Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-08-11
North Dakota's Agricultural Display at Worlds Fair.
INVENT YEARS. AGO.

TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Extracts From Il Letter From Hon. Jerry
Stevens.
Old timers will be interested in the
following article from the pen of Hon.
Jerry Stevens, ex.state senator, and old.
timer. published in Saturdays Fargo
Forum:
Having Just read and re-read the item in
the Bismarck Weekly Tribune of dates the
18th and 21st, headed "Twenty Years Ago."
it calls to my mind some scenes and inci-
dents that came under my own personal
observation at that time and in tact twen-
ty-two years ago. And although these
"reminiscences are not all, strictly speaking
Dakota "reminiscences, yet they all call to
mind some noted characters who figured
prominently in the affairs of the country
along the Northern Pacific, both at that
time and since; indeed some of the parties
the pioneers of Fargo. Some moved on and
were among the first on the ground when
the scenes mentioned III the Tribune
twenty wears ago. occurred. Some are still
identified with the interests OF Fargo, Others
at Bismarck, while others, although it is sad
to record it, have gone to their final home,
and l believe no old timer and true pioneer
can recall the events of those early years in
history without a feeling OF sadness when
he thinks OF the change that has occurred
since then, and those brave pioneers that
have been called home after laying the
foundation for a peaceful and prosperous
civilization in this then new and wild
country.
On the morning Of the 4th day of July.
1871, at about 5 o'clock the writer of this
article. landed at the foot Of Jackson street,
st. Paul. having made the trip from a
point Just opposite Dubuque. | was on a
steamer called the minnesota" and being
in St. Paul, and having ONE horses,
wagons and other effects on board to care
for, naturally accepted the first hotel ac-
Communications offered, and as a result
found ourselves domiciled for the day, at
what was then known as the "Wild Hunter
Hotel,'' an old landmark that has long since
been removed to make room for a more
slightly structure. We spent the day in
and around st. Paul, IN tact 1t was no
trouble for a young man to see about all
there was to be seen in st. Paul in one day
in 1871, so on the morning Of July 9Th we
started out for the west, our objective point
being somewhere in Becker county on the
Northern Pacific route; we passed through
st. Anthony. Anoka, and other points east
of the Mississippi. until we crossed at st.
NlOuu lCkO We kNAS SAS 0SAAAlN 10
and proceeded on our way soon to encOun-
ter other, and to US at that time, grander
scenes. Not far out from st. Cloud we saw
the first stage coach in our experience and
at once began to realize tnat we were
indeed "going west" A few miles farther
the most unearthly and hideous noises we
had ever heard, and of course wondered
for a time what it could be, but soon learn
ed its secret when rounding a point in the
road, we came in full view of a train of
Red River OK carts, each drawn by a single
OK and loaded with furs and pelts, on their
way to market; we soon understood the
cause of the noise when we saw the carts
and noted the Il Of their construction
and learned that they were never creased.
Our trip was interesting to US all from
this on, there being nothing to mar its
pleasure excepting the sWarms of mos
quitoes that bothered us nights and were
through Sank Centre, Osakis, Alexandria,
Chippewa, Evansville, Pomedeterre and
Fergus Falls, thence north along and
around the west and north shore Of Peli-
can lake, striking the line of the Mp. r. r.
about the middle of July, 1871. at a point
about four miles west of what is now De-
troit City, and what was then termed "the
being practically the ~westernmOst point
where grading was being done. A large
number of men had gathered here and a
tent town had sprung up. as if by magic.
"Here we first met. and will record the
names of some who figured prominently in
The claim on which we found this tent
town, was held by l.. D: Berger, who had
erected a log building thereon and kept a
hotel, and who afterwards did a mercan-
tile business in Fargo, and later in Grafton
where he now lies buried. The first nickeps
worth Of goods we ever owned on the line
of the n. p, We bought in the store of Flet-
cher & Bly,. who had a large supply store
at this "cut," and we remember George
Thomas as their bookkeeper; we also re.
member a middle aged and we'll pro-
portioned man. around there who seemed
to be, and in fact was n Of
the proprieters, but we don't remem-
taire'' there. as we have around the Sheri-
dan house at Bismarck; he too is now a
resident of Bismarck. Hubbard, Ray
mond and Allen also had a general store
here in a tent, and did a large business.
They too will be remembered by early
settlers at Fargo and Bismarck, in fact N.
Of. Among their employees we remember
at that time one Ward Bill. who it is re-
ported is going to Australia with Capt.
Dan. Another name occurred to us in
connection with that Of Ward Bill, that OF
Belmont Clark, who later constituted the
firm of Clark & Bill, and did business at
jamestown, and later at Bismarck, from
which point Clark went to the Black Hills,
since which time l know not what has be-
come of him.
There were seventeen tent saloons at
this time, all doing a prosperous business
apparently. One in particular l remem-
Der as a saloon and dance house where we
attended the first religious services in that
new country, where Father Gurley. an
more than one OCCASION; and 1t is but due
to the inmates Of that house to say the
services were conducted with respect and
apparent solemnity. Father Gurley will