The Settler (Later “The Bismarck Settler“) was a weekly newspaper published in Bismarck from 1890 to 1911; and briefly succeeded in a different format for 1912. It released weekly editions on Thursdays, in addition to special editions.
Edited and published by reform-minded journalist William P. Moffet (W.P. Moffet), the publication became known for its aggressive anti-corruption stance and opposition to municipal vice aimed primarily against local political machine bosses Alexander McKenzie and Edward G. Patterson, escalating in violent conflict in 1897 with an attempted assassination attempt made against Moffet.
History
Established in 1890 during the early expansion of North Dakota’s statehood, The Settler served as a weekly publication advocating for civic reform and political accountability in Bismarck. At the time, political influence in North Dakota was closely tied to the regional machine of political boss Alexander McKenzie, backed by the Northern Pacific Railway. In Bismarck, local enforcement fell under Mayor Edward G. Patterson, who operated the city with frontier leniency.
Under the direction of editor William Moffet, The Settler established itself as an outspoken critic of political corruption and illegal vice operations, frequently clashing with municipal leadership. Despite severe physical sabotage, legal harassment, and an assassination attempt targeting Moffet in 1897, the newspaper maintained continuous publication through assistance from regional press allies.
Similarly, when the 1898 Fire leveled most of downtown Bismarck, including the headquarters of its primary competitor, The Bismarck Tribune, Moffet shared The Settler‘s salvaged printing presses to allow the Tribune to continue publishing. The Settler remained in operation until 1911, serving as a prominent independent voice in frontier journalism.
In addition to advocating for government accountability, The Settler actively promoted homesteading and agricultural expansion, building a strong base among rural readers. The paper’s agrarian focus aligned with North Dakota’s growing progressive reform movement, which challenged the influence of the McKenzie Machine and presaged the formation of the Nonpartisan League.
Press War
In 1897, The Settler became the centerpiece of a high-profile feud primarily against Mayor Edward G. Patterson. The conflict escalated when Moffet published a series of front-page exposés accusing Patterson of running an illegal speakeasy inside his establishment, the Sheridan House, in direct violation of North Dakota’s prohibition laws.
In response, the municipal machine retaliated through both legal and physical means:
- Legal Harassment: Within a single 30-day period during mid-1897, Patterson’s faction had Moffet arrested four times on criminal libel charges, using local magistrates to set steep bail amounts in an attempt to bankrupt the publication.
- Office Sabotage: On the night of August 28, 1897, a mob aligned with the Patterson machine broke into The Settler‘s print shop. Moffet was assaulted inside the office, while the attackers used sledgehammers to destroy the machinery, scatter trays of lead type, and shred ledger books. The iron components of the press were hauled and thrown into the Missouri River.
- Assassination Attempt: After Moffet resumed printing with the help of neighboring newspapers like the Mandan Pioneer and Washburn Leader, an unidentified attempted assassin fired five gunshots at Moffet, his wife, and disabled mother as they walked home one evening in October 1897. Despite a bullet ripping through Moffet’s clothes, he and his family all escaped unharmed.
The blatant lawlessness of the Patterson faction ultimately backfired. Rather than suppressing The Settler, the repeated harassment, attempted assassination, and the spectacular dumping of the press transformed Moffet into a free-speech martyr. Major metropolitan newspapers across the Midwest, including the St. Paul Pioneer Press, picked up the story, casting a harsh national spotlight on the corruption governing North Dakota’s capital.
Moffet outlasted the conflict and continued publishing The Settler for another fourteen years – through the initial downfall of the McKenzie Machine.
Feud Timeline
Exposés Published: July–August 1897
W.P. Moffet publishes scathing front-page reports in The Settler detailing Mayor Patterson’s illegal speakeasy operations at the Sheridan Hotel.
Legal Retaliation: Mid-August 1897
Moffet is arrested four times within thirty days on charges of criminal libel, facing inflated bail requirements set by local magistrates.
Office Raid & River Dumping: August 28, 1897
A mob lead by a man named McGahey storms The Settler print shop, beats Moffet, smashes the machinery, and drags the iron printing press to the Missouri River. Moffet is jailed the following morning on a $1,000 bond.
Regional Press Support: September 1897
Regional publishers, including staff at the Mandan Pioneer and Washburn Leader, share equipment to keep The Settler in print. Regional coverage brings Midwest media attention to the feud.
Ambush: October 1897
An unknown sniper fires five shots at Moffet, his wife, and his mother as they walk home. Moffet survives unharmed and restores full printing operations in Bismarck shortly after.
Great Bismarck Fire: August 1898
When a citywide fire destroys the downtown district and rival Bismarck Tribune offices, The Settler hosts the Tribune staff on its rebuilt presses.
William P. Moffet
Lieutenant Colonel William Porter Moffet was The Settler’s editor and publisher during its entire run. He was born on September 21, 1866, in Somonauk, DeKalb County, Illinois. He died in 1954.
