
tin Kelly, Patrick Shannon, Charles M. Taylor, Joseph D. Thomas, David
Thorey, John Thimpson, Albert H. Walters, John M. Weaver and John
Woodruff.
Company C, Second Battalion, 18th Infantry: Sergt. Francis Raymond,
Sergt. Patrick Rooney, Corpl. Gustave Bauer, Corpl. Patrick Gallagher; Privates
Henry E. Aarons, Michael O. Garra, Jacob Rosenburg, Frank P. Sullivan, and
Patrick Smith.
Company E, Second Battalion, i8th Infantry: Sergt. William Morgan, Corpl.
John Ouinn, Privates George W. Burrell, John Maher, George H. Waterbury,
and Timothy Cullinane.
Company H, Second Battalion, i8th Infantry: First Sergt. Alex Smith,
First Sergt. Ephraim C. Bissell, Corporal Michael Sharkey, Corporal George
Phillips, Corpl. Frank Karston, Privates George Davis, Thomas H. Madden,
Perry F. Dolan, Asa H. Griffin, Herman Keil, James Kean, Michael Kinney, and
Delos Reed.
Company C, Second U. S. Cavalry : Sergt. James Baker, Corpl. James Kelly,
Corpl. Thomas H. Kerrigan, Bugler Adolf Metzger, Artificer John McCarty,
Privates Thomas Amberson, Thomas Broghn, Nathan Foreman, Andrew M.
Fitzgerald, Daniel Green, Charles Gamford, John Gitter, Ferdinand Houser,
306 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
William M. Bugbee, William L. Comeg, Charles Cuddy, Patrick Clancey, Har-
vy S. Deming, U. B. Doran, Robert Daniel, Frank Jones, James P. McGuire,
John McColly, Franklin Payne, James Ryan, George W. Nugent, and Oliver
Williams.
All of the bodies were recovered and fittingly buried in the Post Cemetery.
These facts are mainly gathered from the report of Col. Henry B. Carrington,
and his evidence before the congressional investigating committee, found in
Senate Document No. 33, 50th Congress, First Session.
THE GREAT SIOUX RESERVATION
The Fort Phil Kearney massacre led to the adjustment of existing difficulties
with the Indians and to the Treaty of April 29, 1868, and the establishment of
the Great Sioux Reservation. It was a treaty by Warrior Chiefs on the one side
and illustrious soldiers, viz: Lieut. Gen. William T. Sherman, Brevet Maj. Gen.
William S. Harney, Brevet Maj. Gen. Alfred H. Terry, Brevet Maj. Gen.
Christopher C. Augur, Brevet Maj. Gen. John B. Sanborn, and several distin-
guished citizens.
Section i declared : "From this day forward all war between the parties
to this agreement shall forever cease. The Government of the United States de-
sires peace and its honor is hereby pledged to keep it. The Indians desire peace
and they now pledge their honor to maintain it."
The United States agreed by this solemn treaty, ratified and proclaimed,
that no person excepting certain designated persons, officers, agents and employees
of the Government authorized so to do in order to discharge duties enjoined by
law, should ever be permitted to pass over, settle upon or reside in the territory
set aside for this reservation, the United States relinquishing to the Indians all
claim to the land within such reservation. And if there was not enough to give
each Indian 160 acres of arable land it was agreed they should have more.
The United States agreed to erect agency buildings, a saw mill and grist
mill. Each head of a family was allowed to select 320 acres of land and each
other person over eighteen years of age was allowed to select 80 acres of land
and each male person over 18 years of age, after residing upon his selection for
three years and making certain improvements was to receive a patent for 160
acres. Assistance in farming was provided for and provision made for school
houses and schools. Clothing was promised for 30 years for men, women and
children. Food was also promised for four years after settling upon the land, to-
gether with oxen and utensils for use in operating their farms.
The Indians agreed to allow the construction of the Pacific Railroad and
any railroad not passing over their reservation, and that they would not attack or
molest any one or carry off white women or children from their homes nor kill
and scalp white men.
And yet hostilities continued and eight years later the Custer massacre
occurred, growing out of resistence by the Indians to the demands for opening
of the Black Hills and the extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad. But the
hostilities were at first mere depredations by lawless individual characters.
CHAPTER XXI
POLITICS IN INDIAN AFFAIRS
THE CUSTER MASSACRE AND THE CAUSES LEADING UP TO IT — VIOLATED INDIAN
TREATIES — STEAMBOAT LOADS OF SUPPLIES STOLEN HOLDING UP THE INDIAN
AND MILITARY TRADERS THE BELKNAP SCANDAL AND HOW IT WAS SPRUNG — •
CUSTER's LAST CHARGE — THE STORY OF THE BATTLE LISTS OF THE DEAD AND
WOUNDED RENO AT THE LITTLE BIG HORN — HEROISM OF DR. H. R. PORTER
LIGHTNING TRIP OF THE STEAMER FAR WEST CAPT. GRANT MARSH DR. POR-
TER's STORY FIRST NEWS OF THE BATTLE THE NEW YORK HERALD.
The story of the Custer massacre, June 25, 1876, is a part of the history of
Dakota not only because of its effect in opening the western parts of the territory
to settlement, the early construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the
forced amendment of the Sioux treaty creating the Great Sioux Reservation,
but because of those slain, every one of whom had friends or acquaintances at
Bismarck. Some had wives and children there, others near and dear ones. All
had friends, and friendship seemed closer then, when Bismarck was a frontier
city. The people at Bismarck, Jamestown, Valley City, Fargo, Moorhead and
even Brainerd were neighbors, but the nearest and dearest friends of Bismarck
and Bismarck people were at the military posts. The families of the officers and
men at Fort A. Lincoln were part of the social life of Bismarck. Forts Rice,
Stevenson and Buford were also always taken into consideration and were con-
sidered their next best friends and next nearest neighbors.
The Sixth United States Infantry had its headquarters at Fort Buford, the
Seventeenth at Fort Rice. Both had companies at Bismarck or Fort A. Lincoln.
Mrs. Gen. W. B. Hazen, later Mrs. Admiral Dewey, then a bride passed through
Bismarck in the spring to join her husband at Fort Buford. She landed at Bis-
marck during the raging snow storm early in May, 1873, and passed up the
river by ambulance to Fort Buford.
Only construction trains were then run between Fargo and the end of the
track, some forty miles east of Bismarck, and there was no regular communica-
tion between there and Bismarck. The mails were carried by the quartermaster
department, Bismarck receiving its supply from Fort A. Lincoln. Samuel
A. Dickey was the postmaster at Bismarck and Mrs. Linda W. Slaughter, his
assistant, had charge of the office. She was later appointed postmaster, resign-
ing in February, 1876, when Col. Clement A. Lounsberry succeeded her and
remained the postmaster until he resigned in 1885, the ofiice having grown in
the meantime from fourth to second class. Dickey was post trader at Fort A.
Lincoln. Col. Robert Wilson was in charge of the trader's store.
307
308 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
In the spring of 1873, Gen. George A. Custer arrived at Fort Rice with the
Seventh U. S. Cavalry, and participated in the expedition of that year to the Yel-
lowstone. The cavalry barracks at Fort A. Lincoln were built that year and occu-
pied on the return of the expedition, as regimental headquarters, a portion of
the regiment being located at Fort Rice, and two troops at Fort Totten on
Devils Lake.
In 1874 General Custer conducted an expedition to the Black Hills and set-
tled the question as to the existence of gold in that region. Professor Winchell,
of the Minnesota University, accompanied the expedition, together with other
specially invited scientists. Gen. Frederick D. Grant, then a lieutenant in the
army, went as the special representative of President Grant. William E. Curtis,
the famous newspaper correspondent, represented the Chicago Inter-Ocean, Na-
than H. Knappen, the Bismarck Tribune. H. N. Ross, then of Bismarck, was
selected as the head of a mining party, equipped for prospecting. It was under-
stood that the scientific portion of the expedition was organized to disprove the
stories of the existence of rich gold fields in the Black Hills. A solemn treaty had
been entered into with the Sioux Indians reserving almost an empire, lying west of
the Missouri River and embracing the Black Hills, for the exclusive use of the
allied tribes, as related in the preceding chapter.
Custer's expedition to the Black Hills was permitted by General Sheridan
but it was stipulated that the expedition should not return within sixty days.
It left Fort Abraham Lincoln July 2d, and returned August 31st. It is quite
certain that the organization of the mining party was not authorized. It was the
good fortune of the Bismarck Tribune to have its correspondent assigned to the
mining party with instructions to report the facts. The scientific party found no
gold. The representatives of the other great newspapers saw none. The per-
sonal representative of President Grant was oblivious to its presence, but the
miners found it and the representative of the Bismarck Tribune saw it and
gave to the world the first information concerning the fact, and the Tribune had
the first assay made of Black Hills ore. General Custer sent Scout Charles
Reynolds to Camp Robinson, Nebraska, with official dispatches in which he in-
formed General Sheridan of the discovery of gold, and this scout carried the
dispatch to the Bismarck Tribune, and by the Tribune was given to the Associated
Press before it became public from any other source.
As the result of these discoveries the Black Hills were invaded from every
direction. The Government issued drastic orders and many trains loaded with
mining outfits or supplies were destroyed by the military and many arrests were
made, while other parties were destroyed by the Indians, for the Indians were
enraged beyond endurance by this new act of bad faith. The miners were rapid-
ly concentrating in the hills ; among the Indians the young men inclined to war
were concentrating in the Little Big Horn country. They were well armed
and the immense herds of bufifalo then in existence gave them abundant supplies,
which they were unable to obtain at the agencies, notwithstanding the treaty
obligations of the Government.
The treaty of 1868, which provided for the Great Sioux reservation, also
provided that certain supplies should be delivered to the Indians annually at
their several agencies, along the Missouri River. At the Standing Rock agency
there was an alleged enrollment of some 7,000 Indians. There was actually less
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 309
than half of that number. The winter of 1873-4 set in early and a large portion of
their supplies were not delivered until the next spring, on account of the early
closing of the Missouri River. And when delivered it is charged that they were
stolen by the boat load; that a small portion of each cargo was delivered, but
the whole receipted for, while the bulk went on up the river where it was dis-
posed of to the traders or others. And it was charged that much of their regular
supplies were disposed of in the same manner.
It was apparent to any observer that, notwithstanding the liberal provisions
made by the Government for the Indians, the Indians were suffering from hunger,
and their attitude became constantly more threatening. There were other ugly
rumors, which unfortunately proved to be true, that the traders were paying
enormous tribute to persons connected with those in official position, and that the
quota apportioned to each of the traders at Forts Buford, Lincoln and Rice, to be
paid monthly, was $1,000, with lesser sums for the smaller posts.
General Custer was a man of action and of high ideals, and believed in a
square deal. These rumors, backed with absolute proof, reached him. He also
believed that smuggling of arms and liquor was carried on to a great extent and
that by this means also money was provided to pay the tribute exacted of the
traders. The wife of the then Secretary of War was the beneficiary on the
part of the military traderships, while one related to the President was sharing
the profit from the Indian traderships.
General Custer was instrumental in having Ralph Meeker sent out by a
New York newspaper to report on this matter. He reported to General Custer.
His mission was known to the writer of these pages, then editor of the Bismarck
Tribune, and to James A. Emmons at Bismarck, who had previously flaunted
the main facts in the face of the Secretary of War by means of a printed circular,
when General Belknap was on an official visit to Fort A. Lincoln. Meeker gained
employment through General Custer at the Berthold Indian Agency, and thereby
gained opportunity for interviews with a number of the Sioux whom he met
there and at Fort A. Lincoln and Standing Rock. Custer was not backward in
supplying Meeker the facts that had come to his attention, and the publication of
the story resulted in the impeachment of Secretary Belknap, who resigned
rather than have the facts, of which he was not wholly conscious, become a matter
of record.
The expose occurred in February, 1876. General Custer had been in Wash-
ington arranging for the expedition and was on his way home when the matter
became known. Congress immediately appointed an investigating committee.
It was the custom then to close the Northern Pacific Railroad from Fargo
to Bismarck for the winter. The Black Hills travel caused an attempt to open
the road early that spring and on March 5th, a train left Fargo for Bismarck but
was snow boiind three weeks at Crystal Springs. Among the passengers on this
train were General Custer and wife and several officers of the Seventh Cavalry,
a large number of recruits. Mayor McLean of Bismarck and Colonel Lounsberry
who were returning from Washington, where they were on the floor of the
House of Representatives and exhibited specimens of gold from the Black Hills.
They were granted an audience by President Grant and Secretary Belknap,
General Grant remarking, "that settles the question as to whether there is gold
in the Black Hills."
310 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
William Budge, and a large party of miners from Grand Forks, were also on
the train. General Custer and family left the train by team and on his arrival
at Fort A. Lincoln he was summoned by telegraph to give testimony before a
committee of Congress appointed to investigate the charges against Secretary
Belknap. Some of his testimony gave oiifense to the administration and the
plans for the Yellowstone expedition were changed, and Gen. Alfred H. Terry
was assigned to the command of the expedition which left Fort A. Lincoln
May 17, 1876.
Custer was in command of his own regiment. Some of the companies were
commanded by officers related to him by blood or other ties or intimate personal
friends.
Colonel Lounsberry, who represented the New York Herald and the Asso-
ciated Press through its St. Paul office, was the only correspondent who had se-
cured authority to accompany the expedition, but sickness in his family at the
last moment prevented his going and he chose Mark H. Kellogg to represent him
on the expedition. On reaching the Rosebud, Custer's knowledge of the country
became invaluable and he was ordered to take his regiment and locate the Indians.
At an assembly of the officers June 22d, at dusk. General Custer stated that he had
investigated as to the number of the hostiles through the Indian Bureau and other
sources and he was satisfied that they would not find more than 1,000 to 1,500
warriors.
General Gibbons's command had already reported to General Terry and had
started up the left bank of the Yellowstone as Custer made camp at the, mouth
of the Rosebud on the right bank.
General Custer's instructions from General Terry directed him to take trails
and follow till he should ascertain definitely the direction in which they would
lead, then report; if he found it leading to the Little Big Horn to still proceed
south perhaps as far as the head waters of the Tongue River, the object bemg
to locate the Indians and determine as accurately as possible all facts necessary
to a successful prosecution of the campaign against them. General Terry avoided
giving positive orders and left action to General Custer's discretion when so near
the enemy.
The information which had been forwarded by General Sheridan that the
Indian agencies had been deserted by large numbers of Indians had not reached
General Terry before the battle of the Little Big Horn. In locating the enemy
Major Reno withthree troops was assigned to the advance and ordered to attack,
and advised that the whole command would support him. This was before reach-
ing the ford and before General Custer divined the situation as it later appeared.
He gave these orders on first reaching the open valley, on seeing the Indian
villages, expecting no doubt to follow Reno, considering the possible flight of the
Indians south toward the mountains or northward into the Bad Lands, expecting
only a running fight and that they would not m.ake a stand at their villages, expos-
ing their women and children to direct attack. Such a conclusion would be in
•accord with all previous experience in Indian warfare.
Custer's immediate command when the massacre occurred consisted of five
■companies, the others being appropriately assigned to other parts. Reno was
■put to flight. Custer attacked with the five remaining companies.
The history of the battle has been written in the light of investigation and
MAIN STREET, BISMARCIv, 1872-3
The place was then called Edminton
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 311
research by Gen. E. S. Godfrey in the Century Magazine of January, 1892,
and also by others after a thorough investigation of the subject.
The matter which follows must be considered in the light of a narrative and
as an evidence of enterprise in gathering and publishing matter supposed to be
facts, but in the confusion and excitement of the occasion, inaccuracy may have
occurred in some particulars, though not in the list of casualties.
Mark Kellogg's last dispatch to the Bismarck Tribune read: "We leave the
Rosebud tomorrow and by the time this reaches you we will have met and fought
the red devils, with what result remains to be seen. I go with Custer and will be
at the death.''
He had written of the events of the expedition, of the preparation for the
morrow, and of the incidents of personal interest, up to the very moment of
marching, and, as was his custom, had his dispatches ready for the first depart-
ing courier. He was personally known to many of the Indians and known to
be their friend, and to be "the man who makes the paper talk." His body was
found not mutilated in the slightest degree. His notes were gathered up and
brought to Mr. Lounsberry without a missing page. Lieutenant Bradley,
Seventh Infantry, was the first to reach "the field of carnage."
Maj. James S. Brisbin of Gibbon's command filled a pass book with incidents
as he saw them on the battlefield, the position and condition of the dead. There
were no wounded in Custer's party. All were slain save the Crow scout Curley,
who put on a Sioux blanket and managed to escape but completely dazed. Bris-
bin's contribution was brought by Dr. H. R. Porter, with the request that it be
given to the New York Herald. It was but a small part of the story as given to
the Herald, and to the world through that great newspaper. Other papers had
brief bulletins : The Herald had it all ; their telegraph tolls amounting to some
$3,000 for that single story sent by one newspaper correspondent. But every
officer and every man was ready and anxious to assist in making the story
complete. When General Terry reached Bismarck he filed his official dispatches
and at the same time aroused Colonel Lounsberry, whom he caused to be fur-
nished with an official list of the dead and wounded and with all possible facts.
His staff officers were equally courteous. Dr. Porter, Fred Girard and a score
of others contributed to the story begun by Kellogg in his brief dispatch from
the Rosebud. John M. Carnahan was the manager of the Bismarck telegraph
office. S. B. Rogers was his able assistant. Here is absolutely the first accoimt
published July 6, 1876, as it came hot from the field of battle and dropped from
the lips of those who saw the dead and participated in the affair with Reno or
in other incidents of the expedition. And Grant ]\Iarsh, whose boat fairly skipped
on the surface of the waters of the Missouri, coming down at the rate of twenty
miles an hour, also contributed his mite to the story as published in the New
York Herald, delayed in part one day in transmission from St. Paul.
The battle was June 25th. The Far West arrived at Bismarck at 11 P. M.,
Julv 5th. Before her arrival there was uneasiness at Fort A. Lincoln. The
expected courier did not come. There was reticence and strange actions on the
part of the Indians in the vicinity. It was felt that they had heard some news
or that they were contemplating an uprising, but no whisper of the great disaster
was heard. Bismarck shared the anxiety of those at Fort A. Lincoln. Longing
eyes were cast to the west in the hope that the expected courier might appear.
312 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
From Salt Lake there came a rumor that a battle had been fought, but there
were absolutely no details. When or where no one pretended to know. General
Sheridan was most emphatic in his denunciation of the story. The first news
that gave any information came from Bismarck, and the first publication, aside
from a bulletin sent out by the Tribune which appeared in the New York Herald
of July 6th, was in the Bismarck Tribune of that date.
There were no Mergenthalers then. Composition was by the slow hand
process and there were but two printers in town. They took the pages as they
fell hot from the hand of one who was at the same time furnishing a 50,000
word press report, who had only time to give them facts, and here is the account
as it was then published, and it is indeed worthy of a place as it was then written,
in the history of Dakota.
MASSACRED.
General Custer and 261 Men the Victims.
No Officer or Man Left to Tell the Tale.
Three Days Desperate Fighting by Major Reno and the Remainder of the
Seventh.
Full Details of the Battle.
List of Killed and Wounded.
The Bismarck Tribune's Special Correspondent Slain.
Squaws Mutilate and Rob the Dead.
Victims Captured Alive Tortured in a Most Fiendish Manner.
What Will Cons^ress Do About It?
Shall This Be the Beginning of the End?
"We leave the Rosebud tomorrow and by the time this reaches you we will
have
Met and Fought
the red devils with what result remains to be seen. I go with Custer and will be
at the death."
How true! On the morning of the 22d (it was at noon) General Custer took
up the line of march for the trail of the Indians reported by Reno on the Rosebud.
General Terry, apprehending danger, urged Custer to take additional men but
Custer, having full confidence in his men and in their ability to cope with the
Indians in whatever force he might meet them, declined the proffered assistance
and marched with his regiment alone. He was instructed to strike the trail of
the Indians, to follow it until he discovered their position, and report by courier
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 313
to General Terry (see note), who would reach the mouth of the Little Horn by
the evening of the 26th, when he would act in concert with Custer in the final
wiping out. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 24th, Custer's scouts reported
the location of a village recently deserted, whereupon Custer went into camp,
marching again at 11 P. M., continuing the march until daylight, when he again
went into camp for coffee. Custer was then fifteen miles from the village located
on the Little Horn, one of the branches of the Big Horn, twenty miles above its
mouth, which could be seen from the top of the divide, and after lunch General
Custer pushed on. The Indians by this time had discovered his approach and soon
were seen mounting in great haste, riding here and there, it was presumed in full
retreat. This idea was strengthened by finding a freshly abandoned Indian
camp with a deserted tepee, in which one of their dead had been left, about six
miles from where the battle took place. Custer with his usual vigor pushed on,
making seventy-eight miles without sleep, and attacked the village near its foot
with Companies C, E, F, I and L of the Seventh Cavalry, Reno having in the
meantime attacked it at its head with three companies of cavalry which, being
surrounded, after a desperate hand to hand conflict in which many were killed
and wounded, cut their way to a blufif about three hundred feet high, where they
were reinforced by four companies of cavalry under Colonel Benteen. In gain-
ing this position Colonel Reno had to recross the Little Horn, and at the ford the
hottest fight occurred. It was here that Lieutenants Mcintosh, Hodgson and
Doctor DeWolf fell ; where Charley Reynolds fell in a hand-to-hand conflict with
a dozen or more Sioux, emptying several chambers of his revolver, each time
bringing down a redskin before he was brought down — shot through the heart.
It was here Bloody Knife surrendered his spirit to the one who gave it, fighting
the natural and hereditary foes of his tribe, as well as the foes of the whites.
The ford was crossed and the summit of the bluffs, having, Colonel Smith
says, the steepest sides that he ever saw ascended by a horse or mule, reached,
though the ascent was made under a galling fire.
The Sioux dashed up beside the soldiers, in some instances knocking them
from their horses and killing them at their pleasure. This was the case with
Lieutenant Mcintosh, who was unarmed except for a saber. He was pulled from
his horse, tortured and finally murdered at the pleasure of the red devils. It was
here that Fred Girard was separated from the command and lay all night with
the screeching fiends dealing death and destruction to his comrades within a few
feet of him and — but time will not permit us to relate the story — through some
means succeeded in saving his fine black stallion in which he took so much pride.
The ford was crossed and the summit of the bluffs, having. Colonel Smith
says, the steepest sides that he ever saw ascended by a horse or mule, reached,
though the ascent was made under a galling fire.
The companies engaged in this aiifair were those of Captains Boylan, French
and Mcintosh. Colonel Reno had gone ahead with these companies in obedience
to the order of General Custer, fighting most gallantly, driving back repeatedly
the Indians who charged in their front, but the fire from the blufif was so galling,
it forced the movement heretofore alluded to. Signals were given and soon
Benteen with the four companies in reserve came up in time to save Reno from
the fate with which Custer about this time met. The Indians charged the hill time
and time again, but were each time repulsed with heavy slaughter by its gallant
314 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
defenders. Soon however, they reached bluffs higher than those occupied by
Reno, and opened a destructive fire from points beyond the reach of cavalry
carbines. Nothing being heard from Custer, Colonel Weir was ordered to push
his command along the bank of the river in the direction he was supposed to
be, but he was soon driven back, retiring with difficulty. About this time the
Indians received strong reinforcements, and literally swarmed the hillsides and
on the plains, coming so near at times that stones were thrown into the ranks of
Colonel Reno's command by those unarmed or out of ammunition. Charge after
charge came in quick succession, the fight being sometimes almost hand-to-hand.
But they finally drew off, taking to the hills and ravines. Colonel Benteen charged
a large party in a ravine, driving them from it in confusion. They evidently
trusted in their numbers and did not look for so bold a movement. They were
within range of the corral and wounded several packers, J. C. Wagoner among
the number, wounded in the head, while many horses and mules were killed.
Near lo o'clock the fight closed, and the men worked all night strengthening
their breastworks, using knives, tin cups and plates in place of spades and picks,
taking up the fight again in the morning. In ihe afternoon of the second day the
desire for water became almost intolerable. The wounded were begging piteously
for it. The tongues of the men were swollen and their lips parched, and from lack
of rest they were almost exhausted. So a bold attempt was made for water.
Men volunteered to go with canteens and camp kettles, though to go was almost
certain death. The attempt succeeded, though in making it one man was killed
and several wounded. The men were relieved and that night the animals were
watered. The fight closed at dark, opening again the next morning, and contin-
uing until the afternoon of the 27th. Meantime the men became more and more
exhausted and all wondered what had become of Custer. A panic all at once was
created among the Indians and they stampeded from the hills and from the valley,
and the village was soon deserted, except for the dead. Reno and his brave band
felt that succor was nigh.
General Terry came in sight and strong men wept upon each other's necks
but no word was had from Custer. Hand shaking and congratulations were
scarcely over when Lieutenant Bradley reported that he had found Custer dead
with 190 cavalrymen. Imagine the effect. Words cannot picture the feeling
of these, his comrades and soldiers. General Terry sought the spot and found
it to be true. Of those brave men that followed Custer, all perished. No one
lives to tell the story of the battle. Those deployed as skirmishers lay as they
fell, shot down from every side, having been entirely surrounded in an open
plain.
The men in the companies fell in platoons, and, like those on the skirmish
line, lay as they fell, with their officers behind them in their proper positions.
General Custer, who was shot through the head and body, seemed to have been
among the last to fall, and around and near him iay the bodies of Colonel Tom and
Boston, his brothers. Colonel Calhoun, his brother-in-law, and his nephew, young
Reed, who insisted on accompanying the expedition for pleasure. Colonel Cook and
the members of the non-commissioned staff all dead — all stripped of their cloth-
ing and many of them with bodies horribly mutilated. The squaws seemed to
have passed over the field and crushed the skulls of the wounded and dying with
stones and clubs. The heads of some were severed from the body, the privates
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 315
of some were cut off, while others bore traces of torture, arrows having been
shot into their private parts while yet living, or other means of torture adopted.
The officers who fell were as follows : Gen. G. A. Custer, Cols. Geo. Yates,
Miles Keogh, James Calhoun, W. W. Cook, Captains Mcintosh, A. E. Smith,
Lieutenants Riley, Critenden, Sturgis, Harrington, Hodgson and Porter, Assistant
Surgeon DeWolf. The only citizens killed were Boston Custer, Mr. Reed,
Charles Reynolds, Isaiah, the interpreter from Fort Rice, and Mark Kellogg, the
latter the Tribune Correspondent. The body of Kellogg alone remained unstrip-
ped of its clothing, and was not mutilated. Perhaps as they had learned to respect '
the Great Chief, Custer, and for that reason did not mutilate his remains they
had in like manner learned to respect this humble shover of the lead pencil and to
that fact may be attributed this result. The wounded were sent to the rear
some fourteen miles on horse litters, striking the Far West sixty odd miles up
the Big Horn, which point they left on Monday, July 3, at noon, reaching Bis-
marck, 900 miles distant, at 11 P. M., Wednesday, July 5.
The burial of the dead was sad work, but they were all decently interred.
Many could not be recognized ; among the latter class were some of the officers.
This work being done the command worked its way back to the base, where
General Terry (his command) awaits supplies and approval of his plans for the
future campaign.
The men are worn out with marching and fighting, and are almost wholly
destitute of clothing.
The Indians numbered at least 1,800 lodges in their permanent camp, while
those who fought Crook seemed to have joined them, making their effective
fighting force nearly four thousand. These were led by chiefs carrying flags
of various colors, nine of whom were found in a burial tent on the field of
battle. Many other dead were found on the field, and near it ten squaws
at one point in a ravine — evidently the work of Ree or Crow scouts.
The Indian dead were great in number, as they were constantly assaulting
an inferior force. The camp had the appearance of being abandoned in haste.
The most gorgeous ornaments were found on the bodies of the dead chiefs and
hundreds of finely dressed and painted robes and skins were thrown about the
camp. The Indians were certainly severely punished.
We said none of those who went into battle with Custer are living — one Crow
scout hid himself in the field and witnessed and survived the fight. His story is
plausible and is accepted, but we have no room for it now. The names of the
wounded are as follows :
Priv. Davis Corey, Company I, Seventh Cavalry, right hip ; Patrick McDon-
nall, D, left leg; Sergt. John Paul, H, back; Privts. Michael C. Madden, K, right
leg; Wm. George, H, left side, died July 3, at 4 A.M. ; First Sergt. Wm. Heyn,
A, left knee; Priv. John McVay, C, hips; Patrick Corcoran, K, right shoulder;
Max Wilke, K, left foot; Alfred Whitaker, C, right elbow; Peter Thompson,
C, right hand ; Jacob Deal, A, face ; J. H. Meyer, M, back ; Roman Rutler,
M, right shoulder; Daniel Newell, M, left thigh; Jas. Muller, H, right thigh;
Elijah T. Stroude, A, right leg; Sergt. Patrick Carey, M, right hip; Priv. Jas. E.
Bennett, C, body, died July 5, at 3 o'clock; Francis Reeves, A, left side and body;
James Wilbur, M, left leg; Jasper Marshall, L, left foot; Sergt. Jas. T. Riley,
E, back and left leg; Priv. John J. Phillips, H, face and both hands; Samuel
316 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Severn, H, both thighs; Frank Brunn, ]\I, face and left thigh; Corp. Alex B.
Bishop, H, right arm; Priv. Jas. Foster, A, right arm; W. E. Harris, M, left
breast; Chas. H. Bishop, H, right arm; Fred Homsted, A, left wrist; Sergt.
Chas. White, M, right arm; Priv. Thos. P. Varnerx, M, right ear; Chas. Camp-
bell, C, right shoulder; John Cooper, H, right elbow; John McGuire, C, right
arm; Henry Black, H, right hand; Daniel McWilliams, H, right leg.
An Indian scout, name unknown, left off at Berthold; Sergt. M. Riley, Com-
pany I, Seventh Infantry, left off at Buford, consumption ; Priv. David Ackison,
Company E, Seventh cavalry, left off July 4th at Buford, constipation.
The total number of killed was 261 ; wounded 52. Thirty-eight of the
wounded were brought down on the Far West; three of them died en route.
The remainder were cared for at the field hospital.
De Rudio had a narrow escape and his escape is attributed to the noise of
beavers, jumping into the river during the engagement. De Rudio followed
them, got out of sight and after hiding for twelve hours or more finally reached
the command in safety.
The body of Lieutenant Hodgson did not fall into the hands of the Indians ;
that of Lieutenant Mcintosh did, and was badly mutilated. Mcintosh, though
a halfbreed, was a gentleman of culture and esteemed by all who knew him.
He leaves a family at Lincoln, as do General Custer, Colonels Calhoun and
Yates, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Porter. The -unhappy ]\Irs. Calhoun loses
a husband, three brothers and a nephew. Lieutenant Harrington also had a fam-
ily, but no trace of his remains was found. We are indebted to Colonel Smith
for the following full list of the dead : to Doctor Porter for the list of wounded,
which is also full.
KILLED.
FIELD .\ND STAFF
Brevet Maj. Gen. George A. Custer; Lieut.-Col. W. W. Cook; Assistant
Surgeon, — . Lord ; Acting Asst. Surgeon, J. M. De Wolf.
NONCOMBAT.\NT ST.VFF
Surgeon Maj. W. W. Sharrow ; Chief Trumpeter Henry Voss.
COMPANY A
Corporals Henry Dallans, G. K. King; Privates J. E. Armstrong, Jas. Drinaw,
Wm. Moody, R. Rowline, Jas. McDonald, John Sullivan, Thos. P. Switzer.
COMP.^NY B
Second Lieut. Benj. Hodgson, Privates Richard Doran and Geo. Mask.
COMPANY c
Brevet Lieut.-Col. T. W. Custer; Second Lieut. H. H. Harrington (the body
of Lieutenant Harrington was not found but it is reasonably certain that he was
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 317
killed) ; First Sergt. Edwin Baba, Sergts. Finley and Finkle, Corps. French,
Foley and Ryan; Privates Allen, Criddle, King, Bucknell, Eisman, Engle, Bright-
field, Fanand, Griffin, Hamlet, Hattisoll, Kingsoutz, Lewis, Mayer, Mayer, Phil-
lips, Russell, Rix, Ranter, Short, Shea, Shade, Stuart, St. John, Thadius, Van
Allen, Warren, Windham, Wright.
COMPANY D
Farrier Charley Vincent, Privates Patrick Golden and Edward Hanson.
COMPANY E
Brevet Capt. A. E. Smith, Second Lieut. E. Sturgis (the body of Lieutenant
Sturgis was not found, but it is reasonably certain he was killed) ; First Sergt.
F. Hohmeyer, Sergts. Egnen and James ; Corp. Hagan, Privates Snow and
Hughes.
COMPANY L
First Lieut. Jas. Calhoun, Privates Miller, Tweed, Veller, Cashan, Keifer,
Andrews, Crisfield, Hamington, Haugge, Kavaugh, Lobering, Mahoney, Schmidt,
Lunan, Semenson, Riebold, O'Connell, J. J. Crittenden (Twentieth Infantry),
First Sergts. Butler and Warren, Corps. Harrison, Gilbert and Seiller; Trptr.
Walsh, Privates Adams, Assdely, Burke, Cheever, McGue, McCarthy, Dugan,
Maxwell, Scott, Babcock, Perkins, Tarbox, Dye, Tessler, Galvin, Graham,
Hamilton, Rodgers.
COMPANY K
First Sergt. D. Winney, Sergt. Hughes, Corp. J. J. Callahan, Trptr. Julius
Helmer, Private Eli U. T. Clair.
COMiPANY I
Col. M. W. Keogh, Lieut. J. E. Porter (the body of Lieutenant Porter was
not found, but it is reasonably certain he was killed) ; First Sergts. F. E. Varden
and J. Burtand ; Corps. John Wild, G. C. Morris and S. T. Staples ; Trptrs.
J. M. Gycker and J. Patton; Blacksmith H. A. Bailey; Privates J. E. Broadhurst,
J. Barry, J. Connors, T. P. Downing, Mason, Blorm. Meyer; Trptrs. McElroy
and Mooney; Privates Baker, Boyle, Bauth, Conner, Daring, Davis, Farrell,
Hiley, Huber, Hime, Henderson, Henderson, Leddison, O'Conner, Rood, Reese,
Smith 1st, Smith 2d, Smith 3d, Stella, Stafford, Schoole, Smallwood, Tarr,
Vaugant, Walker, Bragew, Knight.
COMPANY F
Capt. G. W. Yates; Second Lieut. W. Van Rieley; First Sergt. Kenney ;
Sergts. Nursey, Vickory and Wilkinson; Corps. Coleman, Freeman and Briody;
Farrier Brandon; Blacksmith Manning; Privates Atchison, Brown ist. Brown
318 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
2d, Bruce, Brady, Burnham, Gather, Carney, Dohman, Donnelly, Gardiner, Ham-
mon, Kline, Krianth, Luman, Losse, James Milton, Madson, Monroe, Ruddew,.
Omeling, Siefous, Sanders, Wanew, Way, Lerock, Kidey, E. C. Driscoll, D. G.
Gillette, G. H. Gross, E. P. Holcomb, M. E. Horn, Adam Hitismer, P. idlley,
Fred Lehman, Henry Lehman, E. P. Lloyd, A. Mclchargey, J. Mitchell, J.
Noshaug, J. O'Bryan, J. Parker, E. J- Fitter, Geo. Post. Jas. Quinn, Wm. Reed,
J. W. Rossberg, D. L. Lymons, J. E. Troy, Gharles Van Bramer and W: B.
Whaley.
COMPANY G
First Lieut. Daniel McLitosh ; Sergts. Edward Botzer and M. Gonsidine ;.
Capts. James Martin and Otto Hageman ; Farrier Benjamin Wells ; Trptr.
Henry Dose; Saddler Grawford Selby; Privates Benjamin F. Rodgers, Andrew
J. Moore, John J. McGinniss, Edward Stanley, Henry Seafferman and John
Papp ; Gorp. George Lee ; Privates Julian D. Jones and Thomas E. Meador.
COMPANY M
Sergt. Miles F. O'Hara; Gorps. Henry M. Scollier and Fred Stringer;
Privates Henry Gordon, H. Klotzbursher, G. Lawrence, W. D. Meyer, G. E.
Smith, D. Somers, J. Tanner, H. Tenley and H. G. Voyt.
CIVILIANS
Boston Guster, Arthur Reed, Mark Kellogg, Gharles Reynolds, Frank G.
Mann.
INDIAN SCOUTS
Bloody Knife, Bobtailed Bull and Stab.
Total number of commissioned officers killed 14
Acting assistant surgeon I
Enlisted men 237
Givilians 5
Indian scouts 3
Note. — An officer of Ouster's regiment penciled on the margin of this account
the following:
"Our march on June 24th was twenty-eight miles; leaving barracks at 11
P. M., we marched eight miles ; halted at 2 A. M., 25th ; again marched at
8 A. M. till 10:30 A. M. Then about noon took up our march for the attack.
Up to this time we had marched about forty-eight miles."
DOCTOR porter's STORY
On his return from the Custer battlefield in charge of the wounded Dr. Henry
R. Porter, one of the surviving heroes of that expedition, though now called to
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 319
his long home, gave a most interesting account of the battle of the Little Big
Horn, so far as it related to Reno's command, and of the trip down the river
with the wounded. The story written for the St. Paul Pioneer Press at the time
by John A. Rea, the following extracts are made, speaking of Reno's command :
■'Captain Mcintosh fell, and Charley Reynolds, the scout that Custer loved.
Porter was beside a dying soldier. His orderly and supplies were gone, and the
command was off several hundred yards. He was alone. The bullets were
pruning the trees, and terrific yells were sounding the alarm of universal death.
Porter left his lost patient and led his horse to the embankment that protected the
woods. He was startled by Indians dashing by him within ten feet. They were
rushing along the foot of the little bluff. Their aim was so direct in the line
of Reno's flying battalion that Porter's presence was unnoticed. He was un-
armed and his powerful black horse reared and plunged as if he were mad.
Porter saw the fate that was in the immediate future if that horse escaped before
he was on his back. He held on with superhuman strength. He could hold
him but that was all. To gain the saddle seemed a forlorn hope. Leap after
leap with the horse quicker than he. It was a brief ordeal, but in the face of
death it was a terrible one. One supreme effort and half in the saddle the dusky
charger bore away his master like the wind. He gained the full seat, and lying
close upon his savior's neck, was running a gauntlet where the chances of death
were a thousand to one. The Indians were quick to see the lone rider, and a
storm of leaden hail fell around him. He had no control of his horse. It was
only a half mile dash, but it was a wild one. The horse was frenzied. He
reached the river in a minute and rushed up the bank where Reno had gone and
was then recovering himself. The horse and rider were safe. It was destiny.
"Porter's associate was killed and he was alone. The afternoon of the 25th,
all night, throughout the 26th, the night of that date and the 27th, Porter worked
as few men are ever called upon to work. He had no idea that he would get out
alive, and believed every man around him was doomed. Still he was the same
ccol and skillful surgeon that he is today. He had a duty to perform that
seldom falls to a man of twenty-six, and yet he performed it nobly. He was
surrounded by the dead, dying and wounded. Men were crying for water, for
help, for relief, for life. For twenty-four hours there was no water. The sun
was blazing hot, the dead horses were sickening, the air heavy with a hundred
smells, the bullets thick, the men falling and the bluffs for miles black with
jubilant savages.
A LIGHTNING STE.'\MBO.'\T RIDE ,
"The steamer Far West was moored at the mouth of the Little Big Horn.
She was the supply boat of the expedition and had made her way up the Big
Horn farther than any other boat. She had performed one exploit unprecedented
in western river navigation in reaching the mouth of the Little Big Horn, and
was ready to perform another feat unequaled in steamboating in the West. The
wounded were carried on board of the steamer and Doctor Porter was detailed
to go down with them. Terry's adjutant, general. Col. Ed Smith, was sent along
320 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
with the official dispatches, and a hundred other messages. He had a traveling
bag full of telegrams for the Bismarck office. Capt. Grant Marsh of Yankton
was in command of the Far West. He put everything in the completest order
and took on a large amount of fuel. He received orders to reach Bismarck as
soon as possible. He understood his instructions literally and never did a river
man obey more conscientiously. On the evening of July 3d the steamer weighed
anchor. In a few minutes the Far West, so fittingly named, was under full
head of steam. It was a strange land and an unknown river. What a cargo on
that steamer. What news for the country. What a story to carry to the Gov-
ernment, to Fort Lincoln, to the widows.
"It was running from a field of havoc to a station of mourners. The Far
West never received the credit due her. Neither has the gallant Marsh. Nor
the pilots David Campbell and John Johnson. Marsh, too, acted as pilot. It
required all of their endurance and skill. They proved the men of emergency.
The engineer, whose name is unknown to me, did his duty. Every one of the
crew is entitled to the same acknowledgment. They felt no sacrifice was too great
upon that journey, and in behalf of the wounded heroes.
"A very moderate imagination can picture the scene on that floating hospital.
There were wounds of every character and men more dead than alive. The
suffering was not terminated by the removal from the field to the boiler deck.
It continued and ended in death in more than one instance before Fort Lincoln
was hailed. Here again the son of N. Y. Mills, of the Empire state, was tested.
Porter watched for the fifty-four hours. He stood the test.
**********
"The bold captain was taking chances, but he scarcely thought of them. He
was under flying orders. Lives were at stake. His engineer was instructed to
keep up steam at the highest pitch. Once the steam gauge marked a pressure
that turned his cool head and made every nerve in his powerful frame quiver.
The crisis passed and the Far West escaped a fate more terrible than Custer's.
Once a stop was made and a shallow grave explained the reason. Down the
swift Yellowstone, like shooting the Racine rapids, every mile a repetition of the
former! From the Yellowstone into the broad Missouri, and then there was
clear sailing. There was a deeper channel and more confidence. A few minutes
was lost at Buford. Everybody at the fort was beside himself. The boat was
crowded with inquirers, and their inquiries were not half answered when the
steamer was away. At Berthold a wounded scout was put off, and at Fort
Stevenson a brief stop to tell in a word what had happened. There was no dif-
ference in the speed from Stevenson to Bismarck. The same desperate gait was
kept up to the end. They were approaching home with something of that feeling
which always moves the human heart. At 11 o'clock on the night of July
5th they reached Bismarck and Fort Abraham Lincoln.
"Doctor Porter and Colonel Smith hurried from the landing up town, calling
up the editor of the Tribune and the telegraph operator. The latter. J. M.
Carnahan, took his seat at the key and scarce raised himself from his chair for
twenty-two hours. He, too, was plucky, and what he sent went vibrating around
the world in history."
And the news was carried to the stricken families at Fort Lincoln. Imagine
their grief, if you can; their sobs, their flood of tears. The grief that knew no
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 321
consolation. The fearful depression that had hung over the fort for the past two
days had its explanation then. It was almost stifling. Men and women moved
an.xiously, nervously straining their eyes for the expected messenger, listening
as footsteps fell. There was whispering and excitement among the Indian police.
There were rumors of a great battle. Those who saw the Indians and witnessed
their movements knew that something unusual must have happened. But what?
Who would not have given worlds to know just why all this excitement among
the Indians. Fleet-footed warriors, mounted on still fleeter animals, aided per-
haps by signals, had brought the news to them even before the arrival of the Far
West, but no white man knew. That it brought joy to them was reason enough
for depression among the whites.
A few more battles, a few more skirmishes, a treaty or two, and the Sioux
warriors gave up the unequal contest. The superiority of the white man will
never be acknowledged by the Indian, but he bows to the powers which have
subdued him.
INDIAN TREATIES
At the very beginning of the life of the United States, it not only became its
policy, but a necessity, to treat with the Indians. They contributed in no small
degree to the success of the Revolution. The first formal treaty was with the
Delawares, September 17, 1778, when all offenses or acts of hostility by one or
either of the contracting parties were mutually forgiven and buried in the depths
of oblivion, never more to be had in remembrance, and each agreed to assist the
other if either should be engaged in war, the Delawares agreeing to furnish
warriors for the then prevailing struggle.
October 22, 1784, the United States gave peace to the Senecas, Mohawks,
Onondagas and Cayugas, receiving them under its protection, requiring hostages,
however, for the safe return of white and black prisoners held by the Indians.
In 1785 treaties were made with the Wyandottes and Cherokces, and in 1786
with the Choctaw, Chickasaw and Shawnee Indians; with the Creeks in 1790;
with the five nations in 1792 ; with the Oneidas in 1794; with the seven nations in
Canada in 1796; with the Sauk and Foxes in 1804, and with the Osage November
10, 1808, the latter being the first of direct interest to the Dakotas.
The next treaty bearing upon the Dakotas was with the Chippewas also in
1808. It was made by Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, on the part of
the United States, and with the Chippewas, and other tribes northwest of the
Ohio River, extending to the Great Lakes, the home of the Chippewas.
William Clark. July 18, 1815, made a treaty of peace and friendship with the
Tetons, in which it was agreed that every act of hostility should be mutually
forgiven and forgot, and perpetual peace and friendship was pledged ; the Tetons
acknowledging the sovereignty of the United States. The next day a similar
treaty was made with the "Sioux of the Lakes," and with the Yank-ton Sioux.
Other treaties followed with the Osage and other tribes involved in the war of
1812, William Clark. Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau usually representing
the United States. Many previous treaties, broken before or during the war,
were replaced by others, and apparently a new era was entered. Other treaties
followed, which have been mentioned in earlier chapters.
322 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
October lo, 1865, Governor Edmunds, of Dakota, concluded a treaty at Fort
Sully with the Minneconjous, with a view of protecting the settlements in
Dakota. Edward B. Taylor, Maj. Gen. S. R. Curtis, H. H. Sibley, Henry W.
Reed and Orrin Gurnse acted with Governor Edmunds. This treaty provided
for an overland route through the great Sioux reservation for which the Indians
were to receive $10,000 annually for twenty years. The same parties negotiated
a treaty at the same time with the Lower Brule bank, the Sansarc, Hunkpapa,
Yanktonais and other Sioux bands for the same purpose. February 19, 1867,
the Waiipetons and Sissetons ceded the right to construct wagon roads, telegraph
lines, etc.
After the treaty of 1868, made with General Sherman and associates, that of
1876 made by George W. Manypenny, Rt. Rev. Henry B. Whipple, Jared W.
Daniels, Albert G. Boone, Henry W. Bullis, Newton Edmunds and Augustine S.
Gaylord was next in importance. It was the good fortune of the writer of
these pages to have been present at this treaty, to have heard the bitter com-
plaints of the Indians and their pleas for justice, and to have witnessed their utter
hopelessness, excepting as they had faith in Bishop Whipple and Newton Ed-
munds, their tried and true friends. Here was an attempt in good faith to benefit
the Indians.
September 20, 1872, Moses N. Adams, William H. Forbes and James Smith,
Jr., negotiated with Gabrielle Renville, head chief of the Sissetons, and others,
for all of their lands in Dakota excepting certain restricted reservations at Lake
Traverse and Devils Lake. This was amended May 2, 1873, and under that
amended treaty all question was removed as to the title to certain lands in the
Red River Valley, and the lands about Fargo became free public lands.
In October, 1882, Hon. Newton Edmunds, Judge Peter C. Shannon and
James H. Teller, negotiated a treaty with the Sioux at their various agencies in
which they agreed to divide up their reservation and looking to the allotment of
land in severalty. They were also to be provided with a farmer to instruct them,
and with schools and other advantages. ^
By the act of March 2, 1889, there were further changes made in the Sioux
reservation, opening a small portion of the reservation in North Dakota, and
confirming by law other portions. Allotments were provided for and citizenship,
when they should take lands in severalty, and Indians were given preference for
employment on reservation.
The Turtle Mountain reservation was created by executive order of December
21, 1882. Two years later it was limited by executive order to the two townships
now occupied by them. July 13, 1892, a commission was provided for by act of
Congress to treat with the Turtle Mountain band for their removal, and the
extinguishment of the Indian title to lands claimed by them. The commission
created under this act is known as the McCumber commission, and resulted in
the payment of a large sum for their alleged rights to other lands. The two
townships reserved for them by executive order, was wholly allotted to them, and
other members of the tribe were provided for on other public lands, some of
them settling in Montana, and others in the Missouri River region in North
Dakota.
In 1886, J. V. Wright, Jared W. Daniels and Charles F. Larabee, negotiated
a treaty with the Berthold Indians, who relinquished a considerable portion of
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 323
their reservation, and defining that remaining, providing for the allotment of
lands, for rewards for industry, etc. This agreement was confirmed by act of
Congress, March 3, 1891 (20 Stat. 1032).
Wise and wholesome laws have been enacted for the government of the
Indians, for protection of their persons and property; for the education of their
children; and in every possible way to uplift them. Lands claimed by them are
protected from the encroachments of the whites, if they have any improvements
on them of any value whatever, and the Government will incur any necessary
expense in defending them. They are wards of the Nation. The act of Febru-
ary 8, 1887, provides for their becoming citizens when they shall have selected
land in severalty, throwing around them all of the guards pertaining to citizen-
ship, and giving them all of its rights, while protecting their homes from aliena-
tion for a period of twenty-five years.
From the adoption of the Articles of Confederation it became the fixed policy
of the United States to protect the Indians in their rights to the land occupied or
claimed by them. By clause IX of the articles it was agreed that the United
States, in Congress assembled, should have the sole and exclusive right and power
of regulating the trade, and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members
of any of the states, provided that the legislative rights of the state within its
own limits be not infringed or violated.
By the proclamation of September 22, 1783, all persons were prohibited from
making settlement on lands inhabited or claimed by the Indians, without the
limits or jurisdiction of any particular state, and from receiving any gift or
cession of such lands or claims, without the express authority and direction of the
United States. The Constitution of the United States provided for the regula-
tion of commerce with the Indians and for their care through its general
provisions.
The Indians were dealt with by treaty until the act of March 3, 187 1, which
provided that no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States
shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe or power,
with whom the United States may contract by treaty, thus changing the policy
which had prevailed since the treaty with the Delawares September 17, 1778.
The only excepion to this rule was in the treatment of the Sioux after the
Indian outbreak of 1862. The treaty with them was held to be void, their
annuities were refused, but they were later provided for through the Great Sioux
and other reservations. The United States claimed their lands by right of
conquest.
Some twelve hundred to fifteen hundred of the Wahpeton and Sisseton Sioux,
who aided the whites during the outbreak, jeopardizing their lives to protect the
whites, and to obtain possession of the white women and children made captives
by the hostile bands, and another group of one thousand to twelve hundred, who
fled to the plains, fearing the indiscriminate vengeance of the whites, were
granted the fairest and best portion of North Dakota by the treaty of February
19, 1867, the land so granted extending from Goose Creek to Watertown, S. D.,
conflicting, however, with the Chippewa cession extending to the Sheyenne.
There were included in this grant the specific reservations of Lake Traverse and
Devils Lake. By recent legislation that portion of the reservation not occupied
by Indians has been opened to settlement, the settlers paying their appraised
324 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
value, the money so paid being set aside by the Government for the benefit of
the Indians.
In the early cessions of lands by the Indians, covering the fertile regions of
Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota, lo cents an acre was regarded a fair price to
pay for the lands, but under the treaty of 1876, the Sioux were allowed $1.25, 75
and 50 cents per acre, depending upon the time of entry ; the Wahpeton and Sis-
seton Indians were allowed $2.50 per acre for the Lake Traverse reservation and
the Devils Lake Indians as high as $4.50 per acre for their lands. The Fort
Berthold Indians were allowed $1.50 per acre for that part of their reservation
surrendered, and have reason to expect a much larger sum for the portion they
are now asked to give up. The Yankton Sioux received $3.75 per acre for their
reservation. Some of the Fort Berthold lands have sold at $6 per acre.
The following recapitulation may be found of interest : The lands in North
Dakota along the Red River were ceded by the Red Lake and Pembina bands
of Chippewa Indians on October 2. 1863 (13 Stat., 667), and on September 20,
1872 (Rev. Stat., 1050), the Wahpeton and Sisseton Sioux ceded the remainder
of the Red River Valley, and the country extending west to the lames River and
Devils Lake.
By executive order of July 13, 1880, the country north of the Heart and
south and west of the Missouri to a point about twelve miles west of Dickinson
was restored to the public domain. A further portion of the Fort Berthold
reservation was opened to settlement March 3. 1891 (26 Stat., 1032). The Lake
Traverse reservation was opened to settlement March 3. 1891 (26 Stat., 1038) ;
the Devils Lake reservation was restored by the President's proclamation of June
2, 1904, under the act of April 27, 1904. The Standing Rock reservation was
opened to settlement under the President's proclamation of August 19, 1909.
The Great Sioux reservation, not included in special reservations, was disposed
of under the act of March 2, 1889 (25 Stat., 888).
The Fort Rice military reservation was turned over to the Interior Depart-
•ment by the War Department on July 22. 1884 ; the Fort Abraham Lincoln reser-
vation was turned over to the Interior Department March 19, 1896; the Fort
Stevenson reservation was turned over to the Interior Department February 12,
1895, and the lands were sold at public sale October 2, 1901, under the act of
July 5, 1884. The Fort Buford reservation was turned over to the Interior De-
partment October 25, 1895, and disposed of under the act of May 19, 1900 (31
Stat., 180). The" Fort Pembina military reservation was turned over to the
Interior Department November 27, 1895, and sold at public sale April 2, 1902.
under the act of July 5, 1884, some of the lands bringing as high as $20 per acre.
Fort Abererombie reservation was opened to settlement by act of Congress July
75, 1882, and Fort Seward reservation by act of Congress June 10, 1880.
CHAPTER XXII
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, ITS HISTORY, PROMOTERS AND CONSTRUCTION
BEGINNING OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT EXTENSIONS, BISMARCK AND
OTHER TOWNSITES FORT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ESTABLISHED — -THE GREAT
NORTHERN RAILROAD — CONDITIONS CONTRASTED JAMES J. HILL's HISTORY OF
THE GREAT NORTHERN ENTERPRISE JAMES J. HILL ^THE EARLY TRANSPORTA-
TION INTERESTS OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY.
March 3, 1853, Jefferson Davis, then secretary of war, and later president
of the southern confederacy, procured the passage of a resolution by Congress
authorizing him, as secretary of war, to make such explorations as he deemed
advisable to ascertain the most practicable route for a railroad from the Missis-
sippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Under this resolution three expeditions were
organized, one to survey a southern, one a central, and the other a northern
route. The eastern end of the northern route was placed in charge of Maj.
Isaac I. Stevens, and the western in charge of Lieut. George B. McClellan, after-
wards a distinguished Union officer during the War of the Rebellion, and in 1864
the democratic candidate for President of the United States. At the time of
his appointment Mr. Stevens was chairman of the national democratic committee
and prejudiced against the northern route.
A southern route to the Pacific had long been a favorite scheme of the leading
men of the south with a \'iew to strengthening the predominating influence of
that section in the National Go\ernment against possible northern development.
Edwin F. Johnson, a distinguished engineer, who, as early as 1S36, had pro-
jected the Erie Railroad from New York to the lakes, and who had been con-
nected with the construction of the Erie Canal, had accumulated much data from
army officers, traders and trappers in relation to the northern route. In 1852
he was chief engineer of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad, now
the Northwestern, and Thomas H. Canfield of Burlington, Vt., was engaged on
the work of building that line as a contractor. Mr. Johnson had previously inter-
ested Mr. Canfield in a proposed Northern Pacific scheme. There was then no
railroad entering Chicago from the East. The supplies for the construction of
this new northwestern road were shipped by lake from Buffalo to Chicago.
In 1852 Mr. Johnson prepared an exhaustive treatise on the subject of a rail-
road connecting the Mississippi with the Pacific Ocean, which he later published
at the expense of Mr. Canfield and his partner. An extended map accompanied
this publication and the advantages of a northern route over the central and
southern route were clearly presented. Hon. Robert J. Walker, then secretary
825
326 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the treasury of the United States, was a director of the Chicago, St. Paul &
Fond du Lac Railroad, with which Johnson and Canfield were connected. Mr.
Walker had seen the manuscript of the Johnson pamphlet and had so impressed
Mr. Davis, associated with him in the cabinet, in relation to it, that Mr. Davis
went to New York to secure information concerning it. He procured the manu-
script and after reading it returned to New York and endeavored to convince
Mr. Johnson that he was in error in giving preference to the northern route.
Failing in this, he procured the passage of a resolution by Congress authorizing
the survey of the three routes. The appointment of Stevens and McClellan to
make the survey of the northern route was intended by him to settle the question
in favor of the southern route.
McClellan justified his expectation; Stevens did not. Stevens secured from
President Pierce the appointment as governor of Washington and devoted the
remainder of his life to presenting to the public the importance of the con-
struction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, enlightening them as to the wonderful
resources of the regions to be traversed by it.
The panic of 1857 intervened, and in 1861 the War of the Rebellion. Result-
ing from the war, the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad became a neces-
sity, and the interests of the northern route were overshadowed by the greater
public interests then demanding attention. The Union Pacific Railroad Company
was incorporated by act of Congress July i, 1862. Lands were granted, and
also a subsidy in bonds, in order to promote th^ construction of the road at the
earliest possible date. July 2, 1864, the Northern Pacific Railroad Company was
incorporated by act of Congress. It was granted lands to the extent of forty
sections to the mile in the territories and twenty in the states, but a money
subsidy was denied. July 2-, 1866, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Company
was incorporated by a similar act of Congress and to it a like grant was made.
A similar grant was made to the Southern Pacific, incorporated under the laws
of California, and that company was authorized to connect with the Atlantic &
Pacific and to extend its line to San Francisco.
When the war broke out, in 1861, the control of the railroads by the Govern-
ment became a military necessity. Thomas A. Scott of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, afterwards the leading promoter of the Southern Pacific Railroad, became
assistant secretary of war, and had particular charge of the movement of the
armies by rail. He placed Thomas H. Canfield of \'ermont in charge of the
railroads about W'ashington, and to his management was in a large measure due
the successful prosecution of the war. Canfield was one of the incorporators of
the Union Pacific Railroad, but from the beginning had been a consistent and
persistent advocate of the northern route and became one of its incorporators.
Among the incorporators were M. K. Armstrong, J. B. S. Todd and J. Shaw
Gregory of Dakota, and Cyrus Aldrich, H. M. Rice, John McKusic, H. C. Waite
and Stephen ^liller of Minnesota.
Josiah Perham of Maine had been the leading character in securing the
charter for the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Congress having
denied a subsidy in money to aid in the construction, the charter was likely to fail,
when the active services of Mr. Canfield were enlisted, and through his efforts a
syndicate was formed consisting of J. Gregory Smith of St. Albans, Vt., presi-
dent of the Vermont Central Railroad ; Richard D. Rice of Augusta, Maine,
MAX BASS
Great Northern immigration agent.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 327
president of the Maine Central Railroad; Thomas H. Canfield of BurUngton,
Vt.; W. B. Ogden of Chicago, 111., president of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad; Robert H. Berdell of New York, president of the Erie Railroad; Dan-
forth N. Barney of New York, president of the Wells, Fargo & Co. Express
Company; Ashel H. Barney of New York, president of the United States
Express Company; Benjamin P. Cheney of Boston, president of the United
States & Canada Express Company; Wm. G. Fargo of Buffalo, N. Y., vice
president of the New York Central Railroad and president of the American
Express Company; George W. Cass of Pittsburgh, Pa., president of the Pitts-
burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company; J. Edgar Thompson of Phila-
delphia, Pa., president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and Edward
Reiley of Lancaster, Pa., for the purpose of securing the construction of the
road. Later a division of the above interests occurred by which Jay Cooke &
Co., Charles B. Wright and Thomas A. Scott of Philadelphia, Frederick Billings
of Woodstock, Vt., and William Windom and William S. King of Minnesota
became identified with them, and to these men belongs whatever credit is due
for carrying to successful completion this great enterprise. The agreement
between the original twelve of these parties was signed January lo, 1867. An
arrangement with Jay Cooke & Co. for financing the road was made by Messrs.
Canfield, Smith, Ogden and Rice, in May, 1869, conditioned upon a favorable
report of Mr. Cooke's representatives after a personal inspection of the route.
Mr. Canfield took charge of the party, consisting of W. Milnor Roberts, engi-
neer, Samuel Wilkinson, William G. Moorhead, Jr., Rev. Dr. Claxton and Wm.
Johnson, a son of Edwin F. Johnson, for the exploration of the western end of
the Hne. Mr. Smith and Mr. Rice conducted a similar party for the exploration
of the eastern end. Both parties reported favorably and soon afterwards the
work of construction commenced.
In 1870 Mr. Canfield, accompanied by J. Gregory Smith, went to the line
of the road and selected the crossing of the railroad at Brainerd, Minn., laid
out the Town of Brainerd, planned for the location of the shops and located the
Red River crossing at Fargo. Mr. Canfield returned the next spring and located
Moorhead and Fargo, and in May, 1872, located the Missouri River crossing of
the road and the Town of Bismarck, at first called Edwinton, in honor of Edwin
F. Johnson, and later Bismarck, for the purpose of attracting German capital in
the completion of the enterprise.
The Southern Pacific Railroad interests, headed by Mr. Scott, bitterly antago-
nized the construction of the Northern Pacific and on July i, 1868, the charter
was saved through the influence of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania and
Jacob M. Howard of Michigan by an amendment to the bill providing an exten-
sion of time to the Northern Pacific Company. The charter would have expired
the next day.
Januar)' i, 1872, the first rail was laid within the limits of North Dakota,
the road having crossed the Red River at Fargo at that time. In June, 1873, it
was completed to Bismarck, and ten years later the completion of the line was
celebrated. Sitting Bull, who attacked the surveyors in June, 1873, when they
attempted to extend the survey westward from Bismarck, and who attacked and
destroyed Custer's command on the Little Big Horn in June, 1876, carried the
328 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
United States i\a.g, accompanied by many of his warriors, in the procession which
welcomed General Grant and others on this occasion.
Edwin F. Johnson conceived the idea of the construction of the Northern
Pacific Railroad. At the office of Thomas H. Canfield, at Burlington, Vt., he
planted the enthusiasm and aroused the energy in the breast of that young enthu-
siast, which organized the forces and pushed the work to completion. It was
largely Canfield's work which procured the charter; his work that saved it; his
that organized the syndicate which finally built it, and his that enlisted Jay Cooke
in the enterprise. He was personally identified with the location and upbuilding
of all of the towns on the Northern Pacific east of the Missouri River during the
days of construction. After the work was over he settled down to farming at
Lake Park, Minn., and remained until his death a leading force in the develop-
ment of the agricultural interests of the Northern Pacific region.
The great financial concern of Jay Cooke & Co., which had negotiated the bulk
of the Government loans during the Civil war, was forced into bankruptcy by
reason of its connection with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad,
and the panic of 1873 resulted therefrom. The bonds of the Northern Pacific
which had been so recently placed at nearly par fell to 8 cents on the dollar,
sweeping away the fortunes of thousands who had invested their all in the securi-
ties of the company. But their loss only led to the prosperity of others, for the
bonds were picked up and converted into land and the land converted into farms.
The leading spirits in the syndicate which constructed the road turned their atten-
tion to the development of the agricultural interests of the country through which
the road was to pass. This was especially true of George W. Cass and P. B.
Cheney, who were the promoters of the Dalrymple farms embracing not only the
Cass and Cheney and the Dalrymple farms in Cass County, but the Grandin farms
in Traill County. They furnished the means and pointed the way. Oliver Dal-
rymple had the experience and the opportunity. He developed the farms.
The rapid development of the Red River Valley led to the extension of the
St. Paul & Pacific Railroad line, now known as the Great Northern, down the
Red River Valley, and ultimately across the state and on to the Pacific Coast.
The Black Hills gold excitement and the transportation connected with the Indian
campaigns built up a thriving city at Bismarck, which had secured the location
of the capital of the territory even before the completion of the Northern Pacific.
The Lake Superior & Puget Sound Townsite Company was organized as a
Northern Pacific auxiliary, and was supposed to embrace all of the available sites
between Lake Superior and Puget Sound. Brainerd, at the crossing of the
Mississippi, had yielded its harvest of gold to that company, and the crossing of
the Red River and the Missouri were next in turn.
A land office had been established at Pembina in 1870, and settlement was
expected to rush for the fair land of the Red River Valley about to be opened.
Only an Indian title remained to be extinguished. A few Scandinavians from
Goodhue County, Minn., had gone ahead of the surveys, and had located on the
Red River, the Maple and the Sheyenne. There were three or four at what is
now Fargo. The land at Moorhead had been deeded and there was a stage
station there kept by Maj. Wm. Woods. The land deeded at that point was
owned by J. B. Smith, having been entered by him under the preemption act.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 32&
The land at Fargo was not subject to entry, the Indian title not having been
extinguished. An attempt, however, was made to enter by scrip.
In 1869 it was the purpose of the Northern Pacific directors to cross the river
at or near what is now Grandin, striking the Missouri River at the big bend,
and following up that steam to Fort Benton. And in accordance with that jjlan
the location of the bridge across the Red River was staked at Flm River, or
Grandin, and a settlement of townsite speculators gathered at that point. The
plan, however, was changed in the spring of 1870, and a fake line was staked to
a point near Moorhead, known as Oakport. Here a bright little village of tem-
porary structures sprang up.
When the location of the crossing was definitely located Mr. Andrew Holes
was employed to make settlement on the farm where James Hole long resided,
and was dispatched to purchase the land embracing the townsite of Moorhead,
which he succeeded in doing. In the meantime the several settlers were bought
olif at an expense of $1,000 to $1,500 each and on the night of June 25, 1S71,
George G. Beardsley was engaged in making improvements on the several quarter
sections which the townsite company intended to scrip, and J. B. Power, then a
clerk in the surveyor general's office in St. Paul, was sent to Pembina to make the
scrip locations for Fargo.
By the 5th of July, 1871, the townsite settlers who had been watching oppor-
tunity and the movements of the Puget Sound company people for a year or more
had learned the facts and made a rush for Fargo. G. J. Keeney, Patrick Davitt,
S. G. Roberts, Andrew McHench, Charles Roberts. J. Lowell, Harry Fuller,
George G. Sanborn and others made homestead locations on the grounds which
the townsite company had undertaken to scrip. The Indian claim having been
extinguished later, it was held that the settlers had preference over the scrip
locations, and the townsite company withdrew its claims, and left the settlers in
undisturbed possession of the even sections, while the odd fell to them through
the railroad grant. John E. Flaggart, Newton Whitman and others filed on agri-
cultural claims in the vicinity and became substantial farmers. James Holes
secured the claim settled upon by Andrew Holes and became the first in North
Dakota to engage in agriculture for a living. He opened up the first farm in
North Dakota aside from the small tracts in the Pembina settlement or in connec-
tion with the Hudson's Bay Company posts.
Moorhead was named for W. G. Moorhead of the Northern Pacific directory,
and Fargo for Hon. W. G. Fargo of the Wells-Fargo Express Company.
At that time St. Paul had about fifteen thousand population and Minneapolis
ten thousand, and it was believed that Moorhead and Fargo would make towns
of equal importance. They were located by Thomas H. Canfield, as agent of the
Puget Sound Company, aided by George B. Wright, a civil engineer in the employ
of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and the point of crossing the river
was determined by them.
After Fargo attention was centered on the Northern Pacific crossing of the
Missouri. John J. Jackman, who had been with the surveying party, knew the
exact location of the proposed crossing. He induced James J. Hill to finance a
scheme to obtain the townsite at that point. He formed a party consisting of
himself, John H. Richards, George G. Sanborn, Elmer N. Corey and Maj. William
Woods, and they made a race for the location with the representatives of the
330 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Puget Sound Company, who had learned of their purpose. Jackman won, and
settled on the claim selected for the townsite. The other parties took adjoining
land, forcing the Puget Sound Company entirely away from the land they
intended to enter. Other parties contested the location and some five years litiga-
tion followed, resulting in the final ento' of the land by the corporate authorities
for the benefit of the occupants, and the i\iget Sound Company was again
defeated. As the result of a compromise the Northern Pacific Company agreed
to establish their shops at Bismarck, but failed to make good their contract.
On reaching the Missouri River a false line crossing that stream at the mouth
of the Heart River was located. Camp Greene had been established on the west
side of the Missouri River by the military authorities; on the east side, at "Pleas-
ant Point." opposite Camp Greene, a thriving little city was built called Carleton
City, which continued as a place for saloons and worse institutions for some years,
to catch the soldier trade from Fort A. Lincoln, which was subsequently estab-
lished.
To further mislead as to the proposed location of the crossing of the Missouri
River, the road was actually graded to a place called Burleigh City, nearly a mile
south of Bismarck, and graded some distance on the flat because Doctor Burleigh's
contract called for grading to the Missouri River.
In 1873 the grade was changed to follow the bench and the road was completed
to the point where eight years later the road crossed the Missouri River.
Bismarck was surveyed in the interest of the Lake Superior & Puget Sound
Townsite Company in May, 1872. In order to make sure of holding the property
they employed through George W. Sweet, attorney, men to make location on
then unsurveyed public land. The plat was filed February 9, 1874, in the office
of the register of deeds in Burleigh County.
Soon after the survey was commenced, and before its completion. Sweet, as
the agent of the said company, commenced to sell lots by the numbers indicated
upon the plat filed, a certified copy of which is presented in the case. The parties
purchasing immediately commenced the erection of buildings upon their lots, for
dwellings and business purposes.
On the 1st of January following thirty buildings had been erected upon the
site so selected, and were then occupied. During the year 1873 about one hundred
buildings of various kinds were built. The population steadily increased, build-
ings continued to be erected until, at the date of the hearing before the local
officers, ]\Iay ig, 1875, the number of inhabitants of said city was estimated at
nine hundred, and the improvements made were valued at from one to two hun-
dred thousand dollars.
October 27, 1874, John Bowen, probate judge of Burleigh County, filed a
declaratory statement for the N. Yz of said section 4, in trust for the use and
benefit of the inhabitants of the City of Bismarck.
January 14, 1875, said city was duly incorporated by an act of the Legislature
of Dakota Territory, and the following described tracts were included in its
corporate limits, to wit : The N. W. yi and the W. )4 of the N. E. ^ of section 4,
the N. Yz of section 5, and that portion of section 6 which lies east of the Missouri
River, T. 138 N., R. 89 W., the N. Y2 o^ section 31, lying east of said river, and
all of the S. Y2 of sections 32 and 33 of T. 139 N., R. 80 W., in said territory.
May 15, 1875, John A. McLean, mayor of the City of Bismarck, made an
NORTHERN PACIFIC BRIDGE OVER THE MISSOURI RIVER AT BISMARCK
THE FOUR SECTIONS OF THE VILLARD EXCURSION AT BISMARCK,
SEPTEMBER 8, 1883
In celebration of the completion of the Northern Pacific
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 331
application at the local office to enter, in behalf of the inhabitants of said city,
the X. W. Ya and W. y, of N. E. Y^ of section 4, X. E. Y\ of X. E. Y\ of section
5, T. 138 N., R. 80 W., and the S. Y^ of S. E. Ya and S. y. of S. W. Ya of section
2^2, T. 139 N., R. 80 W., Dakota Territory.
This application was objected to by Edmund Hackett et al., on the ground
that they have rights to said tracts by reason of their preemption settlements
thereon and for other reasons.
Assistant Secretary Chandler, before whom the townsite case went on appeal,
in closing his review of the case, held :
I am of the opinion that where a specific tract of land is designated and
chosen, a part of which is surveyed into lots, blocks and streets, which, together
with its exterior boundaries, are marked by stakes of proper monuments, and
said acts are followed by settlement, improvements and occupation within a
reasonable time, such tract must be considered as selected within the meaning of
the law, and thereby excluded from preemption filing.
I am also of the opinion that this selection may be made before or after actual
settlement, and by persons associated together for that purpose, or drawn
together by a common interest.
Before entry can be made of the land, it must appear that the selection was
made in good faith, not for the purpose of speculation, and has been settled upon
and occupied for purposes of trade, and not agriculture.
The site of the present City of Bismarck was selected because it was antici-
pated that at this point the Northern Pacific Railroad would cross the Missouri
River. To this fact is to be attributed its rapid growth and development.
On this account, the parties who now claim, as preemptors, the lands upon
which this city is built, were attracted there. They were fully cognizant of this
fact when their settlements and improvements were made. You very properly
rejected the entries of Hackett and Proctor, each of whom purchased, or con-
tracted to purchase, lots of the L. S. & P. S. L. Co., after the survey was com-
menced or completed, and before they made settlement upon the tracts now
claimed by them.
The fact that said company sought by illegal means to obtain title to the tract
originally selected by it as a townsite in no way afifects the rights of the occupants,
in whose behalf application is now made to enter said land.
They made their settlement and improvements in good faith, and are entitled
to the protection which the law provides.
The corporate authorities having included more land in their application than
was originally selected as a townsite, the question arises as to what lands they
are now entitled to enter for that purpose. I am of the opinion that their entry
must be limited to such contiguous tracts as were included in their corporate
limits, and at the date of incorporation were free from valid claims under the
preemption or homestead laws. By the act of incorporation, the authority of the
probate judge to act for and in behalf of the occupants of said townsite was
superseded by the officers therein named, when qualified.
Xeither the act of incorporation nor the application of the corporate authori-
ties includes the E. Y2 of the X. E. j4,of section 4, a part of the tract originally
selected. This tract is therefore excluded from said townsite. Valid rights had
attached to the X. E. Y\ of X. E. Y of section 5, township 138 X., range 80 W.,
332 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and the S. 3-' of S. E. ;4 ^"<J the S. 34 of S. W. H of section 2~< township
139 N., range 80 W., at the date of the incorporation of said city, and not being
originally selected as a part of said townsite, were improperly included in the
application of the corporate authorities, and will be awarded to the parties entitled
therein. The corporate authorities will therefore be restricted in their entry to
the N. W. 34 and the W. 34 of the N. E. 34 of section 4 aforesaid, subject to the
right of way of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. These are the only
tracts which can properly be considered as settled upon and occupied for townsite
purposes under the testimony as presented, and are awarded to the corporate
authorities of said city.
I have carefully considered the testimony as to the rights of the respective
claimants to the other tracts included in the application of the cor])orate authori-
ties, and those included in this contest, and am of the opinion that they should
be awarded to the parties hereinafter named, upon their showing full compliance
with the law, and hereby direct that the awards be so made, and that all other
filings and entries on said tracts, and those awarded to the corporate authorities,
be canceled.
The E. 3^ of the N. E. 34 of section 4, township 138 N., range 80 W., to
Erastus A. Williams.
The N. E. 34 of N. E. 34 of section 5, township 138 N., range 80 W., to the
Northern Pacific R. R. Co.
The S. W. 34 of section 32, township 139 N., range 80 \V., to J. J. Jackman.
The N. 34 of the S. E. 34 of section ^2, township 139 N., range 80 W., to
John Plummer.
The S. 34 of the S. E. 34 of section ^2. township 139 N., range 80 W., to
Dennis Hannefin.
FORT ABRAH.VM LINCOLN ESTABLISHED
On July 2, 1864. Congress passed an act granting right of way through the
Indian country to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, entitled "An Act
granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from
Lake Superior to Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast, by the northern route."
In 1871 orders were sent from the headquarters of the Department of Dakota
to Col. David S. Stanley, commanding at Fort Rice, to fit out an expedition to
accompany the engineers of the proposed railroad on a surveying tour to the
Yellowstone River. In accordance with these orders troops began to concentrate
at the fort, and on September 6, 1871, the engineering party, under military escort,
arrived overland from Fort Abercrombie. They were Gen. Thomas L. Rosser,
assistant chief engineer, accompanied by Messrs. Meigs and Eastman, and several
surveyors and their assistants.
On the morning of September 9, 187 1, at 9 o'clock, the expedition left Fort
Rice and wound out over the hills, the regimental band escorting the column to
the foot of the hills. The military escort consisted of 500 men, a detachment of
artillery with two Catling guns, fifty mounted Indian scouts under command
of Lieutenant Turnock, and a train of 100 wagons, the whole under command of
General Whistler, Twenty-second Infantry.
The first courier from the expedition arrived at Fort Rice on October 14, 1871,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 333
iind on the day following all the troops returned and went into camp outside the
fort, except Company D of the Seventeenth, under Captain Clarke, and the engi-
neering party who marched on down the Little Heart River to its mouth, in order
to ascertain the advantages afforded by that point of crossing. On the afternoon
of the 17th they were met and escorted into the fort by the post band. The engi-
neers reported that the expedition had been a great success. That the route
surveyed from the Little Heart River to the Yellowstone was practicable, and
that the railroad would be built. The day ended with a grand military ball, given
by the ladies of the fort, in honor of the civilian and military guests.
The spring of 1S72 brought much work to the troops at Fort Rice in the way
of similar expeditions on a small scale. Company after company was detailed to
act as escort to the engineers who were engaged in running new lines of survey to
the westward. This duty was extremely dangerous, as the Sioux, believing that
these proceedings were in violation of treaty obligations, lost no opportunity to
attack the expeditions.
Li April, 1872, a supply camp was established for the convenience of the
engineers — some three miles below the site of Fort Abraham Lincoln, at the mouth
of the Little Heart River. The new post was christened Camp Greene, and
K Company of the Seventeenth, under command of Lieutenant Greene, with
Lieutenant Cairns and Doctor Slaughter as post surgeon, were sent up from Fort
Rice to occupy the post. It was then thought that Camp Greene was to be the
permanent post, then designed to be built at the crossing of the Missouri River
by the railroad ; but the following order establishing Fort A. Lincoln was soon
afterwards issued from department headquarters:
Headquarters Department of Dakota
St. Paul, April 16, 1872.
Special Orders No. 65.
A board of officers is hereby appointed to select and recommend for adoption
a site for the location of a new post to be constructed on the west bank of the
Missouri, at or in the immediate vicinity of the point where the Northern Pacific
Railroad will cross the river.
Detail for the board — Col. D. S. Stanley, Twenty-second Infanty ; Capt. J. W.
Scully, A. Q. M., U. S. A. ; Capt. D. W. Heap, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. ;
Acting Assistant Surgeon B. F. Slaughter, U. S. A.
EXTENSION OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC WEST FROM FARGO
The extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad west of the Red River of the
Noith was begun in the early months of 1872, and was completed to the Missouri
River June 5, 1873. Colonel Gaw, the engineer in charge in 1872, told a repre-
sentative of the road : "I have got the longest straight line of road in the world :
I begin at the Red River and run west, four degrees north, fifty-four miles without
a curve."
On September 18, 1873, the Northern Pacific Railroad failed, and its bonds,
which were receivable at par in payment of lands within its land grant, forty miles
■north and forty miles south of its track, steadily sank in price until they touched
334 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
8 cents on the dollar. The building of the road in 1872, gradually attracted the
attention of immigrants and a steady wave began to cross the Red River. They
made preemption, homestead and timber culture claims on the Government sec-
tions both north and south in the land grant limits. At the same time, holders of
bonds of the road bought the lands in the same limits and many farms of large
and small dimensions were opened and worked, and in the fall of 187S all the
land as far west as range 55 was bought. Many selections had been made in
ranges 56, 57 and 58, in Barnes County, and others steadily pressed westward
through the ranges until the James River in range 64 was reached in 1879. Large
bodies of lands were bought of the road by non-resident holders of its bonds.
Among those may very properly be named Governor Abner Coburn and his
brother, of Maine; Cooper Brothers, Henry and William Lloyd, of Pennsylvania;
\\'illiams. Deacon & Co., of London, and many others, including Pence and Snyder,
of Minneapolis, who bought large tracts in what is now Foster and Ransom
counties, respectively the northern and southern limits of the grant. Immigrants
also from the eastern states pressed in and settled on the Government sections
from the northern to the southern limits, and Addison Leech, Mr. Plath, W. W.
McIIvain, D. H. Buttz, his brother John and M. L. Engle bought lands of the
road in Cass and Ransom counties and began to cultivate them. Large numbers
of others also besides those named did so.
In 1880 the Fargo & Southwestern Railroad was built from Fargo to the
James River, eighty-eight miles, and LaMoure was made its terminus, while
Davenport, Leonard, Sheldon, Lisbon and Englevale became thriving centers along
its route. A year later, in 1881, the Jamestown & Northern was built to a point
in Foster County forty-three miles north. Carrington was platted and rapidly
grew into a thriving town while Pingree, Edmunds and Melville along its route
became trade and postoffice centers for districts near them. Many farms were
opened by men who bought lands of the road and others secured claims on Gov-
ernment sections and have lived there since; Wm. M. and Wm. A. Bartholomew,
James Buchanan, Murphy Brothers, Wm. Farquhar and many others, while the
Casey & Carrington Land Company opened up its farm, quite as large and
important as any other large farming interest in the state.
In 1883 the Sanborn, Cooperstown & Turtle Mountain Road was built to a
point thirty-six miles north, where Cooper Brothers had bought from the road a
large body of lands, and Cooperstown sprang, into existence and became the
county seat of Griggs County. The same rapid settlement followed along this
route. Odell, Dazey and Hannaford became centers of traffic. In 1882 the
James River Valley Road from Jamestown to LaMoure was built and by short
extensions met the C. & N. W. and C, M. & St. P. railroads which had built
from the south, and a sptir track was built from Carrington to Sykeston, where
Mr. Richard Sykes had bought lands and opened several large farms in Wells
County. All these roads bearing separate corporate names were btiilt as branches
of the Northern Pacific and were projected by the impulse given by the rapid
influx of immigrants that followed the settlement and cultivation of the lands
along the main line in 1879-80.
The wave of immigration spent its force in the spring of 1883, and some
idea of its extent may be formed from the following figures of Stutsman, Foster,
Wells and Eddy counties, and equally strong, if not yet stronger figures could be
COLONEL ilAl;l;\ l:l;()\\\S()\ AND (.LERKS. IIISMAKCK
NOKTHKKX I'ACIFIC KAILKOAD, 1873. COLONEL
BRowNsoN seatp:d
AGENT,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 335
given of the counties along the hnes of the other branches if they were at hand,
as tlie wave swept steadily and evenly over the rolling prairies west of the Red
River Valley. In the census of 1880, the County of Stutsman had a population of
1,007; o^ this number Jamestown had 392. In the census of 1885 the county
had 5,632, and of these Jamestown had 2,382.
In 1880 the present counties of Foster, Wells and Eddy had not over twenty-
five settlers within their borders. In the census taken in 1885 these three counties
had a population of 1,932. In 1880 there were no farms worked in these three
counties. In 1885 there were 392. Some of them, notably those of Carrington &
Casey and Richard Sykes were large ones, the rest varied from 160 to 640 acres.
The class of settlers who fomied the wave that cuhriinated in 1883, were
generally of an excellent quality. The states of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin and Iowa furnished a good share of those from the eastern states.
Many came from Canada, some from England and Scotland. Many townships in
all the counties forming the James River Valley received colonies from Poland,
others from Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
THE GRE.\T NORTHERN RAILROAD
Following the grant of land to the three Pacific railroads. Congress granted
to the State of Minnesota ten sections of land per mile to aid in the construction
of certain lines of railroad in that state, including the main lines of the Great
Northern Railroad. The state had also granted certain swamp lands and a sub-
sidy in bonds to aid in the construction. After the construction of the main line
to Breckenridge, which it reached in October, 1871, beating the Northern Pacific
in the race for the Red River Valley by 2j4 months, and the construction
of the St. Cloud line to Sauk Rapids, which it reached in 1865, the road
became bankrupt and passed into the control of a syndicate organized by James
J. Hill, to whom the grant was finally transferred by the State of Minnesota.
The construction of the St. Cloud line was commenced in 1862, when ten miles
was built from St. Paul to Minneapolis, and it was completed to Sauk Rapids in
1865. The Breckenridge line was commenced in 1867 and was completed, as
stated, to Breckenridge in October, 1871. The St. Cloud line was extended from
Barnesville to Fisher's Landing in 1877, and December 2, 1878, the track layers
joined the rails of the Canadian Pacific, giving a through line to Winnipeg, the
connection having been made from Breckenridge to Barnesville. In 1880 the road
was extended from Crookston to Grand Forks, and from thence on west to the
Pacific Coast by successive stages. This system was at first known as the St.
Paul & Pacific, then as the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba, taking its present
name, The Great Northern, in iSgo.
The land grant of the Northern Pacific doubled when the road crossed the
Red River; that of the Great Northern ceased when the road left the limits of
Minnesota. The Northern Pacific pushed rapidly westward, relying upon its
through traffic to build up its business and take care of its bonded indebtedness ;
the Great Northern relied upon the resources of the country, building spurs and
branch lines, reaching out for business, sending out agents to bring in people to
possess the land. Practically all of the lands along its line were free lands,
while half of the lands along the Northern Pacific were not subject to homestead
336 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
entry. In the early days the Northern Pacific was built and operated with reck-
less extravagance; the Great Northern was noted from the beginning for its
economical administration, and since its management passed into the hands of
James J. Hill, who developed and built up its several systems, it has had no set-
back of any nature, and today the stocks of that company are quoted higher
than any other stocks of any class on the market, the New York quotation being
for Saturday, November lo, 1906, 322^ ; in railroad stocks the Northern Pacific
stood next, at 220, higher than any other, excepting the Great Northern alone.
The Northern Pacific has done much for the development of the country through
which it passes; the Great Northern has done more.
The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, more familiarly
known as the "Soo," has also done much for the development of North Dakota.
Its lines, too, were extended without a bonus and without a land grant, and
were pushed in competition with the Great Northern to almost all parts of the
state. They have been extended through the southern part to the capital and on
north to the coal fields, and from the southeastern portion diagonally across the
state, and from the east to the western part through the northern counties, enter-
ing upon a rivalry with the Great Northern, born of the rivalry which has always
existed between St. Paul and Minneapolis, the leading spirits of the Soo residing
at Minneapolis, while the home of James J. Hill was at St. Paul, where he began
life as a humble clerk. He died in 1916.
HISTORY OF THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILRO.ND
On retiring from the chairmanship of the directory of that company in 1912.
James J. Hill, in a letter to his associates, states the facts relative to the work
of the syndicate organized by him for the purchase of the Great Northern
system, from which the following extract is made :
"My associates were George Stephen, now Lord Mount Stephen; Donald A.
Smith, now Lord Strathcona, and Norman W. Kittson. We bought the defaulted
bonds of these properties from the Dutch holders. The agreement with the
Dutch committee was executed March 13, 1878, and practically all outstand-
ing indebtedness was subsequently secured. The mortgages were afterwards
foreclosed and the property was bought in. For those days it seemed a formid-
able financial undertaking. The stock of these companies aggregated $6,500,000,
and their bonded indebtedness with past due interest nearly $33,000,000, aside
from floating obligations. These had to be purchased at prices above those for
which they had previously been offered in the open market. The total capital-
ization and indebtedness at that time of the companies taken over was approx-
imately $44,000,000.
"The property secured consisted of completed lines from St. Paul via St.
Anthony to Melrose, a distance of 104 miles, and from Minneapolis to Breck-
enridge, a distance of 207 miles ; and of two projected lines, one from Sauk
Rapids to Brainerd and one from Melrose to the Red River at St. Vincent,
on the international boundary line. On these latter some grading had been done
and about 73 miles of track had been laid. There were gaps between Melrose
and Barnesville, Crookston and St. \'incent that must be filled quickly. In them-
■selves, had it not been for the promise of the future, these were scattered tracks
1-^
O
O
C
o
u
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 337
in a country just being settled, out of which to construct a railway system and
on which to base the financing of their purchase and development.
"We advanced the money to build the Red River Valley Railroad, fourteen
miles of track from Crookston to Fisher's Landing, on the Red River, making
a through route by steamboat from that point to Winnipeg. While negotiations
were pending and also after they were concluded, but before possession could
be secured through the foreclosure of mortgages, an immense amount of work
had to be done. The extension from Melrose to Barnesville must be pushed,
and was carried thirty-three miles, as far as Alexandria, and ninety miles were
built in the Red River X'alley to reach the Canadian boundary. The former
was necessary to save the land grant, whose time limit, already extended, was
about to expire. The latter was in addition to connect with a railroad projected
by the Canadian government from Winnipeg south. As the properties were still
in the hands of a receiver, an order had to be obtained from the court for the
completion of the work in ]\Iinnesota with funds furnished by us. IMoney had
to be raised to build these lines and to furnish equipment necessary for their
operation.
"In May, 1879, the St. Paul, Minneapolis & JManitoba Railway Company
was organized to take over all these properties, whose bonds had been largely
purchased, whose stocks had been secured and whose assets were to be bought
in under foreclosure. It had an authorized capital stock of $15,000,000, limited by
its charter to $20,000,000, and made two mortgages of $8,000,000 each. George
Stephen was made first president of the company, Richard B. Angus, vice pres-
ident, and I was chosen general manager. This placed upon me the practical
conduct of the enterprise from its formal inception.
"The lines of the new system turned over to our possession on June 23, 1879,
comprised a mileage of 667 miles, of which 565 were completed and 102 under
construction. From the beginning its business fulfilled the expectations of its
founders. The annual report for 1880 showed an increase in earnings of 54
per cent, and had sales amounting to $1,200,000. And now began the long task
of building up the country. No sooner was a mile of road finished than the
need of building other miles became apparent. Before ^Minnesota had filled up
the tide of immigration was passing even the famous Red River Valley country
and flowing into Dakota. By 1880 it had become necessary to add a line down
the Dakota side of the Red River to plan for many extensions and branches,
and two local companies, building lines in Western Minnesota, were purchased.
"(^nly a detailed history of the railroad could follow step by step the progress
of track extension and the financial arrangements by which capital was fur-
nished for these constant and always growing demands from this time on. In a
brief review, such as this, I can call attention only to what may fairly be called
points of historic interest in the growth of what is now the Great Northern
System. One of these w-as the provision of an eastern outlet by way of the
Great Lakes. An interest was obtained in the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Com-
pany in 1881. This, with the building of the link from St. Cloud to Hinckley,
gave the necessary access to the Great Lakes, until the organization of the East-
ern Minnesota in 1887 as a subsidiary company furnished a permanent outlet
and terminals. I was made vice president of the company November i, 1881,
and on Augtist 21, 1882, succeeded to the presidency, a position whose duties I
338 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
\vas to discharge for a quarter of a century. Mr. John S. Kennedy, who had
joined our party after the organization of the company, was elected vice pres-
ident. At no time have I accepted any salary for my services as president or
chairman of the board of directors, since I have felt that I was sufficiently com-
pensated by the increase in the value of the property in which my interest has
always been large.
"Business now grew more and more rapidly, the Xorthern Pacific was about
completed and the Canadian Pacific was building toward the coast. The St.
Paul & Pacific Railroad was originally, as its name implied, intended as a trans-
continental line. The route to be traversed was rich in fertile soils and abun-
dance of mineral and forest resources. Quite as important, perhaps, was the
fact that it admitted of the construction of a line with grades so low and curves
so moderate as to make possible cheaper overland carriage than had ever been
previously considered. Montana was beginniug a large development of her own,
while the active growth of the North Pacific Coast, though only in embryo,
could be foreseen. In 1887 the lines of the Manitoba were extended to a con-
nection with the Montana Central. This latter company had been incorporated
early in January, 1886. Realizing the importance of occupying a field in Mon-
tana, which was essential to the future transcontinental line, valuable in itself
and one which others were already preparing to secure, we had, with some
friends, organized the company under the laws of Montana. Work was begun
at once, the surveys being made in the coldest winter weather. Construction
was rushed. The track was completed to Helena in 1887 and to Butte by the
middle of 1888. A branch to Sand Coulee opened up the coal mines of that
region, furnishing fuel for use on the ^Montana and Dakota divisions of the
line, and for the development of the mining interests in Montana which had been
obliged up to that time to bring in their coal from Wyoming. The work of
extending the Manitoba line to connect with the Montana Central launched this
company upon the most active period of construction ever known in this country.
"Five hundred continuous miles were graded between April and September,
1887, ^ifl by November 18. 643 miles of track had been laid, an average rate of
construction of 334 miles for each working day. The annual report for that
year said : 'The new mileage under construction within the period covered by
the fiscal year ending June 30th and the residue of the calendar year 1887 * * *
amounts to the relatively large quantity of 1,443.97 miles, or 95.5 per cent of
the mileage under operation at the beginning of the same fiscal year.' But this
activity on the main line to the west was only one item in the extension programme.
In the years between 1882 and 1888 the stone arch bridge and terminals in Min-
neapolis were completed : the Dakota line down the Red River was finished to
a connection with the Canadian Pacific ; the Casselton branch was purchased ;
a line was built from Willmar to Sioux Falls, and afterwards extended to Yank-
ton ; some railroads in South Dakota were bought : the ]\Iontana Central was
taken over at cost, and an elevator and large terminals at West Superior were
arranged for. In 1889 the line to Duluth and West Superior was completed,
giving terminals and dock accommodations which today are not surpassed any-
where in the country. The total mileage operated had now increased to 3,030
rniles. The company had also begun to operate its own steamships, through the
Northern Steamship Company, on the Great Lakes. These boats, which began
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 339
to run in 1888 and 1889, not only afforded greater dispatch in the carriage of
grain and flour from the head of the lakes to Buffalo and other lake ports, but
they made the railroad independent of other lake lines. It was thus enabled to
protect its patrons and to prevent its reductions in rates from being absorbed
by increases made by the lines east of its lake terminals.
"In 1889 the Great Northern Railway Company was organized, to bind into
a compact whole the various properties that had grown too large for the charter
limitations of the old Manitoba. It leased all the property of the latter company
and was prepared to finance the undertakings about to be completed or in con-
templation. By 1893 the line was opened through to Puget Sound. In the next
five or six years many improvements were made by relaying track with heavier
rails and by changes in equipment and large additions thereto. Branches and
feeders were built to round out the system. In 1897 a more direct line from
the head of the lakes to the west was created by purchase and construction that
completed a road across Northern ^Minnesota to a connection with the main
line. The taking over of the Seattle & Montana which, like the Montana Cen-
tral, had been built by us to assure adequate terminals on the Pacific Coast and
to enable construction to go forward from both ends of the line at once, extended
the system from Seattle to Vancouver, B. C. In 1889 it had entered the ore-
producing regions of Northern Minnesota that was to give it a large addition to
its traffic.
"Just as, in the building of the Montana Central and the Seattle & Montana,
it was necessary to know thoroughly the country in advance of railroad con-
struction and to act upon that knowledge, so these ore lands in Northern Min-
nesota had to be examined: and some of them it seemed desirable to acquire,
with a view to the effect upon the future of the company's business. In Jan-
uary, 1899, I purchased the Wright & Davis property, consisting of a line of rail-
road, some logging road and a large quantity of ore lands. The purchase for
$4,050,000 was made by me individually. My purpose was to secure the ship-
ments of ore from these properties for the Great Northern ; and the profits from
the mines, if there were any profits, for the stockholders of the company. The
railroad was turned over to the Great Northern at cost. The ore property was
transferred at cost to the Lake Superior Company, Limited, organized October 20,
1900, to hold in trust, together with other ore interests acquired later. A trust
to administer the Great Northern ore properties was formed December 7. 1906,
under resolutions adopted by the Great Northern Company. This trust took
over the ore interests acquired by me, additional ore lands subsequently secured
and other properties. It issued against them 1,500.000 shares of certificates of
beneficial interest, which were distributed, share for share, to holders of Great
Northern stock at the time. The stockholders were thus put in possession of all
the benefits accruing from the whole transaction. At the end of the last fiscal
year the trustees had distributed a total of $7,500,000 to the certificate holders,
while the future value of the properties so covered, owing to the c|uality and
accessibility of the ore and the demand of the iron industry for new supplies of
raw material, must be very large.
■'In 1901 the company decided to open negotiations for the joint purchase of
the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy System by the Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific. These were carried to a successful completion by the issue
340 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of joint collateral trust bonds to the amount of $215,154,000, secured by the
stock of the company acquired. Time has confirmed the wisdom of this act, by
which through traffic arrangements have been simplified, and the public has
gained much by the drawing together of markets and the quick and cheap dis-
tribution of products between Chicago, St. Louis and the Pacific Coast.
'Tt was planned, through the formation of the Northern Securities Com-
pany, to form a holding concern for the control of these three great properties.
The purpose was to prevent a dispersion of securities that might follow where
large amounts were held by men well advanced in years, and so to secure the
properties against speculative raids by interests at best not directly concerned
in the progress of the country served by these lines. This was declared illegal,
under the Sherman anti-trust law, by a divided court, upon suit by the United
States Government, and the Northern Securities Company was dissolved.
"In 1907 the subsidiary companies controlled by the Great Northern, includ-
ing fourteen railway companies operated as a part of it, were purchased and
incorporated into the Great Northern System, making of these related parts one
homogeneous whole. In the same year I resigned the presidency of the system,
and became chairman of the board of directors — the office that I lay down
today. The work of extension and improvement has gone forward steadily. By
the construction of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle line, along the north bank of
the Columbia River, the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific obtained
jointly entry over their own tracks into Portland. Lines are now being con-
structed through Eastern Oregon that will open up a large and productive
country. In 1909 the Burlington obtained control of the Colorado & Southern;
so that the Great Northern covers, directly or over the tracks of allied lines, a
territory reaching from Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Superior
on the east to Puget Sound and Portland on the west, and from Galveston to
\''ancouver, B. C. The Great Northern System has grown from less than four
hundred miles of the original purchase to 7,407 miles.
"I have some pride in the fact that, while constantly increasing both the
volume and the efficiency of its service, the Great Northern has at the same time
carried to market the products of the country at rates which have greatly devel-
oped the territory served by its lines. If the freight and passenger rates in force
in 1881 had remained unchanged until 1910, the total revenue collected from
both sources for the thirty years would have been $1,966,279,194.80. The
revenue actually collected was $698,867,239.91. The saving to shippers by the
rate reductions which this represents was $1,267,411,954.89, or nearly twice the
total amount received by the railroad. The average par value of its outstanding
stock and bonds in the hands of the public during the same time was $155,576,917.
Rate reductions in thirty years saved to the public more than eight times the
average capitalization. In other words, the railroad could have paid cash for
the entire par value of its stocks and bonds in less than every four years out of
its earnings. I hope this may be considered a fair division.
"The results herein summarized could not have been obtained without the
cooperation of a staft" of able and devoted assistants, trained to administrative
work and grounded in right methods. It was clear to me from the first that the
railroad must net more for the money it expended than the returns generally
accepted at the time. High efficiency could be achieved only through the work
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA o-tl
of highly efficient men working with the best apphances. The staff was built up
by recognizing inteUigence and merit through promotions as vacancies occurred
m the company's service, and by establishing throughout a morale that was rec-
ognized by employes from the highest to the lowest. The result has been com-
petence and loyalty, physical efficiency and financial success.
"I shall give only a short summary of the financing of this great under-
taking. The Great Northern was built by the money furnished by its stock and
bond holders and with what it earned. As part of the property of the St. Paul
& Pacific it obtained some fragments of a land grant in Minnesota to that com-
pany. With the proceeds of the sales of these lands nearly $13,000,000 of bonds
were retired and the annual interest charge has been correspondingly reduced.
All the other transcontinental lines had received large subsidies in cash or land
grants, or both. They suffered the check of financial stresses and passed through
receiverships and reorganizations. The Great Northern, which includes the Mani-
toba, never failed, never passed a dividend, never was financially insecure in any
time of panic. For thirty-three years its credit has been unimpaired and its
resources equal to any demands upon them ; and in times of financial distress
it has been able to assist materially in moving the crops of the Northwest. The
security of the investments of the holders of stock and bonds has always been a
first consideration ; and the success and prosperity that attend the company today
have not been purchased either by any doubtful transactions in the stock market
or at the cost of one dollar ever committed by man or woman to this company
in trust.
"When we obtained an option on the securities of the old St. Paul & Pacific
Company, no individual or financial house in Europe or America, outside of
those associated with us, would have taken the bargain off our hands. By a few
it was regarded as a doubtful venture, by most as a hopeless mistake. As has
been said, obligations aggregating about $44,000,000 were capitalized at a little
over $31,000,000. The first stock issue was $15,000,000. The increase of capi-
talization from that day to this has followed step by step the growth of the
property, though falling far below its aggregate cost. Millions of earnings have
been used in betterments and new construction that are usually covered by the
sale of stock and bonds.
"The stock of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba was limited by its charter
to $20,000,000. When the Great Northern was organized it took over the charter
of the Minneapolis & St. Cloud Railway Company. The capital stock was made
$20,000,000, which was afterwards increased to $40,000,000, in half common
and half preferred. This was further increased to $45,000,000 in 1893 and to
$75,000,000 in 1898, none of which was issued as common stock, but all made
uniform in character and all shares having equal rights. As the addition of
mileage, the purchase of many minor companies, the consolidation of all the
ori<^inally separate corporations into one system, with the exchange of its stock
for theirs, and the addition of equipment and betterments required, the capital
stock was added to from time to time. In 1899 it became $99,000,000; in 1901,
$125,000,000; in 1905, $150,000,000; and in 1906, $210,000,000, at which figure
it stands today. Every dollar of this represents honest value received. But the
problems of its issue and disposal, the creation of a market for securities, the
safeguarding of it against attack and its maintenance as an investment attractive
342 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and secure were difficult and slow of solution. The company has now acquired
a standing which nothing in the ordinary course of events can impair.
"The issue and placing of bonds was in some respects simpler and in some
more complex than the distribution of stock. At the time when the St. Paul,
Minneapolis & Manitoba was organized and for many years thereafter the rail-
road world was governed by a code now done away with. It was the general
practice to build new roads with the proceeds of bond issues. The accompanying
stock was considered the legitimate property of the promoters, who were accus-
tomed to use part of it as a bonus to the subscribers for bonds. When profits
were large, stock dividends were held perfectly proper; and the general practice
of railroads was to divide all profits in sight, and charge to capitalization all
expenditures that could be so covered. This code and these policies were those
not merely of speculators or railroad managers, but were publicly sanctioned
both as a part of the necessary conduct of the business and ethically. This
difference of standards has to be borne in mind constantly whenever one deals
with railroad developments dating much earlier than twenty-five years ago.
"During 1878, before the road was organized, 112 miles of track were built,
and more than that the year following. A large amount of equipment was
bought. To cover this outlay a part of the proceeds of the second mortgage
issue of $8,000,000 was used. There was originally a limit of bond issues to
$12,000 per mile of single track road ; which was found to be insufficient even
for work mostly on prairie. In 1880 the Dakota extension mortgage was author-
ized, of which $5,676,000 of 6 per cent bonds were issued from time to time,
and this total of less than $22,000,000 covered the whole bonded indebtedness of
the company down to 18S3. But it by no means covered the actual expenditures
for which bonds might legitimately be issued.
"The period from 1879 to 1883, when the railroad was still an experiment in
the minds of most eastern capitalists, was not a time to enlarge the volume of
securities or ask outside capital to bid for them. All that this could have secured
would have been some sales at much below par and an impaired credit. Yet
money must be had to keep going the extension which was creating a new North-
west; and, through that, a profitable and assured future for the company. So
another method was adopted. The company diverted to these uses the money
which might have been divided as profits among the stockholders. At one time
210 miles of road were built and $1,700,000 were spent on equipment without a
bond issue. The company became its own banker while waiting for a favorable
market to be created. The stockholders temporarily renounced their profits in
order to leave their money in the enterprise. But it remained their money, and
their title to it was indisputable. It was costing now very much more than
$12,000 a mile to build a substantial track. In all, about $11,000,000 of profits
were put into new construction and betterments. The stockholder of that day
expected these profits to be distributed. His right to them was sanctioned by
public opinion as well as by custom and law. It was recognized in 1883.
"In that year the credit foundation of the company was broadened and its
methods systematized by the authorization of $50,000,000 consolidated mort-
gage bonds. Of this amount, $19,426,000 were reserved to retire prior bonds,
$10,574,000 were to be issued immediately and the remaining $20,000,000 were to
be issued only on the construction thereafter of additional track at the rate of not
,;, if .;,,;
c;v ■ «'.,-:-'l,- '<».-
:.:M
HARVESTING SCENES IN NUKTH DAKOTA
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 343
to exceed $15,000 per mile, although the cost per mile was often as high as
$25,000, and the cost of terminals added largely to this sum. Of the $10,574,000
bonds issued on execution of the mortgage, $10,000,000 were sold to the stock-
holders at par, payable 10 per cent in cash and 90 per cent in the property that
had been constructed or acquired with the stockholders' money, thus returning
to them $9,000,000 of the forced loans taken from them by sequestration of
$11,000,000 of their profits during the previous years. To the stockholders the
only ditTerence was they received a portion of the legitimate earnings of the
company in the shape of bonds instead of cash, and were deprived of the per-
sonal use of it during the time that it had been used by the company. The differ-
ence to the company was $2,000,000, or more, as it sold to its stockholders at
par bonds which if placed on the market three years before could have been sold
only at a heavy discount; besides it was an indispensable aid to immediate growth
and a conservation and building up of credit. The difference to the public was
not a penny either way.
"As branch lines were built or acquired their bonds were guaranteed. In
1887 an issue of $25,000,000 on lines in Montana was authorized. Some improve-
ment bonds were issued. The extension to the Pacific Coast was financed by the
issue of £6,000.000 of mortgage bonds against the extension lines by the Mani-
toba company. In 1889 the bonded debt had become $60,985,000. The Great
Northern, which now took the place of other companies, issued collateral trust
bonds, which were afterward retired from the proceeds of stock issues in 1898.
