Walsh Heritage: A Story of Walsh County and Its Pioneers, Vol. 01 by Tellwell

DATE MIC ROFICHED APR j j 1989 |

P R O J E C T and FICHE #

G. S. CALL #

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A Story Of Walsh County And Its Pioneers

GE EALOG ALDEP||T» N

CHUF

L?!-T^DAY SA.NTS

DEDICATION

Walsh Heritage is dedicated to the pioneer men and women of Walsh County whose courage and determination brought civilization to the virgin prairies.

May it perpetuate their memory and achievements.

Fore ward Walsh Heritage is a tribute to those men and women who braved the demands and privations of pioneer life in Walsh County. They changed a wilderness into a land of fertile farms, industry and thriving communities, while providing for the spiritual, physical, educational and social needs of their families. F r o m them comes the heritage we enjoy today. Biographies of pioneers were collected over a period of eight years by the Walsh County Historical Society. However, it was not until January of 1975 that concrete plans were made for this Bicentennial project. Then, the Walsh County Historical Society officers named a committee of nine to serve as chairmen for each area. Few first generation pioneers remain, and some areas had little to offer in the way of permanent records. Walsh Heritage is compiled from recollections of stories told, family biographies, official records, and preserved copies of newspapers. A special note of thanks is extended to those who have contributeci time

and effort to

make

Walsh Heritage a reality.

The

factual

information and pictures loaned for reproductior. have contributed much to the history recorded in Walsh Heritage. It is impossible to give recognition to all who have assisted in so many ways in this undertaking. We regret it our records may be found incomplete, and there may be errors in memory that even our close comparisons do not detect. We trust, however, our readers will be pleased with Walsh Heritage.

PUBLISHED BY WALSH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDITED BY GUNDER V. BERG, V A L L E Y CITY, N. DAK. PRINTED BY ASSOCIATED PRINTERS, GRAFTON, N. DAK. 58237

W A L S H C O U N T Y B I C E N T E N N I A L HISTORIC BOOK C O M M I T T E E Left to right, back row—Miss Nora Gryde, Hoople; Francis Chromy, Forest R i v e r ; John Novak, L a n k i n ; Ted G i l l h a m , Forest R i v e r ; M r s . James Johnson, Adams. Front row, left to right—Mrs. Franklin Goodman, Grafton; M r s . Percy Walstad, Park R i v e r ; M r s . M . C. Flaten, Edinburg; M r s . Stanley Stanislowski, Minto.

Compiled and Collated bv Committee of Nine M r s . M . C. Flaten, Chm Miss Nora Gryde, Vice-Chm M r s . Franklin Goodman, Sec'y M r s . James Johnson, Treas M r s . Percy Walstad John Novak M r s . Stanley Stanislowski Francis Chromy Ted Gillham

Townships—Lampton, Tiber, Golden, W ' / Dundee Townships— E><2 Dundee, Fertile, Glenwood Townships—Farmington, Grafton, Acton, St. Andrews, Oakwood, and M a r t i n 2

Townships—Dewey, Adams, Latona, Kinloss, Shepherd, Vesta and Silvesta Townships—Rushford, Vernon, Kensington Townships—Sauter, Perth, Norton. Cleveland T o w n s h i p s - H a r r i s o n , Ardoch and Pulaski Townships—Medford, Eden, P r a i r i e Centre Townships—Ops, Forest River, Walsh Centre

Walsh County Historical Markers

Compiled by

First Site of

Edinburg

The Civic League of Edinburg as a Bicentennial Project have erected a cairn with a plaque attached marking the site of the first town of Edinburgh 1882-1887. This project was approved by the Walsh County Historical Society and the owner of the land, Mrs. Hilda Brevik. The Brevik family homesteaded on the land about the time the town of Edinburgh was established. The trees marked the site in 1957 but have been removed.

Alex Henry's Rest Area

ALEXANDER

HENRY

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U M 1 EAIl WIIB1PE. U i TBEX Of THE BED DIVER. TBE JOURKEY REG! M O l m U V H ^ M X SOME Of WHICH WERE OKE UOUSABD YARDS I W I I C M J U K I M • S fARI RiVER POST HIHIH A STOKES IURO> TIES t l » H U M BARER .01 «0 FAII1ER Of TBE RED BECAUSE Ot J u t W TII $ » » " WWI tOAWED U E ARIA. BEBRT SfEBT TBE WMTU

mfWnawni ««Wl ra PEMBIBA WHERE HE CONSTRUCTED A nm pan innct ws w IEWAH on* e*m TB? BEWISE of ru» T»?V

Walsh County's First White Settler, Alexander Henry offlooding.This became the first settlement and the first white man in Walsh County. Henry came to the area from the Lake Superior route at Grand Portage, up the Pigeon River, across a nine mile portage, and to Lake Winnipeg, then up the Red River. He did not go further south on the "Red" because his Indian guides were afraid of the Sioux tribes further up (south) stream. Henry kept a good diary of his travels so that we have a fine record of his activities in Walsh County including the number of pelts secured.

It would seem a little odd that beaver hats would be responsible for the white man's coming to Walsh County in 1800. This is true, however, as the demand for beaver hair felt was high in the East and in Europe because of its ability to shape well. Alexander Henry (the younger), an employee of the Northwest Fur Trading Company, came to Walsh County to secure pelts from the Indians. He built a wintering fort at the mouth of the Park River (the Little Salt at that time) where it enters the Red River of the North in the fall of 1800 and abandoned it in the spring of 1801 because

in the valley; he engineered the first bridge across the Park River; his fort flew the first flag (British) under our prairie skies, and he took as a wife a Chippewa chief's daughter. When he moved on to Pembina, he grew the first cultivated crops and gardens, started a chicken flock, and traded not only in fur but pemmican and designed the Red River ox cart destined to be the Valley's freight wagons for 50 years or more. Submitted by Charles H. Stewart.

Efforts to mark the location of the first settlement for posterity with a plaque were spearheaded by Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Stewart of the Walsh County Historical Society. The plaque is now attached to the wall of the rest rooms of the Interstate No. 29 rest area near the Park River. Credit for the development of the rest area to resemble a fort goes to Canon Ted Smith of Fargo and the State Highway department Bicentennial effort. Alexander Henry is responsible for many firsts while residing in Walsh County. He introduced the first horses

Alex Henry's 1800 fur trading post has come alive again in the disguise of a rest area located just north of the Grafton intersection on 1-29. This "Alex Henry Trading Post," built of rough logs in a wooded spot between the north and southbound lanes, looks much like the fur trader might have left it in 1801. The only change has been the inclusion of the up-to-date amenities that have earned the Highway Department compliments by weary travelers in the past. The rest area design is unique in the three-state region including Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota. The addition of an observation tower in the pole palisade, rough wood covering on the building, rail fences, and old fashioned lamps helps to convert this rest area into an unusual historic site as well. The authentic look was the result of extensive research by Canon Ted Smith of Fargo, and later by the Walsh County and State Historical Societies and the Design Division of the Highway Department. This research revealed the approximate location of the post in the 1800s, who these traders were, why they settled

Though fur trapping and trading are far back in North Dakota history, the industry set off a chainreaction that still affects the state. After Henry set up his post, other people in the East began taking note of the region. Explorers like Lewis and Clark found their way to the general area, though further south. Later in the 1800s ranchers and farmers discovered, in turn, the agricultural value of the rolling prairies. 'Because of the significance of this post in North Dakota history, the Highway Department has designated the Alex Henry Trading Post as one of its Bicentennial projects. A plaque bearing an explanation of the history of the region and a map of the area has been mounted at the rest area, and plans for a display showing artifacts of the trading era are still being developed. In building this unique rest area as a historical site, the North Dakota Highway Department has set a precedent. Though the planning, researching and construction has taken a great deal of time and effort, the result is an achievement of which the Highway Department and the people of North Dakota can be proud. 15

Henry's eagerness in setting up a new post had a very strong economic base. The fashion of the day dictated beaver hats; other furs were used for articles of clothing. The fur companies which dared to explore new country to supply this insatiable demand became extremely rich by the sale of furs worth millions of pounds in English currency. The first post was located at what was then the junction of the Park and Red Rivers as far south as Henry dared venture because of fierce Sioux Indians who lived and hunted in that region. As the leader of the post, Henry kept informative diaries with a day-by-day account of the life in the trading post. His problems, the number of furs bought, unrest among the Indians and the competition between the fur companies are a part ofhis daily records. After Henry established his post, other fur trading companies noticed the great value of furs being taken out of the region and decided to set up their own posts nearby at Pembina. The competition was vicious, with the Indians suffering most. Traders would bribe Indians to hunt or work by giving them liquor. Henry notes in his diary the negative effect the white traders had upon the Indian's way of life. About a year after the Park River post was set up, Henry left it to build a new fort at Pembina. The traffic in furs had been increasing there, as had the danger of the Sioux so close to the Park River post. By Joyce Hagen.

where they did, and some local color events which happened in the post while they lived there. Though much of the original post history was recorded by its founder Alex Henry, the exact dimensions and the location of the original site have not been found. Vicious flooding in the area after the post was abandoned wiped out its remains, while the landmarks identifying the site were also erased by the local rivers changing course in the last few decades. Though the Highway Department's Building was not designed to the old original specifications, it has an authentic look. Historical accounts were of great help in checking details and in helping the Design Division keep the 1800 fur trading post decor consistent throughout the state. Looks can deceive, in this case the antique exterior hides a very modern and practical facility. The rest area is fully equipped with trailer dumps, picnic shelters, a large wooded area and easy access to the highway as well as the traditional rest area facilities. The site has a particular historical significance as Alexander Henry was one of the first white men to settle in North Dakota during the first years of the 19th century. Though he started out as a freelance Canadian fur trader, Henry soon became a junior partner in the Northwest Fur Company operating out of Canada. When Northwest was exploring for new trapping and trading sites, Henry led one brigade down the Red River to set up a new fort. His objective was to establish a trading post as far south on the Red as possible in order to be the first trader the trappers would meet when selling their furs.

Sweden

Post Office 1879-1882. One of the first trading centers. It was established in the farm home of John M. Almen and named for his native land. The same year William McKenzie erected a store nearby and the post office was moved into it. Supplies and mail came down the Red River to Drayton, a trading post from where they were hauled to Sweden. By 1882 it had two stores, a blacksmith shop, two saloons, and a post office. Sweden post office was moved to Grafton when the railroad came there in 1882. This marker was constructed by the North Dakota Historical Society and was sponsored by J. Otto Almen of Sierra Madre, Calif., to commemorate the town of Sweden where his father was postmaster. Mr. and Mrs. Murray Swanson assisted Otto Almen with the construction of the marker.

Edinburg Civic League Memorial Park

In 1950 while observing the 40th anniversary of the organization of the Civic League of Edinburg, a marker was dedicated honoring the charter members of the Civic League who built and maintained the Edinburg Park. Also honored were Rev. J. T. Langemo, pioneer Lutheran minister, and Dr. A. A. Flaten, pioneer country doctor, for years of service in the community. The cairn on which the plaques were placed had been erected by G. C. Jenson, who served as Mayor of Edinbure for a number of years. > The park is now named "Civic League Memorial Park." The Civic League manages a small museum in the first church built in Edinburg which is in the park. Civic League Memorial Park with Memorial to Pioneers.

Spanish-American War Memorial On The Walsh County Courthouse Grounds front of the structure. The memorial is made of limestone. It is a round pillar mounted upon a square tiered base. There is a band of eighteen stars at the top of the pillar. Surmounting the pillar is the statue of a soldier made of copper. The soldier is standing at ease with the right foot forward, the thumb of the right hand hooked on his ammunition belt; the left hand is holding a gun with the butt resting on the ground. He wears a nat with an insignia on the crown. He is dressed in combat dress complete with bed-roll, knapsack, canteen and a capacious cup. He wears an ammunition belt loaded with bullets. His legs are encased in leggings which are laced up on the sides. Carved on the front is the inscription, "You can't stampede the 1st North Dakota" which is a quotation from General Lawton. The plaque bears the inscription: "Sacred to the memory of the brave boys of Co. C who gave up their lives in the service of their country." On the north side of the memorial there is a plaque bearing the following history of the campaign: "Co. C, 1st. N. D. vol. inf. enlisted for the Spanish-American War April 26,1898, was mustered in May 14,1898; took part in the capture of Manila, P.I., Aug. 13,1898, and the Santa Cruz, the San Isidro and Morang expeditions during the Philippine insurrection, participating in 24 engagements, was mustered out at San Francisco, Sept. 25, 1899, arrived at Grafton Oct. 25,1899. Every Duty Well Done." On the south side of the memorial is a plaque bearing the names of those who lost their lives: Corporal Isidore Driscoll, killed April 12,1899, at Paete, P.I.; Waggoner Peter W. Tompkins, killed April 12,1899, at Paete, P.I.; Private Alfred C. Almen, killed April 12,1899, at Paete, P.I.; Private WiUiam C. Lamb, killed April 12, 1899, at Paete, P.I.; Private John Buckley, killed Aug. 16,1899, at Manila, P.I.; Private Frank Upham, died March 1,1899, at Manila, P.I.; Private Olai 0. Berg, died January 26, 1900, at Thief River Falls, Minn.; Private Nathan Myers, died March 22, 1900, at Battle Creek, Mich." Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

The memorial to the Walsh County men who served in the Spanish-American War was erected in 1900. A plaque bears the inscription: "Erected by Walsh County and its citizens, A.D. 1900, in honor of their heroic dead." Originally the memorial stood in a park north of the first courthouse. The park was landscaped with trees, ftowers and walks. When the new courthouse was built, it was located so that the memorial was exactly centered in

• 19

World War I And World War II Memorial

The memorial dedicated to the citizens of Walsh County who served in World War I and World War E is situated forty feet west of the Spanish-American War memorial on the Walsh County Courthouse grounds. It is a plain limestone shaft with three panels with a bronze eagle mounted on the top of the center panel. A plaque on the center panel bears the inscription: "Walsh County Memorial. In honor of the men and women who served their country during World War I and World War EL Sacred to the memory of those who died for Liberty, Justice and Peace. Erected by the citizens of Walsh County, 1950." Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Walsh County's Pioneer Memorial Garden

Agassiz Garden Club's Walsh County Pioneer Memorial Garden at Homme Recreational Area. Left: view when dedicated in 1961. Right: view showing a part of the extensive garden development, 1975.

In the early 1950's one avenue adopted by the National Council of State Garden Clubs to inspire and create a more beautiful America was a project Memorial Gardens - gardens to be located on land in perpetual ownership in communities that would preserve and commemorate the memory of historical events and sites and of persons who have gone to their eternal reward. It is a lasting tribute to a community to create preservation, commemoration and beautification through Memorial Gardens in areas used by the public. As members of the National Council, the Agassiz Garden Club built and maintains the Walsh County Pioneer Memorial Garden at Homme Recreational Area. It was dedicated in June, 1961. The Blue Star Memorial Marker honoring all service men and women who have served in all wars was dedicated in this garden area in 1971. This was also a project of the Agassiz Garden Club. Submitted by Mrs. M . C. Flaten, State Chairman, Memorial Gardens. Blue Star memorial highway marker at Pioneer Memorial Garden at Homme Recreational Area.

Historical Marker In The Adams Park

As a Bicentennial project of the Adams Civic Club, a marker was placed in the Adams Park in tribute to Andrew Rosendahl, former mayor of Adams, who by his dedication made the park a reality in 1921.

Gryde School Dist. No. 125 Vesta Twp.

In 1970 a historical site marker was erected on the school grounds by Henry and Albert Lundene. This marker has a bronze plaque with the surnames of all the families whose children attended school there from 1896 to 1940 donated by students and their descendants. This marks the site where for half a century elementary education was provided for the inscribed families.

St. Patrick's Church Marker

Left to right, Rev. A. J. Richard, Henry Lundene, Paul Koehmstedt, Francis Phelan and Rev. L. Studzinski. This marker was put up in June, 1970, with funds for same collected by donations from former members of the Parish. The project was started when a number of former parishioners got together and selected a committee to erect the marker by sohciting donations from former parish members. The committee selected and who carried out the project were: John T. Burianek, chairman, Elizabeth Rolczynski, secretary and treasurer and other members were Henry O'Reilly and Mrs. James Costello, Sr. The plaque was dedicated on Sunday, June 20,1971, under the direction ofthe Walsh County Historical Society. Submitted by Ed Gudajtes.

On this site St. Patrick's Church was built in 1884. St. Patrick's Church, one of the first in Walsh County, stood on this location. The early Catholic pioneers of the area, predominantly Irish, gathered in 1880 in a log cabin, home of Michael Kearns, to celebrate the community's first Mass with Father John W. Considine. Out of this humble inception grew a parish and its church here. The edifice served its members until their consolidation with the Sacred Heart Parish of Minto, June 30, 1957. Rt. Rev. Msgr. John W.Considine 1884-1913 Rev. John Maxwell 1913-1932 Rev. John Cullen 1932-1952 Very Rev. Lambert V. Studzinski 1952-1957 Walsh County Historical Society. 24

DISTRICT ONE

INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA precinct was established which included Grand Forks and part of Walsh and Traill counties, and another, including Pembina, Cavalier and part of Walsh County. In the spring of 1880 a precinct was established with Grafton as the voting place. At the first election held here in April of that year, T. E. Cooper, Wm. King and S. S. Worthing were judges of elections. At that time, the chairman of the board of election judges was required to deliver the returns in person to the chairman of county commissioners. That worthy official resided in Cavalier. As there was no direct road, Mr. Cooper carried the returns on foot by way of Kelley's Point and Pembina, a journey of nearly 150 miles. . ." Quoting now from the Walsh County Record, we read: "Everyone knows, of course, that Walsh County was" originally a part of Pembina County when that county embraced most of eastern North Dakota. It was not until 1881 - 20 years after the organization of Dakota Territory - that the first steps were taken to create what is now Walsh County, out of parts of Pembina and Grand Forks County. Grand Forks County had been carved out of the Sheyenne Territory. Eight miles were lopped off southern Pembina County and the distance from Grafton to Ardoch was carved from Grand Forks to create Walsh County from north to south. During the 1881 session ofthe Territorial Legislature in Yankton a bill was passed authorizing the creation of Walsh County by the inclusion of the territory "from the Red River to the line between ranges 59 and 60 and from the line between townships 158 and 159 to the line between townships 154 and 155." The legislative act provided that before the new county could be created, the matter should be submitted to the people for a vote. In conformity to this requirement, an election was held on the first Monday of May in 1881, to permit the voters to pass upon the question of organizing a new county. On May 20, the county commissioners of Pembina County met in Pembina and canvassed the vote which was 293 in favor of the new county and only eight against its formation. The next step in bringing Walsh County into being was tne appointment by N. G. Ordway, then governor of Dakota Territory, of three men to act as the first board of county commissioners. The records do not show when Governor Ordway made this appointment but it does show that his choice was George P. Harvey of Forest River, Benjamin C. Askelson of Grafton, William Code of Kensington which was later to be incorporated into Park River. Thus on August 30, 1881, the newly created board of county commissioners met in the farm home of Mr. Harvey near Forest River and proceeded with the organization of Walsh County. On that date and at that place, Walsh County officially came into being. The first proceedings of the new board was the election of a chairman and Mr. Harvey was selected for that position. The next business was the selection of a temporary clerk and W. A. Cleland was chosen for that office. In quick succession thereafter the board proceeded to elect Nathan Upham of Acton as clerk and register of

In this section of the book will be many items based on the experiences of Walsh County pioneers, early settlers, grass roots people, founders and makers of history, upon which we, the present generation, benefit from the courage and undaunted energy of these dedicated people. Here is found the intriguing history of Acton, an important river town; the village of St. Andrews with Alexander Henry, fur trader, one of its important inhabitants. Then we have Grafton, Auburn, Nash, Sweden and other early settlements, which were paramount in their contributions to our early history. These early outposts, served as supply depots, communication centers, recreation areas and social centers for pioneers of these early days. Then, of course, without the pioneers these outposts would not have prospered either. The railroad coming to Grafton in December 1881, dealt a severe blow to these towns, which depended upon river traffic for their subsistance. Many of these towns are still in existence and have expanded due to the tenacity of our brave pioneers. Among the early people were doctors, teachers, lawyers, and businessmen of varying professions. A more detailed history of this area will be found in the biographies and historical narrations found in the pages following this brief bird's eye view of what is to come. Each township and town will be treated individually; with its pioneer narrations, organizations, churches, schools, and any other story important to the development of each section.

ORIGIN OF WALSH COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA In the year 1900, the Grafton News and Times published a book entitled "Grafton, The County Seat and Metropolis of Walsh County." It was compiled and copyrighted by William L. Dudley. Quoting from the chapter devoted to Walsh County the book reads: "The territory comprising Walsh County was a century ago a portion of "Prince Rupert's Land," claimed by both England and Spain. This territory was sold by Spain to France and by France to the United States as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. It was made a part of the Territory of Louisiana in 1805. Then in 1812 it became a part of Missouri. Later, in 1834, it belonged to the Territory of Michigan; in 1836 to Wisconsin, in 1838 to Iowa and in 1849 to Minnesota. When Dakota Territory was organized in 1861 the present Walsh County was a part of Pembina County, which then included all of the territory from the International Boundary line to the Cheyenne or Sheyenne River on the south and from the Red River to Devils Lake on the west. Voting precincts were established at Park River, (Stump Lake, Dead Island and Cheyenne.) Walsh County being included in the latter with the territory now comprising Cass, Richland, Traill and Grand Forks counties. The voting place was at Georgetown, then a Hudson Bay Post near the present city of Wahpeton. Later, in 1871, a voting 26

deeds; Jacob Reinhardt, sheriff; John N. Nelson as assessor; E. 0. Faulkner, judge of probate; K. 0. Skatteboe, treasurer; Eugene Kane, surveyor and Dr. R. M Evans, superintendent of schools. John Ross of Kensington, Thomas Trainor of St. Andrews, G. W. Gilbert of Grafton, Whitfield Durham of Sweden were appointed constables or peace officers. John Harris of Kensington, Charles Finkle of St. Andrews, J. A. Delaney of Grafton, William Richel of Richmond were appointed to be justices of the peace. Dr. N. H. Hamilton of Grafton, formerly of Acton, was appointed coroner. Question as to the temporary location of the county seat being raised, it was moved and carried that the vote be by ballot. After balloting it was found that there was no decision, there being a tie vote, one each for Kensington, Grafton and Minto. No choice being made, it was moved and carried that consideration of the subject be deferred to the next meeting. On September 14, 1881, consideration of the selection of a temporary site was resumed. After displaying tenacious loyalty for his home town of Minto, Mr. Harvey finally gave Grafton his vote and the temporary county seat was designated, subject to the approval or rejection of the voters at large. Before the county seat was established at Grafton in the general election of Nov. 7, 1882, the appointed board of county commissioners had designated the city as the county seat, contingent upon approval by the voters of the entire county. Grafton and Minto were the leading contenders for the designation as the site for the county governmental headquarters. Six days after the election, the board met to canvas the votes. The results gave Grafton 1,398 votes, Minto 862, Kensington 9 and Garfield 10 votes. The county was named in honor of George Henry Walsh, prominent member of the Dakota Territorial Legislature. He was president of the territorial council when Walsh County was organized in 1881. As a resident of Grand Forks, he exhibited a keen interest in young Walsh County and in many ways aided in its development. Mr. Walsh was a leading citizen of the Red River Valley and the state over a long period. He was a soldier in the Civil War, cited for bravery, pioneer newspaper publisher, pathfinder and settlement founder. He was a man of action and of achievement, versatile and aggressive, and the brilliance ofhis career in reflection lends a distinction to Walsh County, his namesake. HISTORY OF GEORGE WALSH On August 30, 1881, Walsh County was organized from parts of Grand Forks and Pembina counties. It was named for George H. Walsh of Grand Forks, sponsor of the bill creating the new county. The bill was passed, vetoed by the territorial governor, then passed again over the veto. Mr. Walsh was president of the Dakota Territory Council at this time. Mr. Walsh was married in 1868, in St. Paul. Mrs. Walsh's first trip to Grand Forks, was after her husband had located there, and she was accompanied by three children. She took the train to Fargo, and then came by boat to Grand Forks, making the trip in four days. G H Walsh entered the winning bid for the Grand Forks County Courthouse August 6, 1879, for $7,800.00. The lot was bought from Alexander Griggs for $550.00. Submitted by Ramon Walsh, Grafton.

AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF GEORGE WALSH PROMINENT MEMBER OF TERRITORY Mr. Traill was manager of the Hudson Bay Company. Mr. Veits was the store manager in Grand Forks. One day Mr. Traill lost a span of ponies. Somebody thought that the half-breed, Peter LaQuet had them, LaQuet was a dangerous man and was generally feared by being a "tough" man. LaQuet lived on the Minnesota side of the river. Billy Budge and Mrs. Walsh's young brother, Mr. Galbraith who was sort of a sheriff (he was a rough man who usually took the place of the sheriff), and others went down to get LaQuet. The half-breed stood them off and so they returned. When George Walsh heard of this he laughed at the situation and the men. He said that he would bring LaQuet up single handed and did too. Mr. Galbraith became angry and struck Mr. Walsh. Mr. Walsh said, "You're a drunken man," and wouldn't fight. He made arrangements for the next morning and at that time he fought Mr. Galbraith. Walsh beat him badly. Mr. Walsh didn't tell Mrs. Walsh that he was going to fight that morning. Mrs. Walsh couldn't understand why he dressed in such old clothes when he got up that morning. She didn't know about it until one of the children came and told her that he was fighting. Captain Griggs said, "Don't worry, he can take care of himself." PROMINENT MEMBER OF TERRITORY LEGISLATURE GAVE NAME TO COUNTY When this county was created in 1881 out of the southern portion of Pembina County and northern portion of Grand Forks County, it was named in honor of George H. Walsh, prominent early-day lawyer, newspaperman and leading citizen of Grand Forks. Walsh, prominent in the affairs of his city and this section of the state, was a representative several years in the territorial legislatures in Yankton, S. D. Not until 1889 was the territory divided into North and South Dakota, at a tumultuous session of the legislature in Yankton, and Bismarck named the state capital amid charges of subterfuge and unsportsmanlike tactics by proponents of other cities aspiring for the designation. Mr. Walsh was a brother-in-law of Alex Griggs, early-day steamboat operator on the Red River whose name was given to the county in central North Dakota. Source: Walsh County Record, Grafton, North Dakota, Thursday, Sept. 3, 1936, page nineteen. ANDREAS HISTORICAL ATLAS OF DAKOTA Hon. George H. Walsh, farmer and stock-raiser. Section 20, P.O. Grand Forks has been before the citizens of Dakota so long and prominently that his name is familiar to all, from Wyoming to Minnesota and from Nebraska to the International boundary. He is a native of Montreal, Canada; came to St. Paul, Minnesota, when young where he was reared, educated and resided twentyyears. He came to Grand Forks, in 1873 and established a law and real estate office, with which business he is still identified. His partner was John Maher, of Devils Lake. For a number of years he was one of the most extensive real estate dealers in North Dakota and at present is one of the largest land holders and farmers in the Territory.

The sixth amendment to the state constitution established an institution for the Feeble Minded at Grafton, the legislature to appropriate 20,000 acres of land from Congressional grant as an endowment. During political manipulation of patronage, Grafton came near getting a penitentiary. The U. S. Secretary of the Interior purchased 40 acres of land for a penitentiary. It was believed it was to be a federal penitentiary. When it was learned otherwise, in as much as Bismarck had a "pen," the idea was abandoned. Sen. JohnL. Cashel, Grafton, succeeded in amending the state constitution so that the Institution for the Feeble Minded came to Walsh County and was built on land already owned by the state. Walsh county was named in honor of Hon. George H. Walsh, president of the council in the legislature in 1881, 1883,1885 and in 1889 of the Senate after statehood. Shepherd Township was named for Judge George Shepherd, long time Walsh County judge. At one time he had land holdings in western Walsh.

All of his land is tributary to the Red River, about four miles northwest of Grand Forks and is well adapted to raising No. "1" hard. His residence is a palatial one with fine barns and out buildings. Mr. Walsh was owner and editor for the Grand Forks "Plaindealer," the first newspaper in the county and the second in North Dakota, now owned by W. J. Murphy. Mr. Walsh has attained his political prominence by being a member of the Territorial Senate for six years; was chairman of three of the leading committees of that body and President of the Senate four years. He was a man of independent views, was governed by his own judgment which is logical, reasonable and beneficial to whatever cause he may advocate. Walsh County was named in his honor. From Andreas Historical Atlas of Dakota, A. T. Andreas Publisher, Chicago, 1884. DESCENDANTS OF GEORGE H. WALSH Descendants of George H. Walsh, who now live in the county, at Grafton, are his Great Grandson, Ramon D. Walsh and his wife, Carol, and their children, Deborah, Mark, James, John, David and Michael.

ACTON TOWNSHIP

THE RED RIVER CART The Red River Cart was a wooden structure, much like a wagon, with 2 large wooden wheels. The wheels had no tires or tin covering for durability. As far as we know, it was drawn by one horse or pony and carried mail from Grand Forks to Pembina. The wheels were 5 feet in diameter and unpainted. The cart stopped to deliver mail and supplies at Kelly's Point, our first post office. Kelly's Point later became Acton, now at the Red River on Route 17 out of Grafton, N. Dak. Acton flourished as a town for some time. Submitted by Mae Peak. WALSH COUNTY POLITICS If the Congress of 1889 had proceeded at the speed of our national law-making body of 1975, it is possible that Walsh County would have the scene of a Constitutional Convention in May, 1889. When the last Territorial Legislature met in Bismarck in January, 1889, it was in anticipation of statehood. An election was to be held April 7, 1889, to choose delegates to a Constitutional Convention to be held in Grafton the second Tuesday of May. The act was to be inoperative if Congress passed an "enabling act'' prior to the date for holding the election. * The enabling act, permitting North Dakota statehood, was part of an omnibus bill approved by Congress Feb. 22, 1889. Walsh County delegates to the North Dakota Constitutional Convention when it convened at Bismarck July 4, 1889, were Roger R. Allin, Grafton, R, Jon Magnus Almen, Grafton, R, farmer; James D. Bell, Minto, D, farmer; James R. Douglas, Park River, farmer; and Alexander D. Robertson, Minto, R, merchant, lawyer; and Alexander D. Robertson, Minto, R, merchant. Bell made a speech during the convention which was described by a historian as vehement, bristling with sarcastic allusions to the convention's "love" for and "devotion" to the interests of the "dear" people. He predicted the article locating the capitol and public institutions as infamous and so weighting down the constitution that it would never be ratified by the people.

Pontoon bridge across the Red River of the North permitted persons to cross from Minnesota into North Dakota or vice versa. This picture, taken in 1927, shows a car crossing from North Dakota to the Minnesota side. It is said the bridge was financed by the city of Grafton in order to permit shoppers easier access to the city. It was located straight east of the present Grafton-Oakwood road. Historical information on the origin of Acton township was obtained from Book A of township records dated January 2,1883, of township 157-Range 51 in Walsh County, Dakota Territory and Plat Book of 1893. When Walsh County was opened to settlers for homesteading many settlers came to this area because they were able to buy land cheap. One of the early settlers was Antoine Gerard, who came from Acton, Ontario, Canada, and filed claim on Lots 4-5-6 in Section 25157 Range 51. On June 1, 1880, he was given Certificate No. 699 by R. B. Hayes, president of the U. S. A., for the land, which he platted and started the town of Actonnamed after his hometown in Ontario. The site is on the west banks of the Red River between Grand Forks and Pembina and was a steamboat landing. The name of Acton was then used for the Township 157 Range 511. Some of the names of the early setters were: George Alder from Illinois, who settled in Acton township in 28

1881; George Becker from Iowa- 1880; George Cochrane from Canada-1880, who was a livestock breeder; Patrick Conlon from Canada-1881; Nicholas Dipple, Jr., Canada1880; Jacob Dipple, Canada-1880, who was a farmer and breeder of horses; Hendrik Feldman, Minnesota-1879; Victor French, Michigan-1880; E. F. Sehumann, Minnesota-1880, farmer and proprietor of a hotel in Acton; Nicholas Welter, Wisconsin-1881; Otto Shumacher, Iowa1888; H. H. Shumacher, Iowa-1889; Carl Wolf gram, Wisconsin-1882; Gotleib Zinke, Wisconsin-1882; D. W. Driscoll a farmer and manager of Elm Stock Farm, which consisted of over 1200 acres, also a breeder of purebred horses and cattle. W. C. Leistikow also was a land owner in Acton Township and owned a flour mill and grain elevator in Grafton and had a Grafton Park named after him. Antoine Gerard was the postmaster in the post office established Aug. 23, 1878. There were 128 families listed as land owners in 1893 in the plat book. Church services were conducted in the township with Rev. C. F. Malkow as Pastor of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, which was organized July 25, 1887, and services were held in a schoolhouse located in Section 3. This building later became the Acton Township hall, when the congregation erected a new house of worship in 1890. Another church in the township was a Methodist Church located in Section 30. There were four schools in the township. Two were in District 30 in the north half of the township and one in District 57 and one in District 15, the south half of the township. The township elections and meeting were held in the school in District 30 in Section 3. Later this school was moved to the southeast corner of Section 8. In 1929 the township bought the building from South District 30 and had it moved to the northwest corner of Section 22, which was the center of the township, and used it for the township hall. Later, this township hall needed much repair and was disposed of and sold to Hilary Osowski. As the schools were consolidated with the Grafton District in 1960, the township bought the school in District 30, Section 8, which is the present site of the Acton Township Hall.

Present bridge over the Red River of the North. Opened to traffic in 1940. The first records of township meetings listed in Book A of township records was on Jan. 2,1883: Adam Gray as chairman, Theo. Tanke andE. F. Schuman, supervisors; Robert Lynn, clerk; Henry Becker, treasurer; Robert Alder, assessor; Robert Lynn, Justice of the Peace; Antoine Gerard and Pat Conlon, constables. On Jan. 16, 1883, the township was divided into four road districts with W. T. Greer, Patrick Conlon, John Dipple, and Joseph Dierier as road overseers. It was

further decided to hold regular township meetings the last Monday of March, June, September and December. In December, 1883, an election was held to vote on bonding the township for $4,700 for building roads. The vote was 15 for bonding and 5 against. Due to the flat land of the area, road building and drainage were always a problem. As drainage was east to the Red River; east and west roads were the first to be graded. On June 2, 1884, a contract was let to a Fred Hildebrand for grading for a cost of $90 per mile. The township purchased scrapers, an elevator grader and blade for building roads and all male residents of voting age were required to work on the road one or two days as a road poll tax. Horse power was used to pull the grader and eight to twelve horses were used to pull the machines. Later the township hired the county and their equipment to build the roads and after this private contractors were hired for the work. Records show that the building of a bridge across the Park River in Section 1 and 2 was approximately $600; however, the contractor did not complete the job and the amount of $60 was deducted from his pay. At the present time the township has in it six miles of Interstate Highway, I-29-four lane paved road and opened to traffic in 1974 going north and south and six miles of Highway 17-east and west; also 12 miles of county road. Most of the township roads have been graveled the past years. Acton township borders the Red River and travel to Minnesota across the river was only possible by ferry boat. As traffic and loads became heavier a more permanent means was sought and a pontoon bridge was placed across the river on Section line of 12 and 13; straight east of the Oakwood road. The bridge was brought down the river in sections from Pembina and was financed by the city of Grafton. In 1940, North Dakota and Minnesota built a permanent bridge across the Red River extending from N. Dak. 17 to Minnesota 317. As farming was the main occupation, small grain and livestock were raised on all farms. Oats and barley were mostly fed to livestock and wheat and flax were sold to the Minneapolis and Northern Elevator, which was located in the town of Acton. Charles F. Sims was manager for the elevator. The wheat was loaded into barges and shipped by boat to Grand Forks. Records show that some barges were loaded with 5,000 bushels at a time. The Selkirk, the Grandin and the steamer Manitoba were some of the steamboats. The Manitoba set a record of forty five hours on its maiden voyage in 1875 from Moorhead to Winnipeg. The township record of June 22, 1894, shows the Minneapolis and Northern Elevator Co. was assessed for 25,000 bushel of wheat at 20 cents per bushel, which was stored in the elevator at the time of assessment. A representative of the grain company appeared before the Board of Equalization and stated that the wheat in the elevator not be assessed to the grain company, but to Henry Bussel of Albany, New York, who had purchased the wheat. Spring flooding of the Red River was a bad time for people living along the river. Two of the worst floods were in 1897, when many of the farmers had to move their livestock and belongings to higher ground. It is said that the river was twelve to fifteen miles wide when it

crested. In 1950 much of the land was covered with water for almost six weeks and no field work was done until June of that year. Records show there were good and bad years for the farmers, from drought, to too much rain, weeds and grasshoppers. In 1932 and 1933 the township spent much money for poison bran to control grasshopper damage. Records indicate that Chris. Weinlader served on the township board for forty three years. He served as supervisor from 1897-1901; assessor from 1901-1908; and clerk from 1908-1940. The present officers of the township are Glen Miller, treasurer, June 27, 1960; Fred Hoenke, clerk since Jan. 26, 1942 ; Leslie Seeba, supervisor since March 27, 1951; Earl Schultz, supervisor since March 17, 1964; Allan Kirkeby, supervisor since Mar. 16, 1973 and Peter Kuta, assessor since March 18, 1958. By Fred O. Hoenke and Mrs. Grace Schultz.

The Emil Hoenke home. The right half of this house stood on the townsite of Acton and was used as a post office [notice post office sign above roof) and General Store. The house was purchased by Emil Hoenke in 1906 and moved to its present site about a quarter mile west in 1909. The newer left wing was added, and later the older part was removed, a part of it still remains on the farm and is used as a garage. The remaining part was remodeled and is owned by Fred Hoenke. Pictured left to right: Henry Hoenke, Alfred Hoenke, Emil Hoenke the father, Myrtle Hoenke (Rasmussen), Alice Hoenke, Fred Hoenke, and on the porch the mother, Bertha (Wolfgram) Hoenke.

THE TOWN OF ACTON As early as 1866, a Canadian from Montreal named Antoine Girard had explored along the Red River of the North. At a bend in the river where Acton is now located, lived a Norwegian wood chopper named Larson, who supplied the ever-hungry steamboats on the Red with fuel. In June, 1871, Girard pitched his tent on the historical ground of Acton and called it Rose Point. In 1872 he was followed by Ed (Doc) Kelley and in 1875 by Jacob Reinhardt, who later became Walsh County's first sheriff. These were the first business men. Girard had a tavern, Kelley operated a stage station which he sold to Girard later, and Reinhart had a general store with a few goods to sell to Indians, half-breeds and an occasional white customer. The site was now known as Kelley's Point.

Acton, or Kelley's Point as it was then known was the midway station between Grand Forks and Pembina on a stage line that ran between Fort Abercrombie and Pembina. The line was originally established in 1871, and was owned by Blakely and Carpenter. With enough fresh horses and no unforeseen long stops, the trip could be made in one day. The stations were about 20 miles apart, a convenient distance for a change of horses, with meals for the passengers and if needed, shelter for the night or in case of storms. Four horses were used, and the coaches usually were painted yellow and had canvas tops. They carried mail express and passengers. There was room for 10 passengers, and a few more in a pinch. Among the passengers riding the coaches were fur traders, homesteaders, teachers, adventurers, priests, ministers and business men. Riding was rough over the prairie trails. No paved four-lane highways existed then. Acton being the midway station, reached about noon, gave the passengers opportunity to have a meal at one of the town's hotels. The Acton House was owned by E. F. Schumann and the Dakota House by John Scott. The Acton House had three stories, the third used as the laundry. Two of the maids at the Acton House were Bertha Wolfgram, later Mrs. Emil Hoenke, and Amelia Schrank, later Mrs. Nicholas Dipple. They would nearly freeze their fingers hanging sheets in the icy third floor laundry rooms in the winter time. The Acton House gave parties when the steamboats came. Oyster stew parties were held for their guests on Wednesday nights in the winter. The stages for Grand Forks, Pembina and west started from this House. There was a good stable with plenty of hay, wines, liquors and cigars were available in the Sample House connected with the hotel. Meals were 35 cents, room and board, $5 per week. It was river navigation that built Acton. The Red River was the main traffic lane and the steamboats, Grandin, Selkirk and Pluck, brought immigrants, lumber, provisions, farm machinery and everything

By 1879 immigration into this area was increasing rapidly, and Girard, the owner of the townsite, had Robert Lynn, the Pembina County surveyor, plat out the original townsite and later a small addition. The town had 10'/ blocks, 190 lots with First, Second, and Third streets running parallel to the bend in the river, and with six streets running east and west, some named after his children. They were Rose, Ama, Molly, Girard, Levee and Ellen. Technically, one may walk along these streets, although most are farm fields, but they have never been legally vacated, which is also true of the lots. The town was now called Acton, named after Acton, Ontario, Canada. Acton, as Rose Point in 1871, was granted a post office, but it was never brought into operation. A post office was established under the name of Kelley's Point on August 23, 1878, with Antoine Girard as the first postmaster. By 1879, Acton, as it was then known, had weekly mail service from Grand Forks. Settlers from the north, south and west came here for their mail, some walking as far as 20 miles across the prairie. Postmasters were Antoine Girard, E. Scott, Eliza Scott, and Emil Hoenke. The post office was closed September 30, 1913. In the spring of 1879, Budge, Eshelman and Anderson opened a large store and Acton began to grow. The stage coach, but mostly the steamboats, brought hundreds of immigrants weekly, all heading westward to occupy the timber land along the Park and Forest rivers, and later the prairie land. 2

terms. Records of how many attended school are not available but there would be a large number. The earliest teacher report lists Rosa Creek as teacher. In 1890 Mrs. L. A. Drane was the teacher. The term was from April 14 to Nov. 7. The number of pupils enrolled was 33 and the teacher's salary was $35 per month. One of the teachers in the school was Vilj harner Stefanson the well known Arctic explorer. He taught in 1900 and 1901, each a term of seven months at a salary of $40 and $50 a month. In April of 1900, Mr. Stefanson rode his wheel (bicycle) from Grafton to Acton where he signed a contract to teach school the coming summer. On the return trip to Grafton he had a flat tire on his wheel about halfway between Acton and Grafton and had to walk the remaining eight miles leading his wheel. Mrs. Emil Hoenke (Bertha Wolfgram) whose father built the school, attended the school as did all her children and three of her grandchildren. One teacher (Matilda DeSautel) taught two generations, returning for a second term after about fifteen years. The final term ended in May, 1956, the last teacher was Adeline Dipple. ' The schoolhouse is still standing on the same lot it was built. The building is now owned by Alfred Hoenke, a grandson of the builder and is kept primarily as a family momento and old landmark. Would it not be interesting if those walls could talk? The summer of 1881 was the peak of activity in Acton. But even then the fingers of fate were writing on the wall, as the railroad, steadily pushing northward was being surveyed about seven miles to the west of Acton. On Sept. 14, 1881, the county commissioners selected Grafton as the county seat. On Sept. 22, 1881, the "Acton News," after publishing about four months in Acton, moved to publish its weekly paper from the county seat. On Dec. 21,1881, the first railroad train reached Grafton and in a few months this frontier village became the third largest city in North Dakota. After the first snow many of the Acton business men moved their buildings into Grafton or Minto, drawn on heavy sleighs by oxen. Acton was still an active village for 20 or more years. The steamboats and elevators operated until 1910 and the post office until 1913. F. T. Kieley became owner of most of the townsite. He operated a blacksmith shop and garage and owned a store. Mr. Kieley had two steam threshing outfits. There were 8 or 10 bundle teams, 2 water tank teams, a straw wagon team and from 25 to 30 men with each machine. Mr. Kieley lived in Acton until 1923 when he moved to Grafton where he continued to operate a garage. In 1936 he was elected sheriff of Walsh County and was elected again in 1938. Transportation was changed and Acton ceased to be a commercial center and began to fade into a mere historical fact. Now almost a century since the first settlement there is very little material evidence of the booming river town of 1881. Indians were frequent visitors to Acton, possibly camping outside the city limits as arrowheads have been found across Third Street while empty gun shells have been found on the townsite. Most of Acton is still original prairie. Here is located an early burial ground with about 25 graves of the early settlers. The area is known but it is not possible to locate the exact place of the graves. Now the southwest corner ofthe northwest quarter of section 25, township 157N, range 50W, consisting of about 40 acres is owned mainly by Alfred Hoenke who bought it

needed for a new country. Farmers in the area came many miles to Acton to get the supplies they needed and brought their grain to be taken to market. There were two elevators and from these grain was loaded into the steamboat barges. Some barges had a capacity of 5,000 bushels of wheat. The elevators were torn down when the steamboats stopped running after 1910. There was a ferry on the river about a half mile south of Acton. The steamboat would blow its whistle at a distance before it came to the ferry so the ferry cable could be dropped to let the boat pass. The sound of this whistle brought many activities in the town. The hotel staffs prepared meals, and dances and parties were held while the boat was in port. The children from the schoolhouse were dismissed and ran to the landing. The saloons became busy places. The first steamboat, the Anson Northrup, sailed the Red River from Fort Abercrombie to Fort Garry in June, 1859. In the spring of 1871, Captain Alexander Griggs and James J. Hill built the steamboat Selkirk at a cost of $5,000. It was launched at Fort Abercrombie April 4,1871, with Capt. Griggs in charge. There were two decks with cabins on the upper and the engine room and freight on the lower. The Selkirk towed three barges, one on each side and one ahead. (It was a stern-wheeler so could not tow one behind.) In October, 1877, the Selkirk transported a railroad locomotive on a barge from Fisher's Landing to Winnipeg for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. This was the famed "Countess of Dufferin" now on display in Winnipeg. Between 1879 and 1881, Acton grew rapidly with a population of over 400 by the summer of 1881. The legislature of Dakota Territory had authorized Walsh County, commissioners had been selected, and Acton, the largest town in Walsh County at this time, was a candidate for the county seat. On May 26, 1881, Frank M. Winship published the first edition of "The Acton News," first newspaper published in Walsh County. The issue sets forth the policies of the paper, a little history of Acton, some locals of the time and advertisements of the town's business and professional men. Some of the items of local interest: business is booming, croquet is in order, at least 100 immigrants have come into town the past week, the steamers Grandin and Selkirk were by, and a new saloon was being erected by Dickson and McClintock. The ads fist the Acton House and the Dakota House as the two hotels in town. J. Boulduc and Bro. dispense wines, liquors and cigars of superior quality at Salon Francais, a grocery is operated by William Brunelle, a general merchandise store is operated by A&H Zuelsdorf who bought the stock, and good will of Budge, Eshelman and Co., stoves, tinware, hardware and Singer Sewing Machines can be had at C. Hendricksen and Co. There were two farm machinery dealers, Strong, Thomson and Vaughn, and Johnson, Holmes and Co. Ed Boussey and the Olafson Brothers sold shoes and boots, Robert Lynn and Nathan Upham had Law, Loan and Land Offices. Alex Ross was the blacksmith and Dr. N. H. Hamilton the physician and surgeon and owner of the drug store_ There seems to be no real record of the number ot residences, but no doubt, there were many. In 1879, Lot 19 in the townsite of Acton was sold by Antoine Girard and School District No. 15 was organized. In 1882 Carl Wolfgram built the schoolhouse. Classes began that year and were in session for 74 consecutive 31

in 1934. He and his wife, Louise, live on the original townsite are keenly interested in its past history. Submitted by Alfred and Louise Hoenke and Gloria Thompson. ACTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL OFFICERS Early officers and teachers of Acton School districts as recorded. School District 30: treasurer, George Becker; directors, J. H. Parr, George Becker, Christian Rasmussen, H. W. Brabender, Thomas Conlon, James A. Grier and George Goulet; presidents, W. T. Greer, George Becker, H. W. Brabender and Thomas Conlon; clerk, Adam Gray; and early teacher, Mrs. G. Elder. School District 57: treasurer, John Dipple; directors, Gustave Tank, August Schrank, Mrs. Steinky, George Parr, Nick Dipple and Ferdinand Schrank; presidents, Gustave Tank, George Parr and Nick Dipple; clerk, H. G. Ebbighausen; and early teacher, Mrs. H. Drane. School District 15: treasurer, Henry Kingsbury; directors, Nicholas Welter, Herbert Altendorf, C. Wolfgram, Christ Weinlaeder and Otto Schumacher; presidents, C. Wolfgram and Christ Weinlaeder; clerk, N. P. Welter; and early teacher, Maggie Scott.

Acton school picnic. ZION ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH In 1879, when this area was still known as part of the Dakota Territory, a number of settlers in Acton Township called the Rev. Frieke of Hillsboro to conduct services in their midst. He served for six years. Pastor H. Brauer of St. Thomas, traveling by horse and carriage, ministered to these early settlers for a period of five years. It was during his pastorate that the congregation was organized. This took place July 25, 1887, with 14 charter members. The first elected officers were: Henry Kamper, president; Henry Ebbinghausen, secretary; August Schultz, treasurer; Gottlieb Zinke, William Schrank, and Henry Feldmann, trustees.

Acton Schoolhouse District 15 This school district came into being in 1879. The building which is still standing, was built by Carl Wolfgram in 1882. Classes were held for 74 consecutive terms until 1956. This picture was taken in 1912. Pictured left to right: F. T. Kieley, Supt. Edward Erickson, Teacher Matilda DeSautel. Families represented: Hubert Altendorf, John Currie, Thomas Dundas, A. Frame, J. Ebertowski, Emil Hoenke, Frank Korczak, Thomas Maxwell, Otto Schumacher, J. B. Schumann (Trost family), and John Zinke.

Henry Kamper President

August Schultz, Sr. William Schrank Treasurer Trustee

Henry Feldman, Gottlieb Zinke Sr. Trustee Trustee The first services were held in a small school house located in the southwest quarter of Sec. 3 of Acton Township. In 1887, Henry Feldmann deeded a small plot of land to the congregation on the southwest >A of Sec. 10. In 1890 the congregation erected a two story house on this plot. The first floor was used for a dwelling and the second story for worship. It was 24 feet by 30 feet and was built at the cost of $1,200. Carl Wolfgram and Christ Weinlaeder erected the building. The dedicatory services

Another Acton school group. 32

were held in November of 1890 with Rev. Honek preaching the sermon. In 1896 this building was moved from Sec. 10 to Sec. 15 to center the church for the congregation. Twenty-nine years later, in 1925, a second church was erected at this location and the former church was used as a parsonage. The pastors who served faithfully during these early years of our church's history up to 1930 were: F. Honek, C. Malkow, H. Bauman, E. Stark, R. H. Buegel, R. Beck, and A. Bauchanz.

BIOGRAPHIES JOHN ALTENDORF John Altendorf came to Acton Township in 1885. He came as an immigrant from Germany in 1882. He was born at Sanfit, Germany, and after arriving in America he spent some time in Minneapolis and later located at Grand Forks. In 1885 he came down the Red River by steamboat to Acton with his brother, Hubert Altendorf, who also located in Acton Township. Mr. Altendorf married Berget Roach, a native of Canada, April 4, 1888. She died in 1938. They purchased a quarter of land in Sec. 29 in Acton Township and farmed. They reared four children; John P.; Lawrence; Frances T.; and a daughter, Mrs. Theodore Smith. Hard work and plain living were the lot of the Acton pioneers and Mr. Altendorf saw many changes in his day. Some of his grandsons still farm in Acton township, Harry and Gerald, John's sons; Sylvestor, Lawrence's son; and Elmer, Frances's son. Submitted by Mrs. Verna Gabbert.

FLOOD OF 1897 CAUGHT IN THE WEB WITH W. E. (ED) BALKEE As told by Mrs. Emil Rasmussen. In the annals of North Dakota history the flood of 1897 will always hold a prominent place and many tales of personal experience, loss and near tragedies will never be written. My family, pioneers of the Acton community, lived through the harrowing eperience and the stories of that period were often recalled in our home. When the floodwaters entered the first floor of the house the family, consisting at that time of my parents, two uncles and six children (I had not yet joined the clan) retreated to the upstairs. Mother continued cooking on the first floor, wearing rubber boots. When this was no longer possible what cooking was done was accomplished on a small heater, which also gave a minimum of heat to the cramped quarters. Easter Sunday marked the most nerve-wracking day of the period. Strong winds and rain whipped the swollen river into huge waves which coursed through the timber area, became eddies of almost whirlpool strength. Boats, small buildings, dead animals and other usual debris of a flood flashed by. Big trees, uprooted, missed the house by narrow margins and were a prime cause for anxiety. Foundations were weakened by water and should a tree nave struck the house it could have been set afloat. Finally the small fire had to be abandoned for fear the chimney would catch fire. It was then my mother put the children in bed and spent the time singing to them and telling them stories almost to the limit of her resourcefulness. About 4 o'clock there came a bumping noise and the men sprang to the window to see what it was. At first they saw nothing, but when someone claimed he had heard a shout, a more careful check was made and they saw a hand clutching the window ledge. Opening the window they pulled in a man near exhaustion from the cold and water and fright. Dry clothing, food and human companionship all helped him (Joe Grandchan) to regain his strength. He was a F*rench woodcutter from up the river whose shack had been swept away, forcing him to take to his boat. It seemed that he had been exposed to the elements for several hours before he had driven his boat into our house. To our family he became "Joe." For many years he was an annual visitor in our home and each time the story of his rescue was retold. We younger children would listen while the terrible Easter was relived and to our delight the ending was always the same. Joe would rub his bald pate ruefully and say in his broken English, "When Bill (our dad) pulled me through dat window he scrape off all my hair." With W. E. (Ed) Balkee as told by Mrs. Emil Rasmussen in March, 1968.

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE COCHRAN In its Walsh County edition of July 25,1940, the Walsh County Record of Grafton, North Dakota, featured a story about a pioneer family who settled along the Red River north of Acton, the family of George Cochran. This well known Red River Scotchman came to this section of the northwest in 1879. "Hardships of pioneer life seem to be contributive to longevity, especially for married couples. Mr. and Mrs. George Cochran of the Acton neighborhood observed their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary April 15, 1940. An interesting coincidence is that they lived just a short distance from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Horning, who celebrated their sixty-fourth wedding anniversary Dec. 7, 1939. "Mrs. Cochran, whose maiden name was Marchan. is of French ancestry, of the splendid stock that ventured into this region when it was virtually an unknown wilderness and by their courage and their remarkable capacity for endurance laid the groundwork for the development that was to come many years later. The blood of the old Caledonias, the blood of Wallace, Bruce, Douglas and Bobbie Burns flows in the veins of Mr. Cochran. "Little history has been made throughout the world without a few brawny Scots having a hand in it. They have fought for the British crown in many lands, they have helped to open new countries and more than 100 years ago many of them were engaged in the fur trade in the Red River Valley. "In the settlement period in the valley a great many Scotsmen were included among the pioneers and among these were George Cochran, whose farm home is near the banks of the Red River, four miles north of Acton. "Mr. Cochran was 24 years old when he came to the future Walsh County in 1879. He was tall and stout and slim-waisted, possessing an unusual physique even for the rugged race of men from which he sprang. Today, in 1940, well past 85, he is still hardy and vigorous. He is stouter but the stoutness seems to accentuate his hardihood. His great frame, his iron-gray hair and bushy 33

marriage is dead. All of the 11 living children were present when the Cochrans celebrated their golden wedding. "Mr. Cochran had improved his home in the early days and later the family occupied a frame house built by Fred Boutang about 34 years ago in 1906. In 1915 they erected their present fine, large residence. The frame house formerly occupied still stands in the yard, used as a farm building, as does the log cabin now serving as a granary." Prepared from the Walsh County Record for July 25, 1940, by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. THOMAS CONLON Born of Irish parents in Canada Oct. 5, 1878, Thomas Conlon spent his early Ufe there and came to North Dakota in 1881. On arriving here he first stopped in Grand Forks. In 1882 he homesteaded in Acton Township on a farm now owned by Earl Schultz. At Ottawa, Ont., Jan. 13, 1886, he married Margaret O'ReiUy. Mr. and Mrs. Conlon had no children. Mr. Conlon had served on the Acton Township board and as a school official.

eyebrows betoken strength, and after 61 years as a hardworking farmer, he is still 'a man among men.' "Really, he is a Scotch-Canadian but as far as race and background are concerned this is only a fine distinction. He was born at Renfrew, Ontario, Dec. 1, 1854. In 1879 he went to Winnipeg. He had bought a team and wagon and he and two companions drove about in the vicinity of Winnipeg, looking for homesteads. They rented a farm in that section and put in a crop and continued their search for land on which to file. "They found none suitable and he and one of his companions, WiUiam Greer, decided to try the American side. The other one, Joseph Morrison, refused to leave Canadian soil but later did make the change. " 'Greer and I walked from Winnipeg to the American boundary,' Mr. Cochran recounted, 'and when we reached Pembina we were told that a man named George Parr had asked that persons looking for land be directed to his neighborhood, as he wished to get that section built up. He was in the Acton district, so we came here and saw Parr. We looked the country over and I located on what became the northwest quarter of section 15 in Acton Township. Greer took land two miles north of mine. Greer is dead and his widow moved to Idaho.' "A man named Henry Howe had 'squatted' on my quarter and built a log house. I gave him $60 for his relinquishment. I went back to Winnipeg and returned in the spring with a team and wagon and farming equipment.' "In the first years of his residence on the farm, steamboats passed on the river nearby. Stage coaches "rocketed" along the trail not far from his cabin. Settlers were coming in rapidly and the young homesteader witnessed the rapid transition from the waning frontier days to the period of settlement and agricultural development. "He knew Kelly's Point, later Acton, when it was a stage lar ding, boasting a lone structure, a log tavern. He remembers the beginning of Acton and the tavern kept by Antoine Girard. Joseph Deschenes had a store at Acton then and Alec Ross was a blacksmith there. Dr. Hamilton already was estabUshed there. Mr. Cochran recalls assisting Dr. HamUton and a Grand Forks surgeon with an amputation. The patient was no other than Joseph Morrison, his former companion, who had in the meantime located near Drayton. "Morrison had shot himself accidentaUy in the left shoulder whUe preparing to go hunting. It was found necessary to remove part of the left arm. Tt was a neat job,' the pioneer said, 'and turned out all right.' "Among Mr. Cochran's early neighbors were Louis Gereau, Gust Huard, John Rasmussen, Louis Carpenter and John Boutang together with the French and Kemper families. "When he was 26, Mr. Cochran married Mary Marchand, whose parents had settled near Emerson, Manitoba. She died about a year later. On April 15, 1885, he married Josephine Marchand, a sister of Mary. Mrs. Cochran was 18 when she was married. Their children, Mrs. Thomas Galpin, Winnipeg, Mr. Cochran's daughter by his first marriage; Mrs. Mabel Currier, San Francisco, Calif.; Mrs. Richie MUler, Baudette, Minn.; Bruce, Buffalo, N. Y.; Mrs. Lloyd Giles, Duluth, Minn.; Mrs. Peter Stewart, Drayton; Walter, Duluth; Stanley, San Francisco; Mrs. Oliver Mousten, Langdon, and William and Ralph at home. One chUd of the second

MR. AND MRS. ALCIDAS CORRIVEAU Margaret was born Sept. 27, 1891, at their home in Pulaski Township. She married Alcidas Corriveau Nov. 5, 1912, in St. John's Church, Grafton. They farmed in Acton Township until moving to the Oakwood village in 1955. Mr. Corriveau died July 27, 1958, and Margaret stiU resides in Oakwood. Submitted by Mrs. M. D. Collette. HENRICK FELDMANN Henrick was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 29, 1836, and his wife, Margarethe, was born Jan. 18,1838, in Hanover, Germany. They and their oldest son Henry, one, immigrated to America in 1886. They settled in Goodhue County in the vicinity of Red Wing and Lake City, Minn. Four of their six chUdren, Anne, Manea, William and John, were born here. Helene was born in North Dakota. In 1879 the family moved to North Dakota by wagon and homesteaded in Acton Township. They filed claim to the N. W. y-i of Sec. 10 in 1880 and the S. W. >A of Sec. 11 in 1881. In 1887 Henrick deeded a small corner of Sec. 10 to the Lutheran Church. This was the beginning of Zion English Lutheran Congregation, of which Henrick was a founder. In 1905 the quarter of Section 10 was sold to William Schultz and is now owned by his son, Raymond, of Grafton. In 1887 the family purchased 260 acres in Sec. 3, which is still owned by the family and the present home of Mrs. Verna Gabbert, granddaughter of Henrick. She also owns the N. <A of S. W. % of Sec. 11, which has been in the family for 94 years. Mr. Feldmann passed away April 15, 1898 in Acton Township. Margarethe died in Red Wing, Minn, on Feb. 5, 1914 while visiting her son, John. . • Henry, Jr., was born May 18, 1867 in Germany and came to America with his parents, March 12, 1897. He married Margaret Ehlers at Ada, Minn. They lived their entire life on Sec. 11 in Acton Township and also farmed the west half of Sec. 3.They had five chUdren: Henry, the 34

for the real and personal property. Acton had a doctor, Dr. Hamilton, who answered sick calls for early settlers of Oakwood. He moved to Grafton when that town was organized. When Grafton had the railroad built, all Acton buildings were moved to Grafton. Perhaps the school house remained and Emil Hoenke served as postmaster for a time. The only ferry was at Parrs, south of Acton. Mr. Girard moved across river from Kelly's Point or Acton and ran a ferry. Mr. and Mrs. Girard are both buried in the Oakwood cemetery. His son-in-law, Tom Moran, who was married to Helene, and Helene and Lewis Girard are buried near Hugh Parrs Fork, Minn. A large marker with the three names was placed there in 1967. Mr. Girard had a great grandson and a great granddaughter, Elvin and Gladys Moran, living in Crookston, Minn. He has several grand daughters living. Mr. Girard died after 1912. He had lived the remainder of his life in rural Stephen, Minn., after moving from Acton. Other pioneers of Acton were Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Morrison, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Horning, and Mr. and Mrs. Gus Foogman. About 69 years ago, Mr. Foogman had many children picking mustard for 75 cents per day. Submitted by Adeline Dipple.

oldest died in 1953; Walter lives in Grafton; Benjamin lives in Wahpeton; Verna (Mrs. Gabbert) lives in Acton Township; and Louise (Mrs. Herman Knudson) passed away in 1967. Henry, Jr., served as president of the school district no. 30, was a supervisor and chairman of the Acton Township board and also served on various offices in the church. He died March 27, 1930, after suffering a stroke at the age of 62. Anne and Mariea died at an early age. Manea died ot diphtheria and Anne was accidentally shot by a gun left in the granary in threshing time. William died at 26 from a back injury he suffered unloading grain. John was born Oct. 15, 1877, in Hay Creek township near Red Wing, Minn. He came to North Dakota with his parents, farmed here until 1909 when he returned to Red Wing, Minn. He married Leacy Carnes in 1911. He was associated with a grocery store for a number of years and was later employed in construction business for a local contractor. He died at 80 on March 5, 1958 in Red Wing, Minn. They reared two daughters, Evelyn and Ethel, who still reside in the home purchased by the parents. Helene was born in 1880 shortly after the family moved to North Dakota, She married Henry Hoper of Stephen, Minn., in 1904. Two children were born, William', resides at Stephen, Minn., and Anna (Mrs. Robert Davids) lives at Gonvick, Minn. Helene died at the age of 28. The family suffered many hardships m their pioneer days. Henry told of the blizzard in 1888. When the storm was over the family went out to find and dig for the straw shed which housed their livestock. They tied rope from the house to the barn so in case a storm struck they would be able to find their way to the house or bam. The flood after the heavy snowfall in the winter of 1896-1897 caused a great deal of damage and suffering. They walked to Grand Forks for a sack of flour, which took a few days. Henry, Jr., saw many changes during his life from steamboats down the Red River to cars on the gravel roads. VICTOR FRENCH Victor French, a resident of Acton township for 50 years, came to the county in 1881 with his parents, M r and Mrs. Emil French, who settled on the homestead which he owned. He was born in Canada, Jan. 24,1872. He married Theresa Brosius in 1905.

MR. AND MRS. EMIL HOENKE Emil Hoenke was born April 14, 1858, in Shoenfeld, Posin, Germany. He emigrated to America and Berlin, Wise, in 1882. He stayed only two years, then came to eastern Acton township in the vicinity of Acton in Walsh County. After several years Mr. Hoenke decided this was where he wanted to build a home. In 1888 he bought 40 acres of land in Sec. 24 from the U. S. government. He kept this only one year then bought 80 acres in Sec. 26. This land became his home where he lived all his life except for a few years when he lived in Acton where he bought lots in 1890.

ANTOINE GIRARD Antoine Girard was born in Montreal, Canada. He came to the Oakwood community in 1878, later he moved to Kelly's Point now known as Acton. He married in Canada. They had five children: Helene, Lewis, Marie, William and John. Mr Girard laid out the town of Acton, naming the streets after his wife, Rose, and daughters, Helene and Marie. The town had general and clothing stores, hardware, saloons, hotels, feed mill, lumber yard, etc. Mrs Emil Hoenke and Mrs. Dennis Carpenter, helped build a school house. Mrs. Nick Dipple worked in the hotel. In 1893, Mr. Dipple was the township assessor and he had assessed Mr. Carpenter, whose taxes were $146.75, one dog tax and one poll tax. His daughter Adeline (Carpenter) Dipple, has the notice ot Assessment and Equalization for the year 1893. This was

Family of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Hoenke Back row: Fred, Henry, Carl, Alfred; front row: Emil (father), Myrtle, Alice, Charlotte, Bertha (mother). 35

February 15, 1892, he married Bertha Wolfgram. She was born in Fond du Lac, Wise, Oct. 8, 1872. In 1882 she came to Walsh County with her parents Carl and Albertine (Pagel) Wolfgram. Shortly after arriving, her father, a carpenter, built the schoolhouse in District 15 and Mrs. Hoenke helped by holding the boards. The schoolhouse is on the same place in good condition. Mrs. Hoenke attended school here and so did her seven children, who are Carl, Alfred and Fred Hoenke, Grafton. Alice Hoenke and Mrs. Albert (Myrtle) Rasmussen of Minneapolis and Mrs. Carl (Charlotte) Dahlquist, Ulen, Minn, and Henry Hoenke (deceased). Three of her grandchildren also attended this school. One of the teachers was Viljalmir Stefanson in 1900 and 1901. There were 74 terms of classes until it closed in 1956. Some years there were 40 children. Mrs. Hoenke worked in a hotel, the Acton House. This was a three story building and besides serving meals and sleeping accomodations, dances and parties were held on week ends. Mr. Hoenke related an incident he had. One evening he was walking across country to the neighbors with his accordion in a wooden box. Suddenly he met a large vicious badger. The only weapon to ward off the animal was his accordion case. He was not harmed, but the case was a total wreck.

1913 when the post office was discontinued. About 1909, the house was moved to the former home, about one quarter mile. Skids were put under the house with cables attached from a winch, which was used for pulling the house. To operate the winch a blind horse had to be used because it had to go around in a circle and would not get dizzy as a seeing horse would. Blocks were placed ahead of the skids, these were kept greased. It took one day to move but it was a smooth trip as it was baking day and Mrs. Hoenke baked bread on the way. One part of the house was used as post office and typical country store. It was a general merchandise store. There were groceries and candies, yard goods and stationery, shoes and boots, kerosene and other miscellaneous items. Part of the house that was moved has been remodeled into a garage and is in the same farm yard now owned by Fred Hoenke.

^Z»&@>Bi- &»•

1953 flood on Alfred Hoenke farm. With people coming for supplies and mail this place was a community gathering place where news of the prairie was exchanged. When Mr. Hoenke was postmaster there was no rural route. The mail man lived here and would get the mail from Grafton to Acton. Many of the farmers along the route, the Oakwood road, now County 11 and County 2, had mail bags. These were left at the post office where the mail was sorted and then taken back by the mailman. There were no mail boxes, but the bags were hung on farmers posts. Others that lived too far from the route had to pick up their mail at the post office. Mr. Hoenke was one of the pioneer members of Zion Lutheran Church, now Zion English Lutheran Church of Grafton. Both were active in church work. Mrs. Hoenke was a charter member of the Ladies' Aid, which was a large and active organization. Mr. Hoenke bought more farm land, owned more than three quarters at the time of his death. Some of this land is owned by two sons, Fred, Grafton, and Alfred, Acton townsite. Emil Hoenke died August 26, 1922. After her husband's death Mrs. Hoenke lived in Grafton several years, but moved back to the farm. She died Sept. 17, 1953. Both are buried in Acton cemetery.

Threshing time on Fred Hoenke farm — 1925.

Another threshing scene on Fred Hoenke farm — 1925. After Emil and Bertha were married they lived on their farm across the road from Acton townsite. Besides farming there was other work. In the winter wood for heating was cut down on the timberland in Minnesota, which was owned by them. After it was hauled home it was sawed by hand and chopped into stove wood. He also put up cordwood and sold it, delivered some as far as Cashel. There were two elevators in Acton and from here grain was transported to market by steamboat. Mr. Hoenke helped with the loading with his team and wagon. The grain was loaded into the wagon from the elevator and hauled down the bank and shoveled into chutes that emptied into the barges. The last grain shipped by boat from Acton was in 1912. In 1906, the Hoenkes bought more lots and a home in Acton townsite and moved there. In 1907 Mr. Hoenke was appointed Acton Postmaster a position he held until

CHARLES HORNING Mr. and Mrs. Charles Horning lived on the Red River east of Grafton in Acton township for 45 years. They were married for over 65 years which they celebrated in 1940. They were married at Portage, Wise, in 1875 and moved to this section of the country in 1892 when Mr. Horning gave up his position on the Milwaukee Railroad to live on a farm. 36

Mrs. Horning was Minnie Foogman, sister to G. W. Foogman. Mr. Horning was an engineer for the railroad and after 20 years decided to move on a farm and chose Acton Township. Four children were born to the Hornings, Charles, Fred, Anna and Minnie. Submitted by Mrs. Verna Gabbert. KAMPER FAMILY Henry Kamper was born in Germany in 1847, and his wife Katherine in 1856. They immigrated to America and settled in Goodhue County, Minn., for a few years. Their only child, Margaret, was born July 25, 1882. After a few years they moved to Ada, Minn. Then they decided to come to North Dakota and settled on the N. E. y of Sec. 11 in Acton Township. They made this their home for the rest of their lives. Henry was one of the founders of the Lutheran Congregation in Acton Township in 1887. He spent his early years as a fisherman in Germany. Mr. Kamper died in 1929 at 82. Mrs. Kamper died in May, 1933 at 77. Their daughter, Margaret, remained on the homestead for a few more years, then moved into Grafton. She died at 86 in 1968. 2

FARIGAL THOMAS KIELEY In the spring of 1880, Thomas F. Kieley and his wife, Ellen, left their home in Canada to settle in the Red River Valley. Arriving at Winnipeg they boarded a boat and came up the meandering Red to the flourishing little river village of Acton. With them was their little son, Farigal Thomas, then three, destined to become sheriff of Walsh County during the years of his maturity. The Kieley family settled on land in Acton Township and there the children grew up. Friends shortened the name of Farigal to "Fag"and it was such that he was known to thousands of people throughout Walsh County. In 1922 Mr. Kieley quit farming, moved to Grafton where he engaged in the garage business for several years. In 1932, he was a candidate for sheriff, running third in a large field of candidates. In the fall of that year when 0. R. LaBerge was elected sheriff, he chose Mr. Kieley as his deputy. He served under LaBerge for four years and again submitted his candidacy to the voters, being elected in the fall of 1936 and re-elected in 1938, practically without opposition. On Nov. 8, 1905, Mr. Kieley married Ethel Payne, daughter of another pioneer Walsh County family, in Grafton. Four sons and a daughter were born. The sons were Clyde W., Elvin L. and Donald, Grafton, and Fargo Thomas, Jr., Palm Springs, Calif., and Mrs. Ethel Roberts of Bismarck. Mr. Kieley had two brothers and two sisters. They were Mrs. Fred Flanders of Minto; Alice, Boston; James, Eckleson, and John P., Dolphen, Minn. Before coming to Grafton, Mr. Kieley served for many years on the township and school boards of Acton Township. A frame school was erected in 1882, in District 15, on the village site of Acton. F. T. Kieley, later sheriff of Walsh County, was among the pupils, together with Nick and Peter Welter, Jacob Welter, Mrs. Emil Hoenke, Annie and Minnie Wolfgram and Mrs. Thomas Maxwell. The school was a log structure at the north end of town and Kate Pool, later Mrs. Pat Law, was the first teacher. She attended a celebration marking the 50th anniversary

of the founding of the school in 1932. F. T. Kieley bought the original townsite but later-sold the lots to Alfred Hoenke. When Acton was a lively town, they held Fourth of July celebrations. Mr. Kieley once had the gilded ball from the top of the flagpole but he lost sight of it in later years. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the noted Arctic explorer and author, once taught in the Acton district. In 1924, the new bridge across the Red River between Pembina and Emerson was completed, replacing a pontoon bridge that had served the purpose up to that time. The Grafton Civic Club negotiated for the purchase ofthe pontoon bridge. After the sale, the bridge had to be moved to a new location east of Grafton on Highway 17. This entailed a considerable feat of navigation and engineering which was successfully carried out by F. T. Kieley. Farigal Thomas Kieley was born 1877, died 1941. Mrs. Ethel Kieley was born 1884, died 1947. William T Payne was born 1859, died 1899. Mrs. Elizabeth Payne was born 1866, died 1935. Compiled from articles in the Walsh County Record and dates from tombstones in the Grafton Cemetery by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak 58237 FRANK JAMES McGUIRE

Frank James McQuire on a car that was converted and used as a tractor. Frank and Mary McGuire. Frank James McGuire, an early homesteader, settled in Acton Township in 1880. Born on Sept. 26, 1855, in Kingston Ontario, Frank was the son of Edward and Mary Haley McGuire. On December 12, 1881, Frank married Mary Kennedy, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ned Kennedy. They had seven children, Edward, Nellie, Matthew, Peter, Catherine, Walter, and Emily. In 1924, Frank retired after 43 years of farming. He and Mary moved to Grafton where they purchased a home at 538 Summit Avenue. To his grandchildren, Frank was always known as "old papa." Submitted by Colleen A. Oihus. HUGH A. MORRISON Hugh A. Morrison was born near Ogdenburg N Y Jan. 18,1860, and spent his early life in Canada He first came to Grafton April 30, 1881, and stopped at Coopers During the years following he worked out. June 8, 1885 he was united in marriage to Eliza Ann Greer at Grafton. Mr. Morrison did the first grading on east and west roads in Acton Township.

MRS. HUGH A. MORRISON Mrs. Hugh A. Morrison, Eliza Ann Greer, was born in Ontario of Irish parents May 14, 1862, and there spent her early life. She first came to Walsh County and Acton Township Nov. 17, 1880. She was united in marriage to Hugh A. Morrison June 8, 1885, at Grafton. SAMSON FAMILY George Samson and Emily Goulet, his wife, lived in St. Narcisse in the Province of Quebec. They immigrated to Walsh County in 1888. They homesteaded in Acton township on the Park River. He died in 1952 and she died in 1924. They had six boys and three girls: Philomen (Mrs. Parent) lived in Lewiston, Maine. Nazarre Samson married Delia Dumo. They homesteaded in Mahnomen in 1900 and raised four daughters and three sons. He died in 1924 and she died in 1948. Joseph Samson married Mary Ann LaBerge in 1900, in Oakwood. They raised four girls and five boys. He died in 1945 and she died in 1954. Henry Samson married Leotine French, they had one girl. She died inside two years. Later he married Albina Lahaise and they moved to Montreal, Canada. They had four girls and three boys. He died in 1952. Marie Samson married Nelson Leblanc. They lived at Oakwood and later moved to Lewiston, Maine. They raised five boys and four girls. Peter Samson married Amy LaBerge in 1903. They homesteaded in St. Elizabeth, Manitoba. They raised four boys and seven girls. They were living in Yakima at the time of their deaths. Stanley Samson married Antoinette LaBerge in Oakwood. They spent their life in Oakwood. He died in 1918. Tom Samson, the youngest, married Suxhina Vaudrin, they lived in Acton Township on their parents' farm. They had five sons and three daughters. He died in 1963 and she died in 1957. Delina Samson married Alcide French. They lived in St. Andrew Township and later moved to Escondido, Calif. They raised five sons and seven daughters. AUGUST L. SCHRANK FAMILY August L. Schrank was bom in Germany, Nov. 3, 1852, was married to Augusta Acktenberg, born Dec. 27, 1854, in Germany. They were married in April, 1876, and left Dramberg, Germany, in 1877 with one child, Mary (later Mrs. Bennie Johnson). The boat trip took six weeks. Their first stop was at St. Charles, Minn. They lived there three years and during that time a son, William C. (my father), was born to them Aug. 3, 1878. They moved to Acton Township in 1881 and settled on a farm 7'A miles east and two miles south of Grafton. Grandpa August had several brothers, sisters and his father living here. His father's name was Wilhelm. He was born in 1820 and died in 1910. The brothers' names were Ferdinand, William, sister Ameilia (Mrs. Nick Dipple), and Mrs. August Schultz, one other sister lived in Wisconsin. All of these sisters and brothers lived within a radius of a few miles. The Schrank and Dipple land joins, and is still in the family. None has been sold to any one outside of the family, but some has been handed down to the next generation. The farm my father bought was purchased from W. C. Lestikow 75 years ago. Grandpa August's land has been in the family 94' years. Eight children were bom to the August Schrank family; Mary, (Mrs. Bennie Johnson); William C ; Frank A. August; John; Rose (Mrs. Henry Peters);

Lizzie (Mrs. William Thomas); and Minnie (Mrs. Carl Hoenke). All are dead except Mrs. Hoenke, who resides in Grafton. All of the brothers and sisters lived on farms within a radius of 10 miles of each other all their lives. In 1923 Grandpa and Grandma August Schrank retired and moved to Grafton and lived on 5th Street. Grandpa August died in January, 1937, at 84, and Grandma died in June, 1941 at 86. Grandpa August was township supervisor for many years. My father, William C , also served on the township board and clerk of District 57 school board for many years. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Grafton, built in 1916. He served on the Elevator Board 42 years, 35 years as president. He held this office until his death in November, 1958 at 80. His wife (my mother) was Anna Johnson, Grafton. They were married in March, 1911. They lived on the farm in Acton Township until they retired and moved to Grafton in 1940. My mother lives in Grafton. The school referred to as District 57 is on the same spot where it was built, and was one of the last in the county to close. This school has been donated to the historical society and is to be moved to Grafton. Three generations of three Schrank families attended the school over the years. Written by Ruby Schrank, granddaughter.

Mr. and Mrs. August L. Schrank WILLIAM AND MARIE SCHRANK William Schrank was bom Sept. 3, 1857, in Falkenborg, Germany, province of Pomer. In May, 1874, he came to the United States, a voyage that took about five weeks. His first stop was at Rochester, Minn., where he stayed about one year. He and some of the men he worked with came to Casselton and worked on the Dalrymple farm, one of the Bonanza farms. William said he often thought if he could earn enough money he would go back to Germany, as it was lonesome for one who could not understand or speak the language. By the time he had enough money, he had studied hard and did not want to go back. Then his dream was to get a team of horses and a piece of land, a dream that soon came true. He heard about new land being opened up for homesteading, came to Acton by boat and filed a claim in what is now Acton Township. This land has been in the family for 95 years, first owned by William and then the youngest son, Herbert and now by a grandson, Wesley Schrank.

district, was interested in civic affairs and was township supervisor for a number of years, worked to get roads and drainage. He was a member of the Non-Partisan League in the early years. Marie Zinke Schrank was born Sept. 17, 1861, at Kampendorf province of Pomer. She and her parents, Gotlieb and Willimina Zinke and a brother came to the United States in 1863. When she was 2, they settled at Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin, and in 1881 came to Acton. The following year, she married William Schrank. Submitted by Mrs. Myrtle Schrank, a daughter-inlaw.

Mr. and Mrs. WilUam Schrank and two of their children, Louise and Hulda. He married Marie Zinke Dec. 28, 1882. She was the daughter of Gotlieb and Willimina Zinke, another pioneer family. That winter he cut and hauled oak logs from the timber along the Red River, and the following summer built a four room house which still stands on the farm. Mr. Wolfgram was the head carpenter and all the neighbors helped which they always did when work was to be done. He became a United States citizen June 21, 1880. He had to go to Grand Forks to be sworn in as a citizen, so he and a neighbor walked there, a distance of 40 miles one way. He often said that was one of the happiest days of his life. They had six children, Louise (Loeslie), Hulda (Peters), Robert (died in infancy), Albert, Emil and Herbert.

Schrank School District 57 Three generations attended this school. The three generation picture of those who attended District School No. 57. Left to right: Emil Schrank, Wesley Schrank and Keith Schrank.

Children in School District No. 57.

Bridge near Warsaw after a tornado

FRED J. SCHUMACHER Fred J. Schumacher (1868-1936) was born in St. Donatus, Ia., June 21,1868, of parents who migrated from Germany. Little is known of his father who died when he was about 15 years old. His was a family of 3 boys: Otto, Henry, and Fred John and 4 girls; Minnie, Rebecca, Louisa, and Mary. They all came to North Dakota to homestead in the early 1880's with his mother. Fred had a common school education in Iowa and also attended a parochial school of the German language-Missouri Synod Lutheran faith. He was a farmer and livestock man, started farming with his mother on Section 3, Township 158, Range 5, (Acton Township) at the age of 18, as a renter in 1886. His mother died a few years later and in 1896 he married Louisa B. Dalia, Radium, Minn. They had 5 sons and 2 daughters. In 1896 he bought the farm from his sister Minnie (Becker). He continued to farm until his retirement in 1930. He was a skilled horseman and livestock breeder and

Drilling well on Herb Schrank farm.

He was a lifelong member and founder of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, now the Zion English Lutheran at Grafton. He held various offices in the church. He helped to organize and build one of the first schools in the township where three generations have finished the 8th grade. He also held offices in the school 39

and William, who married Martha Penno, Feb. 7, 1917. Survivors of these five children still residing in Acton Township and in Grafton are Glenn Miller, Earl, Elmer and Howard Schultz, who farm; Lillian and Edna Schultz; Leslie, Cyril and Floyd Seeba, who farm; Edward Seeba and Mrs. Clara (Seeba) Ganyo; Mrs. Anna (John) Seeba, Grafton, and Mrs. Martha (William) Seeba, Acton Township. Submitted by Mrs. Verna Gabbert.

was of great help to all of his pioneer neighbors as a first aid veterinarian. He was of aid to his neighbors to set bones and take care of accidental burns and bruises when doctors were not available. He was the first in his neighborhood to use and own sweep horsepower for grinding feed and sawing wood. He also was the first one to own a Flour City 16 horsepower gasoline engine, portable, for threshing (hand fed) and straw carrier stacker threshing machine. He worked into the winter months doing threshing for many of his neighbors. In 1908 he bought one of the first IHC tractors-a 20 horsepower, one cylinder, friction drive, self propelled and a new Racine "Bell City" 28 inch separator with self feeder and wind stacker. This engine opened new avenues such as blading new roads and pulling ditchers when not in use for threshing. He operated this until 1920 when he no longer did custom work. He was generous and kind and helpful to all of his friends and neighbors and was known as a man who's word was never violated. He suffered many of the hardships of these early pioneers without complaint, however, always trying to lessen the burdens and risks. He suffered the loss of his home by fire in the fall of 1905 and in later years lost some crops by hail before insurance was available. He became active in 1910 and later years in trying to do something for farmers and laborers about low wages and grain prices, high interest, etc. He was one of the first to join the Farmers Equity Union and Non-Partisan League in its crusade to better the economics of agriculture. He also lived to enjoy the day when farmers got rural mail, telephones and even phonographs. He bought his first automobile in 1915, a "Paige Car." He saw the beginning of what is now Interstate 29 which at that time was designated as the meredian Road to Winnipeg, south to the Gulf of Mexico. Later it became N. D. 44-now 129. He never aspired to wealth and never worried about tomorrow. He was a devout Christian and is still well remembered by many old and younger people with whom he had contact. He left 5 sons in Walsh County farming, some now retired. Submitted by Ervin Schumacher.

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE SEEBA Barbara was born April 14, 1894 at their home in Pulaski Township. She married George Seeba at Sacred Heart Church at Oakwood on Feb. 15, 1916. They farmed in Acton Township. Mr. Seeba died Jan. 31, 1949. Barbara moved to Grafton in 1950 and lived there and at St. Anne's Guest Home in Grand Forks. She died Dec. 17,1974. Submitted by Mrs. M. D. Collette. AUGUST SCHULTZ, SR. Mr. and Mrs. August Schultz, Sr., came to Acton Township in 1882. They were born in Falkenburg, Germany, in 1854 and came to southern Minnesota separately in 1872. They were married in 1876. She was the former Johanna Schrank, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Schrank, Sr. Her brothers and sisters were all early settlers of Acton township. They were Mrs. Nick Dipple, August Schrank, and William Schrank. August and Johanna first lived at St. Charles, Minn., then moved to Lomira, Wise. When living in Wisconsin they had a fire and lost everything. When they came to N. Dak. in 1882, they brought little with them except their clothes and a few other things. They made the trip to N. Dak. with four small children, the oldest being 5, and the youngest a baby. After living in Acton township a few years, they bought a quarter section of land in Section 11 in 1887 from Robert Adler who had homesteaded 4 years earlier. They lived on this farm until Johanna Schultz died in 1935, except for a few years, they lived in Grafton prior to August Schultz's death in 1923. After Johanna died, the farm was bought by a grandson, Art Schultz. August Schultz was one of the 14 church founders of the Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Acton Township in July 1887, and was the first treasurer of the church. His grandson, Earl Schultz, is the present treasurer of this church now in Grafton. The Schultz children attended Acton School Dist. No. 30 which was located one mile east and v mile south of their home. This schoolhouse was bought by Charles French in 1964 and moved to his farm where it is his workshop. Johanna, the youngest daughter, remembers when her twin brother, John, and she would walk to the town of Acton to pick up the mail and some groceries. This was over four miles one way. The Schultzes had nine children, William, Louisa, Otto, Ida, August, Henry, Edward, John and Johanna. In 1905, the oldest son, Willie, bought a quarter of land in Section 10 in Acton Township from Henry Feldman, Sr. This had been homesteaded in 1881 by Feldman. Willie married Barbara Brosius of Acton Township in 1918. Their land is still owned by their only son, Ray, who lives in Grafton. The oldest daughter, Louisa (Lizzie), was married in 1897 to John Zinke. They farmed in Acton Township for

GEORGE SEEBA, SR. George Seeba, sr., was born in Germany, March 18, 1855, and immigrated to America while a young man. He first settled in Goodhue County, Minn., where he resided for several years. He was married to Catherine Hinke at Rochester, Minn., in 1876. She was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, March 6, 1855. In 1873 she immigrated to America and made her home at Rochester, Minn. George and Catherine Seeba came to Walsh County in 1888 and settled on a farm in Acton Township where they resided all their life. He purchased land in Section 22 on Jan. 31,1907, from W. C. Leistikow. This land had been homesteaded by Oliver Hamilton. He was one of the founders of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Acton Township in July, 1887, and farmed his entire life in Acton Township. He died Jan. 29, 1913, Catherine died Feb. 24, 1918. Five children were born: Anna, who married George Miller, July 21,1909; Mary, who married August Schultz, March 4, 1919; John, who married Anna Peters, Aug. 13, 1916; George, who married Barbara Krier, Feb. 15, 1916

many years until they retired. Part of their farm had been homesteaded by his father, Gottlieb Zinke. Two of their 12 children, Mrs. Rose Maxwell and Alfred Zinke, are still living in Grafton. Otto Schultz owned a farm in Acton Township from 1906 until 1913. This had been homesteaded by August Zuelsdorf in 1882. Otto married Cora Tanke of Acton Township in 1920. They farmed at Cashel, Minto and Red Lake Falls, Minn. Two of their four children live in Grafton now. They are Mrs. Edwin Schultz and Mrs. Charles Matcha. Ida Schultz was a seamstress in Grafton before she married Louis Hass, Sr. and moved to a farm near Swanville, Minn. After she died in 1920, her children, Louis and Lydia Hass came to N. Dak. They own farms in Acton Township now. Lydia was married to Marvin Miller who died in 1969. She is now Mrs. Ivan Carter and lives in Alaska. August Schultz, Jr., owned a quarter of land in Acton Township from 1908 to 1913. He sold his land to his brother Henry and went to Montana for a year. When he returned he worked as a carpenter with Thomas Maxwell for a few years. In 1918 he bought land in Section 15, Acton Township, which had been homesteaded by Fred and Lucinda Zuelsdorf in 1882 and later owned by William Zinke. He married Mary Seeba of Acton Township in 1919. Their farm is still owned by members of their family, Elmer, Howard, Lillian and Edna Schultz. Another son, Earl, owns and farms land a half mile from his home farm. Henry Schultz bought land in Section 9, Acton Township, in 1908. This had been homesteaded by Charles Moore. He married Hilda Anderson in 1910. They had six children. Their son, Merlin, owns and farms this land. A daughter, Malinda, lives in Grafton and the oldest son, Art, owns and lives on August Schultz's, Sr., home place. Edward Schultz married Margaret Peters of Acton Township. He was a steam fitter and lived at Buffalo, Minn. They had two children. John Schultz was a blacksmith at Brewster, Minn, and Lakota. He was married to Eleanor Schilling, they had three children. Johanna Schultz Hass, the only living member of the August Schultz, Sr. family, is living with her daughter at Miltona, Minn. She was married to Rev. Walter Hass in 1918, they lived at Little Falls, Minn., and Alexandria, Minn. They had nine children. Submitted by Mrs. Elmer Schultz. ALFRED WEINLAEDER FAMILY Alfred Weinlaeder was born in Jackson County, Ia., Sept. 6, 1886, the son of Christ and Rebecca Weinlaeder. He came to Acton Township with his parents in 1887 where he grew to manhood and farmed on the S. E. v* of Section 10. In 1935 he retired and moved to Drayton. Mr. Weinlaeder married Dorothy Rasmussen at Grafton, Nov. 20,1908. They reared six children, Paul of Seattle, Wash.; Arnet, living on his grandfather's farm, Section 2, Acton Township; Daniel of Drayton; Mrs. Don (Viola) Dill of Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Carl (Dalma) Knutson of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Mrs. Gayle (Adeline) Perry of Barlow, Ky. Alfred died at 80 in Drayton and Dorothy died at 92.

CHRIST WEINLAEDER FAMILY Christ Weinlaeder was born in Germany, May 14, 1858. He came to Walsh County in 1889, making his home in Acton Township on the N. W. M of Section 35. He was prominent in township affairs, served as supervisor, assessor and clerk for 40 years, was a member of the school board for many years. Mr. Weinlaeder was married to Rebecca Schumacher in Iowa, Feb. 10, 1885. One son, Alfred, was born to this union. He passed away at the age of 93 at the home of his son, Alfred, at Drayton. Submitted by Mrs. Verna Gabbert. JOHN ZINKE John G. Zinke came to Walsh County in Nov., 1882, after spending his early life at Lomira, Wise., where he was born Jan. 18, 1866. Mr. Zinke stopped at Grafton when he reached this county, then moved to Acton where he resided on his father's homestead until his death. He held several public offices. He was town supervisor for 15 years, a Liberty Loan Chairman, and a school director. In 1897 he married Louisa Schultz at Acton. They had 11 children, William, deceased; Rose (Mrs. Neil Maxwell), Grafton; Clara (Mrs. Jack Maxwell) Grand Forks; Edward, Ross, Minn.; Paul and George, Seattle, Wash.; Martha Krebs, Eugene, Ore.; Mrs. Lillian Millang, Story City, Iowa; Walter, Schenectady, New York; and Lydia, deceased. Submitted by Mrs. Verna Gabbert.

Pioneers Without Biographies Alder, George Brosius, Mich, Peter and Henry Becker, George Bratsander, H. W. Boutin, Addie and Alfred Baillargeon, Chas. and E. Burkel, L. and George Bellock, Maria Blado, Edward ConnelL James Creighton, J. Carpenter, Jos. Corideau, August Cauley, Patrick Considine, John W. Dipple, Nicholas and Michael Filteau, A. Foogman, G. W. Gray, Margaret Greer, W. T. and Jas. and N. T. Ganyo, John Heinbuckle, H. Hollinger, P. Hickey, M. J. Haagenson, Omlie Hamilton, O. I. Haussamen, H. L. Keyes, Robert Kegan, Michael Kieley; Ellen G. Kronebush, Nick Kegler, Peter W. , Ketter, J. J. . ..

Sheppard, Henry and Jos. and Jenny Steinke, Pauline Schumann, Wm. Trost, Ludwig Tank, Gustave Teskey, Mary J. Varro, Richard Vanderburg, Lizzie Wichern, John Welter, Jno. B. and Katrina Wolfgram, Carl

Kinke, Gotleib Lund, H. R. Lachapelle, Louis Lacey, John McDonald, D. D. Malkow, Rev. C. F. Poole, Thomas and Sarah Parr, Ortensy A. and Helen Rousseau, Jerome Roach, Bridget Sullivan, John, Jr. and Mary

FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP According to treasurer's books, Farmington Township must have been organized in 1883. The first recorded cash disbursement was made November 21, 1883, to David Desautel for an amount of $50. Records of receipts and disbursements are recorded in township books since that time; however, secretary's minutes could not be found dating earlier than March 28, 1906. Officers then were John Donnelly, chairman; H. H. Lykken, supervisor; L. J. Herbison, supervisor; A. H. Kingsbury, clerk; C. J. Hanson, treasurer; J . J . Herbison, constable; M. Skejalstud, justice of the peace; and A. J. Bolton, assessor. They all received an annual salary of $2 except the assessor who received $40. Eight dollars per year rent was paid for the Auburn Hall where a ! meetings and elections were held. Most business concerned the construction and maintenance of roads. Road building was done by local farmers. An April 28, 1906, meeting shows that the following tenders, or bids were accepted; Frank Tuft $165 to build one mile new grade and two tile culverts; Stephen Donnelly - $170 to repair one mile grade and build one tile culvert; Sever Tollack — $160 to repair one mile grade and build one tile and one wood culvert. Theodore Larson - $160 to build one mile grade and one tile culvert; S. H. Lykken - $152 to repair 1% mile grade and build two tile culverts; Henry Jaster - $160 to repair one mile and build one tile and one wood culvert. Weeds going to seed must have been a primary problem for the March 17,1908 meeting shows: on motion it was resolved that the by-laws for cutting of weeds on highways-$1.50 allowed per mile on one side or $3 per mile on both sides-cut to prevent them going to seed and again if necessary to prevent an accumulation of snow. Often times these types of work were done in exchange for payment of taxes. Cash money was a scarce item in those days.

land from the U. S. government. Such was the case of Arnie Oihus, who first came to the township in 1876 and purchased 160 acres for $1.25 an acre in 1879. He and his brother Anthony came from Iowa and traveled back and forth from there to farm the land for three years before remaining permanently. In 1879 Anthony Oihus obtained 240 acres east of his brother's farm located where the north branch meets the middle branch of the Park River. Another early settler to Farmington Township was Andrew Kennedy who came in 1876. The rich and fertile Red River Valley of the North proved to be a fine place for these early people and the area gradually became a quite populated place by the turn of the century. Farmington Township contains two small towns: Auburn, established in 1882 and Nash, establishedin 1890. The township includes one church: the Landstad Lutheran Church, built in 1888, and located in Auburn. There were five schools: Bell School District No. 5 established in 1886 where Louisa Maes was the first teacher; Auburn District No. 29 beginning in 1892 with Tiny McKenzie as the first teacher; Union District No. 40 established in 1882 with Mary Healy as the first teacher; Farmington District No. 51 established in 1892 with Ella Parkins as the first teacher; and Fairnington District No. 110 beginning in 1893 with Ethel Healey as the first teacher. 1913 and 331 in 1920. Submitted by Bernice Flanagan, clerk.

Farmington School Districts Farmington Township was organized as such in 1881. As tax money accumulated, it became necessary to have a treasurer for each school district to handle these funds. School boards (directors) were not elected until 1892 although District 5 started operating in 1886 with Miss Louisa Maes as the first teacher. There is no record that any of the other districts operated until 1893, except District 40. For the most part, school terms started in the spring and ended in the fall, undoubtedly due to the severity of the winter months, lack of graded roads, distances from school and other transportation problems. Farmington had five districts, District 40 was partly in Pembina County. District 5: James R. Carter became treasurer in 1882. John Donnelly in 1891. Miss Louisa Maes began teaching May 17,1886. However, the first recorded school board election was not held until 1892. Elected board

Farmington Township got its name from Farmington, Minn., a town located near Minneapolis, from where Hans Lykken came after farming there about four years after he had immigrated from Norway. He homesteaded near Auburn in 1880. Among other first homesteaders were Gilman Lykken in 1880, and David Desautel in 1881. The Homestead Act of 1860 brought many early settlers to the area in this manner in that they made a dwelling of sorts, often times a sod shanty, a primitive log cabin, or just a "shack"; and remained on their filed acreage five years to "prove up" their worthiness of their claimed land. It was also possible to buy outright 42

members were: T. M. Topping, Wright Parkins who was the first president, and John Donnelly who became president in 1893. Around 1908, it was known as the "Bell" school; later as the "Donnelly" school. Henry Donnelly became treasurer succeeding John Donnelly who was now a director. John Burroughs was the first clerk. Effie M. Parkins' term as teacher was from May 2 to November 9. District 29, known as the "Auburn" school. First treasurer was William McKenzie, 1883, followed by H. H. Lykken in 1886, succeeded by Ezra Bowling in 1891. Elected as directors in 1892 were A. Branston, G. H. Lykken and A. H. Kingsbury who was president in 1892, '93, '94, and '95. Treasurer was C. A. Duvall. Clerk was J. C. Jones. Under the new setup, Tiny McKenzie began teaching Feb. 1. Maude McKenzie taught from May 16 to Aug. 19. Edward Savin continued to October 3. District 51: Henry Kingsbury became the first treasurer in March, 1883, succeeded by Steve Hanson in February, 1891. Elected as directors in 1892 were R. W. Kingsbury, Andrew Monson and Arne Oihus who served as president for the years 1892, '93, '94 and '95. Steve Hanson was treasurer. Ole 0. Hangesrud was clerk. Ella C. Parkins term of teaching began April 25 and continued until November 25th. By 1900, enrollment exceeded capacity and a second school was added. In this district, the "Nash" school or "Oihus" school was located in section 32 and was school No. 1. The "Desautel" school in section 28, was No. 2. District 110: In the early days, known as the Farmington school and later as the "Miller" school; still later as the "Boone" school. The district was formed by vote of the commissioners in April 1893. First election was held April 26, 1893, at the home of R. S. Johnson. Clerks of election were C. J. Grumsrud and John Holt. Judges were Edwin Evenson and Thomas Miller. Directors elected were: Edwin Evenson, Thomas Miller, and C. J. Grumsrud who served as president in 1893 and '94. Treasurer was R. S. Johnson. Clerk was John O. Holt. Ethel Healey served as teacher from September 15th to December 15th. District 40: Originally two districts in Walsh and Pembina counties, it became known as Union district after combining. R. N. Nervell was the first treasurer in 1882. James K. Tufft succeeded him in 1885. J. W. Hamilton took over in 1891. The first school was built in 1883 by George Tufft and his sons. The official record shows that the first election of directors took place in 1892. J. E. Colter, George Ady, and George Smith (president) were elected. Peder Lunde became treasurer and Andrew Davis, clerk. Mary Healy oegan teaching November 30,1891, and continued to February 26, 1892. As was common at that time, the district changed to a summer term. Accordingly, Bertha Orchard began her term May 2, 1892, and continued to November 22 of the same year. Since the school was built in 1883, it is most probable that the school was open during the nine year interim, not shown in the official record. In any case, the district functioned with just a treasurer for nine years. First students were Myra and Rose Tufft, two Tufft boys, two Cavanaugh sisters, three Lavin brothers, Charlie Stratton, two Rands and Lynn J. Frazier who later became governor of North Dakota and U. S. , Senator.

Early teachers were: John McLaurin, Freman Rose, Maggie Mcintosh, Gertrude Rose, Bertha Orchard, Mattie Mcintosh, Addie Jones, Ed Lavin, Inez Crane, Maggie Sullivan, Blanche Mcintosh, Lillian Davidson, Jennie Brown and John J. Samson. This information was compiled from the records in the Walsh County Courthouse. Much of the information on District 40 was obtained from Kenneth Colter of Grafton. Submitted by Ernest Ebert, Grafton, N. Dak.

Some early Auburn students about 1918. Back row — left to right: Max Goldenzeil, Ralph Douville, Kenneth Colter, Carl Anderson. Front row: LaVergn Douville, Gordon Stavert, Adolph Anderson. FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL OFFICERS

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Jaster School (1895) Pupils pictured here with their teacher, Miss Margaret Baggote, are Johnnie Kennedy, Peter Mclntyre, Nat Mclntyre, Fred Ledwich, Marie Joubert, Bernadette Joubert, Kate Ledwich, Rose Penell, Florence Silcox, Melia Desautel, Mary Desautel, Mary Penell, two Desautels, Malvina Desautel, Louisa Desautel, Deline Penell, Gertie Desautel, Josie Desautel, Arthur Desautel, Frank Desautel, Louis Silcox, Joe LaHaise, Willie Mclntyre, Archie LaHaise, Eddie Kennedy. These are the early officers and teachers of Farmington Township as recorded. These officers are listed from around 1882-1900. School District No. 5: treasurers, James R. Carten and John Donnelly; directors, T. H. Topping, Wright Parkins and John Donnelly; presidents, Wright Parkins, John Donnelly and T. H. Topping; clerks, John 43

Rev. J. Lonne; the first baptism was in 1883, Johan Akran; the first wedding was in the same year, Anders Anderson and Siri Amundson. The Grafton Lutheran Church was organized in 1878 at the log cabin home of Edward 0. Aas. The Landstad Church was organized three years later and from the beginning was regarded as a unit of the Grafton parish with the pastor of the Grafton church serving both congregations. In 1885, the Landstad congregation passed a resolution to dissolve and join Grafton, but in 1887, separate status was resumed as "Landstad" and a new constitution was adopted. Again in 1890, the Landstad congregation joined a new call with Grafton and St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas. This was at the time that Rev. J. A. Ofstedal was pastor. He used to travel from Grafton after the morning service to Auburn or St. Thomas by horse and buggy. During winter blizzards, he could be seen going to St. Thomas with horse and sleigh to conduct services. He also went into St. Andrews Township where he held services in a district schoolhouse. Afterwards he would break bread with another pioneer family, the Fennels.

Burroughs and Effie Parkins; and teachers, Miss Louisa Mars (first teacher), Effie Parkins, George McCommachie and Myrtle Turner. School District No. 40: treasurers, R. H. Newell, James Tufft and J. W. Hamilton; directors, J. E. Colter, George Smith, Geoge Ady and Gus Lysengen; clerks, Andrew Davis and J. E. Mills; and teachers, Mary Healy, Bertha Orchard and Mattie Mcintosh. School District No. 29: treasurers, Wm. McKenzie, H. H. Lykken and Ezra Dowling; directors, A. H. Kingsbury, A. Branston, G. H. Lykken, J. H. Watts, Matt Archer and S. Tollack; presidents, A. H. Kingsbury, Matt Archer and S. Tollack; clerks, J . C. Jones, J. A. Johnson, Marvin Skjulstad and Arthur Branston; teachers, Tiny McKenzie, Maud McKenzie, Edward Savin and Mrs. M. A. Haggerty. School District No. 51: treasurers, Henry Kingsbury and Steve Hanson; directors, R. W. Kingsbury, M . P. Dahl, Arne Oihus, Andrew Monson and David Desautel; clerk, Ole 0. Haugerud; president, Arne Oihus;and teachers, EllaC. Parkins, Maggie Baggot, Anna Scott, F. T. Sinkler and Hilda Bakke. School District No. 110: treasurers, R. S. Johnson and L. H. Lykken; directors, Edwin Evenson, Thomas Miller, C. J. Grimsrud and Andrew J. Hove; presidents, C. J. Grimsrud, Edwin Evenson and Thomas Miller; clerk, John 0. Holt; and teachers, Ethel Healey, Lucia Button, Annie Blades, Lucy Scott, Maud Clemet and E. A. Mosbue.

Landstad Lutheran Church, Auburn In 1884, the pastor was Rev. F. A. Nykrem. In 1886, Hans Lykken gave to the church a plot of ground on the southwest corner of his homestead to be used as a cemetery. It was consecrated as the Landstad Cemetery. The grave markers read like a roll call of early pioneer names. One year later, in 1887, the Landstad Church had its first funeral, that of Arvid Cornelius Norum. In 1888, the members of the congregation built a church building in Auburn. In the original plat of Auburn, the church was located on Main Street in the five hundred block. The Robertson Lumber Company of Grafton had a branch yard in Auburn until 1894. The members of the congregation built the church with their own hands. Since the original construction, the church has been remodeled twice. In the same year that the church was built, Landstad had its first confirmation class, the members were Anne Johnson, Sofie Larson, Ida Thorstenson and Gurine Johnson. It is right to take note that in 1905 a funeral was held in the church for the pioneer progenitor of the Lykken families who came to America from Norway in 1873, Hans Gulman Lykken. His granddaughter, Hazel Lykken

Auburn School — Effie Parkins, teacher. This school is now converted to a home. The family of John Kapp presently live here. (1975) THE LANDSTAD LUTHERAN CHURCH After the early settlers had established homes to shelter them and their families, their first thought was to establish a school and a church. Hans H. Lykken came to Dakota Territory in 1879. His father and mother, Hans and Kari Lykken and their son, Lars, came a year later in 1880. Gulmon Lykken and his wife Ella Mathilda and their son, Henry, came in 1881. These were the nucleus of the Landstad congregation with the Sondelands, Hellands, Uggeruds, Shirleys whose original name was Sjole, the Larsons, Hallens, Mattsons, Swansons, Hoves, Starks and Nelsons. The Landstad Lutheran Conference Church was organized in 1881. In using the name Landstad, they named the church after the man who compiled the hymn book, "Salmebog," long used in the Lutheran Church in America, M. B. Landstad. The first pastor was 44

became the first president. The charter members of the Aid were, in addition to Mrs. Larson, Mrs. Hans Gulmon Lykken, Mrs. Hans H. Lykken, Mrs. Gilman Lykken, Mrs. Lars Lykken, Mrs. Ole Gilman and Mrs. Albert Johnson. During the following year others joined the Aid: Mrs. Andrew Hove, Mrs. Elling Evanson, Mrs. Anders Helland, Mrs. Andrew Todahlen and Mrs. Theodore Nelson. The Ladies' Aid met at the homes of the members on Thursday afternoon. A charge of ten and fifteen cents covered the dues. Norwegian devotions, mission studies, handwork and social activities made up the program. A substantial lunch made up of sandwiches, both white and dark bread, both white and dark cakes and coffee was the highlight of the afternoon. The Ladies' Aid provided furnishings for the church, the pulpit, baptismal font, carpets, altar hangings, the altar painting and the organ. The subject of the altar painting was "The Ascension." The painting and the altar were purchased from a Minneapolis firm and were shipped to Grafton where Lars Lykken collected the freight and hauled it to Auburn with a team and wagon. The men of the congregation then worked together to install them. As a memorial to the pioneer mothers and fathers, the cross was placed on the altar and later the candelabra were added. Bowing to the changing times, the Landstad Lutheran Church in Auburn closed its doors in 1966 and its communicants joined the larger congregations in Grafton and St. Thomas. After standing silent and empty for a few years, the building was given to the Walsh County Historical Society with the hope that its identity and its history would be preserved for the time to come. As an epilogue to its long history of service to the Lutheran communicants, the church was given a brief resurgence of living when John Klapp and Dee Ann Smith had their wedding ceremony performed within its walls during the Christmas season of 1974. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak.

Sutterlin, writing of that sad day for the family writes: The funeral, August 2, 1905, was in charge of William Chandler and took place first in the parlor of our home (Hans Lykken's home) and then in the Landstad Church in Auburn. All our grandfather's sons, his daughter, their families, friends and neighbors. The procession going to and from the church in Auburn was a very long one. There were carnations and many garden flowers that we thought were lovely. Cora made a wreath of white poppies from our garden that we children admired in particular because, we said, our grandfather had liked our flowers. Rev. J. A. Ofstedal, pastor of our church as well as the pastor of the Grafton Lutheran Church and St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas, preached the sermon in Norwegian language and Rev. Knudson of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church preached the sermon in the English language. The latter said that "the pioneer's children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren had come to honor his memory and to follow him to the grave." Hymns in both languages were sung, the one in Norwegian was a mournful one, Number 628 on page 545, which began as follows: "Gaa nu hen og grav, min Grav. Jag er troet, Nu vill jeg slumre." Mrs. Sutterlin writing of her Grandmother Kari's funeral in 1894: "Grandmother's funeral was held first in the home and then in the Landstad Lutheran Church. A long procession of carriages and buggies followed her to the Landstad Cemetery, where she was buried, as she had requested during her last illness, beside the grave of my little sister, Hilda." Hans Gulman and Kari Lykken were the oldest charter members of the Landstad Church. In 1908, new articles of incorporation were passed and the Confession of the Norwegian Lutheran Church was adopted. In 1911, memorial services for Rev. Ofstedal were held. Succeeding pastors were Pastors H. J. Glenn, H. 0. Shurson, H. A. Helsem, T. H. Megorden, Frederick Kramins, Arlyn Anfinrud. Two student interns also served the church, Rodger Paulson and Omar Kaste. Rev. Ofstedal served the three churches for twenty-two years: Rev. Helsem served for thirty-one years. In the service of the Landstad Church, some outstanding records were established. Louis Sondeland was secretary for 34 years. Eli Lykken was treasurer for 30 years. Oscar Lykken was trustee for 29 years. Mrs. Luther Lykken was church organist for over 30 years. Mrs. Lykken was the former Alma Oihus, the daughter of Arne and Hannah Oihus, pioneer settlers of the Nash community. In 1942, the church building was remodeled, redecorated and a service of consecration was conducted. In 1947, women were granted the right to vote in the congregation. In 1955, the congregation joined St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas in a new call. In 1956 on November 18, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the church was observed. Over the years, the trustees of the church were Matthias Fredrickson, Charles Stark, Carl Norum, Syvert Lykken, Gudmund Lykken, Elling Evanson, Andrew Hove, Andrew Helland, H. H. Lykken, Albert Johnson, Charles Johnson, Ed Mattson, Olaf Helland, Andrew Stark, Oscar Swanson, Lars (Lewis) Lykken, Oscar Lykken, Ludvig Helland, Linder Swanson, Otto Haug. The Ladies' Aid of the Landstad Church was organized in 1886 at the home of Mrs. Ole Larson who

History of Auburn Auburn is located on land homesteaded by Hiram Kingsbury, who, with his brothers, Henry and Wesley, came from Hemmingford, Quebec. Controversy developed over the location of the townsite, J . H. Watts, who owned land by the newly established Walsh County border with Pembina County, wanted the townsite there. Matt Archer, who came from Hemmingford in 1880, headed a group of pioneer homesteaders who wanted the town established on its present site. He rode many miles on horseback, collecting signatures on a petition to have Auburn situated two miles south of the county line. The Great Northern Railroad reached the site of the newly planned town in 1882, one year after it had reached Grafton. Many of the homesteaders worked on the construction of the road bed with horses and scrapers, wheelbarrows and spades. Among them were Ole Larson and Ole Lerud, who earned money so that they could hire more fortunate neighbors to turn their sod with the plow. Judge McKenzie owned land adjoining Auburn on the north. He had come from Auburn, Ontario, and it was he who named the newly platted town. One report is that Donald McKenzie was the first postmaster; another report states that it is recorded that Matt Archer was the 45

first postmaster. Matt Archer and his brother, George, filed a homestead claim on the land bordering Auburn on the east. They planted a fine grove of elm trees. The Sever Tollack farm home on the south edge of Auburn had another fine grove and it was beautifully landscaped in the early days. Within the town limits, the Branston, Hostettor and Lemon homes had cottonwood and boxelder trees planted around them. These were the trees that the pioneers used for the most part in their planting. , ,. Story has it that caravans of wagons hauling grain passed through the area on their way to St. Andrews where there was a grain elevator. They shipped the grain on barges propelled by the Red River steamboats. This long trek was shortened considerably when seven elevators were built in Auburn. Before very long, Jim Hill the railroad builder, had a network of rails across the western part of the state. Two of the elevators in Auburn were small, privately owned elevators, the enterprise of Sam Lemon and Murray Hostettor. The other five elevators were: the St. Anthony, Northwestern, Peavey, Federal and Great Western. Some of the early grain buyers were Billy Herriot, Joe Cronin, Mr McClean, Mr. Wells, Dan McLaughlin, J . H. Watts, Charles Hanson and Charlie and Billy Miller and Billy McWaters.

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St. Anthony & Dakota Train on track. Elevator Co. Selmer Lykken recalls that when his father, Lars Lykken, who owned a steam threshing rig, threshed for George Burrows a couple of miles out of Auburn, he (Selmer) hauled grain to the small elevator at the north end of Auburn. The power to operate the elevator was furnished by a blind horse walking a treadmill in the lower regions of the elevator. This elevator was later moved to the Henry Kingsbury farm and used as a granary, powered first by a gasoline engine and later by R. E . A. electricity. The first Peavey Elevator burned and was rebuilt in 1910. At that time Billy McWaters operated it. Later Harry Colter became manager in 1912. Murray Hostettor sold his small elevator at the south end of Auburn to the Federal Elevator Co. In 1906-1907, it was managed by Henry Kingsbury. He quit the Federal to work with and for the newly formed Farmers Elevator Association, which organized to establish a co-operative marketing program, a movement which was engaging attention at that time. The association records show that a group of farmers met at Auburn, Jan. 18, 1908, to map plans for the organization of a farmers' elevator company. George K. Dike served as chairman of this meeting and J . E. Kingsbury as secretary. Others in attendance were John Donnelly, H. H. Lykken, Theo. Nelson, Charles A. Boone, Sever Tollack, Joseph DeSautel, Clifford Tufft, John McKibben, L. J . Herbison and Ole A. Rod: Henry 46 Kingsbury was engaged as wheat buyer and manager

Aug. 22, 1908. The association purchased the St. Anthony Elevator, coal and wood yards for $5,500. In 1916, Henry Kingsbury suffered death by accident because his heavy winter coat caught in the main shaft. Subsequent managers were A. C. Anderson, W. H. Dickie, Stewart Bell, A. A. Stavert. While Stewart Bell was manager, the company purchased the Peavey Elevator, enlarged it and used it. They razed the old elevator. Later the Farmers Elevator was sold to the Boone brothers and it became a private storage elevator. The Great Northern Depot has not been in continuous operation. It was closed for a few years prior to 1912. The agent in Grafton transacted the business in Auburn. In 1912, it was reopened with an agent by the name of Roholt. Other agents have been Roy Waite, John Pavik, Louis Bolton, Christopher Gamper, Ernest Hennum, Joe Bostic, Mrs. Norman Rittle and Allen Moe. In its early days. Auburn had seven saloons. These dispensaries gave Auburn the name of being a rather boisterous, wide-open town. This saddened the pioneer women. In 1889 when the Dakota Territory became North Dakota and South Dakota, the North Dakota constitution declared the state a dry state. This brought an end to the saloons In the meantime, Auburn suffered two major fires. One fire began in the Arlington Hotel in the winter of 1888-1889. The buildings on the west side of the street were destroyed and were never rebuilt except that Arthur Branston built a small store. Bill McKenzie operated the "Arlington Hotel" which was the largest of the two hotels in Auburn, the smaller one being the "Peterboro House." In later days the Peterboro House was moved to Judge McKenzie's farm on the north edge of Aubum and used as a private dwelling. Sandy Parks was a druggist. The Robertson Lumber Company had a branch yard in Auburn. The Landstad Lutheran Church was built in 1888, although the congregation had been organized seven years earlier in 1881. "Whiskey" John Weselosky was a colorful character on the Auburn scene. He owned a hog farm on the site where Herman Fisher, Sr., lived. Herman Fisher, Sr., and his wife, Wilhelmina, came from Pomerania in Germany. After working as a harness maker and a farmer, he moved to Auburn and became a truck gardener. He canvassed the countryside with horse and wagon selling the produce from his garden From 1912 to 1925, Harry Colter traveled a circuit with a pure-bred stallion building up the horse population and horsepower in the surrounding farm area. Pat Phelan also had a stallion and he had a route of his own. .•. • , In early Auburn, the lodge known as the Modern Woodmen of America had a flourishing and energetic membership. They built the Woodmen Hall and the Woodmen barn. The latter was a rather large, roomy structure to stable the visiting horses. Its outside walls became the repositories for circus posters advertising Ringling Bros, or Barnum & Bailey shows when they came to neighboring Grafton. The hall became the center of activities that enlivened Auburn at that time. It was here that they held their heated political rallies during the days of William Jennings Bryan and WUliam McKinley, Speakers from Grafton, such as Major John Fraine, recently returned from the Philippines, and Attorney E. N. Swiggum and John Cashel used to speak at these meetings. Matt Arch enthusiastically presided over the Democratic rallies; Mike Skjulstad and Henry

Kingsbury presided over the Republican rallies. Afterwards they rejoined across the street in Branston's store where they finished their "argufying." It is reported that Matt Archer and Henry Kingsbury were the main combatents in these heated verbal frays. Matt Archer would say: "Well, it is necessary according to law." "It may be necessary according to law," drawled Kingsbury, "but we have more law than is necessary."

by name. The roll of teachers includes such names as Cora Lykken, Edna Jones, Bessie Neilson, Hattie Kingsbury, Hazel Lykken, Winnifred Donnelly, Hulda Carlson, Nellie Archer, Beatrice Strand, Mary Campbell and others. Mrs. Matt Archer taught piano lessons for the young ladies of the community. She also chorded for the old time country fiddlers. Jim Moore used to call for the quadrilles and the reels.

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School-Auburn During the declining days of Auburn, farmers began buying and moving the houses into the country. The Branston house was moved to the Tufft farm, the Hostettor house to the Colter farm, the Weston house to the J. E. Kingsbury farm, the Jim Johnson house to the Spratt farm, and the Lemon cottage to the Charlie Kingsbury farm. It is probable that Mike Skjulstad's blacksmith shop was moved to the Henry Kingsbury farm. In the early twenties, the Wolter Brothers built a large potato warehouse next door south to the Peavey Elevator. For the first forty years, the farmers in the area had grown only grain. A revolution took place and diversified farming with emphasis on potatoes as well as grain and later, sugar beets, became the order of the day. At first farmers built potato pits on the farms, but now they build warehouses along the railroad right-ofway. In some instances special sidings have been built. Today, Auburn, like all the villages and towns around, has a string of potato warehouses. St. Anne's Catholic Church of Crystal was moved into Auburn to be used for the migrant beet workers. A new school was built but before long the district was incorporated into the Grafton District and the new school became a private dwelling. The old school was remodeled and for years was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Haug. Today it is in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. John Klapp, who cherish old cars, old towns, old buildings and the history relating to them. Like many towns in the Dakota Territory, Auburn was conceived in high hopes and rich promise. Comstock & White, the firm that platted Grafton, was engaged to plat Auburn. In a plat book published in 1893, the map of Auburn has six streets running east to west, numbered from one to six; two streets running north to south named Main Street arid Park Avenue. The railroad runs diagonally through Auburn from southeast to northwest at a slight angle. At its widest point on the south end, Auburn was two and a half blocks wide; at the north end, it was a block and a half wide with the eastern tier of blocks tapering to a point. In 1893, there were five elevators, two Red River Valley Elevators, Minnesota and Northern, Brooks Elevator Co., Northwestern and

Mr. and Mrs. Shulstad, Effie and Ivah General Merchandise. Auburn General Store — Woodman Hall and a portion of Skjulstad home. Left to right: Martin Callahan, Harry Colter, Hazel Skjulstad, Mike Skjulstad, girl in hat unknown, and Martha Skjulstad. Taken about 1913. One of the more enduring business places in Auburn was the General Store. Bill McKenzie is credited as being one of the early storekeepers. The names of other merchants were Ed Duval who was also a harness maker, Murray Hostettor who also had a hardware store. Arthur Branston had a small store across the street from the big store. Bill Sturdy owned the Auburn Store and prospered in it. He later sold his business to Mike Skjulstad whose tenure was a flourishing one. He was assisted in the store by his daughter, Martha. The post office was a part of the store and both father and daughter conducted the official business of the office. Mike Skjulstad sold the store to J. E. Kingsbury who in turn sold to Luther Lykken. In the thirties, the automobile channeled the trade to nearby Grafton and the store stood empty for a time until Art and Margery Faye reopened it for a short run until Mr. Faye's tragic death in an automobile accident. Mike Skjulstad's first business was a blacksmith shop, which was across the street north from the store. His home stood next to his shop. After the Hostettor house was moved out of town, the Skjulstad house was moved to the spot where the Hostettor house had been so that they could have the benefit of the fine trees growing there. Clara Emily Johnson was the first teacher in School District 29. She had a class of 25 pupils including such names as Irish, Moore, Weselosky, Penell, McKenzie, Ole Gilman. Clara Johnson married Hans Lykken and in due time, three of her daughters, Cora, Hazel and Mabel, taught in the Auburn school. For a time the Auburn school was a two-room school. Two of the teachers, Miss Deitz and Miss Thompson, "batched it' in the Weston house which was next door north to the 0. J. Bolton home. Another term, Miss Wright and Miss Hendrickson boarded at the Joe Herbison home which was across the street from the Hostettor house. At one time, two men were the mentors in the school, Reagan and McCohnache 47

director. The managers were Albert Thompson, 19161919; Sever Nelson 1919-1921; Nels Walland, 1921-1922 and Con Lillegard, 1922-1937. Some of the second men and helpers over the years have been George Monson, M. C. Rutherford and Percy Donnelly. The potato industry became a major project in the Nash vicinity, and in 1916 the first potato warehouse was built and in later years several others were added. Joe Thompson, who lived in the vicinity, started buying potatoes in 1919. Nash was named after the two Nash brothers who were local residents and who opened a fruit store in Park River and were also wholesalers in Grand Forks and later to become known as the Nash Finch Corneanv. Farmington School in District 51 was built in 1882. The school records were vague in the beginning, but two of the first teachers were Miss Omlie and Miss Scott. School sessions were held during the summer months then, due to severity of the weather during the winter months. Teachers in the following years were: 1892, Ella Parkins; 1893, Maggie Baggott; 1894, Mary Gargan; 1895, Maggie Baggott; 1896, Maggie Ferguson; 1897, Hilda Bakke; 1898, Lucy Blades; 1899, Clara Dahl; 1900, Maggie Baggott; 1901, Clara Dahl; 1902, Annie Blades; 1903, J. A. McCormick; 1904, Bertha Newlander; 1905, R. E. Finkle; 1906, Emma Severson; 1907, Florence Blades; 1908, Edna Ilstad; 1909, Evelyn Davis; 1910, Julia Johnson; 1911, JuUa Johnson; 1912, JuUa Johnson; 1913, SteUa Tollackson; 1914, Victor Dahl; 1915, Ruth Nelson; 1916, Cora Larson; 1917, Julia Johnson; 1918, Agnes Dahl; 1919, Agnes Dahl; 1920, LiUian Monsebroten; 1921, Lillian Monsebroten; 1922, Emma Monson; 1923, LilUan Monsebroten; 1924, Verna Larson; 1925, Ila Rutherford; 1926, Verna Dahl; 1927, LUlianMonsebroten; 1929, Verna Dahl and 1930, Alpha Dahl. Walsh County Superintendents were: 1881-93, Dr. R. M. Evans; 1893-97, A. L. Woods; 1897-03, Ben Tronslin; 1903-07, Jacob Sondreal; 1907-11, B. B. Wells; 1911-17, Edward Erickson; 1917-25, W. J. Hoover and 1925-33, Ben Rinde.

Hostettor, Johnson & Cliff. Allard Brothers had a general store, Ed. DeWald was a harness maker. William McKensie moved from Sweden to Auburn and operated a hotel and a general store which also housed the post office. The Robertson Lumber Company closed its branch yard in 1894. This was a beginning of the slow erosion which, ultimately, was to leave Auburn a small village of the plains. When World War I stimulated the demand for scrap iron, Fred Goldenzeil moved his family from Fargo to Auburn where he collected and shipped scrap iron. The Goldenzeils moved the McKenzie house from its site south of the old St. Anthony house and moved it to the spot where the Lemon cottage had been. This was when Auburn had become a sleepy village on the plains. Bertha Goldenzeil commenting on her husband's move from Fargo, often lamented: "Columbus discovered America, but Fred, he discovered Auburn." Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237.

History of Nash Wm. McKenzie, pioneer settler and attorney, was Sweden's first postmaster. John Almen built a store at Sweden, April 28,1879, and the mail was distributed here, so he was the next postmaster. When the railroad built the Une to Walhalla in 1890 Nash was estabUshed. Andrew Moen built a store there in 1891, but sold to Hanson and Bakke July 11,1891. The post office was located in this building so Charles Hanson became postmaster. Charles Hanson served July 11,1891 to March 22,1908. Henry Larson served March 23,1908 to April, 15, 1918. Alfred Johnson served April 16, 1918 to Oct. 31, 1920. Monsebroten Bros. (Gus and Otto) served Nov. 1, 1920 to Dec. 31, 1921. Oscar Monsebroten served Jan. 1,1922 to Oct. 31,1926. Adolph Berger served Nov. 1, 1926 to April 2, 1928. Fire demolished this store April 2, 1928. The post office was moved to a residence. Gina Johnson served April 3,1928 to Jan. 31,1929. T. G. Thompson served Feb. 1, 1929 to April 17, 1932. Greta Rustan served April 18, 1932 to Aug. 31, 1934. Henry Monson built a new store which was opened Sept. 1, 1934 and the post office was again located in the store. Thorvold Sorenson, the vUlage blacksmith, who was a former pupU of Ole BuU, the Norwegian vioUn virtuoso and composer, gave the young men in the vicinity violin lessons. H. M. Hanson and Soren Sorenson played first vioUn. Conrad Dahl and WaUace Burrows played second vioUn and John Larson played bass. A recreation hall was built soon after Nash was established. Dances were held and it was also used by the Woodmen Lodge. A feed mUl was built and operated by Mr. Bloom. Three elevators were buUt: St. Anthony, Fred Stunkel, manager; National, James Gallagher, manager and the Monarch. The Monarch Elevator was purchased March 17, 1916 by a group of progressive farmers for $6,000, who 20,1916, a charter was issued to what is now known as the Nash Grain and Trading Co. The original Board of Directors included Albert Midgarden, president; John Donnelly, vice president; K. A. Thorsen, secretarytreasurer; Donald Dike, director and J. H. Rutherford,

A typical day began at this School District No. 51 known as the Nash, N. D., school, at 9 o'clock in the morning and closed at 4 p. m. with a one hour noon hour and a fifteen minute recess in the morning and afternoon. The teacher was Ella Parkins. She was her own janitor and received a salary of 35 dollars a month. Paying 15 dollars for room and board. This was in the year 1890. 48

NASH BIOGRAPHIES MATT AND ANNA MALONEY ARCHER

settler came into the community and took the claim next to the Arnot's. He was Roger Allin, who later became governor of North Dakota.

Matt Archer was born in Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada, in 1855. He had two brothers, George and Jim, and came to the United States in 1880, entering the country at the Port of Huron. Matt became a naturalized citizen in 1888, filing his papers in Grand Forks County. He and his brother, George, homesteaded land on the eastern edge of the Auburn townsite, a quarter for each. George died and Grandpa Archer came from Canada as he was the natural heir. This quarter section of land later became the Jim Archer farm. Matt Archer married Anna Maloney Jan. 6, 1886. Anna Maloney was born August 17, 1856, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Maloney of Eau Claire, Wise. Her father was born in Ireland. Soon after Anna's birth, her mother died.Her father placed her with an aunt. A three year old cousin tried to carry the infant Anna and dropped her. For the rest of her life she had a crippled back. She lived her early years in St. Joseph's Convent in St. Paul where she graduated in 1874. She moved to Grand Forks where she taught school for several years. She taught a country school one winter and traveled to and from her school with the railroad section men on their handcar which they pumped and propelled by hand. After her marriage to Matt Archer, she settled in Auburn where she spent the remainder of her life. She was an accomplished musician and taught a class of piano pupils. The Archers owned the first upright piano in the area which was donated to the University of North Dakota because of its historical significance. Anna also "chorded" for the old-time fiddlers in the community when they played for the dances in the Auburn Hall. She was also a skilled seamstress, adept in stitchery, embroidery, knitting and crocheting. She was a raconteur extraordinary, with well nigh perfect diction and a quick and ready Irish wit. In those days, many political rallies were held in the Auburn Hall with outside speakers invited to address the citizenry. Matt Archer presided over the rallies conducted by the Democratic party and he was an impassioned argufier on behalf of the party of his persuasion and the man of his choice. Matt and Anne Archer had two sons, McCann and Olney; three daughters, Sadie, Grace and Helen. One morning Mart's sister, Bridget, was found dead in bed. An autopsy was required which was performed by Dr. G. W. Glaspel in the Archer home. He was assisted by Mrs. Matt Archer. They found the heart of the deceased embedded in fat which caused the unexpected death. Those hardy pioneer people seemed able to rise to meet any occasion or problem. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237.

THE BERGOM FAMILY With his father, Andrew, his mother, Randina, and other members of the family, Ole A. Bergom sailed from Bergen, Norway, for America in 1868. His seventh birthday was observed while on the Atlantic Ocean. They came from the section of Norway known as Ringerike, and were aboard a sail ship. Crossing the ocean took seven weeks, including a few days stop near Newfoundland for the purpose of catching fish, resulting in "the deck was covered with fish." On arriving at Quebec, Canada, the family moved on to Fillmore County, near Whalan, in southern Minnesota, where they remained for several years.

The frame house built on the Bergom farm in 1897. The carpenter was a neighbor, Hans Walby. Being interested in obtaining land in North Dakota, a move to that state was made in 1881. Since Ole was still not within the age limit required for filing on homestead land, he was unable to do so. His father filed on a homestead in Farmington Township and the family settled there. In the early days on the homestead, food supplies had to be brought from Grand Forks. Ole and his father walked there. Because of the distance, they spent nights sleeping "on the salt flats."

MRS. ROBERT ARNOT

Myself (Arthur L. Bergom) on an Emerson gang plow, near the tree grove of my father's farm (Ole Bergom) in 1914.

Margaret Armstrong was born in Scotland, Sept. 25, 1859, and spent her childhood in that country. She was brought to Ontario as a small girl and grew up there. On June 13, 1879, she married Robert Arnot and a year later the couple came to Walsh County where they took a homestead nine miles west of Grafton. They walked from Park River. The next year another young

Improvements soon included a log house, shelters for animals and poultry, arranging for a water supply, and planting of trees. And the required "breaking of the land," which was done with a walking plow. On one occasion, the great open space of the prairie played an embarrassing part. In order to plow a straight line, an aim was taken at some object seen in the far distance. 49

The result was a great curved line, upon which it was found the object aimed at was another plower, working at right angles to the desired line. Another time, towards evening, walking with hands on the handles of the plow, an uneasy sensation was experienced on finding a wolf following in the furrow just made. The wolf soon left and caused no trouble. An unexpected change was experienced in the lives of this family, when the railroad decided to extend its line northwestward from Grafton, cutting through the Bergom land, resulting in the town of Nash coming into existence across the road to the north of their land. Early in their new home, they had picked up their mail m Grafton, but now got mail service and most needed supplies in Nash.

This picture was taken as Arthur (son of Ole) was delivering cattle to a buyer in Grafton. About 1920.

The Robert Mohagen threshing rig in operation at the Ole A. Bergom farm. About 1918. Ole was the only son in his father's family. He had five sisters, all of whom came to America, though only one, Mrs. Andrew Ask, remained for some years in Walsh County. Their farm, southwest of Grafton, became somewhat conspicuous because of Mr. Ask using evergreens in planting a large windbreak for his buildings. Later on, the Ask family moved to Silverton, Ore. The other sisters were Mrs. Anderson of Redf ield, S. Dak.; Mrs. Hans Flattum, Whalan, Minn.; Mrs. Anton Christianson, Ulen, Minn., and Mrs. Askaud Regelstad, the latter family returning after a few years here, to live at Stavanger, Norway. The girl who became Mrs. Ole Bergom left her home in Nordre Odalen, Norway, in 1887, at the age of 18 years, and lived for a time with her brother Halvor Grande and his family, near Fairdale, then at a cousin's place, Mrs. Sven Ellefsons in Grafton township, and worked at the Andrew Ask home. Some years after their marriage, a new home, a "frame house," was built at the Bergom place, in 1897. Ole became the owner of the farm and his parents returned to a daughter's place, Anton Christiansons, Ulen, Minn., where they stayed until passing away and are buried at a Ulen cemetery.

Birthplace of Thea Grande in Nordre Odalen, Norway. Thea, in America, became Mrs. Ole A. Bergom. I [Arthur Bergom] saw this place on a trip to Norway July, 1973. The new Mr. and Mrs. Bergom had three children: Betsy, Arthur and Olga. Betsy graduated from Grafton High School in 1913, and taught grade school, and studying further, taught grade and high school throughout the area, including one European newcomer. She attended Union Commerical Business College at Grand Forks to become a stenographer-bookkeeper. She was employed in Grand Forks and at the State Agricultural School in Crookston, Minn., before accepting, near the end of World War One, a federal civil service position with the State, War and Navy Department, in Washington, D. C. Upon her parents renting their farm in 1921 and moving to Grand Rapids, Minn., Olga attended and graduated from high school there. She completed 3 years at the University of Minn., Duluth Branch, and taught 20 years in the Grand Rapids District. She taught at Cohasset, Warba and a consolidated school. Arthur, having been deeply impressed by accounts of the sinking of the passenger ship Titanic and the saving of many through the use of wireless telegraph, attended National Radio Institute in Washington, D. C , followed in March, 1922, by assignments as radio operator on passenger and cargo ships that took him to South America, Europe, and the Orient, besides three years on the Great Lakes. After assuming full operation of the Bergom homestead, Ole added 80 acres, through the purchase of adjoining land to the west, from Mr. and Mrs. Hans Granum who moved to Canada. The struggle for survival during homestead days was the hardest. In winter storms, a piece of twine tied from one building to another was followed to prevent getting lost in the blinding snow. The fuel was mostly wood, which needed hauling, sawing and chopping. Rain water was gathered from roofs and stored in barrels. Later, a plentiful supply of clean water was obtained through the drilling of an artesian well. However, although satisfactory for drinking and animal use, its salty taste made it unuseable for cooking purposes. Also, the settlers soon became aware that it had a very deteriorating effect upon the fertility of the soil it soaked into, even raising the possibility of permanent destruction to soil quite some distance from where that water first entered. Those wells became known as salt water wells. The first phonograph was received free with the purchase of a suit of clothes at the Henry Larson store in Nash. Being concerned about the safety in the use of gas

for lighting and cooking purposes, none was used. Kerosene was used instead. The biggest entertainment for young and old came once each summer, when the Ringling Brother's Circus came to Grafton. On one such occasion the railroad depot platform at Nash was covered with people waiting to board the Grafton bound train. It "whistled its way through," and did not stop. It was already over-loaded with passengers. The waiting people were told the train would come back for them as soon as it could. And that was done. The "party line" telephone arrived, to make people better acquainted with each other, several times a day. Some liked it, and others did not. The latter saying it took up too much time. In 1917 the family's first and only car was bought. It wasa "Baby Overland," paidforalmost entirely through earnings from the sale of cream and eggs. Cars frightened horses in those days, and sometimes caused a "run-away," when the two met on a road. Mr. Bergom did not take any active part in politics, but was a Republican, feeling their conservative views best fitted them for handling public affairs. In the difficult and often lonesome life of homesteaders, religion played a much greater part than politics. This was especially evident from the community-wide attendance at funerals. Grafton was depended on in those days, in the Nash area, to provide doctor services for the sick. Doctors came out from there in horse drawn vehicles. The Bergom family were members of the United Lutheran Church at Grafton. Mr. and Mrs. Bergom lived the last part of their lives in Grand Rapids, Minn., and are buried at the cemetery there. WILLIAM AND EVA COLTER John Everett Colter, the father of William Harry Colter and his sister, Rose Etta, was born in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, in 1895. His wife, Esther Maud Burrows, was born in Brookfield, Colchester County, in 1862. She moved to St. Paul, Minn, at the age of 20 where she worked in a hotel. John Everett followed her. They were married in 1884. They farmed for one year near Chippewa Falls, Wise. Then they loaded all their livestock, farm equipment and household goods in a box car and came by rail to Dakota Territory.

They rented four quarters of land in St. Thomas Township owned by a Wisconsin man.It was here that their son and daughter were born. In 1895, they purchased a quarter section of land from Chad P. Preston for $3,200. John Everett owned a threshing machine in the days when the straw, instead of being blown out by a blower, was spread about by a straw spreader and two horses. He did custom threshing. While threshing near Glaston, the threshing was stalled by a freezing rain. He drove home, nearly 15 miles, in the rain. When he reached home his. clothes were frozen to him. His health deteriorated after that and he died in 1901 at 42. His son, William Harry, married Eva Amelia Kingsbury in 1907. They farmed rented land for five years, after which they moved to Auburn where Harry became manager and operator of the Monarch (PV) Elevator, a post he held for 17 years. At the same time, he owned, successively, two pedigreed Percheron stallions for the purpose of breeding horses in the day when horses were the chief source of power on the farms. During the spring and summer months, he traveled a circuit through the area surrounding Auburn.

Wedding picture of William Harry Colter and his wife, Eva Amelia Kingsbury. Harry Colter purchased his mother's farm in 1913 and for 12 years farmed it on shares with John Haug. In 1925 the Colters moved to the farm and farmed the land until 1957. In that year Eva Colter died. She was the daughter of two pioneer settlers, Henry and Minnie Kingsbury. Harry and Eva Colter lived in Grafton the last years of their lives. They had a son, Kenneth, and a daughter, Harriet Louise. A granddaughter graduated from St. Luke's Hospital of Nursing as a Registered Nurse, Jane Claire Anderson. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. THE DESAUTELS

John Everett Colter and his wife, Esther Maud Burrows, and their daughter, Rose Eletta, and son, William Harry.

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This is an introductory history to the DeSautel families. The history of the DeSautel family reaches back to the Crusades. The name Des Autels is a combination of two French words meaning "ofthe altar." It is a title of nobility and probably originated during the time of the Crusades. The family coat of arms is a solid gold altar on a blue shield with one gold heart suspended over the

tabernacle. Francis I (1494-1547), who was king of France from 1515 to 1547, issued an edict to all Frenchmen that they should repair to their parish churches and register. This inaugurated the keeping of records. Pierre DeSautels, born about 1550 and married to Renee Lebrun, registered at the church in MalicorneSur-Sarthe. The church was built in the 11th century at the time that William, Duke of Normandy, crossed the English Channel and became the king of England. The first DeSautel mentioned was Guillaume DeSautels. Some of the records were destroyed by fire. Pierre DeSautels was a tailor of men's clothes, a member of the guild that made men look like men, not serfs wearing sacks bound to the lands of their lords. The sons followed in the trade, designing clothes worn by men. Thomas DeSautel was born in 1590, died in 1663. He married Marie Marthe Buisson in 1628. Thenson, Pierre born 1708, joined Compagnie des Associes Amis de Montreal for the campaign to convert the savages in New France which was Quebec in the new world. WhUe in Quebec, he met a relative, Madame Marie Gayard Martin, a widow who had applied for permission to join the missionaries to New France. She was the first Superior of the Ursulines of Quebec. She was known as Mere l'lncarnation, the Mother of the Incarnation. . Pierre married Marie Remy in 1966 at Montreal, in a second marriage he married Catherine Lorion, bom 1636 in Aniou and died in 1720. A son, Gilbert (1729-1755) married Marie Charlotte Etienne (1690-1771). Their 14th child, Etienne DeSautel married Marie Catherine Prudhomme on June 17, 1748, their son, Amable DeSautel, married Marie Margurite David on Nov. 5, 1792. They were the parents of Francois Xavier DeSautel, also Amable, Jr., Joseph, and Benjamin. Joseph's son, Jacque PhUomen DeSautel, left Montreal in the year of 1858 and setUed in Detroit, Michigan. A grandson, Fredwood DeSautel, a retired teacher and historian for Redford Township in Detroit, Mich., is writing a book on the DeSautels. The name DeSautel is being spelled many different ways. FRANCES AND EUPHEMIE DESAUTEL Frances Xavier DeSautel was born in Quebec (in a community of Hemmingford and LacoUe). From the two neighboring communities of LacoUe and Hemmingford, there came to the place on the map that would later become Farmington Township, the DeSautels, Donnelys, Kingsbury, Ledwiches and Archers. Back in Hemmingford, two Kingsburys were married to two Ledwiches. Frances Xavier DeSautel married Euphemie M. David. They had ten children: Euphemie, Frances, Marie, Andrew, MathUda, DeSelda, Bartholomew, Stanislaus. Mary and the twins, Joseph and David. Frances Xavier came to Dakota Territory in 1878, the same year that Joseph Scharpentier drove up to a clump of oak trees in a covered wagon with his family and founded the community of Oakwood. Also on May 1, 1878, two covered wagons drove into the settlement along the Park River, and Martin Holt, Arne Holt, Ole Aas, Ole Knutson, John Kopperud and Iver Dahl paused to check their bearings and survey the scene. They Uked what they saw; they selected sites for their log cabins and staked out their claims. They remained. This was the beginning of the Grafton community. A year later in 1879,

John Donnelly, also from the community of LacoUe, shipped a team of horses to the end of the railroad at Crookston and drove to the settlement along the Park River. Frances Xavier DeSautel paused in Oakwood settlement, then pushed westward along the north branch of the Park River. John Donnelly also pushed westward and staked a claim about a half mile north and west of the DeSautel claim. Then John Donnelly returned to Quebec for his wedding with Mary, the daughter of Xavier and Euphemie DeSautel. In the meantime, Euphemie DeSautel had been living in a state of anxiety and prayer because her husband was in the Dakota wilderness among the Indians and Norwegians. The family of Frances Xavier joined him in his log cabin on his claim in the timber along the north branch of the Park River. For neighbors they had the Donnellys, Kingsburys, Ledwiches, Dikes, Dowds, Moores and Perrys. Before the trading posts were established in Grafton and Sweden, Frances Xavier walked to Acton and boarded a riverboat to Grand Forks to buy supplies. Euphemie DeSautel died in 1896; Frances Xavier DeSautel died in 1898. They are at rest in St. John's Cemetery in Grafton, far from their native Quebec. DAVID DESAUTEL David DeSautel, one of the early settiers of Farmington Township, arrived with his parents, Francis Xavier and Euphemia (David) DeSautel, in 1878 and settled on a claim six mUes northwest of Grafton, along what is known as the north branch of the Park River. As far as records of a plat book dated 1893 show, the father, Francis, once lived on the old farmstead just south of his son, David. After David's father died in 1898, Joseph, another son of Francis, and David's twin brother, moved to his father's farm. Records show that David and Joseph filed claims in 1881. It also shows that their father fUed claim on the land on which he settied in 1885. Francis Xavier was 66 years old when they came to Dakota Territory. David Desautel was born May 8, 1858, at Hemmingsford, Quebec, Canada, and was 19 when he accompanied his father to Dakota Territory. Taken from an early local press clipping is the following quotation referring to Francis DeSautel: "Grandpa DeSautel walked to Acton and then took the boat to Grand Forks for all provisions used. The walk to Acton being a distance of 18 mUes." David DeSautel married SeUna RobUlard, who was born Nov. 9, 1869, at JolUet, Canada. It was in the early 1880's when her family moved to Michigan and later came to Dakota Territory to settle in the Turtle Mountain district. SeUna and David were married June 19,1884, at Tarsus, Bottineau County. Their honeymoon was spent in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen in an overland trip from the Turtle Mountains to the DeSautel homestead in Farmington township. Also, according to an early newspaper clipping, the couple is beUeved to have made their home for about eight years foUowing their marriage on a homestead in Farmington Township on property that eventually passed to Jan Ebert and later to his son, Ernest Ebert, who still resides there. Other than his early youth and these eight years, David spent his entire Ufe on the family homestead. Both Mr. and Mrs. DeSautel were active in affairs of the community and church. David, along with J . L.

Cashel and William Mulchy, were appointed to a planning committee to build a small Catholic Church in Grafton which was done at a cost of $800. The church was completed in 1883. At that time there were about 30 Catholic families in the area. A schoolhouse, known as School No. 2, Farmington District 51, was built on the corner of David's quarter of land. Four generations of DeSautels and other neighboring families attended the school. It was later consolidated with School No. 1 just southeast of Nash. A new school since then has replaced both and is located in Nash. The former school which stood on the DeSautel land has been moved to Tony Kasprick's Wrecking Service west of Grafton where it stands today and is being used for a shop. Mr. and Mrs. David DeSautel were the parents of 11 children, Amelia, married Nicholas Welter; Frank, married Malvina Lessard; Malvina, married Martin Allard; Ida, married Fred Rheault; twins, William, married Minnie Brosius, Nellie, married Jake Welter; Albert, married Marie Campbell; Beatrice, married Alcide Collette; Alice, married Lou Peltz; Kathryn, married Wilbrod Campbell; Lawrence, married Kathleen Blakeley. Three daughters are living, Mrs. Campbell resides east of Grafton; Mrs. Peltz in Oakland, Calif., and Mrs. Welter in Napa, Calif. David DeSautel died Jan. 26,1926, in the office of Dr. G. W. Glaspel of a heart attack. Mrs. DeSautel died Feb. 20,1932. Both are buried at St. John's Cemetery, Grafton, as are his parents. Aurel DeSautel, son of Albert DeSautel, is now residing on the original farmstead. Edited and written by John F. DeSautel, grandson of David DeSautel. THOMAS AND MATILDA DESAUTEL Thomas Joseph DeSautel was born Jan. 3, 1887, in Farmington Township, Walsh County in Dakota Territory. He was the son of Joseph Patrice DeSautel and Sarah Whelan DeSautel. He attended school in District 51 which was located on the David DeSautel farm. As a young man he worked at the Grafton State School. On June 10, 1910, he and Matilda Donnelly were married in St. John's Catholic Church in Grafton. Matilda, who was always known to her family and friends as Tillie, was the daughter of Henry Donnelly and his wife, Katherine Perry. The Henry Donnelly farm was three miles west of Auburn. The Patrick Perry farm was one mile south and a half mile west of Auburn. Henry and Katherine had four girls, Marye Louise, Matilda, Margaret and Winnifred and one son, George. Katherine Perry Donnelly died an untimely death at the age of 37 in 1900 of typhoid fever. At the time of her death, Lou was 12 and Tillie was 11. Henry Donnelly moved his family into Grafton. Lou and Tillie took turns going to school while keeping house for their father and mothering the younger children. After their marriage Tillie and Joe DeSautel farmed until 1930 when they moved into Grafton. Their family consisted of Viola, Vernon, Earl, Dorothy, James, Marjorie, Don, Bernie, Eugene and the twins, Donna and Anna. Viola died when she was 9; Marjorie died when she was five; James died when he was a year old. Earl, who had grown to manhood and married before going to World War H, died of a coronary thrombosis on the

Island of Bouganville. He is buried in the United States National Cemetery in the Philippines. Eugene served in the military police in World War II. He re-enlisted in the National Guard in Grafton and was sent to Korea. He was killed on Oct. 5, 1951. His body was returned to Grafton for burial. After moving into Grafton, Joe DeSautel worked in the grain elevator for A. D. Blakstad. During World War n, he went to the west coast where he worked in defense work as a carpenter. After returning to Grafton, he worked in construction with Harvey Nelson. Thomas Joseph DeSautel died June 5, 1956. Matilda Donnelly DeSautel died Dec. 10,1970. They are buried in St. John's Cemetery in Grafton.

Thomas Joseph DeSautel family Front row, left to right: Donna Af., Dorothy K„ Thomas Joseph, father, Matilda, mother, and Anna M. Back row: Earl A., deceased Bouganville W.W. 2, Donald J., Bernard J., Vernon A. (deceased), Eugene A. (deceased Korean Conflict), Viola, Marjorie and James, deceased before picture was taken.

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Perry and daughter, Winnie. JOSEPH AND SARAH DESAUTEL Joseph Patrice DeSautel was born in the Quebec community of Hemmingford and Lacolle in 1858. He came to Dakota territory with his father and mother and brothers and sisters. He and his brother, David, were identical twins. They established homes side by side in the timber along the north branch of the Park River about a mile east of the present site of Nash. When the land was surveyed along the river, the quarter sections were platted a quarter of a mile wide and a mile long so that the settlers could build their homes in the woods. When Ole Larson brought his family to Dakota Territory in 1880 or '81, he first built a dugout on the open prairie for a shelter. He went two miles south to the

DeSautel timber for logs to lay over the dugout as a root. Joseph Patrice married Sarah Finlan Whelan in 1884 Sarah was the daughter of Thomas Whelan and his wife, Sarah Finlan. Both were born in 1824 in County Carlow in Ireland. They were married in 1855 by Father John Considine LaFayette. Leaving Ireland they went to Ottawa in Quebec, Canada. Sarah Whelan was born June 10 1863 in Renfrew. Ontario. She spent the first 18 years of her life at home where she attended grammar school in Shramrock and high school in Renfrew. In 1876 the Whelans moved to Grand Forks in Dakota Territory In 1881 they traveled by riverboat to Acton, sometimes known as Kelly's Point. They filed a claim on land in Lodema Township west of St. Thomas. The Whelans built an elevator in St. Thomas and went into the

Seated: parents, Joseph Patrice DeSautel, Sarah "Whalen" DeSautel. Standing, front row: John E., Estelle, Leo. Back row: Margret, Ann, Thomas Joseph, Mary, Gertrude, Edmond, Matilda E., Florence. Sarah and Joseph Patrice were married in the Whelan family home and then settled in a log cabin on the DeSautel claim. Later they built a frame house using parts of the log house to build it. Being identical twins, Joseph and David often went into Grafton together to buy clothes and bought identical outfits. They also wore identical mustaches. When Joseph Patrice would ask his granddaughter, Dorothy, wliich of the two was her grandfather, she pointed her finger at bothof them. The two brothers vied with each other as to who was going to have the largest family. They did not use the telephone to converse with one another. They hollered to each other across the intervening distance between their homes. Joseph and Sarah had four sons and seven daughters; Mary who married Victor Faille; Joseph who married Matilda Donnelly; Gertrude who married Archie LaHaise; Matilda E., unmarried; Ann who married E. A. Handlon; Helen Florence, who married Hugo Kutz; Edmond, unmarried; John who married Ernestine LeFerve; Margaret who married Robert O'Toole; Leo who married Edith Ebert; and Estelle who married Harold Schomber. Three of the daughters of Joseph and Sarah were nurses, Stella, Margaret and Florence. Two daughters were teachers, Matilda and Anne. Florence DeSautel graduated from St. Michael's Hospital School of Nursing as a nurse. She entered the service Nov. 4, 1917, going to Camp Dodge where she served some time before going over seas. She left on the "Baltic" going to Brest where she was stationed with Base Hospital No. 65 for eleven months. She was known all over France as "Sunshine" because of her ever cheery disposition.

Thomas Whelan of St. Thomas, nephew of Sarah Finlan DeSautel, was appointed by President Eisenhower to be ambassador to Nicaragua representing the United States. Joseph Patrice DeSautel died Nov. 5, 1919; Sarah DeSautel died in 1933. They are buried in St. John's Cemetery at Grafton.

School picnic held on Joe DeSautel farm in spring of 1895. Back row, starting with boy on left near tree: Eddie Oihus, Arthur Desautel, David Mclntyre, Caroline Oihus, Melia Desautel, Ida Oihus, Mary Desautel, Mary Penell, Margaret Bagget (teacher), Frank Penell, Andrew Penell, Rose Penell, Kate Ledwich, John Ledwich, Archie Mclntyre, Jaques Jonhot, Joe Desautel, Arne Oihus, Oscar Oihus (boy near tree), Alfred Oihus (left side of Arne). Second row, near flag: Amanda Desautel, Flossie Mclntyre, Del Penell, Melvin Desautel, Louise Desautel, Gertrude Desautel, Joe Desautel, Peter Mclntyre, Johnny Kennedy, Willie Mclntyre. Bottom row, right side: Henry Jaster (man sitting in chair). Next four girls near flag in front row: Four Desautel kids, then the boy, Archie LaHaise, then three more Desautels, then Ida Desautel, Joe LaHaise, Frank Desautel, Nat Mclntyre, Eddie Kennedy. DIKE FAMILY George Kimball Dike (descendant of Captain Anthony Dike who arrived in the United States from England in 1623) was born in Sebago, Maine, m 1845. He enlisted at 18 in Company I, 30th Maine Infantry and served to the end of the Civil War. He became a school teacher and surveyor and then, like many young veterans, came west, locating in 1868 in southern Minnesota He taught school a few years at Eden Prairie, did some construction work for the St. Louis and Minneapolis Railroad, and then joined a government survey party. He was an agent for the Great Northern Railway to protect their often raided timberlands, and also worked as a carpenter at Fort Abraham Lincoln before "Custer's Raid." As an official surveyor for the Federal and local governments he had the last contract for surveying in Dakota Territory, and the first, in 1889, in the new state, participating in the establishment of the final state line between North and South Dakota. They were not allowed to survey mining land but drew a main line as a base across the Black Hills. He did extensive surveying in the North Dakota Badlands and Peace Garden area, and also in eastern counties, sometimes working locally with Karl J. Farup, a Park River pioneer. A six foot, two inch bearded, rugged man, "Grandpa Dike" walked everywhere, on the survey - even when others rode, and on the homestead, thinking nothing of walking to Grand Forks. During one period of rheumatism when out in swampy land, he would have his

crew force him into his boots and then literally push him up and off for another day's walking.

He was an organizer and the first president of the Auburn Farmers' Elevator. He was involved in establishing Bell (because it had a bell!) School District No. 5 and served as treasurer for many years. He would relate with gusto his many and varied experiences, often laughing to the point of tears. He told of wags in a Grafton rooming house setting the clock ahead to get the mailman out an hour earlier. One tale was of a minister in the area who asked all who had never stolen anything to stand up. Only one man did, but the minister said, "You stole the sill for the door of your house. I know, because I helped you!" Another time a man was moving his shanty on a sled, not stopping to help his poor hefty wife who was stuck in a window. He was an avid reader until the last few months of his life. Having joined a Masonic Lodge in Maine in 1866, (later becoming a Shriner in Grand Forks and a Knight Templar in Grafton) he had been, at the time of his death at the age of 93, in 1938, a Mason as long or longer than any other member in Minnesota, and probably also in North Dakota. He was both Northfield's and Walsh County's last Civil War veteran.

George Kimball Dike — 1845-1938. Early day surveyor. Farmington township, Walsh County homestead. He trusted his Indian helpers and learned some of their language. His young sons sometimes visited the survey camps during vacation and one summer a whooping crane was their constant companion. He surveyed until 1904. Attracted by the rich lands of the Red River Valley he filed in 1879 - one of the first five in Farmington Township. (An earlier claim had been usurped by squatters.) His first home was a board shanty with a tar paper roof, and his first crop, 10 acres of oats. In 1876 he had married Harriet Sheldon in Excelsior, Minn. After her arrival she wrote to her family from "Sweden, Pembina County, Dakota - May 8, 1881," telling of Grand Forks' muddy streets, the hustle and bustle of loading the steamer there, and of their good luck in getting a stateroom for the night, during which she was seasick. At Acton the next day they found a comfortable German hotel "full of immigrants like ourselves." They traveled by lumber wagon through Grafton "which place consists of one house, postoffice, and store" and, fording the river, on to the homestead, spending their first night with Mr. and Mrs. John Donnelly, previous arrivals from Canada. She died three years later, leaving two small children. Alice and George In 1886 he married Nancy Pease Douglas, a childhood friend, also from an old New England family. Their two sons, Douglas, who died a young man in 1915, and Donald, were born in Grand Forks. She kept his surveying notes, typing them on a typewriter with special surveying symbols which, with his transit and other equipment and historical materials is in an exhibit in the Liberty Memorial Building in Bismarck. The George Kimball Dikes retired to Northfield, Minn., but always spent summers on the farm. Their legal residence, arriving at the Nash depot laden with trunks, bags and boxes, ready to occupy the "other house" until after harvest. He could out-walk his grandchildren pulling mustard!

Donald K. Dike, born 1890, Grand Forks, N. D. Farmington township farmer. His father, George K. Dike, born 1845, Sebago, Maine. Mother, Nancy P. Douglas Dike, born 1850, Sebago, Maine. The second generation of the Dike family are all deceased (1975). Daughter Alice, Mrs. S. C. Wood, lived in North Dakota only as a child. She had three daughters, Emily, Mamie, and Alice. Son George E. Dike married June Edwards, sister of Ripley Edwards, an early day Minto school teacher. She died after the birth of a daughter, Dorothy. His second wife Jenny was the daughter of James and Mary Ann Barclay, Minto pioneers from Ontario, Canada. Their children were; Ruth (died in 1973), Wilmer, Harriet, James, Marianne, Doris, and Howard who lost his life on Iwo Jima in World War EL George farmed with his father in the early 1900's and later moved to Fairdale where he was a rural mail carrier for over 30 years until retirement to Grafton, and later Jamestown.

George and Mary Douglas Dike on the homestead along the north branch of the Park River. 55

Son Donald K. Dike married Mary Oatoat, original y from Iowa They had attended Carleton College in Northfield Minn. He later went to the State Agricultural College in Fargo. Also attending were, among others Ralph Boone and Percy Donnelly, neighbors and sons of early pioneers. Donald was a member of the 1939 North Dakota legislature. He and his wife were active members of the community. Their children: Margaret, Josephine, Malcolm, George, and Mary Nancy (Mrs. Luther Williamson, Grafton) are the only Dike descendants now living in North Dakota. Submitted by Mrs. Luther Williamson. JOHN DONELLY

John Donnelly family taken in 1899. Back row, standing: Celia (Walker), Bertha, Eva [Landrigan]. Center boy, Tom Donelly, Seated, left to right: Percy, John (father), Grace (Glembo), Mary (mother), and Florence. The career of John Donelly exemplifies success in two pioneer achievements. His first success was as a wheat farmer shortly after the pioneer influx in the early eighties. He raised good wheat and increased his land holdings. While other farmers specialized in gram, Mr. Donelly developed a profitable plan of diversification and added purebred cattle to his farm program. His herd were so outstanding that he achieved national ^ He demonstrated that a Red River valley farm with good cows and good wheat was a positive assurance ot agricultural success. ' Although his community activities were numerous, they had the betterment of the farmers' conditions as the underlying motive. He possessed the rare gift to transmit to his sons the ability and ambition to continue and develop his program in accordance with approved modem methods of agriculture. ., He lived long and well and bequeathed to his family and this commonwealth an honorable name and accomplishments of permanent value. John Donelly died at his home in Grafton city Nov. 2, 1939 For several weeks his condition has been alarming and his health had been gradually failing for many months. _, . Mr Donelly was one of the most successful farmers and business men of Walsh County and operated a 1,120 acre farm with outstanding success. In 1924 he was honored when his picture was hung in the Hall of Fame at the North Dakota Agricultural College, having been

selected as a master farmer for his pioneering and sensible diversification and the raising of purebred livestock. . , He was a member of the American Swine Breeders Association, the Shorthorn Breeders Association and the North Dakota Livestock Breeders Association, serving three years as president of the latter organization by virtue of his being a member of the state stallion board. He assisted in the organization of the cooperative elevators at Auburn and Nash. He was a stockholder and director of the Grafton National Bank and served as its DrGsidcnt Born at Lacolle, Quebec, February 12, 1849, Mr. Donelly grew to manhood there. When 30 years old he started with a team, wagon and a few dollars for the undeveloped west. He halted near the present ate ot Grafton and purchased a squatter's right in Farmington Township where he developed one of the best farms in the ststG He was married in 1879 to Mary DeSautel who died in 1921 Nine children were born. Surviving children are: Thomas A and Percy J. Donelly who operate his farms; Mrs. J. Landrigan of St. Thomas; Mrs. H. Walter of Minto and Mrs. F. T. Glembo of Billings, Mont., all of whom were here when his death occurred. A sister, Mrs. Charles Ledwich, resides in Grafton and there are two brothers, Stephen D. Donelly of Knoxville, Ia., and Edward Donelly of Grand Forks. John Donelly was buried in St. John's Cemetery, Grafton. BERNARD AND MATHILDA DONNELLY Bernard Donnelly was the son of an Irish immigrant who had settled in the Province of Quebec. He married a French Acadian girl, Mathild Corbier. Birth records of the Catholic Church in LaCole show that their first child was born in 1847. There was a family of eleven. Two children died before the family came to Walsh County. The eldest son, John,had preceeded the rest of the family by one year, coming to the Walsh County area and taking up land in Farmington Township. In 1879 five brothers, Steven, Henry, Alfred, Henry and Williami and three daughters, Mathilda (Ledwich), Mary (Kavanaugh) and Cecelia (Olds) came by train to Fisher's Landing to take up land in Farmington Township Bernard and his wife settled on land near the home of their son John and two of the log buildings (now sided) still remain on the farm now owned by a grandson, John Donnelly II. • , Submitted by Winnifred Flaten. A

HENRY AND CATHERINE DONNELLY Henry Donnelly emigrated with his parents from the province of LaCole, Canada, and settled on a homestead about three miles west of Auburn, Farmington Township Of the 320 acres he acquired by homestead and preemption rights, he later gave his brother, Alfred, 50 acres. August 4, 1887, he married Catherine Perry, the daughter of an Irish couple, Patrick and Mary Perry, who had emmigrated to Farmington Township from Hemmingford near Montreal, Canada. This family numbered four, Catherine, Thomas, Margaret and Winnifred. Their farm was southwest of Auburn. Catherine Perry did not come with her parents from Canada but had accompanied her Aunt Margaret Sauders of Cairo, HI., to Grafton. While making her home 56

with her aunt she had learned the millinery trade and had taken instructions in oil painting and fancy needlework. After arriving in Grafton she gave instructions in her artistic line. A large velvet wall hanging with a parrot design painted for the pioneer lawyer, C. A. M. Spencer, was one of her favorite works. Much of the social life of this couple centered around social activities in the town of Auburn where my father was a member of the Woodman Lodge and mother of the Royal Neighbors. I also recall my father's interest in race horses. He owned a black mare that was a descendant of Dan Patch which he entered in racing competition at area fairs. My mother had developed a great fear of electrical storms while living in Illinois. At the least warning of an electric storm, she would open the cellar door, throw a feather bed down and have the children seek protection there. At one time, returning from church at Grafton, they narrowly escaped being caught in a tornado which wrecked the 0. D. Nelson farm south of Auburn. Mother was a charitable soul and when an elderly couple who had come from her home community in Canada were ill and had no one to care for them, she went and stayed at their home to help. It was in March, 1900. She became ill with typhoid-pneumonia and on April 10, died. The family included Louise, Mathilda, George, Margaret and Winnifred. In 1905, my father moved with the family to Grafton. From 1923 to 1934 he spent most of his time in our home at Crystal and Edinburg. He died Jan. 28, 1934. Both my mother and father are buried in St. John's Cemetery at Grafton.

Family of Henry Donnelly and Catherine Perry Donnelly taken at the Ball & Rindahl Studio in Grafton, N. D„ at about 1896-97. Children, left to right: George A. Donnelly, Mathilda and Louise, standing. Center front: Winnifred, Margaret, on the right. The children were all born in Farmington Township. The oldest two were born before statehood in 1889. Mary Louise was born April 25, 1887. She married Theodore Larson, Oct., 1916, at Winnipeg, and they lived on a farm in Farmington Township until her death in June, 1968. Two sons, Alton and Lome, were born. Mathilda Ada was born June 25,1888. She married T. Joseph Desautel June 14, 1910. Their children were Viola, Vernon, Earl, Marjorie, Dorothy, James, Bernard, Jean, Donald and twins, Anna and Donna. (Four sons served in World War H and one in Korea. She was a Gold Star Mother.) George A. Donnelly was born Jan. 16, 1891. He married Malvina DeRoche on June 15,1921; they had no children. He died in Chicago, HI., March 25, 1950. Margaret was hom Mav 15. 1892. She married Dewev Sleeker of Senunel uutie in 1917 and they had two sons. She died in 1948.

Winnifred Frances was born May 23, 1895 and married Marcellus C. Flaten at Oconomowoe, Wis. June 22, 1921. Two children, Amos Alfred Flaten of St. Paul, Minn, and Marcella Flaten. Minneapolis, Minn., were bom. Submitted oy Mrs. Winnifred Flaten, daughter. WINNIFRED PERRY WESTON Winnifred Perry Weston was born in Lachine Rapids Quebec, Canada, in 1875. She came to Farmington Township with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Perry, who homesteaded on a farm south of Auburn. In 1895 she married, Andrew Weston of Auburn. Two daughters and three sons were born to this union. After leaving Auburn, the family lived at Valley City and Frazee, Minn., where her husband was accidentally killed. Her last years were spent in Minneapolis, Minn., where she died in 1958. PATRICK AND MARY PERRY Patrick Perry and his wife Mary Ryan of Lachine Rapids, Quebec, came to the Farmington Township area together with a number of other Canadian homesteaders about 1880. Their family settled in the same township. Catherine married Henry Donnelly. Thomas married Mathild Kavanaugh and stayed on the farm to help his aged father for a number of years, later moving to Grafton where he died. Margaret also lived with her parents. The youngest daughter, Winnifred, married Andrew Weston of Auburn. Patrick Perry had immigrated from Ireland to Eastern Canada. Mary Ryan was from upper New York state. Submitted by Winnifred Donnelly Flaten. MR. AND MRS. STEPHEN DONNELLY This is a partial biography written from some records and history furnished to the writer, of the life of an early citizen of Walsh County, North Dakota. Stephen Donnelly arrived with his father and mother, the Bernard Donnellys, and three brothers and two sisters, John, Henry, Fred, Tillie and Agnes, coming from eastern Canada from near Lake Champlain in the year of 1870 and settled in the Farmington township area near the north branch of the Park River, which is about two miles northeast of Nash and about nine miles from Grafton. Stephen Donnelly, being the youngest member of the family, was not old enough on arriving to file on land and prove up on it as were those who had reached their majority, twenty one years of age. Later he acquired a beautiful farm with a superb building located on the south side of the North Branch of the Park River, with trees on both sides of the river. He built his home site on the protective south side of the river later As time went on he met a young laay visitor irom near Toronto, Canada, who was visiting her brother, John Phelan, who had a farm near Minto, N. D. This young lady's name was Julia Phelan, she did not go back to Canada to live. They were married in 1893 and lived on his farm after going to Canada on their honeymoon. Later as their family arrived, five boys and one girl, they built a new eight-room home and barn 40' x 100' long with several other buildings and a concete silo to store silage for their cattle. Their six children attended the local school, Bell School No. 5 which no longer exists. Finishing, they went

on to high school in Grafton and also Grand Forks where they owned a home for several years. Melvin and Jack also attended St John's University in Minnesota. Stephen Donnelly took great pride in the Shorthorn cattle he bred and raised for breeding purposes, which were in demand and sold by him. He also took them to many fairs, local and state. Stephen Donnelly was possibly one of the first growers of potatoes in large acreage amounts in the area. As early as 1914 he built a potato storage warehouse in a grove one half mile from Nash on a farm he owned with a capacity of five car loads. He was also part owner of the first potato warehouse in Nash. They were active in local and state government activities during their life time, and friends of all their neighbors. To their home on Sundays and holidays and anytime, their many friends were always welcome, on many times there were more than twenty people for lunch or dinners and entertainment. They sold their farm in the mid 1930 era. Seven moved to Iowa where they retired near Mrs. Donnelly's relatives. The surviving members of the family are: Melvin L. Donnelly, Santa Monica, Calif.; Stephen Donnelly, Jr., Knoxville, Iowa, and Perrie and Marie Donnelly, Morro Bay, Calif.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Donnelly JAN EBERT FAMILY Jan Ebert emigrated from Chatham, Ont., to Walsh County in 1888. He arrived in Minto April 1 and there was three feet of snow yet! It was a very inauspicious beginning. His first job was as a farm hand working for John E. Hannawalt in Harriston Township. Part of his work was breaking sod; oxen supplied the necessary draft power. Although the vegetation, which consisted mostly of prairie grass was several feet high, it was considered good farming practice to plow as shallow as possible. The purpose of this was to allow the sod to rot and later on in that same summer, to plow it again to a depth of 5 or 6 inches. This later practice was known as "back setting." About ten acres of this was done each year. However, as horses superceded the slower oxen, bringing new land under the plow proceded at a faster pace. In March 1892, Jan Ebert bought a quarter section of land about four miles south of the inland village of Oakwood. October 25 of the same year he married Augustine Faille who had come in 1880 from St. Reme, Quebec, with her father, Bernard Faille, her mother and several brothers and one sister. The railroad terminated at Grand Forks so a Mr. Carpenter from Oakwood, met the

family at Grand Forks. Horses and a wagon were the form of transportation. Bernard Faille filed on a quarter of land in the extreme southwest corner of Acton Township but a combination of sickness in the family, bad crop years and lack of knowledge of farming as practiced in the valley, led to his losing his homestead in a few short years.

Jan Ebert wedding picture. Left to right: Jan Ebert and Mrs. Jan Ebert-(formerly Augustine Faille). Standing: Peter Faille, brother of Augustine Faille, and Julia Ebert, sister of Jan Ebert. Jan and Augustine Ebert raised five sons and two daughters: William, Oscar, Catherine, David, Edith, Lawrence, and Ernest. The Eberts farmed in Oakwood Township until 1906 when they moved to Farmington finally settling in 1912, on the SW'A Section 23 - about two miles south of Auburn. They farmed there until retiring in 1942 at which time the last son remaining at home, Ernest, took over. House parties were among the few forms of amusement in the early years. It's amazing how many people could get in those shanties or small houses. Somehow, they found a few square feet in which to dance. Mr. Ebert could play the violin and was much in demand. The early settlers were mostly young couples with many small children. Babysitters, in the modern sense, hadn't been invented yet, so whole families came to the parties. Babies were laid on the big family bed along with the overcoats while the older folks danced and socialized. These get-togethers lasted far into the night. If a gentleman put on his coat to go out and get the team ready, several other men quickly took it off him lest his going precipitated a breakup of the party. Early after the turn of the century, Jan Ebert acquired a large steam threshing rig. Custom threshing machines were not too plentiful as yet and many falls this important harvesting operation continued well into October, especially in wet years. One fall, the cook car was used for 50 days. Steam furnished good reliable power but it had some drawbacks. Many used straw which was readily available, but water was another matter. About 60 barrels a day were needed and the boiler had to be flushed out at least once each week. Ponds, rivers, and sloughs were the first sources. Later on, flowing wells were used almost entirely. Another problem with the steamer was that it took about three hours to get steam enough to thresh. This meant early rising for the fireman. During World War I years, there were some labor problems. Scarcity for one thing and

living in Norway, they had two daughters, Kirsti, born May 24, 1887 and Ingeborg, born Jan. 10, 1890. They migrated to America in April, 1892, coming by way of Canada and arriving at the entrance port of Neche. By this time the railroads were well established and they arrived by train. They settled in Auburn in April. Their two small children became ill during the ocean voyage and shortly after settling in Auburn they died. Ingeborg died May 4, 1892 and nine days later, Kirsti died. Nels and Margrethe lived in Auburn during the first years in their newly adopted land. Nels worked in a blacksmith shop and did custom carpentry. Anton Haug and his two sisters also came to America. Anton settled at Hoople; Oline married Anton Fagerholt and settled at Hoople; Annie married Gulbrand Russum and settled at Crystal. Nels and Margrethe purchased the M . W. Hostettor land located across the county line in St. Thomas Township. They acquired two more quarters ot land, one eater-corner to the Hostettor land and the other was the Pringle Tree Claim located in Farmington Township in Walsh County, a mile from their home. Ten children were born to Nels and Margrethe Haug: Olaf, born 1892; John, 1894; Ingvald, 1896; Clara, 1897; Martha Nekoline, 1898; Anna, 1901; Oscar Albert, 1902; Alida Genilda, 1903 ; Melvin Victor, 1906; Leonard Henry, 1909

quality for another. Also, the I. W. W. (Wobblies) became very active in their damands for higher wages, better working conditions, beds, etc. Threshing was a time of much hurry and pressure. Custom threshing was something of a small circus with all its problems of logistics. This continued until 1927 when the engineer blew the whistle for the last time. The days of the "big rig" had come to an end. Submitted by Ernest Ebert. HERMAN AND WILHELMINA FISHER Herman Fisher and Wilhelmina Schroenke were born in the Duchy of Pomerania in northeastern Germany on the Baltic Sea. They were childhood sweethearts. They were married in 1881 and the voyage to America was their honeymoon. They settled in Detroit, Mich., where Herman worked as a harnessmaker. Four of their eight children were born in Michigan, Ida, Frank, Wilhelmina (Minnie) and Elizabeth Margaret. They moved to North Dakota around 1890. Rosa Mae was born at that time. Their eldest child, Ida, died in 1900. After coming to Dakota, they worked the Nate Upham farm near the Red River east of Grafton. It was here that Herman, Jr., was born. After this they lived on the Sam Lemon farm in St. Thomas Township, two miles north of Auburn. It was here that Henry was born in 1895. They moved to Grafton where Herman, Sr., worked in Mollers Harness Shop which was located in the 500 block on Hill Avenue on the west side of the street. Finally the Fishers settled in Auburn where they purchased 1700 acres of land. Herman, Sr., became a truck gardener. With two horses and a democrat buggy he delivered vegetables to the surrounding area. Another son, Edward, was born. The Fishers were among the pioneer potato growers in the Auburn area. They were among the first to experiment with mechanical digging and picking and loading equipment, years ahead of the modern methods. During World War I, Herman Fisher, Sr., was much troubled in his mind because his son, Henry, was fighting Germany overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces and his brother's sons were fighting on the other side in behalf of Germany. Herman and Wilhelmina observed their golden wedding in 1931. They stood at the head of five generations. A grandson, Patrick Fisher, is an attorney in Grand Forks. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. NELS A.ND MARGRETHE HAUG The three brothers, Thomas, Anton and Nels Olsen and two sisters, Annie and Oline Olsen were born at Jevnaker, Birkelind, Norway, the family of Kristi and Ole Olsen. Thomas left Norway and settled in America July 27, 1885. He made his home at Osnabrock. Upon arriving in America, he discovered that there were many settlers with the name of Olsen. He changed his name to Haug, which in the Norwegian language means "a hill." Nels was born Dec. 22, 1861. He married Margrethe Mathilda Jenson. She was the daughter of Inger and Jens Jenson. She was born Dec. 20, 1866, at Jevnaker, Birkelind. She and Nels were married May 8, 1886. While still

Family of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Haug taken at Levi Ganyo home. Standing, left to right: Olaf, Ingvald, John, father, Nels Haug and mother holding Leonard (seated). Seated, front: Martha, Clara, Melvin, Alda, Annie and Oscar. During the harvest season, Margrethe used to take her current baby into the field and placing the child in the shade of a grain shock, proceeded to shock grain. Nels Haug declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States on March 2,18% in the Walsh County Courthouse in Grafton. He became a citizen in October on the thirty-first in 1900. T. H. Tharalson and E. D. Hostettor were his witnesses. N. H. Rinde was the clerk of court andO. E. Sauterwas the presiding judge. The Haugs planted a large boxelder grove around their farm home. The children walked two miles across the fields to the Pringle Tree Claim where they dug up the young trees and carried them home for planting. Margrethe planted a row of ash trees along the driveway leading from the county road to the house. Nels used to drive a horse and buggy around the farm to inspect his fields. Occasionally he would reach down and pull a stock of wild mustard. Harry Colter often told of the time he was visiting at the Haug home. Dolly, the horse, was hitched to the buggy and was wandering over the yard grazing on the grass. Nels went to the door and called, 59

"Johnny I thought I told you to tie Dolly to the hayload for long ago." Harry Colter also commented that whereas the Colters always served canned tomatoes as a vegetable, the Haugs always served their tomato sauce as a fruit for dessert. Margrethe was an excellent cook in the best tradition of Norwegian settlers. Walking past the Haug farm home on a frosty morning in the fall, one could smell wood smoke, bacon frying and the aroma of coffee. Nels Haug served on the board for Union School District No. 40, the school of which J. Edward Tufft wrote in his Gay Nineties series published in the Walsh County Record in Grafton. Nels and Margrethe lived on their farm home until the years of the great depression when they moved back into Walsh County to the O'Brien farm two miles south of their former home. They celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary in the Landstad Lutheran Church in Auburn. They observed their 60th anniversary at their home on May 5, 1946, with all the children present. One month later, in June, Nels died. He was buried from the Landstad Church and laid to rest in the Landstad Cemetery. After his death, Margrethe lived alternately with her several children. Near the end of her days she suffered a broken hip. She died in Inkster at the home of her daughter, Martha Bolton. She was laid to rest beside her husband in the Landstad Cemetery a half mile east of Auburn where she began her life in America. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. AUGUST HEIN August Hein, a man of small stature, was born on May 4, 1849, near Berlin, Germany. He was the son of Ferdinand Wilhelm and Annie Christina Hein. At 23, he married Miss Minnie Martin. Shortly thereafter, emigrated to the United States. Before their settlement in the Dakota Territory, they resided for nine years in Rochester, Minn. Upon their arrival in Walsh County in 1882, August and Minnie homesteaded a farm approximately two miles north of Grafton. "Industry and frugality" enabled August and Minnie to build a farm, raise and educate 10 children, and to "provide a comfortable competence for old age," as quoted in the Walsh County Record, Aug. 3, 1937. Their children were Emil, Hulda, Charles, Ida, Clara, John, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth. The two youngest daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, are still living. Mary resides in Blackduck, Minn, and Elizabeth lives in Riverside, Calif. In his later years, August was known to his 22 grandchildren as "little grandpa." Submitted by Colleen A. Oihus. ANDREW J. HOVE Andrew J. Hove was born at Vik, Sogn, Norway, Dec. 15,1854. He came to the United States in 1872 at the age of 18, to a brother that liv ed in Iowa. He worked as a laborer for several years. He came to North Dakota in 1881 and filed a homestead in Farmington Township. Andrew married Ingeborg Corneliuson who was born in Hitron, near Trondhjem, Norway, Feb. 2, 1861, and came to the United States with her parents, the Gerlov Corneliusons, when she was 5, with a brother and sister. They lived in Goodhue County, Minn., for several years, then came to Union by wagon where Gerlov Corneliuson filed a claim. Ingeborg (Emma) Corneliuson came to Martin Township and filed a homestead claim Feb. 23,

1882, when she was 21, across the road from Andrew Hove. They were married in May, 1882, and lived in Farmington Township. They had five sons and three daughters. Those living were Ole J., Johanna, Adolph, Arthur, Esther and Joseph. They also raised a nephew Andrew Thompson who was left homeless after the death of his parents when he was nine. Andrew Hove was very active in the Auburn Landstad Lutheran Church serving as a "Klokker" for many years, and also as treasurer and a trustee. He was also active in township affairs. He was on the Deaconess Hospital Board from its organization for several years. The son Ole J. remained on the Farmington Township farm. He married Edith Larson in St. Thomas in 1914. They had four children, Willard, Helen, Laverne, and Marion. Willard is still living on the same farm making it a three generation home. Andrew Hove used to go to the store at Acton and to Grand Forks to do more important business. Once in the winter he walked to Acton, then followed the Red River to Grand Forks. He was snow blinded for several days before he could return home. Gerlov Corneliuson had a wagon and horses to travel with. OnCe when several traveled together they met some robbers, but Gerlov had hidden his money in his shoes so he was the only one not robbed. Submitted by Mrs. Willard Hove.

Family of Andrew J. Hove Left to right: Adolph, Mrs. Hove, Esther (being held), Andrew Thompson, Andrew Hove, Arthur. Standing in back: Johanna and Ole J. Hove. EDWARD AND EVA J ASTER Edward Jaster and his wife, Eva, were born in or near Frankfurt, Germany. They left Germany during the days of Kaiser WilUam I and Otto von Bismarck. They came to America in 1874 when their eldest daughter, Wilhelmina, was three years old. They Uved in the Rochester, Minn., area until they were forced to leave during the grasshopper plague. They moved to Dakota territory about 1880. Edward settled on land north and west of the present site of Nash. Later he purchased the homestead of Henry Kingsbury which was timber land on the Park River, a mile east of Nash. He and Henry Kingsbury arranged for the marriage of his daughter, Wilhelmina, to Henry upon her arrival in Dakota Territory. She arrived by train in 1881, the year that the railroad reached Grafton. While on the train, she met the dashing Holt brothers and she had second thoughts about marrying a man she had never seen. However, the traditional German family

discipline prevailed; she married Henry Kingsbury. They had eight children, John, Charles, Albert, McKinley, Raymond, Eva Amelia, Harriet (Hattie) Loretta and Anna Louise. Edward and Eva Jaster had two more children, Emma who was renowned in the neighborhood as a horsewoman, and a son, Henry. Emma married Will Conrad and they settled in Lindenhurst. Long Island, where they owned and operated a fishing and excursion boat on Long Island Sound. They had two sons, Raymond and Robert. Henry Jaster continued to live on and farm the Jaster land. He married Annie Mclntyre and they had three sons, Edward, Harold and Aubrey and one daughter, Myrtle. Edward and Eva Jaster went "back east" to live near their daughter, Emma, and her family. It is there that they died and are buried. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. HENRY AND ANNIE JASTER Mrs. Henry Kingsbury, the former Wilhelmina Jaster, once said that the Jasters left Germany because of "the old Kaiser." This would have been Kaiser Wilhelm I who, with his Iron Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, sought by autocratic means to forge a strong Prussian state. Whether it was because of Prussian oppression or the beckoning promise of America, Edward and Eva Jaster, with their three year old daughter, Wilhelmina, left their home near Frankfort and came to southern Minnesota where they settled near Rochester in 1867. Here, two more children were born, a daughter, Emma, and a son, Harold, who was always to be known as Henry. The Jasters lived in southern Minnesota for 14 years. The famous grasshopper scourge which drove many local people from southern Minnesota to Dakota Territory, moved the Jasters to Dakota where they settled in what is now the Nash community. Edward Jaster preceded his family. He came about 1879 or 1880 and filed a claim north and west of Nash. His future sonin-law, Henry Kingsbury, had homesteaded land one mile east of the present site of Nash. He decided that he wanted to move north three miles to the open prairie, a mile and a half west of his brother, Hiram. Hiram's homestead was to be the future site of Auburn. Henry Kingsbury sold his original homestead to Edward Jaster. In making the deal, the two men agreed that when Wilhelmina came to Dakota, she would marry Henry. Eva Jaster and her family came to Grafton in 1881 or shortly thereafter, the year that the railroad reached Grafton. Wilhelmina and Henry were married in 1882. They had a family of eight children. The Jasters used to pick the wild plums and chokecherries in the timber along the Park River and stored them in the cellar. When the Kingsbury grandchildren visited their grandparents, they were told to "down the cellar go... and eat yourselves alius full." Emma Jaster was an enthusiastic horsewoman. She married Will Conrad, Lindenhurst, Long Island, and it was there that they made their home. In 1897, Henry Jaster married Annie Mclntyre. The Mclntyres came from Scotland, the Isle of Islay. It is the southernmost island in a series of islands known as the Inner Hebrides. These islands are mountainous, rugged and treeless. Islay was one of the few islands where agriculture and fishing were possible.

Mr. and Mrs. George Fisher. George Austin Fisher (1890-1968) and Mary Annetta Brandon (1888-1955). Annie Mclntyre Jaster (1872-1950), wife of Henry Jaster, and children of their son, Edward Jaster: Roger, Lloyd, Donald and Betty. In 1852, John and Meran Mclntyre, together with their neighbors, the Sandy Gillespies and the Murdock McMillians migrated to Grey County in Ontario. Their son, Duncan, was a young man at the time. He acquired a homestead in 1856 near Cedarsville, Ont. He married Isabel McMillan. They had ten children while living in Ontario. They moved to Dakota Territory in March 1888. They were met at Pisek by young Duncan and Sandy Gillespie. They drove in a bobsleigh to the Gillespie home where they stayed until the arrival of their carload of settler's effects, including four horses. Two more children were born to the Mclntyres. Of the ten sons, one settled in Park River; one in Saskachewan, two homesteaded in the Oklahoma Territory in 1896; six settled in Alberta. Archie worked in a logging camp in Minnesota before going to Canada. Donald enlisted from Grafton in the 1st Dakota Regiment, Medical Corps and served until 1899 in the Spanish American war. Of the two daughters, Flossie married an aviator who was killed in his plane in 1919. Annie married Henry Jaster. They had a family of five children, one of whom died in infancy; Myrtle, 1898; Edward 1899; Harold, 1904; and Aubrey, 1911. Henry Jaster served on the board for Nash School District No. 51. This district had two schools, one on a DeSautel farm; one close to the Arne Oihus homestead. He also served on the board for Farmington Township. Usually the board met in the Auburn Hall. He was a member of Crescent Lodge No. 11, A. F. & A. M. and Grafton Chapter No. 9, R. A. M. Annie Jaster was active in the Presbyterian Church in Grafton. She was a member of the Mizpah Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Grafton. She was the moving spirit behind the inception of the Riverside Homemaker's Club which became a very active organization in the Auburn-Nash area and later in Grafton. Annie Jaster was a charter member. Henry Jaster died March 28,1942. Annie Jaster died in January, 1950. JAMES AND ANNIE JOHNSTON James Archibald Johnston was born in 1858 in County Tyrone, Ireland. When he was 16, he migrated to America, landing in New York. He lived there for a year, working for a blacksmith at a wage of twenty-five cents a day and meals. He spent some time around Toronto, Canada, then returned to the states going to Fargo in Dakota Territory. He joined his two half-brothers, Tom and Randolph Voga, in Fargo. In 1879 he came to Walsh County to homestead on land. He walked from Fargo to Hoople during the early spring. Around Minto he came to a coulee with water in it

from the spring run-off. He removed his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants legs and waded through the icy water He homesteaded land one mile west of Hoople where he lived for the next seven or eight years. In 1887 he married Annie Jane Noble who was living with her aunt, Mrs. James Douglas who lived t e n £ d « north of Park River. Annie Jane Noble was born in 1868 in Dungannon County in Ireland. She came to America when she was thirteen years of age. Her aunt Mrs. Douglas, returned to Ireland to visit her sister, Maggie Noble. She persuaded her sister to permit her 13 year old daughter, Annie Jane, to return to America with her promising that Annie Jane would be educated and trained to be a teacher. Annie Jane lived in the Douglas home for the next seven years, working for the family and the family household. For a time she attended the country school three miles away. She and the young Douglas son, Frank, used to walk to school. Frank used to balk at walking and Annie Jane carried him part of the time He grew up to be a lawyer in New York City. One of Annie Jane's household chores was to carry water from a deep well across the road from the house. One day Jim Johnston was hauling a load of wheat from his homestead to Park River. While passing the Douglas farm he saw Annie Jane carrying water and he thought to himself "that's the girl for me." They were married in 1887 At this time Jim Johnston disposed of his homestead and bought land two miles north of: Nash. They built a log cabin and here their first child Gertrude always known as Gertie, was born in 1888. Alter four years they built a frame house which stands to this day In the frame house, three more children were born They were a son, Milton E. in 1892, Myrtle in 1894 and Bessie in 1900. In 1902 Gertie started to high school in Grafton.

Dungannon County in 1868. James A. Johnston came to America when he was 16. He worked in New York for a blacksmith at a wage of twenty-five cents a aay with meals He lived for a short time in Ontano but returned to the States, coming to Fargo in Dakota Territory where he ioined two half-brothers. In 1879 he walked from Fargo to the Hoople area where he homesteaded on land west of the present site of Hoople. He lived there seven or eight years. After his marriage to Annie Noble, he sold the homestead and moved into the timber north of Nash. Here he buil: a tog cabin in which they lived for four years. During that time, 1888, their first child, Gertrude, was They then built a frame house. Milton was born in 1892 Myrt e in 1894 and Bessie in 1900. They attended school in Glenwood Township. Their mother, Annie Noble, died h 1903 Gertie took care of the family until her marriage in 1909', after which Myrtle assumed the responsibilities. Milton entered the armed services September 22 1917 He was stationed at Camps, Dodge, Pike and Dix. He went overseas on the "Harrorata" landing at LaHavre Sept. 8, with Co. K, 348th Inf. 87th Div. He was discharged ^UPon'hisreturn from the army, he learned that his father had sold the farm to Jens Knoff. This caused Milton much regret, but he moved to the Hogfoss farm about two miles away. This farm adjoined the farm of his brother-in-law and sister, Charlie and Gertie Kingsbury.

In April 1903, Annie Jane attended a funeral west of Nash at which time she contracted a bad cold In August of the same year, on the ninth day, she died. Gertie took over the care and raising ofthe family until her marriage to Charlie Kingsbury in 1909. Then Myrtle Annie assumed the care of the family until her marriage to Wilmer Neilson in 1919. The Johnston young people attended school in Glenwood Township. Bessie later attended high school in Hoople. She traveled to Hoople by school bus which was drawn by horses, leaving home at six in the morning and not returning until the winter dusk had fallen. Bessie later graduated from the University of North Dakota. It was here that she met her future husband, Anton Berg, who later became a dentist.

Mr. and Mrs. Milton Johnston On Jan 5, 1927, Milton Johnston and Hazel Digness were married in Grand Forks. Hazel Digness, the daughter of Eddie Digness (1872-1937) and Hilda Lundby (1873 1957?was born in Hatton. Eddie Digness was the son of Svening Digness and Maren Sander, both of whom c ^ e from Solar Norway. They first came to Iowa wheTe their son, Eddie, was born. The Digness family noniesteaded in Dakota Territory in 1879 in what is now Trail County near Hatton. Eddie married Hilda Lundby in Hatton m 1897 They had two daughters, Esther (1900-1925) and Hazel (1904). H^zel attended school in Hatton. She taught school fo four years, two in Steele County and two in BeU School Dist No 5 a half mile from Milton Johnston's farm home The bigness family moved to Nash in 1924, and

Milton entered the armed services during World War I on Sept 22, 1917, landing in LaHavre in September, 1918 He received his discharge in March of 1919. He returned home to find that his father had sold the family farm Milton then made his home on another quarter a mile east near the Bell School. In 1927, he married Hazel Digness who taught the Bell School. Jim Johnston retired to Grand Forks where he made his home until his declining years. During his last years, he lived with his son on the farm. He died in 1935.

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M m o ? S d ° H a z e l Johnston had three children, Natalie, Mary EUen and James In 1937 the Johnstons built a colonial type home on the farm. with a full com pliment of farm buildings including a large bam. They built a potato plant in Nash. The children attended the

MILTON AND HAZEL JOHNSTON Milton Johnston's parents were natives of northern Ireland James Archibald Johnston was born m County Tyrone in 1858; Annie Noble Johnston was born in <2

Bell School and the Grafton High School. Natalie is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, Mary Ellen of the Iowa State University of Ames, Iowa and James of the University of Minnesota. Natalie and Mary Ellen became teachers. James served in the Army of Occupation in Japan for thirteen months as a paratrooper. Milton Johnston and his son have been recognized as two of the forward-looking and progressive farmers in the Red River Valley. In 1952, Milton and Hazel built a house in Grafton and retired from active farming although Milton maintained his interest in the farm. Milton was extremely active in community affairs. He was a member of the Federated Church, of the Walsh County Water Management District Board, of the Grafton Park Board, of the American Legion, the Walsh County Barracks of World War I Veterans, of the Masons he was past worshipful master of Crystal Lodge N. 38; Grafton Chapter No. 9, St. Omer Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, Crescent Lodge No. 11, A. F. & A. M., Council No. 15, Crescent Cemetery Board, Walsh County Welfare Board and a life member of the Grafton Golf Club. He was a past patron of Mizpah Chapter No. 6, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Grafton for several years. Hazel Johnston was also active in community affairs and a member of several organizations serving as president of many of them. These organizations are The Riverside Club, World War I Veteran's Auxiliary, Fine Arts Club. China Painter's Guild, Hospital Auxiliary, the Federated Church Ladies' Aid, and the United Methodist Women. She served as Worthy Matron for the Mizpah Chapter No. 6 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Grafton and is a member of the Past Matrons. Milton Johnston died while vacationing in Arizona in 1971. He is buried in the Crescent Cemetery in Grafton.

father-in-law, Edward Jaster, and took up land two miles to the north. While negotiating the land deal with Edward Jaster, Henry arranged his marriage to Wilhelmina Jaster, sight unseen. After her arrival in Grafton in 1881, she and Henry Kingsbury were married. They had eight children, John, Charles, Albert, McKinley, Raymond, Eva Amelia, Harriet (Hattie), Loretta and Anna Louise. The Kingsburys acquired five quarters of land. Henry Kingsbury helped to organize the Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Auburn. In addition to his farming which he left largely to his sons, Henry operated the Federal Elevator in Auburn during 1906-1907. After the Farmers' Elevator was organized the St. Anthony Elevator was purchased and Henry Kingsbury was manager until his death, the result of an accident in the elevator. Henry Kingsbury and his fellow lodge members built the Auburn Hall for the Modern Woodmen of America. The hall was the scene of school programs, political rallies, village dances, township meetings, election polling place and other community affairs. Many political rallies were held in the Auburn Hall at the turn of the century. After the rally, the participants adjourned to the Brandson Store across the street and continued their spirited debate. J. Edward Tufft, writing of these debates in later years, remarked that Henry Kingsbury and Matt Archer "argued about everything and agreed about nothing." Henry Kingsbury used to find smallpox serum and inoculate his children by using a pocketknife which he honed on the grindstone in his farm yard.

Albert Henry Kingsbury (1856-1916) Mrs. Albert Henry Kingsbury, the former Wilhelmina Jaster CHARLES AND GERTRUDE KINGSBURY Pictured here are, left to right: Myrtle Johnston (Mrs. W. E. Neilson), Milton E. Johnston, Myrtle Johnston (Mrs. C. H. Kingsbury), Bessie Johnston (Mrs. A. L. Berg). ALBERT AND WILHELMINA KINGSBURY Henry Kingsbury was born in Hemmingford, Quebec, in 1856. He was the son of George Kingsbury, County Down, Ireland, and Anna Dunlap, County Armah, Ireland. They migrated to Hemingford, Quebec, where eleven children were born to them, among them Albert Henry, Robert Wesley and Hiram. Hiram homesteaded the land on which the townsite of Auburn was later established. Henry homesteaded land east of the present site of the village of Nash. Later he sold this land to his future

Charles Henry Kingsbury was born in Farmington Township, one and one-half miles west of Auburn. His father, Albert Henry Kingsbury, was born in Hemmingford, Quebec, of parents who came to Quebec from Ireland. His mother, Wuhelmina Jaster, was born in Germany. She came to America when she was three years old in 1867. Charlie Kingsbury attended school in Auburn District No. 29. He married Gertrude Johnston in 1909. Gertrude Johnston was born in a log cabin in Glenwood Township. Her father, James Archibald Johnston, and her mother, Annie Jane Noble, were born in Ireland. Annie Jane Noble came to America with the promise and hope that she would be trained to be a teacher, which was - never realized. However, five of her granddaughters, one great-granddaughter, one great-

grandson were engaged in the teaching profession. Gertie Johnston attended school in Glenwood Township and the Chase School in Grafton. She attended high school in Grafton for one year. Her schooling was cut short by her mother's untimely death in 1903. Gertie assumed care of the Johnston family until her marriage in 1909. _, . Charlie and Gertie met at a house party. Their courtship leading to marriage actually began at a dance in the Woodmen Hall in Auburn. After their marriage, they lived at the Henry Kingsbury farm home until 1915. Charlie, with his brothers, farmed the Kingsbury land while the father was manager of the Farmers' Elevator in Auburn. While they were living at the Kingsbury pioneer home, three children were born. They were Marjorie, born in 1909; Vivian, born in 1911 and Harley, born in 1913.

representative from the 16th district. He has served on tlie board of directors for the Nash Grain and Trading Company, the First National Bank of Grafton and the Grafton Deaconess Hospital, which was combined with St. Joseph's Hospital and became Unity Hospital. Charlie and Gertie retired from the farm and moved to Grafton in 1944. They purchased the Charles Sieben home on Kittson Avenue. Charlie was an active Mason. Gertie helped to organize and was a charter member of the Riverside Homemaker's Club. She received a citation, a certificate of honor, from the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Charlie died in 1968. After his death, Gertie moved into an apartment. Among their great-grandchildren are four adopted children from Korea. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237.

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Kingsbury on their 50th wedding anniversary. OLE AND ANTOINETTE LARSON Ole Larson was born in Sogne-Dahlen, Norway in 1846. Antoinette Sobie was born near Oslo, Norway, in 1850 They were married and had two children, Lars and Sophie, while still in Norway. Ole Larson landed in America May 15, 1876. He worked in a lumber yard in Minneapolis for three years before sending for his wife and children in 1879. The family lived in Minneapolis for two years. While there, the mother and the two children were stricken with typhoid fever. A third child, Lena, was born in Minneapolis.

The Charles Henry Kingsbury family Front row: Charley Kingsbury, father; Marian Kingsbury, and Gertie Kingsbury, mother. Back row: Marjorie Kingsbury, Harley Kingsbury and Vivian Kingsbury. In 1915 Charlie and Gertie moved the Lemon house from Auburn to their own land which was two miles west of the Kingsbury farm. It was here that a fourth child, Marian, was born in 1917. The four children attended the Bell School which was only a half mile away. The three girls graduated from the State Normal School at Valley City and became teachers. In the 1950's, while teaching in the Grafton schools, Vivian attended summer school at the University of North Dakota and received a degree in library administration. Marjorie married John Walters who taught school in Edgeley and was superintendent of the school in Crystal, and later of the Walsh County Agricultural and Training School m Park River. After his retirement as a teacher, he became manager of the Polar Telephone Company. Vivian married Homer Nelson of the Hoople community. He was a grocer in Grafton and later became administrator of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital and, after that, Personnel Director at the Grafton State School. Marian married Harold Rustebakke who has been engaged in farming and insurance. After they moved to Corvalhs, Ore he continued in the insurance business. Marian became the registrar at the Oregon State College. Harley married Noela Glenn from Neche. Harley increased the land holdings until he became one of the principal farmers and landholders in the area. In 1964 he was elected to the North Dakota State Legislature as a

Mr. and Mrs. Ole Larson with three of their children, Sophie, Lars and Lena. About 1881, they moved to a homestead a mile and a half west of the Auburn townsite in Dakota Territory. Walsh County was carved out of the area in the same year The Larsons' first home was a dugout covered with logs from the DeSautel timber and overlaid with prairie grass. Later they built a small frame house. Ole Larson worked on the railroad as it pushed northward from Grafton. The road bed was built by men 64

working with horses and scrapers, wheelbarrows and shovels. The Larsons had four more children, Oscar, Ludvig, Dora and Theodore (Teddy). Ole Larson died in 1896. Lars and Sophie did not long survive the rigors of pioneer life; they died in their youth. Annie Larson long served the community as a mid-wife, attending the births of many babies. She lived to be 94. Her son, Teddy, 14, took upon himself the burden of the family and the homestead after the death of his father. He enlarged the land holdings to two and a half quarters. He grew with the times and became a prosperous farmer. He married Lou, the daughter of Henry Donnelly. They had two sons, Alton and Lome. Oscar and Ludvig went to Canada to homestead. Dora married Gust Bang and lived in Minnesota. Lena married Andrew Johnson and lived in Grafton. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237.

married Eleanor Fraser of St. Thomas Township. They had one son, Glenn. The Leruds owned their homestead in St. Thomas Township and two quarters of land across the road in Farmington Township, Walsh County. After retiring from farming, the Arvil Leruds moved to Grafton. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. FAMILY OF HANS H. LYKKEN

OLE AND ANNA LERUD On the Glomma River in Norway, not far from the border with Sweden, is the small town of Elverum'where Anna Carina Overby and Ole Lerud were born. In their youth they used to watch the logs go tumbling by in the swift current of the mountain stream. They left Norway for America in 1878 where they settled in the RenvilSacred Heart community in southwestern Minnesota. There they worked in the harvest fields to earn money to establish their lives in the New World. They were married in 1879. Ole Lerud homesteaded a claim in St. Thomas Township where he built a sod house with walls two feet thick. He returned to Minnesota to get his wife and their first born child, Tilda. They could have traveled by rail to Grand Forks at which point they embarked upon a Red River steamboat and traveled as far as St. Andrews. From there they walked through tall grass up to their shoulders to their sod house on the claim. Anna carried her first born child; Ole carried luggage containing their possessions. The railroad reached Grafton in 1881 and pushed on to Auburn and points north. Ole Lerud worked on the railroad with a wheelbarrow. With the money he earned, he hired a neighbor to break up one or two acres of sod with a yoke of oxen and a plow. Ole and his wife planted wheat. At the time of harvest, Ole saw a man traveling down the railroad a half a mile away with horses drawing a reaper. He ran and intercepted the man with the reaper and engaged him to cut his wheat, which they later threshed with flails. They built a frame house in 1891. The child, Tilda, was kicked by a horse and died as a result of the severe blow. A second child died while an infant from whooping cough. The two children are buried in the Landstad Cemetery located on the Hans Lykken farm a mile south of the Lerud homestead and a half mile east of Auburn. The Leruds walked to New Sweden, some ten miles, for their groceries and supplies, before Auburn was established. The Leruds had seven children, Tilda, born in Minnesota, the first Arvil, Alf, Bella, Lena and Edan who were born in the sod house and the second Arvil, the only child born in the frame house. Ole Lerud died in 1895. The family bought an International gas tractor and an Aultman Taylow separator from Hans Gorder who lived south of Grafton. They did custom threshing in the Nash area. Anna Carina Lerud died in 1940. Arvil Lerud

Mr. and Mrs. Hans Lykken. Hans (1858-1940) and Mrs. Hans (Clara Emily Johnson) Lykken (1859-1926). Hans H. Lykken left Telemarken, Norway, in April, 1873, with his parents, three brothers (one of whom was married and had three children), and one sister. One brother, Gilman H. Lykken, had left in 1872. They boarded a ship in Skien, a sailing vessel which was named the "Nordhavet" and which was making her maiden voyage. There were 400 people on board. After a perilous voyage of seven weeks and two days across the North Sea and the Stormy Atlantic, they landed in Quebec in May, 1873. In the harbor of Quebec, there were hundreds of ships, theirs was said to be the nicest one and was nicknamed "The Bride" since it had made its first voyage. From Quebec they took a river or channel boat to Milwaukee, Wise; the boat carried everything from people and cattle to cordwood. They remained in Milwaukee only a short time. From Milwaukee they boarded a train for Farmington, Minn., where they remained for two or three years. Then they left for Yellow Medicine County, but stayed there only one summer because of a grasshopper infestation that destroyed their crops. They returned to Farmington at the time of the Jesse James bank robbery. My father worked on farms near Farmington until tales of the rich and fertile land in the Red River Valley in Dakota Territory available to settlers under the 1862 Homestead Act, came to his attention. The ambitious young man, then 21, left kindred and friends and took the train to Grand Forks, where the railroad ended. In November, 1879, he walked to the Grafton area in Walsh County and filed for a tree claim in the spring of 1880. He and Martin Holt homesteaded together after building a claim shack that stood half on my father's land and half on Martin Holt's land. They disliked living alone and wished to share expenses. 65

Mv father's first crop of wheat was raised on 14 acres that he had cleared and prepared for seeding. The two homesteaders took turns walking to the n j e r .landmg near Acton for supplies, a task not too difficult in the Spring ummer, S fall. But in the winter the snowy K were hard to follow and were rather a hazard should a blizzard come. One did come up during a iourney Martin Holt made. Finding no supplies at Acton, gone to Grand Forks where he secured supphes On the way home a blizzard raged so fiercely that he took refuge in a rude culvert. After the storm abated he succeeded in reaching home safely. My ^ he^who had waited anxiously for his return, ran to meet him and the L o friends were so happy to be reunited that they wept tear

L ter°my father sold that land and establishedl his farnThome one mile east and one half mile north of Auburn where he was destined to spend the rest ofhis life. On Aug. 14, 1884, he married my mother Clara Emily Johnson, a pioneer teacher educated in NorS Minn., whom he had met in Farmington Minn. She taught in two schools in Walsh County, one of them in Auburn She was born in Muskego, Wise, and was the first child baptized in the first Norwegian Lutheran S c h in the United States (1843-1869). The church is S w preserved as a shrine at the Lutheran Semmary m MinneapoMs. She was born in 1859 and died in 1926. There were eleven children in our family. My father held offices in the Landstad Church, in the township, in the school and in the Farmers Elevator ui Auburn The township he served was Farmington, named for the place he came from in Minnesota. Submitted by Hazel Lykken Sutterlin.

LARS AND SOPHIA LYKKEN Lars Lykken was born on April 30,1860. His parents were Hans Gulmon (1820-1905) and Kari Olson (1821m , Hans Gulmon was the son of Gulman Sletta and Gunhild Angaard. Kari Olson was the daughter of 0 e K r i h a Kaasa. The Lokke or Lykken family hvedin Saude Presteegjold, Nedu Telemarken, Norway three Norwegian miles from Skien. Hans andKari had s* children: Ole, Gulmon, Ingre Hans, Lars and Ole Gilman. Gulman left Norway for ^ " ^ J ^ ' d a y farmed 80 acres in Minnesota and worked as a day laborer in order to make money to help the rest of the family to come to America.

sailing ship, one of the first sailing vessels made of steel, which carried 400 passengers and was named the Nordhavet The voyage lasted seven weeks and two days. From Quebec they took a river boat carrying immigrants, cordwood and cattle. Halle Lykken, son of Lars reports "they disembarked at Quebec, Canada, where they transferred to a canal boat, sailing upstream on the St Lawrence River, passing Montreal, on the way to the entrance of Lake Ontario, which had to be crossed, and then continued on through Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan as far as Milwaukee, where they landed six weeks after beginning their journey." Hiey traveled by train from Milwaukee to Farmington County in Minnesota which is just south of St. Paul. They farmed there for three years. They moved to Yellow Medicine County where they lived for only one summer because ot the grasshopper plague. They returned to Farmington at the time of the Jesse James bank robbery there. In 1880 Lars and his parents came to Dakota Territory by train to Grand Forks. There they purchased a Red River Cart and a yoke of oxen and came to Grafton Lars was too young to homestead but his parents homesteaded land two and a half miles south and a little west of Auburn. Grandpa Hans was very handy at almost everything; he was a watchmaker, a silver smith and did fancy carving. He doctored both animals and people. He set bones, bled people, etc. Grandma Kari, while in Norway went around and baked for the rich people. Lars remained at home until late in 1886 when he purchased the homestead of Stephen Thoreson. He married the daughter of Stephen Thoreson, Sophia. During the fall of 1886, he built a 16'x24' two story house on the homestead of Andrew Thoreson at Auburn. During the early days of Auburn, the Robertson Lumber Company had a branch yard there. They moved the house during the winter of 1887, drawing it by horses over the snow to the Lewis Lykken farm three miles south of Auburn.

Lars and Sophia Lykken family Stnndine- Eli, Halle, Laura and Oscar. Seated. Father Lars Selmer:Mother Sophia. Front: Lucy and William. Sophia Thoreson was the daughter of Stephen Thoreson (1830-1882) and Ingebor Anderson 1829-1912). Stephen was the son of Tore and Margretha Olson mgebo? was the daughter of Christian Sjerva Anderson ( 1803-1871) and Guri Eriksdater (1808-1870). They came from Holand, Norway, to Muskego, Wise, about 1849 where they worked on the Knute Husevold place tor seven years They went to Dakota County in Minnesota with a party of 15 covered wagons. They bought 160 acres of railroad land for $200 and built a home. Grandpa Christian had learned the art of making sulphur matches at a time when flintlock was the accepted method used to

Hans G. Lykken (1890-1894) and Kari "Olson" Lykken (1821-1894) In 1873 Hans and Kari, with four sons, one daughter and three grandchildren, embarked from Skien on a 66

ignite fires. He refused to divulge the knowledge and the skill died with him. Two of his sons were in the Civil War, Stephen and Carl. Carl was killed in the war. Stephen Thoreson homesteaded three miles south of Auburn. His brother, Andrew, homesteaded near Auburn.

in community affairs. In 1909 he helped organize the Farmers Elevator, serving that concern as president for 15 years. At that time Mr. Tollack was also a member of the Lutheran church in Auburn. In 1912 he built a home in Grafton and from then on resided there. However, he continued his farming operations at Auburn. Mr. and Mrs. Tollack had a family of three sons and four daughters: Theodore, Ebert, William, Birdine, Stelle and June (twins) and Pearl. Mr. Tollack was an active worker in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Grafton. He was also a worker in the Republican party and in 1914 was elected representative of District 4. Sever Tollack was born March 8, 1859, in the village of Primrose, Dane County, Wise. Julia Nelson Tollack was born in Jackson County, Wise, on Dec. 12, 1863. My mother passed away Dec. 1,1930, and my father July 28, 1939 in Grafton. They are both buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. While in the area of Valley City in 1881 my father worked for an early settler of N. Dak. by the name of H. C. Kindred. During this period a party of sportsmen, including my father as an attendant, hunted deer near Medora. The party then moved on to Glendive, Mont., for a buffalo hunt. My father was credited with bagging two of them. Submitted by Pearl Tollack Nelson.

Stephen Thoreson, Civil War veteran (1861-1865) The Thoresons filed on a half section. Father and son built a claim shack on the boundary line common to the two claims, with bunks at each end permitting each of them to sleep on his own property. When Lars became of age, he filed on a 40 acre correction tract as a Preemption Claim in the timber along the Park River. This correction laid between the holdings of Ben C. Askelson, Martin Holt and Knute Braget. He sold 10 acres to each of his brothers, Gilman and Hans, the remaining 20 acres are now the property of Lars' grandson, Marvin Lykken. In 1905 Lars and Sophia built a large two and a half story house practically on the site of their first home. Lars worked the road grader and built most of the roads in southern Farmington Township which bears the name of the first settlement of Lykkens in Minnesota. He added to his holdings by buying the homestead of Frank McGuire which joined his land on the west. Lars and Sophia Lykken had ten children: Halle Stephen (1885), Eli Clarence (1887), Laura Lykken (1888-1889), Oscar (1889-1960), Laura Sophia (1891-1927), Isabel (1893-1954), Selmer (1894), Lucy Viola (1896), Willie (1898), Kenneth Harold Raymond (1908-1911). Sophia Lykken died June 21,1936. Lars Lykken died Oct. 22, 1948. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237.

TIMOTHY AND AUGUSTA TOPPING Timothy H. and Augusta Topping whose ancestors were of German and English descent moved from Canada to Pembina County where they lived several years before buying a farm in Farmington Township. They had six girls and two boys. In 1903 they homesteaded in Ward Co., their post office being Velva. Their remaining years were spent in that locality. Submitted by Una Parkins Bjorneby.

Family of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Topping Back row: the 5 children, left to right: Ida, Frank, Sarah, Plara and Annie. Center: Ralph. Front row: Lucy and Martha. GEORGE AND LETITIA TUFFT John Tufft was born in County Antrim in Ireland about the year 1818. He migrated to Prescott, Ontario in 1840. In Prescott he married Isabella Crawford who was also a native of Ireland. They had five children, Mary Ann, Knox, George, Sarah Jane and Martha Elizabeth. George and Knox Tufft left Ontario and moved to Litchfield and later to Plainview. On August 2, 1924, Mrs. George Tufft was moved to enter into her family Bible the following notation:

SEVER TOLLACK FAMILY Sever Tollack came from Jackson County, Wise., filing a tree claim in 1881 southwest of Valley City. In 1882 he bought a soldier right from D. C. Moore and acquired a quarter section of land in Midland Township, Pembina County. In 1883 he returned to Wisconsin and married Julia Nelson. They returned to Pembina County where he continued farming operations. He was also an assessor and on the school board of said county. In 1892 he came to Walsh County - moving onto land south of Auburn. Farming there, he participated actively 67

"August2,1924: Lutetia Estelle Grow, born May 10, 1848, near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Emigrated to Plainview, Wabasha Co., Minnesota at the age of 13 in the year 1861. In her 20th year was married to George Tufft at Plainview, Minn."

Letitia Grow Tufft, George Tufft and two of their sons, Harry and Ed, at their pioneer home. Letitia Grow was a cousin of the crusading Pennsylvania congressman who helped push the Homestead Act through Congress during the Lincoln Adrninistration. In Plainview, three of their sons, Wilfred, Cliff and Frank; and their daughter, Sadie, were born. Like so many of the early settlers, the Tuffts left southern Minnesota because of a scourge of grasshoppers. George and his three sons came first to Dakota Territory and built a shack near the Park River just north of the present site of Nash. In 1880, Letitia Tufft and her daughter, Sadie, came by train to Grand Forks. The following winter Letitia gave birth to her fourth son, Jack in the little shanty by the river during a snowstorm in January. The Tuffts made a land claim two miles west of the railroad and along the Pembina-Walsh County Une. They later expanded their holdings to five and a haU quarters. Two more sons were born to the Tuffts, Harry and J. Edward. Sadie died a tragic death by eating poison set out for rats and gophers.

He concluded his career by editing several trade journals including the "Optometric World" in CaUfornia. For a number of years, J. Edward Tufft was president of the North Dakota Association of Southern California. He organized and presided over the annual North Dakota picnics in Los Angeles. Knox Tufft, brother of George Tufft, was Chief of Police in the early days of Grafton. He died in June, 1910. Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak. 58237. OLE GAARDER FAMILY Ole Gaarder was born November 13,1874, in Baeglid, Numedal, Norway. He had two brothers, Carl and Lars, and a sister, Bertha Gaarder Axstead. Martha Gaarder was born April 5, 1881, Rollog, Numedal, Norway. Her parents were Ole Knutson and Marit (Bakken) Knutsen. She had a sister, Mrs. Jens Ellingsen (Anna). Martha and Ole Gaarder grew up in Norway and were engaged to be married before coming to this country in 1897, Martha at the age of 16 and Ole at the age of 23. The trip from Norway to New York via England took approximately six weeks at which time they arrived by train to join friends and relatives in Minnesota. Ole and Martha were married in St. Olaf Lutheran Church at Rockdale, Minn., Nov. 12,1898. A procession of 10 horse-drawn vehicles carried the guests to the wedding and the reception was held at the farm home of Mrs. Gaarder's sister, Mrs. Jens ElUngsen. The Gaarders were both employed by Torge Moen, who had paid for their passage to this country. Martha received $2 a week for helping with housework while her husband was paid $5 a month during the winter months for chores and was raised to $18 a month during the busy SGcison In 1906 the couple homesteaded near Turtle Lake, Minn., and then in 1914 moved to Pembina County where they bought a farm. They stayed there untU 1922 when they moved to Nash. Later they bought a quarter of land east of Park River and lived there untU moving into the town of Park River in 1937. Ole and Martha Gaarder raised four children; Hilma (Mrs. John M. Johnson), Melvin, Oscar, and Ingvald. Ole Gaarder died January 16, 1956 at the age of 81. Martha Gaarder died March 3, 1961 at the age of 79.

Pioneers Without Biographies Babcock, S. R. Berjove, Ole A. Blagwent, O. A. Cavanaugh, John Oiff, John Comstock, S. G. Dowling, Ezra and WUliam Deiter, W. F. Dowd, Terrance Evenson, Edwin Folske, Leopold Fults, Alonzo J . Herbison, Leslie J. Hansen, Chas. Hagenrud, Ole O. Hein, August

Tufft brothers Standing, leftto right: J. Edward, Clifford, John. Sitting, left to right: Francis, Harry and Wilfred. J. Edward Tufft earned recognition as a writer. He was editor of the Dayton Review in Iowa, the RecorderPost in Dickinson and northwest editor for the Grand Forks Herald. He wrote prose-poems about country living which were published in the various farm journals. 68

Jenson, John Jones, Chas I. and Mary 1. Joubert, J. C. Koser, Kohlmeir, Wm. Kennedy, Rosanna Lemon, Thomas Loe, Jas. 0. Mclntyre, D. McLeod, D. P. McGregor, Mary J. McManus, Thos. Mill, I. and I. E. and Isaac McKenzie, Malcolm and Fannie Miller, John and Thomas

Monson, Andrew McClellan, J. Pringle, Mrs. Preston, C. A.and T. B. Parks, Wm. Parkins, Wright Paulson, 0. K.' Richardson, S. B. Sand, Peter 0. Smith, Frank and Jos, Stewart, Isabella Scully, Jeremiah Stunkel, F. D. Trench, Geo. G. Watts, J. H. and John H. Wright, S. H.

GRAFTON TOWNSHIP REFLECTIONS ON GRAFTON TOWNSHIP

McLean and C. T. Cole were elected constables. Iver P. Dahl was the first assessor on record. On Jan. 2, 1883, Grafton Township was divided into four Road Districts and those appointed to the position of Road Overseers were Henry Hanson, Charles Anderson, John A. Domstad and Nils Monson. George W. Gilbert, W. G. Trotman, and Ryver A. Lee were next in line elected as supervisors. Fred Worthing served as township clerk from March, 1888, until 1936. Ivar Ordahl resigned from the office of treasurer in March, 1962, after holding office continuously for 50 years. The following were supervisors in the period from 1882 until 1900: G. W. Gilbert, A. Lee, Fred Worthing, John A. Domstad, R. M. Vigness, A. K. Tverberg, S. E. Sturtevant (elected chairman in 1890), Tollef Johnson and A. L. Torblaa. Road overseers were M. O. Holt, Martin Dahl, G. O. Homme, Nils Monson, Henry Hanson, 0. 0. Krogstad, Carl A. Hegranes, G. C. Sandvig, Carl F. Anderson, R. E. Lund, Charles Johnson and Ole Nilson. By Melvin H. Lykken, township clerk.

The timber in my locality in the early days was cut into logs and used in building houses, barns, etc. Then firewood was needed. In the early 1880's Ben Askelson built a saw mill. Oak and basswood, and some elm, was cut into lumber. This took a lot of timber. Then the Leistikow Flour Mill was built. It and the Grafton Light and Water Department, used wood for their steam engines. Several hundred cords of wood were used each year. During the winter months we would have from four to six men cutting cordwood. This was sold to the settlers on the prairie, to the mill, and to the Light and Water Department. My Dad bought 40 acres of timber from Thomas Lemon. After acquiring this acreage he had men cut cordwood - for 60 cents to 80 cents a cord - on it. From 800 to 900 cords a year were cut. Dad would go to the woods in the morning before sun-up to meet the settlers coming in to buy the cordwood. The demand was so great that he did not return until sundown. Good oak was cut for fence posts and sold at from 3 to 8 cents a post. Cordwood was sold for $2 to $4 a cord. Today nobody wants wood so it has no value. We converted to oil in 1950. Prior to that time we burned wood in our furnace. John P. Jackson, my dad, and Martin U. Holt were honored at a pioneer celebration at Park River June 18, 1931, for having lived in the county more years than any other white men. Walsh County honored its pioneer citizens June 18, 1931. Fifty year residents and those who homesteaded were special guests at a Golden Jubilee celebration in Park River. Submitted by Arthur F. Jackson.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS These are the early officers and teachers of Grafton Township as recorded. These officers are listed from around 1882-1900. School District No. 2: treasurers, J. 0. Hommie and K. 0. Strand; directors, John Gutormson, G. C. Sandvig, Hoagen Olson, Lars 0. Torblaa and Gilbert Mohagen; presidents, G. C. Sandvig and Gilbert Mohagen; clerks, A. K. Tverberg, R. M. Vigness and T. J. Malmen and teachers, Miss M. 0. Christian (first teacher), Andrew Tweten, Carrie Stenseth, G. H. Hjorstad, Elsie Levin, Helen V. Kellogg and Mae Bishop.

GRAFTON TOWNSHIP According to the earliest records available, the first Board of Supervisors of Grafton Township were elected Nov. 7, 1882. Ole O. Haugerud, William Pearson and T. E. Cooper were elected supervisors and John 0. Krogstad was elected clerk. T. Bolton was elected treasurer. D. W. Yorkey was employed as township attorney at an annual salary of $15. He was also the justice of the peace. Alex

School District No. 23: treasurers, S. A. Lee and Carl Anderson; directors, Paul Larson, Nils Halvorson, Ole Olson, Siver 0. Lee, Markus Johnson, T. Fjelstad and S. H. Helleru<}; presidents, Ole Olson, Siver 0. Lee, Markus Johnson and S. A. Hellerud; clerks, S. A. Hellerud and Ole Olson; and teachers, Miss Carrie Romanson (first 69

teacher), Bessie Lawston, Emma Blakstad, Mary Monroe, John Ottem and Lorin Nelson. Dist No. 22: Charles A. Johnson, president, 1892; B. C Askelson, president, 1893; John Domstad, president, 1895- B J Johnson; John P. Jackson, president, 1894; E. S. Stertevant, president, 1895-96; Fred Worthing, clerk, 1892; and Martin 0. Holt, treasurer, 1882. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 58 Dakota Territorial settlers, like the people of today, were concerned about the welfare of their children and sought educational advantages. Country schools sprang up here and there and school days were known as busy, happy days. Records for School District No. 58, known as the Sander School, are scant but after careful inquiry the following information has been obtained. In July of 1883 the necessity of a school was stressed and the settlers of that community met to discuss such plans. Much interest was shown and shortly thereafter a piece of land in the southeast corner of the S. W. <A of Section 31, Township 157, Range 53, was obtained from Hans Hovde and the building of District 58 was soon started. It was a white frame building with windows on both sides and a small enclosed entrance caUed the cloakroom. The building was heated by a jacketed coal and wood stove. The roads at that time were mostly trails and bottomless after a heavy rain. All students walked to school, carrying their lunches in syrup or lard pails. Some came barefoot until cool fall weather came. Andrew Ask was the first president; Jacob J. Neson, the first treasurer; and K. 0. Brotnov, the first clerk. Miss Johnson was the first teacher at a salary of $35 month. The school year usually consisted of split terms - such as, September 19 to November 25, and then from April 1 to July 23. Records show that the following sections were included in this school district: Range 54, Twp. 156, Sections 1, 2,11 and 12; Range 54, Twp. 157, Sections 25 and 36; Range 53, Twp. 156, Section 6 and N>/ of Section 7 Range 53, Twp. 157, Sections 31 and 32. In March of 1894 a change was made as Section 25 and the Nfc of Section 36 transferred to District 114, known as the Monson School. Another change was made in 1905 when a vote was taken in regard to moving the school to another location. The majority of the voters favored this and before long a small parcel of land in the southwest corner of the S. W. V* of Section 32 Township 157, Range 53, was purchased from Lena and Jacob J. Nelson. This transaction took place Oct. 14, 1905, the purchase price was $30 for half an acre of land. This was witnessed by Ole Overson (Notary Public) and Hans J. Brekke From 1883 to 1958, a period of 75 years, the following people managed the school board either as president, treasurer, clerk, or director: Jacob J. Nelson, Andrew Ask K 0 Brotnov, Jens Markueson, Mons Monson, Ingrebret Birk, Hans J. Brekke, Tollef Johnson Lars Torkelson, Iver Brende, Carl Torkelson, Hans Hovde, George Berger, Carl Egeland, Henry Sander, Emil Birk, Halvor Findring, John Janoiisek, Joseph Houska, Wences Suda, Heimer Torkelson, Herbert Brekke, Mrs. Herbert Brekke, Leo Birk, Vernon Sander, James Janousek and James Houska. The teachers during the 75 year period were: 0. K. Paulson, Helen Lawston, Martin Hoghaug, Louise

Guldbrandsen, Elsie Levin, Helen Anderson, Susie Beito, J J Holland, Lillie Noben, Ida Shurson, Mary Copps, Clara Dahl, Alma Dahl, Olina Ordahl, Alma Monsebroten, Julia Johnson, Ida M. Johnson, Ida 0. Brende, Dora Eastman and Ida Kiev. NormaE. Anderson, Hilda Brende, Gilbert Opperud, Ella Brende, Betty Torkelson, Daisy McCarthy, Adeline Maresch, Anna Cleveland, Marie D. Kirtland, Bridget T. O'Keefe, Welma Goodrie, Ethel Clemenson, Edna Mohagen, Monice Taylor, Leanor Clemenson, Ethel Torblaa, Glenna Sander, Evelyn Larson, Elsie Birk, Ethel Page, Emma Johnson, Selma Tverberg, M. Frances Reynolds, Phyllis Sunderland, Mrs. Norma Danielson, Mrs. Marcel Lutovsky, Inez Normand, Marcella Hrabik and Mrs. Harold Campbell. In 1958 the school district dissolved and since then pupils have attended school in Grafton. Mrs. Harold Campbell was the last teacher, from Sept. 3,1957, to May 16 1958. Her salary was $2400. Vernon Sander was the last president; James Janousek, the clerk; James Houska, the treasurer; and John Janousek, director.

Some students in Grafton District No. 22.

School District No. 58 [known as the Sander School].

GRAFTON BIOGRAPHIES JOHANNES AND TONETTA ANDERSON Johannes Anderson was born April 21, 1837, in Fillmore County, Minn. Tonetta Aafseth Anderson was born in Norway Nov. 22, 1847. She came to America in 1864 when she was 17 and made her new home in Fillmore County Minn. She was married to Johannes Anderson at Preston, Minn., in 1866. They came to North Dakota in 1880 and homesteaded one mile west of Grafton. They had three sons and three daughters, Ole, John William, Theodore, Marie, Karen and Nettie. Johannes died at his farm home at 63, June 28, 1900. 70

Tonetta continued to reside on the farm for several years; then moved to Minneapolis where she made her home with her daughter Nettie and sons Theodore and John William. She died in Minneapolis Aug. 24, 1927, with burial taking place August 27,1927, beside her husband in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. All the sons and daughters of Johannes and Tonetta Anderson are now deceased Nettie, John William and Ole are buned in the same location as their parents. Mrs. Ole Anderson (Sophia) is also buried on the Johannes Anderson family plot in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Their daughter, Marie (Mrs. Moore Erickstad) lived on a farm between Devils Lake and Starkweather and her burial took place in the cemetery of a rural church in that area. Another daughter, Karen (Mrs. John Evenson) moved to Cloquet, Minn., and was living in that city at the time of her death. Theodore is buried in Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis. Four generations of Andersons have farmed the original homestead, which is still owned by descendants of Johannes and Tonetta Anderson.

family homestead west of Grafton where they farmed for 60 years. Sophia was present at the laying of the cornerstone of the Grafton Lutheran Church in 1896, and was present at the laying of the cornerstone of the new church in 1952. She and Robert Mohagen were the only two present in 1952 who had witnessed the laying of the cornerstone in 1896. Ole and Sophia Anderson had eight children, Clarence, Joseph, Orville, Raymond, Vernon, Lillian (Mrs. Rudolph W. Hanson) and Joy (Mrs. Orvil Gilleshammer). Ole died June 25,1968 at 90. Sophia was 93 at the time of her death Dec. 13, 1973.

Ole Anderson Family Standing leftto right: Orville, Lillian, Vernon Allan, Joy and Raymond. Sitting left to right: Clarence, Father Ole, Mother Sophia, and Joseph. BEN C. ASKELSON One of the most colorful of Walsh County Pioneers was Ben C. Askelson. He was born Sept. 16, 1847, near Christiania (now Oslo), Norway and in 1865 came to Wisconsin. He married Betsey Kittelson at Detroit, Minn., Feb. 10,1875. They moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, the same fall, where they operated a hotel for one year, and then moved to Selkirk, Manitoba, and continued in the hotel business. In 1878 he entered Dakota Territory and homesteaded land, upon which part of Grafton now rests. His name was given to "Askelson Addition" — lots in the eastern part of Grafton. The initial trip into this area was made in company with Gunerius Erickson, another pioneer, who worked on laying the railroad into this town. Erickson lived here until his death, March, 1932. Interment was in Grafton City Cemetery. For many years Ben Askelson operated a saw mill in the area, and many of the pioneer homes and barns were constructed from oak and elm grown on the banks of the Park River. During the harvest season he operated two threshing outfits, and gave employment to many struggling settlers. In 1886 he purchased land west of Grafton, now called the Gilman Lykken farm which he sold in 1896. When the glamour of pioneering was over in the Grafton area, he disposed of his property and moved to Edmore where he took land and operated a sheep ranch in 1899. Here he served on the school board for eight years. His wife died in 1909. He sold his farming interests to a son-in-law, Erling Skjeveland. He then moved to Edmore, where he lived for several years. He died Nov. 15, 1915. While in Walsh County, he was appointed commissioner for this district by Governor Ordway.

Mr. and Mrs. Ole Foster The little girlinthispicture is Mrs. Ole Anderson [Sophia Foster] and her five brothers, Carl, Odin, Oscar, Julius and Bennie. OLE AND SOPHIA ANDERSON Ole Anderson was born in Preston, Minn., Oct. 26, 1877. He came to Grafton when he was three years old with his parents, Johannes and Tonetta Aafseth Anderson, who homesteaded one mile west of Grafton. Sophia Foster Anderson was the daughter of Ole Helgason Foster and his wife, Kari Braget Foster. Her Norwegian antecedents were rooted in Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, but she was born in Elizabethtown, Minn., March 1, 1880. She came to North Dakota with her parents when she was two years old. Her parents homesteaded on land two miles north of Grafton, this being her home until she was married. This farm is now known as the Sam Berg farm. Sophie had five brothers, Julius, Carl, Oscar, Bennie and Odin, who as young men went to Canada and took homesteads in the Watson, Sask., and Peace River, Alberta districts. Ole Anderson and Sophia Foster were married March 6, 1907, by Rev. Ofstedahl, pastor of Grafton Lutheran Church. Ole was a mail carrier on a rural route east of Grafton for several years. Wages for postal workers were low at that time and he had to furnish three horses. Ole and Sophie lived in Grafton where they rented a house for $7 a month. He moved his family to the 71

BEN C. ASKELSON FAMILY The parents were Ben and Betsy Askelson He was born Sect 16 1847, inChristiania, Norway, and died Nov^ £ 1915 Interment was at St. Ansgar Cemetery, Newland Township, Ramsey County. She was born July 14 1857 and died March 4, 1909. Interment was at St Ansgar Cemetery, Newland Township, Ramsey County, near ^ T h e y had twelve children: George, born Jan 7, 1876, Selkirk, Manitoba; died April 10, 1957; buried at St. Ansgar Cemetery. Charley, born Jan. 24, 1878, Selkirk, Manitoba; died Nov. 27, 1936, Edmore; buried.atSt Ansgar Cemetery. Oscar, born in Grafton, Jan. 10 1880 died 1882, buried in Grafton. Lewis H , born Jan. 21, m l died 1882; interment, Grafton. Oscar, born Dec. 29, 1884'; died July 8, 1965; interment, Pler^ywood Mont. Bennie A., born May 17,1886, Grafton; died Sept. 8,1955, interment, Smiaton, Sask. „ , Nellie, born Aug. 14, 1888, Grafton; died March 7, 1909- interment, St. Ansgar Cemetery. Louise (Skjev^eiand), born Grafton Feb. 14,1891, living on farm near Edmore as of May 1975. Christine, born May 13, 1893, Grafton: died April 4, 1911, Devils Lake; mterment St Ansgar Cemetery. Martin R., born Grafton, June 12 1898- died Oct. 28, 1936, Duluth, Minn., interment there. Henry L., born Grafton, Sept. 10, 1895; lives in Edmore as of May 1975. Clara (Malmin), born Feb. 21, 1902; died Aug 1 1935; interment, St. Ansgar Cemetery. All information submitted by Louise Askelson Skjeveland, Edmore. o

officiating Pallbearers were Frank Johnson, Charles Freeman Holbert Dahl, Edward Kopperud, Eh Lykken and Steve Lykken. Interment was in the Gratton Lutheran Cemetery. Out-of-town people who attended the funeral service included Mrs. Charles Randle, Mr. and Mrs. W. K Foster and Gerald Foster, all of Winnipeg, and Marcella Flaten and Mrs. A. A. Flaten of Edinburg. Submitted by Mrs. Clara Rod.

THEODORE BERG

Theodore Berg Theodore Berg was born in Norway Nov. 12,1847. He was 38 years of age when he came to the United States in 1885 first settling in Minnesota. A short time later he went to Mountain where he homesteaded. In 1890 he moved to Grafton township, where he had lived with the exception of three years, 1907-1910, when he homesteaded in Canada. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Carrie Foster at Grafton some time around the turn of the century. She died in 1912. They had one son, Selmer H. Berg and two daughters, Mrs. Clara Rod and Mrs. Lawrence Lykken, all of Grafton. One of the Walsh County's oldest residents, Theodore S Berg Grafton Township, died Jan. 9, 1942, at 94. He had been in excellent health up until about six months before, even helping with work around the farm. The funeral service was held Sunday afternoon, January 11, at 2 o'clock at the home, and at 2:30 o'clock at the Grafton Lutheran Church, with Rev. H. A. Helsem

School No. U0 , . , A typical early day school room [about 1909]. Pictured here are: Teacher, Mary Olson To left of teacher, front to back: Ethel Miller; next two girls, Agnes Stark; Mabel Stark; next two, Clara Berg; Theresa Johnson; last two, Lizzie Hein and Lucy Lykken. Middle row, front to back: Arthur Hove; William Stark; Leslie Miller, front of stove; 3rd row right, front to back: Bill Lykken; Clarence Stark; Isabell Lykken; Adolph Hove; Sam Berg; Sig Johnson and Sam Lykken. LEVI BLADES FAMILY The Levi Blades family migrated from England to Ontario Canada, in 1881. The family consisted of Levi, his wife Hannah Watts Blades, and two daughters, Anne and Lucy In 1882 they moved to Bowesmont, the following year filed a claim in Golden Township which he proved up as a pre-emption the same fall. He then moved to Grafton. Four more children were born while living in Grafton; Florence (Mrs. Andrew Berdahl), Charles, Harry and William. . He was a gardener with a natural aptitude tor horticulture and floriculture. He demonstrated that strawberries and other small fruits could be profitably raised in this area. For many years Mr. Blades was a deacon and active in the Baptist Church in Grafton. He was alderman from the first ward in Grafton for many years and served as mayor of Grafton from April, 1916, until his death in July, 1917. His wife died in 1893 and in 1897 he married Mrs. Alfretta Learn, who was a piano teacher in Grafton. MR. AND MRS. KNUT O. BRAGET Knut Braget was born in Gulbrandsdalen, Norway. He immigrated to the United States and settled in Dakota Territory in 1879. He homesteaded in Section 11 about Vk miles northeast ofthe present site of Grafton. Later John 72

A. Domstad acquired this land. Then Mr. and Mrs. Knut Braget bought a farm near Walhalla and lived there the rest of their lives. A grandson, DeLorne, still farms this land. Another grandson, Wally Braget, lives in Grafton. While Knut Braget lived near Grafton he was known as a breed of cattle, horses and sheep. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Knut 0. Braget. They were Conrad, Karl, Otto, Hannah (Mrs. Nabsett), Sina (Mrs. Button), Emma (Mrs. Jendron), and Minnie (Mrs. Sam Keeling), All of which are deceased. DeLorne and Wally are the children of Conrad Braget, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Knut Braget. Other children of Conrad Braget are Charles, Marcella, Donald, Robert and LeRoy. Submitted by Mrs. Alida Domstad Goodman.

Family of Knut O. Braget Standing, left to right: Hannah, Otto, Sina, Carl, Emma and Conrad. Sitting, left to right: Knut Braget, Minnie and Mrs. Knut Braget.

baptized and confirmed in Vestre Akers Kirke, and received his early education, including military training in his native land. He remained in Norway until 1878 when he emigrated to America and came to Lansboro, Minn. While there he heard about bonanza farming and being young and vigorous it did not take him long to decide to give this a try and he came on to North Dakota and secured employment on the Grandin Brothers farms. The Grandin farms consisted of 99 sections of Northern Pacific land in Trail County of which 40,000 acres was for grain. The tilling, seeding, and harvesting, required many hands. Thousands of horses and mules pulled plows that turned the soil, drew the seeders, the bundle wagons, and hauled grain to the nearest rail point. More than 100 binders cut the grain and dozens of threshing machines dotted the country with straw piles. Wheat yields averaged 24-25 bushels to the acre. All this was a wonderful experience for this young man and he also earned money to get going on his own. The height of his ambition was to become a landowner and farmer and this became a reality when in 1880 he made pre-emption proof and payment in full for a quarter of land in Section 11, Prairie Centre Township. He found farming with oxen slow work and exchanged the animals for horses as soon as an opportunity was offered. Each year found him breaking more sod and farming in a bigger way. His first year of farming the harvesting was done by hand, by swinging a cradle, a scythe-like contraption having long wooden fingers at right angles in front of the blade so that the grain was gathered in bundles as it was cut. Then these bundles were tied and stored until time to thresh the grain from the straw. There was much joy among the pioneers when they learned that the Great Northern Railroad was going to be built into Grafton from Grand Forks. This would mean no more long, tedious trips to Grand Forks with oxen or horses when supplies were needed. The first regularly scheduled train to come to Grafton arrived Christmas Day in 1881 and Mr. Brekke walked 10 miles into town to be present for the great rejoicing. In 1889 he sold his Prarie Centre Township farm and then purchased a quarter of land in Section 31, in Grafton Township, seven miles southwest of Grafton. Later he purchased another quarter in Section 30, where he put up a set of buildings, including a new home. He spent the rest of his life there. On February 20, 1893, Mr. Brekke was married to Hulda Josephine Helgenset, daughter of John and Ellie Helgenset, Park River. Mrs. Brekke was born in Decorah, Ia., Sept. 23, 1875, and she came with her parents to Dakota Territory in 1880 traveling by oxen and covered wagon. The couple had five children: Mrs. Alvin (Helga) Tverberg, John, Ruth, and Herbert, all of Grafton; and Mrs. Clifford (Hazel) Berg of Hoople. All of their children were born in Grafton Township.

Emma Braget depicting the styles ofthe 1800's. HANS J. BREKKE FAMILY Hans Jenson Brekke, son of Jens Hanson and Anne Marie Morsensen, was born March 29, 1858, in Oslo, Norway. Coming from a family of 12 children, he was

1914 brought this pioneer back to his homeland where he spent three months visiting relatives and renewing acquaintances. On May 17 of that year the 100th anniversary since the establishment of their constitution was recognized and it was a real pleasure for him to be able to celebrate this with the home folks.

Robert Cook came by boat to Fisher's Landing, then to Grafton. Mary Ann Cook married John Given, Sr., in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, in 1875. They came to Fisher's Landing, then to Grafton in 1882. Harriet Cook married John Schurman in 1885. They farmed in the Cashel area, he also worked in the Cook Machine Shop in Grafton. After 1896 they moved to Walhalla where they farmed. They lived in a log cabin, later built a new home. They then moved to Beaverton Ore., in later years where their family had moved earlier. Robert Cook, Jr., homesteaded in Alberta, Canada. Thomas R. Cook came to Grafton in early days. He was a member of Co. C. 2nd Battalion, 1st N. Dak. Inf.; served as Artificer in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection. He spent some time in early days in North Dakota and many years in Canada. He was married in his late years, died and was buried in Winnipeg, Manitoba. John Cook came to this country in 1882 and located in Grafton in 1888. He was a member of the City CouncU four terms, and chairman of the committee on electric Ught and waterworks. He was also president of the Fire Department. John Cook was proprietor of the Grafton Ironworks. This was a large machine shop located north of the bridge on Wakeman Avenue. Robert Cook, Sr., married Mrs. IngersoU. She had two sons that I knew - David B. and Sam James IngersoU. Sam IngersoU was a very good Street Commissioner in Grafton for years. His wife's name was Alice Elizabeth. David B. IngersoU was born April 25, 1870. He was a private in Co. C. 2nd Battalion, 1st N. Dak. Inf.; served in the Spanish American War and PhiUppine Insurrection. He was a train man in U. S. and in a train accident was scalded, died May 19, 1910.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Brekke were active in community affairs and much of their social life revolved around the South Trinity Church. It was there that God, nature, and the neighbors brushed together and became acquainted. Moments of joy and sadness were shared. Mr. Brekke died Jan 14,1927; Mrs. Brekke, Nov. 24,1957 and they are buried in the South Trinity Cemetery.

Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. Hans J. Brekke. ROBERT COOK FAMILY Robert Cook was born March26,1826, in England. He was married to Ann Bower in England. He then went out to sea when he returned his wife had been dead and buried three months. There were no communications in those days from land to sea. Later, Robert Cook and Dorothy Mcintosh were married. Children were born to this union in West Hartlepool, England: Mary Ann, July 15, 1858; John, May 21, 1862; Harriet, Feb. 18, 1864; Robert, Oct. 25, 1865; and Thomas Ralph, April 3, 1867.

Robert Cook, Sr., buUt three houses on what is now Wakeman Avenue. I live in one of them. There is a large male cottonwood tree in back of my yard and this tree does not shed cotton. He sent to England for the seed.

Robert Cook, Sr., went out to sea, was shipwrecked; they lost the cabin off the ship where all the drinking water was stored. All the men had collapsed on account of being without water so many days - except Robert Cook. They had brought him a pot of tea earlier and he kept the wet tea leaves in his mouth, which kept it moist. In order to come into port, they had to shoot a gun salute to identify who they were. They were going to court martial him because they thought he was holding out on the other men. After investigation, it was dismissed, as he stayed at his post in the engine room and brought the ship and men safely to shore. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cook, Sr., and family came to Port Arthur, Ontario, in 1872. There Mrs. Robert Cook died. Robert Cook, Sr., later came to Winnipeg. He and another man put the first locomotive in Western Canada, Countess of Dufferin, together. The other man was an engineer and Robert Cook was fireman. They made the first run out of Winnipeg. Later, Robert Cook ran the same locomotive out of Winnipeg. The Countess of Dufferin today stands on Main Street just north of the Centennial Centre in Winnipeg.

Robert Cook, Sr., and Mrs. Mcintosh Cook had 26 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, 122 great, great grandchildren, 83 great, great, great grandchUdren, 9 great, great, great, great grandchildren. Seven grandchildren are living, five in Beaverton, Ore • Mrs. AnnaCurfman, 89, New Rockford; Mrs. Susie Jackson, Grafton. These great grandchildren live in Grafton: Mrs. Walter Parkins, Dorothy Young (twins), Mrs Maude Johnson, Bruce C. Jackson, Thomas Givens. These great, great grandchildren Uve in Grafton: Marilyn Johnson, Carol Ann Jackson, Mrs. Bonnie (Greg) Elde. These great, great, great grandsons Uve in Grafton: Michael Mattson, Korey Greg Elde and Kelly Lyle Elde (twins). Robert Cook, Sr., died Oct. 26, 1909. Mrs. IngersoU Cook died Dec. 25,1909. David B. died May 19, 1910. Sam James died July 13, 1933, and his wife Alice EUzabeth died Aug. 1, 1933. Mrs. Mary Ann Cook Givens died Jan. 5 1914 They are all buried in Grafton City Cemetery. Mrs. Harriet Cook Schurman died and was buried in Beaverton, Oregon. Written by Mrs. Susie Givens Jackson.

This old wood burner arrived in St. Boniface Oct. 10, 1877. The locomotive, tender, flat cars, and caboose, all mounted on a barge, were pushed down the Red River by a stern wheel steamboat. The locomotive was used in the construction of the first rail Une in Manitoba. 74

"squatters" awaiting the surveyors to establish the land descriptions for filing for homestead purposes. His homestead was immediately north of Grafton where he also acquired an adjacent quarter of land by pre-emption and another, Vk miles away, as a "tree claim." Iver Dahl entered the U. S. at Milwaukee in July 1865, after a turbulent seven-week voyage on a sailing vessel, his possessions including a small, unpainted wooden chest used as a lunch basket. It contained "kavringer," similar to rusks. The chest has been retained to this day. His first English word was "axe" which he learned when his employer handed him one and told him to chop down some trees. He worked in the Nprwegian settlements of Wisconsin and Minnesota i'or some years until the promise of free land beckoned him to his future homestead. As with all of the early settlers, he chose shelter along the Park River where he built a log cabin in which he lived for a number of years after the death of his first wife a few months after their arrival. He married Maria Moe on Nov. 9, 1881, and in 1897 constructed the spacious home in which he reared his family.

FAMILY OF ANNANIAS CORNIELIUS DAHL Annanias Cornielius Dahl, a younger brother of Hans, Anton and Olaf Dahl, was born March 4, 1862, in Throndheim, Norway. He came to this country while a young man and settled in the Grafton area. He was not interested in farming like his other brothers were but worked as a butcher in a butcher shop owned by Charles Prince. He was married to Thora Hegstad who also came from the same part of Norway. Thora's sisters are living in Grafton at present - Mrs. Christine Honsvall at Sunset Home and Mrs. Ella Charleston.

Mr. and Mrs. Annanias Cornielius Dahl.

Thorvald I. Dahl C. L. Prince and Annanias Dahl C. L. Prince had a meat market in Grafton in the early 1890's and 1900's.

Mrs. Thorvald I. Dahl [Ethel Haffey]

Dahl was a gregarious man. He met others easily and enjoyed the rough man-to-man relationship which existed among the pioneers. When James J . Hill, the founder of the Great Northern Railway, traversed the future site of the branch line through the northern valley, Dahl prepared pancakes for him and sold him a portion of his farmland for the right-of-way. In addition to farming his own land, Iver did custom threshing which he completely enjoyed. His own crop was always last to be harvested, but he had the satisfaction of helping his neighbors.

Annanias and Thora had three children - Nora (Mrs. Jimmy Fitzsimmons) who lived in New York City. Ralph - deceased, but his widow, the former Ada Gilbert of Edinburg, is now living in Grafton. Eva Halvorson (Mrs. Charles Folson) is living in Hoople. Mrs. Eva Folson has two girls - Helen (Halvorson) married to Dr. Eldon Stevens, a teacher at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs - Eunice (Halvorson) married to Dr. Asa B. Graham, Fairbault, Minn. Annanias died Aug. 28, 1904. His wife Thora Dahl Field died Oct. 30, 1959. Three children were born to Ole Field and Thora Agnes (Field) Swartz: Mrs. Ludvig Swartz, Minto retired school teacher; Heimer Field, Grafton - dry cleaner; and William (Bill) Field, Grafton - retired postmaster.

His religion was important to Iver Dahl. Not long after he settled in Grafton Township, with others of his neighbors and friends he became a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Norwegian Lutheran Church which issued the call for the first pastor. Maria Moe was one of many intrepid women who worked side-by-side with their men to establish themselves in America. Born in Christiana (now Oslo), Norway, on February 18,1857, she came to Minnesota as an infant with her widowed mother and three young brothers. She survived the New Ulm Massacre of 1863, and with her brothers Ole, Martin, and Thorvald made her way to homesteads northeast of Grafton. In her later years she related the incident which led

IVER DAHL Iver Peterson Dahl, born in Trondelag, a village near Trondheim, Norway, on January 26,1841, arrived in the Red River Valley possibly as early as 1878. It was told that his brother-in-law, John Stokke, and he were

•

to her ultimate marriage to Iver Dahl. Crossing the slippery ford on the river at Grafton, she tell otf her horse, and "that handsome Iver Dahl came by and reS

Tve r and Mary, as she became known, reared a large family typical of the times. In addition to two children who died in infancy, seven were raised to manhood and womanhood on u J homestead. Educating their children was almost a mania for them. After completing country school in District 22 which was blessed with a series of excellent teachers "because they could stay in Grafton and walk the two miles or so daily to school, all but one of the children completed high school and college. Peter became a medical doctor; Thorvald, a lawyer; Casper, a dentist; Anna and Cora, teachers; and Ida, a nurse. Holbert remained on the farm with his mother afterlver died in 1925 Mary died in 1949, a few short years less than a century after her birth, having seen four major wars and the transformation of an open prairie into a miracle of agricultural production.

Iver Dahl Family Standing, back row: Thorvald, Holbert Peter and Anna. Standing, middle row: Casper and Cora. Sitting: Iver, father, Ida and Mary, mother. Thorvald Iver Dahl, was born on his fathers homestead in Section 12, Grafton Township, March 12, K t S son and fourth living child of Iver and Mary Dahl He attended school in District 22 and Grafton High School where he was graduated in 1907. His father believed in educating his children but required each of them to teach in a country school before S e r i n g university. Dahl taught the Elhngson School south of Adams for two years before enrolling at the University of North Dakota in 1909. Several of his students were about as old as he, and on several occasions he was required to prove his physical capabilities before getting down to reading, writing, and arithmetic. At the University he was active in football and track and set several records in the hurdle events. He was graduated in 1914 with B. S. and L. L. B. degrees and returned to Grafton where he was associated withH. C. DePuy in the practice of law. On July 5 1917, he married Ethel Mary Haffey, an immigrant from Canada, whose father had lived for a short time in the Ardoch area before returning to his home in Ontario. She had come to Maxbass, some years previously and, after attending business college in Grand

Forks, became a secretary for the law firm of Grey and Myers in Grafton. . Later in 1917 the two moved to Washington, D. U where they were employed by the Naval Bureau until Dahl entered the Navy. Although he saw no overseas service, his devotion to veterans of the military apparently commenced at that time. Returning from the service he bought the law practice of E. Smith Peterson in Park River and practiced there until 1922 when he was elected States Attorney of Walsh County and moved his office to Gratton. He served in that office until 1936. Thereafter he practiced law in Grafton alone, with his son Robert E Danl from 1948, and with the latter and F. W. Greenagel from 1960 until his death. "T I " as he was known to almost everyone, was dedicated'to the American Legion. He was a charter member of Paul Farup Post No. 147 in Park River and served the Grafton post as Commander in 1929. He was also an active member of the 40 & 8, and held numerous local and state offices in that organization. He was a member of the Walsh County Draft Board during World War II All of his sons fought in World War H or the Korean Conflict and one of them, Charles E. "Ted," was killed in Germany Jan. 7, 1945. „ The Dahls were the parents of four sons: Robert E., Charles E., WilUam R. and Donald C. Ethel Dahl died Aug. 5,1964. T. I. Dahl died June 21,1966. Submitted by Robert Dahl, grandson. OLUF DAHL Oluf came from Norway in 1874 and worked around Dalton, Minn., four years. Dalton was named by his uncle. He was working at the Dalyrimple farm near Fargo when the land up here was opened for homestead. Martin Dahl, Andreas Dahl and Oluf decided to come and look things over. They came to Grand Forks to the land office and registered for permits. They then walked along the Red River north up to the Park River following it west A trapper lived in a house near where Oakwood is now, but the Norwegians did not get much help from him as they could not understand French. Then near where Grafton is, there were four men sitting on the river bank undecided about what to do but they never saw them again. The land here did not look very good. There was tall grass in swamps and water holes When they came to the place where the three rivers joined, it looked better. Around the first bend in the river the land was much higher. They staked their claim there. Martin on the first, Oluf on the next, and Andreas further west. They looked around for a few days then Martin and Andreas went back to Fargo leaving Oluf to take care of the land so nobody would jump it Oluf built a small log cabin and broadcasted some wheat on a small field. He planted some potatoes. He had to thresh the wheat with a board. They had to cut hay for the cattle with a hand scythe. A letter dated May 3, 1878, asked Martin to bring some money and his trunk when he came back and address the maU to Grand Forks, D. T. Another letter dated June 9,1878, saying most of the surveyed land had been taken, and mail the letters to Little Salt River. One day looking around the country he 76

saw four men coming across the country from the north. Getting closer, they were his brother Hans Dahl, Carl Dahl, Christ Dahl, and John Jackson. They had been working on the railroad in Canada. They were going to Oluf's house the next day. It was about 40 miles to Pembina and about the same to Grand Forks, a long way for groceries and other things. They had lots of local food. Eggs from the prairie chicken and ducks and meat from rabbits, duck, and prairie chickens. Oluf built a fish trap from hazelnut branches, and it was full almost every day. One day when he went down there, a mother bear, a middle sized bear and a baby bear had left their tracks in the mud and taken his fish, but he did not want to meet them so hurried back to his home. July 22, 1878, Oluf had gone to Fargo for threshing and when he came back would be bringing some cattle. The oxen were very slow moving so Oluf borrowed $400 at the bank to buy a team of horses. The banker kept 10 percent and charged 15 percent interest. He did not know how he would get them paid for. He built a rail fence for them. One night a terrible lightning and thunder storm scared the horses, one of them ran into the rails and got hurt so badly it had to be killed. The next year another storm blew down some trees, so he sold a lot of wood. Gust Lysingen from St. Thomas hauled wood nearly all winter. He had a fair crop that year so he paid the banker.

20, 1930. Oluf Dahl was born Feb. 10, 1858, and died Oct. 15, 1931. Tilda Dahl was born Oct. 23,1872, and died Aug. 1, 1946. They are all buried in North Trinity Cemetery.

Family of Mr. and Mrs. Oluf Dahl Back row: Elmer, Herman, Mabel, Olga, Rudolph and Walter. Front row: Oluf Dahl, Stella, Alpha and Mrs. Oluf Dahl [Matilda].

ALFRED AND HELGA DOMSTAD Alfred Domstad, along with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Domstad, brothers James and Seymour, and his sister, Petra Nellie, arrived in Walsh County from Mcintosh, Minn., in 1881. My dad, Alfred Domstad, was about 2'/ years old at this time. The family settled on a "tree claim" about 2>/ miles northwest of Grafton. They lived here for some time until buying land about three fourths mile south of this home. Here a log house had been built on the banks of the Park River. Here the family grew up. Seymour and his family, in time, bought a farm north of Union. James and his family moved to a farm near Estevan, Canada. Petra Nellie married Dr. A. A. Flaten and eventually moved to Edinburg, North Dakota. Mrs. Domstad (Helga Pederson) immigrated from Elverum, Norway, in about 1900. She was then 19 years old. Two of his sisters, Oline and Parnilla, had come to this area earlier so naturally, my mother arrived here, too. In Norway she had received a good education but this did not, at first, help much. She worked as a maid in such homes as C. D. Lord, Park River, and the Nollmans, Grafton. As far as learning to speak and read the English language, she was self taught. When her children started school, she made use of their learnings of the English language and became further acquainted with the American tongue. Alfred Domstad and Helga Pederson were married April 3, 1907. Eight children were born to this union. Alida (Mrs. Franklin Goodman) living in Grafton; Oline, who died in infancy; Heimer, Bremerton, Washington, (former mayor of Bremerton); James Silverdale, Washington, (owner of a store); Mabel (Mrs. Carl Bauer), Great Falls, Montana; Hannah, Republic, Washington, (ownerof a store); Joseph, deceased; and Isabell (Mrs. Robert Withey) Willow City, North Dakota. In 1920 Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Domstad bought the farm owned by his dad, John A. Domstad. They continued to live on this farm until their retirement. Joe Domstad bought the acreage of the homestead and resided there until his death July 28, 1974. Consequently, the farm remained in the Domstad family well over 80 years. 2

Mr. and Mrs. Oluf Dahl [about 1898] Back row: Herman and Walter. Front row: Mabel, Oluf Dahl, Rudolph, and Mrs. Oluf Dahl holding Elmer.

Martin and Caroline were married in 1878. They came back from Fergus Falls in a covered wagon and oxen. They had some furniture and a cow tied behind. They lived in the wagon until Oluf and Martin had built a log house. They had seven children. Hannah, the oldest girl, was born May 21, 1879. Oluf and Tilda Anderson were married in February, 1889, and moved into their new house. They had eight children: Herman, born April, 8,1890, died Dec. 21,1974; Walter, born June 15,1892, died Oct. 19,1943; Mabel, born Oct. 19, 1894, died Oct. 17, 1972; Rudolph, born Sept. 5, 1896; Elmer, born Dec. 16, 1898; Olga, bom Jan. 21, 1901, died Sept. 6,1972; Stella, born Nov. 22,1902, died Oct. 21, 1927; and Alpha, born April 20, 1905. Martin Dahl was born Nov. 11,1852 and died Dec. 31, 1904. Caroline Dahl was born June 21,1848, and died April 77

My dad tells of attending a log schoolhouse adjoining the Domstad farm. He also relates incidents of a man teacher who, to keep discipline, would rap the students on the head with the handle of his pocket knife. My dad did not finish grade eight as he was needed to work the fcvm. This wis a true trait of the times. School was usually held when work was slack on the farms. Keeping a farm going in those days was a difficult task as pioneers will readily attest to. Horses were the power on the plow, binder, cultivator, etc. Farmers kept cattle pigs and chickens. The manure was hauled out on the fields and spread from a wagon with a fork and later by means of a horse-drawn machine known as a manure spreader.

The Family of Alfred Domstad Standing: Mabel, Isabell, Heimer, Hannah and Ahda. Seated: Father Alfred Domstad, Joseph, James, Mother Mrs. Alfred [Helga] Domstad. All of us learned to milk cows, feed calves, "slop" the hogs care for chickens, clean barns, haul hay and straw for the animals as well as help with household chores at an early age. Unless you were pretty little in stature and years, you had work to do. A ter coming home from school, besides the household and outdoor chores, there was that ^erlasting wood to be carried into feed the cook stove andwha.ever stove was there to heat the house. My mother used to eitoer go alone or take us older ones and during intervals £ the summer, go through the woods and mark the dead frees with an ax. These trees would be sawed down, S t e d home by horses with a log chain attached to the fallen tree and later sawed and chopped into stove sue. Th s latter operation was done by hand. I recaU a man wno was Lown as a "wood chopper" who used to stay with us and did just that for board and room and small pay. I do not recall the wages. If there was not enough money to pay the bills in the fall I remember that these bills were reduced by bringing in farm produce such as dossed chickens butter churned on the farm, eggs and whatever else could be salvaged to apply on the bills. My mother used to also raise and sell turkeys to help with expenses. Our clothes were all home made. We always wore home knit stockings, caps and mitten^ I can visualize the clicking of my mother's knitting needles and the hum of the sewing machine. . But then we had our fun, too. As kids we made skis out of barrel staves and went down the snow-covered river bank. Somehow, skates (the ones you fasten to the soles of the shoes) were acquired for us. We used to play hockey by using a tin can or whatever was handy, tor a puck For a stick we would find a semblance of one from a small tree branch.

My dad would saw open a hole in the ice and from this we did "ice-fishing." We climbed trees, swam in the river rode horseback, went sleigh riding and played in the hay mow. We did have fun sandwiched in between our chores The "grown ups" would have community "gatherings" for the Fourth of July. The families contributed food and fireworks. Farm homes took turns having the "gatherings." Baseball games among the "young" and "grown ups" was usually a feature of this event. Not much money was in circulation but it seems all went pretty well anyhow. During the depression of the thirties no amount of work or saving could save people from losing their farms But through persistence and more hard labor farms were recovered and these early settlers managed to pull themselves out of this dilema and continue to live out their lives on their farms. I recall an infestation of grasshoppers. Getting rid ot these was not too scientific in those days. We used to scatter some sort of a mixture in a ground-up form in the fields by hand. We had a bucket of sorts and went up and down the fields doing this. Whether it did any good or not, I do not recall. Eventually, however, this grasshopper menace passed away, too. Mr and Mrs. Alfred Domstad and son, Joseph, are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Church Cemetery. Submitted by Alida Domstad Goodman. MR. AND MRS. JOHN DOMSTAD John A. Domstad was born in Hedemarken, Norway, Oct 5 1844, died in Edinburg Aug. 25,1930. Maria Braget was born Dec. 29, 1850. She was married to John A. Somstad in 1869. She died Sept. 1, 1921. They were both buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery.

Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Domstad Mr Domstad immigrated to the United States, first homesteaded 60 acres of land listed under a homestead certificate at Alexandria, Minn. This land became his officially Aug. 23,1876, under the administration of U. Gra

Hearing of the opening of land in Walsh County he moved there. Ten years from the time he acquired land in Minnesota, he purchased 160 acres in Walsh County, Territory of Dakota. The official transaction occurred October 30, 1886, under the administration of Grover aeV

The iand my grandfather homesteaded was located about 2 % miles northwest of the present city of Grafton About-three fourths mile north of the site where I was reared, was my grandfather's first home On this site was a house, 2 barns and a flowing well and trees. This was an ideal place for cattle. At the time the government

took it upon itself to "cap" these wells, this well had so much pressure that for a long time the rush of water could not be stopped. There are few of these wells in existence. There is one such well on the Lawrence Lykken farm. Lawrence says it is just as good as when he came to that farm many years ago. This well is regulated so it can be turned on and also shut off. After selling the home farm, my grandfather continued to keep some milking cows on the "tree claim." I can remember my grandfather going back and forth to take care of his cattle. He traveled in a buggy pulled by a horse named Jack. My grandfather was president of School District 22 in 1895. He was one of the first road supervisors in Grafton Township, a charter member of the Grafton Lutheran Church. My grandmother was also a charter member of this church and the ladies' aid. The log school that my father, Alfred Domstad, and his brothers and sisters attended, was about three fourths of a mile north of the home of Oscar and Clara Kopperud, adjoining the Domstad farm. It has been reported that to this day, as the land is tilled, debris from long ago is exposed from soil where this school stood. Alfred, third youngest of the four children, bought the land from his dad, John A. Domstad. This transaction occurred Jan. 28, 1920. Previous to selling the farm to my father, my grandfather bought 5 lots in block 75 in Grafton. This is the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lanes. He lived here about 10 years. Then he purchased 4 lots in block 2 Monson's Addition, where I now live. We purchased this property from my aunt, Mrs. A. A. Flaten (in 1946) who had inherited it from her dad, John A. Domstad. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John A. Domstad. They were Petra Nellie, Seymour, James and Alfred. Petra Nellie married Dr. A. A. Flaten and resided most of her life in Edinburg. She was a helpmate to her doctor husband making many calls to the patients by horse and buggy. She is deceased. James married Oline Pederson and moved to near Estevan, Canada, where they farmed for many years. He is deceased. Seymour Domstad lived near Union where he farmed. Three of his children are living: Adeline (Mrs. Mike Steinolfson), Edinburg; Melvin, Milton; and Millie (Mrs. Marvin Evenson), Grand Forks. Seymour is deceased. Alfred bought the farm and lived there until retirement. He is deceased. Submitted by Alida Domstad Goodman.

CARL EGELAND Carl Egeland was born in Stavanger, Norway, Jan. 19,1868, and came to the United States in 1893. He worked in the Grafton area for Arnie Torblaa and for Tollef Johnson. He returned to Norway in 1900. On April 18, 1902, he married Abigail Solberg in Norway. He returned to the United States in March, 1905, with his wife and two daughters, Anna and Elsie. Elsie had measles on the ship during the trip to the United States and passed away shortly after the family arrived at Grafton. The family was met in Grafton by Kittel Peterson, cousin of Mr. Egeland. They settled on what is now the Williamson farm, farmed there for a number of years. The family then moved to what was known as the Christianson farm for several years. In the year 1915 they purchased the Kellogg farm and spent the rest of their lives there. Six more children were born, Er ling, Tollef, Marie, Ingeborg, Sigrid and Henry. Mr. Egeland died Nov. 12, 1936, and Mrs. Egeland Nov 28, 1940.

Former Kellogg home. Gudin elevator and station were named after Kellogg. Pictured here left to right are: Wellington Ingle, Horace Ingle, Gullicn Torstad, Carl Egeland, Mrs. G. Torstad, Mrs. Carl Egeland, Gladys MoeKeavery, Sigrid Egeland, Lucille Nelson, Hjordis Torstad, Myrtle Moe, Ingeborg Egeland, Mrs. Horace Ingle and Mrs. Kellogg. LUDVIG EGELAND FAMILY Ludvig Egeland was born in the vicinity of Stavanger, Noway, March 13, 1866. His early childhood was spent in that country on the home farm. He immigrated to the United States in the late 1880's, spending some time in Wisconsin, later coming to Walsh County where he was employed on several farms, two of which were the John Johnson and Arne Torblaa farms. After a few years, he purchased the Louis Wentz farm, the Southwest Quarter of Section 27, in Oakwood Township, which was the family home for a number of years. He married Sina Pederson in April, 1900. Three sons were born, George, Carl and Iver. Mrs. Egeland was also a pioneer of Walsh County, having arrived here with her parents at the age of 3 via covered wagon. She was born in Rushford, Minn., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kittel Pederson, Dec. 11, 1876. She lived her entire life in Walsh County, her parents owning a farm, the Northwest Quarter of Section 27 in Oakwood Township, later the home of the Egeland family.

John A. Domstad Family Standing, left to right: Alfred [near his dad], Seymour and Petra Nellie. Seated, left to right: John A. Domstad, James and Mrs. John A. Domstad. 79

married to Clement L. Schumacher in 1938 and they had one son, WilUam, who now resides in Grafton, as does Helen M. Schumacher. Clement L. Schumacher died m October, 1973. He was formerly County Treasurer of Walsh County and was in the potato buying business until his retirement due to ill health. Helen M. Schumacher is a former County Auditor of Walsh County and is now secretary-treasurer of the Walsh County Farm Bureau. Dorothy Foley was married to Joe Jacobchick of Wahpeton. He died in 1963. They had two daughters, Kathleen now a social worker in Grand Forks, and Mary Jean, a senior at NDSU in Fargo. Mrs. Dorothy Jacobchick resides in Wahpeton. Submitted by Mrs. Clem Schumacher.

Mr. Egeland was treasurer of School District 27 for many years, and the family was active in the church now known as Grafton Lutheran Church.

DANIEL GJEIN FAMILY Daniel Gjein was born in Gjennestad, Norway, Dec. 7, 1869. He was married to MUla Hjill in Kraakstad, Norway, July 7, 1893. Four children were born, two in Gjennestad. The other two were born in Calbou Township Kittson County, Minn., 48 miles north of Hallock. In 1898 they came to the U. S. with their two children, Agnes and Bjorn. For a short time they Uved in Minneapolis, Minn. That same year they came to Grafton where they resided for three years. In 1901 they homesteaded in Minnesota where Lulie and Einar were born. There they lived for 11 years. In ; 1912 they returned to Grafton and bought a farm 5% miles N. W. of Grafton in Section 17 of Grafton Township where Einer and his wife now reside. Mrs. Daniel Gjein passed away Dec. 12, 1937, at the age of 64 years. Daniel Gjein passed away Feb. 5,1957 at the age of 87 years. They are buried at the South Trinity Cemetery of rural Grafton. Bjorn Gjein passed away Sept 3 1957, at the age of 47 years and was buried in the state of Washington. He left no famUy. Agnes (Mrs_ Martin Dalman) passed away Jan. 1, 1957, at the age ot 63 years and was buried in Annandale, Minn. She had five sons and one daughter. Mrs. Hugh Swindler (Lilhe) now Uves in Seattle, Washington. She has a daughter by a former marriage. An interesting experience depicting the lite ot tne pioneers in N. Dak. was concerning the baptism of one of the Gjein chUdren. The famUy went to the church this winter day but before they reached it the sleigh broke down. Shortly, an Indian appeared on the scene. Communication was very difficult and dread of what he might do struck everyone. As Mrs. Gjein opened the blankets and showed the stranger her little baby he uttered the word "papoose." Immediately he went back into the woods, obtained things he wanted and helped repair their sleigh so they could continue on their journey to the church.

Left to right: George Egeland, Carl Egeland and Iver Egeland, children of Mr. and Mrs. Ludvig Egeland MR. AND MRS. GUNDER ERIKSTAD Gunder Erikstad came from Jolster, Norway in 1878. He stopped in Crawford County, Wise, for one year, then came to Grafton Township, Sections 15 and 22, in 1879. Gunder returned to Norway in 1886 and brought back his fiancee, Nikolina Anderson Hegranes, also a native of Jolster, Norway. The Erickstad farmstead, unlike homes built along the river, was about % mile from the river. The first homes arid other buildings were of log construction. The first plowing of the land was by oxen. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Erickstad were Sam, 1887; Maria, 1888; Andrew, 1890; Inga, 1893; Nick, 1895; George 1897; Edward, 1899; Edwin, 1901; and Alfred, 1904 Mr Erickstad died Dec. 18, 1928, and Mrs. Erickstad died May 16, 1954. They are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. JAMES A. FOLEY FAMILY David Foley was the son of Anna Crowder and David Oswald Foley. There were nine children in this family. They came to Minnesota from Ireland when the children were young. Elizabeth Dailey was the daughter of Eleanor Carley and Cornelius Dailey. They were also from Ireland. Both families came to Minnesota and settled near Plainview. David Foley married Elizabeth Dailey in Minnesota and they had nine children. When James was six years old the family came by boat to Acton Landing, Walsh County. The winter was so bad they had to stay with relatives until they could come to Grafton in the spring. David Foley was Chief of Police in Grafton for many years, then the family moved to Tacoma, Wash. James A Foley decided to stay in North Dakota when the rest of the family moved to Washington. He owned a barber shop in Walhalla, then owned and operated a barber shop in Grafton for many years. He also served as postmaster of Grafton for 8 years, 1915 to 1923. In 1905. he married Ida MacKenzie, the daughter of Malcolm and EUen MacKenzie, Grafton. Ida's mother, Mrs Ellen MacKenzie, who was a widow, lived with the Foley family until her death in 1938. Ida and James Foley had two daughters, Helen and Dorothy. James A. Foley died in May, 1936, and Ida Foley died in 1950. Helen was

ANDERS AND STEVER HELLERUD Anders HeUerud came to Grafton Township from Northfield, Minn., in 1878. He was born in Norway and emigrated to the United States. In 1879 they shipped their goods to Fargo. Then with the help of a team of horses they arrived here. The cattle were led behind the wagon. At this time a son, Stever, was 12 years old. He was born in 1866 near Northfield, Minn. Stever Hellerud married Mary Lawston in 1888. Mary Lawston was a teacher both in the Nash school and 80

also taught in Grafton Township. She came from near Canton, Minnesota. Six children were born: Arthur, lives in Pierce, Idaho; Annie, living; Ernest, Oscar, Mabel and Esther, all deceased. Stever Hellerud died in 1943, and Mrs. Stever Hellerud died in 1956. Mr. and Mrs.' Hellerud were members of the Grafton Lutheran Church. They are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Anders Hellerud sold, out and returned to Northfield, Minn., where he is buried. Arthur Hellerud has 3 children: Sherman A. Hellerud, Eileen Pierce, and Arthur 0. Hellerud. As told by Annie Hellerud, granddaughter. LOUIS C. HOISVEEN Louis C. Hoisveen, the son of Christopher Hoisveen, told of many experiences and hardships that the early pioneers experienced. He was bom in Lillihammer, Norway, June 26, 1860, and moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1868. The family then came to the Grafton area in 1878 or 1879, where Christopher, the father, settled and homesteaded a farm site approximately 1% miles west of Grafton, or the city limits which were eventually Grafton, which he eventually sold and moved into Grafton. L. C. Hoisveen had a tree claim south of Grafton. He planted 32,000 trees before obtaining title. He told of walking to Grand Forks for supplies. His longest walk was to Fargo where he purchased a walking plow and returned with the plow via a Red River boat to a point known as Acton about 12 miles east of Grafton. His father, Christopher, met the boat and hauled it by ox team to the Christopher Hoisveen farm which had been partially cleared of timber. On trips to Grand Forks Louis H. stated that it was necessary to swim the Ardoch Coulee to establish a short cut, however, such a short cut was not possible on the return trip and he generally took a boat from Grand Forks to Acton where he was met by his father. Louis Hoisveen was an excellent mathematician and when 20 years of age organized a crew of railroad workers to build a portion of the G. N. Railroad bed south of Grand Forks. He acted as time keeper and computed their average yardage and haul distance. This ability led him into the grain brokerage business and later to the position of assessor for Grafton. My father, Louis Hoisveen, in the company of my grandfather, Christopher Hoisveen, arrived in Grafton in 1878 or 1879 before there was a Grafton. Their mode of travel was a covered wagon drawn by oxen. My father operated a grain exchange for a number of clients in Duluth, Minn., for a one year period but my mother was unable to stand the damp winters which occur in Duluth. Her folks pioneered at Hoople and were engaged in operating a general store for several years before moving to Grafton. They were Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Forsyth. Submitted by Milo W. Hoisveen. MRS. LOUIS HOISVEEN Mrs. Louis Hoisveen, 72, pioneer teacher in Dakota Territory and Grafton housewife, died suddenly last Saturday noon at her home when after picking up something from the dining room floor her heart failed. She had lived in Grafton, with the exception of one year, since 1888.

Born at Houston, Minn., Sept. 1, 1869, she spent her early life there and at Moorhead, going to the vicinity of DeLamere to teach in 1886 and 1887, when it was still Dakota Territory. As Louise N. Forsyth she came to Grafton in 1888, and May 20, 1893, she was united in marriage here to Louis C. Hoisveen. The couple moved to Duluth, Minn., and lived there one year, returning to Grafton in 1894^ where they have lived since. She was an active member of the Grafton Lutheran Church, the Eastern Star, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Walsh County chapter of Pioneer Daughters of North Dakota. The funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 30, at 1:15 o'clock at the home and 1:45 o'clock at the Grafton Lutheran Church, with Rev. H. A. Helsem officiating, and the interment was made in the Masonic Cemetery in Grafton. MR. AND MRS. HENRY HOLT Henry Holt was born in Grafton Township on February 15,1890. He was the son of Martin and Dorthea Holt. He grew up on the farm and attended school in District 22, known as the Holt School. On March 26, 1913, he married Julia Serness who came here from Roseau, Minn. She came to cook in a cook car and that is where they met. They lived in Grafton Township until 1966 when they moved to Grafton to retire. They had ten children: (Ruth) Mrs. Willard Solberg; (Helen) Mrs. John Davies; Kenneth Holt; Raymond' Holt; (Junice) Mrs. Thomas Thompson; (Harriet) Mrs. Murphy Callahan; Marilyn Tallackson; (Dorothy) Mrs. Herbert Presteng. Two boys died, John at ten months and WilUam, eight days old.

Lunch time during the threshing season on the Henry Holt farm near Grafton. In 1926 the farm home burned to the ground. No lives were lost but the family lost everything. A home was built again on the same foundation. Mr. Holt served as clerk of School District 22 for many years. His hobby was fishing, and he especially loved little chUdren. He could rock them and sing Norwegian songs for hours. Mr. and Mrs. Holt celebrated their golden wedding in July, 1963, with an open house at the Grafton Lutheran Church. About 250 friends and relatives gathered for the occasion, including all of the children and their families. Mrs. Holt was noted for her delicious cooking. She cooked for years at the Bible Camp at Park River, and opened cafes in Nash and Hoople during the fall when the outside laborers came to help with the harvest. She was always a wiUing helper when families were in need during times of sickness in the homes. Many times she

went into homes to help when others were afraid of the disease and she said she never got sick. Mr. Holt died at 81 Aug. 8, 1971. Mrs. Julia Holt lives in her home in Grafton. MARTIN 0. HOLT Rugged Norway has furnished to the great plains of the Northwest the sturdy hands and earnest minds that have transformed it into the most prosperous and progressive region of the world. Of those whose labors and zeal for right principles have helped to work this transformation none is more worthy _of :mention^ than Martin 0 Holt whose valuable land lies in Grafton Township on Section 10 of which he makes his home Mr Holt was born in Solor, Norway, Jan. 28, 1856, and lived there until the age of nine years, when he accompanied his parents to America. They proceeded at once to Fillmore County, Minn., and four years later moved to Otter Tail County, Minnesota. The mother had died in Fillmore County. Mr Holt lived in Otter Tail County until the spring of 1877 when he came to Dakota and took up land in Walsh County, a homestead that had since remained his home. He made improvements on it at once and continued to make it his home ever since. He has added many valuable improvements from time to tune and today it is oneof the most valuable farms in Walsh County. Mr. Holt owned three hundred and twenty acres and his^success as an agriculturist has been proven. Mr. Holt's father died on his homestead in Otter Tail County in 1899.

surviving charter member of the Grafton Lutheran Church. ,, „„ o Martin 0. Holt died at his farm home in the year 1937. Dedrick Holt, son of Martin 0. Holt, makes his home in the city of Grafton. Dedrick is the only survivor of the original Martin Holt family. . Numerous descendants of Mr. Holt reside in the Grafton area and throughout the nation. This information was taken from the "Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota," published by Geo. A. Ogle and Co., Chicago, in the year 1900. 1Q

SAM 0. HOLT Sam 0 Holt was born Feb. 1,1862. He was a native of Numedahl, Norway, and came here when he was a young boy He farmed in Grafton Township for many years. He married Julia Erickson in Grafton m 1900. They had three sons, Oscar, Herbie, and Albert. Oscar died April 8, 1913. Herbie and Albert live on the old homestead. Sam 0. Holt died Dec. 18, 1951, and Julia, his wife, died April 23, 1908. Submitted by Mrs. Herbie Holt. JOHN P. JACKSON Much of this is a tribute to John P. Jackson in verse. PIONEER (John P. Jackson) You came to the crest of God's virgin hill And gazed at His splendor, untrodden - still; A splendor embossed with flowers and trees And soothed by the cradle song of the breeze. You cut, from the woodlands, oak for a home And sank its stout base in rich murky loam. You cleared the entangled prairie of weeds And planted instead the life-giving seeds. . . The wilderness blossomed beneath your hand. . . To you we give thanks for Liberty's land! I am sneaking in tributary terms of my father-inlaw, a pioneer, who passed through the sunset gates Dec. He was born only a few hours' voyage from the Swedish mainland on the island of Gotland, better known as "The Pearl of the Baltic" near "The City of Rums and Roses," the city of Visby on April 13,1856. Many legends have come down to us about Europe's ''Treasure Island '' The most fantastic of these relates "that ot old it was enchanted, hiding beneath the waves by day and rising to the surface only at night, a curious poetic anticipation of its actual history, for, after varying career in ancient times, it rose to a position of splendor in the Middle Ages, fell again into obscurity and now, because of its romantic story, is gaining fame among tourists as one of the most entrancing spots in Europe. From this stronghold of beauty "where painters strive to match on their pallettes the exquisite color play of the yeUowu>hgray wall riding against a sapphire sky and reflected in the indigo sea, of the tiled roofs of cottages almost smothered with rambler roses and the cobbles of winding streets." From this veritable paradise where the climate is mild and sunny, my father-in-law emigrated at the age of 17 to the United States to Ishpeming, Mich., where he labored in the copper mines. After four years he grew restless and longed to see what lay above the earth s

Martin O. Holt Family Leftto right, back row: Mathilda, Ole, Elmer, Oscar and teftto right, front row: Henry, Mr. Holt, Dietrich, Mrs. Holt and Alice. [William and Ole S. born later.] Mr Holt was married to Dorothy Ellef son, March 10, 1881 Mrs. Holt is a native of Norway and has been a constant aid and second to her husband's labors and endeavors. Their family consists of ten children named in the order of their birth as follows: Ole, Elmer Oscar Matilda, Alice, Henry, Mary, Dedrick, William M. and Sam. • Mr Holt has always proven himself a substantial citizen and staunch supporter of the principles of good government. He has taken an intelligent and active interest in all local matter of public nature and often been called upon to serve his fellow citizens in various public capacities. He has served as supervisor of Grafton Township and has been school treasurer of his district for many years. He has never sought political preferment, however and has been content to pursue the pleasant and honorable calling of an agriculturist. He was the last 82

surface in this vast, unsettled land of opportunity. With this in mind he set forth: Along the "paths primeval" more times than he could remember He heard a brook go rippling by Unheeded through the underbrush, A birdling's anguished cry Above the rhythm of its gush He saw the sturdy oak and elm Against the atmospheric blue And felt His presence at the helm In sight and sound the long days through. The upper midwest - Dakota, held out a welcoming hand, Dakota where then, rich farm lands were to be had free from the government, lands that were broad and rolling, lands that had never known the plow - Dakota where now, wheat of high protein content, wheat, lauded far and wide is grown in abundance, Dakota- North Dakota, the bread basket of the world! That spring with hope adorning and cheering the tranquil days He fashioned of the sturdy oak A home that stands today Atop the hill where first he came Instinctively to pray. Later with the ever-present glow of inspiration warming his heart and With oxen that were broad and strong He labored happily Through long ensuing golden days in outdoor purity. And at the completion of the gathering in of the harvest, a bountiful harvest, When winter snows were dazzling white He journeyed to the east, Brought back a wife to share with him Old mother nature's feast. And his cup was filled - and overflowed. When later children came to bless That simple little home, For he had contentment then, that "pearl of great price," and He sought no more the great outside He sought no more to roam.

He was always an interested worker for all that was good and for all that was beneficial to the community. He was the forerunner in a great number of farm and agricultural projects which have been of great importance to the state. His was a long life, well and nobly spent. And we who follow in his steps All strive to do our best, For deep within our hearts we know That this will ease his rest. Submitted by Lydia 0. Jackson, Route 2, Grafton, N. D. 58237. The author of this essay is also the author of the verses used. This essay placed third in the Creative Writing Contest sponsored by the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs in 1963.

Family of John P. Jackson Left to right: Mrs. John P. Jackson, Hilda Ruth, Eddie Henry, Arthur Francis and John P. Jackson. TALL TALE There was a farmer many years ago, Who - when days were fragrant and bright Complained about his wheat. It grew so fast It kept Wm from sleeping at night. By Lydia 0. Jackson, published in the Winter 1963Spring 1964 issue of "Midwest Chaparral." HOME-LOOMED RUGS (To Mrs. John P. Jackson, Walsh County Pioneer) Grandmother wove upon her loom Gay rugs that beautified each room Of her vine covered little home That clung to fragrant, hilltop loam. She wove when she had time to spare — A moment here - a moment there. Thus through good management and skill, Accomplishment was her great thrill. She wove when days were wind-slashed, cold, When lamplight spread its circled gold, When basswood crackled in the stove And youth was her chief treasure-trove. She wove from remnants of the past Bright scatter rugs - all color-fast That are reminders of her worth, Her perseverance while on earth. By Lydia 0. Jackson, published in "The Farmer " St. Paul, Minn.

This picture is on the Arthur Jackson farm. This cabin is still standing and is part of John P. Jackson's first home. His toil worn hands fashioned it in 1878. Arthur Jackson is John P. Jackson's son. John P. Jacfeson Wedding picture taken in Grafton in 1886.

PIONEER CABIN Like a sentinel on guard, Still a cabin stands. . . 83

Fashioned of the sturdy oak, Hewed by toilworn hands; Lashed by time from every side, Maimed by ruthless weather; Spurned by modernistic folk, Yet it clings together! Mute reminder of the past, Holding out until the last! . Lydia 0. Jackson, first published m the June27,1942 issue of "Dakota Farmer," reprinted in The National Pen Pal Magazine, Aug. 1942; reprinted in Potato Edition, Grafton News & Times, Grafton News and Times, 1943; reprinted n Of to ™ We Sing," an anthology, 1944; P " ^ ^ ^ a Digest " an anthology, 1945; reprinted in North Dakota Union Farmer " June 6, 1949. Included m my article titled £ Tribute to the Pioneers," publiJ e d in the June 6 1949 issue of "N. D. Union Farmer." Reprinted in the July 7 I960 issue of "The Walsh County Record." A picture of the cabin also appeared. r

LYDIA JACKSON NAMED STATE POET LAUREATE Mrs Lydia Jackson of Grafton has been designated as associate poet laureate of North M o t e by a a , , current resolution adopted on a voice of the House ot ^ f e s o T u t i o n was introduced by Rep Henry Lundene of Adams. Also named as associate p^et laureate was Henry R Martinson of Fargo. The resolution read: . , WHEREAS, Lydia 0. Jackson was born in North Dakota and is a highly respected lifelong resident of the N

And I thank you for your support in recognizing one of the reallv "greats" from Walsh County. "Shehasreceived awards, and medals from all parts of the country since 1950. Her name has appeared in any number of Who's Who books and dictionaries. She has earned membership in poet organizations in several foreign countries as well as our own North American Sntinent Three of her books are available at the Public Ubr

" I h a v e on my desk, a display of some of her work, which we invite you to look over when you are•free to do so I would like to include in my recorded remarks a short poem which is her way of describing a monument wmch stands on these Capitol Grounds that most of us pay little attention to. "SAKAKAWEA IN BRONZE" By Lydia O.Jackson "Esthetic sunbeams have reserved the spot Where with her child, Sakakawea stands In muted statue-bronze, designed and wrought Without a flaw, by gifted artist hands. She stands in sculptured beauty, glory-sheened. Who once led freedom's trek on trackless ground, Benignant. . .gazing westward. . . justly queened Sheathed in its lauded splendor, honor-crowned, She stands in triumph on its scnptured base Above the trivial, the commonplace, Above the things that have no reason, rhyme. So may she ever stand in bronze array .. For beauty is intact when art holds sway. LYDIA 0. JACKSON

Sta

W H E R E A S , Mrs. Jackson is the author of several books of poems, including: " ^ ^ ^ I ^ G S " 1943- "Selected Poems," 1962; and "Pardon My Gall, 1965' Mrs. Jackson also compiled a book of poems entitled "Peace Garden of Verses," 1967, and has written many poems which have particular significance and S i n g for the State of North Dakota, including "Sakakawea in Bronze:" and WHEREAS, Mrs. Jackson has received the unusual honor and distinction of having her work acclaimed by ^contemporaries in the field of poetry, as evidenced S t h e S s i o n of a biographical sketch of her life in the Mernational Who's Who In Poetry on s e v e f ^asions and as evidenced by her designation as Poet Laureate by the American Poets Fellowship Society in 1972-73:

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Jackson Lydia 0. Jackson, (Mrs. Arthur F.), Grafton N. Dak - In Who's Who of American Women - Who s Who in the Midwest - International Who's Who in Poetry Scrionaryof International Biography, 1963 - Dictionary of International, 1966 - Published in many periodicals a u m o r T H A M E S FOR EVERY SEASON, 1943 Author of SELECTED POEMS, 1962 - author of PARDON MY GAFF, 1965 - As State Poetry Chairman (19661968) compiled a booklet of peace-poems, A PEACE GARDEN OF VERSES, containing works of nine N. uaK Pern Women, herself included - Member of National League of American Pen Women (Fargo Branch) Poetry Society, London - Midwest Federation of Chaparral Poets - American Poetry League - Idaho Poets' and Writers' Guild, American Poets FeUowshm Society - World Poetry Day Assn. and Centro Studi E Scambi Internazionali of Rome, Italy. Awarded by he S in 1965 the Bronze "CSSI Medal of Honor" and the

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE 6F REPRESENTATIVES OF ^ E STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING E

™ T h f t Lydia 0. Jackson of Grafton, North Dakota, be designated as Associate Poet Laureate of the State of North Dakota until a successor is named by tne Legislature; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a duly enrolled copy of this resolution be forwarded by the clerk of the House of Representatives to Mrs. Lydia 0. Jackson Rep. Lundene requested that the following remarks be printed in the journal. Rep. Lundene: "Mr. Speaker: It is with a good deal of pride and satisfaction that I introduced this House Concurrent Resolution in this 44th Legislative Assembly.

Diploma of Merit, - awarded in 1967 the Silver "CSSI Medal of Honor" - awarded by Accademia Internazionali "Leonardo Da Vinci" of Rome, Italy in 1968 a Diploma (Artistic Certificate of Merit) for poem WITHOUT FOUNDATIONS published in their international collective booklets.

to the new life and beeame an indispensable partner. Being ambitious and hard-working, my father was able in two years' time to buy a farm in Martin Township (now owned by Paul Haug). In those early days it was inevitable that there would be hardships and unexpected problems. For instance, one morning in mid-winter my father came to the stable and found his horses almost lifeless. There had been a snowstorm and all the cracks and crevices of the building had been packed with snow, resulting in the animals' near suffocation. It was quite a scare and a great relief when they revived soon after the door was opened. One of the most serious drawbacks of this area was the lack of water; it was necessary to dig ponds to fill this need (it is my understanding that some still find this necessary).

THE OLD SPINNING WHEEL A household implement of long ago It still - in spite of marked neglect - exudes An heirloom loveliness of beauty-glow That comes from quiet interludes When nimble fingers - always at great speed Spun carded wool, drew out the lengthening strands Of fluff-soft yarn that, served the household's need And satisfied its year-around-demands. And still it is the heart-wheel of the home And occupies the cherished fire-side niche, Although it has no modern trim - no chrome And will not ever life's estate enrich. But still it stands, a link with yesterday When hardy pioneers came west to stay. Lydia 0. Jackson RED PLUSH ALBUM In Grandma's red, plush album — Its leaves are edged in gold There is a faded picture Of Grandpa four years old. The present ceases always, The years go back and stop When I see Grandpa leaning Against a marble top.

Ben J. Johnson and wife Mattie, 1893. Another hardship was the lack of fuel (wood for the stove which heated the house and was used for cooking). To fill this need, it was necessary to haul wood from the Red River, a distance of about 12 miles. By getting up at 3 a. m., he and a neighbor could make the trip in one long day. In 1889 Dakota Territory was divided into two states — North and South Dakota. North Dakota's first election took place in November of that year. My father was proud to be a member of the first election board of Martin Township, along with such familiar Walsh County names as J. B. Stewart, Ole Rod, 0. D. Nelson, and Jim McLernon. At this time he learned of a farm near Grafton which was for sale. In this he was interested so, with one horse and buggy, he drove to Cooperstown and closed the sale with the owner there. To this farm more acreage was eventually added. In 1890 a large house was built on this farm; it was meant for a future all-time home, but this was not to be for on a hot August afternoon in 1893 it burned to the ground. That year a couple was employed on the farm during the harvest season. Unknown to the family, the woman smoked a pipe. In hurrying to get out to do the milking, she carelessly slid her still-burning pipe under the pillow and this did the mischief. Living quarters were shifted to the granary until a house from another farm could be moved in (in 1904 this house also burned). Three daughters had been born to the family, and because of their schooling it was deemed advisable to move into Grafton, the move was made Jan. 1, 1895. At this time the farm was rented, but in 1900 my father went back to active farming and continued until 1924, since then it has been let out to tenants.

His mouth is like a cherub's; His eyes like pools of bliss; His dress.. .well.. .if he wore it To-day, he'd be a miss! Lydia 0. Jackson BENJAMIN J. JOHNSON Benjamin ("Benny") J. Johnson was born Feb. 7, 1858, in Muskego County, Wise., one of a family of three boys and three girls. (It is of interest to note that all of these children eventually found homes in the Red River Valley of North Dakota). His parents came from Norway by boat in 1848. They landed in New York City where his mother hoped fo find a brother who had left Norway in the late 1830's, but in this they were unsuccessful. » The family resided on a farm in Muskego County until 1866, at which time they moved to Rice County, Minn, (originally they had made plans to go to California, lured by news of the Gold Rush, but the death of a child caused them to change their plans). They farmed here until 1880 when the eldest brother (James) came to Dakota Territory, followed by my father in 1881. He was too young to file on a claim so he rented a farm just north of Cashel from 0. M. Omlie, another early pioneer. On March 26,1884, he was married to Mattie Elstad, whose family (father, mother, seven daughters and one son) came to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Rice County in 1866. Before her marriage she knew relatively little about farming since she had been employed in a millinery store in Minneapolis. Despite this, she adjusted 85

Throughout the years of his farming, the work was often hard but rewarding. One of the highlights of each year was the harvest, which was indeed a long drawn-out Procedure, unlike today when farmers have tractors and other modern super-efficient machinery instead ot horses The work went on from sun-up to sun-down and still the regular chores remained to be done, but it was reward enough to see the golden grain pouring from the spout of the separator. . . . , My father took an active part in Grafton s civic attains He became a member of the city council in 1905 and served as mayor from 1907 to 1909. He was a member of the school board for many years. When Leisfakow Park was organized, he was elected a member of that first S K e t o n g e d to all the Masonic bodies and was a member of the first class initiated into Kern Temple. He dso served o„ an early Walsh County drainage board He and his family were pioneer members of the Grafton Lutheran Church. He served on the church board for several terms, often as president. My mother was an pnthusiastic worker in various organizations within tne S S d Ladies' Aid groups and visiting delegations were always welcome in her home. One of the highlights of my father's life took place in 1907 when Roald Amundson, the famous explorer, lectured! the old Opera House^In 1903 Cap^Amundson attained world-wide fame when he was the first to sad toe Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific (since the 1500's many unsuccessful attempts had been

up as repairs during later farming operations in NJDak Markus eventually started his own shoe shop in Minneapolis and specialized in making shoes for those with crippled feet. Markus had three brothers that followedhim to America but none settled in North Dakota. While in Minneapolis Markus dropped the difficult name, Kragtrop, and went by Markus Johanson. Markus' wife, Ingrid (Lykken) was born in Telemarken, Norway, Nov. 20, 1850. She came with her parents to America in 1873, taking eight weeks to cross the Atlantic. Her folks settled at Farmington and rem there Ingrid moved to Minneapolis and worked at the Nicollet House. Here in Minneapolis she met and married Markus Dec. 6, 1877. In the spring of 1880, Markus and IngridI and their two children, Minnie and Josephine, and Ingrid s parents left Minneapolis for North Dakota. Markus filed a c aim to homestead in the Grafton area. Grafton at this time consisted of one log cabin in which Mr. Cooper lived Their furniture and only possessions were brought by boat to Acton on the Red River and remained safe there for three weeks covered only by a carpet. Not a thing was ^ L M n g first in a log cabin built by Charley Johnson, Louis Lykken and Markus - they later, in 1881, built a log cabin on Section 20, the same spot where the present Johanson home stands. In 1883 Markus bought a yoke of oxen, then two years later horses. Their first bumper crop was in 1891. The first major flood was in 1881 following a big winter snow fall. The three day Thanksgiving storm of 1896 caused many to exit from their homes by upstairs windows. The present home was built in 1892 at a cost of about $1,800 and the barn was built in 1893. , •• ., The Markus Johansons, along with five other families organized Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Grafton on Nov. 27, 1881. Markus and his wife loved the church and gave liberally to it, also to Red Wing Seminary and the Children's Home at Beresford, S. Dak. One of Markus' last acts wastohelp raise the bell into the steeple at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. This same bell continues to announce the beginning of morning

mad

S i n c e my father was the mayor of Grafton at the time and also a Norseman, he was honored by being chosen to entertain Captain Amundson and a few friends; at, a dinner at his home. It was a memorable evening for all concerned, including the family. It was 'Norwegian o X " for that evening, and I learned it is indeed a beautiful language, especially when spoken in the old S i S o s l o ) style (my father had taken on the dialect of my mother who came from that part of NorW a y

A s mentioned previously, three daughters were born to Benny and Mattie Johnson: Kate, a teacher in the Graf ton Public Schools for 25 years; Abbie married to Oliver Sundahl, died in March, 1915, leaving one daughter, Marian Sundahl Jarnagin; Jeanette, married to Arthur Torgeson from Iowa, who died in March, 1919 fson Paul was born in July, 1919. Paul was married to Alice Murie, Langdon, June 20, 1948. They have four children - Paul H, Paulette, Kathy and Jane. Mattie Elstad Johnson died in February, 1933, Benny J. Johnson in March, 1941. u^nrihlp These two proved themselves a sturdy honorable pioneer couple, and their family is proud of _ Submitted by Kate Johnson and Jeanette Torgeson.

t h e r n

MARKUS JOHANSON (KRAGTROP) Markus Johanson Kragtrop (Markus Johanson) was born in Holand, Norway, (about 21 miles northeast of Oslo) Feb. 4, 1846. Before coming to America in 1868 he had learned shoe making. This trade he used in Minneapolis where he worked for the North Star Shoe Company. It was he who made a pair of prize winning hand sewn tongue boote size 119 for the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul One boot was given to Ole Gillman and Company and the other ended

° Eight chUdren were born to Markus and Ingrid: Minnie Oct. 15,1878; Josephine, Feb. 8,1880; John July 8 1881- Henry (Uvedonly a few months) ; Hannah, Oct. 8, 1883; Christine, Nov., 1884; Clarence, June 11,1887; Otto, Aug. 11,1889; Martin, Feb., 1892 (died at three months); and Mabel, Dec. 12, 1896. After her husband's death Ingrid lived with her daughter, Hannah, in KaUspeU, Mont., until her death on her 80th birthday in Nov., 1930. Of the eight chUdrenborn to Markus and Ingrid, four are stUl living - Mabel, Hannah, Clarence and John. John took over the farm operation after his father's death and continued to farm it untU his retirement. The farm is now operated by J O h

A f t S a homesteading adventure in western North Dakota (Ward County) where he met such notables as Jesse Smith, the infamous gambler, and Dan Manning the biggest horse rancher in North Dakota, John returned to take over running the home f a r m John married Linne Raumen Dec. 7, 1927. They had four children: Mabel, Jean, James and Inga Linne died March 21,1970. John is a resident of the Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton, as is his sister, Hannah.

MEMORIES OF NORTH DAKOTA Back to 1894 and memories of old times in North Dakota. I remember log and sod shanties. My first home was a log house but Mother told me of the sod house she lived in when homesteading. My parents came to North Dakota somewhere around 1879. All houses had a dirt cellar for food storage and also for cyclone shelter. Indians roamed around but they were friendly and occasionally ate a meal with us. One event I remember was: "A Proud Indian." People made their own mustard or had strong mustard and this Indian took a generous helping and smeared it on his meat not knowing what the result would be. Tears ran down his cheeks and some laughter ensued. When asked why he cried he replied that he was thinking of how the white man had driven them off the land. He was too proud to admit his first trial with mustard. Travel was with oxen or horses — wagons and sleighs and once in a while, a two-wheeled sulkey. Churches were unknown so services were held in homes, and dinner was served the minister who drove many miles. Homemade tables and planks placed on chairs were used to accomodate neighbors. Mother was often called out as a mid-wife, and also to lay out a body after death. Homemade coffins were used. We learned to speak English very young as we settled in a mixed community - Irish, Scotch, and Icelandic. Our parents, Norwegian, had to learn the language for social and business purposes. Men wore buffalo skin over coats which at that period must have been low in price. I recall they were very heavy. Occasionally we saw a man or two walking by with a tame bear. Then we children ran and hid, fearing the bear. I also remember a severe blizzard of 1893 and it was all open prairie at that time with no shelter belts. Submitted by Julia Johnson, Apt. 24 , 900 Burgamott, Grafton.

in what is now Grafton Township. His companions, Carl F. Anderson, Lars Torblaa and Hans Paulson, filed on adjoining land. Mr. Johnson built a house of logs, sent for his fiancee and they were married. The sod was broken and the land put into production. Two girls and five boys were bom; the third child, a boy, failed to survive beyond the age of three. They continued to live in the log house until 1890 when a new house was built. This house is still occupied today. The writer, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's youngest son remembers his mother telling about how snug and warm the log house was. Sometime in the 1890's Mr. Johnson made a trip back to Norway. On his return he was accompanied by Mrs. Johnson's father and a brother of Mrs. Johnson with his family and another family. Mrs. Johnson's father, Torkel Larson, continued to live with them until his death in 1903. It is a bit of a handicap in writing this that it is now 66 years since my father passed away and mother three years later. Among the things I can remember father telling me is how hard the work in the harvest field at that time could be. For instance to stand on the platform of a reaper trying to tie the grain into bundles as fast as it was cut. I also remember mother telling me how their first cow was sheltered in a room dug into a straw stack and when the calf was born in winter it had to be brought into the kitchen while it dryed off. The Johnson homestead became a mecca for friends and relatives from the Stavanger area as they came to America. They would stay awhile until they were rested from the trip and were able to obtain work and I have had more than one of them tell me it was just like coming home. Tollef Johnson died in 1911 and Mrs. Johnson in 1914. Submitted by Arnold Johnson.

TOLLEF JOHNSON Tollef Johnson was born in Bjerkreim, Stavanger, Norway, on the Gaard Sundvar. At 19, he immigrated to the United States leaving parents, brothers and sisters, and his fiancee, Martha Larson. For a number of years he worked as a transient laborer on farms and in logging camps in Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa trying to accumulate a little money. In the spring or summer of 1880, having heard reports of the fabulous Red River Valley, he, with three companions set out to get there coming to Grand Forks presumably by train. From there they walked to Grafton. They spent the night in a cabin owned by Iver Ljone which was located on the quarter section on which Oscar Almen now lives. They slept on the floor that night and were no doubt very tired after their long walk. They were roused early the next morning by Mr. Ljone who told them if they wanted land they couldn't be lying there. With the help of Mr. Ljone they went searching for land which had not yet been filed on. They were successful and Mr. Johnson filed on the N. E. % of Section 3?

Tollef Johnson

Family

MR. AND MRS. MATTHEW KENNEDY Among the early pioneer settlers to Dakota Territory were Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy was born July 8, 1859, in Pint Lagard, Canada. His parents were Edward and Catherine Murrony Kennedy, both born in County Cork, Ireland. He came with his parents and brothers, Andrew and John, and sister, Mary, when he was 20, they homesteaded on a farm five miles northwest of Grafton. Andrew and John moved to Montana and Mary was married to Frank McGuire. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Art Oihus (Phyllis Maresch), resides in Grafton.

On June 15, 1886, Matthew Kennedy married Miss Ellen Keyes who had come to Dakota Territory with her family in 1879. She was born Oct. 5,1866, m Douglas Ont to Thomas and Ann Gannier Keyes. The anally had homesteaded on a farm northeast of Grafton Other members of her family were Clara, Maryann, Robert jTck Thomas, Sr., and Levi who was killed by a team of horses in the year 1887 when he was 32. Tom, Ann and Levi are buried in Oakwood.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Keyes. Parents of Mrs. Matthew Kennedy.

Other members of their family include Mrs. A^ J. ?RosaliT) SSante. Mrs. Leo (Helen) Hance, Mrs. John (Cecelia) Heilman, Marvin, Paul and Joe. Submitted by Joe Kennedy.

JOHN ANDERSON KOPPERUD John Anderson Kopperud was bom in Valders Norway July 13,1847. He came to the United States and Otter Tail County, Minn., and lived for a few years by Pelican Rapids, Minn. . , He came to this community with three other friends Ole Aas Martin 0. Holt, and Iver Dahl,.May 1, 1878. All took homesteads on the Park River a short distance f mm what a little later became Grafton. Tohn A Kopperud was married to Karen Christopherson Burtness in May, 1881. Ten children were born to them, six boys and four girls. Four are deceased, S e s and Minnie in childhood, Conrad in 192 amLLena in 1968 Four sons and two daughters are living, all are retired Dr. Alfred Kopperud lives at Saskatoon, SasK S Wiiuam lives at Oak Park, 111.; Mrs. Roman (Anna AMcia) Sieben, Napervills, 111, and Eddie J Oscar and Clara Josephine Kopperud, all of rural Grafton John A Kopperud was oneof the ongmal foundersof what is now Grafton Lutheran Church which will be 100 vears old Dec. 12, 1978. _,, The original Kopperud Homestead is now part of the Kopperud Foundation which was established by Lena Clara and Oscar Kopperud effective July 1, 1968 The Foundation owns farm land in Grafton, Oakwood and S i n g t o n Townships, as well as residential property in the City of Grafton. The earnings from such properties Ze distributed annually to several rehgiousand charitable organizations. It is believed the Kopperud S d a t i o n is the only one of its kind in Wa sh County and by the terms of the instruments establishing the Foundation it has perpetual status. Lynn G. Grimson, Grafton attorney, is President of the Kopperud Foundation, and Warren Tollefson SiairmS of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Sunset Home and Dr. M. L. Erlandson, Chairman of Grafton Lutheran Church Council of Directors. Mr John Kopperud died Nov. 30, 1919 Mrs. John Kopperud died Aug. 7, 1927. Both are buried in Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. PAUL AND INGEBORG LARSON Paul Larson, son of Lars and Guri Paulson, was born in AalHallingdal, Norway, July 13,1849. As was often the custom he took the surname of Larson, being the son of S r s He came to this country at the age of seven with his parents and they settled in Wisconsin, and severa years SerThe family moved to Iowa. In 1878 Paul Larson came to Walsh County and settled on a claim west:oi Grafton where he made his home until his death His homestead is one of the few in the community that has been farmed by members of one family for nearly 100 years. The third generation is still farming In the spring of 1880, he was married to Ingeborg Hellerud She was born in 1856 in Northfield, Minn the l i g h t e r of Andrew and Turi Hellerud. Their first home was a log house, and they shared the privations and S s h i p s of pioneer life. In those days there were many tobos waking along the river trails looking for work and shelter and food. It was not uncommon to get up in the 8

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Kennedy After their marriage in the Oakwood Churcn by the late Rev. J. Barrett they lived on the farm until 1910 when they moved into the city. He was employed at the Grafton Roller Mill for a number of years and the last seven years of his life he was caretaker at the Leistikow Park He died Oct. 31,1930, of pneumonia. Mrs Kennedy died Nov. 9,1955. Both are buried at St. John's Cemetery in Grafton. Children born to them were four sons, Andrew Thomas, John and Frank. Daughters were Mrs. Paul (Josephine) Huber, Mrs. C. 0. (Mamie) Trudeau, Mrs. Earnest (Laura) Ritschen, Mrs. Jack (Alice) Guthrie, and Mrs. Ray (Viola) Collette. Another daughter, Nellie, died of diptheria when she was six. Their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Kay Collette, owned Tollack's Hardware for a number of years Their son, Frank, owned and operated the establishment known as Kennedy's 5:45 Club which he had purchased from Jack Givens in 1948. Prior to that he had been employed at the Grafton Roller Mills and had worked at lunch counters in the city. He was married June 22 1914, to Leona Zolondek, Ardoch. Mr. Kennedy died in Dec. 1951. Mrs. Kennedy is presently living in \apa Calif., with her daughter, Olive, and son, Bill.

morning and find that your homemade bread that had been left to cool on the kitchen table was gone. In this first home five of their nine children were born. They were Louis, Albert, Gustab, Tilda and Ole. As the family grew, there became a need for larger living quarters so a two story house was built in 1887. They added four more children to their brood. They were Eli, Julius, Julianne and Emma. Julianne or Julia is the only surviving member. She is living in the city of Grafton and is still active with her fancy work, housekeeping and even mows her own lawn. In addition to his farming, Mr. Larson owned and operated a steam threshing rig and did custom threshing for many neighbors. He was a member of the school board for many years and was very interested in education. He donated the acre of land known as the Four Mile School or District 23. Mr. Larson died in November, 1908, and Mrs. Larson died in 1922. Following the death of his parents, Ole Larson took over the farming interest. He was married March 4, 1914, to Mabel 0. Sander, daughter of Arne and Jorgine (Findring) Sander, who also were early homesteaders in Fertile Township. They had three children, Paul, James and Irene, who are all living in Walsh County. This generation also suffered their share of hardships, among them were the dirty thirties, grasshopper infestations and the depression. In 1960 they retired from active farming and moved into Grafton. In 1964 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Larson died Feb. 28, 1968, and Mr. Larson March 24, 1969. ERICK N. AND AMELIA LEE FAMILY ErickN. Lee was born in Norway, April 11, 1885, and immigrated to Walsh County in 1898, at 13, after the death of his parents. His youngest brother, Ingvald, still lives in Norway while another brother, Hans, came to the United States later and settled at Crosby. Erick was accompanied from Norway by his uncle, Gulbrand Lee, who that year made a return visit to his native land.

Erick was a charter member of the Son's of Norway Lodge in Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. V. O. Johnson, Park River, cousin of Erick Lee. HENRY AND ANNE L E E FAMILY Henry Lee was born Aug. 26, 1879, at Lanesboro, Minn. He came as an infant to Dakota Territory with his parents, Gulbrand and Thorina Lee, and a two year old sister, Anna, in the spring of 1880. They lived on a homestead in what is now Prairie Center Township. He always said he learned to walk there on a sod floor. About seven years later the family came to Grafton Township where he attended area schools - the "four mile school house" to begin with until a school house was built closer to the family farm. As a young man, he was one of the neighborhood fiddlers - having his beginning playing on the violin owned by a family friend, Torgrim Damen, who lived with them off and on. When his father came back from a visit to Norway in 1898, a violin was brought for him so then he had the real thing. However, he also made his own violins from a cigar box by whittling and gluing. When strings were not available he used a few strands from the horse's tail - this he also used to complete the bow. Even later in life he would make a violin on a stormy winter day to amuse the children. There was usually an empty cigar box in the "store room" waiting for that purpose. Then, when it was ready, he would play a few tunes to prove it worked. He also told about making his own toy wagon as a child. It was made entirely from wood and for greasing the wheels he said he used pork rinds. He served as treasurer for the South Trinity Church, rural Grafton, for several years and also treasurer for the rural school located near the family farm in Grafton Township.

Erick made his home with the Gulbrand and Thorina Lee family in Grafton Township, and a few years later moved to live with his cousin, Henry Lee and his wife, Anne, and family, where he resided until 1918 except for the time he spent homesteading in South Dakota. He attended country school near Grafton and worked as a farm laborer. For two winter seasons he was employed at the Farmers Elevator Company, Grafton, under the management of August Blockstad. Erick was a strong, industrious, and hard working man and in 1918 purchased the Carl Anderson farm in Grafton Township, where he farmed and lived until his death in 1960. In April, 1923, he married Amelia Newton, Grafton, and they had one daughter, Helen, now Mrs. Lyle Seas of Brookings, So. Dak. Mrs. Lee moved to Brookings in 1961 and died there in October, 1966. Erick N. Lee was noted for his excellent penmanship and served as secretary for many years of the South Trinity Lutheran Congregation, rural Grafton, of which he was a member all his life. He wrote the minutes of meetings in Norwegian and continued as secretary until the congregation voted to hold church worship services and conduct their meetings in the English language at which time he chose to retire.

Henry and Anne Lee Family Left to right: Henry Lee, Irene Verna [by chair], Herman, Lawrence and Mrs. Henry Lee. In 1903, Henry Lee and Anne Olsen, Osage, Iowa, were married in South Trinity Church, rural Grafton. They farmed in Grafton Township, until moving into Grafton in 1942. They had four children: Irene, Lawrence, Herman and Verna. Anne Olsen Lee was born Nov. 18, 1878, in Mitchel County near Osage, Iowa. Her parents were pioneer homesteaders there in the early 1850's. She was the youngest of a large family and the only one to come to North Dakota. She served as church organist for more than 20 years beginning in Iowa. She rode a bicycle for seven miles one

way for the few music lessons she had taken. She had her rriann shinned from Iowa to North Dakota when she had choir practice was held every Wednesday in the Lee home.MaurL Hagen was director of the 18 to 20 choir members with Anne Lee as orgamst. She could reminisce about carding, spinning, and weaving of wool; of which articles are still family ^sessions. Also, she told of the making of their own Sndles Z dipping the wicks attached to a^stick into S s containing melted wax; the wicks were lifted up and down to make the desired size of candles. Henry Lee died May, 1949. Anne Olsen Lee died May, I960.

Submitted by Mrs. V. 0. Johnson, daughter.

