FIFTY YEARS IN PIERCE COUNTY

By 0. T. TOFSRUD

North Dakota State Library Bismarck, N. D. 58505

Preface TC5~x

"To know nothing of the past is to understand little of the present and to have no conception of the future," said an ancient philosopher, with the record of the past before us, we turn with serenity toward the present and move forward into the future armed with more confidence. Coming events cast their shadows before them and the life and interest of all of us is profoundly affected by history. A little over half a century has now passed since the first settlers came to Pierce County. During this comparatively short time many interesting events and manifestations of its growth have occurred. With sufficient fre­ quency a record of the most important of these, in a permanent form and easily accessible, should be provided. There are many of our people with whose activities and advancements all of our citizens ought to be familiar. Their achievements should be noted in books not only for the benefit of their descendants, who are especially interested, but also as a source of in­ formation for future readers and writers of history and the public generally. In order that the experiences of the periods gone by may be of value to those of today and the future, the present must often be compared with the past. It is therefore advisable to record, from time to time, the names and deeds of the men and women who helped to build our country in former days and our citizens who are now helping to build it for those of tomorrow. My object in publishing the first volume, "A History of Pierce County," was to record the more important events of the first pioneers settling in this region from 1885 up to and including 1889, the year this part of the Terri­ tory of Dakota was organized into what is now Pierce County. This volume will be devoted more to the pioneers of later arrival, their lives and adven­ tures for the first fifty years.

July i, 1943 _ _ O. T. TOFSRUD Contents Page Preface 3 Fifty Years of Progress 5 The Free Land ' The Pioneers 7 Three Years of Crop Failure 10 A Bumper Crop 10 Building New Homes 11 Farming With Head and Hands I2 The Russian Thistle Scare 15 The 1895 Wheat Blockade 16 Cost of Farming in 1895 16 Yield and Price of Wheat for the First 57 Years 1? The Bulls and the Bears 18 The Hard Times 19 The Immigration Movement 20 In the Early Nineties 21 The Kokomo Girls 22 Picking Buffalo Bones 22 Livery Barns 23 Public Debt 23 Taxes 25 Making Laws 26 Political Changes 30 Political Bosses ... 37 The First Touch of Socialism 40 Woman Suffrage 41 Selecting U. S. Presidents 41 The Mennonites 43 Cold Winters 43 The Coming of the Railroads 44 The Brazil Farmers Telephone Company 47 The Early Creameries 48 The Early Flour Mills 49 The Coming of the Automobile 51 Forty Years of Prohibition 51 The Geographical Center of North America 52 Important Events 53 Important Facts 54 List of Pioneer Families 54 Pierce County Population 64 Newspapers 65 The Early Churches 66 Ole T. Tofsrud 82 The First Mail 85 Early Farming 85 Fifty Years of Progress Looking back over the last half century, or from the time the oxen with the covered wagons brought the first settlers to this community, surprisingly many changes have been brought about. Great activities in the line of research and inventions have done their part to lighten the burdens of man and to in­ crease his knowledge. Even some of these inventions, considered luxuries at first, soon became necessities, as for instance the phonograph, radio, automobile, and many others. Probably the greatest change has come in the agricultural industry, brought about by the invention and use of modern farm machinery. Many of the land owners who two or three decades ago farmed only a quarter of land are now farming a whole section, usually with their own help. To replace the oxen or horses pulling a fourteen-inch walking plow came the steam engine pulling eight or ten plows, which again gave way to the modern gaso­ line tractor, plowing and seeding in one operation. The modern combine has also to a great extent replaced the treshing machine. The modern way of farming has certainly taken much of the drudgery and hard work off the shoulders of the modern farm­ er, but still there is plenty to do on the farm. It has often been argued that the farmer, by so increasing his production through the use of modern machinery, has worked against his own in­ terests and that such overproduction has so glutted the market that it has resulted in lower prices and a loss to the farmer. This difficulty has, to a certain extent, been overcome by the Govern­ ment AAA Program but this, too, is complicated and costly to operate. The allotment measure is probably at best only a tem­ porary remedy. The experienced farmer does not like the idea of being told how to farm by a Government official with less actual experience than he has had himself. All these difficulties may be overcome in time. Agriculture has been from the begin­ ning the true basis of the wealth in Pierce County and probably always will be. The method of farming will undoubtedly con­ tinue to change from time to time. Diversification seems to be gaining in importance but the raising of grain is still holding the lead. PIERCE COUNTY

"When the first settlers came to this undeveloped territory just a little over fifty years ago, there were a few Indian tribes that roamed the prairies with no fixed habitations. There were no towns or cities, no roads or highways, no methods of trans­ portation except the ox team and covered wagon. These pio­ neers brought to this prairie land and planted here trees from other lands and flowers from other climes. The land of Pierce County, within the memory of living man, has been trans­ formed from a barren waste into a land of wondrous beauty, rivaling in splendor most communities. Who were these pio­ neers and where did they come from? They came from settle­ ments east of here and a few were immigrants, but all came with undaunted will to build their homes in this wilderness towards the setting sun. Nowhere on earth can be found a superior citi­ zenship. No snubbishness is practiced; no caste distinction pre­ vails. No millionaires, and but few paupers, make up the 9,000 citizens of this great county.

The pioneers have built no great cities, but most of them have followed agricultural pursuits and have made the life of a farmer an enviable one. They have not been discouraged by a few dry years when moisture did not respond to their toil. They had no radios, no movies nor cars for entertainment, but found their enjoyment in hard work. Even if they had to meet the cares of the next day at five o'clock in the morning, what mat­ tered that when they could enjoy the visit of one or two of their neighbors in the evening, sitting around the warmth of a flax- burning stove, under the light of the kerosene lamp in the corner. No matter if they were poor, they were all in the same circumstance so they were never conscious of the financial cares of tomorrow. To let each day take care of itself is the best way. But we could go back to old-fashioned things whose values are more enduring, to courage and self-respect in humble circum­ stances. We could learn and teach our children that basic lore of happiness — the enjoyment of everyday things. We say that the best things in life are free and go on wanting the ones which cost the most money. Like children, we crave swift motion, loud noise, brilliant colors, and exciting new gadgets. We need PIERCE COUNTY to slow down, think hard, feel deeply, read widely, and long to find the lost heritage of simple living which was once the legacy of the pioneers.

THE FREE LAND The free land was undoubtedly the inducement that at­ tracted most of the pioneers to this treeless and tractless prairie. The pioneer came here to find a home and a place where he could eke out a living for himself and his expected family, and that was still the aim of the later arrivals. That was probably natural. In that respect time has not changed man very much. From the beginning of time we find that men struggled to find feeding places. The free homesteads were plentiful. All one had to do was to pick the place he liked the best and ask Uncle Sam for a title to it. If the land had not been surveyed and was still on the market, which was the case with the land south of where Rugby is now located, the settler could exercise his right as a squatter, build his house there, and stay on it until it was sur­ veyed, and that would give him the first right to file on it as his homestead. Having exercised his choice to a homestead, the immigrant usually started to build his sod house, or, if his finances held out, perhaps a lumber shack. Be that as it may, he was there to build for himself a new home. Being thus estab­ lished, he commenced to lay his plans to break up as much as he could of the virgin prairie and commence farming.

THE PIONEERS The pioneers of Pierce County came from many states and countries and were of different creeds and nationalities. The majority of the new settlers were of Norwegian birth or descent. They were of a frugal race. They had been schooled by a nig­ gardly nature and they could not forget their lesson right away, though they could now deal with a nature more generous. Generation after generation raising scanty crops had trained them to that kind of farming which let nothing go to waste. The pioneers paid little attention to class or race. They were all neighbors and friendly and all were of the Teutonic family. The courageous Norwegian, the practical Englishman, and the philo- PIERCE COUNTY

