The Ward County independent., 1922-07-27
History's Pages Are Turned
Back 40 Years in Pictures OF
Past Sh0lDn in Min0f PAGEANT

With Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Cotton wa:
J.J. Rogers Of Troy, N. Y. After pitch
ing their camp at the fork of these
rivers, they discovered Ignite coal.
| 1t was difficult thing to erect the
store and hotel, but Mr.. Cotton finally
overcame all difficulties. He was as
sisted in this work by Percy M. Cole
now a well known Kenmare merchant
The coming of the Great Northern
railroad made a great change in this
section. Burlington appeared des'
tined for the big city of the north.
western section of the state, but
James J. Hills townsite man chose
this spot upon the Mouse river, and
Minot was started. The first building
in the city was erected in 1883 by
Erik r. Ramstad and Peter Ramstad
who came across the plains from
Grafton.
Among the historic figures, l saw,
too, Frank the Halfbreed, living in a
little shack near what is now Falsen'
This halfbreed, uneducated in the
ways of the world, but rich in his
knowledge of nature and her ways,
''lived beside the road and was a
friend to man." Many a night he
took pioneer in, giving him asylum
and protection against the fearful
winds that drove cold and snow across
the plains and over the hills. Many a
time he and his daughter nursed a
man or woman sick with hunger and
fever.
AS l looked into the past, l Won
dered who it was that called men into
the unknown; what it was that moved
them to take wife. and children and
scant provisions and few belongings,
and strike into the wild. l wondered
why they should come to lonely land,
to the silent places of the prairies and
the hills, why they should settle more
than 100 miles from a postoffice, with
broad stretches of prairie dying out
in the distance, open and empty, save
for lines Of trees here and there and
buffalo feeding upon the grass. Sol
emn and vast must have been these
hills and these prairies in those days
forty years ago, for solemn and vast
were they to me yesterday.
Great Change Takes Place
Here are these same hills and same
fields today, rich in the grain that the
farmers are about to garner. And
there below is the city of Minot, rich
in the labors of men and women who
found it a fertile field, like the pio-
neers of old.
And yet could not help but reflect
upon the hardships and the sufferings
Of those who passed by here forty:
years ago. They came behind oxen,
moving slowly and wearily, and with
no landmark "but that unattainable
evening sun for which they steered,
and which daily fled them by an
equal stride" There was nothing to
overtake, nothing to give encourage
ment, save the hope of something
beyond the green waste and the mock
ing horizon, which kept pace with
their advance. In the end they came
to the end of their journey, but not
their toll. They settled in this valley
and began their real struggle. Cut
off from the world, from books, from
news, from company, from everything
that could relieve existence, they
fought and worked and watched thru
the night, often with empty bellies
and bodies suffering because of the
elements. Out on the plains or in the
woods, hot sweat upon their brows
and trickling into their eyes, they
worked.
Today their sons labor in the fields,
but not under such trying conditions.
They ride toward the horizon, too,
but in powerful cars, and the horizon
still is fugitive, but not mocking.
They have many things by which they
can measure their advance, many
destinies within few miles, where
they can find friends and pleasures.
But their forbears could walk five
miles and see nothing; ten, and see
the horizon just as far away and
nothing but empty space between;
twenty and still find himself in the
midst Of spacious vacancy.
The years were long and hard, but
Olaf Olson and Ole T. Spokelie and
Henry Gasman and Elmer Francis
and James johnson and James Col
ton and the Ramstads never tired and
never lost hope. They built better
than they knew, and Minot today
stands as their monument. They had
the spirit Of adventure and of pio-
neering, and rich red blood flowed
thru their veins. That spirit is the
great heritage they gave this city, and
Minot has been faithful to the trust.
Minot Wonderful City
Minot today is a challenge to men
of ability. 1t is a challenge to the.
state of North Dakota, and because
of that spirit which has come down
to it from 1882 and which has been
with it's folk in many trials, it is one
Of the few real successful cities in the
northwest. It's challenge to men of
brains and Drawn is bringing many
to it's territory, and today it is upon
the threshold Of something bigger,
something greater.
Little wonder, then, that this town
should pause today and acknowledge
the receipt of its heritage Surely
the old settlers must have felt thrill
of satisfaction. 1t is small pay, to be
sure, but they have the knowledge of
a noble work, nobly done.
IversOn Arrested for Embezzlement
Mohall, July 20. = On warrant
charging him with misrepresentation
Of money belonging to the Red Cross,