Early Exploration and Settlement (1867–1870)

The Pelican Rapids story begins amid the great tide of immigration that swept westward in the mid-19th century. In 1867, Asa H. Jacobs and Robert Scambler, employees of the British Northwest Trading Company, arrived by dog sled to scout locations for fur trading posts with the Chippewa (Ojibwe) people. Their reports highlighted the Pelican River’s rapids and waterpower potential, helping draw future settlers to the valley.

By the autumn of 1869, the first cabins were built along the banks of the Pelican River near its two rapids. Harrison and Emerson Harris arrived from Red Wing, Minnesota, after a five-week ox-drawn wagon journey. While Harrison Harris built what is considered the first cabin in what would become Pelican Rapids, he was not the first white man in the area. The Harris family initially wintered near Dayton (close to Fergus Falls) until construction was complete.

The valley Harrison Harris encountered was rich and striking. Spring floods powered the rapids, pelicans circled overhead on their way to nesting grounds, and the surrounding prairies and forests teemed with wildlife. Georgina Cole Harris later described a landscape filled with wildflowers—violets, lady-slippers, columbine, lupine, goldenrod—and intersected by the old Red River Oxcart Trail. Early settlers also encountered Indigenous travelers and traders, including Antoine Mimi, a French-Indigenous fiddler who played for community dances.

The Founder and Early Growth (1870–1874)

In 1870, William G. Tuttle—often called the founder of Pelican Rapids—arrived from Rochester, New York, with his wife and three young sons. Tuttle selected prime land along the river, including the best waterpower sites. His comparatively substantial means allowed him to build a comfortable cabin that soon became a social center, notable for its baby grand piano brought from the East.

Tuttle quickly developed the waterpower and constructed a sawmill in 1870. However, his ambitions were derailed by the notorious swindler Lord Gordon Gordon, whose fraud nearly ruined the fledgling community. By 1874, the Tuttle property was sold to John H. Robson, and the Tuttle family returned east, selling the piano to finance their journey.

A Frontier Community Takes Shape (1871–1879)

By 1871, Pelican Rapids consisted of three buildings: the Harris and Tuttle homes and a log store owned by O. A. E. Blyberg. Blyberg became a central figure in the community, serving as the first permanent merchant, postmaster, and builder of a frame house. His store also functioned as a fur trading post, purchasing muskrats, mink, and other pelts.

Life on the frontier was not without fear. In 1871, settlers experienced an “Indian scare,” during which women and children sheltered while men stood guard—though no attack occurred. That same year, the Cole families arrived from Wisconsin after a six-week wagon journey. Well supplied with livestock and household goods, they brought a level of comfort rare for pioneers. Mrs. Georgia Cole soon taught the first school in her own home.

In 1872, activity increased rapidly. A dam was built across the river, and mills were erected under the supervision of C. O. Squires. That year, surveyor Robert Miller officially platted the village of Pelican Rapids (October 19, 1872), located in Sections 22 and 27, Township 136, Range 43, at an elevation of 1,187 feet.

Industry, Business, and Culture (1880–1882)

By the late 1870s and early 1880s, Pelican Rapids had taken on a settled and bustling character. The first village band formed, led by Mat Nelson, whose bright uniform symbolized the town’s growing confidence.

In 1879, R. L. Frazee built a massive four-story flour mill with an elevator capable of holding 120,000 bushels, producing up to 200 barrels of flour daily. Commerce expanded quickly: Blyberg partnered with Charles N. Haugen in a large general store; hardware, furniture, meat markets, machine shops, blacksmiths, and harness makers all established businesses.

Professional services followed. Doctors W. H. Pattee and Dr. Cormonton arrived in 1881, with Dr. Pattee becoming a long-term community physician. In 1883, Dr. William Rae joined him in both medical practice and operation of a drugstore. Early ministers included Lutheran pastor T. Rosholt, Congregational missionary Mr. Mason, and circuit rider Mr. Young.

A Congregational Church was organized in 1882, and a substantial brick church—still in use today—was built the following year. Hotels also appeared, including the Grand Hotel (1882), which became especially popular with hunters and fishermen drawn by the area’s abundant lakes, forests, and game.

Transportation, Incorporation, and Expansion (1882–1883)

The railroad arrived in 1882 as a branch line from Fergus Falls, intended to extend northward but ultimately remaining a dead end for nearly a century. That same year saw the establishment of a bank, led by J. P. Wallace with R. L. Frazee as president.

On April 11, 1883, a petition for incorporation was signed by dozens of residents and business leaders. Judge S. W. Collins granted the request on May 16, 1883. Only twelve years after the founder’s arrival, Pelican Rapids became an incorporated village with a population of approximately 700.

From Agriculture to a Diversified Economy (20th Century)

Originally dependent on agriculture and small family farms, Pelican Rapids gradually diversified. Processing of farm products—especially turkeys—became important, alongside growth in tourism, manufacturing, electronics, wood products, and precision machining.

The opening of Maplewood State Park six miles east of town further strengthened tourism. Community landmarks include the 1957 construction of the “World’s Largest Pelican,” built for the 1958 Jubilee Celebration, and the 250-foot pedestrian suspension bridge connecting E. L. Peterson Memorial Park and Sherin Memorial Park.

Notable Historical Markers

• Pelican Rapids Man (Minnesota Woman): In 1931, construction crews uncovered what is believed to be one of the oldest human skeletons in North America—over 10,000 years old—placing Pelican Rapids on the archaeological map.
• Early Fur Trade: Dog teams transported the first white explorers in 1868 as they searched for fur trading sites for the Northwest Trading Company.
• Changing River Levels: Evidence of early storefronts can still be found in basements along Main Street, reflecting changes made when the river-level road was raised.
• Lord Gordon Gordon: One of the most infamous figures in local history, this English butler turned con man nearly ruined the young settlement through fraud in the early 1870s.

A Lasting Legacy

Within a single generation of the first white settlement along the Pelican River, Pelican Rapids evolved from an unsettled valley into a thriving incorporated community. Its strong foundation—built on waterpower, agriculture, commerce, and natural beauty—set the stage for steady growth that continues to shape the city’s future.