sophical German, all contributed to the progress and prosperity of this great American Northwest and in no small degree to Pierce County. They came here to find a home and to better conditions for themselves and their families. They were young and industrious and fully able to conquer all of the many ob­ stacles, hardships, and adversities usually connected with pioneer life. They went to work — building sod houses, digging wells, and breaking up the prairies, and the various other duties nec­ essary to the establishment of new homes. There were many things to do in a new country like this and of course it could not all be done at once. It would take time. Roads had to be laid out, churches had to be built, schools had to be established, and families had to be provided for. Horses, oxen, wagons, and plows were needed. All the pioneers were poor and most of them had to go back to older settlements to get work during harvest and threshing in order to make enough money for living and a few necessities. In the winters there was not so much to do but the horses and oxen had to be taken care of, wood had to be hauled, books were read, and the neighbors were visited, and the mail had to be gotten a few times. There were no daily papers, nor any rural mail carriers to bring the mail in those days. Around Bar­ ton and Rugby our nearest post office was New Port, located two miles south from where Towner is now located, a distance of some twenty miles. We usually made the trip in one day, walking forth and back. The writer remembers making several trips to New Port post office on skis. The mail was hauled there from Devils Lake with a team of horses. The land lying north of where Rugby now is was surveyed by Birdsley and Dyke in 1884 and placed on the market for settlement in March, 1885. The land south of Rugby was not surveyed until three years afterwards. Most of the first settlers located northwest of where Rugby is now situated and around Barton. The most potent influence making for peace and friendly intercourse among these neighbors was the growing sense of common interests and sorrows. There were bound to be sorrows PIERCE COUNTY as well as happiness. The first inhabitants to come did not expect too much but they were abundantly blessed. However, no sooner does mortal man gain what he has called enough than he calls it so no longer — he expects more and if he doesn't get it his cup is filled with discontentment. That which inhabitants of Pierce County at one time regarded as good fortune presently became, in their estimation, indifferent or even bad fortune and they were inclined to bemoan a lot no worse than that with which they would once have been satisfied. This does not mean, however, that there were not any real set-backs. Beside droughts, there were pests, such as gophers and grasshoppers, with which the settlers had to contend. Grasshoppers, yes! Look­ ing closely, a great many curious small holes bored in the dry crust of the earth could be observed, and when digging down to see what might be at the bottom, clusters of what looked like insect eggs would be found. They were eggs indeed — laid there by the dreaded grasshoppers — and the warm sun of spring hatched them out by the millions. Millions of them came boiling up out of the ground — a very plague of locusts — and everything green and growing fell a prey to them. The wheat no sooner thrust its brave spears up into the light than the grasshoppers fell on it and devoured it, and the field could not have been more desolate if a fire had swept over it. In such years, farmers did not get their seed back. When the grasshop­ pers had eaten everything in sight they usually flew away to other regions.

1888 was an odd year in many respects. The winter was long and stormy and the spring was cold and late. That delayed seed­ ing and even after seeding, the crop froze down several times. This meant a belated harvest, but not necessarily a bad harvest if only the frost would hold off. There had been falls without frost to hurt until well along in September, and before that time late wheat would be safe. Should there be another such fall now the crop would do very well. But such was not the case. Though such a season was badly needed, it did not come to pass. Light frosts were noticed the 7th and 8 th of August and a killing frost occurred August 17, while some of the wheat was JO PIERCE COUNTY

still in the dough stage. The yield was not so bad, but the wheat was light, weighing only 3 5 pounds to the bushel, and not worth much on the market. This was a bitter pill for the new farmers but they were not discouraged. It was not, however, the last of the bad crops.

THREE YEARS OF CROP FAILURES While the crop of 1888 was bad on account of the frost, the crops of 1889 and 1890 were still worse. The drought killed nearly everything that was green. Only a few bundles of wheat were cut around sloughs and water holes. The drought caused big cracks in the prairie and it looked bleak and brown and nothing grew. It was said by one farmer that he planted pota­ toes in the spring and dug them up again in the fall to eat. He said they were just as good as when he planted them — they had not sprouted. It was also reported that in one of these dry years Frank Meyers threshed all the grain that was raised that year between Berwick and Churchs Ferry with one horsepower threshing machine. And the gophers too! These little creatures as soon as they had a taste of it seemed to like the green wheat better than the slough and prairie grass that they had had to content themselves with for hundreds or maybe thousands of years before the new settlers came to divide their crops with them. Did the settlers become discouraged? Some of them did and left their claims to search for other homes, but most of them remained and they were greatly rewarded.

A BUMPER CROP After these three years of failure, 1891 came with a bumper crop. In fact, it was so bountiful that the farmers could not take care of it properly. The threshing lasted until after the first snowfall, and some of the wheat was not even threshed until the middle of the next summer. But that did not matter — it was all stacked and most of it came out in good shape so the spoilage was very small — and the new farmers were happy. The wheat averaged 3 j bushels to the acre. The ebb and flow of PIERCE COUNTY H the tide of prosperity could not help but leave its mark upon the progress of the settlers.

BUILDING NEW HOMES The new arrival could not continue to live in his covered wa­ gon indefinitely. Some sort of buildings had to be erected and fuel provided for. Lumber was scarce and the pioneer's finances were exhausted, but he was not at a loss as to what to do. There was plenty of sod near by and it did not cost anything so why not use it? All he had to do was to hitch up his oxen to his 14- inch plow and break up a few furrows, and to put one sod on top of the other was no trick. Why would that not make a good enough house for anybody to live in? There was plenty of dead timber in the Turtle Mountains, the Sand Hills, and along the Mouse River that would do for the roof of his sod house and for fuel for next winter. All he had to do was to haul it home and ask or answer no questions. There was plenty of it on Uncle Sam's domain. These new structures were not founded on any principle of ancient or modern art but conformed to the sur­ roundings of each individual builder. Unique in appearance and design were these up-to-date buildings. With plenty of straw, hay, or dry wood on hand for his sheet iron stove, the new settler was well prepared for winter. The only indication of the presence of the bachelor was a joint or two of stove pipe protruding from the hay or sod roof under whose protection some hardy settler dwelt, secure from storms and blizzards and blissfully unconscious of the increased rates of fire insurance. Neither was there any phonograph or radio to disturb his sleep. There was not even a mail carrier to prod him with the daily papers. Some of these residences held the seed grain in the same room as the cooking utensils, but space was always found for any stranger who might come along. If the owner of one of these houses happened to be a bachelor living in single blessedness, which was quite often the case, he was always striving to acquire wealth and position, in the hope that the future might develop better opportunities and bring him the surroundings of his de­ sire. Nobody ever thought of getting married in those days 12 PIERCE COUNTY

until he had accumulated enough for self and wife to live on for at least a year. Hospitality was general and liberal, but the labour kept the settler busy and rendered social intercourse infrequent. Occa­ sionally, he would hitch up his oxen or horses and drive over to his neighbor for a visit. After the usual interchange of greetings the conversation would usually turn to a discussion of farm problems generally, amongst the men. The ladies would com­ pare notes on babies, bonnets, housekeeping, and kindred sub­ jects. Things have changed in Pierce County since those days. The prairie has been converted into delightful farms, upon which most of the settlers have built themselves comfortable homes. Schools and churches, towns and villages, have sprung up, each of which forms a social center. Wealth has been accu­ mulated. Dress and manners have changed with the country. The struggles, hardships, and privations of these early days, however, still remain in the minds of the early settlers.

FARMING WITH HEAD AND HANDS Agriculture, and the art of cultivating the ground in order to raise grain and other crops for man and beast, has always been considered a highly esteemed occupation and especially is that true in our times. We all know that were it not for the farmers there would not be much activity in Pierce County or any other part of our commonwealth. Farm products are the source of nearly all wealth created here. During the last half century many changes in the mode of farming have been brought about. Especially may this have been due to changes or improvements in farm machinery. By the time the first settlers came to Pierce County the machine age was fairly well advanced and still some of the machines used by them are now almost extinct. The breaking plow was probably the first farm implement brought here by the pioneer. To this 14 or 16" inch plow he would hitch two or four oxen or horses and try to break up as many acres of his i6~o as he could to seed to crop next spring and probably a few furrows for a sod house. These implements, which were then a necessity, are not to be found on the farm any more. Maybe they were PIERCE COUNTY 13 sold to a scrap dealer who would in turn dispose of them to the "Japs," never realizing that they might make them into swords to kill our sons, reversing the prophetic hope that the swords be beaten into plowshares and the spears into pruning hooks. Next spring when it became necessary to put some seed into the new breaking, seeding by hand was found to be too slow so the pioneer bought an 8-foot broadcast seeder that could be pulled by his work animals. This would broadcast the seed on top of the breaking, to be dragged in by a 72-tooth steel har­ row. Then came the more practical 8-foot drill. This machine would put the grain seed two or three inches into the ground instead of leaving it on top of the ground as the seeder had done. These drills are still used to some extent but have been mostly replaced by smaller drills that can be connected to a three bottom stubble plow, so that the plowing and seeding can be done in one operation. The harvesting machine has probably come through with less altering than most of the other farm machines. The self- binder, used in the early days, with minor improvements is still in general use. Of course the combine has lately replaced some of the binders. They are cheaper to operate, as with them the cutting of the grain and threshing it is done in one opera­ tion. The threshing machine has undoubtedly undergone the most revolutionary changes since the day of the flail. The first thresh­ ing in Pierce County was done with a horse power machine. The horse power that furnished energy for the separator was a geared device fastened close to the ground, with long sharp stakes driven into the ground by a heavy sledge. To this power were fastened five or six long sweeps. Ten or twelve horses were hitched to these sweeps with whipple trees. When everything was set, a long whip was handed to the man who started the horses around on their grind. He would step upon a small plat­ form constructed over the gears. To the gear under the platform was attached a long steel rod that would drive the separator. The separator was constructed so that after the grain had cleared it ran out of a spout on the side of the machine and was taken 14 PIERCE COUNTY

