Alexander Saunders was born in Scotland in 1854 and left there in 1873 for Ontario, Canada. In 1878 he took up land in the Turtle Mountains north of the border, and the same summer rented land in Pembina County where he farmed for two years.

In May 1880 Mr. Saunders decided to look for land near Valley City. He walked, alone, north of Valley City with a pack containing provisions, a raincoat and a blanket. He also carried a compass and a book with the land survey. He followed the Sheyenne River spending the first night at Sibley Crossing with Frank Abbott. The next day, May 24, 1880, he saw his home for the first time. This is now in 1975, the Irvin and Manfred Loge farm on the SW quarter of Section 24 in Sverdrup Township.

Alexander Saunders broke 10 or 12 acres and planted a few potatoes and turnips in the sod. He built his first house in the side of a hill. It was lined with poles. The roof was of poles covered with hay, bark and dirt. The house was 14 by 22 and very warm.

In November Mr. Saunders went to Pembina with his Red River Cart for goods left behind. On the second night on his return trip he was refused a night's lodging. A snowstorm was raging, the oxen were exhausted, there was only one thing to do, and Mr. Saunders drew a revolver ... and stayed. He became lost 10 miles from home. He met the driver of the Star mail route who was also lost. The mail carrier's horses were overcome by the storm and hard driving and reported to the government as killed by the Indians. After passing the carrier, Mr. Saunders lost his direction again, and also broke a wheel off his Red River cart in a snow bank. At about 3 AM he came to the house near what is now known as the Fluto Bridge (Home of Amund Fluto). In the morning he returned home and with his other team and wagon recovered his goods. The cart was abandoned and destroyed by a prairie fire the next spring. In 1882 Mr. Saunders built a large, comfortable log house in which he lived many years.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 440