"I, George Thomas Inkster of Grand Forks in the Territory of Decotah and United state of America make oath and say!"

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George Thomas Inkster
1849 - 1901

George Thomas was born on December 12, 1849. He studied at St. John’s Parochial School and later St. John’s College. George first worked for his father's freighting business, and in the early 1870s he helped mark the International Boundary between the United States and Canada by building earth mounds, rock Cairns, and iron pillars. 

In 1875, George married a Franco-Métis woman named Caroline Turcotte (written Chercote in some sources). Caroline may have been the daughter of Vital Baptiste Turcotte (c.1818-1882) and Madeleine Caplette (c.1818-1881), who lived in Saint François Xavier.

A newspaper article from the 1890s tells us that Caroline had a sister named Mrs. George Gardner who lived at Mikinaak Wajiw (Turtle Mountain). In 1892, two men from the Turcotte family signed a treaty with the United States Government as representatives of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Band.

Woman's moccasins & leggings with a loom-beaded panel. Anishinaabe, c.1880-1900 - Artist unknown; likely from the north-midwestern US (Ross House Museum)

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​In 1876, George and Caroline travelled to Grand Forks in the Dakota Territory. They briefly lived along the Red Lake River at Mallory, Minnesota. In September of 1878 they settled along the Forest River in Inkster, North Dakota. The family farmed, raised cattle, and hunted elk and deer.

​In 1885, they abandoned this home and travelled along the Mouse River to an area south of Mikinaak Wajiw now called Towner. They are said to have brought the first cattle to the area.

They had at least ten children, four of whom died in 1892/3. After this terrible loss, a final daughter named Isabelle was born in 1896.

George Inkster & J. McKay, c.1866-1871 - photo by Ryder Larsen. Moccasins paired with suits were the height of men's fashion in Red River.

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We believe that the photo below may show Caroline Turcotte on the left with her mother (standing) and sister on the right. The photo was taken by Ryder Larsen in the Red River Settlement between 1866 and 1871. The original, hand-coloured tintype was preserved by George's descendants and donated to our museum. ​

Turcotte family(?) c.1866-1871 - Photo by Ryder Larsen. Note that they are on the same carpet & backdrop as George in the photo above.

The "first white settler"

​The family's homestead on the Forest River is the only one with significant history attached to it. Because of their early settlement, George became the namesake for Inkster township, North Dakota. In spite of his Métis ancestry, he is known in American history as the "first white settler" in the area.
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George is also credited with "exploring" the Turtle River, Forest River, and Little Salt River.

​These are both interesting notes when we consider the context:

George Inkster, 1874-1876 - Photo by James Penrose

"Claim of George Thomas Inkster, a Half-breed child over 18 years"

Historically, Métis and Anishinaabe (Chippewa/Plains Ojibwe) groups travelled freely across the plains, trading from Manitoba to North Dakota to Minnesota and beyond. The new international border (known as "The Medicine Line") separated families, disrupted social organization and broke up economic networks.

In the mid-1800s, Anishinaabe groups claimed almost 1/3 of the land in North Dakota as their territory. Most of the places where George and Caroline travelled are either along established Métis trade routes, or near Anishinaabe communities. It seems evident that Caroline's family connections and language skills probably played a role in the family's success.

Shortly before his death, George provided historical information for a book titled The History of Grand Forks County. The biography it provides raises interesting questions about identity:

The book states that George is "of Scotch parentage" and that his mother "was a native of the country, having some Indian blood, but was nearly white." It also describes George's interactions with "local half-breeds" -- a group of people who were seen as very distinct from the American settlers. 

George later recalls that his mother was "closely-related to the last Earl of the Orkney Islands". One of his earliest memories was of his father telling the children that they were descended from the medieval Vikings, who conquered the Orkney Islands from the Scots. 

From a historical perspective, these are probably tall-tales. There were several Earls of Orkney named Sinclair in the 1400s, but there is no known genealogical connection to Mary Sinclair Inkster. As of 2023, there is still a current Earl of the Orkney Islands. The Viking conquest of the Orkneys also took place in the 8th Century -- 1,000 years before John Inkster was born.​

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Just a few years before this book was written, Caroline's family had negotiated with the US government as leaders of a Chippewa band. Twenty years earlier, George had claimed Métis scrip.
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This conflicting picture shows how many Métis families had to adapt their public identity to fit their circumstances and avoid discrimination. This is an interesting contrast with the photo of George as a young man in Red River, where he posed to proudly show off the moccasins matching his fashionable suit.

