The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-17
PIONEERS0F
BURLEIGHCO.
CELEBRATE
Banquet Followed by Talks by
J. L. Bell and Judge
John Burke

Members of the Burleigh, County
Pioneers association and their de-
scendants. over 200 in number, at
tended the annual celebration Of the
association at the Grand Pacific ho-
tel last evening. The attendance
was larger than at any previous
gathering of the pioneers and the
affair was most enjoyable.
Following the banquet. which was
served at o'clock, J. l.. Bell, one
Of the county's pioneers, gave an in
teresting talk concerning the early
history Of this section of North Da-
kOta, saying that he wished to add
his tribute to the men and women
who helped build this community.
Pointing. out that the city Of Bis
narck did not get its start as the
result Of an accident or the whlm
sS~-ssme- Asuac seeker, Mr.. Bell told
Of the Lewis { Clark expedition in
1904 and OF how little later. steam.
st. Louis northward to Bismarck and
and people realized that wheye ;
great railroad was to cross the Mis-.
souri, great town would arise. Mr.
Bell told of the jockeying for the
location Of this city and how at one
time there were three distinct set.
Elements only short distance
apart.
Name of Town Changed
In. 1873 the name Of the town was
changed from Edwinton to Bismarck
in honor Of Prince Bismarck Of Ger.
many, in the hope of attracting Ger.
man capital to this vicinity. About
the same time the county of Bur.
leigh was organized. The Presbyter.
ian church-Bismarck first reli.
gious organization-was established
here that year, and in the same yeal
the Bismarck Tribune was started
The city was incorporated in 1876.
Mr.. Bell told Of how the finding
Of gold in the Black Hills brought
a new enterprise to the city, that oi
providing stage coaches and pacl
trains to convey gold seekers /,
convey gold seekers to Deadwood
Then came the boom days in 1882 ant
1888, and the city grew in pOpula
tion from 900 in 1875 to about 5000
in 1883. The speaker touched brief
ly on the period of depression which
followed through the Sos and intt
the 9Os. Following this, he said, be
gan the city's steady, solid, substan.
tial growth, which is still in prog.
resS.
Judge Burke Talks
Hon. John Burke, who has lived ir
North Dakota since 1882, gave ar
eloquent talk on North Dakota, its
past, present and future. Judge
Burke, now member of the state
supreme court, served for scvera
years in the house Of representatives
later in the state senate, and was
for six years governor of the state
Later he brought additional honor
to the state by serving as United
States treasurer for number OF
years.
'The strides this state has made
during the past SO years are all due
to the hardihood and courage. Of its
pioneers" the Judge stated. He told
of the hardships encountered during
the years from 1883 to 1894, when
practically every crop was total
loss. 1T takes men and women OF
courage to GO out on the prairies and
build up homes and transform the
wilderness into wheat fields" said
the speaker, "but the strongest ties
on earth are the ties Of friendship
woven in the warp and woof Of ad-
versity."
Stating that in the years to come
there will be . great demand for
agricultural land, the Judge briefly
outlined the wonderful agricultural
possibilities of North Dakota. as well
as its many other great resources
and said that lhere is great future
in store for this state. 1.-THE time
will come when the sons and daugh-
ters Of the pioneers will make this
state the garden spot of the uni
verse; Judge Burke said in closing
Music and Readings
Vocal duets by Mrs. John Larson
and Henry Halverson, humorous
readings by Miss Clarice Belk, and
vocal solo by Mrs. v. ]. LaRQse
broueht much applause from the
audience SevAral Of the old songs
which are favorites among the old
er people were sung by all present
Miss Hazel Johnson played several
ni.no numbers during the serving Of
Nv particuiarly entertaining feature
a0f the program WAS the singing OF
words written especially for. the oc-
casion to the tune Of "MarchinR
Through Georgia. The words
CONTINUED on page three)
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