The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-12-09

bEM|DJI IS MECCA
FOR MANY SETTLERS
FROM ALL SECTIONS
Incorporated as a Village, May 30,
9 1896; First Settlers Appear in
Spring of 1893.
j - Y. = ----- :,.,:; s.~.
NAMED IN HONOR OF
-. =. OLD INDIAN CHEF
Growth Combined characteristics Of
the Oak With Those Of the
Mushroom.


..M Mushroom.
Bemidji was incorporated as a VIII
lage May 20, 1896. ..
+ The first meeting of the village
council, of record, was held August
"a, 1896 at which date Fred NJ. NAL
zahn was president of the village
council, Edward Kaiser, recorder and
George McTaggart, G. E. Carson and
Guy Remore, trustees. .., Ks,
~. -, Good Trading Point. ''v'
The motive that prompted the first
white men to settle in Bemidji was,
that 1t was a good point at which to
establish a trading post to barter
with the Indians, who were at that
time living on the south shore of
what is now known as Lake Bemidji,
and so it came to pass than in May
1890, M. E. Carson blazed his wav
and cut a wagon road through the
primeval forests to the present sif9
OF Bemidji, from his trading bost
called Moose, twenty miles to the
|west: From that point he hauled in d
wagon load Of supplies with which
he started in trade. lii the meantime
he had built himself a rude log
house of small dimensions in the i'm
mediate vicinity of where his pros-,
pective customers were dwelling on
the lake shore. .~z.s>r =
The building was located close to
where the Mississippi river Joins
together Lakes Irving and Bemfdii.
It has long since ceased to be land
mark. r1.s
Settlers in 1893.
In the spring of 1898 the first set
tiers began to put in appearance.
At that time Freeman Doud came here
and settled at the north end of Lake
Bemidji. He was closely followed
by Thomas Joy, John Spaulding, Por-
ter and Willis Nye, father and son,
who came from near Fergus Falls.
The Indians were peaceable and we'll
disposed toward the Whites Chief
Bemidji was at the head of a. tribe
Of about fifty Chippewas, most of
whom dwelt on the south shore of
Lake Bemidji or between that and
Little Bemidji lake as Lake Irving
was then called. Up to their final
removal to the Cass Lake reserva-
ton, Chief Bemidji and his tribe
always retained friendly relations
with the early settlers. To this fact,
40 little credit is due to the old chief.
who at all times was found to be reli-
able and in every way trustworthy.
Died in 1904.
The present city of Bemidii is
'amed in honor OF the old chief who
lied in April, 1904, at the age of
,ighty-tive years.
In 1896 BemidU became the mecca
or many settlers from all sections of
he south and west and the tide Of
has ever since surged
his way, resulting in one season in
he location on the present site of the
'ity, sufficient population to justify
he organization of village and
alter on incorporating as city.
Much History. {:
So much historical lore is associat-
ID with Bemidji that it would require
'olumes to properly depict it in all
is elements of bravery, vigor, spon-
aneity, romance, richness and beau
y. In nineteen years Bemidji has
graduated to a fine first class city
nd one which has now unpreced-
nted recognition for progressiveness
nd energy. In comparatively few
ears it had won the nom de plumes
+ "The Hub City of the Northwest
nd 1.-THE Magic City of the North.''
West Shore of Lake.
Bemidji is situated on the. west
hore Of the beautiful lake OF the
anne name in Beltrami county. Brief
Y stated, it is 270 miles north, from
t. Paul and Minneapolis, $50 miles
vest of Duluth and 80 miles east
+ Crookston. A glance at the map
Continued on Page IS