| Summary: | GRAFTON ILLUSTRATED. THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION. The territory comprising Walsh County was a century ago a portion of "Prince Rupert's Land," claimed by both England and Spain. This territory was sold by Spain to France and by France AUDITOR FRASER AND HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER JKAN. to the United States in 1103 as a part of "Louisiana.'' It was made a party of the Territory of Louisiana in 1; C5. Then in 1812 it became a part of Missouri. Later, in 1134, it belonged to the Territory of Michigan; in 1836 to Wisconsin; in 1838 to Iowa and in 1849 to Minnesota. When Dakota territory was organized in 1861 the present Walsh County was a part of Pembina County, which then included all of the territory from the intcri atioral boundary line to the Cheyenne river on the south and from the Red River to Devils Lake on the west. Voting precincts were established at "Park River," Stump Lake, Dead Island and Cheyenne, Walsh County being included in the latter with the territory now comprising Cass, Richland, Traill and Grand Forks counties. The voting place was at Georgetown, then a Hudson Bay Post near the present city of Wahpeton. Later, in 1871, a voting precinct was established including Grand Forks and part of Walsh and Traill counties, and another, including Pembina, Cavalier and part of Walsh County. In 1873 Grand Forks was carved out of Pembina County. In the spring of 1880 a precinct was established with Grafton as the voting place. At the first election held here in April of that year T. E. Cooper, Wm. King and S. S. Worthing were the judges of elections. At that time, the chairman of the board of election judges was required to deliver the returns in person to the Chairman of the board of county commissioners. That worthy official resided in Cavalier. As there was no direct road, Mr. Cooper carried the returns on foot by way of Kelley's Point and Pembina, a journey of nearly 15:) miles. In 1881 Walsh County was erected by an act of the legislature out of the southern portion of Pembina county and the northern portion of Walsh County. The county was named after Hon. Geo. H. Walsh, of Grand Forks. Gov. Ordway appointed Hon. Geo. P. Harvey of Minto, Wm. Code of Kensington and Ben C. Askelson of Grafton as county commissioners. The commissioners named Grafton as the county seat and appointed the following as the county's first officers: Clerk and Register of Deeds N. Upham, Grafton. Sheriff—Jacob Reinhardt, Grafton, Coroner—Dr. N. H. Hamilton, Grafton, Clerk of District Court—W. A. Cleland, Grafton. Assessor John N. Nelson, Sweden. Judge of Probate E. O. Faulkner. Kensington. 31 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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