care of by one man who would measure it out in two half- bushel measures. It was then poured into a two bushel sack, held for him by the so-called "sackholder." The sacks were held by him until they were filled, after which they were tied up and hoisted into the waiting wagon by his two strong arms. This grain was then hauled to the market and stored in a flat house, later to be wheeled into the railroad cars and shipped to Min­ neapolis or Chicago, to be sold on a market said to be controlled by the "bulls" and the "bears." The straw was elevated from the separator by a slatted rack and dumped on the ground, from where it was removed by a man driving two separated horses, one horse at each end of a long pole. The straw was scattered on the field around the machine. Feeding the bundles into the separator was done by a man with strong arms. At each side of him stood a band cutter with a sharp knife to cut the strings. As much as one thousand bushels in a i6-hour day has been threshed by one of these machines in a good wheat field. Then came the big steam rig, requiring a crew of twenty-five or thirty men to run it. This big heavy machine was at first hauled around in the field with oxen or horses, but before long it was changed into a self-moving tractor that would also pull with it the separator. Most of these machines would burn straw instead of coal. Thus they could be operated more economically. One thing, though, that they could not get away from was the water wagon. It took a lot of water to keep the steam up. By that time, too, the separator was greatly improved, with self- feeder and straw-blower. This way of threshing is now a thing of the past. Threshing nowadays is done with the small gasoline tractor, which is familiar to us all. Mention may be made of the high-wheeled, narrow-tired farm wagon which has now been replaced by a low wagon with small wheels and wide tires. Most of the grain is now marketed in the gasoline truck, which can haul a couple of hundred bushels in a load. But while improvement in farm machinery has altered the mode of farming, there are many other things that have entered in. The art of farming is complicated. It requires good judg- PIERCE COUNTY 15

ment and perseverence. It takes planning, besides a lot of hard work. In other words, the head must be used as well as the hands to make farming a success. The use of modern machinery has caused enlargement in the unit of farm operation. One hundred sixty acres was at one time considered to be enough to take care of one family economically. This acreage is now found to be too small to take care of the overhead imposed by buildings, equipment, and necessary machinery. The increase in the production of wheat was accomplished by a readjustment of the farming system. The farmers now bought more land, purchased equipment, and went into mass production, neg­ lecting many minor crops, as well as the livestock industry and the vegetable garden. This method has changed somewhat since the Government stepped in with their allotment program, cut­ ting down the acreage of wheat. The farmer is going into diver­ sification more and more, adopting the old adage that it is not the best policy to put all his eggs into one basket. Although wheat will probably be the principal crop in Pierce County for years to come, the livestock industry is steadily gaining ground.

THE RUSSIAN THISTLE SCARE In 1894 and 1895 a popular clamor arose all over the North­ west for steps to be taken for the immediate suppression of the rapid spread of the Russian thistle or cactus. The infection of this noxious weed spread rapidly over the farms in Pierce and surrounding counties and scared everybody. To the North Da­ kota Legislature then sitting in its fourth session, of which the writer was a member, petitions started to come in from all over the State, urging its members to do something about the Rus­ sian thistle. I remember receiving a letter from one of my con­ stituents, urging me to do all I could to pass laws providing for some means to destroy this obnoxious weed, remarking at the end of his letter that if I did not do anything for the destruc­ tion of the thistle I would not be given a nice reception upon returning home. Obedient to the will of the people, the Legislature imme­ diately commenced to study the question, with the hope of finding some means that would help to get rid of the pest. The 16 PIERCE COUNTY

result was the appointment of a Cactus Committee and the rec­ ommendation that a commission be appointed to meet similar commissions from Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minne­ sota. A concurrent resolution was also passed, asking Congress to appropriate at least $30,000 for the destruction of the weed. The wet season of 1895 apparently accomplished more to­ wards ridding the County and State of the pest than the Legis­ lature and the commission.

THE 1895 WHEAT BLOCKADE When we look at the many tanks, bins, and cribs built on the farms, in the towns and cities, and along the railway sid­ ings, to store the 1942 wheat crop, it may recall to the minds of the old timers the wheat blockade of 1895. That year we raised one of the largest crops in the history of Pierce County, averaging thirty-five bushels of wheat to the acre, and the farm­ ers were not prepared to take care of it. The elevators were soon filled up and the farmers, although wanting to sell their wheat even at the prevailing price of forty-one cents a bushel, could not dispose of it to anyone. Bringing their wheat to market and being unable to get rid of it, they had to take it back home to shelter it the best way they could. In many fields could be seen piles of wheat, some of them covered with straw. The distress was great and the people thought that no ordinary railroad equipment could take their wheat to market as fast as they wanted to see it move. Some figured that it would require an­ other railroad to move the crop as it should be moved, and to this end farmers in Rolette, Bottineau, and Towner counties were offering the Northern Pacific Railway big inducements to extend its line from Leeds into that territory. They offered to furnish the roadbed and grade it if the company would do the rest.

COST OF FARMING IN 1895 Following is a statement of the cost of growing wheat under the conditions existing in Pierce County in 1895: Cost per Acre Plowing $ 1.00 Seeding 40 Seed 60 PIERCE COUNTY 17

Twine •. .25 Cutting and shocking .75 Threshing and marketing 3.J0

Total cost per acre $6.50 Profit per acre 7.85

3 j bushels @ $0.41 $14-3 5

YIELD AND PRICE OF WHEAT FOR THE FIRST $7 YEARS Following is a list of the yield of wheat and the price received by the farmers during the first 57 years of farming in Pierce County: Yield Price per Yield Price per Year per Acre Bushel Year per Acre Bushel 1886 16 bu. $0.57 1915 18 .89 1887 22 .55 1916 7 bu. 1.56 1888 20 .75 1917 4-S 2.00 1889 o .61 1918 9 2.16 1890 o .77 1919 7 2.80 1891 35 .69 1920 7 1.81 1892 12 .53 1921 8 1.28 1893 8 .40 1922 13 1.06 1894 ; .37 1923 6 1.04 189$ 35 .41 1924 14 i-38 1896 10 .jo 192$ 15 1-45 1897 14 .71 1926 5 1.31 1898 9 .51 1927 13.9 1.21 1899 10 .47 1928 16.8 1.06 1900 5 .55 1929 10.2 1.10 1901 22 .52 1930 11.8 .62 1902 10 .54 193' 3-1 -5i 1903 8 .69 1932 10 .41 1904 22 .93 1933 7-3 -7* 190$ 21 .64 1934 3 .96 1906 16 .63 1935 5.7 1.06 1907 7 .87 1936 2.8 1.27 1908 15 .91 1937 5 1.25 1909 13.8 .89 1938 9.6 .60 1910 2 .85 1939 13.6 .70 1911 7.1 .87 1940 14.5 .69 1912 20.1 .67 1941 16.4 .96 1913 7.2 .68 1942 17.5 1.1$ 1914 8 1.00 18 PIERCE COUNTY

It may be noticed from the above figures that during the first twenty-eight years — the pre-war period up to 1914 — the average price of wheat was only 65 cents per bushel. But it must be remembered, too, that everything the farmer had to buy was much cheaper. Farm machinery and other necessities have gone up from two to three hundred per cent since that time.

THE BULLS AND THE BEARS Speaking once more of man, the mortal, not only is he given to forming inordinate expectations, but when the day of dis­ appointment comes he is inclined to charge somebody with hav­ ing wronged him. Sorrows become grievances, in other words, and the people of the Northwest couldn't readily find anyone to blame for the grasshoppers, the gophers, and the poor crops. The price of wheat presented no such difficulty. It did not take them long to make the important discovery that the price of wheat was governed by the speculators — the "bulls" and the "bears" of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce — and that whatever tune those worth­ ies chose to play, the farmers had no choice but to dance to it. Of course the fact that a thing may or may not be so is no rea­ son why it cannot be discovered if only a sufficient pressure of discontent enters into the reckoning. And there was no lack of it in North Dakota. Soon the people were crying out against the injustice and saying they were foolish to submit to it. If they didn't know as yet just what they could do about it, at any rate they weren't going to suffer in silence any longer. It was in these lean years of short crops and low prices that the Farmers Alliance waxed strong in North Dakota. The Alli­ ance was out to right the farmers' wrong or know the reason why. The older Grange, never very active so far west, had the farmers' welfare at heart, too, but it was not so willing to seek its solution through politics. The Alliance, on the other hand, was almost from the first, and without apology, a political ad­ venture, bent on the enactment of laws designed to ameliorate the farmers' condition. They were such laws, for the most part, as parties in power deemed too radical to be wise, but the Alli­ ance had no misgivings. In its ranks, Norwegians and Yankees PIERCE COUNTY 19 marched shoulder to shoulder, their political antipathies forgot­ ten in the sense of a common cause, and if there was need of an evangel to make them more conscious of that cause it was ready at hand. The Farmers Alliance party had developed its full strength when in 1892 the Honorable Eli C. D. Shortridge, their candidate for governor, with the help of the Populist Party, defeated the Republican nominee and became the third governor of North Dakota. It was during his administration that North Dakota made its first venture into the field of State ownership.