It assumed the payment of bonds, principal and interest, of the companies taken
into the system; and its bonded debt thus became $125,975,909 in 1908, of which
over $28,000,000 were held as free assets in the company's treasury. Last year
the total bonds on the property outstanding in the hands of the public amounted
to $144,331,909.
"Of this total, $35,000,000 were part of the issue of first and refunding mort-
gage gold bonds authorized in 191 1 ; which brings us to the final standardization
of the company's securities and the act by which it provided against future con-
tingencies. This issue, of $600,000,000 in all, stands to the big systems of today
as the $50,000,000 issue of consolidated bonds did to the small system of twenty-
eight years before. It creates a financial clearing house through which its sev-
eral outstanding securities may be converted into one of standard form and
value ; and it forms in addition a reservoir of authorized credit so carefully
guarded by the conditions of the mortgage that it cannot be abused or dissipated,
yet so ample that it will supply all needs for probably fifty years to come. No
private estate in this country is more carefully provided against the future than
is the property of the Great Northern Railway Company. All prior mortgages
become closed, and more than one-half of the total $600,000,000 is to be used
to redeem bonds issued under them and those issued to buy the company's inter-
est in the Burlington. Nearly $123,000,000 may be used to cover the cost of
other properties acquired or to be acquired; while $100,000,000 may be issued, at
not to exceed $3,000,000 per annum, to cover the cost of future construction,
acquisition and betterments.
"The financial outlook of this company is as well assured as that of most
governments. It has a provision made now, deliberately and not under any
pressure of necessity, for the work of years to come. That provision may be
344 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
utilized in lean years and held in suspense in fat years, so as always to realize the
best prices for securities and to keep the credit of the company unimpaired. No
emergency can surprise it. It is financed for a period beyond which it would be
fanciful to attempt to provide. And the development of its business throughout
every part of the practically half a continent which it serves makes the payment
of dividends on the stock as certain as that of its bond coupons. There has never
been a default in either. There has never been a dollar's worth of stock or
bonds issued that was not paid for in cash, property or services at its actual
cash value at the time. The stock has paid a dividend ever since 1882, and since
1900 the rate has remained steadily at 7 per cent.
"The occasion permits no more than this condensed statement, passing in
hasty review the fortunes of the railroad enterprise for more than thirty-five
years. The first phase of the Great Northern Railway System is ended. The
value of the property is founded on the resources of the country it traverses.
From the head of the lakes to Puget Sound this is rich agricultural land. From
fifty to one hundred miles of the line run through mountain valleys, but even
these are susceptible of cultivation. Barring only the actual summits of the
mountain passes, the country is capable, under the best modern agricultural treat-
ment, of multiplying its wealth indefinitely and furnishing increasing and profit-
able tonnage for years to come. The Great Northern is now wrought so firmly
into the economic as well as the corporate body of the land as to have fitted itself
permanently into the natural frame of things. So far as any creation of human
effort can be made, it will be proof against the attacks of time."
The two great constructive forces in the development of North Dakota were
the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads. They were largely St. Paul
enterprises, and Minneapolis men and resources have been rivals almost from the
beginning; so Minneapolis capital built the Minneapolis & St. Louis to rival
St. Paul's St. Paul & Sioux City ; it reached the lakes at Sault Ste. Marie, and it
extended its lines to remote comers of North Dakota in competition with the
St. Paul lines, and also became a factor in the rapid development of North
Dakota.
The Chicago and Milwaukee lines also performed their part, but more par-
ticularly as to South Dakota. The "Soo" had no land grant ; the Milwaukee and
Chicago lines had none in Dakota.
JAMES J. HILL
James J. Hill, born at Rockwood, Canada, in 1836, reached St. Paul in 1856,
where he was employed on the levee. When the first railroad started jn St. Paul,
the old St. Paul & Pacific, Mr. Hill became the station agent for the road, but
not in an ordinary way with a monthly salary stipendiary, but under a contract to
handle all the traffic at so much per ton. In those days wood was the only fuel.
Hard coal could only be secured by the long river route from Pittsburgh, and
very little came to the city, save for the use of the gas company. The public and
business buildings, as well as private houses, were supplied with wood fires. One
of his first strokes of business, the foundation for his fortune, was when the
St. Paul & Pacific Railroad was extended into what is still called the Big Woods
Region of Minnesota, some fifty or sixty miles from St. Paul. He was able to
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 345
make an exclusive contract with the railroad, whereby he alone could bring wood
into the city at a given rate per cord, and consequently the entire fuel business of
the city was at his command. It is to his credit to say that he did not use this
power to extort unfair prices from the people. A moderate supply of fuel was
brought in by teams and sold upon the public wood market, but Mr. Hill prac-
tically regulated their prices by making his own prices as moderate as the cost of
cutting and transportation would permit. The business, nevertheless, was
undoubtedly very lucrative.
His familiarity with the river btisiness on the Mississippi led him to engage
in traffic for himself on the Red River of the North, through which he not only
grasped the trade of Northern Minnesota with its sparse population, but also
tapped that of Winnipeg and Northern Canada. Starting with one steamer, he
made such success that in 1872 he consolidated his Red River interests with those
of the late Norman W. Kittson, who represented the great Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, and formed the Red River Transportation Company, and before the rail-
roads relegated navigation on the Red River of the North to the past, he had no
less than seven steamers and fifteen barges in his fleet. He was the manager
and moving spirit in the Red River Transportation Company until the business
was abandoned owing to the building of the railroads.
Like most new enterprises in a new country, the original capitalists and pro-
moters of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad did not profit by the germ which has
since developed into the magnificent and profitable Great Northern system. The
local people used the munificent land grant in Minnesota as a basis of credit, and
obtained in Holland a good many million dollars, for which bonds were issued.
The business of the road was very moderate because the population was too small
to furnish business, St. Paul and Minneapolis being hamlets rather than cities in
those days, and the entire population of the state was less than two hundred thou-
sand people. The rails and eciuipment were so cheaply constructed that they would
not be thought of today by any road, however small. Bridges were wooden, and
culverts were cheaply built, and the bill for repairs and renewals was a draft
upon the resources of the railroad far beyond its ability to meet from its operating
income. In fact, its operating income was required to meet its operating expenses
without providing means for betterments. The value of the land was a long look
ahead, and the Dutch bondholders in Amsterdam became weary of and disgusted
with their investment. They were willing and anxious to dispose of their bonds
at almost any price they could get, and under these circumstances it is not sur-
prising that their values fell to 10 cents on a dollar.
What followed is told in the language of Mr. Hill in the letter to the stock-
holders above printed. It is a part of the history of the Red River Valley and
of the Dakotas.
Mr. Hill believed in the Northwest, and believed it had a great future before
it, and consequently he was enabled to enlist capital, and purchased bonds. The
road had been thrown into the hands of a receiver, but the bonds were being
purchased just the same by Mr. Hill and the capitalists who associated with him.
His relations with Mr. Kittson, who had been associated with him in the Red
River Transportation Company, proved of immense value. Mr. Kittson was a
personal friend of Donald A. Smith, of Winnipeg, later a member of the House
of Lords in England and Canadian Commissioner to the home government.
346 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
j\Ir. Smith's influence brought in connection with the party Mr. George Stephen,
also a member of the House of Lords in England. At that time he was president
of the Bank of Montreal, one of the strongest financial institutions on the con-
tinent. The result was that the property and land grant of the old St. Paul &
Pacific were foreclosed upon and the purchasers of the bonds in Amsterdam were
the purchasers of the entire system under the foreclosure. The road passed from
the hands of the receiver into the hands of the new company. They obtained in
this manner 437 miles of railroad, to which they promptly added 220 more, as
well as rebuilt much of the old line, substituting iron bridges for wooden, lowering
grades and cutting out vexatious curves, and in ever)- way improved the system so
that the expense for operating produced greatly increased earnings. This is the
theory upon which Mr. Hill always acted, and in a large measure is the cause of
his success in railroad construction and operating.
It was in 1879 ^^'^'^^ ^^^ ^^- Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company
was organized by the syndicate which ^Messrs. Hill and Kittson had formed.
Mr. Hill was the first general manager of the company and devoted his wonderful
energies and vitality to the direct operating afl^airs of the railroad. He threw all
the energies of his nature into this work, and no detail of the system escaped
his personal attention. He knew what the cost of every item should be. From
a spike to a steel rail or a locomotive, he could tell in an instant what the com-
pany should pay for it.
Of the first tract of land in Xorth Dakota to which title was acquired from
the Government, Mr. Hill purchased five acres for use in his Red River trade,
and this was the first transfer of land in North Dakota. For nearly fifty years
his was the influence overshadowing all others for the upbuilding of North
Dakota.
James J- Hill died May 25, 1916. At the hour of his funeral business stood
still and every head in North Dakota and Minnesota bowed in silence or in prayer
out of regard for this truly great man. Business houses closed, railroad trains
stopped wherever they happened to be ; teams stopped on the highway ; plows
ceased to move in the furrow and the hand of the seeder was stayed while all
hearts went out and up for him who had been their friend, and who was now gone
from earth's activities.
THE RED RIVER V.\LLEY
The following sketch of the opening of the Red River trade belongs to this story
of Mr. Hill. It is from the pen of Capt. Russell Blakely, the head of the great
transportation interests, the immediate predecessors of the railroads :
May, 1857, the English House of Commons took the initial steps toward
opening the British Possessions in North America, then in the control of the
Hudson's Bay Company to civilization and unrestricted commerce. The committee
having the matter in charge reported in favor of termination of the control of
the Hudson's Bay Company at the end of their then twenty-first year term expir-
ing in 1869.
In 1857 the Hudson's Bay Company completed arrangements with the secre-
tary of the treasury of the United States whereby goods for that company could be
carried in bond through the United States, thus practically doing away with their
CO
o
a
c
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 347
Hudson's Bay Station known as York Factory, to which goods were then being
shipped, vessels arriving and departing once a year. In the summer of 1858 two
or three shipments of goods were so made leaving the Mississippi River at St.
Paul and conveyed thence by Hudson's Bay carts under the direction of James
McKey.
In October, 1858, Capt. Russell Blakely of St. Paul, accompanied by John R.
Irvine, visited the Red River Valley via St. Peter, Fort Ridgeley, Yellow Medi-
cine, Lac qui Parle, and the Kittson Trail to Fort Abercrombie. Capt. Nelson
H. Davis and Lieut. P. Hawkins of the Second United States Infantry, with their
company were then stationed there. Jessie M. Stone was sutler. The fort had
been hastily built and consisted of a few log cabins on the low lands. "Burling-
ton" and "Sintominie," prospective Red River cities were passed and "La-
fayette," opposite the mouth of the Sheyenne, about three miles from Georgetown
was reached, from which point Mr. Blakely made his observations as to the
possibilities of Red River navigation.
Resulting from the report of Mr. Blakely, the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce
paid a bonus of $2,000 for the first steamboat to be placed on the Red River.
Anson Northup had bought the old North Star at Minneapolis and took it up
the river over Sauk Rapids and Little Falls, running up as far as Grand Rapids.
This boat was laid up at Crow Wing that fall, where lumber for the new boat
was sawed and taken over the country, together with the machinery of the North
Star, which had originally been brought from Maine and in 185 1 was placed in
the Governor Ramsey and later in the North Star, to Lafayette, where the
Anson Northup was built, and launched in 1859. Thirty-four teams were used in
taking the boat and its furnishings from Crow Wing to Lafayette.
Having run up to Fort Abercrombie the boat left that point for Fort Garry,
now Winnipeg, May 17th, arriving at Fort Garry, June 5, 1859. She returned to
Fort Abercrombie with twenty passengers, where she was tied up, and when Cap-
tain Blakely and others desired her further services they were informed that they
would have to buy her if they wanted to run her. Latter she was purchased by
J. C. Burbank.
Resulting from the mail lettings of 1858 the Minnesota Stage Company was
organized by J. C. Burbank, Russell Blakely and Alvaren Allen, Allen being asso-
ciated with Mr. Chase, and they had the contracts from St. Paul to Abercrombie
and other northwestern points. The road to be fitted up for the stages on the
routes it was proposed to put on ran from St. Cloud via Cold Springs, New
Munich, Melrose, Winnebago Crossing, Sauk Rapids, Kandota, Osakis, Alex-
andria, Dayton and Breckenridge to Abercrombie. The party left St. Cloud in
Tune, 1859. for the opening of this route. Accompanying the expedition, aside
from the teamsters, bridge builders, station keepers, etc., were Misses Ellenora
and Christiana Sterling from Scotland, Sir Francis Sikes of England, and
servants together with J. W. Taylor, so long consul at Winnipeg. Northup
having refused to operate his boat, this party built a flat boat at Abercrombie
and went down the river to' Fort Garry, and the ladies went on to Lake Atha-
basca, where they arrived just as winter set in. They were twenty-two days
going down the river from Abercrombie to Garry, and their craft was the first
boat on the Red River. Pelican Lake was named Ellenora for one of these ladies
348 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and the one just east of it Christiana for the other. George VV. Northrup was
captain of this boat.
On his way to St. Paul on his return trip Captain Blakely learned of the
purchase of the boat by Mr. Burbank. He notes the following members of the
crew en route to put her to work : Edwin Bell, captain ; Dudley Kelly, clerk ;
J. B. Young, pilot; A. R. Young, engineer. The point chosen for the head of
navigation was below the mouth of the Butfalo River, about three miles from
Lafayette, where the boat had been built. The boat unloaded at Goose Rapids,
and McKey was about to take its cargo via carts to Garry when the timely
arrival of Captain Blakely resulted in the construction of wing dams, which
carried the boat safely over the rapids, and its tonnage landed all right at Garry.
The crew returned via carts to St. Paul.
In the spring of i860 Captain Blakely and associates completed a contract
with Sir George Simpson for the transportation of 500 tons annually from St.
Paul to Fort Garry for a period of live years.
The Anson Northup was repaired in the spring of i860 and became the
Pioneer and was commanded that summer by Capt. Sam Painter, with Alden
Bryant, clerk. The mail was extended from Abercrombie to Pembina and Wil-
liam Tarbell and George W. Northrup were employed as carriers, using carts in
summer and dog train in winter.
In i860 Capt. John B. Davis undertook to take his steamboat The Freighter,
up the Minnesota River, and cross it over into the Red River. The boat left
St. Paul in high water and got within about eight miles of Big Stone Lake, but
had to give it up. The Freighter was sold to Burbank & Co., and C. P. V. Lull
took out the machinery and hauled it over to Georgetown, where the boat was
rebuilt and became the International. A. W. Kelly, now of Jamestown, sawed
the lumber for this boat. The engines were put in by Edwin R. Abell. The
International measured 137 feet in length by 26 feet beam and was rated at 133
tons. C. P. V. Lull ran her for a trip or two when N. W. Kittson took charge
of her, on account of his ability to talk with the Indians.
The Indians had protested' against the use of the river for steamboats, com-
plaining that the boats drove away the game and killed the fish, while the whistle
made such an unearthly noise that it disturbed the spirits of their dead and their
fathers could not rest in their graves. They demanded four kegs of yellow
money to quiet the spirits of their fathers or that the boats be stopped. At this
time Clark W. Thompson, superintendent of Indian affairs and Indian Commis-
sioner Dole, were "en route to the mouth of the Red Lake River, opposite Grand
Forks, to hold a treaty with the Indians. They were turned back by the opening
of Indian hostilities. August 22, 1861, the Indians appeared at Dayton and Old
Crossing, killing all the settlers they could find. At Breckenridge they killed all
of the persons in the hotel and burned the house. They overtook the stage driver
whom they killed, taking 2,500 pounds of express freight. They also plundered
the train of wagons loaded with merchandise on its arrival on the treaty grounds,
claiming that their wives and children were starving.
Hostilities continued till 1863, when, in October of that year. Governor
Alexander Ramsey made a treaty with the Indians which ended the trouble with
them in the Red River Valley. In March, 1862, Congress provided for twice a
week service on the mail route to Abercrombie. Stockades were built at Sauk
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 349
Center, Alexandria, and Pomme de Terre, and the route was guarded by troops.
The International, abandoned in 1861, on the outbreak of hostilities, was brought
to Abercrombie in 1863, by Captain Barret, and in 1864 was sold to the Hudson's
Bay Company, it having become apparent that the country could not be opened
up against the interest of that powerful organization. They did not want immi-
gration and trade, nor mails or other appliances of civilization. The boat made
one trip that year. The cart brigades again put in an appearance and the coun-
try became devastated by grasshoppers.
In March, 1869, the Earl of Granville succeeded in terminating the Hudson's
Bay contracts and that company surrendered possession of the country, thus
ending a twelve-year contest on the part of the Imperial government for the
opening of the country.
The organization of the Manitoba government was provided for in 1870, and
August 23d of that year Colonel Wolsey, at the head of the Sixtieth Canadian
Rifles, entered Fort Garry and September 2d Lieutenant Governor Archibald
arrived and the colony was duly organized. James W. Taylor, the American
consul, arrived in November.
In December, 1870, the United States land office was opened at Pembina, and
then the first public land was entered in North Dakota. There was then no
regular mail to Fort Garry, and no recognized means of communication between
Manitoba and the outside world. The cost of shipping freight from St. Cloud,
the end of the railroad, to Fort Garry was $4 per hundred pounds.
In the spring of 1871 Messrs. Hill and Griggs, of St. Paul, built the Selkirk,
which was put on the Red River that season, with Capt. Alex Griggs, the founder
of Grand Forks, master. This boat arrived at Winnipeg April 19th, and having
arranged to carry goods in bond, a wonderful trade was immediately opened with
the Northwest. The success of the Selkirk forced the International into general
trade.
In 187 1 the stage route was extended from Georgetown to Winnipeg, Cap-
tain Balkely having contracted with the Dominion government to carry the mail
from Pembina to Winnipeg. The first stage arrived in Winnipeg September
II, 1871.
During the winter of 1871 all of the boats running on the Red River passed
tmder control of Commodore Kittson. In 1872 an extensive business in flat boat-
ing developed. Scores of flat boats were built in 1872 and engaged in trading
with down river points, the boats being sold at their destination and used for
lumber. Logs were also run down the Red Lake River and used for lumber.
In 1874 an opposition line of steamers was put on the Red River by Manitoba
and St. Paul parties, known as the Merchants Line. The boats were the Minne-
sota and Manitoba. The latter was sunk by the International in a collision.
These boats finally passed into the hands of Mr. Kittson in 1876.
The Kittson Line was organized about 1876 and was called the Red River
Transportation Company. The principal boats were the International, Captain
Painter; the Minnesota, Captain Timmens ; the Manitoba, Capt. Alex Griggs;
the Dakota. Captain Seigers ; the Selkirk, Capt. John Griggs ; and the Alphia,
Captain Russell.
The railroad was extended to Fisher's Landing in 1877 and December 2, 1878,
the track layers joined the rails of the Canadian Pacific, and what is now the
350 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Great Northern at the international boundary and the development of the Red
River Valley was commenced in earnest.
The stag-e company transferred its business to the Black Hills and the steam-
boats gave way to the railroads, little business having been done on the river since
that time.
The grasshopper raids of 1875 completely destroyed all crops in Manitoba
and the people of that region had no seed. The governor of Manitoba secured
12,000 bushels of wheat for seed in Traill County, at Caledonia and whatever
of excellence there is in Manitoba seed now. comes originally from North Dakota.
CHAPTER XXIII
RED RIVER VALLEY OLD SETTLERS- ASSOCIATION
HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Red River Valley Old Settlers Association was organized at a meeting
held for the purpose at Grand Porks, Decemlier 27. 1879. The following named
persons were present, viz. : Alex Griggs, O. S. Preeman, W. C. Nash, James Han-
rahan, James A. Jenks, Z. Hunt, Ed Williams, D. P. Reeves, Burt Haney, R.
M. Probstfield, Wm. Blair, Thomas Walsh, P. McLaughlin, Wm. Budge, James
McRea, George Akers, Matt McGuinness, N. Plof^'nian, J. J. Cavanaugh, M. L.
McCormack, George B. Winship.
R. M. Probstfield was elected president and George B. Winship, secretary.
The following were appointed committees to solicit members and to arrange
for a permanent organization : From Grand Forks County, Alex Griggs, D. P.
Reeves, Matt McGuinness ; from Wilkin County, J. R. Harris. D. McCauley, and
Ransom Phelps ; from Clay County, R. M. Probstfield, E. R. Hutchinson, C. P.
Sloggy ; from Polk County, James A. Jenks, E. M. Walsh, John Island: from
Kittson and Marshall counties, D. F. Brawley. J. W. Stewart, A. W. Stiles : from
Pembina County, Chas. Cavileer, William Budge, N. E. Nelson; from Traill
County, Asa Sargent, C. M. Clark, George Weston ; from Cass County, J. B.
Chapin, J. Lowell, Jr., George Egbert; from Richland County, M. T. Rich, and
two others to be named by him.
The permanent association was organized at Grand Forks, February 4, 1880,
with about thirty-five present. R. M. Probstfield was re-elected president : Asa
Sargent, Traill County ; N. E. Nelson, Pembina County, and J. R. Harris, Wilkin
County; vice presidents; George B. Winship, of Grand Forks, secretary; Frank
Veits, J. S. Eshelman, and M. L. McCormack, Grand Forks, executive committee.
Letters were received from Gen. H. H. Sibley, Ex-Senator H. M. Rice, J. J. Hill,
and N. W. Kittson, of St. Paul, Chas. Cavileer, S. C. Cady, and others.
A membership fee of $1.00 was fixed and the following paid their adjoining
fee: W. C. Nash, John Fadden, Ed Williams, R. Fadden, James Hanrahan,
George Akers. Z. M. Hunt, Wm. Fleming, George Ames, George B. Winship,
Alex Griggs, Jacob Reinhart. Wm. Budge, Robert Coulter, L. Surprise, M. Ferry,
N. HoiTman, J. A. Jenks, M. L. McCormack, F. Veits. J. S. Eshelman.
The association again met at Grand Forks, December 8, 1880, D. F. Brawley
was elected president : Howard R. Vaughn, Alex Griggs, James Holes, vice presi-
dents, George B. Winship, secretary and treasurer. The following named per-
sons were present and paid a fee of $1.00 each: Burt Haney, John Fadden, D. F.
351
4^52 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Brawley, H. R. Vaughn, Richmond Fadden, Edward Williams, James A. Jenks,
W. P. Blair, Joseph Greenwood, George H. Ames, Nick Hoffman, Z. M. Hunt,
Michael McGuinness, James Hanrahan, William Budge, M. L. McCormack, O. S.
Freeman, W. C. Nash, George W. Akers, Frank Veits, George B. Winship,
Michael Ferry, John Island, Leon Surprise, J. S. Eshelman, Robert Coulter, Alex
Griggs, R. M. Probstfield, E. R. Hutchinson. An entertaining letter was read
from J. W. Taylor, United States consul at Winnipeg.
The association met at Pembina. October 13, 1881, F. T. Bradley, of Emerson,
was elected president ; J. M. Tennant, of West Lynn, secretary, and George B.
Winship, treasurer; John Fadden, of Grand Forks, N. E. Nelson, of Pembina
and J. B. Chapin, of Fargo, were elected vice presidents.
The following named persons were present and paid a fee of $1.00: Hugh
O'Donnell, Chas^ J. Brown, A. Carl, A. Walston, Capt. Alex Griggs, S. W.
Ferry, Chas. Crawford, F. S. Freeman, Robert Ewing, M. L. McCormack, A. C.
McCumber, H. R. Vaughn, S. C. Cady, Jacob Reinhart, Chas. Cavileer, W. J. S.
Traill, A. W. Stiles, Wm. Camp, E. Armstrong, George B. Winship, Burt Haney,
Frank Myrick, Captain Aymond. Judson LaMoure, N. E. Nelson. Norman
Gingras, Andrew J. Nelson, Thos. Walsh, D. F. Brawley, John Fadden, F. T.
Bradley.
Consul J. W. Taylor, A. G. Bannatyne, and Capt. H. S. Donaldson, of Win-
nipeg, E. C. Davis, of Crookston, and R. M. Probstfield, of jMoorhead, were
elected additional vice presidents.
There was no meeting of the association for ten years when they again met
at Grand Forks for the purpose of re-organization, December 10, 1891, George
B. Winship was elected president, and D. j\I. Holmes, secretary. N. K. Hubbard,
O. H. Elmer, John Erickson, Frank Veits and Charles Cavileer were appointed
3. committee on permanent organization.
This committee limited membership to those who settled in the Red River
Valley prior to December 31, 1875. Charles Cavileer, of Pembina; A. Sargent,
of Traill ; Jacob Lowell, of Cass ; Hans Myhra, of Richland ; O. H. Elmer, of
Polk ; John Erickson, of Clay ; and David McCauley, of Wilkin ; were elected
vice presidents. J. W. Taylor, Robert Patterson, W. G. Fonseca, and E. L. Bar-
ber, of Manitoba, were elected honorary members.
Those present were George B. Winship, D. M. Flolmes, J. B. Chapin, Jacob
Lowell, N. E. Nelson, Robert Ewing, H. R. Vaughn, Richmond Fadden, P. P.
Nokken, H. C. Myhra, Asa Sargent, P. S. Kelly, Halvor Thoraldson, E. M.
Walsh, W. H. Moorhead, M. D. Campbell, George A. Wheeler, Thomas Camp-
bell, Edward O'Brien, James A. Jenks, N. K. Hubbard, Z. W. Hunt, J. G. Hamil-
ton, John ^^'. W. Smith, Thos. Walsh, W. H. Brown, Michael Ferry, George H.
Walsh, James Duckworth, Wm. Camp, Frank Veits, Joseph Jarvis, Casper Mosher,
■George H. Fadden, John Erickson, C. Cavileer, John N. Harvey, James Elton, O.
H. Elmer, J. T. Taylor, R. Patterson, Ed Williams, George .A.. Wheeler, Jr., B.
Haggerty, James K. Swan, W^ J. Anderson, John O. Fadden, G. G. Beardsley,
Philip McLaughlin, George E. Jackson, Walter J. S. Traill, Judson LaMoure,
John Kabernagle.
The association met at Moorhead, December 7, 1892, George B. ^^'inship was
•elected president, N. K. Hubbard, Job Herrick, S. G. Comstock, James Nolan,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 353
Asa Sargent, O. H. Elmer, and Chas. Cavileer, vice presidents. Ransom Phelps
was elected local secretary, and D. M. Holmes, secretary.
Those present at this meeting were J. R. Harris, James Nolan, Frank Her-
rick, Job Herrick, Henry Wenans, F. J. Burnham, S. G. Comstock, James Holes,
W. J. Bodkin, John Wold, Fred Anibs. Harry O'Neil, Jerome Daniels, J. C.
Probert, J. B. Blanchard, Wm. W. Gamble, B. F. Mackall, VV. H. Davy, A. F.
Pinkham, John Reistad, Lewis Hicks, Andrew Hicks, Andrew McHench, F. J.
Smith, P. H. Lamb, J. H. Sharp.
The next meeting of the association was at Breckenridge, December 6, 1893.
Of the old members George B. Winship, Job Herrick, Frank Herrick, James
Nolan, John Erickson, H. C. Myhra, and F. J. Smith were present. Frank
Doleshy, Folsom Dow, Benjamin Taylor, Frank Formaneck, Menzel Niskesch,
August Hoefs, Chas. Bladow, Frederick Hoefs, August Bendt, Erick A. Lein,
John Myhra, Edward Connelly, Edward Hyser, D. Wilmot Smith, Peter Hanson,
Aaron B. Lichta, Hans Martinson, and Anthony Nolan were admitted to mem-
bership.
James Nolan was elected president, W. J. Bodkin, B. Sampson, Frank Veits,
Chas. Cavileer, Asa Sargent, N. K. Hubbard, and Folsom Dow, vice presidents ;
Frank J. Smith, secretary, and John Erickson, treasurer.
The association met at Fargo, December 6, 1894. Those present were John
E. Haggart, S. G. Roberts, G. S. Barnes, H. G. Shurlock, Chas. B. Thiemens,
Clement A. Lounsberry, Arthur Bassett, Frank Whitman, S. E. Herrick, Evan S.
Tyler, Alex Gamble, Joseph Prevost, S. F. Crockett, Jas. H. Sharp, Edwin
Griffin, Wm. H. White, Wm. O'Neil, Martin Hector, A. G. Lewis, G. J. Keeney,
Jacob Lowell, James Holes, liarry O'Neil, George B. Winship, A. McHench,
W. H. Brown, E. R. Hutchinson, Job Herrick, P. Kelly, Frank Veits, Jacob
Reinhart, W. J. Anderson, J. A. Jenks, James Nolan, James Elton, R. M. Probst-
field, W. J. Murphy. F. J. Smith and S. G. Comstock.
N. K. Hubbard was elected president, R. M. Probstfield, Chas. Cavileer, W. C.
Nash, George B. Winship, C. W. Morgan, James Holes, Frank Herrick and
Edward Connelly vice presidents; B. F. Mackall, secretary, and Wm. H. White,
treasurer.
C. A. Lounsberry, Geo. B. Winship, S. G. Roberts, S. F. Crockett, E. S. Tyler,
Chas. Cavileer and David McCauley were appointed a committee to gather facts
concerning the early settlement and history of the Red River Valley. This reso-
lution was upon the motion of W. J. Murphy of the Minneapolis Tribune.
S. G. Comstock, S. G. Roberts and A. McHench were appointed a committee
to draft a constitution and by-laws for the association.
The association met at Grand Forks, December 26, 1895, George B. Win-
ship presided in the absence of President Hubbard on account of illness. Pres-
ident Hubbard's address was read by Colonel C. A. Lounsberry. Those present
were H. E. Maloney, James Colosky, C. F. Getchell, James Twamley, C. L. Gor-
don, Jorgen Howard, Frank Williams, Robert Anderson, C. W. Morgan, D.
Perkins. A. Barlow, F. A. Wardell, J. E. Sullivan, A. H. Barlow, James Nesbitt,
D. McDonald, James Smith, John Kinan, Wm. Skinner, Gus Williams, Thomas
McVitre, O. Osmond and Christopher R. Coulter.
Colonel Lounsberry, from the historical committee, reported the work done
by his committee, which included the establishment of The Record, for the pur-
354 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
pose of gathering historical data, and was accorded a vote of thanks. The names
of H. G. Stordock, James A. Jenks and John Island were entered on the death
roll, and suitable resolutions of respect and condolence adopted.
The following officers were elected: President, Frank \'eits; vice presidents,
W. H. j\Ioorhead, Pat Kelly, Jacob Reinhart, E. R. Hutchinson, Robert Coulter,
James Nolan, Job Herrick ; treasurer, D. M. Holmes and George B. Winship,
secretary.
Those who settled in the Red River Valley prior to December 31, 1877, were
voted eligible to membership.
The sixth annual meeting of the reorganized association was held at Pembina,
December 18, 1896. The following members were present: W. H. Brown, Jud-
son LaMoure, Joseph Colosky, C. A. Lounsberry, John Hater, E. K. Cavileer,
Charles Cavileer, John Otten, James Carpenter, Frank Russell, Geo. Allard, F. A.
Hart, Joseph Desloria, Andrew Cragin, Peter Hogan, Milo Fadden, H. E. Malo-
ney, Frank Myrick, George B. Winship, Joe Parent, \\'. H. Moorhead, Fred
Delisle, Joseph Morin, W. J. Kneeshaw, Thos. J. Neilson, Bradner Johnson,
John Hogan, F. A. Wardwell.
It was ordered that all persons who settled in the Red River \'alley prior to
July I, 1879, should be eligible to membership, and that a permanent secretary ■
should be elected. The secretary, president and George B. Winship were ap-
pointed a committee on constitution and by-laws, and were directed to take what-
ever steps were necessary to secure the incorporation of the association under the
laws of North Dakota.
Frank \'eits was elected president, W. H. ^Moorhead, G. S. Barnes, James
Carpenter, Pat Kelly, E. R. Hutchinson, Robert Coulter, James Nolan and Job
Herrick, vice presidents; D. M. Holmes, treasurer, and C. A. Lounsberry, secre-
tary.
The association was finally incorporated by the action of the seventh annual
meeting.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY OLD SETTLERs' ASSOCIATION
Article I. This corporation shall be known as the Red River Valley Old
Settlers' Association, and is incorporated under Sec. 3183 Revised Codes of N. D.
Article II. The general offices of this association shall be at Fargo.
Article III. This association shall exist for a period of forty years.
Article IV. The number of directors of this association shall be eleven,
but the following shall constitute a first board of directors and shall execute
these articles:
President — James K. Swan, Grand Forks, N. D.
Vice President — James Nolan, Wilkin County, Minn.
Vice President — Thomas McCoy, Traill County, N. D.
Vice President — James Carpenter, Walsh County, N. D.
Secretary^C. A. Lounsberry, Fargo, N. D.
Treasurer — D. M. Holmes, Grand Forks, N. D.
Article V. This association may become subordinate to a state organiza-
tion of old settlers; and associations subordinate to this may be organized in each
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 355
of the Red River Valley counties in Minnesota and North Dakota, having pur-
poses in harmony with this organization.
Article VI. This association may hold real and personal property not ex-
ceeding in value $10,000. It may receive bequests for the purpose of establish-
ing an historical and biographical library, for preserving its records, publishing
its proceedings, biographical sketches, etc. \Mien dissolved its property shall
be turned over to the state for historical and library purposes.
Article VII. The private property of the members of this association shall
not be liable for its debts.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 29th
day of September, 1897.
James K. Swan, [seal.]
James Nolan, [seal.]
Thomas McCoy, [seal.]
James Carpenter, [seal.]
C. A. Lounsberry, [seal.]
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA [.ss
County of Grand Forks,
On this 29th day of September, 1897, personally appeared before me James
K. Swan, James Nolan, Thomas IMcCoy, James Carpenter, C. A. Lounsberry and
D. M. Holmes, who, being duly sworn, doth each for himself say that he is an
officer and director of the Red River Valley Old Settlers' Association, and that
these articles of association are executed in accordance with a majority vote had
at a regularly called meeting of said association held at Pembina, N. D., Decem-
ber 18, 1896, and that at a regularly called meeting of said association held at
Grand Forks, September 29, 1897, by a majority vote they were especially des-
ignated to sign and file said articles of association.
J. G. HAMILTON,
Notary Public, Grand Forks County,
North Dakota.
Colonel Lounsberry was elected secretary for a term of six years.
The following is a list of members, with date of settlement, on the roster in
1895.
Alex Griggs, Grand Forks, November, 1870.
R. Fadden, Grand Forks, October, 1S71.
M. L. McCormack, Grand Forks, March, 1871.
Geo. B. Winship, Winnipeg, May, 1867.
Z. M. Hunt, Huntsville, Minn.. April, 1871.
Colin McFadden, Grand Forks, July, 1871.
George W. Akers, McCauleyville, October, 1870.
Burton E. Haney, McCauleyville, February, 1871.
Jacob Reinhart, McCauleyville, May, 1867.
Isaac Ward, Pembina, January, 1871.
Alex Blair, McCauleyville, January, 1870.
Alfred Wright, McCauleyville, May, 1867.
356 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
James Hanrahan, McCauleyville, April, 1867.
John Cromety, Pembina, June, 1871.
John Fadden, Grand Forks, June, 1871.
Matt McGuinness, Georgetown, April, 187 1.
William Budge, Pembina, June, 1870.
Michael Ferry, Breckenridge, Septeml^er, 1868.
George H. Ames, Pembina, May, 1871.
George H. Fadden, Grand Forks, July, 1871.
Edward Williams, Grand Forks, June, 187 1.
A. W. Nalstreim, Grand Forks, May, 187 1.
W. C. Nash, Pembina, November, 1863.
Frank Veits, Georgetown, September, 1871.
Leon Surprise, Fort Abercrombie, December, 1867.
Nick Hoffman, Georgetown, April, i860.
John Connolly, Fort Abercrombie, August, 1869.
W. G. Woodnut, Sheyenne River, June, 1871.
Robert Coulter, Huntsville, Minn., June, 1871.
William Fleming, Huntsville, Minn., June, 1871.
B. S. Kelly, Kelly's Point, July, 1871.
Thomas Walsh, Grand Forks, April, 1871.
James McCrea, Grand Forks, June, 1871.
N. E. Nelson, Pembina, May, 1869.
B. F. Mackall, Moorhead, April, 1873.
D. F. Brawley, Pembina, 1870.
H. R. Vaughn, McCauleyville, 1870. '
S. C. Cady, Pembina, 1869.
Joseph Greenwood, Grand Forks, 1871.
R. M. Probstfield, opposite mouth of Sheyenne River, 1859.
E. R. Hutchinson, opposite mouth of Sheyenne River, 1859.
Frank D. Myrick, Fort Ransom, 1857.
"William Camp, Pembina, 1870.
A. W. Stiles, Pembina, 1870.
Edward Armstrong, Winnipeg, 1871.
Adolph Carl, Fort Abercrombie, 1870.
Frank Aymond, Pembina, 1867.
Charles Crawford, Fargo, 1872.
Samson W. Fry, Pembina, 1870.
Judson LaMoure, Pembina, 1870.
Robert Ewing, Dakota Lake, Minn., 1871
Norman Gingras, bom at St. Joseph.
Andrew T. Nelson, Pembina, 187 1.
Charles Cavileer, Pembina, 1851.
F. W. Manley, North Pembina, 187.
W. J. S. Traill, Georgetown, 1869.
Wm. H. Moorhead, Pembina, 1857.
Chas. B. Nelson, Pembina, 1851.
D. M. Holmes, Grand Forks, 1872.
Jacob Lowell, Fargo, October, 1870.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 357
P. P. Nokken, Fargo, June, 1871.
H. C. N. Myhra, Richland County, June, 1871.
Asa Sargent, Caledonia, July, 1870.
P. S. Kelly, Caledonia, September, 187 1.
Halver Thoraldson, Grand Forks, June, 1874.
Ed M. Walsh, Grand Forks, October, 1871.
M. D. Chappell, Grand Forks, April, 1873.
George A. Wheeler, Grand Forks, November, 1873.
Thomas Campbell, Grand Forks, August, 1872.
N. K. Hubbard, Moorhead, September, 1870.
J. G. Hamilton, Sisseton, April, 1875.
John W. Smith, Grand Forks, April, 1875.
William H. Brown, Grand Forks, 1875.
George H. Walsh, Grand Forks, April, 1875.
James Duckworth, Grand Forks, March, 1875.
Joseph Jarvis, Grand Forks, October, 1872.
Casper Moser, Crookston, 1872.
John Erickson, Moorhead, December, 1870.
John N. Harvey, Manvel, 1874.
James Elton, Georgetown, May, 1871.
O. H. Elmer, Moorhead, October, 1871.
George A. Wheeler, Jr., Grand Forks, November, 1877
B. Haggerty, Grand Forks, May, 1884.
James K. Swan, Grand Forks, April, 1874.
W. Anderson, Grand Forks, April, 1875.
George G. Beardsley, Fargo, June, 1871.
Philip McLaughlin, Fargo, September 16, 1872. ,
George E. Jackson, Crookston, July, 1872.
Walter J. S. Traill, Fort Garry, July, 1866.
James Nolan, McCauleyville, July, 1865.
Frank Herrick, Old Crossing, July 20, 1870.
Job Herrick, Old Crossing, July 20, 1870.
Henry Wenans, IMoorhead, March, 1873.
F. J. Burnham, Glyndon, April 20, 1872.
S. G. Comstock, Moorhead, June, 1871.
James Holes, Fargo, July, 1871.
W. J. Bodkin, Moorhead, December, 1868.
John Wold, Wild Rice, June i, 1871.
Fred Ambs, ]Moorhead, August, 1871.
Harry O'Neil, Fargo, January, 1872.
Jerome Daniels, Glyndon, April, 1872.
J. C. Probert, Fargo, April, 1872.
J. B. Blanchard, Moorhead, August, 1871.
William W. Gamble, Fargo, August, 1873.
W. H. Davy, Moorhead, October, 1874.
A. F. Pinkham, Fargo, October i, 1871.
John Reinstad, Kindred, September i, 1870.
Louis Hicks, Hickson, June 2, 1872.
358 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOT/
Andrew McHench, Fargo, November 2, 1870.
Andrew Hicks Hickson, June 18, 1871.
P. H. Lamb, Moorhead, June, 1872.
J. H. Sharp, Moorhead, June, 1872.
Folsom Dow, Wahpeton, 1871.
B. F. Menkens, Moorhead, 1872.
Peter Hanson, Breckenridge, 1871.
Hans Martinson, Tangberg, 1871.
Anthony Nolan, Fort Abercrombie, 1866.
Ransom Phelps, Wahpeton, 1871.
D. Wilmot Smith, Wahpeton, 1871.
Benjamin Taylor, Wahpeton, 1872.
John Myhra, Wild Rice, 1870.
Frank Famousch, Wahpeton, 1871.
Frank Doleshy, Wahpeton, 1873.
Samuel Taylor, Wahpeton, 1872.
H. C. N. Myhra, Kingsburg, 1871.
August Berndt, Hankinson, 1874.
Eric A. Lein, Dwight, 1875.
Fred Hoefs, Hankinson. 1874.
E. R. Hyser, Breckenridge, 1871.
August Hoefs, Hankinson, 1874.
Chas. Bladow, Hankinson, 1874.
John E. Haggart, Fargo, 1871.
S. G. Roberts, Fargo, 1872.
G. S. Barnes, Glyndon, 1872.
Chas. B. Thiemens, Fargo, 1873.
Clement A. Lounsberry, Fargo, April 4, Bismarck, May 11, 1873.
Arthur Bassett, Glyndon, 1872.
Frank Whitman, Fargo, 1871.
S. E. Herrick, born in North Dakota, 1873.
Evan S. Tyler, Fargo, 1873.
Alex Gamble, Fargo, 1872.
Joseph Prevost, Wolverton, Minn., 1867.
W. H. White, Fargo, 1872.
A. H. Morgan,-Frog Point. 1871.
N. B. Pinkham, Fargo, 1871.
William O'Neill. Fargo, 1872.
Martin Hector, Fargo, 1872.
G. J. Keeney, Fargo, 1871.
H. E. Maloney, Grand Forks, 1873.
Jos. Colosky, McCauleyville, 1871.
C. F. Getchell, Frog Point, 1872.
James Twamley. Grand Forks, 1876.
C. L. Gordon, Caledonia, 1871.
Jorgen Howard, Clay County, j\Iinn., 1873.
J. F. Williams, Breckenridge. Minn., 1875.
Robert Anderson, Grand Forks, 1871.
NORTH DAKOTA FARM HOME
FARM SCEXE IX \\ALSH COUNTY
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA ' 359
C. W. Morgan, Goose River, 1872.
D. Perkins, Grand Forlcs, 1874.
A. Barlow, Grand Forks, 1875.
F. A. Wardwell, Glyndon, 1873.
J. E. Sullivan, Grand Forks, 1875.
A. H. Barlow, Grand Forks, 1876.
Robert Ray, Belmont, 1871.
J. A. Barlow, Grand Forks, 1876.
James Nesbit, Huntsville, 1874.
Terrence Martin, Fargo, 1871.
D. McDonald, Vermilion, 1873.
Jos. Smith, Grand Forks, 1871.
John Kinnan, Fargo, 1871.
William Skinner, Fisher, 1873.
Gus Williams, Walshville, 1873.
Thomas McVeety, Polk County, Minn., 1871.
O. Osmond, Polk County, Minn., 1871.
C. R. Coulter, Polk County, Minn., 1872.
September 29, 1897, the following additional members were registered :
Hugh Parr, Kelly's Point, 1876.
James O'Reiley, Grand Forks, 1879.
Donald Stewart, Forest River, 1878.
Alexander Oldham, Grand Forks, 1877. '
H. H. Strom, Traill County, 1878.
C. O. Maloney, Grand Forks, 1875.
John Swift, Grand Forks, 1874.
William Code, Park River, 1878.
James Peete, Grand Forks, 1878.
M. C. Gaulke, Grand Forks, 1878.
Thos. Nisbet, Mallory, Minn., 1878.
W'm. H. Standish, Polk County, Minn., 1879.
Louis A. Lhiver, Grand Forks, 1878.
M. Addison, Grand Forks, 1879.
H. D. Cutler, Grand Forks, 1879.
H. Arnegaard, Hillsboro, 1871.
M, D. Chappell, Grand Forks, 1873.
L. M. Anderson, Pembina, 1872.
M. L. Enright, East Grand Forks, 1872.
Peter Gannaw, Frog Point, 1871.
H. P. Ryan, Grand Forks, 1878.
Geo. F. Whitcomb, Fort Abercrombie, 1865.
C. A. Lounsberry, Fargo, April 4, 1873.
Geo. J. Longfellow. Fargo, 1879.
Wm. Ackerman, Abercrombie, 1866.
John O'Leary, Grand Forks, 1878.
360 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Hubbard's sure tip
N. K. Hubbard, in his address to the Old Settlers' Association, November
26, 1895, said :
"It was my good fortune to be associated with our friend, Frank \'eits. We
came together from Geneva, Ohio, to make our fortunes in the West. We pro-
ceeded to Georgetown, seventeen miles north of Fargo, where we found Adam
Stein occupying the old Hudson's Bay Hotel. Jacob Lowell, Jr., had also come
on an intimation from A. B. Stickney that Georgetown was near the probable
crossing of the Red River by the Northern Pacific. And Back, the friend,
adviser, relative and representative of Horace Austin, then governor of Minne-
sota, was there also. Walter J. S. Traill, for whom Traill County was named,
was agent at Georgetown for the Hudson's Bay Company. George Sanborn, a
friend and acquaintance of William Windom, was also there. We were waiting
and watching, and finally the glad tidings came from Cooke. Pitt Cooke, a
brother of Jay Cooke, visited Georgetown and selected the crossing. The message
was delivered to the Northern Pacific surveyors by me. The order was to locate
the crossing at the mouth of the Elm, about eight miles east of Grandin. Veits
and I were first to know it. Imagine my joy. We all went to the Elm River ex-
cepting Veits, wiser than the rest, who continued furnishing entertainment for
man and beast. He paid Adam Stein $100 to move out and let him in. Not for
the property, for that belonged to the Hudson's Bay Company, but to give him
possession and the opportunity to entertain the coming hosts, for we all realized
what a rush would come. We knew the country and correctly estimated its
value. We all built log houses at Elm River and most of the party stayed there
a whole year before Lowell, who made daily trips up and down the river in
connection with Back and McHench, each having their beat for patrolling the
river from Sheyenne to the Elm, discovered Beardsley at work on the town-
site at Fargo. And then Elm River was abandoned. I had gone east after two
months' waiting, and when I returned a jumper occupied my cabin and demanded
$600 before he would give possession. I let him keep it and engaged in business
at Oak Lake. The crossing was not established for a year later, and then
twenty-seven miles south of the point named in my sure tip.
"This was in 1870. Then the entire white population of North Dakota would
not exceed five hundred. There was a small settlement at Pembina, mostly Gov-
ernment employes connected with the custom house or the trader's store. There
were two or three settlers at Grand Forks, among them Nick Hufifman. Ed
Griffin lived in Cass County, but Fargo was not located. Georgetown was the
metropolis of the valley. The nearest land office in North Dakota where land
could be entered was at \^ermilion, S. Dak. But little land had been sur-
veyed, and that about Pembina. Not an acre had been entered, not a bushel of
grain had been raised in the valley for shipment abroad, and not enough to feed
even the few families found scattered here and there along the river. The Red
River cart was the only means of transportation that had been put on. L. H.
Tenny and myself came into the country on horseback from St. Cloud. Tenny
settled at Glyndon and became the father of the Northern Pacific Elevator Com-
pany, with George S. Barnes, his practical worker, the moving force. Not until
December, 1870, was there a single entry of land made in North Dakota. There
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 361
was no Fargo or Moorhead. Not one settler had yet entertained the idea of
occupying the rich lands in its immediate vicinity. Grand Forks was not even
a voting precinct, and all of the valley was Pembina County, which was the only
civil organization in what is now the state. There was a postoffice at Pembina,
Fort Totten, old Fort Ransom, and Abercrombie, but that was all. Much of the
state was an unknown land, visited only by Indians, traders, missionaries and
Government expeditions. Fremont visited Devils Lake in 1839. Catlin came
and saw but went away without conquering, in 1841. Sully and Sibley visited
parts in 1862 and 1863. Hatch's battalion occupied Pembina in 1862. Lewis
and Clark had visited the Missouri River region in 1805, and it was their report
which gave the world the first idea of the unparalleled resources of the North-
west and led to its general occupation by traders. The John Jacob Astor Com-
pany, formed in 1808, occupied the Missouri and the James River Valley for a
time, but the War of 1812 forced their consolidation with the North-Western,
which in turn was consolidated with the Hudson's Bay Company. Then came
the Columbia Fur Company, which occupied all of this region for a time, but
gave place to the independent traders who disputed the ground with the Hud-
son's Bay Company until after the settlers of 1870 came into possession of a
goodly portion of the land. The theme is interesting, but let us glance at the
later development.
"Twenty-five years ago, in all North Dakota there were only watchers and
waiters for the Northern Pacific Railroad crossing the Red River, bent on town-
site speculation, and these could be counted on the fingers of your two hands,
outside the settlement at Pembina, and the occasional wood chopper or keeper of
the stage stations along the river and those at the military posts. * * *
"In the early history of the Red River Valley the Hudson's Bay Company
had a line of vessels running from Hudson's Bay to England, which made annual
trips, bringing the mail and supplies once a year and carrying back the following
summer the winter catch of furs. In mid-winter dog sledges were sometimes
sent through to Montreal with later communications and orders for goods to be
delivered the following August. Subscribers for the London papers received
365 copies at one time and even in our day the wife of our oldest settler, Mrs.
Cavileer, a descendant of one of the original Selkirk settlers, informs us the
subscriber read only one copy a day, that of the corresponding day of the year
before. It was not until Commodore Kittson arrived at Pembina in 1843 and
established a trading post, which soon led to monthly mails, that the system of
yearly mails was improved upon."
J
PART IV
CHAPTER XXIV
DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY
The Territory of Dakota was organized by the Congress of the United States
by the act of March 2, 1861. Prior to the passage of this act by Congress, a few
enterprising spirits had crossed the confines of Minnesota and Iowa, and estab-
lished homes along the banks of the big Sioux and Missouri rivers, and founded
the cities of Sioux Falls, Vermilion and Yankton, but settlements in North Dakota
were principally at Pembina, until the Northern Pacific crossed the Red River
and founded the City of Moorhead on the east bank and Fargo on the west. From
that time forward settlers, attracted by the liberal provisions of the homestead
law, and the rich agricultural lands of the Red River Valley, poured into North
Dakota in streams, and the population of the territory increased from 2,405 in
1870 to approximately one hundred and eighty thousand in 1889, when Dakota
was divided on the seventh standard parallel and North Dakota admitted as a
state in October, 1889. The act of Congress creating the territory is known as
the "Organic Act" — it was the constitution of the territory, its charter of govern-
ment. A territory is a state in a chrysalis form, and the bonds which clothe this
chrysalis form are broken only with the consent of Congress.
In states, all the sovereign power is in the people, but so far as a territory is
concerned, the sovereign power is lodged in Congress. A territory has no original
or sovereign power of legislation, all its powers are delegated by Congress, and
while the people of the state may create governments with legislative, executive
and judicial powers, the people of a territory cannot do so until authorized by
Congress.
The enterprising, virile people who had established homes in the territory had
come largely from the old states, though many came from the northern states of
Europe and Canada. They understood the principles upon which this government
was founded, and were restive under the territorial form, regarding it as servile,
and therefore intolerable. They wanted relief from the irresponsibility of
appointed rulers and judges, and a voice in the selection of those who should
govern them. The rapid increase in the population and material wealth demanded,
as its people believed, for the promotion of their welfare and the betterment of
the varied interests, a more permanent form of government than was possible
under the territorial form prescribed by Congress.
The division of the Territory of Dakota into two states or territories on an
east and west line along the seventh standard parallel was a burning question from
the creation of the territory until its consummation in 1889. Hence a brief review
of the territorial days is essential to a clear understanding of the causes and
365
366 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
influences which induced Congress to form the State of North Dakota, and admit
it as a sovereign state to the Union.
The Territorial Legislature of 1871 adopted a memorial to the Congress, pray-
ing for the division of the territory on the forty-sixth parallel of latitude, and
similar memorials were adopted by the Legislatures of 1872, 1874, 1877. The
construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad across the state to Bismarck in 1878
intensified the interest of the people in division, and from that time forward the
movement for division constantly figured in congressional annals.
As early as 1873, Senator Ramsey of Minnesota introduced a bill in the United
States Senate for a territory for the north half, to be known as Pembina. The
bill was defeated. In 1875, Senator Windom of Minnesota introduced a bill in
the United States Senate for the creation of the Territory of North Dakota, and
providing a temporary government therefor. This bill was favorably reported
from the committee on territories in the Senate and passed by the Senate. It
went to its death in the committee of territories in the House. The question of
division and admission was before every session of Congress, either by bills on
division and admission, by petitions of residents of the territory, memorials of its
Legislatures or by resolutions of conventions called to consider the subject, for
a period of sixteen years.
The real battle for division and admission began in the territorial legislative
session of 1883. That assembly established a university at Grand Forks, an
insane asylum at Jamestown, and a penitentiary at Bismarck. It authorized the
issuance of bonds to construct necessary buildings, and provided that in the event
of division, the bonds should be assumed and paid by North Dakota, and made
quite liberal appropriation, in view of the financial condition of the territory, for
the maintenance of these institutions for the ensuing two years. It also located
an agricultural college at Fargo, but made no appropriation therefor. The loca-
tion was conditioned upon the donation of a suitable site of at least forty acres
by the citizens of Fargo. The condition was never complied with, and there was
no agricultural college in the north half of the territory until statehood. It located
the Normal School at Minto, in Walsh County, but made no appropriation there-
for. That assembly also passed an act for the removal of the capital from Yank-
ton, through a capital commission of nine persons, who were authorized and
empowered to remove the capital from Yankton, and locate it at some place more
convenient and accessible to the people generally. It was urged as a reason there-
for that the great railroad systems which now traverse the State of South Dakota
would, in the selection of a site by the Legislature, control the location to the
detriment of the people, whose interests would be better safeguarded by a com-
mission. The Legislature left the selection of the site to the judgment of the
commission, but as a majority of the commission were from that part of the
territory now constituting the State of South Dakota, it was assumed that some
town in the central portion thereof would be selected.
Some members of the Legislature who voted in favor of the law creating the
commission claimed there was a passive understanding, in fact an agreement by
the proponents of the measure, that the commission would select as a site for the
"seat of government" the Town of Redfield, situated in nearly the central part of
South Dakota, and save for this understanding the commission scheme would
have been defeated. No proof of such agreement was ever forthcoming, and the-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 367
fact that Aberdeen, Huron, Sioux Falls and Pierre, in South Dakota, vigorously
competed for the location seemingly negatives such claimed agreement.
The committee visited all the localities in South Dakota which offered induce-
ments for the capital location, and inspected a location at the south end of Devils
Lake, and also Bismarck, in North Dakota.
The act creating the commission left it untrammeled in the selection of the
site, save that the place chosen should donate to the territory at least i6o acres
of land and contribute $100,000 for the erection of a capitol building. Bismarck
complied with these conditions and in June, 1883, at a meeting of the commission
held at Fargo, Bismarck was selected by a vote of five to four, as the "seat of
government."
The business men of Fargo filed a protest against the selection of Bismarck,
and demanded that Mr. Spalding, a resident of Fargo, and a member of the com-
mission, vote against Bismarck. Alexander Hughes, William E. DeLong and
John P. Belding of South Dakota, Alexander McKenzie and Milo \V. Scott of
North Dakota, voted for Bismarck. B. F. Spalding voting for Redfield. This
selection surprised the people of the territory. South Dakota was wild in its
protestations, denouncing the act of the commission in the strongest possible
terms.
Upon the relation of the district attorney of Yankton, an action was instituted
in the nature of "Quo Warranto" to oust the commission from office, on the
ground that the law was in contravention of the "Organic Act," which provided
that the seat of government should be selected by the governor, and the Legislative
Assembly, and that the Legislature could not lawfully delegate the right and
power to a commission to remove the capital and locate it elsewhere.
The commission answered this complaint, and the cause was tried before Chief
Justice Edgerton, at Yankton. Motions for judgment were made by both parties
upon the pleadings. The motion of the district attorney for Yankton was sus-
tained and on August 27, 1883. Judge Edgerton rendered judgment :
"That said defendants, and each of them, be and they are hereby forever
ousted and excluded from said office of commissioners mentioned in said action
in the complaint described, and from all franchise and privileges made, enumer-
ated or included therein."
The chief justice filed no written opinion stating the grounds upon which the
judgment was based. From this judgment the commission appealed to the
Supreme Court of the territory. The leading counsel for the commission was
William F. Vilas, of Madison, Wis., who afterwards became a member of the
cabinet of Grover Cleveland. He was ably assisted by W. P. Clough of St. Paul,
later vice president of the N. P. Railway, and Alexander Hughes of Yankton,
who was a member of the commission, and also the attorney-general of the terri-
tory, an office which had been created by the Legislature of 1883. The respond-
ents were represented by Bartlett Tripp, a notably able lawyer; Gideon C. Moody,
afterwards a United States senator from South Dakota; John R. and Robert
Gamble, later elected to Congress and the United States Senate, respectively,
from South Dakota ; and Ellenson G. Smith, the district attorney, all being resi-
dents of Yankton.
This array of counsel filed exhaustive briefs covering every phase of the
subject and supplemented the briefs by oral argument to the court. A majority
368 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the court after due consideration reversed the judgment of the District Court,
deciding :
"That in their opinion the appellants were lawfully entitled to exercise the
duties of their appointment under the act in question."
Chief Justice Edgerton dissenting held:
"From the whole case I must conclude that the act of the Territorial Legis-
lature creating the capital commission was unwarranted and invalid."
The act of the commission in selecting Bismarck as the seat of government
unified the people of North Dakota. It increased the discontent prevailing in
the southern part of the territory and hastened division.
CONVENTIONS
A convention of i88 delegates representing thirty-four counties in the south-
ern portion of the territory assembled in Huron in June, 1883, and demanding
a division of the territory on the forty-si.xth parallel, provided for a convention to
meet at Sioux Falls and frame a constitution. This convention met in Septem-
ber, 1883, and after a session of fourteen days formulated a constitution and
submitted it to the electors in the forty-two counties of South Dakota, by whom
it was adopted. This constitution was submitted to Congress and on February
29th Benjamin Harrison, then a senator from Indiana, and chairman of the
Committee on Territories, reported from that committee a bill to enable the peo-
ple of that portion of the state south of the forty-sixth parallel to become a state.
The bill was recommited by the Senate, but again reported on March 19, 1884. It
was considered by the Senate December 9, 1884, and passed the Senate December
16, 1884. It was messaged to the House and failed of passage there.
North Dakota also held conventions. One was called to meet at Fargo Jan-
uary 4, 1882, to take some action favoring the admission of the territory as a
whole, or its division. It appointed a committee to proceed to Washington and
urge Congress to divide the territory.
In 1887 the north half of the territory sent delegates to a convention which
assembled at Aberdeen. Brown County was the only county in South Dakota
represented. This convention adopted a resolution which declared that the ter-
ritory should be divided into two states, the north half to be named North Dakota.
A third convention met at Jamestown in 1888. It adopted a memorial on the
division of the territory in the two parts and the admission of both North and
South Dakota as states, and appointed a committee to present this memorial to
Congress.
The Territorial Legislature which assembled at Bismarck in January. 1885,
adopted and forwarded to Congress a memorial providing for the admission of
South Dakota as a state. This memorial was an able document. In intense,
pertinent and trenchant language it enumerated reasons why division should be
had, and the admission of South Dakota as a state be granted, but Congress
failed to act thereon until December 15, 1885. In the meantime a second consti-
tutional convention was held at Sioux Falls, in September. 1885; it framed and
submitted a constitution which was ratified by the people of South Dakota, by an
overwhelming vote.
This constitution and the memorial of the Legislature of 1885 were pre-
RICHARD F. PETTIGREW
Came to Sioux Falls in 1869. Territorial
le<;islator, delegate to Congress in 1881 and
first United States senator from South
Dakota.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 369
sented to the Senate by its president pro tern., John Sherman, on December 15,
1885. Senator Harrison introduced a bill to admit South Dakota as a state, and
to organize the Territory of North Dakota, on that date. This bill with an amend-
ment substituting Lincoln instead of North Dakota, as the name of the new terri-
tory, passed the Senate February 5, 1886. It was reported adversely by the
House Committee on Territories.
Bills were introduced in January, 1886, to admit the entire territory as a state,
to divide the territory on the Missouri River, to organize the Territory of Lin-
coln, to enable the people of the territory east of the Missouri to frame a consti-
tution and be admitted as a state, to admit the entire state and to organize the
Territory of North Dakota.
In the congressional sessions of 1887 and 1888, other bills were substituted
for these. Bills which proposed the admission to statehood of Washington,
Dakota, Montana, and New Mexico. A bill to admit Dakota passed the Senate,
no bill to divide the territory and admit the states of North and South Dakota
passed either house of Congress in 1887- 1888.
The Territorial Legislature of 1887 submitted the question of division to a
vote of the people, at the general election in November, 1887. The governor of
the territory was empowered to proclaim the result of the election when it was
certified to him by the proper canvassing board. The full returns of the election
were not received until January 10, 1888, and on January 12, 1888, Governor
Church issued his proclamation showing that 67,618 votes were cast, of which
37,784 favored division, and 32,913 opposed. A majority of 4,871 for division.
The counties in North Dakota gave a majority of 10,284 against division. Only
four counties in North Dakota favored it, viz. : Burleigh, Grand Forks, Ramsey
and Ward,
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
The resentment of South Dakota resulting from locating the capital at Bis-
marck was forcibly shown in the Legislature of 1888. It re-enacted the law of
1883 locating the agricultural college at Fargo, and authorized the issuance of
bonds for the university to cover deficiencies incurred in the course of the con-
struction of its buildings. It extended the time one year in which the citizens of
Fargo could comply with the conditions prescribed in the law of 1883, but did
not authorize the issuance of bonds to construct buildings, nor appropriate for
its maintenance.
The South Dakota members strenuously resisted appropriations for the main-
tenance of the university, penitentiary and insane asylum. The capital commis-
sion had issued warrants in payment of the excess of the cost of constructing
buildings in a sum exceeding $30,000; it had incurred an indebtedness of $5,258.59
for furniture to equip the offices of territorial officers and legislative halls,
$4,198.45 for carpeting the same, $10,561.46 for heating apparatus and $1,415
for plumbing. A prolonged struggle over these items continued until near the
close of the session, when representatives of districts in South Dakota, in which
public institutions were located, becoming alarmed at the possibility of the defeat
of every appropriation to maintain them, agreed to the expedient of omnibussing
all appropriations and combining with a solid North Dakota vote, passed in the
370 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
House a law appropriating for all the institutions north and south, for the
maintenance of the capitol and for payment of the indebtedness incurred by the
capital commission excepting the warrants for capitol construction. The Legis-
lative Council refused to concur in many of the provisions of this bill and it was
referred to a conference committee to adjust the differences between the respective
houses. The conference continued a number of days, the House adhered to the
omnibus bill and the Council finally yielded its opposition, and agreed to the bill
with a proviso added :
"Not to be construed as a ratification or endorsement of the acts of the com-
mission locating the capital at Bismarck."
As a further step in the direction of statehood, this session made provision
for a census. It divided the territory into two districts, and Maj. A. W. Edwards,
of Fargo, was selected to superintend the taking of the census in North Dakota.
He reported to the national Government a total population of 152,199 in North
Dakota. This was greater than the ratio prescribed for a congressman, and the
question of sufficient population to entitle North Dakota to statehood was settled.
The difference between North and South Dakota gradually widened in 1886-
87. South Dakota refused to be reconciled to the removal of the capital from
Yankton. It controlled the Legislature of 1887 and the intention to continue the
fight against the commission and other institutions was manifest in the early days
of the session. Better counsels, however, prevailed and both sections were treated
fairly in the distribution of the funds of the territory. It submitted, however,
the question of division to a vote of the people at the general election in Novem-
ber. The heavy vote against the division in North Dakota was a surprise, and
was accounted for on the theory that the then democratic national organization
was hostile to division and was unfavorable to admission to the Union, either as
one or two states. The only evidence introduced to support this theory was the
open opposition of leading democratic officials in both sections of the territory
to division.
The democratic counties polled heavily against division. The election of
Benjamin Harrison as President in 1888 had a most salutary effect upon the divi-
sion and admission of the Dakotas. As a senator he was a staunch advocate of
division and admission. It was claimed that he might call a special session of Con-
gress in March to take action on this subject. Confronted with this possibility,
members of the House who had antagonized admission of any more states,
"changed front" and pledged support to the Springer omnibus bill, which the
House early in January considered. It amended the act which provided for the
admission of Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho and New Mexico, by adding
the words "In lieu of the State of Dakota, the states of North and South Dakota,"
and passed the bill as so amended. The Senate refused to concur in the House
bill and eliminated Idaho and New Mexico therefrom, and requested a conference
of the two Houses to compromise their differences and at once appointed the
Senate conferees. The House agreed to the conference February 2d. The con-
ference later reported a disagreement to the respective Houses. Their report
was considered by the House, instructions were given and a second conference
granted. The report of this conference was presented to the Senate on February
20th and agreed to without division. It was forthwith transmitted to the House,
JUDSON LA MOUKE
Pioneer of Union County, 1860. Legis-
lator from Pembina County later
HUGH S. DONALDSON
First legislative representa-
tive from the Red River of the
North, 1862.
CHARLES E. GALPIX
Indian trader and husband of
Mrs. Pieotte
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 371
which adopted the report and thus passed the bill which admitted the four states
of North and South Dakota, Montana, and Washington into the Union.
The bill was presented to President Cleveland for his signature, and he com-
plied with the suggestion of Springer, who for reasons of sentiment desired the
bill signed on the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, first President
of the United States, and affixed his signature to the Enabling Act on February
22, i88g.
The last Territorial Legislature convened at Bismarck, in January, 1889, and
in anticipation of statehood enacted but few laws outside of appropriations.
There was no contest over these as in former years, and all institutions were
allotted an equitable share of the prospective income of the ensuing two years.
It authorized an election be held April 7, 1889, to choose delegates to a constitu-
tional convention to be held at Grafton, on the second Tuesday of May, 1889,
the act to be inoperative if Congress passed an "enabling act" prior to the date
of holding the election.
This was the most important act passed and over which a good natured con-
test was had in designating the place of holding it. The South Dakota members
of the Legislature left the selection to the North Dakota members, and agreed
to vote for the place which received a majority vote of the North Dakota mem-
bers. Grafton won.
The following statement as to Governor Ordway was written by this writer
in 1889:
"Ex-Governor Ordway, who had served twelve years as sergeant-at-arms and
paymaster of the United States House of Representatives, and several terms in
both branches of the New Hampshire Legislature, was appointed governor of
Dakota in May, 1880, to succeed Governor William A. Howard, who died at
Washington, while filling out a term as governor of Dakota. Governor Ord-
way, having had pretty large experience in public life, determined to make himself
personally acquainted with every part of the territory over which he was called
upon to preside, and after having cleared up the executive work which had
accumulated during Governor Howard's illness at Yankton, started up the Mis-
souri River to Fort Sully, where he took an ambulance across the Big Sioux
reservation to the Black Hills, traversing the rolling prairies and taking account
of the resources of that vast country which was still in the possession of the
Indians.
"The presence of the new governor in the Black Hills pleased the people, and
the governor was royally entertained for nearly two weeks, during which he
explored nearly all the principal mines, and procured large quantities of speci-
mens, to be forwarded by express, to make up an eastern exhibit, which he was
co-operating with the Northern Pacific Railroad in arranging, with the view of
bringing in immigration and developing the country. From the Black Hills he
took transportation 250 miles to Bismarck, in the north ; and thence, examining
the famous wheat fields and procuring specimen products in the lames. Red and
Sioux River valleys, returned to the Missouri River Valley and Yankton, the
seat of government. Remaining there for a period to attend to accumulated
business, he afterwards shipped the products thus secured to Cliicago, to be
placed in the elegant car specially built by the Northern Pacific Railroad Com-
pany, for a complete exhibit of the products of Dakota and other territories on
372 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
their line, wiiich was en route for the New England AgricuUural Fair, to be held
at Worcester, Mass.. in September, 1880. The governor, by special invitation,
accompanied this exhibit, which embraced almost everything grown in the various
counties in Dakota, and was the guest of the City of Worcester and the New
England Agricultural Society for the entire week of the fair. During this time
many thousands of people visited the car, and entered their names upon a register
prepared for that purpose, requesting printed documents giving information as
to the resources of this new country and its vast wheat fields. The governor
remained east until November, only returning to Yankton in season to cast his
vote at the November election. During this period the exhibition car was taken
all over New England and a considerable portion of the Canadas, thus securing
the names and addresses of nearly two hundred thousand land seekers or appli-
cants for information in regard to the new Northwest. This exhibition of the
resources of Dakota undoubtedly started and kept in motion the unprecedented
boom which followed in 1881, and continued during nearly all of Governor
Ordway's term.
"The Territorial Legislative Assembly convened at Yankton in January, 1881,
at which time the governor found himself confronted with very grave responsi-
bilities. The territorial laws required the governor to make contracts with the
managers of insane hospitals and officers of penal institutions in adjoining states,
for the keeping of all the indigent insane and convicts sentenced and decreed to
be confined in the territory. This requirement was practically impossible, as the
insane hospitals in adjoining states were all filled to overflowing, and there was
no desire on the part of any of the states to increase the number of convicts in
any of these institutions. The outstanding securities of the territory bearing
10 per cent interest were selling at 80 cents on the dollar, and there was not a
piece of brick, stone or iron laid in any suitable public building. The governor
earnestly called attention to this state of things in his first message, and by
subsequent appeals secured the enactment of laws providing for the erection of
a comparatively fire proof insane asylum at Yankton, and a stone penitentiary at
Sioux Falls, for which bonds bearing 6 per cent interest were authorized. An
appropriation was also secured for a small deaf mute asylum at .Sioux Falls.
"This first session of the Legislative Assembly was rather exciting, and at
some times the relations between the legislative and the executive departments
were considerably strained over the governor's determination to prevent the issue
of any bonded indebtedness by counties or municipal corporations, unless the
same had been approved by a vote of the people, the governor deeming this pre-
caution necessary to keep down an incipient spirit of wildness, tending to repudia-
tion. The records of the territory show that the governor withheld his signature
to nearly or quite one-third of the acts passed by that Legislative Assembly.
"Immediately following the adjournment of the Legislative Assembly, disas-
trous floods caused by immense ice-gorges in the Missouri River, swept over a
large portion of the lower Missouri and Sioux River valleys, carrying away
houses and detsroying thousands of horses, cattle and other domestic animals,
and driving several thousand people from their homes, leaving them in a destitute
condition. At the request of the mayor and an executive relief committee of the
City of Yankton, Governor Ordway, who was at Washington, secured supplies
from the war department for the immediate relief of the settlers, which were
wt
w^\
NEHEMIAH G. ORDWAY
Seventh governor of Dakota Territory, 1880-1884
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 373
stored for feeding the Indians along the river, and subsequently the governor
visited New York and Boston, endorsing the appeal made by the Yankton aid
committee for aid, and was thus enabled to forward several thousands of dollars
in money and seven or eight tons of clothing and other necessary supplies which
the people of the East freely contributed to the sufiferers by these disastrous floods.
"During the summer of 1882 the governor made a tour of inspection through
the center of the territory, traveling over the fertile prairies nearly four hundred
miles from Yankton to Fort Totten, and in the fall of 1882 he made a very
exhaustive report to the secretary of the interior of the condition and resources
of the whole territory.
"When the Legislative Assembly convened at Yankton in January, 1883,
although the insane hospital at Yankton and the penitentiary at Sioux Falls had
both been completed and placed in good running order, the capacity of these
institutions was found to be entirely inadequate to the rapidly increasing require-
ments. The governor recommended the enlargement of both these institutions,
and secured aid from the United States for a wing to the penitentiary, which
would accommodate prisoners sentenced by the United States courts. He also
recommended an appropriation for a suitable stone structure as a deaf mute
school, the small one previously provided for at Sioux Falls having got well
under way, but not being fire proof ; and as under a previous act, Clay County
and the City of Vermilion had established the foundations for a small university,
the governor recommended its enlargement and endowment by the territory, and
a sufficient appropriation to found a creditable university for the southern portion
of the territory. And, inasmuch as communication between the northern and the
southern portion of the territory had to be carried on through Minnesota and
Iowa, the governor advised that a large saving would be made by the erection of
another penitentiary at Bismarck, on the Missouri River, which would be a great
saving in the cost of transportation of prisoners from the Black Hills and the
northern portion of the territory ; also, that another insane asylum be provided
for at Jamestown, and another university to accommodate the rapidly increasing
population of the north, at Grand Forks, on the Red River.
"In order to encourage a better and more thorough system of tilling this rich
soil, the governor recommended and approved bills for the establishment of an
agricultural college at Brookings, in the south ; also at Fargo, in the north ; and
in order to secure a higher grade of teachers he advised the Legislature to endow
a normal school at Madison, and another one of the same character at Spearfish,
in the Black Hills, — thus giving the southern and the northern portions of
the territory duplicate institutions, which would enable them to perform all the
duties and obligations which are usually imposed upon states ; in fact laying the
foundation for a division of the territory and the creation of two states.
"The Legislative Assembly, realizing the phenomenal increase of population
and taxable property in the territory, by a nearly two-thirds vote adopted all
of the governor's suggestions, and made such appropriations as could safely be
made within the approximate increase of the resources of the territory for the
next two years, leaving, when these buildings were all completed, a 5 and 6 per
cent bonded indebtedness of less than four hundred thousand dollars, which
securities were sold by advertisement in the open market, at from 3 to 5 per
cent above par.
374 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"Yankton being situated in the extreme southeast corner of the territory, and
the development in the northern and central portion having become so great,
the Legislative Assembly, without any suggestion from the governor, after the
appointment of committees to consider the subject, decided by nearly a two-
thirds vote to change the seat of government to some more central and accessible
locality, provided some such town or place would erect and convey, without
expense to the territory, a capitol building suitable for the transaction of the
public business, with sufficient grounds for its completion and embellishment.
The governor approved an act providing for commissioners to carry out the will
of the Legislative Assembly, and a capitol was built and the seat of government
changed thereunder from Yankton to Bismarck, which was exactly in the center
east and west, but somewhat north of the geographical center of the territory.
"Thus at the end of Ciovernor Ordway's term, the last of July, 1884, all these
penal, charitable and educational institutions had been erected and put in suc-
cessful operation and the capitol built and occupied, leaving a bonded indebted-
ness of less than four hundred thousand dollars, to meet which there was a surplus
in the territorial treasury of $200,cwo towards paying this bonded indebtedness
as it became due. The governor not only recommended and approved the acts
for building all of these public buildings, but, as a member ex officio of the dif-
ferent boards, he exercised a personal supervision over their construction, traveling
all over the territory to assist in laying out the grounds and attending to the
organization and meetings of the various boards, without ever having presented
a bill or drawn one dollar for the per diem and expenses which the officers of
these institutions were entitled to receive under the territorial laws — the governor
holding that the organic act of the territory, which must be regarded as its con-
stitution, prohibited Federal officers from drawing salaries from the people of
the territory.
"After Governor Ordway retired from the executive office he organized the
Dakota and Eastern Land and Loan Company, and gave his attention to securing
eastern capital for the use of the settlers, through the First National Bank of
Pierre, and the Capital National Bank of Bismarck, both of which institutions
he organized, and he was the first president of each.
"Governor Ordway served as a commissioner for Dakota, under an appoint-
ment from Governor l^ierce, on the centennial board of one from each state and
territory, for celebrating the adoption of the constitution at Philadelphia, during
the years 1886 and 1887, and honored Dakota by being placed by the full board
of commissioners upon the executive committee for making all the arrangements
for that historic gathering ; was selected to respond at the great banquet for all
the territories ; and on the day of the final ceremonies in front of Independence
Hall, was selected, on account of his large acquaintance with the public men of
the coimtry. as a member of the committee on reception. He also represented
Dakota in behalf of the governor, on the various boards during the year 1888
of the proposed National Exposition, to be held in Washington in September,
1889.
"During the sessions of Congress in 1887 and 1888 he gave a large portion
of his time at Washington seeking to impress upon the members of Congress
and the friends of the Indians the advisability and justice of opening to settle-
ment such portions of the Indian reservations as were not required or used by
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 375
the Indians, especially a large portion of the great Sioux Reservation; watching
the opportune moment, which came after the last presidential election, to secure
division and immediate admission of North and South Dakota, without allowing
it longer to continue a political question.
"ihat it was largely due to Governor Ordway's long and intimate acquaintance
with the older and controlling members of both Houses of Congress, and his
accurate knowledge of the rules and the modes for overcoming the friction which
was known to exist in regard to the manner of bringing in new states, no one in
Dakota who was in Washington during that session of Congress will attempt to
deny. Many members of both Houses of Congress, looking back over the diffi-
cult and rugged road which the omnibus bill passed, have since expressed wonder
that a bill of such far-reaching consequences to both political parties, as well as
to the people of the territories, moving the political power westward to such an
extent that Xew York will never hereafter be an essential pivot upon which
presidential elections hang, could have been passed in so short a period. It will
hardlv be denied that ex-Governor Ordway has accomplished great results by
giving his time in Washington during the sessions of Congress, to promote
legislation for opening the reservation, and above all, by his work in bringing in
the two Dakotas at the same time, and in placing North Dakota, in which he has
made his home since the change of the seat of government to Bismarck, fully equal
in every respect to its western sisters as a great and prosperous state."
Governor Ordway was of the opinion that the admission of Dakota undivided
would give a stronger state than if admitted as two states. In consenting to the
capital commission bill it is clear that he hoped for the success of Pierre.
The resolutions of the Fargo Convention of 1882 were strongly in favor of
division. The delegates appointed were Judge Alphonso H. Barnes, delegate at
large, with Col. Peter Donan alternate. A. A. Carpenter, Clement A. Lounsberry,
Wilbur F. Steele, George H. Walsh, H. G. Stone, J. S. Eschelman, M. J- Edgerly,
Anton Klaus, Folsom Dow, H. B. Crandall, Louis Thompson, W. F. Clayton,
Judson LaMoure, L. D. Austin and E. A. Healey.
The memorial presented to the congressional committee at the hearing was
drawn by this writer, who spent five winters in Washington favoring the division
of Dakota before later advocates, who gained prominence and preference by
reason of such action, came to the territorj'.
HON. .\LEX.\NDER MCKENZIE
No history of the State of North Dakota would be complete, or entitled to
credit, without reference to Alexander McKenzie. He has been a part of that
history to a greater extent than any other living man. He has been identified
with the history of the state almost from the very beginning of its territorial life.
He kept in touch with it, laboring for its development during all of its years of
development as a territory, and since its admission to statehood, prospering not
as a money loaner. banker or merchant, but as the result of investment in North
Dakota real estate and in North Dakota securities. He has held no office ex-
cepting that of deputy United States marshal and sheriff and a director on the
Bismarck penitentiary board, during the constrtiction of that institution, nor
has he sought office, either in the state or nation. He was appointed by the
376 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
governor, however, to take charge of an exhibit made by the territory at the
New Orleans Exposition, where much was accompHshed for the good of Da-
kota, and where he formed acquaintances which had much to do with estabhsh-
ing the credit of the state and incidentally in securing a market for state or*
covmty securities in which he became a heavy dealer. He was Republican Na-
tional Committeeman for North Dakota during the Roosevelt administration,
succeeded by James Kenneday of Fargo in 191 2.
Alexander McKenzie came to North Dakota in 1867 with Don Stevenson's
train carrying supplies to Fort Rice. There he was employed by the military
authorities to carry important dispatches to Fort Buford. passing through a
country infested with hostile Indians.
He rettirned in 1872, then a young man of twenty-two, in connection with
the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and during that summer
he had charge of the track laying on the line west from Fargo. After the com-
pletion of the railroad to Bismarck, in June, 1873, he was interested in the
manufacture and sale of carbonated drinks, and after the organization of the
county in 1873, and the election of the first county ofificers in 1874, he wa3
appointed sherifif to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Sheriff Miller, who
was drowned, together with his deputy Charles McCarthy, by going through
an air hole in the ice on the Missouri River. He was elected sherifif at the
ensuing election, in 1876, and thereafter for ten years, when he declined to
be a candidate for re-election. During all of this time he was deputy United
States marshal, and while in ofiice was instrumental in ridding the country
of more than one hundred criminals of greater or less degree who had sought
asylum or business in the opportunities offered by the opening of the Northern
Pacific country.
McKenzie had been with the Northern Pacific from the beginning of its
construction and he knew the methods and the faces of every crook on th&
line, and was able to spot any new arrival almost instantly, and was peculiarly
fitted to the work on which he was engaged. He was in St. Paul one day
when a most atrocious murder was perpetrated. He took up the work of inves-
tigation on his own account and from force of habit, and through information
he was able to give, the authorities landed their man inside of forty-eight hours.
In his pursuit of criminals, some of whom took refuge in the Indian camps,
McKenzie took desperate chances, but he never flinched. He gained the ad-
miration of Gaul .and other noted Sioux Indian chiefs by arrests made in
their own camps in the face of demonstrations by the Indians which seemed to
threaten certain death.
It was through him that Gaul, Rain-in-the-Face and other noted Indians
became a part of the exhibit at New Orleans, and that Sitting Bull was at the
head of the procession at the time of the laying of the corner stone of the cap-
itol at Bismarck.
He yas successful in the pursuit of steamboats attempting to leave the
country without paying for wood or supplies procured from settlers or mer-
chants. Without resorting to the third degree, as the badgering of prisoners
is now styled, there was that about him which led the large majority to plead
guilty. He had the evidence where there was real guilt, and there were few
mistrials.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 377
Born of sturdy Scotch ancestry he spoke the mother tongue of his country-
men, winning confidence that might not have been reached by other means.
No friend of his had to appeal for help that he could give, in the hour of
real distress, and many a person received timely aid without ever knowing
the source from which it came, for McKenzie always has taken pride in not
letting one hand know what the other has done. From the talk others have
given he has gained many a \aluable pointer, sometimes for their own un-
doing. He leaves the boasting to others. His fame was not confined to Bur-
leigh county, but in every village, and on the lonely ranches, and among the
sturdy farmers he had friends, or old time chums, ready to dare or do as he
requested.
About 1880 he had charge of an exhibit made by Burleigh County at an expo-
sition at Minneapolis, and Burleigh County won the banner which was then and
has been all of the years since then a source of great pride. It was for the best
grain and vegetables on exhibition. It served to attract wide attention to North
Dakota and was the beginning of the great boom which followed. This was fol-
lowed by the exhibit made by him on behalf of Dakota at the New Orleans
Exposition, the influence of which was enduring. He asked the several counties
of the territory to contribute, to be refunded by the Legislature. While some
twenty thousand dollars was raised in this way and was refunded by the Legisla-
ture, Mr. McKenzie advanced the money in the first instance and added to it
some twenty thousand dollars of his own money which was not refunded. But
he won much credit for himself and glory and honor for the territory'.
In 1882 he attended the session of the Legislature at Yankton and it was
through his persistent labor that North Dakota gained its set of territorial institu-
tions, the penitentiary being located at Bismarck, the Agricultural College at Far-
go and the University at Grand Forks. This was the foundation for the action
which followed in locating these and other institutions, in the constitution of the
state, which was accomplished on the suggestion and through the planning and
work of Alexander McKenzie, including the location of the capital at Bismarck.
While he did not go to Yankton for the purpose of securing the location of
the capital of the territory of Dakota at Bismarck, he saw the opportunity and
•-\ccomplished his purpose.
To discredit Governor Ordway, Yankton parties caused his arrest and fixed
his bond at $50,000. McKenzie furnished that amount of currency for his bail,
which was reduced to a reasonable sum and nothing ever came of the prosecution.
After the location of the capital at Bismarck he did not take advantage of the
boom to sell real estate, by reason of such location, but held on and is today reaping
the advantage that he foresaw.
To him, even more than to Governor Ordway. w'as due the successful efforts
in Congress to secure the division of Dakota and the admission of North Dakota
as a state.
He was not the tool of any man or set of men. He had the magnetic power
to draw allies to his assistance and the power of organization to hold them
together and make them willing helpers. He does not appear in any biographies
of pioneers, legislators or other characters, but his name should lead all others in
writing of those responsible for the material development of North Dakota.
^78 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
DAKOTA IN CONGRESS
EIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF DELEGATES, 1861-189O
John B. S. Todd, a delegate from Dakota Territory; born in Lexington, Ky.,
April 4, 1814; moved with his parents to Illinois in 1827; was graduated from
the United States Military Academy in 1837 ; commissioned second lieutenant
in the Sixth Infantry, July i, 1837; first lieutenant, December 10, 1837, and
captain, November 8, 1843; served in the Florida war, 1837-1842, and the war
with Mexico; resigned, September 16, 1856, and became an Indian trader; settled
in Fort Randall, Dakota Territory ; elected to the Thirty-seventh Congress
(March 4, 1861-March 3, 1863) ; successfully contested the election of William
Jayne to the Thirty-eighth Congress and served from June 17, 1864, to March 3,
1865; appointed brigadier general of volunteers in the Union anuy, September
19, 1861 ; appointment expired July 17, 1862; served as speaker of the Dakota
House of Representatives, 1S67; governor of Dakota Territory, 1869-1871 ; died
in Yankton, Dakota Territory, January 5, 1872.
William Jayne, a delegate from Dakota Territory; born in Springfield, III,
■October 8, 1826; completed preparatory studies; studied medicine and practiced
in Springfield eleven years; mayor of Springfield, 1859-1861 ; apppointed gov-
ernor of Dakota Territory by President Lincoln in 1861, and served two years,
with residence in Yankton ; presented credentials as the delegate-elect to the
Thirty-eighth Congress, and served from March 4, 1863, to June 17, 1864, when
he was succeeded by John B. S. Todd, who contested his election ; returned to
Springfield, 111.; president of the Lincoln Memorial Library; president of the
State Board of Charities under Governors Yates and Deneen.
Walter A. Burleigh, a delegate from Dakota Territory ; born in Waterville,
Maine, October 25, 1820; attended public schools; studied medicine in Burling-
ton, Vt., and in New York City, and began practice in Richmond, Maine ; moved
to Kittanning, Pa., in 1852; declined a foreign mission tendered by President
Lincoln in 1861 ; Indian agent. Greenwood, Dakota Territory, 1861-1865; elected
a delegate to the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses (March 4. 1865-March 3,
1869) ; elected to the upper house of the Territorial Legislature in 1877, and
served two terms; removed to Miles City, Montana Territory; member of the
state convention that framed the constitution of Montana ; ser\'ed in the first
State Legislature ; prosecuting attorney of Custer County ; state senator from
Yankton County in 1893; died in Yankton, S. D.. March 8, 1896.
Solomon L. Spink, a delegate from Dakota ; born in Whitehall. N. Y., March
20, 1831 ; completed preparatory studies; taught school several years; studied
law, was admitted to the bar, and began practice in Burlington, Iowa, in 1856;
moved to Paris, 111., in 1860, and began the publication of the Prairie Beacon;
served in the State Legislature; secretary of the Territory of Dakota, 1865-1869;
elected as a republican delegate to the Forty-first Congress (March 4, 1869-
March 3, 1871) ; resumed the practice of law in Yankton, S. D., until his death
there, September 22, 188 1.
Moses K. Armstrong, a delegate from the Territory of Dakota ; born in
Milan, Ohio, September 19, 1832; attended the Huron Institute and Western
Reserve College, Ohio; moved to the Territory of Minnesota in 1856; elected
surveyor of Mower County, and assigned to survey of the United States lands
DR. WALTER A. BURLEIGH
United States agent to Yankton Indians, 1861-1865. Delegate to
Congress from 1865 to 1869
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 379
in 1858; went to Yankton, then a small Indian village, when the territory was
admitted as a state; was a member of the First Territorial Legislature; re-elected
in 1862 and 1863, and served as speaker; edited the Dakota Union in 1864;
appointed clerk of the Supreme Court in 1865; elected to the territorial council
in 1866, and in 1867 chosen speaker; acted as secretai"y of the Indian Peace Com-
mission in 1867; established the great meridian and standard lines for United
States surveys in Southern Dakota and Northern Red River Valley; again elected
to the territorial cotmcil in 1869; elected as a democrat a delegate to the Forty-
second and Forty-third congresses (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1875) ; moved to
St. James, Minn., and engaged in banking and real estate business ; died in Albert
Lea, Minn., January 11, 1906.
Jefferson P. Kidder, a delegate from Dakota Territory; born in Braintree,
Vt., June 4, 1818; attended the common schools; farmed and taught school;
pursued classical studies and was graduated from Norwich University ; studied
law and was admitted to the bar; member of the State Constitutional Conven-
tion of 1843; state attorney, 1842-1847; member of the State Senate, 1847-1848;
lieutenant governor, 1853-1854; moved to St. Paul, Minn., in 1857; member of
the State House of Representatives of Minnesota in 1861, 1863 and 1864;
appointed by President Lincoln associate justice of the Supreme Court for
Dakota Territory, February 16, 1865 ; reappointed by President Grant, x^pril 3,
1869, and reappointed March 3, 1873; elected as a republican, a delegate from
Dakota Territory to the Forty-fourth and Forty- fifth congresses (March 4,
1875-March 3, 1879) ; died in St. Paul, Minn., October 2, 1883.
Granville G. Bennett, a delegate from the Territory of Dakota ; born in
Butler County, Ohio, October 9, 1833 ; spent his youth in Fayette County, Ohio ;
his parents moved to Fulton County, 111., in 1849, ^"d to Washington, Iowa, in
1855, attended Howe's Academy, Mount Pleasant, and Washington College,
Iowa ; studied law and in 1859 began practice in Washington ; served in the
Union army as a commissioned officer from July, 1861, to August, 1865; elected
a member of the State House of Representatives in 1865 for two years, and to
the State Senate in 1867 for four years; appointed associate justice of the
Supreme Court of the Territory of Dakota, February 24. 1875 ; elected a dele-
gate as a republican to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1881) ;
after leaving Congress, resumed the practice of law in Yankton, S. D.
Richard F. Pettigrew, a delegate and a senator from South Dakota ; born in
Ludlow, Vt., July, 1848; moved with his parents to Evansville, Rock County,
Wis., in 1854; attended the academy; entered Beloit College in 1866; member of
the law class in the University of Wisconsin in 1869; went to Dakota in July,
1869, in the employ of a United States deputy surveyor; located in Sioux Falls;
engaged in Government surveying and the real estate business until 1875 ; engaged
in the practice of law ; elected to the Dakota Legislature as a member of the
council in 1877 'ind re-elected in 1879; elected as a republican to the Forty-
seventh Congress (March 4, 1881-March 3, 1883) ; elected to the territorial
council in 1884 and 1885 ; elected to the United States Senate, October 16, 1889,
under the provisions of the act of Congress admitting South Dakota into the
Union, and served from December 2, 1889; re-elected in 1895, and served until
March 3, 1901 ; moved to New York City and practiced law ; removed to Sioux
Falls, S. D.,
380 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
John B. Raymond, a delegate from Dakota Territorj'; born in Lockport,
Niagara County, N. Y., December 5, 1844; moved to Tazewell County, 111., in
1853 ; enlisted as a private in the Thirty-first Illinois Infantry in 1861 ; pro-
moted to captain of Company E of that regiment after the siege of Vicksburg
in 1863; served through the war and remained in Mississippi; published the
Mississippi Pilot at Jackson, Miss., during the reconstruction of that state and
until 1877; appointed United States marshal of Dakota Territory; declined a
reappointment; elected as a republican delegate to the Forty-eighth Congress
(March 4, 1883-March 3, 1885) ; died in Fargo, N. D., January 3, 1886.
Oscar S. GifTord, a delegate and a representative from South Dakota; born
in Watertown, N. Y., October 20, 1842; attended the common schools and pur-
sued an academic course ; served in the Union army as private in the Elgin
(111.) Battery, 1863-1865; studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1870, and
practiced; elected district attorney for Lincoln County in 1874; mayor of Can-
ton, S. D., 1882-1883; member of the Constitutional Convention of Dakota which
convened at Sioux Falls, September 7, 1883 ; elected as a republican, a delegate
to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth congresses (March 4, i88s-March 3, 1889) ;
elected a representative upon the admission of the state into the Union and
served from December 2, 1889, to March 3, 1891 ; resumed the practice of law
in Canton, S. D.
LIST OF POSTOFFICES IN OPERATION IN NORTH DAKOTA WHEN STATE WAS FORMED,
NOVEMBER 2, 1 889
Barnes County — Alderman, Ashtabula, Barnes. Dailey, Dazey, Eckelson, Ells-
bury, Hackett, Minnie Lake, Odell, Oriska, Sanborn, Uxbridge, Valley City, Svea,
Svenby, Binghamton.
Benson County — Abbottsford, Minnewaukan, Fort Totten, Obern, York,
Pleasant Lake, Leeds, Knox, Viking.
Billings County — Medora, Sentinel Butte.
Boreman Coutny — Fort Yates.
Bottineau County — Bottineau, Lordsburg, Tarsus, Sausahville.
Buford County — Williston.
Burleigh County — Bismarck, Cromwell, Menoken, Painted Woods, Sterling,
Stewartsdale, Wogansport, Coriger, Edberg, Slaughter, Wales, Crofte, Glascock,
McKenzie.
Cass County — Amenia, Argusville, Arthur, Aye, Buffalo, Casselton, Daven-
port, Durbin, Eldred, Erie, Everest, Fargo, Gardner, Grandin, Harwood, Hick-
son, Horace, Hunter, Kindred, Leonard, Mapleton, Noble, Norman, Page, Ripon,
Tower City, Trysil, Watson, Wheatland, Wild Rice, Gill, Embden, Woods,
Addison.
Cavalier Covmty — Hannah, Maida, Beaulieu, Alma, Easby, Elkwood, Gertrude,
Milton, Mona, Olga, Osnabooch, Ridgefield, Romfo, Langdon, Mount Carmel,
Woodridge, Vang, Soper, Byron, Ellerton, Stilwell.
Grand Forks County — Arvilla, Belleville, Gilby, Grand Forks, Inkster, Johns-
ton, Larimore, Manvel, McCanna, Niagara, Northwood, Ojata, Reynolds, Thomp-
son, Turtle River, Walle, Ori, Emerado, Holmes, Merrifield, Kempton, Mekinock,
Bean, Cable, Kellys.
OSOAR SHERMAN GIFFDRD
Pioneer of Lincoln County. Delegate to
Congress from 1885 to 1889
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 381
Emmons County — Buchanan, Eminonsburg, Gayton, Glencoe, Livona, Roop,
VVilliamsport, Winchester, Winona, Omio, Armstrong, Exeter, Danbury, West-
held, Hampton, Hull.
Foster County — Barlow, Carrington, Larrabee, Melville, Glenfield.
Dickey County — Ellendale, Lorraine, Ludden, Merricourt, Wright, Yorktown,
Monango, Oakes, Glover, Guelph, Hillsdale, Silverleaf, Clement, Westboro, Ful-
lerton, Boynton.
Eddy County — New Rock ford, Tiffany, Morris, Sheyenne.
Griggs County — Cooperstown, Gallatin, Jessie, Helena, Ottawa, Romness,
Hannaford.
Garfield County — Fort Berthold.
Kidder County — Dawson, McGuire, Steele, Tappen, Langedahl.
Lamoure County — Dickey, Grand Rapids, La Moure, Russell, Litchville,
Medbery, Griswold, Verona, Edgeley, Adrian, Newburg.
Logan County — Napoleon, Steidl, King.
McHenry County — Pendroy, Villard, Mouse River, Towner, Wines, Ely,
Granville.
Mcintosh County — Coldwater, Youngstown, Jewell, Ashley.
AIcLean County — Coal' Harbor, Conkling, Ingersoll, Washburn, Weller. Fal-
coner, Turtle Lake, Hancock.
Mercer County — Causey, Slaton, Stanton, Hazen, Deapolis, Krem.
Morton County — Fort Abraham Lincoln, Glen LHlin, Mandan, New Salem,
Sims, Hebron, Sweet Briar, Kurtz, Cannon Ball.
Nelson County — Adler, Aneta, Baconville, Bue, Crosier, Ilarrisburgh, Lakota,
Lee, Mapes, Michigan, Ottofy, Petersburg, McVille, Ruby, Sogn.
Olive County — Hensler, Sanger, Harmon, Klein.
Pembina County — Bathgate. Bay Center, Carlisle, Cavalier, Crystal, Drayton,
Ernest, Gardar, Hallson, Hamilton, Hyde Park, Joliette, McConnell, Mountain,
Neche, Pembina, Pittsburgh, Saint Thomas, Tyner, Walhalla, Nowesta, Stlkes-
ville, Mugford, Welford, Glasston, Eyford, Prattford, Shepard, The.xton, Leroy,
Backoo, Hensel, Bowesmont.
Ramsey County — Bartlett, Crary, De Groat, Devils Lake, Grand Harbor,
Jerusalem, Locke, Jackson. Church, Kildahl. Starkweather, Churchs Ferry, Scha-
pera, Rutten, Fox Lake, Penn.
Ransom County — Bonnersville, Buttzville, Elliott, Englevale, Fort Ransom,
Lisbon, Owego, Plymouth, Scoville, Sheldon, Shenford.
Richland County — Barnes, Christine, Colfax, Dwight, Fairmount, Fort Aber-
crombie, Kougsberg, Mooreton, Wahpeton, Walcott, Wyndmere, Kloeppel, Power,
Farmington, Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Seymour, Great Bend, De Villo.
Rolette County — Dunseith, Island Lake, Saint Johns, Laureat, Belcourt, Bol-
linger, Twala, Rolla.
Sargent County — Brampton, Forman, Hamlin, Milnor, Ransom, Sargent,
Tewaukon, Verner, Nicholson, De Lamere, Rutland, Harlem, Havana, Straub-
ville. Cayuga, Genesee, Mohler.
Stark County — Dickinson, Gladstone, Richardton, Taylor, Antelope, Belfield,
South Heart.
Steele County — Bellevyria, Colgate, Hope, Pickert, Golden Lake, Sherbrooke,
Mardell, Sharon.
382 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Stevens County — Fort Stevens.
Stutsman County — Atwill, Corinne, Eldridge, Esler, Gray, Jamestown, Pin-
gree, Spiritwood, Windsor, Ypsilanti, Albion, Edmunds, Montpelier, Horn, Shar-
low, Rio, Arrowwood, Medina, Karlopolis.
Towner County — Cando, Coolin, Snyder, Cecil, Sidney, Pieton, Gleason, Han-
son, Perth.
Traill County — Bellmont, Blanchard, Buxton, Caledonia, Clifford, Cumings,
Galesburg, Hague, Hatton, Hillsboro, Kelso, Mayville, Portland, Ouincy, Weible.
Ward County — Burlington, Saint Carl, Minot, Des Lacs, Logan, Lone Tree,
Echo, McKinney.
Walsh County — Acton, Ardoch, Auburn, Conway, Edinburgh, Forest River,
Gait, Grafton, Latona, Medford, Minto, Park River, Praha, Richmond. Saint
Andrew, Silvista, Vesta, Walshville, Lambert, Kinloss, Tomey, Pisek, CasheL
Voss.
Wells County — Sykeston, Oshkosh.
Pierce County — Denney, Hurricane Lake.
Hettinger County — New England City.
Renville County — Joslyn, McKinney.
Dunn County — Oakdale.
CHAPTER XXV
THE NORTH DAKOTA CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION-
ENABLING ACT
The admission of a state to the Union has in some instances been decided
by Congress upon poHtical considerations. The right to admission when a ter-
ritory has sufficient population and material resources to support a state govern-
ment did not weigh with Congress as much as the political advantage to the
party then in control of the National Government.
To illustrate : when Virginia passed an ordinance of secession, the people
living in the mountains in the western portion repudiated secession and loyally
adhered to the Union. Congress rewarded them by creating the State of West
Virginia and admitted it to the sisterhood of states. The vote of an additional
state was required to ratify the thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery through-
out the Union, and Congress carved out Nevada from California and admitted
it as a state, and it cast the needed vote. The thirteenth amendment was ratified
and slavery was forever abolished in the United States.
In recent years an enabling act has, however, been deemed an essential
prerequisite to admission. It is the general rule, and Congress has jealously
guarded it. It has held that no inherent right existed in the people of a ter-'
ritory to form a constitution and apply for admission to the Union without its
consent, consequently it refused to recognize the constitution adopted by the
people of South Dakota, prior to the enactment of the omnibus bill, approved
February 22, 1889.
States can change their constitutions independently of Congress, but such
constitution must conform to the requisite compact, and establish a government,
republican in form and consistent with the national constitution.
The omnibus bill, which was the enabling act for the Dakotas, Montana and
Washington, prescribed that the area in the Territory of Dakota should be
"Divided on the line of the seventh standard parallel projected due west to the
western boimdary of said territory."
The area lying north of this line to the boundary of Manitoba, Canada, tO'
constitute the State or Territory of North Dakota, as might be determined by
the inhabitants of this area, who were qualified voters of the Territory of
Dakota. It further prescribed that this area should be apportioned into twenty-
five districts, three delegates to a constitutional convention to be elected from
each district by the qualified voters of the district, but "no elector shall vote for
more than two persons for delegates to such convention." The governor, chief
justice and secretary of the territory were to designate the districts in proportion
to the population, as near as practicable "from the best information obtainable."'
383
384 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The territorial Legislature of 1885 by law authorized the taking of the
decennial census under the provision of the Federal census law, which provided
that any state or territory could take a census of its inhabitants at the expense
of the Federal Government at the end of five years from the last preceding
census, the census when completed to be transmitted to the National Census
Bureau, to be compiled and published by counties.
The territorial Legislature divided the territory into two districts ; one dis-
trict comprised the area of North Dakota, the other the area of South Dakota.
This census was the basis of the districts from which delegates were chosen.
Upon the formation 'of such districts, the governor of the territory was
authorized to proclaim an election to be held on Tuesday after the second ]\Ionday
in May to choose the delegates to a constitutional convention, to be held at
Bismarck, then the capital of the territory, on July 4, 1889, to "Form a consti-
tution and State Government for a State to be known as North Dakota."
It was a condition precedent before the formation of the constitution "that
the convention should declare on behalf of the people of the proposed state that
they adopted the Constitution of the L'nited States." The constitution framed
was to be "Republican in form, making no distinction in civil or political rights
on account of race or color, except as to Indians not taxed, and be not repugnant
to the Constitution of the United States and the principles of the Declaration of
Independence."
The convention was required to provide in the constitution by "ordinance
irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of the pros-
pective state," to secure perfect toleration of religious sentiment, and that no
inhabitant of the future state should be molested in person, nor deprived of his
property on account of his mode of religious worship; to disclaim any right or
title in any of the unappropriated public lands, or to any lands within the con-
fines of any Indian or military reservation. These lands to remain within the
exclusive jurisdiction and control of the United States : that lands of non-resi-
dents should not be taxed at a higher rate than lands belonging to residents ; that
no taxes be imposed upon lands or property belonging to the United States, or
that might thereafter be purchased, or reserved for its use ; that the debts and
liabilities of the territory shall be assumed and paid by the states; that provision
be made for the establishment and maintenance of a system of public schools
open to all the children of the state, and free from sectarian control."
In accordance with the provisions of the enabling act the following persons
who had been elected delegates at the election held in May, 1889, pursuant to
the call of the governor on the 15th day of April, 1889, assembled at Bismarck
on the 4th day of July, 1889, at noon.
MEMBERS ,\XD OFFICERS OF THE NORTH D.\KOT.\ COXSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
1889
R — republican : D — democrat.
Allin, Roger, R., Walsh County ; postoffice, Grafton ; occupation, farmer ;
born Dec. 18, 1848.
.\lmen, John Magnus. R. ; Walsh County ; postofifice, Grafton : occupation,
farmer; born April 13, 1850.
IK\ IX HOTEL. KEXilAKE
HISTORY OF NORTtI DAKOTA 385
Appleton, Albert Francis, D. ; Pembina County ; postoffice, Crystal ; occupa-
tion, farmer; born Jan. 14, 1850.
iiean, Therow W., R. ; Nelson County; postoffice, Michigan City; occupa-
tion, lawyer; born Oct. 17, 1859.
Bell, James, D. ; Walsh County; postoffice, Minto; occupation, farmer; born
Aug. 24, 1850.
Bennett, Richard, R. ; Grand Forks County; postoffice. Grand Forks; occu-
pation, lawyer; born Dec. 4, 1851.
Bartlett Lorenzo D., D. ; Dickey County; postoffice, Ellendale ; occupation,
farmer; born Oct. 19, 1829.
Bartlett, David, R. ; Griggs County; postoffice, Cooperstown ; occupation,
lawyer; born Oct. 23, 1855.
Best, William D., D. ; Pembina County; postoffice. Bay Centre; occupation,
farmer; born Aug. 23, 1853.
Brown, Charles V., R. ; Wells County; postoffice, Sykeston ; occupation,
publisher ; born Nov. 28, 1859.
Blewett, Andrew, D. ; Stutsman County ; postoffice, Jamestown ; occupation,
merchant; born Sept. 13, 1857.
Budge, William, R. ; Grand Forks County ; postoffice. Grand Forks ; occupa-
tion, merchant; born Oct. 11, 1852.
