Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-06-22

Alexander Mckenzie came to Northl
Dakota In 1858 with Don Stevenson's
train. carrying supplies to Fort Rice.
There he Was employed by the mill
tary authorities to carry important
dispatches to Fort Buford. passing
through a country infested with hos
tile Indians.
He returned in 1872. then a young
man Of 22, in connection with the
construction Of the Northern Pacific
railroad, and during that summer had
charge Of the track laying west of
Fargo. After the completion of the
railroad to Bismatck In June, 1873. he
engaged In the manufacture of car
donated: drinks, y
!. After the organization ST Burleigh
county in 1873 and the election Of Of
sheriff, to ;sfill the unexpired term
caused by the death of Sheriff Miller.
He was ssre-elected In 1876 and there
after for ten years, when he refused
to become candidate for reelection.
Heahad brilliant and picturesque ca
ireer, as a sheriff, and made many rec
ords for; the capture of criminals.
q In" 1882 he attended the session Of
the legislature at Yankton, and ii
was through his persistent labor that
North: Dakota gained its set Of terri
torial institutions, the penitentiary
being located at Bismarck, the agri-
cultural college at Fargo and the uni
yerstty at Grand Forks This was
the I. foundation for sthe location of
these institutions In Demonstration
these tlnnstatuti b Y on u sthe oonstitution
\ hHtltery ofsthes state. Of North
tutda xooihplet9' or, entitled
~ ;crs4 2wit hout reference ito. Alex
anders McKenzie.' = ~ &c A q
u g stonsl o. g g1smsnt I, q "a :Loansberr,
Born. Of sturdy Scotch ancestry. hi
spoke the mother tongue of his scoun.
tfymen, winning confidence tha,
might not have been reached by othe,
means No friend Of his had to ap
peal for help that he could give, il
the hour of real distress, and many &
person received timely aid withou
ever knowing the source from whfct
II came, for Mckenzie always hal
taken pride In not letting one hank
know what the other has done. From
the talk others, have given he hal
gained many valuable pointer
sometimes. for. their own undoilg
ssse1'sHis fame' was not confined Z
Burleigh county, but in every villaE,
and on the lonely ranches. and among
the sturdy farmers he had friends, o.
old time chums, ready to dare or d.
as he requested" ~
Foremost Political Leader.
E 1t was this pride ''in not letting on,
hand know what the other has done
that made him the most forceful ant
effective political leader the state o
! North Dakota has known. His nam,
is linked with all the big convention,
in the history Of the comm onwealth
and for years he ruled the Republi
can party with the hrmness and sure
ness Of q czar.
When he left the state, he did no
| forget North Dakota and its politica
problems. His hand was felt in NOR
than one campaign. He was alway
active, no matter what the occasion
or. the conditions. In 1919, durinl
one of the strenuous sessions Of tn
Nonparttsan League legislature. h
was in Bismarck for a long and bit
ter hearing over the waterworks plan
in,that city. Though i'll for a consid
cradle part Of the time. he ga
propped UP in his bed, giving order
to attorneys. counselling the poll
ticians as they came to him and 9th
4 erwise taking part In the importan
! affairs Of the state. i5.a ss.