The Dickinson press., 1911-06-17

northeastern corner Of Stark county. At
that time, however, it was an unorean-
lied territory, known as the Territory of
the Dakotas. The new town was named
Richardton. in honor Of c. 3. Richard.
The organization. which was 90 active
in the development Of the town was
known as the Richardton Land & I'm
provement company. In 1883 the COM
pany built a large hotel and hotel barn.
a school house. five stores and five DWELL
ings. The Northern Pacific railway
company was also anxious that the new
town would thrive and built a depot in
the same year, and during the winter of
i883-84. built pump house north of
town and laid pipes to the railroad. A
Mr.. Greenow Of New York was the first
man to assume the management of the
development company's affairs at this
place. He was succeeded by Adolph
Nordberg in the sprine of 1888. Nj.
Nordberg, in addition to managing the
company's affairs. also conducted a
general store.
A COLONIZATION POINT
1t was the original intention of the
company and the agents to make Rich
ardton a colonization point They in
tended to use their steamships as means
to bring over immigrants from Germany
and settling them in this locality. The
company spent in the neighborhood of
$40, 600 in making improvements for the
furtherance, of this purpose but the
scheme was not q success and was
finally abandoned.
EARLY HAROSHIPS
With the abandonment of the coloni-
zation scheme the community was left
adrift and suffered many hardships
dptng Vie years that came, not only
from being ahead Of civilization, there
being very few settlements in the west
ern part of the territory at that time
but also suffered considerably from fire,
there being several disastrous conaagra-
tions in the early days.
FEW ORIGINAL BUILDINGS LEFT
As result of the different fires which
visited the town there are only four of
the original buildings of the settlement
which are standing at the present day.
They are on the corner now occupied by
the general store of A. F. Mischief, and
also Mr. Mischel's dwelling, the cottage
belonging to Henry Baumgartner and
now occupied by Max Baumgartner. and
the frame structure occupied by Foster
& Reiter. The latter structure has
been remodeled and overhauled in re-
cent years
RECENT GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY
For large number of years following
the reverses suffered by the fires and
from lack of support by the development
company, the community did not pro-
gress very rapidly. However. in 1908
Richardton commenced to enjoy quiet
and steady growth. New settlers came
in and located or farms in the surround
ing country. more people moved into the
town and made their homes there, new
business houses sprang up and the town
thrived and prospered wonderfully. To-
day it has a population of about 500
people and it is still growing.
The first independent general store
was built by Guy Defiance. who sold it
to W.. A. Mcclure & Co. In recent years
it was purchased by Koesel & Company.
The first postmaster commissioned
was C.. J. Greennow, who soon retired
and Adolph Nordbere was postmaster
and justice of the peace. The present
postmaster is C. c. Hill.
INCORPORATED AS A VILLAGE
In 1905 the town had grown to such
proportions that the residents decided
that they would incorporate as village.
In February Of that year articles of in
corporation were filed at the Office of the
secretery Of state and charter was
issued. In the recent spring election
Adam Mischief, John Pfeiffer and
Clemens Fleck were elected as the board
OF village trustees, with Mr. Mischel as
chairman. John Mussli was chosen
village clerk.
BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS
There are six large general stores at
Richardton, each of which enjoys q
thriving trade from the large number
OF German farmers who inhabit the
Eprairies north, south, east and west.
The Klein Mercantile Company is
one Of the new stores which has come
to the town and is modern in every
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