Camp, Edgar Whittlesey, R. ; Stutsman County; postoffice, Jamestown;
occupation, lawyer ; born Feb. 27, i860.
Chaflfee, Eben Whitney, R. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Amenia ; occupation,
farmer; born Jan. 19, 1824.
Garland, John Emmet, D. ; Burleigh County ; postoffice, Bismarck ; occupa-
tion, lawyer; born Dec. 11, 1854.
Carothers, Charles, R. ; Grand Forks County ; postoffice, Emerado ; occupa-
tion, farmer; born Aug. 22, 1863.
Clark. Horace M., R. ; Eddy County; postoffice, New Rockford; occupation,
farmer ; bom Sept. 6, 1850.
Clapp, William J., R. ; Cass County ; postoffice. Tower City ; occupation,
lawyer; born Nov. 28, 1857.
Colton, Joseph L., R. ; Ward County ; postoffice, Burlington ; occupation,
merchant; born March 24, 1840.
Douglas, James A., D. ; Walsh County; postoffice. Park River; occupation,
farmer; born Feb. 13, 1847.
Elliott, Elmer E., R. ; Barnes County ; postoffice, Sanborn ; occupation, mer-
chant; bom Dec. 25, 1861.
Fancher, Frederick B.. R. ; Stutsman County: postoffice, Jamestown; occu-
pation, farmer; born April 2, 1852.
Fay, George H., R. ; Mcintosh County ; postoffice, Ashley ; occupation,
lawyer ; born Feb. 24, 1842.
Flemington, Alexander D., R. ; Dickey County ; postoffice, Ellendale ; occu-
pation, lawyer; born April 7, 1856.
Gayton, James Bennett, R. ; Emmons County ; postoffice, Hampton ; occupa-
tion, farmer; born Nov. 10, 1833.
Click, Benjamin Rush. D. ; Cavalier County ; postoffice, Langdon ; occupation,
merchant; born March 29, 1856.
Vol. 1—25
386 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Gray, Enos, D. ; Cass County; postoffice, Embden ; occupation, farmer;
born Feb. 4, 1829.
Griggs, Alexander, D. ; Grand Forks County; postoffice, Grand Forks; occu-
pation, banker; born Oct. 27, 1838.
Haugen, Arne P., R. ; Grand Forks County; postoffice, Reynolds; occupation,
farmer; born June 7, 1845.
Hegge, Marthinus F., D. ; Traill County ; postoffice, Hatton ; occupation,
merchant; born Nov. 27, 1856.
Holmes, Herbert L., R. ; Pembina County; postoffice, Neche; occupation,
banker; born May 29, 1853.
Harris, Harvey, R. ; Burleigh County ; postoffice, Bismarck ; occupation, real
estate; born Dec. 12, 1852.
Hoyt, Albert W., R. ; Morton County ; postoffice, Mandan ; occupation, real
estate ; born July 5, 1846.
Johnson, Martin N., R. ; Nelson County ; postoffice, Lakota ; occupation, law-
yer; born March 3, 1850.
Lauder, William S., R. ; Richland County ; postoffice, Wahpeton ; occupation,
lawyer; bom Feb. 9, 1856.
Leech, Addison, R. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Davenport ; occupation, farmer ;
born Feb. 20, 1824.
Lowell, Jacob, D. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Fargo ; occupation, lawyer ; bom
May 7, 1843.
Linwell, Martin V.. R. ; Grand Forks County; postoffice, Northwood ; occu-
pation, lawyer; bom April 2, 1857.
Lohnes, Edward H., R. ; Ramsey County; postoffice. Devils Lake; occupa-
tion, farmer; born April 22, 1844.
Marrinan, Michael Kenyon, D. ; Walsh County; postoffice, Grafton; occupa-
tion, lawyer; bom Nov. 4, 1853.
Mathews, James H., R. ; Grand Forks County; postoffice, Larimore ; occupa-
tion, farmer; born Oct. 10, 1846.
Meacham, Olney G., R. ; Foster County ; postoffice, Carrington ; occupation,
banker: born April 12, 1847.
McBride, John, D. ; Cavalier County ; postoffice. Alma ; occupation, farmer ;
born May 22, 1850.
Miller, Henry Foster, R. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Fargo ; occupation, law-
yer; born Sept. 13, 1846.
Moer, Samuel H., R. ; Lamoure County ; postoffice, LaMoure ; occupation,
lawyer: born June 21, 1856.
McKenzie, James D., R. ; Sargent County; postoffice, Milnor; occupation,,
doctor; born March 28, 1840.
McHugh, Patrick, R. ; Cavalier County; postoffice, Langdon; occupation,
banker; born Sept. 23, 1846.
Noble, Virgil B., D. ; Bottineau County; postoffice, Bottineau; occupation,
lawyer: bom Dec. 7, 1859.
Nomland, Knud J., R. ; Traill County ; postoffice, Caledonia ; occupation,
farmer; born Oct. 16, 1852.
O'Brien, James F.. D. ; Ramsey County; postoffice. Devils Lake; occupation,
lawyer; born July 6, 1853.
POSTOFFICE, MI NOT
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 387
Parsons, Curtis P., R. ; Rolette County ; postoffice, Rolla ; occupation, pub-,
lisher; born May 6, 1853.
Parsons, Albert Samuel, R. ; Morton County ; postoffice, Mandan ; occupa-^
tion, railroading; born Aug. 16, 1856.
Paulson, Engebret M., R. ; Traill County ; postoffice. May ville ; occupation,
farmer; born May 15, 1855.
Peterson, Henry M., R. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Horace ; occupation,
farmer; born July 11, 1857.
Pollock, Robert M., R. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Casselton ; occupation, law-
yer; bom Dec. 16, 1854.
Powers, John, D. ; Sargent County; postoffice, Havana; occupation, farmer;
born Nov. 4, 1852.
Powles, Joseph, R. ; Cavalier County ; postoffice, Milton ; occupation, farmer ;
born Dec. 6, 1850.
Purcell, William E., D. ; Richland County; postoffice, Wahpeton; occupation,
lawyer; born Aug. 3, 1858.
Ray, William, D. ; Stark County ; postoffice, Dickinson ; occupation, real
estate; born Sept. — , 1852.
Richardson, Robert B., R. ; Pembina County ; postoffice, Drayton ; occupation,
farmer; born April 20, 1840.
Robertson, Alexander D., R. ; Walsh County; postoffice, Minto; occupation,
merchant; born July 27, 1833.
Rolfe, Eugene Strong, R. ; Benson County ; postoffice, Minnewaukan ; occu-
pation, lawyer; born Dec. 15, 1854.
Rowe, William H., R. ; Dickey County ; postoffice, Monango ; occupation,
merchant; born Oct. 26, 1853.
Sandager, Andrew, R. ; Ransom County ; postoffice, Lisbon ; occupation, mer-
chant; bom Oct. 31, 1862.
Shuman, John, R. ; Sargent County; postoffice, Rutland; occupation, farmer;
born July 13, 1836.
Scott, John W., R. ; Barnes County ; postoffice. Valley City ; occupation, law-
yer; born March 13, 1858.
Selby, John F., R. ; Traill County; postoffice, Hillsboro ; occupation, lawyer;
born Dec. 24, 1849.
Slotten, Andrew, R. ; Richland County ; postoffice, Wahpeton ; occupation,
farmer; bom Sept. 16, 1840.
Spalding, Burleigh Folsom, R. ; Cass County ; postoffice, Fargo ; occupation,
lawyer; born Dec. 3, 1853.
Stevens, Reuben N., R. ; Ransom County; postoffice, Lisbon; occupation,
lawyer; born Aug. 10, 1853.
Turner, Ezra, R. ; Bottineau County; postoffice, Bottineau; occupation,
farmer; bom Dec. 17, 1835.
Wallace, Elmer D., R. ; Steele County; postoffice, Hope; occupation, farmer;
born July 5, 1844.
Whipple, Abram Olin, R. ; Ramsey County ; postoffice. Devils Lake ; occupa-
tion, banker; bom April i, 1845.
Wellwood, Jay, R. ; Barnes County; postoffice, Minnie Lake; occupation,
farmer; born Nov. 11, 1858.
388 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Williams, Erastus A., R. ; Burleigh County ; postoffice, Bismarck ; occupation,
lawyer; born Oct. 13, 185 1.
OFFICERS
Frank B. Fancher, president ; Stutsman County ; postoffice, Jamestown.
John G. Hamilton, chief clerk ; Grand Forks County ; postoffice. Grand Forks.
C. C. Bowsfield, enrolling and engrossing clerk ; Dickey County ; postoffice,
Ellendale.
Fred Falley, sergeant-at-arms ; Richland County ; postoffice, Wahpeton.
J. S. Weiser, watchman ; Barnes County ; postoffice, \'alley City.
E. W. Knight, messenger ; Cass County ; postoffice, Fargo.
Geo. Kline, chaplain ; Burleigh County ; postoffice, Bismarck.
R. M. Tattle, official stenographer; ^lorton County; postoffice, Alandan.
POLITICAL COMPLEXION AND NATIVITY'
Republicans, 56; democrats, 19. Born in United States, 52 — Wisconsin, 13;
New York, 10: Iowa, 5; Ohio, 4; Maine, 3; Pennsylvania, 3: Illinois. 2; Con-
necticut, 2 ; Indiana, 2 ; Minnesota, 2 ; Vermont, 2 : Massachusetts, i ; New Flamp-
shire, i; New Jersey, i ; Michigan, i. Born in other countries, 23 — Canada, 9;
Norway and Sweden, 5 ; England, 3 : Scotland. 3 ; Ireland, 2; New Brunswick, i.
Ancestry — American, 22; English, 15; Irish, 12: Norwegian, Scandinavian and
Swede, 10; Scotch, 6; Irish and Scotch, 3: Scotch-American. 2; Scotch and
Danish, i : English-German, i ; Dutch, i ; German-Irish, i ; Irish and Welsh, i.
ORGANIZ.\TION
They organized the convention by the election of Frederick B. Fancher, of
Jamestown, as president, and John G. Hamilton, of Grand Forks, as chief clerk,
and proceeded to frame the constitution of the state in conformity with the
conditions and restrictions imposed by the enabling act.
It is an interesting and notable fact that forty-five of the seventy-five dele-
gates were elected from the Red River \'alley counties and counties immediately
adjacent thereto. Twenty-six between the valley counties and east of the I\Iis-
souri River, and nineteen from the vast area west of the Missouri River.
The delegates were representative men of the professions and of the agricul-
tural and varied business interests of North Dakota. One-third were lawyers,
prominent in their profession, well versed in the fundamental principles of a
republican form of government and admirably equipped for the work of framing
a constitution adapted to promote the welfare of an agricultural state.
The delegates chosen at the election in May assembled at the hall of the
House of Representatives in the capitol of the territory and were called to order
by Luther B. Richardson, then secretary of the territory, who acted as chairman
until the election of a temporar)'" chairman. The choice of the convention for
this honor was Frederick B. Fancher, of Jamestown. John A. Rea. of liismarck,
was selected as temporary secretary, and Robert M. Tuttle, of Mandan, as tem-
porary stenographer.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 389
No roll or roster of the delegates-elect had been prepared by the secretary
of the territory and the temporary chairman appointed a committee of three to
whom was referred the credentials of delegates present. William H. Rowe, of
Dickey County, was chairman of this committee. A committee of ten was
appointed on procedure and permanent organization, R. N. Stevens, of Ransom
County, being made chairman thereof. The committee on credentials prepared
a roll of the delegates elected and reported it to the convention on July 5th.
There were no contests and no objections filed from any district. The report
was adopted.
Patrick McHugh, a delegate from Cavalier County, suggested that it was
necessary that an oath of office should be taken by the delegates. The necessity
and propriety of this course was briefly discussed. The delegates were not civil
officers of the territory, nor of the United States, and no oath was prescribed in
the emergency act. It was usual and customary, however, in state conventions
called to prepare a new constitution for the state to "swear in" the members
thereof. It was concluded to be a very proper proceeding, and an oath to sup-
port the laws of the United States in preparing a constitution for the proposed
State of North Dakota was administered to the delegates by the Hon. Roderick
Rose, judge of the Sixth Judicial District and an associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the Territory of Dakota.
The delegates caucused in the forenoon of July 5th, according to their party
affiliations, and agreed upon the permanent officers. Frederick B. Fancher was
the choice of the republicans for president, defeating Martin N. Johnson in the
caucus. Judge John E. Carland, of Bismarck, was the choice of the democrats.
The session of July 5th was presided over by Martin N. Johnson. It partially
completed the permanent organization by the election of Mr. Fancher over
Mr. Carland by a vote of 54 to 16, three republicans and one democrat being
absent and not voting. On motion of Mr. Carland, the election of Mr. Fancher
was made unanimous.
It was held by the convention that the committee on rules and methods of
procedure appointed in the temporary organization was illegal, for the reason
that a temporary organization could not confer authority to formulate rules,
that such authority must be granted by the permanent organization, and on
motion the president appointed a committee of seven on rules and methods of
procedure, and Erastus A. Williams, of Bismarck, was named as chairman.
Carland, Stevens and Johnson, all versed in legislative and legal procedure,
were members.
On July 8th, the convention completed its permanent organization by the elec-
tion of John G. Hamilton as chief clerk ; Fred Falley, sergeant-at-arms ; C. C.
Bowsfield, enrolling and engrossing clerk ; Eben W. Knight, messenger ; George
Wentz of Burleigh, door-keeper; Joel S. Weiser, watchman; R. M. Tuttle,
stenographer; George Kline, chaplain; Arthur Lind, Harry G. Ward, Charles
Lauder and Charles W. Conroy, pages. President Fancher administered the oath
of office to these officers and they immediately entered upon the discharge of their
duties. Upon the perfection of the permanent organization of the convention a
resolution was adopted —
"That we, the delegates of the Constitutional Convenion, for and on behalf
390 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the people of the proposed State of North Dakota, hereby declare that we
adopt the Constitution of the United States."
By resolution the president was authorized to appoint seven members to act
as members of the joint commission to be appointed by the Constitutional Con-
ventions of North and South Dakota, for the purpose of making an equitable divi-
sion of all property belonging to the Territory of Dakota, and to choose and agree
upon the amounts of the debts and liabilities which should be assumed and paid
by each of the proposed states of North and South Dakota, and authorized the
commission to employ such clerical assistance in the performance of their duties
as they deemed necessary, and also granted leave to the commission to sit during
the sessions of the Constitutional Convention. This joint commission was
required by the Enabling Act.
The Committee on Rules and Methods of Procedure reported on July 8th a
code of forty-five rules for the government of the convention. The rules provided
for the appointment by the president of twenty-three standing committees on
printing, reporting and publishing, accounts and expenses, preamble and declara-
tion of rights, legislative department, executive department, judicial department,
elective franchise, education, public institutions and buildings, public debt and
public works, militia, county and township organization, apportionment and repre-
sentation, revenue and taxation, municipal corporations, corporations other than
municipal, temperance, revision and adjustment, impeachment and removal from
ofifice, and a committee of the whole. The rtiles provided for open sessions daily,
except Sundays, at 2 o'clock, until otherwise ordered by the convention, and no
standing committee could sit during the sitting of the convention, without leave
of the convention. The report was considered in the committee of the whole.
Proposed amendments to add a committee on homesteads and exemptions, amend-
ment and revision of the constitution, and on railroads, were defeated in the com-
mittee of the whole.
An amendment was proposed inserting in rule one the words "when prayer
shall be offered by the chaplain," and the committee of the whole recommended
the adoption of the report when so amended. The convention concurred in this
amendment and adopted the report.
The method of procedure prescribed by the rules was that every article pro-
posed to be incorporated into the constitution was to be in writing and introduced
by an accredited delegate in open convention. It was known as a file to distinguish
it from a bill, the usual name employed in legislative assemblies. Each file to be
read three separate times, the second and third times not to be on the same day.
The files to be printed and referred by the president, at the second reading, to the
appropriate committee. When reported by this committee they were to be con-
sidered in the committee of the whole. If recommended for adoption by this
committee, they were read the third time in the convention, and if approved by a
majority, they were referred to the committee on adjustment and revision, which
committee was empowered to classify and arrange the files under an appropriate
subdivision, to reconcile conflicting sections, to perfect the phraseology, and
eliminate duplications and submit a constitution made up of the files approved by
the convention for its final action. By this method every proposition was carefully
investigated and the delegates were enabled to vote understandingly.
Aiulitiiriuiu
\Yest wing Iiulustiial Arts Biiilcliiig
East wing and main Imilding
Bird's-eye view of the campus East wing and entrance
State dormitories
VALLEY CITY STATE XDKMAL BUILDTXCiS
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 391
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
The committee of the whole is a legislative fiction. It differs from a standing
committee in that it is composed of the entire body. It has no permanent chair-
man or clerk, though usually the chief clerk of the body keeps the record of its
proceedings and any amendments to the subject matter under consideration are
embodied in the report of the chairman and such report is printed in the journal
of the convention, and thereby becomes a record of the convention. The chairman
of the committee is selected from the membership of the body by the presiding
officer, though the body itself may designate the permanent president to act as
chairman. This rule obtains in the United States Senate, where the vice presi-
dent or the president pro tern, presides at all sessions, whether the Senate is sitting
as a Senate, or as a committee of the whole. This committee has no power to
enact laws. It can suggest amendments germane to the subject matter, or a sub-
stitute provision, and recommend their adoption. It is within its province also
to recommend the indefinite postponement, or the "laying on the table," of the
matter referred to it. The recommendation for indefinite postponement, or to lie
on the table, is generally employed when the committee is unfavorable to the laws
proposed, as a "viva voce" vote adopts the reports and defeats the measure, while
a recommendation that the bill or article do not pass "usually requires a record
vote by yeas and nays." "The authorities" on parliamentary law almost unani-
mously support the rule that reports of committees of the whole cannot be
amended and that such reports must be adopted or rejected as an entirety, unless
a vote is reserved on a separate amendment, but concede the right to substitute
new matter for that contained in the report. In essence and el¥ect a "substitute"
is an amendment and was invented to overcome the strictness of the rule in rela-
tion to amendments.
The highest source of authority on parliamentary procedure in the United
States is the Congress. The question on the adoption of amendments recom-
mended by the committee of the whole is put in the form, "Shall the amendments
proposed be agreed to or adopted 'en bloc,' or is any amendment reserved for a
separate vote ?" In the Senate the form is, "The Senate has, as in the committee
as a whole, under consideration a bill (stating its title) and has made certain
amendments thereto ; shall the amendm.ents be agreed to 'en masse,' or is a separate
vote demanded on any amendment?"
There was no division on party lines in the convention except at the election
of its president by a straight party vote. The minority were given representation
on all committees equal to their proportion of the whole number of delegates, and
chairmanships of committees were distributed in the same proportion.
DIVISION OF TERRITORI;\L PROPERTY
On July nth, the president announced the standing committees and named
as the select commission to adjust the liabilities and provide for an equitable divi-
sion of the property of the territory, Edgar W. Camp, of Jamestown, chairman ;
William E. Purcell, of Wahpeton ; Burleigh F. Spalding, of Fargo ; Harvey
Harris, of Bismarck; Alexander Griggs, of Grand Forks; John W. Scott, of
Valley City, and Andrew Sandager, of Lisbon — four lawyers and three business
men.
392 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
For the information and guidance of this joint commission the convention
by resohition requested the auditor for the territory forthwith to prepare and
furnish a statement showing :
1. The cost of construction and repairs of all public buildings and institutions
of the territory.
2. The indebtedness inctirred and otitstanding against the same.
3. The part of such indebtedness which was by the law creating them to be
assumed and paid by the states of North and South Dakota, respectively.
4. All assets and liabilities of the territory, and to what accotmts belonging.
5. A list of all public records, archives and other property of that nature now
belonging to the territory.
6. Any other information useful and necessary to aid this committee to effect
an equitable division of the property, assets and liabilities of the territory.
The chief clerk was ordered to have the omnibus bill, rules of the convention,
the standing and select committees, printed in pamphlet form and placed upon
the desks of the members. The convention by resolution empowered the joint
commission to temporarily settle and fix what should be the seventh standard
parallel, until such time as the true line should be ascertained.
THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION
On July 1 2th, and four days after perfecting the organization of the conven-
tion, Martin N. Johnson introduced the first proposed article of the constitution.
It related to "common carriers" and is known on the records as file number one.
It was read twice at length and referred to its appropriate committee, viz., "cor-
porations other than municipal." As every delegate had the right to introduce
proposed articles, a total of 140 files were offered by 48 delegates during the
life of the convention, of which 118 files can be classed as original matter, pre-
pared by the delegates from the constitutions of other states. Twenty-four were
substitutes for original files and reported from the standing committees. Two were
complete constitutions, and one was for the equitable distribution of the assets and
property of the territory and the assumption of an equitable proportion of the
debts and liabilities of the same. The subject matter of eleven of these files
related to the regulation of the liquor traffic. Seven were for prohibition, two
for license, one for regulation of the traffic by city and county local option, and
one to purchase established breweries and distilleries and thus reimburse the
owners for property rendered useless. Six files proposing a form of preamble,
and two proposed schemes for the location of a permanent seat of government,
but generally btit one file was offered on any given subject and was usually pre-
sented by a delegate who was a member of the committee who had jurisdiction
of the subject matter stated in the file.
On July i6th, the convention adopted a resolution offered by Mr. Spalding
that no proposed articles be received by this convention, except by unanimous con-
sent, after the close of the session of Monday, July 22d, but this limitation should
not apply to reports of committees, either of material submitted to, or originating
with them.
It also adopted a resolution asking the opinion of the judiciary committee as
to the power of the convention to provide for the taxation of the road bed and
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 393
rolling stock of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which was by its charter exempt
from taxation in the territory, and indefinitely postponed a resolution offered by
Mr. Lauder that a select committee of five be appointed by the president to whom
should be referred all questions relating to the "seat of government."
The work of framing a constitution was done mainly in the committees, who
devoted the forenoons and evenings to the consideration of the different articles
referred to them. By resolution the various committees were empowered to
employ such clerical assistance as they deemed necessary and directed the first
legislative assembly to make an appropriation to pay such clerks such an amount
as should be certified to by the chief clerk and president of the convention. Secre-
tary Richardson, who was custodian of the appropriation made by Congress to
pay the expenses of the Constitutional Convention, holding that no part of such
appropriation could be used to pay clerks of committees.
The committee of county and township organization presented the first report
of the standing committees on July i6th, and the judiciary committee submitted a
report recommending that the article or proposition which required judges of the
District Court to take and submit an affidavit that no cause remains in his court
undecided that has been submitted for decision for the period of ninety days
before being allowed to draw or receive any salary, be left to the Legislature to
adopt such regulations as the necessities of the case may rec|uire. This report was
adopted. It recommended a substitute for the "compact with the United States,"
outlined in file three, and that the matter of the non-sectarian character of the
public schools be left to the committee on education. That the proposition of file
eighteen, "No act shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed
in its title," should constitute a section under the head of the legislative depart-
ment of the constitution, and that file eight, providing that the governor, attorney-
general and judges of the Supreme Court shall constitute a "Board of Pardons,"
be referred to the committee on the executive department.
On July i8th, Mr. Camp offered a resolution providing that when the com-
mittee of the whole shall have recommended that any proposition, or article, be
made a part of the constitution, such proposition or article shall be referred to
the committee on revision and adjustment, whose duty it shall be to arrange such
proposition in order, and revise the same so that no part of the constitution shall
conflict, and to report a constitution embracing all articles and propositions so
referred for final adoption as a whole by the constitution. This resolution led to
an instructive and protracted debate, participated in by a number of the delegates,
in which the powers and duties of the committee were clearly defined, and the
convention with a clear understanding of the limited power of the committee
adopted the resolution without amendment.
The resolution was reconsidered on the following day and amended so as to
provide that the committee report a constitution for "adoption or amendment,
section by section, by the convention and then adopted as a whole." The com-
mittee was instructed by a vote of sixty-three yeas and eight nays to report "every
change made in the matter referred to it."
On July 20th, Mr. Williams introduced a complete constitution, known as
file io6, which was read the first time and printed in the Journal.
394 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
THE WILLIAMS CONSTITUTION
This document excited much speculation and comment, not so much as to the
matter contained therein, but as to its authorship. It was excellently arranged
under the heads, The State, The People, The Government, Alteration of the Con-
stitution, and The Schedule, and its provisions were expressed in clear, pertinent
and apt language. It was, as one newspaper expressed it, "A marvel of strength,
sense and diction." Many of its provisions were incorporated in the constitution
framed by the convention. It was suspected of railroad origin, or prepared at the
cost and suggestion of the cattle barons of the Missouri slope. Williams dis-
claimed its authorship, and did not reveal the source from which it came, nor its
author beyond the statement that he received it from a Bismarck attorney, and
that it had been prepared by an eastern attorney. Various stories of its authorship
appeared in the press, among them, one that it was prepared by Senator William
M. Evarts of New York, an eminent jurist, with the assistance of some of the
best constitutional lawyers of the country. The Bismarck Tribune said it had
received enough light on the subject to suspect that this story was not far from
right. Senator Evarts himself, however, said that the Constitution of North
Dakota, so far as he had looked into it, was a most excellent one and reflected
credit on the deliberate sense of North Dakota, but that he had not prepared it,
was not consulted about it, and knew nothing about it.
Another story ascribed its authorship to Prof. James Bradley Thayer of the
Harvard Law School. A careful investigation has verified this story. Professor
Thayer was the real author of this constitution. Fie was assisted in its prepara-
tion by Henry W. Hardon, and A. P. Pedrick, of the Harvard School. That
Professor Thayer was the author of the Williams Constitution appears from the
following statement of Henry W. Hardon, and from a letter received from E. R.
Thayer, dean of the Law School of Harvard University.
"In 1889, the Territory of Dakota was about to be admitted to the Union as
two states. Mr. Henry Villard was at that time chairman of the finance committee
of the Northern Pacific Railway, the most important corporation operating in
that territory. He was sincerely desirous that the two new states should start
right, that they should have the best constitution which could be framed for them,
and with that purpose in mind he consulted Mr. Charles G. Beaman, then one
of the leaders of the New York bar. Mr. Beaman advised him that if he could
get Professor Thayer to draft a constitution for the new states, they would have
the benefit of all that expert knowledge and sound judgment could accomplish in
that respect. Professor Thayer undertook the task. His draft-constitution was
submitted to the two conventions, and was in large part adopted by them. The
legislative article in the Constitution of North Dakota, for example, is substan-
tially word for word the language of Professor Thayer's draft.
"It rarely happens to a teacher or to a lawyer to accomplish a piece of con-
structive work of this kind, a piece of work aft'ecting so widely the interests of
so large a community, aft'ecting them not merely for the present but for the future.
"You may think it singular that the authorship of a work of this importance
should wait vmtil this time for public disclosure. The fact is. that it seemed pru-
dent when the work was doing to conceal its authorship. Though Mr. \'illard
was moved only by a single-hearted desire to promote the welfare of the two new
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 395
states, it was feared that a draft-constitution prepared by an eastern college pro-
fessor, under the direction of a Wall Street lawyer and at the instance of the head
of the largest corporation in the territory, might fail of adoption if its authorship
were known ; that the people whom it was designed to benefit might entertain a
suspicion that a constitution so prepared, however fair upon its face, concealed
some sinister attack upon their property rights. The two constitutions have now
been in force some fifteen years. Their merits have been proved in that time.
But two amendments have been made to the North Dakota Constitution, and one
of these incorporates a clause from Professor Thayer's draft omitted by the Con-
stitutional Convention. The principal actors in this scheme to help the people of
the Dakotas are now all dead, and I am the only survivor of the two young men
who were engaged in the preliminary work under Professor Thayer's direction.
The occasion for concealment of the origin of these constitutions has now passed,
and the facts I have narrated should not be lost for lack of a record." — From a
speech of Henry W. Hardon, Esq.
From E. R. Thayer, dean of Law School, Harvard University:
"I enclose a copy of what Mr. Hardon said in 1904, when my father's portrait
was presented to the Law School. His remarks may be found in the printed
volume containing the proceedings.
"I think, however, that Mr. Hardon's memory is defective in some points. I
do not believe that Mr. Villard consulted my father on ]Mr. Beaman's advice ; Mr.
Villard and my father had long been personal friends and I think that Mr. Villard
came to him of his own motion, because of this friendship and my father's long
study of constitutional law in the Harvard Law School. Mr. Beaman was, I
believe, Mr. Villard's regular counsel, and Mr. Villard sought the advice of both
my father and him. But while Mr. Beaman and my father were friends, and no
doubt consulted together in this matter, I think their operations were in a sense
independent.
"I doubt, also, whether my father's work is represented in the North Dakota
Constitution to the extent which Mr. Harden thinks ; certainly that constitution
differs much (although not so much as the constitution of some other states) from
my father's ideal of a constitution. He believed earnestly that it should consist
of a brief enunciation of/ a few fundamental principles, leaving the Legislature
a free hand, subject to these principles, to exercise governmental powers in the
broadest way, and he was utterly opposed to the belittling restrictions on legis-
lative power to be found in state constitutions. This is a criticism to which I
feel sure he would have thought the North Dakota Constitution also subject."
Mr. Parsons, of Morton, introduced the Constitution of South Dakota,
It was not printed, however, as a file or in the journal, as copies of it were upon
the desks of members. By direction of the convention no proposition or pro-
posed article could be introduced after Monday, July 22d, and on that day the
convention by vote required all standing committees to make reports by Thurs-
day, July 25th.
File No. 25 vesting the legislative authority in a single body to be called the
Legislative Assembly, was taken up for discussion in the committee of the whole.
The subject was exhaustively covered in brilliant, spirited and illuminating
speeches, showing care and research in their preparation.
Delegates Stevens, Turner, Parsons, of Morton, Johnson and Lauder advo-
396 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
cated and Garland and Harris opposed it. Persons interested in this subject,
either as an academic question, or as a feature of the government, will find this
debate a mine of historical lore. The convention, however, adhered to the prece-
dents and adopted the two-house system of older states. Articles recommended
by standing committee to form a part of the constitution were usually agreed to
without debate, but the article relating to the
SALE .\ND DISPOSITION OF SCHOOL LANDS
was an exception. There was a wide diversity of sentiment among the dele-
gates as to what probably would be most advantageous to the state, whether the
land should be leased, or sold on long time, the title remaining in the state until
the purchase price was fully paid ; whether the right to purchase should be
restricted to actual settlers, the purchase limited to 320 acres, to prevent specu-
lators acquiring large tracts ; whether persons who had settled upon school lands
after they were surveyed and had cultivated and otherwise improved them
should have a preference right to purchase such improved lands, or should be
regarded as trespassers upon the public domain, and whether the lands sold
could be lawfully taxed until patented by the state. The sentiment crystallized
in favor of an open, unrestricted sale on time contracts, the lands to be subject
to taxation from the date of such contract.
THE SL'FFRAGE
The committee on elective franchise of July 25th made a majority and
minority report. It differed on the question whether the power to grant suffrage
to women should be left to the Legislature, or submitted to a vote of the qualified
electors of the state by the first Legislative Assembly. After a spirited and
lengthy discussion, the convention adopted a provision which empowered the
Legislature at its discretion to make further extensions of suffrage, without
regard to sex, but prohibited any restrictions of the suft'rage without a vote of
the people, and a provision making women qualified voters at any election held
solely for school purposes, and eligible to hold school offices, was incorporated
in the articles on the elective franchise. However, the convention the next day
reconsidered its action and substituted a provision which is now a part of the
constitution, whereby the Legislature is empowered to make further extensions
or restrictions of suffrage, when authorized thereto by a vote of the people.
THE JUDICIARY .
The committee on the judiciary department also submitted majority and
minority reports. The majority report recommended the establishment of a
Supreme Court, to consist of three members, and prescribed that no one unless
learned in the law, of thirty years of age, and a resident of the territory for five
years next preceding his election, should be eligible to the office. Guy G. H.
Corliss, of Grand Forks, who aspired to the Supreme Court, was ineligible, by
reason of his residence qualification. He came to Bismarck, together with John
M. Cochrane, a notable lawyer of Grand Forks, and they jointly persuaded the
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 397
delegates to limit the residence qualification to three years. ISIr. Corliss was
elected to the Supreme bench. He drew the short term and became the first
chief justice of the state.
The majority of the committee recommended and reported to the convention
the establishment of a Probate Court in each organized county, clothed with
jurisdiction of the estate of decedents, wills, estates of widows and orphans, and
of guardianship.
The minority proposed a system of county courts, clothed with jurisdiction
of all probate matters, and jurisdiction of civil matters involving sums not
exceeding $1,500 and jurisdiction of criminal matters below the grade of felony,
and in all cases of lunacy. Mr. Rolfe, a delegate from Benson County, vigor-
ously advocated the substitution of the County Court system, saying in part :
"That the system of Probate Courts as we now have it * * * is a dis-
grace not only to our judicial system, but to the people who seem to hug it to
their bosom. * * * jj jg mysterious to me upon what ground they can
defend the continuation of this system."
Mr. Bartlett, of Griggs, defended the County Court system, saying in part:
"The County Court system has been tried before. It is in use in Illinois,
Colorado, New York, Nebraska, Missouri and several other states. They say
that it is the most popular court with the attorneys and the people. * * *
The minority does not propose the establishment of a new court, but an improve-
ment in a court already established."
Mr. Carland, chairman of the judicial department, on Augtist 2d, introduced
a substitute for the probate system, which provided for county courts whose
jurisdiction could be increased whenever counties having a population of two
thousand or more should by a majority vote of its people decide to increase
their jurisdiction. This was amended by adding a proviso, "Such jurisdiction as
thus increased shall remain until otherwise provided by law," and the substitute
as so amended was adopted by the convention.
Mr. Williams, on July 31st, had introduced four additions to be added to
the judicial article : they were taken from the complete constitution introduced
by him. The first section provided "When a judgment or decree is reversed or
affirmed by the Supreme Court, any point fairly arising upon the records of the
case shall be considered and decided and the reasons therefor shall be concisely
stated in writing. * * * ji„fl presented with the record of the case."
The second section empowered the Supreme Court to make rules for its
government and that of the other courts of the state, establish rules of practice
and rules for admission to the bar of the state.
The third section made it a duty of the court to prepare a syllabus of the points
adjudicated in the case and concurred in by a majority of the judges.
The fourth section required the judges of the Superme Court to give their
opinion upon important (|uestions of law and upon solemn occasions, when
requested so to do by either branch of the Legislature.
The first and third sections were accepted by the convention. The second
section was stricken out. The fourth section led to much discussion. Judge
Carland in an elaborate speech presented the reasons why it should not be
accepted as a section of the constitution. He believed it to be pernicious and
unwise to have it in the constitution. He fortified his views by reviewing the
398 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
experience of Colorado, whose constitution contained a similar provision, and
by quoting liberally from the opinions of its Supreme Court judges in the case
of Wheeler vs. Irrigation Company, 9 Colorado, 249. Judge Carland stated that
a constitutional provision of this kind was open to grave abuses and asked that
it be stricken from the slate.
Delegate Miller also opposed the proposition, saying the fundamental prin-
ciple of our constitutional government is that it should be divided into three
departments, legislative, executive and judicial. The proposition interfered with
this division of the government. It would be burdensome to the Supreme Court,
and result in no good to the people. It would make the Suprfeme Court the legal
advisers of the Legislature, and the court would legislate by virtue of being
called upon to advise the Legislature, hence political judicial legislation would
follow.
Delegate Moer also protested, saying that the adoption of this provision would
be simply an addition of three more lawyers to the Legislature. The opinion of
the supposed questions would be ex parte, without a hearing and entitled to no
more weight than that of the lawyers who might be present as members of the
Legislature.
Delegate Johnson opposed, saying the only advantage that the Supreme
Court has over a justice of the peace is that it has the last say of the case. They
are no more than men who are not clothed with official position, or the attorney-
general whose province it is to furnish legal advice to the executive and legisla-
tive departments of the government.
Mr. Williams favored the proposition, claiming that it should be adopted
because it would place every member of the Legislature on an equality and would
avoid forcing on the statute books an important law, one that might affect the
interests of the entire people, and have it afterwards declared unconstitutional.
This provision had before this discussion been approved in the committee of
the whole and adopted by the convention. The convention reconsidered its
action and struck out the obnoxious section.
This committee had also unanimously agreed upon three terms of the
Supreme Court to be held annually, at the "Seat of Government." Purcell
objected to holding the terms at the "Seat of Government" and submitted a
proposition for a "migratory court" of three terms, one term to be holden at
Fargo, one at Grand Forks, and one at Bismarck, then the "Seat of Government."
This proposition, was debated at length. Delegates Purcell, Miller, Parsons, of
Morton, Lauder and Spalding favoring it, and Delegates Scott, O'Brien and
Selby opposing it. The Purcell proposition was adopted by the convention.
Brig.-Gen. Thomas H. Ruger of the Military Department of Dakota trans-
mitted in accordance with instructions received from the War Department at
Washington a proposed article ceding to the United States jurisdiction over the
military reservation established in the state by the Federal Government. It was
referred to the judiciary committee, which reported a section in conformity with
the desire of the Government and ceding jurisdiction over military, Indian and
other United States reservations and public buildings used for United States
purposes. This section was adopted by the convention.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 399
APPORTIONMENT
Apportionment and legislative representation, owing to diversity of senti-
ment among the delegates, was a difficult problem to solve. The more sparsely
settled counties favored giving each county a senator, regardless of population,
and strenuously opposed the principle of dividing the county into senatorial
districts based on population, and also seriously objected to the election of rep-
resentatives from the senatorial districts as favored by a majority of the legisla-
tive committee. It was stoutly maintained that every county should have at least
one representative and that when two or more counties were grouped as a
senatorial district the more populous county had power and doubtless would
exercise it, to deprive the smaller county or counties of representation, either in
the Senate or House.
Martin N. Johnson, in an impassioned speech, opposed representation by
counties, rather than men, that laws were made for people and not for valleys,
areas or inanimate objects. That there was no fairness or justice in the system
that would give the forty- four men who voted in Billings the same senatorial
representation as the 1,035 who voted in his own County of Nelson. The basis
of representation should be men, not area. After full discussion and argument,
the system of apportioning the county into senatorial districts according to popu-
lation and the election of representatives from senatorial districts was adopted.
CORPORATIONS
The committee on Corporations other than municipal presented a majority
and minority report. The main differences related to the provisions in reference
to railroads, whether they should be declared public highways, were subject to
legislative regulation and control as to rates charged for the transportation of
passengers or freight, and whether an appeal should be allowed to the courts
from any law enacted by the Legislature prescribing rates, or from any decision
of the Board of Railroad Commissioners fixing rates. The debate over these
questions was an animated one, and participated in by Johnson, chairman of the
committee, Miller and Bartlett of Dickey County, Lauder, Stevens, Parsons, of
Morton, Moer, Camp, Flemington, Appleton, and Bell, seven lawyers and four
laymen. The majority report was amended to include "sleeping car, telegraph
and telephone companies as common carriers of passengers, intelligence and
freight," and with this amendment was adopted by the convention. An amend-
ment or substitute which differed materially only in a provision declaring that
all such "common carriers should be entitled to charge and receive just and
reasonable compensation for the transportation of freight and passengers within
the state, and that the determination of what is a just and reasonable compen-
sation should be a judicial question to be determined by the courts," was defeated
in the committee of the whole, and a provision adopted empowering the Legisla-
ture to establish rates by act, or delegating power to a board which rates could
not be charged by a common carrier, unless they were found by the courts to
be unreasonable and confiscatory. An amendment which would compel the
railroads to submit differences between railroads and their employes to arbitra-
tion met the same fate ; while an amendment proposed by M. N. Johnson, who
400 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
stated that he had been overlooked in the distribution of "passes" to the delegates,
was referred to the committee on militia, the motion being made in a facetious
way by Purcell, with no expectation that it would prevail. The convention, how-
ever, saw only the humorous side and thought fights for passes could be best
refereed by the militia.
LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
Schemes for locating the capital engrossed the attention of the convention
from its beginning. Delegate ^Mathews of Grand Forks County early in the
session introduced an article to locate the "'Seat of Government" temporarily at
Bismarck, the Legislature at its first session after the admission of the state
to the Union to provide for the submission of the question of a place for the
permanent "Seat of Government" to the qualified voters of the state at the next
general election thereafter. The place receiving a majority of the votes cast
upon said question to be the permanent "Seat of Government;" if no place
received a majority of all the votes cast upon said question, the governor was to
issue a proclamation calling an election to be held in the same manner at the
next general election^to chose between the two places having the highest number
of votes at the first election. The place receiving the highest' number of votes at
this election to be the permanent "Seat of Government." Delegate Lauder, of
Richland County, early in the session offered a resolution for the appointment
of a select committee to which all propositions relating to, or in any manner
afifecting the question of the "Seat of Government" should be referred. It was
defeated by a vote of the convention, and the Mathews article was referred to
the standing committee of public institutions and buildings. Bailey Fuller, as
mayor of Jamestown, invited the convention to hold its remaining sessions at
that place, promising ample accommodations for the meetings of the convention
proper, rooms for its committees and free entertainment of the delegates. The
invitation was declined.
Delegate Miller, of Cass Comity, introduced an article locating the capital
at Bismarck, and the public institutions at various cities and allotting to each a
proportion of the 500.000 acres of land granted by the omnibus bill for capitol and
public building purposes. The location of the capital was the silent, powerful
undercurrent of the convention ; there were two strong combinations of dele-
gates formed, one known as the Bismarck-Fargo union, the other as the Grand
Forks, the first to locate the capital permanently at Bismarck. The Fargo-
Bismarck combination considered Bismarck the most available point for the
"Seat of Government," and desired the agricultural college at Fargo. Behind,
or supporting this combine, was the powerful influence of the Northern Pacific,
and this together with the distribution of the institutions that would be estab-
lished, promised the necessary votes to carry the Bismarck-Fargo scheme.
The Grand Forks combine was behind the IMathews scheme, hoping and
expecting that by the process of elimination of other cities with capital aspira-
tions. Grand Forks would eventually be selected as the permanent capital.
The committee on public institutions and buildings differed on the location
of the capital and presented majority and minority reports thereon. On August
7th, the convention proceeded to the consideration of the reports as a convention
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without filtering them through the committee of the whole, and then ensued the
most thrilling, sensational debate of the session, reinforced as it was by meetings,
protests and remonstrances of mass meeting of citizens and conventions in
various counties, and petitions of individuals. These petitions and protests were
generally expressed in forceful language, devoid of threats or insinuations of
corruption, or that other than proper motives actuated the members who favored
the Bismarck-Fargo scheme. The City of Grand Forks was in a "state of
mind" over the capital location. In the estimation of some of its citizens, the
locating of the permanent capital was "a mendacious exhibition of public villainy
and corruption." One protest from there was as gross and as indecent an attack
as has ever been visited upon any body or any representative character or dig-
nity whatsoever, while a petition signed by S. S. Titus, then cashier and now
president of the First National Bank of that city, and 112 others, was respectful
in tone and was expressed in forceful and appropriate language of dissent and
protest.
David Bartlett, of Griggs County, proposed as the first section of the majority
report "the following article shall be submitted to the vote of the people as a
separate article, as provided by the scheme," and asked for its adoption, saying
that the people have the right to locate these institutions, and it was wrong to
deprive them of that right. That a refusal of this section would compel at least
thirty members to refuse to sign the constitution, and to advise their constituents
to reject it. That he was satisfied that the vote to pass the article as reported
by the majority of the committee was obtained not only by the distribution of
the institutions, but by every means known to the power of corporations, by
promising and farming out so far as that influence could go, every office and
position of the state ticket the coming fall. The Grand Forks Herald upon the
authority of Delegate Bennett published a statement charging President Fancher
with suppressing the reading of telegrams of remonstrance. The statement was
false and untrue. It was investigated by the convention and shown by several
members that the attempt on the part of the chief clerk to read the telegrams
had been frustrated by motions to adjourn. The convention by a yea and nay
vote exonerated the president. Seventy-one votes aye, no nays, Bennett himself
voting aye.
Delegate Pollock spoke briefly, contending that it was the right of the people
through chosen representatives to determine the question, that the delegates
were not the representatives of the people to decide it. It might endanger the
adoption of the constitution.
Johnson asked, is it possible that gentlemen in the majority will sit here in
silence and give no reason for their course of conduct? Is it so indefensible
that no one will attempt to justify it? Why compel some thirty delegates to
refuse signing the constitution and compel them upon their return to their homes
to advocate the rejection of the constitution?
Purcell made the elaborate argument against the article. It attempted to
locate institutions for which there was no existing need, and in all probability
would be no need for fifty years. We have all the institutions that we need for
the present, and for some future time to come. The matter should be left in
the hands of the Legislature. It is something unheard of in the history of our
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402 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
country, and while Wahpeton is represented in this article, he said that in oppos-
ing it he was doing just what his constituents required of him.
Bell, of Walsh County, in a vehement speech bristling with sarcastic allu-
sions to the convention's love for and devotion to the interests of the dear people,
characterized the article as infamous and so weighted down the constitution
that it would never be ratified by the people.
Bennett, of Grand Forks, openly charged that the capital was located at
Bismarck in the interests of the two great railroads of the state.
Stevens, of Ransom County, advocated the adoption of the majority report
and defended the location of the capital and institutions. It would prevent job-
bery and corruption in the Legislature. Upon the conclusion of the debate,
Bartlett's amendment was defeated by a vote of 31 yeas to 43 nays, and the
Miller motion to adopt the report of the majority prevailed, by a vote of 44
yeas to 30 nays.
Delegate Johnson added to the gayety of the occasion by proposing an
amendment striking out "Bismarck in the County of Burleigh" and inserting in
lieu thereof, Jamestown in the County of Stutsman," saying to the Jamestown
delegation that the minority had the power and were willing to give Jamestown
the capital for all time to come. Five votes was enough to do it. Blewett, of
Jamestown, questioned the good faith of the minority, and the amendment was
lost by a vote of 19 yeas to 55 nays. The previous question was ordered and
the main question to adopt article 19 prevailed by a vote of 44 yeas and 30
nays, all the delegates-elect, except Parsons, of Rolette, who is recorded as
absent and not voting. During the calling of the roll of delegates and when
their names were read. Camp, Parsons, of Morton, Rolfe, Turner, Williams and
President Fancher explained their votes. A motion to reconsider the vote and
that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table prevailed. The convention
believed the agony was ended, but it was doomed to disappointment, for on
consideration of the report of the revision and adjustment committee, Bartlett,
of Griggs, renewed the motion to substitute the provision for article 19 as
adopted. This motion was laid on the table. He then moved that the article
be submitted as a separate article to be voted on separately.
Delegate Miller moved to lay the motion on- the table.
Delegate Williams demanded the previous question on this mtoion, which
was seconded, and the convention proceeded to vote on the main question, which
was the adoption of the article. The vote was taken by yeas and nays, and
adopted by a vote of 43 yeas to 28 nays. The old combine, standing in solid
phalanx, voted yea.
Delegates Peterson and Selby were absent and not voting, and Delegates
Almen and Scott were paired.
Delegates Bean, Camp, Johnson, Lauder, O'Brien, Pollock, Stevens, Turner
and Wallace explained their votes. Stevens in explaining his vote said : "I voted
aye on this proposition so that the City of Bismarck may sit on her seven hills
and be the most beautiful capital of the four new states."
In his explanation of his vote Delegate Bean said that he came to the con-
vention opposed to the location of the capital and institutions by the convention.
First two votes on that question showed that fact. His third vote was in the
affirmative, that he might move a reconsideration. An indignation meeting of
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his constituents was instigated he said by one of the members of this convention
and condemned the action of the majority. He had seen more pohtical trickery,
jobbery and attempted combinations of the minority than he ever saw in any
political convention he ever attended. The serious question is not where we
shall locate these institutions, the underlying question is, shall the City of Bis-
marck, or Grand Forks, have the capitol? This last statement aroused the ire of
Delegate Bennett of Grand Forks, who, although debate was out of order, in-
dignantly characterized it as false, that Grand Forks had never proposed to
enter a combination to locate the capital, but when it saw this combination of
forty-four bound to locate the capital at Bismarck, it felt justified in trying to break
it if possible. That was the course of the people from Grand Forks. An
obstreperous partisan of the committee called out from the gallery "rats," and
thus gave Purcell an opportunity to rebuke the partisan uttering the opprobrious
epithet, and to say that the caucus of the minority was not called or organized
by the minority, but at the call of outsiders who pretended to be able to bring to
the assistance of the minority some of those who have voted with the majority.
In all of their meetings there had been no attempt at chicanery, or underhand
action, to defeat the will of the minority. Camp explaining his vote in part said:
'T was called home a week ago to attend an indignation meeting, at which the
delegates from Stutsman County were to be burned in effigy, or otherwise hon-
ored ; however, we were not burned in effigy, or otherwise dishonored."
The people of Jamestown thought there was still a possibility that that city
could be named for the temporary "seat of government," at least, and they were
encouraged in this belief by a member of the Grand Forks delegation, who was
present at this indignation meeting, and who stated to the meeting that he could
secure from the majority who were supporting Bismarck enough votes, which,
with the Stutsman County delegation, would be able to locate the capital at
Jamestown. With this end in view, the Stutsman County delegation entered the
caucus, which has been referred to by the delegates. There were a number of
sessions of this caucus, but when it became a certainty that the larger number
of the minority would not agree to any proposition to locate the capital, either
temporarily or permanently at any place without a vote of the people, the Stuts-
man County delegation withdrew and believing that the interests of Stutsman
County and the entire state will be best subserved by locating the capital and
public institutions as provided in article nineteen, the Stutsman County delegation
decided to vote therefor.
EXPENDITURES
The appropriation of $20,000 by Congress was insufficient to cover the neces-
sary expenditures for printing and clerk's help for the convention and its com-
mittees. The convention had authorized in its last days the publishing and dis-
tribution of 1,000 bound volumes of the "debates" and the publishing of the con-
stitution in the daily and weekly newspapers of the state, and the payment of the
sum of $10 to each paper so publishing and circulating the document and pro-
vided in the schedule that the first State Legislature should appropriate a sufficient
sum to pay the same. The convention was in session for forty-five days, and the
appropriation of $20,000 by Congress to pay the per diem of members, officers
404 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the convention, clerks of its committees, printing of its files and journals, was
only sufficient to cover the expenses of the convention for thirty-one days. The
convention authorized the issue of certificates of indebtedness signed by the presi-
dent and chief clerk, to members and officers for fourteen days' services, and to
clerks of the standing committees, including the clerks, stenographers and expert
accountants of the joint commission, for any services rendered. All such cer-
tificates to be redeemed by the state. By chapter 14 of the Session Laws of 1890
the state auditor was authorized to issue "funding warrants" bearing 5 per cent
interest and payable at the option of the state treasurer to provide funds for the
payment of the expenses incurred by the Constitutional Convention in excess of
the sum appropriated by Congress.
Funding warrants in the sum of $11,637.20 were issued on March 3, 1890, and
sold by the state treasurer at a premium of $9.50, netting the state $11,646.70.
During the period between February 24 to August 15, 1890, bills in the sum of
$10,898.46, incurred on account of the Constitutional Convention were paid by
the state treasurer. The Congress made a supplemental appropriation to cover
the deficiency account of the Constitutional Convention and on March 26, 1891,
the state treasurer received from the Federal Government $10,854.71, which sum
was $43-75 less than the deficiency account of the Constitutional Convention.
There is nothing in the state records which explains this discrepancy. It is prob-
able that it was caused by the disallowance by the accounting officer of the Fed-
eral Government of some item or items which, although certified by the state as
an expense incurred by the state, were considered by these accounting officers as
not properly chargeable to the Constitutional Convention. It may, however, have
been caused by an oversight of the state in the omission of some item or items of
the expenses properly incurred by the Constitutional Convention, and paid by
the state in the certified account of the Constitutional Convention expense sent
to the Federal secretary of treasury. The state funding warrants were
redeemed and paid by the state treasurer on the same day the remittance was
received from the Federal Government. The state paid as interest due thereon
the sum of $644.31, a total cost to the state for the Constitutional Convention of
$688.06.
THE JOINT COMMISSION OF NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA
The Enabling Act prescribed that the Constitutional Conventions of both
North and South Dakota should select a joint commission to be composed of not
less than three members of each convention, "whose duty it shall be to assemble
at Bismarck, the present seat of government of said territory, and agree upon an
equitable division of all property belonging to the Territory of Dakota, disposition
of all public records, and also adjust and agree upon the amount of the debts and
liabilities of the territory which shall be assumed and paid by each of the proposed
states of North Dakota and South Dakota, and the agreement reached respecting
the territorial debts and liabilities shall be incorporated in the respective constitu-
tions, and each of said states shall obligate itself to pay its proportion of such
territorial debts and liabilities, the same as if they had been created by such states
respectively."
The convention empowered its president to appoint a commission of seven
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member? to act with a similar commission from South Dakota, to prepare and
submit an agreement to comply with this provision of the Enabling Act. The
president appointed as such commission four lawyers and three business men,
viz.: Edgar W. Camp, of Jamestown, chairman; William E. Purcell, of Wahpe-
ton; Burleigh F. Spalding, of Fargo; Harvey Harris, of Bismarck; Alexander
Griggs, of Grand Forks ; John W. Scott, of Valley City, and Andrew Sandager,
of Lisbon. The commission was granted leave to sit during the sessions of the
Constitutional Convention, and also to employ such clerks, expert accountants and
stenographers as it deemed necessary.
South Dakota appointed a commission of seven members. Judge A. G. Kellam
was its chairman. The other members were Vallentine T. McGillicuddy, Henry
Neill, E. W. Caldwell, William Elliott, Chas. H. Price and S. F. Brott. These
commissions met on the afternoon of July i6th, in the office of the governor of
the territory, and organized a joint commission by the selection of A. G. Kellam
of South Dakota as temporary president, and Andrew Sandager and Vallentine
T. IMcGillicuddy, secretaries. W. G. Hayden of North Dakota and L. M.
McLaren of South Dakota were selected as assistant secretaries.
To equalize honors, the commissions provided that the chairmanship of the
joint commission should be held by the chairman of the North Dakota Commis-
sion, Camp, and the chairman of the South Dakota Commission, Kellam, alter-
nating day by day, and adopted as a rule of procedure in the disposition of all
matters before the joint commission, that the roll of the commissioners be called
and if a majority of the members composing the North Dakota Commission, and
a majority composing the South Dakota Commission, should record themselves in
the affirmative, the proposition thus voted upon should be declared carried, other-
wise not. The commission held daily sessions from July 7th to 31st, inclusive,
five days it had two sessions daily, and on July 31st, three sessions were necessary
to complete its work.
Divers views as to the power of the commission under the provisions of the
Enabling Act were held by the members of the North and South Dakota Commis-
sions as to the proper construction of sections three and six thereof.
Further, it was the duty of the commission to determine not only the propor-
tion of the territorial debt to be assumed by the respecive states upon admission,
but also its duty to provide for the division of the public records, or whether the
Enabling Act required such division to be made by the respective states when
admitted to the Union.
The Enabling Act had prescribed as to the territorial bonds issued to erect
buildings for institutions, that such bonds should be assumed and paid by the
state where the institutions were located, and the Territorial Legislature had pro-
vided in the laws establishing these institutions and authorizing the issuance of
bonds therefor, that in the event of the division of the territory happening, the
payment of the interest and principal of such bond should be assumed by the
territory or state, as the case might be, where the institutions were located. South
Dakota had ten institutions within its confines. North Dakota had four. All
appropriations for betterments and purposes other than maintenance had been
made by the territory from its general fund, viz.: $91,170.13 for institutions
located in South Dakota, $69,084.78 for institutions located in North Dakota, and
an excess of appropriations to South Dakota of $22,085.35.
406 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The joint commission finally determined after full discussion that it was
within its powers to provide for the disposition of all the public records, as well
as the assets and miscellaneous properties belonging to the territory. It appointed
a committee of two, one from each commission, to examine and report what books
and records it would be necessary to transcribe, and the probable expense of such
transcription; to determine as to who shall have the copies of the public records,
and who the originals ; also a committee of two to examine and report upon
the condition of the public library and public documents contained therein, and
report an estimate of its value; the committee to ascertain and report the
amount of military' property belonging to the territory and its whereabouts; a
committee to ascertain and report on the condition and value of any miscellaneous
property; a committee to collect and classify information relative to the claims
against the territory and of accounts due the territory, and a committee to ascer-
tain the amount appropriated by the Federal Government to the Brookings Agri-
cultural College and Experiment Station, and what portion thereof has been used
for permanent improvements.
On July 24th, these committees reported either verbally or in writing.
The committee on the library recommended that sealed bids be submitted by
North Dakota and South Dakota. South Dakota bid $4,000 ; North Dakota, $750.
It developed in the debate on the library that a majority of reports and text books
belonging to the library were in the offices of lawyers living in Yankton and other
places in South Dakota, and South Dakota evidently expected to recover most of
them, otherwise it could not have valued the fragments of the library at Bismarck
at $4,000. It really was of less value than the sum named by North Dakota.
The committee on books, records and archives recommended that they be
divided into two groups. The choice of groups to be determined by lot. North
Dakota won the first choice, and selected the group made up of the books and
records of the governor's and secretary's offices. The group made up of the
books and records of all other territorial oflicers went to South Dakota. The
expense of copies of any of these records, it was agreed, should be borne equally
by both states.
Upon the submission of the reports of these several committees it was agreed
that the commission of North Dakota, and the commission of South Dakota, each
should submit a proposition in writing for a settlement of all matters except the
public records, and such propositions were submitted on July 2Sth.
The two propositions, so far as public institutions were concerned, were sub-
stantially similar. As to assets and liabilities, the South Dakota plan was to divide
them between the two states according to the counties concerned. Claims of the
territory against counties on account of delinquent taxes should go to, and belong
to the state within which such counties might be situated and credits for taxes over-
paid should likewise belong to such state, balance of cash on hand upon the ter-
mination of the territorial government should be assumed and paid by North and
South Dakota share and share alike.
The North Dakota proposition was that all personal property and miscel-
laneous effects now in South Dakota, excepting military outfits and accoutrements,
should be the property of South Dakota, all of the same in North Dakota, except-
ing military outfits and accoutrements and excepting the furniture and fixtures
of the capitol at Bismarck, should be the property of North Dakota, South Dakota
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 407
to pay to North Dakota in full settlement of all outstanding accounts, and of all
claims against the territory arising out of the unlawful taxation of the Northern
Pacific Railway lands, which claims should be assumed by the State of North
Dakota, the sum of $60,000. Should South Dakota desire the State of North
Dakota to assume the ownership and control of the capitol at Bismarck, with its
furniture and fixtures, including all claims arising out of the expense of the grant
of lands made to the territory for capitol purposes, and further to assume its
bonded indebtedness. North Dakota will do so upon payment to North Dakota of
the sum of $40,000, all other indebtedness and unliquidated debts to be borne
equally and all claims in favor of the territory shall accrue to the respective states
in like proportion. North Dakota shall be entitled to all delinquent taxes due the
territory from counties located in North Dakota, and the same as to South
Dakota. From and after March nth, South Dakota shall be credited with all
taxes collected from counties within its boundaries, and charged with all moneys
paid out by the territory for appropriations made to public institutions situated
therein, and one-half of all other expenditures, and the same as to North Dakota.
The North Dakota proposition was discussed and explained at length, and that
fixing March 11, 1889, from which each state should be credited with taxes col-
lected and charged with money paid out. Upon the conclusion of the debate the
joint commission appointed Chairman Camp of North Dakota and Chairman
Kellam of South Dakota as a committee to confer as to the differences between
the two commissions, and to reach an agreement thereon, if possible, and report
the same to the joint commission for consideration. This committee reported an
agreement of twenty-four sections, covering bonds, indebtedness, liabilities and
disposition of all property, and a separate agreement in relation to the books,
records and archives. Both were considered article by article, and the joint com-
mission unanimously agreed to the same, and it was signed by all members and the
joint commission thereupon appointed Mr. Purcell of North Dakota and Mr.
Caldwell of South Dakota to draft the article to be submitted to the respective
conventions for insertion in the constitutions of the states. This committee
reported the article to be submitted to the conventions on the 31st day of July. It
was unanimously approved. The convention, having completed its labor, adjourned
subject to the call of the chairman. No call was ever made, as the agreement
made and the article to be embodied in the two constitutions was satisfactory to
both states, and was adopted and incorporated in the constitutions and schedules
of the respective states.
When the agreement and proposed article was reported to the North Dakota
Convention by Chairman Camp, it was considered by the committee of the whole
on .-Xugust 8th, which committee recommended the adoption of the article recom-
mended by the joint commission, and also that the state should appropriate $25,000
to reimburse counties containing lands which formed a part of the grant to the
Northern Pacific for taxes illegally assessed upon the same, and refund to pur-
chasers of such lands at tax sale and also recommending "That the shorthand
notes of the proceedings of the joint commission be transcribed and printed with
the debates of the convention, inasmuch as, so far as the commission is informed,
said joint commission is the first body of the kind ever convened."
408 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
THE CONSTITUTION, HOW IT WAS MADE
The convention in framing the constitution had the benefit of suggestions and
the advice of a number of distinguished men who, upon its invitation, addressed it.
Among these were Arthur C. Mellette, then governor of the territory, who called
attention to the two policies which had heretofore prevailed in framing constitu-
tions. The early policy that a constitution should embody fundamental principles
only, the later policy that it should embody all legislation that was rightful and
which could safely be placed there, and avoid the evils of excessive legislation,
and the confusion necessarily arising from new laws enacted every two years by
the Legislature.
Judge Cooley of Michigan, an eminent jurist, and a recognized author of con-
stitutional law, advised the delegates to remember that times change, that many
new questions were vital today which were unknown to the constitution makers
of a hundred years ago. Therefore the Legislature should not be prevented from
meeting those evils, which are sure to come. In your constitution you are tying
the hands of the people, therefore, do not legislate too much. The convention
heeded this advice and our constitution is comparatively free from legislation,
much more so, for illustration, than the constitutions of South Dakota or Okla-
homa.
Rev. R. C. Wiley, of the National Reform Association, who "urged legislation
for Sabbath observance, for regulation, management and advice, for instruction
in the principles of virtue, for teaching Christianity and morality in the schools^
and the recognition of God and Christianity in the constitution."
God is recognized in the preamble to our Constitution.
Henry B. Blackwell, of Boston, advocated suffrage for women, or at least
the placing of a clause in the constitution empowering the Legislature to extend
the sufifrage to women in the future. The constitution empowers the Legislature
to extend the suffrage to women, or restrict the same, upon a vote of the people.
C. J. Buell, of Minneapolis, advocated the "Single Tax," but the delegates
would have none of it.
Senators Stewart and Reagan, two members of the United States Senate com-
mittee on irrigation, and Major Powell, director of the Geological Survey,,
addressed the convention on August Sth.
Senators Stewart and Director Powell spoke on irrigation interests briefly and
its possibilities in the Northwest and advised "Hold the waters in the hands of the
people." Replying to this the delegates inserted in the constitution "All flowing
streams and water courses shall forever remain the property of the state."
Senator Stewart did not restrict himself to discussing the benefits of irriga-
tion, but expressing himself as opposed to irrigation debts and mortgages, because
they took the independence and manhood out of the people. He elaborately dis-
cussed the demonetization of silver by the United States in 1873, by England,
Austria, and Holland in 1871, and the demonetization of gold by France in 1869,
and by Germany, Austria and other (minor) European states in other years. He
was in favor of the use of both gold and silver as money and plenty of it, and
believed that the Congress was, and trusted that the people of North Dakota
would send no representative to Congress that would represent New York City,
London or Berlin.
ARTHUR C. MELLKTTK
Tenth governor of Dakota Territory, JIarcli to
November, 1889
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 409
Senator Reagan paid scant attention to the subject of irrigation, but discoursed
at length on silver. He stated that the convention in its constitution has to shape
the policy of the state, and its action, and the action of the people which imme-
diately follows it will determine in a great measure its capacity for forming a
government which will protect the people. "Do not send men to Congress to rep-
resent the bond holders and the money men to further opjxjse the people, and go
further to change the character of this government, or rob the people of their
sovereignty and make them slaves of the money power. Send the right men and
we will make the coinage of silver free and unlimited like gold." This advice and
admonition failed to impress the delegates or the people and North Dakota has,
with the exception of Senator Roach, always sent representatives and senators to
Congress who were opposed to the unlimited coinage of silver and in favor of the
gold standard.
Upon the conclusion of these addresses, M. N. Johnson rose to reply, and
referred to Senator Reagon as a man deep rooted in the principles of democracy
and selected by Jefiferson Davis, president of the southern confederacy as a mem-
ber of his cabinet, he having served as postmaster-general therein, and wondered
if Senator Reagan was studying irrigation in the days when those delegates wear-
ing "Grand Army badges" were irrigating the trenches before Vicksburg, the
battlefield of Gettysburg, and the soil of Andersonville with the blood of them-
selves and their comrades : he was interrupted by Delegate Purcell, with the ques-
tion, "Does the gentleman mean to cast any reflection on the senator from Texas
by his remarks?" Mr. Johnson answered, "No, sir."
Delegate Mathews of Grand Forks, who served as a soldier in the War of the
Rebellion, and then wore the "Grand Army badge," moved to adjourn. The
motion was out of order under the working rules of the convention, but was
entertained and being promptly put by the president, was adopted without dissent,
and thus the most regrettable incident in the constitutional historj- was closed.
In the preparation of the constitution, the delegates had access to "charters
and constitutions of all the states" published by Congress. Copies of the con-
stitution of South Dakota, the Enabling Act, and a territorial bill providing for the
Australian system of voting were on the desks of delegates as well as abstracts
of "Hough's American Constitution," covering twenty topics which Delegate
Williams had prepared and placed on the members' desks. The delegates dili-
gently searched these constitutions and with the experience of a century to draw
from the constitution makers culled that which was best and shunned errors from
which older states had suffered. There are few original provisions in the consti-
tution adopted. It is a compilation of the best provisions of existing constitutions
modified to conform to the conditions in the state. From the Omnibus Bill was
mainly culled the compact between the state and the United States. From Illinois
the provision for county courts. From Minnesota, the provision relating to the
sale of public school lands, and the investment of moneys derived from the sale.
From Pennsylvania the provision relating to Board of Pardons. From New
Hampshire, provisions as to amendments to the constitution. From the Williams
constitution came the preamble, and many of the legislative provisions. From
California some material for the taxing of railroads ; the inscription of the great
seal, "Liberty and union now and forever, one and inseparable," from a speech
of Daniel W^ebster in the Senate of the United States. From the United States
410 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Constitution some provisions which are embodied in the declaration of rights ;
ceding jurisdiction over mihtary posts came from the secretary of war, through
General Ruger.
REVISION AND ADJUSTMENT
The Committee on Revision and Adjustment were authorized on August 8th
to have their report printed and submitted their final report on Augvist 13th. It
was a complete constitution and arranged under appropriate heads and sections
consecutively numbered. The amendments recommended were indicated at the
section to be amended. Each delegate was furnished a printed copy of this final
report. It was considered section by section and when any article was adopted
it was immediately referred for engrossing by the enrolling and engrossing clerks.
On this review, the delegates found that their own work in the committee of the
whole was not always satisfactory. "The convention in undoing what it had done
the day before, perfomied the most commendable day's work of the session. The
compelling of the Supreme Court to give opinions when called upon, and the
Legislature to extend, but not to restrict the right of suffrage, was a pair of very
ridiculous propositions," said the Bismarck Tribune at the time. The schedule
contained the agreement of the joint commission on the division of the public
records of the territory, provision for an election to adopt or reject the constitu-
tion and for the taking effect of the constitution. The Committee of the Enroll-
ment and Engrossment were authorized to correct the copy of the constitution
furnished them. They made few changes in phraseology and punctuation, and
at the night session of Saturday, August 17th, reported a correctly enrolled and
engrossed constitution. The chief clerk was empowered to renumber the sections,
which was adopted as a whole by a viva voce vote. The yeas and nays were
demanded by a sufficient number, the roll was called and the constitution was
adopted by a vote of 40 ayes and 23 nays, 12 delegates being absent and not vot-
ing. The constitution was signed by the president and chief clerk in open con-
vention, and by a number of the delegates, who by motion duly adopted, were
invited so to do and the constitution so signed was deposited by the chief clerk in
the office of the secretary of the territory. On the day preceding adjournment the
convention by resolution provided for the publishing of 1,000 volumes of the
debates and also thanked the president and the permanent officers of the conven-
tion for the fair and efficient manner in which they had discharged their duties,
and presented ,to President Fancher the chair he had occupied, and the gavel he
had wielded. On the last day, the delegates presented Fancher with a framed
group picture of the delegates, and Chief Clerk Hamilton was the recipient of a
similar picture, as an appreciation of their services. On the night of Saturday,
August 17th, on motion of Rolfe, of Benson County, the convention adjourned
sine die, and passed into history.
SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS
Arthur C. Mellette, as governor of the Territory of Dakota ancl by virtue of
the authority vested in him by section twelve of the schedule of the constitution,
on August 29, 1889, by proclamation caused an election to be held on the first
b
>
6
c
>■•■?'-*'
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 411
Tuesday in October, to elect congressional, state, legislative, judicial and county
officers as provided in the constitution and to adopt or reject the constitution, and
to adopt or reject the prohibition article to be voted on as a separate article. The
constitution was ratified at this election by a majority of 19,334, there being
27,441 votes for ratification and 8,107 against. Every county in the state gave a
majority for ratification, except the counties of Grand Forks, Nelson and Walsh,-
which gave an aggregate majority of 3,418 against ratification. This was more
than offset by Burleigh and Cass counties, which gave an aggregate vote of 5,079
for ratification, only two votes against ratification were cast in Burleigh and
thirty-one votes in Cass County.
The prohibition article on a separate vote was ratified by a majority of 1,159.
The delegates "slipped a cog" when they provided in the schedule that congres-
sional, state, legislative, judicial and county officers should be chosen at the same
time the vote was taken on the ratification or rejection of the constitution. This
fact coupled with the fact that the republican and democratic parties held conven-
tions and nominated full state tickets and did not as parties oppose ratification,
made it morally certain that the constitution would be raified. In anticipation of
ratification, Chief Clerk Hamilton had prepared an engrossed copy of the constitu-
tion and this properly certified together with a certified abstract of the votes cast
by each county as canvassed by the governor, secretary of the territory and chief
justice, were forwarded on the adoption of the constitution to President Harrison,
who on the 2d day of November, 1889, by proclamation declared "the fact that
the conditions imposed by Congress on the State of North Dakota, to entitle that
state to admission to the Union have been ratified and accepted and that the admis-
sion of the state into the Union is now complete" and thus North Dakota was
released from the shackles of territorial servitude, and endowed with the rights,
duties and privileges of a sovereign state of the Union.
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
Twenty amendments have been made to the constitution since its adoption.
The first forbids the authorization of lotteries or gift enterprises for any pur-
poses, and requires the Legislature to enact laws prohibiting the sale of lottery or
gift enterprise tickets. The second relates to the elective franchise, and restricts
suffrage to full citizens of the United States civilized persons of Indian descent
who shall have severed their tribal relations two years next preceding each elec-
tion, disqualifies persons under guardianship, non compos mentis or insane, those
convicted of treason or felony, unless restored to civil rights, and requires the
Legislature to establish an educational test as a qualification and empowers the
Legislature to prescribe penalties for neglecting or refusing to vote at any general
election.
The third to the Board of Pardons. The fourth to the assessment of property
and how the property of railroad and public service corporations shall be assessed
for purposes of taxation.
The fifth the school for the deaf and dumb at the City of Devils Lake,
changing the name from asylum to school.
The sixth establishes an institution for the feeble minded at Grafton the Legis-
412 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
lature to appropriate 20,000 acres of the grant of land made by Congress, to its
benefits for its endowment.
The seventh, the Legislature may provide that grain grown in the state and held
therein in elevators, warehouses and granaries may be taxed at a fixed rate.
The eighth, the investment of the moneys of the permanent school fund in first
mortgages on farm lands within the state.
The ninth fixes the minimum prices of state lands and the conditions of sale,
one-fifth of price in cash, one-fifth in five years, one-fifth in ten years, one-fifth in
fifteen years, and one-fifth in twenty years, interest not less than 6 per cent pay-
able annually in advance.
The tenth increases the Supreme Court from three to five members.
The eleventh reduces the rate of interest to be paid by purchasers of school
lands from 6 per cent to 5 per cent.
The twelfth establishes a state normal school at Minot.
The thirteenth reduces the rate of interest to be paid by purchasers of state
lands from 6 per cent to 5 per cent and permits the acquirement of such lands
through the exercise of the right of eminent domain, by railroads, for townsite and
other enumerated public purposes.
The fourteenth authorizes and empowers the Legislature by law to erect, pur-
chase, or lease and operate one or more terminal elevators in the states of Minne-
sota and \Msconsin, or both.
The fifteenth providing for the initiative and referendum as to legislation.
The sixteenth providing for the initiative as to the constitution.
The seventeenth, to change the name of the state blind asylum.
The eighteenth, state aid to the building of public highways.
The nineteenth, terminal grain elevators within the state.
The twentieth, to pemiit the classification of property for the purpose of
taxation.
PERSONNEL OF THE MEMBERS
Of the members of the Constitutional Convention several were advanced to
high public positions, as follows:
United States Senators. — Martin N. Johnson, William E. Purcell.
Members of Congress. — Burleigh F. Spalding and ^Martin N. Johnson.
United States District Judge. — John E. Carland.
Governor. — Roger Allin, Fred B. Fancher.
Lieutenant-Govemor. — David Bartlett, Elmer D. Wallace.
United States Surveyor-General. — Erastus A. Williams.
United States Assistant Attorney-General. — Reuben N. Stevens.
United States Attorney. — John F. Selby, Edgar W. Camp.
Assistant United States Attorney. — James F. O'Brien and William H. Rowe.
Judge Supreme Court. — Burleigh F. Spalding.
State Auditor. — Herbert L. Howes.
Insurance Commissioner. — Fred B. Fancher.
State Treasurer. — Knud J. Nowland.
District Judge. — William J. Lander and Samuel H. More, the latter at
Duluth.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 413
Superintendent of Public Instruction. — Wm. J. Clapp.
Railroad Commissioner. — Andrew J. Slotten.
Compilation Commission. — Robt. M. Pollock.
State Senators. — Andrew J. Slotten, John McBride, Charles V. Brown, Arne
P. Haugen, George H. Fay, James H. Bell, Patrick McHugh, Virgil B. Noble,
Andrew Sandager, John F. Selby, A. F. Appleton, William E. Purcell.
Representatives. — Erastus A. Williams and R. M. Pollock.
Speaker of the House. — Reuben N. Stevens. Edward H. Lohnes, Robert B.
Richardson, A. W. Hoyt, James A. Donnelly, Henry W. Peterson, Charles V.
Brown, Albert F. Appleton.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE STATE
"What constitutes a state?
Not high raised battlements, or labored mound,
Thick wall, or moated gate ;
Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crowned —
Not bays and broad-armed ports.
Where, laughing at the storm, proud navies ride ;
Not starred and spangled courts —
Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride.
No ! — men — high-minded men —
Men who their duties know.
But know their rights, and knowing dare maintain."
— Sir William Jones, 1745-1794
North Dakota entered statehood with a bonded indebtedness of $539,807,
some money in the treasury, $57,513, a capitol btiilding costing some $200,000
and 600 city lots to sell.
South Dakota entered statehood with a bonded indebtedness of $750,000,
a deficiency in her treasury of about $150,000, with no capitol building.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
The executive power of the state is devoted to and administered by commis-
sions and boards. The constitution provides for two, the Board of Equalization
and the Board of Pardons. The governor is a member of both. The most
important commission and boards are the Taxation Commission, Board of Con-
trol, and Board of Regents. The members of the commissions and boards are
appointed by the governor, by and with the consent of the Senate. Their tenure
of office is usually for two, four or six years, and while as a rule they consult the
governor and enforce his policies in administering the affairs of their office, they
frequently act on independent lines, to the serious political embarrassment and
injury of the governor, as the people hold the governor responsible and not the
commission and boards, for their mistakes of administration.
ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN MILLER
John Miller was the first governor of the state. As such governor, on Novem-
ber 4, 1889, two days after the admission of the state to the Union, he issued his
proclamation caUing the Legislative Assembly to meet at Bismarck, on Tuesday,
November 19, 1889, for the purpose of electing two United States senators, and
414
NORTH DAKOTA STATE FLAG
From an aiitochrom by F. A. Behounek.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 415
for the performance of such other legislative duties as might be in accordance
with the constitution. The Legislature assembled, which convened November
19th, determined that the Federal law for the election of United States senators
which prescribed that the Legislature should on the second Tuesday after its
meeting and organization proceed to ballot for United States senators, each
branch thereof to vote separately, was superseded by the Omnibus Bill, which
conferred the power and made it the duty of the Legislative Assembly forthwith
at its meeting and organization to ballot for United States senators. Accordingly,
on November 20, 1889, the houses balloted separately, casting ballots for Gilbert
A. Pierce, N. G. Ordway, Lyman R. Casey, republicans, and M. L. McCormick,
democrat. The House was composed of sixty-two members, thirty-two being a
majority. The Senate of thirty-one members, sixteen constituting a majority.
Both houses met in joint session on Wednesday, the 21st day of November, as
by law provided, and compared the journals of the respective houses, as to the
number of votes cast for any person for United States senator, and it appearing
from such comparison that Gilbert A. Pierce had received a majority vote in the
Senate and House, he was by the joint assembly declared a duly elected United
States senator.
It further appearing from a comparison of the journals that no one person
had received a majority in each House for the second senator to be elected, the
joint assembly took one ballot for United States senator, the law providing in
that event that such assembly should meet at 12 o'clock M. and take at least one
ballot each day until some one person received a majority vote of the Joint
assembly, and was thereby chosen senator. The joint assembly was composed
of ninety-three, all the membership of the Senate and House, and forty-seven
was a majority. The joint assembly met on several different days and took in
all ten joint ballots. On the ninth joint ballot occtirred an incident which is
worthy of special mention, because conflicting versions of what actually took
place on the ninth ballot were published by the press at the time.
The chief clerk of the Plouse had been appointed by Lieutenant-Governor
Dickey, the presiding officer of the joint assembly, as clerk of the joint sessions,
and also a])pointed two tally clerks, one from the Senate force of clerks, the
other from the House. The roll of the Senate was first called by the clerk, and
then the roll of the House. The tally clerks recorded the votes as announced by
the members. Upon the completion of the roll call it appeared that the tally
clerks disagreed as to the number of votes cast for M. N. Johnson, N. G. Ord-
way, and Lyman R. Casey. A verification of the vote was demanded. On the
recall of the roll for verification purposes only, H. D. Court, an elderly mem-
ber of the House, who had constantly voted for Ordway, attempted to change
his vote from Ordway to M. N. Johnson. The right so to do was challenged by
a number of the members. A motion to adjourn was interposed and before the
announcement of the rolls of the ninth ballot the joint assembly dissolved. It
was claimed that Johnson received a sufficient number of votes on this ninth
ballot to elect him, if Court's vote on verification had been counted, but the records
of the joint assembly which were approved by the assembly itself and published
in the House Journal, do not support this claim. In fact, showed otherwise. It
appears from them that he received 35 votes, while 47 were necessary to a choice.
The names of these 35 appear in the journal and no other member of the joint
416 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
assembly ever claimed that he had voted for Johnson on the ninth ballot. The
highest vote Johnson received on any ballot w^as 42 on the second ballot, the
lowest 28 on the sixth ballot. On the eighth ballot he received only 33.
FIRST LEGISLATURE 120 D.VYS
The constitution provided that the first Legislative Assembly could sit for
I20 days, while the life of all other sessions was limited to sixty days. Gov-
ernor Miller in his first message suggested in a general way the imperative need
of laws to put in force the various articles and the schedules of the constitution,
particularly the article on prohibition, which prescribed "That the Legislative
Assembly shall by law prescribe regulations for the enforcement of this article
and shall thereby provide suitable penalties for the violation thereof." Comply-
ing with the suggestions of Governor Miller, the Legislature enacted laws for
1. The organization and formation of state banks.
2. For the board of university and school lands.
3. Leasing and sale of school lands.
4. A state board of agriculture.
5. A uniform system of free public schools.
6. A joint commission to eflfect a final adjustment between the states of North
and South Dakota.
7. A commission to supervise the surveying and marking the boundary line
between North and South Dakota.
8. The prohibition law.
9. Assessment of railroad property.
All of which laws were approved by the governor.
On its own volition the Legislative Assembly enacted laws,
1. To establish, locate and maintain an agricultural college at Fargo.
2. An academy of science at Wahpeton.
3. A soldiers' home at Lisbon.
4. Deaf and dumb asylum at Devils Lake.
5. A normal school at Valley City.
6. A normal school at Mayville.
7. Regulating practice of medicine.
8. Abolishing the grand jury system and instituting informations by states
attorneys instead of indictments.
The governor approved all these laws, excepting as to the normal school at
Mayville, which he vetoed. The Legislature, however, passed it over his veto.
LOTTERY
It attempted to pass a law whereby the Louisiana Lottery scheme which had
been denied an extension of its charter by Louisiana could be established and
perpetuated in North Dakota. Geo. H. Spencer, formerly a United States sen-
ator from Alabama, came to Bismarck and secured the introduction of a bill for
that purpose in the Senate. It is known in the records as Senate Bill No. 167.
It passed that body by more than a two-thirds vote.
Governor Miller then marshalled the force opposed to the lottery,' scheme and
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 417
organized and conducted a vigorous and successful fight among the House
members to prevent its passage in the House, or securing a two-thirds vote. He
raised funds to circulate petitions remonstrating against the passage of the law,
employed detectives to secure evidence of suspected bribery and corruption,
inspired the publication of articles in the press opposing the lottery scheme,
secured protests and letters from prominent business men and bankers of St.
Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago and New York, all of which petitions, protests and
letters were presented to the House and appear in its journal, and commanded
representative men of all professions and classes in the state, who hastened to
Bismarck and aided him in his efforts to defeat the bill. On its votes taken on
the question of its reading and on motions to postpone its consideration, or
resubmit it for amendment, the measure commanded only thirty-nine votes in
the House, less than two-thirds vote of all the members elected.
The Congress of the United States enacted a law prohibiting the carriage of
lottery tickets by corporations engaged in the transportation of interstate com-
modities, and lottery and gift enterprise tickets were denied the tise of the
United States mails. The lottery advocates thus seeing their "occupation gone,"
as no lottery scheme could be worked to any advantage in the United States,
abandoned the fight and on February loth the House agreed to indefinite
postponement of Senate Bill No. 167, and thus the lottery scheme went to its
death.
Governor Miller's administration of state afl^airs was satisfactory to the peo-
ple. They admired him as a man, believed in his policies and regretted his refusal
to be a candidate for a second term. Upon the expiration of his term he moved
to Duluth, Minn., where he engaged in a grain brokerage business and died
there, October 26, 1908.
ADMINISTR.«iTION OF ANDREW H. BURKE
Andrew H. Burke, a banker of Cass County, who was the successor of
Miller, served as governor from January, 1890, to January, 1892. The leading
feature of his administration were laws enacted by the Legislature for a military
code authorizing the issuance of state bonds in the sum of $150,000 to pay
North Dakota's share of the indebtedness of the Territory of Dakota, a general
election law, a law to promote irrigation, and a law empowering the governor to
appoint a commission to compile the laws. This commission discovered in
searching the statutes, that there was no law for the election of presidential
electors. The absence of which debarred the people from voting for the Presi-
dent, or for a state canvassing board to canvass the vote cast for Congress, presi-
dential electors, state, legislative or judicial officers. The commission reported
this fact to the governor in May, 1891, who called a special session of the Legis-
lature to convene at Bismarck on June i, 1891.
In the meantime, the commission prepared bills to remedy the defects, and
Governor Burke submitted them to the Legislature, which enacted them and the
state voted for electors the first time in 1892, when Grover Cleveland was elected
to the presidency. Governor Burke vetoed a bill favored by the farmers' alliance,
which compelled railroads to lease sites on their right of way for the building of
418 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
elevators and warehouses, for the storage of grain, on terms and conditions
obnoxious to the railroads.
The governor considered the bill unconstitutional. The farmers" alliance
resented his action and joining forces with the democrats formed a fusion
party and although Burke had been nominated by the dominant republican party
for a second term, defeated him at the polls. Like his predecessor, John Miller,
he left the state and engaged in the grain business at Duluth, Minn., but was
unsuccessful. When he was appointed through the influence of Senator Nelson,
of Minnesota, an inspector of United States land offices, he moved with his
family to Washington, D. C, but toward the close of McKinley's first adminis-
tration moved to the State of Colorado, and later to New Mexico.
THE SHORTRIDGE ADMINISTRATION
The farmers' alliance, the populists and the democrats of the state fused and
elected Eli C. D. Shortridge, of Grand Forks County, as the successor of Burke.
As forty-nine days of the session of the Legislature which convened during his
regime as governor were consumed in the election of a LTnited States senator,
there was little time for law making, and outside of appropriations for the main-
tenance of the public institutions of the state the principal laws enacted and
approved by the governor, were a law authorizing the issuance of $50,000 of bonds
to construct the south wing of the capitol building. The governor was chairman
of the building committee and constructed this wing in 1894; a law creating a
commission to revise and codify the laws ; a general drainage law ; the purchase
of an executive mansion ; and an appropriation for a state elevator at Duluth,
Minn. This was a pet measure of his administration, and was earnestly sup-
ported by Governor Shortridge ; a constitutional amendment prohibiting lottery
and gift enterprises was passed by the Legislature and referred to the next suc-
ceeding Legislature to be. if approved by it. submitted to a vote of the people.
Governor Shortridge as chairman of the State Auditing Board, refused to
audit or direct the payment of the accounts of the compilation commission, which
had been appointed by Governor Burke, and had completed its labors, and made
final report of its doings to the Legislature. This commission brought an action
in the nature of mandamus in the District Court of Grand Forks County, before
Chas. F. Templeton, judge, who granted an order directing him as chairman of
the State Auditing Board to audit the accounts, and the state auditor to issue
his warrants in .payment thereof, or show cause why they should not so do.
Upon the hearing of this order, the state was represented by William H. Standish,
its attorney-general ; John G. Hamilton, chairman of the commission, appeared
for it. After taking testimony and listening to argument by the respective coun-
sel. Judge Templeton granted a peremptory writ of mandamus which ordered
the governor to audit the accounts, the auditor to issue his warrants upon the
state treasurer, for the amount of the same, and the state treasurer to pay them.
No appeal to the Supreme Court was taken from this writ and the governor
approved the accounts, the state auditor issued his warrants therefor, and they
were paid by the treasurer.
The balloting for United States senator began on January l8th. the leading
candidates were Lyman R. Casey, a republican, and John D. Benton and William
^ortl] ^akota ^ong.
WoRls by F H Taylor.
Jamesiown College.
Music by C. S. BrcK.
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1
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In thy pure and brae - ing
Thine a doub - le gift to
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thee,
air,
man
Grand-ly vast' and vir - gin
In thy toil and test, they
Chance to live and room lo
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land. On thy prair-ies wide and free, There is scope for soul and hand,
find Healthy vi - gor fresh and rare, For the bod - y and the mind,
grow On a lar-ger, loft - ier plan Than the world was wont iol<now.
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By the chal-lenge of thy tasks, Need- ing faith and cour - age
On Uiy soil rich liar-vests thrive, Not a - lone of grass and
North Da-ko-ta, hail to thee Still un - fet - tered by the
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new. By the hope each brave heart asks. Thou hast called the men that do.
grains, But of thougbls from minds a-live, Far oul-reach-ing like thy plains,
past May thy fu - lure ev- er be. May thy youth-ful vi - gor last.
-I — ■ — r-
CoDvrilfht 19H. by F. R Taylor.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 419
N. Roach, democrats, though many other persons received coniphmentary votes.
The repubhcans who had a nominal majority of the Legislature, held a caucus
and agreed upon Mr. Casey as their candidate, but through some invisible influ-
ence, twelve republicans refused to enter the caucus, or be bound by its action.
On the sixty-first ballot taken on the forty-ninth day, six republicans from Grand
Forks County, together with other republicans from Burleigh, Cass, Pembina and
Walsh counties, voted for the democratic candidate, William N. Roach, who
received fifty votes, and was declared elected senator.
Alexander McKenzie, who was the principal manager of Casey's campaign,
characterized the political aspostasy of the republicans who voted for Roach, by
saying: "I bow to the Benedict Arnolds and traitors of North Dakota."
When Governor Shortridge retired from his office, he was deeply involved
financially. He was appointed clerk of the United States Land Office at Devils
Lake, to which city he moved and where he died, February 4, 1908.
THE ROGER ALLIN ADMINISTRATION '
Roger Allin, a republican and farmer of Walsh County, succeeded Shortridge.
No legislation of special import was submitted to him for approval, except the
garnishment laws, laws for the protection of dairy products, establishing a fish
hatchery providing for a geological survey of the state, and creating a historical
commission, and the general appropriations for the support and maintenance of
the public institutions of the state. The Legislative Assembly of the Shortridge
administration in anticipation that the state would have sufficient revenue from
taxes to meet the same, had made large appropriations for all state purposes. The
panic of 1893 caused a depression of business throughout the nation, crops were
poor in the state, and the prices obtained for farm products low, and as a conse-
quence the people were unable to pay their taxes, and a heavy indebtedness
incurred by virtue of the appropriations of the Shortridge administration existed
at its close.
The Allin administration inherited it. The Legislative Assembly overlooked
this fact, and made appropriations of the public money in excess of the current
revenue from taxes, with the intent, as Governor Allin believed and so expressed
himself at the time, to discredit his administration. When the appropriations bills
reached him, he, reasoning from his experience in careful and successfull man-
agement of his own affairs, felt that he was rebuking the tendency to excessive
appropriations, and was leading up to rigid economy, which was the watchword
of his administration, availed himself of the constitutional provision, which
empowered the governor to veto separate items of the appropriation bill, and
vetoed the items for the maintenance of the university, and the normal schools
at Valley City and ^layville. reducing the appropriations for Valley City and
Mayville from $24,000 and $24,860 to $4,600 and $7,760 respectively ; the univer-
sity from $63,000 to $15,980. or merely enough to complete the current college year.
The agricultural college received $11,250 of the $19,000 appropriated bv the
Legislature.
This act was severely criticized and condemned by the people living in Grand
Forks, Traill and Barnes counties, as unnecessary and a discrimination against
the educational interests of the state. The people residing in the immediate
420 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
vicinity of these institutions, together with others from other parts of the state,
and from friends of education from other states, raised sufficient funds to main-
tain them for two years. Subscriptions to the amount of $24,513.90 were secured
from private sources, for the maintenance of the university, $1,287.50 was con-
tributed from outside the state. The amount contributed for the support of the
normal schools of Mayville and Valley City is not a matter of record.
Receipts and in some instances certificates were issued to these contributors,
the expectation being that the state would in the near future redeem them. These
receipts and certificates were in no sense legal obligations of the state, but they
were issued by the trustees appointed to govern these institutions and certainly
are moral obligations of the state, and should be redeemed by the state. No gov-
ernor of the state, however, has had, in view of the financial resources of the
state, the courage to reconmiend their redemption, and no Legislature the courage
10 appropriate therefor.
The action of Governor Allin in vetoing these appropriations contributed to
defeating his nomination by his party for a second term to wliich he aspired.
He retired from public life at the end of one term as governor and continued
living moderately and quietly at his home in Park River, Walsh County, as a
retired farmer.
FR.\NK A. BRIGGS ."^ND JOSEPH M. DEVINE ADMINISTRATION
Frank A. Briggs of Mandan, a republican, was the successor of Governor
Allin. He had filled with conspicuous ability the office of state auditor, and
understood the financial resources of the state, and was well equipped to admin-
ister its affairs, but unfortunately he died of tuberculosis in July, 1898, and
Joseph M. Devine, by virtue of his office as lieutenant-governor, filled the unex-
pired term.
During the life time of Governor Briggs, the Legislative .'\ssembly passed
and he approved a general railway law regulating the transportation of pas-
sengers and freight, and a general revenue law, many of its provisions having
been suggested by the governor. The system of taxation prescribed in this law
has stood since as the law of the state with but little change. One section was
held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
THE FANCHER ADMINISTRATION
Frederick B. Fancher, of Jamestown, a republican, who had been president
of the constitutional convention and served the state with rare fidelity as insur-
ance commissioner, for four years, was inaugurated governor in January, 181)9.
The most notable event of his administration was the establishment of a twine
and cordage plant in the penitentiary. He was renominated by his party for gov-
ernor, but by reason of ill health declined the honor. He moved to Sacramento,
Cal., in 1900, and there engaged in mercantile pursuits.
ADMINISTRATION OF FRANK WHITE
When Governor Fancher declined a renomination by his party, the Republi-
can State Committee substituted Frank White of Valley City for the place.
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 421
Mr. White had made a reputation as a soldier in the Phihppines, where he served
as a major in the First North Dakota. He had proved himself "in stern fight a
warrior grim, in camp a leader sage." He was not only a courageous and effi-
cient soldier, but was an experienced legislator. He had a good grasp of civil
affairs. He was elected in November, 1900, and inaugurated in January, 1901,
and served as governor until January, 1905.
During his administration the Legislature passed and he approved laws
establishing an electric railway line from the capitol building to the penitentiary,
to be owned and operated by the state, and establishing an institution for the feeble
minded at Grafton.
The north wing of the capitol building was constructed during his admin-
istration, and funds for the same were provided by the issuance of $100,000 of
bonds secured by the lands granted by the National Government to the state for
the erection of a capitol building and other public buildings at the seat of gov-
ernment. The necessity for additional buildings and equipment for the public
institutions of the state was imperative, and the financial resources of the state
were insufficient to meet them. The state could not issue bonds for the purpose,
as its debt limit of $200,000 was reached, and the scheme was devised for the
issuance of bonds to be known as institution bonds. The payment of the interest
and principal thereof to be secured by the pledge of the lands allotted to each
institution from the grant of 500,000 acres of land by the United States. By
various acts of the Legislature, the normal school, the university and school of
mines, the agricultural college, the hospital for the insane, and the blind asylum,
the deaf and dumb asylum, and the industrial school, were authorized to issue
bonds which aggregated a total of $581,000.
The bonds of the normal school at Valley City in the sum of $60,000, for the
erection of necessary buildings, were issued. They were to run for twenty years,
with annual interest at 4 per cent, and were sold to the Board of University and
School Lands at par. The warrant of the Board of University and School Lands
was drawn on the funds in the custody of Daniel H. McMillan, state treasurer,
who refused to honor the same. The Board of University and School Lands then
sued out a writ of mandamus in the Supreme Court to compel the state treasurer
to pay the warrant, and place the bonds to the credit of the Board of University
and School Lands, or show cause why he should not do the same.
In this action the Board of University and School Lands were represented
by C. N. Frich, the attorney-general of the state, and Guy C. H. Corliss, of
Grand Forks. Newman Spalding & Stambaugh, of Fargo, appeared for the
state treasurer. The court denied the writ. It held that the state constitution
restricted the board in investing funds for the permanent school fund to four
classes of securities, among which is "bonds of the State of North Dakota."
And bonds of the State of North Dakota included only such bonds as are valid
and constitutional within the constitutional debt limit and so certified by the state
auditor and secretary of state, the payment of which is provided for by an irre-
pealable tax levy in the act which authorized their issuance. That the act which
authorized the issuance of $60,000 in bonds to procure funds to erect and equip
buildings of the State Normal School at Valley City, and appropriating a suffi-
cient portion of the interest and income dedicated to the support of that institu-
tion to repay the principal and pay the interest on the sum so borrowed is uncon-
422 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
stitutional and void, as it authorized the creation of a state debt in excess of the
state debt limit and violates, therefore, the state constitution.
2. It authorizes the creation of a state debt and does not provide for a tax
levy to pay the principal and interest as required by the constitution.
3. It diverts the interest and income dedicated to the support of this insti-
tution to the payment of a state debt in violation both of the Enabling Act, and
of the state constitution.
John M. Cochrane, judge of the Supreme Court, died on the 20th day of Uily-
1904, and the governor appointed Edward Engerud, of Fargo, to the vacancy
thus created.
The Legislature also created the Eighth judicial District, and the governor
appointed L. J. Palda, of Minot, judge of this district.
Upon the expiration of his second term. Governor White returned to his home
at Valley City and engaged in the insurance business, and was appointed by
Governor Hanna in 191 5 as a member of the Board of Regents, which has the
charge of all the educational institutions of the state.
THE SARI.ES ADMINISTR.\TION
Elmore H. Sarles, a banker of Hillsboro, Traill County, was elected to suc-
ceed Governor White in November. 1904. and was inaugurated governor in
January, 1905. Governor Sarles was a sagacious, prudent and far-seeing business
man, and his administratiori is notable for measures tending to promote the
material interests and protect the morals and health of the state, and to improve
the government of cities and municipalities of the state.
Among the laws tending to advocate and improve and promote the state's
material interests, were :
1. A complete irrigation code.
2. Providing for the creation and regulation of water users' associations.
3. Regulating the manufacturing and sale of dairy products.
4. Organization of life insurance companies.
5. Organization and regulation of state banks, placing them under the super-
vision and control of a state banking board.
6. Regailating the operation of automobiles.
7. Providing for a state census.
8. Creating thie office of inspector of weights and measures.
9. Providing for the compilation and publishing of the revised codes of 1905.
To protect the health of the people, were :
10. A pure drug law.
11. A pure food law.
To improve the government of cities and other municipalities, were:
12. A new charter for cities.
13. Establishment of park districts for cities.
14. The right of way for electric roads in cities.
15. Providing police for unorganized towns.
16. To preserve the purity of election, our primary election law.
The Legislative Assembly of 1905 enacted a law also for the reconstruction
of the capitol building and the erection of a suitable residence for the governor.
A VIE\V OF THE CAMPUS, STATE XORMAL-INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, ELLENDALE
.MECHANIC ARTS BUILDING, STATE NORMAL-INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
ELLENDALE
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 423
on lots owned by the state, by a board of capitol commissioners, appointed by
the governor, by and with the consent of the Senate.
Governor Sarles appointed as such commission William Budge, of Grand
Forks; Dan J. Laxdahl, of Cavalier, and Andrew Sandager, of Lisbon; who
were promptly confirmed by the Senate. They gave the bonds required by the
statute and organized by the selection of William Budge as chairman and Thomas
Shaw of Pembina as secretary. The board was required by the statute to utilize
in the plans and specifications for the capitol building the newly constructed
north wing, and so much of the other portions of the capitol building as in their
opinion could be used to advantage with regard to appearance and serviceable-
ness of the building, and to sell such material in the present state capitol building
as they deemed to be unavailable for use in the building and pay the proceeds
thereof to the state treasurer to be credited by him to the capitol building fund.
APPROPRIATIONS
The Legislature appropriated for building capitol and executive mansion the
sum of $600,000. To obtain this sum the Board of University and School Lands
were by this same statute directed to sell sufficient lands belonging to the state
and granted for the purpose of erecting public buildings and capitol building,
by the act of Congress, known as the Enabling Act, or Omnibus Bill.
In anticipation of the receipts of proceeds from the sales of such lands, the
commission was authorized to issue certificates of indebtedness in a sum not
exceeding six hundred thousand dollars bearing 5 per cent interest, payable
annually.
The commission advertised for bids, then an application was made to the
Supreme Court upon the relation of George Rusk for a writ of injunction.
George A. Bangs, John A. Sorley of Grand Forks, and Burleigh F. Spalding of
Fargo, represented the relator. C. N. Frich. attorney-general of the state, and
Tracy R. Bangs, who had been retained by the commission to assist the attorney-
general, appeared for the commission. The Supreme Court held the law uncon-
stitutional and invalid, as an unwarranted delegation of legislative power in that
the commission had unlimited discretion as to the cost of the capitol building, and
the cost of the executive mansion, though by the way limited to $600,000.
No specific sum for capitol or mansion was appropriated by the Legislature
and agents or officers of a state are not invested with powers of a purely gov-
ernmental or legislative character, it should be noted here that this commission
were de facto officers for some services, and in good faith incurred some expenses
outside of the compensation allowed them by the statute. They retained Tracy
R. Bangs to defend the commission law in the Supreme Court, but when the
decision of the court was against them they failed to pay him for his services
rendered in that capacity and the Legislature of the future, it is to be hoped, will
provide the necessary funds to cover this expense.
GOVERNOR RENOMINATED
Governor Sarles was renominated by his party in convention assembled for
the governorship. While as governor he had administered the fiscal affairs of
424 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the state with sagacity and fidehty, yet this was forgotten by the people and
because he had appointed John Knauff, of Jamestown, to the Supreme Court to
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge N. C. Young, he incurred
the opposition of the lawyers of the state, who were favorable to Judge Charles
J. Fisk, and this opposition, together with that of the State Enforcement League
and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and prohibition defeated him at
the polls. At the expiration of his term of office he returned to Hillsboro, con-
tinued in his banking business and engaged also extensively in farming and
deaHng in real estate.
JOHN BURKE ADMINISTRATION
John Burke, a lawyer of Devils Lake, was elected governor in 1906, after a
strenuous campaign during which he canvassed all portions of the state with
such force, political skill and foresight in the formation and management of
political parties as to secure the endorsement and the support of the radical
progressive element in the republican party, as well as the prohibition pany.
This coalition stood with him throughout his gubernatorial career; as a conse-
quence, although in political faith, he was a democrat, he was re-elected governor
in a republican state and served in that capacity three consecutive terms. His
administration is particularly notable for legislation to enforce the prohibition
law and to advance the cause of temperance in the state. The prohibition law
of 1889 was strengthened and its enforcement facilitated by laws advocated and
approved by him, which authorized the seizure and confiscation of intoxicating
liquors imported into the state with or without a warrant, holding the owner of
a building where liquor was kept for sale and sold as a beverage liable for the
unlawful use, druggists' permits were to be granted by District Courts, after
hearing of the application therefor, notice of application to be published for
thirty days preceding the hearing. Liquor advertising was declared unlawful.
The use of liquor on passenger trains, or in state institutions was prohibited,
and the giving away or distribution of liquor to be used as a beverage was de-.
clared a violation of the prohibition law. Most important of all the actions to
enforce the prohibition law was the one authorizing the appointment of a tem-
perance commission and making an appropriation of $8,000 to carry out its
provisions. The. commission was authorized and empowered to exercise in every
part of the state all of the common law and statutory powers of the states
attorneys in the enforcement of the law against the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquor, and empowering also the appointment of deputies and special
enforcement sheriffs where the local authorities failed to enforce the law. The
Supreme Court of the state in "Ex Parte Corliss," reported in 16 N. D. 470,
held the law unconstitutional, as it sought to displace the regularly elected states
attorney and sheriff in any county so far as the enforcement of the "prohibition
law" was concerned. "The framers of the constitution considered it more con-
ducive to the public welfare to have the functions of these officers performed by
the officers elected by the people, than to entrust them to officers otherwise chosen."
In the direction of political reform during his administration there was enacted
a general primary election law, a corrupt practice act, and providing for the
primary election of delegates to national conventions of all parties and appro-
EX-GOVERNOR JOHN BITRKE
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 42&
priating $200 to each delegate to presidential national conventions to cover his
expenses.
In the line of economy and to promote the general puhhc welfare was the
establishment of a hail insurance department in the office of the commissioner
of insurance, the creation of a tax commission to supervise the assessment and
collection of revenue of the state, and to discover and place on the tax roll prop-
erty heretofore escaping taxation.
In the same line of economy was the creation of a board of control of the
normal schools of the state, and a board of control for the management of the
charitable and reformatory and penal institutions, also an anti-pass law.
A feature of Burke's administration which won him the confidence and com-
mendation of the people, was his unremitting attention to his public duties ; to
his private affairs and professional practice, he gave no time. All his energies
and abilities were devoted to the state. His insistence that all state officers should,
during their office life, reside at the "seat of government" and personally super-
vise and conduct the affairs of their respective offices, instead of leaving their
administration to the care of deputies while they pursued their private business
at their homes, as had in many instances in past administrations been done, was
also a feature that contributed largely to his popularity with the people.
During his regime as governor, Martin N. Johnson, who had been elected
United States senator to succeed Henry C. Hansborough, died, and he appointed
Judge Fountain L. Thompson, of Cando, to fill the unexpired term imtil a meet-
ing of the Legislature. Judge Thompson served for a few months when he
resigned because of impaired health, and Governor Burke then appointed Wil-
liam E. Purcell, of Wahpeton, as his successor.
NON-P.'\RTIS.'\N APPOINTMENTS
Burke was not a partisan when it was his duty to select judges either for the
Supreme Court or District Court; in filling such positions he selected lawyers
of unquestioned integrity and who possessed the legal knowledge and attainments
befitting^ a judge.
In 1907 he appointed Burleigh F. Spalding, a republican judge of the Supreme
Court, as the successor of Edward Engerud. resigned.
In January, 1909, when the membership of the Supreme Court was increased
from three to five, he appointed John Camiody, of Hillsboro, a democrat, and
S. E. Ellsworth, of Jamestown, a republican, as judges of the Supreme Court.
In 191 1, upon the death of Judge David E. iMorgan, he appointed Andrew
A. Bruce, dean of the University Law School, a republican, to fill the vacancy.
In 1907 Charles J. Fisk was elected to the Supreme Court, thus leaving a
vacancy in the First Judicial District. To fill this vacancy he appointed Charles
F. Templeton, a democrat.
Judge E. B. Goss, of the Eighth Judicial District, was elected to the Supreme
bench and he appointed K. E. Leighton, a republican, to fill the vacancy-
On the election of E. T. Burke to the Supreme Court, J. E. Coffey, a democrat,
was appointed in the fifth district.
