Bad Blood

Early on - and according to my grandmother and mother, well into the last century - there was strong competition between the new towns in our area that was often reflected in the area's newspapers...and it wasn't always very friendly either. It's not known if it was friendly competition gone awry, or if a specific incidence or set of incidents set it off. From an 1890 issue of the St. Vincent New Era:

Last week, the Enterprise chump returned to his congenial mire, and vividly describes the high old time that he and his Jack-in-the-box candidate had together the previous Monday.

The manner in which the brainy Enterprise editor gets "onto" things, the reverence and awe even the small boy feels when in his august presence, also the etiquette to be observed in the Enterprise office, its editor gives away, and gives himself away at the same time, as follows: "A small boy came down from dead city on Monday, after sauntering about town dropped into our office, took a fresh chew of tobacco, spit on the stove and began to ask questions."

From the article we refer to it appears that "Old timer" of the previous week, degenerated into a "small boy" lat week, who carefully loaded up the smallest specimen of a man in the county, and the little man loaded up his little popgun, which he persists in calling a newspaper, and then let it off, regardless of consequences, at the mutual victim of these terrible conspirators.

Kittson county is only beginning to realize what a horrible thing the wrath of the great Hallock journalist is, when touched off by the "small boy" from St. Vincent, and the butterflies, this summer, unless they are of very daring disposition, will do well to keep posted, and govern themselves accordingly, or some time the twins may raise such a clatter as would ruffle the down on their wings if they happened to be in the path of the rumpus liable to be kicked up any moment.

The conundrum people are asking themselves, with bated breath, is, if the "small boy" can kick up such a dust in the Enterprise office what sort of a racket would a busy, able-bodied man, from St. Vincent create in that hole? At very thought of which we are almost driven to drink - a glass of very weak lemonade.

In another issue that same year, the subject was taken up again. A letter-to-the-editor written to the New Era had these wise words to say:

Cities of Destiny: St. Vincent, Pembina, Emerson and West Lynne
__________

May 5, 1890

When will our town have a boom? is a question which is asked, almost daily, by some one of the long-suffering and patient citizens of the "Four Corners." The writer will not pretend to prophesy when that much desired event is to occur, but he has a suggestion to offer, which, if followed, may possibly help to expedite the matter.

I read regularly, and with great interest, each of the three enterprising journals published at the Corners, and it frequently strikes me as strange, that I scarcely ever see a favorable item in any one of them respecting the neighboring towns, and very often months pass by without even a mention of each other.

A stranger to read any one of these papers would never imagine that there was any other town within fifteen miles of the place where it is published, although the distance from the southern boundaries of Saint Vincent and Pembina, to the northern boundaries of Emerson and West Lynne is about the same as the area embraced in the river front of Fargo or Grand Forks.

In the pride and zeal which individual citizen naturally feels for the particular town where his own home is located he should not lose sight of the fact, that between Pembina, St. Vincent, Emerson, and West Lynne there is a common interest and a common destiny, and that, therefore, there should be mutual sympathy and assistance.

The slurs, which are often made by the citizens of each town against the other towns, are very unwise to say the least of them, and "while they may make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve." And they tend to depreciate all the four towns in the estimation of every disinterested person.

It will be apparent to anyone who will investigate the subject, that these towns within two miles of where the International Boundary Line intersects the Red River, will, in time, become the greatest railway centre northwest of Duluth.

The construction of fifteen miles of railroad, over a level prairie, south-west from Pembina and twenty-five miles north-west from Emerson, (already graded) will give them seven miles of railway, beside which, there are favorable prospects for the early construction of tow more roads, to the south-east, through Minnesota.

It is not possible to find a spot on the globe where nine or even seven lines of railway are centered on a navigable stream, where there is not a city of considerable magnitude; but in order to attain our predestined greatness, within a reasonable period, it will be necessary that our citizens realize that anything which is benefit or injury to one of the Corners, will have the same effect on the others.