"George Inksters log cabin erected 1878 still standing 2 miles N of Inkster N.D. He was the first white settler in the area" -Photo by Rev. Harry J. Romberg of Grand Forks; October 16, 1972

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Geo. T. Inkster's scrip affidavit, 1876

I, George Thomas Inkster of Grand Forks in the Territory of Decotah and United state of America make oath and say! --

1. I claim to be entitled to participate in the allotment and distribution of the 1,400,000 acres of land set apart for Half breed children, pursuant to the Statutes in that behalf.

2. I was born on or about the 12th day of December A.D. 1849, at the parish of Kildonan in said Province; and am now of the full age of twenty seven years.

3. John Inkster - my father
Mary Sinclair - my mother;
my said mother was the half-breed head of a family resident in the parish of Kildonan in the said Province, on the fifteen day of July, A.D. 1870.

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Their home has been made desolate

Life was difficult on the frontier, and death from sickness, starvation or accident was common. 

George and Caroline were particularly unlucky, as their family was ravaged by the measles and whooping cough in 1892 & 1893. Obituaries from this time often went into dramatic and even gruesome detail, re-creating the person's last moments for distant relatives and friends:

In Memorium.
Within the past few weeks the relentless hand has been laid upon three children of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Inkster, and their home has been made desolate. A kind friend of the family, who was with them a great deal during this time has, by request, written the following notices of the three little ones who have put on the incorruptible and whose earthly remains now lay beside their brother Timoleon, who died last May:

Ettie Inkster: Born May 9, 1890, died February 19, 1893 aged 2 years, 9 months, 10 days.
Those who saw little Ettie three days before God called her to His home can never forget the glad happy way in which she greeted her mother, that particular morning when she brought her clothes to be dressed. She was sweet and smiling to everyone who addressed her on that morning, although she had been wakened many times during the night by those terrible spasms of coughing. Yet the messenger came quickly, and little Ettie Inkster was the first to be summoned as the brothers and sisters that remained after their little brother “Tim” was taken nearly one year ago.

Robert Inkster: Born March 31, 1888, died February 24, 1893. Aged 4 years, 10 months, 24 days.
Dear little “Bobby” – as he was affectionately called by all who knew him – struggled long and manfully with the angel Death, and when questioned if he felt sick or in pain he would always reply in the negative, and would say to his mother every day, “ I am better today" until two days before he died he told her that he was worse. “Bobby” was a patient little sufferer, and though he did not seem to be in pain he wasted away until at the time of his death he was but the former semblance of his physical self. He was a favorite with all of the neighbors and acquaintances of his father’s family. When asked by his mother about five minutes before he died if he were going to leave her and go and see “Tim” he nodded his head and murmured “yes”. He had said to his mother many times during the last summer that he was “going to heaven to be with Tim”, and take Tim’s little hatchet to him. Bobby was a very smart little boy – far beyond his years, but God saw fit to take him with the others.

Agnes Louisa: Born Oct. 28, 1891, died March 3, 1893, aged 1 year, 4 months, 3 days.
Little Agnes was the last to join the brothers and sisters gone before. A sweet little babe but sixteen months old, and though all were equally dearly, dearly loved who could forget “the baby?” And how she would reach out and cry for “Annie” – her little sister to take her! She would cling to Annie and be cared for by her for hours when she would allow no one else to care for her. She would reach with her little hands for water or food, but many times would turn her head away if given her by anyone but her sister Anna. Pity poor Anna Inkster, now that her sweet baby sister is gone."

"​A little child of Geo. Gardner died at the home of G. T. Inkster one day last week. Mrs. Gardner is the sister of Mrs. Inkster, and the family came down from their home at Turtle Mountains to pay Mr. Inkster a visit. The little one contracted the measles and whooping cough, with the misfortunate result above stated.

DIED – On Sunday night last Ettie, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Inkster. For several weeks the children of this family have been battling the disease, being first taken with measles, followed with whooping cough, to which little Ettie succumbed. The funeral occurred Tuesday, the little one being laid beside her brother, Timothy, who died last winter. The hand of affliction has rested heavily upon this family of late, and the sincere sympathy of many friends is extended to them in the night of their sorrow, while through the darkness gleams the light of Hope, and heard are the word of the Master, “I love thee: pass under the rod.”
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George T Inkster, 1892-1893 - Photo by Steele & Wing

Isabelle 'Belle' Inkster, born in 1896

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A log cabin built by George T. Inkster in 1878, in Inkster, North Dakota, USA. (Hand-coloured photo c.1910) Library of Congress

A Card.
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The undersigned wish to extend their sincerest thanks to those friends who so kindly assisted them during the sickness and death of their son, Timoleon, and to assure them their assistance and kindly sympathy in this, their bereavement, is fully appreciated.
-Mr. & Mrs. Geo. T. Inkster

We are requested to announce that the contagious disease which for some time afflicted the family of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Inkster, has been fully eradicated, and that neighbors and friends will now be welcomed at the home of the above.

