Sheldon community history : Sheldon, N.D. centennial, 1881-1981, June 26-27-28

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library
• Subjects: Elliott; Hudson; Hudson Bay; McLeod; Sand Hills
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/44048

"Let us return you now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. EARLY DAYS IN RANSOM COUNTY This is a brief history of the county from the Sheldon Progress and Enterprise of December 15,1911. The first authentic record of the occupation of Ransom County by white men was in 1863, although it is probable that before that time trappers of the Hudson Bay Company visited the country for the purpose of catching fur-bearing animals along the Sheyenne and Maple rivers. In 1863 General Siblev led an Rxneditinn against th© hostile Sioux Indians and entered the country at the southeast corner. The expedition traveled northwest and a few miles north Of where Lisbon'now stands, they encountered the Indians and a battle took place in which the white men were victorious. They then proceeded to Fort Ransom and erected a fort which was named after General Ransom of the volunteer army, the old earth works of which are still to be seen. The first permanent settlement was made in 1870 by Peter Bonner who filed on a guarter section of land about three miles southeast of the present location of Anselm. In 1872 a party of land seekers headed by LaFayette Hadley settled In Owego near where the Owego bridge now stands (note: this location Is now SEVkNEVi-IB Owego). Houses were erected, the lumber being hauled forty miles from McCauleyville, Min.—just across the line from Abercromble, and a thriving colony was soon formed. Owego was selected as a name for the colony in honor of Owego, N.Y., Mr. Hadley's home town. Arrangements were made for a weekly mail and Mr. Hadley was the first postmaster, but was soon succeeded by Herman Schultz. The mail was carried from Fort Abercrombie, the carrier going from Owego to Fort Ransom. This party of first settlers consisted of Herman Schultz, John Knudson, Mr. Hoyt, Mr. Thiergart, Mr. Horn, Mr. Bowden, Mr. Winchell and Mr. Witcamp. The following year F.W. Baguhn and family settled in Owego and from that time on the colony grew rapidly. John McCusker was another of the early settlers who located in 1873 on the Sheyenne river south of Anselm, and is still living there. He is perhaps the only one of the real early settlers who remain. Ransom county was organized March 7, 1881, and two years later the county was divided and Sargent County formed of the south half. The first county commissioners were Frank Probert, Gilbert Hanson and George H. Colton. The other county officers were J.L. Colton, register of deeds; George H. Manning, sheriff; J.P. Knight, county judge; John Kinan, treasurer; W.W. Bradley, coroner; E.W. Knight, county superintendent; M.A. Smith, assessor; E.C. Pindall, surveyor. Lisbon was selected as the county seat. The first settlement at Lisbon was made in 1878 by J.L. Colton. In September, 1880 he platted the town and a few months later a general store was started by John Kinan. In February, 1883, the city of Lisbon was incorporated. Besides the county capital, Lisbon is the largest town in the county. It is beautifully situated on the banks of the Sheyenne river, has a large and rich agricultural country to draw trade from and is enjoying a marked degree of prosperity. Enderlin, another important city of the county, is of more recent origin. It is situated on the main line of the Soo railway and was founded in 1891 at the time that road was built through the county. The Soo railway shops are located at Enderlin, and although it is essentially a railroad town, it enjoys a large volume of trade from the surrounding country, has electric lights, water works and all the public utilities to be found in a modern progressive North Dakota city. Two other Ransom county towns brought into existence by the Soo Line are Anselm and McLeod. Anselm is a small town situated four miles south of Sheldon. It contains a general store, blacksmith shop, three elevators, a restaurant, lumber yard and implement business. McLeod is situated in the southern part of the county in the heart of the sand hill country. Thousands of dollars worth of stock and baled hay are shipped from this station each year. Buttzville is located- on the Fargo & Southwestern railway about five miles northeast of Lisbon. It was laid out In 1882 by Major C.W. Buttz who still resides there. It has several business houses and elevators, all of which are doing a thriving business. Englevale, a small station southwest of Lisbon was platted in the spring of 1883 by Messrs. Davis, Engle and Robinson. It contains the usual number of business places to be found in a town of its size and all of them are in a prosperous condition. Elliott is another small town In the southwestern part of the county and Is controlling its share of trade from the surrounding country. Ransom eounty has one inland town, Fort Ransom. It is prettily situated in the northwestern part of the county on the Sheyenne river near the site of the old fort. It has a bank, two fine general stores and other business houses, and lacks only railway connections to make it one of the most prosperous towns in the county. Ransom County is situated In the southeastern part of North Dakota about twenty- five miles from the Minnesota line and about the same distance from South Dakota. It contains twenty-four townships which is equal to 864 square miles or 552,960 acres. The Sheyenne river traverses the county In a very tortuous course, entering at the northwest corner and emerging at tne southeast corner. The valley of this stream is generally narrow, and in many places not distinctly defined, the prairie coming close to the stream. In other portions, as in the vicinity of Fort Ransom, there is a wide valley bordered by lofty bluffs, and the whole valley covered with a thrifty growth of native timber. The Maple river runs for four or five miles in the northeast portion of the county. It is bordered in places by low bluffs and the valley is generally wooded. There is a variety of soil in the county, although the greater portion of it consists of a rich black loam with clay subsoil. In the southeastern portion south of the Sheyenne river a light sandy soli prevails, with here and there low-lying, sandy flats with a quick sand subsoil. In the extreme eastern portion is a group" of sand hills which extend Into Richland County. These hills In places are covered with a scanty growth of scrub oak. An excellent quality of water Is found at a depth of a few feet, and while practically useless for raising grain, the sand hills provide excellent forage for stock. The soil in the rest of the county consists principally of a rich black loam with a clay subsoil and is among the richest In the state. in the early days wheat was the principal crop raised in the county, but of late years it has given away to more diversified farming. Stock raising, principally cattle and hogs, has become a profitable industry and has resulted In a larger acreage being planted to corn. In 1911 over 150,000 bushels of corn were raised in the county, and the greater portion of this will be fed to stock. Clover, timothy, alfalfa and other tame grasses have been raised with success. Ransom County potatoes are becoming famous, the quality of the tubers being peculiarly excellent. As a result of the success with which a variety of crops has been grown, diversified farming Including dairying and stock raising, has become more general and It has been found to pay better returns than wheat farming alone. The farmers of Ransom county are among the most prosperous in the world. Nearly all of them have elegant homes and commodious barns and other out buildings. Several of the farm homes are equipped with all the modern conveniences to be found In city residences, and automobiles among the farmers Is by no means uncommon. A trip through Ransom County, a view of the beautiful farm residences, the well kept and thrifty appearance of the premises, the large barns and granaries, the growing grains and grasses, would convince the most skeptical that Ransom County Is truly.(a) garden. Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.