Let us not only "gather together" but pull together and advertise our collective advantages to the world; debate, if we wish, the comparative merits of the several towns and the enterprise of their citizens, but don't forget and don't let the world lose sight of the fact, that although divided by state lines the "Four Corners" are, for all social and commercial advantages, one City.

We might well adopt as our joint motto, that on the arms of the state of Kentucky and Missouri, "United we stand, divided we fall..."

Photo Portrait: Gust Sandberg

Gust Sandberg with artificial legs, 1908 – Hallock Township, Kittson County (Minnesota). What is Gust's story?

Well, I was able to find him on the 1930 census, where it said he was 61 (therefore born circa 1869), born in Sweden, and was a widower.

But then I found ANOTHER Gust Sandberg, aged 58, on the same 1930 census who had a wife and children and lived in Township 162 (Granville/Hampden) in Kittson County. Oh dear - too many Gust Sandbergs!

I found Gust on the 1910 census also, living with his brother Chas (Charles?) in "Red River, Kittson...", born 1869, but he was single at this time.

So, what waas Gust(av)'s story? Farming accident? War veteran?

Minnesota Safari: Kittson County

In a recent article, a heretofore unknown project was featured. It is the passion and some would say, life's work, of a Kittson County resident, and something I am proud to say our county has been a part of.

The natural world is precious, as we all know only too well in this modern world. Our home county has a great diversity, being both open plain and wooded in parts. On top of that, we have plenty of marshes, sloughs, and the Red River itself, which is very good indeed considering we're on a major migration route for waterfowl in North America (as well as Monarch butterflies...)

Thanks to William Ash for alerting me to this information

Captain Emerson, Revisited

Too many people too quickly forget. With that thought in mind, Bob Tullius of Winchester, Va., will be flying into the airport at Pembina, N.D., today in a World War II P-51 Mustang. He has restored the plane to look exactly like the one Air Force Capt. Donald Emerson of the Pembina and Karlstad, Minn., area was flying when he was shot down on Christmas Day of 1944. And the restoration is precise, right down to the painting of Donald Duck on the nose. (August 28, 1992 - Grand Forks Herald)

Historical Essay Vault: Eulogy for St. Vincent

It looked like St. Vincent was blessed with everything a good town needs: easy transportation, jobs, and good soil, and water. But somewhere they lost whatever it was they had had. For St. Vincent is no longer a little town with a lot of growing to do - but now St. Vincent has little to look forward to except a slow death. In 1909 these words were written:

"Today we have abundant evidence that we are standing at the threshold of a new dominion that is to arise on this plateau of North America...With unshackled hands, free thought and liberty of conscience, the people of the valley of the Upper Mississippi and Red River of the North may add much to the luster of the Great Republic, born on the 4th of July, 1776. Let us pursue no narrow policy. Let us welcome the Dane, the Swede, the Norwegian, the Russian, the German, and all newcomers..."

Somewhere along the line we forgot how to use this potential, and now we are paying for it. We will probably never regain our way of life and the promises it showed, but this area will always be rich with the memories of the bright past.

- St. Vincent, by Barbara Bostrom

Stagecoaching in the Northern Valley

Between steamboats and the railroad, was the stagecoach...

"The Minnesota Stage Company had learned in the past what railroads meant for them..." - Opening of the Red River Valley of the North to Commerce and Civilization by Captain Russell Blakeley (Minnesota Historical Society, Published 1898)

Excerpts from Old Georgetown, Fort Abercrombie, and Stagecoaching:

"The snow-covered timber, how beautiful it appeared in the bright moonlight, with now and then a tall oak , snowcapped, standing sentrylike, to tell us about the past and point out the future of this lovely and fast becoming populated valley of the Red River of the North."

These words were written in November of 1871 by a passenger of the stagecoach line along the Red River between Pembina and Moorhead as he observed the passing scene, crouched under blankets during a night ride with five other passengers, the mercury at 30 below. The writer was George I. Foster, a new arrival from Yankton, Dakota Territory, who had come to the valley to be clerk and commissioner of the United States Court, first at Pembina, then later at Fargo...

