FORT RANSOM AREA HISTORY 1878 - 1978 F Thorfinnson 644 Fort Ransom area .F6Z history, 1878-1978. T45 c.2 NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BISMARCK 58505 MAR 1 $\<m NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY •<TH DAKC BQQi< DH AUTHOR 3 3105 00040 3822 IN APPRECIATION For the time & effort put forth by Snorri Thorfinnson in the preparation of this book. Fort Ransom Community Club Snorri Thorfinnson North DakoLa Stale Library Bismarck, N. D. 58505 DEDICATION This booklet about the pioneers is dedicated to the two pioneers who are pictured on this page. It is, to hardy, hardworking, cheerful pioneers such as this that the community is indebted for its heritage. The men and women who gave so much of their lives to the building of a communtiy, transformed a roadless, homeless, unpeopled area into what it is today. The grandchildren and the great grandchildren of the pioneers salute you. Petra Granlund Helen Libak N A Bit of History By Loubert Rufsvold Shortly after World War I was over, people of our area and of Ransom County began thinking of past history and events that have occurred in years gone by and ways to preserve and record them for future gener­ ations. A group of citizens met together at the Fort Ransom School and as a result of this meeting the Fort Ransom Historical Society was formed on November 15, 1923. The first officers were Herman I. Berger, Pres., Rev. G.B. Sandanger, V. Pres., Miss Lena Nelson, Sec'y - Treas. A constitution was adopted and Art. 2, Sec. 1 reads "It is organized for the purpose of creating an interest in the history of the local community and the county, securing the publication of such records and historical accounts as may be worthy of preservation, and creating interest in the acquisition and restoration of "Fort Ransom" military post and other historic sites within the county." Art. 6, Sec. 1 read "All residents of the county shall be eligible for membership in this society." In the membership list of years gone by, we find such names as Rev. A.H. Berger, Ole Rufsvold, Jacob Thompson, Paul Ronning, C.B. Void, Gustav Peterson, P.M. Olson, John Brader, Mrs. W.G. Curtis, Miss Effie Freeman, A.M. Kvello, W.S. Adams, Harold Fog and many others. At an early meeting, a contest for a slogan for the society was held. Among the many submitted, the winning one was "Pioneers, Let Us HonorThem."This was suggested by Miss Effie Freeman. Among those who have taken part in programs and historical accounts in the past years, we find the names of Dr. Wemette of Valley City, Russell Reid of Bismarck, Ole Rufsvold, Jacob Thompson, A.H. Berger, Miss Effie Freeman, Paul Ronning, A.M. Kvello, Mrs. W.G. Curtis, W.G. Crocker, Major Dana Wright, G.B. Sandanger and Karl Thomte. The organization has been instrumental in making improvements in the "Fort" site and the making of some historic places and homesteads, also a monument marking the T.J. Walker Mill Dam. There have been periods of inactivity through the years which seems to be the fate of many organizations, however, in 1972 it took a new life and was reorganized and became the Ransom County Historical Society, incorporated under the laws of the State of North Dakota as a non-profit corporation. Since the society was reorganized and incorporated, a museum was opened in the Olson General Store building in Fort Ransom. It also plans to acquire the T.J. Walker mill, the residence, barn and ice house and restore them as historic sites. FORT RANSOM CENTENNIAL The main social and trade area of Fort Ransom a hundred years ago, consisted of four townships, Northland, Preston, Fort Ransom and Springer. To be sure, there were some who came from farther off, from Hanson and Tuller townships to the south and from LaMoure County to the west. Among the many mem­ ories and past history that the four townships share, is the Sheyenne River that winds its way through the broad valley in each of them. It has always been an important factor in the economic and social patterns of these townships. In the earlier years the river had a marked effect on the pattern of settlement, for the valley furnished the logs for buildings, for fenceposts, and firewood. The raspberries, juneberries, chokecherries and plums found in abundance along the valley were a welcome Standing Rock the high point of the county addition to the diet of those early days. And then, the valley had its own innate beauty that varied with the river swung to the east and southeast, one hundred seasons. The lush deep green of spring, the blossoms of eleven years ago, then abandoned