MY TOWN - MY PEOPLE 1887 to 1962 by Edgeley, North Dakota Edgeley, LaMoure County, Dakota Territory was named by Richard Sykes for his birthplace, Edgeley House, Stockport, England. First Edition - June 19«2 Bound by Published by North Dakota Book Salvage Plant The Kuim Messenger, Kulm, N. Dak. North Dakota State Penitentiary N. J. Novakovich, Publisher P. O. Box 240, Bismarck. N. Dakota North Dakota State Libra?? Bismarck, ND 58501 191U MAP F 1*44 DEDICATION First: This book is dedicated to those who had the vision to recognize the unquestionable fact that the fertile virgin soil of Dakota would, with their industry, provide a bountiful homeland for their families and countless generations yet unborn. Second: This book is gratefully dedicated to those who were aware that the accomplishments of our pio­ neers were being forgotten, for want of recording, and took effective action leading to publication of this first edition of the history of Edgeley and its people, as part of Edgeley's 75th Anniversary Celebration, to be held June 18 and 19, 1962. Thirds This book is a reminder that we have reaped a goodly harvest from what others sowed and are honor-bound to be ever watchful that Edgeley may continue as a place in which others will want to live. EY Volume 1. Number 25. Edgeley, LaMoure County, Dakota, Friday, Novembor 18, 1887 Subscription $1.50 In the spring of 188J ehance immigrants In the spring of 1886 the St. Paul road driving through this beautiful Pomona surveyed, and later in the season con­ Valley and noting the luxuriant appear­ structed a line into the valley, stop­ ance of the vegetation, the depth of ping at the present site of Edgeley and the soil and the quality of the water, platting a town upon a sightly location decided that they had found the spot of which was named after Mr.Sykes1 country all others where they could pitch their place in England. It being late in the tents and make themselves a habitation season, no lots were offered for sale in a land that should soon flow with until in April 1887, when a public auc­ milk and honey. These first settlers, tion was held at which a goodly number among whom are some of our most promi­ were disposed. We can not better il­ nent farmers, spread the report of lustrate the solid growth of the town their discoveries and soon all the gov­ than by giving a general outline of the ernment land was located upon by a improvements here during the past 10 thriving, pushing class of people who months. were made of that quality of character that knows no such word as fail. Al­ The St. Paul Company erected a fine though it was thirty-five miles to a large two-story depot, a two stall en­ railroad, three years from the date of gine house, a windmill and a tank, and settlement saw THOUSANDS OP ACRES under section house. These improvements a- cultivation and good houses, barns, and mount to near $10,000.00. other improvements looming up in every P. E. Clark erected a coal house of direction. A postoffice known as St. thirty tons capacity costing $200 and George, situated a mile and a half Bagley & Cargill a grain flat costing northwest of Edgeley, was built and J. about $1,500. This was the extent of B. Kesler put in charge thereof, who town when spring opened. also put in a stock of general merchan­ dise where the people were to be sup­ W. H, Mick, a contractor and builder plied with the necessaries and comforts of LaMoure, was one of the first to see of life. The next idea was to get an the future of our city and came early outlet for their products and with this and set up his chest on the prairie end in view, in the fall of 1885 the ready for business. He soon secured people of this section prepared a several buildings to erect among which statement of the number of acres of are Kesler's store room, the bank, res­ cultivated land then tributary to a taurant, Cofell's store room, and later station in this vicinity, and sent it on erected a story and a half store in to the offices of the Chicago, Mil­ room for his own use, where he at all waukee & St. Paul railroad, and the times carries a complete line of furni­ Northern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Richard ture, and also does cabinet work, pic­ Sykes, of England, who is largely in­ ture framing and undertaking. terested in land in this vicinity, also Alister Bros., lumber dealers, are a personally visited the above officers solid firm of pioneers who came in a- and represented to them the fertility mong the first and have had a lively of the soil, ABUNDANT YIELD OP WHEAT, time to keep up with the demand for and quality and nearness to the surface their goods the past six months. C. J. of the water supply. These petitions Alister shows his faith in the plaoe by had the desired effect. The railroads erecting a residence that is a oredit saw the need of a commercial highway to the proprietor. by which the people of this section J. B. Kesler, postmaster and merchant could be supplied with an outlet to the has a store stocked in a style befit­ markets of the world. ting a city. In the Bank of Edgeley we have an in­ He is a good workman, and thinks Edg­ stitution with that prince of Dakota eley is good enough for him. financiers, E, Ashley Mears, at its Hull Brothers, livery and feed stable back. The capital stock of the house and dray line, are busy as bees attend­ is $25,000 which tells its own story of ing to their numerous customers. They the solidity of the institution. The have a fine large barn, a well stocked building is nicely finished inside and outfit of horses and buggies. out. George W. Brown is the cashier The Mail office is complete and we be­ whose smiling face greets one as they lieve we can justly claim to have the step up to the brass railing. The nicest office rooms in the country. We business daily transacted at this bank want all our patrons to come and see us is something astonishing and that the now that the offices are straightened proprietors have faith in the city is around. beyond question. The Northern Pacific Railroad, not to That fine, large hotel on the corner is be outdone by its competitor, thissyear the Grand Pacific and is truly a splen­ extended their Fargo & Southwestern did structure. Frederick Shatz is the branch out to Edgeley and are just com­ proprietor, and with the aid of his pleting the last of their improvements, family is kept busy serving the numer­ which consists of depot, two stall en­ ous guests who daily dine at his ta­ gine house, coal shed, etc. Twenty- bles. An elegant feed stable is in Thousand Dollars have gone into perma­ connection with the house so the trav­ nent buildings here during the past ten eler' s weary horse need not suffer for months, which is a grand showing for so want of care. young a town. F. A. Cornwell & Co., the pioneer hard­ ware firm, is located next door to J. IMPROVEMENTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION B. Kesler1s in the old St, George store W. H„ Rowe is building thrfee residences room and carry a complete line of sea­ on lots in the rear of the bank which sonable goods. The firm enjoys a good are already spoken for by desirable trade and are always accomodating to tenants. their customers. J. H. Stoutenburg is putting up a large Nick Bristol's restaurant and confec­ feed store with a wind mill in connec­ tionary is well patronized and the pro­ tion with same where he intends to car­ prietor always has a pleasant word for ry a full stock of his line of merchan­ his customers. dise. He also has in contemplation the A. S. Howe came over from LaMoure and erection of one or more dwelling houses rented a room of Mr. Cofell in which he in the near future. placed a complete stock of hardware, W. H. Mick also intends to add a cabi­ tinware, stoves, etc. John Bennett is net making shop to his furniture room. in charge behind the counter and re­ He will also have sewing machine sup­ ports trade good. plies. Willson <S> Dewey, of LaMoure, also real­ izing the advantageous position of Edg­ eley as a trading point, made arrange­ ments for a room in the Mail building and placed therein a stock of general merchandise that is hard to beat in this section. 0. A. Gallup is in charge and is ably assisted by W. H. Cofell. Waring & Louva are enjoying a good trade at their meat market and will aim to keep pace with the demand for one of the necessaries of life. Peter O'Hara, the popular blacksmith, has been kept busy all summer pounding out useful forms from the glowing iron. i m .u* Main Street looking North in later 1890's. Building with outside stair Conser Building where the school term of 1888 was held in a back room upstairs. The tele* phone system owned by C. J. Sturgeon, switchboard in his drugstore. First hotel built by Fred Shatz, 1887. Bicycle Club in about 1898. Olive Gunthorp, little girl right foreground Zoa Powers; H, E, Sox; Mrs, Claude Kesler; Anna Hall, Picture by Claude.