THE HARD TIMES When the need is worst, the help usually comes first. The early spring of 1891, after three succeeding crop failures, did not look any too good. There was no seed on hand and no money with which to buy it, if it could be bought anywhere, and the farmers did not know where to turn. However, they did not lose their courage. The County Commissioners passed the fol­ lowing resolution:

"Rugby, North Dakota, February 2, 1891 "WHEREAS, The crops in Pierce and adjoining counties have for the last three years been a total failure, and whereas many farmer residents in Pierce County are anxious and willing to sow and plant another crop but have not the necessary money with which to purchase seed,

"IT IS RESOLVED By the Board of County Commissioners of Pierce County, North Dakota, that the representatives in the National Congress be, and they hereby are, requested and ordered to do all in their power to secure the passage and approval of the bill introduced by Hon. H. C. Hansborough in the House of Rep­ resentatives, providing for an appropriation of $500,000 for the purpose of purchasing seed wheat for the destitute farmers of North Dakota ." etc.

The farmers managed to put in a crop some way in the spring of 1891 and the surprise was that that year they raised one of the biggest crops in their history of farming and they were jubilant. The next situation was that they were not prepared to take care of it. Such a bumper crop was not expected. The

North Dakota State Library Bismarck, N. D. 58505 20 PIERCE COUNTY next year the County Commissioners again passed another reso­ lution, but that sounded different from the one they passed the year before. The following is a copy of the 1892 resolution:

"Rugby, North Dakota, January 20, 1892

"WHEREAS, Farm laborers will be extremely scarce in Pierce County during the current year, not only to help in the threshing of the grain raised the year 1891 but also in the work of plowing and seeding for the crop of 1892, which proves to yield more abundantly than that of last year, and Whereas the Great Northern Railroad Company is endeavoring to furnish such help, "IT IS RESOLVED That all farmers in Pierce County be, and they hereby are requested, to furnish the company's auditor a memorandum of the number of men they require for the year 1892 and the said company's auditor is hereby instructed to make up a list of the same and forward it to the authorities of the Great Northern Railway Company at the earliest practical time with a request that they furnish the required quota of help."

THE IMMIGRATION MOVEMENT Almost continually since the arrival of the first settlers up to 1910, a stream of immigrants were coming in, an exception being in the dry years of 1889 and 1890, when the movement stopped temporarily. There was then even some exodus. But with improvement in crops, the people started to come in again. It has been mostly a natural growth, although a few attempts have been made to stimulate the movement. Credit for the most effective influx is probably due Governor Roger Allin. On De­ cember 17 and 18, 1895, he called a convention at Fargo for the purpose of creating interest in the immigration work. Dele­ gates were appointed from the different parts of the State to take part in this work. The members appointed from Pierce County were: F. P. Meyers, M. Madsen, Charles Hunter, F. T. Gronvold, Severin Larson, Jarvis Harker, and O. T. Tofsrud. Again, in the spring of 1899, occurred a great influx. Every train seemed to be loaded with immigrants from Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. In fact, they came so fast that it was difficult to find provision and lodging for all of them during the rush. The Court House was fitted up for sleeping PIERCE COUNTY 21

apartments and equipped with cook stoves and made to appear homelike for them until they were able to make selection of claims and put up their own buildings. After 1910, the immigration movement subsided, and the Pierce County population has not increased any, as will be noted in the following table: Year Population 1890 905 1900 4,76$ 1910 9,740 1920 9,283 1930 9,074 1940 9,208

IN THE EARLY NINETIES A few pictures from the early nineties, the decade of adoles­ cence and growth, may be of interest. It was a time of change — even soon a change of centuries. We changed from coffee mills on the kitchen walls to ground packaged coffee, from whole wheat flour bread on our table to the more refined white flour bread, and from the Bible on the center table to the Sears Roebuck catalog. The horse and buggy soon gave way to the automobile. Henry Ford made an automobile in 1893 that really did run. It was a funny looking thing, built on high wheels, but it worked. The Model T came years later, but the revolu­ tion in transportation had begun. What people wore in those days is not important but it is in­ teresting. We always think that the last is the best. The long woolen socks and two-piece underwear; the celluloid collars and cuffs, may not have been comfortable, but derby hats were good-looking, and those shoes with elastic sides could be slipped on in a hurry and kept their shape well. The felt boots and buffalo coats were not to be rejected on a long drive in an open sleigh when the temperature was forty degrees below zero. But what the men wore was not of much importance. The big ques­ tion was, how did the ladies dress? The home-made wide sleeve dresses were comfortable enough and the full skirts that swept the ground were attractive. The ladies when walking, regularly 22 PIERCE COUNTY used one hand to gather the skirt and hold it off the ground. The collars fitted snugly around the neck, where pins and jewelry could be displayed to advantage. Hats were moderately trimmed and attractive. Fingernails were not painted and beau­ ty shops and hair dressing parlors had not yet made their ap­ pearance.

THE KOKOMO GIRLS The bachelors of Pierce County had always carried the repu­ tation of being good-looking, but not until 1909 had the rumor spread as far east as Indiana and Kokomo. By the winter and spring of that year the popularity of the Pierce County bache­ lors was pretty well established amongst the Kokomo girls and they were not slow in laying their plans to fascinate and cap­ ture as many of these bachelors as possible. A dispatch was sent out stating that a carload of maidens from that city was coming to Rugby for the purpose of securing husbands. This report was commented on by papers all over the United States and the home paper received a lengthy clipping taken from the New York Sun. Letters were received at the Rugby post office from ladies of Kokomo and other places, asking the postmaster to be so kind as to place them in correspondence with reliable young men who would like to secure loving wives. However, the Kokomo girls never arrived, but it was reported that one or two men secured wives as a result of this advertising.

PICKING BUFFALO BONES Picking buffalo bones was an occupation that did not last very long. In a few years the many bones from the buffaloes killed and dying on the prairie were soon picked by the In­ dians and the new settlers after convenient transportation was provided, but while it lasted it was of great help to the new settler. These bones were found all over the prairies but mostly around the lakes and sloughs. At first it did not take so very long to pick a wagon box full and when the picker had his load full he would haul it in to town, where there was usually a buyer at one of the railroad sidings to bargain for them. He PIERCE COUNTY 23 seldom had a scale so the best he could do was to guess at the weight of the load of the vendor and it was not often that the buyer would lose on the weight. The bones were usually bought for from eight to ten dollars a ton and were piled up in large heaps along the sidings until they could be loaded into box cars and shipped out to eastern markets, where they were ground up to be used for fertilizers to a limited extent, but most of them were pulverized into carbon cakes to be used as a filter for sugar, much as charcoal is now used to filter rain water. In modern times, however, sugar is clarified by an electrolytic pro­ cess and the need for bones from which to make filter is in con­ sequence much reduced. Anyhow, there are no more buffalo bones to be found or picked.

LIVERY BARNS Before the coming of the automobiles and the improved roads, livery barns did a flourishing business in every city, village, and hamlet. Not so very long ago many of them were doing a thriving business in Pierce County, a number of them in Rugby, Barton, and Wolford. Now such institutions are un­ known, for the reason that persons owning them were con­ fronted by conditions that made their continued operation unprofitable. They simply quit, took their losses, and turned their attention to other lines of activity.

