Traces of the French Settlement

by Trevor Cook

From approximately 1896 to 1901, an area that lay between Viding and Morken Townships was home to a cluster of families of French-Canadian descent.  The 1900 U.S. Census, land records, and newspaper accounts prove the existence of the French Settlement.  Unfortunately, such documents do not give any reason as to why this ethnically-based group left after five years.  Today, the site looks very different.