Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-12-26
kota soil, and fort or trading post
seems to have been established there

kota soil, and fort or trading post
seems to have been established there
as early as 1897, by Chabouillier, a
French trader, there was no permanent
settlement till 1901, when Capt. Henry,
an agent Of the Hudson Bay company,
post on the ground after
ward selected by Maj. Hatch for his
camp in 1868, and in 1871 by James
]. Hill for the establishment Of his
bonded warehouse. From this point
Capt. Henry established trading posts
at Grand Forks, Park River and other
points in the valley, later visiting the
Missouri and the Mouse rivers.
In 1911 Thomas Douglas, earl Of Sell
kirk, purchased large tract Of land
of the Hudson Bay company. His head
quarters were at Fort Douglas, near
Winnipeg, and his settlements extended
up both the Assinaboine and the Red
rivers. The settlers were Scots evict-
ed from the estates Of the duchess Of
Sutherland. They made settlement in
1912, and at one time their settlements
embraced over 200 families. The grass
hoppers destroyed their crops and they
were driven to Pembina for food about
1914. In 1916 they had become so
firmly established that the Northwest
company agents determined to drive
them out, and failing to incite the In
dams to do so, undertook to brighten
them off by Disgusting as Indians. La
ter that year they massaered Gov. Sem
pie and several Of the Hudson Bay
employees and some Of the settlers,
when the Selkirk colonists again sought
refuge at Pembina and built fort
W. o,,%o %1 1,o f1,n nYsi-
can side, when the international boun-
Diary was established, was torn down
in 1923, and the Scotch members Of
the colony retired across the line. There
was one party Of Swiss cOlOnists in
the Selkirk settlements. They mainly
passed up the river and became the
early settlers in Minnesota.
The Hudson Bay company was char
tered by Charles II. in 1910. He grant
ed to Prince Rupert and fourteen as
sociates all Of the land on the Hudson
bay and on streams tributary to it with
full power to sell and govern. Their
system embraced governor, chief fac
tors, or principal traders, and general
regulations deemed essential for the
peace and safety of property. They is
sued currency and were mOnarchs OF
the country. The land was known as
Rupert's Land and their possessions ex-
tended up the Red river to Lake TRAY
erse, until cut short by the establish
tment~-of the international boundary,
A rival company was organized in 1888
at Montreal, and this company fought
it's way into the Hudson bay territory
and organized the breeds so far as pos
sible to contend against the old COM
pany, but the massacre of the settlers
in 1916 brought so much adverse criti-
cism upon them that they were finally
consolidated with the Hudson Bay COM
pany, which continued to accupy the
country till about 1875.
The discharged employees of these two
companies, with the assistance Of
American capitalists organized an
other company called the Colum-
bia, which had trading posts all through
North Dakota and Minnesota, with
headquarters at Lake Traverse. Other
independent traders came in, Recontre
establishing posts on the James river,
and in 1841 Commodore Kittson arrived
at Pembina with four Red river carts
loaded with goods and commenced lay
ing the foundation for his colossal for
tune. In 1842 he was joined by Joseph
Rolette. Trade was developed to such
an extent that in 1851 port of entry
was established at Pembina, and
Charles Cavalier was appointed collec-
tor of customs and took up his resi-
dence at Pembina, where he still re-
sides, and is the oldest settler in North
Dakota of pure white blood. The Red
river carts were mounted by Capt.
Henry in 1902.
In 1858 military post was estab-
lished at Fort Abercrombie. 1t was
occupied but one year, when Secretary
Of War Floyd, as part Of his plan to
despoil the North and prepare the
South for rebellion, dismantled the
fort, sold the buildings for a song and
built in 1861 and maintained until after
the construction Of the Northern Pa
citic railroad made it of no further
use. The dead were then removed to
Fort Lincoln, and that in turn aban-
doned. Fort Lincoln, near Bismarck,
and Seward, near jamestown, were in
cidents Of the Northern Pacific con-
strlction, as Totten, Ransom and other
forts were Of the Indian war Of 1862.
Abercrombie afforded a place Of refuge
to the settlers of North Dakota during
the Indian war as Yankton did in South
Dakota.
Resulting from the purchase of the
Louisiana tract in 1903. an expedition
was Immediately started out to ex-
plore the Missouri portion of our new
possessions. The lower portions of
the Missouri river were in possession
of the Sioux, and most Of the North
ern part was occupied by the Man.
dams, Arrickarees and Gros Ventres.
They were then powerful tribes. The
Sioux were given to the use Of intoxi-
eating liquors. hut the Mandans were
the original prohibitionists, and boy
cotted even those who offered them
intoxicating liquors. They depended
largely upon corn for their subsist-
ence. They had few arms, and ell
deavored to tire out the antelope by
running them down with relays of
ponies. Tho buffalo We're principally
killed by chasing them over high
bluffs, where 1t was hoped they would
become crippled or drowned. The
heAr WAS monarch of all he surveyed: