During the early days of the settlement and development of the Dakota Territory, most of the activity took place in the southeast portion along the northern Nebraska state line or in the northeast part below the Canadian border. Politically, the power and influence was in the southeast; however, the northeast corner of the territory contributed much in the development and growth of the Dakota Territory.
The first occupation of the northeast corner of the Dakota Territory by white men was long prior to the formation of the Government of the United States. The Hudson’s Bay Company charter, granted by King Charles II to Prince Rupert and his associates in 1670, included all of British America adjacent to Hudson’s Bay and its tributary waters.
French and Canadian histories are quoted as authority for the claim that in 1734, Sieur de la Verendrye of Three Rivers, Canada, was the first explorer of the Red River Valley in the north. Verendrye was a native of Canada, and a Frenchman of remarkable enterprise. In 1734 he traversed the country from the head of Lake Superior to the Red River in company with two sons and a nephew. He explored not only the valley of the Red, but also the Assinaboine and Pembina rivers.
Verendrye is credited with having founded the fur industry in a portion of that region and established the young men who were with him as traders in the area. He became noted as an explorer, and his work in that field formed the basis of the French claims to the Red River country. It was ceded to Great Britain in 1763.
The young Verendryes were also possessed of the adventurous and enterprising spirit of their ancestor, and in 1743 made a journey west across and along the valley of the Saskatchewan River. They discovered the Rocky Mountains during their wanderings. The elder Verendrye died in 1849.
One of the important divisions of Dakota Territory is the Red River of the North country. That portion since included within the Territory of Dakota was partly embraced within the Hudson’s Bay Company grant, the oldest fur company in America, and was occupied by white people earlier than any other section within the boundaries of Dakota as later defined. It is possible that they were earlier than any section west of the Mississippi and north of Iowa.
Its first white settlers were British subjects who entered the country when it was all British territory. They were employed by the Hudson Bay Company; however, there does not appear to have been any event of importance to Dakota history until much later.
Lord Selkirk, a Scotch nobleman, was granted by the Hudson’s Bay tyranny, exclusive control, commercially and politically, as well as judicially, of the country bordering the lower Red River Valley. This area extended from the mouth of the river to the Red Fork of the main stream, in the vicinity of Grand Forks.
After the formation of the United States Government, nothing definite was known regarding the northern boundary line separating the new Republic to the south from the possession of the mother country. Selkirk, believing that his domain extended to the Grand Forks, erected his principal fort and trading post in 1809, within the territorial limits of the United States.
According to reports, Selkirk was an intelligent and enterprising man. He was thoughtful for the physical as well as spiritual welfare of the large population which composed his subjects.
The Hudson Bay Company had brought into the country a number of English and Scotch families to assist in their fur trade with the Natives. This was a trade that extended well into the Upper Missouri Valley.
In 1780, the Northwest Fur Company, a rival company was formed in Canada by French capitalists. It was chartered by the Canadian Government and brought in a large number of French Canadians to assist in the operation of their fur business. Later, Lewis and Clark were to meet a number of these fellows on their journey up the Missouri River.
These folk constituted the early citizenship of the country including that portion belonging to the United States. In due time the population increased by the intermarriage of the white Canadians with the Indian women who were natives of the country. Their children became more numerous than the whites. This was a very important factor in supplying robes and furs to the fur company.
Selkirk established his headquarters near the mouth of the Pembina River in 1809. He named it Fort Douglas (that being his family name). It is considered to be the first settlement on the United States’ side of the boundary in the area.
The Pembina country south of the 49th parallel was much more inviting, because of its freedom from marshes, than a large portion of the country to the north. It was greatly preferred by the earliest whites, and later by the half-breed natives, most or all of whom were British subjects, if they acknowledged allegiance to any sovereign.
The fur companies made little if any effort to develop the resources of the country. They discouraged any industry what would interfere with the fur trade. Agriculture, if successful, meant the extinction, to a large extent, of the fur bearing animals.
Author Clarence Shoemaker, originally published in the Gregory Times-Advocate on November 15, 2023