HUGH AND MARY LEDWICH The origin of the Ledwiches is in West Meath County, Ireland Next they are found in Hemmingford, Quebec. m t m S o r d a Mary Ledwich m j ^ J J Kinesburv Frances Ledwich married Isaiah Kingsbury Three Ledwich brothers, Charles E., Johri F. and Hugh came to the Grafton area from Hemmingford in 1878 and S CharTes E was the first of the brothers to settle in Se regio^ He came to Winnipeg in 1877 and worked on the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1878, he came to the Grafton territory and filed on a claim along the banks of the north branch of the Park R h S l t h e spring of 1879, John and Hugh came to Winnipeg. They walked from Pembina to Grafton to find S 3 brother. They filed on land in the Auburn-Nash I Z . Hugh settled west of Auburn. He ^ t e r s o l d h ^ d Henrv Kinesburv Hugh used to walk to Shultz s terry i S d l S get his mail. Charles settled near NashhuTlater sold his land to Tom Heltne. Hughs river claim later became the Hans Wendlebo farm. In 1883 Hugh went to New York state and settled two miles from old Fort Ticonderoga just across the line from HeTmingford. He married a widow, Mrs^ Mary rZnahuT who had a son, Frank. She was born in Massachusetts and her maiden ^ ^ S Fitzgerald. Katherine, always known as Kate, was born in 1885. In 1886, Hugh returned with his family to Dakota Territory. They lived successively on all three of he Ledwich claims. While living a mile east of Nash, Hugh almost perished during a swift and treacherous blizzard_ While returning home from Grafton with a team of horses and a lumber wagon, the sky changed from bright sunlight to almost total darkness with such blinding tury he had to give the horses free rein, trusting in their instinct to bring him safely through the storm. They ook him to what is now the Steve Lykken farm. He took refuge in an empty building while the horses huddled against the outside wall. • . Kate attended high school in Grafton. She did light housekeeping with the Donnelly sisters, Celia Berttia and Eva in the old klondike building. On week ends she walked the Cannonball Line, the railroad track to Nash to visit her parents. She often heard the wolves howling in the distance. In 1904 Hugh Ledwich held an auction sale with O. J. Bolton as auctioneer. The Ledwiches moved into Grafton and lived in the Peterson house, 610 Western Avenue. Mrs Ledwich "took in" roomers. One of the roomers was y

Ross McFarland who later married Kate. Another roomer was Kate's close friend, Hattie Kingsbury who Warded with the Ledwiches while she attended high school. Kate and Hattie went to the movies at the Bijou which was next door north to Gagnon s store. After the movies they went to the Grafton Drug Store for hot chocolate in winter and ice cream sundaes in summer Ras Hetelid made the best sundaes in town from a chocolate syrup he made from his own recipe Occasionally, Dr. G. W. Glaspel sauntered into the store, chewing on his cigar. , Hugh Ledwich died in 1909 after a lingering ihness of two years. Frank Donnahue performed as a clown in RinglingBros. Circus. Later he served on the police force mGrand Forks. While there, his wife died leaving two small children. After her husband's death, Mary LedS worked at the Institution for the Feebleminded as the State School was then called. Kate worked for years at the Treuman Abstract Office which was located at 617 Hill Avenue. ,, ,. „ j After leaving their house, Kate and her mother lived in an apartment in the Shelter which was locatedI beSeTn the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Merchant's Hotel. At the time of Kate's marriage: ij. ISA7, Mary Ledwich took over the care of Frank s little girl Hattie Mary Donnahue. Later Kate and Ross McFarland made Hattie Mary their foster daughter. They made their home in Portland, Ore. In 1927, Kate brought her mother home to be buried in St. John's Cemetery .In1966 RossbroughtKatehome to be buried in the good earth of her beloved hometown, Grafton. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

GULMAN AND ELLA LYKKEN Gulmon Lykken left Telemarken, Norway, for America in 1872, one year before his parents He farmed 80 acres in Minnesota and worked as a day laborer. The money he earned, he sent to the family in Norway which helped enable them to make the trip to America. Gulman s father was Hans Gulman (1820-1905); his mother was Kari Olson (1821-1894). Hans Gulmon was the son of Gulmon Sletta and Gunhild Argaard. Kari Olson was the daughter of Ole and Anna Kaase. Hans Gulmon and his wife, Kan, had a family of six: Ole (1843), Gulmon (1854), fcgre; (1850), Hans (1858), Lars (1886) and Ole Gilman ( 1865). They made the voyage to America from Norway in a sailing boat the Nordhaven, embarking at Skien and landing in Quebec The voyage took seven weeks and two days. From Quebec they traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by ariverboat which was towed by horses. The boat carried immigrants, cattle and cordwood. From Milwaukee they went to Farmington where they met with their son, Gulmon They farmed there for two or three years. They made a move to Yellow Medicine County but the grasshopper plague drove them back to Farmington. They arrived at the time of the Jesse James hold-up in Farmington. Gulmon married Ella Matilda Thoreson. Ella Matilda was the daughter of Stephen Thoreson (18301882) and Ingebor Anderson (1829-1912). Stephen was a veteran of the Civil War and his brother Carl was killed in the War Between the North and the South. Ingebor s brother Martin, was also killed in the Civil War. Stephen Thoreson was the son of Tore and Margretha Olson;

Ingebor was the daughter of Christian Sjerva Anderson (1803-1871) and Guri Eriksdater (1808-1870). They came to America about 1849, the time of the California gold rush. They worked on the Knute Husevold place near Muskego, Wise., for seven years. They moved to Dakota County in Minnesota with a caravan of 15 covered wagons, a trek that lasted four weeks. Gulmon, from Telemarken, Norway, and Ella Matilda, whose parents came from Holand, Norway, met in Farmington, were married in 1879. Their first son, Henry, was born in Minnesota. They went to Dakota Territory in 1880 where they filed on a homestead one mile west of the Auburn townsite. It was there that five more children were born: Stephen (1882), Carl (1884), Eletta (1886), Tilda (1890) and Lawrence (1894). Gulman Lykken sold his land, house and furniture to Father Bastien and moved his family to a farm in the timber along the Park River west and a little north of Grafton. John (1898), Fred (1900), and Melvin (1905) were born on this farm which was to become the permanent home for the family. Stephen took a short course in farm engineering at the Agricultural College in Fargo; Henry and Carl were graduates of the University of North Dakota. Henry became a distinquished and successful inventor. He developed the Turbo System which made possible the pulverizing of coal, cereal grain and sugar. His patents have been used in the cosmetic, sugar, candy • and pigment industries, and in industries which use coalfire power plants. His patents contributed to the war effort. Carl Lykken helped develop the tourist city of Palm Springs, Calif., from a post office and general store to an internationally famous tourist resort. Fred was associated with a coffee firm in San Francisco. Stephen, Melvin and Lawrence carried on the tradition of farming in the Red River Valley. Gulman and Ella Matilda Lykken retired from the farm in 1919 and lived in Crafton for the next 20 years. Gulman died at the farm home in 1939 during a brief summer sojourn there. Ella Matilda died in her Grafton home in 1953 While living with her daughter, Mrs. Olav (Eletta) Foss. The Gulman Lykken family presented a new organ to the new Lutheran Church, built 1952-53, in memory of their pioneer parents, Gulman and Ella Matilda Lykken. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Mr. and Mrs. Gulman

OSCAR AND M A B E L L Y K K E N

Oscar Lykken's antecedents are traced back to 1803 in Holand, Norway, and to 1820 in Saude Prestegjold, Nedu Telemarken in southern Norway, three Norwegian miles from Skien. Hans Gulmon (1820-1905), the son of Gulmon Sletta and Gunhild Angaard, married Kari Olson (1821-1894), the daughter of Ole and Anna Kaase. They had six children who are the Lykkens of Walsh County: Ole (1843), Gulmon (1854), Ingre (1850), Hans (1858), Lars (1860) and Ole Gilman (1863). Hans and Kari with five of their children left Norway for America in 1873. Gulmon migrated a year earlier. At Skien they embarked upon sailing ship, the "Nordhaven" on a voyage to Quebec that lasted seven weeks and two days. From Quebec they took a riverboat drawn by horses which carried a cargo of immigrants, cattle and cordwood. They went to Milwaukee, Wise. From there they entrained to Farmington, Minn., about 20 miles south of St. Paul. They farmed there for two or three years, then they moved to Yellow Medicine County. Because of the grasshopper plague in southwestern Minnesota they returned to Farmington at the time of the Jesse James hold-up there. The family came to Grand Forks by train and moved onto Grafton by ox team. They homesteaded on land two and a half miles south of Auburn in what was to be Farmington Township. Lars, the father of Oscar, was too young to homestead at that time. Oscar's genealogy on his mother's side of the family begins with Stephen Thoreson (1830-1882), the son of Tore and Margretha Olson. Stephen married Ingebor Anderson, the daughter of Christian Sjerva Anderson (1803-1871) and Guri Eriksdater (1808-1870). Christian Anderson and his wife, Guri, left Holand, Norway, about 1849. They worked for seven years on the Knute Husevold place near Muskego, Wise. They went to Dakota County in a party of 15 covered wagons. They bought 160 acres of railroad land for $200 and settled there. Christian and Guri had a family of nine children. One son, Martin, was killed in the Civil War. Their daughter, Ingebor, married Stephen Thoreson. Stephen also fought in the Civil War. His brother, Carl, was killed in the same war. Stephen and Ingebor Thoreson had a family of eleven children. Two of their daughters, Ella Matilda and Sophia married two Lykken brothers, Gulman and Lars. Oscar Lykken, the son of Lars and Sophie Lykken, was born at the farm home half way between Grafton and Auburn. He attended school in District No. 110. In later years he served on the school board. Oscar, together with his coUsin, Ed Lykken, son of Hans and Clara Lykken, attended winter short courses at the AC in Fargo where they studied agriculture and farm mechanics. They learned to operate the steam engines which were the source of power for the threshing rigs of those days. Oscar homesteaded in Montana from 1910 to 1913. During World War I, he worked in the shipyards in Seattle, Wash. He returned to Farmington Township to farm. He married Mabel Christopherson at Clanwilliam, Man., Dec. 7, 1921. They had a family of three sons, Vemon, Glenn, Lowell and four daughters, Dorothy, Lorraine, Eleanor and Millicent. Mabel Christopherson was born July 1, 1894, the daughter of Peter Christopher and his wife, Talette Serina Aarthun. Peter

Lykken 91

Christopherson was born on a farm near Faxe Denmark Chnstopne b Copenhagen. When 17 he S a t e d ' T o St Paul Minn., w'ith his uncle^James

„A tr, Minnpdosa Manitoba, wnere me UIK.XC S H w - j r sawnhii h f c j H g y M Hins Peter worked at the sawmill. He also tiled a tidii

Their second son, Gulmon (1854-1939) left N W 1872 and came to Minnesota where he farmed 80 acres and worked as a day laborer. The money he earned he S T his family 'to help enable them to come to America In 1879, Gulman married Ella MaWda S r e s o n (1860-1953). She was^the daughter of Stephen Thoreson (1830-1882) and Inge*or Anderson Stephen Thoreson fought and his brother Carl wa kilted in the Civil War. Stephen was the son of Tore ana Mafgretha Olson of Holand, Norway; Ingebor Anderson was the daughter of Christian Sjerva Anderson (18037 ) a n d S r i Eriksdater (18OS-1870). Chnstaan and Gun 87

S r m a n n e r , G u l m a n and Ella Matild^were. brought together. They were married in 1879. Their tirst son, Henrv was born in Minnesota. . The Gulman Lykkens came to Walsh County in 1880. settlement at Danvers Mamtohn ;

p | g

" n ^ r C a t i o n she visited her aunt Mrs Roc,

Lysengen of St. Thomas Township.

Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

50th Wedding Anniversary picture of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Lykken.

Mrs. Oscar Lykken

Oscar Lykken

STEPHEN AND CLARA LYKKEN SteDhen Lykken's lineage can be traced back to Holand Norwly in 1803 and Telemarken, Norway in S Gulman Sle ta and his wife, Gunhild Angaard, had a S n fens Gulmon (1820-1905). Ole and Anna Kaase had a S g h t e r Kari Olson, (1821-1894). Hans Gulman and Kari Olson were married in Saude Pt«teooM, Nedu Telemarken, three Norwegian miles from Skien. They had a family of six:

Minn. She married Gustave Lysengen in 1877. Thev moved to Ada, Minn., where they lived until the sprilg of S 4 when they moved to St. Thomas Township • J v l w a Territory where they purchased land from Tor?enson They S alamily of nine c b M ^ only two, Teholt and Clara, grew up The rest died in Sldnood. An infant son was born only two days before his mother's death. 8

Clara Lysengen kept house for her father and brother until her marriage to Stephen Lykken on July 8, 1908. After the wedding, Steve and Clara drove with horse and buggy to their farm home which was two miles north and a half mile west of Grafton. They had four children, Russel (1909-1974), Esther (1911-1970), Earl (1916) and Gilman (1922). Beginning in 1939, Russel built up an enterprising automobile agency and a fine modern garage, becoming one of Grafton's successful businessmen. Steve and Clara retired from the farm in 1948 and moved to a home on Griggs Avenue in Grafton which they purchased from the James McDonald family. Steve died in 1967. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. MACKENZIE FAMILY HISTORY The MacKenzies were originally from Inverness, in the northern part of Scotland. Among the Scottish ancestors were two who fought with Wellington at Waterloo. The MacKenzie family crest is a blue shield with the head of the Highland deer on it and two mottos: "Light and not Darkness" - "Live and Let Live." The clan tartan is green and blue, and with a red stripe. The father and mother of William and Malcolm MacKenzie came to Prince Edward Isle by sailing ship, taking six weeks to get to Prince Edward Isle from Inverness, Scotland. There were 10 children born to the father and mother while on the Isle, among them William and Malcolm. The family moved to Gwelph, Ont. William attended school there and wanted to become a doctor, but he heard of the opportunities for young men in the United States and he came and explored eastern North Dakota on horseback to stake a land claim. He made Grand Forks his base and was pressed into service to teach school. He did stake a claim near Auburn and opened a store which was in reality a trading post. William studied law and was admitted to the bar in North Dakota. Later William was appointed Judge of Walsh County, and moved to Grafton retaining his farm lands at Auburn. William's brother, Malcolm, had come to Detroit, Mich., and there he met and married Ellen Ocobock, one of the daughters of Horace Ocobock, who had come to Michigan from Holland. There were 10 children in that family. Malcolm and his bride, Ellen, came to the Dakotas, and Ellen's sister, Fannie, came with them. Fannie met and married William MacKenzie, so now two Ocobock sisters were married to two MacKenzie brothers. William and Fannie had three children, Stuart, Mae and Faye. Fannie died of a rhuematic condition at the age of 26. William never remarried. Ellen and Malcolm MacKenzie had two daughters, Maude and Ida. Maude died when a young woman. In the William MacKenzie family, Stuart married Gladys Hill in Grand Forks, Mae never married but was a well known pianist and was head of the Music Department of the Pennsylvania College for Women for many years, and then had her own piano studio in Pittsburgh, Pa. Faye MacKenzie married John H. O'Brien and they had the following children: John J. O'Brien, Jr., now residing in Grafton; Margaret (Mrs. Sanford Teu) of Alexandria, Va.; James F. O'Brien of Downers Grove, 111.; Marian O'Brien (Mrs. James Buckner), deceased; William P. O'Brien, deceased; and Jean Catherine O'Brien, Alexandria, Va.

In the Malcolm and Ellen MacKenzie family, Ida was married in 1905 to James A. Foley of Grafton. They had two daughters, Helen (Mrs. Clem Schumacher) residing in Grafton, and Dorothy (Mrs. Joe Jacobchick) residing in Wahpeton. James A. Foley died in 1936 and his wife, Ida, died in 1950. John O'Brien, Sr., died in 1949 and his wife, Faye, died in 1972. Mae MacKenzie died March 25, 1975, at Sunset Home in Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. Clem Schumacher. GUTTORM MOE Guttorm G. Moe was bom in Norway Nov. 15, 1849. He was a sailor several years before immigrating to this country and moving to Decorah, Ia., in 1874. His wife, Andrea Stianson, born in Norway March 2, 1853, also came to Decorah, where she and Guttorm were married Nov. 5, 1875. After a move to Granite Falls, Minn., they traveled by covered wagon to North Dakota, arriving in May, 1880, and homesteaded two miles south of Grafton residing there until Mr. Moe's death April 30, 1934. His wife preceded him in death Jan. 18, 1907. Eight children were born: Marie (Mrs. Ole Settingsgard), Anna (Mrs. Andrew Brye), Gustav, Sena, Gunda, John, Henry (veteran of the Mexico Border and World War I) and Clarence. HANS JACOB MOE Hans Jacob Moe, pioneer of Walsh County, was the son of Hans Jacob Moe and Maria Christopherson Moe, born in Hakkedahl, Norway, near what was then Christiania, now Oslo; Sept. 29, 1867. In May, 1872, the family, consisting of parents, four children and one grandmother, came by sail boat to America and landed in Quebec in August after three months of stormy weather and many reverses. From Quebec, they came by freight train to Port St. Laurence and from there by boat and train; they finally reached Rushford, Minn., where they had relatives. In 1873, Hans Jacob Moe died and years later the widow married Kittel Pederson. A daughter, Sina, was born. She became Mrs. Ludvig Egeland. The family left Rushford in May, 1879, by covered wagon with two pair of oxen, one pair of young steers and a light covered wagon called the democrat wagon. The canvas covered wagon was made by the Rushford Wagon Company, that later moved to Winona, Minn. , but kept the name as the Rushford Winona Wagon Company. Later this type of wagon was sold by Carl Hendrickson, not covered, but as an ordinary wagon. On June 9, the family arrived at Kelly's Point, later known as Acton. Kelly's Point was named from an old man named Kelly who lived there. Acton was the first post office at that time. Carl Hendrickson operated a hardware store in Acton for a year and a half. He moved the store to Grafton with four pair of oxen. Kittel Pederson and John Moe helped him move. This store was Grafton's first hardware store. In 1901, Hans Jacob Moe secured by Homestead Right one quarter section of land from the Land Office of Grand Forks by paying a stipulated fee. By this time he had married Gunhild Loseth, who was also born in Norway at Rindalen, near Trondheim. Six children were born to the family on the farm, four miles from Grafton: Eda, Mrs. Leonard Torblaa; Mae, Mrs. Raymond Peak;

Clara Mrs C R. Tompkins; Olga, Mrs. Bernard Beck Sow deceased) ; Henry Moe, St. Paul, Minn, and Dr. n L T a c o K ~ Mrs. Gunhild Moe died Aug. 17, 1950. Submitted by Mae Peak. HANS H. MOHAGEN uonc H Mohagen was born in Fillmore County, , " ^ d came here when he was eight years H a n s

7 9

had died in Minnesota. The elder Hans homesteaded in Walsh ^enire Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Monsebroten family. Nels, Alma, Lillian and Alfred.

Mr and Mrs Mohagen raised a family of four sons and toee daughters, llurence, Heimer, Mabel, Edna, S r U U i a n and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Mohagen were feithful members and workers of Grafton Lutheran c W c h anl Mrs. Mohagen was a life member of the Ladies' Aid. They were good citizens. Submitted by Mrs. Nels B. Johnson. ROBERT H. MOHAGEN Robert H Mohagen was born May 2, 1875, in FillmoS>County near Preston, Minn., to Hans and Maria R o b e r t had four sisters and t ^ ^ g Kiersti and Anne, born in Norway. In 1869 the lamiiy S to America and settled in Fillmore County, Minn., ^ ^ f t ^ ^ S S ^ « and was laid to Jest i f North Prairie Cemetery. He remembered very little of his life in Minnesota. By this time his father (Hans) had heard of theRed River Valley of the Dakota Territory, and decided to go Sereto homestead. In 1880 they left Minnesota in May Ste spring so there would be grass to graze> then-catt e Sons the way There were five or six covered wagons in toe f r S aU had horses except Brede Jorgenson who had oxen. The oxen were soon exhausted and the targe articles from the wagon were shipped to Grand tones S he s S e r articles were loaded on other wagons 3 the family rode with the Hans Mohagen family. Five year old Robert loved to sit on the wagon seat with his father but the time grew long and tiresome. S e r t sooTtecame restless and tumbled to the ground I c M y heJ wasn't hurt, but after that he remained in the wagon with the women. Walsh Reaching Dakota Territory they settled in Walsh r W r e Township To claim the land, five acres of the hard s b d S r o k e n up that first summer. This was done S awalking plow and four oxen. About one acre could

Robert didn't attend school for a few years after settling in the valley as there wasn't any school. .The tost S i l l the community and the second o j e m Wateh County (District No. 2) was built. This was locatea convenient for the boys to attend. On June 11, 1907, Robert was married to Nelsine Strom, from Norway, by Rev. John Ofstedal. Their first son Henry Johan, was bom April IL j arid dted Nov l l , ' 1911. They had four more children, Anna, Ella, Roy, and Alfred. Robert's father, Hans G. Mohagen, died at Grafton in March, 1920. Robert lived with his family on the farm five miles southwesfof Grafton, making many improvements on the farmstead throughout the years. ffis wife Nelsme died March 12, 1939, and was laid tn rest in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. A member of the Grafton Lutheran Church, he had served as deacon and trustee for many years. In 1952 the congregation was planning construction of a new church building, and in the process fte cornerstonlof the old building was sought but could not be E a S J being enclosed in the ^ j ^ ^ Mnhapen came by the church one day and this taci was m e S e d to him He responded "I can show you where S s '' and d-d just that, pointing out the exact location of mebox in J foundation. He had beenpresent .at the cornerstone ceremony on Sept. 6, 1896, and nan n knowledge of its exact location. On May 26, 1952, the Sated oox which had been placed in the ^ n e ^ n e o f the old church building was opened f f ^ T ^ ™ ceremony. Mr. Mohagen was invited to remove tne contents from the box. 9 0 8

men went out to work and the children stayed at Jorgensons.

in 1946, Robert retired from ^ t Teve^ on the family farm with his son, Alfred for several vears He then stayed with his other children, Mrs. Sissel f nna) Duncan, Fargo; Mrs. Torjus (EUa F ^ m m River Falls, Minn.; and Roy Mohagen, Grafton^In ^64 he took residence at the Lutheran Sunset Home at Grafton where he lived until he passed away Aug. 8 19m At the L e of his death he had 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. 94

He with others of his generation in this area, experienced many difficulties and changes through the years. From his boyhood in a sod house on the treeless prairies, living under very primitive conditions, he saw the area and the times progress to the modern conveniences and advances of 1970, the time of his passing. Submitted by Roy Mohagen. MONSEBROTEN FAMILY Andrew N. Monsebroten and Nels Monsebroten, brothers from Ringerike, Norway, came to America about 1879. They came to Decorah, Iowa, where they were employed by Ole Haugrue to drive a herd of cattle to Dakota Territory. Ole Haugrue farmed one and a half miles south of Nash. Nels continued to work for him for two years before homesteading six miles west of Grafton. He and Andrew sent for their mother, sister Elste, and brothers Big Ole, Christian, Hawken and Little Ole. Andrew N. Monsebroten took out homestead rights on a quarter of land south of Nash in Section 32. He married Carrie Hellerud from Northfield, Minn., in 1885. Andrew purchased a quarter of land in Section 31 from Andrew 0. Blagsvedt in 1897. Carrie was the organist in the North Trinity Church and in the Grafton Lutheran Church. They had four children: Alma Caroline, Nels, Alfred, and Lillian. Alma and Lillian were both school teachers for many years. Alma later lived on the original homestead and ran the farm. Nels was a policeman in Fargo. Alfred farmed in Section 31 and lived one half mile south of Nash. He married Tena Gjevre from Union in 1929. Alfred was also the school clerk in Farmington District No. 51 for a number of years and played first violin in the Lutheran Church orchestra. They had four children: Elaine, Neil, Elsie, and Marvin. Neil, his wife Margaret, and their four children, Delene, Diane, Ross, and Todd, live on his father's farm. Submitted by Neil Monsebroten.

severe asthmatic condition, selling his farm to his son-inlaw, Henry Sander. His retirement years were spent in Grafton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were active in church affairs and Mr. Nelson was the first clerk of School District 58. He died July 4, 1920, and Mrs. Nelson June 4, 1932. The entire family is buried in South Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. Submitted by Neil Monsebroten.

Family picture of Jacob J. Nelson NILS MONSON Nils Monson (1852-1929) came here from Karkskrona, Blekinge, Sweden. Enroute he worked in the mines at Marquette, Mich., on the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, on the steamboat between Fargo and Winnipeg, and with a construction crew on the Canadian Pacific Railway. In the fall of 1878, he and four companions walked from Winnipeg to Dakota Territory to acquire homesteads. The country had been surveyed only as far as Oakwood Township so he exercised his squatter *s right on a tract to the west thereof. On May 9, 1881, he was issued a Receiver's Receipt for the W% SE% and Wk NE M of Section 13, Township 157, Range 59. On June 6,1881, he deeded this tract to Comstock & While and it was later platted as the Original Townsite of Grafton. On June 23,1900, he married Lovisa Larson of Hogerude, Varmland, Sweden. They had two children, a sun, Martin, and a daughter, Edith. Submitted by Edith Monson l

A. N. Monsebroten Farm JACOB J. NELSON Jacob Nelson and his wife, Olena, came from Decorah, Ia., to North Dakota in a covered wagon and homesteaded in Grafton Township in 1882. Mrs. Nelson had immigrated from Norway to Decorah. Three children were born to the Nelsons: John, Clarence, and Mathilda. Clarence was killed at the age of 12 by a bolt of lightning while riding a horse bringing the cattle home. Both were killed instantly. Jacob retired from farming at an early age due to a

ARNE OIHUS Arne Oihus, a man of slender build and musSmm height, came to the Dakota Territory wautefefeHaratton, Anthony, in 1876. Later, they settled nn a^pceoft ff«sa$ southeast of present day Nash, TJtae&ror%i»&t fauraas ware located on opposite sides ot the north Rsraaaefe of tfee BarSt River. The location ot the jfannsfesajpiittcawft hmstmz it represents the definition ot the Norwegian mxumm Oihus, which is, ""a fertile steetefe of HauntS aton^ state & river." Hence, the (Shuts famiy msm ©mgrnseted tea® a farm in Xerway, whteh 4s attsa sSasatosi mmt & nmrn.. I t e farm in Norway, settled to 4 m , te ymt^®%tmsittoi>%& Begna River near wm&tewa<etf wi Hfte Vaftfit^

Valley. Today the Arne Oihus family resides on the farm site Arne my great grandfather, was born Dec. 18, 1855, on the Oihus farmsite in Norway. He was the second child of eight born to Ole and Anne Khristopherson Oihus. In 1858 Ole and Anne, together with their young son Arne and eldest son, Ole, Jr., emigrated to the United States and settled on a small farm outside of LaCrosse, Wise. Following his service in the Civil War, Ole brought his family to their permanent settlement near Dows, Ia. There Arne and Anthony, and their brothers and sisters grew up.

Arne and Anthony Oihus as young men. Arne and Anthony's first journey to the Dakota Territory was in the early spring of 1876. During this visit, they inspected the land and surveyed it for future farming purposes. On their return trip back to Iowa, they were met by one of North Dakota's famous blizzards. Thev were approximately 10 miles north of Grand Forks when the blizzard hit them. Seeking shelter, they walked a short distance farther where they found an old sod hut It was already inhabited. They knocked on the door and were greeted by a man bearing a gun The man, suspicious, yet not wanting them to perish, took them into his hut. Because of his distrust, the owner of the small hut held a gun on Arne and Anthony until thendeparture after the blizzard. . „ ^ In the early part of 1879, Arne married Hannah Skaufle She was born in Trondjiem, Norway, Junes 28, 1859 and came to the United States with her brother Andrew when she was 13. In the spring of 1880, Arne and Hannah purchased 160 acres of land for $1.25 an acre, one mile east of Nash. Between 1881 and 1900, they had seven children, Ida, Oscar, Caroline, Alfred (my grandfather), Laura, Alma, and Clarence. Life was often trying for North Dakota's early settlers While attempting to build up a farm, many of our pioneers incurred debts as a result of operational expenses. Anthony was one of these pioneers who borrowed money from the nearby creditor. Upon payment of the

loan Anthony asked the creditor for the note or receipt. The creditor explained that the note was stored away in a vault in Grand Forks and that he would deliver it to Anthony in one week. Anthony, being a man of intelligence and little patience, simply declared that he was not going to wait a week. To show that he "meant business," he picked up a poker which was resting near the fireplace, pointed it at the creditor and demanded the note The creditor promptly produced the note and Anthony, feeling satisfied, set the poker down by the fireplace. ,. . „ Arne was an industrious, hardworking man. During his 59 years, he built and expanded a farm, hauled freight throughout several winters, raised seven children, participated in the organization of the Grafton Lutheran Church and also the Landstad Church in Auburn. In addition, he assisted in the creation of the school districts and also in the construction of the schools in and around the Grafton area. Arne was also known as the country veterinarian. On many occasions, he attended to his neighbors sick animals. When emergencies arose relating to his fellow human beings, Arne became the country doctor. In several instances, he bled people with a small instrument called a lancet. Bleeding was a cure for many illnesses prior to the advent of modern medicine. Henry Kingsbury, grandfather of Harley Kingsbury, was bled by "Doctor" Arne, along with Ole Bergom and Henry Fisher. Ame was also an avid reader, especially of books relating to medicine. During the later years of his life, Arne suffered a great deal from ulcers. In the summer of 1904, Arne and Hannah heard about a clinic in Rochester, Minn. They traveled to Rochester by wagon and Arne entered Mayo Clinic where he was treated for his ulcers by being placed on a special diet. After a short period of time, Arne's condition improved. After their stay in Rochester, Arne and Hannah decided to travel southward to Iowa. There they visited Arne's brothers and sisters. After their journey home, Hannah could not keep Arne on his snecial diet. His condition grew worse and he remained hi poor health the rest of his life. On Nov. 27, 1915, Arne died at the age of 59. Upon his death, Oscar Alfred and Clarence, his sons, became the recipients of his land and they too, farmed it. Submitted bv Colleen A. Oihus.

Oihus & Oihus 1909 On separator: Oscar Oihus; Fred [Mike Porash; Paul Ness; and Theodore Larson. On water tank: George Thomas; fireman, Martin Evans; engineer, Anton Honsvald. On wagon: Thorvald Ness; Clarence Oihus, Anton Oihus; Fred Quisk and Sever Seolitson [tall man with mustache]. , Bottom right: Leir Ness, visitor; Caroline Oihus and Bergit Sandvig, coofes. Bundle haulers from Minnesota. 96

JOHN OLSON John Olson was born December, 1865, near Bergen, Norway. He emigrated to tlie U. S. in 1888. He homesteaded in Marshall County, Minn, ln 1903 he married Hannah Monson. They purchased a farm in Grafton Township. They were members of North Trinity Lutheran Church. They had four children. Arnold was born October, 1905; married Alice Dammon. They had two sons, Dale and Gordon. Arnold died in 1942. Fritz was born October, 1907; married Jane Kadlec. They had two sons, Stephen and James. Fritz resides near Red Lake Falls, Minn. Dagmar was born October, 1910; married Bruce Dunlop. They had three daughters, Beverly, Gwen and Dianne. She died in 1960. Esther was born April, 1912. She remains unmarried and resides in San Francisco, Calif. Submitted by Fritz Olson. OLE ORDAHL FAMILY Ole Ordahl was born and grew to manhood on the farm Ordahl, in Jolster, Sunnfjord, Norway. He and his brother, Samuel, came to America in the spring of 1875. Their destination was Lake Johannah, Pope County, Minn., where their oldest brother lived. In the spring of 1877, accompanied by some Danish acquaintances from Crow River, Ole Ordahl and brother Samuel, set out for the Red River Valley. Their transportation was by oxen. Prairie and water lay everywhere. But it was the ribbons of woods that they sought. They felt it unwise to "sit down" on those endless prairies as they would perhaps remain barren for a long time. In the spring of 1878 they "squatted" on parcels which later, perhaps within a year or two, became parts of Section 15, 16, 9 and 10, Grafton Township.

lived some four miles from the Ordahl homestead. The last four miles were on foot. This was the honeymoon. The house that stood ready to receive its mistress was a modest one, as were the articles of furniture. They lived happy and content in their settler's hut until they were able to afford a better home. Concern for meeting the spiritual needs was evidently felt early. This was attested to by another record left by Ole Ordahl quoted in part: "We had been told that there were to be divine services in the home of Edward Aas on a weekday in December of 1878. The day dawned cold and clear. I put on Sunday clothes and a hymn book in my pocket and set out for the place. A number of Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish settlers had gathered. I believe that this was the first Norwegian religious service to be held in Walsh County. I believe it was at this meeting that an outline of a congregational constitution was drawn up and signed by eleven of us who were in attendance." Mr. and Mrs. Ole Ordahl were the parents of Olena; Susie; Ivar (deceased), father of Oliver Ordahl, Grafton; Nellie; Cena; Clarence; Sam; Oscar; Peter; Ida and Mabel. Ole Ordahl was Clerk of School District 23; was active in organizing the Grafton Deaconess Hospital, being a member of the finance committee, and through active membership in the Grafton Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the Farmers' Alliance, a national organization that flourished for a time. Submitted by Oliver Ordahl.

Ida and Mabel Ordahl, youngest of Ordahl children.

Family of Mr. andMrs. Ole Ordahl [about 1898] Nellie, Cena, Ivar, Olena, Susie, Oscar, Clarence, Sam and Peter. On June 8, 1881, Ole Ordahl was married to Miss Johanna Iversdatter Sognesand, who came from the same district in Norway as himself. The marriage service was performed by the Reverend T. O. Juve who was the pastor of West Prairie Congregation, Wise. The new Mrs. Ordahl was making her home with her brother, Johannes, with whom she had come to America in 1874, following a visit by him to his homeland. A few days after the wedding day they set out for the Red River Valley, their future home. They traveled by rail to Grand Forks and thence by steamboat to Acton (12 miles east of Grafton). From there they were invited to continue in the company of a Mr. Arne Ingebretson who

THE CHILDREN OF MR. AND MRS. OLE ORDAHL The eleven children of the Ordahls were Olena, born in 1882; Susie, 1883; Ivar, 1885; Pernille, 1887; Cena, 1888; Sam, 1890; Oscar, 1892; Clarence, 1894; Peter, 1896; Ida, 1898 and Mabel, 1900. Olena received her high school education in Concordia College, at that time an academy belonging to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minn. After completing her course there she taught in rural schools for a time and then entered the nursing profession in the Grafton Deaconess Hospital, which had been established a few years earlier. She moved to the Northern Pacific Beneficial Hospital, Brainerd, Minn., where she was graduated as a registered nurse. She became Superintendent of Nurses in that hospital and was later transferred to that company's hospital in St. Paul, Minn., where she continued in the same position until her retirement. She interrupted her hospital career to enter the military service during World War I, serving

for nine months in France as a nurse with the Red Cross. She died in Tacoma, Wash., in 1960. She had lived there in retirement for several years. .. Susie remained at home. She continued to live in the old home until her death in 1962. For many years, one sister, Cena, and two brothers, Clarence and Peter, had occunied it with her. Ivar established himself on one of the quarter sections that was a part of his father's holdings He married Runa Severson in 1910. She was a graduate of the Grafton High School and, at the time of her marriage was teaching in the Hoople school. They still live on thenfarm. Two sons, Oliver and Raymond, were born to P e r n i l l e (Nellie) was graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead. Following that, she completed a two year term in the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She took up rural school teaching. She became ill, died in 1907. Cena studied music for a number of years. Her musical education included terms in Wesley College Conservatory of Music, Grand Forks, and the Miss Martin School of Music, Moorhead, Minn She became an accomplished pianist and organist. She served for S 3 years as pipe organist at the Grafton Lutheran Church. Except while pursuing studies she lived at the parental home. Sam entered St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. Following a term there he enrolled in Aaker's Business College Grand Forks, and prepared himself for an office career He held positions for several years with firms in Grend Forks and Fargo, including the American Railway Express, which position he held at the time of his death. He also spent about two years in Los Angeles returning to Fargo from there. He served during World War I, attaining the rank of Sgt. He died in Fargo in 1947. Oscar took over the management of the home farm soon after his father became incapacitated by the illness which held him bed-fast during the rest of his life. Some time after his father's death Oscar took employment at the State School for mentally retarded at Grafton, where he was Assistant Engineer until overtaken by the fllness which preceded his death in 1959. He married Violet Peterson of Stephen, Minn., in 1933. She and their two children, Charles and Susan, survive him. Clarence and Peter remained at home and continued in the management of the home farm after Oscar left it. They lived in the old home with their sister Cena for a few years until Cena passed away and Peter entered the Grafton Hospital. Clarence has managed the farm since that time. Peter had two distressing experiences. In the late winter of 1920 he was lost in one of the blizzards tha are not uncommon in the area. This one came up suddenly, tt £ ™ S a r d the end of a balmy day in March. Peter had driven to town to meet a lady friend of the family who S u e in by troin for a visit. On the way home the storm S up and almost immediately visibility was nil. S o u g h he gave the horse the reins, the latter lost his wav with the result that all three spent the night and half me nlxt day o t the storm. The limbs of both Peter and Ss Jas enger were frozen. When the storm abated about noon of the next day, they found themselves about a half S f on home. They managed to stumble home on their frozen feet. As a result of this expenence they spent U

weeks in bed and in hospitals and barely missed having their limbs amputated. In 1959 Peter suffered a stroke while riding a tractor It resulted in partial paralysis. He has been a resident of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital since that time. Ida followed in her sister's foot steps and became a registered nurse. She served for a time with her sister in the Northern Pacific Hospitals in Brainerd and St. Paul, Minn. She was married to Chester Vigness in 1924 Chester was a native of the Grafton community, but at the time of his marriage he was employed in one of the Ford Motor plants in Detroit. They lived in Detroit or 2 years - then went to Minneapolis where they li ved until 1962 Thev made their home in Minneapolis after their marriagfand he was employed with the Dennison Company of Minnesota. Chester died in February, 196* Ha has been a resident of the Sunset Home in Grafton since that time. They had no children. Mabel, the youngest of the Ordahl children, also followed the nursing profession. Like her sister-Ma.she followed her graduation from Grafton High with S m e n t in aschool for nurse. She graduated from such a school in the Northern Pacific Hospital in St Paul Sne became a registered nurse beginning her professional career in the hospital of her^aduabon She later held positions in the N. P. Hospital in Glendive, Mont, and Tacoma, Washington. In the latter she was Xrav technician. In July 1928, she married Richard K. Wasson Richard was a graduate of the University of Puget Sound Tacoma, and at the time of his marriage, a S t i c i n g Cert fied Public Accountant. During World S II he became comptroller and later general manager of the Ft. Lewis Exchange, Wash, which p o S n he continued until 1952. He has retired. They have two daughters, Joan and Mary Jean. REIER MOHAGEN Late in the 18th century there lived in Hadland, Norway, a Reier Mohagen. One of his children, Guthorm, married a girl named Anna. This young couple became ^ p a r e n t ! of three daughters, Randi, Kjersti, and Gudbjor, and two sons, Hans and Gulbrand. Hans was the grandfather of Mrs. Christine Stark of Grafton. In 1869 when Guthorm (Christine Stark's father) was six the family emigrated to America, crossing the Atlantic by sail ship. Quebec was their ^ m g P ^ d after spending almost two months on ship, they were thankful to again be on land.

Guttorm Mohagen home in Hadeland, Norway

The family settled near Preston, Minn where they built a one-room log cabin. As late as 1930 this buildmg wa still standing. Hans, the older brother, heard about 98

the rich Red River Valley of Dakota Territory, and the family decided to go there to homestead. One of tlie older sisters who was married remained in Minnesota until 1882. The other family members all left together in 188(i. It was in the spring of the year so that there would te grass for the cattle to eat along the way. Some days they could not make much headway with their covered wagons and quite often they could see just a short distance back where they had camped the night before. In some places they had to take the wagons apart and carry each piece across the mud, and go back and carry the women and children "piggy-back" to better ground. Christine Stark still has a child's chair, which had been hand-made in Norway, that had been set too close to the campfire and became charred. There were six wagons in the train. Seventeen year old Guthorm and the other boys herded the cattle along the trail. Being almost penniless, food was scarce, they lived on milk and picked berries. By 1900 the Mohagen children were all grown. In 1889 Guthorm had married Oline Thingelstad of Rushford, Minn. The couple homesteaded a mile north of the old homestead (it is now known as the Stark farm). Guthorm and Oline had five children, Marie (Mrs. Henry Sather), Manvel, Oscar, Christine and Olga. Mrs. Guthorm Mohagen died in 1909; Guthorm Mohagen in 1941. All the children are now deceased except Christine (Mrs. Alfred Stark). Submitted by Mrs. Alfred Stark.

Henry. George. Alma, Clara. Carl, Heimer, Abraham, Oscar, Josie and Mabel. They were members of the Concordia Lutheran Church. Arne passed away Jan. 11, 1917, and his wife, Oct. 11, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Arne E . Sander are buried at Concordia Lutheran Church Cemetery. HENRY SANDER Henry Sander came with his parents from Decorah, Ia., in a covered wagon at 6. They settled in Fertile Township. His younger years were spent in the Grafton community. Henry married Mathilda Nelson in Grafton, March 13,1902. After their marriage they moved to Edmore and homesteaded. Several years later they moved back to Grafton Township and purchased land from his father-inlaw. Jacob Nelson. Mr. Sander served on the school board of District 58 for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Sander were both active in church affairs at South Trinity Church. Nine children were born, Luella, Alda, Evelyn, Glenna, Alfred, Vernon, Hazel, Thelma, and one son, Raymond, died in infancy. Mrs. Sander died April 15, 1941; M r . Sander, Dec. 23, 1944. A l l are buried in South Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery.

HANS CHRISTIAN R A U M I N Hans Christian Raumin arrived in Grafton from Norway in 1881. Prior to this time he was a sailor in the North Sea, fishing seals. At that time, all the land in the Red River Valley was already homesteaded. He worked in a" brick "factory in Grand Forks and in the winter he cut wood for his room and board. In 1882, he purchased the Homestead Rights for some land in Walsh Centre Township, near Kellogg. In later years, he purchased land in Grafton Township. In 1886 he went back to Norway for a visit. His fiancee, Inger Marie Jacobson, came to the U. S. in 1897. They were married by his uncle, Mattius Raumin, Justice of the Peace. Seven children were born to their union, Linne, Andrea, Helga, Carl, Hans, Dora and Helen. Two are deceased, Linne (Mrs. J . M . Johnson) and Hans Martin. He was active in community affairs in township and church and school affairs and held various offices. The land in Grafton Township is the present Carl Puiumin farm. Carl has three sons, Gerald and Roger who are farming the home farm, and Harley Raumin, Redlands, Calif. Submitted by Carl Raumin. A R N E E . SANDER Arne E . Sander and his bride, Jorgine E . Findring, came from Decorah, Ia., in 1882 in a covered wagon in company with Mr. and Mrs. Knute Hove. The women were sisters. They homesteaded in Fertile Township. Arne sold their homestead to Hans Wick in 1895 and then purchased land in Grafton Township from Hans Olson. Eleven children were bom to the Sanders, Emma,

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sander GULBRAND SANDVIG Gulbrand Sandvig emigrated to the United States from Odalen, Norway, at 17. His future wife, Kari Borlaug, came to this country from Bergen, Norway, at 9. They were married in 1880 in Goodhue County, Minn., and came by covered wagon to Walsh County that same year. They homesteaded 5 miles southwest of Grafton in Section 34 of Grafton Township. They built a small frame house which was added to in later years. They had six boys, Palmer, G arno Id, Ted, Eldridge, Naford, Olvin; and six girls, Genevive, Bergit, Minnie, Cornelia, Madelia, and Theresa. They are buried in South Trinity Cemetery.

MR AND MRS. KARL OLAF SVARTE MR AND MRS. ARTHUR JACKSON Mrs Arthur Jackson's parents came to the United States from Stenkjar, Norway. They came by boat Mr Svarte came in the early 1890's and Mrs Svarte came in 1901. They farmed in Grafton Township^ Mr and Mrs Arthur Jackson Uve on the same farm that John r . Jackson homesteaded. Mr. Jackson took part mi many community affairs as weU as being a "tiller of the soil. At one time, Mr. Jackson had one of the best herds of Holstein cattle in the county. Besides her duties as a farmer's wife, Mrs. Jackson was active in community affairs. She was treasurer of S o f D i s t r i c t 22 from 1931 to 1962 when it was^nexed to Grafton. She also served as treasurer of the Walsh County School Officers Association from 1945 to1962 In addition to this she is well known locally and nationally for writings of poetry. Two children were born, a son, Arthur LeRoy, died when six weeks old, and one daughter, Elizabeth (Mrs Leonard Fagerholt), who resides near Hoople.

At one time Henry Thomas owned and operated a Uvery stable here in Grafton. Later on the farm he raised registered mares and stallions of the Percheron breed^ George Thomas owned a Belgian stud. By trading one of his stallions to Harry Hewitt of Minto, Henry Thomas became the owner of his first Fordson tractor Mr Thomas served on the township board many vears and also on the township school board, being president of the latter at one time. He had membership in the Grafton Masonic Lodge. . On June 19, 1933, Henry Thomas died. Annie Thomas died March 2, 1957. Both are buried in the Gratton Masonic Cemetery, as is George Thomas.

HENRY AND ANNIE THOMAS Henry Thomas was born in Shrewbury, England, Oct 26 1863. As a boy he worked for awhile in London. He came to this country when he was 18 years old amving at New York. He worked in Superior and Duluth Minn., for a time and went to Canada where he worked down from Winnipeg on the railroad. He returned to England and came back accompanied by his brother George. They settled in Walsh County. . - , Henry Thomas was first married to Jessie McKay at Minto in 1896. She died after giving birth to a daughter, Jessie (Mrs. Ernest Cochran), April 14,1897. Henry was not to wed again until 1911 when he married the former Annie Wimpfheimer. ;

The Thomas Children Back row [1 to r]: Rosanna, Alice and Annie Front row: Henry, Caroline and Helen. SANDER TORGERSON THOMPSON Sander Torgerson Thompson (Sveindengard) homesteaded at Grafton on Section 17-152-53 on Feb. 3 1882, patent received Feb. 5, 1884, signed by President G r

° H e w S b S S in Hallingdal, Norway, in 1840 and came to St Ansgar, Ia., in 1860 where records show he was foreman of the stone masons when the First Lutheran GhSeh was built, the oldest in MitcheU County, also the oldest west of the Mississippi. This budding was started in 1864 The stone was quarried from several spots south near the river. Oxen were used to haul the stone because fttey could pull a heavier load than horses. Many hands heloed in the raising of this buUding, hauhng stone, S k m g Ume mixing"mortar, laying the walls stone by stone filling, hewinl and hauling timber, walnut oak and maple, the best was offered. His two brothers, Svein and Ole also worked with him as masons. The church was dedicated Sept. 27,1868. I is now a historical site, known as the Stone Church in St. Ansgar, Ia Sander Torgerson Thompson was married to Kjersta Gulson Olson, who was born April I V ^ l ^ l T n Wise She was one of the charter members of the Grafton Lutheran Church. She died Sept. 29 1916, at Mmot where she is buried. Mr. Thompson died in January, 1898, and is buried at Grafton. They were the parents of 14 children. Two girls and four boys died in infancy. Edward (Eddie), Theodore,

Mrs. Henry Thomas Henry Thomas [Annie Wimpfheimer] Annie, the daughter of John and Fredericka (Weber) Wimpfheimer (originally from HeUbrann Germany) was born in Crystal April 7,1883. The Wimpfheimers and their 9 children lived for a time at Cashel. When working at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Grafton, Annie met Henry Thomas They were married in 1911. After living in Grafton for a few years, they settled on a farm 5 miles south of Grafton. Six children were born, Annie (Mrs. Ed Lunde) 1912- Alice (Mrs. WiUiam Tommy Greenwood!, 1913; Rosanna (Mrs. Norris Sando), 1914; Helen (Mrs. Con Schlader), 1916; Henry, 1918; and Caroline (Mrs. C L. Johnston), 1921. Also making his home with themirobj the time of his death in 1928 was Henry s brother, George. 100

Levin and Alfred (Justin) were born in Benson, Minn. Alfton, believed to be the first white child bom in Grafton Township, Henry, Tilpher and Bennie were born at this homestead. Levin served in the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Rebellion (Phillipines) and World War I. He died at the Veterans Hospital at Hines, 111., April 8, 1943, and is buried at the Soldiers Section of Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, 111. Tilpher, the only living member of the family, is now 90 and lives at Devils Lake. Submitted by Lila Thompson.

County Auditor at Osage, Iowa, for two years before coming to Walsh County where he settled on a farm in the fall of 1908. During his first years in Walsh County, he was also a partner in a hardware store known as Haugland and Torblaa.

Haugland and Torblaa Store in Grafton. L. O. Torblaa at extreme right. He was Census Taker and Assessor for Grafton Township from 1920-1924. During World War I he served on the committee in charge of the sale of Liberty Bonds. Active in church affairs, Mr. Torblaa' gathered the data, took the pictures, and wrote the "History of Grafton Lutheran Church" for its Golden Anniversary in 1928. He was secretary of the local congregation for seventeen years and also served as their Sexton for several years prior to his death. Mr. Torblaa served as President of the Walsh County Rural School Officers Association for 20 years. He was also associated with the Federal Land Bank Association for many years.

Sander Togerson Thompson Family Top row, left to right: Henry, Edwardand Theodore. Bottom row: Levin, Bennie, Justin, Tilpher and Alfton. ARNE TORBLAA FAMILY Arne L. Torblaa, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lars Torblaa, was born July 20,1861, atUlvik, Hardanger, Norway, and came to the United States in 1876 with his parents and sister, Johanna. A brother, Ole, and sister, Bertha, had come to the United States the year before. The family first settled in Osage, Ia., and came to Grafton Township four years later, in 1880, homesteading on the farm 6 v miles west of Grafton. Arne's parents and sisters, Johanna and Bertha, with Arne, came from Iowa by team and wagon, the trip taking three weeks. Arne lived on the home farm until 1904, when he and his family moved to Santa Rosa, Calif., where they lived for two years. He returned to the farm at Grafton where he stayed until 1917 when they moved into Grafton. Arne was married Aug. 1, 1884, to Ingeborg Hellerude, who died a year later. On March 8, 1890, he married Gertrude Bradley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bradley. She was born in Trondhjem, Norway, Jan. 14,1871, and arrived in the United States in 1888, coming directly to Walsh County. Arne and Gertrude were the parents of six children, Leonard, Iver, Gina, Bertha, Norbert and Agnes. Gertrude Torblaa died in 1926. In 1927 Arne was married to Christine Evanson. 2

L. O. TORBLAA

Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Torblaa. On June 26, 1907, he married Emma E. Elton at Nerstrand, Minn. She attended rural school near Northfield and later attended Carlton College at Northfield, Minn. While attending school she clerked at the Drew and Elton dry goods store. After their marriage, the Torblaas lived in Osage, Ia., until 1908 when they came to rural Walsh County where they farmed until 1958, when they retired and moved to Grafton.

Leonard O. Torblaa was born in Mitchell County, Iowa, near Osage, Dec. 17, 1880. He received his early education in the rural school near his home. He entered St. Olaf Academy (high school) in 1900 and received his bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College in 1906, having completed the eight year course in six years. As a member of the St. Olaf College Band he toured Norway during the summer of 1906. After graduating from college, he was Deputy 101

The Torblaas were active members in the Grafton T nthVran Church Mrs. Torblaa was secretary ot the M E O L S M Ladies' Aid for several years and was a S t e r member of the Grafton Lutheran Mission ^ T h e Torblaas had three children, Mrs. Ethel Brekke Mrs Lawrence (Marion, Lee, and Orlando Torblaa, all f

° t o r b l a a died July 21,1968, and Mrs. Torblaa died November 27. 1973. MARTIN TORKELSON FAMILY Martin Torkelson was born in Stavanger, Norway lulv 8 1858 and spent his childhood in that country. He eSfsted as a^ailo'r and for seven years crossed many

" f e r i c a and came

moved to their new home. In 1900 they purchased an S ' S o n b S ofthe Deaconess Hospital aad a, ^ S S ^ b " a, Hardange, Norway ADr.™27 1865 Whea a litUe girl came to America with her £ E n S Mr. and Mrs. Lars Torblaa and her hrother Arne Thev came to Osage, Ia., in 1876. In 1880 tne iamny S d t o w S County'Thistrip took three weeks with a

Child

Tv"n lived on a farm west of Grafton. He married Helga Brekke. Later they moved to Grafton. Alvin died u7 968 and Helga in 1974. The two children are Harding, o n > nome farm, and DeVonna Staskivige, near MinA

Ataa married Harold Korf hage. She Uved in Grafton and Vater moved to Grand Forks. Harold passed away in 1965 They have 4 chUdren: Don, Grand Forks; Richard White Bear Lake, Minn.; Marlin Palo Alto, Calif.; and Helen Wardner, Huntington Beach, Cain. Selma lived on the home farm and taughtschool She never married. She now lives with Mrs. Korfhage in Grand Forks. ANDREW TWETEN Andrew Tweten came to Hanley Falls Mint. with L r t h e r e for awhile, then moved to Grafton Township aTd homesteaded there. He became the owner of the

£4She ^^

and Puyallup, Wash. He now lives in East Grand Fork, He married Eva Odden. She died n . B a f t J " married Bertha LaBelle. she died in 1973. They had no

died in May 1950. They are buried in the Grafton ^ T c h T e T ^ r e h o r n to Mr. and Mrs. Twete, The oldest was 13 r s old and the youngest 5 months when Mr. Tweten died. y e a

Tev en chSen were bom, one of whom died as a . , f ! S X e r s all lived in Walsh County. Tube (Mrs. MedVin BrendeLLeonard, Heimer, Melvin, Margaret S r s . Carl Egeland) and Esther (Mrs. George Egeland). AUSTIN K. TVERBERG The Austin K. Tverberg farm is located in Township 1=7 c E 'A Section 28, Range 53. Austin K Tverberg was born in Tinn, Telemarken Norway He came to the United States in the spring of S He attended school at Decorah la and hved sorne time at Hayfield, Minn. He came to Walsh County m North Dakota in 1880 and filed on a homestead 5% miles ^ T ^ n ^ t L y i ^ Minn., and married Helga Mohn" in S a n d they came back to Walsh County in ^Austin

died

1926

and

Helga

Andrew Tweten second from right standing

1930.

When the Spanish-American war was over, Mr

TVERBERG FAMILY Carl lived most of his life on the Tverberg farm. He S r i It c ^ l d be mentioned that the Spanish-American SarTasted only between April and August, 1898. It was S t o v e r the issue of Cuba. The U . S. emerged vietorious. . The children of Mr. and Mrs. Tweten are Eunice and HplPn in Calif • Agnes and Henry, Minneapolis Minn., Andrew S g d o n f a n d Milton, owner of PoUy's Lounge,

^ J Z A T X * married Lillian Omlie. Thev had four chUdren: Albert O., Grafton; Lois KerH P h r S Ariz • Helen Feldman, Larozana, CaM mott, rhoemx, ariz., nci^i Aihprt died in and Margaret Hinman, San Jose, Calif. Albert aiea ui 1 9 7 5

John Uved at Beaverton and Glasgow Mont later moved to Casa Grande, Ariz. He married Verna Bar T r d She died in 1951. They had two chUdren. Joyce Coil San Diego, Calif, and John, Jr., El Cojon, Calif. John died m

Oscar Uved in Grand Forks, then moved to Oregon

A n d r e w Tweten was a graduate of Aaker's Business CoUege, Grand Forks. 102

The homestead is still in the family. Halvor A. Tweten, Andrew H. Tweten's father, spoke of walking to Grand Forks to get flour. He would walk down one day and carry the sack back another day. This trip usually took two days. Submitted by Milton Tweten. MATTIAS VIGER Mattias Viger arrived in the Grafton area in the summer of 1880 traveling from Iowa with his wife and six children. This was the second long journey for the Vigers as some years previously they immigrated from Solar, Norway, making the voyage across the ocean by sailing vessel in 13 weeks. The trip from Iowa to Grafton was by covered wagon, horses pulled the wagon and some cattle were driven along. The year 1880 saw a great influx of settlers in the Grafton area and by the time the Vigers arrived a lot of land had been filed on. A quarter of a section nine miles southwest of Grafton was found and filed on. This is the N. E. VA of Section 12, what is now Prairie Centre Township. Before long, two sons in the family moved away and established homes. The two elder daughters also married, leaving the youngest daughter, Emma, with her parents. Some years later Emma married Iner Brende, he immigrated from Gabrandsadahlen, Norway. The parents continued living with their daughter and son-in-law until their death. Mr. Brende then took over the farming.

HANS WENDELBO FAMILY Hans Urdal Wendelbo was born in Urdal, Norway, May 15, 1842. In 1876 with his sister Engeborg, he immigrated to the United States, and in 1882 he homesteaded in Walsh Centre Township near Voss. His sister, Engeborg Wendelbo, also homesteaded near Voss. He worked this land about 10 years, then returned to Norway. March 16, 1892, he married Elsa Void from Laerdal, Norway, and they returned to America where he purchased land in Grafton Township in July, 1892. They lived in a log cabin, where five of their children were born. They built their new home about 1903. It took two years to haul the large stones for the foundations for the house and barn. The stones were hauled from west of Park River by wagon and horses. A large part of the land had to be grubbed and cleared by hand for farming. Nine children were born to Hans and Elsa Wendelbo, Axel, Sarah, Alfred, Oscar, Hans, Carl, Ida, Hannah and Ella. In March, 1908, he purchased additional land in Farmington Township, which in 1916 was sold to a son, Axel Wendelbo. They were members of the Grafton Lutheran Church in Grafton. Hans Wendelbo died at his home Oct. 20,1920, and Elsa Wendelbo died Dec. 5, 1940. PETER O. WRALSTAD Peter O. Wralstad was born in Fillmore County, Minn., in 1871, and came to Grafton by train about 1893. He worked as a farm hand for two years and then started farming. On Feb 5,18%, he married Clara M. Moe, also from Fillmore County. They were members of the Grafton Lutheran Church. They had three sons, Clarence, C. Manvil and Elmer.

Pioneers Without Biographies Iver Brende family Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brende, the eldest a boy and others all girls. In 1909, the Brendes purchased a 240 acre farm 3 miles closer to Grafton and moved there. This farm is in Section 32 of Grafton Township. Mr. Brende died in 1919 and Mrs. Brende in 1948. The writer of this, Mrs. Arnold M. Johnson (Mabel) a daughter, remembers her mother telling about the trip, the voyage across the ocean. She was 6 years old at the time. Only transportation was furnished. The passengers had to bring their own food. Turns had to be taken when cooking was to be done as there was only one stove. On the trip from Iowa, Emma was 13 years old. She said Sundays they would stop to rest. The stove was then unloaded from the wagon and bread was baked. She remembers the trip as being a hard one for her folks. It was nothing for me, she said, when I got tired I could go to bed. My mother reached the age of 80 years. I really missed her, she was a wonderful mother to come home to. Submitted by Mrs. Arnold Johnson.

Almen, Chas. Aasend, O. Anderson, C. E. Anderson, John Anderson, T. Anderson, E. E. Anderson, Carl F. Bettingen, A. Beardsley, G. G. Boe, A. R. Berger, E. G. Brotner, K. O. Christianson, L. Colman, Jos. Davids, O. T. Ellingson, G. Ellefson, S. Esch, N. Elshaug, John L. Forester, Ole H. Fisher, Samuel Gullickson, G. Guttormson, John Hegranes, Carl and Annie

Hoghaug, A. M. Halvorson, Nils Hanson, Mrs. M. and Henry Hunter, Jos, and H. F. Hordahl, Ole Hadland, Ole J. Hovde, H. H. Homme, A. K. Halvorson, 0. 0. Haug, A. L. Jenson, Christian Jermiason, J. E. Jamesgaard, B. A. Kennedy, Andrew Karnik, C. Knutson, Mary Kubesh, Jos. Lea, G. H.

McManus, Thos. McLean, Catharine Malmen, T. J. Ness, Peter K. Nelson, J. J. Olson, Mrs. Samuel Olson, Ole Odegard, C. S. Oino, H. 0. Paulsness, H. Pederson, M. Rowman, Judson Romanson, Jennie L. Rudberg, J. A. Staren, T. Smeby, Hans Sandvig, A. C. and G. C. Wasend, 0. M-

First snowmobiles used on mail routes, early 30'. Left to right: Andrew Arnegard, Gus Knudson, Herman Dahl, Leland Smilie, Rudolph Dahl. Carnegie Library, first of its kind in the State, before was remodeled.

Early Mail Carriers: Sever Ness—R.R. 2, Charlie Paul—1st carrier on R.R. I, Jake Grane—R.R. 4, Walter Coulthart— V of R.R. 5, Swan Colsen. 2

A celebration in Grafton. Original Deaconess Hospital

104

EARLY HISTORY OF GRAFTON The wide virgin prairie stretched before them like a vast sea of grass, threaded by a thin line to timber along the Park River. It was like gazing at the future, a blank page waiting for the finger of man to make his imprint upon its vastness. . . . The Forest River was called the Salt River; the Park River was known as the Little Salt. The Indians came to the eastern end of the Park River to make salt. The Chippewa (also known as the Ojibway) Indians took hunting grounds along the Red River and west to the Turtle Mountains. Because of enimity between them and the Sioux or Dakota tribes, there was a no man's land from the mouth of the Park River for about eighty miles south which was inhabited only by the beaver and the buffalo. In 1800, Alexander Henry established a fur trading post at the point where the Park River empties into the Red River but he stayed only a year. For some seventy-seven years after that the prairies remained undisturbed by the white man's tread. The first permanent settlers in the area arrived at and settled on a site a few miles south and west of Alexander Henry's abandoned trading post. This spot has become known as Oakwood. Joseph Scharpentier is credited to the first settler when he moved into the Oakwood area in April, 1878. He came with a yoke of oxen and a covered wagon filled with children. Because of him, the French Canadians were the first to open the way and blaze the trail into this part of the Red River Valley. Thomas E. Cooper is credited with being the founder of Grafton and the man who gave the city its name. In 1878, Thomas Cooper came from Southern Minnesota and boarded a riverboat at Fisher's Landing in company with William McKenzie and S. S. Worthington traveled to Kelly's Point, known also as Acton. McKenzie went to Belleville, the early name for Manvel, but Worthington and Cooper continued on, after remaining overnight. They were told that up the 'Little Salt' was some land 'as fine as there is in the world.' Driving across the prairie in the wagon of one John Knox, with whom he had come from Grand Forks, Mr Cooper traveled about six miles across the prairie from Acton to find Mr. Carpentier, the French spelling was Scharpentier, in his log cabin a few rods from where the Oakwood church is now located. There the party learned that they could cross to the north side of the river about a mile above on a sort of a bridge. About two miles northeast of the future site of Grafton, the men turned the horses out to graze When Cooper went into the timber, he found three of four log cabins partly built on the north side of the Park River, a little east of where Ben Askelson's saw mill was located a few years later. Ole F. Gorden was occupying one of the cabins, the building being so near completion that neither bear nor wolf could enter except through the door. Mathius Christianson had his cabin completed and his family with him. Mr. Cooper maintained that, to the best of his knowledge those two families were the only ones living on the north side ot the river. However, there was a chain of pioneer settlements from the Red River westward for a distance of twenty miles or so. By name these settlers were in part: Joseph Scharpentier. John Brunelle, Thomas Barnabe, Octave

City of Grafton in 1888

Collette, Philippe Collette, Ovide Collette, Jean D. Trudeau, Pierre LaChapelle, Theo. Hurd, Ferdinand LaRoache, the LaBerge brothers, Alex LaMarre. As yet the land had not been surveyed. The land could be claimed only by squatter's right. Thomas E. Cooper did not want to claim his land by those rights so he returned to southern Minnesota only to return early in 1879 with his family. They stayed with the Worthings until February 11, at which time they built a primitive log cabin. This log cabin is considered to be the beginning of Grafton. When he returned he found that most of the claims had been taken along the river west of the French settlement. On the south side of the Park River were living Ben C. Askelson, Peter Linn, Peter Peterson, Ole Lee, John Throudo and Frank Waters, and the burgeoning Norwegian settlements, Ole 0. Huggerud, Thomas Thompson, Ole T. Gaarder, Samuel Olson, Ole Ordahl and Ed Aas, Carl Johnson, John P. Jackson, Hans C. Dahl, John Colson and his brother Gus Colson later known as Carlson, Nels Munson, Knute Braget, Iver P. Dahl, Edward Aas, Mattes Kristensen, Johannes Anderson, John 0. Aas, Martin 0. Holt, Ole Olson Ordahl, Charles Johnson, Hans Lykken, Arne Holt, Ole Aas, Ole Knutson, John Kopperud, Iver P. Dahl, and further along the north branch of the Park River, Franes Xavier DeSautel, Albert Henry Kingsbury, John and Steve Donnelly, Arne and Anton Oihus. The list is incomplete because it grew so fast and begins to embrace the whole of Walsh County to be, but was then Grand Forks and Pembina Counties with the Park River as a dividing line, in part. Mail was delivered weekly to Acton or Kelly's Point. The early settlers had to walk the distance to Acton or Schultz's Ferry to get their mail. Thomas Cooper walked to all the settlers' cabins, a distance of twenty-five miles to secure their signatures on a petition to the Federal Government for a post office. Three post offices were secured, one at Grafton with Cooper as postmaster, one seven miles east of the Cooper home with William McKenzie as postmaster and a third one about twelve miles northwest which was named 'Sweden' after its postmaster, a Swede, John Almen. Mrs. Cooper opened the first mailbag and sorted the mail. Murdoch McKenzie was appointed to collect the mail and car'-v it 105

to the distributing points. At the regular letting in July, Wm. McGregor secured the contract and he carried the mail until the coming of the railroad two years later. On July 4,1879, the observance of the Fourth of July was celebrated at the home of Thomas Cooper. The settlers built a bowery about a block west of the Cooper home Tables were laid for the festive occasion. There was no American flag available. Mrs. Cooper rose to the occasion and fashioned one from material she found in her cabin. Thomas E. Cooper had visions of propagating fruit trees and establishing a flourishing orchard in the area. In seeking a name for the new post office and settlement, he cast about in his mind and thought of grafting fruit trees and suggested "graft-on." Mrs. Cooper approved of the name because it was the name of Grafton County, New Hampshire, where her parents were born. The Coopers enlarged their log cabin once, but only two years after building their cabin they built a frame house which was the first frame house built in Grafton and stands to this day. In the summer of 1879, Miss Alice E. Cooper taught the first school on Iver Dahl's claim one mile from Grafton. The first Episcopalian Church service was held in the Cooper home. Ten people were present, one walked seven miles across to attend. On a bright December day in 1878 a number of Scandinavian settlers gathered in a log cabin of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Aas, about two miles north-east of Grafton to hear a sermon delivered in the Lutheran faith. Those who gathered at the Aas home that day were Ole 0. Aas, Edward Aas, Iver P. Dahl, Samuel Olson, Mattes Kristensen, Johannes Anderson, John 0. Aas, Martin O. ii Holt, Ole Olson Ordahl and Charles Johnson. That was the beginning of the Lutheran church in Grafton. After the location of the post office, Grafton became a trading post. A small general store was opened by Bert Berr. In February, 1880, a blacksmith shop was opened by John Volk. In March, 1881, a blacksmith grocery was opened by N. J. Roholt. In July, Wm. Chandler followed suit with a grocery, a provision and glassware store. These, Grafton's pioneer business houses, were located near the bank of the river. On one occasion. Dr. N. H. Hamilton and Frank Winship, the editor of the Acton News, traveled to Oakwood and Grafton on a professional trip for the doctor. They visited at the home of Thomas Cooper. After listening to Winship extol the superior advantages of Acton, Cooper, who had been hoeing his patch of potatoes paused in his work and replied: "But look there," he pointed around with his hoe, "this is Grafton. It has sprung up over night. It is just beginning. Over there are the stores of N. J. Roholt, Beer and Kavanagh and Wm. Chandler. Finnseth & Volk are blacksmithing day and night. Locations are being secured by Stewart Cairncross, John Flekke and others for general stores. George Dixon and Mr. Brown are talking about starting restaurants. I understand that Currie & Hunt, Oleson & Stakke, F. A. Beer and H. J. Roholt will sell liquor, G. W. Gilbert and his sons are coming to engage in the blacksmith business. Olafsdn Bros, are moving in from Acton, so is Carl Hendrickson. Nels Lunde has spotted a site for a butcher shop. I understand that D. E. Chase & Co. have plans for a 32 x 48 warehouse and wheat market. J. L. Cashel was here in the interest of a bank. It will be called the Walsh County Bank, he said. Wm. Pearson is ready to build a big hall."

Early in 1881, the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad, which was later to be known as the Great Northern Railroad, proposed to extend its line northward from Grand Forks. It became a matter of much interest to the settlers along the Park River. The question as to where the road would cross the river was often debated. Mr. Cooper, with his unwavering faith in tlie future of Grafton, had strong hopes that the settlement would be the lucky point. When Chief Engineer Truesdale came here to investigate the site of the river crossing, accompanied by Mmssrs. Comstock and White, the well known townsite proprietors, he was assured that his repeated predictions were to be fulfilled. He sold the major portion of his land claim to Comstock & White, receiving $3,500 for 110 acres, retaining the balance of fifty acres; and also assisted them in securing the adjoining claims of Nels Munson and Gus Colsen for the new townsite.

Early day /estivities in Grafton The growth of Grafton from that time was phenomenal. Alex. Griggs of Grand Forks and Judson LaMoure of Pembina, bought a portion of the townsite from Comstock and White and "helped to push things." Wheat was raised on the new townsite that season, but immediately after harvest, the land was surveyed and the sale of the town lots commenced, Mr. J. A. Delaney, who came here from Pembina in July, acted as an agent of the townsite proprietors and did a lively business. Mr. Stewart Cairncross, afterward Grafton's first mayor, was the first to commence building operations, erecting a store building opposite the site of the present Syndicate block. Mr. J. Flekke succeeded to the business of N J. Roholt and moved the store up from the riverbank as did also Mr. Chandler. Mr. Carl Hendricksen (formerly a hardware merchant in Acton) and Wm. Pearson also erected buildings and commenced business early in the fall. Joseph Deschenes, afterward Mayor Deschenes, and Wm. Brunelle moved their store from Acton. F. T. Walker & Co. established the Walsh County Bank in November. F. E. Chase & Co. and Hunt, Holt & Gamer Bros, commenced business as dealers in agricultural implements. When the railroad finally reached Grafton in December of 1881 and the shriek of the iron horse first woke the echoes along the Park River, Grafton already had a population of some four hundred, with about thirty business houses. Before the coming of the railroad, the settlers had problems getting their supplies. Martin Holt, on one occasion, walked to Acton to take a riverboat to get a stock of supplies. On the return trip, he almost perished in a blizzard. Henry Kingsbury once walked to Grand

plying for the new status of Grafton was presented by H. C. Upham, J. L. Cashel, R. J. McLaughUn and others for the incorporation of the village into a town. The Board of County Commissioners consisting of George P. Harvey, Benj. C. Askelson with Nate Upham as County Clerk accepted the petition. At the first election held June 19th, the following officers were chosen: Trustees: W. C. Leistikow, P. W. Wildt and J. L. Cashel. Leistikow was chosen president. In 1883, only one year later, the population had increased to nearly two thousand which made it possible to incorporate Grafton as a city under a special charter. At the election in AprU, the following were elected as the city's first officers: Mayor, Stewart Cairncross; Aldermen, R. Weagant, J. Marick, F. E. Chase, N. Grinde, Wm. Chandler and F. O. Bleckre; Treasurer, O. O. Krogstad ; City Justice, John Mitchell; Assessor, O. A. Bleckre; Chief of PoUce, C. T. Cole; City Recorder, D. W. Yorkey; Attorney, P. J. McLaughUn. Succeeding mayors were F. E. Chase, Joseph Tombs, C. A. M. Spencer, Joseph Deschenes, W. M. Chandler and H. G. Sprague.

Forks to get a bag of flour. Hans Lykken, who filed on a claim about a mile north and east of Auburn, hauled wheat to a grist mill in Walhalla where he had it ground into flour. In December of 1881, W. C. Leistikow came to Grafton. He was so favorably impressed with the prospects that he decided to locate here. Early in the spring of 1882, he commenced the erection of a 150 barrel flour mill which was completed in time for the crop of that year, ln 1885 the capacity of the mill was doubled and later it was increased to over 500 barrels. He manufactured the White Lily and Leistikow's Best Patent which was sold in all the flour marts, much of it was exported to Europe. The mill was an important factor in the growth and prosperity of Grafton. In 1900 the mill had a capacity of over 500 barrels a day, grinding over three quarters of a million bushels annually. The mill had a record of 335 days of 24 hours each in one year. The milling of flour had been the occupation of the Leistikow family for generations in their native Germany. Leistikow was reputed to have been Grafton's first millionaire. He was one of the original stockholders of the First National Bank of Grafton. At one time he owned eighty quarters of farm land. On one occasion he sold a half section of farm land for $10,400 cash at which time he expressed the belief that one day Walsh County farm land would sell for as high as $75 an acre. He urged farmers to diversify and raise livestock as weU as grain. In later years he donated to the city a park which bears his name. Until 1881, the Park River in Grafton was the boundary line between Pembina County and Grand Forks County. At one time the area south of the line was known as Sheyenne. The 1881 session of the Territorial Legislature meeting at Yankton, authorized the formation of a new county carved from the southern part of Pembina County and the northern part of Grand Forks County. The county was named after the Hon. Geo. H. Walsh of Grand Forks. Walsh County was formally organized in the home of George P. Harvey on Aug. 31, 1881. Governor Ordway appointed George P. Harvey of Minto, Wm. Code of Kensington and Ben. C. Askelson of Grafton as County Commissioners. The efforts to name and locate a county seat were stalled by a tenacious tie vote. Finally Wm. Harvey broke the tie by casting his vote in favor of Grafton. The matter was then subjected to a popular vote and Grafton won by a substantial margin, its nearest contender being Minto. The offices of the temporary courthouse were in a building on the comer of Hill Avenue and Sixth St. which later became the site where the Scandinavian-American Bank was erected and later became the home of the Grafton National Bank. J. L. Cashel, representing F. T. Walker & Co., appeared before the County Board of Commissioners and offered the building for a period of 18 months at a rental of $60 per month. During the winter and spring the growth of the young village of Grafton was very rapid and many new business houses were opened. Additions to the original townsite were platted by T. E. Cooper and Ben Askelson. The village began to "spread out." The public hearing for the incorporation of the "town of Grafton" was held May 22, 1882 in Grafton's first school building. This two-story frame building, costing about $1,500, was then located on the site where H. G. Homme later built his residence. Later it was moved to Grafton's north end and was converted to an electric power plant. The petition ap-

Old DeSoto Creamery, now a trailer court

This was where Wilson's had their shop. The spire in the back is that ofthe old Lutheran church. Stewart Cairncross, a native of Scotland, brought his family to Grafton in 1881. The famUy, Mr. Cairncross, two sons and three daughters, had been living in Litchfield, Minnesota. They traveled by rail to Breckenridge, where they crossed the river by hack to Wahpeton. From there they went by train to Grand Forks where they spent the night in a hotel, and next morning traveled west 12 miles to Stickney by rail. These 12 mUes of rail were the beginning of Jim Hill's railroad to Seattle from Grand Forks. In Stickney the family spent the night in a sod shanty belonging to some cousins of Mrs. Cairncross, the Blair family. The following morning the family, in a lumber wagon pulled by a team of horses, started across the prairie for Graf ton, a distance of about forty miles. This was a long, 107

grueling trip for the family, particularly for the wife and mother The wagon trip took from early morning to long after dark. At last they arrived at Mr. Cooper's farm home which was being used as a hotel and there the family was housed. During the night a baby was born to Mrs Cairncross, a boy whom they named Grafton Cairncross. He was the first white child born in Grafton. Stewart Cairncross purchased one of the first lots offered for sale when the townsite was platted. He immediately commenced the erection of a store building, the first in the new townsite. For months the merchandise for the store was freighted by rail from St. Paul to Grand Forks, then by boat to Acton or St. Andrews. Teams and wagons were used in the final stage of the journey to Grafton. When the Cairncross children were permitted to cross the new railroad grade to see thenfather's store, they found it draped in black in mourning for the death of President Garfield who had been assassinated. Joseph Tombs, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, arrived in Grafton in 1882. During the first summer, he and his son broke up and prepared for crop five hundred acres of the virgin prairie. In 1883 he engaged in business in Grafton. He served as mayor for seven terms. During his incumbency, he secured for Grafton tbe first artesian well in the state together with a complete system of water works and fire protection. He was conspicuously active in the extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Grand Forks through Grafton. He secured for the city the first municipal electric light plant which provided illumination for the streets of Grafton with no expense to the taxpayer. It brought in a handsome revenue He was also largely instrumental in securing for the city its free library and reading room-another first in the state. Wm Chandler was a pioneer Grafton merchant who built his first store on the banks of the Park River when Grafton was but a trading post in 1881. His pnmitive establishment was at first located near the site where the roller mill was later constructed. He sold groceries, provisions and glassware. In those days events moved so fast that only a month or so later when the new townsite was platted, Mr. Chandler moved his store builduig uptown. He was first located on the west side of Hill Avenue but later moved to the east side of the five hundred block where he established a furniture store with a mortuary upstairs. His funeral records begin ui 1894 His first funeral was Norman Anderson on Dec. 22 1894 Soon after coming to Grafton, he was appointed postmaster and held the office for six years. He remodeled his store to makeroomfor the post office. He was a member of the first City Council and the Board of Education. C. A. M. Spencer who served the city as mayor for the term commencing in April, 1888, is also the pioneer member of the legal fraternity in Walsh County. He served as city attorney. He was engaged in the real estate business. Joseph Deschenes served Grafton as mayor for five terms. He was a pioneer merchant in Acton in partnership with William Brunelle. When Grafton was chosen as the county seat in 1881, they moved their building and business to Grafton where Mr. Deschenes engaged in the mercantile and real estate business. William N. Smith was the head miller for the Grafton Roller Mills. While in the employ of W. C. Leistikow, he served as mayor for a period of one year.

An early scene in Grafton

At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the new town of Grafton in 1882, the first ordinance passed was designed to govern the sale of intoxicating liquors. The next ordinances were concerned with nuisances such as cattle running at large and unlicensed sales by peddlers. Leistikow had been chosen as president of the board of trustees and he named two one-man committees June 26, Cashel on the fire limits and sanitary regulations committee and Wildt had charge of streets and sidewalks. At that meeting J. L. Cashel reported all dead animals and decayed vegetable matter had been removed from the townsite. A poll tax was established and the marshal! was required to collect two dollars from each male over twenty-one or the equivalent of a day's labor on the streets. On June 30, the board appointed a special police force of three men to serve on the Fourth of July They were F. C. Fox, Patrick Twelle and Frank Dailey. They were paid $3 each. A few days later, Patrick Twelle was appointed night policeman for three months without pay. Trustee Wildt managed to have a bridge built on the west side of the railroad tracks. In July, the matter of sidewalks came to attention. A. M. Hovland, Thomas Bottom and others petitioned for a sidewalk running from the northeast corner of Block 39, along the east side of the southeast corner. It was to be 12 feet wide and made of 12-inch "plank lumber." August 8, D. C. Moore and others asked for a sidewalk on the east side of Hill Avenue from the northwest corner of Block 30, south to 7th Street and from the northwest corner of lot 12, Block 30 east on the north side of 7th St. to the railroad right-of-way. This started the ball rolling and soon building sidewalks was a major task of the town board. At the August 8 meeting it was decided to call a special election to vote on issuing $3,000 in warrants to finance a fire department. In the matter of fire prevention the town fathers were meticulous. The minutes show that the board solemnly decreed that "patent chimneys could stay up for one year if considered safe by the committee." A move was launched to build a city hall. Jan. 21, 1884, there was a petition urging action on the matter. Among the sponsors were Cairncross and Wildt, James McDonald and twenty-one others. They wanted a brick structure. A jail was to be housed in the city hall. The city was paying rent for use of the county jail. A building to house the city hall and jail was built in the five hundred block on Griggs Avenue. Some years later the county jail 108

The Methodist Church was permanently located at the northwest corner of Griggs Avenue and 6th St. across the street north from the Central School. The Presbyterian congregation erected a very neat and substantial frame building in 1883 at a cost of $2,000. It was nicely furnished and equipped with a fine new organ. It was located at the southeast corner of Griggs Avenue and 6th Street across the street east from the Central School. However, the Central School building was not built until 1885. The First Baptist Church of Grafton was organized June 11, 1882, with a membership of 12. The services were held in a carpenter's shop which had been fitted up for the purposes, but in the spring of 1884, a comfortable chapel was erected by the congregation with the help of the Home Mission Society. During the summer of 1899 the church building was moved to the northwest corner of Sixth Street and Cooper Avenue, across the street from the Chase School. It was renovated and enlarged at a cost of $2,000.

was again used, the city facuities proving not satisfactory. The council chambers were upstairs in the hall and the first floor housed the jail and fire apparatus. Those quarters were eventually abandoned and the council meetings were held in the basement of the library until the new city hall was built. The old city hall building was moved to the north end of town to the three hundred block. The old council chambers were used as a hall for band practice. In 1878 during the month of December when the first Lutheran service was held in the log cabin of Edward Aas, a congregation was organized and given the name "The Park River Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church." At a meeting held at the home of Mrs. Hegseth on Sept. 4, 1881, Karl Hegranes donated three acres of land to the newly organized church to be used for a church and a cemetery. At the same meeting the members decided that the trustees rent a hall in Grafton in which to conduct church services as, theretofore, the services had been held out in the country. The first services in Grafton were held in the building owned by Stewart Cairncross. A church building was erected in the fall of 1883 on the cemetery site. In 1896, Nolman and Lewis at the cost of $4,990 built the large Lutheran Church that is located on Block 11 on 5th St. West. This church served the communicants of the Grafton Lutheran Church until Sept. 6, 1953, when the closing service was held prior to moving into the new church which had been built in the same block during 1952 and '53. On Christmas Day, 1881, Father James J. Malo, a missionary priest, celebrated the first Mass in Grafton. The event took place in a hall over the Birder & Sandager general store. Father Malo and priest from the Oakwood parish continued to minister unto the needs of the thirty Catholic families in any available building or home, sometimes, farm home, until 1882 when Bishop Marty and a planning committee, composed of J. L. Cashel, David DeSautel and William O. Mulchy arranged to build a small church at the cost of $800. In 1884 the parish was formally organized and called St. John the Evangelist Church and parish. In 1907, a new church with a seating capacity of 350 was erected to meet the needs of the increasing Catholic population of Grafton and surrounding area. This church was located at the corner of Kittson Avenue and 6th St. across the street west from the site of the old Grafton High School. Some sixty years later, a very modern church structure built with beautiful stone, concrete and copper, with a separate bell tower, was erected on the southwest corner lots at the intersection of Western Avenue South and 15th St. During the year, 1882, three more churches were organized, the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church. During the pioneer days it must have been a common sight to see buildings being shuffled about from one location to another, buildings were moved from Acton to Grafton, Kensington was moved to Park River, buildings were moved out of Auburn to the farms. The German Lutheran Church east of Grafton was moved to Drayton and the store building that was long known as T. A. Gagnon's Cash Store was moved from Acton to a site in Grafton near the railroad tracks, then because of problems with water was removed to the corner at 5th St. and Hill Avenue. Both the Methodist and the Baptist Churches were built on sites different from their final locations.

The Chocolate Shop once operated by Louis

Stamus.

In 1886, B. C. Grover put on the road between Grafton and Park River an elegant three-seated, covered carriage for the convenience of parties between the two communities as a large number of Grafton merchants had branch stores in Park River. The stage used either the prairie road or the river road as the weather and road conditions permitted. A news item dated 1883 reads: "A. Olsen is operating a brick kiln in the lower part of Grafton and each burning produces 33,000 sound and fancy brick. His total production for the season is 80,000 bricks." Another item reads: "W. P. Alsip, proprietor of the Northwestern Brick Works, arrived in 1884 with his machine for making bricks and has purchased four lots opposite the courthouse square where he will manufacture the brick for the courthouse and jail and the high school. About thirty men will be employed. The machine has a capacity of 30,000 bricks per day. Mr. Alsip also has the contract for building the foundation of the county buildings and will commence operations the first of next week." There was another brick factory two miles north of Grafton across the coulee from the Theodore Berg farm. The under strata of yellow clay along the coulee was used in the manufacture of the bricks. At one time Charley Maresch operated this brick factory. For many years Ben C. Askelson operated a sawmill on his claim which is the eastern edge of Grafton. Many of the pioneer homes and barns were constructed from oak and elm that had grown along the banks of the Park River. During the threshing season Askelson supervised two threshing outfits and gave employment to many struggling settlers. Part of the Askelson claim was in109

corporated into the townsite the remainder of the land subsequently became the farm property successively of Con Hankey and A. B. Thompson. Nov 13 1884, the glorious dollar wheat days ot Acton had completely disappeared and No. 1 hard wheat was selling for 49 cents in Grafton. The sad comment of that day is summarized in this sentence: "Exorbitant freight rates still continue and the methods of grading insisted upon by the wheat buyers, pretty nearly takes the profit-the farmer does not get back the cost of production " Nevertheless it was reported that Grafton had a building boom in 1885: Water works costmg $25 000- new courthouse, $25,000; high school, $10,000, brewery $40,000; new addition to Roller Mill, $40,000 and many other business places and residences. By 1892 it was reported that the Grafton Roller Mills turned out 278 barrels of flour last Wednesday. The mill has been averaging over 250 barrels for the last two months. Not withstanding the large quantity of flour turned out, the mill is behind on orders. In November 1886 wheat was quoted at 54 cents in Grafton. The elevators were jammed and the supply of freight cars was entirely inadequate to meet the demands of the shippers A list ot prices in January, 1882, reads, Wheat at $1.00; flour per 100 pounds, $5.00; mess pork per barrel, $27.00; bacon sides per lb. 13 cents; Hams, per pound, 15 cents; butter 25 cents per pound; lard at 15 cents; cheese at 20 cents; syrup per gallon, 75 cents and molasses at 50 cents per gallon Feed bran, per 100 pounds at $1.00, chopped, $1 60 • lumber, per M, 20.00 at $24 and shiplap at $8.00.

former claim of Gust Colsen who later was known as Gus Carlson Comstock & White presented Walsh County witt the deed for Block 33 in the city of Grafton after the city was designated as the county seat. The courthouse and jail were built at a cost of $25,000. With three later additions, its tower rising proudly into the sky and its large bay window on the street side, the courthouse developed into a very attractive building with an air ot quiet dignity It was made of native brick manufactured in Grafton a deep, rich, dark red in color, trimmed with gleaming white. A slender, domed tower with louvered wooden screens and a lower railing all painted white gave the old Walsh County Courthouse an air of oldfashioned distinction.

Old Grafton Light Plant During the same year, the opera house was built. In those days, buildings were constructed with remarkable speed. The opera house was located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Hill Avenue and Sixth Street. It was a large barn-like structure with a curved root. Toward the rear of the building a square box-like structure projected above , the. roof which housed the stage and the flies. There was a large stage equipped with elegant furnishings, plush, satin draperies drop curtains and scenic backdrops and lighted by thirty-five lamps. For the first few weeks, the building was used as a roller rink. However, beginning in the autumn of that year road shows and stage presentations coming from as far away as New York were inaugurated, including I J . productions as "Macbeth," "Hamlet " "When Knighthood Was in Flower," "Uncle Toms Cabin "East Lynne " The opera house was used for local talent plays school commencement exercises, political rallies and Grand Balls. Custodian of the building was Hiram Haynes who stolidly shook down ashes and noisily dumped coal into the several stoves that heated the opera house irregardless of dramatic moments occuring on the stage. 1885 also marked the year that the Central School was built. It was also built with brick manufactured in Grafton. However, in the meantime, the city council was moving in the direction of securing municipal utilities. Mayor Tombs went to Fargo to see a contractor about water mains and then to St. Paul to see the railroad company about the depot. His expenses presented to the council for the St. Paul trip amounted to $22 which must have been just about the cost of the railroad fare. Both trips proved worthwhile; both the water mains and the depot very soon became realities. The matter of railroad crossings had not been going

Last Team of Oxen in eastern Walsh County This picture was taken in 1910 by the H. M. Hanson Grain Elevator on 5th Street in Grafton. The elevator was moved from Acton and is now owned by the Grafton Farmers Elevator Grain Company. The oxen are driven and owned by Mr. A. P. Hagerstrom who homesteaded three miles east and two miles southof Grafton on a farm now owned by Mrs. Victor Monson. The three men on the picture are Wilfred Campbell, his nephew Oswald Campbell and H. M. [Hallie] Hanson. In a day that was burgeoning with progressive growth, 1885 was marked by three outstanding building events; the building of the courthouse and jail, the erection of the Grand Opera House and the building of the Central School. The courthouse was built on Cooper Avenue in the six hundred block. The avenue was named after the founder of Grafton and it is located on the no

very well and there was considerable discussion in the council chambers and the idea of "getting tough" with the railroad company was toyed with. But finally an agreement was reached. The original agreement is in the city files and it is signed by none other than James. J. Hill himself. The city gained the right to open Third, Fifth and Sixth streets across the railroad tracks. The company agreed to install planking and keep the crossings in safe and passable condition. Jim Hill exacted a condition that the railroad company should "forever hold its right-of-way and yards in said city between Twelfth Street and the Park River," and no other crossings were to be opened for a period of 20 years. ln November 1885, the council decided to buy a dozen street lamps. In those days kerosene street lamps were first used, soon followed by gas lights. "Grafton has the honor of being the first city in the Northwest to avail itself of a municipalfightingplant. In 1889 private parties secured a franchise for a lighting plant and arrangements were made to light the streets of the city by the company, and the lighting plant was installed in the city water work's power house. The company had some difficulty in maintaining its plant and also some friction with the municipal authorities about the use of the power house, street lighting, etc. developed and finally instituted a suit for heavy damages against the city. Eventually the city, through the efforts of Mayor Tombs, came into possession of the plant, and has ever since not only lighted its streets, but engaged in lighting stores, residences, etc. Under this arrangement the streets of the city are well lighted without any expense whatever to the taxpayers, and a handsome revenue from a commercial lighting department is added to the city's income annually." This was taken from a report written in 1900.

Note traffic signal. In the first issue of The Walsh County Record published in 1890, it was reported that "the electric light company put in about 75 lights during the month of March. That is as it should be. The Record office is lighted by electric fight and finds it very convenient." Nevertheless, a news item from the Record dated April 18, 1894, reads: About 10:30 Monday evening a heavy lamp fell from the ceiling in J. Tombs & Sons Hardware store, and striking on the corner of a cook stove, the burner was knocked off and flames from the oil shot up to the ceiling. By prompt action the fire was smothered with a blanket before the fire department arrived; it looked at one time that the building was a goner. The heat from the lamp burned out the hook from which it

was suspended." At one time Hill Avenue was lighted by strings of light bulbs strung across the street from building to building at regular intervals. Concerning the matter of building and repairing streets, the city authorities were more delinquent and dilatory. At a much later date, the streets were paved with wooden blocks and shortly after the close of World War 1, they were paved with concrete. The early streets in Grafton were plain dirt roads that became a quagmire during a heavy rain and the sidewalks were made of twoinch planks twelve inches wide. The sidewalks were twelve feet wide. "In the early days (1884) when Jim McDonald was operating the Ottawa House in the block west of Hill Avenue on Fifth Street, 5th Street ended in the Hegraness slough, which was usually full of water and the happy home for frogs and mosquitoes. "The road from the west would swing south around the coulee and all the farmers would come in on Sixth Street. This diversion of traffic did not stimulate business on 5th St. A private roadgrading project was spearheaded by Jos. Tombs, O. M . Omlie, P. W. Welt and Jim McDonald. The county commissioners were not interested and the city council could not finance such undertakings, so it looked like no road or a big 'dig' into individual pockets for funds to finance the job. "The road list was passed up and down the street and $400 collected. Foley Bros, of Minneapolis were engaged to do the work. They started in the fall of 1884 after the Great Northern road bed to Park River was completed. "Many loads of timber and straw were dumped into the slough before it was possible to grade up enough dirt to resemble a dirt road, but everything worked until Mike Foley, the senior contractor had to go to Winnipeg on business. Then the workmen staged a celebration in genuine frontier style. The cold slough water was deserted for a cozy atmosphere of the saloons, where whiskey flowed continuously. But when Mike returned, the whip sounded again and work was resumed with increased vigor." In 1885, The Park River Gazette wrote of Grafton as being located in swamps and bogs. As late as April 1891, a news item reports: "Think of it! An empty wagon stuck in the streets of Grafton. Of course it was. an empty wagon for it was a beer wagon. After the bronchos had given it up, Gilberts mules landed it." In August, 1892, a news item records: "Andrews, the street physician, has been paving 6th St. with hard wood ashes. The streets of Grafton are slowly but surely coming to the front." But in September, 1892, on the twenty-first, it was recorded: "The stench pool on 5th St. has been filled in and Grafton has a chance for escaping the cholera." A news item from 1893 reads: "The streets of Grafton are being cleaned up, scraped and put in good order, and speaking in words of one syllable, "that's the stuff." That was in May. On April 20, 1892, "the sidewalks in many of the city, now that the frosts are coming out, are becoming very inconvenient, if not dangerous." Again in June, 1891, it is recorded "the nearer the sidewalk, the sweeter the grass, seems to be the idea of some people who stake out their cows almost on top of the walks thereby interfering with passers-by and making it awkward for the cows who have to stop eating up the sidewalks to speak to their friends as they try to get by." Finally it was reported on Nov. 16,1892,' "the city is laying water mains on 5th St. from Hill Avenue to tbe Ottawa House."

An early float designed for the Chicago Store, now W. W. Reyleck's. The compulsive growth during Grafton's natal years is indicated by statistics published in the Walsh County Record. They indicate the business and residential growth and costs involved. Some thirty-two new or improved residences are listed at a cost ranging from $300 to $800, with the D. C. Moore house topping the list at $2,500. Many of the homes had stables and all had outdoor privies. The Grafton Roller Mills headed the list at $47 000; Tierney & Healey, Oriental Hotel, $4,000; P. A. Blackstad Clothing Store, $900; Krogstad Bros., drug store, $4,300; N. Wallin, watchmaker, addition to store, $500- Currie & Hunt, addition to saloon, $1,000; Mahler Bros., harness shop, addition, $500; N . E. Grindy, butcher shop, $900; R. Brown, grocery store, $1,200; E. Thompson, store, $500 and boarding house, $700; C. B. Barett, sales stable, $700; P. W. Wildt, store. $2,000; S. Spies, shoe store, $400; E. Johnson, livery barn, $500; Hunt, Holt & Garner Bros., lumber shed, coal shed and office, $1,000; Sinklar & Lystad, ice house, $75; Edward Aas, Grafton Hotel, $3,500; Pearson Bros., bakery, $1 600; A. Abrahamson, store building, $1,800; E. J. Woodham, furniture store, $650; Thomas Volk, blacksmith shop, $800; First National Bank Block, $4,500; School house, two stories, $2,500; Catholic Church, $2,000; J. W. Cross, shooting gallery and bowling alley, $800; Andrew Olson, shoe shop, $100; Mickle Bros, restaurant, $300; A. D. & W. W. Robertson, lime house, $100; J. C. Burlington, bowling, $200; Miller & Treat, bakery, $1,000; B. N. Blackstrom, hotel, two stories and addition, $2,000; Walker & Harrington, double store, $3,500; Grafton Elevator No. 1, capacity 120,000 bushels, $20,000; E. W. Jones, three store buildings, $5,000; E. W. Jones, meat market, $600; C. F. Harie, barber shop and news office, $800; M. Raumin, law office, $200; A. J. Stacy, machine office, $200; N. Upham, printing office, $1,200; Troy Laundry, $400; Town Lock-up, $200; P. H. McCarthy, grocery store, $1,600; C. L. Prince, butcher shop, $1,400; C. L. Prince, icehouse, $175; C. L. Prince, slaughter house, $175; Norwegian Danish Conference Church, $800; F. M. Winship, News Printing Office, $1,200; Peterson, Sargent & Co., machine office and warehouse, $500; W.H. Hagham, machine office, $200; S. Cairncross residence, $1,600; S. Cairncross, store fixtures, $400. In August, 1882, Gus Baer opened the doors of the Golden Eagle Square Dealing Clothing house and for almost a half a century remained Grafton's outstanding clothier. The store was originally owned by Walker & Harrington, located on Hill Avenue and 5th St. In March, 1892, it was reported that: "there is a good prospect for a brick block to occupy the places now occupied by Baer, Dixon, Sprague Bros, and perhaps further south.

In 1940 Dr. G. W. Glaspel was reminiscing concerning the old and the new and he observed: "One marked difference between the Grafton of the late '80's and today is the number of hotels in the earlier period. One of these was the Merchants, then the Northwestern, operated about that time by O'Reilly & Riley. Another was the Ottawa House operated by Jim McDonald, where the Stenso Garage is located. Then there was the Grafton House, conducted by Pete Olson on the present site of the Luxury Ice Cream Store; the Oriental, where the Oliver Implement Co. is now with a man named McCarthy as the proprietor; two hotels further north, one called the Scandia and the other the Norman; the Columbia operated by Bristol & Place on the site of the Standard Oil Station on Hill Avenue; a large hotel on the site of the Central Lumber Co. and two smaller ones on the east side the Central and one conducted by Mrs. Thomas." A news item dated January 11,1893, reads: "The closing of the Oriental by fire shut off about eighteen quarts of milk a day from Mr. Blade's milk business. Now he has a surplus and a few more customers a day can be supplied." Jim McDonald's Ottawa House was originally located on 5th St. in the first block west of Hill Avenue; The Northwestern Hotel was later named the Merchants and was taken over by the Mclntyre family. It was Grafton's most ambitious hotel complete with a dining room. Another report reads "Ole Meickelson's, only place in Grafton where you can get a good lunch for only 25 cents at all hours.. .for dinner, it is the Oriental Hotel with "table unsurpassed" where R. Sheppherd is proprietor. One of the larger hotels was the Grand Pacific. It was once the rendezvous of the county commissioners, politicians and federal officers as it was located midway between the Great Northern and Northern Pacific tracks on the south side of Sixth Street. Across the street was the Central Hotel. There was another little hotel up against the N. P. tracks on 5th St. which was called the Northern Pacific and was operated by the Pariseau family. Between the Merchants Hotel and the Methodist Episcopal Church there was a combination apartment and rooming house known as the Shelter. The Oriental Hotel was operated by Tierney and Healey and was 41x92. There was Blackstrom Hotel, two stories high, 28x24 with a 14x16 addition. E. T. Thompson had a boarding and rooming hotel on Hill Avenue north. During the earliest days of Grafton, there was a North Star Hotel down by the river and because of the expansive hospitality of the Cooper family, their home was regarded as a hotel. Finally there was the small Dieder Hotel next to Barr's Blacksmith Shop on Fifth Street Geist

Barr's Blacksmith Shop was founded in 1883 by two Dutchmen, Merik and Mitchell. Barr's Blacksmith Shop became one of the oldest business places in Grafton, believed to be the only third generation business in Grafton. It was located at 119 5th St. East. The shop was taken over by Robert Barr in 1886, and remained in the Barr family. Robert Barr managed the shop until 1911 when he was succeeded by his son, Guy Barr. At the time of his death, November, 1946, Guy Barr had spent 53 years as a blacksmith in Grafton. He was succeeded by his son, Robert. There was a sales stable at the rear of many ot tne hotels where auctioneers auctioned horses which were brought into Grafton from Iowa and other neighboring states. The business called the Livery, Feed and Sales

Stables of B. C. Grover, located on 6th St. east near the G. N. Depot, was established in 1883 and is the most complete of any in the northern part of the state. The equipment included the finest carriages and conveyances for all purposes and the best of horses. Experienced drivers were furnished when required. The proprietor Was one of Grafton's pioneer citizens and did much to advance the public interest of the city. Some other livery stables in Grafton were Omlie & Hogenson, McEwen & Welbourn, C. B. Barrett, sales stable, E. Johnson. Auctions of horses were frequent at the barns and some of the early auctioneers were : Archie McCully, H. A. Johnson, P. A. Blakstad, Alex McLean, 0. J. Bolton. Buying horses "requires money so the First National Bank, Grafton National Bank, Andrew Walker (successor to the firm of Walker & McHugh) are offering their facilities but if you default in payment, such firms as Gaffney & Finkle and the listed attorneys, John H. Fraine, Henry Phelps, Spencer & Sauter, Jeff M. Myers, W. B. Hauser, William MacKenzie and T. W. Gaffney are ready to invoke the full rigor of the law. This could be done with convenience as J. E. Cronan, sheriff, and D. A. Foley, chief of police are always available." There was a livery stable on Griggs Avenue N. operated by Harvey Giles which remained in operation into the twenties. The business of cutting ice in the river and storing it for use during the warm weather months was an important feature of early days. An early report states that Sinklar and Lystad built an ice house 14'xl4' for the sum of $75. A news item dated Jan. 4, 1893, reads: "A. G. Jackson commenced putting up ice Monday morning, just north of Schnieder and Enmark's Feed Mill on the mill track of the N. P." In later years, Hans Hagen undertook the business of supplying ice to the city of Grafton. It was in the year 1879, two years before parts of Pembina and Grand Forks counties were made into Walsh County and ten years before statehood, that the first pupils gathered in a rough claim-shanty near Grafton, on the Iver Dahl claim, and were taught by Alice E. Cooper, daughter of Grafton's first settler. The origin of Grafton's educational system goes back to the year 1882. During the winter of 1881-1882, a school had been opened by public subscription, but the records say little concerning it. It apparently died a quick death. In 1882, thirteen voters of Grafton met January 9 to organize the school district under the old territorial law of that time. Rev. William Cobleigh was elected director, G. W. Gilbert was named clerk and Mrs. N. 0. Noben was named treasurer of the first school board. The first public school building was erected, also by popular subscription, in what was then the second ward of the city. It was a small, one-story, frame building and served as a church as well as a schoolhouse. Later another building was erected for a school by issuing $1,500 in bonds. This building was located in the southern part of the city and was later used as an engine house by the city. The first teacher in Grafton was Joseph Cleary. He was succeeded by W. J. Shumway who was assisted by Mrs. Emma A. Shoemaker Mott. Mrs. Mott was a distinquished educator in the area. She had the distinction of singing an oratorio with a group of 1200 voices under the direction of Dr. Leopold Damrosch in New York City. While visiting a cousin in West Virginia, she had occasion to observe a young Negro boy who recently had been freed by Lincoln's Emancipation Act, Booker

T. Washington. Mrs. Mott also had the distinction of being the first woman instructor at the University of North Dakota. Succeeding Mr. Shumway as principal was Mr. A. McCully, who was assisted by D. C. Ross and Kate Driscoll. A news item dated April 15, 1891, reads: "School opened Monday with an attendance of about 240. A new primary room has been opened and the twentvfive little ones presented themselves the first day for membership. All who are six years old and wish to attend this term should enter at once." A second item reports: "The report of the Grafton Schools for the term ending December 1, 1883, shows, 78, the number of days taught; 176, the number of pupils enrolled; 123 average daily attendance." Lacking facilities and the power to organize, the school was not thoroughly graded until the fall of 1885. The territorial legislature of 1885 passed an act creating an independent school district within the city of Grafton. The schools today are governed by that action. This act was approved by the governor on March 9, 1885. Under the dispensation granted it, the district elected its first board on April 7, 1885. The board consisted of five members, two at large and one from each of the city's three wards. William Tierney, C. A. M. Spencer, H. C. Upham, F. E. Chase and E. O. Faulkner were elected members of the new board. Chase was then named president and Faulkner, clerk. First business of the newly organized board was to bond the district for $15,000 to erect the main part of the old Central School building, lt was constructed with brick manufactured in the city. The first section was built during the summer of 1885, exactly fifty years before the whole structure was razed by relief workers in 1935 to make room for the new modern building housing the high school classes and the six lower grades. The relief workers were part of the WPA program of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal during the great depression. The first part of the Central School building was two stories high, built of red brick. It contained six large class and recitation rooms. In August, 1885, J. C. P. Miner, a graduate of Harvard University, was engaged as principal with Mary D. Mattison, Kate Driscoll and Lucy Kileen as assistants. School did not open until the middle of November. From then on, however, the development of the school in both number and excellence was unsurpassed in the state, according to a history of the system published in 1896. In 1887, Mr. Miner was succeeded by A. L. Woods, a graduate of Bates College, Maine, who later became publisher of the Walsh County Record. During Mr. Woods' incumbency, the Grafton High School was thoroughly organized and the work of the grades improved. It was during Mr. Woods' administration that the Grafton High School gained a signal honor over other schools in the state by winning a flag offered by Perry, Mason & Co. for a prize essay on the state of North Dakota. The first class of the high school was graduated by Mr. Woods in the summer of 1890. It consisted of seven girls and three boys. They were: Katie Kelly, Mary Woben, Alice Cairncross, Jessie Winne, Carrie Weagent, Viannia Kellog, Emma Blakstad, Charles Cairncross and Walter Prince. A discrepancy in the report lists a tenth member of the class, Vaughn Way. During the exercises, Jessie Winne delivered an oration entitled, "America, One Hundred Years Hence." F. E. Chase presented the diplomas. Mr. Woods graduated a second

class of nine in the summer of 1891. In 1893, the senior class had a membership of four: Maggie Walker valedictorian; Mary Driscoll, salutatonan, Lute Chase and B Brumwell. Commencement exercises took place Friday June 3. President Webster Merrifield of the University of North Dakota delivered the address. Walter L Stockwell assumed the responsibilities ot school superintendent of the Grafton schools in the fall of 1891 During his administration the school system grew and developed so quickly that it taxed the ability of the district to cope with the growth. Whereas six teachers were able to take care of the school population in 1891, eleven instructors were needed nine years later The Central School which housed all who sought knowledge in 1891 soon was too small for the constantly growing school enrollment. The fall of 1892 saw the erection of a two-room building in the first ward, known as the Chase School, named after F. E. Chase who served for nine consecutive years on the school board of the district and, with the exception of one year, was president of the board The Chase School building which houses pupils east of Hill Avenue and up through the sixth grade was remodeled from time to time. In 1939 it was replaced by a brick structure. The school enrollment continued to grow until it was necessary to build a third school in the southwest part of town in the thirteen hundred block on McHugh Avenue. It was built in the early sixties. In 1895 a two-room addition was added to the Central School. In'the closing years of the last decade of the nineteenth century, the high school enrollment had increased to the point where it became necessary to construct a building used exclusively for the high school courses. In 1902, a class of eleven was graduated, eight m the Latin Course, three in the English Course. In 1909, a class of twenty-one, which included Cyril Glaspel, was graduated; In 1910 it was a class of twenty; in 1913 it was a class of twenty-seven and in 1915 it was a class of thirty. The new high school was a large, square frame building two stories high with a full basement. The basement contained the "Ag" room, the "Home Ec." room and he shower and locker room. The ground floor contained the superintendents office, two general class rooms, a combination class room and laboratory and a classroom for the instruction in stenography and bookkeeping with a corner glassed in for the typewriting class. The upper floor contained the general assembly, the library and on the north side, the freshman room which could be closed off by a drop sliding door. Some noteworthy records were established in the Grafton school system. Cora Lykken, daughter of one of the earliest pioneer families, taught for fifty-four years forty-one of which were spent in the Grafton Central School She joined the Grafton School faculty in 1920 and served as principal from 1922 to 1950. She retired from teaching May 3,1960. Hulda Carlson was the daughter ot another early pioneer family, Gust Carlson. He was earlier known as Gus Colsen. Hishomestead is part of the Grafton townsite on which the courthouse and the Chase School are located. Hulda Carlson taught for fifty-one years thirty-seven of which were spent in the Chase School as the fourth grade teacher. She served as principal of the Chase School for thirty-five years. Dr N H Hamilton was a physician and surgeon practicing in the river port town of Acton. He used to drive with horse and buggy to visit his pabents in the settlements along the Park River. When Grafton was the

fortunate town to get the railroad and after it was declared the county seat, Dr. Hamilton moved his practice to Grafton. The Hamilton brothers established a drug store in Acton as early as 1879. They moved their drug store to Grafton and it became known as the Corner Drug Store. Dr. Hamilton remained in Grafton until ill health forced him to relinquish his practice. A news item from the Drayton Echo, Nov. 1, 1893, reads- "Dr W. J. Musgrove, who has practiced medicine in this place for the past eleven years, has finally decided to locate in Grafton, and takes up his abode there this week The doctor came to Drayton in 1882 and was successful among our people in the practice of his profession from the first. He is a physician ^ whom the people here have the utmost confidence. All will be loath to part with him. He is skillful, attentive and very successful in his practice and has made many calls for many miles around. When Dr. Hamilton removed from Grafton, the people there thought they must have D r Musgrove, so they once set up their opportunism and finally succeeded in winning him away. We wish the doctor large success in his new field, however. The first appendectomy in Grafton was performed March 28, 1900, on James A. Foley, former postmaster, politician and barber. The event was news in that day and was recorded in the local newspapers. Mr. Foley s story is as follows: "I was taken suddenly i l l , " related Mr Foley "and Dr. J. Ryan at once diagnosed my case as appendicitis and ordered an immediate operation. "When everything was arranged, it must have been about midnight. There was no hospital in the town and the facilities were of the crudest material. A couple of saw horses and several planks were used to construct a temporary operating table. The city of Grafton did not have electric lights and a dozen of my friends were summoned to hold lamps and lanterns so that the doctors could have sufficient illumination. "Dr Glaspel assisted Dr. Ryan in the operation and Dr P U LaBerge administered the chloroform. The operation lasted two hours and forty-five minutes. I was informed afterwards that many of those present had classified me as a "gone goose" while the operation was in progress. However, I pulled through the ordeal very nicely and was in bed about ten weeks, but it took almost a year before I was able to resume my position in the barber shop. My brother, Oswald, had just returned f roin the Philippine Islands where he had served with Co. C and he acted as my nurse. Trained nurses were unknown luxuries in those early Dakota days. "If the operation had been delayed until the morning, I would have succumbed, but fortunately the doctors were able to cope with the situation and I have enjoyed 31 years of good health since that horrible night," Jim said in conclusion." A discrepancy in the news account must be explained Grafton had electricity as early as 1889, but it was chiefly used for street lighting and a few business houses. It was later that it came into general use. Dr Frank Glaspel began the practice of medicine in Grafton in 1885. His brother G. W. Glaspel graduated from the medical school of the University of Iowa in 1888. In that same year he located in Hillsboro. Three months later Dr Frank Glaspel died in Grafton and Dr. G. W. Glaspel moved to the city and took his brother's practice For fifty-eight years he continued as a physician and surgeon in the city, following his chosen profession until 114

a short time before his death in 1946. During his over half a century of service to mankind in this community, Dr. Glaspel responded to calls in virtually every kind of commonplace vehicle, lumber wagons, buggies, democrats, carts and even hayracks. It is remembered that on one occasion he traveled by handcar on the railroad track. He traveled on horseback and on foot, winter and summer, always willing to brave any kind of weather to administer to the ailing. Dr. C. J. Glaspel followed his father's profession. He was educated at Rush Medical where he successfully passed the Illinois state medical examination. He served for nearly two years as Red Cross surgeon in the European theatre during World War I. Returning to Grafton, he went into practice with his father. He carried on the family tradition, serving the community from 1919 until November, 1973, when he retired and moved to California. Dr. J. C. Countryman began his medical practice in Grafton in 1900. In 1906 he was joined in his practice by Dr. Suter and the firm continued under the name of Countryman and Suter until 1932 when Dr. Suter was replaced by Dr. C. R. Tompkins. Dr. Countryman was succeeded in the family practice of medicine by his son, Dr. G. L. Countryman. Company C. National Guards, Grafton, was organized as an independent company in 1885, with the following officers: D. W. Yorkey, Captain; W. A. Gunn, 1st Lieutenant; W. C. Treumann, 2nd Lieutenant; Chas. N. Barnes, 1st Sergeant. The company was mustered into the territorial service and when North Dakota became a state, retained the same name and place in the First Regiment. The company attended the territorial encampment at Huron in 1887 and won first prize for rifle shooting and at subsequent tournaments always won the highest honors. In 1892, the company erected an Armory at a cost of $3,000; the citizens of Grafton generously contributed $1,200 of the amount. The armory was a substantial and commodious structure, 50'xl40' in size, was neatly furnished, and not only provided a drill hall, but also a good place for holding entertainments of various kinds. It was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Hill Avenue and 7th St. The company was called out in 1887 during an outbreak of Turtle Mountain Indians, again in 1888 to preserve order at the time of the Collins murder; again at the great fire of 1891; also during the epidemic of Coxeyism. On the 26th of April, 1898, they answered the country's call in the Spanish-American War. The company was recruited to war strength, some of the new members coming from the farms, villages and towns around Grafton. On the second day of May, 1898, the members of the company bade good-bye to friends and took their departure for Camp Briggs. The entire population of Grafton and the surrounding country congregated at the depot to bid the boys "God speed." Arriving at Camp Briggs near Fargo, the company and the regiment spent three and a half weeks drilling. After being mustered into the government service, the orders came to the regiment to proceedtothe Philippines. In the meantime, Capt. Fraine was promoted to Major; First Lieutenant Johnson to be Captain; Second Lieutenant Foley to be First Lieutenant; First Sergeant T. H. Tharalson to be Second Lieutenant and Private Charles S. Cairncross to be Sergeant Major, 2nd Battalion. During the Philippine War, Co. C was stationed on

the south line until April 8, 1899, and participated in General Lawton's expedition to Santa Cruz, April 9 to 15. The 12th of May, 1899, was a sad day for Company C, four of its members being killed in action near Paete. After going up the hill 100 or 150 yards, Lieut. Tharalson found Private Thomas Sletteland beside his mortally wounded comrade, Wagoner P. W. Tompkins, whom he had protected from the insurgents and driven them back, when, after they had killed Corporal Driscoll and Privates Almen and Lamb, they came over the breastworks to take their guns and ammunition. Tompkins was carried down the hill to shelter. At 6:15 p.m., Tompkins died, about two hours after being wounded, and his last words were: "Have the boys gone into the next town, or did they have to retreat?" He was told the boys had gone to the city of Paete, and he sank back on his pillow and died. A beautiful monument to the memory of the fallen soldiers of Co. C in the Philippines was erected on the courthouse grounds in Grafton, the citizens of the county and their comrades having contributed the necessary amount. The regiment was mustered out at Presidio, Sept. 25, 1899, and left for home on the following day by a special train over the Northern Pacific, Company C arrived in Grafton on Monday morning, Oct. 2, seventeen months after their departure. The greeting received by the returning soldiers on their arrival was a welcome never to be forgotten by any one present. The general arrangements for the celebration of their return were placed in the hands of the following citizens: J. L. Cashel. D. W. Driscoll, D. C. Moore, H. G. Sprague, Wm. C. Leistikow, Jos. Deschenes, B. A. Provost, Judge Swiggum and Mrs. H. A. Ball. The Spanish-American War was but a baptism of fire for Grafton's Company C. Its members served with distinction in the Mexican Border fray in 1917, in World War I when it was one of the first units to be shipped overseas. It served in World War II. At the time of the Korean Conflict, it was called up as a company, but was dispersed into other units because experience in World War II had revealed the risk of wiping out all the young men of a community by engaging them as a company in combat. The Grafton Military Band was organized in 1881. It was reorganized in 1896 under the baton of Frank DeJudge. It was well equipped with a fine set of instruments and elegant uniforms throughout. The members were as follows: H. A. Johnson, leader; J . E . Hall, manager; Martin Berg, secretary and trenauurer; Welch, Chas. Olson, Jos. Johnson, John Kerr, Edward Olson, Iver Kana, J. H. Kelly and J . H. McDonald in 19&&. An early picture shows Frank Welsh, James H a l . Frank Tombs, trumpets; Ralph Tombs, tuba; Gus Baer, euphonium; G. W. Foogaman and John Kelly, dmiras. A news item from the Walsh County Record, Sept. 5, 1893, reads: "In the Associated Press report, MM® is spoken of as having a splendid band that dispersed same stirring music when a train bearing Foreign Commissioners stopped there. Nothing was said ab©** Grafton. "Grafton doesn't seem to have any band; although It used to have one. that played on all occasions of the kind without pay. It was a band (that the city might well be proud of. The members bought their own instruments and uniforms. After long weeks of practice the band gave a concert at the opera house. They made a splendid

appearance and gave a grand concert. An admission fee was charged to help pay expenses. Did the citizens urn out' Not many. Not enough to pay the expenses of the evening That is the reason Grafton doesn't have a band to welcome distinguished visitors or to furnish music on public occasions." , The Grafton Parade Band grew to national prominence under the promotion and conductorship ot Joe E Birkeland in the forties and the fifties. By this time the band had come under the jurisdiction of the Grafton School System. The city of Grafton was the first m the state to possess a free public library, and its people took a very Pardonable pride in the institution. The public library owes its existence primarily to the Ladies Magazine Club an organization which, in 1895, with Mesdames Chase A G Mahler, Sands, Brown, Todd, Bates, W. Robertson, Gray, Johnson, Glaspel and Hauser as members, and Mrs. S. E. Bates publisher of the News and Times as president, undertook the work of providing a public library. A series of entertainments, ini which Misses Ada Brown, M. H. Sands, Mrs. Bates and Mrs. R. Todd were untiring and persistent in their efforts being ably assisted by Mesdames Stockwell, Woods and other ladies of the city, netted $120 and the contributions of citizens added $400 more. A balance in the hands of a Fourth of July committee augmented the fund to nearly $700 From this beginning the Public Library Association of Grafton was organized in 1895 with Mrs. S. E. Bates as president, Mrs. W. L. Stockwell, secretary; Miss; M. H. Sands, treasurer and J. L. Cashel, A. L. Woods and W. L Stockwell as directors. A free library was opened with about 400 volumes and has been maintained ever since: In the spring of 1897, the property and funds of the association were turned over to the city, which in accepting the gift, undertook the responsibility of providing suitable quarters for the library and its perpetual maintenance as a free institution. The city levied an annual tax. With the proceeds from the tax, additions were constantly made to the library. In connection with the library a free reading room was established and maintained, which was supplied with the current magazines, leading newspapers of the northwest, and other literature. The library rooms were on the second floor of Mr. Mahler's brick block. In 1901 Andrew Carnegie retired from his steel industry and became an active philanthropist. He endowed several foundations - notable among them the Carnegie Corporation with $125 million - to build public libraries, promote peace and advance public education. He financed New York's Carnegie Hall and the Hague s Peace Palace. The city of Grafton was given a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. With this grant the Grafton Public Library was built in 1905 at a cost of $10 000 The library is maintained jointly by the city and the'Board of Education; it has thousands of volumes ot children's and adult's books, fiction, non-fiction, technical, reference books, including some rare volumes. The citizens of early Grafton were much involved with fraternal organizations. The records read: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a strong fraternity in Grafton, having a subordinate lodge, encampment and Rebekah Degree or Ladies Auxiliary. The order has a fine hall over Uphams Hardware Store, fitted up with elegant furniture and equipment. It was organized in

Grafton in 1892. The Knights of Pythias is one of. the strongest fraternities in Grafton, having a strong lodge and also a Uniform Rank. The Pythians here have the finest K P Hall and regalia in the state. The furniture, which is of the richest material and superior workmanship was made by one of the members of the order, and the embellishments are emblematic ot the traterS Damon Lodge No. 13K and the Grafton Uniform Rank were organized in March of 1892. The United Workmen Lodge was organized in 1894 and the auxiliary ladies organized in 1899. Modern Woodmen of America have a fine hall. It was organized in 1895. The ladies auxiliary the Royal Neighbors, was organized in 1896 The couit Srafton No. 752 of the International Order of Foresters was organized February, 1891. The meetings were held m the Odd Fellows Hall. In 1895, Grafton Court No. 872 ot the Catholic Order of Foresters was organized. The L. McLain Hamilton Post, No. 15 of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in 1885 and was named after a ySng man who was killed in the Custer massacre^ In 1894 the women's auxiliary was organized with Mrs H. A Ball as its first president. Dewey Lodge No. 115, Yeomen was organized in 1899; the Rebecca Lodge was me women's auxiliary. Grafton had two very strong societies of W C. T. U., the Lathrop Union organized in 1887 and the Preston Union, organized in the summer o 1899. The Masonic fraternity was the first of the secret orders to effect an organization in Grafton, the Blue Lodge being established here in 1883. Since then a Chanter R A M., Knights Templar and an Eastern Star S a p er have been instituted. The Masonic fraternity had'a fine hall on the second floor of the Union Block where the various meetings of the order are held. The hall was richly furnished and well equipped paraphernalia." Freemasonry in Grafton was founded by D. C Moore pioneer banker, who relates that the territorial Freemasons who held membership in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ontario and other Dakota Territory lodges would congregate during the summer evenings in 1882 around an old Deering binder, standing south of where the first Grafton Armory was later located. The town clung to the river in those days. The lodge was formally instituted Sept. 14, 1883, and was registered as Crescent Lodge No. 36, A. F. & A. M., Dakota Territory. After North Dakota became a state, the charter was re-is sued and a new number assigned to the lodge, as it was the eleventh lodge organized in North Dakota. Because of the inability to bury Charles Olson, senior warden in the only available cemetery after his death on Oct. 6, 1884, the lodge authorized the purchase from B A Askelson the first County Commissioner of Walsh County, of suitable land for cemetery purposes. This was the origin of the Crescent Cemetery. In 1912, the M a « Temp e was built at 111 W. Sixth Street at a cost of $20 000. The Mizpah Chapter No. 6 of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in 1893 with Mrs. Lou Chase as the first Worthy Matron. The Masonic Orders, the Mizpah Chapter ofthe Eastern Star and the Rainbow Girls make their headquarters in the Masonic Temple. Prior to 1904, Grafton did not have any hospital facilities The sick were cared for in their homes. When possible, a nurse was engaged to serve in the patient s tome. Initial organization of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital was held on March 18, 1902, in the Grafton Lutheran Church parlors, Rev. J. A. Of stedahl presiding. 116

Elected as trustees were Rev. Ofstedahl, Rev. K. 0. Storli, Mandt, Rev. Olaf Gulseth, Park River, Nels Folson, Hoople, Gunder Olson, G. N. Midgarden, N. H. Rinde, E. N. Swiggum and Andrew Hove, all of Grafton. According to the by-laws adopted, only members of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America could serve as trustees or officers. A hospital building costing $10,000 was planned. The trustees completed the organization March 24 by selecting Rev. Ofstedahl, chairman, G. N. Midgarden, vice president, Gunder Olson, treasurer, N. H. Rinde, secretary. The building committee consisted of Rev. Ofstedahl, Midgarden and E. N. Swiggum. A year later the subscription committee reported $6,895 in cash. The building was ready for occupancy and the first patient was admitted Aug. 30, 1904. During the first hospital year, 61 patients were admitted and gross hospital earnings were $1,777.76. When the hospital was built, the Lutheran Church had embarked upon "a deaconess plan" with headquarters in Chicago, where young women were trained for hospital management in addition to the regular nursing education required at that time. The first superintendent was Sister Inggorg Borgan, she served for six years and did much to place the hospital on an efficient basis. In 1904, the same year that the first patient was admitted to the Grafton Deaconess Hospital, the first inmate was enrolled in the Grafton State School. At that time the school was called the "Institution for the Feeble Minded." At a later date the term was softened by substituting the words "mentally retarded." In the manipulation of political patronage, North Dakota almost had two penitentiaries, one in Bismarck and the other in Grafton. How this matter was adjusted is indeed interesting and here is that story: "Under Section 15 of the Enabling Act, admitting us to statehood, the wing of the penitentiary built in Sioux Falls, costing $30,000, was granted to South Dakota and a like sum, for a like purpose, was granted to the state of North Dakota. By a subsequent act of Congress, the building was located at Grafton and the Secretary of Interior purchased forty acres of land for a site and called for bids for the building. During this time, the people were under the impression that it was to be a United States federal penitentiary. It was not until 1893 that the fact became known that it was to be a state institution. The state had no use for it, as a state penitentiary had already been built at Bismarck." "ln Superintendent Archibald's report of the State Hospital at Jamestown for 1893, he called attention to the fact that there were 125 feeble minded children in the state of teachable age. From this report Senator John L. Cashel from Grafton conceived the idea of locating an Institution for Feeble Minded at Grafton, on the property already belonging to the state. Accordingly he introduced a bill to amend the constitution, locating the institution at Grafton. On account of various reverses and oversights the amendment was not passed until 1901. when a bill was also passed creating a board of trustees and authorizing the erection of a building. "Very seldom is a man privileged to lay the groundwork of a public institution and see it develop and expand beyond his fondest dreams. But such was the experience of J. E. Gray, the first secretary of the trustees of the Grafton State School. His observations.

written in July 1939, when he was sole survivor of the original officials, are of special interest because they give the political background that preceded the establishment of the school. "Owing to political rivalries having their origin here at Grafton, at the time of holding the Constitutional Convention in 1889, that body allocated no state institutions within Walsh County. When 1 came in 1891, an effort was being made to have the State School for Feeble Minded located here. John Cashel had procured federal legislation so that the $30,000 fund which had been appropriated by the national government for a federal penitentiary in this state at the time of its admission to the Union might be used for the purpose of a site. With the foresight and persistence of a wise statesman, Mr. Cashel had already evolved a proposed amendment to the state constitution undoing the mistakes of 1899, providing for the segregation and separation of the inmates of the State Hospital for the Insane and of the Feeble Minded, and by being continuously elected to the senate from legislative District N. 4 between 1890 and the time he voluntarily retired from public life, he undid the political mistakes of 1889 and not only made possible the location but actually located the school here.

Grafton State School 1908 "Such was the prestige and influence of Senator Cashel, although a member of the minority party in the state, he was able to name the first Board of Trustees, W. C. Treumann, president; J. E. Gray, secretary; F. C. Zuelsdorf, Minto, treasurer; O. D. Nelson and G. N. Mdgarden. Later Grant A. Hager served as trustee from 1904 to 1907. Major Frank White was Governor of North Dakota at this time and he had served in the Spanish American War with Col. Treumann." The beginning of the Grafton State School was humble. Of the $30,000 appropriated by congress in 1891, $3,000 were expended for the purchase of a 40-acre tract of land. The first building cost $37,634.04. This building was constructed on a level piece of land, unadorned at that time by trees or shrubs. It stood alone for several years before more buildings were added to the grounds. The first inmate was enrolled May 1, 1904. Unquestionably, the city of Grafton has one of the best volunteer Fire Departments in the west. The organization has been in existence since 1884. In 1900 it consisted of three Hose Companies and a Hook and Ladder Company, aggregating one hundred and twenty members, with Wm. Mickle as Chief, C. A. M. Spencer and Joseph Ford, Assistants. John Cook was president and J. L. Egleston, secretary. The equipment included an artesian well with a capacity of 15,000 barrels of water per day, augmented by two Holly pumps, having a 117

system of water mains extending over the city with hydrants at the principal corners, three hosecarts, a hook and ladder truck, etc. The city telephone system was in general use in giving alarms of fire. The following signals to indicate the section of the city were given from the whistle at the power house; for Ward No. 1, one long blast of the whistle followed by several short ones; Ward No 2 two long blasts followed by short ones; Ward No. 3, three long blasts followed by the short ones. Corresponding fire bell signals were also used. Grafton's first great fire was in the winter of 1882. As recorded in the Grafton News, issue of February 2, 1882, a vivid picture is presented, not lacking in humorous observations, such as the announcement of William Pearson that some miscreant had stolen six bottles of his choicest liquor. Mr. Pearson was operating a sample room which was what they called a tavern or saloon in those days. . Then the story laments that Sheriff Jacob Reinhardt lost all he has in his office and to make the story very pathetic adds "including his last week's washing." There was a genuine spirit of heroism and bravery displayed by E. F. Schuman in rescuing Mrs. Tiffany, one of the tenants of the Walsh County Bank building. She had become dreadfully frightened and finally fainted away, but she would not leave the building. Through smoke and fire she was carried to safety. The Tiffany's household effects were nearly all saved, except the piano. While it was lowered from the window, the rope broke, letting the instrument fall about 12 feet breaking James Baldwin's leg and knocking William Concoran insensible. County Treasurer K..O. Skatteboe had his coat literally burned from his back and his face and hands badly scorched as he attempted to save books and papers in his office. The safe in the Walsh County Bank was so badly warped from the heat that it required the services of experts to open it. W. A. Cleland, clerk of court, lost many records, including his clothing valued at $500. The main building destroyed was the business block of F. T. Walker & Co., proprietors of the Walsh County Bank, a 44'x44' structure, two stories high. One half of both the lower and upper floors was occupied by the county officers of Walsh County. The bank offices were in the front. The Grafton News and the Tiffany family occupied the second floor. The Pearson building was badly charred and the Bank of Grafton and the Bolton saloon buildings were noticeably scorched. The fire necessitated the rearrangement of county offices. They went into whatever space was available. The Walsh County Bank made immediate preparations for rebuilding, and the Grafton News was published on the regular publication day at Grand Forks. The fire was discovered shortly after supper by Mr. Skatteboe, but the lack of water and adequate fire fighting equipment hampered the citizens in their valiant efforts. And strange to say, the sheriff "got the blame,' he had left a lamp burning in his office, which evidently exploded, but that was mostly conjecture. The origin of the fire was never positively established. In 1953, the Walsh County Record published a history of the many newspapers that were published and circulated among the people of early Grafton. "To record with accuracy, every newspaper published in Grafton since its beginning is like rummaging through grandmother's trunk and saying, "Here are all your love

letters!" Some remain, others have vanished. Faper burns easily. On this basis, then, rest these facts: Grafton has had three Norwegian publications. The first was "Nordre Dakota Posten" published in 1882 by T. Gulbrondsen. For many years a Norwegian publication association was maintained with the leading Norwegian merchants as members. The Norwegian newspapers were very popular when reading English was a task, but with the passing of the pioneers, reading Norwegian became a los>art. These newspapers printed in Norwegian were later called "Grafton Posten" and finally "Det Fri Ord" (The Free Word). "The first newspaper published in Walsh County was the Acton News, the first number being printed May 26, 1881. When Grafton was selected as the county seat the Acton News became the Grafton News and the first issue under the new name is dated Sept. 22, 1881. Frank M-. Winship was the editor and publisher. The Walsh County Times commenced publication May 31, 1882, with H. Upham as publisher. These two papers were amalgamated Oct. 19, 1883, under the name of the News and Times with Winship and Upham as publishers. "The Grafton Herald began publishing a weekly, Feb. 14, 1885, with J. T. Duffy and G. C. Judson at the helm; the Herald finally became the property of W. D. Bates, who in the meantime had acquired the Park River Gazette and the Grafton News and Times. Mrs. Bates combined the Grafton newspapers and for a considerable time published a daily newspaper in addition to the weekly issue, The Grafton Daily Herald. "When Mr. Bates died, his widow became the publisher and it is generally conceded that she showed more newspaper ability than all her male predecessors. She maintained a large job department and did commercial ruling and book binding. • Shortly alter me Dakota Territory had been divided into North and South Dakota, Grafton had the unexpected, two weekly newspapers were started the same week in August that year. W. W. Hills was publisher of the Walsh County Sentinel and B. B. Arbogast was the editor of the North Dakota Advocate. In the issue of Aug. 28 1889, the editorial reads: "There were two newspapers born in Grafton last week. The Walsh County Sentinel on Wednesday and the North Dakota Advocate on Thursday. At once it was apparent that they must be made one and after a few days courting, the Sentinel accepted the hand of the Advocate and Saturday the twain were made one and immediately commenced housekeeping on 5th Street. The Advocate will henceforth uphold the Democratic standard and give the best news coverage possible." The ownership changed from time to time until Mr. Bates acquired the propertyr "Eventually Luchau and Townsend became the publishers of the Grafton News and Times, but for many years R. P. Luchau was the sole proprietor. During the depression he sold his plant to the Agassiz Publishing Company and Albert G. Tverberg became the editor. The paper ceased publication in April, 1949. "Grafton had outgrown its swaddling clothes when the Record was born in 1890. It was a husky infant, already beginning to give unmistakable evidence that it was to play an important part in the affairs of the young new state. Favorably situated in one of the richest and most fertile spots in the Red River Valley and in what was the largest town north of Grand Forks. It had not, however, proved its right to be the business and trading

center of northeastern North Dakota. Shortly after it was born, other lusty infants came upon the scene to demand their place in the spotlight. Any number of other towns in this part of the state were seriously challenging Grafton's claim to supremacy. •AlmenL. Woods and Edward H. Pierce had faith in the ultimate future of the town, however, as did almost every other citizen. They had faith too in the people who had settled in this young, new community and in themselves. There were no misgivings then when they launched their venture. To start a new newspaper in a town of less than 2,500, when that town already was served by three papers, required courage, confidence and a will to succeed. "During the winter of 1889-90 when plans and specifications were being drawn for the new publication, A. L. Woods was the superintendent of the Grafton Public Schools. His young active life had been given entirely to educational affairs. This was to be his first business venture. "Ed Pierce was a practical printer. He came to Grafton from Minneapolis to work for the Grafton News and Times. A few months before the Record was started, the News and Times had been sold and Pierce found himself without employment. He eagerly listened to Woods' suggestion that the two found a new paper in Grafton. "Starting a newspaper back in 1890 did not require the capital or the organization needed today. Hence few if any, new newspapers are being started today. Anyone with a few hundred dollars and an ambition to be an editor could get into the business back in 1890. Woods and Pierce did not start that way, however. They paid cash for every piece of equipment and every sheet of paper which went into the new plant, despite the fact that they could have bought the entire outfit by paying a few hundred dollars down and signing a sheaf of notes for the balance. "After deciding to embark on their new venture, it was necessary to find a building to house the new plant which they proposed to buy. Shortly after the News and Times was sold in 1889, the new owner decided to move to another location and the building which it formerly occupied along the Great Northern right-of-way of Fifth Street became vacant. Woods and Pierce took a lease upon it from Wesley Hoople the owner. "The country was in the midst of an exciting presidential campaign when Mr. Pierce decided to retire from the newspaper business and announced the sale of The Record to Grant S. Hager, then publisher of the St. Thomas Times. William Howard Taft and James S. Sherman were the Republican standard bearers for president and vice president in that campaign while William Jennings Bryan, who had concluded a world tour a few months before, was the Democratic nominee. The date was September, 1908. "Grant S. Hager brought new ideas and new enthusiasm to the paper in addition to a wide experience gained through almdst 25 years as the publisher of the St. Thomas Times. He came to this section of North Dakota in its formative days and played a large part in the building and development of this part of the state. He was familiar with its background, its needs and its possibilities. "Under Mr. Hager's management The Record became known as one of North Dakota's outstanding

papers and its mechanical plant was considered almost perfect, following the installation of a typesetting machine in 1918. "In the fall of 1922 it became evident to Mr. Hager that it would be necessary for him to-lead a less active life because of his health. To relieve him of his responsibilities he began casting about for someone to become associated with him and take over the detailed management of the plant. The name of Rillie R Morgan, then publisher of the Starkweather Times, was suggested. "Mr. Morgan became associated with The Record Nov. 1, 1922, as business manager. Mr. Hager's health failed to improve, however, and Mr. Morgan soon took over editorial direction of the paper as well. In April, 1923, Mr. Hager died and Mr. Morgan continued as editor and manager in association with Mrs. Hager. "After being with the paper for a year, arrangements were completed Nov. 1, 1923, whereby MV. Morgan purchased the entire property from Mrs. Hager and became sole owner." ;

Here are two views ofthe building which was the home of The Walsh County Record, from the time of its establishment until April, 1936. In pioneer days, Grafton lawyers included such famous names as C. A. M. Spencer, who was district attorney in 1887; E. R. Sinkler, later of Minot; John H. Hill, P. J. McLaughlin, W. A. Cleland, O. E. Sauter. T. E. Ransom, E. N. Swiggum, W. J. Hughes, George Young, M. Raumin, D. W. Yorkey, John F. Fraine, Jeff Myers, Henry W. Phelps, H. H. Mott, though admitted to the bar, did not practice, but engaged in civil engineering. Ben Greenberg practiced in the city many years. Close on the heels of the pioneers were W. R. DePuy, H. C. DePuy, J. E. Gray, Tobias Casey, J. E. Garvey, H. A. Libby and John Nevin and Joel Myers. Pioneer lawyers served the state of North Dakota too, while maintaining residence in the city. H. C. DePuy and Jeff M. Myers were State Bar Board members. Mr. Spencer served as attorney general. John F. Fraine was a legislative member and lieutenant governor. Mr. Casey also served in the legislature; O. E. Sauter and H. C. DePuy as district j udges and Mr. Garvey as assistant attorney general of the United States. In its issue of Oct. 28,1891, The Record reported that "the two questions which are seriously troubling Grafton at present are house rent and help in families. Every

available house in town is rented and applicants for further rentals are numbered by the score. Although rents are very high yet not many care to invest their money in houses. A larger income can be obtained by some different investment. Girls for help in the kitchen cannot be obtained at any price." Yet it was jubilantly reported in June 1899: "Grafton had 3,000 people, a brick yard, 6 churches, a cigar factory, a G. A. R. post, a militia organization, 16 saloons, 2 National Banks, 2 educational papers, 2 weekly papers, a 200-barrel flour mill a machine shop and foundry, a powerful branch ot the W C T U the N. P. and St. P. M. & M. Railroads, numerous social and secret societies, an unsurpassed public school system, is situated on a well-timbered stream a water works that is unrivaled, the largest opera house in North Dakota, the crack fire department of North Dakota, 3 first class hotels and a dozen others, a $50 000 courthouse and jail, an artesian well which flows 18 000 gallons per hour, 9 grain elevators with a capacity of 350,000 bushels, as good a job-printing office as any in the Territory, the county seat of Walsh County, the most fertile soil in the territory, having produced 6,000,000 bushels of wheat in 1887. The constantly shifting sands of the desert or the restless surge of the sea best describes the changing profile of life and living during the past century. It is true also of the scene in Grafton. The profile of Grafton at the close of the nineteenth century and at the turn oi the twentieth century still included some familiar names and business firms. The now defunct Grafton Roller Mills was still in operation. Still in operation were W. W. Reyleck's Chicago Store, Robertson's Lumber Company, Barr's Blacksmith Shop, Grover's Livery Stable, Haussamen's Drug Store and the Merchant's Hotel. Some new firms had appeared on the scene and some were the precursor of others to follow. The St. Hilaire Lumber Company had been established in June, 1899. Their yard and office were located on 6th St. between the depots. The Minneapolis Store, popular emporium, was not only the oldest business house in Grafton, but was the pioneer mercantile establishment of Walsh County. In March, 1881, N. J. Roholt opened an unpretentious store on the bank of the river. In September following, he sold out to Mr. J. Flekke, who at once commenced the construction of a building on the northeast corner of the intersection of Hill Avenue and Sixth Street. This was the location of Messrs. Berg, Bjornstad and Flekke, later Berg and Flekke. A brick block was built to replace the original frame building. Sateren's Cash Store was the only exclusively cash general mercantile house in North Dakota. Mr. O. L. Sateren was one of Walsh County's pioneer settlers, having lived there since the spring of 1881. The fall of 1886 he entered into business. He was a firm believer and a strong advocate of cash dealings. In 1888, believing the community to be ripe for a Cash Store, he made a change in his store policy, from credit to cash exclusively. The public accepted the change and his business continued to grow. J. S. Brosnahan and Company were dealers in farm machinery, carriages, wagons, sleighs, coal, wood, etc. Established in 1899, this firm had the agencies for John Deere plows, Kentucky Drills, Champion binders and mowers, the Aultman & Taylor and Gaar Scott threshers, Flour City gasoline engines. Hendricksen & Olson was the oldest farm implement house in Walsh County. When the village of Grafton was platted in 1881, Mr. Hen-

dricksen purchased the first lot sold. They commenced business soon afterward. The firm handled the well known McCormich binders, Buffalo Pitts threshers, Flying Dutchman plows, Dowagiac drills. They also sold wagons, carriages, pianos, organs, sewing machines, coal and wood. Later Brosnahan & Olson formed a business which was located on 6th St. east on the north side of the street in the east half of the block. They sold the Waterloo Boy Tractor. In 1914, Martin Ringsak joined the firm and it later became the Ringsak Hardware Store In 1900, there was the Fleming & Leweaux Drug Store A picture of the interior of the store reveals the semi-circular windows near the ceiling on the north wall which were a feature of the Grafton Drug Store. It is apparent that the Grafton Drug was the successor to Fleming & Leweaux. J. L. Egleston, jeweler and optician, occupied a part of the Fleming & Leweaux store as W. R. Blakely later occupied a corner of the Grafton Drug until he moved into his own shop.

Blakely — Jeweler & Optician [tall man in back]. McFarland [middle] and George Donelly. Newgard & Flaten Hardware was the successor to Newgard & Bjorneby which firm was established 1892. Finally I. L. Newgard became sole owner of the store. He had worked for Carl Hendricksen, hardware merchant in Acton, who had moved his store into Grafton. Another veteran businessman in Grafton was N. D. Erie who established a department store with a grocery department He built the brick building next to the First National Bank building at 607 Hill Avenue. Greeley Sprague, one time mayor of Grafton, had a grocery business which he and his brother established in 1886. The Grafton National Bank is the oldest financial institution in Walsh County. Organized in 1881, shortly after the first settlers arrived in the eastern sections of the county, it was known as the Bank of Grafton from the date of its'founding, Oct. 28,1881, until two years later when a new organization was founded. The bank was greatly expanded in size when it took over the business of the Bank of Grafton and became known as the Grafton National Bank. With the expansion in 1883, the Grafton National Bank constructed a brick building in the 400 block on Hill Avenue which remained its home from that year until 1936 when the plant was moved into the old quarters of the Scandinavia-American Bank on the corner of Hill Avenue and Sixth St. First stockholders of The Grafton National Bank were listed in the minutes as Fredric R. Fulton, D. C. 120

ton" written by William L. Dudley and bearing the copyright, 1900. It was published by the News and Times of Grafton; and from information published in copies of the Walsh County Record of Grafton. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Moore, John S. Tucker, Nathan Uphamm, William A. Cleland, S. S. Titus, J. Walker Smith and W. W. Hartwell. And that was but the beginning of Grafton The foregoing history of the city of Grafton was compiled from information in the book entitled "Graf-

Flood scene in Grafton. Salter's Studio to left of cafe.

Bergquam's Billiards

GRAFTON STATE SCHOOL HISTORY about three-fourths mile from the railway station of both Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railways. The water supply of the Institution was furnished by artesian wells which was unfit for drinking. It was necessary to distill it. _ The fire protection system consisted of two tanks ot 3,000 gallons capacity each, situated in the towers of the building (removed in 1961), to which water was pumped by a small steam pump located in the power house. The only pressure obtainable under this system was that of gravity. The two tanks were only temporary until the water tower was built in 1909. The power house was located in the basement of the distant end of the west wing of the building. The sewer was located directly in ground surface in a slough east of the building. This system wasn't very sanitary and in 1905 the Institution was connected to the city sewer system. In 1905, the Board arranged for the use of a tract ot land adjacent to the original institution tract, and consisting of about fifty acres of tillable and seventy acres of timber and pasture land. Owing to the fact that possession of the barn, house and other buildings on this tract could not be had before November, 1905, it was not practicable to secure horses, stock and quarters for a farmer prior to that time. A crop was put in with labor being hired from outside the Institution. In November, 1905 five cows were purchased. Before this time the average milk bill every month was $60. They now had a more liberal supply of milk of a better quality. Five acres of potatoes were planted and about two acres of garden. The Institution was lighted by electricity furnished by the city of Grafton. The average cost per month from November, 1904, to July, 1906, was $52.50 per month. The hospital building was erected in 1910. It is known as Midway now. This building is somewhat similar in architecture to the main building and of the same buff brick. It was completed in January and opened in February of that year. The construction of this building is practically fire proof, floors and stairways being of

Under Section 15 of the Enabling Act, admitting us to Statehood, the wing of the Penitentiary built at Sioux Falls, costing $30,000 was granted to South Dakota, and a like sum, for a like purpose was granted to the State of North Dakota. By a subsequent act of Congress, the building was located at Grafton, and the Secretary of the Interior purchased forty acres of land for a site and called for bids for the building. In the meantime, the people were under the impression that it was to be a U. S. Penitentiary, and it was not until 1893 that the fact became known that it was to be a State Penitentiary, so the State had no use for it, as a State Penitentiary had already been built in Bismarck. In Superintendent Archibald's report of the State Hospital at Jamestown, for 1893, he called attention to the fact that there were 125 feeble minded children in the state of teachable age. From this report Senator J. L. Cashel conceived the idea of locating an institution for feeble minded at Grafton, on the property already belonging to the state. Accordingly he introduced a bill to amend the Constitution, locating the Institution at Grafton. On account of various reverses and oversights the amendment was not passed until 1901, when a bill was also passed creating a Board of Trustees and authorizing the members: W. C. Truman, J. E. Gray, O. D. Nelson, G. N. Midgarden, Grafton; and F. C. Zuelsdorf, Minto. They proceeded at once to get plans and erected the Main Building, which was finished in the autumn of 1903. Dr. L. B. Baldwin, formerly assistant superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane at Jamestown, assumed his duties as superintendent of the Grafton Institution on Dec. 16, 1903. He proceeded at once to get the building ready for occupancy. On May 2, 1904, the Institution was opened and the first children admitted. The institutional grounds consisted of the original 40 acres and the Main building was located on 8 acres on the west side of the corporate limits of Grafton, one-half mile from the business center of the city. The Institution was 121

equipped, the food being brought over from the refectory building. Pleasant View, the dormitory for girls, was completed in April, 1926, and it was occupied in June, 1926. This is an L-shaped brick building, 110'x47'. It is of fireproof construction but with shingle roof, with terrazzo floors. It was planned to house 100 girls. Electric current was bought from the city of Grafton until in 1934 when they built their own power plant. The bricks from the old power house were cleaned and used to make other buildings. A smoke house was one of the buildings made at this time. The new power house took care of the necessary supply of power and distilled water. During the depression years (1933) the paint and painting had been stricken from the appropriation for the biennium, and the employees wages were reduced 20 percent. There were fewer employees and a larger population. The charge per capita has been $15 a month but finally was increased to $22 a month. Many counties had either not made the provisions to pay or had paid bv warrants mat could not be sold. "The aim and desire of the school department is to help each child develop right habits and attitudes, to help him feel his worth as an individual and his obligation to others. If we can take a defective boy or girl and teach either to become a dependable, cheerful worker, trained to perform some work with credit to self and satisfaction to employer, much has been accomplished." In 1938, much work was done by W. P. A. There was 21,673 man hours of labor and wages of $10,031.86 in twelve months. Some of the improvements were: potato warehouse; painting; irrigation and filtration plant for river water; laundry extension; building addition to poultry house; completion of hog barn; sidewalks and relaying of floors in Main Building. Dr. James P. Aylen resigned July 1, 1938. Dr. Frank W. Deason was Superintendent from July 1, 1938, to July 1, 1939. The Boys Scout Troop No. 23 was organized on Dec. 6, 1942, with 32 members. The school encouraged the formation of this troop under the leadership of Rev. A. E. Smith as Scout Master and with the following committee from the School: Charles Thomson, F. T. Martell and Dr. John G. Lamont. Wallace Robertson was made Troop Scribe. The State School Troop attended various activities, among them club meetings in town, and also were present at the opening of the Boy Scout Cabin located on Park River near Grafton. At the Poultry Farm an entire new unit was built during the fall of 1942 resulting in a doubled capacity for flocks. The farm house was raised, a basement was built and the entire structure remodeled and painted. The Budget Committee in November, 1948, proposed to set aside $300,000 with Legislative approval on sharing basis with the City of Grafton to secure water supply from the Homme Dam at Park River. Some repair had to be done after the 1950 flood. The Refectory Addition, with bakery and employees dining room and kitchen, was first used in the fall of 1949. The bakery and employees kitchen had new bake oven and range with gas heat from a large tank placed away from all buildings in compliance with directions from the office of the State Fire Marshal. Dish washing and refrigeration had been modernized. Refrigeration was

reinforced concrete. On each of the two floors is a ward of sixteen beds, and two smaller rooms holding two beds each, making a total capacity of twenty beds. On the first floor also are the office and the rooms of the hospital matron and on the second floor were two rooms for nurses, the anesthetizing room and the operating room. The basement contained a large drag room and laboratory, a diet kitchen, dining room and morgue. There also was a large attic for storage purposes. The hospital was in charge of a trained nurse, Miss Anna M. Emge. The cost ofthe hospital building was $23,000. North A Ward building was erected in 1911. It was of brick construction with reinforced concrete floors and roof and of approved fireproof construction. It is 64 feet by 125 feet in size and cost $65,000. It accommodated quarters for 100 boys. The farm buildings were located 1,500 feet north of the institution buildings and consist of a farm house, barn, machine shed, hog house, chicken house and a silo. The coal shed and ice house were erected in 1905. On April 15,1907, Dr. L. B. Baldwin resigned and Dr. H. A. LaMoure, First Assistant Physician, Minnesota School for Feeble Minded, Faribault, Minn., was appointed Superintendent. On July 1, 1911, the control of the Institution was taken over by the Board of Control of State Institutions and the Board of Trustees disbanded, as required by an act of the legislature passed during the session of 1911. The statutes governing the Institution have been modified at every session of the Legislature since its establishment, mostly in an effort to furnish funds for its support. At first it was maintained by state funds, the parents or counties had to pay $40 per year and towards the support of the Institution. This was later raised to $100 per year and again to $180per year. Dr. H. A. LaMoure was here from April 15,1910, to Dec. 1,1910. He was succeeded by Dr. A. R. T. Wylie until 1933. To further increase the capacity of the Institution and to add to the efficiency of the management it was recommended that a superintendent's residence be erected. Estimated cost was $9,000. The Garden House was purchased in 1920. The Refectory Building was completed early in 1921. But on account of the shortage of funds it was not possible to equip it until in 1922, in May. This is a building 140'x66' of dark Hebron brick faced with terra cotta. It is two stories in height and in it are dining and serving rooms for the children and employees, cold storage, kitchen, bakery, storage rooms and cooks' quarters. The east end of Dormitory B was completed in June 1923. It was occupied in September. This is a brick building, 100'x80', three stories and basement. It is a fireproof building with terrazzo floors. It was planned to house 78 residents, but had 110 living there. North B, west end, was completed in April, 1928, and was occupied in June, 1928. This made it a length of 201'. The cost was $125,000. James P. Aylen, M. D., was Superintendent from July 1, 1933, to July 1, 1938. The dining room, or Annex, as it is now called, is a separate structure to the rear of the west wing, one s'tory in height, with a tile roof which can be used as a playground for the children. It is finished inside with glazed brick and terrazzo floor. The serving room is fully 122

used for meat and vegetable storage. The locker unit formerly rented in Grafton was no longer necessary. A new cannery was also added to our refectory which handled both the deep freeze and the canning in glass jars.

Old Main Building, School in Grafton There was an important upswing in commodity and labor costs. In 1940 the cost per day per patient was 65 cents. During the war the rate reached 98 cents and in 1948 it was $1.20. The next report was $1.30 per patient. The cost per patient was $39 per month. The counties and Department of Indian Affairs were paying $20 per month, per patient. The deficit of $19 per month was borne by the Maintenance Fund. At this time the State owned 256 acres and rented 833 acres. The rental ten years ago was $3 an acre and has advanced to $6 an acre. "The dedication of the new Hospital on October 23, 1951, by Congressman (former Governor) Fred Aandahl, is a very material expression of the basic faith of North Dakota tax payers in the validity and importance of the institutional care of our most handicapped children. It furnishes also a supreme challenge to each state employee for consecrated personal service. Dr John G. Lamont retired July 1, 1953, after thirty years of service with the State of North Dakota institutions. He came to Grafton in 1939. He was succeeded by Dr James Marr who came from Iowa. Dr. Marr suffered a heart attack and died Dec. 2, 1953. Mr. E . ft Intlehouse, Executive Secretary, was appointed Acting Superintendent of the school. Dr. Charles Rand was appointed Superintendent, effective May 1, 1954. In April, 1956, the ground was broken for the start of West Hall. It was ready for occupancy in Sept., 1957. It housed 176 patients. In 1958 a beauty parlor in West Hall was opened with a licensed operator, M. Radke. The farm supplied all the milk used. They raised their own potatoes besides supplying them to Bathgate Blind School and Devils Lake Deaf School. Walfred Anderson, who began working here as head farmer on April 1, 1922, was appointed Farm Manager. There are many patients who help with the work on the farm. In November, 1955, the Grafton Business and Professional Women's Club, under the leadership of Miss Hazel Johnson, undertook the project of supplying the State School with television sets and their installation. There were 25 sets, one for each ward. Thirteen sets were given by Harold Schaefer, President of the Gold Seal Company of Bismarck. , , __ .. Christmas toys are received by the school from the Butternut Coffee Company in return for strips taken

from their coffee cans. The American Legion Auxiliary has this project well worked out. Construction of the new dormitory, "Wylie Hall," began on July 23, 1958. On April 9, 1960, it was finished and accepted by the Board of Administration. The Superintendent's residence began construction on May 1, 1959. On Jan. 6, 1960, it was finished and accepted by the Board of Administration. The Superintendent's residence began construction on May 1, 1959. On Jan. 6, 1960, it was ready for occupancy and moved into. In 1959 we were able to purchase a used merry-goround. This piece of equipment was paid for from the profits made in our School Canteen and did not cost the tax payers any tax monies. At this time our shop men were constructing a train from surplus jeep and sheet metal. One of the many physical changes noticeable at the School is the absence of the towers on Old Main. These were removed in the fall of 1961. The parking areas are all marked off and spaced by old telephone poles. The sprinkler system in Main had been installed. Remodeling had been started in the apartment area to be used for office rooms. On the first floor of Main, the rooms that were formerly used as an apartment, have been converted into office space (for the record clerk, one for one of the psychologists, and one for one of the religion tecichcrs ) On May 5, 1964, the Grafton State School celebrated its 60th year of existence. The census showed 1,468 residents here. There were 73 on the waiting list and 146 bedridden at San Haven State School. At this time there were 417 on the payroll. From a 40 acre plot in 1903 the Institution had spread to one owning 650 acres and renting 850 acres for farm use On Sept. 15, 1967, the Auditorium-School Building was dedicated. Governor Guy was the principal speaker. The new laundry was finished in February of 1967. We could not use it until March 6,1968, because we did not have the necessary equipment. We opened a new milk house in August, 1966, and also built a garage for the school buses in September, 1966, used by the recreation department for pleasure trips, camping trips, etc. The Grafton State School have various volunteer and federally financed program activities. Among these has been Lutheran Youth Corp: This is a volunteer organization of high school students who come to work for 10 weeks during the summer. They work with the residents on a full time basis in attempting to provide a more homelike atmosphere within the institutional setting Foster Grandparent Program: This program began in 1967 It is functioning with 30 grandparents on the program Senior citizens who qualify under federal guidelines are hired to act as foster grandparents of various residents. This program provides not only supplementary income to the senior citizens, but is tlierapeuticaUy incalcuable to those residents of the institutions who have been forgotten. Title I - Behavior Modification Program: This program began in 1971. It is a federally funded program under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which was designed to improve the behavioral attitudes of the lower grade residents. This -

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Most of the girls were transferred to Sunset on the third floor. Mrs. Don (Carol) Watson has been hired to be the counselor for the girls. In 1966, a drive was started in North Dakota to build an All Faiths' Chapel. It took five years to start the building as it was built from donations only, which was a monument to the kindness of the people of North Dakota. It was dedicated on July 11,1971, and made available for use of the residents of the State School. Within the Chapel are available two school rooms for teaching religion to the residents and also office space for the chaplains and teachers. The two religion teachers are Mrs. Ruby Helm and Mrs. Leo (Rita) Riopelle. Superintendents of the State School include: Dr. L. B. Baldwin, Dec. 15, 1903, to April 15, 1907; Dr. H. A. LaMoure, April 15, 1907, to Dec. 1, 1910; Dr. A. R. T. Wylie, Dec. 1, 1910, to July 1, 1933; Dr. James P. Aylen, July 1,19^3, to July 1, 1938; Dr. Frank W. Deason, July 1, 1938, to July 1, 1939; Dr. John Lamont, July 1, 1939, to July 1,1953; Dr. James Marr, July 1,1953, to Dec. 2, 1953; E. H. Intlehouse, Ex. Sec'y., Dec. 5, 1953, to May 1, 1954; Dr. Charles C. Rand, May 1, 1954, to July 1, 1972; and Dr. Ron Archer, July 1, 1972. Principals at the State School included: Alice Scott, 1904-1914; Maud Stewart, 1914-1933; WaUace Ramage, 1933-1936; Erma Smith, 1936-1940; Etta Hylden, 19401958; Margaret Ashenbrenner, 1958-1971; and Don Watson, 1971-1973.

program was operational during the months of JuneSeptember, 1970, employing primarily high school and college age youngsters to work with those residents of West and Wylie Halls. Primary emphasis of this program was to attempt to upgrade the behavioral and living habits through intensive concentration of effort. Inservice Training Program: This program began in 1966-1967, it was then started through a federal grant and renewed in 1969. This program is under the direction of Mrs. Agnes Kieley, R. N., to provide a continuation of Inservice Training Programming for the employees of the School. This program has been revised to include adequate and proper training of fire protection procedures. We adopted a new procedure at the School, we refer all of our surgical patients to a local surgeon and to a local Grafton Hospital for general surgery. We refer the special cases to specialists for surgery. A Pre-vocation Training for girls who are selected as possible placement material. The remodeling of the Midway Building got under way in the summer of 1971. This project is financed through federally financed programs, and is designed to provide a halfway-house type living unit within the campus of the State School. This facility will be used for the intensive training and rehabilitation of female residents in an independent living situation, so as to accelerate our programming for eventual placement of these residents within a community setting.

Cultural & Intellectual Pursuits "Each of the scenes have wings to match and when Ut up are marvels of beauty. The drop curtain and proscenium droppings are deep and rich, extending aU the way from the floor to theroof.The drop curtain being 20 feet wide to 11 feet high, which wUl be the size of the stage opening. The drop curtain is of a handsome design, dark, rich plush satin draperies, disclosing a bright landscape of a rather modern castle to the right of which is a lake backed by beautiful fields and hills. The stage will be lighted by about 35 lamps which wUl add much to the scenery. These descriptions were taken from the anniversary edition of the Walsh County Record. The article continues: UntU World War I, the Grand Opera House maintained its popularity, being the scene of high school commencements, political conventions, masquerade carnivals, grand balls and exhibitions of various kinds. Grafton was advertised as 'one of the best show towns in the northwest.' "

When the early settlers came to the local area, they brought with them a deeply rooted hunger for the fruits of cultural and inteUectual activities. Grafton was incorporated as a town in 1882. One year later, in 1883, it was incorporated as a city by the territorial council. In 1885, only two years after becoming a city, Grafton opened a Grand Opera House in May of that year. For the first few months, it was used as a roller skating rink. In November there was inaugurated a series of plays, musical events, academic and intellectual programs, including home talent plays and road shows which were presented on the stage of "the Old Opera House." This lasted into the middle of the next decade when the motion picture theaters sounded the death kneU of the local playhouse and its glamorous stage. The opera house was a barn-like structure with a curved roof and a large, box-Uke two-story addition that loomed high over the auditorium. This housed the stage and the mechanical equipment used to raise and lower the curtains and the wings. The opera house was located on the northwest corner lots at the intersection of Hill Avenue and Seventh Street. A report from that day states that "the stage was 21 feet in depth and reached clear across the building. The beautUul scenery is from the studio of Sosman & Landis, well known scenic artists of Chicago. The scenes show great artistic design and elegance of execution. A rich parlor scene, an Oxford wood scene, a most natural kitchen, a street scene labeled 'Grafton Street' but the oldest inhabitants when called into consultation failed to call to mind any street in Grafton in either ancient or modern times so antique and rich as this one. The prison scene is dismal.

The cultural achievements of the Grand Opera House were inaugurated on Nov. 29-Dec. 1,1885, when the New York Lyceum Company presented such plays as "My Partner, Franchon" and "The Cricket" featuring Hazel Kirke and Joshua Whitcomb. On Friday evening Sept. 12, 1902, the presentation was "Ingomar" and the coming attraction for the next evening was "The Merchant of Venice." On Nov. 26 a play adapted from Winston ChurchUl's novel, "Richard Carvel" was the attraction with "The Gambler's Daughter" coming the following week. On Friday evening Nov. 13, 1903, Grafton theatre-goers saw the play "When Louis XI Was King." The coming attraction for Nov. 16 was Sanford Dodge in 124

"Hamlet " On Sept. 29,1905, the play "When Knighthood Was in Flower" came to town. On another occasion the same play was repeated but with a different cast, the date not given. However, the coming attraction of Oct. 13 was "Uncle Tom's Cabin." As early as 1898 two plays, "East Lynne" and Uncle Tom's Cabin" were presented on the stage ot the Gratton Opera House by the McPhee Dramatic Company. The house was filled for the presentation of the last named production. In the same year, 1898, the house was packed when the Swedish character appeared in the production "Yim Yonson from Yimtown, North Dakota." On Nov_ 21 1907 playgoers witnessed a musical fantasy entitled "Woodland " One of the coming attractions on Tues., Dec 3 was "Captain Roald Amundsen." This was one year after he successfully navigated the Northwest Passage.

Mrs Foogman and Miss Giles. The supporting cast included such names as Mrs. Mabel Moore, Mrs. Clara Hood Miss Miller, Miss Hansen, Miss Bjornstad and Miss 'Lewis, the Misses Glaspel, Giles, Saunders, McCall, Reinhart Reiner, Lewis, Miller, Jacobson, Anderson, Upham Sterling, Hamel and Mesdames Upham, LaMoure Grover and Spanton. The men in the supporting cast were Messrs. Lingren, Hansen, Dougherty, Upham, Gagnon, Almen, McConnell, Sundahl, Treumann. Kelly and Henrv. The playbill for the "Princess Chrysanthemum" contained advertisements by the Chicago Store, W. W. Reyleck, Prop. ; John F. Anderson, Drugs; H. B. Grover, Livery Stable; Brosnahan & Olson, pianos, organs, farm machinery, sewing machines, wood and coal; H. L. Haussamen Co., druggist; H. G. Sprague, pioneer grocery and crockery store; W. R. Blakely, optician and watch repairing; Gus M. Baer, leading clothier; Grafton Drug Co.; the Corner Confectionery, A. Arnegard, prop. T A. Gagnon's Cash Store; The St. Hilaire Retail Lumber Co.; DeJudge's Music House; Upham's Hardware Store; City Bakery, L. H. Diedrich, Prop.: Nollman & Lewis, contractors and builders.

James McDonald, traveling from Ontario on his way to Manitoba, stopped in Grafton in 1882. The Great Northern railway was being constructed, had reached Grafton that year. He was impressed by the town decided to stop in Grafton. He bought a hotel named it the Ottawa House. _ In 1883 he went back to Ontario, married Mary Elizabeth Kennedy. They ran the hotel until near the end ofthe century. The Ottawa House was on the northeast corner of Griggs and Fifth Street in Grafton. It was destroyed by fire May 3, 1905.

A group o/G. H. S. girls, 1911. Front row: Ethel Garvey, Leotta Hostettor, Dorothy Gray and Helen Tombs. Middle row, left to right: Estelle Garvey, Winnie Donnelly, Julia Nelson, Marion Gray, and Harriet McConville. Bach row: Cora Dahl, Maggie ??, Helen Countryman and Melvie Johnson. The High School Class of 1913 presented a 4-act comedy entitled "The Disappearance of Dora." The cast featured such names as Henry Brosnahan, Henry Swiggum, Henry Jackson, Ray and Charles Nollman, Philip Baer, Hattie Hanson, Claire Hoisveen, Edwin Schumacher, Oscar Hellerude, Julia Nelson, Olney Archer In the supporting cast were Betsy Bergom, Clara Dahl Mary Dahl, Melvie Johnson, Hazel Lykken, Isabel Lykken, Mabel Lykken, Edith McAuley, Clara Rye and Ruth Sterling. The class of 1914 presented "The Dream That Came True " The cast featured many familiar names. Helen Countryman, Helen Tombs, Sarah Belle Mclntyre, Estelle Garvey, Cora Dahl, Sigre Carlson, Lillian Monsebraten, Ruth Vigness, Dorothy Gray, Winnifred Donnelly Harriet McConville, Manon Gray, Inga Erlendson, John Fraine, Floyd Scidmore, Leonard Cobb,

Not all the plays presented on the stage of the Opera House were given by traveling road companies. Local talent was very much in evidence. On Monday evening, Feb 17 1908 a play entitled the "Convict s Daughter was performed. The proceeds of this performance went to the new Catholic Church. The play lasted two hours and thirty minutes; the cast of characters featured such names as George Driscoll, Hallie Hanson Laura Dangerfield, Elizabeth Hamel and Matie Dangerf ield. A second play sponsored on behalf of the Catholic Church was entitled "Captain Racket," the date not hsted which featured such names as George F. Lewis, Earl Mahar, Henry Williams, Ralph McFarland, James Mulloy, Mrs. A J Borsheim, Estelle Garvey and Ernestine• Gagnon A third play forthe same cause entitled "A Noble Outcast featured such names as Mary Brosnahan, Delma Hanson, George and Stella Lewis ..princess On Feb 23, 1909, an operetta entitled Princess Chrysanthemum" was presented under the auspices o the Presbyterian Choir under the direction of Mrs. Scot with Mrs. H. L. Haussamen as pianist. The pnnapabrf the cast were Mrs. Grant S. Hager, Grant S. Hager, Cyrd Glaspel, D. Upham, Mrs. Spanton, Messrs; Wells and Kibbee, Miss Dykema, Vivian Grover, Miss Wynne and 125

Donald McCarthy, Clifford Tallackson and Anthony Nd

7n 'l915 the senior class of Grafton High School presented its class play "Aaron Boggs, FreshmanJx> a packed house. Taking part were Richard Swanson, C a c e Severson, Ingvar Arman, Ralph McFarland, Cyrus Jorandby, Walter McAuley, Main; lie Nelson, Clifford Tallackson, Marion Grover, Althild Johnson, S e Tombs, Beulah Jacobson, Leila Maxwell, Bessie Winch Bessie Hoisveen and Florence Thompson Why Smith Left Home" a comedy m three acts, was presented by the Senior Class of 1916. The following names are found listed in the cast. Clinton Upham Edward Rinde Jo Carlson, AUen Miller, Harold Hostett, Jessie Gillespie, Alma Aas, Myrtle Berg, Olga Vigness, Frances Hogg, Clara Erickson and Adah Jorandby.

Old High School

The stage of the opera house was also the scene of commencement exercises for eighth grade graduates and high school seniors. In 1902, at the eighth grade commencement, Jessie McLean gave a recitation entitled "A Hero." Four years later in 1906, she read the Class Prophecy and Arvil Heder gave the^Salutatory Address, "An Appeal to Caesar's Household. The fifteenth annual commencement, the Class ot lsui), featured Emma Severson as Salutatorian, with orations by Catherine A. Johnson, Frank W Deason CarlL G Lvkken Anna L. Johnson, JuUus Szarkowski. Vocal numbers were presented by Herbert Nollman, Frank Deason, Allan Ritchie, Irving Phelps, Faye MacKenzie Julia Grace, Dalma Hanson and Lavina Rye_ Elmer Swiggum read the Class Prophecy and Aletta G. Olson was Valedictorian. . The Fifth Annual Eighth Grade Exercises featured a play entitled "Jack and the Beanstalk" in which CyrU Glaspel was the principal character, Jack. The Sixth Annual Eighth Grade Exercises presented an operetta entitled "Little Boy Blue" with Henry WilUams in the title role, supported by Grace Reyleck, Lena Thompson and Verda Handy. By 1916, the old opera house had been abandoned as the scene of these exercises. Thereafter, they were presented in the High School Auditorium. Music was brought to the forefront with two piano solos, one by Herbert Nelson and one by LucUle Berg. A violin solo was played by Harold Murphy. Helen Carruthers Grant Nelson and Kathleen Mulloy gave readings and Adeline Brintnell read a selection from Bulwer Lytton entitled "Aus Italiens."

Early Basketball Team Standing, left to right: Louis Pierson, Coach Ben McDonald and Bill Mclntyre. Sitting, left to right: Frank Kubesh, Lawrence Newgard and Lawrence Johnson. On one occasion, Hulda Thorinda Carlson delivered an oration from the stage of the opera house entitled, -The Boy Scout Movement." On the same program, Amon Peter Flaten spoke on the subject, "New Ideals in Democracy." On Feb. 20,1904, when the opera house was in its heyday, the Grafton High School presented a patriotic program. On this occasion Cora Lykken spoke on" "What the Revolution Means." Jas. C. Brosnahan spoke on the "Gettysburg Address'', Minnie Coul hart used as her subject "The American Flag." In 1909, some of the students graduating were GraceCasweU, Cyril Glaspel LesUe and Stella Jones, Helen Stewart, Stella Tallackson, William ToUack and Sadie Wynne. As early as 1901, John Worsterson, member of Company B, Fargo, gave two ^stereo^pticon entertainments in a tent near the Merchants Hotel. In 1914 the music department of the Grafton High School presented "The Princess Bonnie." They raised $ M 5 J to pay off the balance due on the piano. Again in 1914 the Amateur Musical Club was to meet at the home of Miss Ruby Jackson with a program to be presented by the club members. Mrs. W. E. Hoover, Mrs. W. K. Treumann, Mrs R O. HateUd and Mrs. W. E. Small were elected to membership in the Amateur Musical Club. A twilight muScal was presented at the meeting held at the home of Mrs. Charles Carpenter. In 1915 the University of North Dakota Glee Club presented a concert in the DeLuxe Theatre in Grafton. Among the soloists were John R. Fraine, Ray Nolmanand Oliver Fraser, young men from G r a

i n 1914 the LaBoheme Club entertained at dinner in honor of members of the city school faculty. Following the dinner, the group attended the theatre to see Paid m Full " Again in 1914, "The Polynesian Princess was to be presented by Grafton people as a benefit for the fire department. Miss Agnes Heltne was tc, prese"1 a number "Pajama Land" which was said to hit and Mrs. Lynn Williams and Miss Ruby Jackson were also to appear in clever routines. 1915 and 1916 seem to have been bonanza years for culture in the area. In May of 1915 some seventy^Grafton residents attended the Schuman-Heink concert in^ Grand Forks. The program included songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Bach, Brahms and Grieg. Again in 1915, Mr. and Mrs H. L. Haussamen, Dr. and Mrs. A. R. T. Wyhe,

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Misses Nellie and Delma Hanson, Lucille Sprague, Cecil McDonald, Frances Myers and H. B. Eggers, Jr., went to Grand Forks to attend the performance of Mile. Pavlova, famous ballet dancer. But it was in 1915 that tlie first sign of the changes to come appeared like a small cloud over the horizon. It was in that year that a group ot fifty residents from Grafton took the train to Grand Forks to see the famous D. W. Griffith motion picture spectacular "The Birth of a Nation." The movies were beginning to encroach upon the entertainment scene. However in 1916, a special train was chartered by Grafton residents so that they might go to Grand Forks to hear the New York Symphony Orchestra. Grafton sent 51 persons and Minto, Ardoch and Manvel, 37 more.

The Chautauqua circuit included Grafton and other towns in the area. The programs were presented in a tent which on one occasion was set up on the playground of the local high school. In the Walsh County Record feature entitled "Turning Back the Clock," a 1915 item stated that "named to the Chautauqua committee for the Commercial Club were Grant S. Hager, chairman, W. C. Treumann, H. G. Sprague, F. L. Owston, Rev. Glenn, Rev Moore and Supt. Hoover." In another item it was stated that Grafton's second annual Chautauqua was held with a larger attendance than in 1914. The audience praised the talent, regarding it as a great cultural uplift for the community.

Old Courthouse

In 1916 it was stated "an excellent program was being planned for the Chautauqua to be held in Grafton July 15-19. Included in the musical organizations to appear on the program were A Great Band, Our Old Home Singers, The Christine Giles Co., the Bohannans and the Savranoffs." Later it was reported that "Grafton's five day Chautauqua assembly was attended by a large audience. One of the speakers was Yutaka Minakuchi, a Japanese scholar and operator who discussed "The Borderland of Civilization." "July was to be a busy month for people of Grafton. Dedication of Leistikow Memorial Park was to be July 14,1916, and on the 15th the Chautauqua was to start and last for five days." That was the year that "a killing frost occurred in this section of the state June 7. The thermometer at the Institution showed 24 degrees. Thick ice formed on water in exposed receptacles. All kinds of garden vegetation was badly damaged and Levi Blades reported that his strawberry crop was hard hit. Dr. Cryderman, chairman and Supt. Hoover secretary of the Chautauqua committee, reported a net profit of $49.50 after a guarantee and other expenses had been paid for the production which is sponsored by the Commercial Club. Finally in 1920, it was reported that "a large number of Grafton people were in WalhaUa to attend the Chautauqua and hear WUliam Howard Taft speak. The attendance was very large and the program one of the best " The movie theatres began to challenge the supremacy ofthe Grand Opera House. The Bernards and later the Dahls operated the Bijou Theatre next door to the T A Gagnon's Grocery Store to the north. Across the street to the east, ReiUy and Collette remodeled the ReiUy BiUiard and Pool Hall and made it into the

Grafton Clown Band [1923] Back Row: A. Salter, E. Salter, H. D. Aylesworth; E. Welch and H. Salter. Middle Row: SamLykken, McDonald, and R. P. Luchau Front: Fritz LeClaire; Schneeweiss, Bill Mclntyre and Ingebretson. In 1915 Prof. F. Melius Christianson, head of the School of Music at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., was to be the guest organist at the concert to dedicate the new organ at the United Lutheran Church. In 1916, Prof. J E R Pepin of Winnipeg presented the first recital on the new pipe organ which had been recently installed in St John s Catholic Church. In 1916, Frank DeJudge, veteran of the Civil War, died in the Grafton Hospital. He was a musician with various road shows for many years after he was discharged from a New York regiment in 1867 and then he came to Grafton where he directed the band and conducted a music store. A local Grafton man by the name of Herb Cliffgard was an accomplished saxophone player. During the summer he traveled with the band in the MUler Brothers Circus. He joined the band playing for the Al. G. Barnes Circus the summer that it came to Grafton. Another source of cultural and intellectual entertainment was the Chautauqua. It originated in Chautauqua, New York. It grew out of the lyceum study groups and developed into a nationwide circuit ot programs featuring speakers, lecturers, musical groups and soloists with magicians and comedy routines included to give the evening presentations a lighter touch. 127

Empress Theatre. In 1915, John Lein and C. A. Heen built the Strand Theatre de Luxe in the six hundred block on Hill Avenue. The first picture which they presented was "Caprice" starring America's Sweetheart, Mary Pickford The Strand Theatre was to endure until the present day In 1916 Johnny Lein booked a road show attraction with a large orchestra for the showing of "The Birth of a Nation" which only one year earlier had drawn Grafton residents to Grand Forks to see it. The Record reported that' 'four Pembina boys came to Grafton to take in The Birth of a Nation" and camp out here until the Park dedication. They paddled two canoes up the Park and Red Rivers back home." For many years during the years of the silent pictures Flossie Baumgartner played the piano in the Strand Theatre during the showing of the pictures. During the latter days of the silent pictures, Johnny Lein engaged an orchestra for the Friday and Saturday evening engagements. This added a touch of glamour to the Grafton scene. Playing in the orchestra were Miss Baumgartner, piano; Arthur McConville, violin, Frances Hatelid, violin; Herb Cliffgard, saxophone and McCarthy, drums. The advent of the Strand Theatre de Luxe sounded the stroke of doom for the old opera house. It stood silent and deserted like a haunted house for a few years^ Finally in 1923, it was torn down. On the lots where it had stood for thirty-eight years was built a gasoline filling station called The Teapot Dome, the name satirizing a current Washington government scandal of that day. Material for the above article was compiled from the Walsh County Record and "Turning Back the Clock," a feature of that newspaper and from programs and play bills from Grafton's Grand Opera House, the gracious gift of Kate Ledwich McFarland.

SCHOOLS Grafton's school buildings had long been inadequate, and in 1935 a $150,000 new school building was erected, which is today providing the facilities that modern education demands. The Central School building pictured here was razed to make room for the new building. In this old structure U. S. Senator, Lynn J. Frazier, and many other noted men were educated. Frank E. Chase was one of the most prominent citizens during the formative period of Grafton and the Chase school of the "east side" was named in his honor. In 1938 the second modern school building was constructed. The original Chase building was sold to B. A. Kamrowski of Grafton for $275.

The Walsh County Teachers Institute, a one week session in 1890. John Ogden and Professor Hyde instructors. W. L Stockwell, Supt. of School. He is holding the umbrella.

Masonic Temple, Grafton

Construction of Central School through a government program known as W. P. A. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 3

Chase School

The officials of School District No. 3 were recorded as- treasurers Wm. 0. Mulcabie, J. E. Anderson and A. E. Cobb; president, J. C. Cashel (1897); clerk, C. A. Harris- and directors, Charles Harris, J. L. Cashel, R. Weagaut, Wm. M. Chandler, O. M. Omlie and W. C. Truman. . ^ • . One of the first teachers was Superintendent Stockwell Also Professor Miner is listed as the first teacher. Early high school teachers were Emily Peaks, Anna Lanckston, Nona Kearney and Martha Nye Early Central School teachers were Sue Degby, Blanche Otis, 128

Abbie Hays Myrtie McLeod, Lottie Cooper, Anna Krohn, Susie Hendrick and Alice Oldham. Early Chase School teachers were Bird Hall, Persis Day and Jessie Grant.

EARLY BANKS FIRST NATIONAL BANK The First National Bank in Grafton was organized as the Bank of Grafton in 1881. It was organized as a state bank with a capital of $30,000, before the railroad reached Grafton. This bank was organized by F. R. Fulton D. C. Moore and W. W. Hartwell. W. W. HartweU served as President of the Bank of Grafton until 1884. The Bank of Grafton was converted to a national bank in 1883, taking the name of the Grafton National Bank. The Grafton National Bank was a potent factor in the development of the far-north region when this section raised grain exclusively and has continued to be an important factor in the area under present diversification of potatoes, sugar beets, grain and livestock. It was the only national bank in Walsh and Pembina counties and had a capital of $50,000.00 and the largest deposits of any bank in the far-north region. The Grafton National Bank erected the first brick building in Grafton, located in the 500 Block on Hill Avenue.

succeeded by A. M. Severson who served as President until 1967. Upon Severson's transfer to another bank, W. W. DeKrey was elected President and served in that office until 1972 when he was transferred to the Northwest Bancorporation Office in Minneapolis. R. A. Charlton succeeded Mr. DeKrey, which office he presently holds. In October, 1973, the Grafton National Bank celebrated its 90th anniversary. The name of the bank was also changed to First National Bank in Grafton. A new building is presently under construction in the 700 Block and Hill Avenue. This building will be completed in 1976. Resources of the bank at the time of this writing are $35.6 million.

Grafton National Bank, the way it looned from 1936 to 1958 when it was completely remodeled. WALSH COUNTY BANK Although the Walsh County Bank dates back in name only since in 1937, its roots extend back to before the turn of the century. It was on Sept. 6, 1892, that the Forest River State Bank was organized by Sidney Clark, David H. Beecher and W. G. Ballack. Beecher was the first president, and Ballack the first cashier. Later directors and officers were James McDonald, Fred L Whitney, George H. Hollister and M. R. Porter, all in 1907; H. P. Beckwith, 1908; Joseph Heger, 1909 (on July 18 1910, he was elected assistant cashier at $50 per month)'- W. R. Bond, 1910; W. W. Young, 1910; George Heger, 1912; W. J. Johnston, March 4, 1913, as assistant cashier; A . E . Halverson, April, 1916, assistant cashier and became cashier Nov. 10,1924; Evans Scott, 1927, and J R Carley and Otto Bremer, July 1,1930. George Hollister was elected president in 1908 and he served in that capacity for four years. W. R. Johnston was named president in 1912 and he had that office until his death in 1923. The Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Ford ville was organized Aug. 1, 1911, with David Rea, Charles Aafedt, Knud Thompson, Charles S. Whittlesey and M. L. Dryburgh as the organizers. The bank operated with David Rea as president, M. L Dryburgh as cashier, and Henry Aafedt as assistant cashier. In July, 1920,0. S. Hanson, P. B. Peterson and C. C Jacobson purchased controlling interest in the bank. David Rea continued as president, C.C. Jacobson as vice president and P. B. Peterson as cashier until 1925 when

Bank of Grafton 1881 to 1883. Locatedin 500 Block. Moved to another location in the 500Block in 1883. Grafton National Bank [1883 to 1973}. Locatedin this building from 1883 to 1936 when bank was moved to 600 Block, its present location.

;

F R Fulton became President in 1884 and served in that capacity until 1888. D. C. Moore became President in 1888 and served until 1927. Upon his death, John Donnelly became President and served until 1929, when F A. Moore Assistant Cashier, was promoted to the Presidency, serving until 1933. The Grafton National Bank was purchased by the Northwest Bancorporation in 1929. A C. Idsvoog became President in 1933. He served until 1956. The Grafton National Bank moved from the 500 Block to its present location, on the corner of Hill Avenue and 6th Street, in March, 1936. An addition was added in 1937, increasing the dimensions of the bank. Upon Mr Idsvoog's retirement in 1956, R. D. Harkison was elected President. During Mr. Harkison's term as President, an extensive remodeling job was accomplished in 1958, and the 75th anniversary of the bank was celebrated. In 1960 Carl W. Beireis became President, serving in that capacity until 1965, when he was transferred to a bank in Austin, Minnesota. He was 129

When the Walsh County State Bank came to Grafton in May, 1937, it listed total assets of $236,000 and deposits of $176,000. The latest published statement of condition, dated June 30, 1975, shows assets of $35,999,918.11 and total deposits of $32,556,343.45, indicating the amazing growth over the period of 38 years in Grafton - a tribute to the people of the large area in northeastern North Dakota served by the Walsh County Bank.

the bank was consolidated with the First State Bank of Ford ville. At that time Otto Bremer of St. Paul and J. R. Carley of Grand Forks procurred controlling interest and Carley was elected president, W. J. Johnston wasnamed cashier and J . E. Bannerman was named assistant cashier. In May, 1937, the bank assets and liabilities were assumed by the Forest River State Bank and the name was changed to the Walsh County State Bank and moved to Grafton with total assets of $236,000 and deposits of $176,000. Stockholders at that time were Otto Bremer, Paul G. Bremer, A. E. Halverson, W. J. Johnson, Rosa Johnston and J. E. Bannerman. W. J. Johnston was the president, J. E. Bannerman the vice president and A. E. Halverson the cashier. The bank, after opening in Grafton, was located in a 25-foot front building in the 400 block of Hill Avenue. Later the building was occupied by the Production Credit Association of Grafton and the Bookmobile Library. The structure has now been razed. Upon moving to Grafton, the Walsh County State Bank established paying and receiving stations in Hoople, Forest River, St. Thomas and Fordville, headed by Victor Johnston, Lee Johnston, Francis Ottem and Robert Clapp, respectively. The board of directors was increased from three to five members in February, 1940, at which time Christ Anholt and W. T. DePuy assumed directorships In 1949 the bank purchased lots in the 500 block of Hill Avenue and construction began on a 50-foot structure of modern design. The building was completed and the bank moved to the new location in May, 1950. With a steady growth, the bank was remodeled in 1960, the operations including a new front. On Jan. 3, 1956, S. N. Fedje assumed a directorship, replacing Christ Anholt, deceased. On Oct. 31,1958, the name of the bank was changed to Walsh County Bank. On Jan. 5, 1965, J. Budd Tibert of Voss became a director, replacing A. E. Halverson, deceased. On Jan. 3, 1967, D. J. Lessard assumed directorship, replacing W. J. Johnston, who retired. On July 9, 1968, the board was increased to a membership of seven by the election of Montelle Boone of Grafton and Allen Lysengen of St. Thomas. On July 24, 1972, the board was increased to nine members by the election of Wallace B. DeSautel and E. G. Hutson, both of Grafton. On Jan. 16,1974, G. H. Bliven became a director, succeeding J. E. Bannerman, who retired. •< • W. J. Johnston continued as president of the bank until in July, 1964, when Bannerman became president, with Johnston taking over the position as chairman of the board. Bannerman continued as president until in 1968, when he became chairman of the board and was replaced as president by D. J. Lessard, who still holds that position. Because of increased growth and the need for more parking and a drive-up facility, the building in the 500 block became too small and again it became necessary to secure larger headquarters. Lots were purchased in the 900 block of Hill Avenue and construction of a new building got under way last year. It was completed and viewed by the public at an open house.

Walsh County Bank, first building in Grafton. Opened May 1, 1937.

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Present Walsh County Bank.

CHURCHES GRAFTON LUTHERAN CHURCH This is a history of the Grafton Lutheran Church as published in the Walsh County Record. On a bright December day in 1878 (it was December 12) a number of settlers gathered in the log cabin of Mr. and Mrs. Edward O. Aas, about two miles northeast of Grafton to hear a sermon preached by Rev. H. P. Solstad, a traveling minister. Those who gathered at the Aas home that day were Ole O. Aas, Edward O. Aas, Iver P. Dahl, Samuel Olson, Mattes Kristensen, Johannes Anderson, John O. Aas, Martin O. Holt, Ole Olson Ordahl and Charles Johnson. After the services they discussed the idea of organizing a church with the result that the Park River Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed at the meeting. Out of it grew the Grafton Lutheran Church. The first annual meeting of which there is a record took place at the home of John O. Krogstad, presided over by Rev. O. H. Aaberg. Members admitted into the church were Arne Ingebretson, JohnO. Krogstad, Ole Nelson, Gulbrand C. Sandvig, Guttorm G. Moe, Gunder S. Erikstad, Andeas S. 130

Naskoug, Anders Christiansen, Mrs. Hegseth Halvor A. Twedt Gjermund Homme and Gulbrand Mohagen. Ole P Spaberg, Gulbrand C. Sandvig and Iver P. Dahl were elected trustees.

Martin O. Holt and Ole Aas, pioneers o/the urajton area and charter members o/the Grafton Lutheran Church. The .first services were held in this log house on the Aas farm. Rev Solstad continued to serve this congregation until 1881 when he succeeded in having the northern part oT the extensive field call Rev. C. Flaten, who took charge in 1881. According to a ^ ^ Solstad, the congregation was * * ^ $ Z $ & ^ about twenty miles east and west and about ten mues north and sbuth, and his trips up here were most trying as there were no roads or bndges. Rev Flaten, then a Lutheran seminary student at Madison Wis., accepted the call to serve the new cofgregation. He and his wife arrived in a vehicle drawn s

congregations at Auburn and St. Thomas. He came to Grafton in February, 1950, after 13 years of service in Fosston, Minn. , A new parsonage was built in 1949, erected directly back of the church proper and facing Kittson Avenue. The parsonage was completed and ready when Rev. Megordon arrived with his family in Gratton. In March 1951, a resolution was adopted calling for the building of a new church to be completed in 1953. The cost of the completed plant has been estimated as between $175,000 and $180,000. The new church is modern in design and structure, including complete school rooms, meeting rooms and social room in the basement section The seating capacity of the auditorium is between 500 and 575 Rev Megorden was succeeded by Rev. Alford Set.ness who served the congregation in Grafton for 14 years. The pastor atthe present writing is Rev. Wesley Haugen. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Grafton Lutheran Church.

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^ a t ^ t i n g oiTe congregation held at the home of Mrs. Hegseth on Sept. 4,1881, Karl Hegranes donated to the congregation three acres of land to be used as a church and cemetery plot. At this same meeting it wa decided that the trustees rent a hall in Grafton for hofding services, as heretofore the services had been held in the country. A church was erected in the fall of 1883 andlater^a parsonage was built. The church was 56 feet long and 32 ?eet wide It was built on the present church cemetery site S d was used until 1896. The first confirmation took place in April, 1882, and the first catechumens were K. O. Brotnov Hans J.another Moe. Madison Lutheran student, f„Hpnt Rev and S Hanson, succeeded Rev. Flaten. Rev. Hanson died in 1888 and the next year Rev. J. A. Ofstedahl of Winchester Wis S m e the pastor. He continued to serve as pastor for

DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE PAST On the front lawn of the Grafton Lutheran Church stands a ten foot tall Blue Spruce; planted and dedicated mT 59 iUs a living link with the past having origins at S i S i iarbor on Hudson Bay, Canada. In May, 1619, S a i n Jens Munk sailed from Denmark and Norway S t f f f i men commissioned by King Christian IV of D e l a r k a^id Norway to find the Northwest Parage to India Reaching Churchill Harbor on Sept. 7, 1619, the menhuntUvtagquarters and storage for the long winter STead thu establishing the first Lutheran settlement on t American continent. The first Lutheran servic s, hinerals and sacraments were conducted at this site. S a i n Rasmus Jensen celebrated the first Christmas anfcomrminion services and was himself buried here in Sbruar7l620, as were sixty-one members of the crew who perished after severe hardships and illnesses. Captain Munk and two surviving crew members left Churchill on July 16,1620, on the "Lamprenen" reaching Norway Sept. 21, 1620. A "Mother Tree" from this site was brought to Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn where it was planted by King Olav (then Crown Prince) of Norway in 1939. In 1959 the seedlings from this tree were distributed under the guidance of Rev. B. M. Hofrening (E. L C. Pastor) to whom we are indebted for the inspiration research and the conception of this living tree memorial project.

^ n e w X c " was erected in 1896 and was dedicated Aug 1 1897 The cost of the church with fixtures was abo'ut $8,000. Rev. Ofstedahl died in 1911 and was succeeded by Rev. H. J. Glenn. About this time the C. A. Jacobson residence was purchased for a parsonage, the l d

° ° Z ° H 0 « s u t e e d e d Rev. Glenn, who resigned to« and in 1918, Rev. H A. B g £ was called to the Grafton congregation Rev^ Helsem con tinued to serve until his death July 1, 1949, a period ot thirtv-one years. In November of that year, Rev. T H. MegoVden asked to serve the local parish, as well as 131

ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH This is the history of St. John's Catholic Church as published in The Walsh County Record. The first Catholics to settle in what is now known as the Grafton Parish came from Canada. They were of French and Irish descent. Some of them came from lower Canada and others came from Ontario. The first mass was celebrated in Grafton Dec. 25, 1881 by Father Malo in the hall over the Birder and Sandager Store. Father Malo, who resided in Oakwood, attended to the spiritual needs of the Catholics in Grafton until June, 1884. Father Malo guided the erection of a small church building. This building cost $1,500. June 2, 1884, the St. John's parish was established with Rev. James Mclnerney as the first resident pastor. Father Mclnerney was followed by the Rev. James Conaghan who served the parish from August, 1884, fa February 2, 1885. On March 2, 1885, the Rev. Pet-r Flannagan took charge of the parish and remained in Grafton until Jan. 16, 1886. The Rev. Edward Kenny followed Father Flannagan as pastor and served the parish from May 4, 1886, to January, 1904, a period of 18 years. The agitation for a new church building was started during the pastorate of Father Kenney. The Rev. Joseph B. McDonald succeeded Father Kenney. During the pastorate of Father McDonald, Father Kennery's dream of a new church building was realized. In 1907 the second church was erected at a cost of $20,000. The interior of the church was beautiful. On Aug. 26, 1910, the Rev. C. M. Turcotte took charge of the parish. Under his direction, a large pipe organ was installed, and the interior of the church decorated at a cost of $3,500. The new rectory, one of the finest in the diocese of Fargo, was erected by Father Turcotte at a cost of $8,000. Father Turcotte was followed by the Rev. M. M. Corry, who in turn was succeeded by the Rev. William Mulloy. Under the guidance of Father Mulloy many parish clubs were formed. After leaving the Grafton pastorate, Father Mulloy was assigned to St. Mary's parish in Fargo after which he became Bishop in the church in Covington, Kentucky. May 29,1938, Rev. John Garland took charge of St. John's parish. He was assisted in his work by Father Adam Englehardt.

in charge of the Presentation Sisters, opened its doors and has been an invaluable asset to the parish and the area up until the time that Grafton's two hospitals were merged under the name of Unity Hospital. Father Garland served the St. John's parish for twenty-two years, the longest pastorate to date. One of the most active and influential priests to serve in the parish succeeded Father Garland in 1960, Father Joseph Hylden. He was active in local, state and national affairs. It was during his tenure as pastor here that the beautiful new church was erected by St. John's Parish. The church is recognized as one of the most beautiful structures in the Upper Midwest. He was very active in promoting the All Faiths Chapel at the Grafton State School. He was active in the organization of the Walsh County Historical Society. He served as a member of the governor's committee for migrant workers and for rural areas development. He served as pastor in Grafton for nine years. In 1969, Father Hylden was succeeded by Father George Lommel. In recent years the Diocese of Fargo has introduced a new plan in which associate or assistant pastors have been added to the roll of priests who share the labors in the parish and lighten the work of the resident pastor. The list of assistant pastors includes: Father Preske, Father Tuchscherer, Father O'Connell, Father Snell, Father Bender and Father Loegering. The Catholic Church in Grafton is named for the patron saint, St. John the Evangelist. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Present St. John's Catholic Church ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Former St. John's Catholic Church and rectory. During the years of Father Garland's pastorate, the church has fostered many enterprises; the Sisters of Presentation, a kindergarten school, a catechasical school, and a school of music. The church building itself has been redecorated both in the interior and on the exterior. In May, 1952, St. Joseph's Community Hospital,

During the pioneer days of Walsh County, the Episcopal Church was active in establishing missions throughout the entire area. Bishop William D. Walker established St. Luke's at Walshville which was one of the few rural missions in the Missionary District of North Dakota. Walshville, a farming community nine miles from the nearest village, Oslo, Minn., was settled by Canadians about 1881. The first Episcopal services were held in 1890 by Rev. O'Callaghan McCarthy. St. Luke's Mission was organized in September, 1890, by Charles MacLean, a layman studying for orders. At that time he was in charge of the Forest River and St. Thomas Missions. Twenty-two were confirmed in a country schoolhouse on May 24, 1891. A church seating 150 persons was built in 1893. By 1895 the prospect of a "most hopeful mission" with one service monthly was the prospect envisioned by MacLean. This church was active until the late 1960's. In Forest River, Anglican families from Canada and England, 1878-79, built a mission which they called

falvarv Church. The building was a frame building, put together in Grand Forks and moved to the village. Money which was raised in the community was stolen by the architect When the Northern Pacific Railroad by-passed the town by three miles, they tried to move the church ui 1889 with 12-14 spans of horses, to lots donated by the railroad company. Finally two traction engines were used to make the move. The church was renamed St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church and was consecrated July 2, 1893. Forest River had 30 communicants in a population of 300. St Andrew's Mission in Ardoch had 11 communicants, whereas, Adams is reported to have had 42 Swedish speaking members at the St. Ansgaruis Mission. Fordvillc had a mission called Ascension Mission. Inkster had St. Philip's Mission but was without a priest, rectory or chapel. Lay services were held at the W. A. Scouton home. Much of the decline in these mission churches was attributed to the depression in the 1890 s, causing many of the Canadian settlers to leave to the western states. Grafton's first Episcopalian church service was held by the Rev. Woodford P. Law in the home of Thomas E Cooper, an Englishman who was the town s first settler Thomas E. Cooper, first postmaster m Grafton is credited with naming the city. Cooper first explored the present site of Grafton in the summer of 1878, returning here to settle in February of the following year. He began his duties as postmaster in 1880 before his homestead became the site of the city of Grafton. The first Cooper home was a log cabin; two years later he built the first frame house in Grafton. There is no evidence that Thomas E. Cooper was an Episcopalian except that his name appears as godfather on many ot the baptismal records of the church. Ten persons were present at the first Episcopal service in the Cooper home One walked seven miles across the prairie to attend. The communicants of the Episcopalian faith who were present at that time were: S. S. Worthmg postmaster at Medford, Walsh County, Mrs. Sarah Worthing Mrs. Thomas E. Cooper and Miss Alice Cooper The beautiful, impressive service of the Episcopal Church was, to some not much known, but most of the neighbors attended worship. The Misses Sarah and Anna Johnson, sisters of N J Johnson who Uved less than two mites north of Grafton, were constant attendants and with the communicants did good service in ™ ^ instrumental music. Upon taking up his duties Bishop Walker reported that the people of Grafton panted for

occasional services were held until 1898. Many improvements have been made in the church propertv oyer the vears The rectory, which at first was near the church was remodeled and improved. The church was redecorated and new windows were installed. At a later date a new rectory was purchased at the intersection ot Fourteenth Street and Kittson Avenue. The church was located at 7th St. and Kittson Avenue. Among the clergymen who have served James, one has become a bishop of the church, the Right Rev Childton Prwell, Bishop of Oklahoma. Rev. Ted Smith became Rector of the Episcopal Church at Bismarck Other pastors of the church have been Rev. R. L. Morell, Rev. Samuel Glasgow, Rev. Charles Henley Rev. Edwin Bigelow Rev. Carl Gockley, Rev. Leonard Claxton. In 1969 Rev Claxton was transferred to Montana. After his departure, laymen fUled the pastorate for a time. At the present writing, the church is closed and the communicants attend St. Peter's Episcopal Church m Park River. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The following is the history of the Federation of the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton as published in The Walsh County Record. ~ October 7 1931, the Federation of the Presbyterian Church of Grafton and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Graf ton was effected. The early history of these two bodies is scanty, but the following facts were published in 1900 by W. L. Dudley of Grand Forks in his book City ot Grafton."

the ministrations of the church. R During the bishop's first summer in Dakota, the Rev J Nelson Jones of Grand Forks conducted services in halls the" schoolhouse.. In 1887-1888, the j e n e r a b k and scholarly" Irish priest held services in the city hall, the G A R hall and the Opera House. The problem was to find a meeting place in the busj and burgeoning city of Grafton. Bishop Walker visited the town ir,1891 mL the Cathedral Car, a railroad car, and organized St. James Mission. Charles MacLean, a layman studying for Holy Orders, was put in charge of the mission in additioni to his other charges at Walshville and Forest R i v e B i s h o p Walker speeded the erection of a building in Graf torby pledging one dollar for every two contributed by the local Communicants. St. James Church was built m 1894 at a cost of $2,000. Following MacLean's departure from Grafton in 1895, affairs took a turn for the worse, and only t n p

P V

Old Methodist Church The Presbyterian Church was organized in Grafton in the summer of 1882. Its first minister was the Rev. Mr. Cobleigh, for two years; then Rev. Mr. Brownlee for two years. After that time the church was supplied by coUege students for several years. Early in the spring of 1892 the Rev McDonald, then of Kildonan, Manitoba, was invited to take charge of the Grafton Church, and was duly inSailed as the regular pastor of the parish. Since toe|eaj 1891 when from various causes this church virtually closed the progress of the congregation has been 133

steadily onward and forward. Its membership has increased from nineteen to fifty-five, and its Sabbath School from sixty to one hundred and thirty. The society erected a very neat and substantial frame building in 1883 at a cost of $2,000. It is nicely furnished and equipped with a fine organ. Rev. C. D. McDonald, the pastor of the church is a Scotchman by birth. At twenty he took a trip to Canada, and taught school in that country for two years. He is a graduate of Queen's College, Kingston, and also Trinity College and Knox College, Toronto. He completed his theological training at Union Seminary, New York. He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Thorold, near Niagara Falls, for fourteen years, and of the Kildonan parish nearly three years. He has been pastor of the Grafton Church since 1892. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Grafton was organized during the summer of 1882. Rev. R. J. Laird was the first pastor, followed by Rev. John Walton, during whose pastorate the first church building was erected. Rev. H. P. Cooper came next. Rev. G. H. Vanvleet followed and built the parsonage. The next pastor was Rev. D. W. Parker. Rev. L. D. Moore came next; during his pastorate the church building was moved to its present location and enlarged. (Its new location was on the northwest corner of the intersection of 7th Street and Griggs Avenue.) The pastors since have been Rev. E. D. Warren, Rev. C. F. Greene, Rev. E. P. Lecell, Rev. Z. James and Rev. C. A. Macnamara.

Old Presbyterian Church. Note: Old Opera House to the left. Rev. C. A. Macnamara was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was an officer in the British army and in early life the subject of the sketch went with the family to India, where he spent nine years, receiving a large part of his education in La Martiniere College, Lucknow. When sixteen years of age, he returned and settled in Dublin, Ireland. Here he took a special theological course and in 1882 came to Dakota Territory and has spent nearly eighteen years in building up Methodism in this conference. The first pastor of the Federated Church was the Rev. B. S. Locher, who was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the time the Federation took place. He was followed by the Rev. Gordon MacDonald who was pastor from 1934 to 1936. In 1936 the Rev. Albert E. Place came to Grafton from Carrington. In February, 1945, the church building was partially destroyed by fire. In February, the Rev. Mr. Nathan L. Daynard came to be pastor of the church. He was followed by the Rev. Archie B. Smith who came to Grafton in November, 1946. In November of 1949, the Rev. Given T. Kutz became pastor. He came from Lisbon, North Dakota. Rev. Kutz

served the Grafton church for some twenty years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dwight L. Meier. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. OUR SAVIOUR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH Following is the history of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church as published in The Walsh County Record. Our Saviour's Lutheran congregation, one of the oldest parishes in the county, built the first church in 1882, the year that Grafton was incorporated as a town. The first church, 20x30 feet in size and 12 feet high, was completed late in 1882. As there were no other church buildings in the city, the edifice was used extensively by Methodist and Baptist congregations when the building was available.

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, built in 1882.

Adopting the constitution of the Hauge Synod May 14, 1883, the congregation applied for membership in the Lutheran Free Church of America at a later date. Headquarters of the synod are atthe Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, the oldest Norwegian seminary in America. Rev. Roimo was the first pastor of Our Saviour's Lutheran congregation, serving from organization of the parish until 1887, when Rev. G. Gerstad was called. No definite salary was promised the first pastor, nor did the congregation stipulate what services they desired. When Rev. Roimo left the city, a committee composed of M. Johnson, O. D. Nelson and Karl Hegranes raised his salary, $300, by subscription. Interest of 10 percent was paid on money borrowed to build the first church building, histories reveal. Rev. Gjerstad served the church until 1892, commuting from Grand Forks. The next pastor, Rev. M. G. Hanson, who started his work in 1892, also resided in Grand Forks. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church did not have a resident pastor until 1898, when Rev. B. K. Barstad came here. That year a parsonage was built. Karl Hegranes was one of the members attending early-day synod conferences of the church. He also contributed land for the church cemetery. The need for a new and larger church was foreseen in 1900 and two years later a building committee composed of O. D. Nelson, John Flekke, John Nordbye, Ed Evanson and A. Torblaa was elected by the congregation. The committee raised $5,000 in a matter of a few weeks and construction of the new church got under way in 1903. It was completed late in 1904 and is the building now used by the congregation. Pastors of the O. S. L. congregation in the 1905 to 1919 period were Rev. T. J. Knudson, Rev. J. J. Jacobson and Rev. E. O. Munkval. Rev. Ingel Hoy land served the

congregation from 1925 until 1927 and Rev. Ludvig Pederson was pastor from 1927 until 1931. Rev. H. M. Hemmington had served only a few months when he died in 1933. Rev. T. H. Quanbeck of Oak Grove Seminary then served until May, 1935.

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, built in 1904. Rev Trygve Dahl served the congregation from May 1935, until Sept., 1939, traveling to Grafton from Hallock Minn. Rev. Alfred Knutson became resident pastor until 1944, when Rev. John Strand accepted a call to serve the congregation. During Rev. Strand's eight year pastorate, the congregation made giant strides in development. A new parsonage was constructed, the church basement was completely rebuilt and the interior and exterior of the church building was repaired. An electric organ was installed during the time Rev. Strand was the pastor and several additional church units, including a Men's Club, were organized. Rev. Strand resigned to accept a call to Tioga in 1952. Accepting a call here in the summer of 1952, Rev. Gilbert H Feig preached his first sermon in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church Sept. 14 of that year. He was a veteran of World War II. H>;„ u The Ladies' Aid of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church was organized about 1885. The big event of the year was the "kvinderforening auktion" which was usually held in the Stokke Grove, located on the site north of the present Leistikow Park. The Aid president had to take charge of sewing and fancy work, get it distributed and collected just before the auction, so there was usually a mad rush to finish all the partly-made articles. These affairs were especially looked forward to by the children since, tor some, it was the only time they had lemonade during the entire year. The following were charter members of the iirst Ladies' Aid: Mmes. Christ Deason, Jacob Anderson, Rasmus Johnson, N. T. Blegen, Elbert Knutson, Nels Johnson, Aakeron, Didrick Johnson, Edwin Evenson, J. Bradley, Halvor Olson, Andrew Aas, Marcus Johnson Rasmus Vigness, John Norby, John Flekke Chnst Grimsrud, Carl Hegranes, G. Arnestad, 0 D Nelson and Sever Tollack. Mrs. Deason was the last charter member to pass away. , , , , ., , . In 1958 a handsome addition was added to the front of the church built of stone. In that same year, Rev.

Oliver Sidney succeeded Rev. Feig and served until 1964. Rev Lawrence Sateren filled the pastorate for a year, 1964-1965. He was succeeded by the Rev. Loren Spaulding. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. ICELANDIC LUTHERAN CHURCH The Icelandic settlers in Grafton were proud of their heritage and wanted a church of their own to worship in instead of meeting in the homes. A white, wooden church was built on the east side of Grafton, close to an area of northeast Grafton where many Icelanders hved (Present address is 317 Prospect Avenue.) The Church was served by the minister who was pastor of Icelandic churches at Mountain, Gardar, Akra, Svold and other Icelandic communities north of here. Services were not held regularly but as often as a minister was available. They tried to observe the church holidays and Christmas was one, as the neighborhood children were always invited to a program and given free "treats. The Icelanders loved to sing their hymns and each one owned a song book. The men of the congregation would sit in the front pew and lead the singing (no instruments). Sometimes the church was rented to the German people to hold their services. . . ... There was a Ladies' Aid and they tried to help with finances by having a lemonade and ice cream stand each year when the circus came to town. A small cemetery was in back of the church. Four graves were left there when the church was sold. The church became inactive as families moved on to other towns, the World War I deaths of older members, lack of finances and members joining other churches to be more active The small congregation decided to sell the church and it was moved to 643 Prospect Avenue and the lumber used to construct a home. It was with a great deal of sadness that the few remaining active members saw the end of their church but they joined other Lutheran churches so their children could receive instruction and they could continue to worship and become active m6I

Some family names that come to mind include Snorri Severson, Gudjon (John) Arman, Ellis Eastman, S. Geston Peter, Sarah and Thora Howardson, Gertrude (Johnson) Brims, Inga and Lily Bendictson, Sjerbjorg and Inge Anderson, Severt Thompson, Billie Hall Gudrun Dahlman, Annie Alexander, Sarah (Eastman) Blades Jacob Freeman, Jacob and Bjorn Gislason, Gudny'and Maggie Sigurdson, Joe Asmundson, Einar Asmundson, Emma (Severson) Oihus and Runa (Severson) Ordahl made their homes in Grafton, Annie Alexander There were many others but no records were kept so many names are omitted. Rev. K. K. Olafson was the last pastor. Two other names are remembered, Rev. Sigurdson and a Rev. Thorlakson who served as a Circuit Pastor.

ZION ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH Following is the history of Zion English Church as published in the Walsh County Record. In 1879 when this area was still known as part of the Dakota Territory, a number of settlers who had moved into Acton Township called the Rev. Fricke of Hillsboro to conduct worship services in their midst. He served them for six years. Pastor H. Brauer of St. Thomas, traveling by horse and carriage, ministered unto these 135

early settlers for a period of five years. It was during his pastorate that the congregation was organized. This took place on July 25, 1887, with fourteen charter members. The first elected officers were: Henry Kamper, president; Henry Ebbinghausen, secretary; August Schultz, treasurer; Gottlieb Zinke; William Schrank and Henry Feldman, trustees. A school building was the first place for worship after the congregation was organized. This school building is the present Acton Township Hall. The first church was erected by the congregation in 1890. It measured 24 by 30 feet. The first floor of this frame building was used as the parsonage, and the upstairs as the place of worship. In 1896 this building was moved from section 10 to section 15 which borders the present Highway 17. Twenty-nine years later, a second church was erected at this location and the former church was used solely as a parsonage. The pastors who served during those early years of the church's history were F. Honeck, C. Malkow, H. Bauman, E. Stark, R. Beck and A. Bachanz. It was under the guidance of Pastor Bachanz, who accepted the call to Zion in 1922, that this new church was constructed. Two years after the completion of the building, Pastor Bachanz was called to a sister congregation at Barney, N. Dak.

Zion English Lutheran Church Pictured here is a portion of the crowd that attended services when the cornerstone was laid in July 1949. This church serves one of the oldest congregations in the area. In September, 1927, Pastor W. Wudel began his ministry, shepherding the members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church until the fall of 1930. A vacancy of three years followed during which time Pastor Jank of Crystal served the congregation. A call was then extended to Pastor M. Aldermann who was stationed at Watford City. He accepted the call and was installed in 1933. He resigned in 1939. Divine services were begun in Grafton that year. These services were held Sunday evening at the Episcopal Church. A year later, the congregation purchased four lots and a parsonage in Grafton. Thus a new mission was begun in Grafton under the guidance and encouragement of the members of Zion, Acton Township. The first resident pastor in the city of Grafton was Pastor E. G. Runge, who was installed in 1933. He resigned in 1939. While the Grafton mission was becoming firmly established, the congregation was engaged in renovating and adding to its house of worship. A new electronic organ was purchased by the congregation and given as a memorial to the founders, pioneer members and pastors who served the church since its organization. An electric Ught plant was made possible. Wiring the church for

electricity was also completed. All the labor in remodeling the church basement was donated by the members. Pastor Runge accepted a call to Ashville, North Carolina, shortly after the death of his wife. Pastor W. H. Michels was called to the pastorate in June of 1943 and commenced his pastorate on Aug. 1, 1943. It was now found to be advantageous to dispose of the property on Western Avenue and to purchase the present site on Hill Avenue. In 1947, the congregation decided to move into Grafton and form a daughter church, Trinity Lutheran Church of Drayton. The Acton church building was sold to the daughter congregation and was moved to Drayton. The name of the mother congregation was changed from Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church to Zion English Lutheran Church. Shortly thereafter, Pastor Michels accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran at Drayton. During the vacancy that ensued, Pastor Mehl of Grand Forks consented to serve as interim pastor until the time that he was relieved by Pastor M. H. Haerther of St. Thomas. A call was extended to Pastor 0. N. Truog who accepted and was installed on April 11, 1948. Plans were begun at once to build the present church. The officers at this time were: George Tanke, president; Glenn Miller, secretary, Walter Schumacher, treasurer; Emil Born and Emil Day, elders; Louis Hass and Emil Schrank, trustees. On April 10, 1948, the ground breaking ceremony was held. In June actual building operations began. The cornerstone was laid on Nov. 13, 1949, when the building was completely enclosed. The dedicatory service was performed by Pastor Truog on July 30, 1950. After serving for a period of more than three years, Pastor Truog accepted the call to Wheaton, Minn. Pastor Alfred E. Thiem, formerly pastor at Inkster, was extended the call to Zion. He assumed his pastorate on Aug. 5, 1951. He was succeeded by Rev. D. H. Brammer who served from 1956-1962. He was followed by Rev. Richard Ebke who relinquished the pastorate to Rev. Harry Hager in 1969. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

NEWSPAPERS GRAFTON NEWS AND TIMES The Grafton News and Times had its beginning in the frontier town of Acton, D. T., where the first newspaper was published May 26, 1881. The first printing machinery of the Grafton News and Times was carried by the Selkirk, a steamer boat of one hundred and eight tons, traveling up and down the Red River between Grand Forks and Pembina. It unloaded the printing machinery at Acton and Frank M. Winship was editor and publisher of The Acton News. The survey of the Acton Territory was made in 1879 and business places were flourishing and homes were built. The waters of the Red River receded andthe railroad traversed the fertile prairies twelve miles west of Acton and Grafton sprang into being. George Harvey, William Code and Benjamin Askelson as the first Board of Commissioners of Walsh County met and completed the organization of the county and selected this publication as the first official newspaper of Walsh County.

The printing equipment of The Acton News was loaded into wagons and trucked overland to Grafton. The files form an interesting library, the only available source book of the earliest history of Walsh County. ... The name was changed to The Grafton News and the first newspaper published in Grafton was dated September 22, 1881. It was later changed to Grafton News and Times. , Albert G Tverberg bought the Grafton News and Times in September of 1930 from R. P. Luchau, who had published it for many years. Mr Tverberg edited the paper until the fall ot 1948, when the building was sold to make room for a new main street building. The machinery was sold and sent to South America, thus the final ending of the Grafton News and Times. One of the highlights was the publishing of the annual Potato Edition by Albert G. Tverberg. These editions of the Grafton News and Times proclaimed the merits ot the potato and assisted in the growth of a great industry. THE GRAFTON RECORD Future residents of Walsh County are destined to admire the volumes of county history compiled and published in 1975. As they read newspaper contributions to Walsh County's progress, may they not forget that historical material from the County has been recorded for 85 years in columns of The Walsh County Record, now The Grafton Record. The first issue of The Record was printed April 2, 1890 A. L. Woods and Edward H. Pierce had completed plans and specifications forthe newspaper that winter. A new publication was desirable, they believed, even though Grafton already had three newspapers. Woods was superintendent of the Grafton public schools. Pierce, i printer from Minneapolis, had been employed by the Grafton News and Times. From the start, The Record, published in a building on Fifth Street in Grafton, was successful. It was well written, well printed, from its inception received recognition from other newspapers in North Dakota. After 10 years of partnership, Pierce left the firm in 1899. After Woods had been appointed deputy superintendent of public instruction, Pierce returned as publisher under proprietorship of Woods. In 1905, Pierce purchased The Record from Woods. Pierce decided to retire from newspaper publication in 1908 He sold The Record to Grant S. Hager, publisher of the St. Thomas Times. Hager, publisher of the St. Thomas Times nearly 25 years, brought new ideas and enthusiasm to The Record. Under Hager's management, The Record became known as one of the state's best newspapers. Its mechanical plant was considered complete when a typesetting machine was installed m 1918. Hager became ill in 1922 and needed an associate Recommended was Rilie R. Morgan, then publisher of the Starkweather Times. Morgan became associated with The Record Nov. 1, 1922, as business manager. When Hager's health tailed to improve Morgan also took over editorial direction of the newspaper. In April, 1923, Hager died. Morgan continued as editor and manager, associated with Mrs. Hager.

Ed Balkee — began with The Record about Aug., 1943 — died, April 21, 1975.

Morgan purchased the entire property from Mrs^ Hager Nov 1, 1923, becoming sole owner. He continued actively directing The Record until retiring Jan. 1, 1959. Since that time, he has been publisher emeritus. John D. Morgan, Rilie's son, has been publisher. The Record changed to seven columns, 12 ems width, March 11 1926. It is believed The Record was the first in the northwest, perhaps in the nation, to adopt this size page Many other newspapers followed the innovation. September 26, 1949, The Record became a semiweekly publication. A duplex press had been installed the previous year. In 1970, The Record changed to offset printing the technique now followed by nearly all newspapers. The Grafton Record is located at the corner of Fourth Street and Hill Avenue. Ralph Givens came to The Record in the early 1920 s was shop superintendent until he retired in 1954. Alfred Johnson was a linotype operator more than 25 years. Al Haugner came to The Record in the early 1930 s was editor several years. He was succeeded in 1943 by W. E. Balkee who retired shortly before his death in 1975. Since 1890 The Record has been a newspaper tor every member of every family. With Rilie Morgan's ownership, it has also been family published. Third generation members of the Morgan family are now on The Record staff

Mr. and Mrs. Rilie R. Morgan. 137

GRAFTON ORGANIZATIONS This club was the second homemakers club organized in Walsh County. Fourteen members were present at the first meeting. Officers elected that year were Mrs. Donald Dike, president; Mrs. Henry Jaster, vice president; Mrs. T. A. Donnelly, secretary; and Mrs. C. H. Kingsbury, treasurer. In the fall of 1924 the club joined the General Federationof Women's Clubs. For many years members participated in the project work of the homemakers clubs and also supported projects pertaining to Federation club work. Some years later the club dropped the homemakers' status and changed its name to Riverside Women's Club. Delegates have been sent to each district and state convention of the Federation of Women's Clubs for 50 years. Projects supported by the club in the past 50 years have included the Red Cross, flood reUef, Christmas cheer boxes, children's cUnics held in Grafton and Hoople, and donations to send students to the International Music Camp. The club has also assisted at the Grafton Leisure Center and each year flowers are planted there by members.

DELPHIAN SOCIETY At a meeting held at the library Tuesday afternoon a number of representative Grafton women met with Mrs. Stella Huntington and Miss Cealie Huntington, organizers for the National Delphian Society and perfected tne organization of the local chapter. The Delphian Society is a national movement for higher education and self-improvement. North Dakota is being thoroughly organized at the present time and chapters have been instituted in Fargo, Grand Forks, Dickinson and Jamestown. At the meeting Tuesday afternoon the following officers were elected: president, Mrs. J. E. Gray; vicepresident, Mrs. A. C. WUson; secretary-treasurer, Miss Emma Gullickson; advisory board, Mrs. R. W. Kibbee, chairman; Miss Nellie Hanson and Mrs. F. L. Owston; parliamentarian and critic, Mrs. A. E . Cobb; timekeeper, Mrs. R. M. Evans; reporter, Mrs. RUie Morgan. A definite plan of study is furnished each chapter and covers all the cultural subjects and includes art, drama, Uterature, poetry and mental and social science. The first meeting will be held at the Ubrary on the first Monday in October at which time Mrs. H. C. DePuy will be the leader and the subject wUl be "Prehistoric Periods." Regular meetings of the chapter will be held on the first and third Monday of each month. The following is the personnel of the newly organized chapter: Mmes. R. W. Kibbee, J. E. Gray, A. E. Cobb, Lynn Williams, J. B. Nevin, A. E. Capser, J. L. Cashel, A. C Wilson, F. A. Moore, R. Mercer Evans, Rilie Morgan, A. G. Tverberg, H. C. DePuy, G. E. Kelley, F. J. McIUraith, F. L. Owston, and the Misses Rose Eggers, Emma GuUickson, Mary Morris, NelUe Hanson, Cora Lykken and Estella Garvey. From the Sept. 12, 1923, Walsh County Record.

Riverside Women's Club Members A. 0. U. W. LODGE Grafton Lodge No. 126, Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized in the summer of 1894. First officers were: George Ruhberg, past master workman; Chas Cairncross, master workman; Thomas Grace, recording secretary; John D. Lewis, financial secretary; and Charles NoUman, treasurer. Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of the month, during nine months of the year, at the Woodman Hall. The lodge sponsors a number of social entertainments for its members throughout the year.

WOODMEN LODGE Woodbine Camp No. 3166, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized Aug. 22, 1895. Meetings were held the second and fourth Fridays of each month in the Woodmen Hall. Dances were sponsored by the organization at various times during the winter season. RIVERSIDE WOMEN'S CLUB The 50th anniversary of the Riverside Women's Club was marked by a dinner served at the Lantern Room Inn on June 13, 1974, with 23 members attending including three charter members. Charter members include Mmes. Luther Lykken, Wilbrod CampbeU, and Charles Kingsbury. A social hour was held at the home of Mrs. Milton Johnston where the club's scrapbooks, history and momentos from the past were on display. The silver service purchased after the 25th anniversary as a gift from members' husbands was used. The Riverside Homemakers Club was organized March, 1924, at the home of Mrs. Henry Jaster by E. J. Taintor, superintendent of Walsh County Agricultural School and acting county agent.

CIVIC CLUB In October, 1922,60 business and professional men of Grafton met to effect the organization of Grafton's Civic Club, which was the outgrowth of luncheon get-together meetings of local men which had taken place for some time previously. At the meeting October 11, the constitution was presented and accepted, and at a later meeting, the following officers were elected: M . H. Sprague, president; J . L. Cashel, vice-president; A. G. Tverberg, secretary-treasurer; E. A. Capser and R. O. HatleUd, board of governors. 138

The club now has a membership of 160 men, and meetings which are usually luncheon affairs, are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Projects carried on in recent years include sponsoring of friendship tours to surrounding cities; the purchase and putting in place of the pontoon bridge east ot Grafton; erection of direction signs on highways; staging annual banquets for basketball and football teams, and luncheons in the park at the windup of the annual potato tours. GRAFTON LODGE NO. 99 D E G R E E OF HONOR One of the older fraternal insurance organizations in the city is Grafton Lodge No. 99, Degree of Honor, which was organized May 8, 1900. The first officers and charter members were Maggie Lewis, past president; Mrs. Thomas Grace, president; Mrs Charles Nollman, second vice president. Miss Dollie Givens, recording secretary; Mrs. P. J . Carney, financial secretary ; Mrs. Thomas Tharalson reasurer, Mrs. Robert Klosterman, usher; Welcome Walker, inner watch- and John Givens, outer watch. Grafton Lodge No. 99, Degree of Honor, was affiliated with the A. 0. U . W. until about 1920 when connections were severed. The organization meets twice a month during September through May. Picnics are held monthly during the recess period. The present officers are Miss Dorothy Kees, president- Mrs. Helen Kieley, past president; Mrs Wm. PapTnfuss, first vice president; Mrs. Clifford W a t t e second vice president; Mrs. Bennie Molde, recording secretary Miss Edith Monson, financial secretaryS a s u r S ; Mrs. LeClare Lee, usher; Mrs. Dan_Bajer. assistant usher; Mrs. Gisle Johnson inner watch; Mrs Evelyn Knutson, outer watch; Miss Ann Patocka right assistant; Mrs. A. T. Rowe, left assistant; and Mrs. Augusta Arason, color bearer. WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN T E M P E R A N C E UNION The Lathrop Union (later called the Grafton Union) was organized in Grafton Oct. 9,1887, with 17 members. The officers were: Mrs. Laura Gray, president; Mrs. Caroline Omlie, Miss Helen McLean and Mrs. G. Kermott, vice-presidents; Mrs. R. McMurchie, cor sec.; Mrs. Edna Satteren, rec. sec; and Mrs. Clara S. Woods, treasurer TheW C T U is part of a world wide organization to unite christian women for the protection of the home and the abolition of the liquor traffic and the triumph of Christ's Golden Rule in custom and in law. Major emphasis are on drug, alcohol, and tobacco education, and prevention of alcoholism. They work for laws to protect

of Oklahoma City, Okla., and was exemplified for the first time April 6, 1922, at McAlaster, Okla. Girls of Masonic and Eastern Star families and their friends are banned together in assemblies where the beautiful lessons of the ritual are learned and practiced such as training for true womanhood, love for home, church, school and country, love of nature and other lessons symbolized by the colors of the rainbow. Activities include acts of loving service which aim to make the world a better place to live. Thirty two girls were initiated into the Order tor Rainbow For girls in Grafton Nov. 19, 1946, at the Masonic Temple where Supreme Inspector Mrs. Blanche Lynn Whitemore, Beach, instituted this ^ N a t a l i e Johnston LeQuire was tne first Worthy Advisor and Mrs. E . R. Nyman was the first Mother Advisor acting in that capacity for four years. At her retirement she was honored at a pot luck dinner by the members of Mizpah Chapter members. Mizpah Chapter No. 6 of Grafton sponsors this assembly. FINE ARTS CLUB Organized in December, 1912, as the Amateur Music Club the Fine Arts Club has been functioning since April, 1926 under its changed name. The organization has been affiliated at various times with the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs, the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Music Club Federation. The club meets on the last Thursday of each month at the homes of its members. Programs of a miscellaneous nature are arranged for the meetings, and the members spend several evenings a year in sewing for the Red Cross and contribute in various ways to Camp Grassick for the undernourished children located at Dawson. N . Dak. MIZPAH CHAPTER NO. 6 ORDER OF EASTERN STAR Mizpah Chapter No. 6, OES, was organized Feb. 27, 1893 The charter members were: Sisters C. D. Davis, Lou S Chase, Clara Woods, Pauline Pratt, M . Tombs M H. Shumway, E . Treumann, J . Waegant, I. Davis, M . J . Fraine, D. C. Moore, E . H . Pierce, E . E . Mahler, H B. Grover M Jackson, M . McLean, B. Baer, E . Glaspel, C. Gilbert', M . MdDonald, G. W. Gilbert J ^ Ball J . J . Mahler A.. L . Browne, M . S. Sands, H . H . Tombs, T. Waegant, L. Waegant, L . Shumway, A. H°undy, J Egleston, F . L . Egleston, E . R. Blakstad, I. B. Blakstad, C. M . Waegant. ... , Brothers J . McDonald, F. E . Chase, A. L . Woods, C. A Harris, G. M . Baer, J . H. Pratt, A. E . Cobb, J . L. Egleston, F. L. Davis, C. G . Jackson, A. H . Waegant, A. McLean H. B. Grover, A. Kallen, W. M . Chandler, W A. McDonald J . E . Gray, F. W. Tombs, G . W. Glaspel, W. C Treumann, D. C. Moore, T. C. Ransom, T. H. Roundy, W. A. Gilbert, J . J . Mahler, and W. L. Stockwell. Charter officers were Lou Chase, worthy matron; A. L. Woods, worthy patron; Helen Tombs, associate matron, Lillian Pierce, treasurer; C k r a Woods, secretary- Ada Brown, conductress; Emma Blakstad, associate'condustress; Marion Fraine, Adah^ Carrie Waegant, Ruth; Eva Mahler, Esther; Belle Baer, Martha; Lydia Mahler, Electa; Lydia Pratt warder ; A E. Cobb, sentinel; Clara Harris, chaplain, Lizzie

U r

° The present officers are: Mrs. Ruth Holt, president; Mrs Rhoda Thompson, vice-president; Mrs. Myrth Walker, secretary; and Miss Hulda Carlson treasurer. The North East District held its 85th Annual W. G. T. U . District Convention in Grafton, May 15, 1975, at the Assemblies Church. Submitted by Emma E . Gorder. ORDER OF T H E RAINBOW F O R GIRLS The Order of the Rainbow For Girls was born of a desire for service to the girlhood of our landI and has now grown into an international organization called Supreme Assembly. The ritual was written by Rev. W. Mark Sexon 139

Treumann, marshal; and Tillie Blakstad, organist. Mizpah Chapter for the first 19 years was housed in the Masonic rooms in the Union Block. This was the center for all Masonic social and fraternal affairs. Installation banquets were family affairs from the youngest to the oldest. Every year a memorial service is held in honor of the departed sisters and brothers. The first meeting of the Past Matrons Club was held Ja . 27,1938, and it has become an integral part of Mizpah Chapter. Rainbow Assembly No. 40 was organized by Mizpah Chapter No. 6 on Nov. 19, 1946, and has become an important organization for girls. Among those who have headed Grand Chapter are Lynn Grimson, Worthy Grand Patron 1947; Elizabeth Treumann, Worthy Grand Matron 1943; and Jeanette Numedahl,' Worthy Grand Matron 1973. The present officers of Mizpah Chapter No. 6 are Mrs. Norris Sando, worthy matron; Paul Torgeson, worthy patron; Mrs. Gary Coleman, associate matron; Clifford Watkins, associate patron; Miss Edith Monson, secretary, Mrs. Paul Torgeson, treasurer; Mrs. Ralph Honsvall, conductress; Mrs. Ramon Walsh, associate conductress, Mrs. Alice Baird, chaplain; Mrs. Ernest Nyman, marshall; Mrs. Robert Boone, organist; Mrs. John Gorder, Ada; Mrs. George Bliven, Ruth; Mrs. Orville Nomeland, Esther; Mrs. Mon telle Boone, Martha; Mrs. Richard Anderson, Electa; Mrs. Myrth Walker, warder; and Mrs. Ann Lunde, sentinel. The Chapter meets twice a month from September through May when it recesses for the summer. P.E.O. P.E.O. Chapter X of Grafton, North Dakota, was organized May 31, 1939, just six days before the twentyfifth annual convention of the State Chapter in Minot. The organization of the chapter took place in the parlor of the Federated Church and was directed by Mae B. Page, state organizer, in the presence of visiting members of Chapter D, two members of the State Board, Mrs. Ina E. Taylor and Mrs. Lulu E. Selke, and two past state presidents, Mrs. Ida S. Bek and Mrs. Mettie M. Miller. One of the women who selected the chapter list, Minnie Whitcher, was elected president of the new chapter. Mary E. Place who had assisted her, was too ill to attend the meeting and later became the chapter's first initiate. The afternoon closed with a tea. The 1975 membership is 34. Mary Beth Strand is a former Cattey Scholarship student. The members have given support to the building and maintenance of a municipal swimming pool. They have aided in promoting the first annual Junior Chamber of Commerce "Variety Show." They have given a $100 scholarship to a senior girl for several years and have aided in sending a girl to Girls State for several years. The chapter members are: Eileen Countryman, Hazel Pate, Vivian Nelson, Minnie Whitcher, Elizabeth Treumann, Mary Chandler, Lillian Swandby, Vera Carlson, Anne Hegranes, Zelln Johnston and Jessie Thompkins. LABOHEME CLUB Reputed one of the oldest women's clubs in Grafton, LaBoheme Club was organized in the spring of 1909, the

chapter members being Mrs. A. E. Cobb. Mrs. T. D. Casey, Mrs. J. E. Gray, Mrs. Grant S. Hager, Mrs. H. L. Haussamen and Mrs. W. L. Stockwell. When the Grafton Deaconess hospital was built, LaBoheme club furnished one of its rooms, and since that time the members have made articles for use in the hospital as part of their year's program of activity. A literary program is carried out, and when possible, the club makes contributions to civic improvements, the Children's Home in Fargo, and the Crittendon home. Membership is limited to ten and meetings are held on the first and third Fridays of the month. R. N. A. LODGE The Society Royal Neighbors of America was chartered as a fraternal benefit society March 25th, 1895, at Rock Island, HI. Fern Leaf Camp NO. 307 of the Royal Neighbors of America was organized in Grafton March 20, 1896. The chapter was granted on April 10, 1896, with 35 members. Charter members were Mrs. C. P. Yelle, Mrs. P W Laberge, Jennie Thomas, Mrs. Tina Lee, Lizzie Payne, Lena Lee, Nora Johnson, Mrs. Fred Huelichka, Mrs A. H. Payne, Mrs. Julia Coulter, Mrs. S. J . Grindy, Mrs. J. S. Bjornstad, Mrs. B. W. Franklin, Mrs. Andy Johnston, W. W. Brown, R. W. Franklin, Joe DeSchenec, N. D. Erie, Neal F. Holtin, S. J. Grindy, George Redick, Joe Meyers, Ira Enmack, John D. Lewis, E. H. Dumouchelle, L. G. Walstrom, Horace Ingle, G. A. Cattanach, G. H. Sterart, C. D. Elliott, A. H. Payne, C. P. Yelle, S. G. Coulter, Fred Huelichka and J. S. Bjornstad. It was decided to hold meetings the first and third Thursdays of each month. Still retaining its charter, the camp was inactive for a number of years but was reorganized Feb. 17, 1925, with the following officers elected: Oracle, Mrs. I. A. Souter; Vice Oracle, Mrs. F. E. Bergh; Receiver, Mrs. Gus Gorder; Recorder, Mrs. Sarah Blades; Chancellor, Mrs. Henry Everson; Marshall, Mrs. Wm. Brintnell; Assistant Marshall, Mrs. Oscar Kana; Inner Sentinel, Mrs. George Young; Outer Sentinel, Mrs. Bertha Mattson; Managers, Mrs. P. J. Murphy, Mrs. James Foley, Mrs. Anna Jaster; and Musician, Mrs. Jack Givens. Meetings were held at the Modern Woodmen Hall until 1950 when notice was received from the Wood-Bine Corporation asking that they vacate the hall. They then met at the Henry Williams home until June, 1951. Then temporary Lodge room was made in the Grafton Armory. When the armory was razed, they again were without a meeting place, and in May, 1953, meetings were started in the City Hall with meetings days changed to Wednesday and later to Tuesday. The camp has functioned actively since its reorganization with an increase in membership each year. The Society also has a Juvenile Unit. A happening of human interest that occurred for our society was the recognition of the departure of Grafton's Company C. Jan. 23, 1951. We had decided to present the boys with packages of homemade cookies for their lunch on the train. It was on a day of sub-zero temperature and blizzard conditions that we packed the cookies. Jack Givens offered us his place to work in, and then had them delivered to the Great Northern Train as the Co. consisting of three officers and 51 enlisted men left Grafton for Camp Rucker, Ala. Incidently-the period between the hour of 4:30 p. m. and such time as the train carrying

the Co. C men departed from this city, was declared a Holiday by Major Hvidsten in their honor, stating, "All business shall cease and all citizens shall assemble near the staging area where our troops entrain, and to the best of our ability, bid them farewell in a manner befitting the crusade upon which they are embarking." The Grafton Parade Band was also present for the impromptu ceremonies. Submitted by Mrs. Willard 0. Hove.

Jorgenson; Historian Heimer Mohagen; Marshal Allen Mattson; Trustees Alfred Mohagen, Eddie Mattson and Lawrence Jensen; Inner guard Gilman Lykken; Outer Guard Obed Williamson; and Social Director Art Peterson.

SONS OF NORWAY National Lodge No. 260, Sons of Norway, was instituted Nov. 28,1924, by 0. L. Svidal, district secretary. The charter is dated Dec. 20,1924. These are the charter members and first officers: Carl Aas, regent; C. E. Charleston; Dr. F. W. Deason, physician; Emil Endal, vice-president; Samuel G. Erickstad; John S. Grane, judge; Jacob Grasvik; Hans. 0. Hagen, assistant secretary; Morris Hagen, treasurer; Ole Hanson, inside watch; John Hegranes, assistant marshal; Anton Honsvall; Tonnes Ivesdal; Andrew M. Johnson; Mikkel Motroen, outside watch; Thomas Olson, president; Melvin J. Regelstad; Martin Ringsak, marshal; Sivert B. Thompson; Albert G. Tverberg, financial secretary; Carl Wangsness; Alfred Wenge, secretary; C. Manvel Wralstad, Peder C. Wralstad, Eddie Mattson, Tom Mohagen and C. Palmer Sandvig, trustees. Besides providing insurance for its members, it has stressed its Norwegian heritage and recorded the exploits of the pioneers. To perpetuate the Norwegian tradition, history and achievements in North Dakota, establishing a high school scholarship foundation in 1969. National Lodge No. 260 has fostered the Norwegian heritage by Christmas parties, social dances, Mrs. Thomas Olson's 14-course luncheon, picnics at Minto, Oakwood, Golden Park, Lake Bronson, Inkster and outdoor initiations on the banks of the Red River (the site of Captain Alexander Henry's fur trading post in 1800); celebrations honoring Leif Erickson, Bjornstjerne Bjornson, Jonas Lie and Henrik Ibsen and "syttende mai" celebrations featuring nationally known Norsemen. . , In commemoration of its 45th anniversary, the lodge established a High School Scholarship Foundation for $2 000 with this administrative committee: Rev. A. E. Setness, Heimer Mohagen, Dr. Arne Brekke and Albert G. Tverberg. Earlier a donation of $700 was made to the Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton Past Presidents are: Thomas Olson, Martin Ringsak, Hans O. Hagen, Christ Lyster, Anton Honsvall, Paul Anderson, John S. Grane, Olaf Vogsland, Carl M. Torkelson, Heimer Mohagen, Henry Opperud, Elton W. Ringsak, Sam Berg, Oliver W. Ordahl, Otto Jorgenson, Lief Moe, Carl Raumin, A. G. Tverberg, and Laurence Jenson. Past Financial Secretaries are: Albert G. Tverberg, Theodore Johnson, John S. Grane, Harold Larson, Anton Honsvall, and Heimer Mohagen. Past Recording Secretaries are: Alfred Wenge, Hans O. Hagen, Emil Endal, Theodore S. Johnson, John S. Grane, Laurence Mohagen, and A. G. Tverberg. The following is a list of the 1975 officers: President Harvey Skjerven; Vice President Everett Wemess; Counselor Henry Opperud; Secretary Mrs. Al Osborne; Financial Secretary Heimer Mohagen; Treasurer Otto

Sons of Norway Charter THE VIKING SPIRIT (EMBLEM) To venture out into the unknown and be prepared to vanquish the most formidable foe-that's the Viking spirit. To sail into the unknown and tempestuous sea in the crudest vessels and reach Vinland-America-that's the Viking spirit in historic action. To depart from the pagan worship of Odin and Thor and accept Christianity-that's the Viking spirit after the bloody battlefield of Stiklestad. To subdue the prairies and woodlands of America's great northwest and acquire its language and customs that's the Viking spirit building prosperous commonwealths for posterity. To challenge the destructive modem manifestations of rebellion, crime and disloyalty to God and countrythat's the Viking spirit in today's world; leading us all to a better life. GRAFTON POST 41, AMERICAN LEGION In March 1919, a large portion of the military personnel of the A. E. F. were still in France waiting to go home. A group of them met in Paris to hold a caucus. At this meeting a committee was named to formulate plans to organize a veterans organization for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the veterans of World War I and to serve our country at large. Later, this committee called a caucus to be held in St. Louis, Mo., in May, 1919, to formulate a temporary organization. Such organization was formed and a National convention was called to be held in Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 10-12, 1919. At this meeting it was given the name of "The American Legion" and provisions were made for organizing state and local organizations. In late summer of 1919, after most of the military personnel had arrived home, agitation to form local posts was started. M. H. Sprague, who served as a major in the 7th Army Corps, took it upon himself to form a local post. He got together a group of veterans and held a meeting. At this meeting, it was decided to apply for a charter to form a local post. The required number of signatures for 141

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r have after the war was over. In 1944 thoughts were turning to building a new home. In 1948, land between the post office and the telephone building was purchased and in 1949, construction for a new building was started. A separate corporation was formed for the purpose of operating a club. The club started operations on July 1, 1950, and the post moved into the meeting room at the

application of a charter were secured and a temporary charter for Grafton Post 41, American Legion, dated Sept. 9,1919, was received. A committee was then named to sign up members.

First Post & Auxiliary Home, 1919 The first meeting of the newly formed post was held on October 10,1919, in the Armory Hall. At this meeting, temporary officers were named. M . H. Sprague was named temporary Commander. A second meeting was held February 17,1920. At this meeting an attempt was made to formulate some kind of program. Plans were made for signing up members. Also discussed, were programs for the betterment of the community, state and nation, as well as for the members. A third meeting was held March 8, 1920, at which meeting permanent officers were elected. M. H. Sprague asked that he be not elected to serve as commander, so the following were elected to serve: Commander, W. (J. Tollack- Vice Commander, P. C. Baer; Adjutant, Edwin Swiggum; Finance Officer, F. A. Moore; and Historian, F r e

O u r meetings were being held upstairs in the Armory Hall. This was a temporary arrangement with the National Guard Company C. On January 25 a permanent agreement with the Company took effect and the room was renovated and furnished to meet the needs of the post The ladies of the Auxiliary made curtains for the windows. A table and some folding chairs were purchased A wood burning stove was installed and our meeting place was all complete. About sixty members had been signed up at that time. The membership kept increasing and our meebng place was becoming more and more inadequate. October 1 1928 the post rented the Woodmen Hall for use one day a week for Post and Auxiliary meetings. The Woodmen Lodge had purchased the building from the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of civil war veterans, so once again, the building was being used partially for a veterans organization. ; This was our home until April 6,1939, when the post moved into a club room in the new and enlarged municipal building. This building was being enlarged Coder the supervision of the Works Progress Administration, and, by agreement with the city and the Vi P A. the building was further enlarged to accomodate the American Legion Post. The Post paid the city $2,500 which represented the increase in cost to the city. During World War II, the national charter of the American Legion was changed to enable World War II veterans to join the Legion. It became apparent that our new quarters in the City Hall was not going to be adequate for the number of members we could expect to

^ A s ' t o e went on, post membership kept increasing as was the business of the club, so that it became necessary to keep on remodeling and rearrangmg. Among other things, a storage room was built unS e f t h the sidewalk in front of the building. The south end ofthe auditorium on the second floor was turned into an auxiliary kitchen, storage and rest rooms. The north end of the auditorium was turned into a bar room. The fixtures were moved up there from the first floor thus making more room downstairs. This arrangement didn t work out very well so the whole building was remodeled again After the last remodeling, business increased so much that, again, space is at a premium, and the building is not serving the purpose for which it was built. Land has been purchased on the north side of Highway 17 in the southwest section of town. A committee has been working on plans for a new and larger building. Due to the inflationary cost of material and labor, the committee is having a hard time planning a building that will take care of present and future needs and keeping the cost down to a figure that they feel the post can handle. Space will not allow mention of all the community service programs that this post has sponsored or contributed to. Through the years the post has sponsored an expansive baseball program for young boys and youths, instigated and sponsored the drive for financing the building of the chapel at the State School, Memorial Day observances, Boys State and many other programs Membership in the Post now includes veterans of all the wars from World War I to and including the Vietnam conflict and has about reached the 600 mark. Further growth can be expected.

American Legion Club, Present Post & Auxiliary Home, 1969

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY The American Legion Auxiliary Unit to Grafton Post No 41 had its inception at an organizational meeting ot women, eligible for membership, on March 2, 1923. At their request Post No. 41 applied to the National American Legion Auxiliary for a Unit Charter; which w S received by the post and presented to the Unit, June 19, 1923. Instrumental in organizing this Unit was Mrs. Muriel 142

Cryderman, a charter member, Grafton Unit's first President, and one of its active members until her death. Mrs. Cryderman was a sister of past Post Commander, Dr C. J . Glaspel. Among this very early membership of this Grafton Unit were two lady Legionnaires; both nurses of overseas service: Mrs. Hugo Kutz (Florence Desautel) and Mrs. Sam Sieben (Ruth Bjomaby); both were Presidents of the Unit and gave years of service to it. Grafton Unit has worked and prospered through more than half a century ; a friendly relationship has been continously maintained with Post No. 41, to whom the Unit extends its thanks for the innumerable courtesies and kindnesses, the fun and fellowship; - the privilege of being their Auxiliary. Briefly, the Unit has had several meeting places the old Armory, the Woodmen Hall, the City Hall, and since 1950 they have been comfortably accomodated in the present Legion Club Rooms. This Unit has had a number of District Presidents and recently (1971-1972) our past Unit President, Mrs. Wesley (Norma) Sather, became North Dakota Department President. The Unit has been honored by the service of so many of its members on District, State and National Committees, but space, and fairness to all who have worked, does not permit any personal mention here. The total membership has worked in one way or another - by actual labor, by leadership, by contribution, and by their inspiration to carry, often more than their share of Auxiliary programs, programs of benefit to this local community and to the far corners of the globe. Lineage and Honors D E P A R T M E N T OF T H E A R M Y 957th E N G I N E E R COMPANY

North Dakota redesignated March 6, 1891, as North Dakota National Guard.) Mustered into Federal service May 20, 1898, at Grafton as Company C, First North Dakota Volunteer Infantry. Mustered out of Federal service September 25, 1899, at Presidio of San Francisco, Calif.; reorganized as Company C, First Infantry Regiment. Called into Federal service June 18, 1916, and mustered in June 19, 1916, for service on the Mexican border. Mustered out of Federal service February 14,1917, at Fort Snelling, Minn., and reverted to state control. Called and mustered into Federal service July 15, 1917; drafted into Federal service August 5, 1917. Reorganized and redesignated October 4, 1917, as Company C, 164th Infantry, an element of the 41st Division. Demobilized February, 1919, at Camp Dix, New Jersey (41st Division demobilized February 28, 1919, relieving elements from assignment). Reorganized and Federally recognized January 6, 1922, at Grafton as Company C, 164th Infantry, an element of the 34th Division. Inducted into Federal service February 10,1941, at Grafton (164th Infantry relieved December 8, 1941, from assignment to the 34th Division; assigned May 24,1942, to the Americal Division. Inactivated November 24, 1945, at Fort Lawton, Washington. (164th Infantry relieved from assignment to the Americal Division June 10, 1946, and assigned to 47th Infantry Division.) Reorganized and Federally recognized November 5, 1947, at Grafton. Ordered into active Federal service January 16,1951, at Grafton. Company C, 231st Engineer Battalion (NOUS) organized and Federally recognized January 16,1953, at Grafton; reorganized and redesignated October 10,1954, as Company C, 231st Engineer Battalion. Company C, 164th Infantry, released from active Federal service December 2, 1954, reverted to state control concurrently, consolidated with Company C, 231st Engineer Battalion and retained latter designation. Reorganized and redesignated April 1, 1959, as 957th Engineer Company. Home area: Grafton, Grand Forks, and Cavalier.

N. D. National Guard Co. C Non-commissioned officers about 1905. First row: Gus Knutson, Wilbur LaMarre, Stuart McKenzie and not identified. Second row: John Brien, Chester Omlie, Jim Prentice and E d Wynne. Organized January 7, 1885, as Company C, First Dakota Infantry Regiment, at Grafton. Redesignated November 2, 1899, as Company C, First Infantry Regiment. (Territory of Dakota divided into states of North Dakota and South Dakota pursuant enabling Act of Congress February 22, 1899, effected by Presidential Proclamation November 2, 1899. Organized militia of

Co. C Squad at Camp Sparta, Wise. [About 1914.] Left to right: Myron Omlie, Sgt; Stu CambeU; Clay Anderson and Ralph Jacfeson. The rest are unidentified. 43

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT War With Spain Manila Philippine Insurrection Manila Laguna de Bay San Isidro World War II - A P Guadalcanal Northern Solomons Leyte Southern Philippines DECORATIONS Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered Solomons. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered October 17, 1944, to July 4, 1945. CAPTAINS D. W. Yorkey W. C. Truemann (Afterwards Adjutant-General) John H . Fraine (afterward Col. of the Regiment) J. H . Johnson C. J . Foley T. H . Tharalson (afterward Adjutant-General) M . H . Sprague (afterward Major) J. G. Ofstedahl FIRST LIEUTENANTS W. A. Gunn W. C. Treumann Emil G. Bjornaby J. H . Johnson C. J . Foley T. H . Tharalson Clayton Lewis J. G. Ofstedahl W. K . Treumann Myron Omlie F. A. Moore Theo. Tallackson SECOND L I E U T E N A N T S Myron Omlie F. Longroff John Brien F. A. Moore Theo. Tallackson J . G . Ofstedahl W. K . Treumann Clayton Lewis

S U P P L Y SERGEANTS Walter A. Kirtland MESS SERGEANTS Allan W. McLean SERGEANTS Thos. D. Swiggum Elmer A. Stokke R. W. Jackson Joe Given Adrien Charpentier Henry R. Newgard H. C. Moe L. E . Bolton CORPORALS Leanord F. Hoisveen Edward Bouvette Fred E . Laxdal Lee R. Hill Joe McCaman William Foster Philip Eastman Russell E . Davis Mans A. Quist Austin R. Rye Harry Von Gorres George H . Owen Jospeh Johnson A. S. Pederson Mark Mollers Earl Maher C. W. Aymond BUGLERS Guerdon Duncan Roy H. Minder COOKS Lowell B. Edin Walter E . Schneider Emil J . Morin MECHANICS Gordon B. Ingramn John W. Schludter GRAFTON V O L U N T E E R F I R E D E P A R T M E N T There are no official written records available covering the early history of the Grafton Volunteer Fire Department prior to the year 1940. Since I am the oldest living member of that organization I will do my utmost in piecing together relevant bits of information that come to my mind because of conversations I had with John H. Kelley who had been secretary of the department since it was first organized in the early 1880's and who held that position until shortly before his death in 1941. He submitted a typewritten report of the department's early history to the city council in the mid-1930's, when council meetings were conducted in the basement room of the Carnegie Library. It is presumed that the report was lost along with other records at that time when the library basement was flooded in 1948.

ROSTER CO. C, FIRST NORTH DAKOTA INFANTRY CAPTAIN John Gehard Ofstedahl FIRST L I E U T E N A N T William K. Truemann SECOND L I E U T E N A N T Myron Omlie FIRST SERGEANT Clay Anderson

A great deal of credit is due to John H. Kelley for his untiring efforts in organizing and maintaining a group of volunteers that were available in any emergency regardless of the time of day or the season of the year in protecting life and property of the citizens of Grafton. He was the "Grand Daddy" of the department and the 144

"brains" that kept it functioning to the pleasure of every member that belonged to it. At the time I joined the department in 1916, the limited fire fighting equipment we had was stored on the ground floor section of the old power house on Hill Avenue and 4th Street. The room directly overhead was used to conduct our regular monthly Fire Department meetings. Incidentally, this part of the power house building was originally used as one ot Grafton s early schoolhouses. The bell tower and bell were still in use to call Fire Department meetings and our meeting room retained the raised teacher's platform along with two small storage closets and the teacher's desk which served our purpose until we moved to the new building. We had only four pieces of mobile equipment at that time - all had to be propelled by man power to the scene of a fire They consisted of a hook and ladder cart with two racks of hook suspended canvas, water buckets, fire axes pike poles, hose-nozzles and other assorted lire fighting equipment and two hose reel carts each being loaded with 500 feet of standard fire hose. These were aU stored in the old power house. An additional hose cart was stored on the east side near the courthouse.

Grafton Volunteer Fire Department Truck, prior to 1890.

Gus Gorder was Fire Chief at the time I joined, he had been preceded by Tom Torgerson, an implement dealer- I L Newgard, a hardware man, and a Mr. Grace' who was the Great Northern Railway agent. There may have been others, but pictures of the three mentioned were the only framed photographs of past fire chiefs which were displayed on the old fire hall walls. For boosting the hydrant pressure in case of a major fire we were dependent on a manually controlled, steam operated water pump at the power house which caused our overaged cast iron water mains to rupture on many occasions due to excessive pressure to which they had to be subjected during a major fire. In 1919 we purchased the first piece of modern fire fighting equipment. It was a 40 gallon soda and acid tank with a 100 foot hose and reel mounted on a two wheeled hand pulled cart which was stored in my place ot business in order to prevent freezing in winter months In 1920 we purchased our first piece of motorized tire fighting equipment. It was a Model T Ford pickup truck with solid rubber type tires on rear wheels on which tire chains were needed for year-round traction. It had a tray which held 500 feet standard fire hose, a side mounted ladder and an assortment of hand pumped fire extinguishers plus the usual assortment of fire fighting hand tools. Soon thereafter, it was decided to remove the 40 gallon soda and acid tank with its hose reel, from the hand pulled cart, and mount it on top of the hose tray on the Model T Ford truck. It made an ideal set up for combating fires during their early stages and on many occasions it spared the need for pressurizing our water mains and running long hose lines from fire hydrants. The Model T truck was stored in Mattson's garage until one of Grafton's oldest landmarks - the old city hall and jail which stood directly north of the Masonic Temple on Griggs Avenue, was moved by Josh Napper to its new location on the northwest corner of Hill Avenue and 3rd Street in the block on which our present water tower is located. After its interior was renovated to accomodate the storage of our fire fighting equipment, a furnace was installed and all our equipment became housed under a single roof - close to the fire hall where it remained until the city administration decided to close out their Electric Merchandising business which had been conducted in the south part of the new power house built in 1930 and after renovation, turned the entire space over to the Volunteer Fire Department for storage of their fire fighting equipment.

Hook & Ladder

Fire Department, approximately 1916. Left to Right: Gus Gorder, Fire Chief; John Secretary; and Henry Bernard, President.

Realizing that our water mains could no longer be depended on for the high pressures needed to combat fires we decided that the only solution to our problem was the use of a pumper truck. So, in 1934 we acquired a Ford V-8 fire truck with front mounted pump. With it we were able to convert the normal hydrant pressure to the maximum nozzle pressure needed for fire combat without risk of rupturing our over-aged water mains due to excessive pressure. We became aware of the fact that we would be hopelessly in trouble in case of accident or breakdown of our equipment during an emergency, so, in 1938 we purchased our second pumper truck. It was a Chevrolet with midship mounted pump which now gave us two complete fire fighting units which could operate entirely independent of each other. Either unit could pump water

Kelley, 145

be first in line of duty in any emergency. They were a liberal group of volunteers who were dedicated to perform their services cheerfully at all hours of day or night throughout the year, without expecting compensation for their efforts. It took only the ringing of the fire bell or the blast of the fire whistle to trigger the volunteer fireman into immediate action and rush to his station without delay. It is a tribute to the planning and foresight of the early founders of the Grafton Volunteer Fire Department that the organization is still operating and performing its duties with the same zeal and co-operation in protecting the community's interest that prevailed when it was first organized. I hope and pray that the pleasant relationship which has prevailed throughout the years between the Fire Department and other branches of the city government will remain the dominating factor that will assure the continuance of this important and vital part of our city government. Submitted by Hugo J. Kutz.

out of the river or from ponds or cisterns in the rural area. We continued to use the old fire hall for our monthly meetings until after the new municipal building was completed in 1939 under the W. P. A. program after which we were provided with a club room, cloak room, dressing room, as well as shower, and toilet room facilities for our exclusive use in the new building. Because all written records of Grafton's Volunteer Fire Department previous to 1940 are missing, I will list some of the principal elected officials who served during that period.

This group assembly of Grafton's Volunteer Fire Department was taken by Horace Salter in the old fire hall directly over the Power House in 1917. Front Row: [I. to r.] John Arman, Alphonse Gagnon, Unknown, Horace Ingle, William Gilbert and H. C. Henry. Second Row: John Yeller, Ellie Eastman, Henry Bernard, Gus Gorder, Herbert Carruthers, John Stewart and Christ Olson. Third Row: Richard Bass Allen Newgard, Cal Grain, Olaf Mohn, Hallie Hanson, C. P. Stone, Manfred Newgard, Mack Barr, George Loos, Clarence Thompson, Ed Meade and Ed Heine. Back Row: Thomas Torgerson, Robert Klosterman, Ed Knutson, John H. Kelley, Hugo J. Kutz, Sam Scott, Charlie Miller, Martin Mohn, Cy Campbell and H. G. Sprague.

Hugo Kutz, Fire Chief

BUSINESS CHANDLER FOUNDED FUNERAL HOME Since 1881, W. M. Chandler had been engaged in business in Grafton, first as a merchant handling general merchandise and later going into the furniture business in connection with undertaking, then rather crude compared with present standards.

Elected chiefs prior to 1916 and their occupations are: Mr. Grace, Great Northern Railway agent; Tom Torgerson, I. H. C. implement dealer; and I. L. Newgard, hardware dealer. Elected secretaries, years they served and their occupations: John H. Kelley, early 1880's to 1939, an accountant for the Grafton Roller Mills; Charles Sieben, 1939 and continued on, a building contractor. Elected presidents and their occupations: Henry Bernard, chief engineer for the Grafton Roller Mills; Frank Bailey, Great Northern Railway agent; and F. T. Kieley, sheriff of Walsh County. Elected fire chiefs and their occupations: Gus Gorder, owner of a billiards and pool hall and soft drinks; A. E. Meade, owner of a restaurant; Fred Baumgardner, manager of Northwestern Bell Telephone Co.; and Hugo J. Kutz, owner of Grafton Auto & Machine Co. Grafton's Volunteer Fire Department has performed an outstanding humanitarian service to this community ever since it was organized more than 70 years ago when a group of men joined themselves into a unit which was to

Chandler's funeral records began with the year 1894 as nearly as we can ascertain. The first funeral was for one Norman Anderson, Dec. 22, 1894. Chandler had his place of business on the west side of Hill Avenue, later acquiring possession of the Union Block, now the J. C. Penney store, which he remodeled into a furniture store vat the World War I period). His undertaking business was upstairs. The undertaking business was sold to R. C. Swandby who conducted it for 25 years or so. He moved into the Firestone Building and later bought the Dr. S. S. Westgate house and converted it into a funeral home. This home is now operated by Warren Tollefson, purchased from W. C. Adams. 146

J. L. EGLESTON, J E W E L E R AND OPTICIAN j L Egleston, jeweler and optician, established himself in Grafton in 1892. He occupied a section of the K i n g and Leweaux drugstore. He handled "an extensive line of everything pertaining to a first-class S r y store, including cut glass, American pottery, watches, clocks, silverware, etc." Mr. Egleston gave "personal attention to the repair department, and "having received instruction from some of the most eminent American teachers of optics," he was also a "thoroughly competent optician." B. C. GROVER'S L I V E R Y B. C. Grover's Livery, "the most complete of any in the northern part of the state," was established in i m It was located on 6th Street, near the Great Northern S o o t The livery offered "the finest of carriages and conveyances for all purposes and the best of horses. B. C Grover was one of Grafton's pioneer citizens, and did much "to advance the public interests of the city. H. L . HAUSSAMEN The Corner Drug Store, the "pioneer.drugstore of Walsh County," was established in A c t o n i n £ 7 9 by toe Hamilton Brothers. It was moved to Grafton in 1881. two ware later H . L. Haussamen was the sole owner of the S e r p S a e The Corner Drug Store carried a complete stock of drugs "only of the purest qualities manufacI r e d " The Sore also contained stationery, toilet goods "the finest cigars in the city," Eastman and Kodak cfme as and "competent pharmacists.;' "Haussamen s honey wild cherry and tar cough mixture, and also S s a m e n ' s Crystal Cream of ^ s e s for^chapped hands, had gained a wide reputation and large sale throughout the northwest."

THE MINNEAPOLIS STORE The Minneapolis Store was known as "the pioneer general mercantile establishment of Walsh County The "unpretentious store" was established in March, of 1881 N J Roholt who sold out to M r . John Flekke the following year. The store carried "complete lines of dry goods, clothing, furnishing goods, boots and shoes, groceries, etc., of the latest patterns and up-to-date manufacture." The Minneapolis Store was considered as another enterprising and successful business concern in Grafton's early years. b v

J. S. BROSNAHAN AND COMPANY The firm of J . S. Brosnahan and Company, dealing in farm machinery, wagons, sleighs, carriages, wood and coal was established in 1899. The company sold machinery such as John Deere plows, Moline wagons Kentucky drills, Champion binders and mowers, Flour City gasoline engines, Aultman & Taylor and Gaar Scott threshers, Dunham pulverizers, Austin road machinery and New E r a graders. J. S. Brosnahan and Company had "a large trade in the tributary country around Grafton as well as in the city." MODEL L A U N D R Y The Model Laundry was established by "its enterprising proprietor," E . W. Doherty. The firm occupied "a substantial and commodious building on Hill Avenue and Third Street." The laundry was "equipped with the latest improvements in laundry machinery," and work was "called for and delivered promptly in any part of the city " M r Doherty's clientage was so extensive that he had "a practical monopoly of the trade in Grafton." NEWGARD - F L A T E N I L Newgard and Iver A. Flaten established their hardware store in 1891. They carried "a very complete Une of shelf and heavy hardware." They also handled -the celebrated Garland stoves and ranges the Impeoal hipveles etc and an infinite vanety of shelf wares. Newgard and Flaten Hardware was "one of the best known in Walsh County." THE ROBERTSON L U M B E R COMPANY

HENDRICKSEN & OLSON "When the village of Grafton was platted in 1881, Carl Hendricksen purchased the first lot add. On tat lot, he established the oldest f ^ S ^ t S in Walsh County. It was known as Hendricksen Farm Machinery. The e n t e r p r i s e . h a n d j a d ^ u * a » d i as McCormick binders, Flying Duchrnan plows^ Buffalo Pitts threshers, and Dowagiac drills^ Thei firm also sold wagons, carriages . o r g a n s ' pianos sewing machines coal and wood. Hendricksen and Olson were T o Jloneer cUizens who did much "toward building up the city."

In 1900, the Robertson Lumber Company was "the largest company doing business in t h e j " J ™.riri "meet any legitimate competition. Besides its office in Grafton'the lumber company had 20 other yards tocated in the Red River Valley and in Minnesota. The S r t s o n Lumber Company is still at its original location on 5th Street. Submitted by Colleen A. Oihus.

ST. HILAIRE L U M B E R COMPANY

GRAFTON R O L L E R MILLS

In June of 1899, the St. Hilaire Lumber Company was established in Grafton. Soon thereafter, the firm handled -a very extensive business." It JP/ ^ Ses Fvans and N D. Smith served as yard foreman. Besides w a s

In 1882 the Grafton Roller Mills was built by W. C Leistikow. At that time the mills had a 150 barrel ranacitv By 1900, the muTs were producing well over 500 barrels per day, "the largest of any milling concern in ffSafP The miUs were "equipped with the latest ^provements in milling machinery and "Grafton Hour" had achieved a reputation forexcellence far and near » The mills not only suppUed the people of Walsh County and the surrounding area, but also the east coast and Europe.

b y

a n

its Grafton office, which was ^ P ^ S e ' m S n t f in the building line," the company had large mateiriSt Hilaire and Crookston, Minnesota. The St Hilaire Lumber Company was located on 6th Street between the depots. 147

Old roller mill of Grafton. SATEREN'S CASH STORE In 1900, Sateren's Cash Store was "the only exclusively cash general mercantile house" in North Dakota. The proprietor, 0. L. Sateren, came to Walsh County in the spring of 1881. In the fall of 1886, he began his business concern. His store contained "the following departments: Dry Goods and Notions, Boots and Shoes, Men's and Boy's Clothing, Ladies' and Misses' Jackets and Cloaks, Furnishing Goods, Groceries and Crockery, and Shelf Hardware." BROSNAHAN AND OLSON RINGSAK HARDWARE CO. Gunder Olson and Charley Jacobson formed a partnership in the machinery business on May 7,1890. J. S Brosnahan and Hendrickson and Olson agreed on March 12, 1902, to form a new company, called Brosnahan and Olson. In 1888 Carl Hendrickson moved his hardware store from Acton to Grafton. The store was located where the Old Walsh County Bank Building is. This store was later merged with the Brosnahan and Olson Company and the stock moved to the 6th Street location. On April 6,1929, Martin Ringsak, who became one of the later partners in the firm, purchased out the following partners, Mr. Haugen, W. F. Ware and Gunder Olson, and became the sole owner. The firm name was changed to the Ringsak Hardware Company.

Standing: 1st tractor—W. J. Ware, 2nd tractor-Martin Ringsak, 3rd tractor—Andrew Johnson.

Ringsak Hardware, left to right : Gena Opperud, E. Momerak, Martin Ringsak, Walter Ringsak. ANDREW AAS Andrew Aas came here before the railway to Grafton was built. He was a resident of Grafton for over 70 years. He celebrated his 93rd birthday April 2, 1953. A native of Norway, Mr. Aas lived in the Grafton area since his coming here around 1880. For many years he engaged in carpenter work in the city, having had a hand in the construction of many of the churches and business buildings built here some 40 or 50 years ago. Later he became an electrician and worked with the Grafton Light and Water Department for many years prior to his retirement. He was born in Aadalen, Norway, April 2, 1860. The pioneer county resident had one son Fred, Grafton; and two daughters, Mrs. Selma Hellekson, Grafton, and Mrs. E. M. Cull, Crookston. Mr. Aas was a long-time member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir for many years.

BIOGRAPHIES L. N. ALTENDORF FAMILY From carrying mail and peddling products door to door in the 1890's and early 1900's, Nick Altendorf knew the Walsh County area of those years well. Altendorf came to Acton Township from his native Belgium in 1887 when he was 13 years old. The Altendorf family arrived in Walsh County penniless, having spent literally their last nickel in St. Paul for a loaf of bread. Relatives were awaiting them in the Acton area and they were soon settled. During the latter part of the 1890's Altendorf carried mail to and from the Red River. For making the long trip to the Red via Oakwood three times a week, he received $220 a year, $55 payable every three months. Weather conditions often made the job difficult and now and then made it actually dangerous. He particularly recalls the Thanksgiving blizzard of 1896. That blizzard was of a terrifying quality, and Altendorf remembers planning to find and stay at a comfortable and hospitable home in the Oakwood area. As he trudged along, no shelter in sight, a gust of wind cleared the air for a few seconds and he caught a glimpse ofthe house he sought which he had nearly passed, a few yards from him. Later Altendorf began canvassing from house to

house selling pills, extracts and spices for a company. He made two trips a year through the area, and recalls n y villages and local post offices, such as Norton and S a , which no longer exist. In those days Acton was Uie area's city, for the railroad did not run west of Park River, and Acton, open to water traffic, was a thriving center of population. During his trips Altendorf stayed at farm houses during the night. The custom was to pay his board in Products rathlr than in cash. He recalls one fami y near Ardoch named Farmer, who when approached, informed him that he could stay only if he paid cash. Thes cash paid was $1 for which he received two meals and a bed tor tne night plus shelter and food for his horse. The Farmer family is memorable to him because he eventually biTame a welcome guest at their home and, after the S e T c o o l reception he received on his first visit, was ater told that if the family was not at home on his arrival he was to put his horse in the barn and make himself at m a

eastern portion of the country, has been on the rampage many times. On numerous occasions it has flooded hundreds of acres of land in the area. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, of the floods struck in 1897. This is an account of the 1897 flood as written bvL N. Altendorf, who was 23 years old at the time. During the flood of that year, Mr. Altendorf made notes in a diary which was preserved through the following years. His account as recorded in his diary f

° °' On Sunday, April 11, the water rose to seven inches on the floor in our home. We moved out the horses to Feldmans our other stock and family having moved the dav before to Jno. Wichert. The water then kept on rising until it reached three feet, six inches on our floor, which was Thursday, the 15th. The weather also was quite disagreeable, it being quite windy the biggest part of the time Tuesday night the water took away our wood pile which was piled up about seven feet high with a fence around it about 14 by 16 feet. . That same day Nic Brosius and I rowed to Acton in a boat right across the fields. In those days it tore down our w. c. and smoke house which were both of a very good

° H i s best tride for lodging, except of course the goods he peddled, we. e the packing cases his products arrived to These packing cases were large and sturdy and they were worth a week end's lodging to almost any farmer Altendorf moved to Grafton in 1913. He had continued to run the Watkins Wagon until 1913 when he opened an msTance business. He served for a time as County c Z n e r and as Justice of the Peace. He was active in the Democratic Party for many years and ran for the State Legislature in 1912 on the Democratic ticket. Tn1901he married Anna Ruminski, daughter of John Ruminski of Warsaw. Mrs. Altendorf was born in Poland. S m e to the United States with her parents at the age of twTThey had 10 children, Edward, Joseph, Leo m c ^ r d , victor, Nicholas, Helen, Mary Do/othy and leanne A son Richard, met accidental death in 1920, a daughterSen died in 1949. Two other sons, Joseph and S r aredeceased. Mrs. Altendorf died in January, I960- Mr. Altendorf in May ofthe same year. Submitted by Nick Altendorf.

S 1 Z 6

0 n Saturday, the 17th, Nic Brosius and I rowed to Jake Brosius's in Minnesota, a distance of 6J4 miles about five miles east of the Red River On the way going we rowed our boat on top of a hay stack and emptied it as it leaked a little. We next rowed up to a house where the man was living upstairs and climbed in and out through the upper window, the door and windows below being out

0 t

* After we got home a storm started, the wind blowing quite strong from the south. That night we could not get hay for my horses and Nic Brosius's two cows. We had the above mentioned stock standing on a floor two feet above the floor in N. Brosius's granary and still they stood half way up to their knees in water for six days^ Father and I started to our own house just before dark after being advised to stay where we were. I had just all 1 could do to get home, having to face the wind, ^though the distance was only about 40 rods. It was not cold at all then, but during the night the wind turned to the north, bl

° T t h e m o r n f n g (EasterSunday) I saw that we could not get to Brosius's. We had been staying there all week except nights when we went home to sleep. We stayed there for company's sake as well as for convenience as we only had one boat between us and had to stay together I laid down in bed for awhile, but the storm got so bad and so noisy that it was impossible and dangerous to lay in bed. I got up and looked out and a terrible sight met my eyes. In the first place the boat was, it seemed, shaken to pieces. Every seat was torn out, the oars were gone and the boat filled with water. Then I noticed all our buildings and fences were being ruined. The smoke house which had drifted against a house, was taken about'40 rods further to another fence. Next a shanty 14'xl6' which was attached and connected with one of the same size, tore loose and was driven away by the wind Indeed, it is destruction wherever, you look and property is being destroyed faster than I am able to put it down. If you look out you seem to be in a storm at sea, terrible high waves, and besides it is getting very cold. Indeed it is snowing and freezing. I am sitting here with

L. N. Altendorf DIARY - FLOOD OF 1897 As written by L. N. Altendorf at the time. All has not been roses since the settlers began m

° 7 i i Z t e g r i e s t threat to the security of the settlers aiid later'to the residents of the area has been the floods. The Red River, which runs north through the 149

a cap and fur coat on to protect myself from the cold. Father is also walking up and down the floor dressed in his winter clothes to keep warm. Just now we went down and saved a few of the most valuable articles out of an addition (a kind of shed) we have on the house and which is breaking loose. If the Lord does not protect us, we are not even safe in the house which is shaking and screeching at every gust of the wind. It is now 10:20 a.m. and Easter Sunday service is just about beginning in all the churches in the country and we are here in a house threatened to be washed away, without fire as both our stoves are staning in the water below,, our stock waiting to be fed, and we have nothing to eat until tbe storm goes down and we can go to the neighbor. Maybe after the storm goes down, we can not go. I am afraid the boat will be completely ruined. Well, I resign myself to the Lord. His will be done. I will now join my prayers to those offered up to God all over the world. If the Lord sees fit to do so, he will relieve us from our perilous situation. 12 o'clock and no change, storm as bad as ever. Neighbor Ildstad's house driven to pieces, our's shaking and in danger to go to pieces any time. Windows all covered with ice, caused by the water from the big waves splashing over them. Water fell about ten inches this forenoon but I think it is caused by the storm. 6:30 and no change for the better. All the buildings are getting more ruined and weaker by being shaken so much back and forth. The water is rising again. I give up all hope of going out tonight, although I am very anxious about my horses and the other stock which has not been fed since yesterday noon. I don't know what to do. I am tired of lying down, and it is too cold to be up even with a fur coat on. The smoke house has drifted away out of sight. This has been a terrible Easter for us and for many other people living along the river. This seems an unjust world when one thinks how people suffer while others rejoice. Now some of my dearest friends are having a good pleasant time today, but I am not jealous of them. On the contrary, I am glad of it. I pity all that are in the same situation as we are. We can not look out of the north windows at all; they are covered quite thick with ice. I close my remarks for today, praying the Lord to have mercy on us and preserve us tonight. It is going to be a fearful night, and it will be dangerous also, if the wind does not go down a little." Submitted by Nick Altendorf.

Fred his wife and daughter moved to Grand Forks, where they ran a neighborhood grocery store for about 2 years In 1917, he had an opportunity to return to the Robertson Lumber Co. in Edinburg. While there he also took charge and led the Edinburg Band. He also had various positions on the local town board. While living in Edinburg, two more daughters were born to them, - in 1918, Dorothy (Mrs. Joe Thomasson, Edinburg, R. F. D.) and in 1921, Lois (Mrs. J. R. Parkman, Bottineau, and Lake Metigoshe). In 1926, he was transferred to Neche where he managed the Robertson Lumber Co. there. They lived there for several years until moving to Bathgate, where he managed a lumber yard and also one at Hamilton. In 1932, he accepted a job with the Federal Land Bank of North Dakota and traveled extensively throughout Walsh County. At this time, the family moved back to Mountain and then to Adams. While in Adams he took a similar position of making appraisals, loans, and sales of farms for the Union Central LUe Insurance Co. From there, in 1938, he was transferred to Pierce County, with headquarters at Rugby, N. Dak., for this same company. His wife and famUy then made their home there. He later moved with his wUe to Jamestown in 1942. He worked for the same company covering several counties around that city. In 1951, he retired from this active traveUng position, and moved to Grafton where he and Mrs. Arason purchased and ran a neighborhood grocery store on Hill Ave. for 7 years. In 1958, he was forced to sell the grocery store and retire due to a heart condition. At this time, they moved to an apartment in the home of their daughter, Aileen, and son-in-law, (Dr. and Mrs. J. V. Jaehning, Grafton) where he lived untU he passed away when he was 74 years old, January, 1960. Mrs. Arason continues to Uve in this apartment in Grafton with her daughter and son-in-law.

ARASON, FRED E. Fred E. Arason and family grew up and Uved largely in Pembina County first, and then in Edinburg, Adams, and finally in Grafton, N. Dak., aU in Walsh County. Fred came to America with his parents, Solveig and Jacob Peter Arason, and one sister, Gertrude, when he was two years old. This was in 1887 and they came directly to Mountain. While there, and as he grew to manhood, he worked as an assistant to his father in a Harness and Shoe Repairing Shop. Later he became a manager for the Robertson Lumber Co. He also organized and led the Mountain Band.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Arason and Family—1938. Back row, leftto right: Aileen (Mrs. J. V. Jaehning, Grafton, N. D.) Dorothy (Mrs. Joe Thomasson, Edinburg, N. D., R.F.D.), Lois (Mrs. J. R. Parkman, Bottineau, N. D.). Front row: Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Arason. MR. AND MRS. JOHN ARMAN Mr and Mrs. John Arman were pioneer Icelandic settlers in Grafton. Mrs. Sarah (Sigridur) ToUefson came to the United States with her family in 1880 from Koreksstadagerdi, Hjalstastadapingha, Iceland. Her mother, two brothers, and Sarah survived an epidemic in the Akra area and came to Grafton. John (Gudjon)

During his time in Mountain, he was married to Augusta Leirur on October 11, 1911. She was also a resident of Mountain. In 1915, a daughter was Dorn, Aileen (Mrs. J. V. Jaehning, Grafton). Soon after this, 150

Arman was a young man when he came to Grafton from Biskupstungum, Arnessyslu, Iceland. They were married March 1, 1895, and were the parents of seven children. Their oldest son Jon Ingvar served 15 months overseas in World War I in France^He was Sgt. Bugler in the "Million Dollar Band" directed by Harold Bachman. They were assigned to the llbtn Engineers Company. "Inge" was a fine cornet soloist. After the war he operated a cafe in Grafton and then was a salesman for a grocery firm making his home in Bismarck. His only son, John Richard, was wounded in Korea and died from his wounds.

Gudjon Arman Family: Mrs. Sigridur Arman, Stephen W., Jon Ingvar, Gudjon Arman. Seated in front: Sophus G. Arman. Stephen W. had his orders to go overseas when the Armistice was signed. He operated a cafe in Grand Forks and then later opened " Arman's Sweet Shop" in Grafton. S also worked as a salesman and his last years were spent in Minneapolis working for a large grocery wholesale firm. Both these sons were active ui American Legion activities. Sofus tried to enlist following high school graduation but was rejected. He was caught in the "last draft" and was in the S.A.T.C. program at U N :D He was a victim of the "flu" and died Oct 25, 1918, just before the Armistice. We could not have his remains m toe church or our home so the funeral was held outadeat City Cemetery in the rain. We saw his remains there. Everyone was so afraid of the awful "flu . These three sons grew up together Then, after ten years Mrs. Arman had four more chddren. Magnus (Mike) was one of Casey Finnegan's athletes and also played the trombone in the band. Then came t h i n l y E n t e r , Sylvia. She was a pianist and sang wife Senior X following Confirmation. She worked as a stenographer for attorney T. I. Dahl and was Clerk of County Court for Melvin Vigness and Mrs. Vigness. She married a pharmacist, Lyman B. Bjerken. He later became manager ofthe Grafton Drug so Sylvia was in Graf ton to help her parents their last years Another son, Gudjon Alexander, only lived to be five years of age. The last son was John Arman, Jr. He graduated from U. N. D. He played trombone in the marching band. He made his home in Fargo and was active in building Bethlehem Church, the S. A. E. fraternity and many organizations He didn't survive heart surgery, died in 1970, Sylvia is the only living child

"Poppy Day" and always topped sales. Sylvia took her around by car the year before she died so she could sell coDDies to some of her favorite customers. She also K d decorate the graves on Memorial Day. She was aTso known for her good brown bread and she gave, many Saves away She was president of the Icelandic Ladies A?d the Tast years the" church was in existence. This Icelandic Church was located at 317 Prospect Avenue After the church was closed Armans joined Grafton Lutheran a X h e was active in her circle (liked to make toe coffee). She enjoyed the Degree of Honor mee ing^ She was an expert knitter and made hundreds of mi tens for grandchildren and others. She loved her home but ill heahhtorcedher to give it up and she lived her last years with her daughter and son-in-law. Death came to her the mornine of "Poppy Day" May 23, 1953. Z Arman worked hard with construction. Seeing him come home with his shovel over his shoulder and covered with clay from digging was a common sight. He later worked as bailiff and it was a familiar sight to see Wm with his dog, "Dewey," at the courthouse. He always had his dog with him and used the same name no matter what we children named a new dog. He was very active to keeping the Icelandic Church active and was unhappy to see it close. He loved to read from his Ice an die Bible anJsing the hymns. He was active in the Volunteer Fire Department. He was very proud of his ancestry and made one trip back to Iceland to see relatives. He was 84 ^ l u b m t V ^ M r s . Lyman P. Bjerken (Sylvia Arman).

Mrs. Gudjon Arman (then Sigridur Tollefson) wearing Icelandic costume. GUS M. BAER One of the earliest merchants in Grafton and a man who had one of the longest continuous business records in the history of the city was Gus M. Baer who came here in 1882 Mr Baer was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, Aug. 7, 1853 His parents were Dr. and Mrs. S. Baer. His father was a noted theologian and writer on religious subjects in After spending his youth in Wiesbaden, Mr. Baer came to the United States. For a short time he was located in St. Louis, Missouri, but hearing tales of adventure and opportunity in the great northwest he decided to seek his fortune there. In the spring of 1876 he boarded a steamboat at St. Louis and sailed up the Missouri River to Bismarck, arriving there June 12. In

° 'MrsTrman was a "Gold Star Mother" and active in the American Legion Auxiliary. During W. W I. she kept L y knitting forthe soldiers. She loved to sell poppies on 151

discussing some of his experiences of early days, Mr. Baer recalled that on the voyage from St. Louis to Bismarck, Sioux Cheyenne Indians often lined the banks of the Missouri River north of Yankton and peppered the boat with shots. After arrival in Bismarck he secured a job as clerk in a men's clothing store. Bismarck in those days was a typical but lively western frontier town. But when the young German immigrant left his native land, he envisioned more than a clerk's job in the new world. It was natural, therefore, after a few years in such a position during which time he learned much about the business, he should cast about for an opportunity to set up in business for himself. While making such a survey, the new town of Grafton, then only a little more than a year old, came to his attention. He came here in 1882 to look the field over, decided that it offered the opportunity which he sought, and proceeded to set himself up in business. Thereafter, the name Gus M. Baer, clothier, was an important factor in the business of this community for 46 years. On Feb. 28, 1896, Mr. Baer married Miss Bella Baer and brought his young bride to live in Grafton, where he built a new home at the corner of Eighth St. and Griggs Avenue. Two children were bom, Jessie and Philip. In the fall of 1928, Mr. Baer decided to retire and sold his business but retained ownership of the large business block at the comer of Fifth St. and Hill Avenue which housed the Grafton Drug Company, ToUack Hardware, and the offices of Glaspel & Glaspel, physicians and surgeons. Mr. Baer, with his wife, retired to Los Angeles, Calif., like two of his fellow businessmen in Grafton, W. W. Reyleck and W. C. Leistikow, the former a veteran merchant in the city, the latter, the founder and owner of the Grafton Roller Mill. While in Grafton, Gus Baer played a large horn in Grafton's early band. Copied from the Walsh County Record, edition of July 25, 1940. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Grafton until his death about 1925. He and his wife Jennie had a son, Arthur Webb Ball, who died as a small child. The Balls built a new home around 1900. This home they lived in all of their life and it is still on the corner of West 6th and Kittson Avenue in Grafton. His wife, Jennie Ball, was noted for her beautiful hand paintings. She never sold any, but gave them as gifts. There are still many beautiful paintings in the Grafton community. She also was a lover of flowers, raising ferns by the dozen. She also had a talking parrot, Polly, which was like one of the family, who greeted everyone in its own way. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are deceased. Mrs. Ball was an Eastern Star member, her funeral was from the Masonic Temple. Mr. Ball's funeral was military from the G. A. R. Hall. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ball were weD liked in this community and left many pleasant memories for all those who were in contact with them.

Mrs. Henry A. Ball (Jennie).

HENRY A. BALL Henry A. Ball was Grafton's first photographer. He was in business in Grafton for many years. In the early years in Grafton, everyone had their wedding and confirmation pictures taken by Ball. He was alone in business for a number of years, then in partnership with J. Rindahl, Gust Knudson, Oscar Fricklund, regaining the business and later sold to Mr. Horace E. Salter.

Mrs. Jennie Ball's favorite parrot, Polly. M. 0. BERG FAMILY

3 poses of Henry Ball. Henry A. Ball was also Justice of the Peace in

Martin 0. Berg was born in Estherville, Ia. In 1889 he came to Grafton. He clerked in several general stores in this area. In 1888, he married Tena Pederson, who immigrated from Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Martin O. Berg had two boys, Ralph and Elmer, and two daughters, Myrtle and Lucille. He was active in church and city affairs and served as alderman in the Second Ward. Martin Berg was also a

worker in the Republican party and a member of Grafton Lutheran Church. In 1897 Mr. Berg, with a partner, Oli Flekke, purchased a general store known as the Minneapolis Store, located at the corner of Sixth Street and Hill Avenue, from John Flekke. The name of the store was then changed to Berg and Flekke. In 1915 a new building was constructed on the same site. Mr. Berg died in 1928 and the business was liquidated. The building was leased to the S & L Company in 1931. HENRY B E R N A R D Henry Bernard was born in Maine Feb. 26, 1872, but was raised in Quebec. Coming to North Dakota he was married June 3, 1901 at Oakwood to Miss Josephine Collette. They had three children, Mrs. Whittaker, Los Angeles, Henry L. Bernard, superintendent of schools, Ross, N . D., and Frank P., who died at Pearl Harbor. Mrs. Bernard was the daughter of Octave Collette who had a hotel at the river town of St. Andrews at the formative years of Walsh County, before the railroad reached Grafton. This hotel building was moved to Grafton and was known as the Quist Building.

Finally, Bernard's disease infected his foot and a leg was amputated, but it did not daunt his courage. His fortitude was remarkable and he took it with a smile an incident in the great skirmish of life. MRS. JOSIE B R E K K E Mrs. Josie Brekke, nee Josie Hegenseth, was bom in Iowa Sept. 23, 1875. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Helgenseth, were of Norwegian extraction. With her parents she came to Walsh County in 1879 and at Grafton in 1893 she was united in marriage to Hans J. Brekke. Their children are John, Hazel and Herbert. Mrs. Brekke also has one brother and three sisters living. She was a member ofthe Grafton Lutheran Church. OLE OLSON B R E N N A Ole Olson Brenna was born in Gal, Hollingdal, Norway, Dec. 20, 1846. His father was famous for his hand-made grandfather's clocks. There are still clocks in Gal, Norway, which bear the Brenna name. When Ole was around 19 or 20 he and his sister Olaug packed their clothes and treasured belongings and one clock and left by ship for America. In London, they were told they must get rid of all unnecessary baggage. So they were left with only their trunk of clothes. Olaug went to Christine where she worked and later married John Lium. Ole went to Houston, Minn., where he worked, later started farming. There he met Guri Oino who was also born at Gal, Hollingdal, Norway. She was born Sept. 11,1854. When she was 16 years old she immigrated to the United States with her parents and they settled in Houston, Minn. While the family still resided at Houston she was married, Nov. 22, 1873, to Ole O. Brenna at Spring Grove, Minn., and the couple remained in that vicinity until 1881 when they came to North Dakota.

Bernard started working at the Grafton Roller Mills in March 1901. During the height of production the mill had a 1,000 barrels capacity and employed 22 men at 12 hour shifts. When W. C. Leistikow started the mill it had 335 barrel output. It is said that Leistikow had $40,000 in cash when he came to Grafton and the other $40,000 needed to start the business he borrowed from his fatherin-law and before the first year's operation ended he paid the loan. Mr. Leistikow was mayor of Grafton and the town's first millionaire. When Bernard started, his salary was $60 a month and wood was used for fuel. However, it was as a soldier that Bernard attained his greatest distinction. He joined Co. C in May, 1898, and the company was immediately mustered into the federal service and trained at Camp Briggs and Camp Merritt, San Francisco before embarking on the transport Valencia for the Philippines, arriving in Manila Bay, July 31,1898. August 12 they were in the trenches and had their first taste of actual war and the next day they went into Manilla. Philippine natives rebelled and fighting continued tor several months, in which Co. C played a gallant part. May 12 1899, in a skirmish near Paete, Isadore Dnscall, P W Tompkins, A. C. Almen and W. G. Lamb were killed and Tom Sletland was cited for his exceptional bravery in defending the position assigned and guarding the bodies of his dead comrades. John Buckley and Frank Upham died in camp. Only twelve veterans of Co. C survived.

Family of Ole O. Brenna. Standing, left to right: Gurine, Ole, Edward, Gustave, Barbro. Sitting: Ole O. Brenna, Ing'er (Mrs. A. J. Tjosheim), Mrs. Ole O. Brenna (Guri). They first came to the now Hoople area, where their friends had settled. As there were no more homesteads left they decided to go on further. They had all their belongings in a wagon plus their three children. As there were no roads at that time the trip was a long hard one. Their team of horses had a hard time getting through the mud and water. The couple walked most of the way from Houston, Minn., to lighten the load. They settled on a homestead in 1881, three miles southwest of Grafton. Their home was built there and they Uved in the same homestead until their deaths. Ole died March 10,1920, and Guri died April 27,1926. They had a famUy of nine, Gurine, Barbro, Ole, E d ,

"Our greatest thrill," Bernard recalled, "was the homecoming celebration, Oct. 2, 1899. Grafton citizens went all out to show us the time of our life. The girls were gay and smiling and I kissed those I liked the best.' Bernard contracted diabetes while in the Philippines. The army was poorly equipped. Often water buffaloes were used to carry supplies. Men slept in dog tents or in the trees and when the regular food was not available, bananas, pineapples and other fruit were relished. 153

Gustave, Inger, twin boys and Alfred and Louis, and Inger No. 2. Three of the children, Inger, Alfred and Louis, died in infancy. As the children grew and were old enough for school, they walked about 3V4 miles to a log cabin near the John Domstad homestead. And church was a Norwegian Church, which was built where the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery is today. The six younger children were baptized and confirmed there. Groceries and supplies were gotten at first from Grand Forks which was a long trip. But later they were able to get supplies from Acton, which was much closer. As the years went by, more homesteaders came and settled close by. They all worked together and life became easier for all. From the Brenna family, only one member survives. She is Mrs. Inger Brenna Tjosheim, Grafton. STEWART CAIRNCROSS In the spring of 1881, Stewart Cairncross, who was in the general mercantile business in Litchfield, Minn., decided to locate in one of the many new fields opening up. While he was in St. Paul he met his old friend of Mississippi steamboat and early St. Paul days, Jim Hill, who was about to extend the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba railway from Grand Forks to the Canadian boundary. Hill advised him to locate on a site which is now the city of Grafton. Cairncross followed the advice of Hill, going to Grand Forks by rail and then by various ways via the Red River to the small settlement on the Park River. The construction of a store building on the proper townsite on the stubble fields of Jim Hill's farm was begun. In August of 1881 he sent for his wife and five children, Edward, Charles, Alice, Jessie and Millie, who were in Litchfield. His family of six went by train to Breckenridge, Minn., where they crossed the river in a hack to Wahpeton. From then they went by train to Grand Forks where they spent the night in a hotel and next morning traveled west 12 miles to Stickney by rail. This 12 miles of rail was the beginning of Hill's road to Seattle from Grand Forks. In Stickney the family spent the night in a sod shanty belonging to some cousins, the Blair family. The following morning the family, in a lumber wagon pulled by a team of horses, started across the prairie for Grafton, a distance of about 40 miles. This was a long grueling trip for the family, particularly for the wife and mother. The wagon trip took from early morning to long after dark. They arrived at Mr. Cooper's farm home which was being used as a hotel and there the family was housed. During that night a baby boy, Grafton Cairncross, was born. The baby was the first white child born in Grafton. Mrs. Cairncross is an outstanding example of the courage and endurance of pioneer women. She pioneered, not only the Dakota Territory, but also Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota. Grafton Cairncross graduated from Grafton High School. He had two years training at Shattuck Military Academy, and died in 1908 in San Pedro, Calif. Soon after the family arrived in Grafton the children were permitted to cross the railroad grade to take a look at the construction of the store building. They found the carpenters draping the front of the building with black

cotton in mourning for the death of President Garfield. For months all merchandise for the Cairncross Store was freighted by rail from St. Paul to Grand Forks, by boat from Grand Forks to Acton or St. Andrews, and then by team and wagon to Grafton. It arrived very late at night in Grafton, causing much distress and many anxious hours for Mrs. Cairncross as she waited for her oldest son, still very young, who was doing the teaming. The first religious service was conducted in this store building by a group of Lutherans. The building was used a great deal for such purposes with the explicit understanding that any and all faiths were welcome to make the store building serve as a church. Later Stewart Cairncross established stores in Edinburg and Park River. His second daughter, Jessie, and her husband, Fred Walstrom, took over the management of the Park River store. They had five children, Dr. Lloyd Walstrom, Zanesville, Ohio; Mrs. J. C. Overbye, Grafton; Mrs. A. C. Taylor, and Fred Walstrom, Jr., of St. Paul; and Mrs. Glenn Settle, also of Zanesville. The family sometimes made a four hour drive with horses Sundays to spend the day visiting the Cairncrosses. Stewart Cairncross was the first mayor of Grafton and was always a leader in establishing schools, churches and cultural activities in the city. For 28 years he and his wife spent the winters in California, returning to Grafton for the summer months. He was born in Scotland, and came to the United States when he was 12. He died in Grafton in 1918. His wife, Priscilla Alice Blair, was bom in Cincinnatti, Ohio, in 1841, died in 1914. Alice Cairncross, a daughter, married William J. Graham, son of Dr. W. J. Graham, who came to Grafton from Winnipeg in 1884. He established a general practice in connection with the Elephant Drug Store owned by Otto Krogstad and later retired to a cattle ranch at Walhalla.

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Cairncross A. E. AND ERNESTINE CARLSON A. E. Carlson was born in Ostergotland province in Sweden, March 23, 1877. He came to the United States with his parents when he was two. At that time the family settled in Cannon Falls, Minn. It was there that Mr. Carlson received his education and grew to manhood. It was in Cannon Falls that he began his life-long career as a shoe salesman and merchant. Later he was employed at Superior, Wise, Grand Forks, and Iron River, Wise. He became associated with the firm of W. W Reyleck, "the Chicago Store," in Grafton in 1900. At

that time the Chicago Store was located in the brick building in the north quarter of the five hundred block on the east side of Hill Avenue. With his many years of experience in merchandising shoes, he became an expert and an authority of leather and leather goods. W. W. Reyleck retired from his business in 1927 on January 8. He sold the business to four department heads of the store: E. A. Capser, A. E. Carlson, T. A. Driscoll and D J. LaBerge. Mr. Carlson had been with the firm for 39 years at that time. In 1940, he became president of the firm. He married Ernestine LaMarre in Fargo in 1912. Ernestine was the daughter of Severe LaMarre and his wife Saranne Faille. Ernestine was born in St. Remi, a village near Montreal, Quebec, in 1879. She was educated in St Boniface, Manitoba. She came to the United States with her parents in 1885. They settled on a farm near Oakwood. Ernestine worked in the store owned by Joseph Deschennes, one of the pioneer merchants of Acton and Grafton. He was one of Grafton's early mayors He sold his store to W. W. Reyleck and it became apart of the Reyleck business block. Ernestine LaMarre worked for the W. W. Reyleck Company and for the DeLisle store in Walhalla. Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Carlson had one son, Ray Carlson. After the death of D. J. LaBerge, Ray Carlson became manager of the Reyleck Store. . Because of his long career as a merchant in Grafton, Mr Carlson witnessed shifting trends in both merchandise and merchandising. Early business days in Grafton were not what they are now, he remembered. They often worked until midnight or later, for the stores stayed open as long as there was anyone in town. Sundays were busy days too, he recalled. Store employees and owners hurried from church to prepare for the customers who could only make the tedious journey into town once a week and liked to do their shopping after church. During the first year that Mr. Carlson was in town, two farmers drove into town with oxen. One was Charlie Bassette; the other was a man named Hegelstrom. According to memory, Hegelstrom was the last man to drive into Grafton with a yoke of oxen. He hauled a load of wheat in 1910 to the Hanson Elevator in Grafton. Mr. Carlson recalled that during his first year in Grafton in 1900, a team of horses and a wagon got bogged down in the mud on Hill Avenue. The team was extricated but the wagon was abandoned and left in the street for over a week. Reyleck's sold many articles of merchandise which are no longer seen on the store shelves. In those days, men's fur coats were much in demand, made from buffalo skins, coon skins and dog skins. The latter "you could smell for a block away." Also prominent among the articles for sale were felt boots and sheepskin mittens, extremely heavy wool shirts and socks which were provided for the lumber jack trade. Lumber jacks came into town for the threshing at harvest time on the farms. When the harvest was completed, they retreated to the Minnesota and Wisconsin woods for winter employment in the lumber camps. Mr Carlson continued to work in the store until the day of his death. On the day that he died he placed an order for a shipment of shoes with a salesman in the store. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson made then home at 303 Kittson Avenue. Ernestine LaMarre Carlson died Sept.

30, 1948. A. E. Carlson died Sept. 1, 1959. He was always known as "Dad" Carlson. He was a familiar figure in the Grafton scene for 59 years. Prepared from the Walsh County Record and from private research by Kenneth Colter. GUSTAVUS AND WILHELMINA CARLSON Southern Sweden was the origin and background of one of Grafton's pioneer citizens, Gustavus Adolphus Carlson. He was born near Linkoping, Sweden, on Sept. 13, 1858. Gust, who originally was a Colson, changed his name to Carlson. In June of 1876, Gust and his brother, John, sailed from Sweden to the United States. They found their first employment in the copper mines at Calumet, Mich. In 1877 the brothers went to Canada where they worked on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Ben Askelson, who worked with Gust and John on the Canadian Pacific, had left the railroad to homestead on the future site of Grafton located in the, as yet, unformed county of Walsh called Pembina in Dakota Territory. The brothers had given Askelson five dollars each to pick out claims for them. Gust and John arrived at Askelson's homestead on New Year's Eve of 1878. They had traveled most of the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba, by foot, which is a distance of approximately 120 miles. The snow was about two feet deep. They used a compass to guide them and part of the way they were able to follow a fresh sleigh trsck When they arrived they found Askelson had selected land on the "Three Forks" of Park River and they did not wish to settle there, so they made their own selections. A patent was granted to Gust at $1.25 per acre. It is described as lots one and two of section 18, township 157, range 52 west; which is now part of the Grafton Townsite. Early in the winter Gust, with the help of friends, began work on a log cabin. It was situated near the Park River, then called the Little Salt, about four blocks north of the site where the future courthouse of Walsh County was to be built. When spring came Gust dug a well and plowed an acre of land for what was probably the first garden in the community. In April of 1879 he walked all the way to Pembina to get seed. Fooled by the weather, he was dressed for spring and narrowly escaped freezing to death in a blizzard. Another time he carried a sack of flour all the way from the Acton boat landing on the Red River back to his family at Grafton. In 1894 a two story frame house was built at a cost of $400. This building still stands and is the present home of members of the Carlson family. Gust also homesteaded land which is southwest of Grafton and he served as County Road Boss for Walsh County. In 1886, Gustavus Adolphus Carlson and Wilhelmina Albertina Fritz were married at Grafton. Wilhelmina Albertina Fritz was bom at Strolness, Sweden, Aug. 14, 1865. At age 10 she was left an orphan. Wilhelmina lived with her aunt until she came to the United States. She settled, for a time, in Philadelphia, where she made her home with a family named Newlander. In 1883 a man by the name of Jackson persuaded the Newlander family and Wilhelmina to come to North Dakota. That

155

same year they moved to the then incorporated city of Graf

Three years later she married Gustavus Adolphus Carlson. They had a family of seven children. Hulda Thorinda, Percy, Pearl Margret, Jennie Catherine, Mary Charlotte, Segre Wilhelmina, and Joseph Adolph. Percy Carlson, bom in 1902, was Walsh County Treasurer from 1942-1949. His wife, Vera, is presently he County Treasurer. Percy died an untimely death at the age of 47. His father, Gust, died that same year'in 1949. Wilhelmina preceeded her husband and son in death by one year in 1948. They are buried in the Crescent Cemetery at Grafton.

Gust Carlson home at 200 Summit Ave., Grafton. Built in 1894 at a cost of $400. Still living are daughters, Hulda and Jennie, and a son, Joseph. Hulda Thorinda Carlson has been one of the dedicated teachers in Walsh County and the state of North Dakota. She has won national recognition. After graduating from the Grafton School System she earned her right to teach at Valley City Normal School. She taught for ten years in the village schools of Conway, Honeyford, Kempton, and Auburn. For the next 37 years she taught the fourth grade class at Chase School in Grafton. For 35 of those years she served as principal. In 1963 Hulda Carlson was presented with the Freedom Foundation Award from Valley Forge. She served as secretary for the Carnegie Library Board for 33 years. Other boards she has served on include • the Mizpah Chapter No. 6 of the Eastern Star, the Delphian Library Club, and for 11 years she was auxiliary secretary for the Lutheran Sunset Home. Pearl Margret (Mrs. Douglas Morrison) was a teacher before she was married. She and her husband farmed near Drayton for many years and live in St. Thomas. They have two children. Mary Charlotte (Mrs. Conrad Bjerke) Uved in Conway North Dakota, where she and her husband ran a hardware store. They later moved to PoweU, Wyoming. They had 7 children. Mary died in 1957 and was buried at BilUngs. Mont. . . . Jennie Catherine (Mrs. Ed Score) lived and raised her family of three in Malta, Mont. Joseph Adolph was a first class sargeant in World War I He saw action in France and Germany. Later he served as the 6th commander of the American Legion Post No 41 at Grafton. He lived most of his Ufe in California where he married twice. He does not have any children. He was engaged in the building materials industry in California and served as President of the Producers Council of Materials Manufacturers in 1935.

Segre (Mrs. Herbert A. Stewart) made her home on a farm in St. Andrews Township after teaching school in District No. 31. She died in 1961 and is buried in Crescent Cemetery, Grafton. They raised five chUdren. Hulda, Jennie, and Joseph are presently living in the home house at 200 Summit Avenue in Grafton. Submitted by Charles H. Stewart, 131 Prospect Ave., Grafton. JOHN L. CASHEL, SR. John Lyons Cashel, Sr., was bom in New York City, June 24, 1848, of Irish parents who had migrated from Ireland.' In 1853 the family moved to a farm near Springfield where they remained untU the fall of 1856. Then going west to Chicago, 111., where they spent the winter, they proceeded on to Buffalo County, Wise, then a frontier wUderness. _ As a boy on a farm, John got his training in education and labor. During the spring, summer, and fall he broke soil drove oxen, and helped with the seeding and harvesting of crops. In the winter, when time permitted, he attended pubUc school. In the meantime he taught school in his home district four winters and held the position ot town clerk from the time he became of age until he moved from there. His advance education was acquired at his own expense at the University of Wisconsin, Weyland University and the LaCrosse Business College, all in Wisconsin. He graduated from the latter in the spring of 1871, and the foUowing September purchased a half interest in the school which he sold in 1875.

John L. Cashel, Sr.

On Sept 1, 1874, Mr. Cashel was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Morris of LaCrosse, whose father was one of the pioneer merchants in the city. They had two sons- Morris J., bom Nov. 4, 1884, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1908; John L., Jr., born June 19 1886 attended Culver Military Academy and graduated from the University of North Dakota Law School in 1907. He continued his studies at Yale University and the University of Wisconsin. In 1876 the Cashel family moved to Rochester, Minn., and were in the mercantile business until 1878 when they moved to Faribault, Minn., where the real estate and abstract business proved interesting. On Aug. 31, 1881, the family arrived in Grafton, in 156

his studies at the University of Wisconsin and Yale University. He received an L. L. B. degree from the latter in 1909. . Mr. Cashel entered the practice of law in Portland, Ore., in 1910, remaining in that city until 1913 when he returned to Grafton to practice law. He was married to Kathleen O'Connor of St. Thomas, daughter of John M. O'Connor, pioneer merchant, and Mrs Anna O'Connor, Jan. 27,1915, at St. Thomas. The Cashels had two children, John M. Cashel, Superior Court Referee of Los Angeles, Calif., and Margaret Louise (Mrs. Francis J. Phelan), Grafton. Both are graduates of the University of North Dakota. From 1926 to 1931 Mr. Cashel was organizer and President (Manager) of the First National Depositors Holding Company, a bank liquidating corporation, m Grafton. He also served as City Attorney for Grafton for a number of years, holding this position at the time of his death, Oct. 3, 1945. Mr. Cashel was one of the organizers in 1922 of the Grafton Civic Club and served as its first vice-president. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and was affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the North Dakota Bar Association.

advance ot the railroad and purchased the first lots sold in Grafton when the town was platted. Mr. Cashel erected a building and on Oct. 1 established, and was cashier of the Walsh County Bank. On Jan. 1, 1883, this became the First National Bank. He was elected vicepresident of the North Dakota Bankers Association in 1905 and president in 1906. The Board of Trustees of the town of Grafton, of which Mr. Cashel was a member, met June 23, 1882, and Grafton was incorporated, March 9, 1883 Mr Cashel served six years on the city council and 19 years, without opposition, on the Grafton Board of Education, of which he was president most of that time. In 1890 he was elected to the state senate and served 16 years During this time, Senator Cashel was credited with being the author and father of our primary election ^ For 11 years while serving in the Senate, he endeavored to move the location of the Institution for the Feeble Minded from Jamestown to Grafton. The constitutional amendment was defeated once at the polls, and again lost by the secretary of state in neglecting to advertise it according to law. Disgusted, but not discouraged, he persevered and had the main building constructed two and a half years and occupied over one year by 75 patients before the constitution was amended, locating the institution at Grafton. He was one of the original promoters of the drainage in the Red River Valley. His efforts were also successful in having the Superior Wise., grain grading and inspection facilities opened to the farmers of the Northwest He was a delegate to the President's Conference held in Washington, D. C , in 1908 to consider the "Conservation of Natural Resources." Mr Cashel remained active in the banking business in Grafton until shortly before his death Nov. 3,1926. Submitted by Mrs. Francis Phelan.

MORRIS J. CASHEL

JOHN L. CASHEL, JR.

Morris J. Cashel Morris J. Cashel was bom in Grafton No v. 4,1884, the son of the late Senator and Mrs. J. L. Cashel. His father was a pioneer Grafton banker. He attended grade and high school in Grafton and went on to the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he graduated in 1908. Following graduation from college he returned to Grafton where he became associated with his father m the banking business. In 1917 he joined the Northwestern Trust Company in St. Paul, Minn. While there he assisted in the organization of the First Farm Mortgage Company of which he became secretary-treasurer. During his stay in St. Paul he was active in the Knights of Columbus and attained the rank of 4th Degree Knight. In 1925 he moved with his family to Madison, Wise., to open an office of the mortgage company which also served as agent for the Prudential Insurance Company in Wisconsin. Following this he went on to the State Banking Department, the Farm Credit Administration and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (F. D I. C). Just prior to his death he was an assessor for the State Tax Commission.

John L. Cashel, Jr. John L. Cashel, Jr., was born in Grafton June 19, 1886, son of John L. Cashel, Sr., Grafton pioneer banker, and Mrs. Margaret Cashel. He received his elementary education in the Grafton Schools and attended Culver Military Academy m South Bend Ind He attended the University of North Dakota graduated from the School of Law in 1907, and continued

In 1915 he married Mary Frances Himes in Portland, Oregon. She was a school teacher from Buffalo, N. Y. 157

Thev had four children, Maurice, with the Postal Service in Dallas, Texas; Margaret, in public relations with the American Red Cross in New York City; Alice^Schul hess married and living in Madison, Wise ; and Robert with the Internal Revenue Service in Phoenix, Ariz. There are eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren surviving. Morris died April 12,1948, and his wife July 25, 1971. Submitted by Mrs. Alice Schulthess. WILLIAM M. CHANDLER The Walsh County Record has given a good insight into the man, William M. Chandler, and his life in the Grafton community. The vital statistics are lacking, so the background of his early life before coming to Grafton is obscure. It is reported simply that he was a native of Minnesota, came to Dakota Territory in 1879, located in Grand Forks. To fully appreciate the traveling conditions that confronted the pioneers of the early eighties when Grafton and Walsh County were first settled, the story ot William M. Chandler, pioneer merchant and postmaster, is of special interest. . .. During those years (1878-82) the weather was in its "wet Dakota" cycle and aU the sloughs and pot holes were full of water. The rivers were running high There were no bridges, no graded roads, merely a trodden pathway across the prairies. Naturally the first obstacle that Mr Chandler encountered was high water. "It was in May, 1881," he related, "that I made my first trip to the Grafton settlement. I started from Ojata, in Grand Forks County, driving a team of horses and a buggy "At that time there were no roads and the country was covered with prairie grass and water. Our first difficulty occurred when we reached Forest River, there being no bridge or roads at that time, and we followed the river trying to find a convenient crossing place. We were finally directed to the farm of K. 0. Skatteboe, who later was appointed first treasurer of Walsh County, and by his assistance and advice we were able to cross the Forest River on a straw bridge west of Minto. "Having successfully forded the Forest River, or the Big Salt as it was then called, we asked the direction of the road to Grafton, our ultimate destination. Mr. Skatteboe pointed to the north and calling our attention to a dimly discerned opening in the distant timber, remarking as he did so, "There you will find Grafton. "With this scant information we started northward and after considerable inconvenience in crossing coulees and sloughs, we arrived at what is now Grafton. At that time only a few log buildings were located on the present townsite, the home of T. E. Cooper being on the present site Mr Cooper was a hospitable old gentleman and his home served as a hotel for the transient landseekers Nestling in the timber were the log cabins of Carl Hegranes, B. C. Askelson, Fred Worthing, Horace Kellog and others. . "After we had enjoyed a substantial frontier meal and fed our horses, we stated our business to Mr. Cooper and he informed us that in the other room was the chief engineer of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad, later the Great Northern. Mr. Cooper suggested that any information that we desired regarding the proposed routes of the railroads that were coming

into this fertile territory could be secured from this official. Acting upon this timely suggestion, I endeavored to obtain such information from the engineer, but he could merely answer "yes" or "no" without removing his eyes from the newspaper in which he was absorbed. The reason for his apparent indifference, I learned afterwards, was that he regarded me as a spy in the employ of the "Northern Pacific Railroad Co. "I tried to lease a couple of lots from Mr. Cooper upon which to build a store, but he refused to do so for any consideration whatsoever, stating that if he leased any of his land he would violate the homestead regulation then in force, but he gave me liberty to locate wherever I desired on his farm and he promised that he would charge no rental whatsoever. "Being satisfied with the conditions as I found them on my initial trip into the Grafton area, I decided to locate there and hurried back to Grand Forks to ship my stock of merchandise.to this desirable location, having bought the stock of a concern that was forced into bankruptcy. This was shipped on one of the steamboats that sailed on the Red River, and was unloaded at the station of St. Andrews and from there hauled to Grafton. St Andrews was then one of the principal shipping stations on the Red River, having a store, grain elevator and boarding house." , „ A book published in 1900 and entitled Grafton relates the following about Mr. Chandler: Hon. Wm. Chandler, Mayor Grafton for the term commencing in Anril 1890, is also the city's pioneer merchant, having been'engaged in the mercantile business here continuously since June, 1881. Mr. Chandler is a native of Minnesota, and came to Dakota Territory in 1879, locating in Grand Forks. Coming here two years later he opened a grocery, provision and glassware store. His primitive establishment was at first located on the bank of the river near the site where the roller mill was later constructed. A month or two later when the new townsite was platted, Mr. Chandler moved his store building up town " In 1900 he was still "doing business at the same old stand," but the aforesaid stand had grown a little in the interim, having received additions in front, in the rear on the side and overhead, either of them larger than the original store. A few months after coming here M r Chandler was appointed postmaster and held the office for six years, during which time the business of the office multiplied many times. He was also a member of the first city council when Grafton was incorporated. In 1889 he was elected a member of the Board of Education, and his continued in the office ever since. Mr. Chandler has always taken a deep interest in the city's welfare and has been among the first in promoting its interests. A news item from the local press related in 1883 that "Wm M Chandler is postmaster and he is going to do housecleaning to be ready. His old ^ J " / * * * ™ gracefully July 4,1883, back from the street 40 feet and a new and handsome front 22x40 will take its place This will be 22 feet high, and the whole will give ample accommodations for Mr. Chandler's business and the post office The latter will be well back from the street and a space 24x16 devoted soley to post office business. " A sidewalk from the corner on the south side will run back about 90 feet to the post office door The public will be amply accommodated with both call and local boxes." Thomas E . Cooper was responsible for the establishment of the first post office and he. with the u r

158

o f t n n

Farm Bureau Women and president of St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary.

assistance of Mrs. Cooper, was the first postmaster. He fashioned a crude set of boxes for sorting and distributing the mail. A news item dated 1953, reads: "The crude case of boxes made by Mr. Cooper for the first post office here is on display this year in the present post office building. It was given to G. W. Mclntyre, present postmaster, by Mrs. Wm. Chandler, widow of one of Grafton's early mayors. Mr. Chandler assisted Mr. Cooper in the office and later served as postmaster. His first wife was a daughter of Mr. Cooper." Since 1881, W. M. Chandler had been engaged in business in Grafton, first, as a merchant handling general merchandise and later going into the furniture business in connection with undertaking, then rather crude compared with present standards. Chandler's funeral records begin with the year 1894 as nearly as can be ascertained. The first funeral was for one Norman Anderson Dec. 22, 1894. Ole Hanson was long associated with Wm. Chandler in the undertaking part of his many enterprises. They laid to rest many of the pioneers in Walsh County. A news item from 1916 reads: New officers elected by Crescent Lodge No. 11, were M. H. Sprague, worshipful master; F. A. Moore, senior warden; Ole Hanson, junior warden; A. E. Cobb, treasurer; E. H. Pierce, secretary, and W. M. Chandler, temple trustee. In 1883 Grafton was incorporated as a city. At the election held in April, the first city officers elected were: Mayor, Steward Cairncross; Aldermen, R. Weagant, J . Marick, F. E. Chase, N. Grinde, Wm. Chandler andF. 0. Bleckre. Wm. M. Chandler's dwelling was at 805 Griggs Avenue in the block south of the Central School. Many years later there appeared the following news item in the Walsh County Record: Grafton friends received word that WiUiam N. Chandler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Newel Chandler of Porland, Ore., graduated from Harvard University with cum laude honors in chemistry. He is the grandson of the late William M. Chandler, pioneer Grafton businessman. Prepared from the Walsh County Record, the book entitled "Grafton" published in 1900 by Kenneth Colter.

Alice Cayley depicting an Irish motif. JOHN COLSEN John Colsen was born Oct. 10,1847, and died Dec. 16, 1922. He came to America by sail ship in 1882. Some of his belongings had been lost so he had a total of 15 cents to his name when he arrived. He managed to retain one trunk but soon found some Swedish people who helped him get a job in the Calumet Mines of Michigan. He worked there for 7 years and earned enough for his dream of homesteading in the Dakotas. In 1881 he signed up for working on the Canadian Pacific RaUroad. His wages were paid in gold. He was soon able to make the move to America and settled near Grafton. He married Ingeborg Johnsdotter Berg, who was born in 1853 at Holmedal, Sweden. She was a woman of remarkable abUity. She did embroidery, was an excellent cook and was a veterinarian. She had been a shepherd girl in Sweden. Five children were born to her: John Edgar, Victor Ingvold, Carl Justin Wilhelm, Alvina Denora, and Frank Arvil Bernard. Submitted by Dorothy Gronhovd, granddaughter. $la»e of ^Widiiaan, ) County of Marquette,

ALYCE CAYLEY

Tbi Circuit Court (or slid County. It Kit:

)

I, G A D

Alyce Heffern Cayley was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Heffern, New Boro, Canada. She was born in Ardoch in 1904. She graduated from Ardoch High School in 1923. She attended St. Vincent's School of Nursing, received her cap, then decided she was going back to Ardoch. She attended the Teacher CoUege at MayvUle, received her 1st Grade elementary certificate and taught in the Voss Community for 4 years. She married James Patrick Cayley and lived on Mr. Cayley's farm for 11 years. Kathleen Cayley was their only child and is now Mrs. Harold Kutler of Oceanside, Calif. They have three children, James Patrick, Kevin Michael and Cayley Alice Mr. Cayley died in 1948. He was an auctioneer and a Liberty Loan Solicitor for Ops Township, Voss. Mrs. Cayley received her L. P. N. and worked in the Deaconess and St. Joseph Hospitals for 25 years. She was also president of the American Legion Auxiliary, past president of Legion Auxiliary, president of St. John's Altar Society, president of Fine Arts Club, chairman of

SMITH,

Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County, Uohernby. ccrtUVili.it the Am»

is a Inu-

tile original Declaration of Intention t ^ J f o f o l / . to become a CITIZEN O F T H E UK.Itttl) STATES, remaining on r.n.nl in inv IN TLSTIMONV WIIF.UEOF. 1 bnVe hrrwnuo siiif..: name and aflpsed the Seal of day of / f ^ ^ * * * * * * ^

Conn, thin one thousand eight hum!

