Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-17
Sketch of Pioneers Life n
Is Called Characteristic

development OF the Red River Valley
and during the winter made q trip to
Grand Forks. On his return he com
pleted his arrangements and in the
spring, of 1873 moved to4Grand Forks,
where he purchased property. For
three years he operated a blacksmith
shop on DeMers avenue. Selling this
later he removed to his farms near
Thompson, N. D., which location re-
manned his residence until the time of
his death in 1885,. During these years ,
his many business interests kept him
on the move and he travelled over most
OF the valley counties, forming an ex-
tensive acquaintance with many Of
the early settlers. During these years
he was also called upon to act in
many important official positions and
became Identified with the political
His large circle of acquaintance. his
personal knowledge of each com
munity, and his practical experience
as a farmer; a soldier. a business
man and a nublic: :.official gave him a
peculiar illness to act as an advisor
and counselor to the many settlers
and neighbors with whom he was
gagged with the affairs and duties of a
usy life he was stricken with a
lingering illness and passed away in
June, 1923
A Typical Pioneer.
Here Is a case of a typical settler
and pioneer. 1t is cited as only one
Of many. Born of humble parents,
accustomed to labor from His youth
up, having only a common .schoo!
EDUCATION and hat of a very meager
kind. vet by observation, study, care
full reading nj careful attention his
life became a work of service and it
might be written of him that he was
master OF, men as he was their
servant"
Few OF the younger generation of
men and women fully grasp the PEI
Sculiar characteristics and endow-
ments Of these pioneers. They were
a class By themselves. 'individualism
was written on them all, it found ex-
preston in their speech. 1t was the
handspring of their acts from the
time they left their homes in other
states or in foreign countries. They
were willing to take a chance and dis
count the future. When these men
ana women came into the old Dakota
Territory they came to make homes.
Not alone to build houses and break
n Home meant something more
than these things. knowingly they
had come into a place and into q
country where only the merest skele-
ton Of a political or social life existed,
~ ,AA00 I III u puAlu. ~ llO house
and the farm would come in time,
but home meant schools, 1t meant
church. it meant all those things that
max up a political and social unit,
and these meant home. These men
and women went at the task gladly.
The first season was hardly begun
before there was a school opened and
the second saw a schoolhouse. Then
they had/a township to build so that
roads md bridges could be construc-
ted. Then the larger unit Of the state
itself attracted their attention.
In all these things these men and
women showed their power Of initia-
tive action. They were building a
school. a township, a county and d
state, and each of these structures
were to be. their servants and NOT
their masters. If any settler had mo-
seen the vision that was common
property. then he had attention al
once and his case looked into.
Should Pay Tribste.
The writer assumes that II the
present generation were placed In
similar circumstances,t they would de-
velop in a like manner. Today the
machinery is completef but we find
ourselves hard put to get what we
think are competent operators. The
men and women of the early DAYS
would build the machinery and oper-
ate It rs, well.
To these early settiers, rnen ana
women. We should render acknowledge
ment for their courage, fortitude and
patience. We should remember that
they were strangers-from many lands.
fronf1dtnerent states, speaking differ
ent tongues and different dialects but
united bysthe one common impulse s0f
making = home ana . country Tor
themselves. They were, humIh, they
had their failtngs, their weak pots.
but where in all history will vou And
q structure Of nifty years growth IKE
this Of North Dakota? Lot ~ eive
due praise to the manhood ana
womanhoOd OF those early pioneers
and settlers who wero tho master
builders Of the state.
OF those OF the early settlers and
kpiOneers who remain with us. both
mel and women, 1t might be said
that while perhaps few OF Va q
potnt to some Individual action merit
ting praise, yet the fact that va have
done our part. performed our service,
and that which mon and women have
to give Of life and toll and perhapa
OF hardsh1ps endured. vet there is a
s~atisfnction that we have had q part.
We havegsdone a share and fhat we,
can tuatly claim recognition for the
servacA.