LIpon the creation of the Eleventh Judicial District, he appointed Frank Fisk,
a democrat, as the first judge thereof, and similarly upon the creation by the
426 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Legislature of the Twelfth Judicial District, he appointed S. L. Nuchols. of
Mandan, a democrat, as judge of the district.
In the Baltimore convention, which nominated Woodrow Wilson for Presi-
dent, Burke was the choice of his party in this state for vice president, and he
polled a very substantial vote in the convention for that office. Among the early
official appointments of President Wilson, was his appointment of John Burke as
treasurer of the United States, which office he now holds.
ADMINISTR.VTION OF LOUIS B. HANN.\
The republican party in 191 1 was in a demoralized condition, being split into
factions who were fighting among themselves for political supremacy, and it
was apparent that unless a leader could be found, able to compose the differences
of the discordant elements and sufficiently strong with the people to secure their
support at the polls, there was eminent danger of its disintegration, and a per-
petuation of democratic fusion rule in the state. The thinking conservative
republicans regarded Louis B. Hanna, of Fargo, as the most available man for
the purpose and solicited him to become a candidate for the governorship in the
primary election to be held in June. Among the reasons which induced these
elements to unite on Hanna, was his record as a legislator in both branches of
the Legislature, where he had shown unusual capacity in advocating measures
for the betterment of the people. The fidelity with which he looked after the
interests of the state in Congress also commanded the respect and confidence of
all classes. "The need of the hour" was a man not only experienced in legis-
lative procedure, but one trained in business affairs, who could extricate tha
state from its financial difficulties and keep it moving forward on safe and sane
lines. Hanna responded to this call and became a candidate for the governor-
ship at the primaries in June, 1912, and was nominated and elected governor in
November, 1912. He resigned his seat in Congress, was inaugurated governor
in January, 1913, and delivered his inaugural message to the Legislative Assembly
on January 10, 1913. The message dwelt upon the educational necessities in the
state, especially the need of better schools in the country districts, to keep the
farmers upon their farms by providing schools that would furnish to country
children the same opportunity for higher education as those enjoyed by children
in cities. Efficient high grade schools should be established in the districts to
equip the boys and girls for their life work as well as to relieve the state institu-
tions from doing secondary school work. In lucid, pertinent and persuasive
language, Hanna recommended the adoption of a uniform system of accounting
and reporting by the state. The same system should be used in every state
intsitution and there should be a uniformity of system in all county auditors and
treasurers' offices. The state institutions should have such a system as would
enable their managing officers to render a trial balance of receipts and disburse-
ments at all times and should send such trial balance at the close of each month
to the auditor of state. He expressed the hope that legislation would be enacted
to warrant and empower the governor to employ a firm of expert accountants to
inaugurate a uniform system of accounting throughout the state.
The Legislature responded to this recommendation. It empowered the
governor to employ accountants to devise and inaugurate a system and appro-
Dairy Building
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Enginecriiii; Hiiikliiig
I^ibrary
Chemistry Building
Dairy Barn
Administration Bnildiiig
BUILDINGS OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AT FARGO
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 427
priatcd funds to cover the expense. For the Hrst time in the history of the state
the huul grant of the state was "checked up" and adjusted and every depart-
ment of state was accurately audited from the beginning, and a uniform system
of accounts was estabhshed in each department of the state, and in every state
institution. The system is in force in many of the counties and is being extended
to incorporated cities and towns. Its vahie can not be over-estimated, and credit
must be given Mr. Hanna not only for suggesting this system, but also for putting
it in force.
lie suggested the desirability of a "state fire marshal" and the Legislature
created the office and authorized him to appoint one.
He further recommended that some provision be made whereby commercial
traveling men. railroad men, and railway mail clerks could vote when away from
home, and the "absent voting" law- resulted.
lie suggested that the game law be amended so as to prohibit spring shooting
of geese, and the establishment of a "state fish hatchery" with an appropriation
of a sufficient sum from the general fund to maintain it, instead of using for
that purpose a part of the "game fund." The Legislature adopted this suggestion
and enacted the necessary laws.
He stated in his message that the coal imported into the state was not of the
quality or standard the people paid for, and as a consequence the Legislature
provided for coal inspection and the quality of coal shipped into the state has
materially improved.
EXnUilTS ()!•■ PRODUCTS
The opening of the Panama Canal and the prospective advantage to the state
therefrom were briefly referred to and his suggestion that the state would be
benefited by an exhibition of its products, its soil and grasses, at the Panama
Pacific International Exposition at San Francisco, was favorably considered and
an appropriation was granted for the erection of a building to house the exhibits.
During the administration of Governor Burke, the battleship North Dakota
was launched and a fund to ptirchase a silver service to be preseented to the ship
by proposed subscription of $i from individuals was raised. The ''silver service"
was ordered but the fund contributed during the Burke regime was $2,500 less
than its costs. This sum Mr. Hanna raised by private contriliutions. and he
personally presented the service to the ship, May 5, 19 15.
The fiftieth anniversary of the decisive battle of Gettysburg was celebrated
in July, 1913, by a reunion of the survivors of the Civil war, both L^nion and
Confederate, and he asked the Legislature "as a matter of sentiment and patriot-
ism" to appropriate money to defray the expenses of all the old veterans in the
state who could attend the reunion. The Legislature made the appropriation.
Governor Hanna accompanied the soldiers from the state and participated in
all the events of that great occasion. He was not a soldier himself, as he was
born in 1861. but was a son of a soldier who had fought at Gettysburg, It is
needless to add that no part of the legislative appropriation was used by him.
He defrayed his own expenses and the old soldiers had the benefit of the state
appropriation.
428 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
EXPERIMENTAL STATION
During his career in Congress he was largely instrumental in securing an
"experimental station" to be located in the north section of the "great plains"
to demonstrate the kind and character of plants, shrubs and trees adapted to the
climate and soil of the semi-arid lands of the United States. The "station" was
located near the City of Mandan. To secure this location for the state it was
stipulated that 320 acres of land adjoining land purchased by the Government,
should be deeded to the North Dakota Agricultural College for the use of the
"department of agriculture" in the establishment and maintenance of a field
station in conducting experiments in dry land agriculture. This land was pur-
chased and deeded by the citizens of Mandan. The governor recommended that
as the experimental station was for the benefit of the whole state, these citizens
should be reimbursed. The Legislature complied.
His experience as a banker convinced him that the people should be protected
in their iflvestments in bonds and stocks. The state had been exploited by min-
ing, oil and insurance companies with little substance or capital behind them, to
the great financial loss of many of its citizens. The Legislature passed what
is popularly known as "The Blue Sky Law." It affords the desired protection.
The Legislature of 1913 appropriated $8,000 for an exhibit at Christiania, Nor-
way, the governor appointed a commission to gather exhibits of the products of
the state, photographs of farm buildings, churches, educational buildings erected
by Scandinavian people, all tending to show the progress and advancement of
Norway's sons in this state, and the opportunities which the state afforded for
future emigrants. A fund was raised by the citizens of all nationalities and a
statue of Abraham Lincoln was bought. The governor, the members of his
staff', and a large committee of prominent Scandinavians accompanied the "com-
mission" to Norway, and Governor Hanna personally, in behalf of the citizens
of North Dakota, presented the statue of Abraham Lincoln to the King of Nor-
way. The King of Norway in September, 191 5, conferred upon Governor Hanna
"the order of St. Olaf" of the first class. It is the highest civic decoration given
by the Norwegian government.
During Governor Hanna's absence in Norway a primary election campaign
for the nomination of governor and state oflficers was on. The governor was a
candidate for re-nomination. No opposition was anticipated. His management
of the fiscal aft'airs of the state justified the belief that he would be endorsed
by all factions of his party. In the distribution of the patronage at his disposal
he had recognized all factions, all his appointments were based on the ability
and character of the appointee to render efficient, honest and economic service to
the state, rather than as rewards for political service. There was not enough
patronage to reward all the applicants, the disappointed ones and a few irrecon-
cilable progressives initiated a campaign of opposition, notwithstanding which
Hanna was re-nominated and re-elected in November, 1914. He was inaugurated
for his second term in January, 191 5.
FINANCES
Governor Hanna's message to the Fourteenth Legislative Assembly was de-
voted mainly to the finances of the state. An examination of the financial condi-
>
tJ.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 429
tioii of the state disclosed the fact that in January, 1913, when he entered upon
the office of governor, the state had an outstanding indebtedness of $500,479.99.
There was cash in the state treasury to the credit of the general fund to the
amount of $71,496.94. It was estimated that there would be received from un-
collected taxes of the past biennial period enough to reduce this indebtedness to
approximately $300,000.
The income of the state from all sources was inadequate to pay for the main-
tenance of the state government and meet the appropriation for state institutions
and miscellaneous subjects authorized by the Legislature. The state was de-
riving revenue from oil inspection, to the amount of about one hundred thousand
dollars a year, but the oil companies of the state instituted an action contesting
the constitutionality of this law, as a revenue producer, and the state was enjoined
from the collection of the fees for inspection pending the final determination of
the action. H the Supreme Court should hold that the fees for oil inspection
•could legally be exacted to cover the cost of inspection only, and that the present
law went beyond this, and was a law to raise revenue, the court would declare the
law invalid, and about $100,000 due for inspection of oils would be uncollectable.
There was therefore an imperative need of increased revenue to meet the cur-
rent expenses. To meet this prospective deficiency the Legislature enacted an
inheritance tax, and the state board of equalization in August, 1915, raised the
assessment of real and personal property as returned by the county auditors to the
state auditor, nearly forty million dollars.
The constitution of the state limits the levy for all state purposes to 4 mills,
but authorizes an additional levy sufficient to pay the interest on the public debt.
The levy for state purposes is made by the state board of equalization, but the
Legislature had made levies for specific purposes to the amount of 1.47 mills,
this deducted from 4 mills left but 2.53 mills that could be levied for the general
fund to conduct the business of the state. This would yield an amount entirely
inadequate to pay the current expenses of the state for any one fiscal year, and it
was necessary, therefore, for the Legislature to cease making special levies.
BUDGET PRESENTED
Governor Hanna had learned in Congress that it was a wise plan to have an
estimate or budget of the probable expenditures of the state of the coming
biennial period, as well as an estimate of the revenue. Mr. Hanna prepared such
a budget and submitted it to the Legislature. It was the first time in the history
of the state that an effort had been made to put the state expenses together and
have a bill that in one measure covered the major expenses of the state.
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
The bonded indebtedness of the state on January i, 1913, was $937,300; nil
but $200,000 of this amount was for territorial bonds which the state assumed
and agreed to pay when the Territory of Dakota was divided. In the intervening
period between January i, 1913, and January i, 1915, bonds to the amount of
$320,000 were paid from the fund and actually retired, and on July i, 1915, an
additional issue of $55,300 of bonds was paid and retired, leaving a bonded
430 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
indebtedness at that date of $502,000 and reducing the actual interest account
of the state by some $18,000.
BOARD OF REGENTS
The governor recommended that all of the state educational institutions be
placed under the control and management of a single board to be known as the
board of regents. He deemed this advisable not only from the standpoint of
economy, Imt also as he cogently expressed it, it would "delocalize and make
them state institutions." The necessary legislation creating a l)oard of regents
and repealing laws which provided separate boards or trustees of each institution
was enacted. The governor w'as authorized and it was his duty to nominate
before March 2, 191 5, and by and with the consent of the Senate to appoint a
board of five persons who were to meet at the seat of government on the first
Tuesday in April, 191 5, and organize. The governor nominated as members of
the first board, Lewis F. Crawford, of Sentinel Butte, fomier Governor Frank
^^'hite. of \''alley City, Dr. J. D. Taylor, of Grand Forks, Emil Scow, of Bow-
man, and James A. Power, of Leonard, and they were confirmed by the Senate,
but they were prevented from organizing in April, as F. B. Hellstrom invoked
the provisions of the referendum law and circulated petitions to have it sub-
mitted to a vote of the people. He failed, however, to obtain the required
number of signatures, and the board organized on the 8th day of July, 191 5, by
the election of Lewis F. Crawford, as president, Frank White, as vice president,
and Charles Brewer, as secretary. The board is a very able one, all its members
are college bred men, and are well equipped to manage the fiscal affairs of the
institutions.
IMMIGR.'^TION
Another measure that Air. Hanna advocated and the Legislature approved
was the creation of a State Board of Immigration. It is highly probable that
the disastrous war in Europe will lead to an exodus of farmers from the coun-
tries involved, after its close. The state needs the farmers and artisans and an
efifort should be made to secure a part of this emigration. An appropriation for
this purpose of $25,000, available for maintenance of the board of immigration
in 1915, and $35,000 available for maintenance in 1916, was enacted and it re-
dounds to the credit of Mr. Hanna that he persuaded the Legislature to take up
this work for the first time. The organization of this board has, however, been
prevented by the circulation of petitions under the referendum law. One form of
the petitions is directed against the law in its entirety, another against the appro-
priation section. Neither petition secured the requisite number of signatures to
suspend the law, but both combined did, and an action followed to compel the
organization of the board on the ground that the petitions can not be combined,
and therefore the law is in full force and effect.
DOURINE
By reason of the spread of a disease known as dourine among horses, many
of the farmers and stockmen of the state suffered great losses. It was necessary
o
o
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 431
in order to stamp out the disease to kill horses afflicted with it. The Federal
Government agreed to pay one-half the appraised value of all horses killed by
order of the Federal or state veterinaries, if the government of the state promised
to recommend to the State Legislature to appropriate a sufficient sum to pay the
other half. Governor Hanna agreed to this arrangement with the Federal Gov-
ernment, and upon his recommendation the Legislature appropriated enough to
pay half of the amount of the claims presented for horses killed. All claims have
been fully satisfied. The epidemic was checked and apparently stamped out.
LAWS
An inheritance tax was enacted during his administration, which, it was
expected, would yield an amount annually equal to one-half of the loss of fees
from oil inspection.
The law providing for uniform text books in public schools of the state will
save a large sum annually to the patrons of the schools, as will the law reducing
the legal rate of interest to 6 per cent and the contract rate to lo per cent.
The law authorizing state banks to become members of the Federal Reserve
system will also benefit the people. The state banks can always obtain a supply
of money to move the crops in the fall and at better rates than formerly.
In remembrance of the fact that the "poor are always with us" the Legis-
lature enacted "a mother's pension law," whereby mothers with dependent chil-
dren and without means to support them can receive a monthly pension from
the county of their residence.
The establishment of a state sanitarium for the treatment and care of tuber-
culosis was a feature of the Hanna administration. It is located at the foot of
the Turtle Mountains and is open to all residents who are victims of that dread
disease, without charge.
The law empowering the Board of Railroad Commissioners to regulate the
rates for water, gas and electric light companies and placing telephone companies
under their control will relieve portions of the state from further excessive
charges and will equalize and make uniform the charges for service throughout
the state.
TEMPEE.^NCE
The prohibition law of 1889 has during this administration been further
strengthened by a provision defining "boot legging" and making it a crime pun-
ishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary, legalizing inspection by state's attor-
neys and others of the records and way bills of freight and express companies,
relating to intoxicating liquors, prescribing penalties for receiving or receipting
for intoxicating liquors in fictitious names and declaring places where parapher-
nalia was used for purposes of gambling, public nuisances, which could be closed
by injunction, the paraphernalia confiscated and destroyed upon the conviction of
the keeper of the place.
The first attempt of any state to test the efficacy of the provisions of the
Federal Webb-Kenyon Law to prevent the importation into the state of intoxi-
cating liquors by common carriers was made in the Hanna regime. Henry J.
432 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Linde, attorney-general of the state, instituted actions in the state courts to
enjoin the Northern Pacific, Great Northern and the Soo railroads from receiv-
ing for transportation or delivery, intoxicating liquors consigned to any resident
of the state. The state courts issued temporary restraining orders against each
of these companies. The companies affected transferred the suits to the Federal
Court, but stipulated that the temporary injunction should remain in full force
pending the final determination of the actions. One case has been tried before
Judge Amidon, the Federal district judge and submitted. When he renders a
final judgment it is probable an appeal will be taken therefrom to the Supreme
Court of the United States. If the law is upheld by that court, the shipment of
intoxicating liquors in unusual quantities will stop. The source of supply being
cut off, blind pigs or unlawful places for the sale of liquor can not operate and
the sale of intoxicating liquors to be drunk as a beverage will cease.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
The question of extending suffrage to the women of the state was submitted
to the people at the general election in November, 1914, and was defeated. Since
statehood, women have had the privilege of voting for all school offices and were
eligible to hold school offices. Two have been elected to the office of state super-
intendent of public instruction, viz. : Mrs. Laura J. Eisenhuth and Miss Emma
Bates. Both discharged the duties ably and creditably. One-third of the coim-
ties, including the most populous ones, have elected women as county superin-
tendents of schools and almost every district has one or more women as school
officers. It is worthy of note that in territorial days before the division of the
Dakota, the Legislature of 1885 passed a bill conferring full suffrage upon
women. But Gilbert A. Pierce, then governor of the territory, vetoed it. To
Dr. Cora Smith King, now living at Washington, D. C, and who was then
Miss Cora Smith, of Grand Forks, belongs the credit of persuading the Legis-
lature to pass this law. The curtain has not yet been "rung down" on this sub-
ject. The advocates of suffrage are still campaigning and expect to carry the
state when it is again submitted to a vote of the people.
THE soldiers' HOME AT LISBON
The home is maintained without cost to the state from the revenue derived
from the land grant of 40,000 acres by the government. Out of the funds they
spent $13,000 to take 165 of the veterans to the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle
of Gettysburg, the superintendent having charge of the trip, all veterans residing
in the state being entitled to railroad fare and expenses of the trip.
The institution also takes care of the expenses of the Grand Army of the
Republic, the state spending $1,500 a year for this purpose.
The bill creating the home was signed Februarj' 27th, 1891, 12 o'clock noon,
in the presence of Hon. M. L. Engle, deceased; Hon. H. S. Oliver, deceased;
Hon. L. C. Hill, deceased; A. H. Laughlin, the legislative committee. The bill
was signed by Governor Andrew H. Burke and was known as Senate Bill No. 60.
The home opened on August ist. 1893. with Col. W. W. Mcllvain, com-
mandant who served ten years and resigned on April 1st, 1903. He was sue-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 433
ceeded by Col. John W. Carroll, a veteran of the regular army, seeing service
in the Civil war.
The home was originally built to accommodate thirty men, but has been en-
larged and extended to double its capacity. The grounds cover eighty-five acres
and is one of the beauty spots of the state. It is located on the Sheyenne River,
one mile from the center of Lisbon, in a grove of native trees. The spot is a
delight to the eye.
The original land was homesteaded by Henry Cramer and was bought from
his widow, Caroline Cramer. Eighty acres bought and five acres later added.
NORTH DAKOTA IN CONGRESS
Lyman R. Casey, a senator from North Dakota ; born in York, Living-
ston Coimty, N. Y., May 6, 1837; when very young moved with his parents to
Ypsilanti, Mich. ; in the hardware business for many years ; settled in Dakota in
1882, at Carrington, Foster County ; chairman of the North Dakota Committee on
Irrigation; commissioner of Foster County; elected as a republican to the United
States Senate and served from November 25, 1889, to March 3, 1893 ; located in
New York City.
Gilbert A. Pierce, a senator from North Dakota ; born in East Otto, Cattaragus
County, N. Y. ; moved to Indiana in 1854; attended the University of Chicago
Law School two years ; enlisted in Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteers, in
1 86 1, and elected second lieutenant of the company; appointed captain and assist-
ant quartennastef by President Lincoln ; promoted to lieutenant colonel in Novem-
ber, 1863; appointed a colonel and inspector, and special commissioner of the war
department, and served until October, 1865 ; member of the Indiana Legislature
in 1868; assistant financial clerk of the United States Senate, 1869-1871 ; resigned
to accept an editorial position on the Chicago Inter-Ocean ; served as associate
editor and managing editor for twelve years ; became connected with the Chicago
News in 1883; appointed governor of Dakota in July, 1884; resigned in Novem-
ber, 1886; elected as a republican to the United States Senate, and served from
November 21, 1889, to March 3, 1891 ; died in Chicago, 111., February 15, 1901.
Henry C. Hansbrough, a representative and a senator from North Dakota ;
born in Randolph County, III., January 30. 1848; attended the common schools;
learned the art of printing and engaged in newspaper publishing in California,
Wisconsin, and Dakota Territory; became a resident of the last named in 1881 ;
twice elected mayor of Devils Lake ; delegate to the Republican National Conven-
tion in 1888; national committeeman for eight years; elected as a republican, upon
the admission of the State of North Dakota into the Union, to the Fifty-first Con-
gress and served from December 2, 1889, until March 3, 1891 ; elected to the
United States Senate, January 23, 1891 ; re-elected in 1897 and 1903, and served
from March 4, 1891, until March 3, 1909; resident of Devils Lake, N. D.
Alartin N. Johnson, a representative and a senator from North Dakota ; born
in Racine County, Wis.. March 3, 1850; moved with parents to Iowa the same
year; was graduated from the law department of the Iowa State University in
1873; taught two years in the California Military Academy in Oakland. Cal. ; was
admitted to the bar in 1876; returned to Iowa, and was a member of the State
House of Representatives in 1877; state senator, 1878-1882; Hayes elector for
434 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the Dubuque District in 1876; moved to Dakota Territory in 1882; district
attorney of Nelson County in 1886 and 1888; member of the Constitutional Con-
vention of North Dakota in 1889, and chairman of the First Republican State Con-
vention same year; elected as a republican to the Fifty-second, and to the three
succeeding congresses (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1899) ; elected to the United
States Senate, and served from March 4, 1909, until his death in Fargo, N. D.,
October 21. 1909.
William N. Roach, a senator from North Dakota ; born in Loudoun County.
Va., September 25, 1840: attended the city schools and Georgetown College; clerk
in the quartermaster's department during the Civil war; moved to Dakota Terri-
tory in 1879; interested in mail contracts for several years; took up land in
Dakota and engaged in agriculture; mayor of Larimore, 1883-1887; member of
the Territorial Legislature, session of 1885; democratic candidate for governor
at the first state election and defeated ; renominated at the next election and again
defeated ; elected to the LTnited States Senate and served from March 4, 1893,
to March 3, 1899; moved to New York City, where he died September 7, 1902.
Porter J. McCumber, a senator from North Dakota; born in Illinois, February
3, 1858; moved to Rochester, Minn., the same year; attended the common schools;
taught school for a few years ; was graduated from the University of Michigan in
1880; moved to Wahpeton, N. D., in 1881, and practiced his profession; mem-
ber of the Territorial Legislature in 1885 and 1887; attorney-general 1887-1888;
elected as a republican to the United States Senate January 20, 1899, for the term
commencing March 4, 1899; re-elected in 1905. and served from March 4. 1899.
to March 3, 191 1. Re-elected for the term commencing March 4, 191 1.
Burleigh F. Spalding, a representati\e from North Dakota ; born in Crafts-
bury, Orleans County, Vt., December 3. 1853; attended the Lyndon Literary
Institute. Lyndon, Vt., and was graduated from Norwich University in 1877 ;
studied law in Montpeliar, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in March, 1880, and
commenced practice in Fargo, N. D. ; superintendent of public instruction of
Cass County, Dakota Territory, from 1882 to 1884; member of commission to
relocate capital of the Territory of Dakota and build capitol ; member of the
North Dakota Constitutional Convention in 1889; member of the joint commis-
sion provided by the Enabling Act to divide the property and archives of the
Territory of Dakota between the states of North and South Dakota ; twice elected
chairman of the Republican State Central Committee ; chairman of the Cass
County Republican Committee ; elected as a republican to the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress (March 4, 1899-March 3, 1901 ) ; re-elected to the Fifty-eighth Congress
(March 4, 1903-March 3, 1905) ; associate justice of the Supreme Court of North
Dakota in i()07; re-elected in 1908; chief justice of the State Supreme Court in
1911.
Thomas Frank Marshall, a representative from North Dakota ; born in
Hannibal, Mo., March 7, 1854; attended the State Normal School. Platteville.
Grant County, Wis.; became a surveyor; moved to Dakota in 1873 and engaged
in banking; mayor of Oakes, N. D., for two terms; state senator four years;
delegate in the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in 1892; elected
as a republican to the Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth, and Sixtieth
congresses (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1909).
Asle J. Gronna. a representative and a senator from North Dakota; liorn in
THE HEADER
North Dakota harvest scene
HARVESTING SCENE IN NORTH DAKOTA
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 435
Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa, December lo, 1858; moved with his parents to
Houston County, Minn., where he attended the public schools and the Caledonia
Academy ; taught school for two years in Wilmington, Minn. ; moved to Dakota
Territory in 1879, and engaged in farming and teaching; in 1880 moved to Bux-
ton, Traill County, and engaged in business; moved to Lakota, Nelson County,
in 1887 ; member of the Territorial Legislature of 1889 ; served as president of
the village board of trustees and president of the board of education several
terms; in 1902 became chairman of the County Central Committee of Nelson
County, and was re-elected to the position in 1904; appointed a member of the
Board of Regents of the University of North Dakota by Governor Frank White
in 1902; elected as a republican to the Fifty-ninth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-first
congresses and served from March 4, 1905, until February 2, 191 1, when he
resigned ; elected to the United States Senate, to fill vacancy caused by death of
Martin N. Johnson and for the term ending March 3, 1915, and took his seat
February 2, 191 1.
P^ountain L. Thompson, a senator from North Dakota ; born near Scottsville,
111., November 18, 1854; moved to Girard, 111., in 1865, where he resided until
1888; attended grammar and high schools in Girard, 111.; studied law, was admit-
ted to the bar, but did not practice; member of the Board of Supervisors of
Macoupin County; entered mercantile business in 1872; moved to a farm near
Cando, Towner County, N. D., in 1888; delegate in the first democratic county
convention that assembled after statehood, and was chosen chairman ; county
judge for eight years; in 1891 he engaged in the real estate and loan business in
Cando, and later established the Thompson Realty Company, of which com-
pany he was president; vice president of the First National Bank of Cando, and
president of the First National Bank of Rocklake ; interested in farming ; school
director six years, alderman of Cando four years, and mayor two years ; appointed
as a democrat United States senator to fill vacancy caused by the death of
]\Iartin N. Johnson and served from November 10, 1909, to January 31, 1910.
when he resigned.
William E. Purcell, a senator from North Dakota; born in I'lemington, N. J.,
August 3, 1856; attended common schools; studied law, was admitted to the bar
of New Jersey in 1880; went to Dakota Territory in July, 1881 ; located in
Wahpeton, was appointed by President Cleveland United States attorney for
the Territory of Dakota, April 5. 1888; resigned in May, 1S89, having been
elected a member of the constitutional convention for the new State of North
Dakota; was a member of the joint committee appointed by the Constitutional
Convention of North Dakota to divide the property and adjust the indebtedness
between the states of North and South Dakota ; district attorney of Richland
County, N. D., from October, 1889, to January i, 1891 ; elected state senator
in November, 1906; appointed United States senator January 29, 1910, to fill
the vacancy in term commencing March 4. 1909, caused by the death of .Martin
N. Tohnson and the resignation of Fountain L. Thompson, and served from
February i, 1910 to February i 191 t ; resumed the practice of law in \\'ahpeton,
N. D. '
Louis B. Hanna, a representative from North Dakota; born in New ISrighton.
Pa., y\ugust 9, 1861 ; attended schools of Ohio. Massachusetts, and New York ;
moved to North Dakota in 1881 ; member of the House in the State Legislature
436 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
1895-1901; member of the State Senate 1905-1909; elected as a republican to
the Sixty-first Congress (March 4, 1909-March 3, 1911)- Re-elected to the
Sixty-second Congress.
Henry T. Helgesen, republican, of Milton, was born on a farm near Decorah,
Winneshiek County, Iowa ; received his education in the public schools and the
Normal Institute and Business College of Decorah ; after graduating entered the
mercantile business in Decorah, continuing there until 1887, when he moved to
the Territory of Dakota, locating at Milton, Cavalier County, engaging in the
hardware, furniture and lumber business, retiring in 1906 and devoting his time
to his farm lands; he was married in 1880 to Bessie H. Nelson, of Decorah, and
has a family of three boys and four girls ; became actively interested in local
and state politics soon after locating in Dakota, and was the first commissioner
of agriculture and labor of the new State of North Dakota, and was re-elected to
the same office in 1890; has served ten years as member of the University Board of
Regents ; nearly twenty years ago he began a fight for cleaner politics in the
state, and early became a leader in the progressive movement; was elected as
congressman at large in 1910, and on the reorganization of congressional districts
in the state in 1912 was elected as congressman from the First District in 1912
and re-elected in 1914.
George M. Young, republican. Valley City, N. D. ; great-grandparents
came from Ireland to United States a little over a century ago, settling at Oak
Point, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and the next generation moved to Ontario,
where the subject of this sketch was born, December 11, 1870, at Lakelet, Huron
County; during boyhood he and his widowed mother went to St. Charles, Mich.,
where he was educated in the public and high schools and later graduated from the
University of Minnesota; settled at Casselton, N. D., in 1890, and at Valley City
in 1894; married Augusta L. Freeman, St. Charles, Mich., and has one child,
Katherine Adams, six years old ; served in the State Legislature eight years ;
elected to Sixty-third Congress ; re-elected to Sixty-fourth Congress, receiving
18,559 votes, to 6,938 for J- J- Weeks, democrat, and 1.524 for N. I. Bjornstad,
socialist.
Patrick D. Norton, republican, of Hettinger, was born at Ishpeming Mar-
quette County, Mich., May 17, 1876; moved to Ramsey County, N. D., with
his parents in 1883 ; educated in the common schools and State University of
North Dakota; graduated from University of North Dakota in 1S97 with degree
of B. A. ; studied law at the State University and was admitted to practice in
1903 ; is engaged in the active practice of law and is also interested in banking,
real estate business, and live-stock raising, has been elected to the following
offices: county superintendent of schools, chief clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives, states attorney, and secretary of state ; since taking part in political
afifairs has been recognized as one of the most active leaders of the progressive
republican movement in North Dakota ; was nominated at the state-wide primary
in June, 1910, as the candidate of the progressive republican organization for
secretary of state and was elected in November of that year by a plurality of
more than thirty thousand; in the primaries in June, 1912, he won the republi-
can nomination for Congress after a most exciting campaign, in which four
other prominent republican candidates participated ; was elected to the Sixty-third
Congress by a large majority over his democratic and socialist opponents, and
was re-elected to the Sixty- fourth Congress.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE CODES OF NORTH DAKOTA
TRUE RELATION TO THE CALIFORNIA CODES THE FIELD CODES FIRST ADOPTED IN
DAKOTA TERRITORY — THE SUCCESSIVE REVISIONS AND COMPILATIONS
In 1873 Peter C. Shannon and Alphonzo H. Barnes were associate justices
of the Dakota bench. Chief Justice Geo. W. French had held the first term
of court in 1871, in what afterward became North Dakota, and a second term in
1872. Chief Justice Shannon, who had succeeded Judge French, held terms of
court at Pembina in June and September, 1873. Judge Barnes succeeded Judge
Shannon in the Northern Dakota district in 1874, Shannon returning to the
Yankton district.
Judge Shannon, about this time, prepared the Criminal Code adopted by the
Dakota Legislature of 1875, and took a leading part in the codification of the
laws under the act of 1875, adopted in 1877. Judge Shannon was learned in
the law and in every way adapted to the work assigned him. He was most ably
assisted by Hon. Bartlett Tripp and Granville G. Bennett.
No better statement of the origin of the codes can be presented than that
written by Judge Shannon, in a letter to the writer hereof in 1895. He was
then residing at Canton, S. D., with his mental powers as alert as in his younger
days, and his health unbroken. He wrote:
"It is erroneous and gravely misleading to say that our codes were taken
bodily from California, as serious results might spring from this notion. A few
facts will overthrow it.
"The authors of the codes, comprising such eminent jurists as Field, Sherman,
Bradford, Graham and Noyes, after years of labor, made their final report of
the civil code to the New York Legislature in February, 1865. and within a
year thereafter the Legislature of Dakota adopted it. Rejected there, it found
a home and was welcomed here. California followed our lead six years later.
"The first draft of the penal code was laid before the Legislature in 1864,
and in the following January it was enacted here. California, imitating our
example, adopted it in 1872.
"Our civil procedure of 1867 was not borrowed from California, l)ut was
extracted from the New York original of 1849, ^he parent of most of our modern
codes on the subject.
"Our criminal procedure as it now stands was prepared to suit existing terri-
torial conditions by this writer in 1874. and was passed in January, 1875. It was
mainly framed from the New York originals.
"Thus, historically, the first honor and the just praise belong to Dakota. We
437
438 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
did not take our codes from California. Our old territorial assemblies in this
regard built well and wisely, whether they were aware of it or not, and laid
broad and deep the foundations of perhaps the best system of jurisprudence
extant. To them be always given due credit ; and it would be well for future
legislatures, as also for the profession, to see to it that this admirable system
be not marred or disjointed.
"Without looking to California or seeking elsewhere, the truest and safest
key to the meaning of our codes is to be found in the notes of their authors,
appended to the sections. These not merely illustrate but justify the text."
It is well said that Judge Shannon has good and just reason to congratulate
himself upon his great work as Dakota's chief codifier. That code will always
remain his monument.
On the occasion of the death of David Dudley Field. Judge Shannon wrote the
Sioux Falls Press:
"The death of the foremost and most influential lawyer in the United States,
and the most distinguished law reformer in the English speaking world, deserves,
especially among the people of the two Dakotas, more than an ordinary or a
passing notice. His name will always be solidly linked with the best institutions
of these two states ; for he was the inspiring genius and the greatest author of
our admirable and beneficent codes.
"When thirty-four years old he publicly began in New York his herculean
work of legal reform, and within a few years bills were introduced in that
Legislature incorporating his plans as to procedure in the courts. In 1847 he
became chairman of the commission which inaugurated and carried out that
plan of civil procedure which, adopted there, soon spread over many other states,
and is the law here.
"In 1857 he was chairman of the commission that codified the civil and penal
laws — works which, completed in 1865, were not, however, adopted by that
Legislature, but first of all became laws in Dakota in 1865-6. Thus we have the
gratifying distinction that our territorial assembly was the very first Legislature
in the world to adopt and put into operation these two magnificent codes.
"From 1839 until his death — a period of fifty-five years — his mind and
energies were constantly devoted to the one supreme object of improving the laws
and simplifying legal proceedings in the courts.
"His ideal and model was the code of Justinian, which for thirteen centuries
has been considered as one of the noblest benefactions to the human race, as it
was one of the greatest achievements of human genius. His studies early taught
him that the [ustinian code is, indeed, the chief source whence have been drawn
most of the best principles and doctrines of boasted common law. And as the
emperor, Justinian, in 528, appointed a commission of jurists to revise the laws
and compile a code, incorporating in it all previous laws and codes, so Mr. Field
ajiplied to the Legislature for such a commission to revise and codify the laws
of New York. Justinian took care to appoint on his commission the foremost
lawyer of the empire, Tribonian, under whose skill and laborious superintendence
and direction the Roman code was compiled in 534, taking its name, as usual,
from the emperor who appointed the commission, rather than from the person
who was its architect. And so with Napoleon and the French code. But the
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 439
name of Tribonian is, notwithstanding, inseparably connected with this master-
piece of jurisprudence.
"And so i\Ir. Field, appointed on the modern commission, became the Tri-
bonian, not only in the codification of common law in both its civil and penal
departments, but also of the laws of procedure and of the law of evidence. Not
content with all this vast labor, in 1873, he issued his "Outlines of an International
Code,' the purpose and thought of which is to cause arbitration to supersede war
among nations in the settlement of all disputes between them. With advancing
thought and experience among civilized people, the necessity of such a code
becomes more and more apparent ; and it is to be hoped the time will speedily
come when this capsheaf of the genius of Mr. Field shall be garnered into public
utility over the world. Then all oppressed nations and groaning peoples will bless
his memory. The seeds thus sowed by him have been germinating and will
continue to grow, for already many of the best intellects of the world, attracted
by his project, have given their approbation to it."
Hon. Ernest W. Caldwell, who, with Charles H. Price, was the compiler of
the laws of 1887, says these laws were "chiefly the product of the industry, literary
skill and legal knowledge of Judge Shannon. As a life long student of law, as
the leader of the commission which revised the codes, as chief justice of the
Appellate Court before which these codes were first tested in litigation, and
subsequently as attorney practicing thereunder, he is eminently well qualified to
pass judgment upon the merits of the work which David Dudley Field has per-
formed for the benefit of society through all the years to come."
Commenting on the above, Judge Charles F. .Amidon wrote in 1895, "Another
reason for the quite general notion that North Dakota copies the civil code from
California, grows out of the effect of the California code upon the revision of
1877. The code as originally adopted in this state was almost an exact copy of
the proposed draft of the civil code presented to the New York Legislature by
the David Dudley Field Commission. There were many provisions in this orig-
inal code which were not applicable to a western system of laws. In 1870 a
commission was appointed in California to undertake a revision of the codes as
presented in New York, so to bring them down to date, and also to so modify
them as to make them applicable to a western community. This revision was
carried forward with great thoroughness in California, by a commission com-
posed of the ablest lawyers on the Pacific Slope, and the code as thus revised
was adopted by California in 1872. The commission which was appointed in
the Territory of Dakota under the laws of 1875, to revise the codes here, availed
itself very largely of the work of the California commission, and most of the
changes which were made in the revision of 1877 were borrowed from California.
COMPILED L.\WS OF 1887
The Seventeenth Territorial Legislature in 1887 provided for a legalized com-
]Mlation of the laws of the territory by passing a law empowering the governor
of the territory, by and with the consent of the Council to appoint a compiler and
assistant compiler of the laws. E. W. Caldwell and Charles H. Price were
selected and appointed by the governor as the commission. This law conferred
no ]iower to revise the statutes, to reconcile contradictions, to correct incon-
440 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
sistencies, or to supply omissions found in existing laws, but all such contra-
dictions, inconsistencies and omissions were to be reported to the Legislature
for their information and action.
The compilers reported to the Eighteenth Territorial Legislature, which as-
sembled at Bismarck in January, 1889, but this Legislature evinced no disposition
to consider the report, or correct any inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the laws.
The National Congress had passed and President Cleveland had on the 22d day
of February, 1889, signed the so-called "Omnibus Bill," which, among other
things, provided for the division of Dakota and the separation of the area em-
braced in the boundaries of Dakota, into two states or territories, as the people
living in the respective sections should by vote determine.
This commission compiled and classified all the general laws in force at the
close of the Seventeenth Legislative session. This included the seven codes of
the revision of 1877. but changed the arrangement of the chapters and numbered
the sections consecutively, so that reference would be made thereto by the lawyers
and courts as sections of the Compiled Laws of 1887, instead of sections of the
civil, penal or other codes, as the case might be, and was of material advantage
not only to the profession and courts, but to the officers of both the territorial
and state governments. This compilation together with the session laws of 1890,
1891, 1893 ^"d 1895 was the legalized and official compilation of the laws gov-
erning the state until the adoption of the revision of 1895.
Judge Amidon, continuing, said: "It was not until after the revision of
1887 that the codes became familiar to the profession in the Territory of Dakota.
The code, never having been adopted in New York, never received any con-
struction from the courts of that state, and it was natural, therefore, for the
profession to look to California as the origin of the code, it having been adopted
there, and many decisions having been rendered by the Supreme Court of Cali-
fornia construing its provisions.
"What is true of the civil code is also true of other codes of the state. The
commission of 1877 borrowed most largely from the codes of California. There
was great advantage in this course, for it gave to the courts of this state the
advantage of the construction of the very able court which then existed in
California. No revision was attempted in North Dakota after 1877. Our present
compiled laws are very aptly named. It was simply a compilation of the laws
in force in 1887. The compilers had no power to make changes in existing law,
or to propose amendments thereto.
"Nearly twenty years, therefore have elapsed, since the laws of this state
have been revised. This was a period of great growth in statutory law. The
original codes had been adopted in many other states, and at each adoption had
been subjected to a thorough revision. During the same period a vast body of
session laws had grown. This is especially true since the adoption of the con-
stitution, much new legislation being required to carry the provisions of the
constitution into efifect. These laws, however, were framed and passed in a
fragmentary manner to meet particular emergencies and were in many of their
provisions irreconcilably conflicting. There was great need of a thorough re-
vision which would bring the existing law into harmony and supply the deficien-
cies which would be manifest to a commission undertaking such work."
When Dakota was divided in 1889, the laws of Dakota Territory were
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 441
spread over the states of North and South Dakota, and it remained that they be
adapted to the constitution of the states, as appeared to be necessary.
The necessity of adapting these laws to the constitution of the state by
ehminating provisions either conflicting therewith, or made obsolete, or repealed
by any articles thereof, was recognized by the people of the state, and accordingly
the Second State Legislature, which assembled in January, 1891, after reciting
in the preamble to chapter 82 of the Session Laws of 1891, that there had been
no legalized compilation of the laws of the state; that the laws passed at the
several sessions of the Territorial Legislature, and of the State of North Dakota,
were confused and inconsistent, and did not conform to the constitution of the
state, and therefore it was a work of great labor and difficulty to ascertain what
the law really was on many subjects, enacted a law providing for the appointment
by the governor of a commission of three persons to compile, arrange, classify
and report the laws of this state, which may be in force on the first day of July,
A. D. 1891.
Governor Andrew H. Burke, selected and appointed as such commission,
Robert Isl. Pollock, of Cass County, Patrick H. Rourke, of Ransom County, and
John G. Hamilton, of Grand Forks County. This commission met at Bismarck
soon after the adjournment of the Legislature, and organized by the selection of
John G. Hamilton as chairman, and John F. Philbrick, of Bismarck, as secretary.
The commission prepared a very complete report, showing the various inaccu-
racies, contradictions and inconsistencies found in existing laws, and recom-
mended the correction of these by the Legislature, and the publishing of their
compilation when so corrected, but this Legislature had consumed forty-five days
of a session limited to sixty days, in a bitter struggle to harmonize its conflicting
elements and elect a United States senator, consequently the only consideration
given the report was to refer it to another commission, upon whom was conferred
the power to revise and codify the laws. Judge Charles F. Amidon. who was
chairman of the commission of 1893. speaking of this compilation says:
"This commission appears to have done faithful work, making an exhaustive
report to the Legislature of 1893, which, however, owing to the prolonged sena-
torial controversy, paid little attention to their report. Their powers, however,
were limited to compilation and classification, though they secured the introduc-
tion of a large number of bills revising, many of which became laws and were
useful to the new commission, which was given authority to revise, as well as
classify, codify and compile. In fact the new commission was a revision, rather
than a compilation commission. The act of 1893 creating the commission gave
them power to reject all obsolete and conflicting provisions, and report any new
laws necessarj' to complete the codes which already existed. The law provided
that this commission should be appointed by the governor upon the recommenda-
tion of the judges of the Supreme Court. Governor Eli C. Shortridge appointed
for this work George W. Newton, of Bismarck, Burke Corbet, of Grand Forks,
and Charles F. Amidon, of Fargo, these persons having been recommended by
the Supreme Court. The commission entered upon its work and carried it
forward with such energy that when the Legislature met in lanuary, 189S, the
commission had ready to report to it a complete system of codes. These codes
received the highest commendation of all members of the Legislature, and all
were adopted in the main as reported, although several important amendments
442 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
were made by the Legislature, in which all members of the commission did not
concur."
Two of the members of the old commission were in position to render im-
portant work in the final adoption of the codes. Hon. Patrick H. Rourke was a
member of the Senate and one of the Senate judiciary committee and of the
joint compilation committee, and on both did excellent service. Maj. John G.
Hamilton was clerk of the joint committee and after the adjournment of the
Legislature was employed to assist Hon. Burke Corbet on the political codes and
in the indexing. The new code took effect July i, 1895. J"dge Charles J. Fisk,
of Grand Forks, a most notable lawyer, was secretary of the commission which
prepared the codes of 1905.
1895 COMMISSION
This commission reported to the Fourth Legislative Assembly in January,
1895. It embodied its work in seven bills, each bill covering one of the seven
codes. The Legislature created a special joint committee of the House and
Senate and referred these seven bills to this committee. The committee examined
each bill carefully and critically, it made few amendments to any of the codes,
and such as they recommended did not contain any material changes. The
Legislative Assembly separately considered each code as reported by the joint
committee, and enacted each code substantially as compiled by the commission,
excepting the political code, wherein was inserted an entirely new revenue law,
as well as other amendments. The commission did not approve of some of these
changes and disclaimed responsibility for their authorship or enactment. Owing
to the meagerness of the appropriation for printing by the state, the edition of
the 1895 code was a small one and was soon exhausted. To supply the demand
for the codes from lawyers and the various municipalities, the Legislature on the
2ist day of February, 1899, enacted a statute authorizing the revision of the
Revised Codes of 1895 to be known as the Revised Codes of 1899. This revision
was to be made under the general supervision of the secretary of state, the Hon.
Edward F. Porter, but was restricted, however, to the elimination of such chap-
ters, articles or sections of the Codes of 1895 as were repealed by the Legislature
of 1897 and 1899. to the substitution and incorporation of all amendments with-
out modification, to the renumbering of the sections, chapters and articles when
necessary to harmonize the statutes, to the re-arrangement of the table of con-
tents, and to the re-inde.xing. It was in substance to be a compilation, rather
than a revision of the existing laws. The secretary was empowered to employ,
experts in compiling and digesting, and other help deemed necessary to facilitate
the work of publishing, and selected Reuben N. Stevens, a lawyer of Bismarck,
Marshal H. Jewel, editor of the Bismarck Tribune, assisted by John G. Hamilton,
of Grand Forks, to compile, codify and publish the edition of 1899. This edition
being in turn e:^hausted, the Ninth Legislative Session in 1905 authorized an-
other codification to be known as the Revised Codes of 1905. This was to be
prepared under the general supervision of the governor, Elmore Y. Sarles, and
secretary of state, Edward F. Porter, and in its general arrangement was to
follow the compilation of the 1899 code, with the additional feature that it
should contain annotations of the decisions of the Supreme courts of the Terri-
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 443
tory of Dakota, and the states of North and South Dakota, arranged by appro-
priate reference to sections construed or applied by these courts. All the decisions
contained in the Territorial Reports and thirteen volumes of the North Dakota
Reports, and seventeen volumes of the South Dakota Reports are annotated
and incorporated in the compilation of 1905. The contract for the codification,
annotation and publication of this compilation was awarded to Marshal II. Jewel,
of Bismarck, who associated with himself Reuben N. Stevens, a lawyer of
Bismarck, John G. Hamilton, a lawyer of Grand Forks, and Robert D. Hoskins,
of Bismarck, then and for many years clerk of the Supreme Court of North
Dakota.
COMPILED LAWS OF I913
The period intervening- between the publication of the Revision of 1905 and
the Legislative Session of 1913, was prolific of statutes covering the subjects of
irrigation, water rights, primary elections, initiative and referendum, board of
control, management of the penal and charitable institutions, and a multitude of
statutes putting into force and effect provisions of a progressive character, which
had been enacted in compliance with the popular demand therefor.
This fact, coupled with the exhaustion of the 1905 edition, induced the
Thirteenth Legislative Assembly, in the year 1913, to provide for the compila-
tion of all general laws in force on the first day of July, 1913, by authorizing the
secretary of state, Thomas Hall, to contract with the Lawyers Co-operative Pub-
lishing Co., of Rochester. N. Y., to codify, annotate and publish a compiled
edition of the laws of North Dakota in two volumes, which were to be
furnished to the state, its residents and various municipalities at the rate of
$15.00 for the two volumes. The contract made with this company required
not only the codification and classification of all the laws, but their annotation
by reference to decisions of all the state, and United States, to tl^e American
Decisions, American Reports, American State Reports, Lawyers Reports Anno-
tated, and the North Dakota Reports. The company fulfilled its contract and
has published two volumes with annotations from the reports herein before
specified and has divided each code into chapters and sections, which sections are
consecutively numbered from i to 11,438 inclusive, and the secretary of state
has accepted these volumes as the official compilation of the laws of the state.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE SUPREME COURT
The constitution of the state, as submitted to the people and by them ratified,
provides for a judicial system, consisting of supreme, district, county, and
justice courts.
Police magistrates were to be chosen in cities, incorporated towns and villages.
The Supreme Court was to consist of three members, elected for a term of
six years each and to hold office until their successors were elected and qualified.
An exception was made in the case of the judges elected at the first election
under the constitution.
They were to be classified by lot, so that one should hold his office for two
years ; one for five years, and one for seven years. The lots were to be drawn
by the judges themselves, and the result of the drawing certified to the secretary
of state and filed in his office.
By a unique provision— and one peculiar to North Dakota — no chief justice
was to be elected by the people, but the judge having the shortest term to serve,
not holding his office by appointment or election to fill a vacancy, should be the
presiding judge of the court.
By this arrangement every judge elected for the full term would become the
presiding judge before the expiration of his term.
This system prevailed until 1908, when, by constitutional amendment, the
membership of the court was increased to five.
On January 15, 1909, the then governor, John Burke, appointed John Car-
mody of Hillsboro and S. E. Ellsworth of Jamestown as associate judges of the
Supreme Court.
At the general election in 1910 three judges were elected for the full term
of six years each.
The qualifications prescribed by the constitution for a judge of the Supreme
Court were :
1. That he should be learned in the law,
2. Should be at least thirty years old,
3. Should be a citizen of the United States and shall have been a resident
of the Territory of Dakota or of the state at least three years next preceding
his election.
The comprehensive term, "learned in the law," in its final analysis, means
nothing more than that the candidate has been admitted to practice law in the
courts of this or some other state. The presumption being that the admission
to practice law, in the courts of this state, disclosed such a knowledge of the
law as to place the candidate in the class of one "learned in the law."
444
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 445
The first judges chosen at the election when the constitution was ratified by
-vote of the people in October, 1889, were Guy C. H. Corliss, of Grand Forks ;
Joseph M. Bartholomew, of La Moure, and Alfred Wallin, of Fargo. They
were all elected for equal terms, and it became necessary then to determine by
lot the length of term of service of each.
For the purpose of organizing the court and determining by lot the length
of the term of service of each, these three judges met at Bismarck, the seat of
government, and drew lots.
How the drawing was conducted was never made public, as the judges were
required by law merely to certify the result and file the same in the office of the
secretary of state. The result so certified discloses that Mr, Corliss drew the
short term of three years from the first Monday in December, A. D. 1889, and
by virtue thereof became the presiding judge, or the first chief justice in the
state; Mr. Bartholomew drew the five-year term, and Mr. Wallin, the oldest in
years of the three, drew the seven-year term.
At this same meeting a clerk and reporter of the court were appointed.
R. D. Hoskins, of Bathgate, was appointed clerk in December, 1889, and has
served continuously in that capacity since. Edgar W. Camp, of Jamestown,
was at the same time appointed court reporter.
The duties and emoluments of these officers were such as might be pre-
scribed by law and the rules of the Supreme Court not inconsistent with the law.
The clerk is the custodian of all the records of the court, viz. : briefs, plead-
ings, files, including all papers used on appeal.
He furnishes a syllabus of cases heard and decided to such daily newspapers
of the state as care to publish them.
The syllabus of all cases decided in the Supreme Court must be prepared
by the judge thereof who writes the opinion in the particular case.
Every point fairly arising on the record and essential to the proper deter-
mination of the case, must be decided by the court, be embodied in the opinion
and covered in the syllabus.
In most appellate courts of the United States, including its Supreme Court,
the syllabus of cases is prepared either by the clerk or the reporter, and it fre-
quently happens that the syllabus and body of the opinion are at variance as to
the questions determined, resulting from the failure of these officers to compre-
hend the opinion or understand and express in the syllabus in clear, pertinent
language the law of that case as decided by the court and as stated by the judge
who wrote the opinion.
The judge who writes the opinion knows what is decided in that particular
case and is therefore properly equipped to prepare a correct syllabus.
The framers of the constitution made no mistake when they incorporated in
that document the provision that syllabi should be prepared by the judges, who
would, of necessity, be familiar with the controverted questions decided and the
reasons upon which their determination turned.
The Supreme Court reporter prepares for publication, in books of not less
than 550 pages, all decisions of the court, and includes in each case a brief state-
ment of the points raised in the briefs of the appellant and respondent.
The Reports of recent years, however, have been copiously annotated by
446 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
references to decisions of other courts wherein the same or kindred questions
have been decided.
The Supreme Court had no legal home from its organization until 1909. It
was a "migratory" court. The constitution had prescribed that three terms of
court should be held each year, "one at the seat of government, one at Fargo,
and one in Grand Forks." This arrangement continued until the passage by
the legislative assembly, in February, 1909, of an act providing for two general
tenns to be held at the "seat of government," to be known as the April and
October terms.
Special terms only may be held in cities other than Bismarck, the seat of
government, upon twenty days' previous notice thereof in a newspaper pub-
lished at the seat of government.
These special terms may be held elsewhere, when, in the opinion of liie
court, the public interests rec^uire.
Special terms have been held under this act in Grand Forks in June of each
year, to receive the report of the State Bar Examining Board for the admission
to practice law in this state of such persons as they found qualified and recom-
mended. Special terms have also been held in Fargo for this same purpose.
All appeals from county courts with increased jurisdiction, or district courts,
are heard and determined at Bismarck.
The constitution makes no provision for the appointment or election of a
marshal or other officer for the service of any process is.sued by this court, or
for attendance upon the court during its sessions. Accordingly, in 1890, the
Legislative Assembly by act provided that the sheriiifs of Burleigh, Cass and
Grand Forks counties should act as marshals of the court when in session at
their respective counties. These marshals were entitled to charge and receive
the same fees and mileage for the service of process or other papers directed
by the court to be served, and the same compensation for attendance upon the
court, as is allowed by law to sheriffs ; such fees, howe\er, to be pan] out of the
state treasury, as other state expenses are paid.
The court was authorized to appoint the librarian of the law library to act as
bailiff of the court, his duties to be prescribed b)' the court. The librarian, how-
ever, receives no additional compensation for any services he may render to the
court. It is noteworthy here that the court has no librarian of its own, as the
library remains, as in territorial days, in the custody of the secretary of state.
The judges select the books to be purchased, but they are bought by the secretary
of state out of any appropriation made therefor by the Legislative Assembly.
The Assembly deserves criticism for failure to provide the court with its own
librarian and in compelling it to use the librarian as a bailiff.
The judges are, to use the epigrammatic language of a citizen of Bismarck
who investigated the matter when the proposition to increase the cotirt member-
ship to five was under consideration : "Worked like horses in harvest ! They
work unremittingly to keep up the calendar and avoid the delay which is inci-
dent to appellate practice." It is no eight-hour day with them.
While the Legislative Assembly has appropriated for stenographers for the
judges, it has not been as liberal or as generous as the needs of the court justify.
The great increase in population and the large number of judicial districts
in consequence thereof, together with giving the right of appeal direct from
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 447
judgments and proceedings in county courts having increased jurisdiction, have
added very materially to the number of appeals.
Judges who work continuously under high pressure and the stimulus "to
keep up the calendar" cannot in nature render the highest and best service. It
requires intense research and investigation to find the very truth in conflicting
propositions submitted for decision. To illustrate : It is not unusual for the
Supreme Court of the United States to have cases under advisement for months
and even years. Their calendar of cases as a rule is about three years behind.
This is caused by the fact that while one judge is assigned to write the opinion
all the other judges investigate the case, have a consultation day each week when
the case is thoroughly examined, and not until the individual judges have mas-
tered the case and reached a conclusion as to the law is it published as the deci-
sion of the court.
Consequently lawyers prize very highly the opinions of the Supreme Court.
They are invaluable as a true exposition of the law. State supreme courts do
not and can not give such time to the consideration of cases submitted. The
result is a different interpretation of the law in many of the forty-eight state
jurisdictions, and frequent reversions and modifications of opinion as the tem-
perament and predilections of judges differ.
LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE SUPREME COURT
At the general election in November, 1908, a constitutional amendment,
increasing the membership of the court to five and which had passed two suc-
cessive legislative assemblies, was adopted by the people and became an integral
part of the constitution, while another amendment fixing the tenure of office at
ten years, upon a submission to a vote of the people, was defeated.
The Legislative Assembly of 1909 provided for the office of chief justice and
prescribed his duties. The judge of the Supreme Court having the shortest
term to serve, not holding office by election or appointment to fill a vacancy,
shall be chief justice and shall preside at all terms of the Supreme Court. If no
member of the court is qualified for the office of chief justice under the fore-
going provisions, then the judges of the Supreme Court shall .select the chief
justice. In the absence of the chief justice the judge having the next shortest
term to serve, or a judge selected by the court, as the case may be, shall preside
in his stead. This statute was necessary in view of the fact that when the mem-
bership of the court was increased to five, three judges were elected for the
term of six years each and took office at the same time.
In the closing hours of the Legislative Assembly of 1909 there was enacted
the non-partisan judiciary law. In brief it provides that all petitions or affidavits
filed by or in behalf of candidates for nomination at primary elections for the
office of judge of the Supreme or District Court, no reference shall be made to
the party ballot or the party affiliation of such candidate. There .shall be sepa-
rate ballots containing the names of the candidates for the respective offices
entitled "The Judiciary Ballot.' The names shall appear without party designa-
tion, and there shall be stated thereon the number of judges each elector is
entitled to vote for.
At the general election also there shall be a separate ballot known as the
448 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"Judiciary Ballot,"' upon which shall appear the names of all candidates nomi-
nated at the primary election without party designation, but there shall be stated
thereon the number of judges each elector is entitled to vote for.
The constitution prescribed that Supreme Court judges should receive such
compensation for their services as might be provided by law, but such compen-
sation should not be increased or diminished during the term for which a judge
shall have been elected. But in view of the fact that the early court was of a
migratory character, because terms were held at three different cities, the Legis-
lative Assembly, in 1907, by act provided that each judge of the Supreme Court
should receive the sum of $500 each year for traveling expenses and moneys
expended by him while absent from home and while engaged in the discharge
of his official duties, without requiring any itemized statement.
The annual compensation allowed to Supreme Court judges is $5,000.
The annual compensation allowed to the clerk of court is $2,000.
The annual compensation allowed to the reporter is $1,500.
Since statehood there have been six court reporters : Edgar W. Camp, of
Jamestown, who edited and reported volume i ; R. D. Hoskins, who edited and
reported volume 2; John M. Cochrane, court reporter from June i, 1892, to
January, 1902. He edited and reported volumes 3 to 10 inclusive ; R. M.
Carothers, who edited and reported volume 11. In March, 1909, the Legislative
Assembly by law prescribed that the volumes of the Supreme Court reports
should contain not less than 650 pages, exclusive of the table of cases and index,
the pages to be ^yi inches in width and the volumes to be furnished the state and
sold at $2.25 a volume.
A true and correct matrix of each report to be delivered to the secretary
of state to be preserved by the secretary as a part of the records of his office.
F. W. Ames, of Mayville, edited and reported volumes 12 to 21 inclusive,
and H. A. Libby, of Grand Forks, volumes 22 to 32 inclusive.
These are all the volumes issued up to September i, 1916.
JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT
Under the constitution of the state the Supreme Court has appellate juris-
diction only, together with a general supervising control over all inferior courts.
This control is restricted, however, by such regulations and limitations as may
be prescribed by law.
The constitution further empowered the Supreme Court to issue original
writs of injunction, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus, and such other
remedial writs as may be necessary in the exercise of its jurisdiction.
No jury can be allowed in the Supreme Court, but in proper cases where
questions of fact must be settled before the court can finally decide the issues,
it may certify such questions to a district court for determination.
In the meantime the decision of the court is held in abeyance until the find-
ings of fact by the District Court are transmitted by that court for the informa-
tion and guidance of the Supreme Court in its exercise of its appellate and super-
visory powers.
The great prerogative writs of injunction, quo warranto and mandamus are
the voice of the sovereign commanding to justice when ordinary judicial pro-
Courtesy Nortliern Pacific Railroad
HARVESTING WHEAT IN NORTH DAKOTA
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Courtesy Northern Pacific Railroad
TYPICAL NORTHERN DAKOTA THRESHING SCENE
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 449
ceedings afford no speedy or adequate remedy, hence, to warrant the assistance
of such original writs by the Supreme Court the interest of the state must be
primary and paramount. There must exist a contingency which requires the
interposition of the court to preserve the prerogatives and franchises of the
state and the Hberty of its citizens.
In cases where this original jurisdiction is invoked the action proceeds in the
name and upon the relation of the attorney general and he acts only upon leave
first obtained from the court, which leave is based upon a showing that the
case is one of which it is proper for the court to take cognizance, the court
judging of each controversy for itself.
The consent of the attorney general to an application for one of these original
writs is not, however, an indispensable condition of its granting. It may issue
upon the relation of a citizen presenting a petition showing prima facie that the
attorney general is hostile to its issuance and that a peculiar exigency exists
where the interests of the state at large are involved, or where its sovereign
power has been violated or the liberty of its citizens endangered.
A statement or showing that they are collaterally involved in any proceeding or
action is not sufficient. The court will refuse the writ unless it manifestly appears
that the interests of the state at large are directly menaced.
The essence of appellate jurisdiction is, that it revises and corrects proceedings
in a cause instituted and adjudicated in another tribunal, and, therefore, the court
does not look with favor upon applications for original writs.
It prefers to review them after they have been granted or refused in the in-
ferior courts. It will not hesitate to issue them, however, if the exigency is great,
the interests of the state imperiled or the liberties of its citizens endangered.
The legislative assembly, by the enactment of the law for the trial of equity
cases de novo in the Supreme Court, imposed a duty upon that court that is incon-
sistent and conflicts with its appelate jurisdiction.
The law, in effect, makes it a trial court. It does not provide for a review
of erroneous rulings or the correction of mistakes of law in the inferior court, but
requires the Supreme Court to wade through a voluminous record, containing
usually a tangled mass of relevant and irrelevant testimony which the court below
was powerless to exclude. The law is an innovation and not a reform or judicial
procedure. It should be relegated to the "scrap heap" and equity cases be re-
viewed the same as other cases.
SUPREME COURT JUDGES
Our first Supreme Court was one of great ability. Perhaps it would not be
extravagant or beyond the bounds of truth to say it was one of superior ability.
The frequent reference to their decisions, as clear interpretations of the law,
found in the reports of other states, is proof of this.
Judge Corliss was not only thoroughly versed in the principles and theory of
the law, but possessed also high literary attainments. He was familiar with the
literature of the past and abreast of that of the day.
While occasionally in his opinions there is a tendency to display this knowledge
in a fanciful and pedantic way, still, as a rule, he spoke with a logic that convincefl
and with a language that charmed. Judge Corliss resigned from the bench mainly
450 HISTORY OF NOHTH DAKOTA
because of the inadequacy of the compensation allowed to the judges. He formed
a partnership with John M. Cochrane at Grand Forks and actively practiced law
there until he located at Portland, Ore., some three years ago.
Joseph M. Bartholemew of La Moure, was elected a judge of the Supreme
Court in October, 1889, and in the drawing of lots to determine the tenure of
ofitice of the members of the first Supreme Court he drew the five-year term. He
was elected for the full term of six years in November, 1894, and retired from
the bench in December, 1900. Immediately upon his retirement he resumed the
practice of his profession at Bismarck, and died suddenly of heart disease at his
home on March 24, 1901. The judge was a native of Illinois, having been born
at Clarksville in that state on the 17th day of June, 1843. When he was about
two years old his parents moved to Lodi in the State of Wisconsin, where he
lived and received his early education until he arrived at the age of eighteen
years when he entered the Wisconsin State University. He spent, however, but
one year there, and when only nineteen years old enlisted in August, 1862, as a
private in Company H, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was
mustered out as a first lieutenant on November 14, 1865. He participated in the
sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, aided in capturing the forts at the mouth of
Mobile Bay and fouglit in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post.
After the war he studied law in the office of Senator Allison, at Dubuque. la.,
and was admitted to practice in that city in 1869.
In 1883 he came to the Territory of Dakota, settling at La Moure where he
continuously resided until his election in 1889 as one of the first judges of the
Supreme Court of the State of North Dakota. When he was nominated for the
Supreme bench he was comparatively unknown to the bar, and there was a fear
among the members of the bar that he would not measure up to the requirements
of the ofifice, but that fear quickly disappeared when the court began to hear
cases and render opinions. The opinions written by Judge Bartholemew show
that he was a man of high intellectual attainment, with a profound knowledge and
understanding of the great principles of natural justice and equity, which are really
the foundation of all law, and that he was a man of original thought, of great
learning and strong logical reasoning power. The opinions written by him while
oh the bench were a credit to himself, an honor to the coiul and to the state.
They were always clear, concise, logical and convincing.
The memorial presented to the Supreme Court as a tribute to his memory says :
"As a judge he has left upon the records of this state in his judicial opinions so
many witnesses to his ability, learning, sound judgment, powers of reasoning and
discrimination, conscientious research and study, and abiding love of equity,
that other commendation of his judicial work is rendered superfluous. Breadth
and solidity ; mastery of legal and equitable principles : close and cogent logic ; a
beautiful, pure and clear style ; and fullness of legal learning are found there,
not as we catch occasional and momentary glimpses of the moon when the sky is
overcast, but shining with a steady and unbroken radiance from every page of
his judicial utterances. Is it a vain boast that we ask whether juridical history
furnishes many judicial careers which in so short a time have achieved a more envi-
able success? We believe that he will be known in after days as one of the great
judges of the state. Patient in hearing ; exhaustive in research : deliberate in
maturing his conclusions ; without pride of opinion ; always receptive of new
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 451
light ; self reliant and yet appreciating the value of precedent ; gracious in his
demeanor with the har and his brethren of the bench; loved and respected by them
all; far above even the suspicion of the possibility of any unworthy motive enter-
ing to disturb the incorruptible discharge of his judicial duty; he may well be
described, and he will long be remembered as, an ideal judge."
Judge Wallin was a specialist in practice and procedure. His style of ex-
pression was at times stilted and ponderous, but was always luminous and cor-
rectly stated the law. His published opinions stand as a monument to his research,
learning and ability.
Judge Corliss was elected for the full term of six years commencing Decem-
ber, 1892. He resigned in 1898 and N. C. Young of Bathgate was appointed to
serve the unexpired term, and was then elected for the term of six years, com-
mencing in December, 1898, and was re-elected for the term commencing in
December, 1904. He resigned the office in 1906 to become a member of the firm of
Ball & Watson, general counsel for the Northern Pacific at Fargo. He has built
up a large and lucrative private practice, in addition to that afforded as one of
the attorneys for the Northern Pacific. Since leaving the bench he has
interested himself in educational affairs. He was a member of the board of edu-
cation at Fargo for some years, and a trustee of the University of North Dakota,
but resigned this position, as his business interests demanded all his time and
energy. The lawyers universally regretted his resignation from the bench. He
had impressed the profession as a. man of strong mental and moral fibre, who
possessed not only intellectual conscientiousness but "saving common sense," and
whose aspirations and ambition were to serve faithfully his country by correctly
expounding the law applicable to the cases heard in his court. Briefly he filled
this high ofiice with fidelity, credit and distinction.
David E. Morgan of Devils Lake, served as judge of the Second Judicial
District for the term of eleven years, covering the period from the beginning of
statehood until November, 1900, when he was elected to the Supreme bench. He
was re-elected in 1906 and was a member of that court until the 31st day of
October, 191 1, when, because of failing health, he deemed it his duty to the
public and to the court to resign. He was the chief justice at the time of his
resignation. In the hope that a change to the milder climate of California would
restore his health he visited that state, but his recuperative powers were gone and
he succumbed to the "Grim Visitor" and went to his final home May 11, 1912.
Judge Morgan was born in Coalport, Ohio, on the eighth day of November,
1849. His parents were natives of Wales. They moved to the State of Wisconsin
when the judge was a child of tender years. His education was acquired in the
public schools of that state, at Spring Green Academy, at the Platteville State Nor-
mal School and at the Wisconsin State University, where he spent a year pursuing
a special course. He was elected three times as clerk of the District Court of
Sauk County, Wisconsin, and during this time he studied law with Judges Rem-
ington and Barker at Baraboo. Wis. He was admitted to practice law in
that state in 1870 and moved to Grand Forks in 1881 and was in partnership for
a time with Arthur H. Noyes. When the Great Northern Railway extended its
line to Devils Lake he moved there, in 1S83 and formed a partnership with John
F. McGee, who subsequently became a district judge in Minneapolis, Minn. He-
was elected district attorney of Ramsey County in 1884 and re-elected in 1886,
452 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and in October, 1889, was elected the first judge of the Second Judicial district.
Judge Morgan was not only a popular judge in that district because of his
faithfulness in discharging the exacting duties of this position, but was also
highly esteemed by the bar and the people because of his intense loyalty to the
law and his devotion to the principles of liberty as enunciated in our Constitution
and as interpreted by the fathers. He was a man of decided convictions, perhaps
might be said to have been somewhat slow in reaching conclusions. Of delightful
personality, of frank and attractive manners he impressed his constituency as a
man who is inspired by the loftiest motives and one who endeavored to mete out
equal justice to all.
The Bar Association of the State of North Dakota thus records its appreciation
of the memory of Judge Morgan: "We regret the passing of the man of noble
character, and the just and fearless judge. We regret that his life and official
career could not have been prolonged to the end that his influence might be felt,
in the court over which he so long presided, in the settling of new and vexing
questions certain to arise incident to the new thoughts and ideas so rapidly
developing in our political and industrial life. The great wisdom of the great-
est judges of our country he may not have possessed, but legal learning and
breadth of thought sufficient to comprehend underlying principles, together with a
broad sense of justice, a full grasp of large equities, and abundant common sense,
guided him instinctively to the right and contributed to the decisions in thirteen
volumes of our reports, from which it will be said in the years to come, he was
sound, able, and honest. Reviewing his twenty-two years of judicial experience,
we do highly resolve to pay to his memory this tribute : With all his sympathies
and love of humanity he was never so much the man that he forgot his duty as a
judge, and with all his knowledge of law and precedent he was never so much
the judge that he forgot his duty as a man."
John Knauf, of Jamestown, was appointed by Governor E. Y. Sarles to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Young. He served until
December 15, 1906, when he was succeeded by Charles J. Fisk, judge of the First
Judicial District.
Mr. Knauf had been nominated by th-^ republican convention held at James-
town for supreme judge. The bar in the northern part of the state were clamorous
for the nomination of Fisk and to take the judiciary out of politics, but the friends
of Knauf efifected a combination of delegates from the west and central portions of
the state, sufficiently strong to nominate Knauf. Public sentiment was then ripe
for a non-partisan judician,-. The people revolted and at the ensuing election,
held in November, defeated Knauf and elected Fisk. Mr. Knauf returned to his
home in Jamestown and resumed the practice of law.
' Charles J. Fisk, of Grand Forks, who had for ten years served with conspicu-
ous ability and fidelity as district judge of the First Judicial District, was elected
in 1906 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Young, and was re-elected for the term
of six years commencing December 15, 1910.
In political affiliations he is a democrat and is the only democrat ever elected
to this court in the state. John Carmody of Hillsboro. a democrat, was, when the
membership of the court was increased to five, appointed by Governor John Burke
as associate justice. With these two exceptions the members of the court have
been republican.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 453
Judge Fisk has been an ideal judge. He has interpreted the law along broad
lines and has avoided technical rules whenever in his judgment they conflicted with
substantial justice. No consideration other than the merits has ever influenced him
in the determination of cases. His profound knowledge of the law and his
desire to expound it along just and equitable lines radiate from every page of his
opinions. He has illuminated every branch of the law that was involved in cases
heard before him, but has never paraded his learning, never indulged in flights of
fancy or imagination, but has expressed his views of the law in simple, pertinent
language that carried conviction of the soundness of his interpretation. His
kindliness of disposition, his independence and impartiality, as well as his learn-
ing, have endeared him to the profession. The value of his services to the state
cannot yet be correctly estimated. He is a candidate for re-election in November.
1916, being one of the six highest named in the primary in June as one of the
judges of the Supreme Court, and it is to be hoped that the people at this election
will recall his service to the state and, with a grateful appreciation thereof, will
vote to retain him on the bench which he has graced and dignified all the years of
his judicial career.
John M. Cochrane, of Grand Forks, was elected a judge of the Supreme Court
for the term of six years in November, 1902. He died in office July 20, 1904.
The republican state convention for the nomination of congressman and state
officials was in session at Grand Forks at the time of his death. While
Mr. Cochrane, after his election as judge, withdrew from active participation in
the political affairs of the state, still, he attended this convention on July 20, 1904,
as a disinterested spectator. He took no part in the proceedings of the conven-
tion, but was consulted by delegates as to the policy of the party and advised them
in its selection of nominees for the different state positions. He had always main-
tained that it was not fitting for a man chosen from the active work of life to the
exalted position of judge, to mingle in a partisan way in the politics of the state,
but he was unable to resist the importunities and insistence of erstwhile friends
and freely conferred with them and aided them in solving questions of polity.
These were always private conferences. No persuasion or influence could induce
him to serve as a delegate in the convention, or to participate in any way in its
public deliberations. He believed that he had been sequestered from public
affairs, so far as administration was concerned, and that his life was thence-
forward dedicated to the interpretation of the law and in adjusting in a con-
scientious, fair and just manner the differences of litigants. He spent a few hours
in these conferences, and returning to his home on July 20th he expired suddenly
about midnight. So the immortal soul of the great Cochrane passed to the great
beyond.
It was apparent to his friends before his promotion to the bench that death
had marked him for an early victim. An insidious disease that baffled the high-
est medical skill had fastened its fangs upon him and was slowly but surely sap-
ping his vitality. He faced that ordeal of sufifering without dismay. It was the
hope of his friends that removal from the excitement, strife and labor incident to
court trials would prolong his life, and so they secured his elevation to the
bench. Cochrane died a victim of overwork. He never knew how to play. De-
voted to the interests of his clients, whether city, county, state or private, he
spent long hours in exhausting study and research until he had mastered the case
45i HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
and was fully prepared to protect and defend the interests committed to his care.
All his trusts he filled with the highest fidelity and with superior ability. His
was a great and towering personality, and in exalted mental endowments he stood
as a mighty rock in the sea.
The distinguishing quality of Mr. Cochrane's character was his humanity. He
was intensely human, was not a saint and did not af?ect to be. He believed in the
great essential virtues and had no patience with sham or pretensions. His favor-
itism was lofty and generous, his moral courage great, his sincerity in word, deed
and thought absolute, but his intense love of humanity was the touchstone and
basis of his character.
The resolutions of the Cass County Bar Association and those of Grand Forks
County where he spent his life, which are recorded in the annals of the Supreme
Court, are a worthy, fitting and truthful tribute to his memory. They are found
in volume twelve of the Supreme Court Reports.
Edward Engerud was nominated by the republican convention then in session
to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Cochrane, and he was elected judge in Novem-
ber following and re-elected for the term of six years in 1904 and resigned his
office in 1907. Why he resigned an office whose duties and responsibilities he was
well equipped to discharge he never publicly stated, but to intimate friends he
made known the fact that financial considerations largely controlled. He was
not in affluent circumstances, and with a family to maintain he deemed it advis-
able to retire from the bench and devote himself to the practice of law. No
doubt the meager remuneration paid by the state, the uncertain tenure of the
office, in view of the discontent and unsettled political conditions then prevailing
in the state, contributed also to the decision. He formed a partnership and be-
came the senior member of the firm of Engerud, Holt & Frame at Fargo. His
reputation as a successful and resourceful trial lawyer was such that from the
beginning of his return to practice his services were in great demand. In 1910
he was a candidate for United States senator to fill the unexpired term of M. N.
Johnson, deceased, but was defeated for the nomination in the primary election
by A. J. Gronna. Subsequently he was appointed by President Taft United
States district attorney for the state, and he discharged the duties of this re-
sponsible office with rare ability and fidelity.
Burleigh F. Spalding of Fargo was appointed by Governor John Burke to fill
the unexpired term of Judge Engerud. Mr. Spalding had been prominent in
public affairs in tej"ritorial days. He was a member of the famous capital com-
mission created by the Territorial Legislature in Yankton in 1883, which located
the capital of the Territory of Dakota at Bismarck. He served with distinction
in the convention that framed the constitution of the state, and was conspicuously
efficient as a member of the joint commission to equitably distribute the assets and
liabilities of the Territory of Dakota between the states of North and South
Dakota. He served one term in Congress, but was defeated for renomination in
the republican convention by a clique of ambitious malcontents from Cass County,
reinforced by a group of delegates from the slope country. The slope country
never forgave him for his failure to vote for Bismarck as the capital of the
territory. Mr. Spalding was elected for the full term commencing December 15,
1908, but was defeated for re-election in 1914. Mr. Spalding's temperament is
of judicial cast. He is well grounded in principles of the law, and he is logical
VIEW OF KEE\ ES AVENUE, SOUTH. (;RAX1> FORKS
THIRD STREET, GRAND FORKS, LOOKINO SOITH FROM HOTEL DACOTAH
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 455
and discriminating in applying these principles to concrete cases. His published
opinions are expressed in terse, lucid language witliout any attempt at rhetorical
effect. They are a plain exposition of the salient features of the controversy.
He is both a sound and an able jurist and should be elected again to the bench in
November, 1916.
In November, 1910, Edward T. Burke, of Valley City, judge of the Fifth
Judicial District, and Evan B. Goss, of Minot, judge of the Eighth Judicial Dis-
trict, were elected associate judges of the Supreme Court for the term of six years
commencing in December, 1910. They defeated John Carmody and S. E. Ells-
worth, the appointees of Governor John Burke.
At the primary election held on June 28, 1916, Judge Burke was selected as
one of the six to go on the nonpartisan judicial ballot for election in November.
Judge Goss was defeated in the primaries and will retire from the bench in De-
cember, 1916.
The Farmers' Nonpartisan League, through its officers and executive com-
mittee, selected J. E. Robinson, of Fargo, L. E. Birdzell, of Grand Forks, and
Mr. Grace, of Mohall, as their representatives on the supreme bench, and they
were nominated in the primary and constitute three of the six whose names will
appear on the judicial ballot at the general election in November, 1916. Chief
Justice Fisk, Judge Burke and former Chief Justice Spalding are the other three.
From these six the three receiving the highest number of votes in November will
be the justices of the Supreme Court.
On the 31st day of October, 191 1, Chief Justice David E. Morgan, be-
cause of failing health, resigned, and Governor John Burke appointed Andrew
A. Bruce, of Grand Forks, who was dean of the law school of the University of
North Dakota, to succeed him. Mr. Bruce was elected for the six-year term be-
ginning in December, 191 2. He was both popular and capable as a professor of
law. The graduates from the law school, who had located for practice in various
sections of the state, supported him enthusiastically and he easily defeated Robin-
son, his rival. Judge Bruce had but little practical experience in the courts, but
he had thoroughly mastered all departments of the law. His opinions, while sub-
ject to criticism because of their verbosity, are like a treatise in their exposition
of the law applicable to the particular case — they exhaust the subject. Some of
them are models of diction and learning and evidence long hours spent in study
and research.
A. M. Christianson, of Towner, defeated Judge Spalding at the polls in No-
vember, 1914, and was elected for a term of six years. He has been an indefatigable
worker since his ascendancy to the bench and has aided the court very materially
in keeping the calendar up to date. He follows closely the lines of least resistance
and adheres to the "beaten paths" as shown in the precedents. A rule established
in a given case, though it may be severe and somewhat arbitrary and therefore not
promotive of substantial justice in many cases before the court for adjudication,
should not be religiously binding upon the court but should be waived, modified
and adapted to the changed conditions of the times. Though Judge. Christianson
has a sharply discriminating, open mind that analyzes carefully every proposition
submitted for his consideration and conscientiously investigates it, and the con-
clusions reached express his honest judgment of the law in that case, yet his
456 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
close adherence to precedents makes him more of a "case" judge than an original
expounder of underlying principles.
THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF NORTH DAKOTA
The North Dakota Bar Association was organized at Fargo in the year
1899, soon after the admission of the state to the Union. Hon. Seth Newman.
of Fargo, was its first president, and R. W. S. Blackwell, of La Moure, its first
secretary. It had a very checkered career in the early years of its existence, as
few lawyers outside of the Red River Valley and the larger towns in the central
and western portions of the state enrolled as members of the association.
ITS PURPOSES
The objects for which the association was formed were :
1. To maintain the highest standard in the profession.
2. To promote professional fellowship among its members and the lawyers
of the state.
3. To aid in the securing of good government in the state and nation.
4. To preserve inviolate the present high standard of the judiciary.
ORGANIZATION
All members of the bar of the state in good standing, who shall be accepted
by the executive committee and who shall pay the yearly fee of $5 may become
members of the association.
An executive committee consisting of the officers of the association, viz. :
The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, together with one person
from each judicial district, who shall be appointed by the president, passes upon
the qualifications of applicants for admission to the associatioq. No lawyer
can become a member of the association until his application has been approved
by this executive committee.
The association meets at least once in each year, but whenever an exigency
presents itself, the president may call a special meeting at the request of three
members of the association.
The work of the association devolves upon three standing committees, viz. :
1. Committee on jurisprudence and law reform.
2. Committee on legal education and admission to the bar.
3. A disbarment committee.
It is the duty of the committee on jurisprudence and law reform to consider
proposed amendments to the codes at each meeting of the association to report
the changes, if any, that have been made by the Legislature since the last meet-
ing, also all modifications of the rules of practice that shall have been made by
the Supreme Court, and to recommend such changes in the code and in the
practice, as in the judgment of the committee tend to secure a proper reform of
the laws.
It is the duty of the committee on legal education and admission to the bar
to recommend to the faculty of the University of Law a course of study to be
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 457
pursued as a qualification for admission to the bar, and to recommend to the
Supreme Court a standard of education and quahfication to be adhered to as
prerequisite of admission to the bar.
The committee has recommended a three years' course of study as a pre-
requisite to admission and the passing of an examination on twenty-seven
difTerent subjects covering every branch of substantive law and practice as an
essential qualification of admission to practice. These recommendations have
been approved by the Supreme Court, and the result has been to give to the state
in the past five years a large number of young lawyers well versed in the law
and thoroughly equipped in the practice.
The disbarment committee consists of three attorneys who have supervision
of all complaints made to the association against members of the bar of the state,
whether members of the association or not.
It is their duty to investigate all such complaints when they are substantiated
by affidavits or documentary evidence supporting the charges. They must fix a
day for the hearing of the proofs of the charges, give the accused, at least ten
days' notice of such hearing and permit him to appear and produce before the
committee any evidence he may desire to submit. The investigation must be
made secretly and without any publicity whatsoever, and if the committee find
from their investigation that further investigation is necessary, it is their duty
to prepare and file in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court an accusation
in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Codes relating to disbarment,
and see that it is presented in that court.
The Legislature has prescribed by statute that all complaints against mem-
bers of the bar shall be referred to the Bar Association, and its officers and
committees are clothed with authority to subpoena witnesses and administer
oaths.
The expenses of conducting investigations and prosecutions are by law an
absolute charge against the state. There is an annual appropriation of one
thousand ($1,000.00) dollars by the state for this purpose, to be disbursed under
direction of the Supreme Court.
The attitude of the association toward good government is well expressed
by Hon. John E. Greene, of Minot, who was president of the association in 1912,
and who in the annual address to the association at Jamestown, September 3,
1912, said:
"If we are to aid in securing good government, we must participate in every
controversy, the issue of which may afi^ect the stability and efficiency of any
department of the government. Any law which threatens that stability and
efficiency is an assault upon the justice which guarantees to every man that
which is his due. And shall we, as ministers of justice, stand idly by while laws
are made which tie the hands of her judges, disgrace her courts, and make
mockery of the immutable principles which, in and by her name, have won every
battle for human liberty, sanctified the noblest efforts, and crowned with amazing
success the worthiest ambitions of men? Let it not be understood that the enact-
ment of such laws is regarded as a necessary result of the present agitation with
respect to governmental reforms. But we must not overlook the possibilities.
History admonishes that the excessive zeal of advocates of radical measures has
often so aroused the passions of the people that their action has reached extremes
458 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
undreamed of by their most enthusiastic leaders. The existence of sucli condi-
tions presents a rare opportmiity for tlie bar, tlirough conscientious and con-
certed action, to demonstrate its fidelity to the common good, and render worthy
service to a somewhat bewildered people. It can be done by proceeding, with
diligence and energy, to weed out from our laws those things which make it
possible to defeat justice by delay; which hedge about the courts with a network
of useless technicality in the matter of pleadings, objections, exceptions, assign-
ments, and specifications of error, statements of the case, bills of exceptions, and
many other things which bring no light or aid to courts or juries in determining
the rights of litigants; things which make unjustly expensive the processes of
appeal, and which make records on appeal confusing instead of helpful to the
Appellate Court.
"If we can demonstrate to the people that it is the purpose of the lawyers
of the state, acting through this association, to simplify the procedure and to
shorten the time between the summons and the judgment, we shall not only help
the litigant, but we shall help ourselves and satisfy the people that the bar
deserves more consideration than it has had from them in recent years.
"Every lawyer knows that these reforms in matters of procedure are the
things which the profession wants-, and that reforms in other things to be men-
tioned later, are needed, but members of the profession have heretofore been
indifferent to their own welfare, and to that of their clients, and so the reforms
have not come. The people have also the right to expect from the bar direction
and aid in securing upright and capable judges. It is the imperative duty of
every lawyer, and of the county, district and state bar associations, to use every
legitimate means to insure the selection, for such positions, of the men having
the highest qualifications therefor. Neither partisanship nor any other considera-
tion should deter the bar from taking the most advanced position in this matter.
Our critics may accuse the association of mixing in politics if it undertakes to
influence the judgment of the people in these things.
"We need not hesitate to plead guilty to the accusation. Under our system
of state government the election of judges is a political aft'air of the highest
order. And shall not that body of men which can best judge of the qualifications
of lawyers for judicial office indulge in the politics which involves the selection
of such officers?
"We may not, and we ought not, to suffer partisanship to enter into this
question, but the politics of a judicial campaign is a thing apart from partisan-
ship. In every such campaign, a bar association should be the most active, the
most potent factor in it.
"The enactment of laws to shorten and make plain the highways of justice,
and the selection of upright and wise men to administer justice according to
those laws, are the things which, more than all others, give strength and stability
to government.
"This association under its constitution stands pledged to aid in securing
good government, and especially to the maintenance of the highest standard of
the judiciary. Within the bar of the state exists the ability and the power to
promote and attain these things, and if in the accomplishment of them we must
resort to politics, it is incumbent upon the bar, by bringing those qualities into
action, to demonstrate to the people of this state that it can be done, and that the
bar is the cleanest and most progressive political power in the state.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 459
"Steadfastly and earnestly pursuing such a course, we shall soon find the
people of this state looking to us for guidance in these important concerns, with
confidence in our loyalty to their interests as well as to our own. We owe it to
ourselves and to the cause of justice to put ourselves into such a relationship to
the people of this state and their government.
"It was my privilege last winter to hear one of the greatest of American
lawyers and statesmen, when addressing a similar organization, use words which
ought to kindle some enthusiasm in the heart of any lawyer. He said :
" 'We have believed, we have always believed, our fathers believed, our gov-
ernment is founded upon the belief, that for the weakest and the humblest, be
he a criminal condemned to death, be he without friends, money or power, or
influence, whoever speaks in the name of that justice which is superior to human
desires and impulses and wishes, has behind him the power of the deliberate and
mature judgment of the jjeople in their sober moments, when the voice of the
people is the voice of God. * * *
" 'There is one thing which above all others has seemed to me to make the
advocate of essential value to the preservation of liberty and the maintenance
of justice, and that is that he fears not the face of power. With all our short-
comings, with all the wide variation of character, and the many differing degrees
of ability and force which are found in an association of lawyers like this, there
is one thing among all the lawyers of America we are sure to find, and that is,
that for the weakest, for the poorest, for the most unnoted and uncared for
client, we fear not, not one of us, not the weakest of us, to, assert rights against
all ovenvhelming power whatever. So long as there exists in a civil community
a great body of men who have that characteristic, liberty cannot die.' "
REFORM OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
The aim of the association is to have the civil procedure improved and sim-
plified by rules of court rather than by legislative enactment. It realizes that
legislative reform is a slow process, that it can be had only at long intervals,
while such reform as the courts themselves have the power to apply can be had
without delay. Small defects in procedure, or mere verbal inaccuracies, may
render a law inoperative. Amendment by law of such defects or inaccuracies
is of necessity slow, while reform by rules of court is elastic and defects and
inaccuracies can be readily amended, modified and perfected as time and experi-
ence may demonstrate. The whole subject matter is peculiarly within the
province of the judicial department, and it is to be hoped that the bar association
will labor with the Legislature mitil it ceases to legislate on procedure and rele-
gates the entire subject to the courts. The present tendency in North Dakota
is toward making changes in and additions to our laws easier, and to invite into
the field of legislative activity the entire electorate of the state. It is not surprising
that those who are giving intelligent thought to questions of civil government
should begin to devise plans for placing beyond the reach of legislative inter-
ference the subjects of practice and procedure in the courts.
Elihu Root, president of the Bar Association of New York, in 1911, com-
menting on this subject, said:
"Comparison between the two statutes reveals plainly the fact that for many
460 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
years we have been pursuing the pohcy of attempting to regulate by specific and
minute statutory enactment all the details of the process by which, under a multi-
tude of varying conditions, suitors may get their rights.
"Such a policy never ends. The attempt to cover by express, specific enact-
ment, every conceivable contingency, inevitably leads to continual discovery of
new contingencies and unanticipated results, requiring continual amendment and
supplement. Whatever we do to our Code, so long as the present theory of
legislation is followed the Code will continue to grow and the vast mass of
specific and technical provisions will continue to increase. I submit to the judg-
ment of the profession that the method is wrong, the theory is wrong, and that
the true remedy is to sweep from our statute books the whole mass of detailed
provisions and substitute a simple practice act containing only the necessary
fundamental rvdes of procedure, leaving all the rest to the rules of court. When
that has been done the Legislature should leave our procedure alone."
Again in the same address, and referring to the practice under the New York
Code as it now is, he said:
"Let me recall some of the effects of such a system as we now have, well
known as they are to all of us. The system of attempting to cover every minute
detail with legislation appropriate to every conceivable set of circumstances is
to create a great number of statutory rights which the courts are bound to respect
because they are the law ; which suitors are entitled to demand because the law
gives them. In some cases they may contribute to the attainment of justice.
In other cases they may obstruct it. The courts cannot apply the rule of justice
because they must apply the law. These artificial statutory rights become the
subject matter of special litigation intervening between the demand for redress
and the attainment of it."'
OFFICERS SINCE ORGANIZATION
Presidents
Seth Newman, Fargo, 1899-1902.
James H. Bosard, Grand Forks, 1902-1904.
H. A. Libby, Park River, 1904- 1906.
John Carmody, Hillsboro, 1906- 1907.
S. E. Ellsworth, Jamestown, 1907-1908.
F. H. Register, Bismarck, 1908-1909.
Lee Combs, Valley City, 1909-1910.
Andrew A. Bruce, Grand Forks, 1910-1911.
John E. Greene, Minot, 1911-1913.
A. G. Divet, Wahpeton, 1913-1914.
John Knauf, Jamestown, 1914-1915.
B. W. Shaw, Mandan, 1915-1916.
Secretaries
W. J. Burke, Bathgate, 1899-1902.
W. H. Thomas, Leeds, 1902-1912.
W. H. Stutsman, Mandan, 1912-1913,
Oscar J. Seller, Jamestown, 1913-1916.
CHAPTER XXIX
PROHIBITION
A brief statement of the sentiment of the Territory of Dakota prior to its
division into separate states is essential to a clear understanding of the steps
which led to the adoption by the Constitutional Convention of an article pro-
hibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and
providing for its submission for ratification or rejection, to a separate vote at
the election which should be called for the adoption of the constitution.
Many people both of North and South Dakota were opposed to the license
system for the sale of intoxicating liquors, which had been the policy of the
territor>' from its creation. This license system made it possible for saloons to
exist in every city, town and village of the territory. Saloons were everywhere,
saloonmen were dominant political factors and were in many localities the con-
trolling influence in the selection of county, city and school officers.
Temperance people denounced the lawlessness of the saloonmen and led by
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, inaugurated in the early 89's sys-
tematic work for the extermination of saloons and the eliminating of saloonmen
as political powers in the territory. Their agitation and efforts in behalf of
temperance awakened public sentiment and the Territorial Legislature chosen
in 1887 was opposed to the license system and favorable to prohibition. It
enacted a county local option law, and it was approved by the then governor of
the state, Louis K. Church, on the nth day of March, 1887.
A number of counties by vote substituted the prohibition policy for the license
system and the battle for the banishment of saloons from the territory was
earnestly waged, and the sentiment for absolute prohibition throughout the
territory marched forward by leaps and bounds.
The Territorial Legislature which assembled at Bismarck in January, 1889,
was favorable to prohibition. A law providing for it throughout the territory
was passed by the Council, but on the 22d day of February, 1889, the Congress
of the United States had passed, and President Cleveland had approved, the
so-called "Enabling Act," in which was a provision for the division of the terri-
tory, and its admission to the Union as two separate states.
OCCUPATION GONE
The Territorial Legislature -wisely concluded its "occupation was gone" and
therefore the House defeated the prohibition bill of the Council and relegated
the entire subject to the prospective states. This law was practically and literally
a copy of the statute of Kansas on the subject, and was the foundation upon
461
462 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
which was constructed the present prohibitory law of this state. The "EnabHng
Act" prescribed that the governor of the territory, the chief justice and the secre-
tary thereof, should meet at Bismarck, the then capital of the territory, and
divide it into twenty-tive districts, as nearly equal in population as practicable,
three delegates to be chosen from each district, who were to meet at Bismarck
for the North Dakota Constitutional Convention. Prior to the Constitutional
Convention there was an organization existing in North Dakota known as The
North Dakota Non-Partisan Temperance Alliance, which took an active part in
the selection and election of delegates favorable to the principle of prohibition.
Under its auspices a state convention composed of about one hundred delegates
convened at Grand Forks, to consider the question of prohibition.
After a full discussion and consideration of the question in all its aspects,
this convention recommended that an article favoring prohibition be embodied
in the constitution and submitted to the people as a separate proposition. They
wanted an independent expression of sentiment, and did not desire that the final
adoption of the constitution by the people be endangered. It feared that the
saloon element in the state might combine with those opposed to statehood and
thus defeat the constitution itself. This strategic move of the temperance forces
impressed the delegates of the Constitutional Convention favorably, and the
effort to embody prohibition in the constitution, to stand or fall with the con-
stitution as a whole, was defeated by a substantial vote. The outcome of the
election on the adoption of the constitution proved the wisdom of the temperance
forces, as the article was adopted by the meager majority of 1,159. there being
18,552 for the adoption, and 17,393 against adoption. President Harrison issued
his proclamation declaring that North Dakota had adopted a constitution, repub-
lican in form, with prohibition as a separate article thereof, and admitting it into
the Union on the 2d day of November, 1889.
Upon the happening of this event, John Miller, who had been elected governor
of the state, called the first session of the State Legislature to assemble at
Bismarck on the 19th day of November, 1889, which continued its session up
to and including March 18, 1890.
NON-P.\RTISAN ALLIANCE
In the meantime the North Dakota Non-Partisan Temperance Alliance had
selected Charles A. Pollock, of Fargo, who for many years has been judge of
the Third Judicial District, a recognized leader of prohibition sentiment, and a
notably vigorous prosecutor of violators of the local option law; Robert M.
Pollock, who had been a member of the Constitutional Convention, and chiefly
instrumental in the passage of the prohibitory article; and George F. Goodwin,
the first attorney-general of the state, and a known prohibitionist, as a committee
to draft and submit for the consideration of the Legislature, a law which should
prescribe regtilations for the enforcement of the prohibitory article, and provide
adequate penalties for its violation. The work of preparing this law devolved
mainly upon Judge Pollock, and the ground work upon which he built the entire
statute was the prohibitory statute enacted by the Territorial Council of 1889.
This statute was amended, modified and adapted to the different conditions
prevailing in North Dakota, some provisions of the Iowa law on the subject
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 463
were incorporated and a number of original propositions were added, especially
the procedure in contempt cases. This procedure is found in no other law of
the United States, and to Judge Pollock belongs the credit of originating and
perfecting it. The law so prepared was introduced in the House, by Representa-
tive Haugen of Grand Forks, chairman of the temperance committee of the
House, and is known on its records as House Bill No. 6. It was simultaneously
introduced in the Senate by Senator Rowe of Cass County, who was also presi-
dent of the Temperance Alliance, and it is known on the Senate Records as
Senate Bill No. i.
The House acted promptly and passed the bill with few amendments, the
most important being that the law should take effect April 1st, instead of Janu-
ary 1st, as provided in the original draft. On December 12, 1889, it passed the
House by a vote of 59 ayes to i nay, two members being absent and excused.
It was in due course messaged to the Senate, where it successfully "ran the
gauntlet" of dilatory motions and amendments. The principal amendment made
in the Senate was to strike out "The Emergency Clause" making the law in
force and effect July ist. This amendment was concurred in by the House
and the bill was enrolled, signed by the proper officers of the respective houses
and presented to Governor Miller, who signed the same on the 19th of December,
1889. Thus promptly the Legislature obeyed the mandate of the fundamental law
of the state and by statute law prescribed drastic penalties for its violation.
On July I, 1890, the open saloon disappeared from the state, except in a few
communities, where the local sentiment was adverse to prohibition. The reput-
able saloon men who had prospered under the license system, as a rule obeyed
the law, closed out their business and moved to states where the license system
was in vogue.
The lawless, disreputable and irresponsible persons opened "blind pigs" and
supported, to a certain extent, by public sentiment in their locality, evaded the
law and defied the authorities. Then a volunteer association was formed in the
state, known as the State Enforcement League, which, in co-operation with
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, raised funds and vigorously made
war upon these law breakers. Great credit should be given these organizations for
their vigilance in suppressing this lawlessness, and in enforcing the statutory
and constitutional provisions. Their members gave freely of their time and
money, not only to exterminate saloons and blind pigs, but also to secure legisla-
tion strengthening and making more efficient the existing law. Representatives
of these organizations attended the legislative sessions and defeated every attempt
to weaken the law, or to submit the question of prohibition again to the vote of
the people. Frank Lynch, a prominent business man of Cass County, was
president of the Enforcement League, until he moved to California, when he
was succeeded by R. B. Griffith, of Grand Forks, who has devoted much time
from his business interests, and thereby contributed largely to the maintenance
of law and order in the state.
Elizabeth Preston-Anderson, who has been president of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union since statehood, always attended the legislative sessions, where
she worked without cessation, night and day, to prevent the repeal of the law,
or a passage of a re-submission amendment to the constitution. She secured also
much of the additional legislation which tended to strengthen the prohibitory
464 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
law, and aid in its enforcement. The friends of temperance everywhere owe a
debt of gratitude to this fragile little woman who successfully combated every
movement of the liquor forces, which endeavored in a number of legislative ses-
sions to modify the law by striking out its imprisonment provisions, and submit
a constitutional amendment repealing prohibition.
AMENDMENTS
Among the amendments to the law was one passed in 1895 as to "Druggists'
Permits." The county courts were authorized when petitioned by twenty-five
reputable freeholders to grant a hearing upon notice to the public and if no
protest was filed or objection made, to issue a permit upon the applicant filing a
bond in the sum of $1,000, conditioned that he would sell and dispense intoxicating
liquors according to the provisions of the prohibition law.
Then a statute was enacted defining intoxicating liquors so as to include any
mixture that would produce intoxication and any liquors containing certain
ingredients were to be considered intoxicating. But any liquors containing less
than 2 per cent of alcohol by volume were declared non-intoxicating.
In 1903 under the administration of Governor Elmore Y. Sarles, a law
" offering a reward of $50, for the arrest and conviction of any violator of thd
prohibition law, was enacted, the reward to be paid by the county where the
offense was committed. The results obtained under this law were unsatisfac-
tory and it was repealed in 1909.
During the administration of John Burke as governor, the seizure and con-
fiscation of liquors, either with or without warrant was authorized, providing,
however, that this law should not apply to registered pharmacists. The publi-
cation and registration of the Federal special tax receipts was provided for
and the importation of unusually large amounts of any liquors, wines or beer,
was constituted presumptive evidence that the importation was a violation of
law; soliciting orders for intoxicating liquors was declared unlawful and pun-
ishable as a misdemeanor. The owner of a building where intoxicating liquors
were kept for sale and sold as a beverage was declared liable for its unlawful
use. The issuance of druggists' permits was taken from the County Court and
lodged in District Courts. Application was to be made and thirty days' public
notice of hearing on the application were prerequisites of granting a permit,
but physicians were permitted to prescribe liquors in cases of emergency, pro-
vided, however, ohe-half pint was prescribed for one sale and one delivery.
Liquor advertising in any form was declared unlawful and the use of liquor
on passenger trains and its use in any state institution forbidden, and the givmg
away and distribution of liquors to be used as a beverage was also declared
unlawful. At this time the keeping of a place where any intoxicating liquors
were sold was in a large portion of the state entirely suppressed, but the lawless
element continued the sale of intoxicating liquors, especially during the harvest
season, by hawking it in satchels, and from the pockets of overcoats, and in the
administration of Governor Hanna, this system, properly known as "bootleg-
ging," was declared a crime, punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary
for a period of six months to a year. The enforcement of the law was materi-
ally aided also by the passage of an act authorizing the attorney-general, his
Courtesy Northern Pacific Railway
METHOD OF PLOWING IN NORTH DAKOTA
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 465
assistants, states attorneys and their assistants, to inspect the records of freight
and express companies, and by providing a penaUy for receiving or receipting
for Hquor in a fictitious name.
THE COURTS ACT FAVGRADLY
The District courts of the state have consistently and uniformly upheld the
law and meted out severe punishment to offenders. The Supreme Court has
construed the law liberally and has held as constitutional all statutes passed to
aid in its enforcement, except the law providing for the appointment of tem-
perance commissioner, who had been given the powers of an assistant attorney-
general, and of a states attorney. The Supreme Court holding in that case
that such police powers were conferred exclusively by the constitution upon
the attorney-general and states attorneys, and the attempt to confer these powers
upon a commissioner was in violation of the constitutional provision.
It is not, however, within the purview of a historical article to analyze and
comment upon the different provisions of this law. It is sufficient to say that
for a quarter of a century it has stood the test of the courts where it has been
fiercely assailed from every legal standpoint. Its constitutionality is now
unquestioned, and its procedure is universally accepted as a proper and reason-
able exercise of the police power of the state. It stands as a monument to the
legal learning and the ability of Judge Charles A. Pollock, the father of the
prohibition law.
In connection with the above this writer called upon Judge Pollock for a
statement of his present views in relation to the effect and enforcement of the
prohibition law. The following is his reply :
"Fargo, August 7, 191 5.
"Col. C. A. Lounsberry,
"76 New York Ave. N. E.,
"Washington, D. C.
"My Dear Colonel: In response to your favor of the 3d will say that I am
sending you under another cover a copy of my Manual of the Prohibition Law
of the State of North Dakota. The first chapter you will see is devoted to a
short history of the law, and I believe will cover generally what you want. Mr.
Hamilton spoke to me recently at Grand Forks concerning the matter, and I
called his attention to where he could get a similar book.
"In that book I made very little comment upon the personal matters involved.
I might have added that the pens with which the law was signed were given to
me and I sent them to my mother, Mrs. John Pollock, then living at Clinton,
Iowa, as a Christmas present, giving her a life lease of the same. Upon her
death, twenty years ago, they were returned to me and are now in my pos-
session and I expect to turn them over to the historical society of the state. It
is quite important to notice that only one vote was cast against the bill in the
House and eight in the Senate.
"In addition to what was said in that connection, it might be well to note
that immediately upon entering statehood and the passage of this law, the
courts were compelled to wrestle with all questions growing out of its constitu-
tionality, and certain matters with reference to statutory construction which
466 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
would suggest themselves to the attorneys who were attempting to get their
clients out of limbo when charged with unlawful sales.
"I know something about that litigation, for I think I was connected with
it all, and it is my pleasure, viewed from this standpoint and period of life,
to add that it was done without compensation, since the respect and loyalty of
a splendid class of citizens through all these years have conferred the highest
reward.
"It has always been my theory that liquor and larceny cases should be tried
just alike. Since going upon the bench I have adopted that policy. The trouble
is with liquor people they want a big advantage and feel piqued if the courts
do not put them in a little higher class than other ordinary criminals. I am
glad, however, to say that in at least a large part of the state that notion is
fast passing away. In my district we have no more trotible in dealing with a
liquor than a larceny case.
"I do not believe that a person charged with the crime of violating the Pro-
hibitory Liquor Law should be convicted unless the evidence is sufficient, and
very frequently I have been called upon to dismiss actions where the proof was
not of the high grade required by law to convict. Sometimes the temperance
people make the mistake in expecting the courts to convict without evidence or
upon hearsay evidence. No successful enforcement of law can be ever accom-
plished upon that theory. This is an age when people are demanding a 'square
deal,' and they ought to have it if possible.
