Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1921-12-01
OLD MAP OF JAMES
VALLEY EXPLORED
MANY YEARS AGO
Result of Exploring Expeedi-
ton Of Nicollet and FIRE.
mont in North Dakota in
1899; Data on State Gath
cred During Two-Year Trip

Three old maps Of the country
now comprised in the states OF
1 Wisconsin. Minnesota, North and
1 South Dakota, have been secured by
Dana Wright for the local historical
collection at the Public Library
These old maps were photographed
from originals, at the Minnesota
State Historical Society They were
made from surveys of civil engin.
GERS in the years 1896. 81. 3S, 80
and 40. The engineers were J. N
Nicollett. and Lieutenant J. G. Free
mont. the noted explorer, then a
young man. They were authorized
by the war department and accord
ing to the legend on the map. we're
drawn from astronomical and bar
ometrical observations. surveys and
information" The maps show the
upper Mississippi valley.
The maps are beautifully drawn
and lettered. The map showing
what is now North Dakota, gives Il
livery good outline of the Red River
Valley. and what is now Western
Minnesota, called on the map the
"Hills Of the Big Woods" The re-
gion comprising the James River
Valley and the country west to the
Missouri river, is shown from Lake
Minnewaukon south, into the north
ern part of South Dakota, and west
to the Big Bend of the Missouri riv-
Ter. Wisconsin was then territory,
Minnesota had not been created as a
TERRITORY, alth0 Illinois and Missouri
were states, and Iowa a territory.
! The data concerning North Da-
kota was acquired in Il trip of two
Years, by the engineers and survey
ors, with a party of some twenty
men, engaged in exploring the re-
gion. Notes of the expedition have
been preserved. in the Congressional
Library at Washington, and much of
interest is found concerning the an
imals, plants, geology and other mat
1terss relating to the country, which
! was then real primeval region, oc-
cupied only by the Yanktons, and
other tribes of Indians.
The expedition across North Dako-
ia started from near Fort Pierre on
the Missouri river. and the line of
march is indicated on the map, by
| a faint tracing. The explorers NOV
ed northeast toward the James Riv-
er and camped at place called Oak
Wood, a Settlement, on the river in
South Dakota. They then moved up
the James River to Bone Hill creek,
in LaMOure county. where they
camped, across the river, an dcontin-
ued northeast to what is called
Bearden Hill ,on the Sheyenne,
south of Valley City near Hastings
The party followed up the Sheyenne
valley and explored the Lake region
of Minnewaukon. Devils Lake is
fairly well outlined on the map.
| This region is described as "Salt
Water Country" both north and
south Of Devils Lake. West Of the
James River to the, Missouri river,
is called "Yankton country" and in
the southern part of the Red River
VALLEY the region is noted as Warpe-
ton and Sisseton country, and in the
north, Chippewa country. All the
present tributaries are named, that
now flow into the Red River.
The map shows Spiritwood Lake
and very fair tracing of the course
of the James River. Spiritwood
Lake is called. on the map Mimi
skaya or Salt Lake. The Indian
meaning of the word is good drink
ing water, with foam OH it. Beaver
Creek is located on the map ard is
called Red Earth, where the Indian
got clay for paint for their warriors,
going into battle. A wooded hill
called Butte Aux Bois d Arc or
hill of bows. is shown on the old map,
but is not now located with any ac-
curacy. Near Devils Lake IL small
lake is shown called Free Peoples
Lake, which was named by half
breeds who claimed to be free peo-
lple.
The expedition in the James River
country was started in July 1898.
The expedition was camped on July
no.. At Oak Wood Settlement,
where mail and supplies were brot
to them from the east by previous
arrangement, and both parties reach
ed that point the same day. The ex-
ploring party was at Bone Hill Greek
July IS, 1889.
After surveying Minnewaukon, or
Devils Lake country, the party re-
turned southeast into Minnesota. On
the map Of James River Country the
Pipestem river is not given, and evil
IDENTIFY some of the information was
derived from hearsay. The head
wa ters of teh James River are al
so located much further north than
lin Wells Country. the source Of the
river. The source of the Sheyenne
Is also given erroneously, as much
further north than where 1t is in
Wells county. 81
Fremont National Hero
]. c.. Fremont, who was one Of
the explorers in this expedition, was
afterwards k1own as the Path
finder Of the Rocky Mountains" He
was Of French and Virginia parent
age He received q good education
and became proficient In nathaniel
les and Other. kindred sciences He.
made explorations for the govern.
ment IN South Carolina, and Tenne-
|ssee, and in 1888. !. undertook the ex-
|ploration Of the country between the
Missouri river and the British from