VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Barnes County 150th Anniversary Books are now available at the Barnes County Museum! This nearly 300 page, full-color book of Barnes County’s rich illustrated history. There are historical photos of each township and town plus a current background highlighting the beauty of each township’s surrounding views. It has been compiled by Sandy Hansen, who also put the Valley City 125th book together for 2008. Sandy Hansen also created the special logo for the 150th and available on t-shirts.
The book highlights the stories of the people who founded the townships and towns of our county starting on July 14th, 1874, when it was first named Barnes County, in honor of Dakota Territory Judge Alanson Barnes.
A history of Judge Alanson Barnes By Tom Elliot, president of Barnes County Historical Society in 1971.
Judge Alanson Barnes was born in Lewis County, New York in 1817. He studied law with David Bennett, a famous lawyer of that time in New York City and was admitted to the bar at the age of 23. He practiced law in New York State until 1854, when he moved to Delevan, Wisconsin. Here he continued his law practice and was later appointed “Draft Commissioner” by President Lincoln for the state of Wisconsin. He supervised the filling of levees of draftees for the Union Army.
When General Grant was elected President in the election of 1868, he found that he was expected to make appointment of new officers for Dakota Territory. These, of course, would be deserving Republicans. He appointed John A. Burbank governor upon the recommendation of Senator Morton. Burbank was ill fitting for the position, both by education and background.
Alanson Barnes was a well-known Republican as well as a well-known and able lawyer and his name was submitted for appointment as an Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Dakota Territory. He was so named in April of 1873. He was further appointed by the Governor to serve the second judicial district with his court at Yankton, then capitol of Dakota Territory.
What is now Barnes County was created on January 4, 1872, and was named “Burbank County,” by the Governor in his honor. Subsequently, Judge Barnes incurred the displeasure of Governor Burbank as the result of his granting an injunction preventing the mortgaging of a railroad in which Go. Burbank had a large financial interest. Burbank then threatened to transfer Judge Barnes to the third judicial district at Pembina, then considered to be the “Siberia” of the Territory if he did not rule favorable to the Governor at the hearing on the injunction. The later ruling by Judge Barnes further incensed Go. Burbank as did other rulings at that time.
After due thought, Judge Barnes decided that Gov. Burbank should be replaced and he went to Washington to lay the facts before President Grant and the Attorney General. Burbank also went to Washington to protect his interests but before leaving he prepared an order transferring Judge Barnes to Pembina and had the Territorial Secretary, as acting Governor, publish the order after he had left for Washington. Judge Barnes appealed to the Attorney-General and he ordered the action rescinded. However, he found that he could not legally so order and Judge Barnes was assigned to Pembina and the Third Judicial District, which was comprised of what is now North Dakota.
The facts laid before the President by Judge Barnes were given due consideration and it was decided that either Governor Burbank resign or he would be re-called. He agreed to resign as of January 1, 1874. The Territorial Legislature, in homage to Judge Barnes, re-named Burbank County as “Barnes County” on July 14, 1874.
In 1877, Judge Barnes was re-appointed by President Hayes and he served the third judicial district until 1881, when he was replaced by Judge Hudson.
The Barnes County 150th Anniversary Books are $30 each, no tax as it is a fundraiser for the Society and all proceeds go to the Society. It was printed with the help of a grant from the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the Barnes County Commission as well as those who purchased advertising in it.