"You have no idea what an improvement has come to our twin cities — Fargo
and Moorhead — by the extermination of the saloons in Clay County. During
the month of July, '1914, there were 439 arrests. During the month of July,
191 5, there were but 31, and 28 of those occurred the first two days in July,
which really constituted a part of the final wind-up of the saloon system. In
other words, for the month of July, after July 2d, there were only three arrests.
You probably know that during the last year in Moorhead there were over four
thousand arrests.
"I have a feeling, Colonel, that prohibition has not only been a good thing for
the State of North Dakota, but also that the state was fortunate in being able
to set an example to other states in the Union and by such example have been
able to demonstrate the possibility and the practicability of the prohibitory system
of dealing with the liquor traffic. If you were to see my mail and observe the
notes of inquiry coming from all over this country and others, you would feel
persuaded that in tliis last statement I am correct. We have been as it .were 'a
city set upon a hill,' and the peoples of other cities and countries have been
watching our movements. It was fortunate, therefore, that Maine, Kansas and
North Dakota were able to stand during the crucial period when other states,
which had previously adopted prohibition, were going back to their cups.
"You probably read in the paper of my sentence of one Hendrickson who
plead guilty to the murder of his wife. That will give you my settled and de-
termined conviction with reference to the American saloon after thirty-four
years' contact with it, four of which in territorial days I was prosecuting attorney
under the license system, and recently nineteen years as presiding judge of this
district.
"In the month of June last I was asked by the editor of the Christian Advo-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 467
cate of New York (the leading Methodist paper of the country) to prepare an
article on a quarter of a centtiry of prohibition in North Dakota. It was pub-
lished in the issue of June 27, 191 5. I have, however, a copy which I enclose
for your convenience.
"If you will turn to my history in the Manual you will see that I was chair-
man of the committee which framed the prohibitory law. I presume it is
because of that that I am frequently styled in this state, though improperly, 'the
father of the Prohibition Law.' You know that in all instances of this kind the
chairman of the committee receives more honor than is his due, and especially
if the measure has been one of great importance. For instance, Hobson is known
as the hero of the Merrimac, and yet I presume the seven other fellows who
were with him and whose names are forgotten, were just as heroic and did as
valiant service as did Hobson, but Hobson happened to be the chairman of the
bunch. Of course this is nothing against Hobson. but it rather illustrates a
condition.
"You know full well that R. M. Pollock was a member of the Constitutional
convention, while I was not. He was a member of the temperance committee
of that body. Of course all interested persons both in and out of the Constitu-
tional convention may have helped phrase the article in the Constitution, but only
those who were in the convention, and especially those upon the committee, are
entitled to credit for that work. I have frequently been introduced to public
audiences as the one who prepared the Constitutional article. That is an error,
although I did give all the advice that I had at hand with reference to it. You
know that R. M. Pollock and I are not related.
"With reference to the law, having been a prosecuting attorney here at the
See city of the Judiciary of North Dakota, because then we only had one judge
for all this part of the state — Judge McConnell — it fell to my lot in the year 1887
to work out many of the problems in connection with the enforcement of the
Prohibitory Law occurring that year under local option.
"With this experience naturally a large part of the work fell upon me, but
I want to say that the people of North Dakota can never fully repay R. M. Pol-
lock and George F. Goodwin, who was then attorney general, for the assistance
they rendered in the final preparation of the law. It is but just to them, and I
hope if you make any mention of the facts in your history you will not fail to
accord full credit to them. I worked out the original plan of the law basing
it upon the Kansas law and after getting a proposed law in shape I then pre-
sented it to the other members of the committee. We then worked over and
wrought out the bill in the best manner and in the quickest time possible, and
it is only fair to say for the committee that not one of them ever received one
penny of compensation for what they did, and even paid their own expenses
while in attendance upon the Legislature during the passage of the bill.
"After the matter was all assembled my wife (who was then doing all mv
typewriting) ran it off on the typewriter — making sufficient copies of the Bill
for introduction into both houses, and use of the committees, and thtis I have
frequently said in a jocular manner that a 'woman wrote the Prohibitory Law
of North Dakota.'
"With sincere regards I beg to remain, very respectfully,
"CHAS. A. POLLOCK."
468 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
SENTENCE OF ROBERT HENDRICKSON
Remarks of Judge Charles A. Pollock upon passing sentence upon Robert
Hendrickson in the District Court, January 30, 1915:
"Divine and human law declare 'Thou shalt not kill.' You stand before the
bar of justice confessing to have committed the revolting crime of murdering, in
cold blood, the woman you promised to love, honor and protect. Another crime,
that of attempted self-destruction, could justly be laid at your door. The inno-
cent babe which came to bless your home has been robbed of a mother's tender
care. You have pleaded guilty and now await the sentence of an offended law.
"It is a most solemn moment in the life of a court, when he is called upon to
sit in judgment upon his fellow men. Murder and treason are kindred offenses.
The one affects the individual, the other the State. Both alike are heinous and
the penalty of death may be inflicted for either.
"Your only excuse in mitigation is that you were drunk when you committed
the deed — a plea which can only be received to save you from the gallows.
"I do not know, and, under the present state of our law, I never want to know,
who sold you the liquor, under the influence of which you committed this
unnatural crime. Let that man's conscience bring such remorse that its ener-
gizing power will never let go until the largest possible reparation be made.
"Whoever he was, and wherever he may be at this sad moment; whether his
place of business is in the well-adorned and highly decorated room where tempting
viands appeal to the taste ; where sweet music delights the ear and lulls to sleep
the reasoning faculties ; or whether it is in the lowest, dirtiest, man-abandoned,
God-forsaken and death-dealing charnel-house of despair, where abides only
thoughtless and sullen greed for gain, it matters not; before the bar of God, if
not of man, he stands alike with you morally responsible for this horrible crime.
"The trouble is he is not here with you to receive a merited punishment.
"The statute says 'All persons concerned in the commission of a public offense,
whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense, or aid or abet in
its commission ; or who by fraud, contrivance or force, occasion the drunkenness
of another for the purpose of causing him to commit any crime, are principals in
any crime so committed.'
"If your partner in this offense were here, he would plead by way of defense
that he did not 'by fraud, contrivance or force' occasion your drunkenness — a plea
which would have to be sustained.
"How much longer will the courts be deprived of authority to do complete
justice between their fellow men? An enlightened and long suffering public will
some day, and that very soon, rise in the majesty of their power, and demand that
the Legislature strike out the words 'by fraud, contrivance or force' and 'for the
purpose of causing him to commit any crime,' and boldly declare that he who
in any manner sells intoxicating liquor to another as a beverage, under the
mfluence of which a crime, whether of murder or of some lesser offense, is com-
mitted, is equally guilty as a principal in any crime so committed. Such a law
would distribute the blame and place it upon all those responsible for the crime.
"The persons who, for business or other reasons, vote to permit the continu-
ance of a traffic which robs men of their reason, increasing the liability of crime
being committed, are in a measure responsible. Away with your mistaken notions
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 469
of business necessity. It does not exist. Treason against the State stalks abroad
in our midst. How mucli longer will the people permit both treason and murder,
in order that there may be continued a system of dealing with the liquor traffic
which preys upon the appetites and passions of men? A quarter of a century ago
the good people of our state dissolved partnership with the accursed license
system. The State of Minnesota still permits the evil. Her splendid western
City of Moorhead, well located for business and containing some of the best
people on earth, seems blind to the great wrong of the traffic in rum. We must
suffer because of their inability to see. Most of the persons sent to the peniten-
tiary by this court would not be deprived of their liberty, and our state would not
be burdened with heavy expense for their care, had they not gotten drunk in the
saloons of Moorhead. The time has come when this iniquity should be banished
forever. You, who will suffer all your life because of your misdeed, may uncon-
sciously by your act arouse public sentiment to the end that such offenses will not
be repeated and that its contributing cause will be removed. It is devoutly to be
wished that such will be the case.
"The sentence and judgment of the law is that you, Robert Hendrickson, be
confined in the penitentiary at Bismarck at hard labor for, and during, the
remainder of your natural life. Let judgment be entered accordingly.
"Chas. A. Pollock, Judge."
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OF PROHIBITION IN NORTH DAKOTA
BY JUDGE CHAS. A. POLLOCK, LL. D.
By your letter of the 25th inst. I am called to the witness stand. You want
me to give evidence as to the results of prohibition in North Dakota. There is
a vast distinction between testimony and evidence. The former is what a person
says under oath, the latter what can be believed of such sta,tements. A witness
should be competent. That is to say, he ought to know from personal knowledge
of the facts, about which he proposes to testify. A lack of method for gathering
statistics renders it possible to put before the public many statements which, by
reason of the incompetency of their authors, cannot be believed, and therefore
ought not to be considered as evidence. In weighing the credibility of testimony
we have a right to take into consideration the personal interest of the witness.
When brewers and saloonmen give their testimony as to the failure of prohibition
it is exceedingly appropriate to ask by what interest are they moved.
I must presume that you consider me competent to speak, else you would not
make your request. Before statehood, under territorial law, the license system
prevailed. In 1887 there was passed a county local option law, under which
several of the counties in what now constitutes North and South Dakota went
dry. In 1889 both states were admitted to the Union, each carrying in its consti-
tution a prohibitory clause. Paragraph 217 of our constitution reads as follows:
"No person, association or corporation shall within this state, manufacture for
sale or gift, any intoxicating liquors, and no person, association or corporation
shall import any of the same for sale or gift, or keep or sell or offer the same for
sale, or gift, barter or trade as a beverage. The legislative assembly shall by law
prescribe regulations for the enforcement of the provisions of this article and
shall thereby provide suitable penalties for the violation thereof."
470 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
In harmony with the mandates of this section the Legislature in December
of that year enacted our present Prohibitory Liquor Law, which has remained
upon the statute books with sHght changes, made necessary as experience indi-
cated, where improvements could be made.
It should be remembered that our penalties were adequate in the first in-
stance. For the first offense the lowest penalty is $200.00 fine and 90 days in
the county jail, the highest, $1,000.00 fine and one year in the county jail.
For the second and each succeeding offense the penalty is not less than one and not
to exceed two years in the penitentiary. By a recent amendment so-called
bootleggers — persons who carry around on their person or in grips liquors
for sale — are sent to the penitentiary for all offenses. The trouble in a large num-
ber of states where they attempt and fail to enforce the Prohibitory Liquor Law
is. that the penalties have not been adequate. This mistake has made it possible
for violations of the law to continue with impunity. Disgrace is therefore
heaped upon the system because the remedial character of the law is not sufficient.
During the license days the saloon very largely controlled the politics of the
territory. At that time we had one distillery and about eight or ten breweries in
the territory now constituting North Dakota, all of which went out of existence
with the advent of statehood. It should be remembered that we are largely en-
gaged in raising cereals, which necessitates the incoming of a large horde of men
during the harvest season. The rainy day was a serious problem to every farmer
during the license period because at those times men would congregate in the
little towns and villages, all of which had from two to ten saloons according to
population. Business men were found to be friendly to the liquor interests and
many of them were habitual drinkers. Stabbing affrays and murders were of
frequent occurrence. Scant police protection could not afford relief. Court
calendars were full of criminal business and the expense to the public was
large. Business men were clamoring for no change, lest their sales would be
injured, rents decreased and general stagnation follow. Young men grew
up, feeling that the business of the saloonkeeper was respectable, and the open
sesame to political preferment. In Fargo, with few exceptions, the followers of
Blackstone, numbering about forty, were regular members of more than one
bar. Many became habitual drinkers, and most of them were among the so-
called moderate class. Six of the most brilliant now fill untimely graves — the
direct result of the liquor habit.
Now, exactly the reverse condition exists. In Cass, my home county, there are
sixty-five men entitled to practice. All of our leading lawyers, with rare excep-
tions, are total abstainers, and only three or four can be classed even as moderate
drinkers. When we consider the influence which the lawyer can exert for good
or evil, fortunate indeed is that community whose legal fraternity is composed
of sober men. The sentiment of our business men has changed. They have
found that money can be made without the help of the traffic. It is interesting
to hear those who spoke loudest for the saloon now declare their opposition to
its return. Indeed, they see and admit that conditions are better without than
with the sale of intoxicating liquor; that rents have increased rather than dimin-
ished, and general prosperity prevails.' The saloon has itself to thank for much
of the success attained by the prohibitionists. Liquor men here, as elsewhere,
had respect for neither law, ordinary decency nor common sense. Their law-
XHRESHiNG SCENE NEAR JAilEbTuW X
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF JAMESTOWN
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 471
breaking proclivities disgusted the people, and many who primarily had little
faith in the principle of prohibition, flew to it as a relief from what they regarded
greater evils. Law enforcement has traveled its weary way from a frail be-
ginning to a point where an enlightened public conscience demands of public
officials a full discharge of their duty. Everywhere in the twelve judicial dis-
tricts of the state come encouraging reports that the judges, sheriffs and prose-
cuting officers do not wink at violations of law, and are positively and energet-
ically attempting to stamp out crime. It is easily within the truth to say that
in most of these districts the Prohibitory Law is as completely enforced as other
criminal statutes, and in the others the difficulties of enforcement are fast
passing away. When prohibition was adopted in North Dakota, we had a
population of about 180,000. It was urged that if the prohibitory system was
engrafted upon our statute books, the state would not develop. This state-
ment, like others from the saloon source, has been shown to be untrue. We now
have a population of about 700,000 and the per capita wealth of our people is
approximately two thousand dollars — the highest of any state in the Union.
South Dakota, when admitted to the Union, had something like 250,000 inhabitants.
After having had prohibition for four or five years it returned to the license
system. That state now has a population of less than 600,000. With us as
the saloon interests decrease in a community the banks and trust companies
increase. The last reports from our banking interests show a constant and
healthy development, the aggregate deposits mounting up into the millions.
Statements of the banks in Fargo alone show an aggregate of about $10,000,000.
Fargo has grown from a city of 6,000 under the license system to one of 20,000
under the prohibitory. It has all modern improvements like heat, water works,
paved streets, street cars, electric lights and every convenience attendant upon
city life.
We have been pestered and annoyed by the shipping in of liquor from
outside states under the interstate commerce laws. Since the passage of the
Webb-Kenyon bill and the so-called Knox bill those evils are being reduced,
but I am persuaded that the greatest relief will come to us by cleaning up in
the last two weeks eighty-seven saloons, two breweries and twenty liquor dis-
tributing agencies in Polk and Clay counties, Minnesota, just next to us on the
east, under the recent county option law just passed by the Minnesota General
Assembly.
There was a time that North Dakota, with Maine and Kansas were the only
prohibitory states in the Union. W^e felt quite lonesome then but the system
was working so well and was so constantly gaining headway that we persuaded
our people to remain in the prohibitory column. Thus we have been able to
demonstrate the great possibilities for good following a dissolution of the partner-
ship formerly existing between the state and the saloon.
It may be urged that liquor is still sold in North Dakota and from that it
will be concluded that the prohibitory system is a failure. No such conclusion
should be drawn. While under the interstate commerce law it is lawful to ship
into our state liquor for private use, yet the amount which can thus be brought
to the people yearly is so small as compared' with what would come to them if
the license system prevailed that we ought to compare them only by way of
contrast. Suppose it may be conceded that two or three million dollars worth
472 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of liquor was sold in the state of North Dakota coming from outside during the
last year — a fact which we do not concede except for argument's sake — what does
that prove in view of the. fact that if we had been a license state not less than
twelve to fifteen million dollars' worth of liquor would have found its way into
our state and been consumed by our people ?
I claim that that system of dealing with the liquor traffic is the best which
will reduce the use and sale of liquor to the minimum. Purely from an economic
standpoint therefore, leaving out all moral questions, we have present in the
State of North Dakota a complete demonstration that the prohibitory system is
the best for the reasons which have just been stated. If to this may be added
the moral phases everywhere shown, we are then emboldened to state that
the influence upon the rising generation, upon politics, and upon the people
generally has been uplifting and wholesome in the extreme.
Many of those who were most bitterly opposed to prohibition have been
won over and are now planted firmly upon the side of the present system, con-
vinced it is true against their will, but now firm in their new position because
they cannot put aside what they see and know to have been fully demonstrated.
They have in a large number of cases been manly enough to step forward and
give utterance to the unshaken faith which they now possess. They declare that
under no considerations ought we to permit the saloon to return within our
borders. I have the written statement of most of our leading business men speak-
ing from their view point of the beneficial efifects of prohibition. Many of them
were determined opposers of prohibition when it was adopted. Under these
conditions it is the height of impudence for the liquor men to assert that our
law has been a failure and therefore we ought to cause its repeal. If it is a
failure it is because liquor has been sold in larger quantities and if that be
true the vendors of such liquor do violence to their own interests by attempting
to destroy such a valuable field in which to carry on their traffic. The simple
answer is that prohibition has been a marvelous success. One niethod usually
adopted by the liquor men in discussing the question is to find some spot in our
state where law enforcement has not been very successful, exploit that through
the press and insinuate that the whole state is like affected, therefore a failure.
As well might you say that a person is a cripple and of no vital force, simply
because upon one finger is a wart. The warts upon our body politic are fast dis-
appearing, and if the people at large will pass the national constitutional amend-
ment making it unlawful to manufacture and sell intoxicating liquors as a bever-
age, we will then demonstrate to the people of this country that North Dakota
will be among the very first to fully demonstrate the great blessings attendant
upon living under the prohibitory system. One of the best results of prohibition
in North Dakota has been that many persons who formerly sold liquor have been
forced out of a bad business and are now respected citizens engaged in legitimate
employments. Many such cases have occurred. I know one man who was about
down and out when he was finally thrust out of the saloon trade — and today is
probably worth over a half million dollars made in a legitimate business. Besides
he has the respect and has been honored politically by his neighbors and friends.
Big of heart, his hand is always open to aid the needy, and the greatest enjoyment
comes to him in helping to advance the best interests of the state. In a private
letter to me he said : "In response to what you ask about prohibition in our city
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 473
(Fargo) and state, let me say that in my judgment it was a fortunate day when
the prohibition law was adopted. When the question of changing from a license
system to prohibition was first proposed in 1884, and for several years afterwards,
I was bitterly opposed to prohibition, but I am now glad that the change was made
and there is no man in the State of North Dakota that would fight the return of
the saloon in any guise stronger than I would, should the occasion arise, and I do
not believe the people of North Dakota will ever permit the saloon's return to our
state." These words speak volumes. Where can the license system furnish such
a fine example of redeemed manhood ? That system which makes men and places
them where they and their families can attain advancement, morally, intellectually
and financially, ought to be preferred by every true lover of our republic. The
success attendant upon the equitable remedies found in our law which results in
closing the buildings where liquor is sold, for one year, has been turned with
great force against gambling houses and the red light district. Like "blind pigs,"
they also are declared to be common nuisances and the buildings where the illegal
traffic is carried on can be closed one year.
Speaking with reference to my own district, may I say that during the terri-
torial days there were about one hundred and fifty saloons, while now there are
none and have not been for twenty-five years. For the past twenty years only
occasionally do we find a blind pig, which is the colloquial name for the stationary
place where liquor is sold and which under the law is called a common nuisance.
They are now a thing of the past. We are troubled occasionally with bootleggers,
but by the recent amendment making it a penitentiary offense for them to sell, that
phase of violation is becoming rapidly reduced. Their work occurs mostly during
the harvest season and is carried out by men who go through the country carrying
in their grips liquor which they personally dispense to the harvest hands. The
farmers, however, are constantly on the lookout and with the telephonic communi-
cations which now exist, reports come in rapidly of such violations. When caught
they rarely ever go to trial, but plead guilty at once and are sent immediately to
the penitentiary. Twenty-five years -under prohibition has brought to our people
happiness and prosperity. It is unthinkable that we will ever retrace our steps
upon this question.
CHAPTER XXX
THE PRESS OF NORTH DAKOTA
BISMARCK TRIBUNE ESTABLISHED A SEVEN-COLUMN FOLIO FAIL TO BLUFF EDITOR
— BUSINESS WAS GOOD FARGO EXPRESS APPEARS OTHER PAPERS — GRAND
FORKS HERALD THE PRESS IN 1882 PRESS OF 1886 PAPERS OF 1884.
BISMARCK TRIBUNE ESTABLISHED
Col. Clement A. Lounsberry established the Bismarck Tribune, the first
newspaper published in North Dakota, July 6, 1873, the second number appear-
ing July nth and thereafter weekly without a break. Colonel Lounsberry had
been employed as an editorial writer on the Minneapolis Tribune during the
campaign of 1872 and through the following winter had reported the proceed-
ings of the Minnesota Legislature for the Minneapolis Tribune and St. Paul
Dispatch.
In 1868 Colonel Lounsberry was county auditor of Martin County, Minn.,
and engaged in the publication of the Martin County Atlas when his attention
was attracted to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and he determined to establish a
newspaper at the Missouri River crossing when the road should reach that point.
When the Southern Minnesota Railroad reached Wells he moved his paper
to that point, where he published the Wells Atlas until 1872, when he accepted a
position on the Minneapolis Tribune.
In the winter of 1872-73 he met Dennis Hanafin at St. Paul, who gave him
a clear and definite account of the situation at the crossing, and on the adjourn-
ment of the Legislature he went to Fargo, reaching that point April 4, 1873.
There was about a foot of snow at Fargo then, and nothing was doing on the
Dakota extension beyond getting ready. He resumed his work on the Minneapo-
lis Tribune till May, when he went to Bismarck, arriving there May 11, 1873.
lie completed his arrangements for the establishment of the Bismarck Tribune
at that time and the material arrived by the first train in June, upon the comple-
tion of the road to Bismarck.
A SEVEN-COLUMN FOLIO
On its first appearance the Tribune was a seven-column folio, well filled with
advertising, every business concern, including saloons, dance and gambling halls
and sporting houses of every class being represented in the advertising columns.
Charles Lombard was foreman at the time the Tribune was established. Mark
Kellogg, who represented the Bismarck Tribune and by arrangement through
474
HISTORY OF NORTFI DAKOTA 475
Colonel Lounsberry the New York Herald, on the Custer Expedition to the Big
Horn and was slain with Custer and his men, assisted in the editorial work on
the early numbers. Amos C. Jordan was also connected with the Tribune later
in the season, and Theodore F. Singhiser was a contributor. Lounsberry being
absent, Jordan and Singhiser were responsible for the articles which led to the
midnight raid on Bismarck by members of the Seventh United States Cavalry,
resulting in the death of Dave Mullen.
Dave Mullen and Jack O'Neil were running a dance hall at Bismarck. There
were several shooting scrapes at their place, some resulting fatally, and the
Tribune editorially urged the formation of a vigilance committee to deal with the
lawless characters, in the absence of any civil organization.
FAIL TO BLUFF EDITOR
Soon after the Tribune containing this article appeared both Mullen and
O'Neil, heavily armed, approached the Tribune office. Colonel Lounsberry met
them and said he had heard that they threatened to do some shooting on
account of the Tribune's position ; that if there was any shooting to be done the
quicker it commenced the better it would please him ; that he had heard bullets
fly before. They said they had come to talk it over; that they had been run out
of several places and they had come to Bismarck determined to go no farther ;
that they expected to die right there and to die with their boots on ; that they
looked upon every stranger as an officer hunting for them or as some one
gunning for them, and were determined that no one should get the drop on
them ; that this accounted for some of the shooting : that they would try to avoid
any unnecessary trouble but did ask that the editor refrain from inciting attacks
upon them, which they thought articles of that kind might have a tendency to do.
The force of this argument was recognized. County organization followed
in a few days and the evil was remedied to some extent. Both lost their lives
as they had anticipated. Mullen was killed by the Seventh Cavalry which came
in search of one accused of murder, when Mullen fired on them and was killed
by a volley from the soldiers. O'Neil was killed later by "Paddy" Hall, who was
lying in wait for him between two buildings.
The Northern Pacific closed the road from Fargo to Bismarck during the
winter of 1873-74, the last train leaving early in October. Colonel Lounsberry
returned to Minneapolis to report the Minnesota Legislature for the Minneapolis
Tribune and St. Paul Dispatch, editing the Bismarck Tribune by telegraph, sup-
plying by that method his editorial matter and a weekly synopsis of the news.
Nathan H. Knappen was left in charge of the paper. The quartermaster at
Fort A. Lincoln supplied the Bismarck postoffice with mail. Colonel Lounsberry
left Bismarck by team the latter part of November, paying $75 for a team to take
him from Bismarck to Jamestown, where he borrowed a team from the quar-
termaster at Fort Seward and drove on to Fargo, making the trip in six days.
He carried the mail from Fort Lincoln to Fargo, and carried out a large amount
of money to be expressed to the banks at St. Paul and Minneapolis, for the
Bismarck merchants.
There were no settlers then between Bismarck and Jamestown, none between
Jamestown and Valley City, and none between Valley City and Mapleton. Winter
476 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
stations had, however, been made in dugouts or in the railroad buildings, so that
the trip was made in reasonable comfort. It required two days by rail to reach
St. Paul from Fargo, trains then stopping over night at Brainerd.
In 1874 George W. Plumley came to the Tribune, also from the Minneapolis
Tribune, and had charge of its mechanical features for a time. E. W. Knight was
with the Tribune three years following George W. Plumley.
BUSINESS WAS GOOD
There was no complaint as to a lack of business in 1873. ^he Tribune had a
note of $400 due in St. Paul. Colonel Lounsberry collected enough on the way
to St. Paul to pay the note and purchase a needed supply of stock and material.
When the Tribune was established M. C. Russell of the Brainerd Tribune,
E. B. Chambers of the Glyndon Gazette and their wives, and W. B. Nickles of
the Red River Star at Moorhead, with his sweetheart, came to Bismarck to see
that the Tribune was properly ushered into the world. George Alfred Townsend
came to Bismarck in a few days and made the Tribune's' advertising pages a
feature in his letter to the Chicago Tribune.
Marshall Jewell became interested in the Bismarck Tribune in 1878 with
Stanley Huntley, of Spoopendyke fame, but their arrangement for the purchase
failed and Mr. Jewell remained in charge of the job rooms until he became a
joint owner with Mr. Lounsberry in 1881, in connection with the establishnient
of the Daily Tribune.
Mr. Lounsberry remained with the Tribune until 1884, when he sold to
Mr. Jewell and later established the Journal, which was run as a daily during
the first legislative session. Mr. Jewell remained at the head of the Tribune
until his death.
In 1873 Moorhead was the big town on the line of the Northern Pacific
west of Duluth. Brainerd had largely moved to Moorhead or the crossing of
the Missouri. Northern Pacific Junction, once the metropolis, had become
little more than a memory, and Oak Lake and other towns on the line had entirely
disappeared. Fargo was platted in 1872 and the Headquarters Hotel was built,
but it was an Indian reservation and made little headway in the direction of
town building until 1874. Glyndon was then nearly a deserted city.
E. B. Chambers had printed a few copies of the Fargo Express at Glyndon
for A. H. Moore, with Capt. Scott Bonney editor, but it never reached the point
of being established as a North Dakota or Fargo newspaper, and was never
regularly published. It was printed to show to the officers of the Wells Fargo
Express Company that a paper had been established and to obtain a bonus. In
this they succeeded and Mr. Fargo contributed $500 for the purchase of a print-
ing press.
FARGO EXPRESS APPEARS
January i, 1874, the genuine Fargo Express made its appearance. It was
edited and published by A. J. Harwood, Gordon J. Keeney and E. W. Knight.
That was the first newspaper in North Dakota in the Red River Valley and the
second in the state. P. P. Wall, of Audubon, was the printer who installed the
^?&!imi
;^»iSfefta-^a^g',-a:
Couile^y Xuithfiii Pacifie Railruad
BISJIARCIv IN 18T4
Camp Hiincdck on the left
NORTHERN PAaFIC STATION, BISJIARCK
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 477
Fargo Express and gave Messrs. Harwood, Keeney and Knight their first lessons
as printers and in journahsm. Mr. Knight completed his course of instruction
in the art preservative on the Bismarck Tribune.
OTHER PAPERS
Later in 1874 A. J. Clark, from Wilton, Minnesota, established the Northern
Pacific Mirror at Fargo. Messrs. Hubbard and Tylor became the owners of
the Alirror and it was consolidated with the Fargo Express and Glyndon Gazette
and became the Fargo Times, with E. B. Chambers editor. Chambers sold to
E. D. Barker, and the Times was later consolidated with the Republican, estab-
Hshed by Major A. W. Edwards and Dr. J. B. Hall about June, 1878, and the
Republican later with the Forum.
In 1875 George H. Walsh established the Grand Forks Plaindealer, which
became a flourishing newspaper under a varied management and was finally
consolidated with the Grand Forks Herald.
In 1875, when George Walsh established the Grand Forks Plaindealer, he
made much of the fact that the Plaindealer was the only paper published north-
west of Fargo. Winnipeg was then known as Fort Garry and Pembina was
noted for being the oldest town in North Dakota and the head of the customs
district, having a collector while St. Paul had only a deputy.
In 1873 the Northern Pacific Railroad Company failed, bringing ruin to every
interest dependent upon the successful construction of that railroad. A few
farms were opened by keen-eyed speculators, who purchased the railroad lands
with discredited railroad bonds, at a cost of about sixty cents an acre, gaining
title to adjoining lands by methods which would not be permitted now by the
United States Government ; or by the various forms of scrip then on the market
at about one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre.
The Jamestown Alert was established by E. H. and C. H. Foster, July 4,
1878, but had a precarious existence. It was suspended from July 17, 1879, till
October 7th, of that year, when it was purchased by Marshall McClure, with
financial assistance from E. P. Wells and J. j. Nierling. J. C. Warnock edited
the Alert during the greater part of McClure's administration, until it was sold
to W. R. Kellogg, March 6, 1886. Mr. Kellogg came to Jamestown from the
Fargo Argus. Frank Tucker, a young lawyer, was associated with Mr. Kellogg
for a few months. The Daily Alert was started February 14, 1881, and in the
editorial announcement it was said: "Gentle reader, the Daily .Mert is started to
live,'' a prediction which proved true. It has never failed to appear excepting
for a few weeks immediately prior to the sale to Kellogg. Warnock afterwards
became associated with Will H. Burke in the publication of the Capital at James-
town, established in February, 1882. R. W. Davidson, who was also associated
with the Capital, was a son-in-law of J. C. Wamock. The publishers were after-
wards Ellsworth & Davidson, later Ellsworth & Son, then Burgster & McElroy,
who were the publishers when the state was admitted. It is printed daily and
weekly. The German paper, Der Pioneer, established by A. Steinbach, at James-
town, in 1883, published in the German language, was finally merged with a
German paper at St. Cloud, Minn., and lost its identity.
Major A. W. Edwards came to Bismarck in 1876 with Thomas C. Piatt and
478 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Senator George Spencer of Alabama, and went to the Black Hills. He
returned to the state in June, 1878, and determined to establish the Fargo Repub-
lican. Returning to Chicago he associated himself with Dr. J. B. Hall and it was
done. The Republican flourished for many years and was finally sold by J. J.
Jordan to the Fargo Forum. Major Edwards remained with the Republican
about one year, when he retired and established the Daily Argus, the first number
of that publication appearing November 17, 1879.
The Argus took the lead of all other North Dakota newspaper establishments
and built up an enormous business, extending to Minnesota and South Dakota,
as well as to North Dakota points, erecting an office which later became the
Hotel Martin. Probably no paper has ever wielded or ever will wield a greater'
influence in the politics of a territory and state than that exercised by Major
Edwards through the Argus in its early days. Major Edwards remained with
the Argus until 1891, when it passed into other hands, as the major put it at the
time, under circumstances over which he had no control.
Retiring from the Argus in October Major Edwards and Horatio C. Plumley,
who had been associated with him on the Argus, established the Fargo Forum,
the first number of which appeared November 17, 1891, on the anniversary of the
birth of the Argus. The Argus was never a paying venture after Major Edwards
left it, and its bones now rest in peace, it having been sold to J. T- Jordan, who
later established the Fargo Call, which he conducted successfully several years,
and then sold to others.
There were many other newspaper ventures at Fargo, among them the Inde-
pendent by C. A. Carson, which went into the Republican. The Evening Post,
which was short lived, and the Moon and the Sun, and the Broadaxe. The Sun
was published some ten years and was established by W. H. H. Matteson, sold to
Fred Hendershot and finally died. Goldy West, at one time with the Argus,
established the Sunday Bee. Its sweet life also passed away.
GR.\ND FORKS HER.XLD
In 1879 George B. Winship established the Grand Forks Herald, which has
flourished from the beginning, and has been a clean and reputable newspaper, and
is now published as both a morning and evening daily. That year Dr. H. W. Coe,
Sr., established the Northern Pacific Times at Valley City, H. H. Young the
Pembina Pioneer, Harry Robinson the Mandan Criterion, Delaney & Herbert
the Caledonia Times, E. K. Morrell the Wahpeton Gazette, C. Brandt the Fargo
Posten, C. H. Lineau the North Dakota Basunen at Hillsboro, W. R. Maize the
Washburn Times, and Frank M. Cornell the Tower City Herald.
In 1880 the number of newspapers in Dakota had increased to 66 and in
1881 to 75, and in June, 1884, the Bismarck Journal spoke of having 160 Dakota
newspapers on its exchange list. In the spring of 1880 James A. Emmons estab-
lished the Bismarck Sun and A. DeLacy Wood the Signal at Caledonia. The
Sheldon Herald was established by O. E. Hogue and the Hillsboro Banner by
E. D. Barker.
M. Weisenberg established the Red River Posten. It passed into the hands
of the Argus and John C. Miller became its editor.
The Broadaxe was established in the early '80s by Captain Egbert and asso-
o
X
a
o
o
w
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 479
ciates and hewed to the Hne regardless of where the chips might fall for a time,
but passed on to that land whence there is no resurrection for defunct newspaper
establishments.
In 1881 Frank M. Winship established the News at Grafton; A. J. Smith the
Times at Hillsboro; Chas. A. Everett the Star at Lisbon; F. H. Ertel the
Pioneer, daily and weekly, at Mandan. The Eagle and Times was established at
Mayville, the News at Acton and the Times at Grafton ; these two were con-
solidated as the News and Times, and published by Upham & Winship; R. D.
Hoskins established the Bathgate Sentinel ; Burke & Saul the Jamestown Capital ;
R. I. Smith the Mayville Tribune; E. L. Kilbourne the Casselton Reporter; and
W. G. McKean the Sanborn Enterprise.
THE PRESS IN 1882
January 26, 1882, the Bismarck Tribune said: "No better illustration can be
given of North Dakota, and the general prosperity along the entire line of the
Northern Pacific Railroad than to call attention to the daily newspaper estab-
lishments. Three years ago there was not a daily newspaper on the line. In
1880 Fargo was the first to come to the front in the establishment of the Daily
Argus. Jamestown, not to be left in the matter of enterprise, next heralded the
Daily Alert in the spring of 1881. Bismarck came in for the third place in
April, 1881 (the Daily Tribune), followed by a second daily, the Republican, at
Fargo, and the Daily Herald at Grand Forks. Duluth put in an appearance with
the Tribune and a couple of months ago the Moorhead Daily Argonaut was
i)orn. Brainerd eyed jealously these institutions until last week when she, too,
flaunted a daily to the breeze — the Tribune. Mandan will probably come in for
the next position." And so it was, the Pioneer having been established that year.
The papers established in 1882 were as follows: The Bismarck Herald, by
the Herald Printing Company ; the Fargo Evening Post, by Fox & Sanborn ;
the Northwestern Farmer, by Daily & Mann ; the Hamiltonian, at Hamilton,
by Frank L. Mitchell ; the Pioneer, at Flope, by the Hope Printing Company ;
the Pioneer, at Larimore, by Wm. Scott & Co., and the Leader, by E. J. Taylor;
the Republican, at Lisbon, by W. R. Locke ; the Inter-Ocean, at Mayville, by
G. B. Thompson ; the Record, at Valley City, by Baxter & Davidson : the Times,
at Wahpeton, by C. P. Garred ; the Leader, at Ellendale, by Wesley Moran ; the
Clipper, at Lisbon, by H. S. Harcourt ; the Times, at St. Thomas, by J. P.
Hagaer & Co., and the Republican, at Casselton, by Col. W. C. Plummer and
S. J. Small.
The newspapers established in 1883 were as follows : The Cooperstown
Courier, by E. D. Stair ; the Carrington News, by J. Moreley Wyard ; the Devils
Lake Inter-Ocean, by H. C. Hansbrough ; the Devils Lake Press, by A. M.
Powell and H. M. Creel ; the Dickinson Press, by J. F. Scott ; the Jim River
Journal, at Eaton, by C. H. Faulkner; the Ellendale News: the Fargo Sun; the
Daily Broadaxe, at Fargo, by the Democratic Publishing Company; the Garfield
Gazette, by W. W. Gilbert ; the Devils Lake Globe, at Grand Harbor, by Farrell
& Wagner; the Journal, at Grand Rapids, by Charles S. Cleveland; the Herald,
at Hudson, by Robert H. Busteed ; Der Pioneer, at Jamestown, by A. Stein-
baugh ; the News, at Lakota, by the Winters Printing Company ; the Commer-
480 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
cial, at Keystone, by L. H. Wilson; the Chronicle, at LaMoure, by C. C. Bows-
field, and the Progress, by W. G. McKean ; the Mandan Times, by J. E. Gates ;
the Medford Messenger, by W. H. Mitchell ; the Gapital, at Michigan, by W.
Fowler ; the Teller, at Milnor, by Falley & Cofiin ; the Forest River Journal,
by L. M. Mitchell & Go.; the New Rockford Transcript, by Hays & Fanning;
the Niagara Times, by E. E. Gonwell; the Oriska Benefit, by G. H. Bassett; the
North Dakota Farmer, by G. E. and W. H. Stone; the Ransom Gity Pilot, by
F. G. Tuttle; the Steele Herald, by Britton & Beech; the Dawson Globe, by
Harl J. Gook ; the Devils Lake News, by Nadeau & Garrothers. The Gommer-
cial was moved to Ellendale and Joe Ghapple was editing the Grand Rapids
Journal and Frederick Adams was publishing the Gooperstown Gourier; W. D.
Bates established the Park River Gazette; W. H. Ellis and E. S. Gilbert, the
Port Emma Times ; Ellsworth & Son, the Forman Item ; Ellis & Brown, the
Ludden Times ; Robert H. Busteed, the Oakes Herald. G. F. Garrette was run-
ning the Washburn Times and H. G. Upham the Grafton News and Times.
In 1884 there were lively times at Bismarck in the newspaper field. Bis-
marck had been chosen the capital of Dakota, on which there was a hard fight
by the South Dakota element. E. A. Henderson was running the Evening Capi-
tal ; Colonel Lounsberry, the Journal ; F. D. Bolles, G. F. Garrette and B. Glid-
den, the Leader; Palmer & LaShelle, the Advertiser, and J. A. Emmons, the
Blade, and for a time during the period of Bismarck's prosperity the Tribune
published both morning and evening editions, carrying the full Associated Press
dispatches, and as a result of its aggressive work one after another of the opposi-
tion went down and the Tribune was left alone in the field.
In 1884, Farrell & Wagner moved their plant from Grand Harbor to Dun-
seith and established the Dunseith Herald ; W. R. Bierly established the North-
west at Grand Forks ; W. F. Warner, the Steele County Gazette ; A. T. Packard,
the Bad Lands Cowboy, at Medora ; F. G. Tuttle, the Free Press, at Milnor ;
J. W. Shepperd, the Dakota Sif tings, at Minnewaukan ; Grant S. Hager, the
Tribune, at Neche; Jay Edwards, the Headlight, at Northfield; H. G. Macororie,
the Pilot, at Stanton; G. B. Vallandigham, the North Dakota Democrat, at
\^alley Gity ; D. R. Streeter, the Emmons County Record ; W. B. Kimball, the
Yorktown Press; V. B. Noble and John W. Bennett, the Bottineau Pioneer;
E. F. Sibley, the Towner County Tribune, at Gando ; H. P. UfTord, the Dakota
Blizzard, at Casselton ; C. E. Stone, the Wheatland Eagle, and A. S. Bliton, the
Wheatland Eagle. Rev. D. G. Plannette was publishing at Fargo the Pioneer
Methodist.
In 1885, the Sheldon Enterprise was established by Mrs. D. M. Hogue; the
Turtle Mountain Times, at Dunseith, by Beckham W. Lair ; the Hoskins Herald,
by J. W. Kenagy; the Cavalier County Gourier, at Langdon, by C. B. G.
Doherty ; the Mandan Democrat, by Wm. Borgen ; the Dakota Bladet, at Port-
land, by H. A. Foss; the Portland Inter-Ocean, by A. L. Hicks ; the Steele Ozone,
by E. S. Gorwin; the Farmers' Alliance, at Valley Gity, by C. H. Bassett; the
Mongo Star, by Rowe & Gordon ; the Winona Times, by George J. Douglas ; the
Caledonia Times, by Dr. E. N. Falk. Col. G. W. Plummer was its editor for a
time.
VVILDKK .SCHOOL, UKANl) IdKK.S
ROOSEVELT SCHOOL, GRAND FORKS
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 481
PRESS OF 1886
In 1886, the Ardock Monitor was established by J. K. Lyons; the Churchs
Ferry Sun, by S. A. Nye; the Cooperstown Independent, by J. H. Vallandigham ;
the Fort Abercrombie Scout, by F. I. Smith ; the Grand Forks Educational News,
by A. B. Griffith; the Hamilton News, by McMillan & Muir; the Mcintosh
County Democrat, at Hoskins, by Orth & Stone ; the Inkster Review, by A. B.
Smith; the Mouse River Advocate, at Minot, by Frank W. Spear; the Home-
stead, Napoleon, by G. A. Bryant; the Milnor Rustler, by J. F. Bowins; the
Sheldon Blade, by W. H. Milands; the Wahpeton Globe, by H. W. Troy; the
\^■iIlow City Eagle, by Jacob P. Hager; the Pembina County Democrat, at
Bathgate, by Lee & Woolner; the Ashley Democrat, by Lowhead & Bjomson; the
Burlington Reporter, by J. S. Colton, with C. O. Blair as editor; the Drayton
Echo, by J. K. Fairchild ; the Grand Forks Morning Leader, by W. M. Grant ;
the Hunter Eye, by Charles E. Stone ; the Lakota Observer, by Lampman &
Kelly; the Sergeant County Rustler, by W. L. Straub; the Villard Leader, by
R. H. Copeland.
In 1887, the newspapers established were the Bottineau Free Lance, by J. B.
Sinclair; the Edgeley Mail, by George B. Brown; the Fargo Churchman, by
H. P. Lough; the Normanden, Grand Forks, by H. A. Foss; the Hillsboro Press,
by C. D. and E. M. Baeher; the Lidgerwood Broadaxe, by Shelby Smith; the
Alinot Rustler-Tribune, by Marshall McClure ; the Rainey Buttes Sentinel, by
M. L. Ayers; the Oakes Republican, by W. H. Ellis; the Rugby Advance, by
David A. Briggs ; the Rutland Journal, by L. E. Williams ; the Rolette County
Democrat, at St. Johns, by J. A. Minder; the Sherbrooke Tribune, by B. H.
Simpson & Son ; the Spiritwood Bugle, by Eagan & Gleason ; the News &
Stockman, at Towner, by Robert McComb; the McLean County Mail, by J. E.
Britton ; the Stark County Herald, at Dickinson, and the New Era, at New
Rockford, by Canfield & Fanning.
In 188S, the Independent was established at Forman by Wm. Ilurle ; the
Harlem Courier, by C. E. Graber; the Langdon Democrat, by A. L. Koehnstedt ;
the Milton Globe, by Fred Dennett ; the Turtle Mountain Star, at Rolla, by
Parsons & Fritz ; the Sykeston Index, by Maddux & Dunn ; the Coggswell
Expositor, by T. B. Flurley ; the Dawson Times, by the Times Publishing Com-
pany.
In i88g, the Willston Beacon was established by McGahn & Wilson ; the
Reporter, at Minot, by A. B. Fuller and J. L. Colton; the Record, at Cando, by
A. B. McDonald ; the Independent, at Carrington, by H. A. Hogue ; M. H.
Brennan was publishing the Devils Lake News ; McCully & Orswald established
the North Dakota Advocate at Grafton ; F. W. Iddings, the North Dakota Pres-
bytery at Grand Forks; Wm. Miller, the Graphic at Grandin ; the Afholds
Basunen was established at Hillsboro ; the Leads News, by R. R. Bratton ; the
Minot Journal, by McGahn & Wilson ; the Park River Witness, by J. Morely
Wyard ; the Patriot, at Valley City, by G. B. Vallandigham.
In 1890, A. B. Gray was publishing the Commonwealth at Bismarck; W. P.
Moffett, the Bismarck Settler; the Devils Lake Stats Tidne was established by
John D. Sieverson ; the Fargo White Ribbon, by Anna S. Hill ; the Gilby Globe,
by E. F. Rea; the Walsh County Record, by Pierce & Woods; the Common
482 HISTORY OF KORTH DAKOTA
Schools, at Grafton, by A. L. Woods; the Independent, at Grand Forks, by
E. B. Saunders ; the Manvel Graphic, by W. Brandgent ; the Tower City Jour-
nal, by Chas. S. Allen, and the Washburn Leader, by R. H. Copeland.
Among the leading editorial writers in territorial days were "Pat'' Donan,
the born boomer, and who lived to boom, and was usually employed by interests
requiring booming in order to reach success, who was with the Fargo Argus
about 1880. In his memorial to the Episcopal Convention at Philadelphia, in
1884, Donan said; "In June, 1880, there were but ten weekly newspapers and
one daily (in North Dakota) ; in June, 1883, there were eleven dailies, forty-two
weeklies and six monthly publications, and new ones have been established at
the rate of from one to three a week ever since, to supply the demands of an
intelligent newspaper reading people daily growing in numbers."
PAPERS OF 1884
In 1884, the Bismarck Journal, edited by Colonel Lounsberry, said of the
newspapers on its exchange list, then numbering 160, published in Dakota:
"They present a remarkably neat appearance and in the main are ably edited
by as loyal a set of fellows as ever boomed a new country."
In territorial days the North Dakota press was united. There was little of
personal controversy among the publishers or editors. They stood together for
the common good, united in their labors for the development of North Dakota
and for the division of Dakota and the establishment of a state from the northern
part.
At one time there seemed to be opposition in the northern part of the state
to the admission of South Dakota, and from that day to this some members of
the press have stood in a false light. The facts were these: In 1882, a con-
vention met at Fargo, and named twenty-two delegates to go to Washington to
labor for ihe division of Dakota. They chartered a Pidlman car and went in
a body. They gathered and published statistics and were making good head-
way for the division of Dakota, when a delegation came from the southern part
of the state with the Sioux Falls Constitution demanding the admission of
South Dakota, relegating the governor and territorial officers to the northern part
of the territory, but denying them a share in the name which North Dakota wheat
fields had already made famous. They antagonized the division of Dakota
unless it carried with it the admission of South Dakota as the State of Dakota.
Both failed, and the North Dakota delegation went home declaring that there
should be no division until both could come in as states, and that when they did
come in North Dakota should be named first in the bill. And so it was. From
that time on, for some time, the Bismarck Tribune carried the words "North
Dakota" in its date line.
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CHAPTER XXXI
XAMIXG XORTH DAKOTA COUXTIES
The Legislature of 1873 divided Pembina and Buffalo counties, and named
the several counties in Xorth Dakota largely in honor of the old settlers. Pem-
bina, the original, was so called by reason of the highbush cranberries growing
on the Pembina mountains. Enos Stutsman was representative from Pembina in
the Legislature, and, upon going to Yankton, which was then the capital of Da-
kota, spent a night at the home of Morgan T. Rich, the first settler at Wahpeton,
and they then agreed upon the principal names.
Billings — For Hon. Frederick Billings, president of the Xorthern Pacific Rail-
road Company, holding extensive landed interests in Burleigh and other western
counties in N'orth Dakota.
Bottineau — For Pierre Bottineau, one of the old-time voyageurs, born in
Xorth Dakota where he spent over eighty years of his life.
Bowman — For Hon. E. ^L Bowman, a member of the Legislature of 1883.
Burleigh — For Walter A. Burleigh, Indian trader and agent, delegate to Con-
gress and contractor for the construction of fifty miles of the Xorthern Pacific
Railroad east from Bismarck.
Cass — For George \\'. Cass, president of the Xorthern Pacific Railroad, iden-
tified with P. B. Cheney in the development of the Dalrymple and other fanns in
Xorth Dakota.
Cavalier — For Charles Cavileer, the first white settler in Xorth Dakota, who
settled at Pembina in 185 1, where he died after more than fifty years residence
in the Red River \"alley. His wife was a granddaughter of Alexander Murray,
one of the original Selkirk settlers, and a survivor of the Seven Oaks massacre.
He was collector of customs at Pembina and postmaster for many years.
Dickey — For Hon. Alfred Dickey, of Jamestown, identified with the early
history of Xorth Dakota and later lieutenant governor.
Dunn — For John P. Dunn, one of the earliest settlers of Bismarck, where he
was engaged in the drug business for many years.
Emmons — For James A. Emmons, post trader at Camp Hancock, established at
Bismarck in 1872, and for many years identified with the development of Bur-
leigh County.
Eddy — For E. B. Eddy, founder of the First Xational Bank at Fargo and'
for many years an active factor in the development of the Red River \'alley,
and an active force in the upbuilding of Fargo.
Foster — For James S. Foster, who settled in South Dakota in 1864 in con-
nection with the Xew York colony from Syracuse, Xew York. In 1871 he was
483
48i HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
appointed commissioner of immigration and devoted his life to Dakota interests.
Grand Forks — On account of the confluence of the Red Lake and Red rivers
at Grand Forks.
Griggs — For Captain Alexander Griggs, founder of Grand Forks and iden-
tified with the earliest navigation of the Red River.
Hettinger — For a distinguished citizen of Freeport, 111., father of the wife
of Hon. E. A. Williams of Bismarck.
Kidder — For Hon. Jefferson P. Kidder, identified with the interests of Da-
kota from 1858 until his death. Through the support of the North Dakota delega-
tion he was nominated for Congress in 1874, and served four years as delegate
to Congress. He served as associate justice from 1865 to 1875 and from 1878
to 1883.
Lamoure — For Hon. Judson LaMoure who came to Dakota in i860. He was
elected to the Legislature in 1866, but refused to take his seat. He came to what
is now North Dakota in 1870 and was elected to the Legislature in 1872, and has
seen almost continuous service in the Legislature since tliat time. No citizen of
North Dakota has left his mark on so many pages of its history as he. He was
interested in merchandising and in the agricultural development as well as in its
political atl'airs.
Logan — For Gen. John A. Logan.
McHenry — For Hon. James McHenrj' of Clay County, South Dakota.
Mcintosh — For E. H. Mcintosh, a member of the council in 1883.
McKenzie — For .-\lexander McKenzie of Bismarck, the most prominent and
influential citizen of North Dakota in the construction period of its existence.
(See the chapter headed. Division of Dakota.) Whatever may be said of him
it must be said that he has never used his political powers for his own advantage
either financially or politically. For several years he was the national committee-
man of the republican party from North Dakota.
McLean — For Hon. John A. McLean, then mayor of Bismarck. He was a
contractor for ties and other material on the construction of the Northern Pacific
Railroad west from Duluth, and of the firm of McLean & Macnider, general mer-
chants and contractors at Bismarck. In January, 1876, a committee sent from
Bismarck to the Black Hills, headed by H. N. Ross, who had accompanied the
Custer expedition to the Black Hills the preceding summer, returned with many
specimens of gold taken from the placer mines of the Black Hills. These speci-
mens were regarded as so convincing as to settle the long mooted question as to
whether there w^as any gold in paying quantities in the Black Hills. Mr.
McLean and Colonel Lounsberry at once proceeded to Washington, conferring
en route with the Chamber of Commerce at St. Paul, resulting in the organiza-
tion of the Northwestern Stage & Transportation Company, which established
a daily line of stages and means of transportation from Bismarck to the hills, and
with the managers of the Northern Pacific, ^Milwaukee & St. Paul, and the
Northwestern railroads relative to through rates for passengers and freight to
the hills. At Washington they were received by President Grant, Secretary of
War Belknap, and on the floors of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
As a result President Grant directed that there should be no further interference
with miners then in the Black Hills or en route there, and Congress took early
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 485
action toward opening a large portion of the great Sioux reservation to settle-
ment, including the Black Hills.
Mercer — For William H. H. Mercer, who settled at Painted Woods, Burleigh
County, on the Alissouri River, in 1869, and remained until his death, identified
with the farming and stock growing interests of Burleigh County. He was a
member of the First Board of County Commissioners of Burleigh County.
Alorton — For Hon. Oliver P. Morton, war governor of Indiana.
Nelson — For Flon. N. E. Nelson, an early settler of Pembina, who entered
the first homestead made of record in North Dakota. Collector of customs at
Pembina for many years. Member of the Legislature.
Oliver — For Hon. Henry S. Oliver, member of the Legislature of 1885, and
thereafter a leading factor in the politics of the territory and state, and post-
master at Lisbon.
Pierce — For Hon. Gilbert A. Pierce, governor of Dakota and United States
senator. It was changed from Church to Pierce, having been first nanxed for
Governor Church.
Ramsey — For Hon. Alexander Ramsey, governor of Minnesota, United
States senator, secretary of war. He introduced the first bill in the senate for
the Territory of Pembina.
Ransom — On account of Fort Ransom, named for General Ransom, a dis-
tinguished soldier.
Richland — For Hon. M. T. Rich, a settler of 1869 at Wahpeton, and because
it embraced a land that was rich indeed. Mr. Rich visited the Red River Valley
in 1864, in connection with Sully's expedition, passing on west to the gold
regions.
Sargent — For H. E. Sargent, general manager of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, interested in the development of the agricultural interests of the Red
River Valley.
Stark — For George Stark, general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad,
owner of the Stark farm, near Bismarck, opened to demonstrate the fertility and
adaptability of the Missouri River region to general farming.
Steele — For Franklin Steele, an early trader at Fort Snelling, and later a
distinguished citizen of Minneapolis, associated with the early promoters of
Hope, who made large investments in that vicinity.
Stutsman — For Hon. Enos Stutsman, who was born in Ohio, taught school
and studied law at Des Moines, Iowa, settled at Yankton in 1858, a member of
the first Legislature in 1862 ; came to North Dakota as a special agent of the
treasury department in 1864, when he was elected to the Legislature from Pem-
bina County and thereafter until his death identified with North Dakota, render-
ing distinguished service.
Towner — For Hon. O. M. Towner, founder of the Elk Valley farm in Grand
Forks County, and a member of the Legislature of 1883.
Traill — For Walter J. S. Traill, an employe of the Hudson's Bay Company,
located in early days at Caledonia and identified with the early development of
Traill County.
Walsh — For Hon. George H. Walsh. His father, Thomas Walsh, located
at Grand Forks in 1871. George H. was president of the coimcil in the Legis-
486 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
lature of 1881, and of the council in 1883, 1885 and 18S9, and of the North
Dakota Senate after statehood.
Wells — For Hon. E. P. Wells, a member of the Legislature of 1881, identified
with the development of Jamestown and the James River Valley.
W^ard — For Hon. J. P. Ward, a member of the Legislature of 1885, an active
friend of North Dakota at that session, though from South Dakota.
Williams — Changed entirely from its original position. Named for Hon.
E. A. \\'illiams, who came to Yankton about 1869, and to Bismarck in 1872 as
an employe of Walter A. Burleigh in connection with his contract for the con-
struction of fifty miles of the Northern Pacific Railroad east from Bismarck.
He was elected a member of the Legislature that fall and from 1873 forward
has been identified with North Dakota interests. He has been in the Legislature
several times, twice speaker, which position he occupied in 1883. the history-
making session, so far as the interests of North Dakota were connected with
the afi^airs of the whole territor}'. He was a member of the Constitutional Con-
vention and surveyor general, and has taken a prominent part in the political
conventions of the republican party.
Cavalier, Rolette, Bottineau, McHenn,', Ramsey, Foster, Logan, Morton,
Mercer, W'illiams, Grand Forks, Cass, Richland, Burbank (now Barnes), Gin-
gras (now W^ells), Lamoure. Stutsman, Ransom, Kidder and Burleigh were
created by the Legislature of 1873. Benson, Bowman, McLean, Mcintosh, Nel-
son, Sargent. Steele and Towner by the Legislature of 1883. Walsh was created
in 1881. Dickey, Emmons, Hettinger, Billings, Dunn, Stark, Oliver, Ward and
McKenzie were creations incident to other legislative sessions.
The counties created since the Legislature of 1873 and the names are of later
date than the conference with Mr. Rich, but the original nomenclature comes
from that visit of Stutsman to Rich. Hon. Judson Lamoure was also con-
sulted and he, too, had a hand in giving the first as well as the later creations
their names. The same is true of E. A. Williams, a member of the Legislature
which made the first division.
Mountrail was named for a prominent half-blood family, descendants of
Joseph Mountrail, an early voyageur.
Renville was named for Joseph Renville, trader, interpreter, mentioned in
connection with the translation of the Bible and other important matters.
Adams County for Hon. R. S. Adams of Lisbon, a prominent financier and
disting^iished citizen.
Divide County,' from the division of Williams County.
Grant County, from a division of Morton County, in November, 1916, for
the illustrious Gen. U. S. Grant.
Burke County, for Hon. John Burke, a democrat, three times elected gov-
ernor by republican votes, and United States treasurer under President Wood-
row Wilson.
Sheridan County, for Gen. Philip Sheridan.
CHAPTER XXXII
STORIES OF EARLY DAYS
WINSHIP HOTEL BUDGe's TAVERN — AN ENTERTAINING STORY OF YE OLDEN TIMES
IN. NORTH DAKOTA
When Pembina was little, before Grand Forks, Fargo and Moorhead were
born, George B. Winship strayed in from the south via Abercrombie, and Billy
Budge from Scotland via Hudson's Bay, and meeting at Pembina in 1871, where
George was engaged as a clerk in the sutler's store, they concluded to form a
partnership and enter into business. They selected a point on the stage line
between Grand Forks and Pembina known as Turtle River, where they erected
a log cabin and put in a little stock of those things essential to life for man and
beast and opened up a hotel. The old-timers all credit them with having kept
an excellent stopping place, one of the best on the line, and both were popular
and have since prospered in this world's goods. Winship established the Grand
Forks Herald, represented the Grand Forks District in the State Senate several
terms, and on his retirement went to California where he enjoys a fortune from
the proceeds of well used opportunities in North Dakota.
William Budge was a member of the constitutional convention and also rep-
resented his district in the State Senate several terms, was the leading spirit in
the establishment of the State University, and was one of its regents for several
years, and postmaster at Grand Forks, moving to Medford, Ore., where he
became one of the leading business men of Jackson County, and always the
true and noble hearted man he was in the early days of North Dakota.
The following, condensed from Clarence Webster's story in the Chicago Inter
Ocean in 18S6, will be enjoyed by their friends :
"After erecting their cabin, which was the only human habitation in 1871
between Grand Forks and Pembina, unable to agree on the name for their place,
as the story runs, they agreed to label it 'Winship's Hotel,' so as to meet the
view of those coming from the south and that 'Budge's Tavern' should be the
sign displayed for the observation of those coming from the north. They dis-
agreed in many things but united in one, 'We are not here for our helth,' was
to be conspicuously printed on a card to be hung on the wall over the fireplace.
'God Bless Our Home,' and others of that nature were not fashionable then.
The early settlers were the practical sort of fellows, who believed in informing
people just where they were at and what was expected of them.
"Budge was an expert in turning the flapjacks while Winship was equally
good as a valet de chambre at both house and barn, Budge assisting however
between meals. Both were excellent collectors and usually insisted that there
487
488 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
must be an understanding as to the pa^ before any of the supplies had been con-
sumed. It is said they each warned the travelers not to pay the other, resulting
in occasional loss on the grounds that it was unsafe to pay either. They had a
monopoly and like all monopolists were independent and when there were any
objections to paying $2 for tiapjacks a la Budge and stable accommodations a la
Winship the unfortunate objector was invited to read the card over the fireplace
and move on. Sometimes Budge suggested that the man who objected to paying
$1 for a white man's meal could fill up on marsh hay at half price.
"It sometimes happened that objections were made to the economical spelling
of the word health in the sign upon the wall. If the kick was made to Budge he
added a half to the bill for extras. If it was commented on before Winship,
with great presence of mind he always remarked that the proofreader must have
been drunk as usual when they went to press with it.
"Neither proposed to allow the other to get ahead of him. They made a
nightly division of the cash and had a definite understanding as to the division of
labor. Each in turn was to build the fires, and in order that there might be no
mistake they arranged a calendar and pasted it at the foot of the bed. Com-
mencing with B. W. B., alternating with W. B. W., there were thirty sets of
initials, representing each day in the month. \Mien Winship had built the fire he
rubbed out the last initial and Budge did the same when it came his turn. The
crossed letter always settled the question as to who was to get up next time and
indicated the day of the month.
"One morning Budge got up and built the fire cancelling the B. It was a roar-
ing fire, made especially for a temperature of 30 below. The frail chimney, built
of sticks and mud, surmounted by a barrel, caught fire. Soon the fire spread until
Winship's end of the building was burning at a lively rate. Winship poked his
elbow in Budge's side, he having fallen asleep, who thinking a mule had kicked
him, yelled, 'Whoa.' Another nudge partially awakened him, when Winship
said, 'Billy, she is afire again.' Budge protested that he had spoiled the slickest
dream he had ever had and that he would have had it all fixed in a minute more
if he had been left alone, besides he didn't see why he should be disturbed. He
wanted to sleep.
" 'The fire is spreading,' said Winship. 'Better get up and put it out while
you can do it easy. It is your turn to get up.'
" 'It ain't my time to get up.' said Budge. 'The B. is crossed out.'
" 'It is your fire,' said Winship, 'you built it, you had better put it out. It's
getting too hot.'
"Budge insisted that the fire was Winship's by right of discovery and he
must take care of it.
"Higher leaped the flames, closer and closer they came to the Scotchman,
who was still insisting upon his rights to sleep undisturbed after building the
fire. His own part of the shanty was ablaze. Coals were dropping down on the
robes under which they had been sleeping. Winship drew the robe over his
head.
"Finally Budge proposed that they both get up. 'That is reasonable,' replied
Winship. 'Why didn't you think of that before?'
"They both got otit. Some of the bacon and other things were saved.
NORWEGIANS DANCIXG. NEAR RED RIVER IN ABERCROIUBIE
GIRLS IN NORWEGIAN PEASANT DRESS, ABERCROMBIE
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 489
"By this time Grand Forks had begun to grow. Botli went to the Forks and
entering on separate Hnes succeeded in business.
"Winship sometimes undertakes to tell the story and Budge tries to correct
the proof, but giving up in despair, simply writes on the margin, 'there are other
liars in the valley besides yourself.' "
THE OLD-TIME POSTOFFICE .'\T PEMBINA
I came here (Pembina) in 1851, in comjjany with N. W. Kittson and others.
After being here a few days Mr. Kittson asked me to act as assistant postmaster,
he having been appointed postmaster some time in 1849. Joseph R. Brown was
contractor to carry the mail from Pembina, Wisconsin Territory, to Crow Wing
in the same territory, via Thieving River, at its mouth at Red Lake River, thence
by land and canoe to Red Lake Village, making short portages, thence making
short portages between small lakes to Cass Lake and then by the same order of
travel to Leach Lake and so on to Crow Lake and to the end of the route at Crow
Wing Village, which was the headquarters of the North- West Fur Company
for all that section of the country claimed by the Chipjiewas from Crow Wing to
Pembina northwest and northeast to Sandy Lake, and Fond du Lac.
The contract was a go-as-you-please, on foot, horse back, cart or canoe, any-
way-to-get-there affair. The contract price for carrying it was $1,100 a year.
Kittson, being postmaster, could not act as sub-agent. He appointed me as
assistant postmaster, and I ran the machine until some time in 1S53 or '54. I did
all the business of the office, made the quarterly returns and deposit of funds due
the department, attending to every detail of the office, which at that time was no
child's play as every letter and package had to be tied up in wrappers, waybilled
and addressed to its destination. St. Paul packages contained nearly all of Min-
nesota, Chicago, Detroit and east and west exchange.
Letter rates of postage ran 6j4. i2/4, i8.)<4, to 25 cents, according to distance,
from 6'4 for short distances to 25 for 500 miles and over. Every letter and
package had to be wrapped and addressed. Even single letters had to be wrapped
and addressed to their proper offices. All wrappers had to be saved and used
as long as they would hold together and an address could be put on without show-
ing another.
But when it came to making out the quarterly reports the dance had just
commenced. Every letter received and dispatched must be returned from the
records kept on bills for that purpose, and it made a package about the size of
a family Bible, and the footing up of columns with the amounts running from
6J'4, 12^/2, i8;?4 to 25. was a corker. And right here let me tell you, with a
feeling of pride, that I never had a quarterly return come back to me for
correction. •
Let me give you a sketch of the business at that early day, and the hardships
and tricks of some of our carriers.
The Hudson's Bay Company, before the establishing of the Crow Wing
Route, always sent special messengers or carriers every spring and fall to St.
Paul with the mail from their outposts in the North and Northwest, consisting
of a thousand or more letters and packages, all mailed at the postoffice in St.
Paul for their establishments in Canada and England.
490 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The mail from Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, was generally carried by two men
by cart or dog train. Occasionally it was packed by men on their backs, some-
times, if in winter, via the Red Lake and Crow Wing route, but generally by the
cart route via Ottertail Lake and Crow Wing.
The postoffice having been established, Mr. Kittson appointed postmaster, and
contract for carrying the mail let, the governor of the Hudson's Bay Company
was notified and postal arrangements were made between the United States postal
department and the governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, that all mail matter
from the company. Prince Rupert's land, British possessions, should be mailed
at Pembina, Wisconsin Territory, with United States postage stamps, prepaid at
the rates of our domestic and foreign contract the same as our own mail. The
route was established as a monthly mail leaving Pembina the first of every
month, with no specified time for arrival at Crow Wing, or return, though it
must be within the month, and be made with all possible dispatch and as little
delay as circumstances permitted.
Our carriers were all half breeds, the best and most reliable men to be had.
Our best man was "Savage" (Joseph) Mountrail. He had the endurance of a
blood hound. Tough as an oak knot, fearless and faithful. To verify the above
I will relate an instance on one of his trips: It was made in the fall when the
rivers and lakes were just freezing over. We started him out on foot with his
brother Alex as his assistant. The trip to Crow Wing was made in time but with
considerable hardships. The return mail was large and had to be carried on the
back. One carried the mail, the other the grub, bedding, etc. They met with no
mishaps until arrival at Thieving River. Alex was then taken sick and would
have to be carried. A white man would have cached the mail and seen to his
brother. Not so with "Savage." He endeavored to pack Alex, the mail, grub
and all, but made slow progress. He took the mail and grub, leaving Alex, and
making a few miles, would return for him, and then again the mail, and so on
until he arrived at Pembina on the sixth day from Thieving River. That is only
one instance in many of these voyageurs. I had on the route one Paul Beauvier
who was as tough, if that is what to call it, as man can get to be. But he was a
voyageur and every inch of him. He never, even in the coldest of weather, wore
a cap or hat. A blue cloth capot, without lining, with a capecha or hood attached,
which was seldom worn on his head even in the coldest of weather, was his
usual dress. He always went with an open breast, with nothing but a cotton shirt
no matter if the mercury showed 20 or more degrees below zero. As an equivo-
cator he was a success. He would spin out yarn after yarn finer than any gum
string could possibly be stretched.
I always gave him provisions sufficient for the round trip, but in Red I-ake
Village he would lay over two or three days, and in the morning when he wanted
to leave for Crow Wing he would apply to the resident missionary, Mr. Wright,
for grub to take him to Crow \^'ing, ha\ing played high old revel with the dusky
maidens of the village until his supplies were exhausted.
On one occasion, after getting his supplies from the unsuspecting missionary
to last him to Crow Wing, before he got to the last wigwam or tepee of the village
he hadn't a mouthful left for the trip. He knew they were cutting a road through
from Crow Wing to Cass Lake and concocted a plan to euchre the overseer out
of grub enough to take him through to Red Lake Village on his return trip. He
iw* JViik*— ■'^ -''^^SSE^ yfa-: -Y^, i'^fJ* '
VIEW OF MINOT IN 1893
A settlement of tents
DECORATIOX FOR ELKS' CONVENTION, MINOT, 1914
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 491
struck the contractor or overseer some miles west of their encampment and told
him a flowery yarn of how the roaring Red River had robbed him of all his
provisions and asked the loan of enough to take him to Crow Wing, and that he
would replace it on his return, and succeeded in getting what he wanted. In
returning home Paul knew about where they were working the road, and took a
straight cut some distance from the dog trail. He therefore kept the old trail
and passed without drawing a growl from the dogs, getting home O. K. Those
fellows may be looking for him yet.
In 1853 I went into partnership with Forbes &. Kittson at Indian trading.
In 1854 I moved to St. Joseph, now Walhalla, and took charge of the post. From
there I had to make a monthly trip to Pembina to attend to the arrival and
departure of the mail. Tiring of that I recommended to the postoffice department
at Washington the appointment of Joseph Rolette as postmaster, giving my
reasons for it. He was duly appointed and held the office for several years, but
failing to make out his regular quarterly returns on August 31, 1861, Joseph Y.
Buckman (not Buckhannan) was appointed.
Buckman and Captain Donaldson were elected to the Territorial Legislature
that year. They worked through the session at Yankton that winter. Donaldson
returned to Pembina in the spring. Buckman never came back. He died the next
year, but where I can't, nor is it necessary here to tell how.
Donaldson, I believe, was the next postmaster. John E. Sheals was appointed
June 26, 1863. After Major Hatch's battalion left in the spring of 1864, Sheals
went to Fort Garry, and left me to run the office as assistant. Collector of
Customs Joseph Leniay and Joseph Rolette sculdugged, through Capt. f. B. Todd,
the appointment of Charles Murneau, and removed Sheals. I knew nothing about
it until T saw Murneau's appointment and bond drop out of the mail pouch.
"Now, Mr. Lemay; after I am through with this mail I'll attend to you." And
I most assuredly did — did it without one apology, or cream on the pudding.
Joe Rolette came in while we were at it and I soon learned that he had a finger
in the pie. I said to Joe, "Now as you took the trouble to write to Captain Todd
for the appointment of Mr. Murneau, just sit up to this table and ask Mr. Todd
to have the appointment canceled and have Charles Cavileer appointed." Toe
most kindly did as I requested.
Murneau never acted as postmaster of Pembina.
April 28, 1865, Charles Cavileer was appointed and held the office for twenty
years, when his son, E. K. Cavileer, under appointment of January 15, 1884,
succeeded him. James R. Webb was appointed December 26, 1886. His bond
never was accepted or completed, and E. K. Cavileer still holds the office. —
Charles Cavalier, in the Record, April, 1896.
EARLY HISTORY BISM.\RCK POSTOFFICE — WHY SECRET.\RY OF WAR EELKNAP WA.S
IMPEACHED ORVILLE GRANT AND THE INDIAN TRADERSHIPS
By Linda W. Slaughter
In December, 1872, the people of Edwinton, now Bismarck, tired of uncer-
tainties in the military mail service, then carried by the quartermaster at Fort
Abraham Lincoln, petitioned for the establishment of a mail route from Fargo
to Edwinton and for the establishment of a postoffice. They also petitioned for
492 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
my appointment as postmaster, which petition was endorsed favorably by the
military authorities at Fort Abraham Lincoln. The postoffice was established
February 7, 1873, but Maj. S. A. Dickey, then post trader at Fort A. Lincoln,
whose brother was in Congress from Pennsylvania, received the appointment as
postmaster. Fort A. Lincoln was then known as Fort McKean, and as a post-
office was established at that point soon afterwards Major Dickey could not hold
the office at Edwinton as he resided beyond the delivery of the office. He resigned
in my favor and I opened the office in March, 1873, as his deputy. It was then
held that a married woman could not file a bond, so my husband, Dr. B. F.
Slaughter, was appointed in April, and in August I became his assistant in name,
but had full charge of the office for him as I had previously had for Major Dickey.
The salary was fixed at the munificent sum of $12 per annum. In June, 1873,
the office was changed in name from Edwinton to Bismarck, so named in order
to attract the attention of German capital to the Northern Pacific Railroad, then
under construction. The great chancellor acknowledged the compliment in an
autograph letter to Secretary Wilkinson of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
In the meantime Doctor Slaughter had gone to Washington and so impressed
the department with the importance of the office that the salary was raised to
$790 for the year 1S74.
There were then rumors of corruption in connection with freighting, con-
tracting and in the Indian and military traderships on the Missouri River, and
Ralph Meeker put in an appearance with credentials from James Gordon Bennett
of the New York Herald, with instructions to investigate and report the facts as
to the alleged abuses at the Fort Berthold Indian Agency and other points. He
brought to me letters of introduction asking my aid to secure him employment at
the Berthold Agency in order that he might have better opportunities for investi-
gation. This I accomplished through the help of a commandant of one of the
upriver posts, and Meeker went to work as a common laborer on the agency
farm, under the assumed name of J. D. Thompson. His letters were dated Bis-
marck and mailed at this office, having been sent under cover to me for that
purpose.
One of these letters contained a terrible arraignment of Orville Grant, brother
of the President, for his conduct of the Missouri River post traderships. These
letters created a sensation in Bismarck and at the adjacent posts, and, indeed,
throughout the country, and every elTort was made to discover their author.
Threats of violence were even made should he be discovered. At length an
observant route agent, as the railway postal clerks were then called, reported that
I was the author. Mindful of the danger to the actual author should the truth
be known, I did not deny the report. Orville Grant hastened to Washington
and secured my summary removal and the appointment of a gentleman associated
with him in the Fort Stevenson tradership as my successor.
There was commotion among the people of Bismarck when the truth came to
be known. Public meetings were held and a petition sent for my reinstatement.
The old cannon, still owned by the city, which used to be a part of the armament
of the Ida Stockdale, was planted on the square where the band stand now is and
joined in the general protest made by vigorous speakers. They adjourned the
public meeting to the postoffice where they assured me of their confidence and
support.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 493
The commandants of the mihtary posts, who received their mail through the
Bismarck postoffice, also sent protests against my removal.
The Herald correspondence had been instigated by members of the United
States Senate who feared that an expose of the abuses of which they were cogni-
zant would mean the downfall of their party unless the system of farming out the
traderships existing under General Belknap could be stopped.* President Grant
with his well known fidelity to friends, refused to even listen to the complaints.
It was for that reason that the party leaders determined to make the expose even
if the President's own brother should be involved. When the news of my
removal reached these gentlemen they sought an interview with Postmaster-Gen-
eral Jewell, and I was reinstated. A new commission dated August 15, 1875,
was afterwards sent me, with a kind personal letter from the postmaster-general.
About this time the actual writer of these sensational letters, who had been
steadily following the plow on the agency farm, was discovered. He narrowly
escaped assassination at the agency and made his way to Fort Stevenson whence
he was sent under escort to Bismarck. His discovery caused a revolution in my
favor and those who had previously been my enemies became my friends.
^ ^ ^;- ^ ;j: if: * •;: ^ *
On July 17, 1873, the county commissioners of Burleigh County appointed
mt county superintendent of schools and in November I was elected to that
position by the people. A question having arisen as to whether I was eligible
Chief Justice Peter C. Shannon decided that a woman who had the qualifications
of an elector as to residence and in other respects than as to sex, and was possessed
of the scholarly attainments requisite, was eligible. My right to hold two offices
was later questioned and in order to settle the question I wrote the postmaster-
general and his reply was that "the annual salary of your office so nearly approxi-
mates $1,000 that it is not deemed expedient for you to accept the office of
county superintendent of schools." Whereupon I wrote this, my resignation:
"Bismarck, Dakota, January 2c;, 1873.
"Hon. Marshall Jewell, Postmaster-General,
"Washington, D. C.
"Dear Sir: I hereby tender my resignation of the office of postmaster at Bis-
marck, Dakota, in favor of Clement A. Lounsberry of the Bismarck Tribune, to
take effect at the close of the present fiscal year, June 30, 1876. I resign the
office because a sufficient allowance is not made for clerk hire and the duties of
the office have become too onerous for me. I recommend Colonel Lounsberry
for the position because he is a man of integrity and popular with our people, as
* Meeker returned the next winter and aided by Custer and others developed more fully
the scoundrelism which was then the rule in relation to the post traderships. The Indian
traderships were in the hands of Orville Grant. He furnished the opportunity and others
the money and received half the proceeds. The military traderships were controlled by the
wife of the secretary of war who received a gift of $12,000 per annum from each of the
posts at Forts Buford. Lincoln and Rice, and smaller sums from other posts, in return
for the appointment of her friends as traders. It was these facts which led to the impeach-
ment of Secretary Belknap and incidentally to the Custer massacre. General Custer's soul
went out in sympathy to the oppressed and especially to the Indians whom he loved and
who had profound respect and admiration for him. Custer never told an Indian a lie.
It was he who was instrumental in bringing Meeker back.
494 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
I should regret to see the office to which I have devoted so much time and care,
fall into unworthy hands.
"With grateful remembrance of your past kindness, and wishes for your
future, I am sincerely your friend,
"Linda W. Slaughter, P. M.,
"Bismarck, Dakota."
At this time I appointed F. D. Bolles assistant postmaster, and the office was
at once moved to the Bismarck Tribune office, where he was employed as a
printer. Later my resignation was amended to take effect April i, 1876, when
Colonel Lounsberry was appointed and served until his resignation in November,
1885.
A WAR REMINISCENCE
Sitting in the office of Augustus Haight at Jamestown, talking of the war
and its incidents Mr. Haight mentioned the fact that he was in Washington
when Ellsworth was killed. May 24, 1861. "And I was in Alexandria," responded
Colonel Lounsberry. "I heard the shot ; I saw the bloody stairway and the life-
less body." "And I," responded Mr. Haight, "accompanied his remains to his
old home and delivered a letter to his father which Colonel Ellsworth handed me
the evening before his death to be franked and mailed. I was employed in the
office of the secretary of state under William H. Seward. That morning 1 was
up early and out on Penn Avenue, W'ashington. An orderly hastening down
the avenue at a furious pace told me, in response to my inquiries, of Ellsworth's .
fate. I hurried to the White House and Mr. Lincoln, in response to my 'good
morning, Mr. President,' replied "but it is a sad one. Be seated, Secretary
Cameron will soon arrive and we shall know the truth.' Colonel Ellsworth had
handed me two letters the evening before to be franked by some member of
Congress, as the soldiers were allowed free postage. After coming from the
White House, I met Congressman \'an Wyck, who franked them. One was
addressed to Colonel Ellsworth's father and was handed by me to him at the
Astor House, New York, as I was chosen by President Lincoln as one of the
escort to go with the remains to his home in Saratoga, N. Y. We were
born in the same town and were school boys together. The other was addressed
to Miss Spofford, Rockford, III, to whom he was to be married. This I sent by
the hand of a friend. I went with the remains as stated. There were immense
crowds everywhere. John Brown was the first martyr for liberty, Ellsworth
was the second, or at least was so regarded. His death fired the northern heart
and the flame of patriotism was fanned as if by a gale.''
"And I," responded Colonel Lounsberry, "was a member of the Marshall
Light Guards which became Company I in the First ■Michigan Infantry, which
was organized April 24. 1861, and reached Washington May i6th, being the first
western regiment to reach the capital. Ellsworth came about the same time and
was quartered in the capital. The marble room of the Senate chamber was used
for their commissary supplies. Alexandria was captured by our regiment and
Ellsworth's. Ellsworth went by steamer: We crossed over the Long Bridge and
marched over, arriving at daybreak. We captured Captain Ball's company of
NORTH DAKOTA STATE INSANE ASYLUM, JAMESTOWN
FARM SCENE NEAR JAMESTO\VN
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 495
Virginia cavalry consisting of thirty-five mounted men. It is a noteworthy
fact that a mistaken order prevented bloodshed. Wilcox, our colonel, was com-
manding. He ordered Captain Butterworth of the Coldwater Cadets to deploy
his company as skinnishers and fire on Ball's company. Butterworth under-
stood the order to 'file' on them and waited for further orders. After getting in
position as skirmishers, Ball surrendered. By the way, he was a cousin of
ex-]\Iayor Ball, of Fargo.
"In the meantime Ellsworth noted a Confederate flag flying over the Marshall
House. He took Corporal Brownell and a file of soldiers and went to pull it
down. Jackson, the proprietor of the hotel stood guard with a shotgun, swear-
ing he would kill the first man who touched it or attempted to pull it down.
Ellsworth attempted to pass him and was killed by Jackson and he by Brownell:
This was about sunrise and it cast a gloom over our spirits which it took days
to remove. We built Fort Ellsworth and occupied it until a few days before
first Bull Run, and I was associated with Ellsworth's regiment at first Bull Run,
where I was wounded and being captured, was taken to Libby Prison."
Mr. Haight was in the state department at W'ashington with William H.
Seward, and was a member of the Cassius M. Clay battalion, organized for the
defense of Washington, at the breaking out of the war. Later he raised a com-
pany and served till the close of the war as a captain in the Forty-second Wisconsin.
THE FICTION OF JEFF DAVIS IN SKIRTS
When gathering material for North Dakota History, this writer found in
the possession of Ransom Phelps, of Breckenridge, a program of the first
dance given at Wahpeton. It was neatly printed by the Minneapolis Tribune.
It was called a "Fancy Dress Ball," for the dedication of the first business house
in Chahinkapa (Wahpeton), on Monday, July 6, 1874. The music was by Howe's
Wild Rice Band. The committee of arrangements was D. Wilmot Smith, J.
Mourin, J. W. Blanding and M. T. Rich. The floor managers were J. Q. Bur-
bank, R. Phelps and C. B. Falley.
Ransom Phelps and D. Wilmot Smith were military telegraph operators dur-
ing the war, and Phelps has in his possession the originals of many important
messages. He has a manifold copy of the bulletins of Secretary Stanton an-
nouncing the surrender of Lee ; Grant's dispatches, etc. He was the operator in
the New York office who received the message. He has a message from P. T.
Barnum, dated Hartford, May 17, 1865, directing his manager at New York to
"Put outside a picture of Jeff Davis in petticoats, represented as running, ex-
posing his boots and scolding the Government for its want of magnanimity in
chasing women," and Jeff went into history in that plight.
Phelps wrote George Francis Train for his autograph. Train replied, writ-
ing in red and blue :
"Citizen
"Ransom Phelps.
"Seven years ago I stopped animal food and hand shaking.
"Long since I gave up lectures, stage, or contact with adults.
"April loth I stopped talking with grown people and this may be my last
autograph.
"April 23, 1881. George Francis Train."
496 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
BLAKELY DURANT, THE COMPOSER AND ORIGINAL SINGER OF ONE OF OUR MOST
STIRRING AND POPULAR WAR SONGS
Died in Grand Forks, N. D., September 20, 1894, Blakely Durant, more
familiarly known through this Northwest, if not over the entire country as "Old
Shady." At his funeral, which occurred at the Baptist Church in that city, his
remains were escorted by the Willis A. Gorman Post, G. A. R. ; also by Company
F, North Dakota National Guard, and the Grand Forks City Band.
Blakely Durant was born at Fort Madison, Miss., a short distance south of
Natchez, in 1826, and was, therefore, at the time of his death, in his sixty-ninth
year. When but a child his parents emigrated to Texas. His father soon after
died, when his mother removed with her family to Cincinnati, Ohio, when he
was but seven years of age. At that early day, 1833, there were no public schools
in Cincinnati for the education of children of negro parents. However, "Old
Shady" acquired a good, sound, practical education, which in fifteen years proved
to be the foundation of a wide range of information, which so enriched his life
in after years. When still quite young, Durant removed to Mercer County, Ohio.
Here he soon after married and continued to reside on a farm until the breaking
out of the War of the Rebellion.
When the news of General Sherman's death reached Grand Forks, there was
none who mourned the sad event more than did "Old Shady," the general's
famous "Singing Cook." He said: "I saw General Sherman at the encamp-
ment in Minneapolis in 1884, but had no opportunity to speak with him then.
About one month later the old general passed through Grand Forks, when I met
him at the depot and had some fifteen minutes or more of conversation with him.
At first the old general did not seem to know me, but when I told him that I was
really 'Old Shady,' the very same 'Old Shady' who had so long followed his
fortunes in the war, I thought he would shake me to pieces. The old general
asked me more questions in the few moments allotted to us than I could possibly
answer, and they followed thick and fast one after another. That, said 'Old
Shady,' was the last time I ever saw the dear old general alive, but, I have
always corresponded with him since, and he has sent me his photogrpah ; also
that of his wife. I always thought a great deal of the old general, and in return
he seemed to think a great deal of me. General Sherman was a man who never
made any pretensions, but he was always very plain, strict and straight-forward
in his dealings with me and his soldiers."
When General" Sherman's funeral occurred at St. Louis, that same faithful
friend, "Old Shady," was true to his love, and was there, and there was none to
mourn more than he, the faithful old colored servant, who followed the remains
of his dear old general to their last resting place.
Blakely Durant entered the army as a private soldier, in February, 1862, in
the Seventy-first Ohio \'olunteer Infantr)', which regiment was in General Sher-
man's division. From the very first he was detailed as cook for the officer's
mess. The Seventy-first Regiment started from Camp Todd, at Troy, Ohio,
and went to Paducah, where they were brigaded with the Fifty-fourth Ohio, and
the Fifty-fifth Illinois. Col. David Stewart, of the Fifty-fifth Illinois was made
commander of the brigade. From that time until after the battle of Shiloh "Old
Shady" saw General Sherman almost constantly.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 497
"Old Shady" entered General McPherson's service soon after the battles of
Fort Donelson and Shiloh, going through to Vicksburg. He was a well known
and popular caterer for the various groups of Union officers, among whom he
was a general favorite. Generals Sherman and McPherson were his chosen
princes. It was through the corps commander at Paducah that he first met and
became acquainted with General Sherman, who ever afterwards claimed "Old
Shady" as a part of his essential following.
The hero of the famous march "From Atlanta to the Sea," feelingly made
■"Old Shady" the subject of an extended and very interesting sketch in his
■"Memoirs of the War," which was published in the October number of the North
American Review for 1888.
After the battle of Shiloh, "Old Shady" met General Sherman at Vicksburg,
where he was then catering for General McPherson's mess. When General
Grant's headquarters were on board the gunboat at Milliken's Bend, in the winter
of 1863, "Old Shady" was detailed as cook of Grant's mess, a position he occu-
pied for nearly three months, during which time he was nightly called into the
ladies' cabin to sing "Old Shady" and other songs for the general and his guests,
and there it was that he again attracted the attention of General Sherman.
Although not detailed, and not expected to serve in another capacity than that
of cook, "Old Shady" often found opportunities to show his bravery and loyalty.
At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, when a retreat had been ordered, the Seventy-
first Ohio having been suddenly surprised by the enemy while at dinner, "Old
Shady," observing that the Seventy-first Ohio regimental colors had been for-
gotten in the hasty retreat, quietly took his favorite guitar, returned to the old
camping grounds, secured the colors and triumphantly brought them into camp ;
but in so doing lost his guitar which he prized so highly. The officers, however,
did not forget his bravery, and soon after presented him with a new and very
handsome guitar, which was still in his possession at the time of his death.
In his flattering account of "Old Shady," as published in the North American
Review, General Sherman wrote of his famous song, "Old Shady," as follows :
"I do believe that since the prophet Jeremiah bade the Jews to sing for joy
among the chiefs of the nations, because of their deliverance from the house of
bondage, no truer song of gladness ever ascended from the lips of man than at
Vicksburg, when "Old Shady'' sang for us in a voice of pure melody this song
of deliverance from the bonds of slavery :
"OLD SHADY."
Yah ! Yah ! Yah ! Come laugh wid me,
De white folks say Old Shady am free,
I 'spec de year of Ju-be-lee
Am a-coming; am a-coming;
Hail, mighty day!
Chorus — Den away, den away, I can't stay here any longer.
Den away, den away, for I am goin' home.
Old Massa got scared, and so did his lady;
Dis chile break for old Uncle Aby,
498 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Open the door, for here's Old Shady
A-comin', a-comin',
Hail, mighty day!
Chorus — Den away, den away, etc.
Good-bye, Mass' Jeff, good-bye. Mass' Stephens;
'Suse dis niggah for taken his leavins,
I 'spec by and by you'll see Uncle Abraham,
A-comin', a-comin'.
Hail, mighty day!
Chorus — Den away, den away, etc.
Good-bye, hard work without any pay ;
I's goin' up north where the white folks say
Dat white wheat bread and a dollar a day
Am a-comin', a-comin'.
Hail, mighty day I
Chorus — Den away, den away, etc.
Oh! I's got a wife and a nice little baby
Way up north in the lower Canady ;
Won't they shout when they see Old Shady
A-comin', a-comin'.
Hail, mighty day !
Chorus — Den away, den away, etc.
Diirant thus spoke of the old commander and the old times :
"After the entry at Vicksburg, General Sherman was stationed on the Big
Black River, and, whenever he came to town he would generally quarter with
General McPherson. I have always found the general to be a very agreeable
gentleman — always approachable, and very strong in his attachments to the
soldiers."
"I left the army at Vicksburg, in December, 1863, and returned to Ohio, and
commenced steamboating. I settled in St. Paul, Minn., having moved to that
city in 1866."
"Old Shady" had lived at Grand Forks for twenty years before his death.
His son is a graduate of the North Dakota University.
THE HALFBREEDS OF NORTH DAKOTA
The Metis, or halfbreeds, were mostly the product of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany. The company engaged men from Canada, Scotland and England as
employes in their fur trade in the Northwest, and these men often remained in
the Hudson's Bay service their lifetime. They were usually men of vigorous,
hardy physique and their labors were onerous, full of hardship, and often of
danger and excitement. Many of them, in the absence of white women, took to
themselves Indian wives, and the offspring in time augmented in number, by in-
coming settlers, and natural increase, until at one tiine there must have been
about .3,000 scattered through what is now North Dakota and Manitoba. The
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 499
French ancestry predominated, but there were many Scotch and English half-
breeds. In these palmy days, when the prairie was open ground and the buffalo
plenty they possessed many of the characteristics of the Acadians, so pleasantly
and beautifully described by Longfellow. They were a simple folk, but honest,
merry, and led with the herds of buffalo, from which they received their chief
substance, almost pastoral lives.
BUFFALO HUNTING
The history of the Metis, or halfbreed, and his contemporary, the buffalo,
is of peculiar interest. While the old halfbreed of the prairie has scattered all
over the Northwest, and is being mingled and lost among the greater number
of later white immigrants, yet there are many of them still with us, whose earlier
years were spent in hunting over these prairies, making their livelihood by the
fruits of the trap or gun. The buffalo are gone and practically extinct, except
a few that are preserved in private or national parks; but their traces are still
plentiful and show proof of the immense herds that used to feed on the vast
prairie pastures of this valley and the adjacent hills and plateaus lying westward.
Deep worn paths along the hillsides still look as if made by herds of cattle a
season or two ago ; great hollows in the ground yet remain where the buffalo
have eaten the salty soil ; and now and then the farmer plows up a huge bone
or skull that remains as a mark of the grave of one of these monarchs of the
plains. In some places these bones are found in such quantities that persons
have made a business of collecting them by the wagon load, and thousands of
tons have been sent east to be ground up for fertilizers, etc.
But the history of the buffalo and of the people who lived on them and hunted
them, is not ancient history. In 1877 a caravan of Red River carts came to
Pembina for a market, and at that time dried buffalo meat and pemmican could
be bought at stores and were common articles of traffic.
The grand summer buff'alo hunt was always the chief event of the year.
From the 8th of June until the 15th, the hunters would assemble at some
central place in the eastern part of the state. Bands from various points in
Manitoba would join them. The brigade when made up consisted of diff'erent
nations, the largest part being of French parentage. Then there were English,
Scotch, Orkney and a few other nationalities. In the brigade there were about
six hundred carts drawn by horses and oxen, and some twelve hundred persons,
men, women and children. Being all assembled, and all arrangements made,
the officers were appointed by some leader, from councilmen to constables,
guides, etc. ; the route determined upon after hearing the report of scouts, sent
out to find where big bands of buffalo were ranging, the brigade would form in
lines, three or four according to the size of the party, to make a move for the
nearest buff'alo. Then they would strike out for the plains, sometimes for the
Cheyenne, Devils Lake, Mouse River, Jim River or Turtle Mountain. As soon
as they found buff'alo they would follow them up for days, whichever way they
ran.
When the hunters see the herd they trot along slowly until they get within
a half a mile of the animals. Some are standing, some lying down, ahd a few
500 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
feeding, and as they begin to rise tlie hunters go a little faster, but not to pass
the captain who is supposed to have the poorest horse in the brigade, the captains
being all old men. The buffalo are some one hundred and fifty or two hundred
yards in advance. The hunters are abreast, three or four feet apart, and when
the captains say "Ho ! Ho !" all are off like a flash. The guns are all loaded, each
hunter has three or four bullets in his mouth, and bullet pouch and powder horn
at his side. The guns were the old Hudson's Bay Company's Nor- West-trading
made especially for the trade, long stock and flintlock, priming themselves, and
carrying a ball equal to a rifle and with force enough to pass through a buffalo
bull. In loading the gun after the first shot the powderhorn with a large opening,
was given three shakes in the closed left hand for the right charge of powder;
the gun in the right hand; a ball was taken from the mouth and the powder
poured into the gun, which was shaken sufficiently to send all to the breach and
putting the priming in the pan. The ball was then dropped into the muzzle of
the gun whence it rolled down and rested on the powder, using no wad. Then
they were ready for another shot, and so on to the end of the chase.
In the meantime the buffalo were breaking prairie and raising dust enough
to create a cyclone. In the race each will average killing from eight to ten ani-
mals, and some of the best shooters as high as twenty. In shooting to make dead
sure, aim about half way up the ribs behind the left shoulder into the heart, the
runner being from five to ten feet from the animal. Sometimes they have to
shoot from either side of the victim, but always behind the shoulder. So on to
the end of the race from the time they get into the herd, say one mile or a mile
and a half. The women follow right up with the carts to load the meat and take
back to camp. The race ended the hunters return to the beginning of the chase,
each man taking his own row. Each gun charge has the mark of the runner,
one buck shot, or whatever his mark may be ; others two buck shot, some with
shot of different sizes, and others slugs, so there is very seldom a dispute as to
the killing of the animal.
Some of the hunters with poor horses, not fast enough to run in the chase,
when they find runners with more cows than they want or can take care of, buy
an animal for five shillings and in that way all, in starting for home, when the
hunt has been good, return loaded. The men then skin and cut up the animals,
leaving mostly bones for the wolves to fight over. The meat is then loaded into
the carts and drawn home by the women, boys and girls.
For eighteen days we were in sight of buffalo and chased, as we required the
meat for making pemmican, and dried meat enough to fill the carts for our return
home.
In all we were among the buffalo for six or eight weeks. Full loaded we
turned faces homeward, rejoicing and thankful that no serious mishaps had
befallen us.
Arriving, each one takes the meat from the carts and piles it in a good place.
The women then cut it into thin slabs about a quarter of an inch thick, two feet
wide and four feet long. They then make a long rack with poles. After this
stakes are driven in the ground and the poles are tied on with cords cut from the
parchment skin of dry buffalo hide. The slabs of meat are put on these poles
commencing on the lower and so on to the top. In this way it is dried in the
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 501
sun, and in good favorable weather will dry in a day and a half. It is then put
in bales two and a half feet long, eighteen inches wide and eighteen high. Then
tied with buffalo cord in a solid pack and it is ready for the carts to be taken to
a chosen place where water and wood is convenient as well as grazing for the
horses and cattle.
The long, thin, dry strips are then taken and placed on the flesh side of a
buffalo hide, or the cart cover, and beaten into a mass of shreds with flails. Then
it is thrown into large kettles of hot tallow and when thoroughly mixed is poured
hot into sacks prepared for it, made from buffalo hide and sewn up with sinews
which hold from fifty to a hundred and fifty pounds each. These sacks were
permitted to keep the fur on but as a rule the less valuable hides are used to make
them. After the pemmican is cooled it becomes so hard that it often requires a
heavy blow to break it. It will keep many years if properly taken care of, and
contains a vast amount of nutriment to the pound. It is eaten in this form, or
can be cooked with vegetables, or in other ways. Tongues were made into berry
pemmican. They were treated with marrow fat, berries and maple sugar and
thus made a very palatable dish. Tenderloin whipped into shreds and served
with marrow fat was a feast for the epicure. The buffalo tongues were dried
sliced or whole, and often buffalo were killed for the tongues alone. — Charles
Cavileer, in The Record, April, 1896.
HALF-BREED WEDDINGS
Entering the church, the bride and groom with their best fellows march up
to the altar. The priest joins them together, pronounces them man and wife and
gives them a benediction. Then everybody comes to the front to kiss the bride,
and to refuse would be considered a gross insult and probably cause a scrap with
the groom at some future time. After the ceremony they go en masse to the
bride's home where a bounteous repast is spread, consisting of pemmican, raw
and hashed with onions, dried meat in slabs and hashed with onions or garlic,
fresh fish from the Pembina River, game from the prairies and woods, "gallette"
as flour is scarce, potatoes and vegetables, with a dessert of pies, puddings and
wild berries, topped off with the always present wedding cake which is always
a stunner. Sometimes when the bride is sitting in a chair with one foot crossed
over the other, in deep thought, probably dreaming of the happy future, some rude
scamp quietly slips off one of her slippers, leaving her to stump around with one
shoeless foot. The moccasin is then put up at auction to the highest bidder, the
groom buying it at two pound sterling, which he had to pay, the money being spent
for the good of the company.
At the table none but the men or braves sit down, while the women sit on the
floor in the comers, and when the onslaught commenced it was a thing of joy
and beauty to behold, but when finished the scraps are few and lean. They eat,
fiddle and dance, and dance, fiddle and eat at the bride's home as long as the eat-
ables last, when they depart for the groom's home where the same performance
is gone through, then the old style, until another wedding or something else
turns up to change the scene or program. — Charles Cavileer.
The halfbreed Indians who were the first occupants of the country had ranged
over the country from the days of the old Hudson's Bay voyageurs, sometimes on
502 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
one side of the line and sometimes on the other. Now they were on the Pembina
Hills, again on the headwaters of the James, and then here or perhaps on the
woody mountains on the British side. The prairies and hills were their home,
hunting and fishing their occupation, and for a time it was very doubtful as to
whether Canada or the United States was their country; but after the half breed
troubles in Canada they settled down in the Turtle Mountains to the number of
about three thousand, of whom the greater number have been recognized as
American Indians. Some of those Canadian born have become naturalized and
are good citizens and good farmers.
JARED W. DANIELS
Jared W. Daniels was appointed agent of all of the treaty Sioux in 1868 and
went to Fort Totten and established the Indian agency there in the spring of
1869. General Whistler, a veteran of the Mexican war, was then in command
of the fort which had been built there in 1867. In the spring of 1869 Doctor
Daniels also established the Sisseton Agency at the Sisseton Reservation. Find-
ing Devils Lake required additional care, he recommended the appointment of
a special agent there, and Doctor Forbes of St. Paul was appointed, but Doctor
Daniels remained as the agent at Fort Wadsworth on the Coteaux till 1872.
Fort Ransom, at the bend of the Sheyenne, was occupied by troops under Colonel
Hall. Guards were sent with all supplies, but the doctor traveled everywhere
with an ambulance and a couple of Indian guides.
Rolette's cart line — pembina and st. paul
Hon. Charles E. Flandrau, writing of Joseph Rolette, gives facts of historic
interest in relation to Rolette and the creation of the cart line from Pembina to
St. Paul, which sometimes embraced as many as six hundred carts :
"In his boyhood, young Joe Rolette was sent to New York City to be edu-
cated under the supervision of Ramsey Crooks, at that time president of the
American Fur Company. Judge Flandrati relates that when the pioneer boy
first appeared on the streets of the metropolis he was dressed in a full suit of
buckskin and carried a rifle on his shoulder. Tradition has it that he was a sort
of a madcap young fellow, fonder of adventure than of books and study, though
in one of his letters among the Sibley papers Mr. Crooks speaks of him as 'getting
on very well' and 'giving promise of becoming a useful man.' When he left
New York for his home on the frontier he had a good education and some accom-
plishments, in addition to his natural bright, buoyant spirits, enthusiasm and quick
wit.
"On his return from New York young Rolette entered the service of his
father in the fur trade. About 1840 he was sent up into the Red River country
and located at a post on the present site of Pembina. He was then under the
direction of General Sibley, who was in general charge of the fur company's
business in this region, and whose headquarters were at Mendota or St. Peter's.
as it was then called. In 1843, i" connection with his mother's brother, a Mr.
Fisher, he started a line of carts between Pembina and St. Paul. About this time
General Sibley sent Norman W. Kittson to take charge of the fur trade in the
<;
K
ft
>
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 503
Red River country, and Rolette became Kittson's lieutenant. Kittson indorsed
Joe's project for a cart line between Pembina and St. Peter's and added another
line. In 1844 six carts came down during the year.
"In 1858 this number had increased to 600, and in the meantime a very
important part of the fur traffic had been diverted from the routes of the Plud-
son's Bay Company to St. Paul. It is not too much to say that it was this species
of commerce that made St. Paul a city. In the conduct of his business Joe was not
very careful or methodical, but always meant to be faithful to the interests of his
company. He was always alert in protecting its rights. The American traders
at the Red River posts suffered great losses from time to time from the aggres-
sion of the Hudson's Bay Company's men. The latter, no doubt encouraged by
their superiors, frequently passed over the boundary between Canada and the
United States and engaged in unrestricted traffic with the Indians on American
soil, furnishing the savages with unlimited quantities of whisky, which the
American traders were forbidden under severe penalties to sell. In vain did
Kittson protest and remonstrate and ask for protection and redress. General
Sibley could not help him and the Government would not. At last, in 1847, some
Canadian traders came down near Pembina and set up a post two miles from
Joe Rolette's so-called factory and sent out runners to the Indians that they
wanted their furs and that they had plenty of money and whisky galore. Before
they had fairly begun operations Rolette took a dozen or so of his plucky retain-
ers, half-breed Indians for the most part, marched against the intruding Brit-
ishers, tumbled their goods out of their houses, burned their houses to the ground
and drove the traders and their retainers in dismay back into Canada. It is
needless to say that this put a check on the trespassing for a considerable time,
and there were no internal arbitrations or deliberations, or any sort of complica-
tions over the matter, either. Writing of this incident to Sibley, Kittson said : T
fully approve of Joseph's conduct, though I do not know what the result may be.
But if the H. B. Company returns again they will be taught a severe lesson, and
one they will not soon forget.' "
Rolette died at Pembina, May 16, 1871.
AN OLD TIME TH.-VDING EXCURSION
In gathering the data for "North Dakota History," this writer met at Bottineau
S. B. Flowers, who accompanied Captain Shelton's trading expedition through
North Dakota in 1843. They left St. Louis in March. The party consisted of
Captain Shelton, with a corps of doctors and surveyors and other assistants,
and an armed guard of fifty men accompanying a pack train of 175 mules loaded
with beads and trinkets and merchandise of various kinds, especially those articles
looked upon with favor among the Indians, including a liberal supply of whisky
and blankets.
Captain Shelton would display his wares on the bright colored blankets and
found no trouble in obtaining $100 worth of furs for a cup of glass beads. The
Indians were rich in the supplies the chase afforded. One could go to any high
point, says Captain Flowers, and range a glass over the prairies in different
directions and thousands of buffalo would be brought to view. The Indians
made no complaint in those days about unfulfilled treaties, no claim that they
504 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
were starving, but instead they were proud and independent, well armed and
contented.
Captain Shelton's party met the Indians in their villages and travelled from
place to place, gathering up their furs, packing them to the mouth of the Yellow-
stone where a French trader, named Sarpee, was located and was running a line
of boats down the Missouri to St. Louis. The boats were made of skins, made
waterproof by treatment in oil, stretched over a skeleton boat about eight feet
wide and fifty feet long. Two of these lashed together would carry nearly one
htindred tons and, to use the language of Captain Flowers, would skim over the
waters like a bird. The current in the oNIissouri River is seven miles an hour and
St. Louis could be reached in sixty days from the time of leaving. The Sarpees,
one brother at Council Bluffs and the one at what afterwards became Fort
Buford, became enormously wealthy, worth a million or more, from trading
with the Indians.
Shelton's party left St. Louis in March, came up the Missouri visiting out-
lying trading points, to the mouth of the Yellowstone, up that stream to what is
now Billings, over to Brown Hole, Limkin River and Sweetwater, and then
south and east, reaching Omaha in the autumn from the Platte with his pack
animals, loaded with the fruits of the expedition.
In all of North Dakota, excepting Chas. Cavaleer at Pembina, Fred Girard
over on the Missouri, and Sarpee at the mouth of the Yellowstone, there were
no white inhabitants, excepting a few of the old voyageurs intermarried with
the Indians, from whom came the tribe of half-bloods heretofore mentioned.
THE BATTLE OF BIG MEADOW
In March, 1876, Oscar Ward led a party from Bismarck to the Black Hills
consisting of Andrew Collins, Joe Alitchell, Hite Stoyell, and eight others. They
were joined on the Little Heart by William Budge, D. M. Holmes, J. S. Eschel-
man, Thomas C. Hall, A. F. McKinley, G. H. McFadden, James Williams, Peter
Grenden, William Myric, James Jenks, and fifty-three others. The party were
scattered along the trail covering a distance of about four miles. Camping at
Big Meadow the Indians stampeded twenty-seven head of stock and a party of
fourteen went out to search for them. Thomas Gushing was in charge of this.
