Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-02-02
EARLY HISTORY,
Interesting Story Of the Trials of the
Pioneer Farmers of North
Dakota.
Historical Paper of Interest and
Value Read at Grain Growers
Meeting.

Among the interesting historical
papers delivered before the grain
growers association It Fargo, was that
of Editor Iamphere of Moorlead. who
told of early farming operations in the
Rer River valley as follows:
The beginning of wheat raising in
the Red River valley was in the Sell
Kirk settlement north Of the boundary
line, lear Fort Garry, now Winnipeg.
In 1911 the Earl of Selkirk purchased
from the Hudson Bay company ii vast
tract Of land in Manitoba, including
The land afterwards occupied by the
Selkirk settlement. The purchase
was subject ITO the Indian claim to it's
title. About the time OF this purchase
there was Il compulsory exodus of the
inhabitants of the county of Sutler-
land. Scotland, from the estates of the
Duchess of Sutherland; and Lord Sell
kirk took a large number of these
evlcted persons under his protection
anu forwarded them to settle on the
land he had purchased on the Red
liver. They arrived on the bay in
the fall OF the year, and spent the Win
ter at Churchill, on the western shore
of the bay. In the following spring
they advanced inland, crossed Lake
Winnipeg, and assembled the Red River
of the North.
In 1917 Lord Selkirk came over and
visited the settlement. Besides hay
ing Il desire to see how the settlers
were prospecting, he desired to nego-
tiate for the eXtinguishment of the In
dian title to the land he had purchased.
After much difficulty he negotiated a
treaty with the Chippcwas and Crees,
which treaty was signed July IS. 1917.
Ihe consideration was the annual pay
ment of 200 pounds Of tobacco, half to
the C%hippewas and half to the Crees.
The conditions in the territory at this
time were so Wrctched that the Can
adian government interfered and ap-
pointed Il commissioner to make in
V~eStiSatiOn, who recommended an
amicable settlement and a union of in
terestS by the companies, which had
been reduced to the verge Of bank
ruptcy. 1t was Il long time. however,
before action was taken. Lord Sell
kirk died in 1921, and the Right Hon.
Edward Ellice succeeded to his rights.
He was one Of the principal stock
holders of the Northwest company,
anu the Canadian government IN
suited with him and under it's aus
pieces he instituted negotiations. which.
after many difficulties, resulted in a
harmonious union between Hudson's
Bay company. the latter having before
combined with the X. Y. company.
The agreement went into effect in 1921,
and from this date the opposition tC
the settlers was withdrawn.
Lord Selkirk on his arrival in 1871
had provided the settlers with agri.
cultural implements, seed grain. and
other necessarfeS, but the season was
so far advanced that little produce
was grown in 1917 and a famine en-.
sued. The people again returned tt
Pembina. where they passed the win
ter, subsisting as best they could OF
tne produce of the chase. The mex
spring they went back to the lands
ploughed and seeded them. All enter
tanned high hopes for a bountiful har
vest. but were ITO he sorely diSappointe,
as an army Of l0cuSts made it's appear
ance and in one night destroyed ever,
veStige of verdlre in the fields. Ih,
lOcustS left their eggs and in 1919 wer
more numerous than in the precedin:
year, making agriculture impossible
The settlers again took refuge at Penn
bina, and Lord Selkirk imported 25(
bushels Of seed grain from the UNITED
States at IN expense of 1000 pounds
and this, which was sown in the yea:
of 1920, prouuced a bountiful crop il
the autumn Of that year. Thus i
, may be said that the first wheat tina
was ever successfully grown and har
vested in the Red River valley was IL
the season OF 1920 by the Selkirkers.
The seeu wheat was purchased a
Prairie du Chen, Michigan, ant
shipped on 4 macknaw boat, wfhicl
was q boat built sharp at both ends
with a narrow treadway on each sidt
for tine men to walk as they propelled
the boat by poles when possible, bur
had mast ready for sail whenever fav.
Orable wind offered: also oars were
provided for deep water rowing. This
boat and cargo Of wheat, oats. barley
etc. was taken through by water the
entire distance. going up the Mime.
sofa river, then called the st. Peters
ITO Big Stone lake. Fortunately there
was water enough on the divide be.
tween Big Stone and Lake Traverse to
float the boat and the larger part Of the
cargo, thence into the Bots de Sioux
and Red River of the North, down
which the boat was sailed to the Sell
kirk settlement near Fort Garry. This
seed wheat we are informed by good
authority was Scotch fife AMI it is
probably the parent Of our farmers
No. 1 hard.
In August, 1851, Charles Cavalier
arrived at Pembina. At that date the
Red River valley, except the Selkirk
settlement. was a howling waste
throughout it's whole length and
breadth. Then there were only four