The Ranson County Trust Company was established at Sheldon, ND in 1888 and was incorporated in 1899 as the Ransom County Immigration Association.

The records consist primarily of over 6,000 case files of mainly land and farm mortgage transactions handled by the firm from 1899 to circa 1930.  In addition there are bylaws and meeting minutes (1899-1947), general correspondence files of the company and its principal partners, Edmund Pierce, F. W. Fromeke, P. W. Fromeke, Charles Bangert, Thomas Pierce, and Frank E. Shaw.  Other miscellaneous files include Fromeke Land Company, Sheldon village records, and Thomas Marshall.

Finding aids to the collection include a card file containing a summary of each case, with cross-referenced name, subject and geographic indices.

Access: The collection is currently in off-site storage. Staff must have at least 24-hour notice to transfer desired materials to the Institute Research Room. Researchers are strongly encouraged to contact staff via e-mail or telephone prior to visiting.  

Agriculture, Bonanza and Land Development