Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-12-26
NORTH DAKOTA.

a I0aI IRON Ilo HlStOTy vi NOrCu
Dakota by Col. Lounsberry, Editor
of the Record, North Dakota's His
torical Magazine - The Louisiana
Purchase-North Dakota Success
lively Claimed by France and
Spain, Then a Part Of Louisiana,
Later Of Missouri, Michigan, Wis
consin and Minnesota Pembina,
Fargo and Bismarck in the Mime
apolis District Only As Years Ago.
The history of North Dakota Is
SO interviewer with that of South Da-
kota that 1t will be impossible to write
Of the former without first giving the
outlines in the history Of the latter.
Both Dakotas were embraced in
tract of land purchased by the United
States in 1903 Of France for the sum
Of $15,OOO,O0O. Until 1867 it was claim
ed by France and then ceded to Spain.
In 1900 it was re-ceded to France
and in 1903 sold to the United States
as stated.
That part of this purchase lying
south Of Arkansas was designated as
the Territory of Orleans. That north
was styled the District of Louisiana
The District of Louisiana embraced all
Of the present states of Arkansas,
Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota,
Montana, Kansas, North and South Da-
kota, Indian Territory, and parts Of
Colorado and Wyoming. The govern
%ol -, T,,1
Territory.
In July, 1905, this tract became the
Territory of Louisiana, and in 1872
the Territory of Missouri. In 1885
the Territory Of Michigan was organ
tied, and that portion of the two Da-
kotas east of the Missouri river be-
came a part Of Michigan, with the
western part called Mandan Territory.
Two years later Wisconsin was organ
lied, and the two Dakotas became st.
Croix county, Wisconsin. In 1849 Min
nesota was created, and the eastern
half of the two Dakotas were in the
legislative district with Minneapolis.
= In 1851 Minnesota was divided into
mine counties and the eastern half Of
North Dakota was in Pembina county,
Minnesota. The western half was still
Mandan, but in 1854 became a part Of
Nebraska. Norman w. Kittson repre-
scented North Dakota in the Minnesota
legislature in 1852. Joseph Rolette and
Antoine Gingras of Pembina were his
colleagues in the house, Kittson being
In the council.
In 1853 when Minnesota was admit
ted to the Union, the eastern half Of
North Dakota was without name or
legal existence, and the western half
was Nebraska. Senator Graham N.
Fitch of Indiana introduced bill to
create the Territory of Dakota, but 1t
failed In 1860 Senator James S.
Greene of Missouri reintroduced the
measure, and it became a law by the
March 2, 1861. May q, 1861, William
Jayne of Illinois, having been appoint
ed governor by President Lincoln, ar
rived at Yankton, and the Territory Of
Dakota commenced it's civil life. It
has been asserted that the name is a
Sioux word, signifying "allied tribes"
This is not true as to it's Specification.
"Otah" whenever used in the Sioux
language means plenty. Minne-otah,
from which Minnesota came, means
many waters, not smoky or cloudy
waters, as given in the books. Poho-
cotah, La-cotah and Dak-cotah all have
the same origin and general meaning.
Applied to people they mean many
people, Applied to the country, "a
land of plenty" 1t was because Of this
meaning of the word that North Da-
kota, being land Of plenty, in the
truest and best sense, refused to give
up the name, insisting upon being
styled North Dakota if the southern
part of the state was unwilling to take
another name.
The name Pembina, first applied to
this portion of Minnesota, and in 1867
to the Red river valley, extending as
far west as Nelson county, is said to
have originated from berry growing
on the Pembina river, but this is not
the case. Pemmican was the "bread''
Of the early settlers. 1t was made by
cutting the buffalo meat in strips,
hung in the open air until partially
dried, then whipped or pounded into
shretls on the hides Of the buffalo.
Sacks were then made of the buffalo
skins, the buffalo fat heated and these
tl..u SIN eds OF meat put into it until
it became thick, when it was turned
into the sacks and sewed up, and
would keep for years. The marrow
fat was used for putting up the tender
oins, and into this berries were stirred
making the berry pemmican. There
fore, pemmican in general way meant
something to eat The Catholic mis-
sionaries had overrun the country and
most of the voyageurs and traders were
devoted to that faith. The Holy Eu
charist was celebrated ut stated times
and the hunters made long trips to at
tend, and they came to call this celebra
ton the "Pembina," meaning blessed
bread, or, as Senator Boyle expressed
It, Sacred Bread.
While there Ia In history, there was
settler MT Pembina rs early as 1850
who was reported still living there II
1923 by Lisut. Long, who at that time
established the international boundary
and for the first time officially display
Cd the stars and stripes on North Da