Devious Methods - Minot Becomes County Seat

Minot becomes County seat for Ward County – Through some rather underhanded maneuvers by Minot officials and the railroad, Minot edged out Burlington as the county seat of Ward County. It appears that when the vote was to be taken by county residents, Minot officials demanded a polling location at Lone Tree, which is west of Des Lacs…. The Lone Tree precinct was approved as the railroad had dropped off an old boarding car and plugged it into the telegraph line to prove its existence. At election time, 143 votes were cast at the Lone Tree location where two weeks previously, no inhabitants could have been found. The vote went in Minot’s favor 499 to 134 for Burlington

Main St. 1890's