Vugh^y. 2h^<i**<^?~'~.

JUSTIN COLSEN Justin Colsen was bom May 8,1892, in Grafton, son of pioneers Mr. and Mrs. John Colsen. He spent his boyhood here Mrs Colsen, (Marie Nelson) wife of Justin, was also born in this area Aug. 27, 1894. They were married May 26,1923. They are members of the Grafton Lutheran Church. Mr. Colsen, now retired, had worked for the city of 159

Grafton for 33 years. He was employed at the sewage ^ ^ u s t i ^ t e l l s of his dad and other pioneers going to Grand Forks to get supplies, sharpen plow shares and other everyday things needed. We wonder how they did this as some had to walk to Grand Forks. He said that from Grafton to Grand Forks was only praine and much f

1 0

° V e r i e r 3 ? years, Justin Colsen has had an open house for chUdren annually on the 4th of July. This he celebrated with free ice cream. He said there were times he managed to dish out 17 gallons of ice cream. Mr and Mrs. Colsen have a family of 7 children. They are Marvin (deceased), Norman, Yvonne, Mane, Mario Carol and Beverly. Larry McMillan came to live with them when very young and made this his home untU he grew to manhood. He is now living in Oakwood. While visiting with Mr. Colsen one of his favorite statements was, "what you learn and pass on to others is what counts." DR. JOHN EDGAR COUNTRYMAN Dr John Edgar Countryman was bom in 1870 in Tweed Ontario, of Dutch and Irish descent. He attended the Tweed public schools, and the high school in Campbellford, Ont. At 15 he was apprenticed to a druggist tor four years. He then enrolled in the Medical CoUege of Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. In vacation, during his third year, he clerked in the drug store of Dr. E. I. Donovan in Langdon. It was then he decided to eventuaUy settle in North Dakota. After graduation he bought a ticket to Winnipeg over the new Canadian Pacific RaUway. He, had learned that Dr W J Musgrove of Drayton wished to have the services of a "locum tenens" during a prolonged vacation. On his return Dr. Musgove decided to move to Grafton. Dr Countryman remained in Drayton for eight years, and then moved to Grafton after Dr. Musgrove s death in 1901. W

Dr. John Edgar Countryman Dr Joseph C. Suter, a pioneer doctor in Crystal joined the firm in 1904, Dr. C. R. Tompkins in 1927, and Dr. George L. Countryman in 1930. Dr J E Countryman served in the Army Medical Corps in World War I. He was assigned to Base Hospital No 18 which was located near Dieppe, France Later he was transferred to a field hospital at the front during the Meuse-Argonne struggle. After the Armistice Evacuation No. 18 was moved to Briey, and for several months the staff served the civilians who had been without medical care for four years. He was discharged with the rank of Major. He died in 1953.

In 1894 Dr Countryman married Charlotte EUzabeth Cooper of Kingston, Ontario. They reared a family of two sons and three daughters: John E., George L., Helen, Mary Elizabeth and Edith. The winter of 1896 was remembered as the year ot the great snows." At the beginning of the bUzzard which raged for several days, it was apparent that the Doctor would find it hazardous to reach his office above the drug store With the assistance of the druggist, a rope was strung on trees between the Doctor's house and the drug store By the time the blizzard subsided the snow had oiled up to the second story of the house. In the spring of 1897 the area of the Red River was a vast lake; the only form of transportation on the praine, a row boat. On Easter Sunday a severe storm caused a great deal of damage to that area. In one of the houses, about to be washed aw ay there was a patient extremely ill with typhoid fever. In the night he was wrapped in a blanket and put in a row boat which was tied to a tree. When daylight came he was rowed to a neighbor's house a mile away. (The patient survived the ordeal.) . During the early years in Drayton, at harvest time, there was an influx of transient laborers to man the large threshing outfits. At the end of the season, the men were paid their high wages, and at that time there always aoneared a gang of thugs who robbed their victims and S beat them. The Doctor, at this period, always carried a revolver. He often drove by "pot gangs, who paid no attention to the soUtary driver who doubtless was not carrying money. Winter presented a challenge to the pioneer doctors who must make long trips in an open cutter, often in temperatures of twenty to thirty degrees below zero. The Doctor wore a long sheep-lined coat, a fur cap with earlaps, long fur-lined gauntlets, and high felt overshoes, also sheep-lined. He used a buffalo robe and if time permitted, a heated soapstone. Occasionally Dr. Countryman had a dnyer, whose company helped relieve the monotony of the long lonely drive One night a sudden storm blew up, reducing visibility to almost zero. As the two men drove along they heard a grating sound and realized they were on the railroad track. The two got out of the cutter, lifted it off the track, and tugged at the horses to change their course. They had just succeeded in their efforts, when an engine with a snow plow rushed by them. For many years Dr. Countryman was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad as the local physiciansurgeon. The Grafton depot agents were always coODerative during the bhzzards when it was impossible for horses to get through the drifts. When an emergency occurred in any of the near-by towns serviced by the Northern Pacific, the agent caUed out a section hand, and the doctor and employee pumped a handcar to their destination after the tracks had been cleared The hardships of winter were also endured by the wives and families, who wonied during the long cold nights listening to the wind. Jm„M Although the life of the pioneer doctor was difficult, the rewards were many. It was noted in spnng that the land between Grafton and Park River was a carpet of pasqueflowers. In early summer the ditches f t the side of the road were fragrant with wud roses, and later there were wild strawberries. In threshing time there could be heard the distant hum of the threshing machines; and 160

sheaves of wheat lay golden under a harvest moon. In season there were prairie chickens and wild ducks in abundance. But above all, there was the reward that came to the prairie doctors - their close relationships with their patients, pioneers together. DR. GEORGE COUNTRYMAN Dr. George L. Countryman was born in Grafton June 12 1906, the son of Dr. J. D. and Charlotte (Cooper) Countryman. He graduated from Grafton Central High School and received his pre-medical training at the University of North Dakota. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois Medical School on June 1, 1923, and then joined his father in the practice of medicine in Grafton. He died in 1975. At the time of his death he was chairman of the State Board of Medical Examiners and was a past state president and a member of North Dakota State Blue Cross and Blue Shield. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the North Dakota Medical Association, an associate of the International College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Medical Practice. He was a member of the Federated Church and was active on the church board. He was also a member of the Grafton Masonic Lodge and a member of the Grand Forks Elks Lodge 255. He had served on the Grafton School Board and the City Council and was the Walsh County Health Officer. He was also a member of the Unity Hospital Board. He married the former Eileen Benson at Grand Forks in 1935. Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Susan) Torkelson of Minneapolis; a son, Gerald Countryman, Grafton; his stepmother, Mrs. Irene Countryman of Arch Cape, Ore.; two sisters, Mrs. Everett (Beth) Sproul of Palatine, HI., and Mrs. Leonard (Helen) Cobb of St. Paul, and a granddaughter, Julie Eileen Torkelson, Minneapolis. DR. CHESTER 0. DEASON Dr. Chester 0. Deason was born in Grafton Dec. 22, 1895, the son of pioneer residents, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Deason. He grew up in this community, attended public schools and graduated from Grafton High School. Upon completion of his high school course, he entered Northwestern University at Evanston, HI., and took up the study of dentistry. While in high school, Dr. Deason was very active in athletics and excelled in football. While at the University, he was one of the outstanding members of the '-University Varsity Squad. He was elected a member of the Northwestern University "Trawl Club" for outstanding achievement in athletics and was a member of the Psi Omega fraternity. . .. , He was a student at Northwestern University when America entered the first World War, and he enlisted in Chicago Oct. 23, 1917. He was called into active service immediately in the student army training corps which he continued until his discharge in 1918. After the war, he resumed his dental studies and was graduated from Northwestern Dental School in June 1920 He returned to Grafton immediately and

established his dental practice, which he continued until his death June 16, 1942. Dr. Deason was married June 16, 1924, to Adele Wittkopf, Devils Lake. Two children were born to them - a son, Kenneth, and a daughter, Frances. Dr. Deason was a member of the American Legion, the Grafton Lutheran Church and was very interested and active in civic and local affairs. Also, in addition to his profession, Dr. Deason had two special interests to which he gave unstintingly of his time and talents. For several years he was one of the leaders in the Boy Scout movement in this community, serving in many capacities. Another interest was Masonry. He was past high priest of the Grafton chapter and for several years had been district deputy of that organization. At the time of his death, he was worshipful master of Crescent Lodge No. 11. Dr. Deason, better known as "Chet" to the community, was a true pioneer in spirit. He loved this area and its people and gave unstintingly of his time and service for 20 years. Submitted by Mrs. C. O. Deason. DR. FRANK W. DEASON

Dr. Frank W. Deason

Dr. Frank W. Deason was born in Grafton Sept. 22, 1887, the son of pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Deason. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1905. While a student in high school, he worked in a Grafton drug store and became a registered pharmacist at 16. The druggists at that time made their own pills and medicines. As assistant pharmacist, Dr. Deason worked from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m., making $25 a month. At the completion of his medical training at Northwestern University Medical School in 1910, he returned to North Dakota and began practicing medicine in St. Thomas. He remained in St. Thomas until 1920, when he moved his practice to Grafton, still continuing to maintain an office in St. Thomas. He was married in 1912 to Aletta Olson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gunder Olson. They have one son, Frank, Jr. Dr. Deason served as Superintendent of the Board of Health in both Grafton and St. Thomas. He was appointed Superintendent of the Grafton State School in 1938 and also served two terms as Mayor of Grafton. One of his accomplishments as Mayor was the erection of a new city light plant. 161

m In 1955, he was appointed Walsh County Coroner, a position he held until his death. Dr. Deason was on the original medical staff responsible for the establishment of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital. In 1960, he was awarded a "Certificate of Distinction" by the North Dakota Medical Association for 50 years of medical practice in the state. That same year he was awarded a "Golden Reunion Certificate" by the Northwestern University Alumni Association. Dr. Deason was a member of the Grafton Lutheran Church. He was also very active in Masonic affairs, both in Grafton and St. Thomas. For 52 years he was a truly dedicated country doctor and civic worker. He was on call all hours of the day and night, visiting the sick and needy. In the earlier years, as did most doctors of that time, he drove by cutter or sleigh through snow drifts and blizzards, forgetting self in serving others. He loved North Dakota - especially Walsh County, considering it the best place in the world to live. Submitted by Mrs. C. 0. Deason. MARTIN DIGGNES Martin Diggnes of Grafton Township was born in Iowa on April 18,1877. With his parents he came to Walsh County in 1881, and at that time his father filed on a homestead. Mr. Diggnes never married. THOMAS A. DRISCOLL Thomas A. Driscoll was bom in Merrickville, Ont., Oct 9 1875 He married Lillian Trump. They had one daughter, Mrs. George Rauenhorst, who still resides at Olivia, Minn. Mr Driscoll clerked in a general store in Ottawa, Canada, from 1894 to 1904. He came to Grafton in 1904 and managed the grocery department of the W. W. Reyleck s Company from 1904-1927. He was part owner of this establishment from 1927-1961.

Interior of W. W. Reylecfe Store, grocery department under the leadership of Al Driscoll and part owner. Various offices he held were President of Grafton Chamber of Commerce; member of Board of National Retail Merchant Association; President of North Dakota Retail Merchants Association; Honorary member ot Knights of Columbus. He was extremely interested in the migrant workers,

from the first time they came into the valley and was a true friend to many of the families. Any sport in Grafton found him a willing worker, especially curling in its very earliest days, and hockey. He often would tell how he brought Happy Chandler to Grafton to play summer ball and how he (Happy Chandler) went on to become high commissioner of baseball. Mr. Driscoll died Jan. 6,1961, at Olivia, Minn. JOHN H. FRAINE In the issue of July 25,1940, the Walsh County Record paid tribute to John H. Fraine: "When the history of North Dakota is finally written, one of the greatest names in the military records of this state will be that of John H. Fraine, lawyer, soldier, public official, lawmaker and fine citizen. Col. John H. Fraine was bom in England, son of an Irish father and an English mother, April 2, 1861. In his youth he faced years of hard labor with only nominal school advantages. It was this meager outlook on life in his native country which induced him to come to the United States as a young man. After his arrival in this country he worked on farms and in factories, at the same time carrying on his studies. In 1891 he was admitted to the North Dakota Bar and a few years later was admitted to practice in the federal courts. After his arrival in Grafton, where he set himself up for the practice of law, he soon began to take an active interest in every community enterprise. He was particularly interested in Company C, North Dakota National Guard and soon became an officer of the company. Col. Fraine was a natural born soldier and advanced rapidly. When the Spanish-American War broke out he was in command of the local company and prepared it for its great adventure in the Philippines. Before the regiment left America, however, he had been promoted to the rank of major. When the first North Dakota infantry was called tor duty on the Mexican border in June, 1916, Fraine was the colonel and in command of the regiment. In World War I, he was the colonel of the 164th infantry, originally the first North Dakota, and was in the service from July, 1917, to July, 1919. In Dec, 1924, Col. Fraine was awarded the silver star citation by the War Department for gallantry in action against the insurgent forces in the Philippines, more than 25 years after the action took place. Col. Fraine's political record is no less outstanding than his military record. In 1908 he was elected a member of the legislature from the fourth legislative district. He continued to serve in the house until the end of 1914 During the legislative session of 1913, he was speaker of the house. In the election of 1914, he was named lieutenant-governor of North Dakota and in the 1916 election he was a candidate for governor. It was in this election that the Nonpartisan League first swept into power and had it not been for this political upheaval, he might have been the chief executive of North Dakota. During his residence in Grafton, Col. Fraine was active in all the local Masonic bodies. He served as worshipful master of Crescent Lodge, high priest of Grafton Chapter No. 9, R. A. M. and eminent commander of St Omer Commandery, Knights Templar. He served

162

as grand high priest of the grand chapter of the state and grand commander of the Grand Commandery. On Dec. 15, 1881, Col. Fraine married Marian Robinson, daughter of an early New England family. They had one son, John R. Fraine, who, like his father, had a distinguished military record. Beginning in 1922, Col. Fraine was connected with the Veteran's Bureau as an attorney. From that time on, Col. and Mrs. Fraine made their home in Minneapolis. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. T. A. GAGNON T A Gagnon owned and operated a grocery and variety store on the corner of 5th St. and Hill Avenue from 1903 to 1927, where the Squire Shop now stands. Theotime Adelard Gagnon was born at St. Stanislaus Champlain County, Canada, Jan. 25,1861, where he lived until 1872, then moved to St. Prosper. He went to the College of Trois Rivieres later called the Seminary of St. Joseph which he attended for five years, graduating from the course of Belles Lettres. As his father was ill he returned to the farm to help until 1879 after which he went to work as a clerk in a general store and post office in Canada. In 1882 he decided to come to the United States where the majority of the Canadian generation was going to look for work. With two young men from St. Prosper, they made their way to western Minnesota, being the landing point at the time, bought tickets for Minneapolis expecting to find clerical work there. Work was scarce there for someone not knowing English. He bought work clothes to go to work in a saw mill handling slabs and green edgings. He was not used to such work and it was difficult. His cash being at its lowest ebb he had to board and room on credit. Gagnon and a few companions left for Chippewa Falls, Wise., and spent three winters from 1882 to 1887 in the lumber works there and also tending bar in the evenings. In 1886 the weather was very dry and the Mississippi River went down very low and many industries shut down, so they left for the harvest fields of Dakota Territory where they spent 28 days threshing in 1887 as the crops were very good that year. In October, 1887, he went to work for' Reyleck, Scotland & Roshold General Merchants who bought the P E Sandafor Store, known as the Chicago Store. He was laid off in February, 1888, and then worked for Chas. Moore General Merchant of Cashel, who also handled the Nollman & Lewis Lumber Yard. The pay there was small. He quit in August to work only for the Nollman & Lewis Lumber Yard on commission until 1901. Gagnon married Christina Sabourin at Sacred Heart Church Oakwood. They had three children, Alphonse, Eugene and Mary. . In 1975 there is only one son living in Minneapolis He is Alphonse, a widower. His first wife, Christina died in 1896 leaving him with three small children and that same year he married Clara Campbell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell of Oakwood. In Cashel he was township clerk for 10 years and clerk of the school district for eight years. Politics interested him for a while and he was elected to go to Bismarck to clerk for the Legislative session which lasted 60 days and called themselves "Members of the Third House." In the spring he worked tor J. S.

Brosnaham & Co., general implement dealers, which joined with the Hendrickson and Olson Co. In April of 1901, finding a place to live, he brought his family to live in Grafion and became manager of Oliver Durocher's Hardware Store, selling mowers, binders, wagons buggies and threshing machines. His second wife Clara opened her house to boarders and helped support the family. With her they had five more children; Wilfrid, Angeline, Ernestine, Theresa, and Marguerite. In the fall of 1901, he again entered politics and was elected to represent the fourth legislative district in Bismarck as a Republican, for a two year term. In Manitoba, he owned a piece of land which he traded in 1903 for a variety store in Grafton and added a line of groceries, but suffered a loss in 1916 from fire.

Mr and Mrs. T. A. Gagnon [Clara Campbell] and their youngest child, Margaurite (Mrs. Margaurite Gallagher, San Diego, California). Clara, his second wife, died in 1920 and Theresa and her husband, Conrad Geston, lived with him until 1928. He closed his store in 1927 for the benefit of his creditors, as he explained it. Meanwhile, his youngest daughter. Marguerite, went to a boarding school at St. Jean Baptiste, Man., where her dad wanted her to learn the French language. She later married Fag Gallagher in 1928, moved into the Mahler Apartment and took care of her father as he was in failing health. He died Nov. 28, 1933 The first car he bought was in 1922, a two door Ford sedan which he traveled 8,000 to 10,000 miles yearly. He visited eastern Canada often with his parents and 13 brothers and sisters. He took them out often. Five ofhis sisters belonged to the order of Gray Nuns in Montreal and his youngest brother was a doctor. In 1926 he traded it for a six cylinder Pontiac and again made along tour of Canada and the western United States. His son, Alphonse, married Mary Brosnaham in 1921. They moved to Minneapolis where he still lives with his children. Eugene married Josephine Guertin in 1925, both are dead. Mary married E. F. Moore in 1920. She died in 1927. Theresa and husband, Conrad Geston, died. Marguerite, a widow, lives in San Diego, has three sons and grandchildren. Ernestine married Harold Hostettor in 1920 they lived in Wisconsin where she died. Angeline was first married to Elmer Wilde, a good musician who used to entertain at the Strand Theatre between acts. 163

After her first husband died, she married A. E. Eddy and lived in Oakland, Cal., where she died in April, 1975. She was buried in her father's family plot at St. John's Cemetery here in Grafton. Wilfrid Gagnon married Hilda Lykken in 1918. He is decGcised Copied from T. A. Gagnon's diary by Marie Byzewski, niece of Mrs. Gagnon. FRANK GARVEY, SR., FAMILY

wood and coal stove heat was inadequate. Since most of the houses had no basements, a yearly chore was to bank the houses well on the outside. Everyone had a cistern to catch rain water, because water was scarce. Compared to our many conveniences of today, one wonders how the day was long enough to bake, preserve food, make clothes and provide for a family. We are aU pleased to help preserve the memory of the early settiers, for they worked hard to provide for their famihes. Submitted by Mary E. McDonald.

Mr and Mrs. Frank Bartley Garvey, Sr., came to Grafton in 1882 and Uved there until their deaths in 1935. They observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary Nov. 16, 1931. . _ , Mr Garvey was born in Henderson, Minn., Feb. 28, 1857 His parents came to Henderson from Massachusetts where the f amUy history went back to the Revolutionary days. Mrs. Garvey, whose maiden name was Mary EUen McDonald, was born and raised in St. Paul, Minn. Her parents came from Scotland and Ireland in the early 1800's. Mr Garvey had the first general merchandise store in Grafton. North Dakota was then stiU a Territory. His customers were largely from the adjacent area - Oakwood and many other small towns. Grafton, too, was small - no running water, muddy streets, wooden sidewalks and high crossings. There was no electricity, and the streets were lighted by charcoal lamps on the comers. The farmers had their crop failures, and since there was no insurance, it was difficult for merchants who had to give credit from season to season. Later, Mr. Garvey engaged in salesmanship in Walsh County and knew most of the old timers. Sull later, he farmed in Sauter Township. As president of the school board in Sauter Township, he was instrumental in getting the first ConsoUdated Rural School in the state, or in many states. The rural pupils were caUed for and brought to school in buses. When Mr. Garvey ran for the office of Register of Deeds in Walsh County, the people of Sauter Township gave him a 100 percent vote, which was a unique happening. Mr. and Mrs. John Edward Garvey, a son, observed their 60th wedding anniversary in 1973 in Alexandria, Va., where their two sons, Donn and Bart Garvey, practice law. The senior Frank Garvey's youngest son, Harold, recently retired from the newspaper business in Boone, Ia., and now has a home in Naples, Fla. Three other sons, Frank, Jr., Ray, and WilUam, died a number of years ago. Mrs. Estelle Garvey Archdeacon now lives in Bozeman, Mont. Two other daughters of the senior Garveys, Ethel Garvey Cowan and Mary EUen Garvey Musselman, died in Montana. In territorial days, Ufe was primitive. Gypsies and Indians made frequent caUs on the early residents. Grafton was the end of the railroad in 1882, and it was considered a long trip back to St. Paul. When Mrs. Garvey's brother's wife died in St. Paul, she left four boys without a mother, so Mrs. Garvey brought the oldest boy back with her to Grafton. He was Jack McDonald, Sr., father of Father Edward McDonald of Oakes, Jack McDonald of Bismarck, and Miss Mary McDonald of Fargo, all born and raised in Grafton. In those days, one could not buy ready-made clothes for boys, so a housewife had many chores to clothe and feed a family. North Dakota winters were severe, and o c

Mrs. Frank Garvey MRS. ESTELLE GARVEY ARCHDEACON Mrs Archdeacon, then Miss Estelle Garvey, taught junior high school in Grafton from 1920 to 1924. There were several other Grafton girls also teaching in thenhometown junior high school, causing the pupils to caU it "Home Rule." In 1913, Estelle Garvey won first place for Grafton High School in the State Declamation Contest. She was also a member of the winning debate team. That year, Grafton High School brought home many state honors, and when the participants returned home from the contest, they were met by the Grafton Band and marched to the old "Opera House" (which had a dirt floor in those days) where they were asked to repeat their winning projects. Submitted by Mary E. McDonald. JOHN C. GILMORE FAMILY John C. and Inez Belle Gilmore were married in Grafton in November, 1899. At the time of their marriage John owned a Uvery stable in Hoople which was destroyed by fire. They moved to Grafton to work for the Gram Elevator in Herriot, commuting each day from Grafton until he was asked to work on construction work with the company, thus traveled a good deal, but made his home in Grafton. In 1906 he moved to Nash to work for the National Elevator and Coal Company for 24 years. John was active on the school board for District No. 51 and a member of Crescent No. 11 Masonic Lodge in Grafton for many years until his death in 1928. Inez then moved to Milwaukee to Uve with her daughter, Madge. She was a life member of the Eastern Star, died Feb., 1974. Three children were bom in Grafton, Madge, Alexander and Irene. Madge and Alexander graduated from Grafton High School. LoveU, RusseU, Wallace and John were bom in Nash. Madge married Christopher Jackson of Grafton and the fact that they had the same baby sitter, Marguerite 164

Phelps makes us wonder since they shared the same baby carriage if they became engaged at that time. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary Feb. 21, 1975 Madge is chairman of the "76" Centennial in Fifth District, American Legion Auxiliary in Milwaukee County. Submitted by Mrs. Madge Gilmore Jackson. JOHN GIVENS, SR., FAMILY John Givens was born Dec. 16, 1854, in Ontario. He attended school in Massee, Ont., in a small school also used as a church. Miss Mary Ann Cook was born July 15, 1858, in West Hartlepool, County of Durham, England. She immigrated to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cook. They came to Port Arthur, Ont., in 1872, where Mrs. Robert Cook died. John Givens and Mary Ann Cook were married in 1875 in Owen Sound, Ont. They left Ontario in 1882, arrived at Fisher's Landing, then came to Grafton. Shortly after, in 1882, Mr. Givens accepted an appointment as engineer at the Grafton Roller Mill, a position he held for 25 years, and which he only relinquished through ill health. There was a large water condenser on the North side of the Grafton Roller Mill, where my father worked. When Ringling Brothers Circus came to town by train, they watered the elephants at this large condenser. My father knew the time they were to come, and I would go over and watch them. I was about five years old. A few years later by the Great Northern Bridge and east of the old dam, I would watch a circus man back a cage to the river and let a hippopotamus out to swim around for some time. John Givens, Sr., won a silver traveling trophy from the Walsh County Poultry Association for raising prize Light Brahma chickens about 1905. John Givens, Sr., was a member of the Baptist Church He was also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workman, Grafton Lodge No. 126 A. 0. U. W. Mr and Mrs. Givens were pioneers that helped to build up Grafton. Mrs. John Givens, Sr., was a member of the Baptist Church for seventeen years. She was also one of the oldest members in the Degree of Honor Lodge. There were 11 children born, Dorothy, Ellen (Nellie), Robert, Thomas, Joseph, Elizabeth, Ann, John, Ralph, Hilton and Susie. Four of the sons were in World War I. Robert Givens entered the service April 23,1898, as private with 1st N. D N G in the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection. He also enlisted in the Canadian Forces May 25 1916, and served in France and Belgium with the 8th Battalion 1st Div. 2nd Brigade; fought at Hill 70 and Passchendale Ridge in Ypres; and was in the hospital Nov 18th to April 23rd. He returned to France on Aug. 4, was wounded Sept. 28, and sent from the hospital in France for discharge Feb. 26, 1919. Ralph Givens 1st Class served in A Co. 3i5tn Engineers 90th Div. in France. He saw service in Sazarais, Hoye Pureuolle, St. Mihiel and Argonne Meuse offensive, and was discharged May 27, 1919. Sgt Joseph Givens entered service June 24 191b, with Pn r 1st N D N G was at the Mexican border 1916-17^ with Co C 164th Inf., at Camps Greene, Mills

and Merritt. He left the U. S. Dec. 14 on the Leviathan, attended 1st Corps School, transferred to 3rd Army Headquarters, Army of Occupation, and was discharged Sept 29 1919. Hilton Givens enlisted in Co. C and was at Camps Greene, Mills and Merritt, going overseas on the Leviathan Dec. 14, 1917. He was transferred to 18th Inf. 1st Division Jan. 7, 1918. He saw service on the Toul Sector with the American troops, Somme Front, for 75 days and the Battle of Cantigny, also took part in the five day push at Soissons. From May 28 to June 28 he spent in the hospital. Pvt. Givens next took part in the St. Mihiel and Meuse Argonne offensive where he was killed Oct. 9, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. John Givens, Sr., had 28 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren, 71 great great grandchildren, 9 great great great grandchildren. There were seven grandsons who served in World War II. William H. Bass served in the Army Medical Corp. James W. Bass, Seaman 1st Class, served in the U. S Navy. Thomas R. Givens joined Co. C Feb. 10, 1937. Pvt Givens served in the 164th Infantry in the South Pacific; was discharged Sept. 25,1945. Ralph H. Jackson joined the Navy June 18, 1940. He served in the South Pacific, was promoted to Chief Pharmacist Mate, was discharged June 14, 1946. Bruce C. Jackson joined the army May 14, 1943. Pvt. Jackson took some of his training at Fort Benning, Georgia; he was discharged Sept. 30,1943. James R. Jackson joined the Navy June 11, 1943- served in South Pacific; was a Seaman 1st Class Radioman; was discharged March 7, 1946. Eugene Givens, corporal, served in the army in Korea. All seven grandsons were given honorable discharges. . .. ___ These grandchildren live in Grafton: Mrs. Walter Parkins Dorothv Young (twins), Mrs. Maude Johnson, Bruce C. Jackson, Thomas R. Givens. These great granddaughters: Marilyn Johnson, Carol Ann Jackson, Mrs Greg (Bonnie Jackson) Elde. These great great grandsons: Michael Mattson, Korey Greg Elde and Kelly Lyle Elde (twins). John Givens, Sr., died Aug. 2, 1910. Mrs. Mary Ann Givens died Jan. 5,1914. They are buried in Grafton City Cemetery, as are the following children: Hilton, Ellen (Nellie) Joseph, John, Thomas, Dorothy, Elizabeth, Ralph. Robert Givens is buried in Veterans Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg, Canada. There are two daughters living - Mrs. Anna Curtman of New Rockford and Mrs. Susie Jackson, Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. Susia Givens Jackson. HENRY GIVENS FAMILY Henry Givens was born March 17, 1858, in Ontario. He attended school in Massee, Ont., in a small school used also for a church. He was a brother of John Givens, Sr. His wife, Jennie B., was born in 1836 in Ontario. They came to Grafton in the early days by way of Fisher's Landing, then to Grafton. Henry Givens worked as a miller in the Grafton Roller Mill for many years. In his later years he owned a woodyard where they sawed cordwood and sold it. It was located on vacant lots on Fifth Street where the Grafton Arena now stands. Henry and Jennie B. Givens had two daughters, Rose and Helen Givens. Rose married WilUam Dunlop, Forest 165

once and I had to make an important decision. The colonel of this unit was a friend of mine and called frequently he told me he had 300 applications for my place if I wished to resign. How different now. My mother finally made the decision for me, namely that duty to my country came first, and that G. W. and she would carry on as best they could. I left for Army duty May 16,1917, and G. W. returned to work the next day and did the best he could until I rejoined him 25 months later. My sister, Muriel, remained at home with her small child as her husband, W. J. Cryderman, was in the U. S. Army Dental Corps and of course she was so much help to her parents. I must state that in the early days in Grafton my mother received much help from her wonderful neighbors, Mrs. Frank Sprague and Mrs. Herbert DePuy The Glaspel family were like the four Musketeers one for all and all for one. I remain the sole survivor except for my wife, Viola, and my niece, Alice Lodmell of Portland, Ore. "Some future day may we all rest in peace." Submitted by Dr. C. J. Glaspel.

River. They moved to Winnipeg. They had one boy, Ceceil. Rose spent her later years in a nursing home in Winnipeg. Helen Givens worked for an insurance company in Fargo and in Minneapolis, Minn. She spent her later years in California. Henry Givens owned a house across the street north from the new Chase School and a block east on Fifth Street. Jennie B. Givens died in Grafton Nov. 21,1894. Henry Givens died in Grafton Jan. 30,1915. They are buried in Grafton City Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Susie Givens Jackson. HISTORY OF THE GLASPEL FAMILY In 1885 the year the first railroad came to Grafton, my uncle, Dr. Frank Glaspel, started a medical practice here in the Klondike Building, located at the site of the present Winter Sports Arena. the fall of 1888, Dr. Frank Glaspel contracted typhoid fever which was prevalent here and died from an intestinal hemorrhage My father had graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School in June of 1888 and had located in Hillsboro On Dr. Frank Glaspel's death, he transferred to Grafton and practiced here for 58 years. During this time he took just two vacations, a week each time to return to Ontario for the funeral services of first his father and later his mother. He was a typical family doctor, always available, never refusing a call regardless of the weather, and for years using horses as a means of transportation. He never sent out statement On his death in 1946, an audit revealed over $100,000 of uncollected bills for medical services, his contribution to the welfare of the Grafton community. I entered into a partnership with my father in July ot 1919 after serving two years as an intern in Cook County Hospital of Chicago, at no salary. This was followed by two years in the A. E. F. France as a 1st Lieut. Medical Corps on a salary of $166 per month. My father died in June, 1946, following a three month illness I carried on alone for 18 months, until Jan. 1,1948 At this time, Dr. O. P. Johann joined me and remained until August, 1951, when he transferred to San Diego, Calif. This was a terrific loss. Dr Bruce Boynton of Ada, Minn., who formerly practiced in Park River with his uncle, Dr. Frank Weed, joined me at once and remained for several years before moving to Naples, Fla., where he still practices in a clinic In each of the above cases there was a definite personal reason for the transfer. In the after years they have regretted their action. At this time I wish to pay special tribute to my mother as like all pioneers, she had a rugged life, anchored to the telephone so that all sick calls would be answered. When I returned to Grafton in March, 1917, after two years service in Cook County Hospital, my father was sick and we finally persuaded him to go to Chicago for a medical check-up. The diagnosis was overwork with no rest periods so we decided he should go south for a month of complete rest. The previous year I had signed up with a Chicago Hospital Army Unit and just at this inopportune time, orders were received to prepare for mobilization. That news ended any trip south, so we returned to Grafton at

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Dr. G. W. Glaspel DR. CYRIL J. GLASPEL Dr Cyril J. Glaspel was bom on March 7, 1893, in a house on north Cooper Avenue. His father was the veteran physician and surgeon, Dr. G. W. Glaspel; his mother was the former Eva Whitlock of Oshawa, Ont. Dr G W. Glaspel was born at Oshawa, April 29,1865. He married Eva Whitlock of the same community. George W Glaspel attended the medical school of the University of Iowa where his brother, Frank, also received his medical training. After his graduation he settled in Grafton in 1885 where he practiced in his profession. Dr. G W Glaspel settled in Hillsboro, where he intended to make his practice. He had been in Hillsboro only six months when his brother, Frank, died in Grafton. Dr. G. W Glaspel moved to Grafton where he entered his brother's practice. There he remained, practicing medicine, until his death in 1946, a period of fifty-eight years. During his over half a century of service to mankind in this community, Dr. G. W. Glaspel responded to calls in virtually every kind of common-place horse drawn vehicle, lumber wagons, buggies, democrats, carts and even hay racks. He traveled on horseback and on foot, 166

winter and summer, always willing to administer to the ailing On occasion he performed surgical operations in the patients' homes using a kitchen or dining table as an operating table. In a news item dated, May 13,1891, it is recorded that "Dr Glaspel has been appointed chief surgeon of the North Dakota regiment of National Guards with rank of major We doff our hats to the major." In another news item of May 27,1893, it is recorded that "born to the wife of Dr Glaspel, May 23, a son. The doctor is consequently happy and has been kept busy receiving congratulations and passing out White Elephant cigars." Dr. and Mrs. Glaspel lost their first-born son in infancy. They had two other children, Cyril and Muriel. Mrs. Glaspel was a member of the Ladies Magazine Club. In 1895, the club undertook the project of providing a public library. It was the first free public library in the state of North Dakota Mrs. Glaspel was a member of the Mizpah Chapter No. 6 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Grafton and served that chapter as its worthy matron. Dr and Mrs. Glaspel lived in the house formerly occupied by Grafton's first physician, Dr. N. H. Hamilton. Later they Uved in the house on Western Avenue at the intersection of Seventh Street. In the first issue of the Walsh County Record there appeared a column of ads and professional cards listing G. W. Glaspel, physician and surgeon, office in Foogman s Drug Store. Two other physicians are listed, Dr. N. A Jacobsen and Dr. R. 0. Montgomery, a graduate of Toronto University Medical CoUege. His offices were over Krogstad's Drug Store. This was in 1890. In 1900, Dr. G W Glaspel was attendant physician in the first appendectomy performed in Grafton. The other physicians were Dr. J. Ryan, physician in charge and Dr. P. U. LaBerge who administered the chloroform. The first mention of Cyril in the chronicles of Grafton is that in the Fifth Annual Commencement of the Eighth Grade in 1905, Cyril Glaspel was featured as Jack in an operetta entitled "Jack and the Bean Stalk." In the program of the graduation exercises of the Grafton High School Saturday, June 5,1909, he is Usted as a graduate. Two of his classmates were WilUam Tollack and Helen Stewart who later married P. J. DonneUy. Cyril Glaspel graduated from the University of North Dakota. He attended and received his medical degree at Rusk Medical School which was affiliated with the University of Chicago. He sometimes pondered why his father did not urge him to attend his alma mater, the University of Iowa. In a 1915 news item it is re^rted that "Dr. Cyril Glaspel came from Rusk Medical School, where he had successfully passed the niinois State Medical Examination. After a visit in the city, he was to return to Chicago to intern at Cook County Dlinois Again in 1916, "Dr. Cyril Glaspel returned to Chicago to resume his internship in March." " D r U J- Glaspel arrived in Grafton from Chicago where he had uiterned for 18 months at Cook County Hospital. His plans for starting a practice were indefinite." Later it was reported that "Dr. Cyril J . Glaspel was appointed first assistant surgeon to Dr. Frederick Besly, Chicago, to service in a base hospital in France. Dr. Glaspel, and several other young doctors, were loaned as a group to the British. Although in an American uniform and receiving American pay, he remained with the British troops during nearly his entire stay in France. Another news item dated 1919 records Lt. C. J. Glaspel,

who had been serving as a Red Cross surgeon for nearly two years, was slated to sail for home from France. On May 1 1919, it was further reported that "Capt. Cynl Glaspel arrived from Camp Mills to spend a short furlough visiting with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. G. W Glaspel Capt. Glaspel left for France with the Cook County unit in May, 1917, and sailed on the boat which was the scene of a premature explosion at gun practice. Two nurses were kiUed in the accident. Dr. Glaspel was to report to Camp Grant where he would be discharged. After his discharge he returned home to Grafton and entered practice with his father. By this time, the elder Dr Glaspel had his offices over the Grafton Drug Store which had the comer tower, a once familiar landmark of Grafton. Another famiUar sight was Dr. G. W., as he was familiarly known by his friends, standing in the doorway of the stairs leading up to the offices of Glaspel & Glaspel, on a Saturday evening, watching the, by now, traditional gathering of farmers and fellow townsmen as they paraded by his post which he never left lest a call tor a doctor might be made. He nearly always had a cigar in his mouth, which he chewed on almost continuously except when he waved it in greeting to a passerby. At the time that Dr. C. J. Glaspel was ready to begin practice in Grafton, the Grafton Deaconess Hospital was firmly estabUshed in the community, having admitted the first patient in 1904. The administration of the hospital looked with askance upon a young, local boy who appled for the privilege of using their operating room facilities for surgery. He had been baptized under fire in the European War theatre, but he was still a local boy being a Uttle presumptious to want to use their f acuities. Because of this, Dr. Glaspel was forced to perform his first surgery in Grafton on the kitchen table of his patient's home. "The mother of young Victor Bergquam," said Dr. C. J. Glaspel, "summoned him when her son became iU. An operation was necessary and the mother insisted that it be performed by young Dr Glaspel. Unable to use the hospital, he performed the operation on the kitchen table at the Beronuam home. The first baby that Dr. Glaspel deUvered in Grafton was Arthur Joseph, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Conlon on Nov 2 1919. "The Conlon baby, however, should not have been his first baby," the doctor said. He recalls that he was summoned to the home of a weU-known family in Grafton when the mother was expecting a chUd. The mother however, apparently thought Dr. Glaspel was a bit too young and so the elder Dr. Glaspel was the attending physician at the birth of the chUd. In spite of a crowded schedule, Dr. C. J . Glaspel was an active figure in city affairs throughout the years. For 12 years he represented the third ward on Grafton's City CouncU He served as county coroner, county health officer for many years and in addition, health officer tor the city of Grafton. He joined Company C of the Grafton National Guard in 1925, when ManvUle Sprague was the commanding officer. Dr. Glaspel has been a member of the Grand Forks District Medical Society and Medicine. He was also a member of the American Medical Association and was a member of the American College of Surgeons beginning in 1925. He served as president of the North Dakota Medical Association in 1940-41. He was appointed to the State Board of Medical Examiners in 1942 and served for six years. He was then named secretary of the State Board of Medical Examiners. In 1957 he was elected president of the Federation of State 167

Medical Boards of the United States, an organization made up of boards of medical examiners from all of the st cites The botulism outbreak which occured in Grafton early in 1931 has left a lasting impression on Dr. Glaspel's memory. A total of 13 residents of the community died as the result of eating a salad which contained home-canned peas. Dr. Glaspel was a prominent figure as the medical profession fought to save the lives of those involved. "It was quickly diagnosed as an outbreak of botulism," the doctor stated, "but there was little that the medical profession could do. A serum, useful in combatting botulism was not available for use here at that time." The Grafton doctor later wrote a "paper" on the outbreak, the largest of its kind in the United States, which appeared in a medical journal. Dr. G. W. Glaspel died in 1946. Dr. C. J., known to his friends as Cy, continued to practice alone for two years. In 1948, Dr. 0. P. Johann of Milwaukee became associated with Dr. Glaspel. He stayed four years. He was succeeded by Dr. Bruce Boynton in 1952. In July 1953, Dr. W. P. Teevens joined the firm. In the fa 11 of 1953, the three doctors moved'their headquarters from above the Grafton Drug Store to a location on Fifth Street, between Hill Avenue and Griggs Avenue. The firm became known as the Grafton Clinic. Later a modern clinic was erected at the intersection of Hill Avenue and Ninth St. Dr. C. J. Glaspel married a Grafton girl, Violet Mohagen, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mohagen. The name Glaspel was a household name in Grafton from 1885, Dr. Frank Glaspel, Dr. G. W. Glaspel and Dr. C. J . Glaspel until 1973 when Dr. C. J . Glaspel retired and moved to California. Dr. Frank Glaspel's tenure was brief and in the remote past. In the memory of those who sought the services of Dr. G. W. Glaspel and Dr. C. J. Glaspel, they are remembered as men and physicians of honor, skill and integrity. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

MR. AND MRS. C . J . GRAVING John Graving was bom at Northfield, Minn., May 10 1883, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Graving, natives of Norway He came to Grafton in 1884. Annie Graving was born March 3, 1890, in Grafton Township, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Monsebroten, natives of Norway. John and Annie Graving were the first couple married in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church March 27, 1907, by Rev. T. T. Knutson. Witnesses were George Newgard and Carrie Monsebroten. They were in the grocery business from 1925 to 1961 when they retired. For many years, they operated from a downtown location, but in later years had a neighborhood grocery store on West Second Street. They were members of the Grafton Lutheran Church, Mrs. Graving being a life member of the G. L. C. W. John was a member of Sons of Norway. For many years, he was active in and interested in city band work. In his younger years, he was also a noted bowler. They were the parents of two sons, Arvil and Gordon. John Graving died April 16,1965, and Annie Graving passed away on April 30. Submitted by Mrs. Elvon Anderson.

I Back row: Arvil Graving and Mrs. C. J. Graving. Front row: Gordon Graving and Mr. C. J. Graving. JAMES AND LAURA GRAY FAMILY James Edwin Gray was born at Ratheway, Scotland, Jan 31 1861, and came to the United States with his parents'as a youngster, settling first at Zumbrota, Minn., where he operated a farm (teaching winters) until he was 28, when he began working his way through the Law Department of the University of Minnesota. Following graduation, he came to Grafton in July, 1891, where he practiced law until shortly before his death in California, in May, 1943. He was married twice, first in July 1894 to Laura Fannie Egleston (the mother of his four children, all of whom were bom in Grafton) who died in California in 1927; and in 1933, to Mrs. Jeanette Pierce, who died in Grafton in 1940. During his more than 50 years' residence in Grafton, Mr Gray was active in many phases of community life. He served as city attorney, mayor, and clerk of the school board. When the Grafton State School was established, he served as a trustee of that institution and was secretary when the original plans and initial specifications for the first buildings were prepared. During the First World War, he became chairman of the Walsh County chapter of the American Red Cross and served as its executive head for more than two decades. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and active

Dr. C. J. Glaspel 168

in Republican party politics. He joined Wabasha, Minn., Lodge No. 14, in 1884. On coming to Grafton he affiliated with Crescent Lodge, where in 1941 he was elected a life member. He held membership in the Royal Arch and Knights Templar organizations, and was a charter member of Mizpah Chapter No. 6, 0. E. S. As an attorney, his first partner was W. B. Housher, and following that he was associated with Robert McMurchie, Tobias D.Casey and Jeff M. Myers (until 1936), Oliver G. Nordmarken (until 1941), and had a working arrangement with Albert Lundberg until his death. Laura Fannie Egleston was born Feb. 22, 1873, at Northwood, Ia., the seventh and youngest child of John Parker and Mary Baker Egleston, descendants of pioneer American families. Her older sister, Mary LeMoine Egleston, had married William W. Robertson who, with his father, Alexander, and brothers, Alvin and Louis, founded the Robertson Lumber Company at Minto in 1881, and at Grafton and other North Dakota towns thereafter. Her older brother, John L. Egleston, established Grafton's first jewelry and optical shop in 1892 in the Fleming & Leweaux Drug Store. Her sister, Sarah Louise, and widowed mother, were early residents of Grafton, the latter dying in Grafton in 1900. Mrs. Gray was an original member of the Ladies Magazine Club, which in 1895, undertook the work of providing Grafton with a public library. She was a member of Mizpah Chapter No. 6, 0. E. S. In 1900, she was President of the Lathrop Union of W. C. T. U. Originally a member of the Baptist Church, in Grafton, she became one of the founders and organizers of the Christian Science Society there; and she was later one of the organizers of the Delphian Literary Society. James E. and Laura Egleston Gray had four children, all of whom graduated from the Grafton High School and the University of North Dakota. Dorothy Gray, born July 1, 1895, taught at Argyle, Minn Forsythe, Mont., and Ludlow, Calif., prior to her marriage in California April 26,1923, to Ransom Adams, then in the U. S. Naval Service. Dorothy died in July, 1928, following an operation, survived by an infant daughter, Dorothy Jean, who, on Aug. 19, 1929, was adopted by her aunt, Marion Gray. Married, with two children, she resides in Boulder City, Nevada. Marion Gray, born Aug. 31, 1895, taught at Minot, Omaha, Nebr., Rock Springs, Wy., and Inglewood and Hawthorne, Calif. During 1918-1920, following her graduation from the University of North Dakota, Marion was assistant instructor of the U. N. D. Department of Physical Education for Women, and continued in that work in Inglewood and Leutzinger High Schools in Hawthorne, Calif., until retirement in 1957. She was an active member and worker in the Christian Science Church, resides in Inglewood, Calif. Her adopted daughter, Dorothy Jean McKay Smith, resides in Boulder City, Nev. Alan Egleston Gray, born April 7, 1899, was Editorin-Chief of the first Grafton Hirh School year book, The Athenian, 1916," which contaii d a history of prior high school athletics, and listed alumni commencing with the first graduating class of 1890. Upon graduation from high school, Alan worked for a year as stenographer in the law office of Gray & Myers; and during succeeding summer vacations while attending the University of North Dakota, was employed by the Grafton City Light Department, wiring houses and reading meters. Upon

graduation from U. N. D. in 1921, where he had been Editor-in-Chief of the college year book, "The Dacotah, 1921," he went to Washington, D. C , where he attended George Washington University, graduating in law in 1923. In 1924, he married Grace Lunding, Hope, a university graduate who taught in the Grafton High School in 1920-21, resided in Chevy Chase, Md., until 1934, when they moved to Los Angeles. Mr. Gray first was engaged in governmental work as secretary and law clerk to Associate Justice George Sutherland of the U. S. Supreme Court from 1924 to 1929, and in several State Department arbitrations. He was admitted to the Washington D. C , Bar in 1923, and to the California Bar in 1934, where he has practiced law ever since. Following his divorce from Grace Lunding Gray in 1948, he married Jane Kettering in 1949. This ended in divorce the following year. In 1951 he married Jan Hanson Fisher, who died May 3,1953. On June 1,1967, he married Helen M. Tombs, with whom he had attended school in Grafton and at U. N. D. They resided in Long Beach, Calif., until her death March 10, 1969. Marjorie Elizabeth Gray, born April 9, 1908, graduated from the Grafton High School and the University of North Dakota and kept house for her father until 1933 when he remarried. She moved to Inglewood, Calif., living with her sister, Marion Gray, until her marriage June 21, 1937, to Kenneth Clark, formerly of Kenmare who also attended U. N. D. They moved to San Diego about the beginning of World War II, where they have since resided. They have four children, Mary Ann Spicer, Cynthia Renner, David Clark and Laurie Clark and six grandchildren. Their oldest daughter is a member of the California Bar, and their youngest daughter is graduating this summer from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Submitted by Alan E. Gray. JAMES ALEXANDER GREER Born in Ontario, July 19, 1859, James Alexander Greer spent his early life there. He came to Walsh County to settle on a homestead in the summer of 1880 and resided there five years. At Grafton June 22, 1892, he was united in marriage to Margaret MacGillevary. While here he acted as road overseer and school director. His present address is Fargo. Mr. Greer was a member of the Masons, the Moose and the Brotherhood of Railway Employees. GRANT S. HAGER Grant Sherman Hager was bom in Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., June 7,1865, of parents who were natives of Germany. He was educated in the public schools of his birthplace and completed the course of study in the Rome Free Academy in June, 1882. In the fall of that year he entered Hamilton College, N. Y., but ill health made it impossible for him to continue his studies. * While forced to give up school, he did not abandon his determination to prepare his mind for the tasks of life. He succeeded admirably in his task of self-education. He was a clear thinker, a trenchant writer of pure English, a debater and a public speaker whose reputation was known throughout the state. Grant Hager came to Dakota Territory in August,

1883, as a young man in search of health and located in St. Thomas a new frontier town of the territory, where he engaged in publication of the St. Thomas Times which had been established a year earlier by his brother, Jacob P. Hager. Shortly thereafter two other papers were started, one at Elgin, a town in Pembina County which fell by the wayside, and Neche. The partnership was terminated in the spring of 1885. The Elgin and Neche ventures proved unprofitable. Jacob went to Willow City to found the North Dakota Eagle. Grant continued with the St. Thomas paper. In June, 1886, Mr. Hager was elected township clerk and justice of the peace in St. Thomas Township. A few years later, when the city of St. Thomas was organized, he was chosen as the first city auditor and justice of the peace. He was also clerk of the school board at the time. Grant Hager early became involved in North Dakota politics. He was a Republican and a progressive, in a day when progressives were looked upon with askance by the "old guard" Republicans. For several years he represented St. Thomas on the Republican County Central Committee, and later on the Republican State Central Committee. In 1891 he was elected secretary of the State Central Committee. During the same year he was appointed postmaster of St. Thomas and served four years In 1881 he was appointed a colonel on the staff of Governor E. H. Burke. From 1904 to 1909, he served as a member of the board of trustees in charge of the North Dakota Institution for the Feeble Minded. After extensive self-education, he took the state bar examination in October, 1894, and was admitted to practice in the state and later admitted to practice in the federal courts. During 1897, he was assistant states attorney in Pembina County. In 1908, Grant S. Hager purchased the Walsh County Record from Edward H. Pierce, and became the third editor of the paper. He continued as editor and publisher until his death in 1923 on April 6. For six months poor to his death, Rilie R. Morgan became associated with Mr Hager. After Mr. Hager's death, Rilie Morgan continued to edit the paper and became owner and publisher. Mr. Hager was active in the Masonic bodies. He was made a Mason in Crescent Lodge No. 11 in Grafton, Sept. 10 1887. When Temple Lodge No. 30 at St. Thomas was formed in 1889, he became the first worshipful master under the charter. He became a member of the Royal Arch Masons and Knights Templer at Grand Forks, but upon the formation of a chapter and commandery at Grafton, he transferred to Grafton. He served as head of both bodies. It was in the Grand Lodge, A. F. & A.M. that he rendered his greatest service to Masonry and received his greatest recognition as a Masonic leader. After serving from 1890 to 1902 as a member of the finance committee of the grand lodge, he was appointed grand senior deacon. Four years later, in 1906, he was elected grand master. Following this, he was appointed fraternal correspondent, a post he held until his death. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He rendered service to the choir of St. John's Catholic Church in Grafton. He served the North Dakota Press Association as its

president for more than a score of years. In 1935, 12 years after his death, he was awarded a place in the North Dakota Press Association's Hall of Fame. His portrait was unveiled at an appropriate ceremony with his old friend, Walter L. Stockwell, delivering the memorial address. On May 22, 1895, Grant S. Hager married Miss Alice Clemmer, daughter of a well-known North Dakota pioneer educator. The ceremony was performed at Dickinson where the bride's father was superintendent ot schools. In the fall of 1922, Mr. Hager suffered a serious heart affliction. This made it imperative that he assume a lighter work load. Arrangements were made with the editor of the Starkweather Times, Rilie R. Morgan, to enter into a partnership in the publishing and the editing of the Walsh County Record. Mr. Hager's health was more seriously impaired than at first thought. He died April 6, 1923. The Walsh County Record continued with Mr. Morgan as publisher from 1922 to 1958 when his son. John D. Morgan, succeeded him. At the present writing in 1975, Rilie R. Morgan is Publisher Emeritus. Prepared from the Walsh County Record by Kenneth Colter. JAMES EDWARD HALL James Edward Hall was bom at Ontonagon, Mich., Sept 18 1856. His parents moved to Minnesota when he was a small boy and located on a farm on the outskirts of Plainview Here he attended school and grew to young manhood. In the fall of 1880 he came to North Dakota in company with James Lavin who Uved near Auburn. They proved up claims the foUowing summer, enduring the hardships and privations of pioneer life. During the winter of 1880-81 they were obliged to go to Grand Forks for supplies and bring them back.,on a sled on the ice of the Red River as far as Acton, and then across country to their claims. Mr. Hall came to Grafton in 1881 and has since made this city his home. He was for some time in the employ of Frank E. Chase, one of the early implement dealers. Later he bought wheat for W. C. Leistikow at the Grafton RoUer Mills. He was among those who organized the Grafton Fire Department, and was its first assistant chief. He also was a member of the first band in Grafton and remained an active member in the organization for several years. In the faU of 1898 he was elected sheriff of the county and was re-elected in the fall of 1900. His official record was excellent. Mr. Hall served the city for a time as a member of the council. Following his retirement from public life, he was engaged for a time in the insurance business in company with T. H. Tharalson. At the organization of the Realty, Loan & Investment Co. he was elected an officer and remained with that concern until his death. July 13, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Kelley in Grafton. He was a consistent member of the Catholic church and a communicant of St. John's Parish since its organization. He was a member of the A. O. U. W. Lodge of Grafton. Hall died Sept. 8, 1922.

CONRAD C. HANKEY Conrad C. Hankey, a well known butcher in the Walsh County area, emmigrated from Germany to the United States. He was born at Wisek, province of Posin, Germany Feb. 18,1866, and came with his parents to the United States in the early 1870's. He spent a great deal of his boyhood in southern Wisconsin around the Dells and it was here that he began his career as a butcher This butchering trade was to become his life's work and he operated various butcher shops in Walsh County.

Hankey, Con's son, has the pick axe that the murderer used to kill his sweetheart. At two different times in his life Con lived in Montana. The first time was at the age of 18 when he worked with the Great Northern Railroad which was being built through North Dakota and Montana. Con took care of all the cattle and the butchering for the railroad crews. The second time was after his term of sheriff was completed and he opened a butcher shop at Harlowton, Mont. Because of the high elevation there he had difficulty breathing and he moved back to Wisconsin where he opened a butcher shop at Superior. He lived here about l'/ years until the larger meat companies such as Swift and Cudahay forced him out of business. As a result of this he moved back to Grafton. When he returned to Grafton he lived on the Nobins farm which he bought while he was sheriff. This farm of Conrad's is now owned by A. B. Thompson who bought it in 1920. Con engaged in farming until he sold his farm and moved into the city of Grafton to retire. His wife, Kate, died in 1922. In 1926 he married Bertha Lininger. Before his retirement Con was well known for his outdoor style of barbecuing. Since he was a specialist in meats he was often called upon to go to outdoor barbecues at various celebrations and take on the task of barbecuing the meat for the festivity. He would make his own barbecue pit out of brick and had a little wagon, like on a railroad track, which he would place the hogs and beef in to roast. This wagon roaster was then wheeled into the oven and the meat was cooked. Conrad died May 16,1959, at 93. He was a member of the Masons and was buried in Crescent Cemetery, Grafton. Submitted by Leonard Hankey. 2

Conrad Hankey is pictured at a celebration showing a roasting wagon and brick barbecuing pit. Conrad Hankey is the 2nd man in front row wearing white apron. While living in Wisconsin he met Kate Dorscheid, Stevens Point, Wise. They were married in Ashland, Wise. Their first child, Charlotte, was born while he was employed in this area as a butcher. In 1894 Con moved to Minto as the opportunity arose to purchase a butcher shop there. He operated his business in Minto until 1904 when he sold his shop and moved to Grafton after having been elected sheriff of Walsh County. Con's second and third children, both sons, were born while living in Minto. Carl was born Aug. 22, 1894, and Leonard J . was born Oct 21,1898. Con was sheriff for two terms. During his term as sheriff he had to ski throughout Walsh County testing scales. As sheriff, it was his duty to test all the county scales such as those used in elevators and at the lumber yards. Because they were used by the public it was necessary that they be weighed in properly. One winter a terrific amount of snow had fallen and all the roads were blocked. It was impossible for him to get through to the various towns to check the scales so Con took off on his skis to make certain that the scales were tested and were in proper working order. Conrad was called to Fairdale to bring in a murderer The murder involved a man and his sweetheart who had a quarrel. He got mad at her and took a pick axe and stabbed her. Con had taken Herb DePuy with him on the trip to help him. They were on their way back to Grafton with the murderer and had just left Park River when a bad storm hit. Con had a team that he used on his trips throughout the county. He had one horse, Shorty, who had gone with Con many times. It was Shorty that found the way back to Grafton in the storm thus saving the lives of Con, Herb and the murderer. Leonard

Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Hankey. HANDY FAMILY Frank Joston Handy was bom in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 2 1863. While just an infant he came to Minnesota with his parents, and older children. As a young man he came to Garfield and Uved there, in Park River, and later, Grafton. His parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents were all born at Oslo, Norway. On Nov 19,1891, he was married to JuUa Wilhelmena Burke at her brother Anton's home in Park River. Her sister Nettie, married Harry Fletcher at the same time. Rev. Omland performed the ceremonies. Frank owned and operated a restaurant in Grafton from the early 1890's. He sold in 1910 and went to Harlowton, Mont., with William Smith, Robert McCeUar,

Rodney Anderson and several more to operate the new fl

° Fmnk and Julia had three children. Verda, who graduated from high school in 1910. She taught school at Big Elk and Selkick, Mont., two terms and then married Edgar Kiehl They ranched near Harlowton and he died there July 4, 1958. They had four children, two survive. Howard married Violet McHugh December, 1916, at Lewistown. They had three children, one survives. Howard died in September, 1935, at Oakland, Calif. Lina married John Paul Walker in 1923 at Lewistown, Mont. They went to Long Beach and had three sons, all surviving. Paul died April 15, 1971. Submitted by Leonard Hankey. ALBERT HONSVALD Albert Honsvald first saw Grafton as a 19 year old Norwegian newcomer March 24, 1888, when the entire landscape was covered with snow. He was struck with the hustle and bustle of this frontier town. Judge Raumin his uncle, initiated him into the American way of life He worked the first summer for Hans Gorder and threshed with Ole Hoisveen who had a steam outfit, but the separator had a straw carrier and was fed by hand. Some of the wheat had trozen that fall and the crop was not good. , ,. ... The next winter he "did chores" for a relative while the farmer went on a trip to Norway. In 1890 he secured land in Midland Township, Pembina County, land formerly owned by Ole Knutson. Here he farmed until 1904 when he sold it to John Napper. The next year he took a trip to Norway, a jaunt he repeated in 1936. In 1906 he formed a partnership with Tom Torgerson under the firm name of Torgerson & Honsvald, dissolved in 1925 by the death of Mr. Torgeson. They handled farm machinery. Binder twine and parts for farm machinery gave them a large business. They also sold Reo and Buick automobiles, but then as now, there was a shortage of good automobiles to sell. It was dull in the winter months when sales centered around sewing machines, cream separators and collections. He conducted tne business alone until 1929 when he sold it to Johnson, Lageson & AUen. The new firm named the business the Grafton Implement Co., now owned by Iverson and Berg In 1914 he married Miss Margaret Hegstad, who died Dec 9 1919. They have a son, Melvin, who resides in Grafton. They are members of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Mr. Honsvald died July 17, 1964.

Albert Honsvald

MR. & MRS. TOM HELTNE The genealogy of the Heltne and Swiggum famUies dates back to 1300 with slight variations in spelling. We note with enthusiasm that the occupations of these famiUes were, in large, professional people, ministers, lawyers, doctors, dentists, writers, artists, teachers farmers businessmen and homemakers. The heritage ot this family instilled in the generations to come was the strong love of God and country, education, music, art, sports, devoted family life, thrift and integrity. We have heard these sounds for a better life - loud and clear. Thomas Ludvig Nitter Heltne was bom Aug. 21,1859 in Lyster, Norway; baptized Sept. 29, 1859; confirmed July 5 1874. The church history states he was the youngest "klokker" (starter of hymn singing in his church). We attribute his love of music to his mother who had the first organ in Lyster. She taught music there. The history reads she was "Kongshanit" (descendant of aristocracy). At 18 Thomas Heltne won the first prize for Sharp Shooting '. .his prize a silver spoon engraved with the statistics. We have this spoon in our coUection. His artistry was displayed in his mastery of ice-skating (figure) and skiing. He worked on the famUy farm until he was 22 years of age. He spoke of hating to leave the luscious fruit trees he had grafted before he came to America. On April 29, 1881, his leave taking from his tearful family and other relatives who came to the dock to bid him fareweU was painful, but he promised to return, which he did 9 years later, 1900, shortly before his mother died. Landing in New York, he was directed to a mission church where the pastor was William WiUiamson, the father of Obed, Christian and Luther WUUamson ot Grafton. Some years later these men were to meet in Grafton and become friends. From New York, Thomas Heltne came to Goodhue County, Minn., where he farmed for two years for Jahanness TaUe (relative). Marion Talle an operatic singer, was a relative of this family. Then he rented a farm for five years. One day when driving a load of grain to an elevator at Northfield, Minn he came within minutes of the Younger brothers robbery Dr. Wheeler, who took a shot at the robbers from his office window, later came to Grand Forks to practice medicine. Our family had an opportunity to renew this experience with him. , , m -i In 1888, Thomas Heltne left for Portland, Trad County, where he engaged in horse trading. We found among his papers a $25 share (non-negotiable) for the new Brufat Church at Portland. In 1890 he moved on to Grafton. He started his business, a harness shop, in 1891 with a capital of $1,000. He operated this business for 49 years until his retirement. . During this period he became a naturauzed citizen, built our residence on 5th Street, bought the building next to his business on Hill Avenue, purchased a farm at Hanley, Sask., which he sold at a profit and from this sale purchased the Charles Ledwich farm near Nash which we stUl own. He was a stock holder in the Scandina vian Bank in Grafton and one of the original organizers of the Nash Grain Trading, Inc. He was a life member of the Grafton Lutheran Church. He was active in the Commercial Club activities. He resigned from the other clubs when he acquired a wife and family. It was said of him when he retired that he owed no man but others owed him. 172

dearly loved, and gave us many happy times riding and pulling our toboggans. One of my fondest memories is watching my father ice skate. Everyone stopped and looked at his artistry with acclaim. He taught us how to skate, ski, and shoot a gun, however, we never equalled his skill and grace. Our parents were privileged to see their children grow up, graduate from college with B. A. Degrees, marry, and know some of their children's children. Tom Dougherty, Agnes' son, has never forgotten his grandfather's advise to him the day before he died. He said, "Whatever you do Tommy, always be honest." Our parents loved Lorraine's two daughters, Alex's two boys and Agnes' son and daughter. There were 18 great grandchildren some whom they knew before their demise.. .a sad time, a loss for these great grandchildren that they did not know their great grandparents. Thomas Ludvig Heltne died peacefully June 24,1941. Ollegard Nitter Heltne died peacefully Jan. 16,1961. Both are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery beside Lauritz, their son. Submitted by Agnes Henderson, daughter.

Ollegard Nitter Swiggum, our mother, was born May 11, 1866, in Hafslo, Norway. Her parents were Andres Nitter Swiggum and Ollegard Klingenbert Vaalaker. Mother was confirmed in the Lutheran faith June 11, 1880. She frequently spoke with pride of cleaning the church which belonged to their family before the state took the church over. She attended public school at Hafslo, Norway, for 8 years, then enrolled in an Industrial School in Bergen, Norway, for 1 year - where she studied home economics. From here she went to Oslo where she put her training to work. She spoke of this experience with affection. After her parents died she decided to go to America where her brother lived. In 1893, she sailed with a group of school friends and relatives. The voyage was extremely rough. She became desperately sea sick triggered by eating oranges which was "forbotten" the rest of her life. Upon landing one incident which she spoke of was the enjoyable time they had at the World's Fair in Chicago. She and one of her relatives proceeded to Grafton to her brother's home, E. N. Swiggum, attorney. She was married in E. N. Swiggum's home to Thomas L. Heltne by Pastor John Ofstedahl. Mother and father had known each other in Norway. Date^of marriage was March 25, 1894. Our father traded a set of harness for a love seat, a larger love seat and chair, a round oak dining table and six chairs when they set up housekeeping upstairs over the Harness Shop. Four children were born. Lauritz Vedel Nitter, Agnes Klingenberg Nitter and Alexander Irving Nitter were born over the Harness Shop. Lorraine Marie Nitter was born in the new home on West 5th which our father had constructed. Lauritz died July 4, 1903, from scarlet fever, a year after we moved into the new house. Mother never ceased to mourn the death of her first born. Ollegard Heltne could harness and drive a horse, milk a cow, or do anything else she had a mind to do, but she refused to learn "to drive a car. She was an excellent homemaker, loved beautiful dishes, silver and linens. She made her own butter and cheese, spiced meats, lefse, and all the goodies she was famous for. She was a gracious hostess. Her dinner parties and coffee parties were real special, and there were many of them. She sewed all our clothes. She knitted, crocheted, did all kinds of needlework, painted and did craft work. She had no help except when her babies were born. Her motto was "It is wise to know how to do anything. You never know when you will be called on to do it." Her greatest activity out of the home was for the church and its activity. She taught Sunday School upstairs over Newgard's Hardware in the early years. Both of our parents were devout church members and avid readers of the Bible. They never lost faith in their belief in God and admonished their children never to lose that faith. Our mother learned the hard way that the mud streets and high board walks in Grafton, when she first arrived from Norway, were a far cry from the streets which she had been told were paved with gold. However, they lived long enough to help pay for the paving of these streets three times. Our parents gave their children love and understanding, togetherness, the nice things within their means such as music lessons, painting lessons, season tickets to the roller skating rink, horse (Sally) who we

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Heltne HERBISON - WRIGHT F A M I L Y

Mrs. Vera Herbison Carlson, one of 6 children born to Albert M. and Lina Wright Herbison, can claim part of the heritage of Walsh County. Her parents were married in Walsh County, near Hoople, in June, 1901. Both sets of Mrs. Carlson's grandparents were pioneers before 1900. Her father, Albert M. Herbison, although born in Clinton, Ont., came to Graf ton by train in 1882 to visit and work for his oldest brother, Les, who was already farming between Grafton and what is now Nash in Farmington Township. Later, about 1885, he moved to Grafton with his parents, William H. and Agnes M . Coburn Herbison, who lived near Grafton and farmed a few years. The elder Herbisons died in the ear'v 1900's and are buried in Crescent Cemetery, as are Albert and Lina Herbison who died in 1943 and 1955 respectively. Mr. Herbison's eldest brother Les was active in Masonic and Shrine activities here. The Herbisons were members of the Methodist Church in Hoople and Grafton. Albert's interest in showing fine horses in team competition was well known, and the family prizes an old picture of Dad showing his prize team drawing a fancy carriage, with Mother having to sit in the back seat, lest her fancy hat become a distraction! Mrs. Carlson's maternal grandparents, Charles H. and Sarah Power Wright, married in Pennsylvania in 1880, were early pioneers in Walsh County. It is believed 173

they traveled by wagon to Glenwood Township to an area then ealled New Sweden by the numerous Swedish farmers from Minnesota who came to the area _to file homestead claims. The town is now Nash. The Wrights ran a hotel there. Part of this log hotel may stdl S a t on the now Finley Johnson farm where the Wrigh familv lived. My mother, Lina, lived there and told us SThetraTn coming into the country and the tracks built acroTs their farm Prior to this the only transportation was by hoTseback or team, for the nearest railroad was Tt Grafton Four of the Wright children were bom in this Edith and Dora, in 1881 lina (Herbison) S s and carles in 1886. Five more children were born after they moved back to Minnesota to farm near S a g e r It is believed that Charles Wright, a ong with Ms brother Hubert, homesteaded near Hoople before 188

°Six children were bom to Albert and Lina Herbison: Herbert, Charles, Gladys, Edna, Vera and Jessie. Herbert Gladys and Vera reside in North Dakota, Charles'in Minneapolis; Edna and Jessie in Call forma. Life must have been rugged in those earliest 1800s. They spoke of the 3-day blizzards in North Dakota. Neighbors and midwives attended most births; doctors and medical attention were luxuries one afforded only as a last resort. The church played an important social part in their lives as well as to fill spiritual needs. Entertainment in the home was important, just as it was in ours in the later years. The family was a fine, integral unit - interdependent. Neighborliness was also the prevailing thing: when a man built a bam or became il rneeded'any help, all his neighbors came to he p until the job was done, and in return his ne ghbors reciprocated when his needs were pressing. Although past the 1880-1900 term, this was so evident m tales ot treating people during the 1918-1919 flu epidemic. Our Dad hauled coal for as many neighbors every day as needed, until he himself got down with the flu. Holidays were so meaningful to these people.

in that city. He built a small house, and it was there that the Erickson's sixth child, Oscar, was bom. He was the first white boy to be born in St. Thoma* Later the Ericksons ran a hotel known as the "Central House For 17 years they took in roomers and boarders, and it was TilUe's job to be a waitress. . On Dec 26, 1889, at age 18, she married Edward J. Hill in the Methodist Church. Rev. John Ofstedahl, a Lutheran minister, performed the ceremony. There was no Lutheran Church in St. Thomas at that time. Rev. Ofstedahl also confirmed her in his first class at St. Thorn as Her husband, Ed, was a clerk in a general store and their first home was upstairs. They had a kitchen, buttery (pantry), living room, and two bedrooms. Mrs. HU1 said the first thing that went into their new home was a large Bible placed on a center table. Mr. and Mrs. HiU continued to make their home in St. Thomas for 36 years. It was there that their six children were born, Mrs. E. B. Davis (Hulda) of Grafton; Mrs. WaUace Anderson (Doris) of BUlings, Mont.; and Edwin and Rolf, all deceased; Mrs. Lawrence Hulshizer (Constance Tempe, Ariz., and Karl, Billings, Mont. Karl and RoU Wer

B o t h M r . and Mrs. HU1 were staunch Christians and TilUe said she spent most of her time working for the church. She played the organ, taught Sunday School worked with the Luther Leaguers, sang in the choir did solo work, and worked for the Ladies' Aid. In one of her many scrapbooks she had a program for the second semi-annual convention of the Red River Valley Central Luther League of the United Lutheran Church at Grafton on July 6-7, 1899. She spoke on "Temptations of Young People's Societies." Inl902 Mrs Hill went to Voltaire with three children to prove a claim on a quarter of land. They built a two mom house on it. She even took her organ withi her Mr. Hill stayed in St. Thomas while she proved the claum After 9 months they returned to St. Thomas by horse and bueev stopping nights at homes that were wuhng to take them in They entertained the families with their singing and stories. The homestead was sold later and the money was used to buy a partnership in the store and a new orean for TilUe. She told about the wonder of the first time she used the telephone. She said, "Can you hear me even when I whisper?" , In 1916, the famUy, with the exception of Hulda, who was married and lived on a farm between St Thomas and Grafton, moved to Mcintosh, Minn. Mr^ Hill worked in a hardware store and both Mr. HU1 and his wife were active in community and church affairs. In 1917 both Mr. and Mrs. HiU sang in a choir in St Paul Minn., at the union of three large Lutheran Church groups - Hauge Synod and United Churches. The choir Srector was Dr. F. MeUus Christiansen, the "Toscanmni of the Voice." She was elected to organize the Women s Missionary Federation Organizations (W. M. F.) in the area She was elected an officer (member-at-large) at the first meeting of the W. M. F. of the Northern Minnesota District at Crookston, Minn., on June 30 1919When she was Home Economics Club Leader, she and her group won a trip to Minneapolis and won honors there

EMMA MATHILDA ERICKSON HILL Emma Mathilda (Tillie) was born May 14, 1872, to Martha and Eric Erickson in Bur Oak, Ia., 14 miles north of Decorah, Ia. „ , „„„ Martha Maria Arneson, her mother, was born m Ovre Foss, Christiana, (Oslo) Norway, onMarch 2 1850 and came to America in 1871. Her father Enck Erickson, was born in Odalen, Norway. Seven chddren were born, Tillie was the oldest. The family moved from Iowa to Mable, Minn., and then to Chicago, and then in 1882 came! to Grafton They made the trip from Chicago to Grand Forks by tram. There being no passenger service from Grand Forks they came to Grafton on a mixed train - freight and passengers. She recalled stepping off the car onto a huge S e n grocery box with steps built to iL Her fattier ™ent two weeks looking for a quarter of land to settle on whfie she and her mother lived in a hotel in Grafton run by Pete Olsen. They Uved at the hotel for three weeks the time it took for their trunks to reach Grafton from a

* H n ? father was a carpenter, and as they were building stores, saloons, shops and churches in St. X m a s at that time, he took his family there and began work. Mrs. HUl's mother was the second woman to arrive

1 0 0

In 1923, Rolf, 17 year old twin, a senior in high school, died of pneumonia. In 1925, son Edwin died of Pfrmcious anemia. He was gassed and wounded in World War l

174

when he served with Company C of Grafton. He never regained his health. In 1939, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Mcintosh, at an open house in their church. On display for the occasion was the decoration used on top of their wedding cake, as well as Mr. Hill's dress suit, white vest with cutaway coat and stove pipe hat, which he had worn for their wedding. Mr. Hill died in 1943. When the family of Mr. Hill Uved in Norway, their last name was Haugen, which means hill. They changed their last name to Hill when they came to the United States. Following Mr. Hill's death, she remained in Mcintosh for a few years and then came to Grafton for about three years. In 1947, at 75, she was struck by a car on a Grafton street and dragged on the pavement. She spent six weeks in the hospital with a broken hip and cracked pelvis. Herdoctor, C. J. Glaspel, smiUngly told of coming into her room, and she was exercising her leg so she wouldn't Ump, and she didn't. After spending several years in Manderson, Wyoming and Billings, Mont., with her daughters, she returned to Grafton. In 1963, she entered the Lutheran Sunset Home where she was happy helping other residents, working crossword puzzles, playing Chinese Checkers and other games, playing the organ, keeping up her scrapbooks, and even writing articles for the local newspaper. At 90, she translated into EngUsh the Norwegian story, "Husmand's Gutten" (Farmer's Son). It left such an impression when she was a young girl that she wanted others to share such a wonderful story. In translating, she made a few changes and called it "The Shepherd Boy." At the date of her death she had six grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, 12 great great grandchildren and two great grand children, both boys, deceased. She died Dec. 16,1966, at 94. Her funeral was held Dec. 19, at the Grafton Lutheran Church with Rev. A. E. Setness officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran Cemetery at Mcintosh, Minn., near her husband Ed. When asked to what she contributed her long life, she said, "I always leave everything in God's hands, and He always takes care of me." Submitted by Agnes Davis, wife of grandson, Percy Davis.

OLIA C. HOLT Olia C. Holt was bom in Kirkener, Solor, Norway, May 15,1846, and came to America when 17 years of age, settling first in Wilkin County, Minn. With her husband she came to Walsh County in the spring of 1882 and took a pre-emption and tree claim. They had previously homesteaded in Minnesota. She married John 0. Holt June 1, 1877. Mrs. Holt lives in Grafton at 20 North Kittson Avenue. OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT While Walsh County was first organized Aug. 30, 1881, there is Utile to show that there was any activity in the Clerk of District Court Office until Jan., 1885. Walsh County was then in the Third Judicial District and S. A. Hudson was judge. In May, 1885, WUUam B. McConnell was appointed and served until 1888 when he was succeeded by Charles F. Templeton. In 1898 the Third Judicial District was reorganized and Walsh County was included in the Eighth Judicial District. Another change in 1889 placed Walsh County in the First Judicial District. Later in 1895 the state was again re-districted and Walsh County became a part of the Seventh Judicial District, with O. E. Sauter as Judge. In 1900 W. J. Kneeshaw was elected Judge of the Seventh Judicial District, composed of Walsh, Pembina, and CavaUer counties. Judge Kneeshaw served as judge of the Seventh District until 1919, at which time the state of North Dakota was organized into six judicial districts and Walsh County was included in the Second District. The Second District includes the foUowing 11 counties: Walsh, Pembina, CavaUer, Towner, Rolette, Bottineau, Renville, McHenry, Pierce, Benson and Ramsey. The three judges, W. J. Kneeshaw, A. G. Burr and C. W. Buttz, then serving as judges of the counties included in the Second Judicial District prior to the reorganization, continued to serve. In 1927 G. Grimson succeeded A. G. Burr who was appointed as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of North Dakota. Throughout the 50 years of Walsh County's existence the records show that 5,535 civil cases have been fUed at the office of the Clerk. Criminal actions total 1,612; citizenship papers issued (declarations of first papers) total 5,084 and certificates of citizenship issued total 4,172. The foUowing Clerks have served Walsh County during the 50 years: W. E . Cleveland, M. K. Merrinan, James Garbut, GUbert Slatte, E. D. Brown, Nels Rinde and Thomas J. Hood. Submitted by Thomas J. Hood. MRS. LAURA DELL HOSTETTOR

Mathilda Hill, 46 years old. Mathilda Hill on 93rd birthday.

Mrs. Laura Dell Hostettor was born in Olney, 111., Dec. 7, 1870, and spent her childhood days there, later moving to the west coast. She was united in marriage to Murray W. Hostettor at Silverdaly, Wash., Jan. 1, 1894, and that same year came to Walsh County. She Uved in Grafton for several years. FoUowing the death of her husband, she moved to Wisconsin to make her home with her son. „, . , Mrs. Hostettor died Nov. 2, 1944. She is buried at Nekoosa, Wise.

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON FAMILY HORACE INGLE Although Horace Ingle was born at Plainfield, Wise., Sept 25 1869, most of his life has been spent in North Dakota During his early manhood, he was employed on theH C Kellogg farm southwest of Grafton. Mr. Kellogg was an outstanding pioneer, progressive in agriculture positive in his political convictions and an ardent prohibitionist. The newspapers of that period carried articles from his pen dealing with the raising of potatoes on a profitable commercial basis, which the farmers of the Grafton trade area have so ably and profitably demonstrated. When Kellogg sold the farm, Horace Ingle returned to Wisconsin and resumed his former employment as a lumberjack cook, work he had followed since a mere boy The working hours of the lumber camp cook were from 3 a.m. to 10 p. m. He baked bread, pie, rolls, cake, everything hungry men relish. The pay was from $40 to $50 a month. "Remember the Maine" The battleship, Maine, while in the harbor at Havana was blown up Feb. 15, 1898 and 266 of the vessel's crew lost their lives. All over the Umted States rang the battle cry, "Remember the Maine." President William McKinley called for volunteers. Horace had just finished the logging and spring drive, coming to Marshfield at 9 o'clock in the morning and in less than an hour, he had enlisted in Co. A, 2nd Wisconsin Regiment. By 3 o'clock the next morning the train was en route to Lookout Mountains, Tenn., where the company trained for one month, going to Charleston, S. C , where the first shot of the Civil War was fired at Fort Sumter. "Here, Horace observed, "we were treated with the utmost kindness and hospitality. The city officials gave us fresh meat and other provisions. There the Civil War ended, where it started. We were now a united nation." The contingent was soon shipped to Ponce, Puerto Rico where the men were assigned to police duty Horace took part in only one formal engagement, which he terms a "running fight" as the American soldiers chased the Spanish army 14 miles inland. In the markets he noticed "Leistikows Best Patent" flour, but selling at an exorbitant price. After nine months service the company returned to Wisconsin and was mustered out. The Mill Closes After the war Horace returned to North Dakota and bought grain at Kellogg and Voss as already related, later coming to the Grafton Roller Mill as gram buyer. Finishing his work at the mill, he was engaged as a satosman traveling through the country for the R a w S Medical Company. After a few years he returned to the mill and remained there unbl the mill closed. During the war years, the federal government imposed stringent regulations on the millers and the Grafton Mill was assessed a heaw fine which impaired S l i n a n c i a l stability. The State Mill and Elevator at Grand Forks was a new and keen competitor. This. Horace thinks, more than poor management, was the cause of the failure of the mill. In 1904 he married Mrs. Emilia Schlange.

Christopher G. Jackson was bom Aug. 21, 1849, in Perth, Ont. . „ , _ . Mary Barr was born Dec. 1, 1856, in Renfrew, Ont., where she spent her girlhood. The stone house where she was born is still standing and in good condition. Christopher Gunness Jackson and Mary Barr were married in Renfrew Dec. 10,1872, where they made thenhome until 1880. Mr. Jackson came to Grand Forks in 1880- Mrs. Jackson joined him later in the fall ot 1881 at Grand Forks. In January, 1882, Mr. Jackson came to Grafton, bought land and built a house. Mrs. Jackson came to Grafton with her household property in April 1882 She waited at the Grand Forks depot from Friday morning until Saturday evening for the train to take her to Grafton. She boarded the train at 6 o'clock, but on account of the high water the train traveled very slowly and did not reach Grafton until the next morning at 4 o'clock. _,, Grafton was merely a collection of shanties. They attended their first church service in a log cabin, also used for a school. . Mr Jackson built a blacksmith shop in 1882, across from the Merchants Hotel on the comer of Griggs Avenue and Sixth Street. He operated it continuously for over 50 years. The Blacksmith Shop was one ot the oldest business institutions in Grafton under the same ownership. A diploma was awarded to C. G. Jackson at the First Annual Fair of Walsh County Industrial Society, held at Grafton, Territory of Dakota, Sept. 25 and 25,1885 for the "First Premium for Best Farm Roller, Division I" Later he also made a large number of horseshoes and disDlaved them in a large case at the Grand Forks Fair. Tte b l a S S property was sold to the Noxthwesteiu Bell Telephone Co., who built a commercial office and a plant building. Mrs Jackson was a charter member of Mizpah Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, a charter member of the Presbyterian Church in Grafton, a member of the former Mite Society, a charter member of the Women s Christian Temperance Union, and a member ot tne Federated Church Ladies Aid. Christopher G. Jackson received his Master Mason Degree in Crescent Lodge during the territorial days. On Julv 8 1893, he was admitted into full membership in Grafton Chapter Royal Arch Masons and later knighted in St Omer Commandery K. T. He was one of the charter members of Mizpah Chapter O. E. S. He was a member of the first fire department organized in the early days ot Grafton. Also a charter member of Odd Fellows July 27, 1892, Lodge 44. ' , „ Mr and Mrs. Jackson had always stood for the better things in the community, and in no small way in money and labor, worked to give to the community a moral atmosphere that was good and wholesome. Mr and Mrs. Jackson observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary Dec. 10, 1922, with 56 relatives and friends at their home on Griggs Avenue. They also observed their Sixtieth Anniversary in a quiet manner with a family dinner at their home. Mrs Jackson made an airplane trip from Fargo in 1946 when she was 90 years old, with her daughter, Mrs. R. K. Grantier, to spend the winter in Salt Lake City with the Grantiers. There were 11 children born to Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Jackson: Alexander, Agnes Isabel, Bruce Barr, Mary 176

Myrtle, Myrtle Jean, Clyde Emerson, Mary, Ralph Wallace Allan. Rubv Venona. ChristoDher Herbert. There are 10 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. First Sgt. Ralph W. Jackson entered the service April 15,1907. At the Mexican border he served in 1916-17. He served at Camps Greene, Mills, Merritt, then left the U. S. on the Leviathan Dec. 14,1917. He stayed with Co. C during the entire war period and was discharged March 11,1919. He was a member of Co. C for 16 years. Seaman Christopher H. Jackson entered service Feb. 13, 1918, serving at Great Lakes Training Station. He took a course with Seaman Gunner Class at the Navy Yards, Washington, D. C. The signing of the Armistice prevented him from finishing school. He was discharged Jan. 25, 1919. Two of the children are still living - Mrs. Casper (Ruby) Dahl, Lima, Ohio, and Christopher H. Jackson, Milwaukee, Wise. The following grandchildren live in Grafton: Bruce C. Jackson, Carol Ann Jackson, Mrs. Greg (Bonnie Jackson) Elde, and two great great grandsons, twins Korey Gregg Elde and Kelly Lyle Elde. C. G. Jackson died Feb. 5, 1936. Mrs. Mary Barr Jackson died April 6, 1948. They are both buried in Masonic Crescent Cemetery, Grafton. These children are buried in Grafton, Masonic Crescent Cemetery: Allan, Mary, Clyde, Bruce Jackson and wife, Katie. Ralph W. Jackson is buried in Grafton City Cemetery. Myrtle Jackson Grantier is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Colma, Calif. Submitted by Mrs. Susie Givens Jackson.

ANDREW AND CHRISTINE JORANDBY The Jorandbys originally came from Norway. Andrew C. Jorandby's father and mother lived in Necedah, Wise, where the father was a blacksmith. Andrew was born in 1860. He received meager schooling, probably no more than the fourth grade. He tried to follow his father's trade as a blacksmith but the fumes and smoke from the forge irritated his lungs and the doctor ordered him to find other work. He came to Dakota Territory in 1880, the year the railroad crossed the bridge over the Red River into Grand Forks. He obtained work on Jim HUl's ambitious project of that day, the projected line to the west coast through Dakota and Montana. The railroad at that time was known as the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba. It was later changed to the Great Northern. Leaving Grand Forks, the railroad tracks make a curve which was engineered by Andrew Jorandby without benefit of coUege training. He accomplished the feat by his eye alone and his natural instincts as a construction engineer. The railroad company was so impressed, they told him that had he an education in engineering he would have had an important position with the company. Andrew worked with the railroad as they progressed into Montana. By 1886 the rail line had been extended to the tent town of Minot and on to Gasman Coulee, four miles west. Jim Hill declared early in 1887 that the track must reach Great Falls, Mont., before winter. About 8,000 men gathered in the roistering town of Minot in the spring of 1887 to work on the grade pushing westward. On Nov. 18,1887, a season's record of 643 miles of track had been laid to Helena, Mont. Andrew lived in the work train as he worked on the railroad. He had accumulated two trunks filled with Indian relics. These were stolen. Because of a bit of erratic gunplay in the railroad construction camp, Andrew carried a buUet in his kneecap to his dying day. He carried a pearl-handled revolver for his protection.

GERD JOHNSON FAMILY Gerd Johnson was born in Oldenburg, Germany, April 14 1862, married Caroline Reichelt, Wabasha County, Minn., March 12, 1887. She was also born in Germany, Oct. 31, 1872, and came from Breslau, Germany. Gerd Johnson died Nov. 14, 1928, and Mrs. Johnson died Dec. 2, 1942. They both came to the United States by boat and first Uved in Wabasha County where they were married. In 1888 they moved to a small acreage near Nash in Farmington Township, and in 1894 moved by wagon to the east edge of Grafton, where they operated a truck garden In the early 1900's it was a familiar sight to see the Johnson Garden Wagon loaded with vegetables first horse drawn and later a truck peddling vegetables in Grafton and in neighboring towns. In those days you didn't buy vegetables in the grocery stores like you do now. Children were, William, Anna (Mrs. Wm Schrank) Frank, Fred, Ella (Mrs. John Patterson), Clara Mrs. Blankenship), Jack, Henry, Marie (Mrs. Orla Allen), George and Evelyn (Mrs. Lud Heltne).

Andrew Jorandby was working on the railroad with the crew at the time of the notorious lynching when Charles Thurber, a Negro blacksmith helper, was lynched by a mob which stormed the Grand Forks City Jail and hanged him from the Great Northern Railway Bridge in 1882. The foreman of the crew warned his men that if they went to the lynching, they would lose their bS

"'° in 1890, Andrew Jorandby retired from railroad construction and turned to farming. He bought 390 acres in Section 30 of Oakwood Township just south of the section containing the John Colson and Gus Heder claims. These latter claims bordered on the Grafton Townsite. Andrew later bought 120 acres from Halvor Fodstad and 160 acres from William McJannet. He needed 73.84 acres to round out the section which he purchased from Pete Lind. He owned 829 acres of land. In 1890, he married Christine V. Halvorsen when she was 18. Christine was born in Milwaukee in 1872. When they were married they lived at the south end of thenland in some old buildings. Later they moved to the north quarter. They moved part of the barn from the south quarter to the new location. It was made of solid oak. To this day, no one can understand how they could drive square iron nails into the hard, tough lumber. Christine's father was a carpenter. He built the buildings on the Jorandby farm. Andrew's keen engineering sense served him well. When he laid out the site of his home, he chose

In 1922 he built a house on Cooper Ave. in Grafton and retired. Several members of the family ran' the garden over the years. At present George is living on the home place, semi-retired, but Evelyn (Mrs. Heltne) is following her father's profession, lives on a farm near Nash and is in the gardening business. The only other member of the family hving in this vicinity is Mrs. Anna Schrank, the oldest daughter in the family Written by Ruby Schrank, granddaughter. 177

the highest ground so that the spring floods never came any closer than 10 feet to the house, not even during the spring that the nearby railroad grade washed out. Andrew Jorandby served on the Oakwood Township Board for 25 years. It was his duty to guard the blank ballots at election time and to distribute them to the polling place. On one election day there was a fierce blizzard, so thick that the moment he left the porch of his house Christine, who was frantic with anxiety, lost sight of him He was adamant in fulfilling his duty in delivering the ballots to the polling place at Oakwood He walked two miles east carrying the ballots in saddlebags until he reached the Wralstad home. At this point, Pete Wralstad joined him in the stormy trek to Oakwood, about eight miles in all. Christine's sister, Albertine, from Milwaukee, made two trips to North Dakota to visit her sister, after which she remained to marry John Larson of Grafton. The two families were close in their family relationship through the years. ._ . . Six children were born to Andrew and Christine Jorandby: Myrtle, 1893-1975; Cyrus, 1896-1964; Adah, 1898- Arthur, 1900-1931; Alvin, 1902; George, 1908. The children attended school in District No. 105. Their father was a member of the school board. Myrtle worked in Grafton in a millinery shop owned and operated by the Gaarder sisters. She married Lloyd Lake who worked in McDonald Farr's Grocery Store in Grafton. Later he managed the Red and White Store. Lloyd and Myrtle moved to Grand Forks where they made their permanent home They had two daughters. Lloyd worked for the Red Owl Store, finally going into the grocery business with a store of his own. Alvin and George became associated with Lloyd Lake in the grocery business. While m Grand Forks, George attended the University of North Dakota for two years. He managed a grocery store in Hillsboro for a year. Then he traveled for a grocery firm. Myrtle also worked in Grand Forks, working for the Widman Candy Company. Adah became a school teacher. She married George Lindell. They lived in Cheyenne, Wyo., until they retired to Escondido, Calif. Arthur E Jorandby was Seaman 2nd Class in the U. S Navy, entered the service July 6, 1918. After training at the Great Lakes Training Station, he went to Brunswick Ga where he did construction work in the Naval Aviation Camp. From Norfolk, Va., he was transferred to USS Rijndam, a transport, and made several trips across to France. He was discharged Aug. 15,1919. Cyrus S Jorandby was Yeoman 2nd Class. He entered service May 9, 1917. He also trained at the Great Lakes Training Station. He attended school in Philadelphia after which he was transferred to the Henderson, USS Carola and U. S. Destroyer Smith. He spent 16 months in France. He received his discharge June 30, 1919. Cyrus and his wife, Grace, had a photo studio in Kenosha, Wise. Grace did the tinting on the photographs. Cvrus also worked for the Snap-On Tool Company. Arthur worked on the family farm until he was overtaken by the botulism tragedy, in which a total of 13 residents of the Grafton community died as the result of eating a salad made of home-canned peas. Arthur died Jan 31, 1931, at 31. After his death, Alvin and George operated the farm until their retirement in 1973. Alvin married Helen Schmidt. They had two daughters and a son. George married Myrtle Moe. They

had eight children. Myrtle Jorandby died in 1959 and left her family some of them small children, bereft of a mother's care. With the help of his two older daughters, Judy (Mrs Robert Boone) and Bonnie, George succeeded in keeping the family together in their home. In 1963 George married Mrs. Sylvia Flanders. Andrew Jorandby was public spirited and patriotic. In the days of World War I, intensive drives were made to sell Liberty Bonds to finance the war effort. The Liberty Bond Committee for Oakwood Township consisted of A. C Jorandby, Grafton; Dan Demers and Joseph LaBerge both of Oakwood. Mr. and Mrs. Jorandby were active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton Andrew Jorandby and Chris Bjomeby of Hoople were double cousins. The two families kept in close touch with each other, visiting back and forth with horse and bu£2v Christine Jorandby died in 1938. One year later, Andrew Jorandby died in 1939. They are buried in the Grafton City Cemetery with their son, Arthur, and a granddaughter, Betty Jo, the daughter of Alvin and Helen Jorandby, who died in infancy. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. HUGO J. KUTZ I was bom July 11, 1892, in Oberkirch, Baden, Germany in the southern part of the famed Schwartzwald (The Black Forest of Germany.) My father emigrated to the United States in 1897 and after visiting with acquaintances in Milwaukee, he settled in a predominantly German community in Medford, Wise., where he prepared a future home for us. My mother, along with her four children, followed in 1899 and we arrived at the new home in April of that year. I attended a parochial school for two years after which I was enrolled in the public school system until after I entered the 7th grade. With sickness in the family, I was obliged to leave school and help to make our living. I began working in a hardware store at $5 per week for a two year period, after which my father made arrangements for me to serve an apprenticeship in Milwaukee in 1907. Because ot sickness I returned home in 1910, and while I was convalescing, I was offered a job operating a farm tractor in Western Canada at $3 per day along with board and lodging included plus prepaid transportation to destination. Since my parents had no objections, I accepted the offer and arrived in Rosetown, Sask., Canada on April 10,1910. At that time I was an American citizen because of my father's naturalization. We had to pick up the Hart-Parr tractor with an attached six gang Cockshutt plow 42 miles from the land on which I was to work and run it across virgin prairie to its destination. There were no roads or trails to follow but we were directed to go southwest from the starting point and we would be met by the boss on the second day out. By dropping one plow every mile for about 25 feet we could look back and follow a straight line to our destination. My employer enticed me to file on a homestead which was directly across the road allowance from the land on which I was working; at that time land was valued at $35 per acre after it was proved up. Because he was an asthmatic, and thinking that a change in climate might alleviate his sufferings, I invited my father to join me during the 1911 farming season. He spent the entire season without an attack and returned with me to Medford after the season was over. In the 178

spring of 1912 he returned to try farming again - I purchased four oxen for him with which he began plowing my homestead. In the fall of 1912 he returned to Medford again but with the intention of moving the entire family (with the exception of my sister who lived in Chicago) up to my homestead in the coming spring. I stayed on my claim that winter in order to complete the third and last term of residency on the homestead. Asthma caught up with my father that winter and he nearly passed out before he was able to travel again. But, with the help of many of his friends, he managed to get a freight car loaded with his meager household possessions and essentials that were so necessary in making a new start in life on the prairies. In addition to household necessities, the freight car contained a Jersey cow, a Holstein heifer, 25 chickens and the family dog. My father and three brothers traveled with the car and took turns in caring forthe livestock throughout the trip which took 17 days from the time they left Medford, Wise., until they arrived in Rosetown, Sask., in April of 1913. My mother and youngest brother came to Rosetown by passenger train along with some friends who were to work on the farm on which I was employed as a tractor operator.

Hugo Kutz on furlough—1918. I spent the winter of 1912-13 on my claim and looked after the four oxen. Before snow fell that winter, I had to haul water from a spring in the hills, a distance of about six miles. I had three wooden barrels on a "stoneboat," pulled by two oxen and after the barrels were filled by use of an antique wooden hand pump, each barrel was covered with a burlap sack which in turn was held in place by the loose top hoop of the barrel. Water was then splashed over the burlap which froze in short order and prevented splashing out until I got back to my shanty. After the first snowfall, no more water was needed since the oxen licked snow like all other animals did in winter. Early in March, my food supply was getting low and I had to prepare to make a trip to Rosetown for much needed "vittles." I borrowed a sleigh and with about 30 bushel of flax plus several bundles of oat sheaves with which to feed the two oxen, I left at daybreak for the 26 mile trip and arrived at the elevator at dusk. The following day I bought supplies, took care of the oxen and made ready for the return trip on the third day. That trip was the first and last time I drove oxen and while it was an essential pioneering experience of my life, I lost all the enthusiasm I once thought I had to make other excursions with that primitive type of locomotion. During the 1913 and 1914 farming seasons I was employed by J. G. Bjornstad of Grafton who conducted extensive farming operations in the Rosetown District. It

Grafton Auto & Machine Co. Part of the tools and equipment in the shop portion of the shop—1922. Joe Rinde, Leo Desautel, Hugo J. Kutz, Arnold F. Kutz. has always been my intention to become engaged in the auto repair business for which I had been trained. So at Mr. Bjornstad's suggestion, I visited Grafton during the fall of 1913 and decided then to return after the close of the 1914 harvest season. I arrived in Grafton in October of 1914 and after contacting the Buick Sales Agency which was located in a frame building on the site where the Grafton Record Building is now standing - the manager offered me space in the back part of the building which I accepted and began with my service work. However, colder weather was approaching and since no heat was provided in the building, I moved to a location on 5th and Griggs Avenue which is presently occupied by a Phillips 66 Service Station. A small garage and machine shop was put up for sale early in 1915. Its owners were Walstad and Radford. An agreement for purchase was made with them and on April 15, 1915, I became the new owner. Before summer was over, business reached the point where I realized that the building was inadequate for the work at hand. I had three employees working for me and with only limited space in a 25 foot building, much of the work had to be done on the curb of the street and on the back part of the lot on which the building waslocated. I became a member of the "Grafton Commercial Club" and realizing the predicament I was in, several business men suggested that I consider erecting a new building suited to the business in which I was engaged. They assured me that financial help could be made available through loans from business and professional men to cover the cost of the building, which could be repaid with interest over an extended period of time. Although I was already deeply in debt, I was reluctant about increasing the debt load. However, after many sleepless nights and more prompting by some of the many friends I had made since I came to Grafton, I decided to go ahead with the project. So after plans were drawn up, a bid from Klostermann and Kirtland amounting to $4,634 was accepted. Mr. Ed Hogenson (a retired businessman) acted as trustee for the building and its financing. He prepared the petition which I circulated among those who wished to make loans to me of $100 each and which were secured by a mortgage on my homestead in western Canada. Within three days I had the signatures of 46 business and professional men and some farmers from the Grafton area. The old building was razed and construction began

immediately. I rented temporary space in the Tom Fisher Feedmill Building while construction was going on. The new building was ready in October of 1916,1 lost no time moving the equipment into place. Because I was still a Canadian citizen (on account of homesteading), I applied for American citizenship since I had completed a two year residency in Grafton as required by law. Now that I was permanently set up in business, I wanted to do my part in civic affairs of the community. It was quite by accident that I became a member of the Grafton Volunteer Fire Department. Ona Sunday afternoon in June of 1916 the fire whistle sounded while I and several of my friends were swimming in the south bend of the river in Leistikow Park. Looking toward the downtown area, the smoke rose from the direction of where my new building was going up. We took to our heels, clad only in bathing trunks, and found that Motroen and Locken Tailor Shop, which was directly over Tom Gagnon's Grocery Store, was on fire. I volunteered to help and stayed until the fire was put out. Fire Chief Gus Gorder called on me the following day and asked that I attend the next fire meeting because I was qualified to become a member of Grafton's Volunteer Fire Department. I have been an active member since that time and served as Chief of the Department for two terms following the transfer of Chief Fred Baumgardner to Park Rapids, Minn., as manager for the Bell Telephone Company. I received a letter from my father in the fall of 1917 informing me that my brother Arnold had a yearning to work in the automobile repair business and if I could give him employment he would send him to me. I accepted his offer and several days later, Arnold called me from Winnipeg saying that the authorities would let him go no further until I came up to fill out some clearance papers. I told him I would leave the following morning and that he should be at the Union Station to meet the Northern Pacific train on its arrival. When I stepped off the train I was met by my brother, along with an escort of two ritle bearing soldiers in uniform and an imigration "Headmaster," plus a liberal group of spectators to witness the event It was an unpleasant surprise and I quickly realized that a trap had been sprung on me. When I asked what the trouble was, the "Headmaster," who acted as spokesman for the group, told me to remain silent and to simply follow the lead soldier in single file to Headquarters (Fort Garry) for interrogation. On arrival, the officer in charge explained that because of the war, all foreigners and especially Germans, were under scrutiny for security reasons, and from in-, formation which my brother had volunteered to the "Headmaster" (an old English "Cockney") at the Union Station, proper clearance had to be established before either one of us could travel anywhere in the Dominion. When it came my turn to talk, I informed him that I left my place of business in Grafton to help my brother in any way I could because he was still a minor and had been sent to me by my father who was farming in the Elrose, Sask., community. I explained that I had crossed the border on many previous occasions to visit my parents and had never had any trouble going into or returning from Canada. Furthermore, I was a Canadian citizen through the Homestead Act, having proved up a homestead in Saskatchewan. "Well" said he, "if you did prove up a claim you should have no difficulty giving its exact location and title." I informed him that the exact

location was the Southwest Quarter of Section 16 in Township 26, Range 15, West of the 3rd Meridian, but the title was left with my parents who were living on the homestead at this time. I would have to get telegraphic verification of title from Kerrobert, Sask., where that information was available. He informed us we were allowed to go with the understanding that I would get the verification, submit it to him, and not leave the Dominion until he gave us clearance. We walked back to the Union Station and when I looked at the Tower Clock, we had 25 minutes to catch the southbound train for the States at theC P R Station. In desperation, I suddenly decided to make a run for it. I offered a tax driver $5 if he could get us to the C P R. Station in time to catch the southbound train. He told us to "hop in" and he would leave us off where we could board the train without going through the station gates. It was a close call because the train was beginning to move when we jumped on. We had no tickets and when the conductor came around, I explained that we were delayed and had no time to get tickets but we did have cash to pay the fare, which he appeared to be reluctant to accept. When the train stopped at Gretna for an unusually long period, I expected the worst to happen, but finally the train started up again, the conductor collected our fare and told me that he had to check with emmigration officials in Gretna before crossing the border Believe me, the American flag never looked better to me than it did that afternoon at the G. N. Depot at Neche Evidently the "Headmaster" (spy hunter) at the Union Station in Winnipeg had not found out that we "flew the coop" on him. On our arrival in Grafton that evening, my brother told me how that "Headmaster" at the Union Station had pumped him for information regarding our family history That fellow had no legitimate reason for detaining my brother hi the first place and even less to bait me to come to Winnipeg under false pretenses. On the following day a Canadian emigration man called on me for an explanation and reason for leaving Canada without proper clearance. I informed him that I regretted any inconvenience that the affair had caused to anyone except that "Headmaster" (spy hunter) at the Union Station in Winnipeg - for the diabolical and under handed method he used in making trouble for Canadian citizens because of their German ancestry. Under these circumstances I owed no one a reason or an explanation for leaving Canada in the way I did and consequently had nothing more to say regarding the incident. He then told me that the case was not closed and that I could expect to be held accountable for the unauthorized exit I made, at any time I crossed the border in the future. I assured him that I had no objections as to how he handled the matter and following an exchange of greetings, we parted company I had built up a wonderful business and began making payments on the loans I made, first installment was due Dec. 1,1917 - but early in 19181 received notice that I was subject to the Draft in the coming April. I made a trip to Wisconsin to arrange for a capable friend of mine to operate the business during my stay in the army, to which he had agreed. I was finally informed to be ready for induction on May 27,1918.1 called my friend to come as soon as possible but he informed me that because of serious illness in his family he had to cancel the agreement. I asked for an extension of time from the Draft Board, but was refused, which left me two options; 180

to lock up the place for the duration or give power of attorney to someone I could trust with my business during my absence. Under duress, I chose the latter and it turned out to have been the biggest mistake of my lifetime. I came home on a 10 day furlough in January of 1919 and received a surprise visit from Grafton's last surviving Civil War veteran, Henry A. Ball. He was startled to learn that I had not yet received my official discharge from the service and after I explained to him that all requests I had made for my release from service were fruitless, he offered his assistance in expediting my immediate release from military service to which I was entitled because of business responsibilities which required my urgent and personal attention now that the war was over. I assured him I was grateful to him for his offer and would be willing to repay him for any expense he might incur in connection with this affair and that if he was successful, I would bring him a quart of the very best "medicine" that the Louisville, Kentucky, distillers had to offer on my return home from military service. When we parted company that day, he patted me on my shoulder and said, "consider yourself out of the army right now, because I will fulfill my end of the bargain but make sure you don't forget that "medicine " from Louisville - I am counting on it." I did not know it at the time, but it developed that Henry Ball was a legislative doorkeeper during the 191819 legislative assembly when Lynn J. Frazier of Hoople was governor of North Dakota. Evidently Lynn Frazier and Henry Ball were close buddies because Henry lost no time getting the governor's request for my discharge to headquarters at Fort Benjamin Harrison. I overstayed my furlough for three days due to bad train connections in Minneapolis and Chicago, but on the second day after my return, the Captain approached me for an explanation of my "pull" with the governor of North Dakota. He accused me of having circumvented his authority in a roundabout way for getting my discharge without his approval. It did me no good to tell him that I was not acquainted with the governor of North Dakota. I assumed that he was acting in my behalf through pressure from other businessmen in Grafton who wanted me back to salvage my business. At any rate, a personal visit by Col. Wilbur Willing, Commander of Fort Benjamin Harrison, resolved the issue and I was ordered to take my medical exams in anticipation of my discharge which I received two days later and started my final journey home to Grafton via Louisville, Kentucky. Needless to say, Henry Ball's "medicine" was delivered on schedule. When I returned after an absence of only 10 months, the merchandise I had in stock was disposed of, the accounts receivable were uncollectable and to cap the climax, he made a loan of $3,000 at the bank for which I was held responsible. It was a shocking disappointment to find my business finances in a most deplorable state of affairs with no one else to blame but myself. However, looking at it from a brighter standpoint, I was indeed in a much better position than some other of my buddies who were incapacitated in body or mind for the rest of their lives because of their military service. I came back unscathed and as sound of body and mind as I was at the time I was inducted into the service. So, with a new building in which to conduct my business, with a host of

friends to do business with and being located in one of the most prosperous areas of North Dakota, I became more determined than ever before to meet the challenge and make good, regardless of all odds. My place of business opened at 7 a. m. in the morning and stayed open until midnight. I worked from 16 to 18 hours per day, and believe me, I slept well during my rest period.

Grafton Auto & Machine Co. taken in 1929. Left to right: H. J. Kutz, Frankie Vatnsdal [now Mrs. Al Osborne], Leo Desautel, Joe Rinde, Arnold F. Kutz. Before 1919 there were no improved highways in Walsh County. Very few roads were gravel surfaced. In order that field water levels could be equalized during wet weather seasons, culverts were "trenched" into the roadway and then mounded over with earth, which always left a "hump" in the road, and while this "hump" had no objectionable effects on the slow moving, horsedrawn methods of transportation of those days, it became evident that they were not meant for the faster moving automobiles which were coming into use in ever increasing numbers. There were more than 20 of these "humps" on the 10 mile stretch of road between Grafton and Minto and unless an auto traveled under 20 miles per hour while going over one of the "humps," it would became airborne and cause spring breakage because of the "hop." Many of the early autos were factory equipped with "smooth" treaded tires and so during wet weather tire chains had to be used on the rear wheels in order to get traction. Without chains a car would become hopelessly mired in the gumbo slick roads. I had acquired a used Model T Ford roadster which I stripped of everything except the seat. It had no windshield or top and the space behind .the seat was used for a tool compartment. It was light enough so that two of us could lift either front or rear end of the car in case it became mired or stuck. Because of its Ught weight, I was able to use it before other cars dared to go out on any of the roads. Of course, it was slow to travel when roads were wet or sticky, but there were times during an emergency, such as when Dr. G. W. Glaspel had to make a sick call in the rural area and he depended on me and my old "Tin Lizzie" to make the caU and bring him back again. I wul always remember one of the night trips he asked me to make with him - the only trip which was not completed and could easily have ended in tragedy. He had a sick call to make about a mile from a farm which he owned himself but was well acquainted with the terrain in that area. There was a Ught covering of snow on the ground and we encountered no trouble untU we came to the N. P. RaUroad crossing near the southeast comer of the Jim Hanson farm. A grove of trees acted as a snow fence and the snow on the road was too deep for our "Tin Lizzie" to

negotiate. But the railroad track was clear in both directions and we knew that passenger trains ran on daytime schedules only. We decided to use the railroad tracks to the next crossing which was about v* of a mile ahead. We had not gone more than 100 yards when we were surprised by the oncoming headlight of a freight train I lost no time backing up. Dr. Glaspel stood on the running board to watch where I was going when he suddenly lost his grip on the seat and slid down the grade into the snow. He was quick to get up and tell me he was not hurt but to get the "Tin Lizzie" off the track. Fortunately for both of us, we did make it back to our starting point on the railroad crossing on the south side of the Jim Hanson farm, but for us it was the first and last tome we would ever use any railroad right of way on which to drive a car. I married Florence (Sunshine) DeSautel snortly after her return from France where she served as a Registered Army Nurse in the Base Hospital at Brest. We made our permanent home at 504 Western Avenue, in one of the oldest houses in Grafton. It had only a few modern conveniences at the time we moved in but it was a happy contented home to which improvements were made as we could afford them. Final payments on the forty-six $100 loans made to me by business and professional men in 1916 were made in December of 1927 After we were paid the bonuses for our service in World War I, we paid the mortgage on our home which made us debt free for the first time in our life. Many historic changes have taken place since 1914 when I first came here. 1 On the State School property only one permanent building was standing. It is "Old Main" Building facing toward the east and while it is still standing, it will soon be replaced. 2 Electric current was being generated with a Corliss Steam Engine which operated from dusk to dawn only - no current was generated during daylight hours. Twenty-four hour service began in 1916. 3 Hill Avenue was paved with Cedar Blocks from 3rd Street to 7th Street. I was home on furlough in the summer of 1918 when Josh Napper and his team of horses were plowing up the Cedar Blocks in preparation for bituminous paving which was started in the 20's. 4. There was an aging pontoon bridge across the Red River located on the eastern end of the Oakwood Road. It was in a constant need of repair and kept in operation through material and financial aid from the Commercial Club of Grafton. After the new bridge was built over the Red River at Pembina, the pontoon bridge which had been used on the Pembina to St. Vincent crossing was floated up stream to the Oakwood road crossing, replacing the old pontoon bridge which had outlived its usefulness. The job of floating the bridge upstream to its new location was done under the supervision of the Superintendent of the Light and Water Department, E. W Steinbuck, assisted by L. R. Roney. It stayed in service until the new bridge across the Red River was completed on the new location where Highway 17 joms with Minnesota Highway 2. .. 5 Grafton's only steam laundry was destroyed by fire in 1920 and was not rebuilt. Laundry had to be sent to Grand Forks thereafter. 6 Grafton's Roller Mill was forced into bankruptcy and followed shortly thereafter by the closing of the original "First National Bank" which was owned and

operated by the F. H. Sprague family. While the mill closing came as a shock because of the loss of employment for a large number of employees, the Bank's closing turned out to be a disaster of a kind from which it was hard to recover. I shall never forget the hardship that was imposed on many people with low incomes and especially the elderly, who had depended on the bank to protect their life savings. Oh yes, I was caught in the net myself because only the day previous to its closing, I had made a substantial deposit which went down the drain along with others. From the conversation I had with the Chief Teller at the time I made the deposit, I could not have had the remotest reason to suspect that anything was wrong with the financial affairs of the Bank. 7. WhUe the Mill and Bank closings had a depressing effect on the economic affairs of this community, another event which had a directly opposite effect because of benefits in many different forms of which residents of present and future generations of Grafton are able to enjoy is deserving of a place of mention in the history of Grafton. The event has political overtones because as a direct result of subsequent developments, North Dakota recorded the first recall of a Mayor from office in its history, when Mayor B. A. SeU was replaced by Dr. Frank W. Deason on January 28, 1927. Here is the story: Shortly after B. A. SeU was elected to his third term as Mayor of Grafton in April of 1926, the Otter Tail Power Company offered to purchase our light and power plant and its distribution system for $125,000. In considering this offer, several stormy meetings of the City Council which foUowed ended in a deadlock with 4 Aldermen favoring the sale and 4 opposing the sale. However, a following meeting showed a change of 1 vote and so with a vote of 5 to 3 favoring the sale, the plant was sold to Otter Tail Power Company who took possession in November of 1926. In order to counteract the sale, an injunction had to be obtained as quickly as possible. It was Alderman Eddie Mattson who shouldered that task and with financial assistance from his friends, who were sympathetic to his cause, the firm of Depuy and Greenberg was employed to handle aU legal matters in connection with the injunction. As a final insult, the District Court voided the transfer of our planttothe Otter Tail Power Company and ordered it returned to its rightful owners in August of 1927 after Otter TaU Power Company had operated it for a 10 month period. The old steam engine plant as well as the budding in which it was housed were in a bad state of repair and for all practical purposes, both had long outUved thenusefulness. A representative of Fairbanks Morse & Co. made an offer to the City Council to furnish new diesel engine generators complete with all controls necessary without any advance payments, and with the understanding that the total indebtedness would be paid from net earnings of the plant after it became operational. At that time we were paying 13 cents per killowatt and the representative suggested that the rate could easUy be reduced to 8% cents and stUl leave a comfortable margin with which to pay for the new equipment. After due consideration, the City CouncU accepted the offer and went ahead with the project. The new power house was built, engines and generators were instaUed and when the new plant began operating fuU scale in February of 1930, the new rate of 8% cents per killowatt went into effect which was a saving of 40 percent to all light and power users in Grafton. The demand 182

tenance for which I had been trained in Milwaukee, was available to anyone in need, regardless ofthe trade name of the automobile or from whom it might have been purchased. Having always been alert for new methods by which I could improve my service, I acquired the first oxyacetylene welding and cutting equipment for Grafton in 1916. With it, permanent repairs could be made on broken or worn farm machinery parts which restored them to their original usefulness. After World War I, I obtained the Atwater Kent Radio franchise for this area which became a new and profitable sales item in my business. The first automatic type of oU burner was instaUed in the (then newly built) CoUins Apartment House on 6th Street. It was forerunner of many other installations which followed soon thereafter in private residences as well as in places of business. My famUy and I visited the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1934, the General Electric Oil Burning Display interested me because of its unique and compact design and its quiet and clean burning operation. I acquired the sales franchise for Walsh and Pembina Counties and made the first installation in my home in the faU of 1934 and another in my place of business in 1935. PubUc acceptance was spontaneous and the demand for the product reached the stage where I furnished the equipment to other dealers in the territory which had been assigned to me. I supervised aU instaUation and provided service if and when it was needed. After other producers of oil burners came on the market, trouble developed because of new building construction where plumbers became reluctant to bid on new construction unless they could make a combined bid on both plumbing and heating. It was under this circumstance that I had to take on the plumbing business with heating in order to remain competitive in the fuel oU burning equipment business which I had so painstakingly developed and pioneered here in Grafton.

for electric energy increased by leaps and bounds, so much so, that progressively larger engines and generators were needed on three different occasions to meet the energy needs of our community. It is most interesting to note that all financial obligations in connection with the purchase of the equipment were met in advance of their maturity. In addition many public improvements were paid for from earnings of our light and power plant. It was precisely from that source of earnings that the City of Grafton made a recent loan of $750,000 to the Unity Hospital Association with which modernization of our new Unity Hospital became a reality. My hat is off to Eddie Mattson in tribute which is long overdue for the unselfish and courageous action he took against overwhelming odds on that occasion, when he, almost single-handedly challenged one of the giants of the utility complexes and came out a winner in behalf of the citizens of Grafton. Had it not been for his prompt action and his enthusiastic perseverance in "striking while the iron was still hot," we would unquestionably be paying tribute to the power complexes and taxing ourselves for many of the public improvements which were paid for from the earnings of our own electric light and power plant. Coming as it does in his declining years, this tribute to Eddie is an expression of respect and appreciation which I am sure is shared by a good many other citizens of Grafton, for an outstanding service which he performed for all of us during his term as alderman from Grafton's 2nd Ward. Although I came here as a stranger, I had little difficulty in winning the confidence of so many of the people with whom I came in contact because of work I performed for them, their co-operation and encouragement made it a real pleasure for me to continue my work to the best of my ability. As work kept piling up in ever increasing volume I found it necessary to get additional help. Of course, trained help was not available so I looked around for local help to be trained on the job. It is interesting to note that a few of the employees of those early days are still living - many of them in this community from which they had been selected. For instance, Irwin Schumacher, now of Drayton, was my first employee during the time I was operating in the Walstad and Radford Building in 1915. Others were my brother, Arnold, who is now living in Chicago with our widowed sister, Alice O'Connor; and then our former postmaster, WilUam G. Mclntyre. Bookkeepers stUl Uving are Ruby Jackson, now Mrs. Ruby Dahl, Lima, Ohio; Winnifred DonneUy, now Mrs. M . C. Flaten, Edinburg; Frankie Vatnsdal, now Mrs. Al Osborne, Grafton; Josephine Geston, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Mary Rose Kutz, now Mary Rose Rodriguez, Grafton; and Monica LaHaise, now Mrs. Nigel Bradney, Costa Mesa, CaUf. The employees of that time but now deceased were OUver OmUe, Vemon OmUe, George DonneUy, Joseph Rinde, John MuUoy, Hartwell Meade, Miss Maresch, Miss Mathilda DeSautel, Miss Lily Grinter, Lawrence O'Connor, Leo DeSautel and John DeSautel. At this writing, I have completed over 60 years of service as a businessman in this community. Practically all of it on the same location where I began the automobile repair business in 1915 under the name of Grafton Auto and Machine Company. I have never sold automobiles of any make or kind, so my service and experience in automobile main-

N.Y.A. Class—1942—Tool board display of hand forged, heat treated and completely finished tools made by students ofthe 1941 N.Y.A. Class. All were hand forged from discarded steel such as axle shafts and automobile spring leaves and made into a variety of useful tools which included cold chisels, punches, screw drivers, wrecking bars, as well as such edge tools as draw shaves, butcher knives and twist drills. These pictures were taken following the graduation exercise and banquet held in the auditorium of new City Hall here in Grafton. While we were involved in World War II, Harald Bliss (Grafton High School's science instructor) asked 183

me to help as an instructor in N. Y. A training classes which were to be conducted during evenings from 7 to 11 o'clock. They were to be open to young men who wished to attend but limited to 25 students per class. Subjects to be taught were basic training in auto and tractor maintenance and repair, gas and electric arc welding and sheet metal work. From surveys he had already made, he informed me that this would be an excellent opportunity for me to impart my training and experience to many interested young men who were anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity to get this basic training before entering the service. I assured him of my fullest co-operation and as a result, I conducted three such evening classes in Grafton after which the University in Grand Forks took over the N. Y. A. program. Because of a shortage of instructors, I volunteered to help on a temporary basis until a suitable instructor could qualify for the job which made it necessary for me to commute daily to Grand Forks for several months. I found it too much to handle in addition to my own business here in Grafton, so I asked the Board to consider Joe Rinde in my place because as one of my former employees, I was sure he could qualify for the position which I held. After his interview with them he took my place until the program was terminated at the end of the War. Upon his return to Grafton, he took over my automobile repair business which left me free to devote full time to the fuel oil heating business. After John J. O'Brien returned from military service, I invited him to join me in a business partnership which he accepted. My building was renovated and converted from a garage to a plumbing and heating establishment after which we were incorporated under the title of Kutz and O'Brien, Inc. Although all garage work was discontinued, I retained all machine tools which are still functioning under my personal control in the back part of my building. After my son, Thomas, had completed his military training, he became one of our employees. In observing his capability of coping with business responsibilities over a two year period, his excellent team work in getting along with other employees and his willingness to learn the trade, he made a favorable impression on me. I offered him the opportunity to take over my interest in the Corporation because I had reached the age where I wanted to be relieved of my business responsibilities to a younger person who would be willing and able to provide the same friendly and efficient service which I have provided in past years and with which he was thoroughly familiar. In reminiscing over the years since I came here, it gives me pleasure and satisfaction to know that I failed no one in the trust and confidence which was bestowed upon me at a time when I was a stranger in the community. By living frugally and entirely within my income, I was able to surmount many business adversities with which I had to cope from time to time, especially the business recession of the 1930's in which we were all involved. From observations I have made, it is my contention that the opportunity for other young men to embark on a successful business or professional career in this community, is far better today than it was when I came here in 1914. It was my good fortune to have learned early in life that there were three basic responsibilities I had to

assume in order to become successful in any undertaking. Here they are: 1. A willingness to work diligently and with perseverance. 2. To live within my income. 3. To avoid dissipation in any form. They were the code of ethics and guidelines I followed throughout my business career with an awareness that I could lean on no one if I failed in the purpose for which I came here. In addition to looking after my own business I considered it a privilege to have been associated with various public and civic organizations such as the early Commercial Club, the Civic Club, the City Council, the American Legion and especially Grafton's Volunteer Fire Department. I look back with pleasure and satisfaction for having done my part in this community, because of the friendly relationship I have enjoyed with people in aU walks of life who solicited help in my Une of work and always found me to be willing and co-operative in solving their problems. BLUE CAPES - SCARLET LININGS By Angela Boleyn, as pubUshed in the Fargo Forum, Sunday morning, Sept. 22, 1935. Sept. 22, 1935 . „ . (FoUowing is the 17th story in the series about North Dakota women in the World War. - The Editor) By Angela Boleyn The old stone barracks at Pontanezen, France, glared balefuUy at Florence De Sautel (now Mrs. Hugo J. Kutz, Grafton, N. D.) as she plodded along in rubber boots through mud to her quarters, the skirt of her uniform gathered up under a poncho. Though washed by almost constant rains since Napoleon's army used them, the barracks looked as grimy and desolate as the sea of mud in which they stood. She wondered at the incongruous rows of tubs, buckets, barrels and every other kind of container set under all the eaves and was to learn that was the water supply. M

An emergency hospital to care for the thousands of soldiers stricken with influenza and taken off transports ?s soon as they docked, the equipment was erode and inadequate. Not even the water system was instaUed. The interior was even more disheartening. There on low army cots, men tossed and raved in deUrium. This young North Dakota nurse, true to her years of training, soon forgot the rain and mud and her own mean quarters as she joined the other nurses, doctors and corps men in an almost superhuman effort to save the Uves that snuffed out so quickly. She was there a month and learned to smUe as she stood in Une with her mess kit, then finding a place at one of the tables in the dining room, swaUowed food that was salted with her tears. Soon she was ordered to Keruon where she went on night duty in charge of four barracks, with between 40 and 50 patients to a building. The work was much the same (for they received troops from the transports) until a month before the armistice. Then began getting wounded from the front. She never saw a clean wound. Always short of nurses, working without lights and picking her way in darkness through the rain to the different wards, she remembers her stay there with a sense of horror. It was uncanny and the first streak of dawn came like an answer to prayer.

Granted Two Leaves Later assigned to day duty, she was put on one of the several dressing-room teams composed of two nurses and a surgeon, who went from bed to bed and barracks to barracks, dressing wounds. Their supplies were piled high on large wooden trays. She was granted two leaves while in service besides the very short ones she sometimes took on her own initiative. She spent one vacation in Paris and the other in Nice. The other journeys were to battlefields or cemeteries or a nearby town. She had to get away once in a while, and there were dances and parties to break the monotony. Some were planned by those whose duty it was to provide entertainment for the hospital staffs, but the ones Mrs. Kutz remembers best were those of thenown arranging. One such evening had all but disastrous results for the chief nurse and commanding officer surprised them at a Red Cross hut where they were dancing with some enlisted men, boys from their home towns, they said. Another gay occasion was the party given for officers of President Wilson's boat when he was in France.

soldiers die from flu. They were told to consider themselves lucky for there were 13 transports in their convoy, 13 organizations aboard their own boat and they landed September 13. A bright spot in her war experience was the winning and keeping of the banner of efficiency for her ward at Camp Dodge. "Inspection" was the bane of a nurse's existence in the army and she was in charge of a medical ward. At a party given for her just before leaving Grafton for active duty, she met Hugo Kutz. They were married Jan. 22,1920, after she had been discharged from service, November, 1919. They had a son Robert (deceased) and a daughter, Mary Rose. A niece, Monica La Haise, also resided with them. Mr. Kutz owns the Kutz garage at Grafton. Both are members of the American Legion post in their city. Rainy seasons may come and go in North Dakota. It will never disturb Mrs. Kutz, for she has waded Flanders mud and carried on in the face of greater obstacles than can be offered here. She learned "over there" what trouble really is. Mrs. Kutz was a daughter of Joe DeSautel. Tom, another son, is part owner of Kutz and O'Brien business. HANS P. LARSON Hans P. Larson, Grafton Township farmer, was born in Norway July 7,1871. With his parents he came to the United States when he was but a baby, and the family Uved in Minnesota for several years. They moved to Walsh County in 1879. Mr. Larson was married to HUda Hultin of Grafton, in 1894, and they have a family of ten children. Mr. Larson has served on the school board for the past 25 years.

Mrs. Hugo Kutz as nurse in W.W.I. Mrs. Kutz, graduate of St. Michael's Hospital, Grand Forks, class of 1916, enrolled in the Red Cross Nursing service in August, 1917, and was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa, Nov. 4 of that year. She was one of the first 13 nurses there. Being one of the few who had had mumps, she was put in charge of the isolation barracks during the epidemic. She sailed on the Baltic, an English ship, in September, 1918, before influenza hit the cantonments, so she got that experience later at Pontanezen and Kerhoun. There were 12 boats in the convoy besides the Baltic, each carrying troops. Sighting a submarine, they changed their course and were 13 days in crossing. During that time there was a burial at sea and it was an imposing sight to see the 13 ships lower their flags, the troops stand at attention as the flag covered casket slipped into the water and taps sounded gravely over the short distances between the transports. The entire convoy kept close together during that dangerous voyage. At night their sirens sounded constantly. While Mrs. Kutz was in Paris en route to Pontanezen, a church was partially destroyed in an air raid. The bombs she learned were meant for Notre Dame, but missed their mark. Won Efficiency Banner Escaping disaster hurled from sea, air and land, the nurses (a North Carolina unit to which Mrs. Kutz and another northern woman were attached) finally reached their destination, but they had witnessed hundreds of

MR. AND MRS. JOHN M. LARSON

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Larson

John M. Larson, born at Nash, Dec. 18, 1879, was the son of Andrew and KaroUne Larson, both born in 1843, who immigrated from Norway to Dakota County in Minnesota, then to Nash two years previous. He was a grain buyer for Leistikow Milling Company in Grafton and in 1911 started his own elevator business. He worked as a potato buyer and started farming in 1915. He branched out into farming supplies, expanded into the coal business, added plumbing and heating business and in 1946 entered the furniture business which today is known as Bil-Vi-Dor Furniture.

John Larson married Tena Halvorsen Nov. 26, 1905, in Milwaukee, Wise. She was bom Feb. 6, 1879, in Milwaukee, the daughter of Hannah Sorenson and Sigurd Halvorsen who were bom in Norway in 1843 and emigrated directly to Milwaukee in 1865. Her father was a builder of many outstanding buildings in Milwaukee. Four children blest the marriage of Tena and John, one daughter, Maude, and three sons, Mark, LeRoy and William. Tena departed this earth Oct. 21,1948, and John M. August 17, 1952. They are interred in Grafton City Cemetery. W. C. LEISTIKOW W C. Leistikow was born in Germany and came to this country at 17. He attended school in St. Paul for three years, then turned his attention to the milling of flour from wheat which had been the business of his forefathers back in Germany for generations. For some years he was associated with his brother at Elizabeth, Minn. Mr. Leistikow came to Grafton in December, 1881, decided to locate here, and early in the spring of 1882 commenced the erection of a 150 barrel flour mill, which was completed in time for the crop of that year. Prior to this many settlers hauled their wheat to Walhalla where there was a small grist mill. Father Belcourt established a flour mill in Walhalla in 1856. It consisted of "one run of stone" which means one stone grinding unit and was operated by water power, a dam having been constructed in the Pembina River. The millstones were small, the capacity of the mill was not great and the quality of the flour was far below modern requirements, but it was a marked advance over the methods of the Indians and the Metis, who crushed grain with mortars and pestles of stone. Most Indians and mixed bloods of Walhalla had not eaten bread or other baked goods until the mill was set up. Walhalla was some sixty miles northwest of Grafton. Early reports about the soil in the Red River Valley and especially Walsh County state that "the ground freezes to a considerable depth here and as a consequence there almost always is frost in the ground as late as July." Anyone who is familiar with farming will tell you that so long as there is frost in the ground, it continues to send up dampness which comes in contact with the roots of the crop and provides ample moisture in nature's own way. It is the only soil in the world that will produce crops without rain or irrigation. Here is the theory for the raising of the No. 1 hard wheat of the country: "All wheat has a tap root which penetrates the earth to a great depth. Thus it not only reaches the damp ground but acts as a conductor of the coolness up and into the stem, thus making hard wheat. This theory has been thoroughly demonstrated which accounts for the country withstanding a drought." The veteran physician, Dr. G. W. Glaspel, was often heard to remark that any country fit for raising wheat was not fit for human beings. The records show that in 1882, the Grafton Roller Mills handled 120,000 bushels of wheat; Grafton No. 1 elevator, 121,000; J. H. Townshend's elevator, 95,000; Northwestern Elevator, 84,000; which made a total of 420,000 bushels of wheat. Three years later, Grafton handled 225,000 bushels but by this time surrounding towns had sprung up and were in the business of buying wheat: Inkster, 60,000; Park River, 165,000; Minto,

115,000; Auburn, 129,000; Conway, 90,000; Ardoch, 120,000 and St. Thomas, 150,000. Thus W. C. Leistikow's faith, foresight and judgment in building a flour mill in Grafton were amply justified. In 1885, the capacity of the mill was doubled, and later it was increased to 500 barrels. In November, 1886, wheat was quoted at 54 cents in Grafton, the elevators were jammed and the supply of freight cars was entirely inadequate to meet the demands of the shippers. Flour prices quoted in 1886 were posted by competing merchants as Leistikow's Best Patent, $2.00; Family Patent, $1.75; A Straight, $1.50; Minto Best Patent, $2.00; Fisher Pride of the Valley, $2.10; Fisher Daily $1.85. Another news item reports that W. C. Leistikow made the largest shipment of flour ever to be shipped from any one point in North Dakota, May 14, 1885, consisting of 24 cars containing 3,000 barrels, consigned to S. S. Caril of New York City. This is a portion of an order of 10,000 barrels to be filled during the present month of May. In January in 1882, before the Grafton Roller Mills were in operation, wheat was quoted as $1.00 and Washburn's Best Patent Flour was quoted as $5.00 per cwt. Another news item reported that George Dangerfield completed the threshing for Peter Bricker east of Grafton in early November, 1885, and reported this crop: 5,150 bushels of wheat averaging 20 bushels per acre; 40 acres of oats, 2,240 bushels, averaging over 50 bushels per acre, total acreage, 260 acres. The Spanish-American War veteran, Henry Bernard, recalled that he started working for W. C. Leistikow at the Grafton Roller Mills in March, 1901. He commented on the career of Mr. Leistikow as follows: During the height of production the mill had a 1,000 barrels and employed 22 men at 12 hour shifts. When W. C. Leistikow started the mill it had 335 barrel output. It is said that Leistikow had $40,000 in cash when he came to Grafton and the other $40,000 needed to start the business he borrowed from his father-in-law and before the first year's operation ended he paid the loan. Mr. Leistikow was the town's first millionaire. When Bernard started his salary was $60 a month and wood was used for fuel. Construction figures for Grafton in 1882 show that the Grafton Roller Mill was built for $47,000. The remaining money probably was invested in equipment. In the declining years of the mill, Henry Bernard was the engineer and another Spanish-American War veteran, Horace Ingles, was the grain buyer. He recalled that while in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he saw in the markets Leistikow's Best Patent Flour being sold at exorbitant prices. Leistikow's most popular flour in the local area was the White Lily. His Leistikow's Best Patent was sold in all the flour marts, much was exported to Europe. The mill, under the management of Mr. Leistikow. was an important factor in the growth and prosperity of Grarcon. In April, 1882, Grafton was incorporated as a town. At the first election, held June 19, the following officers were chosen: Trustees, W. C. Leistikow, P. W. Wildt and J. L. Cashel. With the exception of his term as president of the village at the beginning of its career, Mr. Leistikow steadily declined all honors as a public official and "attended strictly to business." He was one of the original stock-holders and the first vice-president of the First National Bank of Grafton, succeeding Mr. Walker as its president. He was known throughout the state as Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. He had large investments in elevator and lumber con-

cerns in the Twin Cities. He was largely interested in real estate in Grafton, and was one of the largest owners of farm lands in the state. At one time his holdings aggregated eight different quarters and in 1900 he had forty-five quarters. When he first commenced buying farm lands here a good quarter section was worth but a tew hundred dollars. In 1899 he sold a half section without buildings for $10,400 cash. He expressed the belief that in the near future Walsh County farm lands would sell for $75 an acre. By 1900 the Grafton Roller Mills had a capacity of 500 barrels a day, the largest of any milling concern in the state at that time, grinding over three-quarters of a million bushels annually. The mill made Grafton one of the best primary wheat markets in the world. Two large elevators in connection handled all of the surplus wheat offered. The mills were equipped with the latest improvements in milling machinery and "Grafton flour" achieved a reputation for excellence far and near, not only supplying the people of Walsh County and adjoining territory, but finding a ready market in the east and in Europe. The mills had a record of 335 days of 24 hours each in one year, the best record known. In 1914, the city of Grafton moved to establish a public park. Shortly after the organization of the park board, F. W. Leistikow, who spent his boyhood in Grafton, but then a reputed millionaire in Winnipeg, offered a gift of $5,000 to the park district for the purpose of establishing a park and playground in memory of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Leistikow, who were pioneers of Grafton and the elder Mr. Leistikow had the distinction of being "Grafton's first millionaire." The son requested that the park be named "Leistikow Memorial Park." , Prepared from the Walsh County Record and a book entitled "Grafton" published in 1900 by the News and Times Presses by Kenneth Colter.

He then ventured into the bricklaying business in Chicago until he came to Grafton in 1888. On Feb. 6,1892, he married Hulda Hein, the daughter of August and Minnie Hein. During that same year, Charles and Hulda purchased a home at 341 Prospect Avenue. There, they raised eight children, Henry, Albert, Amelia, Alvina, Margaret, Gertrude Minnie, and Adeline. Feb. 6, 1942, they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. During his bricklaying career, Charles "left his mark on a number of Walsh County institutions," as quoted in the Walsh County Record, Feb. 5, 1942. He helped in the construction of the Federated Church building and in the construction of the buildings now occupied by Olson's Flowers and Phoenix Finance. He was also the general contractor for the Chase and Inkster schools. By 1942, Charles had plastered every church in Grafton. He also made bricks on the August Hein farm for a short time. Today, many sidewalks have the name Charles Maresch, the streets on which they are located, and the years in which he constructed them. Submitted by Colleen A. Oihus. v

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Maresch. Wedding picture, February 6, 1892.

O. J. LOCKEN

JAMES MCDONALD

O. J. Locken was born in Gjora, Norway. He emigrated to the United States in 1895. Being a master tailor, he was employed in a tailoring firm in Grand Forks. He married Caroline Furu of Kristiansund, N., Norway, in 1899. They had four daughters and one son: Carl, Anna, Mabel, Kathryn and Florence. He moved to Grafton in 1912 where in partnership with M. Motroen, also a master tailor, they established a tailoring and cleaning firm which they operated for 34 years.

In July of 1940, the Walsh County Record published an edition dedicated to Walsh County and the pioneers who built it. One of the pioneers who was singled out for recognition was an early citizen of Grafton, James (Jim) McDonald. "Early day Grafton hotel operator, pioneer Walsh County farmer and former sheriff, James McDonald was born in Westmeath Township, Ont., Feb. 14, 1847. Mr. McDonald was known for his deep insight into human nature, his love of his fellow man and his devotion to Masonry. "When an infant, Mr. McDonald was brought by birch bark canoe 100 miles down the river, by his mother, that he might receive the sacrament from a clergyman of the Church of England. "His parents, Cecil Bradley and Alexander McDonald, were among those early settlers who took advantage of the land grants offered by the dominion government to the virgin wilds of early Ontario. Mr. McDonald grew to boyhood sharing with other pioneers the hardships of blazing the trail and hewing out a home in the wilderness. In a log school serving two townships, he received his education. "When twenty, Mr. McDonald left the farm and turned to the woods. For 17 years he followed the river,

MISS HELLA LYKKEN Miss Hella Lykken, 78, died at Grafton. She had been evacuated from her home during a flood, and was residing at the home of Dr. Anne S. Lee at the time of her death. A native of Norway, Miss Lykken came to Grafton in 1890 and had made her home here since that time. She was a member of the Grafton Lutheran Church. She is buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. CHARLES HENRY MARESCH Charles Henry Maresch, a pioneer bricklayer, was born on April 10, 1861, in Schleberndorf, Germany. In 1883, at the age of twenty-two years, he emigrated to the United States and remained one year in Buffalo. Minn. 187

bringing rafts of squared lumber down to Ottawa and on the St. Lawrence to Quebec for shipment to English ports by steamer. "His life avocation, Masonry, embraced him early. After receiving his entered apprentice degree in Pembroke Lodge No. 128, in Ontario, May6, 1881,his interests in its teachings never waned. "Quite by accident did Mr. McDonald come to Dakota Territory. A friend, William Tieney, was bringing horses to Manitoba. Another friend, Tim Haley, and Mr. McDonald decided to go along to get a view of the country. That was in 1882. They met Tieny in Grand Forks The Manitoba branch of the Great Northern was being laid at that time, so Mr. Haley and Mr. McDonald decided to take the construction train north. "Two hotels were for sale in Grafton that year. Mr. Haley bought the Oriental, and Mr. McDonald bought the other which he called the Ottawa House. The next year Mr. McDonald returned to Pembroke, Ont., to marry Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, bringing his wife back to Grafton. Later he bought a farm south of town and took up the adjoining tree claim. "For a number of years he had served as Walsh County Sheriff and was for many years a member of the Board of County Commissioners, serving for a time as chairman. He was largely instrumental in having the county erect the then modem sheriff's residence and jail, which stood for years on the courthouse grounds. "Mr McDonald affiliated with Crescent Lodge No. 36 Dakota Territory, Feb. 8, 1884. He served as worshipful master in 1900,1908 and 1909 and was made a life member Feb. 28, 1922. "In the summer of 1889 the Territorial Grand Lodge met at Mitchell, Dakota Territory, for its annual communication. Congress, the year before, had passed the enabling act and the constitutional conventions of the two states were then in session. It was known, when the Grand Lodge met, that the division of the territory and the admission of the states into the Union would soon be an accomplished fact. Therefore, the Mitchell gathering proceeded to form two Grand Lodges, representing the two states. Mr. McDonald played a large part in the proceedings which resulted in the formation of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota. "In 1893 in Devils Lake, Mr. McDonald was elected grand master and presided over the annual communication of the North Dakota Lodge in Valley City, June 12-13, 1894. "In addition to his three terms as master of Crescent Lodge, Mr. McDonald served as excellent high priest of Grafton Chapter No. 9 and eminent commander of St. Omer Commandery. "On Feb. 14, 1937, 100 Masons from all over North Dakota, including many officers of the Grand Lodge, gathered in Grafton to pay tribute to the patriarch of the order on the occasion of his 90th birthday. "For several years prior to this event, Mr. McDonald had suffered from a sinus trouble which caused him untold agony. Sixteen days after his friends had celebrated his birthday, he was stricken with fatal illness and passed away unexpectedly. "Mr. McDonald was the father of three sons and three daughters. One son was Grant McDonald, killed in

World War I; the others, Murray of Long Beach, Calif.; and Boyd of Minneapolis. The daughters are Cecil of Los Angeles, Garda of Los Angeles and Mrs. George Booth, Providence, R. I." Prepared from the Walsh County Record, issue ot July 25, 1940 by Kenneth Colter. JOHN H. MCDONALD FAMILY John H. McDonald was born in Minneapolis Oct. 31, 1873. His mother died when he was 10 and he spent the next two years in an orphanage in Minneapolis. About 1885 he came to Grafton where he continued school. When he finished school, he worked in two grocery stores in Grafton, first at Deschenes, then at Reylecks. He later traveled for two different St. Paul wholesale grocery firms, then opened his own grocery and meat store in Grafton in 1919. Because of ill health, he sold that store in about 1925. He died Oct. 21, 1937, in Grafton and is buried in St. John's Cemetery. Eva Mary Rudnik was born Jan. 8, 1879, in Trempeleau County, Wise. She came to North Dakota with her family in 1882 and was raised on the homestead between Minto and Warsaw. After finishing school in Minto, she went to Grafton and worked as a clerk, first at Deschenes, then at Reyleck's store. There she met John H. McDonald. They were married in 1903. They had four children; Father Edward, pastor at Oakes; Mary, Fargo; Helen died April 14, 1970; and Jack, Bismarck. Eva Mary McDonald died Sept. 11, 1961, at Racine, Wise, where she was living with her daughters Mary and Helen, both teaching there. She is also buried in St. John's Cemetery in Grafton. John H. McDonald played the drum in the Grafton Band for many years. He played baseballfor a number of years until his health forced him to give it up. Then he became an umpire. THE McINTYRE FAMILY My father, George W. Mclntyre, was born in Huntington, W. Va., April 15,1857. My mother's maiden name was Margaret Morris. She was bom in Hastings, Minn., Oct. 16, 1860. The following item appeared in the Walsh County Record on Wednesday, May 10,1899, and introduced the Mclntyres to Grafton. "Last Thursday evening the Merchants Hotel changed hands. Andy Johnson retiring and George Mclntyre assuming the management. Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre come to Grafton recommended as very up to date hotel people and Grafton extends to them a cordial welcome." From a book on Grafton published in 1900 - "The Merchants Hotel, the principal transient house in the city, has, under the management of George W. Mclntyre, gained a very favorable reputation among the transient visitors in Grafton. The proprietor is a hotel man of long experience and evidently understands the wants of the traveling public. He has had the hotel refitted throughout and made numerous improvements, adding a steam heating plant, etc. "The Merchant is a substantial three-story structure, arranged with every regard to convenience. The office, occupying the northeast corner, is a large and well lighted apartment, supplied with reading and writing tables for the use of its guests. The tables are supplied

with the best there is, and the metropolitan hostelries afford no better spread than is served at the Merchants under the present regime. The parlors are elegantly furnished and are cozy and homelike. The guest rooms are spacious, light, and carpeted throughout. The entire building is always well warmed and nothing that experience can suggest in making the hotel attractive to guests is left wanting. Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre give personal attention to the comfort of thenguests and have countless assistants in every department. There is an air of cheeriness in the Merchants that makes the house a very popular one."

Merchants Hotel My father loved horses and in the ensuing years bred and raised several outstanding horses. He owned the first Dan Patch colt foaled in North Dakota and I can remember him showing the mare and the colt, named Dakota Dan, at the State Fair in Grand Forks. My mother was an excellent hotel woman and was a favorite with the traveling public. No one was ever turned away for lack of money and she was a soft touch for any down and outer who came to the kitchen door seeking a handout. When I finished my schooling, I joined in the management. We had purchased the Grand Pacific Hotel in the meantime and ran both the places until the midthirties, when the Grand Pacific was dismantled and the lots sold. Marie Wasson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Wasson of Velva, and I were married Dec. 4, 1924. She also became very active in the operation of the Merchants and upon my appointment as postmaster Nov. 4, 1933, most of the responsibility for running the hotel was hers. She frequently had a big iron kettle of stew simmering in the fireplace and the coffee pot was always handy for any guest or visitor. Father died in 1936 and Mother in 1938. Our daughter, Sharon Ann, was born Feb. 28, 1939. Marie and I continued to operate the Merchants until 1945 when we sold the furniture and fixtures and leased the premises to Ernie Zey. We continued to lease the property to various renters until 1969 when it was purchased by local businessmen and the building torn down. Sharon Ann married Anthony DeBello June 19, 1966, and the following year a son was born to them. They christened him William Mclntyre DeBello. I continued as postmaster until May 31, 1970, retiring on that date after 37 years of service. Submitted by G. W. (Bill) Mclntyre.

JUDGE WILLIAM McKENZIE Judge William McKenzie, one of the earliest settlers in Walsh County and long County Probate Judge, died in Grafton Aug. 25, 1920. He was born in Prince Edward Island June 15, 1849. When he was a small boy, his parents moved to Lucknow, Ont., where he attended school. Later he graduated from Rockford Academy. Whether to enter McGill University and take up the study of medicine or to go to the Red River Valley, were questions that troubled the mind of the young William McKenzie. However, his decision was made in favor of the northwest and in 1878 he came to Dakota Territory and located in Grand Forks where he taught school. Later he came to Walsh County and opened a store at old Sweden, a settlement about a mile west of the present site of Nash. He was appointed postmaster and remained there until the Great Northern was built through the country north of Grafton, when he moved to Auburn. He entered the mercantile business and served in the post office there. He also operated a hotel in Auburn and bought land. A fire in 1889 destroyed Mr. McKenzie's store in Auburn and shortly afterward he was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners as County Judge to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Currie. He held this office for many years. He had been admitted to the bar in 1890 and after retiring from the office of county judge, he practiced law in Grafton. In 1882 he was married to Miss Fannie Ocobock, Detroit, Mich., who died eight years later. They had three children: Mae who Uved in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mrs. J. J. O'Brien of Grafton and Keokuk, Ia.; and Stewart who married Gladys HiU, kin of James HU1 the railroad builder. She became well known in musical circles in Grand Forks as Gladys Hill McKenzie. Stewart farmed the McKenzie land at Auburn for a time after which he worked at the Grafton State School. Judge William McKenzie was affiliated with the Woodmen Lodge and the Presbyterian Church. Copied from the Walsh County Record edition of July 25, 1940, by Kenneth Colter. JOHN WILLIAM McKAY In the early part of 1908, my father made two or three trips to Grafton from Argyle, Minn., where he operated a machine shop, crossing the Red River by ferry (operated at that time by a man named John Dolan). He was looking for a new location and finally decided on Grafton. He, my mother Lavinia, my brother Harold B. McKay, then about 15, and I, not quite a year old, arrived to settle permanently in the spring of 1908. We Uved in a white house in the north end of Grafton. My father had a garage and machine shop where the Hills Garage is located today. It was across from the Robertson Lumber Co. The garage faced north. Inside by the front door was an old fashioned hand run gasohne pump, one of the few in town, where customers got gas for their cars. My father, John W. McKay, worked mostly on old fashioned threshing engines, fixing break downs at aU hours and many times working all night. He did seU cars in the early days also - I remember one car called the "Abbott Detroit," an open air affair with buttoned on side curtains. When the air cooled car, the "Franklin," came out, he had the agency for that. The limousine,

entirely enclosed with glass in the doors, a cut glass vase on the inside, upholstering, etc., created quite a stir in the community. I believe a wealthy farmer by the name of Mr. Thompson bought one and also a Dr. Wylie at the State School. These are faint memories I have. As cars became more popular his work had to do with all kinds of machinery.

J. W. McKay died at 80 in 1946. He was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Grafton. A few years before that, he and his son, Harold, sold their entire business to Howard Hills. At that time Harold, his wife and two daughters, Marilyn and Eileen , moved to Santa Monica, Calif. Mrs. Lavinia E. McKay sold her home in 1948 to Tom Hankey and moved to Mayville where she lived with her daughter, Mrs. J. Wilmann Grinager. She was an active worker in the Episcopal Church when there was a minister and at other times attended the Presbyterian Church. When it burned the family went to the Methodist Church. Lavinia E. McKay died in 1950 and was buried beside John William McKay in the Masonic Cemetery in Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. J. Wilmann Grinager (Vivian Corinne McKay).

Harold McKay, son of Mr. J. W. McKay, about 22 years old.

Tjr

Vivian McKay, daughter, and Mrs. J. W. McKay.

My brother, Harold, went to the public school in Grafton and was quite an athlete. He also played ball for several years. He went into the U. S. Army during the First World War and served for two years in France, returning to Grafton when the war was over. He worked for his father upon returning and married Miss Ethel Nollman of Grafton. In the early days, cars were not used as they are all winter now, and the whole front end of the garage was filled with cars for winter storage, some even up on blocks. In about 1910, in the winter, the garage was set on fire by someone and everything was destroyed. This was a terrible blow to my father. The fire department at that time called it a "set" fire. Several merchants appealed to my father to stay in Grafton and helped him build a brick block building and he began again. In those days people took their car batteries out of their cars and had them recharged. Harold went to an Exide battery school in Minneapolis, Minn., to get acquainted with this new method. Potato raising became important and I believe Dad brought into the area the first potato diggers, "Champion," I think it was called, and later potato planters. My brother became a partner with him then and manufactured a potato picking basket which were sold by the box car load all over the United States. They also went into the insecticide and fertilizer business. John William McKay was Scotch and Swiss and my mother, Lavinia Emerance (Bayrelli) McKay, was French and Italian. My father belonged to the Masonic Lodge and was a Knight Templar at Grafton. He loved to hunt, but after the fire, gave up many pleasures just to get on his feet again. My mother was an Eastern Star, having held many offices and was worthy matron. She was active in the early days of the P. T. A. in school, serving as its secretary. John William McKay's only daughter, Vivian C. (McKay) Grinager, graduated from GraftonHigh School in 1924, making high school in three years. She graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1928 and taught several years before marrying in 1936. Vivian has lived in Mayville since.

Front part ofthe garage of Mr. J. W. McKay about 1910. Mr. McKay is standing in the foreground. His son, Harold, is by the front door to the left. MONS MONSON FAMILY Mons Monson was born in Blekinge, Sweden, in 1854. He immigrated to Michigan in 1878. He then came to Walsh County and filed a claim to land south of Grafton Jan. 12, 1881. He married Christine Peterson, whose parents also immigrated here. They raised a family of three children. Victor, who was an optometrist and also operated a jewelry store in Grafton until 1947. Alma Monson, who never married and Helvig who married Herman Strander of Crookston. All are now deceased. Victor married Eva Johnson from Henderson, Minn. They had three children; Irving, Phyllis (Mrs. Earl Mundt) and Helen (Mrs. R. E. Lien). Mrs. Eva Monson still lives in Grafton and still owns the original land except parts of which have been sold for homes and churches. The Unity Hospital, Bethel Free Church and the Assembly of God Church are built on this land. When the Lutherans wanted to build the Deaconess Hospital Mons Monson offered to give them the land to build a hospital where the Tollefson Funeral Home now stands, but they refused it saying it was too far out of town. That was in 1904. The Monsons were members of the Grafton Lutheran Church. Submitted by Mrs. Victor Monson.

DEWITT CLINTON MOORE Dewitt Clinton Moore was born June 9, 1851, near Martinsburg, N. Y., the son of James and Emily Moore. He spent his early life in New York, but upon attaining his majority the west beckoned to him and he moved to Decorah, Ia., where he was in the real estate business and studied law. In 1879 he was admitted to the Iowa Bar and in the fall of the same year he was elected sheriff of Dinneshiek County. He was re-elected two years later but declined to serve in order that he might move to Grafton. On Oct. 18,1882, Mr. Moore married Ella J. Hevily of Decorah. Two children were born, Frederick A. and Dewitt C. Moore, Jr., who died in Grafton in 1902 at the age of 12. Grafton was only a hamlet of wooden store buildings and tar paper shacks when Mr. Moore arrived here in 1881 to become the cashier of the Bank of Grafton. Two years later this institution was reorganized as the Grafton National Bank which was recognized during all the years as one of the strongest financial institutions in North Dakota. Mr. Moore continued as its cashier until 1910 when he was made president and D. M. Upham was elected cashier. Few played a more important part in the building and the development of northeastern North Dakota than D. C. Moore. He was one of the first bankers to establish himself in this section of the state and for more than forty-five years was actively in control and the directing head of the Grafton National Bank. As a banker, Mr. Moore's first interest was always directed toward the safety of the funds which had been intrusted to the keeping of the institution which he managed. Yet he was generous to those who needed financial assistance and were worthy of credit. There are hundreds of people in northeastern North Dakota, now comparitively wealthy, whose success was made possible through the help and assistance given them by Mr. Moore. While he steadfastly refused any public office, he took an active interest in everything that affected the public interest. In politics he was a Democrat, but to him the character of the man was more important than his political affiliation. Never in his long residence did he lose confidence in Grafton, in Walsh County or in North Dakota He was an optimist concerning the great northwest, yet an optimist who looked the facts squarely in the face and prepared for every eventuality. He was conservative when the times required it and daring when boldness was needed to save a situation. During the banking crisis in the thirties, his son, Fred, moved to protect the bank and its depositors, even to his own hurt. Masonry early attracted Mr. Moore's attention and affection and to that fraternity he devoted much of his time and talents. During a period of fifty-five years in both Iowa and North Dakota he filled every chair in all the local Masonic bodies as well as state organizations. He was raised to the degree of a Master Mason, March 17,1881, in Great Light Lodge No. 181, A. F. & A. M., Decorah, Ia. He received his degrees in both the Royal Arch and the Knights Templar bodies. In Grafton Mr. Moore organized Crescent Lodge No. 11 A. F. & A.M., then known as Crescent Lodge No. 36, Dakota Territory, the charter being dated June 15, 1883. The charter of St. Omer Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, is dated June 9, 1883, and bears Mr. Moore's name

as one of the organizers. In 1909 he was selected as the Grand Commander of the commandery of North Dakota. He achieved almost all the honors possible within the Masonic Order. Dewitt Clinton Moore died Nov. 14, 1927. His wife, Ella Julia, born March 25, 1856, died Oct. 24, 1935. Both are buried in Crescent Cemetery in Grafton with thenson, DeWitt, bom April 11, 1890, died Jan. 7, 1902. Frederick A. Moore, another son, carried on the tradition of his father during the banking crisis that followed the stock market crash of 1929 by guarding the solvency of the Grafton National Bank so that the depositors did not lose. He died Jan. 21,1949, he was bom June 14, 1885. His wife, Mabel Adelia, was bom Aug. 20,1888, died Nov. 26, 1959. Their daughter, Mary Louise, was bom Nov. 3,1916. She died May 11,1956. They had a son, DeWitt. Prepared from an article in the Walsh County Record, edition of July 25,1940, by Kenneth Colter. WILLIAM & EMILY MURPHY FAMILY William Murphy, Sr., was bom in New York State, Emily A. Blakeney Murphy was born Sept. 27, 1834, in Champion, New York. She was left a widow with four boys. William H. Murphy was born April 18,1853, in Ruses Point, New York. Robert A. Murphy was born Nov. 25, 1855. Eddy C. Murphy was bom Jan. 13, 1857. James B. Murphy was bom Feb. 2,1859, all in New York state. Mrs. Murphy made a living for herself and four boys as a seamstress. Mrs. Emily A. Murphy and her four boys, aged four to ten, moved to Dodge County, Waupun, Wis., and later to Rochester, Minn. When in Rochester the boys played with the Mayo brothers, who later became the Mayo doctors. Robert A. Murphy settled in Albany, Oregon. He was married, and Robert A. Murphy and Susan J. Murphy had one daughter, Frances, bom Feb. 28,1880, in Albany, Ore. Frances Murphy married W. V. Merrill of Albany, Ore. Robert A. Murphy owned the Murphy Seed Store in Albany, and W. V. Merrill worked with him in the store. Robert belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. After Robert died, the seed store was sold. Mrs. W. V. Merrill died in 1932. Eddy C. Murphy died when he was a young man. Mrs. Emily A. Murphy and sons, William H. and James. B. Murphy, came to Grand Forks in 1880. William H. Murphy was a steward on the Sellkirk boat which traveled from Grand Forks to Pembina in the year 1880. In 1880, James B. Murphy came to Walsh County the first time; then returned to Grand Forks until the spring of 1881. James and William Murphy and their mother traveled by covered wagon across country to St. Andrews Township. The only furniture that she brought with her from Rochester was a rocking chair, which she had rocked her boys in. Later they went to Martin Township where they took up homesteads. United States to Emily A. Murphy, Receiver's Receipt, dated Aug. 1,1882, filed Aug. 7,1882, recorded in Book "1" Deeds, page 492; conveying N E ' A S E ' / I , Lots 5 and 6, Section 3, Township 158, Range 52, containing 96.80 acres. United States to William Henry Murphy, Receiver's Receipt, dated Aug. 1,1882, filed Aug. 7,1882, recorded in Book "1" Deeds page 492; conveying SW'/ of Section 2, Township 158, Range 52, containing 160 acres. 4

United States to James B. Murphy, Receivers Receipt, dated May 9, 1889, filed Nov. 29,1889 recorded in Book " F " Deeds page 229; conveying Lots 1, 2 and 4, and SEttNEttof Section 3, Township 158, Range 52^ They farmed for a number of years, then returned and lived in Grafton. Mrs Emily A. Murphy was a member ot the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Certificate of Membership in D A. R. This certifies that Mrs. Emily A. Blakeney Murphy is a regularly approved member of the National Society ot the Daughters of the American Revolution in connection with the Waupun, Wisconsin Chapter, having been admitted by the National Board of Management by virtue of her descent from Joseph Powers, who with unfailing lovalty rendered material aid to the cause of American Independence as a soldier duringthe Revolutionary War Given under our hands and the seal of the National Society, this 13th day of December, 1904." National No. 48967 admitted October 5, 1904. Mrs Emily A. Murphy died March 7, 1913. James B. Murphy and Dorothy Givens were married Sept 6 1915, in Grand Forks by Rev. R. G. Pierson. Mr and Mrs. J. B. Murphy made their home m Grafton at Burgamott Avenue, except for 10 years spent on thenfarm in Martin Township. They then returned to their home in Grafton. Mrs. J. B. Murphy for a period of 42 years was employed by Grafton newspapers-first, as a typesetter for the News and Times and Walsh County Record, later as a linotype operator. She was a member of the Federated Church, and a member of the American Legion

interest was exacted and the bigger the account, the more pretentious was the gift that went with the receipted biU. The shrewd merchant always remembered "something very nice for the wUe." Now the social element of merchandising has been largely supplanted by cash sales. The modern, "May I help you" is a cold mercenary greeting compared with the pioneer's, "HeUo, Tom, how's everything at. Mandt? July 1, 1888, Mr. Newgard was employed by Carl t. Hendricksen, pioneer hardware merchant, who moved his store from Acton locating it on the present site of the Walsh County State Bank. In less than two years thereafter, Mr. Hendricksen sold his store to Mahler B r

° I n 1892 he ventured into business for himseU under the firm name of Newgard & Bjorneby, located in the Wilt building. His partner was Emil Bjorneby. After two years, Mr. Bjorneby sold his interest to Iver Flaten of Hoople. The firm of Newgard & Flaten existed for 10 years until Mr. Newgard became the sole proprietor. During his business career, he was a director and vicepresident of the First National Bank of Grafton. Pioneer Fireman Since his arrival here, he was active in the Grafton Fire Department, serving as captain, president and treasurer. The Grafton Fire Department has a state wide reputation for controUng fires and preserving the old wooden structures in Grafton. Newgard relates many interesting firefightingepisodes. The most amusing was when the Ottawa House burned. It was a large wooden building with a tin roof. Firemen confined the flames within the structure. As usual there were suggestions from the spectators as to the best method of combating this particular fire. W. C. Leistikow, Grafton's leading businessman, mayor and poUtician, became very vocal in demanding a complete change of procedure. This irritated the firemen. When the opportunity arose, John Baker, who held the main hose at that time, slipped and the Grafton mUUonaire got such a drenching that he teU headlong into a nearby ditch. Newgard and Baker had a good laugh and the rich man disappeared. Born in Norway He was born July 29, 1866, in Telemarken, Norway, and came with his parents to Chicago, but their permanent home was estabUshed in New Rickland, Minn., where the family homestead remains. After completing his education, he went to Lisbon where he Uved for a year before coming to Grafton in 1888. He married Miss Gurine Tverberg Dec. 22, 1890, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. A. Ofstedahl, pioneer Lutheran

^ J a m e s B. Murphy died Sept. 30, 1950, at 91. Mrs. Dorothy Murphy died Dec. 31, 1962, at 86. WilUam H. Murphy spent his last years in CaUforma. He died Jan. 24,1947, in Los Angeles, at 94. Submitted by Mrs. Susie Givens Jackson. OSMOND D. NELSON Osmond D. Nelson was born in Illinois Dec. 23,1852, and when four years old the famUy moved to Iowa He first came to Grafton in 1879, and later in 1880, settied on a preemption. At Roland, Iowa, March 20, 1883, he was united in marriage to JuUa Thompson. Mr Nelson served Walsh County as a commissioner and also held both school and township offices. His home was in Grafton. I. L. NEWGARD 1 L Newgard has had the rare privUege of participating in the business Ufe of Grafton for 65 years. When he came here in 1888, Grafton was teeming with activity. The streets were, with few exceptions, rows of wooden structures; rather crude, especially when viewed from the alleys with miniature buildings so essential to outdoor plumbing. During pioneer days, the merchant's stock was weU defined If his line was hardware, he did not handle overalls, or if a druggist, he did not indulge in a lunch counter. The stores were social centers. The customers, esneciaUy farmers, met there and the merchant was the host that catered to their well being. Most of the business was credit with one big payday "after threshing. No

^ F i v e sons were bom, Allan P., until lately of Starbuck Man.; Henry, Grafton; Dr. Gisle, Waukesha, Wis.; Lawrence, Everett, Wash.; and Manfred J., of Long Beach, Calif. CHARLES W. NOLLMAN This is a partial biography of one of the early businessmen who contributed a great deal in building the town of Grafton and the surrounding community Charles W. Nollman was born at New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Aug. 13,1857, and spent most of his early Ufe in New York City. At the age of eighteen, he went to MinneapoUs where 192

he was employed as an accountant in a milling business concern. Mr. Nollman arrived in Grafton in 1883 and went into the lumber business with his brother, George, as a partner, establishing the Nollman Lumber Company. A few years later, George went to California to live. Mr Nollman married Clara Thibadeau at Menomonie, Wis., on Feb. 7, 1890. Four daughters and three sons were born to them: Ethel, now Mrs. Harold McKay, Santa Monica, Calif.; Mary, now Mrs. M . L. Donnelly, Santa Monica, Calif.; Mrs. Ruth Parli, Santa Monica, Calif.; Mrs. Marjorie Yates, Santa Monica, Calif.; Mr. Charles W. Nollman, San Mateoa, Calif.; Mr. Donald Nollman, Mt. Shasta, Calif.; Mr. Ray Nollman (deceased), Salem, Ore., passed away in 1967.

Charles Nollman, Sr.

ANDREW OLAFSON

Andrew Olafson, who died at his home in Oakwood Township Nov. 28,1931, was one of the first businessmen in Grafton. He also had the distinction of being a continuous subscriber to the News and Times for over 50 years, since its first issue on May 26, 1881, as the Acton News. Mr. Olafson was born in Kongsberg, Norway, June 16, 1851. He came to America in 1871, and settled at Richland, Wis. He never married and lived with his brother, Rudolph, during this entire period. Mr. Olafson arrived in Acton early in the spring of 1881 where he conducted a shoe store until the railroad reached Grafton in the fall of 1881. He moved his business to the new town, and conducted it for several years until he retired from the business world and devoted all his energy to farming northeast of Grafton. "It was early in the month of May in 1881 that Carl Hendricksen and I started on our trip from Waseca County, Minn., on an expedition into the Red River Valley for the purpose of finding a desirable location," Mr. Olafson related. "We reached Grand Forks without any adventure. As there were no railroads constructed north of Grand Forks at that time, we set out on foot as navigation on the Red River was uncertain during the spring floods. A party of eight left Grand Forks with such equipment and implements as we could readily carry. "We had not proceeded far when we came to a coulee which was too deep for wading. The water was running wild, and ice flakes floated everywhere. When the rest of the party saw the obstacles that confronted them they were dismayed and decided to return to Grand Forks, but Mr. Hendricksen and myself were determined that we would finish our prospective trip this spring as we had heard many glowing accounts of the fertile land which was located about 50 miles north of Grand Forks. "To cross the deep coulees we had to strip off all our clothing and wrap it into compact packages which were strapped to our backs. Then we plunged into the icy water and swam across. "It was not only an occasional coulee that had to be forged in this manner as the entire county north of Grand Forks was practically under water. Whenever we reached a high and dry knoll we would build a fire and prepare a make shift meal. The regular procedure was wading in slushy icy water all day. "Occasionally we would encounter a lone settler's cabin and often we were received with extreme hospitality, while other times we were shown scant consideration and at one place the settler refused to sell us milk after we had offered to pay him handsomely for

Mrs. Charles Nollman

Mr. Nollman had the only privately owned and operated lumber yard and contracting company in Grafton, at that time, specializing in bridge building, home building, also building of commercial buildings such as churches, much of the state buildings on the west edge of Grafton, as well as large farm buildings. He was a member of Lodge No. 11, AF & AM, the Eastern Star and the Workmens Lodge. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and served as a member of the board of trustees. Mr. Nollman was active in the business affairs of the city and Walsh County. He was elected to two terms as the mayor of the city of Grafton and served on the fire department in 1904. Mr Nollman died on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1923, his death did not come unexpectedly as he had been failing in health for four years, and the community lost a man of great integrity and high quality.

' "I finally filed on a farm on which I am now living which is located one mile northeast of Grafton. Mr. Hendricksen did not find any suitable land in this immediate locality and he continued the trip northwest into Dundee Township where he filed on a quarter section and for several years afterward his wife and family lived on this land until he completed all the governmental requirements and proved up the homestead. "After we had selected our homesteads we returned to our homes in Waseca County, Minn., and spent the winter there. We moved up to Acton the following spring. Mr. Hendricksen engaged in the hardware business and I opened a shoe store. At that time Acton was a bustling

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nollman. Left to right: Ethel, Charles, jr., Ray, Ruth and Mary (twins). 193

GUNDER OLSON The editors of the Walsh County Record paid special tribute to Gunder Olson in the Walsh County edition of July 25, 1940. "He was born in Telemarken, Norway, Sept. 8, 1852. His father's name was Aker; his mother's name was Sylie. Because it was the custon in Norway for the oldest one to take the family name and remain on the family homestead, his father adopted his wife's name of Sylie when he married and moved to the small farm owned by the bride. "When Gunder, the oldest of eight children, was nine months of age the father and mother decided to come to America. It was a long and arduous voyage, requiring three and a half months. Arriving in America in the summer of 1853, the family went to Racine, Wis., where they Uved with relatives until the next spring. "In 1854, the family, which had adopted the name of Knutson, moved to SpiUvUle, Iowa, which was to become their permanent home. The community around SpUlvUle had been settled by Bohemians with a few famines of Scandinavian origin. These Bohemians were later to furnish the population for a large settlement in Walsh County. "As Mr. Olson recalled it, there were only two families of American origin in SpillviUe when he was a boy. At the age of ten years, Gunder, who had adopted the name of Olson because his father's given name was Ole, got a job working for a neighbor. The pay was $3.00 per month. At the end of eight months, he was given what was to him a tremendous sum of money-$24. During the eight months he was employed at his first job, he spent twenty-five cents, which was a gift from his father, at a Fourth of July celebration. "Mr. Olson recalls that he divided the $24 evenly between his father and his mother, giving $12 to each. The father used his share to buy an additional ten acres of land, while the mother used her $12 to buy cloth from which she made her young son many fine clothes. T was the best dressed young gentleman in that community when my mother finished,' said Mr. Olson as he recounted the events of his youth. "He continued to be employed by various farmers in the community until the spring of 1881 when, like thousands of others from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, he sent out for Dakota Territory which was then enjoying a great influx of settlers. "Arriving here, he took a homestead in Lampton Township, near the present vUlage of Edinburg. At that time there was a small store at Edinburg but the nearest post office was at Garfield, west of the present site of Park River. "Before he had time to prove up on his homestead, he sold his rights and went to Grand Forks where he secured employment as a salesman for Sprot-Armstrong Company implement dealers. In later years he returned and bought the land which was his original homestead, together with other land near it. Later the land was owned by Christ Ulberg. "While working in Grand Forks in 1882, his Walsh County friends entered him in the race for sheriff against Jacob Reinhart, who had been appointed sheriff a year before when Walsh County was organized. Although he made no campaign, he came within 70 votes of being elected.

river town and every time the steamboats arrived a bunch of settlers and their families would arrive. Indians also made frequent visits to Acton. In fact, the bulk of my business was buying furs from the Indians and trappers who lived along the Red, Park and Forest rivers. A large variety of pelts were gathered each winter. "The money the Indians and trappers received for the furs was usually spent in the nearest saloon. "Mr. Hendricksen did an extensive business in stoves as one of the requirements of proving up a homestead was that a stove was part of the equipment on the place. These stoves were of the sheet iron variety and they usually sold for $3.00. "During the summer of 1881 Acton was growing rapidly and I judge the population was between four and five hundred. Daily freight service had been established by a number of boats between Pembina and Grand Forks. Lumber, provisions, farm machinery, and everything else needed for a new country, was the principal freight on the boats. "At this time Acton had four saloons and two hotels and they were always full of transients. Often the dining room of the hotels had to be converted into sleeping quarters by the simple process of throwing matresses on the floor. "Several substantial buildings had been erected and there was unending hustle and bustle. "Although Acton was one of the liveliest towns I ever saw, there was an element of uncertainty permeating the atmosphere at all times as there was much speculation as to the actual route that the railroad would take when built north of Grand Forks. "In the summer of 1881 it was definitely determined that the railroad would reach the post office of Grafton and many of the businessmen in Acton were considering moving into the new locality as soon as the railroad arrived. In November, after the first snow flurries, I moved my store building unto two heavy sleighs drawn by oxen and started for the promising city of Grafton. "Two homesteaders, Ole Hoisveen and Thomas Olson, handled the oxen very successfully and we arrived in Grafton the same day. The building was placed on the lot now occupied by the shoe establishment of John Voltz. At about the same time Carl Hendricksen moved the front part of his Acton hardware store on sleighs and placed it on the lot where the Chicago Store now stands. Dr. Hamilton was another Acton businessman who moved to Grafton at that time. Dr. Hamilton's Drug Store was the original building of the H. L. Haussamen Co."

Andrew Olafson 194

"He worked for the Grand Forks firm in the Grafton territory during part of 1883. Then in partnership with Fred Carpenter and John Code, he organized Code, Olson & Co farm implement dealers. This partnership lasted only ten months but it was highly successful. During the period the firm sold 105 binders and other farm machinery proportionately. When the partnership was dissolved, it had some $10,000, mostly in notes, to divide among the partners. "In 1884 he was an active candidate for sheriff. In this and many future campaigns, his early associations were of great advantage to him. The Veseleyville, Pisek and Lankin communities had been settled by Bohemians, many of whom came from SpillviUe, Iowa Territory. Olson knew many of them and they knew him. He always received a large vote in those communities. "He was elected in the fall of 1884 by a large majority, re-elected in 1886, and again in 1888. Then the legislature, fearing that county officials might perpetuate themselves in office, passed a law which made the sheriff and treasurer ineligible for re-election more than once. "Retiring from office at the end of 1890, Olson was named sergeant-at-arms of the house of representatives in the North Dakota legislature, a job which lasted only during the legislative session. "Returning to Grafton after the legislative session, he formed a partnership with Carl F. Hendrickson, then a leading business man in Grafton, for the purpose of engaging in the implement business. Later the firm was reorganized with James Brosnahan as one of the stockholders and it became known as the Brosnahan & Olson Company. ...... . , "Brosnahan retired after a short time in order to enter business for himself at Langdon. Later, in 1910, when Olson was elected state treasurer of North Dakota, Brosnahan returned to manage the business. "Most men when they are elected to state office, welcome the opportunity to move their families to Bismarck and live in the capital city. Mr. Olson contended however, that his home was in Grafton and he intended to keep it here. Therefore, he did not move his family to Bismarck during the four years he held state office. This situation came to the attention of the legislature in 1913 and a committee was appointed to wait upon him, caUing his attention to a law which said aU state officials should Uve in the capital city. Mr. Olson politely asked the committee what it intended to do about it inviting them to declare the office vacant if they wanted to take such action. This ended the matter and no more was heard about it. "After four years as state treasurer, Olson returned to Grafton to resume his business activities. It was about this time that the late John L. Cashel, Olson Gunder Midgarden, G. W. Foogman and others organized the Scandinavian-American Bank of which he was a director. , .~ "When he retired from the state treasurer s office, Mr. Olson thought his political career was at an end It was not to be, however, and in 1916 he was elected Republican Committeeman for North Dakota and was re-elected in 1920, serving eight years in this job which required the expenditure of a great deal of tune and money, but which paid no salary. "When the affairs of the Federal Government were returned to the hands of the RepubUcans in 1921, after

eight years of Democratic administration under Woodrow WUson, Mr. Olson was appointed internal revenue coUector for North Dakota by President Harding with headquarters in Fargo. He was reappointed by President Coolidge and President Hoover, serving 12 years in that capacity. "After his retirement from the office in 1933, he continued to Uve in Fargo, although his legal residence continued to be in Grafton. He, for the most part, retired from active business but continued to act as president of the MetropoUtan BuUding and Loan Association of Fargo, which operated over a large part of North Dakota. "In 1886, Mr. Olson returned to Iowa and married a sweetheart of his youth, Anna Gullickson. They had two daughters, Arlene and Mrs. Frank Deason. Mr. and Mrs. Olson raised another girl, Gloria Olson, a daughter of Mr. Olson's brother. She married E. B. Knutson of BilUngs." . Prepared from the Walsh County Record, issue of July 25, 1940, and submitted by Kenneth Coulter. PETER OLSON Peter Olson was born May 14,1863, in Norway, where he spent his childhood. He came to Walsh County May 7, 1881 with his parents who homesteaded here. Because he was too young at the time, Mr. Olson did not take a homestead. He now owns the famUy homestead, however. Thea Christianson became his wife in 1884. THE OMLIE FOREFATHERS In the middle 1840's, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Omlie migrated from Norway to America, seeking a home. Financed by Norway relatives, they traveled about the east and midwest, finaUy selected a large tract of land in northern Iowa on the fertile Washington Prairie, about equally distant from Decorah, Waukon and Ossian. Living in a smaU cabin, they took part in all community activities, especially in the Norwegian Methodist Church of which they had been members in Norway. Later, with much help from the OmUes, the parish buUt a small rock church, known as the Washington Prairie Methodist Church, which stiU stands, surrounded by a Uttle, weU-marked cemetery where Ue buried the Michael OmUes and four of their six chUdren, along with other pioneers of their era. Most of these early settlers were farmers, raising mostly small grain. After threshing, they formed wagon trains in large numbers for protection from the Indians, and together they made the two-day trip to Lansing, Iowa, on the shore of the Mississippi, where the gram was sold and shipped down the river on barges to the larger ports. In this way, by industry, progressive farming, careful financing, and with long and hard labor, the area prospered. The Omlies also prospered. They built a modern home, considered one of the very nicest on the prairie. They had six children, two sons and four daughters. They were all trained in religion, received the usual country schoohng, went to "town school" in one of the nearby cities, and finished off at the Upper Iowa University, a Methodist college at Fayette, Ia. Since this article concerns one of the Omlie children, the eldest, Ole Michael, it is recorded that his parents and five of the six chUdren preceded him in 195

While these children were growing, Mr. Omlie continued his horse sales, engaged in other businesses as weU. He started a farm machinery business, sometime later operating as the Omlie-Hogensen firm. In later years he operated the 0. M. Omlie Real Estate business on Hill Avenue. In late 1898, the OmUes built a modem home at 1113 Western Avenue, one of the nicer large homes in Grafton. They owned the entire block on which the house stood and also the block west of the home, one in the southwest area of Grafton. They sold some lots for other homes and finally the second block. During his Ufe in Grafton, 0. M. Omlie was active in civic and fraternal affairs, a member of the Methodist Church, interested in the weU-being of the families who operated his farms, but most of aU, a kind, indulgent family man. He died Feb. 17, 1917, and was buried in Crescent Cemetery beside his eldest son, Chester, who had preceded him in death.

death, his mother and the brother and sisters being deceased quite early in Ufe. OLE MICHAEL OMLIE Ole Michael Omlie (known to Grafton as 0. M. Omlie) was born Feb. 19, 1852, on Washington Prairie, near Ossian, Iowa, to the Michael Omlies. Trained in religion at home and in the Norwegian Methodist church, sent to a local country school, followed by training in nearby secondary schools, he entered Upper Iowa University at Fayette, Iowa. Ill health ended his formal education and he sought help in a warmer climate, spending time in both Texas and California. On returning to his home in Iowa, he saw constant migration from his own and neighboring states to lands in the northwest. After a trip, he saw that the great need in Minnesota and the Dakota Territory was horses, both for farm work and carriage use. Returning to Iowa, he made horse dealing his regular business, buying horses all the way from Iowa to Kentucky, and shipping them by train to railroad or boat terminals, such as Crookston and Fisher's Landing. There his horses were sold to dealers, farmers, or driven in droves to North Dakota. He liked a town called Grafton in the Dakota Territory. In the late 1870's, before the trains came, he built a barn there to shelter his unsold horses and for the horses of farmers and business travelers. Later his barn became known as the "Livery Stable." At about this same time, Mr. OmUe buUt a house, still in use at 323 N. Kittson. He rented the house to tenants. On Dec. 21, 1881, the first train came to Grafton and business grew. Mr. OmUe invested in land, owning farms at St. Andrews, Acton, and Cashel. Across the Red River in Minnesota he owned two farms and often during the years he bought and sold various tracts in eastern Walsh County.

Mrs. O. M. (Caroline) Omlie in about 1946.

O. M. Omlie home, 1113 Western, about 1920.

CHESTER OMLIE Chester Nathaniel Omlie was born in Grafton Oct. 16, 1884. He was a young man with prowess in athletics, a faithful member of Co. "C," with high hopes and great ambitions for the future. IU health beset him. He spent some time in New Mexico, then returned home, becoming a raUway maU clerk. He was stricken with pneumonia and died Sept. 9, 1908, and was buried in Crescent Cemetery.

0. M. Omlie, taken in the early 1880's or late 1870's. On Aug. 27,1883, at Fargo, 0. M. Omlie married Miss Caroline Wicker. The Omlies settled in Grafton. The home Mr. Omlie owned was stUl rented, so they lived for awhUe in a hotel, operated by the Jim McDonalds, moving later to a rented home. Their own home becoming vacant, they moved into it, and during the next 11 years their five children were born - Chester, LUlian, Myron, OUver and Vemon.

CAROLINE WICKER OMLIE Caroline Wicker was bom Nov. 3, 1861, youngest daughter of Margaret (Onsgaard) and Ole Nelson Wicker of Highland Prairie, near Spring VaUey, Minn. 196

Her father, a farmer, had been in the Norwegian Navy before coming to America. Her mother had many relatives living in southern Minnesota who had preceded her to the United States. Many of them lived around Albert Lea and Austin. Shortly after Caroline's birth, her father joined the Union Army and was in the service for several years. Caroline was raised in the Lutheran church, educated in the country schools. Between school terms, she often visited her many relatives around the area and in Wisconsin. In her early twenties, she took up land in Minnesota and worked at Crooks ton. There she met 0. M. Omlie to whom she was married at Fargo, Aug. 27,1883. The OmUes settled in Grafton. Because their own home was occupied with tenants, they Uved in a hotel, then operated by the Jim McDonalds with whom they later became neighbors and Ufe-long friends. Their own home being vacated, they finally moved there, at 323 Kittson, and there their five children were born: Chester, Lillian, Myron, Oliver and Vernon. Just before the turn of the century, they moved into their newly-built home on the southwest end of Grafton. Caroline Omlie raised her children with good care, always having sufficient help. They were taught to be respectful and mannerly, helpful to others. Just what dancing school did for the boys is hard to record. Every summer Mrs. OmUe would take some, often all of her children to visit their OmUe relatives at Decorah, Ia., and the Wicker relatives in southern Minnesota. During aU these years, Mrs. OmUe was active in her Methodist Church with its many affiliations, in the Eastern Star of which she was worthy matron, in the W. C T U. and many other groups. A Gold Star mother, she had affection for the American Legion AuxiUary. She survived her husband by 35 years. Shortly after his death, she sold her large home to an order of eastern nuns for a convent, their intention was to start a Catholic school. This failed and the school later became an apartment complex. The deaths of her sons, Chester in 1908, Oliver in 1918, and Vernon in 1936, were three crushing blows, hard for any mother to endure. Mrs. Omlie's religious faith and her great courage sustained her for the last 16 years of her Ufe. Four grandchUdren lived near her. After her son Myron and wtfe moved to Chicago in 1922, she spent most of her winters with them untU 1935 when she bought the old G M Baer home on Griggs Avenue where she lived the rest of her life. On one of the two trips back to Chicago after 1935, in 1945, she, accompanied by her son, Myron, returned to Grafton through southern Minnesota that she might visit the scenes of her childhood and the relatives Uving there. She continued ownership of the farm at Cashel, maintained her group interests, cared for herseU, loved her home, lived happily and contentedly there. She died July 9,1952, and is buried in the Crescent Cemetery.

MYRON W. OMLIE Myron Wicker Omlie was born Dec. 25, 1889, a little less than two months after North Dakota had become the 39th state of the Union. At the present writing (1975), he and his wife are enjoying life in general at their home at 906 Griggs Avenue in Grafton. He had the usual childhood of his day, was an expert swimmer, took part in school sports and got along weU with everybody, old or young. Being a nature lover, especially of farm animals, he often spent some part of his vacation on his father's farms and enjoyed going along on farm trips with his father. Like his brothers and sister, he too enjoyed the many summer visits to Minnesota and Iowa relatives. One event marred his childhood and handicapped the rest of his life. Always wanting to be helpful, he was aiding another boy with a jammed B-B air rifle, working in the Omlie basement because it had a cement floor; stomping the rifle on the floor to loosen the jam, the rtfle fired, hitting Myron's left eye, causing a cataract which could not be helped, though he was taken to several of the best specialists. The accident occurred when he was around 11 years old. Myron was educated in the Grafton schools and at the A . C , Fargo. He was a member of the R. O.T.C. With a special liking for art work in the drawing and painting area, he still has many pictures which demonstrate that ability, painted while he was a student at Fargo. Shortly before his 16th birthday, he joined Co. "C* of the 164th Infantry ofthe N. D. National Guard, remaining a continuous member until his discharge after World War I. After leaving the A. C , Myron worked with electrical and telephone companies and did surveying.

1st Lieutenant Myron W. Onlie. Co. "C", 164th Infantry, W.W.I. In 1916, the Guard was federahzed and called for duty on the Mexican Border, stationed at Mercedes, Texas. In early 1917, they were again federahzed, trained at Grafton a few months and then went to Camps Charlotte, Mills and Merrit. In late December, they sailed upon the Leviathan, on its first trip as a troop ship, for England, reaching there Dec. 24, but were not able to disembark until December 25. Being Myron's birthday, he "slipped" away and went to church at Winchester. He still has the program of that service. He had been commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant after he returned from the Mexican Border and was com-

LILLIAN OMLIE TVERBERG LUlian Omlie, the second chUd and only daughter of the 0. M. OmUes, was born April 7, 1888. She married Albert G. Tverberg and her biography wUl be found with the Tverberg history elsewhere in this volume. 197

missioned as 1st Lieutenant in September of 1917 before leaving Grafton. The 41st (Sunset) division, of which the 164th regiment became a part, was the first complete U. S. division to reach Europe, so they were made a replacement division their work being the training of recruits Myron remained with " C " Co. during the war until, little by little, it was broken down to a small group, most of its men transferred or sent home. During the months preceding the Armistice he was in command of the company at the German section of a prison camp at St. Aignon. While in France, he traveled as much as an officer was allowed, many times to Paris, to Monaco and Monte Carlo, three weeks in England, Scotland, and Ireland. After Co. " C " returned to the states he served in France with a machine gun battalion, and then as Pass Officer at Brest. He returned to the U. S. on the "Pastores" and after a short visit in Grafton, he was discharged at Camp Dodge at Des Moines, Ia., Sept. 18, 1919. While in France, he was a member of the class, who, under the tutoring of Col. Fraine, became members of the Masonic Blue Lodge of Grafton, taking degrees while in France. In September of 1919, he became a charter member of the American Legion Post 41, of which he is now a Ufe member, having been a continuous member of the Legion during years he was away from Grafton. On June 17, 1920, Myron OmUe was married to Helena T. Bakewell. After living briefly in California and 14 months on the farm at Cashel, the OmUes left for Chicago where they lived almost 35 years. Most of that time they resided in the Logan Square district of Chicago where they became active in the community life of the area. After a few years of working for private companies, Mr. Omlie began work with the Supply Depot of the Veterans' Administration serving there 25 years, being Chief of Document Control for several years before his retirement in 1956. While in Chicago, he was active in The American Legion, especially in youth and Americanism work. During World War II, he was appointed the Civil Defense Chairman of one of the large areas of Chicago, a position he held during the entire war. During this time he was constantly caUed upon for assistance to every area of the C. D. service, war families, gas and tire rationing, training of all types of war workers, in community service, bond drives, servicemen centers, drives for food and entertainment, safety and security watches of every sort, recommendations for work, investigations of workers, aU this while he often worked extra hours at his office at the Veterans Administration. Then too, he had an added responsibility to help his wife who was Fund Raising Chairman for the Red Cross in a Chicago Division. Following war service, he had several serious hTnesses, two surgeries. In June, 1956, after being released from the hospital after a several weeks sojourn, he was retired from the Veterans Administration, with the entire facility observing a special "Omlie Day." On July 1, 1956, the OmUes returned to Grafton to retire to their home at 906 Griggs Avenue. While in Chicago they had come up here every year, often several times a year, so it seemed as if they had never been away. The first two years were busy with remodeUng and disposing of unwanted articles. Having inherited

Caroline OmUe's piano, an exceUent instrument (Busch and Gertz), and having little use for it themselves, Myron thought of the Armory, where the "boys" said they needed one. We are sure Mrs. Omlie would be glad it went there, as at one time or another all four of her sons had been members of the Guard, for an aggregate of about 35 years. Since returning to Grafton, Myron has enjoyed fairly good health, and until recently used to take numerous long trips a year. "Mike" says the short ones content him now. He continues membership in a few youth and Americanism groups in Chicago. In Grafton, he returned to his first post of the American Legion, Post 41, who so kindly made him a life member about 8 years ago, he belongs to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the World War I Walsh Co. Barracks. At home, he still does some yard work, is an avid reader of the daily papers and many magazines, never misses the national news on television. And, of course, he has his favorite T. V. programs. Besides all this, Mrs. Omlie says he makes a fine lunch and a good cup of coffee. MRS. MYRON W. OMLIE Helena Teresa BakeweU was married to Myron W. Omlie in 1920. She was an Iowan by birth, born at Lansing, the daughter of William and Magdalen BakeweU, the third of six children. Two foster chUdren were raised in this family, making it a large household. Helena BakeweU was educated in the local country school, a graduate of the Lansing High School and the University of Northern Iowa. On Jan. 1,1916, she came to Grafton High School as a special instructor, due to increased enrollment. She resigned after two years to teach in coUege in her special fields of speech and English, and was teaching in that capacity at the Springfield Campus of the University of South Dakota at the time of her marriage. After Uving in CaUfornia, and in Cashel, the OmUes moved to Chicago where Mrs. OmUe was active in club and service organizations, her assignments usually being in the field of children and youth. As a member of the American Legion AuxUiary since its inception, she continued work begun in South Dakota, became president of her Unit, Logan Square, her district, Cook County, the First Division, and held many state and national appointments. During the 1933 and 1934 years of the Chicago World's Fair, she was appointed the Liason Officer between the service organizations and the Chicago Boy Scouts. She served on the Chicago Recreation Commission under four mayors. She was cited by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the National American Legion AuxUiary magazine for her work at the home for delinquent children. She held aU the lower offices and was elected Chapeau (President) of the Eight and Forty, the honor organization of the American Legion AuxUiary, with its special assignment by the Legion, devotion to chUd welfare. She retains her membership in both these organizations. Being a CathoUc she has been a member of CathoUc Daughters since her coUege days in 1913. A simUar long record is hers in Federated Club work. For many years she has been a member of the Irving Park Women's Club, one of the oldest and largest clubs in Chicago, and was active in the various departments of Uterature, and legislation, and held chairmanships at

some time or other in branches of these, and in several other departments. She was her club's delegate to the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations, until she became a life member of that group. But a special and very demanding service for her during World War II was her appointment to be the Fund Raising Chairman for the American Red Cross in 288 blocks, a heavily populated area of Chicago, an appointment she held for three years, during which time, with the help of her husband, they made their assigned quota each year. Then, too, she was especially helpful to the American Legion in programs with youth, coaching many boys and girls in the Legion oratorical and essay contests, in their programs with the R. 0. T. C , in the 9th District annual youth parade. She was elected member of the Logan Community Council for many years. Mrs. Omlie was noted for her loyalty to North Dakota. Mrs. Omlie considered herself a Dakotan by adoption, of her own choice. As much as she liked Chicago and was grateful for all it had done for both of them, she was most willing to retire to Grafton. On coming here, Mrs. Omlie has headed a number of organizations, and belongs to a number of others. She has been president of the American Association of University Women, of Delphian Library Club, of the World War I Auxiliary for over two years, followed by nearly 7 years as its treasurer. She was president of Riverside Women's Club, president of the 1st District of Fed. Clubs for two years, two years a state director, with chairmanships in education, literature, drama, creative writing and many lesser tasks. For five years, she was a member of U. M. R. E . L., the Upper Midwest Regional Education Laboratory, funded by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. . The OmUes find life somewhat different in Grafton than in Chicago, and like to return there as often as they can. They retired here in 1956, and in spite of the exigencies of health and sight, they manage to continue a happy, interesting and useful life in Grafton. Long trips are now made by train, those around the state, they stiU do by car. . • Mostly, however, they enjoy living quietly in their home at 906 Griggs Avenue in Grafton. OLIVER M. OMLIE

VERNON C. OMLIE Vernon Cleophas Omlie, the fourth Omlie son and youngest chUd, was bom June 27, 1895. Being the youngest in a famUy of five was no problem for Vernon, he was inventive enough to overcome any emergency. All through his youth he was always making or inventing something; he and a neighbor's son had their own telephone line between their two homes. After graduating from high school, he spent some time at the University of Minnesota. He had spent several years in the North Dakota National Guard, then joined the Minnesota Guard, with which outfit he served on the Mexican border in 1916-1917. Returning to Minnesota, he asked to be transferred to the Army Air Service. He became a skUled flyer and was kept in the U. S. as a training instructor. After World War I he flew for A. C. Townley (Non. Par. leader), barnstormed the midwest as a stunt flyer, taught air mail flyers at Maywood, IU, all the time seeking a place to establish a flying field. In February, 1922, he was married to Phoebe Fairgrave, whom he had been teaching flying and stunting. Just a few weeks before their marriage, she had broken the world's height record for women in parachute juumping, with Vemon flying the plane, against the instructions of the Curtis Field in Minneapolis where they were both working. After further barnstorming and stunting, they settled at Memphis, Tenn.

OUver MitcheU Omlie was born Nov. 5,1892, and died during World War I while serving at Camp Custer, Mich. In mid-summer of 1918, he was married to PauUne Harris of Pembina, and had been in the army only a few months when stricken with influenza and died Oct. 18, 1918. He was buried in Crescent Cemetery beside his father and oldest brother. Like the other Omlie children, Oliver had an active, happy youth, was interested in athletics and participated in all the events the school offered. After graduating from high school and a year at the University of Wisconsin, he spent some time in Alaska. Returning to Grafton, he did office work, mainly at the Central Lumber Co., until his entrance in World War I service. He had been a member of Co. "C," National Guard. Oliver Omlie was an exemplary young man; though passing away shortly before his 26th birthday, he left a void in the community, felt for many years whenever his name was mentioned.

Vernon C. Omlie taken a few years before his death in 1936. Vernon leased the MUtington Air Field from the federal government, estabUshed a flying school, a chartered commercial air service, and a plane sales business. Among his students were the Faulkner brothers. Wm. Faulkner, the Nobel prize winner for Uterature, had done a Uttle flying in the Canadian Army. He bought a new plane from Vemon, continued lessons. His three brothers all worked for Vernon; Dean, the youngest, was killed on the MUlington field. John, the second brother, took over the management of Vernon's 199

own field, and also the management of the Memphis Municipal Airport, of which Vernon was the manager, at the time of Vernon's death. Vernon pioneered in cotton dusting. During the many floods of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers especially 1922, 1923, 1928 and 1929 he flew his own planes, with homemade pontoons, to rescue the stranded people on the islands and river banks. Because of the danger, the army and navy had ordered their pilots off the rescue, and Vernon and Phoebe took up the task. The August, 1929, American Magazine carried a feature article about this and other feats. When Memphis built a new airport after Vernon's death, by city vote, it was called the Omlie Airport. Vernon Omlie was noted for his safe flying record, receiving for many years the National Aerial trophy for the most miles flown each year without an accident. He was a member of the Elks Commandery and Shriners, Civic Clubs, American Legion and other Vets' groups. But most of all, he was proud to belong to the "Quiet Birdmen" that exclusive group of famous flyers to which only the best could belong. He was killed, Aug. 6, 1936, in the crash of a commercial plane in which he was a paid passenger. He had been popular with the best flyers of his day, Stinson, Doolittle, Rogers, Rickenbacker and their like. The wide spread national publicity at his death, the many rooms filled with flowers from rich and poor, famous and humble, the long cortege to the cemetery, the many, many groups to which he had belonged, or by which he was respected, attending his funeral, all these attested to his popularity and to the respect they felt was due him. This was emphasized by the sky-writing over his burial site and all over the city of Memphis; the famous aviators (among the Quiet Birdmen), joined by many others, wrote their tributes in the sky. The most touching among these messages was the one with which flyers say farewell to another flyer starting on a journey, on this day they filled the skies with that message: "Happy Landings, Vernon." PHOEBE FAIRGRAVE OMLIE

priority flying for women in the U. S. During that same war period, she headed a school for women flyers to become "ferry" pilots. At the close of the war, the federal government set up a program of evaluating the efficiency of airports, etc., who wished to be accredited as suitable and competent schools for this work. Phoebe headed this program. She was a member of the CivU Aeronautics Board for a number of years. She invented an air response gadget for the instrument panel of a plane, by which the gadget made an instantaneous record of how long it took a flyer to respond to a command from the ground, and to put the command into action. This invention, along with numerous others by Phoebe and Vernon, together or individually, are in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C. The August, 1929, issue of the American Monthly Magazine carried a very special feature, several pages long, occasioned by recent feats of Phoebe. The cover of the magazine was a picture of the kind of plane she flew, a Monocoupe. The first page of the article had a simUar plane picture, with pictures of Vemon and Phoebe, with the feature by-line, "There's no stopping a woman with courage like this." In 1923 or 1924 the newsreels carried a picture ot Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, handing to Phoebe Omlie the first transport pUot's Ucense ever issued to any woman in the United States, and added to it the first world's transport pUot's license for a woman flyer It is no wonder the order of the "Quiet Birdmen" selected Phoebe to be one of their "Queen Bees," and equally exclusive group of the best, (only about ten) women flyers of the world. Vernon taught Phoebe not only to fly a plane, but to assemble one, to take it apart, to be her own mechanic, even to make her own plane, her famous little "puddle jumper " its rephca being in the Smithsonian Institute. This article about Mrs. Vemon OmUe (Phoebe) is added to the OmUe history, not to redound to her fame, but as a tribute to Vernon who was both her teacher and her husband. ANDERS OPPERUD

Vernon OmUe was survived by his mother, his sister, LUUan Tverberg, his brother, Myron, and his wtfe, Pheobe Omlie. Phoebe was never a North Dakotan, but her life, so closely bound to Vernon's, her accompUshments, and her appointments, helped by his teaching, are reaUy a tribute to him. She won every air race she ever entered. On winning the Los Angeles to Chicago cross-country, against both men and women in 1930, she was asked to speak over the airport radio to a national hook-up; always brief, she spoke only about three sentences, the last of which was "I didn't win this race. Vernon Omlie did, he taught me all I know about flying." In 1936, she was appointed by President Roosevelt as head of the Federal Air-Marking program; in 1937 she was chosen by the National President of the American Legion Auxiliary at their National Convention to be the main speaker, which is always broadcast over the national hook-ups. She has fiUed many simUar requests from other national meetings. She was the only woman flyer on the Ford Reliability Tour in 1929. During World War II, she was the liason between the Federal Departments of the Navy and Commerce, with number two

Anders Opperud was bom in Aadalen, Norway, July 11, 1855. He married Karen Vigen of Aadalen, Norway, Jan. 24,1882, at Aadalen. They emigrated to the United States in 1884 and settled on a farm in Walsh County west of Grafton. In 1892 he moved to Grafton where he estabUshed a shoe repair shop which he owned and operated until 1930 when he retired. The couple had one daughter and two sons: Gena, Gilbert and Henry. HANS PAULSON Hans Paulson was born in Norway, Aug. 5, 1855, and spent his early life there and in Iowa. He came to Walsh County in 1880 and homesteaded in Grafton Township. In 1888 at Grafton he was united in marriage to Marie Hanson. He served as a member of his school board. THORWALD PEDERSON FAMILY Thorwald Pederson was born Sept. 8, 1863, in Christiansund, Norway, and came to America when 21. He settled first in St. Paul where he lived for two years, 200

at the end of which time he went to Fergus Falls where he was engaged in business for two years. In 1893, he moved to Grafton and took a position as a jewelry and watch repairman for Peter Speton, who operated a store here at that time. Later he engaged in the jewelry business for himself. On Jan. 13, 1894, he was married to Olenia Klugness in Grafton. Seven children were born. Three of the children are still living - Arthur of Minneapolis, Henry of Seattle, and Mrs. Gudren Edgley of Florida. Four sons have died - Charles of Minneapolis, Eilert, Jarl, Sr., and Alvin, Sr., all of Grafton. Thorwald Pederson suffered a stroke in 1920 and was a partial invalid until his death in 1927. Interment was in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. During Mr. Pederson's illness, his son, Henry, came and took over the store. Later another son, Alvin, bought the business from Henry and moved the business to the present location. Another brother, Charles, was watchmaker in the business for a few years. After the second World War, a nephew, Marvin Pederson, was employed under the G. I. Bill as an apprentice watchmaker. In 1955, Alvin, Jr., came back and apprenticed under the G. I. Bill. He took over at the time of his father's death and is the present owner of Pederson's Jewelry. This business has been a continuing operation in the Pederson family for 82 years. Submitted by Mrs. Alvin Pederson, Jr.

Thorvald Pederson Family. Left to right: Arthur, Jarl, Mr. Pederson, Gudren, Alvin, Mrs. Pederson, Elert. Front: Charles. JESSE DANIEL PHELPS Jesse Daniel Phelps, a pioneer lawyer from Racine, Wise came by railway to Grand Forks in 1881, then into Minto by oxcart. He opened an office in Minto and practiced there until 1916. Lucinda Zuilesdorf and her brothers, August and Frank, came from eastern Canada about the same time and opened a general store in Acton, getting all their supplies by boat on the river. They came across country and opened a store in Minto. Jesse and Lucinda met, married, and had their family and home in Minto for many years. Jesse's older brother, Henry, one of the first graduates from the University Law School, came to Minto shortly after his brother and stayed there for a whUe, then moved to Grafton - opened a law office and Uved here for many years.

I married Jesse's son, Harold, in 1914. I was an Indiana girl and met Harold at Wisconsin U. We lived in Minto many years. Submitted by Mary J. Phelps. HENRY AND ALICE PHELPS

Alice (Beecher) Phelps, Henry W. Phelps Henry W. Phelps was born in Madison, Wise., May 16, 1860, died in Grafton Feb. 23, 1940. Alice Beecher was born in 1863 in the Binghamton VaUey of New York State, died in Grafton in 1938. I have been given to understand that she was a relative of Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin), Henry Ward Beecher, the pre-Civil War aboUtionist, and Lyman Beecher, a clergyman of some note during that period. She and Mr. Phelps were married in Park River in 1886 after she had come to the Dakota Territory as a music teacher. Mr. Phelps was a pioneer lawyer, and was mentioned in Rep. Usher Burdick's book, "Famous Judges and Lawyers of Early North Dakota." After graduating from the University of Wisconsin's law school in 1882, near the beginning of the "Great Dakota Boom," he came to the Dakota Territory, locating first in the early "bonanza town" of Caledonia. He later practiced at Bathgate and Park River, coming to Grafton in 1890 where he maintained an office untU his death in 1940. He was at one time associated in the practice of law with his brother, Jesse D. Phelps. He apparently was one of the earUer North Dakota lawyers to try a case before the Supreme Court of the United States. The story of his death which the Grafton News and Times carried made reference to his tenacity, a characteristic which is illustrated by the matter which ultimately went to the Supreme Court. The case had been before the Supreme Court of North Dakota on four earUer occasions on appeal. The first three times the judgment had been against his client at the trial court level and each time he was successful in getting such reversed on appeal. The fourth time the judgment was for his chent and the other side took an appeal to the Supreme Court of North Dakota. Chief Justice CorUss prefaced his opinion affirming the judgment by an allusion to Macbeth noting that "this case, like Banquo's ghost, wUl not down." When the matter proceeded to the Supreme Court of the United States, the judgment in favor of my grandfather's client was affirmed. Mrs. Phelps was an accompUshed musician and was for many years active in the Methodist (later Federated)

church in Grafton and was a state official in the Women's Christian Temperance Union. There were three sons Irving, Everett, and Herbert, and a daughter Marguerite. Herbert and Marguerite survive. Submitted by Donald Phelps, a grandson.

EDWARD HORACE PIERCE Edward Horace Pierce, one of the co-founders of the Walsh County Record and actively connected with the paper for almost 20 years, saw two struggling frontier villages develop into modern, progressive cities. To that extent at least he may be called one of the northwest's pioneers. Mr. Pierce was born on an Indian reservation near the city of Schenectady, N. Y., the son of a Congregational minister, on Jan. 10, 1862. When he was a young lad, his parents took him to Minneapolis, Minn. Their first stop was then a sprawling northwest lumber camp. It gave little evidence of becoming the great industrial and commercial city of modern times. Part of young Pierce's life was spent in Northfield and other southern Minnesota cities, for we find numerous references to them in his writings. It is known also that he often went to Northfield to visit with friends and relatives. His first taste of the newspaper business was similar to that of many famous newspapermen. He was a carrier boy. The smell of printer's ink and the fascination of creative work soon attracted his serious attention and he resolved to become a printer. Presumably he learned his trade in southern Minnesota. That was in the days when the typesetting machine was still a dream, when journalism was a personal business, and when the business office was of secondary importance. All type was set by hand in those days; a slow, tedious process. It was a day of artistry in the printing business, however, and every printer took pride in his typography. In the early days we find young Pierce employed on the daily papers of the Twin Cities. His last employment before coming to Grafton was on the old St. Paul Daily Globe, long since gathered to the shades of forgotten newspapers. In 1885, he came to Grafton and entered the employ of H. C. Upham, a pioneer Grafton citizen who was the publisher of the News and Times. In 1885, Grafton had been a town for throe years, a city for two years by an act of incorporation. It was the year that the Courthouse, the Central School and the Grand Opera House were consstructed. Three years later Mr. Pierce purchased an interest in the News and Times and became associated with Mr. Upham in its publication. Late in 1889 or early in 1890 the News and Times was sold to W. D. Bates. In the spring of 1890, Mr. Pierce formed a partnership with A. L. Woods, then superintendent of the Grafton schools, to start a new paper in Grafton. At that time Grafton had three other publications. From the beginning the partnership was successful and the new paper prospered when measured by the standards of that day. It soon became an important factor in the life of the community and wielded a farreaching influence over its affairs. After several years Mr. Pierce sold his interest to Mr. Woods who operated the paper alone for a short time. Mr. Woods then sold the entire property to Mr. Pierce who continued its

publication until Sept. 15,1908, at which time he sold it to Grant S. Hager of St. Thomas. In the spring of 1910 he was appointed postmaster of Grafton but served only a few months when he resigned. In 1912 he established a commercial printing house which he operated until illness forced him to retire from the business. Ed Pierce was probably the keenest humorist who ever lived upon the soil of North Dakota. He was the creator of Poison Carrots, the Hired Man and the Motherin-law whose comings and goings were recorded in a column which he published for many years under the title of "Hits and Mrs." No more mirthful, humorous or entertaining column has ever been printed in a North Dakota newspaper and other publications reprinted it extensively. At one time Mr. Pierce was under contract 'to the Minneapolis Journal to syndicate his column. There was nothing coarse or vulgar about Ed. Pierce's humor. Always it was clean and wholesome. Nor was he a cynic looking for the mean and nasty things of Ufe. To wound another in order to make a humorous remark or bring a smile to his readers was something which he would not tolerate. His humor was "as unaffected as the laugh of a boy." He was a member of Crescent Lodge No. 11, A. F. & A. M.; Grafton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. Omer Commandery, Knights Templar; Mizpah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; Kem Temple, A. A. O. N . M. S., Grand Forks. For a number of years he was secretary of the Grafton Masonic bodies. In the faU of 1886 he married Miss Lillian Noble, MinneapoUs. Two sons were born, Charles was a newspaper man located in Mandan for many years where he was the managing editor and a stockholder in the Mandan Daily Pioneer. The second son, Clifford, located in Iowa. His first wife died in 1903 and seven years later he married Miss Jeannette Muchie who married J. E. Gray after her husband's death. In 1917 Mr. Pierce was stricken with Blight's Disease. For several months during 1918 he was a patient in a MinneapoUs hospital and returned to Grafton much improved in health. During the following winter, however, he suffered a relapse and died at his home in Grafton Aug. 21,1919. Copied from the Walsh County Record by Kennetti Colter. THE REYLECK OR REYLEK FAMILY Frantisek and Veronika Rejlek came from what is now Czechoslovakia in the early 1870's with their older children and settled in a Bohemian colony at SpiUviUe, Ia., where their remaining children were born. When North Dakota was opened for settlement in the 1880's, the Rejlek family with other Czech families from Spillville went in a caravan of wagons to Walsh County. The Rejlecks settled near VeseleyviUe, where their children, who anghcized the family name to Reyleck or Reylek, grew up. The old Rejleks died about 1910 and are buried in New Prague, where their son, Frank, is also buried. Their oldest son was W. W. Reyleck, who operated a department store in Grafton which stiU bears his name. He sold his store about 1930 and moved to Los Angeles with his three daughters, two of whom survive him and still live there. He died in 1945. Frank Reyleck had a store in North Dakota, but later

moved to Winifred, Mont., where he had a store and a farm. He had only one child, a son, who died at 18. Frank Reyleck died in Montana and is buried with his wife and son in New Prague. Simon Reyleck had a farm near Conway where his older children were born, later operated a farm near Forest River where other children were born. He moved to Floodwood, Minn., in 1917 and in 1934 to Forest Lake, Minn., where he died in 1941. Simon Reyleck had 10 children, eight of whom grew up and survived him, five in Minnesota and one each in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and California. The old Rejleks had five daughters: Mrs. Barbara Kouba, who had seven children, lived on a farm originally near Veseleyville and died in Minneapolis around 1950. Mrs. Elizabeth Lala, who had seven children, lived in New Prague and St. Paul, Minn., where she died around 1947. Mrs. Mary Burianek, who had six children, lived in Walsh County. Mrs. Josephine Hanzal, who had two children, lived in New Prague and died in St. Paul around 1948. Mrs. Anna Kasal, who had 10 children, lived in Walsh County, later moved to St. Paul, where she died around 1960. Some descendants of Mrs. Burianek, Mrs. Kouba, and Mrs. Kasal live in Walsh County and Grand Forks. Many of the descendants of Simon Reylek, Mrs. Laila, and Mrs. Kasal now live in or near St. Paul. W. W. REYLECK W. W. Reyleck came to Grafton from Sauk Center, Minn., in 1884 as a representative of a large manufacturing company. For three years he looked after the company's interests in this community after which he entered the merchandising business. The Reyleck Store was founded in 1887 by Reyleck and two associates, Scotland and Rosholt. They purchased the stock and fixtures of Sandager and Birder, another early Grafton firm. The first venture of the Sandager and Birder Store started in the building later occupied by Greeley Sprague and his grocery store after which it became Homer's IGA Store. It was in the hall over the Sandager and Birder Store that the first Catholic Mass was celebrated by Father Malo who was stationed at Oakwood. The building was later torn down to make way for the Walsh County Bank Building when it was located in the five hundred block on Hill Avenue. At the close of the first year, the firm was dissolved. John Borch of Delano, Minn., then associated with Mr. Reyleck. In 1889, Mr. Borch sold his interests to W. W. Reyleck who continued in the business until his retirement Jan. 8, 1927. In 1890 the stock was moved to the C. A. M. Spencer building and the floor space and the stock of the concern was more than doubled. At the time that Joseph Deschenes went out of business several years later, Mr. Reyleck took over the building and increased his stock in proportion. In the wooden structure at the intersection of Fifth Street and Hill Avenue on the southeast comer, Mr. Reyleck had his grocery business. In the brick block of the Spencer building immediately to the south, he had his clothing and dry goods departments. A large archway was cut in the partitions much in the manner of the present day mall so that customers could go from one department to another without going outside. The W. W. Reyleck company was organized Jan. 12, 1911, with Mr. Reyleck as president, Mrs. W. W. Reyleck

as vice president and E. A. Capser as secretary and treasurer. A news item in 1915 reported that "the W. W. Reyleck Co. purchased from C. A. M. Spencer and Carl Hendrickson, a frontage of 75 feet on the east side of Hill Ave. between the Grafton National Bank and Berg & Flekke. It was anticipated that the new building would be ready for occupancy July 15, 1916. The building was to cost $25,000. It was also reported that Berg & Flekke contemplate the erection of a building 50'xl30' on the present site of the store, giving a frontage of 125 feet of solid brick structures on Hill Avenue." Another item dated March, 1916, reads' 'the work of tearing down the old buildings on the site of the Reyleck block was underway and was being pushed so that contractors could begin excavation work by April 1." Still another item dated 1916 reads: "the Chicago Department Store was formally opened to the public Friday, Oct. 20. Edward Capser was manager of the store and W. W. Reyleck was president of the company. Huge crowds attended the opening of the new store, reputed to be one of the very finest in northeastern North Dakota." A news item in 1915 read: "the Chicago Store force had a sleigh ride to the Joseph DeSautel home, where the remainder of the evening was spent socially. Anton Lund was the winner of the high score prize in whist." An earlier news item dated Nov. 8, 1893 reads: "The front windows of the Chicago Store would be a credit to any city and to any man. Whoever the artist is, he has got an eye for beauty and for artistic arrangement. The Chicago Store throughout is an institution that Grafton can be proud of and its energetic and hustling proprietor is deserving of the large patronage he is receiving." The staff of the Chicago Store included a roster of names that became so familiar that they were like household names to people in the community, such as: T. A. Driscoll, groceries; A. E. Carlson, shoes; D. J. LaBerge, secretary; Mrs. John DeSautel, lingerie; Josephine Rudnik, accessories; Olaf Noreen, linens and blankets; Mrs. Lena Westergard, women's ready-towear; Joseph Vatsndal, men's clothing; Clara Rye, cashier and assistant accountant; and Florence Locken, stenographer and assistant cashier. Mr. Reyleck served in many official capacities in the city. He served as mayor and on the library board. He took an active part in the business until his retirement in 1927. At that time he sold the store and the business to four department heads: A. E. Capser, with the exception of a few years of illness spent his entire life in the promotion of the W. W. Reyleck Company. He had been with the firm 32 years at the time of his death in 1927. T. A. Driscoll, financial and grocery manager of the store was associated with the firm for 37 years. He had been connected with the grocery business during his entire life. A. E. Carlson, a native of Sweden, began working with leather goods when he was 15, and was manager of the shoe department of the W. W. Reyleck Co. He was with the firm 39 years and served as president. D. J. LaBerge was the youngest of the four department heads who purchased the store. At the time of the purchase he had been with the firm 16 years. Mr. Reyleck's first home in Grafton was modest, later he moved into an imposing house at 937 Western Avenue. A news item dated May 24, 1893 reads: "W. W. Reyleck has recently beautified his already fine grounds 203

by the addition of nearly 100 rose bushes of various kinds, besides many other kinds of shrubs." After Mr. Reyleck retired in 1927, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles, Calif. As a footnote to the Reyleck story, J. Edward Tufft wrote a report of a North Dakota reunion picnic held in Long Beach in 1941. It featured a picture of W. W. Reyleck, Gus Baer and Ross Gilroy. Gus Baer was one of Grafton's first merchants, Gilroy was celebrated as a ballplayer throughout northeastern North Dakota. At the picnic, W. W. Reyleck and Henry Bernard each had a picture of a new grandchild which they were showing with pardonable pride. Mr. Reyleck emphasized the fact that he waited until he was 80 years old for his first grandchild but said he did not begrudge the time inasmuch as the new babe is perfect and already singing the "Star Spangled Banner." Prepared from copies of the Walsh County Record by Kenneth Colter.

Mr. and Mrs. John Rydsaag and adopted daughter, Helga. KNUTE C. R Y E Knute C. Rye was born March 2, 1858, in Bagn, Valdres, Norway. He came to the United States with two brothers in 1871 and settled in Janesville, Wise. In 1884 he came to Grafton, where on Aug. 20,1887, he was united in marriage to Annie Marie Jensen. Fourteen children were born, 13 grew up and were educated in the Grafton Schools. During his years in Grafton he was employed by Hendrickson and Olson Implement Dealers, W. W. Reyleck Company, and H. B. Grover Garage. He died July 2, 1928.

MR. AND MRS. DAVE ROBERTSON Mr. and Mrs. Dave Robertson were married Sept. 1, 1920, and on Sept. 17 they attended a farm auction sale on the Walter Morwood farm. Mr. R. A. Dalbey, Sr., the former renter, disposed of his farm machinery and livestock and Dave, who had rented the farm, took advantage ot it. The next spring Dave worked the land. The first few winters the men in the neighborhood would drive to the Red River where they had purchased a plot of timber. They would cut down the trees, haul them home by horses and sleighs and thus provide us a year's supply of fuel. Walter and Fanne Morwood were in the ministry of their church and after six years of renting their land, Dave and Anne moved to the Hamilton Simpson farm as Hamilton had gone to the Twin Cities doing ministerial work. In 1939 Dave had the offer to sell farm machinery with the Adolph Lund Company and he sold his own machinery. When IHC decided to build their store in Grand Forks, Mr. Lund decided to quit, thus Dave became a full time auctioneer. It is still his hobby. Their children are Jean and James. They often return to Ardoch for homemakers parties and for funerals. They will always keep a warm spot in their hearts for the town where they first started Ufe together.

Knute Rye Family. Front row: Alda, Knute Rye, Jeanette, Marion, Opal, Mrs. Rye, Evelyn. Back row: Lavina, Wallace, Ella, Clara, Austin, Nora, Kenneth, Mrytle. HORACE SALTER Horace Ethelbert Salter was one of 10 chUdren born to Mr. and Mrs. James David Salter at St. Joseph Island, Ont., Canada, Dec. 30, 1883. Grandfather and Grandmother Salter operated a photo studio in Canada for some time. Then came an opportunity for a move. He heard there was a studio available in Langdon, so he packed up his family and ventured to Langdon in 1892 where he began operating the studio. He was never sorry he made the move. Horace received his education at Langdon. He took part in sports and track and went to the North Dakota Fifth Annual Interscholastic Track and Field Meet held on University Field in Grand Forks on May 17 and 18, 1907. It was in the finals that he ran the 100 yard dash. He studied law for a time and passed his examination, but the urge to join his father in the photographic business became his desire. Three brothers had joined their father previously. He stayed for some years with the business in Langdon. While there he met Clara Marie Erickson, Clearbrook, Minn., who was employed in Langdon. They

JOHN PEDERSON RYDSAAG John Pederson Rydsaag (also known as Johan Pederson Rosaag) was born in 1852 in Tronhjem, Norway. His wife was also from that part of Norway. They were married in their native land and came to the United States in 1884. That same year Mr. Rydsaag filed claim to the SW Vi of Section 20 in Grafton Township. He farmed here until Sept. 16,1919, when he sold his farm to Ellie and Alice Ostby. Then he bought a home in Grafton at 113 Griggs Avenue. With their adopted daughter, Helga, this is where they spent the rest of their fives. They also had a foster son, Conrad Anderson. Mr. Rydsaag died July 26, 1931. Mrs. John (AmeUa) Rydsaag is also deceased (no dates available). Helga Rydsaag was born in 1878 and died in 1953. Conrad Anderson was born in 1884 and died in 1971. They are aU buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. 204

were married July 6, 1914, in Langdon. Two daughters were born. Grandfather Salter got the urge to go back to Canada so left the business for Horace to operate. Grandfather died in 1915. In 1918, Horace decided to make the move to Grafton to a studio there. His brother, Everett, had rented the studio owned by Henry A. Ball, who came to Grafton when the city was in its infancy and operated it for many years. Everett operated the studio from 1915 to 1918 at which time Horace bought it from Henry A. Ball. He liked it so well in Grafton that he sold the business in Langdon. Horace was a member of the Methodist Church, the Civic Club, the Grafton Clown Band (three brothers were members of the Clown Band also). He was a member and founder of the Golden West Male Quartet. The Quartet appeared on many occasions in the Grafton and Grand Forks area as well as many other states. Many times after hours one could hear music coming from the walls of the studio as the four brothers, all of whom lived in Grafton, got together and had a real jam session. The same goes for the Golden West Quartet; music would ring out with beautiful harmony. He came from a family of photographers and a musical family. Mr. and Mrs. Horace Salter worked together in the studio and in the later years their two daughters helped. In 1947 Horace became President of the North Dakota Photographers Association and that year Mrs. Salter died. Horace died March 1, 1951. Mary and Leona continued the business until they sold the studio in 1967 to Rilie R. Morgan, publisher emeritus of The Grafton Record, for expansion of his business. The building was razed to give The Record room for expansion. Submitted by Karen Cliffgard, granddaughter. NELS SANDO In the spring of 1881 the entire country between Grafton and Grand Forks was practically a lake, with a dot here and there, which on investigation were found to be gopher mounds, said Nels Sando, formerly a prominent St. Thomas pioneer farmer, who has spent the last 12 years as a resident of Grafton. Nels Sando and five brothers - Erick, Albert, Ole, Halvor and Olaf - his mother and two sisters, drove with five teams of oxen that spring from Fergus Falls to St. Thomas, where they intended to squat on land. The trip took them three weeks. There were no roads north of Grand Forks and not any roads to speak of in Minnesota. Even if there had been roads north of Grand Forks we would not have been able to make use of them. What we needed was a pilot. By the time we got to Paul Larson's farm west of Grafton we had become the most competent fresh water sailors in Dakota Territory. The first night out of Grand Forks we were forced to camp in a foot of icy water as nowhere so far as the eye could see was there a foot of dry land. Only a vast lake. Our party was all right in the wagons, we were dry and fairly comfortable, but our cattle and oxen were forced to lay down in the icy lake. How they stood it is more than I can figure out. We had 10 oxen and quite a herd of cows and calves with us. "We knew Paul Larson from Iowa, where we had spent several years before coming to Fergus Falls." Mr. Sando continued, "so we made for his farm. We visited

with him overnight and continued on to Sweden the next day. There was no bridge over Park River at Grafton at that time but the farmers west of Grafton, where there already was quite a settlement, had built a makeshift affair over the river at that point from logs rolled together. "Of course, we were heavily loaded with stoves and other equipment." said Mr. Sando. "Before reaching Sweden, where Wm. McKenzie was king, we had to unload and unhitch the wagons three times before we could cross coulees and small rivers. Many a time during that trip we had three teams of oxen pulling one wagon. From Sweden on we had fair going. "We arrived at what since became St. Thomas on June 7. The five of us older boys squatted on land. Olaf lacked the necessary age to qualify as a full-fledged squatter, but mother made up for it by holding on to two quarters - one a tree claim.

Mr. and Mrs. Nels Sando (About 1920)

"Our first job in the new country was to erect something that would be fit to Uve in. There was plenty of land and no neighbors in sight and therefore plenty of sod. Sod houses, we had been told, were excellent for warmth in the winter and were cool in the summer. So sod houses we built. There really was no choice in the matter as we were not overburdened with cash. Erick and I were the official sod house builders. The other boys went back to Minnesota to earn a few dollars or work on the railroad grade. Five sod houses were erected that summer and two large sod stables. One stable had inside measurements of 34 by 45 feet. "Ben Akelson had a small sawmill west of Grafton, where we bought basswood lumber for the buildings. This was used for ceiling, walls and floors. For the larger buildings the walls were four feet thick at the base and tapering as they went up. All buildings were substantial and really homelike." The first major investment made by the Sandos that summer was the buying of a mower and a rake at Acton. Nels' pony, which he had brought all the way from Iowa, financed this transaction. They really did not need the pony, anyhow, Nels says. That year from 10 to 20 acres were broken on the different quarter sections. About three weeks after the Sandos landed at St. Thomas a gang of surveyors arrived. "Before this two of us had built a long, rambling, sod shanty, which we had figured out should cross the line of two quarters. The idea was that the two of us would have one shanty and live together - my bed was supposed to be on my quarter and my brother's bed in the other end of the home, was supposed to be on his quarter. We had heard of several

parties doing this and we figured we could be as smart as any of them. The surveyors, however, disappointed us by running the line of my quarter a considerable distance away from our home - so far away, in fact, that it was not advisable to extend the building over to my quarter," Mr. Sando said with a chuckle when he told this part of his experiences as a pioneer. "Our first binder was bought the next year in Grafton by Erick, the oldest of my brothers. It was a wonderful contraption, we thought, made by McCormick almost entirely of wood. It set us back $315. Crops were fairly good that year and we received an average yield of 35 bushels to the acre of wheat. The following fall, in 1883, early frost hit the wheat but this did not turn out as disastrous as it might have been. The wheat matured all of a sudden and by keeping the binder going night and day we were able to save it. We figured there was something wrong with it but had no idea just what the cause was. The grain buyer was just as ignorant We had sold most of it when he was notified by the head office that he had shipped them several carloads of frozen wheat. After that the company saw to it that we were properly docked. "We received about 80 cents abushel for our wheat in 1882. In 1883 it opened up around 85 cents and slid down to under 80 before the season was far advanced. "The average crop of wheat in those days yielded about 35 bushels to the acre. Of course, there were some that had to get along with only 20, due mostly to late seeding. On the other hand, several reported yields as high as 45 bushels. The harvest season was later than it is now. It was usually September before threshing started. "There was plenty of money in circulation and St. Thomas grew rapidly. The town had several fine stores, half a dozen saloons and four hotels and all the other businesses necessary. "The social life of the town was more like community affairs than it is now with all its cliques and clubs. While, of course, there were all kinds of private parties during the season, most of the big affairs were public and all residents were welcome. "For us farmers the country dances were the most popular. Every night after Christmas there was something doing in one of the many homes scattered over the prairie. The country dances lasted all night and I can remember the times when I did not see a bed for five and six nights. When I got home in the morning it was tune to attend to the chores on the farm and the other work kept me busy all day. When night came I was ready again to attend another party or dance. "Louis, son of my brother, Halvor, was the first born in or near St. Thomas. He was born in April, 1882, and was baptized the next fall by Rev. Flaten of Grafton at the first Norwegian Lutheran services held in St. Thomas. The services were held in the Holbrook Store, which at the time was not fully completed. Louis died a number of years ago in Canada." The Sandos came to Iowa in 1865 from Hallingdal, Norway. The trip over the Atlantic in a small sailing vessel took 19 weeks. The family resided in Iowa until in 1880, when they moved to Fergus Falls, where they made their home until the following spring. Mr. Sando owned three quarters of land near St. Thomas, another half section near Midale, Sask. For many years he was known as one of the most successful threshers in this part of the state. When the season was

over here he would move to Canada, where threshing would continue until snow blocked all work of this kind. He owned four new large rigs, three rigs were brought to Canada and sold there. Mr. Sando married Miss Christine Jensen in the spring of 1890. Thirteen children were born, Lawrence, Montevideo, Minn; Martin, Preeceville, Sask.; Mrs. Ben Meberg, Preeceville, Sask.; Carl, St. Thomas; Adolph, Grafton; Mrs. Enoch Otten,-St. Thomas; Mrs. Charles Carlson, Grand Forks; Mrs. Ingvald Monsebroten, St. Thomas; Mrs. Lynn Hanson, Park River; Mrs. Herbie Holt, Grafton, and Norris at home. From Grafton New and Times - 50th Anniversary Edition, October, 1932. SNORRI SEVERSON FAMILY Snorri Severson was bom in Iceland in 1863 and died at Grafton Sept. 13, 1915. Skulina Severson was born in Iceland in 1853 and died at Grafton Jan. 1, 1941. One daughter was born in Iceland in 1887 and five more daughters and one son were bom at Grafton. There were- Emma (Oihus), Runa (Ordahl), Fanny (Anderson) , Lena (Newgard), Rosamond (Seavers), Sophia who died in infancy, and Walter. Of these, Lena Newgard and Walter survive, both living at Napa, Calif. The story goes that when Snorri and Skulina were journeying from their former home across Iceland to where they were to board ship en route to America, one year old Emma was somehow dropped from horseback and had to be rescued from a stream. They came to Walsh County and for many years Snorri worked as cattle buyer and butcher for a Charley Prince Snorri was also active in the Volunteer Fire Dept in Grafton. Several of the daughters became teachers, and Fanny became a registered nurse. Walter worked some years at N. P. Depot for Railway Express, served in the army in World War I. Emma and Runa were lifetime residents of Grafton. Submitted by Lyman Bjerken.

Snorri Severson

Mrs. Snorri (Skulina) Severson

GEORGE SHEPHERD Much of the history of Walsh County has centered and revolved about George Shepherd, who retired voluntarily Jan. 5, 1931, from the office of Walsh County Judge, after having served for 30 years. Prior to being elected to the judgeship, George Shepherd served as a commissioner from the third district for nine years. Much of the detail of the Golden Anniversary Celebration was worked out by Mr. Shepherd and the enthusiasm of many is directed to his untiring effort In filling out his questionaire Judge Shepherd concluded as follows: "There is nothing in my career as an old 206

goes back to his home in hopes of improving his health. F. H. and his family will spend quite a part of the summer in New York and at the World's Fair." In 1915, the Walsh County Record reported that Capt. M. H. Sprague (son of F. H. Sprague) left for Valley City to attend the annual ball of Company G, and a meeting of the commanders of the First Regiment. . .Frank H. Sprague left for Bismarck to visit during the final days of the legislative assembly." In another news item in 1916, a month before the Leistikow Memorial Park was to be dedicated, the Record reported that "Frank H. Sprague, Grand Master and Col. John Fraine, Grand High Priest, were honored by North Dakota Masons at a meeting in Grafton. More than 200 Masons attended the dinner and meeting at which W. C. Treumann presided. Speeches were made by Sprague, Fraine and W. L. Stockwell of Fargo." On a lighter note the Record reported: "The following item is reprinted exactly as it was used in the March 3,1915 edition: H. B. Eggers, Jr., R. P. Luchau, J. J. O'Brien, T. D. Traveller, A. R. Fairbanks, H. C. DePuy and M. H. Sprague were a double quartette of canny Scotts who went to Grand Forks Saturday evening to hurl a few stones in the braw game of curling. They report a good time and are enthusiastic about the game." In the same paper the Record recorded that "March came in like a lamb but before the day was over the weather was roaring like a lion." Finally, a news item from 1914 reads: "Frank H. Sprague went to Wahpeton to meet Gov. Hanna and attend a meeting of the Republican County Committee of Richland County." Prepared from copies of the Walsh County Record by Kenneth Colter. Births and deaths of Sprague family members are as follows: Frank H. Sprague, 1857-1940; May Ash Hewitt Sprague, 1861-1956; Lucille Sprague Eggers, 1888-1971; and Manville H. Sprague, 1884-1952.

timer" that I know of, that would point a moral or adorn a tale." George Shepherd was born in the parish of Lyric, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Nov. 25,1851. His early life was spent in Scotland and in Wellington County, Canada, where he arrived in 1873. In March, 1882, George Shepherd arrived in Walsh County. That same year he settled on a homestead in Kensington Township. After residing there 16 years he moved to Park River in 1897 and in 1901 to Grafton. His first Walsh County home was a tarpaper shack, 10'xl2\ later covered with sunburned prairie brick. April 25, 1873, a short time before starting for North America, Mr. Shepherd was married to Isabella Taylor. Two daughters were born, Mrs. Gladys McDonald, Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Marjorie Alsip, Paris, France. The original homestead was extended to 280 acres. In commenting on the property Mr. Shepherd said, "The government gave us the homestead but we had to work out our own salvation on a pay as you go policy or movement." FRANK H. SPRAGUE One of the men who has played a large part in the development of North Dakota is Frank H. Sprague, Grafton, who long was prominent in the business, and fraternal life of this state. One of Mr. Sprague's first appearances in Walsh County was in 1885 when he was one of the men who submitted bids for the bonds issued by the county for the erection of the first courthouse. Mr. Sprague was born at Chenango Bridge, N. Y., March 16,1857. In 1879, he became a salesman for a farm machinery concern, traveling through the middle west, including Walsh County. On one of his trips to this state he became greatly impressed with the Red River Valley and in June, 1882, decided to locate in Grafton. For more than 25 years he was in the farm loan business. In 1910 he bought controlling interest in the First National Bank of which he became president. A few years later he practically retired from active business, devoting all of his time to personal interests. Almost from the time of his arrival in Grafton, Mr. Sprague was actively interested in the Masonic fraternity. To him came more Masonic honors than to any other man at that time in Walsh County. He had been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery and head of all the honorary bodies of Masonry in the state. He was the only 33rd degree Mason in Walsh County at that time in 1940. For many years Mr. Sprague was actively interested iu political affairs of the state, although he never sought any office for himself. In 1914 he was chairman of the Republican State Committee. On Jan. 2, 1883, at Albert Lea, Minn., Mr. Sprague married May Ash Hewitt, daughter of a prominent family of southern Minnesota. Three children were born, Manville, Mrs. Lucille Eggers and Leonard. In 1940 it was reported that "for the past several years Mr. Sprague has been in poor health and has practically lost his sight. For the past few weeks he has been confined to his home by illness." A news item dated May, 1893, reads: "F. H. Sprague and family leave today for their former home in New York, Mr. Sprague's father, who has been visiting for some time with his son, has not been so well of late and

HORACE GREELEY SPRAGUE The Sprague brothers, Horace and Quincy, were pioneer grocers in Grafton. Horace Sprague was born at Steven's Point, Wise, in 1871. Coming to Grafton in 1882, he was for several years with W. M. Chandler. In 1886 he engaged in mercantile business in company with his brother. Quincy withdrew from the partnership in 1897, located in Minneapolis, died in 1933. Horace continued the business alone. He was always known as Greeley Sprague. A news item published in the Walsh County Record in 1915 recorded that' 'the Sandager building occupied by H. G. Sprague as a grocery store was undergoing extensive improvements and repairs. A stamped ceiling was being put on the wall space above the shelving." A second item stated that "the grocery store of H. G. Sprague was completely rejuvenated and renovated. The white ceilings, clean white walls and general aspect of sanitation along with the bright new electric lights, made it an attractive place." Concerning H. G. Sprague's public service record, it was written in the book entitled "Grafton" published in 1900 that' 'the municipal government of Grafton is vested in a Mayor and Common Council, consisting of two members from each of the three wards. The regular meetings of the City Council are held on the second Monday in each month. The present officers of the city 207

are as follows: Mayor, H. G.^Sprague; Aldermen John Cook, John D. Lewis, Gust C. Heder R . J . BestulJN. Lafleur and H. L. Haussamen; Recorder B. A. Kovast, Treasurer K. Anderson; Assessor, G. R. Gullickson Surveyor^ H. H. Mott; City Justice, J. F Douglas; Chief of PoTe and Street Commissioner, C. A. Jacobson. Hon H G Sprague, Mayor of Grafton, and one of the eity'fsuccessful buSnessmen as well, has resided here since 1882. He served the city so satisfactorily as a member of the city council that he was e ected to the nworaliS by a handsome majority. He is giving the city a v L T e S n t pubhc service. As Mayor, Sprague was t a m p i o n ofthe "badge fund" i d e a , g * * g * monev to pay for the transportation of the returning S h Dakota soldiers. The soldiers were returning from Irvice in the Philippines during the Spanish American WaT The regiment was mustered out at Presidio, Sept 25 and left for home on the foUowing day by a special Sun over the Northern Pacific ; Company C arriving in Grafton Oct 2, 17 months after their departure. "By popular subscription, by the sale of badges and by public contributions from the city and county ample revenue was provided, aggregating severa thousand L i a r s , sufficient to pay for the transportation of the entire company from San Francisco, to provide the expenses of the reception on their return including a banquet I d also for a suitable monument for the heroes whose l i v S were sacrUiced on the country's altar in far

were born, Melvin and Beulah. They made their home in Gr

i ! v h e n Ashel Swenson came to Walsh County in 1886 he secured employment from Ben Askelson, working as a farmhand and with threshing operations. A few years later he and a brother-in-law, Julius Helgeson were employed by Ole Spaberg in the operations of dnlhng artesian (salt water) wells. They later purchased this horse powered equipment. In 1916 this horse powered equipment was replaced by new gasoline motor powered machinery. Artesian weUs were drilled on practically every farm in the area. Grafton homes also were supplied with water by these wells. These wells ranged in depth from 190 feet to over 300 feet. Often in dnlhng rocks were encountered and they had to use dynamite if toey could not driU through them. In 1918 Melvin Swenson became a partner. Ashel Swenson continued in this drilling and farming business unm his death in NOV

AThei Sw enson was born Dec. 12,1865, in Blue River, Wise He died Nov. 11, 1931, Grafton. Interment was in City Cemetery, Grafton. Hansina Swenson was born, Ju y 16 1871, in Odalen, Norway. She died June 13, 1957 in Grafton. Interment was in City Cemetery, Grafton Melvin K. Swenson was born Sept. 21, 1899, in Grafton and died Jan. 6, 1952. Interment was in City Cemetery, S a t ton Beulah C. Swenson was born Oct. 23,1904. and is Uving in Grafton as of May, 1975. Submitted bv Beulah Swenson. MR. AND MRS. TOLLACK TALLACKSON The Walsh County Record of Grafton, when paying tribute to Walsh County and its P ^ e e r settlers inthe July 25 issue of 1940, featured a story of Mr. and Mrs. Tollack Tallackson. Tnllark "One Grafton couple, Mr. and Mrs. Tollack Tallackson reached the sixtieth milestone in their marriedL& on New Year's Day in 1940 They were married at Fertile, Ia. He was 86 years old June 30,1940, and Mrs. TaUackson was 79, July 7. "Mr TaUackson is a former state representative from Walsh County. When this worthy pair close their eyesir"reminiscence and peer down through the corridor of the years they see an eager young couple strugglmg to get a start in a new land, their home a rude hUlside dugout near Vesta, an early pioneer center. "The TaUacksons were this young couple and despite vivid memories of hardships experienced, their eyes gUsten as they look back on the time nearly 59.yean| ago when all the world was young and a bnght future beckoned.^ ^ pioneering were their lot and it is probable the difficulties they faced and surmounted were S e r than those encountered by most pioneers Farming with meager equipment forced to make the best of the trying conditions of pioneer life, they managed to forge ahead slowly until eventuaUy then efforts were crowned with success. "Mrs Tallackson remembers most vividly a trip made on a bitterly cold December ^ ^ e ^ n Z home in Walsh County. A young wife little more: than^20 years old, with a seven month old baby, her first ex perience in the county was not Peasant " "She traveled by horse team from Grand Forks to Mandt. That was a long, cold journey, but the rest of the trip was worse. From Mandttothe claim, a distance of 30

a W S

L tte first issue of the Walsh County Record on April 9 1890 H G Sprague was one of the principal adv e r S s using a Serf modern, up-to-date, eye catching 1 £ S S Z X « * torJof the advertisement in bold type were the words: "We want your wife which were followed in smaU type words caUing upon her to test the wares of H G Sprague and to make a trial purchase to I s thQuality of the merchandise and the fairness of the prices This was followed by another statement in bold ryne "We want 1,000 wives" and then n small type the words- "to know that for weight, quantity and quality of goods we acknowledge no superior." Then again in boM type were the words: You want the best, we have it. Come and see us. Sprague Bros." Horace Greeley Sprague continuedI in business iin Grafton until 1928. He died in Fergus Falls, Minn., in the ^ P r e T a r e d f r o m copies of the Walsh County Record and the book, "Grafton," published in 1900, by Kenneth Colter. JOHN H. STOKKE John H. Stokke of Grafton Township was born in Norway Jan. 14, 1859, and came to Minnesota when 18 years old. In 1878 he homesteaded in Grafton Township, north of Grafton city, and that property has since remained his home. His first wife was Randi Jorgenson. In Grafton in 1902 he married a second time to Olava Monsebroten. ASHEL SWENSON Ashel Swenson, born Dec. 12,1865, Blue River, Wise son of Mr. and Mrs. Swen Swenson, came to Walsh County in 1886. Jan. 16, 1891, he married Hansina vTngen, daughter of early settlers, Mr. and Mrs. Martinus C Vangen, who lived west of Grafton. Two children 208

miles, she rode in a vehicle drawn by lumbering oxen. The driver was her husband's brother, George Tallackson, who had a claim near Mandt. "But her husband was at Mandt to welcome her and ride on to the claim. He had come up in the fall from Fertile, Ia., located the claim and constructed the dugout. "I dug a hole in the hillside," he explained, "and fixed it up for a kind of a home." "It was a cold trip" Mrs. Tallackson said, "but I was young and strong and didn't suffer any ill effects. The baby was well bundled up, of course. The dugout didn't look very inviting but I realized it was the best we could do and that we would have a better home later on." "My husband had to return to Iowa to bring up horses, machinery and supplies and his young wife was left to hold down the claim. However, a brother-in-law, Ole Brendon, who had an adjoining claim, built a barn for the Tallacksons and cut wood, there being considerable timber on the Tallackson claim. He was at the Tallackson place much of the time that winter, so the mother and babe were not left alone entirely. "In the spring Mr. Tallackson arrived, having brought up by rail a team of horses, two cows, machinery, feed and other supplies, and also six horses for neighbors. "The claim was six miles east of Vesta on the Park River The dugout was 12 by 16 feet, boarded up and roofed with hay and sod. There was no floor at first but Mrs. Tallackson insisted on a floor and her husband made a special trip to Minto to get the lumber. There was one door and there was a half window on each side of the dugout. "After Mr. Tallackson returned with the equipment for farming he set to work putting in as much of a crop as was possible the first year. The pair faced many trials in those first few years but conditions slowly improved. "Among the neighbors of the couple were Oscar and Peter Frovarp and their father, Carl, Osten Rye and later Gilbert Hagen, Ole and Ole Elthon (brothers), Carl Gustafson, Carl and John Peterson and John Fred eric k so n "The nearest store was at Kensington, a number of miles distant. It was conducted by E. 0. Faulkner, Walsh County's first auditor, who was also postmaster at Kensington. Settlers in the Tallackson neighborhood made the trip to the store on skis in winter. "A school was established the summer after the advent of the couple, a schoolhouse being erected on thenfarm Mrs Tallackson recalled that Jennie Steenerson, now Mrs. Gilbert Hagen of Adams, was an early teacher Mr Tallackson was president of the district school board during all the time he was on the Vesta Township form He was also chairman of the township board a number ot years. "Religious services were first conducted in the homes of settlers and later in the schoolhouse. Some years afterward St. Peter's Lutheran Church was erected across the road from the TaUackson place. Rev. Mr. Holseth was the first minister to serve that community. , . ,. "The young husband worked hard to improve his farm and managed to find other sources of income. He brought from Iowa the first grain binder in the neighborhood and cut grain for neighbors. Later he owned a threshing rig and made regular "runs" in the fall. He also went to Iowa several times and bought horses which

he brought up and sold in the neighborhood. One summer he sold 60 head. "Three years after their arrival the Tallacksons built a new home, a comfortable structure 16'x24' and a story and a half high. Living conditions continued to improve; the country was being rapidly settled; thriving towns sprang up, railroads were being built and the modern era dawned. The Tallacksons prospered. "After 14 years on the farm they decided to sell and move to Grafton. Mr. TaUackson entered the farm machinery business here with his brother, George, in the block later occupied by the Robertson Lumber Company. George sold his interest to J. A. Douglas and after five years Mr. TaUackson sold out and purchased a 300 acre farm just northeast of the city. Their farm home was in the city limits and although they quit farming for a time and moved from the farm home, they have been residents of Grafton continuously since 1895. They resided in their home on Ninth St. East after 1918 when they sold their farm. In Grafton, Mr. TaUackson has served on the city council and the school board. "Mr. Tallackson was born in Telemarken, Norway. He came to America with his parents when he was 14 years old. The family spent a year in Dane County, Wise, and then moved to a farm near Fertile, Ia. It was from that farm that Mr. Tallackson started out for himseU. Mrs. Tallackson whose maiden name was Gurina Ouverson, was born in Dane County, Wise She was Uving with relatives in the Fertile community when she met Mr. TaUackson. They were the parents of 10 chUdren, two of whom had died before 1940. Ralph is deceased. The seven children who survived were Mrs. E. E. Clausen, who was the baby when her mother came to the Walsh County claim; Mrs. Wm. O'Neill, Chicago; Theodore, Las Vegas, Nevada; Mrs. Elsi Vigness, Grafton, Walsh County Probate Judge; Vern, Grafton, who served in the Navy in World War I; Clifford, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Hedive, Modesto, Calif. . Prepared from the Walsh County Record, issue of July 25, 1940, by Kenneth Colter. WILLIAM GERHART TOLLACK

William G. Tollack Mrs. William Tollack [Amelia Maresch] William Gerhart ToUack was born on Oct. 22, 1889, in Grafton. He was the son of Sever and Julia Nelson Tollack. In the spring of 1909 he graduated from Grafton Central High School. He then attended St. Olaf's College near Northfield, Minn., for approximately one year. During his youth, William played baseball for the Grafton city team. His position was second baseman. 209

Prior to World War I, he joined the National Guard and was assigned to Company C. On June 23, 1916, Company C together with the entire 164th Infantry Regiment, traveled to a training camp located in the western part of Texas approximately six miles from the Mexican border. The Regiment completed its training in early February, 1917. Shortly after World War I began, William entered the Marines and served at Paris Island, South Carolina, where he was trained for two and one-half months. At Paris Island he became a drill instructor. He was then transferred to Quantico, Va., for five weeks. On Feb. 28, 1919 he was discharged from the U. S. Marine Corps. A few years later, William traveled to Fort Benning, Ga., where he received his officer's training for the National Guard. „. . , • .'. On Christmas Day of 1920, William married Amelia Maresch, the daughter of Charles and Hulda Maresch. The following year, he was elected treasurer of Walsh County and served in that position until 1925, when he and Benjamin A. Sell ventured into the hardware and furniture business. In 1935, the buildings were destroyed by a fire William then maintained the enterprise alone until it became a corporation in 1947. At that time, George Harris and Ray Collette assumed its management. In April of that same year, WilUam became mayor of Grafton. Submitted bv Colleen A. Oihus.

Store operated by William Tollack. JOSEPH TOMBS FAMILY Joseph Tombs, sixth of 13 children of Robert and Hannah Small Tombs, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, April 6,1827, came to the United States with his parents and family in 1833, settling at Deerfield, Mass. In 1948, "the day after he was 21 years of age," he started west "to grow up with the country," located at Laona, and later at Durand, in Winnebago County, 111. In 1855, he married Emily H. Randall, fourth child of pioneers WilUam and Sophia Plomteaux Randall, born June 20, 1838, at Ypsilanti, Mich., and with her family, moved to Laona. In Illinois Joseph Tombs served as justice of the peace in Laona and Durand, an office he held until 1873. He also served on the board of highway commissioners 12 years, was a Notary PubUc, and was Usted in the Winnebago County directory as a merchant,

Republican, Independent. Three children, Frank W Ralph H., and Helen H., were born in Durand and attended Durand High School. In 1880 Joseph and Emily Tombs decided to take a trip to Old Pembina and see the Red River VaUey of North Dakota for themselves. Grafton was just being staked out and they decided to locate. The next year the men of the family came back to Grafton and 500 acres of virgin prairie in Oakwood Township were broken up and prepared for crop. On July 6,1882, the women arrived in Grafton where a small house had been made ready, which Joseph announced was the first plastered house in Grafton. In 1883, Joseph Tombs engaged in business in Grafton and was for years one of the city's leading and successful merchants. In April, 1884, he was elected mayor and was re-elected for three terms. In 1894 he was again elected mayor, and served three more terms. In the fall of 1897 he sustained a sUght stroke of paralysis. During his first incumbency as mayor, he was active in securing the extension of the Northern Pacific railway from Grand Forks to Grafton, and in securing for Grafton its famous artesian weU, the first of its kind in the state together with its complete system of water works and incidental fire protection. During his second incumbency he secured for Grafton its municipal electric Ught plant, the first of its kind in the state. He died Dec. 29 1902, and was buried in Crescent Cemetery. (Portraits of Joseph Tombs, his residence, and his daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. StockweU, and their residence, appear in "Grafton Illustrated, 1900, pp. 15, 19, 28, 50 and 64.) Emily RandaU Tombs, born in Michigan in 1838 and raised in Laona, IU., first came to Grafton with her husband in 1880, and with their three children in July, 1882 She was one of the founders of "The Ladies Magazine Club," probably the first Women's Club in Grafton a forerunner of the Public Library Association of Grafton, with a free Ubrary and reading room, the first in the state. FoUowing her husband's death in 1902, and her daughter-in-law's (Theresa HaU Tombs) death in 1904, and with the help of her sister-in-law, Hannah Tombs, who died in 1910, she raised her four granddaughters, children of Ralph H. Tombs, who died in 1914. Emily R. Tombs died at Grafton April 28, 1919, and was buried in Crescent Cemetery. Frank W Tombs, born Oct. 10, 1857, at Durand, 111., came to Grafton with his father and brother in 1881. When the family settled in Grafton in 1882 he was associated with them in the hardware business. He was a leader of the Grafton Band. In 1890, he married Minnie BisseU, born in Mason City, Ia., and their two children, Ralph and Hazel, were born in Grafton. For a time he operated a general store in Ardoch. In 1910, the Frank W. Tombs family moved to Devils Lake where for 10 years he was a representative of Janney, Semple, HiU & Co. Later he moved to Waseca, Minn., where he purchased a hardware store, associated with his son Ralph. Frank W. Tombs died in Waseca Feb. 15,1923, and is buried in Crescent Cemetery in Grafton. The date of birth, marriage, and death of Ralph Tombs son of Frank W. and Minnie BisseU Tombs, is not known, nor is that of Hazel Tombs, their daughter. Hazel Tombs was a graduate of Grafton High School in 1907, of the University of North Dakota in 1911, and married M. Boynton Eldridge, Mason City, Ia. Mrs. 210

Petrousek. They have three children, Kent, Sandra, and James. Kenneth W. Hawley died in Brookfield, HI., in June, 1972, and Teresa Tombs Hawley died there in June, 1974. Helen Huntington Tombs, born March 12, 1866, m Durand, IU., came with her parents and brothers to Grafton in 1883, where she completed her high school education, entered the University of Minnesota in 1887, graduated from the Uterary department in 1892. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, for two years assistant principal of the Grafton High School and organist ofthe Grafton Presbyterian Church. On June 27, 1894 she married Walter Lincoln Stockwell, then superintendent ofthe Grafton Public Schools. In 1897 she was elected Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star and was first Associate Grand Matron of the State Chapter. She served two years as Grand Treasurer, and in 1899 was elected as Grand Matron. In 1903 Walter L. Stockwell was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, at which time the family moved to Bismark. In 1911 the family took up residence in Fargo where she died Aug. 1,1950. She had been active in the Federation of Women's Clubs, in which she held various offices, and in Presbyterian church circles. She was a charter member of Quota Club and a Ufe member of Fortnightly Club. Two children were born to Helen Tombs and Walter L StockweU. Walter L. Stockwell, Jr., in Graftonin 1896, attended the North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota, graduating from the latter in 1921 in Civil Engineering. FoUowing his marriage in California, he was killed in a tractor accident Apnl 24, 1934. Helen Frances StockweU was born in Grafton in 1899, died at the age of six in Bismarck. Walter L. Stockwell was born in Anoka, Minn., in 1868, receiving his education at the Anoka High School, and finishing at the University of Minnesota, where, in 1889 he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He taught in pubhc schools of Anoka County in 1884-85, and in the evening schools in MinneapoUs. In 1889 he came to St. Thomas as principal of the schools there, m 1891 was elected Superintendent of the Grafton Schools He was president of the Tri-County Educational Association in 1895, and secretary of the North Dakota Educational Association in 1895-97; also president of the same for 1899. He was director of the National Educational Association for North Dakota in 1898-99 and Institute and Training School Conductor in 1897-98-99. He was also president of the North Dakota Society of Sons of the American Revolution, and a member of the local Masonic Orders and a Mystic Shriner. (Grafton, niustrated, 1900, pp 64-65) Affiliating with Crescent Lodge in 1892, he was Worshipful Master in 1898 (having been secretary in 1894) and was issued a life membership in 1932. He was elected grand master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of North Dakota in 1902. From 1911 until his death he was grand secretary. (Crescent Lodge histories, 1931, 1958) Submitted by Alan E. Gray.

Ralph Tombs, Laureen, was born in Devils Lake Sept. 25, 1893, died in Bremerton, Wash., Nov. 22, 1969, and is survived by a son, Shyrl Tombs, Bremerton. Ralph H. Tombs, born in 1861, at Durand, 111., graduated from high school in 1878 and came to Grafton with his father and brother in 1881. When the family settled in Grafton in 1882 he associated with them in the hardware business. He married Teresa Hall, born in Plainview, Minn., whose brother, James E . Hall was an early resident of Walsh County, where he was a wheat buyer for the Grafton Roller MiUs, and in 1898 sheriff of Walsh County. Teresa Hall Tombs died in California in May, 1902. Ralph Tombs brought their four daughters back to Grafton where they resided with their grandmother, EmUy, and their grand-aunt, Hannah Tombs. Ralph Tombs died Feb. 12,1914, and is buried in Crescent Cemetery in Grafton. Lois Josephine Tombs, oldest daughter of Ralph and Teresa HaU Tombs, was born in Grafton June 19, 1894. FoUowing graduation from Grafton High School in 1912, and from the University of North Dakota in 1916, Lois taught in Fosston and Ely, Minn. In 1924 she married Frank Schweiger of Ely and they have a daughter, Catherine, who is married to Joseph Novak of Ely. Helen Marie Tombs, second daughter of Ralph H. and Teresa Hall Tombs, was born in Pasadena, CaUf., June 12 1896. After her mother's death in 1902 she returned to Grafton and graduated from high school in 1914 Upon graduating in 1918 from the University of North Dakota, where she was president of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa, she taught at Fosston and Ely, Minn, Jamestown, Inglewood and Hawthorne, Calif., until retirement in 1961, when, as vice-principal of Leutzinger High School, the library was renamed "The Helen Tombs Library" in her honor. On June 1,1967, she married Alan E Gray with whom she had attended school and college, and they resided in Long Beach, Calif., until her death March 10, 1969. She was a member of St. Barnabas CathoUc Church in Long Beach and is buried in All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach, Calif. Lucille EmUy Tombs, third daughter of Ralph H. and Teresa HaU Tombs, was born at Santa Barbara, Calif March 13, 1898, and returned to Grafton after her mother's death in 1902. She graduated from Grafton High School in 1915, and, after working in the Grafton National Bank graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1921 She taught in Watertown, S. D., and at Excelsior High School in Bellflower, CaUf., untU her death June 11, 1960 For many years in California ,LucUle and her sister, Helen Uved together in Inglewood and Long Beach, Calif. Both received Master of Arts degrees from the University of Southern California. Teresa Louise Tombs, fourth and youngest daughter of Ralph and Teresa Hall Tombs, was born at Los Angeles, Calif., March 31, 1902, two months prior to her mother's death. With her father and three sisters, she came back to the family home in Grafton, and in 1919 graduated from Grafton High School, vice-president of her senior class. She attended the University of North Dakota for several years prior to her marriage Dec. 2, 1923 to Kenneth WUliam Hawley of Minot, who graduated from the University of North Dakota, and until retirement was employed by Western Electric in IUinois. Their daughter, Helen Irene Hawley, was born Sept. 21, 1924, at Berwyn, IU.; is married to MUton

W. C. TREUMANN In its roster of prominent Walsh County personages featured in the Walsh County Courthouse edition of July 25,1940, the editors of the Walsh County Record included the name of Col. W. C. Treumann. He was a native of Germany, born in the town of Elmshome, near Hamburg, Dec. 4,1862. While a small boy, with his father and 211

a younger sister, he came to America. The family settled in Ohio, lived a short time in Indiana, and later moved to LeSueur, Minn., where Mr. Treumann grew to manhood. In 1881, Mr. Treumann came to Grand Forks where he was employed in a mercantile store. When the firm established a branch in Grafton in 1884, he came to this city which was thereafter his home. A short time later he entered the collection and loan business. In 1885 he was appointed deputy register of deeds and while thus employed began the making of abstracts. This soon grew into a flourishing business and after a few years he resigned his position with the county to devote his entire time to the new enterprise. Since 1888 the Treumann Abstract Company has been an integral part of the business of Grafton. When Company C. North Dakota National Guard, then known as the militia, was formed in 1885, Mr. Treumann was elected second lieutenant. Military affairs appealed to him and he proved himself adept in such matters. From the beginning he advanced steadily, serving as first lieutenant, captain, major and lieutenant colonel. He was serving in the latter capacity when the Spanish-American War broke out and the North Dakota troops were called to serve in the Philippines. North Dakota furnished two battalions for the Philippine campaign with Lieutenant Colonel Treumann in charge. Regulations in effect at the time required a colonel to be in command of a full regiment, which explains his title of Lieutenant Colonel during the war. In the Philippines, the North Dakota troops under Col. Treumann acquitted themselves in a way which brought lasting fame to them and their commander. Returning home after the Spanish-American War, Mr. Treumann continued his interest in military affairs, being advanced to the post of Colonel of the Regiment. He served two years, 1911-1913, as Adjutant-General of North Dakota. He left the service in 1913 with the rank of Major General. He maintained a lively interest in the National Guard, particularly Company C, all through the years. During his service in the military ranks, Col. Treumann captained several teams from North Dakota which went to the National Rifle Meet at Camp Perry, Ohio. To him was issued the first sharp-shooter's badge in North Dakota. In the 90's he was elected to the Grafton School Board and served several terms. When the state of North Dakota established an institution for its mentally retarded in Grafton, Col. Treumann was named on the first board of trustees, serving for a period of nine years beginning in 1902. During most of the time he was president of the board. He maintained interest in political affairs, in 1914 was elected auditor of Walsh County. After serving two terms he refused to be a candidate again and returned to his private business. America was involved in the World War during his terms as county auditor and he was active in the selection of men for the service and in otherwise seeing that Walsh County did its full share in winning the conflict. Col. Treumann was a member of several fraternal organizations, but it was to Masonry that he gave most freely of his time and talents. He was made a Master Mason of Crescent Lodge, Oct. 15,1890, and served as its worshipful master in 1897 and 1915. He was a charter member of Grafton Chapter No. 9, Royal Arch Masons,

and served as its high priest in 1900. He was also a charter member of St. Omer Commandery No. b, Knights Templar, and served as eminent commander in 1901-1902. He was a charter member of Mizpah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and served as its worthy patron in 1894 and 1912. He became a member of El Zagal Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in 1894 but transferred his membership to Kem Temple in Grand Forks when it was organized.

W. Treman's residence—April 1916 While serving in the Philippines he helped organize and was the Worshipful Master of North Dakota Military Lodge No. 1. This was the first Masonic Lodge in the Philippine Islands and was the forerunner of many others, which have since been established. In 1888 Mr. Treumann married Miss Elizabeth Baird, a native of Canada. Five children were born, of whom only one son, W. K. Treumann, survived. Col. Treumann and his wife purchased the home of the Spencer Shrott Estate built on the bend of the Park River at the north end of Cooper Avenue. For many years a foot bridge gave access to the property across the river. May 16, 1937, Col. Treumann died at his home after a prolonged illness. He is buried in the Crescent Cemetery in Grafton. The following news item appeared in the issue ot July 12, 1893, of the Walsh County Record: Major Treumann was called to Devils Lake Monday to take command of Company D who had been called out by the governor to protect Bamberger, the murderer, from the hands of the enraged citizens. The murderer was taken from Devils Lake Monday night to Grand Forks, where he is behind two pairs of bars. Mr. Treumann returned yesterday. He saw his man at the Forks, where he is carefully looked after." Elizabeth Baird Treumann died in 1938. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. ALBERT G. TVERBERG Albert G. Tverberg was born Nov. 3,1886, in Grafton Township, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Austin K. Tverberg. He was confirmed in the Grafton Lutheran Church, educated in the rural schools and attended business college. After being Deputy Sheriff of Walsh County for eight years, he was elected Sheriff in 1916 and 1918, serving the alloted two terms. He married Lillian Omlie of Grafton Jan. 20, 1917. They are the parents of four children: Albert O. of Grafton, Mrs. Robert (Lois) Kermott of Phoenix, Ariz.; Mrs. David (Helen) Feldman of Tar212

FRANK AND CELIA VOTAVA Several Walsh County settlers came from the Bohemian community near SpillviUe, Ia. It was to SpillviUe that the Czech composer, Antonine Dvorak, came to allay his homesickness for his native Bohemia and to write his celebrated "Symphony From the New World." That was between 1892 and 1895. By this time the elder Frank Votava had left Iowa and was established in another Bohemian community at Veseleyville in North Dakota. One of the first of the Czechslovakian families which came to Walsh County from Iowa and settled in the territory southwest of Grafton was that of Frank Votava, Sr. With his wife and family, Mr. Votava arrived in the river town of Acton in May, 1880, and immediately trekked westward to what is now Walsh Centre Township. The Votava home was the stopping place for many other Czeck families who came from Iowa to take homesteads in Dakota Territory.

zana, Calif.; and Mrs. Munson (Margaret) Hinman of San Jose, Calif. There are ten grandchildren. He was cashier of a local bank, postmaster, and publisher-editor of the Grafton News and Times, a weekly newspaper. Always active in community affairs, he served as secretary of the Grafton Civic Club, the American Red Cross and the Republican party. He was business secretary of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital for over 25 years. Mr. Tverberg joined Crescent Lodge No. 11 A. F. & A. M. in 1914 and joined all the various degrees of the lodge. He was secretary of all bodies and was still Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandry of North Dakota at the time of his death. He was active in the Sons of Norway Lodge. When he was secretary of the Fourth District of Sons of Norway, which consists of North Dakota, Montana and the greater part of Canada, he compiled a historical book of the lodge in 1970. One of the highlights of his life was his trip to Norway and other European countries on a Sons of Norway tour. His hobby was books and he had a large personal library. He became ill in 1974 and was at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. David Feldman, when he died Jan. 16,1975. Interment was in the Masonic Crescent Cemetery in Grafton.

Frank J. Votava—Son of one of the first Bohemian families to settle in Walsh county, Frank J. Votava was a small boy when his parents came here from Iowa. During all of his mature life, Mr. Votava has been a prominent figure in Walsh county, serving several terms as register of deeds. Descendants of Frank Votava, Sr., who lived in Walsh County are: Frank, Jr., of Grafton; James, Conway, Albert, Joseph, Charlie, Ignace, Veseleyville; Mrs. Mary Chromy, Conway; Mrs. Elizabeth Kotaska, Conway. Frank Votava, Jr., was eight years of age when he came to Dakota Territory with his parents in 1880. Frank Votava, Jr., became prominent in the affairs of his community and Walsh County from his youth. He was born in SpillviUe, Winneshiek County in Iowa, June 19, 1871. While still in his teens, he was chosen clerk of the district school board, a position he held for three years. He was president of the school board from 1907 to 1915, justice of the peace during 1915-1916 and chairman of the township board in 1917 and 1918. In the election of 1918, Mr. Votava was chosen Register of Deeds of Walsh County, a position which he held until the end of 1926. Thereafter, he served for six years as an alderman from the first ward in Grafton. On Jan. 12, 1892, he married Miss Celia Matcha. Eleven children were born, Frank K., Joseph, James and Charles, all of Grafton; George of Veseleyville; Jerry of Cashel; Mrs. Joseph Chapiewski of Hoople; Mrs. Mary Dusek, Veseleyville; Mrs. EmmaShanilec, Veseleyville;

Albert G. Tverberg LILLIAN OMLIE TVERBERG Lillian Tverberg, his wife, also has lived most of her life in Grafton. She is the daughter of pioneer settlers, Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Omlie. She was educated at Grafton and graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She taught school in Cando and then in Grafton for four years before her marriage. She is a member of the Federated Church, United Methodist Women, the Order of Eastern Star, the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Delphian Library Club. She has been a Past Matron of the Eastern Star for 60 years, longer than anyone in North Dakota. 213

Mrs. Wm. Ebert, Grafton; and Mrs. Alfred Gelliner, Grafton. Mr. Votava was active in the Catholic Workmen Society, serving five years as local chairman, six years as state chairman and as a delegate to three national conventions, two in Omaha, Nebr., and one in Cedar Rapids, Ia. During the years thathe lived in Veseleyville, he served 10 years as a trustee of St. Luke's Catholic Church. Celia Matcha came from Shakopee, Minn. She and Frank Votava were married in Veseleyville in 1891. She died in July, 1943, at the ,?ge of 71. Her husband followed her two years later when he died in 1945 at the age of 74. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. WILLIAM H. AND HENRY V. WILLIAMS Grafton had the good fortune to be the residence and place of occupation for two of North Dakota's distinguished taxidermists, William H. WilUams and his son Henry V. WiUiams. They had a shop and a public museum on 7th Street between Stephen and Cooper Avenues. This smaU two-story museum was filled to capacity with rare examples of fine taxidermy in settings that were both artistic and realistic. It was a disappointment to Henry V. WilUams that the collection built up by his father and himself could not be housed in a museum in Grafton where most of the work was achieved. The elder WUliams was born Oct. 31, 1862, in Milbrook, Canada. At 15 he learned the art of taxidermy from a naturalist in his native Ontario. Leaving home at 22 he came to North Dakota and settled near the Big Slough between Glasston and Bowesmont in Pembina County. Before the slough was drained, it was a paradise for game birds and a refuge for birds of aU kinds. Mr. Williams later opened a shop in Fargo with a partner named Storey. Here he built up an extensive collection of birds and mammals. He moved to Duluth where he sold his collection to the high school in Duluth. William H. WUliams was married to EUa Glomstad, who was of Norwegian extraction. WilUams was born of Welsh parents. Their son, Henry, was born during their sojourn in Duluth. They moved back to the Big Slough. Besides farming he continued taxidermy and mounted many of the birds found there. Among them was a whooping crane which he shot and mounted in 1891. The family moved to Grafton at the turn of the century. The father, W. H. Williams, conceived the idea of grouping the different mounted mammals in family groups, containing the old and the young. This idea was highly commended by Dr. Hornaday of the Natic-nal Museum of Natural History and the plan was adopted by the National Museum shortly after Dr. Hornaday's visit to Fargo. W. H. Williams was nationally recognized as an authority on bird and animal life, especially in the Middle West, and was considered one of the best workmen in taxidermy in this part of the United States, an honor which he shared with his good friend, J. D. AUen of Mandan. When the Williams famUy arrived in Grafton, the area was rich in wUd game. Henry V. WUliams, who followed his father's footsteps and became an equally acclaimed authority of wUd life, said that sportsmen felt that if they had to go as far out of town as the State School to bag prairie chickens, it was much too far. Ducks and geese were plentiful and could be hunted near town.

Passenger pigeons, now extinct, were killed in this area as late as 1882, and whooping cranes, which have approached extinction, were seen in 1898. WUUams, who made natural history his hobby, knew of 287 varieties of birds within a 20 mile radius of Grafton. His large collection of bird skins was contributed to the Grafton High School Biology Department. It was in Grafton that the father, W. H. WilUams, performed one of the greatest services to sportsmen and wildlife lovers the state has known. He obtained a number of Chinese Pheasant eggs from Robert Murphy of Corvallis, Ore. He hatched the eggs under his domestic hens. It was in 1909-1910 that WiUiams was able to Uberate the ancestors of the pheasants in North Dakota. Finally the state of North Dakota became interested and engaged him to continue raising the pheasants until today the state is world famous for its pheasant hunting. Henry Williams was at the University of North Dakota doing field work in 1911. In 1912 and 1913, he attended N. D. A. C. (now N. D. S. U.) where he started the Museum of Natural History and took some school work. While at the coUege in Fargo he was a member of the " Y " Quartette which sang with the college orchestra and the Cadet Band. They toured on the first Student Life Special Train ever run in America. In 1935, as a federal game warden of the Fish and WUd LUe Service, he spent a year following the flocks of geese which fly to the Gutf for the winter. He served with the U. S. Army at Camp Lewis, Wash., in 1918. In 1921, as manager of the Grafton Game Farm, he went to DevUs Lake with a shipment of 100 golden pheasants for liberation. Henry V. WUUams was the author of several articles for national pubUcation on wUd life. He once was a trapper for the U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey during early surveys made by the federal agency. He covered most of the northernhalf of the state in that capacity. The invaluable collection of wild Ufe specimens, skiUfully mounted, representing the lifetime work of William H. WUliams and his son, Henry V. Williams, was presented in part and sold in part to the University of North Dakota. The collection was housed in the U. N. D. Biology Building where specimens lined the haUs of the structure. Single specimens were housed in a separate room. There were wall cases of birdlife with backgrounds painted in natural color by the WUUams. Showcases with various mammals in a habitat setting which included a skunk fanuly with 10 baby skunks; a family of red fox feeding upon a chicken; a raccoon family shown in a setting with the same tree in which they had their original home, are aU on display. There were specimens featuring the fuU range of wUd lUe in the area and some from Texas, Arizona, Minnesota, California, Wyoming, Nevada and Alaska. Henry WUliams was a member of the Golden West Quartet during the full time of its existence. It was an organization of male vocalists from Grafton which was both distinguished and popular. It was organized in 1911 with Williams, John R. Fraine, George Lewis and Willard Bjornstad. With the exception of WiUiams, the personnel changed from time to time. It featured such names in addition to WilUams, as Horace Salter, Art Salter, Everett Salter, Harold EUas, Don McCuUock and Oscar Hendrickson. Much of their early practicing was done out of doors on the street leading past the Lutheran Cemetery. Indoors they practiced in Salter's Photography Studio. They often sang far into the night. 214

Mrs. William Case of Winter Haven, Fla. A son, William, died in 1947. Compiled from the Walsh County Record, the Grand Forks Herald and the North Dakota Outdoors by Kenneth Colter.

They sang concerts in Joe Bernard's movie theatre which was located in the four hundred block on Hill Avenue. They sang in Fargo, Grand Forks and in many of the neighboring towns. In 1937 the quartet sang at the Townsend Convention in Cleveland and at many points. The group disbanded in 1951 after the death of Horace Salter. William H. Williams and his wife, Ella, raised a foster daughter from her fourth year when her mother died. She was Vivian Hagen. She married Russell Lykken, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Lykken. In 1917, Henry Williams married Emily Schafer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schafer of Cavalier. They had two daughters, Mrs. George Wetzel of Fallon, Nevada, and

F R E D WORTHING Fred Worthing, Grafton Township, was born in Ohio on April 25, 1852, and spent his early life there and in Minnesota. He came here with his parents to settle on his father's homestead where he continued to live. In 1878 in Minnesota, he married Clara Cooper. He served as township clerk for 43 years and as a member of the school board for 40 years.

Front row: Gunder Olson, N. O. Nelson. Second row: Jim MacDonald (onetime sheriff), Charles Jacobson (onetime sheriff), Jim Hall (once sheriff), T. C. Bannon (once sheriff and deputy sheriff), Conrad Hankey (sheriff).

This is Mr. McKay by the lathe in the back part of the garage. Other person not identified.

•fl

PRACTICALHORSESHO^ GENERAL,

BLACKSMITI

Left to right: Christopher G. Jackson, son, Ralph W. Jackson, John McCoffery.

Grafton Auto & Machine Co. Shop picture taken in 1917. Left to right: Hartwell Meade, Martin Eiler, H. J. Kutz, Joe Rinde, Leo Desautel, Arnold Kutz.

H R m C E RED^TIONJ firfi SQUARE TUB

•

«™v i - / A *

\ Depicted here, price of washer, as well as water tower in the distance.

Myron W. Omlie, student at N. D. A. C. — ROTC [19061907].

Grafton's 215

MARTIN TOWNSHIP Brave and courageous men who firmly believed in Home Government organized Martin Township in early 1883. On June 4,1883, the oath of office as Chairman and Supervisor was subscribed and sworn to by Fred Hildebrand before E. 0. Faulkner, County Auditor, Walsh County, Dakota Territory. John McClernon was appointed the first Township Clerk. On June 14, 1883, the first Township election was held. Fred Hildebrand, Halvor Olson, and John McClernon were judges; John Martin and John Stewart were clerks. June 30, 1883 , 0. L. Sateran was appointed Supervisor, and Ole A. Rod, Justice of the Peace. Thomas Montgomery was appointed as clerk, to replace McClernon, who resigned. John Stewart was appointed Supervisor and Halvor Olson appointed Road Overseer. The first meetings were held in different homes in the community. On August 8,1883, the first levy of 2 mills per accessable dollar was levied and 0. D. Nelson was appointed the first assessor and first treasurer of the Township. The officers then received $2. per meeting. The Township is believed to ha^e been named after John Martin. The first annual township meeting was held March 4, 1884. Halvor Olson and 0. C. Tucker were elected Supervisors, Peter Bricker was named Chairman of the Board. John H. Lamberg was elected Constable, and Ole A. Rod and Theodore Nelson as Securities, under a bond of $200. each. The first road overseers for the districts were: district one, Henry Rath; district two, John McClernon; district three, Alexander Tucker; district four, Charles Wortman. All were bonded for $200. 0. D. Nelson, as township treasurer was also bonded.

Assessor since 1946; and Heimer Haug is the Road Overseer and Patrol Operator. Let us hope the coming generations will continue the home government and continue the work started by these great pioneers. Submitted by William Freeman. CASHEL AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY A thriving and busy little town on the prairie, three grain elevators, a lumber yard (Tom Gugnon), blacksmith shop (McCaulif), hotel (John Schmidt), two stores (Mr. Moore and Joe Deackenes), and Blind Pig. The Winnipeg flyer came through every day and stopped. Grain was hauled into the elevators from as far as Acton and at threshing time the buyers were busy far into the night. My father "bought wheat" for Cargill elevator for 20 years. There was a good country school and my first teacher was Dave Elrees. In the summer we had church services there-a Baptist minister, Rew Newcome, from Grafton, would start to walk down the track and my father would hitch the horse (Daisy) to the buggy and go to meet him. Then he would go back on the train at 5 o'clock. Did you ever hear "O, What did you do before TV?" Well, we played "run sheep, run," steal the chips, anti-I-over in the summer, or games like checkers in the winter. We also went sledding. All winter there were dances in the Woodman Hall. It was fun to walk to the Fisher farm in the fall and climb the haystacks. Hunting on Salt Lake in season was popular. It was a good Ufe but progress has all but taken Cashel with it and "yesterday is but a dream." We also picked mustard by hand from the gram fields. Submitted by Helen Stewart Donnelly. SALT LAKE RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY

The first jury list was drawn May 24, 1884, named James Dailey, Ole A. Rod, Patrick Mulloy, 0. D. Nelson, and John H. Lamberg. Mr. Lamberg was never drawn to serve on a jury, so his name remained on the list until his death in 1923. The Board of Supervisors purchased the first road grader in 1885. The operator of the grader was to receive $1.50 per day providing he covered 20 miles per day. He was held fully responsible for any damages if due to his carelessness; and the amount would be taken out of his salary. New officers were elected for the Township every year.

The first meeting of the Salt Lake Rural Telephone Company was held at the Mrs. Caroline Helland home to organize April 13, 1910. Officers elected were W. A. Smith, president; Olaf Helland, vice president; Patrick Mulloy, secretary-treasurer; Board of directors were Emil Uggerud, W. F. Dangerfield and Alfred Hallen. Assessment per member for building the line was $65.00. Olaf Helland and Ed Freedland were the first linemen. Charter members were W. A. Smith, Patrick Mulloy, Mrs. James Dangerfield, Ed Mattson, Mrs. Jacob Knutsen, John Prigge, Andrew Hanson, Alfred Hallen, Ole Shirley, Mrs. Caroline Helland, Colman Keeley, Mrs. Carl R. Johnson, Oscar Swanson, John Landberg, Andrew Freeman, Emil Uggerud, William Dangerfield, Charles Freedland. In 1916 Ami Olson and Gust Swanson were added to the line. First yearly assessment per member was $8.00. Twelve F was the south end of the line and 13 F was the north end. The Salt Lake Rural Telephone Company sold to Northwestern Bell Telephone Company about 1961. Submitted by William Freeman.

May 17,1886, Harlow Blake was employed as grader operator. The first road built was in the summer of 1886. On July 12, 1886, the supervisors voted to declare all section lines open as public roads. The Woodman Hall in Cashel was purchased in the early 1920's to be used as a township hall and was sold in 1966. This building of school district No. 59 was purchased Sept. 2,1966, and is now the permanent Township Hall. Ed Rath served the longest term as Supervisor of the Township, 44 years. George Fischer was Township Treasurer for 40 years. Present officers of Martin Township are: Farigal Gallagher, Chairman of the Supervisors, who has served for 33 years, Raymond Dolan and Paul M. Haug, supervisors; Mrs. Elmo Uggerud, treasurer; William Freeman, who has served as clerk for 38 years; Jerome Votava has been Township 216

SCHOOL DISTRICTS MARTIN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 59 One acre of land was donated by Fred Hildebrand for building a school in 1883. A bond issue of $600 was used to build and equip the first school, built by Contractor Henry Rath. First officers of the District 59 were Halvor Olson, Mr. Fred Hildebrand and 0. D. Nelson. The building was erected in November, 1883, and was in continuous operation from that time until it was closed in May 1964, then annexed to Grafton in 1966. The last teacher was Olivette Blais of Bathgate. Last officers of the district were Rudolph Johnson, Elmo Uggerud and William Freeman, directors; Robert W. Desautel, treasurer; and Mrs. William Freeman, clerk. The building was bought by Martin Township in 1966 and is now used as the Martin Township Hall. Submitted by William Freeman.

Martin School District No. 67 in 1903

MARTIN TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS The following are schools, early officers and some first teachers as recorded. School District No. 55: treasurer, Thomas Hare; directors, P. Mulloy, Henry Rath, E. C. Owen, Nels Bradley, Edmund Rath and Carl Fischer; presidents, Henry Rath and Edmund Rath; clerk, Nellie Southard; and early teacher, S. E. Todell. School District No. 67: treasurer, Peter Bridker; directors, C. R. Johnson, Andrew Helland, Peter Bricker, Walter Coulthart, Andrew Severson and Anders 0. Helland; presidents, Andrew Helland, Peter Bricker and Anders 0. Helland; clerk, Ole A. Rod; and early teacher, Miss Mary McLernon. School District No. 59: treasurer, John Olson; directors, W. J . Britton, 0. D. Nelson, Hiram Haynes, C. J. Grimsrud, Wm. MUler, Charles MiUer and James Rodgers; presidents, 0. D. Nelson and W. J. Britton; clerk, John McAulay; and early teacher, Mary Gorgon. School District No. 104: treasurer, W. M . Pelkey; directors, Charles Moore, James Dailey, H. J. McClernan, W. J. Dangerfield and J . B. Stewart; presidents, James Dailey, W. F. Dangerfield and Charles Moore; and early teacher, Venona Hershey.

Martin School District No. 67 in 1908

BIOGRAPHIES HERMAS CHALE FAMILY Her mas Chale was born Dec. 20,1864, in Quebec. He came to this country at 17, coming by boat down the St. Lawrence River to Sarnia, Ont. He then crossed over to Port Huron, Mich., to North Dakota, also by boat. He had a brother Uving in Neche with whom he stayed and worked on farms. In 1886, at 22, he married Odile Lessard, who had come from Canada with her parents. Mr. Chale filed homestead on a farm in Martin Township, farmed until his retirement in 1917. The couple then moved to Oakwood where he operated a small butcher shop. Ten children were born, Emma, Delia, Anna, Marie, Antoinette, Euphemie, Edward, Yvonne and Therese. Mr. Chale was trustee of the Sacred Heart Church in Oakwood for many years, was township assessor, and was much interested in school and other public offices. Submitted by Mrs. Ernest French. THE DANGERFIELD FAMILIES

Martin School District No. 67 in 1897

Frederick Dangerfield, the progenitor of the Dangerfield families in Walsh County in Dakota Territory, was born in England. At the age of twelve he ran away from home because he was dissatisfied with his Ufe there. He gave as one reason for his dissatisfaction the fact that he always had to wear hand-me-down clothes from his older brother. He stowed away on a ship bound for America. The crew on the ship did not discover him untU they were two days out to sea. They fed him and set him to work on board ship. After arriving in America, he was given a job in the shipyards sweeping floors. He

made one return visit to England when he was twentyone. He then returned to America where he settled in MerrickvUle, Ontario, Canada. There he opened a small factory where he manufactured hames used in harnessmaking, hammer handles, sledge handles, scythe handles and flails which were used for threshing gram in the early days. He married a Scotch lady at Merrick ville. Several years later he sold the factory and came to a homestead which he had filed six miles north of East Grand Forks in Minnesota. He brought his wife and seven children with him to live on their homestead. Two of his brothers, James and George, joined him there. The three brothers planned to file on land in Dakota Territory. They constructed a raft and loaded their belongings, which included three horses, on it and floated down the Red River to St. Andrews, a riverport on the Red. At that time St. Andrews had a store and postoffice mn by Tom Mahoney. Frederick's son, William F. Dangerfield, married Mary Ann McClernan in 1887. She was a teacher who taught in the rural schools in the Red River Valley. Mary Ann McClernan filed on the land in Martin Township which became the WUliam F. Dangerfield home for many years. It was in Section 22, Twp. 158 N. Range 52 W. Two sons, Ralph and John, were born there and both parents died there. In 1896 the Red River overflowed in one ot the periodic disasters that has struck the farm lands along the Red. The flood waters came up as far as Cashel. William Dangerfield had relatives near the Red River. He and another man started out with a team and wagon, planning to drive to the river to see if the family needed assistance. When they reached Cashel, they had to finish the journey by boat. When William Dangerfield and his companion reached their destination, they found his relatives marooned in the upper floor of their home. The flood waters reached the upper floor and they were just able to get into the house through the second story window. The weight of some barley stored in the house kept the house from floating away. A Red River Steamboat was rescuing people who were marooned m the flood. Many refused to leave their homes, among them the relatives of WUliam Dangerfield. John Byron Dangerfield was born in Martin Township on the family homestead in 1888 on Sept. 2. He married Lila Clapp at Little Woody, Saskatchewan in 1915 They lived at Constance, Saskatchewan, and later at Assiniboi. Ralph Dangerfield was also bom on the old homestead on January 7, 1890. John and Ralph were the sons of William F. Dangerfield and his wife, Mary Ann McClernan, who was of Irish descent. Ralph Dangerfield married Winnifred Agnes Crogan in St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Ettrick, Wis., on Sept. 18, 1929. In addition to his farming operations, Ralph Dangerfield was an automobile salesman associated with the Chevrolet Garage when it was under the management of Overby and Scidmore. He was also associated with BUI WUliams in the automobile business. Winnifred Dangerfield worked in the law office of William DePuy. She was long associated with Judge Kneeshaw as court reporter in Walsh County and on the judge's circuit. Ralph Dangerfield met a tragic death when he was crushed between two automobiles on the street outside his home at 841 Griggs Ave. in Grafton. He died before reaching the hospital on May 15, 1969. Mrs. Dangerfield

survived her husband by only a few years. They are buried in a country cemetery at Acklair, Wis., where Winnifred Agnes Crogan was born. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. CARL AND FRED FISCHER March 3,1875, twin brothers, Carl and Fred Fischer, were married to sisters in Flensberg, Germany. One week after the two couples were married, they came to the United States and settled near Carpenter, Iowa. Here the two brothers farmed from 1875 untU 1887, and at that time Mr. and Mrs. Carl Fischer moved to Martin Township, North Dakota, purchasing land one mUe north of Cashel, Uving there aU their Uves. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fischer remained in Iowa for some time until moving to Vashon Island, Wa. Thirteen chUdren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fischer, Ernest, George Nicholas, Carl, Jr., Frederick, Dewey, Theodore, Helen Upham, Olga Bailey, Ella DeSchaine, Mathilda Kelly, Bertha Kauk and a twin brother of Carl, Jr., who died in infancy. Carl Fisher, Jr., resides on the home farm now with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Winston Fedje. George Fischer, deceased, purchased land adjoining the home farm which is now owned by his daughter, Lorraine. Ernest Fischer, deceased, purchased land nearby and this is now owned by his son, Victor Fischer and daughter, Bernadine Greenwood. Mrs. Carl Fischer, Sr., passed away in 1941 at the age of 84 and Mr. Fischer in 1955 at the age of 100. ALBERT FREEMAN On May 26, 1898, Albert Freeman, his brother, Carl (Charlie), and his sister, Anna, came from Halland, Sweden, to Grafton. Their brother, Andrew Freeman, was living on a farm near Grafton and they made thenhome with him for a short time. Their mother, sister, Josie, and brother, AUred, also came later. Albert worked on area farms for three years, in 1901, started farming with his brother, Charlie. In 1908, he married Alma Hallen, who was bom and raised in Pembina County. After 11 years of marriage, Alma died leaving her husband and four chUdren, JuUa, Alfreda, Hazel and AUce. Albert continued farming until the early 1930's, then worked on his brother's farm. He served on the school board of Martin District 59. He died in July, 1961. Submitted by Julia Uggerud.

Left to right, standing: Andrew Freeman, Carl A. Freeman. Seated: Albert Freeman, Alfred Freeman. 218

ANDREW J. FREEMAN Andrew J. Freeman was born April 11, 1873, in Sweden. He migrated to this country when he was nineteen years of age, and came to Martin Township in December of 1892. He worked on several farms until he started farming on his own in 1898. He was married to Wilhelmina Ottoson on December 6,1902. She was born in Sweden Dec. 14, 1876, and came to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1901, then to Martin Township in April, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman farmed at Auburn for three years, then moved to the farm home in Section 20, Martin Township, where they spent the rest of their lives. Their son, William, still lives on the home farm. Andrew Freeman was active in many community affairs, including being a member of the board of Martin School District No. 59, and a Director of the Grafton Farmers Cooperative Grain Company for many years. Ten children were born to the couple, William, Harry and Walter in Oregon; John, Margaret, Marvin in California; Vernon in Washington; and Alvin, Alfred and Edith, all deceased. Mrs. Freeman passed away in 1942, and Mr. Freeman in 1949. Submitted by William Freeman. MR. AND MRS. FARIGAL GALLAGHER Farigal Gallagher was born near Eganville, Ont., Nov. 24, 1861. He was the son of Farigal and Julia Gallagher, born in Donegal County in Ireland. They were married there in 1845, and in 1847 they came to Canada where they farmed near Eganville. They had ten other children: James, Bernard, Hugh, Patrick, Alice, Mary, Susan, Ellen, Bridget, and a baby girl, Alice, who died as an infant. In 1889, Farigal accompanied his parents, his sisters, Susan and Mary, a brother, Patrick, to North Dakota. They traveled here by train, settled first near Minto where his brother, James, Uved. A sister, Ellen, was already living in North Dakota. The family lived for a time in the Acton area. In 1893, they moved to Martin Township, near Cashel, where they bought land.

Mrs. Farigal Gallagher was born near Eganville, Ont., May 11,1868. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Feeley. She had three sisters: Sarah, Kate and Margaret, and three brothers; Thomas, James and Patrick. She and her husband had four children: Thomas, Farigal, Hugh and Margaret. Mr. Gallagher was active in community and church affairs. They were members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Oakwood. He and his brother, Patrick, owned a steam powered threshing machine, threshed for many farmers in the area. Mr. Gallagher died January 9, 1917, Mrs. Gallagher, April 10,1939. Their son, Farigal, died in April, 1964. JOHN HALLEN John HaUen was born in Sweden, and came to this country as a young man. His brother, Andrew Martinson, was born in Sweden June 3, 1849. He was a stone mason by trade, and came to Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked on the railroad before he came to Martin Township; he bought a farm in 1888, the NW >> / in Section 24. Mr. Martinson never married and passed away in 1932. Mr. Hallen farmed with his brother, Mr. Martinson. He was married to Clara Holm Dec. 27, 1895. They had five children, Martin, Clarence, Amanda, and Verna, aU deceased, and Borghild, who is Mrs. Morris O'ConneU of Grand Forks. Mr. Hallen died in 1914, and his wife passed away in 1952. MR. AND MRS. JAMES HANSON

Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. James Hanson. James Hanson was born in Skone, Sweden, Feb. 12, 1870. Mrs. James Hanson was born Aug. 16, 1874, in Varmland, Sweden. She came to America July 2, 1887, making MinneapoUs her first visiting place. In the spring of 1888, with her parents, moved to MUton where she made her home until her marriage to James Hanson Jan. 4, 1894. Mrs. Hanson's maiden name was Annie Nordquist. Mr. Hanson emigrated to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hanson, and brother, John, in 1882. They left Sweden June 3,1882, and arrived in Grafton on July 3, 1882. Some interesting incidents of their experiences of early days related by Mrs. Johnson (AUce), as her parents had told them to her: In the hopes of getting a rural mail route estabUshed, Mr. Hanson took a petition out to get signers for this purpose. These people laughed at him and told him if he

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Farigal Gallagher near Cashel. His parents, Susan and Farigal, returned to Eganville, Ont., in 1898. On Feb. 14, 1898, he and Mary Feeley were married. After their marriage, they came to North Dakota and made their home on the farm near Cashel. His parents and Susan remained in Canada. 219

thought the government would hire a man to drive around with a "Swede" paper, he was crazy. However, a mail route was established, using horses as a means f transportation. This was the beginning of rural route 2. S y mail carriers were Carl Jorgenson and Johnny Freedland. Mrs. Freedland resides in Grafton TheHanson farm was located near a railroad track Hoboes would follow the N. P. (Northern Pacific) to the farm As uninvited guests, they w o u l d ^ n d thought either in the bam or in a straw stack close o the barn, in toe morning, again uninvited, they would expect he tons^r to furnish breakfast. Mrs. Hanson would ™ r e a breakfast and give it to these hoboes outside toe home. On one occasion, as Mrs. Hanson was distributing the lunch, one hobo made a grab for her. She quickly ran into the kitchen and locked the door. Mr Hanson died at his home July 30,1950, and Mrs. Hanson died Oct. 12, 1956. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Mr and Mrs. Hanson had nine children^Mrs. Frank (Mabel) Johnson, Mary Hanson, Edgar Hanson deceased), Lynden Hanson, Mrs Vic (Alice) Johnson William Hanson, Charles Hanson (deceased) Mrs. Oscar E (Annie) Larson, Hilda Jane Hanson (deceased). Submitted by Mrs. Vic (Alice) Johnson. 0

JOHN ALFRED McAULAY Tnhn Alfred McAulay, the fourth oldest child of t J f i t ^ " * * * and Catherine ScuUy McAulay was born in Walsh County, Martin Township,m W» H * narents traveled to this area from Lindsay, Ontario Snada The title to their land was signed under the Homestead Act by President McKinley School District No. 59 was one-half mile north ot th s property. John, as a student, would occasionally relate Ms early morning trek to the one-room schoolhouse to tadteand start the school stove by eight o'clock but weU worth the nav-ten cents a day. Over the years, many of the teachers did room and hoard at the McAulay home. . John continued to farm after his father's death in 1900 Mrs. John McAulay, Sr., died in 1920. During the years from 1900 to 1954, his h e was hiehUghted by his marriage to EUzabeth O'Keefe, cfughte of Mary Callahan and Thomas O'Keefe from V o s f North Dakota. Her parents settled in Ops Township to 1886 coming there from Perth, Ontario, Canada. A daughter, Muriel, was born in 1925. She and her husband, WaUy Goulet, Sr Uve ui Grafton and farm in Walsh and Pembina Counb.es. They have seven During the years from 1920tohis death in 1954, John was active in farming and all elated activitiesSprovement of roads, community acuvihes and an active planner for Rural Electrification in Walsh County, serving for many years as a director of REA. Submitted by Mrs. Wallace R. Goulet, Sr. C W 1

MELKER L. HELTNE Melker L. Heltne was bom Sept. 20, 1871, in Trondhien Norway. He came to Goodhue County, Minn., in 1889,'a few years later to Walsh County Anna Void, born in Lordal, Norway, March 12, 1876 and came to Walsh County in 1898. In 1901 she married M e

^ n e v fa^rnld in Farmington Township until 1939 and had five chUdren: Christine (Mrs. B. M. Prigge), Monsene (Mrs. Walter Thompson), ^ v i k Anna (Mrs Ray Dunn), and Alfred. In 1939 their son, Ludvik, took

Mr. and Mrs. James Hanson.

\ r V e T t n e ' d i e d July 21,1951, Mrs. Heltne, March 16, 1952. Submitted by Ludvig HeUand.

ANDRES HELLAND Andres Helland was born in Norway Oct. 6, 1850_ He met and married Caroline Vike in 1880. She was born Aug 28 1858. Almost immediately the couple started £ trip to the United States, coming to Minnesota where they Uved for a short time before coming to Dakota They arrived in Walsh County in 1881, f ued on a homestead in Martin Township. One daughter was born to Minnesota. They arrived in Grand Forks and rode on a load of lumber to Grafton for which they paid $10. They paid 25 cents for their first cat. When they first settled here they were able to see where the Indians had danced around a pile of buffalo bones, there were two rings. Mr. and Mrs. Helland had five girls AmeUa Mathilde, Sophie, Anna and Viola, and four boys, Olaf Louis Oscar and Ludvig. The children were all baptized and c o S m e d in the Landstad Church at Auburn which toeir father helped build. Mrs. Helland was a charter member of the Ladies' Aid at AuburnMr .Helland died on June 6,1901, and Mrs. HeUand died Nov. 10,1947. Their land was the Helland farm for 94 years.

JOHN LAMBERG John H. Lamberg was bom in Sweden, Feb ruray 21 1849 and remained there until 1869, when he emigrated to the United States; he landed in New York and went on to IUinois, later to Minnesota, where he was employed on toe railroad for a while. In the fall of 1879, he filed on his claim in Martin Township. Mr. Lamberg married Miss Johanna Martinson, a native of Sweden, on Aug. 20,1892^ They had three children, Samual J., Josephine M and Andrew H. Of these three, Samuel survives and stiU S e l o n the old farm home. Mrs. Lamberg died in June, 1922, and Mr. Lamberg died in Dec. 1923. TED NELSON L

Theodore Nelson and J < ^ . # ^ ^ S ^ Township at the same time in the fall of 1879. They 220

SVEN OLSON

walked from Fisher's Landing, Minn., and staked out their claims. They carried a 25-pound sack of flour and other provisions on their back. They dug a hole on their claim, lined it well with dry prairie grass, put in the flour and supplies, covered it well with dry grass and a good covering of dirt, solidly packed down. When they reopened the cache when they returned a year or so later, it was found to be in perfect condition. Theodore Nelson was born in Norway, July 9,1855; in 1879 he came to America and filed his homestead; then he worked on the railroad in Canada for a while until he came back in 1881 and settled on the farm for which he had filed his claim earlier. Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Mary M . Kloaften. She was born in Norway, and came to Walsh County as a young girl. M r . and Mrs. Nelson had eight children, namely, Bennie, Thena, Bertie, Theo. N . , Mary, Oscar, Agnes, and Ida. Mr. Nelson took an active part in building the community and held many local offices. Mrs. Nelson died in 1912; and Mr. Nelson died in 1938.

Sven and Maria Olson homesteaded in 1879 in Martin Township. They had one son, Gustav. OLE A. ROD Hon. Ole A. Rod, Martin Township, was one of the early settlers of that locality. M r . Rod was born in Norway, Feb. 24, 1854. He spent the first 16 years of his Ufe in Norway, in April, 1870, left his native country for America. He landed in Quebec, and from there went to Story County, Iowa, worked at farm labor and farmed for 10 years before coming to Walsh County in 1880. He pre-empted 160 acres of land in Martin Township, where he resided the rest of his life. He was married in Roland, Story County, Iowa, Feb. 26, 1885, to Miss Ingeborg Aarthun, who was born in Lis bon, Wis., Dec. 23, 1859. Seven children were born, Bertha, Taletta, Ole A., Jr., Martha, Clara, Inger and Uleda. Mr. Rod was the first Justice of the Peace appointed June 30, 1883; and the first clerk of elections held in Martin Township in 1884. He was elected to the state legislature on the Republican ticket in 1894, served one term. Mr. Rod died Nov., 1924, his wife died several years later.

THEODORE NELSON Theodore Nelson was born in Norway near Oslo July 9, 1855. He came to New York in 1879, coming to Walsh County in May, 1883. He filed on a homestead in Martin Township. He walked up from Fargo to this homestead. He died June 18, 1938. He was married to Marie Mattson who died July 30, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson had three sons, Bennie, Theodore, Jr., and Oscar, and one stepson, Thorsin Martinson. There were five daughters. Tena (Mrs. Rupert Napper); Agnes (Mrs. Gilbert Mattson); Marie (Mrs. Justin Colson); Bertha (Mrs. Bennie Mattson); and Ida (Mrs. Carl Hanson). Submitted by Leroy Nelson.

JAMES WHITTIER RODGER James Whittier Rodger, born June 7, 1860, in Middleville, Ont., married Harriet Shouldice at Kenora, Ont., in 1884. She was born July 20,1862, in Ottawa. They were part of a general move of famiUes from the East to the Red River Valley. They settled east of Grafton near Cashel and Uved there untU 1910, when they bought a farm near Crystal. They had 12 boys and girls with much love and devotion. No sacrifice was too great in the interest of the family. They were given the best reUgious education and schooling the family could manage. The children who are now deceased are Ethel (Mrs. Gus Marquardt); Edith (never married); Cora (Mrs. Leo Parkins); Clara (Mrs. Ray Laithwaite); Ruth (Mrs. Glen Laithwaite); Melvin, Delbert, and Lloyd. Surviving are Vernon, Hoople; CUfford, Wolf Point, Mont.; Henriette (Mrs. Peter Bronner), Nisswa, Minn.; and Mary (Mrs. Wm. Whitney) Hopkins, Minn. Submitted by VernaDelle Laithwaite Skorheim. JAMES SABOURIN James Sabourin was born in Walsh County Jan. 24, 1881. His father homesteaded in Martin Township and the son owns the property at the present time. In 1902 he married Pamala CoUette. His two sons and two daughters reside with him on their farm near Cashel. ANDREW SEVERSON Andrew Severson was bom on Jan. 1, 1850, in HaUingdal, Norway. He came to the United States at 21, to the Helge B. Olson home at Coming, Minn., an aquaintence from Norway. He married JuUa Oslo in 1880, a Norwegian girl who was born on July 3, 1855. After Uving in the Coming community for two years, he, his wife, and their baby son, Sever, left by train in the spring of 1882. Dakota was still a territory at the time when they arrived at Auburn, where they settled on a 160 acre homestead in Martin Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Nelson. HENRY OLSON Henry Olson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Halvor Olson, was the first white boy born in Martin Township. He died at 80 in April, 1961. 221

OLE B. SHIRLEY (SJOLIE) FAMILY Ole B. Sjolie was bom in Solar, Norway, in 1861. At four he and his parents, Bernt 0. and Oline, immigrated to the United States, settled at Elizabeth, Minn., in 1865, where they lived for several years. In 1881, Ole and his father came to Martin Township and filed a homestead claim Nov. 11. The mother and other family members staying in Minnesota. The father returned to his family and Ole remained on the homestead. He married Kaja Engen in 1882, had a family of three sons and five daughters: Knute, Oscar, Olaf, Bertha, Olga, Elida, Olava and Amelia. In the 1900's the name Sjolie was changed to Shirley on school and legal records. Mr. and Mrs. Shirley were both active in the Landstad Lutheran Church in Auburn. Their daughter, Amelia, stiU lives on this farm. Submitted by Mrs. Willard Hove. Andrew Todaien Severson and Wife, Julia H. Helgeson Their first home was a sod covered, two room shanty. A new home was built by Ed Thompson in 1888, a bam and granary were built later. They lived here for 16 years, had seven children, Sever (who was born in Corning), Margaret, Helge, Halvor, Adolph, Mollie, and Alfred. All the children, except Sever, were baptized in the Landstad Church in Auburn which their father helped build Two girls died at birth. Mrs. Todaien was not a charter member of the Ladies' Aid but she did join within a year. When they moved to Dakota he didn't have any farming equipment, so to get some money, Mr. Todaien worked on the railroad being built between Grafton and St Thomas. When he finally had enough money, he purchased four oxen and a plow to turn the new soil. One fall in a prairie fire, he lost a crop of wheat and a few hay stacks. They had milk cows, chickens, and some hogs. Later he got five horses. In the fall of 1898, they moved back to Corning. Mr. Todaien became a U. S. citizen March 7, 1888, dropped the name of Todaien and used Andrew Severson. They lived in Corning until they retired, when they moved to Austin, Minn. Mrs. Severson died Aug. 29, 1927, he died 4

< u j , j After Severson left, his farm was purchased by B. J. Thompson. Then he sold it to John A. McCaulay. McCaulay sold the farm to Ludvig Helland in 1926. Mr. HeUand stiU owns the farm at this present time. Submitted by Blanche Severson.

JOHN BELL STEWART Mr. John Bell Stewart came from Ontario. He came down the lakes to Port Orihiu then to Duluth and to Moorhead. And then down the Red River on the Selkirk with Captain Griggs and Captian Maloney, landed in Winnipeg in June 1875. He remembered that grasshoppers infested the country and settlers were leaving. He came to North Dakota in 1879 and homesteaded near Cashel. In 1886, he went back to Ontario and married Martha Ross. They came by train to Grafton and Uved on Hill Avenue then moved to a farm near Cashel, and later moved into the Uttle town and managed the CargiU elevator there for 20 years. There were four children, Helen (Mrs. P. J. Donnelly), Gordon, a lumberman in Sioux Falls, S. D., now deceased; Fleming, in forestry services at Missoula, Mont.; and Jack, Camel Back Inn, Scottsdale, Ariz., now deceased. My mother often told about looking out the train window early Sunday, seeing farmers hauUng hay and wondering what kind of God forsaken country she was coming to. They made many trips back to their home in Ontario. One of their first neighbors was the Chris Jackson famUy. The women became Ufe long friends. My father died in Grafton in 1937, and mother in 1952. They are buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. P. J. DonneUy. daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Todaien Severson, Sever, Maggie, Helge, Halvor, Adolph, Mollie, Alfred. Taken in 1897.

Mr. J. B. Stewart 222

Mrs. J. B. Stewart

LAURITZ J . SONDELAND FAMILY Emma Loe was born June 18, 1871, at Lakeville, Minn., (laughter of Ole and Inger Loe. Her father was veteran of the Civil War. When Emma was ten, her parents and two sisters, Caroline and Johanna, and a brother, James, started for the prairies of North Dakota in the summer of 1881. They traveled by train to Grand Forks, then by steamship on the Red River to Acton, and by a team of oxen to Farmington Township near the Auburn area. Ole Loe homesteaded on Jan. 14, 1882. A log shanty was built with a mud floor the first year. Homemade candles provided lights and clothes were washed on the washboard with homemade soap made from rendered tallow and a lye solution. Prairie fires were a worry and firebreaks were made to protect the buildings. Buffalo bones were found in the tall grass.

OLE UGGERUD At 24. Ole 0. Uggerud left Hoff in Solor, Norway. He arrived in Northwood, Iowa, in 1878, where he worked that summer. He moved to Wisconsin the next summer to work in a lumber camp. In 1879, he traveled to Grafton where he worked as a carpenter. He helped to build many of the houses northeast of Grafton, was one of the pioneers that helped to build Landstad Lutheran Church in Auburn. In 1897 he purchased a quarter of land northeast of Grafton and built his home. He married Bertha Brian, who had come from Vic in Sogn, Norway, and was employed at the Dakota House in Grafton. They had two sons, John and Arvil. Ole died in 1933 and Bertha in 1946. Submitted by Julia Uggerud.

Pioneers Without Biographies

Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. Lauritz J. Sondeland. They farmed for several years. Emma Loe met Lauritz J . Sondeland, bom in Norway Feb. 22,1864, came in the spring of 1883 to Fillmore County, Minnesota. He worked there three years before coming to North Dakota in 1886. Not familiar with the American language, he one day met a Norwegian farmer who gave him a job for a few years until he got started farming on his own near the Auburn area in Farmington Township. Emma Loe and Lauritz J . Sondeland were married Sept. 17,1889, by Pastor Nykreim at his farm home near Nash. They farmed near Auburn for several years before he purchased a home in Martin Township Nov. 16, 1897. They were members of the Auburn Landstad Church and celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at their church in 1939. Mr. Sondeland served as Secretary of the Church Board for 34 years, and also on the School Board Dist. No. 67. Mrs. Sondeland was a member of the Ladies' Aid of her church, often walked to meetings held at the farm homes. They had three boys and six girls, John, Ida, Laura, Hilda, Thea, Lillian, Melvin, Elmer and Martha. Mr. Sondeland died Oct. 6, 1942, and Mrs. Sondeland May 25, 1951. Both are buried in the Auburn Landstad Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Thea Sondeland Hove.

Arnstad, Annie P. Blake, Lydia Bricker, Caroline and Peter Britton, Jane Cliff, John C. Coulthart, Walter Crandell, H . L . Clement, Thos. F . Cronan, J . E . Couture, Marie Cornelinson, Emma Crawford, Fred H . Dahlen, S. P. Dryden, Walter S. Dowling, John H . Delisle, Geo. W. Dailey, Lavinia J . Driscoll, John C. Edwards, Augusta Eset, Nicholas Evenson, Elling Evan, Allan A. Frenche, Philomena Fryatt, G. W. Grench, Osias Franklin, Thos. Gurgenson, R. Gudmandsen, Alex. Grimsrud, C. J . Nils J.; Sarah; Siever Johnson, Carl; R. S.; N . J . ; Anna; Kroser, A. Krabbe, D. Knudtson, Olaf Knudson, Theo. Klakeg, Lars K . Livingstone, Wm. Lennon, Thos. Myers, Geo. McClernon, P. A. Miller, Wm. Martenson, Andrew Matt, H . H . Martin, Mat

Sherman, J. H. Sabourine, Alphonse Thompson, Edward Vigness, Mrs. A. J. Vary, Domina Weagant, A. H. Weagant, Roderick Weagant, Wm. H.

McLean, Martha Martinson, Andrew McMunn, John Nelson, Theodore Olson, S. A. and Bertha Pilkey, Julius Scully, Jeremiah

OAKWOOD TOWNSHIP The following is copied from page one of a book of minutes dated 1883-1901: , Dakota Territory, Oakwood Township, County ot Walsh Oath of office of Franklin Waters, supervisor, deposited Jan. 1,1883. David W. Waters, township clerk Oath of office of N. 0. Nobin, supervisor, deposited Jan 1 1883. David W. Waters, township clerk. Oath of office of Octave Collette, supervisor, deposited Jan. 1,1883. David W. Waters, township clerk. In reading through a record book of township meetings occurring between 1883 and 1901. The following information was gleaned. On Jan 1, 1883, the following supervisors were installed, Franklin Waters, N. 0. Nobin, and Octave Collette as recorded by David W. Waters, township clerk. Township meetings were short and to the point. In reading the minutes of the year 1883, these are some things accomplished. June 11, 1883, with Octave CoUette and Franklin Waters present, the township was divided into two road districts Section 1-12 all of township 157 north and range 52 west would be District No. 1 with WiUiam MiUer supervisor. Sections 13-36, 157 north and range 52 west was declared Road District No. 2 with A. G. Jackson as supervisor David Walters was clerk for each meeting mrough March, 1884. K. R. Loranger followed as township clerk. A matter of business often was the planning and laying of roads. Some of the roads were caUed cart roads^ It was noticed the township had a "poor fund" and $12 a month was allowed to a needy person. Some other early people serving in various township capacities were WUliam Miller, 0. H. Lee, R. H. LaBerge, George Becker, John Dipple, D. D. McDonald, Charles French, GabrU Halvorson, Ole O. Haugerud, E. S Startevant, Tollef Johnson, Fred Worthing, John SuUivan, Hans T. Gorder, AUred Sevigny, Thomas Miller, James HilUer, John LaBerge, Albert MiUer, and Louis Wentz. Nov. 19,1887, it was decided to buUd abridge between Oakwood and Acton. Action was taken to placement of schoolhouses. Some mentioned were Schoolhouse District No. 21 at the southeast comer of Section 14, one at WiUiam MUler s in District No. 1. . Relating to the bridge between Acton and Oakwood it was stated that Oakwood keep the north end of the bridge in repair and Acton keep the south half of the bndge in repair. Every so often special meetings were caUed for drawing of jurors.

On page 160 in the book of record years 1883-1901, it may be of interestto note the names of jurors drawn Dec. 18,1891: Thomas MUler, John Hiller, Hans Rasmussen, Joseph French, Hiram Giles, Hans T. Gorder, Nils J. Johnson, Alfred Sivigny, Raymond PeUand, Charles French, John HilUer, Artham LaBerge, Thomas MUler and Ole T. Gorder. HISTORY OF ST. ALOYSIUS ACADEMY OF OAKWOOD Rev J. E. Louis Lee with the help of his faithful parishioners erected the private school which was put under the protection of St. Aloysius of Ganozaga. This saint is known as the patron saint of youth. The school to be known as St. Aloysius Academy, opened its doors at Oakwood, Sept. 3, 1906, under the administration and educational faculty provided by the Sisters of St. Mary of the Presentation. The Oakwood Community took advantage of the unfortunate situation in France where so many ReUgious Orders were forced to seek refuge due to reUgious persecutions. The first five Sisters assigned to Oakwood by the Order were Mother Superior Amaury, Sister Mary Patrick, Sister M. Benoit, Sister Gisele and Sister M . Gustave. This school was in the vUlage north of the present Sacred Heart Church on the property now owned and resided upon by Renee French, Eugene French, Melvin Durand and Wilmer CoUette. This property was homesteaded in 1878 by Joseph Charpentier (now Carpenter). He donated ten acres of land to the Sacred Heart Parish and the church in turn transferred the property for the school in 1908 to the Sisters of St. Joseph. The school or convent was dedicated Oct. 17,1906, by Rt Rev. Bishop J. Shanley of Fargo. There were 36 pupils registered, six as boarders, on the first day of school. Eight years of elementary education was offered until 1910 when four years of high school was added to the curriculum. The increasing number of students registering for academic instruction and the enthusiasm of parents for the sisters and their spiritual work necessitated enlarging the convent two years later in 1908 The larger addition was erected south of the original structure and capable of housing 60 boarders from outlying parishes. The teaching staff was also doubled from the original five sisters; with the addition of Sisters Sylvie, M. Timothee, St. Luc and M. Cecnia. In 1909, Rev. Father Lee donated a statue of St. Aloysius which was elevated on a pedestal in the institution's front yard. This statue had originally been a contribution of Mr. R. Jeffrey of Grand Forks. 224

During the drought of 1952, the parishioners offered up their prayers and contributions for a shrine in honor of the Blessed Lady. This petition turned out to be a prayer of thanksgiving with the completion of the shrine which is still in evidence today with its lovely landscape just across the road from the original site of the convent. The work involved with this monument was also offered as thanks for the recovery of their pastor, Rev. A. J. Richard, who had just recovered from a major operation at the Mayo Clinic. By 1914 there were only three students attending the public school, so a request was made by the School Board of Oakwood District No. 21 through the County Superintendent to the State Board of Education, to close the public school and all taxes levied be granted to the Sisters. This arrangement prevailed until the Anti-Garb Law of 1948, when the parishioners had to support the school without help from taxes. It should be noted here that parishioners not of School District No. 21 had been financially supporting the academy through a tuition arrangement besides their own district taxes. These neighboring districts were: Oakwood No. 121, No. 27, No. 105, and No. 4; Martin No. 59 and No. 104; St. Andrews No. 87; and Acton No. 30, No. 15 and No. 57. In 1948 an education board was formed with Rev. J. L. Bastien as ex-officio president with Victor Gourde, Bernard Gallagher, Leon Sevigny, Francis Altendorf, Edmond Dolan and William Campbell as members. The latter was secretary-treasurer. Other members elected later were: Ovila Demers, Renee French, Donald Demers, Hilary Osowski, Oliver Pilon, Francis Pilon, Ray Campbell, Louis Collette, Frederick Lessard, Maurice D. Collette and Jeffrey Gourde.

Mother Superior. She remained in charge until the closing of the high school in 1965. Sr. Carmilita and Sister Patricia Ann were in cnarge one year until the formal closing of the academy in 1966. This closing was caused by consolidation of school districts and the increased costs of operation; some of which were caused by the required hiring of lay teachers due to the shortage of vocations. The new methods of transportation, such as school buses, enabled all children to attend the much larger consolidated school with an expanded curriculum at Grafton. Besides the Mother Superiors, some other teachers of the academy were: Sr. Elizabeth, Sr. Dorothy, Sr. Rachel, Sr. Pauline, Sr. Bernadette, Sr. Mary Onesime, Sr. Elizabeth Rose, Sr. Ferdinand, Sr. Michael, Sr. M. Claire, Sr. Loretta, Sr. Marie Eva, Sr. Patricia Ann, Sr. Perpetue, Sr. Charles Joseph, Sr. Joseph of Sacred Heart. Sr. Benoit, Sr. Severine, Sr. Mary Charles Sr. James, Sr. Mary Ann, Sr. Philip de Neri, Sr. Marie Joseph, and Sr. Sylvester. Submitted by Paul Campbell.

