The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-06-18
Ward County Old
Settlers Picnic
Indenendent Representative Visits the Historic Spot No
Mans Land-The First Post Office Fixtures
What the Old Timers Were Doing

What the Old ii
The Ward County Old Settlers an
nual encampment, held at No Mans
land a mile the other side of Burl-
ington, came to q close Sunday art
ernoon, after a five days session, when
the thirty tents were silently folded.
and the first makers Of Imperial
Ward County's history, wendell their
way to their homes.
To appreciate fully the beautiful
wooded grounds, one must see them
for himself. The writer, who had new
er before, had the pleasure Of visit
ing the scene, left Minot Friday even
ing in an auto and in less than half
am hour arrived at the historic spot.
Underneath the beautiful elms, a
championship game of pitching horse
shoes was being played. Little child
rem were enjoying themselves in the
numerous swings. Prof. Rognlie had
ji-st ved srom Miaot and was a.
b-s. 18th MS trrstv cid
$50, Ire oil timers.
ssa,lsht
violin A
large ll,.,lorIu Aau Deen made under
the thickest of the trees, and here the
boys and girls of the old days, trip
ped the light fantastic-but not quite
so lightly as they did a quarter Of a
century ago. Imagine that staid old
pioneer, James Johnson, the president
and founder of the association join in
an old fashioned dance with Mrs. w.
L. Millar, while the crowd stood by
and took few pointers. It was with
considerable difficulty that John Ma
loney was induced to come out on the
platform, but when he did, it was
plainly seen that he was no novice
at the art. Martin Jacobson was the
biggest "kid' in the lot and kept
things in an uproar.
They have only three changes to
each dance now days." Mr.. jacobson
explained, "but I'll tell you, We'll have
dance like we had Is years ago"
Then only members of the Association
were allowed on the floor for that
particular dance and the five changes
were made. It took just three quarters
Of an hour to finish the dance.
"A large crowd from Minot drove
Qlt to the grounds every day, and
t0ey were given a warm welcome. The
hospitality was of the right sort, such
as was known twenty-five years ago.
when everybody was welcome to ev-
erybody's house, and when no one
was allowed to go hungry when there
was any food that might be divid.
ed.
AS you shook the hand Of the old
boy who came here when there were
only Indians and buHaloes, and looked
into his steady, honest eye, you could
not help but realize that here was a
man who did not know fear, and
man OF an honest heart 1t took you
back asquarter of a-century ago when
such things as telephones, automo-
biles, improved farm machinery, mod
ern houses, were unknown and you
wondered how these first settlers man
aged to get along as well as they did.
Several nationalities were repre-
ssated at No Mans land last week.
yet they met on the level as true Am
orleans. James Johnson was known as
The King Of Denmark, and the folds
Of his tent were thrown back to ALL
ss{im" took considerable delight in
smoking his genuine old fashioned
pipe, brought from Denmark, so large
that when once filled, it was good for
half days smoke. In front of Mr.
Johnson's tent a crowd played Nor
wegian whist, for hours at time.
and when the shades of evening, made
it no longer possible to indulge in
the game, the table was removed to
the interior of the tent where big
brilliant light prevented the stacking
of cards.
The Emperor of Germany, com.
monty known as John Ehr, was ruler
Of all that he surveyed, so long as
he did not encroach on the territory
OF the King Of Denmark, or the
Kings Own Ruler of Ireland, another
colony, Ed. Kelly. By the way, Kelly
had his old kettle, the one which he
brought to this country, and every day
the smell Of spare ribs and sauer
kraM whetted up the appetites Of ev
ery0hes aBut in the fresh air Of the
woo1s, appetites, generally speaking
did got need any coaxing, and they
wer4 satisfied with the best that this
cpu4try affords. Ice boxes kept the
vict1hls in fine shape. A good well had
e6>dug and the free and easy life
OF tie camper-out, well repaid every
eno4 that had been pade to make
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