Oscar Ward gave this writer the following account of the battle on his return
from the Black Hills :
"We saw three Indians ; one disappeared. Smith continued on the trail of
the cattle, and the Indians fired on him, Smith returning the fire. George and I
came up and advanced toward the Indians, skulking around the hills. We
finally raised up quickly in order to draw their fire. Both fired, and then we
raised up and gave it to them. One Indian rode away, and the pony of the other
followed. Smith said we had downed one of them. Others of our party had
come up, and we followed up and retook the cattle. There were many Indians
off on the hills. We formed a guard around the cattle and the Indians began to
circle around us. We drove the cattle from one hill to another, fighting all the
way. We saw thirty-five Indians, and there were but fourteen of us. Scat-
tered as we were, the Indians were too much for us.
"James Jenks and I were together. Billy Budge was in the party. Alt
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 505
started, but we succeeded in stopping them, and we all made for the top of a
high ridge. Smith and Jim Williams were ahead and got over the ridge about
two hundred yards, when the Indians shot both Williams and his horse. His thigh
was broken by an arrow. The Indians closed in on all sides, and we fought it
out right there. Jenks shot one Indian as they attempted to cut off Collins,
whose horse was shot, and who was also shot through the knee. It was wonder-
ful what a jump that Indian made when the ball hit him. He went off hopping
on one leg, making fearful leaps. Brother George was shot through the shoulder
and his pony killed. He and Budge stood together. Another shot struck my
brother, and Budge called to me that he was killed.
"George was the only one killed, Williams and Collins were the only ones
seriously wounded. We lost seven horses on the hill and made breastworks of
them when they fell. There were but two of the fourteen which were not
injured.
"We saw one Indian strapped to his horse. Two were holding another
on his horse. Another could not carry his gun and had one helping to hold him
on his horse and another we knew Budge killed. Budge shot the chief. They
seemed to get tired and went away. Williams fought like a tiger after he was
down. We carried him and the body of my brother to camp, fourteen miles
away, and buried him at Big Meadow.
"As we were about to start Tom Gushing said he would bet a horse that the
Indians would be on the knoll where we were fighting before we got three hun-
dred yards away. We were not two hundred yards away before there were two
Indians on the knoll.
"Budge's horse played out on the way to the knoll. He had a narrow escape
but he was a good shot and downed his Indian. Joe Mitchell and Smith rode
around to our Indian, the one we had shot in the beginning of the fight. They
found him badly wounded and finished him.
"We recovered seven or eight of the cattle but the Indians got away with the
most of them. We saw Indian signs near the hills but we got through without
much further trouble. We had a fight coming back in the fall and found one
man, who, with a companion had formed a barricade of their goods and were
fighting from under their wagon. One was killed and the other wounded, and
yet they had stood off the Indians. We could not tell how many there were and
yet their axle was shot all to pieces from the many shots that struck it.
"I never knew better fighters than Budge, Jenks and Collins. After this bat-
tle the boys were willing enough to stand their trick at guard duty."
DON STEVENSON, FREIGHTER
Don Stevenson, in a letter to Colonel Lounsberry in 1897, said:
"I was the contractor at Fort Rice until that was abandoned in 1877, when
Fort Yates was built. I was the contractor at Fort Wadsworth in 1868, then
known as Kettle Lakes. Wadsworth was built in 1864, with material hauled from
Fort Ridgeley. It was located in the coteaus, twenty-two miles west of Big Stone
Lake. I was contractor at Fort Abercrombie in connection with Judge McCauley.
I freighted from St. Cloud to Fort Totten in 1866, and from Fort Stevenson to
506 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Fort Totten, the supplies having been brought up the Missouri to that point by
steamer.
"In 1876 I engaged in freighting to the Black Hills, running twenty teams,
and established a supply store at Crook City, the first town in the Black Hills.
That year I brought to Bismarck several hundred pounds of gold ore, which I
delivered to Colonel Lounsberry, who sent it to the Smithsonion Institution at
Washington. This and some rock brought to him by Capt. John W. Smith fur-
nished the first conclusive evidence to the Government of the existence of gold
in the Black Hills.
"I arrived at Big Meadow with my train from Bismarck just after the Oscar
Ward party, of which Billy Budge was a member, had their great battle with the
Indians. Theirs was the first train from Bismarck to the Hills. We found the
remains of fourteen of their horses killed by Indians. We also found their
abandoned wagons and the body of George Ward, killed in their battle. The
Indians had dug it up and stripped it of clothing. Their marks were still fresh
where they had struck it with their "coo" sticks. They had made a breastwork
of their dead horses, and had fought with desperation, driving ofl: the Indians.
The fight was going against them until Billy Budge shot White Fish, their
leading chief, when the Indians left and the party went on to the Hills.
"In 1877 I went to Fort Keogh, where I had a hay contract. I put in 3,800
tons of hay at $28 per ton, in 64 working days. I went across the plains from
Fort Abraham Lincoln, making the first freight trail from the Missouri River to
Fort Keogh. I had 95 wagons, 20 mowing machines and 10 horse rakes. There
were 125 men in my party. I put in 2,200 tons of hay the same year at Fort
Custer, and 5,000 cords of wood. McLean & Macnider, of Bismarck, were
interested with me. and had put in $70,000 before they got a cent in return. The
contracts amounted to $104,000."
CANADA INVADED AND INDIAN MURDERERS CAPTURED
W. C. Nash came from St. Paul to Grand Forks in 1863, with an expedition
to capture Little Six and Medicine Bottle, who were leaders in the 1862 mas-
sacre. They camped where Major Hamilton now lives in Grand Forks. They
found that Little Six and Medicine Bottle were on British North America soil,
and as this was the time when our Government was having trouble in the Mason
and Slidell affair, President Lincoln did not approve of doing anything to make
greater complications between our country and England. The troops did not
cross the line, but often individuals did. Nash's party sent out a Frenchman who
brought the two Indians in. They were finally secured and bound and taken to
Fort Pembina, where they were kept until spring, when they w'ere taken to Fort
Snelling, had a trial, were found guilty and hung.
The Indians were captured when drunk and were hurried across the line
strapped to dog sledges. They awakened from their dnmken stupor to find
themselves in the log jail at Pembina. Frequent attempts were made to kill them
by the apparently "accidental" discharge of firearms. Several times bullets passed
through the clothing of Little Six, but the fates saved him for the gallows.
Some of the crimes of which he was guilty were the most atrocious recorded in
the annals of Indian warfare.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 507
DANGERS OF COURIERS IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY
June 27, 1877, George W. Elder and James Gunder left Fort Abraham Lin-
coln bearing dispatches for the commanding officer at Fort Buford.
They left Fort Lincoln about 8 o'clock in the evening and were to ride by
day or night, as they felt disposed, and reached Knife River on the 30th, about
5 o'clock ; and after resting awhile, concluded to cross the Bad Lands and the Little
Missouri before daylight the next morning. They had gone four miles when
they saw eight Indians directly in front of them and about three-quarters of a
mile ofT, and knowing it was impossible to run away, reached a butte some five
hundred yards away. After dismounting and picketing their ponies on the side of
the butte, they found shelter on top behind some rocks, when the Indians charged.
They fired several shots, killing one pony and wounding an Indian. At this the
Indians divided and rode on each side of the butte until they were within six
hundred yards, when they dismounted and opened fire, but seeing the secure
position the couriers were in, the Indians fired on their ponies, killing Gunder's
and wounding Elder's. The Indians kept up a scattering fire till dark, when
they withdrew.
Securing their rations and ammunition from their ponies, they continued
their journey on foot, occasionally crawling short distances to escape observation.
Reaching a place of supposed safety they waited until morning, when they
observed two Indians on ponies a mile away. At dark they started again and
made their way to the Missouri River, some thirty miles distant, where they
hailed a passing steamer and were landed safely at Fort Stevenson and returned
by stage to Bismarck and Fort A. Lincoln.
CHAPTER XXXIII
PIONEER SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS COUNTY
Aside from the trading posts of Henry and others, Grand Forks had its
earhest beginning, so far as the records are concerned, with the organization of
Pembina County, of which it was then a part, in 1867, though for five years
it had been nominally a part of Chippewa County, which was never organized,
but the real beginning of its history was in 1871, when John Fadden was granted
a ferry charter across the Red River at that point at $21 per annum for a period
of five years. July 3, 1871, Grand Forks was established as a polling place, the
precinct commencing at the mouth of Turtle River, thence up that stream fifteen
miles and then due south to the Goose River, thence down that stream to its
mouth and up the Red River to the place of beginning. September 4, the place
of beginning was changed to the mouth of Park River and west to the Pembina
mountains. Thomas Walsh, John Fadden and S. C. Code were appointed judges
of election, and the first election was held at the house of John Stuart, at the
site of the present City of Grand Forks.
In 1873 Grand Forks County was established by act of the Legislature, and
George B. Winship, John W. Stuart and Ole Thompson were appointed by the
Legislature to organize the county. Its boundaries as then organized were later
changed, a part going to Walsh County and a part to Nelson.
In 1873 Frank Veits, who had been in business two years at Georgetown,
took charge of the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company at Grand Forks,
including their Northwestern Hotel, and in 1875 purchased their interests in
store, hotel and town property. In 1877 '''^ built a 50-barrel-a-day flouring mill,
an improvement of greater importance to North Dakota than any other at that
time, settlers coming from points as far as one hundred miles with grist to be
ground at this mill.. He built the Veits House, later known as the Richardson,
and later he and associates built the Dakota House.
Among the first settlers at Grand Forks, in 1871, were Capt. Alexander
Griggs, Michael L. McCormack and Thomas Walsh, the latter bringing a saw-
mill. Nick Huffman kept the stage station, John Fadden the ferry, W. Clark
and D. F. Reeves, George B. Winship, William Budge. These, with the Hud-
son's Bay Company store and hotel were about all of Grand Forks in 1871.
Reeves built several boats that summer at Grand Forks. The engine from
the Walsh sawmill was finally sent to Winnipeg and used on the Saskatchewan.
Burbank, Blakely & Carpenter put on a line of stages from Fort Abercrombie to
Pembina in 1871. The Hudson's Bay Company had maintained a post at George-
508
THE FIRST WHOLESALE HOUSE IN NORTH DAKOTA
Conducted by Viets & Twamley. Succeeded by Twamley & Grove in the 3'ear 1879.
Mr. Glove died some years ago and Mr. Twamley retired from business but continues to
reside in Grand Forks.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 509
town for many years prior to 1873, when they moved to Grand Forks. They
had stations also at Frog Point (now Behnont), Traill County and Goose River
(now Caledonia), and at Red Lake. Their post at Red Lake was established
in 1797 and in 1801 a post was established and for several years maintained at
Grand Forks.
LARIMORE, GRAND FORKS COUNTY
Larimore takes its name from N. G. Larimore, principal owner and
general manager of the Elk Valley Farm, which immediately adjoins the city.
The farm consists of 15,000 acres, of which 10,000 are under cultivation. In
the plowing season plows start on this farm at breakfast and without stump,
stone, or other obstruction, make a furrow six miles in length and in returning
make another of the same length before dinner. In the afternoon they repeat,
men, teams and plows traveling twenty-four miles daily. The teams in plowing,
seeding and harvesting go in gangs. The forty-three harvesters, cutting 600
acres daily, form an impressive scene.
The selections of land for this farm were made soon after the surveys in
1878, and the opening of the land to settlement in 1879. Then Larimore was
conceived and in 1881 the site was laid out. The railroad reached Larimore
December 25, 1881. The city was laid out on the lands of the Elk Valley Farm-
ing Company, and Senator W. N. Roach became the agent for the sale of lots.
Senator Roach landed at Larimore in August, 1879. and opened the stage
line from Grand Forks to Devils Lake, carrying the first mail, being the con-
tractor.
The railroad was completed to Larimore Christmas Day, 1881, from Grand
Forks, and from Casselton to Larimore in 1883. In 1884 it was extended to
Park River.
Beginning with 1882, Larimore entered upon a boom period lasting about
three years. In 1882 it was the principal trading point for a vast extent of
country and it prospered beyond comprehension, almost. The lands were pro-
ductive ; prices for products were high and the farming lands were being devel-
oped, creating a demand for supplies of every class, and its population soon
exceeded one thousand. The wheat receipts from the crop of 1882 were 300,000
bushels.
The railroad grading commenced west of Larimore in September, 1882, and
reached Devils Lake that fall, and the track laid to Bartlett and to Devils Lake
the next summer. The country about Larimore developed rapidly and many
other farms developed, ranging from 320 to 2,500 acres. Here land could only
be obtained by means of purchase from actual settlers or by the use of the
various forms of land scrip, limiting the size of farms in comparison with Cass
and Traill counties, where the odd sections were acquired by the use of dis-
credited railroad bonds.
Visited by the World's Fair Foreign Commissioners in 1893, this farm
attracted world-wide attention and immediately gained a reputation quite equal
to the Dalrymple Farm and the Grandin farms of even greater acreage.
Col. D. M. Towner located the land for this farm and it was tlirough his
agency the title was acquired for the Missouri corporation which owned it.
510 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Other noted farms in this vicinity were the New York Farm, owned by Jane
H. Mathews, the Hersey Farm, by D. H. Hersey, and the Emery Farm at
Emerado.
CASS COUNTY WHY THE LARGE FARMS WERE ESTABLISHED
Before the failure of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in 1873, Cas-
selton was selected by George W. Cass and Peter B. Cheney, leading spirits in
the Northern Pacific enterprise and directory, as the site of an experimental
farm, with a view to proving the fertility of the Northern Pacific lands.
It was conceived that timber could be planted along the right of way of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, and that it would not only afford protection from
snow, answering the purpose of snow fences, but it would furnish timber to
replenish the ties as those in use fell into decay. It was thought that by planting
willow and cottonwood in the first instance, settlers could be supplied from the
right of way, or from the nurseries, which it was intended to establish every
twenty miles, and thus encourage the general planting of timber which would
modify the climate, break up the winds, and tend to relieve the drouth on the
plains. Accordingly, in 1872, timber was planted along the right of way from
Fargo to about Jamestown. Cuttings were procured from the forests along the
Red River and were plowed under, the prairie sod simply being turned upon
them. Most of the cuttings were dead before planting, but had they been in
the best condition not one in a million could have grown, for the ground had not
been properly prepared to receive them. Eighty thousand dollars was spent in
this experiment, and it is doubtful if a single tree was produced.
In the spring of 1873 Col. John H. Stephens, of Minneapolis, was employed
to take charge of the tree planting on the Northern Pacific Railroad and he
established a nursery for growing forest trees at Casselton, placing Mike Smith
of Minneapolis in charge. Mike planted trees and grew vegetables.
Smith's house was a Northern Pacific box car banked with sod to the roof,
making comfortable quarters even in a 40 degrees below zero temperature;
it was furnished with bunks and his table supplied with "all the luxuries the
country afl:'orded," prairie chickens and ducks in their season.
Colonel Stevens was succeeded by Leonard B. Hodges, who took charge of
the tree planting on the Northern Pacific. William Creswell in 1876 became
agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad and for their nursery, and postmaster at
Casselton.
Colonel Stevens caused a large number of tomato plants to be placed on
Colonel Lounsberry's homestead at Bismarck. They flourished and gave great
promise, as did five acres of beans, but a few million grasshoppers came in on a
gentle breeze and in half an hour there was not a green thing left on the ranch.
The selection of the Dalrymple farm and Dalrymple to take charge of it
was an incident of the Northern Pacific failure of 1873. The lands were selected
by J. B. Power in 1874 and improvements commenced the next year. J. B.
Power was then agent for the land commissioner of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, William A. Howard of Michigan, who was afterwards governor of Dakota
and died in office.
About two thousand acres had been put under cultivation and settlers had
z
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 511
commenced to come into the country, when in 1877 the townsite was laid out at
Casselton and William Creswell, the company's agent, erected the first dwelling.
The great Dalrymple farm is in the immediate vicinity of Casselton, a part
of the corporate limits. It embraces the Cass, Cheney and Alton farms, and sev-
eral farms owned by Dalrymple. About fifteen thousand acres in all. The land
was selected in 1874, was broken in part in 1S75, and the first crop in 1876, the
amount under cultivation being largely increased in 1877-8 and succeeding years.
It was purchased with discredited Northern Pacific Railroad bonds, some of
which cost Mr. Cass and his associates par value, and some from 10 to 20 cents
on the dollar. The farm was opened as an experiment and for advertising pur-
poses ; it became a bonanza to its owners and led to an era of big farming in
North Dakota.
BARNES COUNTY
This county was created January 4, 1873. Originally the county was called
Burbank, so named for John A. Burbank, governor of the territory from 1869
to 1874, but by an act of the Legislature, July 14, 1874, the name was changed
to Barnes in honor of Alphonso H. Barnes, who was an associate justice of the
territory at that time.
The first survey of lands in Barnes County was made by Charles Scott and
Richard D. Chancy in 1872. Their work was approved by the surveyor general
in January, 1873, ^"^1 filed in the land office at Pembina in September, 1873.
The lands were made subject to preemption and homesteading May ig, 1873.
The first settlers were at Valley City in 1872. County Commissioners Christian
Anderson, Otto Becker and A. J. Goodwin, appointed by Governor William A.
Howard, organized the county, August 5, 1878. There is no record of their
doings. The new board, elected in 1878 were. Christian Anderson, F. P. Wright
and Chris Paetow. L. D. Marsh qualified as register of deeds, Joel S. Weiser
as county treasurer, D. D. McFadden as sheriff, E. W. Wylie as assessor, Joel
S. Weiser as justice of the peace, Otto Becker as superintendent of schools,
James Le Due as coroner, B. W. Benson as judge of probate, at the meeting of
the board of county commissioners, January 6, 1879. George Worthington and
L. D. ]\Tarsh were the promoters of county organization and dealers in real
estate. Valley City, at first known as Wahpeton, became Worthington and
later Valley City. Marsh and Worthington contracted with the railroad com-
pany that all of the railroad lands in townships 139 and 140, range 58, should
be reserved for them at $3 per acre, payable in the bonds of the company, then
worth about nine cents on the dollar, but the contract carried a provision for
improvements and reserved section 21, in town 140, on which it was proposed
to build a town. It was agreed, however, that any settler on this reserved land
should have the privilege of purchasing a town lot at $5, or an acre outlot for
$5, but to persons other than settlers on the Marsh- Worthington contract the
price of lots was to be $10, and for acre property $25. Five-acre lots were to
be sold at $75, and ten-acre at $100. This contract was for the year 1874, but
there was provision for its extension.
D. D. McFadden, the oldest settler in Barnes County, filed the first pre-
emption entry in October, 1873, but had previously raised a crop, 150 bushels
512 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of potatoes on six acres, also some wheat, specimens of which were sent to the
St. Paul fair and received a premium. W. N. Gates made an entry on public
land November 25, 1874, on section 24, township 140, range 58.
Other early settlers, with the year of their arrival, were: F. P. Wright, 1874;
Otto Becker, 'jj; Arne Olson, '-j"]; J. S. Weiser, '"j-j; James Daly, '76; Christian
Anderson, '76; Con. Schweinler, ^'j'j; Herman Starkey, '78; Andrew Widen, '78;
P. P. Persons, '78; Wm. Schultz, '79; Wm. Kemcamp, '79; D. N. Green, '79;
N. P. Rasmussen, '79; Wylie Nielson, '79; Hugh McDonald, '79; John Holmes,
'80; M. E. Mason, '78; Sim Mason, '79; Louis Humble, '79; A. M. Carlson, '78;
George Larsman, 'tj\ A. A. Booth, '79; M. O. Walker, 'yj; Aaron and Jacob
Faust, '80; George Stiles, '79; Thomas Olson, '78; Jens Jenson, '78; Robert
Bailie, '80; Samuel Fletcher, '80; M. B. Hanson, '78; John Lawry, '79; Ben
Smith, '79; Ed Fox, '80; George W. Critchfield, '78; P. O. King, '78; O. P.
Hjelde, '80; J. F. Walker, '80; Andrew Andeberg, '79; James Rogers, '78; John
Marsh, '79; Jacob Baumetz, '78; C. L. Etzell, '79; H. H. Randolph, '80; George
C. Getchell, '78; John Simons, '79.
EARLY DAYS AT JAMESTOWN
In 1872 there was a post established at Jamestown, at first called Fort Cross,
in honor of Major Edwards' old commander, but later changed to Seward, in
honor of William H. Seward. Camp Thomas was the immediate predecessor
of Fort Cross. The same year Fort McKean was established opposite Bismarck,
but was changed in name to Fort Abraham Lincoln. Its immediate predecessor
was Camp Greene. At the same time Camp Hancock was established at Bis-
marck.
Captain Thomas was the first in command at Jamestown, but the command-
ing officer at Fort Seward was Captain Bates, son of Attorney General Bates,
of Lincoln's cabinet. Later, Capt. J. H. Patterson. Capt. Thomas Hunt was
the quartennaster. In December, 1873, Colonel Lounsberry paid $75 for a team
to take him from Bismarck to Jamestown. The only settler between Bismarck
and Jamestown was Oscar Ward, five miles east of Bismarck. There was a dug-
out covered with railroad ties kept by the section foreman about where Sterling
is and a discharged soldier had a dug-out and shanty at Crystal Springs. There
were a few persons at Jamestown. Vincent kept the section house at Lake
Eckelson, Flood kept a stopping place at Valley City, Mike Smith at Casselton,
and Mrs. Bishop ^t Mapleton. There was a place kept by Duffy, also, in the
vicinity of Tower City.
A. W. Kelly, the first settler at Jamestown, was born at Calais, Maine, Decem-
ber 17, 1832, and came to Fort Abercrombie in July, 1861. On the way to Aber-
crombie, for which point he left St. Paul on the day of the battle of first Bull
Run, he met the regular troops from Abercrombie, they having been relieved by
a portion of the Third Minnesota, under Captain Inman. He was later at George-
town and sawed the lumber for the International, built by J. C. Burbank & Co.,
to run between Abercrombie and Winnipeg. The first boat was the Ans.
Northrup, which was built at St. Anthony, as the H. M. Rice, sent up the Missis-
sippi to near Brainerd and hauled overland to Georgetown. It was pulled over
the rapids at Sauk Rapids by means of ropes, this in 1859. In 1861 ]\Ir. Bur-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 513
bank bought the old Freighter, which had been running on the Minnesota River,
sent it up to Big Stone Lake and tried to get it over into the Red River by water,
but it was a day or two late and it became stranded. The machinery was taken
out, hauled overland to Georgetown, where the International was built, as stated,
and sold to the Hudson's Bay Company. The next boat was built by Hill, Griggs
& Co., the Selkirk, in 1871.
Mr. Kelly was quartermaster's clerk at Wadsworth the winter of 1865-66
and was the contractor at Fort Totten, built in 1867. Having a lot of surplus
beeves when the Northern Pacific came to be extended, he drove 130 head down
to Jamestown, where he located on May 9, 1872, and in December of that year
became postmaster, which position he held until Mr. Cleveland came into office
in 1885, when he resigned.
After Mr. Kelly, Robert Macnider was the next to locate at Jamestown,
where he opened a stock of goods in a tent. Nathan Myrick was next with a
post trader's store, also in tents. F. C. Myrick had charge. George W. Vennum
and Archibald McKechnie were the next to locate, and they erected a large tent
for hotel purposes, which they called the Cabinet. Within ten days several others
came, among them Loring, Black & Co., of Minneapolis, with the railroad supply
store. Smith & Bussey established the Jamestown Hotel, also in a tent. The
Chapman House tent was also erected. John Mason established a wholesale
liquor tent, with James Lees in charge. John Clayton (Limpy Jack), Mike
Norton, Jacob Fra, Pat Moran and Jack White, afterwards famous in Bismarck,
were in the saloon business, all in tents. Sullivan ran a dance house and H. T.
Elliott a blacksmith shop. A little later Hubbard, Raymond & Allen established
a store. John Whalen had charge. That fall they sold to Belmont Clark and
Ward Bill and in the spring Raymond & Allen established a store at Bismarck,
followed by Clark & Bill, Robert Macnider, Jack White, John Mason, and others.
Kelly, Lees, Moran, Clayton, Fra, Vennum, H. C. Miller, George J. Good-
rich and his sons, J. W. and Talcott, remained at Jamestown. Then Dennis Kelli-
her, who had come up from the Union Pacific with Colonel Brownson, agent at
Bismarck, took the section house and made a fortune in hotel keeping at James-
town, but fortunes must be carefully guarded in order to abide and Dennis died
poor. His hotel was popular and diverted much of the trade from the Dakota
in its early days.
Later Mr. Kelly put in a store and Myrick having sold his establishment to
H. C. Miller, Kelly and Miller were the only merchants at Jamestown for several
years. Anton Klaus was the first to break in on them. In the very early days
L. G. Bouret had run a store and saloon in connection with his beef contract for
Seward. He gave the outfit, building and all, to Joseph Perre.
Stutsman County, named for the late Hon. Enos Stutsman, of Pembina, was
created January 4, 1873, ^"d organized June 20th, with A. W. Kelly, George W.
Vennum and H. C. Miller, county commissioners. George W. Vennum was
appointed register of deeds and county clerk ; Archibald McKechnie, sherifl^ ;
Henry T. Elliott, assessor; A. B. Innis and George J. Goodrich, justices of the
peace ; Chas. D. Thompson and Myrick Moore, constables ; F. C. Myrick, auditor,
and Patrick Moran, judge of probate and ex-officio county treasurer. The liquor
license was fixed at $30 per annum, and this seems to have been the only source
of revenue until 1879, when the first taxes were levied. The liquor licenses issued
Vol. 1—3 3
514 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
in 1873 were to Thompson & McKechnie, Phillip A. Baigs, Patrick Moran, L. G.
Bouret, Mike Norton, James Lees and Jacob Fra. Groff resigned and S. G.
Comstock was retained as county attorney, though living in Moorhead. The
Bismarck Tribune was the official paper. There was an election held in 1872,
but there was no record kept of it. The election of 1873 was at the home of
H. T. Elliott, and A. W. Kelly, Frank C. Myrick and Antoine Pelisser were the
judges of election.
At the first meeting the board of county commissioners voted their pay to
the county. The total expense of the county up to January 5, 1874, was $89.35,
and there was then a balance in the treasury of $68.05. Thomas B. Harris, who
was the first station agent, was county auditor later, and Hugh McChesney, who
was an employe at Fort Seward, was later judge of probate.
The Jamestown town organization was made by the county commissioners at
their session of June 20, 1873, when Duncan R. Kennedy, Merritt Wiseman and
T. B. Harris were appointed supervisors and F. C. Myrick clerk.
There seems to have been an aching void in the matter of office-holding in
1875 and 1876. The records do not show any meetings of the board, but then
there were no taxes, and offices without taxes are not popular. In 1876 Kelliher
was elected to the Legislature, but he was kicked out the last day of the session
in order to give his contestant mileage and per diem. H. C. Miller was then
sheriff, Ed Lohnes, who carried the mail to Fort Totten, and J. W. Goodrich,
were his deputies.
In 1878 the first provision of record was made for a county building and for
proper record books. Up to that time the records are on foolscap, bound with
brown paper. The old courthouse was erected in 1879 by Peter Aubertin of
Fargo, at a cost of $2,194. The new courthouse was built in 1883 at a cost of
$35,000. It is modeled after the courthouse of Jefferson County, Wis.
The real life of Jamestown commenced in 1878, when Edward Koffer
resurveyed the townsite for the railroad company and Anton Klaus located and
purchased his interests. The courthouse and all of the churches, excepting the
Episcopal, are on the Klaus tract. He built the Dakota, later the Gladstone, and
is entitled to be designated the father of Jamestown.
THE FIRST SETTLER AT WAHPETON
Morgan T. Rich, for whom Richland County was named, made the first settle-
ment at Wahpeton July 22, 1869. ]\Ir. Rich visited the Red River Valley in 1864,
when he crossed over the plains from Fort Ridgeley, Minn., to Helena, Mont., as
one of a party having 122 wagons going to the mines. They were escorted to
the Missouri River by Minnesota troops, and from Fort Rice, on the Missouri
River, to Glendive, Mont., by General Sully, whose command numbered about
four thousand cavalry and mounted infantry, and he had a train of two hundred
or more wagons of his own. Anson Northrup was his wagon master.
Arriving at Glendive, Rich's party crossed the Yellowstone, intending to go
over the mountains directly from that point, but were turned back by Indian
alarms, and went down the Yellowstone to old Fort Union, and from thence
without escort on to Helena, on the north side of the Missouri, via Forts Peck
and Benton, and Great Falls.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 515
Captain Rich remained in Alontana till 1868, when he returned to his old
home at Red Wing, and in 1869 came to the Red River Valley and located at
Wahpeton, as stated. The St. Paul & Pacific Railroad had then been extended
as far west as Smith Lake, in Wright County, Minn., and was pushing on toward
the Red River.
Rich remained alone at Wahpeton until May, 1871, entertaining an occasional
immigrant en route down the valley. His garden was known as a model, and
Mr. Rich as a successful farmer in a small way. He secured a ferry charter
from the commissioners of Pembina County, and by the time immigration com-
menced in 187 1 was ready to transfer the wanderers across the Bois des Sioux,
near its confluence with the Ottertail. These streams united form the Red River.
Mr. Rich operated the ferry until 1876, when a bridge was built by subscription.
In i\Iay, 1871, Mr. Rich was joined by Alvah Chezik, Matt Lawrence and
Simon Woodsum, young men without families. In July, a party of forty or more
settlers, en route from Yankton to the Goose River country, camped at Richville,
as the place of the ferry was then called. Two of these, viz. : William Root and
WilHam Cooper, returned in a day or two, Root having purchased at McCauley-
ville a claim adjoining that of Rich, on which Mr. Trott had made improvements.
Rich's claim became the original plat of Wahpeton and Root's an addition.
Cooper was accidentally killed while hunting. Root is still in Richland County.
Folsom Dow, J. W. Blanding, and J. Q. Burbank were the first settlers after
Captain Rich, and Folsom Dow was appointed the first postmaster at Richville,
as Wahpeton was at first called. It appears on the first records as Chahinkapa,
signifying the end of the woods, but the name was not acceptable, and never came
into general use. Valley City was then known as Wahpeton, but before its post-
office was established Richville postoffice was changed to Wahpeton, taking its
name from the Indian tribe of the vicinity.
In 1872, Samuel and Benjamin Taylor settled at Wahpeton and opened up
farms, Samuel having a farm of 640 acres and Benjamin 960. Root had broken
forty acres the season before and there was a farm of forty acres or more in
connection with the military post at Fort Abercrombie. The Formanecks, father
and sons, and other families related to Chezik, had come in from Wisconsin.
Major Bovay, of national reputation, from having given the republican party
its name on its organization in 1856, came with D. Wilmot Smith, and Ransom
Phelps and M. P. Propper were among the early settlers. Mr. Bovay moved to
Morton County.
Richland County was organized in 1873. J. W. Blanding, D. Wilmot Smith
and 'SI. T. Rich were the first county commissioners. Hugh R. Blanding was
clerk and register of deeds, William Root, sheriff and assessor, Ransom Phelps,
judge of probate, Emma A. Blanding, superintendent of public instruction, John
Q. Burbank, treasurer and county surveyor, Albert Chezik, constable, George B.
Spink and Washington Howe, justices of the peace. Frank Herrick was overseer
of Road District No. i, L. J. Moore of District No. 2, and David Lubenow of
District No. 3. The county seat was located at Wahpeton, then called Chahinkapa.
In connection with his ferry, M. T. Rich laid out the townsite of Wahpeton.
Next to his house, the first building erected was a store by Jacob Mourin, who'
was killed by lightning while washing windows, within a month from the time he
opened up for business. John Kotscheaver succeeded him and remained in trade
516 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
till 1885, when he was succeeded by his brother, Jacob. M. T. Rich and John Q.
Burbanl< erected a building 16x22, which was used for county purposes after the
organization of the county.
Miss Mary Keating, afterwards Mrs. Shea, taught the first school at Wahpeton,
and Miss Sarah Rich, the second.
BURLEIGH COUNTY ORGANIZED
Burleigh County was organized by the appointment of Governor of Dakota
Territory John P. Dunn, James A. Emmons and Wm. H. H. Mercer, county com-
missioners. They met on July 16, 1873, and appointed as officers Dan Williams,
register of deeds; J. S. Carvelle, judge of probate; John E. Wasson, county
attorney; Wm. Woods, sheriff; and Dr. B. F. Slaughter, coroner. They met
again on the following day and appointed Linda W. Slaughter superintendent of
schools.
In the spring of 1873 Mrs. Slaughter and her sister. Miss Aidee Warfield,
organized the "Bismarck Academy," which they taught gratuitously until August,
when a school district organization was effected, and" it became the free public
school of the district and was held in the new Congregational Church then situ-
ated on the present cotirthouse block, with Miss Warfield as teacher. This formed
the beginning of the present splendid school system of Burleigh County.
The following is a list of the old settlers who came to Burleigh County before
the completion of the railroad on June 5, 1873. All those marked with a * came
to Burleigh County prior to May i, 1872:
*Louis Agard, Jesse Ayers, *Wm. Anderson, Charles Archer, *P. H. Byrnes,
*George Bridges, Ed Burke, *N. W. Comerford, Joe Bush, *John Coleman,
J. Collins, J. S. Carvelle, *S. H. Carahoof, Joe Courtous, *Ed Donahue, John
Duffee, T. P. Davis, J. A. Emmons, *Mike Foley, George Framer, A. Gilbert,
*Barney Aaron, I. C. Adams, *Strong Beer, J. B. Bailey, *E. N. Corey, Geo.
Cunningham, John Camahan, R. M. Douglas, Dan Eisenberg, Robert Farrell,
J. B. Ford, *C. A. Galloway, *F. F. Girard, W. Hollowbush, Wm. Howard, H. U.
Holway, Peter Dupree, Joe Dowling, Fred Edgar, *Mike Feller, R. Farrell,
J. M. Gilman, *A. Agard, Sam Ashton, *Harry Rose, Geo. Buswell, *C. Collins,
*John Conrad, C.. M. Clarck, *Joe Deitrich, ''"Harry Duffee, John P. Dunn,
B. Egan, A. Fisher, *Chas. Gray, G. Gusbraith, J. M. Guppy, *John Hogan,
*L. Hunter, M. A. Hutchins, Hildebrand, C. A. Lounsberry, *J. A. Joyce,
M. H. Kellogg, Wm.. Lawrence, *W. H. H. Mercer, "■■€. H. McCarthy, *Bernard
Martin, J. C. Miller, R. R. Marsh, A. McDonald, Fred Miller, *R. O'Brien,
P. Ostlund, ^'John H. Richards, Wm. Regan, *John Schwartz, W. B. Shaw,
B. Frank Slaughter, G. G. Thomas, *E. A. Williams, James Wickerson, Ed
Whalen, R. D. Gutschell, *John J. Jackman, D. R. Kagonie, *Barney Lanningan,
Con Lowney, *Joe Miller, *Sam McWilliams, *J. G. Malloy, R. L. Donigal, H. M.
Neil, Chris Hehli, John Mason, Thomas McGowan, E. O'Brien, J. W. Proctor,
Dan Rice, Thos. Riley, *J. S. Souter, F. S. Snow, *Jos. H. Taylor, *Dan Williams,
Thomas Welch, John Whalen, Lovet Gill, *Jake Houser, *Edmond Hackett,
Albert Hill, Dennis Hannafin, N. H. Knappen, R. Lambert, Chas. Louis, *J. D.
McCarty. *D. W. McCall, *D. W. INIarshall, J. M. Marsh, John McDevitt, Mike
McLear, Ed Morton, M. O'Brien, John Ostlund, John Ross, E. J. Robinson, H. N.
'"^y
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FARM SCENE IN WALSH COUNTY
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LEVI BLADE'S GAliULN. GRAFTON
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 517
Ross, *Henry Suttle, ^William Smith, Pat Smith, M. Tippie, *C. W. Vandegrift,
John E. Mason, *Wm. Woods, Wm. Sebrey, John Sebrey, Jerry Haly, F. C. Hol-
lembeck, A. Harvey, *John Kahl, *John Luther, S. F. Lambert, *Adani Alann,
John McCarthy, *Peter Malloy, *John W. Millet, L. T. Marshall, Barney McCoy,
E. McDonald, A. McNeil, P. O'Brien, *J. W. Plummes, *Frank Riley, Thos.
Reynolds, J. C. Miller, *John Skelly, N. Leverane, Chas. Tobin, B. T. Williams,
Alfred Walker, John Wliite, Mike Whalen, *Geo. A. Joy.
WALSH COUNTY EARLY HISTORY
In 1862 Walsh County was included in a region known as Kittson County,
and in 1867 was included in Pembina County, which then extended from the Red
River west, taking in Cavalier County, and south to the Sheyenne. Voting pre-
cincts were established at Park River, now in Walsh, Stump Lake, now in Nelson,
Dead Island, now in Cavalier, and Sheyenne, now in Cass, the latter taking in
most of Walsh, Grand Forks, Traill and Richland counties. The voting place was
near Georgetown, then a Hudson's Bay post.
In 1871 the Grand Forks Precinct was established, taking in Grand Forks,
and part of Walsh and Traill counties, and west to the Pembina Mountains. The
voting place was at the house of James Stuart at Grand Forks. Thomas Walsh,
S. C. Code and John Fadden were appointed judges of election. The northern
liiTiits of the precinct were Park River, the Goose River formed the southern
boundary and the crest of the Pembina Mountains the western boundary.
WALSH COUNTY ORGANIZED
In 1873 Grand Forks and Cass counties were created from a part of Pembina,
and in 1881 Walsh from parts of Grand Forks and Pembina, and was organized
August 30, 1881, Governor Ordway having appointed George P. Harvey, William
Code and Benjamin C. Askelson county commissioners. They appointed Jacob
Reinhardt, sheriff; E. O. Faulkner, judge of probate; K. O. Skatteboe, treasurer;
Eugene Kane, surveyor; Dr. N. H. Hamilton, coroner; Dr. R. M. Evans, super-
intendent of schools; John Harris, Charles Finkle, J. A. Delaney and William
Richie, justices of the peace. John Ross, Thomas Trainor, G. W. Gilbert and
Whitefield Durham, constables. P. J. McLaughlin was later appointed state's
attorney and John N. Nelson assessor. The judge appointed W. A. Cleland clerk
of the court, and under a special act of the Legislature Edwin O. Faulkner became
the first county auditor.
Settlements commenced on points on the Red River in 1870, and in 1874 title
was secured to lands in Walshville in anticipation of laying out a village. A town
was later laid out at Acton, then known as Kelly's Point, by Antoine Girard, and
here the first mercantile interests, aside from the old Indian and Hudson's Bay
posts, were established by Jacob Eshelman, William Budge and W. J. Anderson.
In i88i and the following year settlers commenced making their homes on
the Red River, on the Park and the Forest, and by 1881, when the county was
created, it is estimated there were 800 people in the county. School districts
and towns had been organized either as a part of Grand Forks or Pembina and
Acton had become a village, and a newspaper, the Acton News, later moved to
Grafton, becoming a part of the News and Times, had been established.
518 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Grafton was an incident of the railroad construction of 1881. The land on
which it was located was entered in 1878 by T. E. Cooper, who secured the estab-
lishment of a postoffice early next year, and in July, 1879, regular mail service
from Acton to Sweden via Grafton was commenced. The postoffice was called
Grafton, in memory of Mrs. Cooper's old home in Grafton, New Hampshire.
Mr. Cooper built the first hotel at Grafton.
The first teacher in the schools of Grafton was Joseph Cleary. He was suc-
ceeded by Mr. W. J. Shumway. Mr. Shumway was assisted by Mrs. E. S. Mott.
Mr. Shumway was succeeded by Mr. A. McCully as principal. Mr. McCully
was assisted by Mr. D. C. Ross and Miss Kate Driscoll. The schools were not
thoroughly graded until the fall of 1885. The territorial Legislature of 1885
passed an act creating the City of Grafton a special independent district; the
government of the schools is today under the same act, and it has been found on
the whole satisfactory.
This act was approved by the governor March 9, 1885, and the first board
under that was elected April 7, 1885. It consisted of five members, two at large
and one member for each of the three wards. This board consisted of Messrs.
William Tiemey, C. A. M. Spencer, H. C. Upham, F. E. Chase and E. O. Faulk-
ner. The board organized with F. E. Chase as president and E. O. Faulkner clerk.
Its first business was to bond the district for $15,000 to erect the main part of
the central building. This was built during the summer of 1885. It is two stories
high, built of brick and contains six large school and two recitation rooms. In
August, 1885, Mr. J. C. P. Miner, a graduate of Harvard University, was engaged
as principal, with Misses Mary D. Mattisori, Kate Driscoll and Lucy Killeen as
assistants.
PARK RIVER
Park River was a wheat field in 1884 and the wheat was removed to make
way for the townsite and was first known as Kensington.
The first settler in the vicinity of Park River for agricultural purposes was
Charles G. Oaks, an old Hudson's Bay Company employe, who settled at what
was afterwards known as Kensington in November, 1878, and those who came
later constituted what became known as the Scotch settlement. The next and
now the recognized oldest settler, was Charles F. Ames, who settled January 16,
1879. Among the other names recalled by the old settlers were William and
Alex Bruce, James ' Smith, George Brown, James Maloney, Ed Carman and
George Kennedy. Hans Robertson was the first in the Norwegian neighborhood
and dates his settlement also from January, 1879. There were no settlers west of
him at that time and few indeed between what is now Park River and Grand
Forks. Accompanying Hans Robertson were Andrew Y. Anderson, Thomas
Thompson, Iver Iverson and Knud K. Halstad and Peter Sager. The Kensington
settlers came from Canada; the Scandinavians from Iowa, stopping first, however,
in Traill County.
In 1879 Charles H. Honey and John Wadge, brothers-in-law, came from their
Canadian home to Kensington, where they selected land.
Wadge remained and Honey came on the next season, followed by other
relatives and friends. Other settlers in 1879 were Thomas Wadge, George Nick-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 519
lin, William, Edward and Benjamin Code, William Craig, E. O. F'aulkner, John
and Fred Robb, Peter Campbell, Alexander Smith, William Davis, R. B. Hunt,
William Burbridge and John Baird.
The postoffice was established at Kensington in February, 1880, with E. O.
Faulkner postmaster. It was served from Sweden. Later the office was moved
to the home of C. H. Honey, Mr. Faulkner having become county auditor, and
later it was discontinued and Park River established in its stead, when C. H.
Honey became the first postmaster at Park River.
THE CANADIANS CELEBRATE JULY 4
An amusing incident is related of the first settlers in the Scotch settlement
The settlers all came from Canada and knew little of the customs of the people
of the United States and still less of their traditions, but they had sworn allegiance
to the Government and felt in honor bound to celebrate its natal day. Accord-
ingly a preliminary meeting was held for the arrangement of a program and
during the rambling discussion some one suggested that the Declaration of Inde-
pendence should be read. "And what is that?" was the quick response from the
crowd. Accordingly Thomas Catherwood, the settlement's first teacher, was
called upon to read it for the information of the meeting. It was at once recog-
nized as a fit thing to be presented on such an occasion.
In the fall of 1879 the grass was especially heavy. At some points it was
higher than a horse and generally on the low lands as high as a wagon box.
A dense smoke indicated a prairie fire. The settlers turned out and plowed a
fire break three furrows wide and eight miles long, but it had no greater effect
than a tow string toward stopping the progress of the fire. Hay stacks went up
in flame when the fire apparently was still fifteen rods away. John Robb of the
force making the fire breaks was caught by the flames and, unable to escape,
rushed through them. His heavy beard and brows were completely burned. It
was a close shave, literally, and it was a narrow escape for his life. The cattle
escaped to the river and it was hours before they could be gotten from their place
of refuge.
By June, 1880, almost every claim was taken, the settlers coming in in groups
of all sizes, from two or three families up to twenty. The "prairie schooners"
were seen moving at all times of day and in every direction the squatters were
seen making the improvements necessary to hold their claims. There was no
opportunity for large farms. Few indeed succeeded in securing more than one
claim of 160 acres. Occasionally a son, daughter or sister, or accommodating
friend used their rights to help out the family. The land was not surveyed till
1879 and not open to filing until 1880.
Most of the early settlers took claims near the river and divided up the timber
partly in a spirit of accommodation and partly in order to bring the settlement
closer together. Hence most of the first claims were a quarter of a mile wide and
a mile long.
BOTTINEAU COUNTY
Bottineau County was created by act of Dakota Legislature, January 4, 1873.
It was named for Pierre Bottineau, probably the first white child born in North
520 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Dakota, about 1812. He was born to a faTiiily of French voyageurs associated
with the fur companies then trading with the Indians at all points in North Dakota
where furs were caught or accumulated, engaging often with the Indians on the
buffalo hunts. Charles Bottineau, a brother of Pierre, was the first considerable
farmer in North Dakota, and as early as 1870 had a farm of about one hundred
acres under cultivation at Neche, where he had been engaged in farming long
before any particular attention had been attracted to the Red River Valley. Indeed
the first settlement in the valley for agricultural purposes was in the fall of 1870
and spring of 1871, while the census of 1870 shows about 1,200 halfbloods in
North Dakota. They practically all originated from the voyageurs and traders
connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, occupying the lower Red River
country, and the American Fur Company, occupying the upper Missouri River
and its tributaries as well as the James. Both classes occupied the Pembina and
Turtle mountains and became associated with what is known as the Turtle
Mountain band of Indians now numbering about three thousand. Some of these
were of Canadian origin and some of American, but whether American or
Canadian they roamed over the prairies hunting, now selling their catch to traders
in the field or taking them to Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, where churches and
schools were built and they were taught in the ways of civilization.
They congregated for a time at White Earth, Minn. Some of them were
drawn into the Riel rebellion in Manitoba and many received land and other
benefits in Canada after the settlement of that affair, even though of American
origin. The real estate speculators of Winnipeg followed them to this side of
the line and paid their expenses to that city and return in their efforts to get them
to claim land which they desired to buy. Many yielded, signing papers and taking
money without knowing what they were doing, being called upon only to touch
the pen and take the money that was offered them.
In 1870 they settled in the Turtle iMountain region and claimed under alleged
treaty rights practically the whole country north of Devils Lake and west of the
Red River. This was so far recognized as to assign them by executive order
thirty-six townships and this was later reduced to two townships, situated just
west of Rolla. The remainder was thrown open to settlement, which commenced
in Bottineau County in 1883.
In 1882 there were not a dozen settlers in the county. Three years later there
were 818, and the Great Northern road was soon afterwards extended to Botti-
neau, the terminus of the Rugby and Bottineau branch. Then but 120 acres of
land had been entered and the total wheat product of the county was but 8,016
bushels, but two years later the wheat crop was 149,079 bushels. The acres
improved in 1885 were 7,215. The county early devoted attention to stock and
in 1885 had sheep producing 2,554 pounds of wool. It then had nearly two thou-
sand head of cattle.
Bottineau County was organized March 13, 1884, by the appointment by the
governor of William F. Simerall, Albert C. Barnes and Lorenzo D. Dana county
commissioners. The first meeting of the board was July 17th, when Mr. Dana
was elected chairman. John W. G. Simerall was appointed register of deeds ;
Louis P. LeMay, sheriff; Alex McBain, assessor; Archibald Finlayson, treasurer;
J. B. Sinclair, surveyor; Rev. Ezra Turner, superintendent of schools; William
Stewart and George Gagnon, justices of the peace ; Peter Ferguson, Francis X.
CO
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HISTORY OF NOI^TH DAKOTA 521
Junea, constables. Later J. N. Greiner was appointed justice of the peace and
J. B. Sinclair, road supervisor, and Alex. C. Barnes, clerk of court.
Robert Brander entered the land on which Bottineau is situated, the home-
stead of Alex. Sinclair also forming a part of the city.
ROLETTE COUNTY
Rolette County was created by act of the Legislature, January 4, 1873, when
North Dakota was first divided into counties. Until then the eastern portion was
known as Pembina County, while that portion east of the Missouri and west
of the James was a part of what is now Buffalo County, South Dakota, which
then embraced most of the northern part of what is now North Dakota. In
1883 Tower County was created from Rolette, and its boundaries were further
changed and established as now, March 11, 1887. Rolette County was organized
November 6, 1885, by the appointment by the governor of the following county
commissioners, viz. : James Maloney, Jasper Jeanotte and Arthur Foussard.
Jeanotte and Foussard failed to qualify, and Fred Schutte and Lemuel M. Mel-
ton of Dunseith were appointed in their stead.
They organized at Dunseith, October 14, 1884, and Fred Schutte was chosen
chairman. Courtiand P. Clements was appointed register of deeds; James Elton,
judge of probate ; F. E. Farrell, county superintendent of schools ; James D.
Eaton, county treasurer ; Barney Cain, sheriff ; Dr. Stephen Howard, coroner ;
Gavin Hamilton, county attorney. W. H. McKee succeeded Elton as judge of
probate. Thomas Heskett, L. E. Marchaud, Samuel Shreckengast and Phillip
T. Metier were appointed justices of the peace, and Thomas Maloney, Lake
Demo, John McFadden, Moses LaBouty and John Cain, constables.
Giles M. Gilbert, Lemuel G. Melton and C. G. Oaks were the first settlers
in that part of the mountains.
The LaBarge Brothers, Edward and Edmund and Arthur, and Emile Fous-
sard came in 1881, settling at St. John. They came from Brandon, Manitoba,
and claim to have led all other settlers, aside from a few half-breeds who came
as early as 1880.
The first entries of public lands were made when the plats were filed at the
Devil's Lake land oiifice by Giles M. Gilbert, Lemuel G. Welton and E. G. Oaks.
The law requires 30 days' notice to be given to entry men of the filing of plats
and proper notice to be given of intention to make proof, but without this notice,
on the day the plats were open to inspection, Colonel Clement, a Colorado friend
of Secretary Teller, presented himself at the United States land office at Devil's
Lake with a letter from Secretary Teller to the register and receiver directing
that they allow proof to be made at once on the Gilbert, Melton and Oaks tracts
and the entries were accordingly completed on the day their filings were made, and
the Oaks and Melton entries were transferred to M. Ohmer, in the interest of
the Dunseith townsite syndicate, of which Clements, Schutte, Laubach and
Ohmer were members.
St. John, Rolette County, is one of the oldest trading points in the state" its
business life dating way back to 1843. Joseph Rolette, William H. Moorhead,
and others familiar to the history of the later developments of the state, were
engaged in trade to a greater or less extent at St. John, and one of the early
522 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
customs stations was established there. It is now a port of entry with deputy
collector, and the United States flag flies over the customs office every day of
the year from sunrise to sunset. Canadians who came into the country at this
point are required to report and show their respect to the country by saluting
the old flag and transacting whatever business they may have with the accom-
modating customs officials.
WELLS COUNTY
Wells County was originally created in 1873 ^s Gingras County. The name
was changed in 1881 to Wells and its boundaries changed in 1883 and 1885.
It was organized in 1884, with 36 townships, the governor appointing Thomas
R. Williams, Joseph P. Cox and Marshall Brinton as county commissioners.
The county seat was originally at Sykeston, established by the Sykes interest
in connection with their large estates. The construction of the Soo through
the center of the county resulted in building up Cathay, Fessenden and Harvey,
and in a county seat contest terminating in favor of Fessenden, where it was
moved in 1894. The town was named in honor of ex-Surveyor General Fessen-
den, formerly of Michigan, under whose administration the original surveys in
the county were made. The county is largely settled by Germans. They own
farms varying from 160 to 640 acres.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, NORTH DAKOTA PIONEER
In 1881 Hiram B. Wadsworth and W. L. Hawley of Minnesota shipped in
200 head of young cattle for ranging on the plains west of the Little Missouri
River and established the Maltese Cross ranch. Other ranching interests fol-
lowed the establishment of the Maltese Cross ranch, but that was the first of
importance in North Dakota. In 1880 Joseph and Sylvane Ferris and A. W.
Merrifield came to the Little Missouri region and engaged in hunting.
In September, 1883, Theodore Roosevelt came to Medora, North Dakota,
for the purpose of hunting. Joseph Ferris accompanied him on his hunting
expedition, and on September 17, 1883, on the plains of North Dakota, Mr.
Roosevelt killed his first buffalo. On the trip Mr. Roosevelt became interested
in the subject of stock growing and on his return purchased the Maltese Cross
herd of cattle and placed them in the hands of Sylvane M. Ferris and A. W.
Merrifield on the Chimney Butte ranch, seven miles south of Medora. He added
several hundred head to the bunch that fall and the next year established the
Elkhorn ranch, thirty-iive miles down the river from Medora. This ranch was
in charge of Sewall and Dow. On the two ranches he had some three thousand
head of cattle and twice a year visited these ranches and participated in the
round-up, one season remaining until Christmas. There was no part of the
work on that ranch in which he did not participate. He was fearless, but none
of those who rode the range with him or accompanied him on his hunting trips
recall a single instance wherein he could be said to have been reckless. One day
one of his employes undertook to frighten him by threats of gun play. Mr.
Roosevelt took the gun from him and kicked him out of camp. The fellow was
known as a desperado who was expected to shoot on the slightest provocation.
He apologized and was restored to his place, but his spirit as a desperado was
H^^T'^
JEAX BAPTISTK BOTTINEAU
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 523
broken. Theodore Roosevelt was not "Teddy" on the range, but Mr. Roosevelt
always, the men showing their respect for him in his absence as well as in his
presence. In 1906 his son Kermit rode on horseback from Deadwood to Medora,
accompanied by Hon. Seth Bullock, and spent a few days with the ranch friends
of Mr. Roosevelt. During his stay at Medora, Mr. Roosevelt was one summer
deputy sheriff, and was as fearless and faithful in the performance of his duty
as he required his appointees to be. Mrs. Roosevelt visited the ranch in the
summer of 1890. He retained his interests in North Dakota cattle growing until
1896, when he closed out with profit.
After his election as President Mr. Roosevelt wrote as follows :
White House, Washington, November 10, 1904.
My Dear Joe and Sylvane :
No telegram that I received pleased me more than yours, and I thank you
for it. Give my warm regards to Mrs. Joe, Mrs. Sylvane and all my friends.
Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt,
The Medora President.
The logs that were in the Chimney Butte ranch headquarters were taken to
St. Louis and to Portland and reerected as they appeared on the range, and
were a leading attraction at the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark exposi-
tions, and were then returned to Bismarck, where the Roosevelt cabin became a
permanent exhibit in tlie custody of the State Historical Society.
Marquis de Mores came to North Dakota in April, 1883, a short time before
Mr. Roosevelt, and invested large sums of money in stock growing and in the
packing industry, his intention being to grow the stock and kill them on
the range, shipping in refrigerator cars to the eastern markets. He built
a fully ec^uipped slaughter house at Medora, with all the appurtenances neces-
sary for the economical handling of all of the by-products. Lie built cold storage
houses at Bismarck, Fargo, Duluth and other points and carried on an enor-
mous business until 1886, when he realized that he was in advance of the times
and withdrew, returning to France.
In 1883 Sir John Pindar and Commodore Henry Gorringer became asso-
ciated in a cattle enterprise near the Roosevelt and De Mores ranches, and
invested largely in stock growing. Mr. Hostetter also had large investments in
this vicinity. Hon. A. C. Huidekoper of Pennsylvania and associates became
interested in this region and afterwards made heavy investments in land and
stock, closing out in 1906 for the sum of $250,000 to Fred Pabst of the Pabst
Brewing Company. Pierre Wibaux invested some $200,000 in stock in this region,
beginning also in the early days. The Eaton brothers of the Custer Trail ranch
were also among the early factors in the development of that region. The very
first, however, to establish a stock business west of the Missouri was E. G.
Paddock, who was engaged in freighting to the cantonment at the Little Missouri
in 1879. ^^'^ brought in a herd of cows to supply the cantonment with milk.
The terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad remained at Bismarck until
1880, when the work of construction commenced west of the Missouri River.
The winter preceding a track was laid across the Missouri River on the ice,
and much of the heavy material was pushed across the river that winter on the
524 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
ice bridge. During the construction of the bridge cars were transferred by boat.
The road crossed the western boundary of the state and was extended to the
Yellowstone in 1881.
THE BURLEIGH COUNTY PIONEERS
On the evening of Deceqiber i, 1873, in the log building of Dimmick and
Tippia, on the corner of Main and Third streets, there was formed an association
of the early settlers of Bismarck and vicinity called the Burleigh County Pioneers,
whose object, as stated in their constitution, was "to promote the social, business
and agricultural interests of Bismarck and vicinity." The charter members were
C. A. Lounsberry, C. H. McCarty, Edward Donahue, Dr. B. F. Slaughter, C. W.
Freede, H. N. Holway, L. T. Marshall, C. W. Clarke, J. E. Walker, M. Tippie,
W. T. McKay, A. C. Tippie, Gus Galbraith, J. W. Raymond and Capt. John W.
Smith.
The officers elected were: Dr. B. F. Slaughter, president; Charles M.
McCarty, vice president; Gus Galbraith, recording secretary; Col. C. A. Louns-
berry, corresponding secretary; Maj. J. E. Walker, treasurer.
This society was at once a bureau of immigration, a general intelligence office
and a board of trade.
For two years the Pioneers kept two secretaries at work sending out literature
and answering inquiries from, abroad, and Bismarck was the most extensively
advertised burgh in America. In April, 1874, they fitted up headquarters and a
public reading room in Dr. Slaughter's building on Third street, known as Pioneer
Hall, which was one of the most attractive places in the city. They accumulated
a valuable library and elected W. S. Brown, librarian, and W. J. Craw, assistant
secretary. .|,
At a meeting held on February 9, 1874, the association resolved to publish a
pamphlet to advertise the country and to elect a historian, whose duty it should
be to prepare it. A committee, consisting of M. Tippie, J. B. Bailey and N. H.
Knappan, was appointed to make the selection, and they chose Mrs. Linda W.
Slaughter as historian of Pioneers, and she was elected an honorary member of
the association. Her pamphlet, entitled "The New Northwest — A History of
Bismarck and Vicinity," was in the hands of the secretary within two weeks from
the date of the resolution. Two thousand copies were printed in the office of
the Bismarck Tribune, 1,000 of which were mailed by the secretary to all parts
of the country and the other 1,000 was distributed among the members for
gratuitous distribution. The good results of this enterprise were soon apparent.
Immigrants poured in from all quarters and the author of the pamphlet lived to
see her predictions in regard to the coming greatness of the country fully verified.
Washington's birthday, February 22, 1874, was observed by the Pioneers by
a grand ball at the Capitol Hotel. Tickets sold readily at $5 each, and thereafter
each year for a number of years at each anniversary of the formation of the society
an annual ball was held and large sums were realized for the society from the
sale of tickets.
Below are the names of the members of the Burleigh County Pioneers recorded
in their own handwriting in the secretary's bool< of their constitution and by-laws,
now in the possession of the State Historical Society:
H
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 525
C. A. Lounsberry, C. H. McCarty, Edward Donahue, B. Frank Slaughter, C.
W. Freede, H. N. Holway, L. T. Marshall, C. W. Clarke, J. E. Walker, M. Tippie,
W. T. McKay, A. C. Tippie, Gus Galbraith, J. W. Raymond, John W. Smith,
John Harris, John W. Proctor, Fred C. Hollenbeck, H. N. Ross, Charles A. Gal-
loway, David Crouther, C. J. Miller, Richard Farrell, Chris Hiehli, Fred W.
Edgar, Louis Agard, Nicholas Byrnes, T. F. Singhiser, M. L. Marsh, N. H.
Knappen, S. L. Beckel, Henry Suttle, E. N. Corey, John A. McLean, Robert
Macnider, J. D. Wakeman, R. D. Jennings, Thomas Van Etten, Mark Warren,
Edmond Hackett, James A. Emmons, S. E. Doner, Will J. Craw, Henry Dion,
John P. Forster, J. B. Bailey, R. R. Marsh, William Woods, Alexander McKenzie,
John A. Stoyell, H. Brownson, Alonzo Murry, Mason Martin, L. H. Melton,
Richard Connelly, John Bowen, Henry Waller, George G. Gibbs, James H. Mar-
shall, Joseph Pennell, John Wringrose, James Browning, J. O. Simmons, W.
Ward Bill, John Whalen, S. Lambert, Theodore Shenkenberg, Peter Brasseau,
Jesse Ayers, William Coleman, William Hollowbush, J. McGee, Josiah Delameter,
J. P. Dunn, Thomas McGowan, Nicholas Comer, Norman Beck, Isadore Bur-
lingette, Thomas Reid, Louis Bonin, George Peoples, Asa Fisher, J. H. Lovelle,
John W. Plummer, Willard S. Brown, J. H. Richards, J. C. Dodge, H. P. Bogue,
P. H. Galligher, Nicholas Comerford, W.S. Lawrence, Charles F. Hobart, J. C.
Cady, S. M. Townsend, George Enreigh, N. Dunkleberg, John Mason, John
Yegen, Joseph Deitrich, L. N. Griffin, Cornelius Collins, T. P. Davis, W. H. H.
Comer, Charles Saunders, R. Page and Edward B. Ware.
THE BISMARCK LADIES' HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Ladies' Historical Society of Bismarck and North Dakota was formally
organized in September, 1889. Previously to this it had existed as a little knot
of ladies in Bismarck, who, having experienced the hardships and isolation that
marked the early days of settlement in the new city, were drawn together in
bonds of the closest friendship. Their first meetings were chiefly social and
were held at the home of Mrs. Slaughter. One peculiarity of their constitution
was that no dues should be paid, and its membership was at first limited to the
ladies who had lived in Bismarck during the years 1872 and 1873. It afterwards
broadened out to admit the wives of the old settlers of those years. At the
reorganization, in 1889, all ladies who had lived in the territory previous to its
admission as a state were made eligible to membership, and at its last reorgan-
ization and incorporation as the North Dakota State Historical Society gentlemen
were allowed admittance on equal terms.
The first officers of the ladies' society of the year 1872, who retained their
positions until the incorporation in 1889, were: President, Linda W. Slaughter;
board of directors, Lucy Baily, Phoebe A. Marsh, Charlotte H. Davis, Nina B.
Emmons, Linda W. Slaughter, Mrs. Alice O'Brien. The oldest of the old settler
ladies was honorary president, and Miss Rosalind C. Slaughter, the youngest,
was secretary-. Mrs. John P. Dunn and I\'Irs. Winnifred Nichols, settlers of
1873, were later members.
Mrs. Alice O'Brien was born in Ireland and came to Bismarck in Julv, 1S72,
with her husband, Matheus O'Brien. Their family consisted of Mrs. Sebry, the
aged mother of Mrs. O'Brien, and a large group of sons and daughters. Several
526 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
of the latter were married to farmers, who were the first to open farms near
the new city.
Mrs. Linda W. Slaughter was the wife of Dr. B. Frank Slaughter, post sur-
geon of Camp Hancock, and came to Bismarck from Fort Rice in August, 1872,
with her husband and baby. Dr. Slaughter resigned from the army in November,
1873, to become a citizen of Bismarck, and both husband and wife were iden-
tified with the leading events of the early years in the new city. Dr. Slaughter
died December 26, 1896, of paralysis.
Mrs. Thomas Van Etten came to Bismarck from Minnesota with her husband
and family in 1873 and resided on a farm near Bismarck until 1882, when, hav-
ing realized a large sum from the sale of their land, they returned to their old
home in Minnesota. Mrs. Van Etten afterwards died of consumption.
Airs. Nina B. Emmons was the wife of James A. Emmons, one of the first
board of commissioners of Burleigh County, and a leading business man of Bis-
marck. She came to Bismarck in September, 1872, and was the first bride in
Bismarck. They removed to Nebraska in 1885.
Mrs. Charlotte H. Davis was the wife of Thomas P. Davis, one of the early
contractors on the Northern Pacific grade. They came to Bismarck in 1872.
Mr. Davis was killed by accident in Bismarck in 1894 and Mrs. Davis returned
to her old home in Canada.
Mrs. Lucy Baily came to Bismarck with her husband, James Buell Baily, in
August, 1872. They were for some years engaged in the business of hotel keep-
ing. Mr. Baily died in 1879 ^"d Mrs. Baily in January, 1895.
Miss Rosalind C. Slaughter, who was for so long the faithful secretary of
the society, is the daughter of Dr. B. F. and Linda W. Slaughter and was a babe
in arms when she came to Camp Hancock with her parents in 1872. She attended
school in Bismarck and Washington, D. C. On October 21, 1896, she was mar-
ried to Mr. A. W. Dearborn of Eagle Lake, Minn., where she now resides with
her husband.
Mrs. Christina Dunn came to Bismarck in 1873 and is the wife of John P.
Dunn, one of the first board of commissioners of Burleigh County, and long
engaged as a druggist in Bismarck, where she still resides. Mrs. Dunn is now
engaged in millinery at Bismarck.
Mrs. Winnifred Nichols came to Bismarck in 1873 with her husband, John
Nichols, and their family of children. They long resided on a farm near the
city. Mr. Nichols died in 1896. Mrs. Nichols and several of their daughters
now reside in Bismarck.
]\Irs. Phoebe 'A. Marsh came to Bismarck with her husband, R. R. Marsh,
from Pennsylvania in 1872 and opened the Capitol Hotel on the present site of
the Central Block on Main street. They now reside on a farm near Menoken.
The object of the ladies' society, as stated in their constitution, was to pro-
mote friendship and good will among the old settlers of Bismarck and Burleigh
County and to preserve the records of the early history of the county and state
in correct and permanent form.
This society having organized under the name of North Dakota State His-
torical Society, an arrangement was made with them whereby they merged their
organization into the present State Historical Society, the members of this society
becoming honorary members of the new organization.
HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 527
RANSOM COUNTY
Early in 1869 a colonization company with Capt. Lafayette Hadley as presi-
dent came to Owego Township and settled on what, after being surveyed, proved
to be section 16. They named the company "The Owego Colonization Com-
pany," platted a townsite and named it Owego after their former home on the
Susquehanna. Several families came and numerous buildings were erected, and
the colony prospered for a year or so. During the following summer the male
members of the colony, who were old enough, all went to work on the Northern
Pacific Railroad, and an "Indian scare" drove all the families away. The town-
site scheme was abandoned and the buildings burned by the Indians. Samuel
Horton was a member of this colony and lived there with his family.
William Hutchins, the oldest resident of the county, freighted through the
county in 1868. At that time there were two residents, John Knudson, a Nor-
wegian, living on the Sheyenne River on section 2 in Owego Township, and Dave
Faribault, a half-breed Sioux and nephew of the old Chief Faribault, was living
on the Sheyenne near the present residence of H. S. Gates. Faribault kept a
Government station, but his place being out of the direct line of travel, he was
removed to a point near Owego, called in that day "Pigeon Point," where he
kept a station for several years.
The first land was entered in 1870 by Peter Bonner at a point now known
as Bonnersville on the Sheyenne River.
A little later Herman and Helmuth Schultz and F. Bagnhn settled in Owego
Township, near the old colony townsite. Joseph L. Cotton was the first settler
on the townsite of Lisbon, where he built a mill in 1878, and laid out the town
in September, 1880.
Fort Ransom was established in 1866 for the purpose of keeping the hostile
Sioux in check, and guarding the trains of emigrants going westward. It was
named for Gen. T. E. G. Ransom of the volunteer army, and the county was
named for this fort. The old earthwork, in the form of a quadrangle about
two hundred and fifty by three hundred feet in dimensions, and six feet high,
portions of the powder magazine and cellars and fragments of buildings, the old
lime kiln and slaughter houses, are yet to be seen. On the brow of the hill north
of the fort are the remains of six graves walled up with stone and mortar, where
soldiers were buried and the bodies afterward removed.
The fort was abandoned in 1872 and moved to Fort Seward, near James-
town. The buildings left by the Government were stolen by the early settlers
as usual.
The old "Oregon Trail" crosses the county diagonally about six miles south
of Lisbon. On the SE J4 oi 2-133-56 is a large camping place with earthworks
thrown up in a circle over forty rods across where the Oregon emigrants pro-
tected themselves against an attack from the Indians.
The remains of several Indian gardens and villages are yet visible along the
Sheyenne Valley. At the old crossing near J. E. Brunton's is the outline of a
large village and near it are earthworks built by white men to guard the ford
and as a camp for benighted travelers.
Sibley's expedition crossed the Sheyenne and established Camp Hayes and
celebrated the 4th of July, 1863. Ex-Governor Horace Austin of Minnesota, then
528 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
captain of Company B, First Regiment, Mounted Rangers, addressed the troops,
being the first 4th of July oration deUvered in Ransom County. A tall liberty
pole of white ash was erected. The expedition passed about a mile and a half
north of Lisbon and established "Camp Wharton" on sections 19 and 20, town-
ship 13s, range 56, where it halted until Sunday morning, July 12th, waiting for
a supply train to arrive from Alexandria, Minn., when it passed on and crossed
the Sheyenne River at Stony Ford near Sorenson's Mills in Barnes County.
Ransom County was created by act of the Territorial Legislature, January 4,
1873, from Pembina, and by act of the Legislature, February 7, 1877, the County
of Ransom was attached to the County of Richland for the purpose of recording
deeds, mortgages and other instruments.
On March 7, 1881, Governor Ordway appointed as commissioners Frank
Probert, Gilbert Hanson and George H. Colton. Their first meeting was held
April 4, 1881, and Frank Probert was chosen chairman. At the meeting next
day the "county seat was located at Lisbon." The following officers were
appointed : J. L. Colton, register of deeds and county clerk ; George H. Man-
ning, sheriff ; A. H. Moore, deputy sheriff ; John Kinan, treasurer ; J. P. Knight,
judge of probate; M. A. Smith, assessor; Peter H. Benson, Thomas Olson, Amos
Hitchcock and Thomas Harris, Sr., justices of the peace; John Ording, Soloman
Robinson, Orlando- Foster and Edward Ash, constables ; Eben W. Knight, super-
intendent of schools; E. C. Pindall, county surveyor; W. W. Bradley, coroner.
Joseph J. Rogers was employed as counsel for the board of commissioners.
Janviary i, 1883, the following officers qualified: D. F. Ellsworth, Randolph
Holding and M. L. Engle, commissioners; A. H. Laughlin, register of deeds;
A. C. Kvella, treasurer, and A. H. Moore, sheriff. M. L. Engle was elected
chainnan of the board.
Among the old settlers who came previous to 1884 were: W. H. Smith,
J. S. Cole, S. Robinson, Judge E. J. Ryman, J. Peterman, F. P. Allen, H. A.
Haugan, A. Sandager, Thomas A. Curtis, H. K. Adams, R. S. Adams, A. John-
son, M. B. Rose, A. H. Laughlin, M. E. Moore, Stewart Heron, H. H. Grover,
H. S. Grover, Thomas J. Harris, E. S. Lovelace, T. J. Walker, Thomas E.
Harris, S. W. Bale, John E. Fleming, W. W. Moore, Robert Perigo, G. E.
Knapp, D. H. Buttz, Fred K. Moore, L J. Oliver, John H. Oerding, P. W.
Skiffington, F. W. Baguhn, J. S. Sullivan, F. M. Probert, Joseph Goodman,
P. P. Goodman, M. L. Engle, H. S. Oliver, T. M. Elliott, William Trumble, J. E.
Wisner, Maj. C. W. 'Buttz and J. E. Brunton.
TOWNER COUNTY "
Towner County, named for Col. O. M. Towner, a prominent figure in the
early days of North Dakota, founder of the Elk Valley farm, and other important
enterprises, was created March 8, 1883, from parts of Caviller and Rolette
counties.
The county was first settled in 1881 and was organized in 1883 by the appoint-
ment, November 6 of that year, of P. T. Parker, H. C. Davis and J. W. Connella
as county commissioners, but J. S. Conyer was substituted for the latter on the
day of organization.
In 1886 Cando was established and forty acres scripped and laid out as a
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 529
townsite by J. A. Percival of Devils Lake, who also purchased the three adjoin-
ing forties entered by H. C. Davis.
June 2, 1884, the county was divided into school districts and the following
were appointed as judges of school election : District No. i, J. L. Miller, J. H.
McCune and Frederick Lemke — election at A. S. Gibbens' ; district No. 2, Frank
Blair, C. C. Edwards and J. W. Hardee — election at the county building.
The county was divided into commissioner districts in October, and voting
precincts and judges were ordered as follows: At the store of W. H. Lane,
T. W. Conyers, A. S. Gibbens and T. F. Hesse, judges; at the county building,
John Smith, C. C. Marks and Mike Rocke, judges ; at Richard D. Cowan's,
James Dunphy, George Edmonson and J. Pinkerton, judges.
The county officers elected that fall were H. C. Davis, J. S. Conyers and
R. D. Cowan, commissioners ; W. E. Pew, register of deeds ; W. H. Lane, super-
intendent of schools; J. W. Hardee, judge of probate; Edv^^ard Gorman, sheriff;
T. W. Conyers, coroner; James Dunphy and John Nelson, justices of the peace;
John Rocke, treasurer; R. J. Cowan, assessor; R. D. Cowan, constable. A. M.
Powell continued to act as clerk of the court.
A prominent factor in the early settlement of Towner County in 1883 was
the Missouri Colony. They came largely from Pike County, which has fur-
nished many immigrants for all portions of the North and West, and is famous
from once having been the home of Joseph Bowers and his red-headed rival, who
married Joe's sweetheart when he was off in California trying to raise a stake.
This colony consisted of about forty men, and they had seventy carloads of
stock and immigrant movables. Among them was Capt. P. P. Parker, Frank L.
Wilson, Col. John Ely, J. H. McCune, James H. McPike, A. H. Riggs, George
W. Clifton, A. H. Steele, William Steele, Wilson Williams, Guy M. Germond,
C. B. Riggs, T. W. Conyers, Ed Preist, James M. Hanson, Joseph Grotte, John
Crow and Amos Glasscock.
CHAPTER XXXIV
HISTORY OF BANKING IN NORTH DAKOTA
The Dakotas claim the distinction of the oldest State Bankers Association in
the United States, the Dakota Bankers Association having been organized in
1885, with D. W. Diggs as president; R. C. Anderson, first vice president; M. P.
Beebee as treasurer, and Eugene Steere as secretary.
The first convention was held at Aberdeen, in May, 1885. At that meeting
eighteen members, coming from dift'erent parts of what was then the Territory
of Dakota, were enrolled as the original membership of the Dakota Association.
May 24th and 25th, 1887, the annual convention of the Dakota Bankers Asso-
ciation was held at Watertown, and the membership at that time numbered
eighty-two. The officers of the association in 1887 were: President, Charles E.
Judd, cashier of the Dakota Loan & Trust Company of Canton; R. C. Anderson,
as vice president, cashier of the Bank of St. Lawrence, with twenty-four vice
presidents coming from various parts of the territory. M. P. Beebee, president
of the Bank of Ipswich, was still treasurer of the association and Eugene Steere,
cashier of the Citizens Bank of Pierre, secretary.
One of the interesting features at the convention of 1887 was a historical
paper covering banking in Dakota, by Frank Drew, at that time cashier of the
Bank of Highmore, from which the following sketch has been taken.
"The first banking institution, in the ihen Territory of Dakota, was located
in the City of Yankton, which at that time was a rival of her now more popular
neighbor, Sioux City, which city in 1872 numbered a population of but 3,000.
Mark M. Palmer, a young man of twenty-three years of age, at that time, was
the first person to open a bank in Dakota. In the fall of 1869 this bank was
opened on Second Street in Yankton, as a private bank, the partners being S.
Drew, who later on was cashier of the James River Bank of Frankfort, Dak.,
and Frank Drew, later cashier of the Bank of Highmore. Mr. Palmer failed and
retired from the banking business in January, 1878. At that time no railroad
had entered the domain of the great commonwealth of the Territory of Dakota,
and business transactions were necessarily slow to accommodate the old-time
Concord coach, which daily drove up to the postoffice, and deposited the mail,
and delivered to the bank such currency, specie, etc., as it received from the
outside world."
In 1873 the locomotive appeared in Dakota Territory and the Concord coach
was relegated to tlie frontier. Yankton drew trade from an enormous territory
and the accounts of this pioneer bank were the accounts of business men. in-
dividuals, Indian agents, post-traders, and others, furnishing the bank with a
large and widely distributed business. Borrowers were then accustomed to
530
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 531
giving personal security only. The chattel mortgage, the popular form o£ security
in the Northwest, being a creation of later days. A most profitable source of
revenue for the bank was that of advancing officers, pay accounts. For the
ready cash, a liberal discount was not objected to by officers of the Government
then in the frontier service.
The second bank organized in the frontier territory was the Clay County
Bank (not incorporated), organized September 21, 1871, at Vermilion, with
V. C. Prentice as president, and Henry Newton as cashier. After a successful
career of seven years this bank went out of existence September 4, 1878, announc-
ing to its depositors their ability to pay all claims on demand. Mr. Prentice later
on resided at Pierre, S. Dak., and Mr. Newton at Vermilion.
The third bank on the list was started at Elk Point, under the name of the
Bank of Union County, in the spring of 1872, by W. Hoffman, who was also
interested in the milling business at that point. He failed in business in 1875,
and died in the Black Hills in 1877.
The fourth bank was started in Yankton in the fall of 1872, by P. P. Winter-
mute, the slayer of the brilliant Gen. Edwin S. McCook, then secretary of the
territory. This unfortunate affair occurred on the night of September 11, 1873,
in the hall of the St. Charles Hotel at Yankton, at a meeting called by the citizens
to consider the proposition of the incoming of the Dakota Railroad. Mr. Winter-
mute's career as a banker then ended. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to
ten years, but afterward obtained a new trial and was acquitted at Vermilion,
Dak. His liberty was of short duration, however, as his death occurred in
Florida in 1877, where he had gone to recuperate a shattered constitution. The
bank he founded was purchased by Edmunds and Wynn, under the title of the
Yankton Bank, which was succeeded by the Edmunds-Hudson Co., they being
succeeded by Edmunds & Sons. Newton Edmunds, senior member of the firm,
was honored -by many public trusts, among others being governor of the Terri-
tory of Dakota. All of the banks mentioned so far were private institutions.
In the winter of 1872, the First National Bank of Yankton was organized
with a capital of $50,000, the first of its kind in the territory and was officered
by the Hon. Moses K. Armstrong, president, then a delegate to Congress, and
Mark Palmer, cashier. Mr. Palmer still continuing his private banking business.
In 1873 S. B. Coulson purchased the interest held by Mr. Palmer and the man-
agement fell into the hands of J- C. McVey, president, and C. E. Sanborn, cashier,
Mr. Armstrong having retired.
The First National Bank of Yankton is an example of what good manage-
ment will produce. It still stands among the leading financial institutions of the
two Dakotas, with an uninterrupted history of prosperity covering a period of
forty-four years.
The sixth bank came into existence in Sioux Falls in the summer of 1873,
Jno. D. Cameron being proprietor of the bank. He failed in 1873, and was suc-
ceeded by J- D. Young & Co., who were in turn succeeded by the First National
Bank of Sioux Falls, which failed in 1886.
The seventh bank was started in 1875. at Bismarck, Dak., Hon. James. W.
Raymond, later territorial treasurer, and afterward president of the North-
western National Bank of Minneapolis, being the prime mover in this work.
532 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The Bismarck National Bank with James W. Raymond as president and Wil-
liam Bell cashier, was the outcome of this bank.
It was just at this time that Dakota Territory entered upon an era of railroad
building, bringing into existence many new towns, and among other things,
numerous banking institutions. By this time modes of doing business had some-
what changed. Loans were made on chattel mortgages, the forms of which have
varied with each succeeding session of the Legislature. Dakota investments so
long held in doubt were becoming prominent and sought after. The business of
first mortgage farm loans had grown to a proportion far exceeding expectations,
and was handled by institutions in and out of the territory. The earliest organizers
of this branch of business was the firm of Foster & Hayworth, who conducted
a farm and loan business in Yankton from 1872 to 1876. A number of banks
had sprung into existence in that part of the territory, which is now the State of
North Dakota, all of which have gone out of existence with the exception of the
First National Bank of Fargo, which was organized in February, 1878.
The first published statement of this bank was printed March 15, 1878, show-
ing a paid-up capital of $61,000, deposits of $12,000, and loans and discounts,
$27,000. E. B. Eddy was president, and E. C. Eddy, who still resides in Fargo,
N. Dak., was cashier. The First National Bank of Fargo claims the distinction
of being the oldest and largest bank in the State of North Dakota. Its present
capital is $300,000, surplus and undivided profits, $250,000, and deposits, $5,-
500,000. Its active officers at the present time being E. J. Weiser, president;
F. A. Irish, vice president, and G. H. Nesbit, cashier.
In the years of 1880-81-82 banks in the Territory of Dakota flourished like
mushrooms and the first thing to catch the eye on entering a new town was a
bank building and then a saloon. During these years the railroads were extend-
ing their lines in every direction, weaving into a giant cobweb the commercial
interests of Dakota. Huron came into notice in 1880, and December 23d of that
year the first bank was started in Huron by C. C. Hills, since deceased.
E. Steere landed in Huron January 3, 1881, with an embryo bank in his
pocket, thinking he was the first man on deck, but after a night's sleep and a
little investigation in the morning he discovered his mistake and upon calling at
the bank already started he found an old-time friend. After a careful sizing up
of the situation the conclusion was reached that Huron would not need two
banks for some time to come. Mr. Steere went on to Pierre, and started the
Citizens Bank, which for many years was the oldest bank in that portion of
Dakota. Later on in- the fall of the year 1881, Frank Stevens started the Beadle
County Bank, the second incorporated institution of its kind in the territory.
The Citizens Bank of Grand Forks was organized in 1878 with J. W. Smith
as president and S. S. Titus as cashier. This bank developed into the First
National Bank of Grand Forks with J. W. Smith as president and S. S. Titus
as cashier. The First National Bank of Grand Forks is still a flourishing
institution. It's officers are: S. S. Titus, chairman of the board of directors,
A. I. Hunter, president, and J. R. Carley, cashier.
In 1889 the Territory of Dakota was divided into the states of North and
South Dakota, the principal cities of North Dakota at that time being Fargo,
Grand Forks, Bismarck, Jamestown, Valley City, Grafton, Devils Lake and
Minot, and other smaller towns there had flourishing banks, and the business
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 533
of banking grew to enormous proportions. At that time the Dakota Bankers
Association went out of existence and tlie North Dakota Bankers Association
and the South Dakota Bankers Association were organized.
The first officers of the North Dakota Association were Charles A. Morton,
of Fargo, president ; E. P. Wells, of Jamestown, first vice president ; R. S. Adams,
of Lisbon, treasurer; and George B. Clifford, of Grand Forks, secretary. The
North Dakota Association flourished for several years, but was finally abandoned
and an effort was made to reorganize the association in 1894, but after holding
two meetings the organization was again abandoned, and not until 1903 was
another effort made to organize a state association when through the efforts of
F. W. Cathro, cashier of the First National Bank of Bottineau, a meeting of the
bankers of the state was held at Grand Forks on Thursday and Friday, August
27th and 28th, for the purpose of reorganizing the North Dakota Association.
Every banker in the state was cordially invited to participate in the organ-
ization, the call being signed by twenty-one bankers located in as many different
cities in the state. A meeting was organized by the election of F. W. Cathro of
Bottineau, as temporary chairman ; W. C. Macfadden of Fargo, as temporary
secretary; and M. J. Liverman of Grand Forks, as temporary assistant secretary
and stenographer. At the conclusion of the organization meeting officers for the
ensuing year were elected as follows: S. S. Lyon of Fargo, president; M. F.
Murphy of Grand Forks, vice president; J. H. Terrett of Michigan City, treas-
urer ; and W. C. Macfadden of Fargo, secretary.
In 1906 the North Dakota Bankers Association was incorporated under the
laws of the State of North Dakota and in 1914 permanent offices were provided,
and W. C. Macfadden elected as state secretary of the association, he devoting
his entire time to the business of the association since that date. From the years
1903 to 1916 the following gentlemen have served as presidents of the association :
F. W. Cathro, Bottineau, N. Dak. ; S. S. Lyon, Fargo, N. Dak. ; M. F. Murphy,
Grand Forks, N. Dark. ; L. B. Hanna, Fargo, N. Dak. ; J. L. Cashel, Grafton,
N. Dak.; C. E. Batcheller, Fingal, N. Dak.; C. J. Lord, Cando, N. Dak; W. C.
McDowell, Marion, N. Dak. ; Karl J. Farup, Park River, N. Dak. ; R. S. Adams,
Lisbon, N, Dak. ; Lewis F. Crawford, Sentinel Butte, N. Dak. ; J. J. Nierling,
Jamestown. N. Dak. ; W. D. McClintock, Rugby, N. Dak. ; J. E. Phelan, Bowman,
N. Dak. The present officers being J. E. Phelan of Bowman, president; C. R.
Green of Cavalier, vice president; W. S. McClintock of Rugby, chairman of the
executive council; W. F. Hanks of Powers Lake, treasurer; and W. C. Mac-
fadden of Fargo, secretary.
At the annual convention held in Fargo, July 14 and 15, 1904, a total of 291
banks in North Dakota was shown, 79 national banks with an aggregate capital
of $2,725,000, and 212 state banks with an aggregate capital of $2,357,000, or a
total banking capital of $5,082,000. In igi2 the financial institutions in the
state were as follows: state banks, 596; trust companies, 3; national banks,
146; total, 745. In June, 1916, the total number of banks and trust companies
in the state had increased to 151 national banks, 4 trust companies, 658 state
banks, making a total of 823 institutions. Nine million seven hundred thirteen
thousand dollars total capital for the state banks and $5,625,000 as the aggregate
capital of the national banks, and $500,000 capital for the trust companies, with
534 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
total deposits for the state banks of approximately $80,000,000 and total deposits
of the national banks approximately $35,000,000.
Annual conventions of the state association are held, at which topics of gen-
eral interest to the state are discussed and to the North Dakota Bankers Associa-
tion can a very large amount of credit be rightfully given for the development
of the commonwealth.
BANKS OF DAKOTA TERRITORY AS SHOVl^N BY THE REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF
CURRENCY FOR THE YEAR 1889, TOGETHER WITH CAPITAL AND RESOURCES
Aggregate
Name Capital Resources
First National Bank, Aberdeen $ 50,000 $176,659.89
Aberdeen National Bank, Aberdeen 75,ooo 208,504.65
Northwestern National Bank, Aberdeen 100,000 273,825.43
First National Bank, Bismarck 100,000 239,355.97
Capital National Bank, Bismarck 50,000 156,026.98
First National Bank, Brookings 50,000 159.633-57
First National Bank, Canton 50,000 126,634.48
First National Bank, Casselton 60,000 255,653.03
First National Bank, Chamberlain 50,000 146,463.27
First National Bank, Clark 60,000 144,949.70
First National Bank, Dead wood 100,000 1,052,152.78
Deadwood National Bank, Deadwood 100,000 224,440.10
Merchants National Bank, Deadwood 100,000 244.250.19
First National Bank, Dell Rapids 75,000 178,368.77
First National Bank, DeSmet 50,000 98,000.00
First National Bank, Devils Lake 50,000 182,081.76
Merchants National Bank, Devils Lake 50,000 116,604.92
First National Bank, Doland 50,000 96,537.82
First National Bank, Fargo 150,000 850,415.81
Citizens National Bank, Fargo 100,000 372,424.74
Red River Valley National Bank, Fargo 100,000 427,252.28
First National Bank, Grafton 50,000 210,134.29
Grafton National Bank, Grafton 50,000 169,188.63
Second National Bank, Grand Forks 55,ooo 215,064.32
Citizens National Bank, Grand Forks 100,000 419,956.91
Grand Forks National Bank, Grand Forks 60,000 266,907.80
First National Bank, Hillsboro 50,000 246,110.54
Hillsboro National Bank, Hillsboro 50,000 162,323.79
First National Bank, Huron 75,ooo 346,629.22
Beadle County National Bank, Huron 50,000 162,862.27
Huron National Bank, Huron 75.000 319,044.20
National Bank of Dakota, Huron 50,000 138,904.1 1
James River National Bank, Jamestown 50,000 155,819.37
First National Bank, Larimore 50,000 148,902.23
First National Bank, Lisbon 50,000 157,861.09
First National Bank, Madison 50,000 118,498.89
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 535
Aggregate
Name Capital Resources
Citizens National Bank, Madison 50,000 182,237.50
First National Bank, Mandan 50,000 169,134.49
First National Bank, Mayville 50,000 I55. 517-45
First National Bank, Minot 50,000 80,258.72
First National Bank, Mitchell 50,000 234,128.52
Mitchell National Bank, Mitchell 50,000 127,472.39
First National Bank, Parker 50,000 117,277.93
First National Bank, Park River 50,000 137,861.47
First National Bank, Pembina 50,000 205,773.03
First National Bank, Pierre 50,000 145,262.10
Pierre National Bank, Pierre 25,000 63,136.57
First National Bank, Rapid City 50,000 334,010.78
Black Hills National Bank, Rapid City 125,000 264,073.34
First National Bank, Redfield 50,000 158,612.78
Dakota National Bank, Sioux Falls 50,000 315,646.34
Minnehaha National Bank, Sioux Falls 200,000 711,781.47
Sioux Falls National Bank, Sioux Falls 100,000 405,668.89
First National Bank, Sturgis 50,000 107,912.82
First National Bank, Valley City 50,000 180,455.82
Farmers and Merchants National Bank, Valley City. 65,000 126,170.55
National Bank, Wahpeton 30,000 34,629.12
First National Bank, Watertown 50,000 153,512.21
Citizens National Bank, Watertown 50,000 163,088.07
Watertown National Bank, Watertown 50,000 129,862.14
First National Bank, Yankton 50,000 192,993.54
ABSTRACT OF COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE STATE BANKS AND TRUST COMPA-
NIES IN NORTH DAKOTA FOR CALLS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JUNE 30,
AND SEPTEMBER 12, I916.
658 State Banks 671 State Banks
4 Trust Companies 4 Trust Companies Increase (I)
reporting on reporting on and
Resources June30, 1916 Sept. 12, 1916 Decrease (D)
Loans and Discounts $65,818,820.44 $ 68,787,936.43 $2,969,115.99 I
Overdrafts 242,895.08 279,833.39 36,938.31 I
Warrants, Claims, etc 1,867,701.22 1,925,382.60 57,681.381
Banking House Furniture
and Fixtures 3.092,653.33 3,205,137.11 112,483.78 I
Other Real Estate 2,045,566.83 2,116,683.66 71,116.83 I
Due from Approved Re-
serve Agents 14,036,880.90 19,243,214.41 5,206,333.51 I
Due from Other Banks. .. . 978,102.38 1,336,409.54 358,307.161
Cash Items 516,363.22 485,665.87 30,697.350
Cash on Hand 2,336,432.90 2,792,048.81 455,615.91 I
Totals $90,935,416.30 $100,172,311.82 $9,236,895,521
536
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
658 State Banks
4 Trust Companies
reporting on
June 30, 1916
Liabilities
Capital Stock $ 9,713,000.00
Surplus Fund 2,994,067.71
Undivided Profits less cur-
rent expenses 659,005.20
Due to other banks 1,574,652.09
Deposits subject to check. . 29,266,223.87
Demand Certificates of De-
posit 873,899.65
Time Certificates of Deposit 41,879,834.42
Saving Deposits 2,339,491.87
Certified and Cashier's
Checks 777,810.30
Bills Payable 644,438.00
Re-Discounts 207,982.53
Other Liabihties 5,010.66
Totals $90,935,416.30
671 State Banks
4 Trust Companies
reporting on
Sept. 12, 1916
$ 9,973.000.00
3,052,082.22
529,632.51
2,092,861.33
33.974.670-70
874,363.58
45,258,453.89
2,459.925-67
976,943.26
760,562.12
205,359.85
14,456-69
Increase (I)
and
Decrease (D)
$ 260,000.00 I
58,014.51 I
129,372.690
518,209.24 I
4,708,446.83 I
463-93 I
3,378,619.47 I
120,433.80 I
199.132-96 I
116,124.12 I
2,622.68 D
9,446.03 I
$100,172,311.82 $9,236,895.52 I
NATION.^L BANKS OF NORTH DAKOTA AS SHOWN BY THE REPORT OF THE COMP-
TROLLER OF THE CURRENCY. REPORT OF SEPTEMBER 2, I915. CAPITAL^
AGGREGATE RESOURCES AND DEPOSITS
Location and name of
bank.
President.
Cashier.
Total
resources
and
liabilities.
ibercrombie. First [ngval Johnson Franlslin D. Tonne..
imbrosc, First J. L. Mathews D. C. Hair
Anamonse. .\namoose J, J. Schmidt A. .T. HolTer
Beach First O. C. Attletweed L. R. Austin
Beineld. i'^irst R.C.Davis T. O. Milsten
Binford. First Lewis Berg Oscar Greenland . .
Blsbee, First A. Egeland .T. G. Behan
Bismarcl<. First C. B. Little Prank K. bhepard. .
Bismarck. City P. C. ReminBton .L A. Graham
Bottineau. First W. H. Mcintosh F. W. Cathro
Bottineau. Bottineau H. A. Batie G. K. Vikan
Bowbells. First A. C. Wiper B. M. Wolilwend..
Bowman. First .T. E. Phelan Dugald Stewart ...
Brinsraade, First
Buffalo. First
Cando, First
Cando. Cando
Carpio. First
Carrington. First
Casselton. First
Casselton. Cass County
Cavalier. First
Churchs Ferry. First
...E. Bussbarth H. .1. Haugan.
...E. B. More S. G. More
...r. J. Lord Harry Lord
. . . C. J. Lofgren D. F. McLaughlin.
...S J. Rasmussen Oscar Henim
. ..G. VV. C. Ross G. S. Newberry
. ..R. C. Kittel W. F. Kittel
Joseph I.anges J. L. Gunkel
H. A. Rygh A. D. Porter
H. C. Hansen xr. Engelliorn
Cooperstown. First H. P. Hammer Seval Friswold ..
Courtenay. Fhrst G. W. C. Ross R. V. Reed
Crary. First J. H. Smith O. C. Sagmoen...
Crosby. Hrst E. F. Volkmann Harry H. Martin
Crosby. Citizeiw A. M. Eckraann Sigurd Rue
Crystal. First Thos. Ryan Guy M. .Tamieaon
Devils Lalte. First H. E. Baird R. V. Bice
Devils Lake. Ramsey Co.. C. M. Fisher Blanding Fisher
_ „ _ _ 154
Dickinson, First A. Hilliard T. A. Tollefson 1,436.762
$205,
199,
2S6,
350.
278,
162,
286,
1,591,
722,
311,
262,
207.
355,
182,
220,
442.
363.
197,
472,
507,
368.
210,
179,
538.
100,
149,
110,
205,
195,
636,
489
625
,331
,659
694
019
696
880
969
274
647
963
902
079
212
793
401
,694
,531
,049
,629
500
166
,620
,255
,099
,165
197
,374
514
Dickinson.' Dakota H. C. Chrisfensen D. D. Mars..
Dickinson. Merchants. .. .W. L. Richards Wilson Eyer
Drayton, First J. R. Stong H. A. Thom
East Fairview, First .\. F. Noble L. P. Lanouette
Edgeley. First W. T. Martin A. J. Kesler
Edmore, F-rst D. H. Beecher C. C. Honey
Egela!id. First D. F. McLaughlin Geo. F. Eisberry
Ellendaie. First F B. Gannon G. E. Lane
Ellendale. Ellendale F. -T. Graham H C. Peek
Ellendaie. Farmers P. McGregor Albert C. Strand
Fairmount. First Geo. W. Mace Wm. Dahlauist
Fargo, First E. J. Welser G, H, Npsh't 3,660
Fargo, Fargo M. Hector G, E. Nichols 390
Fargo. Merchants .N. A. Lewis S. S, Ly^n 1.255
Fessenden, First H Thorson H. Ingraldson 330
,433
760
,483
,594
,872
,41s
,560
717
382
038
,2.'<4
,437
,843
164
Capital. Surplus.
$25,000
25.000
25.000
25,000
25.030
25.000
25,0.10
100.000
50,050
60,000
25.000
25.000
25.030
25,000
25.tt00
25.000
25,000
25.1100
25.000
50,000
25,000
25.000
25,000
50 ono
25,000
25,300
25,000
25,000
25,000
75,000
50.003
100,000
50.030
50,000
25 000
25,000
.50.000
25.000
25,000
25.030
25.000
25.000
25.000
330,000
60.000
100.000
25,000
$4,000
5,030
5,000
11,000
25,000
5,000
5,000
100,000
10.000
10.000
10.000
5.000
25.000
5.000
50.000
35.000
35,000
5,000
25,000
10,000
25,500
1,400
5,000
50,000
io'fioo
1,000
6,250
6.003
2.5,000
10,000
50,000
40.000
63,000
25,000
6,300
10,000
10,000
7,000
40,000
4,300
3,000
5,000
200.000
10,000
75.030
5,000
Undi-
vided
Demand
Time
profits.
deposits.
deposits.
$31,595
$94,035
55.017
79,437
54.077
151,776
$1,416
114,409
155,461
6,137
92,743
104,139
468
35,901
78,827
65,932
150,956
13,072
865,249
169,108
8,057
233,955
224,153
4,378
47,147
163,622
69,120
151,846
98,174
63.00D
8,914
111,464
133,935
37.902
56.938
1,777
91.234
27,684
114,974
240.427
97,738
179,337
64,145
77.386
34,157
246,802
116.090
7,363
175,326
154.198
5.650
139,746
103,100
2.046
62,213
88,815
1,776
52,101
70,743
5,216
109.028
203,728
678
23.665
44.256
52.206
31.969
29.487
47.297
84,757
64,323
707
56,816
60,990
10,891
351,858
107,433
23.404
254,555
138,171
2,720
356.570
764,049
4,930
165,694
87,825
10,445
261,933
212,566
2,558
126,250
129,952
3.748
42,240
20,906
6.637
137.644
199.691
44,114
151.508
1,628
24,225
25,067
8,978
212.6,12
116.471
45,359
74.985
6.371
66,719
27.042
51,615
61,923
29,965
1,434.442
705,013
7.755
220.334
20.644
25.974
589.839
288,628
3.684
91.703
170,377
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
537
Location and name of
bank.
Fingal, First
Finley. I'lrst
Formaii, First
Garrison, First
Goodrich, First
Grattun, I'lrst
Grafton, Grafton
Grand I-'orks. First
Hampden, First
Hanltinsun, mrst
Hantiinson, Citizens
Itannalord. First
Harvey, First
Hattuii. I'^rst
Hatton, Farmers and
aiercliants
Hebron. First
Hettinger. I-irst
Hillsboro. First
Hillsboro. Hillsboro
Hope, I'lrst
Hope, Hope
Hunter, First
Jamestown, Citizens
Jamestown, Farmers and
llerclianis
Jamestown, James River. .
Kenraare, I'^rst
Kenmare, Keiimare
Kramer, First
Laltota, National
La .Moure. First
La Moure, Farmers
Langdon, First
Langdon. Cavalier County.
Lansford, First
Larimore, National
Leeds, First
Lidgerwood, First
Lidgenvood, Farmers . , . .
Linton. First
Lisbon, First
Litchville, First
Mandan, First
Mandan, Merchants
Marion, First
Marmarth. First
Mayville. First
McCluslsy, First
McHenry, First
McVille. First
Medina, First
Milnor. First
Milnor. Milnor
Milton. First
Minncwaultan. First
Minot. Second
Minot. Union
Mohall. First
Mott. First
Municli. First
New England. First
New Itorkford. First
New Salem, First
Northwood, First
Northwond. CMtizens
Oakes. First
Oakes, Oakea
Onieniee. First
Osnabrock, First
Page, First
Park River. First
Plaza. First
Portland. First
Reeder. First
Reynolds. First
Rock Lake. First
Rolette. First
Rolla. First
Ryder, First
St. Thomas, First
Sanbiini, First
Scranton. First
Sentinel Btitte, First
Sharon. First
Sheldon, First
Sheycnne. First
Stanley. First
Starkweather. First
Steele, l^rst
Streeter. First
ToUey. I'^rst
Tower City. First
Towner, I'*irst
Turtle Lake, First
Valley City, First
Valley City. American..
Wahpeton. Citizens
Wahpeton. National .,.,
Walhalla. First
Washburn. First
WllUston, First
Willow City, First
Willow city. Merchants
Wimbledon, First
Wimbledon, Merchants ,
Wyndmere, First
President.
Cashier.
Total
resources
and
liabilities. Capital.
Undi-
vided
Siirplus. proflts.
Demand Time
deposits, deposits.
U A. Batcheller C. B. Batcheller i
B. Taisey E. H. Gilbertson
J. L. Mitchell n. L. Hlmebaugh
Adelbert Tymeson, Jr. . . D. P. Robinson
R. W. Akin Frank Schroeder
F. H- Sprague M. H, Sprague
D, C. Moore D. M. Upham ■,...
S. S. Titus .T. R. Carley 1,
C. D, Lord E. 11. Swarthout
E, L. Kinney H. A. Merritleld
I^. Hunger H. Kauthemer
O. E. Thoreson R. L. Jones
Aug. Peterson J. J. Reimer
M. F. Hegge Abraham Hanson
M L. Elken G. H. Bolken
H. R. Lyon J. H. Watts
C E. Batcheller A. G. Newman
E. Y. Sarles B. R. Sarles
J. H. Hanson Ole .Aniegard
J. D. Brown F. W- Ehred
Ole Amegard Geo. A. Warner
J. H. Gale Peter McLachlin
J. J. Nierling C. B. Hodge
Michael Murphy R. R. Wolfer
n. T. Graves A. B. De Nault
Charles J. Weiser David Clark. Jr
J. N. Fox H. P, Thronson
H. Thorson H. O. Lyngstad
G, W. C. Ross R. D. Swengel
David Lloyd Paul Adams
H. Neverman T. S. Hunt
C. li. McMillan J. H. Bain
W. F. Winter John Sheehan
John S. Tucker A. G. .\danis
F. E. Kenaston O. A. Hazen
O. L Hegge N. H. Sl'.ry
E. A. Movius M. O. Movius
M. Lynch J. W. Stlteler
Frank Chesrown F. J. Pietz
R. S. Adams W. S. Adams
A. P. Hanson S. J. Sundet
H. R. Lyon J. B. Racek 1
F. S. Graham L. S. Royer
Wesley C. McDowell. .Lewis Baertsch
J. E. Phelan P. J. Hackl
K. G. Springen Geo. O. Stomner
J- A. Beck A. Espeseth
H. S. Halvorson G. p. Cross. Jr
,C. H. Simpson .\. O. Moen
.Michael Murphy Wm. F. Stege
E. B. Johnson A. W. Eastman
.H. J. Ednion.
. . H. G. Halverson. .
. • C. F. Pierson
. . II. E. Bvorum . . .
. -Jas. S. Fiotland..
. . P. -A, Benson .
. . B. H- Trousdale. .
.O, A. Drews.
F. W. Vail.
..Tohn Wild
,0. I. Hegge
. R. B. Barron
,E. S. Person
. H. n. Steele
.R. E. Trousdal£.. .
.David H Beecher.
.Aug. Peterson H. E. Schroeder
.Wm. Roberts H. F. Rivedan
.Chas. F. Kellogg J. Henry Kling
.A. B. Landt w. E. .Johnson
.K. G. Rpringen A. S. Ellingson
.T.F.Marshall j, E. Bunday
.Chas. S. Brown Hans Lee
.n. McKinnon .\ R. Batie
.John Trotter t. L. Tillisch
. L. B. Hanna ^[. x. Mallorv
.Karl J. Fanip K. D. Bennett
.Robt. W. .Akin J^ E. Lincler
.G.A.White p. M. Paulson
.Aug. Peterson a. E Johnston
.S. N.Thompson Wm F. Huck
.W. .T, Lichty H. E. Gray
•d; Eyeland r. o. Myhre
,.W. N. Steele nobt. Eraser
■l^''^- Pe''^!^'™ C. H. ChrisUansen.
.F, T.Thompson H. L Barnes
K A. Bngebretson Umls Malm
.W. A. Shaw.
.B. .1. Curtln
.Alexander Curry.
, Gus O. Kratt
, D. N. Tallman..
T. L. Beiseker.
■ R. J. List.
•W. C. Stuhr
O. H. Olson
• R. E. Kratt
• .S. G. Severtson.
•B. W. Taylor.
.T. J. Dougherty chas. A. Potter...
. Jno. F. Robinson y d Tones
.P. S. Graham r j.' Hoeschen. .'.
..J. L. Mathews ,v e. Hvnes
• A. M. Voorhees s. p Sherman
.J. R. Carley .•, ^ i;ui,i
■ Wm. I.ierboe n t. Lierboe
.Herman Winterer ,7„hn Tracy
...James Grady h. C. Aaraoth....
.E. K. (.amnle ,7 p Reeder
, Joseph Patterson ^ p' Eckes
.C. W. Andrews T,.' F.' Lepage.'.'.'.'.'
..Geo L. Robinson ^ug e. .lohnson.
•„■ J; 5?¥'' W. S. Davidson..,
•f- "■-?,"^''j ("• W. Wilkins....
..J. S Otlland (;eo. B. Werdel...
