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Collection Summary
Collection: 00032 - North Dakota Oral History Project Photograph Collection
Folder: SI-03
Item: 00005
Title: James B. Gayton home
Date: 09/1902
Inscription/Marks: Written in pencil on reverse: James B. Gayton home September 1902. [biography Selfridge Golden Jubilee History 1911-1961] JAMES BENNET GAYTON FAMILY The James B. Gayton family perhaps were the first family in this vicinity, coming here as early as 1902. They settled 3 1/2 miles northeast of Selfridge. This was before the railroad came through or the town of Selfridge was started. . . In 1858 James B. Gayton married Mary Joy to the Nation [Oyate Wicimdeza]. They resided in Emmons county for several years. Mr. Gayton was a member from Emmons County at the North Dakota Constitutional Convention in 1889. [biography] JAMES BENNETT GAYTON, of Hampton, Emmons County was born in the county of Cuyahoga, Ohio, November 10, 1833, of English ancestry who settled in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio about 1830; was educated in Cleveland public schools and Cleveland Central High School; came to Wisconsin, 1850; settled in Dakota 1857; was in the lumber woods of Wisconsin for seven years; came to Niobrara 1857; was employed in Indian traders' store on Ponca Indian Agency; in 1865 came to Fort Rice and was employed in Post and Indian Traders' store; in 1868 settled permanently in what are now the boundaries of Emmons County; is at present engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was elected to the Constitutional Convention as a Republican, receiving 626 votes against, 285 for W. A. Fridley, Democrat. [Bismarck Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 6, 1889, p04 column 3] "WHO THEY ARE" Gayton, James B. Classmate of President Garfield, located in Horsehead Valley, Emmons County, in the early Seventies. Horsehead Valley named by the Sioux Indians about 150 years ago. (Story of naming of Horsehead Valley, first four paragraphs of the History of Horsehead Valley written by D. W. Casey for The Golden Anniversary Edition, Section 2, p. 10 Thursday, October 4, 1934). Mr. Gayton lived in Horsehead for many years and was always active in community as well as county affairs, until his eyesight failed him, so he could not see to read. He retired from his deities as county commissioner in 1890; moved across the Missouri River into Sioux County in 1902 and lived on land that had been allotted to his wife and family at the time the Sioux Tribe severed their tribal relations and became citizens of the United States. He died in 1909. (Mrs. A. H. Irvine of Bismarck, born at Livona, Emmons County, states that she is quit3e sure that James B. Gayton is buried at Fort Yates.). Conversation by telephone Saturday noon, May 2, 1942) Later succeeded in getting Mrs. George H. Fisher, 1023 6th Street by telephone, noon May 2, 1942, and Mrs. Fisher states that her Grandfather James Bennett Gayton is buried at Selfridge, Sioux County, North Dakota; that he is buried in the private cemetery of the Gayton Family located on the land occupied by the Gayton family, a few miles outside of town of Selfridge (N.D.)
Summary: Three-quarter view of front and right side of James B. Gayton home. Vertical logs form the lower part with a sod roof. A screen door stands open held by a broom and the inside solid door is ajar. A wooden ladder next to the door provides access to the roof. Fences enclose garden areas in the foreground and photo left of the house. A cloth tent has been pitched far photo left with an unhitched wagon next to it. In the far background are rolling hills.
Red ID: PH_I_120758 Image ID: 54871 Image Notes: 00032-SI-03b-00005

Collection: 00032 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: North Dakota Oral History Project Photograph Collection
Date: 1880-1977

Summary: Consists of copies of photographs belonging to people interviewed for the North Dakota Oral History Project. The Project was undertaken by Larry Sprunk, with the cooperation of the North Dakota American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, the North Dakota Farmers Union, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The primary objective of the North Dakota Oral History Project was to conduct oral tape recorded interviews with North Dakotans who lived through the state's history and who could speak of this history from a first-hand basis. Interviewees were photographed at the time of their interviews. In addition, the project borrowed over 6,000 historical photographs which were copied and added to the State Historical Society's collection. Many interviewees also donated family histories, documents, letters, ledgers, books, and artifacts.

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