Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-11-23
NOTES OF EARLY
POLITICAL HISTORY
"reminiscences OF Early Days in the Politics
of the Territory Recalled by the Death
of RiChland County Man.

Wahpeton Globe: Last week the
Globe briefly mentioned the death OF
Hon, d. Wilmot Smith of Brecken-
ridge. which occurred in New York
state on Nov. 5th. Mr.. Smith was
horn in New York state on Nov. 3.
l,,l. and was therefore II years and
days old at his death The remains
we're taken to St. Paul, where the
body was cremated at Mount Forest
cemetery last week, agreeable to the
request of the deceased.
Mr.. Smith with Ransom Phelps,
nephew, arrived at Breckenridge in
1869. but soon came to Wahpeton,
then known as Chahinkapa, and was
the third man to locate here. the nrst
being M. T. Rich and William Root,
both now dead. Mr.. Smith hled on
the west half of the northwest quarter
of section and the east half OF the
northeast quarter of section Z. IN
october, 1871. This land lies north
of what is now Dakota avenue, and
comes up to the alley line between
Sixth and Seventh street. Mr.. Smith
had a claim shanty which stood about
where the Milwaukee depot now
stands. and old timers used to tell OF
some of the lively times passed under
Mr.. Smiths hospitable and bachelor
roof Mr.. Smith was appointed py
act of the territorial legislature IN
1871 as one of the commissioners to
lay out a territorial road from Wah-
peton (then Chahinkapa) to Owego
on the Sheyenne river, the first road
laid out in Richland county Owego
long since disappeared from the map,
and we cannot locate the site. He
was appointed by Gov. Burbank win
NJ. T. Rich and ]. w. Blanding as
commissioners for Richland county,
and the first meeting was held at M. 1.
Rich's house on Nov. 25, 1873, almost
80 years ago. At that time there was
considerable strife over the location
of the county seat. Mr. Rich wanted
the county seat on his land, Mr.. Smith
wanted it on his land, and william
Root wanted il on his land. Mr.. Smith
decided that the way to get the coun-
ty seat was to go to the legislature as
a member. and secure its location.
Accordingly he became candldate
for the house against Hon. Judson
LaMoure of Pembina. The legislative
district at that time included all of the
Red River Valley as far west as
Jamestown. One thousand and twen'
ty votes were cast at the election, o.
which Mr.. Smith received 800 to La
Moure's 22O, but LaMoure's luck wa
as good in politics in those days a.
in the present. He found that Smiths
residence was on Indian land, lan'
that had not been ceded by the indians
to the government. He secured tn
required evidence and went to Yank
ton, the territorial capitol, and nle
contest, and Smith was prompt
unseated, and LaMoure was seatee
Nothing was done by the legislator
that session about locating the count
seat permanently at Wahpeton.
1876 Mr.. Smith was again candidat
for legislative honors. The hight le
the permanent location OF the count
seat had by that time become intel
esting. Mr.. Smith had many friene
among the prominent citizens her
who were in deal to defeat Mr.. Ric
John @. Burbank, then young ma
and very popular, was clerNng
John Kotschevar's store He nj
taken but little part in politics, D
knew a thing or two about handlil
caucuses and conventions. and n
sympathy was with Mr.. Rich. A ma
convention had been called to ele
delegates to the nominating conve
ton to be held at Fargo. Mr. III
felt that things were going again
his interests, and decided to put up
fight. He went to Burbank and WI
Kotschevar's aid induced Burbank
become a candidate for the nomin
ton. They went to work among I
boys" and soon had things gol
some. Burbank's headquarters we
established In the cellar OF kotscf
vars store, and as fast as his endo1
ers were secured they were taken
headquarters and introduced IN
art Of electing delegates. At that til
there were but few settlers IN
county who could be reached, so II