"F- £■ J.'"'''" H. M. Stroud...,
•i S- S°^ C- C. Beers
,.H. H. Bug c. B, Paulson
S00,7T6
250,088
176,798
158,032
18-1,152
442,718
517,485
.661,269
128,598
216,106
275,093
172,3.30
427,763
.M5,501
216,964
238,449
208,483
550,378
551.465
353,792
294,492
184,215
342,501
363,917
851,206
284,483
299.272
173.134
150.499
347,619
276,243
377,196
324,539
178,911
152,437
168,008
546,521
419,491
328,865
681,786
225,099
,277.445
241.663
256.297
103.155
324,429
141,178
97,656
164,969
218,531
147,348
251.271
137,740
253,250
,2.39,849
560,745
164,595
275,616
156.113
219.806
261.259
233.339
368.363
199,210
409,223
244,736
153,509
262,557
229.086
355.156
224.216
250.079
175.364
85.673
143.416
166.349
220,6.33
186,399
150,018
222 272
171,922
170,997
206,343
155.952
213.889
146,463
173,090
232.420
139.880
166.409
33S.657
181.552
137,3.55
977.330
497,948
505.682
411,000
135.188
370,565
937.102
214.529
197.09(1
225,391
114,163
125.935
t 25,000
25,ii0n
25,000
25,000
25,000
53,000
50,000
200,000
25,000
30,000
30,000
25,000
25,300
23,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,003
30,000
50,000
50,000
100,0.10
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
50,300
50,000
25,000
25,000
25.000
25,000
50,000
50,000
25,000
50,300
25,000
50,000
50,000
25,000
25,000
50,000
25,000
25,000
25.000
25.000
25.000
30,030
25,000
25,000
100,000
53,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,300
25,000
25,000
25,003
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,003
25,000
25,030
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25.000
25,000
25,000
25,300
25,0110
25,000
25,030
25,000
25.000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25.000
25.000
25,030
25,000
50,000
25,030
25,000
100,000
50,000
.55,000
50.000
25.000
25.003
75.000
25.000
25.000
25,300
25,000
25.000
t 6.000 .
; 36,761
i 78.015
25,1100 ; 4.497
77,698
91,893
4,000
715
49,,>14
75,71.9
5,000
454
74.727
30,321
10,000
2.288
56,886
70.978
10,000
211
125,302
171,655
10,000
6,135
145,852
235.498
50,000
14,938
837,935
99,151
5.000 ,
17.173
71.425
6,000 .
60,154
89,952
10,030 .
61,693
118,400
10,000 .
32,973
60,781
25,000
11,423
108,394
212,147
15,000
2,103
114,822
128,516
10,000
2,408
45.296
98,994
8.000
1,415
121,590
82,443
8,000
1,223
75.572
73,685
10,000
7,973
149,112
280,016
13,000
7.4S9
125,320
3O8.608
10,000
70,743
158,218
10,000
50,046
78,476
6,000
2,508
34,693
91,014
7,782
166,168
33,509
2,500 ,
102.751
103,991
80,000
7.883
365,341
227,354
15,000
97,552
139,797
25,000
124,597
92,329
5,000
1,914
35,737
90,983
5,000
723
51,527
34,162
15,000
1.580
117.810
159.893
10,000
24,262
80,879
20,000
3,521
57,554
203,335
5,000
838
79,424
179.278
3.000
1,095
46,869
94,447
5,000
60,831
40,106
4,500
1,393
43.436
68,079
20.000
156
160,485
249,764
9.000
108,665
194,414
10,000
105,418
182,197
25,000
1,456
260.059
275,271
5,000
63,600
96,499
85,000
414,267
548,470
63,570
78,289
10,030
2,775
70,644
135.778
19,000
4,128
46,998
64.651
73,912
164,953
2.150
1.542
37,735
67.751
272
17,000
10,423
115
69.434
46,726
4,000
71,357
100,999
5,000
299
34,745
71.440
769
74.823
113.891
5,000
20,503
78.887
5,300
2,695
63,694
103.034
50,000
51,641
4.55,778
407,705
30,000
1,546
193,656
113.457
5,000
384
77,115
27,506
12,500
1,048
92.711
138,097
5,000
1,180
12,406
106.027
5,000
9,372
56.410
85,824
6,000
73,432
131,442
4,650
41,217
143,172
10,000
962
106,517
190,392
3,000
84,286
54,924
15.000
1,136
147,532
135,881
5.000
86,332
83,826
10,000
3,543
28.271
79,696
2,979
45,240
160,038
7,500
4,051
108,239
59,996
30.000
2,670
70.482
213,325
10,000
8,879
80,797
80,240
10,300
80,501
128,319
5,000
S3
34,031
56,482
13,316
33,082
6,000
34,597
48,419
76
62,675
59.503
25,000
4,213
41,944
100,076
5,000
10,844
62,764
50,262
5,000
1,326
28,114
65,578
10.300
7,544
49,330
83,218
7.500
1,680
80,783
41.819
2.500
1,290
41.042
79,805
6,000
1,830
33,746
105,676
5.000
3,589
41,989
42,874
8.030
37,986
117,903
3.000
46,557
65,956
5,003
9,791
49,720
52.079
15.000
2,559
116,891
47,195
48,416
45,733
5,000
465
42,345
77,349
15,000
4,572
87,852
92,733
3,200
54,814
73,195
3,000
22,327
57,007
100,300
2,022
334.978
406,445
50.000
2,635
128.188
193,422
20.000
9,449
153,423
165,188
10,300
105,778
128,914
2.500
63
26.772
28,542
15,000
193
127.352
167.462
25.003
720
253.662
341.619
10,000
43,188
98,841
5,000
2,44s
53,980
99,906
9,000
93
67.391
88.907
5,000
24,760
39.839
5,003
■42,006
38,929
CHAPTER XXXV
HISTORY OF METHODISM IN NORTH DAKOTA
BY WILLIAM H. WHITE
The history of the first Methodist Episcopal Church of Fargo is, largely,
the history of early Methodism, in that part of the great Northwest north of
the forty-seventh parallel of latitude and west of the Red River of the North.
Long before the Indian title to the lands in the Red River Valley was extinguished,
the pioneer Methodist preacher took up his work of laying the foundation of our
great church in this country.
In the omniscient mind of the Master nothing is left to chance.
As we witness the unfolding of His plans, we realize how for generations
imborn His loving thought fulness provides.
In the early history of Methodism in the little town of Adiz, Ohio, over
seventy years ago, our sainted Bishop Simpson grew up with, and by his pure
life was the means of the conversion of, a young man by the name of Gurley.
While subsequently associated with him in Allegheny College, he was instrumental,
through divine direction, in young Gurley's entrance into the ministry, who,
later, became the father of Methodism in this portion of the Northwest.
Rev. James Gurley, better known by the affectionate title of Father Gurley,
took up his residence at Brainerd, Minn., as a missionary of the Methodist
Church, in the fall of 1871, his mission extending from Duluth, on Lake Superior,
to the entire then inhabited portions of Northern Minnesota, and what is now
known as North Dakota.
The beginnings of Methodism in Northern Dakota, under the direction of
Father Gurley (like that movement under the direction of Wesley), had its
■origin in the prayer and exhortation meetings held in the shanties of the pioneers.
Through the years of 187 1 and 1872 no church organization was effected in all
of Northern Minnesota and Dakota, except at Duluth and Brainerd. Fargo
being but one of the many appointments upon a circuit of 150 miles, could claim
only a portion of Father Gurley's time, and great were the sacrifices he made
to reach it. He, however, laid the foundations of the church in this state, strong
and deep, and upon this foundation, since 1872, Methodism has been building.
No official local organization was effected in Northern Dakota during the
year 1873, but Methodism assumed more permanency and a nucleus was definitely
formed at Fargo, of which the legal existence of the Fargo cliurch was the out-
growth in 1874.
During 1873 Northern Dakota was joined to the Northwest Iowa conference
and was known as the Northern Pacific Mission. The Rev. John Webb was
538
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 539
regularly appointed by that conference as general missionary west of the Red
River, Rev. Gurley retaining the work in Northern Minnesota. Mr. Webb's
residence was at Fargo and his circuit comprised the district in which now are
situated the towns of Jamestown, Caledonia, Grand Forks and Abercrombie,
but no churches were officially organized at any of these points at this date.
Church services during 1873 were regularly held at Fargo in what was known
as Pinkham's Hall, located on the corner of Front and Fifth streets. Rev. Mr.
Webb officiated when in Fargo, his place being supplied during his absence by
Father Gurley or by services conducted by some of the laity.
While no official membership existed, the church affairs were generally looked
after by Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Plummer, Miss Emma Plummer and William H.
White. A Sunday school of about twenty scholars was formed with Wm. H.
White as superintendent and with Mrs. Plummer and Miss Plummer as teachers.
These informal organizations existed in Fargo throughout this year, Rev. Mr.
Webb fostering them and giving them the larger portion of his time in connection
with his duties at other points on his circuit.
A church building was talked of and some funds raised, but nothing further
done except to select and solicit from the railroad company a donation of two of
the lots upon which our present church stands.
Early in the year 1874 energetic steps were taken toward collecting money
and laying plans for the erection of the first Methodist Church in North Dakota.
Through the kindness of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in giving
free rates for freight on building material, and the generosity of merchants and
business men generally, irrespective of denomination, a subscription sufficient for
the commencement of a small church was raised and active operations toward its
erection were begun early in the spring.
The church building (the dimensions of which were about 30 by 50 feet)
was completed and ready for occupancy by the ist of July.
On the 20th of July the legal existence of the First Methodist Church and
Sunday school of Fargo may be said to have begun, although for nearly a year
prior to this date an organized Sunday school and services under the auspices
of the Methodist Church had been held with such regularity as the opportunities
and circumstances of the time would permit.
The meeting was held in the church building, the Rev. H. J. Christ of Brainerd,
Minn., presiding. Those present were Rev. John Webb, missionary to the
Northern Pacific mission, James Douglas of Moorhead, Minn., Alonzo Plum-
mer, Mrs. Alonzo Plummer, Miss Emma Plummer and Wm. H. White. A
board of trustees was elected consisting of N. K. Hubbard, Geo. I. Foster, Alonzo
Plummer, secretary, and Wm. H. White, president.
There was no board of stewards formed at this time, as the membership
consisted of but one person (Wm. H. White), who was continued as Sunday
school superintendent, the school at that time consisting of about twenty mem-
bers. After determining the cost of the new building to be $1,200, upon which
had been paid about $800, a canvass of subscriptions showing a deficit of $200,
and after devising plans for the support of Rev. Mr. Webb as missionary, the
meeting adjourned.
While the church was started practically without a membership, according
to the church records, its membership comprised the entire town as far as
540 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
sympathy, interest and aid was concerned, and the interest manifested by the
congregation insured success from the beginning; and for several years after
it was the church home for all denominations until, with the incoming of new
people, these organizations were of themselves sufficiently strong to build their
own houses of worship. The first loss of this nature occurred December 30, 1877,
when the Presbyterians, who had worshipped with us, went off to form a society
of their own denomination. These were followed September 22, 1878, by the
Baptists, who had erected for themselves a church building. Later, November 2,
1881, the Congregationalists likewise erected their own church edifice. These
repeated drains upon our working membership were felt, but those of our own,
with renewed energy and added zeal, taking up the work, no serious drawbacks
attended these repeated withdrawals. In the fall of the year mentioned (1874)
our church was dedicated. At this time a subscription was taken sufficiently
ample to free it from debt. During this year Missionary Webb had also formed
a nucleus for a church at Grand Forks fostered by the Fargo church by dona-
tions of books, etc. In the fall of 1874 the Northwestern Iowa Conference
returned the Rev. John Webb to the Northern Pacific Mission, with headquarters
at Fargo, and, as an assistant, the Rev. Mr. Curl was appointed, with headquarters
at Grand Forks.
During the spring and summer of 1875 the Fargo charge was one of a circuit
as in former years, the Rev. Mr. Wef)b giving most of his time to this part of
the work, but also laying such foundations throughout the territory as were
afterward developed, largely through the instrumentality of the Fargo church.
In the fall of 1875 the Northwestern Iowa Conference established a district
of Northern Dakota, calling it the Northern Pacific District. Rev. Mr. Webb was
appointed presiding elder and Rev. J. T. Walker pastor at Fargo. This was
the first appointment made directly to Fargo. On account of ill health Mr.
Walker was unable to take the appointment and the Rev. J. B. Starkey was
transferred from Onawa, Iowa, and appointed to Fargo in Mr. Walker's place.
Brother Starkey arrived in Fargo on November I3tli.
On Sunday, November 14th, he preached his first sermon in Fargo, being the
first sermon preached by a regularly appointed pastor at Fargo.
The congregation numbered twenty-three people. The membership at this
date, according to records now in Rev. Starkey's possession, consisted of five
persons, namely: Miss Alvira Pinkham (now Mrs. Geo. Cooper), Mrs. E. A.
Grant, Mrs. Geo. I. Foster, Mrs. E. A. Atkinson and Wm. H. White. The
Sunday school at this date was reorganized under the Sunday School Union
with the same officers and teachers. The first prayer meeting held by the new
pastor was in the church on the evening of November iSth, four persons being
present. Revival meetings were planned by Reverend Starkey shortly after his
arrival and continued for two weeks. While no additions were made to the
church, the influence for good on the town was marked, and the church as an
institution was strengthened thereby.
During the spring and summer of 1876 Rev. Mr. Starkey, in connection with
his pastoral work, was very energetic in his efiforts to advance the cause of
temperance in the town, lecturing and organizing a temperance band which
had a marked influence on its temperance principles.
In the fall of 1876 North Dakota was placed in the Sioux City district, with
X
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 541
Rev. T. M. Williams presiding elder. He visited Fargo but once during the
conference year, having to travel by the way of St. Paul, Northern Pacific Junc-
tion and Brainerd, a distance of 600 miles, to reach the district. Rev. Mr.
Starkey acted in the double capacity of pastor at Fargo and presiding elder,
rendering faithful service in enlarging the plans started by the Rev. Mr. Webb
throughout North Dakota, and in addition to his faithful service at Fargo he
completed a church at Grand Forks.
Mr. Starkey's pastorate in Fargo termi-nated in the fall of 1878.
As a pastor he w?as a man of influence in Fargo, not only in the church, but
throughout the town and at adjacent points. His untiring efforts and fervent
zeal placed the church upon a permanent foundation with opportunities for
rapid advancement under subsequent leadership.
On September 28, 1878, at a meeting held at Cherokee, Iowa, by a joint com-
mission from the Northwest Iowa Conference and the Minnesota Conference, it
was decided to attach to the Minnesota Conference all the territory north of the
forty-sixth parallel of latitude, and the presiding bishops of each conference, con-
curring in this decision, completed the transfer, thus making North Dakota and
Fargo charge at this date in the Minnesota Conference, and designated as tlie
Red River district. Later, in the fall of 1878, the Minnesota Conference appointed
the Rev. Mr. Starkey presiding elder of this district, and Rev. Mr. Barnett, a
transfer from Kentucky, as pastor at Fargo. Rev. Mr. Barnett failing to meet
the appointment, Presiding Elder Starkey appointed the Rev. H. B. Crandall, from
Alexandria, to Fargo. Mr. Crandall served this charge as pastor during the
conference year of 1878 and 1879, enlarging the membership of the church,
organizing its societies and rendering efficient service during his pastorate.
On October 6, 1879, ^^v. C. F. Bradley was transferred from Duluth to
serve the Fargo charge, Rev. Mr. Starkey being reappointed presiding elder.
Mr. Bradley's pastorate was of only a year's duration, but it was a year crowded
with improved opportunities and rapid strides in the development and extension
of the interests of the church, and through the Fargo church to the entire district.
During this year Mrs. S. M. Stiles, of Hartford, Conn., solicited in Eastern
cities and shipped to the Fargo church nearly a ton of Sunday school books and
church literature, which in turn, through the wise management of Rev. Mr.
Bradley and ofificers of the Sunday school, were reshipped to the various new
towns springing up about Fargo, and were an incentive to the beginning of new
Sunday schools, which have developed into what are now our neighboring Meth-
odist churches.
The gift also formed the basis of our present Sunday school library. Mr.
Bradley's pastorate was also characterized by an unprecedented religious growth
in the church. The membership numbered about one hundred.
A literary society of unusual interest was formed. The class meeting was
well attended and every department of the church showed the favorable results
of sympathetic interest and efifort between pastor and people. His ripe scholar-
ship, judgment and dignified christian bearing drew many outside of any church
relationship and, by enlarging our congregations, benefited those who came and
contributed to the material interests of the church From these conditions our
church soon proved inadequate to our needs, necessitating action with reference
to a new church building. Late in the summer of 1880 Mr. Bradley received a
542 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
call to a professorship in Hamline University, which he accepted, after a vacation,
at the end of the conference year; the church being supplied by Rev. C. N.
Stowers, of the Wisconsin Conference. On October ii, 1880, Rev. C. N. Stowers
was regularly appointed to the Fargo charge and served as its pastor until the
summer of 1S81, at which time he was obliged to resign on account of ill health
occasioned by overwork, and the Rev. S. B. Warner was transferred from the
Upper Iowa Conference to finish the year. The fall of 1880 and the winter of
1881 under the pastorate of Brother Stowers were busy seasons for Methodism
in Fargo. The little church which had accommodated the society for six years
became entirely inadequate to the needs of the growing congregation, and it
was sold to the Catholics. It was not without great regret that the members
saw the building which had so long been their church home, mounted on rollers
and slowly moved from the location upon which it had been of so much influence.
In its place was erected a building better adapted to the convenience and comfort
of the growing society, at a cost of $5,000. Subscriptions had been taken but
the funds realized were insufficient to free it from debt, and most heroically
did the membership at repeated times respond to the call for financial aid and,
for the reason that we prize those things which cost the greatest struggle tO'
acquire, the new church soon began to be recognized and appreciated as the church
home in the same sense as was the little old church which had been so deeply
seated in the affections of the people. By Christmas, 1880, the new church was
finished, and pastor and people devoutly returned thanks for the divine aid
which had enabled them to construct, for His worship, a building so commodious.
At this time was placed in the tower the first bell that proclaimed protestant
Christianity to the people of North Dakota, and, being the first member of any
protestant church in North Dakota, Wm. H. White was called upon to first
send its tones vibrating through the air.
About this time the membership numbered 123 and the Sunday school 150.
On September 29, 1881, the Minnesota Conference convened and was enter-
tained at Fargo, its sessions being held in the Fargo church. At this time the Rev.
J. B. Starkey, who since November 30, 1875, had served the people so faithfully,
closed his relations with the district to take work in another field. Largely
through his self-sacrificing and energetic labors the Fargo membership had grown
from 5 to 125, and the district from two churches to over two dozen churches,
nearly all of which owe their start and success to him.
At this conference (September 29, 1881) the Rev. S. B. Warner was appointed
pastor and Rev. G. -R. Hair presiding elder of the Fargo district.
On December 31, 1881, Wm. H. White resigned the superintendency of the
Sunday school, after a service of eight years dating from its beginning. He was
succeeded by T. S. Ouincy, who served until September i, 1882, and who was
in turn followed by Smith Stimmel, who acted in the capacity of superintendent
until May i, 1883.
The church under the pastorate of Rev. ]\Ir. Warner, during the conference
year of 1881 and 1882, rapidly increased in members. Being at a period of great
influx of people to Fargo, the interests of the church were stimulated by the
acquisition of new members, and under the careful and painstaking supervision
of Rev. Mr. Warner the spiritual, social and financial interests of the church
received a great impetus. The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Warner closed October
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 543
4, 1882, and that of Rev. M. S. Kaufman began, continuing through a period of
three years from October 4, 1882, to September 24, 1885. This period of church
history is one of great importance. Fargo was at the height of business pros-
perity and the center of activity for the surrounding country*. Many operating
large farms in the country, and carrying on other hnes of industry, resided at
Fargo and made this their church home. During Rev. Mr. Kaufman's ministry
the Foreign Missionary and Ladies' Aid societies developed unusual activity and
interest. Special revival services were held each year, those of one winter being
protracted through eleven consecutive weeks, resulting in many conversions and
valuable accessions to the church. Much of the prosperity and growth during
this period was due to the earnest and faithful work of Brother Kaufman, with
those who so nobly seconded his efforts. During this period the general con-
ference, which met in Philadelphia May, 1884, divided the Minnesota conference
and established the North Dakota Mission conference, also passing an enabling
act for the Mission conference to become an annual conference when deemed
advisable. The first session of the Mission conference was held at the Fargo
church October 2, 1884. Bishop Fowler presided. At the second session of the
North Dakota Mission conference, held at Wahpeton, September 24, 1885, the
Rev. S. W. Ingham, of the Upper Iowa conference, was appointed to Fargo,
serving three years. The Rev. H. B. Bilbie, of the Minnesota conference, was
appointed presiding elder of the district at the same time, serving the same period.
At the third session of the North Dakota Mission conference held at Grand
Forks October 14, 1886, Bishop Harris presiding, a motion was made by the
Rev. D. C. Plannette that an organization of an independent conference be
effected, to be called the North Dakota Conference. This motion was carried
by a vote of 29 to 2, thus accomplishing the final work ot Methodist conference
building in North Dakota.
Fargo was again the seat of the conference which convened October 19, 1887,
being the first session of the North Dakota annual conference. This gives the
Fargo charge the honor of not only holding the first Methodist service in North
Dakota, but the first Mission conference and the first annual conference as well.
During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Ingham the superintendency of the Sunday
school was held by Wm. Mitchell, who succeeded Smith Stimmel on May i,
1883, holding the office until May i, 1888, when he was succeeded in office by
W. P. McKinstry.
On October 11, 1888, Rev. G. S. White of the Central New York conference
was appointed to Fargo by Bishop Hurst, D. C. Plannette being returned as
presiding elder. Rev. G. S. White's pastorate was characterized by renewed
activity on the part of the church along various lines of work.
He formed among the younger membership the Young People's Christian
League, having in view the maintenance of a Sunday evening devotional meeting
conducted by young people. This later became the Epworth League of our
church. A Friday evening class meeting was also organized for the older mem-
bers. Through the energetic efforts of Brother White a directory was prepared
with photographs of all the churches, their location, names of pastors, times of
meeting, etc., and placed in the various hotels, the postoffice and other places
for the benefit of strangers.
During this pastorate the missionary work was taken up with added zeal and
544 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
renewed effort and the introduction of pyramid mite boxes materially increased
the funds of the society. Amounts were raised by the Ladies' Aid Society and
expended for parsonage furniture and plans were also begun for the erection
of a parsonage, being carried into effect the following year. The pastorate of
Rev. G. S. White was followed by that of Rev. D. W. Knight, a transfer from
the East Ohio conference.
The history of the church under Rev. Mr. Knight's ministry, covering a
period of two years, may best be told in his own words, as taken from the
following letter:
"My pastorate of First M. E. Church, Fargo, began December 22, 1889,
and closed November i, 1891. Was transferred from the East Ohio to the
North Dakota conference by Bishop Hurst and appointed to the First M. E.'
Church by Bishop Mallalieu about the 25th of November, 1889. Rev. D. C.
Plannette was presiding elder; Rev. G. S. White was my predecessor. We
arrived in Fargo, December 21, 1889, and Sabbath morning, the 22d, first met
in worship that royal people. Our acquaintance grew rapidly, and I soon found
I had a choice people in the city numbering about 125. An active Epworth
League and a wide awake Sabbath school greeted the pastor.
"Christmas festivities and receptions opened the doors in many of the best
homes of the city for new friends and friendships that warm our hearts whenever
thoughts revert to Fargo and pastorate there.
"The winter of 1889 and i8go was taken up with visitation and some revival
efforts, which we have reason to believe were not wholly in vain.
"With the opening spring came the enterprise of building a parsonage, in
which enterprise, I had been informed, I was expected to lead.
"The work was undertaken and, everything favoring, the ist of November,
1890, we moved into our new home, a gem of modest beauty, one of the cosiest
and most attractive for the cost in the city. It cost $2,000. Church repairs and
improvements of property added made a total of nearly $2,500, which was all
paid by the good people and no debt remained when Dr. May began his pastorate
in November, 1891.
"Soliciting money for church enterprise is often accompanied by unpleasant
greeting from the solicited, but I must say I had the fewest while soliciting. On
the other hand, I had most pleasant experiences and especially from the non-mem-
bers. When asked to help in the enterprise they would say, T will help you for
you have a noble people, men and women, in your church who occupy the first
place among us and are worthy.' My heart often warmed and glowed when I
heard my own thus commended and honored.
"With this standing it is no marvel that First Church raised nearly $8,000
for all purposes in the two years. The membership varied with losses and gains ;
losses by death and removal.
"Mrs. Thomas Hanson and Mrs. Bamford and others died. Many came in
by letter and without, yet the gain, above all losses, left some advance in the
membership. Benevolences increased steadily, fellowship grew and the' spiritual
life magnified, until there was a most happy state of soul in the church. For
all this I take no especial credit. The church was on the verge of growth and
development. I entered at an opportune time and went with the tides that bore
on to prosperity. To God be all the praise, for under my successor's pastorate
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 545
for five years the tides widened and deepened, until the First Church has taken
first rank in the great Northwest.
"Blessings divine on Fargo and the First M. E. Church."
This letter shows for itself the sweet and unselfish spirit of our brother
Knight, who is deserving of much more credit for the favorable conditions he
notes than he accords to himself.
NORTH DAKOTA METHODISM, BY REV. CHARLES A. MACNAMARA
What is now known as the North Dakota Conference of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church was formerly incorporated in the Minnesota Conference, and the an-
nual gathering of that body of ministers, assembled in the young and aspiring
City of Fargo, Dakota Territory, in the fall of 1881, Bishop Cyras D. Foss presid-
ing. In 1884, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church granted
the request of the Minnesota Conference that the Red River Valley District
(which comprises all of what is now the State of North Dakota) be formed into
a mission conference. There was appended to the order for the formation of
the mission, "an enabling act." The North Dakota Mission, embracing all of
what is now the State of North Dakota, met in Fargo, October 2, 1884. Bishop
Chas. H. Fowler presided. There were fourteen ministers present. The statis-
tical table shows that there were 2,016 members and probationers; that seven-
teen churches had been erected at a cost of $56,200, and six parsonages, valued
at $7,000, and there were thirty-seven Sunday schools, with an enrollment of
teachers, officers and scholars numbering 2,125. Ministerial support amounted
to $16,767.
The second session of the Mission Conference was held in Wahpeton, Sepn
tember 24, 1885. At the next session of the Mission Conference, which assembled
in Grand Forks, October 14, 1886, the authority given in the enabling act was
made use of and the North Dakota Annual Conference was organized, having
an enrollment of twenty ministers and six probationers. Bishop William L.
Harris presided. The conference was divided into two districts, having Grand
Forks as the head of the northern part of the conference and Fargo as the head
of the southern part of the conference.
The first session of the conference after its organization was held in Fargo,
October 19, 1887. Articles of incorporation presented by William H. White
were signed and acknowledged.
Bishop Cyras D. Foss presided at this conference. Seven trustees were
appointed, of which ]Mr. William H. White was elected chairman. A half sec-
tion of land had been deeded by Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Hovey of Freedom, 111.,
for the benefit of the conference claimants, and on motion it was decided to
improve the land. At this early stage this young conference was found taking
steps to locate an institution of learning, which did not take material form for
several years.
At this conference North Dakota elected its first representatives to the
General Conference, twenty-five votes were cast. Rev. D. C. Pianette received
twenty-one and was declared elected. The laymen were called to order and
welcomed by the Fargo delegate to the Lay Electoral Conference. William H.
White nominated Dr. S. J. Hill, of Fargo, who was then elected lay delegate
546 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
to the General Conference. Rev. Dr. Jackson, a chaplain in the United States
army, addressed the joint conference on his early experiences as a pioneer
preacher in North Dakota. It is notable that even in those days of our terri-
torial organization, when we had a county local option law, granted by the Terri-
torial Legislature, the lay conference was calling for the submission of the
liquor question to a vote of the people, "independent of all political parties.'' A
thing which was actualized two years later, when the State of North Dakota
came into the Union with a prohibitory clause, adopted separately, by a majority
of the voters.
Of those whose names appear in the conference roll, only three remain at
this writing, namely, Chas. A. Macnamara, superintendent of the Fargo district.
Henry P. Cooper and \\'illiam R. Morrison, in the order of seniority given.
The next session of the conference was held in Jamestown, Bishop John F.
Hurst presiding. Most of the time at this long-to-be-remembered conference
was consumed in a church trial which, after all. failed to bring conviction of
any serious wrong, and which might have been avoided by the exercise of a
little brotherly kindness. A third district was formed at this conference. The
appointments had grown so that sixty-eight ministers were stationed, with forty-
four church buildings and seventeen parsonages. Members and probationers,
3.631-
Thirteen years prior to this, the first church organization in the state had
been eftected, in Fargo, of which Mr. William H. White was the only male
member, and he was elected superintendent of the first Sunday school organiza-
tion in the northern part of Dakota Territory.
A pebble in the streamlet, scant
Has turned the course of many a river.
A dew drop on the tiny plant
Has warped the giant oak forever.
Bishop Hurst predicted that before many years North Dakota -would be a
field of activities supporting several conferences.
In the reports of the presiding elders made to the conference of 18S9, at
Drayton, we read of the failure of crops and of the requests from several places
that no minister be sent for the next year. But the conference did not think that
the Methodist preacher should shirk the hardships to which the people were
subjected. The pastors were appointed, and without one exception, all went to
their fields of labor. Presiding Elder Hovis, by vote of the conference, was
gi\en permission to go to some of the eastern conferences and make an appeal
for help for some of the very needy fields in the Northwest District. From
the report of the committee on education we find that the location of the college
was still a problem, with eight of our young cities desiring it. At the Lisbon
conference, October, 1890, action was taken which required the decision of this
question of location, and on February 25, 1891, Wahpeton was selected and
Dr. T- N. Fradenburgh was elected to the presidency at a salary of $2,000.
On June 4, 1891, Bishop Fitzgerald laid the corner-stone of a building which
was to cost $40,000. and it was named "Red River Valley University." W'm. H.
White was elected chairman of the board of trustees. During the year 1905 the
seat of the school was changed and was located at Grand Forks. The building
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 547
at Wahpeton was sold to the state and is being used as the State Science School.
"Wesley College,"' the new name given to the old corporation, was affiliated with
the Grand Forks University.
Rev. D. C. Pianette, D. D., did much for the educational interests of the
church in the state, as well as the religious. He published a church paper entitled
The Dakota Methodist. An old style camp meeting was held at Carlisle,
Pembina County, July, 1884, under his direction. This was the very earliest
eflort of this kind made in the northern part of the territory, and was continued
with great profit to that part of the conference for several years. Others were
held at Hamline, County of Richland, and Mayville, in Traill County, on the
Goose River. Rev. Chas. A. Macnamara preached the first sermon at the Carlisle
camp ground. There is at present a permanent camp ground of ten acres located
at Jamestown, which is well sustained. It is worthy of note that the first efforts
to locate a Chautauqua Assembly in the state were made by a company of the
Alethodist ministers. Devils Lake was the place chosen. Dr. Eugene May, the
pastor of First Church of Fargo, with Rev. C. W. Collinge and Rev. Jacob A.
Hovis were the promoters of this summer assembly.
In June, 1893, the City of Fargo was swept by fire and two-thirds of the
business section was destroyed, and the newly erected Second Methodist Church,
located on Robert Street, was totally burned. But the congregation immediately
began arrangements under the leadership of Presiding Elder D. C. Pianette to
rebuild. At this time Dr. M. V. B. Knox was president of the Red River Valley
University, with four additional members of the faculty.
The First Church of Fargo had undertaken a new brick building to cost
$35,000. On the last night of the old year, 1896, at the watch night service
started in the old building, the entire congregation passed into the new church
building with singing, and this, the third church building erected by this congre-
gation, was occupied and pronounced the "finest church in the state," at that
time. There was present at this service Dr. J. B. Starkey, the first pastor of the
church, and later a presiding elder in this state, who headed the procession.
bearing on his shoulders the pulpit, which he had made years before, for use in
the first church building. This was the only piece of church furniture which
was carried from the old church to the new one. Rev. W. H. Vance was pastor.
About this time the Grand Forks congregation had built their second struc-
ture, a fine red brick, at a cost of $25,000.
The Epworth League was in the height of its usefulness, and great and
inspiring meetings were planned for in the state conventions, for the hosts of
enthusiastic young people.' At the conference of 1900, at Grand Forks, Bishop
C. C. McCabe consecrated Mrs. K. M. Cooper a deaconess in the church and
playfully called her "The Daughter of the Regiment." At this conference.
Bishop McCabe delivered his famous lecture on "The Bright Side of Life in
Libby Prison." At the 1900 General Conference, United States Senator Martin
N. Johnson was one of the lay delegates. Rev. J. G. Moore was appointed to
have charge of the Minot District. It was at a period when the influx of settlers
to our western prairies was greater than it had been for years. He was the man
for the occasion, and in five years brought about wonderful results for God
and Methodism.
At the same time Rev. S. A. Danford was placed in charge of the Fargo
548 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
District, which reached from the east to the west hne of the state, and about
one-third of the distance from north to south. Five years of consecrated effort
made a most remarkable change in the rehgious and material interest of that
portion of the state.
In October, 1906, Bishop C. C. McCabe made his last visit to our state and
conference. The date of the opening of the conference was the anniversary of
his seventieth birthday, and amid great rejoicing his brethren tendered him a
reception and most hearty congratulations. Mrs. McCabe was with him, and
they responded with a song, while the large audience passed in front of the
rostrum and shook hands with the happy couple.
In 1908, Bismarck started the erection of their $20,000 church building, and
named it the McCabe Memorial Church. The comer-stone was laid by Bishop
D. H. Moore. The membership of the conference had so increased that the
delegation to the General Conference was now six, three laymen and three min-
isters. Judge Chas. A. Pollock headed the lay delegates at the conference of
1908. A solicitor was appointed to create an endowment fund for the confer-
ence claimants and in four years there was raised, in cash and pledges, $138,000.
At the same time Mr. William H. White was given entire control of the
funds accruing for the crop raised on the conference land, which he had invested
and reinvested until it had increased to $16,000, and it was named "The William
H. White Fund."
At the present time there are 175 regular appointments made to the churches
of the conference in the state, with five appointments of pastors to special work
and college duties.
The church membership has increased to almost thirteen thousand, and invest-
ment in church and parsonage property has reached $1,018,795, ^^^ pastoral
support has attained the sum of $160,566, while the annual contributions to the
benevolent causes has grown to $29,645. Wesley College has two fine buildings,
the gift of Mr. Sayre and N. G. Larimore, valued at $50,000. Dr. E. P. Robert-
son is president.
//a//
Group of Residence Halls
VIEWS AT Tin: I xi\ i;i;mi'i hf Ndurii hakuta
CHAPTER XXXVI
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The State University was organized under the provisions of a bill passed
by the Territorial Legislature February i6, 1883. By this law it was to be a
coeducational institution styled the State University of North Dakota, made up
of a combined college of arts and letters and a normal college. It is of some
interest to note in this name the first official use of the words North Dakota, the
sister institution in what was later South Dakota being called the University of
Dakota. On the same date an act was approved providing for the issuance of
territorial bonds to the amount of $30,000 to provide for the construction of the
present main building of the university. By the same act the bond issue was
made contingent on the gift to the territory of a site of not less than ten acres
and a well equipped observatory costing not less than ten thousand dollars.
In pursuance of the act of organization, Governor Ordway apppointed the
first board of trustees as follows : Dr. W. T. Collins, Grand Forks ; Dr. R. M.
Evans, Minto; E. A. Healy, Drayton; Dr. C. E. Teel and James Twamley, Grand
Forks. At a meeting held on May 16, 1883, the board formally accepted as a site
for the new institution a tract of land twenty acres in extent situated about a
mile west of Grand Forks. This ofifer was made by William Budge, Michael
Ohmer and John McKelvey, who also gave bonds for the payment of $10,000
to erect and equip an observatory, thus fulfilling the legal requirement for the
issue of the bonds. Three other very excellent sites were offered by citizens of
Grand Forks, one located on the present site of Riverside Park, the others in the
same vicinity but farther to the north, all on the Red River. These offers, how-
ever, do not seem to have been accompanied by any provision for the $10,000
to build and equip an observatory as required by law. The corner-stone of the
first structure on the present university grounds. Main Building, was laid Octo-
ber 2, 1883. Grand Master A. S. Gifford, of the Dakota Grand Lodge of Free
Masons, presided at the ceremonies; Governor Ordway made a brief address
in which he warmly congratulated the citizens of the territory that thus early
in their history they were preparing to educate their sons and daughters on their
own soil ; while the principal address was given by Dr. D. L. Kiehle, superin-
tendent of public instruction of Minnesota.
Equipment and maintenance for the first two years of the new institution
were provided by an act approved March 7, 1883. ' By this act $1,000 was appro-
priated for apparatus; $600 for fuel, light, and janitor service; $1,000 for inci-
dental expenses, and $400 for improvement of grounds. An annual appropria-
tion not to exceed $5,000 was also made for the salaries of the president and
549
550 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
other members of the instructional force. This may serve in some sort as a
measure of the progress of the institution during later years.
In the Federal enabling act of February 22, 1889, admitting North Dakota
as a state, section 14 sets aside 72 sections, or 46,080 acres, in the new state for
university purposes. The fund created by the sale of these lands was to con-
stitute a permanent university fund, the interest alone being available for use.
In section 17 of the same act an additional grant of 40,000 acres was granted to
the School of Mines. By a provision in the state constitution, section 215, article
19, the location of the School of Mines was fixed at Grand Forks, and since its
establishment, in 1880, it has been an inseparable part of the State University.
On September 3, 1884, the trustees met to make arrangements for the open-
ing of the university the following week. There was only one building on the
campus and that not fully completed. Living rooms for the faculty, dormitories
for the students, a boarding department, class room, a library and museum must
all be found in the single building. It was close quarters for so large a family.
and not a little friction developed in the course of adjustment to the new condi-
tions. The faculty that met the students on the opening day of the first year,
September 8, 1884, consisted of Dr. Wm. M. Blackburn, president and professor
of metaphysics; Henr}- Montgomen', vice president and professor of natural
sciences; Webster Merrifield, assistant professor of Greek and Latin, and Mrs.
E. H. Scott, preceptress and instructor in mathematics and English. After Presi-
dent Blackburn's single year of service, Professor Montgomery was chosen as
acting president, which place he filled for two years. In 1887 Dr. Homer B.
Spragiie was chosen president, his term extending to March 31, 1891, when he
resigned. Webster Merrifield, now professor of Greek and Latin, was chosen
acting president for the remainder of the year.
During the first seven years the student attendance had grown from 79 to 151.
Three graduating classes, the first in 1889, numbering a total of twenty, had
received degrees. The catalogue announcement of 1891 shows that the facidty
had been increased by the addition of five professors, H. B. Woodworth, John
Macnie, Ludovic Estes, E. J. Babcock and Leon S. Roudiez. William Patten
was also a new man, taking the place of Henry Montgomery, resigned. Five
additional instructors and a laboratory assistant brought the instructional force
to the number of thirteen, a very considerable increase since 1884, both in num-
bers and in departments represented. By legislative act, approved March 31,
1890, there was fomially added to the State University the School of Mines
and a military department. Provision for instruction in the latter had been made
by the trustees after the first year, but in 1891 Lieut. Leon S. Roudiez, Fifteenth
United States Infantry, was regularly detailed for the service. The total appro-
priation provided for by the act of February 27, 1891, for the biennial period,
was $60,700, of which $41,800 was devoted to the payment of salaries. Scandi-
navian was required to be taught by an act approved March 6, 1891, and G. T.
Rygh was appointed by the board of trustees as instructor in these languages.
On Tune 16, 1887, a severe wind storm entirely demolished the west wing of
the main building above the basement, blew down the chimneys, and destroyed
the cupola. Professor ]\Iontgomery's collections in the museum were almost a
total loss. Fortunately, vacation had begun the day before, and only the janitor's
family were in the building. At a public meeting, held in Grand Forks the next
SCIENCE HALL AND WOODWOETH HALL, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"OLD MAIN," NOW ilERRIFIELD HALL, THE FIRST UNIVERSITY BUILDING,
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 551
day to make provision for those in immediate need of aid, resolutions were read
voicing a very general sentiment in favor of removing the institution to a site
nearer the city. The board of trustees, in view of this feeling and on account
of the unexpected burden of expense for repairs thus placed upon them, sent
the president of their board, W. N. Roach, to Bismarck to consult Gov. Louis
K. Church as to the best manner of dealing with the matter. At a meeting held
on June 28th, President Roach reported that the governor did not feel justified
in authorizing the removal of the university without legislative sanction, as it
would establish a dangerous precedent, but that he would do all in his power to
assist in making repairs and would recommend to the next Legislature a special
appropriation for that purpose. Upon hearing this report, the board decided to
retain the site already selected and to repair Main Building. To meet these
expenses a loan was authorized from the local banks not to exceed $10,000.
The repairs made considerably altered the original plan, the cupola being omitted
and the appearance of both east and west gables much changed.
A dormitory for the young women was also authorized by the regents at this
meeting, the funds for which had been provided by an issue of territorial bonds
to the amount of $20,000 voted at the session of 1887. This building was first
known as "Ladies' Hall," but by vote of the trustees, October 26, 1889, it was
changed to "Davis Hall," in memory of a much-loved preceptress. Mrs. Hannah
E. Davis, who died at the university, IMarch 24, 1898.
The administration of President Webster Merrifield covers eighteen years,
1891-1909, a period of substantial growth in all lines of university activity. The
establishment of a conservatory of music in 1891 brought the student enrollment
for 1891-1892'up to 341, and though this increase was not maintained in later
years and the conservatory was changed to a department of music, it served to
widen the general interest in university work and to attract a new group of
patrons from all parts of the state.
The administration, however, was put to a severe test in 1895. when Gov.
Roger Allin vetoed the educational appropriations of the current legislative ses-
sion. The normal schools at Valley City and Mayville had their appropriations
of $24,000 and $24,860 reduced, respectively, to $4,600 and $7,760. The Agri-
cultural College received $11,250 out of $19,000. The university appropriation
was reduced from $63,000 to $15,980, or merely enough to complete the current
college year. Before the veto had been announced a call for a mass meeting in
Grand Forks to consider what could be done in the matter was circulated by
the university students. The meeting was held on March 19, 1895. The opinion
was expressed by several speakers that the citizens of Grand Forks could best
show their good will by subscribing to a fund to support the university through
the next two years. A committee was appointed to draft a memorial to be pre-
sented to Governor Allin. After the veto had been officially announced, a second
mass meeting was assembled, April 9th, in pursuance of a call issued by Mayor
W. J. Anderson, and a maintenance committee was chosen to solicit funds. This
committee, consisting of W. J. Anderson, chairman ; M. F. Murphy, secretary ;
S. S. Titus, treasurer; Sidney Clark, R. B. Griffith, Orange Wright. F. R. Fulton,
and S. W. McLaughlin, appointed sub-committees in the counties throughout the
state and issued an address which set forth the reasons for asking aid. A few
quotations from this address will show the nature of their appeal :
552 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
"Shall the University of North Dakota be closed ? This is the question which
confronts the people of the state. The closing of the university would be a
calamity in many ways. It would advertise to the world that North Dakota is
either unwilling or unable to maintain for her sons and daughters an institution
of higher learning. We believe that the people are both willing and able, and
that they will rally to the support of their university. This state is not poor.
She has come through the critical depression of the past few years as only few
states have — without either crop failures or business disasters. Her debt limit
is extremely low. The necessarry money could easily be raised by taxation, but
for the low tax rate as fixed by the constitution. She encourages immigration
to her fertile fields, but she will certainly neutralize all her efiforts in that direc-
tion by proclaiming herself unable or unwilling to maintain her university which
she inherited from territorial days. She has ever been foremost in education.
Will she now take her place farthest in the rear? The announcement that North
Dakota closes her university w^ill mean irreparable injury to our state in business,
population, education and honor. . . . During the last twelve years this state
has expended large sums of money and the best energy of many men, and as a
result has gathered a learned corps of professors, an intelligent clientage of
students, a university reputation and educational momentum such as is an honor
to a great state. Close the doors for two years and if they ever open again you
cannot regather in ten years your scattered forces." . . .
The board of trustees met the maintenance committee in joint conference
on May 7, 1895, and voted to accept the funds raised and to give a formal receipt
signed by the president of the board. The total sum raised from private sub-
scriptions was $25,622.24. The donors of the larger part of this sum received cer-
tificates from the board of trustees entitling the holders to repayment when
legislative appropriation should be made for the purpose. This appropriation
has not yet been made. About two-thirds of the sum raised came from two
sources : first, the members of the faculty generously gave up 25 per cent of
their salaries, a total of $8,250; secondly, the citizens of Grand Forks subscribed
$9,130. Most of the remainder was contributed from the counties of Grand
Forks, Walsh, Pembina, Burleigh, Nelson, Ramsey, Cavalier, Pierce, Ransom,
Cass and Steele, in sums varying in the order of the counties named. From out-
side the state the sum of $1,287.50 was subscribed. On May 4, 1897, the board
of trustees formally received and adopted the report of the maintenance com-
mittee covering the expenditure of most of the fund raised, with only a small
balance remaining.
This episode in the history of the university was not altogether an unfortu-
nate one, since it served to bind its immediate constituency closer together by
mutual sacrifice for the general welfare. This feeling of solidarity was still
further strengthened by the refusal of President Merrifield to accept the offer
of the presidency of the University of Montana in the spring of 1895. During
these two years the faculty and students of the university and the citizens of
the state drew closer together than ever before in their mutual efifort to maintain
this important state institution unimpaired through the most serious crisis in its
history. The need of a permanent source of revenue having thus been shown,
the friends of the university devised a plan of a mill tax which was enacted into
law at a later session of the Legislature. By an act approved April 28, 1899,
5^
o
w
H
o
o
O
o
* i'S
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 553
a fixed revenue for the State University was provided by a two-fifths mill tax.
This fraction has been changed by later enactments, but it still serves its original
purpose.
By legislative act approved February 26, 1895, the State University was given
the duty of making a geological and natural history survey of the state. The
professor of geology was named as ex-ofhcio state geologist. Prof. E. J. Babcock
had joined the faculty ip 1889 as instructor in chemistry and English, and the
year following was made professor of chemistry and geology, and became, there-
fore, in 1895, the state geologist. This position he held until 1901, when the
department of geology was separated from the School of Mines. This has
resulted in the appearance of some excellent reports, five in number, dealing
with the general geological features of the state. Some of the volumes contain
special reports on the valuable natural resources of the state, such as lignite coal,
clay, cement and gas, the utilization of which will usher in the manufacturing
era in the industrial development of our state.
The library of the university during the college year of 1884-5 contained
742 volumes, most of which were a donation from President Blackburn. During
the first year of President Sprague's administration it was made a depository for
government publications, and increased to 2,000 volumes. For the first few years
the secretary of the board of trustees seems to have acted as librarian ex-officio,
but in the catalogue of 1888-89, Professor Merrifield, of the department of Greek
and Latin, is named as the first librarian. The office of librarian passed later
to other members of the faculty, with graduate students as assistants, until, in
the year 1901-2, Cora E. Dill held the position as first regular librarian. At this
time the library was located in three large rooms on the second floor of Main
Budding and contained 8,000 volumes. Marion E. Twiss held the position as
librarian for the next two years, and was succeeded by George F. Strong.
During his term of service a cataloguer was added to the library force and the
preparation of the first regular card catalogue was begun in 1907. In 1908 Mr.
Strong resigned and Charles H. Compton was chosen as his successor. The
library had grown very rapidly in all departments during the four years of Mr.
.Strong's service, numbering, in 1908, about twenty-five thousand bound volumes
and five thousand pamphlets. For the past four years Clarence W. Summer has
been librarian. The present library numbers some fifty-nine thousand volumes.
The completion of the Carnegie Library, which was occupied in the fall of 1908,
gave the university more space for growth and specialization along lines of
development much needed by both faculty and students. Among the special
collections in the library may be mentioned the Judge Cochrane collection of
2,000 volumes, donated in 1904 by Mrs. Cochrane; the Hill Railway Transporta-
tion collection, donated by James J. Hill ; and the Scandinavian collection of
nearly three thousand volumes, partly donated by the Scandinavian citizens of
the state and partly purchased by a special appropriation provided by the board
of trustees.
The erection of new buildings and the perfecting of the general university
equipment make the administration of President Merrifield a notable one. The
present Macnie Hall, the east portion of which was built in 1883, provided a
much needed dormitory for the young men. It was erected on an old founda-
tion laid in 1884 for an astronomical observatory. The expense of the founda- .
554 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
tion was defrayed from the small portion which could be collected of the original
$10,000 pledged in 1884 when the university site was chosen. Budge Hall, now
the dormitory for the young men, was built in 1899. It was named in honor of
William Budge, a trustee of the university for sixteen years and one of the most
trusted of President Merrifield's corps of advisers. The catalogue for 1900
announces, for the first time, the School of Mines, the College of Mechanical
Engineering, and the College of Law. Two new buildings were erected to accom-
modate the enlargement of the university work thus provided for. Science Hall
in 1901, and the Mechanical Arts building in 1902. The president's house was
added the next year. The work of the School of Mines was carried on in Science
Hall until 1908, when a building was erected for that special purpose. During
the same year the new power house, the gymnasium and the Carnegie Library
were added. The original 20-acre campus of 1891 had been increased by pur-
chase and gift to more than a hundred acres. Of this addition Doctor Merri-
field, in 1906, gave twenty acres, lying immediately east of the old campus. On
this tract are now located the library, the School of Mines and Teachers' Col-
lege. It may be said here that in 1910 the trustees purchased another 20-acre
lot lying east of the last mentioned tract. The university commons was com-
pleted in 191 1 and stands practically in the center of the campus. These mate-
rial improvements are manifestations of a deep interest on the part of the
state government, and redound to the credit of the university management.
When the trustees of the Methodist College at Wahpeton, acting upon the
suggestion of President Merrifield, who since 1901 had advocated the policy,
decided to change its location to Grand Forks and sought affiliation with the
university, they were received with admirable fairness and liberality. An excel-
lent location was secured by the college, just across the street from the univer-
sity campus, and the erection of buildings begun in 1906. Provision for exchange
of credits on the usual collegiate basis was made in 1905 and the experiment
of affiliation launched. The experiment, thus made, has proven a success. It
has been watched with interest by educators and it has seemingly added a vital
phase to state education, which must necessarily be non-sectgrian and, in the
eyes of many, non-religious. Wesley College has brought to North Dakota the
best of musical talent as well as several leaders in the fields of theological
research. Two dormitories, built by the college, have been of service to univer-
sity students.
Another matter of considerable significance that came through the initiative
of President Merrifield was the creating, in 1895, of the State High School
Board, with the president of the university an ex-ofiicio member thereof. This
brought the institution into close touch with the schools from which it draws
its students and for which it prepares teachers. The important questions of
high school credits, examinations, inspection, text-books and curriculum now
come to a greater or less extent under the direction or control of this board.
The annual high school conference, 'first held in 1901, the interscholastic meet,
beginning with 1903, and the state declamation contest, all of which are regularly
held at the university in May, each year, have served to identify the interests
of the high schools closely with those of the university.
When it became officially known that President Merrifield hfid decided to
sever his connection with the State LTniversity, after a quarter of a century of
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 555
service, the trustees at once began the search for a new head of the institution.
Their selection of Dr. Frank LeRond McVey, chairman of the Minnesota Tax
Commission, and formerly a member of the faculty of the State University of
that state, gave satisfaction to the ahmini and citizens of the state, as well as to
those more closely connected with the iniiversity. President-elect McVey lost
no time in making himself acquainted with the special needs and problems of our
institution. He visited Bismarck and met many of the members of the Legis-
lature then in session, speaking at a joint meeting of the House and Senate appro-
priation committees on the needs of the State University and its relation to other
educational institutions in the state. He also spoke before a joint session of
both houses on the general subject of state taxation. The favorable impression
made upon the Legislature at this visit had much to do in securing the generous
appropriation of that session. With this introduction to those responsible for
the wise expenditure of public funds, the new president assumed the duties of
his office in 1909.
The administration of President ^IcVey, has been fully in line with the
progressive policy demanded by the changing conditions in the state. The
appropriation secured in the legislature of 1909 allowed the erection of two beau-
tiful buildings during the two years following, the Teachers College building and
the Commons building. The use of a more durable building material and the
adoption of a new style of architecture in these buildings has much improved the
appearance of the campus and will add much to the permanence and beauty of
future buildings on the larger campus that has been provided for them.
At the end of a year's service in the university and after becoming intimately
acquainted with the particular problems of the institution, especially from the
point of view of the citizens and taxpayers whom he had met during the course
of his many lecture trips through the state, President !McA'ey came to his formal
inauguration thoroughly in touch with the constituency of the university. In his
inaugural address he expressed his deliberate conclusions, drawn from his long
experience as university man and a public officer in Minnesota, and from his
more recent contact with the new educational conditions here. He said :
"It is time to recognize the fact that a university is a great latent force that
■can be utilized in many directions. It ought to be closely related to every depart-
ment of the state. It should be the medium through which statistics are gathered,
information collected, advice given, problems solved, in fact, real part of the state
government.
"It is not beyond the truth to say that a university is a beacon light to the
people of a commonwealth, pointing out to them, not only where advances are to
'be made in the realms of commerce and trade, but in the fields of morals, general
knowledge, and better living ; and vice versa, we may say that there is no clearer
indication of the advances a people have made than that set by their university.
Once free from political control, and truly of the people in the larger democratic
sense, it means that the people of a commonwealth, where such an institution
exists, are truly turned toward real progress and the light of the lamp of civili-
zation."
The State University has been able to accomplish much it its position as the
leading educational institution in the state, especially in recent years. Its agen-
cies for state service have been very greatly increased during the present admin-
556 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
istration, and their efficiency and usefulness are coming to be universally recog-
nized. A brief account of some of the more important of these may very properly
come at the close of this general sketch.
Service to the state can be rendered by an institution in many ways other than
through direct dealing with the student body. It is now almost universally recog-
nized that one of the chief functions of a university is performed through the
work of research, investigation, both directly, in the definite scientific discoveries
made, and indirectly, through the student thus trained. The University of North
Dakota has not been able to throw emphasis upon this phase of the work until
recently. Its departments were too broad, and therefore its men attempting to
cover too much ground, and its laboratories inadequately equipped. For these
reasons and others graduate work had had but little recognition.
Looking in the direction of this larger usefulness, the graduate department was
organized during the university year of 1909-10, and every possible encourage-
ment is now given to this work, even to making provision for productive scholar-
ships and fellowships open to general competition. Many of the departments of
the university are co-operating in this important phase of work by maintaining
graduate seminars where the results of original research are discussed at regular
sessions. A considerable number of graduates of the university have successfully
completed graduate work at older institutions in the past five years.
The separation of the department of chemistry from the School of Mines in
1910 allowed for a much needed expansion in the work of the department. This
increased opportunity thus given for advanced work in chemistry was speedily
justified by Dr. Abbott's discovery of a method for the detection of cocaine used in
adulteration of snufif, a problem of the utmost importance as affecting public
health and one that had so far baffled some of the ablest chemists of the country.
Other constructive pieces of work have been done to jutsify the development of
.the department.
In 1909 the department of physics was reorganized and enlarged. Three men
now give their entire time to the work making it possible to add graduate work of
a high order. The department has investigated a series of special problems of
great commercial interest, such as the specific heats of North Dakota clays and
their thermal and electrical conductivities. It has been discovered in the course of
the investigation that these clays prove very satisfactory material for the construc-
tion of high grade electric resistance furnaces, which have heretofore been pur-
chased abroad. The mechanical department, established at the beginning of the
present college year, and under the direction of the department of physics, is
proving invaluable to the scientific and engineering interests of the university.
In the repair and construction of delicate and costly instruments and apparatus,
it has filled a unique place, already contributing to the success of half a score of
the important departments of the institution. The work of Dr. A. H. Taylor,
head of the department of Physics, in developing a wireless station, has been pro-
ductive of large results in the field of wireless research and practical application.
The legislature of 1909, in addition to making appropriations for needed build-
ings on the campus, also provided for two new agencies of great valtie, the Mining
sub-station at Hebron, in the heart of the mining regions of the state, and the
Biological station at Devils Lake. The formed, the Mining sub-station, has already
done a notable work, the result of the year's experiments being the discover}- of a
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 557
practical mode of briquetting the lignite coal of the state, so as to make of it a
high grade fuel. The same process also secures a large volume of excellent coal-
gas capable of being used either as fuel or light. This discovery alone is worth
more to the state than the entir-e cost of the maintenance and equipment of the
university up to the present time, for it places within reach of the manufacturer
a cheap and excellent source of power in our extensive coal beds that underly
more than one-third of the state. Dean Babcock and Dr. Taylor of the physics
department have pursued still further an important investigation into the heat
values of lignite and other coals, to determine how they may best be utilized for
power. The work in ceramics, organized in 1910, has a similar problem to solve
with reference to the deposits of clay in the state, and much valuable data is being
collected bearing on the manufacture of clay products ranging from the finest
grades of pottery to drain and sewer pipe. The results that have now been
attained in our ceramics field have guaranteed the existence of a clay-working
industry in North Dakota, which will ultimately be of great value.
The problem given the Biological station was the study of the animal and
vegetable life of the state, that they might be more fully utilized for scientific
and commercial purposes. The station is well equipped with a commodious and
well-appointed building having laboratory, library, museum and lecture-room con-
veniences, also with all needed apparatus for the successful prosecution of such
work as contemplated. The biological work of the summer sesion of the uni-
versity is now regularly done at the station. Although the work is still yoimg,
very definite results have already been obtained and much progress made in the in-
vestigation of such matters as restocking the lakes of the state with fish, the grow-
mg of trees in a prairie state, the preservation and enlargement of bird life and
similar activities.
The head of the department of history, as secretary of the State Historical
Society, has made a preliminary archaeological survey of the state and begun the
■collection of a valuable museum at Bismarck. The State Historical Library at the
state capitol, which has been built up during the past ten years, is a very complete
collection of historical material relating to the Northwest and to Canada. Four
volumes of collections have already been issued by the secretary as editor for the
Historical Society. In these volumes are to be found many contributions by uni-
versity students of the Historical Seminar, which has been one of the regular
features of the work in the department of history since 1905. In the end these
labors will result in the production of an accurate and comprehensive history of
the state, which is much needed, especially in the schools.
Among the first suggestions that President McVey made to the faculty upon
assuming the duties of office was one looking toward the establishment by the
institution of a high grade periodical, scientific and literary in character, that
should serve both as a medium of exchange between this institution and others
and also a channel through which the members of the instructional force might
give to the public some of the results of their investigations, their discoveries and
their matured thought. The matter was most carefully considered and restilted
in a recommendation to the board of trustees that such action be taken. The
trustees acted favorably and the Quarterly Journal was established, the first
number bearing the date, October, 1910. The publication has met with much
local favor and received a warm welcome from the scholarly world.
558 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
The grouping of colleges, departments and courses having a common purpose,
a notice of which first appeared in the catalogue issued in 1910, has served to
unify and strengthen much that would otherwise be less efficient in a general uni-
versity plan. The Division of Medicine, which has included the College of
Medicine, established in 1905, and the Public Health Laboratory, established in
1907, was increased by the addition of a course for the training of nurses, under
an efficient director. Similarlj', the two colleges of Alining Engineering and
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, with the Course in Civil Engineering, were
first grouped under the Division of Engineering. By a recent action of the present
Board of Regents, all the engineering work of the University has been brought
under one head. Dean E. J. Babcock will have direction of the College of Engi-
neering. The Division of Education included the Teachers College and the Model
High School. Teachers College, established in 1905, is the development of the
old normal college which dated from the establishment of the university in 1883,
while the Model High School is the old preparatory department retained as a lab-
oratory for Teachers College. In 191 1 the name "Teachers College"' was changed
to "School of Education," in conformity to the re-organization which makes it
practically a professional school.
The Law School, established in 1889, is rapidly becoming a very potent factor
in the development of the institution, and of the state itself as well. The entrance
requirements have been gradually raised and the course of instruction enlarged
and enriched until, beginnig with 1909-1910, a full three years professional course,
resting upon graduation from a four year high school course, was required for
the law degree. Beginning with 191 7, two years of college work will be a pre-
requisite for entrance.
The influence of a body of mature graduates, such as the Law School has
been sending out. has been out of all proportion to their numbers ; and, in view
of the fact that a relatively large portion of the state is still receiving the perma-
nent and stable elements of its population, especially of the professional and busi-
ness class, the importance of the Law School as a formative influence in our new
state can hardly be overestimated.
The student body, likewise, is becoming better organized. The Women's League,
organized in igo6, and the Men's Union, in 1910, have already done good service
and give promise of great usefulness in the years to come. The Men's Union
was last year combined, by student vote, with the Y. M. C. A. The arrangement,
though temporary, may become a permanent one ultimately. The new gymnasium,
opened in igo8, giyes ample accommodation for in-door sports and training for
out-door events. In igio the trustees purchased the twenty acres on the east
side of the campus, and here there has been prepared a permanent athletic field,
large enough to accommodate the growing student body for many years to come.
For many years a summer school has been maintained at the university, mainly
for the preparation of teachers for the rural schools. In this work the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction and the county superintendents of nearby
counties co-operated, the university merely furnishing the -buildings and general
equipment. There seemed, however, to be a growing demand for opportunities
to do more advanced work which was met by establishing, in 1910. a university
summer session. This extension of university work has been so well received that
practically the entire equipment of the university is now available for use through-
\., ;. w , •.., .^. ,v^
UNIVERSITY GYMNASIL.M, I .\l\ ERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
J. H. WORST, LL. D.
President of North Dakota Agricultural College
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 559
out the year. The enroUment of the summer session has steadily increased. This is
but one of the many things that the present management is doing to make the insti-
tution serve the state in every possible way. It is but one indication that we have
caught the spirit of service so clearl)- in evidence throughout the length and breadth
of the land.
Another feature of university work that has been pushed very vigorously dur-
ing the past few years is that of the library. The regular library staff consists of
five members with a number of student assistants. The card catalogue titles
now number about 100,000, and, in addition to making it as useful as possible to
students and members of the faculty on the grounds, every effort is being put
forth to make it available to those outside of the university. This is done by the
preparation of a list of subjects for debates and accompanying bibliographies for
the high schools, by the loaning of such books as are needed for work in corre-
spondence courses or the study of any special subject by local clubs or literary
organizations, and by securing for temporary use in the university library by
special loans such books as are to be found only in the larger libraries of the coun-
try. In this way the university has become a reference library and center of gen-
eral information along literary lines for a circle of readers as wide as the state.
\\'ith the opening of the Public Health Laboratory on July i, 1907, the univer-
sity entered upon a new field of public service, that of the prolongation of the hu-
man life, the prevention of disease, and the co-operation with all the regular agen-
cies of society in the improvement of public health. So efficient has this work of the
university proved to be, that two branch laboratories were established in 1910,
at ]\Iinot and Bismarck. Among the many problems considered, two of immediate
and vital importance to the citizens of the state continue to be the subject of re-
search at the Public Health Laboratory, the purification of the water supply for city
populations, and a sanitary method of sewage disposal adapted to climate of ex-
tremes, such as is experienced in our state. Important reports covering valuable
investigations have already been made and there are still others soon to appear,
of equal importance. Other problems of public health have been dealt with
effectively by the laboratory. Dr. L. D. Bristol lias for the past two years carried
on the work which was so well begun by Dr. G. F. Ruediger.
The most important single university exercise of the week is Convocation,
which has developed out of the daily morning chapel exercises of early years.
Convocation is the weekly gathering of faculty, students and townspeople at the
Gymnasium to hear some lecturer of note, or some local speaker, on a topic of
general interest. W'ithin the last two years it has become specially significant as
furnishing one of the principal means for the transmission to the general university
body of the current thought in the larger world outside their immediate circle.
Among all the numerous means for securing a wider scope for university
activity, none are more significant than those grouped under the Extension Divi-
sion, created in 1910. President McVey developed the two most important fea-
tures of this department as a means of meeting a growing need throughout the
state, and also to utilize more effectively our accumulated resources, which were
at the disposal of the public whenever the adequate means should be provided
for their distribution. Correspondence courses and extension lectures are proving
as in other institutions, the best means for reaching the larger university body
throughout the state. Much remains to be done in perfecting the machinery of
560 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
this department. President McVey has helped to pioneer the movement through
its initial stages, and, as the lecturer most widely in demand, has disseminated the
ideas of university service among all classes and in every part of the state. The
division was for two years in charge of Mr. J. J. Pettijohn. Dr. F. C. English was
director during the year 1914-15. At the beginning of the school year 1915-16,
the division was reorganized and the work placed under two bureatis, the Bureau
■of Educational Co-operation and the Bureau of Public Information, a secretary
being placed in charge of each bureau. The Bureau of Public Information rep-
resents a new phase of extension service in North Dakota in its work of publicity
and the general spread of public information along various lines. The Bureau of
Educational Co-operation carries on the older branches of the extension service,
the correspondence Study Courses, and the university lecture and lyceum courses.
No summary of the university's work is in any way complete without a word
as to President McVey and his administration. Since he came to the university,
there has been a noticeable awakening in all lines of university service. The stand-
ards of scholarship have been raised. The Extension Division is but one manifes-
tation of the new conception of the State University, the institution which really
stands for state-wide service and which is not simply a "Campus school." For
the acceptance of this large idea in education as a working thing in North Dakota,
Dr. McVey is very largely responsible. The president has won for the university
a very important place in the hearts of North Dakota people. Through a
number of the university's achievements, he has increased the interest of educators
in the University of North Dakota, which, catching the best inspiration in college
circles, has yet found for itself rather unique fields of service.
CHAPTER XXXVII
NORTH DAKOTA VOLUNTEERS
COMPLETE ROSTER OF THE FIRST NOR^TH DAKOTA INFANTRY, U. S. V., IN THE CAM-
PAIGN IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
COMPANY A FIRST BATTALION
William P. Mofifett, Capt., editor, Bismarck, N. D. ; S. H. Newcomer, ist
Lieut., printer, Bismarck, N. D.; William J. McLean, 2d Lieut., printer, Bis-
marck, N. D. ; Hugh A. Scott, ist Sergt., student, Bismarck, N. D. ; Lynn W.
Sperry, Q. M. Sergt., rancher, Bismarck, N. D. ; William A. McHugh, Sergt.,
printer, Bismarck, N. D. ; Joseph A. McGinnis, Sergt., engineer, Mandan, N. D. ;
Alexander H. Louden, Sergt., farmer, Bathgate, N. D. ; Ira A. Correll, Sergt.,
bookkeeper, Munfordsville, Ky. ; Emil Froemmig, Corp., painter, Bismarck,
N. D. ; Thomas J. Dalton, Corp., cigar-maker, Bismarck, N. D. ; Rudolph W.
Patzman, Corp., cook, Bismarck, N. D. ; Emil F. Wotz, Corp., farmer, Bis-
marck, N. D. ; Fred N. Whittaker, Corp., clerk, Grand Forks, N. D. ; Charles
H. McDonald, Corp., laborer, Bismarck, N. D. ; William J. Pettee, Mus., printer,
Bismarck., N. D. ; John L. Peterson, Mus., clerk, Bismarck, N. D. ; Charles W.
Firm, artificer, blacksmith, Centralia, Wash. ; John R. Edick, wagoner, rancher,
Livona, N. D. ; Wallace Stoddard, cook, aeronaut, Hamilton, 111.
Privates
Andrew Anderson, cook, Bismarck, N. D. ; Robert E. Baer, butcher, San
Francisco, Cal. ; Frank E. Berg, laborer, Bismarck, N. D. ; James L. Black,
farmer. Sterling, N. D. ; Daniel L. Boutillier, farmer, Williamsport, N. D. ;
Edmund L. Butt, laborer, Billings, Mont. ; William A. Crumley, cook, Bis-
marck, N. D. ; William J. Dolan, bookkeeper, Bismarck, N. D. ; John P. Drury,
boiler-maker, Mandan, N. D. ; John J. Durkin, laborer, San Francisco, Cal. ;
Arthur C. Eggleston, painter, Fargo, N. D. ; Willard J. Flynn, laborer, Bis-
marck, N. D. ; Martin Feely, Jr., rancher, Mandan, N. D. ; John Galloway,
laborer. Sterling, N. D. ; Edward C. Grogan, laborer, Livona, N. D. ; Charles
Glitschka, clerk, Bismarck, N. D. ; Gilbert Glitschka, laborer, Hawley, Minn. ;
John Halverson, laborer, Deerfield, Wis. ; Jay L. Hill, lineman, Mandan, N. D. ;
Frank B. Hungerford, horseshoer, Cooperstown, N. D. ; Robert Jager, teamster,
Bismarck, N. D. ; Mons E. Jerdee, carpenter, Hope, N. D. ; Fred E. Kuhnast,
carpenter, Fargo, N. D. ; Rudolph Koplen, laborer, Neenah, Wis. ; Richard M.
Longfellow, boiler-maker, Mandan, N. D. ; Andrew M. Lobner, laborer. Bis-.
Vol, 1—36
561
562 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
marck, N. D. ; Louis Larson, laborer, Oshkosh, Wis. ; George W. Moore, cook,
Bismarck, N. D. ; Frank C. McTavish, laborer, Bismarck, N. D. ; Peter Nelson,
laborer, Menlo Park, Cal. ; Ziba B. Olen, carpenter, Bismarck, N. D. ; William
C. Olen, farmer, Bismarck, N. D. ; John Oleson, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ; Thomas
Perfect, farmer, Sunbury, Ohio ; Thomas R. Peterson, laborer, Washburn, N. D. ;
August Pommrink, machinist, Bismarck, N. D. ; John H. Pauls, carpenter, Green
Bay, Wis. ; Henry F. Radke, carpenter, Mandan, N. D. ; Benjamin F. Rose, car-
penter. New Salem, N. D. ; Wm. H. Shaw, laborer, Mandan, N. D. ; Daniel M.
Slattery, clerk, Bismarck, N. D. ; Alton E. Stone, farmer, McKenzie, N. D. ;
Nils T. Syverud, clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Calvin D. Wilson, farmer, Bismarck,
N. D. ; Mark Yeater, clerk, Williamsport, N. D. ; Henry F. Zolk, laborer, Bis-
marck, N. D.
Discharged
Piatt Dunn, Corp., Bismarck, N. D., student, by orders, August 25, 1899;
John P. Boland, Mandan, N. D., farmer, by orders, July 28, 1899; Emil Beegel,
Fargo, N. D., farmer, by orders, July 28, 1899; Philip P. Dawson, Bismarck,
N. D., laborer, disability, December 14, 1898; Edward Fay, Jr., Mandan, N. D.,
clerk, disability, November 29, 1898 (36th U. S. V.) ; Michael Glassley, Manila,
P. L, rancher, by orders, July 12, 1899, reenlisted ; Oscar A. Hargrave, Fargo,
N. D., laborer, by orders, July 28, 1899; Clarence L. Noyes, Valley City, N. D.,
plasterer, disability, March 2, 1899; James R. Ream, ]\Ianila, P. L, laborer, by
orders, July 12, 1899, reenlisted; Harry C. Smith, Bismarck, N. D., laborer, by
orders, August 16, 1899 (36th U. S. V.) ; WilHam A. Swett, Manila, P. L,
cigar-maker, by orders, July 28, 1899, reenlisted ; Louis O. Swett, Bismarck,
N. D., laborer, disability, December 24, 1898 (36th U. S. V.) ; George Wegner,
Beloit, Wis., farmer, disability, January 16, 1899.
Transferred
Ed. G. Gorsuch, ist Sergt., Bismarck, N. D., machinist, 2d Lieut. Company
K, July 19, 1899; Daniel R. Davis, Cooperstown, N. D., lumberman, hospital
corps, June 22, 1898; Eugene H. Sackett, Fargo, N. D., draughtsman. Company
B, December 10, 1898; George F. Sullivan, Mandan, N. D., laborer, hospital
corps, June 22, 1898.
Dead
Alfred H. Whittaker, Sergt., died of dysentery at Manila, P. L, April 13,
1899; Adolph Koplen, drowned in Pasig River, P. L, March 28, 1899.
Wounded
Frank E. Berg, wounded in left leg, block house No. 13, August 13, 1898.
For Valiant Service
Michael Glassley, recommended for medal of honor for valiant service;
Richard M. Longfellow, recommended for two medals of honor for valiant
service.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 563
COMPANY B — FIRST BATTALION
Edw. C. Geary, Jr., clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Joseph A. Slattery, ist Lieut.,
student, W'ahpeton, N. D. ; Robert A. Thompson, 2d Lieut., bookkeeper, Fargo,
N. D. ; Ernest D. Palmer, 1st Sergt., clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Ralph E. Bradley,
O. M., clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Harold Sorenson, clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; William R.
Edwards, Sergt., reporter, Fargo, N. D. ; Martin J. Hummel, druggist, Fargo,
N. D. ; Matthias E. Thompson, clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Daniel S. Lewis, clerk,
Fargo, N. D. ; Albert M. Hathaway, druggist, Fargo, N. D. ; Fred E. Hausche,
Corp., clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; William C. Allen, laborer, Manistee, Mich.; James
L. Miller, bookbinder, Fargo, N. D. ; John P. Martin, Corp., stenographer, Fargo,
N. D. ; John W. Gearey, Mus., student, Fargo, N. D. ; Otto M. Luther, Mus.,
clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Joseph A. Schlauser, artificer, carpenter. Fargo, N. D. ;
Ralph D. McCully, cook, Fargo, N. D.
Privates
Lewis Anderson, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ; Ed. AL Anderson, student, Wal-
halla, N. D. ; Frank D. Bowland, laborer, Shenandoah, Iowa ; Burdette Cleary,
printer, Spokane, Wash. ; Jeremiah Cleary, student, Cavalier, N. D. ; Harry F.
B. Cook, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ; Lemuel E. Crooker, laborer, Ortonville, Minn. ;
Jesse A. Davis,, clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; James Doyle, railroadman, Honolulu, H. I. ;
E. H. Elwin, teacher, Fargo, N. D. ; Herman F. C. Fick, salesman, Harlen,
N. D. ; G. Angus Eraser, bookkeeper, Fargo, N. D. ; George E. Gilligan. laborer,
Argusville, N. D. ; George W. Gregory, laborer, Cornell, 111. ; Richard C. Hand,
laborer, Baltimore, Md. ; Charles A. Hannan, farmer, Fargo, N. D. ; Frank E.
Hughes, clerk, Cresco, Iowa ; Charles Hughes, student, Steele, N. D. ; John Jep-
son, laborer, Montevideo, Minn. ; Christian E. Johnson, farmer. Kindred, N. D. ;
John B. Kinne, student, Fargo, N. D. ; Robert Langford, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ;
Robert S. Lewis, farmer, Fargo, N. D. ; Oscar F. Miller, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ;
John Z. McAuliffe, clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Edw. McBain. farmer, Fargo, N. D. ;
James McGuigan, student, Fargo, N. D. ; Michael Nelson, laborer, Hatton,
N. D. ; Frank L. Newman, student, Fargo, N. D. ; Charles I. Nord, jeweler,
Fargo, N. D. ; John A. Norman, clerk, Fargo, N. D. ; Abraham J. Olsen, clerk,
Fargo, N. D. ; Irving A. Palmer, printer, Fargo, N. D. ; Ole W. Pearson, harness-
maker, Fargo, N. D. ; Edw. S. Peterson, stenographer, Fargo, N. D. ; Ray Ras-
mussen, student, Fargo, N. D. ; F. A. Regan, bookkeeper, Fargo, N. D. ; Gus J.
Rehan, farmer, Moorhead, Minn. ; Leo J. Ryan, teacher, Fargo, N. D. ; Eugene
Saket, draughtsman, Fargo, N. D. ; Fred G. Sell, student, Fargo. N. D. ; Alfred
Sherman, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ; Harry S. Shurlock, student, Fargo, N. D. ;
Adolph E. Simensen, laborer, Moorhead, Minn. ; Lars Solberg, laborer, Daven-
port, N. D. ; George W. Spradling, soldier, Fargo, N. D. ; Lewis Starman, butcher,
Fargo, N. D. ; Harry Turner, laborer, Fargo, N. D. ; John Waarteson, laborer,
Fargo, N. D. ; Albert B. Wood, stenographer, Fargo, N. D.
Discharged
Frederik Keye, Capt., Fargo, N. D., engineer, disability, January 29, 1890;
Al. A. Hildreth, ist Lieut.. Fargo, N. D., lawyer, resigned, July 28, 1899; Frank
564 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
L. Anders, Corp., Fargo, N. D., machinist, by orders, September 9, 1899; Melvin
C. Henry, cook, Fargo, N. D., student, by orders, September 9, 1899; Wm. S.
Morrison, wagoner, Fargo, N. D., teamster, by orders, June 28, 1898; Elof Beck,
Fargo, N. D., blacksmith, by orders, July 28, 1899; Herbert N. Brown, Fargo,
N. D., student, disability, Alay 22, 1899; Harry R. Cramer, Lisbon, N. D., engi-
neer, disability, April 3, 1899; Albert A. Ellsworth, Fargo, N. D., cook, by
orders, July 28, 1899 (36th U. S. V.) ; Frank W. Lee, Manila, P. L, fireman, by
orders, July 9, 1899, reenlisted; John A. McCannel, Fargo, N. D., plumber,
disability, December 5, 1898 (in 36th U. S. V.) ; James W. Mclntyre, Manila,
P. L, waiter, by orders, July 9, 1899, reenlisted; George Walker, Fargo, N. D.,
teamster, by orders, July 21, 1899; Harry E. Zimmermann, Fargo, N. D., painter,
disability, April 17, 1899.
Transferred
Fred L. Conklin, ist Lieut., Jamestown, N. D., clerk. Company H, October
22, 1898; John Russater, ist Sergt., Fargo, N. D., clerk, Company I, July 14,
1899 ; C. S. Foster, Q. M. Sergt., Fargo, N. D., clerk, 9th U. S. Inf., April 28,
1899; Gilbert C. Grafton, Corp., Fargo, N. D., mail carrier, Regt. Sergt., Maj.,
February 24, 1899; Henry R. Berry, Fargo, N. D., painter, chief trumpeter.
May 25, 1898; Howard B. Huntley, Fargo, N. D., student, hospital corps, June
21, 1898; Gail P. Shepard, Fargo, N. D., student, hospital corps, June 21, 1898.
Dead
Joseph Wurzer, died at San Francisco of consumption, September 7, 1899.
Wounded
Fred E. Hausche, wounded in right lung near Novaliches, P. I., April 22, 1899.
For Valiant Service
Frank L. Anders, Corp., recommended for medal of honor for valiant serv-
ice ; John B. Kinne, recommended for medal of honor for valiant service ; James
Mclntyre, recommended for medal of honor for valiant service.
COMPANY C SECOND BATTALION
John H. Johnson, deputy county treasurer, Grafton, N. D. ; Cornelius J.
Foley, railroadman. Grafton, N. D. ; Thomas H. Thoralson, 2d Lieut., real estate,
Grafton, N. D. ; John M. McLean, ist Sergt., laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Ralph
Crowl, Q. M. Sergt., printer, Grafton, N. D. ; Ole Manderud. Sergt., miller,
Grafton, N. D. ; Charles C. Cairncross, merchant, Grafton, N. D. ; Christ Ehri,
Sergt., laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Thomas A. Swiggum, Sergt., clerk, Grafton,
N. D. ; Nels J. Nelson, Corp., laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Gert Heggen, Corp.,
laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; George H. Kerr, Corp., laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Henry
H. Junkins, Corp., carpenter, Drayton, N. D. ; Sylvester Lowe, Corp., student,
Forest River, N. D. ; Bernard Roener, Corp., laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Andrew
S. Quist, Mus., clerk, Grafton, N. D. ; Joseph Z. Venne, Mus., insurance agent,
Bathgate, N. D. ; Thomas R. Cook, artificer, engineer, Grafton, N. D. ; Thomas
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 565
Sletteland, wagoner, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Thomas Pettinger, cook, laborer,
Grafton, N. D.
Privates
Samuel Arthur, teacher, Minto, N. D. ; Albert Barrows, laborer, St. Andrews,
N. D. ; Henry Barnard, carpenter, Grafton, N. D. ; Percy D. Ball, laborer, Delano,
Aiinn. ; Thomas J. Bleckeberg, farmer, Grafton, N. D. ; Joseph Bleskheck, farmer,
Grafton, N. D. ; Ole O. Berg, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Alfred B. Collette, clerk,
Grafton, N. D. ; Joseph A. Cook, clerk, Minto, N. D. ; Austin O. De Frate, clerk,
Alexandria, Minn.; George Durban, decorator, Bemidji, Minn.; Walter D.
Ebbighausen, clerk, Grafton, N. D. ; Arthur G. Elston, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ;
Wilbrod Faille, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; John Gaut, liveryman, Grafton, N. D. ;
Robert Givens, farmer, Grafton, N. D. ; John J. Green, liveryman, Forest River,
N. D. ; Charles J. Hanson, farmer, Nash, N. D. ; Charles Hein, laborer, Grafton,
N. D. ; Gustav C. Hinueber, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; David B. Ingersoll, team-
ster, Grafton, N. D. ; Eddie Johnson, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Fred Johnson,
farmer, Grafton, N. D. ; Oscar Johnson, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Garrett Keefe,
farmer, Grafton, N. D. ; William T. Kerr, lather, Grafton, N. D. ; Joseph A.
I^obsinger, printer, Grafton, N. D. ; Peter Lundstedt, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ;
Martin Mohn, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Lorin C. Nelson, teacher, Grafton, N. D. ;
Oscar E. Parkins, clerk. Auburn, N. D. ; Edward E. Prentice, student, Grafton,
N. D. ; Simeon G. Quist, printer, Grafton, N. D. ; August P. Rash, farmer,
Grafton, N. D. ; Martin A. Rosen, shoemaker, Grafton, N. D. ; Axel E. Romm,
laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Fred W. Ridgway, farmer, Medford, N. D. ; Asa Schell,
clerk, Portland, Ind. ; Ernest Stuart, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; Levin E. Thomp-
son, laborer, Grafton, N. D. ; John H. Thompson, cook, Grafton, N. D. ; Andrew
H. Tweeten, farmer, Grafton, N. D. ; William R. Truelock, laborer, Grafton,
N. D. ; Forest D. Warren, farmer, Forest River, N. D. ; Charles J. Weagant,
farmer, Grafton, N. D. ; Charles H. Wentz, printer, Grafton, N. D. ; Harry T.
Young, printer, Eagle Bend, Minn.
Discharged
Leif Swennumson, Park River, N. D., clerk, by orders, April 21, 1899;
Oswald D. Foley, Grafton. N. D., teacher, by orders, August 16, 1899; Samuel
T. Olson, Sergt., Grafton, N. D., engineer, by orders, January 22, 1899; Alex T.
McKinnon, Sergt., San Francisco, Cal., clerk, by orders, August 25, 1899;
Edward J. Husband, Manila, P. I., farmer, by orders, July 29, 1899; William
Longsine, Manila, P. I., laborer, by orders, July 29, 1899; Nathan Myhere,
Drayton, N. D., carpenter, by orders, August 25, 1899; Hans Pederson, Auburn,
N. D., blacksmith, by orders, April 21, 1899.
Transferred
Donald Mclntyre, Grafton, N. D., druggist, hospital corps, June 21, 1S98;
Harris Shumway, Lambert, Minn., civil engineer, hospital corps, June 16, 1899.
Dead
John Buckley, killed at Fort Malate, August 16, 1898; Frank Upton, died
at Manila, P. L, of dysentery, March i, 1899; Isidore Driscoll, Corp.. killed in
566 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
action at Paete, P. I., April 12, 1899; P. W. Tompkins, wagoner, killed in action
at Paete, P. I., April 12, 1899; Alfred C. Almen, killed in action at Paete, P. L,
April 12, 1899; Wm. G. Lamb, killed in action at Paete, P. L, April 12, 1899.
Wounded
Wm. R. Truelock, wounded m left knee at San Ildefonso, P. I., May 12, 1899.
Fo)- Valiant Service
Thos. Sletteland, wagoner, recommended for medal of honor for valiant
service.
COMPANY D SECOND BATTALION
Adelbert W. Cogswell, Capt., druggist. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Thomas Lon-
nevik, ist Lieut., teacher, Devils Lake, N. D. ; William A. Mickle, 2d Lieut.,
hotelman, Grafton, N. D. ; Robert E. Taylor, ist Sergt., farmer. Devils Lake,
N. D.; George T. Salter, Q. M. Sergt., clerk, Crary, N. D. ; Warren White,
Sergt., carpenter, Devils Lake, N. D. ; Joseph H. Parsons, Sergt., fireman. Devils
Lake, N. D. ; Albert P. Babin, Sergt., clerk, Towner, N. D. ; John G. Thompson,
Se^rgt., clerk. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Will F. Logan, Corp., blacksmith. Devils Lake,
N. D. ; Maurice O. Roose, Corp., cook, Devils Lake, N. D. ; Robert T. Elsberry,
Corp., farmer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Robert J. Wilson, Corp., farmer, Devils
Lake, N. D. ; Stonewall Atkinson, Jr., Corp., farmer, Cando, N. D. ; Nels. H.
Peterson, Corp., clerk. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Charles J. B. Turner, clerk, Devils
Lake, N. D. ; Frederick J. Gannon, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Luther H.
Bratton, Mus., printer, Rugby, N. D. ; Fred Becker, artificer, laborer, Devils
Lake, N. D. ; Christopher C. Kinsey, wagoner, carpenter, Devils Lake, N. D.
Privates
Charles Anderson, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Edw. Ellwardt, laborer,
Devils Lake, N. D. ; Bert Albin, glassblower, Crary, N. D. ; Patrick F. Arm-
strong, butcher. Devils Lake, N. D. ; David E. Beauchamp, waiter. Devils Lake,
N. D. ; Charles E. Brown, farmer, Bottineau, N. D. ; Robert O. Burgess, printer.
Devils Lake, N. D. ; Bert M. Bartlett, railroadman, Devils Lake, N. D. ; Windsor
L. Boyce, farmer, Fargo, N. D. ; Robert R. Donaldson, horseman, Devils Lake,
N. D. ; George W. Dragoo, carpenter, Hasel, Ind. ; Arthur C. Dumochel, clerk.
Devils Lake, N. D. ; William J. Elliott, plasterer, Salineville, Ohio ; Frank E.
Elliott, student, Devils Lake, N. D. ; Fred Eymann, farmer, Rugby, N. D. ; Albert
C. Erickson, laborer, San Francisco, Cal. ; Lawrence J. Greene, laborer. Grand
Harbor, N. D. ; Hastings H. Hamilton, law student. Grand Forks, N. D. ; William
Huseby, mason. Devils Lake, N. D. ; Thomas Hurley, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D. ;
George L. Jenks, clerk, Devils Lake, N. D. ; Alfred P. Jones, baker, Montreal,
Canada; Orval O. Judd, farmer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; George A. Kellogg, farmer,
Leesburg, Ind. ; Zeno Le Due. farmer, Crary, N. D. ; Harry A. Lindsmith,
farmer, Owatonna, Minn. ; Orlow B. Maybee, laborer, Devils Lake, N. D. :
Charles R. McGraw, laborer. Grand Forks, N. D. ; EHjah Morgan, painter. Grand
Forks, N. D. ; John C. Millar, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; William R. Olmstead,
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JAMESTOWN CX)LLEGE
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HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 567
blacksmith, Toledo, Ohio; Andrew Prinzing, farmer, Devils Lake, N. D.; Perry
H. Purdy, teamster, Devils Lake, N. D. ; Lloyd Ryall, teacher, Michigan City,
N. D. ; Clayton J. Scott, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D.; Peter G. Timboe, clerk,
Grand Harbor, N. D. ; Delbert N. Tanner, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; John H.
Travis, farmer, Bottineau, N. D. ; George Trace, laborer, Devils Lake, N. D. ;
Tor. Torsen, carpenter. Grand Harbor, N. D.; Albert Tromp, farmer, ShoXvano,
N. D.; Roy N. Whitney, fireman, Devils Lake, N. D. ; William H. Wilson,
farmer, Bottineau, N. D. ; Clarence E. Wilson, farmer, Bottineau, N. D. ; Martin
Wagness, laborer. Devils Lake, N. D. ; John L Wampler, farmer. Devils Lake,
N. D. ; Albert M. Young, printer, Towner, N. D.
Discharged
Henry Redmond, ist Lieut., Devils Lake, N. D., machinist, resigned, March
i8, 1899; Phil H. Snortt, ist Sergt., Devils Lake, N. D., publisher, by orders,
July 29, 1899; Charles H. Eager, Sergt., Manila, P. L, painter, by orders, July
29, 1899; Alfred E. Scott, Corp., Devils Lake, N. D., laborer, by orders, July 29,
1899; W. J. Prendergast, Corp., Crary, N. D., farmer, by orders, May 21, 1899
(in 36th U. S. V.) ; Wesley M. Baneford, Manila, P. L, painter, by orders, July
14, 1899, reenlisted; Ambrose M. Healey, Manila, P. L, laborer, by orders, July
29, 1899; James Hathaway, Devils Lake, N. D., cowboy, by orders, August i,
1899; Frank D. Hoadley, Grand Harbor, N. D., farmer, by orders, July 3, 1899
(in 36th U. S. V.) ; Godfried Jensen, Manila, P. L, farmer, by orders, July 19,
1899, reenlisted; Fred Longdue, Devils Lake, N. D., teamster, by orders, August
I, 1899 (in 34th U. S. V.) ; Philip J. O'Neill, Jackson, Cal., miner, by orders,
July 19, 1899, reenlisted ; John Swanson, Manila, P. L, laborer, by orders, July
21, 1899; Henry Nannier, Devils Lake, N. D., cook, by orders, September 7,
1899; Hugo Zuillig, Devils Lake, N. D., farmer, by ordejs, June 16, 1899.
Transferred
Fred E. Smith, Q. M. Sergt., Bartlett, N. D., clerk. Company K; R. W.
Anderson, Crary, N. D., butcher, hospital corps; Guy R. Wheaton, Lowell,
Mich., fireman, hospital corps, June 21, 1898.
Dead
John C. Byron, Corp., died of wound, May 24, 1899.
Wounded
Elijah Morgan, wounded April i, 1899.
For Valiant Service
Godfried Jensen, recommended for medal of honor for valiant service at
burning bridge over Tabou River, May 16, 1899.
COMP.'\NY G FIRST BATTALION
Ingvald A. Berg, Capt., banker. Grand Forks, N. D. ; W. H. Pray, ist Lieut.,
farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; O. Thomas Mattison, 2d Lieut., painter, Jamestown,
568 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
N. D. ; Frank S. Henry, ist Sergt., druggist, Valley City, N. D. ; David W. Bailey,
Q. M. Sergt., carpenter, Valley City, N. D. ; William H. Lock, Q. M. Sergt.,
potter, Valley City, N. D. ; Charles W. Nelson, Q. M. Sergt., farmer. Valley City,
N. D. ; Ross G. Wills, Q. M. Sergt., musician, Valley City, N. D. ; Delbert Cross,
Corp., farmer, Valley City, N. D. ; E. Ray Fairbanks, Corp., farmer, Valley City,
N. D. ; Fred C. King, Corp., farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; Augvist C. Huhn, Corp.,
operator. Valley City, N. D. ; Ernest G. Wanner, Corp., real estate agent, \'"alley
City, N. D. ; Charles P. Davis, Corp., cook, Valley City, N. D. ; Louis P. Clark,
Mus., student, Valley City, N. D. ; Frank T. Sikes, Mus., storekeeper, Valley City,
N. D. ; Neal Christianson,|,artificer, barber. Valley City, N. D. ; .Alonzo B. Ellis,
wagoner, farmer, Valley City, N. D. ; George H. Shannon, cook, cook, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
Privates
William N. Allen, electrician. Valley City, N. D. ; Oscar W. Amundson,
student. Valley City, N. D. ; Charles M. Amo, laborer, Minneapolis, Minn. ;
Arthur L. Barton, farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; Elof Benson, tailor, Valley City,
N. D. ; Andrew Bertramsen, printer, Albert Lea, Minn. ; Herbert E. Chapman,
farmer. Tower City, N. D. ; Thomas T. Chave, bookkeeper, San Francisco, Cal. ;
Walter E. Church, farmer, Sanborn, N. D. ; John T. B. Davis, merchant. Valley
City. N. D. ; Arthur L. Davine, painter, Wyandotte, Mich. ; Arthur Goodwin,
farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; Theo. S. Henry, student. Valley City, N. D. ; Ferd
Hensperger, farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; Matthias Hetland, blacksmith. Valley
City, N. D. ; Richard H. Hitsman, laborer. Valley City, N. D. ; Omunde Jacob-
son, laborer. Valley City, N. D. ; Charles E. Jaten, student, Valley City, N. D. ;
Christian A. Kvalness, clerk. Valley City, N. D. ; Henry W'. Lawrence, farmer,
Montgomery, Minn.; Thomas C. Lillethun, farmer, Fingal, N. D. ; Lawrence H.
Luttrell, farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; James A. Melrose, cook, Atlanta, 111. ; John
O. Moe, barber, Sanborn, N. D. ; John Moran, railroadman, Valley City, N. D. ;
Patrick McEntee, farmer, Montgomery, Minn. ; Henry T. Murphy, student, San-
born, N. D. ; John W. Murphy, cleiric, Sanborn, N. D. ; Anton Nelson, laborer,
Brookfield, Minn. ; Frank Nestaval, printer, Montgomery, Minn. ; Charles Olstad,
blacksmith, A'alley City, N. D. ; Hans Pederson, teacher. Valley City, N. D. ;
Roy A. Phillips, farmer, Valley City, N. D. ; Christ F. Pinkert, cook. New Rock-
ford, N. D. ; William F. Priest, student. Valley City, N. D. ; George N. Ras-
mussen, laborer. Valley City, N. D. ; Sven Risa, farmer, Salida, Colo. ; Jerome
B. Shoemaker, laborer. Tower City, N. D. ; Perry F. Strock, student. Valley
City, N. D. ; Theo. O. Torbenson, blacksmith, Vining, Minn. ; John B. Totz, fire-
man. Valley City, N. D. ; Shon H. Warren, printer. Galena, 111. ; John A. Welsh,
clerk. Valley City, N. D. ; Knute Westerheim, farmer. Valley City, N. D. ; Edw.
Westerland, watchmaker, Valley City, N. D.
Discharged
Charles F. Mudgett, Capt., Valley City, N. D., bookkeepr, resigned, June 2,
1899; Frank H. Walker, Sergt., Valley City, N. D., farmer, disability, April 9,
1899 fseth U. S. V.) ; WSlliam H. Coughlin, Corp., Manila. P. I., clerk, by
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 56&
orders, July 12, 1899, reenlisted; William Greb, Mus., Valley City, N. D., fanner,
by orders, July 29, 1899 (36th U. S. V.) ; Bert Bertramsen, artificer, Manila,
P. I., tinner, by orders, July 15, 1899, reenlisted; C. A. Anderson, Valley City,
N. D., carpenter, by orders, March 13, 1899 (36th U. S. V.) ; William H. Arnold,
Manila, P. I., teacher, by orders, July 15, 1899, reenlisted; Steve E. Bush, Valley
City, N. D., student, by orders, May 20, 1899; Eddie Christopherson, Fingal,
N. D., farmer, by orders, April 26, 1899; Lora E. Conrad, Manila, P. I., laborer,
by orders, July 30, 1899; William M. Greenwood, Manila, P. I., engineer, by
orders, July 16, 1899; Sterling A. Gait, Manila, P. I., printer, by orders, July 13,
1899; Francis D. Hutchison, Manila, P. I., laborer, by orders, July 30, 1899;
David A. Jones, Clark City, N. D., farmer, by orders, April 26, 1899; Albert E.
McKay, Valley City, N. D., student, by orders, August 15, 1899; Albinos
McDonald, Valley City, N. D., farmer, by orders, August 31, 1899; Matthias
Pederson, Valley City, N. D., blacksmith, disability, March 7, 1899; Ole G.
Sandstad, Kenyon, Minn., student, by orders, August 9, 1899.
Transferred
C. \y. Getchell, ist Lieut., Valley City, N. D., bookkeeper, regimental Q. M. ;
Joseph A. Slattery, ist Lieut., Wahpeton, N. D., student. Company B; Ernest E.
Ellis, Sergt., Valley City, N. D., clerk, Sergt. Maj. Bat., July 9, 1899; Winfield
H. Coleman, Art., electrician, hospital corps, September 27, 1898; William B.
Fleming, Valley City, N. D., nurse, hospital corps; Thomas F. McLaren, San-
born, N. D., clerk, hospital corps ; C. L. Vallandigham, Valley City, N. D.,
printer, Reg. O. M. Sergt., July 10, 1899.
Dead
John A. Ewing, died of fever at Manila, P. L, March 2, 1899.
Wounded
Charles Olstad, wounded at Tilabau in right leg May i, 1899; William H.
Locke, Sergt.. wounded by accident in right foot, February 2, 1899.
For Valiant Service
Charles P. Davis, Corp., recommended for medal of honor for valiant service ;
Sterling A. Gait, Priv., recommended for medal of honor for valiant service.
COMP.\NY H — FIRST BATT.XLION
Porter W. Eddy, Capt., farmer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Harrison J. Gruschius,
1st Lieut., lumberman, Dickinson, N. D. ; Dorman Baldwin, Jr., 2d Lieut., clerk,
Jamestown, N. D. ; John C. Eddy, ist Sergt., clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; WiUiam
M. Hotchkiss, O. M. Sergt., contractor, Jamestown, N. D. ; William Gleason,
Jr., Sergt., tailor, Jamestown, N. D. ; David E. Bigelow, Sergt., clerk, James-
town, N. D. ; Larry B. McLain, Sergt., clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; John E.
570 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
McElroy, Sergt., clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; James Hanson, Corp., railroadman,
Jamestown, N. D. ; Herman P. Wolf, Corp., clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; Fred T.
Braatnip, Corp., brakeman, Jamestown, N. D. ; Albert F. Collins, Corp., farmer,
Eldridge, N. D. ; Lawrence A. Williams, Corp., farmer, Jamestown, N. D. ;
John P. Sonnen, Corp., butcher, Casselton, N. D. ; Frederick D. Cunningham,
cook, student. Grand Rapids, N. D. ; John J. Chamberlin, Mus., farmer, Oakes,
N. D. ; Ira O. Bleecher, Mus., engineer, Kindred, N. D. ; Howard E. Fell,
artificer, carpenter, Jamestown, N. D. ; Willis H. Downes, wagoner, farmer,
Jamestown, N. D.
Privates
Albert F. Abraham, farmer. Princeton, Minn. ; Herman Abraham, laborer,
Princeton, Minn. ; Severt B. Berglund, carpenter, Fargo, N. D. ; Arthur Bennett,
carpenter, Jamestown, N. D. ; Joseph Boyer, laborer, Aurora, 111. ; Burnie Briggs,
photographer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Ralph E. Callahan, clerk, Norfolk, Neb. ; John
C. Charles, merchant. Tower City, N. D. ; Robert M. Charles, engineer. Tower
City, N. D. ; Charles Cooper, farmer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Alexander Clubb,
farmer, Jamestown, N. D. ; John H. Cadieux, switchman, Oakland, Cal. ; Wood-
bury J. Davis, fireman, Jamestown, N. D. ; Ralph A. Froenike, student, James-
town, N. D. ; Frank M. Glenn, farmer. New Rockford, N. D. ; Frank R. Graham,
laborer. New Rockford, N. D. ; Charles Horsman, cook, Wichita, Kan. ; Ernest
E. Haner, laborer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Arthur Hughes, laborer, New Rockford,
N. D. ; John L. Johnson, laborer, Crystal Springs, N. D. ; Edward E. Kurtz,
clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; Thomas Maher, laborer, Jamestown. N. D. ; Morris R.
Mastin, engineer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Bunard J. Meehan, switchman, Jamestown,
N. D. ; James McElwaine, cook, Jamestown, N. D. ; Louis C. Oefstedahl, farmer,
■Cheyenne, N. D. ; Edward E. Pope, cook, Jamestown, N. D. ; David Phillips, Jr.,
plowmaker, Racine, Wis. ; Edwin J. Paunell, farmer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Edward
M. Portz, laborer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Grant E. Riley, carpenter, Saginaw, Mich. ;
Harry F. Roberts, machinist, Jamestown, N. D. ; John M. Reed, engineer, James-
town, N. D. ; Frank F. Ross, machinist, Langdon, N. D. ; William P. Severin,
laborer, Jamestown, N. D. ; John E. Smith, carpenter, Jamestown, N. D. ; Harry
J. Stoops, clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; John Thompson, engineer, Jamestown, N. D. ;
Arthur Tyte, miner, Jamestown, N. D. ; James M. Williams, engineer, Carring-
ton, N. D. ; Harry E. Williams, railroadman, Jamestown, N. D. ; Fred W. Wolf,
clerk, Jamestown, N. D. ; Dana M. Wright, farmer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Perle F.
Wright, flour packer, Jamestown, N. D. ; Lloyd A. Whiteman, fanner. New
Rockford, N. D.
Discharged
Fred L. Conklin, 1st Lieut., Bismarck, N. D., clerk, disability, December 12,
1898; Daniel H. Wallace. Corp., Bismarck, N. D., student, disability, December
7, 1898; William H. Miller, Corp., Manila, P. I., farmer, by orders, July 13,
1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ; Delbert Buzzell. Mus., Jamestown, N. D., printer,
disability, March 10, 1899; George K. Brown, wagoner, Manila, P. I., teamster,
by orders, July 24, 1899, reenlisted 36th LL S. V.; Thomas A. Green, James-
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 571
town, N. D., laborer, disability, March lo, 1899; James Hamilton, Manila, P. I.,
clerk, by orders, July 13, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ; Clarence J. Allen, Turen,
N. Y. teacher, disability, March 10, 1899; Lewis Kramer, Manila, P. I., boiler-
maker, by orders, July 24, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ; Benjamin K. Russell,
Corp., Manila, P. I., student, by orders, July 28, 1899; Charles Peterson, Manila,
P. I., laborer, by orders, July 24, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ; Robert E.
Mauly, Sergt., Manila, P. I., lawyer, by orders, July 28, 1899; August Shinke,
Manila, P. I., laborer, by orders, July 24, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V.
Transferred
Herbert G. Proctor, ist Lieut., Jamestown, N. D., clerk. Company B, October
22, 1898; Olin T. Mattison, ist Sergt., Jamestown, N. D., printer. Company G,
July 30, 1899; John E. Mattison, Sergt., Jamestown, N. D., clerk, Reg. Sergt. -
Maj., May 23, 1899; Harry W. Donevan, Princeton, Minn., clerk, Reg. Hosp.
steward, September i, 1899; Ernest E. Kelly, Carrington, N. D., Tele, operator,
signal corps, June 16, 1899; Christ F. Pinkert, Valley City, N. D., watchmaker,
Company G, December 10, 1899; Hazelton D. Smith, Jamestown, N. D., laborer,
hospital corps, June 22, 1898.
Dead
John H. Killian, killed in action near Morong, P. L, June 9, 1899; Frank M.
Harden, died of dysentery at Manila, P. L, November 21, 1898; John Morgan,
died of dysentery at Manila, P. L, October 26, 1898.
Wounded
Dorman Baldwin, Jr., 2d Lieut., wounded in right leg at Kings Bluff, P. L,
April I, 1899; James Hanson, Corp., wounded in left wrist at Morong, P. L,
June 15, 1899; Herman P. Wolf, Corp., wounded in right foot at Kings Bluff,
P. L, April 11, 1899; Harry W. Donovan, wounded in left arm at Polo, P. L,
March 26, 1899; Edward J. Pannell, wounded in left side at Paete, P. L, April
12, 1899.
COMPANY I — SECOND BATT.>\LION
William R. Purdon, Capt., merchant, W(ahpeton, N. D. ; William B. Aspin-
wall, 1st Lieut., printer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; John Pussater, 2d Lieut., clerk, Fargo,
N. D. ; Arthur E. McKean, ist Sergt., clerk, Wahpeton, N. D. ; William D. Pur-
don, O. M. Sergt., clerk, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Charles W. Lander, Sergt., student,
Wahpeton, N. D. ; Orlin M. Jones, Sergt., student, Rochester, Minn.; Mark I.
Forkner, Sergt., printer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Walter O. Lippitt, Sergt., student,
Wahpeton, N. D. ; William H. Auman, Jr., Corp., fireman, Breckenridge, Minn. ;
Herbert J. Brand, Corp., student, Farmington, N. D. ; Harry R. Kramer, Corp.,
student, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Fred W. Whitcomb, Corp., fireman, Breckenridge,
Minn. ; James E. Griffin, Corp.. farmer, San Francisco, Cal. ; Nels J. Bothne,
Corp.. farmer, Abercrombie, N. D. ; Fergus A. Mullen, artificer, carpenter. Camp-
572 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
bell, Minn. ; Louis E. Anderson, wagoner, farmer, Clitheral, N. D. ; Emil J.
Pepke, cook, cook, Grafton, N. D.
