The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-18


ment is organized along most compiet
lines and in fact the town is governe
In manner at would do justice t
some of the large cities.
Looking back through the wears
Is most interesting to watch the devel
opment in the municipal government
ana its evolution to its present stand
ard. While the history of Fargo as
II town dates back to the time when TIL
Northern Pacific railroad crossed tn,
Red River of the North, there was M
local government established until af
ter the signing of an Indian treat,
which gave the settlers other thar
squatter rights in the territory of Da.
kota. The local government was start.
ed in 1875. During the preceding year.
the only form of administration wa.
the federal government itself which
governed the territory in the same
manner that government is admins
tered within the limits of the Indian
| territories today.
The city of Fargo was organized or
April IL, 1875. In January preceding
the first territrial legislature met and
an act was passed governing the in
corporation of cities, towns and viii
lagos. On April an election was held
at which mayor and a council were
chosen by the residents of the town
and on April IL those holding certifi
Gates of election gathered at the office
OF ,. q. Roberts and canvass OF the
election was made
Egbert Becomes First Mayor.
The canvass of the election of April
showed that George Egbert had been
elected-a total of 172 votes having
been cast for this office. The alder
men claiming certificates of election
and present at this meeting were S. G.
Roberts, w. d. Maddocks, A C. Kvello,
F. H. Mccarthy, E. A. Grant and Geo.
A. Strout. John E. Haggart was elect
ed town marshal, w. A. Yerxa was
chosen by the people to fill the office
of city treasurer and Terrence Martin
was chosen as city clerk
This comprised the first administra-
ton Of the city of Fargo. 1t was first
move that had been made for local self
government and it can be we'll imagin-
ed that this election and the subse-
quent acts in the formation of town
were the center of interest of the en-
tire populace. From all accounts this
election was bitterly contested, a strong
fight having been made by candidates
for office. From that time on the his
tory of the municipal government has
been largely that of other western
towns-a constant betterment of con-
dttions and affairs taking place with
each succeeding year.
On April Is another meeting of the
council was held and at this session
the newly elected mayor announced his
appointments. He appointed E, D,
Barker as city justice, ]. P. Knight as
city engineer and Robert Poutet as
street commissioner. However, Poutet
did not qualify and ]. H. Pashley was
named in his place. All the appoint
nents were ratified by the council.
Barker did not serve long as city JUS
Lice, resigning on June 9 and James
Stack was appointed In his place.
In naming his committees Mayor
Egbert chose Aldermen Maddocks.
Strout and KveIlo as a committee on
ordinances which at this time was
most important committee as it was
argely up to them to formulate the |
initiative laws of a community that
lad prior to that had no such code |
rhe first ordinance passed was one
regulating the meetings Of the coun- |
Ill.
From that time on the law making |
# the city council has been the max
ng Of new ordinances, and the amend
ng or multiplying Of others to meet the
hanging conditions of an ever grow
ng community. The laws on the stat
tie books of the city at the present
ime has been the work Of thirty-five
ouncils and seventeen different may
rs.
The Mayors of the City Of Fargo.
The various mayors who have been
n the chief executives chair from
favor Egbert to Mayor Lowell and the
ates of their administrations are as
ollows:
George Egbert. 1875 to 1876
E. S. Tyler. 1875 to 1877.
George Egbert, three terms, 1877 to
$50.
j. B, Chaplin, two terms, 1880 to
SS2.
w. A. Kindred, 1882 to 1888.
w. A. Yerxa, two terms, 1883 to
885.
]. A. Johnson, 1885 to 1886.
Charles Scott, 1886 to 1887 /,
A. w. Edwards, 1887 to 1888. /,
Seth Newman, 1888 to March "a,
800.
On that date Mayor Newman re-
gned from the office of chief execu-
We of the city and at a meeting of
Re council Martin Hector was elected
fill the +b,c oroo4a5 \
ector served in this capacity a little
yer month or until after the cleo }
on of April Z, 1890 In 1883 the term
office for mayor was fixed at two !
ears Instead of one year as had pre- )
ously been the case.
w. T. Ball, 1890 to 1892. 7
e. HI. Smith, 1892 to 1894 J
w. Il. Ball, 1894 10 1896.
j. A. Johnson, three terms, 1896 to {
I02. {
w. D. Sweet 1902 to 1904. \
A. L. Wall, 1904 to 1906. r
j. A. Johnson, 1905 to June IA. 1907. Is
1t was on June IA that Mayor john
IN died. 1t was the first and last time t
lat mayor of the city had died while
office. Mayor Johnson had been c
lffering considerably for several +
ears, but his death came as a shock to /
Ie people OF the city, who had great
lection for him He had served t
-eater number of years In the office /
chief executive of the city than any t
her man which is an evidence Of the I
gh respect In which he was held
On the death Of Mayor Johnson the (
ouncil elected Peter Elliott to all the |
nexpired termalmost year. He It
as elected for a full term at the cleo 4
Peter Elliot, June la, 1907 to 1910. Il
Ei.tc Elliot. June IA 1907 to 1910