Foster's letter reflected the fact that the early settlers were aware of the beauty of the Red River county in the cold months and that the winter wonderland appearance of the countryside was worth writing about. His letter was devoted mostly, however, to a denunciation of the state line. It throws a revealing light on the difficulties of winter travel in the valley during frontier times. The owners of the stage line, the Minnesota Stage Company, at that time were Capt. Russell Blakeley, formerly a Mississippi River steamboat man, and Cephas W. Carpenter, a long-time former onfidential clerk of the preceding parent stage line. They had extended the service to Winnipeg in September 1871.
__________

Trivia re Captain Blakeley...

From A Soldier's Reminiscences in Peace and War By Richard W. Johnson:

Captain Blakeley occupies himself with the affairs of various stage-lines, which penetrate every portion of the West not reached by rail or boat.

Old Emerson Bridge

The old Emerson Bridge...

It has carried many a train over the Red River. It once also carried many a horse-drawn carriage, a sign on the bridge still hanging there when I was young that said, "Walk your horses and keep to the right..."

News from the Past: Chickens Gone Wild

From the May 23, 1890 issue of the St. Vincent New Era:

Dr. Campbell has a heavy acount to answer for, and the husbands in St. Vincent has it in for him.

Two years ago, with his characteristic breezy enthusiasm, the Dr. started a poultry boom in this vicinity, and took a lot of prizes at the Fall show. Last year the fad travelled from Scotston farm to the east side of St. Vincent, Mrs. H.W. Grasse becoming a victim, raised several hundred chickens and took a lot of prizes.

This spring, the epidemic is raging in uncontrollable fury at the West end, and a citizen only need to look up to see a lady in one direction or another persuading, with a broom, some reluctant hen to take her nest, whilst the falsehoods their husbands are expected to disseminate would stagger a hardened horse trader. Mrs. Jensen this date is a little ahead on the chicken count with a record in the neighborhood of 70, so Mr. Jensen says.

News from the Past: Alexander Louden

In 1934, my grandfather, Alexander Louden, was interviewed by a writer from the Cavalier Chronicle newspaper. Cavalier is the County Seat of Pembina County, North Dakota and is bout 5 miles or so from Bathgate where he lived. The following article was published Friday, November 30, 1934...

An unknown descendent of Alexander Louden, a former early resident of our area, submitted an old newspaper article about their ancestor a couple of years ago online...

Pembina Pioneers: Tales of Times Now Long Passed as Lived by Early Settlers in This Territory and Who Now Reside Here Or Who Have Recently Moved Away
by Robert Thacker

In the late summer of 1879 an 11 year old boy had the thrilling experience of leaving his old home in Pittson, counties of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, and traveling westward to the new land of promise just opening to settlement. From that time until recently his life has been full of interesting experiences and adventures. Although past the meridian of life, Alexander H. Louden of Bathgate still is intensely concerned with the trend of human events.

Mr. Louden is the oldest of a family of 13 children, 11 of whom still survive. This family, like many others of those pioneer days, went through many hardships of dauntless courage and zeal that has carved this splendid commonwealth out of a virgin land.

Very shortly after leaving the old Canadian home these difficulties began to develop. Upon the arrival of Mrs. Louden and the children at St. Vincent, Minn., they had to stay at the railroad station for two days before getting out to the home of James Quinnell, six miles northeast of Bathgate. A log shanty thatched with hay and mud was rented from Paul Norman on the Pembina river 12 miles west of Pembina.

Young Louden saw many Red River carts go by his father's house loaded with furs en route to the trading posts. He has seen as many as 100 at a time go by. Mr. Louden Sr., filed on land three miles northwest of Bathgate, which he owned until his death. Howard Vaughn was in charge of the U.S. Land office at that time and the log house that had been purchased "previously" was moved down onto this land.

