The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-07

Heard Indians Firing on Engi.
neers as He Looked Town
Over for Location
TELLS GOLD RUSH STORY
Book Of Time Turned to Page
Of Yesterday by First Edi-
tor in State
The following story is from the
pen Of Col. Clement A. Lounsberry,
founder Of the Bismarck Tribune,
who passed away about . year ago
1T his home in Washington, D. c. In
it Colonel Lounsberry tells the story
Of the beginnings Of The Tribune IS
years ago and many interesting incl
dents Of pioneer days in Bismarck.
It was written before his death
and sent to The Tribune to be re-
leased on the 55th anniversary Of
the founding Of this newspaper. It
is the thirty" or last newspaper
story Of q veteran newspaperman
who had many friends here and an
important part in the building Of the
west. The story follows:
While yet in the trenches in front
of Petersburg, early in 1865. Chap
lain Conwell, Of the First Minnesota
Infantry, induced about 1000 SOL
diers to make application for home
steads on the public domain in the
then St. Peter, Minnesota, land dis
trict, assuring those filing such
claims that they would be allowed
six months after their discharge in
which to enter upon the land.
l was one Of the number making
such filings and the same was true
Of DR.. Orville F. Chubb, surgeon OF
my regiment, the goth Michigan In
fantry. While we discovered there
was no authority in the laws fol-
making such filings without pre-.
vious settlament, we organized q
syndicate Of officers consisting o.
Brevet Brigadier General B. Nc.
Cutcheon then commanding the bri.
grade, Chaplain Joseph ]. Jones. Of
my regiment, and Chaplain S. S
Hunting of the 9th Michigan.
We sent one of our number t.
Minnesota on leave Of absence who
purchased the townsite Of Fairmont
Morton county, as the center o.
operations; four followed with I
flock Of sheep, purchased in Michi
gan and driven west and engaged II
farming and sheep growing. &C
cepted office and drifted into TIL
newspaper business hoping to pro
mote our townsite interests.
DR.. Chubb came later, ran TIL
hotel, engaged in practice, and be
came county treasurer. McCutcheol
came to smile on US and Hunting
came later and acquired our inter
ests. Jones died in Baltimore, and
moved my newspaper plant to Wells
on the extension Of the Southern
Minnesota railroad to that point.
Decides to Start Paper
While yet at Fairmont wher
three Of my children were born,
decided to establish q newspaper q
the Northern Pacific crossing Of tn
Missouri river when the time shoul'
come for action. In 1872 I lease
my paper at Wells, accepted an edi
torial position on the Minneapoli
Tribune, and was assigned that win
ter to report the legislature for ,th
Tribune and St. Paul Dispatch, ex
changing my reports Of the Hous
for the Dispatch reports in the Sen
ate.
Knowing the kind of information
the country press, public offices an
the people interested in legislator
desired, my style Of reporting wa
recognized as = success, and was fol
lowed in some succeeding legislator
sessions in Minnesota and Dakota.
While in st. Paul that winter
met Dennis Hannafin, John ]. Jack
man, Major John G. Hamilton an
gained much information a. to til
situation 1t Bismarck, and as to tn
proposed division Of Dakota whic
made Bismarck the capital Of til
northern portion Of the territory.
Tribute to Hsnnsfin
To DENNIS Hannafin / Away
gave credit for the most practic.
and useful information received, fc
it was truthful and absolutely VI
selfish.
Governor Ramsey was my BEL
adviser; he knew what to do. Whe
the legislature adjourned ! was a
signed to make . trip along the Lin
Of the Northern Pacific railroa'
taking in Duluth, the junction
Brainerd, Detroit Lake, Glyndon an
Moorhead, and Fargo.
At Fargo, April 4, 1873, / m,
General Thomas L. Rosser, and oil
srs Of the engineer force and mai
agement Of the railroad compan
and informed them Of my purpo,
to establish . newspaper 1t Il
crossing. The country was cover(
with snow and there was no pro
pect Of construction train west Z,
. month.
Early in May made = secor
trip, going west to jamestown I
construction trains and from the
by hand-car to the end Of the trac
then IN the vicinity Of Sterling, u
from there by team to Bismarck, q
irving May II, In the afternoon.
The day was spent ii securing
location on the railroad riglt-of- WI
for my office, In meeting . few eli
sens and informing them Of my pu
pose.
Filed On Homestead
! also selected . homestead clail
arranged for building : house ther
% and heard the firing . The -