St. Aloysius Academy of Oakwood

Where first Catholic services were held at Oakwood. It is a log cabin covered with siding on Mrs. Jeanette Gourde's farm. ** Mother Amaury was Superior from 1906 until 1929. She died and was buried at Spring Valley, HI. Mother Marguerite Marie held this position from 1929 until 1938 and again from 1942 until 1946. During Mother St. Maxime's reign as Superior from 1938 to 1942, Mother Marguerite remained as a full time instructor. Mother Marguerite died at Broons, France, which was the Mother House of the Sisters of the Presentation. She had been a native of Belgium. She was succeeded by Mother Marie de la Salette whose untimely death occurred a year later in October, 1947. Mother Marie de St. Jean was in charge from 1948 until 1954. She is also buried at Spring Valley. Mother Agnes Marie was Superior from 1954 until 1960 when Sister Alphonse Marie was promoted to

Grotto at St. Aloysius Academy

SCHOOL DISTRICTS OAKWOOD TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 105 The schoolhouse which served this district was located two miles south and k mile east of Grafton, the district was formed in 1894. Some of the early board members were: J. Stokke, James Maguire, G. G. Moe, Hendrik Russum, H. N. Rasmusson, H. T. Gorder, Harry Hunter, John H. Moe, and A. C. Jorandby. Some of the teachers who served the district were: Ida B. Gullickson, Josiah Ritchie, Mary T. Baldwin, May Clement, Tillie Tallackson, Norma Newlander, Sevine Sessing, James A. McCormick, Annie Blades, M. Davison, Alice Maguire, Clara Anderson, Lillian Noben, x

Ernest Knudsen, Florence Oldham, Jennie Rasmusson, Casper Dahl and Pearl Carlson. The district ceased operating the school in 1921 with Pearl Carlson the last teacher. From 1900-1910 the average attendance was about 20 and during these years the average teacher's salary was about $40. A rural school teacher made the fires, cleaned the school, and taught all the classes. If there were pupils in all eight grades and each pupil took six subjects - you can well imagine the teacher had his work "cut out for him " Nevertheless, much good learning was accomplished in the rural school and many successful people gained their training there.

School District No. 105

wood calls were made by Grafton doctors. All of them showed great devotion to Dr. G. W. Glaspel. Dr. G. W. Glaspel never questioned whether the call came from a rich or poor home. Oakwood Township was organized in 1882. P J Murphy was one of the professors of the Oakwood school or college faculty. Mr. Murphy was connected with educational work aU his Ufe and for many years was a member of the senate of North Dakota. Theophile Jenkins was the music teacher. There are many good musicians in Oakwood. David Collette is at present the Sacred Heart Church organist. SUding down hills and merry-go-around on ice - a post was put in the ice with a long pole attached and a horse would be hitched to the pole and he went round and round, and we chUdren would get out the sleds and the horse would puU the sleigh (poor horse). Last but not least on the benevolent side, we went to church Sundays and other church days and had to make sacrifices during Lent, and it was a must. Our parents taught us reUgion and we were instructed when young. My sister, Mrs. Richard Schumacher, nee Helen Carpenter, played basketbaU while attending North Star CoUege in Warren, Minn. Before 1912, we didn't play basketball as we didn't have facUities. Submitted by Adie Dipple.

BIOGRAPHIES

OAKWOOD TOWNSHIP THE CAMPBELL FAMILY The foUowing is a Ust of the schools, early officers, The Campbell famUy, who homesteaded east of and some of the first teachers as recorded for Oakwood Grafton, are descendants of Joseph CampbeU, born at St. Township. Remi, Quebec, April 1, 1847. He married Alphonsine School District No. 4: Treasurer - John Trudo; Harel, Feb. 9, 1874. She was bom at St. Remi, Jan. 31, directors - Hiram Giles, John Johnson, Gabriel 1859. Joseph Campbell's great-great-grandfather, Halvorson, F. O. Sather; presidents - Gabriel GuUlaume (WilUam) Colan Campbell came to Canada Halvorson; clerk - E. J. SterUng; early teacher - John with a Scottish Regiment of tbe EngUsh Army to fight in Egleson. the French and Indian War which took place from 1754 School District No. 105: Treasurer - John H. Moe; until 1763. The British and the French could not resolve directors - John Stokke, James Maguire, G. G. Moe, H. their differences as to the boundaries of Acadia (Nova P Rasmusson, H. T. Gorder; presidents - James Scotia) as weU as other disagreements. The British took Maguire, G G . Moe, H. P. Rasmusson, H. T. Gorder; Montreal in 1760 and the British received aU of Canada at clerk - Harry Hunter; early teacher - Ida B. the Treaty signed in 1763. GuUickson. GuiUaume CampbeU chose to remain in North School District No. 27: Treasurer - D. H. Maters, America and eventuaUy married a woman of French directors - Kettle Pederson; Jacob Hewitt; president descent, Josephte Chartier of Acadia. Their son, Alexander, married Josephte BisaUlon of Acadia in 1788; Jacob Hewitt; clerk - Lewis Wentz; early teacher in turn, their son, Joseph, married FeUcite Bessette in Miss Louise Hewitt. 1815. This couple moved to St. Remi, a small farming School District No. 21: Treasurer - Edmond La community twenty five miles south of Montreal; there Berge; directors - Joseph BruneUe; PhUip Collette, Nicolas was born in 1825 and married Genevieve Alfred Parent, John Sullivan, Charles Bailergeon, Ovid Desrocher later in Ufe. CoUette; president - John SuUivan; clerk - M . A. The homesteader, Joseph CampbeU, was one of nine Haggerty; early teacher - Miss A. Wing. boys born. The uiabiUty for the family to provide a NOTES FOR OAKWOOD Uvelihood on the smaU acreage at St. Remi, plus the Dr. A. Loranger, province of Quebec, was in OakavailabUity of land for homestead rights given by the United States Government, lured the Joseph CampbeU's wood in 1881. to migrate to Dakota Territory. Dr. P. U. LaBerge from Ste. Martine, province of Four of the nine brothers remained in the Montreal Quebec, made his residence in Oakwood in 1886. In 1889, area. They were Marcel, Cyril, who died young, Arsene he married Mary Deschenes in St. John's Catholic and Camille. Two others, Severs and Aime, migrated to Church in Grafton. He remained in Oakwood untU 1891. the Columbus, Ohio, area. Domina made his home in the He was in Westby, Mont., where he resided many years. Stillwater, Minn., area but one of his sons, Albert (Bert) Other doctors were Dr. S. Dulude, Dr. Barrette, who came to visit his aunt, Mrs. Joseph CampbeU, in 1914, and made his residence in Cashel (four mUes north of Oakremained to start farming on his own; eventually owning wood), and Dr. Galland, who was the last medical man who lived in Oakwood during 1904. From then on Oak- 226 a farm one half mile west of Minto with some of his

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell had 18 children, all born in Oakwood Township except three in Quebec. Four of the children died in infancy. Joseph died in 1914 at 67. He served as trustee of Sacred Heart Parish from 1902 to 1904 In 1916 the family built a modern home which still stands on Highway 17. It was an unusual circumstance that 13 of 14 children eventually made their homes within seven miles of each other and the 14th lived six miles northwest of Grafton. The eldest, Arsene, married Flora Campbell at Stillwater, Minn., in 1907. They were in the carpentry and contracting business in Montreal until 1920 at which time they became engaged in farming midway between Oakwood and Grafton. Arsene died in 1972 at 96. They were the parents of four children: Antoinette (never married), Rene who died at 13, Ivan died at nine months, and Oswald J. Oswald Campbell (I) never married. He stayed with his mother until her death in 1941 at 82. He was more or less the adopted father for all the younger brothers and sisters in the family. He served many years as Oakwood Township Supervisor and Director of Grafton Farmers Elevator Company. He died in 1971 at 92. Clara married Theotime Gagnon in 1896. They operated a boarding house and grocery store at the comer of 5th and Hill Avenue; now a new single story building housing many businesses. She died in 1920 at 39. They had four daughters: Mrs. Angeline Wilde Eddy who died at 76, Mrs. Ernestine (Harold) Hostettor who died at 35, Mrs. Theresa (Conrad) Geston Brann who died at 63, and Mrs. Marguerite (Fargal) Gallagher of San Diego, Calif. Bertha married Joseph Lessard in 1898. They farmed one mile east of Oakwood. She died in 1968 at 86. They had 11 children: William died at 60, Mrs. Philomena Sullivan Vondal died at 73, Victor I died at six months, Victor II, Sister Blanche, Mrs. Ernestine (Henry) French, Roland died at 57, Sister Theresa, Arsene, Francis and Marcel. One grandson, Ray Lessard, is Bishop of Savannah, Georgia. Alphonsine married Joseph Gourde in 1901. They farmed one mile west of Oakwood. She died in 1965 at 82. They had 11 children: The three eldest, Alfred I, Louis I and Josephine, died within six weeks of each other; Victor died at 53, Louis died at 58, Mrs. Marie (Frank) ByzewsM, Alfred II died at 26, Albert, Andrew died at four months, Jeffrey, and Mrs. Agnes (Henry) Bolek. Lea married Joseph Riopelle in 1903. They farmed at Argyle, Minn., until 1918 when the purchased a farm from Gurine Tallackson at the northeast edge of Grafton. She celebrated her 90th birthday in October, 1974. They had six children: Mrs. Marie (Harold) Elias, Roland, Wilbrod, Winnifred who died at infancy, Mrs. Loretta (Martin) Day, and Reo. Victor married Minnie Collette in 1909. They farmed two miles south of Oakwood. He died in 1948 at 61. They had three children: Mrs. Clarabelle (Frederick) Demers, Harold, and Mrs. Odell (Lawrence) McCarthy. Clarinda married Homer French in 1912. They farmed 1 Vfe miles northeast of Oakwood. She will be 85 in August 1975. They had five children: Charles, Mrs. Cecilia Sass, Mrs. Therese Sampson Murphy, Anthony, and Mrs. Agnes (Dick) Stewart. Roch married Lydia Pagote in 1920. They farmed midway between Grafton and Oakwood. He was one of

descendants still in the area. He died in Grand Forks at 67. He was married to Blanche Collette. The youngest of the nine brothers, Wilfred, came to Oakwood Township in 1882, remained a bachelor his entire life. He died at the home of his niece, Mrs. Bertha Lessard, in 1936. Early in the spring of 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell, three and one-half year old Arsene, and two year old Oswald took the train to Grand Forks. Mrs. Campbell was expecting their fourth child within two months (the third child of the family had died in infancy

Joseph Campbell Family From Grand Forks Joseph, along with Stanislas La Roche, decided to walk to Oakwood to join their families who had migrated the previous year. At the present site of Manvel, they had to cross a stream, waist deep, since it was very early in the spring and thawing of the winter snows had already begun. With only a few unmarked trails their instincts took them too far west, missing the Oakwood homesteaders, and ending up at the J . C. Joubert farm, six miles northwest of the present site of Grafton. This farm is now owned by Leonard Desautel. Mr. Campbell was not a tall man, so the walk in that disagreeable weather had fatigued him immensely; but after a nights' rest they eventually found the Oakwood settlement. One of the original settlers of 1878, John Brunelle, took a covered wagon and proceeded to pick up the remainder of the Campbell family and personal belongings at Grand Forks. They stayed overnight at the Acton Hotel, which was in the process of being built, and the two boys in a playful gesture threw one of Oswald's infant shoes in an unfinished wall and never retrieved it. The family stayed several months with Joseph Boutin, land now owned by Edmond Campbell, where the REA substation is, three miles east of Grafton on Highway 17. October 25, 1881, they took over the land homesteaded by Ernest Soucy the previous year. This is now owned by Edward Bolek. Shortly thereafter, the family moved in with Alexis LaMarre, a bachelor, who had difficulty with his farming, south across the road from Joseph Boutin, presently owned by Roch Campbell. They purchased the Boutin farm in 1893. In 1889 they temporarily gave up the Soucy (Bolek) land to Pacific Perras while they purchased the SW/4 of Section 22. In 1896, they also purchased the land they were living on from Mr. LaMarre when he left the territory. Late in 1890, Mrs. Campbell, with infant daughter, Clarinda, barely escaped with her life when the kitchen, built on to the small house, was destroyed by fire. 227

.ie first draftees in World War I and served overseas. He is 83. They had four children: Mrs. Lucille (Al) Piche, Edward, Raymond and George. Louisa married Arthur Collette in 1916. They farmed one mile northeast of Oakwood. She died in 1974 at 80. They had ten children: Romeo, Mrs. Juliette (Frederick) Lessard, Mrs. Agnes (Maurice) Lessard Mrs. Marguerite (Simeon) Demers, Maurice B., Roland Mrs. Joyce (Roman) Lessard, Mrs. Frances (Leonard) Schuster, and Mrs. Carol (Richard) Narloch. Wilfred married Blanche Desautel in 1929. They farmed tt mile east of Grafton. They had no children. He is 80 WilUam married Amanda LeBerg in 1919. They farmed midway between Grafton and Oakwood. He also served in the army during World War L He served as trustee of Sacred Heart Church from 1934 to 1936 and also on the Board of Directors of St. Aloysius Academy and School District No. 4. He will be 79 in 1975. They had seven children: Paul, Edmond, Annette died at four years Mrs Blanche (John) Osowski, Mrs. Jane (Frank) Osowski, Mrs. Alice (Stanley) Danielski, and Reverend Joseph of the Fargo Diocese. Wilbrod married Kathryn Desautel in 1925 They farmed midway between Grafton and Oakwood. He will be 77 in 1975. They had three children: Mrs. Betty (Michael) Sink, Eugene, Mrs. Veronica (Jon) HUls. Marie married Albert Desautel in 1929. They farmed six mUes northwest of Grafton. She died in 1962 at 59. They had one chUd: Aurel. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER Mr Charpentier was bom in St. Denis sur RicheUeu, Canada, May 1,1838, the son of Joseph Charpentier and Marie Guertin. ' , , . , He married Louise Allard shortly before coming to the United States. He made his residence at Cochrane, Minn., about 23 miles from MinneapoUs. Early in the spring of 1872 he left Cochrane with his family of six. Equipped with an ox team drawing a heavy covered wagon, he directed his steps toward Fort Abercrombie where he intended to settle. On his way he met with numerous difficulties and hardships common to the pioneer travelers and homeseekers at that time. One of his sons, who was 10 years old at the time, just referred to, is credited with the narration of the foUowing incident of the trip. One afternoon, Mr. Charpentier was confronted with a large body of water on the opposite side of which a grove could be seen. Mr. Charpentier thought that would be an ideal place to camp overnight. But how to reach that grove was the problem. He investigated and discovered that numerous beavers were in possession of the place and had buUt a dam across the waters substantial enough for his team to cross over with safety He therefore, undertook to lead his oxen and their load on the narrow dam. His six children were in the wagon box protected by a heavy canvas. The oxen were tired and hungry, but also thirsty. One of them, an old beast of great weight, stepped off the dam to reach the water to drink and nearly upset the vehicle. The frightened mother and chUdren, at the unexpected jerk, uttered such loud screams that the team stopped. Reaching the camping place, he unhitched the oxen, fed them, and built a fire.

The famUy partook of a frugal evening meal. Then Mr. Charpentier saw that his wife and children, lying on a bed of wild hay in the wagon box, were secure against wind and storm and fastened the cover of the vehicle. He wrapped himself in a buffalo robe and lay on some hay under the wagon and went to sleep. The next morning he rose early to feed the team. The oxen so alert and prompt to rise, did not move when he brought them food. He began to fear they were sick. On looking closer at them he found there was nothing wrong with them. While the oxen were resting, their long tails lay in pools of water produced by the melting snow. During the night, the water freezing again, the tails were tied up in the ice and this condition prevented the animals from moving. Mr. Charpentier had to thaw the ice to liberate them.

Pictured here is the Oakwood grocery store and post office operated by Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gagnier. Left to right are Mrs. Alex Gagnier, Bertha French, Gagnier's grandson, Alex Gagnier. Adeline Dipple stayed here when attending Aloysius Academy. This store was the first Sacred Heart church in Oakwood.

Here are Adeline Dipple and Oliver Carpenter by their grandfather's grave (Joseph Charpentier). Joe Charpentier donated land for the Oakwood church. After two weeks of hard and painful travel, the pioneer reached Fort Abercrombie. But his traUs were not at an end. Shortly after his arrival, his wife died when giving birth to her 7th chUd. She was buried there as weU as Medora Trudeau, a brother of Mrs. Cyrille Patenaude, of whom some of her famUy are still members of the Oakwood community. Unable to care for his seven chUdren, Mr. Char228

pentier resolved to give his new born son, David, to a friendly family who promised to care for him as if he were their own. Mrs. Adeline (Charpentier) Dipple, a granddaughter of Mr. Charpentier, said that a few years ago she wrote to the people whom she had heard had taken her Uncle David. She recallstheir lastname was Bibeau. She wrote to them but her letter was never returned and no answer received. In 1874, Mr. Charpentier was in Grand Forks, near the Park River, about seven miles west of the Red River, now known as Oakwood. As there were then no other resident settlers in the vicinity, he thus became the first white pioneer of the settlement, the founder of "Park River" colony, later named Oakwood because of so many oak trees. Mr. Charpentier found five or six Indian families who, taking advantage of the beautiful growth of oak trees bordering the river on either side, were accustomed to spend the winter there in small log cabins. One of them "Eau Rouge" an old Indian of the Sioux tribe, claimed first right to the property selected by Mr. Charpentier. Mr. Charpentier agreed to give Eau Rouge $25 and this proved satisfactory to Eau Rouge, the Indians departed toward the Turtle mountains. In 1880 when Rev. Father Bonin founded the mission, Mr. Charpentier offered out of his own homestead, a tract of land to be used as church property. It contained about ten acres of land, for a church, cemetery and St. Aloysius Academy. Some years after the organization of the Oakwood parish, Mr. Charpentier, donor of the Sacred Heart Church property, sold the balance of his homestead and went to live at the Red River on the North Dakota side. In 1904 he lived at Stephen, Minn., and in 1906 he moved to Vassar, Man. In 1926 he came to his son, Stanislaus (Dennis) Charpentier, a farmer living on the east side of the Red River in a place known as St. Joseph's Mission, seven miles east of Oakwood. Stanislaus gave some land for the mission's cemetery. During Mr. Charpentier's visit he became ill and died Aug. 10, 1926. His remains were taken to the Sacred Heart Church of Oakwood where funeral services were held by Rev. Father J. L. Bastien, in the presence of a large attendance of friends and relatives. Seven sons acted as pallbearers. Interment was made in the Sacred Heart Church Cemetery. Rev. J. L. Bastien said Mass in Mr. Charpentier's home at Vassar, Man., being a missionary before coming to Oakwood. A few pioneers that attended religious services in 1878: John Brunelle, William Brunelle, Joe Brunelle, Octabe Collette who had a son Alcide, Grafton, Phillippe Collette, Ovide CoUette, Jean Baptiste Trudeau, Antione Girard, Honore Savard, and Joe Dechenes. 1879: LaBerges, Lessards, CoUettes, Arcadius Collette, (His son Wilfred Collette lives in Grafton), Desautels, Campbells, and Donely's. From 1880 to 1897 pioneers of the Oakwood community were many and a few are stUl Uving but a younger generation are still in the Oakwood vicinity. In listing pioneers, Charpentier heads the Ust, he was the first settler. His granddaughter, AdeUne (Charpentier) Dipple was an Oakwood parishioner until 1961. His great grandson, Halward Dipple, Acton, and his great-greatgrandchildren, Dennis, Carol and Helen Kay Dipple, as

also Harward's wife, Beatrice (Plutowski) Dipple of Acton, are parishioners of Sacred Heart Church, Oakwood. Helen Kay is now Mrs. Don ShiUing, R. N., St. John's Hospital, Fargo. Wilfred Collette Auditorium at the State School was named after WUfred Collette a resident of Oakwood at one time. Submitted by Adie Dipple.

Descendants of Joseph Charpentier living in this area [Grafton-Oakwood]. Left to right: Adie Dipple, granddaughter, Hal Dipple, great grandson, Dennis Dipple, great great grandson.

Seven granddaughters of Joseph Charpentier, left to right, standing: Cordelia Whalen, Gertrude Steenson, Amanda McLean, Jean Bellamy. Seated: Agnes Shiller, Adeline Dipple, Julie Trudeau. DANIEL DEMERS Daniel Demers was born in Quebec Province in 1874. In 1880 he came to North Dakota with his parents. Exevier Demers, his father, and family homesteaded north of Oakwood. At 17 he went to work in the woods in northern Minnesota. During the winter of 1891 his father died. In the spring of that year he started farming. When his youngest brother became of age the estate was settled. He bought the land and started farming on his own. On Oct. 12,1892, he was married to Albina Primeau. She also came from Canada. To this union was born 14 children, 11 are still living, Alvina, Emma, Frederick, Clara, Albert, Aurore (deceased), Dan, WUfred, Ovila (deceased), Arbella, Edward, Simeon, Edmond, and Victor (deceased). One incident he often mentioned was the time he got lost in a severe storm. He was bringing his two oldest daughters back from school, with the wind increasing in momentum and the snowfaU getting heavier, it soon became apparent that he was lost. Although he knew he

was on his land he lad lost all sense of direction He conldn't leave the children, so he did the next best thing. He let the horses go on their own, they took them safely home He served on the Township board for many years, was also church trustee for a few years. He moved to Grafton in 1944. He spent most ofhis winters in California and the summers back home in North Dakota He died Dec. 21,1969, at 95, his wife died April 9,1973, at 94 They were married 77 years as of October 12, 1969. Submitted by Wilfred and Clara Demers.

Family of Daniel Demers. Top row, left to right: Edmond, Wilfred, Simeon, Edward, Albert, Ovila, Frederick, Dan, Victor. Bottom row: Mrs. Daniel (Albina) Demers, Emma, Arbella, Clara, Alveria, Ansore, Mr. Daniel Demers.

east of the village of Oakwood. He built a house of logs and finished it with lumber, he also built other buildings for the farm animals. For field work he used oxen for a few years then bought mules until he substituted horses for them. . ,• In 1885 he went back to Canada to visit his mother and sister and brought them back to the states. His sister stayed with him until she married. In 1890 he married Marie Anne Lucie Marreau who had come from Lylet, Canada to keep house for her brother, Joseph Marreau. In the fall of 1902 he had an accident which left him unable to farm. He sold the homestead and bought 20 acres next to the Sacred Heart Church of Oakwood, on which there was a house and other buildings. He moved with his wife and seven children, of whom five were of school age. Another child was born there in 1903. He resided there until his death. The names of his children are Emilius, Marie, Marie Anne, Josephat, Elzire, Elzeor, Philippe, and Maria Victoria. '„ . . . Emilius joined the Order of the Missionaries of Mary an educational institution at Coutier, Manitoba. He died there while studying for the priesthood and was brought home by his father and brother, Josephat. i U

LOUISA FRENCH Louisa French was born in Canada in 1854 and there scent her early life. She came to Walsh County in 1881 and first stopped and later settled in Oakwood Township^ a e esided on the original homestead 40 years and Homer French is now the owner. She was united in marriage in Canada to Charles French. EMILE GARANT

Family of Emile Garant. Standing, leftto right: Josephat, Marie Marie Anne, Emilius (became a priest), Elzire, Elzear. Seated, Father, Emile Garant, Maria Victoria, Philippe, Mrs. Emile 3arant.

Left to right: Sister St. Emile Joseph, F.S.M. (Marie Ann Garant), Sister St. Philippe, F.S.M. (Marie Garant), Sister St. Elzear, F.S.M. (Elzire Garant).

Emile Garant was bom at St Simon, Caruda to 18<W his parents were Pierre Garant and Olympe S „ S both of St. Simon, Canada. His brother, ArchiuHnd another companion traveled from Canada in a wagon drawn by oxen and arrived in Walsh County in

Marie became sister St. Philippe and died in France m

^ a r i e Anne became Sister St. Emile Joseph and died in France in 1915. • A „A Elzire became Sister St. Elzeor and is retired and resides in Spring Valley, 111.

1 8 8 0

He worked for the early settlers for a couple of years until he filed a homestead one mile south and one mile 230

The family picture was taken just before the eldest left for the seminary. Maria (Vicki) is the last living member of the family. Mr. Garant died in 1922 and Mrs. Garant died in 1944. They are buried at the Oakwood Cemetery. Submitted by Marie V. Garant. HANS T. GORDER Hans T. Gorder was born Feb. 1, 1857, at Gaardermoen, Oslo, Norway. In 1870, at 13, along with his family, he immigrated to America. His family was his mother, father, four sisters, and a brother, Ole T. They landed in New York after a three-week ocean voyage on the Atlantic. The family settled in Ottertail County, Minn., near Fergus Falls, where his father began farming. As a young man he was deputy sheriff in Moorhead, Minn. There he found that many of the prisoners were in jail for something the had done while drunk or drinking. His brother, Ole T. Gorder, had taken a claim in 1878 in what is now Oakwood Township. This farm was located northeast of Grafton. The lure of free land in the fertile Red River Valley caused him to look for land there also. In the summer of 1880, Hans took the train to the end of the line which was then Grand Forks. From there he walked, accompanied by Onnan Bertelson, who later would become his brother-in-law. When they arrived at his brother's farm, they found that all the land along the river was taken. Hans then staked a claim three miles southeast of Grafton on prairie. He built a little sod shack as soon as possible and later, trees were planted. The farm was broken from the virgin sod. In 1883, he married Ose Bertelson, bom and reared in Ossian, Iowa. Her father was a Civil War veteran. He brought his bride to Grafton on the train. One three-day blizzard swooped down on the farmstead with such fury that they could not reach their barn. Several times sudden blizzards would come up when Gorder was hauling grain. It is difficult for the present generation to realize how hard the winters were as today every farmstead is protected by a large grove of trees and they Uve in weU built homes. During these difficult, early years, many settlers gave up their claims. Mr. Gorder purchased his neighbors' farms to the north and east of his homestead. It took perseverance and a deep faith in the future to continue working the newly broken ground. One year when the crop was ready for harvest and looked promising, sparks from the train engine ignited and a large part of his crop and also some of his neighbors' crops were destroyed. There was a lawsuit and the farmers were awarded damages. This took several years. Mr. Gorder spent 50 years farming his land. He also did custom threshing in later years. During these years he and his hard-working wife expanded their farming operation from 160 acres to 800 acres. They built a fine set of buUdings most of which are still in excellent repair. Mr. and Mrs. Gorder had five children: Dora, Henry R, Benjamin, WUliam H. and Bert. They were also active in school and community affairs. Mrs. Gorder died in 1916. Hans rented his farm to his son and retired in 1930. He spent his last years in

Silverton, Ore. He came back for several visits to the old homestead. He lived to see a big change in farming. When he came home, he found the big bam housed fewer livestock. It used to house twenty-four horses and 30-40 cattle. Instead, he found the yard fuU of tractors and other farm equipment. His homestead is now owned by a son, William H. Gorder. A grandson, WilUam E. Gorder, assisted by his children, now operate the farm. Five generations of Gorders have been on the farm — Thor, Hans' father; Hans; his children; grand children; and great-grandchildren. Much pride is taken in keeping the old homestead looking neat. He has 11 descendants in the Grafton area. Mr. Gorder's long and useful Ufe ended April, 1946, and his body came once again to rest in the soil he loved. He dearly loved the Lord and was always ready to speak of God's saving grace. His faith in God and in the future of the Red River VaUey has been and stUl is an inspiration to those who follow him.

Family of Hans T. Gorder. Seated: Hans Gorder, Dora, Osa [Mrs. Hans Gorder — maiden name Bertelson]. Standing: Henry, Bill, Ben, Bert. GUSTAV O. GORDER

Gustov O. Gorder was born on his father's homestead farm in Oakwood Township May 18, 1881, resided there for 25 years. For many years he has been a resident of Grafton. At Stephen, Minn., Nov. 7, 1907, he was united in marriage to Marie E. Johnson. For six years he was an alderman in the first ward. He was president of the Grafton Fire Department and was chief for two years. OLE TORESEN GORDER

Ole T. Gorder family. Front row: Minnie (Mrs. Harold Markholt), Mrs. Gorder, Henry O., Mr. Gorder. Back row: Christ, Annie (Mrs. J. P. Anderson), Delia (Mrs. Palmer), Hans, Gustav.

Ole T. Gorder was the first man to file on a homestead in Walsh County. He was bom in Gaardermoen, near Oslo, Norway, in 1841. At 26 he immigrated to the United States. He came first to Minneapolis and from there went to Fargo. There he worked on the railroad. He was employed on the construction of the Northern Pacific bridge across the Red River. This was the first structure to span this river. He continued to work for the railroad for some time and became an engineer in the roundhouse in Moorhead. In 1870 he married Mathea Sundby. After this he decided to go farming. They settled on a farm along the Goose River south of Fargo. But this venture was soon over, for the grasshoppers swooped down upon the country with such fury that not a green spear was left and even some of the bark was eaten off the trees. He went back to Fargo to work but not for long, for he heard of the prairies north of Grand Forks being opened for settlement and he was ready to try farming again. In the spring of 1878 he arrived in Oakwood Township and staked out a claim. He took the train to Grand Forks but walked from there on. He then returned to Fargo to make his filing at the land office there. Upon his arrival he found the plat maps of the county had not yet been completed. It was necessary for him to wait for many hours until the draftsmen had completed their work. When the maps were completed he filed on the first homestead claim in Walsh County. He returned to his claim, was thankful for the plentiful timber along the Park River which could be used to build houses and bams. The neighboring settlers all got together and in a short time had livable buildings constructed for their families. The Gorder home was built on the banks of the river. Again Mr. Gorder went back to Fargo. Now he gathered together as many of his belongings as he could get into his ox cart and started out for his claim - walking all the way, for his oxen had a full load without him. A short time later, his wife and two small children came by way of steamboat. Mrs. Gorder was pleased that her highly prized dishes had survived the boat trip.

Henry Gorder—1912

Mr. and Mrs. Gorder had seven children: Hans, Christ, Delia, Annie, Gust, Minnie and Henry. The family was active in community affairs. Besides farming, Christ, Gust and Henry owned and operated big threshing outfits. Henry was treasurer of Oakwood Township for many years and both Henry and Gust served on the Grafton city council for several terms. Mr. and Mrs. Gorder were thankful to the Lord for the privilege of having a home and rearing a family in the Red River Valley. She died in 1918, he died in 1928. There are 17 descendants in the Grafton area. THE GOURDES Joseph Gourde, Sr., and his wife, Philomene Pageotte, left St. Elzear, Beauce Count, province of Quebec, Canada, which is located a short distance north of the state of Maine in the east. How they traveled I don't know, but Grandpa always told us that he put on his skates in Canada in November of 1888 and skated all the way until he arrived here the next July. They were accompanied by their nine children: Delvina, Dezilda, Elmire, Leontine, Eugenie, Joseph, Jr Domicile, Alphonse and Arthur, the baby. Eugene Rheaume and Joseph Bernard, their sons-in-law who were married to the two oldest daughters, traveled with them and each couple had a small child. A little girl was born here later, she died in childhood. Joseph Gourde, Sr., came from Grand Forks to Walsh County after their arrival in North Dakota in the fall of 1888. He bought 80 acres of land from the original quarter from Alfred Boutin, whose father Urbain had filed a claim from the United States in 1882 for which he had paid $186. Urbain Boutin came to Dakota Territory in 1879. He got the E'/zSE'A of Section 10, Tp. 157, Range 52 on which a log house had been built on the south bank of the Park River near the timber line, which would be near water supply and trees for their needs, and rich farm land. This land was located Vk miles west of the Park River settlement, which later became the Park River Mission and sometime later turned to be called Oakwood because of the many oak trees growing in that vicinity. In July 11, 1880, Rev. Fr. Bonin came from St. Joe (Leroy) to visit the Park River settlement and said the first Mass here in the Boutin house that is there yet on the Jeanette Gourde farm. In December, 1888, the Gourdes moved into that log house and began their many years of farming in a new country. Plowing the fields with a walking plow with one mold board, raising some wheat, oats, barley, a patch of Indian corn, and a small plot of potatoes for their own use. For a few years they would borrow money in the spring from Mr. Leistikow, or John Cashel and pay it back in the fall, until they managed to stand on their own feet. These French Canadians had very crude furnishings, some of which were made from the wood of trees that grew on each side ofthe river on their land. The oak trees furnished strong timber from which they made yokes for oxen, neck yokes, eveners and parts for their wagons and other machineries. Every settler obtained a cow and a couple of pigs as soon as possible for milk and meat. They raised their own vegetables from seeds they had brought from Canada, flour was sometimes ground at home with a grinder or the men walked to Grand Forks for flour and salt, but later it could be obtained at Acton

which was carried by boats on the Red River. Salt was a necessity in those days to preserve their food. The Boutins and the Gourdes were fortunate to be near the river for water supply from there for the animals. Besides, there was a spring of fresh water on the Bessette farm, not far northwest, on the edge of the Park River from which clean drinking water was available when the rain water collected from the roofs in wooden barrels ran out. Later these barrels were replaced by zinc tanks on a platform with a faucet at the bottom so a pail could easily be placed under it to get water. They were always on the north side of the house when possible to keep it cool. That was some improvement, believe me. In winter time, each home had a wooden barrel near the kitchen stove for water. It was filled ice that was hauled from the Red River, or with snow each day. The men were kept busy all winter when the weather permitted, sawing ice in blocks and hauling them home. Neighbors got together for these tasks. Fuel was another all winter problem. Those who lived by the woods were very fortunate as they cut down their own trees, sawed the logs into blocks with a crosscut saw, or used a sawhorse with a bucksaw when one man worked alone. These 1 k foot blocks were used in the pot bellied stoves and some were chopped with an ax into smaller pieces for the cook stoves. Everyone had a large woodbox by the stove for this and the larger round blocks were piled behind the heater as it took quite a number each day to keep these homes warm. It was the job of the kids, when they returned from school, when there was school, to bring in snow, ice and wood so there wasn't much time for nonsense. Then there were some chores in the barn to tend to. These early barns were made of poles covered with straw. But the kids still had fun hiding in the dark and scaring each other, as chores were done by the light of a kerosene lantern in winter. There was a small bridge built across the river for the cows to graze on the other side. One day, a boy put an old rocker on that bridge in the dark and placed a dummy on it. The wind made it rock and no-way would anybody get the cow that night as too many ghost stones were told in those days. One of the family had gone to visit someone across the river and on his return thought it was someone disguised to scare him, so he took a good speed across the bridge, knocking the dummy off his rocker, and never looked behind until the next day. They Uved at the top of the river bank and in winter the children spent many hours sliding down the hUl and building snow forts. Sometimes the snow storms were so bad that you coul 1 not see the barn from the house as the banks in between were higher and the snow and wind kept on for three days in a row. A rope was sometimes tied to the corner of the house and held on to for fear of getting lost as you couldn't see a foot ahead of you. In the winter of 1888, there were days when the temperature was 40 degrees below zero. Sometimes the cattle were not fed nor watered for a couple of days, and had to chew on the straw that lined the dirt floors. Whenever an animal got sick, linseed oil was often poured down their throats from a bottle. Other times when they got bloated from eating too much or from feed that they were not accustomed to, the farmer knew just where to make a narrow slit between the ribs at a certain spot for the gas to escape and save his animal. The cattle x

had nice green pasture in the woods that followed along the river in the summer. Later on, horses came into the picture and were fed hay, oats, and corn in wintertime. Although during the dry years straw was also used. 1 remember my dad telling how all the children slepi upstairs, covered with five or six crazy quilts that grandmother had made from woolen pieces. The mattresses were filled with corn husks or straw. Some pillows were made from the down of cattails. Every faU the cracks between the logs had to be patched up with clay; but in spite of it, snow still blew in during a storm and in the morning they'd grab their clothes and run downstairs, leaving footprints in the snow. The women were busy in those days as most of their clothes were homemade except shoes and men's clothes. Overalls were bought but seldom washed as that was too hard on them, used too much water and scrubbing them on a washboard was a difficult job. Often times, clothes that were too soiled were placed in a boUer of hot water on the kitchen range, homemade soap and lye added, and boiled to make them clean. The children went barefoot all summer as no one could afford shoes, or at least only a few could. These pioneers had a lot of sewing to do for their children, besides making crazy quilts, baking and cooking, filling the kerosene lamps, and washing the blackened lamp chimneys. They saved all the suet or tallow whenever they butchered a steer. The old lard that would get rancid was used to make soap during the summer when it could be done outside in a large iron kettle. Sometimes a few of the neighbors would ask to come over and make a batch, too, as few had those big iron kettles. Dishwater was saved along with potato peelings and scraps to fatten the pigs. In the faU acorns that fell from the oak trees were eaten by pigs. In late faU, when the pigs were ready to butcher and the weather was cold enough to freeze the meat, it was time to use that large iron kettle again to boil water for scalding the pigs. Another boiler full was brought to a boil on the kitchen stove as this would not be enough. The neighbors always exchanged times and helped each other for these tasks. One was the experienced stabber, and others got a wooden barrel filled with the boihng water. The pig would be dipped back and forth untU it was just right to be scraped. Then it would be pulled out onto a platform or boards and everyone got busy scraping before it cooled off. Then it was turned on its back and slashed from the hind legs to the fore legs. The Uver and heart were taken out first so they could cool them off quickly and have a meal of fresh meat by the time the men were done. When the stabbing was done the blood was collected in a kettle, salt added to it, then stirred so it would not curdle. This was to be used for making blood sausage. The intestines were placed in a dish pan where the women removed whatever fat was on them to make lard. Then the casings were scraped and cleaned very carefully and used for fiUing with blood sausage or pork sausage. Afterwards, the pig was washed inside and out and hung up by the hind legs on a three-pole scaffold and left part of the day to stretch and partly freeze, carried inside on the table to be cut, carried back outside as soon as possible to spread it out on elevated boards or on roofs until frozen hard enough to be placed in barrels for winter storage outside. Some of the roasts were kept for making the famous meat pies the French always made for Christmas Day. These would also be wrapped and

placed in the barrels to be kept frozen until needed. These barrels had to be carefully covered to keep the meat from airing out and big stones placed on top so dogs would keep away. Throughout the winter they had this meat but when warm days came in the spring, salting had to be done. A brine was made of water, molasses or brown sugar and enough salt to float an egg. Hams and bacon pieces were packed in barrels or crocks and covered with brine for six weeks and then smoked for a few days. This was planned to be ready for Easter Sunday. The rest would be hung in a dry place and the larger hams would be placed in the wheat bin and covered, as it kept fine there. The pig's head was made into head cheese a few days after the butchering, placed in the barrel to freeze and used when needed. Lard had to be rendered too and the cracklings used to make some "gorton" as the French called it. It was mixed with meat and used as a spread. The pig's feet were used to make a ragout. Not a thing was wasted, as the tails and ears were placed in the oven and kids enjoyed chewing on them when they were nice and crisp. So there was very little waste for the dog. Later on, people learned to can meat in sealers or fry the side pork, place in jars and cover with the melted lard. When the lard hardened this could keep for weeks and was very handy for men's lunches when they had to take dinners out. Molasses and syrup must have been cheap in those days as it was used often on bread for children's lunches. Molasses cake made with buttermilk was delicious, and seems like every winter apples were bought by the box and placed under the folks' bed if there wasn't a cellar, and shared only when company came. Oranges were celebrating on that day among the French-Canadians than on Christmas. There was an old custom from France where Christmas was especially a church day and everyone attended Midnight Mass when it was possible. This we all looked forward to, but it came only in later years. All the singing was done in Latin and French hymns that everyone enjoyed. You would drive a mile and a half with horses hitched to a bob sled and pick up some of the neighbors on the way and hear others going by the sound of the sleigh bells. When you returned home at about twothirty, lunch was eaten. Presents, as was the French custom, were given only on New Year's Day and all the relatives came to wish " A Happy New Year to All," after which supper was served, including some of that blood sausage and meat pies that were made in the late fall. The evening would be spent playing games, cards and some dancing. Usually some of the furniture had to be taken outside, including the heater, when the dancing started because the space was small and the people furnished enough heat. Some old time fiddler was the entertainer. In the summer flies were bad and as there were no screens on doors or windows, it was a nuisance. The houses were hot. Doors could not be kept closed when the cook stove, burning wood, was used most of the day. The women and children used dish towels to wave back and forth to chase the flies out before each meal and every now and then. The potato bugs were another problem because if they were not picked, they ate the vines and spoiled the crop. So the children's job was to see that the bugs were collected when the time came. The boys and girls would walk down the rows each carrying a can and

a stick which was used to knock them down into the can. This was done in the larva stage before they grew wings, so they wouldn't fly out. Kerosene was poured on to kill them. Another job was hoeing weeds by hand in the potato and corn fields. Mustard was a bad weed in the early days and was pulled by hand. The children would line up in the fields about ten feet apart when the plant was in bloom, so it could be easily spotted and pulled out. Everyone had to carry his bundle home or to the river so no seed would spread. A few weeks later when more of these wild plants bloomed, they had to repeat the task. In 1908 Arthur Gourde, their youngest son, acquired this land from his parents and spent four years there with them, after which Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gourde, Sr., moved to Grafton. After a few years they moved to the village of Oakwood to be with their relatives and friends in their old age. His wife, Philomene, died of a heart attack in 1913, and was buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at 67. Her husband died in 1920 and was buried at her side at 79. Delvina Gourde and her husband, Eugene Rheaume, were married in St. Elzear, Canada, and arrived here with one child in 1888. They acquired land a short distance across the road from her folks. They had a family of 18 children, three of their daughters joined the order of the Sisters of St. Mary of the Presentation in Oakwood. They were Amanda, who became Sr. Eugene Marie, now teaching CCD classes at Lisbon; Eva, who became Sr. Bernice (deceased); and Josephine, who took the name of Sr. Delvina of Rolla. There is only a grandson left here, Andrew, who lives in Grafton. Mrs. Louise Rheaume, his mother, is at Sunset Home. Olga, wife of Richard, (deceased) lived in Grafton, too. Ray Campbell has their farm now.

Family of Joseph Gourde. Left to right: Albert, Marie, Victor, Alfred, Joseph Gourde, Louis, Jeffrey, Alphonsina (Mrs. Gourde). Agnes was not born. Dezilda Gourde married Joseph Bernard, Sr., in St. Elzear, Canada, and came here with her folks in 1888. They had a small child, Joseph, Jr. They settled in Grafton where Mr. Bernard went to work at the Grafton Roller Mill as that was the kind of work he did in Canada. Eugenie Gourde came to North Dakota with her parents in 1888 when she was eight years old. She later married WilUam Durand who came from MinneapoUs, Minn., in 1896. That was the winter when there was a very heavy snowfall in the Red River VaUey and the temperature dipped to 40 degrees below zero. Then in the spring of 1897 there was a big flood when the trains did not run for a whole week. Many wild animals drowned, including many deer. The farm animals stood on a few of the high spots but some were lost too. A lake 30 mUes

wide and 150 miles long remained for sometime in the Red River Valley. The few farmers who made boats traveled to Grafton for groceries for all the neighbors for miles around. They rowed with their boats right across the fields, as the water was deep enough. The old Joseph Campbell house that was located by the road, which is now Highway 17, was the only home on dry land. For a long time afterward, they were called the Campbells on the hill. Now return to the Durands. They raised a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. They purchased the Sam Comb farm northwest of Oakwood where Dolans now live. The daughter, Amanda, (Mrs. Albert Demers) and a son, Wilfred, live in Grafton. There are many of their grandchildren living in this vicinity. Mrs. Durand died of a heart attack in 1934 while on her way with her son, Jos, to the Rheaumes where she had been called because Mrs. Rheaume had just passed away of the same ailment. Arthur Gourde, the youngest son of Joseph, Sr., acquired this 80 acres of land from his folks in 1908, and they lived there with him for four more years. He married Roseann Parent and his brother, Domicile, married Irene French and the two couples left for Montana where they filed claims and named the first town Flaxville. After a few years they returned to Oakwood. Arthur Gourde then bought a restaurant, named "Hungry Man's Place," in Grafton, in partnership with Jack "Bob" Burns, who was Mrs. Ben Molde's dad. They had a family of five children when they left Grafton to live at Longview, Wash. The Domicile Gourde's bought a quarter of land about two miles east of Oakwood and they had six sons and three daughters. Two are still residing here, Mrs. Amanda Lessard, Oakwood village, and Theresa, Mrs. Dan Demers, who lives on the farm about three miles north of Oakwood. A son, Rev. Fr. Leo OSB, is librarian at the Niagara University Library, in New York City. Another son, Albert, is a member of the Secret Service, Washington, D. C. Joseph Gourde, Jr., my father, was 13 years old when he came to North Dakota with his folks in 1888. He married Alphonsina CampbeU in 1901, and they lived with his folks for a couple of years, then moved to Martin Twp. VA mUes NE of Cashel. In 1905, three smaU children died within a period of six weeks of diarrhea and whooping cough. Dr. Countryman made many trips with horse and buggy to Cashel and many house calls in those days. " In 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gourde, Jr., with their four sons and one daughter, Victor, Louie, Marie, Alfred, and Albert left Cashel and bought the home place from his brother, Arthur, who left for Montana. We never forgot the day that we moved from Cashel back to Dad's original home on the banks of the Park River, that his dad had bought in 1888. The furniture was all piled on hayracks and moved with teams of horses whUe the machinery was tied behind. The famUy of mother and the children rode in number one style, Lorenzo Lamarre took the Durand family to Uve on the farm by Cashel and brought us back to Oakwood Township. What a trip that was for both famUies as it was the first automobile ride for all of us. I was only five at the time and there were only three cars in Martin and Oakwood Township, as far as we knew. One belonged to

Cyprien French, one to Ovide CoUette and the Lamarres, and if I am not mistaken it was a Maxwell and had the top down as it was a beautiful day.

Left to right: Edmond Pilot (hired man), Joseph Gourde, Sr., Albert, Alfred, Joseph Gourde, Jr., Victor Gourde, Louis, Marie and Mrs. Joseph Gourde, Jr. with Jeffrey in her arms. Lady in the car is Mrs. Arthur Gourde. Building at the right is first log house covered with clapboard, used as a granary. Another highUght of my Cashel memories was the party mother made for us and the neighbor kids who were our cousins. In those days we had a lot of meals with salt pork and pea soup for which the French-Canadians were well known. Once in a great while we'd have chicken, that was really a treat as they were scarce and had to be saved for egg laying. But mother got a bright idea and took us aU to the chicken coop as it was always full of sparrows who came in to eat wheat with the chickens. She closed the door and we caught all the birds that were inside. They ate the same feed as those good hens, she said, so why wouldn't they be good to eat? We repeated this a few times until we had quite a bunch. Then they were scalded, drawn, washed and placed in a large pan in the oven to be roasted. With fresh homemade bread, butter, her special molasses cake, we had a picnic fit for a king. Even the queen would have enjoyed it. So did the neighbor kids. Dad and my uncle had a threshing machine together as early as 1910. The engine was an old oil puU. There were times when help would be needed by a neighbor and a white dish towel would be hung on the corner of the house and either a neighbor came quickly, or maybe a passerby, but that was few and far between at that time. Another interesting visitor was the old time peddler who came about once a year. We were always happy to see his nice colored goods as kids never went to town and he always stayed at our house overnight, which he paid for with merchandise, and gave us news. Joseph, Jr., was an active member of the Sacred Heart Church of Oakwood and was treasurer of the township for many years. He had reached the third grade in the French School of Canada, but when he arrived in the United States he went to night school to master the English language, but he insisted that French would be spoken in the home whenever there were no EngUsh people around and not one of his kids knew an EngUsh word when we entered school at the age of seven or eight. Almost all of the grandchildren of Joseph Gourde, Sr., attended school at the CathoUc Academy in Oakwood at one time or another. Many graduated from high school there, as did some of the great-grandchildren.

In October, 1915, a son, Jeffrey, was born to Mr. and Mrs Joseph Gourde, Jr., in the four room frame house that had then been built on the eighty that they purchased by Arthur Gourde. The following year, the spring of 1916, Joseph Gourde, Jr., rented the farm east of him from his cousin Joseph Pageotte, where the family moved into an eight room house that had a cistern in the cellar with a pump in the kitchen and a sink, even a telephone with about 12 neighbors on the same line. There was an artesian well by the barn for the cattle, horses and pigs, that kept on flowing in atrough,then drained down to the river where a fresh hole was kept open all winter. There, about a foot long fish could be caught all winter. The river was wider there and made a nice skating rink in winter, on which the boys skated all the way to Oakwood, sometimes on their way to and from school to check on their traps for minks, muskrats, and weasels. Sometimes a skunk got caught. . One morning the oldest son, Victor, got a skunk in a trap and got rid of it on his way to school, but wow! The smell on his overshoes! One of the nuns got a whiff of it and thought she would find out who it was when they assembled in each classroom. But when he removed his rubbers and left them outside, she couldn't find the guilty one. There, the last member of this family was born in April of 1926, the first to be bom in the hospital in our family and during a dust storm. April 11, the Oakwood store which was operated by Turgeon burned. This was the building that was once a church in Oakwood before building the other. The farmers were out in the fields then but no one could see the fire on account of the black dirt blowing almost every day. The telephone spread the news fast. The years between 1929 and 1933 were dry and dusty. Joseph Gourde, Jr., was appointed to mark the cattle that were very thin and run down to be slaughtered and buried, while the farmers received a small pay for them. Much of the grain shriveled and dried up and there was no feed for the cattle. Some farmers were foreclosed and some banks closed and money was lost and many things like food, gas and tires were rationed. Joseph Gourde, Jr., died in 1935 unexpectedly and was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery at Oakwood. Alphonse Gourde also came here in 1888, married Aurore Laroche and they raised a family of seven. They Uved 1 miles NE of cashel. He was seriously injured in a farm accident in 1912 and died. His widow, with her six remaining children, moved to Oakwood, none of which Uve here anymore. The original log house is now covered with clapboard and still stands or the farm of Mrs. Victor Gourde. It had been used for a granary for years. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gourde, Jr., had 11 children, the three oldest, as was mentioned before, died in Martin Township in childhood. The next six, Victor, Louie, Marie, Alfred, Andre, and Albert, were also born in Martin Township on the farm near Cashel. Andre died of measles when he was about six months old. Victor and Louie attended the Cashel school for two years before we moved to Oakwood. Chores had to be done and each had to do his part. Uncle Alphonse lived just across the road from us and had as many kids of our age, so we got together every day and my mother always had a little something planned for us. She knew a lot of fairy tales which she told us in the evenings, especially in the long

winters which were mostly spent at our house. Often times she would sew crazy quilts which us kids would embroider with zigzag rows of colored thread on every seam. Even the boys did this and liked it. Other times she braided rag rugs and we'd practice making Utile ones of our own. Two of the neighbor's children were older than us and once in a great while would babysit for us if the folks went out. Then we'd play games like hide the button or blind man's bluff. That was a rough game to play in the house so mother always left the wall kerosene lamp on when she left to make sure no one would run into it when she was away. Sometimes it was dad's turn to read to us and he had a book of Bible stories which he read while we sat around in a circle and listened and enjoyed, learning our reUgion at the same time. He loved to read and read all the books of Tarzan and many westerns that he would tell us about later. He had another book that was A thousand and One Nights' which contained one thousand stories which were very interesting. Our home was a two story house with a kitchen and the folk's bedroom downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs. We had a hired man until the boys grew big enough to help milk cows and do chores. He spent the winter with us just for his board and room. We had a red bam enclosed within the pasture, so we always had to go through a wooden gate to go play by the pond near the bam to water cattle. There we caught frogs for which we built mud castles and swimming pools for the water bugs We had a few horses and a couple cows and calves in the pasture which were usually at the other end where the grass was better, but an old mare named "Fly would come running towards us with her ears down ready to bite whenever she came for a drink. So we had to be on guard and be ready to climb over that gate in a hurry. Another game we Uke in the summer time was hide and go seek, outside in the dark, with the neighbors or visitors. We Uved right by the road with a ditch on both sides and the kids across the road had a pet sheep who followed us everywhere, but when he got tired he would come straight at us with his head down to ram into us. Mother told us to kneel down whenever we saw him coming, so we did and it worked. I don't know if it was because he thought we were praying or we didn't run away scared. Often, we could see his shiny eyes in the dark and that sure looked spooky. Then when we'd come indoors we each got an apple when there was company and we had to be quiet and listen to the grown-ups' stories, or watch their games of checkers or cards. After we moved to the Fageotte farm 1 k miles west of Oakwood, we attended school at St. Aloysius Academy. At one time there were six of us in schopl, driving with a horse and buggy morning and after four. There was a barn on the school grounds which made it convenient. By the time that Agnes, the youngest, started school, most of the older ones were through and she went along with some of the neighbors. She accompanied Jeffrey, the youngest of the boys, for a few years, and when he graduated from high school, she was still quite young. There are only four of us, Albert and Jeffrey in Oakwood Township with their families. Marie and Agnes in Grafton with their husbands, their chUdren are either married or living away. 236

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land VA miles east of Grafton, then later moved that house to Grafton on McHugh Ave., where Arbella continued to live after her husband died. Submitted by Mrs. Frank Byzewski. HISTORY OF HERRIOTT ELEVATOR

Threshing outfit, owned by Joe and Alphonse Gourde around 1910. The engine was a Flower City. Mrs. Joseph Gourde, Jr., died in October, 1965, at 82. She was buried beside her husband in Sacred Heart Cemetery at Oakwood. Alphonse Sabourin took a homestead 1 miles south of Cashel. His wife, Bridget, came from Ireland and they had nine children. Some of them were James, Annie, Joseph, Bridget, Christiane, and Flora. They came here in 1880 and three of their daughters were confirmed in the first confirmation class of the Park River Mission (now Sacred Heart Church of Oakwood), in 1884, by the Rt. Rev. M. Marty. They were Christiane, Flora and Bridget. Edward Lafreniere came from St. Pauline, P. Q., Canada in 1897. He married Bridget Sabourin and reared a family of nine children. Bridget was the daughter of the Alphonse Sabourins and was eight years old when she came to the United States and on to North Dakota, coming all the way from Ireland. They went to live at Leroy, then to Sault St. Marie, Mich. Later, they came to Oakwood and bought a farm about five or six miles northeast of Oakwood. They had seven children. Their son, Albert, was one of the first pupils of St. Aloysius Academy, which opened its doors for classes September, 1906. After going through the eighth grade he attended Carrier Seminary, Canada, and was ordained a priest in 1918 (now deceased). A daughter, Virginia, became a nun, Sr. Marie Edward, in 1911 and is now retired at Spring Valley, 111. Their youngest daughter Jeanette, married Joseph Gourde, Jr.,'s son, Victor, and she now is a widow and lives in Grafton. Eustache French and his wife, Lalonde, came to North Dakota in the late 1800's, in 1882, with their four sons, Cyprien, who was seven years old then, Joseph, Andrew, and Alcide. They settled on a farm north of Cashel in Martin Township. Alfred Parent came to this Oakwood community in 1800. He had first stopped at Fort Abercrombie where his first wife died and his daughter, Ida Parent, then 1% years old, was taken care of by Ovide Collett's parents which I think were Mr. and Mrs. Edouard LaBerge. She lived with them for two years until her father remarried and took her back to his home. She married Cyprien French and farmed near Cashel in Martin Township. They had two sons, Ernest and Joseph, and three girls, Ernestine, Eva, and Arbella. After Cyprien was left alone with his youngest daughter, Arbella, the two moved to Oakwood where Mr. French died and was buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Arbella married Louis Gourde, son of Joseph Gourde, Jr. They continued to live in her dad's house in the village and operated a grocery store and tavern for several years. After they sold their business place, they bought

Soon after the railroad came, elevators began to spring up along the tracks. Such was the case with Herriott, four miles south of Grafton. The first elevator was built in 1886 by the Minneapolis and Northern Elevator Company. In 1896 the elevator burned. A number of hoboes had been seen around the elevator and it was felt they had something to do with it. After the elevator was reduced to rubble on the North Dakota prairie, a grain buyer named William Herriott came along. He built a new, smaller elevator on the spot. That's how the site-still marked by a weatherbeaten wooden sign along the railroad tracks-came to be known as Herriott. But the grain buyer moved on in 1915 when he sold out to the National Elevator Company. The elevator was operated for over 40 years by William H. Gorder for the Peavey Co. After Mr. Gorder's retirement in 1963, the elevator was purchased by him and his son, William E. Gorder. For 89 years "golden grain" from surrounding farms has been hauled to this grain loading point. The first grain was hauled by wagons and sleds pulled by horses. Now trucks bring the grain into the elevator. This elevator has seen wheat sell as little as 35 cents in the Great Depression and as high as $5.40 in 1974.

Herriott Elevator about 1924. Pictured are: Anton Grabinski, Henry Gorder, Wm. H. Gorder, mgr., Mike Grembowski. THE L A B E R G E F A M I L Y

Edouard LaBerge married Josephte Suprenant at St. Martin, Quebec, which is approximately 25 miles south of Montreal. There are many descendants of the LaBerge family remaining in that area today. Mr. and Mrs. LaBerge and family homesteaded in Oakwood Township in 1879. Their son, Joseph, was 18 at the time. Edouard was one of the first three advisors or trustees of the newly organized Mission of Oakwood and was instrumental in completing the building of the first church in June 1881. The other two trustees were Stanislas LaRoche and Joseph Brunelle, Jr. Edouard was re-elected to the trusteeship in 1888 until 1894. They had seven children: Arthur, Dosithee, Jean Baptiste, Joseph, Eudoxie (Mrs. Alfred Sevigny), Eveline (Mrs. Stanislas LaRoche), and Olivine (Mrs. Ovide Collette). Edouard LaBerge died in 1900.

H. Arthur LaBerge married Amanda Car tier. They farmed 2Vfe miles southwest of Oakwood on SEV4 22 on the farm now owned by Oswald J. Campbell. They sold their land to his brother, Joseph, and moved to Joliette, N. Dak. in 1899 and after a few years moved to St. Ann, Manitoba. After his death, Mrs. LaBerge moved to the Yakima, Wash., area where she died in 1951. Some of their children were: Joseph, Mrs. Irene Blanchette, Leo, Harvey, Willie, Delphine (remained single), John (remained single), and a religious sister. Dosithee LaBerge married Delima Lessard in 1881 as the first marriage performed in a small chapel of the Sacred Heart Parish just a few months before the erection ofthe first church. They farmed % mile south of Oakwood on the SEy NEy 14 which is now owned by Edmond E. DeMars. They acquired this land in 1886 upon which was a log cabin which was completely consumed by fire in the early 1900's. The new home which was built was later moved to the village and is now the Oakwood Tavern owned by Frederick Demers. They also sold their land to his brother, Joseph, in 1907 and moved to East Grand Forks, Minn. They had 14 children: Marie Sedulie was born in 1882 and died in infancy; Alexander was born in 1883 and died in Milwaukee; Aurore (Mrs. Andrew French) was born in 1884 and died at 70 in Grafton; Joseph was born in 1885 and his whereabouts were unknown later in life; Foseanna was born in 1886, remained single, and died at New York at 84; Arthur was born in 1887 and died at Salem, Oregon at 65; Georgina (Mrs. Ed Zejdlik) was born in 1889 and died at East Grand Forks at 34; Albert was 85 in April, 1975 and resides at St. Petersburg, Florida ; Alfred (Fred) died at Grand Forks at 71 in 1963; Edward died at Grand Forks in 1950 at 57; George died in infancy in 1894; Ovide died in Minneapolis in 1964 at 67; Marie (Mrs. Napoleon Emard) died at Red Lake Falls in 1975 at 77; Exila died in infancy in 1900. Jean Baptiste LaBerge married Jane Logan. They farmed y mile south of Oakwood on SWVi 13 which is now owned by Antoinette Campbell. He was one of the two singers for the first Mass celebrated at Oakwood and also served as trustee of the church from 1880 until 1894. When their sons took over the farm they moved to Grafton and operated a livery barn one half block west of Hill Avenue on Fourth Street next to the present Armory site. He moved to Alberta to spend his last remaining years with his son, Albert (Bob). They had 10 children: Mrs. Mary Jane LaToure who died at Minneapolis in 1903 with her first and only daughter, at childbirth; Mrs. Mary Ann (Joseph) Sampson died at Grafton after raising four girls and five boys; Mrs. Amy (Peter) Sampson died at Yakima after raising two boys and seven girls; Mrs. Lily (Alere) Collette lived in Manitoba and raised two girls and nine boys; John remained single and died at Grafton in 1942; Amrnda (Sister Jean Baptiste) joined the Order of the Oblates and died at St. Boniface, Canada, in 1924; Albert remained single and died at Fort McMurray, Ala., in 1961; Albina (Sister Louis of France) joined the Oblates also and is still residing at St. Boniface; Alex remained single and died at Grafton in 1959; Mrs. Rhoda McCann (Aloysius) died at Buffalo, N. Y. Eudoxie LaBerge married Alfred Sevigny in 1880 at Grand Forks. They farmed two miles south of Oakwood. They were the parents of 14 children: Hormidas died in 1960 at 80; Philorum is still living on the home place and 4

will be 93 in 1975; Felix was born in 1884 and died in 1950 at Oakwood; Edward died at Oakwood in 1960 at 75; Uluric died at Oakwood in 1930 at 42; Philomene died at Grafton in 1950 at 60; Ar'mand died at Yakima in 1969 at 77- Leon of Grafton will be 82 in 1975; Simeon died at Grafton in 1963 at 66; Ovide died in California in 1968 at 69; Arthur died at Yakima in 1970 at 70; Frederick died at seven years in a wagon accident; Edmond died at five months; and Mrs. Eugenia (Elzear) Garant of Oakwood will be 68 in 1975. Olivine LaBerge married Ovide Collette. They farmed one mile north of Oakwood until retiring to Grafton. Their residence was on Griggs Avenue and Fifth Street which is the present site of Lykken's, Inc. They had five children: Joseph born in 1887 and died early in life; Sylvio who is still living on the home place and will be 87 in 1975; Arthur died at Oakwood in 1972 at 81; Edmond of San Diego will be 82 in 1975; Alma of Grafton remained single and will be 69 in 1975. Eveline LaBerge married Stanislas LaRoche. They were in the carpentry business until moving to Joliette, N. Dak., in the early 1900's. They moved to Grafton and operated the Central Hotel which was moved from Joliette. This hotel was directly across the street from the present Arena site on Fifth Street. They had seven children: Mrs. Aurore (Alphonse) Gourde; Mrs. Dina (George) Burns; Mrs. Eugenia (Hector) Richie; Ernestine never married and died at Grafton; Oscar was born in 1894 and died at 19; Mrs. Alma (Ernest) LaRose, presently living at Wayzata, Minn.; Homer died at St. Paul in 1970. Joseph LaBerge married Georgeanna Boutilher of Gentilly, Minn. November 15, 1887. Joseph homesteaded on the NEy NEy 14 now owned by Edmond E. DeMars. Joseph was trustee of Sacred Heart Parish from 1911 to 1915. He also retained all the land homesteaded by his father and brothers. Joseph died at Grafton in 1936 at 74. His wife at 87 in 1955. They retired to Grafton in 1920 and resided at Griggs Avenue and Fourth Street now owned by Wilson Bros. They had 12 children. The eldest Antoinette married Stanley (Besou) Sampson in 1906. He died of the flu in 1918 at 34. She was left with four young boys: Victor, Alex, Ovila and Edgar, now all residing in California. She made the living by working as a clerk in Reyleck's Dept. Store until her death in 1927 at 39. The grandparents made a home for the boys until they reached adulthood. Edmond (Polly) married Bertha LaMarre in 1914. He was a star route mail carrier with a residence at Acton and delivering the mail between Forks, Minn, and Grafton and all patrons enroute. He then operated Polly's Bar and Restaurant on Hill Avenue which is still owned and operated by their only daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Milton (Olive) Tweten. Their only son, Laurence (Bud), died as a P-38 fighter pilot during World War II. Edmond died in 1945 at 55. Armand married Pearl Landry in 1914. Asthmatic health conditions required his moving to Arizona but after three years they returned to Minneapolis to become an author of training manuals and school principal. He died in 1964 at 73. They had six children: Mrs. May (Maurice) Ohnstein, Mrs. Annette (Homer) Mattoon, Mrs. Jane (George) Cotter, Mrs. Shirley (Harold) Tollef son, Patricia (remained single), and Armand, Jr. Victor married Mary Sampson in 1919. They farmed the home place until 1943 when they moved to Longview, 4

Wash. He died in 1962 at 68. They had five children: Mrs. Isabel (Lloyd) Napper, Raymond, Ivan, Leo and Francis. Ovila (Bob) married Marie LaMarre in 1921. He served overseas during World War I. Prior to a partnership with his brother, Edmond, he served as Walsh County Sheriff, IRS agent, and Ass't Warden at Bismarck. He died at the home of his only daughter, Mrs. Jacqueline Sciortino at West Richfield, Ohio, in 1969 at 74. Stanley married Lucy Rheaume in 1920. He also served with the AEF during World War I. They farmed at Oakwood until moving to Grafton in the depression years of the 1930's where he was employed at the Grafton State School. Stanley was 79 in May, 1975. Their son, Edward, was killed as a P-51 fighter pilot during World War II. They had ten children: Mrs. Lorraine (Lucian) Loranger, Mrs. Rita (William) Swanson, Edward died in 1943 at 19, Mrs. Genevieve (Louis) Kasprzak, Mrs. Rose May (Lawrence) Chadderton, Earl, Donald Jean, Mrs. Mary Louise (William) Green, Mrs. Arlene (Gene) Silvey, Roy, and James. Amanda married William Campbell in 1919. They farmed midway between Grafton and Oakwood. They had seven children: Paul, Edmond, Annette died in 1929 at four, Mrs. Blanche (John) Osowski, Mrs. Jane (Frank) Osowski, Mrs. Alice (Stanley) Danielski, and Reverend Joseph of the Fargo Diocese. Patrick died in 1905 at seven from diptheria. Beatrice married Oscar Ebert in 1925. They farmed the McDonald property on the south edge of Grafton, thence the LaMarre property four miles east of Grafton before purchasing their farm one mile north of Nash. Beatrice was 74 in November 1974. They had five children: Robert, Mrs. Bonnie (Wallace) Miller, Mrs. Betty (Fred) Stark, Mrs. Annabelle (Gene) Tandeski, and Mrs. Shirley (Donald) Fisher. Daniel married Emelia Lessard in 1924. They were partners in the Reyleck Store. He served on the Grafton School Board. He died in 1967 at 65. They had seven children: Dr. Wallace, Mrs. Georgette (George) LaHaise, Richard, Thomas, Frances, Mrs. Suzanne (Gene) Burns, and Donald. Marie became ill at the age of 16 and is now a resident of St. Ann's Guest Home at Grand Forks. She was 62 in November, 1974. Evelyn never married and is now semi-retired. She is 60 in August, 1975.

Joseph LaBerge Family

STANISLAUS LA ROCHE -OAKWOOD Stanislaus La Roche was born in Canada and spent his early life there. His date of birth was May 13, 1854. He came here to settle on a homestead in Oakwood Township March 29, 1880. He lived there ten years. Feb. 8, 1882, he was united in marriage to Eveline LaBerge. Mr. La Roche is now a resident of Grafton. THE LESSARD FAMILY Etienne Lessard was born in St. Elzear LeBeauce, Quebec, and he was married to Souphrenie Collette in Canada. He came to the United States in 1879, coming through Dayton, Minn, where some of the Collette family had already settled. In 1879 he arrived at Fisher's Landing, Minn, by train. The train ended there at that time. He walked to Grand Forks from there and then continued on to Acton, which was called Kelly's Point at that time. On his walk to Kelly's Point, he stopped at one of the homesteads where the people gave him a meal and he rested. He then walked to the Oakwood community where some more of his in-laws, the Collettes, were settled. He homesteaded a farm about a mile west of Oakwood. His family came about two years later by train up to Pembina. They took the boat to Acton (Kelly's Point). There were seven children born in Canada and came with Mrs. Lessard, and seven more children were born of this marriage in the United States. Two of the children died while they were very young. Their household goods and furniture came with Mrs. Lessard up to Pembina. Etienne went to Pembina to get the furniture and household goods with a team of oxen and a cart. On the way back to Pembina with the goods he stopped during the noon hour to rest and feed the oxen. He sat down by one of the wheels of the cart and fell asleep. A short while later he woke up and noticed that the oxen were gone. He stood on top of his load to see if he could spot them. He noticed them about half a mile away. He ran to catch up to them and turn them around but he was unable to do so. He had to ride, horseback fashion, back to the Oakwood community. The next day he went back to get his load of furniture. George Lessard, born in 1885, the only living member of the family, was the second youngest of the family. He lived all his life in the Oakwood community, and has lived in his home in the village of Oakwood since 1910. George Lessard married Rachel Pilon, daughter of Oliver Pilon and Agnes French Pilon of the Cashel community, in 1922. George and Rachel are the parents of three children: Daniel Lessard, Agnes (Mrs. Harold Kamrowski), and Roman Lessard. All three of their children live in the Grafton area. Daniel Lessard married Alice Sevigny, daughter of Philomon Sevigny and Bernadette Baillargeon, both deceased. They are the parents of seven children: Barbara (Mrs. Timothy Powers), Moorhead, Minn.; Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.; Lon, Mary Beth, Julie, David and Mark, all of Grafton. Daniel Lessard is the President of the Walsh County Bank, Grafton, N. D. Agnes married Harold Kamrowski, son of Bernard and Angeline Mondry Kamrowski, both deceased. Harold is a partner in the Kamrowski-Nygard Funeral Home in Grafton and has been in the funeral business over 30 years. They are the parents of eleven children: JoAnn (Mrs. Gary Altendorf), Grand Forks, N. D.;

Paulette (Mrs. Greg Geise), Duluth, Minn.; Bernard, Denver, Colo.; George, Fargo, N. D.; Robert, Jan, David, Nancy, Susan, Peggy and Jill, all of Grafton. Roman Lessard married Joyce Collette, daughter of Arthur CoUette and Louise Campbell Collette, both deceased. Roman and his family are farmers and Uve on a farm that has been in the Lessard name since 1899. They are parents of four children: Steven, Lee, Laurie and Kathy, all of Grafton. Submitted by Daniel J. Lessard JOHN H. MOE FAMILY

He was one of the first operators of a steam threshing rig which operated in this area for many years. He was also a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. Some of the original stock was obtained through Jim Hill, the railroad ^ " I T a pioneer resident, Mrs. Moe taught Sunday School classes to area children, using the Norwegian language. .. Before the railroad was built through this area, mail was delivered by Red River Cart, a two wheeled vehicle with five foot high wheels drawn by one horse and this operated between Grand Forks and Pembina making a stop at Kelly's Crossing-the first post office-and later called Acton. . . . In the early days, before the railroad, on occasion it became necessary to walk to Grand Forks to get flour which John Moe packed home on his back. John Moe died Dec. 31, 1929, at the age of 69 years. Mrs Moe died March 4, 1955, at the age of 95 years.

John H. Moe Family. Front row, left to right: John Moe, Daniel Andrew, Mrs. Moe. Back row: Martin, Mrs. Ervin'(Christine) Kern, Bernard, Peder, Mrs. Roy (Linda) Miller, Mrs. Lynn (Inga) Miller. John Moe was born near Oslo, Norway, on May 23, 1860 He left Norway in May of 1870 with his father, mother and brothers, Bernard and Hans, and sister, Clara, on a saiUng ship for America. En route, they were blown backwards by adverse winds at one time as much as 300 miles. Some of the children contracted diptheria and many died. John s brother, Bernard, died and was buried at sea. After a voyage of three months, they arrived m Quebec, in August, 1870. They then traveled by boat and freight train to Houston County near Rushford, Minn. Here the family settled for a few years. John's father died, and some time later, his mother married Kittle Pederson. , . It was in the spring of 1879 that John Moe came to Walsh County with his family. After spending some time looking about for land, they settled on a homestead in Oakwood Twp. He came here with his stepfather and mother Mr. and Mrs. Kittle Pederson, a brother, Hans, a sister Clara, and half sister, Sena Pederson. The trip from Minnesota was made by covered wagon, which was drawn by a double yoke of oxen. The first years m Walsh County were lived in a log and sod house. John Moe filed preemption on a quarter of land in Oakwood Twp. and built a log and sod house. He traveled to Devils Lake and there also filed on land but after residing there a short time, returned to Walsh County to make his home. Sept. 20, 1883, John Moe was united in marriage to Ingeborg Wralstad at St. Andrews Trading Post. To this marriage eight children were born: Bernard, Martin, Daniel Peder, Andrew, Linda, Christine and Inga. The two oldest were born in the original sod and log home A few years later, he disposed of this property and bought a farm about two miles south of Grafton.

School District No. 105, 1908, Casper Dahl, teacher. Left to right: Casper Dahl, Lydia Aasand, Peder Moe, Herman Russum, Ida Aasand, Myrtle Jorandby, Bennie Gorder, William Gorder, Art Jorandby, Cyrus Jorandby, Mary Aasand, Palmer Russum, Ada Jorandby, Andrew Moe, Daniel Moe, Alvin Jorandby.

Threshing Crew—John Moe—1914 FREDERICK AND NELLIE SATHER Until 1925, the city of Oslo, Norway, was known by its Danish name, Christiania. Near Christiania, in a smaU village called Sater, Frederick Sather was born in 1848. His father's name was Rasmussen. When Frederick came to America, he, in accordance with a Norwegian custom, took the name of Sather for the vUlage of his birth His brothers, Andrew and Rudolph, took the name of Olafson. There were four boys and one girl in the family. Frederick was a shoemaker; his brothers were tailors. Frederick married NeUie Nelson who was born in Christiania in 1853. She was the oldest daughter of the Nelson family which consisted of three daughters and 240

one son. Her father was a manager of railroads in Norway. While in Norway, Frederick and his wife, Nellie, had four children. Three of the children,died in the Black Plague. In 1878, Frederick and Nellie Sather and their surviving daughter, Ricarda, set sail for America in a sailboat with about one hundred and fifty other immigrants. They landed in New York City. The voyage took five weeks. Nellie Sather's brother and sister came to San Francisco in 1880. In the earthquake of April 18, 1905, they perished and no trace of them has ever been found, nor any trace of their property.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick O. Sather The Sathers left New York in 1878 and went to Grand Forks by train. After arriving there, they boarded a Red River steamboat and followed the river to Acton. They were met by a cousin, Carl Hendrickson, who owned a hardware store in Acton. They lived with a brother who had homesteaded northeast of Grafton on what is now a part of the Riopelle farm. Later they filed a claim on land six miles southeast of Grafton. This land later became the property of Adrian Gerszewski, just south of the Oswald Campbell farm. At that time Grafton had but a few houses and a trading post, most of which were on the north side of the Park River. In 1879, one of the brothers had a shoe shop in a building where Williamson's Milk Station is now located. While the family was living southeast of Grafton, Ricarda walked eight miles to a one-room schoolhouse located north and east of Grafton, then she walked the eight miles back home. Nellie Sather walked six miles from their claim to the present location of the Sather farm so that she could pick wild cranberries, raspberries and nuts. Then she carried them into town and sold them to the residents in order to earn money to buy food for the family. The land now owned by the Sathers was school land and could not be homesteaded. It was sold to the highest bidder. The Sathers paid $11,000 for each of two quarters. Frederick paid $1,600 each year and $4,000 every fourth year. Until the land was paid for in full, no taxes could be levied against it. The first year he broke seven acres of sod with one horse and an ox which belonged to a neighbor by the name of Lee. Lee farmed the land now owned by William Campbell. He was helpful to the Sathers in many ways. The Sathers built a log house with a low roof made of long grass and mud. There was one room downstairs and one upstairs. The upstairs walls were four feet high. Both the interior and exterior of the log house were white-washed every year or so. There were no beds, only bags filled with straw. Everyone slept upstairs. There was no stairway, only a ladder on the wall with a hole in the

ceiling to crawl through. Everyday someone would fall through and drop to the lower floor, but it was home. It was kept clean and warm. The house was 16'xl8'. Sometimes Frederick's older brother, who was crippled, would come with his family in November and stay all winter. He had a family of ten. With ten in the Sather family, it was somewhat crowded, but they managed. Ricarda Sather married Ole Sorbo. They had one son, Leonard. Ricarda died at 90. Helga and Gena Sather made their home in Hesperia, Calif. Dagmar married Selmer Lykken. They have one son, Marvin, who became a contractor and builder in Grafton. Oscar and Walter Sather continued to live on the original Sather farm. Walter married Alma Odden of Ada, Minn. They had a family of five: Wallace, Milton, Donald, Gladys and Wesley. Henry Sather married Marie Mohagen. Frederick Sather died May 20, 1920. Nellie Sather died Sept. 20, 1920. Submitted by Kenneth Colter. ALFRED SEVIGNY In the spring of 1879, Alfred Sevigny and Henri Sevigny first claimed land in the Walsh County area. Alfred Sevigny was bom at St. David, Trois Riviere Diocese, Quebec, in October, 1856, the son of Felix Sevigny and Mathilda Laferte Sevigny. At 12, at the death of his father, he became the family breadwinner for his mother, brother Henri and six sisters, Liza, Philomina, Elmire, Delvina, Marie and Emilia. They traveled via Abercrombie to Fisher's Landing by train where he had labored hauling wood in the Merrifield area. Mrs. Sevigny claimed land which she later sold to her sons.

Alfred Sevigny Family. Front row: Mrs. Alfred Sevigny, Eugenia (baby being held), Ovide, Simeon, Arthur, Mr. Sevigny, Frederick. Back row: Leon, Philorum, Hormidas, Philomon, Elric, Felix, Edward, Armand. On June 7, 1880, Alfred married Eudoxie LaBerge at Grand Forks, officiating pastor was Rev. F. L'hiver. Eudoxie was born in July, 1863, the daughter of Edouard LaBerge and Josephyte Surprenant at St. Martine, Diocese of Chateauquay, Quebec, and migrated with her parents to the Oakwood area in 1879. They resided in Grand Forks for a time, then journeyed by mule and covered wagon to the Oakwood area to homestead. Accompanying them were Mrs. Felix Sevigny, Henri and Delvina. They brought their personal belongings, including one cow. Alfred Sevigny claimed Section 24, SEV4 of Oakwood Township, where he built a small wood frame home. The deed was recorded March 31, 1883, the

price of $1.25 per acre for 160 acres. Water tor home use was obtained from a surface well on their homestead They had 13 sons and one daughter, Hormisdas (born Mav 6 1881), Philorum (bom October 10, 1882), Felix (born Sept. 26, 1884), Edward (born Dec. 24, 1885), Ulric (born May 12, 1887), Philemon (bom March 20, 1889), Armand (born May 4, 1891), Leon (born July 30, 1894), Simeon (born Feb. 18,1896), Ovide (born March 10,1898 , Arthur (bom Sept. 3,1889), Frederic (bom Nov. 9, 1901), Edmond (born June 15,1905), and Eugenie Garant (born Jan 20 1907). Edmond died at the age of 5 months. Henri Sevigny claimed Sec. 25, NW'/. of Oakwood Township and Sec. 26 NEV4 where trees were planted. Mrs Felix Sevigny and Delvina resided with her son. She died Jan. 18, 1887, and is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery of Oakwood. Delvina married John Carl at Oakwood in October, 1887. Henri Sevigny was married to Sarah DeRosier Pellant, Jan. 2,1890, and resided on the land he claimed until 1892. He sold it to his brother, Alfred, and moved away with his wife and two daughters. Life on the prairie was not always easy. Grain, their most important crop, had to be shipped to Winnipeg from Kelly's Point by barge or to Grand Forks, a six hour trip one way Sheep were raised and the wool was traded in Grand Forks for goods. Drought claimed crops some years and crickets cleaned out shocked grain. A cyclone in 18% blew the roofs from their grain-filled granaries and damaged much property. In 1904, they purchased a portable gasoline engine for threshing, a welcome addition to the farm operation.

member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Oakwood where he served as church trustee for many years. He was also active in township affairs as early as 1884. He acquired much land surrounding his farm and later farmed by his sons. He died Jan. 4, 1933, followed by his wife on Dec. 23, 1933. They are buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oakwood. Submitted by Mrs. Edmond Campbell. ANDREW STARK FAMILY Andrew Stark, bom in 1870, immigrated to America from Stockholm, Sweden, with his mother and three brothers and one sister, in 1881, at the age of 12. His father Charles Stark, had immigrated a few years earlier and worked as a foreman on the Great Northern Railway for Jim Hill from Grafton to St. Thomas. Andrew's father was one of the builders of the Landstad Church at Auburn. Andrew Stark married Attena Bertina Fodness July 22 1890. They had eight children: Anna, Clarence, Agnes, William, Mabel, Manville, Abner and Lloyd. Andrew Stark farmed first in the Farmington area, and later bought a farm in Oakwood Township. He was a member ofthe Grafton Lutheran Church, serving as a trustee. He served as supervisor of Oakwood Township for 20 years. Andrew Stark died Sept. 2, 1931, and Mrs. Andrew Stark died July 31, 1962. Submitted by Mrs. Abner Stark. CHARLES L. THOMPSON

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Sevigny. Standing on porch are Mr. and Mrs. Sevigny and son, Ovide and daughter, Clara (Mrs. Leon Sevigny).

Charles Thompson and granddaughter, Clarice Thomp-

A story is told of Alfred Sevigny traveling by steamboat to Winnipeg with a companion. After arriving in Winnipeg, the steamboat was frozen in and thenmoney being refunded, they trekked home on foot, a trip taking many days. The winter of 1908 had been mild but traveling by horse drawn vehicle still required some covering. On a regular school day five of the sons were going to school. The horse shied at a blanket which was dropped and started to run. As the horses took the turn in the road, two of the boys were thrown from the wagon, two jumped from the rear of the wagon, but the youngest, Frederic, who had been sitting in the center, fell on the wagon hitch and was killed. The date was Dec. 11,1908. He was seven years old. He is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Oakwood. Alfred Sevigny was active in church affairs, a

son. Mrs. Charles Thompson Reir Thompson, father of Charles L . Thompson, immigrated from Blair, Wise, in May, 1881, to Pembina County. His son, Charles L. Thompson, was 16, too young to f Ue on land so his dad, Reir, did this for him. Mr Thompson proved up land in Pembina County, built a home, and had seven children. He moved to Oakwood Township on March 17,1904. He came by horse and sleigh to this area with his belongings and family. He bought a Trudeau farm, 160 acres at $35 per acre. Mr. Thompson never needed to use oxen, mode of travel was by horses. •, . , When the Thompson famUy first lived here they had a log house. They had to hang blankets and shawls over the cracks between the logs to keep the lamps from 242

blowing out. So in 1904 a new home was built for the family. In 1905 a barn was built for the livestock. In 1906 a granary was built. The old Trudeau barn was made of lumber so this was used as a sheep shed. A small, old, Uving house was moved in and used for the chickens. In 1910 an addition was built to the home. An uncle, Elev Thompson, a carpenter, helped in the construction of the buildings. At this time the home farm was 240 acres. Mr. Thompson was treasurer of Oakwood Township. He was also on the Board of School District No. 4, on the Board of the Deaconess Hospital and served as treasurer of the Grafton Lutheran Church. Mr. Thompson retired from farming and moved to Grafton in 1920. Mrs. Thompson died Sept. 7,1931, and Mr. Thompson died Feb. 25, 1949. Both are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Charles L. Thompson's son, Trueman Thompson, Sr., is still living on the original farm. Other children are Stella Thompson, Mrs. Henry Lian, of Grafton, and Henry Thompson of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Deceased members are Rudolph Thompson, Jerome Thompson, and Mrs. Emil Groven, and Junis who died in infancy. It was noted that the first train to arrive in Grafton was on Christmas Day in 1881. Submitted by Stella Thompson.

Lunch time. Left to right: James Johnson, Rudolph Thompson.

Hanson,

Hanson, Isaac Hobie, Bettie H. Holt, J. O. Hendricksen, C. Hella, J. L. Heder, Gus C. Halvorsen, Gabriel Hyde, Chas. Hagrostrom, A. P. Isaacson, Hans Johnson, N. J. and John Jackson, A. G. Lacount, Louis Lamar re, Dositta Lamar re, Alexis Lacorse, R. Larson, Julius J. Lind, Pete Linhart, Frank Loseth, Ole J. Munroe, T. K. Miller, Wm., Thos., John Martin, Wm. E. Mishalek, M. McLaughlin, S. W. McJannet, Wm. Nober, Nils O. Olfson, A. Olson, Tolee Olszevski, S. and V. Parent, Alfred Perras, Pacific Rennebom, F. W. Rasmussen, H. P. Sullivan, J., Jr., and Mary Surpenant, Leon Trudeau, John Todd, R. R. Vaure, M. Vent, Nelson Weagrant, Roderick Welch, F. A. Wautkel, Emil Wenz, Mary and Louis, Jacob and EUen Whaley, R. J.

Frank

Pioneers Without Biographies Arnstad, G. J. Aaker, Geo. W. Brooks, Anson S. Baillargeon, E. Baumrok, Jas. Blackstad, P. A. Colson, John Dolan, John Dobbie, John Deschenes, Jos. Ebbighausen, Chas. Fortier, Jos., Peter France, Moses Fodstad, Halvor Gagne, Jos. Heath, I. P. HilUer, W. J. and Jas. E. Huard, Oliver

A more modern mode of rural mail Model T's, about 1914 or 1915. 243

transportation.

ST. ANDREWS TOWNSHIP country. In about 1902 or 1903, a ferry was installed on the river at the quarter Une Section 25, St. Andrews crossing into Minnesota. This ferry was owned by Fred Schumacher and was operated mostly for his own use as he owned Eagle Point. (In Minnesota). Ed Hurges and McGrath operated itfor several years after bridges were built in Oslo, Minn., in 1909, and Drayton in 1911. The use of a ferry was confined to Acton Township, section Une 12 and 13, known as the Girard Ferry. This ran until about 1930. In 1916 the Red River was declared non-navigable. The waters flowed less and less. In 1933 after a spiU of drought lasting several years, one could walk over the river in many places where a mere ditch about 3 feet wide was the only stream remaining. St. Andrews was hit by the flood of 1897. The most severe flood known to this date. The town was one of the high points of land next to Drayton, N. D., and water covered the land from two miles west of St. Andrews to Stephen, Minn. On the day before Easter in April, a terrible north wind whipped the water to 10 to 20 foot waves and many homes and other buildings near the river were demolished. No flood to equal this has occurred since 1897 The river remained more normal and peaceful untU 1918 when a lesser flood occurred. Then untU 1948 and 1950 when water nearly reached the height of 1897. The flood of 1948-50 was well documented in later history. Among pioneers most prominent in the 1890's, in the St. Andrews town on the Red River, were Chas Finkle, Oran Finkle, George MarshaU, John Nelson, Peter Rasmussen, John Rasmussen, Hans Lund, Henry Rasmussen, and Jim Greer. The raUroad came to Grafton through St. Andrews Township. In 1887 the coming of the first railway which crossed the N. W. corner of St. Andrews Township to Drayton was to be the death knell for St. Andrews Township. The St. Anthony and Dakota was the first name of the railroad. Several towns sprang up at once. Cashel and what was first named St. Andrews, Section 17, later because of confhct with the old town, was changed to Lodi, later to Elora, and finaUy to Herrick. A post office, store and grain elevator soon sprang up. The first store and postoffice was buUt by SeU &

Although not from the township of St. Andrews, I was born one mile from the Park River in Acton Township, adjoining St. Andrews township, and about four miles from the "town" of St. Andrews, an organized town on the Red River, which had a post office and store, a fisherman's headquarters, a settlement of several families that go back well into the 80's and 90's of 1800. A plat recorded of the town was printed in the Atlas of 1893 which was a plat of Grand Forks, Walsh and Pembina Counties. The town was located just north of the mouth of the Park River into the Red River. From early in my youth I will remember the town as it then existed, probably as far back as 1904 or 1905. In those days there was no other modes of travel than by foot or horse or horse drawn vehicles. There was no bridges across the Red River and a few ferries existed, one near St. Andrews was down the river (north) about 1% miles. It was reached by a section Une 1 % miles north of St Andrews, hence through the yard of what was known as the Nate Upham farm and a winding road leading to the ferry crossing about Vh miles S. E. to a point on the river. The location and trail still can be traced. Across from St. Andrews was point of Minnesota known as Eagle Point. This name came from the fact that an eagle famUy annuaUy made their summer home on a large old elm tree. I personaUy saw the nest which remained several years after the last Eagle came back. Sometime in the early years of 1900,1901, or 1902. St. Andrews was a port on the Winnipeg to Grand Forks J-oute of regular steamboat service until about 1909 The beautiful tones of the "steamboat whistle" could be heard several miles from and up and down the river. Pioneers who lived in St. Andrews: Wm. McConneU, who was its first postmaster; Tom Mahoney, wife and family, two boys and one girl, his wife ran the store and post office as long as it existed; and Mike McGrath, a husky Irishman, was probably the most influential citizen who had the best home in town. There were several other homes such as Nels WaUeen famUy, fisherman and hunter; Iver Jensen, fisherman, who with a pair of ponies and wagon, traveled through the country selUng fish as far as Edinburg, N. D., 135 mUes; Charles Vent, a man who had a past and settled here in obscurity and hiding; and there was another single man, a large and well informed man known as Ed Hurges, he was wise in the ways of the Red River, could predict weather by folklore, always a gentleman, a loner Uving by himseU in what was commonly known as his shack. He was also a fisherman. Mike McGrath was a "dandy" young man who came from Montreal, Canada. He returned to his home town early in his ltfe and brought back his bride who surely was displaced, coming from a well educated family (governess by profession) living in Montreal. She was not a homemaker but a poet and a former teacher in Canada. She was weU versed in English, or the American language, but no cook or homemaker in this rough

Schr3.nlt

A Peavey Co. Elevator was built, later was sold to Andrews Grain Co., and sometime around 1920, sold to Red River Grain. Later sold to Drayton Farmers Union. It became a farmers Co-operative about 1940. In 1948 fire destroyed the elevator. It was not rebuUt. Among early settlers in the Herrick area were J. C. Stewart who built and operated a privately owned grain elevator and farmed on Section 16 until this elevator was discontinued in about 1910. The years prior to 1900, were years of homesteaders and settlement ofthe township. Prior to 1900, probably less than half of the land was under cultivation. There were about 122 farm homes and four school houses in 1890. Some of the pioneer settlers and homesteaders were 244

Andrews. In 1871, riverboat traffic became a flourishing enterprise until it was superceded by the railroads and Acton and St. Andrews became busy river ports. St. Andrews as a riverport was established in the late seventies. It was named for a town in New Brunswick, a port on Passamaquoddy Bay just off the Bay of Fundy. St Andrews is the patron saint of Scotland. The townsite was located in part upon the farms of Orvin Finkle and Michael McGrath. A slightly conflicting report states that the Red River Transportation Co. laid out and named this townsite on Section 25, where Michael McGraw and Charles Tinkle had settled the year before. The avenues were named Washington, Center, Franklin, Jefferson, LaFayette and Monroe. The streets were named St. James, St. George, Main, St. John, St. Albans, St. Paul and St. Louis. The street going down to the river was called Levee St. A post office was opened Oct. 30, 1880, with Lewis E. Booker as postmaster. The post office was discontinued July 28,1891, re-established Sept. 9, 1892. It has not been in operation since Nov. 30,1903. During the time that the post office was closed, mail was distributed from Drayton. Thomas Mahoney was a storekeeper at St. Andrews for a number of years and was the last postmaster. He Uved above his store. He also owned and farmed land in the township. John KeUy, a clerk on the riverboat, the "Selkirk," recalled that "At St. Andrews there was a branch of the L E Booker Store of Pembina. Brooks Bros, had estabUshed a lumber yard, which was managed by Louis Brunn. There was a blacksmith and Octave Collette kept a hotel." Frank Winship, the editor of the Acton Times and his friend, Dr. N. H. HamUton, also of Acton, made a horse and buggy trip to Grafton and swung home by St. Andrews. Writing of the trip, Editor Winship reported: but here in St. Andrews are many nationaUties, but you better finish the story, Frank." And Frank did in writing, which he reduced to type: "Hurrying along we brought up at St. Andrews at 7 o'clock where we partook of one of Landlord CoUette's exceUent suppers. It was too late to call on the businessmen." Two fishermen, Nels Vallin and Charhe Vent peddled fish, kept on ice, about two or three times a week to their customers. Whenever riverboat captains saw sacks of grain piled on the riverbank, they stopped and loaded it on the boat. Legend has it that caravans of wagons hauUng sacks of grain used to pass through Auburn on way to St. Andrews for shipment on the river. Pioneer settlers used to disembark at Acton and St. Andrews and much farm equipment was unloaded at the dock. Ole Lerud and his wife, Anna Carina, with their young daughter, came to St. Andrews by riverboat. From there they walked through shoulder-high grass to their sod shanty some 14 miles away. He carried the luggage on his shoulder, she carried the child. Herman and Wilhelmina Fisher, natives of Pomerania, Germany, who had Uved for a few years in Detroit, Mich., where Herman was a hamessmaker, came to St. Andrews where they worked on the farm of Nate Upham. Later he worked in a harness shop in Grafton and finally they settled in Auburn. These are but examples of pioneer settlers whose Uves and peregrinations briefly touched the St. Andrews scene. There was a settlement west of the present site of Nash called New Sweden or simply, Sweden. Ole and Carina Lerud used to walk from their sod shanty to

the McArthurs, Fergusons, Stewarts, Giles, Buchavan, Hedman, Trainor, and Nelson, nearest to Herrick. In 1911 a drawbridge was built at Drayton. The floating bridge was sold to a group who moved it to Acton where it was used for several years as a bridge where the Girard Ferry operated formerly. ST. ANDREWS RIVERPORT The chronicles of St. Andrews antedates itself. Its history is bound up in two rivers, the Park River and the Red River of the North. The torturous twists and turns ot the Park River rival those of the Red River of the North which is renowned for its crooked channel. As the Park River leaves Oakwood Township on its way to St. Andrews it swings north and flows into the Red River at the point where the Red makes a sweeping westward loop. It was at this point, within a quarter of a mile of the mouth of the Park River, that Capt. Alexander Henry built his short lived trading post in 1800. Capt. Henry sailed up the Red River with a dozen white men and a negro servant. He was followed by eight hired Chippewa hunters and their families in a brigade of canoes which were loaded with goods for trade with the Indians. They first built a storehouse for their trading goods and supplies. Then they built a stockade of 15-foot timbers because they feared the Sioux Indians to the south. They raised the British flag on a 55-foot staff. A tall oak tree served Capt. Henry as an observation tower from which he could look over the country and observe the great abundance of game and wild life. Upon arrival the Indians brought in 40 bears they had killed in the vicinity The following spring, the overflowing rivers caused Capt Henry to abandon the site and move to Pembina. During the brief existence of the post, they collected 643 beavers 125 black bears, 23 brown bears, two grizzly bears 83 wolves, 102 red foxes, 178 fishers, 96 otters, 82 martens and 97 minks. A comparable amount was bartered from the Indians at the station located at the Pembina Mountains. Over 70 years later the confluence of the Park River and the Red River was to become the riverport town of St. Andrews. , ' , In the meantime, Jolly Joe Rollette openea his fur trading post in Pembina in 1842. Three ox-cart trails were in operation from Pembina to St. Paul, one on the east side of the Red River, one on the west side and one cut across the plains through the Minnesota bush to join the Missippi ox-cart trail. The trail on the west side of the river traversed the area later to become St. Andrews Township. In 1871, an overland stage coach route was established from Fort Abercrombie to Winnipeg by way of Grand Forks and Pembina. Kelly's Point, later known as Acton, was one of the way stations. This route also went through St. Andrews on its way to Pembina. At first the river traffic was sporadic. The Anson Northrup the first boat on the Red, left Abercrombie on May 17, 1859, reaching Fort Gary, which was the name at the time tor Winnipeg, June 5. It returned to Fort Abercrombie with 20 passengers. _ , , , For the next 12 years navigation on the Red declined with the exception of flatboats built like rafts and designed to carry supplies and passengers At the end ot the journey, the flatboats were dismantled and sold tor lumber for building purposes. The first railroad locomotive to enter the province of Manitoba was floated down the Red River, floating past the future site of St. 245

Sweden for supplies. William McKenzie operated the store at Sweden. He had his merchandise shipped to St. Andrews and then hauled it by team and wagon to Sweden. St. Thomas merchants followed the same course as did Stewart Cairncross, the first mayor of Grafton. He owned a store in Grafton. He has his merchandise shipped by rail from St. Paul to Grand Forks and then trans-shipped by riverboat to Acton and St. Andrews. The shipment was hauled by team and wagon to Grafton, the eldest Cairncross son was one of the teamsters. St Andrews Township was organized in 1882. Early settlers of the township included Michael McGraw, William H. Murphy, Anton Nelson, Thomas McArthur, George Cochran in the southern part of the district and the French and Finkle families. Most of these served as township officers in the early days. In 1887, the Northern Pacific Railroad was built through St. Andrews Township. St. Andrews station was established on the northwest quarter of Section 16, Range 51 West. Two elevators were operating there in 1893, the Northern Dakota Elevator Co., and the Northern Pacific Elevator Co. This station was due east of Auburn, across Martin Township from Fannington Township. Farmers whose farms were continguous to the station were 0. M. Omlie Peter Ferguson, John C. Stewart, James Buchanan, CharlesHeney, Robert Allan, John B. Kerfoot and Nathan Upham who also owned land near the St. Andrews townsite. A news item from the Walsh County Record of May 4, 1892 reads: 'Nate Upham was in from the farm a few days last week. He says he expects to continue seeding until the Fourth of July.' Two other news items dated April 12,1893, read: Jacob Reinhart (he owned 400 acres adjoining Nathan Upham's farm north of St. Andrews) was in Grafton last Wednesday. He thinks if he can get to seeding by the 20th of this month, he will feel grateful to the weather bureau.' and 'Nate Upham was up from his Red River farm last Monday. Nate has a bunch of fat, stall-fed steers for sale and was looking for prices.' A plat book dated 1893 reveals that St. Andrews Township had three schools, one located on the farm of John B Kerfoot near St. Andrews station; one on the farm of Anton Chale and the third on the farm of Mary E. Kennedy. The pastor of the Grafton Lutheran church, Rev J A Ofstedal, used to drive with horse and buggy or horse and sleigh into St. Andrews Township to conduct Lutheran services in the schoolhouse. Afterwards, he visited the pioneer home of Hezikiah and Charlotte Fennel, where he partook of their hospitality. In the early days of St. Andrews, the riverport, there was a ferry operating across the river to the Minnesota side A news item dated May 18, 1894, reported a drowning caused by the lack of a means to cross the river 'John Vent was drowned last Saturday in the Red River near St. Andrews. He and his brother wished to cross the river from Minnesota. They stood in the river bank for several minutes and called for a boat, but not being able to attract attention, John took off his clothing and started to swim across, his object being to get a boat and return for his brother. •When he got within two rods of the Dakota shore, his strength seemed to fail him and he turned and swam toward the center of the river, his object apparently being to get into the current and rest himself. When about in the center of the river he went down. His brother, Nelson, hollered to him, "Are you drowning?" He

screamed, "Yes!" It was the last word he uttered. Every attempt was made, without success to find the body. He was 23 years of age.' In the early days, there was a wellnigh superstitious fear, never heard of these days, that the Red River had drop-offs and deep holes which had no bottom. It was thoug.ic to be foolhardy to swim in the Red because drowning was considered to be almost a certain fate. Today the site of St. Andrews is tranquil countryside, devoted to farming with not even an echo of the hustle and bustle that once was. Compiled from the Plat Book of Grand Forks, Walsh and Pembina Counties, 1893; the Walsh County Record and from notes furnished by Mrs. Laura Nelson. Submitted by Kenneth Coulter, Grafton.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS The foUowing are schools, early officers and some first teachers as recorded. School District No. 87: treasurer, James McDonald (1885-1892) ; directors, Anton Chale, Chris Rasmusson, Richard Keyes, E. Fennell, H. Fennell; and R. J. Coats; presidents, Richard Keys and Anton Chale; clerk, J. H. Hazzard; and first teacher, Rebecca Roth. School District No. 31: treasurer, John Tomkins; directors, Duncan Ferguson, Samuel Allen, Peter Ferguson, F. 0. Southard and David Giles; presidents, Samuel AUen, John AUen and Duncan Ferguson; clerk, Peter McEwen; and early teacher, Belle Critten. School District No. 113: treasurer, J. Reinhart; directors, Samuel Scott, James Buchanon, James McArthur, David Crawford, J . 0. Fryer; presidents, Samuel Scott and James McArthur; clerk, M. Charbonneau; and early teacher, Jeanette Murchie. School District No. 14: treasurer, R. G. Barrows; directors, Henry Rassmuson, R. G. Burrows, 0. H. Finkle, Wm. McConnell, Robert Keys, Thos. G. Buchannan, Peter Rasmusson and Hans Lund; presidents, R. G. Burrows, 0. H. Finkle, Wm. McConneU, and Robert Keyes; clerk, Thomas Mahoney; and early teacher, Charles Grover.

BIOGRAPHIES CHARLES BASSETTE

Picture of a log house like the one Mr. and Mrs. Bessette lived in after they were married. This is the Joe Patnaude family of Pine, Manitoba, uncle and aunt of Mrs. Stanley Bessette. The well dressed lady is Mrs. Stanley Bessette when they were on their honeymoon in 1935. 246

Charles Bessette came to Oakwood in 1889 from St. Renii, Quebec. He worked for Joseph Campbell for a number of years. Field work was with oxen. He went back to St. Remi in 1898 to marry Cecilia Garant. Mr. Bessette and his wife returned to the U. S. and farmed at Stephen, Minn. Later he bought 14 acres of land one mile west and half a mile north of Oakwood. Going to Grafton with an ox drawn wagon he would often give Bertha Lamarre (now Bertha La Berge) a ride to town. She remarked about the nice team of oxen Mr. Bessette had. Charles and Cicilia had three children: Maria, Cecilius and Stanley. Maria is in Illinois, Stanley in Oakwood and Cecilius is deceased. Stanley married Adeline Patnaude of Drayton. Charles Bessette was born May 20, 1864, died Sept. 11, 1950. Mrs. Charles Bessette was born Oct. 12, 1864, died May 29, 1937. They are both buried in the Oakwood Cemetery. PETER BAXENDALE Peter Baxendale spent his early life in England, having been born in Manchester, in 1854. In March, 1878, in Ontario, he married Levenia Coats. Four years later Mr. and Mrs. Baxendale came to Walsh County and filed on a homestead in St. Andrews Township. The homestead farm remained their home for 38 years, and is still the property of Mr. Baxendale. Mr. and Mrs. Baxendale now reside in Grafton. MRS. PETER BAXENDALE In Ontario Jan. 16, 1861, Mrs. Peter Baxendale, nee Coates, was born. In 1882 she came to Walsh County to settle on a homestead in St. Andrews Township. There she Uved with her husband, who still owns the property, for 38 years. She is now a resident of Grafton. ROBERT J. COATS Early in the spring of 1882, Robert Coats, with his sister's husband, Peter Baxendale, left his home in Oxbridge, Ont. to come to Walsh County. The best mode of travel at that time was by boat as there were no good roads or railroads. They came down the Red River by boat as far as St. Andrews Landing. This landing was about six miles south of Drayton, where the Park River and the Red River meet. It was a busy stopping place for traders and travelers. Robert filed on a fourth section of land in St. Andrews Township, about six miles northwest of the landing. His brother-in-law filed on another quarter of land adjacent to his so that they could work their land together. Robert's first purchase was a team of horses and a wagon, which he used to haul lumber and supphes from Drayton to build houses for him and his brother-in-law. Later that summer Robert's wife, Hannah, and his six month old son came to join him. They were accompanied by Mrs. Baxendale and her smaU son, who came to join her husband. They were met at the St. Andrews Landing by Robert with his horses and wagon, and taken to their new homes on the prairie. A walking plow was a necessity as the land they had homesteaded was covered with buffalo grass which extended for miles in every direction. This grass was four feet tall or more and the settlers greatest fear for years was that of the prairie fires. As there was no water on the land they homesteaded,

a well had to be dug and curbed. All their water had to be drawn from this well with a pail tied to a rope. WhUe this well was a blessing to the famUy, it also brought grief, as their small son fell into the weU and drowned when he was four years old. Shelter for the horses was necessary and a cow for milk was also an early need for the family. The lack of trees on the homestead made firewood their biggest worry. It was necessary for them to twist dry buffalo grass together to use for fuel. The first year, Robert was able to break a little ground and plant some wheat. When he had harvested the wheat, he built a bin in the corner of the house for it and saved it for seed for the coming year. The second year, they added more acres of tiUable land and with the building of a railroad in the area, Peter Baxendale was able to supplement the income by working on the railroad construction crew. There were no churches in the area, but services and Sunday school was sometimes conducted in an area school by visiting pastors. The Baxendales raised a family of 10 children on their homestead. Their son, Earl, is the only surviving member of the family. The Baxendales sold their homestead in 1917 and moved to Grafton. Robert and Hannah Coats, in addition to their first son who was born in Canada, were the parents of Ernest, Mae, Roy, Florence, Gertrude, and Hazel. Also they had two girls, Ada who died when she was eight months old, and Pearl who died when she was four. Today only Florence (Uggerud), Gertrude (Ganyo), and Hazel (Mrs. Lawrence Jenson), are living. There were many hard times on the farm but the family managed to get along. In 1917, Robert bought his first car. It was a Dodge and the family was very proud of it. The family lived on the original homestead untU they sold it in 1918. They then moved to Grafton, where Robert bought a haU interest in the Strand Theatre. He helped run this theatre. His wife, Hannah, died in 1925. Robert died in 1943, just a short time before his 85th birthday. THOMAS AND ANN FENNELL Thomas and Ann Fennel both were born in Ireland, were married there in 1834. They came to Canada in 1845 and to Dakota, which was a territory at the time. They settled in Acton Township. Four of their six children settled in Acton Township. Joseph, Henry, Hezekiah and Susanna were all born in Canada. Charlotte Weir was born in Coberg, Ont., and came to Dakota. She was married in a double wedding July 9,1889, with John Weir, and her brother and his sister Susanna Fennell on John Weier's farm on the bank of the Red River in Acton Township. They farmed there, then moved on a farm he homesteaded and bought in St. Andrews Township, lived there until his death in 1940. Charlotte FenneU moved to Grafton with her son, Elmer. She lived to be 103. There were six children, two are deceased. John, Joseph, Henry Fennel owned land and farmed in Acton Township for several years. John then moved to Canada, Henry to Oregon. Minto was their main town. John Weir later moved to Grafton, died there. His wife moved to Havre, Mont. Six children were born to Thomas and Ann FenneU.

They were Elmer, deceased; Roy, deceased in 1909; Mrs. Ida Rasmussen, Drayton; Mrs. Ed Nelson, Grafton; Mrs. Cora Colby, Grafton; and Alvin Fennell, Riverside, Calif. PETER HEDMAN An early pioneer of St. Andrews township was Peter Hedman. He came to this country from Dalarna, Sweden, in 1888 with a brother, August Hedman. In 1893 Peter Hedman went back to Sweden and brought his mother, Karolina Hedman, a sister, Mrs. Sophie Kleven, and a brother, John, to live in the Drayton area. Peter worked for J. P. Goff and others before he bought the farm in St. Andrews Township in 1904 from Samuel and John Scott. He resided on this farm until 1965 when he died at 95. In 1906 he married Miss Caroline Sjogren of Malmo, Sweden. She had worked and attended night school in St. Paul, came to Drayton to visit a cousin, Mrs. Andrew Benson. Mr. Hedman met his future wife during one of these visits. They were married in the farm home in St. Andrews Township Dec. 12, 1906. Three daughters and two sons were born - one of the daughters, Elizabeth, died when she was 10, in 1928. Mrs. Hedman died in 1934. Mr. Hedman served as treasurer for the Riverside School District No. 113 for over 30 years. He was one of the first farmers in this area to start growing sugar beets. He also raised potatoes and small grains. The home farm is now owned by the sons, Paul Hedman, Portland, Ore., Carl, Colorado Springs, Mrs. A. S. Graieger (Mildred), Grand Forks, and Helen Hedman, Drayton.

Farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hedman.

IVER JENSEN Iver Jensen and wife, Pearl (Olson) Jensen. Iver was born at Northfield, Minn., Jan. 12, 1868. He came to North Dakota in 1882 and lived on a homestead in Farmington Township until his father's death. He set type for the newspaper, "The News and Times," when it had to be done by hand. In 1904 the family moved to St. Andrews where he and Ed Herdges did commercial fishing on the Red River. They also put up hay in the summer and hauled it to Grafton and sold it to people who had horses. They Uved and farmed south of Drayton for some time. They had a family of five chUdren, Alma (Schrank).

Josephine (McEwen), Myrtle (Schrank), Melvin and Delia (Varey). They were married Nov. 28, 1896. After Iver's death in 1932, Pearl Jensen made her home with her daughters. She died in 1945. They were both lifelong members of the Lutheran Church. Submitted by Myrtle Schrank. MR. AND MRS. COLEMAN K E E L E Y Mr. and Mrs. (Bridget Healy) Coleman Keeley were born in Dublin, County Cork, Ireland, in 1860. They were married June 1, 1888. They first came to Crystal, N. D., and farmed there until 1902. In 1902 they purchased land from J. L. Cashel, northeast of Auburn, N.D..in Martin township. Here they continued to farm. When they ceased farming the land was passed on to their children and grandchildren. This land has been in the same family for 73 years. The Keeleys started to grow sugar beets in 1930. The first sugar beets were grown in the Drayton area in 1924. The hardships these early sugar beet pioneers endured is a story in itself. Drought, floods, insects and inadequate equipment made it very difficult in the raising of sugar beets. Horses were used in all phases of crop production. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Keeley were the parents of eight children: John, Mark, Daniel, Peter, and three daughters: Agnes (Mrs. William Olmstead), Annie, and Francis (Mrs. McKinnly Cliff). Both Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Keeley are buried in St. John's Cemetery, Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. Peter Keeley, Sr. MR. AND MRS. THOMAS KENNEDY Mrs. Thomas Kennedy was my mother, her maiden name was Mary Jane Flanagan. Born in the state of New York March 13, 1856, moved with her parents to Blooming Prairie, Minn., was married to Thomas Kennedy May 26, 1876. In October of 1879 she left Blooming Prairie with two small children to join my father at Grand Forks, as he had left in the Spring to go west to locate. Having filed on a farm 12 miles west of Grand Forks, the winter of 1879 and 1880 was spent in Grand Forks, moving out to the farm in the Spring. As this proved to be very poor land it was given up in 1880. My father came up to St. Thomas and filed a homestead right on a quarter of land one and a half miles south of Hensel. In the spring of 1881, my mother moved again with all belongings in a wagon box, hauled by a team of oxen, a cow was led behind the wagon. There were three children, the baby four months old. The shanty was already built in the winter. There were settlers on every quarter of land, a large percent were bachelors. When a married settler came, it was the lot of the women to bake bread and often do the washing for the settlers. My mother was a real home person and did every kind of work on the farm. She raised five chUdren: EUen E., Margaret, John, Harry and William Kennedy. She attended church at the Whalen farm and other farm places where services were held until the church was built in St. Thomas. Very seldom missed service, and the way of travel was with a wagon and a team of horses, the distance was sixteen miles to St. Thomas. She spent all of her life on this homestead.

As I can remember, there were no great events. I can remember one terrible hail storm that pounded everything in the ground in 1883 just as the crops were ready to cut. My father had gone to St. Thomas to get the twine to start harvest. That storm hit from Mountain, now to the east of St. Thomas, and was a terrible setback to the settlers. Then there was the blizzard of 1888 which lasted for days. All the buildings were completely covered with snow. Tunnels had to be dug to get doors open. Feed was dropped down to the stock from holes made in the roofs of the low barns. My father died in 1914, was buried at Crystal. My mother died in 1929, was laid beside my father. The family all still survive. Mr. Margaret Conlen, Mrs. J. Rodgers and John Kennedy, all of Hensel; Harry of Buffalo, New York, and William of Oakland, Calif. Submitted by Grandma Rodgers.

Rye. I remember school programs with dancing afterwards by the adults to music furnished by Pete Helm and his family. To the south and east of Herrick about 2 miles, was St. Andrews Hall where many dances and plays were held. As a teenager we really had a good time there. The families who lived in St. Andrews Township were William Ion and family, Mrs. Lillian Ferguson, Loren McEwen, the Watkins family, Isaah Keys family, Peter Helm family, Gordon Schumaker family, J. C. Stewart, Peter Stewart and Herbert Stewart families, George Bakken family, Walter Wosick family, Herschberger family, and James and Bill Keeley families and the William Kirbys. Thomas and Dan McCarthy lived next to the St. Andrews Hall.

ST. ANDREWS

Herrick elevator being destroyed by fire. The Kirby Family: Eileen, Amelia, Rosemary, Pat, Uncle Bill and Milly. Herrick elevator in background.

MR. AND MRS. THOMAS J. MAHONEY Thomas Mahoney was born February 20, 1857 at Peterboro, Ontario, Canada. He spent 2 years in the Canadian Northwest, came back to Petersboro, and married Francis Morgan on January 9, 1884. They came to North Dakota where they had a general store and post office at St. Andrews, a lively little town during the riverboat days. They would load grain there and also bring the supplies as needed. This was where Fort Henry was located so they also hauled furs to the larger towns.

Pictured here are students of St. Andrews District No. 31: Norma Ion, Edward and Billy Kirby, Everett Schumacker, Flora Marie Stewart, Shirley Ion, Eileen Kirby, Jean Stewart and John Stewart. My father, William J. Kirby, moved to Herrick in 1924 or 25 from Edgley, North Dakota. He was employed in the grain elevator there. It was then the Andrew's Grain Company with the main office in Minneapolis-St. Paul. At the time there were two elevators, a depot and a house in Herrick. The Northern Pacific train stopped there when there were passengers and also would deliver groceries in the winter. We went to school in a one room school % of a mile north of Herrick called St. Andrews District No. 31. Some of the teachers at this school were Alma Argue, Jean McEwen, Hazel Merrit and a Miss

Francis Morgan was born November 16, 1861 at Peterboro, Ontario. They had a family of 3 children: Fred, Quinn and Theresa, who married Harry S. Thibodo and lived at Stephen. They are both buried in the Drayton Cemetery. MR. AND MRS. PETER McEWEN Peter McEwen arrived from Perth, Ont. He shipped stock and machinery in an immigrant car to Pembina, North Dakota, where the horses took sick and some died. He acquired land at Dravton in St. Andrews Township. His wife, Janette, came later, leaving three children: Ortie, Katie and Hall with their Uncle Dan and Aunt Annie McEwen in Canada. Peter built a small house, he taught Sunday School, music, and also did blacksmith work besides farming. Also hand made furniture. His grandson still has the cupboard. Five

children: Norman, Edith, Lillian, Mae and Lome were born in North Dakota. Hall McEwen came to North Dakota to join his parents when he was 20 years old. He purchased land in St Andrews Township. In 1897 he married Elizabeth Clark Allen who came to North Dakota at the age of two years old with her parents, John and Mary Allen, who farmed in the Drayton area and owned a flour mill at Crystal, North Dakota. Hall and Elizabeth were married in the Presbyterian Church in Grafton, North Dakota. Eleven children were born to Hall and Elizabeth: Ann, Myrtle, Ethel, Aften, Jack, Dan, Jean, George, Mary, Florence, and Edith. Edith died at age one and George passed away in 1971. Hall McEwen passed away in Grafton in 1961 and Mrs. McEwen died in 1968 at Grafton.

D. H. (Hall McEwen) Mrs. D. H. (Elizabeth) McEwen WILLIAM HENRY MURPHY William Henry Murphy, whose present address is Alhambra, Calif., was born in New York State April 18, 1853. In New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota he spent his early life. In the autumn of 1880 he came to Walsh County to settle in St. Andrews Township. For 25 years he resided on the homestead. Before coming to Walsh County, Mr. Murphy operated a store and later a hotel at Grand Forks. He also acted as steward on one of the river steamers.

PILON FAMILY Oliver Pilon came from St. Benoit, Province of Quebec, to the Lake Huron area in 1876, then to Duluth, Minn. In 1881 he came to the Oakwood-Cashel area. He worked as a farm laborer in the Cashel area and also in the Winnipeg area. He spent his winters in the lumber camp in the woods in Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1882 he homesteaded a quarter of land in St. Andrews Township, east of Cashel. Two of his sisters came to this country, one sister, Louise, married Charles French, Oakwood, and Nancy married Gustav Bastien and they Uved in Duluth. Agnes French came to this country with her father, Caliste French, in 1881. CaUste French was also the father of Charles French, mentioned above, and they came from St. Phillippe de Neri, Quebec. Agnes filed a homestead about two miles north of the OUver Pilon filing. She then conveyed this land to Charles French who then conveyed it to Cyprian French. This land is stiU in the French name, Yvonne French is the owner. Agnes then moved to Grand Forks where she worked as a seamstress and as a cook at the University of North Dakota. In 1891, Oliver and Agnes French were married and moved into a part frame house and part sod house east of Cashel. They had seven children. Oliver Pilon died in 1929, and Agnes Pilon died in 1944. The children are, Emay Pilon, Grafton, married Delphine CoUette, they are the parents of four children; Jerome and Oliver Pilon, both of Drayton; Regina (Mrs. Duane Munter), Fargo; and Francis, Fargo. Oscar PUon, Yakima, Wash., married Josephine Durand. They had three children. They are Rose LaSeigne, Grand View, Wash.; Wallace, Alaska; and Robert, Yakima, Wash. Joseph, now deceased, married Marie French and they had two children. Adelore, East Grand Forks, Minn., and Marvin of Yakima, Wash. Albertine resides in Grafton. Rachel married George Lessard, Grafton. They are parents of three chUdren, Daniel, Agnes Kamrowski and Roman, all of Grafton. Lawrence PUon is deceased. Helen, Huntington Park, Calif., married Adrian Duval, now deceased, had two children, Joan WeUs, Placenta, Calif., and Dale Duval, Huntington Park, CaUf. Submitted by Daniel J. Lessard. ST. ANDREWS TOWNSHIP St. Andrews vUlage was located near where the Park River joins the Red River. This is where Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mahoney lived above their little store. They were the parents of three children; Tressa, Quin and Fred. They also had the post office. Mr. and Mrs. Mike McGraw lived across the road to the south of the store. Mr. and Mrs. Iver Jensen and family lived here. Alma, Josephine and Myrtle, and a brother who died young. These children went to the St. Andrews School District No. 14, west of old highway 44.

ANTON NELSON Born in Denmark Feb. 11, 1859, Anton Nelson there spent his early life. He came to Walsh county in April, 1881 and homesteaded in St. Andrews Township. He resided on the homestead 38 years and is now a resident of Grafton city. At Grafton. Dec. 13,1885, he was united in marriage to-Marie Tvedten. He held township and school offices and for 37 years was district school treasurer. Mr. Nelson arrived on the first train that came here from Grand Forks.

A short way from the store to the north Uved Mr. and Mrs. Orin Finkle. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grzadzieleski and family bought the farm and lived there a number of years. Joe, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grzadzieleski, Uves here now. 250

North about half a mile live Mr. and Mrs. Edward Narlock and family. They live on their father's farm. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Narlock live in Grafton now. West of the Grzadzieleski farm, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Grzadzieleski, a son of Joseph Grzadzieleski, lived and farmed. Later they moved into Drayton, where they live. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mahoney and family live near Highway 44. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mahoney are Fred Mahoney's grandparents. Across the road, No. 9, to the south, Uved George Marshell. His uncle, Ira Finkle, lived with him after his mother died. M r . and Mrs. Harry Brosius and family bought the farm. Their children also went to the St. Andrews School District No. 14. Near the Park River on the east side, lived Mr. and Mrs. Peter Rasmussen and famUy. Three of their children went to St. Andrews School District No. 14. Miss Elmyra Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stewart, who lived near Herrick, was teaching. Later Duncan Dundas bought this farm. On the west side north of the Park River was the home of Mr. and Mrs. J . C. Rasmussen and family. Their children also wentto St. AndrewsSchool District No. 14.1 remember he had a threshing separator that the straw had to be taken away from with a team of horses and a bucking pole. I drove one of the horses. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peters and their daughter Dorothy lived west of the highway near the Park River. They later moved into Grafton where M r . Peters stUl Uves. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. McArthur, his brothers Danny, and Tom and his sisters, Mary and Tina, Uved on the west side of Highway 44. RATH F A M I L Y Mr. and Mrs. William J . Rath and family, Laura, Roy, Luella and Frances, lived east from Highway 44 and the St. Andrews School District No. 14 to which we aU four went to school. Miss Elmyra Stewart was our first teacher. Our mother and father were married in Minto. They moved into a Uttle home east of where Highway 44 is now. Frances was born in this little cottage. Mother's cousins, Ed and Bower Heney, wanted our Dad to go to Canada and buy land. A l l three bought land and we all moved. Mother, Dad, and their baby moved into a new home three miles from Sanford, Man., 20 miles from Winnipeg. Luella and Roy were born in Winnipeg. Mother stayed at the Holland Rath home. Holland was Dad's brother. His wife was a sister of E d and Bower Heney. Later Roy was born in Winnipeg. Laura was born in the home we lived in when we came from Canada. Frances had just started to school, when Dad had a letter from his father, Henry Rath. Both he and grandmother wanted Dad and Mother to move back to Dakota and Uve with them as he felt he could not work the land any longer. They loaded their furniture on the train, also my dog, Krugor, that I just couldn't leave behind. We moved in with our grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rath. Luella and I started to St. Andrews School District No. 14. Miss Elmyra Stewart was our first teacher and boarded at our place while teaching. She later married

George Bakken. Mrs. Lily Cochrane Giles also taught at our school. Our dad, William J . Rath, was on the township board and school board for many years. He drove his tractor and cultivated the land at 86. The summer-fallowing had to be done at a certain time in the summer. After mother died, he came into Drayton and stayed with Laura and family or Roy and Ruth while Luella and I were teaching. He was going to the cafe, fell and broke his hip, was taken to the hospital here in Drayton and was there three months. It was his first time in the hospital. He died Aug. 3, 1960, at 92. Our mother, Ellen MiskeUy, came from MerrikviUe, Ont. Mother was a member of the Rosebank Rebekah Lodge No. 29. Mother, Luella, and I joined the Lodge at the same time, our sister Laura joined the Lodge later. Mother was a member of the St. Andrews Homemakers Club, one of the first to organize. Her folks, Mr. and Mrs. John MiskeUy, Uved in Winnipeg. They bought a farm near Lundar, north of Winnipeg, and went there to live. Our mother died Sept. 23,1952. She was 80. Luella taught school 23 years, had to stop teaching, as her health was not good. After Luella and I (Frances) moved into Drayton, she started to work at the Grafton State School, worked there nine years. LueUa died AprU 13, 1973. Roy married Ruth Dundas, a sister of Mrs. SterUng Walker, Mrs. Kathryn Maxwell, Mrs. Hazel Barr, Mrs. Mae McDonald, Miss Tena Dundas, M r . Bruce Duncan and Jack Dundas. Roy worked on Highway 44 for over 30 years. Laura married Lawrence Stewart shortly after she graduated from the Drayton High School and lived on a farm north of Drayton, then moved into Drayton. She started to paint; she could paint homes inside or outside. They had three children, two boys and a girl. When I (Frances) was in fUth grade, our aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J . D. Robertson (Aunt Emeline was our dad's sister) wanted me to come to Park River and go to school there. I went to the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, then through Park River High School. I started to teach the fall after I graduated from high school, near Rugby in Pierce County. My first four months of teaching were lonely. I resigned and came home and had a phone call from the County Superintendent's office wanting me to teach a school nearer home. I taught school almost 30 years. I taught in the Bowesmont and Drayton Schools as a substitute teacher after Luella and I moved into Drayton. Our famUy were members of the Drayton United Church. Luella and I joined the church shortly after we started to teach school. Our dad's father and mother, M r . and Mrs. Henry Rath, came from Merrickvil, Ont. They homesteaded on land north of Cashel, then bought land in St. Andrews Township. They built a small house (after being remodeled and built unto). The Wm. Rath family moved into it when they came back from Sanford, Man. Grandfather and Grandmother had 12 children: Amelia (Mrs. Faucet) lived in Ontario; Lizzie (Mrs. Peoples) in California; Emeline (Mrs. J. D. Robertson) in Park River; Holland, Winnipeg, moved to CaUfornia; and Edmund, Martin Township about four mUes north of Cashel. Submitted by Frances Rath.

J. C. STEWART John C. Stewart, a Walsh County pioneer, was born in 1857 at Harriston, Ont., and died in 1948 at Drayton. When he moved to Walsh County he changed his name by adding a middle initial because his mail was occasionally being misrouted to a John Stewart at Gilby. He was known as J. C. Stewart and signed his name in such a manner. He married Sarah Sarles of Whitby, Ont., in 1885. They were married at Hamilton where she arrived from Canada by train. They had six children, Peter James, who died in infancy; Elmira (Mrs. George E. Bakken), Fargo, deceased; Herbert Alexander, Drayton, a farmer- James Buchanan who homesteaded and lived near Simpson, Sask., deceased; Ralph James, an insurance salesman of New Ulm, Minn.; and Peter Dewey, who farmed near Drayton, deceased.

Agricultural Adjustment Administration at Park River (now known as the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service). Many neighbors came to him for advice and sometimes, financial help. One spring a neighbor borrowed $50 from J. C. and promptly lost it while loading a train car of grain. Luckily it was recovered by painstakingly stroking the surface of the grain in the car with a shingle until it was found. Courage, faith, and determination were prime attributes of the pioneers. Submitted by Charles Stewart. ALEX GOODMAN

Alex Goodman (Adamundur Gudmundson) Family. Lower row, left to right: John, Gudmundur, Joseph, Gudlaug. Upper row: Mrs. Asdis, Alex and Barney. Alex Goodman was bom in Iceland in 1851. He immigrated to America in 1878, spent one winter in Ontario and then came to Fargo where he spent one season on the Grandin farm trying to earn money to file on land. He came to Grafton in 1879 and filed on land east of Cashel where they Uved for 17 years. He married Asdis Gudmundsdottir in 1881. They had six chUdren but only 3 sons lived to adulthood. In 1897, Gudmundur purchased land three mUes east of Gardar. In 1899, he married Mrs. PauUna Johnson, a widow with two sons, Swain and WilUam. Asdis, mother of his children, had passed away. Pauline died in 1934 and Gudmundur in 1937. In 1910 Gudmundur and Paulina adopted her niece, Bertha Swainson, who lived with them until they passed away, she is now the only surviving member of the family. Children of Gudmundur and Asdis were: Barney, John, Gudmundur, Joseph and Gunlog, all deceased. Submitted by Bertha Swainson, Gardar.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stewart His parents immigrated to the U. S. from Scotland. They came to New York and then went north to Canada. They began farming in western Canada near Elora, Ont. Young John worked as a sailor on the Great Lakes, among other things, before coming south into North Dakota to farm. He started farming in Alma Township, Cavalier County, about 1882. Early and late killing frosts and wild geese that ate the crops prompted him to move to Walsh County near Herrick, a railroad siding, in 1891. Killing frosts weren't the only factors for moving from western Cavalier County. Getting the grain to market with oxen was a slow process also, since the nearest loading station was at Hamilton, far to the east. One cold, early winter when hauling cheap wheat to Hamilton it took the proceeds from the first load to buy a dogskin coat that would make it possible to survive the succeeding trips. Later his parents joined him in Walsh County. He bought grain for the Peavy Elevator Company at Herrick and in 1900 he bought the elevator. He also continued to farm while buying grain. In the beginning Herrick was named New St. Andrews (old St. Andrews was a boat landing to the east on the Red River), later its name was changed to Elora when a post office was established. When rural mail service eliminated many small post offices the railroad changed the name to Herrick. He served on the school board of District No. 31 for about 30 years and a like number on the township board. He was the first chairman of the Walsh County

Pioneers Without Biographies Burke, EUen Buchanan, James Barrows, Margaret Charboneau, M . Crawford, David Crawford, James Curriere, Theodore 252

Cryderman, Johnson Chase, F. E. Chouniard, X. Collette, Wm Connell, James Deschenes, Joseph Duffy, James Dunbar, William Dillman, Caroline Dryden, Wis. Fryer, Jac. 0. Ferguson, Wm. Ferguson, Catherine Ferguson, Duncan Ferguson, Peter, Jr. Felthusen, A. M. Ferguson, Peter French, Chas. Z. Finkle, Chas. Finkle, 0. H. Goff, Mary J. Graham, Wm. Giles, David Goff, M. J. Gillies, Martin Gudmondson, A. Gurnie, Cath. Greer, Wm. T. Harrington, And. Hely, G. W. Hella, J. I. Hunter, Jas. Hunter, Mary C. Heeny, Wm. Hazzard, Jos. H. Hazzard, Mary E. Hogenson, E. K. Jamieson, J. H. Johnson, Thos. Johnson, Jas. A.

Johnson, N. J. Johnson, Elizabeth Kerfoot, R. G. Kerfoot, John B. Keyes, Ann and Robert Lund, Hans R. Lewis, J. D. Lacoste, Pierre Laberge, Jos. Murchie, Chas. Marshall, Geo. Marshall, Geo. Moreau, J. Murphy, Cath. McLean, J. R., Thomas, Hannah and Wm. McQuinn, Geo. McGrath, Michael McConnell, Wm. Nollman, C. Normand, A. Neilson, P. A. Peland, Oliver Pelkey, Wm. Reinhardt, Jac. Reed, Jane Ross, Jesse Rasmussen, Anders, Christ, Henry, Peter, C. Savard, H. E. Southard, F. 0. Sondeland, Lewis J. Scott, Samuel Smith, Daniel K. Schaefer, Jost Sherman, Josha Sell, Wm. Trainor, Thomas Twomley, Peter Upham, Nathan Wallace, John D.

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QUICK GllAIIVM DBKAD, Two cups white flour, two cups gntllHm flour, two cups sour milk, one am! one-hair teaspoons BOdil or one heaped, one cup brown sugur, suit nnd bake at once.—Mils. .1. TIIMIIS. ,

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Two CUJIS sweet milk, one cup sour milk, two cups corn meal, one cup of flour, one-half cup molasses, one teaspoon soiht. little salt. . Hake one hour, steam three hours.—Mils. C, I.. I'lilNiK.

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P. A.. B L A K S T A D ,

BnowN BREAD. DEALER IN

Three cups soor milk or butter milk, one tablespoon molasses, one teaspoon soila. little salt and enough gmhaifl Hour to make itns thick us graham gems. This makes two small loaves of bread.--Mils. K . J . MoullK. BROWS B K ' K A D .

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Two and one half cups sour milk, one-half cup molasses, into these put one heaping teaspoon sods, two cups corn meal, one cup graham Hour nnd one teaspoon salt, t'se coffee cups. .Steam three hours.—Mils. C. A . HARRIS.

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Mix two and one-halt cups of sifted flour, three teaspoonfuls Hoyal baking powder, one teas poonrul salt, one tablesponnful butter or lard, add one cup of sweet milk, have dough us soft as can he rolled out. L'se une-balf cup of Hour In rolling out. Hake in u very hot oven.—Mils. A . G . M A U L K U .

HILL AVENUE NORTH.

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C R A F T O N , N. DAK.

Page from an 1895 cook book.

Page from an 1895 cook book. 253

Bto.

254

ARDOCH TOWNSHIP At the time when Ardoch village belonged to the township, Ardoch township was organized in 1882, taking its name from the village. The first township officers were Alex McGilivery, chairman; Frank Galiski, supervisor; W. T. Sheppard, assessor, and John Farmer, justice of the peace.

In 1888, Bernard J. Narloch, Minto groceryman, was elected clerk until 1908. Other officers were John Palouski, supervisor; Alex McGilivery, chairman, and W. T. Sheppard, supervisor. Bridges were built for as little as $240 and were strong enough to support large threshing rigs.

History of Pioneer Days of Ardoch railroad was built in 1905. There were two drug stores, and two doctors, Montgomery and Williamson. Doctor Montgomery, who had been educated in Toronto, London, and Edinburgh, took up practice in Ardoch in 1880. His wife was the former Alida Drew, daughter of Joseph Drew, among the first of the settlers in the area. Church was a veterinarian who started practice the same year. The first one room school was built in 1882 with Charles Drew as teacher, with a salary of $30 a month, with a term of four months. In 1896 a three room school was built which was destroyed by fire, and the brick school which still stands was built in 1914. A post office was needed, so John Stevenson wrote Washington, D. C. and he was appointed postmaster. Ernest Jacobi sold his interest of farming and opened the first bank with J. W. Dennison as clerk. The bank and Jacobi moved to East Grand Forks, Minnesota and later to California. He was the grandfather of Jane Russell, the movie star. Ardoch has had three names—first, Kimball, suggested by a railway official. But there was another Kimball in the state, so it was changed to Clair, and later to Ardoch in 1882 by John Stevenson/ who suggested Ardoch for both town and township in honor of his hometown in Canada, as so many of the citizens came from Ontario. A weekly newspaper, the Ardoch Monitor, was launched in 1882 by John Mayan. It was later changed to the Standard, and finally discontinued. In 1896 both the Presbyterian and Catholic churches were built, and shortly thereafter the Methodist Church. Every enterprising town had a racetrack in those days, and Col. J. J. Heffern had one on his farm. This provided entertainment for the community. In 1890 the Foresters were organized, followed by the Woodmen in 1891, with 80 members each buying a share for $25.00. A hall which still stands, was built, but later interest died down, and a community club was organized, which flourished for about 20 years. There was a bicycle club formed with 26 women members in the early 1900's. There was also a magazine club which flourished for about 10 years. From tax records of the early 1890's the following are listed: from east of town, the Brennans, Houk Ferris, George Stevenson, Joe Errett, Dora J. Carpenters, Switzers John Mesheski and Joe Korynta. Descendants of the last two still Uve on the land. From the north of town were the Abercrombies, the Alex McGiUverys, the Drews, the Wilsons-John, William, and Thomas, the Farmers-the

In 1877, William McLaren, who was married to Jane Stevenson, lived at Clarenden, Ont. He was sent to Calgary, Alta., to look after some timberland when he met an old friend at Winnipeg. He told McLaren of the wonderful land in the Red River Valley. It was all level, there were no stones, and all that was necessary were horses, plows, and harrows. The U. S. Government was giving settlers 320 acres of land free for agricultural purposes. McLaren investigated for himself. He was so impressed that he applied for citizenship and filed on 200 acres. In 1878 McLaren returned to Clarenden and told the Stevensons and E. J. Jacobi about the wonderful opportunity in the Red River Valley. The two families sold their 800 acres for $800. They were making only a bare living and there was plenty of hard work. They took their horses and wagons and the few things they had and emigrated. They went by train to Collingwood, Ont., then by boat to Duluth, Minnesota. They went by train to Moorhead, the end of the line. Finally they drove the rest of the way by wagon train. Ernest Jacobi was still in Canada, but he had the bug to come to Dakota. He decided to get 300 acres of land near the Stevensons and returned to Canada. He sent his wife and three children to Dakota in 1879. On March 16th, 1880, Jacobi and his son, Gustav, arrived in Crookston, Minn., the end of the railroad and drove to Grand Forks. The snow was six feet deep. Ernest Jacobi built a store on the Turtle River. They had to haul all their grain and goods to and from Grand Forks where the railroad was built from Crookston. In 1880 the Great Northern Railroad decided to continue the railroad as far as the coulee south of Ardoch. Two enterprising homesteaders settled on adjacent land: Thomas McCullough in 1878 on the eastern side of the railroad tracks and roadbed and Peter Stoughton on the west side in 1879. As the railroad was built, the firm of Comstock and White from Moorhead, Minnesota, purchased the town site from these two men and proceeded to develop the town. In 1881 the Jacobis and Stevensons decided to move closer to their land, which was Ardoch. The first store was owned and operated by John Stevenson and his brother, George. A hotel was built the same year by McCullough followed by Switzer Hotel. Pierce Breuman was the first blacksmith, followed by Hugh Ryan in latter years. There were two lumberyard stores, one operated by the Stevenson brothers, the other owned and operated by McGuires, Corcorans, and Bogans. There were 11 elevators at one time after the Soo line 256

near). Jo Chapp owned the taxi company. Among several who achieved fame are listed: Dr. Leo Sweeney, Chicago, a medical colonel in World War H with many decorations both from the U. S. and foreign countries. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Sweeney. Bishop William Mulloy, the son of the William Mulloys, Dr. Wilson, the son of William Wilson. Frank McMahon was a multi millionaire and owner of the Kentucky Derby winner, Majestic Prince. The mother of actress Jane Russell was an author of several books to her credit. Ardoch also had a couple of inventors. Mr. Henry invented a Maple Leaf straw blower which was improved in later years and used for some years. Charles Dyleman invented a mechanical shocker which was attached to the binder and shocked the bundles as they were dropped. It was not a success and was discontinued. In the early days, Ardoch was noted for the best baseball team in the area. Ardoch was built on a swamp. Otto R. Jacobi was a famous painter and has pictures hung in the galleries of Montreal and Ottawa, Canada. He gave the Reinhold Jacobis a painting of the Ardoch swamp which they have in their home in Grand Forks. Otto Jacobi died in 1901. Grand Forks Mayor, Cyril O'Neil, is a grandson of the late Hugh Ryans of Ardoch. This history of Ardoch was compiled by former residents of Ardoch with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Hart, still living on their farm near Ardoch. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 25, 1972, in St. John's Catholic Church. Chairman: Mrs. Ethel Wilson Barnard, East Grand Forks, Minn.; co-chairmen: Mrs. Alice Heffern Cayley, Grafton, N. D.", Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Sweeney, Larimore, N. D., and Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Robertson, East Grand Forks, Minn.

McGaws. Wilsons are the only ones of those mentioned still living in the area. From the west of town were the Bill Burrises, the Will Drews, Mike Monleys, Jays Baynes, M. J. Hart, T. M. Simpson, the Irwins, the Harts, and the Bayneses still live in the area. South of town were the Hallidays, the Warrens, the McGiverys, the Bouchers, theBogans, the Harrisons, the Fieneys, the Foleys, the McDonalds, the Treacys, the Dennisses, the Morrows, Lester Olmsteads, the Donovans, the Fitzgeralds, the Churches, the McMahons, the Donellys, the Conways, the Leesons, the Mulleys, the Berrigans, and the Moohaus. These people are mentioned because Ardoch depended on the farmers entirely so they were important to the finance of the little town. The Leesons, Hallidays, and Foleys are the only survivors of this list in the area now. The business places and proprietors of the town itself all have ads in a book put out by the Soo Line in 1905. Bank of Ardoch—Agriculture Implement Dealer, Theo. Paschla—Bowling Alley, A. Stoughton—Blacksmith, Hugh Ryan—Drugstore, the Stevenson Brothers, Dr.'s Williamson and Montgomery, elevators owned by Atlantic Elev. Co., Duluth Elev. Co., Northwestern, M & N, State and National Elevator Co.'s, Furniture and Undertaking Parlors, B. A. Ferris General Merchants, Ardoch Merchants, William Hoover, Mgr., McGuire & Cocoran, Sweeney & Bogan, three hotels-Windsor, Park, and Northern. The hardware store was owned by George Hill, harness shop—Charles Scott, livery stable—W. J. Crashery, lumber—The Robertson Lumber Company. Meat markets were owned by John Treacy and A. Rolezymski, a millinery store by Tessi Morrow, restaurant—Mrs. M . Nolan and daughter, Nellie, race track and vet surgeon—J. J. Heffern (Col. Heffern was the famous auctioneer having auction sales far and

Ardoch,

N. Dak., March

18, 1914

257

ARDOCH BIOGRAPHIES ALEX ABBOTT Alex Abbott came to Ardoch in 1879 with his parents, Mr and Mrs. Moses Abbott. Alex Abbott was born at. Arnprier, Ont. Nov. 8, 1872. The family came by way of Fisher's Landing, that early Red Lake river port, head of navigation on the Red and Red Lake rivers. They lived on a farm in the Grand Forks county area, and later established the Park Hotel in Ardoch, which he operated 25 years. ;»,'.'.. . i Alex Abbott married Gertrude Green at Minto April 22 1889. Nine children were born. Living in this area now are Frank, Crookston, Minn.; Mrs. Alvin Johnson, Manvel; and Mrs. Frances Olimb, Oslo, Minn. MICHAEL J. HART Michael J. Hart came as a young man to the Ardoch area in 1889. He returned to Canada two years later and married Katherine Kennedy. They lived in Ardoch where he ran a recreation parlor until his wife's death in 1899. He bought a farm west of Ardoch where he was one of the early threshing machine owners who did custom work. He was also a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, was active in school and township affairs and with a neighbor graded the road bed for the Sioux railroad two miles east and a mile west of Ardoch in 1904. He was active in the organization of the Non-Partisan League and a staunch supporter. He had four children to raise with the aid of his sister, Mrs. Ed Nayle (Maggie) after his wife's death. Roland, married Mary Coffey in 1916, and had one son; Jerome, moved to Western Canada, and lives in Victoria, B C (he never married); Patrick, married Loretta Foley in 1922, lives at Ardoch, has three children; Kathleen, married Bob Vilandre in 1940, and lives at Crary. They have two children. Mr. Hart died in 1935. JOHN JAMES H E F F E R N John James Heffern came to the United States from Toledo, Ont., Canada, in 1882. He landed at Fisher's Landing, and then came to Clair, Dakota Territory, later known as Ardoch, North Dakota. He worked building the Great Northern Railroad north to the Canadian border. He farmed south of Ardoch and also worked on a farm for the Johnson family at Forest River. He later had a livery stable in Ardoch and also drove the community hearse for funerals. In January of 1892< he returned to Newboro, Ontario, Canada and married Alice E. Boulger. There were nine children born to this union. They were: John Joseph, veteran of World War I Army, deceased, buried at Ardoch, N. D.; William Augustas, veteran of World War I, Navy, deceased, buried at Ardoch, N . D.; Mary Ellen Heffern, now Mrs. Charles Joseph McQuillan St Paul, Minn.; Edward, who did not pass the physical examination for the draft of WWI, deceased, - buried in Grand Forks, N. D.; James Norman, died of the flu in 1918, buried at Ardoch, N. D.; Adeline Elizabeth Heffern R.N., married John H. Martin, Klammath Falls Ore., deceased, Aug. 8, 1964, buried in Heppner,

Ore • Alice Louise Hefferen, married James Daniel Cayley, Grafton, N. D. ; Isabelle Heffern, R.N., married Dr. Richard Lawrence, killed in an automobile accident near Bend, Ore. Several years later she married William P. Kilkenney, Pendleton, Ore.; Anne Ethel Heffern, deceased Oct. 22, 1969, in Los Angeles, buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles, Calif. FAMILY OF OWEN AND MARY HEFFERN AN Owen and Mary had nine children. There was WiUiam Davis, married, Watertown. Peter was the only one to remain in Ontario. Patrick traveled widely and did not marry. Mary Ann married Thomas Foley, who was a native of Kitley, and a pioneer of North Dakota. She died when their son, Edward was born. John James also pioneered in North Dakota. Catherine married George Patterson of Watertown and Elizabeth married Edgar LaCroix of Watertown. Ellen married John McNamee, a native of Lansdowne, died at Sault. Ste. Marie, Mich. Thomas married AUce McNamee of Lansdowne and remained on the homestead until 1912. The last letter the family received from Patrick was written from a sick room in the Yukon at the time of the Gold Rush. John James was a go-getter who never got to high school. A horseman by both heredity and environment, he bought many carloads of horses in Ontario and sold them in Dakota. He made himself a reputation as a horse doctor, and later as an auctioneer. He married Alice Boulger of Newboro and never came east afterwards. When he established a family he sent his mother the price of a ticket to go to visit at his home in Ardoch, N. D. Grandmother was about seventy when she made her trip, accompanied by her eldest daughter whose husband was an engineer on the New York Central Railway. During World War I he and three of his sons were in the United States Army. The fourth and youngest son died of the flu. His sons are all dead now, but Edward of Grand Forks, N . D., left three sons, James, John and Henry, to carry on the name. All five of his daughters are aUve. He preferred a shorter name and his last letter to me was signed Col. J . J. Heffern. Thomas Edward Heffernan sold the homestead near Mahon School to the Riley brothers in 1912 and went with his wife and family to the Canadian west. His family consisted of Gabriel Joseph, PauUne, Cetil, Ted Bernard, Euadna and Catherine. Gerald was born in the west They lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and their latest address was Primrose, Alberta. The only one of the family I have seen since 1912 was the eldest son, G. J., who spent some time with us in the summer of 1919. He had enlisted and gone overseas with a Western Battalion. He saw two years' service and came back with the Twenty-Second. Grandfather was fatally injured in a fall from a haywagon in 1890. Grandmother lived with Uncle Tom until her death in 1903. Submitted by J. P. Heffernan.

homestead and tree claim two and one half miles west of the site of the present village of Ardoch. He later added to the size of his farm but did not make farming his life work. When the railroad reached Ardoch he moved into the village and began the active practice of his profession. He soon became known as an able physician. He was elected a member of the first state Legislature and remained a member for four years. It is said he secured the passage of the first state medical law which was regarded by the medical profession as one of the best in any of the states for regulating the practice of medicine and fixing a high standard of qualification for those who came to North Dakota to practice medicine. In 1895, he was appointed State Superintendent of Public Health by Governor Allin. Dr. Montgomery was elected an elder of the Presbyterian Church in Ardoch when it was organized and represented the Presbytery of Pembina at Philadelphia in 1888 at General Assembly. Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery were parents of two children, a son, John, and a daughter, Minerva. In 1915 the family moved to Fresno, Calif. Two years later, Dr. Montgomery died at his home there. (Information taken from "Minutes of the Synod of North Dakota")

There was a song which Uncle Tom used to sing very well. It seemed to have been made to order for him. U N C L E T O M ' S SONG Very well do I remember, though it's many years ago, When I journeyed down to Portsmouth, with my mother you must know. M y father was a sailor, on board a man-of-war And he was going to leave us once again upon the shore. The ship stood in the harbour with flags and banners dressed, There were weeping wives and sweethearts, we were weeping with the rest. We pressed our lips at parting while standing on the quay And as he bade us both farewell, these words he said to m e : Refrain— Don't you leave your mother, Tom, that's when I'm gone Don't you let her m a r r y , lad, or don't you let her mourn. Remember, boy, she nursed you, when I was far away And don't you leave your mother when her hair turns gray. She must have had a feeling we would not meet again. Scarcely a word was spoken while riding on the train.

Three months went slowly onward, many changes had occurred And of the good ship Victory for weeks we had not heard. One day we got a telegram that the ship was lost And that for many dreary miles she had been tempest tossed. M y mother fainted at the news but when the swoon had fled I kissed her and fondly told her of the words poor father said. Refrain— She lingered through the autumn until the frost and snow But the cruel winds of winter very quickly brought her low. She died in my embraces, with spirit calm and brave And now the weeping willow waves in silence o'er her grave, I often go to see her grave and keep the verdant green And plant some spotlee lilies iust above that peaceful scene I have the satisfaction to know now she is dead I've been faithful to my promise and the words my father s a i d : Refrain—

ERNEST SMITH Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Smith were settlers in the Ardoch Township in the 1800's. Mrs. Smith came to this community in 1879. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Switzer, who opened and operated the Windsor Hotel at Ardoch.

DR. JOHN MONTGOMERY Dr. John Montgomery was the first doctor in Ardoch. He made his first visit to the Red River Valley in 1879, driving over the country from Fisher's Landing, through Grand Forks and down the Dakota side as far as the "Big

Mr. Smith settled in Ardoch in 1886, and was in a harness making trade. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married by the Rev. Charles Lane in the Methodist Church at Ardoch. Charles Scott and Lizzie Morrow were thenattendants. The couple had two children, Clyde and Ross, both deceased. JAMES J. SWEENEY FAMILY James J. Sweeney was born at Caledon, Ontario, February 21, 1867. He arrived at Ardoch, N. D., in the summer of 1894. Ann Bogan Sweeney was born in Jasper, Ontario, January 22, 1871. She was the oldest of 10 children. Anna came to Ardoch with her family the same year. They lived on a farm south of Ardoch. She attended St. Bernardo Academy in Grand Forks. She also taught several rural schools in Grand Forks County. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney were married August 5, 1898. They lived most of their married life in Ardoch, where Mr. Sweeney was a grain buyer. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney operated the Windsor Hotel for many years and also owned the Cities Service gas station. They were the parents of six children: Dr. Leo P. A. Sweeney, still practicing medicine in the Chicago area; Leroy, a retired rural mail carrier, resides in Larimore; Hugh, retired and resides in Chicago, Illinois; Maurice, retired, lives at Sun City, Arizona; Mary, deceased. J. J. Sweeney died July, 1941. Angelia, a teacher, lives in Chicago. Mrs. Sweeney moved to Chicago in 1945, and lived with her daughter until death, January 28, 1973, at the age of 102 years.

Dr. John Montgomery Family Dr. John Montgomery, Sr., Mrs. Drew Montgomery (Wife), John Montgomery (Son), Minerva Montgomery (Daughter). Salt," now Forest River. He was so pleased with tne general appearance of the country that he secured a 259

School Districts SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10 From 1882-1892 A. McGilivery was the leader in an. organization for putting together a school. The clerk was Jastt Callahan. The first teacher was J. W. Lyans. The directors from 1896-1909 were Geo. Hill, James Carcona, James Stevenson, Charles Drew, Isavell Ferris, Jas. Sweeney, G. M. Williamson, T. J. McGuire, Geo Stevenson, Chas. Scott, and Jas. Baine. The clerks were Wm Peverly, James Sweeney, Geo. L. Monow, Mrs Annie Sweeney, Ella Feppis and Mrs. Jm. Baine. The treasurer was C. W. Denneston. Enrollment ranged from 89-103. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11 From 1882-1892 the directors were Harry Hanery and Julius Briskey. The clerk was Anthony Gerszewski. Mrs. Annie Kerr was the first teacher. The directors in 1896-1907 consisted of John Paschke, Anton Valinski, Max Warczwk, Michael Narlock, Joseph Michalski, Alexander Wirkus, Leon Chapp and Jno. Paschke. The clerks at this time were Frank Galefski and Allie Gerszewski. The treasurer was Anton Gerszewski. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 12 From 1884-1892 Mathiac Hamshu was the treasurer and the clerk was A. Staven. The first teacher was Miss Lizzie Larrell. . The directors were Paul Staven, Wm. Wiggins, M . Dvorak, M. Houska, Duncan Bell, John McEachern, Frank Barta, and Jos. Dvorak. The clerks at this time were A. T. Staven, Leslie T. Townshend, and Wm. Wiggins. The treasurers at this time were John McEachern, and John Harazim.

ARDOCH TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES JOHN DOWNS FAMILY John Downs homesteaded in Ardoch township in the early 1880's. He was born in New Brunswick on January 7, 1825, and died July 25, 1896, here in North Dakota. To his wife and him were born three children: Wanda, May and Bel tram. Mrs Downs kept the homestead and for a time did much nursing work for both the doctors and at Ardoch and Minto. When Beltram married Bella Wilson he continued to keep the homestead until his death in Dec. 1968. All the family were deceased before Beltram passed away. THOMAS FOLEY Thomas Foley came with his family from Eastern Canada in 1879 at the age of 12. He attended school at Schurmeir, N. D. for six months and finished the fourth grade. He married Mary Ann Murphy at Minto in 1892. She had come to Dakota in 1877, and was one of the first

pupils in Minto School where she finished her education. In 1891 he bought a 160 acre farm for $1000, located six miles NE of Minto, put up buildings and was married. They lived there until 1895 when they traded for a farm DA miles east of Minto for $1000 to boot. They put up buildings and lived there until 1918 when they moved to Levant Township, south of Ardoch. Mr. Foley was active in school and township affairs as well as Red Cross. They were the parents of 13 children, six of whom died in infancy. A son, Leo, was killed in action in 1942. Two other sons, John of Grand Forks, who married Mary Jarombekin 1933 and had 3 children, died in 1970. Frank, who married Isabel Irwin in 1932 and had 12 children, died in 1971. Laurence who married Alyce Campbell, and has one son, lives on a farm at Ardoch. Madeline who married Wm. Nagle in 1932, and has two children, lives in Grand Forks. Rita who married Sylvester Mulligan in 1954, and has 5 children, lives at Grand Forks. Loretta who'married Pat Hart in 1922, and has 3 children, lives at Ardoch. Mr. and Mrs. Foley were married 63 years. He died in March, 1959, and Mrs. Foley died in September of the same year. THOMAS FOLEY, SR. Thomas Foley, Sr., was born in Ireland in 1828 and came to Canada as a child with his parents from Kerry Co., Ireland. He married Mary Ann Burke in Ottawa, Ontario. The oldest son, Maurice, Thomas and his wife, Mary Ann, came to North Dakota in June, 1879, by train to Grand Forks. Tickets cost $23.00 each. They bought a relinquishment for $200 from a Dave Smith and used his homesteaders right. The deal included an 8x10 shack already built on land and 50 bushels of potatoes. During the summer they built a log house and barn on the farm and in November of 1879, the mother and three younger children came to Dakota. The first winter was a bad one which brought much snow, but there was plenty of wild game and fish to eat so they survived. In the spring, two older sons, James and Patrick, and a daughter, Mary, came from Michigan where they had been working. The two boys lived with John, their brother, who had also come before his family and proved up on land east of Minto. Closest post office was at Acton (then called Kelly's Point) and transportation to Acton was by boat on the Forest River. The closest mill was at Christiana, east of Manvel, where logs were hauled to be cut. The first year they broke 20 acres of prairie with 8 oxen they had purchased and had 109 bu. of wheat and 80 bu. of oats. Oxen were used to break land for neighbors with claims, for $5 an acre. It seemed like a lot of money to them. Family consisted of Maurice, who lived at Schurmeier, north of Grand Forks, and married Mary Lynch. They had 8 children: John married Mary Fischer, Uved east of Minto and had 3 children; Agnes Schmitz, William and Joe, all deceased; Patrick and James, unmarried, moved to western Canada, deceased; Eddie married to Katie Halchmecht, had 8 children, moved to Stockton, Calif., deceased; Thomas married to Mary Ann Murphy, lived out their lives in the community; Kate married to John Sheppard, moved to western Canada, a daughter, Mrs. Edna Graves, visits her every year; Mary, married to John Haverson, moved to

Duluth, Minn., 6 children. Mr. Foley died in 1910 and Mrs. Foley in 1931 at 100 years old.

JOHN GERSZEWSKI FAMILY

ROBERT GEDDES FAMILY Robert Geddes was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and he came to Canada when he was 14 years old where his father homesteaded near Port Elgin, Bruce County, Ontario. Years later he went to Pennsylvania where he married Rosetta Hobbs. In the spring of 1882 they came to North Dakota where they filed homestead in Ardoch township. Mr and Mrs. Geddes reared a family of two sons and three daughters: John, James, Eliza, Margaret and Rosetta. Mr. Geddes was very active in the Presbyterian Church in Minto. Submitted by Mrs. Chester Gornowich, Forest River. ANTONI GERSZEWSKI FAMILY

Antoni Gerszewski, the third son of Tomasz Gierszewski and Regina Zygmanski, was born in Czapiewice on June 3, 1845, and baptized in Brusy, Bydgoszcz, Poland, where he married Michalina Kukowski in 1872. They came to the United States and to Winona, Minnesota in 1879, and to Walsh County in 1881. He homesteaded on the northeast quarter of Section 26,. Ardoch Township (155 N., Range 52 W) and also took a tree claim on the east half of the northwest quarter (80 acres) Section 35 (155 N, Range 52 W) in Ardoch Township. He had purchased considerable amount of land, including a quarter section for his brother, Walenty, who was still in Poland. In 1917 he retired to Minto where his wife died the same year. The marriage of Antoni Gerszewski and Michalina Kukowski was blessed with seven children. They were: Mary (Czappa) the only one born in Poland, Josef, Alojzy, Waleria (Ambury), Victoria (Slominski), Dominik, and Bibianna (Langowski). They were members of St. Stanislaus Church at Warsaw until the time they moved to Minto where they became members of the Sacred Heart Church there. Antoni Gerszewski died on March 2, 1934, and they are both buried in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church cemetery there.

John Gerszewski Paulina Kiedrowski Gerszewski (Wife) Married at St. Stanislaus at Warsaw Nov. 17, 1896 John Gerszewski, the fifth son of Tomasz and Regina Zygmanski of Czapiewice, Poland, was born on February 7, 1851. He came to the United States a single man in about 1881, and to Walsh County in about 1882 and homesteaded on the northwest quarter of Section 24, Ardoch Township (155 R 2) on which he was issued a patent on Dec. 8, 1888. He married Josephina Czelik, who died a few years later, and on Nov. 17, 1896, he married Paulina Kiedrowski in Saint Stanislaus Church at Warsaw, North Dakota. They did not have children of their own but adopted Margaret Lase (Szulc), who later married Frank Gierszewski, who upon invitation also came from Poland to stay with them. In 1918 John sold his homestead in Ardoch Township and bought the Archibald Miller homestead in Forest River Township in Section 1, from Thomas Kowalski, moved to Minto and went into the flour business, with which he remained until he retired back to Forest River Township. John died in 1930 at the age of 79 while his wife, Paulina, died in 1933 at the age of 71. While they lived in Ardoch Township they were members of St. Stanislaus Church at Warsaw, and at the time of their death were members of the Sacred Heart Church at Minto. They are both buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery of Minto. VINCENT GERSZEWSKI Vincent Gerszewski was born in Warsaw, Poland, February 8, 1872. He attended school there for several years. He came to Canada as a young man, then came to Grand Forks and worked on the railroad which was being built from Grand Forks to Hillsboro. Vincent Gerszewski married Frances Riski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Riski at Warsaw, North Dakota on October 24, 1893. He then became section foreman on the Great Northern from Minto north to St. Thomas. In 1894 he bought 80 acres in Walshville Township, and lived there also doing odd jobs to make money to support his family. To this union were born 8 sons and 7 daughters, one daughter died in infancy, 4 sons at later dates.

brother, Antoni, with whom they stayed for several weeks.

Walenty Gerszewski Marganna Kukowski [Wife]

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Gerszewski He kept on buying machinery and rented land until 1915 when he bought 480 acres in Ardoch township and lived there until the time of his death June 18, 1949. Francis Riski Gerszewski (his wife) passed away on March 5, 1935, at the age of 59 years. Both are buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery of Warsaw. Mr. Gerszewski served on the township board for many years and the school board, and was secretary of St. Stanislaus Church for 13 years, a director of the Community Hall at Warsaw and a member of the Holy Name Society. WALENTY GERSZEWSKI FAMILY Walenty Gerszewski, the oldest son of Tomasz Gierszewski and Regina Zygmanski, was born in Czapiewice, Poland, on February 11, 1840, and married Maryanna Kukowski about 1865. A tailor by trade, he already had four brothers and one son in the United States, who wrote him about the freedom they had in the new land, so in the spring of 1888 they packed up all the belongings they were allowed to take with them and with the entire family came to the United States. His youngest son, Alexander, was only two then, and caused his mother the added inconvenience when he got sea sick. The ocean voyage lasted some 14 weeks and they landed in Quebec, where they went through customs. The customs officer used long probes and were not very careful about how they probed their belongings, especially such items as the quilts and feather ticks, and were quickly stopped by protests in Polish by their oldest daughter, Elzbieta. Then the long tedious train journey from Quebec via Winnipeg to Neche and on to Minto. The family was met in Minto by Joseph Slominski and his

The Valentine Gerszewski Family—1840-1924 Center, front: Valentine Gerszewski. Second row, left to right: Elizabeth (Blawat), Mary (Nice), Lucy (Bruski). Back row: John, Vincent, Joseph, Jacob, Julian and Alex. Walenty had previous arrangements with his brother, Antoni, who had purchased a farm for him. Their farm was a homestead that somebody had abandoned just across the road from Antoni, the southwest quarter in Section 25. This farm had a small bam, and a house which was too small for Walenty's family, so the same fall he built a larger one which stands today. Walenty's oldest son, John, came here a couple of years earlier. He visited his uncles here but couldn't find a suitable homestead here. He heard that Montana was letting homesteads, so he went there and staked what looked like a nice farm. While there he lived with the Benedictine Monks between the work on his homestead. There he fought with the drought for a couple of years and found it unsuccessful, he abandoned it and returned here on horseback. He later married and settled in section 28 in Walshville Township. Walenty and Maryanna Gierszewski retired on his own farm and lived with his son, Alexander. Maryanna died Dec. 4, 1913, at the age of 67. Walenty died on the 21st of February, 1924. They were both faithful members of Saint Stanislaus Church at Warsaw and are buried in the St. Stanislaus Cemetery. To their union were bom nine children: Elzbieta (Blawat), John, Lucia (Bruski), Vincent, Mary (Szykowny-Nice), Joseph, Jacob, Julian, and Alexander.

GEORGE WALTER HALLIDAY George Walter Halliday came to Ardoch, North Dakota prior to 1887, and filed on the present Halliday land south of town. He later returned to Perth, Ontario,

during his campaign for the office of United States senator. He was of medium stature and wore the short, clipped beard which was in vogue during Dakota territorial days. His distinguished appearance and dignified bearing characterized him for natural leadership and he served Walsh County as commissioner and legislator.

where he married Isabella Abercrombie April 5, 1887. Mr. Halliday was a carriage maker by trade. They were the parents of four children, George Alexander, Ethel Sarah, Ruby Elliott, and Georgia Bell Josephine. George died in February, 1897. Mrs. Halliday later married Andrew McGaw. They were the parents of Douglas Lee, who died in 1924. The only living member of this family is Georgia, who makes her home at 726 10th Street North, Fargo, North Dakota. She retired from the Great Northern freight office, Fargo, North Dakota, after 48 years of continuous service. She started working in Ardoch, North Dakota December 15, 1918, and retired as assistant-cashier in 1966.

Mr. Harvey sold his farm to Fred Flanders, a cousin of Mrs. Harvey, in 1890. After a short residence in Minto, he moved to Pomona, Calif., where he died.

McMULLEN, ROBERT CHARLES FAMILY Robert Charles McMullen came to Grand Forks from Perth, Ont., Canada, when the railroad only came as far as Fisher, Minn. He homesteaded a mile north and a mile and a half west of Ardoch. The first years he worked at Mallory, Minn., on farms and cooked on the boat from Grand Forks to Winnipeg. He married Jennie Hoag, who came from Lanark, Ont., to take care of Mrs. McLaren who was sick. They had two daughters, Mattied (Mrs. Sam Woods) and Meeda (Mrs. Archie Pickle). They were members of the Presbyterian Church in Ardoch. They later moved to Forest River where Mr. McMullen died in December, 1919. Mrs. Jennie McMullen lived to be 104. She lived at the Good Samaritan Rest Home in East Grand Forks until her death on September 13,1970. She was buried in the Forest River Cemetery. Mrs. Sam Woods lives at 1313 Cherry Street, Grand Forks. PATRICK MULLOY FAMILY Patrick Mulloy and his wife Mary DuL'iary and nine children came to Dakota Territory in 1880 from West Meath, Ont., a small community between Pembroke and Renfrew. They traveled by train to Grand Forks, from there by ox carts to a homestead near Ardoch. Their youngest son, WiUiam, remained in Walsh County. AU were active in church and business activities in Ardoch for many years. WUliam went to Drayton about 1887 to work in a store. There he met his future wife Margaret Ann Doyle, who had come from MerrickviUe, Ont., with her parents, John Doyle and Rose Ann McGuire, in 1883. WUUam and Margaret were married in Grafton in October, 1889, by Msgr. John Considine.

Mr. George Walter Halliday, Ardoch

They went to Ardoch and farmed untU 1902, when they moved with their five chUdren, Rosemary, WUliam, John, James and Kathleen to Grafton where Mr. Mulloy worked in the collection department for the Rumley Machine Company and later for the Drury Company. At. the time of his death in 1937, he was head of the Collection Department of the State MiU and Elevator. Mrs. Mulloy died in January, 1918. Their oldest son, William, was ordained to the priesthood at St. John's Church in Grafton by Bishop James O'ReiUy on June 4, 1916. In 1944 he was the first native bom North Dakotan to be elevated to the Episcopacy. He was named Bishop of Covington, Kentucky. He died there in 1959. Only the youngest chUd, Mrs. L. D. Sweeney (Kathleen), is living.

Mrs. George Walter Halliday, Ardoch

GEORGE P. HARVEY George P. Harvey was bom in Warner, New Hampsinre, Nov. 9, 1836, and homesteaded near Forest River in May, 1880. Later he purchased a farm southeast of Minto. There he erected a large farm dwelling. This home was the scene of many important political neetings and the headquarters for Gov. Ordway when he visited this section of Dakota Territory, especially 263

FRANK NARLOCH FAMILY Frank Narloch was born in Germany March 29,1838. He died Aug. 29,1918, and was buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery of Minto. He came to North Dakota by way of Quebec, Chicago, Milwaukee and Pine Creek. He left Germany to avoid service in the German army. He married Mary Anna Vaska, 1843-1903. They farmed at Pine Creek, Wis., until coming to Dakota to homestead. They had eight children: Bernard J . born in Milwaukee May 1864-1948; Frances married Max Warczak; Mary married Peter Rose; Elizabeth married Anton Valinski; Dominika married Jacob Moga; Amelia married Adam Spraftka; Felecia married Joseph Mesheski; and Frank died in infancy. Grandpa Frank had two subsequent marriages: In 1908 he married Josephine Kurkoski. She died July, 1912. In 1914 he married Mrs. Iganacz Danielski, she died July, 1932. In 1879 Frank Narloch with John Paschke and Thomas Wirkus filed on adjoining claims. After making some hay for each and erecting each a shanty they returned to Pine Creek, Wis. In April, 1880, they came with their belongings to Grand Forks which was the end of the line. They loaded their necessary things in a sleigh for the 25 mile trip to the homestead. Grandpa took land in Sec. 23. B. J. Narloch, Sr., not being of legal age pre-empted the N. W. '/ of Sec. 26. In 1895 Frank Narloch sold his land to his son-in-law, Anton Valinski, and retired in Minto. In 1896 B. J . Narloch, Sr., rented his land and came to Minto. He sold Avery Threshing machinery for two years in the northern half of North Dakota. In 1898, with Jacob Moga they built a lumber yard which they sold in 1900 to the St. Hilaire Lumber Company. They then built a hardware store the same year. Mr. Moga sold his interest to Vincent LangowsM, B. J. Narloch sold his half interest about 1908 to Loren Hewitt. In 1914, B. J. Narloch made an unsuccessful bid for the office of Register of Deeds. In 1915 he built the Farmers Lumber Yard which he sold to M. J. Gjerstad in 1928. In 1936, he started a grocery store which he sold in 1945. 2

MICHAEL NARLOCH Michael Narloch was bom in Poznan, Poland, Europe, in 1864. His parents were Andrew and Josephine Narloch. He came by rail through Canada to Dakota Territory with his parents and sisters, Ann (Mrs. Joe Michalski), Antonia (Mrs. Anton Slominski), and Josephine (Mrs. Albert LaSee), in 1884. Andrew bought his first farm in 1886 from Matheas Maraausahek. School District No. 11 was located there. Later Andrew deeded this land to Michael Narloch. Michalina Slominski was bom in Poznan, Poland, in 1871 to Peter Slominski and Christina Kenowski. She had four sisters, Paulina (Mrs. Peter Narloch), Frances (Mrs. Anton Rolczinski), Catherine (Mrs. Joe Slominski), and Josephine (Mrs. John KzewsM). Michalina came to Dakota at the age of 17 to work for the John Slominski family. Whe worked there until she married Michael at the St. Stanislaus Church in Warsaw in 1890. (This was the first church which burned down.)

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Narloch They had 12 children, Harry, Magdaline (Mrs. John Grabanski, Barbara (Mrs. Barney Weslowski) died in 1942; Bartholamew (twin to Barbara) died in infancy; Dominick (died at 17); Sylvester (died in infancy); John (died in 1970); Stephen (died in 1969); Phillip, Myra (Mrs. William Grabanski); Stanley (died in 1971), and Leonard. Mike served as school board director and township treasurer for many years. He was a good member of St. Stanislaus CathoUc Church in Warsaw. Submitted by the children of Mike and Maggie Narloch. JOHN PASCHKE, SR. In 1881 John Paschke, Sr., began homesteading in Ardoch Township, Walsh County, North Dakota. Mr. Paschke was born June 24, 1843, in West Prussia and was educated in German schools. In 1964 at 21, he immigrated to the United States. None of the other immediate members of his famUy followed him here. He settled in Winona, Minn, shortly after that and was the proprietor of a saloon in Winona. On Jan. 27,1873, he was married in Winona to Juliana Jezewski. His wife was born Dec. 14, 1854, in Germany. As a young girl she worked in a fabric shop in BerUn. A family acquaintance of hers asked for her assistance with their small children when they immigrated to the United States. She came with the family. Juliana first settled in Chicago, IU. In later years she recalled experiencing the Oct. 8, 1871, big Chicago fire. During the fire those imprisoned in jaUs were released. Confusion reigned everywhere. The people of the city, fearful of the devastating fire gathered their possessions in bundles and awaited the alarm to flee from the blazing city on a minute's notice. PracticaUy no communication was exchanged by Juliana and her parents after she came to the states, yet in a few years they, too, looked to the "land of promise" and set sail for the United States, settling in Winona, Minn. Juliana soon joined her parents in Winona and it was there she was married to John Paschke, Sr. For a short time the Paschkes lived in Winona, then moved to Appleton, Minn. As in most cases the grass yonder, or more specifically, in the neighboring state seemed greener; therefore, in 1881, they headed for

Nicholas Pulczinski sold the claim, NW'/i of Sec. 13155-52 and 40 acres in SW'A of Sec. 11-155-52 and he too moved to Leo, Minn., shortly after his wife died in October, 1897. He passed away November, 1920 and is buried in the Leo cemetery. His wife died at their home in Ardoch Township and is buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw. JOHN RISKE FAMILY

Front row, leftto right: Frank L., Mrs. Juliana Paschke, John Jr., John, Sr., Susana (Gerszewski), Julia (Schiller). 2nd row: Barbara (Czapiewski), Theodore, Cecilia (Maszk), Joseph, Frances (Crystal), Isidore, Martha (Warczak), Mary (Dittrich). Dakota with their four children, Joseph, Julia, Frances, and Theodore, nine months old. They settled on their Ardoch farm bordered by Lake Ardoch. The wagon drawn by their two horses carried their meager possessions and the cow following the wagon was one of their special assets. The following year Mr. Paschke returned to Appleton to purchase another team of horses. He envisioned increasing his acreage and during his farming years acquired 1500 acres of land. On the Ardoch homestead nine more children were born, Cecilia, Frank, who died in infancy, Isadore, Mary, Barbara, Martha, John, Jr., Susanna and Frank Leonard. Of this family in 1975 there are two surviving daughters, Mrs. Frances Crystal of East Grand Forks, Minn., and Mrs. Martha Warczak, Grand Forks. For many years Mr. Paschke served as a member on the local school board and was an active church member of St. Stanislaus Parish of Warsaw. John and Juliana continued farming on their Ardoch homestead through lean and prosperous years. In 1921 Mr. Paschke retired from the farm and with his wife moved to Minto. Their son, John, Jr., and his brothers, had learned the art of cultivating the land from their father, and it was to John, Jr., that the homestead was entrusted. On Dec. 8, 1932, Mr. Paschke died at Minto. Mrs. Paschke continued to live in Minto until her death April 7, 1936. Both Mr. and Mrs. Paschke were buried at the CathoUc cemetery in Minto. NICHOLAS PULCZINSKI Nicholas Pulczinski and Mary Kiedrowvicz Pulczinski famUy came to North Dakota from Winona, Minn. They were both born in Poland. He died in 1920 and is buried at Leo, Minn. His wife, Mary, bom in Poland in 1837, died in Oct., 1897, and is buried in the Warsaw Cemetery. Their chUdren were John, Joseph, Paul, and Alvina. John, Joseph and Paul were married and lived on their claims in Ardoch Township. When land was opened for homesteading in Roseau Co., Minn., in 1895, they disposed of their holdings here and went to Minnesota. Alvina married Bernard Narloch, Jr., Feb. 4, 1890. They lived on a homestead in Ardoch Township until coming to Minto in 1896.

John Riske Family Top row: Frances, Stella, Mary Rose. Bottom row: Grandma Riske, John on her lap, Cecilia, Lawrence, Julia and Grandpa Riske. John Riske was born in Poland in September, 1841. Realizing that he could not earn enough in his native land to support those dependent upon him, he emigrated to America with his wUe and baby in 1872. He could not speak EngUsh, and when he landed in New York he had just one dollar in his pocket. He and his young wife set out for the mining state of Pennsylvania, working their way as they went. The young man found employment in a mine and all was going well, when a terrific explosion occurred buring him so seriously that he was UI for weeks. During this time the little family felt the pinch of poverty but they struggled bravely on. FinaUy they made their way to Winona where they had relatives, and Mrs. Riske found work in a factory. Soon after their arrival a new sorrow fell upon them, for their baby died. About this time the first settlers were venturing into the Red River Valley. Learning of lands that could be had for settlement, Mr. Riske left his wife and their new baby in Winona and started in 1875 for Dakota Territory by ox team. After weeks of slow travel he came to what is now Walsh County and "squatted" on land in Ardoch Township. His homestead was on the Forest River and he set out to buUd a log house. Game was abundant. Deer could be had for the shooting and occasionaUy scattered bunches of buffalo were seen. Indians roamed the plains. On his land was one of their burial grounds, and down by the river a place where they had met for their tribal dances. Winters were severe and men and beast suffered from exposure. Grand Forks was a supply station, consisting of a few rude shacks fringing the Red River. Communication with the outside world was by river or ox cart. The first spring Mr. Riske broke a smaU

patch of ground, broadcast, cut his crop with a scythe, threshed it with flails, and hauled it with oxen to Pembina, the nearest market. Later a mill was built at Drayton which shortened the haul across the plain. As time passed and he prospered, substantial buildings replaced the log structures of pioneer days. Mr. Riske never forgot his kinfolk in Poland, and because he believed that they should have the chance that he had found in America, sent passage money to a sister and two brothers and three brothers and two sisters of his wife. John Riske was a real pioneer. He came to the Northwest not in quest of adventure, but to make the living for his family, denied him in his native land. His is the life story of a sober, industrious man who overcame poverty and through hard work and right living acquired a competency and won the respect of all who knew him. He disposed of his farm and bought the home in Minto where he Uved three years before his death.

Joseph married Mary Maikowski, the daughter of Mr and Mrs. John Maikowski of Ardoch, at St. Stanislaus Church of Warsaw March 4,1908. They had 10 children: Anastasia, Genevieve, Joseph, Florence, Henrietta, Amelia, Leona, Dominic, Angeline, and Stanley. Stanley stiU resides on the land which had been homesteaded by his grandfather and improved by his father. Joseph resides a hatf mile away on the land which had been bought by Joseph Stanislawski. Angehne died as a baby. More tragedy struck the family in November, 1923, when the young mother, Mary died of typhoid fever, leaving Joseph to raise his family of nine alone. Joseph Stanislawski was a progressive farmer in his time. He first bought a threshing rig from B . J . Narloch in Minto and used it to thresh grain for himself and

He was twice married. His first wife died in 1885. His second wife was MardeUa Rolczinski, also a native of Poland. He had 12 children-three by the first marriage, Mrs. Felix Kamrowski, Mrs. Vincent Gerzewski, Ardoch, and Mrs. August Meshefski, Drayton; and nine by the second - Lawrence of Dryaton; John and Mike, Ardoch Township; Mrs. Reszka, Minto ; Mrs. Frank Kosmatka, Warsaw; and Clara, AmeUa Johanna and Theodosia. John Riske died Sept. 22, 1922, and funeral services were held from the PoUsh CathoUc Church in Minto, and later from St. Stanislaus CathoUc Church, Warsaw, of which he was a charter member. JOSEPH STANISLAWSKI FAMILY Joseph Stanislawski was bom at Winona, Minn., son of Thomas and Marcia Anna Stanislawski, Nov. 11,1877. He came with his parents to Walsh County when he was a year and a half old and spent his entire Ufe on the land they homesteaded in Ardoch Township. He became a farmer, raising potatoes, cattle and grain and acquiring land by buying from others.

Joseph Stanislawski

First combine owned by Joseph Stanislawski

Mary Marfeowsfei and Joseph Stanislawski

neighbors providing meals for his crews through the hard work of the women in the cooking cars. Joseph had steam engines made by Avery, Huber and Advance Rumley. He traded the Advance Rumley for a 40-80 dual ignition Minneapolis gasoline engine which was used with the threshing rig.

During these times, the pioneers experienced labor troubles, so he and his brother-in-law, Andrew Babinski, bought a shock loader to speed up the harvest. They bought this to meet the challenge of the labor movement which had the initials IWW meaning "I won't work." Joseph Stanislawski bought a combine in 1927. It was considered a foolish investment and many predicted that "combining" would never work. Joseph made his "swather" by combining three old binders to drop the grain in a single swath. He was very skilled in iron and metal work and had a forge in his shop at which he could be found most of the time. Unfortunately, due to hard times, Joseph lost his combine during the depression and did not have another one until his sons, Joseph, Dominic and Stanley were farming with him in the 1940's. Joseph was active in community affairs, serving as Ardoch Township supervisor 36 years. He served on the school board 29 years. He was also active in the affairs of St. Stanislaus Church of Warsaw. Joseph Stanislawski died in October, 1948, and was buried beside his wife, Mary, in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw. THOMAS STANISLOWSKI FAMILY

Marcia Ann and Thomas Stanislowski Thomas Stanislowski was born in Poznan, Poland, Oct. 17, 1844. He spent his early life in that country, coming to the United States in 1863 as a youth. He settled first in Winona, Minnesota, where he married Marcia Ann Stencil in 1872. Marcia Ann was the daughter of Jacob and Margaret Stencil. She was born in Poland in 1846. Her first home in this country was in Winona. When the great influx of settlers started rolling into eastern North Dakota, Thomas Stanislowski and his family were in the front ranks. His son, Joseph, was a year and a half old when they crossed the Red River at Fisher's Landing. They had two oxen and a wagon carrying all their possessions and a walking plow. Thomas and Marcia came to North Dakota in April 1886, and took out a homestead claim in April, 1887, in Ardoch Township. This land is still lived on by descendants. Thomas and Marcia had one son and three daughters, Joseph Stanislowski, Frances (Mrs. Andrew Babinski), Dominica (Mrs. Max Lizakowski), and Stella (Mrs. Joseph Riskey). One son, Frank, died in Winona in 1875. John died in 1921. Marcia Stanislowski died on December 1932. Her husband, Thomas, died 16 days after her death, in January, 1933. They had been married more than 60 years. Both are buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw, N. D.

JOHN WILSON, SR. John Wilson, Sr., and his brothers, Tom and William, left Sarnia, Ont. in 1879. They rode a train to Fisher's Landing. From here they walked until they reached their, choice of homestead here at Ardoch. Tom and William spent the first winter here in a bank bam (cave) with one horse. This was necessary to establish their claim. John went back to Canada and came in the Spring of 1880 with his wife and daughters, Mary and Barbara. They built their home where the farm yard is still maintained. John Wilson, Sr., and Mary McPherson were married Nov. 24, 1875. Their children were Mary, born Sept. 12, 1876, married Richard Newell. After his death she became Mrs. Jack Wood. She died Dec. 26, 1938. Barbara was bom May 6, 1878, married John Wilson, Pisek. They had one daughter, Edna. Barbara died July 18,1961. John, Jr.'s, birth was Nov. 12,1880. He married Hazel DeLaney. They had one daughter, Beatrice. John died March 13, 1942. Sarah was bom August 25, 1884. She married Ed Wilson of Pisek. They lived in Seattle, Wash. Sarah died March 24,1959. Robert, Feb. 9, 1888, married Margaret Pearce. They had four daughters-Mary, Emma, Alice, and May. Robert died April 11,1965. Bella, Sept. 29,1890, married Beltram Downs. Bella died June 6,1950. William was bom Nov. 26, 1893, and died Sept. 3,

Seated: John Wilson, holding Allen Wilson, son of Dr. Wilson, Mrs. John Wilson. Standing: Mrs. W. C. Wilson, cousin unknown, Robert J. Wilson, John Wilson, Jr., Dr. Willie C. Wilson.

John Wilson's, Sr., Farm Buildings In front of house are: Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson and two daughters, Sarah and Bella.

THOMAS WILSON FAMILY Thomas Wilson and his two brothers, John and William, left Sarnia, Ont. in 1879. They came by train to Fisher, Minn., then called Fisher's Landing. They walked until they reached their choice of a homestead at Ardoch. Tom and Willie, single men, remained here the tirst winter to establish their claim. John went back to Canada, and returned in the spring with his wife and two small daughters. The three brothers put up houses on each of their claims. Thomas Wilson's first wife died at 33 in 1885. He married again Nov. 14, 1889, to Mary Gallagher, North Burges, Ont., in the Presbyterian Church in Ardoch. Four children were born. Mary (Maizie), March 16, 1891 died July 11,1935. Herbert J., Jan. 8,1894, died Sept. 17 1953 Harry T., Sept. 10, 1898, died Aug., 1941. Louise (Lou), Sept. 23,1899, died Oct. 26, 1971. Thomas Wilson, 1854, died April 15,1900, leaving his wife and four small children. She managed to run the farm and keep them together, but died after 10 years. When Herbert married

in 1916, he made his home and raised a family of seven children on the old homestead. His son, Henry, lives and farms the home place. WILLIAM WILSON FAMILY William Wilson came to the Red River Valley with two brothers from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, in 1878. They came to Fisher, Minn., which was called Fisher's Landing. From there they walked until they chose this land north of Ardoch for their homestead. He was married to Marion Mann and made their home here until their deaths. William Wilson, Sr., was born in 1853, died in 1915. His wife, Marion, was born in 1855, died in 1909. Their son, WilUam, practiced medicine at Grand Forks before moving to Tacoma, Wash. He was born Sept. 3, 1882, died in 1928. He had one son and one daughter. , „ „ Daughter Marion makes her home at Benoyn, IU. She was married to Mr. Neptune and has one son, Douglas. T

HARRISTON TOWNSHIP

School District No. 60. Officers elected at the meeting were M. D. ChappeU, chairman; O. J. Smalley, clerk; Joseph Coops, director, and Archie McDevitt, treasurer. The Board elected to build the school on the west side of the N of NW'A of Section 17, Township 156, Range 52 W. A petition was presented at the May 3, 1883, meeting by a majority of qualified voters of the district and ratified at a meeting held May 24, 1883, requesting the School Board to vote pending District 60, $1,000 for the purpose of building and furnishing a school house. The measure passed and the district was bonded for $1,000 for the purpose of buUding and furnishing a school house. A tax of 12 miUs on aU district property was levied for the support of the school. M. D. ChappeU, Joseph Copps and Thomas Keily were appointed as the buUding committee. On July 25, 1883, the sum of $346.50 was paid for lumber for structure of the school house. Apparently the school was built by volunteer labor as no entry is made for carpenter fee. School fiirmshings cost $141.00, a wood stove for heating, $15.00, work on outhouse, $4.05. The clerk and treasurer were voted to receive $10.00 each annually for services. Pupils living outside the district who wished to attend the school would be charged fifty cents per month for the privUege. The school opened April, 1884, for a six month term to mn from April through September. Because of the severity of the winter months and the fact that many of the children had a mile or better to walk to school, the summer months were selected for the school session. When the school opened there were ten pupUs attending. There were no free text books, each child had to supply his own until 1903 when free text books were provided. AUce Legg was the first teacher at a salary of $30.00 per month. The teacher, unless local, would board and room at one of the farm famiUes paying eight to ten doUars a month. She was not only a teacher but a janitor, a disciplinarian and jack of aU trades. In 1907, in order to make the school more centrally located for aU pupils, the school was moved to the NE Quarter of Section 17, Twp. 156, Range 52. The school

In the year of 1880, the Township of Harriston was organized by the election of the necessary officers. Elected to serve as supervisors were: Angus Gillespie, Daniel Wilson and William Wilson. According to the township records, the first meeting was held on June 11,1880, at Minto with all of the elected officials present and Edwin D. Brown the clerk. Angus Gillespie, Sr., one of the supervisors, came from the town of Harriston, in Minto, Canada. From this we know the origin of the name of our township as some of our fathers came from the town named Harriston. The country being newly settled, nothing of note was required to be done. Several days were spent by the supervisors in viewing the roads but the assessment of the township was very small as it was thought improper to levy a tax sufficient to build bridges until the township was more able to attend to these matters. However, a small tax was levied for roads and general township charges.

School Districts SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 44 (McCANN) The officers from 1883-1892 were Luthen Loones,. Patrick McCann, John Byrne. The first teacher was Miss Copps. The directors in 1893-1900 were Patrick McCann. Autorn Perclinage, Thos. Foley, Frank Gliniski and Patrick Walsh. The treasurer in 1894-1898 was John Byrne. The clerk was Patrick McCann. The directors in 1896-1909 were Pat McCann, Frank Fliniski, John Foley, John Byrne, Wm. Gleason, Jno. M. Soltman, Frank Bruski, John Kowalka and Jacob Kalka. The clerks from 1889-1907 were Pat McCann, Chas. Stevenson and Irene Stoltman. The treasurers were John Byrne, Frank Gliniski and Jim Stoltman. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 60 (HARRISTON TOWNSHIP) On May 3,1883, in Walsh County, Dakota Territory, a meeting was held in the home of M . D. Chappell of Harriston Township for the purpose of organizing a 268

session was changed to a nine month term to run from September through May. A barn was built on the school ground and many of the pupils came to school by horse and buggy or sleigh. The census of the school grew very rapidly reaching a peak of about forty pupils in early 1900. The curriculum included all eight grades, at no time was there more than one teacher employed. Pupil census began to decline just prior to 1920 and continued to do so until only two or three pupils were left in the mid forties at which time the school was closed.

Browne, Marie deGroft, Emma Walscolt, Mary Noctor, Chas. Wellinger, Minnie McGlinch and Ann McGlinch. The directors from 1896-1908 were Theo Wysocki, John Slominski, William Konwoski, William Kamrowski, Frank Slominski, and A. Gudajtes. The clerks from 1898-1907 were Jm. Szarkowski and Theodore Wysocki. The treasurer from 1898-1910 was John Babinski. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 121 (EBERTS^ The district was formed in October of 1895. The first directors were Ubert Ebert, Jacob Heweitt, James Heweitt, B. Besyki, Jacob Wentz. The treasurer from 1898 was James Engelbardt and the clerk was James Hewiett. The first teachers consisted of Lydia Woods, Olive Hazzard and Harry Downs. The directors in the years of 1898-1910 were Jacob Wiutz, John Poporoski, Louis Pasyka, Mat Misialek and Mike Greskowiak. In the years 1898-1907 the enrollment ranged from 13-31.

HARRISTON TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES THOMAS BRZYKCY FAMILY School Picnic, School District 60, Harriston Twp. Picture taken in 1907. From left to right: Lowetta Curran—girl in white dress, left front. William Curran—smaU boy in front. Dan Curran—in white shirt directly behind William Curran. Emma Przepiora—girl in front, dark dress. Frank Przepiora—next to Emma, small boy in dark suit and light hat. Nellie Curran—standing somewhat back and to Frank's left. Mary Curran, holding Stasia—directly back of Frank. Dan and Albert Callahan—two small boys in white shirts at right of picture. I cannot identify the rest but they are members of the Curran, Kerian, Egan and Callahan families. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 75 (KIEDROWSKI) The first officer was Peter Rose in 1890-92. The directors from 1898-1900 were George S. Hanna wait, Patrick Walsh, Mike Callaghan, Peter Rose, Michael Rock and Thomas Rose. The treasurer from 1894-98 was Egnac Danielski, and Thomas Foley, Jr. The clerk was Frank March. The first teachers were NeUie R. McGee, Josephine Ketter, Mrs. Marcella Murray, Anna McGluich, Edith Shannon, Michael Byrne and George W. Walthen. The directors in 1897-1910 were Thomas Rose, Norman Pearce, Michael Rock, Ignacurse Danielski and M. Callaghan. The clerks were Frank Mach and John Curtin. The treasurer was Ignatius Danielski, Felix Kamrowski and John Danielski. SCHOOL DISTRICT 109 (WARSAW) The directors from 1892-1900 were John Slominski, Theo Wysocki, Peter Kiedrowski, Joseph Pilowski, John Pelowski, Ole Arnes, William Kamrowski, John Babinski (treas.) and J. M . Szarkowski (clerk). The first teachers were Marqurite Henry, Anna

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brzykcy

Mr. and Mrs. John Danielski

Thomas Brzykcy was born Dec. 21, 1869 in Poznan, Poland, then ruled by Germany. He immigrated to this country with his mother, two sisters and one brother when he was 19. He settled in Warsaw and worked as a blacksmith, shoeing horses, sharpening plow shares and did other implement work. After he married, he farmed two miles north of Warsaw, still doing some blacksmith work. He also ran a steam threshing outfit. He retired from farming in 1947. Mrs. Brzykcy was Ann Stoltman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Stoltman, born in Perham, Minn., July 26, 1879,, and came to the Warsaw area when she was four. Thomas and Ann were married Jan. 17,1898, in a double wedding ceremony at the same time her sister, Helen, was married to John Danielski. The Brzykcys had 11 children, two sons, Florian and Jerome, nine daughters, Effie, Helen, Julia, Rose, Clara, Frances, Katherine, Josephine and Felicia. Florian, Rose, Effie (Mrs. Anton Wosick), Helen (Mrs. Pete Narloch) are deceased. Others live in the Milwaukee, Wis. area. Mr. Brzykcy died June 1, 1961, and Mrs. Brzykcy died May 2,1946. They belonged to St. Stanislaus Church.

MRS. MARGARET CURRAN Margaret Copps was born at Fitzroy Harbour Ontario, Aug. 17,1872. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Copps were both born in Ireland. Ellen KeUy (grandmother) was born in County Cork. Joseph Copps (grandfather) wasborninVimerick, "where the Shannon River Uows " The Copps famUy decided to emigrate to Canada where their land grant terminated. This land grant, a large estate, was given by the king and lasted for 100 years. Grandfather was seven when the family saUed. The voyage was a long and hard one as the ship was lost for a time due to storms. The youngest boy died from illness caused by being too long at sea. When Canada was finally reached the family settled in Ottawa City, Ont. The Kellys had also moved to that area. As a young lady Ellen visited her brother in Illinois, near Springfield. Abraham Lincoln was president. In April, 1865 she and thousands of others visited Springfield when the body of the assassinated president lay in state prior to his burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery. When she returned to her home in Canada she was married to Joseph Copps. Some years later with a growing family they decided to move to the states, lhis move was encouraged when they received a good price for their Canadian property. They also thought about the opportunities of free education for all. Sometime in 1880 the move was made to Turtle River, Manvel. From there thev moved to Minto, purchased a house so that the children could go to school, and then bought a farm northeast of Minto. . . . Margaret, of inherent Irish culture, was intensely interested in learning. She spent a lot of time reading She attended school in Minto, then enrolled in St Bernard's Academy in Grand Forks. Being a devout Catholic, she enjoyed the French sister, who trained her to be a teacher. . She had the ability to impart knowledge to others The work was her inspiration. She developed a wonderful understanding of people and awareness of the need for educated young people in the development of the country. In 1894 Margaret Copps obtained a teaching position in the nearby "Curran School." This school was certainly a part of Margaret s life. The reference to the title "Curran School" gives reason to mention that 12 Curran pupils attended or completed the eight grades there, and six Curran girls were teachers there. Three were Margaret's daughters. The school boards often contained the names of Cumins (Michael and Margaret included) who spent a lot ot time helping to keep the school up to date. It was a neighborhood school. Many of the neighborhood girls also taught there. The school was a fun center School programs, box socials, and dances were well attended In February, 1895 Margaret Copps married Michael Curran who owned and operated three farms at the time and later acquired another farm. Eleven children were born. Four died in infancy. Bread cakes, cookies, and pastries were made at home Butter making was a must. Vegetables were grown in a big garden. Preserves, pickles, jams and fellies were made in season. As butchering was done on the farm, all meat had to be cared for-salted, smoked or cured to prevent spoilage. Only in winter months could meat be kept frozen. Poultry was raised in abundance chickens for both eggs and meat. Turkeys, ducks and

geese added variety in meats. Laundry facilities included tubs, boilers, wash boards, clothes lines, and sometimes homemade soap. Flat irons heated on the stove ironed out many a wrinkle. Most of the sewing was done at home. Dressmakers came from town and helped sew until at least all the fancy clothes were made. Margaret had to overcome her fear of horses and learn to handle fast buggy horses for occasional trips to the neighbors, to town, or to meet the train for house £UGStS

Farm life had a sunny side too. Besides all the family get togethers neighbors visited alot. Irish wit and humor dispeUed worries. There were many good laughs over ridiculous and nonsensical things. There were house parties with square dancing, card playing, singing and plenty of good food. There were church get togethers, weddings and wedding anniversary parties, big circuses (Barnum and Bailey), 4th of July celebrations, Market Days Chautauquas with lectures and concerts and State Fairs During quiet winter days the ladies knitted crocheted, made quUts, or read magazines, papers and books. Margaret had scrap books of clippings historical items, poems, pictures, and had a photograph album of verv nice pictures. , • ,_ The first serious illness to strike the Curran home was influenza, which caused the death of Loretta, who was in nurse's training in St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Paul. She died Nov 11, 1918. Michael Curran died in 1925; Irene, in January, 1956; Walter, April, 1965. Margaret Curran resided all her married life in her farm home. She became lonely as most of her old friends were gone Her family had made homes of their own. Aug. 8,1960, Margaret died at the Fargo Nursing Home. Funeral services were held in St. Mary's Camedral, Fargo, N . D. Burial rites were held in St. Patrick s Cemetery, Minto, N. D. Submitted by NeUie Sefert. TIMOTHY CURRAN FAMILY Timothy Curran entered Dakota Territory in 1879 and liking what he saw returned the following year to file on a homestead and make Harriston Township his home until his death Sept. 24, 1927. . Born near Corbetton, Ont., son of Darby and Bridget Keating Curran, Tim was the second child in a family of one girl and five boys. After the death of their father he and his older brother, Michael, went to Winnipeg to work at railroad buUding. Hearing of land available in the Red River Valley, they traveled by steamboat up the river as far as Fisher's Landing looking for suitable places to locate Tliey worked at the Landing for a time and when a decision was made probably walked to their claims about 35 miles north of Grand Forks. Tim added to his holdings by buying a quarter section of school land across the road. The original homestead is now owned by Thomas Osowski. The purchased quarter remains in the Curran family. Since there were other young bachelors in the vicinity, the homestead shack was often shared with his friends from Ontario, Frank Davis and James McHugh, as well as Andy Blakeley, and others. Joe McCarron was the nearest neighbor and a good friend. Also befriending the young pioneers was Mrs. Joe Copps who baked bread for them. ,. ,,. School District No. 60 was organized in 1883. and five 270

years later Tim became clerk, a position he held until his health failed in the early 1920's. His son, Dan, then took over and the clerk's records remained in the home until the school was absorbed by the Minto District in 1958 or 59. In 1889 Tim returned to Ontario and married Annie McHugh, daughter of a neighbor. Six children were born, John, Gertrude, Mary, Dan, James, and Anastasia. All lived to adulthood except James who died at six. Mrs. Curran died in December, 1907. Dan graduated from Minto High School in 1916, and remained on the farm until his death in January, 1962. John entered the U. S. Postal Service, and after serving in the Army in France during World War I, made his home in St. Paul. He married Pauline Reyleck in 1923. They had three children. John died in 1969. Gertrude and Mary became teachers and later married, making their homes in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Both are widows. Gertrude, Mrs. Leo Heisler, lives in Plentywood, Mont., Mary, Mrs. Harry Eustis, in Williston. Both have five children now, Mary having lost a son in World War II. Anastasia, also a teacher, retired from her position in Miles City, Mont., divides her time between Plentywood and the North Dakota farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Curran in 1889 MICHAEL CURRAN Michael Curran was born in August, 1860, to Bridget and Darby Curran, Guelf, Ontario. He was the oldest of a family of six. When he was 12, his father died. It was necessary to help his mother rear the family. Part time employment was found in the lumber woods. When he was older he worked as a brakeman on the Great Northern Railroad to Grand Forks. There were opportunities to obtain land in Dakota Territory, so he purchased some good Red River Valley land, the first in 1884. He had many experiences in the new venture, and he told his family many humorous things that happened. His friend, Owen LaVelle, Grand Forks, had a yoke of oxen, and volunteered to help with haying. His brother, Tim Curran, was also lending a helping hand in the process. The NWV had a big slough full of water. The insects, flies and mosquitoes were exceptionally bad. One afternoon when haymaking was going real good, to all appearances, the oxen took off into the middle of the 4

slough. As they were tempermental they stayed there a few days until they were good and ready to come out. That curtailed the use of oxen as far as Michael Curran was concerned. His next land purchase was "the Strite Place" for $2,000.00. As this land was located midway between Warsaw and Minto it was inconvenient to farm three miles from home. The third farm was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. David Walsh Dec. 13, 1892. A house and other buildings were built and other improvements were made. In February 1895 Michael Curran married the local school teacher, Margaret Copps. The marriage ceremony was performed by Father J. W. Considine in St. Patrick's Church in Minto. In April 1896, the first of eleven children was bom and named Loretta Bridget. In 1906 or 1907 another 160 acres were added. This land was formerly owned by McDevitt. Michael Curran loved horses and took pride in them. He had one very snirited team of purebred Hambletonians that were strictly "buggy" horses. He trained them to stand still when the reins were laid down on the ground. They didn't have to be tied for short stops—they waited. One time, however, he stopped at the grain elevator and went in to get some wheat checks, leaving the team waiting patiently outside. A switch engine on the tracks right beside the elevator gave forth a shrill blast. Gone were the horses, across Thompson's slough to the opposite side. Well, business was not completed, and one had to walk around by the road, so after some time the team and buggy was reached. By that time he was in no mood for leniency. If they could demonstrate their excellent running ability on the route over, the horses could return the same way, in the same style. So, into the buggy he got, drove back through the slough, went into the elevator again, and business was finished. In 1910, Halley's Comet was visible in the sky. There was no crop that year, because of the long drought. I remember seeing the comet. One evening my father took my brother, two sisters and me out to the edge of the grove where we viewed it without the aid of telescope. Another misfortune of the early years ot farming was "Swamp Fever" which killed all the horses. That was a setback, having to buy a new bunch of 12 or 14 horses or more. In 1902 a big barn was built for the increasing numbers of horses and cattle. Michael Curran never smoked cigarettes, but he did enjoy cigars on days of relaxation. He seldom, if ever, drank intoxicating liquors, but it was customary to serve drinks to special guests, such as his old friend, Larry Murphy from Orr. My father's mother, Bridget Curran, died in Canada shortly after my parents were married. His sister, Maria, and brothers, John, Dan, and Jeremiah, moved to North Dakota, and bought land. Since they had never married, they were generous with Michael's and Timothy's families. When the Edison phonograph came on the market, my father bought one for the family. It was accompanied by a big box of cylinder-shaped records. Such a machine was really "in." I don't know which was more appreciated, the phonograph, or the cow pony, "Little

Kate," which had been bought for Loretta years earlier. We all learned to ride early in life, bareback. In 1917 father bought a Model T touring car, "for the kids," he told Mr. Hewitt. Michael Curran died in 1925. Funeral services were held in St. Patrick's Church with Father John Maxwell officiating. Interment followed in St. Patrick's Cemetery. Living descendants of Michael and Margaret Curran include: William Curran, Clarence Curran, Paul Curran, Joseph Curran, Nellie Sefert, Joanne Estin, Mary Eastin, Maureen Eastin, Oral Sefert, Thomas Sefert Donald Sefert, Judith Steward, Cary Steward, Heidi Steward, Mary Aim, Thomas Aim, Mary Margaret Aim, John Curran, Michael Curran, and Teresa Curran. Compiled by Nellie Sefert.

the time of his death, he was president of the Walsh County Mutual Insurance Company, with which he was associated for 20 years. Relatives and friends and neighbors helped celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary Jan. 17,1948, on a day that was cold. It stayed 29 below all day. Men folks started their cars in order to be certain of not having engine trouble. He died Aug. 16,1951. His wake was held at his farm home as was customary in those days. Services were held at St. Stanislaus Church in Warsaw. Msgr. John Maluski officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Sacred Heart Church in Minto, with Father Stempel officiating. Burial was in Warsaw. Mrs. Danielski moved to Minto in 1952, and lived there until her death Feb. 29, 1956.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Curran, Feb. 1895 JOHN DANIELSKI John Danielski, oldest son of Ignac and Mary Kleshinski, was born Jan. 25,1873, in Stevens Point, Wis. When five years old, his parents and two younger brothers came to Dakota Territory, by steamboat to Acton in 1879. They first settled in now known Pulaski township, east of New Warsaw. They were joined by four sisters and brothers. They sold this land in 1891, and moved to Harriston township. In 1893, week of July 24 thru 30, two brothers and one sister died from diphtheria during an epidemic. John married Helen Stoltman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Stoltman, Jan. 17, 1898, in a double marriage ceremony. The other couple was Helen's sister, Ann, and Thomas Brzykcy. Helen Stoltman was born in Perham, Minn., May 10,1880, and moved to the Warsaw area with her parents at three. Mr. and Mrs. John Danielski settled on land bought from William Hanawalt. They resided on this farm all their lives. A large home was built in 1910, head carpenter was John Cheslik. This happened to be a dry year They had two daughters, Frances, Mrs. Adam Stoltman, and Julia, Mrs. B. J. Narloch, and three sons, Julius, John (Jack) and Harry. Mr. Danielski was active in church and community affairs, holding various offices on the township boards. In politics, he was active in Nonpartisan League and was a personal associate of William Langer, former Governor of North Dakota, and United States Senator. At

John Danielsfei Farm Home Frances sitting on steps. Sitting in chair is John Danielski and his wife, Helen, standing. Julius, Julia, and Jack, Sister Julia Danielski. STANLEY DANIELSKI FAMILY Stanley Danielski, born in Stevens Point, Wis., in 1880, came to Pulaski Township with his parents, Ignac and Mary Ann Danielski, and other members of the family in 1881. In 1907 he married Rosie Osowski, daughter of Joseph and Rosie Osowski, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Warsaw, and immediately thereafter they took up residence on a Harriston Township farm, where they resided the remainder of their lives. Mr. Danielski died in 1971 at 91, and Mrs. Danielski died in 1947 at 61. They were parents of four sons and two daughters: Mary, Chester, Richard, Adrian, Dorothy and Stanley, Jr. He was an active member of the Nonpartisan League Republican Party, and for many years served as Harriston Township Supervisor and Rural School District Director. Both are buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery of Minto.

JOHN GREEVERS FAMILY

JOHN HAN/} WALT FAMILY

John Greevers came to the United States by boat from Poland about 1890. While on the boat he met his future wife, Antonina Duray. On arriving in New York both families decided to go by covered wagon to North Dakota. John Greevers homesteaded in Harriston Township about 1891. In 1892 he married Antonina Duray. They farmed on their homestead of 320 acres. They had 15 children, seven sons and eight daughters, Bebeanne, Eleanor, Mary, Walter, Martha, Frances, Rose, Veronica, John, Jr., Joseph, Richard, twins, Frank and Sylvester, and Raphael and Henrietta. The John Greevers family belonged to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw.

In 1880, John Hanawalt of Crystal Lake, Wis., was one of a group of young men of his locality who came to Dakota Territory and filed on land in Harriston Township a few miles northeast of Minto. They were known as the "Wisconsin Colony." Among them were the Shumways, Ed and Will. Will was the teacher of the little community. Then there were the E. A. Thorpes, Barzilla Smith, Henry and Al Anderson, Horace Kellog, Alvin Waterman, Jacob and James Hewitt and Orson Smalley. After filing on his homestead in 1880 and getting his farm in operation the next two years, John made a trip back to Plainfield, Wis., and wed Luella A. Perry in Stevens Point March 1, 1882. Miss Perry had been a teacher after her graduation from Plainfield High School and the Wisconsin State Normal at Wautoma. She returned with him to create a home on the claim he had settled in 1880. Three sons and three daughters were born: Guy H., Maude E., Jay R., John J., Gladys L., and Ida G. In addition to building one of the outstanding Walsh County grain and stock farms, Mr. Hanawalt, a Republican, served his state as a legislator and his township as assessor. He was active in promotion of the Walsh County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company with headquarters in Minto and served as president from 1890-1930.

John and Antonina Greevers Wedding Portrait-1892 MICHAEL GRZESKOWIAK FAMILY Michael Grzeskowiak came to this country in 1887. He was born in Poland near the village of Modil no which is near the city of Inowachaw. He homesteaded in Harriston Township, northwest of Warsaw. He married Ann Kliniski and they had five children, Bernice, Ethel, Loretta, Edward and Ernest. Michael farmed for about ten years, then sold the farm, moved to Minto, and opened a furniture store which he ran until his health failed. Michael died March 8,1917. He is buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Minto. STANISLAW GRZESKOWIAK, SR., FAMILY StamslawGrzeskowiak, Sr., and his bride, Josephine Kasmirczak, born and married in Modilno, Poland, with other members of the family, in 1885 immigrated to Minto. They spent some time at his brother Mike's farm in Harriston Township. Stanislaw liked farming. He bought land in Harriston and Acton townships, sincere in his agriculture. He worked hard with his family, faithful to his Polish Catholic Church, spent hours reading especially world history. They raised six sons and four daughters: Mary, Peter, Fran, Magdalena, Michael, Joseph, Charles, Stella, Frank and John.

John Hanawalt Old Home FRANK JESTRAB FAMILY Some of the early settlers who came with three children to Dakota Territory in 1882 from their adopted state of Iowa were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jestrab, Sr., of Harriston Township Mr. and Mrs. Jestrab were born in Czechoslovakia in 1852 and 1859, respectively. Mr. Jestrab came to the United States at 17, finding employment in the factories of Chicago, besides attending school whenever he could. Mrs. Jestrab immigrated to this country with her parents at age 9, settling in Iowa. The couple was married in SpillviUe, Ia., Feb. 7, 1876. They had ten children, one dying in infancy. Coming to the Dakota Territory, they homesteaded in Cavalier County, near Osnabrock.The Great Northern Railway having built only as far as Minto, the Jestrabs unloaded their possessions at that point and traveled to their destination with oxen. Because of early frost causing crop failures, they abandoned the homestead

Centre Township. They came from Bohemia to Iowa before coming to Dakota. Frank and Anna had 14 children: Frank, Abby, Adolph, Henry, Joseph, C. Robert, Clara, Charles, Fred, Adela, and Camille. Three children died in infancy. In 1887 they bought a farm in Walsh Centre and lived there until 1898, when the family moved to East Grand Forks, Minn. Frank was a carpenter and learned to build homes. In 1906 the entire family returned to farm in Walsh Centre. Besides farming 480 acres with his sons, he built a new home and farm buildings. Later, he built many homes and farm buildings for the farmers in this area. Frank was also an inventor. He made the first horse drawn potato digger which he and neighbors had used for years. He never patented the machine. He also made beaters for threshing machines and other useful items for the farm. He had two threshing machines and threshed for farmers within many miles of that area for numerous years. In the winter time, he made brooms. His wife, Anna, was kept busy with homemaking, cooking, baking, gardening, sewing and knitting for the family. She died in 1928.

and purchased land in Ops Township, near Conway. Realizing later that they wanted their children to have the advantages of better education facilities, they moved again, purchasing additional land in Harriston Township, besides building a home in Grafton where all the children attended school. Mary Rumreich, married, eldest of the children, lived in Mahnomen, Minn. Frank, Anna Kolar, and Phillip spent most of their lives farming and in business at Havre, Mont. Joseph farmed near Medford. Estelle Shavor (teacher) made her home in St. Paul, Minn. George, the youngest, was a physician and surgeon in Havre for 47 years. Jennie, later of Havre, lived with her parents until their deaths. Elizabeth Chaffee (teacher), the only survivor of the family, now resides in Havre. Though primarily in farming, Mr. Jestrab also had business interests in Deering, which he later turned over to his sons, Frank and Philip. He is remembered as having patented the grain loader, the patent registered in the U. S. Patent Office in Washington, D. C. This invention proved a boon to the handling of grain in bins and car loading. His patent terminated in 1917. Mr. Jestrab was always interested in the political and industrial development of this country. Both he and his wife frequently expressed their good fortune for having had the privilege of living in these United States. They observed both their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries with members of their family. Frank Jestrab, Sr., died in August 1936, and his wife, Anna, died in November, 1940.

The Kerian family worshipped at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Veseleyville. For entertainment and socializing, they joined friends and neighbors at the Veseleyville K. D. Hall for parish dinners. In those days there were few towns and churches. Pioneers traveled great distances for provisions. They would go to Acton on the Red River, or to Grand Forks, 40 miles away. JAMES KERIAN FAMILY James Kerian, bom 1858 at Calmar, Iowa, died in 1915 at Minto. He and his two brothers, Thomas and Frank, and mother, Maria, came by covered wagon from Iowa and homesteaded on farms north of Minto. Mother, Ann Vayik, born in 1860, in SpillviUe, Iowa, died in 1942. ALOIS L E F F FAMILY Alois Leff (family name was Lev in his native country) came to Walsh County around 1890. He was born in 1867 in Austria and with his parents, brothers and sisters, immigrated to the United States. The family lived for a time in Chicago and later at Wahpeton. He came to Walsh County and did farm labor around Veseleyville. About 1894 they came to Harriston Township to farm. Nov. 22, 1893 he married Anna Robejcek, who was born near Madison, Wis., in 1871. Her parents later lived in St. Paul. In 1892, she came to Walsh County. Mr. and Mrs. Leff had two sons and two daughters: Joseph, Louis, Amelia, and Marian. Joseph, Amelia and Marian are deceased. Louis lives in Virginia, Minn. Alois Leff died on Nov. 20, 1910, and Anna, his wife, died Jan. 4,1938. They both continued to live on the farm until their deaths.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jestrab FRANK KERIAN FAMILY Frank Kerian was born in 1859 at Conover, Iowa, (died in 1933). His father owned land there and died when Frank was six. His mother, Marie Kerian, and older children farmed there until dry weather and locusts caused them to leave Iowa and move to Dakota Territory in 1880. With others they traveled in covered wagons. Frank Kerian homesteaded in Harriston Township near his brothers' homesteads. Two older brothers died in the Civil War, 1861-1865. Jan. 15,1884, Frank Kerian married Anna Kouba, who was born in 1863. They were married at the Kouba home by Father Considine of Minto. Anna was the daughter of Frank Kouba, who with his wife, Margaret, and five children, settled in Walsh 274

MATT MISIALEK FAMILY Matt Misialek was born in Zetere, Poland in 1867. At age 17 he immigrated to America and came directly to the Minto area to join his brother, Martin, who had immigrated here two years earlier. For a number of years he worked as a hired man, saved his money and bought 320 acres of school land in Oakwood Township. November 20,1894 he married Christina Passa at St. Luke's Church in Veseleyville. She had immigrated from Berlin, Germany, and worked as a housemaid to repay a relative, living in the Minto area, who had paid her fare from Germany. After having repaid the debt, she changed jobs where she met her future husband who was employed by the same farmer. After they were married they went to live on his farm in a small wooden shack. The shack, still their home six years later, burned to the ground and had to be replaced. Nine children were born to the couple, eight daughters and one son, Dominic, who died as a young man in 1936. The daughters, Josephine, Laura, Victoria, Blanche, Verna, Johanna, Adelaide, and Stephie, are all married and live in the area. Matt died in 1931 at age of 64, Mrs. Misialek died in 1969 at the age of 92. They are both buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw where their son, Dominic, is also buried.

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Misialek JOHN MURPHY John Murphy came from Ireland, County Clare, in 1847 during the potato famine with his mother and sister. His father died en route to America and was buried at sea. They landed at Montreal and he often told of the stiff physical test all immigrants had to pass—which was jumping over a rope held 6 inches above the ground. They went to Perth, Ontario, and lived with relatives for awhile. He married Mary Louise Blackwell at Perth in 1858 and to that union were born six children. In 1876 he came to Minto with his oldest son Frank and they filed on land and built a log house, just east of Minto. In 1877 the family came in August, by boat from Detroit to Chicago and by train to Fisher, Minn. There they were met by Pat Reams and Mr. Murphy, drove to Grand Forks, crossed on the ferry, and drove to Minto to the homestead which they filed on. After living there for five years and building a house, the land was theirs free of further payments. All furniture was hand made except stoves, cooking stoves

and heaters were purchased for $35 each. To get money to live on, father and sons laid ties on roadbeds for the railroad coming from Grand Forks. First big purchase was a cow for $24 and oxen for $100 a team. First crop was beans, seed having been brought from Canada. Beans were hauled to Grand Forks by oxen and barrels of flour and pork bought for winter food. Hunting was good and they lived on the bank of the river so had lots of fish. Butter was made from cream and traded for other groceries. The family consisted of Frank, born in I860, married to Agnes Bulger of Warren, Minn, in 1885, to which union were born eight children. The family moved to Aberdeen, Wash, in 1895, and have never been back. Terrance born in 1862, and married to Maggie Bulger, sister of Frank's wife, in 1885. They too had 8 children and moved to San Jose, California in 1895, and have never been back to North Dakota. James born in 1864, and married to Teresa Fink in Minto in 1911. They had eight sons and one daughter. James died and Mrs. Murphy lives at St. Anne's Guest Home in Grand Forks. Daughter, Agnes Purpur, lives in Seattle; one son, WilUam, Uves in Larimore and Eugene Uves in Grand Forks. Margaret born in 1865, and married to Charles Ingalls in 1888. Charles Ingalls is a first cousin of author Laura Ingalls Wilder whose Little House stories are now being televised. They had eight children and moved to Montana in the Glasgow region in 1918. None of their family live in this area, but their oldest daughter, Florence, was a postmaster at Minto for several years. John S. born in 1871 was married to Minnie Morrison and lived at a farm east of Minto until retirement. They had five children, Gladys (Mrs. Wm. Cameron), Anne (Mrs. Leo Witsleben), and Clara (Mrs. M. Olafson), who with her husband taught in Minto for several years, William, who married Faye Cameron and lived in Grand Forks until his death. A grandson, Dr. Richard Olafson, is a neurosurgeon in Fargo. Mary Anne was born in 1872 and married Thomas Foley in 1892. They had 13 chUdren, six of whom died in infancy. A son, Leo, was killed in World War II; two other sons, Jack and Frank, died in Grand Forks; a son, Laurence, farmed at Ardoch, and three daughters, Mrs. Wm. Nagle (MadeUneandMrs. SylMuUigan (Rita), both of Grand Forks, and Mrs. Pat Hart (Loretta) of Ardoch. Many of the people Mr. Murphy had worked with back in Canada had been converted to Mormanism and nearly all made the Murphy home a stopping over place on their way to Utah. These visits were a means of reminiscing and keeping up with news of friends back east and were eagerly looked forward to by all the family and much enjoyed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Murphy died in 1911. LEON NARLOCK FAMILY Leon Narlock, Sr. was born on April 10, 1862 in the city of Krietes Konec, Poland, and died on July 14, 1956. For three years he served in the Poland army which was then under German rule. In 1884 he emigrated to America. His first stop was in Drayton, North Dakota, where he lived and worked for two years. A friend and he started farming a mile south of Minto and thev bought a team of oxen each. Being they didn't have much crop they split up after only one year.

Leon then rented a farm near the Red River. Leon was married in 1894 to Julia Tandeski and they and Julia had a family of four sons and four daughters: John (died in infancy), Margaret, Julia, Stanley, Stella, Josephine, Barney and Leon. All are now deceased except Mrs. Josephine Denner of Chicago, and Barney of Minto. GRACE ANGELINE KRONEBUSCH Grace Angeline Kronebusch O'Brian was born about six miles northeast of Minto, N. D. June 6, 1888. Grace was the daughter of John Kronebusch and Barbara Clara Schnieder Kronebusch. She married Joseph O'Brian who was born in San Diego. Joseph and Grace lived out the rest of their Uves in San Diego, Calif. Grace was a homemaker. She was German Catholic. Grace was also quite musically talented. Joseph and Grace had two children, Jack and Patricia. NORMAN J. PEARCE FAMILY Norman J. Pearce was born February 24, 1860, in England. He came to North Dakota from Perth, Ontario, Canada, and homesteaded on a farm northwest of Warsaw some time before he was married to Mary Ebert on July 18,1888 by Reverend Berette at Oakwood, North Dakota. A daughter, Margaret, was born May 1, 1889. A son, Robert, was born October 10, 1892. Margaret married Robert J. Wilson of Ardoch, North Dakota on April 18, 1916 by Reverend Moore in the Methodist Church in Grafton. They had four daughters—Mary, Emma, Alice, and May. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce moved to Minto, North Dakota from the farm in 1912 and lived there for four years before moving to Van Hook, North Dakota in April, 1916. Mrs. Robert J. Wilson died February 10,1934, and is buried in the Ardoch Cemetery. Mrs. Norman J. Pearce died March 4,1947. Norman Pearce passed away June 1, 1948. Robert N. Pearce, who never married, died on October 22,1953. They are all buried at Van Hook, North Dakota. Robert Wilson died April 11, 1965, and is buried at Ardoch. GEORGE AND FRANCES GAWLOWICZ PRZEPIORA George Przepiora was born in Gorlice Malopolska, Poland, April 23, 1870. At age 16, in order to avoid compulsory military training and seek a better life, he crossed the Atlantic as a stowaway only to be returned to Europe because he did not have enough money ($30) to be admitted to this country. He remained in Germany where he worked and saved enough money for a second try, this time with success. His first job was in the coal mines in Scranton, Pa., then Carnegie Steel Mills in Pittsburgh which he left because of a strike. From there he went to the mines of Iron Mountain, Michigan, and then on to the northern woods of Wisconsin as a lumberjack. In 1895 he came to North Dakota to work on the harvest fields and remained working as a farm hand until 1898. Mrs. Frances Gawlowicz Przepiora was born in Wieszotawice Galacia, Poland, March 3, 1893. She was orphaned at age seven and was brought up in homes of relatives. In her teens she was placed in a convent where she was trained as a gourmet cook and was known as

such throughout her life. She immigrated to America in. 1895 and came to Warsaw as a housekeeper for her cousin, Fr. Francis Gawlowicz, pastor of St. Stanislaus Church in Warsaw. George Przepiora and Frances Gawlowicz were married in St. John's Catholic Church in Pisek, N. D. May 23, 1898. Five children were subsequently born to them, Emma, Frank, Sophie, Stephanie and Helen. In 1913 two died of diphtheria within a period of two weeks, Helen, age three and a half, and Sophie, age nine. Emma, a gifted artist with a natural talent whose oil painting won a prize in a very competitive West Essex, New Jersey art show, remained on the farm for the most part. Frank, present owner of the land, also remained on the farm where he experienced farming methods from the horse and man method of farming to complete mechanization. Stephanie taught school in the county for four years, then became an R.N., later earning her college degree in the sciences by attending night classes. She became a medical laboratory director, established and directed a medical laboratory in Caldwell, New Jersey for 25 years. On retirement in Minto she is first curator of Walsh County Historical Museum. Following their marriage, George and Frances Przepiora moved to their previously proved homesteads in Roseau County, Dewey Twp., Minnesota. They traveled by covered wagon in a caravan with others from the area, who were also moving to their new homes in Minnesota. The trip took three days, a part of the time being taken up by crossing the Red River on a ferry. The covered wagon served as a home until a tar paper covered shanty could be built. During the second summer, with the help of neighbors, they built a large house, total cost $300. This large house soon became a center for social, community and religious activities. In 1905 they purchased the S.W. quarter of Sec. 17 in Harriston Twp. and moved to N. D. for the remainder of their lives. Later land purchases were N.W. 80, Sec. 17 which became the permanent home place, S. W. quarter Sec. 8, N. W. quarter Sec. 8 and S. W. quarter Sec. 5. Along with many happier events they experienced the Great Depression of the 1920-1930 era as well as the dust storm and locust infestations of the "Terrible Thirties." Mr. Przepiora was active in civic affairs and was president of School Dist. No. 60 for a number of years. Mrs. Przepiora was a member of the Sacred Heart Rosary Society in Minto and was active in that organization. Mr. Przepiora died November 19,1949, age 79 years. Mrs. Przepiora died June 5, 1956, age 83. They are both buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Minto, N. Dak. ALBERT RUDNIK FAMILY Albert Rudnik was bom Feb. 4, 1846, in Bitow, Poland. He came to the United States in 1870 and settled in Wisconsin. There he met Marianna Kukolsky, who was born Dec. 8, 1857, at New Lisbon, Wis. They were married in Wisconsin in 1871. In 1882 they moved to North Dakota and homesteaded on a farm between Minto and Warsaw. They had six children, five of them were born in Wisconsin and one in North Dakota. Two died at birth in Wisconsin and one died in infancy. Of the remaining three children, two died during a diphtheria epidemic around Minto in 1887. The survivor, Eva Rudnik,

married Jack McDonald in Grafton in 1903. It is not known how Mr. and Mrs. Rudnik came from Wisconsin to North Dakota, but it was probably by train. They were members of St. Stanislaus Church of Warsaw for many years. Around 1900 they retired from farming and moved to Grafton. It is not known whether Mr. Rudnik held any public offices, however, he could speak not only EngUsh, but also German and PoUsh. Many of the farmers around the Minto and Warsaw area who had dtfficulty with the English language would come to him with their financial and legal problems and he would take them to some banker or lawyer or abstractor in Grafton to get the help and advice they needed. He did this many times and for many people. Albert Rudnik died at Grafton March 3, 1923. Marianna Kukolsy Rudnik died in a Fargo hospital on Feb. 11, 1931. They are both buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery at Warsaw.

Marianna Kukolsky

Albert Rudnik

RUDNIK HISTORY Albert Rudnik came first to America from West Prussia. He came to Pine Creek, Wis. There were some of his cousins, John Rudnik and his family and the Leon Brunk family. Albert worked around Pine Creek, earned money and sent for his brother, Michael. By the time the fare card arrived,Michael was taken into the army. Thenfather sent the youngest son, Louis Rudolph. He was born in 1858 and came to America in 1873 to Pine Creek, Wis. He was fifteen years of age. Two years after Louis came, Albert decided to go and find if North Dakota lands were low in price and good fertile land as was told to him. Louis Rudolph also decided to go land-hunting. He went to Owatonna, Minn., to work on a farm in Freeborn County, which he bought for a low price later. There were other people that came from Poland. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brusk were married in Poland and came for a wedding trip. They also landed in Owatonna, Minn., in the year 1870. Mrs. Peter Brusk was Katherine Wrycza from Poland. So the Brusks, as they made money, sent for her other sisters, Mary and Julia. The next year the Brusks and the two sisters sent for their parents and three younger sisters, Josephine, Veronica, and MagdeUne Brusk, Julia to John Orlowski, Josephine to Rudolph Wrycza. Mary was married to John Newman, Katherine

to Frank Rudnik, Veronica to Michael Karaus, Magdeline to Washington Albert. There were no brothers. Josephine was bom in 1856. When she came to Owatonna, she was 16 years of age. Wm. Nagle (Madeline) and Mrs. Syl MulUgan (Rita), both of Grand Forks, and Mrs. Pat Hart (Loretta) of Ardoch. She found work with Mrs. McCrosty on a big dairy farm. Mrs. McCrosty raised beef and milk cattle. She also raised sheep and poultry- She was a rich lady. Josephine said that Mrs. McCrosty was good to her and paid her well. She treated her as if she were her own daughter. Josephine Rudolph brought a spinning wheel with her from Poland. When she had time she carded wool and spun yam, made socks, sweaters and caps. She sold them and made money. Louis Rudolph met Josephine Wrycza, courted her about two years. He was 31 and Josephine was 22. They were married in 1870, they worked and they prospered. In 1880 their first baby boy was born and they named him Frank. On Jan. 27, 1882, another baby boy arrived and they named him John. On April 27,1883, there was a change of luck, a baby girl arrived, and mother needed help. I suppose they pictured her as the Blessed Virgin Mary, so they named her Mary. Indeed she was blessed. We will talk about her later. On August 18, 1885, Annie was bom. They had lived eight years in Freeborn County, Minn., near Owatonna. Louis Rudolph had a letter from brother Albert and his famUy that he found a place on a farm of 160 acres. It had a house and few other buildings. The land, which was very good and cheap, was five mUes from Minto. They sold their land in Minnesota and would try their luck at Minto, as Albert Rudnik and famUy were very successful. In January, 1886, they decided that Louis Rudolph would start several days ahead of his family with the cattle and horses and household furnishings on a freight train. He would arrive ahead ofhis famUy and meet them at the depot. He took a friend J . Sczesny. Only one man could travel with the carload so what were they going to do? They had a large cupboard with a tin perforated design in the door, made with a nail. So Mr. Sczesny hid in the cupboard. In those days they had no cream separator, so the cupboard was used to set pans with milk. So the cream formed and they skimmed it off and made butter. The perforated door let air into the cupboard and the cream formed better. Mrs. Louis Rudnik and four children arrived Feb. 2, 1886, in a bad storm. Albert Rudnik, her brother-in-law, had come to Minto earUer to meet them but returned home and now was unable to venture out. Louis, travehng by freight, had not arrived so that put Mrs. Rudnik into a dilemma. There were few places to go. The village of Minto, started on Jan. 9, 1882, was now comprised of a merchandise store owned by Mr. Zusdorf, a post office, a small harness shop, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, an implement shop, a shoe maker shop, a Uvery bam, a few houses, and the printing press of the Minto Journal, owned by Win., Lee, and W. M. G. MitcheU, natives of IUinois. Rev. Adam G. Forbes began his missionary labors in Minto Nov. 9, 1882.

made into sauerkraut, carrots, onions, dry beans and peas, meats of all kinds. Most people nowadays don't fix up food for the winter as they did, because it wasn't as it is now. Father bought about 10 or 15 100 pound sacks of flour. First they took, wheat to the mill at Grafton and brought flour back. One more mouth to feed. Another boy arrived. They named him Isadore. He was born March 31, 1892. Mrs. Greskowiak was the midwife. Frank, 12, and John, 10, were able to help father a little. Mary was not able to help mother without her leg but she would sit and wipe dishes. She even learned to sew at an early age and did many little things to help out. Then in Aug. 27, 1894, another girl was born to them. They named her Josephine. That made seven mouths to feed but the folks never skimped on food or clothes.

Mrs. Louis Rudnik sat in the little depot with her four children, the oldest was around six years old, the third, two years old and the fourth, six months. Huddled together, she said that she prayed harder than ever before and her prayers were answered. She always instructed her children to pray. Andrew Chapiewski, a neighbor of Albert Rudnik and a father of Mrs. Joseph Feltman, came into town before the storm came up. He was told of the coming of Albert's brother and family by Albert. So as a good neighbor Chapiewski decided to check at the depot if they had arrived. To his surprise they had. Chapiewski got more blankets from the store and took Mrs. Rudnik and the children to her brother-in-law, Albert, in that storm, a distance of 15 miles. Mrs. Rudnik said that she knew they would like it in North Dakota. This man Chapiewski had a heart of gold, to bother and care for a woman with four children. Louis Rudnik arrived two days later.

June 3, 1900, another girl was born and they named her Emily. She was a frail little baby of three pounds at birth. But with good care, she came through. A midwife assisted at all of the children'sbirths. Mrs. Stoltman, Sr., assisted at Josephine's and Emily's births. Frank, 20, did become very mechanically minded. Mary, 15 years, even if she was a cripple, sewed beautiful dresses for mother, her younger sisters and also for many other people around.

In May, 1886, they purchased a farm from A. E. Jordan, SW'A of Sec. 23,156 North of Range 52, for $12,500 at 8 per cent. They were paying it off with 2600 bushels of wheat. It was 96 bushels each year. Louis and Josephine worked hard. They seeded wheat, barley, oats, and later even flax. They planted their own garden and potatoes, raised chickens, geese, ducks, sheep, pigs, and cattle. On the ground that had grass on it, they used a breaking plow in the fall. Then after they took the crop off the next fall, they plowed it with a walking plow. In the fall when the crop was ripe they used a machine which they called a reaper. It was almost like a binder, only it did not tie the grain into bundles but dumped it into a pile. After the grain was dry, they stacked it into stacks. They threshed from the stacks. They used gasoline engines for power to drive the threshing machine. The machine had no blowers, so they had to buck the straw away from the machine with horses and a bucking pole all over the field.

Another girl arrived on June 3, 1903. One more to feed and clothe, which made number nine. Mrs. Duray assisted at birth. They still had a name for her, a long one, Leokadia. On top of it all, brother Frank, the oldest boy of the family, was getting married two days later, June 5, 1903, to Elizabeth Lizakowski. Mother could not attend the wedding as she was in bed. All the others went to the wedding. Mother, Mrs. Duray, midwife, and baby stayed at home. Father bought another farm for Frank, SE'A of Section 23, 156 North Range 52, and he had to borrow money on the first farm he bought to make the payment for Frank. Then the rest, Frank had to pay off himself. July 18, 1904, Annie was getting married. So there was the cost of putting on a big wedding, and he had to give her something to start housekeeping such as furniture. Nov. 25, 1907, John married Pelagia Pokrzywinski. They rented a farm for John. All they could afford to buy was the farm implements to work a farm at that time. Religious and school education were a must with father and mother. Not all the children went to high school. Only the last one went to high school and college. It was a three mile walk to both public school and religion class. Frank and his wife died. Left of his family are Frank Rudnik, Jr., Mrs. Gertrude O'Keefe Kowalski, and grandchildren. John and his wife, Steven and Joe are gone. John and his wife died. Roman, Josephine, Isabelle, John, Jr., and greatgrandchildren are left. Mrs. Annie Lizakowski, Mrs. Adelurea O'Connel, Annebella Clinton, Felix and Isadore and great grandchildren are also living. Mary never married. She died March 4, 1950. Josephine Rudnik remained single, still living, enjoying life. She made her way as a sales lady at Sam

During the early summer of 1888, Rudolph and Josephine had misfortune happen to their daughter, Mary. Father was sick at home. Frank, the oldest, eight years old, was supposed to watch John, five, and Mary, four. Evidently Frank and John played together and forgot about Mary. Mother was cutting tall grass with a mower and Mary walked into the grass and mother did not see her or know that she was there. The girl's right foot was severed halfway through the bone above the ankle, hanging on the tendon. As sick as father was, he walked to the neighbor to ask him if he would go and get the doctor for Mary. Mr. Stoltman came with Dr. O'Keefe. The doctor found amputation necessary. Mary did not have an artificial leg when the leg healed and sat most of the time. Then after she was older she made herself a crutch out of an old broom to help her walk around. When Mary was 11 the shoe maker at Minto made her an artificial leg which wasn't too good but better than nothing. The summer that Mary's foot was cut, mother was waiting for a new arrival. A baby boy was born to them on Nov. 22, 1888. They named him Felix. Mrs. Shriver assisted at childbirth. There was always plenty to eat - potatoes, cabbage 278

Sowska Store and 42 years at W. W. Reyleck Co., Grafton. Mrs. Emily Gillespie and her husband died. Only her son Allen Gillespie is living.

History of Minto

Lillian Sass and husband Joseph are living. All her children and grandchildren are Uving. Mary Theresa Lutovsky, husband Marcell, children, Paulette, Bradley and Lisa. Joseph Sass, Florida, wife, Anita, sons, Richard, John, Robert Charles, Donald, Jeffrey. Valentine Sass, wUe Joyce, children, Shamrae, Shawne, and Styles. James Sass is single and teaching at Lancaster, Minn.

By ELLEN (MRS. GERALD) MISIALEK

JOHN STOLTMAN HISTORY According to information written in the hand of John M. Stoltman, his parents Michael Stoltman and Katherine Freemark came to Winona, Minn., in the late 1860's. John M . Stoltman was born Oct. 17, 1873, in Winona, one of several children Later the family moved to Perham, Minn., Uving on a farm there four years. In May, 1879, Michael and Katherine Stoltman again moved their family westward coming to Dakota territory by covered wagon and oxen, a journey which took four weeks. They settled in Harriston Township on a homestead of two quarters. Katherine Freemark Stoltman, the mother, died in 1885 and was buried in the now existing St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw. In November, 1891, Michael Stoltman died and is also buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw. Upon the death of his father, the homestead was left to the son, John M. Stoltman. On Feb. 4, 1896, John M. Stoltman married Regina Ebertowski at St. Stanislaus Church, Warsaw. They were the parents of eight children; sons, Frank and Henry, and six daughters, Frances Stoltman Riske, Natalia Stoltman BozekowsM, Regina Stoltman Ooshak, Felecia Stoltman Eastman, Irene (deceased) and buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw, and Joan Stoltman Rusinyax. John M. Stoltman was very active in public office. His first job was treasurer of School District No. 44 in his home township, a position he held for 21 years. Later he became a supervisor of Harriston Township for six years. Then he held the position of treasurer for Harriston Township two terms. He was secretary of St. Stanislaus Church, Warsaw, for five years. In 1916 he was appointed director of Walsh County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Minto, also during this time he was a director of the Grain Growers Cooperation Elevator Co. of Minto. During World War I he served the U. S. in promoting the sale of the third and fourth issues of Liberty Loan Bonds. On Sept. 11,1922, John M. Stoltman and wife Regina with the four youngest daughters moved to Grafton, retiring from farming leaving the farm homestead to sons, Frank and Henry. This original homestead of Michael Stoltman is stiU owned and operated by the Stoltman family.

The history of Minto, Walsh County, began in the European countries that were "home" to the early settlers. The earliest white settlers traced their ancestry to Scotland, came to the Dakotas from Ontario. Many of the settlers were from the township of Minto, Ont., thus the name Minto was proposed in the legislature of Dakota Territory and was accepted. The township in which Minto is located is named Harriston after the city of Harriston in Minto Township, Ont., reversing the names of the town and the township. The original site of Minto was located about a mile southwest of the present location and was known as "Sandy's Comer" after one of the early Scottish settlers named Sandy Thomson. By the late 1870's, this smaU community boasted a saw null, post office, blacksmith shop and general store. The saw mUl was started by J. W. Major who set up a portable saw mill powered by a steam engine. After turning out the raw lumber, he exacted his payment by retaining a percentage of the logs that were brought to him. The early postal history indicates that a post office was authorized by Postmaster General David M. Key upon the petition of John Ogilvie Brown who was later commissioned the first postmaster for Minto by President Rutherford B. Hayes. The first post office opened March 15, 1880, served about 100 farm famiUes with once-a-week maU deliveries. Hugh Ryan began the first blacksmith shop in 1878. His business consisted of repairing the machinery, setting wheels and shoeing the feet of the beasts used in the field and on the trail. The first general store or trading post was started by Frank and August Zuelsdorf who moved from Acton in anticipation of the arrival of the railroad. They misjudged the location of the raUroad by one mile and later moved into the present site of Minto. The advent of the raUroad was the one single factor that most affected the growth and even the location of Minto. As early as 1862, rails were laid between St. Paul and St. Anthony (now MinneapoUs). Construction started westward after the railroad obtained right of ways. The material for the track and other necessary material was hauled by river barge. In 1879, James J. HU1 (The Empire BuUder), George Stephens and Donald A. Smith organized the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba RaUway Company. This company expanded farther to the west and to the north. The Une through Minto was built in the fall of 1881. Following this event, the real growth and movement of the City of Minto began. The Great Northern RaUway took over the 3,260 mUes of railroad operated by the St. Paul, MinneapoUs, and Manitoba lines on Feb. 1, 1890. Prior to the selection of the route for the raUway to this northwest territory and Winnipeg, a land company in Moorhead, Minn., Comstock & White, bought much of the property on which Minto is now located. Comstock and White platted this uncultivated land and offered the

townsite to the railroad. Following this action, two other proposed locations for the railroad route were abandoned and the community known as Sandy's Corner moved a mile to the northeast and became Minto. In 1881, the history of Minto and Walsh County truly began. On Aug. 30, 1881, by an act of the Territorial Legislature at Yankton, Walsh County was created from the southern portion of Pembina County and the northern portion of Grand Forks County. By the middle of 1880, Minto (in its present location) was a fair-sized town composed of Scottish, English and Irish settlers. With the accumulation of lumber at the Major Saw Mill, material was available for speedy construction of new buildings. Hotels and rooming houses sprang up with names such as the Park House, run by James Checkley; the Major House, run by John Wesley Major; the Price House, operated by James Price from 1882 until the big fire of 1898 and then rebuilt; the American House, run by Tom Ryan; the Minto House, built by McNichol and sold to George White who operated it until the fire of 1898; and a boarding house called the Lunney House run by Pat Lunney. Mercantile operations in addition to Frank and August Zuelsdorf were Schumake & Willoughby (later owned by James Twamley and J. J. Sprafka) and P. B. Broughton. P. B. Broughton's general store was later taken over by G. H. McPherran, then E. J. Hughes and around 1900 by Robert Szczys who bought this store and the store of J. J . Sprafka which he continued to operate for more than 40 years. New developments and fast growth in the spring of 1881 prompted W. H. Mitchell to begin a newspaper operation. He and his sons, Lee and Win, began this operation with the first edition of four pages being printed on June 2,1882. The population at the time of the first edition of the Minto Journal was 260. The equipment of the Minto Journal was regarded as "modern" as some of it was powered by kerosene engines. Following the destruction of the office of the Minto Journal in the fire of 1898, the building was rebuilt from brick obtained at the brickyard which was at the timeflourishing.The only equipment saved was a paper cutter and a small amount of type which was used for many years thereafter. During the weeks of the rebuilding process the Journal did not miss a single issue. The printing was handled by the Record in Grafton until the new facilities were readied. A Cronston Press which had been used by the Grand Forks Times (later the Grand Forks Herald) was set up. A gasoline engine provided light and power for the machinery. When Minto got electric power in 1914, the Journal was one of the first businesses to be improved. At the same time, a typesetting machine "the Wirebaby" was installed. This was the first linotype in the county. This family operation remained on Main Street in Minto until the last issue was printed on Dec. 10, 1942. John McGlinch med on a quarter of land northeast of Minto in 1881 and did blacksmith work in town. Later blacksmiths in Minto were Dan O'Reilly and Dave and Joe Lagowski. Saloons provided some form of entertainment for the men of the area and soon a large number of such establishments appeared in Minto. Early names associated with these establishments are Kline & Brzynski (later Kline and Wirkus), Ed Copps, and Teel &

Woods. During the days of Dakota Territory, there were no prohibition laws, but with the coming of statehood in 1889, the state constitution had a prohibition clause making North Dakota a dry state. This clause accomplished little but moved the saloons from the streets to the back alleys. Very little was done to enforce the laws until H. C. DePuy was elected State's Attorney. Early livery barns were owned by J. W. Major, McEwen and McQuire. Another livery stable was owned by John J. Jarvis who had come to the territory as a foreman on the railroad. The first butcher shop was operated by Stedt Brothers. They sold out in 1883 to W. J. Hewitt who ran the business with the help of C. C. Hankey. Later Hewitt's health failed and he was forced to sell. George Dean and Hankey carried on the business until 1895. Mr. Hankey later purchased Dean's interest and operated the business alone for a number of years. John Rolczynski came to Minto in 1888 and operated a butcher shop. His son, Frank Rolczynski was also a butcher in Minto. One of the prestigious pages of Minto's early history is the beginning of the Robertson Lumber Company on the east end of Main Street. This company started by A. D. Robertson opened its first yard in Minto in 1881. In 1882, the Robertsons opened a lumber yard in Grafton, hauling the first lumber by team before the railroad was completed. The first freight train from Minto to Grafton contained lumber for the new yard. The family later opened lumber yards in many towns in North Dakota and Minnesota and has adopted the company slogan "There is a Robertson Yard Near You." Early druggists were J. Richards and Mr. Hubbard. J. W. Boeing bought the drug store and continued to operate it until a fire which started in the Boeing Store destroyed both sides of Main Street. Only the E. R. Strome store (later owned by Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Reszka) remained. Earliest hardware dealers were James Winslow and F. C. Walters. The Walters Hardware was destroyed in the fire of 1898 and later rebuilt and called the "Bucket Shop." Later hardware merchants were Fred Carpenter, John Miller, Ralph Welch and Wis Wisniewski. Frank Viets built and operated a flour mill until he sold it in 1888 to G. H. McPherran. The flour mill served a radius of 30 miles and provided farmers with flour and bran from their own wheat. At the time of the Klondike gold rush, McPherran sold the mill to the Lynch Bros. The mill burned in 1908 and was never rebuilt. During 1882, two elevators were built to answer the needs of the farmers. One was built by the Northwest Elevator Co. and the other by the Brooks Brothers Elevator Company. The Northwest Elevator was mn by George Brown until it was destroyed by fire in 1897. It was immediately rebuilt and placed under the management of Neil McMurchie until about 1906 when A. J. MiUer was placed in charge. In 1908, the Northwest Elevator Company sold its holdings to the newlyorganized Farmers' Cooperative Company. The Minto Farmers' Elevator Company still exists today. The Brooks Elevator was purchased by James BeU, prominent Minto grain dealer, who operated it from 1887-1897. In 1897, the Peavey Company bought the elevator from Bell. The original structure was razed in 280

(later a part of the high school assembly). Until the school year of 1898-99 students were promoted from the eighth grade into the "high school room" and took an assortment of unclassified subjects. In September 1898, Supt. James S. Carr and May E. Noel (later Mrs. Winthrop S. Mitchell) prepared an organized four-year course with Latin, EngUsh, elementary and advanced algebra, plane and solid geometry, physics, botany, civics, and ancient and American history as the subject offerings. Superintendents who followed James S. Carr were Crane, E . R. Edwards, Gertrude Monteski (a native of Minto), M. 0. Olafson, Freeman Melstad, S. R. Lacher, George Brooks, and Lowell Jeske. In 1949, the school board determined that an auditorium and agriculture room were needed and in 1950 they were completed. In the early 1880's a lending organization was organized to assist with the financial needs of the area. It was named the Bank of Forest River. It should be noted that before Minto was officially organized, the general area around the Forest River was called by that name; thus, the earliest bank was caUed the Bank of Forest River. On April 25, 1885, the Articles of Association of the Bank of Minto were signed and sealed with the Seal of the Territory by James Teller, Secretary of Dakota Territory. These articles authorized the formation of the bank in the VUlage of Minto. The first directors were four Grand Forks men: JohnH. Merrifield, Moses S. Titus, R. Morton Sherman and Hamilton S. Whithed. A warranty deed conveyed Lot 1, Block 18, from the Bank of Forest River to the Bank of Minto.

1936 and new, larger facilities were built. Additional elevators were later built and at one time there were five elevators in Minto. One of the earliest doctors in Minto was Dr. R. M. Evans. He came from Canada in 1879 and practiced at Manvel. In 1880, he moved to Minto. In his early years of practice, he traveled by horse and buggy; later he owned a Model T. In addition to his outstanding record in caring for the sick, Dr. Evans was the first county superintendent of schools. He was instrumental in forming the school districts and also charged with testing prospective teachers and issuing permits to teach. The first attempts at providing an educational system in Minto were started around 1880. The first school board, comprised of George Brown, H. Amerlund, and R. M. Evans, arranged to rent a frame, one-room building from Jennie McCann. After installing crude desk tables and benches, the first schoolroomwas ready for use. Providing a teacher turned out to be the most difficult task of the school board. The services of Hattie Hayworth were obtained and for the first summer and winter she held classes for assorted groups of youngsters. Subjects offered were reading, writing, arithmetic (the three R's), penmanship and music. The growth of Minto pointed out the necessity for more suitable school facilities and the school board decided to erect a real school. The decision regarding location was reached after some difficulty and remains the site of the second school built in 1895. The land was donated to the school board by the firm of Comstock & White of Moorhead. By the fall of 1882, the new buildingcomplete with tower and bell-was ready for the winter term. The building measured 15 x 30 and looked much like the rural schools of later years. Real desks with folding seats and inkwells greeted the students when they arrived at the new school building. Hattie Woodworth again was the teacher. In 1883, Emma Mott, wife of a surveyor who had moved west, took charge of the school. Mrs. Mott added to the curriculm algebra and physics. A janitor, W. J . Earl, was hired to keep the fire, sweep the floors, and ring the school bell.

Moses S. Titus served as the president of the Bank of Minto until his death February 19, 1939. He had begun his banking career in the bank of his brother S. S. Titus in Grand Forks. In 1887 he married Miss Gertrude Veits who had come to Minto from Ohio to assist his father as bookkeeper in his mUl and store. Although Mr. Titus retained the presidency of the bank until his death, he graduaUy yielded the operation of the business to A. E. McKay, the bank cashier. McKay served as president of the Bank until 1942, when he was succeeded by L. W. Wisniewski. The bank was housed in a frame buUding until 1916 when the present brick structure was erected. The early settlers were of strong religious conviction and began early to provide themselves with a place for worship. Presbyterian settlers in the area formed the Knox Presbyterian Church Feb. 18, 1883. Rev. A. G. Forbes served as the first pastor of the church from 18831885. Before the church was buUt in 1886, services were held in private homes and in the school building. Later a "declaration for formation of a private corporation" was filed with the Secretary of the Territory, J . L. McCormick. The declaration was signed by Donald McCannell, Archibald MiUer and Alexander Thomson. The "Certificate of Corporate Existence" granted to "said parties, their associates and successors" the right "to corporate under the name of Knox Presbyterian Church of Minto, Dakota Territory."Theseal was affixed Oct. 11, 1886. Also in 1886, lumber for the church building was purchased by Alexander Thomson, Archibald F. MiUer, Donald McCannell, David Thomson, John Miller, A. J. MUler, Guy MUler, Malcolm McCannell, WUliam McKay, James BeU and John Bell.

The educational system of the time was different than that to which we are now accustomed. There were no grades, no report cards, no exams. Children ranged in age from 6-14 and also included grown men and women who had not previously had the opportunity for formal education. Students had few pencils and little paper. Slates and chalk provided the basic supplies. The large slate blackboard at the front of the room provided the lessons and the explanations. Students occasionally used ink from the inkwells and thin paper. After over a decade of service, the little frame building was no longer large enough for the educational needs of the city. A rural school was no longer the solution and the Special School District Number 20 was formed. A new brick building was built in 1895 and still stands on the location. This new building gave five grade rooms and a high school room. Possibly the largest class to enroll in the Minto school system was the first grade class that started in 1897. The 72 children in the grade made division into two groups necessary. One group met in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The other grades were combined two to a room. The eighth grade was situated in the northwest room on the second floor 281

The building was completed in 1886 and serves to this day. The fiftieth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated on Feb. 16,1933, and on July 23, 1961, the 75th anniversary of the building of the structure was observed. The Sunday School was organized shortly after the formation of the church by Donald McCannell as superintendent and Miss Margaret D. Bell as the teacher. The Ladies' Aid was organized in 1890. This organization has done much to aid the church, including assistance in retiring the church mortgage. One of the early records of church services being held in the area related to Reverend Father Considine arriving at the cabin of Michael Kearns on the Forest River Oct. 23, 1880. He had traveled from Pembina by boat to Acton and from Acton to Minto by team with Angus Gillespie. The same afternoon neighbors were notified that the priest had arrived and would be holding Mass the following morning at the Kearns cabin. The records of the Diocese of Fargo indicated, however, that an earlier Mass had been said by Father L'Hiver on Easter of the same year in the cabin of Owen McCann. The history of St. Patrick's Church is closely associated with Father Considine. He served as the first pastor from 1880-1884. He was replaced by Fathers Charles McManus and Thomas O'Reilly for a year, but returned in 1885 and served until 1913. Succeeding pastors of St. Patrick's Parish were Father John Maxwell, Father W. T. Mulloy, Father John Cullen, and Father Lambert Studzinski. The church was build in 1884 by Father Considine, a gallery was added in 1886, an addition in 1896 and a new foundation in 1931. This church served the Minto community until July 1, 1957, when it was consolidated with the Sacred Heart Church. St. John the Baptist Church at Ardoch was a mission of St. Patrick's. Sacred Heart Church of Minto was organized in 1903 to serve the needs of the Polish Catholics of the area. It was first a mission of St. Stanislaus of Warsaw and was served by Father Gawlowicz. In 1904 a committee of Polish people purchased a Baptist church building for $1 400. An addition was added in 1909 and a completely new church was built in 1912. Fire destroyed this building in 1916, but parishioners built a new structure the same year at the cost of $16,000. The first resident pastor was Father Karpinski in 1905. His successors were Fathers W. Krzywonos, Vincent Mayer, Teodor Kupka, Francis Olzewski, Stanislaus Major, Stephen Bryalski, F. J. Slominski, J. J. Stemple, Hilarion Mikalofsky and A. J. Richard. Early societies within the church were the Holy Rosary Society, (the forerunner of the Altar Society) the Holy Name Society whose function it was to beautify the church grounds and complete the interior of the church and the basement, and The Order of St. Francis. Following the fire of 1898, the business district was rebuilt. The Boeing store was reopened and later owned by John Keene and still later, by Caroline and Bell. John Slominski worked as a clerk for Caroline and Bell and later bought out the interest of Bell and the firm became Caroline and Slominski. In 1909, John Slominski began attending the State CoUege at Fargo and graduated in 1912 with a degree in pharmacy. In 1915, Caroline sold his interests to Slominski and Minto Drug Company was owned and operated by John Slominski. In Feb., 1908, H. H. Walker moved to Minto from Grand Forks where he had been an assistant in the W. R.

Lasham Jewelry store. Another jewelry store, Blakely Bros., provided competition. In Sept., 1915, Mr. Walker conceived the idea of a movie theater and reconstructed and furnished the rear of his jewelry building as a theater. The Strand Theater was open on Saturday and Sunday nights and aUowed a third night for films of unusual popularity. The Minto Park has, since the beginning of Minto, played an important part in the recreation and entertainment of its citizens. During the early years fairs and horse races were prevalent in the park. The Minto Park containing about 23 acres was purchased from M. S. Titus and J. W. Boeing in 1899 for the sum of $2,250. A petition was signed by 67 businessmen asking that the viUage accept the owners' offer of sale. Since that time many civic groups have aided nature in making the park a lovely, picturesque place. The Commercial Club was instrumental in up-keep of the park and added many features-the pool in the Forest River, the PavUion, the race course, picnic grounds, tennis courts, the ball diamond and grandstand, and the playground. The Minto Park PaviUon is a story in itself. For many years it called dancers every Wednesday night and on special occasions to dance to many big name bands. In the early years of Minto's history, horse racing was very popular and stables were owned by many local residents. Stables were also built in the park and the half-mile track was one of the best hatf-mile tracks in the state. In years past, prominent horsemen from several states and Canada kept strings of horses in the stables in the park with trainers and jockeys in attendance In 1883, a meeting was held in the back of the bank and the citizens approved the idea of becoming an incorporated viUage. AbUl, known as House BiU No. 105 was approved in the Territorial Legislature on March 6, 1883 The first election was held on March 22, 1883, with the election of the first viUage officials. H. H. Amerlund, A. D. Robertson, P. B. Broughton, Dr. R. M. Evans and James McGuire were elected trustees; H. J. Bryon was the first clerk; J . W. Richards was elected treasurer; Major Gleason was the first justice of the peace and Edgar Thorpe became the first vUlage marshal. Early records of civU cases show that settlements ranged from $5.15 to $155.01 for the period up to 1891. CivU cases were usuaUy for failure to pay promissory notes, but occasionaUy were for faUure to pay merchants or for recovery of property. On August 13, 1887, an action "to recover of the defendant the sum of one dollar and seventy five cents for repairing a wagon wheel for Defendant during the month of Sept. 1886" was brought. This is the smallest amount requested in any case of early record. Costs involved in the case brought the total amount to $9.30. The first case heard by Justice of the Peace E. E. DaUy after the territory became the State of North Dakota was "to recover of the Defendant the sum of twenty five doUars for ten days work and labor performed for Defendant at his request during the last of September and first part of October 1889 at $2.50 per day." Early criminal dockets show that the vast majority of crimes were for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Almost without exception the plea of the accused was "guilty" and the case was settled quickly with the 282

Robert Szczys—Interior of General Mdse. Store Left to right: Walter Barclay, unknown, unknown, Delores Szczys, Leo Szczys, Mrs. Szczys, Mr. Szczys.

Robert Szczys—First General Store Left to right: Mr. Robert Szczys, Delores Szczys, Walter Barclay, Isador Sauter.

Szczy

Bank of Minto

payment of a fine. Other criminal charges were the selling of goods and wares without a license, larceny discharging firearms in the streets, carrying concealed weapons, cruelty to animals, keeping a saloon open all night, indecent exposure of person, vagrancy, assault and battery, gambling, allowing disorderly conduct in place of business, keeping a disorderly house, d raying without a license, robbery, catching fish other than by angling with hook and line, * ^ M ^ ^ r h K °a Sunday arson, selling intoxicating liquor without a license, lurking and lying in wait with mischievous intent, and frequenting a house of ill fame. Early financial records show that the streets, sidewalks, police and jail costs, and fire protection provided the major expense for the Village. Construction of wooden sidewalks was a major expense m the_ear y years of the Village with 1884 costs listed at $*5.62 to Robertson Lumber Company for material and $7.80 for i

^ O t h e r viUage expenses were for elected officialssalaries, election judges and clerks, assessors, attorney fees, legal notices and surveyors. Moneys were gathered from poU taxes, sale ot Ucenses, assessments on property, and sale of cemetery lots Sale of Uquor licenses provided the bulk ot the money-$1000 in 1885, $1,300 in 1886, $1,400 in MOT. and $2240 in 1888. Single Uquor Ucenses were raised from $200 in 1885-1887 to $500 in 1888. MisceUaneous Ucenses were issued by draying, shows, peddlers venders and tricksters. Dray licenses were $25 each

A special meeting of the VUlage council was called in June 1903 to discuss the incorporation of Minto as a City An election was scheduled for July 14 to vote on the proposition. Returns showed 30 in favor and 7 opposed John Bathgate was elected Mayor pro tern and served until the election ot August 18 in which Dr. R. M Evans was elected mayor. Other city officials elected at that first election were A. J. MUler, Fred Carpenter, Alex Gillespie, Robert Szczys, Peter Rose and Julius Wirkus as aldermen; M. S. Titus, city treasurer; Win S. MitcheU, auditor- Frank Connors, poUce magistrate; Lawrence Hoorey, chief of police; and S. D. Thomson, justice of the peace.

Minto, North Dakota

Minto Organizations The five men who were instrumental in organizing

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 20, MINTO In 1882 the head officer was Frank Zuelsdorf. He remained until 1891 when M. S. Titus of Minto took over in his place. There were 2 teachers during these ear y years Miss Ada Hoeworth, who received $65 per month for her job, and a Miss Batchelor whose certificate expired Oct. 10, 1887. The location of the school house m S or so was R. 53, Tr. 156. The directors of School m m 20 from 1893-1900 were F. C. Walthen, Henry O'Keefe, Jas. Bell, George Robertson, and J. D. Phelps. The treasurer during the period of 1894-1896 was M. S. Titus and the clerk was W. G. Mitchell.

A few of the first teachers were W. M. Cochran, Miss R E Ford Mary Nixon, Nellie Nixon, Mary Shefard, Prof. Carry', Mina Day, JuUa Hughes and A. Margaret Blunt. The directors in 1898-1910 were J. W. Borning, Mrs H C DePury Mrs. M. S. Titus, Geo. A. Dean, May Noel Mitchel, Jesse D. Phellps, Julius Wirkus, John J. Sprafka and Jon Miller. The clerk in 1898-1900 was W. S. Mitchell, and treasurer in 1898-1908 was M. S. Titus The enrollment averaged from about 293-311 in the years of 1898-1900. The average female salary was about $52.88. MINTO AMERICAN LEGION POST NO. 201 Minto American Legion Post No. 201 was started in 1920 and was then known as Wirkus-CaUahan Post No. 201 The first meeting was held in the Minto Drug Store. Later meetings were held in Nick's HaU and upstairs over Phelps Real Estate building until the present building was acquired in 1950.

the post were: Joseph Sass, John M. Slominski, Casmer Monteski, Joe Prondzinski, and Henry Hytton^ Charter members were: Joseph Babinski, Stanley Bishop Paul Buzak Neil Callahan, William S. Callahan, Charles Cayley, Eugene Cayley, Max Cheslik, Casmer Duray Martin Feaorowicz, Konstanty Feltman Theaphil Gerszewski, Walter GUlespie, Dominick Grabanski, Benjamin Gudajtes, Martin Helmowski, Henry Hyton, Leo Kalka, Walter Kamrowski, Ray R. Kennedy W. W. Kennedy, Steve Kierzak, Frank Kowalski Edward Kulas, Ambrose Langowski, Joseph Langowsk!, Steve Lulestanski, James McHugh, John Merchlewicz Fred Misialek, Casmer Monteski, Walter Paulson, Frank Pelowski, Walter Pewloski, Leo Petraytes, Max Pokrzywinski, Joseph Prondzinski, Thomas Redman, Mike Riske, August R. Riski, Joseph Sass John ML Slominski, Victor Slominski, Frank J. Stoltman, Leo Szczys, Cosmer Tandeski, Julian Walski, Anton Wosick Frand Wosick. Walter Gillespie was elected the first post commander. SACRED HEART CHURCH, MINTO Sacred Heart Church was founded for service to the Polish speaking settlers in the Minto area. It first became a Mission in 1903, and was served by Father Sank Galowicz of Warsaw. The first Polish immigrants spoke very little English and services were conducted in Polish St Stanislaus Church of Warsaw the nearest Polish Church, was considered to be too far away for regular attendance by the Polish people. The Sacred Heart Church was started in a building purchased from the Minto Baptist Church for $1,400. In 1905 the Church was changed from a Mission to the 286

status of a Parish, with Father Joseph Karpinski as its first resident pastor. By 1909 the Church was crowded, and an addition was built. In a few years, the same problem again confronted the people and in 1912 a fine new Church was built on another site. The cost was $10,000, no small amount by the standards of the time. Four years later, in 1916, the fine new Church was destroyed by fire. The fire started in the tower, and the equipment of the day was not capable of extinguishing it. However, the parishioners quickly removed all its furnishings undamaged. Today the pews in Sacred Heart Church are the same pews that survived the fire. A new Church was built at a cost of $16,000. This is the present Church, which has been kept in very good repair. The church is almost an exact replica of the previous church which burned. For both the people chose the Byzantine style of architecture so common in their native Poland. The successors of Father Joseph Karpinski were Father W. Krzywonos, 1906-1908, Father Vincent Majer, 1908-1909, Father Theodore Kupka, 1909-1910, Father Vincent Majer, 1910-1917, Father Francis Olzewski, 1917-1922, Father Stephen Bryalski, 1922-1923, and Father F. J. Slominski, 1923-1940. ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, MTNTO The first records of St. Patrick's Parish go back to 1880. Before that time priests had said Mass in the neighborhood but there was not a permanent parish. The first parish priest was Rev. Fr. John W. Considine. He came to Minto in October, 1880. Oldtimers told the joy of the Catholic people when he made his visitation. At that time he took care of the spiritual needs of the Catholic people in most of the communities between Manvel and Pembina. On Oct. 13,1880, Rev. Considine arrived at the cabin of Michael Kearns on the Forest River, then known as the Big Salt. He had traveled from Pembina by boat down the Red River to Acton, and from Acton to Minto by team, with Angus Gillespie, Sr., who referred him to the Kearns log cabin. The same afternoon John Kearns, then 18, went on horseback to notify Ed Dailly, Jim King, Owen Burns and Mike Sheridan, outlying neighbors, that the priest had arrived and that there would be a Mass celebrated the next morning in the Kearns cabin. Others who attended the Mass in this same log cabin prior to the construction of St. Patrick's Church in Minto were: Michael, John, and Tony Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Koehmstedt, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kearns and ten children, Mrs. Susan McCracken, Mr. and Mrs. Pat McCann, Hugh Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Moran, Mike Hart, Joe McCarron, Mike Monley, Jerry Murray, John Hughes, Wm. O'Keefe and family, "Columbus" Fee, Murphy family, John Moran, John Coffey, Sr., and family, Owen McCann, Dan McCulloch, Michael Cayley, Alex Kennedy, Sr., and family, Valentine Koehmstedt and Adam Stoltz. The Mass celebrated Oct. 14, 1880, in the Kearns log cabin was the first Mass celebrated in what is now Walsh County. Father Considine was the only priest between Pembina and Grand Forks at that time. Mass was said regularly in the Kearns cabin. The priest was transported to and from parishioners by team, and often by teams of oxen. V. Koehmstedt told about traveling with Father Considine over lonely prairie. Sometimes they had a hard time finding night shelter for themselves and the horses.

Father Considine had a homestead of his own between Minto and Acton, and this he made his home during his first year in Walsh County. .St. Patrick's rectory was not ready for his occupancy until 1888. There were three baptisms in 1880: Anthony Koehmstedt, son of Lawrence Koehmstedt, Oct. 17, 1880; William John Moran, son of Michael Moran, Oct. 18, 1880; Mary Fee, Dec. 26, 1880. There were no marriages recorded in 1880. In 1881 there is record of three marriages: Martin Doyle and Helen Kearns, Jan. 17 in the Kearns log cabin; Maurice Foley and Mary Lynch, Feb. 21, and Hugh Ryan and Margaret McCann, Aug. 28. On Oct. 13,1886, Most Reverend Martz administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 51 persons. STATISTICS: St. Patrick's property, six lots, was donated by Messrs. Comstock and White, Moorhead, Minn. Cost of Church: $2,836.01. From 1886 to 1896 it was enlarged and improved at a cost of about $1,450. Rectory purchased Oct. 13,1888. Cost $2,238.50. Early improvements $146.37. St. Patrick's Cemetery: three acres purchased from M. S. Titus of Minto for $100. St. Patrick's Church is no longer in Minto. About 1959 it was hauled to Lankin, N. D., where it is used as a reception hall. The large bell which rang in the tower of St. Patrick's Church to assemble the pioneer parishioners of the first permanent parish that existed in Walsh County, now rings in the tower of a church in Veseleyville. This bell had been donated to St. Patrick's Church by Lawrence Koehmstedt. A marker in Minto now commemorates the site of St. Patrick's Church. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MINTO The Knox United Presbyterian Congregation came into being on Feb. 18,1883. The church was not built until 1886. In the meantime the services were held in the school house. Rev. A. G. Forbes was the first pastor of the church. Donald McCannell and Archibald Miller were elected elders. The congregation was composed of the following members: Donald McCannell, Archibald Miller, Mrs. Donald McCannell, Mrs. Archibald Miller, Agnes F. Miller, Agnes Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Geddes, Margaret D. Bell, Mr. and Mrs. G. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. J. Jackson, Mrs. Archibald McKay, Mr. Angus McKay, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Thomson, John Brown, Angus Gillespie, Mr. and Mrs. William Arthur, Duncan Gillespie. The members came from many parts of the country as well as Canada and Scotland. On Feb. 16, 1933, members celebrated the 50th anniversary of the church. On July 23, 1961, the 75th anniversary of the church was observed. The Sunday School was organized by Donald McCannell as superintendent and Miss Margaret D. Bell as a teacher. In the beginning the attendance was small but as more families moved into the community there was an increased number attending the church school. At first they met in the homes and later in the school house.

The Ladies Aid was organized in 1890. They have done much for the church. Many years ago they helped the church pay off the church mortgage.

Corner. Jim bought the main part of the house from a man named Garbard, moved it across the street on its present site and Angus Gillespie, Jr., built the addition to the east. While operating his farm north of the city, his home was in the city. Each spring the family moved to the farm where they remained until the end of the harvest. Many years they had to leave the grain and when it froze they'd cut and haul the feed in to feed the cattle. The cattle were trained to move when they were ready to go back to town. They turned the cows out after they were milked and while they loaded the hay rack, one cow led the rest to town. When they reached the barn on Second Street, the neighbors would open the gate and put them in the barn yard, knowing the Jim Barclay family was on their way in for winter. At that time milk was delivered to regular customers, 16 quarts for $1.00. They had a milk house south of the house where milk was bottled and some set in bowls so they could skim the cream off later. That was until the separator came into use. On June 16, 1905 a boy was born to Milton and Margaret Legge on a farm 1V miles west of Minto which belongs to W. L. Rutter. The father and mother, sick with the measles, knowing she wasn't going to live, asked Mr. and Mrs. Jim Barclay to raise the baby. Mrs. Legge and Mrs. Barclay were cousins. When the baby was 12 days old, the mother died. Barclays took the child and he was christened Percy Legge Barclay, with Mr. and Mrs. John Miller as his godparents. In 1905 a fire burned the Legge home to the ground, leaving Milton, two daughters and two sons homeless and without clothing. They were brought to the Turpening home in Minto where they were clothed and taken care of. Mr. Legge and children moved back to the farm in Rosetown, Sask. The hired man, Walter Grinter, lost all his belongings, along with the wages he had been given when he had to jump from the upstairs window to escape the fire. The winter of 1896-97 made much history when Thanksgiving Day was the beginning of a three day blizzard with high winds piling snow into huge drifts. The snow was three or four inches deep on the prairie and was packed so hard the horses and cutter, and even the trains, could drive over it. Blizzards brought the usual spring floods of the Forest River that damaged buildings and killed livestock along the Red River. From 1890 on, Christmas was an exciting time with the annual children's programs being held in the Knox Presbyterian Church. Santa came down the chimney to distribute gifts that were piled under the beautiful tall decorated tree. Santa, who for many years was really Tom Falconer, also had bags of candy for the little ones. Candy bags, nuts and apples were prepared by the Ladies Aid. Then came the usual Christmas Day with family friends and all the trimmings. Some of the Barclay friends were names like John Phalen, Frank Davis, Lil Smith, Tim and Dave Callahan, Fred Flanders, John Miller and John Hanawalt. Barn dances were a pastime. A group of young people one evening went to the John Hanawalt farm home northeast of town. They picked up the hard coal stove, fire and all, carried it into the yard, rolled up the rug and danced to the music of the jews harp, mouth organ and violin while Mr. Hanawalt sat by the dining room table playing solitaire. His father's pinto pony and two wheel cart were used for transportation. 2

Knox Presbyterian Church, Minto

MINTO BIOGRAPHIES JAMES BARCLAY James Barclay was born in Owen Sound, Ont., Jan. 17, 1858, the son of William Barclay. James married Mary Ann Nelson of Owen Sound, Ont., Feb. 9,1887. James was a Scotch Presbyterian. His main occupation was farming. Though his education was limited to a country school in Owen Sound James had quite a political record. He was elected mayor for three terms and served as an alderman in his ward several terms. He was a Worshipful Master of the Minto Masonic Lodge, A.F. & A.M. He came by boat in the fall of 1879 to Fisher's Landing and walked to his friend Sandy Thompson's home in Sandy's Corner or old Minto. In 1877-78 he went with his father to Panama where he and his father helped build the locks on the Panama Canal. He staked out a claim in Walsh Centre Township. Mr. Thompson gave him $100 to buy a plow and team of oxen to break up the land. He built a one room home from the elm lumber taken from the saw mill at Sandy's Corner. He went back to his homeland of Owen Sound, Ont., where he married Mary Ann Nelson at her home Feb. 9, 1887, coming back to Dakota Territory and his homestead in the spring of 1887 with his wife. He applied for citizenship June 14, 1890, and July 8 of that year received his papers. The family Uved in this one room home on the homestead. Jenny Nelson was born July 18,1888, William James was born May 8, 1891. A brother, Melvin Miller, sister Mary Ann and brother Howard were also born on the homestead. May Ann died at four months, and Howard at 13 months. He bought lots in Gillespie Addition from Angus Gillespie, and Oct. 23,1899 purchased wooded lots from a widow, Emalin Moore. The main part of the house as it stands today was part of the general store from Sandy's

In municipal affairs Mr. Barclay was prominent. For a number of years he represented his ward as a member of the city council. Later he was chosen mayor of the city for a term of two years, relinquished the office for two years, and was again elected. Two years later he was elected to succeed himself and was serving in that capacity at the time of his death. Most people remember him by the two wheel cart and pinto pony he drove, later bought by John Mach and used to carry the mail to Warsaw. James Barclay died Feb. 20, 1926. Since he was the Worshipful Master, Masonic service was conducted by Past Master W. G. Mitchell with Rev. Alexander of the Knox Presbyterian Church giving the discourse. WILLIAM JAMES BARCLAY William James Barclay was born May 8, 1891 on his father's farm in Walsh Center Township. He was the son of James Barclay and Mary Ann Nelson. William married Jennie Alice Rutter of Washburn, Ia., at the Rutter farm Feb. 21, 1917. Jennie died Sept. 6, 1973. William is Scotch Irish and was a tarmer. He attended Minto public school. Mr. Barclay served as mayor of Minto several terms and was an alderman. His church was the Knox Presbyterian, and he belonged to the Minto Lodge, A.F. & A.M. On Feb. 21, 1917, after a big blizzard, William and Jennie Rutter exchanged rings beneath an arch adorned with bells at her brother, W. L. Rutter's farm home, just west of Minto on old Highway 81. They went by horses and sleigh to Voss, where they boarded the train for a honeymoon in Canada. On their return they made their home on his father's homestead until 1925 when health caused them and their children, Genevieve, Dorothy, Bert and Geraldine, to move into town. He took a job under Bill Hanrahan at the Farmer's Elevator. After his father's death Feb. 20,1926, he moved into the old family home which he bought from his sister and brother. A son, James Franklyn, was born June 29, 1928. This date brings back the memories of the tragedy at the July 4th celebration in the present Minto Park, where a platform filled with sightseers for the races went down on top of children who were watching from underneath, killing one four year old boy and injuring five others. While Mr. Barclay worked, his wife and children took care of the cow, chickens and garden. During these early days they bottled and delivered milk, house to house, 14 quarts for $1.00. In 1952 they sold the house to their son-in-law and daughter, Charles and Dorothy Spelhaug, going to Forest River where they lived and worked on a farm. A few years ago they came back to Minto to live. He was educated in Minto, first going to a country school while living on the farm. He went to the first grade in the old school which is now the museum. MICHAEL LORIUS BYRNE Michael Lorius Byrne was born in Perth, Ontario, on Nov. 11, 1879, the son of John Byrne and Rose McCann. In 1885 John Byrne and wife, Rose, and family traveled from Perth, Ontario by wagon to homestead three miles east of Minto in Harriston township. The family then consisted of Michael and Tillie. They lived in a log cabin constructed by their parents. This log cabin stood and was in use until five years ago. In the years to

follow children born to John and Rose Byrne were: Leo, Fredrick, Alphonse, who died at the age of 8, Edna, and Margret Mae. Education consisted of walking three miles to a country school. During the winter the children's lunches froze on the way to school and the boys chopped the wood and fed the fires that warmed the school. Michael and Tillie went on to the University of North Dakota when the University was in its infancy and went on to teach school in the rural areas. Michael Byrne married Ethel O'Keefe of Voss, N. D. in St. Patrick's Church in Minto on Sept. 3, 1913. Michael Byrne worked for several years in a bank in Minto before it closed during the depression. Mr. Byrne then operated the Robertson Lumber Co. of Minto until he retired in 1950. Michael Byrne died as a result of a heart attack on Aug. 26, 1955. Mrs. Michael Byrne died Oct. 20, 1958. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Byrne are survived by a daughter, Geraldine, Mrs. Renee French of Grafton, N. Dak. and a son, John T. Byrne of Louisiana. FATHER JOHN WILLIAM CONSIDINE The name of Father John William Considine brings alive the history of the Minto area, and the many German Irish families he served. It also calls to mind St. Patrick's Church,, of which the records go back to the year 1880. John William Considine, the son of William Considine and Mary Bevan, was born in Killalae, Clare County, Ireland, Aug. 1, 1847. He died on July 19, 1916, and is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery. John W. Considine first came to America in 1862 at the age of 15. Little is known of these early years until 1869 when he entered St. Charles Preparatory Seminary in Maryland. On August 19, 1874, he returned to Ireland and in September of the same year entered St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, County Gaiway. Two years later he returned to America and on September 9, 1876, he entered Le Grand Seminaire of Montreal. On September 19, 1878, he changed to St. Joseph's Seminary, Three Rivers, Quebec, and on February 21, 1880, was ordained the first priest for the Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota, in Three Rivers by Bishop Lafleche. On ordination day he was appointed pastor of the Assumption Church of Pembina, and he arrived there on April 17,1880. By October 1, he had moved to Acton, also called Kelly's Point. On October 13, 1880, Rev. Father Considine arrived at the cabin of Michael Kearns on the Forest River, then known as the Big Salt. This was on the SWV4 of Section 12 in Forest River Township. He had traveled from Pembina by boat down the Red River to Acton and from Acton to Minto by team with Angus Gillespie, Sr., who referred him to the Kearn log cabin. John Kearns, then 18 years of age, went on horseback to notify Ed Dailly, Jim King, Owen Burns and Mike Sheridan, outlying neighbors, that the priest had arrived and that there would be a mass celebrated the next morning in the Kearns' cabin. Oldtimers told of the joy of the Catholic people when he made his visitation. At that time he took care of the spiritual needs of the people and three baptisms are recorded in 1880. On October 17,1880, three days after the first mass in the area was said, Anthony Koehmstedt was baptized, on October 18, William John Moran, son of Michael Moran was baptized, and on December 26,1880, Mary Fee, daughter

Deneen, Simon Deneen, Edmond Deneen, Daniel Deneen, Jr., Mary Margaret, Isabelle Catherine, and Johanna Rose. Two small sons, Simon and Edmund, died in infancy from an epidemic of whooping cough. Daniel Deneen died February 28, 1953, and is buried at Minto. His wife died June 20,1945, and is also buried at Minto.

of Frank Fee, was baptized. There were no marriages recorded in 1880. However, in 1881 there is a record of three; Martin Doyle and Helen Kearns on Jan. 17 in the Kearns' log cabin, Maurice Foley and Mary Lynch on February 21, and Hugh Ryan and Margaret McCann on August 28. Father Considine was the only priest between Pembina and Grand Forks at that time. Mass was said regularly in the Kearns' cabin prior to the construction of St. Patrick's Church in Minto. Those who attended Mass were: Michael, John and Tony Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Koehmstedt, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kearns, and 10 children, Mrs. Susan McCracken, Mr. and Mrs. Pat McCann, Hugh Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Moran, Mike Hart, Joe McCarroon, Mike Monley, Jerry Murray, John Hughes, Wm. O'Keefe and family, "Columbus Fee," the Murphy family, John Coffey, Sr., and family, Owen McCann, Dan McCulloch, Michael Cayley, Alexander Kennedy and family, Valentine Koehmstedt, and Adam Stoltz. The priest was transported by parishioners by team, very often by a team of oxen. Valentine Koehmstedt told about traveling with Father Considine over the lonely prairie. Sometimes they had a hard time finding night shelter for themselves and the horses. Father Considine had a homestead of his own between Minto and Acton and this he made his home during his first years in Walsh County. The 1893 plat lists the SE VA of Section 35 in Acton Township in his name. Late in 1881, he moved to Manvel and built the first church there in 1882. In the summer of 1883 he built the first church in Ardoch and St. Patrick's Church in Minto was completed July 1, 1884. On that same day Father Considine was transferred to Mitchell, South Dakota, and remained there until 1885 when he returned to Manvel. In October of 1888, a rectory was purchased for St. Patrick's Church and Father Considine came to reside in it. On November 19,1911, Father Considine was made a Domestic Prelate with the title Monsignor, by Pope Pius X.

MARY FALCONER DOWLING FAMILY Mary Falconer Dowling was bom in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, on November 6, 1877, and moved to Minto on November 9, 1883, with her parents, Matthew and Elizabeth Trotter Falconer. Mary Dowling died on February 6,1971, at the age of 93 years and three months. ROBERT MERCER EVANS, M.D. Dr. Robert Mercer Evans engaged in the practice of medicine in Minto, and experienced all of the hardships that came to the pioneer physician and he had also won the esteem and confidence which are accorded the practitioner of conscientious purpose who does not hesitate to sacrifice his personal comfort to the demands of the suffering humanity. He was born at Brockville, Leeds County, Ontario, August 26, 1844, a son of William Evans, a native of Ireland, who in 1828 crossed the Atlantic to Canada and became one of the pioneer settlers of Leeds County, where he successfully engaged in farming. He settled in the midst of a forest and cleared away 100 acres of timber. He continued to reside in Leeds county until 1881, when he crossed the border and became a resident of the territory of Dakota, settling in Walshville township, Walsh County. There again he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers, being among the first to take up a government claim in that district and there he lived to the ripe old age of 99 years and 7 months, passing away September 19,1899. He married Bessie Bright, a relative of the distinguished John Bright, the English statesman. Mrs. Evans was born in England and in 1829 accompanied her parents to Canada where she met and married Dr. Evans. She, too, reached an advanced age, being eighty six years old at the time of her death in 1889. In the family were seven children: Thomas, now deceased, Robert Mercer, Elizabeth, Frances, John J., Catherine and Joseph. The old Evans homestead is still in possession of a representative of the family. Dr. Evans pursued his early education in the schools of Brockville, Ontario, and was graduated from the grammar school with the class of 1862, while in 1863 he completed a course in the provincial normal school at Toronto, Canada. He afterward took up the profession of teaching which he followed for several years in Toledo, Leeds county, and at the end of that period he turned his attention to the study of medicine, being graduated from the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Toronto in 1869, winning his professional degree at that time. He was located for the practice of medicine in Farmsville, Leeds County, where he remained for 18 months, and then moved to Bellview, near Manvel, in Grand Forks County, in 1879. He was the first physician north of Grand Forks and there was no other until Pembina was reached. There he remained until the fall of 1881 and on the building of the railroad he moved to Minto, where he spent the rest of his

Rt. Rev. Monsignor John W. Considine 1

DANIEL DENEEN FAMILY Daniel Deneen was born in Canada in 1872. His parents were Dennis Deneen and Nancy Callahan. He was of Irish descent and the Catholic faith. He completed 8th grade and took up farming. He came to Walsh County in 1890 and worked as a hired hand on his sister's farm until he could get started for himself. He married Margaret Ellen O'Connor at Langdon May 20, 1894. Their children were Ann Gertrude, Frank 290

life. He belonged to the Grand Forks Medical Association and he had always kept in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress whereby the medical fraternity has come into a broader and more accurate knowledge concerning the laws of health and the treatment of disease. Dr. Evans had been married twice. In Ontario, Canada, at his old home, in 1865, he wedded Miss Louise Kearns, a native of Leeds county and a daughter of Thomas and Louise (Raymond) Kearns, representatives of an old pioneer family of Leeds County. Mrs. Evans passed away in Minto in 1882, and on the 7th of February, 1885, in Minto, Dr. Evans wedded Miss Carried Marsh, a daughter of Sidney and Mary (Beardsly) Marsh, representatives of an old New York family. There were two children of this marriage: Amy Marsh was principal of the high school at Minto; and R. Mercer Evans, D. D. S., who is a graduate of the Northwestern Dental College of Chicago of the class of 1915 and was practicing in Grafton.

Amy Evans

Robert Mercer Evans, M.D. 1st County Supt. of Schools Politically Dr. Evans was a Republican and had served as mayor of Minto during one half of the period of its existence. He was elected the first county superintendent of schools in Walsh County in 1881 and occupied that position for 12 years, during which he divided the county into school districts and afterwards organized the educational system. At the time he resigned, in 1892, the county had 117 school districts and the work of intellectual progress had been carried steadily forward until Walsh county had every reason to be proud of its school system. Since 1892 he had continuously been a valued member of the school board of Minto. Fraternally he became a charter member of the Independent Order of Foresters, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Masonic Lodge of Minto. He was made a Mason in Brockville, Ont. in 1869 and he became a charter member as well of the Eastern Star chapter at Minto, serving as its worthy patron. He likewise belonged to the Knights Templar Commandery at Grand Forks. He belonged to the Episcopal church and he also had membership in the Commercial Club in which connection he put forth earnest effort to advance the interest of the city. In fact for more than a third of a century he had been a most earnest worker for the benefit and upbuilding the line of material, intellectual, political, social and moral progress. He knew just what it meant to practice upon the western frontier, for the early days inured him to hardships and trial. On many

occasions he would take long drives in the middle of the night to answer the call of duty when the thermometer registered from forty to fifty degrees below zero. Through summer's heat also, he traveled to the bedsides of his patients and his name is spoken of as that of the loved family physician in many a household through his section of the state. ELIZABETH TROTTER FALCONER FAMILY Elizabeth Trotter Falconer was born on February 16, 1853, in the County of Aramah, Ireland. Her father was Thomas Trotter and her mother's maiden name is unknown. She belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth came with her parents to Canada in 1865 and moved to Walsh County in 1883. They traveled by train. Elizabeth Trotter married Matthew Falconer in the county of Bruce, Ontario, Canada, and buried at Minto, North Dakota. MATTHEW FALCONER Matthew Falconer was born in Ontario, Canada, on January 24, 1849. His father was Thomas Falconer. He was of Scotch descent and of the Presbyterian faith. He became a wagon maker. He married Elizabeth Trotter in the County of Bruce, Ontario, Canada, on November 8,1876. They moved from Canada to Minto in November, 1883. They became the parents of the following children: Mary Alice (Mrs. Hugh Dowling); Catelyna (Mrs. Oscar Nelson); Elizabeth Ann; Thomas F.; Evelena (Mrs. Frank Martin); William George; Grace Agnes (Mrs. Thomas Dowling); Violet Elizabeth (Mrs. Wilfred J. Martin); and Alda M. Matthew Falconer died on May 11,1901, and is buried at Minto, N. Dak. ANGUS GILLESPIE Friday morning, February 15, 1907, another of Minto's pioneers Angus Gillespie passed away. His age was 76. For more than a year his health had been steadily failing. Angus Gillespie was born in Port Charlet, Argyleshire, Scotland, Dec. 31, 1830, in which place he Uved until 1851, when he emigrated to Canada and fUed on a homestead in the township of Minto, county of WeUngton, Ont. Here he resided until 1879, when with his wife and a large family of children he journeyed to Dakota territory and made filings on land here. As an early settler, he may truly be said to be "The Father of Minto and Harriston Township." Coming to Minto from the town of Harriston and the township of Minto, Ont., he was among the first to stake out homes in this locaUty. Included on the land filed on by himself and sons were 9 quarter sections, abutting what is now the city of Minto on 3 sides. In fact when the village of Minto was platted, it was made up of a portion of his homestead and shortly thereafter he platted a tract of land to the south of the original town site which is what is known as Gillespie's Addition and on which there is a portion of the best residential section of the town. When Walsh county was carved out of the counties of Pembina and Grand Forks, in the naming of the new township therein, Mr. GUlespie was honored by having his township designated as "Harriston", after the name of the vUlage in Ontario which was his home and when this village was organized by his suggestion it was

christened Minto, after his home township back in Ontario. He was always a progressive, energetic citizen^ His large family of boys and girls, now grown to man and womanhood, scattered to various parts of the northwest, were prominent characters in the growth and development of the village and township. The sons and daughters, A. A. Gillespie, A. Gillespie, Archie GUlespie, Duncan GiUespie, Mrs. A. Ferguson, Donald GUlespie, John GUlespie, Peter Gillespie, Mrs. Ed Moore, and the Misses Sadie and Kittie Gillespie. The funeral was held at the Knox Presbyterian Church and his remains were interred in the Minto Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Gillespie, Sr., Minto

Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Gillespie 50th Wedding Anniversary

HARRY H. HEWITT Harry H. Hewitt was the grandson of Jacob Hewitt, one of the original settlers of Harriston Township. Jacob came to the territory of Dakota from Mount Forest, Ont. in the fall of 1880. With him came his son WUl (later known as W. J.), Harry's father, who filed with his father on a prairie homestead seven miles northeast of Minto not far from what was known as the "Wisconsin Colony'' in the Hannawalt district. Later Jacob Hewitt fUed on a timber claim southeast of his homestead. Son WiU filed on a homestead near his fathers and it was on this farm that Henry Harris (Harry) was bom on May 13, 1884. The name Harris was derived from Harriston Township. He was commonly known as Harrv H. Hewitt. Harry graduated in one of the early high school classes of Minto and from the School of Pharmacy, North Dakota State Agricultural College at Fargo. Following his graduation he operated a drug store in Park River. In 1910 he married Gertrude Schmitz of Tower City who was teaching in Minto. In the spring of 1915, W. J . Hewitt retired from a farm machinery business in Minto due to his operating extensive farm lands west of Minto at that time. Gertrude and Harry moved to Minto and Harry took over his father's machinery business and shortly thereafter acquired the Ford dealership for the Minto area. During his 42 years of being in business in Minto, he was one of Minto's most active civic leaders. He was president of the Minto Commercial Club for 25 years. He served as president of the Minto Board of Education and was active in arranging for a new elementary school building which just before his death was named the Hewitt School. He also served as a Republican representative in the state legislature in 1935 and 1936. He was an elder in the Knox Presbyterian Church at Minto, was a member of the Workmen, Elks, Knights of Pythias, a thirty second degree Mason, a past worthy

patron of the Eastern Star, and a past grand master of the Minto Masonic Lodge, No. 17. At the time of his death in November, 1957, he was the oldest Ford dealer in North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Hewitt raised a famUy of one son and five daughters. At the time of his death there were 19 grandchildren. JOHN EDWARD HILLS FAMILY John Edward HUls was bom in Blanchard County, Ont Oct. 5th, 1868. His parents were George Hills and Elizabeth Jeffery. His nationality was English. He was a member of the Knox Presbyterian Church. On February 5th, 1896, HiUs married Ellen Jane Nelson, at Owen Sound, Ont. They came to Minto in 1899. Mr HUls was a miUer and a mattress maker. He also did farm work and worked as a miUer in Zuelsdorf MU1. He belonged to the Canadian Order of Foresters Lodge and Loyal Orange Lodge. The family returned to Canada in 1905. John Hills died April 19, 1959, and is buried at Hopworth, Ontario, Canada. His wife died on Feb. 5,1959 and is also buried at Step worth, Ont. PETER KIEDROWSKI Peter Kiedrowski was bom in Pulaski Township in 1880, the son of pioneer homesteaders. He was an outstanding athlete and musician, organizing the first baseball team and band at Warsaw. He moved to Minto in 1904 and went into the grain buying business untU 1922 when he moved to MinneapoUs, Minn. WhUe in Minto he starred on the independent basebaU team and throughout the years conducted his own orchestra. He was married to Anastasia Wisniewski and they had the foUowing children: Sophie, Dorothy, Jadwiga, Cecelia, Martha, Paul, Zikmund, Peter, Edward and Francis. . WhUe in MinneapoUs, his daughters organized thenown aU girl orchestra and for many years were active in their profession. ANNA AND PAULINA KLINECKI Our beloved relations, two fine sisters, Miss Anna Klinecki and Paulina Klinecki, born in the city of Lubawa, Poland, in the year 1894, arrived in Walsh County of North Dakota, commenced living in Warsaw and later in Minto community. In fact in the year 1897 Miss Anna Klinecki was married to Uncle Michael Grzeskowiak, a businessman for many years, living in Minto, operating a furniture store and undertaker parlor, and his faithful wife, Anna, was a dressmaker. Sister Miss Paulina Klinecki happily married a Warsaw community farmer, Uncle Peter Grzeskowiak, which besides farming in later years, he and his family decided to move to the town of Minto as a part time grain elevator businessman with extra work as a carpenter. CAROLINE SPRAFKA LIPINSKI Caroline Sprafka Lipinski was born February 22, 1889, in Perham, Minnesota. Caroline came to Minto, North Dakota in 1890 with her parents, John Joseph Sprafka, who was born on June 21, 1866 in Chicago, Illinois, and Caroline Francis Januszewski, who was born on January 21, 1866, in Winona, Minnesota. Caroline Sprafka Lipinski married Stanislaus Wnuk Von Lipinski in Minto, North Dakota on May 2, 1920, at the Sacred Heart Church. Caroline lived in Perham, Minnesota from 1889-1890. 292

In 1890, she moved to Minto, North Dakota until 1920. In 1920, she and her husband moved to Winnipeg. Caroline was'widowed on August 27, 1925. She then moved back to Minto, North Dakota until 1969, and she moved to Kalispell, Mont., in 1969 where she is presently living, living. Her address is Tranquil Acres, Route 2, Kalispell, Montana 59901. Caroline has two sons. They are Doctor Stanley Lipinski, Lakeland, Florida, and Doctor John Lipinski, Kalispell, Montana, where Caroline is presently living. A daughter, named Caroline, who is married to William Isham, a doctor at the Freeport Clinic, Freeport, Illinois. Doctors John, Stanley and Dr. and Mrs. William Isham are all graduates of the University of North Dakota. Caroline's education consists of eight years in Minto school, four years of Minto High School, and one year at Valley City State Teachers College. She taught school in Minto and was post mistress from 1914-1920, and again in 1934-1949. She is a Catholic, and a member of the Sacred Heart Society, a member of the Catholic Daughters of Cr. T Marquette, Grand Forks, a member of N. A. R. C. E. of Grand Forks, a member of the Legion Auxiliary and a member of Degree of Honor. One incident that remains in the memory of Mrs. Caroline Sprafka Lipinski, which should be mentioned, was Edward Daily, of Minto, (Father of Blanche, Maude, and Jerome Daily). Mr. Edward Daily was instrumental in bringing North Dakota into statehood. When Mr. Edward Daily died, at the age of 26 years old, in Fargo, North Dakota, his body was returned to Minto, North Dakota, on a special train with various dignitaries of the state. Most of the citizens of Minto, North Dakota and the surrounding area, took part in the procession and last rites for Mr. Daily. He was buried in the St. Patrick's Cemetery at Minto. FRANK JOHN LIZAKOWSKI, JR. Frank J. Lizakowski, son of Frank Lizakowski, Sr. and Marian Chyrek, was born on Oct. 14, 1875 at St. Joseph, Sterns County, Minnesota. His father moved to Dakota Territory in 1877 and filed claim in Walshville Twp Sec 6 and 7 on the south bank of the Forest River. Frank J farmed with his father and brothers until his marriage on July 2,1900 to Gusta Riske, daughter of Karl

Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Lizakowski—25th Wedding Anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Lizakowski (Other Couple).

The Minto Tow Mill operated from 1909 to 1948 by Frank Lizakowski, Jr. and son, Edward J. Riske and Anna De Gust of Germany. They had three children, Edward J., Florence, and Sophia. They purchased 160 acres of land in Harriston Twp., Sec. 10 and 80 acres in Ardoch Twp., Sec. 10 and farmed the land for two years. In 1902 he purchased lots 23 and 24 in Block 11 in the Village of Minto and built the house that still stands there now owned by Richard Zon. From 1902 to 1909 he did carpenter work and built a cement mixer similar to ones used now in 1975. He also repaired automobiles and steam engines, etc. In 1909 he purchased three acres of land, formerly known as the Minto Brick Site, from Barbara Greatz and built the Minto Tow Mills for processing flax straw into flax fiber, also known as tow, to be sold to furniture factories for upholstering furniture. In 1914 he built the Minto Electric Light Plant powered by steam and diesel engines. He and his son, Edward J., operated the mill and light plant until 1926. Then the light plant was sold to Otter Tail Power Co. of Fergus Falls, Minn, in 1926. That same year Mr. Lizakowski semi-retired and moved to Minneapolis, Minn. He died on Feb. 21, 1940 and his wife died on Nov. 29, 1938. PETER MARTIN FAMILY Peter Martin was born at Westport, Ontario, Canada on December 16, 1861. His parents were Patrick Martin and Margaret Callahan. He came to Walsh County from Canada in 1899. He was of Irish descent and Catholic faith. He was employed as a blacksmith. His wife, Rosa Godue, died on March 22,1899, and is buried in Michigan. His only son is Wilfred Joseph Martin. Peter Martin died in May, 1942, and is buried at Lewistown, Montana. MRS. CHRISTEN McINTYRE Mrs. Christen Mclntyre arrived in Minto, N. D., about 1881 having moved there from Minto, Ont., after her carpenter husband had been killed in a fall from a barn roof. Nearly seventy at the time she was accompanied by two sons, Neil and Duncan, and a daughter, Margaret. A third son, Donald, remained in Canada. The second house from the old bridge and across the street from the old creamery in Minto is the house the Mclntyre family lived in. Later Neil built himself a small house on the same street. It still stands, but has been enlarged. Mrs. Mclntyre attended the Methodist church since the Presbyterian church had not yet been built. She

died in Minto in 1899 at the age of 87 years. Neil and Duncan, carpenters like their father, also farmed around Minto, Forest River and Grafton. Neil never married. He lived to the amazing age of 103 years and some months and was able to care for himself almost to the day of his death in 1929. Duncan met Adelia Gephart of Chilton, Wis., who had come to Minto to work for her sister, Mrs. James Checkley, about 1885. The Checkleys ran a rooming house and livery barn in Minto before moving to Forest River. Duncan and Adelia married and to this union nine children were bom, all in the Minto area. In 1914 Duncan moved with his wife and three youngest children to Williams, Minn., and that remained their home. Duncan died in 1923 and Adelia died in 1951 at the age of 83. Five of the Duncan Mclntyre children are still living. They are Frank of Paramount, Calif., Mrs. Paul McKinnin (Ida) and Mrs. George Hartnell (Grace) of Williams, Mrs. Frank Lynn (Elvira) of Hanley, Sask., Canada, and Mrs. J. V. Cederholm (Violet) of Hallock, Minn. Deceased are Alex (Sandy), Annie, George, and Donald. Margaret Mclntyre married Alex McLellan in Minto. She is the only one of the family to still have descendants in North Dakota. The McLellans remained in Minto until their deaths, his in 1908 at the age of 76 and hers two months later on her sixty-first birthday, Dec. 23, 1908. She was buried on Christmas day. A great grandson of the McLellans, Adrian McLellan, was one of the five Sioux award winners at UND in 1975. WILFRED J. MARTIN FAMILY Wilfred J. Martin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 22, 1897. His parents were Peter Martin and Rosemary Goodjee. He came to Grafton with relatives in 1899. His mother was dead. He received his education in the Minto school. He had been raised a CathoUc but joined the Presbyterian church. He was of French and Irish descent. Mr. Martin was a decorator and worked for the Veterans Administration in Fargo. He was in the Army in WW I. He married Violet EUzabeth Falconer in Fargo on June 9, 1926. ARCHIBALD J. MILLER FAMILY Archibald J. Miller was born at Renfrow, Ontario on May 27, 1863. His parents were Archibald F. Miller and Elizabeth Buchanan Miller. His nationality was Scotch, and he was a Presbyterian. He came to Walsh County to seek land and a home in 1881. He had completed grade school and was employed as a farmer. He married Mary McCannel at Minto in May, 1887. She had been born in Harriston, Ontario on July 1, 1865. They had two children: Donald C. Miller and Kathryn (Kate) MUler. Archibald J. Miller died on August 22, 1956, and is buried in Minto. His wife died on May 20,1950, and is also buried in Minto. THE O'KEEFE FAMILY WUUam O'Keefe (1829-1910) and his wife Bridget Fee O'Keefe (1831-1900) left Lindsay, Ont. (near Toronto) in the spring of 1881 bound for Minto. They were one of the first famUies to arrive on a train laden with farm machinery, lumber, Uvestock and household goods. They

arrived on what was to be labeled "the Fee train" to Dakota. Francis Fee, nicknamed "Columbus" Fee at a later date, had scouted the area in Dakota in 1880 and returned to his native Lindsay. It was this scouting expedition that paved the way for the arrival of his brothers and married sisters and also his wife's brothers. Those coming to Dakota were his two brothers WUliam Henry and Charles Fee and five of his sisters, their husbands and families. In this group were Mr. and Mrs. Pat Callahan (Ann Fee), Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Graham (Mary Jane Fee), Mr. and Mrs. James MiUer (EUen Fee), Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cayley (Catherine Fee), and Mr. and Mrs. WilUam O'Keefe (Bridget Fee). They aU homesteaded in Ops Township which was named after a governmental unit near their home in Ontario. The Grahams, MUlers and Callahans all left Walsh County early in the century. The Fees, Coffeys, O'Keefes and Cayleys had many descendants scattered throughout northeastern North Dakota. The first years were spent in sod shanties and they settled into their farming routine. WilUam O'Keefe's father, Timothy, had come from County Cork, Ireland in 1829, undoubtedly a victim ofthe "Great Famine." It is interesting that WUliam was bom in the hold of a ship in transit to Canada. The leaving of Ireland has been described as the greatest migration man has ever made. Many of the voyagers never made it as most of the ships were unbelievably tiny, some just 50 feet long. As many as 250 passengers would be packed into the hold-male and female, young and old, middle-aged, people talking, singing, crying, eating, drinking, shaving, washing. Some young and beautiful, others old and ugly. Conditions on shipboard were frequently appalling even by the standards of the 19th ientury. The record shows that deaths during the voyage were highest among the Irish for they dragged themselves aboard suffering already from malnutrition and some were dying as they saUed. It was difficult to understand how the crews were able to even saU the vessels. Those that were not driven out by starvation were forced by overpopulation and British landlord policies. The ships undoubtedly would not meet modern standards for the shipment of cattle But the human spirit must have risen above the tortures of the body. Otherwise, why venture from one's native sod? The lowly potato was the chief and actuaUy the sole item on the Irish menu in the 1800's. It was ideaUy suited for the cool, wet clime of Ireland. But in the 1830's disaster struck in the form of a bUght. The potatoes rotted in the ground and the smaU farmers were wiped out bringing about the great famine of the 1840's. Thus, the large scale exodus to Canada and the United States that reduced the population of County Cork, for example, by one-half. The stay in Canada for the O'Keefe's was relatively brief. William spent 52 years there and it would appear that most of the Irish settlers that came to the MintoVoss area were first and second generation settlers. The WiUiam O'Keefe's had nine children, one a pioneer doctor in Minto, Dr. Henry O'Keefe. He came from Canada later than his parents after he had completed medical school at McGiU University in Quebec. He had married Eliza ConnoUy (from Lindsay). They had 10 children, most of them raised in the Minto area. They had a strong belief in higher education, unusual for the time, which resulted in some of their chUdren being educated in such unheard of places as Yale, Northwestern, Marquette and Minnesota. Dr. Henry

remained in Minto until 1906 when he continued his medical practice in Grand Forks. There are many noteworthy stories surrounding the harsh early days of his practice. One of his verified recollections as printed in the Grand Forks Herald, was the nerve-racking ordeal of being lost in a blizzard on a sparsely populated prairie. Of course, there were no hospitals nearby and virtually all work was done by house call. All babies were delivered in the home and he would arrive there by horse and buggy, orin the winter by sled. Even a Saint Bernard dog was used for some of the calls. In the winter of 1886 after making a professional call on a patient at Conway he started home about 4 p. m. but lost his way when a blizzard suddenly came and it turned bitter cold. Heavy snow covered the prairie and the trail could not be located. He was driving a team of horses and an old-fashioned cutter. Several hours later his team found the family home of Tim Callahan near Forest River. Dr. O'Keefe remained overnight and the next day reached Minto. In that same winter his team and cutter broke through the ice while crossing the Forest River pitching him into the stream. He grabbed the back of the cutter and was pulled out by the team which, however, ran away. He had to walk with his wet clothing for two miles to the farm residence of John Riski where he was able to secure only a change of socks and was then driven back to Minto. William farmed for many years in the area and was a state legislator. Another of his sons, John, was an early settler in Cavalier and became Collector of Customs in Pembina in 1933. Some of the now-living descendants of the William O'Keefe's in Walsh County are Mrs. Wallace Goulet, Mrs. Renee French, and Judge James H. O'Keefe. The mother of the Fee children, Jane Fee, is buried at St. Luke's Cemetery in Vesleyville. "Columbus" Fee eventually moved to western Canada. He was the first clerk when Ops Township was organized and William O'Keefe was the first treasurer. Dr. Henry O'Keefe, while Uving in Minto, homesteaded land just a mile northeast of Voss.

He married Rosalie Mager and they had the following children: Cosmer, Edward, Blanch, Elda, Agnes, Rose and Sarah.

Dr. J. C. Rapsiewicz PETER ROSE Peter Rose was born in Saskatchewan in 1862. He Uved in Iowa for a short time before coming to Walsh County and farmed in Harriston township. He married Mary Narloch at St. Patrick's Church in Minto in 1890. He moved to Minto a number of years later, where he resided until the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Rose raised a family of five sons and two daughters Leonard, Martha, Peter, Stephen, Isabel, Sylvester and Cyril. Mr. Rose was a member of the school board in his district, served as treasurer of the CathoUc Order of Foresters for many years, and was president of the Minto Farmers Cooperative Elevator from 1911 until 1947. He was a worker in the Democratic Party and the Catholic Church. WILLIAM RUTTER Mr. and Mrs. WUUam Rutter were born Dec. 12 and 22, 1885 and 1886 at Waterloo, Iowa. They were married Jan. 15, 1908 at Waterloo, Iowa. They had one daughter, born July 13,1915. On March 6, 1908 they came to North Dakota, where they farmed for many years, buying 160 acres of land West of Minto. In 1941 they quit farming, and in 1962 moved into Minto. Mr. Rutter was on the school board for 25 years, and served as a director of the Minto Farmers Elevator and the Walsh County Mutual Insurance Company. FREDRICK SITZER FAMILY

Dr. Henry O'Keefe and his wife, Eliza Connolly. •JULIUS RAPSIEWICZ FAMILY Julius Rapsiewicz was born in Poland and came to this country in the 1880's. In 1892 he purchased the first lots in Warsaw in partnership with Anton L. Gudajtes. They erected a building and opened a General Merchandise Store. In less than a year Mr. Gudajtes purchased his interest and Mr. Rapsiewicz moved to Minto and started a similar business which he operated for many years.

Fredrich Orr Sitzer

Mrs. Fredrick Sitzer

In 1881 Fredrick Orr Sitzer with his wife, formerly Anna Eliza Foxeh, and their three children, NeUie, Hiram, and Dottie, came from Portage County, Wise, to

homestead in Dakota Territory. Their claim was 6 miles west and 2 miles north of Minto. Three sons, Fredrick, Arthur, and Dexter, were born after the Sitzer family came to Dakota Territory. The family later sold the farm and moved into Minto. Mr. Sitzer died in 1941. Mrs. Sitzer died in 1936. JOHN J. SPRAFKA To be born mid-ocean beneath the stars and stripes is an interesting bit in the life story of John J. Sprafka, whose name has been a part of Minto's business directory since July 26, 1890. Before ocean liners whisked passengers across the Atlantic in four days or thereabouts, Europeans embarked on a voyage of many weeks and many experiences on the wind-driven sailing vessels, when they traded old worlds for new. So it was when John Spraf ka's parents decided to become Americans, and left their home in Poland. The boat was the Washington on which they booked passage. When the Washington had been five weeks at sea, the proverbial stork wearied of delay, and since no land was yet in sight, left his gift. When the infant was one month old, the Washington furled sails in New York harbor. Mr. Sprafka's boyhood was spent in Chicago and his manhood in Perham, Minn. There he married Caroline Frances Januszewski who was born in Winona, Minn., Jan. 21, 1866. His first mercantile store was in Motley, Minn., and it was at this time Robert Szczys became associated with him in business. From Motley he came to Minto July 6,1890. On July 26, he opened a general store in the Wineholt builcling, where the A. J . Miller residence now is. In this venture, known under the name of J. J. Sprafka and Co., Messers Waltz and Weber were the silent partners. In 1892 he moved to the James Twamey building. In 1904 he bought out his partner and for two years was sole owner and manager of the Sprafka Store. In 1904, Max Warczak came to Minto and bought the stock of merchandise. Mr. Sprafka then went into farming in Manitoba and devoted his interests in Canada. In 1926 he returned to Minto, and operated the J. J . Sprafka Oil Co. with a station on Highway 81. In conjunction he also owned and operated the potato warehouse which he built in 1939. It was on April 29,1939 that Mrs. Sprafka passed away. Mr. Sprafka was alderman, city mayor, director of the Board of Education for many years, and served as a Democratic committeeman. The sons and daughters were seven: Caroline, Isabel, Beatrice and Doctors John and Ray and George, Doctor Grover and Andrew. The second son of the family died in 1916. Mr. Sprafka died May 2,1952. SAMUEL T. SOWKA FAMILY Samuel T. Sowka was bom in Chicago, 111., Oct. 28, 1872. His nationality was Polish and he was a CathoUc. He received a grade school education. Mr. Sowka came to Walsh County in 1901 and settled at Minto where he was a retail merchant. His father's name was John Sowka and his mother was Josephine Piekarska Sowka. Samuel T. Sowka married Isabel CoUing at Chicago, HI., Aug. 1, 1900, and shortly after that they moved to Minto. He was a member of the Minto School Board. The children in the family were E. B. Sowka, Henry Sowka, Virginia (Mrs. Richard C. Lunaburg), Gwendolyn Sowka, and Celeste (Mrs. M. E. Sands).

Mr. Sowka was considered to have a marvelous personaUty and was a kind and devoted father. ROBERT SZCZYS FAMILY Robert Szczys, bom in the province of Silesia, Germany, April 15, 1862, emigrated to the United States in 1879 at 17. He had 4% years experience in merchandising and found a job in a store in St. Cloud, Minn. Later he moved to Little Falls, Minn, and then to Motley, Minn., where he worked for J. J. Sprafka in his general store. July 26, 1890, Mr. Sprafka moved to Minto and Mr. Szczys accompanied him, continuing to work for him until 1900. In 1900, Robert Szczys opened his own store at the site of the present Sitzer garage and 10 years later he bought the building on the comer where he maintained his business until 1945. In 1893, he married Margaret McCann, bom in Bruce Co., Ont., May 25,1875. Six chUdren were bom, Carobne, Leo, Dolores, Harold, Frank and Isabel. During his long and successful career in Minto, Mr. Szczys held office as mayor and commissioner and was an active member of the CathoUc church and its affiliated branches serving as treasurer for several years. He also gave considerable time to the development of bands and baseball in the city. MOSES STARR TITUS FAMILY Moses Starr Titus was born at Shakopee, Minn. Oct. 22,1858. He was of Connecticut Yankee, Scotch and Sioux descent. He was a member of the Knox Presbyterian Church. He was a RepubUcan. He completed grade school and had training at a Grand Forks bank. He came to Walsh County in 1885 to establish a Bank of Minto. Moses Starr Titus married Gertrude Dow Viets, born in Perry, Ohio, in 1869, at Ashtabula, Ohio, May 11, 1887. They lived in Minto and at Bemidji, Minn. Their daughter is Anne Gertrude Titus BacheUer. Mr. Titus was active in community affairs, enjoyed reading and hunting. ANTON VALINSKI FAMILY Anton Valinski, son of John Valinski and Julia Galewski, was born in Pine Creek, Wise. May, 1865. His early life was spent in his native state. In 1889 he came to Walsh County and settled near Ardoch. In 1893 he married Elizabeth Narloch in Warsaw and moved to Minto where he worked in a flour mill. Later he moved to Mrs. VaUnsM's father's farm where they lived for 27 years, as one of the most successful area farmers. In 1922 they retired to make their home in Minto. Mr. VaUnski had been engaged in the hardware implement business with his son-in-law, Winslow Wisniewski and continued this interest after the dissolution of the partnership until his death in Nov. 1937. ELIZABETH NARLOCH EUzabeth Narloch, daughter of Frank Narloch and Maryanna Waska, bom in Dodge, Wise, June 14, 1874. She moved with the famUy from there to live on a farm near Ardoch. She met Anton Valinski, and they were married Jan. 18,1892 in St. Stanislaus Church at Warsaw. Mrs. Valinski was devoted in all interests to her home, her church, her friends and flowers. She was a member of the Rosary Society and Sacred Heart League. She died Aug. 4, 1942.

Mr. and Mrs. Valinski had eight children, Effie (Mrs. W. J. Wisniewski), Harry, Sarah (Mrs. Wallace J. Hall), Clara who died at the age of 7, Sophie (Mrs. L. G. Newgard), Helen (Mrs. Everett White), Medard and Zenobia (Mrs. Freddy Legare). The five surviving daughters live in Everett, Wash., son Medard in Grand Forks. The eldest son, Harry resided in Larimore. He died May 2, 1972.

In 1886 he married Mary Pelowski, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pelowski, who was born in Winona, Minn., coming to Pulaski Township in the early 80's with her parents and settled on a farm. They are parents of one son Lauren, who was killed in action October 10,1919, on the battlefront in France. The Minto Legion Post is named after him. A daughter, Annette, Uves in Minneapolis. Julius passed away in December of 1939 and Mary passed away in Feb. of 1925.

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Valinski

Pvt. Lauren P. Wirkus, killed on the battlefield of France, Oct. 10, 1918.

MAX WARCZAK Max Warczak was born in West Prussia in 1865. At the age of 16, in 1881 he came to North Dakota and located at a farm near Ardoch. He married Frances Narloch. She was born in Dodge, Wise, in 1872. They had nine children, Barney, Aurelia, Frank, Steffie, Isabel, Ernest, Richard, Larne and Alice. Max Warczak moved to Minto in 1888, purchased a general store which he operated for 50 years. He retired in 1938 selling his business to Mr. and Mrs. Hilary Reszka (daughter Alice). Max Warczak served as assessor and director for the Minto Farmers Elevator. He also served on the city council. Max Warczak died April 14,1955. Mrs. Warczak died Oct. 26,1955. They are buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery at Minto.

MICHAEL WISNIESKI FAMILY Michael Wisniewski was bom in 1852 in Poland, near Posen. He came to the United States with his parents in 1867 when he was 16. He married Anna Barczynski, also born in Poland, and came to the United States with her parents at 8. They settled near Grand Rapids, Minn., and moved to N. Dak. in 1888. The Wisniewski's had 10 children, Lawrence, who married Agatha Maszk, Vincent was accidentaUy shot; Nancy, married Peter Kiedrowski, Martha married Barney Wysocki; JuUa married Joseph Grzeskowiak; John married Martha Rose; Wislow married Effie Valenski; Louis married Rose Real who died and in 1938 he married Mary IsabeUe Moga. AmeUa never married and Mary died in infancy. Michael, the father, was foreman on a railroad crew building the railroad from Grafton to St. Thomas. Their son John was born in St. Thomas in 1888. WhUe working for the raUroad Mr. Wisniewski was known as "Mr. Brown." Later he purchased a farm 4% miles northeast of Warsaw and farmed untU 1900. He then bought the farm at Minto and again moved the famUy. In 1902, he became grain buyer for the Winter Trusdel Grain Co. and retired in 1920. Mr. Wisniewski was the organist at St. Stanislaus CathoUc Church in Warsaw from 1889 to 1900. He then became organist at the Sacred Heart CathoUc Church in Minto from 1900 to 1925. The famUy was musical and daughters Nancy, Martha, Julia and AmeUa, and sons John and Louis aU sang in the church choir. Other choir members were Peter Rose, Sr., Peter Kiedrowski, Clara Langowski and Gertrude Koehmstedt. After Michael retired as organist his daughter Amelia and daughter-in-law Martha took over as organists.

Mr. and Mrs. Max Warczak Wedding Picture FAMILY OF JULIUS WIRKUS Julius Wirkus, born in Poland in 1862, came to this country when a young man with his parents and settled in the Winona area. He came to Minto in 1885, farmed many years, and later operated the Wirkus Elevator Company. 297

Louis, a son, was active musically. When the riverboats traveled from Winnipeg to Grand Forks on the Red River, Louis, organ, Barney Wysocki, violin and Alex Merchlewicz, coronet, played for some dances on a barge connected to the side of the riverboat about 1908. Louis also played the clarinet with the Rose Orchestra for many dances and wedding parties. Dr. Leonard Rose (deceased) played piano, John Wisniewski, violin and Charles Scott, Ardoch, played drums. Louis attended the University from 1911 to 1912, then he accepted a position as bookkeeper at the Bank of Minto. In those days there were no adding machines, so he kept a "Boston Ledger." He was also night guard at the Bank and slept in the back room for four years until the new bank building was built in 1916. Louis was in the army in the first World War and spent 8 months in France. He played clarinet in the army band stationed at Cadillec, near Bordeaux and Amiens. After the war he returned to his work at the bank. Many evenings he played clarinet with the Grand Forks Kilty Band. In 1942 he became president of the bank when he and his brother-in-law, Daniel Moga bought the bank from Allan McKay. He retired in 1958 and sold the bank to Herman Schanilec, Jr. Michael, the father, died in 1930 and Anna, the mother, died in 1942. Louis is the only survivor of the family, he was born near Warsaw in 1892. He and his wife Isabelle, who teaches piano, live in Minto. They have a daughter, Mary, who is married to Edward Stoltman.

