The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-05-21

become prosperous. Ifyou can take that
field for one month let me know at once"
Some objections were made by the writer
to this proposition, and some delay fol-
lowed, bat in July he set out for the new
field, leaving behind LaAIour county and
the james river. He stopped over night
OH his drive northward, ut Casselton, one
at Hillsboro, another at Grand Forks, the
next at Mimic and by the next evening
he reached st. Thomas. This was Satur-
day and cold, gloomy, rainy day. There
were then i'll st. Thomas, only three
buildings and q blacksmith shop. One of
the first men met on the ground was
Rev. G. A. Men. who has since figured
largely Ill the ecclesiastical history OF st.
Thomas, and who now, having taken to
himselfa help-mate, is vigorously prose-
cutting his work in Walhalla and the
regions round about. At st. Thomas 1
knew that was within half a days drive
of my future field. might have driven
on Sunday morning, and possibly held Il
service in the afternoon, but it always
seems to me that where Saturday night
overtakes Il traveller there he should re-
main until Monday morning. l might
have saved few dollars, MS others do, by
travelling OH Sunday, but what is that to
clear conscience. sin it thou shalt not
! do any work." That day was an impor-
tant day in the history of st. Thomas.
Brother NJ, if 1 mistake not, preached
his first sermon there that day, and that
afternoon the first Sunday school was
organized by Mr.. S. Willard, agent of the
Sunday school union. This was good
beginning. The prosperity of st. L.
to-day is due i'll a greater measure than
many think to its Sabbath schools and
sermons.
Early Monday morning set out OH my
journey, overlook the tracklayers busy at
work about four miles north of st. L., l
past McCabes" about 10 Il. Ill.,, and
dined about noon at the only house OH
the ground where now stands Hamilton.
1 asked the lady where Hamilton was to
be, she looked out through the door at
the open prairie and said "around about
here" and her words were literally tue.
About 3 D. IN. arrived ut the house OF
MIR. d. NJ. NJ, to which place had been
directed before left LaMo.re county.
The next day at noon dined at the only
boarding house in Bathgate. This was
Tuesday, July 18th, 1882. In the after
noon drove to Pcmbina to sec brother
Creswell, who at that time was Presby-
terrain bishop of, all this northern land,
but here was disappointed, brother G.
had gone to Moorhead to consult in re-
gard to the establishing of college for
North Dakota. returned next day to
Bathgate. and took up quarters with Mr..
and Mrs. P. f. NJ, where had a pleasant
home for the next two years.
Lest weary the reader, and wear out
the patience Of the printer, I shall close
my present lines with word about Bath
gate as it appeared at that day. There
were some seven small building COM
pleted, most of them on Fosters addition.
The carpenters were on that very day
putting in the window frames of the
Grand Union Hotel. NJ. & f., and A. &
B. and others were working at their
buildings on the west side OF Garfield ST.,
but OH the other side of Garfield street
believe there was then no signs of life.
The town on the whole appeared quito
ambitious. When the names-Bathgate
and Hamilton-came to HE, while was
yet in LaMoure county, hoped that the
latter and not the former would be my
future home, as the name fell on my cal
with much more music. When I came
howeI er, and found and saw the towns
Immediately changed my views. Bath
gate was much larger than any town
had seen on this line since left Grafton
To be sure in size it was not much "tc
brag off" only ten or twelve buildings O
any kind but it was metropolitan i'll sizt
compared with Hamilton. 1 very soor
caught the spirit of the town. Watched
with pride all its improvements, and cas-
a jealous eye on all the other towns
round about. One of the ambitious Bath
gatites met me soon after l entered
town and in an exciting way said to me
t" We are very glad to see minister
coming, we will have railroad in a few
days; we will very soon get ahead o
Pembina." There were great efforts
made just about that time to turn the
railroad away from the grade toward.
the Red river. Pembina was working q
this. Its great men with their grea
wealth and their influence were pulling
hard. The leading men OF Bathgate
sometimes trembled as they thought O
the possibility of this taking place. ]
somewhat shared in the anxiety, anc
was quite displeased with ministerial
brother in Pembina who said to me il
conversation" Il you are to take Bath
gate and Hamilton, you will, suppose
live at Hamilton" ''No," answered 81
am goingt to live at Bathgate." He re-
piled, although the event did not show
that to be wholly true. "No You will be
LIVING at Hamilton, we have just got q
telegram from Winnipeg that the rail.
road is going to turn from Hamilton to
Pcmbina." DANIEL WILLIAMS.
HaYilton, April %.
II m