From the McHenry County Independent, Towner, ND, United States

Desperate times call for desperate measures

In 1897, George traveled north to the Yukon Territory to take part in the Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands of people across North America travelled to the remote Yukon after newspapers reported spectacular finds in rich gold fields. There was almost no development in the area, and prospectors had to carry every supply they needed with them on a deadly trip across mountain ranges. He made it to the Yukon safely, but his misfortunes followed him. Unlike his uncle, Captain Colin Robertson Sinclair, George did not strike it rich.

​Dawson City became the centre of the gold rush. A town took shape overnight, but the prospectors were still completely dependent on outside supplies. During the winter of 1898, the entire settlement ran out of food. Facing starvation, George joined a group of people walking 600 miles to Skagway, Alaska for supplies. His wife Caroline died while he was away.

George was defeated. He left the north and returned to Towner, living at the home of his son Colin Sinclair Inkster until his death on December 31, 1901. He was buried beside Caroline in Union Cemetery, Towner.

This photo shows Dawson City, Yukon around 1897. The photo belonged to George, and a note on the back suggests that it may have been taken from his property overlooking Dawson, or that it might show his claim outside of town.

His name lives on...

The family's story was preserved through the line of George's son, Colin Sinclair Inkster (b.1881). It's not clear what happened to the rest of their family.

​This photo likely shows Colin Sinclair or one of his brothers. It was taken by Jacob Berg in Grand Forks between 1881 & 1889. It's the only photo in the family album used at Seven Oaks House that came from the Dakotas.

Colin remained in Towner and had at least four children: Three daughters named Edith, Alice, and Addie Sarah, and a son named George (Jr).

Edith, Alice & Addie Sarah Inkster (L to R), early 1900s

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Addie Sarah later used "Lockleare-Hull" as her last name. She donated a collection of family photos and items along with one of her sisters, recorded only as Mrs. Erwin Peterson. So far we haven't been able to find any record of their lives or families.

This wedding photo from the early 1900s was donated by George's grand-daughter without any information.

This early 1900s photo has the mysterious caption "WAITING FOR THE BLASTING"

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Their brother, the younger George Inkster, served in the U.S. military during the Second World War. He was killed in action on July 9, 1944 in the Central Pacific and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. For many years, his portrait and citations were displayed on a wall in Seven Oak House -- draped in the large U.S. flag that was laid over his casket.

Burial place of George Inkster (Jr)

Still standing?

In 1972, a man named Harry J. Romberg documented George & Caroline's homestead. Romberg lived in Grand Forks, but we don't know why he took such an interest in this Inkster story.  On October 16, he photographed George & Caroline's home (built in 1878) and drew a surprisingly accurate map to its site. He described its location as "two miles north of Inkster, ND".

His map shows the outlines of their 160 acre property. It also shows that their homestead was next to a very distinctive square bend in the Forest River. It shows that there was a shallow river crossing immediately behind their cabin, with access from a modern highway just to the east. The area north of their homestead is described as "an old buffalo wallow".

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Finding George and Caroline's homestead was easier than we expected.
​Just follow the red dot.

1.9 miles north of the town of Inkster, a rural highway called 38th Street North-East crosses the Forest River. The modern bridge is located at the top-right corner of Romberg's map.

Romberg's 1972 map - detail showing key features.

Google maps, 2023 - Note the square bend in the Forest River, and access from a nearby north/south highway.

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Today, there's a modern farm house just to the south of George and Caroline's homestead.

​Satellite photos allow us to zoom in and look for the natural landmarks that Romberg pointed out. The bends in the river match, and he drew a long ridge of trees off to the west. Halfway up from the square bend in the river we can see a light, shallow area -- the old river crossing. We can even see square shapes where Romberg marked the cabin.

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Look even closer: We can see what looks like the ruins of a small square structure -- the Inkster cabin?
​Just below it is a modern building.

See George & Caroline's homestead for yourself:

Coordinates: 48.177796, -97.645738
https://goo.gl/maps/1hvkEuzgKjr6uPZt6

Prospective Inkster explorers should note that the cabin appears to be on private land.
​Send us a picture if you make it out there!
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Research compiled by Eric Napier Strong with files from Donna Sutherland, 2023