Foster Excerpts

The following excerpts are from an article by the daughter of Donald Foster, apparently written over a period of time.

In 1871 there were only two counties in what is now known as North Dakota. Renville County of today was part of a great territory known as buffalo country, and the Red River area was known as Pembina. In 1872, the territorial legislature made further divisions. It created Rolette, Bottineau, McHenry, Stevens, Mountrail, Williams and Vallette Counties.

Stevens County included all of the present Ward and McLean counties and more besides. Williams lay mostly south of the Missouri River where Dunn County is now; Mountrail was a narrow strip including parts of the present Mountrail and Burke Counties and Wallette took the place of the present Divide and Williams Counties.

The trails which the Indians made threaded their way near the present site of Mohall, and crossed the Mouse River near McKinney and other trails made by them in what is now called Renville County crossed the Mouse River near Henry Stammen's ranch in the southern part near the county line. One of their burial grounds was located several miles farther south along the river. This burial ground, in tradition with the old Indian custom was made on poles. When the government took charge of the Indians this ceremony was forbidden.

Wherever virgin prairie still prevails, many circles of stone can be found, to mark the spot where teepees stood to form part of an encampment of Indians at some time. Many relics as memories of these Indians in numerous arrowheads, stone hammers, skulls and spear heads are found.

Among the hundreds of bone collectors who searched here and there over the plains for the buffalo bones, were a group of half breeds from Pembina, who came to the northwest in search of bones, with large boxes on large two wheeled carts, introducing for the first time this type of cart to the northwest country. The cart was the Red River cart and the bones were gathered rapidly by these men, as with their squealing carts and oxen they went here and there.

Foremost among this group of men was a French half breed named Joseph Renville, who with this group of half breeds visited the Mouse River Valley. He returned again several years later, and it was through this man's visits to this part of the country that Renville County later came to be known by that name.

An early trapper who roved up and down the Mouse River Valley was among others, and perhaps the most famous, Yankee Robinson, who made a business of trapping and hunting.

Early in 1883, came the Gray Brothers, Robert, John, George and Lewis, to establish a horse ranch near the present site of Greene.

About the same time in 1883 came the Manning brothers, Daniel, John and Michael from Canada, searching for a site suitable for a horse and cattle ranch. They settled on the fork of Antlers Creek.

The closest railway was Devils Lake, a distance of 140 miles, from which they would obtain supplies once a year.

1884 brought Edward Bryans, Sr from Portage La Prairie in Canada, traveling in a wagon containing his family and all their household goods and drawn by a yoke of oxen. He chose a tract of land about two miles north of the present Mouse River Park. In 1889, he moved further south to secure more hay and water for their stock. The land was surveyed by the government in 1895 and 1896, with the section line coming within two feet of the house. This was the start of what later became the famous Bryans Ranch. By 1906, Mr. Bryans had one of the largest ranches in the county, at that time having 10,000 sheep, which he went in for in a big way. With the coming of the settlers, the open range diminished and he was forced to dispose of his large flock.

John Stammen and sons, Henry, Phillip and Kichael came in 1884, also, settling thirty miles south of the Gray Brothers. This ranch developed into a very large ranch and was later owned by C H Parker, who had a large buffalo herd.

More Portage La Prairie residents cans in 1885, one of which was James Harkness and son, William; lels, Frank and John Swenson. Harkness's settling within a mile of the Canadian line, and Swenson's near where the village of McKinney was established.

The Mouse River Horse and Cattle Company, which became one of the largest ranches in this region was started in the spring of 1885 with Otis McKinney and Clyde Joslin as the owners. A third man named Young was also an owner. They increased their herd until in 1892, they were receiving 1200 head of polled Angus cattle and 250 head of Clydesdale horses. Billy Grinnell, foreman of the ranch homesteaded in the area.

Jo'slin Postoffice, started in 1885 and named for Clyde Joslin, one of the partners in the cattle company, was located in a bend of the river, four miles east and one half mile south of the present site of Tolley. This was the first regular postoffice in the county, and the mail was brought from Burlington, until the railroad came to Minot and the county seat changed.

Joe Overholt was the first stage driver. He had a small ranch near Grano. Overholt would haul supplies to the ranches with no set route, just going from ranch to ranch, if they had merchandise to be delivered. He would stay overnight at his own ranch, so that in time people would go to his place to obtain their mail and supplies, and his place soon became known as the Overholt postoffice,

Tom Lansley and J A Juno were later stage drivers on this route.

Henry Ludtke came to Joslin as the first postmaster and storekeeper. The stage arrived every third day, which also became a community gathering to get letters from "home".

McKinney postoffice was started in 1886 and named for Otis McKinney. Carl Swenson owned the first building and served as postmaster and general storekeeper.

One of the largest sheep ranches in the county was started in 1886 by Mr. Calquhoun, who settled about twenty miles northwest of McKinney.

The main Soo line came to Kenmare in 1893. With this came the beginning of the end of the stage line. Tom Lansley established a stage line to Kenmare from McKinney and acquired the line from McKinney to Burlington later turning that over to J A Juno.

1895 and 1896 saw the government surveying the land, which would bring about the end of open ranges. But also was to bring about the large influx of immigrant farmers to homestead each 160 acres.

Hans Johnson started a postoffice at Pleasant in 1895. Mr. Johnson brought the mail from McKinney twice a week. And in 1896, the postoffice at Barber was started at the Barber's ranch home along the river.

The H If Swenson home was the first school in the county, a private school for the children in the vicinity. Started in 1888, this became a public school with a log building erected in 1890 on the Swenson land near McKinney. Artlnrr Colby was the teacher. Students were: Ida, Anna and John Swenson; Haimali Hanson, Selma Tufveson; Gordon and Garfield Wilson. This school in 1891 was moved to the Barber place, and a new school was built at the edge of the town of McKinney.

A church building was built near Overholt postoffice in 1900, although a regular pastor was not secured at this time.

Owen H Moon (Dad) started his own postoffice, four and one half miles west of the present day Sherwood, and named it Nina, after his daughter. He established a store, 'blacksmith shop and the postoffice. Vhen the railroad came to Sherwood, he moved his businesses to Sherwood, including the postoffice which he did without official permission.

1899 brought the Lewis postoffice eight miles west of McKlimey, with Harinus Peterson as Postmaster.

Renville postoffice, ten miles east of the present Mohall, was started in 1900, this became a thriving community, with good trade between there and Kinot.

Very few of the settlers who came before 1901 stayed. But of those coming to homestead in 1901 thru 1903, nearly all stayed and the names are carried in the community yet today. This large influx of people brought more settlements such as, Haase, started by F V Haase on his farm twelve miles northeast of Mohall in 1901; Dokken postoffice on the Shernan Hatton farm in 1902, six miles east of Haase. Ole H Dokken bringing mail by stage from Renville. J S Murphy ran the stage between Renville and Minot.

Scottish influence gave the postoffice at Glenn it's name, as a coulee in Scotland would be called a glen. This was near Greene.

The Hall's established one building to house his newspaper, a general store and also his family. This was to become the city of Mohall. M 0 Hall was appointed postmaster in 1902.

Eleven miles northwest of Mohall was the site of Hammerfest postoffice established in 1901 on the J P Larson farm,

1902 brought about postoffices at Winifred , ten miles northwest of Mohall, and Vhitney about 15 miles northwest of Mohall. Prosperity postoffice was also started in Prosperity Township during this time.

The first original survey of the Great Northern Railroad was made and completed in 1902. Starting at Granville it ran to Sherwood.

This was the beginning with more small communities organized for a few years and later abandoned.

Contributor and source: Unknown