Bowman County North Dakota History
Notice!!
We would like to begin collecting a little of the history of the towns and people of Bowman County. If you would like to volunteer to write an article about a particular town, person, or family, please e-mail Char Kibbie. Articles of any length will be accepted. You will receive full credit for your contribution, and the satisfaction of knowing you made a worthwhile contribution to your fellow Bowman researchers.
Named for Edward M. Bowman, a member of the House of Representatives from the southern half of the territory, the territorial legislature created Bowman county in 1883. In the 1903 session it was eliminated due to a lack of settlement. By official proclamation of Gov. John Burke, it was re-established on June 10, 1907.
Government organized: July 5, 1907.
County Seat: Bowman, 1907 to present.
Area 1170 square miles.
2000 population -- 3696.
Gascoyne Gazette, 29 Aug 1917, p 5 col 2
Our "White Way"
Gascoyne now has a "white way". Monday the new street lights were put in shape and now the streets of Gascoyne
are quite metropolitan in appearance. A light has been placed in front of the livery barn for the convenience of the farmers
who put their teams in the barn after dark. Another light has been placed in front of the hotel and it is rumored that a light
will be placed in front of the lumber yard. Main street has three lights. One in front of Cady Bros. store, another in front
of the drug store and one at the corner of the Gazette office. We understand our progressive mayor, with "perfection" for his motto,
contemplates the placing of two more lights on main street, one in front of the hardware store and one in front of the post office.
The farmers of the community will appreciate this latest effort of our business men to make their visits to Gascoyne pleasant ones.
Submitted by Alan Nicholson (Oct 2011).
The Farmers Leader and Gascoyne Gazette, 15 Nov 1917, p 4, col 2
Gascoyne Gazette Purchased
This week, our heading is changed to incorporate two names and two papers, as The Farmers Publishing Co.
last week purchased the Gascoyne Gazette and subscription list complete. This transaction gives this paper legality,
and will enable us to enter the field ready to print any and all manner of legal advertising. This line of work is fairly
profitable to any newspaper, and The Farmers Leader expects to receive its share from now on.
Submitted by Alan Nicholson (Oct 2011).
Farmers Leader, 30 Jan 1919, p 1 col 2
Helped Build First Building in Bowman
W. O. Louden of McHenry, Foster county, is visiting at the home of his brother in this city.
In conversation with him we learned that he helped erect the first building in Bowman and
that the remarkable progress of the town and surrounding country since has been a wonder and
delight to him. Mr. Louden is an attorney and much interested in the success of the League movement.
He confidently expects the new constitution for North Dakota to usher in an unprecedented era of prosperity,
which in turn will force other states to adopt similar progressive laws. He is an interesting talker
and a close observer of current events.
Submitted by Alan Nicholson (Oct 2011).
Farmers Leader, 16 Oct 1919, p 1 col 1
Three Lives Lost in Hettinger Hotel Fire
Flames Raze Lafayette Hotel to Ground Thursday
When the LaFayette Hotel of Hettinger was burned to the ground early Thursday morning
Floyd and Agnes Mahoney, age eight and thirteen respectively, and Nick Lyons, the cook
were burned almost beyond recognition.
The two Mahoney children are the children of Mrs. Armstrong, wife of the proprietor of the hotel.
Nick Lyons is a Syrian cook who has no relatives in America but has a wife and children in his native land.
Mr. Armstrong was badly burned when he attempted to rescue the children. He approached their room
but had to pass over a floor that was so badly burned that he fell through it into the dining room below which
was seething with flames. There were no ladders near, so the children who stood at the window were begged
to jump to the street, but they were so badly frightened that they refused to do that.
Many other people were badly injured in getting away from the building. Dr. Smith who had office rooms in the hotel
fractured his hip in lighting on the side walk. He lost all of his surgical tools and library in the fire.
The origin of the fire in unknown, the first flames having been seen coming out of the basement windows.
A property loss of $8,000 is the estimated result of the fire. Loss is partly covered by insurance.
Submitted by Alan Nicholson (Oct 2011).
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