The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-13
EARLY NORTH DAKOTA MISSIONARIES
By Bertha r. Palmer
State Supt. of Public Instruction

is; and re, again brush .he ages
from before your eyes ard behold
today the peaceful REQ River Of me
North flowing peacefully beiween IL
foliage and grass-coyerec banks.
n.urmuring perhaps Of the oa.s ano
times that used 10 be"
Fertile Farm Land
When you have CLINT bed the steep
hillside back Of the village o. Va
hzlla and stood under the dropping
branches OF the great trees By the
monument TO the martyrs. turn and
look east over the great stretches in
the distance. In reality You viii
see miles and miles Of the mos.
fertile farm land pulsing with the
new life Of the new year. each f3elc
showing its own individuality b. iss
different color Of green crop while
the course Of the Pembina River
is distinct BY reason Of the rich
growth Of heavy foliage growing like
closely packed spcnges along its deep
banks-meandering over the lane
scape like hugh dark green ser
pent on q sof, green bed with head
and tail both concealed from view
One looks and looks again and.
drawing a deep breath, breaihes a
prayer of gratitude for the priyil-
ege of living for a time in So beau
tiful world.
Down at the foot Of the mountain
SO close in as 10 be entirely over
looked, stands the village Of Wal
halla-the St. Joseph Of the sos ex-
cept tina. the buildings Of the Roman
Catholic Mission are no longer the
cen er OF the settlement, having been
moved TO Leroy in 1873.
II you have studied the map o!
Pemblna county you may have rote6
the French and Indian names: Penn
bina. Leroy, Cavalier. Nccne. and -
calling the early history been lee
to wonder how such q good Scand IN
avian name as Walhalla found it.
way to that corner Of the map.
If you will give voice to you,
question and continue to ask. if you
do not receive an answer the firs'
time, You may hear story somethin:
like this
The Roman Catholic missionariet
had been travelling through this coun
try for many years. They accom-
panied hunting parties in the sprin,
and summer. and trapping partie
IN the winter. and would sometime.
spend several months 1t a trading
post. Always their services Of al,
and spiritual comfort were to be ha.
when needed by these ventuTesom.
spirits who heard the call Of th
pioneer to come and find what la,
. beyond the ranges.
Historic Dates
In lS43 Norman ". Kittson chos
the shelter Of the mountain as
place TO establish z trading post.
) In 1s48. under the Leadership o
Father Beicourt. . permanent Roma
Catholic Mission consisting Of
church. school, and mill was estab
iished and the point named afte
the school. This Was one Of tn
. stopping places on the old trail run
ming from Winnipeg to st. Paul.
In 1855. after the shooting Of Mr..
Spencer, the Indians became SO IN
friendly that even the Roman Cath
olic mission was abandoned, an
Father Beleourt was Transferred t
{ another point. For several years tn
settlement was still called St. Jesep
and kept alive BY reason Of the fae
that the freighters stopped here 0
: the journey south. Later, with th
removal 70 Leroy, the sehool was r
2 established when the mission built
inGs we're renewed the season fl
the name Of the village went Wit
them On . certain day (and | fet
8 sure Il WAS day II Jnne) Hon.
". Taylor, the q. s. Consul 1t VIII
g nipe&. stspped here On HIS way /
81 s.. Paal H - nosed - ci;p.
= he hill, either % satisfy MIS- ~,
J With the view or stretch lis muyslt