Dakota Territory Census Organization

The association again met at Grand Forks, December 8, 1880, D. F. Brawley was elected president; Howard R. Vaughn, Alex Griggs, James, Holes, vice presidents, George B. Winship, secretary and treasurer. The following named persons were present and paid a fee of $1.00 each: Burt Haney, John Fadden, D. F. 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 Winnipeg, E. C. Davis, of Crookston, and R. M. Probstfield, of Moorhead, 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. M. Holmes, secretary. N. K. Hubbard, O. H. Elmer, John Erickson, Frank Veits and Charles Cavileer were appointed a 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. Barber, of Manitoba, were elected honorary members.

Those present were George B. Winship, D. M. Holmes, 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. M. Hunt, J. G. Hamilton, John W. 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. Winship was elected president, N. K. Hubbard, Job Herrick, S. G. Comstock, James Nolan,

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 Herrick, Job Hcrrick, Henry Wcnans, F. J. Burnham, S. G. Comstock, James Holes, W. J. Bodkin, John Wold, Fred Ambs, Harry O'Neil, Jerome Daniels, J. C. Probert, J. B. Blanchard, Wm. W. Gamble, B. F. Mackall, W. 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. Ljchta, Hans Martinson, and Anthony Nolan were admitted to membership.

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, Harry 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. Probstfield, 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. Lounsbcrry, Geo. B. Winship, S. G. Roberts, S. F. Crockett, E. S. Tyler, Chas. Cavileer and David McCauIcy were appointed a committee to gather facts concerning the early settlement and history of the Red River Valley. This resolution 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. Winship presided in the absence of President Hubbard on account of illness. President 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. Gordon, Jorgcn 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 purpose 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 Veits; vice presidents, W. H. Moorhead, 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, Judson 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. Maloney, Frank Myrick, George B. Winship, Joe Parent, W. 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 Valley prior to July 1, 1879, should be eligible to membership, and that a permanent secretary should be elected. The secretary, president and George B. Winship were appointed a committee on constitution and by-laws, and were directed to take whatever steps were necessary to secure the incorporation of the association under the laws of North Dakota.

Frank Veits 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, secretary.

The association was finally incorporated by the action of the seventh annual meeting.

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE BED 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. L.
Treasurer—D. M. Holmes, Grand Forks, N. D.

Article V. This association may become subordinate to a state organization of old settlers; and associations subordinate to this may be organized in each of the Red River Valley counties in Minnesota and North Dakota, having purposes in harmony with this organization.

Article VI. This association may hold real and personal property not exceeding in value $10,000. It may receive bequests for the purpose of establishing an historical and biographical library, for preserving its records, publishing its proceedings, biographical sketches, etc. When 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 McCoy, James Carpenter, G 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., December 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 designated 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, 1871.
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.
James Hanrahan, McCauleyville, April, 1867.
John Cromety, Pembina, June, 1871.
John Fadden, Grand Forks, June, 1871.
Matt McGuinness, Georgetown, April, 1871.
William Budge, Pembina, June, 1870.
Michael Ferry, Breckenridge, September, 1868.
George H. Ames, Pembina, May, 1871.
George H. Fadden, Grand Forks, July, .1871.
Edward Williams, Grand Forks, June, 1871.
A. W. Nalstreim, Grand Forks, May, 1871.
W. C. Nash, Pembina, November, 1863.
Frank Veits, Georgetown, September, 1871.
Leon Surprise, Fort Abercrombie, December, 1867.
Nick Hoffman, Georgetown, April, 1860.
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, born at St. Joseph.
Andrew T. Nelson, Pembina, 1871.
Charles Cavileer, Pembina, 1851.
F. W. Manley, North Pembina, 1870.
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.

P. P. Nokken, Fargo, June, 1871.
H. C. N. Myhra, Richland County, June, 1871.
Asa Sargent, Caledonia, July, 1870.
P. S. Kelly, Caledonia, September, 1871.
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, 1873.
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, Moorhead, 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 1, 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 Rcinstad. Kindred, September 1, 1870.
Louis Hicks, Hickson, June 2, 1872.
Andrew McHench, Fargo, November 2, 1870.
Andrew Hicks Hickson, June 18, 1871.
I. H. Lamb, Moorhead, June, 1872.
J. H. Sharp, Moorhead, June, 1872.
Folsom Dow, Wahpeton, 1871.
B. F. Menkens, Moorhead, 1872.
Peter Hanson, Brcckenridge, 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, Brcckenridge, 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 Prcvost, 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. Gotchell, Frog Point, 1872.
James Twamley, Grand Forks, 1876.
C L. Gordon, Caledonia, 1871.
Jorgen Howard, Clay County, Minn., 1873.
J. F. Williams, Brcckenridge, Minn., 1875.
Robert Anderson, Grand Forks, 1871.
C. W. Morgan, Goose River, 1872.
D. Perkins, Grand Forks, 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.
Wm. 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.

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 Veits. We came together from Geneva, Ohio, to make our fortunes in the West. We proceeded 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 Minnesota, 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 excepting 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 townsite 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 Government employes connected with the custom house or the trader s store. There were two or three settlers' at Grand Forks, among them Nick Huffman. 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 Vermilion, S. Dak. But little land had been surveyed, 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 Company, 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 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 Northwest and led to its general occupation by traders. The John Jacob Astor Company, 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 Hudson'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 monthlv mails, that the svstcm of 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."

(Source: Early History of North Dakota, by Clement A. Lounsberry, 1919 - Transcribed by C. Anthony)