PUBLIC DEBT A great change in our economic life during statehood may be reflected in the trend to increase the local state and national debt. The danger of going too far into debt undoubtedly came to the minds of the framers of our State Constitution when they inserted Article 12. This article provided that the State of North Dakota must not create a debt of more than $200,000 at any time and that the debt of any county, township, city, town, school district, or any other political subdivision must not exceed five per cent of the assessed valuation of the taxable property therein, provided, however, that a city may by a two- thirds vote increase this to three percent more. For the first 24 PIERCE COUNTY

quarter of a century the impression left upon the public mind by the Constitution undoubtedly deterred public spending. Up to the year 191 j the whole indebtedness of the State of North Dakota amounted to only $562,000, which also included the territorial debt. The obligations of the different subdivisions were small in comparison. World War No. 1, with its complexities and uncertainties, bore heavily upon all classes. During this uncertain period, dry weather conditions cut the crop yield below normal. Conse­ quently, when high prices came the farmer had little grain to sell. Taxes and other fixed charges mounted rapidly and the farmer found himself sorely beset. Foreclosures were increasing and many lost their homes. Who could they find to blame for this hectic condition? It would not do to blame anybody for the dry weather and short crops. But many of the grain grow­ ers felt that unjust tribute was being levied on them by the dif­ ferent financial institutions and the great grain exchanges in the terminal markets. However, nobody seemed to be able to find a cure for the misfortune. Clubs and societies were organ­ ized, and labor made rapid advances through unions and affi­ liated groups of unions. Arguments were made for the devel­ opment of home facilities and markets, advocating State-owned flour mills, elevators, packing plants, hail insurance, and banks operated at cost. To the carrying out of these proposals there were barriers. Amendment of the Constitution to set aside the debt limit at $200,000 was a slow process and it would take money to go into business. To sweep away this obstacle was the purpose of House Bill No. 44, which was a concurrent reso­ lution, embodying a new Constitution composed of over two hundred sections. By 1918 and 1919 the constitutional barriers had been overcome and the Industrial Commission, made up of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, ventured upon a State business career. Money was borrowed and bonds were issued. Whereas we had formerly been dealing in thousands, we were now commencing to deal in millions and the sky was said to be the limit. The total indebtedness of the State of North Dakota by July PIERCE COUNTY 25 i, 1930, had risen to $36,357,200. This grand total has since decreased somewhat and the Drake Mill and the Home Building Association have wound up their business with considerable loss to the taxpayer. Increasing the indebtedness of the State from $562,000 in 1915 to $36,357,200 in 1930, a period of only fifteen years, seems enormous, but it is not the whole story. The counties, cities, and the different subdivisions were hardly less aggressive and the national government seemed to be the biggest peace-time spender of all. Can this vast spending menace be stopped or controlled? The answer is not easy. Some pressure groups will fight just as hard to keep on spending as other groups will battle to cut expenses. The public official trying to put constructive economies into force by pinching the pocket books of this, that, and the other fellow is not likely to be con­ sidered the most popular and may meet defeat at the next elec­ tion. It is not always so easy for the voter to pick the most able and honest man for an office. Ability is worth a great deal but honesty is worth twenty times more. The official may find it easier to spend the taxpayers' money than his own. Not all the voters realize that ultimately all taxes are paid by the con­ sumer — the forgotten man. Manufacturers' and producers' taxes are handed along to him on retail price tags. It was once remarked that the consumer sometimes prays but he always pays. Yet with all our taxes, we are only paying part of the current tax bill. The other part is being borrowed and left for our children to pay. It is to be hoped that this extravagant spending will at least be curbed and that spendthrifts and wast­ ers will be kept out of public affairs.

TAXES The increased tax burden has aroused general alarm and the cost of Government administration has become a general issue. Since the beginning of the century there has hardly been a leg­ islative assembly which has not created some new departments, bureaus, boards, or administrative offices to represent a new phase of the State's ever expanding functions. Popular demand for services undoubtedly account for some of it, but the in­ genuity of the politician cannot escape his responsibility for 26 PIERCE COUNTY increasing tax burdens and heavy drains on the public treasury. The revenue problem is taxing the abilities of economists and others who are trying to figure out the wherewithal to run the Government. Our own locality is no exception. Our taxes are increasing. For instance, the writer recalls to mind a quarter of land that was costing only about eight dollars in taxes every year and which has now swelled to forty dollars per year. In our County of Pierce we find that in 1934 the amount of uncollected taxes was in round numbers $76,000; in 1935, $84,000; in 1936, $118,000; and in 1937 the list had swelled to $133,000, amounting to $16.76 per capita of her inhabi­ tants, not including the income taxes and the invisible taxes — taxes on what we eat and wear. Of course the local tax situation has improved somewhat with our good crops harvested since 1937, but if the crop failures should again overtake us it would lead one to wonder what use it would be to put upon the tax list more than we are able to pay.

MAKING LAWS The opportunity of serving seven years as a member in the Legislature — three years in the House of Representatives and four years in the Senate — has afforded me a limited knowledge of lawmaking. A few observations may be of interest. Pierce County was at the beginning of its political history combined with Benson County for legislative purposes. The two counties were formed into one legislative district — Dis­ trict No. 20 — in 1889 and was entitled to one Senator and two Representatives in the State Legislature. Benson, being the largest of the two counties in the district, decided that it would be entitled to name the Senator and one member in the House of Representatives, giving Pierce County the privilege of electing one member of the House. This arrangement, we thought, was not very generous on their part. However, it seemed hard for them to look at it from our side, it being generally agreed that not very much can be accomplished in legislative matters with­ out representation in the upper house as well as in the lower. We were, however, glad to get something, remembering that in the Constitutional Convention, where the State institutions PIERCE COUNTY 27

were parcelled out, we did not have a member and did not get any of the institutions, whereas we were better located for one than some of the other places that did get them. This situation continued for twelve years, until in 1901, when Pierce County was again put into another combination. This one was with McHenry County, forming the 34th Legis­ lative District, which was entitled to one Senator and three Representatives. McHenry County, again being the larger of the two counties, claimed and got the right to name the Senator and took two of the Representatives, leaving Pierce County the privilege of electing one of the House members. In the 1906 election they became more generous and let us elect two of the three representatives. This arrangement continued until in 1907, when we succeeded in making a more satisfactory arrangement, a report of which will be made later in this article. My first experience in lawmaking commenced with the Leg­ islative Session of 1895, of which I was one of the youngest members — in years as well as in experience. I had had no previous training in lawmaking, but of course I was no worse off than many of the other members elected to the same body. We had to learn in the school of experience. I started out to see if I could discover defects in the old laws and the necessity for new ones. I introduced four bills, and when I had succeeded in having two of them passed it increased my ambition as a law­ maker. The session as a whole was rather quiet. The first thing that seemed to disturb its tranquility was the appearance of a 47 page House Bill, numbered 79, and introduced by C. L. Lindstrom. Its parentage was unknown to most of the mem­ bers and it was rumored that its sponsors were not anxious about its passage. The purpose of the bill, it was said, was to make the railroad people behave. However, the child was healthy and boisterous and nearly got away from its parents. Now ten years had passed when I was again elected to serve in the Ninth Legislative Session in 1905, as a member of the House of Representatives. The session convened on January 3 and was considered an unusually strong body, not in experience and statesmanship perhaps, nor in power of oratory, but in 11 PIERCE COUNTY

earnest, honest workers who came fresh from the people and aimed to keep in touch with them. The Pure Food and Drug laws that were passed during this session were in line with pub­ lic progressiveness. Before the enactment of these laws, food manufacturers used to dump into North Dakota stores a great deal of impure food, colored and sweetened with coal tar dyes and other impurities dangerous to human health. I well remem­ ber Doctor Ladd, President of the Agricultural College, when he came up to Bismarck to demonstrate to the members of the Legislature and to lecture and warn us against the use of some of the canned goods and other impure foods shipped in to the State. The law against shipping such goods in to the State passed and I think we owe a great deal to the memory of Dr. Ladd for advising us of the danger.

The Tenth Legislative Session convened on January 8, 1907, and adjourned on March 8. It was a strenuous session and for 1 lerce County probably one of the most important ones. For the first time in its eighteen year struggle, Pierce County gained the right to elect its own Senator. It was a great advantage to the county to gain entrance to both branches of the Legislature, thus enabling Pierce County to do something for itself instead of having things done for it by outside politicians. It was not without a struggle, however, that this was accomplished. Sev­ eral bills were introduced with plans to re-district the State. None of them were very favorable to Pierce County. For­ tunately, I was a member of the Apportionment Committee, to which all such bills were referred for adjustment. It was not an easy committee of which to be a member. As usual in such a scramble, everybody was looking for the best deal for his own locality. After many meetings of the committee, in which careful study was made of the referred bills, the committee started to work out its own bill and introduced it as House Bill No. 278. The bill passed. The day was saved and I felt proud. Pierce County finally had the privilege of electing its own Senator. Instead of being tied up, as formerly, with some other county, Pierce County had its own separate district. It became Legislative District No. 42, with the right to elect one PIERCE COUNTY 29

