The Dickinson press., 1908-10-10
EARLIEST
SETTLERS

NOmerS 70 missouri oIOpe. Ol0-
Timer Relates Personal Knowl-
edge of Early Days.
1t may seem to the average reader
that the history of North Dakota, or any
part of it, has become hackneyed
theme. However that may be. there are
those in various parts Of the country to
whom the greater part of the earlier
years, especially since the country west
of the Missouri river has been settled,
the recounting of the manner in which
the country was first settled, and what
was done and how, will prove interesting
reading; to these the following items of
history and the doines of persons that
came early and stayed, may seem like
story of romance. nevertheless. the people
whose names are mentioned are most of
them still living among us. and their
stories are to be part of the history of
the West Missouri Country for all
time
This article was written by G. S. Cryne
of Gladstone, who is. himself, one of
the old timers and man well acquainted
with the Slope and its history.
Morton county was the first county
west of the Missouri river to be detached
from Brleigh and organized. The viii
lage of Mandan was plated by the
Northern Pacific Ry. Co. in 1879 and
was made the county seat of Morton
county. This city was named for a
tribe of Indians that formerly lived near
the site of the city; the remnants of
whose civilization were found in num-
erous mounds that have been excavated
from time to time in the interest of
science: many of. the contents of these
mounds are preserved in the museum of
the State Historical society at Bismarck,
and consist of impliments of the chase
and agriculture, rude specimens of pot
terry, ornaments, etc.
Major VIM. N. Mitchell bears the dis
tinction Of being the first settler at Man.
dan, who came and erected house
there before the town was plated. After
the town was plated Michael Long and
Harry Bratney erected buildings and
were rapidly followed by others. At the
end of March, 1879. there were IS build
ings, and the town had population of
fully 300 inhabitants. Charles Cushman
was Mandan's first postmaster. Mandan
stands on a fiat some. distance west of
the Missouri river and near the Heart
river, and is surrounded by high hills on
three sides. As soon as the Northern
Pacific Ry. had crossed the Missouri
river Mandan was made division point
which gave the place importance.
The settlement of the West Missouri
Country" however, did not commence in
good earnest until the first part of 1882
then simultaneously from various parts
of the middle and western states, and
from Canada, there came people who
took h0mesteads and entered various
lines of trade, in the little hamlets that
sprung up around the points that the
railway company made their stations.
Colonization schemes settled some of the
first places; viz, Green River (renamed
Gladstone,) Glen Ullin, New Salem and
Hebron.
Dickinson (named for cousin of H.
l. DickinsoD was among the first viii
lages and was made the freight division
of the Missouri division before there was
a dwelling or store building erected in
the town. H. L. Dickinson occupied his
homestead (the seA of sec. 4, twp. 139,
range 96) in the fall of 1881 and erected
comfortable dwelling thereon and
raised some crops on sod the following
season.
The first building to be erected in
the village was what of late years has
been known as the dispatcher Office. .
This building was at first used for that
purpose and as an eating house for the
accommodation of the operatives and
patrons of the railway company. E. F.
Messersmith conducted the restaurant in
the spring Of 1882, he having come to
the town in the capacity Of caterer with
the first of the railway officials and oper-
atives. The McGinleys, McDonough,
Lenneville, Grantier, and many other
people that have since been identified
with the growth of Dickinson came in
1881, and have remained to grow up with
the city Of Dickinson.
A. 7. Crowl, however, takes precedent
as the old timer he having been one
Of Thomas force Of mounted infantry
which were used to pacificate the Sioux
Indians after the malicious outbreak In
Minnesota in 1862.
Mr. CF0wl was with General Thomas
force until Fort Rice on the Missouri
was reached by Sully' 8 force as It came;
up the river in 1863. then he was under
General Sully on the trip up the Cannon