Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-26
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 at Fargo, was. that
of Editor Lamphere of Moorhead. 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 Sci
kirk settlement north of the boundary
line. near Fort Garry, now Winnipeg.
In 1911 the Earl of Selkirk purchased
from the Hudson Bay company a vast
tract of land in Manitoba, including
the land afterwards occupied by the
Selkirk settlement. The purchase
was subject ito the Indian claim to its
title. About the time of this purchase,
there was a compulsory exodus of the
inhabitants of the county of Suther-
land. Scotland, from the estates Of the
Duchess of Sutherland; and Lord Sell
kirk took a large number of these
evicted persons under his protection
and forwarded them to settle on the
land he had purchased on the Red
river. They arrived on the bay in
t1Ao 1dl1 VI LIZ SOol, HlIlL SpC1l liz VI
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 hav-
ing a 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 Chippewas and Crees,
which treaty was signed July 10, 1917.
The consideration was the annual pay
ment of 200 pounds of tobacco, half to
the ChippewaS and half to the Crees.
The conditions in the territory at this
time were so Wretched that the Can
adian government interfered and ap-
pointed a commissioner to- make in
yestigatiOn, who recommended an
amicable settlement and a union of in
terests by the companies, which had
been reduced to the verge of bank
ruptcy. It was a long time, however,
before action was taken. Lord Sci
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
and the Canadian government CON
suited with him and under it's aus
pieces he instituted negotiations. wfrich
after many difficulties, resulted in
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 tt
the settlers was withdrawn.
Lord Selkirk ON his arrival in 1871
had provided the settlers with agri-
cultural implements, seed grain, and
other necessaries, but the season was
so far advanced that little produce
was grown in 1917 and a famine en-
sued. The people again returned tC
Pembina, where they passed the win
ter. subsisting as best they could on
the produce of the chase. The next
spring they went back to the lands
plolghed and seeded them, an enter
tanned high hopes for a bountiful har-
vest, but were ITO be sorely disappointed
as an army of locusts made it's appear
ance and in n night destroyed every
veStige eff verdure in the fields. The
~locusts left their eggs and in 1919 were
more numerous than in the preceding
year. making agriculture impossible
The settlers again took refuge at Penn
bina, and Lord Selkirk imported 21(
bushels of seed grain from the United
States at an expense of 1000 pounds
and this. which was sown in the veal
of 1920, produced a bountiful crop i'll
the utum of that year. Thus ii
may be said that the first wheat thai
was ever successfully grown and har.
vested in the Red River valley was in
the season OF 1920 by the Selkirkers.
The seeu wheat was purchased al
Prairie du CHEN, Michigan, anG
shipped on a macknaw boat, which
was a boat built sharp at both ends
with a narrow treadway on each side
for the men to walk as they propelled
the boat by poles when possible. bu1
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, her called the st. Peters
to Big Stone lake. Fortunately there
was water enough on the divide be
tween Big Stone and Lake Traverse tx
float the boat and the larger part Of thu
: cargo. thence into the Bots de Sioux
and Red River of the North, dow
!, which the boat was sailed to the Sci
kirk settlement ear Fort Garry. Thi:
seed wheat we are informed by gooS
authority was Scotch fife and it il
probably the parent of our farmers
mo. ! hard.
} In August, 1851, Charles Cavalie
= arrived at Pembina. At that date tn,
: Red River valley, except the Selkirl
settlement. was a bowling wash
throughout its whole length an.
breadth. Then there We're only folI
l white men in that section, namely, n
W. Kittson, Joseph Rolette, Georg'
: Morrison and Charles Cavalier. Their
, We're 1880 or 1900 half breeds an,
!, Mr.. Cavalier says he was born anon
: the Wyandotte Indians in Ohio an,
1 brought up near them. that the Indian