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Rolette
County, ND History Page
Rolette County was created by act of the Legislature, January 4, 1873, when
North Dakota was first divided into counties. Until then the eastern portion
was known as Pembina County, while that portion east of the Missouri and west
of the James was a part of what is now Buffalo County, South Dakota, which
then embraced most of the northern part of what is now North Dakota. In 1883
Tower County was created from Rolette, and its boundaries were further changed
and established as now, March 11, 1887. Rolette County was organized
November 6, 1885, by the appointment by the governor of the following county
commissioners, viz.: James Maloney, Jasper Jeanotte and Arthur Foussard. Jeanotte
and Foussard failed to qualify, and Fred Schutte and Lemuel M. Melton of
Dunseith were appointed in their stead.
They organized at Dunseith, October 14, 1884, and Fred Schutte was chosen
chairman. Courtland P. Clements was appointed register of deeds; James Elton,
judge of probate; F. E. Farrell, county superintendent of schools; James D.
Eaton, county treasurer; Barney Cain, sheriff; Dr. Stephen Howard,, coroner;
Gavin Hamilton, county attorney. W. H. McKee succeeded Elton as judge of
probate. Thomas Heskett, L. E. Marchaud, Samuel Shreckengast and Phillip T. Metler
were appointed justices of the peace, and Thomas Maloney, Lake Demo, John
McFadden, Moses LaBonty and John Cain, constables.
Giles M. Gilbert, Lemuel G. Melton and C. G. Oaks were the first settlers in
that part of the mountains.
The LaBarge Brothers, Edward and Edmund and Arthur, and Emile Foussard came
in 1881, settling at St. John. They came from Brandon, Manitoba, and claim to
have led all other settlers, aside from a few half-breeds who came as early
as 1880.
The first entries of public lands were made when the plats were filed at the
Devil's Lake land office by Giles M. Gilbert, Lemuel G. Welton and E. G.
Oaks. The law requires 30 days' notice to be given to entrymen of the filing of
plats and proper notice to be given of intention to make proof, but without
this notice, on the day the plats were open to inspection, Colortel Courtland
P. Clements, a Colorado friend of Henry M. Teller, U. S. Secretary of the
Interior, presented himself at the United States land office at Devil's Lake
with a letter from Secretary Teller to the register and receiver directing that
they allow proof to be made at once on the Gilbert, Melton and Oaks tracts
and the entries were accordingly completed on the day their filings were made,
and the Oaks and Melton entries were transferred to M. Ohmer, in the interest
of the Dunseith townsite syndicate, of which Clements, Schutte, Laubach and
Ohmer were members.
St. John, Rolette County, is one of the oldest trading points in the state,
its business life dating way back to 1843. Joseph Rolette, William H.
Moorhead, and others familiar to the history of the later developments of the state,
were engaged in trade to a greater or less extent at St. John, and one of
the early customs stations was established there. It is now a port of entry
with deputy collector, and the United States flag flies over the customs office
every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Canadians who came into the
country at this point are required to report and show their respect to the
country by saluting the old flag and transacting whatever business they may have
with the accommodating customs officials.
Source: Early History of North Dakota By Clement Augustus Lounsberry
Submitted by J. Rice
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