Michael and Anna Wisniewski WINSLOW WISNIEWSKI FAMILY

Winslow Wisniewski and his first car. Winslow Wisniewski, son of Michael Wisniewski and

Anna Barczynski was born in Warsaw Sept. 6, 1890, Later he moved to Minto with his parents where he attended grade and high school. He worked in various general merchandise stores and hardware businesses. In 1916 he married Effie Valinski, daughter of Anton and Elizabeth Valinski and remained in Minto until 1933 when they moved to Ball Club, Minn., and operated a fishing resort for a short time. In the fall of 1933 he and his wife rented a fishing resort at Lake Plantagenet near Bemidji, Minn, which they purchased later and operated the business until retirement in Oct., 1966 when they moved to Everett, Wash. Mr. Wisniewski died in Oct. 1970. JOSEPH WYSOCKI

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wysocki, Sr. Joseph Wysocki, Sr. came to the United States in 1887 at the age of 19, as a stowaway on a cattle boat. He made his way to Walsh County, North Dakota and proved a farmstead five miles south of Warsaw. To prove the land he had to live on it for one month each year, for two years in succession. Each of the two years, he walked to Minot, N. Dak. from Warsaw to catch the train to British Columbia where he worked on the railroad through the mountains. The second year Frank Bruski of Warsaw went along. At that time railroad cars were held together by steel pins and holes to match. Many men were killed between the cars. Bruski took much kidding when he whittled at night on a block of wood forming a model to be made of steel to hook railroad cars together. The railroad sent an engineer to see this model and soon all railroads used his idea. He was not paid for this. Wysocki then broke the prairie with one ox. From this start he bought a horse. By the time the railroad was put through Walsh County, he sold horses to Jim Hill personally. On November 25, 1884 he married Augusta Maszk, the 14 year old daughter of Andrew and Ludwiga Maszk. Augusta was bom in Winona, Minn, and spent many hours around Sugar Loaf Mountain. She helped herd cattle on the road when the family moved to the Warsaw area. Twelve children were born to this couple-Frank, Leo, Rose, Max, Teophil who died at the age of 5, Laura, John, Adam, Helen, Harry, Joseph, Jr. and Julian. When Joseph was working in his field, two young men came walking across the prairie looking for a place to establish a business. Robert Szczys and John Sprafka started their stores in Minto upon the recommendation of Wysocki. Both men were successful and raised thenfamilies in Minto.

In 1910 he bought land three miles southwest of Minto and farmed that until he retired in 1920. Much of the farm land was cleared of large trees. The Forest River runs through this land. A hand painted wooden plate, with the Wysocki crest, was sent to the family from Poland. It consists of a

ring of oak leaves and acorns around a shield of gold, white and red cornerwise bands. Over these bands is a dove of peace holding a flag of two pennants-one white and one red; a crown; a black circle enclosing a red background with a silver moon and a star.

PULASKI TOWNSHIP W. Wosick, Jos. Wosick, John Duray, and Frank RogaUa. The clerks were Harry Drawe and Jos. Kosmatka. The treasurer was George Kosmatka and Jos. Rogalla. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 47 The school was started in 1883. The director and treasurer up until 1892 was Walentine Wosick. The clerk was Andre Maszk. Their first teacher was Catherine McCoffery. The directors from 1896-1910 were Sholwary RogaUa, August Byzewski, George Wosick, Edward Schuster and Frank Wosick. The clerks during this time consisted of Lawrence Wisnewski, Frank Wosick, and Mary Schuster. The treasurers were Andrew Maszk and Joseph Gradzielski.

Pulaski Township was named for an early settler of that name who homesteaded within its borders. The early pioneer families crossed the Red River at Fargo, pushed on north to a spot 30 miles north of Grand Forks. They made the trip by ox cart and covered wagon, settling there in the wilderness of tall grass and unbroken land, which they called Pulaski. Later it was organized as Pulaski Township. There they broke a few acres of this land each year and seeded with wheat and oats. They traveled on foot to Grand Forks to get supplies and market their products. Later there was a small shipping point on the Red River five miles east and a mile south of Warsaw. The early settlers were Polish, German, Irish, Scottish and other nationalities. Most of these became discouraged by the floods from the Red River causing many of them to drop their claims or selling to the already settled and established Polish pioneers. Pulaski Township was organized in 1881. The first officers were Peter Kiedrowski, chairman; Martin Gornowicz and Simon Tandeski, Supervisors, Theodore Wysocki, clerk; Frank Kiedrowski, assessor; Paul Peller, treasurer; James W. Sheppard, constable; Neil McMurphie, justice of the peace. Records show that as late as 1898 trials were held at the residence of the justice of the peace. Early in 1900 roads were laid out, bridges built, and six one room schools. One large district had two schools. The first CathoUc church was built in 1883 in Pulaski Township. As more people settled in surrounding townships it became necessary to build a larger church. Anton Hefta, pioneer resident, donated 10 acres of land where the present church was built in 1900. It is one of the largest rural Catholic churches in North Dakota. Pulaski Township had four Walsh County Commissioners representing the 2nd District. Theodore Wysocki 1902-1910 retired for four years. Ed Schuster 1910-1914. Theodore Wysocki 1914 and served in that capacity until his death. George Wosick 1922-1938. L. M. Kulas 1938-1948. Present township officials are Steve Perkerewicz, Michael Grenbowski and Edwin Kosmatka, supervisors. John Wysocki, clerk and treasurer. Mr. Wysocki has held the office as township clerk for over 34 years, longest term of any township official since its organization. Leonard Schuster is the assessor.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 83 From 1885-1892 J. E. Sheppard was the director and treasurer and officer. The first teacher was Miss Stuckland. The directors from 1896-1910 were Frank Gernowisk, Nick Kettle, John Kreti, John Sardew, James McNaura, Gebriel Raymond, Mike Marynik, John Byzewski and Walt Wosick. Clerks were Mary Kitler and Peter Wesoloski. Treasurers were Neil McMurphie, Nick Kettler and Frank Woliski. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 86 The director and treasurer from 1885-1892 was Anton Halther. The clerk was Charles Greatz. The first teacher was Miss McLarrin. From 1896-1910 the directors were Tousant Bushaw, E. C. Nelker, Jawes Knox, Archie Hart, Joseph Ebertowski and Peter Stoltman. The clerks were E. C. Nelker and Pat Durkin. The treasurers were Charles Greats, Tousant Bushaw and Alex Stoltman.

PULASKI BIOGRAPHIES ALBERT BABINSKI

School Districts SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 43 From 1883-1892 James A. Samarie was a director and Hezekrak Tennell was the treasurer. The first teacher was Lizzie Laurie. The directors from 1898-1910 were Joseph Kaswaika, Harry Draw, John Drawe, John Rogalla, Jos. Kosmatka,

Albert Babinski Family John, Albert, Thedore, Bertha, Frances, Ludwicka. Standing: Rose, Theodore, Andrew. 299

women gathered it in sheaves, later beaten with flails. The women, busy in the field, nestled their babies in a hole dug in the ground. The food, flour and meat was shipped in barrels from Ramould Byzewski, Winona, Minn, to Grand Forks from where August Byzewski hauled it to his place with a team of horses. One cold wintry day coming from Grand Forks and reaching his destination, he found his toes frozen on both feet. No medical assistance was available then, so Mrs Byzewski asked her husband to place his feet in rather hot water, after immersing them, the skin all cracked open, later cold water was appUed, but pain and soreness existed, One day a neighbor, John Kulas, came along and took care of all the Byzewski family, horses and cows as well as giving medical care of his knowledge to Byzewski's toes. August and Julia Byzewski raised a family of 6 sons John, Roman, Robert, Anton, August and Joseph and three daughters, Johanna (Mrs. Anton Gudajtes), Augusta (Mrs. TeofU Jamkowski) and Julia (Mrs. Valentine Bishop). Of these only August and Julia are still living.

Albert Babinski and his wife, Frances (Osowksi) lived in Winona, Minn, for several years. Albert with several others filed on claims in Pulaski Township in 1879 After two years of preparations they traveled in box cars with their belongings to Grand Forks and from there the 30 miles north by wagon to their claims. John was 12 years old at that time. Following are the names of thenwives and husbands, John married to Cecilia Maszk; Albert Jr. to Annastazia Skoneczny; Theodore to Anne Pietrzak; Andrew to Frances Stanislauski; Anton to Wanda Babinski; Rose to Frank Bruski; Bertha to Mr. Olczak, and Frances to Frank Brzezinski. MARTIN BISHOP Martin Bishop and his wife Catherine Benjek, born in Warsaw, Poland, immigrated to America in 1892 with their two sons, Stanley, 3 years old and Valentine who was 2 months old. They Uved on a homestead in Pulaski township and raised a famUy of five sons, Stanley, Valentine, Frank, BiU and Ignac and one daughter Thesdosia, (Mrs. Michael Altendorf). Joan was seven years old when she died.

Mr. and Mrs. August Byzewski

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bishop HISTORY OF THE BYZEWSKI FAMILY August Byzewski, son of Martin and Catherine Byzewski and his wife Julia Byzewski, daughter of John and Mary Byzewski were both born in Posen, Pozman, Poland. After their marriage in Germany they saUed to America in 1878 with their son John and daughter Johanna. He was caUed to serve in the Franco Prussian war and served for seven years. During this time he was captured by the French and was held prisoner. At the end of the war he was released and returned home only to discover that the government had confiscated his land holdings. He was then made a displaced person. Under the sponsorship of his brother Ramould, who was a CathoUc Missionary Priest in Winona, Minn., he immigrated there with his wife in 1878. August and Julie Byzewski were accompanied on their immigration to America by one son John and one daughter, Johanna. One son Martin (the oldest) died in Europe. • „ , After their settling in Winona they came to the Grand Forks area from where they came to file a homestead in Pulaski Township. It was mostly a wild wooded prairie land, which they graduaUy worked out. They buUt a log home with a sod roof. A close watch was kept so snakes or some wUd animal would not enter then home. Thenneighbor, Ignacy and Mary Danielski, foflowed by Andrzy and Ludwika Maszk aU worked together on their land. The men worked up the soil, seeded by hand and when harvest approached, the men scythed the grain and the

August Byzewski, Sr. Portrait Standing, left to right: August, Johanna, John, Roman, Robert, Augusta, Julia, Mrs. Byzewski, Joe, Mr. Byzewski, Anton. IGNAC DANIELSKI FAMILY Ignac Danielski immigrated from Poland in 1873 with his bride, Maryann Klesenski, Their honeymoon trip to the U. S. found them settling in Steven Point, Wise. They stayed until they filed a homestead in Pulaski Township in 1881. In 1890 Ignac became a citizen. In 1891 Ignac sold the land he was farming and purchased more land in Harriston Township. Hardship foUowed the 300

Albert Babinski and his wife, Frances Osowski, born in Poland, came to America in 1871 with their son John, 4 and daughter Rose, 2. They came by sailboat which took almost two weeks. They first came to Winona, Minn., then by freight to Grand Forks, from where they came to file homestead claims in Pulaski Township. Mr. Babinski claimed three quarters of land. They built a log home with a sod roof, cutting down trees and laying logs with a mud mixture. For a white or lighter exterior they mixed ashes and water, then painted over the mud. The interior was small with straw mattresses for beds. Field work was done with oxen. They raised a family of five sons namely John, Theadore, Albert, Andrew and Anton, and three daughters, Mrs. Frank (Rose) Bruski, Mrs. Frank (Frances) Brzizinski and Mrs. Stephen (Bertha) Olczak.

children were born, namely John, Leonard and Allan. During the 33 years he Uved in Walsh Centre Township, he was clerk of the Voss school District 16 for 32 years and also a Walsh Centre Assessor for five years. His wife Gertrude died in 1952. He now Uves in Grafton. JOHN BABINSKI F A M I L Y John Babinski was the son of Albert (Wojciech) Babinski and Frances Osowski. He was to years old when his parents immigrated from Poland to America. Their first stop was at Syracuse, N. Y. where they stayed for a short time before moving to Winona, Minn. In 1881 the family moved to Pulaski Township going by train to Grand Forks and driving horses the rest of the way to the claim. In 1891, John filed on a claim in WalshviUe Township which he sold a short time later and bought 160 acres of land from Igncay Danielski for $2,000 the present homestead of Lauren Babinski. Feb. 16,1892 he was married to Cecelia Maszk. Three of the couples five chilren survived: Dominick, Grafton; Gertrude(Mrs. C. S. Tornbom), Detroit Lakes, Minn, and Joseph, who died Feb. 19, 1964. In 1905 John Babinski built a store in Warsaw and the family Uved there until March 17, 1917, when he sold the store to Mr. and Mrs. Mike Stupek (Fehcia Reski). Retiring in 1919 the couple Uved in Minto. He died Dec. 7, 1939. Mrs. Babinski died April 11, 1955.

ANDREW BABINSKI Andrew Babinski was born at Winona, Minn. Nov. 30, 1878. He moved to Pulaski Township and Warsaw with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Babinski, in 1880. He married Frances Stanislowski Jan. 19, 1903. She was born at Winona Sept. 18, 1897. She came to North Dakota with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stanislowski, to Warsaw in 1880. Andrew Babinskis were blessed with a family of eight children: two daughters, Florence and Dorothy, and six sons, Harry, Florian, Sylvester, Richard, Andrew and Damian. Andrew farmed in Pulaski and Lakeville townships for 42 years until he moved to Warsaw in 1944. He was a director of School District 32 for 30 years. He was township supervisor in Pulaski Township for 21 years and Treasurer of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Warsaw for 25 years. Frances Babinski died April 27, 1948, and Andrew Babinski died on April 18, 1955.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Babinski FamUy Standing, left to right: Damian, Richard, Florian, Dorothy, Sylvester, Andrew and Harry. Daughter, Florence, not in picture. DOMINICK BABINSKI F A M I L Y Dominick Babinski was born in Pulaski Township Jan. 3, 1893. He married Gertrude Wysocki of Pulaski Township on Nov. 17, 1914. He farmed in Pulaski township until the fall of 1919. During that time three children were born, namely Irene, George, and Doris. In 1919 he sold the farm to Anton Babinski and bought a farm one mile south of Voss from George Glenn. George Glenn homesteaded the farm in Walsh Centre Township Section 33 from the U. S. Government on Nov. 20, 1884. Babinski and his family moved to that farm on Oct. 28, 1919. He lived on the farm for 33 years where three more

In Oslo—John Babinski—1906 301

Danielskis' to their new home. Within one year three of the 11 children in Ignac and Maryann's family died ot diDtheria. Their family consisted of seven sons (John Frank Stanley, Leo, Edward, Peter, and Dominic) and four daughters (Pauline, Frances, Mary and Julia). Ignac Danielski passed away in July, 1909. Mrs. Danielski died July 5, 1932. After Ignac's death in 1909, Leo took over the farm, now owned by Julia Danielski, the only survivor of the Ignac Danielski family. Mr. and Mrs Ignac Danielski belonged to the St. Stanislaus CathoUc Church in Warsaw. They both took a great interest in poUtical affairs of the state.

Ignac and Maryann

Engerbert, Casmer, and Frank and three infant daughters. Mrs. Duray died Sept. 8,1952. Mr. Duray died Oct. 3, 1955. JOSEPH FELTMAN Joseph Feltman was bom in Poland in 1857. He immigrated to the U. S. at the age of 18 and settled in Perham, Minn. He worked on a railroad for toui^years Then he came to North Dakota in 1878 where he filed homestead in Pulaski Township. -, He returned to Perham, Minn, and married Eleanor Czapiewski May 5, 1879 and on their honeymoon came back to North Dakota bringing with them their total belongings: two oxen, one cow, a cat and their clothing. Mr and Mrs. Feltman were active in the Catholic Church They raised a family of 6 sons and 4 daughters, Elizabeth, Emma, Veronica, Alexander, Joseph, Dominick Izydore, WUliam, Konstanty and Angela. p a n n r

Danielski

JOHN P. DURAY FAMILY . John P Duray, son of John Duray, Sr., and Mariann Wrycza, born Nov. 22,1870, in Konvick, Poland came to the United States at 22 years of age a f P ^ , ^ worked as a young man at the John and Agatha (Woidek) Stvgar farm in Pulaski town and married their daughter Frances Stygar, Nov. 18,1895, at St. Stanislaus Church of Warsaw His wife was bom July 5, 1879, in Calumet, Mich and came with her parents to the Warsaw area. n

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Joe and Eleanor Feltman GERSZEWSKI FAMILY The Gerszewski (formally spelled Gierszewski) family has ancestors who are traced to the early 1700 s in northwest of Poland. Those whose records came with the family to the United States were descendants of a greatgrandfather, Francis Gierszewski, of Kospbudy Bydgoszcz, Poland. He was bom in 1750 and married Katherina deCzort in about 1796. Tomasz, theirv.fifth child, was born on Dec. 13, 1807 and on Nov. 28,1837 he married Regina Zygmanski from Bachorze and Ewa Januszewski of Pokrzywno, Poland. To the union of Tomasz Gierszewski and Rigina Zygmanski of Czapiewice, Bydgoszcz, Poland1 were born seven sons who were all christened in nearby Brusby, their parish church. Their fourth son Iganac died when a vear old The other sons, Walenty, Paul, Anthony, Jan Joseph, and Wilham, because their wives were afraid of ocean voyage and would not come here, returned to their homeland. Contacts with them and their descendants are maintained by those remaining here and their descen-

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Duray, Jr.

John and Frances moved to Greenbush, Minn, to homestead. They were members of St. Aloysius Catholic church in Leo, Minn. His tolks and tne rest ot the family came in 1889. The children were Julia, PaUy, Antonia, Marv Frank, Ignatz, and Rose. His sister, Antonia Duray, also homesteaded in Greenbush. Later they came back settled in the Grafton area and moved to Pulaski Township. . He served on township and school boards in his community. They were members of the St. Stanislaus C a

^"josef Gerszewski, later known as Joseph of Czapiewice and Brusy parish, born Dec. 28, 1853 like most of the migrants from Poland, then occupied by Germany and West Prussia, protesting the notary subscription of their occupation governments, and seeking total freedom, stole his way onto a ship in the port of Gdansk; which he claims was no problem because port guards, mostly PoUsh, were sympathetic with the young Poles and aided them. He told how he and several others boarded the ship at night and hid in the coal bins adjacent to the boner rooms When the ship was out of port for several days

% t e S r e n are stUl living. They are Richard Sally, Dominic, Bruce, Blanche, Stephanie, Florence, Nettie Florian, and Dorothy. Three sonspreceded them in death 302

that at certain times of the year they came there to trap and fish. One day as a friendly gesture, he took one of the finer family staples, a salt herring, and went there to get acquainted. Meeting the Indians and unable to speak English, he gestured the salty herring to them. An Indian took the herring and tasted it, and immediately returned it as if in regret. The Whites did not know the Indians were not salt eaters.

they exposed themselves, dirty and hungry, having no tickets nor passports. They were fed and assigned to fire the ship's boilers for the rest of the journey. They said that the ship's cooks were good to them but in reward foi this kindness, they provided them with meats and other staples from storage rooms which were in the vicinity of the boiler rooms. These rooms made with doors of iron rods and under lock and key, made it necessary to use long pokers to pull the meats to the edge and take them out. The vessel was a three mast ship and the boilers were used for heat. They encountered several storms. A couple of these damaged their ship's masts which had to be repaired. Many of the men were pumping water from the hull fearing that the ship would sink. Joseph Gerszewski, then 19, landed in New York in 1872, finding whatever jobs were available and working his way westward. Coming to Chicago, then to Winona, he worked as a skilled carpenter around Pine Creek. Then he took a job with the railroad which was pushing westward to Dakota Territory. In 1878 he came to Walsh County and staked his claim on the NE quarter of Section 28, 156-51 in Pulaski Township. This homestead was then passed on to his son, John F. and is now owned by his oldest grandson, Walter Gerszewski. After staking his homestead he returned to the Fargo area and gained experience of the then modern farming by working on the Bonanza Farms in the Casselton and Grandin area. Returning to his claim in the spring of 1879, then owning a walking plow and one ox, pooling their power with a neighbor to the north, John Stygar, and with the two oxen he broke up 10 acres of neck high prairie sod. He seeded this to barley, broadcasting the seed and dragging it in with a large tree limb powered by an ox. In the fall, already courting Elizabeth Moga, the daughter of Martin Moga who also migrated from Poland and homesteaded about 5 miles south a couple of years before, he again returned to Fargo to work on the railroad. Returning in the spring of 1880, he proceeded to build the homestead, first a log house and then a sod barn. He seeded a larger acreage of wheat as well as some potatoes, onions and rutabagas. He reported the crop to be enormous and had provisions for the whole winter, plus some cash income. On Feb. 7, 1881, he married Elizabeth Moga, the daughter of Martin Moga and Lucia Kloskowski at Turtle, a small trading post consisting of a few residences and a three room hotel to which a priest came occasionally to celebrate mass and perform marriages. When the first three children were born he found it necessary to build a new frame house in 1884. When this was almost completed, disaster struck. One summer afternoon while looking towards the east he noticed a tornado funnel, it touched down where Kosmatka was haying, taking a horse and wagon and headed towards his house. He aroused his wife and the children to the cellar, himself standing in the doorway watching its course, jumped into the cellar only seconds before the house was taken. Only the floor remained swept clean of all furnishings except the jug of whiskey which was left standing in the comer. He built a new two room structure which is still standing but with an addition. An incident of interest today was not too far to the west there were still some Indians living. It is believed

Josef Gerszewski and wife, Elzbieta Moga

Family of Joseph and Elizabeth Gerszewski From left to right, standing: Theofil, Stanley, Michael, Felix, John, Josefina Langowski, Mary Rogalla, Bibana Walecko, Natalia Lizakowski. Seated: Theodor, Grandpa Joseph, Frances Tandecki, Grandma Elizabet, Zofia Blaski, Carolina Lizakowski. On a bright sunny winter day he and Albert Babinski, who homesteaded only a quarter mile away, on the southwest quarter in the same section, ventured to Minto with a few sacks of wheat, each with their own team of oxen. They were met by August Byzewski, also with his team of oxen. Byzewski Uved only a couple miles to the west, so they all traveled together. Returning late in the afternoon, they were caught in a severe blizzard. When they were near Byzewski's place it had subsided somewhat and Byzewski, whose place was less than a quarter of a mUe off the trail, said that he would manage and he proceeded. WhUe the trail went through Babinski's yard, he also managed, but Gerszewski had a little ways to go and the storm had intensified and it got dark so he couldn't see a thing. He got off the sleigh to investigate only to find that the oxen were jammed into the sod barn door at home. Byzewski did not make it home 303

that night, being close to home, he was traveling in circles, sometimes real close to home, only to find his place early in the morning when the storm calmed down. He suffered frozen toes and frost bite about his face and hands. In 1908 he purchased a farm one mile north of Warsaw and vacated the homestead for his oldest son John F. who was to get married that fall. He retired on that farm and later moved into the village of Warsaw where his wife Elizabeth died on Sept. 12,1930 at the age of 67. Joseph died on March 19, 1937 at 84. They are both buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. To the union of Joseph Gerszewski and Elizabeth Moga, fourteen children were born, all in Warsaw. John F. was born Jan. 27,1882 and married Martha Duraj. Josephine born on March 17, 1883 married John Langowski. Felix born on May 19, 1884 married Julia Lizakowski. Mary born on June 30, 1885 married Julian Rogalla. Francis born on Sept. 21, 1889 died when one year old. Michael born Sept. 29, 1887 married Mary Wolski. Stanislaus born on Nov. 16, 1888 never married. Bibiana born on Nov. 28,1889 married Thomas Walecko. Teofil born on March 3, 1893 married Helen Mozinski. Natalia born on Nov. 2, 18% married Paul Lizakowski. Zofia born on Jan. 31, 1898 married Ludwik Blaski. Karolina born Jan. 28,1901 married Martin Lizakowski. Theodor born on April 1,1903 married Eugenia Rogalla. Anna Frances born June 26, 1905 married Roman Tandeski. JOHN F. GERSZEWSKI FAMILY John F. Gerszewski, oldest son of the Warsaw pioneers Joseph Gerszewski and Elizabeth Moga, a grandson of Tomasz and Regina in Poland, was born on the Joseph Gerszewski homestead east of Warsaw on Jan. 27, 1882 and farmed with his father until his marriage. . , On Nov. 24,1908, he married Martha Duraj at Warsaw, a daughter of Frank Duraj and Mary Steneel, the oldest daughter in a family of 16. His father moved and he acquired the homestead and moved there in the spring of 1909. They remodeled and built buildings. They raised wheat, barley, oats and flax. They raised potatoes, tomatoes, rutabagas, corn, pumpkins, squash, cukes, and all vegetables. They had fruit, berries, chickens, eggs, hogs, cows and all the things necessary to raise a family of twelve. They witnessed the changes from wood to coal, to oil, to electricity for their light, heat and power. They have seen the changes in farming, the floods, the drought, the dust storms and the 27 cents a bushel wheat. They have seen the change from oxen to horses and later to the small tractor for power, from the sythe to to the reaper to the binder. They changed from the drub to the feederless and blowerless threshers and steam engines and finally switched from the more modern threshers to the combines. The ox cart, horse driven wagon and grain box have been replaced by the modern 500-600 bushel trucks and the automobile. The children have grown and left. In 1952 they built a home in Warsaw and retired from the farm, renting it to their son Isado/. In 1967 the mother passed the homestead on to the oldest son, Walter. John F. Gerszewski died on June 13,1954. He was a member of St. Stanislaus Church in Warsaw and was buried in the church cemetery. Mrs. Gerszewski resides in Warsaw.

To this union of John F. and Martha Gerszewski were born 12 children. Walter, born Oct. 22, 1909, is single. Sarah was born Dec. 18, 1910, and married Bill Ebertowski. Onufry (Fritz) bom Jan. 21, 1912, married Bernice Ebertowski. Magdaline bom Nov. 7, 1913, married Sylvester Adamski. Isador, born Jan. 3, 1915 married Loretta Kilichowski. Sebastian, bom Feb. 28, 1916 married Marie Hoffman. Rozalia, bom March 20, 1917, married Ervin A. Brandt. Henry, bom Sept 17, 1918, married Gertrude Passa. Suzanne, born May 26, 1920, married James Sood. Ludwika, born Jan. 21, 1924, married James LaPointe. Stephen, bom Sept 2, 1925, married Henrietta Kowalski. Adeline, bom April 28,1927, married Robert Hardy.

Family of John F. Gerszewski and Martha Duray (3rd generation) Standing: Henry, Suzanne Sood, Sebastian, Sarah Ebertowski, Walter, Onufry, Magdaline Adamski, Izydor, Rose Brandt, Adeline Hardy, Father John, Louise LaPointe, Mother Martha and Stephen. FRANK GORNOWICZ FAMILY Martin Gornowicz, born in 1833 in Poland, came to America in 1855. He was the father of Frank Gornowicz, born in 1857 and came to Walsh County from Wisconsin in 1879. He was one of the first settlers to homestead in Pulaski Township, northeast of Warsaw. He married Clara Kulkowski, who was bom at Pine Creek, Wisconsin in 1864.

From left to right: Frank Gornowicz, Frank Tandeski, Mrs. Frank Tandeski, Mrs. Frank Gornowicz. 304

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gornowicz were parents of five daughters and one son, Mary, Florence, Minnie, Rosie, Brony, and Adam, Frank Gornowicz died Feb. 27, 1926, and Clara passed away April 24, 1955. A sad incident in the Ufe of Martin Gornowicz was the death of his first wife in the storm of 1880. When she went to visit neighbors one Sunday afternoon a storm came up whtfe she was returning home and lasted for three days. Her body wasn't found until the spring of the year.

Family of Frank and Clara Gornwicz Left to right: Mary, Florence, Minnie, Blanche, Rose, Adam.

JOE GRABANSKI Joe Grabanski, born in Czersk, Poland, immigrated to Dakota Territory in the 80's. He married EUzabeth Banach, settled on a small farm 3% miles northeast of Warsaw and later moved into the Ardoch area. Mr. and Mrs. Grabanski reared a family of seven sons John, Barney, Leo, Joe, Frank, Ben, Adam, a barber in Ardoch and Oslo for many years and three daughters Frances, Martha and Elizabeth. JOHN GRABANSKI FAMILY

migrated in 1885 and joined him on a small farm 3 miles southeast of Warsaw. Mr. and Mrs. Grabanski reared a family of 10 sons and 3 daughters, Alexander, Martha, Vincent, Frances, Clara, Joseph, Anna, Ignatc, Dominick, John, Anton, WiUiam and Stanley. Mr. and Mrs. John Grabanski were active in the CathoUc Church and in the Democratic Party.

Family of John and Josephine Grabanski THE VALENTINE GRABANSKI FAMILY Valentine Grabanski was bom in 1834 in Czersk, Poland. He married Maryanne Lorbiecki in Czersk and immigrated to Dakota territory with his wife and daughter LilUan about 1893. They had a family of 5 sons and one daughter, John, Joe and LilUan who came to Dakota Territory. Frank and Steve settled in Chicago. One son Isadore remained in Poland. His son Vincent Grabinski, who Uved 3 mUes east of Warsaw immigrated to America in 1913. Valentine's great grandson, John D. Grabanski visited relatives in Czersk, Konefki areas in August 1971. Some of the buildings are still erect on his farm. The lake nearby where he fished is clear and unpoUuted.

Mrs. Valentine Grabanski in 1890

Mr. and Mrs. John Grabanski—1883

John Grabanski was born in Czersk, Poland in 1857. He married Josephine Plutowski in Czersk in 1883. John immigrated to America in 1884. His wife, Josephine along with their infant son Alexander im-

JOSEPH GRZADZIELEWSKI Joseph Grzadzielewski, Jr. born in Sorda, Poland and his bride, Magdalena Grzeskowiak, born in MadUno, Poland. They were married in Jan., 1899 in Warsaw. They spent a few years living in Ardoch township and farming. His son age twelve, accompanied by his father, Tomasz, and other members of the famUy in 1880 immigrated from Culmit City, Michigan to Warsaw. When Pulaski Township was opened, they arrived there and fUed a homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grazdzielewski, Sr. had a family of seven sons and six daughters: JuUan, Richard, Gertie, Stanley, JuUa,

purchased 80 acres, also in Pulaski Township. Work was done with horses by then. They didn't have any children, but took in a foster girl, Martha Pekarski, of Greenbush, Minn. After she grew up and married, they took in another foster girl, Rose Knapkiewicz, Leo, Minn. She was 6 years old. She married Alex Dauksavage in Nov. 1927. Mr. and Mrs. Kosecki had a lot of hardships and worked hard all their early Uves. They belonged to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and he sang in the church choir. They lived near a school and provided room and board for a teacher for many years. In 1930 they made a return visit to their childhood homeland, Poland. They visited there for three months. Rosala died Jan. 6,1936. Lawrence died May 21, 1948. During the last five years of his life he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Alex Dauksavage. The land is now owned and farmed by Eugene Dauksavage. MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH KOSMATKA, SR. Joseph Kosmatka was bom in Pozen, Poland, Feb. 2, 1869 son of Mr. and Mrs. Wojcieck Kosmatka, a Walsh County pioneer family. He Uved in Arkansas and Wisconsin and came to North Dakota at 8. He married Mary Kulas, daughter of Theodore and Monika Kulas, at St. Stanislaus Church Nov. 15, 1892. Kosmatka was a carpenter and farmed northeast of Warsaw.

Mary, Florence, Lucy, Josephine, Joseph, Thomas, Kasmeir and Jerome. He, our beloved, father, was active in different churches, schools, township affairs in business and held various offices in Pulaski and St. Andrews township. He believed in the Democratic party. He was truly faithful to his most beloved Catholic church. Thoughtfully our beloved mother will always be remembered for her kindness and her religous good deeds. At our home the Polish language was sincerely appreciated in prayer and respected as a precious culture. TOMASZ GRZADZIELEWSKI Tomasz Grzadzielewski, Sr., and his bride, Maria Pozyblaki bom in Sroda, Poland and other members of the family, in 1874 immigrated to Culmit City, Mich. He was there six years, working in the copper mines. When Pulaski township was opened for settling, they arrived there and filed a homestead claim in 1880. Tomasz and his wife Maria came to America from a thousand years of Christianity in the country of Poland. They were active in North Dakota in churches, schools, township affairs, helped build two churches, local roads, helped thenneighbors to build their new homes in the community and for many years cultivated their promised free land. Mr. and Mrs. Grzadzielewski, Sr. raised a family of three sons and five daughters: Lucy, Joseph, Cecelia, Mary, Rose, Frances, Frank and John. Sincerely may we say it is with honor we are thankful to serve as a remembrance for the Walsh County Historical Museum. Thank you kindly! LAWRENCE AND ROSALA KOSECKI Lawrence Kosecki was bom in Poland in 1861 and grew up there. Rosala Ebertowski was bom July 11,1867, in Poland. They later met and were married in 1887. They came to America by ship in 1891, bringing only their clothes. They had friends and relatives here. They lived on government school land. It was free, a couple of sections in Pulaski Township. They built a small house and cleared land for a garden, and fenced a yard for cow or oxen. If they cleared more they used the oxen to bring in the wood and for plowing. There were quite a few people that had moved in and did the same.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kosmatka, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kosmatka, Sr. Golden Wedding Anniversary. Andrew Kosmatka (Best Man), Mrs. Joe Prondzinski (Bridesmaid). The family had 4 children Frank, John, Joseph, Jr. and Euzebia (Mrs. Leo Klava, Jr.). His wife died June 27, 1902. Joseph Kosmatka built the St. Joseph's Chapel by the Red River in 1907 with donations from the neighboring farmers. Joseph Kosmatka, Sr. also had one half-

Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Kosecki There were farms for homesteading near Roseau, Minn, where they moved. They later returned to Pulaski Township and purchased land. After they sold this they 306

bought their home at 426 Cooper Avenue, formerly the post office. They resided there until the time of their deaths. Mr. Krier was a school official in Pulaski Township. He was prominent in the civic affairs of Grafton where he served on the City Council from 1924 to 1932. He was a member of the utilities commission at the time of the construction of the city light plant and had a leading role in the erection of the municipal plant. He was also a conciliator for Walsh County for several years under terms of a North Dakota legislative act and was appointed by the late judge, W. J . Kneeshaw. Mr. Krier died August 25, 1950 and Mrs. Krier died November 29, 1953. Both are buried in the Sacred Heart Church Cemetery at Oakwood. They were the parents of two daughters, Margaret and Barbara Krier. After arriving in New York, M r . Krier came to Mazeppa, Minn, and got a job delivering beer to the towns in that area. After about a year, J i m Hill, president of the rail line coming to Dakota Territory, was promoting settlers to come to northern Minn, and the Dakotas. John came with Mr. Hill to St. Vincent. Minn., crossed the river to Pembina, then down to Acton and Pulaski Township where he homesteaded 160 acres of farm land. He filed his homestead claim at Grafton on December 28, 1888. He filed for and was granted citizenship Oct. 26, 1896.

sister Josephine and five half-brothers Andrew, Edmund, Frank, Paul and Peter. February 16, 1903 he married Mary Dauksavage at St. Stanislaus Church. Thirteen children were born, Michael died in infancy, Frances, Rigina, Casmer, Barney, Raymond, Bernice, Florian, Adeline, Dominik and Dominika (twins), Ambrose and Marrian. Ambrose lost his life in the Navy in WW II. Joseph Kosmatkas celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Feb. 16, 1953, at their home in East Grand Forks. Joseph Kosmatka died Oct. 8, 1959, at his home in East Grand Forks. His second wife died Feb. 2, 1968. Mary Dauksavage was the daughter of John and Josephine (Schriber) Dauksavage. MR. AND MRS. JOHN K R I E R

J A N (JOHN) KULAS F A M I L Y Jan (John) Kulas was bom in 1839 and died in 1920. He came to America from Poland after the Civil War. He got a job on the railroad, worked his way to Chicago and sent for his wife Marya (Mary) Derdowski and his son, Anton. Marya was born in 1894 and died in 1904. He became sick for one year in Chicago and Marya had to work to keep the family going.

Mr. and Mrs. John Krier's Wedding Photo

John Krier and wife, Katie Steichen. Daughters: Maggie and Barbara. Both Mr. and Mrs. Krier were born in Luxembourg. Mr. Krier was born near the town of Garnick June 24, 1861. When 23 he set out to find a home in the new world, arriving here, March 24, 1884. He came by train to Minto, July 1, 1885 and immediately got a job as a farm hand. He worked one year and saved his money with which he made a down payment on a farm in Pulaski Township which he homesteaded. Mrs. Krier, whose maiden name was Katherine Stuchen, was born in Dahlem, Luxembourg, May 15,1871 and came to America with her parents in 1884. The family settled near Mazeppa, Minn. M r . and Mrs. Krier were married Dec. 29, 1890. They lived in Pulaski until 1917 when they moved to Grafton after retiring from farming. They first lived in a home where Chase School is now located. In 1920 they

John Kulas's Family Standing, back, left to right: Teofil, Frank, Anton, John. Middle row: Leon, Jan, Stella, Antonina, Gusta, Marya, Stanley. Front row: Edward, Bazil, Minnie, Ludwig. He worked his way to Winona, Minn, on the railroad, later homesteaded north of Warsaw. He sent for his brother, Theodor and Theodor's family, giving him a tree claim north of Warsaw in exchange for the crop that year. The crop failed, Jan sold his north farm and moved to a farm 5 miles due east of Warsaw on the Red River in Pulaski Township where he lived until his death. His youngest son Ludwik who was born June 6, 1892, started farming at age 16 and took over the farm. He had 9 children, five by his first wife, Emma Tandeski, born Nov. 26, 1894, died May 12, 1934. (Eryka, Engelbert, 307

Ernest, Ludvik and Alfred.) Four with his second wife, Clara Kryzsko . Schiller, (Dorothy Schiller, James Francis. Dennis Dale and Roger William.) Ludwig served as Pulaski Township supervisor for 16 years, treasurer of his school district for 14 years, chairman of his community AAA committee for five years, served on the Warsaw Hall Community Board for eight years, county commissioner from his district from 1938 to 1948, and served on a committee to help ban bootleg stills during the prohibition years. He has also been an active member of the Polish National Alliance Lodge 3034 since 1946. Jan and Marya had 14 children: Anton F., Mary, Teofil, John, Frank, Stella, Gusta, Leon, Stanley, Antonina (Anna), Edward, Minnie, Bazil and Ludwik. Marianne may be another spelling for Marya. Jan saved the Ufe of Byzewski by cutting off his frozen toes to prevent the gangrene from spreading. Jan came from Warsaw. Jan's wife, Marya was a midwife. MR. AND MRS. THEODORE KULAS Theodore Kulas, son of Jacob Kulas and Josephine Kiedrowski, was born April 21, 1845 in Poland (Western Prussia). He married Monika Derdowski, daughter of Michael Derdowski and Katherine Miloch, born in Poland on May 5, 1853. Five children were born to this family in Poland: Michael, Sept. 28,1872; Mary, July 4, 1875, John, Dec. 11, 1876; Frances, Oct. 23, 1879; and Francis, who died in infancy. The family immigrated to New York in 1881.

Theodore Kulas's Family Seated: Mrs. Theodore Kulas, Marion Kulas, Stella, Minnie, Joseph and Theodore Kulas. Standing: Mary, Michael, John and Frances. Arriving in Dakota Territory on June 2, 1881 by steamboat they landed at Acton Landing Post. They were met by John Kulas (Theodore's brother who had settled in Dakota in 1879 with his family). Theodore Kulas settled on a homestead in Walsh County. He built a log cabin in 1883. In 1896 the family built a new 7 room home. Four more children were born, Minnie, SteUa, Joseph and Marion. Mary married Joseph Kosmatka, Sr., on Nov. 15, 1892. Frances married Wencel (Ruziczka) Rose on July 7, 1896. Michael Kulas married Anastazea Kiedrowski in 1900. Minnie married Joseph Wosick on Nov. 13, 1900. Joseph married Katherine (Bozia) Bazey on Nov. 10, 1914. All marriages were

performed at St. Stanislaus Church. The Kulas family owned their homestead quarter until 1939. Michael Kulas died Jan. 17, 1915. Theodore Kulas died Sept. 4,1914. Minnie Kulas Wosick died Oct. 19, 1916. Mrs. Theodore Kulas died April 26, 1930. John Kulas died March 16, 1938. Marion died June 7, 1938. Frances died Nov. 6,1964. Joseph Kulas died Sept. 22,1969. Living in June, 1975 is Stella who was 89 on June 1, 1975. She was married to Joe Prondzinski on Nov. 16, 1922. She is a resident at the Valley Memorial Home, Grand Forks. MR. AND MRS. FRANK A. MACH, SR. Frank A. Mach, Sr. and wife Julia Reja Mach had six children. Frank, Jr., John, Martha, Annie, Agnes and Clara came to the United States from Germany to New York by ship which took five weeks. They went to Detroit, Mich, where the Machs had relatives. They belonged to the Catholic church and got acquainted with the priest, Reverend Father Kolasinski. He told them he had land in North Dakota and was looking for a renter to work the land on shares. Mr. Mach took him up on that and came to Minto by train in 1893. The family liked the farming, although it was hard doing all the work with horses. We plowed, harrowed and seeded with four horses. The hardest work was hauUng wood in winter by sleigh and to cut and chop it for the heater and cook stove. We also had to carry all the water from the well to the house and pull it out by pail from the weU to water aU the horses and cows. When the boys got married, we girls had to help with the farm work, making hay and all the work in the field. Annie took a dressmaking course by mail and moved to Minto to sew for people. Nora Johnson joined her in making hats. Then Frank, Jr., got married to Mary Curtin and moved to Minto. First of all he was a dray man and then a policeman. Later he became a deputy sheriff and then moved to Grafton and was elected Sheriff of Walsh County. He served two terms. It was no fun being a sheriff in those bootlegging days. He made many enemies, for when he came to a place and found a distiller on the stove he had to destroy it. John married Emma Feltman, moved to Minto and took over the dray line. Later Martha got married to John Curtin, Annie to Stanley Reszka, Agnes to Alex Feltman and Clara to Leon Riskey. In 1900, we had a priest by the name of Reverend Father Gavlowicz in Warsaw. He built a most beautiful church which cost $50,000,000. It would cost twice that much now. In that new St. Stanislaus church in Warsaw, I received my first holy communion, was confirmed and was married. Now I am 84 years old and the church is 75 years old, prettier than ever after they painted it just recently. We lived five miles north of Warsaw. We got our mail once a week When we came to church Sunday. Anton Gudajtes had a little post office in his store. My father, Frank A. Mach, died June 7,1911. My mother, Mrs. Julia Reja Mach, died Feb. 6, 1921. Both are buried in St. Stanislaus Church Cemetery at Warsaw. Mrs. John (Emma) Mach, 94, and Mrs. Leon (Clara) Riskey, 84, are the only ones left of the Frank Mach family. Submitted by Mrs. Clara Riskey, their daughter, Grafton, North Dakota, 422 W. 6th St., 58237.

GREGORY MARYNIK FAMILY Gregory Marynik was born May 8, 1843 in Poland coming to the United States as a young man. He hid in a barrel on a boat for a couple of days to avoid going to war. After coming to New York, he then went to Independence, Wise. He married Christine Fills and farmed there until they moved in 1879 to Casselton. He worked for the Northern Pacific railroad and came to the Minto area in 1883 and brought with them a folding house and a cow. They homesteaded in Pulaski Township. They had 3 sons and 3 daughters, Frank, Michael, Joe, Mary, Agnes and Ann. They were members of the St. Stanislaus Church. Gregory Marynik died May 18, 1922.

Gregory Marynik MICHAEL MARYNIK Michael Marynik was born Sept. 2, 1876 in Independence, Wise. He came with his parents to Casselton when he was 3. At the age of seven Michael and his parents moved to the Warsaw area. He married Pauline Lizakowski, daughter of Frank Lizakowski, Sr., and Marceline Pokrzywinski, Nov. 25, 1901 in St. Stanislaus CathoUc Church. He farmed in Pulaski Township until he retired. They had 10 girls and 4 boys, JuUa, Ann, Stephie, Minnie, Helen, Albina, IsabeUe, Lorretta, Regina, Louise, Dominick and Bruce, 2 sons died in infancy. Mrs. Marynik died May 28, 1956 and Mr. Marynik died March 16, 1962. ANDRZEJ MASZK

Andrew Maszk Family Standing, left to right: Cecilia, Agatha, Augusta, John, Ben. Seated: Ludwika, Leon, Joseph, Frank, Andrzej. Andrzej Maszk, son of Johann and Katharina Brzeska, was born Nov. 20, 1839, in Czarna Dombrowa, Buetow. His wife, Ludovika Palubicki, daughter of J.

Von Palubicki and Marianne Wantoch, was born May 20, 1840. They emigrated from Poland in March, 1868. They landed in Quebec and came by train to Winona, Minn., where their daughter, Cecilia, was born Jan. 14,1874. In 1879, Maszk filed a claim on land in Pulaski Township and in 1881 came by train with his famUy and all his worldly goods to Grand Forks. From Grand Forks they traveled by wagon to settle on their claim. Their family of eight children included Augusta married to Joseph Wysocki, John married to Kathryn Janikowski, CeciUa married to John Babinski, Leon married to Barbara Kamrowski, Frank married to Stella Kulas, Benedict married to Cecelia Paszk, Agatha married to Lawrence Wisniewski, and Joseph married to Josephine Misialek. Retiring from farming, the couple lived in Warsaw. Maszk died in 1920 and his wife died in 1930. MICHAEL MERCHLEWICZ Michael and Mary Hefta Merchlewicz both immigrated from Poland in 1878. Their first stopover was at Winona, Minn. They filed on a homestead in Pulaski Township in 1879. They had three sons and four daughters Joseph, Alex, John, Stella, Bernie, Anna and Cecilia, He was one of the organizers and a charter member of St. Stanislaus Parish. LOREN MOZINSKI Loren Mozinski, also known as Lawrence, was born June 7, 1851 and died Jan. 26, 1926. As a young man he immigrated to this country from Posen, Poland, controUed by Germany. His first few years in this new world, land of opportunity, were spent in Detroit, Mich. He had no problem finding work. His trade was leather craftsman and he speciaUzed in harness making. In 1879, in Detroit, he married Anna Skrzeukowski (July 26, 1863-Nov. 9, 1927). He had no desire to Uve in a city and wanted to become a farmer. After serious consideration Anna approved the decision. The savings were put together and they started on a journey to Dakota Territory. Lawrence filed his homestead in 1883 in Pulaski Township. The same year he bought a team of oxen. These 160 acres had good drainage being next to the Forest River, the high ground was used for raising crops, the bottom land for pasture and hay land, and there was plenty of water for livestock and home use. Fishing and hunting were excellent. There was an abundance of chokecherries, buffaloberries, plums, Juneberries, and wild strawberries along the river banks. Not too far away was timber for fuel and logs for buildings and fence posts. All this was very necessary for pioneers. The first three years during the summer months Lawrence worked on the Dunlop Bonanza farm near Casselton. Pay was $15 a month plus board. In rush times he earned $2 a day. They worked from sun up to sun down. Working on the Bonanza farm was primarily to gain farming knowledge and it proved worthwhUe. With his earnings they met living expenses, bought a team of horses and other necessary things to get started on thenown farm. One thing needed to be an efficient farmer was speed and power, and horses were a great improvement over oxen. Each landowner tried to break up 10 acres plus each year. Exposing more black land meant more horses and

machinery. Consequently, it took cash. Workers were needed on the railroad, so in 1887-88 Lawrence worked for the Northern Pacific at Grand Forks. He commuted to work by walking. Roads were only trails and many times mud and water filled the pot holes. He came home every two-three weeks with food provisions and checked on property and family. It was extremely hard on the women, constantly waiting, never knowing if the husband would return. The hardships, both physical and psychological, had important effects. For one thing, many of the pioneers left North Dakota a few years after they had come. But for Lawrence and Anna it was an adventure, and they quickly developed a feeling of loyalty and affection for the broad sweeping land. Respect and hospitality were a sort of religion where people gave each other a helping hand when it was needed. Mr. and Mrs. Mozinski had eight sons and three daughters; Mike, John, Frank, Marian, Anton, Lawrence, Martin, Peter, Julia, Martha and Anna. Mozinski was active in township affairs and in the construction of St. Stanislaus Church at Warsaw. In 1910 he erected the Shrine cross three miles east of Warsaw (junction of Interstate No. 29). Still standing on the same location, along with the cross, are two log buildings he erected earlier.

Lawrence and Anna Mozinski Family ANTHONY OSOWSKI Anthony Osowski (Tony) started his farming operation on a farm east of Warsaw. He married Anna Chelmosky, Winona, Minn, who was asked to come and do clerical work in the Adamski and Reski General Merchandise Store. They lived in the Warsaw area but as the family was growing, Tony saw he needed to expand. He purchased land from the Sumner Phelps midway between Grafton and Minto. He built the new home there. He farmed the land with horse power and gradually went to mechanical farming. He traded a team of mules for a Fordson tractor. Bert Stary was the salesman. The family growing up helped him - especially since boys were the majority. They had one girl, Henrietta (Kerian), the eldest and six boys - Chester, Edwin, Joseph, Leonard (who died as a youngster), Richard and Bernard. Osowski's ambition was not thwarted by his being a second grade graduate. When potatoes were being grown commercially, he was not left behind. He built the first potato warehouse at Minto and was quite successful as a potato grower. His land holdings increased. When Anna died, he took up residence in Minto in order to be nearer to the potato warehouse and left his farm residence to his son Chester. He divided his holdings among his chUdren, and built a new home on a farm east of Minto. He married Nellie Schumann, who survives him.

He served on the local school board and as town supervisor in his earlier years. He weathered the depression years with some difficulty, but the potato business helped him out. ANTHONY PERKEREWICZ Anthony Perkerewicz came to the United States from Poznain, Poland at an early age. He settled in Calumet, Mich, where he met and married Jadwiga Ciesielski. They came to North Dakota as settlers. They first settled in Harriston Township. Their first home was of sod. Mother led the oxen while Dad held the plow to plow sod for the sod house. They had 10 children: Adam, Steven, Angeline, Amelia, Mary, Rosei, Victoria, Frank, Joe and Frances. They later moved to Pulaski Township. Anthony Perkerewicz died Aug. 6, 1920. Jadwiga Ciesielski Perkerewicz died Aug. 3, 1932. Steven Perkerewicz died when three years old. Adam married Ann Ludivieckowsik and had five children; Walter, Felix, Julian, Isadore and Beatrice (Mrs. Frank Kowalski). Angeline married Frank Marynik, Amelia married Joe Marynik, Mary married Vincent Kasprawicz, Rose married Walter Gajeski, Frances married Leonard Blawat and Victoria married Syrapion Blawat. Frank married Polly Byzewski, he died April 15, 1964. Joe married Tekla Przepiora, he died Dec. 27,1971. They had nine chUdren: Rose, LUUan, Steve, Chester, Raphael, Theresa, Lorraine, Joe and Raymond. Rose married Marion Przybylski June 25, 1947, they had one son, Michael. LUlian married Conrad Borowicz Aug. 8, 1950, he died Oct. 20,1974. They had 10 chUdren, James, Marie, Theresa, Louise, (3 in Navy) Larry who died when he was 3, Carol, Betty, Marquirite, Jean and Wayne. Steve married Germanine Collette April 12,1955. They have 5 children, Richard Gerard, Ann Mary, Kathey. Chester married Cyrilla Houdek June 15, 1954, they had 3 sons, Gary, Tom, Robert, Raphael married Monica Houdek Sept. 27,1955, they had 6 chUdren, Carol, Harry, Jonny, Janet, JacquiUne, and Joy. Theresa married Conrad Hapka Oct. 22, 1958. They have 9 children Roger, Brian, Mark, Robert, Jerome, Janelle, Conrad, Timmy and Mary Beth. Lorraine married John Wesolowski April 25, 1962.

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Plutowski Wedding Photo Nikodem Plutowski and Julia Rolczynski, both born in Poland, came to the United States at an early age. They were married in St. Patrick's Church, Minto.

They lived on a homestead in Pulaski Township and later moved to Walshville Township. They raised a family of 12 children; Frances (Mrs. Andrew Kosmatka), Susie (Mrs. John J. Wosick), Gertrude (Mrs. Joseph Duray), Anton, Helen (Mrs. Ed Loveland), Martha (Mrs. John D. Lizakowski), Leon, Vincent, Margaret (Mrs. Richard Knaus), Harry, Lucius and John. PAUL AND JOSEPHINE ROGALLA Paul and Josephine Rogalla came here from Prussia, Poland. They settled at Perham, Minn. Paul married Josephine Lesnak at Perham. They Uved at Perham a number of years, then resided in Walsh County until their deaths. They had 12 children; Veronica, Martha, Stanley, Max, Matilda, Wanda, Monica, Isadore, Alex, Victor, Andrew and a baby girl who died in infancy. Living are Victor and Alex, Grand Forks and Wanda Dulski, Perham, Minn.

Paul Rogalla

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schuster had nine children, Max, Selma, Leo, Eleanor, Edward, Harry, Martha, Gertrude, and Stanley, Stanley died at six. Leo died at 79 and interment was in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw. Mr. Schuster died Aug. 12, 1952 at 92. Funeral services were held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Warsaw. Msgr. John Maluski officiated and interment was in the St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw. Mrs. Schuster, Mary Ann Plutowski. was born in Chersk, Poland, Aug. 8,1870. She came from a family of five, three sisters and one brother. Mrs. Frank Osowski, Mrs. John Grabanski, Mrs. John Babinski and Nick Plutowski. Marv Ann migrated to this country by ship with her sister and brotner-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Osowski and other migrants in 1888 or 1889. She kept house for her brother, Nick Plutowski, who migrated here earlier. She married Edward Schuster in Jan., 1890 at St. Michael's Church in Grand Forks. She was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Warsaw, North Dakota and the Holy Rosary Society. She died at 90. Funeral services were held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church at Warsaw with Msgr. Peter Lekavy officiating and interment in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw.

Mrs. Paul RogaUa

EDWARD SCHUSTER FAMILY Edward Schuster, a pioneer farmer, was born in Sachsen, Germany Dec. 24, 1859. Mr. Schuster came from a family of five, three brothers and one sister; Herman, Frank, Moritz and AmeUa. Edward was the youngest of the family. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. August Schuster. Edward migrated to this country in 1879 and filed on a pre-emption claim in Walshville Township where he built a sod shanty and Uved there nine years. He went back to Germany in 1888, but returned to North Dakota the next year bringing his sister, Amelia with him. She married G. H. Wippler, a school teacher. That year his sod shanty burned and aU his belongings. He sold his land to Ludwig Ebertowski and moved to Grand Forks. He worked on a farm called Twanley farms, near Grand Forks. In Jan. 1890 he married Mary Ann Plutowski, After their marriage they bought a farm in Prairie Centre Township and lived there until 1894. In 1914 they moved to Pulaski Township where they bought the Herman SeU farms, it was then known as the Schuster Corner. In 1920 they bought what used to be the Michael Grembowski farm. In 1936 they bought an Acton Township farm where they continued to reside. The farm has been operated by their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kuta, who still reside there. Mr. Schuster served as Justice of the Peace from 1899 to 1910 and on the Walsh County Board of Commissioners from 1911 to 1914 in the Second District. He served on township and school boards. He was a member of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Warsaw.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Schuster, Sr. JOHN SLOMINSKI FAMILY John Slominski, born in Poland, Jan. 26, 1852, came to Winona, Minn, in 1872. He married Anastasia Pelowski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pelowski, in 1878. They came to Walsh County and took a homestead in Pulaski Twp., V4 mile east of Warsaw, and Uved there until Sept. 1909 when he came to Minto to make his home. His wife, Anastasia was bom April 5, 1863 at Winona, Minn. John Slominski died March 25, 1914. In 1927, Anastasia married Leon Brezinski and resided in Minneapolis, Minn., until his death in 1940. She returned to Minto where she remained until her death in 1954. They had 4 sons, Frank D., John M., Harry, Leo, and one daughter, Martha. Frank D. Slominski remained farming on the homestead. John M. Slominski remained in Minto practicing pharmacy. Harry became a medical doctor, was a veteran of two wars, and served on the Saratoga which was sunk by the Japanese. Leo took residency at St. Cloud, Minn, after farming at Beach. Martha married A. P. Kukowski and resided at Georgetown, Minn. Frank D. Slominski was born at Warsaw on Dec. 11, 1880. He married Florence Gornowicz at Warsaw Nov. 17, 1908. They lived their entire Ufe on the homestead of John Slominski. Frank D. Slominski was a prominent worker for the Democratic Party and served in the House of Representatives in the sessions of 1921, 1923,

and 1925. By virture of birth in Dakota territory in 1889, Florence Slominski was named Diamond Jubilee Queen when Grafton observed the 75th occasion with festivities in Aug. 1964. Florence was a charter member of the Busy Bee Homemakers Club organized in 1931. They had 3 sons, John, Julian, Edmund and one daughter, Marie. Frank D. Slominski died Feb. 25, 1951. Florence died in March, 1968. Son, John, died Sept. 21, 1973.

Frank D. Slominski JOSEPH STOLTMAN Joseph Stoltman and his wife, Anna Dulek, came from Europe to America and their first stop was at Stephen's Point, Wise. In 1879 they came to Pulaski Township and filed a claim. In 1880 they brought their family and all of their belongings, which consisted of 2 oxen, 5 cows and calves, wagon, walking plow, feed oats, and enough lumber to build an 18 x 20 home. They came to Grand Forks by train, then took a steamboat down the Red River to Acton. They built their house and a sod bam. They broke some land and planted it to oats, which turned out good. They had a family of 14 chUdren. Seven of them died in the 1882-83 epidemic of diptheria. Surviving were Peter, John, Joe, Alex, Adam, Mary and Anna. Joseph had one of the first threshing rigs here. Joseph had been bom in 1831 and he died in 1921, after retiring to Warsaw in 1915. His wife had been born in 1834 and died in 1924. His son Adam took over his farm. John took the tree claim. Joe went to Canada. Alex farmed nearby. Mary married Dom Kiedrowski. Anna became a nun.

Mrs. F. D. Slominski Grafton Diamond Jubilee Queen

PETER STOLTMAN Peter Stoltman was bom in 1871, the son of Joseph Stoltman and Anna Dulek. He married Frances Ebertowski in 1892 and was a farmer. He was on the school board for 30 years. Peter and Frances had 11 children, Dominick, Adam, John, Rose, Viola, Domonica, Walter, Victor, Peter, Dorothy and Francis. In 1942 they moved to Oslo, Minn. Peter died in 1952 and his wife died in 1955. His son, Victor, took over the farm in 1942, and it is now Uved on by his grandson, Gregory.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Stoltman JOHN STYGAR Mr. and Mrs. John Stygar, the former Agatha Wojcek, and two children; son, Albine and daughter, Maria came from Austria, Galicia, a country now part of Poland. The trip was made to this country by sail ship in 1879. Their first stop was in Detroit, Mich. Two years later, they came to homestead four miles north of Warsaw, which wasn't even there at that time. Albine died on the ship and Maria died a few years later. They later had more children. Two are living, Mrs. John (Polly) Byzewski Perkerewicz of Minto, 90, and Mrs. Walter (Verna) Wosick, 89, Warren, Minn. Deceased are Leon Stygar, Frank Stygar, Mrs. John (Frances) Duray, Mrs. Roman (Kathy) Byzewski, Mrs. Theodore (Anna) Narloch and Dorothy and Clara who died when very young. Mrs. John Stygar died Dec. 8, 1930 in St. Stanislaus Church wile attending services.

Jamikowski), August (Mrs. Izydor Feltman), Julia (Mrs. Constanty Feltman) and Bernice (Mrs. Casmer Tandecki). George's second wife died and he married Adela Teske. They had one son, Vincent. George also raised Anna Pruski, daughter of Augusta Pruski, Frank and Cazmira Teske (Mrs. Julian Byzewski) children of Adela Teske, from the two former marriages. He served on the township board for several years. His four oldest sons were also in township, school and church affairs. His son George served as County Commissioner for 18 years. He was a member of St. Stanislaus Church. STANLEY E. WOSICK Stanley E. Wosick was born Sept. 14,1884, in Pulaski Township. He spent most of his Ufe farming in the community. He married CeciUa Merchlewicz Feb. 8,1909 at St. Stanislaus Church. They had four sons and two daughters,Leonard, Sylvester, Stanley, John, Mrs. Alice Schieller and CeceUa Coulter. He served as a township clerk for over 20 years and as treasurer for several years, also as a director of School District 47. He was involved in organizing the local Non-Partisan League when it was affiUated with the RepubUcan Party and was instrumental in electing its first NPL U. S. Senator, Edwin F. Ladd, and Lynn J. Frazier as thenfirst governor. He was an active member of the Wheat Growers Association, known as the Wheat Pool. He retired from farming in 1950 and moved to Warsaw where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1959. He died April 16,1961. She died on Aug. 11, 1970. THEODORE WYSOCKI

Frank Stigar Family Standing: Anna, Pauline, Frances, Kate, Verna. Seated: Leon, Mrs. Frank Stigar, John. GEORGE WOSICK George Wosick and Antonia Cermasky were both born in Pozman, Poland. George came to the United States with his parents. When he was 18 he married Antonia Cermasky in 1879 in Spring Valley, 111. Later he filed a claim for a homestead in Pulaski Township where he lived and farmed until his death. They had a family of eight: six sons, Walter, George, Stanley, John, Anton and Frank, and two daughters; Josephine (Mrs. Joseph Papowski) and Rose (Mrs. Michael Prondzinski). Mrs. George Wosick died and George married Augusta Byzewski Pruski in 1894. They had eight children; three sons, Leon, Joseph, and Edward and five daughters, Antonia, Emilia (Mrs. Frank

Theodore Wysocki Family Frank, Edmond, Magdalene, Richard, Gertrude, Theodore, Jr., Joseph. Middle row: John, Leonard. Amelia, Mrs. Wysocki, George, Sarah, Mr. Wysocfei. Theodore Wysocki was born in 1850 at Osowo in the province of West Prussia, Poland. He came to the United States at 14 with his parents to Winona, Minn, where he grew up and was educated. He married Anna Stochowski in 1878, came to North Dakota in 1880 when the territory was to be homesteaded. Mr. and Mrs. Wysocki had three children, Barney, EUzabeth, and Frances. After nine years of marriage, his wife, Anna, died. In 1886 he married Emma Rose, who as a young girl came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Rose, from Spillsville, Iowa. They raised a family ot eight sons and four daughters, Theodore Jr., MagdeUne, Edmund, Gertrude, Richard, Joseph, Frank, George, Leonard, John, Sarah and Amelia.

member of St. Stanislaus Parish for many years. He was elected Walsh County Commissioner, served from 1902-1910, retired for four years and again was elected in 1914 and served until his death. He always had a helping hand for his fellow man and was highly respected in his community.

He was a leader in the community, being able to speak fluently, English, Polish, and German. He was the first clerk of Pulaski Township when organized in 1881. He was one of the organizers of School District 109, served as a director and was the first secretary of the parish which was organized in 1883. He served as a board

History of Warsaw

distance of 30 miles on foot. A few years later the trading post at Acton on the banks of the Red River was established and their supplies were shipped there by boat. There was also a small shipping point on the Red River about one mile south of Warsaw. These pioneers like most of the early Americans were deeply reUgious and aU of Roman CathoUc faith. Ever mindful of their religious obligation, they soon made arrangements to get a priest into this wUd mission area. On opportunities at long intervals, priests by the names of Father Grynolc, Father Falagan and others and later Father Considine arrived to say Mass in the Pella home near the site of the Warsaw Hall and later at the Kiedrowski farm, 1% mUes north of Warsaw, now owned by Herman Schuster.

The little town of hardly 100 souls once known as Pulaski, and later when a postoffice was established called Warsaw, has never been incorporated, has been a social and religious center for eastern Walsh County Townships. Like the history of the Red River Valley of the north it is the story of courageous men and valiant women who left friendly homes and friendly people to settle on what was then a bleak trackless desolate prairie. The first settlers came to this community in 1873. Some of these settlers came from Perham and Winona, Minn., some from Pine Creek, Wise, but the vast majority came from Poland. Many of the families came by wagon and oxen from Minnesota and Wisconsin crossing the Red River at Fargo and moved up 30 miles north of Grand Forks, where they homesteaded on what was then a wilderness and called it Pulaski, in memory of the great Polish patriot and hero of the American Revolution. As near as is known, the first three men to come here from Poland were Julius Riskey, Thomas Wirkus and Frank Narloch, Soon after that came families with names such as Kasznera, a school teacher, Szarkowski, Danielski, Warczak, Kiedrowski, Rudnik, Moga, Wysocki, Rogalla, Gerszewski, Kamrowski, Pella, Grzadzielewski, Maszk, Slominski, Landowski, Byzewski, Rolczynski, Stoltman, Gornowicz, Stanislawski, Gudajtes, Ebertowski, Duray, Babinski, Grabanski, Schuster, Feltman, Perkerewicz, KowalsM and many, many others.

Warsaw First Mass

1 41

Fr. Considine In the meantime a cemetery was established on land owned by Andrzej Maszk and presently owned by Steven M. Slominski in Pulaski Township. The known persons buried there were: a Hefta boy, a Koehmstedt boy, a Blazek child and Mrs. Martin Gornowicz. They were later reburied in the present Warsaw cemetery. Mrs.

Warsaw The nearest place for the people to get their food and supplies was Grand Forks, and a lot of people made this 314

Gornowicz lost her life when she ventured out in a blizzard and froze to death. Her body was not found until in the spring after the snow had melted away. Among the first church records at Warsaw is a meeting held Aug. 15, 1882 for the purpose of signing members, appointing committees and setting assessment fees. The signatures of the members in attendance were: Simon Tandeski, Leon Rogalla, Anthony Wysocki, Frank Kiedrowski, Martin Gornowicz, Piotr Kiedrowski, Apolinary Rogalla, Anton Hefta, Jan Szarkowski, Franciszek Lizakowski, Michael Merchlewicz, Paul Pella, Andrzej Maszk, Jozef Stoltman, Tomasz Grzadzielewski, Joseph Gerszewski, Jan Slominski, Frank Galewski, Martin Moga, Jozef Feltman, Jan Czapiewski, Albert Babinski, and Jan Lizakowski.

Church Interior At a meeting Dec. 27 of the same year another short session was held for the purpose of calling a general meeting the first Monday of the new year at which time an election of officers and committees was to be made. At the January meeting in 1883, Jan Szarkowski was elected president, Teodor Wysocki, secretary and Andrzej Maszk, treasurer. The membership committee composed of Leon Rogalla, Francis Narloch and Paul Pella immediately went to work and obtained more new members. Also elected was Anthony Wysocki to haul the priest back and forth to Acton and to board him and to make collections when the congregation met for Mass. He was also to solicit money from the people across the Forest River to the south. The Forest River was quite an obstacle in those days, dividing the settlers as north and south. Frank Lizakowski who farmed south of the river, donated ten acres for a church site and had already erected a crucifix at the cemetery site, but later due to a majority of the settlers living on the north side of the river, they voted to build the church at its present site where Anton Hefta donated 10 acres. The crucifix was donated by Paul Pella and the site was called Pulaski.

Rectory Built — 1892

The happy moments finally came when that spring Father Michanowski was assigned to the new Pulaski settlement as the first resident priest and that same year the first church was built at a cost of $2,500. The church was named after Polish Bishop and martyr St. Stanislaus and the congregation observes this holiday May 7th each year. John Szarkowski who homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 25 in Harriston Township, across the road from the church, platted the town of New Warsaw in 1892 directly west of the new church. Mr. Szarkowski, who was also a school teacher had visions of a city or village developing. He sold the first lots to Anton L. Gudajtes, who erected the first building, a general merchandise store, taking into partnership with him Julius Rapsiewicz. Gudajtes started the enterprise with a capitol of $80 which he made as a laborer during harvest in the area. The partnership was dissolved about a year later and Mr. Rapsiewicz moved to Minto where he went into business by himself while Gudajtes kept expanding his business. Gudajtes had also great hopes of the town developing as at the time of his purchase of the lots, he was offered free lots to establish a business in Poland or Herriot, both in Walsh County which were just being platted at the time.

Stained Glass Window, St. Stanislaus 315-

guard known as the Pulaski Guards dressed in full regalia and mounted on horseback. They escorted the Bishop to Warsaw, a distance of five miles, where nearly 4 000 people had gathered for the dedication ceremonies. A few years later the church was painted and the paintings murals and the stencil work are the same today as when originally done. It is one of the largest and most beautiful edifices in the entire state of North Dakota.

Through the efforts of Mr. Szarkowski and Mr. Gudajtes a post office was established in 1894 and the name of Pulaski was changed to New Warsaw; but, the government dropped the prefix and since that time it has officially been known as Warsaw. Gudajtes was appointed as the first postmaster, taking the oath June 30, 1894. He held the office continually until the postoffice was discontinued as Gudajtes refused appointment to the continuation ofthe position as the rural routes from Minto, Grafton and Ardoch and Oslo, Minn, almost converged in Warsaw. During the first year as postmaster, Mr. Gudajtes carried the mail on foot from Minto to Warsaw, a distance of six miles, without extra compensation. N. McCyntre was the first mail carrier for Warsaw from Minto, receiving $75.00 annually. The village is served by rural route from Minto since discontinuance of the postoffice.

First Gudajtes Store Numerous businesses started but all of them fell by the wayside with the exception of the John Babinski store that was built in 1905 which was operated by Mr. Babinski until his retirement in 1919. His business was also a general merchandise, including funeral supplies and services. Later owners of the business were Mike Stupek, Richard Wysocki and Joseph Kiedrowski. The store is presently operated by Minnie Kiedrowski, wife of the deceased Joseph Kiedrowski. For many years a blacksmith shop was operated by Frank Tandeski and sons and John Mielcarek operated a feed and flour mill. Some of the present generation still remember the treadmill type horsepower operation. Father Gawlowicz came to Warsaw in 1896 and was vitally interested not only in the spiritual welfare of his people but also teaching the young people athletics, band music and marching. While in Warsaw, Father Gawlowicz saw on the prairies of North Dakota the possibilities of a splendid future and so decided to build a church that his people would be proud of and that would be an inspiration to them. By the year 1900 he had an architect and had a complete set of plans drawn up. Work on the new church was begun in 1900 and completed in 1901. Father did not enjoy his new church very long as he died in 1905. Some of the brick came from Minto but most of it came from Grand Forks. It was shipped by rail to Minto where it was taken by horse cart to Warsaw. The church seats approximately 1100 people and cost $50,000 to build. It was completely free of debt at its dedication. Bishop John Shanley, asssisted by over 50 priests dedicated the church the 9th day of July, 1901. When the Bishop arrived by train in Minto, he was met by the Warsaw and Veseleyville bands and by an honorary

St. Stanislaus B M Church Built 1900 Fr. Gawlowicz WAYSIDE SHRINES Among the many pious customs brought from Poland to the Warsaw community by the pioneers were the erection of shrines or crosses. At these shrines people passing by would stop and say a prayer. Among the shrines still standing is one of the crosses on the crossroads three miles east of Warsaw, erected by Lawrence Mozinski. Another one is one mile north of Warsaw erected by Joseph Gerszewski. Another one is two miles north and one mile east of Warsaw erected by Frank Stygar, and another one four miles east and one mile north erected by Teofil Gerszewski. Then there is one erected by a reUgious pioneer, Frank Marynik, on a site by the Red River two mUes north and five and one half miles east of Warsaw. These shrines are indicative of the strong faith and piety of the PoUsh pioneers that came to the Warsaw community. ST. JOSEPH'S ON THE BANKS OF THE RED RIVER The Polish pioneers who settied along the Red River east of Warsaw were as weU of deep religious faith. One of these pioneer women, Mrs. Joseph Wosick (Minnie 316

Wysocki, Frank Maszk, Aloysius Czapiewski and Peter Kiedrowski, This band performed as a unit through the year of 1905. Another band was organized in 1912 with Paul Lutastanski as leader, other members were: Tony Kozwarski, Gert Babinski, John Kamrowski, Stanley Gerszewski, Jacob Kowalski, Vincent Kamrowski, Joe Kalka, Frank J. Stoltman, John Gerszewski, Adam Kiedrowski, Martin Riske, John Grzadzielewski, Stanley Roguszka, Joe Babinski, Leo Kowalski, Leo Klava, Frank Kowalski, Walter Greevers and John Glanner. The bylaws and some of the minutes of this group's meetings are presently on file at the Walsh County Museum in Minto, North Dakota. Of special interest are the requirements to attend practices. The records show that if any member failed to attend any practice, he or she would have to pay a fine of ten cents. If they failed to attend twice in succession, the fine would increase to fifty cents. If they missed three practices in a row, they would lose their membership. Both of these bands were very active, taking part in all local social functions and at celebrations held throughout the county.

Kulas) suggested to her neighbors that a cross or some religious monument be erected in their midst. A meeting was called and the following people were present: Joe Wosick, Joe Cetnor, Joe Kosmatka, Joe Rogalla, John Duray, Frank and Paul Rogalla and Frank Ebertowski. It was decided at this meeting to erect a small chapel and to name it St. Joseph's Chapel, because most of the men present were men whose first name was Joseph. Joseph Wosick donated the land and Joe Kosmatka was architect and carpenter. All in attendance at the meeting donated $17 each, a total of $102. The chapel was completed and the first Mass was said in 1907. Mrs. Joe Wosick took care of the chapel until her death in 1916. Later Joe Wosick was married to Anna Merchlewicz, who took care of it until her death in 1967. The chapel is located five miles east and one mile north of Warsaw. It is one of the smallest chapels in America, just large enough for a priest to say mass and two altar boys. The chief reason why the chapel was built was that a priest could come here and offer mass at least once a year and ask God's blessing on the crops. Mass is said there every year, usually in the month of June, and is attended by a large number of people.

BASEBALL The first baseball team was organized in 1903 by Frank Mach. Some of the early players were; Frank Mach, Louis Reszka, Peter Grzeskowiak, Frank and John Danielski, John Poposki, Anton Kulas, John F. Curtin and Rev. Father Waldowski who was a star pitcher. Year in and year out Warsaw always fielded a strong team. In 1933 Joe Babinski, known as "Cyclone Joe" highlighted that season for the team when he pitched a no hit, no run game against the Grand Forks Nationals. Warsaw won the game 15 to 0. Members of that team were: John Wysocki, manager, Sylvester Babinski, secretary, Marion Kulas, treasurer, Ted Gerzewski, score keeper and Raphael Babinski, mascot. Players were; Hilary and Ernest Grabanski, Neman and Ed Gudajtes, Florian and Joe Babinski, Julian and Edmund Slominski, Wilfred and Dan Demers and John Curtin. ST. ANTHONY'S ACADEMY

St. Joseph's on the Banks of the Red River WARSAW BANDS

Warsaw Band—1914 1st row, left to right: Gertrude Babinski, Tony Kozowski, John Kamrowski, Stanley Gerszewski, Leo Kowalski, John Greskowiak, Joe Kalka, Walter Greevers, Frank Stoltman, Frank Kowalski, Jake Kowalski, Martin Riske, Adam Kiedrowski. Top row, left to right: Vincent Kamrowski, John Grzadzielski, Stanley Rock, Leo Klava, Joe Babinski, John A. Stoltman, John Glanner. Leader: Paul Lutostanski (seated in center).

St. Anthony's Academy The academy was erected in 1920 at a cost of $65,000 by the Sisters of Resurrection, an organization founded in Rome in 1891, which spread to Poland and the United States in 1900. This was the first and only house of this order in the Diocese of Fargo. The funds for the building were to come from the

The first Warsaw Band was organized in 1896 with Joe Bazal as band director. Other members of the unit were: Lawrence Wisniewski, Joseph Maszk, Joe Grzeskowiak, Alex Merchlewicz, Stanley Riske, Leo Klava, Peter Rose, John Czapiewski, John Babinski, Barney 317

community, free gifts of the parishioners and other benefactors. The following promises were faithfully fulfilled- His Excellency Bishop O'Reilly, $1,000; the pastor Reverend Kupka, $1,000; two farmers, $500, others a few hundred, a hundred and less, according to their means. A corporation was then formed and legal documents signed. Mr. Anthony Tocha of Chicago prepared the plans for the building. In July, 1921, the building was blessed by His Excellency Bishop O'Rielly. In charge of the convent were generally nine Sisters, who conducted an Elementary School. The four upper classes were housed in the Warsaw Public School District 109, where one of the nuns would teach. Later in the 1940's the anti garb legislation was passed and all ot the grades were moved into the Convent. The Order of the Sisters of Resurrection was chosen because of Polish origin and to teach the Roman Catholic faith. Also to assist in education and teaching of foreign language and continue to keep Polish customs alive Much to the disappointment of the parishioners, the school was closed in 1969 because of the school district reorganizations which infringed on the enrollment and the fact that the Resurrection Order did not have an ample amount of teachers to furnish for all of the schools under their supervision. OTHER BUSINESSES For many years a blacksmith shop was operated by Frank Tandeski and sons. John Mielcarek operated a feed and flour mill for many years. Some of the present generation still remember the tread mill type horsepower operation.

Early Celebration at Warsaw RECOLLECTION OF INCIDENTS BY PIONEERS Mrs. J. J. Moga, a daughter of Francis Narloch, now deceased, was about four years old when the family came by oxen team and covered wagon. She recalled that in the wagon was hauled a large cast iron kettle. In this her bed was made and she slept there during the journey. She also recalls the Indians still roaming the area who often visited the whites. When her father had to go for supplies, which usually took several days, her mother would take the children into their log cabin and nail up the doors for fear of the Indians. The late John F. Gerszewski, son of homesteader Jozef Gerszewski, often told that Indians had a teepee about a half mile west of their homestead (3 miles east of Warsaw) and often came to beg for food. One time his dad gave them a salt herring, which was common provision. This the Indian tasted, then shook his head and

returned it immediately, resenting it, thinking this was a joke played on him which took a lot of explaining. Most people didn't know that Indians were not salt eaters. Mrs Joseph Feltman, who died a few years ago a day before her 100th birthday and was married when she came to the area. She recalled the pioneer days very well and used to joke that she got married on May 5, 1878, and on May 19th we started on our honeymoon. They came by ox team, bringing with them their total belongings, two oxen one cow, a cat and their clothing. Her husband s father came with a team of horses at the same time. The men folks were here the summer before when they tiled their homesteads. At the same time they borrowed an ox and a plow and plowed a few acres which was seeded when they arrived with their families. There were no buildings and when they arrived in the spring there was no time to build as seeding came first. They tipped the grain box from the wagon upside down, which served as their palace until seeding was done, after which they started cutting logs and built a home. The harvest the first year was bountiful. They threshed 300 bushels of grain and raised quite a few potatoes and rutabagas, which were important winter provisions. Mrs Feltman was always afraid of fires. They had a very narrow escape from a grass fire which at one time spread across the prairie. Snow blizzards were also frightening At one time her husband and a neighbor went to the timber and on the way back were caught in a blizzard The oxen refused to go, so they spent the night and most of the next day by taking shelter under a small bridge and coming home when the storm subsided. Perhaps what was missed most was a church and they and other neighbors often met at a certain place in the field to pray. They aU rejoiced and walked miles to hear Mass when the first missionary arrived and held services at the Kiedrowski homesteads. Mrs. Feltman didn't wish anyone such hardships and said that she wouldn't want to do it over again. Valerian Lizakowski, deceased, recalled experiences by his father, Francis Lizakowski, who homesteaded south of the river about two miles south ot Warsaw. One of his neighbors was Marcin Moga. Moga and Lizakowski came here to homestead in 1877 it is believed They then went backto Wise, and arrived again with their families and their belongings, only to find that some errors were made in the description of the location of the land when applying for the homesteads. One started to work and lived on the other's land. This was straightened out, however, in a neighborly manner. Leon Maszk, deceased, who lived on the homestead of his father, Andrzej Maszk, two miles east of Warsaw, used to elaborate on some of the pioneer political campaigns claiming that some of the first organizational meetings were held on his father's farm under the direction of John M. Szarkowski, who later became a county political figure and officer. It was there that Pulaski was organized. His father claimed that the first settlers could have obtained larger tracts of land but didn't do so for the reason of leaving space for more new arrivals so as to have more people to help build a church. Leon Maszk remembered gatherings at picnics, which were for the purpose of raising funds to build a church. Despite the fact that the city of Warsaw never developed into a large municipality and never even at3.18

tained a population of 100 which would be a disappointment to many of the pioneers who had visions of great growth, Warsaw will be long remembered for its outstanding bands, baseball teams and its spiritual activities. Submitted by Ed Gudajtes.

platted the Warsaw town site, and Mr. Gudajtes circulated a petition to have a post office established and wrote to Washington about it. At that time the Warsaw site was called Pulaski. Through the efforts of Gudajtes and Szarkowski a post office was established in 1894. At that time Gudajtes and Szarkowski asked the name to be changed to New Warsaw as many of the settlers came to this vicinity from Warsaw, Poland. But the government dropped the prefix and the name was changed to Warsaw. Anton Gudajtes was appointed postmaster, taking the oath of office June 30, 1894. Mr. Gudajtes held a unique and honorable record among the many men and women who have served as postmasters in North Dakota. He held the office continuously until the post office was discontinued Jan. 31, 1935, because the rural routes from Minto, Grafton and Ardoch and Oslo, Minn, almost converged at Warsaw. Gudajtes declined reappointment and the post office was discontinued.

BIOGRAPHIES ANTON L. GUDAJTES FAMILY Automobiles stirred the dust on a summer day in front of the store of Anton Gudajtes at Warsaw. But Mr. Gudajtes did not mind. He was philosophical about the changes that had taken place since he opened his store back in 1892, when oxen were hitched in front of the store. For 54 years he had watched the world progress from the doorway of his store. He had seen eager young settlers become elderly and watched their children and grandchildren grow up. Three generations ofthe Warsaw community had traded at Anton's store. Anton Gudajtes was born at Saszawski, Poland, March 11, 1860 and emigrated to the United States in August 1882. He spent the first year working in the copper mines of Michigan, and the next four years working on farms in the summer and in the lumber camps at Mich., Wise, and Minn, in the winter.

IT f f ^ 0 Anton Gudajtes Family Standing, left to right: Frances, Sophie, Helen, Cecilia, Blanche. Seated: Mrs. Gudajtes, Benjamin, Edward, Neman, Alphonse, Mrs. Gudajtes. The first six months Gudajtes served as postmaster he carried the mail from Minto to Warsaw on foot without extra compensation. He did this as he wished to accommodate the people of the community as all of whom were his customers. Mr. Gudajtes was married Feb. 12, 1894 to Jane Byzewski, who was bora in Posen, Germany, Nov. 11, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Gudajtes had four boys and five girls. Seven are living, Alphonso, Duluth, Minn.; Edward, Minto; Neman, Warsaw; Mrs. George (Sophie) Wysocki, Minto; Mrs. Harry Babinski (Blanche), Warsaw; Mrs. Steve (Helen) Paschke, East Grand Forks, Minn.; and Mrs. Leonard (Frances) Riskey, Grand Forks. Two preceded their parents in death: Benjamin (Ben) who was the Walsh County Auditor at the time of his death Feb. 4, 1944; Mrs. Florian (Cecelia) Babinski died July 25, 1950. Mr. Gudajtes served as a road overseer for Harriston Township four years and had been Treasurer ofthe Warsaw Rural Telephone Co. since its organization in 1903 until his death. He was a member of the school board of Warsaw District No. 109 for more than 30 years. Gudajtes was elected as a Harriston Township Assessor twice, but was not allowed the office because of his postmaster duties. In his declining years Mr. Gudajtes was busy with his store and the supervision of his 320 acre farm between Minto and Warsaw. If one happened to find Mr. Gudajtes in the store, he talked about his early days and about schools as he was very much interested in education. His son Alphonso, an accountant, is retired and presently lives in Duluth, Minn. Son, Edward (Eddie),

Anton Gudajtes But he had not planned to merely earn a livelihood as a laborer. He decided that some business venture would serve as a better avenue to success. In 1887 he and Julius Rapsavage, a fellow immigrant from Poland, formed a partnership to peddle jewelry. They traveled about the country displaying and selling their wares and this way reached Dakota Territory. After coming to Dakota Territory, they discontinued partnership and this occupation. Gudajtes started carpentering and handicraft, a trade he had mastered in Poland, and followed this occupation for a few years. In 1892 he bought the first lot on the Warsaw townsite from John Szarkowski. It had a 25 foot frontage and 125 foot depth. On this lot Gudajtes erected a building and opened a general store with his former partner Julius Rapsavage. Gudajtes started with a capital of $80 which he earned threshing. Later Gudajtes purchased his partner's interest in the enterprise and bought four additional lots and built unto the store as business expanded. At that time the nearest post office was at Minto, 5% miles west of Warsaw. He and others thought that was too far to go for their mail. So John Szarkowski, who had 319

retired farming, lives at Minto, is now the owner and manager of the Gudajtes Insurance Agency. Son, Neman, with his wife Leona, owns and operates the former general'store of his father at Warsaw. Long may Mr. and Mrs. Anton Gudajtes be remembered by their many friends and customers and may they rest in peace. BENJAMIN A. GUDAJTES Benjamin A. Gudajtes, was born in Warsaw, son of Mr and Mrs. Anton Gudajtes, in March, 1896. He attended the Warsaw School and graduated from Minto High School. Upon graduation he went to St. Paul where he took a business course. After completion he accepted a position with G. Sommers Co., wholesale merchants of St Paul which position he held until he volunteered for military service during World War I, in April, 1918. He went overseas in Sept., 1918 and did not return until June, 1919. , ..... Following his discharge he was associated with his father at Warsaw. In 1921 he formed a partnership with H H Hewitt, Minto Ford dealer, which continued until his election as Walsh County Treasurer in 1932. He married Mary Rolczynski of Minto in 1924. While residing at Minto he served on the City Council and as commander of the Wirkus Callahan American Legion Post. , „ He served as Walsh County Treasurer for four years, limited by law, and then was elected County Auditor in 1936 While in Grafton he served as president of St. John's Men's Club, Commander of the Grafton Legion Post, Walsh County Red Cross Chairman and took an active part in both the social and political activities of the city. He was re-elected to the County Auditor's position every two years without opposition until his death in February, 1944, at Hines Veteran's Hospital, Chicago. JOHN M. SZARKOWSKI (1857-1925)

Jan Szarkowski John M. Szarkowski was born July 13,1857, in Osiek, Poland located in the province of Poznan. Following the first partition of Poland in 1772 this province became dominated by Prussia. A policy of Germanization was inaugurated after an unsuccessful Polish revolution against Prussian rule in 1848. The use of the Polish language, as well as the establishment of Polish societies was prohibited. A vigorous anti-Polish and anti-Catholic policy was invoked. This resulted in a large migration of Poles to the United States commencing about the middle of the nineteenth century. Included in that exodus was the subject of this narrative, John M. Szarkowski, his father and mother, and a younger brother, Joe.

They left Hamburg, Germany, May 18, 1864, in the packet boat Neckar, arriving in Quebec, Canada, 40 days later June 27. The passengers numbered 583, all immigrants Most of them were bound for western Canada, some forthe United States. June 28, they left Quebec on a special Grand Trunk Railway train. The journey proceeded without incident until they reached St. Hilaire, 19 miles from Montreal, where due to the engineer s failure to heed a stop signal, the train rushed on into an open drawbridge spanning the Richelieu River. The locomotive, tender, five baggage cars and six passenger coaches went crashing into the river 45 feet below kilhng 98 of the passengers and wounding 380. It was Canada s greatest railroad disaster. At the moment of the crash 1-15 a m June 29,1864, a steamer was passing through the open portion of the bridge with six barges in tow. The coach in which the Szarkowski family was riding fell unto one of these barges and they miraculouly escaped serious injury. An emergency hospital was set up nearby Only one amputation was performed, and that was without anesthesia, upon a woman whose knee was badly fractured. A special hospital train took the injured to Montreal. The engineer, William Burnie, was charged with gross negligence as a result of a coroner's inquest, and in a subsequent trial in a Montreal court was found guilty of the charge and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment at St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary. It was reported that the Grand Trunk Railroad paid in excess of $250,000 in claims. . _ . When the Neckar docked in Quebec, John Szarkowski was six. His father settled in the vicinity of Stevens Point, Wise, where John attended school. Feb. 17 1878 he married Michalina Mielcarek in the St. Ca^mir Catholic Church at Hull, Wise, a community near Stevens Point. The first three children, Nickolas, Helena and Henryk were bom in Hull. All died in infancy. The couple went to the Dakota Territory in 1882. A Homestead Patent was issued to John M. Szarkowski Aug. 16, 1883. When the earliest settlers came the nearest trading center was Grand Forks, 30 miles south of the Pulaski settlement. Late in 1881 or early 1882 the Great Northern Railroad completed an extension from Grand Forks to Minto which gradually became the principal trading center of the settlement. Some of the thriving businesses of that day, which have since become extinct, or nearly so were the harness shops, feed and livery stables and blacksmith shops. Every small town had at least one ot these. Mr. Szarkowski built a barn of logs hauled by a team of oxen from the Red River, about six miles from the homestead. The house was built of native lumber, also hauled by ox team, from a saw mill at Forest River, He also made all of the home furniture, some of which is still in use. The day he acquired his first team of horses, Dick and Dolly, marked the beginning of progress in his farming operations. Good horses were a cherished possession, for they were all important to the settlers. Some of the more prosperous farmers had buggies or surreys with beautiful well matched driving horses. But the gumbo soil of that area was not conducive to good roads. They became extremely soupy and sticky when wet and, when they dried, were very rough. When the news of the "horseless carriage" penetrated the community some years later it was a widely discussed 320

subject, and the almost unanimous opinion seemed to be that it would never became a practical means of transportation; that it would never replace the horse. In August, 1882, a group of early settlers organized the St. Stanislaus Parish with a view of securing the services of a resident priest, establishing a church and burial ground. Mr. Szarkowski was elected president of this newly formed parish organization. He was also active in organizing a school district in Warsaw, known as the Harriston School District. Four daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John McGlinch of Minto were teachers at this school. Warsaw was platted by him and a post office was located and established as that name in 1894 through his effort and that of Anton Gudajtes, who was the first postmaster and operated the store in which the post office was located. His interest in improving farming methods led to his invention of a new kind of a shoe for grain drills, a shoe that closed its own furrow and provided a maximum width of seed bed for each shoe. A patent was issued to him May 12, 1891. During the years of his farming operations in the Warsaw community he worked to improve the lot of the farmers through improved farming methods, better seed varieties, crop rotation, adequate drainage, and through organization. One such was the Pulaski Farmers' Alliance, a subsidiary of the National Farmers' Alliance, which he, with Theodore Wysocki, Peter Greskowiak, Peter Kiedrowski, and others organized in June 1884. For many years he served as an agent for the Hamburg-American Steamship Line, arranged for transportation from Poland of many friends and relatives of the settlers in that area. He provided them with many other services. They went to him for counsel and assistance, and he seemed to enjoy being of service to them. He built a wind powered mill for grinding feed grain, as well as flour. Demand for this service from other farmers in the neighborhood gradually expanded until it became a business of considerable proportions from the standpoint of volume. Threshing time was the highlight of the homesteaders' year. Threshing from shock took a crew of about 30 men, and approximately the same number of horses. Threshing rigs were scarce. The make most commonly seen there was the Avery. They were powered by steam engines fueled with straw. It was not uncommon for a farmer to wait many weeks before a machine was available. Prolonged rain in the interim could ruin or seriously deteriorate grain in the shock. To avoid rain damage, some farmers, including Mr. Szarkowski, stacked their grain. If properly stacked the grain was not affected by rain, and threshing from stacks required a smaller crew and was less costly. But stacking, usually a family type operation, was time consuming and the unstacked grain was still subject to the hazards of wind and weather. For the young men joining the threshing crews was an adventure, as well as a money earning opportunity. Threshing meant long hours of hard work, but $2 to $2.50 per day was considered good wages. Food was good and plentiful. The crews usually included some students and a few nomadic workers who were able to entertain with song and imaginative stories during the inevitable days

of rest caused by rainy weather, machine break downs, etc. To carry them through the indeterminable periods of isolation caused by winter blizzards, it was necessary for the settlers to lay up ample provisions such as pork, potatoes, flour, and sauerkraut, the last two items usually in barrel lots. In good years the supplies included apples, also in barrels. The spring thaws following heavy snow falls caused overflows of the Red River and its tributaries, causing serious damage to many farms, making roads impassable and seriously retarding field work. The danger of flooding was gradually alleviated by the building of drainage ditches, grading roads and culverts. During the early nineties there was a cycle of poor crops, due to droughts, grasshopper and chinch bug infestations, grain smut and other blights. But what the early settlers feared was the prairie grass fires. This no doubt, was one reason they built houses of sod. The pioneers faced many other dangers and problems. But they were a determined and self reliant lot. Practically all were native Poles or of Polish ancestory. They were experiencing a newly found freedom here-political, religious, and economic freedom-and they willingly faced the dangers and the hardships of this land for the privilege of building their homes and earning a living here. Mr. Szarkowski became a well known political figure in the Warsaw community and throughout Walsh County. He was in demand as a speaker at community picnics and other gatherings where local problems and political issues were discussed. As he became more deeply involved in politics he spent considerable time away from the farm and some of the responsibility was left to his wife for operation. The task was made easier for her by the fact that they had the good fortune of securing the services of hired men who were faithful and industrious. One such was Mike Belka, who stayed for several years. He was from Perham, Minn., whence some of the early settlers also came. Practically all of the well established farmers hired men by the year. The usual annual wage at that time was $200. In 1891 Mr. Szarkowski was elected County Commissioner for Harriston Township, and was re-elected, serving until 1897. In 1896 he was a candidate for Register of Deeds of Walsh County, but was defeated by the incumbent, A. N. Foss, by one vote. The official record shows 1916 votes for Szarkowski and 1917 for Foss. He ran for the same office in 1898 and was elected and re-elected in 1900. He made a fourth try for the office in 1902, but was defeated by Frank Welsh. Following the election of 1898 he sold his farm properties in the Warsaw community, then consisting of 400 acres of land, and the family moved to Grafton. After his defeat for re-election in 1902 he became engaged in land settlement work for the Haslan Land Company, St. Paul. In 1904 the family moved to Superior, Wise, where Mr. Szarkowski was in the real estate business. His participation in the civic affairs of that city was given recognition by his appointment to the Superior Public Library Board. In the fall of 1915 he bought and took charge of a stock and dairy farm near Ashland, Wise, He continued to operate it until his death in June, 1925. His wife died in Ashland Oct. 26, 1946.

information, his aggressive personality, and his fluency as a speaker, in both the PoUsh and English language made him eminently qualified for leadership among his peers.

Sazrkowski's formal education was limited to the elementary grades. His characteristics were a thirst for knowledge, love of independence, and yen for the soil. He took an active part in the social, civic and political Ufe of every community in which he Uved. His large store of

Walshville Township History This part of the Red River Valley was considered at one time to be a worthless swamp. It had been a wonderful country for the Indians and half breeds, trappers and buffalo hunters; but after the Civil War a movement which had been interrupted by the war was again resumed with more vigor. The land was not open for settlement until the state boundaries had been fixed and a treaty made with the Chippewa Indians. By the middle of the 1870's homesteaders were coming in and by the middle of the 1880's most of the land was all settled. It was all a timber country then, so the farmers had to cut down the trees and dig up the soil for cultivation. Some homes were made out of these logs but some had sod houses. It was in the early 1880's that this Walshville Territory became settled with most of the settlers coming from Ontario. George Ferguson came from Renfrew, Ontario, in 1877 and homesteaded on the Irene Jones farm. William Gowan arrived in the faU of 1878 and built a log house which is now the Danny Narloch farm. John Jamiesons came from EganviUe, Ontario in 1880 and their first house was also made of logs. Robert Jones came from Smith Falls, Ontario in 1884. He first settled in the Park River area but after four years moved to Walshville Township. James MaxweU and Andrew Melville also came in 1879. The Henry Robinsons and Alex Robinsons arrived from Ontario in 1878. All came by train to Fisher's Landing. They had brought some horses and machinery with them, so from there they came by horse and wagon. Gus Williams was one of the first settlers in Walshville Township, coming here in the early 1870's. He settled just north of Danny Narloch's. He operated an inn for stage coach passengers traveling between Winnipeg and Grand Forks. Horses were always changed at his place. He was the first WalshviUe postmaster. The mail was brought once a week by stage. Later the mail was brought from Ardoch, first once a week, then three times a week and finally six times a week, until it was discontinued after the Soo Line came through and mail was routed out of Oslo. Henry Robinson had the post office at his home after Gus WilUams moved to Ardoch. The school which was also on the Gus WilUams farm was the nineteenth school built in Walsh County. It is still standing but has been moved to the east side of the Morais. Church meetings were held in the school tor several years by Methodist ministers. Later a new church was built on a portion of land donated by Robert Jones. Some farmers even borrowed money on their land and in 1892 the Episcopal church was built. The foUowing famiUes were the first members: the Jones, Robinson, Hobbs, Hayters, Hylands, William and Frank Gowan, DaUys, and LaTrases. The church is still standing but was sold to Walsh-

ville Township to be used for a town hall and was moved to the east side of the Morais. A new church was built in 1935 a few mUes west of Oslo. This one was used until a few years ago when there were only a few Episcopalians left to keep it going.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherlock

Walshville School Districts SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19 - WALSHVILLE C. G. WilUams was the director and the first teacher was Miss Viola Creek. The directors from 1896-1910 were R. H. Jones, W. J. Hoffs, Andrew Sherlock, John Gerszewski, Vincent Gerszewski. and Jacob Schiller The clerks were R. H. Jones and Mrs. TilU Jones. The treasurers were Henry Robinson and Clara Gowan. SCHOOL DIST NO. 32 - OSOWSKI The officers for District No. 32 in the years of 18921896 were Mick Mergclosey, Thomas E. Hobbs, Nelson Hobbs and Mich Merlevicz. The treasurer for this period was John Lizakowski and the clerk was Donald McLeod. The first teachers were Maggie Munro, Fannie Robinson, E. A. Glowo, Hattie McLaughin. W. W. Sleight, E. A. Grower and Buroh E. Robinson. The directors in the years 1896-1909 were Michael Merclurze, Thomas Hobbs, Mich Mercliniz, Andrew Hobbs, Max Lizakowski, and Henry Babinski. The clerks for this period were Donald Meseod and Rosey Knaus. The treasurers were John Lizakowski, Frank Riskey and Joe Riskey. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 66 - LATRAIL There are only two men who are Usted as active in the origination of this school from 1884-1892. These men are J. M. Sloughton and Joseph Shine. The directors in 1896-1907 were as foUows: John Brintvell, Robert Hart, Michael Nagle, John Gerszewski and WiUiam Tillet. The clerks for this time were John McLeod, Mrs. Adam Ferguson, Mrs. W. F. Ranels, Mrs. William Tillet. The treasurers were John Hart, Adam Ferguson, and Joseph Schultz. 322

A few of the teachers were Agnes Jenkins, Vinei Robinson, Lizzie LaTrace, Lizzie Means, Gusie Melville, and Gertrude Ryan. Enrollment ranged from 6-29.

a cow. Mrs. (Lizia) Bushaw died in 1911. They had nine boys and four girls. During 1889 Tousant homesteaded 80 acres in Walshville Township. Later he acquired more land in the same section. In February 1889, Tousant married Angiline Jarbo.

SCHOOL DTSTRICT NO. 112 - RED RIVER The directors from 1893-1900 were A. Melville, Joseph Maxwell, George Ferguson, Robert Howard, W. S. Evans. The treasurer was Alex Robinson and the clerk was Mrs. Alex Robinson. A few of the first teachers were Alfred Jones, W. W. Sleight, A. W. McDonald, Carolyn Weagant, Mary Monroe, Catherine Stein and Fannie Robinson. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 115 - WALSKI The directors between 1894-1900 were George Bazey, Joseph Slominski, Pat Durkin and Julius Riskey. The treasurers were Joseph Wysocki and Joseph Slominski. The clerks were Julius Riski and Thomas Durkin. Budd Gornowicz, Thomas Garmican and Michael Bryne are just a few of the teachers.

Pascal Bushaw She died in May, 1889. In October, 1889, Tousant married Annie Ebertowski, who had come to the United States with her parents. Their children were Joseph, Edward, Annamae, Tousant Isadore, Maggie AureUa, William, Henry, Leonard and Florian Felix. Florence Eve died in 1925. Three other sisters: Roseann, Lizian and Veronica died in infancy. Tousant and Annie built a seven room house in 1892. The house is on the J. W. Wosick farm. Besides raising

History of Poland Poland, North Dakota, was built shortly after the Soo Line junction or spur was built in the years 1903-1905; connecting Oslo, Minn, and Ardoch. It was about four miles west of the Red River. When this village was being established, a group of railroad men met and decided on its name. Frank Nice and Joe Michalski suggested Poland and all agreed. In the early days, only one elevator was built; later three more were added. Fire destroyed all but one which is still standing and is privately owned, but not in use. Thomas Michalski was the last P. V. elevator manager. A general store was started by Andrew Hobbs, which was later sold to August Mesheski. Many years later he sold the store and moved. In the store there was also a telephone and mail service. Although each family had to pick up their own mail. Two families lived in the village, the August Mesheski family and the Cawldones. There was also a dance hall. Any music that was played was provided by local farmers who played the violin or accordion. Many benefit dances and basket socials were held forthe Red Cross benefits during World War I. Also, because most of the settlers were of Polish descent, benefit dances were held for financial aid for Poland, Europe so they could gain their freedom from German control.

BIOGRAPHIES TOUSANT BUSHAW Tousant Bushaw was born in Perth, Snow Road, Ont., Nov. 1, 1864. Bushaw is French, meaning "all Saints". November the first is a Holy Day, AU Saints Day. Therefore, he was baptized "Tousant". He emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1879. Tousant's father's name was Pascal. They settled in Walshville Township in 1879. Pascal died in 1888, hurt by

Family of Tousant Bushaw 1st: Isador, Joseph, Edward, Florence, Annamae, Aurelia. 2nd: Henry, William, Mr. and Mrs. Bushaw. 3rd: Florian and Leonard. their family and farming Mr. Bushaw was a township director, and a school board member. He bought grain at the Warsaw elevator from 1902 to 1905. The elevator was built on the Red River Bank in Walshville Township. The elevator was discontinued in 1912 as the steamboats stopped hauling grain. Tousant's greatest hobby was buying, selUng and trading. The game laws were not so strict before 1905. He would set a fish net straight across the Marais River. He'd load the fish into a light wagon starting out in the morning with horses to trade fish for what have you. Buying, selling and trading horses was his favorite hobby. He bought wild broncos in Montana and horses from Iowa, southern Minnesota and South Dakota. He also bought and sold scrap iron. The horses were shipped to Grand Forks by rail and herded 26 miles to the farm. In 1905 Tousant formed a partnership with Wm. Wosick. They built two new houses and moved into Oslo. They ran a saloon known as the Hamms. The upper floor was the first dance hall in Oslo. In 1907 Wm. and Tousant bought the First and Last Chance Saloon from Phil Osowski. The saloon was located on Highway No. 1, main street from the ferry to town. North Dakota people crossed the river on the ferry. Hence, the first chance coming and the last going out. Mr. Bushaw was one of the first school board

was a professional caller. Weddings and dancing parties were held mostly in homes. Bowerys were built and granaries were used for dancing. Mrs. Bushaw (Annie) died May 12, 1920. In 1922 Tousant married Mrs. Minnie Sheppard. He died Aug. 25, 1930.

members and was vice-president of the First State Bank of Oslo. In 1908 he bought 264 acres in Section 36, Walshville Township. A house and barn were built. Bushaw moved to North Dakota in 1910. Bushaw still had a share in the saloon. He was in partnership with Ole Hystad in the livery business.

Ed Bushaw, plowing with the 15-30—Rumley. Joe Bushaw—Flood of 1916. Section 36, Walshville Twp. Henry and Bill on raft. Leonard, Mother and Dad in boat. All Bushaws. ANDREW CZAPIEWSKI FAMILY Andrew Czapiewski and his wife, Clara Derdowski, came to the United States from Poland in 1881, accompanied by four small children, Teofila, Josephine, John, and Ferdinand. After waiting for immigration clearances, they stayed with friends in the state of New York. Hearing about territories being opened west of Chicago, they decided to go to Winona, Minn, by train. Here they stayed with relatives. Land was well settled there. In 1882 they decided to go to new opened territory in North Dakota. They came by train to Fisher and Grand Forks. They took the steamboat to Acton with other settlers. They settled and homesteaded in Pulaski Township. Needed items were purchased at an Acton Store. Later they were able to purchase an oxen team and wagon. Another daughter, Francis, was born in 1883. Clara died in 1885. In 1887 Andrew Czapiewski married Mary Czapieski, no relation, who immigrated to the United States in 1883 from Poland. In 1894 Andrew and Mary homesteaded in Walshville township. This was all wooded area except for a small clearing for a garden. Their house was a log house. Andrew died in 1911; Mary continued to live there until 1921, then moved to Grafton and died in 1933.

Ed Bushaw breaking sod 1915, Red River bank.

Joe E. Bushaw, threshing in the late 1800's.

Andre's son, Ferdinand, continued to live on this tract of land, acquiring more later. He married Joanna Ebertowski in 1907. Joanna came to this area from Poland on April 12,1889, when two years old. She was the daughter of Francis Ebertowski and Apolonia Gradowski who homesteaded in Walshville Township. She had three brothers, Alexander, Louie, and Frank, and one sister, Francis. All the land had to be cleared before anything could be planted. Horse and cart were all they had for transportation. Supplies and groceries were brought by steamboat until about the year 1911 to the Walshville Elevator where farmers from the community brought and shipped grain and ordered supplies to be brought from Grand Forks.

Ed Bushaw Farm, shocking grain. Quadrilles were a popular dance. Bushaws were invited to most weddings and dancing parties as Tousant 324

All were members of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Warsaw. Ferdinand and Joanna Czapiewski raised a family of eight children, Bill, Edward, Florence, Florian, Dominick, Aurelia, Henrietta, and Bernice.

While in Poland, Jacob Czapiewski served in the army during the Franco-Prussian War. Alozi married Stella Riski July 4, 1905 and took over his father's farm. In 1918, Alozi and Stella sold the farm to Joe Feltman and purchased a 400 acre farm in Walshville Township from John Hobbs. They had nine children: Helen, Florian, Julian, Alexander, Hilary, Adeline, Ernest, Harry and Leo. JuUan, Helen, and Leo are deceased. Alozi Czapiewski retired from farming in 1957, at which time three of his sons, Florian, Ernest and Harry took over the farming operation. The sons have now increased the farm to 1400 acres. Alozi Czapiewski died Jan. 22, 1958 at 77. His wife SteUa died Feb. 6, 1966 at 78.

Andrew and Mary Czapiewski

Ferdinand Czapiewski

Joanna Ebertowski Czapiewski

JACOB CZAPIEWSKI FAMILY Jacob Czapiewski and his wife Catherine (nee Warszinski) immigrated from the Danzig area in Poland to the United States in 1886. Their four children, one of whom was Alozi, then six, came with them. The family settled in Hulaski Township on a farm, which was school land they bought from the government. Mr. and Mrs. Czapiewski had twelve children, ten died before the age of seven. One daughter Mary Uved to 21. A daughter, Minnie, married Max Stoltman in 1916. She died in 1946 at 51. Mrs. Catherine Czapiewski died in May, 1943 at 94.

Alozi Czapiewski ALEXANDER DAUKSAVAGE Alexander Dauksavage was bom Feb. 23, 1896, on what now is the WUliam Kosmatka farm in WalshvUle Township. It is believed that John Dauksavage (Alexander's father) immigrated from Poland to Wisconsin, where he met and married Josephine Schriber. Later they moved to Dakota and settled in Walshville township. Thirteen children were born, Mary (deceased); Frank (deceased); Paul, residing near Warsaw; John (deceased); Joseph (deceased); TheofU (deceased); Alexander, Minto; Marguert, Argyle, Minn.; Barnabus (deceased); Frances, East Grand Forks, Minn.; Antoinette, (died from diptheria at an early age); Steven, Watersmeet, Mich., and Casmer, Ewen. Mich. John Dauksavage sold his farm in WalshvUle township and moved to Ardoch for a short time, then moved near the Red River on school land. They buUt a small home, which later on a cold winter day burned down. John and Josephine buUt another home, 14x20. Later they purchased another farm (presently owned by Eugene Dauksavage), along the banks of the Red River and the Horseshoe Lake. There they built another home and farm buUdings. Mr. Dauksavage helped many a farmer in the area He spoke English weU and served as translator for many. Son Paul Dauksavage recaUs the big flood of 1897. There wasn't any land to be seen for many miles. They didn't have water in their home, but you could see it through the floor. Alexander remembers, as a small boy, with his brother Joseph getting a ride on one of the steamboats down the Red River. Needless to say this was quite exciting for two young boys. The steamboats were the early settlers only hope for supplies. The steamboats whistles could be heard for mUes, people would rush to the river to see the steamboat come in.

Mr. and Mrs. John Dauksiewicz John Dauksavage died in Feb., 1911. His wife Josephine and the children continued to farm. Indians still could be seen in the area. Alexander remembers seeing the Indians canoeing on Horseshoe Lake, at that time connected to the Red River. The Indians did much hunting and fishing along the lake. In March, 1920, the banks of the Red River were again swollen, water spilled out for miles. Then a cold spell hit, the water froze, bringing the river to a halt. Some say the ice was one foot thick in places. An old Polish custom, called "switching" was brought to this country with the settlers. Easter Monday the women ofthe area would join together and take twigs and go "switching" the.men. Easter Tuesday, the men would go "switching" the women. Treats were always given as they went from farm to farm. In 1920 "switching" had its problems. They had difficulty as roads and fields were icy. As spring progressed the ice began to melt, taking fences, machinery, and on the Frank Dauksavage farm, a granary and moved it on to the river road. ,_. In October, 1929, Josephine died. John and Josephine are buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery at Warsaw. On November 14, 1927, Alexander Dauksavage married Rose Knapkeiwicz, (foster child of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Kosecki) at St. Stanislaus Church in Warsaw. They made their home in Pulaski township. The land had to be cleared and the home and farm buildings erected. It was a lot of hardship with clearing the land, the drought and depression of the 30's. In 1935 the crops were bumper, only to be lost to "black rust". The farmers had to burn their standing crops. In 1936 sleeping sickness struck, with many losing some or all of thenhorses, forcing many to buy tractors. Four children were born to Alexander and Rose, Leona (Mrs. Florian Czapiewski), Rose Mary (Mrs. Don Schumacher), Eugene and Ernest. Alexander and Rose retired in 1964 and now reside in Minto. Son Ernest now owns and operates the farm. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dauksavage and Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Dauksavage. FRANK AND ANNA DAUKSAVAGE Frank Dauksavage was bom July 29, 1887, to John and Josephine Dauksavage. Frank was the second of 11 children to be included in the Dauksavage clan. As young Frank grew, he attended Walshville County School and assisted his parents on the farm. When Frank reached his early twenties, he courted a young neighborhood girl (named Anna Grabanski. Anna, one of 12

children, was bom to John and Josephine Grabanski. Frank and Anna exchanged wedding vows July 15, 1912, at St. Stanislaus Church, Warsaw. Soon after, the young couple moved to a farm in Walshville where Frank farmed, raised cattle, trained horses, and cut and sold wood. Anna raised turkeys, geese, and ducks, cooked, cleaned, and entertained. It was well known to many that Anna was an excellent cook and to add to her talents, she had a green thumb, turning their yard into a place of beauty. In spite of her busy lifestyle, Frank and Anna also added to their duties, the role of father and mother. Five children were born, Delphine, Sarah, Earl, Leona, and Gerald. Earl died when one year of age, during the flu epidemic in 1917. Frank and Anna resided on the farm until their retirement in 1962, when they moved to Oslo, Minn. Frank worked part time at the Farmers Union Co. in Oslo until his death Aug. 3, 1964. After his death, Anna remained in Oslo, later moving to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in East Grand Forks, Minn, where she still resides.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dauksavage GEORGE ALBERT DEAN FAMILY George Albert Dean came from Eastern Canada in May, 1879. He came from east of Toronto to get away from stones and stumps. The Dean's antecedents were Tories who migrated to Canada from the Tidewater Area of Virginia to avoid becoming involved in the Revolutionary War. He made an application for citizenship to establish a claim to a homestead and tree claim in Ardoch, about 25 miles north of Grand Forks, and about 5 miles west of the Red River and about the same distance from Ardoch. A sod shanty was built on the homestead for temporary shelter for his wife who came in November, 1879. Her ticket was bought to Fisher's Landing, where the train line ended. She came with a baby four months old and two other children. The next day there was a snow storm, snow came in on the beds. Father cut cordwood for James Earl on the banks of the Red River at 35 cents per cord. This was cut, split, and piled. He would drive his team and wagon to Grand Forks for groceries. This would take a couple of days. At night on this trip, he would sleep under the wagon. The following winter he traded a team of oxen and a shot gun for 40 acres of timber land and arranged with a storekeeper in Minto to take two loads of cordwood daily

until the timber was stripped. Father would chop the two loads of cordwood, put on his yellow dogskin overcoat, climb on the load of cordwood, his face fringed with icicles with Frank or Albert driving the other team to deliver the cordwood. The round trip was about 20 miles. Tom, Jack, and Alt used the breaking plow in the Adams pasture with Star and Stripe, their other team of oxen; the last oxen I remember. In the summer of 1887 the new house on the original tree claim was built just across the section line from our original prairie mansion. It was on the edge of a pond that separated the two houses. Dad was willing to spend energy and money to make more money. He went from cradle to binders, from scythe to mowing machine to hay rake. The flail gave way to sweep power (three or four teams each hitched to a long arm) and then to the separator. This gave way to power by stationary steam engine. The threshing season lasted or varied from 30 to 50 days, moving from farm to farm. In March, 1893, the Deans moved to Minto so that the five younger children might have the benefit of public school. They lived two blocks from the school. There was a barn that sheltered the team and a woodshed that served the purpose for paddling. There was a migration of old residents to Pamona, Calif. and Father acquired the Kidder home in the center of a six lot plot with beautiful sheltering elms and a garden. Father Considine, the Catholic Priest, was a wonderful neighbor with a big Newfoundland dog, not so loveable. Dr. Evans Uved beyond. Brother John was able to register at the University of North Dakota for the winter term in mechanical engineering. He came home for Easter vacation, but we feared that he spent too many hours in a leaky boat on the spring flooded water. About two weeks later, he died at the University of pneumonia. That was 1902. The last home in Minto that the Deans lived in is now owned by Hilary Shoults. The members of the Dean family were Albert, Frank, WiUiam, Thomas (Tom), Bertha, Daisy, Jack, Alfred, Mabel, and Fred. The only one of the family Uving is Daisy (Daisy Dean Christie Fisher). She is 95. Daisy was four months old when she came from Canada. Dr. Atfred Dean died June 6,1974 in Iron Mountain Rest Home. He was 91.

homesteaded and filed claim in WalshviUe Township near Oslo, Minn, and there he grew up with his famUy, married Martha Stoltman, daughter of John Stoltman and Johanna Peikerski Feb. 13, 1906. She came to America when she was 3, born in Vosowie, Poland Nov. 5, 1888. The Stoltmans filed on land in Pulaski Township. Joseph and Martha lived aU their lives on the fertile banks of the Red River in Pulaski Township where they farmed with horses and hand tools. They battled many tragedies, fire, floods and the death of 2 sons while raising their family of 18 chUdren, 11 girls and 7 boys. Sixteen are living at the present time, scattered all over the U. S. One son, Joseph Jr. died at 6 months. Max got injured by a falling tree while cutting timber for lumber and firewood. He died 5 days later in 1951. He was 25. He was the youngest of the boys and Uved with his parents. In World War II, 4 of the sons served in the U. S. Army. All were in battles overseas in dtfferent parts of Germany, France, Japan and Africa. In France, Syl learned that Steve was stationed close by, through the help of the Red Cross they met with joy. Hilary and John were the other 2 in the service. Joseph served on the school board and other offices. He was a member of the St. Stanislaus CathoUc Church of Warsaw, built in 1900. He helped build it. Martha is living in Warsaw. She moved there shortly after Joe's death Feb. 11, 1958. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1956 on the farm where they Uved aU their Uves. In 1975 there are 16 living chUdren, 62 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren and 2 great great grandchUdren. The youngest of the Uving sons, Theodore is on the home farm. In 1973, when Martha was 85, a party was held in honor of her birthday with a family reunion at which 14 of the children were present. Grandchildren and great grandchildren were flying and driving in from aU over the U. S. to honor her.

JOSEPH EBERTOWSKI, JR., FAMILY

Mrs. Joe Ebertowski—85th

Joe Ebertowski Family Photographed on the death of Max Ebertowski (inset). Joseph Ebertowski, Jr., son of Joseph Ebertowski, Sr. and Kathryn Duray, was bom in Lublin, Poland on Feb. 28, 1878. In 1889, he immigrated to America with his famUy. One sister, Micheallena died before they came here. He remembered some of his voyage across the big blue ocean. He was one of 3 boys and 7 girls. They

Birthday

JOSEPH EBERTOWSKI FAMILY Joseph Ebertowski and his wife Katherine Duray, whom he married in Poland, accompanied by 10 of thenchildren, immigrated to America in the year 1889. They came by train to Ardoch and settled in WalshvUle Township. They bought 160 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Ebertowski were the parents of 13 children, 9 daughters and 4 sons, Minnie, Rose, Johanna, Mary, Frank, Frances, Rigna, Joseph, SteUa, Veronica,

John and Katherine. One child died in infancy. Two of their daughters, Rose (Mrs. Lawrence Kosecki) and Minnie were married in Poland. In 1893 Rose Kosecki, came to America, and settled in Pulaski Township. Ebertowski, a Catholic, was active in township and church affairs and held various offices, one of which was director of School District 86. Mr. Ebertowski's wife died in 1919. The homestead was passed to his son John, who lived on the place until his death in 1961. He married Martha Pickarski in 1910. They had two sons and five daughters, Stanley, Rose, Verna, Katherine, Pheabe, John Jr., and Leona. The homestead is still in the Ebertowski family, going from John Ebertowski Sr. to his sons Stanley and John Jr.

parents, Valentine and Marian (Kukowski) Gerszewski, and his brothers and sister in Poland. They came about 1888 when their youngest son, Alex, was 2. The complete family was here; John (the oldest), Vincent, Joseph, Julian, Jacob, Alex, Elizabeth (Blawat), Lucy (Bruski), and Mary (Skykownsy). It is believed that Leo Blawat and Joseph Bruski also came with this group, and perhaps Andrew Rapacz, whose sister, Justine, then 16, came with them. John Gerszewski and Justine Rapacz were married Jan. 10,1893. Justine had come from the area of Tarnow and Rabka, Poland. John's father, Valentine, and family settled in Ardoch Township. John and Justine settled closer to the Red River in Walshville Township, where with his brother Vincent, now also married, they started farming. After borrowing $100, John bought horses, the necessary implements and rented 80 acres. Later he bought a tree claim and more land. He farmed until his death in 1920 at 53. He left his widow Justine, with three daughters and five sons. They were Elizabeth (Paschke), Joseph, Johanna (Paschke), Phillip, Kathryn (Mahaffey), Ignatius, Peter, and Frank, who was 9 when his father died. John, in his short life, probably never did anything spectacular but he won the respect of his neighbors, often being called, even in the night, to help with a sick cow or horse. Justine lived to 84. John's father, Valentine, had four brothers who came earUer to this area, settled, and raised famiUes. They were Anton, Joseph, John, and WiUiam who returned to Poland as his wife stayed there.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ebertowski, Sr. GEORGE FERGUSON George Ferguson came from Renfrew, Ont. in 1877 and homesteaded at the present Irene Jones farm. The -fall of that year he returned with a bride. During the winter they had a log cabin home near the Jim Campbell present farm. The shelter of the woods protected them from winter storms and in the spring they moved back to the homestead. In winter George Ferguson and Jim Maxwell went to Fisher's Landing and cut cordwood for 25 cents a cord. Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Maxwell told of being afraid of Indians as they traveled the Murray River in canoes and often stopped to ask for food and tobacco. Mrs. Ferguson's view of the country was said in these words, "The best man in the world wouldn't have gotten her to come to this country again." They lived until 1891 on their homestead and then bought land and built the present Joe Michalski farm and moved there. In later years, they made their home in Oslo and on their farm by the Murray River. Mr. Ferguson died in 1934 at 80. Mrs. Ferguson died in Dec., 1950 at 92. JOHN GERSZEWSKI FAMILY My father, John Gerszewski, was born in (Brusy) Czapiewice, Poland Jan. 26, 1867. He came to Walsh County in 1884 to the Ardoch area. He was 17 when he came. He became a citizen of the U. S. when he was 25. He worked around this area and in western North Dakota where he homesteaded. He later abandoned his homestead because of severe drought. He then worked on the railroad for a while. After being here about 4 years he sent for his

John Gerszewski Family (1867-1920) Front row, sitting: John, Ignatius, Peter, Justine and Frank. Back row: Kathryn, Joseph, Phillip, Elizabeth and Johanna. FRANK GERSZEWSKI FAMILY Frank Gerszewski, son of Pawel and Mary Gierszewski and a grandson of Tomasz Gersaewski and Regina Aygmanski was born in Czersk, Poland Aug. 9, 1878. He was a nephew of all the pioneer Gerszewskis at Warsaw. One of 10 children, his mother died when he was 14, and he had to deliver papers, worked in a bakery and took other odd jobs which were often hazardous. On one of these he feU from a steeple and was unconscious for a long time. After recovery, while still weak he learned to play the violin, piano and accordion, loved to sing. As a young man he worked on the roads with his father, crushing rock and stone and smoothing rock surface. On invitation by his uncle, John Gerszewski, he came to the United States by boat. On this voyage he entertained the passengers with music and singing, arriving at his farmstead near Warsaw in 1900. While

here he learned the painting and decorating trade and painted many houses in the Warsaw area. On Nov. 23, 1908 he married Margaret Schults, an adopted daughter of John Gerszewskis. She was born July 10, 1888, on a farm southwest of Warsaw. A few years after marriage he built a home in Grand Forks where work in his trade was more plentiful. He went into semi-retirement, but continued work on odd jobs. When he was unable to work, they sold their house and retired to the Lutheran Memorial Home in Mayville. Throughout his whole life his only means of transportation was a bicycle, which is well preserved and cherished by his daughter, Mary, in Grafton. Frank died at the Lutheran Memorial Home Jan. 1, 1973 at 94. He is buried in the St. Michael's Cemetery in Grand Forks. His wife, Margaret, is in good health. On July 10, 1975, she was 87. She resides in the Lutheran Memorial Home in Mayville. Margaret, born Sept. 22, 1909, lives in Grand Forks. Mary born Feb. 2, 1912, lives in Grafton. They have 2 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hart and son, John—J887.

Robert Hart Saw Mill—1899

Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Gerszewski—1908 FRANK GOWAN FAMILY Frank Gowan was born in Ontario in 1859. Around 1883 Frank began to farm in Walsh County. He married Clara Bushaw in 1885. They had three sons, Ed, Ira, and Roy; one daughter, Mary. Frank was one of the farmers who built the Episcopal Church in Walsh County. The church is still there, sold to Walshville Township to be used for a townhall. Frank died May 2, 1896.

Robert Hart Farmstead William Hart, unknown, Robert Hart, William Tillett, Mrs. Robert Hart, Mabel Hart. Children: Earl Tillette and Alice Hart.

WILLIAM GOWAN FAMILY William Gowan arrived in the fall of 1878. He married Maria Newall. Children were Eliza, James, Dave, Tommy, and Mabel. They homesteaded in Walshville township, Walsh county. They lived in a log house. He was a member of Walshville School District No. 19 for a time. They moved to California. He died many years ago. ROBERT HART Robert Hart was born near Edinburgh, Scotland in 1866. His parents came as immigrants to Canada. Coming over on a sail ship with him and his parents were two sisters, Elizabeth and Ellen, and one brother, John. While living in Canada one sister, Jennie and three brothers, Thomas, Angus and Archie joined the family. His father operated a blacksmith shop there. The Hart famUy all moved to the United States and settled in eastern North Dakota. While the family lived in Manvel, a sister, Janet and a brother, James were born.

Robert Hart with wheat treating machine he invented. In 1884, when Robert became of age, he took homestead on a farm in what is now Walshville Township and Uved on this farm until the last years of his life, when he moved to Oslo, Minn. His brother, John, homesteaded on an adjoining quarter. Robert married Lena Jarbo in 1886. Ten children

purchase better and cheaper land. April 5, 1891 he married Matilda Jenkins. Four children were born, Ebert, Harmon, Beri, and Ina Jones Docken. The land was mainly prairie land with woods along the river. The nearest shopping center was Ardoch, 9 miles west. The means of transportation was by horse and wagon. Mail was received once a week. Later delivery was by Star Route from Ardoch There were close neighbors along the river and there were bad and good years. Mr. Jones had a part in the affairs of southeastern Walsh County over a period of 50 years. He was clerk of Walshville Township for many years and also served as assessor. For 35 years he was clerk of School District No. 19. He gave liberally of his time and money to St. Luke's Episcopal Church. When the church was buUt in 1892 he donated the land where the structure stands. He was a trustee of the church from the time it was established until the time of his death. He died Feb. 6, 1938 at 76. MatUda Jones died Nov. 11, 1953, at 81. FRANK LIZAKOWSKI, SR. Frank Lizakowski, Sr., was born in Posnen, Poland in 1834 and his wife, Marian Chyrek was born in 1852 in the same city. They emigrated to America in 1869, first stopped at Lady Smith, Wise. They moved to Rush Lake, Minn, and Uved there two years. From there they moved to St. Joseph, Minn, where hebuUt and operated a water powered grist mill for several years.

were born, John, Mary, William, Edith, Mabel, Thomas, Gilbert, Leslie, EUen, and AUce. He also lived to see 11 grandchildren. Robert's wife, Lena, died in 1922. He would teU about a big snow storm that completely covered their little house. They had to shovel the snow into the house before they could get out. Robert was a man of great ingenuity and, like his father was a blacksmith, made many of the tools he had to work with. He had his own blacksmith shop on the farm. ,. Early in Ufe he made the use of power to run different machinery. Robert ran a saw miU near the Red River in the year 1898 where he did custom sawing ot lumber. f

JOHN JAMIESON Mr. and Mrs. John Jamieson were among the first settlers in this community. They came from EganvUle, Ont., in the spring of 1880. They came by train to Fisher's Landing, and homesteaded in WalshvUle township. The land was covered with timber, so it had to be cleared off by hand for cultivation. They endured many trials and hardships due to the cold stormy winters, floods and wet summers. Their first house was made from logs. There were no roads, just trails and their only means of transportation was by team and wagon. The nearest shopping center was about 35 mUes away. They received mail about once a week. Their fuel was the wood cut by hand. They had a famUy of nine children, 4 boys and 5 girls. Mr. Jamieson farmed in Walshville Township until his death Sept. 20, 1920, at 68. Mrs. Jamieson died Sept. 17, 1946, at 88. They both attended the Presbyterian church. Three sons and one daughter are deceased. ROBERT H. JONES Robert H. Jones was bom July 18, 1861 in Smith Falls, Ont. He grew to manhood in Canada and came to the United States in 1884, settling first in Park River where he Uved for four years.

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Robert Jones Family Home Standing: Robert, Ina, Matilda. Sitting: Harmon, Ben and Ebert. In the spring of 1888 he came to WalshvUle township. He purchased a 160 acre farm from Gus WilUams and at a later date purchased the remainder of his farm where he Uved until his death. Reason for coming here was to

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On hearing of an opening of land for settUng in North Dakota he sold his mill and came to North Dakota with his family in a covered wagon driven by an ox team in 1877 and filed homestead claims in section 7 in WalshvUle Township. Here he built a log cabin which still stands on that property. Later he built a big log house and other 330

farm buildings, all from oak trees on the south bank of the Forest River. Besides farming, he was interested in woodcrafts. He built the altar at the first St. Stanislaus Church in 1884. He also erected a crucifix at the cemetery site and hand crafted several violins. They had 13 children, Joseph, John, Clement, Frank J., Vincent, Peter, Bernard, Elizabeth (Rudnik), Julia (Gerszewski), Frances, Valarian, Paul, and Martin, all deceased. Mr. Lizakowski died Dec. 16, 1908. His wife died March 10, 1922. JIM M A X W E L L F A M I L Y Mr. Maxwell arrived during the fall of 1878 and Mrs. Maxwell in the spring of 1879. They filed a homestead in Walshville Township where they built a log house. Children are Alex, Mary, Sarah, Lizzie and Jimmie. Mrs. Maxwell died in 1887. Mr. Maxwell died in 1916. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Maxwell later married Mrs. Bradford. ANDREW M E L V I L L E Andrew Melville came from Lenard, Ont. to Fisher's Landing in 1878 and homesteaded one and one half miles from Oslo in Walsh county. In 1882 he married Ellen Newell. To this union ten children were born; five of whom are Uving. Their first home was buUt of logs. This home is stiU in use. A son, Dewey MelvUle, now operates the farm. Early life was much Uke that of other pioneers. Grain was shipped by boat and cordwood was hauled by horses. Most of the food was provided on the farm, clothing was sewed by hand, and shoes provided by a traveling cobbler. JOSEPH MICHALSKI Joseph Michalski arrived in America in 1866 from the German-PoUsh Une when he was six years old. He made his home with M r . and Mrs. Bazie (relatives) in Michigan City, Ind. He worked at various jobs, Uke logging, and traveled a lot. He came to Ardoch where he worked as a section foreman on the Great Northern Railroad, from Ardoch to the Canadian border. He met Annie Narlock at Warsaw. She came from Poland. She was born in July 1869 and came with her parents, M r . and Mrs. Andrew Narlock. Her father, Andrew, bought and paid fares for three famiUes to America. Annie and Joseph were married in Ardoch in 1890, and farmed around in this vicinity up to the time when the Soo Railroad was built from Thief River Falls, Minn, westward. Mr. Michalski again got the urge to be back on the raUroad and in 1906 moved to Oslo where he became section foreman. He lived in Oslo four years. In 1907 their only daughter was born during the flood on April 11. The doctor tied his boat to the front door. LilUan, the girl born, got the nickname "High Water' Lily" as the train people used to call her. During farming, he lost crops by hail and drought several times. In 1910 he bought a farm near Oslo where again he lost the first crop due to a hot and dry spring. He lived on this farm until his death in March, 1943 at 83. Mrs. Michalski died Dec. 9, 1936, at 67. They had 10 sons and one daughter: Theodore, Frank Stanley, Edward, Thomas, Leo", Alex, Harry, Walter, Joseph, and LilUan. Theodore, Frank, Stanley, Edward,

Alex and Lillian are now deceased. As Michalski had no brothers or sisters, his prayer was that God would give him lots of sons. His prayer was granted. JACOB AND DOMINIKA MOGA F A M I L Y Jacob Moga was born July 14, 1869 in Pine Creek, Wise. His father, Martin Moga, was born May 3, 1828 in Czoronus, Poland, and his mother, Martin's wife, Lucia Kloskaoska, was born in Poland in 1842, Martin left Wisconsin and farmed east of Warsaw. He died AprU 6, 1911 and is buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw. His wife, Lucia, died in 1910 and is buried in Wisconsin. Jacob farmed with his father untU 1898. July 14,1894, he married Dominika Narloch, daughter of Frank and Mary Narloch. The priest who married them was Father Wawrzykowski. Dominika was born Aug. 4, 1877, near Dodge, Wise. In 1898, they moved into Minto and for 10 years operated a General Merchandise Store known as " J . J. Moga General Merchandise." In 1908 they moved the family to Scranton after selUng his property. He builf a general store there and pioneer customers came for mUes to shop. While the famUy was on the homestead, Jacob either walked or rode a bicycle the 7 miles every day between farm and store until living quarters were buUt in town. Jacob was a farmer at heart. After his death March 1, 1925, his wife rented out the land. In those days the store was open for business all day until midnight, also Sundays. Dominika sold the property and moved back to Minto to be near her children Daniel and Isabelle. She died in August, 1966. Jacob and Dominika had 7 chUdren, Stephen and Frank, Walter, Daniel, Mary, Isabelle, and twin boys, Eugene and Gordon. Stephen and Frank died in infancy and are buried at Warsaw. Walter born Sept. 14, 1899 died in 1964. He was nine when his parents moved to Scranton. He attended business college in Fargo and was a bookkeeper at the Bank of Scranton. Later he operated the Trail Garage. He married Margaret Wichmann. They moved to CaUfornia and operated a grocery store in Sacramento. Daniel bom in Minto April 20, 1904, graduated from Dickinson High School at 16, attended Teachers College for 6 weeks and was granted a special permission to teach a one room country school. He attended the U . of Minn, until his fathers death, then accepted a position as cashier in the Bank of Scranton. In 1933 he accepted a position with Universal Credit Corporation in Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. ln 1924 he moved to Minto and became vice president of the Bank of Minto and was elected Mayor of Minto. During his years as mayor, he was instrumental in getting city water and sewage installed, new street Ughting and park improvements for the city of Minto. His wife, Mary Isabelle O'Brian, of Renville, Minn., also worked in the Bank of Minto for several years and at Grafton's Credit Bureau. She died in CaUfornia in 1973 following heart surgery. Three sons survive, Daniel, Arthur, Thomas, a lawyer in CaUfornia, and Patrick an accountant, in Myles. Jacob and Dominika's only daughter, Mary Isabelle was the first child bom in Scranton, Sept. 30, 1908. She married Louis Wisnewski, Minto Banker in 1938. She is a graduate of the Mac Phail CoUege of Music and while

Alexander, and two sisters, Mrs. Lucy (Joe) Bruski and Mrs. Elizabeth (Frank) Blawat. The Gerszewski family came to America in 1889. As a young girl she worked for farm famUies and at the Windsor Hotel run by Mr. and Mrs. James Corcoran at Ardoch. Frank Nice and Mary Gerszewski were married at St Stanislaus Church in Warsaw in 1897. They were parents of 10 children, Josephine (Mrs Harry Slominski), Alexander, Waclaw (died during the 1918 flu epidemic), Anna (died in infancy), Wanda (died in infancy), Lucy (Mrs. Anthony Korynta died in 1969), Frances (Mrs. Phillip Narloch), John and Joseph (twins), and Barbara (died in infancy). Mary was always yearning to settle on a farm; so in 1903 they bought their first farm, located one mUe north of Poland, N. D. After a year of farming they rented the land and Frank went back to his job on the railroad. A couple of years later he started farming again. He bought another farm across the road from his first farm, from Ed LaTrace; a Canadian who longed to go back to his country He continued farming until his death in 1919. Mary died in 1941. JOSEPH OSOWSKI Joe Osowski, pioneer of Walsh County in the Warsaw area, met Rose Slominski in Milwaukee and married her. Both were new arrivals from Poland. They were the parents of eight children; Frank, John, Rose, Anna, Leo, Mary, Carl, and Anthony. Frank remained a bachelor and settled on land in Minnesota. He tried homesteading near Roseau with his sister Anna but returned to the area near Stephen, Minn. John married Helen Mager and farmed near Oslo, Minn., and raised a family of nine: Rose (Kosmatka), Harry, Henry, Joe, Theodore, John, Mary (Rivard), Leo, and Frank, Mother Helen died while Frank was born and Grandmother Mager and Rose raised the family. Rose was married to Stanley Danielski. They raised a family of six children, Marie (Curran), Chester, Richard, Adrian, Dorothy, and Stanley, Jr. Anna married Arthur Davison and Uved in the Minnesota area near Oslo and were the parents of three children, Joseph, Harry, and Rose (Benson). Anna died during the flu epidemic. Rose was an infant at the time. Leo died as a teenager of acute appendicitis caUed in the Polish language, zapolony Msky or infection of intestines. Mary married John Ginter. They farmed in the Minnesota area around Stephen and Drayton. They had four children, Shalome, Winslow, Gertrude (Kuzma) and Richard. The children were fatherless when quite young because a nervous horse kicked John and he died. Brother Frank moved in with the Ginter family to help with raising the children. Carl married Florence Bushaw of Oslo. They had four children, Earl, Evelyn (Altendorf), Florence (Rubin) and Edward. On a clear day in July, Carl decided to finish a little plowing and a smaU cloud came along. The Ughtning from it struck him dead. The children were all very young to be fatherless and Mother Florence remarried and a few years later died leaving a family of orphans. Anthony, the youngest of this pioneer couple, was a second grader when his father died of pneumonia. He

attending school in MinneapoUs played piano at several theaters, and also played drums with the "Twin City Melody Maids" all girl dance orchestra. After graduation she taught piano in Scranton, Hettinger, Reeder, Rhame and Gascoyne, directed the Scranton Band and had a 7 piece dance orchestra "Isabelle's". FRANK SZYKOWNY NICE FAMILY Frank Szykowny was born in Poznan, Poland, in 1867 His parents were Valentine Szykowny and Josephine Sobcoh. He came to America; landed at Pittsburgh Pa. about 1884. He was one of a family of six children. He left the old country at 17. If he had stayed in Poland; in another year he would have had to spend six to eight years in the German army. He had no friends or relatives, so he moved from place to place on foot, doing aU kinds of jobs. Most of his time was spent in lumbering camps in Minnesota. He came to Minto where he got a job on the Great Northern RaUroad as section boss. Later he was transferred to Bemidji, Minn., Libby and Kutny Falls, Mont. His last transfer and where he spent the rest of his Ufe was in Ardoch. It was at this time that his boss suggested to him that he change his last name to Nice, due to the fact that it was difficult for the men working under him to pronounce the name Szykowny. From then on he was known as Frank Nice.

Frank and Mary Nice While at Minto he met Mary Gerszewski. Mary was born in Gorzkowa, Poland in 1878; into the famUy of Valentine Gerszewski and Mary Kukowski. She had six brothers, Vincent, John, Joe, Jacob, Julian, and 332

dropped out of school because of poverty. When he grew up he married Anna Chelmosky. They raised a family of seven, Henrietta (Kerian), Chester, Edwin, Joseph, Leonard, Richard and Bernard. Leonard died at 7 of acute appendicitis. Edwin died as a result of an auto accident. Grandmother Osowski lived a life of sorrow. First her husband, two sons, a daughter, and a son-in-law leaving her in death. The poverty was extreme. She related how her teeth ached so badly until they came out by themselves. There was no dental service for her as was the case for many old timers. She thoroughly enjoyed the things her children accomplished. A ride in a car was a real pleasure for her. ELIZABETH GERSZEWSKI P A S C H K E F A M I L Y Elizabeth Gerszewski Paschke was the daughter of John Gerszewski and Justine Rapacz. John was born on Jan. 26, 1867 and died Jan. 31, 1920. Justine was born April 6, 1873 and died Feb. 5, 1957. Elizabeth's brothers and sisters were Cecelia, Joseph, Johanna, Philip, Katherine, Ignatius, Peter and Frank Gerszewski. Elizabeth married Isadore Paschke at Warsaw, Nov. 24, 1915. ISADORE PASCHKE F A M I L Y Isadore Paschke was born on his father's homestead near Ardoch April 4,1887. He was of Polish descent. John Paschke and Julianna Jezewski were his parents. His mother had been born in Berlin, Germany, in 1868. She came with her brother to America to join her parents who had come two years before. She Uved in Chicago and experienced the great fire in 1871. She went with her family to Winona, Minn. There she married John Paschke Jan. 27, 1873. From Winona they went to a farm at Appleton, Minn. Isadore's father, John Paschke, was born in Essen, Germany and came to the U. S. in 1864. He lived for a time in Chicago and then had abeer tavern in Winona, Minn. He came to Walsh County and settled near Ardoch in 1881. Isadore Paschke completed 5th grade in a country school, District 11. The building still stands. He became a farmer. He was an active Catholic. He served as a member of the school board. He was interested in woodworking and carpentry. He also provided a service to the community by sharpening saws and scissors. Isadore Paschke married EUzabeth Gerszewski in Warsaw Nov. 24,1915. They had no children. They moved to WalshviUe Township after their marriage and lived there for 45 years before retiring to Warsaw. Isadore is deceased and is buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw.

Minn., Peter of Mora, Minn., and Paul of Wolverton, Minn. Mrs. Paschke died June 26, 1912. July 1, 1913, Mr. Paschke married Francis Gonsorowski, herself a widow who had the following children; Louis and Henry who are deceased, Miss Lucy Gonsorowski of East Grand Forks, Minn., Mrs. Mike (Sophie) Zola of Oslo and Mrs. Henry (Hattie) Bushaw of Thief River Falls, Minn. Mrs. William (Tressa) Bushaw of Tome, N. Dak., and John of MinneapoUs. Joseph, Jr. and Bernard are deceased. Joseph Paschke was a member of the Oslo Elevator Board and was on the WalshvUle Township Board for many years. He died Oct. 23,1937 and wife Francis died Oct. 8, 1954. F R A N K RESKI Frank Reski was born Oct. 8, 1878 in Winona, Minn. He came to Warsaw to take up a homestead with his father and family. Nov. 22, 1900 he married Stella Lizakowski. In 1904, Frank, his wife Stella and two chUdren moved to Oslo, Minn, to go into business with F . P. Adamski in a general merchandise store. The store was known as the Red Front Store. Here he raised his family of six children. Mr. Reski was an active citizen. He loved his town and its people. He helped raise money to build the first CathoUc church, then a mission at Warren. He was a trustee until his death. He was a fireman and its chief for many years until retirement when he was honored with a ruby ring. He served on the school board for years. This was a great honor. He never had the opportunity to attend school when a young boy. He never turned any one away who needed help, whether he knew him or not. He was fair and just in his dealings with everyone. He was trusted by old and young alike and trusted each in return. Mr. Reski died Dec. 6, 1949. He was buried from St. Joseph's CathoUc Church Dec. 9, 1949. JOSEPH SLOMINSKI F A M I L Y

JOSEPH PASCHKE F A M I L Y Joseph S. Paschke, known as Red River Joe Paschke, was born March 14,1869, in the German part of Poland. He was the son of Michael and Catharine (Weira) Paschke. He came to the United States about 1886 and worked for farmers before starting to farm in Acton Township. He moved to WalshviUe Township on the banks of the Red River in the fall of 1899. He married Rosella Morczynski Nov. 2,1893. She was born Sept. 24,1869 and came to Ardoch about 1890. Their children were; Mrs. Alex (SteUa) Gerszewski, of Argyle, Frakkof, Oslo, Mrs. Susie Michalski, Argyle, Steve, East Grand Forks, Mrs. E . M . (Barbara) Saari of Mt. Iron,

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Slominski Joseph Slominski who lived to be 94, was born July 30, 1854 in Lubon Conitz, the German part of Poland. Conitz means, "at the end of the city", and in this case it was the suburb of Poznan. He was born of PoUsh parents and that was the language they spoke, yet public schools were aU German. So he learned to read, write and use German language fluently. It was compulsory for every able man to serve in the German army. During his service his job was training new recruits. The Germans were very strict in their disciphne. Anyone disobeying an order was

severely punished. Slominski was happy to leave the service as well as the country. He immigrated to the United States in 1879 and for a few months Uved in Winona, Minn. This was a mixed settlement with Polish people residing there. He learned to speak English fairly well through these people. But Winona was overcrowded and common work was hard to fand

The same year he and nine other men moved on to the Dakota Territory and immediately got a Job on the Bonanza Farm working for Grandin brothers near MayvUle. The laborers were treated well. They were paid $15 to $18 a month, including board and lodging^ During harvest it was somewhat more. The food wa excellent; energy giving, high protem vanetes^of ineat and beans and even cakes and puddings were ori the menu. Lodging barracks were designed o sleep 50 men . Many of the men were sincere workers who saved their money and Slominski was one of them. He saved enough money to go-homesteading on his owm April 19 1881 he filed with the Receivers Office of Grand Forks Colnty, Dakota Territory and paid in fuU $186.00 for 160 acres in WalshviUe Township. . In the same position as other homesteaders in the vicinity, there were no buildings, so the neighbors pooled their labor, skiU and resources and started putting up oak log buildings. They finished a house, barn and granary and then planted farmstead windbreaks. After all this was accomplished he was ready for the major responsibility of matrimony. In 1885 he returned to Winona, married Frances Moga and brought her to his farm. They had 10 happy years together. She died in 1895 of acute appendicitis at 29 Thev were the parents of four sons and two daughters, Barney, Jacob, WiUiam, Rev. Francis Mrs. Ignatz (Anna) Duray and Mrs. Anton (Margaret) Mozinski. He later married Kathryn Narloch who also preceded him in dea.th Slominski, both of his wives, and three sons Barney, WiUiam, and Rev. Francis, are buried in St Stanislaus Cemetery Warsaw. This original homestead has been in the Slominski family for three generations. New buildings were erected, yet, at this date, three of the original log buildings remain. Hopefully the log house will be preserved. REV. FRANCIS J. SLOMINSKI Father Slominski, son of the late Mr. and Mrs Joseph Slominski, Warsaw, was born on June 6,1890, at Warsaw. He attended grade school there and then attended schools at Grand Forks. He completed his classical course at Franciscan CoUege at Pulaski, Wise, after which he studied philosophy at Richardton Abbey College in North Dakota. From there he went to St. Paul Seminary, Minn., to continue his theological studies. Upon graduation from St. Paul Seminary he was ordained to the priesthood in St. Mary's Cathedral at Fargo by the late Bishop O'ReiUy June 3, 1918. He was appointed as an assistant pastor of the Cathedral immediately foUowing his ordination. He also served as pastor of the St. Anthony's Church at Napoleon Sacred Heart Church at Minto, St.'s Peter and Paul Church of Cayuga, and St. Anthony Church at Mooreton. The highlight of his pastorate at Mooreton was dedication of the new parish church held June 6,1957. In January 1965, Father Slominski took up his residence at

the Holy Family Guest Home and Hospital at Carrington, where he served as chaplain. Father Slominski died July 13 1967 A concelebrated funeral mass was said with the Most Rev. Leo F. Dworschak of the Diocese of Fargo as the principal celebrant. Burial was in the St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Warsaw. Father Slominski was a brother ot Jacob, Barney, William, Mrs. Anton (Margaret) Mozinski and Mrs. Ignatz (Anna) Duray.

Rev. F. J. Slominski PETE STOUGHTON An adventurous spirit and hopes of finding better land brought Mr. Stoughton from eastern Ontario to his homestead three fourths mile west of Oslo m 1875 Hewing logs and building a home was his first task. This completed, his wife and six children joined him a year later. Four more children were born here. The early pioneer days were fuU of work, some hardship and pleasure. First shopping trips were made to Grand Forks on foot. Later horses were used After Ardoch was buUt shopping was done there, untU Oslo came into existence in 1905. A large stock and grain farm provided plenty of work but there was also time for recreation. Hunting and fishing trips of four or five days duration were made down the Red River. These trips always resulted in rich rewards of deer, bear, fowl, and fish for the famUy. Sleigh rides, skating and house parties provided entertainment for old and young. In spite of the lack ol conveniences there was always time for community gettogethers. Mr Stoughton was an ardent baseball fan. Though he never played, several of his sons were active in this snort Together with several of the Robinson boys and others, a team was organized about 1897. Practice was held in any pasture or hay field big enough to provide a diamond. What enthusiasm there was when trips were made by horse and wagon to play in Minto, Grafton and neighboring towns. The baseball spirit was not confined to his generation. Several of his descendants were active in baseball. MerUn (Smokey) Robinson, a grandson, was an outstanding amateur player in this area. Wes Westrum, a great-grandson, was the catcher for the New York Giants in the National League, is now manager of the San 334

Francisco Giants. Mrs Stoughton died in 1912 and Mr. Stoughton in 1924. Of the ten children, two are living, Mrs. May Robinson of Oslo; and Mrs. John Robinson of Thief River Falls. JOHN WALSKI F A M I L Y John Walski and his wife Josephine (Kobierzinski) came to Walsh County in 1885 from Pinecreek, Wise. They homesteaded in Walshville Township in 1887. John and Josephine had five children; Frank, Robert, Mrs. Mike (Marcena) Staskivage, M r s . Joe (Mary) Czapiewski, and Mrs. Frank (Francis) Burstinski, who did not come to Dakota with them. John died in church in Warsaw May 28,1906. Josephine died March 13, 1888. Our grandfather, Robert Walski married Lillian Grabanski, the daughter of Walintine and Marcina Grabinski in 1896. Robert was born April 21, 1872 in Pinecreek, Wise. Lillian Grabanski was born Oct. 2,1877, in Czersk Pzan Poland. She came to America with her parents at 14. They came to Dakota where her brother, John already lived in Pulaski township. She brought with her several crucifixes that are still in the family today. Robert took over his father's farm in 1896. He was also on the Walshville Township board. Robert and Lillian had eight children; Mrs. John(Emma) Slominski, Mrs. Mike (Mary) Gerszewski, Mrs. Frank (Sara) Wosick, Mrs. Julian (Rose) Maszk, John, Frank, Steve, Edwin. Robert died August 27, 1928 and Lillian died Nov. 9, 1971. John married Helen Czapiewski Oct. 27, 1929, they had 2 children, Mrs. Robert (Clarice) Robinson, and Clarence. John died May 19, 1944. Helen died March 29, 1968. Frank married Florence Riskey Oct. 23, 1934, they had 2 sons, James and Tom. Frank died Sept. 19, 1965. Steve married Adeline Czapiewski June 12, 1938. They adopted 2 children, Mrs. Ron (Marcia) Hagen, and Greg. Steve died April 16, 1969. Edwin married Freida Bishop Sept. 10, 1940. They have 3 children, Mrs. Joe (Sharon) Riskey, Robert, and Marilyn. GUS WILLIAMS F A M I L Y Gus Williams arrived in the early seventies. He was one of the first settlers in Walsh County. He homesteaded in Walshville township. He operated an inn for passengers on the stage coach traveling between Grand Forks and Winnipeg. Horses were changed at his place. He was the first Walshville postmaster and served on the school board for a number of years. He had frame and log buildings on his farm. He had one daughter, Mrs. Carrie Williams Gilbreath. JOHN J . WOSICK

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Wosick

John J. Wosick, son of George Wosick and Antonia Cernasky. was born Aug. 15. 1886. Susan Plutowski and Wosick were married Nov. 10, 1908 in St. Stanislaus Church at Warsaw by Fr. Walsowski. They farmed in Walshville Township for 54 years. In addition Wosick worked for the state highway department for 17 years, served on the school board for 32 years, was the township assessor for 42 years, secretary of St. Stanislaus Church for 20 years, clerk of township election 40 years and was Democratic Committeeman for 20 years. The couple retired in 1961 and moved to their present home in Grand Forks. They are parents of three sons, Bruce and Ernest, Grand Forks, and John, Grafton, and 2 daughters, Mrs. Frank L. Ebertowski (Beatrice), Oslo, Minn., and Mrs. Robert Eng (Leona), Thompson. JOHN ZOLA F A M I L Y John Zola and his wife, the former Apolonia Bolik and son, WilUam, came to the United States from the Austrian part of Poland, in 1896, settling first in the Leo and Greenbush, Minnesota, area. Four children, Mike, Isabella, Joe and August were born there. In 1905, the family moved to WalshvUle Township to start farming. Two children, Frank and Sylvester were born here. William, Mike and August Uve near or in Oslo. IsabeUa (Mrs. Grabanski) Uves in Warsaw. Sylvester Uves near Rodger, Minn. Joe died in 1971 and Frank in 1973. John Zola died in 1945 and his wife died in 1951.

Pioneers Without Biographies Very Uttle information is avaUable about the following pioneers from this area: FROM ARDOCH TOWNSHIP J. H. Byerly, dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements. Settled in 1879. Arthur Downs, general farmer and stock raiser. Located in 1890. John Farmer, general farmer, carpenter and ship builder. Breeder of cattle and Berkshire hogs. Justice of the Peace. Fox and Hill, dealers in general hardware, stoves, tinware, machine oil, supplies, sporting goods. Tin shop work a specialty. Manufacturers of the best threshing machine, elevator and automatic weigher on earth. Thomas Gowan, farmer and speculator, located in 1879. Frank Galefski, general farmer and stock breeder. Located in 1879. Member of township board. G. R. Jacobi, dealer in general merchandise. Settled in 1880. Michael Monley, general farmer. Located in 1880. Morrison Brothers, general farmers. Owners of Percheron stallion Sylvia. M . J . Moran, general farmer. Town assessor. Located in 1880. Alex McGilvery. general farmer. Agent for AUiance Hail Association of Jamestown. Breeder of white Leghorns and Wyandotte fowls. James McMahon, general farmer and stock breeder. Settled in 1829. William McVeety, general farmer and breeder of blooded horses. Township constable. McGuire and Corcoran. General merchandise store. Proprietors of Windsor House, J. H. Corcoran, manager.

Feed and sale stable connected to hotel. T. J. McGuire P.M. James Stevenson, general farmer. Located in 1877. Town Treasurer. Bank of Ardoch, John Birkholz, Pres. C. W. Denniston, cashier, A. J. Perry, vice president. Incorporated capital $15,000. General banking business. Farm loans, collections and insurance. J. C. Warren, general farmer and stock raiser. Located in 1880. FROM HARRISTON TOWNSHIP: Henry G. Ebbighausen, general farming. Operates steam thresher. Located 1879. Archibald McDivitt, general farming and stock raising. Member township Board. Orson J. Smalley, general farming. Chairman Township Board. FROM MINTO CITY : Edwin D. Brown, real estate, loan and insurance. Collection a specialty. Fred Carpenter, dealer in all kinds of farm machinery, Deering binders and mowers, Advance Threshers, Dowagiac and Tiger drills, Winona wagons, Peking gang plows, buggies, pumps and walking plows. W. R. DePuy, attorney and counselor at law. H. C. DePuy, collector and real estate. Agent Tornado and Fire Insurance. George T. Harvey, retired farmer, located in 1879. Assisted in organizing Walsh County in 1881. Chairman first Board of County Commissioners. Member of the Legislature in 1882. Thomas H. Howard, dealer in furniture and house furnishing goods. Special attention given to undertaking.

G. H. McPherrin, proprietor of McPherrin's Flour Mill. Farmer and speculator. Wight's Hotel, George Wight, proprietor. Sample rooms available. Zuelsdorf Bros., dealers in general merchandise. FROM PULASKI TOWNSHIP: J. Daniel Kiedrowski, owner of steam thresher and feed mill. Agent for Minneapolis and Esterly binders. FROM WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP: Mrs. Joseph Evans, general farming and stock raising, 1884. J. Nelson Hobbs, general farming and steam thresher. Located in 1881. Charles Kerr, general farming. Breeder of Norman and Clydesdale horses, 1881. Donald McLeod, general farming and stock raising. Township Assessor. Town clerk. Michael Nagle, farmer, breeder of English shire horses. Township Board, 1876. Edward Nelker, general farming and stock raising. Chairman township board. Located in 1880. Anton Noltker, farmer, located in 1880. Alex W. Robinson, general farming and stock raising. Located in 1877. Henry Robinson, general farming and stock raiser. Located in 1877. Township treasurer for 13 years. C G. WilUams, farming and stock raising. Breeder of short horn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Hambletonian horses. Located in the state in 1866. Located in Walsh County in 1873. First white settler in the county.

336

Ill

HOOPLE AREA

GLENWOOD TOWNSHIP INTRODUCTION I shall never forget this late afternoon in October, 1879. Before us was the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. As we stood, side by side, gazing over the level luxuriant prairie untouched and unspoiled by the hands of man, the soft wind came down from the northwest and gently caressed the tall grasses that grew there, and as they moved, their silvery sheen gave one the impression of an endless ocean of fertility. Here the broad acres were bounded only by faint dark-purplish timber lines on the north, the south, and the east - the timber lines of the river systems. The West - the whole West - was just as the Indian and the buffalo had left it. The grandeur of the prairie, one vast expanse of solitude, made our hearts well up with gladness. Here, I thought, we shall dedicate our youthful years and our Uves to tiUing, toiling, and building. By C. Grimstad, used by permission. CROPS IN FERTILE, DUNDEE, GLENWOOD Grains were the first crops grown by pioneers and settlers of this area. Some com, alfalfa, and sweet clover for livestock feed along with oats, which was the mainstay for horses, were raised. The grains were wheat, barley, flax, oats, and a little rye. The grains were first cut by hand or very crude binders. It was shocked or placed in piles. The threshing rig and its crews were a big part of the territory's success. Up until about 1900 the straw was bucked away from the threshing rigs and piled. Later, blowers were put on threshing machines to blow straw into straw stacks. The first combine for grain was beUeved to be purchased by N. G. and 0. C. Bjorneby in Glenwood Township in 1926. Although a few farmers still threshed with threshing rigs until about 1940, the combine was developed very rapidly after 1930. The main disease with grain and especially wheat was rust. The first variety of wheat was called Blue Stem and was very late maturing. The variety Scotch Fife was grown after Blue Stem until about 1915 when it rusted out. Scotch Fife was a Uttle earUer maturing. In 1915 Marquis was introduced from Canada. This variety was a standard until 1936 when it completely rusted. Many different varieties were used after 1930 until the present, including dwarf varieties which are adaptable to the rich vaUey land. Barley and rye were mainly called by that name until the 1930's when excellent varieties were introduced. Oats was a mainstay until the horses were phased out in the late 1930's and early 1940's. Potatoes were first raised in this area by Nels Folson of Hoople in 1908. He bought seed at Sabin, Minn., and planted 20 acres of Early Ohios. In 1909 he planted 100 acres and is generaUy credited with starting the potato industry in this area and in building the .first warehouse in 1910. Knute Aaland in Hoople, A. B. Thompson in Fertile Township, Amund Midgarden, also in Fertile Township, and others were pioneers in the potato industry. Early Ohios was the first variety raised but they produced large, rough tubers. Later, BUss Triumph, a

red variety, then Irish Cobblers, a white variety, were raised. These two were introduced about 1920 and were used predominately until the late 1940's. A farmers' warehouse was built in Hoople in 1919 and farmers in Nash built a warehouse the same year. ln the early years, potatoes were dug and hauled to Hoople or Nash and run over graders to sort out the bad potatoes and the undersized ones. Two men would carry the potatoes from the grader in bushel baskets and into the railroad cars and dump them. When potatoes were shipped in the winter, a man would go along and keep heat in the railroad car. The raUroad came to the area about 1890. Horses and wagons were used until the late 1920's and 1930's when trucks took over. All potato work was very hard and backbreaking labor until the early 1950's when potato harvesters were introduced. P. J. Flaten and Oscar Walstad had the first harvester in Fertile Township. This was manufactured by the Dahlman Corporation in 1951. By Harvey Tallackson, with the grateful assistance of P. J. Flaten. LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN FERTILE, GLENWOOD AND DUNDEE TOWNSHIPS Livestock raising was one of the fundamental projects on the farms before the year 1930. Each farm was equipped with horses, cows, chickens and sometimes turkeys and sheep. This was to fulfUl the needs of the farm famiUes in many situations. Each farm was an independent enterprise. These three townships did not have too much timber and meadow land so the cattle industry was kept at a minimum. There were a few large Uvestock operations such as the Oscar and Heimer Dahl farms, who had a herd of at least 150 purebred Hereford beef cattle. Their farms were in Glenwood Township. This herd had some of the best blood lines in North Dakota and they had sales which attracted cattlemen from a wide area. The Albert Midgarden farm of Fertile Township raised one of the largest herds of purebred Holsteins in Walsh County. The Midgardens milked on the average of 25 to 30 cows the year around. The Oscar Johnson farm of FertUe Township was widely known throughout North Dakota as a breeder of black and gray Percheron horses. His herd would number up to 20 and 30 head. Mr. Johnson purchased a Percheron stalUon which had been shown at the International Livestock Show in Chicago. These three townships claim some of the most colorful and outstanding cattle buyers in the area. Those to be remembered were Art Duff, Sam Peoples, and Jim Looney. These fellows would put most of the present potato buyers to shame when it came to driving and closing a deal. They were sharp and personable business men and a legend from their time. To this day, the Uvestock sales draw crowds with enthusiasm and excitement. Livestock offered large famUies a chance to keep the children well occupied with chores and projects which included aU ages. The women in the household, along with the children, were destined to take care of the poultry and assist in the milking of the cows. Throughout

secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Louis Paulson; and club reporter, Mrs. Oscar Walstad. The members completing the first year project, "Kitchen Improvement," were: Mrs. Oliver Bjorneby, Miss Clara Berg, Mrs. Ole Brager, Mrs. Peder Flaten, Mrs. Alfred Daley, Mrs. Carl Grimsrud, Mrs. Hamilton Hurtt, Mrs. Orvil Johnson, Mrs. Oscar Johnson, Miss Hannah Gryde, Mrs. Edward Johnson, Mrs. Dewey Midgarden, Mrs. Bernard Nilson, Mrs. Louis Paulson, Miss Minnie Paulson, Mrs. Elmer Shannon, Mrs. William Tallackson and Mrs. Oscar Walstad. Of these charter members, there are four who are still active in 1975. They are: Mrs. Peder Flaten, Mrs. Edward Johnson, Mrs. Oscar Walstad and Mrs. Dewey Midgarden. In 1930, the name was changed to Countryside Extension Homemakers Club. The objects of the club were first - to study and put into practice the best information on various phases of home making. Second — to cooperate with the Extension Service of the North Dakota State University and the United States Department of Agriculture in making information available to as many homes as possible in the community. Third - to promote desirable community life. Fourth - to assist the county and state extension staff in program planning. Through our lessons we have learned much about home management, nutrition, sewing, crafts, and special lessons on timely topics. We have learned by doing and sharing. Working together we have accomplished much more than we could as individuals. We, too, are inspired and learn from one another. The cross section of youth and older people offers much for both. After attending a homemakers meeting we return home with renewed enthusiasm to be better homemakers; to do our best for our homes, our families, our church and our community. Submitted by Clara Midgarden.

the winter months 1 can tell you that the chickens didn't earn their keep. There were times the nests were even empty at Easter which was a near catastrophe. 4-H and F. F. A. have helped to stimulate an interest in livestock and have given many young people an added incentive to enjoy farming. That type of work is time consuming and muscle building but also is a special challenge to work with living things. The Walsh County Agricultural School at Park River was noted throughout the state of North Dakota for its outstanding livestock judging teams. Some of the young men of that time who took part from the three townships were: Gunder Midgarden, Emery Hanson, Palmer Rustan, Arden Burbidge, Orbin Erickson and Chris Midgarden. They had experienced some exciting trips as judging teams. They collected a storehouse of experience visiting these farms that have been mentioned. Dundee Township, according to our old timers, had very little purebred cattle before the 1930's but are now one of the leading townships in the livestock industry. The methods of farming with cattle have changed so much that farmers have an opportunity to engage in this project without owning or renting a lot of timber and meadow land. Dundee now has a son who was recently selected nationally as an outstanding hog raiser. He is Mark Holt. That is progress. Submitted by Chris Midgarden. HOMEMAKERS OF GLENWOOD AND FERTILE The Fertile-Glenwood Homemakers Club was organized in January of 1929 at the home of Mrs. Oscar Johnson of rural Park River. Mr. E . J . Taintor was the acting county agent of Walsh County at that time. The officers elected were: president, Mrs. Oliver Bjorneby; vice president, Mrs. Bernard Nilson;

History of Glenwood Township Hoople, John E. Flanegan, Elisha Hedges and Yelsh Kjos. On March 9, 1885, a bill of John H. Paulson for $15 was allowed to purchase bridge timbers to cross coulee on what is now known as County Road No. 9, one mile east of Highway 18. On June 1,1885, the township board purchased a New Era grading machine for $1,000. The township board authorized the issuance of two bonds each in the amount of $500, drawing interest at 10 percent and payable in 10 years. In 1885 the roads on township lines were divided between the townships. On May 20, 1886, a resolution was passed by the township supervisors that all owners of land in Glenwood Township shall pull, bum and destroy or have it done, all noxious weed on and opposite their farms on roadways, known as Canada thistle, cockle burr, mustard and yellow kail. They must be destroyed by the 25th of July each year or they will be prosecuted according to law. In 1888 a bridge was built between Sections 26 and 27 and Sections 20 and 29. In 1890 the township spent a total of $748.40. In 1892 land was purchased from John Hughes for a new road into Hoople for $150.

(From Jan. 2, 1883 to Dec. 2, 1930) The first meeting of Glenwood Township, Dakota Territory was held Jan. 2, 1883. The first officers were Peder E. Anderson, clerk; Nels O. Folson, treasurer; Nels Tveton, assessor; John N. Nelson and Daniel Defor, justices of the peace; John Brash, John M. Almen, and Ole Bogstie, supervisors; Amund Erlandson, constable; and C. Wright as overseer of highways. On April 16,1883, the township was divided into four road districts. John Brash, Allen Hoople, Amund Erlandson and C. H. Wright were elected pathmasters in road districts. The first annual meetings were held at the Hedges Schoolhouse. The first assessments were one mill on the dollar of assessment for current expenses, two mills for the bridge fund and two mills for road taxes. The first assessor was paid $40 per year. On April 1, 1884, the town board purchased two second hand scrapers for $8. They also purchased 5,220 feet of bridge planks - 16 feet long, four kegs of bridge spikes and two new scrapers for $164. The timbers for the bridge between Section 7 and 18 were purchased for $10 on Nov. 25, 1884. At this meeting Thomas Frazier's bill of two dollars was not allowed. The first jurors drawn on Feb. 2, 1885, were Wright Parkins, K. C. Berg, William Hurtt, B. P. Fischer, Allen 339

The Great Northern Railroad, then known as the St. Paul and Minneapolis, extended north of Grafton in 1882. Nash grew up along the railroad and Sweden became a ghost town. In the 1890's the logs of the old buildings were hauled to the Hans Dahl farm home. Some were made into a chicken coop and the rest became firewood. The cellar and well were filled in and the land gradually leveled. There are still bits of brick, crockery, dishes and bottlenecks where Sweden stood, but more than 60 years of cultivation have scattered them over a wide area. As was mentioned, John Almen was postmaster of Sweden. Murdock McKenzie carried mail from Kelly's Point on the Red River where mail and supplies were brought from Grand Forks by steamer. Later Thomas Thompson carried mail. Nels Midgarden clerked in the store. Early settlers made occasional trips to Grand Forks with oxen and wagon. They brought supplies for themselves and for Sweden. It was an all day journey over winding prairie roads and soggy sloughs. Sweden was a gathering place for Irish, Scotch and French from the north and Scandinavians from the south. Somtimes there were feuds. In 1879 a post office was established in the farm home of John M. Almen on Sec. Glenwood Township and named by him for his native land. The same year William McKenzie erected a store near by and the post office was moved into it. Soon after, A. A- Blekken also opened up another store here. The post office was discontinued Aug. 21,1882, and mail sent to Grafton. This historical information was assembled by Mary Swanson (Dahl) about 1963 or 64.

The annual township meeting in 1893 was held in Johnstone Hall in Hoople. On Feb. 2, 1895, the road districts in Glenwood Township were changed from four to one. A road overseer was to be elected at the next annual meeting. Nels Swenson was paid two dollars for unloading a carload of oak bridge planks. On Jan. 2,1904, a special township meeting was held to borrow $1,400 from N. N. Midgarden to pay for the grader purchased the preceding year. The promissory note was to draw interest at 6M- percent. In 1922 a township plat showing the roads in the township was drawn for the benefit of the State Highway Commissioner. It showed: 12 miles of No. 1 road, improved and first class shape; 10 miles of No. 2 road, improved but rather flat; 42 miles of No. 3 road, flat and in need of grading; eight miles of No. 4 road, prairie trail; and three miles of No. 5road,not open. Ole Holt was supervisor of Glenwood Township for 26 years and T. J. Nielson was supervisor for 22 years. A 15-30 McCormick Deering tractor was purchased from Venberg and Fedje in 1928 for $1,200. On July 23, 1925, a poor relief fund was started in Glenwood Township. An elevating grader was purchased from Hamilton Township, Pembina, on March 26, 1929, for $500. Submitted by Leonard Fagerholt, Hoople. SWEDEN A historical marker was erected on Highway 9 approximately l'/4 miles west of Nash. This marker was constructed by the North Dakota Historical Society and was sponsored by J. Otto Almen of Sierra Madre, Calif., to commemorate the town of Sweden where his father, John Almen, was postmaster. John Almen homesteaded in Glenwood Township. He was a representative in the Dakota Territory Legislature, and was active in school, civic and church affairs. The land on which North Trinity Church stands was a part of his farm and was donated by him for a church site. Mr. and Mrs. Murray Swanson were "on the spot" representatives for Otto Almen in the construction of the marker, working with county commissioners, planning site and approach, and securing material for its construction. The marker and plaque was planned by R. J. Elliot of the North Dakota Historical Society. William McKenzie built the first log house in Sweden, which housed the general store and post office. Later there were a livery barn and blacksmith shop and a frame house.

INSCRIPTION ON THE SWEDEN MARKER In 1879, a post office named Sweden was established on a site 450 yards from this marker. It was housed in a log building in which Wm. McKenzie operated a general store. It was one of two post offices, Grafton being the second, authorized through the efforts of Thomas E. Cooper who became its postmaster. J. M. Almen was appointed postmaster in Sweden. Mail was brought to Kelly's Point on the Red River by steamboat and arrived in Sweden, a distance of about 20 miles, by Murdock McKenzie. When the railroad reached Grafton in 1882, Sweden Post Office was discontinued to be replaced in 1891 by Nash Post Office, Charles Hanson, postmaster. NORTH TRINITY CHURCH The beginning of the North Trinity Church was in conjunction with the South Trinity Church in 1879. The history of its beginning is included in the report of the South Trinity Church. Charter members were: Carl Almen, John Almen, Andreas Ask, Henry Hanson, Ole Haugerud, Andrew Hoghaug, Haakon Johnson, Jorgun Johnson, Johannes Kohlar, Iver Iverson Ljone, Mons Monson and John Paulson.

Wm. McKenzie homesteaded on the north eighty of the northeast quarter of Section 36, Twp. 158 north and Range 54 west. Hans Dahl homesteaded on the eighty south of him about 1877. Wm. McKenzie's land became the property of Donald and Mary Ann McKenzie. Hans Dahl bought that land in 1889. As far as we know, it was at that time that the frame house from Sweden was moved north of what is now Highway 9. Donald and Mary Ann McKenzie lived there and later their son, Daniel McKenzie, and his family. During the first World War the farm was sold to the Anton Johnson family. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Johnson remodeled and enlarged the house from Sweden and are still living there.

May 30,1885, the church members met at the home of Pastor Nykriem to divide the congregation into a north and south district. The new congregations were to be known as North Trinity and South Trinity. The decision went into effect Dec. 29, 1885. North Trinity Church congregation held its first business meeting June 13,1885. Plans were discussed for 340

the construction of the church on the land donated by John Almen for church and cemetery. The land was located on the NE 'A of Section 35 in Glenwood Township. At a meeting held Jan. 30, 1886, it was decided to solicit funds for the construction of the church. At the yearly meeting of November, 1892, final plans were drawn up; collections for the building project at that time totaled $620. Construction of the church was begun in 1893 and completed the same year. Stones for the foundation were hauled from the Dundee area and the foundation was built by Magnus Hultin. Lumber was hauled from Auburn as the railroad had come by this time.

regular program, services and auction sale. Then a complete meal was served at tables in family style. Neighborhood congregations were attracted to this event. Children were especially fond of the lemonade stand and the homemade ice cream prepared by the ladies and frozen in hand freezers by man power. Proceeds were used in mission work, paying pastors' salaries and renovating the church. Later it was simplified to an auction sale and picnic supper served cafeteria style.

North Trinity

North Trinity Church picnic—1902.

Church

In 1893, North Trinity Church joined the Hauge Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod and had pastors in conjunction with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Grafton. The first business meeting was held Jan. 2,1894, conducted by Pastor M. G. Hanson of Grand Forks. He also served the churches between 1892-1898. The pastors who served were: 1898-1904, Rev. B. K. Barstad; 1904-1908, Rev. T. J. Knutson; 1908-1913, Rev. J. J. Jacobson; 1913-1914, Rev. John Halvorson; 1914-1919, Rev. E. O. Munkevold; and 1919-1920, Rev. O. T. Ness. The merger of synods caused North Trinity again to become a part of the South Trinity and Zion Lutheran congregations. The three parishes were served by Pastors Adolph Egge, 1920-26; C. M . Grimsrud, 19261929; and L.M. Hellaklev, 1929-1953. Pioneer members of this little church are listed as: C. F. Almen, Alfred Anderson, Selmer Adsem, Per Anderson, Gustav Beck, Anton Dahl, Martin Dahl, Oluf Dahl, Hans Hanson, Carl Hultin, John Hultin, Magnus Hultin, Anton Johnson, G. A. Johnson, Gustav Johnson, John Johnson, Peter Larson, Lars Lundgren, Axel Magnusson, Andrew Monson, August Nelson, Carl Oberg, John Oberg, John Olson, Anton Selliken, A. F. Sinclair and Tion Swanson. The Ladies' Aid of North Trinity congregation was organized in 1885 when P. A. Nykriem was pastor. Charter members were Mrs. John Almen, Mrs. Per Anderson, Mrs. Martin Dahl, Mrs. Henry Hanson, Mrs. Ole Haugerud, Mrs. Carl Hultin, Mrs. Lars Lundgren, and Mrs. Andrew Monson. Meetings were usually held in their homes. In addition to the charter members previously named, pioneer women active in church work were: Mmes. Selmer Adsem, Anton Dahl, Olaf Dahl, G. A. Johnson, Gustav Johnson, Peter Larson, August Nelson, Carl Oberg, John Olson, Tion Swanson and Joe Thompson. Highlight of the Aid was the annual picnic and auction sale held during the summer. It started with a

The first wedding in North Trinity was of Sena and Albert Thompson. The first Young People's Society was organized by Pastor Barstad. The roll of 1903 included Hattie Anderson, Laura Monson, Olga Almen, Clarence Bakke, Edward Hanson, Arthur Ellefson, Sam Nilson, Herman Dahl, Victor Almen, Otto Almen, Hilda Almen, Nellie Almen, Cora Hanson, Emma Ellefson, Alma Dahl and Constance. The first organist of die church was Mrs. A. N. Monsebroten who had studied music at St. Olaf's College when it was newly organized. Others were: Alma Monsebroten, Hannah Almen Tallackson, Ida Almen Mastre, Anna Johnson Russum, Cora Larson Sager, Lillian Monsebroten Sando, Dagmar Almen Midboe, Verna Larson, Ella Dahl, Olava Flom Johnson, Marie Grimsrud Langemo, Sophia Gryde Swanson and Mrs. Adolph Egge. This is a poem taken from Agnes Qually's original collection published in a little book called "Smarter." MYCHURCH The little white church looks so peaceful Nestled close to the river's edge; It stands as a stalwart sentinel To guard the graves of the dead; It has no colored windows No pretentious pillars of stone, There is no special pipe organ. No statues nor colored dome. But my little white church is hallowed, A sacred shrine since my callow youth, It stands as a guardian symbol For honesty, hope, and truth; It was here my good parents brought me To the baptismal font as a child, Again at the altar I promised To serve my good master so mild.

As child, youth, and woman I listened To the story of Christ and redemption, Again as a prodigal I pledged Vows, with hope and elation;

It is here I have brought my children (One has long slept neath its sod) It is here I too have a longing to rest By this church where I learned of God.

EARLY HISTORY OF HOOPLE "Take me back to North Dakota To the village far away Back to that dear old homestead Where I spent my happy days, There the birds are sweetly singing There the fairest flowers bloom On the prairies of Dakota My childhood home." These were some of the words of a song written by Myrtle Hoople Ahrens, from the first family who lived in Glenwood Township, Section five. This township was already being settled before 1879 when a post office was opened in the home of William Richey in Section 3, Aug. 7, 1879, about three miles southeast of the village. Mail was brought there on a star route until 1880 and then mail was brought to Crystal, Section 3, Glenwood Township. The Hoople townsite was platted in the fall of 1890 after the railroad had been built. The townsite was originally platted for the west side of the railroad by John Wood. It was changed to the east side of the railroad after Allen Hoople came in 1880 and made plans for a townsite. The town was named for him on Jan. 7, 1890. Merrit B. Bronson was the first postmaster. Mrs. Hoople also became the first postmistress. This family can be traced back to one who came to New York in 1754 from Germany, before the Revolutionary War. The generations that followed experienced that war, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Some, however, had gone to Canada, and it was there that Mr. Hoople was born. About the time of the Civil War one of the families from Canada came to Minnesota. Their son, Allen, grew up, considered going to the BlackHills, but chose through the influence of a friend to come to the Red River Valley. This village was founded by him in the middle of his original claim. Their log house was located on the north end of the mainstreet by the north branch of the Park River. Before leaving Minnesota, he had married Ella Bronson in 1876. They had two daughters, Myrtle and Jennie, and one son, George, who also became a farmer and was interested in politics. The daughters later married. George married Annie Rollefstad. After his wife died, Allen later married Susan Rollefstad, and following her death, Mrs. Emma Scidmore. The home was in a picturesque location with many apple and other trees and a garden. Across the river was a park which was accessible only by a foot bridge and which was much used for picnics, ball games, and gooseberry picking. One curve in the river was a popular swimming hole. Mr. Hoople sold a half interest of the original townsite to C. C. Lord and James Douglas of Park River. The story would not be complete without the Wood family; the three brothers, William, James, and Jack,

came from Ontario, Canada. Two settled east of town and Jack, on the west side of the railroad track. Mr. Nicholson had built a hall on the west side. The present recreational field and school playground are on a part of the original Wood farm. (Much later Mr. Wilfred Anderson also opened an area for homes on the east side of the townsite.) The first school was one-half mile north of Hoople in 1882. Records show that Mr. Hoople, treasurer of School District No. 42, had the school district bonded for $1,000. The building still is on a farm north of town. The first school in the village was in the Nicholson Hah, which had been moved into town in 1891. Mr. John Nicholson, born in Stoneway, Que., in 1853, was the father of Mrs. Wilfred Anderson. After his death, his wife and the three children, Mrs. Wilfred Anderson, Mary and George, lived in this building for one year before moving above the Venberg Store, before moving to the farm. According to the 1893 plat book, a two room school had been built south of the Presbyterian church. The Methodists were the first to organize, but the Presbyterians built the first church in 1891 with the other one in 1893. Early ministers were Rev. Kenneth McGinness and Rev. Glaspell. In 1915 the newly organized Lutherans bought the Presbyterian church. Many of its members of Scottish descent had moved away, with Norwegians moving into the area. Many of the children in town attended the Methodist Sunday School where Mr. Hoople was superintendent for many years.

Venberg & Fedje Store—1904. Men's Furnishings and Shoes. N. M. Venber, Ole A. Fedje, customer: Paul Flaten. The village was incorporated in 1898. Ed McMurray was the first mayor. Harry Bunn and E. P. Diment, a druggist, were the first councilmen. Charles Eckeberg was the first clerk and E. J. Flannagan, the first policeman. By 1893 Fred Frazier and W. C. Francis had general stores; N. A. Hewitt, varnishes and hardware; William Hillier, carpenter and farmer; A. D. Markle, grain

buyer, Ed McMurray, agricultural implements, binders, and twine. The store owned by Mr. Frazier, brother of Sen. Lynn Frazier, was sold to Mr. N . M . Venberg in 1894. After the store burned in 1902 he built a brick building. While waiting for the completion he used another building. Ole Fedje, who had been working for him since 1896, was asked to be his partner. Later, Andrew Fedje in 1904, Andrew Berdahl in 1906, and Olaf Fedje in 1920, all nephews from Norway, became partners. Mr. Venberg sold his interest and the building. After the 1902 fire, the drug store was built between the Venberg Fedje Store and the bank and A. Kraft became the owner. Mr. Kraft married Miss Ethel French. The telephone office was also in the same building after 1907. The State Bank opened in 1904 with M . F . Murphy, Grand Forks, president; Harry Bunn, cashier; and later N. C. Olson.

Peoples Supply Co., Hardware

Section

Hotel in Hoople—1909. Mrs. McLaren, Happy Jack. George Johnstone's

Confectionery

Rev.

Gillespie,

and Barber Shop

Mclntyre Hotel built prior to 1900. Naegeli Bros, on balcony. Among the men in front: N. N. Venberg, H. Bunn, Dr. Pierson, Ole Fedje. Next door: Betsy Gedstad Store. The Union Hotel was run by Mrs. McLaren. M r . Bennett also had a hotel. John and Alex Skene sold hardware, but later sold to Venberg and Fedje. J . B . Johnson was later employed by this store. The Torgeson store burned in 1902 and was replaced by the People's Supply with Gunder Olson, Mr. Brosnaham, Torgerson and Eckeberg, and Nels Folson, owners, with Alex Smith employed in the machinery Une. Joe Bodmer had a confectionery store, later moved to Canada with his family. There were livery barns run by Charles Bennett and Andy Patterson. Women in business were Miss Betsy Getstad, shoe

Andy Patterson Livery Barn, Andy Patterson, Carl Rollefstad. The first and second auto in Hoople. A. Jackson's car about 1909. This is now Moe Motors Garage. Another early business place was owned by George Johnston, who had come from Scotland, opening a barber shop, confectionery store, and pool hall. He married Annie Tharalson, who had come from Iowa to a homestead with the family and lived in a sod house about a mile from town. Adam Patterson sold furniture, pictures and caskets. The first hotel was established in 1891 by Thomas Wood. 343

and millinery store, and Miss Dora Foss who was a dressmaker, also teaching others. A Robertson Lumber Yard was established in 1890 with Dick Farrell as manager. Hj aimer Heder later ran it. :

Hoople Post Office, now Joe Markel's Store. Morley Nelson, Wm. Dorgen, Sandy Skene, H. Hendrickson, John Hughes. Feed Mill, Morley Nelson, Manager

Meat Delivery Wagon, Dundee Twp.—1905-1909. Tallest cook is Julia Twedt Swenson.

M. W. A. Hall, Hoople. (Note board sidewalk). Early elevators were Soule, Peavey, National, St. Anthony, and Nels Folson who began his in 1906, as well as the Hoople Farmers Grain Company in 1906. Fred Engen, whose elevator burned, went to Canada, later came back to repay farmers who had lost their grain. Ab. Kraft came in 1905 and located in the drug store owned by Wm. Young. The telephone office which opened in 1907 was in the same building. These were located between the Venberg-Fedje Store and the bank. He was married to Ethel French. Four doctors here were: Drs. Frank King, Mardsen, Pierson, and Nelson. Sen. Lynn J. Frazier always associated here, his children attended school, he was active in town and community activities. He and Mrs. Frazier are buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Men furnishing fresh meat were A. E. Duff and Emil Lowe, the latter also being employed at the VenbergFedje & Co. Store. The first blacksmith was David Henry with Malcolm Smith later. Naegeli brothers, Frank and Robert, continued and in addition with their plant, made electricity available to the homes and business places for several years.

Arthur Duff butchering for a farmer during the early years. Mr. Duff, right, his helper, right. The Woodman Hall was built in 1898 and became a center for many social, school, and athletic events. The first mail carriers were Everett Amerman, Thomas Fikon, Frank Dinkel, and Halvor Halvorson, with H. Bunn, postmaster. Mr. Amerman's stepdaughter, Mrs. Ray Bodmer, remembers the black buggy with the dark red cab used by him which sometimes required his staying overnight at the T. J. Neilson farm if it were very stormy. Nels Folson introduced the potato business and later was named dean of North Dakota potato growers. He was married to Anna Storslie in 1880. She died in 1893. Their children were Marion, Minnie, and Charles. In 1897 he married Ida Anderson and they had one son, Leonard. They moved to town in 1900. His elevator was already built in 1896 and his potato warehouse in 1907.

Another era entered was the age of the automobile and the beginning of mechanized farm machinery and that required oil deliveries and stations. Thus, he had a series of firsts in the field of agriculture. He shipped the first carload of potatoes out of North Dakota. His sons had continued farming. Knute Aaland settled near Nash in 1909. He was married to Mary Larson. Later the family moved on land west of the railroad track. He, with his sons, Adolf, Andrew, Morgan, and Clarence, also contributed much to the potato and grain business. .-. « «*•- • -K. ' Binder—E. T. Gryde

CHURCHES FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

A group of men taken by the Patterson home, Hoople. Knut Aaland, Frank Anderson, Axel Bjerke, Delph Brandt, Ole Brubakken, Wilfred Anderson, Albert Fagerholt, Frank Hurtt, Leslie Hurtt, Hamilton Hurtt, Sr., George Hoople, Ted Holt, Charles HilUer, Wilmer Neilson, Tom Odegard, Arnold Paulson, Theo Rinde, Wm. Schaetzel, Emery Shannon, Elmer Shannon, and others.

First Lutheran Church, Hoople After 1900 as more people of Norwegian nationality began moving into town and the surrounding area, there was a desire by them to organize a church of the Lutheran faith to which they were accustomed. After 1901 Rev. K. 0. Storli and Rev. L. O. Kirkeberg came in from their country parish for services in the Norwegian language on Sunday evenings. The Methodist church was very willing to permit the use of their church. Steps toward organizing the congregation were taken on Nov. 10, 1913, at the suggestion of Rev. H. O. Shurson who was then serving the Zion and Park Center Churches. The formal organization was on Feb. 11, 1914, and March 2, 1914, the constitution was adopted. Charter members were: Nels Folson, Knute Aaland, Jacob Aske, Andrew Berdahl, Andrew Fedje, Ole Fedje, Charles Folson, Anton Haug, Hj aimer Heder, Martin Larson, Herman T. Midboe, Carl Oberg and Halvor Halvorson. On May 11, 1915, the Board of Trustees was empowered to buy the Presbyterian church, which had been built in 1891. The Ladies' Aid had sufficient money to pay for the building. Charter members of it were: Mmes. Nels Folson, Abraham Jackson, Ole Fedje, Herman Midboe, George Bjorneby, and Albert Bodmer. With resignation of Rev. Shurson, Pastor Adolf Egge was called. The parish to consist of Park Center, Hvideso, and First Lutheran was also organized. In 1926 the parsonage was built in Hoople. By this time the number of members had increased greatly with many moving from west of town to farms east of town. On April 26, 1914, the Sunday School was organized with Mr. Albert Fagerholt as superintendent and held in the local school with thirty-eight children enrolled. Classes were taught in both English and Norwegian.

Cook car where threshers were fed, owned by J. Roholt. Alma Roholt sits at left.

Haying Season 345

served before the church building was erected. They were Rev. H. P. Cooper, Rev. J. C. Struthers, Rev. H. G. Clivers and Rev. W. May. The Methodist Church building was erected in 1893, three years after the coming of the railroad. The lots on which the church was built were donated by the townsite organizers, C. D. Lord, J. A. Douglas, and Allan Hoople. The first official board was John Hughes, John Porter Allan Hoople, P. J. McMurrey, David Henry, William Henry, Dave Young, T. H. Topping and Isaac MiU, under the guidance of their pastor Rev. D. C. Irwin. The board hired a carpenter, John Hamilton, and the church was built. Twenty-one preachers served the church from 1893 until 1925: Revs. D. C. Irwin, S. L. Hart, J. A. Davis, H. R RandaU W. Bell, A. Murchison, A. S. Mason, 0. D. Gannon F A. Gresman, E. L. Mudge, W. Burns, Thomas Dyer, I. E. Moats, C. T. Ensign, C. F. Brindley, W. J. Medland, E. E. Satterly, W. Hyndman, T. A. Simpson, E. Trigg, and T. S. Brown. In 1925, Rev. H. J. Empie was caUed to serve the Hoople Methodist and Methodist churches at Crystal and Hensel. . This brings the pioneer history of the Hoople Methodist Church up to the year 1930. Submitted by Orrin Parkins, Hoople.

Previously those preparing for confirmation went to Zion Park Center, or Grafton. The first class to be confirmed was on Aug. 27, 1916. Eight had been instructed in Norwegian and four in English. Mr. Fagerholt continued as superintendent until 1952. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

SCHOOLS HOOPLE PUBLIC SCHOOL NO. 42 The first school was located about one-half mile north of the town in a one room buUding. The first one in the village was in Nicholson HaU which had been moved to the east side of the railroad in 1891. From 1894 when Frank Frances became a director instead of Fred Frazier, records show that from then up to 1900 some of the directors included Kittel Veum, H. E. Hewitt, Thomas Simon. George Bjorneby, H. Perry, and 1905, George Johnstone, H. G. Patterson, Charles Vick, C. R. French, George Bodmer, H. W. Bunn, Ole Fedje, clerk, and Norman C. Olson, treasurer. A two room school was buUt later, next to the Presbyterian church. For a short time, one year of high school was also offered. About 1915 a part of Elora Township in Pembina County, bordering Glenwood Township, was added to the district. In 1914 the district consoUdated with Glenwood School District No. 17 and a new building was erected. Besides the grades, the high school was added beginning with the ninth grade and adding one year through the eleventh grade. Then students had to go elsewhere to graduate. Those who came from the east spent many hours a day on horse-drawn buses, especially during the winter and spring break-up when gravel was unknown on rural roads. T. Swanson and Fredolf Swanson were the first drivers. It was really a treat when Fredolf would buy a dollar's worth of peanuts on his pay day. Parents from the north furnished their own transportation. Since the new building was not completed until after Christmas in 1915, it was necessary for the school to be held in the Woodman Hall, with only three teachers. Classes in the basement were often interrupted when a load of coal came.

United Methodist Church, Hoople (From 1880 to 1930) By 1880 the land in this area of the Red River Valley was settled by pioneers chiefly from the eastern Canadian Provinces, the British Isles, Scandinavian countries and Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. After claim shanties were built to house these families, they soon planned for a place to worship according to the faith in which they were brought up. The first reUgious organization in this new settlement was a community Sunday School organized by Mrs Thomas Frazier with meetings each Sunday in her farm home. As this school grew, it was moved to the district schoolhouse which was then located one-half mile north of the viUage of Hoople. Mrs. Frazier and her pupils loved the hymns of the church, so she would put her organ on the sled or wagon and two faithful horses hauled it across the fields to the schoolhouse. The team of horses waited patiently to return it after Sunday School closed. With this beginning came a desire for the preaching of God's word regularly and the Rev. H. P. Cooper, a Methodist circuit rider stationed in Grafton, came to minister to this little group. This was the first Methodist Episcopal Church in Hoople. Four pioneer ministers

346

In 1883 petitioning was begun for building the schoolhouse and the valuation of the land in the district was $53,000. On Feb. 21, 1884, a meeting was held at the Richard Anderson home and a bond for $500 was issued. John Magnus Almen was listed as director and Donald McKensie as clerk. The deed for the school was granted District No. 13 on April 16, 1884. The board was to have the schoolhouse erected by June 1, 1884, and Hans Olson was to be the carpenter. Magnus Hultin, a skilled mason in the area, may have built the foundation. Records are scarce for the activities during the first decade of the school's existence. It seems as if one who knew how to handle money was put in as treasurer and one who had legible handwriting was obtained as clerk. Some of the instructors were: Addie Frazier, 1882; May Van Lane, 1883; Hennie Fredrickson, 1884; Frances Rutlidge, 1885; Effie Parkins, 1885; Clara Watson, 1887; Edith Shumway, 1888; D. E. Hall, 1889; and Minnie Ellett, 1890-91-92. As for board members none have been listed but we presume parents were cooperative and helped each other in various duties connected with their children's education. Later the schools were organized as county schools under a county superintendent whose headquarters were at the County Courthouse in Grafton. Each school was given a number in the order in which they were established under the county superintendent's supervision. Consequently, the Kohlar School was given 13 and A School District to be organized to include children who were to go to this and whose tax money was to support it. This school districts did not always coincide with the township divisions. The school boards were to have three directors, a clerk and a treasurer. In the 1890's such names as: John Almen, Ole Bogstie, Knute Berg, Hans C. Dahl, and Donald McKensie appear as directors. N . N. Midgarden was listed as treasurer and clerks were P. E. Anderson and John Almen. In the years of 1900-10 we see Ole Herrud, Knute Aaland, and Joe Anderson as directors and Hans Walby as treasurer. While E. N. Perley and Daniel McKensie were listed as clerks. New names appearing in 1910-1920 were: G. A. Johnson, T. G. Thompson, T. G. Nelson, O. O. Holt, Ole C. Berg, and O. A. Fedje as directors. Mrs. T. G. Thompson was treasurer. Daniel McKensie was clerk until 1920 when C. Albert Johnson had the office until he moved from the vicinity. New names added to the list of school officers were Frank Anderson as director and Oscar H . Johnson as clerk, a position he held for 18 years. A. N. Midgarden held the position of treasurer for many years following his father. The directors alternated the position of president. G. A. Johnson held the presidency quite often.

Later, one teacher, Mrs. Percy Donnelly, formerly Miss Helen Stuart, arranged a two day field trip by train to Walhalla for her upper grade pupils, trudging through the historical and geographical points of interest. In addition, it really helped to cement the friendship of the pupils from the three areas of the district. Another year she taught in the high school and added were girls' glee club and home economics which was for a class of six in cooking. It was held in a small recitation room, using kerosene stoves. Because there was no gymnasium, boys' basketball was organized later, using the Woodmen Hall. GLENWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 17 From 1882 Elisha Hedges was treasurer of the Glenwood School District No. 17 until 1890 when Robert Jacobs replaced him, Cyrus Richey in 1894 and James Johnston from 1894-1898 succeeded him. The directors in 1894 were David Young, John Anderson, and Daniel Dieger. In 1897 the directors were James Ryan and William Moncrief, and in 1898, Joseph Lee and T. J. Neilson. Miss Ella Jacobs was the first teacher in 1882. Following her were Winifred Mcintosh in 1886, Effie Parkins in 1894, Louise Tringh in 1896, Alpha Almen in 1898 and Lizzie McKenzie in 1900. Last day of school picnics were events to which the children looked forward to besides other occasions such as programs. However, the building was not only used for school purposes, but as the meeting place for church services, Sunday School, and Epworth League. The Methodist minister who resided in Crystal drove down by horse and buggy on Sunday afternoons before returning to Crystal for his evening services. The Epworth League would be in the evenings for the young people who came on bicycles. The first Sunday School Superintendent was T. H. Topping. Names of some of the families were: B. Quinn, Dave Young, T. J. Neilson, Albert Herbison, Joe Herbison, Mrs. Dave Young, W. H. Davis, Wm. Rogers, and Anton Haug. The Parkins family and others also attended. Mrs. N. G. Bjorneby (Una) remembers attending Sunday School when she was four years old. In the fall of 1914 the school district consolidated with the Hoople School District No. 42. The building was then moved to Hoople where it became used as a residence and the post office for many years. It was drawn in using a team of 24 horses. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 13 Kohlar School, later District No. 13, had the land for the school recorded as not being given by Kohler, but because Kohler owned the land in conjunction with a Peterson for a short time, it was recorded as given by Peterson. Credit was given by the community to Kohlar for donating the land as the property on which the school was later located was part of what belonged to him for many years. The early settlers knew that education of their offspring was very important. Records show that as early as 1891-1892 some form of organization took place. Peter Anderson, Sweden, was the first treasurer. School was held in an old log cabin situated on the land now owned by Clara Anderson. Anna Marie Almen Johnson stayed with Kohlar and went to this school.

Schools were not in session as long as we have now and many times they were conducted during the summer. Transportation to and from school was either by foot or horseback. Some children had a pony and cart. These animals became very independent and would play tricks on their owners. A barn was constructed for the animals as some children had far to travel. Salaries for teachers were nothing compared to what now is available. Neither was material from which to teach. Many prominent men received their early education in a little rural school where one was taught to read, write, cipher and spell. Self-reliance was a must in our little rural schools. Then, too, many learned much by listening to other classes being conducted. 347

debates, news events, discussions and a bit of comedy thrown in. It was educational as the meetings were all conducted according to "Robert's Rules of Order" which taught the parliamentary way of procedure. Refreshments were always served. Games and visiting followed. It was discontinued after a few years when the young people left for school or married or just outgrew such entertainment. Again in 1922 a similar club "The 76 Community Forum" was organized. They also met at the school with Oscar Shannon as its first president. During that time such entertainment was very commendable. Of course, for our young people of this day and age, it would be considered "square."

Here is a list of teachers from 1892-1930 in Glenwood District No. 13: Minnie Ellingson, 1892-1893; Effie Parkins, 1893; Minnie Almen, 1894-1896; Jessie Sinkler, 1897; Mary Burdick, 1897; Lorin Nelson, 1898; Hannah FJthon, 1898; George Dickson, 1898; Valentine McKenzie, 1899; J. A. Cutting, 1899-1900; Gerhard Jergenson, 1901; Lizzie McKenzie, 1902-1903; Alma Almen, 1904-1905; Anna Tharalson, 1906; Minnie E. Giles, 1906; Cora Rodgers, 1907-1908; Hilda Dahl, 1909-1910; Alma Monsebroten, 1910-1911; Laura Oihus, 1911; Lillian Cochran, 1912; Alma Berg, 1912; Cornelia Sandvig, 1912-1913; Alma Monsebroten, 1913-1914; Dora M. Vigness, 19141915; Nora M . Rye, 1915-1916; Clara Rye, 1916-1917; Lillian Monsebroten, 1917-1919; Lily Benedictson, 19191921; Alfhild Johnson, 1921-1922; Lily Benedictson, 19221923; Clara F. Bratly, 1923-1924; Sigrid Magnusson, 19241926; Viola Peterson, 1926-1927; Agnes L. Nicholas, 19271928; and Marion Burtt, 1928-1930. (Much of this material was gathered from material left by the late Oscar H. Johnson of the Nash area who was clerk for many years.) Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson.

In 1920 with Bella (Larson) Erlandson as teacher, the schoolhouse burned down in January and for the remainder of the term school was held in a vacant farm house. The following year a modern school house was erected. District No. 76 continued until 1957 when it was reorganized and consolidated with the town school in Hoople. The last teacher in 1956-57 was Richard Holland and the last school board consisted of George Bjorneby, clerk; Otto Paulson, treasurer; Orville Bjerke; Maynard Gjevre and Harold Bjorneby.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 76 The land where the old Gryde School District No. 76 was situated was given by a man named Peter Speton whose farm home was across the river from the schoolhouse site in Range 54 Twp. 158 Section 16. The first school year opened October, 1892, with Miss Stella Gargan as instructor. The first directors of the school board were Nels Twee ten, A. Erlandson, Wm. Hillier, Wm. Hurtt. John Paulson was treasurer and Andy Patterson, clerk. Because of severe winter weather, poor roads and transportation, school was in session three or four months in the fall of the year and again three or four months during the spring and summer months! Sometimes one teacher would teach the fall months and a different one would be hired for the following summer months. Wages were $20 to $30 a month. Other teachers during that time were Henry Patterson, M . Brummel, Minnie Ellingson and William Hillier. Other officers were Andrew Anderson, Robert Patterson, Ole K. Gryde, Andrew Fagerholt, H. N. Hendrickson and Iver K. Veum. From 1899 to 1914 teachers were L. L. Butterwick, O. H. Rysstad, A. L. Bolstad, J. A. Sanderson, Maggie Davison, Charles McDonald, Elizabeth Coyne, Geo. H. Hillier, Henry Springan, Kilmer Moe, Clarence Record, Una Parkins, Ole Voge and Christine (Johnson) Homme. Other teachers were Eunice Jacobson, Ida McEachren, Cecelia Von Goores, Lillian Monsebroten, Julia Johnson, Alvina Colsen, Esther Hurtt, Bella Larson, Ruth Hurtt, Nora Gryde, Lydia Bjorneby, Emma Monson and Verna Larson. Officers from 1899 to 1914 were John Halloran, Theodore Evenson, John Shannon and N. G. Bjorneby. Some of the superintendents of Walsh County at that time were W. L. Stockwell, Jacob Sonderal, Edward Erickson and B. B. Wells. In 1907 the schoolhouse was a meeting place for the District No. 76 Community Club which was organized with Albert Fagerholt as its first president. They met each month with a worthwhile program consisting of

So ends the chapter of the old School District No. 76, Glenwood Township. Submitted by Mrs. N. G. Bjorneby.

Studebaker owned by J. H. Paulson. Son, Louis, at the wheel. 348

Hoople School—1916 District No. 76 — 1914 — Entry and coal shed have been added. Cora Evenson, teacher of parochial school.

Stafford School—Miss Effie Parkins,

teacher.

Hoople School

Li,, District 13—1884

Coeds at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn, in Standing: Ada Flaten, Hoople; Laura Monson, burg; Clara Gryde, Hoople. Seated: Nora Gaarder, River; Ruth Bjorneby, Hoople; Inga Gaarder, River.

1912: EdinPark Park

HOOPLE ORGANIZATIONS HOOPLE FARMERS GRAIN COMPANY On July 31,1906, a charter to operate a grain elevator and warehouse was issued to the Hoople Fanners Grain Co. Applicants were K. J. Veum, N. C. Olson, John Hughes, and T. J. Neilson. It was first organized as a stock company of 72 stockholders. The first meeting was July 13 1907. Directors elected were: 0. H. Rinde, K. J. Veum, John Hughes, S. 0. Hukie, A. H. Walker, N. C. Olson, T. J. Neilson, L. J. Frazier and J. S. Hove, with 0. H. Rinde, first president and later L. J. Frazier; vicepresident, John Hughes; treasurer, A. H. Walker. Electricity used was contracted in the fall of 1918 when the Naegeli Brothers, Frank and Robert, offered to wire the elevator for $20 with a flat rate of $18 per year for five lights. . ^ i Up to 1927 power to operate the legs in the elevator had been furnished by an 8 H. P. gasoline engine. John Roholt installed the changeover to electric power with three 5 H. P. motors and on 2 H. P. motors besides nghts. During the twenties, there was expansion and improvements. In 1923 a new dump that could be used for trucks and sleighs in addition to wagons and a complete rebuilding of the top elevator floor was taken care of. An office building was constructed at a cost of $500. A home for the manager was built in 1921 with the H. P. Larson family the first occupants. The company was later changed to a cooperative. An oil bulk station was also added with Albert Dickson from whom the station was leased and Hubbard Travers running the station. Later managers were Maynard Nelson and Charles Bessire. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje.

WOMEN'S CIVIC CLUB The Women's Civic Club was organized in 1928 with Mrs J B. Johnson, president; Mrs. Andrew Berdahl, vice president, and Mrs. George Sonstrud, secretary. Aims were to make improvements in the park, to take the responsibility of caring for the cemetery, to begin a library, and to promote other programs for the promotion of activities for the good of the community. Previously some of the women had been active in a Shrine Auxiliary for the purpose of helping children who needed care at Shrine Hospitals. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje. MONDAY NIGHT STUDY CLUB The Monday Night Study Club was organized in December, 1927. The first meeting was at the home of Mrs George Johnston. Mrs. 0. Ruud was appointed to draw up the constitution and the by-laws. At this first meeting it was decided that the last fifteen minutes of each meeting be given to calisthenics. The object of this organization was to improve the minds of its members and also mutual helpfulness. Officers that first year were: Mmes. J . Wallum, president, G. Johnston, vice president; andO. Ruud, secretary and treasurer First year members were: Mmes. A. Berdahl, S Crocker, C. Folson, L. Folson, J. French, R. French, G. Johnston, J . B. Johnson, A. Kraft, C. F. McNeil, 0. Ruud, G. Sonsterude, F. Swanson and J. Wallum. At the April 23, 1928, meeting members decided to join the Federation of Women's Clubs. Officers for the coming year were Mmes. A. Berdahl, president, C. F. McNeil, vice president; and George Johnston, secretary and treasurer. This club has sought to promote and develop cultural and educational interests in the community. Topics studied have been pertinent to the times. Back in 1928, one evening's study was on property nghts and laws affecting women. During the second year, one evening's lesson was a debate, "Resolved that motherhood and a business career can be successfully combined." Mrs. C. F. McNeil and Mrs. J. French were on the affirmative side and Mrs. J. B. Johnson and Mrs. Ruud negative. Mrs. Berdahl, Mrs. Kraft, and Mrs. Johnston were the appointed judges. Their decision was 2 to 1 in favor of the negative side. Roberts Rules of Order was stressed during the early years. The use of better English was considered important. Poetry, books, art and music, as well as current events, have had an important place on the programs throughout the years. The club has also had a great interest in the development of the International Peace Gardens. A few of the many causes that have been supported financially are: CARE, the Music Camp, Girl's State, Mental Health, Arthritis Foundation, Cancer Fund, March of Dimes, Heart Fund and local projects. In 1944, the Monday Night Study Club sponsored the organization of the M & M Study Club of Hoople. Submitted by Mrs. I^aurence Lerud.

POLITICAL PARTIES Political parties were the Republican and Democratic parties. At the time of the Nonpartisan party's beginning, party spirit became active after L. J. Frazier won the governor's race on the Republican ticket. The opposing party was the I. V. A. WOODMEN LODGE The Hoople Modern Woodman Lodge was organized and built its hall in 1898. Among the first officers were Allen Hoople, Frank Naegeli, Frank Frances, and John Flannagan. It was used by the school and community for athletic activities for many years. Although the lodge was disbanded, the haU made a real contribution to the community. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje. WORKMAN LODGE The Workman Lodge was formed in the nineties with Frank Frances, master workman; John A. Yeo, recorder; and H. L. Gryte, treasurer. It later disbanded. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje. 350

NOTES NOSTALGIC MEMORIES OF HOOPLE

The falls at Hoople Park, Hoople, N. D. The big Christmas tree at the Woodman Hall, all Ut up with real candles, watched carefuUy by Charley French. Fourth of July celebrations which began with a loud powder blast at daybreak by Herman NaegU, and ended at the evening fire works when I got sick (pop and candy) and threw up. Poor mother always missed the display. Picking ripe gooseberries in Hoople Park. Big fires, always at night. The time the robber bit off George Johnston's ear. Folson's house being moved into town from the Fred Harris farm. First auto in Hoople, a Buick, owned by Geo. Bjorneby, and the second, a CadiUac, by Nels Folson. Walking the railroad tracks in the winter time when everything else was covered with snow. Picking wild plums, choke cherries, and black haws in our favorite woods. The old swimming hole, complete with mud slide. When the new burglar alarm at the bank went off about midnight and N. C. Olson raced the two blocks in his underwear and no shoes. When two good looking girls from Park River visited relatives in Hoople. Wow, the candy JuUus Bodmer swiped from his dad's candy store. Nels Folson had the first cement sidewalk in town. Riding the long belt from the threshing engine to the separator. The wonderful toboggan sUde off Hoople's barn with Tom Wood always in control. Watermelon at Geo. Johnston's at 5 cents per sUce had to eat it on the street. Dora Foss was the original moonUghter, in the faU she closed her shop and took a j ob as cook for a threshing crew. The pies and bread she made in that rolling cook shack! After the store burned in 1902 it was discovered that most of the canned vegetables were still good. However, the labels were aU burned off, so we had to open the can and take what we found. What disappointments! Midwinter and forty below, putting my tongue on the metal awning crank. The cistern under the store suppUed aU the water for the store (the drinking fountain was a bucket with a dipper). The apartments also got water from the cistern by opening a hatch in the floor and using a bucket and rope.

CUmbing the outside iron stairway at the St. Anthony Grain Elevator to take pictures. Naegli Bros. buUt the first luxury boat to go on the river. A row boat with a double set of oars. Submitted by Arthur B. Venberg.

Early Lutheran Ladies Aid—1911. Upper row, left to right: Mrs. Emil Lowe, Dora Foss (seamstress), Mrs. Jacob Aske, Mrs. Larson, Mrs. Nels Folson, Mrs. Ole Fedje. Middle row: Mrs. H. N. Hendrickson, Mrs. Martin Larson, Mrs. Geo. Johnston and son, Victor, Mrs. Reier Torgerson and Lloyd, Mrs. Lars Fedje, Mrs. Horne (Anderson). Bottom row: Mrs. Geo. Hoople and son, Mrs. Ludvig Larson (Clara Torgerson) and daughter, Sylvia, Mrs. H. Heder and son.

The Gryde children playing a ring game at the Knut A PIONEER JOURNEY (Notes from a very smaU 3V4x5%, notebook owned by WiUiam Hurtt of Hoople. Inside the front cover is written: WUliam Hurtt's Book, Pembina County, Dakota Territory.) From HaUburton, Ontario (15 mUes N. E . of Toronto), April 6,1880. Page 1. Started for the west today by the Victoria R. R. Got to Lindsay at noon. Left Lindsay at 2 a. m. Got to Whitby at dark. Stopped there until the next morning. Had an awful time of it getting our horses into a car. Got them in after a lot of trouble. Took a train with two engines attached to it. Had a good view of Toronto and the lake. Getting along all right now. It is now the 7th at noon. There are 18 cars and six of them are passenger cars.

April 8, 1880. Lovely morning We are running from Detroit to Chicago. Had a fairly good night of it but must get our breakfast now. Well, such slow fravehng "never did see! We have been running[through a lovely country all day. It is sunset now and still in Michigan. There are two trains behind us now m sight. There are 26 cars with us - all drawn by one engine It is all she can do. It is after dark now. We were aU asleep There's a cry of "Fire!" The train stops. It is the head S r hat is onfire! The horses and a carload of goods I is an awful sight to see the poor horses burning to death! April 9,1880. It is morning now, bright and clear and

HaUburton, Ontario, as did George (I) WUliam and Frank (I) Hurtt and their brother-in-law, Mr. William HilUer grandfather of Marcel Hillier of Hoople. Compiled from the diary of Wm. Hurtt and written by his daughter, Esther Hurtt Hodge.

" Tp m A*r?l M880. One o'clock and still in Chicago. We caught up to the other party here, although we started out as the first party. Got to Milwaukee. They divided the train in two. We are running along pretty fast ^ h

running along the Mississippi River for the last 5 U

° April 11 1880. We ran on all right until three in the morning ofthe 11th. Then we were all awakened by three Seavy shrieks and then a full stop of the train We went forward and such a sight it was! and one man killed and three horses and one cow! It took all day to clear off the track, then we went ahead. Got on all right. We are at Crookston now. April 12,1880. Patterson (Adam) and I came home to Park River, walking. Had an awful time of it. Had to wade the water. Had to take a whole day to come home in We were very tired when we got home - never was ever tireder in my whole life! I don't think George (brother) has started for Pembina this morning, so I think that I will stop writing now as I am home safe once more.

Picnic, Rural Hoople. Standing : Mrs. Ole Fedje, hostess. Mrs N Folson, co-hostess. Left to right: Mrs. J. H. Paulson, Mrs. OleK. Gryde, Miss Signe Gryde, Mrs. Van Zante, Mrs. T. G. Thompson of Minneapolis, Mrs. Huseby, Mrs. John Halloran, Mrs. Andrew Fedje, Mrs. N. C. Olson. Back to camera: Minnie Paulson. Child: Claris Fedje.

NOTES OF EXPLANATION OF THE ABOVE In 1878 George Hamilton Hurtt left Haliburton in eastern Ontario on April 6 for Dakota with Mr. Isaac Thompson. They went by train with 28 others, taking the train at Minden near Haliburton. On May 15,1878, Fred Parsonage (brother of Marian Parsonage Hurtt) left for Manitoba by tram. His brothers, Everett and Henry, were already there On April 3, 1879, William Hurtt staked out his claim in Glenwood Township, Walsh County, later known through the years as Balm Point Farm. The land had not yet been surveyed. These notes by him were written in April, 1880, when he returned to Ontario to pack up and move his elderly parents, Mr. and Mrs Samuel Hurtt and his two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Jane, to Dakota Territory They apparently went on by train to Pembina to be met there by their brother, George, whose claim was next to William's. Pembina is about 40 miles away. Apparently WilUam Hurtt and Adam Patterson had left the train somewhere east of the Red River in the vicinity of Donaldson and walked to their claims, a distance of around 60 miles. If they left the train at Crookston it would have been 81 mUes. With the rivers in the midst of spring floods, walking would be most difficult. He mentions that they had to "wade the waters" and he was "never more tired in his Ufe by the time he reached his own log cabin on the bank of the middle branch of the Park River, two miles south

Jim Hove and Andrew Fedje in home made cutter, Hoople.

POETRY BY AGNES QUALLY DAKOTABEAUTY Silvery sunlight, Skylight serene, MeUowy moonlight, Starlight sheen; Moss-covered mulches, With tree fern above, Personified prairies, Dakota we love! Wavering wiUows, Cumulus clouds, Bustling beavers, Shadowy shrouds, Hospitable houses Strangers wUl caU, AU hail to Dakota, The best state of all!

f H

° Adam Patterson mentioned above is the grandfather of Mrs. Linton Woods of Grafton. He also came from 352

RETIREMENT Another year has ended, Another year of strife, Another year of victory, Another year of life; Another year of friendship, Another year of giving, Another year with children, Another year of living; Another year of kindliness, Another year of health, Another year of happiness, This is my store of wealth! PIONEER DAD My pioneer dad Was only a lad When a farmer's life he chose to live; Kind, hard-working Dad, The best to be had, This verse to your memory I give! Your death so early - so sad. He was so cheerful - my dad, When we were happy he was glad. He sweetly smiles in sleep His soul in slumber deep Angels watch to keep. MY TRIBUTE It was not the stylish coat you donned, Nor the finished sheen of your hair, It was not the particular style of glove, Nor the hat you chose to wear; Ah, no our friends, it was you, As we met in the house of prayer, With eyes that visioned a hope beyond, That made you our friends so dear; Your eyes hold cheer in a kindly gaze, As your hand we shake in love; Your lives point to the heavenly throne Where we want to meet in love.

In summer,

cows were often milked outside the barn.

Mr. and Mrs. Kittel Veum riding in a cutter.

HOOPLE BIOGRAPHIES AALAND NOTED IN POTATO INDUSTRY In 1881 an eager young emigrant from Telemarken, Norway, came to North Dakota seeking his fortune. In fact, he was a bit too eager for he filed on a homestead near Gardar before he was 21 and lost it. He was Knute Aaland, one of the founders of the potato growing business at Hoople, which has made his name known everywhere that potatoes are raised. His sons own and operate 30 A quarters of land in the Hoople vicinity. Knute Aaland saw the industry he founded advance far beyond his early expectations before his death in June 1938, as a result of an automobile accident. After losing his claim near Gardar, the young homesteader went to the Turtle Mountains, where he bought land and farmed seven years. His next move was to Walsh County. He was in the butcher business and in 1909 settled near Nash, locating on land west of Hoople three years later. He made his start as a potato grower in 1910 and entered the business commercially in 1912. Soon he began dealing in seed and table stock and erected a warehouse in 1920. The business grew steadily, his four sons later becoming associated with him and contributing to the development of the business. The sons bought out their father in 1937. The sons were: Andrew, Adolph, Morgan and Clarence. He also had two dau^iters (twins), Grace and Millie. The business is conducted as the Aaland Potato Company and there is also a farming partnership, Aaland Bros. This year the Aalands have 1,000 acres in potatoes, largely cobblers and triumphs. A new warehouse, erected last year, increased their storage capacity to 166,000 bushels. l

AUTUMN Splashes of azure, Blotches of blue, Sprinkles of silver. Gold shimmers through; Riots of redness, Banners of brown. Garnish of moss greens, Autumn's in town. Selected and submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson from the poetry of Agnes Qually.

Knut Aaland—1916

Mrs. Mary Aaland, widow of the founder of the business, resides at Hoople. She is 74 and was born in Norway, coming to America with her parents when she was seven years old. Her father, Andrew Larson, was a pioneer of the Sweden community. The sons are active in all phases of the potato industry sharing in all organized moves to promote potato growing and marketing generally and are rated as outstanding men in the industry. Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Aaland.

Almens: Lars G. Almen, Emma Almen, Edith Crosby, Anna Johnson. They were married in January, 1874, at the home of John Weberg, who at this time lived near River FaUs, Wise. They had a homestead near Princeton, Minn. When the federal government opened up land for settlement in the Red River Valley of Dakota Territory it sounded Uke promised land. In the faU of 1877 they packed their belongings into a covered wagon and headed for the Red River Valley with their children, Minnie and Alfred. They reached his brother Johannes KoUer's place at Fergus FaUs, Minn., and spent the winter there. April 13, 1878, a third child, Hannah, was born. Later in the spring of 1878 they came to Walsh County. _ They selected a site on the middle branch of Park River in Glenwood Township. The family spent the summer of 1878 in the covered wagon because ground had to be broken and a crop put in before doing any work on a home. They got plenty potatoes and hay that year. They arrived with a team of horses, two cows, some chickens

Knut Aaland farm west of Hoople. MR. AND MRS. JOHN M. ALMEN Mr. and Mrs. John M. Almen came to the area in Dakota Territory which became known as Glenwood Township in the spring of 1878. John Magnus Person was born April 13, 1850, in the parish of Tosse near Amal in the province of Dallsland and lived on a small farm called Kolen on the estate of Bjakebo. At the age of 19, he emigrated to America with an older brother, Johannes Koller. They came to Stillwater, Minn., where they worked in the woods, logging in winter and on farms in the summer. He also went to school during the winter to learn to read and write English. Later, he chose the surname Almen, a name given to one of his brothers after he was in military service in Sweden. In Stillwater, Minn., he met Petromella Nilsson, who was called Nelly. She was bom March 16,1849, in Attarp in the parish of Orkeljunga in Skane, Sweden. She had emigrated to America in October, 1871, and lived with her sister who had come to America four years earUer and married John Weberg.

This is the home built by the John Almens, now owned by Reuben Johnsons.

Slid cL Celt

All provisions were hauled from Grand Forks, over 50 miles southeast, which was the nearest town and

354

They lived in a dugout the first winter. In 1879 a log house was built with one big room downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs. Later, a lean-to and three rooms were added to this. By now many settlers had arrived. The community was ready for a post office and so through instrumentality of a Mr. Cooper, two post offices were estabUshed, one at the Almen house and the other to the east, called Sweden. The following year the post office was moved and a store put up but the name Sweden still remained. When the railroad reached Grafton, Sweden was discontinued but there is a marker on Highway 9 - one and a half mUes west of Nash, pointing to the location of the old landmark. . In 1888, 10 years after their arrival in a covered wagon the neighbors helped haul lumber that had been shipped to Auburn, then the nearest raUroad point about 10 mUes. A large frame house was built which is still standing. Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Johnson and daughters Uve there now. In 1889 when Dakota Territory was admitted to tne states of North and South Dakota, Mr. Almen was selected as a delegate to the convention in Bismarck to draw up the constitution of the new state of North Dakota. . „, , . There were 11 children bomtothis union, Alfred next to the oldest, gave his Ufe at Manila in the Spanish

American War. Eight of the 11 are buried at North Trinity Cemetery with their parents. Two are living Nelly Almen in San Francisco and Alfa Almen Rey, Sylmar, Calif. John M . Almen died April 20, 1920, and Mrs. Almen died May 2,1927. They were very active in the work of the North Trinity Church and congregation. Submitted by Alfhild Minnis, Marie Shannon, and Helen Almen. JOHN A L M E N HISTORY Within several of the sections of this history of Walsh County you will find a history of an Almen family. All these came from the union of Per Person (born in 1806 and died in 1869) and Maria Anderdotter (born 1805 and died in 1890) in Sweden. They were married in 1826 and lived in the parish of Tosse, Dalsland, on the torp of Kolon, the estate of Bjokebo. They had a family of 10 sons and two daughters. At the time of their children's immigration to America there was a depression in Sweden and they were forced to leave Sweden to obtain work elsewhere. Six sons and one daughter immigrated to the United States. The daughter, Anna Karisa, went to Nebraska and settled there. The sons came to Walsh County where they became landowners. Per, Johannes, Isaac, Carl, Lars G., and John M . were the brothers. Johannes (Almen) Koihar was born Feb. 6, 1833. He never married but lived in Glenwood Township and died Oct. 16, 1906. He was buried in the North Trinity Cemetery. Carl Almen was born Nov. 6,1839. He never married. He Uved on his farm in Glenwood. He lived there until his death on Feb. 28, 1898. He was buried at North Trinity Cemetery. Lars G. Almen also obtained land in Glenwood Township. He was born March 30, 1846, in Sweden. However, he sold his land soon after and went to Minnesota to study to become a minister in the Swedish Lutheran Church. He and his family were very much connected with the organization and estabUshment of the Gustavus Adolphus CoUege in St. Peter, Minn. He died Dec. 5, 1912. John Magnus Almen was the first of these brothers to come to Glenwood Township. As each of these famUies came, they came to the John Almen home from whom they had obtained their tickets to come to America. Johannes (Almen) Kohlar, Carl Almen, Lars G. Almen and John Magnus Almen aU had adjoining pieces of land in Glenwood Township. Per and Isaac obtained land in Dundee Township. Carl Fredrickson, August, Carl F., and Hjalmar Almen were nephews of the brothers. Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson.

Lulu, and their two daughters made their home in Royal Oak, Mich. When he retired they moved to CaUfornia. After the death of his wife, his sisters, Edith Crosby and Hildegarde Dailey, and a niece, Eunice Parkins, lived with him. During his retirement years he and a college professor wrote and published a college text to be used in engineering classes. The marker for the extinct town of Sweden was erected by him at its site on the south side of County Highway 9 in Glenwood Township of Walsh County. Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson and Murray Swanson. DUNCAN ANDERSON Duncan Anderson and his wife, Ann Jane Rutherford, were married in Ontario. They immigrated to Dakota Territory some time before 1880 and settled on Sections 23 and 26 in Glenwood Township. They were the parents of eight children: Jane, WiUiam, Richard, Catherine, Alexander, John, James and Joseph Richard. Jane and Catherine remained in Canada. Duncan was born Feb. 5, 1822, in Canada and died Jan. 13, 1905, at his home. He is buried in Grafton City Cemetery next to his wife Ann. She was born in 1829 and died Feb. 27,1903. His son, Joseph, lived across the road from him and took care of him in his later years. Duncan and Ann were Presbyterians and Duncan's occupation was farming. Dick, John, and Alexander Uved on adjoining farms. Submitted by AUen Anderson.

Duncan Richard Anderson—1825-1905—Glenwood pioneer.

Twp.

MR. AND MRS. E V E N ANDERSON

JOHN OTTO A L M E N A Uttle should be written about John Otto Almen, the 8th son of John Magnus Almen. Early in life Otto showed a pronounced abiUty in engineering. After he had received his formal education he became associated with the General Motors Corporation. There he made a name for himself by his many inventions - notable among them being the Hydromatic Drive. While working at General Motors, he and his wif*

The original log home of Mr. and Mrs. Even constructed in 1879.

Anderson

Mr. and Mrs. Even Anderson homesteaded in what is now Glenwood Township in 1879. (Their homestead is now owned by Mrs. Otto Paulson.) Even Anderson was born Sept. 3, 1825, in Norway. Maria Hansdater was born Dec. 25, 1820, in Gulbrandsdalen, Norway. They were married in April, 1852, in Norway. While in Norway, Even worked on a farm before he and his wife emigrated to America. They had two children. Peder was born in Norway Jan. 24, 1854, and Caroline was born in Norway May 16, 1863. The family of four set sail for North America and landed in eastern Canada in 1869. The trip to America took them seven weeks. Many days the ship went back further than it had gone ahead the previous day because of the winds on the huge sails. After landing in the U. S., the family traveled to Vernon County, Esofe, Wise., by train where they had a small farm of 40 acres which they farmed for 10 years. Main products from the farm were feed and hay for their Uvestock In 1879 the famUy came to what is now Glenwood Township in Dakota Territory. The entire distance of approximately 800 miles was made by prairie schooner in three weeks. They had heard about the new frontier in the Dakota Territory so they set out to homestead a larger and more productive farm on the prairies of Dakota. A breaking plow was one of the main pieces of equipment they brought to Dakota. They were fortunate to homestead a quarter section of land along what is now known as the middle branch of the Park River on Section 21 in Glenwood Township. There was also an abundance of trees to protect them from the winds and also supply logs for heat and the construction of buUdings. The first year, they arrived on their homestead the first week in June. One of the first things they did was cut logs for a smaU barn. The family lived in the covered wagon during the summer and when the snow feU the faU of 1879, they had also erected a smaU one room log house. The log house can stUl be seen on the farm yard of Even Anderson's great grandson, John D. Paulson, of Hoople. The house was dismantled and reassembled because Even's daughter, Mrs. John H. Paulson, had use for the structure on her farm. They removed the bark from the logs and used that as part of the roofing, together with coarse hay and then sod. Since they had to erect buildings on their farmstead first, they didn't have the opportunity to break up very many acres of sod the first year. They were able to secure some Uvestock for the first winter which provided them with mUk and butter. They also had to put up hay for the long Dakota winter to feed the Uvestock. The years that foUowed they raised wheat, oats and hay on their land. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson erected a larger wood frame house in the early 1880's which consisted of a kitchen, sitting room, and one bedroom downstairs, and upstairs they had one large room and a hall. May 1, 1881, at the age of 17, Caroline Anderson married JohnH. Paulson, a young bachelor farmer from Sweden, who Uved across the river from the Anderson family, and had taken out his homestead (pre-emption) in the spring of 1880. The marriage ceremony was performed in a log cabin owned by John Almen with Rev. M. J. Waage officiating. In 1879 when Caroline and her parents came to then homestead, the first Sunday there, they went for a walk and ended up across the river and when they came to a spot shaded by a large tree,

Caroline remarked that she would someday like to have her home near that tree. Approximately two years later her wish was fulfilled when she married John H. Paulson and they built a nine room wood frame home near that tree after living first in a log house for the first couple years of their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. John Paulson became the parents of 11 chUdren. (Children are listed under the John H. Paulson FamUy History.) Caroline died April 5, 1916, at 53.

Peder Anderson children. Seated: Joe, Henry, Ida. Back row: Norman, Mable.

Mr. and Mrs. Even Anderson and grandson, Carl J. Paulson, taken 1887. Peder Anderson married Emma Nelson in 1883. Emma was born in 1865. Peder and Emma became the parents of five children, Norman, Ida, Joe, Mable and Henry Peder and his wife farmed approximately one mile east of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Even Anderson and his sister, CaroUne Paulson, untU his death in 1894 at the age of 40. Due to UI health, Mr. and Mrs. Even Anderson resided for several years at the farm home of their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Paulson. Even died Aug. 5, 1899, at the age of 74. Maria died March 25, 1901 at the age of 81. They are both buried at Zion Lutheran Church of which they were members as are their two children, Caroline Anderson Paulson and Peder Anderson. . Emma Anderson later married Ervin Perley. Ihey continued to farm in Glenwood Township until they moved to Ruso. They had one daughter, Nina, who married Fred Draffehn. Submitted by Lorraine Paulson.

FRANK ANDERSON Frank Anderson was born June 19, 1891, in Glenwood Township, the son of William and Elizabeth Anderson. He attended school in Glenwood District No. 13. Nov. 25, 1915, he married Clara Gryde, the daughter of Knute and Liv. They farmed the old homestead of his father. Frank's gardening was perhaps his hobby, but I'm sure there wasn't anything he enjoyed more than hunting and fishing. Clara received her elementary education at the Gryde School, rural Hoople, and attended high school at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. She was a confirmed member of the Zion Church and maintained her membership there, although she worked with the North Trinity Ladies' Aid group for many years, serving as their president at one time. She spent a lot of her spare time reading, but her favorite pastime was to get together with her friends for a good "coffee klatch." Frank and Clara were the parents of six children. Mrs. Frank (Verna) Duray, Earl, Willard (Butch), Lyle (Punk), Mrs. Jack (Marilyn) Mattson, and Eldon (deceased 1963). Frank died Aug. 27, 1951. His burial was in the Zion Cemetery. Clara continued to live on the farm for many years, later she moved into town for the winter months. She is now a resident of the Lutheran Sunset Home. Earl and Willard farm the land. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

Frank Anderson

days, to Grand Forks, four days. The average load was 50 to 60 bushels. One fall he was unable to get his wheat threshed, and he harvested it the following spring with no loss. It stUl yielded 40 bushels. His five brothers filed on homesteads close by, but only William and Joseph continued to live in Glenwood Township. Elizabeth Wood was born in Ontario July 22, 1861. Her parents were William and Ann Wood. She was educated in Ontario and Uved in Pembina County before coming to Walsh County in February, 1881. EUzabeth Wood and William Anderson were married in Park River, Jan. 26,1887. Three children were born to them, Wilford, Frank and Gretta All married and made their homes near Hoople. Wilford Anderson lived at home until his marriage to Belle Nicholson in 1914. The couple lived on a farm near Nash. Then in 1919 he bought his grandfather's farm, adjoining Hoople, and moved there in 1920. BeUe's hobbies were fancy work and growing flowers. People came great distances to see her beautiful flower garden. Their son, Bud, now owns the family farm. Other children are: Mrs. E. J. (Dorothy) Denny; Mrs. J . A. (Marie) Hartman; Mrs. Paul (Beth) Tharalson, and Dale. Submitted by Mrs. Wilford Anderson. ANDREW BERDAHL FAMILY

Mrs. Frank Anderson

WILLIAM ANDERSON As a lad of 17, William Anderson and his five brothers and parents arrived in Walsh County in 1877. They came from Peterboro County, Ont., where WUliam was born Aug. 17, 1852. They left home in 1878 and spent the first year at Winnipeg where they were employed by the Canadian Pacific RaUway. The foUowing spring they went by boat to Casselton. In the faU they decided to become farmers, so the six went by a stage - then running between Fargo and Pembina. East of Glenwood Township they left the stage and walked to Sweden, a post office near the present town of Nash. By this time, all the land along rivers and creeks which contained timber was taken by Norwegian and Swedish settlers. Anderson was one of the first to settle on the open prairie in that district. The following year he had 40 acres in crop, nearly aU of it in wheat. The average yield during those early years was 40 bushels per acre. Grain was hauled to either Acton or Grand Forks. A round trip to Acton took two

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Berdahl wedding, June 24, 1914, at Hoople. Mrs. Berdahl was Florence Blades, Grafton, before her marriage. Andrew Berdahl came to Hoople in 1903 from Norway. He attended Concordia College and in 1906 began working in the Venberg and Fedje Store. He later became a partner in the business, where he worked for 40 years in the machinery and hardware departments. In June, 1914, he married Florence Blades. Mrs. Berdahl was bom in Grafton in August, 1888. She graduated from the Grafton High School and VaUey City State College. She taught in several rural schools in Walsh County and in Neche and Hoople before her marriage. Mrs. Berdahl attended the Lutheran Church and was church organist for a number of years. She was a member of the W. S. C. S. (Methodist Church), A. L. C. W., Hoople Civic Club, American Legion Auxiliary and the Monday Night Study Club. Berdahl served on the Walsh County Welfare Board

for 20 years. He was a member of the Selective Service Board during World War II. He also served on the Hoople town board and on the board of trustees of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital. He was a member of the Royal Arch Masons and a member of Kern Temple of the Shrine at Grand Forks. He was a charter member of the First Lutheran Church of Hoople. Mr. and Mrs. Berdahl had three sons: James, who died in 1955; Charles and Richard and two daughters, Helen (Mrs. Laurence Lerud) and Ruth (Mrs. Andrew Froehlich). KNUTE C. BERG Knute C. Berg was born Feb. 15, 1851, in Eggedal, Norway, son of Christian and Mari Berg. He came to Decorah, Ia., with his parents, where he lived for awhile. In 1880 he married Ragnhild Fulsaas at Madison Lutheran Church, Decorah, Ia. They came to North Dakota in 1881 and settled on a homestead in Section 27 of Glenwood Township where he resided until 1901. He sold his farm to his brother Ole and moved to MinneapoUs, Minn., with his daughters, Mary, Inga, and Clara; his wife having died. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. While in North Dakota he served as treasurer of his school district for several years. He was also active in church and township affairs and did much for his community. Knute died May 26, 1919, in MinneapoUs and was buried in the Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. Survivors were: Mrs. John (Mary) Nelson, and Mrs. Hugo (Clara) Anderson, both of MinneapoUs; and Mrs. Albert (Inga) FJthon, Nerstrand, Minn. Submitted by Clara Berg and Inga Paulson.

Mr. and Mrs. Ole C. Berg Berg married Annie Aasand from Norway at Grafton in 1890. The couple had eight chUdren: Clara, Otto, Mrs. Otto (Inga) Paulson, CUfford and Leonard, aU of Hoople; Mrs. John (Alma) Wibe, Bisbee; Mrs. HoUis (Marion) Burtt and Mrs. CUfford (Esther) Anderson, Grafton. AU of their chUdren were born in Glenwood Township. In addition to farming, in which he was eminently successful, he devoted much time and attention to community affairs and served as treasurer of his school district; and held membership in the Zion Lutheran Church and the Sigdalslag, a fraternal association made up of members of his own community in Norway. Leonard, his youngest son, is now living on the homestead. Berg acquired more land on which the other sons, Otto and CUfford, made their homes. Ole Berg died March 26, 1943, and was buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoople. Mrs. Berg preceded him in death Nov. 18, 1941. Submitted by Clara Berg and Inga Paulson.

Ole C. Berg farm, 1899. The log cabin was his first home. Mr. and Mrs. Knut C. Berg wedding picture. OLE C. BERG Ole C. Berg, son of Christian and Mari Berg, was one of the first pioneers to come to this country. He reached Walsh County in 1879, several years after leaving his birthplace of Eggedal, Norway. He was bom Dec. 5,1855. After spending his early life in Norway, Berg came to Decorah, Ia., where he lived for several years. He went to Marshall County in Minnesota and then made his first stop in Walsh County at Grafton. In 1880 he homesteaded in Section 23 of Glenwood Township, six mUes southeast of Hoople, where he Uved the rest of his life.

NELS GERHARD BJORNEBY Nels Gerhard Bjorneby, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Bjorneby, pioneer residents of Walsh County, was born in 1888 on a farm in Glenwood Township in Walsh County where he grew up, attending local schools and later St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. He farmed with his father. Una L. Parkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wright Parkins, also pioneer settlers of Walsh County, was born in 1888. She attended country school and State Normal School in MayvUle. She taught school in District No. 76, Glenwood Township.

She and Gerhard were married in 1911. Their family consisted of Norman, Harold, Doris and George. Gerhard died in 1961. Submitted by Mrs. N. G. Bjorneby. ASLAK BJORNSTAD FAMILY Aslak and Aashild Bjornstad came to the Hoople area about the year 1880. They both were born in Norway and grew up there. They took homestead rights in 1880. The U. S. gave him the deed to the 160 acres the following year, 1881. He paid $1.25 an acre for his land at that time. Due to adverse weather conditions, he almost lost the land in 1884-1885. He farmed it then until he deeded it to James Storsley in 1894. George and Helen Bjorneby live on that land now. Aslak and Aashild had one daughter, Alma Geline, born Jan. 27,1887. She grew up and spent her early years in the Hoople area. She and Mary Hurtt had a small sewing shop for a time. They were members of the Lutheran Church at Hoople. About 1909, Alma married Evald K. Momerak and they had four daughters, Agnes (Mrs. Inar Stenso), Clara (Mrs. Howard Thompson), Edna (Mrs. Wm. Svare) and Lorna (Mrs. Leonard Douville). Submitted by Mrs. Agnes Stenso.

Mr. and Mrs. Aslak Bjornstad and daughter, Alma. OLE BOGSTIE Ole Christianson Bogstie settled in Glenwood Township. He served as a member of the first board of supervisors of Glenwood Township with John Brash and John Almen. He was a director of School District No. 13 (Kohlar) in the 1890's. He married Kristie Johnsen. There children were: Henry, bom in 1879; Josephine, 1881; John, 1883; Lewis, 1885; Otto, 1889; Nattie," 1892; and Lillian, 1894. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Desiring to acquire more land, he moved farther west. OLE BRUBAKKEN Ole Brubakken was bom in Telemarken, Norway. There he married Margit Moen. In April 1902, they left Norway and with their infant son, Ole, Jr., emigrated to the United States. Their destination was Hoople. They arrived there in May, 1902, and were met by friends who had preceded them to the new land. For a time he worked at various jobs. He rented farms until 1909 when he purchased land in Dundee

Township. In 1916 he moved to Glenwood Township and this continued to be his home until his death. The Brubakken family were members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Brubakken reared a family of nine children. They are Ole, Jr., Bessie, Thomas, Henry, Olga, Anne, Melvin, Minnie and Gladys. Brubakken was born Oct. 13, 1873, and died Oct. 29, 1958. Mrs. Brubakken was born May 9, 1879, and died June 4,1964. They are buried at Hoople Cemetery. Submitted by Ole Brubakken, Jr. ANTON CHRISTIAN DAHL Trondhjem in Norway, on rugged land between Trondheimsfjorden and the cliffs, was the early home of Anton C. Dahl, son of Christian Dahl and Antonette Svarte Dahl. The family loved their native land, but early in Ufe they realized that the small fields in the area did not offer opportunities compared with those of open America. Relatives who had migrated earlier wrote glowing reports of the new land. It must have been difficult for the mother of twelve to see her children, one by one, leave their homeland. Still in their early teens, Anton and Oluf sailed for New York. From New York they traveled by rail to Dalton, Minn., (named for the Dahl families) and to Fergus Falls, Minn., where they joined relatives who had earlier left Norway. Anton, having completed in Norway the vocational trade school in pamting and woodworking, obtained work in Fargo. During winters he attended school to study the English language and to learn the customs of Americans. Children of Anton Dahl were told of his experiences while herding cattle from Fergus Falls to Winnipeg. Still in his late teens, he and his brother, Hans, made the first trip on foot, swimming the coulees and streams as they followed the trail. On a second trip Anton and a companion were provided with Indian ponies to ride as they herded cattle to Winnipeg where they were sold to the Hudson Bay Company. On his return trip by steamboat from Winnipeg in 1877, he stopped at Kelley's Point or Fisher's Landing and walked westward toward Grafton. Continuing along the middle branch of the Park River, he took note of the rich farm land; and at an area about two miles south of Nash, he staked out a quarter section of land. He did not file a homestead claim to the land. In the decade of the 1870's large bonanza farms appeared north of Fargo. Old letters written by Anton to his sister, Mrs. Martin Dahl, reveal that he and two brothers, Hans and Oluf, worked intermittently on some of these farms. An excerpt from one letter dated April, 1878, reads, "We are no longer working on the Dalrymple Farms. There is not much opportunity for work in Fargo, but I will begin painting tomorrow at $1 per day plus maintenance. There are not so many laborers here as there have been other years; many people are looking for land." Another letter dated May 28, 1878, describes Fargo as "a lively little town. There are many kinds of people so a fellow must look out for himself when he comes here." All the letters show concern about news that others may have had from those left behind in Norway. In Dahl's mind was the urge to "squat" on land that he could some day call his own. In 1878, he staked out and filed claim to a quarter section north of the middle branch of the Park River rather than to the south as

the freedom he had sought. He lived to see many industrial advances and inventions. The first automobile was a great excitement for the famUy, but he often said that he was equaUy enthusiastic about the first team of oxen. He lived to enjoy the convenience of the telephone, radio, and improved farm machinery. Before his marriage, Anton Dahl returned to Norway to visit his parents and other relatives. The trip was enjoyed, but he knew that America was home to him. He also visited his sister, Constance, in Spokane, Wash., and was employed there for a time as a painter. He returned to Walsh County, convinced that this was where he wanted to make his permanent home. Mr. Dahl was an avid reader. DaUy newspapers came when the first rural route was established in 1906. The first maUman was WUliam Coulthart. Politics, education, and current events were top items of interest. There was an eagerness to educate his family too. Happiness was apparent as he saw his chUdren enter and graduate from high school and college. Interest in world affairs and in map study increased among aU family members when the oldest son, Victor, served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I and with the Army of Occupation in Germany following the Armistice.

originally planned. Hans, Oluf, and Anton and a cousin, Martin Dahl, held near-adjoining homesteads. Dahl had to supplement his income by working elsewhere during fall and winter months. In a letter from Fargo, September, 1884, he wrote to his sister Caroline: "We have worked for a farmer near Buffalo River nine miles from Moorhead. We received $1.50 a day. We are sending you $10 to take up our potatoes." Early Ufe on the Dakota prairies was both difficult and challenging. Mail and supplies were first obtained from the steamboat at the landing near Acton. The railroad came through Grafton in 1881 when the population was about 400. As the homestead farms flourished, a meeting was held in 1882 to incorporate Grafton. Completed in 1883, this was a red-letter day for area residents. Pioneer Ufe demanded ingenuity and industry. Dahl's training in woodwork served him weU. A handmade boat often proved useful, especiaUy during seasons of high water. Many tools and implements were made from wood. Handles for axes and hammers, as weU as gates, fences, walking plows, butter churns, benches, ladles and rolling pins were the result of woodworking skiUs. From wood, Mr. Dahl made skis, snowshoes, and hayracks. He planed runners for the home-made "jumper" and repaired the bob-sleigh. With rude equipment, he climbed up to paint the high steeple of North Trinity Church. In later years he appUed stain and varnish to "wood-grain" the doors of the farmhouse. One winter he helped his wife in making piece quUts, and he also crocheted "fascinators" and scarves. Throughout the winter trees were feUed and sawed or chopped for firewood to heat the home.

Anton Dahl held various offices in Grafton Township, in his local school district, and in North Trinity Church. His famUy retains possession of the Norwegian New Testament, presented to him by his pastor at the time of his confirmation in Norway, Oct. 1, 1871. Here his name is inscribed as Anton Kristian Aalberg; the famUy name was changed to Dahl upon their arrival in America. Mr. Dahl was a jovial man and liked people; they in turn enjoyed visiting with him. He was respected in the community for his integrity and high moral standards. Anton Dahl and Emma Anderson were married at Grafton, Dec. 9, 1893. They continued to live on the homestead farm in Grafton Township and ownership is stUl held by their descendants. Anton's first shelter on the farm was Uttle more than a sod-roofed dug-cut. Eventually, this was replaced by a three-room frame house. With additions, the house has been partially modernized and is stiU in use. Although stUl active and apparently in good health, Mr. Dahl died suddenly Nov. 19, 1925. He was stricken with apoplexy while in Grafton buying groceries. His sudden passing was a shock and deeply felt by the community where he had spent so many years and where he left a host of friends. His presence was sadly missed within his home. His Ufe had been difficult but fruitful. He had retained within him the true spirit of a pioneer courageous, adventuresome, industrious, and God fearing. The foUowing Unes of verse are indicative of his family's feelings: So proud of your children you became And proud are they to bear your name; God grant that we WUl live like thee, Honest and true, not seeking fame. Descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Dahl are sons and daughters: Victor, Oct. 7, 1894; Bernard, June 22, 1896, to Nov. 7,1963; Agnes (Mrs. Palmer Qually), AprU 16,1898 to May 10,1972; Francis, Jan. 6,1900, to April 21, 1901; Edna, Jan. 8, 1902, to Aug. 22, 1968; EUa, Aug. 23, 1905; and Verna (Mrs. ManviUe Stark), Oct. 30,1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Anton Dahl wedding picture. Each year, shortly before Christmas, the old "shanty" would get a good scrubbing. Soon the beef and hog dangled from the supports near the shanty to be prepared for winter use. The work continued into the late evening hours in the shanty, Ughted by kerosene lamps and lanterns. The old hand meat grinder, still in possession ofthe family, was used to grind pork and beef for sausage of all kinds. Hundreds of meat balls, roasts, steaks, "rolla polsa," "blod polsa," head cheese, and Unk sausage were made ready for eating before being frozen. In addition to hard labor, pioneers of the area experienced droughts, floods, tornadoes, and personal sorrows. There were the economic depressions. But the Ufe was also extremely rewarding. Here, Mr. Dahl had 360

Grafton Cemetery. The rest of the family is buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery of rural Hoople. In 1914, Heimer and Oscar Dahl bought the farm from their father. Hans Dahl made a trip back to Norway. Heimer and Oscar raised purebred Hereford cattle. Lena and Annie were bom in the first home, a log house east of the middle branch of the Park River which flows through the farmstead. Later, a large home was built west of the river where all the rest of the children were born. The village of Sweden was located on the corner of this farm. Present owners of the farm gave permission to Otto Almen to erect a monument at the edge of the farm as an historical marker to commemorate the existence of the little village. The farm is in the hands of a branch of the Hans Dahl family. Mrs. Heimer (Alvina) Dahl and her daughters, Almyra and Norma, now own it. Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson.

Grandchildren: Vivian Qually (Mrs. Ted Hillius); Lorraine Qually (Mrs. David Colt); Jean Qually, deceased; Avis Stark (Mrs. Joseph Birkeland); Lowell Stark; and Lavonne Stark (Mrs. Robert Fischer). Great Grandchildren: James Colt, Jerome Hillius, Joel Hillius, Jeffrey Hillius, Mitchell Star, Julie Stark, Matthew Stark, Joshua Stark, Michael Fischer, Monica Fischer, and Timothy Fischer. Submitted by Ella Dahl. HANS DAHL FAMILY

OLAUS DAHL There were some early pioneers settling in Glenwood Township who had no children. Such was the Olaus Dahl family. His parents, Andreas Dahl, born April 5, 1825, and Ane Dahl, born May 6,1826, also came to this area. The pioneers gave Andreas Dahl the distinction of being a skilled blacksmith in the community. Olaus Dahl was bom Sept. 11, 1848. He owned and Uved on a quarter of land in Section 36 of Glenwood Township. His wife, Inger A. Dahl, born in 1847, was an aunt of Mrs. Lizzie Rutherford. In 1906" G. A. Johnson bought the quarter of land from Mr. Dahl. Here the Johnsons Uved for many years. Andreas Dahl died April 9, 1901, and Ane Dahl died June 8, 1901. Olaus Dahl died Dec. 21, 1912, and Inger Dahl died in 1920. They are aU buried at the North Trinity Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson.

Mr. and Mrs. Hans Dahl Hans Christian Dahl was born close to Trondhjem, Norway, Oct. 7, 1853. Before coming to America he worked in a bakery in Norway. When he was 18, an uncle in Dalton, Minn., loaned him money to pay for his passage to America. To pay for this ticket he worked for his uncle. In 1878 he came to Glenwood Township and homesteaded the SEV* of Section 36. He went back to Dalton, Minn., to bring his bride to the new home. To this union nine children were born, Annie Dahl Hultin, Bertha Paulina Dahl (Lena), Conrad Albert Dahl, Oscar Ledvig Dahl, Hilda Amelia Dahl Morrison, Heimer Bernard Dahl, Iver Herman Dahl, Mary Minerva Garster Swanson and Nora Minerva Dahl. All are deceased except Lena Dahl, who resides at the Sunset Home at Grafton. Hans C. Dahl died Aug. 9, 1926.

THE MARTIN DAHL FAMILY Some history of the Martin Dahl family has been given in the resume of the other Dahl families, however, since space has been allotted for this family write-up, a Uttle more will be added. Martin P. Dahl was born in Noway Nov. 11, 1852. His wife, Caroline Dahl, was also bom in Norway on June 21, 1848. They first settled in Minnesota. Later, Martin Dahl went up to Walsh County in North Dakota and homesteaded on land now owned by the Rutherfords in Section 4 of Grafton Township. When he had staked out his claim, he want back to Minnesota to bring his bride to North Dakota. Their means of transportation was by covered wagon. To this union seven children were born. They are: Hannah Dahl Rutherford, born in 1879; Clara Dahl Hood, born in 1880; Polly Dahl Larson, born in 1882; Constance Dahl Elden, bom in 1884; Alma Dahl Rutherford, born in 1887 ; Manvel Dahl, born in 1894; and Julia Alfreda Dahl, born in 1896.

Mr. and Mrs. Hans Dahl, Lena Dahl, Lena Larson.

The only surviving member of this family is Manvel Dahl who now Uves in California. Martin Dahl died Dec. 31, 1904, and his wife,

Annie, Conrad and Heimer are buried in the North Trinity Cemetery. Mary and Hilda were laid to rest in a 361

Caroline, died April 20,1930. They are both buried at the North Trinity Lutheran Cemetery of rural Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson. ARTHUR E. DUFF FAMILY Arthur Duff came to Hoople in the early 1900's. He owned and operated one of the first butcher shops in the community. By means of a horse-drawn, ice-cooled meat wagon, he took orders and delivered meat and fruit to the area farmers during the summer months through the fall harvest. During later years he was a cattle buyer. He married Clara Lowe in 1906, who as an infant had come from Breckenridge, Minn., with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Lowe, who filed homestead in Dundee Township in 1881. As a young girl she worked at the Frank Bennett Hotel. Her adult life in Hoople and the surrounding area was dedicated to the care of the ill and the aged. For years she served as a midwife, delivering many of the babies born in the area and was called upon to do nursing service for the sick. They had a son and daughter, Walter and Juna. The Duffs were active in the Lutheran Church and other organizations in the community. They resided in Hoople until their deaths. Mr. Duff died Nov. 1, 1948, at 73. Mrs. Duff died Nov. 4, 1948, the day of her husband's funeral, at the age of 67. Walter Duff still resides in Hoople with his wife, the former Blanche Levang of Adams. Juna (Duff) Lohse resides with her husband, John Lohse, formerly of Park River, on their farm at Crystal. Submitted by Mrs. John Lohse.

Clara Duff—Sept.

12, 1881-Nov. 4, 1948

Arthur Duff—Aug. 15, 1875-Nov. 1, 1948

AMUND ERLANSON FAMILY Amund Erlanson came to this country in 1862 at about age 17 from Gaustand's Prestigjold, Gulbrandsdalin, Norway. Amund came by boat and it took him three months to get to America. He located at Scandinavia, Wise, where he obtained work on a farm. He later became a railroad contractor and helped to build the Green Bay Railroad at Rat Portage, Ont. Amund walked to Pembina County in Dakota Territory in August of 1878. Here he homesteaded in what is now Glenwood Township. In the spring of 1880 he filed a homestead claim which he received Aug. 15, 1888, at $1.95 per acre for 160 acres.

Erlanson Family—Left to right: John, Mr. Amund Erlanson, Ida, Mrs. Erlanson, Emil. Seated: Albert, Oscar, Gilbert. A daughter, Hannah, is on the generation picture.

Amund was a member of the Red River Valley Old Settlers Association. This was organized in 1879 and incorporated in 1897. Amund received the homestead patent Jan. 6, 1890, and the association seal June 12,1901. This was signed by the President of the United States Benjamin Harrison. The location of the homestead was NE'A-28-154-54. Amund married Anetta Olson, who at the age of three had come with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jagub Olson and three older brothers from Oslo, Norway, in 1866. Her three brothers were Ole, Torger and Jergen. The Olsons resided at Green Bay, Wise., before coming to Glenwood Township in 1878. Here they homesteaded on SW NEV*, N% NE'/4-l-157-54-SW SE% -36-158-54. A receiver's receipt was given to Mr. and Mrs. Jagub Olson Dec. 26,1882; and they received their U. S. deed Feb. 13, 1884. Amund and Anetta were married May 1, 1880, in a sod house in Glenwood Township. Another couple, Mr. and Mrs. John Paulson, were wed at the same time by a visiting pastor. There were no churches in the vicinity at the time. The Erlandsons lived in a sod hut the first years of their marriage, later, he built the largest log house in the territory. Oxen were used for farming in the early years, later, Amund was the first man to own a team of horses. Amund was always ready to lend a helping hand to those who needed it. Whenever there was adeath in the community, he would come with his funeral rig, with a box ready for burial and pick up the body to take it to the cemetery. Anetta, too, was very helpful. She served as a midwife and helped take care of the sick. She was also an active member of her church. The couple was blessed with nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The family birth and death dates are as follows: John, Aug. 14, 1883-June 7, 1948; Emil, May 19, 1888-Aug. 12, 1949; Mrs. Axel (Ida) Bjerke, Dec. 3, 1885-Dec. 17, 1968; Albert, Jan. 16, 1895-Aug. 20, 1965. The three remaining are: Gilbert bom Nov. 10, 1891; Oscar born March 31, 1897; and Mrs. Bill (Hannah) Knutson born Feb. 8, 1901. Amund Erlandson was bom July 31, 1845, in Gulbrandsdalin, Norway, and passed away at his home in Glenwood Township on Feb. 18,1916. Funeral services were held at the residence and at Zion Lutheran Church where he is buried. Rev. Adolph Egge officiated.

Anetta Erlanson was born March 2, 1863, in Oslo, Norway. She died Oct. 8, 1934, in the hospital at Drayton. She was buried beside her husband. Rev. L. 0. Helleklev officiated. Submitted by Mrs. Albert Erlanson.

Mrs. Amund Erlanson holding her first grandson, Aimer Bjerke, her daughter Ida Erlanson Bjerke, seated, her daughter, Hannah, standing.

members of Zion Lutheran Church and retained that membership until their death. They were buried in Zion Cemetery. Andrew died in 1918 and Oline in 1945. Mr. and Mrs. Fagerholt were active in community and church affairs. He served as clerk of Glenwood Township for a number of years. They were charter members of Zion Lutheran Church and retained that membership until their death. They were buried in Zion Cemetery. Andrew died in 1918 and Oline in 1945.

The Andrew Fagerholt home, rural Hoople.

FAGERHOLT FAMILY

The Andrew Fagerholt family: Clarence, Albert, Oscar, Ida, Mrs. A. Fagerholt, Cora.

Mrs. Andrew (Oline Olson) Fagerholt Andrew Fagerholt, whose surname was Anderson until he changed it to Fagerholt because there were so many Andersons in the area, causing a mix-up in mail etc., was born in Larvik, Noway, in 1859. He immigrated to Dakota Territory in 1881 and soon after came to Walsh County where he filed a homestead claim in Glenwood Township. In 1885, he married Oline Olson who was born in Hadeland, Norway, in 1863 and in 1883 had come with her sister, Anna (Mrs. Gilbert Russum), and her brothers, Nels, Tom, and Anton Haug, to Glenwood Township after a short stay in Iowa. On this homestead, l h miles south of Hoople, Andrew and Oline Anderson Fagerholt settled and reared a family of five, Albert, Ida (Mrs. Olaf Martinson), Oscar, Cora (Mrs. Arvil Johnson) and Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Fagerholt were active in community and church affairs. He served as clerk of Glenwood Township for a number of years. They were charter

The Fagerholts passed the tradition of being active in church and community affairs on to their children and especially to their eldest son, Albert, who became an active layworker in the Lutheran Church (ELC and later ALC). Albert often expressed regret that he had not had the opportunity to go into full time ministry. He was superintendent of the Sunday School at First Lutheran in Hoople as well as active in other capacities there. He was instrumental in the formation and management of the Park River Bible Camp of which he served on the board and as manager. He also served on the National Bible Camp board of directors. He was a member of the board of directors of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital, the Crippled Children's School at Jamestown, and of the North Dakota House of Mercy. He was president of the Association for Elementary Christian Education of the Park River Circuit. He also served as clerk of Glenwood Township.

All three Fagerholt sons farmed in the Hoople area. In 1917, Albert married the former Clara Brende, daughter of Iver and Emma Brende of Prairie Center Township. They had five children: Arthur, Elmo, Leonard, Eulalie, and Eunice. Clarence married the former Amanda Johnson, daughter of Ole and Pauline Johnson of Dundee Township in 1929. They had two

children: Allyn and Janice. Oscar never married. Ida and Cora married, raised families and lived on farms in Glenwood Township. Submitted by Mrs. Harold Void and Mrs. Smestad.

Theadore Thompson. Sinda Pederson Thompson came to Hoople in 1890 from Lillehammer, Norway, at age 19, worked in Walsh County (St. Thomas, Grafton, Crookston, then Minneapolis). She sent for her father, Peder Pederson , and her brother, Thorwald, who was a blacksmith working for Naglie Bros., Hoople, later making his home in Minneapolis. Andrew Fedje is the last charter member of First Lutheran Church, Hoople, which he helped organize. He also held various town offices and was promoter of town projects. At this writing, age 91, he enjoys good health and is interested in community affairs. Submitted by Mrs. Andrew Fedje. MR. AND MRS. OLE A. FEDJE Ole A. Fedje, bom July 2, 1872, at Feios, Sogn, Norway, came to Hoople as a young immigrant of 19 to the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Lars Fedje in Dundee Township where relatives from Norway or Minnesota Uked to come to "this home away from home." After earning enough money on farms to continue his education, he attended Concordia College, Moorhead, where he graduated from the commercial department in 1896. The first store was owned by Fred Frazier who sold his business to Mr. N. M. Venberg in 1894. During the summer of 18% while he was at the Fedje farm home, Mr. Venberg came out on his bicycle to ask him to be his bookkeeper and sales clerk. Aug. 1,1900, he married Hannah Huseby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Huseby, Dennison, Minn., at the Fedje home with Rev. Langemo as pastor. They Uved in an apartment above the store until March, 1902, when that building, as weU as others, burned on Easter Sunday. After the store was rebuilt, Mr. Venberg asked him to become his partner. He continued until his death April 28, 1937. She died June 5, 1957. Mrs. Fedje had been very active in the Lutheran church and was one of the charter members of the ladies' aid organized in 1%6 and had as its aim to raise money for a church buUding. The Aid in 1915 had enough funds to pay for the Presbyterian Church. Although these women used the EngUsh language in their homes and community, at the beginning the Norwegian language was used for their constitution and meetings. For their fund raising meals they didn't use the traditional foods such as lefsa, lutefisk and so forth, but served sandwiches, cake, oyster stews and so forth. Fedje had been secretary of the congregation from the beginning in 1914 until his death. He had also been secretary or treasurer of the school district for many years. He was a charter member of First Lutheran, Hoople. His preference was the Democratic party from the days of W. J. Bryan and was a faithful reader of his "Commoner." He had belonged to the Woodmen and the Masonic lodges. But most of all he was extremely proud of being a United States citizen. Both were greatly interested in the education of their daughters, Beatrice, Adeline, AUce, and Winnifred, who attended Concordia CoUege too, with three becoming teachers and one a bookkeeper. After his death, Beatrice and Winifred continued in the store untU 1%6. They also had farming interests which the daughters are continuing in Glenwood Township.

Clara Brende and Albert Fagerholt wedding May 31, 1917. Attendants were Ella Brende Torkelson and Oscar Fagerholt. FAMILY OF ANDREW FEDJE Andrew Fedje, oldest son of Ingebrigt and Kari Fedje, Feios, Sogn, Norway, came to Hoople on a freight train in June 1902, after attending Concordia College Newcomer's School and doing various kinds of work to learn the English language. He joined the N. M. Venberg General Merchandise Store in 1903, known as Venberg & Fedje. He saw it grow from a pioneer business to a modem establishment when he retired in 1953.

Andrew Fedje, Hoople. He married Ambrosia Rinde in 1911, daughter of Ole and Kari Rinde, also pioneers. To this marriage, one daughter was bom, Clarice Irene Falgren. Ambrosia Rinde was a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., amajor in music and gave pianolessons in Edinburg, Park River and Hoople. She "was also organist in Zion Lutheran and First Lutheran Churches. She died in the flu epidemic in 1920. In 1932 Andrew Fedje married Marguerite Thompson, MinneapoUs. She was the daughter of Sina and 36ir

Before Mr. Venberg and his family moved to California, Andrew Fedje in 1904 and Andrew Berdahl in 1906 and later, Olaf Fedje in 1920, all nephews from Norway, joined the partnership. Venberg continued as a partner until 1925 and sold the building to them later. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje.

ing with his father, Nels, and his brother, Leonard. He married Helen Rinde Jan. 26, 1916. They had three sons, Allan, Richard and Donald. He married Eva Dahl Halvorson in June, 1959. He was a charter member of the Hoople Lutheran Church and was on the school board for several years. His father grew the first potatoes on a commercial basis in the Red River Valley in 1907. Charles accompanied the first carload of potatoes that went to market in Kansas City. Folson farmed extensively in grain and potato growing for many years in the Hoople and Crystal area. Submitted by Mrs. Charles Folson and Mrs. Dan Folson. NELS FOLSON FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Ole A. Fedje, Hoople CHARLES FOLSON

Charles Folson in his potato field.

Nels Folson was born March 5,1858, son of Christian Folson and Gunhild Kragness, in Houston County, Minn. He spent his childhood and young manhood years in Houston County. He moved to Moorhead, Minn., when he was 20 years old. There he married Annie Storaslee in 1880. Shortly after their marriage, they settled on a farm in Glenwood Township five miles south of Hoople. Five children were born to them and one year after the last child was bom, his wife died (1893). Folson moved with his children to Hoople. He sold his farm and began to buy and sell grain. He expanded on this business and then discovered the valley was satisfactory for growing potatoes. He grew 20 acres one year and he increased that to 100 acres the following year. He shipped the first carload of potatoes out of North Dakota in 1907. To this day, he is recognized as one of the pioneers in the potato industry and was called the dean of North Dakota potato growers. His children's names were Minnie, Marion, Henry, Tilda and Charles. In 1897, he married Ida Anderson; one son, Leonard, was born to them. She died in 1937. He farmed in partnership with his two sons, Charles and Leonard. He built the first potato warehouse of North Dakota in Hoople in 1908 and with his sons, farmed hundreds of acres in the Hoople, Crystal and Edinburg areas. Nels Folson died in 1948. Submitted by Mrs. Charles Folson and Mrs. Donald Folson.

1924 shock loader at Nels Folson farm, a labor saver. Charles Folson was born Sept. 16, 1887, the son of Nels Folson and Annie Storaslee. His first four years were spent on a farm in Glenwood Township, five miles south of Hoople. He moved into Hoople with his father after his mother died in 1893. He attended St. Olaf's College and North Dakota Agricultural College. He started farming and later formed a partnersnip in farm

Wedding of Nels Folson and Ida Anderson.

L. J. FRAZIER Lynn J. Frazier was born Dec. 21, 1874, in Steele County, Minn., where his parents had come from Maine and later settled on a farm in Pembina County, Elora Township, about two miles from Hoople. His mother is remembered for her great interest in teaching Sunday School, first in her home and later in the first school building one-half mile north of town before the Methodist Church was organized. She also brought her organ to the school for those sessions. After graduating from high school in 1892, Frazier and his brothers operated the farm after their father died. He taught two winters in a country school before going to Mayville Normal, finishing a two year course in one year, in 1895. He also graduated with honors from the University of North Dakota in 1902; making for himself also a fine record in football. In 1902, he was married to Miss Lottie J. Stafford. They had five children; Unie and Versie, twins, Vernon, Willis and Lucille. The twins' names were from the name University. Four of his children attended the Hoople school until they moved to Bismarck. He was very active in community affairs. He became a member of the township board; chairman of the local School District No. 42 board; officer of the Hoople Farmers Grain Company begun in 1906; and a director of the Home Improvement Company. When the Nonpartisan League began in 1915 he identified with it and became its candidate for governor on the Republican gubernatorial ticket and won in 1916, 1918, and 1920. However he was recalled in 1921, but he came back in 1922 to win the United States senatorial election over Porter J. McCumber who was seeking his fourth term. The election showed the faith of North Dakota's people in his integrity and ability, for he held his office until 1940. After Mrs. Frazier's death, he married Mrs. Catherine Paulson, Concrete. His funeral was held at the Hoople Methodist Church and he was buried in the family lot in the village cemetery. KITTLE AND INGEBORG GRYDE Kittle came to America from Norway in 1860 with his parents, Knut and Ingelie Gryde, three brothers and one

sister. The family Uved for several years in Houston County, Minn. This is where Signe the youngest child was born. Kittle went to school at Mound Praine and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church at Houston. There he married Ingeborg (Belle) Torgeson. Belle migrated to Houston County, Minn., from Norway in 1867 with her parents, brother Targe, and sisters Signe, Tone, Turi, and Celia, bom in Canada on the train, en route to the U. S. Three boys were born in Minnesota. They were Bendick, Gunder, and Andreas. After six weeks aboard the sail ship, Rjukan, they landed at Quebec, Canada. Then they traveled by train to Lacrosse, Wise. An acquaintance, Aamond Veum, brought them to Mound Prairie, Minn. Kittle and BeUe lived in Iowa for two years before coming to Dakota Territory in 1879. They lived with their two small children on a farm three miles south of Hoople. Belle and Bodil, wife of Pastor Chr. Flaten were close friends. They would walk the five miles to visit each other carrying a baby and leading the other chUd. Women often walked to visit a friend or attend a Ladies' Aid meeting. Coffee and doughnuts were then a welcome treat.

Top row: Henry, Annie. Second row: Kittle, holding Clarence, Carl, Ingeborg, holding Josie, John. Seated: Ella. In 1890, the Gryde family moved to Tiber Twp. where they lived until 1910 when they moved to Canada. A new area was opened for settlement near Waldeville, Sask. Kittle, his brother Knut and their grown sons went by train and homesteaded 30 mUes from the railroad. The promised railroad was slow in coming through. The women and chUdren stayed with the Ole Gryde famUy near Hoople until the men had built homes on their Canadian claims. So they endured the hardships and experiences of pioneering twice in then lifetime. Belle was older than most of the women in the community and was nurse and counselor. The itinerant pastor seldom came to this remote area, so Kittle often conducted Sunday Church Service which was held at their homes. The Kittle Gryde children were: Annie, who married Ole Magnuson; Henry and Carl, unmarried, lived and

farmed with the parents; John Edward, married Gina Nyhus. He farmed, then owned and operated stores at Climax, Orkney and Bracken, Sask. He served in the Saskatchewan Legislature as a conservative. Their children are: Myrtle, Chester and Kenneth. Emil, Otis, and Emil died in infancy, Celia at age 3 and Ella at 18 years. Clarence married Ella Fuglestad. He was a farmer, mechanic and storekeeper. He served in the U. S. Army in WWI. Both died at Kalispel, Mont. Son Wayne and daughter Avis survive. Josie married Paul Void. They had 5 children. Josie is the only surviving member of the family of Kittle Gryde. Sigward married Agnes Fuglestad and they had two boys: Raymond and Gordon. Kittle, Belle, Henry, Carl, John, and Sigward are buried at Climax, Sask. Submitted by Avis Randall. KNUT K. GRYDE Among the early homesteaders along the middle branch of the Park River, was Knut Gryde. He was born in Fyrsdal, Telemark, Norway, the oldest son of Knut and Joraand Gryde. The family came to Houston, Minn., in 1861. Jorand had two sons, Knut and Ole, and daughters, Ingeborg and Signe, came to Dakota Territory in 1879. When he was about 11 years old, his vision began to fail, a condition diagnosed as drying up of the optic nerve, now possibly glaucoma. In spite of his handicap, he was quite capable. He could chop fire wood, pitch hay, and repair furniture, drive horses and do other things. He homesteaded on a quarter section where he lived until he moved to Tiber Township in 1884. There he met and married Liv Swenson, moving back to the Hoople farm in 1892. Tilda was a new baby when they moved into their newly constructed house. In 1905, Liv died leaving a family of seven children, the youngest two years old.

Knut K. Gryde family: Alfred, Knut, Tilda, Jane, Liv, holding Clara on her lap, Selmer. Taken about 1899. In 1910, the Knut Gryde and Kittle Gryde families moved to homestead in Sask., Canada, 65 miles from the nearest railroad which was Gull Lake. Alfred, Jane and Selmer continued to live there but Knut with Tilda, Clara, Sophia and CUfford moved to Adams in the faU of 1910. In the spring of 1911 they returned to their Hoople home, Tilda having attended VaUey City Normal that year. Clara attended Concordia Academy for a year and then kept house at home for two years. Then Sophia took her turn at keeping house whUe Clara worked in Fargo. After Sophia's marriage, Clifford lived in Canada untU his death.

In 1921 Knut Gryde died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry Stone, Leader, Sask. He was buried at Zion Cemetery, Hoople, beside his wife and son, Clifford. Deceased are: Alfred and his wife TUda Homme, Jane and her husband Harry Homme, Selmer and his wife Clara Kittleson, Tilda and her husband Harry Stone, and Clifford. Surviving are: Clara Anderson, residing at Sunset Home, Grafton, and Sophia Uving at her farm home at Grafton. Their husbands have passed away. Submitted by Mrs. R. A. Swanson. OLE K. GRYDE

Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Ole K. Gryde On a farm (gard) in Fyrsdal, Telemark, Norway, Ole K. Gryde was born. His parents were: Knut, son of Signe and Knut Gryde, and Joraand, daughter of Kittel and Ingelie. In 1861, Ole, age4, came to America withhis parents, brothers Knut, Kittel, Olaf and his sister Ingeborg. Sister Signe was born in Houston County, Minn., in 1862. They came by boat and train settling on a farm near Mound Prairie, Houston County. He was confirmed in the Lutheran Stone Church, Houston. In 1879, he homesteaded in Dakota Territory, south of what is now Hoople. The next spring he walked back to Buffalo River, near Moorhead, where he worked all summer. In the faU, Ole and a neighbor, Aslak Bjornestad, walked from Fargo to his homestead, leading an ox. The men took turns riding the ox across streams, using a rope to bring him back to the other bank. He lived here in a sod house with his mother, Joraand, and sisters, Ingeborg and Signe. He built a log house 12'xl5' with sod roof and tiny loft. A lean-to kitchen was soon added. The barn had a shingled roof. Turi Medtvedt Torgeson was born June 27, 1864, in Norby, Fyrsdal, Norway. Her parents were Herrius Medtvedt and Eldri Taraldben. When Turi was nearly three years old, the family migrated to America, a trip that took about five weeks in a saU ship. They settled in Houston County, Minn. Turi's schooling was limited. However, as an adult she read Norwegian and EngUsh fluently. Her brother. Targe, received the first copy of Decorah Posten, a Norwegian-American newspaper, and Turi subscribed to this until her death.

Elvin lives on the home farm. His sister, Nora, retired teacher, lives with him. The Grydes were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. The family burial plot is located in the Zion Cemetery. Submitted by their children.

Signe and Ingeborg Gryde When Turi was 10 years old, she was big enough to work for neighbors. That summer she worked for an Irish woman, Mrs. Kelly, for 50 cents a week. This was considered good for a girl of her age. Mrs. Kelly spoke English and Turi Norwegian but they managed to understand each other. For about 3 years she worked in Iowa and Minnesota. At the age of 17 she and Guro Veum came to Dakota Territory. The train came only as far north as Grand Forks in 1881. There they waited one week until they got a ride. The sixty mile trip to the farm other sister, Mrs. Kittel Gryde, was made over a prairie trail in a lumber wagon drawn by horses driven by Even Sorenson. Guro Veum's destination was the home of a relative, Mrs. Even Sorenson. The day of their arrival, Nov. 6, was mild. Her first day here she carried water for plastering the house. The creek was a quarter of a mile from the house. A neighbor, John Paulson, did the plastering of the 14'xl6' log house. There was wood floor only in the center of the house. It was too cold to sleep in the loft. Turi Torgeson and Ole K. Gryde were married April 7, 1882, at Zion Lutheran parsonage. The couple had ten children: Carl J. was born June 10, 1884. Carl, after attending what was then Agricultural College at Fargo, migrated to Voltaire in March, 1906. There he filed on a relinquishment. He married Sarah Knutson June 30, 1909, and had two daughters, Elvera, and Olga. Carl died in 1913, Sarah died in 1956, Elvera, a nurse died in 1940. Olga, a retired school teacher resides in Velva. Julia (R. N.) bom Aug. 15, 1891, married Henry Lundgren, contractor, Grafton, in 1925. They had one daughter, Kathryn Orlaine (medical technician); in 1948 she was married to Robert Wallin, Valley City. He was an attorney at Hettinger until the couple moved to Winter Park, Fla., in 1958. He died in 1962. In 1969 she married Robert Hults (M. T.) widower with three daughters: Katie Age 13, Margaret age 8 and Mary, 4. Julia and Henry Lundgren lived in Grafton until they retired and moved to Winter Park, Fla., in 1959. Henry passed away in 1968. Herbert, retired from years with Northrop Aircraft, Uves with his wife, Jane, at Rancho Mirage, Calif. Hubert and Theodore died in infancy. Elvin a died at age 15. Esther, a nurse, and Hannah, a switchboard operator, died in 1942.

Ole K. Gryde family: Carl, Hannah, Herbert, Julia, Father, Elvin, Esther, Nora, Mother. Joraand Gryde homesteaded the 80 acres adjoining her son Ole. She died in 1880 and the brothers signed over the mother's land to Signe who was gradually becoming blind. At the age of 13, it was discovered that her eyesight was failing. At 36 years, she attended The School for the Blind at Faribault, Minn., because North Dakota had no such school. In the nine months at Faribault, she learned to type, read and write New York Point (similar to Braille) and became proficient in doing bead work and working with raffia. She had already learned to knit rugs, mittens, laces, etc. She also assisted with household duties and was always neat and systematic. Signe died at the farm near Hoople Nov. 4,1944. Ingeborg Gryde Uved in Walsh County until her death in 1917. She was well-known in the vicinity for her quilt and rug making, even living room size rugs. They were all members of Zion Lutheran Church and were buried at Zion Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Iver Veum home. Iver, Maria, Clarence, Irvin and Joseph. HALVOR AND MINNIE GRYTE In 1850, Leif Gryte was bom in Telemark, Norway. In 1853 Annie Kjrile was born and became the wife of Leif Gryte. Two children were bom in Noway, Anne the older and in 1880 Halvor was bom. They sailed to America in 1881 in a saUing vessel, arriving in New York nine weeks after leaving Norway.

They spent one year at Felton, Minn., and then came to Hoople in 1882 and homesteaded there. Daughter Anne died shortly after coming to Hoople, another son died in infancy. Other children born at Hoople were, Andrew, Gustav, Ole, Alex, Anne, Lewis, Carl, Elmer and Gladys. In 1904 they moved to Elm Creek, Man. Leif died in the Grafton Hospital, Jan. 4,1908, and his wife, Annie, died at Halvor's home in Hoople July 16, 1926. Both are interred at Hvideso Church Cemetery along with the two children who died in infancy. Anne is the only living member of the family and lives in California. Halvor was an assistant pharmacist and worked in the drug store in Hoople from 1898 to 1901 at which time he met Minnie Folson, the daughter of Nels and Anne Folson. She was born on her father's farm south of Hoople in 1882. Her mother died when she was eleven years old and is interred in Zion Church Cemetery. Her father's history is recorded elsewhere in this book. Minnie was working in a millinery shop in Hoople when she met Halvor and on Feb. 3, 1903, they were married at Minot. Halvor was working in a drug store there and filing on his homestead at Voltaire. They spent the rest of the winter on the homestead Uving in a shanty. The weather was so cold that on one occasion, during the night, a pail of water on a stand turned to solid ice, bulging the bottom of the pail and causing it to roU off the stand to the floor. That spring they bought land at Elm Creek, Man., and farmed there until 1922, when they returned to Hoople and purchased the Hoople MercantUe Company. During the years in Manitoba they had six children: Alvin, Lovina, CUfford, OrvUle, Mildred and Leonard. Lovina died at home in Hoople Sept. 26,1925. Halvor took an active part in athletics, having won a medal for being the champion athlete of Manitoba at the Carman Fair in 1915. He operated the Hoople MercantUe Company with the help of his family untU 1938 when it was destroyed by fire. During those years in the store, he acquired some land which he farmed. After the fire he continued to farm until his death in October, 1955. Minnie continued to Uve in Hoople untU she died in January, 1959.

GULLICK GULLICKSON Gullick GulUckson was born in Sauland, Telemark, Norway, in 1873. In 1900, he married Margit Brubakken who was from the same place. In 1902 they immigrated to the United States and settled west of Hoople where they rented land. In 1916, they purchased a farm southeast of Hoople and lived there until their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. GulUckson raised two sons and three daughters: Helga, Ole, Gladys, Leonard and Bernice. They were members of the First Lutheran Church in Hoople. Mr. GuUickson died in 1952 and Mrs. GuUickson in 1965. They are buried in Hoople Cemetery. Submitted by Gladys Oberg. CHARLES F. HANSON Charles Frederick Hanson was born near Larvik, Norway, Feb. 21, 1858, and came to America with his mother and three sisters in 1867. They were met in Quebec by his father who had come to the new country a few years before. The family went by train to Manitowoc, Wise., where they lived several years before moving to Fisher's Landing, Minn. Here young Hanson grew to manhood. He married Mary Hanson (same surname) on his 21st birthday in 1879. The night before his wedding Hanson and his future brother-in-law were caught in a blizzard and forced to walk to the house, after leaving their horses near a distant haystack. As a result, Charles' toes were frost bitten and too painful to be put into the new shoes bought especiaUy for the occasion, so this groom was married in his stocking feet! The young couple did not remain at Fisher's Landing, instead, they drove a team of oxen and covered wagon to a place he later named Nash. He filed for homestead.

Leonard is the only one of the children still Uving in Hoople The rest of them wish they had never left. Submitted by Leonard and A. N. Gryte.

Charles F. Hanson—Feb. 21, 1858-June 27, 1939

Halvor Gryte family. Front row: Mildred Gryte Inglis, Halvor, Minnie. Back row: AlvnN., Orville G. [Bud], Dr. Clifford Gryte.

The home to which Charles Hanson took his bride was a one room log cabin with one door and one window which he buUt himself from timber he cut down and fashioned into logs and "chinked" with clay-like mud. In the 1930's, Haldor "Hallie" Hanson, his son, built a replica of this log cabin which was placed in Leistikow Memorial Park, Grafton in commemoration of the

pioneer spirit of his father. It remained there for many years. Seven children were born: Ida (Manderud), Clara (Sallberg), Haldor M. (Hallie), Mabel (Moore), Laura (Wheeler). Hattie (Evans), and Marvin. Marvin Hanson enlisted at the age of 17, was the first soldier from Grafton to die in World War I. Winters in North Dakota were long and cold and heaped with snow. During the winter months, a rope was kept tied from the house to the barn so they could find the way to the barn to feed the animals, when a blizzard was too fierce to see more than a few inches. At times the buildings were completely buried in snow for long periods of time. One such time was when Ida, the oldest child, was just nine months old. A blizzard had left the house almost buried in snow and Hanson had to dig his way out of the cabin, making steps out of the snow to the surface. The door opened inward, so he shoveled the snow into the house with a black, iron, frying pan. The air was so cold in the cabin that the baby had frost around her mouth where the warm air from her breath had frozen. Charles Hanson raised wheat. In addition to keeping his farm, he was the first postmaster of Nash, conducted a general store and butcher shop. People wanted to name the town he founded "Hanson," in his honor, but he did not feel right using his name, so he suggested calling the town Nash. In order to have better educational opportunities, he moved his family to Grafton. After many years in the grain business, he pioneered potato farming. He built the first potato warehouse in Grafton in 1911. He was active in the Lutheran Church and all his children were confirmed there. He was a member of the Republican party, and was active in civic affairs. He retired in 1924, continued to reside in Grafton until his death in June, 1939. The children of Charles Hanson remember the many stories of his youth when he helped "log" in the timberland of Quebec, when he was a lumberjack in the forests of Wisconsin, and when he steamboated on the Red River, carrying supplies. He was a trail blazer, a symbol of progress and development in the history of Walsh County. Submitted by Mrs. Frank J. Roth. HENRY HANSON Henry Hanson and Louise Fagerholt were married in Christiania, Norway, about 1865, came to the U. S. three years later. They stopped in Chicago where Mr. Hanson worked as a millright. They came to Dakota Territory, bought a farm in Grafton Township, now owned by Herzel Larson. The Hansons were pioneer members of the North Trinity Church. Mr. Hanson served as deacon for several years. They had four sons and three daughters. About 1908, they sold their farm to Peter Larson, moved to Grafton where they made their home until Mrs. Hanson's death in 1910. Mr. Hanson lived with his daughter Lizzie (Mrs. Joe Rutherford) until his death in October, 1924. He and his wife are buried in North Trinity Cemetery near Nash. Submitted by Mrs. Clarence Evanson. HJALMER HEDER Hjalmer Heder was born in Sweden Oct. 24, 1882. He immigrated to this country as a boy of 18 and came to

Grafton where he had an uncle. Gust Heder, who was employed by Robertson Lumber Co. Hjalmar did farm labor on his first arrival to the country. Through his uncle he became associated with the Robertson Lumber Company and was relief agent for that company for a short time. In 1908 he returned to Sweden for a visit and returned that fall. March 29,1909, he married Emma Grand at Roseau, Minn. They returned to Grafton and lived there in the employ of the Robertson Lumber Co. In 1911, they were transferred to Hoople to manage the Robertson yard. To this union were born 11 children, eight of whom survive. They were members of the Hoople Lutheran Church of which he was treasurer for a number of years. July 1, 1952, he retired from the Robertson Lumber Company but made his residence in Hoople until September, 1962, when they entered the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton and spent their remaining years. Submitted by Leonard Heder, St. Thomas. OLE AND GUNHILD HELLERUD HELGESON Ole H. Hellerud Helgeson (1851-1915) changed his name to Helgeson after he homesteaded in Walsh County. He was born in Hallingdahl Norway, and immigrated to Brooten, Minn., before pioneering in Walsh County. He was married to Gunhild Hoisven Johnson (18541900). She was also born in Norway. Their home was on the south side of the middle branch of the Park River, four miles south and two miles east of Hoople, Section 27. The farm was sold to Nels Midgarden in 1917 and is at present owned by his grandson and family, Nels Midgarden. Nine children were born to the Helgesons: Ingeborg (Bella), Alma, Ole, Gurrine, Elmer, Henry, Carl (World War I veteran), Clara, and Randine. Mr. and Mrs. Helgeson were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. They are both buried in the church cemetery (Lot 72). Alma and Randine are also buried there. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Walstad. HENRY HENDRICKSON FAMILY My parents, Henry Hendrickson and Hannah Gilbertson, both originally came from Spring Grove, Minn. They had four children; Delia, Norton, Russell and George. We moved into North Dakota around 1902 on a farm four miles south of Hoople. The farm was given to us by my grandfather, Leman Gilbertson, complete with cattle, horses, home, etc. We all attended the Gryde county one-room school. We also attended church services at the Zion Lutheran Church. My father later worked for the Edward Woods Brokerage Company, which dealt in grain futures. Nels Folson and my father were the first settlers in the Hoople area to raise potatoes. Later we rented our farm and decided to move into Hoople. My folks bought the Western Hotel, then some years later sold it and bought the McLarren Hotel. My father also had the agency for the Gubranson piano and Zenith radios. I attended Valpariso University and Conservatory in Indiana to study music. Later I studied in Chicago, played for N. B. C. when they first started to broadcast in Chicago. I joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and later joined the Chicago Symphony. I am now retired

Linda Kingsbury and has three daughters Sonja, Daena and Julie. Vera is organist at the Federated Church in Grafton and Knox Presbyterian Church in Minto. She is active in community and other social organizations. Jessie (Mrs. Kenneth Hughs), 1915, Grass VaUey, CaUf., is a graduate of NDSU, Fargo and CorvaUis, Ore., a retired home economist.

alter 32 years of service, living in Scottsdale, Ariz. Submitted by Russell Hendrickson. WILLIAM HENRY FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. William Henry lived on a farm in Glenwood Township in the early days, raising a family of three boys, William John, George and Dave, and two girls, Jennie and Charlott. Later in life they adopted a daughter, Louisa. After their family was grown, they moved to Hoople where they built a home and lived until Mrs. Henry died. Then he moved to Seattle, Wash., where he lived in the home of his daughter Jennie until his death. Here Louisa cared for him. Dr. George Henry went to college and studied for the ministry. He and his wife, Lila, lived in Berkley, Calif. He taught in the college and also preached. Later he returned to Grand Forks where he affiliated with Wesley College. He was also associated with the North Dakota Conference longer than any other person. During those years he wrote a History of Wesley College. He knew personally all the charter members of North Dakota Methodist Conference in 1886. He traveled widely and had an unusual faculty for meeting and being on friendly terms with the great and near great. William John moved to a farm near Hoople, spending his time doing carpentry work in the Hoople vicinity. He married Annie Hughes. They had three children.Melvin died while attending college at Wahpeton. Ada married Melvin Moore and lived at Park River. When the Henry family moved to Grand Forks, Florence went with them. She died there. Dave also farmed two miles east of Hoople until he moved away. Submitted by Ethel Kraft.

Albert and Lina Herbison, Hoople, taken in Grafton. Albert was proud of horses and showed same on many occasions. Lina had to sit in back seat and not detract from horses and driver in picture (so the story was told). JOSEPH HERBISON Joseph Herbison lived in Hoople with his wife, MeUssa. Both are deceased and buried in MinneapoUs. They had six daughters. Gertrude married William Fisher, a lumberman in Hoople. Francis (Mrs. Tom Adams), Chinook Mont., is deceased. Annie, Minneapolis, former telephone operator in Hoople, is deceased. Agnes married Ebert Tollack, Grafton, and moved to CaUfornia and is deceased. DeUa (Mrs. Murdo Dutch Mclver) resided in Hoople and later Salt Lake City. Her husband, a druggist, is deceased. Delia lives in MinneapoUs. Marie (Minnie) married Harry Smith and Uves in Minneapolis. Submitted by Vera Carlson.

ALBERT HERBISON Albert M. Herbison was born in Goderich, Ont., in 1867 and came to Grafton with his parents, William and Agnes Herbison in 1888. He Uved in Glenwood Township near Hoople and married Line Wright in 1901. She was born in Glenwood Township in 1883, daughter of Charles and Sarah Wright (one of seven chUdren). Albert was a farmer and horse showman, receiving many honors. Both were active in community, school and the Methodist Church. They moved to Grafton in retirement and spent their latter years with a daughter, Vera. Both died in Grafton and are buried in Crescent Cemetery. Six children were born to this couple at Hoople and are still Uving. Herbert (Bert), 1902, Uves in Fargo graduate of NDSU and Harvard, professor at NDSU and Agricultural Economist with extension service, retired, married with four daughters; Charles, 1903, St. Paul, Minn., attended UM., owns the Herbison Bridge Construction Company, married with five daughters; Gladys, 1905, (Mrs. Peter Jorgenson), Dickinson, two daughters and two sons, teacher formerly at MohaU after graduation from NDSU; Edna (Mrs. Wayne VanderUp), 1907 Burbank, CaUf., two daughters, one son, registered nurse; Vera (Mrs. Percy Carlson), 1912, Grafton, studied nursing and business, Mr. Carlson was a former county treasurer and after his death in 1949 whe returned to the county treasurer's office and is present treasurer. One daughter, Jessie (Mrs. Trueman Thompson, Jr.), Uves in Grafton and has two chUdren, Cathy and Randy. Donald E. Uves at Grafton, married

WILLIAM HILLIER FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. William Hillier WilUam Alfred HiUier was born in 1842 in Canada. He married Jeanette Hurtt Dec. 8, 1868. They had 11 children: George H., Charles William, WiUiam Alfred, 371

Mary Elizabeth, Archie F., Frederick John, Winifred, Louis Henry, Harold R., Alice and Ralph. In the spring of 1880, William, Jeanette and their five children came by rail from Minden, Ont., to Pembina. They spent their first few months at George Hurtt's home (Jeanette's brother). William was a carpenter. He served in the Dakota Territory Senate from 1893 to 1895 in Bismarck. William's father, John, came to live in Dakota. John was a wagon maker and carpenter. He died in 1909 and is buried in the Hillier plot in the Hoople Cemetery. WilUam and Jeanette's first two chUdren born in Dakota, Frederick and Louis, died and are buried in the small cemetery three mUes east of Park River on Highway 17. The youngest son, Ralph, lives in Hensel, operates a grocery store and gas station. Jeanette was born Jan. 29,1849, and died June 2,1904. She is buried in the Hoople Cemetery with other members of the HilUer family. WiUiam is buried in the same plot. He died in 1928. Charles Hillier. married Minnie Fedje, Hoople. HilUer ran the Farmers Elevator for a time, Hoople Potato & Produce Company for several years. He farmed in the Hoople area. He spent his life in Walsh County. On his 90th birthday he received greetings from the President of the United States and the Governor of North Dakota. Mr. HilUer died at 93. At the time of his death, he was the oldest man Uving in Hoople. Mrs. Hillier lives in Fremont, CaUf., but spends her summers at Hoople. The HiUiers have five chUdren: Kenneth, PortaUs, N . M . ; Marcel, Hoople; Loyd, Grand Forks; and Frances and EUzabeth, both of San Jose, CaUf. George HilUer Uved in WilUston. He retired there after years as a teacher and County Superintendent of Schools. WilUe died as a young man and resided at Sarles. Mary EUzabeth (Lilhe) Mrs. Robert Patterson, Uved her entire Ufe in the Hoople area. Winnifred died as a child and is buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Archie and Harold (Harry) spent most of their years in Pembina County. Both lived to the age of 85. Alice, Mrs. Stewart Fitzimmons, lived most of her years in Hensel. She is buried in the Hoople Cemetery beside her husband. Submitted by Marcel HUlier, Allan Anderson and Mrs. L. Woods. THEODORE HELMER HOLT Theodore Heimer Holt was bom at Hoople March 11, 1894. He is one of 10 chUdren of Ole and Jorand Holt. With the exception of a little more than a year in the armed forces during World War I, he has spent his entire Ufe in the Hoople area. As a boy, he attended grade school at Fertile District No. 25 (better known as the "Walstad School.") There were approximately 30 pupils enroUed at that time. Later he enroUed in a one year course at the Agricultural CoUege in Fargo, North Dakota. He continued farming with his father and brother Ole untU he entered the service in 1918. AprU 29, 1918, two Hoople men left from Grafton to join the forces in World War I. They were Theodore Holt and RusseU Rinde. They were first stationed at Camp Dodge, Iowa. There they trained artiUery horses. From there Theodore was transferred to Camp Travis, Texas, where he became part of the new 90th Division. He was in Company " L " 358th Infantry. The 90th Division left Camp Travis to move to France on June

9, 1918. En route to France, they landed in Liverpool, England, where Company " L " had been chosen to parade before the Lord Mayor of Liverpool on the 4th of July. They were banqueted by the city. Upon arrival in France the division underwent a two month course of training behind the Une. In a short time Theodore was at the front lines. He took part in such successful operations as penetrating the Hindenburg Line. Other fronts were at St. Mihiel, Argonne Sector, and Bantheville, to name just a few. During this time he was chosen as part of the Army of Occupation. These men were chosen for this honor because they had so unfaihngly displayed the highest qualities a soldier can possess, and in doing this they helped make the reputation of the 90th Division. Theodore was active in many other battles of W. W. I He stUl remembers the 17 day march from France to Germany. He says, "We hiked from sun-up til sun-down with 90 pounds on our backs." He also teUs of the time they were under fire for 75 days - without reUef! The U. S. S. Edgar F. Luckenebach was the ship that brought him back to Boston in June, 1919. From there he was sent to Camp Dodge, Ia., to await his discharge. Upon arrival in Iowa he sent a post card to his parents at Hoople. His discharge was processed so quickly that he picked up that post card at the maU box the day he came home and deUvered the good news in person.

Wedding of Theodore Holt and Cora Brandt — Dec. 3, 1924. When Theodore returned home, he continued farming south of Hoople. He married Cora Brandt Dec. 3, 1924. They are the parents of five chUdren. They are Dr. Clinton Holt, Big Pine Key, Fla.; Robert of Hoople; Mrs. John (Helen) Quam of Mound, Minn.; and twin sons, Marvin of Racine, Minn., and Mark of Hoople. Theodore and Cora say they retired from farming in 1966, but both have been very active in helping Robert with his farming and Mark with his hog operation. "Grandpa and Grandma's farm" has been the choice vacation spot for their grandchUdren for more than, 20 years. Grandpa can find many ways of entertaining them whUe Grandma is replenishing her supply of doughnuts, pies and cookies. Mark's chUdren are especially fortunate since they live on the same farm and get to enjoy these pleasures aU the time. Submitted by Mrs. Mark Holt.

Hoople. Two sons, Henry and Gunder, were graduates of UND. Henry died in Hoople at the age of 21. Gunder died in 1946 in Montana where he operated a grocery business in KaUspeU. A son, Anton, attended a jewelry school in niinois and died as a young man of T. B. A son, Herbert, known as H. G. Homme, Sr., attended N. D. S. U. and farmed and operated a real estate and investment company in Grafton where he lived untU his death in January of 1956. The Homme Dam in Park River was named after him for his efforts in its promotion. Another son, Arthur, attended business coUege in Fargo and subsequently lived in Fosston, Minn., where he died in 1972 at the age of 81. The daughter, Gertrude Rasmussen, age 76, resides at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in East Grand Forks, Minn. The mother, Mrs. Gertina Homme, died in 1948 at the age of 93 and is buried with her husband in the Zion Cemetery outside of Hoople.

OLE OLSON HOLT Ole Olson Holt was born in Nore, Numedal, Norway, Feb. 22, 1858, and grew to manhood there. The name of the farm was "Holtet" which derived its name from a small wood or grove of trees nearby - the Holt. A child received his own first name and the father's name with son added. He was known as Ole (son of Ole) Olson, at Holt. His father, Ole Sebjornsen, was a travehng teacher in Nore Southern District. He was a special kind of teacher who traveled by foot or horse from farm to farm, where he taught the children in each of the families in their own homes. He carried all his school supplies in a "skoleskina" (or boxes) as he went about the community teaching. In 1880 Holt came to America and located in Iowa. The following year he married Miss Jorand Solem. She was born in Uvdal, Numedal. Her parents were Inge Thoresdatter and Tollek Larsen, who were farmers. After the death of Mr. Larsen, his widow and five children came to America in 1879. At that time Jorand was 22 years old. The other children were Lars 23, Ingeborg 18, Ragnhild 16, and Tore 9. The records show that Ole Olson (Holt) purchased from the United States at receivers office at Grand Forks, June 15,1882, the NWV4-3M58-54, 159.42 acres for $185.28 at $1.25 per acre. July 5, A. D., 1882, at 2:53 o'clock. Patent record - U. S. April 20, A. D. 1911. Ole and Jorand Holt were the parents of 10 children. Theodore of Hoople, Henry of Mayville, Tilde Johnson of Thief River Fall, Minn., Jenny Grive of Yucca Valley, CaUf., Sophia Aase of Warren, Minn., and Agnes Solem of Ross, Minn. At the time of this writing Gustav, Ole, Ida and Andrine have died. For more than 26 years Ole was a member of the supervisors of Glenwood Township, most of which time he held the position of chairman. He was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. He served as a member of the buUding committee for the church that was dedicated in 1921. Mr Holt died Jan. 9,1924, at the age of 65 and Mrs. Holt died March 26,1944, at the age of 86. Both are buried in Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted bv Mrs. Mark Holt. HOMME FAMILY Andrew Homme was born in Noway in 1850, came to the U S as a young man and married Gertina Bjornstad in La Crosse, Wise, in 1876. He spent four years working in the lumber industry and a carriage and wagon factory owned by Mr. Bjornstad in La Crosse. Mr and Mrs. Homme came to Walsh County in 1880 by covered wagon. They settled on a 160 acre homestead five miles south of Hoople. Mr. Homme worked as a farmer, master craftsman and horse dealer. After three years in a frame and sod house, he built the famUy home by bringing lumber from Grand Forks. Mr. Homme died in 1900 at the age of 49 from a lung disorder. At the time of his death he had raised five sons (Henry, Gunder, Anton, Herbert and Arthur) and one daughter (Gertrude). He owned the farm south of Hoople, a farm north of Hoople, and a 900 acre farm in Manitoba. Also a horse seUing business, a grocery store and jewelry store in Hoople and a meat market in Grafton. He was also a partner and operator of the Homme and Folson Grain Company in

ALLAN HOOPLE AUan Hoople, founder of the viUage that bears his name in Walsh County, noted throughout the United States as a great potato producing and shipping center, played an important role in the county's early development. It is a signUicant fact that location of a townsite on his land in the county was prophesied, not by a "medium" but a hard-headed business man. Mr. Hoople was a pioneer leader and is remembered as a worthy county citizen and a man of varied constructive activities. He settled in the county in 1880, and was a resident of Grafton from 1913 until his death in 1923. After moving to Grafton he served three terms as county register of deeds. Mr. Hoople was born at Osnabrock, Ont., Oct. 15, 1849, and his famUy moved to Minnesota when he was four years old. The family settled near Hastings, and the son began farming as a young man near Medford, Minn. In 1879 a brother-in-law of Hoople, whUe on a visit home from the Black HUls country, persuaded him to return to the Black HiUs with him for the purpose of looking over the country with an idea of locating there. Mr. Partridge, who later became a partner ol Wyman, Partridge Wholesale Co., St. Paul, Minn., a boyhood friend and school mate of Mr. Hoople, had traveled extensively over Dakota Territory with a party of surveyors. He told Mr. Hoople before be started on his Black Hills trip that he was sure he would not Uke that part of the country, but advised him to go up to the northeast corner of the territory before returning home where he would find a country that would some day be a regular paradise, and that if a homestead was stiU open in Section 5, Township 58, Range 54, to fUe on it, and some day he would have a railroad across his farm and very Ukely a town would be located on his land. Hoople did not Uke the Black HiUs country, so made the trip from Deadwood to Grand Forks by stage coach, the stage coach being accompanied by U. S. cavalrymen from Deadwood to Bismarck, to protect the passengers from the danger of Indian attacks. He walked from Grand Forks aU the way to the homestead he selected in the section Mr. Partridge had prophesied would some day be crossed by a raUroad. Mr. Hoople had no idea that Partridge's prophesy would ever come true, but fUed on 373

the land as it impressed him as being better than anything else he had seen open for homestead. However, in 1890 the railroad came and the present site of Hoople was surveyed on his farm. Hoople sold his farm at Medford, Minn., and settled on his Dakota homestead in 1880. Hoople was married to Ella Bronson at Medford, Minn., in July, 1876. Among their neighbors in pioneer days in Dakota were Thomas Frazier, John Hughes, John and William Wood, J. E. Flanagan, M. B. Bronson, Martin Larson and William Hurtt. Hoople had a leading part in the life of the community and village. He served as mayor, president of the school board and in other capacities. He was a member of the original board of trustees of the Hoople Methodist Church. He was a member of the Masonic and Woodmen lodges. He was elected Walsh County Register of Deeds in 1912. His first wife died in 1898, and in 1902 he married Susan Rollefstad, who died two years later. In 1908 he married Emma Scidmore, who is now a resident of Grafton. His children were George H. Hoople of Hoople; Mrs. Adolph Arness who Uved in Iowa; and Mrs. S. J . Provan of Fargo. Submitted by AUen Hoople, grandson.

George Hoople

Myrtle Hoople

JOHN HUGHES John Hughes lived in Hoople. He and Mrs. Hughes had four children: John Wm., Arthur, Edith and Minnie. Arthur and John Wm. were farmers in the locality. Edith married David Watson who was the "cop" in Hoople. They had no children. Minnie married Alex Skien. He was a farmer and a carpenter. They lived in Hoople and had one son. Submitted by Una Parkins Bjorneby. KARL AND PETRONELLA HULTIN In 1882 Karl and Petronella Hultin, together with then five children, Nels, Sarah, Olander, Hilda and John, left Skane, Sweden, and sailed for this country. They came to Walsh County and farmed in this area. They were pioneer members of the North Trinity Church, and the children went to school at Glenwood School District No. 13. Later when the children settled here, Mr. and Mrs. Hultin moved to Wisconsin and farmed there until he retired and moved back to Grafton. Mr. Hultin died in 1933 at the age of 93 and Mrs. Hultin in 1936 at 96. They are both buried in the North Trinity Cemetery near Nash. None of the children are Uving, but several direct descendants are residing in this area. Submitted by Mrs. Bud Anderson, grandddughter.

MAGNUS HULTIN Magnus Hultin, his wife and four children came to the U. S. from Amal, Sweden, on a cattle boat. After spending a short time in Wisconsin, he came to the home of his brother-in-law, John M. Almen. This farm is now owned by Herzell Larson. For a time they lived on an adjoining farm, then moved to Lancaster, Minn. Mr. Hultin and his sons farmed at Lancaster for a number of years. When they retired, Mr. and Mrs. Hultin moved to Thief River FaUs, Minn. Mrs. Hultin came to the Nash area in 1917 to attend the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Tion Swanson. WhUe there she died. Mr. Hultin spent the last 10 years of his life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Tion Swanson. He died in 1927. Both are buried in the North Trinity Church Cemetery, Nash. Of their chUdren, Alma, Alvin, and TUda are deceased and are buried at North Trinity Cemetery. Elmer and Joel died in Montana, Olga in Saskatoon, Sask., Oscar is buried at St. Paul, Minn, and Nels at Lancaster, Minn. Submitted by Murray Swanson.

The Magnus Hultin family. X shows Mrs. Tion Swanson.

ROY HURTT Roy Hurtt, son of Wm. Hurtt of Hoople, was born in 1892 and spent the early part of his life on his father's farm. He served in WWI for a year as a machine gunner. He returned home and besides helping on the farm, painted and repaired automobiles and motorcycles. Mr. Hurtt married Alice Johnson, Badger, Minn., in 1927. He had a house built a short distance from the home place and continued farming as well as mechanical work. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hurtt reared a family of six children. The children are: Mrs. Orville (Evelyn) Offerdahl, Minneapolis; Mrs. Charles (Inez) Van Cura, Farmmington, Minn.; Mrs. Orville (Lois) Melland, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. John (Lola) McDonald, Portland, Ore.; two sons, Ivan Hurtt, Hoople and Lome Hurtt, Portland, Ore. Among Roy Hurtt's inventions were: first homemade gas powered tractor; first volume potato cutting machine which mechanically conveyed, treated and sacked potatoes; first propelled swather, none other at the time - swather attachment could be removed and a spraying outfit attached; woodsplitter run by a gas engine; trench digger run by a Ford tractor used for laying pipe or wire seven feet underground; first snowmobile from a Ford runabout. He also repaired clocks and watches for several years. After retiring he repaired electrical motors, tore down and completely reassembled them. He made his own winding apparatus from a cream separator frame. This continued until he was forced to give up for his health and eyesight. Mr. Hurtt died June 24, 1975, at Warren, Minn. He was buried at the Hoople Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Roy Hurtt. FAMILY OF WILLIAM AND MARIAN HURTT

the Great Northern, the eastern side of the river, the first year the tracks were laid. The rails were laid on the prairie sod and when the Red River was in flood the tracks were covered up to the car steps, thus making one feel the car would tip over." His brother George HamUton Hurtt (I) had arrived in Glenwood Township the preceding year, 1878. In 1880 William returned to Ontario and brought his elderly parents and his two sisters back to North Dakota, where his sister Elizabeth also took a homestead. In 1881 WUliam Hurtt married Marian Teresa Parsonage in Pilot Mound, Man., on October 22. The wedding journey to the Hoople vicinity was made in a buggy. An overnight stop was made at an inn whose host was Mr. Cavalier, who had an Indian wife.

Mr. and Mrs. William Hurtt, Glenwood Twp., Hoople. Wedding Oct. 22, 1881. Marian Parsonage, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Parsonage, was bom in London, England, Oct. 1, 1860. Her famUy emigrated to Canada in a saiUng vessel and settled on land previously purchased at HaUburton, Ont., in 1863. Her father had a store in the village and also did some farming. In 1880 they moved west to Pilot Mount, Man., where the three sons of the family had preceded them. The journey to Emerson near Pembina was made by train, but from there to PUot Mound, the trip was made by covered wagon to then- new home.

William Hurtt, Hoople. 50th Wedding Anniversary, July, 1931. Marian Teresa Hurtt, wife of William Hurtt. 50th Wedding Anniversary, July, 1931. WilUam Hurtt, the son of Mary Anne Hamilton Hurtt and Samuel Hurtt, was born in Cobourg, Ont., on the shores of Lake Ontario, April 2, 1851. He later lived in Peterborough, Ont., where he attended school and later at HaUburton, 150 miles northeast of Toronto. He arrived at his North Dakota homestead AprU 3, 1879, and selected land on the south bank of the middle branch of Park River beside an island. To quote his own words from an article in "The Farmer" of St. Paul in 1932: "I went as far as Pembina on the train and walked to the present vicinity of my farm. The land had not been surveyed but I pre-empted a quarter section enlarging it through the years to more than a section. I came up on

Mr. and Mrs. WUliam Hurtt raised a famUy of three sons and six daughters. A daughter, Mabel, died at 12 following an operation for a ruptured appendix performed on the farm house kitchen table by a surgeon brought from Grand Forks. The other children were EUnor (Mrs. Wm. Schaetzel) of Hoople; the daughters are Dorothy and Appalona; a son, PhUip, died in childhood. Mary and Francis F. lived on the family homestead caring for the parents until their deaths. Roy lived at Hoople. HamUton George I lived on the homestead of his uncle, George I. He married Olga E. Paulson and had five sons, John WUliam, Hamilton, Jr., George, LoweU and Dean of the Hoople community and one daughter, Marion (Mrs. D. Tisdale), St. Thomas. Effie (Mrs. Harry Sennett) Uved at Seattle, Wash. They had a son, Murray. Esther and her husband, MelviUe Hodge, Uve in Rock Island, IU. She recently retired as an art instructor. Then- children are Marion and MelviUe, Jr. Ruth (Mrs. John Moen) retired

teacher, lives in Viroqua, Wise. Her children are Mary Elinor and John William. Mr. Hurtt's life-time hobby was the growing of fruit. He belonged to the Minnesota Horticultural Society, was constantly experimenting and developing new varieties. His orchard was visited by people from many states as well as those from the surrounding area. He grew fruit in commercial quantities for many years. In 1908 with Abram Jackson and Nels Folson he visited the potato growing areas of Colorado, and as a result began raising potatoes on a larger scale than had previously been tried in the Hoople vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Hurtt joined the Baptist Church in Park River in pioneer days. In later years the family was active in the Hoople Methodist Church. Submitted by Esther Hurtt Hodge.

George H. Hurtt, Sr. Pioneer of Glenwood Twp., moved to South Pasadena, Calif, in 1925. BIOGRAPHY OF ABRAHAM JACKSON My father, Abraham Jackson, was bom in 1852 in Norway. He attended rural school which also taught the Lutheran religion. After confirmation, when he was only 16 years old, he was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Skien to work and learn the trade. About this time, an older brother who had been in the U. S. a few years, made a visit to Norway and told of the wonders of the new world across the ocean. He had settled in Iowa and had used his homestead privilege so he was established in farming. These stories fascinated my father, whose heart was not in the shoemaking trade. By many promises and a great deal of coaxing, he was finally given permission to accompany the brother to the new paradise. This was before the days of steam engine power and the trip to New York was made by sail ship. The voyage would take six to eight weeks depending on the wind. When the two brothers arrived in Liverpool, everything was in a tumult and during the excitement the two embarked on different ships. Many of the passengers were from Telemarken and the incident was soon forgotten. Most of the immigrants were destined for Houston, Minn. Father had an uncle there, so his voyage ended in Houston. In 1875, he moved, with others, to Moorhead, Minn. Now a bridge had been built across the Red River and the town of Fargo had been started. This land west of the river was called the Dakota Territory and had not been surveyed. Indian tribes were on the move and not too friendly to the settlers taking their land. In 1879 there were rumors that the land west of the river would soon be opened for settlement under the Homestead Act. In the first part of May, my father and three others started out on foot carrying provisions for the trip. This

included food, gun, axe, shovel, and clothes. In about a week they came to the farm which my father later homesteaded near Hoople in Glenwood Township. Here they dug a trench in a coulee bank, covered this with poles and branches, and finally covered with sod. Here they lived until each had built a log house on his intended homestead. That summer, Farup and other engineers surveyed the Red River Valley. Settlers were now living on the land using the squatter's right of ownership. In December the land opened for filing on homesteads and everyone had to go to Fargo and file on their land. Each settler had to live on his land 6 months for 3 years. The homestead included 160 acres. Another 160 acres could be obtained by planting 5 acres of trees on a prairie quarter. In a few months all of the land had been homesteaded and the border was pushed north to the Canadian border and also west for 60 to 75 miles from the Red River. Many of the settlers came in covered wagons, leading a cow behind the wagon. In June that same year, my wife's grandparents and family came in a caravan of three covered wagons, each family had a cow and chickens, also implements to till the soil. The grandfather's name was Martin Johnson and they settled in Dundee Township. Soon roads were started along the section lines and farming started in a small way. In 1881 the first train reached Grafton after the railroad had been built north from Fargo. Grafton also became the county seat for Walsh County. In a few years, a branch of the railroad was started northwest of Grafton and the towns of Hoople, Crystal, and Cavalier were built. Hoople was built in 1890 and was named after Allan Hoople, who had homesteaded the land. Two rural schools were started in each township and the country became a bustling community. The homesteaders were afraid of prairie fires, so fire breaks were plowed around each house and barn for protection. Better roads, culverts and bridges were built. About the first project begun by the settlers was to organize a congregation and build a church. Everyone had come here to establish homes and all took their part to make this a better community in which to live. At this time, my father received a letter from Norway that his mother was sick and wished to see him before she died. He spent six months in Norway and during this time, he met and became engaged to Gertrud Ormtveit. She and Sigre Kleppe came to the U. S. in 1888. Father and Mother were married in the Zion Lutheran Church south of Hoople. Signe Kleppe married John Trovatten of rural Park River. The first rural route was begun in 1910 and the rural telephone was started soon after. Potato farming was also started in 1907 which added a lot of revenue to agriculture. Father and Mother retired in 1925 and moved into Hoople when Minnie Johnson and I were married and took over the farming. Mother died in 1932 and Father in 1934. In the early days it was almost impossible to obtain a doctor, but each family had a good doctor book which had home remedies for each ailment. The father was the dentist and extracted teeth with the aid of a plier. The mother took care of the hair cutting as well as other jobs such as milking, caring for the chickens and eggs. Boiled milk and flour was a favorite dish of the Scandinavians and was called mush. There was always a lady in each neighborhood who was capable of helping when a child

was born. When someone died, coffins were made at home and nobody had ever heard of embalming. The life of the pioneer family was one of hardship and reward; and left a rich heritage to pass on to their descendants. Submitted by Henry Jackson.

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Jackson, daughter, Sena (Mrs. Gust Kjos),, son, Henry. Taken in 1900. ANTON JOHNSON FAMILY

Anton Johnson's Silver Wedding—1890-1915. Anton Johnson was born in Amal, Sweden, Jan. 13, 1860. He came to America in 1886. He came to a farm in Glenwood Township. On this farm he worked and lived in a sod house. Betty Gustafson was born April 22, 1866, at Amal, Sweden. She came to America June 11, 1888, in company with Gustav Johnson, Emma Donaldson, Tilda Magnusson, Mrs. Christ Olson and Carl Nelson. Betty worked at the Knute Berg farm and later at the L. A. Lundgren farm. There, April 5, 1890, she married Anton Johnson. They lived in a sod house (one room) for two years. Then a frame house was erected. To this union seven children were born: Albert, Oscar, Bertha (deceased), Anna (Mrs. H. Russum), Victor, Nels, and Esther (Mrs. E. Skold). Anton was active in township and church affairs. He was custodian of North Trinity Church for 18 years. Anton died Sept. 6, 1928. Betty died in August, 1949. Submitted by Mrs. Nels Johnson.