Senator and two Representatives, a position it still holds. It is now on the same footing as Benson and some of the larger counties, our population being only a little over nine thousand inhabitants. Another important measure enacted into law during the 1907 session was the Primary Election Law. Many attempts had formerly been made to eliminate bosses in whose hands, more or less, had been held the political destinies of the State since its birth. As early as in 1891, when the Australian sys­ tem of voting was enacted, it was considered to be a great im­ provement over the old system. Political reformers soon real­ ized, however, that the manipulation of elections could not be prevented by this law, so in 1907 the Primary Election Law was passed. It is not perfect, but even with its defects it is con­ sidered to be the best election law so far enacted. The system was new to us and it required long and careful study to whip it into workable shape. Credit was considered due Governor LaFollette of Wisconsin for a copy of the law which he had been able to have passed in his State. Four primary election bills were introduced and naturally some good parts could be picked out of each one but mostly from the LaFollette bill. The result was a substitute bill worked out by the committee. It passed and became the Primary Election Law of North Dakota. 1907 was the last year I served in the House of Representa­ tives. Sixteen years later I was elected to the Senate, where I served for four consecutive sessions. The 1923, 1925, 1927, and 1929 sessions were, as usual, busy ones, but not extraordinary. Of the bills I introduced, five of them passed and became laws. Senate Bill No. 268 was in relation to court procedures; No. 103 created the Leif Erikson holiday, the Discovery Day; Nos. 148 and 185 were to improve the tax laws; and No. 161 was to im­ prove the estray laws. These are some of my experiences in the Legislature. Law­ making is a complicated task. During each session more bills seem to find their way into the hopper than can receive proper consideration. If half of the new laws were repealed it might 30 PIERCE COUNTY

be easier to enforce the remaining ones. It has been the habit of every Legislature since statehood to pass as many new laws as possible. Most of the legislative members think they may not be doing their duty unless they can introduce and pass a few bills. The consequences, as I see it, are too many laws. But I assume we are living in a more complicated society now than at the time of Moses, when the Ten Commandments were suffi­ cient. Many good laws, however, have been enacted since state­ hood, but naturally all of them have not come up to expectation and necessitate changes at times. Usually from three to four hundred bills spring up every session of the Legislature and it would be almost too much to expect that all of these proposals could be properly studied and digested in the limited sixty days. All big bodies move slowly and legislative bodies are not exceptions to the rule. Especially may that be noticed during the first part of the session. It is not unusual to set the clock back a few hours on the last day in order to expedite handling the accumulated bills. When the session laws become too numerous it is necessary to assemble them into a code in order to keep track of them. The first State Code was approved in 1895; the next one ten years later, in 1905; and the last one was passed by the 1943 Legislature. This was a bulky one. The prepared copy was so heavy and bulky that it could hardly be handled by one of the assistants. It had to be rolled in to the legislative chambers on a two wheeled cart for final passage. It weighed seventy pounds and is said to have cost the State considerable money to prepare. Of course when printed it will be cut down in size and weight to proper shape. This new code contained about eight thousand pages and was first introduced in the House of Representatives and passed as House Bill No. 49.

POLITICAL CHANGES The Republican Party, with but a few exceptions, has al­ ways dominated the political destinies of the State of North Dakota and Pierce County. Many faiths and factions have sprung up but nearly all of them centered and terminated un­ der the Republican banner. To start with, at the first election PIERCE COUNTY 31 held in 1889 John Miller, candidate for governor on the Re­ publican ticket, received 25,365 votes in the new State of North Dakota and 181 votes in Pierce County, whereas Mr. Roach, his Democratic opponent, received only 12,733 votes in the State and 46 votes in Pierce County. Of the twenty-one governors elected since statehood, seventeen of them have been elected on the Republican ticket and three on the Democratic ticket and one Populist was elected who held the office for only one term. Two of the Democratic governors were elected for three terms but one of the three served only for twenty-six days, after which he was disqualified for lack of citizenship. North Dakota also has the distinction of having been served by four governors within six and a half months. The first break in the Republican Party came in 1892, when their nominee for governor was defeated by the victorious Populist Party's candidate at the polls. The chief planks in the platform of this new party were a declaration for free silver and government ownership of railroads, telegraph, and tele­ phone lines. It also wanted the Australian ballot and old-age pensions. During the Populist administration, North Dakota made its first venture into State ownership and operation of business institutions. An act was passed appropriating $100,000 for the erection of a State elevator at the head of the Great Lakes. This elevator, although a contention amongst the politi­ cians for years, was never built. Two years afterwards, in 1895, a Republican governor again slipped into the saddle and rode almost undisturbed until a De­ mocratic candidate dislodged him in 1907 and reigned for six years. From that time on for a period of twenty-six years, up to 1939, the governorship continuously dwelt in the hands of the Republican Party, with the exception of twenty-six days in 1935. During this memorable period of twenty-six days the governor's chair was filled by a Democrat, but his reign was cut short after it was proved that he was not a full-fledged citizen of North Dakota. Does the governors' reign under one party label indicate that there was no political strife for a quar­ ter of a century? No indeed. It has been the stormiest season in 32 PIERCE COUNTY the State's history. The combats have been many and bitter, but the fights have been between the different factions within the Republican Party. In the winter of 1915, most of the radical and progressive strength of the State had concentrated in the hands of the Non Partisan League. The Legislature then in session was still under the control of the old standpatters and they were not going to give up their position without a fight. In 1911, by a popular vote of approximately 75 per cent of all the votes cast, the people of North Dakota declared them­ selves in favor of a terminal elevator in Minnesota or Wiscon­ sin. Two years later, in 1913, approximately 87 per cent of the votes cast supported the same declaration. In February, 1915, while the Fourteenth Legislature was still in session, George S. Lofthus, manager of the Equity Cooperative Exchange, repre­ senting about 300 farmers, went to Bismarck to urge the Leg­ islature to build this elevator at the head of the Great Lakes. Failing in their effort, they went home greatly disappointed. It was reported that on this occasion Treadwell Twitchell told the farmers to go home and slop their hogs. This created a gen­ eral furor amongst the- farmers and Arthur C. Townley was not slow in seizing this opportunity to organize his Non-Par- tisan League. This organization has for the last quarter of a century more or less dominated the destinies of North Dakota politics. At various times during statehood the reformers in politics have tried to oust the old McKenzie ring and the stand­ patters but they still persisted more or less mysteriously and mythically. Mr. Townley drew up a program with five short planks: first, State ownership of terminal elevators, flour mills, packing houses, and cold storage plants; second, State inspection of grain and dockage; third, exemption of farm improvements from taxation; fourth, State hail insurance; and, fifth, rural credit banks operated at cost. While this program savored of Socialism, it was not by most people considered dangerous. The immediate operation of this plan was halted by several obstacles which sprang up, but the new faction was not easily discouraged. If the Legislature failed them they could go di- PIERCE COUNTY 33 rectly to the people through the initiative and referendum plan. At the next election (1916), all the candidates endorsed by the League for State offices were elected except one. Control of the lower house of the Legislature had also been obtained, 81 League candidates having been elected of its 113 members. For the Senate, of the 22 endorsed by the League 18 were elected. How­ ever, due to the holdovers, the control of the Senate was still left an open question. This economic and political struggle was considered by many to be the latest phase of the agricultural revolution that had been brewing for a generation — a fight for a more just and efficient distributing and marketing of the basic products. But it was not so easy sailing. There were still stalwarts in the Senate, but the November election of 1918 gave the League complete control of both houses of the Legis­ lature. In the same election, the $200,000 debt limit was re­ pealed and scrapped and the ten amendments voted on were all passed at the same time, so that gave the State and any county or city the privilege of engaging in any line of business not prohibited by Article 20 of the Constitution, the prohibi­ tion plank. This gave the Non-Partisan League full control of the political situation in North Dakota. The act of 1919 created the Board of Administration for the supervision and adminis­ tration of all State penal, charitable, and educational institu­ tions. In the special referendum election held June 26, 1919, the Industrial Commission was created, consisting of the Gov­ ernor, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Agri­ culture and Labor, "to conduct and manage certain utilities, industries, enterprises and business projects now or hereafter established by law."

The failures in the attempt to have a terminal elevator built, first in 1893 and again in 1915, were undoubtedly great con­ tributing factors leading to the organization of the Non-Par­ tisan League. The accumulated grievances among the farmers against the old politicians and standpatters again broke out as though coming from a political dam built up without a spill­ way. This caused the birth of the Non-Partisan League. Soon ardent leaders started out to induce the farmers to join their 34 PIERCE COUNTY organization. They were enthusiastic. They did not wait for the prospective member to come in to their office, but instead they got into their Ford car and drove out to the farmer to visit him in his own home. Usually the organizer would first drive up to one of the most influential farmers in the locality, discuss their program with him, and if he could convince the farmer of its merits he would induce him to get into the car with him and drive up to the next neighbor with the same ob­ ject in view. The fees for membership were at first only $2.50, but as the work went on more organizers were hired and the fees were gradually increased to $16.00, but that was of no im­ portance. Good speakers were hired and a large number of picnics arranged in the different localities. Thus went the work merrily on in leaps and bounds, until a membership of more than thirty-six thousand was enrolled. The object of the League was to get as many members as possible who would "stick" to sign up for the program, and to elect agreeable officers and leg­ islative members willing to enact laws to put their program through.

