The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-02-13

Harris, Tobias Hagen, Q. G. Ora
mum, Toilet Hanson, John R..
Johnson, Ole Sandy, Martin Brm-
mon and Christian Brimmon.
1T was on June 30th, 1888, that
the first civil township Of Shey-
enne was organized. 1t ran along
under that organization until Mo-
vember 9Th, 1884, when the town.
ship of Helendale was set off.
The first board of supervisors and
township officers Of Helendale
township were as follows: Sup
ervisors-R. L. Porter, John Nc
knight, Ed. Johnson; Clerk, Geo.
Larkin; Treasurer, w. A. Power;
Assessor, r. L. Porter; Jsutices,
Porter Smith and G. A. Wells.
On August lth, 1885, Barrie town
ship withdrew as an independent
civil township. The first town
ship officers Of Berie township |
were: Supervisors-Jens Olson,
N. N. Arnston and L. Worthing-
ton; Clerk, Chas. Morgan; Treas
urer, w. H. Lancaster; Assessor,
o. X. Vangsness; Justice, Chas.
Morgan. On April 9Th, 1895, the
township Of Viking ives organized
as an independent civil township. |
1T was in the fall Of 1877 that
the first steps were taken toward
the organization of a Sunday |
School. 1t being organized by w. |
h. Lancaster in the "Old Log
School House" and he being its
first superintendent. This, be-
lieve. was one of the first Sunday
Schools organized in the county
and has been carried on without
interruption through the interven-
ing years until the present time.
1.-THE first church organization
was Presbyterian church, which
occurred March 10th, 1880, by the
Rev. o. Elmer, with IS members,
which has eventually merged in
to the organization of the present
Congregational church which now
occupies a commodious and beau
tiful building along the river. The
Lutheran congregation also in
the early sos organized the Coils
church and erected q beautiful
building along the sheyenne river
on the farm of Jens Olson. The
organization of the famous Barrie
Debating Society took place in
1884 by parties named DR.. Hick-
ling and Charles VanArnam. Here
] in the old school house many q
pleasant evening was passed,
many settlers coming for miles
to take in the event. The little
children were laid to rest on the
floor in the rear of the building
while their elders took their part
in the program. It was upon this
forensic platform that many Of
the present speakers of the neigh
borhood received their first les
sons in oratory and learned to
appear before an audience. Here
many Of the prominent political
questions of the day were dis
cussed and the literary part Of
the program was not wanting for
the society early in its history
purchased an organ and music
entered largely into the varied
programs. And the writer of this
article, looking back into those
pioneer days, recalls the evenings
spent at the Debating Society,
with its many associations, as
some Of the brightest memories
of his past life and the friendship
and associations that were FORM
ed here many of them have not
been severed during the years
that have interviewed.
Another organization of a sim
liar nature carried on in the Nor
wegian language was organized
in the eastern part Of the town.
ship and helped to educate the
people along the lines of discus
sions of prominent questions of
the day. During the excitement
of the prohibition campaign in
1883 there was organized a Good
Templars lodge Of which George
vanArnam was the first chief
Templar and with the member