JUD LAMOURE HELPS

After the first big spring thaw, the weather turned quite cold so that a very heavy crust was formed on the snow. Mr. Louden Sr. started for Pembina. He met a team of Indian ponies coming over the crust; they stopped when his father met them. The driver asked him if he was cold and would have drink. Louden took a drink with them. One of the men asked Louden where he was going. He said he was going to Pembina to see Jud LaMoure. LaMoure and Goodfellow ran a store at that time. He asked what he wanted to see LaMoure for. Louden said that he had been told that he might get some groceries from Jud LaMoure. The speaker said that Jud was not at home, and he put his hand in his pocket and gave Louden a twenty-dollar gold piece. He said, "That will get you some groceries." Louden did not want to take it. He asked the donor's name, and he said, "I am Jud LaMoure." From that day on, the Louden family never went hungry. At that particular time Jud LaMoure was on his way to St. Joe in company with a priest.

As settlers grew in numbers they deemed it necessary to get some civil organizations. Under the leadership of Con Slagerman, George Roadhouse and Louden, Sr; donated an acre of land, hauled the lumber, and erected the building, gratis, known as the Louden schoolhouse. Miss Viola Yoemans of Joliette was the first teacher. She received $35 a month. This building was used as a community center. Here Protestants and Catholics alike held their religious services, and Sunday schools. Even a night school was established for the boys who had to work during the day. Louden, Sr., and Con Slagerman were the teachers.

CLOTHES CHEAP

As time went on, the conditions of all the settlers became improved. With the exception of frosted wheat, everybody seemed to be getting along well. There were no great hardships or anyone going hungry after 1881. Buffalo coats could be bought for $9 each and robes for $3. These robes were used in homes as bed coverings, and many used them for horse blankets. One Roy Kraft had the first threshing machine in that neighborhood. He did that work from Pembina to Walhalla. Let us now turn to the personal experience and adventures of Alexander H. Louden when he became of age.

After he was 21, he began his formal schooling. He entered the fifth grade of the Bathgate School and went through the eighth grade in one winter. He sawed wood for his room and board after school hours and when he was twenty-four, he decided to go west to the Pacific coast.

He arrived in Seattle shortly after the big fire. There was no work to be secured because of the rush of people out there at that time. W.P. Watson, a civil engineer for the Great Northern, had established his first engineering office. Louden got a job, and was sent to Ballard, Washington to Mr. Stixrud, who had a surveying party there. He finally became topographer for a survey party, which position he filled for some six years. With the completion of the project he returned to Bathgate.

Upon his return he found that there was an election on. Jud LaMoure was seeking election as State Senator from this first district. Louden, remembering the gift of the $20 gold piece and the other good turns Jud had rendered to his father, decided to try and repay him slightly by working for his election. Jud was elected and the Senator further rewarded Louden with an appointment as officer in the State penitentiary. A little later he was appointed bill clerk in the senate. Shortly after this he became a soldier.

GOES TO WAR

In April, 1898, when war was declared against Spain he was a member of the Governor's Guards, Co. A., Bismarck. He resigned his office at the prison and enlisted in the volunteers for two years or for the duration of the war. North Dakota's quota was two battalions of 670 men. They were moved westward to the Pacific coast where they embarked for the Philippine Islands. The outfit landed in Manila August 7th, after a 37 day voyage across the Pacific. They were taken as near the shore as possible in small boats on account of the shallow bay, and then waded ashore, and camped in a peanut patch six miles from Manila Aug. 11. On Aug. 13, they went into battle against the Spanish. "At two o'clock the same afternoon the Spanish flag was pulled down and the Stars and Stripes put up where it has remained until this day," says Mr. Louden.

