The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-17
Big FESTIVAL
AT CAVALIER
Continued From Page One.

ern part OF the state were met by
bands. The first event on the pro-
gramme was a ball game between
Cavalier and Langdon. The home
team went down to defeat 5 to 4.
At / o'clock the procession formed
on main street and headed by the
eight bands from Garder, Svold.
Neche, st. Thomas, Cavalier. WaIhaI-
la Mountain and Drayton proceeded
to the courthouse where the exercises
were held, Joseph Morrison, chair
man of the board of county commits
sioners presided.
Following the ceremony of laying
the cornerstone, a big barbecue held
the attention of the crowd. -Four big
steers, two hogs, -four sheep and 1000.
leaves OF bread had been prepared for
the big feast.
The following interesting. historical
sketch OF Pembina county was, read
by County Auditor william w. Fell
son:
From the year 1867 to 1874 inclus-
i've. According to the records Of
Pembina county, on file in the office
OF the county auditor, a little more
than As years ago, almost a half CEN
tury,that portion of the now famous
Red River valley of North Dakota.
which lies south of the international
boundary line between the United
States and Canada; and north of the
Cass and Richland counties, was, on
the ninth day of January in the year
Of vi Lord, 1867, by an act of the
legislative assembly of Dakota terri
tory, organized at Pembina county
with the county seat at the town
(now city, of Pembina.
Mas Large County.
The county consisted, at this time.
Of a tract Of land approximately 100
prf1nr lane hxy orr1A4rv Ill -
about 1900 square miles in area. EN-
bracing that portion of North Dakota
which now constitutes the counties of
Cass, Trail, Grand Forks, Nelson
Steele, Cavalier, Walsh. Pembina, also
a portion of Richland, Barnes and
Ransom counties.
Charles Cavalier, Joseph RoIette
and Charles Grant were appointed the
first county commissioners, Of Penn
bina county on Feb. 20, 1857.
en- Aug. IL, 1857, Charles Cavalier
and Joseph Rolette, two Of the said
county commissioners, and a majori-
ty Of the board, met at the postoffice
in the town of Pembina and pro-
ceeded to appoint the first county Of
ficers of Pembina county. The follow
ing persons were appointed:
Joseph Rolette, chairman Of the
board of county commissioners; John
e. Harrison, register of deeds and x
officio county clerk; James McFet-
ridge, probate judge and ex-officio
county treasurer; William Moorhead,
sheriff; John Dease, superintendent Of
schools.
On the same day, so the proceed
ings of the board say, the board be-
ing satisfied that there were more
than twenty legal voters in the coun-
ty, they proceeded to divide the coun-
ty In five election precincts.
In the ancient history OF the north
western states 1t is stated that there
was a Pembina county in Minnesota
prior to the year 1857 and that it en-
braced a large portion of the Penn
bina county which was organized in
1857, but the same was unorganized,
consequently there was no permanent
organization until the yea 1867.
Meaning of GPsmbina."
The original or meaning of the word
"Pembina" appears to be uncertain.
However, according to NeilPs history,
PeInbina county takes its name from
the high bush cranberry, called by the
Ojibways "Anepeminan." Other early
historians say that 1t means 'sancti-
fed bread" Still others say that the
word means blessed bread" taken
from a combination OF, the word penn
mican'' and the Latin word ''bena.'
The town of Pembina was in exist
ence and was a historical point long
prior to the year 1867. Its history
dates back over a century. Many are
the thrilling tales told in connection
with its early history.
During April. 1878. the county treas
urer reported the total sum of 1915 as
collected from all sources for the pre-
vious year; n that the sum Of $3.50
had been expended during the same
period, leaving a balance in the county
treasury Of $2S,
Earlier History.
The only means Of transportation at
by oxe or horses. In the year 1871
steamboats, began to ply on the Red
River Of the North through Pembina.
According to a census taken In the
year 1861 there were but 76 white In
habitants in the Red river valley in
Dakota territory, consisting Of rs fe-
males and 81 males.
At the time the county of Pembina
was organized, Andrew Johnson was
president of the United tSates.
The first election, appearing of rec
ord. in Pembina county, was held on
Oct. I3, 1868.
The Oldest Pembina county officer
living today appears to be Hon. III. f..
Nelson, who in the year 1871 held the
office OF probate judge and ex-off1cio
county treasurer. He now resides in
the state Of Oregon.
District court was held at Pembina