The question comes up: Why did people answer the "Call to go West"? Some of them were businessmen with unlimited wealth that came strictly as a means of speculation. Some came to bury their past, make new homes and maybe recuperate a lost fortune. Others came for health reasons or just a love of adventure. Very few of them actually came because they were farmers by profession. The people who came West were usually a high type, peaceful, law-abiding citizens. Cultured women who were living alone in lonely claim shacks had nothing to fear. Life and property were safe at all times. Doors were left un‑locked in case a lonely, weary wayfarer that may come along could find what he needed and may be satisfy his hunger.
In 1882 the construction of the railroad from Jamestown north was begun. The county was surveyed and divided into townships. The influx of people began in earnest. The town, named Newport, (now Melville) was laid out by William Keepers. His plans were to sell the site to the Jamestown Railway. The two parties were unable to reach satisfactory terms. The railroad was offered a free site for the town just east of the present location by the Carrington‑Casey Land Company. The offer was accepted, the buildings were moved and the name was changed to Melville.
When the Carrington‑Casey Land Company purchased the land they had no intention of actually farming it themselves. They started by breaking up 40 or more acres on each section so that it could be advertised as being improved land, which sold for more money. They made deals with the purchasers of the land (settlers) that they would break up 40 acres of land per year and turn half of the crop over to the company until the price of the land was recovered.
Oxen harnessed walking plows were used to turn the sod. The seeding was done by hand or from the back of a wagon. The threshing was accomplished with hand weed scythes.
Under the management of Lyman R. Casey they began to crop some of the land in 1884. At this time they had 1,500 acres in crops. By 1896 they had 8,000 acres in cultivation. They became the bonanza farm in this area. Their headquarters was the farm known as "Hanna Ranch". One of the substations was located where Doeling Dairy is at the present time.
The Carrington‑Casey Company donated land for the town site of Melville, platted the original site for Carrington, and donated land for churches, schools and a city park. They used their influence to encourage people to come to Foster County, which they did in numbers. In April 1883 an average of 200 people would arrive daily on the train. Many came by wagon train from Jamestown.
The following article was printed in the 1884 North Dakota Atlas
"Carrington is the county seat of Foster, one of the four largest counties of the hundred and thirty in Dakota, and also one of the finest agricultural counties in the Territory. Its development is somewhat remarkable, even for Dakota. On April 2, 1883, there was not a finished dwelling or store in Carrington. The Jamestown & Northern Pacific railroad was reopened on that day, and within six weeks there was a fine population of several hundred, with first-class stores of all kinds, a newspaper, a bank, physicians, lawyers and other professional men, besides a full representation of all mechanical arts. A twenty‑thousand dollar hotel, one of the handsomest in the territory, was built, burned and rebuilt on the same splendid scale by the Town‑site Company. The company also erected a handsome little school house and presented it to the town. A church organization‑ The Congregationalists started the first Sabbath of its history, and now has an edifice of its own. An elevator has just been erected, and a mill is about to be built. Its population is almost entirely Anglo‑Saxon, and of the best and most desirable classes. Railroad connection with Devil's Lake, on the north, is almost completed, and on the west is operated as far as Sykeston, in Wells County. A new through trunk line is projected to the southeast, to connect with the Chicago system of roads. The surrounding lands are being rapidly settled and mostly with energetic, earnest Eastern people. It is one of the most attractive points in the Golden Northwest for intending settlers."
Many times the ingenuity of these pioneers was taxed to the utmost. Before the surveying was completed, some of the pioneers were not sure of the location of the land they wanted to settle, so they would tie a rope around the buggy wheel and every time the wheel went around they could feel a bump. They reasoned so many bumps would make a mile. Some of the settlers also took a tape measure and a compass and measured from the last marked section line. Surprisingly enough these measurements proved to be correct when the official survey was made.
Another story tells about fulfilling the requirements for pre‑emption which stated that there must be a shack six by six feet, a door, a window with glass, and a well with water. One clever young lady lacked these requirements. In order to rectify the situation, she coolly cut a hole in the side of the shack and hung a bottle therein. Presto! Glass! A pail of water was lowered down the well. Lo! A well with water‑ and the claim was approved.
(From the 50th celebration)
"Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine:
Which means far more to the fainting heart
Than shelter, bread and wine.
For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day.
But the touch of a hand and the sound of a voice
Sing in the soul always."
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 28