D. Fort Sewart- Fort Totten Trail
Fourteen Mile Lake- located on the south edge of section 26. It was named this because it was fourteen miles from this spot to Belland Lake. (Juanita Lake)
Eleven Mile Lake- southwest corner of Section 14. The trail passed on the east side of the lake or pond.
Bowman's Ford- on James River, Northwest section 11. Here the trail crossed River on a stony ripple.
Lohnes- Bowman Dugout- north edge of 1-14664- about 500 feet west of main Totten Trail. Ed Lohnes was a mail carrier on the Trail. He arrived at Fort Totten in 1867 when the first soldiers were stationed there. He helped build the original log fort on Devils Lake and after discharge from the army, obtained employment as a mail carrier, first on the Abercrombie line then on the Fort Seward line.
At first Lohnes stopped at the Larrabee station but there was a difference of opinion about services so Lohnes moved down the James River a mile or two and established his own camp or systems of barns, dugouts, and other shelters. This was located on the old William Bowman farm on the East bank. It is quite possible that Bowman took over the Lohnes location when the latter gave up his travels on the trail. Bowman died about 1884 and the family left soon after.
Larrabee Station- The only shelter for years on the trail on Section 25-147-64. It was half way station between Seward and Totten and many prominent people took shelter under his roof. Larrabee arrived in 1876. He bought the "improvements" from Joe Hayes and set up his station.
At first it was strictly mail arrangement but soon both mail and passengers were carried. Most of the time a round trip was made three times a week. A spring wagon or buckboard when traffic was light, otherwise by stage, in winter a dog train was used.
Larrabee Station was a regular stopping place for soldiers that were traveling from one fort to the other. Berkley Larrabee as a small child, recalled sitting on General Sherman's knee.
Belland's Dugout- 1866 was the original rest stop on the Trail. It is located on the Southwest corner of 18147-63, two miles east of Grace City. It is situated near the mouth of Belland Creek and facing east onto Juanita Lake. Belland's record is obscure. He seems to have been a mixed-blood person from Devils Lake. Whether he was located there as a hunter-trapper before the trail, or settled on the lake to accommodate travelers is unknown. Nor is it known when he left.
Following Belland was a man called "Slothful" Joe Hayes who occupied the dugout until 1876 when Larrabee came on the scene.
Historic marker for Trail- located one mile north and 1-1/2 miles east of Grace City.
Reads:
Foster County Historic Site
Fort Totten Trail
Looking North can be seen the ruts of the first highway to pass through Foster County. Established in 1872 and used through the 1880s. This road was used to haul freight, passengers, and mail between Jamestown and Fort Totten.
A story written by C.H. Foster, an editor of the Jamestown Alert:
"Having an opportunity to ride to Fort Totten in an ambulance sleigh that brought the paymaster down from the Fort where he had just paid the soldiers at the post, we concluded to make our intended visit to that place, leaving here March 13.
"To say that the trip was cold and blustering would be doing the question our poor justice, a four or five degrees below zero and a Dakota zephyr blowing deserves a superlative degree of comparison; but we met the storm securely fortified in a canvas covered four horse sleigh, warmed by a well fed camp stove, and well bundled in furs, and sitting on the lee side of our portly friend, T.S. Harris of this place, we stood the battle well, but must confess that the wintry blast was hard on the driver and team.
"Leaving Jamestown we passed out upon the prairie, away from the signs of civilization, with the undulating, treeless plain stretching away as far as an eye could reach and heading toward the North Star, pushed on for the Fort, which is 84 miles from here.
"Twenty-two miles out we were going to stop at Jack Clayton's dirt ranch, but its owner having severely frosted himself on the last New Year's Day, and being in the hospital at the post, and there being no wood to cook or warm with, no grub cooked and but little to cook and there being an excessively good prospect for a cold sit up all night if we stayed, the crowd of us very unanimously agreed to pull for Larrabee's ranch near Lake Belland, 26 miles further on, at which we arrived before dark.
"Mr. Larrabee and wife are comfortably located half way between here and the fort, having a good farm home, all plastered, with shingled roof and all the fixings except a mortgage, as well as a comfortable log house (the old ranch) and very good stabling for stock, are well prepared to accommodate those who travel over the road, and they do it in good style. Doubting Davies are requested to interview the traveling quill driver of the Jamestown Alert or Judge T.B.H., the gentlemanly station agent at this place who was one of the party.
"Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee have a growing family of fine children, who were petted somewhat by the passengers. The judge and a soldier belonging to the Fort, each have a little girl on their knee playing horse. Says the Equestrienne on the judge's knee to the other, "My horse has got the best harness". This to the other little lass, was a comparison most odious; to which she rejoined, "Yes, but your horse has to have blinders on", referring to the judge's glasses, you know.
"Mr. Larrabee has to haul his wood from Lake Doe, 14 miles to the north."
An Old Ox Cart and Stage Line used the same trail. This line was established in 1871 but not surveyed before 1881.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 392