The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-07-11

East Of Articles That VIII be Placed in
observation-disclosures are Tina. Big
Crowd win sec Ceremonies Next
Wednesday Afternoon in this City.
Thef county commissioners today
decided to invite all former county
commissioners now living to be pres
ent at the laying Of the corner stone
Of the new court house Wednesday,
July ;16. The event will be notable,
not only in the annals Of the county
but In the annals Of the state as we'll
e. the structure will be one Of the very
finest public buildings In the north
west.
The commissioners who have served
the county in past years and who
presided over its destinies and worked
for its advancement and welfare are
scattered far and wide. There are
however, several living in the county
and the present board feels that the
occasion would not be complete sue
stoners who can get here. are present
The records have been searched and
the old timers have been consulted
and the list given below is as com.
plete ~ records and the memory OF
the oldtimers make possible. The
list. say the commissioners. may not
be complete. They desire. however
capacity Of commissioner should be
present. The list Of those now known
to be in the county is as follows:
p. ]. Lander, Grand Forks.
r. w. schlaberg. Grand Forks.
p. G. Peterson. Reynolds
II. o. Thompson, Thompson.
Thos sonstrud, Reynolds.
w. p. Wilson, Larimore.
j. W. Scott Gilby.
Joseph Colosl<y. Marvel.
Jas. Murphy. Marvel.
VIM. McIaren. McCanna.
Geo. T. LA9hell, Larimore.
J. J. oLeary....a-s..-....
Hans Anderson, Grand Forks. =
" MI Hickey. Maxwell. ~
Il n. L pnskwgT.hi mex v17;i,.tan Grand Forts
y W. q. Williams. Arviila:>
:. Chas. Graber, Grand Forks.
Peterson the Oldest.
p. G. Peterson is said to be the old.
est OF tho county commissioners, hav.
ing been one Of the first in the county
to serve in that capacity. James
Murphy Of Marvel, according to the
present board. has served longer than
any other Of the commissioners.
The County Record.
A record Of the early days in Grand
Forks county, its organization. ETC., IL
contained in prepared statement tc
be issued by the county commission
ers In connection with the exercises
next Wednesday.
First Attempt at Organization.
An organization Of the county was
attempted by the act Of the territorial
assembly approved Jan. 4, 1873, (Ch.
20 g. L. 1879. The commissioners
appointed were Geo. B. Winship. John
w. Stuart. aad Ole Thompson; as thus
orRapixed the county included all of
its present area with practically all
OF Traill and Steele and at least half
of Walsh, Nelson and Griggs counties,
embracing approximately 2,764.OO0
acres.
i Alexander Griggs, NJ. L. Mccormack
and Q. s, Freeman were designated to
locate the county seat and the follow
ing 0fncers were named:
Register Of Deeds-John J. Mullen.
Judge Of Probate-Thomas Walsh.
Sheriff-Nicholas Hoffman.
County Attorney-John Fadden.
County Assessor-O. s. Freeman.
Coroner-E. B. Andrews.
superintendent Of Schools-O. g.
Freeman.
The organization thus initiated was
not completed and there is no record
Of any act done Hereunder,
Sec. 8 Of Ch. 80 of the territorial
laws Of 1875 appoints d. p. Reeves,
Alex Griggs and Geo. A.. Wheeler, as
county commissioners to complete the
organisation begun above.
The commissioners thus selected
met at the residence Of D. p. Reeves
2, 1875 and organized by the election
OF Mr.. Reeves as chairman.
The first @ o%hicers % Of q! tie thesSi colnty a.
named In the act and by the county
commissioners were:
Register Of Deeds ana County Clerk
James Elton.
Sherih-Nicholas Hoffman.
Judge Of Probate and County
Treasurer-Thomas Walsh.
District Attorney-Orson 8. Free
man.
Superintendent Of schools-Geo. A.
Wheeler.
The territory thus organized includ-
cd all Of the present county,. with the
south half Of Walsh, and the larger
portion Of Nelson counties. ana en-
oraced ABOUT 100000 acres.
At their first meeting the county
commissioners divided the county
about equally by line running east
and west between sections II and 20,
In township 162. range 50, into two
school districts. having approximately
100000 acres In each.
County Statistics.
There are at present 112 school dis
tficts
The school population at present il
9.46l Of which 4,030 are within the
City Of Grand Forks and 4.43l are in:
the balance of the county.
Population of the county, 27,88S.
Assessed valuation. approximately,
316,00O.O00. 5, 4
School population, s,45l.
The election for the first court
house was held May 8. 1879: the to-
tai vote cast was 605, and there was
. majority Of $40 In favor Of so. 900
Of bonds for its construction; the iirst
court house was built IN 1879.
The election for the new court
house wass held Nov. -, 1917. under
resolution adopted by the hoard oes
county commissioners, Aug. .. 1915;
tEontinusd on Pags 81
a.