Privates
Charles J. Adams, farmer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Charles H. Anderson, farmer,
Wheaton, Minn. ; Jacob Anfinson, laborer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Felix Blanchett,
cook, St. Paul, Minn. ; Otto Boehler, farmer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Canute Brandrup,
farmer, Breckenridge, Minn. ; William H. Brose, farmer, Abercrombie, N. D. ;
James E. Carney, fireman. East Springfield, Pa. ; Frank A. Connolly, farmer,
Wahpeton, N. D. ; Fred J. Debbert, farmer, Belle Plaine, Minn. ; John J. Gabriel,
blacksmith, Wahpeton, N. D. ; George Gebro, brakeman, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Peter
O. Gunness, student, Abercrombie, N. D. ; Fred G. Harbourn, farmer, Shepard,
111.; Benjamin Holter, laborer, Moreton, N. D. ; Thomas Hudec, farmer, San
Francisco, Cal. ; Bernard Klein, barber, Northfield, Miim. ; Berg Linderson,
farmer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Olaf Leaf, bricklayer, W'ahpeton, N. D. ; Clarence A.
Mitchell, merchant, Wlahpeton, N. D. ; William J. Mulled, laborer, Campbell,
Minn. ; James Murphy, laborer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Henry P. Musfeldt, laborer,
Wahpeton, N. D. ; James D. Murphy, butcher, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Thomas Man-
gan, laborer, Chicago, 111. ; Edward McCullough, hotelkeeper, Minneapolis, Minn. ;
Anton Nelson, horseman, Fargo, N. D. ; John P. Olson, druggist, Wahpeton,
N. D. ; Oscar J. Olson, clerk, San Francisco, Cal. ; Alpheus H. Palmer, laborer,
San Francisco, Cal. ; Otto Paulson, laundryman, Wahpeton, N. D. ; James Pruitt,
farmer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; James M. Quinn, farmer. Browns Valley, Minn. ;
Julius Schendel. teacher, Campbell, Minn. ; Fred H. Schendel, printer, Campbell,
Minn. ; Alexander Scott, laborer, W^ahpeton, N. D. ; Thomas Stafne, laborer,
Prairie Farm, Wis. ; Will L. Schoonover, engineer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Otto O.
Swank, clerk, Wahpeton, N. D. ; George J. Seidlinger, harnessmaker, Brandon,
Minn. ; Eddie St. John, laborer, Chippewa Falls, Wis. ; Charles Senkle, printer,
Wahpeton, N. D. ; Gus Sweeney, farmer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; James Snodgrass,
farmer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Thomas Schoot, railroadman, Breckenridge, ]\Iinn. ;
Chesley T. Talley, laborer, Wahpeton, N. D. ; Leslie R. Waterman, shoemaker,
Wahpeton, N. D. ; Byron Woodberry, student, Wahpeton, N. D.
Discliargcd
John F. Faytle,' Sergt., Wahpeton, N. D., teacher, by orders, September i,
1899; Edward C. Little, Mus., Breckenridge, Minn., well digger, by orders, July
31, 1899 (36th U. S. V.) ; Frank Trupka, Mus., Manila, P. I., laborer, by orders,
July 13, 1899, reenlisted; Fred C. Mullen, wagoner, Breckenridge, Minn., fire-
man, by orders, January 2, 1899; John F. Desmond, Wahpeton, N. D., wood-
worker, by orders, July 29, 1899; John A. Diamond, Wahpeton, N. D., baker,
by orders, September i, 1899; Herbert Files, Fergus Falls, Minn., mason, by
orders, September i, 1899; George E. Flemming, Wahpeton, N. D., laborer, by
orders, July 29, 1899; Will J. Gillet, Manila, P. I., machinist, by orders, July 29,
1899, reenlisted 37th U. S. V. ; Herman Harms, Wahpeton, N. D., farmer, by
orders, July 29, 1899; Peter Happstadius, Wahpeton, N. D., farmer, by orders,
July 29, 1899; John C. Leathert, Breckenridge, Minn., railroadman, by orders.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 573
August 17, 1899; Wlalter Schmeltekoff, Manila, P. L, waiter, by orders, July 29,
1899, reenlisted 14th U. S. If.; Henry J. Ready, Wahpeton, N. D., clerk, by
orders, September i, 1899; John Souhrada, Manila, P. I., laborer, by orders, July
29, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V.
Transferred
Joseph E. Slattery, 2d Lieut., Wahpeton, N. D., student, Company B, July
12, 1899; Fred Gellerman, Sergt., Wahpeton, N. D., operator, signal corps, June
15, 1898; Walter E. Patten, Corp., Wahpeton, N. D., druggist, hospital corps.
May 16, 1898; Loren Campbell, Corp., Wahpeton, N. D., clerk, hospital corps.
June 22, 1898; Erie A. Hamilton, Breckenridge, Minn., clerk, hospital corps,
January 25, 1898.
Dead
George J. Schueller, killed in action near Paete, P. I., April 12, 1899.
Wounded
Herbert L. Files, wounded in chest at Paete, P. I., April 12, 1S99; Emil J.
Pepke, cook, wounded in chest at Tabac, P. I., April 29, 1899.
For Valiant Service
John F. Desmond, recommended for medal of honor for valiant service.
COMPANY K SECOND B.\TTALION
George Auld, Capt., registrar of deeds, Dickinson, N. D. ; Ambrose J. Osborn,
1st Lieut., photographer, Dickinson, N. D. ; Edw. G. Gorsuch, 2d Lieut.,
machinist, Bismarck, N. D. ; W. Fulton Burnett, ist Sergt., teacher, Dickinson,
N. D. ; Oscar M. Skeem, Q. M. Sergt., blacksmith, Dickinson, N. D. ; Alfred W.
Freeman, Sergt., druggist, Dickinson, N. D. ; Samuel Andrews, Sergt., printer,
Dickinson, N. D. ; Storey E. Auld, Sergt., cowboy, Dickinson, N. D. ; Louis F.
Hanlin, Sergt., clerk, Dickinson, N. D. ; Chas. H. De Foe, Corp., carpenter,
Dickinson, N. D. ; Jos. A. Reilly, Corp., farmer, Lehigh, N. D. ; Llewellyn Morse,
Corp., teamster, Dickinson, N. D. ; Clark H. Coburn, Corp., farmer, Richardton,
N. D. ; Morton R. Bonney, Corp., farmer, Antelope, N. D. ; Fred Kuntz, Corp.,
farmer, Richardton, N. D. ;■ Fred C. Anderson, Lance Corp., mechanic, Tracy,
Minn.; Hans Kristick, Mus.. printer, Dickinson, N. D. ; Willard J. Myers, Mus.,
tanner, Antelope, N. D. ; Nicholas Rothschild, artificer, blacksmith, Dickinson,
N. D. ; George T. Dollard, wagoner, stockman, Belfield, N. D. ; Charles Hanover,
cook, carpenter, Mandan, N. D.
Privates
Antone Adelman, farmer, Gladstone, N. D. ; Charles D. Butterwick, photog-
rapher, Milton. N. D. ; Albert L. Boring, farmer, Greenburg, Ind. ; George E.
Carpenter, cowboy, IMiddleton, N. Y. ; Ernest B. Cornell, farmer. Gladstone.
N. D.; Timothy B. Curtis, laborer, Arlington, Sibley County, Minn.; Parley R.
574 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Colburn, farmer, Richardton, N. D. ; John C. Chaloiier, liveryman, Dickinson,
N. D. ; Harry A. Edison, clerk, Bakersfield, Cal. ; Frank A. Earley, farmer,
Richardton, N. D. ; John Fisher, clerk, Terspol, Emmons County, N. D. ; Peter
L. Frogner, laborer, Atwater, Minn. ; Edw. E. Gibbs, teamster, Dickinson, N. D. ;
Claude E. Groff, cowboy, Dickinson, N. D. ; Henry Hanson, farmer, Kindred,
N. D. ; August W. Hensel, farmer, Tappen, N. D. ; William A. Hill, bookkeeper.
La Crosse, Wis. ; William Heiser, porter, Dickinson, N. D. ; Michael Hughes,
laborer, Dickinson, N. D. ; U. Schyler Hinkel, liveryman, Colon, Mich. ; John E.
Jones, woodman, Michigan City, N. D. ; John Kuntz, farmer, Dickinson, N. D. ;
Arthur J. Loomis, cowboy, Antelope, N. D. ; Anthony W. Link, engineer, Glad-
stone, N. D. ; Adam S. Mischell, storekeeper, Hanover, Kan. ; Patrick Murphy,
miner, Hancock, Mich. ; Carl A. Madsen, farmer, Hunter, Mich. ; Siegwart Nel-
son, farmer, Lake Preston, S. D. ; William E. Phillips, laborer, Augusta, Wis. ;
Hollis Paden, laborer, Dickinson, N. D. ; Frederick J. Rohrer, laborer, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.; George M. Russell, laborer. Kindred, N. D. ; Paul H. Riech, farmer,
Middleton, Conn. ; Christopher B. Rice, farmer, Fargo, N. D. ; Clarence E. Stod-
dard, farmer, Housatonic, INIass. ; Thomas M. Sweeney, miner, Nyhart, Mont. ;
Herman J. Steriner, Jr., farmer, Winona, Emmons County, N. D. ; Rudolf V.
Steiner, miller, Fargo, N. D. ; Samuel Smiley, railroadman, Dickinson, N. D. ;
Gilbert Ulberg, laborer, Hatton, N. D. ; Elmer W. Williams, printer, Chicago,
111. ; Frank W. Wilson, laborer, Detroit, Mich.
Discharged
Hans Garseg, Sergt.. Dickinson, N. D., miner, by orders, July 29, 1899;
Edward L. Ham, Corp., Manila, P. I., wheat buyer, by orders, July 12, 1899,
reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ; William F. Thomas, Corp., ^lanila, P. I., acrobat, by
orders, July 31, 1899, reenlisted; James O. Gorrie, wagoner, Manila, P. I., book-
keeper, by orders, July 13, 1899, reenlisted; Ticko Bowman, Manila, P. I.,
laborer, by orders, July 14, 1899, reenlisted ; Nathan E. Chase, Dickinson, N. D.,
farmer, by orders, September 2. 1899, reenlisted ; Stephen A. Doherty, Dickin-
son, N. D., herder, by orders, July 29. 1899, reenlisted ; William Fitzgerald,
Dickinson, N. D., laborer, by orders, August 13, 1899; Raymond Groll, Manila,
P. I., farmer, by orders, July 13, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ; James K. Hall,
Dickinson, N. D., cowboy, disability, December 14, 1898 ; Patrick Hussey,,Manila,
P. I., laborer, by orders, July 21. 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V.; Harry W.
Klinefelter, Dickinson, N. D., drayman, by orders, August 16, 1899; Joseph Mar-
monn, Richardton, N. D., farmer, disability, March 7, 1899; Dennis Mahoney,
Manila, P. I., stone cutter, by orders, July 21, 1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V. ;
John C. Smith, Manila, P. I., laborer, by orders, July 21, 1899, reenlisted 36th
U. S. V. ; John J. Smith, Manila, P. I., molder, by orders, July 21, 1899, reenlisted
36th U. S. v.; Frank Summerfield, Manila, P. I., clerk, by orders, July 13, 1899,
leenlisted 36th U. S. V.; George G. Vest, Manila, P. I., clerk, by orders, July 13,
1899, reenlisted 36th U. S. V.
Transferred
Harrison J. Gruschius, 2d Lieut., Dickinson, N. D., lumberman. Company H,
January 8, 1899; Fred E. Smith, 2d Lieut., Manila, P. I., soldier, 36th U. S. V.,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 575
July 26, 1899; Roy H. Berry, Dickinson, N. D., student, hospital corps, June 21,
1898; James A. Williams, Dickinson, N. D., cook, hospital corps, June 21, 1898;
Alfred L. Ledin, Dickinson, N. D., student, hospital corps, January 23, 1899.
Dead
Harrold H. Davis, Corp., died at sea on U. S. Transport Grant, August 19,
1899; Ole T. Lakken, died at Manila, P. I., of pneumonia, November 21, 1898;
William R. Howell, died at sea of consumption, February 13, 1899.
Wounded
August W. Hensel, wounded in leg at Paete, April 12, 1899.
For Valiant Service
Patrick Hussey, Frank W. Summerfield, recommended for two medals of
honor for valiant service, one at burning bridge over Tabon River, May 16,
1899, and one for bravery at San Miguel, May 13, 1899 ; William F. Thomas,
Corp., Thomas M. Sweeney, recommended for medal of honor for valiant
service at burning bridge over Tabon River, May 16, 1899.
MUSTER IN ROLL OF FIRST NORTH DAKOT.A. INFANTRY
Before Leaving for Service on the Border in 1916
Field, Staff and Band
John H. Fraine, colonel ; Gilbert C. Grafton, lieutenant colonel ; Frank S.
Henry, major; Dana Wright, major; James M. Hanley, major; Daniel S. Lewis,
captain, Regt. Coms'y; Theodore S. Henry, captain, Regt. Adjt. ; La Roy Baird,
1st Lieut., Bv. Adjt.; John W. Murphy, ist Lieut., Bv. Adjt.; Hastings H.
Hamilton, ist Lieut., Bv. Adjt. ; Ivan V. Metzger, 2d Lieut., Bv. O. M. & C. ;
John S. Grane, 2d Lieut., Bv. Q. M. & C. ; Warren A. Stickley, R. Sergt. Maj.;
Joseph L. Dwire, Reg. Coms'y Sergt. ; John W. Rock, R. O. M. Sergt. ; James A,
Soules, Color Sergt.; Oscar B. Treumann, Bv. Sergt. Maj.; Duane Y. Sarles,
Bv. Sergt. Maj.; Amos E. Freeman, Bv. Sergt. Maj.; Myron T. Davis, Prin.
Mus. r-foseph L. Allison, Drum Maj.; Sergts., Harry S. Moore, Cuthbert S.
Moore,. William M. Jones, Paul D. Harris; Corps., Max M. Moore, Archie
Galbreath, Minnard Halverson, Fred A. Oliver, Walter E. Jones, James E. Jones ;
Walter E. Wodrich, cook. Privates : Robert H. Carlson, Glen H. Cole. Delbert
L. Diehl, Edward H. Gewalt, Flarold H. Hannan, Vincent K. Harris, Earl H.
Hausken, John J. Hegreves, Patrick J. Hennessey, Richard Hockridge, Herbert
C. Kift, Edward Layman, Vernon Muir, Earl Nelson, John C. Wagner, Harold
Webster.
COMPANY A
Alfred B. Welch, Capt. ; Fred D. Graham, ist Lieut.; Warl L. Preston, 2d
Lieut.: William C. Paulson, ist Sergt.; Donald McPhee, Quartermaster Sergt.;
Ferris Cordner, Sergt. ; Adolph Scharnowske, Sergt. ; Emil Bressler, Sergt. ; Wil-
liam Savage, Sergt. ; Charles S. Jones, Sergt. ; Thomas Costello, Corp. ; John
576 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Maurer, Corp. ; Eugene Morris, Corp. ; George Rasche, Corp. ; Arthur Serres,
Corp. ; Frank H. Howell, Corp. ; Marion C. Hauser, Corp.
Privates
Theodore D. B. Alberghtson, Art. Albrecht, Edward J. Allensworth, Jay
Anderson, Henry Amberson, Julius Amberson, Walter Austin, Clarence Bain-
bridge, Lyman A. Baker, Peter H. Baker, Morris Bergstrom, Herman Brocupp,
Arthur Brown, Jim Brown, Howard E. Callahan, William N. Carrick, Benedict
Cloud, Walter Coil, Loyd A. Couch, Harry Cunq, Joe Deibele, Joe P. Delmore,
Joe Derringer, Martin Derringer, Norman Flow, David R. Fort, Norman Fred-
rick, Joe Freeburger, David L. Friedmann, Ambrose Gallagher, George Goldader,
William Haas, John Habeck, Leston Hays, Vinton P. Heaton, Lawrence Hull,
Ole D. Jensen, Alfred Kasper, Walter Knott, Dennis Laris, Andrew Mathews,
Leonard Matthews, Ray H. Matthews, John Miley, Carl C. Moore, Thomas B.
Mousso, George Nelson, Frederick Olson, John H. Ozmond, Alak Patterson,
Owen Posner, Austin Reed, Arthur Roberts, Ernest Ryti, George Smith, Robert
B. Sours, Charles Spiro, Walter Stopfer, Arthur Tews, Carl O. Ulness, Henry
M. Volquardsen, Alex. Whitefeather, Horace E. Williams, William Wise.
COMPANY B
Gustav A. M. Anderson, Capt. ; Ernest S. Hill, ist Lieut.; Reginald F. E.
Colley, 2d Lieut.; Earle W. South, ist Sergt. ; Edward S. Peterson, Q. M. Sergt. ;
Hjalmer O. Thorson, Sergt. ; Eugene S. Logan. Sergt. ; George F. Ludvigson,
Sergt. ; Elvin Saul, Sergt. ; Jack D. Thompson, Corp. ; Lewis M. Thune, Corp. ;
Ernest O. Fjelstad, Corp. ; Carl J. Anderson, Corp. ; Archibald W. Melchior,
Corp. ; Orville A. Bolser, cook ; Henry E. Seebold, cook ; Bristol F. Gram,
Jr., musician; Denzil C. McKinsey, musician.
Privates
William L. Abare, Carl E. Anderson, Glennon R. Anderson, George E. Beck-
strom, Robert H. M. Canning, Oliver Conn, Ward M. Davenport, Robert F.
Ellison, Arthur V. Flaten, Chester R. Fonts, Harry Footer, Ray A. Fretz, Ercyl
B. Hamilton, Roswell J. Hanson, James B. Hardy, Francis G. Heapes. Ralph
E. Hollister, John G. Hubertz, Joseph E. Johnson, Clarence Kelson, William J.
Lamb, Gustav F. Lawrence, Ben Lewis, Harry Lewis, Chas. W. B. McDermott,
Walker McDonough, Donald McGregor, Norman B. McLean, Thomas J. Mc-
Neese, Harold J. MacCarthy, Harold S. Mayer, Fred A. Miller, Charles W.
Nelson, Elford Nelson, Aleck J. Nemzek, Jr., John O'Laughlin, George W. Olson,
Verner Olson, John E. Peterson, Percy M. Pettit, William A. Rasmusson, Henry
Retzer, Edwin M. Sauer, William Scott, Cecil W. Smith. Leon C. South, Ray
G. South, John C. Speare, Joseph Steiner. Leonard T. Sullivan, Fred C. Thomp-
son, Harry Thompson, Niel Tierney, Ralph Torson, Martin A. Wahlberg, Bud
Welch, Richard R. Wells.
COMPANY C
Manville H. Sprague, Capt.; John G. Ofstedahl, ist Lieut.; WilHam K.
Treumann, 2d Lieut.; John Brien, ist Sergt.; Henry Moe, Q. M. Sergt.; Myron
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 577
Omlie, Sergt. ; Clay Anderson, Sergt.; John R. Fraine, Sergt. ; Arthur Peder-
son, Sergt. ; Le Roy E. IMcGraw, Sergt. ; Grant A. McDonald, Corp. ; John Mohn,
Corp. ; lilmer Berg, Corp. ; Walter A. Kirkland, cook ; Juel Thor, cook ; Eddie
Stuart, artificer; Fritz E. Anderson, musician; Ingvar Arman, musician.
Privates
Qaude W. Aymond, Roy M. Berrian, Louis E. Bolton, Edward Bouvette,
Luzerne D. Braudt, William C. Bryce, Adrien Charpentier, Max J. Cheslik, Joe
Collette, Archie A. Craig, Carl Dahl, Russell E. Davis, Philip Eastman, Lowell
B. Edin, William Foster, Reuben G. Giles, Joe Givens, George Gjerswold, Magnus
Gunderson, Carl C. Hankey, Lee R. Hiel, William C. Hogg, Leonard Hoisveen,
Arthur G. Homme, James J. Horgan, Myrton Hull, Ralph W. Jackson, Joseph
Johnson, Murray Johnson, William Johnson, Charles H. Kirkland, James N.
La Fromboise, Fred E. Lakdal, Louis Letourneau. George F. Lewis, Joseph
McCaman, Allan W. McLean, Earl Maher, James H. Moher, John L. Merchle-
vicg, John J. Mollers, Mark Mollers, Casmer Monteski, Fred T. Nelson, Stewart
B. Newell, Henry R. Newgard, George H. Owen, Clayton D. Pannsbaker, Mans-
field A. Ouist, Edward Radke, Fred Radke, Jr., Ragnar Reistadbekken, Fred
Roth, Wilhelm F. Rude, Austin R. Rye, David H. Smith. Fredrik Smith-Peter-
son, George P. Swansen, Swan Swansen, Wallace M. Swenson, Dewey Swiggum,
Gus W. Thompson, Levin Thompson, William G. Tollock, Harry Non Gorres,
Harry A. Walters, Frank C. Willson.
COMPANY D
Frank E. Wheelon, Capt. ; Otto F. Gross, ist Lieut.; Albert E. Whitney, 2d
Lieut. ; Stanton A. Hayes, ist Sergt. ; Leonard T. Larson, O. M. Sergt. ; Percival
B. T. Robbins, Sergt. ; Carl G. Lautz, Sergt. ; John Leshe, Sergt. ; Leo. S. Kigin,
Sergt. ; Walter Hall, Sergt. ; Luther S. McGahan, Corp. ; Hugh E. Taylor, Corp. ;
Frank J. Falvey, Corp. ; Hildor Ellison, Corp. ; Edward Hoffman, Corp. ; Paul
B. Murphy, Corp. ; William P. Makee, Corp. ; Joseph B. Richards, Corp. ; George
S. Sawaya, Corp. ; Robert S. Stevens, Corp. ; Robert Odum, artificer ; William
Marsh, musician ; Benjamin D. Fleet, musician.
Privates
Simon P. Accola, Thomas T. Adcock, Bert. Albin, Lee Andrews, Melvin A.
Avelsgaard, Harrison Bailey, John D. Bailey, Charles Baker, Herman E. Bartz,
Harry Bates, Donald W. Beers, Irl J. Beleal, William Berg, Victor Bergstrom,
Herman H. Brietzke, Forrest W. Brooks, Arthur J. Brown, Peter A. Brown,
Joseph ]\L Buchko, \\'illiam G. Carroll, Robert E. Casey, Ralph H. Clarke, Elmer
Clauson, William H. Day, Fay C. DeWitt, Carl J. Dokken, Leslie Dunn, Weston
J. Du Vail, Arthur M. Eide, Mike Fillip, Alex. Florea, Harr>' T. Foley, Raymond
Gilette, Patrick Gilmore, Hans Gimble, Guy D. Givens, Aksel Haase, Olov
Halsebo, Orville Halsey, John W. Hanson, Joseph Hilts, Paul N. Hofocker,
Paul D. Howell, Charles H. Jeffries, Roy F. Jewett, Alfred Johnson, George R.
Johnson. Herman Johnson, Michael Kearns, Ralph H. Kohn, Carl M. Kuhl,
578 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
George Lamorie, Harry Laridaen, Charles Larson, Roy LaShelle, Harold L.
Lloyd, Maxwell Love, Barney J. McCann, Henry J. McClain, Jesse J. McClain,
John J. McDonald, Clarence J. Madsen, Jacob Matt, Alfred H. Miller, Frank
Miller, Mike Miller, Vernon C. Miller, Joseph N. Morrow, Clarence Moulton,
Walter Nichols, Mike Nowak, Oscar Nyberg, William H. Oesch, Fred Pentz,
Louis Prokoff, John R. Ouackenbush, Allen P. Racine, Harry L. Remington,
Buel J. Riblett, Leo. Rudd, Harry Schlaberg, Joseph Selberg, Lee E. Smith, Verne
Soderquist, Fred Strandberg, Smith Taylor, Albert Tiller, Fred Von Duzee,
George Wartchow, William Waydeman, Bert Wells, Jake Wesa, Ray W. Wilkes,
Arthur J. Wilson, Asad E. Wilson, Oscar Wold, John T. Zebriskie.
COMPANY E
Emery W. Jeffrey, 1st Lieut.; William W. Jeffrey, 2d Lieut.; George G.
Harvey, 1st Sergt. ; Otto W'annagat, O. M. Sergt. ; James L. Thiessen, Sergt. :
Will M. Woolridge, Sergt. ; Edward O. Anderson, Sergt. ; Carl H. Erickson,
Sergt.; Cyril D. Page, Sergt.; Herbert Metzger, Corp.; George F. Wilkinson,
Corp. ; Elmer O. Halvorsen, Corp. ; Lester A. Jeffrey, Corp. ; Harry J. Hal-
verson, Corp. ; Ben J. Craven, Corp. ; Christian E. Boe, Cook ; Ernest Nehring,
Cook.
Privates '
Jesse V. Alexander, Robert D. Barnfather, Clarence A. Bell, Charles O.
Bradley, Malcolm G. Brawley, Arthur E. Brooks, Phillip J. Carpentier, Wilfred
J. Carpentier, William J. Chambers, Walter F. Charnholm, Mike F. Clark,
Thomas Clausen, Edward B. Craven, Clarence E. Evans, Frank Wi Evans,
Harry P. Evans, Stephen W. Field, Arthur C. Gardner, Leslie C. Grover. Casper
E. Gunderson, Christie Hahm, Logan M. Hardaway, Frank S. Harvey, Roy M.
Hendricks, Reginald R. Holland, John W. Holloway, Cecil S. Jackson, Percy
R. Jaynes, Peter D. Johnson, Ira L. Jaynes, Leo B. Kingston, Holver K. Koppang,
Nicholas J. Lahr, Benjamin Leifson, William B. Law, Howard F. McDonald,
Robert E. McWilliams, Dewey E. Marston, John C. Matthews, Luther J. Mon-
son, Clarence G. Personius, Hughie A. Puffer, Thomas B. Randolph, Gerhard
A. Roed, Hjalmer Rud, John H. Ruetten, Littleo Shanks, Henry J. Schutt, Axel
Selseth, Gerard P. Sheldall, John M. Shen, Shaker A. Shikany, Ellis R. Slatfer,
Charles E. Smith, Lester S. Taylor, John T. Thompson, Walter L. Warner, Qaire
A. Wfllder.
COMPANY F
Guttorm I. Solum, Capt. ; Vincent J. Melarvie, ist Lieut.; Robert Wilson, 2d
Lieut.; Gilbert W. Cass, ist Sergt.; Martin A. Mossbrucker, 0. M. Sergt; Ralph
G. Hausen, Sergt. ; Clarence L. Hassell, Sergt. ; Peter A. Duchene, Sergt. ; Custer
A. Lang, Sergt. ; John K. Kennelly, Corp. ; Paul W. Bastine, Corp. ; Glen A. Gray,
Corp. ; John A. Shaw, Corp. ; Edgar Newgaard, Corp. ; Praley Hausen, Corp. ;
Archie H. Fink, Corp. ; Charles M. Russell, cook ; Dave J. Welch, cook ; Harry
J. Brown, artificer; Theodore W. Hillius, musician.
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA oTO
Privates
William C. Andrews, Christ Aroando, George Bailey, Fred M. Barnes, James
Blazek, Jesse M. Castle, Russell Cyrus, Fred W. Dieter, Frank E. Emard, Francis
Fanning, Tom Firof, William V. Fox, Wiilliam Gehrke, Walter H. Hecker, Rob-
ert J. Huff, Ralph Hunter, Harold J. Jones, George Kisch, Peter Klick, John R.
Krogland, Victor Lindor, Arthur A. Loy, Raymond McAdams, Thomas F. Mc-
Carthy, Albert E. Morris, James Mullen, Jacob Myers, Irwin C. Nichols, Joseph
O. Olson, Oscar Olson, Richard Peters, Orva G. Pruyn, Frank Rambur, Hugo
O. Renden, Erwin E. Ricker, Olin Roth, David E. Rutland, George A. J. Sandvig,
Henry J. Schafer, Steve Shvaro, William B. Skjod, Earl Slater, Paul A. R.
Slipka, Bert O. Smith, Richard Snyder, Nathaniel Starck, Robert M. Thurston,
John A. Timmerman, Raymond Tipper, Bernard Toelke, Leigh Wade, Maurice
Wasem.
COMPANY G
David S. Ritchie, Capt. ; Milton H. Mason, ist Lieut. ; Fay Ross, 2d Lieut. ;
Harry N. Olsby, ist Sergt. ; Edwin C. Baumey, 0. M. Sergt. ; Harley McCready,
Sergt. ; Neal Tracy, Sergt. ; Clarence V. Carlson, Sergt. ; John T. Brush, Sergt. ;
Ross G. Wills, Sergt. ; Ronald McDonald, Corp. ; Thomas J. Brady, Corp. ; Har-
old Jobe, Corp. ; Ole Brandvold, Corp. ; Giles Personius, Corp. ; Frank S. Booth,
Corp.; Lon Ryan, cook; Edward L. Anderson, artificer; Hurley Codding, musi-
cian; Paul Hart, musician.
Privates
Clarence Allen, Charles R. Auacker, William A. Andreason, Arnold E. Asel-
son, John Bartholomew, Lee M. Bell, Helmer Berger, Roy C. Booth, Robert
Bridges, Chester E. Brown, Everett Chambard, Harry E. Davidson, Hugh F.
Dedrick, Walter B. Grannes, Tom Groden, Jens Hansen, James E. Huft'man,
Olaf Hervig, Albert Higginbothani, Andrew E. Highum, Rollin E. Jaberg, Melvin
J. Johnson, Thomas Jones, Ralph F. Kernkamp, Fred Kunnell, John O. Larson,
John Leondorf, Walter J. Linthicum, Douglas Martin. Harry Mingle, Archie
Mix, John F. Morse, Roy Nelson, Arne Olstad, Bjorn J. Osborne, Conrad Ped-
erson, Peder Pederson, George Peterson, Thomas H. Peterson, Floyd Penn,
Adry H. Pfusch, William J. Shaw, Howard M. Sollin, Raymond Stillings, Ber-
nard O. Swanson, Walter Taylor, Alvin G. Swanson, John B. Thochlie, Joe S.
Underwood, Junius Wall, Harry Weihemuller, Bert W. Weston, Robert Wilson,
Earl Younkin.
COMPANY H
James D. Gray, Capt. ; Calvin H. Smith, 1st Lieut. ; Alex Steinbach, 2d Lieut. ;
Alfonso J. Steinbach, ist Sergt.; Roy F. NowHn, Q. M. Sergt.; Thos. Oliver,
Sergt. ; Lewis B. Allen, Sergt. ; Alexander G. Woychik, Sergt. ; Bert Hurst,
Sergt. ; John F. Nolet, Sergt. ; Fredrick R. Kellogg, Corp. ; Alvin Frickert, Corp. ;
Vernon B. Zacher, Corp. ; Dewey W. Hagen, Corp. ; Robert E. Dinehart, Corp. ;
580 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Henry Feickert, Corp.; John L. Teves, cook; Clifford Gallipo, cook; Marion E.
Steinbach, artificer; Harry J. Hornby, musician.
Privates
Earl Bensch, Kyle Beach, Raymond Bensch, Carl J. Bergquist, Philip T.
Blewett, Charles E. Brand, Frank Briggs, William C. Broguton, Dorman Brown,
Sumner G. Brown, Patrick Conlon, Ray E. Cornwall, Jess F. Crabtree, James
C. Cusator, Lance Devericks, Richard T. Dozier, William Farley, William Fidder,
Max Giese, Richard E. Giese, Allan D. Gunderson, Robert K. Hall, Frank Ham-
ilton, Thomas W. Hatten, John Johnson, Willard Johnston, Francis Judkins, John
Kubis, Parker LaMoure, Hugh Lee, Fred S. Lieber, Bert E. Lyon, Arthur Mc-
Cann, Virgel McCombs, Fi'ank Newberry, Andrew Olson, Arthur E. Parkinson,
Jr., Harvey H. Pederson, Walter T. Peterson, Alexander Plank, Reuben Poindex-
ter, Jr., Ben Ramsey, Arthur H. Ratzlaff, Joseph A. Reis, Roland E. Rhoads, How-
ard Richcreek, Lyle Roberts, Fred M. Romer, Nick Romer, Charles W. Schaller,
John V. Seroy, William Severin, Sanford A. Shain, Jr., Herbert Siebold, Fred
Smith, Jr., James Smith, Alex. Soransen, Jacob Von Guyten, Ambrose Walsh,
Jr., John A. Washburn, Arthur P. Wheeler, Alfred M. Williamson. Walter F.
Willard, Alixia Willette.
COMPANY I
Thomas J. Thomsen, Capt. ; Carl M. Ulsaker, ist Lieut.; Leo H. Dominick,
2d Lieut. ; Ward W. Wages, ist Sergt. ; Otto M. Oien, Q. M. Sergt. ; Louis Ander-
son, Sergt. ; Arthur W. McLean, Sergt. ; Wallace E. Morden, Sergt. ; Joseph L.
Vachon, Sergt. ; Harry R. Clough, Sergt. ; Wallace W. Millard, Corp. ; George J.
Fischer, Corp. ; Fred Freitag, Corp. ; Werner C. Goerner, Corp. ; Adolph B. Veit,
Corp. ; Marvin L. Ryan, Corp. ; Wilkie R. Simard, cook ; Walter A. Dunn, cook ;
Arnold C. Forbes, musician ; Lawrence J. Voelker, musician.
Privates
Chester M. Aim, Albert J. Bader, Frank R. Bennett, Frank G. Bernard, David
A. Bezenek, John J. De Fea, Thomas L. De Lancy, Edward A. Demoray, George
Demoray, George Dvorak, John M. Early, Frank J. Enderson, Isadore J. Engel-
hard, Harold G. Eleckenstein, George E. Fleming, William M. Friederichs, Ed-
ward Funfar, Roy D. Garrett, Herbert Goettlcman, Joseph Grenrath, Melbert
C. Green, Linton M. Harris, Oliver T. Hess, Clifford D. Homan, Robert A.
Hughes, Kinsey Hutchens, Roy A. Hutchens, Lewis C. Jensen, John C. Jorgen-
son, Philip Kolegraff', Robert W. Kramer, Henry A. Krebs, Oscar Krueger, Nels
L. Larson, Charles Leschke, Sam M. Lock, Louis P. Margenton, Severin Mik-
kelson, Albert G. Miller, William A. Miller, Rogert P. Moore, Bernard J. Mundt,
Leo. Nebraske, Milo S. Parks, Nickhola Passas, Erwin L. Persons, Ira A. Piper,
Frank Podraza, John Pulaski, Charles Radtke, Howard E. Rice, Joseph E. Rick-
ert, Harry E. Ross, Edward F. Russell, Lyal St. John, Anthony Schiller, Paul
E. Sewrey, Carl W. Sherley, John P. Sinclair, Curtis G. Solsvig, Leslie J. Steph-
ens, Bert A. Story, Louis Stuart, William W. Thaw, Francis Traylor, William
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 581
A. Tyra, Henry Ulrich, Claude C. Vaught, George E. Wagner, William H. Wei-
mar, William Wilson, William H. Wolfe.
COMPANY K
Clarence N. Barker, Capt. ; John F. D. Wiley, ist Lieut.; Albert Behonek,
2d Lieut. ; Chris J. Kunz, ist Sergt. ; Bert Wladdell, O. M. Sergt. ; Leon Stuck,
Sergt. ; Frank L. Flynn, Sergt; Robert L. Hill, Sergt.; James L. Monson, Sergt.;
Sidney L. Morrison, Corp. ; Vincent T. Mikantsch, Corp. ; Stanley Grubb, Corp. ;
Paul H. Erb, Corp. ; Robert C. Greenwood, Corp. ; Archie C. Gibson, Corp. ;
William J. Banish, Corp.; Odin H. Anderson, cook; John S. Hinds, cook; Alfred
C. Palmer, artificer; Thomas J. Lciihardt, musician; Dewey Wiley, musician.
Privates
Ernest S. Angliss, Mathias J. Beres, Earl B. Brassington, Alvin Breda, Julius
Breda, Walter W. Brenner, George D. Brodie, Joseph F. Brodie, Fred W. Ber-
telsen, George H. Butler, Robert L. Coulter, Robert M. Dickson, Henry M.
Douglas, Cyril L. Drury, Gunnar E. Forsen, Robert W. Gilliam, Otis Griffin,
Wilber W. Haire, Edwin F. Hastings, Louie F. Hatzenbuchler, Harold A. Hill,
Joseph Hodson, Glen D. Hollenbeck, Charley R. Hubbard, Frank P. Kessel, Jo-
seph P. Koch, Harold D. Lillibridge, William E. Littlehales, Henry J. McLaughlin,
Jerry G. Mahoney, Lyall B. Merry, Adelbert Morey, John Morganthelar, Harold
W. Parker, Marvin G. Reed, Frank Richards, Quintin Roberts, Fred Russell,
Louis W. Schmidt, Valentine Schwan, Creatis D. Shira, Lowell W. Shira, Alfred
Skinner, Judson Stanton, Earl H. Vanstrum, Ernest Vessey, Joseph Vrana, Lee
Waddell, Foster White.
COMPANY L
Barney C. Boyd, Capt.; Berto A. Olson, ist Lieut.; Gunder M. Larson, 2d
Lieut.; Norviel G. Nyhus, ist Sergt.; Jorgen L. Talmo, Q. M. Sergt.; Chester
W. Forre, Sergt. ; Fred G. Gutnecht, Sergt. ; Johnnie Torgerson, Sergt. ; Allen
G. Gilbertson, Sergt. ; Arthur Serumgard, Sergt. ; Henry J. Harstad, Corp. ; Paul
Scott, Corp.; Hans A. Gilbertson, cook; Jerome Baglien, cook; Sam Allen, ar-
tificer; Robert T. Coutts, musician; John M. McGee, musician.
Privates
Harry A. Anderson, Casper Arneson, Peter Arneson, John A. Becker, Ingvald
Bergan, Leon H. Brown, Nick Chester, William C. Chrispen, John Christensen,
Leslie Christie, George J. Constans. Ralph E. Curtis. Harold W. DeLude, Henry
L. Ellingsom, Filing G. Evenson, August B. Falk, Dewey V. Fink, Dewey V.
Fisher, George Freson, Leonard D. Gilbert, Spencer R. Gilbert, Maurice Girard,
Arthur Flagen, Thomas J. Hall, Albert B. Hankey, Knude A. Flansen, Oscar
L. Hanson, Henry W: Harris, Clarence Holland, Iver L. Iverson, Adolph E.
Kamplin, Arthur R. Kelly, Derice G. Kennedy, Peter Kleven, Bernard J. Kohan,
Peder M. Kristiansen. Carl E. Larson, Edward R. La Berge, Ovid L. La Berge,
582 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Sam M. Lodmell, ilike Ludeen, Francis McDonald, Vernon L. McHalfie, Law-
rence J. McNamee, Elmer N. Martin, Herbert Moerke, Malcolm Morrow, Archie
E. Munter, John P. JMurphy, Carl P. Myren, Roy C. Xeathery, William F.
O'Brien, Paul Pecher, Xorman W. Peterson, William W. Peterson, Xels X.
Renden, Jr., Harr\' E. Russell, George P. Sand, Oscar Sandvig, Andrew H. Saw-
yer, Arthur Scheving, Earl \\'. Scheewies, Irvin E. Silvy, Henry Skagen, Orlando
Skagen, Arv-id T. Smith, Elmer Solberg, Jesse Sorum, Oscar J. Stearns, Arthur
C. Strand, Henn,- Talmo. Fred C. Tassell. Earl H. Telle, Louis P. Trepanier,
Harold E. Trotter.
COMPAXY M
Ansel G. Wineman, Capt. ; Oscar G. Holm, 1st Lieut. ; Harley L Henson, 2d
Lieut. ; John A. Stevens, ist Sergt. ; James M. Culliton, O. M. Sergt. ; Axel E.
Knutson, Sergt. ; Carl \\'. Halten, Sergt. ; Clarence D. Locklin, Jr., Sergt. ; Merwyn
H. Hanson. Sergt. ; Earl E. Hanson, Sergt. ; Eugene \'andeneynde, Corp. ; Ar-
thur L. Moebeck, Corp. ; Olaf P. Ringsby, Corp. ; Harold A. \'an Dusen, Corp. ;
Fred M. Locklin, Corp. ; Leroy W. Goodwater, Corp. ; Donald D. Sliverton, cook ;
Barney Barton, artificer; Merle Becker, musician: Helmer ^L Hagen, musician.
Privates
Chenning G. Anderson, Clarence N. Anderson, Delmar Bjerk, George Bobich,
Theodore Carl, Harold J. Culliton. Guy Davis, Lester DeLong. Charles Dryden,
Alexander C. Drysdale, Cecil S. Eddington. Heber L. Edwards, John S. Edwards,
Harold Ekholt, Wjlmer X. Elton, Oscar Enger, Elmer Falconer, Victor Forsness,
Oren Garland, Edward G. Goodrie. Fred Goodrie. George Gregg. Wiliam Gador,
Morris Goldstein, Alexander O. Gorder, Oscar Gunderson, George A. Hagen,
Nels Hallstan, Harold Hedican, John Hoffstad, James Hogan, Russell T. Holter,
Claude E. Ireland. Charles E. Jelliff, Carrol P. Johnson, Clarence Johnson, Al-
bert Jordan, Ad Lahey, William Lahey. Earl \'. Lowe. John McKinnon, Boyd
Macdonald, Samuel Miner, James Morgan, Martin T. Moran, William E. Mul-
ligan, Fredrick G. Myers. Earl X'elson, Henrj' M. Xelson, Ager X^ewark,
Theodore Xewark. Albert C. Xuessle, Herman Olson, Rang\aldur G. Patrick,
^^'illiam W. Patterson, Herman Peterson, Max Raines, Edward ^^'. Rogers,
Robert B. Rowe. Ora C. Salisbur}-, Har\-ard N. Schneeweiss, Arnold B. Seymour,
Edward R. Smith, Fred Stanley, Alpha C. Stoddard, August Svedlund, Harry
Thomas, Albert Thoreson, Simon Tripp, Leslie G. Trotter, Henry M. Viken,
William L. Whitfield, Cashmer Yezpski.
S.ANITARY TROOPS
Thomas C. Petterson, Maj.; Thomas M. MacLachlin, Capt.; X'eil McLean,
Capt. ; George H. Haynes. Sergt. ; Earl M. Crocker, Sergt. ; Arthur McDaniel.
Sergt.; Curran G. Rourke. Sergt.
Privates
Frank T. Allen. Henn.- Blake. Ronald D. Campbell. Samuel A. Daniels. Harold
Evans, Raynal Hammelton, Cornelius McXally, Harley Moore, Mncent Sinnott,
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 583
Everett Stoudt, Thomas Streeter, Wayne Watts, Ivan M. Webster, George Blake,
Cecil R. Campbell, William Carlson, Edwin Hansen, Basil Howell, Archie H.
Reed, Charles J. Thompson.
DETACHMENTS MUSTERED IN AFTER THE CALL
Clarence N. Barker, Capt. ; Daniel C. Mulick, ist Lieut; Alfred C. Coates,
chief musician; Fred Strebig, Sergt. ; Austin E. Belyea, private; Leslie
H. Langley, private; Wallis R. Bailey, private; John A. Bonnett, private; Neil G.
Calkins, private; Herman Christensen, private; Walter Cork, private; Robert
Duthie, private; Aksel H. Enger, private; Frank Gagnon, private; Harold R.
Garrett, private; George B. Hodge, private; Daniel D. McLaren, private; Esley
E. Norton, private; Albert L. Lutjens, private; Phil. St. Pierre, private; Stephen
Samson, private ; Sindelar, private ; Elmer A. Stokke, private ; Harry H. Weeden,
private; Paul R. C. White, private; Roy S. Williams, private; Earl Wynne, pri-
vate ; George Zalusky, private ; John P. Dwyer, private ; Ernest A. Harris, private.
Governor L. B. Hanna, Commander-in-Chief, Bismarck, N. D.; Brig.-Gen.
T. H. Tharalson, Adjutant-General, Bismarck, N. D. ; Col. Frank P. Allen, Chief
of Supplies, Lisbon, N. D. ; Col. H. R. Bitzing, Judge Advocate-General, Man-
dan, N. D.
FIRST REGIMENT INFAJJTRV, NORTH DAKOTA NATIONAL GUARD
Col. J. H. Fraine, Mercedes, Tex. ; Lieut.-Col. G. C. Grafton, Mercedes, Tex. ;
Maj. Danna Wright, Mercedes Tex.; Maj. F. S. Henry, Mercedes, Tex.; Maj.
G. A. Eraser, Mercedes, Tex.; Capt. T. S. Henry, Capt.-Adjt., Mercedes, Tex.;
1st Lieut. J. W. Murphy, Batt.-Adjt., Mercedes, Tex. ; 1st Lieut. H. H. Hamilton,
Batt.-Adjt., Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. L. R. Baird, Batt.-Adjt., Mercedes,
Tex.; 2d Lieut. I. V. Metzger, Batt.-Q. M., Mercedes, Tex.; 2d Lieut. J. D.
Prentice, Batt.-Q. M., Mercedes, Tex.; 2d Lieut. John Graham, Batt.-Q. M.,
Mercedes, Tex. ; ist Lieut. Moultrie, Qiaplain, Mercedes, Tex. ; Capt. A. B.
Welch, commanding Company A, Mercedes, Tex. ; ist Lieut. F. D. Graham,
Mercedes, Tex. ; 2d Lieut. Ward L. Preston, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY E
Capt. G. A. M. Anderson, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. R. C. Colley, Mer-
cedes. Tex. ; 2d Lieut. R. Hill, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY c
Capt. M. H. Sprague, Mercedes, Tex. ; ist Lieut. G. Ofstedahl, Mercedes,
Tex. : 2d Lieut. W. K. Truemann, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY D
Capt. F. M Wheelon, Mercedes, Tex. ; 1st Lieut. F. O. Gross, Mercedes,
Tex. ; 2d Lieut. A. E. Whitney, Mercedes, Tex.
584 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
COMPANY E
Capt. H. R. Evans, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. E. W. Jefi'ry, Mercedes, Tex.;
2d Lieut. W. W. Jeffry, Mercedes, Tex.
COMP.\NY F
Capt. G. L Solum, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. V. J. Malarvie, Mercedes, Tex.;
2d Lieut. Robt. Wilson, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY G
Capt. D. S. Richy, Mercedes, Tex. ; 1st Lieut. Milton ]\Iason, Mercedes, Tex. ;
2d Lieut. Fay Ross, Mercedes, Tex.'
COMPANY H
Capt. James V. Gray, Mercedes, Tex.; 1st Lieut. Calvin Smith, Mercedes,
Tex. ; 2d Lieut. Alex. Steinbach, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY I
Capt. T. J. Thomsen, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. C. M. Ulsacker, Mercedes,
Tex. ; 2d Lieut. Leo Dominick, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY K
Capt. C. M. Barker, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. Dean Wiley, Mercedes, Tex.;
2d Lieut. Albert Bohoneck, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY L
Capt. B. C. Boyd, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. B. A. Olson, Mercedes, Tex.;
2d Lieut. Henry Halvorson, Mercedes, Tex.
COMPANY M
Capt. (vacancy); ist Lieut. O. G. Holm, Mercedes, Tex.; 2d Lieut. Fred
Moore, Mercedes, Tex.
M. G. COMPANY
Capt. L. L. Eckman, Mercedes, Tex.; ist Lieut. B. C. Mulick, Mercedes, Tex.
HOSPITAL CORPS
Maj. T. C. Patterson, Mercedes, Tex. ; Capt. Neal McLean, Mercedes, Tex.
The First Regiment of North Dakota was organized January 31, 1885, under
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 58.5-
the Territory of Dakota. The National Guard of North Dakota was reorganized
under Governor John Miller, first governor of North Dakota, in 1889, and was
designated as the First Regiment, North Dakota National Guard, Gen. W. H.
Topping, Adjutant-General, and Col. A. P. Peake, Commanding First Regiment.
This regiment remained so until the Spanish-American war, when two bat-
talions with Col. W. C. Truemann commanding, was mustered into service of
the United States as the First North Dakota Voluntary Infantry, April 26, 1898.
This regiment served in the Philippines under Gen. S. Overshine and Gen. Henry
W. Lawton, United States army, taking part in some thirty engagements and
skirmishes in and around jManila, P. I. This regiment returned to the United
States and was mustered out of service September 22, 1899.
It again was organized as the First Regiment of Infantry of North Dakota,
and under the Dick Bill, as the First Regiment of Infantry of the Organized
Militia of the United States, and as such they were mustered into the service of
the United States at Fort Lincoln on June 30. 1916, as the First North Dakota
Regiment, Col. John H. Fraine, commanding. This regiment is now serving in
the Southern Department of Texas and is stationed at Mercedes, Tex.
The National Guard consists of the First Regiment of Infantry, which con-
stitutes the field and stafif, band, twelve companies, Machine Gun Company and
Sanitary Detachment, Medical Corps.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE REVOLUTION IN NORTH DAKOTA
The general election in North Dakota in 1916 may properly be styled a revo-
lution. It was full of surprises and the causes leading up to it should go into
the history of the state. A former revolution, when the populists gained control,
came from the fear of so-called bosses and the domination of corporate influences.
It was gained through the Farmers' Alliance, whose organizers visited all por-
tions of the state, organizing at one point in the morning, at another in the fore-
noon, others at midday, in the afternoon, in the evening, and late at night. Their
work being in secret there was no opportunity to refute or explain the allegation
which set the hearts of the farmers aflame, and led to distrust of the party in
power. The fact that the affairs of the state had been properly administered and
that the railroads, against whom their shafts were directed, had reason to encour-
age and none to destroy or retard their prosperity, was ignored. Control of the
state government was their purpose, and it was accomplished. The revolution
was quite as complete as in 1916. There was then no charge of corruption; it
Avas an uprising of a class to gain measures of protection they deemed essential.
THE NONPARTIS.^N LE.\GUE
In the legislative assembly of 1914 there was a determined movement on
the part of the farmers to secure a large appropriation from the state for a
state owned and operated terminal elevator at St. Paul. Delegations of farmers
from all over the state, under the leadership of George S. Loftus of St. Paul,
who had been from 1912 the sales manager for the Equity Exchange at St.
Paul, labored with might and main to induce the Legislature to make the appro-
priation. The refusal of the Legislature to accede to the wishes of the farmers,
was the primary Cause of the revolution which has taken place in the political
history of the state.
The Board of Control of the State, by direction of Governor Hanna, had
investigated the provincial owned elevators in Manitoba and in Canada, and re-
ported to the Legislature that these elevators had been operated at a loss, and
had been of no substantial benefit to the farmers of that dominion in the regu-
lating of grades, or in obtaining higher prices for their grain, and that it would
be unwise for the state to appropriate for the construction of a terminal elevator
to be operated by officers of the state, as it would certainly prove a bad invest-
ment of state funds. That it could in no wise control the grading or inspection
of wheat, and would be without influence in fixing the price of grain. That the
grade law of supply and demand was the controlling factor, and prices were
586
HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 587
always regulated by the surplus over home consumption, which was shipped to
foreign countries, determined in a large degree the price.
This report had much to do with the action of the Legislature. The report
did not, however, convince the farmers. They felt that through mixing of wheat
and in other ways they were not getting the grade their wheat was to receive
from the Millers' Association at Minneapolis, and the great elevator companies
in Duluth, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Chicago, and the only way in which they
could get proper inspection and grading of their grain, and a price according to
its quality was to have their own terminal elevator.
In the fall of 1914 Mr. A. C. Townley, now president of the Farmers' Non-
partisan League, and the most prominent man in its organization, began his plan
of campaign and entered actively upon the forming of what is now known as
the Farmers' Nonpartisan League. In this work he had the active cooperation
of a Mr. Russell, a writer for the Pearsons Magazine. The plan of organization
was the creating of an executive committee of five, who were to outline the
policy and the work of the league. They put organizers and speakers into the
field with the program of what they expected to accomplish in the way of legisla-
tion in 1917.
They were to obtain members of the farmers' organization who would pledge
themselves to favor the nomination and election of members of the Legislature,
pledged to work out a different system of grain grading and inspection, and
would favor the building of a state controlled and operated terminal elevator,
state hail insurance, state owned and operated mills, factories and packing houses.
Each farmer who became a member of the league was to receive for a year a
copy of Pearsons Magazine, and a weekly newspaper called The Non Partisan
Leader, which they started in Fargo, with one David C. Coates of Spokane,
Wash., as the editor.
The organization moved forward by leaps and bounds and prior to the June
primaries, they claimed to have enrolled as members of the organization from
t'nirty-six to forty thousand farmers, thirty thousand of whom had theretofore
been identified with the republican party in the state, and from six to eight thou-
sand of whom had been identified with the socialist and democratic parties in
the state.
In the fall of 1915 and in the spring and summer of 1916 they had perfected
their organization in practically every county in the state. The executive com-
mittee arranged a large number of what they called picnics held in each legisla-
tive district of the state; they called upon these district organizations to send
delegates to a state meeting to be held in Fargo the last of March, or about the
first of April, 1916. This convention was very largely attended by farmers
representing every section of the state. They decided to put no farmers'
ticket as such in the field, but to nominate a state ticket as republicans, headed
by Lynn J. Frazier of Pembina County for governor. They did endorse one
democrat by the name of Casey for state treasurer, and then proceeded to name
state senators and state representatives from every senatorial and legislative
district. A very large proportion of these nominees had theretofore been affi-
liated with the republican party, and were endorsed as republicans.
Under a state law the voters of the state are registered by the assessors. Each
man must declare his party affiliation and he must vote in the primary election
588 HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the ticket that he declares for, and to carry out their plans some eight thousand
or more democrats and socialists registered as republicans that they might vote
for the ticket named by the Non Partisan League.
'In the June primaries the entire state ticket as named by the convention was
nominated, and in the election on November "th, were elected, excepting the
democrat, Casey, for state treasurer, who was defeated by the republican candi-
date, Steen, by a small majority.
The league officers took no stand on national candidates for president or
senators or congressmen. They left that to the individual judgment of the re-
publicans. The great work in Congress for national inspection by Senator Porter
J. McCumber was favorable to his election. The republican candidates for Con-
gress were also elected.
The essential purpose claimed by the officers of the league is to prevent the
acquisition of enormous fortunes by persons who make no adequate return for
them and to make easier and pleasanter the lot of the actual toiler in every
legitimate field of endeavor.
Their program appears to include the public ownership of everything that
enters into the business of production and distribution. Whether the state is
to become a great social and business organization with the activities of all its
members directly under its control remains to be demonstrated. Presumably the
power placed in their hands by an intelligent and confiding people will be wisely
used.
INDEX
Action, The, from the American view-
point 122
from the English viewpoint 123
Adoption of flag announced 67
state constitution 410
African slave trade 130
After the battle 210
the war 125
the Redwood Agency Massacre 194
Agitation for Homestead Law 260
Ali-kee-pah's rebuke I9S
Albright, Samuel J 211
Alcohol in the Indian trade 176
Algonquins, The 9
All drunk, including children 27
whites at agency killed 194
AUin, Roger, administration of 419
Alone Man 251
Amendments to constitution 411
to prohibition law 464
American flag raised 79i 141
Fur Company 9°. 520
gunnery superior 126
Missionary Board 237
squadron and its armament 121
Amherst, Major-General Jeffrey 13
Amidon, Judge Charles F 439, 440. 44'
Anarchy and hostility 50
Anawangomane, Simon 239
Ancient ceremonies neglected 45
Anderson, James ("Robinson Crusoe"). 229
Annual steamboat. The 169
Annuities refused 163
to Indians 102
Apple Creek . . . '. 294
Apportionment of legislative representa-
tion 272, 399
Appropriations for state schools veoted. 419
Arikara lodge described 61
villages 60, 156
Arikaras, The 21, 84
friendly to Lewis and Clark 158
tender-hearted 62
Aristocracy of the plains 146
Arizona and Colorado bills 260
Armstrong, Moses K 223, 379
Arrest of N.-W. Co. agents 96
o
Articles given to Indians taking credit. 28
of association of the Red River Val-
ley Old Settlers' Association 354
of Treaty of Ghent 128
Ash, Henry C 222
Ash Hollow, Battle of 210
Ashley, General 155
Assemble at St. Louis 139
Assiniboine, first steamer above the Yel-
lowstone 169
Assiniboine River 19
Astor, John Jacob 90
At Lake Traverse 142
At Old Pembina 103
Atrocities of the Sioux 199
Attack on Fort Abercrombie 197
Fort Ridgeley 196
New Ulm 196
Attempted bribery 27
Audubon, John James 167
Average speed of boats 1 70
Baby "buried" alive 179
Banks in i88g, capital and resources.... 534
national, officers, capital, resources,
etc., 1916 536
of Dakota Territory, 1889 334
(state) abstract of statements, 1916.. 535
Banquet on the boat 170
Bar Association of North Dakota. . .456- 460
Barbarians less dangerous than Indians. 118
Barber, Amherst W 242
Barclay, Captain R. H 121
Barnes county 511
Barnwell, Colonel John 12
Barricade against buffalo 33
Bartholomew, Joseph M 450
Battlefield, an old 83
Battle at the Ferry 194
of Birch Coulee 198
of Big Meadow 504
of Big Mound 286
of Blue Water or Ash Hollow 21a
of Fort McKenzie 171
of Kildeer Mountain 291
of Lake Erie (verse) 119
of the Little Missouri 298
89
590
INDEX
Battle of the Mackinaw 288
of Red Buttes 299
of Stony Lake 287
of Thames River Iii
of Tippecanoe no- 116
of White Stone Hills 289
of Wood Lake 199
Battleship Nortli Dakota launched 427
Bear Rib suffers the penalty 183
Bears, Beaver, Buffalo, Deer 20
Beauregard, General 25
Beautiful Northern Lights 69
Beaver and buffalo 16
skins basis of values 28
swan, elk or deer for supper? 78
Beginning of outbreak 193
Belcourt, Father 229
Belknap, W. W., U. S. Secretary of
War 89, 309, 484, 493
Bennett, Granville G 379, 437
Berthold Indians 84
Bible translated into "Dakota" 237
Big Foot's band 251
Bighorn country 261
Big Meadow, battle of 504
Sioux county organized 213
Stone Lake 142, 240
Billings, Hon. Frederick 483
Birdzell, L. E 455
Bismarck Academy 516
chosen as new capital of territory 367
Ladies' Historical Society 525
located 327
made state capital 400-403
named 327, 492
postoffice 491-494
Tribune 41, 312, 474, 477, 482
Black Cat and his flag 63, 81
Blackfeet outrage unpunished 158
Black gowns, prophets and 245
Black Hills expedition 308
Black Hills, gold in 484
mineral wealth 277
Blacksmiths paid $300 per annum 151
Black Snake Hills 159
Blakely, Captain Russell 347
"Blind Pigs" ■. 463, 473
Bliss, Judge 273
Blizzard in 1873 254
"Blizzard in the Shins" 254
Blue Earth county 261
Blue Sky Law 428
Board of regents 430
Boarding school established 240
Boat and cargo seized 182
Bodies of dead mutilated 305
Bodmer, Charles, artist 173
Boiler, Henry 179.
Bonded indebtedness of state 429
Bonds issued by state institutions held il-
legal 421
Bonga, Pierre 131
Bones shipped by trainload 34
Bon Homme settlement 215
Bonus for first steamboat 347
"Bootlegging" 431, 464, 473
Border wars. The 8
Bottineau, Charles 520
Bottineau county 519, 520
Bottineau, Pierre 483
Boundaries settled 56
Boundary expedition, Long's 141
ignored 89
Bounty for Indian scalps 13
Bourgade, or stockade village, The 10
Bourgeois 19
Braddock's defeat 13
Bradley, Lieutenant John 156
Brainerd, Minn., selected for crossing... 327
Bramble, Downer T 222
Brander, Robert 521
Briggs, Frank A. administration of 420
Brisbin, Major J. S 311
Bristol county, Mass 6
British evacuate New York 25
flag, facts about 23
would prevent Indians becoming
Americanized 148
Brown, Samuel J 188
Bruce, Andrew A 455
Brule Bottom 171
Budge's tavern 487
Budget presented 429
Buffalo and beaver 16
and deer on all sides 26
Bill 250
drowned 33
hunts 34, 499
Republic, The 32, 36
skins make many articles 32
the hunter 42
wantonly destroyed 147
Building the fleet 120
Built at Louisville, Ky 169
Burdick, R. Carlisle 261
Buried at sea 125
Burke, Andrew H., administration of. . . . 417
Burke, Edward T 45s
Burke, Hon. John 424, 486
Burleigh county 516
county pioneers. The 524
Burleigh, Dr. Walter A.... 166, 284, 378, 483
Burnham, Capt. J. W 292
Burn their witches 105
INDEX
591
Cadotte, Augustine 44
Cadotte, Jean Baptiste 31
"Call of the Wild," The vii
Cameron, John 43
Campbell, S. S 296
Camp Green 330, 333
Camps in Bad Lands 86
Canadian line crossed 506
Pacific railway 349
Canadians celebrate July 4 519
Canfield, Thomas H 326
Canoe and pony only means of communi-
cation y7
service, The 93
Capital and resources, banks, 1889 534
Capital commission, attempt to oust from
office 367
chosen 366
Capital of state, location of 400, 403
Capital of territory removed from Yank-
ton 366
Capital, resources, etc., national banks of
N. D. 1916 536
Capitol, north wing constructed 421
reconstruction of 423
Captain Clark made brigadier-general... 72
Captain Marsh to relief 194
Captives 240
surrendered 202
Captured ships valued at $225,000 124
Caring for the meat 35
Carland, Judge John E 389
Garland, Major John 236
Carleton City 330
Carlisle barracks 209
Carmody, John 452
Carnahan, John M 311
Carolinas, The, in slave trade 133
Carpenters paid $300 per annum 151
(Harrington, Colonel 302
Cartier, Jacques 10
Cart line — Pembina to St. Paul 502
Casey, Lyman R 415, 419, 433
Cass county 510
Cass, George W 328, 483
Castlereagh, Robert S 114
Caterpillar tractors 140
Cavileer, Charles 225, 253, 483
reminiscences of 487, 491
Cedar post 1 59
Ceded land in Dakota 220
Celebration of Perry's victory in 1913... 127
Census agents of Dakota 271
authorized 370, 384
of i860 218
of 1880 335
Centennial celebration, 1913 127
Chaboillez, Charles Baptiste 31
Champlain, Samuel : . . . &
Change in managers 49
Chapter apart, A 112
Charbonneau, Etienne 44
Chardon and Harvey 174
Charles I 24
Charles II 17, 24
Charlo 29
Chaska gives warning 199
Cheney, P. B 328
Cherokee war of 1761 13
Cheyennes, The 21
Chief justice of state, method of choos-
ing 444, 447
Chief Porcupine's son murdered 50
uses turkey-feather fan 143
Wanaton of the Yanktons 142
Washakie 74
Chiefs at Mandan villages 63
Chicago and St. Louis unimportant fron-
tier villages 77
Chicago river 54
Cliippevvas at Pembina 150
Chittenden's "History of American Fur
Trade" 169
Cholera in 1845 181
Choteau creek 271
Chouteau, Auguste 152, 321
Chouteau, Pierre 76-
Christianizing the Dakotas 237
Christianson, A. M 455
Church and schools established 97
of the scouts 241
Citizens killed 202, 644
Civil procedure, reform of 459
Claims against the Med-a-wa-kan-toan
band 190
against the Wa-pa-koo-ta band igO'
of the traders. The 189
Clark aids Indians 69
Clark, William 59, 321
Clerk of supreme court, duties of 445
Cleveland, President, signs bill admitting
North and South Dakota 371
Close of constitutional convention 410
Coast guard flag ()^
Cochrane, John M 453
Codes of North Dakota, origin of
437, 439, 440
Cody, William F 34, 250
Coffee substituted for whiskey 178
Colter and Fink, character sketches 164
Columbia Fur Co 142, 163
"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" 125
Columbus in slave trade 132
Commissions of 1891 and 1893 to com-
pile laws 441
Committee of the whole 391
592
INDEX
Compiled laws of 1887 439
of 1913 443
Comstock, William, dispute's Cody's right
to "Buffalo Bill" 34
Conditions at Fort Ridgeley 195
on the frontier in 1805 T7
Conflicts due to fur trade IS
Congress authorizes new frigates 119
for navy building 117
on fur trade 91
passed drastic law in 1834 175
prohibits liquors I75
Congressional inquiry 140
Conquest of the Sioux 2^
Consolidation of N.-W. and X. Y 46
Constitutional convention 371
members and officers of 384, 388
organization of 388
work of 392, 410
Constitution of North Dakota, character
of 409
provisions that had to be embodied in. 384
Construction of Kansas Pacific Ry 34
Contagion spreads i79
Contracts with the "Lords of the For-
ests" 28
Conventions favor admission of terri-
tory 368, 375
Cook, Capt. James 57
Cooke, Jay & Co 328
Cooley, Judge 408
Coons are fat 26
Cooper shop at Pembina 42
Corbeau (crow) 28
Cordelle, The 160
Corliss, Judge 449, 45'
Cornwallis, Lord Charles 14
Corporations 399
Correspondence, The secret 115
Corse, Gen. John M 36
Cost of outbi eak to Indians 203
outbreak to settlers 203
war, seventy millions 15
Coues, Dr. Elliot 18
Counties, created . . . .' 486
names of 483, 486
Country overrun with traders 89
without laws 181
County court system 397
local option law, 1887 461
Courts uphold prohibition 465, 467
Craig ranch, old 296
Crebasse, John 44
Credit system illustrated 162
Creeks or Seminoles T4
Crees and Assiniboines start trouble 81
Cresap, Colonel S
Criminal code 437
Crooked legs 28
Crooks, Ramsey 159
Crow creek ■ 242
Crow Wing battles 21
postal route 489
Crozat, Antoine 152
Culbertson's journal 173
Culture, initiative of 237
Cumming, Sir Alexander 12
Curly, Crow scout 311
Current of the Missouri 60
Curtis, William E 308
Custer massacre 307, 310
Custom house. The 225
Cutting and melting bear's fat 26
Daily Argus 478
Dakota bills. The 259
history 278
Land Company (1857) 211
as created 261
christened 212
in civil and Indian wars 282
organized 271
Indian affairs 279
pioneers 220
prior to 1861 230
Presbytery 240
settlement retarded 188
territory 259
organized 365
proclaimed 217
Dakotas reasonable beings 62
Dakotian, The 278
Dalrymple, Oliver 328
Dalrymple farms 328, 510
Dangers in Indian country 507
Daniels, Jared W 502
Daniels, Lieut. N. H 303
Davis, JefTerson, secretary of war 325
Dead Man's creek 156
Death of Captain Lewis 71
Lieutenant Beaver 287
Deaths among the beaver 22
Debatable land. The 143
Deck hands work night and day 170
Dedication v
Deer, buffalo, beaver, bear 20
Delayed payment causes trouble 192
Delegate to congress 275
Delegates to constitutional convention... 384
nativity of 388
politics of 388
De Lorme house ..." 43
de Molin, Francis 234
de ]\Iontfort, Simon 23
Deschamp family. The 181
Description of hold of a slaver 135
INDEX
59:1
De Smet, Father 246
De Soto 14
a slaver 186
Determine to build post 21
de Verrazno, Giovanni 17
Devils Lake ■■ 20
Devine, Joseph AI 420
Dewey, Mrs. Admiral 307
Diabolical torture 6
Diary of Mr. Campbell 296
Dickey, Hon. Alfred 483
Dickson, Robert i59
Die of scurvy 140
Difficult to secure liquors 168
Discovery and acquisition 53
Disposition of troops for the winter 210
Distillery at Fort Union 175
Distribution of slaves, 1790 census 133
Diverted to Rocky Mountains 140
Division and admission of Dakota Terri-
tory before Congress 366, 368, 370
of the American Fur Company 164
of territorial property 391
Dixon, Dr. Joseph 253
Dobbins, Capt. David 120
Dog meat, a dainty dish 142
served at feast 142
sledges and snow shoes 43
sledges and travois 143
Donan, "Pat" 482
"Don't give up the ship" 128
Dourine 430
Drawing the line .... ." 108
Drinking water scarce 46
Dripps, Capt. James 246
Dr. Porter's story 318
"Druggists Permits" 464
Duford, Joseph 44
Durant, Blakely 496, 498
Dutch in slave trade 132
Earl of Leicester 23
Flarly exploring expeditions 139
Indian treaties 321
settlers at Spirit Lake 240
traders and settlers 149
trading posts 30, 154
traffic on Red river 51
East bitterly opposed 59
Edgerton, Judge 367
Edmunds, Governor 322
Edwards, A. \V 477
Edwards, Ninian 321
Edward III 23
Edwinton (Bismarck) 327
Eight belts of wampum 11
Election of delegates for constitutional
convention 384
Vol. 1—38
Election of presidential electors provided
for 417
precincts, 1861 272
Eleventh toast. The 66
Elkhorn prairie . . . .■ 37
Elk Valley farm 509
Elliott, Lieut. Jesse D 121
EUijwortli, Colonel 494
Ellsworth, S. E 455
Elm river 329
Embarkation, The ig
F^mbargo, The 114
Employes at Fort Pembina, around 1801 . 43
Enabling act required before admission
of new state 383
Engerud, Edward 454
English capture Quebec 8
goods sold without pa\-ment of duties. . 47
squadron and its armament 121
Entertained by Chief Wanaton 142
Entire villages exposed 179
Entries, date of 228
Epidemic among the beaver 22
Epworth League 547
Erection of new university buildings.... 553
Erie squadron's slow decline 127
Europe surprised 118
Every package broken, every bale pierced 177
Eviction of Scotch Highlanders 94
Evolution of British flag 23
Executive department 414
Exhibit at Christiania, Norway 428
at Panama Pacific International Expo-
sition 427
Expedition of Major Woods 146
Expenditures of constitutional convention 403
Experimental station 428
P'-xtending the frontier 7
Extent and value of fur trade 143
Extension of Northern Pacific west from
Fargo 333
Extensive corn fields 82
Failure of Nortliern Pacific 333
Family killed, daughter prisoner 51
Fancher, Frederick B 388, 420
Fargo and capital location 400
& Southwestern in 1880 334
Express published 476
F"orum 478
founded 365
located 327
platted 476
Republican 478
Farmers Alliance 417
Farm, first in Red river valley 230
Farms, large 509-511
Far West, The, arrives 311
Fat four inches thick 22
594
INDEX
Fathers slew children i8o
Fathom of tobacco, A 19
Fur trade causes trouble i6
investigated 141
Feasted by Wahpetons 1+2
Fetterman, Lieutenant Colonel 301
Fidelity of friendly Indians 198
Field, David Dudley 438
Fifteen million dollars 56
"Fighting tanks" 140
Files introduced in constitutional con-
vention 392
Fink, Mickie, outlavv' 165
Finances of North Dakota in 1889 414
"Fireboat that walks on the water" 140
Fire on steamer 1 73
passes around baby 63
First American flag in North Dakota. ... 64
cabin home 221
child born 42
Dakota newspaper 207
Dakota postoflfices 218
Dakota printing press 207
domestic fowl 42
election ordered, 1861 272
family names 47
farming. The 41
flag floated in North Dakota 23
flour mill 229
flow of human blood 4
general conference 243
homestead in North Dakota 485
Indian convert 7i
Indian corn 4'
in education — first schoolhouse 215
judges of state supreme court 445
land entry 224
land office 224
legislative assembly 276
legislature, work of 4'6
legislature in Minnesota 229
Methodist church 539
newspaper in state 474
newspaper in Red river valley 476
organized settlement in South Dakota. . 211
rail laid in North Dakota 327
Seminole war i,i
state officers elected 4'°
steamboat on the Missouri 140
surveys in Dakota 223
term of court, 1861 273
trading posts 8
Union Jack 23
United States senators from North
Dakota 415
white child born 42
white farmer 41
Fisher's Landing 349
Fisk, Charles J 299, 452
Fitch, Graham A 259
Five hundred dollars a month for buffalo
meat supply 34
thousand buffalo killed 38
Fixed stars 25
Flag changed by law 67
first raised at New Orleans 57
first seen abroad 66
of American colonies 25
of Confederacy 25
symbols 256
Flagstaff erected 23
seventy-five feet without splicing 46
Flags, various United States 65
Flandrau, Judge C. E 196, 21 1, 502
Flatmouth 20, 78
Flemming, H. B 208
Fletcher, J. E., Indian agent 147
F'loods in Missouri river 372
Florida ceded to United States 15
Flour fifty cents the pound 78
Foot races and horse racing 83
Forbade intermarriage, etc 105
Forgot motlier tongue 103
Fort Abercrombie 147, 188, 214, 2S4
A. Lincoln established 332
Assiniboine 169
Benton 154, 171
Berthold 157, 492
Buford 34, 168
burned by Indians 169
Cass 154
Clark 90, 159, 170
Crevecoeur 54
Daer 96
destroyed by fire 167
Douglas 96, 141
Duquesne 13
Frontenac 54
George 164
Harmar 108
jNicKenzie 171
Mandan 64
Michilimackinac 152
Mims massacre 15
Orleans 152
Osage 90
Panbian 40
Patrick Henry 100
Piegan 170
Pierre 30, 209, 239
Randall 159, 214
Ransom 254
Recovery 159
Reno (Conner) 302
Ridgeley 285
Rosalie 152
INDEX
595
Fort St. Anthony 8o
St. George 13
St. Louis 55
Sackville 99
Snelling 240
Union 167, 298
Vanderburg 158
Waclsworth 36, 242
William 91, 175
Forty years without law 166
Founding of Sioux Falls 211
of Pembina 40
the religious press 243
Four hundred and twenty bushels pota-
toes from seven bushels 41
Fox, Livingston & Co 164
"Freemen" 49
Freighter grounded 151
Fremont, John C 151, 238
French border forts 9
flag run up 54
in slave trade 132
traders 18
Frontenac, Comte de 8
Frontier hardships 253
Gaines to secretary of war 158
Galbraith, Thomas J 188
Galpin, Maj. Charles E 209, 233
Game abundant 86
on Cannonball river 63
Georgetown 230, 360
Gerard, Frederic F 234
Gettysburg anniversary celebration 427
Gibbons, General 310
Giff ord, Oscar S 380
Gillam, Capt. Zachariah I"
Godfrey, Gen. E. S 311
Gold discovered in Black Hills 308
Goodman Creek 60
Goods at cost, to Indians 90
Goose river the limit 29
Gore, Mahlon 224
Goss, Evan B 455
Governor and settlers killed 96
Clark, of Missouri, warns General
Harrison ioq
Jayne 285
Miles Macdonnell arrested 95
Governor's message (1862) 276
Grace, Mr 455
Graft in the Indian trade 88, 492
Grain culture begun 166
Grand Forks, capital aspirations of.. 400, 403
history of 508
visited 29
county 508, 510
Grand Forks Herald 478
Plaindealer 477
Grant, Col. James 13
Orville 492
President 308, 484, 493
Granville, Earl of 349
Grasshoppers 97, 253, 255, 350
Gratis articles 28
Grattan, Lieutenant 208
Great clamor of fighting buffalo 33
"Great Doctor" stabs wife 28
herds of buffalo 63
Northern R. R 335
Sioux reservation 306
Greenwood agency 234
Green, Senator John S 260
Griggs, Capt. Alexander 484
Grizzly bears killed 26
Gronna, Asle J 434
Gros Ventres, The 21, 84
Grow, Galusha A 260
Gurley, Rev. James 538
Hackensacks attacked by Mohawks 187
Hair Hills 28
Half breeds 149, 498, 501
Halsey, Jacob 179
Hamilton, John G., chief clerk of consti-
tutional convention 388
Hanna, Louis B 435
administration of 426
Hansborough, Henry C 425, 433
Hardon, Henry W 394
Harney's expedition 209
Harrison and Tecumseh 109
Harrison, Benjamin, elected president... 370
Harrison, General, death of 125
Hart, Col. William O 25
Hazen, Mrs. Gen. W. B 307
Helgesen, Henry T 436
Heights of Abraham 25
Hendrickson, Robert, sentence of 468
Henry and Lord Liverpool 112
Henry, Alexander 18, 144, 230
drowned in Columbia river 51
suffers from the Siou.x 48
Henry, Patrick 7
Henry's Red River Brigade 150
Hesse, Charles 51
"He was forgiven" 44
Hidatsa, The 84
Hill, General John 8
Hill, James J 18, 40, 335-346
Historical sketch of university 549
History of banking in North Dakota.... 530
of Great Northern R. R 336
of Methodism in North Dakota 538
Hochelaga 10
596
INDEX
HoIe-in-the-Day 239
Holes, James 329
Homes and pride disappeared 178
HoS^estead law, The 224
Horry, Peter 14
Horse thieves abound 84
lashed 182
Hostages put to death 13
How traders' wives dressed 146
Hubbard, N. K., address to Old Settlers'
Association 360
Hudson, Heilry 17
Hudson's Bay Co 17, Mi
contracts terminated 349
formation of 8
mail 489
refuses supplies 149
wants no schools or churches 97
Hunters and the spoils 28
first salute 143
Hunting grounds, The 20
parties divide with neighbors 82
Hurons, The 9
Idaho Territory created 261
Ideal Indian homes 85
Illicit trade at Fort William 176
Immigration 430
Importance of the surrender 100
Impressment of sailors 113
In Charles Mix county 217
Indian agencies and agents, 1872 280
alignment in border wars . '. 9
captives rescued 285
civil organization 12
contingent, The 20
council decides for war 193
debts to traders 162
league against the Carolinas 12
murderers captured 506
signers to allegiance 257
slave trade "prohibited" 12
"Indian Town" (verse) 99
trade and buffalo hunting 226
trades in 1872 280
treaties 160, 321
opposition to settlers 163
Indians eager for trade 166
encouraged to drink 27
"encouraged to pay debts" 26
friendly and help build fort 99
get idea whites are all bad 162
hide in hills 297
made insolent 48
not satisfied with settlements 191
protest on steamers 348
ruined by liquor 26
Indians save books of Doctor Riggs.... 241
surround guide 289
In fear and humility 106
Ingenious excuses for drink 45
Inhaling mosquitoes 149
Inheritance tax 431
Initial political movement 275
Initiative of culture 237
In military and civil life 178
Interpreters 70
In the beginning 3
land of the Dakotas 205
Sioux country 205
Investigating extent of fur trade 141
Iron Heart 234
Iroquois country. The 10
Irrigation code 422
Irving, Washington, on traders 92
J ackman. John J 329
Jackson, Andrew 15
James VI — James 1 23
James river 268
Jamestown Alert 477
and capital location 402, 403
& Northern 334
history of 512
Plymouth, Salem, Boston, settled 24
Jayne, William 378
Jeff Davis in skirts 495
Jefferson, Thomas 56, 112
Jefferson to Adams 107
Joint commission of North and South
Dakota 390, 391, 404, 408
Johnson, E. F., engineer 325
Johnson, Martin N 389, 392, 399, 409,
41S, 425, 433
Jones, John Paul 66
Jones starts trouble that costs four lives. 193
Judges of supreme court increased to five 447
Judicial districts, 1861 273
system of state 396, 444
"Judiciary Ballot" 447
Jug of whiskey in House of Representa-
tives 228
June rise in the Missouri 60
Jurisdiction of supreme court of state. . . 448
Keating, W. H., Long's historian 33
Kellogg, Mark 310
Kellogg's body found 315
dispatch to Bismarck Tribune 311
Kelly, A. W 512
Kelly, Mrs., ransomed 301
Keogh, Miles 315
Key, Francis Scott 67
Kidder, Jefferson P 379, 484
Kildonian 95
INDEX
597
Killed, list of, Battle of Little Big Horn. 316
Killing buffalo on ice 70
King of the Upper Missouri 168
King Philip killed 6
King Philip's war 5
"King's Colors," The 23
Kingsburj-, George W 278
Kingsbury, William Wallace 211
Kipp, James 170
Kittson line, The 349
Kittson, Norman W.40, 148, 225, 345, 489, 503
Knappen, Nathan H 308
Knauf, John 452
Kreiger, Mrs. Justina 198, 200
Knife creek 297
Knife river camp 63
Knife river region 152
Lac qui Parle 238
La Frambois, Frank 289
L. S. & P. S. Townsite Co 328
Lake Winnipegoosis 261
Lamont, Daniel 166
La Moure, Hon. Judson 230, 484, 486
Land entries, date of 228
Land grant doubled 335
Land office established 274
Lane, Secretary 253, 256
Langlois, Michael 28, 43
Larimore, history of 509
Larpenteur keeps trip records 170
La Salle 54
Last great hunt, T'7U- 38
Law. John 152
Lawrence at Centennial exposition 127
Law school established 558
Law to enforce prohibition 462
Leavenworth and the traders 157
Le Borgne 83
Le Clerc, Narcisse 182
Legislation affecting the supreme court.. 447
enacted in 1905 422
Legislative districts, 1861 272
Leighton, .Alvin C 168, 302
Lewis and Clark party, The 60
Lewis, Captain 58
buried in Tennessee 72
Library of supreme court 446
License system 461
Life at the post 26
Lightning steamboat ride 319
Lignite coal 152
Limits and transfer 55
Lincoln, approves bill 26a
appoints territorial officers 271
Liquor and the Indians 147
confiscated 175
for the Yellowstone trade 175
Lisa. Manuel 76, 154
List of dead by companies 305
of those in Dakota prior to 1861 230
of traders receiving benefits of Trav-
erse de Sioux treaty 189
Little Clam explains 106
Crane, hunter 28
Crow 199, 285
Piney 302
Six 506
Thunder 208
Littleton, Governor W. H 13
Livingston, Robert R 56
Location of Battle of Big Mound 292
Kildeer mountain battlefield 296
the capital 277
trading posts 22
Lodges quickly pulled down 85
Logan to Dunmore 5
Long line of battle 297
Long's expeditions 33, 139, 141, 143
Lord Selkirk and Tanner 105
Loss at fort, one dog killed 50
Losses, both sides, in Battle of Lake Erie 125
Losses in battle 288
Lottery 416
Lounsberry, Col. Clement A.... 223, 307,
474. 476, 482, 484, 493, 494
Louisiana fur companies 152
Louisiana Purchase 7, S3, 112
Lynch, Frank 463
McClellan, Lieut. George B 325
McCIellan, Robert 159
McCumber, Porter J 434, 588
McCumber commission 322
McFadden. D. D 511
McGillis, Hugh 46
McHenry, James 259
Mcintosh, Lieutenant 313
McKay, James 230
McKenzie, Alexander 37.S-378, 419, 484
McKenzie, Kenneth, killed by Clark 168
leaves St. Paul 167
McLaren, Colonel 292
McLaughlin, Maj. James 38, 236
MacKenzie, Sir Alexander 18
Mackinac 8
Mackinaws 151
Macnamara, Rev. Charles A 545
"Mad" Anthony Wayne 7
Magic stick. The 234
Major-General Gaines' dispatch 158
Major Pilcher's criticism 157
Making pemmican 35
Mandans, The 21, 63, 80, 82
Manitoba (Rupert's Land) 18
598
INDEX
Manito-o-geezhik tires of boy and toma-
hawks him 102
Manners and dress of traders' wives 146
Manufactures ■ 42
Manuscript journals published 18
Marble, Mrs., captive 240
Marbois, Barbe .• 56
Marion and his men '. 12, 13
Marshall, Thomas Frank 434
Marsh, Captain, drowns 194
Marsh, Grant 311
Massachusetts Bay Colony 24
Massacre at Fort Mims IS
at Fort William Henry 187
near Fort Phil Kearney 301
of Grattan and men 207
of the Deschamps 181
Maxmilian's "Travels in the Interior of
North America" published 171, 173
Visit to Dakota 171
Maymiutch 29
Medicine bottle S06
Medicine Knoll creek 163
Meeker, Ralph 309, 492
Mellette, Arthur C 408
Memorials to Congress relative to divi-
sion and admission 366, 368
Members of the constitutional convention 384
offices held by 412
Members of Red River Valley Old Set-
tlers' Association, 1895 355
Memoirs of General Fremont 151
Memorial to Congress 259
Men crying for water 319
Men of mark among missionaries 245
Men marry at seventeen 149
Mercury often at forty-five degrees be-
low, with deep snow 95
Method of procedure of constitutional
convention 390
Met Indians in council 61
Metis or half breeds 498, 501
Michaux, Andre 58
Midnight assault, The 6
"Migratory" court ... < 446
Military and Indian reservations under
federal jurisdiction 398
Military ball 2i3i
Millard, Ezra 211
Miller, John 414-417, 585
Mills, David M 211
Miner, Capt. Nelson 292
Minnesota massacre 7, 89
Territory organized 207
Minetarees, The 84
Missionaries men of mark 245
Mississippi Company, The 152
Missouri, Territory of 57
Missouri Fur Co., The 75, 91, 154
Gazette, The 140
Land Company 221
Legion, Tlie 156
river traders 158
river blockaded by buffalo 37
slope 255
"Mistress of the Seas" 126
Mixed liquors 19
Mock legislature 278
Alondak 167
Money paid to Hugh Tyler igo
Monroe, James, President 56, 139
Moore, Governor James 14
Moorhead, founded 365
in 1873 .- 476
located 327
Moorhead, William H 225
More recent treaties 161
Morgan, David E 451
Morris, Manitoba 20
Mortality among Indians — scourge of
1837 179
Mortar's roar new to Red river district. 50
Mosquitoes of the valley 255
Mosquitoes on Red river 150
Mother's pension 431
Mountrail, Joseph 486, 490
Muddy, but pure 60
Murder doubted 96
Must give up dogs 105
"My Friend the Indian" 38
Names of counties 483, 486
Napoleon changes policy 58
Napoleon renounces Louisiana 56
Napoleon's prophetic remark 126
National banks of North Dakota 536
Guard reorganized 585
Guard stationed in Texas 585
Native Missionary Society formed 244
Nativity of delegates to constitutional
convention 388
Natural dislike of Arikaras and Crows.. 178
Navy — list of vessels 119
state of the 117
Nebraska Territory organized 208
Negro slaves, first in England 132
Nelson, Hon. N. E 485
Nelson, Lieutenant 255
Netley creek 21
Net-No-Kwa 48, 102
Never whip children 63
New Orleans exposition, Dakota exhibit
at 377
New policy tried 48
Newspapers, early 474, 482
New Ulm 285
INDEX
599
New world was born, A 3
New York Herald, The 310, 492
Nicholson, Col. John 8
Nicollet, Jean N 238
Nicollet's report 21 1
"Travels in the Northwest" 211
Night attack, A 5°
Ninety million buffalo 16
Noble^ Col. W. H 211
Noble race ruined by run 46
"No fight dance" 238
Non-partisan alliance 462
appointments of Governor Burke 425
judiciary law 447
League, The 586
Nonsuch Ketch, The 17
No rain between October 15th and March
25th 70
North Dakota Bankers' Association 534
North Dakota, boundaries of 383
in 1843 504
in 1870 360
Non-Partisan Temperance Alliance,
The 462
points included 18
volunteers 561
Northern lights. The 69
Northern Pacific, and capital location... 400
Northern Pacific bonds go to eight cents 334
car exhibiting products 371
crossing of Red river 360
failed 477
history of *. 325
Mirror 477
Northrup, Anson 347
Northrup, George W 36, 229
North-West Company hector settlers .... 94
Company organized 18
and X. Y. consolidated 46
Territory, The 99
North, Patrick D 436
Norwegian king decorates Governor
Hanna 428
Noted for great wheat fields 41
No water ! 314
Oakport 329
Oak used in ships 120
Oath of office administered to delegates. 389
Occupation of Mexico 15
Occupied for Indian trade 17
O'Fallon knocks chief down 161
Officials of territory 274
Officers of constitutional convention 388
of North Dakota Bar Association 460
of opposing fleets 122.
Oil inspection 429
"Old Bazil" 74
Old earthwork at Turtle river 150
hand press. The 206
"Oregon Trail" 527
Settlers' Associ^ion chartered 278
settlers of Burleigh county ^ 516
"Old Shady" 496-498
Omnibus bill, becomes law 370
provisions of 383
Onion 22 inches in circumference 41
Only means of subsistence 147
Only one man escaped 107
On the Missouri river 151
On the Upper Mississippi 79
Opechancanough shot while captive 187
Opening of navigation on Red river 150
of Red river valley 328
Operator at key twenty-two hours 32c
Order establishing Fort Lincoln 333
Ordinance of 1787 loi
Ordway, Governor, work of 374-375
Ordway, N. G 415
Orders in council 113, 117
Organic act of Dakota 262, 365
Organization of constitutional convention 388
of Red River Valley Old Settlers' Asso-
ciation 351
Original United States domain 66
Origin of history of British flag 23
of the name (Pembina) 41
Osage treaty of 1808 90
Other-Day 199
Other lawless acts 182
lines of graft 88
settlements 216
Our flag and its day 65
"Our superiority in novel tactics and in
gunnery" 1 18
Outlines of American history 8
Outlying posts withdrawn 49
Outrages by Indians 183
Outrages by N.-W. Company against set-
tlers 94
by whites 182
Overland from Wheeling, W. Va 141
immigration to Oregon 206
Pacific Fur Company 91
Panic of 1857 326
Parkins. Hon. Henry S 233
Park river 20, 518
Park river post 22
Parliament restores old flag 24
Party leaves St. Paul 211
Passing of Tenskwatawa iii
Pathetic appeal, A 11
Patriots' homes burned 14
Peace treaty arranged 61
Pemmican 28
600
INDEX
Penalties for violation of prohibitory
law 470
Pensioned by the British Ill
People of territory vote for division.... 369
Petition denied by Pennsylvania authori-
ties II
Pe-shau-ba's recollections and death.... 104
Pettigrew, Richard F 380
Pembina 23
"Pembina House" 40
Pembina, Partial justice to 277
post established 31
postoffice 489-491
(Panbian) river 30
settlements, The 225
territory. Bill to create 366
Perry, Lieut. Oliver Hazard 120-125
Phips, Sir William 8
Picotte, Charles 218, 221, 233
"Piece" — 90 pounds 144
Pierce, Gilbert A 415, 433, 485
Pigeon river 19
Pike, Lieut. Z. M 20
Pike's expedition 47, 78
Pilgrim Sabbath 5
Pilgrims of Santee, The 242
Pine Ridge Agency 250
Pine Woods 304
Piney Forks 302
Pioneers 220, 230
Pianette, Rev. D. C 547
Plan to settle Red river country 148
Ploghofif, Lieut 283
"Pluck" built by Alsop Bros 151
Plummers, The 539
Plymouth county. Mass 6
Poisoned bread "lost" 300
Political complexion of constitutional
convention 388
Politics and admission of new states... 383
in Indian affairs 307
Pollock, Judge Charles A 462, 465-473
Pollock, R. M 467
Ponca .'\gency. The 217
Pond, Rev. S. D 237
Pope, Gen. John 302
Pope Urban H 23
Population of territory, 1870, 1889 365
Porter, Dr. H. R 311
Porter watched for fifty- four hours... 320
Port Royal 8
Portugal in slave trade 132
I-'ossession proclaimed 54
Post at Pembina, The 40
Postoffice at Bismarck in '70s 491-494
at Pembina in early days 489
Postoffices, First Dakota 218
Postoffices in North Dakota, 1889 380
Posts on Red river 50
Potato yield big 149
Poultry raising 42
Powder river 303
Powhatan's successor 187
Prairie fires 33, 63
Prairies black with Buffalo 33
Preface vii
Preferred her Sioux warrior 51
Preliminary letters 114
Presque Isle 120
Press in 1882 479
in 1886 481
Preston-Anderson, Elizabeth 463
Primary election law 422
Prince of Wied a visitor 171
Prince Rubert's Land 17
Probate court 397
Prohibition 424, 431, 461, 473
Prophets and black gowns 246
Prophet's Messenger at Pembina 106
Proportions Adjusted 66
Provisions consumed at fort 51
I'rovisions run low 143
Public printer, The 278
utilities. Regulation of 431
Punishing the Arikaras 155
Purcell, William E 425, 435
Pure drug law 422
food law 422
Purpose of the campaign. The 158
Queen .\mie's war 9
Raccoons taken 26
Races, Foot and horse 83
Railroad regulation 399
Rainy Lake 261
Ramsey, Hon. Alexander 366, 485
Ransom county 527
Raymond, John B 380
Reagan, Senator 409
Recapitulation of cessions 324
Recollet Fathers, The 10
Record, The, established 353
"Red flag of Taunton" 65
Red paint in demand 62
Red River Brigade 18
carts 144
mosquitoes 150
of the North 261
transportation 18
Transportation Company 349
valley, The 346
Valley Old Settlers' Association organ-
ized 351
incorporated 354
members of, 1895 355
INDEX
601
Redwood Agency massacre 194
Reinforcements arrive 198
Regal banquets 92
Region included in purchase 57
Regular troops arrive 184
Renville family, The I99
Renville, Gabriel, scout 36
Joseph, guide 141. 237. 486
Renville Rangers 196
Reporter of supreme court, Duties of.. 445
Reporters of state supreme court, List of 448
Reports no interference by British 161
Return of expedition 71
of Mandan chief 75
of the hunt 143
Revised codes of 1895 44^
of 1899 442
of 1905 442
Revolution in North Dakota, The 586
Ricaras, The 62
Rice crop control 148
Rice, Henry M 148, 259
Rich, Morgan T 483, 485, 486, SM
Richard I of England 23
Riches of the Indians 32
Richland county 5^5
Riggs, Stephen R 188, 237
Riley, Capt. Bennett 156
Rival companies amalgamated 98
River aux Jacques 268
Roach, William N 234, 419, 434
"Robinson Crusoe" Anderson 229
Robinson, J. E-.S 455
Rocky Mountain Fur Company 159
Rolette county 521
Rolette, Joseph 225, 228, 502
Rolette's cart line 502
Roll Call (verse) 124
Roosevelt, Theodore, North Dakota Pio-
neer 522
Rose, George Henry iiS
Ross, Alexander 34
John, Ranch of 296
Roster of company going to Pacific coast 71
Lieutenant Pike's party 78
North Dakota volunteers 561
Royal Standard, The 25
Rubrette, Nicholas 28
Rumor from Salt Lake 312
Running the buffalo 35
Running Water river 267
Rural schools. Need of improvement in. 426
Sabbath, The 245
Sacred pipe lighted 38
Sacrifice and Thanksgiving 27
.Sailors impressed 113
St. Louis and Chicago frontier posts of
little importance yy
St. Louis nearest settlement 149
Sakakawea meets her brother 73
Sakakawea's death 74
Salaries of supreme court officials 448
of territorial officers 266
Sale of school lands 396
Saloons in politics 470
Salt at one dollar per pound 78
Santee Mission Training School 247
Sargent, H. E 485
Sarles, Elmore H., Administration of... 422
Satisfying a grizzly's ghost 27
Saulteurs 20
School at Pembina 148
School children contribute for monument 74
Scientists in party 139
Scott, Winfield, suggests change 80
Seamy side of fur trade 45
Sea victories soothed pride 119
Secret correspondence 115
Second Seminole war 15
"Second Union Jack," The 25
"Selkirk" built by James J. Hill and Cap-
tain Griggs 151
Selkirk colony. The 93, 149, 255
Selkirk learns of murder 96
Semple, Robert, arrests managers of
N.-W. Co 95
Settled in Misery Bay 127
Settlement at Elk Point, The 216
near Fargo 229
Settlers in Yankton County, 1858 221
Seven Oaks Massacre 35
Seventh standard parallel line by which
territory divided 383
Shahaka returns to St. Louis 76
"Shaking hands with the prophet" 107
Shannon, Peter C 437, 439
Shawnee Prophet, The 105, 107, 112
She-gaw-kee-sink 41
Sherman, Gen. W. T 34, 496, 498
Sheyenne river 20
Shiploads of buffalo bones 34
Shooting the Racine Rapids 320
Short Bull 250
Shortridge, Eli C. D., Administration of 418
Sibley expedition of 1863 286
Sibley Island 63
Signers of Treaty of Ghent 131
Signing of state constitution 410
Sikes, Sir Francis 347
Sioux at the gates, The 107
cause terror 21
has good qualities 62
massacre of 1862 188
whipped 83
602
INDEX
Sint, Francois 28
Sir James Craig 115
Sitting Bull 250
attacks surveyors 327
wars 16
welcomes General Grant 328
Six beaver skins for a quart of rum 104
Nations, The 9
Sixteen shots, sixteen buffalo 37
winters among Chippewas 51
Sketch approved by James Holding Eagle 75
Skin lodges erected 86
Slaughter, Mrs. Linda W 307, 491, 494
Slaughter of women and children 6
Slave ship described 135
Slaves, Distribution of, in 1790 133
Slavery 131
Smallpox scourge 30, 80, 179
again in 1856 180
among Cherokees 13
Smith, Donald A 34S
Smuggling liquor 176
Snowbound three weeks 309
Snow shoes and dog sledges 43
Social life among the Indians 86
Sold as slaves 12
Soldiers die of scurvy 140
Soldier's home 432
Song of Assiniboines like that of Rus-
sian soldiers 173
Sons of Virginia 7
Southern Pacific Railway 326
South Dakota resents removal of capital 369
South Kingston, R. 1 6
Spalding, Burleigh F 434, 454
Specimens sent to President Jefferson... 70
Spink, Solomon L 379
Spirit Lake, Early settlers at 240
Spotted Weasel approves 75
Spotted Tail 208
Springer omnibus bill becomes law .... 370
Provisions of 383
Stadacona 10
Stage and telegraph 145
Stages take a back seat 350
Stain on the Record, The 4S
Standing Buffalo protests 193
Standing committees of constitutional
convention 390
Standing Rock 236
Staples, Dr. J. M 211
Stark, George 485
Stars and stripes 65
Indian allegiance to 257
State banks may become members of
Federal Reserve system 431
Regulation of 422
statements in 1916 535
State capital. Location of 400-403
in debt 419
Enforcement League 463
State of the navy 117
Statue of Sakakawea 74
Steamer built for Red River of North.. 150
Far West, The 319
"Ida Stockdale" 37
on Red river in 1859 229
Steamers on Yellowstone 298
Stevens, Alexander H 259
Stevens, Major Isaac 1 325
Stevenson, Don 505
Stevenson, Hon. Donald 254
Stewart, Senator 408
Story of Townsites, A 226
Stripes and stars on flag 64
Struggle to obtain beaver skins 162
Sturgeon killed with axe 21
one hundred a day in nets 26
Stutsman county 513
Stutsman, Enos 222, 483, 485, 486
Sublette's Fort William 174
Successful winter at Park River 28
Sudden conversion of hostiles 199
Suffrage 396
Sully's expedition of 1863 289
of 1864 290
Summer camp in terror 85
"Sunset on the Prairies" 7
Supreme court of state 397
increased work of 447
judges of -. 449, 456
jurisdiction of 448
legislation affecting 447
located at Bismarck 446
qualifications of judges of 444
Supreme court of United States, Proce-
dure of 447
Surprised the nations 118
Surrender, The, (Battle of Lake Erie) . 124
Surveyor's chain at World's Columbian
Exposition, 1893 223
Sykes, Sir Francis 36
Taft, President 257
Tah-gah-jute ("Logan") 4
Tanner, John, the white captive.. 31, 102, 131
Tanner's "Narrative" 31
Tatanka Republic 37
Tatanka Wedhacheta 142
Taylor, J. W 347
Taylor, Zachary, loses to Indians 79
Tea $4.00 per pound 79
Tecumseh 14
Telegraph and stage 146
Temperance commission 424
Ten cents an acre 324
INDEX
603
Territorial legislature establishes univer-
sity at Grand Forks 3^6
Territory acquired loS
of Dakota organized 365
of Louisiana 57
Terrorized by the Sioux 21
Terry, General 3io
Testimony of the rocks 3
Thames River battle l"
Thayer, E. R., Letter from 395
Thayer. Prof. James Bradley, author of
Williams constitution 394
"The Dying Indian" (verse) 104
"They w?ere drunk" 5°
Thirteen states, order of settlement 66
Thirty days' travel and never out of sight
of buffalo 33
Thirty-nine lashes 182
Thompson, David 18
Thompson, Fountain L 425, 435
Thread for buffalo sinews 32
Threw bad medicine on him 30
"To America" (verse) 127
Tobacco's son 100
Todd, Capt. J. B. S 214, 378
Tohatka (Gauche) 171
Tongue River valley 302
"Too much territory" 29
Toussaint Charbonneau 12, I73
Towner county 52o
Township lines run 223
Townsites on the Sioux 213
Story of '> 226
Traders spoil Indians 48
Trading excursion among Indians 503
statistics 42
Trail of blood, A 3
"Train" described '45
Train schedule, Fargo to St. Paul, in
'70s 476
Trappers ambushed I54
Trapper's thrilling experience 234
Transportation development 325
Trask, Josiah 278
Traverse-de-Sioux 240
Travois and dog sledges I43
Treaty of 1837, The 188
of 1851 189, 207
of 1858 213
of 1868 306
of Ghent, Articles of 128
of Paris, 1783 100
of peace (1814) 126
of peace and amity (Ghent) 128
of San Ildefonso 56
of Utrecht 9
with the Arikaras 160
with the Sioux 7°
Treaty with the Yanktons 221
payment for 1862, The 191
Trees planted along Northern Pacific... Sio
Trial of the new policy 48
Tripp, Hon. Bartlett 437
Troops arriving by boat 209
I'sa-ka-ka-wea-sh, a true guide 73
Tuberculosis sanitarium 43i
Tulloch's Fort 154
Turtle Mountain reservation created 322
Turtle river 19
Tuscaroras, The 1 1
Tuscarora war of I7il-'i3 12
Twelve hundred carts 148
months' provisions cached 83
Two thousand buffalo killed in day 3S
Uneasiness preceding outbreak 192
Uniform system of accounting 426
Union Pacific Co. incorporated 326
United States in Purchase of Louisiana. 58
loss at Tippecanoe m
rights recognized 126
The, as an Indian trader 90
victorious in twelve of fifteen different
combats at sea 126
University of North Dakota, Sketch of. 549
Unspeakable outrag.es 200
'Upper Missouri Outfit," The 166
River Townsite Company 221
Uses of Pemmican 36
Usual articles of merchandise 162
Valley City, History of Sn
Vanderburg, Captain 208
Vast herds of buffalo 32
Vegetables and corn 41
Veits, Frank 5o8
Vermilion settlement, The 208
Vessels and their equipment 121
bringing soldiers 209
in navy (1813) 119
Vicious element of liquor 26
Views of newspapers rosy 139
Viligance committees 165
Villages destroyed 6
Villard, Henry 394. 395
Vincennes the key 99
Vincenne, Francois Morganne de la.... 99
Virginia uprising of 1622 186
Visiting traders 70
Visit to the Mandan villages 80
"Vive le Roi!" 54
Volunteers, North Dakota 561
Voyageur 20
Voyageurs, The 92
Wabasha's pipe 80
Wahpeton, History of 514
604
INDEX
Walker, Sir Howard 9
Wallin, Judge 45i
Wall, Oscar Garrett i88
Walsh county S'?
Walsh, Hon. George H 485
Wampum peace offering 11
Wanamaker, Rodman 256
Wanaton's sartorial equipment 142
Wanaton returns Long's visit I43
Wanton destruction of buffalo 147
War — its realization 204
of 1812 closed 57, ii7
of extermination by Pequots 187
reminiscence 494
Warned against liquors 105
Washington a surveyor 7
Washington escapes 13
"Wash the sorrow from his heart" 29
Watterson, Col. Henry, Address by 128
Wayne, "Mad" Anthony 7
and the Treaty of Greenville loi
Webb, Rev. John 539
Webb-Kenyon law 43'
Webster, Daniel, on the Ordinance of
1787 101
Wells county 522
"We Are Not Here for Our Helth" 487
"We have met the enemy and they are
ours" 124
"We leave the Rosebud tomorrow" 312
Wesley college 548
Western Engineer, Description of 140
exploration 57
wife, A 279
Weymouth, George 11
When man appeared 4
"When wild in woods the noble savage
ran" 77
"Where the hills look at each other".;. . 298
Whisky at five dollars the pint 176
Whisky the Indian's curse 45
White captive, The 31. 300
Dog betrays friends 194
Earth river 220
White, Frank, Admini'stration of 420
"White Indians" 79
White, William H 539
the fund 548
Whites can't hurt Indians then 249
Wild Bonaparte of the Prairies, The 183
Wild Rice river fight ^i
Williams constitution 394
Williams. Hon. E. A 486
Williams, Judge 273
Williamson, Rev. J. P 261
Williston, Judge 273
Wills, John 49
Wilson, President 253-256
Wilson, Woodrow, on War of 1812 126
Windom, Senator, introduces bill to cre-
ate Territory of North Dakota 366
Wind river 261
coal deposits 277
\\'inship, George B 487
Winship's Hotel 4S7
Winter exodus 85
of 1S04-05, ThQ 69
spent at Wood river 60
"Wintering partners" 92
Wolves chew dogs 26
Woman's Christian Temperance Union . 461-463
Woman suffrage 408, 432
Woman's rights recognized 12
Women's clubs erect monument 74
Women's clubs (Indian) 86
Women the Indian's first consideration. 46
Woods, Maj. Samuel 146, 255
Work of the constitutional Conven-
tion 392-410
Wounded, List of. Battle of Little Big
Horn 31S
of both fleets on the Lawrence 125
reach Bismarck 315
sent to rear on horse litters 315
Wovoka 248
\\'yandots. The , 9
W.voming massacre. The 188
valley, Pennsylvania 6
Territory created 261
X. Y. Company 18
Yankton founded 221
Yearly mail 361
Yellow Medicine Agency 199
Yellowstone trappers ambushed 154
Yellowstone, the first steamboat on Up-
per Missouri 168
York 60, 69
York factory 347
Young, George M 436
Zable, Mrs 200