The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1914-07-17
PEMBINA PEMBINA

!, PEMBlNA COUNTY, NOf
than Cincinnati, and had population
Of several hundred souls long before tie
great Chicago metropolis had .'locAl
habitation or name." It is known 70
have had white settlers and French
trading post as early as the year 1881,
and until quite recently, the old build.
ing was still standing around which
for nearly hundred years, the wheels
of several distinct dynasties had suc6e.
ssively revolved. s@
Embraced within the limits of the old
Louisiana purchase. it was claimed by
England and France prior to 1893. whsp,
BY the terms Of ''The Peace of Paris" lit
was awarded to Spain. She held it un-
til 1900 when it re ceded to France, and
in 1908 it became. by purchase from the
French emperor. Napoleon, the property
Of the United States. /:
The northern boundary Of the cedea
territory was not, however, fully deter
mined, as between the United States and
England, until the treaty of London. in
1918. and not until the final establish
ment Of the international boundary by
Lieut.. Long, in 1928 was the flag Of Eng.
land replaced by the American colors
over the old Fort Daer at Pembina.
But even then its final Identification
with the States did not exempt this
historic rendezvous of Indians, traders
and adventures Of diverse nationalities,
from still further bewildermant Of ter.
ritoriai domain, for since that time it
has successfully formed part of the
following territories, namely: OF the
territory Of Louisiana, 1906 1872; Miss.
ouri, 1sl2ls35; Michigan, 1885 1887;
Wisconsin, 1887 1888; Iowa, 1888. ls46:
Minnesota, 1846- 1851; Dakota, 1881. 1883
and still it survives, since 1889, as a
"port Of entry of the northern star
state Of the two Dalzctas!
But whatever other attractions it may
still possess for the curious, the old vii
lage and the region laying along the
river westward, will always remain of
peculiar interest for all friends or
missions, whether romanists or pro-
testants. The former, in 1919 1922, had
q prosperous colony at Pembina-with
church, school and convent-under the
care of resident French priest, Father
Doumoulin.
In 1849 the mission was reorganixed
by Father G. A. Bellcourt, who came to
the Red River country in 1881. He is
said to have studied the native Cree
Language with great success and to have
prepared a complete dictionary of the
same. he had previously travelled,
founded missions and built chapels, etc.,
at msny points over an extent of terri.
tory stretching thousand miles east
and west in western Canada. He also
possessed great influence over the In
dians and French half-breeds and won
the gratitude of the Red River colonists
by his friendly offices on their behalf,
during the threatened uprlsings of the
natives against theil invasions.
But through some misunderstanding
with the officers of the Hudson Bay
Company, he was led to relinquish his
work in Manitoba and locate shortly
after within the limits of the United
States, first at Pembina and afterwards
at st. Joseph, now Walhalla- some
thirty miles to the westward of the older
station. Here in the year 1846, he erect.
ed the first grist mill in the territory,
and hither also, he brought, about the
same time, the first chime of bells ever
brought to the country west of the Red
River. Walhalla may we'll take pride in
the fact that one of this old chime of
bells is still in use, and has been send
ing forth its worshipful melodies over
the Pembina valley, amid all the time
and changes witnessed therein, during
the past seventy years but one, of it's
history.
Father Bellcourt retired later to Prince
Edwards Island where he afterward
closed his earthly labors.
Last week there was a gathering of
the National Teachers Association at
Minneapolis. Much OF interest and
profit was said and done and much of
the other kind. Some of the speakers
seemed to be talking for sensationalism
only and others were Just riding pony
=. ;.F..;;;
There are some fundamentals con.
nected with teaching that seem to
be overlooked by the majority of
"educationalists." First, ..to the great
majority Of teachers teaching. is not a
only makeshift,a temporary
Second, the school teach
er gives the boy or girl only small
fraction of his or her education. The