it five years later. The plum and chokecherry, the bushes laden with ripe fruit, old fur trading post that had once been located near vied with the brilliant colors of autumn, and the deep Bears Den Hillock was gone, and so were the Indians hush of a snowblanketed valley in winter. Each season who had, for countless generations lived on or near the had its own type of beauty. valley. The Indians had left little to mark their presence Oh, come with me and wander down the Sheyenne except for arrow points, spear points, tethering stones, Valley tepee rings and tomahawks. The people who were here From Standing Rock and on past Bears Den Hill before them, probably their ancestors, had left a large For Autumn's here, with all its blazing, golden glory red granite rock deeply etched with lines, dots, and A few leaves downward drift to waters cool other markings. On Bears Den Hillock were other stones The Waters gurgle softly past Fort Ransom's dam that had been polished and used for pictographs, and Where once they turned the miller's busy wheel the Thunderbird inscription, most likely of Sioux origin. The millstones slowly ground the farmer's golden grain There was also a large pyramid across the river from the And sent him home with sacks of flour and fragrant hillock. Numerous mounds are found along the west meal. side of the river, each mound a burial site. The road winds in and out among the trees and bushes Except for a small band of Indians and a few squatters Each bend brings vistas fair to greet the eye who had settled on the, as yet, unsurveyed fort reser­ Blue skies, white clouds are mirrored by the laughing vation, there were no humans in this part of the valley. waters Farther north, there was a small town, later to be known While shrubs and trees in Autumn colors vie. as Valley City. This town was located where the Here, once, canoes were manned by Cree and Sioux Northern Pacific Railway (now Burlington Northern) With paddles poised they scanned the autumn sky crossed the Sheyenne. The year was 1878, and the Reluctantly, they took the darkening sunset trail Fort, they too, loved this land as much as you and I. Here ancient trails were worn O'er hills and valley. Though Stone-age people lived here, no one knows From whence they came, nor why they left, or whither: (We know not whence the wind, nor where it goes.) The shifting sands may someday tell a story Of Nomad people that were born to roam: We only know that once, the Sheyenne Valley To them, as now to us, was known as home. The broad Sheyenne Valley lay smiling in the sun, as the silvery river wound its way through the gently rolling prairie land. One hundred fifteen years ago, in 1863, the army of General Sibley has passed by on its mission to drive the Sioux westward across the Missouri River. The Looking to the southwest from Standing Rock army had built a fort below Bears Den Hillock, where the 3 Looking south and southwest from Standing Rock Looking west from Fornes Hill section 6 Preston The rugged valley in Preston The road winds in and out among the trees and bushes Looking west at rolling hills from section 8 Preston partly surveyed county called Ransom had been opened townships and of their descendants. Some of the for homesteading with the government land office descendants still live here, others are gone. It would be located in Fargo. Down the valley trail, really nothing nice if this story was complete, if every one of those who more than a footpath, came a young Norwegian by the homesteaded in these four townships was included, name of Gilbert Hanson. He was the first of what was to along with those who came a few years later. But the become a wave of settlers sweeping down the valley to hand of time has dimmed memories. Some of the early claim homesteads. Gilbert settled in section 12 of settlers stayed here briefly, and their names are only Northland Township. names, to those who live here now. Some of those who This is the story of the folks who came here to claim live here now have not listed their pioneer forebears, homes in Northland, Preston, Fort Ransom and Springer and even some of those who stayed here for several Preston Church Looking west from Suicide Hill The water gurgles past Fort Ransom dam Preston Cemetery Early day Fort Ransom mixed choir 0) Dedication of rock commemorating first homestead of Gilbert Hanson in 1878. Picture taken in 1928. Incomplete listing, I to r, top row: Morton Berg, unknown. Void, unknown. Nets Broen, John Vance, Severin Prestrud, John N. Peterson, Michael Baarstad, AAS, Aas, Axel Green, Ole Rufsvold.