The buffalo has a lot of importance historically in the United States. Once existing in vast herds, the animal was hunted into near extinction in the 1800s. Market hunting, sport hunting, and the US Army all led to this severe reduction. In mid-1883, the Dakota Territorial Legislature enacted a law to protect bison, but it wasn’t very effective. In 1884, an estimated 325 bison were left, with 25 in Yellowstone. Congress tasked the army with enforcing laws to keep these buffalo from being poached

On this date in 1904 the Washburn Leader reported that the presidential election was a measure of North Dakota’s progress. Incumbent Republican President Theodore Roosevelt defeated his Democratic challenger by over two million votes. Roosevelt was wildly popular in North Dakota and won the state with over 75% of the vote. Three North Dakota counties made the top five list nationally for the highest margin of victory. Roosevelt won some counties with over 90% of the vote.

On this date in 1916, North Dakota farmers and ranchers attended a stock show in Chicago. While most of them were there to look for livestock, a number were more interested in finding wives.

On this date in 1887, the Bismarck Tribune reported on an exciting celebrity visit. Political cartoonist Thomas Nast stopped in the city during a lecture tour that took him from coast to coast. Tickets for his appearance in Bismarck were sold out.

Back in the days of Dakota Territory, government officials were appointed by the president – the governor, the supreme court justices, the territorial secretary, and, as we feature today, U-S marshals.

North Dakota went through seven governors in its first decade of statehood, none of whom served more than one two-year term. One of them was Roger Allin, the state’s fourth governor. Allin was born on this date in Devonshire, England in 1848. He was North Dakota’s first foreign-born governor.

Arthur Wellesley Kelley was born in New Brunswick on this date in 1832. Forty years and one week later, he became the first postmaster of Jamestown. He was also the town’s first settler and the first merchant.

On this date in 1911, the Department of the Interior submitted a request to Congress for $2,500 for the improvement of Sully’s Hill National Park. While the area was designated as a National Park, Congress had never appropriated money for its improvement or protection. The Superintendent of the Indian School at Fort Totten kept an eye on the property, but the park had no staff.

Perhaps no one has as many places in North Dakota named for themselves as Judson LaMoure. Political boss Alexander McKenzie comes close with two towns and one county, but Jud LaMoure has him beat. LaMoure was a Dakota territorial lawmaker whose name is in LaMoure County and the towns of Jud, Judson and LaMoure.

On this date in 1894, the Fargo Agricultural College football team won the inter-collegiate state championship. It beat the Grand Forks University team by a score of 24 to 4. It was not a game that was won without a bit of controversy. The object of contention involved a disputed player on each team.