The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-15
LOUNSBERRY TALKS
Of The EARLY DAYS
PIONEER NORTH DAkoTAN RE-
LATEs MANY INTERESTING
INCIDENTS CONNECTED
WITH THE WILD AND
WooLY PERloD.

agent of the general landoffice some
years ago. The colonel Is now a clerk
In the general landoftice at washing
ton, but still holds his residence in
this state, and states that he intends
to resign next spring and begin active
work In the state again.
In an interview with a Tribune re-
porter the colonel stated that he ar
rived at Bismarck thirty-six years ago
today for the purpose or establishing
The Bismarck Tribune. The North
ern Pacific railroad was then under
construction. He came from Fargo on
a construction train to about where
Steele is. and thence on hAndcar to
the end of the track, and by team
from there to Bismarck. He looked
the ground oyer, made his arranges
ments for building lot and his news
paper outfit and lumber came in on
the first. train, about June II. The
old Tribune building, afterwards de-
stroyed by fire, was erected, and the
first number of the paper appeared
July 6, 1873. Charles Lombard was
the printer who got out that issue.
II was a six column quarto, printed
on a Taylor cylinder press. And 1T
was lively bunch.
Bismarck consisted then Of a few
buildings scattered along Main street,
mostly log shacks or tents, erected
the summer before, the tents having
been mainly boarded over to make
them habitable for winter. There was
two general merchandise stores, one
on the corner where the First Ma
tional bank building stands, where
Shaw & Cathart had general stock
and were doing an exchange business,
so far as cashing checks and giving
checks on st. Paul was concerned.
Raymond e. Allen were Just opening
up their business in frame build
ingS Dunn & Macarthur had drug
store, also in frame building. z. A.
williams had a log office but was
away at Yankton as a member of
the legislature and came home on the
first boat. The postoffice was still
Edwinton, and the county was not or
ganized. The Capital hotel was run
by r. r. Marsh in a log building.
There were fifteen or twenty saloons
and gambling houses. On the first
Sunday after the train came in the
Presbyterian church was organized.
The service was conducted bv Rev.
d. C. Lyons Of ST. Paul. and Rev. /.
o. Sloan. The persons who were en-
rolled as members were Henry e.
Douglas, ]. w. Fisher, /. G. Adams
and C. A. Lounsberry The colonel
states that he joined with the others
because he wanted 1t understood from
the beginning that his influence would
be thrown with the better forces. In
later years he went with the Episco-
palians, according to the faith Of the
family.
1t is Colonel Lounsberry's belief
that this was the first church organi-
zation in North Dakota, and the
Presbyterian church structure, except
that o. rival interest hastened the
construction of Congregational
church building, temporary struc-
ture that was later used for a school
house, the Congregationalists having
withdrawn from the field when they
ian organization.
The church was organized in tent
erected by James W. Crummey of St.
Paul for gambling purposes. 1t had
not been used as yet for any purpose.
All of the saloons and gambling
houses in town closed out of respect
for the church, opening up later in
the day as usual. But during two
hours or more Bismarck was as quiet
as a country Sunday school. After
the church was over the two ministers
went to Fort Abraham Lincoln and
conducted services there. During the
services there the Indians made "a
raid on the cattle herd grazing just
and lively slxirmish ensued in which
one Indian, at least, was killed, and
some Of their ponies captured. The
herd was also retaken.
Few days later as the surveyors
were starting on the line of the sur
vey west OF the river, the Indians at
tackled the surveyors. The troops
from the fort gave chase and seven
Indians were left dead on the field.
II was the Indian idea that the whites
were welcome to possess and occupy
the land east Of the ffissouri because
1t gave them opportunities to trade
at their villages. They had been
charged excessive prices bv the trad
ers and robbed. as they thought, in
fixing the value Of their peltries The
stores at the villages had treated
them fairly and they wanted them,
but the west Missouri country was
their land No whites were allowed
to 70 west Of the river without an
escort. Dennis Hannafin and a few
others were out and occupied a coal
mine a few miles west. Fort Ham
nafln, may never be known in history,
but ii was mighty important posi-
ton for a few days until the troops
from Lincoln made II possible for the
Invaders to let 60 It was a year
later when Mr.. Henry, who tried to
run vegetable farm west Of the river
was killed by Indians. John Wright,
was killed later four miles north of
Bismarck, and there was many a day
when the whole town had reason to
fear attack and were armed to repel
1T.
John Mclean was mayor In those
days--later days than those first men
toned, and he felt that he was or
ought to be a major general on ac-
count or the great responsibilities
resting upon him. He came here as
he told us, on one memorial Fourth
Of July 'iwhen the houses were all
Tents and was a mighty active force
In the upbuilding Of the town, and
every old-tirnsr ought TO hold warm
corner in their hearts for him.
PAINT THAT IS PAINT