GUSTAV A. JOHNSON FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Johnson Wedding April 8, 1896. Gustav A. Johnson and Anna Marie Almen were married April 8,1896, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Almen, in Dundee Township near the Hvideso Lutheran Church. They observed their 55th wedding anniversary before death parted them. Anna Marie Almen was born in Amal, Sweden, Dec. 8, 1872. She came with her parents and sister, Sophie Almen, to the home of an uncle, Rev. and Mrs. L. G. Almen, near New London, Minn., Oct. 1, 1880. In May 1881, they came to Stephen, Minn., which was as far as the railroad extended at that time. There they were met and were taken by oxen to the farm home of another uncle, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Almen, who lived near Nash in Glenwood Township. They stayed with this uncle while their small sod house was being built, about two miles west of there. Later, the Isaac Almens homesteaded in Dundee Township. He donated the land for Hvideso Church and Cemetery. Anna Marie Almen learned the dressmaker trade and became a seamstress. She received a citation in October, 1918, from the Red Cross Chairman, Mrs. W. C. Truemann, for the beautiful garments she had made from new material and donated to the Red Cross. Gustav Johnson was born in Amal, Sweden, Nov. 23, 1867. He came from there directly to Grafton June 11, 1888. He lived with and worked for the John Almen family. It was here he met his future wife. He was the first renter of the Dick Anderson farm which was adjoining the Almen farm. In 1893, Gustav Johnson bought a farm in Glenwood Township. In 1906, he also purchased the Olavus Dahl farm near the North Trinity Church. This was the family home until his death Dec. 3,1958. Mrs. Johnson died April 22, 1951. Their resting place is in the North Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. As long as they were able, they both had been very active in the work of the church. Mr. Johnson was a member of the school board and served on the Glenwood Township Board for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to adulthood. Alfhild Johnson Minnis lives in Greybull, Wyo. Adolph was living on the home place at the time of his death Jan. 19, 1971. Reuben lives on the former John M . Almen farm. Marie Johnson Shannon lives in Fordville. Walter Uves in Edinburg and Helen Johnson Almen Uves in Park

River. There are 14 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren. Submitted by their daughters Alfhild, Marie and Helen.

Gustav Johnson died July 29, 1942, and Kjerstine Nov. 12, 1949. All the deceased members of the Gustav Johnson family are buried at the North Trinity Cemetery. Per Ragnar Johansson was Kjerstine's brother and was born at Amal, Sweden, April 2, 1890. He also came to the U. S. in 1906. He served the U. S. in the First World War and was in the constant company of his cousin, the late Oscar H. Johnson, while in enemy territory. They both came back unscathed to the U. S. after the conflict. Ragnar died while working with his buddy of World War I Aug. 10, 1928. He is buried at the North Trinity Cemetery where the American Legion erected a monument in his honor. Ragnar was never married. Submitted by Mrs. Gunnar Beyer. JERMUN JOHNSON

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Johnson Golden Wedding, July, 1946.

GUSTAV JOHNSON FAMILY The Gustav Johnson family was another family within the area of Nash, in Glenwood Township, that had its roots in Sweden. G. A. Johnson (Big Gust) and Gustav Johnson (Little Gust) were stepbrothers. Gusta V. Johnson was born in Amal, Sweden, April 16,1864. He came to the U. S. in 1900. His wife, Kjerstine Maria Johansson, was born in Amal, Sweden, Jan. 13, 1886. She came to the U. S. in 1906. They were married at the G. A. Johnson farm home Dec. 19, 1906. Their attendants were Per Ragnar Johansson (Kjerstine's brother) and Hannah Almen Tallackson. MM

Mr. and Mrs. Gjermund Johnson Jermun (Jim) Johnson was born in Houston, Minn., Sept. 27, 1859. He and his brother Ole and some other young men came to Walsh County in about 1880 and homesteaded. When he fUed on the land he had to go to Fargo. It was winter and there had been a big storm, so to get there before the deadUne he went by skis. The sun was so bright, when he got there he was snow blind and had to stay three weeks before he could start back. His son, Edward, now Uves on this farm which his son, Glenn, now farms.

Bridal Couple: Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Johnson (Kjerstein). Attendants: Ragnar Johnson, Hannah Almen Tallackson. To this union four children were born, LilUan Christine Margaret Johnson (Mrs. Chester Taylor), born Oct. 22, 1907, died June, 1958; CUfford E. Johnson, born March 28, 1910, died Feb. 4, 1971; Eunice Victoria Johnson, bom Feb. 26, 1912, died Oct. 5, 1968; and Ruby Harriet Irene Johnson (Mrs. Gunnar Beyer), born Sept. 4, 1914.

The Johnson Family: Alma, Julia, Mable, Leonora, Myrtle, Edward, Ida. Jermun married RagnbUd (NeUie) Oland Jan. 22, 1886, who immigrated from Houston, Minn., where she was'born. Her famUy came July 5, 1883, in a group of

covered wagons. She and her brother and sister walked most of the 600 miles. The younger children rode on the wagon and had to chase the cattle. They settled west of Dundee Church. They later moved to Roseau. In 1907, Jermun was killed when his horses ran away. Edward took over the family responsibilities. Soon sickness struck. T. B., the dread disease, took Alma in 1911, Mabel in 1913, Leonora in 1916, Myrtle in 1918 and Ida (Mrs. Con Lilligard) in 1928. They are buried at Zion Lutheran Church in Hoople, of which they were charter members. Edward and Julia survive. Edward still lives on the farm with his wife, Josie, who he married in 1924. Julia made her home with them, but now is in the Sunset Home in Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. Edward Johnson. OLE E. JOHNSON Ole E. Johnson was born in Houston County, Minn., Dec. 24, 1856. He homesteaded in Glenwood Township in 1880. He married Frederika Olson. They had two children, Oscar and Edwin. Frederika died and five years later he married Karen Gunderson. They had seven children: Henry, Alma, Melvin, Elvina, Lydia, Lillian and Raymond. Karen was born in Oslo, Norway, and came to the U. S. when she was 21 years old. She was baptized and confirmed in Domskirke, the largest cathedral in Norway. When she attended church services, she often saw the King of Norway there. She worked at the palaces in Oslo, taking care of the children of the rich. During her lifetime, she was a kind "mother" to many who came to live with them for a time. The family retired from farming in 1924 and moved to Hoople. There, Karen was active in church and community affairs, including the American Legion Auxiliary. On her 90th birthday she received a greeting from the President of the United States. She died at 97 years in 1967. Ole Johnson died Dec. 29, 1932. The family were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were buried in Zion Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Lydia Desautel.

Ole E. Johnson Family. Front row: Father, Lillian, Raymond, Elvina, Mother. Back row: Lydia, Oscar, Melvin, Henry, Alma. Inset: Edwin. GEORGE JOHNSTONE George Johnstone was bom in 1865 in a small Scottish town called Turiff. He remained there until he was approximately 16 years of age, at which time he moved to Aberdeen which was the county seat. Here, he was able to secure employment as a milkman. This job required

arising at 4 a. m. and finishing the day around 8 p. m. During the time of this employment he met Alex Anderson and they both agreed as soon as they had secured sufficient capital they would go to America. This was encouraged as Alex had a brother living in the U. S. So in 1884 they secured passage to the U. S. and arrived in the spring of 1884 at the ages of 19 and 20. Upon arriving in New York they discovered the rail fare higher than anticipated. I imagine this was due to the fact, that they had no realization of the great expanse or distance from New York to the Dakotas. So it was decided that Alex take the train and my father would go by ship on the Great Lakes. As he was able to secure employment on a ship that would take care of his fare and a few dollars extra. After docking, my father secured passage by train to St. Thomas. As Alex and Boyd did not realize the slowness of traveling by ship, they had met the train at St. Thomas for many days but my father had not arrived. So upon arriving at St. Thomas my father found no one awaiting him. Inquiring of the depot agent, he was informed that they had been in town daily awaiting his arrival. His only choice was to walk to the Anderson farm (which is now the Andrew Aaland farm). This took considerable time but was able to reach the place shortly after dark after receiving instructions from various farmers along the way. He remained with the Andersons for about a year and a half helping with the farm work. Alex had applied for a homestead but my father thought farming was not to his liking so he moved into Hoople. For a year or so he just took whatever work came up. As this was not getting him any place he thought the town could have a barber. He learned the trade by hanging around the livery barn and offering to cut any ones hair that came along. This continued for almost two years but did not prove very profitable as the tips were small and sometimes no tips at all. So, he borrowed money from Boyd Anderson to purchase a building that was located between Joe Markel's Grocery and the GuUickson Cafe. It was a two story building with the second floor being a dance hall. He started with a barber chair and tables and chairs used as a card room. The dance floor proved quite popular for a time but lagged because during the early days men far outnumbered women in the community. But there was a constant form of entertainment by minstrel shows coming into the community. In 19631 was at a motel in South Bend, Ind., and the motel owner's father, who was advanced in years, started a conversation with me. He informed me that in his younger years he had traveled with a stock company throughout the Dakotas. I asked him if he ever played at Hoople and he responded enthusiastically that he sure had and it was probably the most enthusiastic reception the troupe encountered. In 1893 he either saved enough money or borrowed funds in order that he might have a vacation. This was a trip to the World's Fair in Chicago. Things remained pretty much the same until the year 1901 when the building burned to the ground. He immediately acquired the store located where the Bodmer service station is today. This was called a confectionery store and handled ice cream. The front part was separated from the barber shop and the card playing rooms. Back of this was the bowling alley. During this period of Hoople growth, the entertainment consisted of card playing, bowling, and

dancing in the new, modern Woodmen Hall that was erected at the sight of the new fire department building. During the winter the younger people would use the Allan Hoople bam as a sleigh or toboggan slide. They packed snow up to the roof of the barn and then took the sleighs and coasted across the river and across the park to the west, where the river bank stopped them. During the Christmas season my father would lay planks across the booths and around the candy counter and stock them with Christmas items. This was mostly cut glass, china ware, watches, pen and pencil sets and the Uke. This proved to be profitable at the time as people did not go to Grafton or larger places to do their shopping. George Johnstone married Annie Tharalson in 1909 on Thanksgiving Day. She was a daughter of one of the earliest pioneers, Paul Tharalson. She taught school in the Hoople and Grafton areas for many years, and was a Sunday School teacher for 25 years. She was an active member of the Lutheran Ladies' Aid and various other community organizations. She was bom in 1875 and passed away in 1957. They had one son, Victor. As the twenties emerged, things became rather tough, or as we say today, we were in a recession. During this period many laborers would come to Hoople looking for work and were foUowed by a group of I. W. W. agents. They tried to force the farmers to pay higher wages. Just about every night they would set up a platform on the lot between Bert Travers' garage and Mrs. Lee's house. During the oratory they asked those that were employed to quit their jobs and come to town and eventuaUy the farmers would have to meet their demands. If this did not work they advocated setting fire to the threshing machine or throwing something into the feeder that would disrupt threshing and cost the thresher repair bills. Nothing of this type ever occurred in the Hoople area, except for an occasional pitchfork being tossed into the feeder. But some sections of the state did have threshers burned. This type of approach only lasted a couple of years and then nothing more was heard of their activities. During the summer of 1925, my folks took what amounted to a second vacation for my father, as they went to Yellowstone National Park. The remaining years of the twenties were simUar and even the stock market crash of 1929 had no effect on the Hoople community until 1930 or 1931. This caused a great deal of hardship as there was very Uttle money in the area. But what was a blessing was the fact that with all the city unemployment, it brought about a large influx of laborers during the thirties, aU looking for a few days work. I beUeve at times there were ten men for every job. But if they earned a few cents they had to spend it and this made an exceptionaUy good business for two months of the year. But for the rest of the year the store might just as weU have been closed as it took all the faU profits to heat and Ught the store during the winter months. Then when 1936 came along, the farmers had a fair crop and potato prices were around a $1 and this impact was a business builder, as the farmers flocked to town in the afternoon and again at night for card playing. At that time just about every married man spent his evenings at the card table. I don't know what the women thought of this, but they seemed to take it as a matter of course. In 1935 the second buUding burned to the ground. This was disastrous as there was some question as to

whether he could afford to build a new building. But as luck would have it, the Gryde store buUding was owned by the Farmer's State Bank and the receiver gave dad a very cheap price on it, as it was dead property to seU. This was divided up into Gryde's Grocery, the cafe, barber shop and the bank eventually at the west end of the building. This was a busy comer aU the year around as the farmers were coming to town daily while in the twenties it was only once a week. North Dakota did not permit the sale of cigarettes, although, there was a fellow in Hoople that bootlegged them. They were not legal until 1929 and I remember dad was the first one to get aUcense. The first person to buy cigarettes legally in Hoople was Gilbert Twedt. July 1, 1939, fire destroyed dad for the third time. The community was very cooperative as they helped clean up the debris by bringing in trucks and shovels. I think Bert Travers was the sponsor of this kind act. Dad decided to build on the comer again. This time making room for the Comer Cafe, Kraft's Drag Store, Gryde's Grocery and the Bank quarters, in the basement, the barbershop. There was another room that was used as a community room. It was here that the first J. C. chapter was founded. As this building was finished in the early part of the 40's, everyone did well that occupied the buUding as the war was about to start and prices were rising, which meant more people spending money. At this time my father was 75 but was stiU active and in 1942,1 left and the store was rented out. AU he did thereafter was to take care of the furnace. He continued doing this untU 1950 when on July 4 the buUding was destroyed by fire. This was the fourth buUding that had been lost due to fire. I don't imagine you could find any other person that had suffered from fire as much as my father. His Ufe was really one of hard work as he went to Uie store at 7 a. m. and stayed until midnight. Which would by today's standards be caUed serfdom. Then to think that after all those years, he really did not have much to show for it. As Lowell Thomas used to say, "This is the way it was and hope for a better tomorrow Submitted by Victor Johnstone, a son.

George Johnson, Hoople merchant—1909. GJERMOND AND KARRIE KITTLESON Gjermond Kittleson immigrated to America from Telemark, Norway, when he was 12 years old. His father was not living, but he was accompanied by his mother and sisters. They lived in PeUcan Rapids, Minn., until 1879 when he moved to Walsh County. In 1881 he married Karrie Gregorson, who came with her parents and brother from Kenyon, Minnesota. They also were

originally from Telemark, Norway. Her father was a stone-cutter by trade and cut the stone for the first stone church in Kenyon. Later her family moved to Walsh County. After their marriage the Kittlesons built a log house on their farm with a large room added later. The farm, a quarter of land, was on the south side of the timber along the middle branch of the Park River, four miles south and one mile east of Hoople in Section 28. It is now the home of the Dewey Midgardens. The Kittlesons, like their neighbors to the east, the Marndahls and Helgesons, had an abundance of lush, wild fruit in their woods along the river - plums, chokecherries, Juneberries, blackberries and gooseberries. These pioneers encouraged the neighbor pioneers, who lived on the barren prairie, to pick all the fruit they could use for sauce and jelly. They also let them transplant the wild fruit trees and bushes on their homesteads. In pioneer days no one could afford to buy fruit, even if it had been available, so this friendly gesture was very helpful to many neighbors. Ten children were born to the Kittlesons - Charles, Sam, John, George, Edwin, Oscar, Arthur, Minnie, Julia and Emma. The Kittlesons were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Mrs. Kittleson died in 1902 and her daughter, Emma, died at the age of two. Both are buried in Zion Cemetery, Lot 162. Several of the sons moved to Montana, where they farmed. In 1913 they persuaded their father, youngest brother and sister to sell their farm and move west too. Mr. Kittleson died in 1919 and is buried near Dodson, Mont. Submitted by Cora Malmin.

FAMILY OF MARTIN HAUGE LARSON Martin Lars Hauge (1824-1924) changed his name to Martin Larson when he homesteaded in Walsh County. He and his wife, Karen Peterson (1851-1931), were both born in Norway. They and their children, Ole, 11 years and Laura, 8 years, immigrated to America in 1883, and came directly to Walsh County. They homesteaded on a quarter of land and bought the adjoining quarter one mile south of Hoople. Here they built a log cabin, planted a grove and farmed until 1916 when they rented their land to the Fagerholt brothers and retired to Hoople. A daughter, Mrs. Laura Walstad, sole heir, sold the land to Clarence Fagerholt in 1928, where his widow still resides. Four children were born to the Larsons: Ole, 18721894, unmarried, age 22; Laura (Mrs. Gunerius Walstad), 1875-1964; Olava (Mrs. Kjolmor Schoyen), 1884-1914, no children; and Matthilde, 1884-1884. They had four grandchildren, Morral, Oscar, Victor and Olaf Walstad. Their only other relatives were, Mrs. Arnold Paulson and Mrs. Knut Aaland, Hoople; Peter and John Larson, Grafton; Mrs. Louise Nygard and Miss Lena Larson, Grand Forks. All are nieces and nephews of Mr. Larson. Mr. and Mrs. Larson were charter members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. They and their children are buried in Zion Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Walstad.

JOHN KJELAAS John Kjelaas came to the Hoople area as a young man. He married Annie Twedt Gunderson, daughter of Gullik and Ingeborg Twedt. She was bom in Glenwood Township. John worked as a farm laborer, then he farmed 3% miles southeast of Hoople. He was one of the early drivers of Hoople's horse-drawn school bus. He took great pride in his fancy harnesses with colorful rings, a fad in those years. John (1892-1929) was buried at Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. He had no survivors.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Larson, Hoople. PETER LARSON FAMILY At the age of one year, Hans Peter Larson came to America with his parents from Frederickstad, Norway. They settled in Jackson County, Minn. After six years they came with the great influx of pioneers who settled in this territory in the late 70's and early 80's. They filed on a homestead in Glenwood Township where they continued to live. He attended school in Glenwood District No. 13, and remained on the farm until his marriage. The Larson homestead now belongs to Nels Johnson. In 1895 he married Hilda Christine Hultin, who, at seven, came with her parents to the United States from Sweden. After their marriage they moved to a farm in Grafton Township. Mr. Larson was an active member of the North Trinity Lutheran Church and served on the school board for 20 years. When Peter's boys started working in the fields, he had more time to spend around the yard, but it's remembered that often, while they were plowing with the Gang plows, he would come out with the

Wedding of John and Annie Kjelaas. Attendants (standing)—Emma Twedt, Ole Twedt. 381

old walking plow and make a few rounds, to "help them out" he would say. . Mrs Larson was active in the North Trinity Ladies Aid for many years. Her hobby was flowers and when time and the weather permitted, she worked in her flower garden. Much of her leisure time was spent doing fancy work. Crocheting, knitting and hairpin lace are S S a few of the things in needlecraf t that she liked to do. Mr and Mrs. Larson had two boys and eight girls. Mrs. Lee (Cora) Sager, Mrs. Bert (Mildred) Phair Arvid, who married Ella Mae Young; Verna, deceased 1935- Mrs. Clarence (Gladys) Thompson, Mrs Cameron fTiieUal Sheppard, Herzell, who married Margaret C4son Mrs Ftank (Thelma) Lovchik, Mrs. Paul (Faye) Davis', and Mrs. George (Phyllis) Anderson. Arvid Larson lives at Casselton. The original Hans Peter Larson home and farm is owned and occupied by his son, Herzell Larson. Submitted by Mrs. Clarence Thompson.

Nels Midgarden in 1910 when he was offered a job in Montana by the Great Northern Railroad, as foreman for a large building they built in Glacier Park. It was built of polished and varnished logs. He turned on his lathe the bowls, plates, mugs and many other beautiful wooden pieces used for decorations on the shelves and walls of the museum housed in the building. The place was also used for festivals and concerts Bom to the Marndahls were Emma, Aimer, and Clara (Mrs. Borlin of Spokane, Wash.). The parents and children were members of Zion Lutheran Church while they resided in the Hoople area Mrs Marndahl's parents, the Bergersons, homesteaded on a tree claim two and one half miles south of Hoople. (That land is now owned by Mrs. Clara Shannon.) After Mr. Bergerson's death, Mrs. Bergerson made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, the Marndahls. She diedin 1904 at the age of 91 She is buried beside her granddaughter, Emma Marndahl, on Lot 89 in Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Walstad.

The wedding of Peter Larson and Hilda Hultin, 1895. LARS LUNDGREN . Andrew Monson arrived in the U. S. in 1871 and worked on the east coast for 5 years and then returned to S W 6

I n 1878 he decided to return here and took his sisters, Johanna (Mrs. Strom) and Kama and her husband Lars, Lundgren, with him. The Lundgrens took a homestead m Glenwood Township, Walsh County. Seven cMdren were born to this union: Mary, 1876, wed Christ.Olson in 1898 Nettie, 1878, wed Elmer Almen in 1900; Gustave 1880 Albert, 1883; Nellie, 1886; (thes three died as children) Nannie, 1889, wed Charles Sieben in 1910; Henry, 1892, wed Julia Gryde in 1925. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Lundgren moved to Grafton. Lars Lundgren died in 1894 and 1Kama Lundgren in 1937. Both are buried in the North Trinity Cemetery. Submitted by Emma Benoit.

Mr. and Mrs. Marndahl, daughter, Clara, son, Elmer.

;

KAROLINE AND HANS OLSEN MARNDAHL Hans and Karoline Marndahl were both born in Norway They immigrated to America, settled in Minnesota until 1880, when they homesteaded in Walsh County on a quarter of land in Section 27, Glenwood Township, on the south side of the middle branch of the Park River, four miles south and one and one half mile east of Hoople. Marndahl was an excellent carpenter and also farmed He was an outstanding finishing man, and did beautiful work on his turning lathe. He sold his farm to

OLAF MARTINSON FAMILY

Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Martinson, 1913. Attendants: Albert Fagerholt. Clara Paulson Nilson. 382

Olaf Martinson was born Nov. 23, 1884, of parents, Martin and Beate Rudseter, Nes, Romerike, Norway. He came to America in 1905. He married Ida A. Fagerholt on Nov. 25, 1913. She was born in Glenwood Township Feb. 9, 1892, of parents Andrew A. and Oline Fagerholt. Olaf and Ida Martinson had ten children; Beatrice, Walter, Medvin, Alice, Linda, Adelyn, Helen, Marie, Wendell and Glenn. Submitted by Wendell Martinson.

1943. George, unmarried, died in 1922. Henry V. died at age five. Walter wed Gertrude Thorsen in 1929. Emma wed Lloyd O. Benoit in 1927. Alice is unmarried. Henry W. wed Lila Aasand in 1946. Pearl wed Iver Iverson in 1939. Peter Monson died June 11, 1912. Mrs. Monson died May 12. 1948. Submitted by Mrs. Iver Iverson.

6FNEAL0G1CAL DEPARTMENT CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-SAY SAINTS

PETER MONSON

Peter Monson's home in Sweden. His mother and Aunt Elna are shown. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Monson Wedding—Feb. 17, 1893.

FRANK AND ROBERT NAEGELI

Peter Monson was born in Farlof Township, Skane, Sweden, July 2,1857, the son of Mons Monson (1817-1902) and Anna Oleson (1822-1892). There were seven children born to this union: Andrew, 1850; Elna, 1853; Kama, 1855; Peter, 1857; Nils, 1859; Johanna, 1862; and Sven, 1864. Andrew was the first member of the family to arrive in the United States in 1871. Peter arrived May 20, 1875. The two brothers worked on the east coast before coming to North Dakota. Peter became a citizen of the United States, Nov. 3, 1879. He filed on a homestead in Gardar Township, Pembina County, Feb. 17, 1885. He was employed by W. C. Leistikow at the Grafton Roller Mill Co. He was united in marriage to Gunhild Johnson at Nash Feb. 17,1893. Dec. 30, 1893, he purchased 160 acres in Glenwood Township from his brother, Andrew, who had purchased the land from Peter Anderson Nov. 16, 1888. On Jan. 3, 1890, the St. P. M. & M. Railroad purchased right of way from Andrew Monson for shich he was paid $260. April 1, 1895, he sold the Pembina homestead to Gudjon Johnson. Nov. 3,1902, he purchased 120 acres adjoining his farm in Glenwood Township from Ole Bakkstad.

This is the wedding picture of Robert Naegeli and Effie McClennon. Frank and Robert Naegeli were blacksmiths in Hoople. Their brothers, Herman and Henry, were blacksmiths at Oakdale. Herman moved to Silverton, Ore., and Henry to St. Cloud, Minn., in the twenties. Submitted by Dr. H. L. Naegeli. THOMAS J. NEILSON Thomas J. Neilson was bom at Carleton Place, Ont., on Nov. 2,1850, the son of Hugh Lant Neilson. He passed away on June 12,1927, at the age of 77 years. He came to Pembina in April, 1879, and for some time was engaged in running a ferry between the then flourishing towns of Pembina and St. Vincent. Later he moved to Bathgate and was employed there for some time by the Ganssle brothers.

March 1, 1907, he purchased 160 acres in Grafton Township from his widowed mother-in-law, Mrs. Gunhild Johnson, and moved his family from the Glenwood Township farm to the Grafton Township farm where they made their home. They were affiliated with the North Trinity Church. The original 160 acres in Glenwood Township was sold to Henry Thompson, 40 acres of the land acquired from Ole Bakkstad was sold to John Paulson and the remaining 80 acres was purchased by his son, Henry W. Monson. The 160 acres in Grafton Township is now owned by Arthur Tallackson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Monson had a family of five daughters and four sons. Mary was born in 1894 and died in infancy. Hilda married Joe Thompson in 1918 and died Nov. 16,

While a resident of Bathgate, Mr. Neilson was married to Sarah Ellen Houston. He took part in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. As the party progressed into the Canadian wilderness they realized their provisions would not carry them through, so many of the group turned back, including Mr. Neilson. He and his wife and family left Bathgate and settled on their farm in Glen383

wood Township, three miles east of Hoople, in 1898. He Uved there until his death. Mr. Neilson took an active and intelligent interest in the civic and public affairs of his community and was honored with offices of trust and responsibiUty. He served on the district school board for many years and was a member of the board of supervisors of Glenwood Township for 22 years. Mrs. Neilson passed away April 2, 1932. They had eight children: Charley died in infancy; Mrs. John Tharalson (Grace), deceased; Frank Neilson, deceased; Mrs. E. Lindsay (Annie), deceased; Mrs. Homer Holland (Bessie), deceased; Wilmer E. Neilson; Linden T. Neilson, deceased; and Ellen Neilson, dgcGcised • He was affiliated with the Methodist church. Submitted by Wilmer Neilson.

T. J. Neilson

SARAH ELLEN NEILSON Sarah EUen Neilson was born Sept. 1, 1858, at Chatam, Ontario. Her father and mother were Robert and Nancy Houston. She was a relative of Sam Houston of Texas. . At the age of sixteen, she, with an elder sister moved by way of water, rail and ox cart to their brother's homestead which was near where Emerson, Man., is now located. When this homestead was proved up it was sold and they all moved to this side of the border and again homesteaded near Bathgate, where aU three proved up on their claims. She was united in marriage to Thomas J. NeUson on March 19 1884, at Bathgate. They lived in Bathgate until the faU of 1898 when they moved to their farm three mUes east of Hoople. She Uved on this farm until her death on April 2,1932, at the age of 73 years. She was an active member of the Hoople Methodist Church and an honorary member of the Riverside Homemakers Club. Mr. Neilson passed away on June 12, 1927 To this union eight chUdren were bom: Charley (Grace), died in infancy; Mrs. John Tharalson Lindsay deceased; Frank Neilson, deceased; Mrs. E (Bessie), (Annie), deceased; Mrs. Homer HoUand Neilson, deceased; Wilmer E. Neilson; Linden T. deceased; and EUen NeUson, deceased. Submitted by Wilmer NeUson. WILMER E . NEILSON Wilmer E. Neilson was bom at Bathgate May 19, 1895, the son of Thomas J. Neilson and Sarah Ellen NeUson. He lived in Bathgate until he was three years old and then came with his parents and other members of the family to live on their farm east of Hoople. He married Myrtle A. Johnston, daughter of James A Johnston, Nash, Dec. 10, 1919, at Grand Forks. They have three daughters: Bette L., Eleanor R. and Merle A. They have 11 grandchUdren and two great grandchildren. While Uving on the farm at Hoople he was active in township, school and church affairs. He held offices on the Hoople School Board and Glenwood Township board for many years. He is a member of the Methodist Church. He and his wife retired from the farm in 1956 and moved to Grafton where they are still Uving. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Neilson.

Wilmer Neilson family—Standing: Eleanor, Bette. Froni row: Merle, Myrtle, Wilmer. Family gathering at the T. J. Neilson home—1905. 384

LINDEN T. NEILSON Linden Thomas Neilson was born at Bathgate, Oct. 13, 1898, the son of Thomas J. and Sarah Ellen Neilson. He was six weeks old when he moved from Bathgate with his parents, brothers and sisters to live on their farm home east of Hoople. It was on this same farm he Uved and farmed his entire Ufe. On Dec. 16,1925, he married Mazel V. Best, daughter of George and Elsie Best. He was a member of Hoople Methodist Church and was active in church and community affairs, having been a member of Hoople school board, Glenwood Township board and Farmers Elevator board for many years. They had four daughters and eight grandchildren. Linden passed away Nov. 2,1961, while on a hunting trip at Ellendale. Their children are: Mrs. Robert H. (Marion) Nelson, deceased; Mrs. John (Jean) Wiesner, deceased; Mrs. Orville (Lois) Olson, Grafton; and Mrs. Dean K. (Ruth) Midboe, Grand Forks. Submitted by Mrs. Linden Neilson.

Linden Neilson Family JOHN NICHOLSON FAMILY D. P. McCloud came to Dakota Territory in 1875 from Stornoway, Quebec. He found land in Dundee Township and put in a claim for 10 others - homesteads, tree claims and pre-emptions. He returned to Quebec for the winter, coming back the following spring, bringing his nephews, John and Dan Nicholson, several cousins and neighbors. John Nicholson took a homestead and bought a tree claim from his cousin, Murdo Mclver. In 1888, Mr. Nicholson continued expanding his farming interests by purchasing a quarter of land 3% miles south of Hoople from Peter Speten. During this time he was also a dealer in farm machinery, binding twine and repairs for all kinds of machinery. He had the agency for the Weir Une of plows in Pembina, Walsh, and Cavalier Counties. He was purchasing agent for State and County AlUance which had branch stores at Park River and Hoople with headquarters at Grafton. John Nicholson was married to Margaret Anderson at Crystal March 18, 1891. Margaret (Maggie) Anderson was born April 9,1873, at Walkerton, Ont., the daughter of John Snedden Anderson and Catherine Allen Jackson, sho came to Ontario from Lenark, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson made their home in Grafton, then moved to their farm 3V6 miles south of Hoople.

Their children were: Isabelle Mae (Belle), born Jan. 14,1892. She married Wilford Anderson, Uves on her farm east of Hoople. Catherine died at the age of 10. Mary Elizabeth was born Feb. 17, 1896. In 1923 she married Archibald McEachern. She died at 36 at Carmen, Man. George Milton Nicholson was born in 1896. He married Lois B. Anderson, Grafton. He died at Battle Creek, Mich. Mr. Nicholson died in 1899 and was buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Mrs. Nicholson and her four chUdren moved to Hoople, Uved for two years in an apartment above the Venberg & Fedje Store. John's brother, Don Nicholson, let his hired man, John Halloran, put in the crop on his sister-in-law's farm. Mr. HaUoran went back to Michigan, soon returned to Dakota. In 1901 Margaret Nicholson and John Halloran were married and moved to the Nicholson farm where they lived until her death in 1917. The Hallorans had five children: Mrs. B. (Marjorie) Tobin; William John, married OUve Finkbiener; Mrs. Wm. (HanneUa) Gries; Mrs. Marvin (Eva) Huver; and AUen married Ruth Hildenbrand. The chUdren aU Uve in Michigan where they moved with their father in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. John Halloran are buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Wilford Anderson. CARL AND ANNA OBERG Mr. and Mrs. Carl Oberg farmed around in the Hoople-Nash area in Walsh County. Clark was born in Skane, Sweden, June 14,1874. Anna S. Nelson was born in Skane, Sweden, Nov. 1,1880. In 1902 she came to the U. S. She married Carl Oberg April 13,1904, in Grafton. They were the parents of four sons: Victor, Alfred, Leonard, and Fritz and two daughters: Mrs. Hans Staff (Minnie) and Mrs. Earl Brossard (Lillian) of Walker, Minn. Leonard was born Oct. 15,1920, died July 17,1942. He was killed in action in Africa in World War IL Alfred Uves at Portland, Ore. Fritz was born Sept. 5, 1913, died Sept. 9, 1947. Victor died August, 1972, as a result of an accident at Drayton. Mrs. Oberg died as a result of an auto accident June 1,1939. Carl died June 17,1958. They are buried at North Trinity Church Cemetery. Submitted by Hugo Oberg. JOHN OBERG FAMILY John Oberg came to the United States from Sweden in 1888 at the age of 17. He arrived in New York with an uncle and traveled from there to Moline, IU., where he worked in the John Deere plow factory. Later he went to Florida where he worked on the raUroad between Florida and Key West. He and his uncle homesteaded 80 acres of land in Florida which they sold and it is now used as a winter resort. He spent some time in New Orleans, La., and then came on to North Dakota to his father's farm five mUes south of Hoople where Joel Midgarden now lives. He went to work for Roger Allin who Uved between Grafton and Park River on a farm. Roger AUin later became governor of North Dakota. In 1895, John and his brother Adolph rented the Christian Hanson farm which consisted of 480 acres in Dundee Township. They rented this land for five years which is now operated by Francis Letnes.

In 1901 he married Bena Benson who was also from Sweden. Seven children were bom to them: Hugo Oberg, Hoople; Dalmar Oberg, Grand Forks (died in 1967); Joseph Oberg, Drayton (died in 1962); Ivan Oberg, Park River (died in 1945); Major Esther Oberg, MinneapoUs, Minn, (with Salvation Army 35 years); Mrs. Thelma Oberg Stephen, Detroit, Mich.; and Ada Oberg, Minneapolis, Minn. John Oberg had four sisters and three brothers and they were all residents of the United States. Mrs. Clara Strand, Rolette, is the only surviving member of that family. When Mr. and Mrs. John Oberg were married they moved to the Charles French farm located four utiles southeast of Hoople and farmed there for 16 years. He then bought a farm four miles southeast of Hoople where his son, Hugo, and his wife are now living. The land is farmed by Hugo's son, Loyd, who lives in Hoople with his family. The Hugo Obergs also have one daughter, Marlys. John Oberg and his wife bought a farm six miles northeast of Park River in 1926 and Uved there for 22 years. They moved to Grand Forks where he died in 1951 and his wife in 1956. They are both buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery near Hoople. Submitted by Hugo Oberg.

Threshing at Hugo Oberg's farm, 1928. Ford tractor, Case separator. MRS. WRIGHT PARKINS Angeline Brandt was the daughter of EU and Mary Brandt of HoUand. She was born Sept. 15, 1848, in Pennsylvania. Early in her years, the family moved to Iowa, then to Minnesota, near Pine Island. The valley in which they lived was caUed Pumpkin HoUow, or Punkin HoUer, as the natives caUed it. They were pioneers of Minnesota. Her first home there was a huge log house with a cook stove in one end of it and a fireplace in the other, and the sleeping quarters were upstairs. Besides the farm, her father owned a sugar bush about a mile from the farm. She often told of her experiences and activities in the operations at the sugar camp, told of tapping the trees and gathering sap and boiting it down, thereby making their year's supply of brown sugar, and also making the sap into maple sugar cakes. Her mother corded, spun, and wove all the clothing for a family of twelve chUdren, and she also wove cloth for bedding. The cloth was made in two colors, was home dyed, and was caUed Unsey. They also had a little flax patch, which she helped with the wool and was caUed Unsey-woolsey. This was their "dress-up" material. AU

clothing and bedding was made by hand and she became very competent with the needle. The little stone schoolhouse across the way afforded the only place for their recreations or amusements such as taffy pulls, singing school, and spelhng contests in which Angeline was the champion speller and always defeated the opponent. She also told the story of the peril they were in during the Sioux Indian massacre Aug. 20, 1868. Their home was only a few miles from that terrible onslaught, and where ravages took place. One evening they heard a strange noise - her father ordered them aU upstairs, and with his gun, he watched all night at the head of the stairs. The children feU asleep, but the noise continued while her father kept up his vigil. On investigation in the morning, they found a bat entangled in the lightening rod! She was about fourteen years old when the CivU War was declared. One of her older brothers was kiUed. Her girlhood sweetheart also died of wounds received while he was in battle. About that time, Wright Parkins, living in Wisconsin, enlisted in Co. K, 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and after two years in the service his parents came to Minnesota, and settled in "Punkin HoUer," neighbors of the Brandt family. Wright was granted a furlough and came home. It was then that AngeUne met the man she later married. They corresponded during the remainder of the war and he came home with an honorable discharge. They were married at Rochester, Minn., Nov. 9, 1867. They made the trip in a lumber wagon, stayed over night and came home the next day. AngeUne's wedding dress was of a dark red delaino, and her bonnet was black straw. They settled on a forty acre farm about two and one-half mUes from Pine Island, where their first three children were born: Effie R., Aug. 7, 1868; EUa C , July 23,1870; and Eli G. (Dee), Sept. 19,1873. After five years trying to make a living, they traded their Uttle farm for a larger one at Kellogg, Minn., where they raised grain, hogs and cattle. Mr. Parkins had a contract of cutting oak wood for the railroad. With an ax, maul, and iron wedge, he cut and split a cord a day which sold for one dollar a cord. Mrs. Parkins did all her own sewing by hand, also took in sewing. She got twenty-five cents for making a man's shirt, and thirty-five cents for a pair of trousers. Two more children were bom at KeUogg, Minn.: Thomas, Aug. 11, 1876; and Orpha, Aug. 19,1879. In 1879 and 1880, there was a spirit aroused among the neighbors to go west, where government land could be had free; this family was among those who were determined to go. One of Mrs. Parkins brothers had gone in 1879; so they knew where they were going. After setting what they could, they kept a team of horses and a wagon, and with clothing and bedding, started for Sweden, Dakota Territory, May 10, 1880. Sweden was a little inland town consisting of a general store, a hotel, a land office, and a blacksmith shop. It was named in honor of the Swedish settlement where Nash is now situated. In this little caravan, were J. O. Cliff and his wife and E. D. Hostettor, along with Mr. and Mrs. Parkins and family. They carried horse feed and their own provisions, and Mr. Parkins had a coop of chickens, four hens, and a rooster, strapped on the rear of the wagon. One night they camped near St. Cloud, and the sheriff warned them that horse thieves were operating in the vicinity. The men, alternately, watched aU night, but

the opening of the window, but mother Parkins had a heart nearly as big as her stove and she never turned anyone away who needed something to eat. Sometimes flour wasn't obtainable - it was consumed by the settlers before more could be shipped in. She had to sift the com meal from her brother's horse feed. From this she made pancake or "pone," akind of corn bread. Her family had no milk, butter, or meat. They wouldn't eat the fat pork that came packed in rock salt, and some of them wouldn't eat the com pone or pancakes. Mr. Parkins often carried a sack of flour two and one-half miles on his shoulder from the little town, the children trudging along by his side carrying the other groceries. They occasionally had a nickel to spend. There was no candy, fresh fruit, gum, cold drinks or ice cream. They usually bought five cents worth of raisins or dried prunes. The groceries were wrapped in heavy brown paper. This paper Mrs. Parkins saved in case of croup. She often had occasion to use it, as little Tommy had severe attacks of it. The older children were aroused from their sleep at midnight by the rasping bark of little Tommy, trying to breathe, and their mother in night attire, holding a large piece of brown paper, saturated with lard and smoking tobacco, over the old kerosene lamp, which when hot enough was wrapped around the little boy's body, which gave great relief. Mr. Parkins didn't use tobacco, so his job was to run to the nearest neighbors to get some. Mrs. Parkins successfully nursed her family through a siege of scarlet fever without the aid of a physician, as there were none nearer than Grand Forks. In 1881, diptheria broke out among the settlement and took a toll of life from most of the families, but Mrs. Parkins kept her family strictly secluded so they all escaped the dreadful malady. Many of the neighbors consulted her in the time of sickness, and she usually assisted in homes at births. Mr. Parkin's first crop in the fall of 1880 was from four acres of wheat that the brother had put in for them on the land now owned by R. A. Swanson. He had 74 bushels of wheat, which gave the family their flour and seed for another year. A load of it was taken to St. Joe, the place where Cavalier is now located. That fall, Mr. Parkins got money from his creditors in Minnesota, and prosperity began to rise. He built a comfortable log house, equipped it with a good stove and other necessary furniture and made a good floor. He traded one of his oxen for a cow, and made a little sod bam. Mrs. Parkins raised 40 chickens from the eggs of her four hens, besides the few eggs she used. An egg seemed to her almost as valuable as a gold nugget. There was no school for the children the summer of 1880, so the two oldest ones were sent back to Pine Island where their grandparents cared for them during the winter. The next summer, a neighbor girl, Fanny Irish, was hired as the teacher for a two months' term, held in a vacant log house, while a log schoolhouse was being erected on the farm now owned by R. J. Wood. Addie Frazier, ex-senator L. J. Frazier's oldest sister, was the teacher. In the winter of 1881, a saw mill went into operation on the river where Jens Knoff owns the property and Mrs. Parkins baked bread and other culinary products for the mill's crew. Mr. Parkins sold his other ox for its meat. The settlers cut logs and had them sawed into material of better houses and barns, and in 1882, Mr.

nothing happened, but the little watch dog barked continuously all the time. At Fargo, a blind horse became untied and stumbled into the Red River. The three men worked all night trying to get him, and he was finally lassoed about three miles down the river from where he fell in. After being blanketed and rubbed down, he seemed none the worse and was able to journey along.

Mrs. Wright Parkins After all the years Mrs. Parkins had experienced in sewing by hand, she had just purchased a sewing machine, which she hated to leave behind. They took that with them, along with a large family Bible, her accordion, a clock, a lamp, a clothes wringer, a rolling pin and a few choice dishes packed all in bedding in a large box. The box weighed 300 pounds and was shipped by railroad to Grand Forks, where it was taken on when they arrived there. It was from then on that trouble began. There was no road to follow - just tracks in a northwesterly direction and there was water and mire everywhere. They could go only a short distance before the wagons would go down to the hubs and the cargo had to be carried to higher ground or dry knolls. It took them nine days to go from Grand Forks to their destination. June 1, 1880, Mr. Parkins had only six dollars left and a wife and five children to provide for. He was very much discouraged and disheartened with the whole outlook, first thing he did was to trade the horses for oxen, as he had no provisions for them. Mrs. Parkins wiped her eyes on her apron and the older children cried, as then faithful old team had to leave them - they had never seen oxen before. Their new home was a large log house which the brother had erected on his own claim. It had no door, window frame or roof. Horse blankets were hung at the door and window at night, and some brush and prairie grass covered a corner for a roof over the part where some crude beds were nailed to the wall. Under this shelter, they all huddled when it rained. It had the ground for a floor, and twice a week, prairie grass was mowed and spread over it for a carpet, this was gathered up and burned when the fleas got too bad. Mrs. Parkin's first stove was a little sheet-iron affair with one hole to cook on, and a little oven that baked one loaf of bread at a time. The stove-pipe extended through 387

Parkins erected a frame dwelling which stood for many years, until consumed by fire in 1938. On Jan. 30, 1882, their sixth child was born, Leo W., and four more followed: Ada, June 2, 1886; Una, July 25,1888; Ruth, Dec. 29, 1891; and Eva, Oct. 10, 1893. Mrs. Parkins spent all her life on the old farm except about 10 years in Los Angeles, Calif., and about six years in Hoople, where she died after a stroke. She was a member of the M. E. Church, and interment was made in the Hoople Cemetery. Effie, the oldest daughter, was born in Minnesota in 1868. She immigrated to North Dakota with her parents when she was 12 years old. She taught in District No. 5, Farmington Township, District No. 17, the Neilson School in Glenwood, District No. 13, the Midgarden School and the Auburn School. She met Morley Nelson and they were married in 1904. For a time they farmed where the Hugo Obergs now live. Later they moved to Hoople where Morley had a feed mill and also delivered gas for the Standard Oil Station. He used horse-drawn tanks. Of their three children, WiUiam died at birth. Homer now resides in Grafton and Maynard in West Fargo. Effie died at 68 in 1934. Morley died in 1942. Both are buried in the Hoople Cemetery.

Wright Parkins, Civil War Veteran EU George, also bom in Minnesota in 1873, farmed with his father and brother Tom. He married Minnie Almen in 18% and moved to Section 12 where he farmed. Later they moved to Selkirk, Man., where he homesteaded. From there he moved to Winnipeg where he chauffered for a doctor. They both died in February, 1913. They were the parents of three children: Wright, Eunice and Verna. Tom was bom Aug. 11, 1876, and farmed with his father in Farmington Township untU he married Annie Topping. After the Timothy Toppings moved away, Tom and Annie purchased the Topping farm. They were the parents of two boys, Walter of Grafton and Orrin, Hoople. Orpha, born in 1879, married Joseph Anderson in 1898. They farmed in Section 25, Glenwood Township, where their daughter-in-law, Grace stUl Uves. They had four children: Lois of Battlecreek, Mich.; Lynn,

deceased, Uved on the home farm; Eva, Robbinsdale, Minn.; and Vernon, who died in the service of his country. Joseph died in 1921 and Orpha in 1969. Both are buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Leon (Leo) was born Jan. 30, 1882. He farmed with his father, Wright Parkins, on a farm now owned by the Art Swanson famUy. In 1909 he married Cora Rodger. They had three children: Bernice, Merle and WUmer. Cora died in 1916. Leo quit farming and moved into Hoople where he worked in a grain elevator. He and the children Uved with his mother. In 1922 he married Catherine Ross. Four chUdren were born to this union: Marion, Carole, Ross and Shirley. Leo died at 63. He is buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Kate (Cathrine) lives at Hoople. Ada, born in 1886, never married. She was the switchboard operator for Home Improvement Telephone in Hoople untU moving to Santa Monica, Caltf., where she Uved for 25 years, being employed at the Veterans Hospital at Sawtelle. Submitted by Mrs. L. Hankey and Una Parkins Bjorneby. ADAM PATERSON In the early part of 1880, Adam Paterson immigrated to Dakota Territory by way of Port Huron, Mich., from HaUburton, Ont. He was shown on an 1880 census as being a boarder in George Hurtt's home along with William Hillier's family and a few other boarders. The Patersons, HUliers and Hurtts were close neighbors in HaUburton. George Hurtt came to Dakota in 1879 and the others followed the next spring. George's homestead was Section 17-18-19, Glenwood Township, and Adam homesteaded Section 17 and 20. Adam's wife, Joan Preston, and chUdren, Robert, Andrew, Henry G., Janet, Ellen, and IsabeUa, remained in Upper Canada with grandparents until Adam was settled. Adam was a farmer and disappointed in the rocky land near Haliburton. He had spent seven years trying to farm it, then decided to try the Dakota Territory for farming. In his later years he made furniture in a building behind his home which stiU stands and is owned by Mrs. Lee inHoople. Adam was born Feb. 20,1835, in Upper Canada. He died April 15,1911, and is buried in the Hoople Cemetery. His wife, Joan, died July 29, 1925. Also in his furniture shop in Hoople, he made and lined all the funeral caskets. He also had the post office in the front part ofthe home. With his long white whiskers, the children of the vUlage took him for Santa Claus and would follow him, knowing he had a bag of candy bought at the Venberg Fedje Store. He sold his farm to his son, Robert. His sons, Andy and Henry, set up a Uvery bam in the vUlage. Isabella died in her teens. EUen married Anton Haug of the Hoople community. They adopted two chUdren, SteUa and Harold. Janet married Charles French of Hoople. Robert Paterson married LUly HtiUer and they Uved on his parental home south of Hoople. Mrs. Linton (Minnie) Woods has retired and Uves in Grafton. Mrs. Lynn (Grace) Anderson lives near Grafton. She is employed part-time at the Lutheran Sunset Home at Grafton and travels during the winter months. WilUam Uves at Seattle, Wash. Arthur is in Ogden, Utah. Both are retired. Sylvia died in Yakima, Wash.

Irvin spent most of his adult life in Yakima and is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Paterson are buried in the Hoople Cemetery as are their sons, Edwin and Fred, and daughter, Mrs. Arthur (Merle) Fedje, all residents of the Hoople area. Submitted by Allen Anderson and Mrs. L. Woods. JOHN H. PAULSON John H. Paulson was one of the earliest homesteaders in Dakota Territory. He was born in Skane, Sweden, Jan. 21,1851, and arrived in the U. S. on April 20, 1878. He had served in the Swedish Army for seven years while Oscar II was king. His trip across the ocean was on a steamer and was made in fifteen days, which was considered fast at that time. The trip west to Minneapolis was made by train and he arrived in MinneapoUs, May 20, 1878, where he Uved for three months and was employed carrying mortar and bricks for $1.50 a day, out of which he had to pay for room, board,.and other incidental fees. MinneapoUs was then a city of 36,000. He left for St. Peter, Minn., at harvest time where he worked for nine months on a farm. He heard of opportunities offered in North Dakota and after some deliberation he started for North Dakota May 10, 1879. He started out from St. Paul for Fisher's Landing on a train that was fired with wood. He earned his fare by helping to fire the engine. The trip took twenty hours. During this trip, Paulson became acquainted with Christ Celvister, later of Thompson, who was met at Fisher's Landing by a brother driving a team of oxen, accompanied them to Grand Forks, crossing the Red River at the Point. Grand Forks was only a small town at that time and the raUroad was built no farther than Fisher's Landing on the Red River. There were no bridges at Grand Forks at that time and aU trans-river communication was carried on by boat and ferry. At Grand Forks, his first camp was approximately the present site of the Grand Forks Courthouse. At Grand Forks, Paulson meet Col. Frank Viets, manager of a store and miU in Grand Forks. Taking advice from Viets that he should investigate land at Little Salt, the territory between the present sites of Park River and Grafton, Paulson arranged for a ride on a mail stage which carried mail from Fargo to Pembina and stopped off at Acton. From Acton he made the trip on foot. Grafton was then a village of only a couple small shacks. Continuing on west from Grafton, Mr. Paulson's destination was the John Almen farm. He had dUficulty in finding a place to cross the south branch of the Park River until he came upon a f aUen tree. At dusk he finally saw a dim light in the distance near the middle branch of the Park River which proved to be the shanty of Ole HeUerud. Continuing on west, Mr. Paulson finaUy came to a shed where he spent the night in the company of a cow, calf and a pig, which he later found belonged to Hans Dahl. He had breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Hans Dahl. Only a few shacks could be seen on the prairie but the country looked good, so Paulson picked his claim and returned to Fisher's Landing where he worked in the harvest fields, returning to his claim in the fall. One other settler, Tom Thompson, was fortunate enough to have a team of horses and Mr. Paulson made the trip to Fisher's Landing with Mr. Thompson. During the har-

vest season, Paulson worked again for $1.50 per day. Late in the faU of 1879, Paulson returned to his claim and started construction of a shanty 10'xl2' on the property now known as the Harvey Tallackson farm. The winters of '79 and '80 were exceedingly severe and some days they could see nothing but swirling snow. That winter he lived part-time in his newly constructed shanty and part-time at the John Almen farm. In the spring of 1880, he sold his holdings to Mr. Tallackson and early in 1880, filed claim for a pre-emption on the southwest quarter of Section 28 in what is now Glenwood Township. Again, he buUt a sod shanty so he would have a home for the winter. During the next years, several trips were made to Grand Forks with oxen furnishing the transportation, at which time supplies were purchased for his farming operation. Travel behind oxen was slow and each of the four trips he made to Grand Forks with oxen took one week.

The John H. Paulson farm home was built in 1887, rural Hoople. Winters on the prairie were often severe and when storms set in it was not unusual U they did not venture from their shacks for as long as three days. Often when Paulson wanted to go from place to place, he used a pair of snowshoes he brought from Sweden. In May, 1881, he married Miss Caroline Anderson who lived with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Even Anderson, on a farm just north over the river from John's home. They became the parents of eleven children. They were Minnie, Edward, Carl, Minnie, Arnold, Aimer, Clara, Otto, Louis, Severen, and Olga. Minnie died before there was a church and cemetery in the community, so she was buried on the farmstead. Severen also passed away in infancy and Edward died in his late teens. All the children remained in the same community and aU belonged to the same church, Zion, even after reaching adulthood and marrying. All the boys were farmers. Carl married Cora Johnson, Arnold married Gena Walby, Aimer married Ida Manderud, Clara married Bernard NUson, Otto married Inga Berg, Louis married Lily Ronald, and Olga married Hamilton Hurtt. Minnie II never married. Mr. Paulson harvested his first crop in 1881 and his wheat went thirty bushels to the acre and sold for $1.05 per bushel. He was the first to haul grain to the Chase Elevator at Grafton where he had to leave the load untU the scale was installed. He had 350 bushels that year and it was threshed by Ame and Anton Oihus. Money from his first crop was used to fix up a granary and other buildings and to purchase some farm equipment. John built his first log house in 1881 and erected his first wood

frame house in 1887, additions were added to the frame house over the years. John was actively involved in farming for approximately the next 50 years until his sons took over the land. John was very active in the community. He was treasurer of the School District No. 76 for 47 consecutive years. He was also a member of the Woodmen Lodge. The Old Settler's Picnic was held on his farm in 1912 and he hosted many other church and community gatherings on his farm. For many years the farm was known as the "Glen Park Farm." He was also active in Zion Church. Local politics were also important to him and he treasured the opportunities and freedom in the U. S.

JOSEPH RUTHERFORD John Nicol and Joseph Henry Rutherford were born in Port Hope, Ont., Jan. 31, 1875. At the age of 14, they came with their parents, James and Letitia Rutherford to Fertile Township, in the Nash area, where their father bought land from Mr. Olson in 1888. Upon the death of James Rutherford in 1913, Joe, as better known, took over the farming operation. Joe bought additional land in Glenwood Township, joining that ofhis father's. His mother died in 1926, having made her home with Joe and his family since her husband's death. Joe served on the school board and elevator board for several years. He farmed jointly with his sons, Russell and Clinton, until his death in 1959. He was married to Lizzie Hanson in Nov., 1899. They were the parents of five children: Milford, Hazel, Ida, Russell and Clinton. Hazel died in 1907 and is buried at North Trinity Cemetery. Mr. Rutherford died in 1931. Russell in 1943 and Clinton in 1973. All are buried in Grafton City Cemetery, Grafton. Submitted by Ila Evanson.

Mrs. John (Caroline) Paulson died in 1916 at the farm home. In 1936 John purchased a home in Hoople and resided with his daughter, Minnie, until his death in 1938 at the age of 87. Both Mr. and Mrs. Paulson are buried at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Mr. and Mrs. Paulson had 16 grandchildren. His homestead is now farmed by his grandson, John D. Paulson, and previously it was farmed by John H. Paulson's son, Carl. Submitted by Lorraine Paulson.

PETER SPETEN FAMILY Pete Speten, former Glenwood Township pioneer and farmer, married Randina Forsythe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Forsythe of Grafton. In 1885 Pete Speten got a patent from the government on the E k of the SE Vt of Section 20, Range 54 and the W V4 of the SW'/4, Section 21, Range 54, all in Glenwood Township, Walsh County. On December 30 of that same year, Pete and his wife, Randina, bought the NE'A of Section 20, Township 158, Range 54, from F. R. Fulton and his wife, Ruth. They Uved on this farm untU June of 1888 when they sold their land to John Nicholson and moved to Devon, Alberta, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Speten had five children: EmU, Adolph, Clarence, Nora and Clara. The last of their family Uving is a daughter, Mrs. Nora Clendening of Devon, Alberta. Submitted by Mrs. Clifford Berg.

John H. Paulson family—Front row, left to right: John H. Paulson, Olga, Mrs. John (Caroline) Paulson. Second row: Louis, Otto, Clara. Back row: Aimer, Arnold, Carl, Minnie. JOHN RUTHERFORD John Nicol Rutherford (Jack), twin brother of. Joseph Henry, married Johannah Dahl, daughter of Caroline and Martin Dahl, in June, 1904. He farmed with his brother Joe for a few years, also renting the Olaus Dahl farm, better known as the Gustav A. Johnson farm. They moved to Martin Dahl's farm then and in 1914 came to the old Rutherford farm after the death of James Rutherford, Jack's father, in Fertile Township.

TION SWANSON

They were the parents of 11 children, nine of whom survive: Delbert, Florida; Leona, Grafton; Joseph, Jr., Drayton; Mabel Hollar, Grand Forks; Alfreda, Iowa; Kenneth, Arizona; Gladys Brosseau, Drayton; Marvin, Grand Forks; and Clarice Astrup, Drayton. Nicol was killed in a truck accident in December, 1934. Harriet died in 1935. Birthplace of Tion Swanson, Amal Sweden

Jack died June, 1960, at which time Hannah sold the farm to Marvin Frikke and moved to Grafton with her daughter Leona. Hannah died in 1972 on May 3. She and her husband are buried in the Hoople Cemetery as are Nicol and Harriet. Submitted by Ila Evanson.

One of the early settlers, Tion Swanson, came to Dakota Territory from Amal, Sweden, by boat, up the St. Lawrence River to Toronto, then by rail to Grafton. He was employed by John M. Almen near Nash. The 390

first winter here, he spent with Mr. Woods at Forest River, to learn the English language. He married Tilda Hultin. She was the daughter of Magnus Hultin. They settled on a farm on Glenwood Township.

CUfford was born March 10,1910, died at 19 at Grand Junction, Colo. Tion Swanson was born Aug. 17, 1867 and died Jan. 10,1935. Tilda Hultin Swanson was born April 6, 1870 and died Sept. 20, 1940. Submitted by Murray Swanson.

Tion Swanson family — Top, left to right: Fredolf, Naomi, Murray, Victor. Bottom, left to right: Oscar, Father, Clifford, Mother, Alfton.

Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Tion Swanson. Attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hultin. March 11, 1892.

Their oldest son, Fredolf (1893-1934), was in. the garage business in Hoople. Because of ill health, he moved to Denver, Colo. He spent his last years in Pasedena, Calif., and was married to Catherine Houston. They had two children, Mary Lou and Raymond. Murray, bom Nov. 22,1894, has farmed in the Hoople area all his life. He married Hilda Evanson in 1930, she died in 1954. In 1955, he married Mary Garster, she died Dec. 31, 1969. He served on a number of community projects, including R. E. A., Deaconess Hospital, and the Lutheran Sunset Home, both at Grafton. He is the only surviving member of his family. Naomi (1896-1972), a registered nurse, married Dick Boklund, in the Hawaiian islands. He died in San Francisco, Calif. Naomi died in Los Angeles and was buried beside her husband at North Trinity Cemetery. Victor, born in 1898, attended Glenwood School. He farmed with his father until 1929 when he went to Denver, Colo. He died in 1932. Richard Alfton (1900-1975), was known as Art. When he was 17 years old, he worked for Iver Veum, later for Joe Anderson. He rented a half section of land from Bill Anderson. In the fall of 1923, he married Sophia Gryde. They Uved on the Anderson place for seven years, then bought the Ledwich farm in 1939. The next year the house burned and they were forced to Uve in a tiny house the neighbors helped them build. Three years later they buUt a modern, comfortable house. They had five children: Mrs. Howard (Zona Fay) Rohs, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Leland (Maizel) Pontius, nurse, Scotsdale, Ariz.; Mrs. Jerry (Jeannine) Smith, MinneapoUs, Minn..; Keith, Insurance Salesman, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Richard, on the home farm. Mr. Anderson died in 1975 and is buried at North Trinity Cemetery near Nash. Mrs. Swanson lives on the home farm but spends her winters in Arizona. Oscar (1903-1945) attended the Agricultural College at Fargo. He went to Denver, Colo., and from there to Los Angeles. He was employed by the Edison Electric Company. He was married, had a son, Stephen.

PAUL THARALSON Paul (1833-1902) and Sigri Tharalson (1840-1940) with their four smaU children, Thomas, Tillie, Ann and Annie Tharalson, left Fursdal, Setterdahl Territory, Norway, in 1880. The famUy settled in Limespring, Ia., and Uved there two years. It was in Limespring that their youngest chUd, John Tharalson, was bom in 1882. From Limespring the family traveled north by oxcart and covered wagon to homestead a quarter of land one half mile east of what is now the town of Hoople. Paul Tharalson filed claim on the NW'A, Section 4, Range 158-54, Glenwood Township, on June 24, 1886. He received the deed from the President of the United States, Grover Cleveland. He was charged $400 for the land. He received final deed to the land on Feb. 18, 1888. The Tharalson's first shelter on the homestead was a simple dug-out in which they had a fire and the family built their log house in the wooded area. When Paul Tharalson became ill and died in 1902, the farm work was carried on by his wUe and children. Tom, the oldest of the chUdren, left the farm to become postmaster of Grafton on Sept. 26, 1901, and retired from that service on Feb. 13, 1910. It was after that time he became involved in an army career. He served with Company C in Grafton. Tom was married in Grafton and raised his four children in that community. TUUe, Mrs. Stener Stenerson, married and raised her famUy in Edinburg, a short distance west of Hoople. Ann, Mrs. Henry ChaUy, built their home a short distance farther west in a town caUed Fairdale. They raised thenfour children in Fairdale. Annie, Mrs. George Johnstone, made her home in Hoople. She raised one son. It was at the George Johnstone home where Grandma Sigri lived her later years. We clearly recoUect her many hours spent reading her Norwegian Bible. Also coUecting smaU bits of sheep wool from the barbed wire fence and washing and combing it to use in the numerous quilts she made from pine pieces of wool fabric. Grandma died two months short of her 100th birthday and was of an alert mind until her death. 391

John Tharalson, the youngest in the family, assumed the farming of the homestead. He married Grace E. Neilson, also of the Hoople community, when he was 25. John and Grace Tharalson had eight children. The oldest, Thomas Linden, is now owner of the homestead. He is assisted in his farming by his 24 year old son, John Thomas. This makes it a third and fourth generation farming of the Paul Tharalson homestead. Submitted by Allen Tharalson.

children carried a 100 pound sack of flour through the blaze. Sigri and Paul Tharalson had four other children: Annie, Anne, Tillie and John. Thomas married Kate Kelly April 14, 1891, at Grafton, had four children: Paul, Noel, Thomas and Helen. He served in the first North Dakota volunteers in the war with Spain and the Phillipine Insurrection, from May 4,1899 to Sept 25,1899. His military career continued for eighteen years: enlisted in Company C, / ST N. Dak. National Guard at Grafton, Nov. 24, 1889; appointed Corporal, Company C, 1892; appointed Sargeant, Company C, 1893; Appointed 1st Sergeant, Company C, 1895; commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Company C, Feb. 12, 1900; commissioned Captain, Company C, June 29, 1901; commissioned Major, Company C, June 7, 1911; commissioned Lt. Colonel, Company C, June 16, 1913; commissioned Brig. General (Adjutant Gen.), State of N. Dak., March 3,1915; held the office as Adjutant General until June 30, 1917; commissioned Lt. Colonel, 2nd N. Dak. National Guard, June 28, 1917; mustered into Federal Service Aug. 5, 1917; and discharged from federal service due to physical disability, Dec. 28, 1917.

Mrs. Sigri Tharalson and son, John. Daughters: Ann Challey and Annie Johnstone.

Mr. and Mrs. John O. Thomas Tharalson—1917. Tharalson taken about 1908. THOMAS H. THARALSON Thomas H. Tharalson was born in Fyrresdal, Satersdalen, Norway, on June 1, 1860, the son of Sigri Espetvedt Tharalson and Paul Tharalson. Thomas came with his parents to America in the spring of 1878 settling in Lime Springs, Ia., for two years prior to pushing north and west to North Dakota. They arrived in Hoople, July 4, 1880, in a covered wagon. They had intended to settle near Grafton where they had relatives, the Twetons, but Tom's father thought the land was too low. They headed north, for what is now Hoople. They chose land in Walsh County, adjacent to Pembina County, on the river with open land on the north and woods along the river on the south. The family lived for several years in a dugout, which they built, until a fire destroyed it. This happened when the parents were making hay in the hills west of Hoople. One of the

Thomas H. Tharalson Thomas H. Tharalson was postmaster of Grafton for eight years following his return from the Spanish American War, 1900-1908. He was in the insurance business from 1908 to 1911 with Jim Hall in Grafton. The family moved to Bismarck in August, 1911, where Tom was appointed Deputy State Treasurer under Gunder Olson. He ran for State Treasurer in the election of 1915, but was defeated. He was then appointed Adjutant General of North Dakota, a position he held for two years, resigning to accept a commission as Lt. Colonel in the 2nd North Dakota National Guard, August, 1917. The 2nd North Dakota regiment was sent down south for training prior to going overseas. Thomas Tharalson died Dec. 23,1923, at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. He had the largest military funeral ever in Grafton. Two companies of National Guardsmen (Cavalier and Grand Forks) were part of the procession. He was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Grafton. Submitted by Allen Tharalson.

GAVN THOMPSON F A M I L Y The Gavn Thompson family lived on the place which is now the home of Gilbert Erlanson. They were of Scotch descent. They had six children: Alex married Maimie Ryan; Robert married Olga Hultin and they had two boys and two girls; Nellie died as a young girl; Gavn and Willie never married; and Annie married John Neilson and had three children - Ellen, Melvin and Mae. When Bob lived in Grafton, he operated a dray line. When the State School was erected, Bob hauled all the materials for the buildings. This family went to Saskatoon, Sask., about 1898. NELS J . T V E T E N

Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Tveten—May

at Hoople for several years. He was employed for a time at the National Elevator in Hoople. In 1911 he made a trip by boat to his native land to visit his parents and other relatives. His daughter, Jeanette, and family lived on the homestead when her parents moved to Hoople. A grandson still lives there. He was married to Josephine Jacobson in Grafton May 9, 1885. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1935. Mrs. Tveten was bom May 10, 1866, in Viroqua, Wise. Six children were born to them. Two sons died in infancy. Jeanette was born Nov. 4, 1887, and died June 4,1972. She was buried at Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. John was bom March 6, 1890, and died Jan. 1, 1969. Clara was born May 28,1893, and Florence was born April 11, 1905. Mrs. Tveten died Oct. 13, 1937, in Hoople and is buried in Zion Cemetery. N. J . Tveten died May 1, 1944, in Grafton at the age of 89 years, 4 months, and 9 days and is buried in Zion Cemetery. Submitted by Evelyn Barstad.

9, 1885.

One of the first settlers in Walsh County, Nels J. Tveten, was born in Rukjan, Telemarken, Norway, Dec. 22,1854, and came to America as a lad of 14. He stayed with his uncle in Decorah, Ia., for a short time before coming to the Red River Valley in 1879. When he was 17, he worked on the steamboats on the Missouri River for 50 cents a day and also made a trip on the boat on the Red River before deciding to locate permanently in the Red River Valley. He made a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota when the gold rush was on in that region. Some members of the party were found scalped by the Indians. His first stop was at "Little Sweden" which is today designated by a marker west of Nash. Shortly after coming, he filed on a homestead three miles south of Hoople. His first dwelling was a dugout in the river bank. He found an Indian teepee standing on his homestead. Mr. Tveten made the first property assessment after the county was organized in 1881. The first Board of County Commissioners appointed John Nelson as assessor for Walsh County. Mr. Nelson then deputized Tveten to make the assessments in that part of the county east of Range 53 which would include Forest River, Farmington, Walsh Centre, Grafton and everything east. Tveten completed his work without delay. Other matters prevented Nelson from making his assessments. Thereupon, Tveten proceeded to do the assessing for the remainder of Walsh County. In addition to serving as first assessor of Walsh County, he served several years as assessor of his own township of Glenwood and as chairman of the board when Ole Bogsti moved to Grafton. He also served as township clerk, justice of the peace, and was postmaster

The family of Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Tveten, Jeanette and John. G. 0. TWEDT

Mr. and Mrs. Gunlick Twedt Gunlick Olson Twedt was bom in Norway Oct. 17, 1845. He received his education there. As a young man he and two brothers immigrated to the United States. One brother, Targus, settled in Minnesota. Gunlick and Ole Twedt settled in what is now Glenwood Township.

The first winters were spent in a cave-like structure along the river bank. Just across the river was an Indian encampment. Their winters were long with many hardships. Their skiing ability stood them in good stead, as one time growing short of flour, Gunlick and a neighbor skied to Grand Forks to bring home a sack of flour on a hand sled. April 1, 1880, he and Ingeborg Momerak were married. She was bom in Fyresdal, Norway, March 2, 1858. When she was 11, her parents, two sisters, and three brothers immigrated to America. Crossing the ocean in a sail ship, the trip lasted for seven weeks. Many bad storms were encountered during which they feared for their Uves. They also suffered a shortage of food. On arrival in America they traveled by oxen and wagon to Houston County, Minn. Relatives there helped them to settle on a farm, where they stayed about 10 years. Hearing of the good land in North Dakota, they started out again with oxen and wagons across the prairies to find a home. They homesteaded in Dundee Township in 1880. GunUck and Ingeborg lived in a log cabin on a homestead in Glenwood Township after their marriage. They were the parents of seven daughters: Gunhilde (Mrs Earls Johnston, 1883-1971); Annie (Mrs. Conrad Bisbee, 1887-1971); AUce (Mrs. Green, 1889-1971); Elsie (1890-1901); Emma, Bella and Ettie (Mrs. Bennie Swanson, 1901-1970). Three sons: Ole (1881-1956); James (1885-1965) andGUbert (1897-1937). Twedt died Oct. 16,1925, on the eve of his 80th birthday. His wUe died Jan. 29, 1942. Survivors are Miss Emma Twedt, Fargo, Mrs. Oscar Shannon, Litchfield, Minn., and also several grandchildren. Submitted by Mrs. R. H. McBride.

Venberg arrived in Hoople in 1894, having just sold his store in Petersburg. The purpose of the trip to Hoople was to investigate the buying of a business mn by Fred Frazier, who was in poor health. Mr. Frazier was the older brother of the future Senator and Governor Lynn J. Frazier. The business consisted of groceries, dry goods, shoes and mens' clothing. The building was a two story affair with three living apartments on the second floor. Entrance was by outside stairway. Mrs. Nicholson and her two children, Mary and John, were living in the rear apartment at this time. The store was heated by a large "Radiant Glow" heater. Hard coal was used. The store waS lighted by two hanging kerosene lamps that could be raised or lowered. There was also a cistern and a small basement.

The Venbergs — 1896. Nels M. Venberg 1861-1941. Arthur B. Venberg 1894. Dorothea R. Venberg 1871-1956. Ruth M. Venberg 1892. Venberg decided that Hoople was where he wanted to make his home, and in a few days time he had bought the business and the building. He then sent for his famUy, and a week or two later they arrived and thus began their Ufe in Hoople in the apartment over the store. The Venberg Store was on the northwest corner and next on the north was the Torgerson Department Store, Ed Diment Drug Store, Ed MacMurray Hardware and Implements, A. E. Duff Meat Market, and Dora Foss, Dressmaker. About 1900, the Ed MacMurray Hardware business was sold and his home was for sale. Mr. Venberg bought the home, which was one block east of the store, and moved from the apartment. At this time Ole A. Fedje, his valuable employee, got married and he and his new bride made the apartment their home.

Twedt sister—Back row: Annie, Alice. Front row: Emma, Ettie, Julia, Bella. Not pictured: 3 brothers: Ole, James, Gilbert.

Easter morning, 1902, the entire row offivebuUdings burned to the ground. Since the Venberg Store was the last to bum, a great deal of merchandise was saved. Someone thoughtfuUy saved the heavy glass cheese cover and it was used again in the new store. Also, a lot of clothing and furniture in the upstairs apartment was saved. Much of the salvaged merchandise had been carried across the street to the Eckerberg Store. Venberg and Ole A. Fedje bought the goods in the Eckerberg Store, and thus began the new firm of Venberg and Fedje. Plans were made for a new building on the burned out site.

MR. AND MRS. NELS M. VENBERG When the Nels M. Venberg famUy left Hoople in November, 1909, the population was about 200. He had operated a general retail store for over 16 years and had a strong urge to retire. Although he was only 48 and his wife Dorothea was 37. he felt that was pretty old. The famUy consisted of five, with Ruth (1892), Arthur (1894) and Victor (1905). He decided to retain his interest in the business, but sold his home and all the furniture. He even sold his fur coat much to his regret later in California. 394

In 1904 Andrew Fedje became a partner and in 1907 Andrew Bardahl joined the firm. Some time later, Olaf became a partner. Victor Venberg was bom in Hoople in 1905. Mr. Venberg died in California in 1941. Mrs. Venberg died in 1956. Ruth Venberg Grua lives in San Marino, Arthur in Glendora, and Victor in Rancho Sante Fe, all in California. Submitted by Art Venberg.

rural mail carrier at Hoople. They had three boys: Lenley, Howard, and Paul. Iver (1860-1929) married Mary Bjelde (1865-1916). Their children were Josie, Henry, Clarence, Irvin and Joseph. Henry died in 1910. Josie was born in 1886 and died in 1903. A boy, Irvin, died at two years in 1898. Clarence, bom in 1892, lived at the family home until his death in 1932. Irvin married Gretta Anderson and had four children: Grace, Helen, Warren and Duane. Joseph also lived in the Hoople community.

VEUM FAMILY The family of Jon and Hage Veum came from Norway in 1870 and first settled in Houston, Minn. From there they came to Walsh County about 1879 or 1881. The family consisted of five boys: Gunder, Kittel, Iver, Targe, Lars and six girls: Ingeborg, Julia, Jane, Annie, Aasil, and Ida.

Mr. and Mrs. Kittel Veum farm home, west of Hoople. For many years Iver owned and operated a large steam threshing rig. Children looked forward to the coming of his blue cook car with the colored glass dishes. It was a kitchen on wheels drawn by a team of horses. Targe married Bella Melville. They had three children. Vilda died at 16. Rowena and Earl live at CavaUer.

Mr. and Mrs. Lars Veum family: John, Livy, Hilda, and Jake.

Lars married Margit Bjornestad. They had seven children. John married a widow by the name of Annabelle. Hilda married Carl RoUefstad, Uved on a farm near Hoople. They had four chUdren: Lavina and Curtis, deceased; CecU, a painter at Park River; and Kenneth working the home farm. May died in 1940. Jacob married Mabel Bergeson, a local girl, and they farmed the Bergeson place. Their chUdren are: Maynard of Cando and LaVeme of Grand Forks. Livy married OlgaLjungren of Adams. Opal, LoweU, AUen and Raymond are their children. Mamie was married to Olaf Olson of Edinburg. They have Lorraine, PauUne, and Paul and had a still born twin. CUfford married Anna Gunderson. Their son, Paul, is married to Delores Ziegler, who had five chUdren. CUfford and Anna's Tanja died in infancy. They have Julie and Robin.

Mr. and Mrs. Kittel Veum farm. Top row: Joseph Johnson, Henry Springan, A. Gilbert, Mrs. Ella Veum, Mrs. Nettie Jokam, Mrs. Henry Hanson, Josie Veum Crocker, Mrs. Andrew (Ambrosia Rinde) Fedje, Hanna Sorenson. Bottom: Lewis Bodmer, Knute Aaland, Kittel Veum, Ole Voge, Russel Rinde, Ole Gedestad.

Ingeborg married Even Sorenson (1845-1885) and Uved in Dundee Township. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Sorenson and her three chUdren lived with her brother, Lars, until his marriage. They then lived in Grafton for several years untU moving back to thenDundee home. John and Bertha died at an early age. Hannah cared for her mother until her death. Hannah spent her last years at a Walhalla nursing home.

Lars, Kittel and Iver homesteaded in Glenwood Township in 1879 (or 1880). Gunder died in 1893. Kittel Veum married Ella Rinde. They adopted a girl, Josie. She married Standley Crocker who was a 395

preferred to buy butter from him because of its good quality. He bought a quarter of land now owned by Beulah Swenson for which he paid $50 or $60 per acre. To pay for this land he brought a cream can full of money. It was not quite enough so the next day he returned with the rest. Submitted by Reuben Johnson. HANNAH WINCH In the early 1880's, Hannah Winch settled in Section 12, Glenwood Township, with her six children. They attended the Presbyterian Church and School District No. 17, The children were Oliver, Willard, Mary, May, Caroline and Elsie. Caroline married Ben Hotchkiss and Uved in Glenwood Township. Other daughters married and moved. Mrs. Winch, with Willard and Elsie, left after farming here for several years. Submitted by Una Parkins Bjorneby. Hannah Sorenson with her mother, Mrs. Even Sorenson, Dundee Twp. Julia married Joe Bodmer. Their family was Eddie, Henry, Julius and a baby girl who died in infancy. They moved to Canada. Jane married Palmer Clemetson. Their family included: Hanna, Gina, Caroline, Mabel, John, Jimmy and Laurence. When Palmer died, she married and had two girls. Assil, who never married, went to the west coast when she was a young girl. Jon Veum died in Houston, Minn. Later, Hage married Svenaug Skree. Their only daughter, Ida, married Gunder Storud. They lived their entire lives in the Dundee Community. Hage was born in 1830 died in 1903. Svenaug was born in 1828, died in 1903. Both are buried in the Park Center Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by Hilda Veum Rollefstad. MR. AND MRS. HANS WALBY Hans Walby and his wife, Gena Larson Walby, arrived in Glenwood Township from Roseau, Minn., to farm in Section 24 in Glenwood Township. Hans also worked as a carpenter. They became the parents of two children. Clara was born March 3,1891. She married Ryder Knoff, they had one daughter, Geraldine, bom in 1923. Clara died Dec. 26, 1923. Their son, Arthur, was bom on Jan. 17, 1896. He was a farmer in Glenwood Township. Arthur died Oct. 3,1974. He was never married. Hans Walby died Dec. 22, 1910, at 53. Mrs. Walby married Arnold B. Paulson, they continued to farm in the Hoople area. Gena died May 22, 1951, at 77. They were all members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, and are buried there. Geraldine, Mrs. Don Schafbuch, only living member of this family, lives at Mayville, Wise. Submitted by Lorraine Paulson. CARL WANGEN Carl Wangen, a resident of the Nash area, a bachelor, also had a station on Ganyo Street, across from Grafton Dmg. Here he sold butter he had made. Many

DAVE P. YOUNG Dave P. Young and his wife, Mae Kaine Young, farmed Section 11 and Section 14 in Glenwood Township in the late 1870's. Mr. Young died in 1894. After renting the farm out for several years, Mrs. Young sold it to Leo Parkins and moved to CaUfornia. The Youngs had no children. Submitted by Una Parkins Bjorneby. WILLIAM WOOD When I walk through the Hoople Cemetery and look at my grandfather's tombstone and see WUliam Wood, born 1812; died, 1894,1 can barely believe he was bom the year of our War of 1812. William Wood was born in County Cork, Ireland, and would have been about 34 years old when the terrible famine struck the country which lead to the deaths of an estimated 600,000 persons. It must have been at this time that the Wood famUy left Ireland to settle in Petersborough, Ont. From there WUliam and Ann Wood and their six sons and two daughters came to Glenwood Township to a claim adjoining the Hoople property on the east. They were granted a receiver's receipt in 1883, and paid $200.35 for 160 acres. This land is now known as the Wilford Anderson farm - Wilford was a grandson of William Wood. Mrs. Anderson resides on the farm. The eldest son, John J. Wood, was granted a receivership and patent in 1884, signed by President Chester A. Arthur. The sum of $200.29 was paid for 1 'A acres. Another son, Alexander Wood, homesteaded in Pembina County - this is now the property of Marlowe Wood, a nephew. . Knute and Mary Aaland and their family of six moved from the Nash community in 1912 and bought the John J. Wood farm just west of the Great Northern tracks, and adjoining Hoople. My late husband, Adolph Aaland, buUt a house on a parcel of land on the farm. So, today I live on the homestead of my uncle, John J. Wood, which was granted in 1884. Submitted by Josephine Wood Aaland.

When Linton died in December, 1959, his son, Donald R., continued to operate the farm, and still does with the help of his son, Robert. Robert J. Woods entered the Grafton Deaconess Hospital July 3, 1947. He suffered a hemmorhage of the brain which paralyzed his entire left side. He gradually grew weaker and died Oct. 22, 1947. Submitted by Jessie Hankey.

JOHN WOOD John (Jack) Wood was born in Peterboro, Ont., Jan. 16,1850, where he lived until coming to this community in 1880. He homesteaded on a farm a half mile west of Hoople. At age 61 he retired and moved to Hoople. He died at the age of 86, at the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. V. B. Wood. Interment was at the Hoople Cemetery. ROBERT J . WOODS Robert J. Woods was born April 1, 1856, at Pakenham, Ont., son of Robert Woods and Matilda Seely, who had migrated from Ireland and settled on a farm near Pakenham. Robert, Jr., at 21, went to the United States. He packed personal belongings, and rode the rails to Fisher's Landing, Minn. North Dakota Territory had opened for homesteaders and he came to Forest River, not far from a brother, James S. Woods. They helped build the first church and first mill in Forest River. He started a small tree claim, but since he preferred timber he sold his place and purchased a farm in Glenwood Township, five miles southeast of Hoople. He continued to operate this farm until his retirement in 1920 when his son, Linton Woods, took over. Woods was married to Ella Parkins at the Parkins family home March 21, 1894. A blizzard was raging that day but they managed to drive to his farm, three miles to the west. Three children were born, Raymond L. served in the armed forces in World War I. from July, 1918, to February 1919. Later that year he died as the result of an accident. Other children are Linton R., who farmed the home place, and Jessie, Mrs. L . J . Hankev, Park River.

Wedding of Robert J. Woods and Ella Parkins

V f-S

...

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Samuel Hurtt Picnic Ground, 1899. 397

FERTILE TOWNSHIP Settlers mainly from Iowa founded this community center and named it and its township Fertile in appreciation of the fertile soil of their farmlands. The post office was established March 22, 1881, with Osmund T Hjerdal, postmaster; discontinued June 7,1883, and mail sent to Grafton. Fertile Township was organized in 1882. First meeting of the Fertile Township board of supervisors was held Jan. 4, 1883, at the home of Roger Alhn Members present were Robert Arnot, chairman and Andrew Anderson and Andrew Hoghaug, supervisors. Resolution that Roger Allin be appointed deputy clerk until C. M . Gremsvedt returned. Bonds were presented and accepted for C. M . Gremsvedt, clerk; Roger Allin, justice of the peace; William Bruce, overseer of highways; Hugh Keais, constable; Halvor Johnson, assessor; Ivar A. Flaten, treasurer; Chris A. Flaten, justice of the peace; Hans Robertson, pondmaster; and Thomas Thompson, constable. Those that acted as securities included John T. Daley, John Code, Fred Robb, William Ferguson, Archie Arnot, John H. Groven, Ole Johnson, Anders Flaten, and Evan O. Barstad. Resolution 2 that Robert Arnot be appointed deputy constable until Hugh Keais returned. Resolution 3 that the township be divided into three road districts, each district to be two miles wide from east to west and six miles from north to south. That the numbering of these districts be from east to west. That G. M. Midgarden be appointed pathmaster for district 1; Thomas Harris, Sthmaster for district 2; and Wm. Bruce for district 3. Regular meeting Town Board of Supervisors July 16 1883 On motion a tax of four mills was levied for road purposes; one mill for bridge purposes; two nulls was levied for contingent purposes. A. M . Hoghaug was authorized to procure six scrapers for the town.

The post office was estabUshed at Kensington in February, 1880. It was served from Sweden in Fertile Township. In the fall of 1879, the grass was heavy at some points It was higher than a horse and generally on the low lands as high as a wagon box. A dense smoke indicated a prairie fire. The settlers turned out and plowed a fire break three furrows wide and eight mUes long, but it had no greater effect than a tow string toward stopping the progress of the fire. Hay stacks went up in flames when the fire was 15 rods away. The cattle escaped to the river and it was hours before they could be gotten from their place of refuge. John Robb was caught by the flames, unable to escape, rushed through them. His heavy beard and brows were completely burned. It was a close shave, UteraUy, and a narrow escape. By June 1880, almost every claim was taken the settlers coming in groups of all sizes, from two or three families up to 20. There was no opportunity for large farms. Few succeeded in securing more than one claim of 160 acres. Occasionally a son, daughter, or a sister, or accomodating friend used their rights to help out the family. The land was not surveyed untU 1879 and not opened for fiUng until 1880. Most of the early settlers took claims near the river and divided up the timber and water partly in a spirit of accomodation and partly to bring the settlement closer together. Most of the first claims were a quarter of a mile wide and a mile long. Roger R. AUin, the first clerk of Fertile Township, was later a member of the North Dakota Constitutional Convention in 1889. He served as Governor of North Dakota in 1894 and 1895. Submitted by WaUace Thompson.

Signed C. M. Gremsvedt, clerk. Thomas Thompson was one of the early settlers in Fertile Township he came here from Iowa in 1877 he returned to Iowa and in 1878 he was on his way back here when winter set in. He and six other men spent the winter at Bachelors Grove, named for the seven bachelors who had overwintered there. When spring arrived in 1879, Thompson, Hans Robertson, Andrew Y. Anderson, Knud K HalstadIver Iverson and Peter Sager, came to the Park River vicinity, Thomas Thompson, used to tell of the night they spent near Park River, down by the river, they were sitting around their campfire telling stories, when one of the men put some gun powder in one of his friend s pipe and then filled it with tobacco. When he Ut it up there was quite a bang, scorched eyelashes and a very angry man. Some of these men later settled in FertUe. Also in 1879, there were Scotch settlers from Canada including Thomas Wadge, George NickUn, WUliam Edward, Benjamin Code, WUUam Craig, E. 0. Faulkner, John and Fred Robb, Peter CampbeU, Alexander Smith, WiUiam Davis, R. B. Hunt, WilUam Burbidge and John Band.

Mandt Hall 398

Gunhild Mandt. They adopted the mother's maiden name of Mandt. Peter Mandt established the first store in Mandt and was active in township affairs. He circulated a petition and was instrumental in having a post office opened at Mandt July 22, 1894. It was discontinued June 14, 1904. Peter Mandt died July 29, 1934. Submitted by Wallace Thompson.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS MANDT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 62 The beginning of Mandt School District No. 62 was March 3, 1885, when Fertile Township held its annual meeting there. It was known as the Robertson School and was located in the southwest corner of Section 16, 157-54. In 1894, the school district was changed and the school was changed to its location in Mandt. A new schoolhouse was built, called the Daley School until 1896, when the name was changed to Mandt School District No. 62. At that time Mandt was a small village. It had two general stores, a meat market, a garage, feed mill, and a population of about 25 people. The school is there although School District No. 62 was annexed, part to Grafton District No. 3 and some to Park River School District No. 78, July 1, 1961. Fertile uses the old building as its township hall. School commenced April 12,1886, with Miss E v a M . Ford, the first teacher. Mrs. Wm. Bruce was paid $2,350 for the nine month term and Gertrude Novak, $2,500 for nine months. Submitted by Wallace Thompson.

Mandt Men—Front row: George Fisher, Chester Thomspon, Joe Thompson, Albert Midgarden. 2nd row: Howard Thompson, Christ Iverson, John Olson, Albert Thompson, Gust Thompson, Ted Daley. 3rd row: E. E. Hanson, Tom Thompson, R. W. Hanson, Emery Hanson, Tilphare Clemenson, Gulbrand Lee, A. B. Thompson, ?, Martin Sunderland, Peter Larson, Leonard Torkelson.

Early Mandt Sports: Tollef Voge, Theodore Evenson, Ed Johnson, Willie Johnson, Chester Thompson, Park River, Ole Thorson, Mandt, Albert Thompson, Grafton. Seated: Lars Larson, Park River, Henry Tallackson, Melvin Walstad, Joseph Bjorneby, William Tallackson, Kittel Thorson, Nash, Olaf Larson, Grafton.

Mandt School—1916 SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 28 Flooding ofthe Park River in 1916. Right up to the steps of the store.

District No. 28 was known as the first Harris School District; later it was assigned the name of Peter Grobell School No. 1. The first meeting for the purpose of planning and building a school was held at the home of Thomas Harris, Aug. 14,1884. Elected to the board were: Alex M . Bruce, director; Robert Arnot, clerk; and Horace Townsend, treasurer.

THE INLAND TOWN OF MANDT Peter Mandt came to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1880 with Mr. and Mrs. Ole Jenson, their daughter, Lena, and his brother, Olaus. Ole Aslakson married 399

As plans progressed, a building committee was selected They were: P. L. Grobell, R. Arnot, H. Townsend and A. Bruce. In 1885, bonds were voted to provide funds for the construction of a schoolhouse by A^ Hewitt. Hewitt was to "find all material, build, paint and complete job in a workmanlike manner to the acceptance of the building committee, for the sum ot $605. On June 30, 1885, the board met in the schoolhouse voted to hire a teacher for four months in the Fall of 1885 and two and one half months in the spring of 1886 at a salary of $25 per month. At one of the board meetings, as the term was abou to start, a board member was designated to supply what the school needed, two cords of wood, one teacher s register, one box of chalk and one broom. The school is located on the southwest quarter of Section 27, Fertile Township. Besides those mentioned, these served as officials: John Robb, Abe Code Mrs. Thomas Harris, David Brett, J. M Brett, Robert Young, Thomas Wadge, P. F. Campbell, A. Beito, IX F. Gillespie, Arne T. Staven, Erik G. Berger, Mrs, P. F^ Campbell, Mrs. P. L. Grobell, Mrs. Otto Hove, Edward Skjerven, George Berger, E . Markusen, Otto Hove, Carl Torkelson and Jens Torkelson. These have taught in this district: Mary Hall, Ena Ford W W. Sleight, Hattie Sheppard, M . J. Baldwin, Mary E Budkick, Edith Almen, George W. Welther, Anna Burbidge, Nora L. SulUvan, Eleanor Currie, Lizzie Stoskoff, Mildred Nelson, Margaret Thompson Jorand Thorson, Elsie Tallackson, Ethel MUler, Horence Laughead, Edna Kohnen, Selma Aas, Betsy Bergom, Winnie DoneUy, Alice Campbell, Anna McEwen, Jessie Craig, Helen Purdy, Edna M. StuU, Jennie Rasmusson Evelyn Rye, Glora Hove, Minnie Letznng, Hazzel Fauskee, Anna Egeland, Katie S. Gustafson, Miss M. Welter Doris Teske, Jean R. CampbeU, Eleanor Clemenson, Gertrude Thorson, Gladys Thompson and NeUie Tewksbury. Submitted by Mrs. Jens Torkelson.

bell and bell tower were added for the first time. Peak enrollment years were in 1893 with 77 pupils. 1894 with 78 and 1895 with 79 pupils. Sinkler School was the scene of many programs, picnics and basket socials.

Original school building, Dist. 24, used from 1882-1894. Early board members include: M. A. Hoghaug, Tom Thompson, A. J. Anderson, Thos. H Fisher A. F. Sinkler, Ole 0. Groven, Ole Thorsen, C. S. Paul, ^ b . Almen, Ole Davids, Thomas Knudson, G. N. Midgarden, James Rutherford and A. Wankler. Early teachers include: Teany Weagant, Fanny Wigens G. O. Swenson, August Lof, Mette Johnsnid, William Field, B. Anderson, Jessie Sinkler, E. R. Sinkler, C R Anderson, J. M. Anderson, Maggie Ferguson T.b. Sunderland, Marin Hoghaug, Ole Paulson, M A. Hoghaug, John Johnson, HUde Bakke, D. M. McLean, Lucy Blades and Anne Lee. Teachers salaries ranged from $30 to $40 a month. School terms began with two month terms in the summer increasing to five month terms, with summer S s i o i s later I eight month terms^In the begmning years adults attended classes whenever possible District No. 24 continued school until the end of school year 1960-61. It was then annexed to Dist.net .No 3 at Grafton. The land and school were sold m 1^2 to^Ulard Anderson. The building was moved off theate tpthe Anderson farm in the same section a short distance away. Submitted by ArdeU Almen.

Early school. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 24 District 24 was located in the SW'A of Section 12, Fertile Township. Deed of one acre was received from Ole W Olson, July 12,1884. Through the years the school became known as Sinkler School, named after the A F. S e r family who lived across the road. Mr. Sinkler served on the school board as clerk. Jessie Sinkler teacher in 1890-92-93. Enrollment grew rapidly, the original buUding became too small. In 1895, the school was enlarged and a

School Dist. 24 after being enlarged in 1895. Bell also added at that time. 400

MONSON SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 114 Monson School District No. 114 was formed in 1894, six miles west and one mile south of Grafton, with the first teacher, Elsie Levin. She taught the fall term of 1894, with a salary of $35 per month. Other teachers were: Helen Lawston, 1895 spring term; E. A. Mostre, 1895 faU term; Peter Field, 1896 spring term, Mar. 25 to July 24; Sorin C. Nelson, 1896 fall term; E. A. Mostre, 1897; Hilda Bakke, 1898 spring; Carrie Cliffgard, 1898-99 spring and fall; J. 0. Holland, 1901-02; Bessie Beito, 1903; and Stella Bergeson, 1904. Some of the first school board officers were: A. S. Torblaa, first clerk, and Nels Monsebroten, Mons Monson, and H. H. Lein, directors. This school was closed in 1940 and is now being used as a garage on a farm. Submitted by Millard Hove, Grafton. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 25 Although the first school in the county was organized in 1879, early records of District No. 25 are not available. Early treasurers were George Tallackson and Thomas Evenson. Directors in the period of 1893 to 1906 were: G. Walstad, I. A. Flaten, N. Folson, Thomas Evenson, Chr. Bjorneby, J. Iverson, Ole Holt, Geo. Bjorneby, K. O. Berg, and Oscar Johnson, serving a period of three years or longer. Teachers from 1892 to 1908 were: Theo. H. Jackson, Annie Barton, Louise Gulbrandsen, J. G. Walstad, Maggie Baggott, Mary A. Monroe, John M. Anderson, Sarah Moen, Carl Swenson, Johanna Sunderson, Alma and Edith Almen. Marion Flaten, Tina McKenzie, Bertha Newlander, W. L. Brown, J. E. Brown, J. E. Winter, J. M. Sunderson, Effie Beitz, N. Feroe, Clara Peterson, Anna Tharalson and Hattie Anderson. In the 1908 school census, there were 12 boys and 17 girls attending District No. 25. Four of the children lived over three miles away. The superintendent was B. B. Wells; teacher, Emma GuUickson and the clerk, P. A. Flaten.

The Old Mandt Band—Ole Manderud, who had played in an orchestra in Norway, organized a band and instructed the players. At the time, it was the only band between Grand Forks and the Canadian border. A student, Ole Hageb, later became director of the band. Three clarinets, which Ole Manderud brought from Norway, are still in the possession of the Manderud family.

Mandt Band—1916. Ole Hagen was organizer and director of this band which was active for several years. Front row, left to right: Martin Sunderland, Clarence Daley, Wm. Tallackson, Marius Hagen, Henry Groven, Joe Thompson, Otto Paulson, T. A. Daley, Clifford Hultin. Back row: Oscar Manderud, Adolph Almen, Alfred Monsebroten, Gus Midboe, Gus Thompson, Andrew Almen, Alfred Daley, Herb Cliffgard, M. O. Johnson, Ernest Johnson (from Thief River Falls).

CHURCHES CONCORDIA CHURCH In 1881 the congregation was organized, before this time most of the people in this part of the township were in with the Zion congregation. Services were held in the homes and in schoolhouses. The church site and cemetery plot had been selected many years before the church was built. Ole Johnson made mention of the two acres the church had gotten from him when he sold this quarter of land to Augustus Wankel in 1886. It is believed that Andrew Bito, Peter Grobell and Even Midboe were among the first officers after the church was built. Rev. C. A. Flaten served the congregation from 18811887. At this time they belonged to the Norske Synode. The membership in 1887 was 183 souls. The first marriages recorded took place Jan. 28, 1883, when Hans Jorgen Thorgrimsen (George Thompson) and Olava Anderson; Gunellus Anderson and Gunhild Thorgrimsen were married at the Zion parsonage. Israel Anderson and Andres Anderson were the witnesses for both couples. * in 1890, the Concordia Church consolidated with South Trinity and was served by Rev. Nykreim until Rev. Fjellbu came. The Concordia Lutheran Church was located 7 miles west and three-fourths mile south of Grafton. Try to visualise a low, white church with a belfry and steeple, similar in structure to North Trinity and South Trinity which were all built within a few years of each other. The church sat a few rods in from the township road, facing west. A stable was located on the north edge of the cemetery. The two acre site was enclosed by a fence. A large arched gate, that had the name of the church on the top, was placed in front. Andrew Swanson made most of the inside furniture, including the altar, baptismal font and the pulpit. Peter Grobell ordered the beU and was quite con-

Almen, Johannes Coller, Iver Iverson Ljone and Anders Monson Hoghaug. The necessity of Sunday School was stressed and John Almen was elected Superintendent, assisted by Ole 0. Haugerud and Iver Iverson Ljone. No regular services were held during the winter months, but occasionally a visiting pastor would hold services. Besides Pastor Waage were; Pastor John Olson of St. Ansgar, Iowa, and Anders Olson Megrund of Halstad, Minn. In 1881, Rev. Jens I. Lonne became the first resident pastor. His salary was to be $200 per year. He conducted the first parochial school which opened on Dec. 12, 1881, at the home of Ole 0. Haugerud. At a meeting at the home of Nels Monsebraaten, March 31, 1883, the name "Trinity Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Walsh County, Dakota Territory" was adopted. Pastor Peter A. Nykreim served next. His salary, $250, plus two offerings. On May 30, 1885, after several congregational meetings had been held, it was decided that the congregation be divided and that the river be the dividing Une so that those north of the river adopt the name North Trinity and those south of the river the name South Trinity. A site for the church and cemetery was selected and after much consideration they decided on the southeast corner of Section 25 in FertUe Township, owned by Iver Stransatern. The foUowing became members of South Trinity: Anders Monson Hoghaug, Iver Iverson Ljone, Gunder N. Midgarden, Mons Monson, Andreas L. Ask, Lars Torblaa, Charley Anderson, ToUef Johnson, I. Birk, John Moe, Andrew Boe, John Knutson, Erik Berger, Kristian Fjeld, Nels Monsebraaten, Ole Monsebraaten, Ole Gangsei, Hans Hanson, Hans Paulson, Amund Johanson, and shortly thereafter, Gulbrand Lee, Jorgen Sonderland, Halvor Harris and Arne L. Torblaa. The first officers of South Trinity were: Secretary, I. Birk; Treasurer, Gunder N. Midgarden; Trustees, Mons Monson, Tollef Johnson and Kristian Fjeld; Deacons, Andreas L. Ask, Ole Gangsei and Lars Torblaa. Up to this time services were held in homes and schoolhouses, this did not prove satisfactory. On Jan. 12, 1886, at a meeting at the home of Lars Torblaa, it was decided to build a church. The sum of $960 had been pledged toward the erection of the new church. The members to do the work, with the assistance of a carpenter to supervise. The auditorium was to be 36x30x14 and the chancel, 14x20x12. The buUding committee was composed of the following: I. Birk, Gunder N. Midgarden, Lars Torblaa, Anders Monson Hoghaug and ToUef Johnson. On Nov. 7, 1886, the annual meeting was held in the new buUding. The church was complete with the exception of the steeple which was built in 1895 and the church was dedicated in 1896.

Cemetery after clean-up. fident the selection had been good, as he said, "There isn't going to be a bell Uke that one in any of the other churches." Even Midbo was Klokker (sexton) for many years, was faithful in attendance at services and he also saw to it that his children went to church with him. Parochial school was held during the summer. The confirmation class met jointly with South Trinity, meeting at Concordia one week and at South Trinity the next. Mrs. L. B. Torkelson (EUa Brende) was confirmed in 1909 and remembers well walking to the church for classes - 6 % miles, when they met at Concordia. Sometimes she would stop along the way at Vigers, sometimes at Midboes. Rev. Kirkeberg was serving this parish at that time. Services were held every other Sunday, sometimes every third Sunday. At the annual meeting in November, 1916, it was decided to "lay down the work" for that congregation, because there was just too few members left. Services were held in that church a couple times in 1917 and it was opened from time to time for funerals. The members joined South Trinity and Zion. In 1928, the church was sold to BUI TaUackson. He dismantled it and buUt a house from the lumber. In 1973 the South Trinity congregation decided they would like to see the cemetery at Concordia restored and kept up to show respect to the memory of the pioneers buried there. In June of that year, about 30 men with tractors spent three days moving old drift dirt and resetting sagging tombstones. A caretaker is hired to cut the grass. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson. SOUTH TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH The congregation was estabUshed Oct. 13, 1879, and with the assistance of Pastor M . J. Waage of Goose River, the Trinity Lutheran Church was organized. Present were: John Almen, Ole 0. Haugerud, Iver Iverson Ljone, Johannes CoUer, Haakon Johnson, Carl Almen, Mons Monson, Henry Hanson and Andrew L. Ask. On Oct. 28, 1879, a congregational meeting was held at the home of Ole 0. Haugerud with Pastor Waage presiding. The constitution was adopted and the following, together with the aforementioned, became charter members: John Paulson, Anders Monson Hoghaug, and Jorgen Johnson. The first officers were elected: Secretary, Ole 0. Haugerud; Treasurer, Andreas L. Ask, Precentor; Ole 0. Haugerud; Trustees, Iver Iverson Ljone, John Almen, and Ole 0. Haugerud; Deacons, Johannes CoUer, Anders Bergum and Lars Torblaa. Cemetery Committee: Ole 0. Haugerud, John 402

members of the congregation look at their little old church on the south prairie with adoration, devotion and fond memories. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

In 1880, South Trinity and Concordia congregations consolidated. Pastor K. A. Fjellbu of Decorah, Ia., came to this parish in 1891, and besides South Trinity, he also served Concordia, Zion and Park Center. In 1891, a subscription list was circulated to raise money for a parsonage to be built on land adjoining Zion Church, to be financed by Zion, Park Center and South Trinity. In 1893, Pastor Fjellbu was granted a five months vacation to study at Minneapolis. During his absence Pastor P. T. Stensaas substituted. In 1898, he was given another vacation, at which time he went to Norway and during his absence Pastor J. N. Helseth served the congregation. In 1900, Pastor Fjellbu resigned and Pastor K. 0. Storli of Portland, Me., accepted the call and stayed here six years. During his pastorate, the Sunday School was organized, Young Peoples Society, and a choir was organized. A sacristy was added to the church. Pastor 0. L. Kirkeberg took over the pastorate in 1906 and remained until 1913. Pastor H. O. Shurson served the congregation from 1913-1915. The parsonage was modernized during this time. Pastor A. Egge served the congregation from 19151926. During this time Concordia congregation was dissolved and its members joined South Trinity and Zion. Pastor Egge suggested that the parish be divided as it was too large, so in 1926, South Trinity, North Trinity and Zion became one parish; Park Center, Hoople and Hvideso, the other. Pastor C. O. Grimsrud served the congregation from 1926-1929. In 1928 the church basement was completed. As 1929 was the fiftieth anniversary of the congregation, plans were made for the occasion. .The three congregations in this parish worked together, committees were selected and arrangements made. Representing South Trinity were Albert Midgarden and Henry Lee. The festivities were carried out on July 1213-14, 1929. The following pastors appeared on the program: District President David Stoeve, H. 0. Shurson, J. J. Jacobson, H. A. Helsem, A. Egge, S. J. Strandjord, J. 0. Dahle, Arne Herleikson,. Olof Olson, G. N. Isolany, J . T. Langemo, J. Eastvold, C. M. Grimsrud. Others appearing on the program were: Sen. Lynn J. Frazier, Ruth Storli-Reep, Mrs. Oscar Almen, Mrs. Frank Mastre, Mrs. Henry Lee, Miss Ida Midgarden, Miss Marie Grimsrud, John Olson and A. N. Midgarden. The following were church officers in 1929; Secretary, I. Birk; Treasurer, Albert Midgarden; Trustees, Henry Lee, Martin Larson and Albert Viger; Deacons, Henry Sander, E. E. Hanson and Albert Hove. Organist, Mrs. Henry Lee; Custodian, R. G. Strand; and Cemetery Committee, Albert Midgarden, Anton Strand and Med vin Brende.

South Trinity Lutheran Church, Rural Grafton SOUTH TRINITY LADIES' AID The Ladies' Aid was organized about 1886 while Pastor Nykreim served the congregation. First meeting was at the home of Mrs. Gulbrand Lee where the following ladies organized the Aid: Mrs. I. Birk, Mrs. Iver Iverson Ljone, Mrs. Anders Monson Hoghaug, Mrs. Gunder N. Midgarden, Mrs. Gulbrand Lee and Mrs. Andreas L. Ask. The first officers were: Mrs. Iver Iverson Ljone, Mrs. Gunder N. Midgarden and Miss Lena Larson. After a couple of years, the meetings were discontinued until Pastor Fjellbu became pastor in 1891, when meetings were again held. The Aid has been active and contributed a great deal towards missions, church budget and throughout the years the Aid assisted with money for several improvements and helped pay for the basement, also for the painting of the church, both inside and out. Most of the money they earned came from having congregational gatherings, sometimes the public was invited too. As there wasn't a basement until 1928, everything was held at the homes. One time an oyster stew supper was served at the I. Birk home. This was during the winter, so it was inside and the house was full, the children even played in the attic. Picnics were held during the summer or early fall quite often, right after church services on the same day that confirmation was held. The L Birk place was used again, as was the Ole Halland place. Ice cream socials were held and the ladies sold lunch at many, many auction sales. All this was a lot of hard work as everything had to be lugged from homes and the church, too, but it gave them the chance to be together for fellowship. This was all back in the "Good Old Days." Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

In November, 1929, Rev. L. 0. Helleklev arrived and took up the work of the congregation. He served South Trinity congregation faithfully and conscientiously for 24 years. In 1953, due to ill health, he resigned and retired. The original church still stands. The same auditorium, chancel and belfry that the pioneers built themselves back in 1896. Yes, now it's 1975 and the church has seen several additions, much remodeling, new furnishings, several coats of paint, but basically it's still the same. Perhaps that's why so many of the

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH The first meeting of what is now Zion Lutheran Congregation of rural Hoople was held in 1879 and at that time there were only a few settlers in this area. But, 403

religion was a very important segment in the Ufe of these early pioneers. On Sept. 22,1879, Rev. B. A. Harstad of Goose River conducted the organizational meeting at the farm home of Tom Knutson, eight miles west and one and one-fourth miles north of Grafton on the farm presently owned by Ethel Clemenson Page who is a granddaughter of Tom Knutson. The pioneers gathered in homes every couple of weeks for the next two years to hold worship services. The first members of the congregation were: Mr. and Mrs Ellend Johnson and six children; Mr. and Mrs. Isreal Anderson and six children; Mr. and Mrs. Kittil Aaneson and six children; Mr. and Mrs. Hans Sorenson and one child; Mr. and Mrs. Syver Anderson Lee and four children; Mr. and Mrs. Hans J . Onsrud and one child; Mr. and Mrs. Niels Ellevson Mastrei and nine children- Mr and Mrs. Evend Knudson and one child; Tallev Olson Ivesdal; Hans N. Vig; Tallev Tallevson; Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen Bjornson; Ole Olson; Mr. and Mrs. Hans Thorson Midboe and two children; and Tom Knudson. In 1880 Rev. 0. H. Aaberg assisted with services and in the summer of 1880, C. A. Flaten, who did missionary work in this area north of Grand Forks, received a call to serve this area in 1881 upon his graduation from seminary In the fall of 1881, Rev. C. A. Flaten and his wife, Bodil, filed for a homestead in what is now section four in Fertile Township, which became their home as long as they both Uved. Rev. C. A. Flaten served the parish untU his death Nov. 7,1889, at 36. He is buried at Zion. Flaten's first home was a log cabin and thus served as the first parsonage. A new wood frame home was buUt on the farm in 1887. In October, 1882, plans were made for the bunding ot a church, but due to lack of funds and materials, it was not ready for dedication untU July 17, 1889. The congregation had to secure a building site. On Feb 12, 1885, three acres of land was purchased from George Gunder SoU TaUackson in two parcels - one acre for twenty-five cents and two acres for three hundred doUars. Later in 1892, Zion, Park Center, Concordia and South Trinity purchased ten and three-fourths acres from George TaUackson for $236.50 and accepted two acres from the Zion congregation. Not until 1958, were these two acres deeded back to Zion to enlarge the Zion Cemetery • Several pioneer famiUes had to bury their loved ones on their homesteads because a cemetery had not been estabUshed. So in 1880, at the thud meeting of the congregation, John Grovom, father of Mrs. George Tallackson, offered land for a cemetery and it was accepted. At the time that Zion Ladies' Aid was organized, the congregation had just built their first church and owed what at that time seemed a large sum. One of the main projects of the Aid was to help finance the interior furnishings Missions, church schools, and orphanages were other projects. Throughout the history of the church, the Ladies' Aid has been the most active organization within I the church and has served a most important function. The Aid served not only as a financial arm of the church for various projects but for Christian feUowship, inspiration and social interaction. Meetings were held in homes of women in the congregation. The Aid was organized by Rev. C. A. Flaten, May 14, 1885, six years after Zion congregation was organized. The first meeting

was held in the parsonage and the following officers were elected- President, Mrs. Gunerius Bjorneby; Vice President, Mrs. Gunerius Walstad; and SecretaryTreasurer, Mrs. C. A. Flaten.

4 Zion Lutheran Church—Hoople

The log house was our first parsonage, built in 1881, and the new one was built in 1887. The third was built in 1891. Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople and South Trinity. In 1921 when the new church was built, again the Aid assisted in providing finances for furnishing and equipment for the new house of worship. The church suppers served by the Aid were a time of Christian fellowship enjoyed by people in the community. Religious training of the chUdren was important. In June 1881, T. G. Midboe took over the parochial school and supervised the organization of the Sunday School. For the reUgious instruction of the youth in the congregation was divided into districts and the instruction was held at homes. For several years Mrs. C A Flaten supervised the Sunday School and taught parochial school. During the winter of 1887 and 1888, parochial school for the congregation was held at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Flaten. Since many of the children lived too far to commute daUy, a dormitory was made of an old log house at the Flaten farm. The boys were housed in the upstairs whUe meals were prepared downstairs from food sent by the children's parents. The girls slept in a room in the parsonage at Flatens. Classes were held in a schoolhouse one-quarter mile west from the parsonage with Ole Grovom assisting Rev. and Mrs. 404

Flaten with the instruction. During ensuing years, instruction was held in district schoolhouses. Each district supervised its own schooling, sometimes conducting Sunday School as well as weekday parochial school. In 1916, Severt Herwick reorganized the Sunday School, which met at the church sacristy. Mr. Herwick continued as superintendent until 1920, when Miss Johanna Flaten, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Flaten, assumed these duties until 1936. After the death of Rev. Flaten in 1889, Rev. J. A. Ofstedahl of the Grafton Parish served temporarily (14 months). Ofstedahl had accepted a call to the Grafton parish in 1889. South Trinity Congregation joined with Zion congregation in 1890. Concordia Church was with Zion congregation for ten years and their records were kept in Zion until 1890. In 1893 North Trinity built their own church and asked permission from the pastor and Zion congregation to join with the Hauges Church and leave Zion parish. But, in 1920, North Trinity rejoined the Zion parish and again was served by the same pastor as Zion.

died. With land purchased from G. Tallackson, a new parsonage was built and financed by Zion, Park Center and Concordia, costing $1,300 and was occupied by Christmas, 1891. Church bells for Zion were purchased from a St. Louis firm and they were rung for the first time on March 31,1895. In 1895, a new organ was also purchased. Rev. K. A. Fjellbu was installed as pastor at Zion in January, 1891, and served until 1900. He received three furloughs, one to MinneapoUs to learn EngUsh, and two vacations to his native Norway. During his absences pastors Stensaas, HUseth and Nykreim served. From 1900-1906, Zion was served by Rev. K. O. StorU. Since Pastor Storli and his wife had five chUdren, the family was very active in youth organizations. The first youth organization of which Zion had a record was a group of young women who met for the first time in the parsonage in October, 1900. They met in homes twice a

Zion Ladies Aid at parsonage, C. M. Grimsrud, pastor.

Zion Lutheran Church—1921

Taken about 1914. The last ofthe original pioneers in Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople: Mrs. Nels Midgarden, Mrs. J. Johnson, Miss Signe Gryde, Mrs. J. Torkelson, Mrs. Ole K. Gryde, Mrs. C. Bjorneby, Mrs. Ole E. Johnson. Since the first parsonage was the Flaten homestead, anew parsonage had to be constructed when Rev. Flaten

month to work for various missions and charities as weU as Christian Fellowship. The Young People's Society was organized later and also met twice a month. This organization helped purchase many items for the church as weU as contributions to missions and other charities. Rev. O. L. Kirkeberg served the congregation for seven years from 1906-13. He was the author of several books written in Norwegian. Rev. Kirkeberg died in 1925 and is buried at Zion. Rev. Shurson came to serve the parish in 1913. Shurson accepted a caU from Hoople, consisting of four congregations, where he remained for two years. Rev. Shurson helped organize the Lutheran Church of Hoople which was served by our pastors untU 1926. The summer of 1915,Rev. Adolph Egge came to serve Zion. He was the pastor of five congregations in the Grafton-Hoople area. He served untU 1926. The summer of 1921 the present church at Zion was built. Stained glass windows were gifts by members, some being in memory of pioneers. The laying of the cornerstone at Zion was Sept. 25, 1921. The old church became too crowded so it was razed and a new church constructed on the same site. In 1926, the charge consisting of Zion, South Trinity, North Trinity, Hoople, and Park Center was divided, Hoople and Park Center, including Hvideso, and from 1926 on, our parish was comprised of Zion, North Trinity and South Trinity. Rev. C. M. Grimsrud was installed in September, 1926, and served untU August, 1929. The 50th anniversary of Zion, South Trinity and North Trinity was celebrated

in July 1929. All three congregations met in a large tent at Zion on Sunday during the three day celebration. For nearly twenty-three years, 1929-1953, Rev L O. Helleklev served Zion Church. He resigned, due to failing health, and became a resident of the Valley Memorial Home in Grand Forks until his death in 1958 and he is buried at Zion. It was when Rev. Helleklev was serving Zion that Norwegian services were discontinued in 1936. Some pastors who served brief periods were: B. M. Bradford for three months in 1929; J. N. Helseth for six months in 1889; and P. T. Stensaas for four months in 1893 The first communion set and the first Bible used at Zion Church have been restored and are on display at the church. ', " , , Our community has been blessed in having a church home in our community like Zion. In 1979 Zion Church will be celebrating its centennial. "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done. Col. 2:7. Submitted by Lorraine Paulson.

up to the objects for which it was organized, namely, a better community, better homes, bigger and better crops, and better farmers. Such objects cannot have failed to aid the nation during the time it needed the solid support of all its citizens to win the great war. Submitted by lone Anderson.

I Parish meeting at Zion Lutheran Parsonage, rural Hoople, Rev. H. O. Shurson, pastor. GRAFTON FARMERS' CLUB While World War I was raging, while the food supply was rapidly diminishing - at the call of some of Walsh County's representative farmers, a "Farmers Club was organized at the County Courthouse Nov. 10, 1917. Officers elected were: Wm. Williamson, president; Albert Midgarden, vice-president; Murry McDonald, secretary and B. J. Johnson, treasurer. The objects of the club were: to speed up production, as the members realized that the war was not to be won in the trenches alone, but on our farms as well and especially on the fertile lands of the Red River Valley; buying and selling together; self-improvement through the exchange of ideas and listening to lectures; and improvement of the farming conditions, giving rise to better farms and a better community spirit. Improvement of farming conditions brings to mind mental pictures of splendid homes, fertile plains, large herds of cattle and great quantities of grain, sufficient to feed a hungry world. . After the first two years membership had risen to bo. Meetings had been held to do everything for the best interests of the nation, state and community. We feel that this club has done a great deal tor the nation and community, since it has always tried to live

In 1880 T G Midboe became the Kirkesanger in Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. There were no instruments so all music was rendered vocally.

T. A. Daley Home—Mandt 406

were four covered wagons in the party. Aaneson and a step-son, George Torkelson, drove horses. There were cows and calves in the caravan. The Aanesons settled in Grafton Township, five miles east of Mandt. They were members of Zion Congregation. Kittel was one of the first trustees of the congregation. Signe Aaneson was born Sept. 25, 1827, in Norway. She died Aug. 9, 1904, in Walsh County. She is buried at Zion Cemetery. Kittel Aaneson died in 1918. He is also buried at Zion Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Tilphare Clemenson. LARS AASAND

Nels Hanson's hay hung up on stakes to dry like they did in Norway.

Nels Hanson, Mandt Pioneer.

Lars Aasand

Nels Hagen and daughter, Indiana Hagen, cutting wood in back yard.

BIOGRAPHIES KITTEL AND SIGNE AANESON

Tone _ Torkelson — Tollef Kittel and Signe Aaneson came from Lake Mills, Ia., to the Red River Valley in 1878 with John Daley and family. John was a son-in-law of Signe Aaneson. There

Lars Aasand was born in Eggedal, Norway, in 1850. He married Jorand Pederson, Numedal, Norway, in 1878, in Illinois, where they both worked on a farm. After working in Illinois, they left by covered wagon to Dakota Territory in 1881. That year he homesteaded in Fertile Township. They lived in a shanty without a floor until Lars built a log cabin. There he tilled the soil, working with oxen. Later he moved to Minnesota where some of his children were born. Lars Aasand farmed in both states, buying land in Minnesota where two of his sons were farming at the time of his death. He died April 5,1915, at Argyle, Minn., and was buried there in the Big Woods Cemetery. Sons and daughters of Lars Aasand were: Oscar, Arne, Henry, Clara, Ole and Hilda. A son, Charles died in infancy. Lars Aasand's homestead in Walsh County became the home of his youngest son, Ole. In 1912, Ole married Annie Berg who came from Lillehammer, Norway, in 1906. Ole and Annie Aasand continued farming on the homestead farm in Walsh County where their three daughters; Beulah, Olga and Lila, and two son; Jevon and Olaf, were born. Ole Aasand died at Grafton in 1944 and was buried at the Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. His wife, Annie, the only surviving spouse of Lars Aasand's children, still resides at Grafton. The original homestead is now owned by Olaf Aasand, grandson of Lars Aasand. Grandchildren of Mrs. Lars Aasanu are: Joyce

Monson, Jean Monson, Lawrence Vernon Oberg, Clemens Leroy Oberg, Jevon Clifton Oberg and Clarinda Albertina Oberg, all of Argyle. Great grandchildren of Mrs. Lars Aasand are: Donna Rae Barta, Park River; Hillard Larson, Argyle; Jerry Henry Cortez, Chicago; Rudy Cortez, Chicago; and Marlene Yvonne Aasand, Argyle. Submitted by Mrs. Ole Aasand. ROGER ALLIN Roger Allin, fourth Governor of North Dakota, was born in Devonshire, England, Dec. 18, 1881. After his father died, his mother remarried. When he was three years old, the family moved to Oshawa, Ont. He came in April, 1881, to Fertile Township where he filed for land and became a successful farmer. This township was organized in 1882. Besides holding many of the offices in this township, he was elected to the territorial council in 1886 and in 1888 and also became a member of the constitutional convention required before statehood. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1891 for one term before being elected Governor in 1894 for one term. Locally after joining the Farmers Alliance, he was chosen as president and Carl M . Grimstad was treasurer. According to "Pioneers in Dakota Territory, 1879-1889" written by Grimstad, it was through his influence he became convinced that he should become a member of the Republican party. Dakota at this time included what is now North and South Dakota. In 1787, the congress of the United States had provided that when newly settled lands had a sufficient population, they were to be admitted as states. Until then, the Congress had provided that territorial governors and other officers were to be appointed by the President of the United States and the legislature was to be elected by the people of the territory. This resulted in many problems, such as, whether this territory should be one state; where the capital should be located, in Yankton or Bismarck; and the corruption of men selected to serve in the territory. He served in the territorial council until Dakota was divided to become a state. The capitol had been moved to Bismarck in 1883. In the closing Lame Duck session of congress, the Omnibus Bill passed enabbng North and South Dakota, Montana and Washington to be admitted to statehood as soon as their constitutions were approved and the state officers were elected. The bill provided that North Dakota should elect 75 men to hold its constitutional convention at Bismarck opening on July 4,1789. Allin met as a member of the convention and took a prominent part in drafting the constitution. By Saturday, Aug. 17, the delegates had completed their work and adjourned. Territorial Governor, A. C. Mellette, called for an election for October 4 and the constitution was adopted by a vote of 27,441 to 8,107. Prohibition became law. Elected were county and state officers and one representative to Congress. Allin was elected to the first senate of the state. Efforts to introduce Women's Suffrage failed, but females could vote in school elections. There was rivalry with Jamestown wanting the capitol. It was a time for challenge in many areas such as grievances in the grain trade and elevators; farmers' problems, political, legislative, economic, and social; besides activities of the political parties including the Farmers Alliance; populism which declined after 1894; Indians; railroads; and education besides the Panic of 1893.

While in the Senate, Allin became one of the small group opposing the Louisiana lottery bill which brought much pressure of all kinds to bear on him and his group. The Louisiana lottery sold tickets throughout the nation and distributed 15 million dollars in prizes at each drawing. After losing its charter it was seeking a new base in North Dakota, but was unsuccessful. For many years Alexander McKenzie, representing the railroad, grain elevators, and banking interests in the Twin Cities, was to exercise great political influence in the state. Besides him, was Governor Ordway who had used his office for personal gain. Another problem after Allin became governor was that appropriations for 1893-1894 were much more than revenue, and he was forced to veto individual items, especially to the state colleges for which he was severely criticized. It possibly affected his re-election to a second term. When President Roosevelt was elected president in 1904, he was one of the North Dakota electors making the trip to Bismarck to formally cast one of the state ballots. For Ailin and others, the straggle for the forming of our state and the exciting and colorful history of the Dakota Territory preceding it, was past. This was the first instance in the history of our national government that twin states entered the Union at the same moment. President Benjamin Harrison signed Nov. 2, 1889, the proclamation by law for the admission of the two states. Allin had served with honor and distinction from 18861895. He was married to Miss Isabelle McKenzie, native of Canada, in Grand Forks March 22, 1882. She died in 1911 after a lingering illness. Their only daughter died in infancy. He was later married to Miss Annie McKenzie. Allin, with Rev. D. G. McKay, a pioneer minister, organized the Presbyterian Church in Park River. Originally the church was built at Kensington, about three miles east of the present site of Park River, but was later moved to Park River. He and his wife were charter members and he and two other men became elders of the church. He also belonged to the Masonic Fraternity for 65 years; the Knights of Pythias; and the Independent Order of Foresters. After his term of office as governor, he returned to his farming operations until he retired in Park River. He died in 1936. Submitted by Beatrice Fedje, Hoople. C. F. ALMEN FAMILY Carl Frederick Almen, son of Anders and Lena Persson, immigrated from Torsbyn, Sweden, to Minnesota in 1885. He went to Beata's place, his sister, near Minneapolis, and got his first job in America cutting hay with a scythe north of the city. He was preceded to America by an older brother, August, and an older sister, Beata. Within a year he moved to Glenwood Township, rented land from his uncle, Issac Almen, for one or two years until he bought land in Section 10 of Fertile Township in 1890. He married Mary Dalshaug Feb. 21, 1891. She immigrated from Norway to Roseau County, Minn., and later moved to Canada. She had a sister who Uved on the Tommy Thompson farm. They probably met when Mary came here to work for relatives. Carl and Mary Uved where ArdeU Almen, their grandson, Uves now. They had nine children: Hannah,

Anders (who died an infant), Ida, Adolph, Andrew, Dagmar, Oscar, Alice, and Lewis. Carl's name was different from his father's because two of Anders Persson's sons were drafted into the Swedish Army before they could immigrate to America. When they were drafted, there were so many Perssons in the army that the Commander changed their names to Almen. These two sons later contacted their brothers and sisters about the name change and most of the family adopted the change. Carl Frederick Almen farmed in Walsh County until he died of cancer on Oct. 2,1912, at 50. Between 1890 and 1900, Dr. LaBerge took Carl's left eye out on the kitchen table, because of cancer. Mary Almen died Jan. 22, 1950. They are buried at the North Trinity Church where they were members. Submitted by Mrs. Reuben Johnson. ISRAEL ANDERSON Israel Anderson was born April 26, 1829, in Lier, Norway. He was married in 1854 to Johanna Gunderson Opsal. In 1856 they immigrated by sail boat to America and settled in Wisconsin. After a few years they moved to Northwood, Iowa, where they homesteaded for 11 years. In 1879, they moved to a farm 7 miles west and about three-fourths mile north of Grafton, traveling by train and covered wagon. Israel and Johanna Anderson's children were: Andrew, Betsey, Annetta, Gunelius, Olava, John, Sophia, Karl Gustave, and Ida Johanna. Submitted by Ernest Anderson of Neche, a grandson.

Ole was bom May 2, 1868. He was confirmed May 28, 1882, at Concordia Church. He married Helena Halvorson, Benson, Minn., in December, 1888, at Grafton. Ten children were born, Emil, Henry - died in infancy, Henry, Albert, Sophia, Clarence, Ingvold, Annie, Orvin, and Mabel. They Uved west of Grafton. In 1898 they moved to Edmore and homesteaded there. Ole Uved to be the oldest. He died Nov. 29, 1973, at the age of 105 years and 6 months and 27 days. His wife died Aug. 14, 1933. They are buried at St. Hans Cemetery, rural Edmore. Hans married Minnie Ostby at Grafton. Ten children were born, Alfred, Elmer, Eddy, Myrtle, Dewey, Florinda, Luella, Hazel, Rodger, and Dinah. They lived on the homestead with Halvor several years and later moved to Silverton, Ore. Albert married Annie Olson. Eleven children were born, Amanda, Elmer, Mabel, AUce, Alpha, Lloyd, Tilford, Adler, Glen, Lois, and Martin. They Uved for a time at Edmore before they moved to Woodburn, Ore. Submitted by Harold Barstad.

Even and Annie Barstad with two grandchildren, Fertile Twp. ANDREW BEITO FAMILY

Clara Hoff Thompson — Ida Anderson Folson EVEN O. BARSTAD Even Barstad was born in Telemarken, Norway, and came with his parents to America at the age of 12. They lived at Glenville, Minn. He married Annie Sanderson at Glenville. Five sons were born, Halvor, Sander, Ole, Hans, and Albert. They came to Walsh County in 1880 and homesteaded eight miles west of Grafton. Barstad died in 1914 and Mrs. Barstad in 1922. They are buried at Concordia Cemetery. Halvor, the oldest, was blind and played the violin. He Uved on the homestead with Hans and never married. He was buried at Concordia. Sander was born Feb. 2,1865. He was confirmed May 28,1882, at Concordia Church. He married Signe Tveiten Dec. 15, 1892. Six children were born, Ole, Agnes, Gunhild, Even, Selma, and Annie. They Uved at Edmore for a short time and then moved to Canada.

Andrew Beito was bom in Valdres, Norway, emigrated to Iowa and later moved to Minnesota. Mrs. Andrew (Helena) Beito's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thorsen Myron, were also bom in Norway and came to Iowa. They moved to Minnesota when Helena was one year old. Andrew and Helena were married at her parents home in Aastad Township, Otter Tail County, Minn. They came to North Dakota in 1880. April 20, 1892, they bought a farm - theNE'A of Section 27, Township 157, Range 54, from Hugh Kears who had homesteaded this farm, receiving the patent June 5, 1889. Four children were born to this couple: Clara A. Ax. Beito, born March 27, 1889, died Jan. 12, 1896; Elmer Beito, bom May 30, 1891, died Oct. 21, 1905; Tenora J. Beito, born Oct. 18,1892, died Feb. 1,1896; and Beirdie S. Beito, born April 28,1895, died Jan. 28,1896. Three of the children died from diphtheria - Clara, Tenora and Beirdie - all within a three week period. Elmer passed away from dropsy while he was reading for confirmation. Andrew Beito's birth and death are May 15, 1853, and May 16, 1904. It is believed that Rev. Karl Fjeldbu officiated at the funerals for Clara, Tenora and Beirdie, and Rev. Knute Storlie officiated at the funerals for Elmer and Andrew Beito.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Andrew (Helena) Beito married Edwin Markusen, Jan. 17, 1909. His parents had come from Norway and homesteaded here. Edwin and Helena lived for a time in Seattle, Wash. While in Seattle, Mrs. Markusen died in childbirth Jan. 13, 1910. She was born March 5, 1870. Her funeral was held at the South Trinity Church with Rev. 0. L. Kirkeberg officiating and burial in the Concordia Cemetery. A beautiful marker with a chain fence surrounding the lot marks their resting place. The late Helena's sister, Tina, is living in Minnesota. She was born Feb. 4, 1872. Submitted by Mrs. Albert Erlanson.

wife and three children, he decided to make a move to a new country where land was free and new opportunity, so he started out on a pony. He left his family behind until he could find a new home. After several months he found what he wanted. He filed on a homestead in Prairie Center Township, built a cabin and returned to his family. He arrived in the territory the following spring, he found good land in the Red River Valley and his crops were good. By 1887 he built a new house, at that time almost a mansion, two stories with a parlor and large porch on the east and on the south. There was a thicket of trees to the north and west to ward off the blizzards. This is where I was bom in the year of 1888, the year of the big snow. There I spent my childhood with six brothers and two sisters. We had a good life with kind parents who would do what they could for us and still keep us in proper control. The boys often got into battles among themselves but after the battles, all was happy again. We played baseball and were interested in boxing. We had a room upstairs in the winter for our ring with father as the referee. There was many a bloody nose. In North Dakota, a country school year was usually six months. School let out during the coldest months in the winter. We each had our chores to do and when that was done, we were free for the day.

The Andrew Beito Family. Their children are Clara, Elmer, Tenora and Beirdie. INGEBRET BIRK Ingebret Birk was born in Stavanger, Norway, Aug. 28, 1851. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, coming to Michigan, working in lumber camps. In 1873, he married Inger Field at Big Rapids, Mich. He moved to Iowa where he lived for two years before bringing his family to North Dakota. On May 12, 1880, he settled with his family on a homestead in Prairie Center Township. Birk served on the building committee when South Trinity Church was constructed. He held several church offices. He was interested in politics, in 1896 he was one of the delegates from North Dakota who attended the presidential convention in St. Louis, Mo. On the way to the convention, the train on which the delegates were traveling was involved in a wreck. Nine children were born, Tobias, Mathilde (Mrs. Otto Hove), Emil, Peter, Ingebret, George, Ingvald, Ella (Mrs. Senius Rasmussen) and Leo. Mrs. Birk died in 1899. In 1904, Mr. Birk married Mary Larson of Grafton. Six children were born, Mafalda, Fritjof, Elsie, Bardon, Ruth, and Thomas. Birk had real estate holdings in Cuba from 1904-1912 where he raised Brahma cattle. In 1912 he returned to the United States and purchased a quarter section from Iver Strand in Fertile Township. He also retained his real estate holdings in Prairie Centre Township. Always active in the affairs of his community, Mr. Birk served as school clerk, township supervisor and school director for many years. Mr. Birk died March 13, 1933, at 81. Submitted by Elsie Martin. INGEBRET BIRK "I am getting nowhere. I am going to Dakota Territory and get me a homestead." This is the direction Ingebret Birk took after several years in Iowa. With a

The Family of Ingvald Birk Father prospered in a small way and he extended his operation in 1895. He bought land in Manitoba and started farming there. He operated these farms for several years. My oldest brother married, brought his bride to Canada on their honeymoon. He purchased two carloads of horses in Minnesota for my father to start breaking up these lands. Things were humming that summer and the next year crops were seeded and machinery had to be purchased to harvest the crop. During the winter the oldest of the boys had to stay in Canada to tend the stock. They would rather stay in Dakota, so each fall we decided which ones were to stay in Dakota and who should go to Canada. The nearest railroad was Grand Forks. This was a slow and long road by teams. This is where the first settlers got there provisions. Later the railroad came by our town on the way to Canada. During the winter, blizzards were just one of those things of the elements that we had to Uve with. In those days before there was any farm groves of trees the wind had smooth sailing across the prairie with nothing to stop

it. The snow would sweep around the house building a drift of snow as high as the house. Then when the snowdrift got higher than the building, it would start filling in the hole, gradually filling in until many settlers had to dig a tunnel from an upstairs window and use it the rest of the winter as a door. My father and Thomas Thompson later bought cattle ranches in Cuba. The family took turns going to Cuba for the winter and helping over there. The children of Ingebret and Inger Birk were Tobias, Pete, Ingrebret, George, Ingvald, Leo, Mrs. Otto (Tillie) Hove and Mrs. Ella Rasmussen. All are deceased. Submitted by Ingvald Birk. SELMA THOMPSON Selma Thompson was born in Fertile Township Aug. 6, 1888, to Thomas and Berget Thompson. June 26, 1910, she married Ingvald Birk, son of Ingebret and Inger Birk. Ingvald and Selma moved to Cuba, lived there until 1917. They sold their ranch, moved back to North Dakota where they farmed for a few years. They returned to Cuba in 1924, lived there until 1938. When they returned, they Uved in Forida for a time, later moved to Montana. They bought a ranch in KaUspeU. When they left the ranch, they bought a home in KaUspeU. They had three chUdren, Mrs. Burget Boyce, Poison, Mont.; Robert Birk, Tiskilwa, IU.; and Tom Birk, Columbia FaUs, Mont. Selma and Ingvald celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July, 1970. Ingvald died Sept. 15,1972. CHRISTIAN BJORNEBY

Christian Bjorneby Family: Oliver, Father, Gerhard, Alma, Mother, Clarence, Ruth. Christian Gunneriusson Bjorneby was born in Necedah, Wise, Feb. 26, 1862. His parents were Gunnerius Bjorneby who was born in Solor, Norway, Dec. 16, 1833, and came to Wisc6nsin when he was 17. His mother, Olea Jorandby Bjorneby, was born in Valders, Norway, Sept. 13,1837, came to Black Earth, Dane County, Wise, in early spring, 1857, and married Gunnerius Bjorneby Nov. 7, 1857. Christian had six brothers and three sisters who aU went with then parents to Norse, Texas, in May,1881. The family stayed there less than a year, moving to Grafton in April, 1882. Christian and one or two of his brothers went to Georgia in the spring of 1882 to see what the deep south had to offer, and possibly to see where his father and his uncle, Christian, had fought in the CivU War with the 15th Wisconsin Regiment. This regiment was reportedly involved with Sherman's march to the sea. Christian's uncle lost his life in this war. Theisouth ap-

parently did not have any attraction for the Norwegian youths-as they followed their parents to Grafton in the summer of 1882. Christian purchased land across the road from his father's homestead in Glenwood Township and buUt a small frame house which was enlarged on two occasions. He married Anne Midgarden Nov. 13, 1887, at the Zion Lutheran Church about two mUes from their home. They were married by Pastor Christopher Flaten, Christian's cousin. Anne Midgarden was born in Nore, Nummedal, Norway, Aug. 10, 1865, and came to Grafton in 1885 to be near her brothers, Gunder and Nels Midgarden, in North Dakota. Christian and Anne Bjorneby went to Nore, Nummedal, Norway, for a visit in November, 1892, and stayed about two months. In the early years the home was heated by burning wood in the cook stove and later years wood and coal were used in the coal stove in the parlor, with a large stove pipe leading to the upstairs bedroom above and a large drum there provided heat for the four bedrooms upstairs. Kerosene lamps were used for lighting and about 1908 they started to use gasoline lamps with an asbestos mantle which gave effective Ughting, but they were considered hazardous, so the kerosene lamp was also used, with some improvements, larger wicks and chimneys giving better Ught. Christian and Anne's first car was a 1911 Buick touring car with a right hand steering wheel. The main water supply was from an artesian weU. They also had a cistern that was filled by the rain that feU on the roof and gathering snow that they would melt in the winter. Horses were used for aU farm work until about 1914 when the first tractor was purchased. The popular newspaper was the Norwegian "Scandinavian" untU World War I. The famUy social Ufe revolved mostly around the church activities and the church was an important part of the famUy Ufe. The minister in the early years served two or more congregations, therefore services were not conducted every Sunday, however, the Ladies' Aid Society played an active part in the community for the women. Christian Bjorneby was a board member of the Grafton Deaconess Hospital for about 12 years, from about 1915 to 1927. He also served on the school board of the Walstad School for a few terms. Christian and Anne Bjorneby had seven children: Nels Gerhard, OUver, Clarence Bjorneby, Alma Bjorneby Henry, Ruth Bjorneby Sieben, Lydia Bjorneby Flaten and Esther Bjorneby Johnson. Christian and Anne Bjorneby purchased the original Gunnerius Bjorneby homestead from his brother-in-law and sister, Knute and Manda Berg, in 1917 and had a modern four bedroom home buUt, which included electric Ughts, running water and steam heat provided by a coal burning basement furnace. Two rooms of the original log house buUt by Gunnerius Bjorneby were preserved and moved about twenty-five feet from the new house. This home and 240 of their 640 acres was sold to Anne Bjorneby's nephew and wife, Amund and Bessie Midgarden, in November, 1928. In September, 1929. Christian and Anne moved to San Jose, Calif., where then daughters, Alma Henry and

Esther Johnson, resided. The Bjornebys had a home built in San Jose shortly after arriving in California. In 1936 during one of their visits back to North Dakota, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the original Christian Bjorneby farm, which was at this time farmed by their son, Oliver, and his wife, Ruth More than 200 relatives and friends gathered for this happy occasion. At the time of Christian's death, Jan. 22. 1943, they had 21 grandchildren. Anne Bjorneby died March 31, 1952, in San Bruno, CaUf. She was living with her daughter, Ruth Sieben, at that time. Christian and Anne Bjorneby were buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Hoople. Submitted by Mrs. PhiUip Henry and Mrs. Ray Johnson. MR. AND MRS. GUNNERIUS BJORNEBY Mr. and Mrs. Gunnerius Bjorneby were a pioneer family in Walsh County. They arrived in Grafton in AprU, 1882, from Texas where they had been since 1881 after leaving Wisconsin the previous year. Gunnerius Bjorneby was born Dec. 16, 1833, Solar, Norway His wife was Olea Andersdatter Jorandby, born in Sondre Aurdal Prestegjeldin Valdres, Norway, Sept. 13 1837 ' olea came with her parents to America in the spring of 1857, coming to Black Earth, Wise. Gunnerius came to America at the age of 17 in June, 1851 with his parents, Engebregt Christianson Bjornebyquarn and RagnhUd Guttormsdatter, and his brother Christian, 22, Karen, 19, and Gord, 14, all from Aasness Prestegjeld, Solar, Norway. Gunnerius and Olea were married in Arkdale, Wise., Nov 7,1857. They became the parents of 12 children. Gunnerius Ingebretson Bjorneby served in Private Co. E, 18th Regiment of the Wisconsin Infantry, a volunteer unit, in 1864. The oldest of the 12 children was Mattia Gunneriusdatter Bjorneby, born Oct. 17, 1858, and married Hans Myhre. They were the parents of Rosanna, Gina, Eleanora, Matthia, and Clarence. Mattia died Feb. 18, 1897. The oldest son was Emil Gunneriusson Bj orneby who was born March 21,1860, and married Margaret Bryson, Paint Creek, Ia., in 1888. They became the parents of Olea Bjorneby Skindlov, EmUy Bjorneby, Jeanette Theressa Bjorneby, Margaret Bjorneby, Jeanette Bjorneby and Phillip Bjorneby who died in infancy. EmU died July 4, 1949. Emil moved to KaUspeU in 1895 where he farmed on the Flathead until 1909 when EmU and his brother, George, operated the Bjorneby Flour MU1 until 1932. He served five terms on the Montana State Legislature. Christian Gunneriusson Bjorneby was bom Feb. 26, 1862 and married Anne Midgarden Nov. 13, 1887. They were the parents of Gerhard, OUver, Clarence, Alma Bjorneby Henry, Ruth Bjorneby Sieben, Lydia Bjorneby Flaten and Esther Bjorneby Johnson. Christian died in San Jose, CaUf., Jan. 22,1943. They farmed in Glenwood Township untU they retired in 1928 and moved to San Jose. Anne Midgarden Bjorneby died March 31,1952, in San Bruno, CaUf. . Rosanna Gunneriusdatter Bjorneby was born Jan. 29 1864 at Arkdale, Wise. She married Michael Stangeland Dec. 25, 1895, at Grafton. They were the

parents of Bergitte Theodora Stangeland Krogen, Olea Gleora (died in infancy), Olea Gleora (second), Myrtle Rosalia Stangeland Stuart, and Thorleif Gerhard Stangeland.

Family picture taken in 1907 at Mr. and Mrs. Gunerius Bjorneby's Golden Wedding. George, Emil, Manda, Elliot, Christian, Mr. and Mrs. Bjorneby, Peder, Joseph, Rosanna, Emma, August. They farmed in Walsh County until moving to Williams County in 1901 - Michael having homesteaded in Dry Fork Township in 1900. Rosanna died Dec. 19,1949, at WiUiston. Michael died Sept. 22,1964, in WUliston. August Gunneriusson Bjorneby was born May 30, 1866, near Arkdale, Wise., and died Oct. 3,1947, in Dixon, 111. He taught math, was in the real estate business in KaUspeU with his brother Emil and in 1909-10 attended the Palmer School of Chiropractic, after which he practiced 36 years in Peoria, Chicago, and Dixon, UI. He married Caroline Finseth in 1896. They were the parents of Agnes Bjorneby Granrud and Freda Bjorneby Lonergan. George Olaus Bjorneby was bom May 26, 1868, in Arkdale, Wise, and died on July 6, 1935, in Oakland, Calif. In 1903-04 he worked in the patent office in Washington, D. C. He invented a brake which he sold to a railroad company and also invented an interlocking concrete block used for foundations with air space. George and his brother, EmU, owned and operated the Big Five Flour MiU at KaUspeU. He married EUda Retveit in November, 1895, and they honeymooned in Europe for three months. They were the parents of Helen Bjorneby Lund, Grace Bjorneby March, Eliot Bjorneby, Walter Bjorneby, Arnold Bjorneby and Mae Bjorneby Harvey. Peter Cornelius Gunneriusson Bjorneby was born July 31 1870, and married Regina Brown Aug. 11, 1927. He died in MinneapoUs Oct. 14,1954. Peter was a major in the Army Medical Corps in WWI and practiced medicine in Bagley, Minn., for 40 years. He served as mayor 10 years and was county coroner for 20 years. Eliot Gunneriusson Bjorneby was bom Sept. 14,1872, and married Clara M. Olson Sept. 5,1904. They were the parents of Norman Bjorneby, Lawrence Bjorneby, Thelma Bjorneby Fox and Viola Bjorneby. In 1891 EUot was in the jewelry business in Grafton. In 1898 he joined the "Klondike Rush" and spent a year and a haU in Alaska. In 1900 he returned and in 1901 opened a jewelry store in Kalispell, Mont. He was an enthusiastic bike rider and enjoyed long trips through the vaUey. He died Aug. 9, 1942, on one of these trips. 412

Joseph Gunneriusson Bjorneby was born Jan. 12, 1874, and died Feb. 11, 1875. Joseph Oliver Gunneriusson Bjorneby was born April 15, 1876. He homesteaded in Dry Fork, south of White Earth, and later moved to Kalispell, Mont., where he worked with his brothers, Emil and George, in their flour mill. He married Stella Modisett in Kalispell. Joseph died in Kalispell Oct. 4, 1947. Manda Olivia Gunneriusdatter Bjorneby was born July 14,1878. She married Knute Berg July 10, 1899, and they farmed in Walsh County until his death. They were the parents of Grace Berg Lundeen, Oliver, Rudolph, George, Evelyn and Helen Berg Kieley. Manda died Sept. 7, 1963, in Grafton. Emma Elizabeth Gunneriusdatter Bjorneby was born March 27, 1881. She married Alie Peterson Oct. 1, 1903, at the Stangeland home south of White Earth. She died Feb. 25,1950, at Bellingham, Wash. They were the parents of Clarence Peterson, Olivia Peterson Stray, Agnes Peterson Smith, Pearl Peterson Boe, Lila Peterson Hess, Alfred Peterson, Arnold Peterson, Marvin Peterson and Evelyn Peterson Andrews. Submitted by Mrs. P. J. Flaten. JOHN AND TILDA BREKKE John Brekke, son of Hans and Josie (Helegnest) Brekke, was born Nov. 15, 1875, in Grafton Township where he attended school at District No. 58. He spent his early manhood working with his dad on the home place. In 1920 they purchased two more quarters of land in Fertile Township from A. B. Thompson, this farm was better known as the Ole T. Davis farm. In 1924 he married Tilda Strand, daughter of Anton and Lena (Staven) Strand, Prairie Center Township, at the South Trinity Lutheran Church. Both of them were baptized and confirmed and have been active members at South Trinity. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary at that church in June of 1974. They have three children. They are Mrs. Paul (Lillian) Larson, Arvil and Elton. John was active for many years as a director and president of the Sinkler School District No. 24. He also has served as a trustee and deacon on the church board of the South Trinity Lutheran Church. "Through the years it is hard to believe the experiences, hard work and progress that has taken place in the last 75 or 80 years. When I was a young boy I hauled grain seven miles one way to Grafton with horses and a wagon or a sleigh in the wintertime on prairie trails through fields and along the rivers for shelter. Now today we have paved highways and tandem trucks. We first farmed with horses, then our first Rumley tractor and now today, four wheel drive tractors. We went from chopping wood for our wood burning stoves to turning the thermostat for our electric heat today. A great improvement for the housewife was electricity on the farm, what a change from kerosene lamps and no appliances. Today running water is piped into the farms and natural gas is piped into many farms across our fertile fields. "A change has been made from the day I milked Jersey cows. Today our milk products are delivered twice a week to the farm. In my day, I planted every tree in my shelter belt around my farmstead from seedlings and sticklings I cut and planted by hand. Today the Soil Conservation has a machine for planting trees for the farmers. We went through the depression, the dust

storms of the thirties, the years of the grasshoppers and many severe floods. In spite of it all, the years have been good to us and we have been greatly blessed." Today the farm is operated by his son, Elton, however, John still enjoys working in the fields and keeps busy with many other projects. He will soon be 80, but feels the best when he is working with the soil of the land that has been his livelihood through all these years. Submitted by Mrs. Clifford Berg.

The John Brekke Family taken in the early thirties. Front row: Tilda, Elton, Jon. Back row: Lillian, Arvil. ALEXANDER MITCHELL BRUCE Alexander Mitchell Bruce, born at Forfar, Scotland, came to Harriston, Ont., in 1858 at the age of 13. He married Florence Gillespie there in 1866. In 1879, the couple, with their children, Alexander, John, Mary and David, came via Fisher's Landing to Fertile Township in Walsh County. They filed a homestead on the Park River, five miles northeast of Park River. Two sons, Archibold and Fredrick, were born to the couple while they Uved in this area. They later raised a grandson, Gordon Bruce. A country school was built nearby and was known as the Brace School, District No. 118. The couple moved to Grafton in 1889, later returning to Park River where they Uved out their years of 93 and 84, respectively. He was an elder of the Presbyterian Church for many years. Three grandchUdren still reside and have farming interests in Walsh County. They are Robert Bruce, Mrs. M. O. Johnson (Florence Gates Johnson) and Albert Brace, all of Park River. Submitted by Albert Bruce, Park River. WILLIAM BURBIDGE FAMILY WUliam Burbidge came as an early pioneer to Walsh County in the spring of 1879. He was 40 at the time, married and the father of seven children - the oldest 13 and the youngest one month old. His wUe and family stayed behind in Palmerston, Ont., whUe he located a homestead and built a shelter on it.

He landed at Fisher's Landing, Minn., - then the end ofthe railroad line - took a ferry, acrossthe: Red Raver and made his way across the prairie, eventually select S a potentially beautiful farm site in the wooded area along the south branch of the Park River His homestead was on fertile soil in Section 18, Fertile Township (The deed to the farm was later signed by President Chester A

' ^AfteThe had built the first part of a log house, he returned to Palmerston in the fall of 1879 to reunite with his wife and family and later to move them to what was then known as Kensington. (Park River was built later ) This was the third move for the family in four years. Previous to 1876, they had farmed the Burbidge farm home place homesteaded by his father at about 1830, horn in 1839 the thn^of eleven children. His wife, the former Isabe lat Holmes was born in 1844, also near Rawdon, Quebec the only girl in a family of eleven. They were married in 1865 at Rawdon and their first five children were born on their home farm at Rawdon. In 1876 almost all of the large Holmes family, including their parents, the Wimam Burbidge family, and William Burbidge's sister and husband moved to Arthur, Ont and later about 17 miles further to Palmerston, Ont'There were probably atleast 20 adults in addition to the children. The Burbidge farm in Quebec was turned over to his youngest brother and that farm stayed in the Burbidge family for 120 years. UV-UAA Because the family had previously been established in farming, they owned horses and the simple farm equipment of those times. The family shared a raU car with their horses and equipment on the trip to Dakota Territory. They landed at Fisher's Landing, Mum., on Halloween, 1879. The trip was unusually cold and harsh. Their two year old boy, George caught "croup' 'because of the severity of the trip and died about five months later. He was one of the first to be buried in Kensington" Cemetery, but many years later, upon the death of his parents, his remains were removed to the family plot in the Park River Cemetery. u„w About this time at least three of Isabella Holmes Burbidge's brothers came to this area also from Palmerston. Peter first settled on a farm about 2 miles north of the home place in Fertile Township later he sold his original homestead to Oscar Johnson and moved to a farm in Section 23, Kensington. He died in Park River in

1910 His wife lived untU 1926. The youngest son, Bert, (Robert) farmed the home farm which is stiU in the family farmed by a third generation Burbidge. The oldest daughter, AmeUa, was a school teacher in the Park River area. She never married. Laura married David Aitken - also an early pioneer. They had four daughters. Mary married James McCauley, Park River. John married Margaret Collins. They had five children, some born near Park River. The family later homesteaded near Mohall. WUliam James (Jim) married Elizabeth Grieve at Park River. They had two daughters. They moved to the Mohall area, homesteading there in the early 1900's. George died as an infant Annie was a baby when the f amUy moved to Park River She was a school teacher and never married. She Uved in Park River and when she died in 1965 was thought to be the longest, continuous resident of this community. „ , , ., , , Fred Burbidge was the first child of the famUy to be born at Park River. He also homesteaded in the MohaU area married and had two sons. Robert (Bert) was the youngest son of the family and married Avo Hanson. They farmed the home place. They had one son. AU the family had died by 1975. The parents William and Isabella Burbidge, together with Amelia (Milne) Mary George, Annie and Robert and his wife, are buried in the family plot in the Park River Cemetery with Laura (Mrs. Dave Aitken) buried in a plot nearby. Submitted by Arden Burbidge.

Wm. and Isabella Burbidge Family—about 1890.

PETER W. CAMPBELL

<•__

1926

James Holmes, his wife and four children settled about a mile west in Section 24 Kensington, andi f armed there for quite a few years before moving to SaskatchGeorge and Henry Holmes also came to Park River. George married Jessie Smith. They moved to Brocket. Henry married a Park River school teacher, Anna Schmidt, and moved to Towner. The WUliam Burbidge farm expanded. As the older bovs married they were estabUshed on farms of their own in Kensington Township. A large bam granary and S s were built on the home farm and the log house had a two story log addition added to it. Two more children were born at Park River. The WUliam Burbidges farmed on their homestead for 30 years. They retired in 1909 to a new house they had built in Park River. WiUiam Burbidge died in December,

Alice Stewart Rose and Peter F. Campbell, married in May 1889. 414

his two sons, John C. Campbell and Peter F. CampbeU, met the problem of living on the land while proving up on their claim. They fUed on their claims sometime after 1879, building the house where their four quarters of land intersected. Each could claim residence on their own land by occupying different rooms of the house. Submitted by LUlian Campbell.

Peter W. Campbell, father of Peter F. Campbell. Peter W. Campbell was bom in Islay, Scotland, in 1832. He came to Canada when he was nine years old. He married Mary White of Harriston, Ont. To them, 12 children were born. In 1879 Peter W. Campbell came to what is now North Dakota with two of his sons, Peter F. and John C. Campbell, where they developed the tract of land known as the Campbell Farms in Fertile Township. Peter W. Campbell owned and drove the first team of oxen that came across North Dakota. The horns of one of these oxen that Peter W. Campbell owned are still in possession on the Campbell Farm. Peter F. Campbell married Alice Ross of Port Elgin, Canada, in 1889. Eight children were born, Stuart R., Mary R., AliceM., JohnC, WilUam G., Peterice F., Jean R , and LilUan E. LilUan still Uves on the home farm. Mrs. Peter F. CampbeU was treasurer of School District No. 28 for two years, then clerk of the same school district for 35 years. Peter F. CampbeU also served on the District No. 28 School Board and was active in the Masonic Lodge of Grafton, the Kern Temple and the Presbyterian Church.

Home of Peter W. Campbell and sons, Joseph C. and Peter F. built where their four quarters of land intersected. The early CampbeU homestead in FertUe Township stood for many years and was considered a land mark by those who knew the story of how Peter W. CampbeU and

Campbell Farm—Horns of first oxen in the area. NEIL M. CAMPBELL Peter W. CampbeU was born in Scotland in 1829. He was a farmer of Scotch descent, came to Dakota in the fall of 1879, took up land in FertUe Township, lived there until 1895, when he retired and moved to MinneapoUs, Minn. He died in 1922, at 91. Mary (White) CampbeU was born in ScoUand in 1836, of Scotch descent, her parents were farmers. She emigrated to Ontario where she married Peter W. CampbeU and on March 8,1880, emigrated with him and his famUy to Dakota Territory. She died at Park River in 1886 at 50. James Hooey was born in Ontario in 1836 of Irish descent, a farmer. He emigrated to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1881, settled at Ardoch. He moved to Park River, later to Langdon, where he and four of his sons took up homesteads. He Uved on the farm untU his death in May, 1892, at 56. Sarah (Evans) Hooey was bom in Ireland in 1838 of Irish descent. Her parents were farmers. She emigrated to Ontario at 21, with her brother, WUliam Evans. Three years later she married James Hooey. In the spring of 1882 she emigrated to Dakota together with her family to join her husband who had emigrated here about a year before. Neil M. CampbeU was born at Harriston, Ont., March 25,1864. He attended country school there. He was of Scotch descent. At 16, he emigrated with his parents to Dakota Territory by emigrant train from . Harriston to Crookston, Minn., and Grand Forks, arriving there March 8, 1880, with his mother, Peter, his brother, and Phoebe, Christie, Florence, Kate and Margaret, sisters. His father, Peter W. CampbeU, had emigrated to Dakota about a year before, settling on a claim of 160 acres in Sections 18 and 19, Township 157, Range 54, which is now located in FertUe Township. They came to Crookston, Minn., because the railroad to Grand Forks was blocked with snow. They brought household goods and clothing in an emigrant car. The trip took seven days and the weather was fairly good until the train reached Crookston, there the weather had been stormy and the roads were blocked. Peter W.

Campbell was to meet the family in Crookston but the roads were so bad he did not come when expected. The CampbeU famUy and a Craig famUy, coming to Crookston on the same train, hired a livery team, sleigh and driver and started for Grand Forks, the two famUies made quite a heavy load for one rig. Between Crookston and Fisher's Landing, they saw a man walking towards them. Neil recognized him as his father because he had long white whiskers and was a large, powerful man. Peter W. CampbeU was very glad to meet his famUy and friends.

Neil and Mary J. Campbell-1940 It was decided to continue the trip to Grand Forks, about 25 or 30 miles. The driver of the rig would not let the father ride in the sleigh, because it was overloaded and told him he had to walk to Grand Forks. CampbeU said to him- "Give me those lines and I'll do the driving, U anyone walks to Grand Forks, it will be you yoursetf." The driver looked at his white whiskers, sized him up and decided he better comply with his wishes. The trip took about two hours, and NeU says: ' Colen McLaughlin was waiting for father and the rest of us in Grand Forks and took us with his sleigh and horses to his farm 9 mUes north of Grand Forks, on the Red River." He was a bachelor. Neil stayed there while Colen McLaughlin took the rest of them to the "Little Salts" River which afterwards was changed to Park River. The Forest River was caUed "Big Salts" at that time. He took them to Campbell's homestead. Neil M. Campbell worked for Colen McLaughlin aU that summer for $8 per month and board. Neil was 16. In the faU he went to the homestead to visit his folks, then returned to Colen McLaughUn, where he stayed another year at about the same wages. In the faU of 1881, NeU returned home to his parents and brought them all his earnings, except $2 for which he bought a pair of boots, $1.25, and a pair of overaUs, 75 cents. He spent the winter with his folks. ' „..„. In the spring of 1882, NeU hired out to William McKinzie, a storekeeper in Sweden, a trading post which was located one mUe west of what is now Nash. At Sweden there were two stores, a blacksmith shop, two saloons and a post office. The suppUes and mail came down the Red River to Drayton, a trading post, from where they were hauled to Sweden. NeU hired out for the summer at $15 per month and board. In the fall, Neil came home, stayed over winter, helped his father on the farm. While working for William McKinzie Neil drove maU from him, starting at Sweden in the morning, went to Richmond, then to Mount View, then to Kensington, stayed at home overnight and the

next morning, went to Perry and back to Sweden. NeU made two trips each week for about one year, using one horse and buggy in the summer, one horse and sleigh or cutter in the winter. In the spring of 1889, CampbeU went to Langdon and took up a homestead, 10 mUes north of Langdon. _ .. . He Uved on the claim, proved it up. In 1891, Neil sold this quarter of land for $300 and came back to Park River. His father gave him the original homestead and NeU farmed. On April 14,1891, Neil and Mary Hooey were married at Langdon They moved to the homestead in Fertile Township where they lived untU 1918. Mary Hooey was born in Port Perry, Ontario, Sept. 25, 1875, of Irish descent Her parents were farmers. She attended country school at Ardoch where she had emigrated with her parents March 15, 1882, at the age of seven. Her parents settled at Ardoch. When the railroad moved to Park River, they moved there and farmed, later moving to Langdon. They had four children: John Lester, Langdon; and Mary Irene, Ralph James and Neiloris Marjorie, Park River. In 1918, they purchased a residence in Park River and retired from the farm, which was rented for cash. Written by John Bena, Park River, March 1,1939. HENRY CLEMENSON FAMILY

Henry and Hilda Clemenson Henry Clemenson was born on a farm near Horace Aug 3 1878, the son of Christian and Ingeborg Clemenson. He started on the Leach Farm where they used 30-40 plows, binders and farm implements drawn by horses. At the turn of the century he homesteaded on a farm near Gonvick, Minn. WhUe in Minnesota, he workea as a steam engineer on one of the three boat barges owned by his brother-in-law, Olaf Hanson. The barges were used to haul freight from Thief River Falls, Minn., to Upper Red Lake. This was how his career as a steam engineer began. During the winter he butchered cattle for a lumber camp near Thief River FaUs, Minn He also worked as a fireman on a raUroad snowplow. ws threshing career, which lasted about 60 years, never experienced crop failures. Later he purchased a combine, combined his own crops and did custom combining. He moved to Mandt in 1902 where he started a blacksmun shop. He married HUda Knudson August, 1904. She was the first white girl born in Fertile Township, the daughter of 416

Tom and Anna Knudson, the first pioneers there. He farmed the Knudson farm and later purchased his own farm. He married Hilda Knudson August, 1904. She was the first white girl born in Fertile Township, daughter of Tom and Anna Knudson, pioneers. He farmed the Knudson farm and later purchased his own farm. He was well known in the Grafton and Hoople communities as a steam engineer during the threshing season. Many remarked that his ability to service steam engines was good, that he was paid more for his knowledge than for the work. He was the first lineman for the seven rural telephone lines near Grafton. He drove horses and buggy to service these lines. During his spare time he worked as a carpenter with Bennie Johnson, Grafton, building barns and farm homes. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church for about 50 years. Henry and Hilda had five children: Mrs. Will (Ethel) Page, born April 17, 1905, taught school many years in North Dakota and later in California. She now lives in Gardenia, Calif. Tilphare, born Dec. 4, 1906, farms in Walsh County. He married Irene Thompson and they have three, children. Richard farms with his dad, Janice is a teacher, Myrna, a nurse. Richard and his wife Ruth (Sletten) have one daughter, Kristin Lee. Mrs. Sig (Lenore) Jangaard, born June 20, 1909, was a school teacher. She has two children, Spencer Jangaard and Mrs. Dan (Lavon) Daniels. She Uves in Culver City, CaUf. Mrs. WilUam (Ruby) SmaUey was born July 25,1911. She was a school teacher and has two chUdren, Mrs. Ervin (Sharon) Cooley and Darryl SmaUey. Ruby lived in Gardenia, Calif. Arnold was born Aug. 12, 1913. He farms in Walsh County. He married Oleanna Helgeson, Grafton, and they have two children. Mrs. Calvin (Bonita) Clark is a teacher who Uves in Newport Beach, Calif. She has one daughter, Lisa Anne Clark. Rodney farms with his father, Arnold Clemenson. Submitted by Ethel Page.

Henry Clemenson Family—Arnold Clemenson, Ethel Page, Lenore Jangaard, Tilphore Clemenson, Ruby SmaUey. MR. AND MRS. ARNE CLIFFGARD Mr. and Mrs. Arne CUffgard with their infant daughter, Carine Olivia, came to the Dakota Territory in 1880. Unlike many of the early settlers of Walsh County, Mrs. Cliffgard was a native born American. Her parents emigrated from Norway in 1854 and settled in Wisconsin,

where Mrs. CUffgard was bom and spent her girlhood. She was born in Perry, Wise., June 17, 1860. Later, the family moved from Wisconsin to Forest City, Ia., and it was there that Mrs. CUffgard, whose maiden name was Tilda Mandt, was married to Arne T. CUffgard. Cliffgard was born in Valdres, Norway, March 4, 1850, and came to America when he was two years old, settling first in Wisconsin. After several years they moved to Forest City, Ia., and it was from this place that he came as a young man with his wife and infant daughter to the Dakota Territory.

Mrs. Arne T. Cliffsgard and twins, Elmer and Tomina— 1889, Fertile Twp. In the spring of 1880 the young couple and the baby set out on a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen, for the Red River VaUey. In the party were Mrs. Cliffgard's mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Jensen, thendaughter Lena, and sons, Olaus and Peter Mandt. Peter Mandt walked every step of the way herding the cattle. Only meager household furnishings were carried in the wagon in which the women and chUdren rode. In fording a slough, the wagon upset into the water. The family Bible, containing famUy records, was damaged by the water and part of the records were destroyed. After camping near Fargo for three weeks, the party decided to continue their journey northward. Upon their arrival in Prairie Center Township, CUffgard fUed on a tree claim. He immediately went to Grand Forks, where he purchased a stove. Their first home was a dug-out or cellar where they lived for almost a year. It was there that Annie was born. Cliffgard buUt a log house where their daughter, Thea, was born. They traded at the stores in Sweden and Kensington. Peddlers often traveled through the country selling supplies to the settlers, and they often stopped at the CUffgard home where they received food and lodging. Many of the early settlers were bachelors and Mrs. Cliffgard baked bread for them. Mr. and Mrs. CUffgard were active in the social and civic affairs of their community, and in the organization ofthe Concordia Lutheran Church in FertUe Township of which they were both charter members. Mrs. CUffgard

assisted in the organization of the Ladies' Aid, served as its president and held other offices. After living in Prairie Center Township nine years, the Cliffgards sold their tree claim and bought a farm in Fertile Township in the Mandt community. They lived there until 1917 when they retired from farming and moved to Grafton where they remained for the rest of their Uves, except for one year spent in CaUfornia. Mr. CUffgard died Nov. 25, 1929. Mrs. CUffgard continued to live there and passed away at the home oi her son, Herbert, Jan. 3, 1941. Both Mr. and Mrs. CUffgard are buried in the Grafton City Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Cliffgard were the parents of six children, all of whom were born in Walsh County, with the exception of their oldest daughter, Carine Olivia, born in Forest City, Iowa, Sept. 17,1878. She was married to Olaf Thorsen, Nov. 26, 1903, at the Cliffgard home in Fertile Township. She died May 11,1926. They had seven children: Thelma AdeUne bom Sept. 26, 1904; Gertrude Olivia bom Oct. 8, 1905; Herbert Arnold, bom July 14, 1907; Olaf Thorwalk, born Feb. 16, 1910; Margaret Eleanor, born Sept. 2,1915; Richard Allan, born Jan. 8, 1920- and Helen Carine, born Oct. 29, 1921. The children born to the CUffgards while Uving in Walsh County include Anne JuUa, born Jan. 16, 1881, married Thomas Holt May 12, 1923, at Detroit Lakes, Minn.; Theo Josephine, bom Sept. 13, 1883, married Edward Knutson at Bemidji, Minn., Oct., 1915. They have one daughter, Arlene Theodora, bom Aug. 14,1917; twins, daughter Tomina and son Elmer, born Aug. 30, 1889.

14x16 feet, was their first house. Later an addition was built to the cabin and when more prosperity attended his efforts a more modern home was erected. The first school in the neighborhood was opened in the John Grovem home, a mile north of Mandt, not long after the Daleys arrived. The teacher was Andrew Daley, a second cousin of Mr. Daley. In the summer of 1882 the Daley cabin at Mandt served as a school, while a schoolhouse was being erected a mile southeast of Mandt. Daley was one of the organizers of the Zion Lutheran Church and long served as a school official and member of township supervisors. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daley: Annie - Mrs. Ole Hagen; Sophia - Mrs. Halvor Sanderson; Alma - Mrs. John Hendrickson; Ella - Mrs. Marius Hagen; Clara, Agnes, Carl, Alfred, Ted, Clarence and a baby boy died in infancy. AU are deceased. Mr. Daley died in 1945 at 91. Mrs. John Daley (Karine Torkelson) was born in Heimdal, Telemarken, Norway, Sept. 1, 1858. When she was four years old she came to the United States with her parents via sail ship, the journey lasted three months. The famUy settled in Wisconsin. A short time later the famUy returned to Norway. When she was 11 years old the family again journeyed to the United States. This time by steamship. They settled in Winnebago County, Ia. She was married to John Daley, Sept. 28, 1876. Mrs. Daley had five sisters and one brother. She died Jan. 25, 1929. Submitted by Mrs. Clara Tallackson.

JOHN T. DALEY FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. John Daley—Mandt John T. Daley was born in Perry, Wise., May 9,1854. In 1876 when he was 22 he went to Lake Mills, Iowa, where he farmed for two years. There he married Karine Torkelson. In 1878, Uke many other Iowans, Mr. Daley felt the call to the new land then being settled in the Red River VaUey. With a party of neighbors consisting of 18 people, four covered wagons, one team of horses, one team of mules and several yoke of oxen and some cows, they set out for the Goose River country, now TraUl County. The journey required three weeks. They resided at Portland for one year before coming to Walsh County in 1879. One of the pioneers decided to stake his fortunes farther north and asked Mr. Daley to accompany him. It was on this trip that he decided upon Mandt, Fertile Township, as the place for his permanent home. Returning to the Goose River settlement, he brought his wife and f amny to his new home. A log cabin,

John T. Daley's log cabin—Mandt, N. Dak. This picture was submitted by his granddaughter, Mrs. Ide Odegaard. TORGER ANDREAS DALEY Ted Daley was the son of John T. and Karina Heimdal Daley. He was bom Oct. 17, 1886, one of 10 children. During his young manhood, he worked for a butcher from Hoople and drove a meat wagon around the area, selling meat to the farm women. He was also a farmer. He married Jennie Iverson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Iverson, Walsh County pioneers, and together they ran the Mandt Store for 14 years. They farmed in Fertile Township untU 1947. Daley's store incorporated a creamery, a butcher shop and dry goods and groceries. He told of an instance where he found a mouse in one of the pails of cream brought in by the farm women. When he settled with the lady for the cream he told her

that he had found a mouse in the cream and so couldn't use it; but she insisted the mouse wasn't in there when she brought the cream in, so Mr. Daley paid her full price for the cream and later sold her the butter he made from her cream with the mouse in it. Mr. Daley was on the township board for many years and Mrs. Daley was active in church activities and Red Cross. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church. They raised five children, LeRoy, Francis, Quintin, LaMae and Merle. Submitted by LaMae D. Weiland. OLE T. DAVIDS Ole T. Davids was an early settler in Fertile Township. He married Annie Marie Sunderland, daughter of Halvor and Gunhild Sunderland. When the Sunderlands left Iowa they had four children: Annie Marie, Lena, Ole Tobias and Syvert. In the early spring of 1883, Gunhild and her four children traveled by train to Grafton where relatives met them, driving a yoke of oxen. Land was being picked up quickly by homesteaders. Her father, Sigurd Sunderland, had picked a quarter of land beside his own, where she and her children settled. Halvor came in the fall after harvesting his crop and disposing of his property in Iowa. Ole and Annie Marie had eight children. George, a farmer, died at 39. Thomas is a retired farmer at Bagley, and is married to Margaret Bergstrom. They have no children. Both Thomas and George were born in Walsh County before Ole T. moved to Bagley, Minn. Adeline is married to John L. Fry, lives at Cut Bank, Mont. They have two sons and a daughter. John is with Boeing in Seattle. James is a specialist in fisheries with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City. Ariel is Mrs. James Parker, who now lives in Helena, Mont. Sylvia died when she was nine years old. Robert is married to Anna Hoper and is a farmer north of Gonvick, Minn. After several years with Cooperatives he and his wife left for Greece where they started a poultry co-op, now a multi-million dollar industry. Farmers who came to town on donkey back, after three years were able to buy a new pick-up truck (some of them). Robert has two sons and two daughters. Robert, Jr., is mail carrier out of Trail, Minn., has two sons and three daughters. Helene is married to Rev. Don West, lives at Madison, Wise., has six children. Charles, Minneapolis, works at a hospital, has two sons and two daughters. Reita, married to Paul R. Erickson, Minneapolis, has been director of parish education for Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield, Minn., has two sons and two daughters. Orion is an engineer, retired from Boeing at Seattle, has two daughters. Albert died last year, had two sons. Richard, the youngest, is editor of Dynamic Maturity, a new national magazine. He has authored several books. Submitted by Richard Davids. HALVOR ERICKSON Halvor Erickson and Barbro Olson Erickson and four of their eleven children, Tena, Julia, Erik and Bella, came to Grand Forks from Norway about 1880. Halvor left his family in Grand Forks and walked to the Tostien Odegard home, now known as the Sam Holt farm. Ole Johnson, rural Park River, brought Mrs. Erickson and

children from Grand Forks to the Odegard farm in his wagon drawn by oxen. Halvor acquired some land north of Park River, where he built a cabin with a sod roof and no floor. The family lived there the first winter. He found it was impossible to farm this land, so he moved his family to Edinburg, where he farmed until they moved to rural Grafton in 1890. They lived there until he retired and moved to Grafton. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson raised a family of four boys and seven girls: Mrs. Eric (Tena) Odden, Mrs. Sam (Julia) Holt, Erik, Mrs. Sam (Bella) Thompson, Ole, Knudt, Ole, who married Ettie Fisher, Mrs. Carl (Carrie) Johnson, Annie, Mrs. Sivert (Ida) Thompson and Mrs. Victor (Clara) Anderson. They were members of South Trinity Church. When Halvor came to this country his name was Sporan but shortly after moving to Fertile Township he changed his name to Erickson. Submitted by Mrs. Otto Jorgenson and Mrs. Earl Anderson.

The Ericksons in 1894—Halvor and Barbra Erickson, Tena, Julia, Bella, Ole, Carrie, Ida, Annie. MARGIT AND THOMAS EVENSON FAMILY My mother, Margit Swenson, was married at 19 years of age to Torgrim Evenson, who was 24, in 1877. They were married near Hollandale, Wise., where they grew up. My mother died in 1910 at the age of 52; my father died in 1935 at the age of 82. Father farmed his land himself until the day he died from a stroke. Margit gave birth to 14 children: in 1878, a baby boy who died shortly; in 1879, twins, the boy died, the girl (Augusta) lived to be 68 years old; in 1881, a son (Theodore) who lived to be 81; in 1882, a girl who died at nine months; in 1884, a girl who died at four months; in 1886, a daughter who died at 64, (Rebecca); in 1888, a daughter who died at 12; in 1890, twins, the boy lived for one day, the girl (Cora) is living now; 1891, a daughter (Hilda) who Uved to be 63; in 1893, a son (Walter) stiU Uving; in 1896, a girl who died at four years; and in 1901, a son who lived 10 days. At that time only midwives presided at all births. Doctors were few and money scarce. Mother's parents died in a cyclone in 1878 in Dane County, Wise, shortly after Mother was married. The younger children were in school. On the way home when

they came to the crest of the hill, they saw that the house was gone. They dropped their lunch pails and ran home. Margit had not yet moved her trousseau, so she lost all her quilts and personal possessions. Margit was walking home when she met a farmer in a wagon coming from the direction of her parent's farm. She greeted him and asked casually, "How are things at home?" He refused to answer her and went on. Then as she reached the top of the hill overlooking the farm, she saw the devastation, and found her mother lying in a puddle of water, holding the baby who was alive. My father did manual labor in Wisconsin and Dakota before they bought the farm in Walsh County. He worked in the pinery and did other hard work. He was willing and strong and ambitious. He purchased the SW /. of Section 4, Township No. 157 on July 7,1883 from Ole J. Grovum. We lived in a cabin, one big room with curtain partitions mattresses under the beds that were pulled out at night, one door, and I believe, only one window. There was a shed over the door also. We didn't have a storm window or a shade. The door was opened at night during the summer for air. One morning when Mother got up, a lizard was resting on my sister's forehead. There was no way to gather rain water, so water was carried in pails from the well to fill a big barrel in or near the house. A couple of tablespoons of lye were added, which made very nice water for washing anything that needed cleaning. All washing was done on the washboard for many years. .t, * We had a big black kettle with a rounded bottom that fit into holes on the cook stove. It provided many good meals. Sometimes it would be full of good beef soup, vegetables, and dumplings. Other times it would be bean soup on pork hocks or cabbage with hocks. Mother always had good bread and also good butter that she made. Her doughnuts were superb. Sometimes she had cornbread with fried fresh side pork. We children liked molasses on our bread for school lunches. One time I remember a beggar came to our door. Beggars and peddlers came often. This was summer and we never had money before crops of grain were harvested in the fall. Venberg and Fedje, operators of the general store at Hoople, always trusted Dad and Mother for the bare necessities. But in order to help this man, Dad sent me to Mrs. Flaten, our first pastor's widow who lived very near us, to borrow one dollar to give to this man who didn't have hands. I also remember that father had pledged a sum of money to the first hospital in Grafton. That year he had a complete crop failure, so he borrowed money at the bank to pay his pledge. Once Mother was panicky because her little boy was gone and the green fields were high all around. Where should she look? But lo and behold, she spied the dog's tail above the grain. Once later she found him asleep on the road, but the dog was sitting by him. Twin Cora was very tiny. For three months she lay in a box on top of the wood box behind the cook stove and never whimpered. Mother would nurse her, wash her, and change her regularly. At the end of three months she began to stir, even cried, and became very active. When our neighbor's infant was ill and the mother wasn't able to produce breast milk as the doctor had demanded, Mother went over every day and shared her breast feedings. I can never remember that Mother was ever really well. Sometimes in nice weather we children would carry 1

her on her chair outside to the yard. Then we would lead the cow up to where she sat and she would milk it there. We hauled Mother in an old buggy to the stable so she could remove extra eggs from under the setting hens, those that had been laid by intruding layers. We were desperately afraid of the pecks of the setting hens. Once when she was seriously ill and needed a restful atmosphere, which was impossible at home, Rev. and Mrs. Fjellbu took her to their home for a few weeks. They had a large house and were our nearest neighbors. We were allowed to go and see her every day for a few minutes. We attended parochial school every summer. At that time, nobody went barefooted. Everyone had black stockings and high shoes. When the feet of our stockings wore out, we cut them off and sewed straps on to the legs to keep them on. Mother knit the stockings for the whole family and they were always black. Every garment was sewed at home, except coats and men's shirts. Flour sacks were bleached for pillow cases and dish towels. None of us owned a doll, but we used sticks for babies, also weed with the big leaves left on so they could stand. That way we had fresh ones every day. We were happy children. After one of the blizzards in North Dakota, our log cabin was completely covered with snow. My brother somehow opened the door and shoveled steps in the packed snow to the top of the drift. He also made skis for us out of barrel staves, which provided us children with much fun. One night in the f all the logs that held up the roof of our log cabin were creaking and dirt was failing on the floor. So we all got up and put on coats and took any warm blankets we had and went into the granary. That night we slept on top of the wheat. Dad found a sturdy plank that he placed across the breaking timber with a log to hold it in place. This was almost in the middle of the room. When we returned to the cabin in the morning, he had scrubbed te floor and had a fire going in the stove. We thought it was so cozy when we came in. We children had much fun playing around this pole afterwards, but best of all, it made a handy shelf for mother's "pulte ost." She would set it up there to mature, where it was kept warm and out of the way. Before long the delicious aroma of cheese assuredus that we would soon have a feast. Written by Cora in September, 1971. GEORGE AND MARY FISHER This biography of George Austin Fisher begins with the birth of his great-grandfather, Stephen Billet (18141888), in North Wraxall, County of Wilts, England, and his wife Louisa Blake. They migrated to Canada in 1846 with their five children. Louisa died in 1876. She is buried in Old Angelican Cemetery, Fenelon Falls, Ont. Stephen Blake and his second wife, Sarah Dare Brooks, are buried in St. Peter's Angelican Cemetery, North Verulan Township, County of Victoria, Ontario. Sarah Jane Billet, daughter of Stephen and Louisa Billet, married Austin HilUer in 1860. They lived in Ontario until 1883 where their six children were born. They came to Grafton in 1883. Their daughter, Louisa (1868-1932), married Thomas Fisher (1861-1925). Thomas Fisher homesteaded land seven and a half mUes west of Grafton along the south branch of the Park River in Fertile Township. He buUt a log cabin. There they raised their six chUdren, Nettie, Lawrence, George, Annie, 420

Sarah Jane and Harold. They attended Sinkler School. Harold, a WWI veteran, was killed in an automobile accident on the Nash road a half mile west of the Jaster home in 1923. This was one of the earlier automobile fatalities.

AMUND AND JOHANNA FLATEN

In 1910, Thomas Fisher moved into Grafton where he set up a feed grinding mill, which was located on Fifth Street East, by the Northern Pacific tracks. In 1925, he was killed in an accident when his foot slipped and he fell into the grinders. The same year that his father left the farm, George Fisher married Mary Annetta Brandon. Mary was the daughter of Knute and Lena Brandon. They came from Oslo, Norway, to Perry, 111., where Mary was born, April 20, 1888. About the time that North Dakota became a state, the Brandons settled in Golden Township west of Park River. They built a log cabin. They had four children, Mary, Herman, Carl and Harry. Raiding parties of Indians passing through on their way to visit burial grounds in Minnesota sometimes harassed the Brandons. On one occasion they shot bullets into the cabin. The family lay prone upon the floor until the marauders galloped away. One bullet knocked Mary's doll off a shelf. In later years, Mary often recalled a severe winter when they gathered buffalo chips to use as fuel to heat the cabin. When the chips were exhausted, they used the chairs for firewood and were about to tear up the cabin floor when the weather broke and spring arrived. This may have been the winter of 1902 when a savage blizzard struck March 14, lasting three days. While still a man in his prime, Knute Brandon died. His wife had to "work out." Mary went to live with Dorothy and Florence Aiken when she was 13. Mary learned dressmaking as a trade. She was Uving with the J. J. Fergusons when she married George Fisher in 1910. They were married at the Ferguson home a short way east of Park River. Their honeymoon was a horse and buggy trip to their home. It was a chill November day. George tied the reins to the dashboard and let the horse find the way home while he held his bride in his arms to protect her against the autumn chill. George and Mary Fisher had seven children: Helen, Gladys, Margaret, WUfred and Mason. Two other children died in infancy. They attended the Sinkler School. Gladys and Margaret attended high school in Park River; Mason and Helen went to Grafton. On Christmas Day, George Fisher harnessed the horses adding sleigh beUs, and hitched them to a bob-sled. Using fresh straw, a foot-warmer and blankets to keep warm, the family followed tbe timber along the Park River to Grafton where they spent the day with the grandparents. Going home, they sang carols under the stars. Wilfred served in the army from 1941-45. Mason served in the navy from 1943-46. George and Mary lived their life together on the old homestead. Mary Fisher died May 29, 1955. In 1959, George Fisher married Vera Warner from Park River. George Fisher died AprU 6, 1968. After his death, the old homestead was sold to Lynn Almen, son of Andrew and Emma Almen. Vera Warner Fisher resumed her residence in Park River. Submitted by Kenneth Colter.

Amund and Johanna Flaten Amund Flaten was born in 1819 in Valdarus, Norway. He became an orphan and his family was unknown. He married Johanna Jerneby Husset, who was born Feb. 12, 1826. They had five children when they left Norway in the spring of 1856 in a saU boat. They ran into a bad storm on the North Atlantic and started running low on food. This prompted one of the girls to say, "Here we are going to heaven and we thought we were going to America.'' They settled near Black Earth, Wise., where they farmed for 26 years. Amund was an amateur doctor and many of the sick people in the area came to him to have blood taken out of their veins to help them get well. This was a common medical practice of that day. His chUdren would take the pan of blood and pour it by the apple trees to help produce red apples. His interest in medicine was instilled into his children because two of his sons became doctors. They moved from Wisconsin to FertUe Township in 1882 to Uve with their sons, Iver and Paul. Amund died Jan. 21, 1890. Johanna died July 3, 1898. Then chUdren were: Dr. Peder Flaten, Madison, Wise; Andrew Flaten, farmer, Park River; Rev. Christopher Flaten, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Hoople; Dr. Amos Flaten, Edinburg; Iver Flaten, farmer near Stephen, Minn.; Alfred Flaten, teacher near Hoople; Paul Flaten, farmer near Hoople; Mathia Flaten (Mrs. Elen Brager), Black Earth, Wise; Olina Flaten (Mrs. Ole Gaarder), Grafton; Guri Flaten (Mrs. Christian Gaarder), Park River; Inger Flaten (Mrs. Nels Midgarden), Hoople; and Marion Flaten (Mrs. Peter Ugstad), Ray. Submitted by Nels Midgarden. REV. C. A. FLATEN Christopher Flaten was born on the farm, Jornandbyhuset, in South Aurdal, Valdres, Norway, Nov. 24, 1852. He was the son of Amund and Johanna Flaten. Together with his parents, two sisters and two brothers, and many other relatives, he emigrated to America in 1856. He received his early education at Cedar Valley Seminary, Osage, la., in 1870-71. In the faU

of 1878, he entered Luther Seminary, Madison, Wise., from which he graduated with a C. T. degree. In the summer of 1880, C. A. Flaten did missionary work in the area north of Grand Forks. A call was extended to him and upon his graduation from the seminary, he came to be the first resident pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople.

Rev. Christoffer Flaten, Zion Lutheran, rural Hoople.

Mrs. C. (Bodil) Flaten with daughters Johanna (standing) and Laura (seated). May 8,1881, he was married to Bodil Kirstine Larsen of Freeborn County, Minn., by Rev. Einar Wulfsberg. Shortly after their marriage, May 16, they left Albert Lea, Minn, and came by train to Grand Forks, arriving there May 19. As the track was not laid farther north, they had to travel the rest of the way by wagon. One of the members of their congregation, Hans T. Midboe, for the sum of $8.25, met them there with an open wagon and team of one horse and one mule. It was a strenuous drive as the roads were bad and there were no bridges. It was raining the last day and the river banks were slippery. When crossing a river, the driver would first cross with the team, then hitch a long chain to the wagon and in that way pull it across and up the banks. While crossing one of the rivers which was wide and swift, their wagon box began to float down stream. The men waded out and pushed it ashore. When they were about a mile from their destination, the wagon tongue broke so they had to walk the rest of the way in the pouring rain. The first six months they lived in one small room at the Jorgen Bjornson home, eight miles west of what is now Grafton. In the fall of the same year they filed on a homestead in Section 4, Range 54, in FertUe Township, which was their home as long as they both lived. Thenfirst home was a one room log cabin with a small room upstairs, but the women in the neighborhood thought Mrs. Flaten was fortunate as she had a shingled roof and could catch rain water. Most of them Uved in a sod shanty. As the years went by, more rooms were added to the one room log house, and when the new house was built in 1887, there had been three rooms added to the log house.

Rev. Flaten served as "Visitator" during the years 1887-89. At the time of his death, he was elected to travel around in the congregations and preach "foreningisagen." It was while in Grafton, after preaching in the church that he had his first attack of Ulness from which he never recovered. He had to quit preaching, and after seven weeks of poor health, he went to be with his Lord, Nov. 7, 1889, at the age of 37 years. Christopher's wife, BodU, died in 1921. They had two daughters. Johanna Amanda was bom in 1882. Mette Kristine Laura was born in 1884. She was married to Ole Brager in 1914. They had one chUd, Borghild (Mrs. Clarence Cleveland), ArUngton, S. Dak. Submitted by Nels Midgarden. PAUL A. FLATEN

Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Flaten Paul A. Flaten was born near Black Earth, Wise., Sept. 7,1862, the son of Amund and Johanna Flaten, who immigrated from Norway in 1857. Paul came to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1884, settled on the east haU of Section 5 in Fertile Township. This land, which his brother Iver bought for him the previous year for $1,800, had been homesteaded by Carl Sagen.

native Wisconsin glowing reports of this country, encouraging his neighbors to also immigrate to Walsh County. In the spring of 1880 he received a letter stating that the following people: Gunerius Walstad, his wife and five children; Nels Hanson; Hans Nelson; Peter Hagen and wife; Julius and Albert Iverson, all were leaving Wisconsin in two immigrant cars, expecting to arrive in Grand Forks in April. He stated that these were all fine people, old friends ofhis, so he picked out their claims for them and made the necessary preparations to get them settled on land adjoining his so that in a short time there would be a complete neighborhood of desirable people. This showed what a helpful, generous, community man he was. After getting trees planted, seed wheat growing, and a cabin built, he returned to Wisconsin in 1882 and married JuUa Arneson (1862-1960) who returned with him to his cabin. Three children were born in Dakota, but only one, Alvin, lived to return with them to Wisconsin in 1889. Bertha and Clarence died in infancy and are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoople. The Grimstads were charter members of Zion Church. Paul Flaten Family—Ada, Paul, Eva, Elizabeth (mother), Alfred, Naomi. When Paul arrived in Dakota Territory he was accompanied by his parents, two sisters, Inga and Marian, and a brother, Alfred. Paul's father died in 1890, his mother in 1898. They are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Section 4, Fertile Township. In 1891 Paul married Elizabeth Swenson, Mount Horeb, Wise. Elizabeth came to North Dakota to teach in School District No. 25, lived with a sister, Mrs. Thomas Evenson. The Evenson farm was in Section 4, one-half mile east of Paul's home, and romance followed. To this union nine children were born, Alfred, Naomi, Ada, Eva, Alice, Peder, Amos, Naomi and Pauline. (The first Naomi died at age six.) In 1905, Paul bought the 160 acres which had been homesteaded by his brother, Iver, in the west half of Section 5 for $5,000. This land had been rented to Iver's nephews since he went to Grafton and entered the hardware business. Later he moved to Minnesota and farmed next to the Red River until his retirement in 1920. In 1930, Paul sold his farm to his son, Peder, who resides on the farm. In 1950, Peder took as a partner his son, Peder John, who died in 1972. Peder, Sr., now farms with his grandson, Peder John HI, on the original farmsite. Peder III, has a daughter, Bergit, the sixth generation to live on the same farm. Paul A. Flaten died Sept. 4,1946, nearly 84. Elizabeth died in 1917 at 47. They are buried, with Paul's parents, in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by P. J. Flaten. MR. AND MRS. CARL M. GRIMSTAD Carl M. Grimstad (1856-1940) was bom in Wisconsin. After teaching a few years, he decided to try for a claim in the Dakota Territory. He left home, traveling by team, in 1879. His plan was to file on one quarter section as a pre-emption claim, and one quarter section tree claim. While waiting for the claim office to open in Grand Forks, he taught school. He also served as deputy county assessor in some unorganized townships west of Grafton, where he hoped to file for land. In this he was successful in getting the land he had chosen. He sent back to his

Carl M. Grimstad

Mrs. Carl Grimstad, Pioneer, Fertile Twp.

Mr. and Mrs. Grimstad returned to Wisconsin and farmed in Brigham Township, near Mount Horeb, until 1915. Both were very active in aU church and civic organizations. Seven chUdren were bom to them after returning to Wisconsin. Mabel (Mrs. J. P. Von Gruvenvigen), Esther (Mrs. A. Holms), Agnes (Mrs. A. S. Arneson), Clara (Mrs. H. H. Bakken), Reuben and James. Charles died at age two. In 1915 they retired from farming, moving to Mount Horeb, Wise. Grimstad had always been interested in politics, and was elected as assemblyman in the State Legislature for six years. He also wrote a booklet of recollections of life in Dakota. Mrs. Grimstad was a very hard working person. Besides raising seven children, she found time for much church related work Red Cross (during the war), W. C. T. U., etc. She stayed busy all her Ufe, with a good, clear mind until her death at 98. AU their chUdren feel they were indeed blessed having such good Christian parents whose Ufe and leadership have meant so much to them aU. Submitted by Mrs. A. L. Holmes.

United States with her brother in 1885. They settled in Belmont, a small settlement a few miles south of Grand Forks. Kristi worked as a dressmaker in Belmont and near Buxton before moving to Walsh County where she married Halvor 0. Groven. Halvor and Kristi Groven were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Halvor served as school treasurer of District No. 90, Dundee Township and District No. 62 in Fertile. For many years Halvor was a township board member in Fertile Township. Many of these meetings were held in their home. Kristi Groven died May 6, 1923. Halvor 0. Groven died June 10, 1938. They were the parents of nine children. Emil 0. Groven, Gary, Minn., was born Jan. 12, 1889, died Jan. 25, 1970. Mrs. Oscar (Selma) Larson, Mahnomen, Minn., was born March 11, 1890, died July 27, 1971. Mrs. George (Clara) Rude, Mentor, Minn, was born Aug. 24, 1891, age 83. Ole H. Groven, Park River, was born Aug. 21, 1893, died July 17,1971. Henry C. Groven resided on the home farm until the time of his death on Sept. 25, 1971. He was born May 27,1895. He served as commander of the Walsh County Barracks, commander of Grafton Post 41 of the American Legion in 1952 and in 1966 was elected State Commander of North Dakota World War I Veterans Association. Gerhard A. Groven, Roseau, Minn., was born May 5, 1897, age 77. Mrs. Gust (Agnes) Carlson, MinneapoUs, Minn., was born Sept. 3,1899, age 75. Clarence A. Groven, Pasadena, CaUf., was born Feb. 3,1902, age 73. Mrs. G. Leonard (Helen) Torkelson was bom July 14, 1904, age 70. Submitted by Mrs. Helen Torkelson.

MR. AND MRS. HALVOR 0. GROVEN

Mr. and Mrs. Halvor Groven Wedding

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piMr. and Mrs. Halvor Groven and family. Mr. and Mrs. Herbrand Odegaard and son, who were visitors at the Groven home. Halvor 0. Groven was born in Nore Numedal, Norway, Oct. 20, 1856, son of Sigrid and Ole Groven. When Halvor was 21 years of age he decided to leave his homeland and come to the United States where there were more opportunities for abetter future. He came to America by sail ship which took many weeks. Halvor first settled at St. Ansgar, Ia., in June, 1878. Hearing about the free land in Dakota Territory he set out for that area in 1880. The trip was made on foot, walking most of the way behind the wagon. He came to Walsh County and homesteaded in Dundee Township. In 1881 he built a log cabin where his sister, Brynhild, lived with him for awhile. She soon homesteaded in Cavalier County. In the spring of 1883, Halvor's mother, Sigrid, a brother, Ole, and a sister, Gunhild, arrived from Norway. Ole and Gunhild found jobs right away to repay the money they had borrowed to come to America. April 2,1888, Halvor was married to Kristi Ellingson at his home. Pastor C. A. Flaten performed the marriage ceremony with Ole 0. Groven and N. N. Midgarden as witnesses. Halvor and Kristi lived on the homestead in Dundee Township until August, 1896, when they moved to Fertile Township. There they lived most of their remaining lives except for three years spent in California. Kristi Ellingson was also a native of Nore Numedal, Norway, bom there December 23, 1860. She came to the

The Halvor Groven Family taken in 1918 before Henry left for Camp. Standing: Agnes, Clara, Emil, Ole, Gerhard, Selma. Seated: Mrs. Groven, Henry, Helen, Clarence, Mr. Groven. OLE O. AND AMBJOR GROVEN Ole O. and Ambjor Groven were pioneer settlers in Walsh County. They were immigrants from Norway, raised within a few mUes of each other at a settlement called Nore in Numedal. Mrs. Groven left her home in Norway in the spring of 1878. She was accompanied by her sister Inga and two cousins, Nels and Gunder Midgarden. The four arrived in Mitchell County, Ia.; Mrs. Groven remaining in Iowa for some time and later moving to Aberdeen, S. Dak., where she was employed as a maid. In the spring of 1889 she came to Walsh County by train to visit her sister, Inga (Mrs. Gunder Midgarden). Groven, his mother and sister left Norway in 1883 coming directly to Grafton where they stayed with Mrs. 424

Groven's brother, Halvor, who had come to Walsh County some years earlier and acquired a farm. After working on farms for some time, Ole decided to take a job as clerk at Blackstad General Merchandise Store in Grafton. Ole and Ambjor were married June 20, 1889, and lived in Grafton. In 1892, they bought a farm nine miles west of Grafton where they resided 14 years. Mr. and Mrs. Groven were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living. Two sons died several years ago. One of the sons, Emil, was a veteran of World War I. The family was active in the Zion Lutheran Church and Mr. Groven served as church secretary for many years. He was also president of the Dundee Mutual Insurance Co. and held several other jobs in Walsh County. In 1906 they purchased another farm a few miles from where they were residing and there they spent their remaining years. Mrs. Groven died Sept. 19, 1917, and Mr. Groven Sept. 23, 1919. Emil married Minerva Thompson also of Walsh County. They had three children, Earl, Helen June and Gordon. Albert married Mae Thompson of Walsh County. They had one son, Allen. Submitted by Inga Groven.

OLE HAGEN

Daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hagen Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hagen. Ole Hagen was bom in Dane County, Wise, Feb. 26, 1877. He came to this community in 1879 with his parents when he was two years of age and settled in Glenwood Township. He farmed with his father until 1901 when he married Annie Daley, June 20, 1901. He operated a butcher shop in Hoople. In 1911 he purchased a farm from Julius Iverson. He farmed, then sold the farm to Pastor Adolph Egge. Prior to entering business for himself he was employed by T. A. Daley, owner of the Mandt Store. For many years he was clerk of School District No. 62. He also served as township supervisor. He was the director of the Mandt Band and played the coronet. His brother Marius Hagen also played the coronet. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church.

Ole Groven Family. Seated are Mr. and Mrs. Groven. Standing, back row: Emil, Nels, Oscar, Sophia and Inga. Albert and Agnes, center front. OLE HALLAND FAMELY Mr. and Mrs. Ole Halland and family emigrated from Stavanger, Norway, to Grafton in 1890. They purchased a quarter section in Grafton Township and a quarter section in Fertile Township. They became members of South Trinity Church. Mr. Halland served as church custodian for many years. Mrs. Halland (Sike) was an original member of the reorganized Ladies' Aid. In the absence of the pastor, she would take over the confirmation instruction, always in Norse. Sike is remembered for the hospitality she showered on visitors. She had much to talk about, something to show and lunch was a must. She was interested in politics and discussed events of the times. Her brother, Ingebret Birk, Uved across the road. There were visits from the family and neighbors. They had six children - Jonas, Annie (Mrs. Oscar Kingstad), Tobias, Olaf, Ella (Mrs. Henry GulUckson), and Birk. ,, , Mr. Halland died in January, 1924, Mrs. Halland June 18, 1936. There are no surviving children. Submittea by Elsie Martin.

The Ole Hagen Family. Standing: Clara, Hilda, Ida. Seated: Father, Ingvald, Mother. MRS. OLE (ANNIE) HAGEN Mrs. Ole Hagen was bom in Dane County, Wise, March 20, 1877. With her parents, she came to Dakota Territory in 1878 where they settled on a farm in Fertile Township. She was married to Ole Hagen in the Zion Lutheran Church, June 20, 1901. She was a charter member of the Zion Church and Ladies' Aid. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hagen had three daughters and one son - Mrs. Clara Tallackson, Mrs. Ida Odegaard, Mrs. Hilda Lake and Ingvald (died in 1945). Three chUdren died in infancy. Submitted by Mrs. Clara Tallackson. PEDER HAGEN Peder Hagen was born in Odalen, Norway, in 1847. He came to the United States with his father, Ole Paulson Hagen, and settled in Dane County, Wise Little is known about his early boyhood. He married Indiana Iverson in 1876 and three years later the couple set out for Dakota, arriving here in June,

Many hours were spent in Heltne's harness shop and other places of business - a real outing! The Hansons experienced two droughts, one around 1910. The earth had large cracks and the neighbors had meetings in the home, praying for rain. A well was dug in the river bottom between Hanson's and Midgarden's to provide water for the two famiUes. The dirty thirties were hard years for the people, even in the Red River Valley. The air would get so fUled with dirt it was like night in the middle of the day. One could not see the barn from the house. Potatoes were planted with horses, in near total darkness. However, a total crop faUure was never experienced. Eddie Hanson was active in his church, school and township. He was on the committee to kill cattle during the depression. They were paid by the government to do

1879. They homesteaded in Glenwood Township where they continued to live for the next 28 years. Peder Hagen died July 12, 1906. Mrs. Peder Hagen's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Hanson, made their home in Mandt. After her mother died, she made her home with her stepfather. He died May 7, 1933. She had three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. G. Walstad, Mrs. Rolstad, Julius Iverson and Alert Iverson. Submitted by Mrs. Clara Tallackson.

SO.

Eddie E. Hanson died in September, 1948, and Gena Hanson died in 1952. Rudolph Hanson now owns the farm. Submitted by Mrs. Linden Tharalson, granddaughter.

Mrs. Indiana Hagen with her three granddaughters, Clara, Ida and Hilda Hagen. EDDIE E. HANSON Eddie E. Hanson was born Feb. 16, 1881, in Filmore County, Minn., the son of pioneers Karen Ask Hanson and Erick Hanson. His early years were spent on his parents farm at Lanesboro, Minn. Eddie attended school at Lanesboro and Luther CoUege at Decorah, Ia. At 23, he traveled to Crosby and filed a claim, but was disappointed because water could not be found. He later sold his claim and worked for a farmer, plowing with a walking plow, for 60 cents a day. Eddie walked every step of the way from Crosby to Grafton, wading in water in the Devils Lake area.

Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Hanson Wedding—1905

In 1905 Eddie Hanson and Gene E. Lee, a daughter of Gulbrand and Thorine Lee of Grafton, were married in the groom's home in Lanesboro, Minn. Gena was born Dec. 7, 1881, attended rural school and Grand Forks CoUege where she learned dressmaking. Eddie and Gena came to a farm west of Grafton that Lee had purchased from the Rev. Nykrem. Their home was the former parsonage and the parlor, the former study where many couples had been married. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson had six children: Thelma, Emory, Rudolph, Hazel, Vivian and Robert. Rudolph, Hazel and Vivian are living at this time. The Hansons were members of South Trinity Church and the Sinkler School was on their farm. In the winter the Hansons and Midgardens took turns driving their horses and sleighs to church. On time, the children remember the snow was so deep the horses were buried, had to be unhitched and the men went to seek help. Eddie always made sure the women were comfortable with a foot warmer, a box to sit on and plenty of horse blankets and robes (pre-warmed before they were put in the sleigh). What excitement for the chUdren to go to Grafton several times in the winter. Reyleck's (Chicago Store) and the dime stores were very special.

OLE HELGENSET FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Ole Helgenset, Fertile Twp. Pioneers. This picture was taken in 1947, shortly after their Golden Anniversary. Ole Johnson Helgenset, son of John Olson Helgenset and Martha Rue, was born Oct. 5, 1873, in Decorah, Ia. He came with his parents in 1880 to Dakota Territory. His 426

father filed on a homestead in Prairie Centre Township. (NE /.! of Section 6.) This farm is owned by Edward and Ida Monson. Helgenset attended Grobel School, now known as the Orsund School. He was confirmed June 9, 1889, in the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. In this same church on Jan. 26, 1897, he was married to Hildborg Sophia Skjerven, daughter of Herman and Lisa Jensen Skjerven. After their marriage they purchased from Hans and Eva Robertson the SW'/ of Section 16 in Fertile Township. This farm remains in the family, owned and operated by a great nephew, Harding Tverberg. Mr. Helgenset also farmed in Adams Township before retiring in 1932, when he moved to Thief River Falls, Minn. He was a carpenter, owned and operated a threshing rig, did custom threshing. Mr. and Mrs. Helgenset had nine children. Oliver, born Nov. 25,1897, died in July, 1954. He was married to Caroline Helgenset. Mrs. Ed (Elida) Mattson was born April 6,1900, died in 1970. Mrs. Gilbert (Olava) Opperud still lives in Fargo. Harry married Stella Kissner and lives at Plummer, Minn. Mrs. Heimer (Selma) Torkelson Uves in Fargo. Mrs. Harold (Julanda) Lunde Uves in Grafton. Mrs. Emil (Evelyn) Swanson lives near Thief River Falls, Minn. Arnold married Margaret Hanson and Uves at Thief River Falls. Ernest married Pearl Ferseth and Uves at Thief River FaUs. Ole Helgenset died Feb. 20,1948, and Mrs. Helgenset died June 5, 1968. They are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery at Thief River FaUs, Minn. Submitted by Mrs. Clifford Berg.

they followed the same trade. Dad and mother were married in the Prairie Island, Minn., Lutheran Church Sept. 15, 1897, and came to Park River to make thenhome.

S. Herwick's first home in Mandt, new one built in 1921.

Steam threshing outfit, owned and operated by Ole J. Helgenset, who did a lot of custom combining for many, many years. He farmed in the Mandt and Adams communities. This picture was taken about 1916-1917.

Mandt Store—1906 In 1902 my uncle, Ed Herwick, built a store at Mandt, across the road from a grocery store owned by Mr. Mandt for which the town was named. When it came time for the owner to take over the building, she did not feel physicaUy able to assume the duties and Ed persuaded my dad to buy the building and start a general merchandise store. The inland viUage of Mandt was 9 miles west and one-half mUe north of Grafton and eight miles east and a haU mile north of Park River. When we first moved there in 1902 there was a stage coach between Grafton and Park River which my dad met twice a day to pick up the mail for distribution at the store. I remember riding the stage coach with my mother to board the train in Grafton, going to Minneapolis for a visit with mother's relatives.

MR. AND MRS. SIVERT HERWICK Sivert Herwick was born in Stenkjer, Norway, AprU 27, 1865, and received his education there, graduating from a Surveyor's Trade School in 1887. He came to the U. S. in 1890, worked in St. Paul and Little Falls, Minn., until 1897 when his brother Ed Herwick persuaded him to come to Park River where Ed was in architecture, building and general carpenter work. Dad went to work in the lumber yard, and in September returned to Minnesota to marry my mother, Elizabeth Erickson. Mother was born in Attica, Ind., came with her parents by oxcart and wagon to Hastings, Minn., when she was five. She received a grade school education in a country school. She and her older sister went to St. Paul to do sewing in a dressmaker shop, later to Little Falls where 427

The store was a general store, divided into four sections as you entered the first one-fourth, was a dry goods division; the shelves on the wall were stocked with shoes to outfit the family ; at waist-height was yard goods - "Toile-du-Norde" gingham, chambray, bleached and unbleached muslin, denim, toweling and beneath these were "Osh-Kosh-Be-Gosh" bib overalls for men and boys In front of these shelves was a counter on which to measure the yards and a glass show case which held thread, buttons, needles, pins or any sewing accessory. The next one-fourth on your right was the hardware division - nails; 6-penny, 8-penny, 10-penny and spikes besides bolts, burrs and small implements such as screwdrivers and hammers. In the far right hand comer were the mail boxes and dad's books and office supplies^ On your left as you entered were school supplies and notions on the shelves. The glass showcase held candy peppermint, chocolates, creams, hard-mixed candies Cracker Jack and nuts. In a glass showcase set off by itself were cigars: Y-B, Ben-Hur, White Owl, Fatima, all at a nickel a piece. At the end of this was the cash register and behind it tobacco - Bull Durham, Prince Albert Tuxedo in the smoking brands besides Fine-Cut, Spearhead, Horse Shoe, Climax and Battle Axe in the chewing tobacco, each length marked in squares for cutting with the tobacco cleaver. Oh yes! We must not forget the Copenhagen Snuff! Then the northeast part of the store was piled high with groceries: shelves of canned goods - vegetables and fruits, breakfast foods - Quaker rolled oats and Cream of Wheat, and a few dry cereals. Dried fruits prunes, pears, apricots and apples in 25 pound lugs. White sugar and brown sugar were shipped in a large barrel to be scooped out into small heavy sacks for sale. Coffee beans were sold to be ground for use by the customer, we had four grades of these beans and had one customer for whom we always ordered the green coffee beans and they roasted it to their own "doneness" to get the perfect coffee for their taste buds. Spices at first were sold whole but later came on the market in small cans, ground ready for use. In a "lean-to" storeroom was flour, vinegar and a tap for getting kerosene from an outside tank. A counter in front of the grocery shelves, gave us space for sacking and wrapping commodities, the counter had shelves for various sacks and a roll of wrapping paper, beyond the roll was a large brick cheese with a center cleaver to cut off the desired wedge for the customer, this was covered with a glass cover. In front of this counter was an assortment of herring next to the coffee bins. We also had an assortment of picture frame material in the storeroom and Dad used to frame pictures in his free time. The flour and kerosene were delivered, otherwise my dad hauled the groceries and commodities from the depot in Park River in a democrat buggy with one horse. He would buy eggs from the farmers and take these in 30 dozen crates to the depot to ship out and pick up the things to be taken to Mandt. Butter was also purchased from the farmers, we soon got to know who made good butter and it was sold locally while butter that was not fit to eat was packed in a wooden tub and shipped to soap factories. Dad and mother were active in church affairs. Dad was "klokker" in Zion, South Trinity and Concordia Churches. At the time they used these assistants to the pastor but about 1915 this office was abolished. He still kept in close contact with the work of the church. He was

a member of the school board, served on the township board. The store across the road from our store was moved out in the early 1900's and Dad bought the 30 acre farm from Mr. Wick. North of this farm was a farm of about 20 acres owned by Nels Hanson, who Uved there with his daughter whom we knew as Grandma Hagen. Just behind our store was a farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Alert Iverson, later sold to T. A. Daley. Across the river was Mandt School on the west side of the road and on the east side of the road they built a township hall, which was also a dance hall, near the Mandt School was the farm owned by John Daley.

S. Herwick home built in 1921.

Mr. and Mrs. Sivert Herwick and Blanche, about 1906. Dad sold our store to Nels Groven in May of 1921. We built a new house on this 30 acre farm, raised a few cows, pigs and chickens. Mother died Dec. 7,1924. Dad sold the house and farm to Ole Hagen in 1925 and moved into Park River where he rented an apartment until 1927, when he married Mrs. Olava Iverson of Grafton and moved to

Grafton to make his home. He died Dec. 20, 1930. Both Mother and Dad are buried in the Zion Church Cemetery. I was an only child, the lone survivor, married to Willis King, Hannah, where we have made our home since our marriage Dec. 31, 1923. We have four children. Son Winton is an athletic coach in Reno, Nev. Son Harvey is in education work in Alaska, lives in Hydaburg. One daughter, Alda, works in the bookkeeping department of St. Michael's Unit of the United Hospital, Grand Forks, Daughter LaDora is bookkeepper for Dr. Helenbolt and Dr. Dosey in Grand Forks. We have 11 grandchildren, four great grandchildren. Submitted by Blanche Herwick King.

congregation was divided, the Hoghaug family became members of South Trinity. The Hoghaug children attended school in Fertile District No. 24, Sinkler School. Anders and Thora had 13 children. Seven children, four daughters and three sons, survived. Martin was born May 1, 1869; Ole, Oct. 28, 1876; Matilde, May 31, 1878; Olava, April 17,1880; Thea Caroline, Dec. 20,1882; Albert, Dec. 15, 1884; and Annie, Nov. 17, 1886. The family moved to Minnesota in 1898. After the death of Thora, Anders went back to Norway, married Gertrude Smerud of Aadalen. They came to America, had one daughter and two sons. Thora Anna Marie, born in 1904, and Thorman Andrew was born in 1905; Gilman, 1909. Anders Hoghaug lived to be over 100. He died in January, 1943. Annie, Mrs. Steve Omundson, and Thora Hoghaug live in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

ANDERS MONSON HOGHAUG Anders Monson Hoghaug was born May 30, 1842, at Aadalen, Norway. He came to America June 24, 1868, lived in Castle Rosck, Wise. In Wisconsin, he married Thora Gubrandson Lokken. Thora was from Aadalen, and came to this country with the Hoghaugs. Their marriage took place Aug. 18,1868. In 1873 they moved to Mitchell County, Ia., farmed there until the fall of 1879 when they moved to Walsh County with three children. The trip to Dakota Territory was made with team and covered wagon. It took three weeks. They brought along a couple sacks of flour, some household goods and clothes. Some of their supplies were bought in Grand Forks. Their trip ended Oct. 20, 1879, they settled on a quarter of land seven miles west and one mile north of Grafton. With the help of neighbors, Anders built a house of logs, using straw, hay and earth. This cabin was 12 feet by 16 feet, with two windows and one door, was used about two years. The furnishings were a bit crude; the bed made out of poles with a straw mattress. The table was homemade. Boxes and stumps were used for chairs. The stove was bought in Grand Forks. Fuel was no problem as there was wood. Most of their food was bought in Grand Forks and at a store at Sweden. At that time flour sold for about $4 for a hundred pound sack. Sugar was ten cents a pound, and coffee, 29 cents a pound. Coffee was bought green, they roasted it. Storage was scarce. Things were stored in boxes under the bed. Thora made all the clothing from cotton or calico. Plowing and breaking plots, planting and harvesting kept everyone busy. Schools were organized, township government set up and churches started. Basket socials and spell downs were attended. The 17th of May was a big day. The 4th of July was celebrated. Debating contests were held. There was time set aside for reading. In the evenings when the work was done, there was time to visit with the neighbors.

ALBERT HOVE Albert Hove was bom in Fertile Township Sept. 16, 1887, son of Knute and Gunhild Hove. He had two brothers, Pete and Otto, and six sisters; Mrs. Henry Fretheim (Bertha), Mrs. Severt Erickson (Ida), Mrs. Cole Rice (Nora), Mrs. Olaus Monson (Clara), Mrs. Oscar Almen (Glora) and Mrs. Andrew Almen (Emma), the only living member of the immediate family. He married Magna Monson Dec. 18, 1912. They lived on the home farm in Fertile Township until 1949 when they moved to Grafton. They had six children: Millard, Arnold, Mrs. Arnold Orsund (Alice), Mrs. Willard Anderson (Rhodella), Mrs. George Delling (Marilyn), and Mrs. Eugene Rozum (Elaine). Albert Hove was a director of the Farmers Elevator Co. of Grafton for over 25 years. He served as an officer of the School District No. 114 a number of years and on the South Trinity Church board for many years. Mrs. Hove was born Aug. 25, 1890, the daughter of Mons and Rundhoug Monson. Mrs. Hove held various offices in the South Trinity Ladies' Aid and served as church organist for a number of years. Magna was treasurer of the Lutheran Sunset Home Auxiliary for five years, when the auxiliary was busy working before the Sunset Home was built. Magna and Albert celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary Oct. 28, 1962, at an open house at South Trinity, with family and friends gathered for the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Hove loved music and it was seldom a day would pass without some music in the home. Albert played the violin and his first violin was made partly from a cigar box. Albert had a threshing machine and in the fall would thresh for a number of neighbors. When the cook car crew were at the Hove farm, many evenings were spent with some of the crew gathered in the living room in music and singing.

Anders was active in the prohibition or temperance movement and became a tee-totaler about 1884. An organ was bought from Gunder Olson, Grafton. He imported a music teacher, instrumental in mteresting the family in music. The Hoghaug family found singing around the organ an important recreational activity. Anders and his neighbors wanted a church, so set about establishing a congregation. This church was known as "Trinity Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation." Worship was held every third Sunday. Other Sundays, Anders seated his brood around the living room and read the sermon for the day from his book of sermons for one hour. In 1881, when the

Albert Hove died Aug. 27,1963. Mrs. Hove lived in the home in Grafton until May, 1970, when she moved to the Lutheran Sunset Home where she was a resident until her death in 1975. Submitted by Mrs. Willard Anderson. 429

KNUTE OLSON HOVEY FAMILY Knute Olson Hovey was born in Valers, Norway, April 14 1855, son of Ole and Barbara Hedalen Hovey. He came to the United States in 1866 with his r rents and three brothers: Gilbert, 7, Ole, 4, Ole, 13, and /mute, 11. They came first to Decorah, Ia., and settled on a farm. Knute Hovey's mother died in childbirth and is buried in a Winneshiek County Church Cemetery, rural DecoraU Ole his father, also died there. Knute married Gunhild Cornelia Findring. In Iowa, a daughter, Bertha, and a son, Otto, were born. In 1879 they immigrated to North Dakota in company with a friend, Arne Sander, and his wife, Georgina, who was a sister of Knute Hovey's wife, Gunhild Comely They started the long trip in an oxen drawn covered wagon with a cow tied behind. The cow gave them some food but the story was told that the cow got into the salt pork barrel and ate a good share of it. They also encountered a storm and lost some of their possessions. A son was born on the way in Clay County, Ia., and was named Pete. Their first stop in North Dakota was at the Hans Wick home, a friend from Iowa. He had a very small house but provided them with shelter. Knute filed a homestead claim in Section 24, Fertile Township, now the Earl Anderson farm. He later moved to Section 26 which was the George Thompson farm. He continued farming for many years. The farm now belongs to Arnold Hovey. Knute Hovey raised a family of six girls and three boys- Bertha, Ida, Clara, Nora, Emma, Glora, Otto, Pete and Albert. Several children died in infancy. A girl, four'years old, named Emma also died. They all are buried in Concordia Cemetery. At that time the family were members of Concordia Church which no longer exists Gunhild Cornelia Findring Hovey was born July 16, 1856 at Decorah, Ia., and died Jan. 11,1913, at 57. She is buried at the South Trinity Church Cemetery, Fertile Township. , . .. Knute Hovey moved to Grafton and resided there a few years. He died Feb. 24,1931, at the age of 76. He was buried at the South Trinity Church Cemetery, of which they were members. Submitted by Emma Hovey Almen. NELS HULTIN FAMILY

are deceased. Beatrice married Ernest Oak and they own and live on the home farm. Mrs. Hultin died Jan. 26, 1948. She and her husband are buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by Mrs. Ernest Oak. TONNES AND CHRISTINE IVESDAL

Tonnes Ivesdal—Age 80

Christine Olson Ivesdal— -Age 73

Tonnes and Christine Ivesdal came from Norway in 1890. Christine Olson Ivesdal spent her first four years in Wisconsin, where she attended school to learn the English language. Tonnes Ivesdal came to Grafton, spent the winter with Tollef Johnson. He went to grade school with Albert Tverberg and Ingvald Mohagen in Grafton Township. Their teacher was Elsie Levin. In 1884, Tonnes started farming. He bought a quarter of land from ToUef Johnson's brother, Tonnes Mullman, in Grafton Township. The first summer he farmed, Ingebret Birk's mother kept house for him. In November, 1894, Christine and Tonnes were married in Grafton. They farmed in Grafton Township until 1902, had three chUdren, Ida, Conrad and Alma. In 1902, Tonnes sold his farm to ToUef Johnson. They moved to Edmore where he bought a homestead right and also took land. He farmed there until 1905. Two children were born, HUda and Peder. He sold his farm in 1905 to Elting Egeland, went back to Norway, where they bought an orchard and dairy farm near Durmon, Norway. One girl was born in Norway, TilUe. , I In 1908, they returned to Walsh County, purchased a farm from Roger AlUn, farmed untU 1932 in Fertile Township. Tonnes was active in school affairs, church affairs andpoUtics. He served on the Mandt school board for 20 years. In FertUe Township, four children were born Theadore, Ingvald, Adeline and Clara. In 1932 they moved to Oakwood Township, farmed until his death in 1945. Sons Theadore and Ingvald carried on the farming. In 1947, Christine Ivesdal died. Submitted by Ingvald Ivesdal.

Nels Hultin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Hultin, was born in Skane, Sweden, in 1867. He came to the United States in 1882 with his parents, two sisters and two brothers. . In 1892 he purchased the NWVi of Section 8 in Fertile Township from Lars Nelson where he resided until the time of his death March 21, 1936. He Uved on this farm and besides working the land, he did his own housekeeping for eight years until Dec. 15, 1900, when he married Augusta Evenson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Torgrim Evenson. At the age of three, she had arrived with her parents from Perry, Wise, near HoUendale, making the trip by train. The couple Uved in a two room log cabin untU 1909, then built the house still in use. They were both active in church and community affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Hultin had a family of three chUdren, Clifford, Margaret and Beatrice. CUfford and Margaret

ALERT IVERSON Alert Iverson was bom in Norway in 1853. He came to the United States and settled in Glenwood Township. Hs married Olava Nelson (also from Norway) in Fertile Township in 1893. They were the parents of nine children, Anna, Inga, 430

Alice, Nina (died when a child), Josephine, Iver, Nina, Albert and Victor. Alert and Olava farmed in Glenwood and Fertile Townships until they retired and moved into Grafton about 1917. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Hans Nelson was the father of Olava Iverson. Alert Iverson's mother was Maren Iverson Nelson and his step-father was Nels Nelson. Submitted by Iver Iverson.

MR. AND MRS. JULIUS IVERSON Mr. and Mrs. JuUus Iverson were born in Ness, Ringerige, Norway. She was the daughter of Ole and Mathea ToUund Olson, and came with them to America at age 12 in 1872. They settled in Dane County, Wise. Her mother died when she was a young girl and she stayed with relatives until she was confirmed. Later she went to Chicago and worked for a time. She came to North Dakota in 1882 to live with a brother, Ben Olson, and in 1883 was married to Mr. Iverson. Rev. Flaten performed the ceremony. They Uved on Mr. Iverson's homestead farm. They raised nine chUdren, Inman, Mabel, Joseph, Carl, Nora, Alpha, Jennie, Albin and Eddie. At this writing three children remain, Mabel Evenson, 88, Mt. Horeb, Wise., Nora Greenwald 85, Ingleside Nursing Home, Mt. Horeb, Wise, and Alpha Knoff, 83, Verona, Wise. In 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Iverson moved then family to Dane County, Wise, following Mrs. Iverson's sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ronnold. Then home was located on what is now the Bernard Nilson farm. Mrs. Iverson died four years after their move to Wisconsin and Mr. Iverson died in 1927. Submitted by La Mae Weiland.

Back row: Hans Nelson, Julius Iverson, Alert Iverson, Gurine Rolstad. Front row: Indiana Hagen, Nels Hanson, Mrs. Nels Hanson, Christine Walstad.

MR. AND MRS. OLE JENSEN Mrs. Ole Jensen was past 50 years of age and a grandmother when she came to the Dakota Territory in 1880. Her daughter, Mrs. Arne T. CUffgard, also a pioneer mother, came with ber to Walsh County. Born in Norway, Nov. 5, 1829, Gunhild Mandt married Ole Aslakson in Norway in 1851. Their oldest son, Peter, was born in Telemarken, Sept. 17, 1852, and he was two years old when they emigrated from Norway. They settled in Primrose, Wise, Dane County. Upon then arrival in this country the famUy adopted the mother's maiden name of Mandt. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mandt while they Uved in Wisconsin, a daughter who died in infancy; Tilda, born in Perry, June 17,1860, married Arne T. Cliffgard in Forest City, Ia., to 1877, she died in January, 1941; Olaus, born June 18,1855, died April 3,1903; and Alex, bom Jan. 26, 1862, died in 1939. Mrs. Mandt's husband died in 1865 and is buried in Wisconsin. Several years later she was married for the second time, to Ole Jensen. They had one daughter, Lena, born in 1874. She married Carl Matheson, both are deceased. The party who left Iowa in the spring of 1880 included Mr. and Mrs. Jenson, their daughter, Lena, son, Olaus and Peter Mandt, her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Arne T. CUffgard, and their infant daughter, Carine. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen immediately fUed upon a homestead in Fertile Township. Their first home was a log cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen were interested in the organization of a church in then community and they donated two acres of land - a part of their homestead, for a building site and cemetery where the Concordia Lutheran Church, no longer in existence, was built. A cemetery association has been organized to have charge of the cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen were charter members and Mr. Jensen assisted in buUding the church.

CHRIST IVERSON Christ Iverson was born in Iowa Sept. 7, 1872. He came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Iver Iverson Ljone to Fertile Township in 1877. The trip was made in a covered wagon, drawn by oxen and part of the way by boat. When he started school, he went to District No. 23, Grafton Township. This schoolhouse was destroyed by fire, caused by lightning during a severe electrical storm. When the district decided to rebuild, the schoolhouse was built on a site about an eighth of a mile north in Section 16. For years, this has been called the Four Mile Schoolhouse. Later when Sinkler School was built, it is assumed that Christ went there. He took over the farming when his father retired. He married Christina Kiev and they made their home in Fertile Township. After Mrs. Iverson died, he left the farm for a few years. He sold part of his real estate to Henry Lee. Years later, this became the property of Herman and Myrtle Lee. The rest of his land was rented to Levi Ganyo. His next renter was Henry Holt of Grafton, and along with his family they moved to Fertile Township and Uved there for a few years. Christ married Mable Thor and later they moved back to the farm and he farmed. They were members of South Trinity Lutheran Church. Mable took an active part in the Ladies' Aid, serving as president more than once. He had made two trips to Norway seeking relief from an asthmatic condition which caused him much discomfort. In 1931 he sold the farm to Oscar Almen. The Iversons had an auction sale and then moved to California to make their home. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson. 431

Mrs. Jensen was active in church and Ladies' Aid activities. Jensen sold his homestead about 1888 and bought a farm in the same township near the Park River, part of which became the site of the Mandt Post Office. Mrs. Jensen's son, Peter, bought part of this farm, where he established the first store in Mandt. He circulated a petition to have a post office established and an office named for him was opened July 22, 1893, and discontinued June 14,1904. Peter Mandt died July 29,1934. Mrs. Jensen and her husband continued to live in Mandt until the early nineties when they moved to St. Hilaire, Minn., where they purchased a farm. Later they returned to the Mandt community, leaving here in 1900 to make their permanent home in Minnesota. Mrs. Jensen died Aug. 4,1918, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Carl Mathison, in Plummer, Minn. Mr. Jensen died a few years later. They are both buried near St. Hilaire, Minn. Submitted by Arlene Fellman.

in Kongsberg, Norway, Oct. 14, 1840, where she received her education and grew to womanhood. Marie and Olaus were married in Norway in 1863 and resided in Norway until 1867 when they immigrated to the United States on the ship "Lauridal." After a five week journey to the U. S. and a train trip to Wisconsin, they settled at Stevens Point where they resided for 13 years. In Stevens Point, Olaus worked in the logging and lumber business.

JOHN T. JOHNSON John T. Johnson, eldest son of Tollef Johnson and Martha Torkelson Johnson, was bom in Grafton Township April 5,1885. Nov. 26,1914, he married a neighbor girl Hilda Josephine Brende. She was the daughter of Ivar Brende and Emma Viger Brende. They were married in the South Trinity Lutheran Church by the Rev. H. 0. Shurson. . Before her marriage, Hilda worked for the N. D. Erie family and the W. W. Reyleck family in Grafton. Later she attended Mayville State Teachers College and taught in the rural school near her home. After the marriage, the Johnsons purchased the Christianson farm, located a mile south and a half mile east of the South Trinity Church. They lived on the Christianson farm until 1919 when they moved to the Vigness farm which was located one and one half mile south and a fourth mile east of the Four Mile Schoolhouse. Here they Uved until John's death Sept. 8, 1944 John was an avid reader and many times he would read until two o'clock in the morning by the light of a kerosene lamp. During the spring and winter when roads were very difficult, John often walked to church services at South Trinity. The round trip was close to five and one half miles. He served on the school board of District No. 1 After John's death, his widow moved into Grafton and worked for many years as a nurse's aide at the Grafton Deaconess Hospital. Five children were born, Myrtie (Mrs. Herman Lee); Emma (Mrs. Dan Burke); Hazel (Mrs. Loehle Gast), Ingvald, JoAnn (Mrs. Joe Aimone). Mrs. Johnson died Nov. 24, 1966. Submitted by Mrs. Herman Lee. MR. AND MRS. OLAUS JOHNSON

Olaus Johnson Family—Seated: Oscar, Olaus, Marie, Carrie. Standing: Ted, Emma, Olaf, Ella, William, Anna, Frank.

Mr. and Mrs. Olaus Johnson homesteaded in Fertile Township in 1880 and they resided on the same homestead for nearly 50 years. This farm is now owned by their grandson, Olaf R. Johnson, Park River. Olaus Johnson was born in Kongsberg, Norway, Oct. 7, 1837, where he grew to manhood. Before leaving for America, he worked in a silver mine in Norway. Olaus Johnson's wife, Marie Knutson, was also born 432

In the early 1880's the westward movement was at its height, so with dreams and hopes Uke feUow pioneers they traveled west settUng in North Dakota. Their dream was to have a farm of their own. In April, 1880, they took the train as far as it would carry them, which was Grand Forks. Here, the famUy remained for the summer and Johnson traveled on foot to Fertile Township where he homesteaded. On this homestead, he built a sod shanty, 16'xl8'. In September, 1880, Mrs. Johnson and the children came from Grand Forks in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They brought two milk cows with them, leading them behind the wagon. This was a slow and tiresome trip, but when they came to their home, they were thankful and overjoyed as they loved the beautiful prairie. , Over the years Johnson made several trips to Grand Forks for business and suppUes. This was a long journey in those days. , In 1891, they butit a frame house to replace their log house in which they had lived since moving out of their first sod home on the prairie. Then frame home burned to the ground in the early 1900's and was later rebuilt. On their homestead they raised grain and livestock. In 1909, they sold then: homestead to thenson, Oscar Johnson, who farmed and Uved one mile west, but Olaus and Marie continued to live on the farm. Olaus and Marie had also purchased an additional eighty acres from Miss Betsy Johnson, no relative, in 1893, and this land was also sold to Oscar in 1897. Mrs. Olaus Johnson provided a great service to her community as a midwife. She was always happy and willing to help her friends, neighbors, and relatives whenever a baby was expected in their families. They were one of the first famiUes to be members of Zion Lutheran Church. In 1913 neighbors, friends and relatives honored them on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, again on their 60th wedding anniversary they were honored at Zion Lutheran Church, and they also celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.

They were parents of ten children: Matilda who died in infancy; Carrie (Mrs. Hans Nelson), born in 1868, died in 1929; Oscar, born Jan. 21,1869, died in 1953; Ted, born April 23, 1872, deceased; Olaf, born April 10,1874, died in 1904; Frank, born June 10, 1876, died July 14, 1942; William, born June 19, 1879, died in November, 1925; Emma (Mrs. Lars Larson), born Sept. 4, 1881, died May 30, 1961; Anna (Mrs. Ole Ingulsrud), born May 28, 1882; died in 1955; and Ella (Mrs. R. M. Cox), born Sept. 26, 1885, died Nov. 30, 1959. Olaus Johnson died Nov. 5, 1928, at 91. Mrs. Johnson died on March 12, 1934, at 93. Both were buried at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. They had 40 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. Submitted by Lorraine Paulson.

20, 1870. He received his early education in Wisconsin. Oscar always enjoyed farm life and helping his parents on the farm. In 1892 Oscar purchased a quarter section of land in partnership with his father from Martin Olson. Oscar purchased his father's share in 1899. This farm was located one mile west of his parents homestead. When he married, he constructed his home on this land. This farm is now owned by his son, Victor Johnson. Louise Bertha Gulbranson was born April 26,1874, in Nora Springs, Ia., and came to Fertile Township in March, 1893, where she taught school for three years. She received her education in Iowa and continued her education in teaching by attending the University of North Dakota. Louise taught in various schools in Fertile Township until she met and married a young farmer in the school district in which she was teaching. November 25,1897, Oscar and Louise were married by Rev. Sigrud Olsen at Rock Creek Lutheran Church, Osage Ia. After their marriage, they returned to farm until their retirement in 1935 when they purchased a home in Park River. They were both active in community and church affairs. Oscar served on the local school board and the elevator board as well as various church activities. Louise helped organize the Countryside Homemakers, served on her local school board and held several offices in the Ladies' Aid of Zion Church.

Olaus and Marie Johnson 60th Wedding Anniversary— 1923. OSCAR AND LOUISE JOHNSON

The Oscar Johnson Family—First row: Louise Gulbranson Johnson, Florence, Hazel, Olaf, Oscar Johnson. Second row: Cora, Irene, Victor, Elmer, Melvin, Archie. Oscar and his wife and children were kept busy on their farm where they raised grain, potatoes and livestock. In 1897 Oscar purchased 80 acres which had been homesteaded by Betsy Johnson, no relative to Oscar. In 1909 Oscar purchased a quarter section which had been homesteaded by his father, Olaus. For several years Oscar and his family owned and operated three quarter sections of land in Kensington Township which is now the site of Homme Dam. They became the parents of nine children: Melvin, who married Florence Gates; Archie, who never married; Cora, who married Carl Paulson; Victor, who married Vema Lee; Elmer, who married Margaret Wemark; Irene, who married Bernie Legrid; Olaf who never married; Hazel, who married Ted Clairmont; and Florence, who married Paul Duffey. Oscar and Louise also had nine grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Johnson were honored at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, on their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1947 with all their children present. Their

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Johnson Wedding—1897 In 1881 at 11, Oscar Johnson came with his parents, Olaus and Marie Johnson, and his four brothers and one sister to their homestead in Fertile Township. The farm is presently owned by Olaf Johnson, a son of Oscar. The Johnson family took a train from Wisconsin to Grand Forks where the family remained for several months while the father, Olaus, filed for his homestead and constructed a sod house for his family. A log home was built later. The trip from Grand Forks to the homestead was made by a covered wagon drawn by ar oxen. Oscar Johnson was born in Stevens Point, Wise., Jan. 433

wedding attendants, Miss Delia Wamstad and Gillis Gulbranson, brother of Louise, were also present fifty years later. . Oscar died at 83 in August, 1953, and is buried at Zion Church. Louise died at 93 in May, 1967, and is buried at Zion Church. Submitted by Lorraine Paulson. PETER KNOFF FAMILY Peter Johan Kristian Knoff was born in Norway in 1885 He grew up in his grandmother's care in Tronhjem, Norway At the age of 15, he went to Oslo for three years to learn the art of bread baking. Then he set out for the United States by boat. His final destination was Hoople. Jens his brother, had come to the United States earlier. Peter and Jens had three sisters. Two of them, Ragna and Maren, came to our country and one, (Anna) Mrs. Abraham Hafnor, remained in Norway. She was an opera singer. Ragna was Mrs. Jakob Askeof Hoople. She later moved to MinneapoUs. Maren married Theodore Evenson. She died, leaving three children: Mrs. Ole Shannon of Hoople, who was named Maren after her mother, also Esther and Hazel. Peter's father remarried in Norway and there were four more boys. One of them, Reidar, came to the U. S. , Peter settled six mUes south of Hoople where he worked for area farmers. He must not have liked the hoeing in the hot sun of summer at Paul Flatens whUe a "newcomer.". Having come from the mountainous regions of Norway and the cool temperatures, he must have stood there thinking that he was on the flattest country in the world. The words of the Norwegian song, "Kan du glemme gamle Norge, aldri jeg det glemme Kan!" must have run through his mind frequently. He did, however, appreciate his work and the opportunity to make a beginning in his new homeland. It was interesting to hear Peter teU of his early experiences. He spent a winter at Baudette, Minn., where he Uved in a log cabin. He worked at cutting wood. On one occasion, they were awakened by a bear clawing on the side of their cabin. There was some meat hanging on the outside waU. The bear took it and dragged it away. Peter and his companion grabbed the gun and went looking for their meat. In the semi-darkness they spotted the bear With a real sure aim, a loud shot cracked and re-echoed throughout the cold wooded atmosphere - a dead bear! Now. who was to eat? , ,, J Returning to the Hoople area, Peter worked for Ole Hagen Larson, who became his father-in-law when he married Martha Larson in 1911. Martha was born in 1884 north of Park River. As a young woman, she had homesteaded near Stanley and also spent some time in Seattle Wash. Soon after their marriage, they began farming 160 acres three-fourths of a mile north of Paul Flatens. This tract of land is now owned by George M. Walstad - 158 N. Range 54 W in Glenwood Township. In 1920 Martha's father died, leaving her an inheritance of 160 acres of land, three mUes west of the home place. Peter and Martha Knoff had six sons. They are: Leonard, bom in 1912, who Uves in Sious Falls, S. Dak.; Ervin, 1914-1965, Glenwood, Minn.; Raymond, 1916-1959, Drayton; Leroy, 1918-1974, East Grand Forks, Minn.; Agdur, bom in 1920, Park River; and Glenn, 1928-1975, Grafton. Martha died in 1939 at the age of 55. When Peter Knoff died in 1952, his six sons were his pallbearers. The

Knoff families are grateful to the Zion Lutheran Church community south of Hoople. Martha, Peter, Raymond and Glenn were laid to rest in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Ervin was buried at Glenwood, Minn., and Leroy at East Grand Forks, Minn. As a famUy, we were taught to love God and country. One son, Leonard, became a pastor and Raymond farmed. Four of Peter and Martha's sons served in the service of their country during World War II. Ervin, Leroy, Agdur and Glenn served in the army. When Leroy was in the mUitary police and Ervin in a tank division, they met at the front lines in Germany. Leroy, who had a day off duty, moved up to the front Unes in order to see his brother, Ervin. Needless to say, Ervin was temporarUy speechless. There, they had their picture taken near Ervin's tank. Also, they tore a Nazi flag in two and agreed to sew it back together when they were re-united back home: This they were able to do in Ervin's home in Glenwood, Minn., in 1946. And so, as a family, we must say to God and Country: "Tak for Alt!" Submitted by Leonard P. Knoff. THOMAS KNUDSON

Tom Knudson Family Thomas Knudson was bom Oct. 11, 1827, in Bergen, Norway. He came to Fertile Township in 1878, fUed for a homestead. He was the first setUer in FertUe Township, Uved there until his death April 10, 1907. He was a ship carpenter and had been around the world. He came to Fertile Township by covered wagon drawn by oxen. He married Anne Serene Matrinseth Dec. 3, 1879. She was born Jan. 3, 1844, in Kongsberg, Norway, died AprU 12, 1925, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Clemenson, in FertUe Township. It is a coincidence that Mrs Knudson passed away on Easter Sunday morning, as her favorite hymn was "Easter Morning" or "Paaske Moorgen Slukker Sorgen." She was buried beside her husband in Zion Cemetery. Mrs. Knudson came with her parents, Martin and Guro Olsen, Christiana, Norway. She was the first bride in Zion Congregation. The pioneers met for church 434

Clemenson, Lovell, Wyo. Myrna Clemenson of Tigard, Ore., and one granddaughter, Kristin Lee, daughter of Richard and Ruth Clemenson. Submitted by Irene Clemenson.

services every three weeks for over two years in the Knudson log house. This was the beginning of Zion Lutheran Church. The first minister was Rev. 0. H. Aaberg, who drove with horses from Grand Forks. Thomas Knudson was one of the first trustees of the church. They had two children - Hilda, bom Aug. 4, 1880, and Mary, born Sept. 6, 1882. Hilda Knudson married Henty Clemenson of Horace, Aug. 30,1904. Hilda was one of the first white girls bom in Fertile Township. They had five children, Ethel, Lenore, Ruby (all Uve in CaUfornia) and Arnold and TUphare in Walsh County. Henry, Hilda's husband, farmed this homestead, still in the Clemenson family, owned by Ethel. Martin and Guro Olsen, Mrs. Knudson's parents, Uved with the Thomas Knudsons. Martin died Nov. 27, 1908. He is buried at Zion Cemetery. Guro Olsen died Nov. 25, 1891 and is buried at Zion. Mrs. Henry Clemenson died Aug. 21, 1941, and is buried at Zion. Henry Clemenson died Feb. 8,1954, and is buried at Zion. Mary Knudson moved to California as a young woman. She died June 20,1970. She had a daughter, Beatrice. She Uves in Los Angeles. Thomas Knudson was bom Oct. 11, 1827, in Bergen, Norway. He came to Fertile Township in 1878, f Ued for a homestead, the first settler in Fertile Township. He lived there until his death April 10, 1907. He was a carpenter and had been aU around the world. He came to Fertile Township by covered wagon drawn by oxen. He married Anne Serene Martinseth, Dec. 3,1879. She was born Jan. 3, 1844, in Kongsberg, Norway. She came with her parents, Martin and Guro Olsen, from Christiana, Norway. She was the first bride of Zion Congregation. They had two children, Hilda, born Aug. 4, 1880, and Mary born Sept. 6, 1882. Hilda was one of the first white children born in Fertile Township. Hilda married Henry Clemenson of Horace on Aug. 30, 1904. Henry, Hilda's husband, farmed this homestead for many years, which is still in the Clemenson family, owned by Ethel, now. Henry and Hilda had five children, Ethel Page, Gardena, CaUf.; Mrs. Sig (Lenore) Jangaard, Culver City, Calif.; Mrs. WUliam SmaUey (Ruby) Gardena, Calif.; Arnold and TUphare farm in Walsh County. Martin and Guro Olsen, Mrs. Knudson's parents, lived with the Tom Knudsons and were members of Zion Congregation. Mary Knudson moved to California when a young woman. She has one daughter, Beatrice, Uving in Los Angeles, CaUf. Ethel Clemenson married Charles Page in St. Joseph, Mo., in 1934. Her husband passed away in 1938. She lives in Gardena, Calif., now. Lenore married Sig Jangaard in Santa Ana, Calif. They now live in Culver City, CaUf. They have two children, Spencer Jangaard of Lennox, CaUf., and Mrs. Dan (Lavon) Daniels of Lincoln. Ore. Ruby married WUliam SmaUey. They Uve in Gardena, CaUf. They have two children, Mrs. Ervin (Sharon) Cooley, Fountain VaUey, CalU., and Darryl SmaUey of Simi VaUey, CaUf. Arnold married Oleanna Helgeson of Grafton. They have two chUdren, Mrs. Calvin (Bonita) Clark, Jr., of Newport Beach, CaUf., and Rodney Clemenson, Grafton, and one granddaughter, Lisa Anne Clark. TUphare married Irene Thompson. They have three children. Richard Clemenson of Hoople and Janice

GULBRAND H. L E E Gulbrand H. Lee was bom in 1850 in Aadalen, Norway. He married Thorine Fosholm Storkson in Norway and they immigrated to the United States in 1877. They first settled in southern Minnesota, where then first two children were born, Anna in 1877 and Henry G. in 1879. When Henry was nine months old they moved to Walsh County and fUed a claim in Prairie Centre Township near Veseleyville. Two more children were born there, Gena in 1881 and John, 1885, who died in infancy.

Gulbrand Lee Family—Henry Lee and Gena Lee (Hanson) The early years were rugged and Gulbrand told many stories of the hardships that settlers endured. When they arrived in Grand Forks on then way to Walsh County, Gulbrand, a tall strong Viking, carried the trunks on his back across the river so they would not get wet. To insure free transportation in a covered wagon for his famUy, Gulbrand herded cattle from Grand Forks to Grafton. The first year, after breaking sod, Gulbrand walked to Hatton where he worked during the harvest for Fingar Enger, an acquaintance from Norway. Enger employed 30 hired men and later became a bonanza farmer. Gulbrand made enough money to last through the first winter. Gulbrand and his neighbor and good friend, Engebret Birk, helped one another in many ways. Thenwives exchanged midwife favors when Gena Lee and Pete Birk were bom. The chUdren were also baptized in the same water in one of the homes. One of the saddest stories Gulbrand told was when then- oldest daughter, Anna, died on Christmas Eve at the age of seven, after a lingering iUness termed brain fever. Gulbrand went out to the granary that night and made a rough box to bury his chUd. Thorine stayed in the house with Henry and Gena whUe Gulbrand, grief stricken, did what he had to do. Imagine the agony for them on the prairie, alone! Anna was buried on the homestead and later reburied in the cemetery when 435

South Trinity Church was established. She was the first to buried at the church site. Mrs. Lee's father, Mr. Fosholm, came to America when he was in his 80's, but lived only three months, due to the difficult voyage at that age. He was also buried in South Trinity Cemetery. Gulbrand used to tell of walking to Grand Forks for supplies and carrying 100 pounds of flour on his back to the homestead. A more humorous story was when he built a sleigh in the house and had to take it apart to get it out the door - no shops in those days! The prairie settlers bought acreage in the woods near Sweden, where they put up their supply of firewood for the year. They would be gone for weeks while the wives and children stayed home in their sod houses. The pioneers met in the homes for church services and later established South Trinity Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were charter members. As it was the custom to rest the oxen, Gulbrand unloaded his trunks on the land that he had his eye on and later bought, located in the Norwegian settlement. This farm had a "For Sale" sign posted as he drove by one day and Gulbrand bought it. Here he built a lovely frame house when Henry and Gena were small children. Henry later owned it and now his son, Lawrence, owns the farm. Gulbrand's neighbor at this location was Engebret Bnk, who also bought a farm next to South Trinity Church. Again the good friends were neighbors at their new locations. Gulbrand lived a long, good Ufe, helping many friends and relatives with money for passage to America. On one of his trips to Norway he brought back a 13-year old nephew, Erick Lee, whose parents were both dead. Erick made his home with the Gulbrand Lees and was treated as their own son. Gulbrand and Thorine retired and bought a home on Cooper Avenue in Grafton. Mrs. Lee died in 1921. Gulbrand died in 1938 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Eddie Hanson. Submitted by a granddaughter, Mrs. Linden Tharalson. TVER IVERSON LJONE Mr. and Mrs. Iver Iverson Ljone and their son, Christ, moved to Dakota Territory in 1877 from Iowa. They made part of the trip in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, then they continued on by boat to Fisher's Landing, crossing the river by ferry and then on to Grafton by wagon and oxen. They settled on a quarter of land seven mUes west and one mUe north of Grafton in Section 13 in Fertile Township. Later, Iver acquired two more quarters of land in Section 24. They were charter members of Trinity Lutheran Church. Iver helped organize it and served as one of the first trustees and one of the first Sunday School assistants. Johanna was one of the first officers of the Ladies' Aid when it was organized in 1886. The home place was sold to Rev. Peter Nykreim and they moved to a farm of theirs about one and one haU miles south. They lived on this place untU moving to Grafton. Besides their son, Christ, they had an adopted daughter, Ida. Mrs. Iverson is remembered as being patient and kind to children. She would always take time to play

games with them when they came to visit, so it was a place where children enjoyed going. When they left Grafton they moved to Evert, Wash. Iver was bom in 1846, died June 23, 1910. Johanna was born in 1854, died Sept. 13, 1913. Their homestead is owned by R. W. Hanson of Grafton. The next farm they moved to, belongs to Oscar Almen and their third quarter, which never had a dweUing house on it until recent years, is owned by Herman Lee. They planted a grove of trees and built an aU new, modem farmstead on it. I'm sure the Iversons would be weU pleased ii they could see things now. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

This farm once belonged to Iver Iverson Ljone. It is now the Herman Lee farm. OLE LUNDBY FAMILY Ole Lundby was bom in Norway and Uved at Ridgeway, Nebr., for a few years. While there, he met and married Gustava Peterson, who was from the same part of Norway. She came to America with her parents, crossing the ocean in a sail ship. The trip took them two months. . Ole and Gustava came to FertUe Township in 1880 and filed on a homestead. They had seven chUdren, Emma, OUve, Gina, Otto, George, Elmer and one son that died in infancy. Ole died Jan. 8,1903, and is buried at Concordia Cemetery beside Otto, OUve and baby. Gustava sold her farm in FertUe, moved to Fairdale with George and Elmer, Uved on a farm there. In 1912 she moved into Fairdale where she Uved untU 1928, then moved to the Ebenezer Home in Minnesota. She died in 1932 at 81. She wasburied at the Ebenezer Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson. m

< O O A

OLE G. MANDERUD Ole G. Manderud, 1844-1916, was bom on NordManderud, Nes, Romerike, Norway, one of four children - two brothers and one sister. He came to Walsh County in the late 1870's or early 1880's when the area was stul Dakota Territory. He walked to the area to find land for homesteading. Most of his travel was by walking and family history notes he walked to Grand Forks for provisions, sometimes swimming swollen rivers and creeks with his supplies strapped to his back. In 1882 Ole G. Manderud bought 160 acres, the SEV4 of Section 29 Township 156 N. Range 53 W., from the United States Government. This is located one-hatf mile west of Voss. 436

June 3, 1882, he married Caroline Christoferson, daughter of Ole Christoferson. She came to Dakota with her parents by covered wagon from Stevens Point, Wise, at the close of the Civil War and lived on a farm east of Grafton. Ole and Caroline sold their farm near Voss and bought a farm in Fertile Township in 1890, S '/a of the NW'/t Section 10 and the NW'/. of the SW'/. Section 10 Township 157 N Range 54 W, where they lived the rest of their lives. Manderud was a musician, having played in bands and orchestras in Norway as a youth. He taught music in his home to area youth and organized and directed the Mandt band. Nine children were born to Ole and Caroline Manderud, two died young: Betsey was born in 1883, died in 1885; Tina was born in 1901, died in 1901. The others were: Gilbert, married Mary Tollef son, farmed near Goodridge, Minn., died in 1953; John farmed the family farm, died in 1945; Olea married Hermin Skjerven, farmed with her husband near Kandahar, Sask., died in 1941; Oscar married Mary Monsebroten, farmed in Fertile Township, died in 1965; Ida married Aimer Paulson, farmed with her husband near Hoople, died in 1956; Anna mamed Oscar Monsebroten, they were in the grocery and clothing business, lives in MinneapoUs; and Helen married PhilUp Hagen who was with the State Seed Department for many years. They live in Fargo. Submitted by Omen Manderud. JENS E . M A R K U S E N F A M I L Y

the wagons, while the children hung onto the outside to help balance it. July 1, 1881, a son, Edwin, was born. A daughter, Jenny, was born Sept. 19, 1885. She died March 8, 1887. Jens also filed on a homestead in Tiber Township in Walsh County. The site of the homestead was N ' / of NE'/. andSW'/. of NE'/. and NW'/. of SE /. of Section 26, Township 158, Range 57. The receipt for this was signed June 2,1884, for $200. The United States patent was dated Nov. 1, 1886. Both homesteads were signed by President Grover Cleveland. Jens was a member of the Red River VaUey Old Settlers Association. He Uved in Prairie Centre Township during the big snow winters of 1888 and 1896. Their house was covered with snow, but Markusen managed to get out through the upstairs window. This was followed by the great flood of 1897, Jens was not at home at the time the flood came as it was his custom to work out logging until field work began. Mrs. Markusen put the children on top of the house, along with the chickens and a pig, and she went to the barn to let the cows out. Soon, the neighbors came by boat to help them. In the early years the famUy lived in a sod hut, later, they built a log house. Grand Forks was the closest town, and Jens would travel by oxen and wagon to take their grain in exchange for flour and other suppUes, camping along the way and sleeping under the wagon. They lived for a time on their other homestead in Tiber Township. Here they also encountered problems as their crops froze. Jens farmed with oxen in the early years. One time he remarked that they must be able to tell time as when that certain time of day came, they would lie down. The Markusens sold their homestead and June 21, 1897, they bought a farm in Fertile Township located N '/ 34-157-54. They farmed until retiring in 1913, when they bought a home in Grafton. Jens E . Markusen was born in Maridalen Christiania, Norway, Feb. 15, 1847, and died in Grafton Oct. 4, 1921. Funeral services and burial were held at South Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Grafton, with Rev. Adolf Egge officiating. Mrs. Jens (Marn) Markusen was born Aug. 9,1847, in Christiania, Norway, and died March 5,1924, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Hans (Liza) Brekke, in Grafton. She was buried March 10 beside her husband. Submitted by Mrs. Albert Erlanson. 2

Jens E. Markusen family - Sitting: Mr. and Mrs. Markusen. Standing, left to right: Mrs. Martin [Hellen] Viger, Mrs. Paul [Mary] Staven, Edwin Markusen, Mrs. Carl [Josie] Torkelson, Mrs. Tollev [Sophie] Staven. Jens E . Markusen and Mam Andrina Brekke saUed to New York from Maridalen, Christiania, Norway, in 1870. They were married in New York, then traveled by train to Greenfield Prairie, Minn., where he had a married brother. The couple made their home there for 10 years. Jens and Marn had four daughters: Mary, born Nov. 7, 1871; Sophie, bom April 9, 1873; Josephine, born Dec. 24,1875; and Hellen, born July 1,1879. A pest called the cinch bug took their crop so in the spring of 1880 they traveled ina covered wagon to Prairie Centre Township and filed on a homestead. They homesteaded in 1882 and received the patent in 1886. He paid $200 for 160 acres. Several families traveled at the same time with the Markusens. Before this caravan could cross big rivers, the men would hang a long log on each side of the wagon to keep them afloat. The oxen would swim across, pulling

Mr. and Mrs. Jens E. Markusen sitting in the buggy. Two girls standing nearby are daughters, Josie and Hellen. Edwin is plowing. Mary, the oldest daughter, is near the house.

the same place all their lives. They were members of the Zion Lutheran Church. Submitted by CUfford I. Mastre.

ISAAC MASTRE In 1879, three covered wagons started out on their long trek from a small community near Fertile, Ia., in search of homesteads in Dakota Territory. One of these covered wagons contained the Nels Mastre family. They arrived in Dakota Territory in June of 1879. As they traveled on to what is now Walsh County, one of the oxen died. They had then arrived nine miles west of Grafton on Section 16. Here they camped while they looked into the possibilities of homestead rights. On this section the old Mastre farm is still located. Isaac N. Mastre, then 19, (one of the Nels Mastre family) saw the potential of this beautiful valley and with the rest of the company, decided to take up homestead rights. Although too young to be registered as a homesteader, he squatted on 160 acres of land, eight miles west of Grafton on Section 22, NE /.. At 21 he became the legal owner. In those years it was difficult to live completely from the farm, so he found employment on a barge at the Red River, bringing in supplies to the settlers of that day. He told of one experience he had while traveling on foot to Grand Forks for groceries. On his return trip home he became so exhausted with his heavy load, he lay down to rest right beside the trail. A fellow settler from that area stopped by his wagon and asked him to go along to his home. It being evening, he invited him to stay for the night. He was invited to partake of the evening meal, which was put on the table in one large bowl and the whole family ate from the one dish. After the evening meal the man of the house went to the hay stack and came in with an armful of fresh hay and made a bed in one corner of the room for him. In return for his kindness, father promised him two sacks of potatoes in the fall from his garden. In the fall, the man came for the potatoes. In 1887 he was married to Anna Prestholt formerly of Iowa. She was staying with her sister and husband who had also homesteaded in this area. They reared seven children, Albert, Gust, Frank, Dora (Mrs. Frank Mininger), Katherine (Mrs. Frank Wine), Ida (Mrs. Henry Amoth), and CUfford.

EVEN T. MIDBOE FAMILY Even T. Midboe came to Fertile Township from Telemark, Norway. He married Gunhild Johnson of Iowa. They bought a farm in Fertile Township where they spent the remainder of their lives and where their children were raised. They were members of Concordia Lutheran Church west of Grafton. Even was Klokker in the church for many years. The Midboe place was the scene of much activity on Sundays. Many of the young people in the community would gather there. Much time was spent singing and playing the piano. They would also enjoy games of Jippy, Horseshoes and Anti-I-Over. Many of the young people would walk, as there weren't many cars in those days. Mrs. Midboe was often seen going to Grafton in the buggy, drawn by one horse. She would stop and water her horse at the Gunder Erickstad place, two miles west of Grafton. They were the parents of 11 children: Laura, Alma, Gena, Tillie, Ragnild, Ida, EUda, Gust, Walter, Clara and Myrtle. Gunhild Midboe died June 6,1917, Even Midboe, Dec. 10,1917. They are both buried in the Concordia Cemetery.

GUNDER N. MIDGARDEN Gunder N. Midgarden came from Nore, Nummedal, Norway, in 1872. He spent three years in Wisconsin. In 1875 he returned to Norway and stayed untU 1878 when he went back to America. He took 39 young people with him. His brothers, Nels and Martin, were part of this group. The brother that stayed behind and took over the farm was still peeved at him years later when he returned home to visit, because as he said "Gunder took all the best young people out of the Nore community over to America." Many of this group stayed in Iowa. Gunder went to Dakota Territory and he walked from Grand Forks to west of Grafton. Iver Iverson Ljone informed lum of a quarter of land next to him that wasn't taken. This was seven mUes west of Grafton, Section 13, Fertile Township. They went into Grafton the next day and fUed on it. He went back to Iowa and married Inga Kollandsrud Jan. 20,1881. She was one of the group of 39 that came in 1878. By spring they were back in Fertile Township. Their first home was made of logs. He also made a lot of the furniture. He was active in church, township, county and state. He was president of the Dundee Insurance Co., South Trinity Church. He served three years in the State Legislature at Bismarck. He was a staunch Republican and never missed voting in an election as long as he lived in Fertile Township. Mrs. Midgarden was one of the first Ladies' Aid officers of South Trinity. Along with her household work, she spent much time sewing. She had the first treadle sewing machine in this community and the ladies in the neighborhood would bring then sewing over and she would stitch for them. She returned to Norway for a brief visit in 1895. They had seven children. Three survived to adulthood, Albert, Ida, and Ingval. Gunder left his homeland, but he hadn't forgotten it.

In 1892 he became affiUated with the Church of God in Christ (Mennonite), and ordained to ministry Dec. 25, 1894. He served as pastor of the Grafton Mennonite Congregation for over 45 years. He also did considerable traveUng in his ministerial work and was interested in the mission outreach. He died in June, 1943, which closed the book of an early settler. Isaac Mastre's parents immigrated to the United States from Brevik, Norway in 1849. Submitted by CUfford Mastre. SIMON MASTRE Simon Mastre came with his father, mother, sisters and brothers in June, 1879, from Fertile, Ia. They came in a covered wagon and settled on his homestead in Fertile Township. Simon was a young man at the tune. He later met and married Minnie Carlson, she was from Arness, Norway. At one time she worked for the Frazers in Grafton. Simon and Minnie were the parents of five children: Edna, Elliott, CUfford, Vernon and Kermit. They Uved on 438

Lutheran Business and Professional Womens Club. She was superintendent of Sunday School for many years and was in charge of the kindergarten department. She took an active part in the Deaconess Hospital Auxiliary and the W. C. T. U. She married Kalb Thorstenson, he was born in Norway and come to America with his family when a young man. He was a member of the Grafton Lutheran Church and the Sons of Norway. Kalb was by trade a carpenter and worked in Grafton for many years. He was also a watchmaker and a barber. They had one son, Arlen. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

He made three trips back to Norway to visit and he left substantial sums of money in trust to be used for the schooling of needy families at Nore. Inga died Aug. 24, 1900, at 45 and Gunder, Dec. 11,1921, age 72. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

Mr. and Mrs. Gunder Midgarden and Ida. Front row: Albert, Emil, Anne. Ida Midgarden Thorstenson. High school days at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.

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He was a member of South Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on the church board and on committees. He took an active part in many organizations - all Masonic bodies, including the Shrine, and the Sons of Norway. He served on the board of the Deaconess Hospital, school board, township and on the election board at Mandt. He was one of the farmers that organized the Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Nash, later named Nash Grain and Trading Co. He served as president of the company's board of directors from 1916-1935. He was interested in politics and in everything that helped make for a better community. When the Grafton Farmers' Club was organized Nov. 10, 1917, he was elected vice-president and held this position for two years.

Land Patent IDA MIDGARDEN Ida Midgarden was born July 22, 1888, in Fertile Township, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gunder N. Midgarden. She attended Sinkler School and also parochial school in the community. She got her high school education and parochial school diploma at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. She attended Valley City State Teachers College. She taught school at Sinkler School, also at Ruthton, Minn., and in the public school in Grafton for several years. She taught parochial school in this community many sessions and at Hoople and Oslo, Minn.

He married Volborg Thorstenson July 31, 1912. She was born in Norway and came to America as a young girl. Mrs. Midgarden took an active part in the South Trinity Church and in community projects. They were the parents of two children, Glenn, killed at Guadalcanal, Oct. 18, 1941, and Mrs. Geoge (Avyce) Nelson.

She maintained her membership at South Trinity Church for a long time, later joining the Grafton Lutheran Church. She was active in the Ladies' Aid there, the Sr. Lutheran League and also belonged to the 439

Albert worked for the P. C. A. as an inspector for a number of years. He is remembered as being easy to get along with. He was a soft spoken man that didn't deem it necessary to pitch his voice to make a point. Albert took things pretty cool. He seldom, if ever, lost his temper. He had the patience of Job. Volborg died Sept. 17, 1943. Albert died March 3, 1965. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

He married Ida Ivesdal. She was born in Grafton Township. At the age of eight, she went with her parents to Norway and spent three years there. When she came back she couldn't speak a word of English, so found it quite a handicap when she started school over here at a country school. She was a graduate of the State Normal School at Mayville and taught school at Cando, Brocket, Adams and in Fertile Township. She was interested in the poultry business and raised a flock of pedigreed White Holland turkeys, some of which won top honors at state, national, and international shows. Her success in the poultry business placed her name among the famous farm women of America. As Ida said, more than once, it's pluck, not luck" that brings success. She was very much interested in politics. They had one child, Mrs. Earl (lone) Anderson. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Midgarden Wedding — July 31, 1912.

Mrs. Ingval Midgarden

Ingval Midgarden

NELS N. MIDGARDEN

Albert Midgarden, a student at the A. C. at Fargo. INGVAL E. MIDGARDEN Ingval was born in Fertile Township May 3,1897. He was the youngest child of Gunder N . Midgarden. He attended Sinkler School, parochial school and went to high school at the W. C. A. S., Park River. After his marriage he moved to a farm one mile south of the home place. Here he built all new buildings. Later, the farmstead was landscaped with a hedge and shrubbery around the house, an orchard was also planted. At one time he was in the gas business in Hoople. About this time Hoople opened its hall for roller skating. Ingval was an excellent skater and spent a lot of time at the hall helping and teaching those wishing to learn how to skate. By nature, he was very kind and good-hearted.

Nels Midgarden immigrated to America from Norway in 1878 at the age of 20. He worked on a farm in Iowa and then went to work on a bonanza farm, north of Fargo, for the fall harvest. Late that faU, carrying all his possessions on his back, he walked to the Warren, Minn., area because he had heard there was homestead land available. He picked out a piece of land that he thought would raise good crops and walked to Crookston to file a claim. At the land office, he learned that the land he had selected had been filed on the day before. With winter coming on, he didn't think he would be able to find an unclaimed homestead so he asked the land office clerk to pick out some land that had not been claimed. When he arrived at his homestead along the Red River just north of the present day town of Oslo, Minn., he was disappointed to see it covered with large trees. Nels and two friends built a cabin for the winter on his homestead. During the winter, he was out hunting deer and froze his feet. One of his feet started turning black so his friends took him to the doctor in Grand Forks. The doctor told him that he would have to cut off his leg because gangrene was setting in. Nels told him he didn't have any money and if he had his leg cut off, he wouldn't be able to work so he may as well die if he didn't get well. His friends left him in the hotel. A couple of days later, one toe was getting so bad that he had to do

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and provided much happiness for Nels and Inger in their later years. Nels and Inger died in 1944 at Hoople. Submitted by Nels Midgarden.

something so he took his hunting knife and cut off his toe. It bled very badly and after he got the bleeding stopped, he went back to the doctor to get it sewed up. The doctor didn't give him much of a chance for recovery, but he sewed up the toe and Nels went back to the hotel. The foot healed and in a few weeks, he was well enough to travel.

The Nels Midgarden family — Top row: Joann, Amund, Alfred, Dewey, Marion. Front row: Gunder, Mr. and Mrs. Midgarden, Christopher. AMUND N. MIDGARDEN I, Amund N. Midgarden (or A. N.) was born to Nels N. and Inger Flaten Midgarden Feb. 22, 1891, at their farm in Glenwood Township. I was baptized into Zion Lutheran Congregation and attended Koler (Glenwood) School District No. 13. I spent two terms at Concordia, Moorhead, Minn., and two terms at Aakers, Grand Forks. Also, one winter short course at Grafton High School. My teen years I spent farming with my family and living there until purchasing a farm from Uncle Krist Bjorneby and marrying Bessie Brubakken at Hoople, Nov. 29, 1928. My public relations, before and after this time, were assessing Glenwood Township for 29 years and treasurer of Zion Congregation and cemetery fund for 30 years or more. Parts of the assessing years, I also served on the election board. I was one of the charter members of Nash Grain and Trading Company. In the early years, I was a member ofthe auditing board and also helped reorganize after financial difficulties. I helped organize and build the first potato house and company at Nash. For one term, I represented our district in the North Dakota Crop Improvement Association. We adopted three children: Marilyn, Robert and Dorothy Ann. Dorothy died in 1946. Marilyn married Robert Meier from Worthington. They live in Sargent Bluff, Ia. They have two girls, Debra Ann and Doris Jean. Robert married Sandra Schrank. They have two boys, Bret Robert and Ryan Amund. They are farming the farm and live there. We live in Park River. Submitted by Amund N. Midgarden.

Mr. and Mrs. Nels Midgarden Wedding—1888 During his stay in Grand Forks, he learned that there was unclaimed prairie land in Dakota so when he left for his cabin, he went home by way of the Ardoch area. The settlers there told him there was land available along the Salt (Park) River, west of the Oakwood area. During the rest of the winter he thought about the treeless, grasscovered prairies that would be so easily plowed up for farming and decided that as soon as the snow was gone, he would go into Dakota and look for new land. That spring, he crossed the Red River and walked west, arriving in the area west of Sweden and found good unclaimed land. He was very anxious to move to this area, but he had the homestead in Minnesota. He borrowed some money from his brother who was still in Iowa and paid up the Minnesota homestead; then filed on the new land about four miles west of the present town of Nash. He built a cabin and worked up some of his land, but spent most of the summer working on the railroad tracks near Grand Forks. During one of his early winters in Dakota, he worked in the store at Sweden. They sold food, supplies, and equipment that the pioneer families needed. One winter he worked for a tailor in Crookston because he had learned that trade in Norway. Each spring, he would plant some wheat and break up some more of his farm and then go to work for the railroad. In the winter of 1885, he went back to visit in Norway and talked his younger sister, Anna, into coming back to America to keep house for him. She married Christ Bjorneby.

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In the fall of 1888, Nels married Inger Flaten. She had moved from Wisconsin with her parents onto a farm two miles west of Nels'. The family and farm expanded and prospered during the years until at the time of their Golden Wedding Anniversary, the farm consisted of over 2,000 acres, farmed by their five sons, Amund, Alfred, Dewey, Gunder and Christ. Their two daughters also stayed close by; Marion (Mrs. Olaf Fedje) inHoople, and Joann (Mrs. Oscar Walstad) farming just west of the Midgarden farm. This kept the family very close-knit

N. N. Midgarden home. 441

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of Myrtle Monsebroten at the age of four. Myrtle died April 19, 1927. Soon after her death, Norman was born April 26, 1927, after which they returned to the original homestead of Nils Monsebroten. Another of their sons, Emil, died Oct. 22, 1968. Gust lives with his wife in Longview, Wash. They have three children. Christ lives with his wife in Park River. They have one son. Ida lives with her husband in the Edinburg area. They have two children; Elmer and his wife in Park River have five daughters. Emil is survived by his wife in Edinburg.They had six children. Norman and his wife in Grand Forks have six children. Inga entered the Lutheran Sunset Home on Jan. 7, 1967, followed by Nobert Feb. 14, 1967, after they had lived in Park River for a number of years. Inga died at the age of 77 on June 17, 1972.

ALFRED MIDGARDEN Alfred Midgarden was born July 20,1896, on the farm of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Midgarden, where he has resided all his life. He is married to the former Beulah Lykken of Milton. Mr. Midgarden and his four children are graduates of the Walsh County Agricultural School, Park River. Children are: Russel, Park River; Paul, Hoople; Joseph and Alice Mae (Mrs. Glenn Moe), Grafton. All the boys are farming in the Hoople area. Mr. Midgarden is a member of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, where he has held offices and has also held various offices in the local school board.

MONS MONSON Mons Monson was bora May 26, 1852, at Aadalen, Norway. He was the son of Mari and Mons Olson Hoghaug. He had three brothers; Anders (Andrew), Ole and Harold, six sisters; Kari, Olia, Anne Marie, Ingeborg, Kjirsti and Kristi. The family emigrated to the United States in 1868. It took them 11 weeks to cross the ocean. Mons Monson located at Castle Rock, Wise, later moved to Osage, Ia., then to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1879. Soon after arriving here he was employed by George K. Dike as a chainman on the government survey crew. The summer of 1879, eight townships were surveyed. In 1879, he homesteaded in Grafton Township. His brother, Ole, settled in Fennimore, Wise. Harold settled at Cummings and Anders in Fertile Township. Kari did not come to America. Olia, Mrs. Blagstvedt, settled at Fairdale before the town was settled. Anne Marie, Mrs. Jorgen Johnson, settled at Fairdale. Ingeborg, Mrs. Peter Sevalrud, settled at Bow Island, Alberta. Kjersti, Mrs. Gilbertson, settled at Halstad, Minn. Kristi died at Grafton. In December, 1880, Mons Monson and Rundhoug Lindelien were married. Rundhoug was born in Norway, Dec. 10,1858, daughter of Ingeborg and Frederick Lindelien. Lindelien was killed in an accident when Rundhoug was a baby. In 1873 she came to the United States with her mother, they settled in Osage, Ia. In March of 1880 she came with her mother to Dakota Territory, traveled by train as far as Crookston, Minn. From Crookston they traveled by wagon and horses. Mrs. Lindelien and Rundhoug filed on adjoining homesteads in Fertile Township. After proving her claim, Mrs. Lindelien lived with her daughter until the time of her death in 1905. She is buried at South Trinity Cemetery in Fertile Township. When Rundhoug and Mons were married in 1880, they lived on her homestead, were there all their married life. They were active in church work. Both were charter members of South Trinity Lutheran Church. Mr. Monson was a director of the Grafton National Bank and an active worker in community affairs. They had 10 children: Martin Oscor, born Aug. 7, 1881, never married; Olaus Frederick, born April 2,1883, married Clara Hove July 13, 1918, had two sons; Ida Mathilda, born May 14,1886, married Rangvold Strand, they had no children; Alfred Theodore, bom Jan. 31, 1887, married Annie Barstad in October, 1937, they had no children; Magna Regina, born Aug. 25, 1890, married

Nels Midgarden farm home, now Alfred's home. NILS MONSEBROTEN Nils Monsebroten lived with his family, his parents and his brothers, Andrew, Ole, Hokin and an adopted brother, Ole and one sister, Christine. Nils moved from Norway to Iowa in 1871. He resided in Iowa for two years and then moved to North Dakota. Nils homesteaded six miles west of Grafton on Northwest Section 19. He married Kjistina Torgeson, originally from Snorurn, Norway. At the time of her marriage to Nils, she was employed at the hotel in Park River. They were married in the early 1880's. Nils Monsebroten and a neighbor would walk to Grand Forks to get supplies and groceries and walk back. Eventually, Sweden, a little town in the Nash area, was formed and necessary supplies could be obtained there. Prices at Sweden were high because supplies were hard to come by. Nils and Kjistina's household consisted of Nobert, Gustav, Annie, Karn, Elizabeth, Oscar, Otto, Torbel, Marn, Torval and Engvald. The first meeting to decide the building of South Trinity Church was at the home of Nils Monsebroten. Nils started his homestead with oxen and later got horses. A few years after building his home and beginning his farming, Nils was tempted to sell everything, including his house, oxen and horses and one quarter of land, to a neighbor for $5,000. He thought he would return to Norway. However, things looked up and be decided to stay. Nils, at the ageof 60, diedNov. 1, 1911. His wife died June 18, 1934. The eldest son and sole survivor now resides at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton. Nobert is 87. Nobert married the former Inga Clemenson (born Sept. 21,1895) from Horace, Minn. Nobert and Inga were married Sept. 24, 1913. Karl Clemenson was the best man, while Mary Monsebroten served as the maid of honor. Nobert and Inga moved to the Nash area. The Nobert Monsebroten family consists of Gust, Ida, Christ, Elmer, Emil, Myrtle and Norman. Measles took the life 442

to Gulbrand Lee he moved to Park River. He didn't retire from church work completely as it is remembered he helped Pastor Gulseth in the Golden and Lampton Townships. Something remembered about the Nykreim's place in Park River, is the blue fence he had around the yard. It was all blue, that is it was, until one Halloween night when some young fellows decided to paint every other picket white. Wonder if Pastor Nykreim ever found out who the painters were? Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

Albert Hove Dec. 18, 1912, had six children; Carl Edward, born Nov. 24, 1888, married Ida Rundhoug in October, 1925, had three children; and Oscar Adolph, born Jan. 5, 1894, never married. Clara Othilia, born Nov. 24, 1896, married Alvin Sandvig in November, 1919. They had five children. Mr. Sandvig died in June, 1929. In April, 1937, Clara married Otto Hove. They had one child, Gustov Peter, born Dec. 9,1898, he married Olga Rundhoug in 1923. They had five children. Emma Theoline, born March 1, 1903, married Joel Fretheim Feb. 15,1922. They had nine children. Mons Monson died in October, 1921. Mrs. Monson continued living on her homestead with her two unmarried sons until her death Jan. 31, 1939. Mr. and Mrs. Monson are buried at South Trinity Cemetery in Fertile Township. Mr. and Mrs. Monson were unusually industrious and resourceful people and they conquered the frontier difficulties of the prairies. They were kindly people and highly regarded in the neighborhood. Submitted by Mrs. Willard Anderson.

REMINISCENCES F R O M NORTH TRINITY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK Mrs. Emma Dahl and Mrs. Hilda Larson recollect their instruction period for confirmation. The former walked seven miles to Pastor Nykreim's home once each week arriving at ten o'clock in the morning. Since the pastor was also engaged in farming, his wife would signal to him in the field by the means of a flag placed conspicuously on the house corner; the flying flag indicated that all members of the class had arrived. Mrs. Larson recalls an extra period of relaxation at one time when the signal flag had fallen down. Mrs. Dahl marvels at the industry and kindness shown by Mrs. Nykreim, the pastor's wife. At each weekly meeting of the class she served dinner to all members; if the afternoon sessions were longer than usual, she often served lunch.

B E R N A R D NILSON Bernard Nilson was born Jan. 3,1887, at Kongsberg, Norway, the son of Olaf Anton Nilson and Thea T. Nygard. He left Norway in the fall of 1902 and arrived in Fertile Township January, 1903. He made his home with the Oscar Johnson family where he was employed as a farm laborer for several years. His brother, Erling, also came to this area with two sisters, Jenny and Karen. One brother, Oivand, remained in Norway, as did one sister, Esther, and three half sisters, Hannah, Austrid, and Ruth. He became a United States Citizen by Naturalization March 24, 1914, at Grafton. March 30, 1918, he entered the United States Army and served with Company I, 139th Infantry, 35th Division of American Expeditionary Forces in France. He was honorably discharged from the army May 2, 1919. He returned to Fertile Township and again made his home with the Oscar Johnson family until his marriage to Clara Paulson June 8,1921. Clara was the daughter of John Paulson and Caroline Anderson of Glenwood Township. They farmed in Martin Township for two years before returning to Fertile Township where they farmed until retirement in 1957. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary June 8, 1971. Bernard and Clara had three children, Ardis (Mrs. H. J . Karban), Hetland S. D., and two sons, Paul and Carl, both of Hoople. He lived out his days on a farm in Fertile Township and died Aug. 9,1971, at Grafton. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, where he was laid to rest on Aug. 12, 1971. Submitted by Carl Nilson, Hoople.

From July until December the class met weekly for a full day's session. During this period they covered their catechism three times. They also studied Bible history, psalms, hymns and the New Testament. On the day of confirmation the service lasted from ten until four o'clock with the confirmants standing most of that time. Early instruction was in both Norwegian and Swedish languages; later English was added and eventually was used exclusively. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson. SAMUEL J . P E O P L E S F A M I L Y Samuel J. Peoples was born in Brookville, Ont., in 1864. He married Sarah Darry at Smith Falls Ont., in 1887, she wasbornin Jasper, Ont., in 1865. They moved to the United States in 1889 arriving at Fisher, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. People located at Mimo in 1889, farmed there for two years, then moved to Park River, where he bought land in Fertile Township. They lived there until Mr. People's death in 1946. Peoples and two sons, Franklin and Robert, both bom in Canada, went to western Canada in 1905, and proved up land. Peoples returned to Park River, his sons farmed the land in Canada. Peoples was known for his Hereford cattle, was a cattle buyer and a diversified farmer. He was active in church work, was an Elder for many years in the Methodist Church, served on the school board. Mrs. Peoples was active in church work, holding offices in the Rebeccah Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star. Peoples also was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and Masonic Lodge.

P E T E R A. N Y K R E I M Peter Nykreim was born in Norway in 1839. He served as pastor for "Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Congregation" from 1884-1891. In 1885 this congregation was divided and became North Trinity and South Trinity. Nykreim, besides being a pastor, was a farmer. He bought the Iver Iverson Ljone farm and farmed in Fertile Township for several years. When he sold his land

Mr. and Mrs. Peoples had eight children: Franklin, deceased; Robert, North Battleford, Canada; Mrs. Charles (Pearl) Abbey, deceased; Mrs. Edwin (Gertrude) Taylor, Portland, Ore.; Milton, Park River; Mrs. 443

prompted him to journey to the new land. His eldest daughter, Ann, was interested in a young Scot, Louis McPherson, who had gone to America and the Robbie family followed soon. They made the voyage in 1887. I remember my grandmother telling me about standing on the deck ofthe ship when they saUed into the harbor. The rest of the family were seasick but she and her father remained on their feet. The Robbie family spent their first winter in Herman, Minn., and arrived in the Park River area in 1888. They received their Homestead Claim on June 7 for the SE'/4, Section 3, Vernon Township. Later the family moved to Park River. Sons Andrew and John retained the farming interest for a few years. My grandmother, Jane (Jennie), joined the Brown and Bond MiUinery and Dressmaking Shop, sewed there several year. Dressmakers like my grandmother would also accept sewing positions in peoples homes. The last such engagement my grandmother had was with the Dougherty family in Park River. She worked evenings on her own wedding dress, was entertained by the antics of the Dougherty boys, Harold and Walter. Jane (Jennie) Robbie married John Peoples Dec. 31, 1902, and moved to Voss for about three years. In 1905 they moved to FertUe Township near Park River and joined the Scotch settlement there.

Edward (Florence) Eastgate, Larimore; Mrs. Frank (Ethel) Barnard, East Grand Forks, Minn.; and Clinton, Grafton. Mr. Peoples died in 1946 and Mrs. Peoples in 1958. JOHN PEOPLES

John and Jennie Peoples John Peoples was born Feb. 2, 1872, in Donnegal, Ireland, died June 15, 1938, at Park River. The Peoples family came to Voss in 1890, settled there 12 years. Economic conditions were bad in Ireland, they came to America to seek a better living. John Peoples married Jane Fairly Robbie Dec. 31, 1902, moved from Voss to Fertile Township near Park River about 1904 and became part of the Scotch settlement. They had six children. Elizabeth, never married, deceased; William, Lois Peoples Mclntyre, deceased; Althea Peoples Peoples, Walter and Harold. John's sister, Marjorie, married a distant cousin, Harry Peoples. They moved from Voss to Fertile Township. Harry People family, John H. and Martha migrated from Ireland earlier than the John Peoples family. Harry Peoples' parents worked for the DuPonts in Delaware. Harry Peoples was born in Delaware, when he was three weeks old the family moved to Ontario because of the war. they managed to bring all the relatives over here and when Harry was about 20, he returned to the U. S. and joined his cousin, John Peoples, who was farming at Voss. He married Marjorie Peoples. Harry and Marjorie had nine children - Maggie, Eva, Earl, Carl and Cecil (twins), all born at Voss; Lillian, Ann, Myrna, born in Fertile Township. Several died in infancy. Harry, Marjorie and their son, Earl, died in the 1914 flu epidemic within days of each other. Ann and Myrna Peoples were raised by their uncle, John Peoples. Submitted by Doris Jean Bodmer, granddaughter of John and Jennie Peoples.

James and Elizabeth Robbie James and EUzabeth Robbie (parents of Jane) had six children. Andrew Robbie was bom Sept. 6, 1868, died April 30, 1959. He married Ada Harris in 1895. He was employed by Harris Milling Co. from 1888-1896, then moved to Cavalier and opened his own milling business. In 1938 he sold the business to devote full time to his farming and became known as "King of the Potato Industry" in the Red River Valley. Ann Lunan Robbie was born Nov. 25,1869, died AprU 14,1948. She married Louis McPherson Sept. 27, 1888. Jane Fairly Robbie (Jennie) was born Sept. 16, 1871, died Feb. 8, 1961. She married John Peoples Dec. 31, 1902. Elizabeth Ann Robbie was born Aug. 10,1873, died Aug. 20,1877. She was born and died in Scotland. John McDougal Robbie was born March 6,1879, died June 3,1960. James S. Robbie was born July 5,1887, died Feb. 18,1968. James was the only child born in America. Andrew Robbie and one of his grandsons returned to visit the old MiU Homestead in Scotland. The buUdings are still intact. Descendants of the James and Elizabeth family stiU in the area are: W. J. Peoples, Grafton; Paul Peoples,

JAMES ROBBIE James Robbie was bom July 12,1840, in Kirkbuddo, Scotland, died May 1,1904, at Park River. EUzabeth Rea was born Nov. 28, 1843, in Forfarshire, Scotland, died 1919. James and EUzabeth were married July 26, 1867. Robbie had a mUl in Scotland but the "lure" of land 444

Trinity Lutheran Church and helped with its organization. Hakon Skjerven died in September, 1917; Elisa Nov. 21, 1928. Children of Elisa Skjerven were: Sophie (Mrs. Ole Helgenset); Jennie (Mrs. John Viger); born in Norway and Louise (Mrs. Albert Viger); Agnes (Mrs. George Berger); Henry and Herman. These first six were Herman's children. Hakon's children were Helen (Mrs. Elmer Grobell), Edward, died at five; Edward, John and William. Louise, 93, Agnes 88, Helen, 84, and WilUam Skjerven, 74, are the only ones Uving. There are many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren and great, great, great grandchUdren. Louise lives in Mesa, Ariz.; Agnes in Roseau, Minn.; Helen near Seman's Sask., and WiUiam lives at Park River. Submitted by Mrs. Wm. Skjerven, Sr.

Park River; Doris Jean Bodmer, Hoople; Norman McPherson, Park River; Shirley McPherson Lin dell, Park River; Dolores McPherson Tallackson, Grafton; Jack McPherson, Cavalier; and Carol McPherson Askew, Cavalier. Submitted by Doris Jean Bodmer, great granddaughter of James and Elizabeth Robbie. MR. AND MRS. JACOB RONNOLD Hans Jacob Christopherson Ronnold and his wife, Caroline Ronnold (nee Olson), were bom in Ness, Ringerige, Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Ronnold both came to Wisconsin, Ronnold traveling overland to Dakota Territory in 1878 where he homesteaded in Walsh County. Mrs. Ronnold was a sister of Mrs. Julius Iverson, also a Walsh County pioneer. Mrs. Ronnold died in 1893 leaving a young family. In 1896 Ronnold took his four motherless daughters and moved to Dane Co., Wise., where they lived until he died in 1931 at 86. Submitted by LaMae D. Weiland. HAKON AND HERMAN SKJERVEN Two brothers, Hakon and Herman Skjerven, hearing about the rich farm lands of Walsh County, came from Norway by sail ship, railroad, and steamboat in 1881. They came to Prairie Center Township. Herman homestead the NW'A of Section 30 while Hakon homesteaded in the area too, but when he was away working on the railroad, someone jumped his claim. The brothers were born near Oslo, Norway, on the Skjerven farm. Hakon, was born Jan. 31, 1853; Herman Oct. 19, 1859. When they came in 1881, Herman left his wife and two little girls (Jenny and Sophie) to follow when he had established a home. He had married Elisa Jenson in 1878. Elisa was bom in Oslo July 1, 1858. She was a true pioneer and anxious to join her husband in the new land. Taking her two little girls, she came in a sail ship in 1882 to New York, then by train to Grafton to join her husband on the homestead. In December, 1888, Herman died leaving her with six small children. Hakon Skjerven worked on railroad building. He told of working near Devils Lake and the lake was so big, steam ships were on it. In 1884 Hakon bought from Ole Olson Melem the SE'A of Section 34 in Fertile Township for $2,900. Hakon married his brother's widow in 1891. Five children were bom to this union. They moved their buildings, built a new home on the farm in Fertile Township and acquired more land in Fertile. In 1912 they sold their farm in Prairie Centre Township.

The Skjervens—Left to right: Helen, Edward, William, Hakon, John, Mrs. Hakon Skjerven, Sr., Herman, Jr. The second man from the right is a cousin from Norway. MRS. CARL STAVEN

May 6, 1914, Hakon and Elisa joined other members of the Sons of Norway and sailed to Norway to visit relatives and friends. Among the group was North Dakota Governor Gronna. They visited Washington, D. C. en route. They arrived in Norway for the 17th of May celebration. The North Dakota pioneers gave a statue of Abraham Lincoln to Norway. William Sjerven, then 13, went with his folks and remembers the dedication and presentation in Oslo. The Skjervens spent the three months in Norway with relatives. Rumors of World War I hurried the Americans back to the United States. Hakon and Elisa Skjerven were fine Christian people, who taught their children the Norse language in hymns, Bible, catechism, and Bible history. They read and sang in Norwegian fluently. Hakon wrote poetry and verse in Norwegian. They were members of South

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Staven—Wedding Day March 28, 1906. The name of Olga and KaroUn's father was not Hans Hanson, but Hans Eriksen. At the time family names were not compulsory in Norway. The name Eriksen means Erik's son and indicates only that his father's first name was Erik. 445

Hans Eriksen was born at the f armlet of Skarfallet in Nord-Odal, but later his parents and the family moved to another farmlet called Nerhagen which they had bought. At the age of 11 Hans Eriksen worked as a farmhand at the farm Troftbraten. April 4, 1877, Hans Eriksen married Maria Andersdatter Veabraten in Sand Church, Nord-Odal. Their daughter, Anne, had been born in 1876. Ason named Edvard was born in 1879. A short time later Maria died and Hans Eriksen moved as a widower to SorOdal in 1880. Here he got work at the Skarnes bridge which was then being built across the river Glomma. Oct. 17, 1884, he married a second time. His bride was Karoline Olsdatter Horneshytten from a farmlet not far away from Skarnes. There were two daughters in this marriage. Olga was born June 24, 1886, and Karoline was born May 15, 1887. Karoline Olsdatter died May 26, 1887, and was buried at Oppstad Churchyard. At the popular census of 1891 Hans Eriksen still Uved at Skarnes with his three eldest children. Karoline, the youngest, was raised at the farm Snekkermoen. In 1891 Hans Eriksen was employed at the Skarnes railway station. When Karoline was confirmed in 1901, Hans Eriksen Uved in Oslo. It has not been possible to find the year of his death, but it is believed that he died during World War I. As to the other ancestors of Olga Hansdatter I refer to the famUy tree. CARL STAVEN FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. Carl Staven were married March 28, 1906, in Edmore. They lived there untU moving to FertUe Township in 1912. They had four children; Mrs. James Houser (Blanch); Lorney, they both live at Park River; Mrs. Robert Hendrickson (Thelma) Thief River Falls, Minn., and Arnold, rural Grafton, who now farms the land. They also had 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchUdren. Mrs. Carl Staven (Olga Eriksen) was born in Odalen, Norway in 1885, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Erickson. She came to America in 1904 and worked for Tom Thompson of Nash. She had a brother, Edward, who came with her and he worked in Chicago. One sister, Annie, one half sister Annie, one haU brother Arthur Vedbraaten, Uved at Fosston, Minn. Carl Staven was born in a sod house in 1881 in Fertile Township. Submitted by Arnold Staven.

Paul T. Staven family, takenabout 1914. Back row, left to right: Arthur, Jennie, Elmer, John. Front row: Minnie, Father Paul, Herbert, Lloyd, Evelyn, Mrs. Staven, Francis.

THE STAVEN FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Thor Staven, Carolina, Lena, Carl. Standing: Bella, Kristina, Hilda.

Old log house of Mr. and Mrs. Thor Staven, rural Grafton. Thor Staven and his wife, Barbru MyoUd, whom he married in Norway, accompanied by seven of their children - Ame, Truls, ToUef, Paul, Gertrude, Ingvald (Iver) and Knute came to America in 1874. They came to Spring Grove, Minn. Two years later, they moved to LeRoy, Minn. In 1880 they moved to North Dakota to homestead in Prairie Center Township. They Uved in a dugout in the bank of the coulee. It overflowed and water came into the cave. Grandma Staven tied the cradle with the infant Carl close to the ceiUng whUe she worked in water up to her armpits trying to pick together some of the belongings until the men came and helped to get them out. Then they moved into their unfinished log house, where they Uved the rest of their lives. Their other children were Kristine, GunhUd, Bella, Carl, and GUbert. Thor Staven was born Sept. 8, 1820 in Kalstad, but grew up in Trostheim in Flaa, Norway. Thor's father, Aadne Gjeringo, from Gol, was a taUor and woodsman. He was married to Kristi ToUef sdatter Klanter from Gol. Thor Staven married Barbru MyoUd, the daughter of Truls Gjeirteryg and Gjertrude Paulsdatter Reud.

be started. Sigurd had other big plans too, he was going to get married. In spite of all the arrangements that were made their plans didn't work out. The ship and passengers had to sail when the winds were favorable so the marriage didn't take place in Norway. It took the group six weeks to cross the Atlantic.

Barbru came to Ness from a big gaard in Sohdalen. She was bom Sept. 1, 1838. Submitted by Arnold Staven. KNUTE T. STEVENS FAMILY Knute T. Stevens was born Feb. 25, 1872, at Hallingsdal, Norway. He came to this country with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thor Staven when he was two years old. His folks, brothers and sisters traveled to Albert Lea, Minn., in a covered wagon and lived there for some time. In 1880 they moved to Prairie Center Township and were among the early settlers and homesteaders. They lived in a dug-out cellar the first winter and then built a log cabin that stood for about 70 years next to a grove of trees. There were 13 brothers and sisters in the family. As a young man, Knute worked as a carpenter. There are many fine homes and churches that he helped build in that community. In 1911 he married Mary Jams and farmed in Fertile Township. They grubbed and cleared the land. He built the house, the bam, the chicken coop. The family lived in a cook car while he plastered and finished the interior of the house. There were many dances in the big farm kitchen. Then there was the open house party for the new granary when they danced into the night. They had three children, Gilbert, Milton and Martha. Knute and Mary moved to Park River to spend their retirement years and were active in the Federated Church and Mary with the Rebekah Lodge. They have eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Knute died in 1952 and Mary in 1970. Some of his brothers and sisters and their families settled in the community. Paul Staven, whose son, Lloyd, is prominent in Park River. Mrs. Blanche Houser, Lorney and Arnold Staven, children of Carl Staven, a long time farmer. His sister, Mrs. Anton Strand (Lena), and family Uved on the old homestead, their oldest daughter Tilda, Mrs. John Brekke, is weU known in the Park River-Grafton area. Other relatives settled in Minnesota and other states. Knute and Tom believed the proper translation of "Stavn" is Stevens, however, the other brothers prefered Staven, therefore, the difference in name among the brothers and their families. Submitted by Mrs. Martha Sears.

Mrs. Sigurd Sunderland at age 81 years.

Sigurd and Mari were married when they arrived in Staughton, Wise. They Uved here several years, later moving to Minn, and then to Iowa. In 1882 they started for Dakota Territory in two covered wagons drawn by oxen. The trip took 30 days. Jorgen walked barefoot and helped drive cattle most of the 600 miles. The Sunderlands settled on a tree claim four miles northeast of Adams. They had to sell some of their cattle to buy lumber for their house and also to buy a breaking plow. Their first field of wheat was three acres and was seeded by hand. The wheat grew to five feet. Money was scarce and whenfaU came the butter that was intended for table use had to be sold to help buy shoes. Their socks were hand knit from wool Mari carded and spun on her spinning wheel. Mari was an ambitious, cheerful and contented person. She was always ready to lend a helping hand. Word spread about her as a good midwife and settlers came for miles around to get her to help them at chUdbirth. The first five years at Adams were good, but then came three years of drought, no crops, only wUd buckwheat for hay for the cattle. They left SUvesta Township and moved to Fertile Township to a farm that their oldest son, Halvor, had homesteaded. He was sick in the hospital and needed their help. Again they had to build a house. The log house that Halvor had built was only 10x12. They began to prosper again and had profitable years the rest of their lives. Mari was active in church work and the Ladies' Aid. She was a firm believer in the Bible and the Lutheran faith. Sigurd and Mari were the parents of 11 chUdren GunhUd, 1853; Halvor, 1854; Birget, 1855-1861; Jorgen, 1859-1860; Jorgen, 1861; Torje, 1863; Torkel, 1866; Birget, 1869; Edward, 1871; Turi, 1874; and Martin, 1876. The older children had homes of their own by now, Martin their younger child was the only one left at home

JOHN SUDA FAMILY John Suda and his wife, Anna Janousek Suda, and their children, all bom in Czechoslovakia, came to this country and settled in Wisconsin in 1881. In 1887 with horses and wagons, they came to North Dakota and settled in Fertile Township. They raised a family of one daughter and two sons and one adopted son. James Suda married Elizabeth Dusek. She died in 1907, then he married Katherine Karnik. Anna Suda married Frank Dusek. Frank J. Suda married EUzabeth Lovin. Frank Suda married Anna Janousek. They were members of St. Luke's CathoUc Church at VeseleyvUle. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson. SIGURD SUNDERLAND Sigurd Sunderland was born in Telemark, Norway, March 7,1823. In 1851 he decided to go to America. Much preparation was necessary before the long voyage could 447

to take care of them in their old age and sickness. Mari was in bed the last three years of her life. Sigurd died March 28,1908, at the age of 85. Mari was born Jan. 27,1833. She died March 8, 1914. On her funeral day, Rev. H. 0. Shurson presented a book on sermons for every day of the year, from her, to her children. Martin continued to live here in Fertile Township. He served on the school board at Sinkler School and took an active part in community affairs. He was regular in attendance at church services and he sang in the choir at Zion. He enjoyed music and played in the Mandt Band. He never married. He was born October, 1876, and died in November, 1950. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

Bergit Lokken and Turi Hegland with their brothers, Jorgen, Edward and Martin Sunderland—1937.

GEORGE TALLACKSON FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Tallackson and son, Arthur. Back row: Henry, Sophia, William. Tellef and Susanna Soli arrived in the United States from Telemark, Norway, in 1862, accompanied by their sons, Tollack, George, Jacob, and a daughter, settling in Iowa. George Tallackson (christened Gunder Soli) was born Jan. 18, 1858, at Nisedahl, Telemark, Norway. He married Ingeborg Grovum, nicknamed "Imma," in February, 1878. She was the oldest daughter of eight children born to Halvor and Bergith (Paulson) Grovum, on Aug. 19, 1861, at Perry, Wise. When she was 12 she accompanied her parents when they moved to Fertile, Iowa. George married "Imma" in Iowa when she was 17 years old. George Tallackson migrated to Dakota Territory in 1879 where he homesteaded one mile north of Mandt. Later Mandt was a community with a store and a post office. He was joined by his wife "Imma" and their

daughter Sophia, in the spring of 1880. They traveled from Iowa with "Imma's" mother and her grandparents, Jon and Ingeborg Grovum, in a covered wagon, drawn by stout oxen - a month-long, wearisome journey. Her possessions were a homemade cradle, a small bundle of clothes, one cow "branres" and her dog "Prince," and the family Bible given to her as a parting gift by her mother-in-law, Susanna Soli. They camped at night and she milked the cow. They had a campfire. The women slept in the wagon and the men on the ground. Jon Grovum told a story about the baby pig they took along and put in a wooden box. He had grown so much before they arrived at their destination, he had outgrown the box to the extent that the pig was almost square.

The Halvor Grovum Family Her new home was a small log cabin containing two rooms, three windows and no floor but the hard packed dirt. Her husband had made a crude table and chairs from wooden boxes. Fresh grass and hay in the corner served as a bed. She was happy to have a wooden floor by winter time. The cabin was in the coulee near the thicket. She worked beside her husband in the fields and toiled from morning until night. Her anxiety as she toiled was terrible, as she left her children at home. She was relieved on her return to find her treasures safe. She worked outdoors, sewed, milked the cow, churned the butter, and knit. She carded wool in the winter to knit stockings and mittens. Her only pleasure was to walk across the road to her grandfather's, Jon Grovum, and across the coulee to her parents' home, Halvor and Berit Grovum. Babies were delivered by the neighbor women. They kept the name of Soli until William was born and then changed it to Tallackson. George and "Imma" had nine children: Sophia Bertina, Henry Samuel, twins, Thilde and Luise, Tellef William, Gustav William, Thine Olava, Arthur James, and Phillip Glenarvin. They were members of the Zion Lutheran Church located on the homestead land. The site was either sold or donated to the church by George Tallackson. It is believed George was in the implement business with his older brother Tollack in Grafton for a period of time. For recreation the family played horseshoes and croquet and games they had invented. Imma Tallackson died Dec. 10, 1902 and is buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery with her deceased children, her mother and grandparents. George Tallackson returned to Norway and married Thilda Salas (born Nov. 14,1874, in Mandal, Norway). He

and his second wife came back to North Dakota for a period of time and moved to Bellingham, Wash., in 1914 where he was engaged in real estate on a semi-retired basis for approximately 30 years. He visited North Dakota only once after he left. Thilda Tallackson died July 10, 1944. Her husband, George, died March 20,1946, both are buried in Bay View Cemetery, Bellingham, Wash. Their daughter Sophia married T. A. Swiggum, Henry Samuel married Adella Hendrickson, Tellef William married Hannah Almen, James Arthur married Mabel McDougal and Phillip married in Washington but died as a young man. Arthur James lived on the old homestead until 1965. All the children have died except William (Bill) Tallackson, now a resident of the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton. Bill is the only living member of the George and Imma Tallackson family. There are 15 grandchildren and many many great grandchildren. The homestead remains in the family, now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Tallackson (son of Arthur James Tallackson), who operates the farm along with his son, Thomas Keith, and his wife, Diane. Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson.

president of the Corps for N. D.; and a member of the Pioneer Daughters of Pembina County, N . D. They were the parents of five children: Harvey, Adeline, Ardell, Thomas A., (George), Jr., and Elaine Sophia (now Mrs. Donn John Robertson). Mr. Swiggum died Nov. 30, 1961, followed by the death of his wife, Sophia, March 11, 1970. They were preceded in death by son, Ardell, and daughter, Adeline. Both are buried in Zion Lutheran Church cemetery at Hoople and son Harvey, buried with his parents in Grand Forks. In addition to George and Elaine, there are 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren remaining in this family. Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson.

Sophia and Arthur Tallackson with their mother, Imma Tallackson. Mr. and Mrs. Halvor Grovum, grandparents of Arthur and Wm. Tallackson. SWIGGUM FAMILY Sophia Bertina (Soli) Tallackson was born Aug. 16, 1879, at Fertile, Ia., daughter of George and Ingeborg (Imma) Tallackson. She moved to the Grafton area in 1880 with her parents, who homesteaded in the Mandt area. She was educated at Grafton High School and at the Grand Forks Business College. Sophia married Thomas A. Swiggum Aug. 29,1900, at Mandt. He was born April 26,1875, at Sogn, Norway, and came to the Grafton area in 1893, where he worked in a general store and attended school. He enlisted in the U. S. First N. D. Volunteers, Co. C of Grafton, on April 26,1898, and served in the Spanish-American War and in the Philippines before his discharge on Sept. 26, 1899. Following their marriage, the couple moved to Grand Forks, where Swiggum was affiliated with grocery firms and the Grand Forks Mercantile until 1922 when he became sales manager for the North Dakota State Mill and Elevator. Mrs. Swiggum was a continuous member of the United Lutheran Church, serving as first president of the Ladies Aid from 1926 to 1927; a member of Chapter 12 of the Eastern Star and in 1965 was presented with a 50-year membership pin; a past president of the G. F. Central H. S. PTA from 1924 to 1925; past president of the Women's Relief Corps Auxiliary and later senior vice

HENRY TALLACKSON FAMILY Henry Samuel Tallackson was born Dec. 28,1882, in Fertile Township, the son of George and Ingeborg (Imma) Tallackson. He married Adella Hannah Hendrickson, born in 1885 at Spring Grove, Minn., in 1904 at Hoople. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hendrickson of Hoople. She had three brothers: Russell, George and Norton. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tallackson lived in Hoople where Mr. Tallackson was a partner in a general mercantile store with his father-inlaw for 10 years. The family moved to Grand Forks in 1926 where Mr. Tallackson was affiliated with Smith, Follette & Crawl Company until he retired and moved to Bellingham, Wash., in 1938. Tallackson was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hoople. Mrs. Tallackson was a member in the United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks and a member of the Eastern Star. They were the parents of three children: Ernest Newman, Mae Beatrice, and Harlan Grant. Mrs. Tallackson died Dec. 18, 1941, followed by the death of her husband in 1964. Both are buried in Bellingham, Wash. They were preceded in death by their son, Ernest, who died from a heart attack at age 51, aboard ship en route home from Alaska.

In addition to Mae and Harlan, there are six grandchildren and three great grandchildren remaining in this family. Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson. ARTHUR JAMES TALLACKSON

Arthur Tallackson, Sr. Family—Back row, left to right: Bert, Ross, Mother (Mabel), Father (Arthur), Harvey. Front row: Ruthie, Arthur, Jr., Faye, Doris. Art, as he was known, was born March 5,1895, on the farm homestead in FertUe Township. His parents were Ingeborg (Imma) and Gunder (George SoU) TaUackson. His grandparents, Ingeborg and Jon Grovum, homesteaded the famUy farm. He was the fourth of five Uving children. The others were Sophia Bertina (Mrs. T. A. Swiggum), Henry Samuel, ToUef WiUiam, and Phillip. Four other children died as infants. Art's mother died when he was seven years old, after which Art and PhUlip were placed in an orphanage for care. His father married Thilda Soloas on Feb. 29, 1904, and Art and PhiUip were then brought back to the family farm. Art spent the years between 1904 and 1919 working on his father's farm and attending Fertile School District No 62 for eight years. Baseball and the local Mandt Community Band plus the church Luther League (young people's club) were activities which kept his attention when he wasn't working on the farm. In 1919 Art started farming near Niverville, Man., south and east of Winnipeg. There he met Mabel McDougald, Medora, Man. They were married April 22, 1921. They farmed another year in Manitoba and then moved back to FertUe Township and farmed with Art's brother, BiU. Bothf amUies lived in the big farm house on Section 9 which had been built by their parents in 1904. Art and his famUy Uved upstairs and Bill and his family downstairs. In 1928 BiU and his wife, Hannah (Almen), and their two daughters buUt a house about a mile east and south of the homestead, and Art and Mabel continued to Uve on the home farm until 1965. Art worked hard on the farm. Mabel also worked hard to raise a large f amUy. Mabel and Art talked about the hard times they had during the Depression. Mabel always had hired men to cook for. The hired men stayed on the farm in summer for wages; and in winter they did chores and got room, board and money. So Mabel worked

many an evening to get things caught up for the next day. In 1939-40 they remodeled the large farmstead. Mabel and Art were members of Zion Lutheran Church which was located one-half mile north of the farm. Zion Church was built on Art's grandfather's land. Art raised foxes of many dUferent breeds and sold the pelts. He had up to 120 foxes at one time and continued raising foxes until 1942. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman and brought home many trophies, including black and grizzly bear, moose, elk, and mountain goats and sheep, and caribou. Some places he hunted were in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming and northern Canada. Art was one of the first in the community to use a swather and combine and to mechanize potato farming. He buUt many of the farm labor saving machines which included a potato cutter, potato tuber unit planter, and a grain swather. Art was founder and first president of the Walsh County Gun Club, the Walsh County Curling Club, and the Walsh County WUdUfe Association. He was a candidate for sheriff of Walsh County in the thirties and said many times he was happy he wasn't elected because then he might have given up farming. He was president of the Red River Oil Development Company from 1948 until 1952 during which time an oU exploration weU was drUled west of Grand Forks to a depth of nearly 3,000 feet, then declared a dry hole. Art played basebaU for Mandt, hockey for Nash and was a fiddle player and caUed square dances for many Mandt dances. He served as FertUe Township Supervisor and constable and as president and treasurer of Fertile School District No. 62.

Arthur Tallackson, Sr. Family and GrandchildrenBack row, left to right: Lynda Tallackson, Ruth Tallackson, Robert Murie, Mrs. Faye Murie, Mrs. Doris Nelson, Wesley Nelson, daughter, Nancy. Middle row: Debra Tallackson, Thomas Tallackson, Candace Murie, Craig Murie, Lori Murie, Kim Nelson, Jim Tallackson. Front row, seated: Harvey and Glenna Tallackson, Arthur and Mabel Tallackson, Junior and Dody Tallackson. Children in front: Amy Tallackson, Donald Tallackson, Anita Tallackson. Art and Mabel had nine chUdren, six are living. They are Ross Allen, Lakeland, Minn., who married Marilyn Holt in 1946, and Mary Board, 1973; Harvey Dean, who Uves on the home farm, married Glenna Walstad in 1946; Faye Lorraine (Mrs. R. A. Murie), married in 1949,

Uowers, playing the piano, her handiwork and sewing for her family. She died May 9, 1951, whUe visiting her daughter, Avis, in Washington, D. C , and is buried with her parental famUy at North Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Nash, where she was baptized and confirmed. In his earUer days, BiU was an active sportsman, enjoying hunting, playing hockey and basebaU on the Mandt teams; a member of the Walsh County CurUng Club. He was an avid reader, appreciated music, an amateur fiddler and a member of the Mandt band. He was very active in the RepubUcan Party, running unsuccessfuUy for State Representative, Third District, several times. He might well have been termed a "Uberal" party member, freely expressing his views in writing, some editorials having been published in local news media. Bill was a member of Co. C in Grafton, attended Valpraiso Institute in Indiana. He served as assessor for Fertile Township in 1948, was a member of Crescent Lodge No. 11 of Grafton, and a past director of the Nash Grain and Trading Company. BUI and his wife were the parents of two daughters, Avis Marie (Mrs. Jesse B. Bettis of Texas) and Betty Mae Roupe, deceased. He has three granddaughters, two great granddaughters and one great grandson. Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson.

Edgely; Doris Mae (Mrs. Wes Nelson), married Nov. 1956, Devils Lake; Arthur James, Jr., rural Grafton, married Delores McPherson in 1950; Ruth Irene (Mrs. David Schwencker), married October, 1963, Chicago, 111; Raymond John died at five of spinal meningitis; William George died at six months of leakage of his heart; and Bert died at 16 of an accidental gunshot wound. Mabel died July 1,1964. Art had retired from farming in 1961 when Harvey and Art, Jr., took over the farm operation. In 1966, Art married Clara (Hagen) Odegaard at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Art died Feb. 1, 1970, at 74. Clara still resides in Grafton. Mabel and Art have 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. The grandchildren are: Terry Tallackson, Ann Tallackson Theile, Janet Tallackson Slough, Lynda Tallackson Ackert, Thomas Tallackson, Debra Tallackson, Craig Murie, Candace Murie, Lori Murie, Kim Nelson, Nancy Nelson, Steven Nelson, James Tallackson, Anita Tallackson, Donald Tallackson, Troy Schwenker, and Gretchen Schwenker. Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson. TELLEF (BILL) TALLACKSON FAMILY

THOMAS THOMPSON

Wm. Tallackson Family, Fertile Twp. Left to right: Betty, Avis, wife, Hannah, husband, William. Tellef William (Bill) Tallackson was bom Oct. 26, 1886, in Fertile Township, son of George and Ingeborg (Imma) Tallackson. He married Hannah Maria Almen, born July 11,1891, Fertile Township, on Jan. 26, 1917. The ceremony was performed at the home of Rev. David Stoeve, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Forks. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Almen. The couple lived at the Tallackson homestead, engaged in farming. In 1924 Bill's brother, Arthur J., and his family, joined them from Manitoba, the latter living upstairs in what was then a duplex home. The brothers farmed jointly, also operating the Tallackson Silver Fox Farm, which also included raising registered red fox and chinchilla rabbits. In 1928, Bill bought lumber from the dismantled Concordia Lutheran Church and with the help of Gerhard Groven, a neighbor and friend, built a home one mile east of the home place on the south branch of the Park River. He continued farming and raising foxes, discontinuing the latter in the 1930's. He discontinued farming actively in the 1%0's, became ill in 1969, subsequently becoming a resident of the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton in February, 1970, where he continues to Uve. Mrs. TaUackson was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Hoople and its Ladies Aid. She assisted in organizing and actively participated in the Countryside Homemaker's Club. With her role as homemaker and mother, she enjoyed hobbies of gardening, raising

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thompson wedding day, January 27, 1880, at Forest River, North Dakota. Born Jan. 7,1850, in Dane County, Wise, his parents were Kittle and Gunild Thompson. His parents came from Telemarken, Norway, about eight years before he was born. When 16, he struck out for the west. As early as 1876 he made an extensive trip into Nebraska and South Dakota, but that was a period of drought and nothing desirable was found. According to information in an early plat book, Thomas Thompson settled in Walsh County in 1877. He was one of the bachelors on land that was later called Bachelor's Grove. He entered Walsh County in search of a permanent place and final selection was made on the Park River in Fertile Township. He made this his home aU his life and 451

this piece of land is still in the Thompson name. In the spring of 1879 preparations were made for the seeding of wheat. At that time settlers had just started to go west of the Red River, and Acton and Grand Forks were the nearest market towns. During the fall of 1880 most of the grain in Walsh County was threshed by a horse powered rig operated by Mr. Thompson, but owned by one of the early settlers near Acton. In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Thompson hauled provisions and carried mail to Sweden, then a post office near the present site of Nash, from Acton and Grand Forks. He was one of those who helped in the organization of the Zion Lutheran Church and before the church was built, services were sometimes held in the Thompson home. He married Berget Torkelson Jan. 27,1880, at Forest River. The marriage was performed by K. 0. Skatteboe, a Justice of the Peace. Thomas Thompson died at his farm home on May 5, 1934, and is buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Hoople. Submitted by Irene Clemenson and Bernice Hall.

MEMORIES The first church was built in 1883. The first circus and the biggest was in Grafton in 1892. It was Ringling Brothers. The tent seated two thousand people and there were so many people that many had to sit on the ground. Some of the people drove from west of Devils Lake, Langdon, Canada and Minnesota. There was not room for all the people in the hotel, so many slept outside. They parked their buggies and wagons in the area of what is now the Grafton State School. They tied their horses to the wagons and fed that way. The town was not prepared for such a crowd, so it was difficult to feed everyone. The streets were not paved at this time. Grandma, my step-grandpa, Mother and Dad took us children and what a wonderful time we had. It was in June. There were so many clowns and Grandma said she thought they would break their necks. The circus was held east of the old courthouse. It took four long freight cars to carry the circus. They said there were over four hundred horses and lots of elephants. One Hon had three cubs and the mother did not like people to come around. There were other circuses that came to town, but none came up to the one in 1892. There was a big hail storm in 1898. It destroyed everything in its path, four miles wide and nine miles long. My grandmother took some of the small children to the basement. Submitted by Selma Birk. EMERGENCY BEDS

• Thomas and Betsy Thompson Family. George, Joe, Sena, Chester, A. B., Emil, Helga (Goodfellow), Thomas, Lloyd, Bergit, Selma (Birk). BERGET TORKELSON Berget Torkelson was bom in Telemarken, Norway, Sept. 21, 1860, and when nine weeks old sailed for America in a trip that took six weeks. After living in the United States for three years, the family returned to Norway. Six years later, they again came to the United States, settled in Lake Mills, Ia. She came to Dakota Territory in 1879, married Thomas Thompson in 1880 at Forest River. They homesteaded in Fertile Township and lived there until her husband died in 1934. She died in Kalispell, Mont., in 1943 and is buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery near Hoople. Children born to Thomas and Berget Thompson were: Chester, born in 1880; Signa (Sena), born in 1882; Thomas George, born in 1884; Emil Severine, born in 1886; Selma, born in 1888; Elmer, born in 1890, died in infancy; Aimer Benhard, born in 1891; Joseph Theodore, born in 1894; Helga Claudine, born in 1896; Andrew Oliver, born in 1898, died in 1899; and Lloyd Jerdine, born in 1900. The first four children were bom in the log cabin. The rest of the children were bom in the house that was the home where Mr. Thompson died. Submitted by Mrs. T. Clemenson and Mrs. William Hall.

"There were so many grand things about it," she recalls. "One was the small attic where we always kept straw on the floor and a few blankets for an emergency. One night seven men, guided by our light, stumbled in out of the dark, cold and storm. After a hot meal they climbed the narrow ladder to what they afterwards said were the best beds in the world." The Thompsons had 11 children, two dying in infancy and one passing on seven years ago. The living are Joe, George, and A. B. Thompson, all farming near Grafton; Emil in South America; Selma (Mrs. Emil Birk), Miami, Fla.; Sena (Mrs. Albert Thompson), Grafton; Chester, farming near Park River, and Mrs. Edmundson in Fargo. There are 33 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mrs. Thompson found many changes in Fargo in 61 years. But North Dakota is her home and she feels the changes have all been for the better. She was born in Norway, near Christiania, and was 16 weeks crossing the ocean to reach America. LLOYD J. THOMPSON The youngest child bom to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thompson was Lloyd J. Thompson, born in Fertile Township May 30, 1900. Farming was his occupation. He married Miss Stella Almen at Winnipeg Dec. 26, 1926. She died a few days later on Jan. 13,1927. Lloyd died May 29, 1931, and they are both buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Hoople. HELGA CLAUDINE THOMPSON The youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thompson was Helga Claudine Thompson (Mrs. Lyle Goodfellow). She was born in 1896 and died in 1953. She is

buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in California. She was a nurse by profession. She had one daughter, Bonnie Lee, who is living in California. CHESTER THOMPSON

Family of Chester and Mary Thompson. Back row: Chester, Jr., Betty Borge, Edna Gunhus, Robert, Irene Clemenson. Front row: Ernest, Mother (Mary), Emmett, Father (Chester), Thomas, Wallace.

