Roseau County Historical Society and Museum -

November 8, 2002 Newspaper Column
Long before the white man settled in Roseau County the American Indian’s presence was here. Earlier residents forged the trails used by the first white settlers. The trails meandered through areas such as the sand ridge of Lake Agassiz, known as the Campbell beach. Other trails went to the rivers and lakes in the vicinity. One of the trails used often by those early setters led to the Roseau River and Roseau Lake in Dieter and Jadis townships.
Just north and east of Ross on the north side of the river was an early village where the American Indians camped and called home. With the area so close to the Roseau Lake the abundant fish and wildlife in the area must have made it an ideal place to live.

One of the first white settlers to the area, Jake Nelson recalls many encounters with the residents. He recalled that the village had a permanent settlement of approximately 40 American Indians. Names that may be familiar to residents of today are Cobenas, McGillis, and Mickinock. It was common for the Indians to cross from Canada and stay at the village when they were hunting, trading, or during Pow Wows. The village population expanded during these times. Traders and white visitors were never turned away. In 1896 the village was abandoned. How disheartening it must have been to close it. An Indian burial mound is located at this site where many ancestors are buried.
In 1947 it was decided under the direction of the Roseau County Historical Society a historic marker should be placed to commemorate the village. It was located on the Jesse Nelson farm located just to the north of the original village site. The Ross residents found a large one-ton rock and set it on a foundation. Upon this rock a brass tablet was installed with the inscription “Site of Old Indian Village abandoned in 1896”.
The marker was placed in grand style according to the June 12, 1947 Roseau Times-Region. Although the weather of the day did not cooperate, those that attended enjoyed the festivities. Guest speakers included the Honorable Mike Holm and J. O. Christianson, superintendent of the School of Agriculture, University Farm, St. Paul. Superintendent Christianson spoke of the after math of the war and how precious freedom is.
Due to the wet weather the festivities had been moved to the Ole Lee farm picnic area just west of Ross About a mile on the riverbank. The Ross Parent-Teacher Association had prepared a wonderful lunch with food aplenty.
Mike Holm did the honor of unveiling the marker and “gave tribute to the Indians who had lived her and who gave up their lands to their white brothers peacefully, yet no doubt, with deep regret.”
This marker still stands as a testament to those first residents who called the area home.
Information from “Forty Years In the Roseau Valley by Jacob Nelson and “Roseau Times-Region” (June 12, 1947 page 4.)
RCHS Footnotes
The following period exhibit rooms are near completion: the beauty parlor, school classroom, and the wood working/blacksmith shop. Most exhibit cases are in place. The research center has been in use for at least two weeks. We encourage you to visit the museum and experience the work that goes into organizing a museum. Staff employee Barbara Wood has been supervising the museum cleanup, repair, and setup crews.
A recent memorial to the historical society for the Old Log Pinecreek Lutheran church restoration project has been received from Tallie (Flaten) and Scott Habstritt in remembrance of Ethel Davidson Johnson, Tallie’s grandmother, Ida Flaten’s sister. Memorial gift giving to the historical society is a wonderful way to remember family and friends. For those who wish to make a more substantial contribution in memory of a Roseau County resident, two commemorative plaques have been installed on the lobby walls of the building. Memorial gifts are designated as you see fit, for the Roseau County Historical Society Endowment fund, the preservation of the collection, for research equipment or supplies, etc.

Newspaper Articles