He further says, "We surrounded the walled city on the night of August 13 to keep Aguinaldo and his insurgent army out so they would not kill foreigners and the Spanish remaining there. From then until February 4, we did outpost duty. On February 4, the insurgent army attacked us. From that time until next August we campaigned in nine different provinces after the insurgent army. About half of us had intermittent malaria, dysentery, dolor itch, (a disease of the skin contracted from wading in the tropical jungles). The regiment was in 36 engagements; of this number I was in 23. We had no right to stay for the insurrection, but we volunteered to stay until President McKinley could organize an army to take our place.

"During our campaign in the Philippines we never dug in. I was color sergeant, and I will swear that we never retreated one foot in all the battles. There was no rear to go to. We were front, rear, and everything else. In the Province of Moron was the only American town known in the Islands. We took it and never let a Philippino reenter. There was small pox and black plague, (bubonic plague). When the natives died we burned their houses and bodies. No American had bubonic plague, but some Chinamen that we had allowed in the commissary department died from the disease. We burnt their bodies and houses.

FOOD IS POOR

"When we were relieved at Moron there were 27 out of 84 men that did not answer sick call; a good many should have done so, but did not want to take quinine. The doctors finally lined the men up in the company formation, and gave each man his dose off a spoon seeing that each man swallowed it. The food, part of the time, was very poor, especially on the trip over. Fresh water was short, due to inefficiency on the part of the government being poorly prepared for war. Stories of the embalmed beef were not too highly exaggerated at the time. During the last part of the insurrection and on the journey home the men received the best of treatment. We returned on the transport Grant and received the best accommodations.

"Upon our arrival at San Francisco we received a welcome a rousing welcome from both the citizens of California and the U.S. Government. We were mustered out; turned in our accoutrements; returned home on money sent to us by the State of North Dakota. Out of the 670 mustered, less than 100 of the old North Dakota regiment returned. We have a reunion on August 13, every year at Spiritwood Lake near Jamestown, ND. We eat, drink and be merry, and tell more lies than I am telling here. The boys are all good Americans, white headed, and a good many went to France as officers, and I believe are ready to go again if the call comes."

Mr. Louden has a numerous collection of Spanish-American, and Philippino war souvenirs and mementos including some of the personal possession of the late William G. Lamb of Hamilton who was Pembina County's one soldier slain in the Philippino Insurrection. A large monument was erected to his memory in the Hamilton cemetery. His body also rests there.

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL

Among Mr. Louden's special keepsakes are: Spanish American War Medal, Congressional Medal, known as the McKinley Medal, given for Loyalty, Fortitude and Patriotism.

Mr. Louden has a wonderful record as a rifle marksman. In the army rifle matches, he shot down all regiments, regular and volunteer, at the presidio, near San Francisco, Calif. He was requested to join the National Rifle association, which he did and has competed with all teams at the association from Bangor, ME, to Pasadena, Calif. He says, "Our team, known as the Dickinson, N.Dak., took second place. Individually, I was beaten once."

Among other experiences of Mr. Louden were those of visiting the Hawaiian Islands on the voyage to and from the Philippines, where they were royally entertained. He also had the opportunity to visit a number of the leading cities in Japan where his outfit received excellent treatment. During his time in the Philippines he had the pleasure to be in the presence of Admiral George Dewey the hero of Manila bay He also has seen and been near the famous Philippi no leader, Emilio Anginaldo, who immediately following the Spanish-American war led the Philippinos against the American forces in the Islands, only to be finally defeated.

When one hears or reads of the experiences and adventures that some of our fellow citizens have during one short life time we sometimes wonder how they can lead the simple life again and seemingly enjoy it as our old friend Mr. Louden seems to be doing. May the coming years be full of peace and happiness for him and his family.

"Local Boys" Done Good

I am thankful to have the long continuity in my life that goes back to Humboldt with Ralph and many of you! With Ralph, our friendship goes back to the Hallock Hospital when Ron Baldwin, Ralph and I became the "Big Three" of Humboldt. Our Mothers gave birth to us within a two week period and the rest is history. One of our topics of conversation was how the three of us all became world travelers. I think I mentioned before that Ralph had an extended trip in Jordan as a part of the policy work I described.