Back: Janice Clemenson, Junice Thompson, Lucyle Thompson, Richard Clemenson, John Ferguson, Mary Thompson. 3rd row: Jack Thompson, Jerry Kinsala, Thomas Thompson, Betty Kinsala Borge, Edna Gunhus, Irene Clemenson, Emmett Thompson, Tip Clemenson, Dorothy Ferguson, Myrna Clemenson, John Kinsala, Sue Gunhus, Dan Thompson, Doug Thompson. 2nd row: Ernest Thompson, Chester Thompson, Jr., Jane Thompson, Chester Thompson, Jeffery Ferguson, James Ferguson, Esther Thompson, Luke Thompson, Wallace Thompson, Scott Thompson, Robert Thompson, Robert Gunhus, Wallace Gunhus, Lorraine Thompson, Annette Kinsala, Judith Gunhus. Front row: Dawn Ferguson, Joann Gunhus, Richard Thompson, Don Gunhus, James Thompson, Mark Thompson, Brian Thompson, John Thompson, Lori Thompson, Kevin Ferguson, Kristy Thompson, David Thompson, Cindy Thompson. Chester Thompson, the oldest child of Thomas and Berget Thompson, was born Nov. 9,1880, in a log cabin in Fertile Township. He was one of the first white children born in Fertile Township. He was educated in the local schools and attended North Dakota State University in 1915. He lived his entire life in Walsh County, with the exception of several winters in Cuba, where his father had a cattle ranch. Mr. Thompson served as County Commissioner in the 3rd District for 20 years, from 1920 to 1940. He was a member of the school board and also served as trustee of Zion Lutheran Church. He held various township offices. He was a member of the

Masonic Lodge, the Shrine and the Sons of Norway, as well as of Zion Lutheran Church. He married Mary Vogel at Clearbrook, Minn., Nov. 13, 1913. She died Feb. 20, 1946. Surviving are nine children: Thomas, Wallace, Ernest and Emmett (Slim), Park River; Robert, Hastings, Minn.; Chester, East Grand Forks, Minn.; Mrs. Wallace (Edna) Gunhus, Park River; Mrs. Heimer (Betty) Borge, Hoople; and Mrs. T. (Irene) Clemenson, Park River. On Oct. 6,1948, he married Esther Ferguson. He died Jan. 4, 1964. He served as chairman of the Board of County Commissioners several times, was chairman at the time the courthouse was built. He presided at the dedication program July 25, 1940. Submitted by Mrs. T. Clemenson and Mrs. William Hall. R E T E L L I N G OLD TALES Axe marks - Chester Thompson, 77, of Park River, a son of one of the seven bachelor's, who gave the name of Bachelor's Grove. His father, Thomas Thompson, came to the Grove in 1878 with a party of settlers. The father abandoned his claim at the grove a short time later and moved up to a claim near Park River, which his son still owns. Recalling old times, Thomas said in the nineteen twenties he and some other people went to a Fourth of July celebration in Bachelor's Grove, and he went back to see the old home of his father. The land belonged to Mrs. Peter Peterson, the widow of another one of the seven bachelors. The old cabin had been torn down, but the section with the axe carvings on it was rescued by A. B. Thompson of Grafton and is now an ornament in his home. Thompson corrected one old record that stands in some histories. It says that Thompson had a brother, Gulick. Gulick, whose name was Midbo, was a partner of Thomas Thompson, not a brother. The other early settlers of the grove were Christian Bang, James Christianson, Cornelius, Hans, although most of them were married later. By W. B. Allen. T. G. THOMPSON

Wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas George Thompson [ClaraHoff] June 10,1908. Their children were: Howard, lives in Grafton, has been with the State Seed Dept., Glen died, Gene died in war, Donald is a doctor in Calif, Dorothy, Mrs. E. A. Norley, Soap Lake, Wash., Dennis lives in Calif, is an electrician.

Thomas George Thompson, known as T. G., was the son of Thomas Thompson of Mandt. He married Clara Hoff of Adams June 10, 1908. They were the parents of Howard, Grafton; Glenn, deceased; Gene, died in war; Donald is a doctor in California; Dorothy (Mrs. E. A. Norley, Soap Lake, Wash.; and Dennis Uves in California. JOE THOMPSON FAMILY Joe Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thompson, pioneers, was bom in Fertile Township AprU 28, 1894. His activities extended into many fields, but it is in agriculture he is best known. His part in the development of the potato industry brought him national renown in the Red River Valley. He has more than 150 ribbons and trophies for exhibits of potatoes and grain at fairs from Iowa to Canada to Chicago. He has traveled extensively in the interest of improving and marketing agricultural products. Another active interest is working in the Boy Scout organization. He has also been a member of the National Council. He married HUda E. Monson in Grafton Dec. 26,1918. Their children are: Mrs. Wm. HaU, Edinburg, and Mrs. Wayne L. Knaus, Tigard, Ore. There are four grandchildren. After the death of his wife in 1943, he married Mrs. Stella Fjalstad, Edmore, Dec. 27, 1963. They reside in Grafton. They are members of the Zion Lutheran Church, and were active in the North Trinity Church. He is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, Grafton Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, St. Omer Commandery, and the Knight Templars. He also belongs to the Elks Lodge in Grand Forks, Royal Order of Jesters, and the Grafton Kiwanis Club. Information taken from program booklet when honored in Grafton, May 11, 1968, on "Joe Thompson Day." ALBERT AND SENA THOMPSON

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Thompson, Edith, Mrs. Harold Hagen, Muriel, Mrs. Virgil Knight.

Signe (Sena) Thompson was born Aug. 17, 1882, in a log cabin in Fertile Twp. Her parents were Thomas and Berget Thompson. She married Albert Thompson of Fertile Twp. He was a son of George and Olava Thompson. They were married Aug. 13, 1907. They had two daughters, Mrs. Harold (Edith) Hasen, Wayzata, Minn., Mrs. Virgil (Muriel) Knight, Anchorage, Alaska. Sena died Dec. 29, 1963, in Anchorage. She was buried at Masonic Cemetery in Grafton. MR. AND MRS. THOMAS THOMPSON As reported in the Grafton News and Times, January, 1930, Vol. 49, No. 5. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thompson, who are among the earliest of the pioneer residents of Walsh County and more particularly the Mandt district were honored last Sunday by their chUdren and their grandchildren, the occasion being their golden wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were married at Forest River by a justice of the peace fifty years ago. The wedding was originally arranged for to take place at the newly formed settlement west of Grafton, but on account of the heavy snow it was impossible for the minister to get through and perform the service. However, the guests were there and dancing continued until the following morning. Mr. Thompson and Miss Torkelson, the bride, and two friends braved the roads to Forest River, where the ceremony was performed. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are among the most honored settlers in the Grafton district. They have a large number of friends, who are extending them all the compUments and wishes for many more years of married life together. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have led very active Uves. Mr. Thompson was during his younger days one of the best known men of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are still very active despite their advanced years. Thomas Thompson was born in Dane County, Wise., on Jan. 7, 1850, where he resided with his parents until 1866, when they moved to Freeborn County, Minn. His parents had arrived from Telemarken, Norway, about eight years before his birth. In 1876, in company with his cousin, Jim Johnson, and a couple of others, he drove with a team of horses through Nebraska and South Dakota looking for a place to settle down. It happened to be one of the dry years and everything had burned up with drought and the hot winds. In the spring of 1878, in company with others, he drove from Albert Lea, Minn., with a team of horses to Fargo and from there to MayvUle to Goose River. The trip took about three weeks. Visited at MayviUe for awhile with some friends that had settled there before. The land was taken up around MayviUe at that time. After the party had rested, Thompson and Johnson and Gunleik Midbo and Pete Peterson drove about 25 miles overland. The place has since been named Bachelor's Grove, as seven bachelor's took up land there. The first night after the party arrived at Bachelor's Grove, a terrible storm came along and the party was forced to make their home in the grove, most of the time in the wagon. When the weather cleared they built a log cabin.

Mr. Thompson took one of the teams and a wagon and started out for provisions. While driving he saw a man lying on the prairie. The man was half frozen. Mr. Thompson gave the man a few drinks of whiskey. In about two hours the man revived. His first words were "Tom, Tom." Mr. Thompson was surprised when he saw that it was his old friend Pete Peterson. The place has since been known as Whiskey Creek. When the two arrived at Paul Johnson's, the market place, where Northwood is now located, Pete was left there and Mr. Thompson returned to Bachelor's Grove with provisions. Peterson made his home with Paul Johnsons for three weeks, after which he also moved to Bachelor's Grove, where he also took up a claim. He became a very wealthy man and went back to his old home in Sweden. During the summer, the bachelors built stables and prepared for the coming winter. In the fall, Mr. Thompson ran a threshing machine. The power for the rig was furnished by horses. The rig belonged to Andrew Heshens, a farmer residing where Mayville is now located. After threshing, Thompson hauled grain from Mayville to Fargo. Wheat yielded from 35 to 40 cents per bushel. Coming back, he hauled goods for the store at Mayville. The regular trip was two days each way. During the middle of December in 1878, Mr. Thompson, with four other men, drove 26 miles from Bachelor's Grove to Walsh County. On the way they stopped at a hunting ranch owned by George Inkster, who was married to a half-breed Indian. The following evening they stopped at a place where Park River is now located, with Chas. Oaks, who occupied a small cabin, 12'xl2'. Thompson's party was too numerous to sleep in the house, they slept in the woods a little ways from the house. The following morning they started out again and they did not see a human being until that evening when they came to a family by the name of Almen. They drove a little farther and came to Paul Larsons and Gulsons. They were asked to stay and enjoyed warmth and hospitality. The Thompson party spent three days there, then returned to Bachelor's Grove. A trip was made to Goose River, where Rev. Harstad resided. They told him what they had seen on the trip and about the wonderful land. Their report seemed so good that no one believed them. They wanted Rev. Harstad to come back with them, but this he could not do, but he promised to make the trip in the spring. Returning to Bachelor's Grove, Mr. Thompson sold his claim for a pony and a few dollars in cash. In January, 1879, they opened the stable doors and let the horses loose. They left plenty of hay and dug a place in the ground for water. Thompson and Andrew Anderson went back to Walsh County. Settlers were coming in fast at this time. The land was not yet surveyed. Thompson and his friend took up a claim and put up some buildings and settled down. In the spring Rev. Harstad came to visit Mr. Thompson and he remained. He organized a church in what is now Fertile Township and held meetings in the houses. Kittel Arneson was the first member of the church committee. Rev. Harstad was very much impressed with the district and the soil. Again and again he would pick up a handful and say: "It is wonderful - wonderful." The congregation started building the pastor's residence in 1880. The room was 16 by 18 feet with a room upstairs.

During the winter the settlers had to get their provisions from Grand Forks and in the summer from the boats plying between Winnipeg and Grand Forks on the Red River. Some of the settlers used horses and others oxen to break the land and sow the wheat. All machinery was bought in Grand Forks.

Elias, Albert and Gust Thompson with brothers-in-law, A. B. Thompson [3rd] and Ed Lindston [5th]. During the fall of 1880, Mr. Thompson threshed all the grain in Walsh County with a horse powered threshing rig. The machine was owned by George Anold Frenchman, who made his home on the Red River, where he operated a ferry for a number of years. Jan. 27, 1880, Thompson married Miss Berget Torkelson. The wedding date had been set for January 12, but a storm arose and the minister could not come. The guests came, however, and danced until the next morning. Andrew Anderson was chief musician with his fiddle. The two principals to the wedding went with Andrew Anderson and Jorgena Torkelson to Forest River where the wedding was solemnized by a Mr. Skatcbo, a justice of the peace. Forest Riverwas 15 miles away and it was rather a long journey plowing through the storm. They left the farm early in the morning, returned late at night. Andrew Anderson and his wife made their home with them for some time. Their neighbors were very sociable and they would often gather at the different homes for parties and dances. Land was rapidly being taken up, especially along the river, where there was timber, so neighbors were not so far away as they had been. In the woods they found wild fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries, plums and gooseberries growing in abundance. After his marriage, Thompson was hired by Mr. McKenzie, the proprietor of the store and postmaster of Sweden. Sweden was located where Nash is now. Mr. Thompson hauled provisions and carried mail between Acton and Sweden and provisions from Grand Forks. Toward spring a storm came up and left snow four feet deep. This blocked the roads. It was impossible to get to Grand Forks for provisions, which were very low at the store; especially flour and pork were needed. Mr. Thompson and Rory McLean then thought of making jumpers, so they made five of these and broke the road as far as Minto. From there the road had been broken by the settlers. At Grand Forks they loaded 1400 pounds of provisions on each jumper. They had some difficulty in

keeping the loads on and once in awhile they had to repair the jumpers. It took them five days and six nights to make the trip. Immediately after the return from the trip to Grand Forks, Thompson made another trip to Acton with papers and filings for tree claims. He also carried $1800 in cash. He left Sweden that night in order to meet the Winnipeg stage for Grand Forks, due at Acton at eight the next morning. A blizzard was raging the night he started on this trip. He arrived in due time to mail the papers and the money. Three men living on farms north of Sweden had gone to Acton a few days before and did not dare to return in the blizzard. They were surprised when they saw Thompson drive into town in the storm. "No man living could brave that storm last night," one of them informed Thompson, when he told them that he had left Sweden at 10 o'clock the night before. Mr. Thompson had his breakfast, picked up the mail and started back, arriving home at dusk that afternoon. McKenzie was so satisfied with the trip, that he paid him double wages. Thompson returned to his cozy log cabin for a rest. The Homemaker Here, let us say a few words about the pioneer woman. Her work of homemaking was not as easy a task as you might think. She worked from early morning until late, cooking, sewing, knitting, raising the family and often helping outdoors, especially during the spring and harvest work. Harvest season was heralded by extra farm hands and this also gave the wife more work; following the harvest came the threshing crew. If all went well and they did not have much rain, the work would be through in a few days; if not, and if there was much straw, it would run into a longer period. Thompson resigned his job with McKenzie and was now devoting his entire time to farming. Charley Olson, a cousin of Thompson, arrived from Grand Forks and made his home with them for two months. Mr. Olson had the agency for McSery seeders and drills, which sold very readily. The farmers used only walking plows. After the winter of 1880, Mr. Thompson filed on a tree claim not far from the homestead. The law required that anyone taking a tree claim must plant ten acres of trees after the land was in good shape. Mr. Olson also filed on a tree claim which joined Mr. Thompson's on the east. They planted ash, boxelder and some evergreen trees. Andrew Anderson helped Mr. Thompson plant the first furrow running the mile length. Mr. Thompson raised 80 acres of wheat on his tree claim in 1882. He bought a six-foot MinneapoUs binder to harvest his crops. The wheat that fall stood ripe and ready to be harvested for about a week before it was cut because the binder gave him so much trouble. FinaUy he got it to work and started reaping Saturday morning. He worked night and day until Monday evening at nine o'clock, when he finished the last round. Mrs. Thompson brought out the meals and the twine and she also fed and watered the horses and changed horses from time to time. Mr. Thompson said he had exceUent help. He sold the tree claim later to Hans Brekke. During the foUowing years he bought and sold land and became well to do financiaUy. Four children were born in the log cabin. Chester, the oldest boy, was born in the fall of 1880. The other

three were Sena, George, and Emil. A few years later they built a seven room residence and in this house seven more children were born to them - Selma, Elmer, Aimer, Joseph, Helga, Andrew and Lloyd. Andrew and Elmer died whUe they were children. The rest of the children are aU married and have homes of their own, except Lloyd, who is running his father's farm. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are stUl residing on their farm. Though they are full of years, they are stiU young and enjoy the homecoming of their chUdren and grandchildren. While now they have aU the modern conveniences and enjoy listening to the radio, yet Mr. Thompson's face lights up when pioneering in North Dakota is mentioned. GEORGE THOMPSON George Thompson (Hans Jorgen Thorgrimson) was born in Ridgeway, Iowa, Dec. 10,1856. He was the son of Torkel and Ingred Thorgrimson. He spent his early life there. He came to Grafton by covered wagon in 1880. He purchased a farm south of Grafton. Later he acquired land in Fertile Township. He married Olava Anderson Jan. 28, 1883. Their marriage took place at the Zion Parsonage, with Rev. C. A. Flaten officiating. They were members of Concordia Lutheran Church.

Mrs. Olava Thompson and her daughters: Josephine, Jolanda, Ovidia, Ida. Reunion at cabin.

The family of A. B. and Jolanda Thompson [seated]. Standing: Gordon, William. Front : Lorraine, Ann Marie. Olava was born in Park Prairie, Wis., Aug. 10, 1864. She was the daughter of Israel and Johanna Anderson. In 1879, at the age of 15, she came to Grafton by covered wagon with her parents. It is remembered that Olava told about a celebration that was held at the Israel Anderson homestead July 4, 1880, for which she and other

continued by train westward to the end of the railroad, which at that time extended as far as Fisher's Landing, located on the Red River south of Grand Forks. They remained with friends in Bygland, Minn., near Fisher's Landing until the next spring, when they came to Fertile Township. Upon their arrival Thorsen homesteaded land now owned by their son, Kittel Thorsen. The Thorsen family Uved at the Bjornson home whUe a log cabin was being built on their homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Thorsen were charter members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Fertile Township and they actively assisted in the organization of the church. Mrs. Thorsen was also a charter member of the Zion Ladies Aid. They bought their suppUes from the store located at Sweden, no longer in existence, three and a half mUes from their home. Mrs. Thorsen often walked there to get suppUes, and one time she carried a fifty pound sack of flour the entire distance. Mr. and Mrs. Thorsen were the parents of nine children. Their two oldest sons were bom in Norway: Olaf, bom March 19, 1875, died Aug. 8, 1892; Olaf, born June 15, 1877; Clara, bom June 26, 1882, died April 10, 1892; Jorand, born July 26, 1886, died in 1924; Karl, born Feb. 27, 1891, died May 25, 1892; Thor, bom March 18, 1880; Kittel, bom May 25, 1884; and Ella, bom Oct. 12, 1888.

young people made a United States Flag from flour sacks. Using red berries and bluing to give it the coloring necessary. It was quite common for the early settlers to change their names. Some of the Scandinavian names were hard to pronounce so Hans Jorgen Thorgrimson decided to change his name to George H. Thompson. George and Olava purchased the Israel Anderson homestead in Fertile and moved there to make their home. This was eight miles west and one mile north of Grafton. George and Olava were the parents of Albert, Enus, Elias, Josephine, Ida, Ovedia, Jolanda, George, Olava, (George and Olava were twins) and Gustav. George Thompson died Sept. 29, 1917. Olava continued to make her home on the farm for a number of years. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Lindstron (Josephine) in Seattle, Wash., April 19, 1945. Submitted by Gordon Thompson. ELIAS THOMPSON F A M I L Y Elias Thompson was born in Fertile Township Walsh County, in 1890, son of George and Olava Thompson, Mandt. Outside of a few years spent in Canada and Everett, Wash., he remained in the Mandt area where he married Tillie Midboe in March, 1919. Born to them were Glenn, Gladys, George, Harland, Helen, and Adele. Elias Thompson died in April, 1960, and Tillie Thompson died Nov. 2, 1971. They are buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Grafton.

Submitted by Arlene Fellman. CARL TORKELSON

SAM THOMPSON F A M I L Y Sam Thompson was born June 8, 1872, in Tronheim, Norway. At 20 he imigrated. He was a carpenter, built his own home, helped construct homes for his children. He came to the home of an uncle in Superior, Wis., and two years later to the Mandt community and made his home with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John Hanson. He married Bella Erickson March 23, 1898, at the South Trinity Lutheran Church of which they are members. Mrs. Thompson, bom July 26, 1878, in Numedahl, Norway, came to the United States with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Halvor Erickson, at three. She was active in church and community work. They purchased a farm from Catharine McLean, resided there until their death. M r . Thompson died in 1944 and Mrs. Thompson in 1939. They had four sons and one daughter: Henry M . , married Lila Thompson, Clarence married Gladys Larson; Mrs. Otto (Alvina) Jorgenson; two boys, Jalmer and Ansel, who died in infancy.

Left to right: Leo, Jens, Bertina, Carl, holding Millard, Mrs. Carl Torkelson and Caroline. Carl Torkelson family picture. Carl Torkelson, son of Torkel Larson, one of a family of six, was born in Bjerkheim, Norway, Sept. 14, 1860. He, his sister and four brothers grew up in that community. He mother died there, the rest of the family immigrated, although not aU at the same time, and settled first in the Grafton area. Carl was a sailor for a number of years before coming to this country about 1886, coming to Grafton Township. After a year, he went to Prairie Centre Township where he made his home with his brother, Hans, until buying this farm April 13, 1899. In 1911 he moved to the Markusen farm in Fertile Township. Two years later he moved a mile south of the farm in Fertile Township that became his permanent home and is now the Millard Torkelson farm. Josephine Markusen, daughter of Jens and Maren Markusen, was born in Fillmore County, Minn., Dec. 24,

OSBJORN THORSEN Mrs. Osbjom Thorsen was born in Austad, Satersdalen, Norway, in 1852. Her parents were Olave Isackson Austad and Joraand Salvesdatter. Gunhild Austad was married to Osbjom Thorsen in Norway in 1874. In 1878, Mr. and Mrs. Thorsen and their two sons decided to leave Norway. After an ocean voyage in a sailboat, they landed in New York. From there they 457

1875. At the age of eight, she moved with her parents, three sisters and one brother from Minnesota to North Dakota, by oxen. They lived in Edinburg before coming to Prairie Centre Township where she met and married Carl Torkelson Nov. 19, 1898. The couple became active members of the church and community. He served as an officer on the school board and was a member of the Woodmen and Sons of Norway lodges in Grafton. They were parents of seven children: Valdina, who died in infancy; Bertina, Jens, Hans, Leo, who died Feb. 21, 1938, Caroline, and Millard. Josephine Markusen Torkelson died April 28,1941, at 66 after being ill 14 years. Carl Torkelson preceded her in death, Dec. 14,1927, at age 67. Both are buried at the South Trinity Lutheran Church cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Jens Torkelson.

KARIJENSON Kari Jenson (Carrie) was born in Varndund, Sweden, June 22, 1864, and came to Park River in May 1886. From there, she and her companion walked to her uncles farm which was six miles west of what is now Adams, N. Dak. After a short stay there, she returned to Park River where she was employed for a time before she came to the Thompson home, where she met and married Jorgen Torkelson. Mr. and Mrs. Torkelson were the parents of seven children. Thomas was born in 1889 and died when a few months old. Selmer was born July, 1890, and grew up and Uved in the FertUe Township area untU 1929 when he moved to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, and he died there in May, 1960. Another son, Joseph, was born in 1892 and died in 1906. Their daughter, Carol (Mrs. Harold Hagen) was bom in 1895 and lived in the Grafton area until she moved to CaUfornia in 1957. She died there in 1967. Leonard was bom in 1897 and Uved in Fertile Township and lived on the home farm until 1951 when he moved to Red Lake Falls, Minn. He served as clerk of Sinkler School District No. 24 for several years. He died in November, 1971. Arnold was born in 1899. He also moved to Canada in 1929 and he died in 1969. Jorgen and Carrie were members of Concordia Lutheran Church until that congregation was dissolved and they became members of Zion Church. Jorgen died Nov. 3, 1931, and Mrs. Torkelson died in April, 1951.

JORGEN TORKELSON FAMILY

HALVOR NAUROKE TORKELSON TVIEDT Jorgen Torkelson family, taken about 1911 or 1912. Left to right: Leonard, Selmer, Arnold. Seated: Cora, Jorgen, his wife, Carrie. Jorgen Torkelson was bom in Telemarken, Norway, Nov. 30, 1856, to Signe Knutson and Torkel Heimdal. When only a child, he came with his parents and six sisters to Lake Mills, Ia., where they settled in 1864. The voyage was made by sail boat and took about three months. Jorgen and some other boys found that a favorite passtime was to suck molasses with a straw out of barrels, each taking turns watching so they wouldn't get caught. His father died when he was still a young boy and his mother later married Kittle Aaneson.

Halvor Tviedt, Fertile Township. Halvor is standing 4th from left wearing a white shirt

The family them came to Walsh County in 1879. His step father and mother homesteaded south of Nash. Jorgen took land in Fertile Township. He often spoke of his mistake in choosing the site for his house, as the first spring he woke up one morning finding his pants afloat and boots full of water. He had to move to higher land.

Halvor Nauroke Torkelson Tviedt was bora in Norway, April 30, 1859. He came to this country and settled on the south branch of the Park River. He owned a few acres and lived in a log house near the William Tallackson farm. The house had a sod roof and a dirt Uoor, two small windows, a stove, cupboard, bed, home made table and chairs. Halvor worked for neighbors on threshing crews in the summer. He walked everywhere. In his later years he was visited by neighborhood chUdren who were curious as to the way he lived. He would walk to Mandt for supplies and to visit neighbors. Avis and Betty Tallackson, daughters of William TaUackson, and their friends, knew him weU. They used to visit him and talk with him. Halvor had a dog that followed him wherever he went. Many people remember Halvor as an early pioneer.

While visiting at the home of his sister and brotherin-law, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thompson, in 1887, he met Kari (Carrie) Jenson, who was employed at the Thompson home. His visits there then soon became more and more frequent. Jan. 9, 1888, Carrie and Jorgen were married at Grafton. They continued to make Fertile Township their home, except for four years spent at Edmore where they proved up a homestead. They returned to Fertile Township in 1903 where they lived the rest of their Uves. In 1908 they purchased the adjoining farm from his brother-in-law, Andrew Anderson. Submitted by Mrs. Helen Torkelson and Mrs. Shirley Burns. 458

He never married. He died at the age of 77, June 12, 1936. He was buried at Zion Lutheran Church of which he was a member.

Millard Hove. A modem home is the first thing you notice when you drive in and all the other buildings have been replaced too, except the old log house, which sits back close to the woods. Albert moved this from the farm that Gunerius Viger bought from Augustas Wonkel, it was used for a bunk house for his hired help. The Wonkels were the last family to live in it. It's uncertain who built the house, perhaps it was Ole Johnson as he was the first owner of that quarter of land, selling it to Wonkel in 1886. Time has chipped away at the "old log house," but it's still in pretty good condition. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Anderson.

Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson. ALBERT VIGER

This was taken at Albert Vigers. The house is the one Gunerius built when he first came to Fertile Township. *First row: Lawrence Lee, Clarence Viger, Herb Viger, Herman Lee. Second row: Albert Hove, Eric Lee, Alfred Monson, Henry Lee, Olaus Monson, Alda Viger. Standing: Dora and Gladys Viger.

Mrs. Gunerius Viger andMrs. Albert Viger busy washing clothes. See the old log house in background.

Albert Viger and the old Marthon car. They had just taken dinner to the Wonkel farm. By the car: Albert, Alda, Gladys, Dora, Mrs. Christ Iverson [Mable], and a couple hired men.

Albert Viger was born near Decorah, Ia., the son of Gunerius and Dagna Viger. He came to Dakota Territory at the age of two when the pioneers first settled in this area. Here he grew to manhood. Albert married Louise Skj ervin Feb. 12, 1903. They started farming on his father's farm in Fertile Township and on this place all their children were born and raised. Herb, Dora, Alda, Gladys, Clarence, Meranda and Alfred. When they retired from farming they moved to Grand Forks. Albert died Oct. 12, 1950. Louise is making her home with Meranda in Mesa, Ariz. She is still able to be up and around every day. Reads and writes her own letters and does hand work. As one friend of Mrs. Viger said, "She's a grand old lady." She is also remembered as an excellent cook and her baking was perfect, too. Uff da, I wonder if anyone knows how many lefses she has made. Their home place in Fertile Township now belongs to

KARELIUS VIGER FAMILIES Karelius, the son of Mathias Viger, was born in Norway and came to America with his parents. He lived at Decorah for several years. While there he married Gunne. They moved to Walsh County, Dakota Territory, to homestead. They were the parents of four children, Mat, Louis, Clarence and Alma. The three young men moved to the Edmore community where they farmed. Alma married Christ Clemenson and is still Uving (1975). Her home is at Devils Lake. Karelius M. Viger was born Jan. 15, 1850, and died Oct. 16,1895. Gunne M. Viger was bom July 19, 1845, died Feb. 14, 1905. They are buried in Concordia Cemetery west of Grafton. 459

swered all the questions. She also was able to furnish some information about Concordia Church.

Mrs. Viger on 93rd birthday, daughter Miranda and husband Howard Mandt, with whom she lives.

Herb Viger, oldest son of Mrs. Louise Viger.

GUNERIUS VIGER Gunerius came to America with his parents, Mathias and Johanne, from Telemark, Norway. They settled near Decorah, I., and Uved there several years. Gunerius married Dagria Findring. She was a cook in a restaurant in Decorah. They lived in Iowa for sometime. One day Gunerius said to his father, Mathias, "this won't do," so they decided to move to Dakota and seek their fortune. Few settlers were here at that time, but they found the Hans Wick place and were invited to move in with them. Dagna and the children came later, making the trip in an open wagen drawn by a team of horses. As there weren't any bridges, the horses had to swim with the wagon-kids and all. She had Hans Findring, a young boy, to do the driving for her. When they got to Fertile Township, they, too, moved in with Hans Wicks, so by now this little sod shanty, with just a dirt floor, was getting pretty well filled up. Gunerius filed a homestead claim in Fertile Township. Their first home was a one room, wooden structure. This was enlarged and remodeled later. When the family needed groceries, Gunerius would walk to Stephen, Minn., 80 miles. They were the parents of Martin, John, Albert, Oscar and Clara. They were members of Concordia Lutheran Church in Fertile Township. Gunerius was bom June 12, 1845, and died July 9, 1915. Burial was in the Concordia Cemetery, west of Grafton. HELMER WALSTAD

Gladys Viger Paulson, Louise Viger [mother], Alda Viger Dahi, Miranda Viger Mandt — 1973. MATHIAS VIGER Mathias and his wife, Johanne, and their family moved to America from Telemark, Norway. They lived at Decorah, Ia., before coming to Dakota Territory. He filed on a homestead in Grafton Township. This late-* became known as the Iver Brende place. Mathias was born Oct. 12,1823. He died Nov. 28,1900. Johanne 0. Viger was born Sept. 21,1826. She died Jan. 22, 1903. They are both buried in Concordia Cemetery, west of Grafton. All the information about the Viger families was submitted by Mrs. Louise Viger, Mesa, Ariz., with exception of some of the dates, they were taken from the tombstones at the Concordia Cemetery, west of Grafton. Louise is 93 years old and did all the writing and an-

Gunerius and Christine Wolstad's jxrst home in Walsh County, built in 1880. Bedridden and paralyzed from head to foot, Heimer Walstad, one of the first white children born in Walsh County, dreamed of his native heath and cabin home as he lay, day after day, in the Bethesda Hospital, St. Paul. His nurse, Johanna Johnson, who also served as his secretary, nursed him through the last eight years of his hospitalization. She sketched this picture of his cabin from a worn-out print. In this cabin Walstad was born and baptized. His war-incurred illness was painful, but he continued to keep in touch with the world. He was constantly

reading, studying, cheerful, hopeful. Walstad found the greatest solace, when in intense pain, in reading the Bible. He had read the Bible from cover to cover, had memorized portions of it. He was also interested in psychology, sociology and politics. As is shown in the picture of the cabin, a scythe always was kept by Walstad's father on the cabin's roof, to keep it out of the children's reach. This cabin was soon replaced by a frame house. Walstad was in good health until entering the service of his country in W. W. I. The crippling disease took him to 13 hospitals and several health resorts, but there was no cure for the severe multiple arthritis and neuritis. Visitors and associates marveled at his humor and courageous outlook on life. Although he traveled extensively, he always considered Walsh County the best place to live. He was born May 15,1883, near Hoople, died at Bethesda Hospital. GUNERIUS AND CHRISTINE WALSTAD Gunerius Erick Walstad, 1842-1930, and his wife, Christine Iverson, 1847-1897, were both born in Ness, Overe Romerike, near Oslo, Norway. In 1867, the year of their marriage, they immigrated to America, accompanied by Mrs. Walstad's mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hanson, Sr.; her brothers, Julius and Alert Iverson; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Andreas (Gurene) Rolstad and Mr. and Mrs. Peder (Indiana) Hagen, Jr., and his father, Peder Krestian Hagen, Sr.; Mrs. Walstad's step-brother, Nels Hanson, Jr., (he changed his name to Hans Nelson in America as he did not wish to be called "Little Nels"). This group came across the Atlantic in a sail boat. It took them 14 weeks to cross the ocean. They drifted for three weeks in sight of the same island. The arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and on to Brooklyn, New York. Their journey led them to Daleville, near Mt. Horeb, Wis., where they farmed 15 years before they immigrated to Walsh County in March, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Walstad, their six children (all born in Wis.), Iver, age 11; Elise, 10; John, 7; Emanuel, 5; Gustav, 3; Amanda, 1; and the same relatives who had immigrated with them from Norway, accompanied them to Walsh County in two freight cars. They arrived in Grand Forks and traveled the rest of the way by horses and two wagons. Near Oslo, Minn., they were caught in a wet snow storm, and were delayed two days. They were fortunate to find lodging with a kind and generous pioneer family in their log cabin. By the time they arrived to what was then called the Salt Lake Flat, in the Ardoch area, the weather had become very warm and the land was covered with flood water as far as they could see. Being unfamiliar with the area they got into too deep water, and the men had to take the boxes off the two wagons and fit them up for boats. After getting the people and loads across, the horses were hitched to the wagon and they swam across with a rider on their back. When Gunerius Walstad filed for land they suggested he change his name to George Erickson as that was easier to pronounce. After three years he discovered there were too many Erickson names, so he had it changed back to the original Walstad name. The Walstads filed on a homestead five miles south of Hoople. Their first home was a ten foot by twelve foot hut built from bark that they peeled in six ft. lengths

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from Elm trees from the south branch of the Park River, three miles south of their claim. The logs were stood up and the bark nailed on. They Uved in this hut until a 14 ft. x 16 ft. log cabin was built. The bark from the hut was then used under the sod on the log cabin roof. They lived in this cabin for seven years until a frame house was built in 1887. In 1883, the Walstads, together, planted and hoed the trees which still stand today on the home farm. Cottonwoods, boxelders and willows were given free to the settlers by the government, as they were fast growing and the pioneers needed a grove started for windbreak and shade. Ten acres were set aside one fourth mile west on the north side of the quarter for the farmstead. This included the grove of trees, farm buildings, pasture, an orchard of wild plums, chokecherries, gooseberries and black currents transplanted from the timber, two miles north of the farm. Before these bore fruit, Mrs. Walstad and the children would walk to the timber and pick berries, as this was the only fruit they had for jelly and sauce, besides the rhubarb roots she brought from Wisconsin. She also brought potatoes which they planted that first spring near the cabin. These multiplied wonderfully. The second year they planted wheat from the acres broken the previous summer of 1880, and received 38 bu. per acre. The sod was broken very thin at first. Then later in the summer it was plowed again, what was termed the "back set" which consisted of plowing the land an inch or two deeper than the first plowing, which resulted in turning the turf under completely. The soil then was in shape for the crop the next year. The wheat was hauled to Grand Forks. There were no roads, just trails, which made the distance further, several days for the trip, which left the mother at home to care forthe children and stock. She did this the second year, also, when the father, after the grain seeding, went to the Devils Lake area to work on the railroad until harvest time. Mail was very undependable, no communication for weeks. The first winter the well went dry, so they had to melt snow for all the stock. There were too coal barrels in the cabin and they were kept full of water from the snow. They heated the water for the cow. The next spring they dug a deeper well. Little except bare necessities were purchased. They Uved on what they raised on the farm, and walked for supplies to the little store of Nash, six miles east of the farm. Mrs. Walstad was an exceUent seamstress and sewed aU the clothes for the famUy. She carded the wool they brought from Wisconsin. On her spinning wheel, she spun the yarn, dyed it and knit all the mittens, sweaters, stockings and caps they needed. Three more children were born in Walsh County, Melvin, Heimer and Lydia. Mrs. Walstad was a very ambitious woman and worked in the fields when the boys were too small to help. She died of a heart attack June, 1897, at the age of 50. The family was at a young peoples church program and death came to her as her 10 year old daughter, Lydia, was singing a solo, "There are Riches in Heaven for God's Children." Their oldest daughter had died from pneumonia the previous December, during a four day blizzard. As the sons grew to manhood, they owned a threshing machine and did custom threshing. Later they left the community and established homes elsewhere. Their

Elise. Three half-brothers - Victor, Oscar and Olaf and one half-sister, Morral. Little is known of Gust's early lUe. He worked with his father and helped neighbors. Gust like to hunt and played the tuba in the Mandt community band. The band practiced at Mandt. For recreation they played baseball. His brothers and he ran a threshing rig. Later he worked in a lumber yard and did carpentry work. He was a bachelor for 36 years. Gust's mother died in 1897 when she was 51. Gust was 20 years old. His dad married Laura Larson in 1900. Gust continued to Uve on the farmstead.

children were Iver, 1869-1942, Bowbells; Elise, 1870-1896, Hoople; John, 1873-1960, San Diego, Calif.; Emanuel, 1875-1958, Black Earth, Wis.; Gustav, 1877-1965, Park River; Amanda (Mrs. Joseph Lockrem), 1879-1944, Billings, Mont.; Heimer, 1882-1950, Disabled, bed ridden World War I veteran for 32 years, St. Paul, Minn.; Melvin, 1884-1970, Lansford; Lydia (Mrs. Axel Schibsby, 1887-1926, Lansford. After the death of his first wife in 1897, Walstad married Laura Larson, July, 1900. She was born in Norway, March 10, 1875. At the age of eight years, she immigrated to the United States with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Larson, who homesteaded on the farm two miles south of Hoople, which is at present owned by Mrs. Clarence Fagerholt. The Walstad's home and most of their possessions burned in Nov., 1912, and a new house was built the following summer. Four children were born, Morral (Mrs. Hutton Young), 1902, St. Paul, Minn.; Oscar, 1903-1961, married to Joann Midgarden; Victor 1906, married to Sigrud Magnuson, Drayton; Olaf, 1909-1963, married to Gladys Forse, St. Paul, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Walstad sold their farm to their son, Oscar, in 1928, and retired to Hoople. Mr. Walstad died in 1930 at the age of 88. Mrs. Walstad, in spite of 40 years of suffering from arthritis, had an abundance of ambition and was a woman of many talents. She spent the last nine years of her life at the Oscar Walstad home as a bed ridden patient, crippled from arthritis. She died in 1964 at the age of 89. While Uving in the community, aU the Walstads have been members of Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Mrs Oscar Walstad Uved on the homestead. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Walstad.

Gust Walstad family. Back row, left to right: Glenna, Wayne, Percy, Clayton, Delores. Front row, seated: Hazel, Mrs. Gust Walstad [Christine], Gust Walstad, Adeline. In 1913, Gust married Christine Larson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Larson, of Kensington Township. They were married at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, on Dec. 9. They lived their first year of married Ufe in Grafton where Gust worked in a garage. Then they moved to HaUock and Lake Bronson where Gust started to clear a quarter of land. Two years later they returned and farmed in Kensington Township, north of Park River. There they built a new home, and worked the land with the help of their children. Many times Christine worked in the field along with her husband. They always had an income from milking cows. Mrs. Ole Larson lived with them for many years after the death of her husband. Gust and Christine had nine chUdren - Clayton Garfield, Park River; Mrs. Clifford Burke (AdeUne Ovidia), St. Paul; Mrs. O. M . Stautz (Hazel LueUa), WiUiams, Ore.; Mrs. James McCauley (LUa Virginia), St Paul- Percy Elden Walstad, (married Leona Mauritson), Park River; Mrs. Harvey Tallackson (GlennaMae), Grafton; Wayne Curtis Walstad (married Clarice Bestland), Altus, Okla; Mrs. Gary Longtin (Delores Elaine), Backoo; and a daughter, Jane, who died at age 1 in 1930. In 1932, Gust and Christine moved to Park River, still farming and milking cows. They had a dairy in Park River which sold milk and cream, first in pads and later in glass bottles. They lived in several houses in Park River and finally bought a home west of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. On their farm they raised wheat, oats, flax, rye, sweet clover, barley, and potatoes. They moved to Park River so then children would be able to attend high

Front row: Gunerius Walstad, Mrs. Laura Walstad, Morral. Back row: Olaf, Victor, Oscar. GUSTAV KRISTIAN WALSTAD The family name was Eriksen when they came from Norway. They changed it to Walstad after Uving in Walsh County for a number of years. Gust was born in Blackearth, Wise, in 1877. He came to North Dakota on an immigrant train to Grand Forks. From there he traveled by covered wagon with his parents to homestead near Hoople. Gust was three years old when he came to North Dakota. On this farm they built a log house. In later years they built a farm house. His parents were Kristine and Gunerius Walstad. Gust had five brothers and three sisters - John, Heimer, Iver, Immual, Melvin, Amanda, Lydia, and

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? n 1944, they moved to St. Paul and returned two years later to purchase the MobU Gas Station and Lunch Stand. Christine and Gust operated the station and lunch stand for about 10 years.

462

Gust did carpentry work and in later years tore down the Grafton Armory, using some of the lumber to build a home in Park River. He built four homes and owned an apartment house. In 1946, they moved their home from the farm into Park River and continued to live there until Christine died in October, 1959. Gust Uved to be 88 and died in March, 1965. Gust and Christine have 21 grandchildren - Michael Bohn, Donald Bohn, David Bohn, Gary Stautz, Sheryl McCauley, Larry McCauley, Mrs. Gary Ackert (Lynda TaUackson), Thomas Tallackson, Debra TaUackson, Amy Tallackson, Laura TaUackson, Joseph Walstad, Sandra Walstad, Barbara Walstad, Paula Walstad, PhUlip Longtin, Lucinda Longtin, Jolanda Longtin, Roderick Longtin, Terry Longtin and Marie Longtin. They have seven great grandchildren. Submitted by Mrs. Harvey Tallackson.

EDGAR WHITE Edgar White was born Friday the 13th, February, 1885. He married Lila McConnachie of FordvUle, June 25, 1912. All his Ufe he farmed east of Park River. He also worked in the Farmers Elevator in Park River in the late 1920's, then delivered fuel for the Cities Service Oil Co. from about 1942 until 1957. Charles F. Harris was the representative for Cities Service in Park River during that time. He was active in the Masonic Lodge and the First Presbyterian Church. Lila was secretary ofthe Eastern Star for many years. He enjoyed sports, played footbaU in high school, but his favorite sport was basebaU. As a young man he played, then did umpiring for many years. He also was in softball and was a good horseshoe thrower. Edgar would close down a threshing crew at 5 p. m. so he could be at a ball game starting at Park River at six o'clock. The children of Edgar and Lila White are Garth, Wendell, Doris Jean and Coral. Submitted by Garth White. HANS N. WICK

Family Reunion: Gust Walstad family and grandchildren. Mr. andMrs. Percy Walstad, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Bohn, Mike, Don, David, Mr. and Mrs. Ozzie Stautz, Gary, Clayton Walstad, Gust and Christine Walstad [center], Mr. and Mrs. James A. McCauley, Sheryl, Larry, Mr. andMrs. Wayne Walstad, Joey, Mr. andMrs. Gary Longtin, Cindy, Jody, Phillip, Rod, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Tallackson, Lynda, Tom, Debra, Amy. Grandchildren not in picture: Sandy, Barbara, Paula Walstad — Wayne's children, Terry and Marie Longtin — Delores and Gary Longtin's children, Laura Tallackson — Glenna and Harvey Tallackson's daughter. DUNCAN WHITE My grandfather, Duncan White, homesteaded in the Edinburg-Adams area in about 1881. In 1884 he married Maria Daws and settled on the farm now owned by Wendell White,'about four miles east of Park River in Fertile Township. Wendell is my younger brother. My grandparents came from Harriston, Ontario. I can remember his comment that he wore skirts untU he was 16. He was a Highland Scot and I suppose his skirts were really kilts. He was married March 5, 1884, and four children were born - Edgar, Margaret, Florence and MUlard. Edgar was my father. I have in my possession Duncan's diaries from March, 1884, to Nov. 17, 1931, the day he died. His notations are brief, his personal doings each day. Duncan was a Presbyterian and held most of the offices in the Park River Presbyterian Church. Submitted by Garth White, Edgar's eldest son.

Back row: Halvor Stensland and Hans Wick. Front: Mrs. Halvor Stensland and baby, Mrs. Anna Stensland [mother of Halvor and Torbjorg], Mrs. Hans [Torbjorg] Wick and Henry. The story of the pioneer Wick family had its beginning in Nissedal, Norway where Hans N. Wiik (Wick) was born Dec. 2, 1849, the son of Nickolas and Anne Wiik. He emigrated to Lake MiUs, Iowa, at the age of 16, coming to Dakota Territory in 1878 and homesteading in Fertile Township, seven miles west of Grafton where he built a log cabin. In the meantime (1868), widowed Anne Stensland and seven of her eight children left Tordal in Telemark, Norway, crossing the ocean in a large saU ship. Food such as dried meat, flat bread and other well-keeping items had been prepared to last during the journey of about six weeks. The family landed at the port of New York and from there went by train to Lake MiUs, Ia. One of the children was Torbjorg who was destined to become the wife of Hans Wick in 1879. The rest of the Stensland family also came to Dakota Territory and settled at Adams. Apparently, the Hans Wick family was one of the

from Tordal in Telemark, Norway, in 1921. Their children were Thelma and Peder (twins), Laverne and Dennis. Peder died in infancy. The family lived in Fertile Township until 1931 when they bought and moved to a farm, five miles south of Grafton in Walsh Centre Township where Ole and daughter, LaVerne, still reside. Clara died in August, 1945. Thelma married Donald Skorheim ot Adams, Sept. 1, 1950. They have one son, Mark. They now live in Lakewood, Calif. Dennis married Ella Mae Poeppel of Dunseith, July 3, 1954. They are parents of five sons, Robin, Scott, Jeffrey, Chris and Brett, and three daughters, Jennifer, Julie and Susan. They live on a farm five miles south of Grafton, just north of the family home. Submitted by LaVerne Vogsland.

earliest to come to the Fertile Township area. Their door was always open to others as it has been told how many pioneer families found refuge at this home for periods of time until they homesteaded and built or found homes of their' own. Hans was one of the founders of Concordia Church He died Oct. 5, 1906, and Torbjorg, about 1913. They are buried in Concordia Church Cemetery which is located nine miles west and one mile south of Grafton. Hans and Torbjorg were the parents of five children - Henry Lewis, Anna and twins, Clara and Amanda. Henry and Amanda never married. He died in June, 1946, and she in June, 1950.

Front: Mrs. Hans [Torbjorg] Stensland Wick and Henry Wick. Back: Amanda Wick, Lewis Wick, Clara Wick Vogland and Anna Wick Keyes Eccelston. JOHN WYLLIE John WyUie married Mary Aitken in Scotland about 1878 and the family immigrated to New Jersey in 1883. In 1884, John Wyllie came to the Fertile-Kensington Township area with other Scots. Clara [Wick] and Ole Vogsland. Their children, Dennis, He estabUshed a blacksmithing shop on the north LaVerne and Thelma. side of the Park River, near the southwest corner of the Lewis married Annie Wick, Winger, Minn.. They had S W Section 7, Township 157, Range 54, which he six children, Grace, who died in infancy; Heimer, operated until the city of Park River was established, at George, Leonard, Oscar and Glenn. Lewis died in 1920. which time he moved his business into the town. He and Annie then married Soren Blegan and they became the his wife were active in the Presbyterian church and Mr. parents of Sandford and Ellen. Annie died in May, 1958. Wyllie was affiliated with the Democratic party. He Heimer and George are also deceased. Soren resides in served as mayor of Park River for several years prior to Grafton. his death in 1905. Anna married Lado Keyes at Lake Stevens, Wash., One child, Mary, was born to this union. She was and they had one daughter, Thelma. Following his death, raised at Park River and married Alex Bannerman in Anna married Robert Eccelston. They Uved in 1899. Washington and later, CaUfornia. She died in August, Submitted by Jack Bannerman. 1956, her husband, many years before. ... . . SMILE AWHILE Clara married Ole Vogsland who had emigrated How can a society that FIRST ELEVATOR TRANQUILIZER exists on instant mashed 1889, the first elevator Remember when the potatoes, packaged cake ride in Grand Forks took most widely used mixes, frozen dinners, and place in the still intranquilizer was a rocking instant cameras teach complete first Hotel chair? - Boulder DaUy patience to the young? Dacotah. Camera. 464

E. DUNDEE TOWNSHIP DUNDEE Dundee was named for its township which was named for Dundee Township in Fond du Lac County, Wise, the birthplace of the townsite owner, W. A. Crary. The post office on Section 17 was established April 12, 1881, with Ove Overson, postmaster; discontinued April 22, 1903. Another version of the origin of the name Dundee is that it was named for Dundee, Scotland, by William McKenzie, a local Scottish pioneer and real estate dealer promoting the townsite.

children came to school they reported that old pa fell in the well, but his coat caught on a nail which saved his Ufe. Sunday School was held with Rev. McKay from Park River in charge. They had song books which are now a collector's item. Mary Grasely was the first teacher. She served for two and a half months at $45 a month. Most of those famiUes from Canada sold their farms and moved back to Canada. Mostly in the vicinity of Carman, Man. Submitted by Thomas Walker.

DUNDEE FARMERS MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.

MOUNT VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 34 The first meeting of Mount View School District was held May 12, 1882. It was agreed to buUd a "board shanty" 12'x20' for the purpose of holding summer school. D. P. McLeod was elected treasurer to replace N. 0. Clemetson. At the annual meeting April 3, 1883, there was a discussion about buUding a new school. It was turned down by the voters. Instead of buUding they agreed to put tar paper on the existing "schoolhouse shanty" and cover the tar paper with boards. At the annual meeting on Jan. 7, 1886, it was moved and seconded to purchase three-fourths of an acre of land from Chris Johnson for five dollars and that a new school would be built on that land, the description being Section 12, Township 158, Range 55. The district was bonded for $1,000 to provide money for the building and furnishings. L. M. Mclver and D. P. Mclver were appointed to the building committee. A motion was made to pay the laborers $1 per day plus expenses. The shanty schoolhouse was sold to D. P. Mclver for $23. The first teachers were: 1892, Miss E. A. Ritchey; 1892, Annie Mclver; 1893, Ole Grovum; 1894, Euphenia Beaton; 1895, Elvin E. Button; 1896, Alvin E. Button; 1897, Alvin E. Button; and 1898, Tena McKenzie. Wages for teachers ranged from $30 to $35 a month. Directors elected in October, 1893, were N. O. Ciemetson, H. P. Borge, Donald Smith and L. G. Momerak. Chris Johnson was elected treasurer. This district continued at this site and in the same building until 1959 when it merged with Districts 35, 90 and 85 to become Dundee School District No. 34. A new brick school was buUt, centrally located between these districts. The location being SW'A of SW% of Section 15, Dundee Township. Submitted by Elvina Fagerholt.

Dundee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Park River, was organized by a group of farmers in Dundee Township for protecting any farmer who wished to become a policy holder on a mutual basis at a nominal fee. This group met in an old log schoolhouse in Section 19, Dundee Township, for the purpose of incorporating under provisions ofthe state law then in effect. The company was incorporated March 14, 1889, commenced business on March 15,1889, under the name of Dundee Walsh County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Each policy holder was required to sign a note in an amount based on the coverage of insurance he held as a means of creating a reserve to pay losses against the company. Only one assessment was required during the life of the company to keep its reserve up as required by law. The company now writes insurance in Walsh, Nelson, Cavalier, Ramsey, Pembina and Grand Forks Counties. A log was retrieved from the old log school building which had been purchased and reconstructed to be used as a barn. The president now owns the farm where the log building was constructed. A log was salvaged and several gavels were made, one of which was presented to the company and is at the business office as a gift from the president. The company writes coverage on fire, windstorm, hail, "not on growing crops," cyclone, theft, malicious mischief and collapse. The last audit report by the State Auditor shows over $93 million insurance in force in 1974. Original organizers were President Pro Tern N. A. Clementson, H. P. Harrison, John Nickolson, N. H. Rinde, J. J. Marifjeren, 0. T. Loftsgaard and Andrew Lockrem. Submitted by Thomas Walker.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 90 Dundee School District No. 90 was located on one acre of land in the N. E. quarter of Section 22 -158-55. The school was built in 1885. Board members were Andrew Walker, William Milne and Mrs. Andrew Walker. Andrew and Ellen Walker served on the board for 15 years. Many of the farmers had moved from Canada - William Milne, the Campbells, Douglases, Scots, and Murtas. Mr. Murta was a man of small stature. One morning when his

Hoople, N. D. 465

BIOGRAPHIES

John Uves in the Soldier's Home at Lisbon. They were members of Park Center Lutheran Church. T O L L E F OLSON B A K K E N F A M I L Y

AUGUST A L M E N August Almen was born Aug. 11, 1854, in Dalsland, Sweden. His parents were Anders and Maria Person, but due to the fact there were so many named Person, August and his brothers, Carl and Hjaimer, took the name "Almen." He worked as a mason in Sweden and also after coming to America. He made his declaration at Stevens County, Minn., Nov. 7, 1881, and became a U . S. citizen Nov. 3, 1892. He came to Park River where he took up a homestead close to the Nels Kjos home in Walsh County. He married Josefine Kalgaard at Park River Aug. 5, 1898. Pastor N. S. Thorlakson performed the ceremony. They were parents of 11 children, Adolph, Arvid, Heimer, Alva Velma (Mrs. Thomas Estad), Esther Ferguson Thompson Almen, Stella (Mrs. Lloyd Thompson), Ruby (Mrs. Oliver Olson), Elton Vernell Oscar who died at the age of two years, five months, Vernell and J oseph. They moved to the Eric Lee farm in Pembina County in 1913. Mrs. Almen died in May, 1920. August died Jan. 19 1927; Adolph died Feb. 25, 1956; Arvid died Dec. 10, 1970; Heimer died May 9, 1975; Alva died Jan. 8, 1919; Stella died Jan. 13, 1926; and Elton Vernell Oscar died Feb 21. 1917. A l l are laid to rest in the Park Center Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Park River, with the exception of Adolph who is buried at St. Peter Church Cemetery and Stella who is buried in the Thompson lot at Zion Cemetery, rural Hoople. Times were tough and our pioneer parents had to work hard and long hours to keep a big family clothed and fed, but August Almen always had time to play and sing with us children which we all remember and enjoyed so very much. Pleasant memories of happy by gone days. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Almen. TOSTEN ANDERSON F A M I L Y Tosten Anderson was born in Valers, Norway, in 1860 and came to the U . S. as a young boy with his family. In 1882 he filed homestead in Dundee Township where he farmed until his death in 1939. Johanna Christopherson was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1870. At 16, she immigrated to the United States. She spent several years working for an uncle who had paid her fare. Johanna died in 1949 after being confined to a wheelchair for many years. She was an inspiration to those who knew her because of her courageous acceptance of her affliction. On March 31, 1893, Tosten and Johanna were married. They had a family of six sons and two daughters - Elmer, JuUa, Bennie, Melford, Clarence (died in childhood), Clara, Henry and Theodore. They were active members of the Park Center Lutheran Church where Johanna was a charter member of the Ladies' Aid. Submitted by Francis Letness. OLE ARAAS Ole Arass lived on the N . E . 'A Section 27, Dundee Township. They sold and moved away in 1910. They had a family of five - John, Emma, AUce, Oscar and Fredric.

Tollef Olson Bakken came from Flaa HalUngdahl, Norway, as a young man. He came to Wilmar, Minn., and worked there for awhile. Accompanied by John Jacobson, he came by oxen and covered wagon to Dundee Township, along the middle branch of the Park River, where he resided until his death. Tollef was one of the first settlers to homestead here in 1878. There were no other settlers close by at the time. They lived in a dugout and later in a log house which is still on the place. In 1920 a wood frame house was built and the two daughters, Alma and Minnie, are stUl living there. Tollef and John returned to Minnesota and brought John's mother, Anna Jacobson, and his sister, Maren, who later became Tollef's wife. Mrs. Jacobson filed claim on a homestead nearby on what is now known as the Hamilton Berg farm. Tollef and Maren Christine Jacobson were married July 23, 1880, in a log house at her mother's farm. To this union nine children were born: Emma, Theodore, Andrew, Hilda, Clara, Ole, Minnie, Alma and Berent. Minnie and Alma are the only surviving members of the family. Tollef walked to Grand Forks and carried a sack of flour home. In the winter he used skis. In 1880 the Park Center Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. was organized and they became members. ToUef died Jan. 1,1952, at the age of 98. Mrs. Bakken died Dec. 17,1935, at the age of 75. She was born at Waupaca, Wise. Submitted by Mrs. Minnie Goodoien. SIMON BATHGATE Simon Bathgate and his famUy of five came from eastern Canada to Dundee Township in about 1907 and settled on the N . E . 'A, Section 33-158-55. There were two girls - Mrs. Anna L. Ford and Maggie, who was married to Wilbur CampbeU, originally from Carman, Man. There were three boys - John, Grand Forks; Andrew remained on the home farm and William, Canada. Submitted by Thomas Walker. OLE K. AND ELEME B E R G Ole K. Berg in 1864, at the age of 22, ventured by saihng vessel from Norway to America. On the same boat, Eline Aasness, age 20, was also seeking a new Ufe in the New World. After seven weeks on the same boat, they became well acquainted. They rode the same train from New York City to Rice County, Minn., where they stopped to seek employment. Ole, as a youth in Norway, was a skilled shoemaker and did quite well in that occupation in Minnesota. After about a year of courtship they were married and settled on an 80 acre homestead near Sacred Heart, Minn. Four children were born to them there, they were Emma, Ole, Knute and Oscar. In 1880 they moved by covered wagon and a yoke ot oxen to Walsh County in Dakota Territory. There they obtained an 80 acre homestead and a 120 acre tree claim. Here they buUt a log cabin for their famUy. Three more children, Anna, Otto, and Ellen were born in their new home.

For several years they operated a local post office Ln their home. Ole was also the local dentist, extracting many teeth with homemade tongs. For some years he operated a sawmill on his tree claim, producing most of the lumber needed for their household furniture and additional buildings about the farm. Ole and Eline were both actively involved in establishing and building the Park Center Lutheran Church and often were hosts to the pastors who came from a distance to serve the congregation. During the first years, Ole had to haul the grain 60 miles to Grand Forks to exchange it for flour, sugar and other necessities. Some years later they acquired more land and also built a new house on their farm which is still being used. About 1915, Ole Berg and his family moved to Park River. Their son, Knute, bought the farm and with his wife, Manda, and family moved there to Uve. Ole Berg died at Park River, Dec. 12, 1919. His wife Eline died Oct. 23,1926. They are both buried at the Park Center Church as are their chUdren, Emma (Mrs. B. Stransberg), Ole, Knute, Otto and Oscar. Surviving are Anna (Mrs. Thomas Pare), Battle View, and Ellen (Mrs. Gust Edlund), Powers Lake. Submitted by A. N. Gryte. OSCAR AND CLARA BERG Oscar Berg was born on his parent's homestead in Sacred Heart, Minn., in 1878. In 1880, the family moved via covered wagon to Walsh County where they took an 80 acre homestead and a 120 acre tree claim. All of their marketing, both selling and buying, was in Grand Forks, 60 miles over primitive North Dakota. Soon the railroads were completed to Grafton and on to Park River, only eight miles away. AU of their grain was hauled in sacks and weighed two at a time. They witnessed the tremendous progress and development of modem farming with the grain binder; the threshing machine; and the powerful steam engine. In 1902, a young school teacher by the name of Clara Mathilda Tandberg from Northwood was assigned to teach in a local school. Because she was a pianist and interested in music, she one day attended a concert by the famous Dundee Band and became interested in one of the cornetists, Oscar Berg, and she soon became his accompanist for the rest of his life. They staked out a claim in western North Dakota, near Powers Lake and lived there for five years - "The happiest years of their lives." They owned a phonograph and one record. Certainly the many hardships of those five years on the claim coupled with the absence of recreation and outside activities gave them the time and encouragement to read and study the Bible and to speak often with their Lord and did account for their strong faith in and love of God. They moved back to Walsh County and their parents' territory. Oscar Berg held many local offices: town clerk (town meetings were held in his home); church custodian; constable (he acted officially only one time when he donned his constable's star and chased some gypsies off the farm); secretary treasurer of the Dundee Walsh County Fire Insurance Company. Clara Berg was church organist and choir leader at Park Center. She also served as Ladies' Aid president several times. Her favorite phUosophy was "med tid kommer raad!" Oscar's favorite phUosophy was "If you

can't make it in one jump, jump twice! " (That may have been original.) All five of their children are aUve and pleased to relate accounts of Clara and Oscar Berg. They are: Esther Gryte, Alice Gryte, E. Hamilton Berg, C. Orville Berg and Otto Berg. Submitted by Mrs. A. N. Gryte and Otto Berg. HALVOR BORGE A

Left to right: Peter H. Borge: March 11, 1882 to May 14, 1965. Halvor Borge: Jan. 23, 1854-Dec. 13, 1949. Sonneva Borge: Dec. 1, 1850-Feb. 4, 1934. Ambjor (Emma) Rustan: Aug. 4, 1878-April 14, 1967.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Borge's first home, Dundee Twp.

Halvor P. Borge was bom in Numedal, Norway. He married Soneva Guldansdatter Borge in Norway. (His name was Halvor Peterson, but there were many Petersons, so he took his wife's name, Borge.) He and two brothers came to Minnesota about 1879. He came to Dundee Township, filed a claim. The following year his wife and daughter came with her parents to join him. Her parents were Gulbrand Borges. They lived in Dundee Township and were some of the first buried in the Park Center Cemetery. Halvor Borge built his log home on his homestead. A few years later he had to move his house because of flooding. Borge was active in church and community affairs, was a charter member of the Park Center Church. He was one of the people instrumental in forming the Dundee Insurance Co. He served on the township board. Mrs. Soneva Borge was bom Dec. 1,1850, died Feb. 4, 1934. Halvor Borge was born Jan. 23,1854. He Uved on his homestead until he died at 96on Dec. 13,1949. Halvor and Soneva had two children, Ambjor (Emma), born in Norway in 1878. She married Thomas P. Rustan in 1904. Peter H. Borge was bom March 11, 1882. He had one of the first one cylinder cars in Dundee Township. Many neighbors had their first automobile

ride with him. He was active in community affairs, a member ofthe school board. He farmed with his dad and bought the Vibjon Odden farm. Peter Borge married Edna Finstad in November, 1914. They had nine children - four sons, Heimer and Parnell, Hoople; Glen, Ada, Minn.; and Orphie, Grafton; and five daughters; Betty (Mrs. Charles Weber) and Esther of Minneapolis; Deloris (Mrs. Edward Mclntyre), Grand Forks; Helen (Mrs. Walter Olson) Thompson, Ia., and Lillian (Mrs. Norman Larson), Park River. Peter and Edna lived on the farm in Dundee Township until he died May 14, 1965. Mrs. Edna Borge moved into Park River where she resides. The home farm is operated by son, Heimer. Submitted by Heimer Borge.

awhile. Ingeborg didn't like it. There were lots of Indians around, some very bad ones. Nels would go to Grand Forks for groceries, it would take him a week before he got back.

NELS CLEMETSON FAMILY

Nels Ciemetson Home They moved back to their place in Dundee Township, broke up the fields and raised crops and made good. They traded their farm at Olga for one quarter so they had four quarters all joining. They built a nice, big $6,000 house in 1894 and a barn in 1895. The Ciemetson grove was for many years a favorite gathering place for many forms of summer entertainment, also a merry-go-round. They had four more children Ingenilla, Edwin, and Caroline, they died when they were young. Another Caroline started playing the organ in the Park Center Church when she was 12 and played for 38 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Nels O. Ciemetson Wedding—April 16, Ingeborg (Grombo) Ciemetson was born in Flaa, Hallingdal, Norway, Feb. 28, 1850, to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Grombo. She came to America in 1867 with her sister and two other people in a little sail boat, and was eighteen weeks on the sea. They came to Nearstrand, Minn. Ingeborg worked for her uncle and aunt to pay for her fare. It was then she met Nels Ciemetson who lived in Northfield, Minn. Nels was born in Kroderen, Norway, Dec. 21,1848, to Osten and Gunhild Ciemetson or Holen. He came to America in 1852, and they settled at Northfield. Ingeborg and Nels were married at Valley Grove, Minn., April 16, 1871. They settled on a farm near Nearstrand. Four children, Oscar, Henry, Carl, and Geolina, were bom here. They sold this place in 1879 and started out in a covered wagon and oxen for the west. They took with them their cows and household belongings. There wasn't a person to be seen. They reached Dundee Township June 9, 1879. They squatted on land which became Section 15 of the present Dundee Township and filed on the land five miles southwest of Hoople. They settled here, built a log house. When people would come, they landed there. Nels decided to get more land, the family moved to Olga, proved up the homestead. They farmed this for

A mural 16' x 9' painted by Carl N. Ciemetson on a wall inside the home of N. O. Ciemetson. This home was destroyed by fire Sept. 16, 1914. They had five big steam rigs. Men would come from Minnesota with their teams and hayracks in July and stay until threshing was over. Five cook cars and 10 cooks would feed the crews. They would go to many different farms and thresh. Nels and Ingeborg were home alone when their house burned Sept. 17, 1914. The rest were threshing. They lived in the garage and built a new house the next year. Caroline went to school in Northfield, Minn. Carl was an artist and painted many pictures, especially murals.

Oscar was skilled in repairing machinery, and had a blacksmith shop on his farm. Only two boys married, Oscar to Inga Ostenrude, no children. Henry married Gustie Peterson of Fosston, Minn. They had seven children, Mrs. Lloyd (Byrdie) Staven, Mrs. Neom Larson, Mrs. Selvin (Avis) Dahlen, Alden, Gladwin, Lyle, and Clair. The last three deceased besides the parents. They lived in Park River, owned and operated a bakery and restaurant for many years, and after had a hotel for many years. Ingeborg and Nels were charter members of the Park Center congregation when the church was founded, and always took an active interest in all affairs — spiritual, social, financial, also all township affairs, interested in the Democratic party politics. Ingeborg died Nov. 2, 1929, and Nels on March 15, 1931. Ingeborg worked at Northfield at the time Jesse James robbed the bank. She also stayed with the mother when the first child, a girl, was born in Dundee as there were no doctors.

ing, took my money and my watch and then put me here to hang. Nels told the men they couldn't handle this poor boy like this. Then they turned him lose.

John Spetz, born in Sweden, came to this country at the age of 22 and made his home at Clemetson's until he died in 1945. One night the mosquitoes were so bad an ox was rubbing up against the window and fell into the house and scared them all as they always had fear of Indians.

LILLIAN (MARIFJEREN) DIEMER

Nels Ciemetson farm yard in Dundee Twp. Mr. and Mrs. N. Ciemetson in the buggy. Carl, Henry, Oscar, Geolina, Carolina, others are visitors. House built in 1896, burned Sept. 17, 1915. Barn was built in 1895. In 1881 Nels' brother, Palmer, and five other men also came from Rice County. Nels had a team of horses. He took the bunch and went to Tiber Coulee and camped there. Next morning they saw a shanty on the Fairdale prairie and smoke coming from it. They drove up there and an old Irishman came out and wanted to know if any of them could speak Norwegian, Nels spoke up and said he could. There were nine men there and all had guns. Nels got out of the wagon but the rest didn't dare. Nels went into the shanty, found a young Norwegian newcomer boy standing on a box with a rope around his neck. Nels asked them what this boy had done, they said he had stolen lumber from them. The boy said he hadn't. These fellows came to my shack four o'clock this morn-

Mr. and Mrs. Nels O. Ciemetson, taken on the steps ofthe Park Center Church, Dundee Twp., on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Sunday, July 10, 1921 at 12:00 o'clock. Rev. Egge addressed the couple. They were married April 16, 1871.

Lillian (Marifjeren) Diemer was bom Sept. 18, 1903, in Dundee Township, daughter of John and Soneva (Hove) Marifjeren. She attended grade school in the country and high school at Park River from which she graduated. She attended Mayville Teachers College for the summer term. Then she taught grade school in her local community for two years. Three years later she graduated from the Deaconess Hospital at Grand Forks as an R. N. She worked in several hospitals doina general and private duty. Some of the places were Grafton, Starbuck, Dunseith, Williston and Great Falls. Wages were low and there were times when she had to be on duty 24 hours a day. A few times she did not get any pay for her work. But most of the places the people were kind and considerate and those are the memories she treasures. About this time she decided to go to Great Falls, Mont., where they had a good hospital and trained nurses to anesthetists. She arrived in Great Falls and enrolled with the new class in anesthesia. Lillian is not getting any younger, but she has had an eventful and rewarding life. She met a gentleman from Great Falls who was working in the Communications Department at the BurUngton Northern. He was Bernard Diemer (a native of Ohio). His mother was a music teacher and had visions that her son Barney would be a musician some day. But Barney wanted to be around the depot where the telegraph was clicking away. So while he was working, he would have his ears tuned to the clicking of the machine and that is how he learned telegraphy - by listening. Lillian and Bernard were married Sept. 17, 1943, at Park River. Inga Kjos and Mai vin Marifjeren were their attendants. There are no children. Barney lived to receive his honors for work well done and received his pension from the railroad. A month later he died. He was born Sept. 2, 1906, died Oct. 26,1971. Lillian has since made her home at Park River. She is a member of the Lutheran Church (ALC). Bernard was a member of the CathoUc Church and was buried at Park River. Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Aaland.

NELS FEDJE Nels Fedje, born in Fios, Sogn, Norway, April 15, 1860, spent his early life in that country, came to America when he was 27 years old, stopping first in Minnesota. He came to Walsh County in 1888. His early days in America were spent at the Lars Fedje farm. In 1890 he and Syneva Fedje were married by the Rev. J. T. Langemo of Edinburg. His wife was born at Northfield, Minn., Dec. 9, 1871, and came to the Hoople area in 1880. After their marriage they at first occupied a log cabin seven miles west of Hoople. There they experienced the usual hardships of pioneering, gradually improving their status as conditions improved. In 1904 they built a frame house. They reared a family of five sons and five daughters: Minnie, Arthur, Edwin, Nichelos (died in infancy), Louise, Myrtle, Nora, Selmer, Ernest, and Bernice. They were members of Park Center Lutheran Church. During their residency in Walsh County, they were active in church and school activities. Nels Fedje served as supervisor of Dundee Township and president of the school board. In 1921 they moved to a farm in Glenwood Township, two miles east of Hoople. In 1937 they moved into the village of Hoople. Nels Fedje died in June, 1941. Mrs. Fedje died in June, 1957. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fedje.

Mrs. Borge lived in Dundee Township until after he died. She moved to Park River, resides there. Lydia is at a rest home in Osnabrock. Mr. and Mrs. Hans Finstad and six children are buried at Park Center Lutheran Church cemetery. Hans was born in 1849, died in 1933. Karen Finstad was born in 1857, died in 1941. Lester Markel, grandson, lives on the homestead. Hans Finstad was a charter member of the Park Center Church. Submitted by Heimer Borge. GISLE GUNDERSON Gisle Gunderson homesteaded on SW'A, Section 24, Dundee Township. They had a family of eight; Gilbert, captain of an ocean liner; George, also a sailor; Howard, Erwin and Clifford in the states; Mary, Carrie and Ellen, at home. The family moved away about 1907. Submitted by Thomas Walker. TORGE GUNDERSON

Mr. and Mrs. Torge Gunderson, pioneers in Dundee Twp.

Nels and Syneva Fedje 50th Wedding Anniversary HANS FINSTAD Hans Finstad came from Lofoten, Norway, with his parents and one brother when he was seven years old. When they arrived in the States, belongings had been lost, all they had was the clothing they were wearing. He lived in Wisconsin until he came to North Dakota to homestead in Section 7 in Glenwood Township west of Hoople. Hans Finstad went back to Wisconsin in 1886 and married Karen Void. They returned to North Dakota to his homestead. In the 1893 Plat Book, Finstad is listed as a farmer and breeder of Golden Laced Wyandotte fowls from imported stock. Hans and Karen Finstad had eight children; Harry, Theodore, Lawrence, Gena, Edna (Mrs. Peter Borge), Clara (Mrs. Jacob Kalgard) and twin girls, Lily (Mrs. Daniel Markel) and Lydia.

Torge (Skritvedt)Gunderson was born March 5,1843, at Houston, Minn. Here he received his grade school education. His parents, Ingeborg Listul and Gunder Skritvedt Gunderson, had come from Telemarken, Norway. In 1880 he came to Dakota Territory with a team of oxen and his household possessions. He settled on a homestead in Dundee Township. Here the family lived until they retired from farming and moved into Hoople in 1918. In the spring of 1884, he married Signe Listul in Dundee Township. She was a native of Sandahl, Norway. Gunderson walked to Grand Forks for flour which he carried back to his home. He served as a member of the board of the Dundee School and a member of the church board of the Park Center Lutheran Church. They were members of the Republican Party. Nine children were bom to the Gundersons: Twin boys, Gunder (1888-1910) and Kittle (1888-1891); Annie Gunderson Midtun, died Dec. 29, 1963; Ida Gunderson Midboe, died Aug. 2,1974; and Clarence Gunderson died Jan. 12, 1967. Surviving are Tillie Gunderson Johnson of Hoople; Henry, Grand Forks; Oscar, Erskine, Minn., and Josie of Hoople.

Josie took care of her parents at their home in Hoople. After their deaths, she was clerk at the Hoople Post Office for 27 years. Torge died May 5, 1936, and Mrs. Gunderson died May 15, 1941. Both are buried at Park Center Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by Josie Gunderson. OLE TOLLEFSON GRYTE Ole T. Gryte acquired land in Dundee Township, four miles west of Hoople. At 31, he married Elena Rollefstad, 27, sister of Carl Rollefstad on Jan. 1,1882. They had four children: Carl, Theodore, Susie and Inga. About 1900 they moved to Minnesota. Here Elena died. Mr. Gryte remarried and the family moved to McHenry County. Two members of the family are living. Inga lives in McHenry County, Susie at Glenwood, Minn.

Ole Tollefson Gryte Family. Carl, Ole T. Theodore, Mrs. Gryte. Front: Susie and Inga.

Gryte,

CHRISTIAN HANSON F A M I L Y

Christian Hanson was born on a farm (Gaard) named Barlie, about nine Norwegian miles from Oslo, Norway. The family came to America and settled in Iowa where Christian Hanson had a general store. He married Olena Osse, native of Alcader, Ia. Two sons, Henry and Ole, were born while the family lived in Iowa. In 1882, the Hansons walked from Grand Forks to Dundee Township because the railroad had not as yet come through. They filed on a quarter of land in that township, southwest of Hoople. A sod house was their home until a frame house was built a few years later. Three daughters were bom, Tillie, Dalma and Nellie. The nearest church was Zion, rural Hoople. Here the girls were baptized and the family attended until Park Center Congregation was organized. The Christian Hansons moved to Grafton when Henry took over the management of the large farm, with his sister, Tillie, as housekeeper. Henry became a leader in the social Ufe of the community. On his bicycle, he helped organize picnics, community dances or a Fourth of July celebration. Dances were often held on the second floor of a newly constructed barn. The wedding of Henry to Netti Johnson was the most festive for some time. Henry's sister, Tillie, then moved to her Montana ranch. After Henry was kicked by a horse, he was a semiinvalid the rest of his life. Nettie continued to care for their six children and her outside activities. She died as

she was at the organ playing for church services. Aunt Nellie took over responsibilities, arranged to have each child graduate from high school. Glenna and Janice have degrees from the University of North Dakota. Glenna married John Fuerst. He was District Manager of the Merrill-Lynch Brokerage Company in Akron, Ohio, and was made vice-president of the company. He died recently. Glenna is left with two children. Eunice took a business course at Cleveland, Dorothy took nurse's training at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. When Joy graduated from high school in Park River, she worked a short tune, married Norval Hennum, Edinburg. He entered military service. Joy went to Cleveland where Janet was living, and stayed there until her husband returned. They came back to North Dakota where Norval worked for the raUroad. Joy has a job with the Augsburg Publishing Company and her husband has continued his work with the railroad, at present in an office job with the Burlington Northern. They have no children. After serving with the armed services, Allan earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota. He works with the Reclamation Service at Bismarck. Ole Hanson had a funeral home in Grafton. Dalma Hanson taught school in Alaska for 20years. NelUe Hanson completed elementary and high school in Grafton and received a degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She taught for three years at Northwood. NeUie and two other girls filed on claims in WiUiams County. AU three girls taught school during the summer. "Dad" Kruger lent NelUe a horse so she could ride to school. She sold this farm. She served as Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Walsh County for 15 years. She is living in Grafton. She was honored this summer at the Williams County Bicentennial celebration, as a "Homestead Pioneer" of that area. Christian Hanson, died in 1924; Mrs. Christian Hanson, 1927; Ole Hanson, 1942; Dalma Hanson, 1946; aU are buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Henry Hanson, bom in 1872, died in 1944; Nettie Hanson, born in 1888, died in 1935; both are buried in the Park Center Cemetery. Submitted by NeUie Hanson. CIPRON HANSON Cipron Hanson farmed the SE /., Section 23, Dundee Township. He had a huge flower garden. One daughter, Aleta, married a veterinarian at Kenyon, Minn. Cipron moved back to Iowa in about 1905 after selUng the farm to Ole Grovum, a school teacher. Submitted by Thomas Walker. 1

EVEN HAUGLAND Even Haugland came from Norway to Dundee Township. There he met and married Annie Twedt, a native of this area. They farmed in Dundee Township except for six years when they lived at CUmax, Sask. They returned to their farm in Dundee where they lived until Mr. Haugland died and Mrs. Haugland moved to Grafton. They had eight children: Victor Haugland died in Montana; George Haugland died Dec. 4, 1963, buried at Park Center Cemetery; Melvin Haugland, Alvin Haugland, Aimer Haugland, Mabel (Mrs. Marlow Knutson), Ila (Mrs. MUton Edwenson), Hazel Haugland. Even Haugland was bom Oct. 19, 1875, died Oct. 30,

1951, at 76. Annie Haugland was born Nov. 7, 1883, died Aug. 16, 1961, at 78. Both are buried at Park Center Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Alvin Haugland.

FRANK HURT

Eivind Haugland family—1928. Seated: Ilah, Annie, Hazel, Eivind, Elmer. Standing: Melvin, Alvin, Mabel, George, Victor.

Three Hurtt brothers, original pioneers of Glenwood Twp., SW of Hoople. Left to right homesteaders: William Hurtt 1879, George H. Hurtt 1878, Frank Hurtt, Sr. 1880.

SJUR HOVE Sjur Hove was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1834. Britha (Borlaug) Hove was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1839. They were married while they lived in Norway. Both of them were Lutherans. They emigrated to America and settled on a farm at Nerstrand, Minn. Five of their children were born in Norway. Jens was 14 and Soneva was eight at that time. Four more were bom in Nerstrand, Minn. The Hoves brought along four chests, two of them had rosemaling on them. One is very good yet except for the Ud, which is damaged. One side has writing on it. Britha made three bedspreads. She had carded the wool, dyed and spun it, and woven the pattern into the spread. She had made her own dyes of berries - blue, red and green on white canvas. When the children had grown up, some had moved to North Dakota and some to Montana. It became evident that Sjur and Britha were getting lonely without them. Sjur and Britha came to Hoople and built a house on a few lots which they bought from Lars Marifjeren. It was located in a shady, cozy nook near Lars' place. This became a fun place for Soneva Marifjeren's children to visit because it was only three-fourths of a mile away and they could easily walk it. Also, Grandmother Hove's sandwiches and cookies tasted so much better there than at home.The Hoves had nine children: Mrs. Nels (Ingeborg Hove) Rinde, Grafton; Jens (Jim) Hove, farmer, Hoople 1863-1960; Nels Hove, buried in Nerstrand, Minn.; Soneva (Hove) Marifjeren, Hoople, 1866-1949; Ole Hove, farmer, Inverness, Mont., buried in Montana; John S. Hove, cashier at Bartlet bank, Bartlet and Hoople, 1878-1957; Andrew Hove, Inverness, Mont., farmer and storekeeper, buried in Montana; Edward Hove, Inverness, Mont., storekeeper and farmer, buried in Montana; and Marie (Hove) Twedt, farmer's wife, Ruby, died early in married life. Of all the brothers and sisters, Jens Uved to be the oldest (97). Sjur Hove died Feb. 3, 1907; Britha Hove died April 1, 1923. Both are buried in Park Center Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Aaland.

Eleanor Parsonage was bom Aug. 28, 1862, in London, England. Frank Hurt, was born March 31, 1861, at HaUburton, Ontario. They were married in 1890 in Rock Lake County, Manitoba. Samuel Hurt of Cobourg and Mary Hamilton of Peterboro, Ont., were married on March 20, 1848. They were the parents of William, George and Frank. An extra "t" was added to the WUliam Hurtt name to distinguish between the two Franks and to assist the post office service. Both Franks - uncle and nephew - were baptized Francis but both were known as Frank. The elder Francis Hurt came over from Ontario to assist WiUiam and George Hurt in settling their claims. His future wUe assisted her sister, Marion, wife of WUliam, during the time then first four children were bom. Later Francis and EUnor were married in 1890 and settled on a claim a mUe west which is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Hurtt and family. Of the nine chUdren of the Francis Hurt famUy, only five remain: Chester, Park River; Gladys, Seattle; Joyce and Lulu, Kirkland, Wash.; Jeanette, Hoople. Deceased are Robert, Leslie and Ernest and Witfred. George Hurtt married Henrietta Shepherd, a school teacher at Cashel, formerly of Ontario. In their senior years they moved to Pasadena, CaUf. They had no children. Both are deceased. Submitted by Mrs. Vemon Rogers.

Left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hurtt, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. George H. Hurtt, Sr., pioneers of Glenwood Tow., south of Hoople.

CHRIST JOHNSON Christ Johnson was born in (Christiania) Oslo, Norway, Sept. 8, 1846. In 1879 he homesteaded in Dundee Township before the government survey was made and received his title by squatter's rights. He farmed for 35 years. During his last few years, the details had been delegated to his son, Joseph, who with his family lived on the home farm. During his long residence in Dundee Township he served in various public capacities and was regarded as a man of ability and dependable business dealings. The homestead had three dwelling houses which were still standing and fit for use at the time of his death. They represented the three stages of farm buildings. The first, a log cabin of the settler; the second, a more roomy house, where most of the children were born and grew up; and third, the more commodious residence, typical of the prosperous era of the Walsh County pioneers. Although he passed his 90th anniversary, he retained his faculties to the last, always retaining a keen interest in the events of the day and keenly aware of the changing agricultural conditions in the northwest, which he had seen transferred from buffalo infested plains. Thirty-three years of his Ufe were spent in Norway, but coming to America he was quick to realize the opportunities in Dakota Territory. His first wife was Nettie Nelson, who also came from Oslo, Norway. They had three chUdren: Edward, Wallace and Oscar. She died in 1879 and in 1882 he married Johanna Anderson, who came from Oslo, Norway. She died Feb. 5, 1933. They had six children: Henry, Albert, Joseph, Carl, Nettie (Mrs. Henry Hanson), and Alma (Mrs. William Mcintosh), who are aU deceased. Ardell Johnson (the third generation) and his wife now reside on the home farm. Submitted by Mrs. Otto Haug.

The Christ Johnson Family. Left to right, top row: Carl, Joseph, Henry, Albert, Nettie. First row Christ Johnson, Alma, Mrs. Johnson.

NELS AND OTTO JOHNSON Nels and Otto Johnson were bachelor brothers. Nels, the elder, did the cooking and baking. Otto was a carpenter and built many farm buildings in the 1890's and early 1900's. They sold their farm and resided at the old people's home in Northwood. Submitted by Thomas Walker.

MARTIN JOHNSON Martin Johnson immigrated with his wUe, Karen, and four chUdren to Rice County, Minn., from Solor, Norway, in 1874. The children were: Mrs. Juveland (Kaja), Mrs. WilUam Johnson (Kjosten), Ole M., Mrs. Henry Matson (Emma), John and Malla (the last two were born in Rice and Dundee Townships). In the spring of 1879 they heard rumors that the Dakota Territory would soon be surveyed and open for settlement under the Homestead Act. Each person could homestead on 160 acres and obtain possession by Uving on the land six months each year for three years. Martin came in a covered wagon puUed by two horses and had a cow tied behind; he also had a few chickens in crates. They crossed the bridge at Fargo and headed north in the Red River VaUey as it was later named. In June they arrived where Dundee Township was later surveyed, some six miles west of Hoople. Here, all of the families obtained land by using the squatter's right of ownership. The Red River Valley was surveyed by Karl Farup and four other government surveyors in the faU of 1879. All of the squatters had to go to Fargo and file on their land when it had been surveyed. Now began the work of building log houses and barns. They were not particular if they did not have lumber floors and many Uved in houses with earthen floors many years. In 1880 a Lutheran Evangelistic preacher by the name of Rev. 0. H. Aaberg held a religious meeting and the Park Center Congregation was organized. The early records are still preserved. Martin was chosen as the first president - called chairman in those days. Meetings were held in various homes. Zion and Park Center became a parish and Rev. Christopher A. Flaten became their pastor. The Park Center Church was buUt in 1892 at a cost of about $7,000; this also included the church bell. in the faU of 1888, an epidemic of diphtheria took many Uves among the settlers. MaUa and John, Martin's two youngest, died of the disease. No doctors were to be had and the settlers depended on doctor books and home remedies for information and cure. Coffins were aU made at home and sometimes were quite crude. People were always afraid of Indians coming from the west. A prairie fire was noticed in the distance and right away it brought fear that the Indians were going to bum them out. One man slept outside aU night because he worried they would come at night. Country stores were built on farms throughout the area and provisions were hauled from Grafton. One of these stores was buUt on the Lars Marifjeren farm in Dundee Township. A post office was also made in the store so people could get their mail when they purchased then groceries. Mail delivery was quite a problem and a letter from Norway took many months to deliver. Martin was born in 1834 and died in 1884. Karen was born in1836 and died in 1909. Submitted by Mrs. Henry Jackson. OLE M. JOHNSON Ole M. Johnson, son of Martin and Karen, immigrated with his parents and three sisters to Rice County, Minn., from Solor, Norway, in 1874. They moved to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1879 in a covered wagon and arrived in Dundee Township in June. The land

was surveyed in the fall and his father filed a claim in Fargo for his 160 acres. They lived in a log house with a dirt floor for about two years before floor was put down. Country store and post office was on the Lars Marifjeren farm. In 1884his father, Martin, died. Ole was only 15 years old. Then Ole had to take over the farming. April 12, 1898, Ole was married to Pauline Peterson :. the Park Center Church. Pauline was from Flisa, Solor, Norway, and came to Park River alone in 1892. She was bom in 1868. Six children were bom, Mrs. Henry Jackson (Minnie), Martha, Mrs. Clarence Fagerholt (Amanda), Clarence, Oscar, and Mrs. Norman Bransvold (Thelma); three of which are now still living. Martha died in infancy - Karen, her grandmother, baptized the baby. Oscar died in Portland, Ore., Jan. 12, 1967. On December 30 ofthe same year, Thelma died. In the pioneer days saw mills powered by horses were used to make lumber to build more adequate houses and barns. A flour mill was located at Walhalla and farmers hauled wheat there twice a year to obtain a supply of flour. Everything that a farmer had to sell was cheap, but a dollar went a long way as everything he purchased was cheap in comparison. Wages were low and young men was satisfied working for $18 a month plus board, during the summer months. Shocking was usually 60 to 75 cents a day and board. Most of the children of the Scandinavians could only speak Norwegian when they started school. Two rural schools were started in every township and they had an attendance of approximately forty pupils each. Many families often had five to ten children. In 1881 the first train reached Grafton, a town of 400 population and everything prospered when the railroad reached there. All of the hauling had been done by horses and wagons from Grand Forks until now. Park Center Church was organized in 1880 but a church was not built until 1892. Rev. O. H. Aaberg was the first pastor - but only served temporarily. Zion, south of Hoople; Our Saviour's at Park River; and Park Center were one parish and our congregation agreed to contribute to the pastor's salary $80 the first year. In January, 1881, Rev. Christopher A. Flaten was installed. Prior to the calling and installation of Rev. Flaten, it was arranged to have Zion and Park Center as one parish. Ole held church offices and was also director on other boards like the township, elevator and school. Mr. and Mrs. Ole M. Johnson retired in 1944 and moved to Park River. Then Clarence married Hattie Anderson and they took over the farming. Ole died March 15, 1954. Pauline died Jan. 30, 1957. The pioneers had many hard struggles, but they saw rewards from their labors. The country became a prosperous community and a wonderful place to live. To this history we would also like to include the Johnson's grandchildren and their families: Henry and Minnie Jackson family: Mrs. David Wefald (Glenna), Mrs. LawrenceLinnett (Marilyn), Arlen (wife Ann), and seven children bom to these families; Clarence and Amanda Fagerholt family: Allyn (wife Carolyn), Mrs. Lowell Malmin (Janice), and four children born to these families; Norman and Thelma Brunsvold family: Stuart

and Susan. No children were born to the families of Clarence or Oscar. Submitted by Mrs. Henry Jackson. GUSTAV N. KJOS FAMILY Gustav N. Kjos was born in Dundee Township Dec. 10,1885, where he spent his entire life. He was the son of Nels A. and Sigrid (Helle) Kjos. He began farming while a young man and Nov. 30,1916, he married Sena Jackson, daughter of Abraham and Gertrude Jackson of Glenwood Township. Mr. and Mrs. Kjos raised two children, Norman who resides on the home farm and Sylvia (Mrs. Don Filipi) who lives in Warren, Minn. Mr. Kjos was an active member of the Park Center Church and held many offices in that congregation. Submitted by Norman A. Kjos, Hoople. TORI KNUTSON

Tori Knutson. The log house was built about 1885 and boarded up with siding about 1906. Tori Knutson was born in Numedal, Norway, worked as a herdsman on the Skreprud gaard near the village of Oygaards Grand. He was the foster father of four children: Mrs. Ole T. Loftsgard (Rachel) Mrs. Ole Lian (Rande); Mrs. Andrew Walker (Ellen); and Gisle Gunderson, Bellington, Wash. He was well posted on the Bible and served as layman from the Hvideso Lutheran Church. He sold his farm in Dundee Township and went back to Norway to spend the last few years with relatives there. He came to the United States in 1881. Submitted by Thomas Walker. ANDREW LARSON Andrew Larson was bom in Romsdal, Norway, 1866, and came to the United States at the age of 19. He settled on a farm west of Hoople, near what was then known as Dundee Post Office. Mail was delivered to the post office

by Livery team from Grafton. There was a small general store in the same building. He married Christina Auguston who was a true Christian and a great helpmate, assisting with chores. She had a large flower and vegetable garden. A family of three boys and one girl were bom, Mrs. Thomas Walker, Benjamin of Park River, Philip of Chippewa Falls, Wise, and Godfred who died in 1927. Two of Benjamin Larson's family are missionaries. They are Raymond of Lac Birje, Alberta, Canada, and Irene Fostervold, Paraquay, South America. Submitted by Thomas Walker. GULICK LARSON

homestead that is now a farm in Dundee Township. Heimer, a son, Uves on the original homestead. On this farm, Ole buUt a 14x20 log house which housed the family until 1902 when a seven room frame house was built. Travel was very difficult during the first years in Dakota, much of the basic supplies had to be brought from as far away as Grand Forks over poor trails. Ole and Rachel suffered the hardships of many of the early pioneers and undoubtably the most disheartening was the loss of six of their 12 children before reaching the age of twenty one. The diphtheria epidemic, tuberculosis and other diseases claimed the Uves of Theodore, age 3; Miha, age 20; George, age 20; HUda, age 20; Olava, age 3 and Roy, age 15.

Gulick Larson operated his own farm on the NE'A Section 33 Dundee Township. They had a family of three: two girls, Lily and Nora, a boy, Arthur, who turned out to be a traveling salesman. Lily married and lived near Edmore, and Nora married and Uved near Lawton. GuUck retired in about 1909 and lived with Lily. Nora's son, Henry Anderson, lives in Hoople. Submitted by Thomas Walker. OLE HALVORSON LIAN Ole Halvorson Lian accompanied by his father, Halvor H. Lian, and mother, Sigre, two brothers, Halvor H. and Knut, came to America from Numedal, Norway, in 1887. They came by train to Grafton where they were met by a cousin, Halvor Groven, who then Uved in Dundee Township. They worked and rented land from other settlers in the Hoople area. Later Ole Lian bought a farm from T. H. Lee in Dundee Township and in 1895 his brother Halvor bought land in Grafton Township; which had been homesteaded by Jennie L. Romanson. Ole Lian married Randi Knutson, who had also immigrated from Norway. Three chUdren were born. Only one son, Henry T. Lian, grew to manhood. Two daughters died in infancy. They were members of the Hvideso Lutheran Church, rural Hoople. Halvor H. Lian was a single man, and the parents made their home with him. Besides farming, he was an agent for the Dundee Insurance Co., and served as clerk of School District No. 114 for many years. He was a member of South Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Grafton. In the early days, Knut Lian worked in the store for Mr. Blakstad, a pioneer merchant of Grafton. Later, he went to the state of Washington. Submitted by Mrs. Mae Lian. OLE T. LOFTSGARD FAMILY Ole T. Loftsgard was born Sept. 16,1860, on a farm in Clayton County near Elgin, Iowa. His parents, Torsteen and Margit Loftsgard had migrated to Iowa from Numedahl, Norway. The farm is now owned and operated by Orvin Loftsgard, a nephew of Ole T. Loftsgard. Ole was one of a family of four brothers and one sister. He attended a country school close to the farm and grew to manhood in the Elgin area. In 1881, Ole T. Loftsgard and Rachel Gunderson were married. Rachel Gunderson was born in Norway and came to Iowa with her parents at the age of ten. After three years of marriage, Ole and Rachel Loftsgard left Iowa, moved to Dakota Territory and estabUshed a

The Ole T. Loftsgaard Family. Left to right: George, Ole T., Olive, Mrs. Ole T., Milia, Front row: Roy, Oscar, Hilda, Genilia. The Ole Loftsgard famUy were charter members of the Park Center Lutheran congregation. Ole served as an officer of the congregation for many years. He was clerk of School District No. 35 for many years and township clerk for Dundee Township for twenty four years. He also served as assessor. In 1913, he was elected to the North Dakota Senate and served in the Legislature for one term. Ole was interested and active in organizing the Dundee, Walsh County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. He ws a charter member of the Company, served on the board of directors for twenty four years and was secretary-treasurer for the company for 17 years until the time of his death in 1924. Rachel died in 1928. Oscar and Sidney Uved on the home place after the death of the parents. Sidney married Olga Brubakken of Hoople in 1929. A son, Sheldon, was born to this marriage. In 1931, Sidney died. Genelia spent most of her adult ltfe in Minneapolis working as a seamstress at Bjorkman Furriers. She retired in MinneapoUs and died in 1970. Olive is now retired and lives in a rest home in MinneapoUs. She spent 33 years as a nurse at the Minnesota Soldiers Home in MinneapoUs. Heimer was married to Sena Midboe of Hoople in 1929. She died in 1966. Heimer served as township superviser and has been active in various offices of the Park Center Congregation. Heimer and Sena Loftsgard had four children, all of whom live in this area. Orvin married Sophie Haroldson in 1951, their children are Allan, Jerry, Gene and Tami. Orvin is an implement dealer in Hoople. Carol (Mrs. Glen Udby) of Lankin has two sons, Scott and Bryan, and one daughter, Connie.

Shelby lives with his dad and farms. Linda (Mrs. Ronnie Houser) has one son, Kelly, and Uves in Park River. Theodore married Theodora Jore of Hoople in 1919. They Uved on their farm in Dundee Township for 44 years and now reside in Park River. Theodore managed the Dundee Mutual Insurance Company of Park River for 25 years, served as township clerk for 18 years and held various offices in the Park Center Congregation. Theodore and Theodora's famUy consists of five children. Eugene of Park River married Pearl Larson in 1946. They have two sons and two daughters. Stuart of Park River (married to Phyllis Monsebroten of Park River in 1970) has two chUdren, Tracy and Justin; Clarke of Hoople (married to Kathy Odegard of Grafton in 1971) has one son, Claye; JuUe and Lisa are in school and live at home. Eugene and Pearl have farming interests and Eugene is presently secretary and manager of the Dundee Mutual Insurance Company and serves on several civic and church boards.

Mrs. Ole T. Loftsgaard, Olive, Oscar, Theodore, holding Laurel. Front: ? Eugene, Harvey. Harvey of Park River, married Grace Lien of Park River in 1945. He owns and operates a hardware store in Park River. They have two sons, Gary of Grand Forks, a truck driver; Brian, now attending college in Wahpeton, and one daughter, Debra, attending school and Uving at home. Harvey is currently a member of the city councU and active in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Park River. Dr. Laurel Loftsgard of Fargo married Carol Evenson of Edinburg in 1951. They have two chUdren, Bradley and Cindy, both attending school and Uving at home. Laurel has been president of North Dakota State University since 1968 and is active in local civic and community organizations. Ruth (Mrs. Gene Larson of Park River) was married in 1949 and has two sons. Stephen married Dena Hennessey of Park River in 1974 — they have one son, Jesse. Dwight married Shane Flaten of Park River in 1974. Stephen and Dwight farm with their father. Ruth is office manager of the Dundee Mutual Insurance Company. Eleanore (Mrs. G. Jost) of Santa Barbara, CaUf., was married in 1960 and has one daughter, Cathy, attending school and Uving at home. Eleanore served as Administrative Analyst at the Santa Barbara unit of U. C. L. A. Submitted by Theodore Loftsgard.

JOHN J. MARIFJEREN John J. Marifjeren was born in Wanamingo, Minn., Nov. 4, 1865, and was the son of Johannes and Synneva (Hillestad) Marifjeren. He arrived in North Dakota in 1882 with his father, two brothers and three sisters. They farmed for several years. John was usuaUy the one who bought the supplies for the Marifjeren Country Store. Those trips were very difficult during the winter season. Sometimes he would unhitch the horses from the bob sled and lead them over snow drUts. Other times he would have to unload his load and carry the boxes himself to the sled or wagon. This was evidently during the wet season when the water would splash up and damage the grocery. After his health f aUed, we would often hear him say, "my health was lost down on the Grafton prairies." He married Soneva (Hove) Marifjeren at Zion Lutheran Church of Hoople July 1, 1892. She was a daughter of Sjur and Britha (Barlaug) Hove. They had six chUdren: Severtborn Nov. 12,1892, died May, 1971, buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery; Selmer born Feb. 17, 1896, deceased, buried in Park River; Malvin (infant of nine weeks), 1899, buried in Park Center Cemetery; Malvin bom Aug. 5, 1901, died Mar. 19, 1974, buried in Park Center Cemetery; LilUan was born Sept. 18, 1903; Joseph was bom Nov. 4, 1905, died April 16, 1916, is buried at Park Center Cemetery; and Ingeborg was bom Mar. 6, 1908. Soneva Hove was born March 16, 1866, in Sogn, Norway. At age eight she emigrated to Nerstrand, Minn., with her parents, Sjur and Britha (Barlaug) Hove, three brothers and one sister. They settled on a farm at Nerstrand, Minn., and remained there until the children grew up. Five more brothers and sisters were bom there. Soneva, two brothers and another sister decided to go to North Dakota and settled in the Hoople area, where Soneva met John MarUjeren. Later John bought a farm which was the old Sandland place and built a house. There they brought up their famUy. John Marifjeren died March 27, 1916, at 51 and was buried at the Park Center Cemetery. Soneva (Hove) Marifjeren died May 9, 1949, at 83 and is buried at the Park Center Cemetery. After the death of John Marifjeren in 1916, Selmer and Malvin (two of the sons) took over the farming operations. Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Aaland. MALVIN MARIFJEREN Malvin Marifjeren was born Aug. 5, 1901, the son of John and Soneva (Hove) Marifjeren and lived his entire Ufe in the Hoople and Park River areas with the exception of one year he spent at Eveleth, Minn. He went to grade school in Dundee Township and attended high school or the A. C , as it was caUed then, at Park River. He never married. He was a member of the Park Center Lutheran Church. He also served on both school and township boards. He farmed the Marifjeren home place and later bought a portion of the Theodore Rinde farm which was adjacent to his. He also helped manage a farm for an iU relative for three or four years. He was a brother of Severt and Selma Marifjeren, also a brother of Inge Aaland and LilUan Diemer. He was an uncle of Earl and Allyn Marifjeren and Daniel Aaland.

About ten years ago he retired from farming and made his home in Park River. He died March 19,1974, at Fargo. Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Aaland. SELMER MARIFJEREN Selmer Marifjeren was born Feb. 17,1896, in Dundee Township. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Marifjeren. There were two brothers, Malvin and Severt, and two sisters, Lillian (Mrs. Bernard Diemer) and Inge (Mrs. Morgan Aaland) in the family. Selmer grew up on the home farm which was the farm Park Center Church is located on. At Park Center Church he and his brother, Malvin, performed various janitorial services. One of their duties was the old Norwegian custom of ringing the bell at 4 p. m. on Christmas Eve. He attended country grade school and three years of high school at Walsh County Agricultural and Training School, Park River. After his schooling he farmed in Dundee Township. Dec. 27, 1928, he married Mary Fingarson of Edinburg. They had two children, Earl and Allyn. Selmer was ASC County Committeeman for a number of years, retiring in 1958. Selmer and Mary were treasurer and clerk of the Dundee District No. 90 for many years and active members of the Park Center Lutheran Church. They lived on the farm until 1957 at which time they moved to Park River. They retired from farming in 1951. Selmer died Dec. 25, 1963, Mary died Aug. 19, 1969. Submitted by Earl Marifjeren. SEVERT MARIFJEREN Severt J. Marifjeren was born Nov. 12, 1892, son of John and Soneva (Hove) Marifjeren at Hoople. He attended grade school in Dundee Township and graduated from high school at Park River. He attended a business college in Grand Forks. Severt, known as "Si" to most ofhis close friends and associates, Uved a very busy and eventful life. His respect for those in authority was definitely noticed as well as his sympathetic concern towards those in nepd. He left home when he was 21. A inena of his and he decided to go to Washington, D. C , in 1914. They wrote on the examinations of the CivU Service Commission and passed. Si worked in various departments, one was the Prohibition Department. He was also studying at the Law School of Georgetown University from which he received his degree. He had no plans as far as becoming an attorney, but thought the knowledge he would receive would be useful, if he could work in the Internal Revenue Department. He had always liked to work with numbers. Mother used to teU a story about Si when he was a little boy. A clergyman had stopped overnight at their place and was about to leave in the morning when he stroked Si on the head and said, "some day, my boy, you are going to be a lawyer." He and his friends could not work all the time. They had to have time for recreation too. They did some fishing, watched baUgames and refinished furniture. The boys in his Spanish class decided to go on a trip to Spain. They had colored flat straw hats with the black band around them and walking canes. Most had kodaks and the pictures they took were probably in the hundreds

of Barcelona, SevUle, Madrid, Azares Islands, Moorish architecture. They were supposed to speak Spanish but the natives laughed at them. Si did get the job as a special agent in the Internal Revenue Service. He enlisted in the First World War. His time was spent at a camp at Jacksonville, Fla. He married Helen Doocy in 1929. She was a girl from Ulinois who also worked in the Internal Revenue Dept. They had no children. His work took him to Richmond, Va., Baltimore, Md., New Orleans, La., and North and South CaroUna. After his wife died he decided to stay on in Washington. He had a faithful maid who cared for him until the last year when he was taken to a nursing home. He died three years after his wife. He and his wtfe were buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Pat and Inge Aaland and Earl Marifjeren were at his funeral at Washington and were taken in a limousine to Gettysburg Cemetery. The American flag was presented to them. Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Aaland. SCOTTISH SETTLEMENT This is an account of early days as told to Mrs. WUford Anderson by Don Mclver who was the last existing member of his famUy who were original pioneers. He had seen the fifth generation in 88 years. D. P. McCloud came here in 1876 from Quebec. He got off the train at Grand Forks, then took a boat to Emerson. He started to walk and got to Dundee Township before he found any vacant land, as aU was taken around the Red River. He entered for 9 or 10 homes tree claims and preemptions. He went back to Quebec that faU and came back in the spring of 1877. With him came Murdo Mclver's two sons, John and Malcolm, two nephews, John and Dan Nicholson and two other neighbors from Quebec. I can't remember who they were as I never knew them. AU these men got homesteads and Murdo Mclver got a tree claim. For a homestead you had to break 10 acres and build a small house. You would get the title for $3 more. A tree claim had to have so many trees planted on it. Don helped my dad plant the trees. In the fall of 1877 John Nicholson bought Murdo Mclvers tree claim, 160 acres for $365. In addition to this he agreed to meet the train in Grand Forks and bring Murdo Mclver's (Don's dad) famUy to Dundee 70 mUes in a wagon. It took two trips bringing them and their belongings which were mostly sewn in bags. The summer of 1877 these men got logs off D. P. McCloud's homestead and buUt a house on Murdo Mclver's homestead. The windows were made of 40ounce clear whiskey bottles stuck in cracks between the logs. There was no source of supplies nearer than Grand Forks. They made wooden hinges for the doors to swing on. After the house was completed they buUt a smaU bam with poles. After this a small cabin was built on each of John and Malcolm Mclver's homesteads, each about 10x12 feet. A hole was dug in the ground the size of the cabin three feet deep, then four courses of logs were placed one on top of the other, four feet above the ground. There was one bottle on each side. The roof was four inch poles laid close together and elm bark peeled off logs spread out to dry laid on the poles. Sod was then placed on top, thinly, and dirt was added to seal any holes.

In the winter the men went to Red Portage 200 miles away to a logging camp. They walked all the way carrying blankets and their lunch. They earned $20 a month. Their diet was mostly beans and fat pork. The women stayed home, and Murdo usually stayed to cut wood and help. Knitting helped to keep them busy. They bought their goods at the Dundee store, where the first post office was established in 1877. It was the only one in northern North Dakota and many homesteaders came 50 miles to get their mail. While there they would buy groceries like flour at $1.25 a bag, although more often it came in a 200 pound barrel at $2.40. Bags used to tear in being transported in the wagons. White sugar came m wooden casks approximately 100 pounds retailing at $2, while brown sugar came in similar casks at $1 to $1.50. John Mclver owned the first team of horses in the settlement. There had been oxen owned homesteaders, then John Nicholson obtained another team. These horses cost about $200 each and usually took two or three years to pay for at 10 percent interest. Mrs. Murdo Mclver (Don's mother) obtained one quart of wheat. There was a buffalo wallow on John's farm and Murdo, her husband, worked it over with a shovel and John made a wooden garden rake. With these tools they worked up this wallow, until it was nice and smooth. That evening they planted the wheat and worked all night with the garden rake covering it. Then in the morning they covered the wheat with brush they had carried from the north branch of the Park River a half mile away, so that the birds couldn't get it. About midsummer they picked the brush off the wheat and put stakes among the wheat and tied rags on top to scare the birds. In the fall Murdo cut the wheat with a scythe and his wife tied it with straw bands, then carried them onehalf mile up to the house and stooked it and covered the stooks with sheets and blankets, again to keep off the birds. When the men came home late in the fall from Cassleton farm 200 miles away where they had walked both ways to work for a dollar a day plusroomand board from daylight until dark, they threshed the wheat at home with a flail. Mrs. Mclver sewed three sheets together end ways and laid them on the ground and drove pegs into the ground at each end and tied the sheets at both ends. She then took wheat and chaff in pails and on a windy day poured out of buckets and the wheat would fall on the sheets. By this effort enough wheat was obtained to seed at least one acre for each homesteader. The next year each one sowed by hand their one acre. About six acres was gained from this grain. The homesteaders obtained a yoke of oxen the next spring and John Mclver made a wooden harrow four feet wide and harrowed the sod down. This was done after each acre was planted before sowing any more so the birds wouldn't get the seed. They followed the same routine around all four homesteads using a homemade walking plow and a square mouthed shovel. When they had 40 bushels of wheat, John Mclver left for Grand Forks on a Monday morning and had the wheat converted into flour, returning home about midnight Saturday night. He used D. P. McCloud's wagon and the homesteaders oxen for this trip. About 1878 or 1879 John Nicholson brought walking plows and harrows from Grand Forks. About this time two men brought 60 horses from the western states and

built a pole corral to take them out to eat and water at the Park River until they sold them. About this time J. J. Moller came to Grafton. He was a harness maker and that was where the farmers obtained their first harness. He was one of the pioneers that made money, and it was said he was a fine man. In the winter he had a sleigh and horse and used to visit the different settlers to see if they had food and fuel. Clothes and blankets were not very plentiful in those day. Good Christian fellowship existed in those days among neighbors all alike regardless. In winter each home ht a lamp and set it in a window to guide travelers or those away from home. Two democrats, topless, two seated buggies, with eight people, left this area for Carman, Man., in 1897. Malcolm Mclver moved over in 1898 and Malcolm Cape in 1899. Land sold from $10 to $11 an acre. Each had a young family so needed more farm land. John Moncrief married a sister of William Anderson. They moved to Saskatchewan in 1905. Surviving members of this family are Frank, Tommy and Priscilla Moncrief who live in Saskatoon, Sask. Submitted by Mrs. Wilford Anderson.

• MALCOLM McIVER My grandfather's name was Malcolm Mclver and my grandmother was Mary Ann Mclver. They were both born in Nova Scotia, Canada. They were married there, and two children, Norman D. Mclver and Flora Sarah Mclver (my mother), were born there. Around 1870 they moved with their family to Winnipeg, but only stayed a short time. They bought a farm at Hoople. The rest of the family were born there - Stewart Macauley Mclver, Catherine Rachel Mclver, John Mclver, Murdach John Mclver and John Macaulay Mclver. My grandfather died and my grandmother and family carried on the farm for a number of years. I remember my mother telling of Mount View School which they attended, and that on Sundays if they did not have a minister, my grandfather would preach the sermon. Grandmother moved to Grafton. Catherine (Kate) and John lived with her until they were both married and moved to Grand Forks. Both grandparents are buried in the cemetery at Hoople, as well as Stewart Mclver. Stewart was farming in Saskatchewan when he died. Catherine (Kate) married Adolph Lund, lived in Grand Forks. Her two daughters reside there. Lund was a machine dealer in East Grand Forks. They were in business at Hoople before moving to East Grand Forks. John Mclver resided in Grand Forks until he died. Murdoch (Dutch) resided in Salt Lake City, Utah, some of his family still Uve there. John Macaulay (AlUe) lived in Colorado. One daughter lives there. I was bom at Hoople, was a few months old when my parents moved to Carman, Man. The two Lund girls, Marion (Mrs. Harry Rice) and Lorraine were born at Grafton, have resided in Grand Forks. My father was Malcolm Mclver, born in Quebec, no relation of my mother. Submitted by Isabel Mclver.

GJERMUND AND THONETTA MIDBOE Gjermund Midboe was born Aug. 13, 1855, in Telemarken, Norway. He died Feb. 4, 1926. His wife, Thonetta (Lee) Midboe, was born July 20, 1862, in Kaskeland, Wise. She died Aug. 30, 1916. At the age of 18 Gjermund came to America, making the trip in three to six weeks. He spent his first years in Iowa and near Albert Lea, Minn. There he married Thonetta, daughter of Ole Lee. Her mother had died so she brought her three year old sister, Thea, and raised her. They traveled by covered wagon and oxen with a group of people and came to a place east of Northwood. This land is now owned by a granddaughter, Tina Nelson (Lina's daughter). They left this area and moved further north by lumber wagon. Their first baby, Lina, was born one-half mile northeast of what was the Nels Clementson place. Later they filed on their homestead in Dundee Township on the middle branch of the Park River. Their first home was a shanty at the east end of the farm, later the log cabin was built which is still standing in 1975. In this cabin 12 children were born, eight died as infants, a five year old boy from diptheria. Only four children reached adulthood. They were: Anna Theoline (Lina), born Sept. 8, 1874, died in 1904; Oscar, 1887-1964; Tilda, born in 1893 and Thedore, born in 1996. The house was built in 1903. In 1933 Tilda (Midboe) Torreson moved her family from Iowa to her father's homestead and she Uved there until 1974. Submitted by Mrs. Howard Johnson.

At the age of twenty he settled in Walsh County, later married Torbjor Jordshaugen. They had three children, Theodore H., Selma who passed away in 1955 and Emma Mainwood of Woodburn, Ore. After retiring from farming he ran a potato house and a grain elevator. After his wife died, he did considerable travehng. Some of the trips were to Cuba, Mexico, South America and one trip around the world. He owned the fourth car in Hoople and several threshing outfits during his Ufe time. He was one of the founders of the Lutheran Church, Hoople. In his later years, he moved to Oregon. There he married his brother's widow and lived to the ripe old age of 93. Submitted by Emma Mainwood.

Herman Midboe

Family

WILLIAM MIDLAND WilUam MiUand left Walsh County in 1908. He had three boys, Stanley, Arthur and Ted, and a daughter Eleanor. WILLIAM M H J N E WUUam Milne and famUy migrated from central Canada. They had a family of four: Stanley, Arthur, Ted and the youngest of the family, Elenor. They moved back to Canada in about 1906. Submitted by Thomas Walker.

Mr. and Mrs. Gjermund Midboe and family of Hoople, Dundee Township. Back row: Oscar, Lina and Tilda. Seated: Gjermund, Ted and Thonetta. HERMAN MIDBOE

Herman Midboe, one of the early pioneers of Walsh Co. was born in Telemarken, Norway, in 1870 and came to Houston, Minn., with his widowed mother, two brothers, and a sister when he was ten years of age.

GJERMUND MOMERAK FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. Gjermund Gunderson Momerak and their famUy of six chUdren left Telemarken, Norway, and came to Houston, Minn., about 1870. When Dakota opened up for homesteading 10 years later Gjermund and other friends went to Fargo by train then walked north to the Hoople territory. They liked the area and made a trench shelter along the river Jackson picked out to live on. They all picked their land and built a cabin as squatters before going back for their famiUes. The Momeraks came in two covered wagons with cattle. Gjermund homesteaded one quarter and his oldest son, Gunder, another quarter across road No. 9, aU in Dundee Township. He was the only one old enough.

The family consisted of Gunder, Elsie, Petter, Ingeborg I, Ingeborg II, and Lars. Their house was near the road, but water was better in farther, so that is where they built a log cabin and later a frame house and barn. Trees were planted for shelter. Grain and cattle were raised. They were among the first members of the Park Center Church. Gjermund was a trustee when it was organized. Mrs. Momerak (Annie Petters) died in November, 1885, and was one of the first to be buried in Park Center Cemetery. The older Ingeborg married Gunlick Twedt in 1881. They homesteaded in Glenwood and had nine children. The younger Ingeborg married Ole Twedt and also lived in Glenwood for awhile. They had two daughters, Annie who married Evind Haugland, and Julia married Eivind Swenson. Lars went to Oregon later, where he was married and lived the rest of his life. The Momerak family lived in Dundee until 1920 when those Uving at home moved into Hoople. Annie and her husband moved to the farm when they came back from Canada. The famUy remained members of the Park Center Church. Submitted by Mrs. Russel Hultin.

OLE RICE Ole Rice came from Minnesota and lived on the N'/z of Section 27 in Dundee Township. They had a family of five: Rasmus, Hans, Carl, Julie and Fredrick. They moved to Minnesota in 1908 or 1909. JORGEN ROHOLT Jorgen Roholt was the youngest of eight chUdren of Jone and Anne Roholt. They aU came to America in 1865 when Jorgen was five. The family lived for a time in Houston County, Minn. A daughter, Dagne Roholt, filed a homestead claim in Walsh County. When she married Christ Berg and no longer lived on her land (they Uved in Park River) it was agreed that her mother, Anne Roholt, was to come and make her home on Dagne's land. Her youngest son, Jorgen, helped her find the way - on foot from Grand Forks to the area known as Dundee Township. She survived that hardship long enough to see her son married to Torbjor Grivi, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. KittU Grivi who came to the Dundee area from Norway in 1883. Anne Roholt died in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Roholt raised six children; JuUa, Alma, John, Charlie, Theresa and Arthur. Among the neighboring settlers were several nonScandinavians who found the name Jorgen somewhat difficult, so Jorgen was encouraged to use the name George, and from then on he was officiaUy known as George J. Roholt. He was active in township and church affairs and was a director on the school board of District No. 90 for many years. He was interested in the Republican party, encouraged by the Non-Partisan League and the fact that a local man, Lynn Frazier, Hoople, was elected U. S. Senator. Submitted by Theresa Roholt. KITTEL K. ROLLEFSTAD

Mr. and Mrs. Gjermund (Gunderson) Momerak, great grandparents of Mrs. Russell (Selma) Hultin.

Mr. and Mrs. Kittel K. Rollefstad, 4 / miles west of Hoople. Homestead and land now belongs to John Fedje. Trees and buildings all taken down. 2

Mrs. Ole (Ingeborg) Twedt. Daughters: Mrs. Julia Swenson and Mrs. Annie Haugland.

Kittle K. RoUefstad, wife Susann, three sons and daughter came from Fyrsdal, Telemarken, Norway, in 1878 or 1879. Their first home was a dirt home dug into the side of a hUl. Kittel K., Sr., and Kittel K., Jr., settled west of Hoople. Kittel K., Jr., moved to Pembina County. Bendik and Jacob settled on land in Dundee Township. Their daughter, Elen, married Ole T. Gryte. They

and their four children, Carl, Theodore, Susie and Inga Uved on a farm in Dundee untU moving to Lawry, Minn. The children of Kittel K., Jr., were Susie, Carl, Lena, Annie and Gus. Jacob married Anne Lee. They and their family moved to Alberta, Canada, about 1911 or 1912. Bendik lived in Dundee Township in a dirt home in a hillside. He had four children. Kittel B. died young: Alice B. Rollofstad died at 12; Lena, Mrs. John Anderson, 1883-1918; a son also named Kittle K. lived all his Ufe in the area. He married Olga Haug of Edinburg July 3,1914. They had five children: Ray died at 12 years, Bennie and Orville Uve in CaUfornia, Leonard Uves at Cavalier. He married Annie Stark. They have three sons and one daughter. Orlando lives on the home farm. He married Janice Magnusson of Hensel. They have a son, Timmie. Kittel B. had been trustee in Hvideso Church and did janitorial work there. He served on the school board. Submitted by Orlando and HUda RoUefstad.

Knut Sandland was born at Dundee Township in 1866, Uves at Piney, Man. Bella Sandland Gasper, born in Dundee Township in 1888, Uves in MinneapoUs. Andrew Sandland born in 1891 in Dundee Township died in Edmore in 1956 at 65. He married Mable Anderson from Piney, Man., in 1927. Anne Sandland was bom in 1893 in Dundee Township and died at 31. She is buried in Pine Creek Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Melvin Haugland, granddaughter of Henry and Inga Sandland. JOHN SCOTT John Scott homesteaded in Section 24 of Dundee Township. The Scotts had two daughters, CeUa and Eva, and a son, Nelson. They moved to Carmen, Man., where Scott was weU known as a member of the curling team. Eva lived at Winnipeg. Submitted by Mrs. Melvin Haugland.

RUSTAN F A M I L Y

DONALD SMITH

Thomas P. Rustan immigrated from HaUingdal, Norway, at 21 in 1890. After spending a year in Iowa he came to the Hoople-Edinburg area where other famihes from Hallingdal had settled. In this area he spent the remainder of his life. He first worked as a carpenter and in a few years bought a farm in Dundee Township. In 1904 he married Ambjor Peterson Borge, a daughter of Halvor P. and Soneva Peterson Borge, who with her parents was a charter member of Park Center Lutheran Church. Nine children were born, Palmer, Selina, Alice, George, Mable, Ann, Elvina, Evelyn, and Helen, who died at 10. Life in the Rustan household centered around home, church and school and in aU three, father, mother, and chUdren took an active part. John P. Rustan, brother of Thomas P., lived in the Hoople-Edinburg area. Coming from Hallingdal, Norway, in 1901, he Uved in Dundee Township until 1928 when he moved to Portland, Ore., and lived there until his death. He married Gurine Skjelerud. They had no chUdren. John was a carpenter by trade. Submitted by Ann Fagerholt.

Donald Smith, whose parents were Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Smith, was born in 1859 in Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis. The famUy came to Quebec and settled in a village near Montreal, not far from the border of Vermont. Donald came with a group of men to North Dakota. He made his home at MUton. In 1887 he married Annie Ross. From MUton they moved to Dundee Township where they lived and farmed untU their retirement. Smith died in 1925. He is buried in the Hoople Cemetery. ANNIE ROSS Annie Ross, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Ross, was bom in Rosshire, Scotland in 1866. When she was seven, her famUy migrated to Quebec, where her father farmed. In 1877 they left Quebec and filed on land in Pembina County, Dakota Territory. Then home was a log cabin a half mile east of the center of what is now the city of Cavalier, which then had a post office. Annie attended a log house school. In 1887 she married Donald Smith. They Uved at MUton and later moved to a farm in Dundee Township. They were the parents of four chUdren — Alexander, Murdo, Catherine and George. Mrs. Smith died in 1950 and is buried in the Hoople Cemetery.

KNUT EVANSON SANDLAND, SR. Knut Evanson Sandland, Sr., was born in 1833 in Telemarken, Norway, lived at Houston, Minn., until he moved to Hoople in 1881. In 1896 they moved to Stephen, Minn., to Pine Creek, Minn., in 1912.

A L E X A N D E R L . SMITH

His wtfe, Ingaborg Sonderson Sandland, came from Norway. She was bom in 1854, died in Piney, Man., where she had lived with her son, Knut. Their family were: Edward Sandland, bom at Houston, Minn., in 1880. He homesteaded at Piney, Man. He married Ida Gryte Johnson in 1913. In 1956 he died at 74.

Alexander L. Smith, son of Donald and Annie Smith, was bom on a farm in Dundee Township in 1888. He attended country grade school and later Hoople High School. He worked as a salesman in the hardware department of the Peoples Supply Company in Hoople. He was married in 1912 to Ruth B. Parkins, who was born in 1890, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wright Parkins. Ruth was an apprentice dressmaker, sewing with Dora Foss who owned a dressmaking shop in Hoople.

TUda Sandland Erickson was born in Dundee Township in 1882 and died in 1965 at 83 with burial at Park Center Cemetery. She married Ed E . Erickson at MUton in 1897. He homesteaded hi Ramsey County in 1897. Henry Sandland was bom May 7, 1884, in Dundee Township. He moved to Canada and married Inga Torkelson. They moved in 1927 to Edmore. He died in 1973 at 89.

They were the parents of two daughters, Angeline and Audrey. Alex became affiliated with the Robertson Lumber Company at Grafton. He was transferred to St. Cloud, 481

Minn., and Bagley Minn. He died in 1966 and is buried in the cemetery at I oople. Submitted by Mrs. N. G. Bjorneby. MURDO SMITH FAMILY Murdo Smith was born at Hoople June 25, 1890, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Smith. He spent his childhood on the family farm in Dundee Township and attended grade school at Mount View District No. 35. He married Eva Parkins, Dec. 29, 1915, and continued farming the family farm when his parents moved to Hoople. Murdo and Eva had three daughters: Donna, Jean and Hazel. Jean died in infancy. Murdo was interested in the young people of the community. He served on the Mt. View school board for several years and also served for several years as township clerk. He was appointed to the school board of the Walsh County Agricultural School in Park River, once again sharing his enthusiasm for helping young people by driving the cheerleaders to basketball tournaments. He was a member of the Hoople Methodist Church, serving on the various church boards. He retired from active farming in 1958 and moved to Hoople. He died in December, 1971. Eva Smith is deceased. Both are buried in the Hoople Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Ray Achter. ANDREW SPRINGAN

Aanon (Andrew) Knutson Springan, 19th Wisconsin Regiment — 1861-1865.

Andrew (Aanon) Knutson at the age of 11, with his parents, departed from Norway in 1852 and immigrated to Houston, Minn. At the age of 21, he enlisted in the Union Army and served until 1865. While held prisoner in Salisbury and Anderson prisons, he suffered much from lack of food, contaminated water and unsanitary conditions. He was about to give up the struggle for existence, when he had a dream (vision) in which he saw a young girl come towards him. She told him not to give up and he would soon be home again. She gave him a sermon, after which he awoke.

Events happened as they appeared in his dream. On his return to Houston, he saw this girl of his drea m. Andrew married Anne Gundersdatter who had arrived from Norway in 1861. They farmed in the Houston area until 1880, moved to a farm four miles west of Hoople. Since there was a small spring on the farm, the family name was changed to Springan. A grandson, Odin Springan, now lives on this old homestead with his family. Andrew and Anne were members of the Park Center Lutheran Church from 1880 until their deaths. Andrew was a charter member and was one of the four members who signed the Articles of Incorporation on March 14, 1894. Anne was a charter member of Park Center Ladies Aid, organized in 1888. Their children were: Knut born in 1866; Ingeborg (Bella Springan Ciemetson) in 1868; Gustav in 1870; Sophie (Sophie Springan Wadle) in 1872; Andrea in 1875; Henry in 1876; Thor in 1878; Aanon born Sept. 9, 1840, died March 8,1915; and Anne born May 8,1841, died April 19, 1920. SPRINGAN FAMILY Thor (Tom) Springan was born Nov. 29, 1878, at Houston, Minn. He came to Dundee Township with his mother and six older brothers and sisters in 1880. They came by train to Grand Forks. His father Aanon (Andrew) K. Springan, had come earlier to homestead four miles west of Hoople. When Thor was 20, he homesteaded in Williams County, and later sold his land to WilUam T. Baker for $1,800. He moved back to Hoople and bought the Springan farm from his brothers and sisters. Thea (Lee) Springan was born on Aug. 28, 1882, in Dundee Township on the farm her parents homesteaded. Her parents, Esten Olsen Lee and Tone (Midboe) Lee, came to America from Norway when their oldest chUd, TilUe, was a baby. Thea had two sisters, TUlie and Annie, and two brothers, Oscar and Tollef. Ester, her father, was born Jan. 22,1855, died in 1938. Tone, her mother was born Aug. 5, 1846, died in 1920. Thor married Thea Lee Jan. 2, 1918, Uved on the Springan farm until the fall of 1951 when they moved to Hoople. Thor died Jan. 24,1956. Thea Uved alone until the fall of 1972 when she made her home with her son, Odin, and daughter-in-law, Lois, on the farm. She died July 13, 1974, at the age of almost 92. They had two children, Odin and AUce. They were members of Park Center Lutheran Church. Thor served as trustee of the church and Thea was a Ufe member of Park Center Ladies Aid. Thor also served on the school board of Dundee District No. 34. Submitted by Odin Springan. BERNT STRANDSBERG Bernt Strandsberg came to Dundee Township from Norway. He married Emma Berg in 1897. They had two daughters; Elida who later married Theodore Grovum from Dundee and CaroUne who died at the age of two. Strandsberg was active in the Park Center Church. He was a choir director. He was one of the carpenters who buUt the Park Center Church. He built the steeple himself and also the altar and the baptismal font. He farmed in the community until his death in 1937. Mr. and Mrs. Strandsberg and CaroUne are buried in the Park Center Church Cemetery. Submitted by Frank McMartin.

KNUT STORUD Mr. and Mrs. Knut Storud and family were early settlers on a farm in Dundee Township. They were of Norwegian heritage. Knut and Tonie Storud had seven children grow up in their family - Signe, Annie, Andrew, Carrie, Knut, Gunder and Arnold. Two of their children died on the same day from diphtheria. It was a serious illness at that time with very little help to be had. Signe was the oldest. She married Mr. LaPoint and had two sons, Rolin and Art. Annie married Wallace Johnson and Uved near Park River. They had five children. Andrew married AUce and had one son, Henry. They homesteaded in Ivanhoe Township, Renville County, as did Carrie who later married John Sorenson and Knut. Gunder married Ida Skroi and lived in Dundee near Mount View School most of their Ufe. They had a home where many a "School Marm" stayed while teaching the local school. Arnold married Clara Bakken. They had 13 children, one died in infancy. Arnold died in 1964 and Mrs. Storud died in 1974, leaving 68 grandchildren, 109 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Many of the Storud famUy belonged to the Park Center Church. Submitted by Mrs. Russell Hultin.

JENS GOTHESON ULESROD

Jens Gotheson Uleserod was born in 1840 and died in 1901. He married Anna Keisa Gotheson. She was born in 1846 and died in 1906. Jens and Anna Uved on the SWvi Section 23-158-55 in Dundee Township. Keisa had a heart of gold. When there was any sickness amoung neighbors, she would walk several miles with freshly prepared food to be presented at the bedside of a friend. Both were born in Norway and were buried in the Park Center Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by Thomas Walker. OLAV G. WADLE Olav G. Wadle was born in Fyrsdal, Norway, in 1868 and came to America in 1889 by boat. The trip across took about three weeks. He came by train to Grand Forks. He walked from Grand Forks to about four miles west of Hoople. He worked as a carpenter and cabinet-maker most of his life. He married Sofie Springan in 1896. She was born in Houston County, Minn. They farmed west of Hoople, then moved south of Park Center Church, farmed there nine years, then moved to Hoople. To this union six children were born: Alma and Selma, deceased; Lena living at Hoople; Andrew and Selmer, deceased; George Uving at Hoople. Olav and Sofie also deceased. Olav or Ole as he was known by was church treasurer for Park Center Church and also a Sunday School teacher for many years. Andrew Wadle was also a Sunday School teacher at the First Lutheran Church of Hoople. Mrs. Olav G. Wadle's parents came from Norway. Her father, Anon Springan, came to America in 1852. At age 20 he enUsted in the 19th Wisconsin Regiment. He was a prisoner of war in Libby, AndersonviUe, and Salisbury prisons while he was in the CivU War. Anon Springan was discharged in March, 1865, and later that same year married the girl in his dreams, Anna Gunnarsdatter (Gunderson). Mrs. Sofie Wadle's mother came to America as a young girl. Submitted by Mrs. Lena Redmann and George Wadle.

THEODORE 0. THOMPSON Theodore 0. Thompson, born Aug. 11, 1869, came to Grafton with his parents when still a child from Swift County, Minn. He was the son of Sander Torgeson (later changed to Thompson) and Kjersti Gulson. The name of the family farm in Norway was Sviendengard. He married Olava (Olga) Berg Oct. 14, 1893, at Grafton. She was the daughter of Ole and Olena Berg, born at Sakendal, Norway, Oct. 11, 1872, and when eight came to Clay County, Minn., with her parents - coming to Walsh County in 1890. They farmed in the Grafton and Dundee area, later again moving to Grafton. They had two daughters, Verna, who died Aug. 4, 1936, and LUa (Mrs. Henry Thompson), who Uves at Hoople. A boy, Sidney, died in infancy. Mrs. Thompson died April 27, 1935, and Mr. Thompson March 17, 1944. Both are buried at Park Center Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoople. Submitted by LUa Thompson.

ANDREW WALKER

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Verna (seated).

Ellen Gunderson Walker, Andrew H. Walker

Thompson.

Lila

(standing),

Andrew Walker was born Feb. 1, 1848, at Waker in Noderhove, Norway. His name was Andreas. His father was Hans Anderson Walker and his mother's name was Bertha Marie. During his youth there were six Walker farms that lay in a circle much like a village. Three were large with forest and pasture and three smaller. His father died when he was an infant. He arrived in America in 1867, worked for local farmers. At this time all railroads burned oak wood for fuel for which they paid $3 per cord delivered at track site. Andrew clerked in a store at New Albin, Minn., on the Mississippi River. Andrew and Peter Speten started a small store at Sheldon, Minn. Crops failed, they were forced to sell out. At this time gold was discovered in the Black Hills, S. Dak. They left Sheldon in May, 1876, with two prairie schooners, a yoke of oxen, span of mules, a tent, milk cow and a dog. They were joined on the way by Ole Aastad. They traveled across southern Minnesota to Beloit, Ia., over the Sioux River at Yankton. Here they spent two days buying supplies as at Black Hills, goods were much higher. They passed through Pierre, the capitol. All land west of the Missouri River belonged to the Indians by a treaty with Uncle Sam. They saw where there had been conflict with Indians, white people had been shot and buried. The Indians took their fallen comrades with them. In the Black Hills they bought a placer claim to recover gold but sold out at a profit. That was a winter of heavy snow which covered many of the miners cabins. His stay in mining camps remained a pleasant memory. He left the Black Hills by way of Bismarck to Moorhead and on to the State Fair at St. Paul where they heard the first Edison phonograph. Here they met Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States. He was reported to be very friendly with the miners from the Black Hills. At Moorhead, Minn., Andrew got a job as bookkeeper for a machine dealer, J . A. Johnson, who sold threshing machines and other farm machinery. In March of 1880 he filed on a tree claim in Walsh County. He bought claim rights on a quarter section, east from his tree claim, where he constructed a house. In 1883 he bought a team of horses and some machinery. April 9,1884, he married EUen Gunderson. Rev. C. A. Flaten performed the ceremony. Ellen was born in Numedal, Norway. In 1894 he moved the family to the tree claim where a dwelling house, barn and granary had been erected. In 1904 they took in the Worlds Fair in St. Louis, Mo. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1907, was secretary-treasurer of Dundee Insurance Company 10 years, secretary-treasurer for Hoople Farmers Grain Company until he purchased a home in Park River in 1912. Ellen died June 9,1931; Andrew, Nov. 11,1938. Both are buried in the Park River Cemetery. Submitted by Thomas Walker.

Pioneers Without Biographies East Dundee: Augustson, B. Buck, C. Barrett, Geo. S. Cameron, Thomas Douglas, J. A.

Dahl, Ingebret Dokken, P. N. Gran urn, Christian Grendalen, H. 0. Jacobson, Annie Jordshaugen, K. T. Jorshaugen, T. K. Joei, E. G. McEwen, Geo. K. Rosoen, O. E. Stoarsley, J. G. Slater, Rebecca and Mary Jane Voje, K. O. Fertile: Arnot, Robert Baird, John Britt, Charlotte Brett, Jos. Brown, Eliza A. Code, A. Elsrud, E. E. Franie M . Faulkener, E. O. Fosell, P. Hunt, Martha Hunt, R. B. Huggins, Alfred Honey, C. H. and !Sarah Kasal, Jas. Murry, Jas Peterson, Betsy Robertson, Hans Sauter, O. E. Seldon, Jenny Townsend, Horace Wadge, Mary Young, R. J . Glenwood: Brash, John Brash, Agnes Carson, Curtis Dieter, Matilda and Ruth Davis, A. Davis, WiUiam EUison, Cato Flanigan, John E. Frances, S. Foslien, Thomas T. Guinan, WUUam Hauge, S. A. L. HamUton, 0. H. Irish, W. N . McGrath, Alex McHugh, M. F. Quinn, B. Ryan, Annie Ryan, Ed Ritchey, WiUiam Rossum, G. N. Simons, Thomas Sandager, P. E. Stunkel, Ed D. Waalen, E. S. Wagner, A. E. Young, P. D. Young, Mary Kain

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eight months plus the six months allowed to make preparations. If he lived on the claim five years, he could prove up without paying. Until title was obtained, there were no taxes to pay. Therefore, many of the homesteaders availed themselves of the term of grace - two years after the five before proving up. So, if one is found to have obtained title in 1888, it could be he filed homestead rights and took possession in 1881. Submitted by Lillian Campbell.

HOMESTEAD TITLES From the "History of Fordville" by G. K. Ness. The date given for gaining title to a homestead might be misleading without explanation. For instance, if it is found a person obtained title in 1888, it does not mean that was the year he moved there or first gained possession. A homesteader had different methods of gaining title - or government patent, as it was termed. He could commute by paying a certain sum after living on the claim for

REMINISCING

- Three men returning home were forced to stop due to blizzardy and cold weather. Three walked in circles to keep from freezing but one man laid down in the wagon box. His feet froze so they had to be amputated. - Every member ofthe family had tasks to do daily. No idle hands. Children planned their own entertainment. No one complained because he was bored.

STORIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD - Women who stayed alone for days, tending the cattle and caring forthe children while the husband went to market to sell their grain and buy groceries and other supplies. - The men who treated their horses cruelly. - Women who were called to homes in the community to care for the sick, welcome a new baby, or prepare a body for burial. - The pastor who went into a home where all the family had been stricken with smallpox. He stayed and nursed them through the seige of illness and did the chores - all at a great risk to his own life.

HOME REMEDIES Salt: salt was an indispensible commodity in any household. Among its uses was in the sickroom. Mild saline solution was used as an antiseptic, a disinfectant to cleanse sores, cuts and wounds. Mild salt solution used as a gargle for sore throat.

- A man - nearly blind - who filed on a homestead. Four rough characters came to "jump his claim." His neighbor heard a terrible racket, rushed to his place where he found that they were wrecking the newlyerected house. "He was not capable of proving up on a claim," they said.

Soda: soda was used with a Utile water to make a paste to use on burns, poison ivy or weed burns. Internally: a little in water was taken as a laxative. Salt and soda mixed were also used as a laxative.

- The hardships endured by women who came from well-to-do homes or city homes and were utterly unprepared for pioneer life. - The loneliness of the pioneer who settled on a claim far from neighbors. - The hospitality - most settlers gave food and lodging to any stranger who came. They shared their meager supplies.

For fever blister: rub your finger behind your ear. Apply that wax (oil) to the blister. Wool: since no hot water botties or heating pads were available, a wool cloth was warmed and wrapped around the part of the body that ached. Wool seemed to be aUve.

Mother used to Uck the eye to remove a speck. This was really a quick and easy way to remove it.

Mustard Plaster: one tablespoon flour, one teaspoon dry mustard and a little water were mixed together and placed in a cotton bag and applied to the chest for a cold. Cloves: put into the cavity of an aching tooth. A flax seed poultice was used for boils.

- The women who could sew and knit, who helped neighbors who were unskilled. - The lack of reading material. Every Lutheran brought a Bible, catechism, and a devotional book. Others brought their prayer books and Bibles. Newspapers were scarce. Some had a limited library.

Sulphur and molasses: tonic for early spring and late winter. One spoonful taken daily. Bandages: strips of old sheets and piUow cases were kept handy in the medicine cabinet.

- The many letters that were written to family and friends back home in Iowa or Norway, picturing life on the Dakota prairie in glowing terms. They did not want to admit that they had made a mistake by coming here. Many gave up good jobs to avail themselves of the opportunities here. - Newspapers printed in the Norse language in the U. S., Normanden, Decorah Posten, Scandinavian. What other papers were there?

Nose bleed: Ice packs at the nose or the back of the neck. In severe cases, cobwebs packeted inside the nostrils would stop the bleeding. It does not sound sanitary, but it worked. Baby's croup: Bring a tea kettle full of water to a fuU boil. When steam rises from the spout, hold baby over steam, throwing a blanket over both. Soon the baby sneezes and congestion is reUeved. (Humidifier)

- The farmer who went to market with a load of grain and spent all his money at the saloons, sometimes failing to bring back the needed supplies he intended to buy.

Patent Medicines: were available at local stores and from itinerant peddlers. (Kurico, liniment, etc.) 485

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Forest River Dam and Northern Railroad Bridge

Pacific

DISTRICT FOUR Forest River Ops Walsh Centre Townships 487

FOREST RIVER TOWNSHIP a source of much of the farmer's income. Every line of business is represented. There is a potato house which compares favorably in size with any in the county. There are active posts of the American Legion and AuxUiary, Masons and Eastern Star, and a P. T. A. There are two churches with active women's societies. These organizations, supported by the entire community, have joined to hold this celebration, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the town.

THE HISTORY OF FOREST RIVER The following is from a clipping from the Minto Journal, June, 1937. Forest River celebrated its fiftieth anniversary June 17, 1937. The town was founded in 1887, the year the Northern Pacific Railway went through, on land purchased from WilUam Brennan. Mrs. Brennan still lives on the original homestead. There were, of course, many settlers in the vicinity before that date. As early as 1875, there were immigrants from Ontario who came as far as Fisher, Minn., then called Fisher's Landing, by raU. From there they came, many of them by foot, to Forest River, crossing the Red River by ferry at Grand Forks. Among the names of these ear best settlers appear Woods, Poole, Johnston, Warren, Yon, Dunlop, Checkley, Lester, WiUson, Bates, Carpenter, Brennan, Sprague and Maltman. Although the town was not incorporated untU 1893, it was a thriving business community several years before that date. The first Northern Pacific RaUway agent in Forest River was J. D. Robertson, now mayor of Park River. The first postmaster was Jim Woods. His widow is the oldest Uving woman pioneer in Walsh County. The general merchandise store of Sprague, Brennan and Daniels was the first business estabUshed in the town. It was followed soon by stores owned by Woodbury, Teeson, Frazee and others. There were two blacksmith shops in the town in the early days, run by Bob McCarty and Rueb McDonald. Among the early grain buyers were M. D. Miller, Isaac Lowe, W. J. Woods and Sam Warren. One of the first druggists was E . C. Krueger, now of Johnstown.For some time there was a flour mUl, long since discontinued. Before a hall was built, the social activities of the community were held in the store-room of this miU. Forest River has had only one physician, Dr. A. B. Field. He came to the community in 1892 and has been a continuous resident since that time. The first school was a two-room buUding and among the early teachers were MacEchern, Junkins, Mrs. M. D. MUler, and Mrs. H. H. Teeson. In January of 1903, school was opened in the present building, a brick structure. The first principal in this new buUding was Mr. Kratzer. Among the earliest teachers were Polly Watt and Daisy McKaye. The churches in use today were built in the early nineties. One of the earliest bankers was Mr. Ballock, foUowed by Fred Whitney, now of Fargo. Forest River enjoys the distinction of never having suffered a bank failure. The town has been swept by fire several times, and as a result the business structures on Main Street are fireproof. There is a town ordinance forbidding the construction of frame buildings on Main Street. The early settlers and their descendants have brought the fertile Red River Valley soU under cultivation, and are now in possession of a highly productive farming area. The methods of farming have changed from straight grain farming to diversified agriculture. Potatoes and beets, Uvestock and cream are

South End of Main Street in Forest River

North End of Main Street in Forest River—1910 A BRIEF HISTORY OF FOREST RIVER TOWNSHIP On March 10, 1887, the first meeting ot the Forest River Township in Dakota Territory was held. The officers appointed at the meeting were George Clark, Andrew Dickson and Hugh Kennedy on the board of supervisors and R. B. Warren as town clerk. A meeting June 20,1887, was called to order to make plans for the second bridge to be built in Forest River Township. It was to be buUt on Section 11. J. B. Warren was hired for the construction for a sum of $62.50. The difficulties which surrounded pubUc service first manifested themselves to the newly elected officers on Nov. 26, 1888, when Mr. Taylor demanded to be reimbursed for damages resulting from the death of his mule. It seems that the mule met with an untimely demise by faUing through one of the newly constructed township bridges. The final disposition of the case is not a matter of record. The township agreed to pay farmers $4 for aU sheep kUled by wild dogs. It would appear that large numbers of farm animals were lost in this manner. This is 488

evidenced by the minutes of the meeting of July 26, 1896, when payment was made for 22 sheep killed that month. The humanitarian side of these civic-minded gentlemen was shown when, Nov. 3, 1892, they called a special meeting for the purpose of instructing Mr. English, constable, to look after Thomas Swail who was reported to be "sick and destitute, and in a dying condition." Mr. English was to see that all "filth, etc., that would be liable to endanger the health of the inhabitants to be removed." They further instructed that a nurse be hired to care for Mr. Swail. The minutes of the meeting of Nov. 12,1892, show that M. F. EngUsh was paid $12.50 for the burial of Thomas Swail who had succumbed in spite of their neighborly concern. One cannot escape being touched by the deep sense of patriotism these men must have felt toward the newly formed state of North Dakota when on March 11, 1890, they recorded these words: "We, Thomas Scott, J . B. Sprague, and Hugh Kennedy, do solemnly swear that we will support the constitution of the United States and the state of North Dakota and that we wUl faithfully and impartially to the best of our knowledge and abUity perform all the duties of Town Supervisors during our term of office." The General Election Laws of July 10, 1917, would certainly add to the consternation of today's proponents of Women's Liberation. They read: "Any women having the quaUfications enumerated in Section 121 may vote solely on school officers and questions pertaining to school matters." Section 991 goes on to say "Ballots of women voters must be deposited in a separate baUot box." Researched and compiled by LesUe Schiller.

DISTRICT NO. 38 The District No. 38 school was located in Section 6. The teacher in 1886 was Miss Mary Copps. In 1892, Miss Annie Bell was the teacher. At that time the president of the school board was John CosteUo, the treasurer was Donald McCuUouch, and the clerk was Jacob Nelson. DISTRICT NO. 68: The first school in District No. 68 was a two-room building located at the north end of the vUlage. In 1892, the teacher was Miss Addie E. Johnson. That year the president of the school board was James Woods, the treasurer was W. A. Hagerty, and the clerk was R. B. Warren. In 1903, school was opened in a new brick structure. The first principal was Mr. Kratzer. Among the earliest teachers were Mrs. H. H. Teeson, Miss Polly Watt, and Miss Daisy McKaye. DISTRICT NO. 88: This district had two schools. The first one was buUt in the northeast corner of Section 24. Later another building was erected hi the southeast comer of Section 25. The first teacher recorded was Miss AUce Leeson who taught a session beginning in April of 1886. In 1892, the teacher was Lavina Fleming. The president of the school board was John WUson, J. W. Morrison was treasurer, and A. J. Morrison was the clerk. DISTRICT NO. 108:

SCHOOL DISTRICTS DISTRICT NO. 18: The school in District No. 18 was located in the northeast comer of Section 22. Records show Miss Emma Finley as the teacher in 1886. The term began in AprU. In 1892, the teacher was S. A. Brusted. At that time the president of the school board was Thomas Scott, the treasurer was John C. WUson, and the clerk was WUliam Sprague. School District No. 108. Front row: Katie Kuta, Sophie Kuta, Romald Kuta, Albert Fink, Andrew Fink. Second row: Margaret Fink, Bessie Bruce, Victor Koehmstedt, Aaron Fink, Lawrence Fink, Gertrude Koehmstedt, Loretta Koehmstedt, Mary Fink, and Harry S. Murphy, teacher. The school was located in the southeast corner of Section 2. It was known as the McKay School because it was near their farm. Records from 1889 show Lawrence Koehmstedt as president of the school board. He also assumed duties of clerk. The treasurer was J. R. Bourne. Maggie Currie was one of the early teachers. DISTRICT NO. 116: This district was formed in 1894. The school was located in the northwest corner of Section 19. George B. WUson gave the land for this school and therefore it was known as the Wilson School. The first teacher was Miss Maude Sanford. President of the school board was John

School District No. 18, later used as a township hall. 489

Carrigan, the treasurer was James Dunlop, and the clerk was George B. Wilson.

men and women, early taught in their Canadian homes not to forget the assembling of themselves in the House of God (Heb. 10:23-25), fully appreciated their advantage.

CHURCHES NORTH DAKOTA CHURCHMAN, SEPTEMBER, 1891 The township of Forest River lies in southern Walsh County. The pioneers of the township were the Warren, Graham and Woods families, who arrived here from Canada in 1878-79. Jessie Warren, now a citizen of Washington state, was the Caleb who reported so favorably that many of his Canadian fellow citizens did not hesitate to enter and possess a land which, if it did not literally flow with milk and honey, gave at least a promise that under the touch of the wand of such men it would groan under the finest of wheat and make the hearts of millions glad. Five years after the settlement of the above mentioned families, Alexander Johnstone arrived and with Canadian doubloons secured for himself and family one of Uncle Sam's farms. Mr. Johnstone soon proved himself one of the most enterprising farmers of all this region, and his farm today stands prominent as a model, exhibiting the skill and taste of the proprietor. Johnstone's estate is on the Grand Forks side of the county Une. Unlike many who came west for the purpose of bettering their temporal condition, these people, with others not mentioned here did not, in their determination to secure the good things of this Ufe, forget that they stiU needed the protection of the God who presided over thenCanadian homes. We find that no sooner had these people provided inexpensive dwellings for themselves and Uttle ones than they moved to build a house for the worship of God. In '84, the year after Mr. Johnstone's arrival, he and James Malcolmson "headed" and "went around" with a subscription list with a view to erecting a church. Sufficient money having been thus guaranteed to warrant the letting of the contract, work was begun at once with Mr. Marston as architect. The frame was prepared in the city of Grand Forks; it and the rest of the building were hauled to a site on the farm of Thomas Graham, who had donated an acre of land "To be used for church purposes." The foundation laid, the frame raised and the building partly covered, all looked bright and the handful of church people were all fuU of hope. But they were destined to experience a trial of their faith. Honest themselves, the building committee did not suspect others of dishonesty. Hence it was that the architect was able to "skip" with the money he had not earned and which the people could ill afford to lose. Left with no money in the treasury and the building unfinished, how discouraged these good people must have felt! But these hardy sons and daughters of toU, possessed with faith in God and having "a mind to work," were not to be cast down utterly, even by so serious and so unexpected a backset. They accordingly engaged Mr. McGual, Ardoch, to complete the unworthy Marston's contract and to meet financial obUgations thus incurred. Some money was raised on the Bank of Minto and more advanced by Johnstone and Graham. The Minto bank was promptly paid. Whether Johnstone and Graham were, I cannot say. The result was the same - a house for God on the bleak prairie and a spiritual home for his children. I need not say that the handful of earnest

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m ... *t

St. Bartholomew (Episcopal) Church at Forest River In the autumn of '87 the railroad branch of the Northern Pacific railway was projected northward to the boundary Une. A depot was located about three mUes from where the church stood. Of course, a vUlage which promised to develop into one of the leading cities of the VaUey soon sprang up around the depot. ViUages, Uke many human taU talkers, often promise without intending to fulfill. The good people interested in the growth and usefulness of the church took counsel together and concluded to move into town. On the 15th of March, 1889, a group of men met with 12 spans of horses at the church on the prairie. Skids, to which were hitched the horses, were put under the building. Everything secured and all ready they moved off, going a mile with but one stop. "Here," my informant says, "we came to a high grade road which had to be crossed, but, while balancing on the grade, the skids broke in the middle. So we had to abandon the whole thing for that d ay." Next day, 14 teams were on the ground, but finding it difficult to get so many to pull uniformly, the work of moving was given up that day and by common consent the building was left on the roadside untU after seeding, when the enterprise would be resumed. In the meantime, Carl Warren, Ardoch, and Harvey Sullivan, Forest River, generously offered the use of their powerful traction engines. On the 3rd of May, about three inches of snow having fallen, no fewer than a dozen men, with as many teams, were at the church on the roadside; but the soft snow being more hindrance than help, the enterprise was again given up. No further attempt was made at the moving until the 23rd of May, when the proffered engines under the charge of C. Warren and B. Stone came to the rescue.

Hitched to four wide tired wagons, upon which the building was elevated, the two iron monsters, at the word "go" walked off without a kick or a jar through growing grain and recently plowed fields until, within about half a mile from destination, an accident in which Charlie Johnson suffered serious injuries brought a halt. The delay continued until the following day, on the evening which the church was placed where it now stands, on the comer of a block of four lots donated by the Northern Pacific Railway Company. The spring of 1890 added to the building a steeple at a cost of $190 and the old seats were replaced by pews manufactured by a gentleman of Mayville. During the first year or two of the period covered by the sketch the spiritual wants of the people were ministered to by the Rev. Jones in conjunction with several other mission points. After Mr. Jones, came the Rev. C. McCarthy. On Aug. 2, 1893, the Right Reverend Bishop Walker came to Forest River for the consecration of St. Bartholemew's Church. Visiting clergy were Revs. G. A. Harvey of Mayville, C. Turner of Devils Lake, H. B. Dean of Grand Forks, F. B. Nash of Fargo, F. I. Tassell of Larimore, and W. D. Rees of Ft. Totten. An evening of prayer and a missionary program was carried out. After a few years the congregation began to dwindle to a point where services were no longer held. By 1920 the building was no longer usable as a church and was finally bought by one of the citizens and remodeled into a house.

were Rev. D. C. Lyon, superintendent of the Synod of St. Paul, Minn., and Rev. F. W. Iddings, acting minister in the Grand Forks Church at that time. With their help and the need of their church in this pioneer settlement, the group went into action. A building committee with the aid of Rev. Lyon obtained the door, windows, shingles and flooring from excess material of the House of Hope Church, St. Paul, which they installed in the log building that was chosen for their place of worship. Elders were chosen, Jesse Boyd Warren, WUliam Morrison and John M. Woods. Then a minister Rev. J. F. Berry, was appointed to this field and the Presbyterian Church of Forest River was established and placed under the care of the Presbytery of St. Paul, Minn.

FOREST RIVER METHODIST CHURCH The Forest River Methodist Church was first organized Aug. 17,1881, with the Rev. R. J . Laird as the first minister. Services were held in a building on the north edge of town until a new church was built under the direction of John M. Woods. The exact building date is not listed other than in the early 1890's. A charter was granted to the church in 1891 and the large number of new members in 1892 and 1893 suggests those years as the building date. Forest River Methodist Episcopal Church served Ardoch also with ministers living in Forest River. There have been 28 resident ministers who served this church until 1937. Then the Ardoch Church was closed and Forest River shared ministers with Grafton, Larimore. or by ministers from Wesley College in Grand Forks. Listed as members of this church in 1882 were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Scott, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brennan and Mr. WilUam Morwood. The first baptism was that of an infant, Mary J., child of John and Ida Davis, by the Rev. E. P. Hall, Dec. 23, 1883. Marriages were recorded; the first, Oct. 29, 1882: Clement H. Rooker and Hattie Davis. The ceremony was performed by E. J. Laird. This church continued untU 1964 when members of the Forest River Presbyterian Church and the Forest River Methodist Church united and began a new chartered church called Forest River Community Church. They held services in the Methodist Church building until March, 1966, when it was torn down and a new church on the same site was dedicated.

Presbyterian Church at Forest River. Built in 1891. Early records show a Ust of charter members including William Morrison, John McDonald, Joseph Irwin, John M. Woods, Jesse Boyd Warren, Margaret Warren, Mary Ann Woods, EUzabeth Morrison, WUliam Morwood, Archibald Miller, Martha Jane Stewart, WiUiam Warren, Catherine Warren, James Henry Warren, and Joseph Edmund Warren, All of these men and women were received into the church by letters of transfer from other units. Five new members were also taken into the church upon their signified intentions. They were Isaac Brennan, Robert Smithson, Alexander Stewart, James Carpenter and Alexander Morrison. UntU the winter of 1885, the little congregation met in this log, one room church but due to its size and structure, the members and officers decided to use the school as their meeting place. In 1891, a new church was erected with a seating capacity of 200. This was used untU 1959, when discussions began between the official board of the Methodist Church and the Session of the Presbyterian

FOREST RIVER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Presbyterian Church was organized on AprU 3, 1879, in the home of J. B. Sprague. Present at the meeting 491

At the end of the first year there were 38 members. In 1908 the chapter was given up due to many members moving away, and other causes making it impossible to continue. Bethel Chapter was reorganized Feb. 7, 1923. The original charter was restored by Brother D. C. Moore of Mizpah Chapter, Past Grand Patron, with Sisters Myers and Capenter of Mizpah Chapter, Grafton, acting as installing officers. Meetings were held in the public school for over a year. Agnes Woods, a charter member was elected Worthy Matron. There were 22 members at the time of reorganization. They were Agnes Woods, James Scott, Lizzie Lester, Louise Johnson, Selma Cuffe, Marion Fosness, Rogna Legge, Ethel Gillham, Ruth Lester, Illma Johnston, Ruth Lowe, Hannah Checkley, Ida Howe, Clara Woods, Alice Willson, Agnes Clark, B. A. Vassau, Birdie Kilen, Mary Checkley, Blanche Johnson, Walter E. Howe, and Ethel Woods. December 11,1924, lodge rooms were completed over Fosness's Store. In October, 1928, Bethel Chapter entertained members of District 20 at School of Instruction with Mary Sheridan as District Deputy. On Jan. 11, 1952, members of Minto Chapter 23, and Bethel Chapter were united in a new chapter under the name of "United Chapter" and chose No. 19 as their chapter number. Meetings are held twice a month in the Masonic Hall.

Church, to federate the two congregations. In 1963, the Plan of Union was adopted, formally giving the organization the name of "The Forest River Community Church." In May of 1964 the Presbyterian Church was torn down. In March of 1966 the Methodist Church was torn down and construction began on a new building. On the 27th of March the first service was held in the new building, followed by a potluck dinner. On June 19,1966, the new church was dedicated and the cornerstone laid. FOREST RIVER CEMETERY Some time prior to July 19, 1980, the citizens of Forest River and vicinity acquired a tract of land, for cemetery purposes, title thereto being taken to J . B. Sprague, James Carpenter and John Woods, as trustees of Forest River Protestant Union Cemetery. From time to time, meetings of the lot owners and citizens were held, at which trustees were elected who exercised general supervision and control over such cemetery plot. Later a further tract was purchased and these two tracts constitute the grounds of the Memorial Park Cemetery of Forest River. Since that time, a third tract has been purchased. Persons contributed toward the purchase of these plots, and toward the creation of a maintenance fund. A considerable fund having in this and other ways been accumulated, and there being a sentiment in favor of constituting the organization a legal entity in perpetuity, it was decided to have the association incorporated, pursuant to the laws of the state; and accordingly, A. B. Field, W. J. Brennan and C. 0. S. Johnson executed articles of incorporation which were, on the 6th day of March, 1914, filed in the office of Secretary of State, which brought into being the Memorial Park Cemetery of Forest River.

ST. JOHN'S LODGE - A.F. & A.M.

MASONIC BODIES UNITED CHAPTER NO. 19,O.E.S. OF FOREST RIVER On April 30, 1895, a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing an Eastern Star Chapter. At this meeting, J. W. Sprague, was chairman and W. G. Ballack was secretary. Letters were received from W. C. Truemann and Helen H. Stockwell regarding information for organizing. It was necessary to first find a name for the Chapter and, Addie Johnson Miller, who later became the first Worthy Matron, suggested the name "Bethel Chapter." This name was voted on and Bethel Chapter received its name.

St. John's Lodge A. F. & A. M.—Forest River. Front row: Paul Fossum, Chester Lowe, Melvin Checkley. 2nd row: Tom Scott, Steve Lester, Wm. Maltman, George McDonald, Chas. Lester, W. E. Howe, B. A. Vassau, Chas. Gillham, George Johnson. 3rd row: Dr. A. B. Field, next three unknown, Ike Steen, W. R. Johnston, E. C. Krueger, Wm. Luno, and Wm. Anderson. It is evident that St. John's Lodge at Forest River was slow in getting started, as its recommendation and certificate of proficiency in the ritual were signed by the W. M. and secretary of Minto Lodge No. 17, its sponsor, on Feb. 24, 1892, and the dispensation for organizing by the Grand Lodge on July 27, 1892. The principal officers were Worshipful Master Marshal D. Miller, Senior Warden George Gibbon, Junior Warden WilUam J. Brennan, Treasurer Henry Brennan, and Secretary Robert B. Warren. The charter was granted by the Grand Lodge on June 14, 1893, to St. John's Lodge, No. 36, at Forest River, N.

At this meeting a petition was sent in for a charter and Mrs. Addie Miller was elected Worthy Matron, and M. D. Miller, Worthy Patron. It was decided to have the Chapter instituted and the officers were installed on May 14th. Charter members were: Mrs. Addie Miller, M. D. Miller, Mrs. Eleanor Warren, Lizzie M. Warren, Mrs. Belle Brennan, Mrs. Nettie Krueger, Miss Lottie Warren, Mrs. W. H. Daniels, Anna M. Woods, Mrs. F. C. Sprague, Mrs. G. W. Gardner, Mrs. Agnes Woods, and J . G. Brennan. 492

D., and was signed by Most Worshipful James McDonald, Grand Master of Masons, June 15, 1893. There were twelve charter members: Marshall D. Miller, Stephen Lester, John R. Yost, Joseph B. Brennan, Charles H. Woodburry, George M. Gardner, William Warren, William Brennan, James B. Sprague, George Gibbon, Henry Brennan, and Robert B. Warren. The first meeting was held Aug. 4, 1892, in the J . B. Sprague building. After using rented quarters for over half a century, St. John's Lodge No. 36 built an adequate temple of its own on Main St. at Forest River, in 1950, which was dedicated by Grand Master, G. M. Harlow L. Walster. The building is free of debt and relfects great credit on the members of the lodge. It is remarkable that only seven masters served a total of thrity years and fully illustrates their devotion to the craft.

BIOGRAPHIES

Woodmen Lodge at Ardoch, and Mr. Bayne served for many years on the school board of District 88. The first winter after their marriage, the Baynes Uved in a home on the John Bayne farm at Turtle River Twp. The following spring, March 17, 1892, they moved on to the farm they had bought from Silas Irwin, SE'A, Section 35. This was their residence the rest of their married life. James Bayne died in March of 1939, at 82. He had Uved 47 years to the day on this farm. Mrs. Bayne lived on the farm for a few years after the death of her husband and then moved to FordvUle where she died Feb. 4, 1946, at the home of her duaghter, Mrs. David (Estelle) Robertson. She was also 82. Descendants of James and Anna Bayne are 22 grandchUdren, 45 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Bayne.

JAMES BAYNE James Bayne, a Walsh County pioneer farmer, was born Jan. 25,1857, at Pakenhan, Lanark County, Ont. He was the second youngest son of William and EUzabeth Ellis Bayne. He had four brothers: Alexander, John, WiUiam and Henry; and two sisters, Mrs. Ann Shane and Mrs. Christine Comba. All are deceased. This family was of Scotch nationaUty. About 1880, James Bayne immigarted to Dakota Territory, living for a time at the home of his brother John who had settled in what is now Turtle River Township, Grand Forks County. Their nearest town was Oslo, Minn. In the foUowing decade, he homesteaded a quarter of land west of the present site of Forest River. He also acquired a tree claim in Section 4 and an 80 acre stand of timber in Section 2 in Turtle River Township, which was sold in Mrs. Bayne's lifetime. In 1891, he bought the NE 'A of Section 35 in Forest River Township from Silas Irwin and a short time later bought the quarter directly north of it, SE'A of Section 26, from James H. Warren. This comprised the "Bayne Farm." The Baynes moved here in March of 1892 and spent the rest of their married lives here. James Bayne married Anna Shane Nov. 18,1891, in Grand Forks. She was the daughter of Michael and Susanna Shane and came to this territory with her parents from Renfrew, White Lake Co., Ontario, and previously from Germany. They also settled in Turtle River Township. The name "Shane" originaUy was "Schoen" (German speUing) but because in Canada their friends and neighbors had difficulty with the spelling and pronunciation of Schoen it was changed to Shane. They had a famUy of eight children, WiUiam, Lawson, Robert, Mary Elizabeth, Elmer, Ethel, Estelle and Earl. The famUy was originaUy Catholic, but because there was no CathoUc church close enough for them to attend, they joined the Presbyterian Church of Ardoch. After it closed they affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Forest River, where Mr. Bayne served as an Elder for many years. Mrs. Bayne was also active in the church as long as her health permitted. They were also active in the Golden Rod Homemakers Club, the Modern

The James and Anna (Shane) Bayne Family of Forest River. Taken about 1908. Left to right: Elmer, Will, Lawson, Estelle, Minnie, Ethel, James Bayne, holding Ethel, and Mrs. Bayne, holding Earle. HENRY BRENNAN Henry Brennan was born in Country Leitrum, Ireland, Jan. 22, 1829. He grew to manhood in Ireland where he married Miss Sarah Dowler. He was in teaching and merchandising. The Brennan family left for New York in 1861, and Henry enlisted in Company F of the New York Infantry. He was wounded and discharged from the army, but after recovering, re-enUsted in the 69th New York Heavy Artillery and served until the end of the Civil War. He was honorably discharged in August, 1865. The Brennan famUy moved to Quebec, Canada, in 1866, where they Uved for 11 years. They then moved to Dakota Territory in 1878, and located on Section 28 in Forest River Township, where descendants still Uve. Four chUdren were bom, WUliam, Joseph, NeUie and Kitty. Of the four children, WilUam, whose wtfe was Isabelle Sprague, remained in Forest River. They had five children, Lew, Maude (died in infancy), Harry, Zella, and Ruth (Mrs. E. C. Johnston), the only survivor.

JOHN BRUCE John Bruce was born in Harriston, Ont., Nov. 13, 1868, son of William and Betsy (White) Bruce. He came to the Park River area as a boy and grew up in that community. In 1893, he married Margaret McCannell, Minto. They lived on a farm near Voss. They had five children. Three died in infancy, leaving a son, William, and a daughter, Bessie (Mrs. WiUiam CaUahan). In 1902, Margaret died and he returned to live at Park River for a time. In 1904, he married Hannah Gibbons, Forest River. John and Hannah had one daughter, Gladys (Mrs. Clifford Gates). The couple moved to a farm southwest of Minto in Forest River Township and they resided there until Mr. Bruce died in 1935. Mr. Bruce was a road overseer in Forest River Township for several years. Mrs. Bruce returned to her parents' home near Forest River and lived with her mother and two brothers for a time. Later she and one brother moved to Grafton. She is residing at the Lutheran Sunset Home. Submitted by Mrs. John Bruce. ALEXANDER (SANDY) CHECKLEY Alexander (Sandy) Checkley was born May 29, 1859, in the township of Fitzroy, Ontario. He came to North Dakota with several other homesteaders and settled in what is now Forest River. His early days were spent in farming. He owned a threshing rig which was called Poole and Checkley. He had a pair of greyhounds which went with him everywhere. In 1898 he married Hannah Moore at Pembina. They still lived at the old homestead and Sandy threshed for aU his neighbors. It was a thriU to see his big threshing rig pull in and pile up a big strawstack which lasted the farmer until the next threshing time. His famUy consisted of two sons and one daughter. The daughter, Mrs. Joseph Sheridan, and one son, Harry Checkley, stUl Uve in Forest River. He died March 13,1915, at 55. His wife, Hannah, died May 10, 1954. Submitted by Mrs. Joe Sheridan.

Alexander (Sandy) Checkley and his greyhounds.

GEORGE CLARK George Clark came into the Forest River area in 1880 from Ontario and homesteaded in the Forest River Township. He married Susannah Scott. They had one son and four daughters, James, AUce, Agnes, Emma, and Ida. He farmed in the Forest River area until 1900. He moved with his son, James, and daughter, Emma, to the state of Washington where he resided until the time of his death. Submitted by Mrs. Alice Lang aas and Mrs. Georgene Ferguson. CHARLES DREW Charles Drew was born near Oshawa, Ont., July 20, 1865, came to Walsh County 10 days after he had graduated from high school in 1882. Traveling with his sister and Dr. and Mrs. John Montgomery, he reached Ardoch after five days of raU travel from Blackstock, Ont. The railroad had been built to Ardoch the previous fall. Shortly after Mr. Drew came to Ardoch, a meeting was held in the vUlage for the purpose of organizing a school district and building a school house. When the school was buUt, Mr. Drew was the first teacher. The term began in November, 1882, and his salary was $28 the first month, then increased to $30. He taught one term of four months and the next summer taught in the Greenwood School in Turtle River Township, Grand Forks County. In the faU of 1883, Mr. Drew was teacher at Forest River post office, the term ending the foUowing spring. That year the young pioneer became interested in farming and ended his career as an instructor. In 1884 he turned to farming. A strong supporter of diversified farming, he led the way in raising other crops besides wheat. He was a pioneer in raising potatoes and received the first sugar beet raising contract in Walsh County. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drew, had moved to Turtle River Township and had estabUshed a cattle ranch, with about 150 head of cattle kept for beef and dairy purposes. The range was a 700 acre tract, fenced, and the young man helped with work on the ranch for several years. Mr. Drew attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis in the winter of 1892-93. In June of 1893 he married Cynthia Maclomson, who had moved from Ontario with her parents and made her home in the Forest River territory. The couple settled in Ardoch where Mr. Drew had constructed a residence. They had three children: AUda, Albert and Charles, Jr. In addition to his farm work, Mr. Drew found time for activity in church, school and community affairs. He was an officer of the Ardoch Foresters Lodge, president of the school board in the vUlage for 10 years, and clerk for an equal length of time. He was also justice of the peace and town clerk in Ardoch. When the census was taken in 1900, Mr. Drew was enumerator in Ardoch and in two townships in the area. Mrs. Drew died in 1902. In 1905 he married Violet Mundy at Oshawa, Ont. They returned to Ardoch to make their home. They operated a farm near Ardoch and later in the Forest River area before retiring and moving to

the village. Mr. Drew was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Presbyterian Church. Charles Drew, Sr., died Dec. 8, 1950. Submitted by Mrs. Helen Drew.

to Forest River and set up his practice, which he carried on for almost half a century. In 1898, he married Miss Beatrice Berridge of Whittlesea, Camb., England. She died in 1937. During much of his lifetime, Dr. Fields was active in social, civic, and fraternal affairs of the Forest River community. At various times he served on the town board, and as a member of the school board. He always took an active interest in the Masonic fraternity and was a life member of St. John's Lodge No. 36, A. F. and A . M . of Forest River. He held membership in the Grafton Chapter Royal Arch Masons and St. Omer Commandry, Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Kem Temple of the Shrine of Grand Forks. After he retired from active practice, he devoted himself to farming. During his lifetime, he had acquired extensive farm holdings in the community. Dr. Fields died in August, 1949.

PETER AND MARY DURAY Peter Duray was born in Poland Feb. 20, 1866. At 11, he came to the United States with his mother, Apolena Duray, a widow; two brothers, Frank, Ardoch, and Joseph, Elkhorn, Wise.; and two sisters, Mrs. George Bazey and Mrs. John Greevers, rural Minto. His father, George Duray, died in Poland. Peter Duray lived in Manvel for several years. He was a section foreman. He married Cecelia Grdzielewski Nov. 15, 1892, at St. Stanislaus Church, Warsaw. The couple lived in Walshville Township. In 1910, the family moved to the farm near Forest River, their home until their death. For 40 years, Mr. Duray served on the school board in his home district as president and director. Mrs. Duray was born at Calvin, Mich., Oct. 31, 1874. Her parents were Thomas and Mary Grdzielewski. The family came to the Warsaw community. There were three brothers, Joseph, Drayton; Frank and John, rural Warsaw; and four sisters, Mrs. John Chapieski, Mrs. Thomas Marcinak, Mrs. Leon Klava, rural Minto; and Mrs. John Silewski, Drayton. Mr. and Mrs. Duray had five daughters; Helen, Mrs. Alfred Swider; Julia, Mrs. Marcellan Naughter; Mary, St. Paul, Minn.; Amelia, Forest River; and Heinie, Mrs. Arnold Tillett, Grand Forks. Seven sons were born, Adam, Grand Forks; Peter, Minto; John, Forest River; James, Milwaukee, Ore.; and three now deceased! Lawrence, Vincent and Joseph. They had eight grandchildren; Cy, Allen and Doris Duray, Joan Johnson, Marilyn Pausek, Gloria Huard, Linda Tamstedt and Diane Tillett. Submitted by Amelia Duray.

GEDDES, ROBERT Robert Geddes was born Oct. 23,1846, near Glasgow, Scotland. He came to Canada with his parents when he was fourteen years of age and the family settled on a homestead near Port Elgin, Bruce County, Ont. A few years later he went to Pennsylvania. Here he met and married Rosetta Hobbs. With his wife, he went back to Ontario where they engaged in farming until the spring of 1882, when they came to North Dakota. He filed on a homestead in Ardoch Township and later moved nearer to Minto, where the family lived for nearly a quarter of a century. Two sons, James and John; and three daughters, Eliza, Margaret, and Rosetta, were born to the couple. Mrs. Geddes died as a young woman, leaving Robert to raise the family. Robert Geddes was an extensive farmer and prominent in affairs of the community and the Presbyterian church in Minto. In 1905, because of failing health, he went to Uve with his daughter, Mrs. D. E. Esplen (Eliza) in Vancouver, B. C. He remained there until the time of his death in AprU of 1924. GEORGE GIBBONS

DR. ALEXANDER B. FIELD

George Gibbons was bom in 1850 in Admonton, Ont. He came with his brother, Joe, to file on a homestead in Dakota Territory in 1878. The next year he returned to Ontario where he married Agnes Lynch, Renfrew, Ont., born April 5, 1859. After their marriage, he left his bride in Ontario and returned to prove up on his land. With him he brought a team, a plow, a harrow, a reaper, and a flail. He traveled by rail to Fisher's Landing, riding in the freight car with his horses and machinery. With the team and plow he was able to break five acres of his own land and his brother's homestead as was required by the Homestead Act. He also broke land for some people who didn't have horses or a plow.

Dr. Alexander B. Field was bom in Blackstock, Ont., June 12, 1863. He spent his early life in that community where he obtained his schooling and was given his medical degree by the University of Toronto. In 1892, he came to the Ardoch area to see Dr. Montgomery, a practicing physician there. Three months later he came

Mr. Gibbons built a sod shanty for his bride and when she came to Dakota, she papered the walls inside with newspapers. They had only enough boards to make a floor in half the shanty and the rest was dirt floor. Sometimes Mrs. Gibbons would see snakes hissing from the sod walls.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Duray [Cecilia Grdzielewski] wedding picture Nov. 1892. Married at St. Stanislaus Church, Warsaw.

495

Later, Mr. Gibbons built a log house withlogscut and hauled from near the Red River. When he was away working, Mrs. Gibbons would be alone and because she was afraid of Indians who walked by the shanty, she would bar the door with furniture. None ever attempted to harm her. In later years the Gibbons family built a large house, bams, a silo, and other buildings. They had a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle besides the grain crops they raised on the farm. Mr. Gibbons was on the school board in District No. 18 which was later absorbed in Districts No. 88 and 68, a township supervisor in Forest River Township and one of the incorporators of the Walsh County Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1885. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, A. F. and A. M. at Forest River and was the first Master Mason raised in that lodge. The couple had three sons and one daughter: James, Willard, Harry, and Hannah (Mrs. John Bruce). Gibbons died in 1927, Mrs. Gibbons in 1944. They lived on the land that they homesteaded as long as they Uved. It is one of the few homesteads in the area stiU owned by the original famUy. Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbons were active members of the Methodist Church of Forest River. Submitted by Mrs. John Bruce.

CHARLES WILLIAM GILLHAM

Wedding picture of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Gillham—1903. Charles WUliam GUlham was born in Hereford, England, Aug. 28, 1870, son of Edwin and EUen Evans Gillham. EUen was a Welsh girl and not much is known of her except that she died when Charles was four years old. Charles had two sisters, one older and one younger than he. After his mother's death, his father, who had been in the clothing business, sold and farmed at Horsley, Surrey, England. Young Charles was sent to a boarding school at Giford, England, and completed that school at 16. His father wanted him to become an auctioneer but he wanted to see America. There were some other boys coming to Canada, so his father bought him a steamship ticket and gave him about five pounds, thmking he would be back in six months. Arriving in Canada, he went to work on a farm at Mount Forest. His first job was driving oxen. While working there, he heard of Forest River, decided he would like to go there. He worked at several jobs, one of which was building an under water tunnel beneath the Strait of St. Claire, between Sarnia, Ont., and Port Huron, Mich. After taking jobs in Canada, he came by train to Fargo. He and a friend hopped a freight and came to Forest River. It was summer and he got a job harvesting, shocking and threshing. After that was over, he bought a team of horses and went to Minnesota to haul lumber for the first stores in Bemidji. In the spring, he and some other men went to where the logs were ready to start to the mill and rode the logs in log drives down the stream to the mill. He went to Cando and worked as a butcher's apprentice. About 1900, he started farming around Forest River. In 1902, he went back to England to visit his family, but returned to Forest River and never made the trip again. Oct. 28, 1903, he married Ethel Sample, who had Uved on a farm north of Forest River. They had four children: Thomas (Ted), John, EUzabeth, and Charles, Jr., who died at birth. In August, 1904, he bought land in the south one-haU of Section 31-155-53 and moved to the farm. The next spring, he bought a meat and grocery business in Forest

ANGUS GILLESPIE, SR. The GUlespies and the Browns were among the emigrants who left Ontario and came to the Red River VaUey in 1879. Angus GUlespie, Sr., Uved on a farm near Harriston, Ont. His ancestors had come from Scotland in 1830. His famUy, bom in Canada, were Duncan, John, Christine, Malcolm, Angus, Jr., Donald, Alexander, Margaret, Peter and Archie. Two daughters, Sara and Kitty were born in the Red River VaUey. Kitty, 92, is Uving. The sons who were of age took up land as did their father, Angus, Sr. As the land the father owned surrounded what later became Minto, he was given the honor of naming the town Minto and the township Harriston, after his home in Canada, which was Minto Township, Harriston, Ont. Submitted by Jean GUlespie Fraser, daughter of Duncan and Kathryn GUlespie. JOHN BROWN FAMILY The John Brown f amUy lived in Scotland and came to Ontario, Canada, during the 1850's. The two youngest, Edwin and Kathryn (my mother) were born at the farm in Harriston, Ont. John Brown was a teacher and later a farmer. He died in Canada about 1866. Mrs. Brown (my grandmother) along with her mother (Mary Olgivie Petrie) and my mother and brothers, Edwin and John, emigrated to the Red River Valley in 1879 when that land was made available to settlers. The emigrants came by rail to Fisher's Landing (between Grand Forks and Crookston) and then by wagon train to the Red River VaUey where most of them spent their last days. Submitted by Jean Gillespie Fraser. 496

River and moved to town to live. In the fall while there was harvesting, his helper drove a meat wagon that supplied meat to the cook cars. After a few years in the business, he sold and moved back to the farm, but in the fall of 1912, he had a fall from a silo and broke his foot. Because it was a bad break, he decided to hold a sale of stock and machinery. He again moved to town and went into the machine business. Along with that, he bought a blacksmith and feed mill. In the spring of 1915, they moved back to the farm but he still ran the machine business for a year. He sold the business but the next year, had to take it back. In 1924, he bought another quarter section of land, farmed until the time of his death. He was a member of St. John's Lodge No. 36, A. F. and A. M. He attended the Presbyterian church, was a member of the Forest River School Board for more than 20 years, was a supervisor of the Forest River Township and did auctioneering. He purchased one of the first cars in the community. It was a 1906 Buick. He was one of the first to own and operate a gas engine and owned a mechanical shocker. He raised purebred Hereford cattle and Chester-white hogs. He died at the farm home Oct. 3,1929. Submitted by Jean Gillham.

In 1919, he sold the homesite northwest of Minto and bought land in Forest River Township where the family made their home. Lome and Carrie Hewitt had three-sons, William, Walter and Hardy, and one daughter, Ella (Mrs. Ted Gillham). Lome was a supervisor of Forest River Township, a member of the board of directors for the elevator at Minto, a member of the board of the Walsh County Mutual Insurance Company for over 30 years. He was a breeder of purebred Shorthorn cattle and raised grain and sugar beets. Carrie Hewitt died in October, 1964. Lome is a resident of the Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton. Submitted by Mrs. Ted Gillham. WILLIAM J. HEWITT

LORNE HEWITT

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hewitt William J. Hewitt was born May 5, 1857, at Mount Forest, Ont., the fifth child of Jacob and Ann Hewitt. He came to Dakota Territory in 1880 with his father and an older brother, Mark, and filed on a prairie homestead seven miles northeast of Minto. One year later, his mother, sisters and his bride-tobe came on an immigrant train with two other families to Fisher's Landing. On Aug. 25, 1881, he married Janet Arnot, Comrie, Scotland, and Mount Forest, Ont., at Drayton.

Mr. and Mrs. Lome Hewitt Lome Hewitt, son of William J. and Janet Arnott Hewitt, was bom in Harriston Township, northeast of Minto on Oct. 13, 1882. His parents moved into Minto where Lome grew up and attended school. As a young man, he attended Union Commercial College at Grand Forks and when his father bought a partnership with Vincent Langowski in the hardware and machine business, Lome became Vincent's partner. This combination lasted seven years.

For a time, he lived in Grafton and as there was much building to be done, did carpentry. It was at this time that he built the first casket to be made in the area. Seeing opportunities in the Minto vicinity, he established a home there and for several years conducted a meat market. He gradually became interested in farming interests west of Minto, discontinued his meat market and went into the hardware and implement business which was a growing industry. He was always interested in new machines. In 1905, he was owner of a Cadillac car, and was one of the first Ford dealers. He owned and operated a threshing rig and was one of the first owners of a Stewart shock loader. He erected the first silo in the community. He raised Shorthorn cattle, hogs, sheep, grain and potatoes.

On June 16,1909, he married Carrie Woods, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Woods, at Forest River. They made their home in Minto until 1912, when he bought land in Walsh Centre Township where they resided summers, returning to town for the winter months. During the winter of 1918, when influenza was prevalent, Lome traveled many miles to take help to the stricken families. He, his wife, and two oldest children had influenza early that fall and felt deep sympathy for others in the same circumstances.

in 1915, he retired from the machine business ana devoted his time to farming. At this time, he moved to Grand Forks where he resided during the winter months, returning to the farm west of Minto for the summers. 497

In Grand Forks, he built and owned several houses. He was living in that city at the time of his death Feb. 6, 1941. Janet Hewitt preceded him in death in November, 1939. W. J., as he was known, and Janet raised a family of five sons and one daughter : Lome, Harry, William, Jr., Ernest, Frank, and Rhoda. He was a member of Wesley Methodist Church of Grand Forks, attending as long as his health would permit. Submitted by Mrs. T. E. Gillham, nee Ella Hewitt. JAMES IRWIN James Irwin was bom at Lower Wakefield, La Pesche, Que., in 1831. In 1878, he, his wife, Jane Brown Irwin, and seven children arrived in North Dakota and filed for homestead rights onS. E. k, Section 35 in Forest River Township, three miles west of Ardoch. Membersofthe Irwin family were: Annie, Mrs.L. A. Molyneaux; Albert married Lura Smith: Mary, Mrs. Milton Simpson; Lizzie, Mrs. John McGonigal; Isabella, Mrs. James Morwood; James H. married Josephine Kleeberger; and Christopher married Anna McBride. l

CHARLES 0. S. JOHNSON FAMILY Charles Johnson, a pioneer of the Forest River community, lacked five months of living a complete century, 1862-1962. While Mr. Johnson was yet too young to remember his birthplace in Ovid, New York, his family moved to Michigan, then to Brookfield, Mo., soon after the Civil War. In March, 1880, the family moved to Dakota Territory, taking seven days by train to make the trip. They took up claims, pre-emptions, and tree claims, at $1.25 per acre. Mr. Johnson had $160 when he came from Missouri, spending $150 for his team of oxen. The first spring he broke 30 acres of prairie sod on three quarters with this team of oxen and a plow with a 12 inch share. When plowing with oxen they would average 14 miles a day, about 2 acres. The oxen were used for three years before buying his first team of horses. Then the oxen were fattened and sold to a Grand Forks butcher at a profit. He hauled his first crop of grain in 1881 to Stickney, 12 miles west of Grand Forks. Then the Great Northern Railroad came through Ardoch that fall and winter, 18811882. He hauled the grain there for several seasons before the Northern Pacific came through Forest River, about 1886-1887. June 11,1890, he married Anna Poole, who was born in Pakenham, Ont., Oct. 28, 1865, and had come to the Dakota Territory in 1880. She died June 27, 1945. They had four children, twin daughters, Mary and Ella — Mary died in infancy and Ella lived to be 19. The other two, Louise and George, both Uve at Forest River. In 1907, Mr. Johnson (known to all by his initials, C. O. S.) bought the Joe Brennan farm on the north edge of Forest River in Walsh County, and lived there his remaining years. Through his life, Mr. Johnson took an active part in the development of churches, schools, hospitals, and community growth and progress. Submitted by Mrs. Basil Clark.

ANDREW JOHNSTON Andrew Johnston was bom at Bell's Corners, Ont., Aug. 10, 1864. He received his education there and came to North Dakota in 1882. He homesteaded in Forest River Township. He married Miss Ethel Traveler, Forest River, Feb. 1,1902, at MinneapoUs. In 1926, he was elected a member of the state House of Representatives from the fourth legislative district, served until 1935. For a number of terms, he was a member of the school board of Forest River, and was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston had one son, Douglas, and three grandchUdren. Mr. Johnston died in 1951. Mrs. Johnston now resides in Edina, Minn. JOHNSTON FAMILY John Johnston and his wife, Maria (Junkin), emigrated from Scotland to Canada before coming to Dakota Territory. It was the spring of 1878 when the Johnston family landed at Fisher's Landing and started north with wagons and cattle to find a homestead. The spring break-up had started and at Manvel they got stuck in a slough. The difficulty of removing everything from the wagons, carrying chUdren and finally pushing everything out of the icy water can only be imagined. They settled in the Forest River area and lived in a tar paper covered frame house the first winter. Nine children were reared by John and Maria: Ann Jane, EUzabeth, WUliam Robert, Maria, John Joseph, George, Sarah, Tena and Margaret. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Johnston.

The Johnston threshing machine in 1924. THE JOHNSTON FAMILY WUUam Johnston (1790-1882) married Ann Boyd of Montreal in 1820. Then famUy consisted of three boys: Andrew, John and WiUiam. Andrew Johnston (1821-1900) married MathUda MiUer (1830-1920) in Ottawa in 1855. Seven children were born, WiUiam Henry (1858-1926) married Rebecca Thorpe. They had three chUdren: Myrtle, WilUam and Myretta. Mathilda (1860-1936) married Robert Maltman. They had seven children: David, Anna, Olive, Charlotte, Jennie, Robert, Jr., and WUUam. A daughter, Grace, died at the age of 12.

Margaret Ann (1863-1917) married Thomas Bronse. They had fivechildren, Andrew, Etta, Anna, WilUam and Birdie. Andrew Johnston (1864-1951) married Ethel Traveler. They had one child, Douglas. Charlotte (1867-1939) married Samuel Poole. They had two children: Anna and Charlotte. Jesse (1870-1953) married Janet Woods. They had two children: Gordon and Arthur. Mary Jane (1873-1911) married Duncan Black. They had one daughter, Anna. Of the three original Johnstons, WiUiam stayed in Ontario, John and family came to Dakota in 1879, Andrew and his family came in 1882. None of their famiUes remain alive and few of the second generation remain in this area. WILLIAM ROBERT JOHNSTON

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Kem Temple. He died Oct. 19, 1923. Submitted by Mrs. Homer D. Miller. JUNKIN FAMILY D. G. Junkin (1842-1913) was one of the early settlers in the Forest River area. The family originated in Scotland and has been traced to the Huguenots in France. D. G. Junkin married Margaret Warren (1842-1905), the service performed by the Reverend Tweet March 20, 1865. Nine chUdren were born, Margaret Jane, Feb. 4, 1866; Sarah Matilda, Aug. 29,1868; James McConel, May 3,1870; Henry Warren, Nov. 9,1872; EUzabeth Florence, Sept. 1, 1873; George Joshua, Sept. 1, 1876; John Robert, Jan. 9, 1879; Samuel Edward, June 8, 1883; and Charles Fredrick born Sept. 10, 1885. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Johnston. KEARNS FAMILY

WiUiam R. Johnston, state legislator, serving terms in 1892, 1899, and 1919. WilUam Robert Johnston was born Oct. 14, 1859, in BeUs Corners, Ont., of Scottish-Irish ancestry. He came to Dakota Territory in 1878. He became a citizen May 6, 1890. He served three terms in the state legislature, 1892, 1899, and 1919. The first winter here, he and two other men lived in a dugout while they cut trees to buUd a cabin in the spring. In the spring, he brought his parents, six sisters, and two brothers. He f Ued on land in Walsh County and bought 160 acres here. On March 27, 1895, he married Rosa Enna McCannell. They had two daughters and twins, a boy and a girl. The only surviving member of the family is Lee J. MiUer (Mrs. Homer D.) and a grandson, WiUiam D. MiUer. One of his hobbies was raising race horses. He was an organizer and charter member of the First Presbyterian Church of Forest River. He was also an organizer of the Cemetery Association and served on the town board. He was president of the Forest River State Bank which later joined FordviUe to. become the present Walsh County Bank of Grafton.

Front row: Jerry Murray, Mike Sheridan, Joe McCarron, Michael Kearns, Fr. Considine, Mrs. P. McCann, Mike Moran, Pat McCann, Lawrence Koehmstedt, John Kearns and Pat Hogan. Back row: Mrs. L. Koehmstedt, Mrs. M. Kearns, Mrs. M. Anderson, Mrs. M. Moran, Mrs. Mary O'Keefe, Miss Rose Kearns, Mrs. John Kearns. Michael Kearns, Sr., accompanied by his wife, ten children and mother-in-law, Susan McCracken, came to Dakota Territory in 1878. The Kearns and McCracken famUies, as so many others, immigrated to Canada from Ireland during the famine years of the early 1840's. They left Perth, Ont., in the spring of 1878, traveling by train to Fisher's Landing, Minn., the end of the rails. After obtaining equipment and suppUes, they proceeded to the homestead located in Section 12 of Forest River Township on which the senior Kearns had constructed a log cabin the previous year. Several of the chUdren homesteaded on contiguous quarter-section tracts. The first CathoUc church parish in Walsh County was organized in the home of Michael, Sr., in October, 1880. ReUgious services were held there until 1884, when St.

Patrick's Church was built in Minto. The first wedding in the parish took place Jan. 17, 1881, when Helen Kearns, daughter of Michael, Sr., became the wife of Martin Doyle. On Oct. 23,1880, Rev. Father Considine arrived at the cabin of Michael Kearns on the banks of the Forest River, then known as the Big Salt. He had traveled by boat from Pembina up the Red River to Acton, and had made the trip from Acton to Minto by team with Angus Gillespie, who directed him to the Kearns cabin. That same afternoon, John Reams, then 18, went on horseback to notify neighbors spread over a wide area that a priest had arrived and that mass would be said the next morning in the Kearns' cabin. Submitted by Michael Kearns.

Hanggi (Mrs. Harry Crook); Harold Hanggi, married Evelyn Bowler and later Patricia A. Hamilton, Raymond Albert Hanggi, married Bette Brown. Anna Elizabeth Koehmstedt was the first white child born in Walsh County that stayed there to adulthood. One other white child was bom in Walsh County before Anna Elizabeth, but his parents left Walsh County while he was an infant. Anna Elizabeth Koehmstedt was the second white child born in Walsh County. She was the first white girl born in Walsh County. At 9, Anna was making overalls for her younger brothers, and doing the family sewing and much of the cooking. Anna Koehmstedt Hanggi died Jan. 8, 1936, and is buried at Munich, N. Dak.

ELMER JOSEPH KENNEDY

Adolph Joseph Koehmstedt was bom at the family home located 4% miles southwest of Minto, March 8, 1887. His father was Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and his mother was Susanna Schneider. He completed 8th grade and a business course. He was employed as a farmer, salesman and a welder. He married Clara Ann Herrgott from CrosshiU, Ont., at Minto in St. Patrick's Church on June 10, 1913. The famUy Uved in Walsh County, in Minnesota, in Ontario, and in Waukegan, UI. Adotf Koehmstedt was a friendly man, a good mixer, liked basebaU and was considered mechanically inventive. As a young man he helped his father and brothers convert a stationary gasoline engine into a traction engine. AdoU and Clara Koehmstedt were the parents of Lawrence Victor, Joseph Nathaniel, Gertrude Eunice (Mrs. Roy Schoenrock), Susanna Catherine (Mrs. Earl MarshaU), Lester Michael, Dorothy Margaret (Mrs. Ivan Amlin), Car oline Odelia (Mrs. Raymond Diehl) and Herbert Stephen Koehmstedt.

Elmer J. Kennedy was born at Voss March 19, 1887, son of Hugh A. Kennedy and Jean Fee. He married Laura Belle Smith at Wray, Colo., Jan. 30, 1916. They farmed in Forest River Township where his father had homesteaded. They also lived in Minto and Lansing, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy were parents of two sons: Clyde and Harold. Mr. Kennedy was a supervisor in Forest River Township, was affiliated with the Modern Woodman and Workman lodges. They were members of St. Patrick's Church of Minto. Submitted by Beatrice M. Kennedy. HUGH A. KENNEDY Hugh A. Kennedy was bom in Williamstown, Que., son of Angus and Katherine Grant Kennedy. He came to Dakota Territory from Winnipeg by rail in 1879. With him were his father, mother, two brothers, Alexander and Ronald, and sister. Jennet. He took up a homestead in Forest River Township. On June 1, 1884, he married Jean Fee at Minto. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy had five sons and two daughters: Angus G., WilUam H., Elmer, Roy, Frances, Mary Beatrice, and Ann EUzabeth. Kennedy was a supervisor of Forest River Township and was affiliated with the Modem Woodman of America and the CathoUc Foresters. Submitted by Beatrice M. Kennedy. ANNA ELIZABETH KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Anna Elizabeth Koehmstedt was bom on the family farm 4% mUes southwest of Minto, April 6, 1879. Her parents were Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. She was of German descent and a member of the CathoUc faith. She completed 6th grade, but most of her education was obtained from helping her family with their homework. Anna EUzabeth Koehmstedt married EmU John Hanggi at Minto, Nov. 19, 1902. They had a famUy of seven children. She was considered an excellent cook and seamstress. She was always ready to lend a helping hand when needed and acted as midwife many times. The family Uved in Trey Township, CavaUer County, on a farm near Clyde and in San Diego, Calif. Her chUdren were Clara Loretta Hanggi (Mrs. Murray Cox); Gertrude Agnes Hanggi (Mrs. Earl J. Woods); Eleanor Susanna Hanggi (Mrs. Leo Korb); Victor Charles Hanggi, married Elenore Heldt; AdeUne Ester V.

ADOLF JOSEPH KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY

ANGELINE SUSANNA KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Angeline Susanna Koehmstedt was bom on the family homestead 4% mUes southwest of Minto, Aug. 26, 1888. Her parents were Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. She is of German descent and the CathoUc faith. Angeline Susanna Koehmstedt became a member of the congregation of the sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet March 19,1910, at St. Joseph's Academy, St. Paul, Minn. She was given the name "Sister Susanna" at her own request — it was her mother's name. Sister Susanna received a B. A. degree from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul. Her master's degree was awarded by the CathoUc University of America, Washington, D. C. She was an excellent teacher, specializing in graphoanalysis. Her teaching assignments were at St. Paul, Minn., GraceviUe, Minn., Watertown, S. Dak., and St. Peter, Minn. CLARA FRANCES KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Clara Frances Koehmstedt was bom at the family farm home located 4'/2 mUes southwest of Minto Nov. 28, 1885. Her parents were Lawrence J . Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. She was of German descent and of the CathoUc faith. She completed the 8th grade. She also enjoyed music lessons and china painting. Clara Koehmstedt was married Feb. 1, 1915, to WiUiam Moran in St. Patrick's Church, Minto. They lived

inTrochu, Alta., and Knee Hill Valley, Alta. They had six children: Mary Angeline (Mrs. Alan McComb); John Edward Moran, married June Kelly; Victor Michael Moran, married Irene Swartzenberger; Lawrence WiUiam Moran became a Catholic priest; Eugene Francis Moran married Loretta German and Irene Clara (Mrs. Ephraim M. Maguire). Clara Koehmstedt Moran died April 21, 1949, and is buried in Trochu, Alberta. GERTRUDE KATHERINE KOEHMSTEDT GAETZ FAMILY Gertrude Catherine Koehmstedt, Mrs. Albert Gaetz, was born on the family homestead located 4 / miles southwest of Minto July 24,1895. She was Catholic and of German descent. Her parents were Lawrence J . Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. She completed high school and enjoyed music and singing. She married Albert Gaetz at Spokane, Wash., Oct. 18, 1952. Her occupation was homemaker. She was very kind and did many works of charity. She was a member of the CathoUc Daughters of America. She enjoyed church activities and bridge playing. Every year Santa Claus came on Christmas Eve, knocking on the window panes on the outside. He would hide so we couldn't see him, but we did see him sometimes. Later, he came into the house with a big bag of candy. He would ask us questions about lessons we were supposed to have learned. He had a log stick in his hand too. We were scared' stiff. When he got through asking questions, he threw candy around on the floor for us, then he left. After we were old enough to know who Santa was, he discontinued coming. We had a Christmas tree. Some of the tree decorations were oranges and apples. Under the tree were gifts. Baseball was much participated in among neighbors as sport. The County Fair that used to be held at tbp fairgrounds in Minto was looked forward to with pleasure. The Ringling Brothers Circus in Grafton was a treat too. It was a 12 mUe drive to get there. l

JOHN LAWRENCE KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY John Lawrence Koehmstedt was bom at the family farm home 4% mUes southwest of Minto July 7,1882. His parents were Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. He was of German descent and the Roman CathoUc faith. He completed the 5th grade in school. He became a farmer, was good at buUding and machine repair work. He married Lena Wedge at Winnipeg Nov. 12, 1917. They had six children; John Paul Lawrence Koehmstedt married Genevieve Hage; Raymond Lawrence Koehmstedt married Robin Gorell; Helen Susanna Koehmstedt; Eulalie Marie Koehmstedt married Robert C. Jacobs; Paul EmU Koehmstedt married Roma Osowski, and Mary Margaret Koehmstedt married John Harkness. John Lawrence Koehmstedt died Sept. 3, 1945, and is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Minto. LAWRENCE AND SUSANNA KOEHMSTEDT Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider were married March 5, 1878, in Mildmay, Ont. They came to Dakota Territory May 1, 1878. The trip was from MUdmay, Ont., by train to Grand

Rapids, Mich., then by boat to MUwaukee, Wise., by train to Moorhead, Minn., then by stagecoach to Georgetown, Minn. From Georgetown they went on a boat on the Red River to East Grand Forks. Here they bought some supplies, then went by team to Turtle River, two mUes east of Manvel. At Turtle River they hired another team and came to Big Salts, now caUed Forest River. They stopped at the home of Dave Kennedy, which was the traveler's hotel. By team they reached their final destination, the NEV4 of Section 10, Township 155, Range 53, now Forest River Township. Lawrence Koehmstedt (my father) said, "All I had when I came here was a wife, a sack of flour, a few bars of homemade soap and our wedding gifts." The land did not come into market until June 1, 1878, when Lawrence J. Koehmstedt fUed on a homestead. My parents lived with my mother's brother, Mike Schneider, who was living on the SW'A of Section 11, Township 155, Range 53. They lived with Mike Schneider until Koehmstedt built his own log cabin, 13'xl5', which took about a month, as father had to cut the logs and do aU the work alone. He hired Henry MUler to haul the logs for the cabin, and also to break five acres of land for him. He paid $3 an acre for the breaking. Thirty or $35 was aU the money father had after buying a cook stove for $9 and a few groceries. Later, he helped other settlers buUd their homes, earning money enough to hire five more acres broken, and backset in the fall. Father was hired to work on the Grandin Farm, which is about 70 mUes south of his home. He walked to the Grandin Farm. Father grew a good crop of potatoes from two bushels of small potatoes. Only the stem end was used for food, and the remainder of each potato was cut into several pieces so that at least one eye was in each piece, and these pieces were planted hi the soU. The crop produced 140 bushels. These were sold for $1 per bushel. This, with the work he did on the Grandin Farm, was his first income. Mother told about when they had nothing to eat but potatoes and gravy. She was getting tired of the same menu day after day and said, "Can't we have something else besides potatoes and gravy, potatoes and gravy, potatoes and gravy, potatoes and gravy?" Her brother, Mike Schneider, solved the problem for her. He said, "Let's have gravy and potatoes for a change." She also told about cooking meat from a bear father shot. Mother (Susanna Schneider) was afraid to eat it. When it was nearly all cooked and eaten by Uncle Mike and my father, Mother dared taste it. It was good, and she was sorry that she had not partaken of the bear meat sooner. In 1879 Father sowed his first ten acre crop of wheat, by hand, and Pat Kearns harrowed it in for him. Father harvested it with a cradle, and Fred Carpenter threshed it with a horsepower machine. Father bought a yoke of oxen, and hauled the wheat to East Grand Forks. Wheat sold for 67 cents per bushel, and it took four days to make the trip, often spending the night in his wagon box, minus food and drink. He hauled grain to Grand Forks and Acton until the raUroad came to Minto in 1882. The eldest child in the Lawrence J. KoehmstedtSusanna Schneider family was born April 6,1879, named Anna EUzabeth. She was the second white child born in Walsh County, but the first white girl bom in the county.

There were 13 children in the family. Seven were born in the 13'xl5' log cabin. In 1887 the new home on the farm was built and the Koehmstedts and seven children moved into it. Hospital care in case of sickness was not easily obtained. The second eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Koehmstedt was ill and needed hospital care. The child, Frank Anthony, was taken to the St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, for a leg condition, the result of having been kicked by a horse. He died at the hospital April 18, 1896. While we were Uving on the farm, two members of the family married. Anna EUzabeth married EmU Hanggi in 1902. Mary Susanna married Henry Lynch in 1907. While we were on the farm three members of the family died. They were: Frank Anthony, 1896, 16; Michael J., 1891, 7% months; and Lawrence Valentine, 1905, 21. In 1910 AngeUne Susanna became a Sister of St. Joseph. In 1911, Father purchased the Duval residence in Minto. The farm was not sold. It stiU is farmed by a Koehmstedt, Paul, son of John L. Koehmstedt and grandson of Lawrence J. Koehmstedt. Nov. 1, 1911, we moved to Minto. There Mother and Father spent their remaining days. Gertrude Catherine, Victor Nicholas J. and I, Loreets Susanna, attended Minto High School. AU the members of the famUy of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Koehmstedt were baptized by Rev. Father Considine (b. 1848 - d. 1916). Mrs. Lawrence J . Koehmstedt died Dec. 16, 1930. Lawrence J . Koehmstedt died May 8, 1933. LAWRENCE VALENTINE KOEHMSTEDT Lawrence Valentine Koehmstedt was born Aug. 15, 1884, in a farm home 4% nules southwest of Minto. His parents were Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. The f amUy was of German, CathoUc descent. Lawrence completed 8th grade and studied one year at St. John's, CoUegevUle, Minn. He never married, lived his entire Ufe on his parents' farm. He died Sept. 17,1905, and was buried in St. Patrick's Church Cemetery at Minto. He had returned from college and had worked hard helping with the harvest when he became fataUy ill with typhoid fever. LEO EDWARD KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Leo Edward Koehmstedt was born on the family farm4'/ miles southwest of Minto July 7,1892. His father was Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and his mother was Susanna Schneider. He was of German descent and of the Catholic faith. He completed 8th grade, attended two winters of business coUege and also went to St. John's University at CoUegevUle for a time. He enlisted in the army at Lewistown, Mont., on June 24, 1918. He was promoted to corporal Aug. 8,1918, and to sergeant Oct. 9, 1918. Leo Koehmstedt married Marie Leda Gastonguay at Walhalla Nov. 19,1919. They became the parents of Lloyd Lawrence, Thomas Leo, Donald Owen, Carol Leola and Patricia EtoUe (Mrs. Alfred S. Cox). Leo and Leda Koehmstedt Uved in Langdon, at Hilger, Mont., and at Overly. They farmed. Mr. Koehmstedt served on the local school board in Bottineau County and was on the county reorganization board. He was one of the original members of the North Central 2

Electric Co-op of Bottineau and served as its first president from 1939 to 1958. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. Leo Koehmstedt was an inventor. He made many model steam engines and other machines and without any formal training became an expert machinist. Although he made models of antique machines, he was always the first to try new ideas. One of his steam engines could pull a Uttle wagon with two chUdren sitting in it. He even made the bolts and nuts he used in making his machines. He had a metal lathe. AU his work was done in the basement of his home in Overly. For several years he was requested to exhibit his machines and his last exhibit was in North Dakota in September, 1967, a week before he died. Leo Koehmstedt died Sept. 29,1967, and was buried at WUlow City. LORETTA SUSANNA KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Loretta Susanna Koehmstedt was bom on the family homestead 4% mUes southwest of Minto March 6, 1894. She is CathoUc and of German descent. Her father was Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and her mother was Susanna Schneider. Loretta Susanna Koehmstedt was received into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet March 19,1916, at St. Joseph's Novitiate, St. Paul, Minn. She was given the name of her choice, Sister St. Lawrence. Her father's name was Lawrence. Her sister had taken her mother's name, so she took her father's name. She received a B. A. degree from the CoUege of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minn., and her master's degree from the CathoUc University of America, Washington, D. C. She taught science, arts, crafts, and reUgion. She taught at St. Paul, MinneapoUs, Watertown, S. Dak., Jamestown, Graceville, Minn., Bird Island, Minn., Waverly, Minn., and Grand Forks. These are some of the memories of Sister St. Lawrence: BUzzards sometimes were so bad that it was necessary to stretch a rope from the house to the barn to prevent getting lost. To get to church Sunday mornings in winter, the whole famUy went on a bobsleigh. On the floor of the wagon box were seats. Fur robes and hot bricks of charcoal footwarmers kept us warm. A dust storm came up one day when four of us were walking home from our county grade school, which was l'/2 miles northeast from our home. My older brothers were working in the field near our road. The storm was so bad they could not continue in the field. They saw us on the road. They unhitched thenhorses and came to the road, picked us up and put us on top of the horses with them and took us home. This one room school which we attended was right near the home of a family named McKay. We used to go and play in their yard. One day their dog bit my leg. I cried and Mrs. McKay came and bandaged my wound. I still have the scar, and I stiU remember the kindness of Mrs. McKay. I was in first grade then. Gooseberry picking: Gooseberries grew in timber not far from our home. When I was a little girl, I once went along with two of my older sisters, Clara and AngeUne, to pick gooseberries. I didn't pick many berries, but I followed, except once. When I came to one gooseberry bush, I saw under it a beautiful little animal standing there looking at me. It was black with a wide white stripe down its back, and had a large bushy taU. I was interested in this pretty

little animal and I stopped there and watched it. I was lagging behind my sisters so Clara came to get me. She saw the animal under the gooseberry bush and grabbed me by the arm and ran me away from that interesting animal. She said "that is a skunk." That was the first and only time in my life that a skunk and I stood in admiration of each other. MARY SUSANNA KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Mary Susanna Koehmstedt was born May 11,1881, at the family farm 4% miles southwest of Minto. Her parents were Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. She was of German descent and of the Catholic faith. She completed the 8th grade and was also trained to teach music lessons. Mary Koehmstedt married Henry John Lynch at Minto in June, 1907. The lived in St. Joe, Ida., and Spokane, Wash. They had five children: Lawrence H. Lynch, married Sadie Wallace; Victor John Lynch; James Frances Lynch, lived only one day; Edward Thomas Lynch, married Ethyl Smith; and Mary Louise Lynch, married Vincent J. Beaulaurier. Mary Koehmstedt Lynch died May 12, 1956, and is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, Wash.

parents, brothers and sisters. They arrived July 28, 1872. They left Prussia probably because of the Franco Prussian War. Barbara and her family first settled in Clifford, Ont. Michael and Angeline Schneider brought their family to Walsh County sometime between 1878 and 1887 to obtain a homestead in Forest River Township, NW'A, Section 10, Township 155, Range 53. Barbara was a homemaker who had a musical talent. She married John Kronebusch. She lived in Eugene, Ore., near Minto, and in San Diego, Calif. Barbara died March 9,1937, and is buried in Oregon. Barbara and John and three children, AngeUne Kronebusch O'Brian, Beatrice Josephine Kronebusch, and Leo Kronebusch. WILLIAM A. LAMBIE FAMILY

MICHAEL J. KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Michael J. Koehmstedt was born on the family farm 4% miles southwest of Minto Oct. 31, 1890. His parents were Lawrence J . Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. Michael was of German descent and a Catholic. He died, a baby, June 15, 1891, and is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Minto. VICTOR KOEHMSTEDT FAMILY Victor Nicholas Joseph Koehmstedt was bom on the family farm located 4 Vfe miles southwest of Minto Jan. 26, 1899. His parents were Lawrence J. Koehmstedt and Susanna Schneider. He was of German and Catholic descent. Victor completed high school and a course on insurance. He attended the University of Illinois in 1920. Victor married Blanche Weiher of Milwaukee, Wise., Aug. 18,1923. They had two children. Robert John lived only three years. Their other son, Eugene Lawrence Koehmstedt, Uves in CaUfornia. Victor was in the miUtary service. He enlisted in the army Aug. 11,1917, in Spokane, Wash., left the U. S. Dec. 24,1917. He was a private in the field artfllery and in the Army of Occupation in Germany. He was honorably discharged Nov. 30, 1918, and returned to the U. S. on June 15, 1919. Victor was a tool and die maker during World War II and received an award for inventing a time saving tool from a plant where he worked during World War II. He had several occupations including FaciUty Engineer at Wisconsin Telephone Company, auto salesman and resort owner. Victor died May 8,1948, and is buried at Point Lorna Cemetery, San Diego, Calif. BARBARA KRONEBUSCH FAMILY Barbara Clare Schneider (Mrs. John Kronebusch) was born in Tholey, Prussia, April 5, 1862. Barbara was the daughter of Michael Schneider and Angeline Baches Schneider. Barbara came to this country by boat with her

Some residents of Forest River in 1915. Standing, left to right: Mrs. John Poole, Mrs. C. O. S. Johnson, Mrs. Herman Sell, Miss Louise Johnson, Mrs. Wm. Lambie, Mrs. Wm. Ralph, Mrs. H. H. Teeson, Miss Ruth Brennan, Mrs. Wm. Brennan, Mr. H. H. Teeson. Sitting: Mr. Wm. Lambie, Mr. C. O. S. Johnson and Mr. Wm. Brennan. WUUam A. Lambie Uved with his parents on a farm near Aurora, Ont. He emigrated to Dakota Territory in the early spring of 1880 and settled on a homestead southwest of Forest River. He returned to Canada in the spring of 1882 and married Esther Cody of Newmarket, Ont. Four children were born, Susan A., Ernest H., John W., Ethel C. and two grandsons, Dr. John A. Lambie and Dr. Rodger W. Lambie. Mr. Lambie farmed his homestead and other acquired land until 1889. He then moved to the vUlage of Forest River to start a hardware store and had his younger brother operate the farm. An accident with a team of horses resulted in injuries requiring the removal of one leg in 1898, which caused him to retire from active business life. He remained a resident of Forest River for many years and served a number of terms as mayor of that community. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Church and they were active in various community affairs of that time. He told many interesting things about his early experiences as a settler. The railroad ended at Fisher, Minn., when he first came west and from there he had to take a riverboat to Grand Forks. Friends had advised him where to look for land, so he started walking across the prairie toward the Bob Wager farm which was south and west of Forest River. Mr. Wager helped him locate a homestead.

Mr. Lester died in 1941 and Mrs. Lester in 1935. Charles and his wife, Laura, and son, Charles M., now reside on the home place at Forest River.

The first few years were spent in a sod hut which he built. There were no trees to protect against the strong winds and blowing snow in the wintertime and very often the snow piled up to almost cover the building. Wood was the only fuel available and this had to be obtained from the timber along the river. A team of oxen was acquired the first year and Mr. Lambie succeeded in breaking up 40 acres of the prairie sod. His first wheat yielded close to 40 bushels per acre. The nearest railroad station was at Minto and his wheat had to be hauled there during the winter months. When there was plenty of snow, they used bobsleds. One of the first roads in the area was called the river road and it followed on the south side of the Forest River to Minto. It was a long trip in the cold winter weather but it was the only way to get grain to market. Winter storms were a feared thing and very often one could not see from one building to the other. He installed a long clothes line between the house and the barn to guide him if necessary. It took a number of years before the young planted trees became much of a windbreak. Crops were bountiful during those first few years and Mr. Lambie was able to build a two-story frame home after five years. Prosperity drew more people and the area developed rapidly. Doctors came soon after the first settlers. One of the first was Dr. Lundy, who located in Inkster. Some time later, Dr. Field started his practice at Forest River. A country school was built just one mile north of the Lambie farm and their first two children were able to attend it when they became of school age. Submitted by John W. Lambie.

The Stephen Lester Family—1924. Sitting: Mrs. Lester, Stephen, and Charles. Standing: Elsie, Elizabeth, Ruth, and Genevieve. ISAAC LOWE Isaac Lowe was born Dec. 16, 1851, at Pakenham, Ont., son of WilUam Lowe, who emigrated to Canada at the age of two. In 1876, Isaac married Alice Woods, daughter of William and Jane FaUen Woods, also of Pakenham. Isaac Lowe and his brother, WUliam, emigrated in 1892. The came to Fisher's Landing by train and then to Grand Forks. Isaac came to the Forest River area and rented land southwest of the town of Forest River which he later purchased. Besides his farming activities, Isaac managed an elevator in Forest River for Thorpe and Company and bought for Cargo and Company. Mr. Lowe was a member of the Masonic and Shrine Lodges and was one of the first school board members, serving for about 18 years. Five children were bom, two daughters, Effie, Mrs. W. J. Miller; Gen, Mrs. Frank Paige; and three sons, Fred, John, and Chester, They had 13 grandchUdren. Mr. Lowe died Feb. 20,1922, at his farm home. Mrs. Lowe Uved in Grand Forks with her daughters during the winters, returning to her home in Forest River for the summer. She died Feb. 18, 1963, at 97. Submitted by Vema J . Lowe Asmussen.

AARON LEGGE, SR. Aaron Legge, Sr., was born in Ontario. He married Margret Gibson. They came to the Minto area to make their home. In 1912, the family moved to Forest River where they farmed. He raised and sold Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire hogs. He was a member of the Greater North Dakota Association and because of his interest in the association and the cattle, his picture was hung in the Hall of Fame at North Dakota State University. Mr. and Mrs. Legge had three sons and one daughter: William, Bruce, John and Edna. They were all members of the Presbyterian Church of Forest River. Mr. Legge died in 1951. Mrs. Legge made her home in Forest River until the time of her death. Submitted by Mrs. Fayette Ranney (Edna Legge). STEPHEN LESTER Stephen Lester came from Forest, Ont., in the spring of 1881. He homesteaded in Grand Forks County, Strabane Township. Later, he moved to Forest River where he bought the Robert Warren farm. At that time there were no towns, supplies were hauled from Fisher's Landing. Along with farming, Stephen Lester threshed for his neighbors, along with Sandy Checkley, another settler. In February, 1896, he married EUzabeth Poole at Forest River. They lived on the same farm in Forest River, had a family of five, three of whom survive: Charles Lester, Forest River; Mrs. Ruth HeUekson, Long Beach, Calif.; and Mrs. Mark Gress, Long Beach, CaUf.

DONALD McCANNELL FAMILY Donald McCannell and his wife, Ann Morrison, were both bom in Scotland. They were married in Harriston, Ont., and in 1879 they fUed homestead in Forest River Township. Mr. and Mrs. McCannell had a family of six daughters and four sons: Mary, EUzabeth, Rosa, Margaret, Ann, Flora, Malcom, John, Dannie and Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. McCannell were both workers in the Presbyterian Church in Minto. Donald was one of the first elders of the church and he was the first superintendent of the Knox Presbyterian Sunday School. Submitted by Mrs. Chester Gomowich, Forest River. 504

JOHN M C C A N N E L L John McCannell was born in Harriston, Ont., to Donald and Ann McCannell on Aug. 13, 1875. In 1879, at the age of four years, he came to North Dakota with his parents. They settled in northeastern Forest River Township. He lived his entire life on the farm homesteaded by his father. He engaged in raising small grains and registered Shorthorn cattle. On April 24, 1907, John married Rosetta Geddes. They had a family of two daughters, Ann, Mrs. Lloyd Romberg; Marion, Mrs. Chester Gornowich; and one son, Robert. John McCannell was a member of the Minto Knox Presbyterian Church and of the A. 0. U. W. Lodge. He served as supervisor of Forest River Township for many years. Mr. McCannell died Jan. 17, 1938. JAMES A. MORWOOD James A. Morwood was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1855. When he was one year old, the family emigrated to Canada, settling near Markdale, Ont. In 1880, he came to the United States, arriving at Fisher's Landing. From there, he went to the Ardoch area where he remained until his death. Ardoch became quite a flourishing town. There he attended the Methodist Church and did his business. The land he filed for homestead rights was Section 25, N . W. v* in Forest River Township. In 1883, he married Isabella Irwin. She was born in 1865 at Ottawa, Ont., and came to North Dakota in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Morwood had one daughter, Bertha, and four sons, Walter, Christie, Edward, and E l i . Submitted by Edward Morwood. A L F R E D ROSE F A M I L Y Alfred Rose was born in 1850 near Toronto, Ont., in Canada. In 1879 he came to this new country, was among the first settlers to file on land in this locality, a homestead southwest of Minto in Forest River Township. He was a good farmer and energetic man and prospered from the first. In 1884 he married Miss Margaret Junkins of Forest River. They had three daughters, one died in infancy. Nellie married Byron Thomson, made her home near Walhalla, is deceased. The second daughter married R. J. Bain, Uved near Forest River for a time before moving to Emerson, Man. She is Uving hi a nursing home at Otterbourne, Man.

Forest River until Mr. Sampel died, Aug. 11, 1920. Mrs. Sampel lived until Oct. 19, 1932. Mr. and Mrs. Sampel had eight chUdren; five daughters - Mathilda, Mrs. Alex Taylor, Ethel, Mrs. Charles GiUham; Edith, Mrs. Harry Wilson; EUa, Mrs. Norman Dunlop; Christina, Mrs. Thorpe Johnston; and three sons - John, AUen and William C. Submitted by AUen Sampel. HERMAN SELL Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sell were among the early settlers of Acton Township, coming from Wisconsin about 1881. Mr. SeU filed on a homestead and farmed for several years. Later, the f amUy moved to Forest River, where Herman Sell and his son, Ben, ran a hardware store. The famUy consisted of six boys: WiUiam, Ben, Art, Frank, Henry, and Lloyd, and four girls: Emma, Minnie, AdeUne, and Helen. They grew up and attended school and the Methodist church. Upon retiring from business, M r . and Mrs. SeU moved to Grafton where they Uved the remainder of their Uves. M A R Y AGNES SCHNEIDER Mary Agnes Schneider (Mrs. Conway) was born at Minto, Jan. 21, 1890. Her father was Anthony Peter Schneider and her mother was Mary Godfrey. She was of German descent and of the Roman Catholic faith. She married Mr. Conway. They lived at Stratford, Shauna von and Mildmay, Ontario. A N G E L I N E SCHNEIDER Angeline Schneider (Mrs. Joseph Oberly) was born in Forest River Township Jan. 3,1887. Her parents were Anthony Peter Schneider and Mary Godfrey. She was of German descent and the Roman CathoUc faith. She married Joseph Oberly at Mildmay, Ont., in January, 1913, She was the mother of four children: WUfred, Kathleen, Harold and Mildred. ANTHONY SCHNEIDER F A M I L Y

THOMAS S A M P E L Thomas Sampel was bom at Richmond, Ont., Sept. 10, 1853, son of WUUam and MathUda McCulla Sampel. WUliam and Mathilda had come from Ireland in 1845, first to Montreal and then to Richmond where they raised a famUy of six boys and three girls. In 1878, Thomas married EUzabeth Johnston at Bells Corners, Ont. The spring of 1879 they came to Dakota Territory and filed on a homestead in Forest River Township, the S. W. y of Section 18. That fall, Thomas walked to the Grandin area and helped with the harvest and threshing to earn money for winter supplies. The Sampels lived on the homestead northwest of 4

Anthony Schneider and daughters,

Angeline and Mary.

Anthony Peter Schneider was born in Tholey, Prussia, April 19, 1859. His parents were Michael Schneider and Angeline Baches. He was educated in Germany and came to Canada with his parents in 1872. Between 1878 and 1887 (exact date unknown) he moved to Walsh County from Mildmay, Ont., walking from Moorhead, Minn., to Grand Forks, because there was no room for him in the stagecoach. He then walked from Grand Forks to his homestead in Forest River Township. His first wife was Miss Schulte. Later he married Mary Godfrey. There were six children; Angeline, EUzabeth Mary, Mary Agnes, Susan Magdalene, Edward and Frank. Anthony Peter Schneider died Dec. 28,1951, and was buried in Shaunavon, Canada.

married Mary Diemert and after she died, Mary Schneider. John died Sept. 17, 1938. Susanna Schneider was born July 30, 1856 in Tholey Prussia. She married Lawrence J. Roehmstedt March 5, 1878. Susanna died Dec. 16, 1930. Anthony Peter Schneider was born in Tholey Prussia April 19,1859. His first wife was a Schulty and his second was Mary Godfrey. Anthony died Dec. 28, 1951. Barbara Clare Schneider was born AprU 5, 1862, in Tholey, Prussia. She married John Rronebush. Barbara died March 9, 1937. Rate Schneider was born in Tholey, Prussia, Dec. 14, 1865. She married Albert Goetz. Rate died April 13, 1952. Frank Schneider was born Jan. 1, 1870, in Tholey, Prussia. He died in 1887 and is buried at the cemetery in Warsaw, N. Dak.

ELIZABETH MARY SCHNEIDER Elizabeth Mary Schneider was the daughter of Anthony Peter Schneider and Mary Godfrey Schneider. She was born July 1, 1888, and baptized July 22, 1888, at Minto. Elizabeth died as a chUd, in Canada. FRANK SCHNEIDER Frank Schneider was born at Tholey, Prussia, Jan. 1, 1870. He was the son of Michael Schneider and AngeUne Baches Schneider. Frank came with his parents, brothers and sisters by boat July 28, 1872. They finally reached America sometime between 1878-1887, settled in Walsh County. Their homestead was N. W. v*, Section 10, Township 155, Range 53. JOHN SCHNEIDER FAMILY John Schneider was born in Tholey, Prussia, May 18, 1854. He married Mary Diemert, who died. He later married Mary Schneider at Mildmay, Ont. His places of residences were Mildmay, Ont., and Walsh County, S. W. VA Section 10. John's parents were Michael Schneider and AngeUne Baches Schneider. He and his parents and brothers and sisters came July 28, 1872, from Tholey, Prussia, to Ontario by boat. It is thought that they left their homeland due to the Franco Prussian War. John first settled at CUfford, Ont., with his parents. They left Canada in 1878 to obtain a homestead in Walsh County. Their traveling was difficult on train, stagecoach, boat and team of horses. Mr. Schneider was a farmer and a Catholic. He died Sept. 17,1938, and is buried in Mildmay, Ont. MICHAEL SCHNEIDER FAMILY Michael Schneider was the son of Peter Schneider. He was born (Sept. 30,1828) and christened in Germany. Michael married AngeUne Baches in Germany. He died in Mildmay, Ont., in June, 1910. Angeline Baches was the daughter of Baches and Hastbar. She was born in December, 1831, in Germany. AngeUne died June 5,1906, in Mildmay, Ont. She is buried thpre.

Michael and AngeUne had seven children: Michael Schneider, Jr., born Jan. 20,1852, in Tholey, Prussia. He married EUzabeth Raster. He died in AprU, 1937. John Schneider was bom in Tholey Prussia May 18, 1854. He

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schneider [Angeline Baches], parents of Mrs. Lawrence J. Koehmstedt [Susanna Schneider]. THOMAS SCOTT Thomas Scott was born in Pakenham, Ont., Nov. 1, 1830. The early part of his Ufe was spent in Ontario, where he farmed and was in lumbering. At that time eastern Ontario was one of the largest lumber centers in America. On July 8, 1864, he married AUcia Scott, also of Pakenham, bom there Aug. 14, 1841. They Uved there until the spring of 1880 when with their seven chUdren, Annie, Agnes, Albert, James, John, Mabel, and Thomas, they came to Dakota Territory and were among pioneers of Walsh County. Arriving on the tram at Fisher's Landing, they made the journey to Forest River by wagon, bringing with them several items of furniture and machinery. En route, they stopped with friends by the name of Brown, northeast of Grand Forks. They fUed on a homestead in Section 27 of Forest River Township and on a "tree claim" of 160 acres in Section 34, part of which was later taken for the Forest River Cemetery. A log house and other out buildings were erected. Later a large house was buUt. Pride of Thomas Scott was his herd of Jersey cattie. The milk needed to be kept cool and a milk house was built for this purpose. This buUding, near a well, was of log construction with board siding, an outside entrance protecting the inside door. Inside there were two troughs into which cold water was pumped. Crocks for holding the milk were set in the water. When the cream rose to the top of the milk, it was skimmed off with a large

skimmer and put into larger crocks or cans preparatory for churning. Alicia Scott's butter often appeared for sale in the local stores. Thomas was one of the incorporators of the Walsh County Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, organized in 1885. He was president of the school board in District 18, and a Forest River Township supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Scott were charter members of the Methodist Church and took an active part in church work. Mrs. Scott died Easter Sunday evening, March 31, 1918, Mr. Scott March 3,1923, at 92. Both were interred in Forest River Cemetery, which had been a part of their tree claim. Submitted by Mrs. T. E. Gillham.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Scott and daughter, Mabel, standing beside the log house on their homestead northeast of Forest River. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Woods in the buggy. Also in the picture are Tom, Jim, Albert, and John Scott. MICHAEL SHERIDAN

Michael Sheridan Michael Sheridan was born in Lawler, Ia., Aug. 13, 1857. He came from Lawler to Fisher's Landing in 1878, walking from there to where Forest River now is. He homesteaded in Forest River Township. In 1885 he married Mary Ellen Plunket at Waucoma, Ia. They had 12 children, six boys and six girls. Five of the children still survive. They are Matt of Milwaukee, Ore.; Maude and Cleo, San Mateo, Calif.; Mary Masang, Grand Forks; and Loretta Callahan, Portland, Ore. Michael spent his entire life in farming in Walsh County. He was a member of St. Patrick's Church, Minto, and a member of the CathoUc Order of Foresters. The first few years they attended church in a log buUding

where Father Considine came from Pembina to hold services. He was a faithful Democrat all his Ufe. When he retired from farming, he and his family moved to Grand Forks. He died there July 14, 1952. Mrs. Sheridan died Sept. 29 of the same year. WILLIAM SPRAGUE FAMILY WUUam Minders Sprague was born Nov. 2, 1841, in Wayne County, Mich. He died AprU 30,1909. He married Margaret EUzabeth Stonehouse, bom Sept. 4, 1844, in Iincomshire, England, died Dec. 18, 1894. Both are buried in Forest River. After their marriage in 1863, they Uved in Highland Park, Mich., before coming to North Dakota in the early 1870's to homestead northeast of Forest River. He was greatly interested in horses and was noted for training them. His wife was apparently weU Uked wherever she went, skUled in taking care of the UI and in demand as a mid-wife. Their chUdren were: Isabelle Maude (Brennan), Anna Clementina (Haggerty), WUliam Almerin, John Harry, Grace Mabel (Crawford), and Robert Arthur. AU are deceased. Isabelle Maude was the wife of WUUam J. Brenna, Forest River, mother and father of Mrs. Eugene Johnston, Grand Forks. Submitted by Mrs. E. E. Johnston. GEORGE AND PHYLLIS STONE George and PhyUis Stone came to Forest River in or about 1895 or 1896. George may have been there a year or two earUer but that is about the time my mother came from Canada to visit friends who had come from Canada and settled in Forest River. Some of them were Lizzie Lester and the Bob McCaghertys. There she met my father, who had come from Wisconsin, and she never went back to Canada. They were married in a couple of years at the Episcopal Church in Forest River. They rented a house belonging to some of the Woods famUy, east of Forest River, until my father completed their home on Carpenter Avenue. My father was a carpenter and did jobs such as plastering, paper hanging, painting, etc. He was busy during the summer months, but in the winter it was too cold to do any of this work. It took aU he made in the summer to Uve in the winter, so he never made much headway. I remember, he used to go up on the Drake Line to paint elevators and he would be gone a week at a time. He had to work hard to support a wife and four children in those days. His father had been a music teacher in Wisconsin. He had a violin which he played. Sometimes his fingers were so stiff from working that he could hardly move them, so he sold his violin. Two of us older girls took music lessons from Nellie Halcrow, Drayton, who came to Forest River to teach music. We only had an organ to practice on and we were not too interested in practicing whUe other kids were out playing. Anyway we learned enough for our own entertainment. My dad died in 1922 from pneumonia. He was 56. I was married in 1921 to Wallace Burris, son of Henry and Frances Burris, pioneers from the Conway area. We

farmed and had the post office in Conway for 10 years, then moved to Vancouver, Wash., in 1946. My two sisters live in southern California. They married two Grafton boys. My sister Ruby's husband, Ebert Mattson, died several years ago. My sister, Ara, and her husband, Ted Swanson, live in California. My brother, Dalton, lives in Portland, Ore. My mother died in 1954 at Grand Forks. She was 83. I am now 75 and my husband is 76. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in 1971. My husband is the only one left from a family of nine boys and one girl. Submitted by EmUy Stone Burris. JOHN M. WOODS

GEORGE B. WILLSON George B. WiUson came to North Dakota from Pakenham, Ont., in 1879. He homesteaded on a quarter of land, one mile north and two miles west of Forest River. A brother took up a homestead one mile west of George. At that time, there were no towns and suppUes were hauled from Fisher's Landing with a team of oxen. The oxen were Buck and Bright, a good faithful team. On June 8, 1887, George B. WUlson and Alice M. Clark were married at Minto. Their attendants were Agnes Clark and W. R. Johnston. Alice and Agnes Clark were daughters of George Clark, also homesteaders in the vaUey. W. R. Johnson was the father of Mrs. Homer MUler, who lives in Forest River. In 1900, George bought a farm along the Forest River from George Clark. This farm consisted of a quarter and 80 acres of timber land. In the winter, George cut wood and hauled it into Forest River. There was always a big woodpile in the back yard, aU of it spUt by hand. George B. WUlson had a family of two sons and five daughters, two survive, Mrs. Georgene Ferguson and Mrs. Alice Langaas, both of Forest River. Submitted by Mrs. Alice Langaas and Mrs. George Ferguson.

John M. Woods taken in front of his home about 1915. John M. Woods was born in Fitzroy, Ont., Feb. 1, 1847, son of Samuel and Mary Montgomery Woods. He came to Dakota Territory by way of Fisher's Landing in 1879, and filed on a homestead, the NE /. of Section 21, Forest River Township. In 1885, he married Agnes Scott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Scott, who had come to the community from Pakenham, Ont., the spring of 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Woods Uved on the homestead untU 1909, when they sold the land and bought a home in Forest River. In 1920, he bought the homestead of his father-in-law and moved to the farm where he lived until the time of his death Feb. 20, 1929. Mr. Woods was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church, a member of St John's Lodge No. 36, A. F. and A. M. of Forest River and was a member of the Forest River School Board for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Woods had three children - two daughters, Carrie, Mrs. Lome Hewitt; Elsie, Mrs. John Poole; and one son, Walter, who now owns the farm on which his grandfather, Thomas Scott, homesteaded. Submitted by Mrs. Ted Gillham, granddaughter. 1

WILLIAM J. WOODS WilUam J. Woods, son of Francis and NelUe Hannah Woods, was born March 24,1865, Pakenham County, Ont. He married Mary Brown, who was born May 15, 1867. They emigrated to Forest River and made their home there until the 1950's when they went to Glendale, Calif. Mr. Woods carried the maU from the Soo Depot to the post office for many years. He also was the town marshal. Mrs. Woods wrote news items for the Minto Journal and kept the community informed of events. Mr. and Mrs. Woods had two children, a son, Harold, and a daughter Florrie, Mrs. William Gorowski. Submitted by Mrs. WilUam Gorowski.

Main Street of Forest River—1903

ITEMS OF INTEREST CARPENTER-JAMIESON WEDDING The foUowing is a dipping from the Forest River News, a section of the former Minto Journal. A wedding that created interest throughout the state, one of the prettiest church weddings ever held in Forest River, took place May 15, 1907, in the Presbyterian Church when Jesse Jamieson was married to Capt. James Carpenter. Rev. Mason performed the ceremony, assisted by Rev. Medland. Mrs. Edson L. Bates was Matron of Honor. Mrs. Andrew Johnston played Lohengrin, a wedding march. Long before the appointed hour, the church was fined to its utmost capacity, as over 200 guests were present to witness the interesting event. At three o'clock the bride and groom arrived in a carriage beautifully decorated and drawn by W. J-

Poole's gray pacers, the bride sitting under the Union Jack and the captain under Old Glory, showing that the two greatest nations in the world were at peace with one another and in love. The bridal procession entered the tastefully decorated edifice; first came the groom's little granddaughter, Opal Carpenter, as flower girl daintily dressed in pale blue silk. Then the bride and groom. The bride looked prettily dressed in white silk. The bride's bouquet was a large sheaf of pink carnations tied with long white streamers. The captain, dressed in uniform, marched to the front with the tread of an old veteran who had fearlessly faced the boys in gray, but felt slightly flustered in the presence of the Canadians. Immediately after the marriage service, the bridal party adjourned to the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Teeson, where congratulations were extended and a sumptious wedding feast was served. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter received alone, standing under the arch. The appointments about the room were green and white. In the parlors vines and ferns were used as a background, with clusters of pink carnations. The table and sideboard in the dining room had a dainty arrangement of pink carnations and smilax. The group of young ladies who assisted Mrs. Teeson through the parlors included Alma Dickson, Ollie Maltman, Katherine Hawkins, Jean Gillespie, Uella and Nellie Steen. Several out of town guests attended. Many valuable presents were received from Forest River and abroad, including a china closet from a number of lady

The Carpenter-Jamieson wedding taken in front of the Presbyterian Church, May 15, 1907. The bride and groom with the groom's little granddaughter in the center front. James Poole with his white team and double buggy in the foreground. friends of the bride and silverware, cut glass, sets of fancy china, rugs, chairs, dining room and chamber linen, burnt wood work and kitchen utensils. Mrs. Carpenter came from Ottawa, Canada, in 1893 and has been a resident of Forest River since then and is quite popular in church and social work. Capt. Carpenter came from Steuben, New York, 29 years ago and is a loyal citizen, highly respected by all who know him. After the bounteous luncheon the large gathering marched down to "Hotel Warren" and had several photos taken by Mr. Ball of Grafton. Then our village band played several selections, after which the bride donned her traveling gown of gray (tailor made) cloth

and they took their departure for their home on Carpenter Avenue, where they will take up housekeeping and be at home to their friends after June first. JAMES CARPENTER This is from the Grand Forks Plaindealer, Jan. 15, 1885. James Carpenter of Forest River was in Grand Forks Friday and called at the Plaindealer office. Mr. Carpenter is among the oldest settlers in that country, having been there for seven years. He has 600 acres of land on the river and raised 11,000 bushels of wheat this year, and a large quantity of oats. He has seventy-five acres of timber on his farm and is perfectly satisfied with the country. Mr. Carpenter is not discouraged at the low price of wheat and will sow extensively the coming season. He has four Deering binders which he proposes to keep busy the next harvest. Such farmers are a credit to the country and are bound to succeed. JOHN F. PASSA John F. Passa married Agnes Miller in 1911. They farmed three and one-half miles north of Ardoch and onehalf mile east, west of Salt Lake. In the fall of 1919, they moved to Forest River where they farmed for three years and moved back to Ardoch where they stayed until the fall of 1927. After an auction sale they moved to Oslo, Minn., where he was a blacksmith in 1940, after discussing it with the local farmers, he made a beet loader so beets wouldn't be forked. In 1941, he made eight loaders. He got a patent on the loader in 1942, which he assigned for royalty to a manufacturer. John Passa died May 1, 1942. Edward Passa continued making the loaders from 1942 through 1944, 26 in all. After that time, the sugar beet toppers came in and the beet loaders went off the market.

School District No. 80, Walsh Center Twp. Now used as a granary on the Charles Vavrovsky farm.

The Lambie Farm Home—1887.

OPS TOWNSHIP moved lumber, granaries, and freight of aU kinds to Winnipeg. There were jobs in Grand Forks for such as Uveryboysinthe stables, which eventually paid as much as $100 a month and board. Also, clean up boys in saloons, etc. found jobs. Joseph Bina returned in 1880 to Iowa for his parents and brothers and sisters. The family came by train to Grand Forks, shipping as emigrants from Iowa. The cost of rail transportation was very modest then because of the need of the settlers. My father had acquired on May 3, 1881, a piece of land by receiver's receipt, the SE /. of Section 4, Township 156, Range 53 in Walsh Centre Township. He moved the Vaclav Bina family to this quarter section of land where they resided for some time. On this land was bom the youngest son, John. The family had three brothers with birth dates in March: my father Joseph, 1860; James, 1870; and John, 1880. My father's two pals, Martin Kubesh and James Kerian, and my father were somewhat of a "Three Musketeers" trio and came together to Walsh Centre Township and settled there. Soon after that, Ufe changed rapidly for the three as responsibUities increased for each of them. My grandfather, Vaclav Bina, took up the SW /. of Section 21 in Prairie Centre Township. January, 1882, my father acquired the SW /. of Section 9 in Ops Township and on June 3, 1884, he acquired the SE /. of Section 8 in Ops Township. My father and mother were married on Thanksgiving, November, 1888. Father took as his bride, Mary Sedivy, daughter of Frank J. Sedivy and his wtfe, Mary Hejny Sedivy, of Prairie Centre Township. My maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Sedivy, were members of a large group that came from the SpillvUle area of northeastern Winnishiek County in Iowa. Many famiUes traveled in a group by wagon train. My own mother, then about eight years of age, walked practicaUy aU of the way, herding several cows the Sedivys brought with them to the new area. My grandfather, Frank J. Sedivy (1844-1910), and grandmother, Mary (nee Hejny) Sedivy (1850-1908), were blessed with nine chUdren: Thomas (1869-1934), Mary (1871-1957), James (Venca) (1876-1934), Frank C. (1880-1907), Joseph E. (1882-1941), twins, Barbara (18851937), and Rose (1885-1956) Anna and John (1890-1918). The group of settlers in the Veseleyville area, ever mindful of the need of God's blessings and help in their new surroundings, soon decided to have a church for their needs and for that purpose, one of the men, Matej (Matthew) Tupa donated four acres of his SWy4 of Section 14 in Prairie Centre Township 156-54 for a site for a church building and cemetery ground. Further official action took place when on Jan. 5, 1891, a warranty deed from my father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Bina, was duly recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Walsh County, conveying four acres of land in the SE'/. of Section 15 to the St. Lucas Catholic Congregation. The trustees of the church were three of the group, John Krile, Jacob Chromy and John Janousek. The cost

SCHOOLS IN OPS TOWNSHIP School District No. 8 was located in Section 8. It was commonly known as the Chamberlain School. The first teacher was Miss Ella McLaughlin, who taught in 1886. In 1892, the teacher was Miss Mary Ryan. President of the school board in that year was John Carrigan, the treasurer was Joseph Labine and the clerk was Pat Phalen. School District No. 33 was located in the southwest comer of Section 2. It was known as the Fee School. The teacher in 1886 was Miss Lucy LaLond. In 1893, president of the school board was W. H. Fee, the clerk was Frank Fee and the treasurer was Mike Cayley. That year, Miss Mary Noctor was the teacher. School District No. 89 was located in the northeast comer of Section 31. Records show Miss Nella Archer as the teacher in 1893. John Plaus was president of the school board, W. S. Skidmore was the clerk and H. W. Sims was the treasurer.

BIOGRAPHIES JOSEPH AND MARY BINA "A tribute in memory of my father, Joseph Michael Bina and my mother, Mary Sedivy Bina and on behalf of my three sisters, Mrs. Mary Berg, Mrs. Alice Foerster, and Mrs. Barbara R. Lovcik, my wife, Pauline, and our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren." Joseph Michael Bina was bom March 5, 1860, in Bohemia (now Czechoslovakia) in the region of Budejovice (near Pisek) County of Hluboka in the village Prasliva Hlota. He was the first born son of Vaclav Bina (1833-1901) and his wife, Vlcek Bina (1837-1889). At 10 he came with his parents and sisters, Anna and Mary. The Bina family came across the ocean in steerage. They had but little money, barest minimum to get across, nothing for buying food. My grandmother prepared large loaves of bread and concealed them in a trunk and more in a large shaw. This bread helped the family to subsist. My father was an errand boy on deck, rewarded with gifts of food or bits of money that he faithfully brought to his mother and sisters. The family arrived in 1870 in the area of Decorah, Ia They settled there, but due to short and failing crops and also some insects, known as chinch bugs, which destroyed wheat especially, the ensuing hard times forced the Gina family into increasing difficulties. This forced Joseph M. Bina, at 19, to strike out to Dakota Territory seeking employment to earn needed funds to bring his parents and their increasing family to Dakota There were now, in addition to Anna and Mary, a son, James, a daughter, Magdalen, another son, Frank and a daughter, Eleanor. My father, Joseph Bina, worked for two years in Grand Forks, some of the time at 50 cents a day and food, and for a time for a man named Sam Havlen who seemed to Uke this young, eager, capable and wiUing worker. At that tune the Red River of the north was navigable and my father was employed on one of the barges which

51,0

was $2 and other considerations. Certain conditions were specified in the conveyance. Purpose of the land gift was to build a school and to build horse barns. The school was built and the barns. My wife, Pauline, attended this school. Their teacher was a Mr. Mensik (pronounced Menshiek). My grandfather, Frank J. Sedivy, became the first postmaster at Veseleyville and owned one of several stores. His was a hardware store. He also had a dance hall there. Among the other store owners was Vaclav (pronounced Votsluf) Dusek. He was my Godfather. I was born in the home of my maternal grandparents, just northwest of the church, Oct. 15, 1889. It is the little red house, still standing. There were no roads, no doctors, no nurses or hospitals at that time. My father and mother continued to live on their home farm, the SEV4 of Section 8 in Ops Township, until 1892. My father rented the farm to his brother, James, and built a home in Conway from the surplus lumber left over from the new church in Pisek. A noteworthy item comes to mind regarding the Vaclav Bina, my paternal grandfather, family. First for the record: Vaclav Bina (1833-1901) and Barbara (nee Vlcek) Bina (1837-1889) and their eight children, Joseph Michael (1860-1927), Anna (1864-1936), Mary (1866-1938), James (1870-1910), Magdalen (1872-1945), Frank P. (18741944), Eleanor (1872-1962), and John (1880-1966). The noteworthy item mentioned above was the fact that all of the eight children in my grandparents' family lived in or near Conway at the same time. My grandfather retired to Conway after proving up on the SE /. of Section 23-15556, Medford, as his tree claim. Upon the passing of my grandfather, this quarter section went to John Bina and was later acquired by the city of Fordville and became Fordville's City Park. 1

The four daughters of the Vaclav Bina family married and became: Anna, Mrs. Dar Weed; Mary, Mrs. F. E. Vorachek; Magdalen, Mrs. John V. Stary; Eleanor, Mrs. James Zahradka, and after the death of her first husband she married James Sluka. Our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Bina, had reason for moving into the village of Conway, partly due to my father's desire to start his brother, James, farming on my parents' farm in Ops Township, namely the SE /. of Sections and the SW% of Section 9, all in Ops Township, 155-54- Walsh County. My father continued farming, however, having purchased 480 acres in Cleveland Township, SE /. of Section 19, the NE /. of Section 30 and the NW /. of Section 19, Township 155, Range 57. I shall return to this land purchase a bit later and now continue with reasons for my parents moving to Conway. The main and most important reason my parents had, was to give my two sisters, Mary and Alice, and me an opportunity for schooling which became a fact and was even partaken of by another daughter, Barbara, who came into the family later. Our father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bina, and their three daughters and I continued living in Conway until 1907 when we moved the house from Conway to the Ops farm, four and one-half mile northeast of Conway. I graduated from the Conway High School in 1906 as a member of a class of five in that first graduating class. As I recall from an occasional overall study of some 100 Conway youngsters who were my classmates, I came to 1

the conclusion that we received a solid, character building education there. So many of the students of this Conway School gained fame and fortune as they spread out in countless areas. I recall a well known pioneer, Henry Burris, with whom I had many pleasant, friendly associations during his lifetime. I used to go over to his house in Conway, where he lived alone for some years, to get some papers notarized. Upon coming in, I would usually speak to him, "Good day, Mr. Burris, how are you today?" He said alone time, "Joe you have always addressed me as Mr. Burris. Why do you do that? You could address me simply as Henry." I told him our teachers taught us to respect persons older than we were and the slogan was kept up for several school terms and the result was a unique sort of an education. Returning now to my father's continuation of his interrupted farming by his purchase of the three quarter sections in Cleveland Township, this land was 16/2 miles west of Conway. This took place on or about 1905 and my father bought this land from his sister, Mrs. Anna Weed, and her husband, Dar Weed. The Weed's son, Frank Elmer, was about to graduate with me and three others from the Conway High School in 1906. His lifelong ambition was to take up medicine, which would take a good deal of money. The Weeds, with their means quite limited, appealed to my father to purchase their land and a deal was made. Asking price was 50 percent less than my father's voluntary payment for the land and helped the Weeds to put their son, Frank, through medical school. ]

The new Dr. Frank E. Weed was soon to become a very dedicated and proficient doctor-surgeon of his time. Dr. Weed was my cousin. We grew up together like brothers. Each of us was his parents' only son. He saved my mother's life in 1918 in the raging Spanish flu. At that time, there were but five doctors in Walsh County. All were asked for help, but declared mother's case hopeless with a double pneumonia. Dr. Weed, home on furlough from Denver, responded to our call for help and saved mother's life. He was in the service in the First World War as a surgeon. He was always faithful to my family. He did wonderful things for my wife and delivered nearly all of our babies. He was my great personal friend. Those who may be able, may refer to a biography of Dr. Frank Weed written by a Pisek. I supplied much of the life history of Dr. Weed at the time, June 14, 1973. It was printed in the Walsh County Press of Park River. My eulogy of Dr. Weed is timely and well deserved. There were others of my schoolmates deserving of special mention, but I must remind myself that I was requested to contribute something to the pioneer history of Walsh County. The request specified information from the earliest records or information available through the year 1914. Having reached about that time in this historic era, I find that time does not permit further expansion. I do feel that the dedicated spirit shown by many students from the Conway School was sparked to a great extent by a little poem continually stressed before us in our school days. With pleasure I quote: Lives of great men oft remind us We can make our lives sublime And departing leave behind us Footprints in the sands of time. It is fitting and proper that I call attention to one more very special Conway native outstanding among the

others deserving of much more mention at this time. He was my pal, schoolmate, and lifelong friend, even after becoming famous as a Doctor of Science, which degree the University of North Dakota bestowed on him in recognition of his achievements. His main work consisted of development of wireless communication, in more simple terms, radio and television. My love and deepest respect to Dr. Raymond A. Heising. I will close my narrative of our tribute to my father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Bina, true pioneers of early days in Walsh County, and also both sets of my grandparents and others. It has been an honor and blessing to be able to do this sincere effort as an honor they so richly deserve. May you enjoy my narrative as much as I am happy to offer it to you with my profound sincerity and deepest respect. Submitted by Joseph Lucas Bina. CATHERINE F E E CAYLEY FAMILY Catherine Fee Cayley was born at Lindsay, Ont., Oct. 28, 1856. At Lindsay, April 26, 1881, she married Michael Cayley, son of James Cayley and Mary Foley. The lived in Canada and in Walsh County. Their children were Dr. J. J . Cayley, James Cayley, Eugene Cayley, Stafford Cayley, Charles Cayley, Dr. Ross Cayley, Alvin Cayley and Mary Cayley Farrelly. Catherine Cayley died June 24,1924, and is buried in Minto. JAKOB CHROMY FAMILY Jakob and Maria Chromy were bom in Czechoslovakia, came to America in the 1870's, lived near Decorah, Ia., where most of their children were bom. They went to North Dakota when the state was opened up for settlement in the 1880's. They traveled there in a caravan of wagons with other Czech families from nearby SpillviUe, Ia. The Chromys farmed near VeseleyvUle. They and their chUdren were members of St. Luke's parish in VeseleyviUe. Jakob died around 1915 and Maria in 1934. Both are buried in Veseleyville. After Jakob's death, Maria lived in a smaU house stiU standing across the street from St. Luke's Church in VeseleyvUle. The Chromys had six chUdren who survived. John Chromy, originally farmed at KeUogg, east of VeseleyviUe, later moved to Mahnomen, Minn., where some of his children stiU Uve. He had 16 children, eight of whom survive. Joe Chromy, who farmed near Conway, had six chUdren. Frank Chromy, who had five chUdren, farmed near VeseleyvUle. Some descendants of Joe and Frank Chromy stUl Uve in Walsh County. The oldest of the three daughters of the old Chromys, Mrs. Mary Wavrunek, Uved near Lawton, and died there whUe stUl young. She had three daughters, two of whom are living. Mrs. Elizabeth Pastir, who Uved on a farm near VeseleyvUle, had two sons, one of whom is living in Minnesota. Mrs. Katherine Reylek, after her marriage, Uved near Conway, but later moved to a farm near Forest River. She and her famUy were members of St. Luke's Parish in VeseleyvUle until they moved to Floodwood, Minn., in 1917. Mrs. Reylek, who was the last surviving chUd ofthe Chromys died in 1966 and is buried in Forest Lake, Minn., near her husband, Simon Reylek. Mrs. Reylek had 10 chUdren, eight of whom are Uving: five in Minnesota and one each in Minnesota,

Wisconsin and CaUfornia. Prior to their marriages, one of Mrs. Reylek's daughters, Mrs. Mary Pollock, was a school teacher in VeseleyvUle, and another daughter, Mrs. PauUne Curran, was a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake. DIEMERT FAMILY John B. Diemert came from Ontario in 1880. He homesteaded in Ops Township, NWVi Section 8. He was one of the first settlers. Later, he returned to Ontario and married Caroline Bushway of MUdmay. Returning to North Dakota, they Uved on the homestead most of their Uves. They had two boys, Abdon, born in 1890 and Edward, bom in 1892. John Diemert belonged to the CathoUc Church and was active in church affairs. Neighbors of the Diemerts included John Foerster, Jim Sobolik, Joseph Zidon, Tom Fee, Joseph Sobolik and Henry Burris. FEE FAMILY A train laden with farm machinery, lumber, cows, horses, and household goods belonging to a group of settlers bound for the prairies of Dakota left Lindsay, Ont., in the spring of 1881. They arrived in Minto May 21, 1881. Francis Fee, he was nicknamed "Columbus Fee" by his friends, had gone ahead to Dakota in 1880, and set up the basis for making homestead claims for himself and several of his brothers and married sisters and their famUies, also his wife's two brothers, WUliam and Martin Coffey. It must have been a great exodus from Lindsay. It is beUeved that, in addition to the two Coffey brothers and his.own famUy, "Columbus Fee" had persuaded two brothers, WiUiam Henry and Charles Fee, and his sisters and then husbands and families, Mr. and Mrs. Pat CaUaghan (Ann), Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Graham (Mary Jane), Mr. and Mrs. James Miller (Ellen), Mr. and Mrs. WiUiam O'Keefe (Bridget) and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cayley (Catherine). These people homesteaded in Ops Township which they named after a township of the same name near Lindsay. The Fees and then* families had claims and Uved for the first years in sod shanties and "claim shacks" on the prairies, planting trees and breaking sod. Winters were cruel to these people from the lower reaches of Canada. Summer heat with fUes and mosquitoes must have made life nearly unbearable at times. One of the Fee sisters, Mrs. Cayley, lost all three of her chUdren within a few days from the disease known as "Black Diphtheria." They are buried side-by-side in St Patrick's Cemetery in Minto. Catherine Cayley was not daunted and had six other sons and a daughter. Jane Fee, the mother of this pioneer famUy, who was bom Jane Mclnerney in 1811, died in 1883 and was probably the first to be buried in the cemetery at St. Luke's in VeseleyviUe. The stone is stUl there. How odd that this woman, born on the Irish Sea, who spent her first years in Scotland, and most of the remainder of her Ufe in Ontario, who must have been a Presbyterian, to have been interred in alien soU, in a totaUy new country, where her grave would become surrounded by graves bearing Czechoslovakian names. This woman has descendants in almost every town from WalhaUa to

Grand Forks and some on each coast and Canada. Several of the Fee children married Irish Catholics, although there is little doubt they were of Scottish descent. One of the sisters is reported to have said that on a clear, windless morning, she could see the smoke rising from the chimneys of each of her sister's and brother's homes on their surrounding prairie farms in Ops Township. Many of the children of these settlers left Dakota and went to western Canada, Montana and other places. "Columbus Fee" eventually got the "pioneer fever" and took the younger members of his family to Alberta. He was an artist, a writer, a musician and a seeker. He joined the Salvation Army later in life and achieved a reputation for himself. He was the last of the family to die, in 1935, in Alberta. His son, Charles, lived many years in Grand Forks where he sold real estate and entertained his many friends with fascinating stories. He died in 1956.

FOERSTER FAMILY John Foerster, born in 1855, son of Stephen and Anna Foerster, came from Gruten Dusseldorf, Germany. He came to New Germany, Canada, in 1876 to visit his brother, Stephen, a priest. While in Canada, he met Barbara Huebschwerlen, daughter of Peter and Margaret Huebschwerlen. Her father was bom in Cologne, Germany, and her mother in Alsace Lorraine, Germany. Barbara was born on a farm near New Germany, Canada, in 1857. John and Barbara were married Oct. 2,1877, by Rev. Stephen Foerster, brother of the groom. The following year their first child, Mary, was born. One year later, Stephe.i was born. In 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schnieder, friends of the Foersters came to Dakota Territory and settled in Walsh County. They wrote to the Foersters about the free land. In 1881, the Foersters sold their property in Demerton, Ont. Leaving Mary with Grandma Huebschwerlen, they and Stephen left for Dakota Territory. They arrived by train in Grand Forks, AprU 3, 1881. From here they came by oxen to the Schnieder home at Minto. One month later, their third chUd, John, Jr., was born, while they were at the Schnieder home. Mr. Foerster selected the land he later filed on, five mUes northeast of Conway. Since he was otherwise employed, he hired John Raster to buUd a 14x16 foot shack for him. The lumber was hauled from Grand Forks by oxen. They moved into their new home in June, 1881. They Uved for several weeks in the shack with no doors or windows in the openings. Mrs. Foerster said she had never seen such a bed as her husband buUt. It was 12 feet long and six people could easUy sleep in it. Straw mattresses and feather ticks were used on it. The feather ticks had been brought from Germany by Mrs. Foerster's mother. Foerster was an expert shot. He could shoot a hawk circUng high in the sky. In 1881, he shot 75 prairie chickens and 25 ducks. These were much better than the smoked pork they had brought from Canada. Foerster began breaking sod on his land, but was unable to get it ready by planting time. Mr. Schnieder gave him permission to plant potatoes on his land among the trees. He prepared the land with a hoe. He bought seven bushels of potatoes. The eyes were cut out of the potatoes and planted. The potatoes were kept for food. That faU he harvested 85 bushels of potatoes, which he dug with a pick. By planting time of 1882, he had 30 acres of his land ready for seeding. Their fourth child, Fred, was bom in 1882 and a fifth chUd, Joe, in 1884.

The Grahams, Millers ana Callaghans all moved from Walsh County early in the century, the Grahams to western North Dakota. It is said that Josie, the wife of Senator Quentin Burdick, is a descendant of Mary Ellen Fee, who married Thomas Graham. WilUam Henry Fee is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Minto. Three of his daughters married men named Kennedy. Mrs. JuUan Wysocki, who lived near Minto with her family, untU recently, is one of his many great grandchUdren, others were Harold and Clyde Kennedy, formerly of Minto, and Henry Kennedy, Grand Forks. Charles Fee, Veseleyville, is a descendant of this Une and the head of the only remaining Fee family in Walsh County. Mrs. O'Keefe was one of the older sisters and by the time of the move to Dakota she had several adult sons, one of whom was a doctor in Minto for several years before moving to Grand Forks. Another son, John, was one of the early settlers in CavaUer. John later became coUector of customs in Pembina in 1933. Thomas, stiU another son, was the grandfather of Mrs. Wallace Goulet and also Mrs. Rene French, both of Grafton. The late C. J . O'Keefe, Crystal, was a grandson of this Fee girl, who married an O'Keefe. Judge James O'Keefe, Grafton, is a descendant of this line. James Cayley, the auctioneer, was well known around Grafton untU his death in 1948, where his widow, Alyce, Uves now. Catherine Fee Cayley also has a grandson in CavaUer. No one else by that name lives in Walsh County.

Mrs. Foerster helpea with aU the farm work. She sewed all the chUdren's clothing from material Mr. Foerster would bring from Canada when he went to visit his brother. Oct. 6, 1885, sorrow befeU the Foerster famUy when Mary, then six years old, died, while still Uving with Grandma in Canada. A sixth child, WiUiam, was bom in 1886; in 1887, Peter; and in 1888, the eighth child, Andrew, was born. Andrew died when three days old. In 1889, a new home was buUt on the homestead, connected to the original shack, used for a wood shed. In 1890, the Foersters had their ninth chUd, Charles,

THOMAS F E E Thomas Fee was bom at Lindsay, Ont. He came to Minto in 1882, fiUng on land in Ops Township. In 1882, he married Sharlot Magoroty. They had three boys and three girls - Herbert, Oscar, Kate, Mary, EUzabeth and Thomas, Jr. He fanned in Ops Township until 1907, then lived in Minto. He buUt many schools and township offices, the Catholic Church. 513

followed by Annie in 1892, Frank in 1893, Katie in 1896, and Mary, the second, in 1898, She was named after her sister, who died in 1885. Mr. Foerster served on the school board of the Burris School where the Foerster children attended. In 1905, the Soo Railroad came through Ops Township. Sometime later, Mr. Foerster bought an elevator here. He owned and operated this for many years. After he retired, his son, WilUam, took over. The Foersters were, and still are, members of St. Mark's Church of Conway. Mr. Foerster and the boys were great hunters as these pictures wUl show. Mr. and Mrs. Foerster remained on the farm until 1928, then moved to Conway. Three of the boys, WUliam, Charles, and Frank, stayed on the farm for some time. Frank and his bride lived there for several years before moving to Conway. Mr. Foerster died in 1936, his wife in 1940. Three of the original famUy remain. Charles, Grafton; Frank, Conway and Katie on a farm in rural Forest River where she has lived since 1926. Katie married Frank Chromy July 8,1919. They had three chUdren, Francis, Rose Marie, and WUliam. Mr. Chromy died in 1967. Katie never strayed far from the old homestead. It stUl stands down the road lv* miles. Though weathered and worn, it stands proud. Its wall still may echo the sound of love, laughter and sorrow of a pioneer family who braved the wUderness and helped settle the Dakota Territory. Submitted by Katie Foerster Chromy and Francis and Naomi Chromy.

The John Foerster Family. Left to right: Mary, Mother, Katie, Peter, Father, Annie. Rear: Stephen, Joe, Frank, Charles, William, Johnny. JOHN HENNESSEY FAMILY The John Hennesseys came to the Forest River area in 1892 from Rushford, Minn., with four of their oldest chUdren, John, Edward, Bernard, and Elizabeth. Four more chUdren were bom after they arrived here, Joe, Leo, Charles, and Sara. In 1905, they moved to Ops Township, where they Uved until 1929, when they moved to Conway. Mr. Hennessey had been a lumberjack in Minnesota, so he found adjusting to the North Dakota prairie difficult. His nickname was "Frosty" because he had pure white hair at the age of 18.

Mrs. Ann Hennessey died in October, 1932, and John Hennessey in April, 1936. The son, Edward, was the first boy from Walsh County to be killed in World War I. Submitted by Mrs. Henry Sobolik. JAMES MALONE James Malone came from Ontario to Dakota Territory in 1881. He filed on land five miles northwest of Forest River and buUt a house there. A few months later, he was joined by Mrs. Malone (Margaret Callahan) and two children. Mr. and Mrs. Malone farmed and Uved on the farm all of their Uves. They raised a family of eleven chUdren, namely - Lawrence, Margaret, Cornelius, John, EUzabeth, Jane, James, Patrick, Richard, Annstasia, and Mark. JERRY MURRAY Jerry Murray arrived in Dakota Territory in 1880 from Kingston, Ont., and filed on a homestead in Ops Township, where he estabUshed a home. His only sister, Mary Ann Murray, joined him shortly thereafter and remained for a couple of years. Upon her departure, Mr. Murray returned to his former home in Kingston and to BelvUle, Ont., nearby, where he married Julia O'NeU. They had a daughter, Helen Agnes, and a son, Patrick Joseph. They rented their land after a few years and moved to Minto where they buUt a home. They wanted to be near a school. Helen Agnes married Maurice Lambertus. Their famUy consisted of two daughters and five sons. Patrick Joseph married Kathryn Costello, they had two daughters and a son. Submitted by Mrs. P. J. Murray. THOMAS AND MARY O'KEEFE In 1886, Thomas O'Keefe and his wife, Mary CaUahan, and sons, John and WUUam, moved by horsedrawn wagon from Perth, Ont., to settle on a homestead two miles south and three mUes west of Voss. Mr. and Mrs. O'Keefe and sons brought with them the mere necessities of Ufe, some of which were tools for buUding, plow, two cows, cooking equipment and some extra clothing. Once there, they broke the ground and buUt a log cabin, which was their home for nearly ten years. In the years after their arrival on the homestead, children born to the famUy were Ethel, EUzabeth, Mary, Charles, Carl, Francis, Bridget and Hilary. The sons joined their father in farming, with the exception of Francis, who went away to school and became a teacher. Mrs. Thomas O'Keefe died at 42 years of age, shortly after the birth of their son, Francis. The family remained on the farm until age forced Mr. O'Keefe to retire and spend his remaining years with his daughter, Mary, in Grafton. Mr. O'Keefe died in Grafton in 1933 and is interred in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Minto. JOHN PHALEN FAMILY John Phalen and his wife, Catherine, came to Fisher's Landing in 1881 from Pembrook, Ont. They lived and farmed in Ops Township. Andrew Phalen, son of John and Catherine, was married to PhUomen Dougherty in 1897. They Uved on the

farm where his father homesteaded until March, 1927, when they moved to Grand Forks where they resided until their deaths. The couple had two sons and two daughters: Gertrude (Mrs. Earl Dunlop), Mabel (Mrs. William Shepherd), John S. and Adrian. The family attended St. Mark's Church of Conway. Submitted by Mrs. Earl Dunlop (Gertrude Phalen).

death Nov. 5,1924. His wife stayed and operated the farm with the youngest son, Joseph Schanilec, who owns and operates the farm at the present time.

ASA SAUVIE Asa Sauvie married Cathryn Sv/eeney. They came from eastern Canada in the early 1880's. They traveled by train to Detroit, Mich. Later, they came to Dakota Territory and bought the SE /. of Section 34, Township 155, Range 151 (Ops Township). They didn't have any household goods, machinery or livestock. There were eight children, Jennie, Annie, Guy, Silas, Susie, Edith, Lloyd and Leo. The oldest girl, Jennie, was born in Canada and lives in North Battleford, Sask. She is 93 and has a family of 11 children, all in Canada. Asa's family all attended school in District No. 8. All were confirmed at the Catholic church at Conway. Asa died in 1901, Cathryn in 1937. Submitted by Silas Sauvie. 1

Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Schanilec (Anna Kouba) HERMAN C. SCHANILEC FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Herman C. Schanilec The Asa Sauvie farm. Asa Sauvie and daughter, Susie, in the garden. Left to right: Jennie, Annie, Mrs. Sauvie, and Edith by the house. In the wagon, Guy, Silas, and a cousin. The man in the wagon in the background is Jim Labine.

Herman Schanilec was bom April 1, 1900, on the farm home of his father, Frank J. Schanilec. He attended the grade school in that area and through his early years helped on the farm until he married Emma Votava Oct. 30,1923. They moved to another farm purchased by his father in 1906 from Frank and Bridget O'Keefe. This was located in Ops Township, the NE Vt of Section 10. Herman and Emma had six children: Genevieve, Eugene, Herman, Ernest, Vernon and Connie. He was a member of St. Luke's Catholic Church at Veseleyville, school treasurer for 35 years, a township supervisor for 27 years, and a director of the Minto Co-op Oil Company for 15 years. He retired from farming in 1962 and moved to Minto. He is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Catholic Workmen Lodge, the Knights of Columbus, and the Walsh County Historical Society and is current vice president of the Minto Museum. He is a director of the Bank of Minto and the Minto Housing Development Program and also director of the Walsh County Mutual Insurance Co., a position he's held for 22 years. In September, 1974, his daughter, Connie McDonald, and daughter-in-law, Joyce Schanilec, took a trip to Czechoslovakia. They found the homestead in

FRANK J. SCHANILEC Frank J. Schanilec came to Dakota Territory in May of 1886 with his parents, Matt and Marie Schanilec. He was born July 2, 1867, in Hurce, near Tabor, Czechoslovakia, 70 miles from Prague. He attended church in a nearby village called Jistebnice. Frank had three brothers and one sister. The family settled on a Walsh County homestead, the NWy of Section 10. Later, his parents and brothers and sister moved to another location and Frank took over the homestead. 4

He married Anna Kouba July 18, 1892. They had six children, Martha, Frank, Helen, Herman, Anna and Joseph. Frank was a member of St. Luke's Catholic Church in Veseleyville. He was a member of the Catholic Workman's Lodge and was active in the church and Lodge activities. Frank farmed the homestead until his 515

Drahnetice where his grandfather, Matt Schanilec, was born and raised, and the town of Jistebnice where his father was baptized. They met several relatives, including two second cousins, Jan Schanelec (spelling is correct) and Maria Schanelec Rychla, who is six days older than Herman. Herman is presently corresponding with several relatives in Czechoslovakia. Herman and Emma Schanilec celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 30, 1973.

SAMUEL WILSON FAMILY Samuel Wilson was born Feb. 2,1851, at Paisley, Ont. He married Maria McNichol June 5, 1875. The couple and their two small sons came to the Red River Valley in 1880, settling first on a homestead near Minto. Later, they homesteaded again in Ops Township. Samuel Wilson was interested in public affairs and assisted in organizing Ops Township and the township school. In 1916, the couple retired and moved into Forest River. Mrs. Wilson died Oct. 27,1922. Mr. Wilson resided in Winnipeg until ill health prompted him to return to live the last two years with his son, John. He died Oct. 22, 1935. A son, Edwin, was born June 12, 1876. He married Sarah Wilson Sept. 18, 1906, and made his home in Seattle, Wash., where he was a policeman for 27 years. They had no children. Edwin died May 17, 1954, and Sarah died March 24, 1959. The youngest son, John, was born June 30, 1878, married Barbara Wilson March 11,1903. John farmed the home place until his death March 13,1962. Barbara died March 24, 1959. One daughter, Edna, was born. Now Mrs. Anthony Foerster, she still resides on the original homestead of Samuel Wilson. Submitted by Mrs. Anthony Foerster.

MATT SCHANILEC FAMILY Matt (Matej) Schanilec was born March 13,1845, in a little village called Drahnetice near Tabor, Czechoslovakia, about 70 miles south of Prague. He attended school and church in a nearby village called Jistebnice. He married Marie Bares Nov. 8, 1869. They had five children: Frank, Maried, John, Joseph, and Wences. When Matt was 41, his brother, John, paid him his share of the home farm and with the money, he brought his family to America. They came to Walsh County in May, 1886, and took up a homestead in Ops Township. Later, they moved to a different location. The original homestead was taken over by the oldest son, Frank J. Schanilec. Matt had the skill of making baskets from rye straw and strips of bark of willow trees. The baskets were all done by hand and were practically indestructible. He died in Pisek Dec. 28, 1918.

John A. Wilson Farm in Ops Twp. 1909. Left to right are: Sam Wilson, John Wilson (Ardoch), John A. Wilson, holding his daughter, Edna [Mrs. Anthony Foerster], Mrs. Sam Wilson, Mrs. John Wilson, Mrs. John A. Wilson, and Mrs. Richard Newell. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Schanilec (Maria Bares)

JOSEPH ZIDON FAMILY Joseph Zidon was born Dec. 31,1850, in Austria, the son of Frank Zidon and Marie Sitta. Barbara Kavza was born Jan. 2,1846, in Libejice, Czechoslovakia. Joseph and Barbara were married in Czechoslovakia in May, 1876. In the old country, Joseph did some mason work and had a small farm. They decided to sell their farm in Czechoslovakia and came to America with six small children. They came on a steamship, Augusta Victoria, arriving in New York in August, 1889. They had $190 to begin in the new country. Joseph got his citizenship papers on Nov. 30, 1890, and lived in Ops and Prairie Centre Townships. His first earnings here were from stone masonry at St. Luke's parish in Veseleyville. Then they farmed in Ops Township.

Herman C. Schanilec doing chores on his father's farm [1916]. 5U

Their six children were: Joseph, bom Sept. 3, 1878. He married Josephine Capouch and had four children, Joseph, Frank, Agnes and Rose. John was born Dec. 27, 1880. He never married. Anton, born Jan. 14, 1883, married Martha Schanilec and had seven children: Martha, Steven, Edythe, Herman, Marie, Tony and Ann. Marie, born Jan. 11, 1885, married Frank Cervenka and

had eight children: Frank, Mary, Clement, Helen, Margaret, Adolph, Stanley and Joseph. Josephine, born March 18, 1887, married Stanley Melcer and had six children: Josephine, Bertha, Staley, Lucy, Marie and Joseph. Barbara, born April 17, 1889, married Michael Wavrik and had four children: Michael, Barbara, Stanley and Rudolph.

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Sam Wilson Farm in 1895. Three horses on the binder. Well being drilled.

WALSH CENTRE TOWNSHIP History Of Voss Walsh Centre Township was organized in 1882. The first post office at what was to be Voss was established Nov. 23, 1888. Frank E. Volachek was the first postmaster. The land on which Voss is situated was homesteaded by A. P. Heram, who platted the site in November, 1892. Voss was never incorporated as a village. According to information gathered from some of the pioneers, the original name of the town was "Piano," but there was a duplication and the name was changed. A farmer named A. P. Herom said the place reminded him of his hometown of Voss, Norway, and thus Voss became the new name. The Northern Pacific Railroad was built through Voss in 1887. At one time there were four grain elevators. Some were destroyed by fire and others dismantled. One large grain buying station now takes care of the farmers' grain, the Voss Grain Company. A. J. Lutovsky took over the management of the elevator when he returned from the service in World War I, in the twenties. He is still a resident, though retired.

W. J. Kniprath started a general store when the town was started and continued in the business until his death in the thirties. Joseph Soutor operated the store until a few years ago. The building was used as a garage since. There was a line of business places running east of the store, which were mostly cheap buildings and are gone now. There was Ignas Soutor Tailoring Shop, a bank which lasted a short time and, further back, a drug store operated by an O'Keefe. A garage owned by Stan Barta stUl stands. On the south side of the street was a large general store and implement business. This store changed hands many times and was finally sold and moved away. The implement business was an establishment which did a large amount of business in selling farm machinery. Voss was always well supplied with blacksmith shops. One of the first was Tom Facey's place, then came a blacksmith named Kolak and last was Charles Chuck who operated a shop. As with most pioneer towns, there 517

School District No. 101 was located in the southeast corner of Section 10. In 1892, Miss Margaret McGlinch was the teacher. President of the school board was Joseph Votava, H. C. Kellog was the treasurer and Joseph Votava assumed duties as clerk.

were some shady liquor establishments called "blind pigs" - any old tar paper shack served the purpose. The north side of Voss was platted out with streets and quite a number of residences were erected. They are mostly gone now. The Woodman Lodge erected a large hall at the east end of town which took care of the social life of the community. There were weekly dances and wedding receptions held in the hall and the traveling shows made use of the place. It was always used as a town hall and for township elections. The township elections were spirited in the early days. Among the pioneer residents' names were Nick Welter, W. J. Kniprath, Jack Johnston, Tom Facey, A. P. Herom, Peacoler, Scorheim, Scribner, Campbell, Soutor, Sobolik, Walter Johnson - the depot agent, Barta, Peterka, Houdek and O'Neal. When potato and sugar beet growing were introduced in the valley, Voss at once became a major potato and beet shipping center. The huge potato warehouses built by Bjorneby, Tibert, and Barta companies have been an asset to the town. For many years Voss was the site of a sugar beet shipping station. At one time a lumber yard was in operation across the railroad from the depot, but it did not operate for long. The last few years several new residences were built in Voss and older ones remodeled. Running water has been brought into the town and the community has taken on new life.

BIOGRAPHIES JAMES COSTELLO James Costello, Sr., came to Grand Forks from Ottawa, Canada, in 1897. He arrived at Fisher's Landing by boat. He was among the early group of pioneers to homestead land in Walsh Centre Township and established a home there. Two years later, he married Miss Mary Gallagher, who came here from Ireland to be with relatives who had established a home here. Mr. and Mrs. Costello had four daughters, Jeanne, Ada, Mabel and Kathryn, and a son, James, Jr. Their grandchildren were William J. Murray, Reinette Murray Webb, Elaine Murray Brown, Howard J . DuRocher, Iris DuRocher Brown, Francis Callahan, Glenn Callahan, Ada Mae Seebart, and one grandson, James L. Morin, deceased. James Costello, Sr., was interested in the School District No. 38 and served on the board. He was interested in the Democratic party. The family attended St. Patrick's Church at Minto. Submitted by Mrs. P. J. Murray.

Pioneer farmers of the Voss area included Kennedys, O'Keefes, Coffeys, Kellys' Tim Reese, J. R. Thompson, Evan Evans, Jacob Nelsons, Peoples, Roses, McEachern, Robert and other McCanns. V. Koehmstedts, Follets, Herom, O'Reillys, Welters, Soutors, Costellos, Leslies, Cayleys and Glenns. Submitted by Francis Koehmstedt.

EVAN EVANS FAMILY Evan Evans came to Chicago from Oslo, Norway, in 1882, leaving behind his wife, the former Julia Larson, and a daughter, Elevina. He worked for the railroad in Chicago for a time. In 1883, he came to Minto by railroad, where he had a brother, Otto. He filed a homestead claim in Walsh Centre Township. Mr. Evans then sent for his wife and daughter. They lived in a one-room house. Three other children were born, Bertha, Elgin and Julia. Elgin served in World War I, was killed in November, 1918. In 1893, Mrs. Evans died. In 1895, Evan married Anne Hjelden. She had come from Romsdalen, Norway. They had six sons, Harold, John, Edward and Anton (twins), Rudolf and Leonard, and a daughter, Ellen. Evan Evans acquired more land in Walsh Centre. He was a successful farmer. He retired in 1934. He was a member of the Lutheran church and a staunch Republican. He also served on the township board.

Voss blacksmith shop, about 1917. Chuck Witig was the last blacksmith.

FINK FAMILY Andrew Fink, born in Alsace, France, on July 27, 1826, and his lovely bride, Margaretha Wendell, also born in Alsace, June 3, 1828, immigrated to Ontario in about 1846. They spent a few years in Walsh County and then went on to homestead near Hebron, Nebr. They had seven children. Theresa (1852-1932) married John Sengin, Lawrence (1855-1934) married Susanna Hamm, had nine children. Mary (1858-1946) married Valentine Koehmstedt and had five children. Margaretha (18601906) was unmarried. Andrew (1864-1944) married Mary Mustain (born in 1878). She is still living in Missouri and is called "Aunt Mary Ellen." They had three children. Peter Fink (1866-1943) married Dorothy Burbach and

SCHOOL DISTRICTS School District No. 16 was located in Voss in Section 28. In 1892, the school board president was K. T. Fallet, the clerk was George A. Glenn and the treasurer was G. H. Wippler. The teacher was Clara Fallet. School District No. 80 was located in the southwest corner of Section 16. The first teacher was Elizabeth Baker in 1886. Records from 1892 show Miss Clara Yarnes as the teacher. President of the school board was Evan Evans, R. W. Peoples was the clerk and William Hilloby was the treasurer. 518

This family of Lawrence and Susanna Fink in 1901 filed homestead claims to a farm near Minto. It was the enlarged Homestead Act passed by congress which helped farmers to acquire a 320 acre farm, and Lawrence Fink took advantage of this. Later they sold that farm and moved and settled down on a farm six miles north of Minto. He painted his big bam a bright red and in large white letters printed " L . Fink Farm" and for many years that farm was a landmark in the area. Besides being a farmer, Lawrence was an excellent carpenter and did a great deal of his own building/The family still has one of the little chairs which he made. His son, Roy, remembers that when he was three years old, his father had a yoke of oxen which he used for his farm work and also for transportation. They cost less than horses and were more adapted to the hard rugged pioneer life. When the family moved to Minto, his daughter Mary says, only their mother and Margaret and Andrew went on the train. The rest of the children went with their father to help drive the cattle and horses which pulled the machines and the wagons that carried all of their belongings. The train referred to was the Great Northern Railway, which had been completed from the Red River Valley to Canada in 1881.

had seven children. Lidwina Fink, unmarried, may have died young. Lawrence Fink, the oldest son of Andrew and Margaretha Fink, came back to Dakota Territory and settled in the Olga region where he met and married Susanna Hamm (1857-1936) on July 12, 1886, in Olga. They began farming near Olga but in 1870 they moved to a farm near Mt. Carmel and homesteaded there. While they lived at Olga, a daughter, Theresa Barbara, was born April 17, 1887. She married Jim Murphy (1875-1937) and is now living at St. Anne's Guest Home in Grand Forks, after raising her family of seven boys and one girl.

Next, a son arrived, Roy Andrew, Dec. 26, 1888, a great Christmas gift. He married Isabella Meyer (born in 1894) and they live in Sidney, Mont., after raising 12 beautiful children. The remainder of the family were born on the farm near Mt. Carmel, North Dakota. Mary Ann, born Sept. 24,1890, was married to John Olmstead (1887-1963) and had a family of five boys and five girls. Two daughters of this family are Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Sister Merona and Sister Anne Charlene. Mary Ann is now living at a Rehabilitation Center in Wahpeton. Rosalie Mary arrived March 4,1892, and was married to Ernest Desautels (1885-1952), and had a family of eleven children. She died Aug. 25, 1969. Another son, Lawrence Andrew, was born on Sept. 23, 1893. He married Nora Cahill and they have one daughter who is a Sister of Charity, Sister Madonna Fink. Lawrence is now a retired farmer and lives with his wife in Sidney, Mont.

Mrs. Lawrence Fink (Susanna Hamm) Lawrence Fink, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fink Grandpa Lawrence Fink was a farsighted man and welcomed every new invention and every mark of progress. He was the power behind many good movements and new ideas that made for progress for these early pioneers. He delighted in seeing the "little man" get his fair share or even get ahead. One of his greatest concerns was the church in the Dakota Territory. He encouraged progress from every angle that he could and was rewarded when the Benedictine Fathers from Collegeville, Minn., built many Catholic missions and sent priests to minister to the people of the area. The Church spread so that by 1916 there were 352 churches and 95,857 members in that area.

Aaron Andrew was born next on Aug. 4 1895. He married Emma Corda and they have no children. He and Emma also live in Sidney, Mont. Albert Andrew Fink was born May 8, 1897. He served his country in both World Wars and is now retired in Wahpeton. Margaret Elizabeth Fink was born June 23, 1898, and has been in the service of the church all her life. She has been a priest's housekeeper for over 50 years and is presently in Carrington with Father Preske. Andrew Roy, the youngest in the family, was born Jan. 30, 1901. He married Clara Klimek, Nov. 24,1926, at Wimbledon, and they had ten children. The oldest girl, Lois, is a Presentation Sister, Sister Clarella. Andrew died Jan. 14, 1966.

The first school building in the region was built in 1885. The school term at that time was six months of the summer and the average attendance for many children was only 84 days because many of them were needed to work on the farms. The Fink family can recall the long, cold winters when they were isolated because of the severe blizzards. At times there was heavy loss of livestock and lack of fuel. However, weather permitting, they had good times too, such as the farmers getting together for cornhusking, quilting bees, and especially for barn dances. The farmers depended on each other for many things. 519

They were charter members of Grafton Lutheran Church. Their son, Anders, died July 19, 1893. Mother Rangdi died Sept. 30, 1894. Their son, John, later took over the farming. He married Lise Antonson, also from Hadland, Norway. They had seven sons and two daughters: Rangvald, Alvin, Andrew, Julia, Gilman, Laurence, Tillie, Otto and Milo. Brede made his home with them until his death June 14, 1914. Submitted by Henry Larson.

In writing about Lawrence Fink, his nephew, Francis Koehmstedt, said he knew that his uncle was a very hard worker, a successful farm manager and a prominent member of St. Patrick's Church in Minto. A grandchild, recalling an incident of her childhood, tells about her cousin having a radio. It was at the time when radios had just come out. The whole family was visiting together and her grandfather took time to let each one listen with the earphones to the new radio. It was a great new invention and he wanted to share it. Another grandchild remembers very clearly when as a small child the family had moved to Minto and they had stopped in to see them after Mass. In getting into the high buggy, her foot slipped off the little foot fender and before she knew it, her Grandpa had caught her, lifted her into the buggy and said they shouldn't make buggies with such high foot fenders for children. He was always interested in making new and better ways of doing things. In the very early days on the Olga farm, Lawrence Fink planted his seeds by hand and harvested with a sickle. He later used a cradle and threshed with a flail. Water mills ground the wheat into flour and when the harvesting was finished, they cut wood, and went hunting to lay in provisions for the long, hard winter. With the coming of automobiles in the 1920's, things in North Dakota began to pick up. New and better roads were built which reduced isolation and knitted farms and towns together. Trade was expanded, mail service was greatly improved, and best of all, better education facilities were available for country children. Lawrence Fink's parents, Andrew Fink and Margaretha Wendell, can boast of a family tree with over 675 members. This family tree was constructed and all the information was gathered by Mrs. Albert Fink, wife of Albert Fink of Hebron, Nebr., who is the son of Peter Fink, Andrew Fink and Margaretha Wendell's third son. Lawrence Fink has members of his family spread over all the fifty states of the United Sates and that is what he would have loved to live to see. He truly k>ved his God, his church, his family, his fellowmen, and his country. He is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Minto, beside his wife, Susanna Hamm.

THOMAS KERIAN

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kerian (Eleanore Voyek). Taken in the early 1890's. Thomas Kerian was 14 years old whenhe came to the Red River Valley in 1881. He and his mother, Marie Kerian, were part of a group of farm folks who came from Spillville, Calmar, and Protivin, Iowa, after repeated crop failures due to drought and the infestation of chinch bugs. Thomas was the youngest of the Kerian family. His father died just before Thomas was born. He had two older brothers, Jim and Frank, and two sisters, Katherine and Madeline, and two half-sisters, Marie and (name unknown, later Mrs. Humpal). He often told of two half-brothers (his father remarried after the death of his first wife) whom he never knew, but who had taken part in the Civil War and lost their lives in the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, and are buried in the National Cemetery there. Jim and Frank, who were likely already married, joined a group of "hopefuls" and arrived here in the spring of 1880. In the fall of the next year, young Thomas and his mother came with another group.

JORGENSON FAMILY Brede Jorgenson was born in Hadland, Norway, Oct. 14,1830. There he married Rangdi Gutormson who was born Oct. 2,1827. He learned the shoemaker trade while in Norway. They had five children, three died in infancy. With their two sons, Anders and John, they immigrated to America in 1877. Crossing the Atlantic by sailing ship, they settled in Fillmore County, Minn., where they farmed three years. Here the grasshoppers ate almost everything, including fence posts. In the spring of 1880, they came to the Red River Valley in a covered wagon. There were five or six covered wagons in the train. Some had horses. Brede Jorgenson had oxen. He homesteaded in Walsh Centre Township. The sod was broken with a walking plow and four oxen. About one acre could be broken in a day. Since the railroad did not reach Grafton until 1881, Brede walked to Minto for groceries. They built a 16' by 14' sod house. The walls were several feet thick. Here they farmed and prospered, buying more land a few years later.

Thomas, among the younger members of the group walked with other young folks most of the way from Iowa to North Dakota. Their job was to guide several head of cattle and keep them in line so as not to stray away from the "wagon train." There were horses, but they needed them to pull the wagons, and the older men were needed to drive them as even this was no easy task. Men on horseback were "scouts" — going ahead to find the best places to camp for the night, best places to cross rivers or coulees, or come through wooded areas. The young folks many times drove the cattle across these shallow waters, walking barefoot and up to their waists in the water. He often told his family how clear and clean and drinkable these river waters were. 520

Young Thomas with his mother and other relatives and friends arrived here to find more disappointment and hardship. Thomas was too young to file a claim. Those that had come earlier were battling their own hardships and difficulties and it is supposed he joined in to help his brothers. In later years, he often related to his own family how, because they arrived so late in the fall, there was no time or material to build a house, so they constructed a "sod shanty," and while it was being built, they had turned a wagon box upside down and used this as "home." The sod shanty provided some protection but it was often told how snow would blow in and often in the morning, a pile of snow was found on the blankets. Often, after a bad storm, the snow would be even with the roof or piled against the door, making it necessary to "shovel out" before they could go out to look after the stock. Later there were lumber mills along the river, and lumber was traded for or purchased to build a better shack with wood floors and walls, and also better shelters for the livestock and horses. Supplies were often hard to get. Much of the meat was wild game, and fish also provided many a good meal. Through the relatives who came here from the same places in Iowa, young Thomas met and married FJeanore Voyek of Decorah (near Spillville) Iowa. Theirs was among the first marriages performed in the newly established St. Luke's Catholic Church in Veseleyville, with Rev. Joseph Bartik officiating. Jacob Chromy and Ignatius Votava witnessed their marriage on Nov. 18,1890. Mrs. Marie Kerian, his mother, died in 1893, and was buried in the Veseleyville Church cemetery where her gravestone still stands. Little is known about the early years of the young couple except that the winters were hard, the times were tough. They did farm mostly in the Walsh Center and Harriston Townships where all the other relatives and friends lived. In 1904, after many attempts to file claim for land, Thomas Kerian did file for a quarter of land near Dickinson, but due to the foreseeable hardship of moving his growing family, he had to give it up. By 1905, six children were born to the couple - Mary, William, Lillian, George, Louis, and Harriet. They finally made their home in Harriston Township north of Minto, from where the children grew up and attended country school in District No. 60, three miles east and five miles south of Grafton. Keeping his family fed and clothed was often a problem and his family still remembers how "Dad" made hay in the summer and fall, and then in the cold stormy winters, sold and delivered hay to livery stables and also to many folks who kept a cow or two, in the town of Grafton. Often, with no roads, huge snow drifts along the way would cause the load to topple over, and he had to re-load the hay several times before arriving in Grafton. Family members also recall seeing on the farmyard (in about 1910), what was described as the original "horsepower." It was a huge wheel with gears along the edge, fitted to gears on a pinion. The pinion would be set into motion by hitching a horse onto a drawbar affixed to the wheel and driving the horse around and around, making the pinion turn and provide power for whatever use was required — mostly to pump water and to grind feed for the livestock. This was used to about 1904 or 1905. In about 1917, just a year before their son George gave his life in the service of his country, the family built

a new house and established a homestead in Walsh Centre Township, about 4% miles away, on a quarter of land purchased from Thomas' brother, Jim Kerian. FJeanore, Thomas' wife, died in 1936, and he continued living there until his death in 1947. He left the farm to his surviving sons and today it is still owned and cherished by one of them. Thomas Kerian was a good business man. He always kept records and served on the school board and in other places of trust. He would read the newspaper from one end to the other and retained most of what he read. His last few years, he found great pleasure in visiting with friends and talking over both old times and the new conditions. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kerian.

ALPHONSE LAURANCE KOEHMSTEDT Alphonse Laurance Koehmstedt was born at Minto on Aug. 2,1898. His parents were Valentine Koehmstedt and Mary Fink. He was of German and French descent and of the Catholic faith. He completed eight years of education. Alphonse spent most of his life as a farmer. He also served as a township assessor. Valentine married Lucille Kopecky in Milwaukee, Wise., Oct. 20, 1947.

Alphonse Koehmstedt, two years old, photograph by Vernon Studio of Minto. CHARLES PETER KOEHMSTEDT Charles Peter Koehmstedt was born at Minto Sept. 23, 1890. His parents were Valentine and Mary A. Fink Koehmstedt. He is of German and French descent and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He completed eighth grade and two winter terms at North Dakota State University. He became a farmer and also did some work as an electrician.. CLARA KOEHMSTEDT Clara Koehmstedt was born at Minto on Aug. 24, 1888. Her parents were Valentine Koehmstedt and Mary Fink. She was of German and French descent and a member of the Catholic faith. She completed the eighth grade and became a music teacher. She married John Shill at Gull Lake, Sask., in 1913. They lived in North Dakota and in Canada. She died March 14,1933, and is buried at Balcarres, Sask.

Mrs. Koehmstedt's father, Andrew Fink, purchased a quarter section in the same township from Robert and Ida Pomranke and returned to Missouri. Mr. Koehmstedt rented this farm until 1910, when he purchased it. He also purchased a quarter section of school land next to the homestead. Mr. Koehmstedt was interested in church affairs. In the beginning, he walked 11 miles to Warsaw for Sunday Mass. He helped organize St. Patrick's parish and served as its treasurer the last 46 years of his life. He shared with Father John W. Considine many pioneer experiences. He was interested in politics and helped many candidates seeking office. He made a specialty of raising seed grains. He was first in his community to mechanize the farmyard chores, using horse power to elevate grain, grind feed, saw wood and clean seed grain. In 1909 he replaced the horse power with a gasoline engine and added more conveniences, including some of the household chores. Mr. and Mrs. Koehmstedt made it a rule never to refuse a meal or lodging to anyone in need. Many a wayfarer could have testified towards their generosity. They had five children, Clara, Charles, Joseph, Francis and Alphonse. Mr. Koehmstedt died in 1934, his wife in 1946, Clara in 1932, Joseph in 1953 and another son died in infancy. (The other sons survive and operate the farm as of Aug. 22, 1973.) Three grandsons, Joseph, Francis, Jr., and Patrick Koehmstedt now operate the farm.

FRANCIS VALENTINE KOEHMSTEDT Francis Valentine Koehmstedt was born on Jan. 16, 1895, at Minto. His parents were Valentine Koehmstedt and Mary Fink. He is of German and French descent and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Francis completed eighth grade and took up the profession of farming. He married Amelia Isabel Langowski at Minto on April 3, 1940. They had six children: Joseph Daniel, Elisabeth Jean, Francis Johnathan, Patrick Valentine, Peter, and Beverly Ann. JOSEPH PATRICK KOEHMSTEDT Joseph Patrick Koehmstedt was born at Minto on March 18, 1893. His parents were Valentine Koehmstedt and Mary A. Fink. He was of German and French descent and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He completed eight years of schooling and became a farmer, residing at Minto and Crystal. He held school, township and village offices. Joseph Patrick Koehmstedt died March 16,1953, and is buried at Minto. MR. AND MRS. VALENTINE KOEHMSTEDT

KOUBA FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Koehmstedt, Sept. 14, 18M, at Olga, N. Dak. on their wedding day. Valentine Koehmstedt was born in Struth, Prussia, Germany, in 1857. In 1886, at nine, he emigrated with his parents, brothers and sister to Mildmay, Ont. In the spring of 1880 he arrived in Grand Forks. From there, he walked to his brother Lawrence's home, southwest of Minto. When he arrived at the site of what is now Man vel, he waded across the Turtle River in water waist deep. He and his companions came to a new settler's shack which was already filled. He slept that night in a haystack in freezing weather. He homesteaded in Walsh Centre Township where he was to reside until his death, except for some time in the first years when he worked in brick yards in Grand Forks. In 1885 he married Mary Fink of Mount Carmel, whom he knew in Mildmay, but who lived some years in Marysville, Mo. They were married at Olga by Father C. St. Pierre. Their honeymoon was a buggy ride to their farm home which consisted of a one room building which was moved from Minto.

Frank B. Kouba, his son, Vivion, grandson, Richard, and great-grandson, Jason. The writer of this history is Frank B. Kouba, Grand Forks, the third generation of an all male, all the same last name, six generation, 145 year history. The history begins with my grandfather, Frank Kouba, born May 30, 1830, and his son, Jos. F . Kouba, born March 1, 1858, in what was then called Bohemia, next to the German border. They came to America in 1871 as pioneers, settled near Spillville, la., and farmed there a few years. The crops were not very good as drought and grasshoppers were destroying the crops. In the spring of 1879, my grandfather, Frank Kouba, heard the Dakota Territory was open for homesteading. He came northwest as far as what is now Walsh Centre 522

Township, filing on Section 9-156-53 for himself and Section 3-156-53 for his son, Joseph F. Kouba. This land was located six miles southwest of Grafton. After making arrangements for the homesteading, Grandpa went back to Iowa and made preparations to move to the Dakota Territory. They loaded all their belongings, horses, cattle, machinery and household furniture at Prairie du Chien, la., in two railroad cars. They came as far as what was then called Fisher's Landing, end of the railroad at that time. This is now called Fisher, Minn. When arriving there, Frank Kouba told his son, Joseph F. Kouba, to tell the depot agent that they were willing to leave the best team of horses as security until they had the $105 freight charges as they both were broke and penniless. To their surprise the agent told them to unload their belongings and move to their homestead, and when they had the money, they could pay. They loaded everything on wagons and started on their long rugged prairie journey toward their homestead. The women walked almost all the way in back of the caravan to keep an eye on the cattle, so they wouldn't stray. When they arrived at the Red River, where East Grand Forks now is, there was no bridge across the Red River; but there was a ferry on which they crossed the river and landed at what is now Grand Forks. At that time there were only a handful of business places and a few houses. The caravan again struck across the rugged prairie and many times got stuck in mud up to the axles. It took them four days to make the trip to my grandpa's homestead, June 9, 1879. For their shelter, before they could get lumber to build a house, they turned a wagon box upside down and lived under that. Some pioneers built sod shanties or log shanties where logs were available. The first few years were quite a struggle to try to make a living and to try to break a few acres of sod to raise some feed for their stock and some wheat for flour and for sale, as wheat sold for 40 cents per bushel. In 1871, a family by the name of Reyiecks came also from Bohemia to Chicago. It was at the time of the big Chicago fire that burned about four square miles and the Reyiecks lost all their possessions in that fire. They also came to the Dakota Territory. A few years later, Joseph F. Kouba married one of the Reyleck girls (Barbara). She was a sister to W. W. Reyleck whose name still appears on the Chicago Department Store in Grafton. The Joseph F. Koubas had four sons and four daughters. One of the sons, Frank B. Kouba, is the third generation born on the same homestead and received his education at public schools. On Oct. 11,1920, Frank B. Kouba married Jessie Jelinek and continued farming the homestead on which two sons and one daughter were born. The oldest son is named Vivion, the fourth male generation.

One of the oldest sons is Richard, the fifth Kouba generation. Richard received his education in East Grand Forks. Jan. 25, 1969, he married Jeanette McCabe of Madelia, Minn. March 16,1971, a son, Jason, was born to the Richard Kouba family, the sixth generation, or the writer's great grandson. Four of the all male sue generations are living at the present time, ranging from 82 to four years of age. Submitted by Frank B. Kouba. NELS AND MARIE LARSON

Mrs. Nels [Marie] Larson, taken in 1902. Nels and Marie Larson resided in an area in Gubrandsdalen called From. On May 17,1869, they sailed from Oslo, Norway, to seek a richer life in America. Their destination was LaCross, Wise, where friends would meet them. Due to some misunderstanding, they arrived instead at Zumbrota, Minn. They were befriended by earlier Norwegian settlers and settled in Goodhue County. Their first child was born there in November of the first year. They stayed about 10 years in Minnesota. By 1880, the family had grown to six children: Lena, Louis, Henry, Martin, Mary and Fred. There were reports of better land to the west. Nels and a company of friends came to the Grafton area in 1880 to "scout" the land. They saw not the waving prairie grass they looked for, but a sea of water! Their first look at the Red River Valley's annual spring floods! Upon further investigation, the Larsons decided to move west. In the spring of 1882, the family and all their possessions, including some stock, boarded a train and in due course arrived in Dakota Territory. The first year they stayed with relatives, moving to Fertile Township the next year where they built their own sod house. Three more children joined the family in Walsh County. They were Anna, Mathilda and Levin. Henry's first impression of Grafton as an 8 or 9 year old boy was of the difference between the muddy streets and the streets in the city of Red Wing, Minn., where he had traveled with his father when hauling grain there by oxen. Later on, he recalled, they cut stumps and put them down in the mud, as the first attempt at paving the streets. The children had many jobs in those early days. Two of the hardest were herding the cattle on the prairie — barefoot, and many days were spent in the open fields picking the dry bones of buffalo and gathering them into

Grandpa Frank Kouba died in October, 1922; my father, Joseph F. Kouba, died in September. 1925. The pioneer days were a struggle, but when the depression of the 30's hit, it was also a struggle. The wheat sold for 25 cents per bushel; barley, 11 cents; oats, 9 cents; butter fat, 10 cents per pound; cows for $12 a head; and potatoes, 10 cents per bushel. Labor was 25 cents an hour. Our son, Vivion, received his education in public schools. On July 20,1942, we moved to Grand Forks. July 2, 1946, Vivion married Ethel Gorman, East Grand Forks. They have a family of three sons and three daughters. 523

and hauled the remaining distance to the homestead by horse drawn sleighs. There was a foot of snow on the ground. That spring, 40 acres of wheat was seeded and when harvested, two loads of grain were hauled to Grand Forks and sold at $1.25 per bushel. By December, 1881, the railroad was completed to Grafton and hauling grain to Grand Forks ceased. On March 29, 1892, he married Annie McCann. The couple moved to Stephen, Minn., where they farmed about 10 years. In 1902, they moved back to North Dakota where Mr. McEachern farmed and operated a steam threshing outfit in Walsh Centre Township during the early 1900s. They had two daughters, Ida, Mrs. John R. McCann; and Ruth, Mrs. Byron Boyles. Mr. McEachern was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Lodge at Minto.

piles for burning. (Other historians report that the bones of the buffalo were the first cash crop, as they could be sold for cash.) The bones had to be gathered before the land could be seeded. The bones were said to be the remains of a vast prairie fire years before. There were good memories too, especially of the sweet, wild strawberries which could be had in the summer just for the picking. Nels and Marie lived at the original homesite the rest of their lives. Marie died Feb. 6,1903, at 56. In October, 1905, Nels died at 66. Both are buried at South Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. In 1902, brothers, Henry and Martin, bought land in Harriston Township and lived there four years. In 1906, they acquired three quarters in Walsh Centre Township, each establishing his home on one farm and sharing the third. Ellen Carlson arrived from Christiania, Norway, in 1905 and married Henry Larson at Grafton. They had four children: Mildred, Hazel, Judith and Henry, Jr. All live in the Grafton area. They were members of South Trinity Lutheran Church, where they were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary in 1955. Henry died Oct. 19, 1963, at 90, and Ellen, July 23, 1969, at 85. They are buried at South Trinity Cemetery. Submitted by Henry Larson. GEORGE McCANN George McCann, with his wife, Ann Jane, and seven children traveled from Bruce County, Ont., in 1880. Their children were John, Jennie, Annie, Robert, Margaret, Frank and George. The family settled in Harriston Township. The same year George, the father, became ill with pneumonia and died. Although left with a young family, Ann Jane stayed with the land and apparently prospered. The family included her brother, John Coulter, and her mother. They farmed in Harriston Township about 20 years and then moved to Walsh Centre Township. As the family grew, the older ones married and moved to other locations. John married and settled in Saskatchewan. Jennie married Mike McCann, they moved to Manitoba and later to a homestead near Rush Lake, Sask. Annie married Alexander McEachern and lived most of her life in Walsh County. Robert married Julia Kieley in 1896. He died at Stephen, Minn., in 1901. Margaret was the wife of Robert Szczys and lived in Minto. About 1919, Frank, George, and their mother moved to the farm one mile north of Voss. Frank died in 1921 and Ann Jane in 1925 at 93. George married Jessie Barron Anderson in 1934. They had one son, Francis, who lives on the farm. Submitted by Francis McCann.

Alexander McEachern HENDRICK RUSSUM Hendrick Russum, born Feb. 12, 1852, in Brandba, Hadeland, Norway, emigrated to America in 1876, coming first to Fillmore County, Minn. During the late 1870's, he visited what is now the Grafton area, considering where to take up a homestead. After taking a homestead in the Grafton area, he moved permanently to this area in 1880. Guldbrand and Hans Mohagen accompanied him on the move to this area in Walsh Centre Township. At the time of their moving the railroad went only as far as Grand Forks, so their belongings and livestock were shipped that far, and the remainder of the journey was made on foot with horse and ox drawn wagons. The slough area around the present town of Ardoch created a crossing problem, but the cloven-footed oxen were able to pull the wagons through the mud, so they were soon able to continue northward again. After Mr. Russum had built a sod house he returned to Fillmore County, Minn., and married Asborg Wraalstad March 27,1882, and brought his bride back to

ALEXANDER McEACHERN Alexander McEachern, then a youth of 17, landed in Grand Forks March 17,1881, coming from Mount Forest, Ont., with a carload of settlers and effects. His parents, Duncan and Mary McEachern had preceded him and settled on a homestead in Harriston Township. It had been a long, slow trip to Grand Forks with delays due to snow storms en route. When Mr. McEachern arrived in Grand Forks, the end of the railroad, the settlers effects had to be unloaded 524

his homestead. The railroad now had come to Grafton and ran near his sod house. They walked out on the tracks and from the track he carried his bride through water, tall grass and buffalo bones, which were everywhere, to their sod shanty. They lived three years in the sod house until a frame house was started, still a part of the old Russum farm. Mrs. Russum would often accompany her husband out to the fields, where he was breaking sod with a breaker plow and would pick strawberries which were in abundance on the prairies. Mr. and Mrs. Russum raised five children: Carl (deceased), Mrs. George (Ragna) Carlson (deceased), Mrs. Carl (Marie) Lanes, Herman and Palmer. Their three sons, Carl, Herman and Palmer remained and farmed in the Grafton area and Mrs. Lanes (Mary) lives in Grafton. Mrs. Carlson (Ragna) moved to Crosby following her marriage and lived there until her death in 1946. Hendrick Russum died June 12,1921, Asborg Russum Nov. 12, 1940. In addition to their surviving children, Mr. and Mrs. Russum also have grandchildren and great grandchildren living in the Grafton area. Submitted by Mrs. Palmer Russum.

Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick Russum and family. [About 1905 or 1906]Standing, left to right, girls: Ragna (Mrs. George Carlson), Marie (Mrs. Carl Lanes), boys: Carl, Herman, and Palmer (front).

JOSEPH SOUTOR AND MATU KASAL SOUTOR Joseph Soutor was born in Walsh Centre Township March 18, 1886. His parents, Ignace and Rosa Zreman Soutor came from Iowa by oxen and covered wagon to a log house near Voss, where he was born. He was educated in public schools and later attended Aaker's Business College in Grand Forks. On June 17, 1913, he married Mary Kasal at Veseleyville. Mary was born four miles north of Veseleyville in a log house with a dirt floor, March 1, 1895. She received' her education at Veseleyville and at St. Benedict's School in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Joseph was a teacher in Lankin, Voss, and Pisek. He rode a bicycle for transportation between Pisek and Voss. His salary for his first teaching job was $35 a month. As a young man he also worked on farms and as a clerk in the Cervanka store in Pisek. Mary worked out doing housework and baby sitting for others. She remembers earning a dollar for three month's work when she was very young. Joseph's father lived in Voss and was a tailor. He also carried mail from Voss to Veseleyville. He made this trip by walking when weather would allow. He also operated a hotel in Voss. The Kasal family lived on a farm near Veseleyville. Mary remembers the trip their entire family made by wagon to have a family picture taken in Grafton at Salter's Studio, and winter evenings on the farm when her father played the accordion and all the children danced. Mother Kasal would sit and knit. Other times they played dominoes and father told them of the bygone days in Czechoslovakia. Christmas Eve always meant fish soup for the evening meal. After the dishes were done, plates would be set around the table and candy and nuts were given each child to eat after the gifts were given. When Joe and Mary were married in Veseleyville in 1913, they used a buggy to go to the wedding. In the evening, the wedding dance took place in Kasal's granary. Mr. and Mrs. Soutor remembered well the first cars to appear in the area. Jim Reyleck bought one and Joe Karnik had one at Jo's and Mary's wedding. Everyone "Oh"ed and "ah"ed. They recalled too, when Voss boasted of four elevators, a hotel, a bank, a "blind pig" (saloon), a dance hall, and a drug store. Submitted by the Souter family.

FRANK SOUTOR Frank Soutor was born in Voss, Walsh Centre Township, to Ignatz Soutor and Rose Zreman Soutor Oct. 2, 1888. He attended grade school and later operated a farm in the area. Oct. 23,1911, he married Anna Kasal in Veseleyville. They had four children: Edward and Frank, Jr., and two daughters, who died in infancy. Mr. Soutor served as chairman of the board of township supervisors in Walsh Centre Township for 15 years, and was active as a chairman for the Red Cross and Savings Bond drives in the locality. He was a member of St. Luke's Catholic Church of Veseleyville and the Workman's Lodge. He was also an active member of the Democratic party. Mr. Soutor died Jan. 29, 1949. Submitted by Edward Soutor.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Soutor in front of the Voss Store.

DISTRICT FIVE

LAMPTON TOWNSHIP Early History of Edinburg Area This chapter will deal with the pioneers who helped build the early settlements of Lampton, Garfield, Old Edinburg, Edinburg, and the Townships of Lampton, Tiber, Golden and the West half of Dundee. Records show that the settlement of Dundee was named by the townsite owner, W. A. Crary who came from Dundee Twp. in Fondulac, Wis. The Post Office was established April 12, 1881, with Ole Oveson as P. M. The location was in Sec. 17, Dundee Twp. A Scotch Real Estate dealer, Wm. McKenzie, promoted the establishment of the post office. The Post Office was discontinued April 22,1903. There was a general store at the site operated by Ole Oveson, later sold to Marifjeren. Lampton settlement was established in 1881 on Sec. 12. Later the Township was named for the settlement. George Michi arrived in the area in 1879 and in 1882 was named postmaster for the new post office. (Old) Edinburg was established on Sec. 5, Lampton Twp. three miles northwest of the present site of Edinburg. Nov. 1st, 1882, Christian Buck was named the first postmaster of the office established in his store. Ole Oveson was associated with Buck who was acting in the official capacity of Receiver of U. S. Land Office. The name chosen for the new town was as a tribute to Edinburg University where he was educated and to the many Scotch settlers in the area. During the period 1882-1887 a few pioneer business enterprises developed in this new town, including a blacksmith shop operated by O. Runstad, a saloon by 0. Travotten, Chas. Buck's half brother, of Christian Buck had a drug store and gave medical aid to the pioneers. There was an additon to the general store which was used as a recreational center and for housing strangers. School was held there for early settlers. In 1887 when the Great Northern Railway extended from Park River, eight blocks of the present site of Edinburg were platted and business moved to the new town. Christ Buck was named the first Postmaster of Edinburg. Scotch-Irish, Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic settlers arrived by covered wagons or by rail transportation bringing families and belongings as far as Grand Forks in freight cars. Many had settled earlier in adjoining states to the East but some came directly from Europe to join relatives. Very slow progress was made in the development of their farms during the early years as few had sufficient financial backing to secure the necessary farm implements and oxen or horses to work with. Neighbors often had to help each other to make the necessary improvements required by the Homestead Act. The same breaking plow, the same seeder or drill and the same reaper would often serve three or four families. Until the railroad reached Grafton, the distance to market was also a great handicap for the production of wheat on any large scale. Some of the land was covered with groves of young oak. This had to be grubbed out for clearing the land for crops, but did supply cheap fuel and some building material. Log cabins, with sod roofs, entire sod huts or

dug-outs in the sides of hills were the types of early dwellings. St. Thomas Landing, a steamboat station on the Red River about six miles east of the present site of St. Thomas, was the source of supply of lumber for settlers in this area until 0. H. Rustan set up a steam lumber mill on the Bolstad farm. Horses or mules had gradually replaced the oxen by 1890. These were brought in from states farther south. Five hundred dollars in the spring of the year would be an average price for a team. Climatic conditions were undoubtedly more favorable for wheat raising before most of the land was brought under cultivation, but the yield was sometimes very moderate owing to the scarcity of moisture.

Site of old Edinburg taken in 1957. As the land was not all surveyed in the early eighties and hence not open for filing, squatter's rights prevailed and many interesting stories are told of the trials of these first families. Murders were not uncommon and more than one pioneer was driven from his home or died in the attempt to defend his rights. Several pioneers reported contact with the Indians passing through this area. While they did considerable pilfering, no violence was reported. The Old Indian Tote road from Fort Snelling angled west and forked with a road coming in from Fort Gary, Canada. There are still indications of that trail one-half mile west of the Edinburg townsite. Buffalo were seldom seen, but one source of revenue for some of the pioneers was selling buffalo bones to a concern which bought them by the pound. It is presumed that the drought of 1867 had caused the death of many herds of buffalo that roamed this land. Another market was for dried ginseng roots and Virginia snake roots. It is said that odd plants of these species still can be found in area pastures. The social life of this community was similar to all pioneer settlements consisting of neighborly gettogethers. Money was scarce, transportation means limited so labor was largely on an exchange basis. Farm 527

early postmaster was Alex Grant who opened a general store. J. E. Peterson, later to become one of Edinburg's most prominent merchants and long term postmaster, transferred from the Ove Oveson store where he had been employed and was associated in the mercantile business in the new town. Ed Oveson, son of Ove Oveson, became one of the first grain buyers as did Sam Ross, Jack Lindsay, J. Martin and others. Edinburg soon boasted five grain elevators. Elevators could not be built fast enough to receive the grain locally. Piles of grain along the track were waiting for shipment according to Mrs. Nate Knudson (deceased) whose husband was then an engineer on the railroad. A box car was used for a depot. Thomas Morgan was reported to be the first Great Northern agent in Edinburg. In 1889, Dr. A. A. Flaten who had been practicing in Park River for a short time began the practice of medicine and later purchased the drug store from Haussamen & Hamilton which had been established in 1888. A Creamery and Elevator was built by 0. H. Rustan. Other new business enterprises were a grocery store by John Drady, a general store known as the Minneapolis store by J. E. White, Ben Shuley has a meat market, Buck and Adams, a hardware store, J. E. Knudson, a Tin Shop, Hans Wick, a blacksmith shop, and Melsted Bros., located on the north side of Main Street adding another general store. Next to the Melsted store was a drug store, being part of the large general mdse. establishment known as Field's Store. Across from the Depot (south) was a large hotel, while on the present hotel site was Grant's Livery Stable, a thriving business enterprise. Hans Anderson handled a line of machinery which was later sold to Stephen Eyolfson. Robertson Lumber Co. had yards to supply the building material needs.

labor was usually by the month with room and board. The hours were often 14 to 16 hours per day. Game was plentiful for those who had powder or shot and traps. Bears, wolves, coyotes, moose, elk, fox, mule and whitetail deer roamed the fields and wooded areas. Ducks and geese were plentiful as well as grouse and prairie chickens. There were no game law restrictions to curtail this needed source of food supply. Submitted by Mrs. M. C. Flaten.

GARFIELD In the early summer of 1880 a party of Norwegian land prospectors from Iowa visited Walsh County, particularly the Elk Valley area. They returned to Iowa and sent a large number of their fellow countrymen to take up land here. They settled in and about Twp. 156-57 naming it Garfield for the U. S. President who had been assassinated during that year. The Garfield Post Office was established Oct. 18, 1880, on Sec. 21 with Knute Levang as Postmaster. Like the town of Edinburg, they were awaiting the arrival of the railroad to serve the new settlements. On Feb. 23, 1884, a mass meeting was held there to devise ways and means to promote the construction of the railroad. This was followed by another meeting on March 18 of the same year. The meeting was held in the Garfield school and almost every township from there to the boundary was represented. Some of the community pioneers who were seated as delegates at that meeting were: Geo. Michie, B. Cunningham, U. Anderson and H. N. Hagartad from Lampton Twp., Geo. Sonstilie, J. Alstad, T. Sagen and N. Kolstad of Vesta Twp., W. H. Douglas, G. H. Gullickson, K. P. Levang and J. E. White of Golden Twp., N. H. Rinde of Dundee Twp., and others. Both the Edinburg and Garfield settlements were doomed to be disappointed for as to the outcome of the conferences, the route of the new railroad line was changed to bypass both communities. Railroad crews aided by farmers along the line worked early and late to build the line to Langdon in 1887. Action seems to have been the middle name of these business pioneers, for they lost no time in pulling up stakes and moving to the sites of the railroad as soon as they were definitely established. Garfield was moved to Park River with the exception of the church and school. Edinburg retained its identity by a slight change in the spelling and a change of site to the East half of the NEVi of Sec. 21, Lampton Twp. where the first block was platted on land owned by Daniel Shun.

At the turn of the century other business establishments were: L. T. Berdahl, dealer in All Kinds of Fruits, Cigars, Tobaccos and Stationery, Ciders and all kinds of Temperance Drinks. 189Buck & Adams, dealers in Stoves, Hardware Tinware, also headquarters for Bicycles and Sporting Goods, Paints and Oils, etc. 189J. Lindal & Company—General Merchandise. Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Notions, Crockery, Groceries, Etc. 1899 B. G. Sarvis—General Merchandise. Anderson & Herman—Agricultural Implements and Farm Machinery. McCormick Binders, Mowers, Hay Rakes and Binding Twine. 1900 The first jewelry store was built by Oscar Mandt, a liquor store, then known as a saloon, was operated by Knut Evenson. Peter Lee was in the restaurant business and Ed Gilbertson had a pool hall.

