Histories

1964 Early History of Divide County

The earliest records seem to indicate that this area before 1900 was occupied largely by the Assiniboine ("Stone Boiler") Indians, a group of very primitive Sioux Indians. This tribe has now disappeared from the country having gone north to Canada. There must have been earlier occupants of a somewhat higher culture who left the famed Writing Rock in the western part of the County.

In 1873 Wallette County in the territory of Dakota was created and our future Divide County was included in this county. There were no settlers in this area and therefore it was never organized. The Northern Pacific Railroad was to come through Dakota Territory and in order to help the sale of bonds counties were created to give the impression that this was a well-settled and prosperous country and thus the railroad would have lots of business and those investing could expect good returns on their investment.

In 1883 Wallette County was divided into Buford and Flannery Counties. Flannery County was bounded on the north by the international boundary line, on the east by the line between ranges 94 and 95, on the south by the center of the main channel of the Missouri River and on the west by the line between ranges 99 and 100. Buford County became the land west of this Flannery County to the west boundary of Dakota Territory, and was between the international boundary and the main channel of the Missouri on the north and south.

Two years after statehood in 1891 these two counties became Williams County.

How did Divide County get its name? General opinion throughout the years has been that it came naturally when Williams County was divided back in November, 1910, by vote of the people; however, the North Dakota yearbook published in 1911 had a different opinion. An open contest was held for the best suited name, with many entries, but the judges decided in favor of the name "Divide," submitted by George A. Gilmore, then a well-known Williston attorney.

According to the Yearbook, the name was chosen because of the Continental Divide which runds through the county from northwest to southeast. Some of the run-off water goes to the Hudson Bay while to the south it eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. It might also be cited that "Divide" divides Canada and Montana from North Dakota.

Divide was very rapidly settled. The first homesteaders didn't arrive until the spring of 1903 but before the following winter the eastern two-thirds of the county was dotted with claim shacks. Population in 1911 had reached 6000, more than now live here. The greatest population was recorded in 1920 when a peak of 9,637 was reached in the census of that year.

Until 1910 Williams County included the territory that is now Divide County. In 1908 there was a proposition to divide Williams County into three parts, but this failed. In 1910 at the election the citizens decided to divide it into two parts. The proposal carried by a very large majority.

On December 9, 1910 the Commissioners met at the Security State Bank at Crosby. The Commissioners that were appointed by Gov. John Burke were Charles D. Perry, Mac Colgan and Albert H. Makee. Charles D. Perry was chosen Chairman. The next day they met in Room 5 of the Traveler's Hotel in Noonan. In a first motion, Noonan was designated the temporary County Seat of Divide County but there was no second. Albert Makee made a new motion that Crosby be the temporary county seat and the motion was seconded by Charles Perry. December 12, 1910 the Commissioners met in the basement of the State Bank of Williams County at Crosby. It was moved by Commissioner Colgan that all names of office seekers be presented by petitions, themselves, or their friends and voted upon. The candidate receiving the most votes to be selected. The motion carried. Mr. W. E. Vadnais was appointed as County Auditor. C. E. Brace was appointed States Attorney. At the Dec. 13 meeting the following offices were filled: Sheriff - H. C. Nelson; Registrar of Deeds - Thomas Cahill; Treasurer - Patrick Noonan; Clerk of Court - Olaf Braatelien; County Judge - B. M. Pierce; Superintendent of Schools - Miss Emma Cudhie. Fred Athearn was appointed Coroner. The Noonan Republican, Crosby Eagle, and Ambrose Tribune respectively were designated as official papers for the period ending January 1, 1912. The bid of the Bismarck Tribune was accepted for books for the offices. All county officers were authorized to employ a deputy temporarily at their own expense. In January of 1911 it was moved that the Registrar of Deeds and the County Auditor each be authorized to employ a deputy at $75 per month. The Sagerty Hall in Crosby was designated temporary Court House. …

Contributed 02 Apr 2025 by Norma Hass, extracted from 1964 Divide County: Stories and Histories, page 3