Carl M. Grimstad Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 162

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Carl M. Grimstad Reminiscences consist of two series: his handwritten manuscript of Life in Dakota Territory from 1879 to 1887 and Transcriptions & Publications of the manuscript The Life in Dakota Territory from 1879 to 1887 Manuscript Series contains Mr. Grimstad’s memoir of his experiences as a pioneer settler in Walsh County, N.D. during that period. These reminiscences were written down at the request of family and friends who felt some record should be made of those early days. The story begins with his departure from the family homestead in Iowa County, Wisconsin and describes his journey by horse and wagon and ox cart in August and September 1879 to his destination on the Little Salt (Park) River, N.D. He tells of his great thrill at first seeing the land where he settled, and of his experiences teaching at "Stoney Point" (later Bloomfield). He describes hardships faced by the settlers including blizzards that left many dead or crippled, sod houses that often were less than weather-tight, the loneliness and hardships of the women, and of frequent problems with drunkenness, causing many to revert to "cave men". He also has many amusing stories about incidents that occurred and of some of the unusual characters who came to live in Dakota. He tells of the fortitude and spirit of helpfulness toward one another of these Walsh County pioneers and also of his association with North Dakota Governor Roger Allin, whom he greatly admired. He tells also how personal events led him to decide to leave Dakota to return to Wisconsin, but how visits in later years bore out his early faith in that area. The Transcriptions & Publications Series includes a complete typed transcription done by grandson Carl F. Arneson in 1993-1994. It was transcribed from copies of the originals on file at the Institute. This copy is ninety-nine leaves in length. A partial transcript (63 leaves) was done by Institute employee Johan England, also in 1994. An edited version, by Henry H. Bakken, of Grimstad’s memoirs was published in Norwegian-American Studies and Records in 1943 (Vol. 13).

Dates

1927-1932

Creator

Grimstad, Carl Martin, 1856-1940. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute does not own the copyrights.

Biography

Carl Martin Grimstad was born in Brigham Township, Iowa County, Wisconsin, in 1856. From 1874 to 1879 he taught school there, but in 1879, having read an advertisement about Bonanza farming in the Red River Valley, he decided to settle on a homestead in Dakota Territory. Traveling by horse and wagon and then by ox cart, he came out to Walsh County and established a homestead near Park River. While waiting for the claim office to open in Grand Forks, he taught in a pioneer school. He served as Town Clerk of Fertile and was the County assessor at Grafton. With his good friend Roger Allin, later Governor of North Dakota, he helped found and was secretary of the Fertile Farmer's Alliance, with Allin as president. On March 31, 1883 in Wisconsin, Mr. Grimstad was married to a Wisconsin teacher, Julia Arneson, born there in 1862. They came to live in Walsh County and their three children were born to them, Bertha, Alvin, and Clarence of whom only Alvin survived. Later in Wisconsin, seven more children were born, Mabel, Esther, Agnes, Clara, Rueben, James, and Charles. In 1889, due to Mrs. Grimstad's unhappiness in Dakota and her desire to be closer to her family; the Grimstads returned to Wisconsin. There Mr. Grimstad ran a dairy farm called "Grand View" near Mr. Horeb in Iowa County, until he retired in 1915, and moved to Mt. Horeb. From 1918 to 1926, he served in the Wisconsin Assembly as a LaFollette Progressive Republican. From 1927 to 1932 he was engaged in writing down his reminiscences of life as a Dakota pioneer, called Life in Dakota Territory, 1879-1887, parts of which were later published as Pioneers in Dakota Territory, 1879-1889, as edited by his son-in-law Henry Bakken. (See Institute Book Collection). Mr. Grimstad died in 1940 and Mrs. Grimstad in 1960. Both are buried at Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (0.4 linear feet)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Carl Grimstad was a Walsh County, ND pioneer. The collection consists of a handwritten copy of his manuscript "Life in Dakota Territory, from 1879 to 1887," concerning his experience as a pioneer settler in Walsh County.