 The Executive Addition was the name given to land on the west side of the Missouri River across from the then new Standing Rock Agency and Fort Yates. In July, 1873 Major [Edmond] Palmer, the Indian Agent, came to survey the land for a possible site for a new Agency. Major Palmer had been a 1st Sergeant in President Grant’s company during the Civil War, and was appointed as the 1st Agent of Indian Affairs at Standing Rock. Captain Harmon and John Dillon got the federal contract to build the Agency buildings. Soon, wagons, mules, horses, and materials came up from Grand River, forty-five miles south, and construction began on the Standing Rock Agency buildings. According to William Wade, author of Paha Sapa Tawoyake, forty-two men worked on the construction. Some of the first men were Joe Bush, John Lock, Bill Reese, Joe Putney, Joshua “Spud” Murphy and Barney Lannagan. Soon, more men were added.
According to William Wade, both Joe Putney and Bill Reese were soon killed by the Sioux or Arikara, or Ree, in separate killings. At first, the construction workers camped on the land in rough log cabins, but in the early winter of 1874-75 government regulations required them to vacate, and they moved across the river to Emmons County. At this time, Andy Marsh had a wood-yard across the river in Emmons County. In a short time, there were 16 log cabins near Andy Marsh’s wood-yard. Marsh had erected a building where he served liquor and held dances.
In 1882 Major James McLaughlin took over as Agent at Standing Rock Agency. On 04 August 1882 he sent a letter to U.S. Commissioner’s in Washington, D.C. listing the names of “White Persons on the Executive Addition on the east side of the Missouri opposite the Standing Rock Agency.”
The names were:
(1) John McCrory; Marriage/Relations: M(arried); Nationality: American; Person’s Occupation: Unknown; Present Occupation: Farmer and Stock Raiser; Description of Property: 40 acres activated and house and outbuilding; Evaluation of Property: $1000.00; Character of authority by which they acquired the reservation : Squatter.
(2) William V. Wade; Marriage/Relations: M(arried); Nationality: American; Person’s Occupation: Unknown; Present Occupation: Farmer and Stock Raiser; Description of Property: Part of above; Evaluation of Property:-----------; Character of authority by which they acquired the reservation: Squatter.
(3) James McGee; Marriage/Relations: M(arried); Nationality: American; Person’s Occupation: Unknown; Present Occupation: Farmer and Stock Raiser; Description of Property: 10 acres activated with house and outbuilding; Evaluation of Property: $400.00; Character of authority by which they acquired the reservation : Squatter.
(4) Louis Agard; Marriage/Relations: M(arried); Nationality: French ; Person’s Occupation: Unknown; Present Occupation: Farmer and Stock Raiser; Description of Property: 20 acres activated and house and outbuilding; Evaluation of Property: $1000.00; Character of authority by which they acquired the reservation : Squatter.
(5) Jacob Hauser; Marriage/Relations: Single); Nationality: German ; Person’s Occupation: Unknown; Present Occupation: Farmer and Stock Raiser; Description of Property: Works for Agard and a partner in the stock. Evaluation of Property:-------; Character of authority by which they acquired the reservation : Squatter.
Remarks: (for all men) These men maintain that they have a right to remain on the lands or receive payment for their improvements from the fact that they were on the land prior to it being vacated by the reservation and occupied during the five days that it remained as public domain by Executive Order as an addition to the Sioux Reservation. (Source: McLaughlin Collection; University of California: San Bernadino.)
Of course, all the men retained their land. John McCrory became one of the biggest land-owners in Emmons County, along with partner Rufus Child, and ran huge sheep and ranching businesses. William Wade became the first Sheriff of Emmons County in 1883, and later U.S. Deputy Marshall for North Dakota. He later relocated to his Anchor Ranch on the Cannonball River. James McGee became Sheriff of Emmons County in 1889 and married Wincegá Little Woman (Mary Bullhead); he later moved to Standing Rock Agency. Louis Agard, Sr. “Tate” became Major McLaughlin’s trusted Interpreter at Standing Rock and married Wiwasteká, or Pretty Woman, [Monica Wiwasteka] daughter of Walking Eagle. Jacob Hauser, a German immigrant obviously was a partner in a ranch with Louis Agard, Sr.
(A big Thank You to Sallie Thurman for retrieving and copying the McLaughlin documents.)
The Executive Addition Document
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