Every popular movement in the past, as for instance the Old Grange, the Farmers Alliance, and the Populist Party, had to contend with what their advocates have variously called "con­ servatism," "standpatism," "bossism," and more sinister terms. In this case, the farmers' movement encountered not only the opposition of these various interests but also of a large number of their own class and under other conservative citizens who were not yet prepared for such an unprecedented venture into State ownership and business hazards. Moreover, such an un­ dertaking committed the State to a large financial outlay with uncertain prospects of return. The ordinary revenues of the State could not finance such a project and, with the Constitu­ tion as it was, no resort could be had to bond issues. The Con­ stitution could be changed, however, and bonds could be sold to take care of the financial part of it. The first part of the problem, therefore, was to secure legislation and State govern­ ment favorable to their program. The League and its doings formed the chief topic of conversation wherever people met — PIERCE COUNTY 35 on the crossroads, in the shops or offices, and on the farms. There were picnics, women's auxiliaries, public debates, and newspaper controversies. By 1920 the League idea had been well sold to the farmers and became the leading factor in the North Dakota political and economic history for more than two decades. The Bank of North Dakota was organized, flour mills were started, homes were built, and stores were set up. One of these stores was started and operated for a while at Rugby, in Pierce County. Some of these enterprises, like the Drake Mill and the store establishments, have been terminated with incurred losses to the public. The Bank of North Dakota and the mill and elevator at Grand Forks seem to have improved in efficiency of late, but it may be well to reserve judgment yet as to the success or failure of these institutions. Of course much will depend on future efficiency in management. The political contention be­ tween the members of the League and their opponents seems to be going on in unchecked ferocity as yet. But while naturally we had our share in these factional fights, we also had a few scraps of our own in the, county, especially in the earlier years and mostly between the "ins" and "outs" in office. Before the Primary Election Law was passed in 1907, the county conventions nearly always determined who the county officials should be for the next two years. A person nominated for a certain county office in one of these Republican conven­ tions was almost sure of election and quite often the conventions were ruled by a political boss and not by the majority of the people. The political history of Pierce County had been quite one-sided and ran very smoothly until 1900, when the Repub­ lican County Convention was split in two and each division placed a county ticket in nomination. The fight was between the so-called "Court House gang" and the anti-Court House faction — that is, between those who were in and those who wanted to get in. The Central Committee rejected the creden­ tials of two of the delegates and threw out Grass Lake Precinct because the delegates were elected by acclamation instead of by ballots. By rejecting these delegates the two factions were left 36 PIERCE COUNTY

equally divided in voting strength, and the chairman of the Central Committee, who called the convention to order, cast the deciding vote in favor of a certain friend, an anti-Court House candidate for chairman of the convention. Thus the chairman decided the votes until the Committee on Credentials reported, which report disposed of two others of the Court House fac­ tion. A strong effort was made to have them seated by the con­ vention but to no avail, whereupon the Court House faction withdrew from the hall. The convention then heard the report of the committee and proceeded harmoniously to nominate a county ticket. Meanwhile, the delegation which withdrew and those whose credentials had been rejected were holding a con­ vention of their own in the County Auditor's office. They nominated a ticket composed of those who were then holding the principal offices, with a few others. This insurgent conven­ tion filed its certificate of nomination at once and the regular convention later prepared and offered its certificate for filing, but the County Auditor refused it on the grounds that certi­ ficates were already filed for the nomination of all county offices. The result was that the whole matter was taken into court in order to ascertain which ticket was entitled to a place on the official ballot. The decision was rendered late in October and was in favor of the regular convention, or anti-Court House faction.

Again, in the fall of 1904, a strenuous campaign was carried on over the election of a county ticket. The Republican County Convention was held July 12 and was said to have been a fair convention, where the delegates held the reins in their own hands and there was no "slate making" or "fixing," such as had been the general rule. Each candidate presented his own name to the convention and everything was done in a straight and fair way. The Democratic Convention was held two weeks later and resulted in nominating a ticket composed mostly of those who were disappointed at the former convention. The Rugby Optimist took the support of the Democratic ticket, the Pierce County Tribune supported the Republican nominees, and the campaign commenced. The fight centered on the offices PIERCE COUNTY 37 of State's Attorney and Sheriff. It was said that when one of the candidates for Sheriff was defeated in the Republican Conven­ tion the political boss took him into his office, where the follow­ ing conversation was overheard: The boss said, "Mr , you are not a Republican anyhow — you are a Democrat." The answer was, "Yes, I guess you are right, Andy, I never thought of that." "I am a Democrat." The result was that he was nomi­ nated on the Democratic ticket and was elected Pierce County Sheriff with a majority of two votes over his Republican rival, while all the rest of the Democratic nominees, except the Sheriff, lost out by a vote of 65 to 400 majority for their Republican opponents. These may be extreme cases. Generally the elections were carried on in a regular and fair manner. The Primary Election Law of 1907 helped a great deal to purify elections and politics generally. Political Bosses

ALEXANDER MCKENZIE Alexander McKenzie was the first political boss to appear in North Dakota. He was identified with its history long before it became a State. We first heard of him in 1867, when he was employed to transport supplies to Fort Rice and to carry dis­ patches for military authorities to Fort Buford, much of his route being infested with hostile Indians. As a young man of twenty-two, in 1872, he had charge of the track laying west of Fargo when the Northern Pacific Railroad was built to Bis­ marck. With the exception of being Sheriff of Burleigh County and Deputy U. S. Marshall for ten years, he held no public office. He was a strong man both physically and mentally and was a good judge of human nature. To these qualities, together with his access to the resources of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, were undoubtedly due a great deal of his power as a political boss. It was said of him that he made and unmade U. S. senators, congressmen, governors, and lesser officials. As an example of Mr. Kenzie's personal and psychological power, an incident may be quoted. When gold was discovered in Alaska, fortune hunters rushed in from all over the world. 38 PIERCE COUNTY

Amongst them were a number of Finlanders who made a lucky strike. It was found that they were not United States citizens and for that reason a receiver had to be appointed to take care of their gold dust. That man was Alexander McKenzie. A log cabin with an iron safe was provided, in which their diggings were to be deposited for each day. The Finlanders became sus­ picious about the quantity of dust appearing in the safe and decided amongst themselves to kill the receiver on his first trip of inspection. Pistols and guns were secured and they were all waiting in the cabin. Suddenly the receiver appeared in the doorway. He cooly sized up the situation and shouted out in his loud and commanding voice, "Stand back!" They all stood back while he gathered up the dust. The Finlanders were bluffed out by their physical and mental superior. This was not his usual way of accomplishing things politically. He would nearly always win his point with arguments and promises and his promises were usually kept. He was a big boss during the first few decades of the history of North Dakota. Mr. McKenzie reigned from territorial days until he lost his crown to Arthur C. Townley in 1915. He died in Saint Paul on June 22, 1922, and was buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery there.

ARTHUR C. TOWNLEY With the political influence of the so-called McKenzie ring slowly receding, Arthur C. Townley appeared upon the scene. Not unlike the former boss in many respects, he used different means and methods in organizing and conducting the Non- Partisan League. We first heard about Mr. Townley after he, in 1911, pro­ moted a large farming enterprise in Colorado and later as the American Flax King, a title earned near Beach, North Dakota, where a large tract of land was secured and seeded to flax. Both of these enterprises resulted in a loss to himself and his backers. It was not his fault though that there was not enough moisture to mature his flax fields. It did not rain on the neighbors' fields either. When the 1915 Legislature failed to pass the Terminal Ele- PIERCE COUNTY 39 vator Bill, which had previously been twice recommended by the voters, it created a consternation among the people. Mr. Townley was not slow in seizing this psychological moment to organize the Non-Partisan League, in which he was the rec­ ognized boss for at least five years. Mr. Townley was a master in organization work. He did not sit in an office waiting for the farmer to come in to see him but he secured an old Ford and got out to visit the farmer. Before the year was over he had the names of more than three thousand members on his list. The League is still a strong factor in the Republican Party in North Dakota but Mr. Townley is not now in the picture.