From Mike Rustad:

Ralph Giffen and I got together on Monday night and we hope to get together again. I was proud to be able to show Ralph our law school building which has its own magesty. I thought I would recount our little trip and at the same time give some random thoughts on my dictim: "Life is a moving stream and not a stagnant pond."

Our library overlooks the historic cemetery where Mother Goose is buried. Yes, there was a real Mother Goose. We took a walk through another old cemetery close by with such old slate grave stones from the 1700s. Cambridge has just been voted America's most walkable city. Ralph is in perhaps the most prestigious and elite Management Executive's Institute in the world. Harvard, which is the Vatican City of all executive education, brings together some of the biggest names in management from Larry Summers (former President of Harvard) to Roger Porter and so many others that Ralph will need to tell you about! Ralph is on a roll having been also selected as a Brookings Fellow and serving with Senator Bingaham of New Mexico with great distinction. He is the associate director for Range Management for the United States.

So, ladies and gentlemen: Do you think anyone would have predicted that one of the local sons of Humboldt and St. Vincent would be in an executive management position deciding policy for the U.S. and arguably policies affecting the world?

The Brookings Institution and Harvard are the twin towers of policy and our friend Ralph Giffen was selected for both programs. The Harvard program, which Ralph is enjoying immensely, has top policymakers around the world in an informal setting and his schedule also afford him the opportunity to explore our greater Boston. He did a walking tour of Concord and Lexington. Ralph is very well versed in the Civil War and now can add to his background. Ralph lives in Manassas, Virginia with his wife Nancy and two sons Benjamin (7th Grader) and Alex (5th grader).

We had quite the adventure on Monday. I gave him a tour of our building including the magesterial Corcoran Room. Ralph commented that our classrooms were among the best he's seen and certainly competitive with those of the JFK School. I am very fortunate to teach in such facilities. Ralph's executive program is at the JFK School which is across the Charles, walking distance from Harvard Square. Harvard Square is perhaps a most vital and bustling little area filled with great restaurants, bookstores, etc. I am sure that Ralph will want to visit Longfellow's home only two or three blocks from Harvard Square. The tour of Longfellow's home is mesmerizing. The reason, we learn that Longfellow had a beard, was that he was severely burned trying to save his wife. His wife's night gown shot up in flames when she got to close to the stove. Longfellow and so many other writers gathered in the Parker House which is near our house. Ralph and I took a walk through the Parker House built around 1834. There's a lot of history in the Parker House. Ho Chi Minh, for example, was a bus boy. We proceeded next to Faneuil Hall which was in Colonial Times an old market and today is a bustling tourist area, in the best sense. It is not to be missed. We walked past my old pizza place and on to the Old North End which is our Little Italy. The North End is very much like being transported to Europe without the jet lag. The North End is incredibile in its ambiance. It is literally like going to an Italian neighborhood and I lived in Italy: Capri, Naples, and Venice during the 1970s. I took Ralph to the shrine of all cannolis. Ralph did not particularly like cannolis until he tried Maria's. Maria does not go for prefabricated cannolis and their soggy composition. Maria's cannolis are crispy and filled with riccoto cheese with a spring of confectionary sugar: smuggled heaven! We capped off the day with a long walk along the waterfront and the most modern multi-million dollar condos of Boston and walked past South Station and finally on to Chinatown. We opted for a Vietnamese noodle soup which fit the bill. We also ordered crispy duck and each serving was enough for 2-3 persons. It was wonderful to have such a day and to have the continuity.

And, I am thankful to have the long continuity in my life that goes back to Humboldt with Ralph and many of you! With Ralph, our friendship goes back to the Hallock Hospital when Ron Baldwin, Ralph and I became the "Big Three" of Humboldt. Our Mothers gave birth to us within a two week period and the rest is history. One of our topics of conversation was how the three of us all became world travelers. I think I mentioned before that Ralph had an extended trip in Jordan as apart of the policy work I described.