The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-02-13
RECOLLECyIONS
OF PIONEER DAYS
"Reminiscences Of Early Days q,
Barrie and vlclnity-By
An Old Pioneer.


An Old Pioneer.
We publish herewith an article
from the Walcott Reporter and
written by a pioneer resident of
Richland county, which will be
of interest to our readers. The
article in full is as follows:
''The northwestern part Of
Richland county was settled be-
tween thirty and forty years ago
along the Sheyenne river. Here
among the rich bottom lands and
amid the heavy timber along the
river were found the men and
women-the pioneers-who made
that country what it is today.
1.-THE U. s. Government had at
this time a bridge at a point
along the river where troops and
all freight going to and fro be-
tween the forts crossed. 1t was
here in 1869 that Anthony Nolan,
one of the earliest settlers, loca-
ted. His house became a stop
ping place for all the early set
tiers; Nolan being an old soldier,
was we'll known, having taken
part in all the Indian campaigns
up to that date and it is credited
to Anthony Nolan that he was the
first man to crop land in the
Sheyenne Valley. His nearest
market or trading place was Fort
Abercrombie, it being related Of
him that many times he dragged
sacks of flour across from the
Fort to his home on a hano
sleigh.
"Soon after Nofan's settlement
by the bridge there came in the
spring Of 1874, Jens Olson, who
located on the river some six
miles to the east. Ole Ivcrson
and Tore Bake followed in 1876,
1t was in 1876 that the settle
ment was made near what is now
known as 1.-The Tvedt Bridge" {"
Emigrating from Wisconsin in
that year Hans Vangsness built
himself a log cabin on the river
and filed on a government claim
in 1877. His brother, Knut Vangs
ness, came from the same state
and during that winter they lived
in the timber here. The settle
ment was augmented during the
following year by Mons Hanson,
1.-THE Lee Boys" John Smithsted,
Ole Lovdokken and others. This
settlement was known as Mons
ville," named after Mons Hanson.
The year 1876 also saw Ole X.
Vangsness settling on his claim
on the edge of the hills. Mr..
Vansness was a Lutheran minis
ter and an honest, God-fearing
man and during the early years
of the state preached many a
sermon, travelling often on foot
miles to obtain an audience. He
was the first assessor in what was
known afterWard as Barrie town.
ship, a position he filled for
many years.
1T was in 1877 that D. A. Knup
penburg with his family settled
along the river. Mr.. Knuppen-
burg came from Pennsylvania
and securing Government claims
for himself and his sons he soon
had a large area under cultiva-
tion. He and his wife (known as
the 'Old Lady") were of a type
that is fast passing away and
their influence in the township
was such that it is still felt as
in lasting memory to them.
I'm the fall of the same year
came w. H. Lancaster and Leslie
Worthington, migrating to the
county from Sauk Centre, Minn.,
they came overland in a covered
wagon, driving with them a large
herd Of cattle and sheep. They
settled in what is now known as
Helendale township and engaged
in stock raising. Here every year
they drove their increase to VIM
nipeg, or as it. was known then,
Fort Garry.
"Worthington and Lancaster
were typical pioneers and left
their mark on the country for
good. In 1877 a Post Office was
established which received its
mail from Fargo twice a week
.