The organized development of this community was in a large part due to the skilled services of another Norwegian born pioneer, Karl J. Farup, later to become one of Park River's outstanding citizens. He had two college degrees, was a graduate of a navigation course and had a Civil Engineering degree from a college in Gothenberg, Sweden. He served the territory as a government surveyor in northeastern North Dakota. Many of our pioneers recall the association they had with him as a government agent and later as one of the new town's businessmen. He helped organize the first bank in Edinburg and acted as Cashier for a time. Christ Buck again appeared on the scene of the new town by moving the post office to the new site. Another

In 1899, Dr. A. A. Flaten, C. D. Lord, T. L. Tillich and Karl Farup founded and incorporated the State Bank of Edinburg with Karl Farup as Cashier. Peder P. Lee built the first furniture store in 1888 which he operated until 1894 when he sold it to Ole Brevik. In 1898 he built a flour mill which he later sold to K. Kristopherson. An implement shop and hardware store operated by A. C. Jensen and with Jack Oliver as a tinsmith, completed the early roster of business enterprises. 528

1893—Six years after Edinburg moved from the old site of Edinburg. THE FIRE OF 1900 About the time the young town was developed, it was hit by the biggest disaster in its history. On April 20,1900, the entire business section of the town was swept away by a tremendous fire which started at the rear of the Flaten Drug. A strong south wind was blowing, spreading and fanning the flames so fast that people had all they could do to vacate the buildings so that very little was saved. Mrs. Julius Bjornson and Mrs. Jacob Lindal, who lived in an apartment over Field's Store, perished in the fire. They made a last attempt to save some of their personal belongings and were overcome by the heat and smoke. A large cistern at the corner intersection that was supposed to serve as fire protection was inaccessible because of the rapid spread of the fire. Farmers came into town and helped some of the merchants to salvage small lots of stock which were taken to the farms. Later temporary warehouses were set up on the back of the business lots to house salvaged stock and new supplies. The Fire Department from Park River came up by rail but was burned on the track. The roof of Jensen's store blew off and floated in mid air until it landed north of the depot and burned. The small building occupied by Christ Buck as an office was

miraculously saved. This was fortunate as many personal business records had been entrusted to him for safe keeping. The economic loss was enormous. Yet, even before the ruins had ceased smoking, mass meetings were called, the situation discussed and a decision reached to rebuild the town. In a year's time almost every business place was rebuilt and Edinburg emerged from its supreme test in a more up-to-date shape, with bigger and better structures and better street system than they had ever hoped for. INCORPORATION OF VILLAGE OF EDINBURG Though the present village of Edinburg was incorporated in May 1886 it was not until 1892 that the name was officially changed to Edinburg (dropping the "h"). The first eight blocks were known as the original townsite and were part of the D. Shunn farm. Officers were: President C. Buck; trustees, W. E. Adams and O. Dalby; Clerk, Jacob Lindal; Justice of the Peace, L. T. Berdahl; Treas., G. E . Adams; Assessor, O. Dalby, and Marshall, Sam Elliot. THRESHING RIGS Operation of threshing rigs represented big business in the early days. The usual outfit was composed of eight teams with drivers, four field pitchers, two water men,

an engineer, a fireman, one separator man, a straw-boss and two to three spike pitchers. Twelve to 15 hours per day was the average working time with top wages for most of the men rated at about $2 to $2.50 per day. Meat wagons from nearby butcher shops brought fresh meat to the cook car. An additional source of supply was often obtained by farmers butchering before the crew arrived and hanging the meat in a well to keep it cool. Pepper was often sprinkled over it to keep the flies away. Salt and smoked meats were often prepared in advance, especially pork. Storage boxes under the cook cars took care of surplus food products. Cooler tanks at well sites were also used. The wooded areas provided a good source of supply for fuel for the cook cars.

Threshing rig owned by Ed and Theo. Thorson. 1900— Tiber Twp. In some areas housewives welcomed the threshers by bringing out their white table cloths and white bed sheets to show their hospitality in the cook cars. John Paterson operated one of the first threshing machines in this area which was run by horse-power and fed by hand. Three teams of horses were used tramping in a circle all day. A few years later, this was replaced by a steam engine of 12 H.P. This too, was hand fed. The engine and machine had to be hauled by horses or oxen from place to place. Some of the men who operated threshing rigs throughout this area were S. A. Gire, Olaus Ulberg, Iversley, Ed. Gilbertson, Ole Rustan, Einar Melsted, Hans Anderson, Jens Kivle, the

Edinburg Rebuilds—1908

Sondresons, Theo. Halvorson, Henning Gunhus, John Sundvor and Ben Shuley. The Flaten family has been identified with Edinburg almost continuously since 1889 when Dr. A. A. Flaten began the practice of medicine in the new town. Dr. Flaten was a "country doctor" for the Edinburg community, associated with his five sons at different periods until his death in 1938, with the exception of 6 years when he practiced in Grafton, 1903-1909. Dr. Amon P. Flaten practiced with him in 1919-21. In 1923, Dr. M. C. returned to Edinburg to practice Dentistry. After moving to Crystal for six years he again returned to Edinburg and is now the only surviving member of the Dr. A. A. Flaten family. In 1927 Dr. A. N. Flaten joined his father in medical practice and continued on until his death in 1973. Dr. A. A. Flaten purchased the drug store in 1890 which he operated with the help of his sons John and Joseph until in 1927 when the store was taken over by Dr. A. N. Flaten who was the owner until a short time before his death. The store building he donated to the American Legion and part of the fixtures to the Civic League Museum. Dr. Brandur Brandson and Dr. Bell were early practicing physicians. The Edinburg & Tiber Telephone Company was organized Aug. 19, 1907, at the Henning Gunhus farm. The first directors were H. Gunhus, president, Ole Fauskee, sec.-treas., and Jorgen Nygard, A. N. Brunsvold and D. Halvorson, directors. Ben Hanson and L. Erlandson operated a drug store. The Edinburg & Gardar Telephone Company was incorporated in 1904 with a capital stock of $10,000. Having an active part in the organization of the company were E. H. Bergman, George Laithwaite, Jonas Hall, H. Herman, John Johnson, Stephen Eyolfson, J. E. Peterson, G. C. Jensen, Ben Shuley. P. J. Skjold was the first president, Polar Mutual took over later. The Edinburg Tribune was established by Pierson Bros, of Inkster. They were followed by publishers K. S. Thordarson, G. B. Breidfjord, J. J. Sampson, Eggert Erlandson, A. C. Thompson and Charles Dougherty. The oldest business establishment in Edinburg is the Robertson Lumber Company. It was opened about 1893 at the rear of the present Community Hall site. Only the office remained standing after the fire of 1900. In June of that year a new yard was built at the present site.

St. Hilaire Lumber Co. was in business in Edinburg early in this century and operated until 1924 when the yard was closed. Two of the last known agents were Harold Johnson and William Miller.

and opened the Eikness Grocery Store, operating it until his death in 1926. His daughter, Cordelia Warner, took over the store then and operated it for many years before she retired. She passed away at the home of her son, Wallace E. Warner, Walsh County's youngest States Attorney. The bowling alley operated by A. Swensrud, first occupied the Eikness building.

Edinburg Brandvold & Johnson Store. Left to right: Ole Brandvold, Hilda Rustan, Julia and Bertha Samson, Carl Lunde, Clerk.

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1924 crowd in front of M. B. Alvestad's Cash Store when he gave away a Ford car as a sales promotion plan. The Cash Store originated in 1907 when 0. K. Brandvold and Anton Johnson bought the building from The State Bank of Edinburg. M. B. Alvestad operated the store from 1921 until 1933 or 34. The Dundee Mutual Ins. Company was organized in March 1889. Members of the first Board of Directors were: Andrew Lockrem, John Nicolson, H. P. Harrison, N. H. Rinde, J. J. Marifjeren, N. O. Clementson and Ole H. Rinde. It is still in business, now in Park River. The Edinburg Farmer's Elevator Company was organized in 1909 by Ole Fauske, A. N. Brunsvold, K. Kristopherson, who served as directors with H. H. Troftgruben and H. Gunhus. 0. O. Torgerson was the first manager. Rating second in length of operation on Edinburg is the Jensen Hardware, established in 1897 by A. C. Jensen. In 1904 Gilbert C. Jensen became part owner. In 1925, L. S. Jensen, son of Gilbert C. Jensen, joined his father in operation of the business. After G. C. Jensen passed away, L. S. Jensen continued to operate the store until it was sold in 1972. Christian C. Eikness came to Edinburg with his wife and daughter, Cordelia and son, C. E. Eikness, in 1908

Jensen's Store—J9J0. Left to right: G. C. Jensen, Joe Daley, Pat Paul, Andrew Jensen. Salesman, unidentified. Standard Oil Co. began serving the farmers in this area in 1919 when Clarence E. Lien was employed as the agent. The bulk station was built in 1921. Organization of the Edinburg Potato and Produce Company April 1,1922 marked the beginning of scientific diversifed farming and the subsequent agricultural prosperity that this area has now achieved. The first directors were N. Ordahl, S. H. Stenerson, John Berg, Carl Ulberg, John Evenson, Walter Thorsteinson and Carl Troftgruben. The frame and tile building erected on track side at Edinburg with a capacity of 60,000 bushels, was the first of its kind to provide safe winter storage for potatoes on track in Edinburg. S. H. Stenerson managed the house the first year. Others in charge of operations were: John Berg, T. H. Stenerson, Halvor Halvorson, S. M. Stenerson and K. N. Bjorndahl. POSTAL SERVICE IN THE EDINBURG AREA

Sorting mail in Edinburg P. O., 1906. Left to right: Annie Lee, Laura Peterson and Julis Peterson.

provided for street lighting. Loki Johnson had charge of the street lamps in Edinburg. Some farm homes and business places were lighted by Delco plants. In 1919 Clarence Bjorneby installed a 110 volt D.C. plant consisting of a steam threshing engine using lignite coal for fuel and a dynamo for generating electricity. Later it was replaced with a diesel powered motor. The plant was located in the garage built by Henning Gunhus. Steve Christianson was in charge of the plant until the Ottertail Power Co. built into Edinburg.

Mail was hauled from Grafton by Star Route carriers to serve the early offices. Fifteen postmasters have served the Edinburg P. 0. Mrs. Winnifred Flaten with 26 years of service has been the longest term, with J. E. Peterson, 17 years. Rural Mail Route No. 1 was established in 1904. Haakon J. Glaholt was the first carrier. George Berg served this route for 34 years. Route No. 2 was established as Route No. 3 with Peter Herman as carrier. Thomas Thomasson covered for 13 years as did Alfred Aos. Mrs. Josephine Shuley completed 25 years of service before retiring. Early Star Route carriers on the Gardar-Mountain route out of Edinburg were: Paul Eyolfson and Hjortur Hjaltalin. In the early years there was a Star Route to Vesta and Silvesta K. Saltvold, a Civil War veteran, was a carrier. Ole I. Gjevre was a Star Route carrier from Dundee to Old Edinburgh.

Six years after the business district of Edinburg was wiped out by the disastrous fire of 1900, the Feb. 16, 1906, edition of The Edinburg Tribune edited by G. S. Breidord shows what progress was made in rebuilding the business establishments of the town. Advertisements: C. R. Anderson—Merchant's Hotel—$2 per day—N. H. Johnston, Confectionery & Restaurant -McEween Dougherty and Shuley, farm machinery and hardware— Duncan and Leslie—Edinburg Roller Mills—W. H. Murphy, Livery, Feed and Ale Stable—John H. Sundvor, General Merchandise Store-J. I. Coffey, Clothing Store—J. Thomasson Edinburg Meat Market—Skjold & Goodman, Ladies Clothing Store—Dr. David Bell, Physician & Surgeon, office over State Bank BuildingState Bank of Edinburg-Officers: C. D. Lord, Pres., C. A. Jeglum, Vice Pres., Ben Tronslin, Cashier, A. Johnson, Asst. Cashier. Another bank—Merchants Bank of Edinburg with the following officers—Pres. Aaron Levin, Vice Pres. A. Mecham; Cashier, C. Buck; Asst. Cashier, J. B. Jamieson. The directors were: A. Mecham, Aaron Levin, H. H. Troftgruben, J. B. Jamieson and C. Buck. The Edinburg Tribune was established by Pierson Bros, of Inkster. They were followed as publishers by K. S. Thordarson, G. S. Breidfjord, J. J. Sampson, Eggert Erlendson, A. C. Thompson and Charles Dougherty. When cars began to replace horse drawn vehicles shortly after the turn of the century one old familiar public convenience at the Hotel corner of main street in Edinburg was the well with watering trough in the center of the street. It was removed and the well filled in. A slight indentation can still be seen as the area has a tendancy to require additional fill. Comfortable seating space was provided for the men of the community during the era of the plank walks in the business district. The walks were set on supports a foot or two from the ground in order to assure dry footing above the water line during heavy rains or spring thaws. Hitching posts were constructed at regular intervals. A familiar sight was a line up of men folk perched on the edge of sidewalks discussing affairs of the day after a hard day's work. The advent of the cement sidewalks followed the horse and buggy days and the convenience seating became a thing of the past. In 1927 Knute Aaland and Nels Folson, pioneers of the Hoople community, incorporated to build and form the Aaland and Folson Potato Buying and Selling Company. The first year they leased the Edinburg Farmers Potato and Produce Co. warehouse with Halvor Halvorson as manager. In 1928 the company built their own warehouse, placing Stanley Stenerson as manager. Stanley continued on in this capacity, and became a partner of the firm in 1931. That same year the company purchased land and began the raising of grain and potatoes. During the first years of business a large

M. E. Tressler, Mail Carrier—1906-23 NORTH DAKOTA RAILWAY COMPANY

First run to Concrete cement mines from Edinburg: J. B. Jamieson, agent, third from the left. In 1908 Thomas D. Campbell and Daniel F. Bell of Grand Forks organized a stock company known as the Northern Dakota Railway Co. for the purpose of constructing a line of 21 miles from Edinburg to the newly opened cement mines at Concrete. The Portland Cement Co. took over the mines in 1920. The mines had never operated to full capacity. The service was discontinued and the Great Northern Railway Co. took over the property. It was estimated the rails alone represented an investment of $50,000. The tracks were taken up in 1922. Lighting presented a problem to the early pioneers— candles, kerosene lamps and gas lighting were used in homes and buildings while later gasoline lamps were 532

portion of the potatoes were hauled in by horse and wagon. Both Knute Aaland and Nels Folson have passed away and their estates operate in partnership with Mr. Stenerson. Ordinance No. 13 of the bylaws and ordinances of the Village of Edinburg, Christ Buck, President. Section

One. No person shall be allowed to let any horses, mules, oxen or cattle remain standing in the streets of the Village of Edinburg continuously for any longer time than two hours during very cold weather or four hours during summer or mild weather. (1896)

Recollections Of Early Days Recollections of the people who settled at Edinburg between 1886 and 1889 as submitted by Gladys Patterson for the 1957 Diamond Jubilee Book. This shows the predominance of the Scotch-Irish settlers. Christian Buck—law office on corner where Selmer Evenson lives. John Buck, hardware dealer; T. C. Thompson Feed Barn on the location where the hotel now stands. C. A. Anderson—hotel keeper on corner near Cordelia's Store; J. B. Jamieson, depot agent before the fire, later built the home of the Dr. M. C. Flatens; Hans Chally, homesteaded the L. A. Sondreson farm; John Bolstad's father home was just north of the site of the Drive-in Theatre. Ole Evenson, a homesteader, was located 1 mile north and V2 mile east on the Mrs. Nellie Espetvedt farm. Sam Ross was a wheat buyer. George Howe was a ball player of the time when the Edinburg businessmen paid $700 a month to maintain a team; Wm. Baskerville, farmer, lived on the now John Sveen farm; Elif Guttormson-homesteader; James McLean, lived on the 0. E. Brandvold farm (Mrs. Stella Botsford's father); Hamelot Harrison, farmer, homesteaded three miles east of Edinburg; Christian Folson, homesteaded on the now Tillie Folson farm (Kenneth Folson's grandfather); the John Shepherd family, homesteaders, on the now Thomas Halvorson farm. William Slater homesteaded the Kerry gravel pit; William Traynor homesteaded the west V4 of the Albert Gire farm; King homesteaded on the Emil Kalgard farm; Mr. Dencker, also a homesteader; Charles Buker, homesteader on the Mrs. Anna Brevik farm; Robert Betchigord, homesteaded on the west quarter of the Emil Lowe farm; Mrs. Wm. Sheppard obtained the farm from Betchigord and made her home there for many yearsher husband homesteaded the Tom Vatsby farm. John Elliot, homesteader, east of Edinburg. Ed. Spencer, homesteader, east of 0. E. Brandvold—south of the road.

lives (that was Ida Sondreson's old home); Neil McFee built the north part of the house where Eddie Troftgruben lives, later owned by Mrs. Sanderson of Park River, who added all the bay windows. By the way, she gave painting lessons to a pupil being Miss Margaret Grant. Sam Elliot owned a meat market. John E. Peterson and Carincross owned a Gen. Merchandise Store on the corner occupied by Johnson Food Market. After the fire J. E. Peterson built the present telephone office building and the P. 0. was held there for many years. Nicklin Hotel was on the corner where "Sally's Shop" is. John White, general merchandise, was near where Jensen's Hdwe. now stands. Mr. White also built the now Amon Steen home. Wm. Adams was a hardware dealer and Geo. Adams, Robertson Lumber agent. Joe Christie was a blacksmith and expert gardener and florist and was located on the bank corner. Jack Lindsay, Martin and Sam Ross were grain buyers. Williams homesteaded the now Emmett Loe east quarter and taught in the old school building. Hans Anderson Farm Implement dealer is now the Gutterud and Nelson building. Peter Suby, photographer, in the Peter Lowe old home. These two buildings escaped the fire (1900). Hans Wick and Erickson—Blacksmith Shop, which Edward Larson later purchased and in the last few years became the Creamery. Blacksmith shops were plentiful in those days. Nate Knutson, Tinsmith, built the north part of the E. Thorlacius house—Jack Oliver, Tinsmith, built the south part of the same house. Nate Knutson worked for Herman-Goodman-Samson Gen. Hardware & Farm Machinery. Elmer Agen once owned a large implement building on the corner where the Nygard Garage now stands.

ORGANIZATIONS THE EDINBURG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION The Edinburg Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized in June, 1929. There was a membership of 40 members and Mrs. Ernest Hennum was the first president. Mrs. N. Ordahl was the last president. Local meetings were held once a month, also district, state and national conventions at different times. This club has disbanded.

Alexander Glendenning, homesteader, on the Halvor Brevik farm—his son, Archie G., lives at Pembina; John Nott, homesteader, 1V miles east, north side of the road. Martin Folson lived on his father's tree claim across the road from John Nott. Alexander Grant, homesteader, 1 mile north—1 mile east on north side of the road— Margaret Grant's old home. Knut Halvorson homesteaded on the Mrs. Helgi Rustan farm. Knut Huss, homesteaded on the farm east of Mrs. Helgi Rustan, now owned by one of the Christopherson Bros. Louis Nelson homesteaded east and south of the Christopherson farm—he was the father of Mrs. Tom Espetvedt and Mrs. Clara Anderson of Edinburg. Cunningham homesteaded on the now G. W. Laithwaite farm and McCully Bros, homesteaded the now G. W. Laithwaite south quarter. Herbrand Reese homesteaded 3 miles east of Edinburg where Mrs. Anna Peterson now 2

SUNNYSIDE HOMEMAKERS CLUB The Sunnyside Homemakers Club was organized in September, 1930, with Mrs. L. S. Jensen as president; Mrs. Ben Shuley, vice-president; Mrs. Philip Wick, reports chairman; and Margaret Grant, secretarytreasurer. Mrs. A. N. Flaten and Mrs. Clarence Lien were the first project leaders. This club is still active. 533

DAVIDSON POST No. 156 Davidson Post No. 156 American Legion, Edinburg, was formed in January, 1920, with 16 members. The post received its charter in August, 1920 and had 39 members. Officers were: Commander Dr. A. P. Flaten, Vice Commander A. P. Vislisel, Adjutant J . A. Flaten, Finance Officer William Schnoover, Sargent at Arms Palmer Swensrud, and Chaplain Willie A. Nelson. An Legion Auxiliary was organized about the same time and was active until the late '20's.

THE A. 0. U. W. The A. 0. U. W. Workmen Lodge was formed in the early 1890's. For some years much of the community's social life centered around the lodge. Funds raised were spent to a considerable extent on local improvements. When the Lodge was taken over by the Pioneer Mutual Insurance Co., the $600 in its treasury was given to the community hall project.

THE CLOVER CLUB

This group was organized in the early '20's. Besides social hours connected with meetings, seasonal parties and camping trips provided wholesome entertainment for children in different age groups. Mrs. C. E . Lien was in charge.

D OF H JUNIORS

The Clover Club was organized in the early 1900's. It was a women's social group.

THE CIVIC LEAGUE The Civic League, oldest club in Edinburg, dates from March 23, 1910. It original objective was beautifying yards, streets and homes of members and to provide for a town park. First officers were Mrs. G. C. Jensen, president; Mrs. J. S. Robertson, first vicepresident; Mrs. A. A. Flaten, second vice-president; Gina Lee, secretary, and Mrs. Ben Hanson, treasurer. The league purchased part of the block which now forms the Edinburg City Park. Later, more land was added and landscaped by the Valley City Nursery. In 1916 the league purchased the Methodist Presbyterian Church building for the park. A bandstand and picnic shelter as well as tables and benches and a flower garden was planted. For many years members and their families did much of the maintenance work and raised funds for improvements. The park was later turned over to the town but the Civic League reconditioned the church building and operate it as a museum.

Clover Club, Edinburg. Top row, left to right: Mrs. Weldon, Mrs. J. E. Peterson, Oien, Hanson, Erlandson, Mrs. Pat Paul. 2nd row: Mrs. Wick, A. C. Jensen, Mandt, A. Nelson, M. Botsford. Bottom row: Melvin Wick, Annie Peterson, Mrs. Lindsey, Mrs. Gilbert, Albert Lindsey.

THE DEGREE OF HONOR LODGE The Degree of Honor Lodge was organized in Edinburg in 1922. It contributed to the social life and development of the community. While it has been inactive for a number of years, several in the area still retain their membership.

OUR CIVIC LEAGUE 'Way back in nineteen hundred ten The Civic League began 'Twas truly organized and then The work is always done. We plot and plan, do all we can To make things nice for you; And know that you appreciate The little things we do. The women who began the League Deserve a lot of praise. They worked so hard - the task was big For money they must raise. They moved the barn, they tilled the soil Potatoes they did plant And in the fall 'twas said by all The money was well spent.

1923 D. ofH. party at Opal Gemmill's. Back row: Esther Swensrud, Nellie Schultz, ? Kristjanson, Olga Wick, Lucille Howard, Cora Jensen, Mrs. R. C. Gemmill, Ella Brunsvold, Alda Jensen, Mrs. Mandt and baby, Opal Gemmill. Front row, left to right: Cordelia Warner, Aggie Miller, ? Sunderland, Clarence Jensen, ?, Mae Armstrong, Pearl Gemmill, Sigga Magnusson, Herbert Gemmill, Jr.

As years roll on our park will stand A monument to those Who bore the load and carried on In spite of many woes. Let's give a cheer for Flaten dear For Jensen, Laithwaite, Loe For Shuley, Monson, Peterson And many more you know. 534

A challenge goes to all of those Who like our pretty park To put your shoulders to the wheel And make your little mark. There's always room within our ranks For willing workers true, So you're invited to belong We really need you, too.

BASEBALL TEAM OF 1900 Around 1900 Edinburg produced a baseball team, second to none in this area. There must have been quite a number of sports minded men in those days, for it is known they paid $700 per month to maintain a team. George Howe was the catcher. Others on the team were Oluf Rustan, Pat McNiel, Joe Flanagan, Carl Onsrud, Martin Anderson, Alfred Aos and a boy named Brandson.

This was written by one of the younger members as a tribute to the charter members on the 40th anniversary.

Pioneers of Edinburg—Early members of Civic League, 1925. Standing: Mrs. Ole Torgerson, Mrs. J. B. Shuley, Mrs. G. Laithwaite. Seated: Mrs. Ed Field, Mrs. Swensrud, Mrs. A. A. Flaten, Mrs. J. E. Peterson and Mrs. Andrew Loe. EDINBURG AREA BANDS The Edinburg community has been band minded over a long period. Ed Oveson was director of the first band organized in 1892. Dundee Township had a band directed by Helmer Walstad in 1905. A band was organized in 1911 and was in existance for many years. Clarence Lien was in charge. He also directed the Tiber Township Band during the same period. In 1917 Fred Arason started a band numbering about 30 players and it was very active in the area. The band played for many World War I activities, such as bond drives, Red Cross and soldier receptions. When Fred Arason moved from trie community, Clarence Lien again became band director in about 1925 and this group was kept active for about a decade. He also organized a kid band which was unique for its time. Later bands were organized by Emmett Loe.

Edinburg's Baseball Team of 1901 when the businessmen paid $700 per month for support of the team. Standing players: Oluf Rustan, Brandson, Pat McNeil. Seated: Geo. Howe, Martin Anderson, Alfred Aas. Girls standing: Nora Anderson, Dora Herman, Annie Peterson, Nettie Anderson. Girls seated: Marie Herman, Julia Peterson. FOOT RACING Joe Mandt carried off more awards in the early years than any other local athlete. He was rated as a "pro" and was barred from some amateur events. He raced 150 times by 1907 without losing a race. His top speed was 100 yards in 10 seconds. One of his prize possessions was a gold medal won in 1897, for ladder climbing, a popular sport of that day. He ran 125 feet and climbed a 24 foot ladder in seven seconds. SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO: (August 8, 1974 news clipping) "Great interest is centering in the ball game between Edinburg and Grand Forks, which will be played at the new park on Friday next. It promises to be the most hotly contested game ever played in the city and will decide the amateur championship of the state of North Dakota." SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO: (August 13, 1974 clipping from the Grand Forks Herald) "The ball game played yesterday between Grand Forks and Edinburg, and which resulted in a decisive victory for the former, which entitles it to the honor of being the champion ball team of the state of North Dakota, was one of the most interesting exhibitions of the national game ever given in the city."

CHURCHES HAUGESLUTHERAN CHURCH Edinburg Band—1894. Left to right, rear row: Jim Smith. John Eckiberg, Ed Oveson, S. A. Gire, Peoples, Oien Knutson. Front row: S. O. Domstad, Ervin Oden, Charlie Eckiberg, Christ Oden.

In 1888, the Hauges Lutheran Parish was organized. It consisted of the following congregations: Vesta, Saint Stephans (Flom) near Union, Hvideso, and St. Paul's of

Edinburg. In 1892, the St. Paul Church of Edinburg was built. Rev. L. T. Kingle from Mayville, N. D., was first pastor. Other pastors were Rev. A. J. Krogstad (18881904); Rev. N. Okerland (1904-1909); Rev. S. S. Westby (1909-1915); then Rev. A. J. Krogstad for a second period (1915-1921); and Rev. Harold Ellingson (1922-1925). After that time, St. Paul's Church did not have a regular pastor, but continued having services by visiting pastors from the Hauge Synod and the Lutheran Free Church. Sunday school was organized in 1907, by Rev. N. Okerland. In 1920, St. Paul's Church had a very active Young People Society, and joined with Immanuel, Havideso Young People Societies, and others, and under the direction of Odvin Hanen, had a choir of 50 members. Written by Mrs. L. S. Jensen and Mrs. Stanley Stevenson.

At first, services were held in the homes, in District No. 7 school, and the Edinburg School. The church was built in 1906. The Sunday school was organized in 1910, with 20 children and two teachers. In 1922 , 50 children were enrolled. Classes were conducted in both the English and Norwegian languages. There also was an active Young People's Society. Parochial school, similar to our present day vacation Bible school, was started in 1892, lasted for six weeks each summer. Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Lutheran Church merged and was later known as Trinity Lutheran Church. First officers of the Immanuel were: Ole Bolstad, secretary; treasurer. Trustees were: Knute Anderson and Helleck Stenerson. Written by Mrs. L. S. Jensen Stenerson.

Lutheran Church Halvor Johnson, Brandvold, Neil and Mrs. Stanley

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN LADIES' AID The Immanuel Lutheran Ladies' Aid was organized at the home of Mrs. Arne Johanson in 1884, before the church was built. They raised money by sewing and selling articles they made to help pay for the church. They raised $150 which they applied on the building.

Parsonage and St. Paul's Church—Edinburg IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

First officers in 1902 were: president, Mrs. Arne Johanson; treasurer, Mrs. Andrew C. Jensen; secretary, Mrs. E. W. Gilbertson. Other charter members were: Mrs. Neil Anderson, Mrs. Mathias Anderson, Mrs. Knute Brandvold, Mrs. Ole Bolstad, Mrs. Ole Martinson, Mrs. Knute Tufft, Mrs. Ole Kivle, Mrs. Robert Johnson, Mrs. Ragnild Thompson, Mrs. Knute Halvorson, Mrs. Ole Rustan, Mrs. Caroline Esptveidt and Mrs. Helleck Stenerson. At that time, the members paid 10 cents for their lunch. Later, Immanuel Ladies' Aid and St. Paul's Ladies' Aid merged. The name was changed to the Trinity Ladies' Aid, now known as the Trinity A. L. C. W. Submitted by Mrs. L. S. Jensen and Mrs. Stanley Stenerson. METHODIST AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES The first church in Edinburg, under the direction of trustees, Geo. E . Adams, O. C. Waterman, C. E.Shortridge, H. P. Harrison and Bolton Cunningham, was the Methodist Episcopal Church. Services had been held in School District No. 50 until the church was erected about the time the town of Edinburgh was moved to the new site.

Trinity Lutheran Church—Edinburg In 1882, under the direction of Missionary Pastor Rev. C. A. Flaten, who was serving the people of the Edinburg community, Immanuel Lutheran Church was organized. He served until Nov. 30,1885, when Pastor H. Holseth was asked to serve. In 1886, Rev. J . T. Langemo was called to serve the congregation and was the pastor for 58 years.

In 1902, the property was conveyed to the United Presbyterian Church through trustees, William Brumwell, William Grant and J. B. Jamieson, for a consideration of $300. In 1916, the building was sold to the Civic League for a park building as the congregation had disbanded. Rev. F. M. Wood, Rev. Stuart Campbell and Rev. A. Armstrong are recorded as ministers serving the Presbyterian congregation. Rev. Alex Burr had been in charge of services held in School District No. 50.

AREA SCHOOLS

recently as the Monson home. School was held there until 1906 when a new brick building was erected on the present school site. Some of the early teachers were: Kate McNeil, Mrs. Jean Sondreson, Mr. and Mrs. F. Redman, Miss Kuhn and Miss Thorlacius. Early school sessions for the settlement of old Edinburg were held in the rear of the Oveson Store. Both English and Norwegian were taught. E. T. Mandt was one of the first teachers of the Norwegian language. Mary Shepherd was one of the first teachers. While they were not directly connected with the schools, Edinburg has been fortunate in having some fine music instructors during the early years. Remembered by early residents were: Mrs. J . B . Jamieson, S. K. Hall, Ambrosia Rinde, Gladys Patterson and Mrs. N . Ordahl.

Reported to be 1st school in Edinburg, later known as Tressler home. Lampton School District No. 7 was organized in 1882 and a school building erected on an acre of land donated to the district by Arnie Johanson. He was the first clerk. Other officers were A. J. Bolstad, Hans Chally and N. Anderson. These men built the school building. To the early settlers, it meant church as well as school for there the Immanuel Lutheran congregation had its worship. Early teachers were: Katie McNeil, L. A. Weed, J. t. Langemo and Annie Tharalson. Lampton School Dist. No. 7—Olena Johansen (Mrs. N. G. Grovom), teacher. Left to right, back row: Arthur Anderson, Marcus Langemo, Selina Gunhus, Herman Gilbert, Olena Johansen (teacher), Martin Anderson, Lillian Gilbert, Elmer Johnson, Harry Stenerson. Third row: Magdalena Anderson, Thomas Johnson, Emma Langemo, Lawrence Sondreson, Edroy Gilbert, Ida Halvorson, Paul Stenerson, Esther Anderson (Mrs. Schultz). Second row: Stanley Stenerson, Elina Gunhus, Henry Halvorson, Myrtle Brunsvold, Thomas Halvorson, Nina Anderson. First row: Alvin Halvorson, Ada Gilbert, Ella and Alice Brunsvold (twins).

Lampton School No. 7. This was used for Lutheran services as well as school for a number of years. School District No. 50 was built in 1883 and served as a place of worship and service as did all the early school buildings in the rural areas. Township, county and political meetings were also scheduled there. Bonds of $500 were issued to build and equip the school. John Quinn, W. E. Shepherd, D. Mcintosh, P. Lee, G. Mitchie and T. K. Smith were in charge. First school terms were for two months each year. Mae Shepherd was the first teacher. Others were J. W. Rutledge and Nellie Thompson. Edinburg School District No. 106 was organized about the time the town was first settled. The first school was in the home later known as the Tressler home, which was just south of the old two story building known more

PIONEER TEACHERS IN EDINBURG AREA Pioneer teachers in the Edinburg area and the districts they served were: District No. 7, Lampton Township, Katie McNeil (1892), L. A. Weed (1893), J. T. Langemo (1894), and Anna Tharalson (1895); District No. 52, Minnie Ellingson (1892), Lilla Farrell (1893), Hattie Stewart (1894) and M. Brunswell; District No. 92, Tiber Township, Hattie Stewart (1892), Marry Levin (1893), Peter Fox (1895) and W. J . Stewart (1896); District No. 50, Lampton Township, Katie McNeil (1892) and May Rehill (1893); District No. 37, Lampton Township, T. M. O. Baker (1892), James Glendenning (1893), Clara Rue (1894), Elsie Levin (1895) and E. H. Green (1896); and District No. 122, Emma Robertson (1897) and Lydia Landsborough (1898). G. K. Ness of Fordville gives information on the early school in his history of Fordville. "While the majority of the original settlers were unmarried men and women, or newly-weds, a few of them had families and soon there was need for schools." School districts were then set up, school houses built and teachers employed. With exceptions, the school

districts were small consisting of nine sections of land, the townships being divided into four parts, with a little white schoolhouse erected as near as convenient to the center of the district. The proximity to the schoolhouse was an important factor in determining the sales value of the land. Neighborhood fueds often became common when the location of the school was to be decided. The usual size of the rural school was 20 by 24 feet with a frontal addition of approximately 6x10 feet which contained a coal bin on one side of the door and storage space for trash on the other.

Following are school districts in the Edinburg area and early officers as recorded. District No. 7 - treasurer, W. Anderson; clerk, J. T. Langemo; and early directors, O. J. Bolstad, Halvor Brevig and Hans Chally. School District No. 35, Dundee - treasurer, O. H. Rinde; clerk, N. H. Rinde; and early directors, N. H. Rinde, Ole H. Berg and J . P. Loe. School District No. 37, Lampton - treasurer, K. T. Tufft; clerk, Charles A. Thompson and early directors, Knud Johnson, Charles Odne and Christian Ulberg. School District No. 50, Lampton - treasurer, D. Mcintosh; clerk, J. P. Sheppard and early directors, William J . Baskerville, John Nott and Knud Halvorsen. School District No. 52, Tiber - treasurer, William Higgins; clerk, Henry Stuart and early directors, Sander Sondreson, Elmer Ellingson and William Brumwell. School District No. 77, Tiber - treasurer, Ole P. Spaberg; clerk, A. Mecham and early directors, William Mecham, Mathias Martensen and A. T. Anderson. School District No. 85, Dundee - treasurer, Andrew Erickson; clerk, O. T. Loftsgard and early directors, H. P. Harrison, Albert Slater and O. T. Loftsgard. School District No. 92, Tiber - treasurer, Robert C. Gemmill; clerk, Aaron Levin and directors, Knud O. Ovenan, Ole A. Thompson and H. J. Sundvor. School District No. 122, Lampton, formed April 7, 1896 - treasurer, Henry Dencker; clerk, Knute Bjorndahl and early directors, John Lohse, Ole Ekeberg and Hans Johnson.

A coal stove in the center of the room furnished the heat and the temperature was often irregular. Some improvement was made when the Smith system came into use, providing ventilation as well as heating. The teacher, occasionally a young man, but in most cases a girl in her late teens who had finished eighth grade or approximately so, and showed signs of aptitude, was hired for six or seven months at a salary of $30 and up per month. The first school terms were often shorter and the salary lower. Her duties, in addition to impressing on pupils, ranging from six to 20 years of age and up to 40 in number, the rudiments of the three R's - reading 'riting and 'rithmetic — was to do her own janitor work. If the teacher was well liked and was a girl, some of the older pupils might stop after school to sweep the floor, carry in coal and otherwise offer assistance.

Third row: Rev. and Mrs. J. T. Langemo. Fourth row: Mrs. Ed Gilbertson, Mrs. Stengrim Gire, Mrs. A. C. Jensen, Mrs. Ole Finigarson, Mrs. A. A. Flaten, Mrs. J. E. Peterson, Mrs. Gilbert [Susan] Jensen, Mrs. Ole [Kristi] Evenson, Mrs. Ben Brandvold, Mrs. Stener Stenerson, Mrs. Helga Rustan, Mrs. Seymour Domstad, Mrs. Carl [Johnson] Odne and Mrs. Ole Rustan. Submitted by Olive Brandvold, Edinburg.

Ladies' Aid at Ed Gilbertson home, Edinburg in 1912. Top row: Mrs. Christ Ulberg, Mrs. John Bolstad, Miss Marie Finseth, Mrs. Arne Johnson, Mrs. Ned Wick, Mrs. Ed Field, Mrs. Charles Gilbert, Mrs. Moen, and Mrs. Hellock Stenerson. Second row: Mrs. Anton Swensrud, Mrs. Martha Jenson, Miss Josephine Sannes Mrs. Charles Stenerson, Mrs. Sander Sondreson and Mrs. Robert Johnson.

538

LAMPTON TOWNSHIP On June 30, 1891, a meeting was called by the board of county commissioners of Walsh County to combat grasshopper infestations in the township, a project which continued periodically for many years afterwards. In 1897 the township built its first town hall. It was located in the northeast corner of SW'/4-21. This building has since been moved and is still in use. In 1919 Lampton Township received a World War I helmet as a prize for buying the most Liberty Bonds per capita in Walsh County. Submitted by Kermit Berg.

B Y - L A W . NO. ONE TOWN OF LAMPTON, WALSH CO. D. T. September 23, 1885. lt shall be unlawful for any person or persons to draw a load of more than four tons, across any of the highway bridges m the town of Lampton, Walsh Co. D. T. The entire weight, including horses, carriage and load must not in any case exceed four ton, or any traction engine or any load drawn by a traction engine shall in no case be greater than four tons. Persons found guilty of a breach of this bylaw will be held responsible for all damages they may incur crossing such bridges. And any such person will be fined together with cost of prosecution the highest penalty as may be directed by any Justice of the peace. This by-law shall be in force from and after its passage and publication Passed Sept. 23, 1885. GKO. MICHIE,

Town Clerk. 18-31

GARFIELD LUTHERAN FREE CHURCH From 1881 to 1883, Rev. I. J. Lonne served as a mission pastor and Rev. Anders Nykreim served from 1883 to 1886 the people of the Golden Valley area. In 1885, Rev. G. J. Omland was called as pastor. At this time, the Garfield congregation was organized. Meetings were held in the schools at first. Franklin and Golden Valley congregations met and were merged with the Garfield Lutheran Church in 1888. It was decided to use the name of the Garfield Lutheran Church to this union. Officers elected at this time were: Anton Boe, secretary; Henry Knutson, treasurer; trustees were Ole Johnson, John Jenson and Carl Johnson; deacons, Peder Johnson, Johannes Alsted and Erik Paulson.

O. K . S A L T V O L D ,

Chairman Board of Supervisors.

On Jan. 1,1883, our pioneers, by the Town Act, went on record to organize Lampton Township. Pioneers at this time were foresighted and kept records of their activities. Records of activities have been duly recorded since. Because of the Town Act, land became available to settlers through homestead, tree claim and pre-emption. This farm land became tillable by the help of power from oxen, horses and finally, tractors. The first Lampton Township officers were: Neil Anderson, chairman, supervisor; Knut T. Brandvold, regular supervisor; 0. J. Bolstad, regular supervisor; James C. Gemmill, justice of the peace; Daniel Shunn, clerk; W. E. Sheppard, assessor; Arnie Johnston, treasurer; Elef Jutermson, constable and N. H. Hagstad, constable. Overseers of roads played a prominent part. Each year they were appointed by the supervisors to take charge of the building and repairing of township roads and bridges. Lampton was immediately divided into four school districts to provide education. District Nos. 50, 7, and 37 were active at the time of town organization. School District No. 122 built its first school starting July 3, 1897.

Garfield Lutheran Chwreh Pastors who served the congregation were: Rev. Ludvig Pederson Rev, H. E. Rode (19111917), Rev. C. A. Rykken (191M919), Rev. G. Bret heim (1922-1927), Rev. George Salter (KSMSn), Rev. P. O. Laurhammer (19814962). Rev. Arthur Bervig (19521954), Rev. L . B. Underbakke (1955-1961) and Rev. Thomas Sternberg (196M9G6). Submitted by Mrs. L. S. Jensen and Mrs. George A. Berg

At the time of organization, the village of Edinburg was already organized and was located in the NWV4, Section 5 of Lampton Township. In 1887, because of the lack of railroad service, Edinburg moved to the center of the township to be located on the site of the railroad. For a number of years Lampton held their meetings and elections in schoolhouses, alternating between districts. In 1890, the township began renting the Edinburg schoolhouse to hold meetings. 539

in late December, and they decided to walk to the Park River area since there were no trains going that way. There was Garfield near the present site of the Park River Bible Camp, and a short distance from town was the church. Jacob was a cousin of the Lutheran pastor's wife, Mrs. G. J. Omland, so that is where Elling and Jacob headed. Accustomed to the balmy weather of southern Norway, they were unprepared for the frigid air. Elling froze his feet so badly that he had difficulty walking for some time. Jacob and Elling planned to stay in the U. S. five years, so they began their life in Walsh County by working for various people for minimal salaries. Jacob worked for a farmer, Mr. Leach, for a year for board and room. At the end of the year, he was given a cow for a bonus. Since Mr. Leach lived near a rural school, he encouraged Jacob to attend classes to practice English. The teacher wasn't Scandinavian, so fellow students served as translators. Before long Elling decided to invest in land and settle near Park River. Jacob decided to homestead near Edinburg and was thrilled to find that his closest neighbor was an old Swedish friend whom he had met in Norway, Peter Peterson. Jacob decided he'd go back to New York City and join his three brothers, Gunu, Ola, and Osmund, doing carpentry work, so he converted his homestead into a tree claim and left for New York, where he was welcomed by three brothers and scores of other relatives and friends. He also met the woman he later married, Anna Simonson (1871-1956), who was a native of Arendal, Norway, where Jacob was born in a small hut nestled up to a mountain which served as one wall of the house. Anna loved the glamour of New York City where most of her people lived, so Jacob considered the possibility of staying there permanently. One day, working on a scaffold 60 feet off the ground, he lost his balance and dropped to the ground, losing consciousness, and acquiring a fear of working in elevated areas. He had a letter from his brother-in-law, O. T. Anderson, Edinburg, informing him that it had been very dry that year (1894) in Dakota. Therefore, many trees had died on Jacob's tree claim, and since someone had informed the Grafton officials of this, there was the possibility that someone could "jump the claim." Jacob hurried back to Edinburg by train. He knew he couldn't replace all the necessary trees in time, he "proved up" the land by pre-emption (paying a certain amount an acre). Shortly, Anna joined him and they were married by Pastor G. J. Omland. Jacob and Anna were blessed with seven children: John, Ruth, George, Olga, Alice (Mrs. O. J. Arneson), Kermit, and Genevieve (Mrs. J. R. Huffer). Jacob's two sisters, Mrs. Andrew (Ingeborg) Madland and Mrs. O. T. Anderson (Stina) lived in the community, as did other Aaserahtes like: several Madland familes, Andrew Strands, the Bjorndahls, the Jens Torgersons (Mrs. Torgerson was Jacob's niece), Halvor Akres, Elling Isakson (Ellingson), Nils Isaksons, Ole Forgaards, Sidsel Torgerson and Asborg Knutson. These people were among the founders of the church Pastor G. J. Omland served, Garfield Evangelical Lutheran Church, and later organized the Garfield Lutheran Free Church. Anna was skilled in the art of hand needlework and crocheting. When the Garfield Ladies' Aid was organized in 1911, she served as its first president.

Sunday School was organized on Jan. 28, 1894, in the Garfield School House. Nils Isakson was the first teacher and Lars Madland was the superintendent. Parochial school in Norwegian was conducted three weeks each summer in the Lampton School. In 1902 Garfield Church was moved south of Edinburg on the Jacob Berg farm. This land was donated by him to the congregation. In 1910, the name of the church was changed to the Garfield Lutheran Free Church. They had a very active Young People's Society, organized in 1917. John Berg, the first president, served for 10 years. The other original officers were: Lilly Nelson, vice president; Carrie Bjorndahl, secretary; and Christ Sundvor, treasurer. GARFIELD LUTHERAN LADIES' AID The Garfield Lutheran Ladies' Aid was organized Dec. 1, 1911, at the church. The first president was Mrs. Jacob Berg. Other early presidents were Mrs. Lars Madland, Mrs. John Sundvor and Mrs. Nils Bjorndahl. At a regular meeting held at the home of Lars Madland on March 11, 1912, a sleigh was presented to Rev. G. J. Omland, their pastor. They met regularly every first Thursday in the month at the members homes. Other charter members of the Ladies' Aid were: Mrs. John Anderson, Mrs. Halvor Akre, Mrs. Sandre Akre, Mrs. Andrew Madland, Mrs. Sam Madland, Mrs. Aaron Levin, Mrs. Lars Windingland, Mrs. Ole Windingland, Mrs. Elling Ellingson (Osterhus), Mrs. Hans Sundvor, Mrs. Ole Nelson, Mrs. Jens Torgerson, Mrs. Nils Isakson, Mrs. Gunolf Omland, Misses Anne and Carrie Bjorndahl. In the early days, the Ladies' Aid purchased material and the members sewed articles to sell at the fall sale, at which time supper and lunches were served. Submitted by Mrs. L. S. Jensen and Mrs. George A. Berg.

BIOGRAPHIES NILS ANDERSON FAMILY Nils Anderson with his wife and children left Norway and came to Munro County, Wise., in 1867. hi the spring of 1881 they moved to the Edinburg vicinity, homesteaded land later known as the Langemo farm. In Wisconsin, Nils loaded a railroad car with necessary things and equipment, also two cows and some oxen, and had it shipped to Grand Forks, from where they drove to the Edinburg vicinity. He and his wife had four sons, Mathias, Hans, Thorwald and Nicolai; and two daughters, Eline (Mrs. Edwin Erickson) and Mina (Mrs. J. T. Langemo. He was active in Zion Lutheran Church, Union. Nils Anderson was born Nov. 9, 1834, died Aug. 13, 1923. His wife was born Feb. 16, 1830, died June 10, 1905. JACOB J. BERG FAMILY Jacob J. Berg (1864-1944), known then as Jack Johnson, came to Walsh County at 17 in Dec. 1881, from Norway, after visiting briefly in New York City with his brothers, relatives, and friends. He arrived in Grafton in company with Elling Isakson (Isaac Ellingson's father) 540

It would do Jacob Berg an injustice not to mention his strong faith in God, for this was the commanding factor in his life. It was to God that he turned for strength, love, and hope. He used these blessings by sharing them freely with others. His was a constant living faith of deep love and trust in a God he knew to be unfailing and a God he knew personally as a God of love and compassion It was a joy to both parents when their eldest son, John, was ordained into the ministry and served in the Lord's work for over 40 years. Surrendering his total life to God and letting God work through him, he made a deep impression, not only on his family, but on the whole community. If it would be necessary to describe briefly his outstanding characteristics it would have to be said that he was truly a man of God, known by everyone for his honesty, love and of his family and fellow men, but he was never critical of their shortcomings. The example of patience, deep, warm love and concern that he gave at all times, under any circumstances, was deeply ingrained in the minds of his family, so that always any reference to the Heavenly Father awakened in them a feeling of warmth, love, and good will through the association of the word "father."

generosity and respect to all. These were the gifts God had given him and he freely shared them with everyone. The world is a better place because Jacob Berg passed through, leaving a trail of love and hope, with an assurance of an ever-loving God and the promise of an eternal life filled with wonders beyond man's wildest dreams and imaginations. Submitted by Alice Berg Ameson. REV. JOHN B. BERG Rev. John B. Berg, son of Jacob and Anna Berg, was born in Lampton Township, Feb. 16,1896. He received his early education in the Edinburg area where he was active in church work as a member of Garfield Lutheran Church. He attended Model High School in Grand Forks. Later, he attended University of North Dakota and Augsburg College where he completed his ministerial studies. He served congregations at Wannaska, Minn., Porterfield, Wise, and other areas in Wisconsin. In 1934 he married Alfreda Moller. Three sons and one daughter were born to this union. On June 29,1969, he was honored commemorating 40 years of service in the Holy Ministry at Oconoto, Wise. In May, 1971, he died at Porterfield, Wise. He is buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Marinette. JOHN 0. BOLSTAD

Jacob Berg and son, John. Although Jacob never forgot his native land, he loved and respected his adopted land, too. When his son informed him of the failure of the local bank in the early depression, he never flinched, but calmly told his astonished son, "Well, we won't worry about that, for even though we lose all our money, it is well worth the price to be citizens of this wonderful country." Jacob believed that the growth of the spirit was so much more important than the growth of the mind that they couldn't be compared. He knew that the growth of grain, livestock, and of course, the human body, as well as a growth of knowledge pertaining to earthly sciences and arts were of value, so far as this life was concerned, but he also knew, with a firm conviction, that the growth of the spirit would be of eternal value. So in the midst of his labor filled days, he always found time to reinforce his faith through the reading of God's word and through meditation and prayer. But reinforcing his faith would have no effect on the growth of his spirit unless his faith was exercised. This he did by practicing honesty, giving kindness, understanding, love, compassion, good will,

John and Anna Bolstad John 0. Bolstad, pioneer Edinburg resident, was born Jan. 12,1872, in Iowa, son of the late Ole and Anna Bolstad. With other members of his family, he came to Lampton Township in 1880. He was confirmed here by the Rev. J. Z. Langemo in his first confirmation class. His daughter, Amy, was in Rev. Langemo's last class. About 1900, his mother and father thought they wouldn't make a go of it in Dakota, and returned to Iowa. Ole Bolstad died there. In 1914 John married Anna Tverberg. Two children were born to them in Iowa, Oliver and Stella. They all returned to Walsh County in 1919. Two more children were born here, Amy and Ruth. Mrs. Bolstad died a month after Ruth was born. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Stenerson, sister and brother-in-law of Mr. Bolstad, adopted Ruth at the age of one month. Mr. Bolstad then moved into Edinburg with three children. He spent most of the time there, except for one year at Park River and two years at Lynden, Wash., with his son, Oliver. Short periods were also spent at the Leonard Estad home at Hoople.

Mr. Bolstad was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He taught several years in the Sunday School. He served as trustee. He died May 20, 1953. Two sisters, Mrs. Sam Chally and Mrs. Helena Stenerson, preceded him in death. His four children survive, Oliver, Lynden, Wash.; Mrs. Leonard Estad (Stella), Hoople; Mrs. Alvin Thornes (Amy), Bemidji, Minn., and Ruth Stenerson of Edinburg. Seven grandchildren, Sharon, David, and Janice Estad; Montellen and Or in Bolstad; and John and Andrea Thornes also survive. As do one nephew, Louis Chally, and two nieces, Mrs. Ruth Egar and Mrs. Ole Kjos, both of Oregon. Submitted by Myrtle Berg.

May 9,1882, and died Aug. 4,1914. Mr. Brevik farmed two miles northwest of Edinburg. They had one son, Herman, born Nov. 26,1909, died July 23, 1969. Magnus Brevik had five brothers and two sisters, now all deceased, Ole H , Peter H., Caroline H. Johnson, Halvor H , Clara (Mrs. Ira Buck), Oscar and Adolph. Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Brevik and their son, Herman, are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Edinburg. Submitted by Michael Brevik. OLE H. BREVIK

OLE AND ANNA BOLSTAD

Ole J. Bolstad

Mrs. Ole J. Bolstad

Ole and Anna Bolstad came to Dakota Territory in 1880 from Emmet County, la. They homesteaded on land in Lampton Township, north of Edinburg. Bolstad was one of the officers on the Lampton Township board when it was organized in 1883. The Bolstads were active in Lutheran church work conducted by the late Rev. J. Langemo. Bolstad served on the school board of District No. 7 and his children attended school there. They had three children, John, Ingeborg, (Mrs. Sam Chally) and Helena (Mrs. Tom Stenerson). About 1900, the Bolstads returned to Iowa. Mr. Bolstad died there in 1914. Mrs. Bolstad returned to North Dakota, resided with relatives until her death, 10 years later. Submitted by Myrtle Berg.

Mr. and Mrs. Ole H. Brevik (Annie Berg) Ole H. Brevik was born at Edinburg March 15, 1873. He died July 25, 1925, at 52. He married Annie Berg at Union June 30, 1906. They had two children, Olga Swenson, Grafton, and Verner Brevik, Edinburg. He farmed one-half mile south of Edinburg until ill health caused him to move into Edinburg. He owned the house that Leonard Jensen now lives in. Mrs. Brevik was born in Telemarken, Norway, Feb. 3,1883. She died June 6,1966, at 83. She was active in the Edinburg Civic League, Edinburg Lutheran Church and Ladies' Aid. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brevik are buried in the Edinburg Trinity Cemetery, part of which was donated by them to the Lutheran church. Submitted by Michael Brevik. MR. AND MRS. HALVOR O. BREVIG

MAGNUS H. BREVIK

Magnus Brevik

Lena Grovom Brevik

Magnus H. Brevik was born Jan. 14,1875, and died June 14,1928. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Halvor O. Brevig. He married Lena Grovom, Union She was born

Mr. and Mrs. Halvor O. Brevig Halvor O. Brevig was born in Norway in 1858. His wife was Kari Anna. He homesteaded on land 4% miles northwest of Edinburg. Halvor died in 1910, and his wife,

Kari, in 1915. They had eight children: Ole H. Brevik, 1873-1925; Magnus H. Brevik, 1875-1928; Peter H. Brevik, 1877-1927; Caroline H. Brevik; Halvor H. Brevik, 18811957; Clara H. Brevik, 1883-1952; Oscar H. Brevik, 1910; and Adolph H. Brevik. Submitted by Michael Brevik. NELS AND RONI BJORNDAHLS Nels (1836-1898) and Roni (1841-1918), natives of Aaseral, Norway, came with their seven children, Soren, Knut, Ole, Tom, Carl, Carrie, and Gina to Dakota Territory in March, 1882. Another daughter, Anne was born later. Their first dwelling in Dakota was a dugout in the banks of the Park River near Garfield village. They homesteaded on land in Lampton Township, south of Edinburg. Mr. Bjorndahl worked his land with walking plows and oxen. The boys herded cattle for neighbors, all children attended English school when in session. Soren died at 26 years and Anna at 39. Tom, Ole, and Carl married and moved to Canada. Gina (Mrs. Sam Madland) lived in the Park River area until her death in 1955. Knut obtained a homestead near Edmore, married Lillie Lnadsvuk of that community. They lived there until her death a year later. Knut then returned to Edinburg, made his home with his sister, Carrie. He was active in church and community projects, served in the state legislature in 1909. Besides his farm interests, he bought and sold potatoes. The Bjorndahls were Lutherans, members of the Garfield congregation. Carrie died in 1947. Knut was in a home for the elderly at Willmar, Minn., and died in 1953. The Bjorndahl family members in this area are buried in Garfield Cemetery, south of Edinburg. Submitted by Mrs. George Berg. KNUTE T. BRANDVOLD

was comfortable both winter and summer. The family lived in that house until 1900. When Julia was a baby, she was kidnapped by an Indian while her parents were milking the cows. She was rescued by her parents after dark that same evening. After Mrs. Brandvold died, Knute made his home with his son, T. 0. K. Brandvold and owned the homestead at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Brandvold celebrated their golden wedding anniversary June 14, 1926. They were charter members of the Odalen Lutheran Church. Knute and Julia had one son, Torkel. Submitted by Mrs. Helen (Brandvold) Kruse. T. O. K. BRANDVOLD

Mr. and Mrs. T. O. K. Brandvold T. O. K. Brandvold was bom in 1877 at Waterville, Minn., son of Knute and Julia Brandvold. He came to Edinburg with his parents at four, lived on the homestead until 1946, when they moved to Edinburg. He married Caroline Baker at Kenyon, Minn., in 1900. They had six children, Stella, Kalma, Edroy, Helen, Kenneth and Judy. Brandvold served as Lampton Township clerk and treasurer for 49 years, also trustee of Odalen congregation. Mrs. Brandvold was a teacher in the Christopherson School. She stayed at Gires while their house had just one room. Some of her pupils were Carl Ulberg and Ole Windingland. Mr. Brandvold died in 1957 and Mrs. Brandvold in 1963. Submitted by Mrs. Helen (Brandvold) Kruse. OLE KNUTE BRANDVOLD

Mr. and Mrs. Knut Brandvold Knute T. Brandvold was born in Hulingdal, Norway, July 29,1848. He came in 1867 to Waseca. Minn. On June 14, 1876, he married Julia Gunhus at Kenyon, Minn. They came to Waterville, Minn., and lived there five years. In 1881, they came with settlers and took up a homestead near Edinburg. The first home was a dugout with a roof made of poles covered with straw and sod. It had three rooms,

Ole Knute Brandvold was bom in Hallingdal, Norway, April 11, 1869. He arrived in Edinburg in 1892, stayed with his uncle, Knute Brandvold, until finding work. He had worked in a store in Norway, his first job here was with Edward Field in his store. After a few years, he went into his own business. January 15,1901, he married Miss Annie Sondreson, daughter of Sondre and Betsy Sondreson. Annie was the first organist at the Odalen Church and a teacher at the

country school. She died March 21, 1902, leaving her husband and infant daughter, Annie. In 1908 he married Kristie Braaten, Kraderen, Norway. They had four children, Carl, Gilman, Alice and Margaret. All live in southern California. Kristie was a charter member of the Civic League in Edinburg. Ole Brandvold died Dec. 1, 1951. Kristie Brandvold died Nov. 3, 1971. Both were taken back to Edinburg for burial. Annie Brandvold married Emil Gire, son of pioneer Steregrim and Mrs. Gire. They had two children. S. Orlin Gire of California and Eva Gaurley, McLeau, Va. Submitted by Annie Brandvold Gire.

Mrs. Ole E. Brandvold

CHRISTOPHERSON FAMILY Karinus Christopherson came to Edinburg in 1902 from Kandiyohi County, Minn. He was born in Wisconsin in 1867. After purchasing his farm from Lars Ivesdal, he proceeded to put an addition to the one room frame house to make it comfortable for his three children, Inez, Clarence and Thelma, and his ailing wife, the former Anne Jorgine Iverslie, also from Kandiyohi County. In 1903, Mrs. Christopherson died, her sister, Marie, came to care for the family. The children grew up in this vicinity. In 1906, Mr. Christopherson was married to Karina Windingland who had come from Norway with her brother, Ole, in 1903. There were five sons, Alver, Leonard, Clifford, Raymond and Henry. They were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church until the merger in 1917, then joined Garfield Church of rural Edinburg. Mr. Christopherson lived on the farm until his death in 1943. Mrs. Christopherson remained there until her death in 1969.

Ole E. Brandvold

BEN BRANDVOLD FAMILY Ben Brandvold was born in 1873 in Otisco, Minn. In 1895, he married Hannah Verplank of New Richland, Minn. Five children were born, Gunhild, Agnes, Ole, Helen and Edgar (deceased). In 1904 they came to Edinburg from Waseca, Minn. They bought a farm three miles west of Edinburg, where they lived until he sold the farm and moved back to New Richland because of his wife's ill health. She died in 1906. In 1907, Ben Brandvold married Bessie Finseth of New Richland. They moved back to Edinburg and operated a cafe three years, sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Pritchett. He bought a farm one-half mile northeast of Edinburg. A daughter, Gilma, was born. Mr. Brandvold served on the Edinburg School Board. They were Trinity Church members.

K. Christopherson farm home built in 1908 by A. J. Loe. Left to right: Thelma [Markholt], Clarence, Inez (Ulberg), Karinus (father), Karina (mother), Alver (baby). OLE EVENSON Ole Evenson was born in Oslo, Norway, came to Grafton at 21. He worked on the Great Northern Railroad as it was being built. He filed on a homestead one mile north of Edinburg in 1881, married Maria Marifjeren in Dundee Township in 1890. Two boys were bom, John (deceased) and Selmer. She died in 1897. He bought a farm three miles northeast of Edinburg and sold the homestead to Tom Espetveidt. Ole Evenson married Kristi Ronnei in 1899. She was born in 1864 in Bergen, Norway. She came to Dundee Township at 19. Her boat fare was paid by her great grandfather, J. J. Marifjeren, where she made her home until she married Carl Olson of Dundee Township. He died of typhoid fever. She was left a widow with three children, Ole (deceased), Josephine (Peterson) and Clara (Folson). Four children were born to Ole and Kristi Evenson, Maurice (deceased), Evelyn Reese, Olive Brandvold and Albert (deceased). Ole Evenson was treasurer of Lampton School District No. 50 for 40 years, and served on church and township boards.

Mrs. Brandvold died in 1933. Mr. Brandvold sold the farm to his son, Ole E. Brandvold, in 1941. Ben Brandvold died in 1949. The Brand voids are buried in the Trinity Cemetery. Submitted by Olive Evenson Brandvold. TORKEL N . BRANDVOLD Torkel N. Brandvold, native of Hallingdal, Norway, was born Feb. 7, 1867. The brother of Ole K. Brandvold, he came to America in 1893, homesteaded land in Lampton Township. He lived there until retirement and never married. When he retired he lived with his brother and family. He died June 17,1950. He was a supporter of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and was buried in the Edinburg Cemetery. Submitted by Annie Brandvold Gire. 544

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Edinburg. He died in 1934. Mrs. Evenson died in 1918. They are buried in Park Center Cemetery in Dundee Township. Submitted by Olive Evenson Brandvold.

old building near the lake to be ready to catch the "early birds." In the morning they were aroused by crawling lizzards. John passed away in 1973 and burial was made in the Edinburg Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. John E. Evenson. ESPETVEDT FAMILY

Ole Evenson about 1881. JOHN EDWIN EVENSON

The John Edwin Evenson Family. Bottom row: John E. (father), Cindy Loftsgard, Janelle Evenson, John Evenson No. 3, Mrs. John Evenson [mother]. Top row: Dr. Laurel Loftsgard, Carol, Bradley Loftsgard, Eunice, John M. Evenson. John Edwin Evenson was born Oct. 12, 1892, in Lampton Township, the son of Ole and Marie (Marifjeren) Evenson. He attended rural school in the Edinburg area and the A. C. at Fargo. John was a member of St. Paul's Hauges Lutheran and later Trinity Lutheran Church of Edinburg. He farmed all his life in Lampton Township. He served on both church boards, was a member of the first board organized by the Farmer's Union Oil Company of Edinburg, a director of the first potato and produce company organized in the area and also served on. the district school board. He was selected as a delegate from the Park River Church Circuit to the Concordia College Board of Regents and served in that capacity for several years. In November, 1921, he married Minnie Hammerstad of Tiber Township. Their family are Carol, Mrs. Laurel Loftsgard of Fargo, and John M. Evenson of Edinburg. There are also four grandchildren. One incident John often recalled was - as an avid hunter and fisherman he and Edwin Fedje of Hoople were duck hunting on the Bernston Lake. They slept in an

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Espetvedt came from Norway and settled east of Thompson for a few years with five children. In 1881, they came to settle on a farm north of Edinburg. A few years later, they moved a mile west. Their oldest daughter, Mrs. Annie Erickson, moved to Edmonton, Alta., after her marriage. The second daughter lived in Grand Forks almost all the time, except for a few years while she took a claim on land in the northwestern part of North Dakota. Tom, a son, lived at Edinburg until his death. The second son, Johanns, died while a young man. A daughter, Mary, married Anton G. Johansen, lived at Edinburg until her death. Submitted by Alma Johansen. MARTIN FOLSON Martin Folson came from LaCrosse, Wise, in 1885, filed homestead in Lampton Township. He spent his entire life there until the last five years which he spent in Los Angeles, Calif. While hving on his homestead, he built a log cabin and did carpentry work for others. He married Josephine Amelia Olson, who had come from Oslo, Norway, as a young girl. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Brady Olson, who homesteaded in Lampton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Folson had six sons and five daughters - Morris, Adolph, Emma, Freda, Cora, Marion, Hannah, Carl, John, Herbert and Elmer. Mr. Folson was a staunch believer, did much for the Lutheran Church. He and his brother, Nels Folson, came to Grafton and walked to Lampton Township. He often remarked that "perserverance was his belief and that eventually brought him much satisfaction and happiness." He died at 97 in 1961. Submitted by Herbert N. Folson. DEWITT CLINTON FULLER Dewitt Clinton Fuller was born at Mt. Clems, Mich., Feb. 8, 1866, and came to the Wahpeton area as a young man with his mother, Mrs. Mary Fuller. He homesteaded in Sargent County, later returned to Wahpeton. Miss Ora Evangeline Howe, who was born at Lowell, Mich., on Nov. 16, 1875, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zadoc Howe, also came to the Wahpeton area with her parents as a young girl. They were married at Fergus Falls, Minn., Dec. 2, 1890. They farmed in the Wahpeton area until 1904, when they bought the Shepard farm and moved to Edinburg. The farm is now owned by John Sveen, Jr. They had horses, cattle, machinery and household goods shipped in by train. Their house was part log and part frame. Part of it had been used to grind feed. They worked until they made what they had into a comfortable home. There was an abundance of wood, that was heat and cooking fuel. They lived on this farm until 1932. Mr. Fuller served as assessor for Lampton Township, and Mrs. Fuller as clerk for Lampton School District No. 50.

Due to the depression and crop failure, they were forced to leave as the Federal Land Bank foreclosed. They moved to Hallson, then moved back to Edinburg where they built a small home and resided. Mr. Fuller died in 1938, and Mrs. Fuller in 1947. They had seven children, two died in infancy. Willis Fuller died Feb. 2, 1973. He lived in Grafton. Surviving are Homer Fuller, Osnabrock; Mrs. Selmer (Ethel) Evenson, Edinburg; Melvin Fuller, Grafton; Mrs. Grace Tillson, Memphis, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt Clinton Fuller are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Edinburg.

a hotel. Mrs. Gire was active in church work. Her pride was to entertain members of Immanuel Ladies' Aid at her home, a yearly event. The home was large enough to house all the members of her Aid, plus Odalen and Garfield and surrounding churches. Gire, during his residence in Edinburg, was active in community and civic affairs. He helped organize and was on the board of the Farmers Elevator, vice president of the firm for 29 years. He was vice president of the Edinburg bank, a member of the township board for 27 years, a member of the school board for 30 years. During the war, he served on the Liberty Loan and Red Cross Committees. He was a member of the Edinburg Band. Gire took an active part in building the Immanuel Church and his youngest son, Lloyd, was active in the newly built church in Edinburg on the building committee in 1967, known as the Trinitv Lutheran Church. Pastor Langemo married Stengrim ana Andrina in 1894, about the first couple to be married. Forty two years later, Pastor Langemo married their daughter, Alda Gire, to William Melstad, one of the last couples to be married by him. Pastor Langemo also baptized and confirmed and married the children of Stengrim and Andrina Gire. Albert and Sigurd have died. Submitted by Alda Gire Melsted.

Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt Clinton Fuller at Edinburg farm home—1910. Left to right: Homer, Willis, Mr. Fuller, Mrs. Fuller, Melvin, Grace (Tillson), Esther (Evenson). STENGRIM AND ANDRINA GIRE Stengrim Anderson Gire was born in Ness Hallingdal, Norway, May 1,1866, son of Anders Anderson and Ronda Bergdalen. His family included eight sisters and brothers. He came to the United States when he was 21. Mr. Gire worked in Minneapolis for three years, came to Milton, where he and Erik Rustan operated a tailor shop. While there, he met Andrina Tonning, also from Norway. They were married Dec. 28, 1894, by Rev. J. T. Langemo. Mr. Gire acquired land two and one-half miles west of Edinburg in 1894, and he brought his bride to the home, a short distance south of Olaus Ulberg s. All the land was timber. Two sons were born, Albert and Emil. They began farming with limited means, a cow, a horse and a few chickens. Mr. Gire decided to build a large home about a quarter of a mile further south. This home, sheltered by trees, was built by Andrew Loe of Edinburg. The home still stands. Six more children were born, Ruth (Mrs. Russell Rinde), Roy, Sigurd, Alda (Mrs. William Melstad), Amy (Mrs. John Rohrer), and Lloyd. The youngest son, i_loyd, and family are living and working the farm homesteaded by Stengrim and Andrina. Mr. Gire and five sons farmed extensively. Andrina (Tonning Gire) was born March 3, 1887, at Visness Stryn Nordfjord, Norway. Her family included one sister, Mrs. John Pederson (Sathersdahl), Adams, who preceded her to America, and five brothers in Norway. Mrs. Gire had the privilege to go to Norway to visit her brothers. Mrs. Gire came to Grand Forks in 1892. Then came to Milton, where she worked for Frank Delling, who owned

Family of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Gire. Front row: Alda (Melsted), Mr. S. A. Gire, Lloyd, Mrs. Gire, Amy (Rohrer). Back row: Sigurd, Roy, Ruth (Rinde), Emil and Albert. CHARLES GILBERT FAMILY Charles Gilbert was born in Lawler, la., in 1863. He came to the area and settled on a farm five miles west of Edinburg. In 1890, he married Annie Stenerson, glad to have his bachelor days over. In 1897, they sold this farm and purchased the Edwards farm two miles northwest of Edinburg. He was active in church and township affairs, as well as the school near their home and held various offices. He built a farm home, made many improvements and planted a grove of trees on this barren prairie land, monuments to an industrious man. Five children were born, Herman Landor died at one. Other children were Lillian (Mrs. Fingar Fingarson), Herman, married Bergine Lunde, died in 1961; Edroy married Ethel Fuller, died in 1919; and Ada married Ralph Dahl. The Gilbert family resided on the Edinburg farm home until 1919 when Mrs. Gilbert died. Charles Gilbert moved to Oregon, died in 1943. Submitted by Mrs. Ada Gilbert Dahl. 546

THE GJEVRE FAMILY The Gjevre family lived in Vang Valdros, Norway. The widowed mother and four of the six children emigrated to the U. S. in 1868. After a three month trip over the Atlantic in a sail boat, then on the Erie Canal, they came by rail to northeastern Iowa. In the spring of 1881, the Red River Valley of the north, called the "Bonanza of the World" or Eldorado, was the jumping off place for many a young man. Endre and Osten Gjevre were two of the first to come to the Edinburg area in 1879 and squatted on land. In those days the land had not been surveyed so it was hard to tell about the country in which you lived until it was open for filing. Their younger brother, Ole, landed in Grafton, June 17, 1882. This being the end of the St. PaulMinneapolis-Manitoba Railroad. He started out on a boat heading for Dundee Post Office. He got a ride with Ole Rustan, who lived about three miles east of Osten. The following directions were given — to west when you come to the sand ridge, call on the Icelanders who will know where Osten lives. Since it was all timber, Ole missed directions and landed at Gardar, where Erick Bergman, storekeeper, took him in hand. He pointed to a tree much taller than the rest which was on the banks of the creek where Osten lived, and told him to go either east or west. Ole took a chance and went east. After much walking, Ole joined his brother. The Botolf Floms, who lived near Kenyon, Minn., moved to Waseca Co., Minn. Marie, the oldest child, grew to womanhood in that county. Thomas Lajord, the first deacon of the LeSveur River Lutheran Church, conducted prayers, led singing and had charge of the religious instructions of the children in the various school districts. Marie enjoyed this singing school and could sing in any key. When mother Flom died, the family left Minnesota and came to the Grafton area by ox team, in 1882. They landed at a place which is now known as the Stengrin Nelson farm. Ove Overson was Edinburg's first assistant postmaster. Ove started the two towns of Edinburg and Dundee. Mail was hauled from Grafton. Overson had an addition to his store which was used as a recreation center and a school. In 1882-1883, Ole hauled goods and mail from Grafton to Edinburg. Marie Flom worked in Overson's store. The mail carrier fell in love with Marie Flom. On the 4th of July, 1883, there was a sort of a celebration at the Guldbrand Ulbassen home. He lived in the timber close to Edinburg. In those days private homes were the center for dancing. Platforms were erected for square dances, so Ole and Marie went to the celebration. Later, they went to Mrs. Andrew Andersons who served chicken supper for 25 cents a plate. Ole worked for Osten in the spring of 1883, as he couldn't work due to illness. Driving three oxen, putting in 30 acres of wheat, sowing it by hand and dragging it, he broke 60 acras and backset 50 acres. In 1887, northern Dakota Territory had a big wheat crop. Wheat sold for 57 cents a bushel and gold was in circulation. Marie Flom and Ole Gjevre were married in January, 1884, in Grafton. In the early days people would walk to some destination and when a settler's house was reached,

HENNING GUNHUS FAMILY

Henning Gunhus Family—1917. Seated, left to right: Selina Bjorneby Gunhus, Henning Gunhus. Standing, Mrs. Henning Gunhus and Edroy Gunhus. Henning Gunhus was born Aug. 17, 1867 in Rice County, Kenyon, Minn. His parents were Erick Gunhus, born in Madum, Norway; his mother, Astri Lien Gunhus, born in Hallingdal, Norway. His wife Annie Marie Baker was born in Goodhue County, Kenyon, Minn., July 3,1869 and died July 10, 1954. Henning Gunhus died Sept. 22, 1956. Parents of Annie Baker were Ole Baker, born in Tronheim, Norway, and Siri Wrolstad Baker, born in Torisdal, Norway. Annie Marie Baker and Henning Gunhus, were married June 22, 1893, in Kenyon, Minn. Before the couple was married, Henning hauled cream for the North Star Creamery in 25 gal. barrels. Sometimes the cream would get real sour and would pop a cork. Annie was a dressmaker. She would sew for the neighbors for a fee of 50 cents per day. This couple lived three years around Kenyon. Their first child was born, but died at 20 months. They came to North Dakota March 6,1896, with two carloads of immigrant goods. They purchased a farm from Ole Brevik, five miles northwest of Edinburg, built two small logbarns,which housed eight horses.The water situation was a problem. Annie often carried two pails of water a distance of one-half mile. In 1903, they started building on Riverside Farm, where they lived until they moved to Village View Farm, just north of Edinburg, where they resided until their deaths. Henning Gunhus was active in civic affairs and organizations. He owned and operated the first light plant in Edinburg, was one of the organizers of the Edinburg and Tiber Telephone Co., in 1908, helped organize the Walsh County Farmers Union, the Edinburg Farmers Elevator Co., the Edinburg Farmers Union Oil Co., was a member and organizer of the Non-Partisan League, served two terms as representative in the State Legislature, 1919-1921. In the Henning Gunhus family there were two boys and one girl. Edroy, I, died in infancy, Edroy, II, and Selina, Edinburg. Elina was adopted and lived with them three years, then died. They have two grandchildren, Clarice Wilford, Carmichael, Calif., and Paul Bjorneby, Edinburg. Submitted by Edroy Gunhus. 547

would ask permission to stay for the night. Their request was never questioned. They were made welcome. A strange phenomenon puzzled the settlers - lights could be seen at night, sort of a will of the wisp. At first they thought the lights could belong to new settlers but try as they could they could never get close to the lights. This was evidently in the waters or over a swamp area. Submitted by Christine Gjevre. HAMLET PETERS HARRISON FAMILY Hamlet P. Harrison was the youngest child of John Robert and Agness (Byers) Harrison, born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1840. He died at Centralia, Wash., March 11, 1917. At eight, he moved with his parents to Ontario. When old enough, had his own farm, in 1865 he went to Minnesota, taking up an 80-acre homestead near Rush City. On March 15, 1877, he married Dorothea Maria Sophia Jarchow, Stillwater, Minn. Dorothea was born near Buffalo, N. Y., May 14, 1856, and moved with her parents, Frederick C. Jarchow and wife, Dorothea (Voss), to Minnesota in childhood, received her education at Stillwater, Minn. She died at Centralia, Wash., Jan. 12, 1916. Dora and Hamlet Harrison lived near Rush City for four years. Two children were born, Alice Victoria, April 4, 1878, and Lilla Dora, July 21, 1880. In 1881, they were of the first families to settle in Walsh County. Grandfather Hamlet P. Harrison filed on both a preemption and a tree claim. Three more children were born in Dundee Township. They were unnamed, May 28, 1884, stillborn; Adrian Auerel, July 16, 1885, Ellen Ruth Harrison, Nov. 17, 1889. Dora Harrison was a member of the Methodist Church and took an active part in church work all her life when her health would permit. She was instrumental in organizing the first Sunday School and church in the community, serving in all the official departments of both. She was also a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union for over 30 years. Mother Lilla Dora Harrison Hilpert died, age 87, in Sept., 1967. She moved from Edinburg with her family when she was 22, and came to Centralia, Wash., where she passed the remainder of her life. But Edinburg, N. D., and environs was truly her heart's home, and I heard her speak often and lovingly of North Dakota, friends, relatives, and their lives there, as long as she lived. Names like Sheppard, Peterson, Johannes Marifjeren, Kalgaard, Laithewaite, Bathgate, Mclver, Lindell, Almen, Glendenning (or Clendenning?), and Baskerville, were as familiar to me as people I actually knew, and how I wished I too could see and enjoy wild crocuses, prairie roses, her beloved yellow ladyslippers, and long summer prairie twilights! My brother, Lowell Hilpert, had made a hurried, but sentimental journey to Mrs. Folson's part of North Dakota in May of 1956. His time was so limited it is amazing he accomplished what he did, locating the old home place, exploring with Kenneth Folson the old Lampton Cemetery (now in fields belonging to the Folsons), took a picture of the then still-standing "Rutledge" school where our mother and her brother and sisters went to school, taught by John Rutledge, also Annie Mclver, and Catherine McNeil. The Lindell homestead cabin was still standing in 1956, and he photographed it.

I have a few bits to quote from my mother, pertaining to the Harriston place. She wrote, "Our first house was built of oak logs. It was on the edge of timber and as there weren't many trees it wasn't very desirable, but served us until we could have a better house." "My parents traded John Lindell 40 acres of prairie for 20 acres of oak timber. In those trees we built our new house. A spring went clear around one side of our pasture and never was dry. In the winter it overflowed, we skated on it and used our sleds. The log house had a lean-to on the side. I was only four — barely — when the first boy was born, and can remember seeing him just lying there, and mother in bed. Alice and I had been sent to a neighbor, and that was the homecoming. Nothing much was wrong that a doctor couldn't have handled. Only Auntie Sheppard (Elizabeth Harrison Sheppard, sister of Hamlet Harrison, widowed mother of a large family, who nursed and helped out over all that locality) was there and didn't know how to turn the child. Mother said she mourned that loss so much she decided she must have another child, and so the next year Adrian arrived. The baby who died was buried at Lampton Cemetery. He was first buried on our home place and was moved as soon as a cemetery was established, so they buried him twice. Such was life in those pioneer days." LAUGHLIN McNEILS The Laughlin McNeils moved to Walsh County about the same time as the Harrisons. My mother, Lilla, referred to the mystery over the location of "Laughie" McNeil's wife's grave. Apparently a new baby boy was born to them within two or three weeks after their arrival, joining their one child, a girl, Catherine. The mother died giving birth, and as happened all too often, the location of the unmarked grave was lost and it was always a cause of grief and worry to the daughter, Catherine. A good deal older than her baby brother, but still a child, she set about keeping house for her father, and raised her brother. She later became a schoolteacher, and the two younger children of Hamlet and Dora Harrison, Ellen Ruth and Adrian, went to school to her. The McNeils also came west about the same time as the Harrisons and Sheppards, and close ties were maintained between the families. The Sheppard place in Dakota was quite near the present-day Folson place, and the Folsons and the present-day owners of the former Sheppard place, by the name of Fuller, entered into trying to solve the mystery of the grave of Mrs. McNeil, and I believe did know of an unmarked grave in the Fullers' fields, or one nearby. During my mother's later years she was contacted by Fred Rutledge, son of schoolteacher John Rutledge, who taught school to so many at the school I mentioned before - I've only heard it referred to as the "Rutledge" School. Fred Rutledge set about reminiscing and gathering up as much material about the early history of the area as possible, and he and my mother carried on a flourishing correspondence for several years. Toward the end of it he told her she might like to know that much of her information - her letters - were now (at the time he wrote during the 1950's and 1960's) in Bismarck. Submitted by Shirley Hilpert Fuller (Mrs. Steven D. Fuller).

DANIEL HALVORSON HOVE Daniel Halvorson Hove was born in Skien, Norway, May 4, 1869. He was one of a family of 12. When he was about 10, his parents and the unmarried brothers and sisters decided to sail for America. The trip on sea took six weeks. When they arrived in America they went to Manitowoc, Wis., where they had relatives. In the spring of 1880, Torkel Haavit and his son, Daniel, left Wisconsin for the "free land" of Dakota. They arrived in Grand Forks by train but there was no train to bring them up to the Edinburg area so they bought a small cart to haul the few supplies they needed to set up housekeeping. Daniel's father had to pull the cart all that distance. Their home that winter was a small dug out. Having left his brothers and sisters back in Wisconsin with his mother, Daniel often spoke of his lonesomeness. He used to say if one could have died of lonesomeness, he knows he would have succumbed to it. He did meet one boy, Stener Stenerson, of Edinburg. As long as Stener lived, Daniel would always stop in at his home to say hello, talk over their childhood days together and the few pleasures they had as children. After a better dugout had been made, Daniel's mother and the rest of the family came to North Dakota. Daniel married Annie Jorgenson of Vang. She was born in Rosor, Norway, May 19, 1875, and was one of a family of nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Halvor Jorgenson. Annie was seven when they arrived in America, lived a short time in Illinois before they heard of the opportunities in Dakota. Upon arriving in Grafton, Annie and her sister, Emma, and a brother, Knut, were left at separate farms to work. The parents went on to Vang to establish a home in a dugout on their homestead. Even though Annie was only seven, she tells of working for some time for this farmer, tending his children and doing chores before he informed her she had earned a cow and that her father would be coming to get this much needed cow to supply milk for the children. She would often relate the dire loneliness she felt, too, especially at holiday time. Education for Annie and Daniel was minimal as they both worked. Daniel and Annie Hove farmed four miles northwest of Edinburg after their marriage in 1896. Four of their family of five were born in that place. Ida, Thomas, Henry and Alvin attended country school. Their teacher was Olina Johanson (Mrs. Nels Groven) now living at Park River. They lived in a log house but later a more comfortable home was built. The family was active in Norwegian Baptist work. Meetings were held in the Haavethome from 1894 to 1896 when the church charter was written up and the congregation organized. Daniel was elected church treasurer. Later the church was moved to Park River. Daniel often told that despite the 16 mile ride by buggy or sled, they were almost always the first in church, thanks to spirited horses he prided himself in owning. Sunday afternoons at the Hove farm were busy for the family. Neighbors visited back and forth in those days. The family would ski, sled or skate in winter in the hills near the home and large groups would gather. Daniel spent winter evenings making skiis for anyone who needed them.

In 1913, the farm was sold to Anton Johanson and the Hoves pressed farther west to take up farming. Daniel loaded three box cars of cattle and foods which were shipped to their new home at Powers Lake. The first home was a tar paper shack which they lived in through howling blizzards and summer heat for three years before their new home was completed. A daughter, Myrtle, was born there. Myrtle (Mrs. Henry Johnson) and Ida (Mrs. Arthur Sillie) are surviving children. They had 11 grandchildren. Daniel and Annie Hove lived to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Submitted by Mrs. Henry Johnson of Powers Lake, N. D.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Halvorson Hove. Taken when they lived at Edinburg. Henry, Ida, Thomas and Alvin. NELS ISAKSON

Sunday gathering at the Nels Isakson home—1911. Left to right: Andrew Madland, holding son, Clarence, tsert Madland, Bert Smeland. Middle row: Bert Madland, Jr., Aaron Isafeson, Mrs. Jens Torgerson, holding son, Kent, Mrs. Andrew Madland, Asborg Knutson, Sisel Torgerson, Anna Peterson, Gunhild Oystad. Seated on chairs: Mr. and Mrs. Nels Isakson. On ground in front: Jens Torgerson, Obert and Theodore (sons), Louise Anker and Isaac Isakson. Nels Isakson was born Nov. 16, 1854, in Aaseral, Norway, and came to America in 1885, homesteaded in Lampton Township in 1885, and became the owner Dec. 20, 1880. His wife, Anna Annunson, came to America in 1896, was married to Nels Isakson Sept. 5, 1896, by Y . A.

Omland. Witnesses were Jens Torgerson and Halvor Akre. Isakson was a school teacher from Norway, taught for a number of years. An acre of his land was broken in exchange for his teaching. Nels died in 1912, Anna Isakson in 1938. Submitted by Olga Isakson. ELLIS JOHNSON Ellis Johnson was born in Sweden, came to the U. S. in 1879, homesteading at Edinburg in 1881. He married Petronella Johnson in 1889. He died in 1894, his wife died in 1914. His wife's sister, Mrs. Josephine Shuley, was married in a log house. Anna Johnson is the only surviving member of the family. MR. AND MRS. ARNE JOHANSEN

The Arne J. Johansen Family. Back row, left to right: Anton, Carl, Olena, Henry and Ludvig. Front row: Arne and Mrs. (Dorothy) Johansen. Mr. and Mrs. Arne J . Johansen came to Walsh County in 1880 from southern Minnesota. He was born in Norway, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Johan Severson. When he came to this country, as the son of Johan, his name became Johansen. Mrs. Johansen (Dorothy Knutson) was born in Wisconsin in 1851, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Knute Saltvold, who came from Norway and changed the family name to Knutson in the U. S. Mrs. Johansen spent her early years in the Waseca, Minn., area, to which her family moved when she was a child. While living here, she saw the United States torn by the strife of the Civil War. Her brother, Oram, enlisted in the northern army and once was on the verge of death as the result of typhoid fever. He was in the army of General Sherman that made the now historic "march to the sea." Oram later lived in Edinburg and is buried in the cemetery in Edinburg. As a young woman, Mrs. Johansen was a cook at Pillsbury Academy in Faribault, Minn. In May, 1876, she and Arne Johansen were married in that city in a service performed by Bishop George Whippe, one of Minnesota's outstanding, early church leaders. While living in Faribault, Johansen was a foreman at the mill in that city. His father was a miller at Skotterud, Norway. The Johansens lived in the Faribault community four years, then joined the stream of settlers heading for the Red River Valley in North Dakota. They

came by train to Ada, Minn., which was as far as the railroad had been built. From there, they continued in a covered wagon, settling on a homestead near Garfield. During the first winter, they lived with neighbors and in the spring built their first home, a dugout in the side of a hill. Timbers were used as support for a ceiling. The family lived here for one year and their daughter, Olena, was born there. Johansen sold this farm in Golden Township and bought land three and a half miles northwest of Edinburg . A log house was built, stood for over 70 yea rs. Later a big, red barn was built. Then came a fine five-bedroom home, with large kitchen, living room and parlor and three porches. There was also a blacksmith shop, machine shed, garage for a Buick, which they bought before 1915. There was also a chicken house, hog house and granary in this complex of buildings located in the midst of a stand of oak, near a small stream that flows into the Park River. From the homes, no one was ever turned away in need of food or shelter. Most frequent guests at the log house were early surveyors, who tramped the prairie with cook stoves and blankets on their backs. One of them was Karl J. Farup, who became a leading Park River banker, and also Tillers and Frome, early Milton bankers. Mrs. Johansen recalled how the travelers often cared for her small children while she prepared the evening meal. One surveyor saved the life of her brother who fell through the ice on the river while returning with mail. The marketing and supply center was Grafton, to which the railroad had come in 1881. To get there from the farm meant a 35 mile trip by wagon or bicycle. Mrs. Johansen rode a bicycle to both Park River and Grafton for supplies and to sell farm produce. She and the rest of the family worked to make the farm as self-sufficient as possible. They always had a big garden, milk cows, hogs, chickens, turkeys and geese. They picked wild berries and raised bees. Mr. Johansen, and later, the sons, were avid hunters and excellent shots. They used every opportunity to bring home prairie chickens, ducks and other wild game. The "wheat line" of the Great Northern gradually pushed up to Edinburg and beyond, making possible a life of more convenience and comfort. Eight children were born. Three died in infancy and a son, Ludvig, at 23. The other children were Anton, Carl, Olena and Henry. Anton soon struck out on his own to farm west of the home place and Carl bought land north of Adams in Tiber Township. Carl died in an accident involving a run-away team of horses in July, 1942. He was married to Grace Chally. Olena was a teacher who married Nels Grovom, they farmed west of Park River. Henry took correspondence courses in drawing and designing homes and other buildings. He managed a hardware shop in Dresden, later a lumber yard at Starkweather, then returned to the home farm with his wife, Francis Murphy of Langdon. She had been teaching school. They took over the farming when his father, Arne, was in failing health. He died in 1921. His wife stayed on the farm while Henry farmed it, until a home was bought for her in Park River in 1923. She lived there until her death April 30, 1941, near her 90th birthday. Henry died. Anton and Olena survive.

Mrs. Johansen organized the Ladies' Aid in the Edinburg Trinity Lutheran Church and the first meeting was held in her home. She was a diligent member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Park River and in every kind of weather, walked to church on Sunday and for all mid-week services. She was one of the most active workers in the Ladies' Aid, busy at making rugs, tablecloths, and handwork sold at church affairs or given to friends and relatives. Seven grandchildren completed high school in Park River while staying with their grandmother during the school term. For years, she and her daughter, Olena, served a dinner in her home to honor all of the grade school teachers in the Park River School. Arne Johansen was on the local school board. The teacher often stayed at the Johansen farm home while teaching at School District No. 7. When Mrs. Johansen moved to Park River she took with her as much of her farm life as possible. She had an immense garden of vegetables and flowers in Park River, a few hives of bees and some chickens. She was always busy outside or in the house with projects. She read much - including a Norwegian newspaper listened faithfully to a regular list of radio programs, read the Bible as well as The Christian Herald and other publications. She seems to typify the pioneers who settled Walsh County and left a legacy of hard work, religious faith and enthusiasm for life. Submitted by Richard Johansen, grandson.

lived there two years before moving to the home farm at Edinburg in 1920. Henry Johansen and his brothers and sister attended the little school located half a mile from their family home. He went on to take business studies in the Fargo area and took a correspondence course in drafting. He had talent for this work and also in carpentry. He was a man who read newspapers and magazines at every opportunity, as did his wife. They also had great interest in the early '20's. They encouraged their children to have an interest in education and all nine took studies beyond high school. Eight finished college degrees, going into law, medicine, agricultural science, education and business. The Johansen farm produced certified seed potatoes for many years and had a herd of Shorthorn milk cows. During the drought and depression days of the '30's, the few dollars from cream did much to provide grocery money for the family. A garden and the picking of berries were also a mainstay. Their nine children were: Richard, Clinton, Robert, Norma, Donald, Douglas, Wallace, Marjorie and Gerald. A son, Ralph, died in infancy. Frances died Jan. 31, 1950, at 54. Submitted by Blanche Murphy, Langdon.

FRANCES JANE MURPHY Frances Jane Murphy was born at Elkwood Oct. 4, 1896, youngest of a family of five children, to Michael Henry and Jennie (Jane) Hope Murphy. Other children were Mary Irene, Blanche Elizabeth, Grover C. and Henry Hope Aldrich Murphy. Her father was customs officer at Elkwood before moving to Langdon when Frances was about two. While serving, he, a Democrat, was elected as a representative to the territorial legislature for two sessions. When her father was in the legislature, her mother tended to the customs office and the children and helped fight prairie fires. Previously, her father practiced law at Bowman, coming from Boston, Mass., as the profession was over-crowded there.

"Dresden Sports." Left to right: John Pavek—G. N. Agt., Henry Johanson, Aug. Everslage—Bank Cashier.

The family lived in Langdon for a short time. He purchased a general store at Dresden, not far from Langdon, and the family moved there in 1898. Several years later he sold this business, came back to Langdon and became county assessor. Her mother died in 1905. After three years, Frances lived with an aunt's family, the Alex McMvens, until her marriage. She attended elementary and high school in Langdon. In 1916, she taught a rural school at Dresden and met Henry Johansen, who was in charge of the Robertson lumber yard. On April 11, 1917, Frances was married to Henry Johansen at the Presbyterian manse in Grand Forks by the Rev. C. M. Brown, the attendants were her sister, Blanche, and a friend, Mrs. Belle Brathvode, Reynolds. Henry left the Robertson yard at Dresden, took over the management of a lumber yard at Starkweather. They

ROBERT AND KAREN JOHNSON FAMILY Robert R. Johnson, born in Lillehammer, Norway, March 25, 1848, came to America at 14 with an older brother. He worked in Decorah, la., and became skilled in brick laying and masonry. In 1875 Robert married Karen Lunde, born Sept. 15, 1858, at Preston, Minn. She was the daughter of Norwegian parents, Agnette and Anders Lunde. Karen and Robert made their home near Preston, two sons, John and Adolph, were born. In 1879 they gathered household and farm equipment and began the journey west to obtain land in Dakota. Rail transportation ended at Grand Forks. They loaded family and possessions into a horse-drawn wagon, leading their cow behind and continued northwest to what is now Walsh County. They obtained their 551

stayed at their home. They in turn, taught the school children the next day. She attended high school in Park River and the University of North Dakota. She praised her history professor, but felt that in her home economics class all she had learned was how to wash pots and pans. She taught elementary grades for ten years in Lampton Township, at Fairdale and substituted in the Landsborough School near Park River. Olena Johansen Grovom (some people called her Olena Johnson) loved children and the school children and their parents loved her and respected her teaching ability. One man sent his children to the school in which she was teaching rather than to his own district. Her pupils remember her fondly and stop to visit her. On Nov. 15,1916, she was married to Nels Grovom at her parents' home in Edinburg. Attending the couple were Henry Johansen, Christ Grovom, Sophie Lovaasen and Grace Chally (Mrs. Carl Johansen). They had two girls, Dr. Evelyn Grove, who teaches at Moorhead State University, and Dr. Dorothy Grovom, who teaches at the University of North Dakota. They lived in Golden Township where they built a home and farmed. She spends part of her year at her farm home and part of the year in Grand Forks with her daughter, Dorothy. At 93, Olena Grovom still possesses the witty sense of humor, the courage, friendliness, willingness to help others and love of people, especially young children, which have characterized her entire life. Submitted by Dorothy Grovom.

homestead by "squatter's rights," the land had not been surveyed. A dugout was their living quarters until Mr. Johnson could obtain logs and lumber to build a house. Oxen had been better in breaking up new land, therefore, Mr. Johnson traded his team of horses for four oxen. Carl Farup was a frequent caller as he surveyed the land. The Johnsons felt fortunate when the post office of Edinburg was established only one-half mile north of their home. Disappointment came two years later when the railroad was built and Edinburg was moved, leaving the Johnsons 3V4 miles northwest of town. The school house for School District No. 7 was built near the Johnson home. With Rev. J. T. Langemo a member of this district, it seemed natural to have Lutheran instruction and services in the schoolhouse. Robert Johnson served on the School District No. 7 board. Johnsons were among the first members when the Immanuel Lutheran congregation was organized and Mrs. Johnson was a charter member of that Ladies' Aid. Nine children were born, John, Adolph, Martin, Nettie (Lahd), Oscar, Alfred, Marie (Stewart), Elmer and Thomas. All used " R " for their middle initial to avoid mail confusion in a community of many Johnson families. Mr. Johnson was in the 1918 flu epidemic and died in December at 69. Mrs. Johnson was a widow for 27 years, died in 1945 at 87. They are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Edinburg. Mrs. George (Myrtle) Berg is the granddaughter of Karen and Robert Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Berg live on the farm 3% miles northwest of Edinburg that the Johnsons called home most of their lives.

Mrs. Robert Johnson (Karen Lunde) OLENA JOHANSEN GROVOM

Mr. and Mrs. Nels Grovom

Mrs. (Rolette) Olena Johansen Grovom (Mrs. Nels Grovom) one of the pioneer teachers, is a native North Dakotan. She was born near Garfield, present site of the Park River Bible Camp, Nov. 4,1881. Her parents, Arne and Dorothy Johansen were en route to Edinburg. Her father built a sod house for his wife and two sons, Anton and Carl. In this home the only daughter living to maturity was born. She grew up on the farm in Lampton Township with four brothers.

G. C. LAITHWAITE FAMILY George C. Laithwaite and his wife, Adeline, came to Lampton Township from Clinton, Ont., in the late 1800's. They purchased their farmstead east of Edinburg from Balton Cunningham, Jr., in 1902. They lived in a large log cabin, a gathering place every Sunday for picnics, games and hymn sings. Grandma Adeline baked six pies and two layer cakes every Saturday for these occasions. A daughter born in Canada died in infancy. Sons, Glen, born Jan. 15, 1894, and Raymond, born July 22, 1898, survived. Their log cabin home burned in 1908. George built a 13 room house with the idea his two sons and families would live there too. The farm was known as the Edinburg Seed Farm, specialized in selling seed Minnesota

Olena attended rural school near her home. She finished her studies early, but was not able to graduate until she reached a certain age. She praised one teacher who gave them lessons which really were a part of the high school's curriculum. She was glad to study algebra while still enrolled in this country school. She used to work arithmetic problems for the rural teachers who 552

Blue Stem Wheat, New Zealand Rust-Proof Oats, Garton's Swedish Oats and Canadian Field Peas. Laithwaite served in the North Dakota State House of Representatives. He was 6'5" tall and straight as a willow. He was an avid Bible scholar, taking correspondence courses. Active in community affairs, Adeline, in her rustling taffeta skirts, was a charter member of the Civic League which cleared the site of the present Edinburg Park of a livery barn, planted grass, trees and shrubs. After his sons began farming, George and Adeline moved to Grand Forks. He was employed as bookkeeper at the State Mill and Elevator until his death in 1935. Adeline lived in the city until her death in 1948. Glen married Ruth Rodger, Crystal, Oct. 24, 1917. They lived on the farmstead until 1970 when they sold the farm and moved into Edinburg. Two children were born, M. Rodger Laithwaite, Sherman Oaks, Calif., and VernaDelle (Mrs. Henry Skorheim), Adams. Glen was an avid hunter and fisherman. Ruth was a charter member of the Daffodil Study Club and the W. C. T. U. She loved poetry, kept several scrapbooks. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1967. Ruth died Dec. 19,1972, and Glen, Feb. 2,1974. Raymond married Clara Rodger, Ruth's sister, in June, 1921. Two daughters died in infancy, one daughter, Beverley (Mrs. John Hall), Edinburg, survives. When Clara died in 1936. Beverley made her home with Glen and Ruth Laithwaite. Raymond farmed and worked in the Edinburg area for 22 years. Later, he moved to Detroit, Mich., and worked in the automobile industry. He was married to the former Gena Odne, Park River. Raymond died June 14, 1963. All are interred at Memorial Garden Cemetery in Park River. Submitted by VernaDelle Skorheim.

a house and were invited to spend the winter with them in their one room home. The two families became life-long friends. Two years later, the pre-emption was sold and a homestead filed. This was located on Range 56, Township 159, north of Range 56, Section 31. The homestead certificate No. 1431 was received from the land office at Grand Forks under the administration of Grover Cleveland. Here five boys and five girls were born: Anna, Antone, Antoinette, Carl, Julia, Emma, Alfred, Bergina, Thorwald, and Edmund. They were life long members of the Lutheran church and active in all the church affairs. They took an interest in the Republican Party. They lived on the homestead until their deaths, Bertha Lunde in 1938, Theodore Lunde in 1940. Submitted by Bergina (Lunde) Gilbert.

Mr. and Mrs. Theo Lunde

THEODORE T. LUNDE

ANDREAS LARSON Olava Halvorson of Norway and Andreas Larson of Sweden were married in 1889. On Oct. 30,1890, a daughter, Annie, was born. Around 1892 they sailed for America, settled north of Edinburg in Lampton Township. Nov. 1, 1894, a son, Theodore, was born. The Andreas Larsons were Baptists, charter members of the Bethel Norwegian Baptist Church, Edinburg, later moved to Park River. Late in 1896, Andreas Larson was lonesome and homesick for Norway and sailed back to Shein. Dec. 20,1897, Carl was born. A daughter, Karen, and a son, Lars, were born later. Johnny was born Jan. 31, 1899. Karen and Lars died while quite young. Annie and Ted developed some type of a bone disease in their feet and could not walk. With all the sickness among the children, they sailed on the Stavenford for America the first part of October, 1901. It was 17 days before they landed at Hoboken, N. J., then took the train to Edinburg where they were met by relatives from Norway.

Theodore T. Lunde and Bertha Halvorson were married in Preston, Minn., July 31, 1877. They immigrated from Felmore County, Minn., with their two small children in 1881. They spent some time in the Grand Forks area, continued their journey by ox team to Walsh County where they filed on a pre-emption claim on June 3, 1881. This was in Section 321, Township 157, Range 55. The claim application was No. 251. The first winter was spent in a dugout, reinforced with logs and a sod roof and dirt floor. The third child was born. Another couple with two children arrived too late that fall to build

Andreas Larson homesteaded in the Edmore area. Henry was born in a sod house on Sept. 15, 1902. Mr. Larson proved the first papers, left the farm and moved north of Edinburg (Lampton) and went to work for the Great Northern Railroad section. He worked six days a week, ten hours a day for 95 cents a day. Aug. 6, 1906, another son, Alvin, was born while living at Edinburg. In the spring of 1908, the Andreas Larsons moved to Park River. The following year he went threshing in the Tiber Township area. He drank polluted water and became ill, walked to Edinburg to catch the train to Park

George C. Laithwaite, behind Mrs. Geo. Laithwaite, Glen Laithwaite, Ruth (Rodgers) Laithwaite, Harriet Shouldice Rodger and James Rodger.

River to receive medical attention. He lived about a week before he died at his home. His wife was not home, she was cooking in the cook car for Jim Dougherty. Mr. Larson died Sept. 25, 1909. Theodore served in the Navy in World War I. He married Dorothy Simcox, they had two sons, Jack and Bill. Bill died in France in World War II. Henry is a minister in the Assembly of God Church. He married Agnes Smazek. They had two daughters, Marion and Delores, and one son, Buddy. He died when three years old. Annie married William Dalton. They had two children, Carriette and Henry. Alvin never married. He died May 7, 1948. Carl married Dora Yates Walls. She had a daughter, Ramona Walls, by a previous marriage. Carl never knew he wasn't a citizen until after he was married. He was talking to Elmer Ofstedahl (County Judge). He found out that Andreas Larson, his father, never took out his second papers and that left Carl a citizen of Norway. He was registered as an alien, had been voting since he was 21, thinking he was a citizen. He then started proceedings for his citizenship papers. As he was married to a citizen, it took but two years, instead of the usual five. While waiting for his first hearing on his citizenship, he was notified to report to the local draft board for induction into the army. Submitted by Mrs. Carl Larson.

Pastor Langemo served this parish until 1934 when he retired from the active ministry. On July 18, 1888, he married Mina Anderson, Edinburg. Five children were born, Maria (1890-1947), Peter (1892-1956), Marcus (1898- ), Emma, Mrs. N. N. Duefjeld (1900- ), Joseph (1905-1972). Joseph was ordained into the ministry in 1934, served congregations at Arnegard, Wadena, St. Paul, Mahnomen, and Glyndon, Minn. He served as an army chaplain in India in World War II and was acting as a chaplain at homes for the elderly at Twin Valley and Ulen, Minn., at the time of his death. Mrs. JohnT. Langemo died Sept. 30,1928.

Mrs. J. T. Langemo

Mrs. Andreas Larson—Front row: Carl, Mrs. Larson, Alvin, Amil. Second row: Henry, Theodore. REV. AND MRS. J. T. LANGEMO John Thorbjorn Langemo, second son of Peder and Karen Langemo, was born near Kenyon, Minn., Jan. 12, 1861. He was baptized and confirmed by Rev. B. J . Muus in Holden Congregation, Kenyon, Minn. He received his education in the rural school near Kenyon and at St. Olaf Academy, Northfield. He graduated from Luther College, Decorah, la., in 1883. He attended Luther Seminary, Madison, Wise, from 1883-85, was graduated as a candidate of theology from Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio, in 1886. Receiving a letter of call from Zion and Immanuel Lutheran Churches of Walsh and Cavalier Counties, he was ordained to the ministry by Rev. Muus at Holden Church, Kenyon, Oct. 20, 1886. The parish was soon enlarged to include Highland Congregation in Cavalier County and Urland Congregation in Pembina County. Odalen Congregation was added to the parish in 1897.

Rev. J. T. Langemo

Rev. Langemo came to Walsh County shortly after the pioneer wagons had moved into the territory and many of the early services were held in private homes and in schoolhouses. Mrs. Langemo (Mina Anderson) came with her family from Wisconsin at 12 to make her home on her father's homestead in Lampton Township. She attended school in a building which her father helped construct. This building served as temporary quarters for Sunday services, later became the building where all her children were taught. Mrs. Langemo's father, Nils Anderson, was to play a rather important part in Rev. Langemo's life. Langemo married his daughter, purchased his homestead and made it the home where all his children were reared and where he lived during almost the entire time of his 48 years of active ministry. After selling the farm to his son, Peter, he continued to live on the home place until his death at 86. Three of the congregations were within reasonable driving distance during the horse and buggy era. The round trip to the other two congregations was near 40 miles. Horses with a strong sense of self-preservation could pace themselves at six miles an hour and seemed to stand up reasonably well. There were times when horses made use of a sixth sense and brought the preacher home when trails were obliterated in snowstorms. Memories seem to suggest that Langemo had a high sense of urgency in meeting appointments, weather not withstanding. A quotation from Rev. Helsem on a special recognition occasion referred to Rev. Langemo as "an Israelite in which there is no guile." Langemo's high esteem for the truth probably won for him the respect of his parishioners who permitted his active service of 48 years in one place. Submitted by Marcus Langemo, son.

Members of the Edinburg community erected a bronze plaque in the city park as a remembrance of his participation in the religious and civic life of the people. Submitted by Marcus Langemo.

He was a charter member of Garfield Lutheran Church. He died February, 1926. He is buried at Garfield Cemetery. Submitted by John Madland, nephew.

JOHN AND MARTHA LAHD FAMILY

EILEF K. MOE

John Lahd was born May 14, 1843, in Norway. He came to Kenyon, Minn., when he was a young man. He married Martha Hilestad, born in Minnesota Sept. 25, 1853. In 1880 Martha and John traveled by wagon train with three small children to Dakota Territory. They settled on land north of Park River. They had 10 children, John, Andrew, Martin, Mary, Peter, Christina, Caroline, Christian, George and Joseph. Mrs. Lahd died Nov. 3, 1915, and Mr. Lahd died Oct. 3,1924. They were members of the Park Center Lutheran Church and they are buried in the cemetery there. Submitted by Mrs. George (Myrtle) Berg, granddaughter of Martha and John Lahd.

Eilef K. Moe was born in Mykland, Norway, Nov. 28, 1892. He came to America in 1910, and went to St. Charles, Minn. He later went to Everett, Wash., and was there a year, then came to Lawton. He married Laura Helle in 1916 at Adams. They lived in Grand Forks until 1921. Mr. Moe worked at Russell Miller Milling Company. He purchased Chris Levang's farm machinery at Adams in 1921 and began farming. They lived there until 1926, then moved to Lankin where they lived for five years, before moving to Lampton Township in 1931. Five children were born, Kenneth in 1917; Irene in 1919; Edward in 1925; Arne in 1927, and Irvin in 1934. Irene, their only daughter, died in 1933 at 14. In 1951, Arne was killed during action in the Korean War. Kenneth, the oldest son resides in Chicago. He married Clarie Tiskawitz of Wausau, Wis., and has one daughter and two sons. Edward fives on the farm that he purchased from his father. He married Helen Sveen. They have four sons. Irvin lives in Puyallup, Wash. He married Lois Bateman of Clyde. They have one daughter and two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Moe moved to Grand Forks in 1953. Mrs. Moe died Oct. 27,1973. She is buried in the Hvideso Cemetery and so are Irene and Arne. Mr. Moe has resided in Grand Forks since her death. There are five great-grandchildren. Submitted by Helen Sveen Moe.

LORETTA TRAYNOR McGLYNN Loretta Traynor McGlynn came to Edinburg with her parents in 1883. Two brothers, Mike and Ben, and two sisters, Maggie and Lottie, came by wagon from Grafton, the nearest railroad. Their farmstead was between old Edinburgh and the new town built in 1887. Some of the workers constructing the line boarded and roomed at their home. Neighbors were the Spencers, Glendennings, Alex, Jim, Kate and Alice; the McLeans, Milton, Willis, George, Maud and Jessie; and the Pollocks, Arthur, Jim, Mary and Alex. Loretta McGlynn reported "There was no telephone or telegraph then. The nearest doctor was at Grafton, at first. Later, Dr. Flaten began practicing in Edinburg. The children attended the school near Arne Johansons. Later they moved, neighbors were the Edwards and the Gemmills. When the railroad went through to Langdon, anyone who wanted could have a free ride. I recall that when attending the Lampton School, we went down to the spring every noon to see the beautiful peacock owned by the family who lived there. We got mail only once in a while. There was no icecream, fresh fruit or vegetables or candy bars. I was a grown girl before I ever saw a banana. "Those were hard days - I recall a bunch of us driving to a dance in Hoople, ten in a wagon box. It was New Year's Eve and a storm came up and we had to sit in the hotel until daylight. We got home at 10 o'clock the next day. The roads were so blocked, we had to stop and rest the horses many times — we were so cold and hungry." This report was taken from the files of the 1957 Anniversary (75th) Booklet.

CARL MAGNUSSON Carl Magnusson was born in Amal, Sweden, came to settle on a farm near Edinburg, where he applied his trade as a carpenter. August 11, 1901, he married Augusta Augustsom. Four children were born, Mrs. Alvin (Ruth) Bakke, Union, Victor, Portland, Ore., died Aug. 31,1971. He had a family of three, Grace, Paul and Lynn. Paul was a radio technician and Grace, artist of floral designs; Richard, Eaton, Colo., one son is employed by IBM at Longmont, Colo. Submitted by Tom Walker.

ELIAS MADLAND Elias Madland was born in Norway in 1866, came to Walsh County and homesteaded in Lampton Township in 1889. He continued to farm until 1915, when he retired, sold the farm to Ole A. Thompson and moved to Park River. He never married. His brothers, Ole, Lars, Andrew and Sam, all lived in the same area. A sister, Mrs. Stenbakken, with her family, homesteaded in Montana.

Mr. Carl Magnusson 555

OLE NELSON Ole Nelson was born in West Tolin, Norway, Sept. 25, 1854. He came to Orfordville, Wis., in 1881, worked in that area until 1884. Martha Olson was born in West Tolin. She emigrated to America in 1881. They were married Feb. 10, 1882, at Luther Valley Parsonage, Orfordville, Wis. In 1884, they moved to North Dakota, arrived in Grafton by train. They then traveled with horse and wagon to Vesta Township where they and baby daughter, Emma, stayed with relatives until a home was built. Later they moved to Lampton Township and farmed until poor health forced him to retire. The rest of their life was spent withe their sons, Olaf and Peter. Ole Nelson died July 26, 1914, his wife died May 3, 1940. They had two sons, Olaf and Peter, and seven daughters: Mrs. Emma Staven, deceased; Mrs. Josephine Howe; Mrs. Nellie Halvorson, deceased; Mrs. Aletta Aker; Mrs. Minnie Slette; Ida Nelson, deceased; and Mrs. Lilly Akre. Submitted by Lily Nelso Akre.

The Rustan family belonged to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, now Trinity Lutheran. Ole died at 66 Aug. 25,1913. Bergit Rustan died May 17,1919, at 74. Ole and Bergit's children, their spouses and number of children are: Gunhilda married Alof Brunsvold, 6 children; Helge-Guri Brunsvold, 5; Fingar-Caroline Olson, 8; Malla-Symour Domstad, 6; Oleanna-Anton Lunde, 11; Oluf-Louise Stenerson, 6; Helmina-Albert Brunsvold, 2; Nina-Henry Lien, 7; Peter-Anna Johnsson, 2; Caroline-Alfred Erickson; and Hilda-George Gunhus 4. Submitted by Mrs. Gunhus.

Mr. and Mrs. Ole H. Rustan DRENG RIKE

The Ole Nelson Family: Emma (Stave), Josephine (Howe), Nellie (Halvorson), Olof, Peter, Aletta (Aker), Ida, Minnie (Slette), and Lilly (Akre). OLE RUSTAN FAMILY Ole Rustan, 20, and Bergit Mjolid, 22, were married in March, 1867, at Ness Church in Hallingdal, Norway. The same year they emigrated to America, sailing for seven weeks. They came to Spring Grove, Minn, and moved to New Richland, Minn., where they built a house and farmed. In 1880, they moved to Edinburg. With a family of seven they came by rail to Grand Forks, then drove 75 miles with oxen to the land they homesteaded three miles north of Edinburg. Four children were born at Edinburg.

Dreng Rike

The old Edinburg Post Office was about 3% miles northwest of Edinburg. Ole Rustan and his boys, Helge and Fingar, hauled the mail from Edinburg to the Silvesta Post Office. Grain was hauled by oxen to Grand Forks twice a year. Ole Rustan built a creamery and elevator on the site where William Hall's home now stands. He bought grain and ground feed. Later he built an elevator close to the depot. It was managed by Nels Folson and Ole Rustan. For many years the grain buyer was Ole Torgerson. Ole Rustan was along building the railroad tracks through Edinburg and union.

The history of Edinburg would not be complete without making mention of Dreng Rike, brother of Bjorn Rike, a farmer northwest of Edinburg. Bjorn was the father of Olav Rike and Theodore B. Rike. Dreng operated a watch and clock repair business together with a confectionery store in the building now occupied by Martin's TV Repair Shop. He purchased the business from Oscar E. Mandt. Dreng was a bachelor, lived in two small rooms in the rear of the building with his black and white cat, Lars. As a boy of 12 or 13, I worked for Dreng in the

confectionery store, selling candy and soft drinks. Whenever a young child would come into the store and call him "Uncle Dreng," he would always be favored with a piece of candy. One of the favorite drinks sold, was apple cider out of a keg. On occasion a keg would be allowed to remain open (accidentally or intentionally) and the result would be "hard cider." As this was during the prohibition period, it seemed this would stimulate the apple cider business. Sometimes when this happened, Dreng would naturally sample his wares, get in a jovial mood, take out his violin and entertain the customers. In the early 1920's, Dreng went back to Norway, died there a few years later. The day he left Edinburg, he let it be know that he would give every child 25 cents that came to the depot to see him off. The result was that there were so many children on the depot platform that the train had to stop before it got to the depot for fear of running over some of those that came to see Dreng leave for Norway. Submitted by L. S. Jensen.

His wife, Emma Sonderson, daughter of Sundry and Bergit Sonderson, was born in Tiber Township in 1884. Emma Sonderson received her education in a country school in Lampton Township. Charles Stenerson and Emma Sonderson were married in Grand Forks, April 3, 1909, by Rev. Hultin. They had a family of two daughters, Mrs. Bernice Bergman and Mrs. Norma Gutterud. Charles and Emma farmed in the Edinburg area their entire life. They belonged to the Edinburg Lutheran Church. Charles died in 1949 and Emma in 1975. Both are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery of Edinburg. Submitted by Norma Stenerson Gutterud.

HELGE RUSTAN FAMILY Helge Rustan was born in Richland, Minn., in 1869, came to North Dakota with his parents in 1880. They settled on a farm north of Edinburg after traveling by train to Grand Forks and driving with oxen to Edinburg. In 1898, he married Guri Brunsvold at Hanlontown, la. They settled on a farm 2 M> miles north of Edinburg where they lived in a log house until 1907 when they built the house that is still on the farm. Helge and Guri Rustan had six children, Hazel, Nora, Harry and Oscar, all living in Edinburg. A daughter, Mildred, is deceased, one other child died in infancy. Helge died in 1945 at 75, his wife continued to live on the farm until her death in 1966 at 97. They were members of the Trinity Lutheran Church and are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Hazel and Nora Rustan

Mr. and Mrs. Helge Rustan—1898 CHARLES STENERSON Charles Stenerson, son of Helleck and Liv Stenerson, was born near Hayfield, Minn., in 1881, came with his parents to Lampton Township when a small child. They lived in a sod house north of Edinburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stenerson MR. AND MRS. S. H. STENERSON Stener H. Stenerson was the son of Helleck and Liv Stenerson, a family of 12. He wasborn in Hayfield, Minn., Sept. 17,1871. In 1881, the family moved to Walsh County and settled on a farm north of Edinburg to homestead. On June 24, 1897, he married Tillie Tharalson, Hoople. They began married life on a farm now owned by Allan (Bud) Sondreson, later moving southeast of Edinburg to the farm they bought and lived on until his death Dec. 11, 1942. They were the parents of Harry, Paul, and Stanley Stenerson, Stanley survives. Mrs. S. H. Stenerson was born April 2, 1870, in Fursdale, Norway. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Paul (Siggrie) Tharalson who pioneered near Hoople, N. D. Mrs. S. H. (Tillie) Stenerson was one of a family of five children and came to this country at the age of eight. The family settled first in Limesprings, Iowa, where they lived for two years. They then traveled by oxen, in a covered wagon to Hoople, where the late Paul Tharadoon homesteaded. The land was one-half mile north of where Hoople now stands and is where Tillie Tharalson grew to womanhood. The first school Mrs. Stenerson attended was in a sod hut; some years later a new school was built, called the Union School House and that is where she finished her schooling. Church services were also held in that school house. At the age of 26 years, Tillie Tharalson was united in marriage to Stener H. Stenerson of near Edinburg, at which time horse and buggy were the only means of

travel. To this union three sons were born, namely: Harry, Paul and Stanley. Mrs. Stenerson moved to Edinburg following her husband's death and lived there until her death on June 1, 1957. Submitted by Stanley Stenerson.

Thorstein Stenerson and Helena (Bolstad) Stenerson JOHN SVEEN FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Stener Stenerson HELLEK STENERSON Hellek Stenerson was born in Telemark, Norway, in 1825. He immigrated to America in 1846 at 21 years, came to Hayfield, Minn. Soon after, his girlfriend, Liv Hellekaas from Telemark, also came to Hayfield, Minn., and they were married there about 1867. Four children were born, Annie, Stener, Torsten and Gunhild. In 1881, they immigrated to North Dakota, spent some time in the Grand Forks area where Hellek worked on the railroad and they also boarded men who also worked on the railroad. There was no water where they lived, so it was a job for the two young boys to carry water from a long distance to their home. Hellek found time to look around for a place for them to settle and make a home. He decided on a spot three miles northwest of Edinburg, a wooded area near the river. He built two rooms into a hillside and brought his family there late in October, 1881. They traveled in a covered wagon pulled by a pair of oxen. They brought with them one cow. The last night of their journey to their new home, they camped by the river which is now near the Bible camp, south of Edinburg. Snow fell that night and it was a bleak, cold morning for the family. It was a joy to reach the place which was to be their home for the rest of their lives. Soon a small house was built and later an addition. Several additions were added to the family, Halvor, Charley, Louise, Eddie, Gustav and Maria. Two other children died in infancy, 12 children in all. Anna became Mrs. Charles Gilbert, Gunhild was Mrs. Edward Feild, Louise was Mrs. Oluf Rustan, Maria was Mrs. Hellek Nereson. The boys all married. Hellek Stenerson was active in school and church affairs, was a charter member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Edinburg. He died in September, 1909, and his wife, Liv, died in July, 1922. The immediate family are all deceased, the last, Louise Rustan, died in 1973. Submitted by Ada Gilbert Dahl.

John Sveen, Sr. Family. Top row: Helen (Moe), John Jr., Hazel (Johnson. Bottom row: John Sr., Ernest, Mrs. Sveen. John Sveen, born at Rena, Norway, came to the United State's in 1912, worked at different jobs until he started farming in the early twenties. He married Magdalena Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicolai Anderson of Edinburg March 23, 1920. They have four children, Ernest R., born Dec. 12, 1920; Helen and Hazel, twin girls, born May 21, 1922; and John Nicolai, born July 8, 1927. In 1934, John Sveen bought the Fuller farm where the family lived for many years. Ernest married Runa Eastman, Akra, in 1942. They have four children. Ernest served in World War II, now farms two miles west of Edinburg and is the mail carrier out of Edinburg. Helen married Edward Moe, Hoople, in 1950. They have four sons. They farm northeast of Edinburg. Hazel married Ralph Johnson of Grafton in 1945. They have six children and reside at Hawley, Minn. John N. married Maxine Westberg, Edinburg, in 1951. They have seven children. He served in the Korean Conflict. They live on the farm he bought from his father in 1960. In 1959, John Sveen bought the schoolhouse in Lampton District No. 50, which he remodeled for a house where they now reside. The Sveens belong to Trinity Lutheran Church, Edinburg. Members of the Sveen family include: Hazel and Ralph Johnson; Kathy (Mrs. Larry Munro), Brian, Jane (Mrs. Marvin Sparorell), Mary, Vicky and Mark. Helen and Ed Moe; Loren, Leslie, Lyle and Roger. John, Jr., 558

and Maxine Sveen; Nancy (Mrs. Derrick Pearson), Daniel, Debra, Pamela, Janelle, Lori and Jeffrey. Ernest and Runas Sveen; Judy (Mrs. Dennis Lunde), Richard, Randell and Russell. Submitted by Mrs. Ernest Sveen.

He operated a general merchandise store in Edinburg from 1905 until 1914. He was a member of the Edinburg Band and active in politics, a member of the Republican Party. Mr. and Mrs. Sundvor were members of the Garfield Lutheran Free Church. Mrs. Sundvor was a member of the Ladies' Aid, served as president two years. Mr. Sundvor was a director of the Lampton School District No. 37. After 1914, the Sundvors farmed in the Edinburg and Park River areas, also operating a threshing rig until he retired and moved into Edinburg. Mr. Sundvor had a brother, Lars Jenson, who lived in the Park River area before moving to Roseau, Minn., and a sister, Wilhjelmina, who died in infancy. Also a half-brother, Christian Sundvor, Edinburg; six halfsisters, Ida Troftgruben, Caspera Birk, Inger Ulberg, Hannah Brock, Thelma Solom and Bertha Lerud. A halfbrother and two half-sisters died in infancy. Sisters and brothers of Tomine Sundvor are: Christ Tveit, Elizabeth Swensrud and Lars Hommeland, also two sisters and two brothers in Norway. Tomine Sundvor died May 5, 1953, and John H. Sundvor, Jan. 13, 1949, both are buried in the Garfield Lutheran Cemetery, Edinburg. There were 11 children bom to the John H. Sundvors. One died in infancy. Others were, Ingebor, Mrs. John Staven, deceased; Jennie, Mrs. H. J . Trott, Paradise, Calif.; Bertha, Mrs. Leonard S. Jensen, Edinburg; Hilda, Mrs. Herman Brevik, Park River; Wynne, Mrs. E. B. Kreft, Burlingame, Calif.; William Sundvor, deceased; Emaline, Mrs. Bert Woodhams, deceased; Mildred Sundvor, deceased; and Mabie, Mrs. Ross Grippi, Redwood City, Calif.; and Thilford Sundvor, deceased. Submitted by L. S. Jensen.

CHRISTIAN B. SUNDVOR Christian B. Sundvor was born on a farm in Tiber Township on July 15, 1893, son of Hans and Elizabeth (Fjelde) Sundvor. He married the former Anna Bjerke on Nov. 18, 1925, at the Garfield Church near Edinburg. They had three daughters, Elaine (Hilde) of Edinburg, Ada Lou (Falos) of Grand Forks, Christine (Solberg) of Rugby, and a son, Harold, now on thehome farm in Lampton Township. Christ Sundvor lived and farmed in Tiber and Lampton Townships all his life. He was a member of Garfield Lutheran Church, acting as trustee and deacon. At the time of his death, he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Edinburg. He served on the Lampton Township School Board for several years, was a charter member of the Farmers' Co-operative Oil Company and had served on the Farmers' Elevator Board of Edinburg for 25 years. He died on Jan. 7,1973, at the age of 79 and is buried in the Garfield Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Christian B. Sundvor. JOHN H. SUNDVOR

HANS JOHNSON SUNDVOR

Mr. and Mrs. John Sundvor—1903 JohnH. Sundvor was born in Osage, la., Oct. 25,1881. His parents were Hans J. Sundvor and Ingeborg Lubrekke. He came with his parents to Walsh County at the age of one. They lived in Fertile Township, near Grafton, until his father homesteaded in Tiber Township in 1882. He attended local schools in the community, later attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis. On May 27, 1903, he married Tomine Hommeland, born June 3, 1884, at Stavanger, Norway, who had come to North Dakota in 1901 at 17. Mr. and Mrs. Sundvor continued to live in Walsh County the balance of their lives, except for one year in Canada and four years in Pembina County, near Svold.

Mr. and Mrs. Hans J. Sundvor—1888 Hans Johnson Sundvor was born March 24,1857, at Sundvor, Norway. His parents were Johanes and Forjer Sundvor. He had one brother in this country, Tollef Johnson, Grafton, and three brothers and five sisters in Norway. Hans lived his early life in Norway, serving three months in the Norwegian Army. While still in Norway, he married Ingeborg Lubrekke in 1879. Shortly after their marriage, they immigrated, first settling in Osage, la. They had three children. Their daughter, Wilhjelmina, died in infancy and is buried in Iowa. Their two sons were: John H. 559

CHRISTIAN ULBERG FAMILY

Sundvor, who lived in the Park River-Edinburg area, died in 1949, and Lars Jenson, who lived for several years in the Park River area, later lived at Roseau, Minn., where he died in 1972. The family came to Fertile Township, near Grafton, where they lived for a short time, then homesteaded in Tiber Township, near Edinburg, in 1882. Mrs. Ingeborg Lubrekke Sundvor died in 1884 and is buried in the South Trinity Cemetery. Mr. Sundvor was married to Elizabeth Fjelde in 1888. Elizabeth Fjelde was born in Jorpeland, Norway, Feb. 24, 1862. They were members of the Garfield Lutheran Free Church, near Edinburg, active in the affairs of the church and community. Mr. Sundvor was a supervisor of Tiber Township for six years, and a director of the Lampton School District No. 37 for six years. There were 10 children, two daughters and one son died in infancy. Others were, Ida, Mrs. Carl Troftgruben, deceased; Caspera, Mrs. Ingebret Birk, Superior, Wise.; Inger, Mrs. George Ulberg, Grafton; Christian Sundvor, deceased; Hannah, Mrs. Homer Brock, deceased; Thelma,Mrs. ArnoldSolom, deceased; and Bertha, Mrs. Alfred Lerud, Roseville, Calif. Elizabeth Sundvor died at 61 Feb: 14, 1924. Hans J. Sundvor died Oct. 21, 1940. They are both buried in the Garfield Lutheran Cemetery, near Edinburg. Submitted by L. S. Jensen.

The Christ Ulberg Family. Back row, left to right: Alice Skyrud, Oscar, Lena Levin, George, Carl, Minnie Petsinger. Front row: Mabel Haug, Clara Ellingson, Christ, Marvin, Regina, Ruby Prescott, Kermit. Christian Ulberg was born Dec. 19, 1862, in Valders, Norway. Olive Regina (Johnson) Odne was born Feb. 10, 1872, at Waseca, Minn. They were married April 5, 1888, by Rev. G. J. Omland at his home in Garfield, six miles south of Edinburg. They homesteaded in Gardar Township, and lived there four years. They moved to their farm two miles south of Edinburg where they lived the rest of their lives. They were charter members of Hauge Lutheran Church in Edinburg. They celebrated their golden anniversary in April, 1938. Mrs. Ulberg died in April, 1946, and Mr. Ulberg, September, 1951. Of the 12 children, six survive. They are Carl, Mrs. Alice Skyrud, Mrs. Oscar (Mabel) Haug and Marvin of Edinburg; Mrs. Ruby Prescott, Wadena, Minn.; and Kermit, Grand Forks. One child, Vernon, died in infancy. Five children died within the last few years, George, Oscar, Mrs. Isaac (Clara) Ellingson, Mrs. Alois (Minnie) Petsinger, and Mrs. Palmer (Lena) Levin. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Haug.

JENS TORGERSON Jens Torgerson came to this community from Oaseral, Norway, in 1895. In 1907, he took over land proved up by his aunt and uncle (Sedsil and Thor Torgerson, brother and sister). He married Marie Anderson, born in Lampton Township to Mr. and Mrs. 0. T. Anderson, also homesteaders, in 1903. They had five sons, Theo of Park River, Obert (deceased), Kent, Marvin and Leo, now in Canada. The farm in Section 27 has been in the Torgerson name since 1883. Submitted by Ted Torgerson.

ODNE FAMDL.Y Mrs. Ulberg's mother, Mrs. Carl (Carrie Johnson) Odne helped everyone who needed care during childbirth. Mr. (Johnson) Odne was a farmer-evangelist and violin player. He conducted funerals and other services. When Mr. and Mrs. (Johnson) Odne came to Edinburg there were so many Johnsons, they changed their name to Odne. Mr. and Mrs. Odne had six children, Willie, Christ, John, Mrs. Amund (Annie) Hadland, Mrs. Christ (Olive Regina) Ulberg, all deceased, and Rudolph, Vancouver, Wash. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Haug. OLE ULBERG FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. Ole Ulberg and family came from Valders, Norway, homesteaded one mile south of Edinburg in 1878. Their first home was a one-room dugout with a roof made of poles, dirt, and straw. They had four boys, Christian, Olaus, Even, and Esten. Three girls, two died in infancy, and Guri married Andrew Flaten, brother of Dr. Amund Flaten. Guri and Andrew had three children, Amund, Peter, who died in infancy, and Johanna (Flaten) Bakke, who still lives in Park River with her daughter, Laura. Submitted by Mrs. Oscar Haug.

Family of Jens and Marie Torgerson. Children, left to right: Kent G., Obert A., Theo I., Mr. and Mrs. Torgerson—Date 1911. 560

OLE WINDINGLAND

MR. AND MRS. LARS WINDINGLAND

Ole Windingland of Edinburg was born Jan. 4, 1875, to Mr. and Mrs. Tannes Windingland of Egersund, Norway. In 1893, at 18, he came to Grafton, went to a store by the name of Flekke, now S & L. In 1895, he moved to the Edinburg community and started farming. On Aug. 23, 1903, he married Louise Odegard, also from Norway. They had eight children, Lisa, Edith, Margret, Thelma, Andy, Christ, Lawrence and Oscar. They belonged to the Garfield Church, Ole served in several offices. His wife died in 1929. In 1932 he married Olga Fosserud, they lived on a farm until they moved to Edinburg in 1959. Ole died in 1963. Submitted by Mrs. John L. Johnson.

Mr. and Mrs. Lars Windingland were both born in Norway. He came to the United States and North Dakota in 1896 and his first job was that of a hired man on the very farm which he later purchased and on which he and his wife resided until retirement. In 1906, after having purchased a farm and seeing his way clear to pay for it, he returned to Egersund, Norway, the town in which he was born, and proposed marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Nicolina Haarr. They were married in 1907 and have five children. There are four sons, Tennes of Rochester, Mich.; Leon of Hoople; Albert of Edinburg and Einar of Arlington, Va.; one daughter, Karen (Kjelland) of Temple, Tex. Lars died in 1959. Submitted by Mrs. Albert Windingland.

First Farmers Elevator in Edinburg, before the rise of the potato industry. 561

Plaque marking the site of Old Edinburg — established in 1882. Bypassed by the Great Northern Railway in 1887 and moved to the present site of Edinburg in 1887. Project sponsored by the Edinburg Civic League in 1975 as a Bicentennial project.

Civic League—about 1911—harvesting the potato crop— clearing the lot for the Edinburg Park. 562

EDINBURG BIOGRAPHIES

time of his death he had about 50 completed and several partly finished. Nels was found dead in his home.' Submitted by Tom Walker.

ALFRED AOS

NELS AUGUSTON Maker of Violins (An original poem by S. L. L., Edinburg) Twilight is drawing its curtains Closing them tight with star pins: And in the gloom of that one little room To the maker of violins.

Alfred Aos was born in the Grafton vicinity, spent his entire life in Walsh County. Coming to Edinburg in the early 1900's, he clerked in the J. E. Peterson General store, later became postmaster at Edinburg, a position he held for several years. At the time of his death he was carrying the mail on Rural Route 3. In 1906, he married Laura Peterson, who died in 1907. She was survived by her husband and infant daughter. Mr. Aos died February 1, 1934. Survivors included his daughter, a brother, Oscar Aos, Cabri, Canada, and a sister, Mrs. Sam Hellekson, of Long Beach, Calif. Submitted by Laura Aos Herman.

Only his spirit lingers, Alone in its heaven of peace: For the touch of his magic fingers God has decided must cease. He was a maker of violins His work will remain through the years: Making music to fit all emotions Causing both laughter and tears. The gloom gathers closer; it seems j ust a dream The shadows are falling within: All that is left is a memory for meOf the maker of violins. See thru the haze of the shadows A masterpiece he had begun View his last works where memory lurks: Unfinished-for life's race was run. Always will be remaining Seeing instruments here and there Played by some maker of music A master, too, in his sphere.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Aos NELS AUGUSTSON

Andrew Loe, carpenter and builder on left, Nels Augustine, carpenter and violin maker, right. Nels Augustson came to the United States from Amol, Sweden, in March, 1887, settled in Edinburg. He never married. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker, built several houses in the vicinity. He applied his craftmanship by making violins, some of which were really high grade as to tone and workmanship. At the

CHRISTIAN BUCK From 1882 until Feb. 2, 1912, the name Christian Buck or Christ Buck as he was commonly called, ranked first as an outstanding citizen of Edinburgh and Edinburg, yet few facts are known in writing a biography of this prominent man. He was born Jan. 21, 1849, in Tromso, Norway. When he came to the United States or where he first settled are not locally recorded. He has been called the "Father" of old Edinburgh and of Edinburg. He was acting in the capacity of receiver of U. S. Land Office when he was appointed the first post master of Edinburg, Nov. 1, 1882. He had been educated at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was associated with a half brother, Charles Buck, who operated a drug store in Old Edinburgh. In 1887, when the town was moved to the new site he was postmaster and in addition, seemed to have far flung business ability for legal, financial matters and many depended on him for advice. Records also show he had title to various tracts of land in this area. His office held many records for the town and for others. He was president of the Village Board of Edinburg. In August, 1911, he was murdered by a crazed transient, Frans Meritalo, who registered at the Merchants Hotel in Edinburg the day before. He was shot in the neck when the demented man went on a rampage. His assailant committed suicide. Buck was taken to a

hospital in Grand Forks, where he lingered for months until Feb. 8, 1912, when he passed away. His untimely death was strongly felt in the entire community and probably made a great difference in the development of the town. He is buried in the Edinburg Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. M. C. Flaten.

His unfailing health permitted him to be amid the beauties of nature, the joy of music (he had a beautiful voice and kept himself well entertained while on his route) and most of all - the hundreds of friends he had acquired while living in this country. A few years ago he retired to Canada where he expected to enter a nursing home among relatives.

MOHAMMED ALLAY BOMROD

DR. BRANDUR J. BRANDSON

Mohammed Allay Bomrad, county peddler with his team, Bud and Biada, hauling his load or "wares". Mohammed Allay Bomrod was born near Beirut in Damascus, Syria, in 1895. He arrived in the Edinburg area in 1915, using that town as his mailing address while he traveled around Walsh, Pembina and Cavalier Counties, selling his wares and working on farms during busy seasons. As a country peddler, he first made his route with a sack on his back selling notions, toiletries, dress goods, medicine, jewelry and other essentials. In 1917, he bought his first horse. In 1922, his "one hoss shay" was replaced with a wagon when he bought a second horse, making a team - Bud and Biada, which he treated with utmost care. When he talked sharply to them, he would say - "I'm talking Irish." He wasn't "fussy" about where he slept, hay stacks, haylofts, but later as he was better known, he would find lodging and a bite to eat at some farm home. For a number of years, he frequently stayed at the Sigurdson home west of Gardar. Although he was thrifty, he was known for his kindness and generosity. During the flu epedemic of 1918 he spent weeks helping farmers who were victims of the "flu bug," never mentioning pay. He loaned money, trusted his customers when they were unable to pay. He sent much money to relatives in Syria and retained his Moslem religion by reading publications. He made regular trips to Vang on election days to mark his " X " as he had received his citizenship papers in Cavalier County. He stated it was a privilege for an American to vote. Although he had enjoyed good health he had been the victim of several accidents, runaways and once losing all his wares when his horses stepped off a bridge crossing a flooded area. While all his material possessions could be contained in his wagon, he stated his wealth was immeasurable.

Dr. B. J. Brandson served as a country doctor in the Edinburg area; later moved to Winnipeg where he started the Winnipeg Clinic. Dr. Brandur J. Brandson did most of his work as a surgeon in Winnipeg, Can. He is identified with the Icelandic communites in North Dakota where he came with his parents in 1880, at six. His father, Jon Brandson, immigrated to America in 1878, first to Lyon County, Minn., where he remained for two years, then to the Dakota plains. Dr. Brandson grew up in Gardar Township, and showed signs of leadership. His undergraduate work was at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. During vacations he earned money by teaching in the Icelandic communites in his neighborhood. His medical work was at the Manitoba Medical College in Winnipeg where he graduated with honors, later doing work in London and Vienna. He practiced for three years in his home town of Edinburg and moved to Winnipeg in 1905, where he served his profession almost 40 years. He died in 1944. The Winnipeg surgeon, the late Dr. Neil J. McLean was associated with Dr. Brandson for over 30 years, paid this tribute: "Dr. Brandson was a great man physically and mentally. I can see him now, an imposing figure in the corridors and wards of the Winnipeg General Hospital, with his genial bow and gracious smile. To all, whether friends or his patients, he extended a warm hand of friendship. His unperturbed bearing inspired confidence in patients and nurses. He had the faculty of always putting the Golden Rule into practice. When one tries to evaluate the qualities that make up a good citizen, it would be hard to find one who exemplified these attributes better than Dr. Brandson." Submitted from the "Stories of Icelanders in North America" by Thorstina Walters.

HANS CHALLY Hans Chally was born Dec. 11, 1842, came to the Edinburg community from Kankakee, Ul. They bought the homestead from Ole Bolstad. In 1882 he brought his family. His wife, Caroline died in 1904, in Chicago, 111. Their children were Mrs. William Crawford, Mathilda, Chicago; Louis, Altona, HI.; Sam, Henry, Lawrence and Grace. After his wife died, he went to Idaho and Oregon. He spent his later years at homes of his children. He died Jan. 1, 1933, at 90, at the home of Sam Chally, He was buried at Kankakee, Ul., near his wife. Submitted by Stella ChaUy.

wife in 1947, Seymour worked at the State School in Grafton for several years before retiring to his farm in Union, then owned by his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Evenson. Seymour died in 1956, and was buried beside his wife in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Union. Submitted by Adeline Domstad Steinolfson. STEPHEN EYOLFSON

S. 0. DOMSTAD FAMILY

Stephen Eyolfson in front of his shop—1930.

Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Domstad. Seymour was one of the early businessmen in Edinburg. Seymour was born in Grafton in 1872. He married Margit Rustan, who moved to Edinburg in 1882 by ox cart when she was nine. They were married Oct. 29,1896, by J. T. Langemo in the church in Edinburg which is now a historical museum. Rev. Langemo also baptized and confirmed all their children. They lived in Edinburg until the fire of 1902 destoryed the drug store, in which he worked and several other buildings. They lived in Argyle, Minn., for a short time, and in 1905, moved to Union to farm where Seymour built a one room house from the dismantled Grafton church. The Great Northern Railroad had been built in 1894, along with farming he ran the Imperial Elevator. The railroad ran on a wooden bridge over a coulee outside of Union until 1900, when it was filled in with dirt. People have been known to have been caught on the bridge with the train coming. They had to crawl down the side and stand on the pilings while the train passed over head. He served on the school board, held church offices and was township clerk. Seymour was also instrumental in getting the telephone line connecting the neighboring farms. Seymour's first car was a Birch, in 1918 he bought an Oakland. A son, Jesse, died at 16 of spinal menigitis; son, Maurice, died at 21 in the flu epidemic. They had 12 children, four survived them: two sons, Elmer and Melvin; and two daughters, Adeline Steinolfson and Millie Evenson. Elmer has died. After the death of his

Stephen Eyolfson was born in Iceland Dec. 25, 1849. He worked as a farmer and fisherman in his native country. He came to America in 1875, first located in Milwaukee, Wis. He worked in farming and lumbering and was foreman in a lumberyard in that city. He went to Winnipeg, took land north of Winnipeg and lived there five years. In the spring of 1880 he came to Pembina and in 1883, took land in Gardar Township where he resided the rest of his life. In 1885 he married Gudrun Bjornson. Eight children were born, Thordis died when she was five, Cecilia, Thorlakur, Thordis, Margaret, Pearl, Magnus and Bjorn. Stephen Eyolfson was elected to a seat in the State Legislature in 1894, served on the committee on agriculture, highways, bridges and ferries, public dept. and state library. He was a leader of his party and a staunch Farmer's Alliance man. He was elected County Commissioner in 1891 and served several years. He also served in many township offices. He was a member of the Luthern Church, Masonic Fraternity, Independent Order of Foresters and National Aid Society. He was active in building the telephone fines around the farms from Edinburg to Gardar and Mountain. For a number of years he operated a machine shop in Edinburg. His shop was one of the few buildings not destroyed by the 1900 Edinburg fire. Stephen Eyolfson died in 1933, and is buried in the Gardar Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. John Gestson. EDWARD FIELD FAMILY Edward Field, born 1859, was the son of Martha and Peter Fjelde who came from Norway in 1871. They settled in Mitchell County, Iowa. Edward came to Edinburg, started a grocery and dry goods store, general merchandise, in the mid 1890's. He had farming interests, was active on the town board and served as president of the school board. The store building housed other businesses with apartments above. It burned in 1900. Two seamstresses who lived upstairs died in the fire. He rebuilt.

Edward married Gunhild Stenerson, daughter of Hellek and Liv Stenerson, in 1896. She was active in the Civic League, Emanuel Lutheran Church and Sunday school. Their children were Mabel, Hazel, Emil, Irene, Evelyn, Alice, (Lloyd, Laura, Gaylord - who died as infants) and Beatrice. Edward died July 1, 1934, and Gunhild in September, 1947. Both are buried in the Edinburg Cemetery. Submitted by Irene Johnson.

taught Sunday school both in Edinburg and in Grafton, where the family resided from 1902 to 1908. A charter member of the Civic League that built and maintained the town park, she remained a promoter of that organization until she retired to Borg Memorial Home at Mountain where she died in September, 1959. There were few pioneer homes in the Edinburg area that had not at some time known the help she was ready to render in time of illness or misfortune. Without hospital service or trained nurses in the area, she often assisted her'husband in care of patients, even caring for them in their own home. She was known as a leader who always found a way to promote any worthy cause. Mrs. Flaten is buried in the family plot in the Edinburg cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. M. C. Flaten.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Field

Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Flaten—Aug. 2, 1889

A family gathering at the Field home—1908. Back row: Emil Levin, Alice Levin, Mrs. A. Levin, Mabel Field, Mrs. Ed. Field, Emil Field. Front row: Irene Field, Evelyn Field, Alice Field. Five sons of Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Flaten—1904. Left to right: Marcellus, Alfred, Amon, Joseph, John.

DR. & MRS. AMOS A. FLATEN AND FAMILY Mrs. Amos A. Flaten, Petranella Domstad, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Domstad, was born in Ottertail County, Minn., Oct. 28, 1870. Her parents had experienced several crop failures in Minnesota due to grasshopper invasion. Several of the related families settled north and northwest of Grafton, then a thriving settlement, in 1878. There she attended rural school, in 1889 married Amos A. Flaten. Following their marriage, they established a home in Minneapolis, Minn., while Dr. Flaten completed his study of medicine. In 1889, they returned to Park River, in the fall of 1889, moved to Edinburg. Civic minded, Mrs. Flaten was associated with all organizations for community betterment. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid,

DR. AMOS AMUND FLATEN Dr. Amos Amund Flaten was born at Black Earth, Wise. His father, Amund Peter Flaten, was born in Norway in 1819, his mother, Johanna Jorandby, in Norway in 1826. They came to Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1857. Twelve children were born to the couple. Dr. Flaten spent his early childhood and attended grade school in Wisconsin. At 16, he came with his parents, settling on a farm south of Hoople. He attended high school in Grafton, later taught rural school in the county before matriculating at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Minneapolis, Minn. This college was later affiliated with the University of Minnesota. 566

On Aug. 2, 1889, he married Petranella Domstad, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Domstad, rural Grafton. Residing for one year in Minneapolis, they returned to Walsh County following his graduation in 1890. He practiced for a few months in Park River, moving to Edinburg in 1890. Holding both an M. D. and C. M. degree, he practiced medicine, had a drug store, and was associated with his brother-in-law, Seymour Domstad, in operation of the store. He helped organize the State Bank of Edinburg. From 1896-1900 he served as a member of the town board. In 1896 he was named secretary of the State Board of Health, a position he held for four years. In 1900, the entire business section of the town was swept away by a fire that, in two hours, consumed every business structure in the village with exception of one office building. On the outskirts, one mill, an implement shop and elevator remained. In 1902, Dr. Flaten took post graduate work in St. Louis, later moved to Grafton where he practiced until 1908, when he returned to Edinburg to resume practice. In 1919, his eldest son, Dr. Amon Peter, a graduate of Rush Medical College in Chicago, joined him to practice for about two years. In 1923, another son, Dr. Marcellus C, who had received his degree in dentistry, returned to Edinburg to practice and shared office quarters with his father. In 1927, his youngest son, Dr. Alfred N. Flaten, a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., returned to practice medicine with his father until he retired because of ill health. From 1917-1925 Dr. Flaten was associated with his son, John, in operation of the Flaten Drug. In 1927, Dr. Alfred N. Flaten became associated in the operation of the drug store with his father and continued until his retirement in 1970. Dr. Amos Flaten's early days of practice were in horse and buggy days and as country calls often required hours of service, he often was accompanied by a driver. A familiar figure in buffalo overcoat and fur mittens, he was to venture out often on foot in the coldest weather. When roads were blocked, he had to follow the railroad track or fences to find the way. He once related his experience in narrowly missing a hole in the roof of a barn made by a farmer to gain access to the snow covered barn to feed the cattle after a blizzard. Dr. Flaten drove over what appeared to be a large snow bank but missed the opening. Registered nurses were not available, making his work more difficult. Sanitary facilities were not always available, contagious diseases were difficult to control. Lack of funds was a problem. Farm produce or feed for his horses were given in payment of his services. He often gave service without compensation. The need of the patient was always his first concern. One incident he related was when he had waited long hours for the birth of a baby in a home where a small boy had shown him the picture of the baby brother he had ordered from Sears Roebuck. While having a departing cup of coffee, the boy came up in tears and again showed him the picture, remarking, "I ordered the baby brother with black hair and they sent a baby girl with white hair -that's what you get for ordering from Sears Roebuck." Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Flaten's five sons were all born in Edinburg. Dr. Marcellus C. is the only surviving member of his family. Four sons served in World War I - the youngest being under minimum age. They were: Dr.

Amon Peter, 1891-1939, married Ingeborg Erlendson in 1916; John Flaten. 1893-. married Mildred Twyford in 1917, deceased; Dr. Marcellus C , 1894, surviving, married Winnifred Donnelly in 1921; Joseph N., 1896, married Elsie Lester, 1923, deceased, married Ethel (last name unknown); and Dr. Alfred N., 1901-1973, married Dorothy Nasinec in 1927. Dr. Amos Flaten died at his home in Edinburg in April, 1938, at 73. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Congregation in Edinburg and donated the land on which the first church was built. Interment was made in the Edinburg Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. M. C. Flaten, daughter-in-law. DR. M. C. FLATEN

Dr. M. C. Flaten, Dentist My father, Dr. M. C. Flaten, was born in Edinburg Jan. 27, 1894, one of five sons of Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Flaten. His school years were in Edinburg until 1902, when the family moved to Grafton for six years. He often tells of the excitement in the old Edinburg School (later known as the "Monson House") when school was dismissed because of the fire which raged through the business district in 1900. He attended high school in Grafton, there he met my mother. She is fond of relating the story of their physics lab class in which my dad, mother and Aunt Inga were lab partners. Dad performed the experiments and let the girls write up the reports for the notebooks. The romance began there. After graduating from high school, he taught one term in a country school after which he joined a group who were bound for western North Dakota to participate in a "land drawing" on the Berthold Reservation. Meeting with no success, he obtained employment in a country store for a time. Returning to Walsh County, he was employed on his uncle's farm at Fork, Minn. He

enlisted in the navy in April, 1917, served two and a half years on the Sylvian Arrow in the Armed Guard. After the war, he was transferred to the Pennsylvania, then to the Arkansas, from which he was discharged in 1919 in time to enroll at Marquette University in Milwaukee to study dentistry. His fraternal connections were Theta Nu Epislon and Delta Sigma Delta (professional). In June, 1921, he and my mother were married in St. Jerome's Church, Oconomowoc, Wise, after a 10 year courtship. Upon graduation from college in 1923, he returned to Edinburg to practice, but found the electric service inadequate. He moved to Crystal in 1925 where he was associated withH. F. Tholackson, M. D., until 1931, when he returned to Edinburg where he has continued to practice. He is now semi-retired. Since 1923, he has been active in American Legion Post No. 156, is called on to make the oyster stew, is a WWI member of the Grafton Post, has long been associated with the Masonic Lodges in Park River and Grafton as well as the Shrine in Grand Forks. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Having been associated with so many of his family, Edinburg counts him as the last surviving member of the "Edinburg Fla tens," the oldest native born son. Of his children, son, Amos, and wife Ethel (Mueller), grandchildren, Michael, Patricia and Mark, live in St. Paul; while daughter, Marcella, lives in Minneapolis. Submitted by Marcella Flaten.

was "on her own." She recalls her first job after graduation was in the Bell Telephone Company manager's office as clerk and typist at $25 per month. It was at that time she made a resolution not to go into debt - a policy to which she adhered throughout her years of employment. In 1915, she passed the teachers' examinations for rural schools and taught for seven years (alternately doing secretarial work) before her marriage to my father in 1921. She tells me, that in that period of seven years, there were only two weeks that she was unemployed- one week, a vacation at a friend's lake home, and one week preparing to leave home to be married. My mother was always interested in politics and as an active Democrat, she was appointed postmaster at Edinburg in 1935, a position she held for 26 years. As an avid gardener, she not only maintains a large garden of her own, but is also active in garden club work on a local, district and state level. Parks seem to hold a special interest for her and she has worked many years to help build and beautify the Edinburg Civic League Park. As one of the charter members of Agassiz Garden Club, she proposed and promoted the development of the Walsh County Pioneer Memorial Garden at Homme Recreational Area. She has served on the Walsh County Park Board for 15 years and is a member of the Edinburg Park Board. For the last eight or nine years, she has become interested in china painting; her interest in local history is shown by her activity in the Walsh County Historical Society. She is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Park River. Submitted by Marcella Flaten.

WINNIFRED DONNELLY FLATEN

MR. AND MRS. CARL F. FREDRICKSON Carl Fredrick and Anna Augustson Fredrickson were married April 25, 1887, in Grafton. Carl F. Fredrickson, son of Fredrick Pahrson (Person) and Britta Varner, was born April 25,1862, in Varland, Sweden. He and Carl Magnusson came to Walsh County July 28,1882, where his uncles, John M. and Isaac Almen were homesteaders. Because there were several Carl Almens, he took his father's name and was known as Carl F. Fredrickson. His wife, Anna Augustson, was born Nov. 23,1859, in Amal, Sweden, and came to Walsh County in 1884. Her brothers, Gustaf, Andrew, and Nels, and sisters, (Christiana) Mrs. Andrew Larson, and (Augusta) Mrs. Carl Magnusson, lived in Walsh County. The couple homesteaded near Adams in 1887, moved to Dundee Township in April, 1903. Anna Augustson Fredrickson died December, 1911. In 1916, the family moved to Edinburg where Carl F. worked for the Moen Store. Later, he had a small grocery store until he went to Seattle to live with his daughters. He died in July, 1955. Carl F. Fredrickson was a singer with a fine, big voice. His love of and talent for music has been transmitted to his children and grandchildren. Through Anna Augustson's line has come the talent for drawing and whittling. Her brother, Nels Augustson, was a maker of violins, a whittler, a cabinet maker and carpenter. This talent in drawing and other art forms shows up in successive generations. Eight children were bom, Dr. Adolph Richard, physician of Lansing, la., died December, 1957; Bertha

Mrs. M. C. Flaten, Long Term Postmistress My mother, Winnifred Donnelly, daughter of Henry Donnelly and Catherine (Perry), was bom on a farm in Farmington Township on May 23, 1895. Auburn was her hometown in childhood. The youngest of a family of five, she lost her mother when four years of age, and so learned at an early age to be self-reliant. The family moved from the farm to Grafton in about 1905 where mother attended school, graduating from high school in 1914. From then on, she 568

Christiana, Seattle, Wash.; Fred Joseph, attorney at Valley City, mayor for 16 years, Washington representative for the State Water Commission and G. N. D. A., died June, 1968; Olga Mathilda (Mrs. Albert Smith) Seattle, Wash.; Esther Maria, Seattle, Wash.; Alice Cecelia (Mrs. Philip Wick), died June, 1962, Seattle, Wash.; Lillian Sophia (Mrs. Charles Schultz), Seattle, Wash.; and Ruth Othelia, died in infancy. Submitted by Mrs. Fred Fredrickson and Tom Walker.

In 1942, he was selected Washington Representative by the G. N. D. A. He was also employed by the Water Commission until 1962 when he retired from G. N. D. A. to remain consultant to the Water Commission and deputy administrator for the Souris-Red-Rainy River Commission until his death June 25, 1968. In his years in Washington, D. C , he saw Garrison, Baldhill, Homme, Heart Butte, Dickinson and Jamestown dams and reserviors move from blueprints to completion. His planning, preparing and presenting proposals and briefs resulted in completion of six major water conservation, reclamation, flood control or recreation projects, plus other industrial, research, medical and transportation facilities that have been of untold benefit to North Dakota. He said, "There is no substitute for water, practically every other element can be replaced, but not water. Without it, life on this planet is doomed." Submitted by Mrs. Fred Fredrickson.

DR. A. R. FREDRICKSON Dr. A. R. Fredrickson was born in Walsh Counry April 3, 1888, son of Carl F. and Anna Fredrickson, Swedish immigrants who settled here in 1882. He attended the rural school and Mayville Normal School. He taught in a rural school, then attended St. Louis University School of Medicine where he graduated in 1920. He interned in St. Francis Hospital, LaCrosse, Wise., after which he located in Lansing, la., where he practiced 36 years. In June, 1924, he married Miss Alma S. Berg, Coon Valley, Wise, a graduate nurse. Two sons were bom, Dr. James D., a research chemist with the J. R. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston, Salem, N . C ; and Robert K., sales correspondent with the Square D. Company, Milwaukee, Wise. Dr. Fredrickson died Dec. 3, 1957. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a past worshipful master of the Masonic Lodge of Lansing, a former member of the Lansing School Board, a member of the American Legion, Kiwanis Club, the American Medical Society, the state societies of both Iowa and Wisconsin, Health Officer of the city of Lansing, a member of the courtesy staff of St. Francis Hospital, a member of the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon and a past president of the Allamakee Company Medical Society. Submitted by Mrs. Fred Fredrickson.

BEN HANSON Ben Hanson was born in Iceland in 1875, was brought to the Gardar area by an aunt. He received his early education at Gardar and was later sent to school at Grand Forks. Then he was apprenticed to a druggist in Crystal before starting business in Edinburg as a partner with Dr. Brandson in the drug store. My father and mother were married in Chicago in 1900.1 do not remember my mother, she died when I was seven months old. She was born in Iceland. I was baptized in July, 1904, Dr. Brandson and K. S. Thordarson, associates of my father, were godparents. I was cared for by my mothers cousins, the Stephensons. In 1907, Dad married Ida Frances Burris. She was born in Bathgate May 12, 1884. Dad built the house that the Syversruds lived in next door. We were in Edinburg until 1917 when we moved to Wyndmere. He died in 1927 at 52. My stepmother was 64 when she died. Submitted by Kristine Hanson Hicks.

FRED J. FREDRICKSON Fred J. Fredrickson known as "Mr. Water" and as "North Dakota's Ambassador to Washington, D. C." was born April 25,1891, on his parents farm near Adams. His parents, Carl F. and Anna Fredrickson, were both born in Sweden and came to Walsh in 1882 and 1884. Fred attended rural school, Mayville Normal School, a Fargo business college and worked as a stenographer in Grand Forks and Garrison, then studied law in the office of Judge Ames of Mayville. In 1911, he came to Valley City where he studied law in the offices of Winterer and Ritchie. He passed the bar examination just prior to entering military service in World War L When he returned to Valley City, he established his own law practice which he maintained until going to Washington in 1942.

H. HERMANN

Sept. 10, 1919, he married hia M. Jefferson, Hope. The Fredricksons have one son, Robert E., a chemical research engineer with Dow Chemical Corporation, Freeport, Tex., and a daughter, Jean, Mrs. Gene Hastings, Renton, Wash. Fred served as Barnes County Tax Supervisor, city treasurer and was elected mayor in 1928, served 16 years. He was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1936 when he helped to establish the State Water Commission.

H. Hermann, implement dealer, Edinburg 569

Chinook, Mont., and later purchased complete ownership. This dealership is family owned today. John C. Jamieson went to Minot in 1920 and was in the insurance business for three years. Doctors advised him to go to Tucson, Ariz., to rest and recover from lung trouble. In Tucson, he worked as a car salesman several years. John married Bessie Wilson in Denver, Colo., Dec. 28, 1924. He was employed by General Motors, Pontiac Division, with whom he finished his automotive sales career as Executive Assistant to the General Manager. John and Bess now live in LaJolla, Calif. He retired in 1960. John Jamieson died in 1917 at 55. His wife returned to Edinburg until 1929 when she joined her son, James, and family at Reserve, Mont., on their homestead. She died at Chinook, Mont. April 8, 1948, at 83. Submitted by James Jamieson.

H. Hermann came to the United States from Iceland with his family in 1890. He farmed near Gardar (on the Alvin Melsted farm) until 1900. He moved to Edinburg, where he was in the farm implement business until 1910. The family later moved to Arborg, Man., and then to Winnipeg. Submitted by Magnus Olaf son, grandson. JOHN BAIN JAMIESON

E. R. HOWARD FAMILY E. R. Howard was born in Bern, Switzerland, and came to Mankato, Minn. There he married Gertrude Lessy and later moved to Elkton, S. Dak. In 1910, they moved to Edinburg. He was employed as a machine salesman in the area. Children born to them were: Lucille (Schnoover), Lester, Lawrence, Laura (Kertz), LaMarvol and Bernice (Windingland). Mrs. Howard was a long term member of the Edinburg Civic League and the Trinity Lutheran Church of Edinburg. She passed away in 1970. Mr. Howard died in 1969. Submitted by Laura Kertz.

J. B. Jamieson, Edinburg Pioneer Mrs. J. B. Jamieson, Music Teacher

MARTHA JENSEN

John, Son of Mr. and Mrs. James —son of Mr. and J. B. Jamieson

Martha Jensen Martha Loe Jensen was born at Ringerike, Norway, April 28, 1842, the daughter of John and Maria Loe. She died March 18,1931, at 88. She came to America with her parents in 1850. On the trip from Norway, they ran into an iceberg, so were on the water for 12 weeks, due to damage to the ship. The family settled in Wisconsin and were there seven years. In 1857, they moved to a farm near Northfield, Minn. Martha married Cornelius Jensen in 1862. They remained in the Northfield-Lakeville area for 20 years, coming to Walsh County in 1882, settled on a farmstead in Farmington Township. They resided part of the time on the farm and in Grafton. While in Grafton, they were members of the Grafton Lutheran Church and she was active in the Ladies' Aid. Cornelius Jensen was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Sept. 14, 1842, died March 11, 1895, at 52. His death was caused by an accident while he was sprinkling streets in Grafton, when his horses became frightened and ran away. Martha made her home with her son, Gilbert for 17 years.

Mrs. J. B. Jamieson.

John Bain Jamieson and Annie Campbell were married in Brucefield, Ont., in 1892. They emigrated to Edinburg that same year. He was employed by the Great Northern Railroad, in whose employ he spent 25 years as a depot agent. They were both active in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Jamieson directed the choir, accompanied by Mrs. Jamieson. They had a family of two sons, James W. R. Jamieson, born Oct. 16,1894, and John C. Jamieson, born Nov. 16,1896. In 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson and boys homesteaded at Parshall. James and John attended Edinburg public schools and later Fargo A. C. James married Anne M. Johnson March 16,1920, in Glyndon, Minn., they had two sons and a daughter. James spent 15 years farming on his homestead at Reserve, Mont., and vocational teaching at Park River, Fargo and Ellendale, leaving the farm in 1929 after purchasing a garage at Hogeland, Mont., lost by fire in 1938. He purchased an interest in a Dodge dealership at 570

Her family, all deceased, are: Andrew, John, Iver, Anna (Rye), Gilbert, Carl, Martha, Lawrence I, Diana (Vallance) and Lawrence H. She came from a family of 12 children, Ole Loe (veteran of Civil War), Martha, Iver I, Andrew, Gulbrand, Agnes, Anna, Iver H, Emma, Karoline, Julia and Johanna. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Jensen and her brother, Ole Loe, are all buried in the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by L. S. Jensen and Opal Jensen Gemmill.

Cora, Mrs. Edgar Bell, Clearwater, Fla.; Alda, Mrs. Edgar Thornton, Westminister, Clalif.; Leonard S. Jensen, Edinburg; Marion, died at 9; H. Clarence Jensen, Cavalier; Aileen, Mrs. George Kerestes, Climax, Minn.; and Dorothy, Mrs. Martin Weysinger, Northridge, Calif. Submitted by L. S. Jensen and Opal Jensen Gemmill. ANDREW C. JENSEN

GILBERT C. JENSEN Gilbert C. Jensen was born Oct. 16, 1872, on a farm near Lakeville, Minn. His parents were Cornelius Jensen and Martha Loe. The family lived there until 1882, when they moved to a farm near Auburn. After attending school at Grafton, he took a business course at a Grand Forks College. As a young man, he clerked in clothing stores, being at Park River until 1899. In 1900, he purchased the pre-emption on a quarter of land five miles west of the present site of Edmore. He served as the first assessor of Franchot Township. In 1904, he sold his farm and moved to Edinburg to go into partnership with his brother, Andrew, in the hardware business. In 1910, they purchased the furniture and funeral business from William Burns. Andrew left the partnership in 1916 and homesteaded in Ward County. Gilbert served on the Edinburg Village Board for 32 years, was a member of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association for over 35 years, served as its president in 1917. He was Walsh County Coroner from 1924 to 1926. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church and was a member of the Edinburg Lutheran Church for 43 years. For many years, he was the sexton of the cemetery and spent much time and effort to beautify it. He was also a member of I. 0. O. F.> M. W. A. and A. O. U. W. Lodges. He was active in politics, a member of the Republican party.

G. C. Jensen family. Front: Gilbert, Clarence, Aileen, Alma [mother]. Back row: Alda, Cora, Leonard, Opal. Not shown—Dorothy. On July 27, 1898, he was married to Susanna Dale, who was a teacher in the Niagara and Bachelor Grove area. She died Jan. 31, 1914. Oct. 7, 1915, he married Susanna's half-sister, Alma Hillestad. She died Feb. 15, 1972. Gilbert C. Jensen died April 5, 1947, at 74 and was buried in the Edinburg Cemetery. His brothers and sisters names were: Andrew, John, Iver, Anna (Rye), Carl, Martha, Lawrence I, Diana (Vallance) and Lawrence II, all are deceased. Children of Gilbert C. Jensen and their present addresses: Opal, Mrs. Herbert W. Gemmill, Edinburg;

Andrew Jensen family. Front: Andrew [father], Carrie [mother]. Back: Clara [Skarsgard-Thompson], Seymour, Mathilda [Worke]. Andrew C. Jensen was born April 25, 1863, his parents were Cornelius Jensen and Martha Loe Jensen. He was born near Farmington, Minn. He came to Auburn with his parents in 1882, where his father homesteaded. They shipped their stock and equipment by railroad and drove them across country to Auburn where he farmed for a number of years. Later, he moved into Grafton where he operated a water wagon and street sprinkler. He married Martha Wick in 1887. They adopted a son, Walter, who died at 18. They had one daughter, Anna Mathilda, born in 1890, now Mrs. Ben Warke, Minot. Mrs. Andrew Jensen was a charter member of the Grafton Lutheran Ladies' Aid. She died in 1893. In 1894, Andrew Jensen married Carrie Helleland. They lived at Grafton for two years, where Clara (Mrs. Skarsgard) was born in 1895. She is now Mrs. Theodore Thompson and lives in Minot. In 1897, they moved to Edinburg, where a son, Seymour, was born in 1899. He lives at Minot. Mr. Jensen started a hardware store in Edinburg which was destroyed by fire when the town burned in 1900. He rebuilt the hardware store and in 1904 was joined in partnership by his brother, Gilbert. Andrew sold his interest to his brother. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen were active in community affairs while they lived in Edinburg. The Fort Berthold reservation opened in 1912. Mr. Jensen drew a number for a homestead claim, then moved on a claim seven miles south of Makoti, in 1913. He operated the farm until 1924, after which his son, Seymour, operated the farm, later buying it. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jensen moved to Minot, went into the monument business until his death in 1953. Mrs. Jensen died in 1952. Both are buried in the Rosehill Cemetery, Minot. Submitted by L. S. Jensen and Mrs. Tilda Worke.

Marcia, Darlyne, Judy and Duane. She lives in Grand Forks. The last of these children was three months old when grandfather died in 1914. Gudbjorg and the children moved to Edinburg. She was a good cook and a good manager. During these hard years, she ran the hotel in Edinburg and raised her large family. Her home was open to many friends and she was mother to other children, besides her own. Gudbjorg and her family moved from Edinburg to Grand Forks. She resided there until her death in 1939. Submitted by Bev Rosencrans.

JOHN JOHNSON John Th. Johnson was born in Iceland in 1868, came to this country at eight with his parents, settled near Hallson, Pembina County. In 1904, he married Kristin Jonason, born in Iceland in 1884, came to Canada in 1900, where she made her home with her aunt before coming to this country in 1902. Mr. Johnson operated a blacksmith and bicycle repair shop at Gardar. He moved to Edinburg at the time the Edinburg-Gardar Telephone Company was being built and after its completion, was the lineman until his failing health forced his retirement. Submitted by Bjorn Johnson, Larimore.

JOHN SIGMAR JOHNSON FAMILY My grandfather, Jon Sigmar Jonsson, was born in Iceland in 1870. He was bom into a family of several brothers. Jon Sigmar came to Canada as a child and lived in Argyle, Man. He came to the Gardar-Mountain area at 19. Grandmother, Gudbjorg Jonsson, was bom in northern Iceland Jan. 18, 1876 or 77. She and her twin sister were born to Gudmunder and Katrine Thistiensdotter. Gudbjorg and her twin, Gunna, were separated at a very early age. Gunna was brought up by her aunts and uncles, and Gudbjorg was adopted by Gudmunder Jonasson and his wife, Asgjrider. Gudbjorg came to the United States with her adopted parents when she was three, they settled in the Gardar area. Gunna came to live in Selkirk, Man. The sisters were not reunited until 1903. John Sigmar and Gudbjorg were married in the late 1800's. They first lived on the boundary of Gardar and Thingvalla Township. Later, they moved to Mountain. Grandfather Johnson had a butcher shop in Mountain and also shipped cattle. When I met an old man at Borg some years ago, his first remark, on finding out who I was, was to tell me that "I bought my first cow from your grandfather — and a fine cow it was!" I've been told that grandfather was not a big man, but was stout and well built. He is remembered as being an honest man and a hard worker. He was known to many as just John Sigmar - and the youngsters were often called "the Sigmar kids."

m f» *- *

Mrs. John S. Johnson and daughter, Helen FELIX KERTZ Felix Kertz was bom at Easby, N. D., Oct. 2, 1896. His early years were spent in the Langdon area. In 1926, he moved to Edinburg and operated a garage and the Chevrolet Agency, later a Gambles Store. In 1933 he married Laura Howard, Eleven children were born to them: Ellen (Flanagan), Patricia (Toubbeh), Frances (Lloyd), Louise (Riphahn), Jerry, John, Rosemary (Danielson) Theresa, James and Joseph (twins), and Robert. The family were members of St. Mary's Church at Park River. Felix Kertz died in 1961. Submitted by Mrs. Laura Kertz.

There were ten children. Frieda, the eldest, married Dan Britten, lived in Grand Forks. She presently lives in Compton, Calif., and has two sons. Louis (Gudlauger) died in 1940. Ragnar married Irene Field and they have three children, Richard, Donald and Beverly. He worked at the Edinburg Farmers' Elevator from the age of 17 until his death in 1956. Emil Karten married Evelyn Field of Edinburg. They have a daughter, Nancy, and live in Spokane, Wash. Emilia Asta died in infancy. Emily Ester married William Gross. They had two children, Rodney (deceased) and Sandra. Emily live in Freeman. S. Dak. Berthel married Clara Wierson and had six children, Robert, Gerald (deceased), Roger, Marlene, Connie and James. He was in the grocery business in Grand Forks for many years; working in K-Mart at the time of his death in 1975. Leo Sigmar married Evelyn Mohagen. He is retired and living in Mesa, Ariz. Helen married William Weir and lives in the Spokane area, has one son. married Otto Iverson and has four children,

PETER L E E FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lee and Family. Standing: Alfred, Gina, Anna. 572

Mr. and Mrs. Peter P. Lee immigrated from Norway to the United States in 1882, homesteaded on the farm now owned by Merlin Fingerson. In 1887, he moved to Edinburg, started a furniture store and operated it for six years, then sold to Ole Brevik. He built the first flour mill in Edinburg. After several years of operation the mill was sold to K. Christoperson and Qversley. The mill was later destroyed by fire. Mr. Lee also owned a cement factory. The Lees had three children: Gina (Mrs. Andrew Knutson), Anna (Mrs. William O'Donnell), and Alfred. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Lee moved to Canby, Ore. They died in the 1930's and are buried in the Canby Cemetery. Mr. Lee was a brother of Erik P. Lee. Submitted by Emmett Loe.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Loe

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Knutson MR. AND MRS. ANDREW J. LOE Andrew J. Loe immigrated to the United States from Opdal, Norway, in the spring of 1887 at 19. That's the year new Edinburg was started and the railraod built. He stayed with relatives, first the Ole Torveys,later the Edward Orstads. Loe attended a Grand Forks business college, became a contractor and builder. He built many homes and churches in the area, including Edinburg St. Paul's Church, Gardar Church and Golden Lutheran, located between Park River and Adams on Highway 17. He also built the first school in Crystal. Some of his assistant carpenters were John Rustan, Nels Augustine, Henry Johanson, and S. Harrison. Later he bought a farm near Edinburg. He is remembered in Edinburg as the builder of the Park band stand. In 1906, he married Mary Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Erik P. Lee, Crystal Township. The children, Emmett, Cora (Mrs. Bert Blowers); Alice (Mrs. Harry G. Groll) and Alvin. Mr. Loe died in 1939, and Mrs. Loe in 1968. Mrs. Loe was active in the Edinburg Civic League, a charter member when it was organized in 1910, also active in church work. Submitted by Emmett Loe.

THE EDWARD LARSON FAMILY The Edward Larson family immigrated from Norway in the 1890's. After a year, he sent passage money to Marie Peterson Engh, when she arrived they were married. They lived in Fertile, Minn., where their first child, Henry, was born. They moved to St. Thomas and to Edinburg in the late 1890's. They were the parents of the first twins to be born in Edinburg July 21, 1900, Esther Marie and Edna Natalie (Esther diedof pneumonia, May 31,1901). These twins were delivered by A. A. Flaten, and were the first twins delivered by Dr. Flaten. Edward Larson was a blacksmith and wainwright. Mrs. Larson was a midwife. There are probably a few people in Edinburg who were delivered by Dr. A. A. Flaten, assisted by Mrs. Larson. Edward Larson died in June, 1917, and Mrs. Larson in Nov., 1929. There are no descendents of this couple in Edinburg. Submitted by Jennie Larson. REV. & MRS. P. O. LAURHAMMER

Rev. and Mrs. P. O. Laurhammer Rev. Peder Olson Laurhammer was born in Norway in 1875. He immigrated to the U. S. in 1891, went to Litchville, where he worked for Solomon Sortland, a farmer. Mrs. Sortland was his sister and only relative in the U. S. He attended and graduated from Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis.

He married Inga Severson, school teacher in Willmar, Minn., around 1901. Rev. and Mrs. Laurhammer went to Copenhagen, Denmark. They had a son born there in 1902. Mrs. Laurhammer and baby stayed in Copenhagen while Rev. Laurhammer attended a University in Germany. They returned about 1904, went to Everett, Wash., where Rev. Laurhammer taught at Bethania College. After a few years he became pastor of a congregation in Everett. Two more children were born during their stay in Everett, a son, Rueben, born in 1907, a daughter, Ida, in 1911. All children are living. Rev. Laurhammer accepted a call from Fairdale to serve congregations at Fairdale, Milton, Alsen, and Hampden in February, 1914. About 1924, he accepted a call from a congregation in Rockford, 111., served about seven years. He then accepted a call to return to Edinburg, also served St. Peter Congregation and Fairdale and Milton. Rev. Laurhammer retired while they lived in Edinburg. After retirement he continued in the ministry by serving congregations in North Dakota and eastern Montana who were temporarily without a pastor. Recollections by Reuben Laurhammer: "Rev. and Mrs. Laurhammer were wonderful parents. They were kind, patient, and considerate. Both had an universal good sense of humor. Some things I'll never forget.. .. The day we arrived in Fairdale, N. D., Feb., 1914, was cold and a blizzard. That was a big change from the west coast. I can remember him coming late at night from Hampden in below zero tempertures. He and I went to choir practice 1% miles south of Fairdale and the blizzard was so bad he had me in the sleigh while he walked from side to side in front of the horses to feel where the road was. "I remember the first auto we got. It was a 1917 Model T. Ford. Stener had learned to drive a little. You drove in the country until you could make it go where you wanted it to go and were able to stop it. Our house was on the outskirts of town and a field was out in front. Rev. Laurhammer was going to try it out. He got it going and ran over a harrow in the corner of the field. "I remember father corning home in the winter with so much ice and snow in front of the car he had to make several tries to get it in the garage. I remember the many books to pack when we moved. Rev. Laurhammer was a well read man, could read and speak five languages." Submitted by Ivah Johnson. MR. AND MRS. ERIK L E E Mr. and Mrs. Erik P. Lee and daughters Mary (6) and Gunhild (3) immigrated to the United States from Molde, Norway, in the spring of 1881. They arrived in the small village of Grand Forks by steamboat and proceeded by ox cart to their future home in Crystal Township, Pembina County. On this two quarter homestead they had four children, Mary (Mrs. Andrew Loe), Gunhild, Peter and Johanna (Mrs. Joseph Sollie). Mary Lee was organist at the Hvideso Church. Their first home was a log house with a dirt floor. This house was later destroyed by a prairie fire and another log house was built immediately. In 1900, they built their modern home. In 1913, the Lee's retired from farming and moved to Edinburg. The farm was rented to John Almen. During the first year on the farm, Erik Lee walked 65 miles to Grand Forks for supplies. The Lees were good

workers in the church. Erik Lee helped build Hvi^deso Lutheran Church in 1889. Erik Lee died in 1917, and his wife, Anna, in 1937. They are buried in Hviedeso Cemetery. Submitted by Emmett Loe.

Mr. and Mrs. Eric P. Lee—1881 THE FAMILY OF CLARENCE LIEN The family of Clarence Lien came to Walsh County around 1900. Clarence or C. E., as he was called, was the son of Eric and Caroline Lien. Eric Lien was born in Gal Hallingdahl, Norway. They immigrated to Goodhue County, Minn., where Eric met and married his wife Caroline. They came to Walsh County with their six children, Gina, Henry, Myrtle, Elmer, Clarence and Cora. Eric was in many business ventures, was best known as a horse trader. He traveled around buying, selling, and trading anything usable. He was a man with strong will power and would not change his mind if he was sure he was right. At one time he decided that smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages or drinking coffee was detrimentaltohis health. He decided to quit and quit all three habits at once. He never weakened. After retirement he lived in Edinburg. He was a friend of all children and always had white peppermint candy for treats. His son, Clarence, started his business life in Adams as an assistant to the local barber. In 1914, he bought a confectionery store. His hobby and side line was music. He played the violin with a group at dances in the surrounding area. It was through his music he met Estine Wagle who became his wife. Estine came to Adams as a teacher of the primary grades. Listening to the orchestra practice sessions and the band concerts was the main entertainment for the teachers. After the practice session, Clarence would treat the ladies to lunch. He began to court Estine, they were married June 14, 1916. This meant the end of the dance playing for Clarence as they agreed this was not in their life plan. Their first son, Clarence, was born in Adams. Clarence sold his confectionery store in 1918 and they moved to Fairdale where he was an agent in the elevator. Their second son, Warner, was born here. Clarence decided this was not his line of work, so he moved to Edinburg in 1920 and was an agent for the Standard Oil Co. Their three youngest children, Edythe, Marilyn and Llewellyn were born here.

Clarence bought the Mobil Oil Station in Edinburg in the early 1930's and sold it in 1936. He bought the Mobil Oil Station in Park River. Clarence loved band work all his life, was well known for his music ability. He was a self-taught musician, could play any instrument. He organized many bands and orchestras. At one time he had bands in Adams, Edinburg and Park River. Each summer meant traveling to band festivals where his bands usually received the top honor. The year Clarence moved to Park River, the town decided to organize a drum and bugle corp under the sponsorship of the American Legion. Clarence was asked to help organize and direct this group. This was a new challenge to him. This group was a success. They traveled throughout all of North Dakota. Clarence and Estine were active in church and community affairs all their lives. During World War II, Estine went back to teaching when teachers were hard to get. She was not satisfied to teach unless she improved herself. This meant going back to school in the summer for further education. Estine belonged to many organizations and was a leader in all of them. Clarence was chairman of the committee to build the new Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, but did not live long enough to really enjoy it. Submitted by Edith Lien Lovasson.

1914; Lloyd, Dec. 26, 1915; Leonard, April 30, 1919; and twins Jessie and Donald, Sept. 4,1921, were born. Joe served with the Edinburg Volunteer Firemen, for a time served as marshal for Edinburg. He was known in the early 1900's for his prowess in foot racing. In 1960, Joseph and Josephine Mandt retired to live in California. Josie died Aug. 10, 1969, and Joseph Jan. 20, 1971. Ruby, married Frank W. Anderson, now deceased, resides in Martinez, Calif. They had one child, Donald, married, lives in Bixby, Minn. Howard married Meranda Viger, six children, resides in Mesa, Ariz. James, married to Myrtle Larson, two daughters, died Nov., 1954. Lloyd, married to Doris Kluxdal, six children, resides in Park River. Leonard, married to Sigrud Anderson, three children, now resides in St. Paul, Minn. Donald, married to Jean Erovick, three children, resides in Antioch, Calif. Donald is a retired Air Force sergeant. Jessie, married to George Lamb, four children, resides in Martinez, Calif. Submitted by Lloyd Mandt. MELSTED BROTHERS STORE

JOE MANDT FAMILY Engebret T. Mandt was born March 30, 1838, in Vraadahlen, Norway. He trained for teaching in his native land, in 1868 came to America, settled in Wisconsin, and taught school for five years. He moved to Fillmore County, Minn., in 1873, and to Chippewa County in 1874. The first township meeting was held June 13, 1874, in E. T. Mandt's home in Section 30, Chippewa County and the township established then still bears his name. E. T. Mandt taught the first school at his home, started in the spring of 1875. E. T. Mandt was married to Hage Anundson Rykelli in 1873 in Wisconsin. Four children were born, Annie, June 12,1874; Joseph E., April 14,1876; Oscar T., Feb. 14, 1878, and Theodora, April 14, 1881. About 1885, E. T. and Hage Mandt and their children moved to the Gardar community where they farmed and E. T. Mandt taught school. Mandt died Jan. 3, 1891, Mrs. Mandt Nov. 3, 1910. Annie Mandt married Hans Anderson, they had three daughters, Mabel, Hattie and Alda. They lived and farmed in the Hoople-Crystal Area. After Mr. Anderson died, Annie married Gus Schluter. Annie died July 12, 1949. Oscar Mandt was an optometrist, practiced in Cando. He married Jorgina King, who now lives in Hendersonville, N. C. Oscar died Sept. 16, 1961. Theodora Mandt married Fred Clough. Four children, Lucille, Cyrus, Harold and Theodora were born. Mrs. Clough died in December, 1913. After his father's death, Joseph went to live with a cousin in Mcintosh, Minn., and was employed in a store. He married Josephine Poppenhagen Dec. 23, 1903. Ruby was born May 25,1905. In 1906, they moved to Edinburg, where Joseph managed the Peavey Elevator for 18 years. Six other children, Howard, June 6,1909; James, Jan 27,

Benedict M. Melsted and Geirfridur Melsted on 25th wedding anniversary. Benedict was a partner in Melsted Stores around the turn of the century. Around 1898, the store owned by the Melsted Brothers (Benedict Melsted, father of Alvin Melsted, Edinburg, and Einar Melsted, father of William Melsted, Edinburg) handled general merchandise. The sales slips which have been preserved by the Melsted family, were printed, "Melsted Brothers - Dealers in General Merchandise, Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots & Shoes, Crockery, Groceries, and Provisions." The first store was built on the north side of Main Street in Edinburg and was destroyed by the big fire of 1900. Another store was built by the Melsted Brothers and operated for a time before it was destroyed by fire. Due to these two losses and the tremendous financial burden on the families, this was a venture not talked about much in the home of Benedict Melsted in later years. Of old papers and sales slips from the store, many were written in the Icelandic language. A sales slip dated Nov. 28,1898 gave the following prices: 100 lb. flour-$2.60, 100 lb. sugar-$6.25, 25 lb. coffe-$3.00, 20 lb. lard-$1.80, pail of syrup-$.65, pail of jelly-$.50,18 lb. butter-$2.25, pepper10 cents, cinnamon-10 cents, chicory-25 cents, gold dust25 cents, 3 lb. tea-$1.00, 1 gal. mollasses-30 cents, 1 gal. pickles-35cents, 10% lb. fish-85cents, 12doz. eggs-$1.50, 1 pair shoes-$2.00, 1 pail axle grease-75 cents, 1 broom-25 cents, and stove polish-10 cents. Submitted by Mrs. Alvin Melstad. 575

WILLIAM MILLER FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. (Bill) Miller and daughters, Eva Mae and Donna and grandchild. William Miller was born on a farm at Grafton in 1890, came to the Edinburg area before 1912. He was employed by the Robertson Lumber Company about five years, then returned to Farmington Township to operate the family farm. He again returned to Edinburg about 1919 as manager of the St. Hiliare Lumber Company. He was active in civic affairs, served on the town board and was a member of the Edinburg band. In 1924, he transferred to Fertile, Minn., as manager of the Central Lumber Co., where he remained until his death in 1965.

The jive sons of Jon and Sigridur Myrdal of Gardar Township at a reunion in 1958. From leftto right: Magnus [Mike], Thorstein [Steini], Bjorn [Barney], Einar and Fred. Einar was the manager of the GTA Elevator in Edinburg for many years, a member of the Edinburg American Legion and the Park River Masonic Lodge. Fred has been Farmers Home Administration supervisor in Walsh County since 1955. He has been an active member of the Park River American Legion Post. Barney was an electrical engineer for Fairbanks Morse; Mike worked for Standard Oil in Fargo. NELS MONSON FAMILY

He married Agnes Peterson of Edinburg after moving to Grafton. A son and daughter were born to them. Both died in infancy. After returning to Edinburg two more daughters, Eva Mae (Mrs. Harris Groberg of Houston, Tex.) and Donna (Campbell of Wrangle, Alaska) were born. Mrs. Miller was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Peterson, born in 1889, pioneer residents of Edinburg. She was employed in the post office for a number of years, her father being a long term postmaster. She was well known for her musical talent and was a willing worker in civic affairs, including the Civic League. She was a member of the Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid. She died in Fertile, Minn., in 1971. They both are buried in the Fertile Cemetery. Submitted by W. Flaten STEINI MYRDAL Thorstein (Steini) Myrdal was the oldest son of Jon and Sigridur Myrdal who came from Iceland in 1884, settling in Cavalier County, then buying land in Gardar Township in 1885. Steini was born near Gardar, Oct. 10, 1886, and lived in the Gardar community all his life. He married Aldis Elin Johannesson, Gardar, July 17, 1919.

Neis Monson Family. Left to right: Martin, Nels (father), Henry, Annie (Tresler-Swensen), Julia (mother), Adina (Peterson). Nels Monson was born in Skoneirk, Norway, April 14, 1849. He came with his parents, a brother, and a sister to Morris, 111. Nels was eight when they crossed the Atlantic in a sail ship, a trip of seven weeks. His wife, Julia, was born in Lisbon, HI., on Dec. 31, 1858. Nels filed on land in Vesta Township in 1881; got work on the railroad coming through the county. He worked until Christmas time, then decided to go to niinois for the rest of the winter. He thought winters in North Dakota were severe. In the spring Nels returned, bringing his family. They lived in a sod house until they built a log house in 1885. The closest town was Grafton, 25 miles away. It was

They had three children, Benedict John, Edinburg; Eleanor Sigrid, (Mrs. Sam Halgren of Devils Lake); and Asta Norma (Mrs. Spencer Tiffany of Wauseon, Ohio). His wife, died Nov. 28,1959 and Steini died Jan. 26,1965. He was president of the Farmers Elevator, Edinburg for 45 years; longtime director of the Edinburg Potato Company; director of the Edinburg-Gardar Telephone Company. He studied farm husbandry at NDSU and for many years assisted area farmers with their veterinary work. Submitted by John Myrdal (son). 576

MRS. OLEMA ODEGARD Elina Odegard came to America in 1912 bringing her five children, Arvid, Nina, Selma, Carl, and John, lived at the Ole Windingland residence for many years following their arrival to America. Ole went back to visit his folks in Norway. She was the mother of Mrs. Ole Windingland. Submitted by Mrs. John L. Johnson.

Mr. Ordahl was very active in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Edinburg. He served on the Board of Deacons, and was secretary of the congregation for many years. Also at times when the congregation was without a pastor, he would serve in that capacity. He served as clerk of the local school district for many years, and also served as clerk and assessor for the city of Edinburg, besides serving in other offices. Mrs. Nicolai Ordahl, the former Bessie M . Butterwick, was born at Kewanee, 111., on May 26, 1880, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Butterwick. She came to the Milton area with her parents when she was a child. She taught school at Milton, and also in Illinois. Mrs. Ordahl was active in work of the Trinity Lutheran Church. She served as organist and choir director for approximately 40 years. She was superintendent and teacher in the Sunday School for many years. She also served as an officer and was an active worker in the Trinity A. L. C. W. She was also active in the W. C. T. U. organization, as well as in the Edinburg Civic League. She taught music in Edinburg for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Ordahl were married at Stanley, Wis., in May, 1913, living at Milton until 1917, when they moved to Edinburg. They had a family of three daughters and 2 sons; Oline, Sylvia, Adrian, Elsie and John Alden. Mrs. Ordahl died Nov. 10,1963, and Mr. Ordahl, June 15,1967. They are both buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Edinburg. Submitted by Mrs. Sylvia Ordahl Thompson and Mrs. L. S. Jensen.

MR. AND MRS. NICOLAI ORDAHL

JOHN E. PETERSON FAMILY

a three-day trip when they went for supplies or to sell their grain. In the 1880's, they took part in organizing a Hauge Synod congregation when they were visited by Rev. Anton Dahl from Minnesota. They met in homes with services conducted by local laymen. When the school house was built, the services were held there. In 1891, they called their first pastor, Rev. L. T. Kringle; in 1892, they built the St. Peter's Church still standing. In 1906, they moved to Edinburg and become members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Edinburg. Nels Monson was a home missionary layman, was president of the Walsh County Home Mission organization until his health failed. They had seven children, Henry born in Illinois; Annie, Martin, Adina, Thomas; two babies died as infants. Mrs. O. C. (Adina) Peterson resides in Blue Earth, Minn., and Thomas in Grand Forks. Nels and Julia died in 1931. Submitted by Freda Axvig.

J. E. Peterson family. Standing, left to right: Elmer, Edwin, Laura, Julia. Seated: Agnes, Mr. Peterson, Helen, Mrs. Peterson and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. N. Ordahl Nicolai Ordahl was born at Aardali Jolster, Norway, in 1880. At 19, he came to the Grafton area, lived at the farm home of his uncle, Nels Ordahl, and family, where he attended school to learn the English language. At one time he was the owner of a homestead, disposed of it and attended the University of North Dakota where he studied a course in banking. His first employment was at the First National Bank of Milton. In 1917, he moved to Edinburg, where he was the cashier of the State Bank of Edinburg. After the "Crash" of 1929, he worked at various jobs to support his family. Eventually, he was named the manager of the Citizen's State Bank of Edinburg, where he worked until his 80th year.

John E. Peterson and his wife, Pauline, Peterson, came to the Edinburg area about 1881. They first settled on a farm while John was employed in the store and post office operated by Christ Buck and Ove Oveson in Old Edinburgh. When the new town of Edinburg was built they moved into town and Mr. Peterson was employed in a general merchandise store, later entering into business of his own in the same line. He was a long term postmaster, was active in civic affairs and served on the town board. Mrs. Peterson was active in all organizations including Civic League of which she was a charter member, Clover Club and Emanuel Ladies Aid of the Lutheran church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peterson resided in Edinburg until their deaths. He died in March 7,1914 and Mrs. Peterson on Jan. 30, 1934.

Ferguson (Alice) of Fargo; Victor Shuley of Cathlamet, Wash.; Mrs. Reuben Laurhammer (Wilma), Klamath Falls, Ore., and Mrs. Lucian Maurice (Janet, Annandale, Minn. Clifford and Elaine are deceased. Mrs. Shuley and Effie are making their home with daughter and sister, Mrs. Ivah Johnson. Mr. Shuley died Aug. 18,1943. Mrs. Shuley died Feb. 7, 1960. Both are buried in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Edinburg. Mrs. Joephine Shuley was born May 1, 1877, and came to Edinburg at the age of 12. Her early years were spent in Lampton Township where she lived with her parents, older sister and her family, Mr. and Mrs. Elis Johnson, on a farm the latter had homesteaded and he had built a log house. She attended public school in Edinburg. She was a confirmed member of the Hvideso Church until after her marriage. Then Ben and Josephine Shuley joined the church which is now the Trinity Lutheran Church. She held life membership in the Ladies Aid of this congregation. She was a charter member of the Civic League and a member for 50 years. She was a member of the Sunnyside Homemakers Club when it was organized. Josephine Shuley served as rural mail carrier for 25 years. Her means of mail delivery were horses, buggy and for winter, sleigh traveling on a country road. An interesting story she told about is working in the Edinburg Creamery at the age of 16. She drove a team of horses and buckboard with a load of butter to Park River, to meet the stage that took it from there to Grafton. She made that trip whenever necessary. The creamery was operated by Sam Ross. She lived 71 years in this community. A devoted mother that made good use of her excellent skill in serving to clothe her eight children (daughters). Her vegetable garden provided much for the table for a large family and her flowers, shurbs and trees added beauty and enjoyment. Submitted by Ivah Shuley Johnson, Effie Shuley, and Wilma and Rueben Laurhammer.

There were eight children, Julia, Annie, Laura (Mrs. Alfred Aos) Agnes (Mrs. William Miller), Mabel, Helen (Mrs. Leslie Miller), Edwin and Elmer. Helen, a primary teacher in the Edinburg school, survives and is a resident at Borg Memorial Home at Mountain. The following are family recollections by Agnes Peterson (Mrs. William Miller in 1957), deceased. "I recall the day the big safe in the post office was blown up. It was the first safe cracked in Edinburg. Robbers got away with three or four hundred dollars. The door of the safe hit the opposite wall and left a dent in the wall. It was there for many years. Dad was postmaster at the time, owned the building and later sold it to the telephone compnay. Laura and Julia, my sisters, had worked in the post office with father, so it was my turn. I was in my third year of high school, had to quit and take my turn in the post office. "I remember the burning of the Blind Pig. I heard the women chuckling over the event. The building was north of the depot." Recollections by Agnes Peterson Miller. ENOCH SWENSON

Mrs. M. E. Tressler-Swensert On the right—Enoch Swensen—others not identified. Enoch Swenson was born June 26, 1875, in Amal, Dalsland, Sweden, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sven Ostrom. He came from Sweden to Nash, when he was 16. He worked several years in Minneapolis, before taking a claim at Makoti. He moved back to Walsh County where he resided 37 years. He was married to Mrs. Annie Tresler Dec. 12, 1927. He was school custodian three years, park custodian four years. He was affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church, Edinburg. He died Feb. 7, 1955. Submitted by Freda Axvig. MR. AND MRS. BEN SHULEY Ben Shuley was born in Norway, Oct. 22, 1867. He came to Renville, Minn., in 1890 and later in 1893 came to Park River where he was employed in a meat market. He came to Edinburg in 1894, in partnership with Sam Elliot, Park River, operated a meat market. He was in the hardware and implement business, firm of McEwen, Dougherty and Shuley. He owned and operated a steam threshing rig for a few years. He married Josephine Johnson Nov. 21, 1895. She came to Edinburg from Goteborg, Sweden, with her parents, Marcus and Mathilda Johnson, May 6, 1889. Ten children were born, Mrs. Ivah Johnson (Effie), Mrs. Lloyd Gire (Norma), Edinburg; Mrs. Thomas Monson (Blenda), Grand Forks; Mrs. Lawrence

x.fr. and Mrs. Ben Shuley—1895. Mrs. Shuley was a long term mail carrier. 578

in World War II; Mrs. Edwin Troftgruben (Myrtle) died in March, 1971. The others are Anna, Alda, Emma, Carrie, Mary, Axel, Amanda Julia, Olga, and Lenore, most of them living in North Dakota. Mr. Steen was a farmer until he retired in 1935. He had arthritis the last year of his life, using crutches. He died April 6, 1960, at 88. Mrs. Steen also had arthritis and was a wheel chair patient the last few years. She died Sept 20, 1972, at 96. They were members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Edinburg and are both buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery of Edinburg. Submitted by Carrie Steen Stenerson.

ANTON E. SWENSRUD FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Anton Swensrud Anton E. Swensrud was born in Ringbo, Norway, Feb. 5, 1866. He immigrated about 1888, settled near Mekinock. In 1894, he married Miss Carrie Quanrude of that area and in 1900, the couple moved to Edinburg. Two sons, Palmer and Albin, and a daughter, Marie, who died in infancy, were born. Carrie Swensrud died in March of 1902. In Nov. 1902, Anton Swensrud married Elizabeth Hommeland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Knute Hommeland. Elizabeth was born Feb. 12, 1882, at Stavanger, Norway, came to Edinburg at 18. They had four children, Esther (Mrs. Steve Magnusson, Breckenridge, Minn.); Kerner (deceased); Edwin (deceased); and Burdell (Mrs. Walter Yon, Forest River). Swensrud operated a confectionery store and bowling alley in 1901, when he came to Edinburg. He sold the busines and with the help of his wife, and Miss Josie Nelson (later Mrs. George Howe, now deceased) he operated a cafe. About 1910, he became connected with the operation of the St. Anthony and Dakota Elevator Co. at Edinburg and was manager most of the years. Swensrud died March 4, 1926. At Rochester, Minn. Mrs. Elizabeth Swensrud died July 19, 1953. They are all buried at the Trinity Cemetery, Edinburg. Mr. and Mrs. Swensrud had been active members of the Edinburg Trinity Lutheran Church. Mrs. Swensrud was a member of the Ladies Aid and a charter member of the Edinburg Civic League. Submitted by Bertha Jensen.

The Steen Family—1928. Standing in back row, left to right: Julia, Alda, Anna, Axel, Olga, Mary, Emma, Myrtle. Sitting in front row: Amanda, Alfred, Mr. Amund Steen, Glen, Lenore, Mrs. Steen and Carrie. SYVERSRUD AND ERICKSON FAMILY Karolina Erickson, pioneer of Walsh County, was born Nov. 13, 1873. Her parents were Ole and Helga Erickson. Mrs. Helga Erickson was born March 13, 1843, in Nesbyen, Hallingdal, Norway. Her parents were Knut Braaten and Kari Bodalen. She was married in November, 1870, to Ole Erickson, born in Hemsedal, Norway, Oct. 28,1829, came to the United States in 1865. He was a Norwegian soldier who wished to join the army in the Civil War for freedom's sake. He had relatives in Waseca County, Minn., and there met his future wife. They bought an 80-acre farm in New Richland County. There they wintered the terrible snowstorm of 1873. In March, Mr. Erickson was going west to join his brother-in-law, Andres Borge, whose father was a violinist of renown. He found the land he was searching for — from which he could later view the towns of Crystal, Hoople, and sometimes Grafton. For this place Ole Enderud was willing to sell his right to 160 acres of government land for a sum of $150. This land now is still the home of the Erickson family.

AMUND STEEN FAMILY Amund Steen was born in Gudbransdalen, Norway, Dec. 9, 1872. His wife, whose maiden name was Oline Holmyren, was born in Gudbransdalen June 10, 1876. They were married in Norway and came to this country in 1902. They made the trip across the ocean by boat, a trip that took three weeks, arriving in Edinburg by train. They were met at the depot by Christ Buck as their brother-in-law, John Lowe, was busy threshing and couldn't make the trip to Edinburg. Mr. Lowe was Mrs. Tillie Folson's father and his wife was Mrs. Steen's sisters. The Steens lived in the Edinburg community with the exception of 10 years spent in Grafton.

He sold his land in Minnesota and with his family took four cows and two oxen. In 1881 Karolina was 8, Gustav 6, and Edward 11 months. They drove to Grand Forks, closest town by rail. They arrived at home and began to build a log cabin. The children were sent to school - in a log cabin. Mr. Erickson died during the Spanish American War. His widow was left to raise the family and do the farming. Edward graduated with a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin, served as superintendent of schools in Walsh County, and director of vocational education and rehabihtation for the state of North

They had a family of 15 children, two girls, Karen and Gunda, died in infancy; Alfred and Glenn were killed 575

Park River areas. He died Aug. 26, 1948, and is buried in the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and five children: Jorgen, Osseo, Minn.; Mrs. Alvin (Maria) Peterson, Edinburg; Mrs. Robert (Bertha) Phillips, McGregor, Minn.; Konrad, Edinburg; and Christian in the Marine Corps at Albany, Ga. Submitted by Marie Tveit Peterson.

Dakota. Oscar graduated from the University of North Dakota and was superintendent of schools and in his later years served in public office. Alfred was educated in business and banking and served in that capacity. Gustav took over the farm. Nub Evenson Syversrud was bom in Hallingdal, Norway, May 29, 1870. He had 11 brothers and sisters. In Norway he obtained an education, immigrated to the United States in 1893. In Iowa, at the home of relatives, he received education in business. He was employed in banking, business, and insurance. He married Karolina Erickson, Nov. 10,1908. They had two children, Edwin, born in 1915, died in 1973, and Hannah, who resides in San Leandro, Calif. He has a grandson, Brendon Bond, in San Pedro, Calif. During the time he lived in Edinburg, 1914-1956, he was active in community and church work. He served on the school board, was a Sunday school teacher, and for 20 years was caretaker for the Trinity congregation.

O. O. TORGERSON O. O. Torgerson came to Hoople from Fyresdal Telemark, Norway, at 21 in 1889. He stayed with his cousin, Turi Gryde, moved to Edinburg and worked as a helper in the Farmers' Elevator Company. He was manager until his death in 1938. In 1907, he married Martha Haug of Tiber Township. They had three children, Helen, Georgia and Orlando. Mr. Torgerson was active in the Lutheran church, city council and school board. He served as Mayor of Edinburg, was affiliated with the Republican party. His philosophy was, "Perserverance was his thinking which brought much happiness for he and his family." Submitted by Helen Torgerson Folson.

Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Syversrud—Wedding 1908 CHRIST K. TVEIT FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Torgerson JOHAN AND PALINA THOMASSON Johan Thomasson was bom in Iceland Oct. 25, 1869. His father was Tomas Johanson Palson, a minister. His mother was Gudrun Magnusson, daughter of the mayor of Hofi in Surarafadardal. He had four sisters, Katrin, Rosa, Sigurbjorg and Thordis, three brothers, Ami, Rail and Jonas. Johan moved to America in 1888 with his parents, his older brother, Arni, having gone the year before to look the community over. A year later, Johan and Gamaluli Thorleifson bought land in the Gardar community. Oct. 26, 1893, he married Palina Bjornson who was born in Iceland, came with her parents to Gardar- Mountain community in 1888. In 1895, Johan and Gamaliel bought land at Mountain and farmed, then bought land at Gardar. Johan and Palina had nine children, Thomas, Thorleifur, Arni Gamaliel (died in infancy), Lams, Gamaliel, Steindor and two daughters, Thordis and Gudrun. There was one foster son, Richard, a grandson In 1900, Johan and Gamaliel sold their land at Mountain and Johan bought a meat market in Edinburg, was also in the cattle buying business. He bought and operated a hotel in Edinburg. They lived there 10 years.

Christ K. Tveit Christ K. Tveit, son of Mr. and Mrs. Knute Homeland, was bom Sept. 17, 1886, in Strand, Norway. Christ came to Edinburg in 1906, was a farm laborer until entering the service Sept. 22, 1917. He was stationed at Camps Dodge and Lee during World War I. On Sept. 30, 1922, at Grafton, he married Selma Nygard, born Feb. 10, 1899, in Tiber Township to Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen Nygard. They farmed in the Edinburg580

They later bought the Johanne Melsted farm at Gardar, where they resided until their deaths. Palina died at 69, Johann at 79. Palina and Johann were very active in community and church affairs, singing in the choir. Sons, Arni and Thomas, were mail carriers out of the Edinburg office for a number of years. Submitted by Mrs. Joe Gestson.

Johan and Pauline Thomasson EMMANUEL E. TRESLER Emanuel E. Tresler of Edinburg was a son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Elizabeth (Albright) Tresler. He was born in Marshall County, la., March 29, 1878. Annie Monson was born April 29, 1885, in a sod shanty in Vesta Township. He met Annie Monson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Monson of Vesta Township, while she was attending college in Jewell, la. On Jan. 18, 1906, Tresler came to Edinburg and they were married. They had three daughters: Myrtle, Alice, and Mrs. Henry (Freda) Axvig, rural Edinburg. On July 11, 1906, Mr. Tresler received the appointment to serve as rural mail carrier - a position he held over 16 years. He was advised to buy a span of mules, believed to be easy keepers. All went well until snow came, the mules floundered and had to be shoveled out. He decided to get some fast horses to make his 31 mile mail route each day. TheTfeslers were members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Edinburg. Mr. Tresler was consulted a great deal about trees and gardens. Mrs. Tresler was active in the Ladies' Aid, a charter member of the Civic League, and a member of the W. C. T. U. Mr. Tresler died Jan. 23,1923, and Mrs. Tresler July 9, 1968. Submitted by Freda Tressler Axvig. JOSEPH WALTER

Joseph Walter—Edinburg Real Estate

Joseph Walter was born April 13,1858, in Iceland. He immigrated to Nova Scotia, was married to Ingebjorg Sigurdardottir Dec. 22, 1879. They came to Dakota in 1883, lived about two miles south of Gardar. They spent most of their married lives in Gardar Township, except for nine years spent in Edinburg, where he was in the investment business. He died Sept. 29, 1933. His wife, Ingebjorg was born July 3, 1861, and was well known for the many hooked rugs and wool quilts she made, she died June 20, 1944. Both are buried in the Gardar Cemetery. Submitted by Emma Johnson, granddaughter. HANS WICK FAMILY Hans Peterson Wick was born Feb. 19, 1866, in Vik Sogn, Norway. At 17, he came to America, stopping at Grafton where he worked for several years. He took the name of his home in Norway, Vik or Wick, rather than Peterson. He was married to Mathilda Nelson, born March 31, 1886, near Oslo, Norway. They came to Edinburg in 1894 where he had a blacksmith shop on the north side of main street, with their house a short distance behind. At the time of the fire in 1900, they had three children, Philip, 7, Nellie, 4'/ , and Hilda, 3. Mrs. Wick carried out a mattress to a safe place and told the children to stay there while she went back to save some more things in the fire. She saved a chest of drawers, a rocking chair, some clothes and a mattress. She spent some anxious minutes when she returned to find her children gone. A relative had seen them and taken them to her home. They lived in the back part of the Hauge Church until their home was completed in the east section of Edinburg. They built a blacksmith shop where Hans worked for 35 years. His son, Philip, was a blacksmith for many years. Nellie and Hilda became teachers and taught in area schools. Mrs. Wick died March 6,1922. Hans Wick died Aug. 26, 1934. Their children were: Philip, Melvin, Nellie (Mrs. Oscar Samuelson), Adams; Hilda (Mrs. Neil Rinde), Hoople; Olga (Mrs. J. J. Jorgenson), Cando; and Lucille (Mrs. Lloyd Ferguson), Lankin. None are living. Mrs. Wick had a brother, Hartwick Nelson, who was known in the Edinburg area. They were cousins of Mrs. J. T. Langemo. Wick had a sister, Martha, who was married to Andrew Jensen. One of my biggest thrills as a small girl was to watch my grandfather at work in the blacksmith shop. Submitted by LaVerne (Rinde) Hultin. 2

FORMER EDINBURG RESIDENTS William Schnoover - operated a pool hall and liquor store Joseph Schultz - merchant Harold Johnson - St. Hilaire lumber agent. His son, Harold Keith, Chief of Staff of U. S. Army lived here as a small boy. Andrew Moen - hardware dealer Evan Suby - photographer Ed Gilbertson Henry Gullingsrud - post office clerk and school janitor Elmer Gullingsrud and Henry Underbakke - barbers Alfred Lerud - barber L. B. Ness - banker and postmaster J. C. Thompson - hotel and livery barn G. I. Anderson - hotel and livery barn

Ned Wick - elevator manager Edw. Gilbertson - pool hall, threshing machine operator Clarence Bjornaby - light plant

William Burns - furniture store Oin - elevator operator

DUNDEE TOWNSHIP Dundee Township was organized May 12, 1882. Officers elected at the meeting held at the district schoolhouse Nov. 7, 1882, were: H. P. Harrison, chairman, Christian Hanne and Andrew Lockren, directors, Nels H. Rinde, clerk, John Nicholson, treasurer, C. H. Dahle, assessor, D. P. McLeod and H. 0. Nesseth, constables, Andrew Lockren, overseer of highways, Harrison and Rinde, justice of the peace and John Sandland, poundmaster. A Scotch settlement called Mount View was one of the earliest in Dundee Township. Mount View post office was established Aug. 2,1880, with Perry G. Ewart as the first postmaster. The office was discontinued March 11, 1884. The Dundee post office was opened April 12, 1881, with Ole Overson as postmaster and discontinued Dec. 15, 1887. It was re-established March 22, 1888, and continued until Oct. 31, 1902. The post office and also the township was named after Dundee, Scotland, and Dundee, Ont., home towns of several of the settlers. Submitted by Kenneth Walker.

Stokkestad, trustees; and Kittel K. Kasin and Ole K. Listul, deacons. The Hvideso Congregation was part of a parish which included three other Hauges Evangelical Lutheran Synod Churches. They were St. Paul's in Edinburg, St. Peter, southwest of Edinburg, and St. Stephens, near Union. The first pastor was Rev. J. I. Lonne, who served from 1882-1883. He was succeeded by Rev. P. A T Nykreim, who served from 1884-1890. It was during this time that the congregation erected its church building. Other early pastors of the church were Rev. L. T. Kingle, 1890-1896, Rev. A. J . Krogstad, 1896-1904, Rev. Nickolas Okerlund, 1904-1909, Rev. S. S. Westby, 1909-1915, Rev A J. Krogstad, 1915-1921, Rev. Harold F. J. Ellingson, 19211925, Rev. O. A. Norem and Rev. S. J. Strandjord interim pastors (1926), Rev. Hallvard H. Lee, 1927-1928, and Rev. B. M . Branford, 1928-1939. The Ladies' Aid was first active as a young women's organization. The first meeting was held at the Isaac Almen home. Their object was to do mission work. The Ladies' Aid, as we now know it, was organized about 1912. The first president on record was Mrs. Albert Bodmer. In 1926, Hvideso became part of a parish which included Hvideso, First Lutheran of Hoople and Park Center. Submitted by Joel Lindell.

Dundee Band of 1905. Front row, left to right: Carl Borge, Peter Borge, Henry Clementson, Carl Clementson, Ole Grendahl, Beren Stransberg. 2nd row: Johan Jacobson, Halvor Halvorson, Helmer Walstad, Director Ted Olson, Ben Rinde, Walstad. 3rd row: Joe Johnson, Otto Berg, Oscar Berg, Henry Springson, Gustav Erickson, Richard Fredrickson, John Spitz. A highlight of their career was to play in Winnipeg. Hvideso Lutheran Church, Dundee Twp.

CHURCHES

PARK CENTER LUTHERAN CHURCH

HVIDESO LUTHERAN CHURCH The Hvideso Lutheran Congregation located in Dundee Township was organized in 1882 with a membership of 53. From 1882-1885, the name of the congregation was Hvidseid. At the annual meeting in 1885 a constitution was adopted and the name was changed to Hvideso. Some of the first officers of the congregation were Thov Longreff, president; Jacob Rollefstad, secretary; Kittel Rollefstad, treasurer; Eric Romuld and Hans

Due to the fragmentary nature of records kept during the early years of the congregation's history, it is difficult to present a complete history of Park Center Congregation. It appears that since so many immigrants of Norwegian Lutheran background had settled in Walsh County, pioneer Lutheran pastors began visiting this territory, conducting worship services and administering the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy communion. The first of these pastors of whom we have record was the Rev. O. H. Aaberg who lived at Walle, near Grand Forks, who conducted some services for the

three months; and Rev. K. A. Fjelbu, 1890-1897. The work prospered so well those years that the members of Park Center Congregation began to talk of erecting a church. In the summer of 1892 a serviceable church building 30'x75', was erected on the present site, costing $7,000. Pastor K. O. Storli is the next pastor there is a record of serving from 1900-1906; Rev. O. L. Kirkeberg, 1906-1913 (he passed away in 1925 and is buried in the Zion Cemetery, south of Hoople); Rev. H. O. Shurson, 19131915 (while he served the parish, he was instrumental in organizing the Lutheran congregation in Hoople); Rev. Adolph Egge, 1915-1926.In 1920, a fine and complete basement was built for the Park Center Church. Other improvements and renovations have taken place through the years, making Park Center an inviting place as a house of worship. In 1926, the parishes were re-arranged with the result that Park Center with Hvideso and First Lutheran Church of Hoople would constitute the new parish. Records show Rev. O. A. Norem served the congregation temporarily for five weeks; Pastor Halvard Lie, 19271928; Rev. B. M. Branford, 1929-1939; Rev. O. R Swenson, 1939-1955 (he took a three-year leave of absence to serve as chaplain in World War H - Rev. John B. Rockne of Park River filled in as temporary pastor in addition to serving his own parish of three congregations); Rev. James R. Sonnenberg, 1955-1966; Rev. James R. Brooks, 1966-1972; and Rev. M . J. Sheldahl, who is now serving Park Center, First Lutheran in Hoople and Hvideso. Submitted by Orb in Erickson.

Park Center community and in 1880 helped them organize into a congregation. From the available records, we quote the following and translate from the Norwegian: "Park Center Congregation was organized in the year 1880." After a worship service, they resolved to organize as a Christian congregation. Martin Johnson was elected president of the congregation and Ole Gunderson, secretary. (Possibly the congregation derives its name from the fact that the church is located near the center or middle branch of the Park River.) Elected as the first trustees were, Gjermund Gunderson for one year; E. Sandland for two years and Nels Clemetson for three years. It was next decided that this congregation shall unite with Zion Congregation (south from Hoople) and the Park River congregation (Our Saviour's) in calling a pastor, and that this congregation agreed to contribute to the pastor's salary, $80 the first year. Ole Gunderson, Gregar Halborson, Halvor Peterson Borge and Martin Johnson were elected to select a suitable place as a cemetery for the congregation. The result of this committee's work was that Knute E. Sandland donated three acres for cemetery and church grounds - the present site. There was a total of 167 members as of 1880 (67 adults and 100 children). Rev. O. H. Aaberg was the first pastor of this congregation, but he could not serve as its permanent pastor on account of other duties. Names and years of other pastors were: Rev. Christopher A. Flaten, 18811889; Rev. J . T. Langemo of Edinburg, temporarily for

SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN DUNDEE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 35 Pupils. P o

pits. • Andrew Sjitrflwd ; H k l m i u Rinde

Rath Harrison Pal ma Rene Sivert Marifjeren Sin a Jore Llnea Larson Bertha Borge Oscar Borge

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Mr. Henry Springan, Teacher

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6le Olson • Olga Raae Hamilton Rese Benjamin Rinde Roina Rinde Helen Rinde Alfred Erickson Roy Loftegaard Oscar Loftegaard Hilda Loftsgaard Oluf Borge Albert Kalgaarden Jacob Kalgaarden George Loftegaard Halvor Paulson Halvor Halvorson Adrian Harrison Emil Kalgaarden Adolph Kalgaarden Ethel Harrison Carl Borge Ida Rese

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Olivet M a i s Belli SJM.II.M:J M M R«« Minnie Fedje

Henry Fedje Ru^K-ll RiitJc Helens Rirde George Rod Alfred Erickson Q j M Sind-lsnd Tfilie Halvotson O K S » Hslvwion A m t M M i Rimdc Kettic R u d O k Vigin Otto Berg Ole Gcindjl !• 11j..--;.- L o t R j J o l f h Loe

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Schooi Memories SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 85 Teachers included: Thilda Langerud, Lois Fedje, Lilhan Marifren, Edward Erickson. Edward Berg and Anna Johnson. Records of the school were destroyed or not kept until 1899. During that year, Oscar O. Berg was clerk with A. Lockum serving as president In 1899, the old school was sold for $80. School board members were: Gust Erickson, Theo. Halvorson. K B. Rollefstad. H. H. Amundson, Ole Haug and Carl Rinde, When Kate McNeil msteaeherher monthly salary was $10. Teachers would Uv<e wiKto a neighbor farm

School Memories In 1882, the first school was built on Section 17, Dundee Township, six miles southwest of Hoople on the H. H. Rese farm. Teachers were: Ole Grovum, Richard Fredrickson, Kate McNeil, Rainea Rinde, Alma Dahl, Katherine Pederson, Springar, Thelma Rinde, Lillian Fredrickson, Oscar Erickson. In 1906, Mrs. John Evenson (Minnie Hammerstad) was the teacher. 583

family - room and board was about $12 per month. Every morning during the winter months, the janitor would start the fire and haul in the wood for the day. His salary was $2.80 per month. About 40 children attended the school during 18961900. There were not enough desks in the crowded one room school, so the children were often placed three to a desk, with either one at the end often bumping to the floor. School began in September, usually ended after five or six month period - usually in March. The school was closed in 1959. Anna Johnson was the last teacher. Submitted by Joe Holm.

In this picture are the pupils and teacher of the Dundee School District No. 35 in 1933-34. The teacher was Miss Borghild Samson, now Mrs. Joel Langseth of Fargo. She grew up on her parents farm, located one mile north of the school. Her parents, the late Sam and Alette Samson, farmed for many years in Dundee Township. She also received her grade school education in this school. In the picture are: Back row: Helen Klungness, Garnet Anderson, teacher, Borghild Samson Langseth, Melvin Erickson and Lorraine Gilbertson. 2nd row: Verna Wang, Myrtle Gilbertson and Alpha Wang. Front row: Lloyd Gilbertson, Gilbert Wang, Mary Anderson, Myrtle Wang and Ardella Anderson. Submitted by Mrs. Borghild Langseth.

1886—Rutledge School taken in 5-17-56. THE LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE The rural school played a large part in the lives of the farm boys and girls of Walsh County. In this picture we see one of the four schools in Dundee Township District No. 35. This school was located beside the road leading to Edinburg, about five miles east. Children from the area received their education in the elementary grades in the twenties and thirties. This building was typical of most rural schools in that it had cross-lighting, double desks carved with initials and had a large jacked stove in one corner. Either the stove gave too much or too little heat. The teacher had many jobs besides teaching the classes to about 15 to 20 children ranging from six to 15 years. She was the janitor. She swept the floor and carried in the day's supply of lignite coal. The ashes had to be taken out each day and dumped behind the school. It was not easy but a rewarding task. Many became great leaders in the community and in the fields of education and politics. Others remained on the farms and are now active homemakers and successful farmers.

Pupils and teacher at Dundee Dist. No. 35—1933-34.

Well, do I remember the one-room country school where — Each morning I would trudge to find the teacher there— A-sweepin' up the building or a-totin' in the coalThe teacher-janitress was she— She played a mighty role. In teaching all the classes, "Tots" to eighth grade "grads." I'm thinkin' of that schoolhouse. Now, those country gals and lads. Those times have gone forever but memories linger yet, Of that little white schoolhouse and the days I'll ne'er forget. (Ethel Atkins)

Dundee Twp. School No. 35 584

Anna Marie Carlson was bom Oct. 26, 1830, in Amal, Sweden. She married Isaac Almen in 1863. They had four children. Lisa and Axel died in Sweden. Sophie Beata was bom April 27, 1867, Anna Marie, Dec. 8, 1872. Mrs. Almen died at the Johnson home in Glenwood Township Sept. 9, 1902. Being threshing time when the horses worked six days a week, the trip to Hvideso Cemetery presented a problem, so Mrs. Almen was buried at North Trinity Cemetery. They were active in church and community work. Their home was open to all who came or needed help. They had 13 grandchildren.

BIOGRAPHIES MR. AND MRS. ISAAC ALMEN

HELGE AND INGEBORG AMUNDSON Helge Amundson was born Feb. 11, 1876, in Hallingdal, Norway. His parents were Amund and Sigrid Amundson. He was one of five children, including Amund, Mary, Ida, Helge and Nellie. When Helge was five, the family immigrated to the United States and settled near Tracy in southern Minnesota, where they farmed. While the rest of the family stayed in southern'Minnesota, Helge left when he was about 20 for the Edinburg area. He worked as a farm laborer and on the railroad. Ingeborg was born April 23, 1883, in Numedahl, Norway. Her parents were Tov and Joran Saghaug. She was one of 10 children including Herb rand, Joran (Mrs. Ole Gullingsrud), Halvor, Ole, Gertrude (Mrs. Halvor Stenerson), Halstein, Bergit (Mrs. Bjorn Rike), Ingeborg (Mrs. Helge Amundson), Kristi and Anne. The brothers and sisters all immigrated to America, except Kristi and Anne. When they arrived here they all changed their name to Haug.

Mr. and Mrs. Helge Amundson—1909 Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Almen—by the Hvideso Church. They gave the land for the church to the congregation. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Almen, with daughters, Sophie and Anna, emigrated from Sweden to America. They came to one of Mr. Almen's brothers, Rev. Lars G. Almen, New London, Minn., Oct. 1, 1880. The trip across the Atlantic Ocean took three weeks. Here they chose the surname "Almen" as his brother had done, instead of Person as they were called in Sweden.

In October, 1902, when Ingeborg was 19, she and her sister, Bergit, left for America. They sailed for nine days and nights. They suffered much from seasickness and when they were ready to leave the ship, they discovered all their money had been stolen. The people aboard the ship gave them enough money to get to Winnipeg where they ran across an old friend from Norway who advanced them money to get to Grafton. Their tickets had been sent by Halvor and Ole Groven who farmed near Grafton and here they worked, receiving about $1.50 a week, until their tickets were paid, then left for the Edinburg area where their two sisters, Joran and Gertrude, lived. Ingeborg did housework until she married Helge Amundson Jan. 26, 1909.

In April, 1880, Isaac Almen came to another of his brothers, John M. Almen, Glenwod Township. In May, 1881, Rev. L. G. Almen accompanied Mrs. Almen and her daughter, Anna, by train to Stephen, Minn., as far as the railroad extended. They were met there by John M. Almen with a team of oxen and lumber wagon. It took them two days to reach his home. Sophie remained in New London, Minn., to continue her schooling. That summer, Isaac Almen built a small sod house on 40 acres of land, a mile west of his brother's place. They sold this land in 1883 when they homesteaded on a farm in Dundee Township west of Hoople in the Hvideso community. Mr. Almen gave a piece of land to the Hvideso congregation on which the Hvideso Church now stands. He chose the southeast corner of the cemetery for his final resting place.

They spent the early years of marriage in the Edinburg area. Helge worked as a store clerk, later they rented land from Olaus Ulberg and lived with him for about four years. In 1914, they bought a farm south of Edinburg. They attended services in the Garfield Lutheran Church and Selma and Henry started school in a little country school, since closed. In 1918, they bought their first Model T. Ford, quite an event for the family. After about five years, they sold the farm and bought another farm near the Hvideso Lutheran Church, west of Hoople. This was their home until their deaths. They were members of the Hvideso Church and Helge was custodian there for 12 years and on the church council. They had eight children, all attended school in Dundee School District No. 35. Helge was also a member of the school board for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Almen were sponsors for Nels Grendahl. When his mother died, they brought him to their home at the age of three. He made his home there until Mr. Almen's death in 1896. Then Mrs. Almen and Nels Grendahl went to live with her daughters, Mrs. Gustav Augustson and Mrs. Gustav A. Johnson. Nels continued to live either at the Augustson or Johnson home until he was past 12. Isaac Almen was born Nov. 6, 1834, near Amal, Dalsland, Sweden, and lived on a small farm called Kolen on the estate of Bjakebo. He died March 1, 1896, and was laid to rest in his chosen lot. 585

Children were Selma (Mrs. Joseph Lindell), Hoople; Henry (deceased); Ingvald, Hoople; Alice (Mrs. Kenneth Anderson), Fairdale; Melvin, Fordville; Evelyn (Mrs. Emil Monsebroten), Edinburg; Helen (Mrs. Lawrence Liddle), Park River; and Merlin on the home place. Helge died March 16, 1959, at 83, and Ingeborg Jan. 25, 1967, also at 83. Submitted by Mrs. Joseph Lindell.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Augustson are buried in the Hvideso Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Gerald Anderson. OLE CLEMETSON FAMILY

Bella Springan and Ole Clemetson wedding picture

Mr. and Mrs. Helge Amundson and Family. Seated, left to right: Selma (Lindell), Mrs. Helge Amundson, Helge Amundson, Ingvold. Standing: Helen (Liddle), Melvin, Alice (Anderson), Henry, Merlin, Evelyn (Monsebroten). LARS NELSON Lars Nelson came to America in the late 1870's. Crossing the ocean in a sail ship, he first came to Breckenridge, Minn., suffered a broken leg which delayed his plans. He stayed with a family there and went to school. Later he looked for land, came to Grafton and stayed a few days. There he met a girl who later became his wife. She was also from Norway. He went further west and found his quarter section of land, three miles northeast of Edinburg. He lived on that farm all his life. In 1882, he married Rachel Sophia Meskaug. He took her from her home in Grafton to his home, a one room log cabin on the farm. Five children were born, Clara, Samuel, and Nellie, two died in infancy. He had to haul wheat to St. Thomas with oxen. It took three days. The log cabin got too small, so he had a frame house built. Lars Nelson died Jan. 9,1899, at 56. Rachel died Nov. 14, 1922, at 76. Clara Nelson married Carl Anderson in Grafton, they had four children. She died Oct. 4, 1954. Nellie married Tom Epetvedt, March 6, 1923, they had one son, Noel, who died Dec. 20, 1969. Submitted by Nellie Espetvedt.

Ole Clemetson was born Aug. 10, 1862, at Kenyon, Minn., to Osten and Gunhild Clemetson or Holen. Bella Springan was born Oct. 12, 1868, at Colby, Minn., to Mr. and Mrs. Amund Springan. She was 12 years old when she came to the Hoople area with her parents in 1881. Bella and Ole were married in 1887 at Park Center Church, Dundee Township. Eleven children were born. There are five living, Edward, Priceville, Sask.; Mrs. Teholt (Alma) Lysengen, St. Thomas; Minnie Clemetson, Fargo; Mrs. Joseph (Ida) Egge, Mitchell, S. Dak.; and Mrs. W. M . (Elvina) Ellingson, Buffalo, N . Y. Four sons died, Albert, 1920; Oscar, 1969; Elmer, 1970; and Eddie, Jan. 14, 1971. Eddie was married to Myrtle Flom, Milton. They had five children, all married. Four survive. Mrs. Clemetson and their children and families have lived in Park River for many years. They are members of the Lutheran church. The Ole Clemetson children were baptized and confirmed in the Park Center Church, except the two youngest who died in infancy. They were all members of the Park Center Church. Bella died Aug. 15,1949, and Ole Jan. 18, 1933. They farmed in Minnesota and in South Dakota before they moved to Dundee Township. Amund Springan was bom in Telemarken, Norway, Ole Clemetson's parents in HaUingdahl, Norway. Submitted by Mrs. Lloyd Staven. ERICKSON FAMILY HISTORY Ole Erickson arrived with his wife, Helga, to settle in Dundee Township in early 1881. After immigrating from Norway, they lived for a time in southern Minnesota, near Albert Lea. There their oldest children were born. Lina, only daughter in the family, used to tell tales to her children and nephews and nieces about her life as a child in Minnesota, never returned to the place of her birth. The second child was Gustav, seven, when the family came to Walsh County. He recalled having stopped at Grand Forks and herded the family livestock on land on which the University of North Dakota became established.

ANDREW AUGUSTSON Andrew Augustson came from Omoli, Sweden in 1887. He homesteaded in Dundee Township in 1901. He had three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Larson (Christina), Mrs. Carl Magneson (Augusta), and Mrs. Carl Fredrickson (Anna), two brothers, Nels and Gustav, all born in Sweden. His mother, a widow, also came and lived with him. Nels lived in Edinburg and Gustav moved to Warroad, Minn. Later, he married Anna Grendahl from Dundee Township. They had two children, Blanche and Arthur. 586

The third child was Edward, a graduate of that university. The third son was Oscar, also a graduate of the university. Alfred completed the pioneer family. There was a half brother, Ole Christianson, born in Norway. Ole was known for his massive strength and powerful physique as he topped the scales at 325 pounds of solid weight, a great help in the building of homes and clearing the land.

Two generations are now gone. America has exceeded the fondest dreams and hopes of that first pioneer family who pulled up their roots in their old homeland of Norway and were never to return. Their early hardships and dangers were to be matched by their grandchildren who had to return to defend the land of adoption on the "Omaha" and "Utah" beaches of the European continent; on the high seas, at Pearl Harbor and the remotest parts of the world ever trodden by white civilization. It has been a worthy quest to be at home in Dundee Township, Walsh County, North Dakota. Submitted by Orbin Erickson.

Ole Erickson family. Left to right: Oscar, Ole \father], Gust, Edward, Luis, Helga (mother), Alfred. Ole Erickson died in 1896, his widow, Helga, in 1926. Gustav (Gust) married Molly Gjevre in 1914. He built the second frame house on the farm before, had three surviving children, Inez, Orbin and Melvin G. A fourth child (Alvin) died in infancy. Molly had tuberculosis during pregnancy, died in 1923. Rearing three young children was aided by the grandmother, Helga, and Aunt Lina Syversrud, who lived and had her family in nearby Edinburg. Ole Christianson returned to the farm to assist with the farm work and chores. The three children grew up, were educated, married and produced one girl and four boys in a fourth generation of the family. Lina married N. E. Syversrud. They had two children, Hannah and Edwin. Edwin entered UND at 13. He was a naval officer during World War H, died in 1973. Hannah married Walter Bond, taught school for several years, had one son, Brendon, moved to Calif ornia in 1956. Edward served Walsh County as Superintendent of Schools, established the Walsh County Agricultural and Training School and pioneered Vocational Education and Rehabilitation in North Dakota as its first State Director. The two departments were split in 1945 and he continued as Director of Rehabilitation until his retirement in 1954. He also served on the National Rehabilitation Council. He married Jessie McVey, they had four children. Oscar got a UND degree and started as principal and later superintendent at Hatton and Mayville. He educated Arctic explorer, Carl Ben Eielson, went into insurance and climaxed his career as a Pierce County Welfare Director. He had five children following his marriage to Althea Ulsaker. Alfred had a career in banking, farming, and retired after owning a Fargo bakery. He married Caroline Rustan, the couple had no children.

Mr. and Mrs. Gust Erickson—1914

HANS GRENDAHL Mr. and Mrs. Hans Grendahl came here from Telemarken, Norway. They had six children: Ole, Nels, Henry, John, Annie, Tilda (Mrs. Charon). All lived around Edinburg. Mrs. Hans Grendahl had a halfbrother (Hans Dakken), who retired at Edinburg. They are buried in the Hvideso Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Gerald Anderson. OLE T. GROVUM

Mr. and Mrs. Ole T. Grovum

Ole T. Grovum came from Telemarken, Norway, in the fall of 1882. He married Bertina Lee in Minnesota in 1892, came first to Norman County, Minn., and then settled in Dundee Township. Ole attended seminary in Norway and Mayville Teachers' College. Children were: Tilda, deceased; Ted, Grafton; Oscar, Minneapolis; Emma, Hoople; Agnes Novak, Park River; and Gunhild Hultin, Hoople. Submitted by Mrs. Leonard Hultin. GREGOR HALVERSON FAMILY Gregor and Berget Halverson were born in Numedal, Norway. They arrived in the U. S. at separate times during 1878. Berget worked for a time as a hired girl in Iowa. In 1881, she met Gregor in Dakota Territory near Hoople. They were married April 22,1881, and filed a homestead three miles southwest of Hoople. Their first home which was a dugout, no match for the flood that followed the next year, and they were forced to move from this home and settle eight miles west of Hoople. This now the Holm Brothers Farm. Nine children were born, two died in infancy, Halvor, Theodore, Tillie Holm, Oscar, Gina Anderson, Bella, and Jennie Bernaas. Tillie Holm and Gina Anderson are the only survivors. Mrs. Halverson was by her husband's side throughout the rough pioneer days. She worked in home and field. Neighbors welcomed her presence many times as she struggled over snow laden prairies on skis to bring food to sick and poor settlers, and was a midwife. To many, she was both a doctor and a nurse. Gregor Halvorson was one of the founders of the Dundee Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He helped organize the Park Center Church and later the Hvideso Lutheran Church. Mrs. Halverson planted and cared for orchards on the home place. Many of her neighbors shared her fruit each year. Mr. Halverson died at 74 in 1921. Mrs. Halverson in 1939 at 82. They are buried in Hvideso Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Joe Holm.

on his own. In 1916, March 8, he married Tilda Halvorson. They had six children, one daughter and five sons Bernice, Gilman, Raymond, Leonard, Joseph and Fred. The Holm family were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Edinburg. Ole was the operator of a butcher shop until it was destroyed by fire. He then farmed, first the Ed Field land for two years, then rented the Peter Lee farm and farmed that for five years. Ole Holm died April 12,1931, at 48. He is buried in the cemetery at Edinburg. After Ole's death, the family moved to a farm in Dundee Township, north of Hvideso Church. They lived there for 10 years. By this time the boys were growing into young men. Grandma Halvorson had died and arrangements were made for Tillie and family to move onto the Halvorson home place. Submitted by Mrs. Tilhe Folson and Jane Holm.

Mr. and Mrs. Ole Holm GREGOR KITTLESON

Gregor Kittleson Family. Seated, left to right: Dora, Gregor, Nellie, Annie, morger Annie. Standing: Halvor, Charlie, Margit. The Gregor Halvorson family. Front, left to right: Gregor, Mrs. Halvorson, Gina (Anderson), Bella, Jennie (Bernaas), Ole Holm, Tillie, Bernice (Field). Back row: Theodore, Halvor, Tom. OLE HOLMIGREN (HOLM) Ole Homigren (Holm) was born Aug. 10,1882, and he came to America from Norway in 1905 when he was 23 years old. He came to New York by ship, a three week journey. John Lowe met him at the train in Edinburg. He lived with the Lowe family until he found work and was

Gregor Kittleson, born in 1857, and his wife, Anna Fosse, born in 1851, in 1893 with their family came to Walsh County from Telemarken, Norway. The children were: Kittle (better known as Charlie), Halvor, Margit, Dora (who later married Harry Landsborough of Park River), Gundhild (later known as Nellie, who married Andrew Steners) and Annie (Mrs. James Erovick of Park River). When the family came to Dundee Township, they were in log homes while Gregor worked to make money to repay the cost of his transportation to America. Cutting wood for fuel provided winter employment and in

the summer, grubbing out stumps to clear the land furnished employment for hired men. Earning the price of a cow to provide milk and a team of horses for transportation were early requirements. In attempting to return to his family while a blizzard raged, he and Ole Langerud were forced to delay the trip for three days. Arriving home on skis he realized he was on the roof of the barn following the top of a snow bank. He reported coffee smelled so good. Later, when he required equipment for farming, he rented land from Gunder Rykki until it was sold to Lars Estad. He bought land now owned by Arthur Erovick and farmed there until he died in 1944. Anna Fosse Kittleson died in 1944. Both are buried in the Park River Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Dora Lansborough. KITTLESON FAMILY Kittle Kittelson, better known as Charlie Kittelson, was born in Telemarken, Norway, Sept. 11, 1883. He was the son of Gregar and Anna Kittelson. At ten, he came to America along with his folks, one brother, Halvor and four sisters, Mrs. Harry (Dora) Landsborough, Mrs. Andrew (Nellie) Stevens, Mrs. James (Annie) Erovick and Margaret Kittelson. They lived in the Hoople area for several years before moving to a farm six miles northwest of Park River. On Nov. 25,1925, Charlie married Millie Peterson at the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, with Pastor Adolph Egge officiating. They moved to their farm six miles northwest of Park River where Charlie lived until his death Nov. 18, 1969. They had four children, Mrs. Richard (Adeline) Denault who lives on a farm 6% miles northwest of Park River, Mrs. Ronald (Malvina) Monson, Edinburg; Mrs. Paul (Lila) Olson, Edinburg; and one son, Gilman, on the farm. There are 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild. They are a musical family and love entertainment. Charlie would play his eight string Hardangar violin that he made in 1919. It is a beautiful violin trimmed with pearl inlays. He made seven of them and sold six. They would sit around in the evenings and play good old time music. The family would accompany him on the accordion which Gilman plays, guitars, which the girls play and an old organ that was given to Mrs. Kittelson by her mother, Mrs. Anna Peterson. It is still in use whenever the families get together. Charlie played every year at Telelog's (fiddlers' convention) and received many blue ribbons and trophies. Charlie farmed with horses up until 1938 when he bought his first Allis Chalmers tractor. Mrs. Kittelson was active and would be up at four or five in the morning to help her husband milk the cows before they went out to the field. She helped with all the farm work. When the children got older, they were along and helped, too. They all picked potatoes for the neighbors for eight to ten cents per bushel. That was the good old days? Submitted by Mrs. Ronald Monson. KLUNGNESS FAMILY Halvor Klungness was born in Aandalsness, Norway, in 1872. He was one of eight children born to parents who lived on a small farm. His father was also a blacksmith. In 1891, at 19, he left Norway to join two older sisters who were already at Grafton. He had learned the tailoring trade in Norway and

was employed by some of the pioneer tailors in the area. Mr. Blegen and later, M. Motroen and 0. J. Locken. He also clerked for Mr. Bolstad who built a small store in Adams when that town was started. Halvor, at one time went to western North Dakota and took out a claim near Sanish, but he said it never rained there and he returned to Grafton. He married Rose Markholt of Hoople in 1909. They were active in church work and for several years taught parochial school. These sessions were usually conducted in the Norwegian language. Halvor was a great walker and told how he often walked along the railroad track from Grafton to Hoople and then four miles west of that town to see Rose who lived with her family on a farm there. This family, the Torkel Markholts, immigrated from Telemarken, Norway, and endured many hardships as did many of those early pioneers. Grandma told how two of their three children became ill crossing the Atlantic and because the trip took so long, it was necessary to bury them at sea. Later, other children were born to them and three of these died of smallpox. Halvor and Rose Klungness bought a farm in Dundee Township and lived there for a number of years. Later, they returned to Grafton where they resided until their deaths. They adopted two children, Harris and Helen (Laveg). Submitted by Mrs. Joe Laaveg.

Halvor Klungness in center with Motroen and Locken, tailors, Grafton. NILS KJOS FAMILY Nils Kjos immigrated from Vang Valders, Norway, to America in 1880. His first stop was at Glyndon, Minn., he later started out on foot. While walking on the railroad track wearing red stockings, he removed his socks to flag down the train. The train stopped and picked him up near Fisher, Minn. He walked from Grand Forks to Dundee Township and homesteaded on the NW'/4 of Section 32, Township 158, Range 55, where the Kjos Brothers Springs are now located. Inga Kjos and Henry Kjos reside at this location. Five brothers arrived at about the same time. One brother died of smallpox and the surviving family had to find new living quarters because at that time the house had to be set on fire and completely destroyed. Another brother who homesteaded adjoining the Nils Kjos farm was a watchmaker and operated a shop at Park River for several years, later moving to Thief River Falls, Minn., where he operated under the name of Wangenstein Jewelers until his death. His son, Bart, then

took over the business and continued the operation until his death. It is now being operated by a grandson. Nils Kjoshadfivesons and three daughters. One son, Henry Kjos, and two daughters, Inga Kjos and Mrs. Enock (Pauline) Larson are the only survivors. His wife, Sigrid Peterson Helle, arrived at the same time and homesteaded the adjoining quarter, living in a dugout, dug into a coulee bank for some time. At first they traveled to Grand Forks for their supplies, later they got their supplies from Walhalla. Nils Kjos died in September, 1923. His wife, Sigrid, died in December, 1951. Clarence, Gust and Oscar were other sons. Submitted by Inga Kjos. FJVEND G. JORE Eivend G. Jore was born in Telemarken, Norway, Jan. 17, 1860. He immigrated to America in 1880. After spending some time in Iowa he came to North Dakota. He worked for a few years, then came to Dundee Township where he farmed the rest of his life. On Dec. 2, 1893, he married Thea 0. Lee who was born in Freeborn County, Minn., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Lee. She came here as a child of four with her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Gjermund Midboe, in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Jore had four children, Sina (Mrs. Ole T. Lee); Theodora (Mrs. Theodore Loftsgard); Carl and Olava, who died at one. Mr. Lee died in 1947. He and his wife were members and willing workers in the Lutheran Church and in the Republican party. Mrs. Lee lives on the home farm. Their son, Richard, also fives there with Iris wife, Audrey, and children, Jody, Richard, Sharon and Renee. Submitted by Mrs. Sina Lee.

name was shortened, Loestueu to Loe and Holmyre to Holm. In 1881, government territory was opened for filing. Father filed and plowed a quarter in Dundee Township. There he built a log house. A yoke of oxen and wagon were the means of transportation from Breckenridge. Eleven children were born. In 1888 the Lutheran Hvideso Church was built. Brother Emil and K. B. Rollefstad were the first babies baptized in the new church. For refrigeration a small cellar was dug out right by the house. It was boarded up inside to keep the soil from falling in. This cellar was used for storing milk, cream and smoked meats for summer use. Vegetables were stored and it was also used for a storm cellar. Mother did all the washing by hand, she sewed all dresses, slips, and jackets for all the girls. She knitted long stockings from wool she spun into yarn. Father sold his land to J. E. Peterson of Edinburg. Peterson was postmaster and also owned a store. Mother died in 1904 and father in 1936. Submitted by Mrs. John (Tillie Loe) Folson.

John T. Loe Family. Children, left to right: Hjalmar, Peter, Clara (Duff). Lower: Elese (Waldron), baby Emil. MR. AND MRS. ANDREW LOCKREM

Mr. and Mrs. Eivend Jore—Sina Lee, Theodora Loftsgard, Carl Jore. JOHN P. LOE John P. Loestueu, a single man, immigrated to the U. S. from Gudbeaudodafie with a group of land seekers in 1880. They came to Breckenridge, Minn. My mother, Ronog Holmyre, also came from Norway to Breckenridge in 1882 from Gudbeaudodafie. Their last

Andrew Lockrem was born in Valdres, Norway, Dec. 22, 1838. Mrs. Andrew Lockrem, Anna Halverson, was born in Sogn, Norway, Aug. 8, 1840. From Norway they came to Northfield, Minn., Rice County. They were married there May 17, 1864, and came to Dakota Territory in 1882, bought land in Dundee Township near Park Center Church. He built a house on the corner of his land east of the church. Mrs. Lockrem and family came to Grafton by train June 16, 1882. The boys came in the freight cars with the household furniture, cows and horses. They got in the wagon in Grafton to go to their new home. Mother thought it took forever and asked where in the world this home was. Grandpa said, "Do you see that bright shiny object away off ahead?" That was it. The sun shining on the newly built house shone like gold as it wasn't painted yet. They walked to the Walker School.

One morning that winter, Grandma said she had slept so long and waking up several times and it was still dark so finally got up to see and here it had snowed so much during the night that they were snowed in. Just a little corner of a window wasn't snowed in so she could see it was daylight. The door to the shanty went in and the snow had circeled around leaving a little opening so Grandpa could get himself up and made steps in a wall of snow. Taking a long rope he tied it to the chimney on top of the house to use for a guide as he went to the barn to feed the cattle and horses. They later had a home near the Park Center Lutheran Church. A house, garden, fruit trees and berry bushes were on one side of the river. Across the bridge and river were the barn and chicken coop. Their home was in the woods between the old Tho. Rinde home and Knute Borg home. They helped organize and build the Park Center Lutheran Church, and they were charter members. Grandpa had a little blacksmith shop built. He played the violin as did all the boys. A good time was had at get-togethers when they played and danced polkas, waltzes, and square dances. Grandpa's dad's name was Iver Lockrem, born March 19, 1804. He died Sept. 6, 1887. His mother's name was Gertrude Lockrem, born June 16, 1807, died Sept. 17, 1897. Grandpa was in the Civil War, 1861-1864. He was wounded by a shot in his knees and was hospitalized in Vicksburg, Miss. I have a letter sent to him when he was in the war from Grandma, his fiancee. The envelope is two inches wide and four inches long. She braided a lock of her black hair in a French braid and enclosed it. There is a two cent stamp on it. Seven children were born, Henry born March 4,1865, died Aug. 18,1920; Elie born Jan. 22, 1867, died Nov. 27, 1945; Carl born July 7, 1869, died July 12, 1898; Jennie born Nov. 3,1871, died Nov. 28,1946; Carrie born Dec. 23, 1873; died Feb. 5, 1922; Alfred born April 9, 1876, died Jan. 14, 1963; Joseph born June 27, 1878, died April 6, 1959. Jennie married Nels J. Marifjiren, June 29,1893 and Carrie married Board Foyen, January, 1900. Mrs. Andrew Lockrem died Nov. 25,1909, and Mr. Lockrem died July 20,1910. They are both buried in Park Center Church Cemetery. MR. AND MRS. JOHN LINDELL John Lindell was born at Smaaland, Sweden, near Vaxjo, Feb. 26,1852. His father's name was Peter Nelson and his mother's name was Kajsa. He was the third child in a family of six whose names were: Johanna, Karl (Charley), John, Otto, Alfred and Gust. John spent his childhood in Sweden and attended schools there. He was baptized and confirmed in the Linneryd church. All five brothers came to the United States. Their family name, Peterson, was changed to Lindell after the place Linneryd. So many families were named Peterson and this caused less confusion. In 1869, John came to America by the way of New York to Goodhue County, Minn. He was 17, and came to his older brother, Charley's place, who had come previously. He worked for a time at Maple Plain, Minn., and then

went on to Taylor's Falls. This town was a logging center situated on the St. Croix River and here he was employed in a saw mill. On the way between these towns he had the misfortune of losing his bag of clothes. With little money and few belongings even food became scarce. He gave the restaurant cook his "gold cuff links," a last precious going away gift from his mother. He worked at a flour mill in Minneapolis. In 1874, he bought a 160 acre farm in Goodhue County, which he sold when he joined his older brother, Charley, in the purchase of two 320 acre farms in Mower County, Minn. Due to infestation of grasshoppers which destroyed their crops they abandoned these farms. In June 1880, John joined a younger brother, Alfred, and came to Dundee Township, Walsh County. Then came by boat to Fisher's Landing, south of Grand Forks. He worked on a farm here. The two brothers, John and Alfred, went on foot to a family in Glenwood Township, John Almen. There were no roads—only trails. The chief among these was the Indian Trail from Grand Forks to the Turtle Mountains.

Mr. and Mrs. John Lindell and Family—1924. Upper row, left to right: Annie Kjelland, Hulda Dahl, Clifford, Joseph. Lower: Pearl Dahl, John Lindell, Anna Lindell, Lydia Wee.

They were looking for land and because of wet conditions in the Grafton area, they sought higher ground where drainage was better. John took a homestead in Dundee Township. He first lived in a dug-out in the hillside close to a spring of good water and sheltered by trees and brush. With the help of two other men, a log house was built on higher ground and provided a good home for many years. A few years ago, because of road construction, this log house was moved from its original site to the family yard and still stands as a momento of pioneer days. Several acres were cleared of brush and trees. The pioneers made good use of scythes, axes, saws, spades, and bars for prying. Oxen would pull the one furrow walking plow to ready the soil for seeding. The first year, 10 acres of wheat were planted which realized 200 bushels of grain. Building trails and roads was also a project in itself. Farmers got together with their usual hand equipment and team of horses and scraper. It is said our dad built the first bridge where No. 9 now runs northwest of the home. The first trail was further south. He attended a rural school one winter, learned to read and write the English language. In 1892, he returned to Sweden to visit his mother, a

thought he needed tobacco to be able to work. We had a great-grandpa living there, too. He was a horse trader, also preached the gospel. From Yankton, the Lars Hansons moved to Idaho in 1889 Grandpa built a log house and a big log bam. He raised horses. The family had a reunion in Idaho in 1948. All the Hansons have died except Aunt Ida, Mrs. Jack Hill and Minnie Anderson. She married a son ol Soren Anderson. He came from Grafton. The Hanson boys had a log corral and a rodeo every Sunday. My father and his brothers were real comedians. Lars Hanson decided to move to Park River. His sister, Mrs. Ole Larson, lived there. They traveled by covered wagon, Lars, his wife and ten children and a hired man. They had 100 horses when they left Idaho for the Red River Valley. Grandpa drove four horses on the wagon, stopping every third day to wash clothes and bake bread. The trek took over a year. They had to ford the rivers when they traveled in Montana, spending the winter at Dillon where the boys worked in the woods. They traveled 10 weeks the last summer. The horses wanted to turn and go home and they lost many of them. Uncle Ed was lost for four days trying to find lost horses. They finally arrived at their destination. All those horses in a small community were something to talk about but not very valuable. They said they traded a horse for a sack of flour worth $3.50. Father, Lars Hanson, was not happy. They moved to Auburn for a short time. Later they had a half-way house at Vesta-between Edmore and Park River. My dad Hans Hanson, and my mother, Aslaug Hellekson, were married in a country school near Park River Aug. 6 1904 It was a large wedding-lots of food, lots of people and a dance. They called the farm the Libby Place. My parents moved to Van Hook-Uncle Martin married Gunhild Boe in 1904. They moved to Ryder, later to Vulcan, Alta., Canada.

widow. The next year he returned to America taking a nephew and a neighbor boy with him. On March 31, 1885, he filed his Declaration of Intention at Grafton and became one of the first citizens in Walsh County. Mr Lindell married Anna Larson Hagen Oct. 30, 1896 at the log cabin he had built. Anna came to America in May, 1895, at 23. She was born at Romsdalen, Norway, April 17, 1872. She came to see the so called "Land of Adventure" and to visit her brothers who had come previously. She was in company with a Brevik family. Mrs. Lindell, our mother, was a tall, stately and quiet type whose interests centered around the home and family. She often related Bible stories and sang religious hymns to the children. Neighbors would gather in the homes with Bible, prayer, and gospel singing. In 1905, this homestead in Dundee was rented out and the family took a new homestead in Saskatchewan, a few miles southwest of Girvin. At one time we had eight quarters of land in Canada. In two years the family returned to their home at Dundee. A new house replaced the log cabin at Dundee in 1909 on higher ground over-looking the area to the east-a choice location. At one time our folks owned 800 acres in this area. The home place was sold to their son, Joseph, wife and family where they live at the present time. In the fall of 1941, Mother died. Our dad lived until May, 1945, died at 93, had lived on the homestead 65 years Mr. and Mrs. Lindell had six children, five of them born in the log cabin. All are living: Lydia, (Mrs. B. O. Wee) of Grafton; Clifford of Wilton; Hulda (Mrs. Robert Dahl); Pearl (Mrs. Carl K. Dahl); Annie (Mrs. Emil Kjelland), all of Park River; and Joseph, Hoople. They also have several grandchildren. Excerpts from a letter received by the family from an old time neighbor of the Lindells: "The Lindell home brings back memories. On our trek home from school we were all the same as home when we got to the Lindell home. One winter we lived in your dad's larger room while he batched using the kitchen. People sort of huddled together up along the timber in those days. It was not so lonely that way. "Your father and mother were always ready to lend a helping hand. They were wonderful neighbors and honest." _. , ... Submitted by Mrs. Robert K. Dahl (Hulda Lindell). LARS HANSON AND FAMILY My name is Luella Hanson, oldest daughter of Hans Hanson. My grandmother, Guri, and grandfather, Lars, were born and raised and married in Ophal, Norway. Their name was Aalman in Norway. Grandpa changed it to Hanson when they came to America. They came to the United Statesin 1880. Their two sons, Hans and Uncle Ole were born in Norway. Their trip on the ship took six weeks. The ship was so crowded with immigrants, food was scarce and my grandmother was seasick. The only belongings they brought over that they kept were some old trunks and a homemade bread box. Their destination was Yankton, S. D. There was a colony, mostly Norwegians, who settled in that area. Their homes were sod houses with dirt floors. There was little work and income was low. Grandpa has 35 cents he wanted to spend fortobaccobut Grandma said "no." He

Mr. and Mrs. Lars Larson and family. Left to right: Martin, Lewis, Ole Hans, Edward, Magnus Lars Hanson, Samuel, Gure, Hanson, [mother], Ida and Minnie. JOHANNES MARIFJEREN Johannes Marifjeren was bom at Marifjeren in Sogn, Norway in 1818. He farmed in Norway until 1846, when he emigrated to America and settled at Stoughton, Wis. He lived there two years. In 1848 he moved to Wanamingo, Minn., where he homesteaded and built a log house. He married Synneva Hillestad, June 26, 1855, and lived on the homestead until 1882. Six children were born: Maria, born May 10, 1857, died June 23, 1898; Susanna, died at the age of 16 years; Karen, born Oct. 18, 1859, died Oct. 26,1928 ; Lars, born Dec. 22,1860, died Jan. 592

In the fall of 1882, the Marifjerens built a store on their farm, the post office having been established there before they came. The mail was carried to this place by a mail man from Grafton. The Dundee Store and post office were operated by J . J. Marifjeren until 1886, or about two years after the railroad reached Park River and the town was established.

10,1943; Nels, born Feb. 18, 1862, died March, 1946; John, born Nov. 4, 1865, died March 27, 1916. Johannes Marifjeren's wife was born in Norway in 1822. She emigrated to the United States to Wanamingo, Minn., in 1846. She died in 1866. In the early spring of 1882, J. Marifjeren made a trip to Dundee township about seven miles north of the present site of Park River. He purchased 320 acres of land from Ove Oveson who had filed on this land in 1881 and built a log house with a sod roof, 18 x 14 ft. on one quarter. This quarter was located on the river and had a lot of timber on it. For the other 160 acres, which was all prairie, he paid $800. The preceding winter, there was about four feet of snow on the ground on the level and when J. J. Marifjeren was here in early spring, everything was covered with water. Many of the streams overflowed their banks and flooded the surrounding country.

OLE RINDE

Mr. and Mrs. Ole Rinde Ole Rinde was born at Nerstrand, Minn., June, 1858. With his brothers, Nels and Theodore, homesteaded in Pembina County in 1881. They stayed there one year, then made a trade for 320 acres in Dundee township in 1882. Ole Rinde was married to Kari Finneseth Sept. 30, 1883. They had eight children, Ambrosia (Fedje), Emilly, deceased, Evelyn (Florence), Anna (Gentz), Ester (Field), Russell, Carl and Walter. He was a charter member of Park Center Church later transferred to Hvideso. He served as school treasurer from 1899 to 1913 of District No. 35 school. He died in 1933. Submitted by Carlton Rinde.

Dundee Post Office and John J. Marifjeren Store There was 20 acres of sod broken on some of the land he purchased and while here he arranged to have this sown into wheat after which he returned to Wanamingo, Minn. He moved his family to the farm in Dundee township in June, 1882. He farmed and lived there until his death Dec. 19, 1903. Before leaving Wanimingo, he sold his land there for $45 an acre. As there was no free land to be had there, he thought the three boys would have a better opportunity in the new country and in June the family made ready to immigrate to N . Dak. Two carloads were loaded at Redwing, Minn., with five horses, six cows, four calves and some farm machinery, feed and household goods. J. J. Marifjeren, two sons (Lars and John), and two daughters (Maria and Karen) left Redwing, Minn, on the passenger train for Grafton, as that was the nearest railroad station and Nels followed with the two carloads on the freight train. Nels and the two carloads arrived in Grafton June 16, 1882, the trip taking about three days. The rest of the family arrived in Grafton a day or so sooner. The two carloads were unloaded and some of the machinery, furniture and feed loaded onto two wagons which were also brought along. Taking all the horses and cattle along, the family started for the homestead in Dundee township reaching there the same day, June 17. From the twenty acres seeded to wheat in the spring, the yield was 35 bushels per acre and the price about $1.10 a bushel. Some of it was hauled to Grafton and sold and some was hauled to a flour mill near the present site of Cavalier and ground into flour.

CARL RINDE

Carl Rinde family. Front: Carl [father], Carlton. Rear: Margaret (Hove), Nora (mother), Jean (Kraft). Carl Rinde was born in Dundee Township on Oct. 21, 1889, son of Ole and Kari Rinde. He attended school in Dundee Township and graduated from Mayville State in 1910. On Nov. 22,1916, he married the former Nora Rye at 593

He was elected Walsh County Clerk of Court in 1898, held office 18 years. During that long term, though a resident of Grafton, his home was in Dundee Township. He had been a student of Carleton College and St. Olaf College. In 1894, he represented the Third District in the State House of Representatives. Many Democrats left the party on the gold issue but not Mr. Rinde. He served as chairman for his party. He helped to organize the Dundee Mutual Insurance Co. He was elected as a delegate to the meeting planning the route of the Great Northern Railroad Co. through the western part of Walsh County in the mid '80's. In Grafton he was a member of the board of Grafton Deaconess Hospital and the Grafton Lutheran Church. He died June 4, 1947. Submitted by Mrs. Ann Rinde Mclntyre.

Grafton. They were the parents of three children: Margaret (Mrs. Arnold Hove), Jean (Mrs. Lloyd Kraft) and Carlton. They lived on the family homestead until they moved into Hoople in 1942. Carl remained active in farming with his son, Carlton. They were members of the First Lutheran Church of Hoople and formerly of Park Center Lutheran Church where Carl served on the Church Board. He also served on the Dundee Twp. board and school board for several years. He served as a member of the Walsh County Drain Board. He was interested in the Hoople Farmer's Elevator of which he served as secretary for 25 years. He was also Republican Committeeman for several terms. Carl passed away Oct. 9, 1972. A fourth generation grandson now resides on the old homestead. Submitted by Mrs. Carl Rinde.

KITTEL B. ROLLEFSTAD

NELS RINDE FAMILY

My father, Kittel B. Rollefstad, was born in Dundee Township, June 30, 1888 and died Aug. 10, 1974. He had two sisters, Alice B. Rollefstad, born July 13, 1886, died Sept. 22, 1898. Another sister, Mrs. John Anderson, born Dec. 8,1883, died Jan. 4,1918. There was a brother, Kittel B. Rollefstad, born April 3,1827, he died in 1899. On July 3, 1914, my father married Olga Haug. Five sons were born, Orvin, Leonard, Bennie, Orlando and Roy (deceased). Our family was members of Hvideso Lutheran Church. My father served as trustee and was custodian. He was also a member of the school board. My grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Benedik Rollefstad used to live in a dirt house dug in the side of a hill when they first came to this country. Submitted by Orlando Rollefstad.

The Nels Rinde Family taken about 70 years ago. Seated: Belle, Nels, Joe, Neil, Tillie, Lenore (Halvorson). Down front: Eleanor (Martin). Back row: Nick, Dr. Hamilton, Samuel, Oliver, Edward.

NELS RUSTGAARD

Nels Rinde, pioneer solon of Walsh County, was born Jan. 12,1856, in Rice County, Minn. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Rinde had immigrated from Norway. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended school and college. He taught in Rice County, Minn., before coming to Walsh County in 1880. He homesteaded on a farm in Dundee Township. He married Megborg Hone, native of Norway, and brought her as a bride to the Dundee farm. She died at their Grafton home in 1907. Mr. Rinde was active in politics, was the first Township Clerk of Dundee. He taught school in Dundee Township in a log house which preceeded the first organized school district. He was a deeply religious man and helped to organize the Park Center Lutheran Church congregation. After building a new barn on his farm it was used for church services and a number of the children of the area, including Mrs. Andrew Springen Wadle and Hanna Sorenson of West Hoople were baptized there before the church was built. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rinde were: Lily (Mrs. A. Halvorson), Eleanor (Mrs. Ben Martin), Bella, who survive. Samuel, Joseph, Nicolas, Oliver and Hamilton are deceased. Neil and Edward survive.

This is Nels Rustgaard harvesting at their homestead about early 1890's with Mrs. Rustgard and the children at the house. Nels Rustgaard was born in Numedal, Norway, April 17,1856. In 1880, he left Norway and came to St.Ansgans la., where he attended school. Then he moved to Chicago, 111. He homesteaded in Dundee Township in 1881, farmed for a number of years. He married Karen Marifjeren in 1885, moved to Grand Forks, was associated with the Plain Dealer, now the Grand Forks Herald. In 1905, he returned to his 594

homestead in Dundee Township and lived there until his death in 1908. The couple had one son, Gulbrand, born in 1891, died in 1894. One daughter, Soneva, lived six weeks. A daughter, Christine was bora in 1896; Johanna in 1897, died Feb. 19,1971; and Anna, born in 1900. The old homestead is still in the family. Submitted by the Rustgaard sisters.

deceased; Hilda (Mrs. Edward Jaster), Cavalier; Gina (Mrs. R. Laithwaite), deceased; Oliver, Park River; Anna (Mrs. Art Mclntyre); and Leonard, deceased. Mr. Skoje died April 11,1937. Mrs. Skoje, Sept. 15, 1955. Both are buried in the Hvideso Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Anna Mclntrye.

HERBRAND REESE FAMILY Hebrand Reese was born in 1861 in Hallingdal, Norway. He came to Dundee Township in 4880. He homesteaded three miles east and one half mile north of Edinburg. He lived there from 1881 until 1920, when he sold his farm and moved to Van Hook. In 1884, he married Gustava Bredeson, who was born in Oslo, Norway. They had 10 children: Bella Wold, Palma Larson, Olga Sjol, Hamilton, all deceased; Ida Sondreson of Edinburg; Rudolph (deceased); Arthur (deceased); Werner, Casper; Wyo.; Verna Holien, Seattle, Wash.; and Randolph, Lawrence, Kan. Herbrand Reese died in 1934 and his wife, Gustava, in 1937. They are buried in the Van Hook Cemetery, at Van Hook, N. D. While living at Edinburg they were members of the Park Center Lutheran Church. Submitted by Ida Reese Sondreson. JOHN L. SKOJE John L. Skoje was born in Sauland, Telemarken, Norway Dec. 28, 1875. He was educated in Norway, took up tailoring and went to school learning how to make fine furniture and hand carving. He married Berget Moen in 1901. She was born in Hedal, Telemark, Norway, July 28, 1874. In 1902, they immigrated with their daughter, Anna, seven weeks old. They left Norway March 27, 1902, and came to Hoople, April 14,1902. Mr. and Mrs. Nels Folson met them at the depot and took them home for dinner. After dinner, Halvor Langerud, living west of Hoople, came and took them to his home as they were to stay there until they found a place to live. Mrs. Skoje got sick from the water there, so a kindly neighbor west of Langeruds, who had moved out of their log house and into a new home, offered to take Mr. and Mrs. Skoje to their home. They stayed there most of the summer. Mr. Skoje worked in the fields the American way. Mrs. Skoje was a seamstress, sewed for the neighbors. In 1903, Mr. Skoje bought a farm eight miles west of Hoople in Pembina County. In 1907, he sold the farm and bought a farm in Walsh County, eight miles south west of Edinburg. In 1912, he sold that farm. Mrs. Skoje discovered farms were a good place for gardening, raised a big garden well sheltered in the woods with springs all around. She would put in about 1000 cabbage plants, dozens of tomatoes and ground cherries. She raised watermelon and muskmelons. Things really grew big, she had one cabbage that weighed 36 pounds. She would haul the vegetables to Edinburg with a horse and buggy. People from all over the community came to buy vegetables. Mr. Skoje was a violin player. He suffered from asthma for many years. They were members of the Hvideso Lutheran Church. They had three girls and three boys: Lars,

Mr. and Mrs. John Skoge and family: Anna (Mclntyre), Lars and Hilda.

SVEN AND ALETTA SAMSON Arriving in 1893, from Nore, Numedahl, Norway, Sam Samson or Sven as he was commonly called settled in Dundee Township. Before buying the Gustav Reese farm five miles east of Edinburg, he spent some time with the Gregar Halvorson family. Sam and Bergit Halvorson came from the same area in Norway, so this family was home to him. Alette Johnson arrived from Strand, Sweden, to the Hoople area in Dundee Township in 1906. She spent some time with her uncles, Otto and Nels Johnson, who were pioneer farmers near the Park Center Church. Sam and Alette were married in 1907, and settled on the Reese farm. They worked together to make a living during years of low prices, dust storms and bank closings. When butchering and ingathering of vegetables time came Mrs. Samson always remembered the needy ones in the neighborhood. The family was active in the Hvideso Church. In 1946, they sold the farm and moved to live in Park River. Sam died March 12, 1947, at 85. Alette died Jan. 10, 1951, at 74. The Samsons had one daughter, Borghild (Mrs. Joel Langseth) who resides with her husband in Fargo. Borghild spent 11 years as teacher in the rural schools of Walsh County before her marriage in 1950.The Langseths have one daughter, Barbara, who is married to Floyd Simmons and lives at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. They have a son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Rachel.

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP Rev. Thorlakson brought a folding organ, the size of a suitcase, to the services. Mrs. Thorlakson played the organ for the singing of the hymns. Early members of Golden Congregation were: G. P. Slette, John Espelien, Christian Bakke, A. N. Grovom, Henry Anderson, Halvor Brenden Ole Brenden, K. A. Momerak, John Peterson, Knute Johnson, Ole T. Kleiv, C. J. Fjelde, J. Kittleson, Aslak Stenerson, C. I. Christenson, Ole Forgaard, Halvor Bergsland, Sivert Kjelland, Carl Johnson, Nels Grovom, Ole Loftus, Oscar Frovarp, T. Tonneson, John Jenson, Knute Levang, C. K. Kviseth, John Mogen, Andrew Simpson and Halvor Grovom. Pastors who have served the Golden Congregation are: Rev. Thorlakson, Rev. Guldseth, Rev. Shurson, Rev. Bjerke, Rev. Strandjord, Rev. Nypen, Rev. Rockne, Rev. Smestad and Rev. Carlson. Until 1930, services were conducted in the Norwegian language. The Ladies' Aid was an active organization in the congregation. The women met once a month. In the fall of the year, they held an auction — selling quilts and other things they had made to raise money for local expenses and mission work. Submitted by Milton Kjelland.

The first annual township election held in Garfield was March 14, 1884, at the Gazette office. The purpose of the meeting was to elect a township board. P. S. Shellurburger, Isaac Stennerson and A. R. Amber were judges. G. P. Slette and Leroy Manger were clerks. K. P. Levang was elected chairman, John Peterson and John Fritzpatrick were elected supervisors. C. S. Finnsith was elected treasurer. G. R. Gulleckson was elected assessor, John Soli was elected poundmaster. John McCullough and Ole Leip were elected justice of the peace. James Ellefson and Sander Soil were elected constables. It was decided to assess a road tax of 25 cents per $100 worth of personal property and real estate tax. Total assessment of Golden Township in 1885 was : real estate $18,058 and personal property, $7,535 for a total of $25,593. Jurors were: D. D. Smith, James Ellefson, J . J. Kittelson, Ole Leifson, chairman; Henry Dencker, Hans Hanson, supervisors. G. P. Slette, clerk; Ole Qvill, treasurer; K. P. Levang, assessor; Claus Barnholdt and Fritz Holzinger, justice of the peace; Alfred Lindell, constable; and Nels Grovum, clerk of Golden Township, 1909-1953. Golden Township still holds meetings in the Garfield School, now Golden Township Hall. This building is located a short distance from the original Garfield townsite. Three schools were started in Golden Township, Districts 46, 97 and 93. School District No. 46 is the town hall, 93 is at the Homme Dam and 97 wastorndown. Submitted by Roy A. Seboe.

GARFIELD LUTHERAN FREE CHURCH AND CEMETERY

GOLDEN VALLEY CHURCH

The original site of Garfield Lutheran Free Church and Cemetery was in Section 16, Golden Township No. 157 on property now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kjelland. The following is a record of the deed. John Jenson, Elizabeth Jenson, his wife, to Ole Johnson and Carl Johnson and John Jenson, Trustees of the Garfield Norwegian Lutheran Church, Walsh County, Dakota Territory. Warranty Deed, Dated Dec. 14, 1887; filed June 1, 1888, at 11:20 a. m., recorded in Book " P " of Deeds, page 272; consideration, $1.00. Conveys a part of the SEy4 SEy4 Section 16, Township 157, Range 56, containing two acres, described as follows: Beginning at a point on the south line of Section 16, Township 157, Range 56,41 rods west of the southeast corner of said Section 16, and running thence along said south line of said Section 16, west a distance of 29 rods, thence due north a distance of 13 rods, thence due east a distance of 29 rods, thence due south a distance of 13 rods, to point of beginning. Sealed. Two witnesses. Acknowledged May 30, 1888, by John Jenson and Elizabeth Jenson, his wife, before George L. Laveya, Notary Public, Walsh County, Dakota Territory.

The Golden Congregation was organized in 1899. Before this time, Pleasant Congregation and Golden Congregation were together. The church was built in 1902 by Andrew Loe of Edinburg. The members worshipped in the Garfield School before the church was built. Rev. Thorlakson was the pastor when they worshipped in the schoolhouse.

GERMAN LUTHERAN CEMETERY In March, 1898, Henry Dencker purchased land from Ole Amundson, SE»/4 of Section 3 in Golden Township. In June of 1911, Dencker with the help of neighbors cleared an acre of land for a cemetery. They cleared the southeast corner of this quarter and made it a German

A group of Golden Twp. pioneers. Left to right: Bernard M. Johnson, Henry Dencker, Joseph Charon, Claus Barnholdt.

CHURCHES

596

Lutheran Cemetery. They planned to build a church, but the congregation was small, church meetings were in the homes. Henry Dencker, Jr., was the first person buried there in July, 1911. He was moved from the old Garfield Church Cemetery. Henry, Jr., was killed by lightning the year before. Bornholds, Snceekloths, Coxes, Denckers and Lohses are also buried there. The Roy Seboe family now owns this quarter. They and their children keep up this cemetery. Submitted by Mary Lohse Seboe.

Dencker, 1897; Claus Barnhalt, 1895; D. D. Smith, 1898; Fred Holzinger, 1899; and Isack Ellingson, 1900; treasurer expires - James Ross, 1894-1896; clerk - S. H. Landsborough, 1892; and James A. Smith, 1896; teachers - Minnie Switzer, 1892, and Edith Irwin, 1893, (usual salary was about $30 per month.) 1958-1959 was the last year of operation of School District No. 93. School District No. 46 (Garfield): treasurer - Daniel Toliff, 1883; teacher - Sewell Mathze, 1886, ($30 salary); directors - J. J. Kittleson, 1893; John Jenson; C. J. Lovaason, 1892; Hans Hanson 1895; C. J. Fjeld, 1897; John Jenson, 1898; Hans Hanson, 1899; and C. J. Fjeld, 1900; clerk - K. P. Levang, 1892; treasurer expires 1894 - H. N. Grovum, 1896-98, and G. P. Slette; teachers 1892, George Pierce, and 1893, L. A. Borestad. 1959-1960 was the last year of operations of School District No. 46. School District No. 122 (Union) formed on April 7, 1896; Directors - John Lohse, 1896; Ole Ekeberg, 1897; Hans Johnson, 1898, president 1897; John Lohse, 1899, president, 1896; and L. B. Madland, 1900; treasurer Henry Dencker, 1896; 1898; clerks - Knute Bjorndahl, 1896 and S. H. Landsborough, 1898; teachers - Emma Robertson, 1897; Lydia Landsborough, 1898, (usual salary was between $30 and $35). The 1953-54 school year was the last year of operation of School District No. 122, Lampton Township. Submitted by Mrs. Roy Seboe. GOLDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 97

German Lutheran Cemetery—Golden Twp.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 93

Inside Dist. No. 93, Golden Twp. (Building now used as concession stand at Homme rec. area. A program in 1959. Following are the school districts and early officers and teachers as recorded. School District No. 93: treasurer - Charles Davis; directors - Ole B. Madland, 1893; Henry Dencker, 1893; David Smith, 1895; Ole B. Madland, 1896; Henry

Golden Twp. School Dist. No. 97—1909 Golden School District No. 97 was organized in 1887. The schoolhouse was built in 1887 and according to available records the first term of school was held in 1892 with C. Reinertson and Myra Hofsford as teachers. The enrollment was 35. C. Christenson was the first president of the board, Ole Quill was the first treasurer and Ole Leifson was the first clerk. Other members of the first

board were Ole T. Klein, Severt Anderson, John Peterson and T. H. Hamre, directors. In 1949, the school closed. A few students went to Park River, most students to Ramsey Grove District No. 53 until the fall of 1960 when the district was re-organized into District No. 78 in Park River. The original school district in 1892 consisted of Range 56, Township, 157, Sections 26-27 and 32-35 and Range 56-156, Sections 3-6. In December, 1893, the NE% Section 8-156-56 was added. Submitted by Roger Gaarder.

Dist. No. 122—Golden Twp. Lefttoright: Odrey Madland, Barbara and Judy Dencker, Stephanie Holland, Mrs. Henry Holland (teacher), Kenneth Holland, Lynda Montague and Paul Haug.

BIOGRAPHIES LARS G. AND HULDA ALMEN Lars G. Almen, only son of Per Almen, was born in Dalsland, Sweden, April 13, 1872, and came to Walsh County with his parents and sisters in 1883 at the age of 11. While living on the 40 acres in Dundee Township where his father homesteaded, he and his sisters attended the little rural school near them. Walking the long way to school, they used to stop at Marifjeren's Store to warm up. Among the Scandinavians were several families that had come from Canada who were also going to this school. They translated his name to Louis. Grade six was as far as the grades extended. Within a few years, the family obtained a quarter of land in Section 6 of Golden Township and sold the 40 acres in Dundee. A small house was built temporarily. Oxen were used as their beasts of burden in breaking the land. Later, he helped build a larger home for his parents. In this new home his parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1915. Oct. 5,1910, he married Hulda Christina Anderson at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mortenson in St. Paul, Minn. Rev. G. Arvid Hagstrom of the Swedish Baptist Church performed the ceremony. Hulda (kristina Anderson was born in Amal, Sweden, April 8,1880. Her mother was widowed early in life and in order to care for her family was permitted to keep on tending the lighthouse her husband had tended before his death. The mother had to leave her children in the evening, row out to the lighthouse, and stay until morning, leaving the rest of the family in the charge of the older children. In 1900, Hulda Anderson immigrated to America and came to St. Paul where two sisters and a brother were

located. She worked for several wealthy families on Summit Avenue. While living there, one family of which she often spoke were the Coopers. In 1905, she made a visit back to Sweden. While there, she purchased a silver service and a Dalsland costume. The silver service was unique in that it did not need to be polished so often. The costume has been used at several ethnic functions. A few years prior to his marriage, Lars G. Almen had purchased two quarter sections (NW% and SE'/i of Section 7) in Golden Township. In 1911, a home was built on the SE'A where all the four children were born. Later, he purchased another 160 acres, the SW'/i of Section 7. Four children were born, Ethel Margareta Christina Almen Johnson, April 3, 1912; Paul Orville Fredrick, March 13, 1915; Virginia Sopia Quanrud, Jan. 14, 1918, and Lennart Gustav Waldemar Almen, June 17, 1928. The weekly visit to town and probably a visit to some friend on Sunday seemed to be the only amusement necessary. Lars G. Almen liked to visit with Karl Farup, C. D. Lord, the Catherwoods, Nestes, Marifjerens and many more on Saturday afternoons. The Aaron Levins were dear friends of the family. In spite of only a sixth grade education, he got along very well in the business world and taught his children much in how to conduct themselves when confronted with problems. In October the annual visit to Sweden, near Nash, was made. Twenty miles an hour in the Model T with those pesky side curtains was no picnic. However, the nice visit we had made up for it all. Their 25th wedding anniversary was celebrated in 1935 after the morning services at the little Baptist Church in Park River. Hulda Almen died May 14,1937, and Lars Almen died April 30, 1947. They are both buried in St. Peter's Cemetery on the Almen lot. Submitted by Margaret Johnson.

Lars G. Almen

Hulda Anderson Almen— Mrs. L. S. Almen

PER ALMEN FAMILY Per Almen was the third son of the Almen family, born Oct. 5,1830, in Dalsland, Sweden. He was married to Maria Eleason who was also born in Dalsland, Sweden, in 1865. Her birth date was Jan. 30,1834. They had five children, Anna Sofia Almen Lindell, born Aug. 12,1867; Emma Christina, Jan. 29,1870; Lars Gustav, April 13,1872, Maria Charlotta Almen, Aug. 20, 1874, and Johanna, born Dec. 5,1877. All came to the U. S., except Johanna who died as an infant and was buried in Sweden.

In 1883, the family received money for immigration to the U. S. They arrived via Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Chicago, where they were put in cattle cars, sitting on benches all the way to Minneapolis and St. Paul. They went by railroad as far as Grafton. After sleeping over a saloon in Grafton, they walked the next morning to the John Magnus Almen farm. They walked in water all the way as it was early in May.

Lottie on July 27, 1917, and Maria Almen, Sept. 17, 1917. After this, Emma bought a house in Edinburg and lived there until her later years when she made her home with Lars and his family. She cared for Lennart until he was ready for high school. She died March 12,1955. CHRISTIAN BAKKE FAMILY

Per and Maria Almen Christian and Anna Bakke Christian Bakke, born April 4, 1854, in Norway, and his wife, Anna, born Nov. 6,1851, in Norway, immigrated to the United States and settled first in Decorah, la., where his brother lived. He worked there for a time, and their first child, Marie, was born there. She was about two years of age when they moved to Grand Forks, where they settled for a time. Mr. and Mrs. Bakke worked for the Great Northern Railroad when it was being built. It was completed from Grand Forks to Grafton in 1881. Anna Bakke was the cook for the railroad crew. They lived in a tent. Left, Emma Almen, right, Lottie Almen In a short time they found 40 acres in Dundee Township and homesteaded there. This was in Section 19. They lived there only a short time as 160 acres was found in Golden Township in Section six. They sold and moved there. Legend has it that Per Almen had a beautiful singing voice. He would walk to St. Peter's Church and sing for half an hour before services. People soon heard of this and came early to hear him. Emma Almen had learned how to play the organ while working for Mrs. Torlackson in Park River. Therefore, she walked faithfully to St. Peter's Church and served as organist for many years. Emma was the Florence Nightingale of the family who never had a home of her own but cared for others and was always ready to fill in where needed, whether it was babysitting, dishwashing, meal making, Sunday School or anywhere she was needed. Lottie was the artist in the family. She made so many beautiful things in every kind of handwork and sewing. Emma and Lottie never married, but stayed home and cared for their parents. Per Almen died July 23, 1917,

Christian Bakke received his first citizenship papers in Grand Forks County, but he became a citizen in Walsh County April 13, 1887. They homesteaded a few miles west of the two quarters of land which they purchased April 1, 1903, in Golden Township, about six miles west of what is now Park River, where they continued to make their home. Among early hardships experienced were living in a tent with severe difficulties during storms, with limited supplies for the critical railroad crew. Prior to the origin of Park River, they had to travel about 25 miles to Grafton for supplies. Later, however, with the origin of Park River, the problem was alleviated. Christian and Anna Bakke had five daughters and one son: Marie, (Mrs. Allen Blecken); Annie, (Mrs. Albert Roisum); Tilda (Mrs. Lewis Thompson); Gunda (Mrs. Ben Borgen); Alma (Mrs. Peter Froiland); and son, Thorvald Bakke, who continued to own and operate the same farm until his death Oct. 6, 1936. The farm is still owned by Mrs. Thorvald Bakke. Christian Bakke died May 31, 1915, at 61. His wife, Anna, Dec. 10, 1936, at 85. Submitted by Clara Ellingson.

The young people who visited him can remember well sitting and drinking his strong coffee and listening to him tell of his experiences coming to his adopted America. He would then talk of Sweden, the royal family, and then tell with pride his love of America. On the floor would be his beloved dog, Jack, looking on with approval and seeming to understand each word said by his master. Willie Brandt resided at his home until after a sawing accident where he lost one hand. After this he was a resident of the Mountain Memorial Home until his death in 1957. Submitted by Mrs. Fred Nottestad and her family.

WILLIE BRANDT

EDWARD CHARON Edward Charon was born in Quebec, Canada, June 10, 1864, and came to the United States when he was 20. He lived in New York for one year before coming to North Dakota homesteading near Edinburg. Later he moved to a farm near Edmore. In 1926, he retired and lived with his children until the time of his death. The Edward Charon family had eight children, Alice (Patton); Alma (Clover); Arthur, Joseph, Palmer, Chris, William. A baby died at six months. Mrs. Charon died Feb. 28, 1916, and Mr. Charon Oct. 28, 1948, at Lawton. Submitted by Mrs. Nellie Fitzpatrick.

Home of Willie Brandt Willie Brandt was born in Sweden, Feb. 13, 1876. He immigrated to America as a young man with his brother, Carl, who settled in the Rugby area. They first came to St. Paul, Minn., where they worked for a short time. Willie left the Twin City area to a homestead in Canada. He told us that he settled in the winter and when the snow was gone he faced a surprise. He said that when he tried to break the sod, the stones were so close together he couldn't get the plow into the ground. He didn't say much of that try at farming; but left the area soon after he saw the land was impossible to farm. He moved to the Edinburg-Park River area where he helped the farmers with any kind of farm work they had to offer. Willie never married, but was associated with many homes in Tiber, Lampton, Vesta and Golden Townships. At the time the railroad was being laid between Adams and Fairdale, he was one of the workers. Approximately 1920, he purchased 10 acres of timberland in Golden Township from Alfred Lindell. He built a modest home in the trees. At this time he owned an automobile so he could drive to work and home again in the evening. He thought a great deal of his home. Willie was a hard worker, who never would seek out the easy tasks. His skill with his hands was evident in the stacks of hay he would construct and top. He took great pride in the way his shocks of grain stood against both wind and rain. He would put up with the sons of the farmers he shocked for who wanted to try to shock the bundles of grain. He would tell them they should go to the middle of the field and not to practice by the road. He would rebuild the poorly done shocks of the boys of the area so no one could say Willie Brandt's shocks would fall down. During the winter months he would saw wood and split it to be burned in kitchen ranges. He would then haul the loads of wood to Edinburg and sell to his friends. Willie was a very kind man and whenever there was illness or sorrow he would be the first one to come and offer his help. Children of two generations loved him and many who read this will remember candy sacks and dimes from a very special "Uncle Willie." The rationing system installed during World War H was hard on Willie. He didn't require anything special for food; but he did like his coffee and sugar. He tried many substitutes for sugar, like saccharin and block maple sugar, neither of which were rationed. He would cook his coffee grounds over and over to make it last until the next coupon could be redeemed.

Mrs. Jos. Charon and two granddaughters, Marion and Edith McAdams. MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH CHARON Joseph Charon was bom Jan. 12, 1859, in Ontario, Canada. He came to North Dakota about the same time as his brother, Edward. Two years later he married Nancy Jane King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John King, who had recently come from Ontario with their other children, Margaret (Wade), Emma (Little), Essie (Johnston), Lettie (Calner), John, Joseph, Ruth (Jones). Thomas and William. Charon homesteaded on a farm in what was later to be known as Golden Township. He owned one of the first threshing rigs in the area. Mrs. Charon delivered many of the babies. The Charon's first home was a sod shanty. About 1900, the frame home was built. Nine children were born, Alice (Smith), Ida (Hanson), John, Florence (Pettis), Nellie (Fitzpatrick), Delenia (McAdams), A. Joseph, Thomas and William. They had 32 grandchildren. The Charons traveled to Grand Forks with a horse and wagon to sell grain and shop. The trip took several 600

days and they had to stop at halt way houses, places travelers could stop to take care of their horses and rest. The trips became shorter when Grafton came into existence and later Park River. They raised wheat, barley, oats and other grains, also horses, cows, pigs, and other animals, many kinds of fowl such as turkey, ducks, chickens and geese. The large vegetable gardens were enjoyed by many in the area, the orchard was complete with bees. Mr. Charon died Nov. 29,1929, Mrs. Charon froze to death in the blizzard of March 15, 1941. Submitted by Mrs. Nellie Fitzpatrick.

Mr. Dencker retired from farming in 1923, moved to Park River. Mrs. Dencker died April 5, 1934, and Mr. Dencker died March 3, 1943. Both are buried in the German Lutheran Cemetery, Golden Township, founded by Mr. Dencker. This land is now owned by the Roy Seboe family. Mrs. Roy (Mary) Seboe is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dencker and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Lohse. Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Seboe.

Nellie Charon, Mrs. John Montague, Mrs. Emma Little, Golden Twp. neighbors. HENRICH FREDRICH JOHON DENCKER Henry Dencker was born Oct. 30, 1855, in Elmshorn Holstein, Germany, son of Fritz and Sofia Dencker. Elseba Hochman was born Oct. 23, 1852, in Elmshorn Holstein, Germany. They were married in Elmshorn Feb. 26, 1880. Their children include: Henry, Jr.; Minnie Dencker, now Mrs. Otto Schulz; Elsie Dencker, now Mrs. August Lohse, and one stepson, Herman Dencker. Mrs. Minnie Schulz is the only living child. Mr. and Mrs. Dencker spent their early years in Germany, came to Rochester, Minn., in May, 1881. They came to Grand Forks in April, 1883, then to Grafton in May, 1883, and homesteaded in Golden Township Aug. 4, 1883. The first building on this place was a 10 x 12 shanty made of rough boards and banked with soil. This was built in April, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Dencker lived on this homestead for 40 years, moving to Park River in 1923. The first year Mr. Dencker farmed here, he grew 250 bushels of wheat, some oats, potatoes and about five tons of hay he cut with a scythe and raked by hand. "It was mighty hard the first round trip I made, I went from St. Thomas to old Edinburg about 2 k miles northwest of where Edinburg is now, from here we went to the quarter we homesteaded, NE'A Section 3 157-56. Went to Grafton to file my claim, I crossed the Park River on a log, then followed the road that is now Highway 17 and by the site that is now Park River. There is nothing to be seen of Park River except a small building on the hill west of town, came to Grafton late at night." Mr. Dencker served as public township supervisor from 1888 until 1910,15 years as chairman of the board. From 1910 to 1925 he served as township treasurer. Also 25 years as treasurer of School District No. 125. He was president of the Farmers' Security Bank from its incorporation until it closed during the depression of the 1930's. x

Henry Dencker Family. Henry Dencker, Jr., Henry, Sr. Standing: Minnie Dencker Schultz, Mrs. Dencker and seated is Elsie Dencker Lohse. ELLINGSON FAMILY Elling Ellingson Osterhus, whose parents were Isak and Ane Christine Ellingson, was born Feb. 4, 1858, in Aaseral, Norway. He immigrated to this country in 1881, spending some time in Illinois and Minnesota working at the building trade. One winter he went by train to Nashville, Tenn., to work at sandbagging the Mississippi River. On the way, he was robbed and suffered hardships as a result. He came to Walsh County about 1885 and homesteaded on a farm near Edinburg. One winter there was a severe blizzard during which both barn and house were covered with snow. A tunnel was dug from house to barn and steps upward through the snow. January 26, 1887, he married Marie Olsen in the Garfield schoolhouse. Six children were born: Isaac and Oliver Ellingson, Sophia (Mrs. Thorvald Bakke), Ann (Mrs. Robert Burley), Bertha and Clara Ellingson. Osterhus purchased land in Golden Township by the Park River Jan. 23, 1892, which he owned until he died. Indians often rode through their land and had beaten trails to the river. Elling's wife, Marie, washed clothes in the river and at first was frightened by these Indians. They spoke a different language, but she discovered they were friendly and wanted to help her. Osterhus took a great interest in all affairs of his neighborhood. He was one of the charter members of the Garfield Lutheran Church; served several years as a member of the school board and also of the Farmer's Mutual Telephone Company.

Elling's wife died in 1905, he died in 1935. There are only two survivors of their immediate family and five grandchildren, one of whom now owns and farms the same land in Golden Township. Submitted by Clara Ellingson.

Marie Olsen and Elling Ellingson Osterhus—Jan. 26, 1887. Married—Garfield School House. CHRISTIAN J. FJELD Christian J. Fjeld came from Stavanger, Norway, to Walsh County in 1880. He married Karen Rundhaug, who came from Odalen, Norway, in 1884. They homesteaded in Prairie Center Township. In 1888 they sold this homestead and purchased land in Golden Township. This land was the old Garfield site. They had six children, Johan, Johanna, Gina, Melvin, Christine, and Francis. They were members of the Golden Valley Lutheran Church. Several generations of Fjelds have operated and lived on the farm in Golden Township since Christian Fjeld retired. He died at the farm home, Nov. 13, 1928. His son, Melvin Fjeld, wife, Hedirg Lindell Fjeld, and their son, Kenneth, made it their home also. Melvin and Hedirg spent 48 years there. Melvin died Nov. 13, 1965. Kenneth and his wife, Eleanor Ingulsrud Fjeld occupied a home close to the old one. They were the parents of four children, Mark, they have one son, Ryan Tyler Fjeld, Mark is employed by Polar Telephone. Marsha Fjeld is married to Earl Axvig and they have two children, Matthew Jon and Michelle Renae. They live about six miles west of Adams where they farm and raise Black Angus cattle. Jonathan and Teresa live at home with their mother. Jonathan works on construction and Teresa graduated from Park River High School in 1975. Kenneth Fjeld died June 18, 1972 at 54. Submitted by Mrs. Christine Fjeld Bylin. NELS G. GROVOM Nels G. Grovom was a resident of Golden Township since the age of four when he came with his parents, who homesteaded there in 1880. He was born at Northwood, la., June 25, 1876. He was married to Olena Johansen of Edinburg Nov. 15, 1916. There are two daughters. Dr. Evelyn Grove, on the faculty of Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minn., and Dr. Dorothy Grovum, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Nels Grovom farmed in Golden Township and served as Golden Township clerk and assessor until his death on May 19, 1953, at 76. He was also clerk of School District No. 46 for many years. He was a state hail adjuster. Always vitally interested in government, as a young man he was a clerk at the legislative sessions in Bismarck. He also served as Walsh County Republican Chairman and was an active member of the Nonpartisan League for many years. He was a member of the Golden Valley Lutheran Church. At one time he was approached by a group of politicians and asked to run for a public office against a friend of his. He refused. The friendship meant more to him than being elected to public office. He was a person from whom people sought advice, for he was trustworthy, knowledgable, and a friend of all. Submitted by Dorothy Grovum. HALVOR N. GROVOM Halvar N. Grovom, his wife, Caroline, and two of their four children, Nels and Mina, came from Northfield, la., in 1880 in a covered wagon, homesteading in Golden Township near the Golden Valley Church. They built a log house. Two more children were born, Christopher and Henry. Halvar carried mail from Kensington on skis. There was no Park River at that time. Supplies were gotten from Grand Forks, the closest town. Halvar was active on the township road and in church having meetings at his home before the Golden Valley Church was built. Caroline died in 1922, Halvor in 1926. Both are buried in Golden Valley Cemetery. In 1928 a son, Christopher, married Viva Ratliff, Park River. They lived and farmed the same homestead. Christopher and Viva had two children, Harlen L., born October, 1923, and Carol Jean, born September, 1936. Those were depression years, very poor crops because of the drought and grasshoppers. One of the worst sleet storms happened in 1932. Highway 17 was built with horses the same year. I remember eggs were six cents a dozen. Butterfat, eleven cents a pound. Wheat and oat crops were so poor, one couldn't buy twine to shock it with. Many people had to take what they called "barnyard" loans to get along. Christopher died in April, 1955, and was buried in Golden Valley Cemetery. His son, Harlen, farms the homestead and lives with his mother, Viva, in Golden Township. Submitted by Mrs. Viva Grovom. FRED AND BERTHA HOLZINGER Fred Holzinger and Bertha Raduenz were married in 1872 in Germany. They came to Wisconsin in 1874, stayed there until 1880. Then came to Golden Township and homesteaded five miles west and one-half mile north of what is now Park River. They had two sons and four daughters - Fred, Jr., Tena, Bertha, Charles, Mary and Emma They resided on the homestead until Mr. Holzinger's death. Mrs. Holzinger moved to Park River and lived there to age 93. Fred Holzinger, Jr., died when four years old. There was no cemetery, so he was buried on top of the big. hill that looks like a big haystack. His grave is marked by a big lilac bush. Holzinger and Henry Dencker used to go together to

homestead. He went by mistake to Jon Pederson's place where he was told to go east until he saw a stovepipe and some poles sticking out of the snow. That would be the place. He came home to a sod shanty partly dug into the ground. For light they lit a strip of cloth on the edge of a saucer which was filled with tallow. They also had to be certain the shovel was brought indoors every evening, because after a storm the snow had to be shoveled inside until they could get outside into the open. When Bernard arrived he had $5 in nickles and dimes that he had earned working and running errands. This money was used to buy a sack of flour — a basic element for survival. Alone with his father, an aging widower, and with no one his own age, life was lonesome for Bernard. His education was limited and scattered schooling possibly totaled two months. Nevertheless, he could read and write and was excellent in mathematics. He was confirmed by the Reverend M. C. Holseth, Lutheran Pastor of Park River. In 1889, he bought the land from his father with the understanding that he would care for him as long as he lived. In 1890, he married Sarah Lee, who was born in Valders, Norway, and after spending some time in Plummer, Minn., they settled permanently on the Park River homestead. Bernard was an active helper in the community. He hauled lumber for his neighbor, Ole Leifson, to build the first frame house in the Golden Township area. In 1898, he helped haul the stones for the foundation of the Pleasant Valley Church. Farmers from Latona Township would bring loads of grain to the Johnson farm and Bernard would take it to Park River for $1. He would also haul grain from Latona Township to his farm for three cents per bushel. One winter he made enough to pay for a $30 sleigh. He and his brother later bought a Minneapolis threshing machine and threshed for neighbors.

Grand Forks for supplies. Willmar Wanke, a grandson, still has his grandfather's key wind watch and grandmother's rocking chair that the Holzingers brought over from Germany. Holzinger built his house of oak logs and later put on the upstairs out of lumber. It burned in 1950. Mr. Holzinger is buried in the old Omland Cemetery and Mrs. Holzinger is buried in the German Lutheran Cemetery in Golden Township. Submitted by Willmar Wanke. BERNARD M. JOHNSON

Bernard M. Johnson— Golden Twp.

Mrs. Bernard M. Johnson

Bernard M. Johnson, son of Martin and Olia Johnson, was born in Solor, Norway, Sept. 16, 1867. His mother died when he was two years old. In 1873, his father, sisters, Olia and Karen, and brothers, Gunerius and Ole, immigrated to the United States, coming to Decorah, la. In early 1879, his older brother, Gunerius, and Jon Pederson came to North Dakota and placed claims on quarters of land south of the Park River in Golden Township. They ran out of food and had to go to Grand Forks, 65 miles away, for provisions. When they returned, they found their land had been taken by other settlers so they had to find new claims. It was required that homesteaders work and sleep on their claims and it was legal for other homesteaders to claim the land if they were not on the land. They each took a quarter of land farther south, side by side quarters in Section 34, Golden Township, where Bernard's father homesteaded later that year, 1879, when he came from Decorah. Prior to this time, arrangements had been made for Bernard to stay with his cousin, John Arneson, in Colton, S. Dak. April 5,1881, at 14, Bernard came to North Dakota to be with his father. At that time a passenger had to accompany property shipped north on the railroad, so he came on the freight train to Grafton, the point to which the railroad had by then been completed. Although his brother, Ole, met him at the depot, it was arranged that he would ride back with Mr. Finneseth, the Garfield storekeeper, who would be able to travel faster than Ole, who was hauling home a load of lumber. Ole planned to pick Bernard up when he came by Garfield on his way home. A new short-cut trail that would take Ole directly home had been broken, however, so young Bernard was left stranded overnight at the store. The next morning, after receiving directions, he left for his father's

During one fall, he helped thresh east of Park River, about 10 miles from home, earning $5 a day for himself and his team. One evening after threshing until dark, he wanted to be certain everything was well at home. So he walked home and was back on the job in early morning. He also walked to Grafton to pay his taxes one winter day when it was so icy he didn't want to risk taking his horses. Good horses were expensive, a team costing from $500 to $600 (almost as much as a quarter of land) and, since money was scarce, they were highly valued. One winter day in 1911, he took his son, Oscar, who was attending Agricultural College in Fargo, to meet the train in Park River. On the way home, a blinding blizzard came up and he finally had to tie the reins to the sleigh box, trusting his horses, Sam and Mike, to take him home. They took him right to the barn door and he credited them with saving his life. Bernard was active in church and community affairs. He was an officer on the township board, a director of Farmers' Security Bank in Park River, and an officer of the school board of District No. 97. He held several offices in the Pleasant Valley Church, including janitor for 20 years, sexton and treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Johnson had nine children. Those living are Selmer of Park River, who married Helga Bakke of Union; Henry of Reseda, Calif., who married Palma Nappen; and Lillian, Mrs. Sig Bakke, Adams. The land he acquired is owned by his children. 603

Bernard Johnson died April 30, 1948. His wife died July 25, 1912, the day before Henry was two years old. They are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Submitted by Mrs. Selmer Johnson. JULIUS JOHNSTAD During the early days, there were always some migrant people who had no home. They would walk to various places where they were acquainted and would visit. Such was a man named Julius Johnstad. Little was known about him, but he was a very interesting and entertaining individual with whom to converse. Johnstad was a man who seemed to have had some education, either formal or self taught. He was fluent in several languages. At one time he was asked to be an interpreter at the Walsh County Courthouse. He declined. He probably felt he could not stay in one place that long or had some other motive in refusing. He had beautiful handwriting. Poetry and Biblical verse he had copied had been saved by his friends. No one knows when he died nor where he is buried. He was just another one of our colorful characters that were part of Walsh County's history. Julius Johnstad spent much time in the vicinity of Edinburg. He often stopped at the Lars G. Almen farm. Submitted by Margaret Almen Johnson. EMIL KJELLAND FAMILY

family farm. They are the parents of three children; Deborah, Todd, and Kristi. JoAnn graduated from Mayville State College with a degree in elementary education. She married Terry Lykken in 1973. They live on a farm in rural Edinburg. The Emil Kjelland family are all members of the Lutheran church. SIVERT KJELLAND FAMILY Sivert Kjelland was born in Norway Oct. 27, 1852. Mrs. Sivert Kjelland was born in Norway June 5, 1862. Sivert Kjelland came to Walsh County from Norway in 1885. Sivert and his nephew, Tobias Tonneson, came together by train to Auburn to a family by the name of Larson that they knew from Norway. Sivert and Tobias walked from Auburn to the Froiland farm home in Norton Township. On their way they became lost, but finally found their way to the Froilands. Mrs. Kjelland and their two sons, Adolph and Soren, came to the United States to join their husband and father in 1888. By this time Kjelland had purchased a quarter section of land in Section 33 of Golden Township. In 1885, most of the land in Golden Township had been homesteaded and Kjelland didn't care to go any further west. Four more children were born to the Kjellands, Sander, Selma, Alfred and Emil. Soren Kjelland, the second son, went to Canada in 1902 and filed on land. He entered the Canadian Army during World War I and was killed in France in 1917; Selma, the only daughter, died in 1907 at 16. The other four sons farmed in Golden Township. The Sivert Kjelland family were members of the Golden Valley Church. The church was organized in 1899 and built in 1902. Sander and Selma were in the first confirmation class in 1904. The Kjellands were active members of Golden Valley Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kjelland lived on their farm in Golden Township until they died. Mr. Kjelland was killed by a bull Oct. 12,1931. Mrs. Kjelland died May 13,1935.

Emil Kjelland Family Emil Kjelland was born June 26, 1893, on the Kjelland homestead in Golden Township. He is the son of Severt and Severine Kjelland, immigrants from Norway. Kjelland farmed the home farm for several years. He also worked with implement dealers in Park River. He is retired. Mrs. Kjelland (Annie) was born April 8,1909, in a log cabin in Dundee Township, rural Hoople. She is the youngest child of John and Anna Lindell. Mrs. Kjelland attended Mayville State Teachers College. She taught in country schools in the rural Hoople, Adams, Drayton and Milton areas. May 18, 1936, Annie Lindell married Emil Kjelland. They lived on the Kjelland farm until 1942 when they moved to Park River. In 1948 the Kjellands built a new house in Park River where they now reside. Annie and Emil Kjelland have two children, Elroy and JoAnn. Elroy attended Wahpeton State School of Science for two years for auto mechanics. He is married to the former Mavis Myrvik. Elroy is presently farming the

Mr. and Mrs. Sivert O. Kjelland were married on Nov. 12, 1880. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1930. Submitted by Milton Kjelland.

Mr. and Mrs. Severt O. Kjelland on their Golden Wedding—1930.

ANDREAS LOVAASEN Andreas Johansen, son of Johan Syverson of Norway, came to America around 1850 or 1860. He settled in Faribault, Minn., where he changed his name to Lovaasen, which was the name of the home farm in Norway. Around 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Andreas Lovaasen homesteaded in Golden Township. Mrs. Lovaasen was the former Elen Maria Fjeld. Four children, Anne, John, Emma, and Ole, were born in Faribault, Minn. Sophie, Albert, and Minnie were born in North Dakota. They built a log cabin on the homestead and lived in it until they built a house. Their son, John, farmed the homestead during his lifetime. Andreas died in 1907 and FJen Maria in 1919. They are buried in Golden Valley Cemetery. They joined the Golden Valley Congregation in or about 1902. Submitted by Alvin Lovaasen, grandson.

The couple had four children, Melvin, Palmer, Alice (Mrs. Frank Sussex) and Emil. Aaran Levin had many public offices - school board, township board, Walsh County Commissioner and State Representative. The family moved from Tiber Township to Garfield, then to Park River where Aaran Levin died April, 1946. Aaran was one of the founders of the Garfield Lutheran Church which was moved to one mile south of Edinburg and today is a part of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Edinburg. Palmer Levin was active in local and state politics. Submitted by Martha Field Levin.

School where Martha Field taught in 1888. She is standing at center behind the desk. Andrew Lovaason Family. Top row, left to right: Ole John, Albert, Emma (Sourenson), Sophia. Bottom row: Andrew, Minnie (Bye), mother Mary.

LANDSBOROUGH FAMILY Harry Landsborough (1896-1965) and Dora Kittelson (1889-) were married Feb. 16,1921. Dora came to Dakota Territory with her parents and family of six from Norway at the age of five. Her parents farmed in Dundee Township. When she and Harry married, they moved to a farm in Golden Township where they farmed and for 12 years Harry managed the Kerry Elevator. On June 2, 1926, their daughter, Irene, was bom. She married Allerd Johnson Nov. 10, 1951. They have five children, De Wayne, Gail, Erna, Dwight and Lina. Submitted by Mrs. Geraldine (Landsborough) Sorenson. JAMES AND ETTA LAWSON

Martha Field and Aaran Levin—1890 Aaran Levin was born in Linerbyen Holmedal, Sweden, April 3, 1860. He came to America in 1885. He went first to Plymouth, la., then to Dakota Territory, homesteaded in Tiber Township near Edinburg. He married Martha Field Nov. 29, 1890. She was born in Stavanger, Norway, Dec. 1,1868. She came to the U. S. in 1872, was raised near Manly, la., and came to North Dakota to teach school. She arrived in Mayville by train, went from there to Grafton in a lumber wagon. She died in Park River Nov. 15, 1941.

James Lamb Lawson (Jimmy to all who knew him) was born March 28,1886, in Scotland, came to the United States at 19. He landed in New York City in the spring of 1905, came directly to Walsh County and went to work for Joe Coulter, a farmer. One of Jimmy's first chores was to lead the horse on the horse power to grind feed. Besides the regular work around the farm, he hauled stone or rocks from the farm to Park River for foundation work, reloaded with lumber for the trip to Lankin, this was before the Soo Line went in. He earned $1 per load for the stone, delivered. Jimmy married Etta May Coulter, daughter of Joe Coulter, March 27, 1912. They farmed northeast of Lawton. In early spring of 1913, Jimmy and his wife bought what was known as the C. D. Lord farm, three miles west and one mile south of Park River, also known as the farm with all the bright yellow buildings.

Mr Lawson recalled many times how his favorite team of gray horses would return the family saf ely home to the winter. They would never leave the sleigh road. The automobile was a luxury, was put in storage early in the fall the radiator drained, wheels jacked up, battery carried in if there was one, and left there unb next year when the weather was right, sometimes in June. The couple had six children, Ralph of RoUa; David, Park River; Melvin of Norwood, Minn.; Mrs. Joe (Ethel) Borcowski, St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. Lob (Annie) Daley, Nash, and Mrs. Maynard (Gene) Veum, Cando. James Lawson died May 31,1961. Mrs. Lawson died Sept. 6, 1955. Submitted by Ralph Lawson. ALFRED AND ANNA LINDELL FAMILY

The organization of a church was important to the folks and their neighbors, mostby of Scandinavian descent The St. Peter Church was built in 1896. Prior to n.fs services were held in the Vesta^School m Vesta Township. Pastor Kringle officiated and presented God s word to them from the year 1890 until 1896. Tn 1889 a young man who called him sell ur. Livingston took his meals at the Lindell home. He was a surveyor and suggested naming their second girl Mary A T K was later rumored that this genueman was M r Rockefeller. If mother had known this, she probably would have followed his suggestion. Mother died in July, 1943, and Dad in February 1949. Eight of mother and Dad's children are alive today. There are 29 grandchildren, 85 great grandchildren and 16 great great grandchildren at the time of this writing, Februarf, 1973. Two grandsons and one great grandson are deceased. Submitted by Mrs. Fred Nottestad. MR. AND MRS. LARS MADLAND FAMILY

Alfred and Anna Lindell and family. Seated, left to right: Olga Almen, Alice Setness, Mrs. Lindell, Harriet, Alfred Agnes Peterson and E v a Nottestad. Standing: Mabel Kjelland, Walter, Arthur, Hamilton and Hedvig Fjeld.

Alfred Peterson was born to Kajsa and Peter Nelson May 18, 1859, at Linneryd, SmalancLSweden His parents had six children. The church at Linnervd where Alfred was baptized and confirmed, was S e d S i by a grandson, Pastor Alford Setness, Ins wife. Marvel, and their son, Stephen^ At 17 Alfred came to Goodhue, Minn. In 1876 he attended Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter M m , They changed their family name from Peterson to Lindell because of the many people having the name of Peterson. After leaving Minnesota, Alfred homesteaded hi Kensington Township, but found the land too low and wet £ ? S o d S n 5 n g . Resold the land and bought a farm in Golden Township which had better drainage. Anna Sofia was born Aug. 12, 1867, in Dalsland Sweden, to Per and Maria Person Almen, who later became our mother. , > A friend of Maria's, a registered midwife, loaned Maria her books. With this k n o w l e d g e ^ J g ? 2 opportunity to practice when she came to America, as doctors were seldom called for a birth of ababy. In 1883 Per and Maria, with their chUdren immigrated to the United States. They homesteaded in Dundee Township. Anna Sofia Almen and Alfred Lindell were nwried on Dec 18 1886, at the parsonage of Pastor Omland, ptonVer pastor and farmer. This was the first marriage * M ^ a n r ^ n n a had 11 children: Alice, Agnes, Mabel, Arthur, Hedvig, Walter, Olga, Hamilton, Edith, Eva and Harriet.

The Lars Madland

family

Anna Christine Osterhus was born in Aaseral, Norw™ i 20.1853. Lars fen**. ™ ™ *™ of wrisriansand Norway, June 7, 1855. iney weie i S ^ i 5,' 1876. Six children were born while in Norway. Two died in mfancy^ Tn 1«Q9 thev came by ocean liner to the uruxea States They had to bring along most of theirJood ^ s i o n s onthe ship, which had to be canned, dried and unr^rishables They kept the food supply in a large S S S s that was made in 1807, which date and E m a i l i n g were painted on by family ancestors and X c h S family initials on it. The food brought along included flat bread, driedI fish etc Their four children who made the trip ™ - * f ™" Larson Madland, born Oct. 18 1877; Osm»ndLarson Madland, Oct. 17,1881; Anna Madland, Nov. 11, 1884, and Lewis Larson Madland born May 19, 1888. Wnile on board ship, L a ^ anirate of which there were several on the ship. The ship mey came^ver on took about three weeks and that was K s t time it sailed as it was declared not safe for s

w e

m t

m e n t o f S m i l y came to Walsh County where Mr. M a d S s T w o brothers, Ole and Elias, had come a few ^ ^ e a r l i e r they made their temporary home on the S S t a where they built a socI house. The the soring when the snow melted, the water seepeu m r o S h e walls and Mrs. Madland, or "Sbna" as she was called, would open the door and sweep the water out.

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It was harvest time about the time they had settled and Lars used the last cash he had to buy a jack knife. This knife was needed when he shocked grain to cut the twine and tie the bundles by hand. In a year or so, they bought the quarter of land two and a half miles south of Edinburg, which stayed in the family until Osmund Madland's death when it was sold to Clarence Madland, nephew of Lars Madland. After coming to the United States, the following children were born: Anna Cathrine (Katie) Madland Lovaason, Feb. 16, 1891, Edward Larson Madland, Sept. 1, 1893; and Julia Madland Acre, born May 16, 1896. Lars and Stina were active in church, township and school activities. For several years Lars was superintendent of Garfield Church Sunday School and a layman at many church meetings and conventions. Their children were educated in School District No. 93 and School District No. 122. Mr. and Mrs. Madland were honored at a reception at the Garfield Church to help celebrate their golden wedding anniversary Dec. 5, 1926. They gave of their time and means to make room in their home for newcomers and help folks in need, though their material gains were never very abundant. This was the unselfish attitude of many of the folks in Walsh County communities in the days of the early settlers. They were saddened by the deaths of four of their children who were all in their twenties or early thirties at death. Their oldest son, Barulf, died when he was asphyxiated by gas fumes while helping dig a well on his uncle's farm. Their son, Lewis, died at 22. Their two daughters, Julia and Anna, died and were survived by two and five children, respectively. Lars and Stina made a home for three of these grandchildren and helped in many ways to see the others through their childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Madland and Osmund lived a few years in Minneapolis in the early 1920's while their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Lovaasen, farmed their land. They returned to their farm home about 1924, where they died, Mr. Madland at 72, May 25, 1928, and Mrs. Madland at 88, Sept. 16,1941. The couple are buried in the Garfield Cemetery, rural Edinburg. Submitted by John Madland.

ANDREW MADLAND F A M I L Y Andrew Madland was born in Aseral, Norway, Jan. 29,1870. He came to Walsh County in the 1880's. The early years he broke the new land, using a breaking plow and oxen, also making trips to Grafton for supplies with a stone boat (sled) and oxen. He bought land and settled in Golden Township. In January, 1900, he married Ingeborg Berg, also born in Aseral, Norway. She had spent her first years in America in Brooklyn, New York. They had a family of six sons, Bert, John, George, Clarence, Ingvald and Clarence. They were active members of Garfield Lutheran Church, Andrew being one of the charter members. He also served on the township board. Mrs. Madland died January, 1918. Andrew Madland died January, 1933. Both are buried at Garfield Lutheran Cemetery. Submitted by John Madland. OLE ORSTAD F A M I L Y Ole Orstad was born in Opdahl, Norway, Jan. 6,1887, and came to America with his parents, Edvard and Mar it Orstad, when he was three. The family first located in Sioux City, la., where they lived two years before coming to Walsh County. They settled in Vesta Township. Dec. 14, 1908, Ole Orstad married Gena Qually, also from Vesta Township. They had four daughters, Olive Madland, Park River; Ethel Espelien, Fordville; Gladys Bakken, Pinole, Calif.; and Irene Vettleson, Warren, Minn. They lived and farmed in Golden Township, where Ole was active in township and school board affairs. They were life long members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Vesta Township. He served 12 years as County Commissioner, 1927-1939. He was an enthusiastic booster for the new courthouse from the time of its inception. Mrs. Orstad died in October, 1936. Mr. Orstad died in October, 1945. Both are buried at St. Peter Cemetery. Submitted by Olive Madland.

OLE MADLAND Ole Madland was born in Norway in 1857, coming to the Walsh County area in the late 1880's, homesteading in Golden Township in 1887 where he lived and farmed until he retired and moved into Park River. His mother came from Norway and spent several years with him. She died in 1915 at 88. His hobby was taking and developing pictures. Purchased his first Model T Ford in 1914. A single man, he had four brothers, Lars, Elias, Andrew and Sam, a sister, Mrs. Stenbakken, Montana. He was a charter member of Garfield Lutheran Church where he held various offices. He died October, 1933. He is buried at Garfield Cemetery. Submitted by John Madland, nephew.

The Ole Orstad family. Left to right: Gladys, Ole, Olive, Ethel, Gena and Irene.