ANDY H. JONES Of the real politicians who have from time to time sprung up in Rugby and Pierce County, Andy H. Jones was probably the most outstanding figure. He more or less bossed the game for a number of years. Mr. Jones first came to Pierce County in December, 1899, to promote a number of projects. His first venture was the or­ ganization of the Rugby State Bank, afterwards changed to the First National. Later on he bought several thousand acres of land and organized his horse and cattle company and started a large sheep range southwest of Balta. He was from the start very active in politics and often had charge of county conventions and nominated his candidates for the different offices. Neither were the mayors and aldermen of Rugby often forgotten. It was said of him that he could make and unmake county and city officials at will. Regardless of the different opinions that existed with reference to his political activities, he is generally given credit for persuading the Great Northern Railway Company to build in Rugby one of the nicest depots in the State. He was always free with his money and his brand of whiskey was the best. Mr. Jones's political career was suddenly cut short when the First National Bank of Rugby failed and its manager put in the penitentiary. Seemingly fate and chance had combined to wreck the fortune of their former master. After being released from the penitentiary he lived only a short time. 40 PIERCE COUNTY

THE FIRST TOUCH OF SOCIALISM A generation ago — even before A. C. Townley nearly fas­ cinated the State of North Dakota with his theory, Pierce County had a touch of socialism. It was probably the first time in the history of the State that a special train was chartered to advance the Carl Marx theory, when on April 6, 1912, the Rugby Socialists hired a special train to take a hundred and twenty of them to a Barton meeting. It was indeed a formidable file of determined men and women that marched from the little depot at Barton up the main street to the large, well lighted hall, to be welcomed by the Barton Socialists and citi­ zens in general. When the meeting was called to order by a pro­ minent Rugby Socialist, every available seat was filled and nearly fifty people were obliged to stand during the exercises. The meeting was opened by a male quartette from Rugby, who sang "Labor Hymn of the Coming Day," words by Rev. An­ derson of Hillsboro and sung to the tune of "John Brown's Body Lies A'Mouldering in the Grave." The song began as follows:

"Our eyes have seen the glory Of the coming of the day When all shall give their honest work And take their honest pay And poverty, the social cause, Be wholly swept away That day is marching on." Chorus (and so on)

Great enthusiasm was evidenced by the general joining in of the audience at the chorus after each verse. Mr. Fletcher of Tunbridge made the first address, his topic being "The True Socialist's Stand in Connection with Religion and the Church." He was followed by Mr. Arthur LeSuer of Minot, the principal speaker of the evening. Mr. LeSuer's address was confined mainly to demonstrating to his audience just where the present system of capital and profit is leading the farmers of North Dakota. He was an interesting and scholarly speaker. The result of the meeting was the organization of a local with twenty PIERCE COUNTY 41 members. The meeting adjourned and the special train carried the delegates back to Rugby. Their high hopes, together with Mr. LeSuer's eloquent picture have now vanished and seemingly have long since been forgotten.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE Suffrage for women, like many other reforms, was not ob­ tained without effort. Since statehood the women had been allowed to vote for school officers but not until 1920 were they granted full suffrage. As early as 1885, the Territorial Legisla­ ture passed a bill conferring full suffrage upon women, but Gilbert A. Pierce, then Governor of the Territory, vetoed it. The Thirteenth Legislature distinguished itself by passing the Woman Suffrage Act. At the general election on November 3, 1914, however, it was voted down by 40,209 voting for it and 49,348 voting against it, so the women of North Dakota were destined to wait another six years for the full suffrage privilege. During the campaign the argument was advanced that it might interfere with the secret ballot as women could not keep a secret. That argument had no effect on the voters in 1920, however, so from that time on the women have enjoyed the full right to vote for anybody or anything they prefer.

SELECTING U. S. PRESIDENTS My experience in helping to select a President of the United States dates back to the 19th day of March, 1912, when I was elected as one of the ten delegates from North Dakota to attend the Republican National Convention to nominate a candidate for President. At this Presidential Primary, Senator LaFollette of Wisconsin carried the State by 34,123 votes to Theodore Roosevelt's 23,669 votes and Taft's 1,876, so we, the delegates from North Dakota, were considered LaFollette's delegates. On June 18, 1912, the Coliseum Building in Chicago was packed to capacity with the 1,178 elected delegates, their alter­ nates, officers, politicians, and spectators, coming from all the States and the different corners of this Union. At 12 o'clock noon, the gavel was handed to Mr. Victor Rosewater of Nebras­ ka, chairman of the Republican National Committee, who 42 PIERCE COUNTY

called the convention to order. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. F. Calghan of Chicago. The call for the convention was read by William Hayward of New York. Elihu Root of New York was elected temporary chairman and L. B. Gleason, of New York, general secretary. A number of committees were named, of which the Committee on Credentials turned out to be the most important one, as to it came the consideration of who may be entitled to sit in the convention. The permanent organiza­ tion was completed with a long list of chaplains, sergeants at arms, doorkeepers, secretaries, parliamentarians, reading and tally clerks, and reporters. It did not take long for the LaFollette delegates to find out that we were in the minority and that the real fight would be between the Taft and Roosevelt forces. It turned out to be a fierce battle. It started out with the contesting of 72 delegates. On this contest was wasted considerable useless oratory and time. From that time on the fight grew warmer and fiercer during the whole convention. It could be easily observed that the incumbent in office had great advantages over the other can­ didates. The thousands of southern postmasters and other Gov­ ernment employees were sure to be there to shout for and boost their master. When Taft's name came up they would be right there, even standing up in their seats to boost for him and to create sentiments in his favor. Upon losing his 72 delegates, one could hear coming from the Roosevelt crowd the Biblical quotation: "Thou shalt not steal." The Taft steam roller was in evidence and Mr. Taft captured the convention and received the honor of being nominated the second time for President of the United States. The honor, however, turned out to be of short duration. As predicted at the time, in his usual witty way, Chauncy DePew said, "The funeral for the Republican Party is on and the only question is, 'Which corpse will get the most flowers?' " After the convention, the Roosevelt friends organized the Bull Moose Party and nominated Roosevelt for their standard- bearer. When the fall election came, Mr. DePew's prophecy proved to come true. Mr. Taft received 3,484,529 votes, Roose- PIERCE COUNTY 43 velt 4,123,206 votes, while Wilson, the Democratic nominee, received 6,290,818 votes and became President of the United States.

THE MENNONITES In 1894, a little group of four families and three single men formed a colony and settled northeast of Wolford. They came here from the northern part of Indiana, under the leadership of John Yoder, their former neighbor, who had picked this location the year before. The new settlers were Amish Menno­ nites, that is, they were of the old and more strict school than the later Mennonites. They brought their religious beliefs with them. It was their code to act and dress with all simplicity. Their creed is somewhat similar to that of the Quakers. They pay little attention to dress and never use ornaments. They derive their name from the German preacher, Menno Simons, who founded the sect after a break with the Orthodox church. The Mennonites are a thrifty, hard working clan and are true to their beliefs. They will not enter into court fights over legal matters. They are almost invariably honest in their dealings with others.

COLD WINTERS During the first three years after the advent of the pioneers, the winters were cold and stormy. The snow covered the prairie up to a few feet deep at times and a forty-mile wind would dirve it forth and back, first from the west and then again from the east, in a temperature of often forty degrees below zero. Feet were frozen in instances, and hands and faces as well, but not often were the settlers caught short of fuel, and when the storm was over they could crawl out of their low shacks which the big drifts of snow might have covered. The winter of 1888 was especially cold and stormy, and a few men were unfortunate enough to lose their lives in snow storms. On the 12th of January, in that year, Ellef Slatta of Barton unfortunately lost his life between Barton and Willow City in one of these storms. Unfortunately again, on April 10 44 PIERCE COUNTY

another man, August Dahl, lost his life between Rugby and Barton. As late as April 4th several trains on the Great North­ ern tracks were reported to be stuck in snow drifts on the prairie. The spring and summer, too, were late and cold. Light frost was noticed every month except the month of July, and then again frost the first part of August. It was a cold year all through.

THE COMING OF THE RAILROADS Transportation is one of the most important factors in the development of a new country. When the first settlers came to what is now Pierce County', the Great Northern was built only as far west as Devils Lake, and the Northern Pacific to Minnewaukan, then called Westend. Great was the joy of the settlers when the Great Northern, then called the Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad, in 1886 extended its line to Pierce County and farther west. The next year the branch line, a distance of 38V2 miles, from Rugby to Bottineau, was completed. Later this line was further extended to Antler. In 1905, another branch of the Great Northern was built running from York, through Hong and Wolford, to Thorne — a dis­ tance of 35 miles. The next year another eight miles was added to this line, completing it to Dunseith. In addition to this, the Great Northern had its Surrey cut-off line running through the southern tier of townships in Pierce County. The Soo lines were of later construction. Their main line, constructed in 1893, merely touches the county, running through a small corner of its southwestern townships. The Soo Fordville-Drake line, running through Silva, Balta, and Orrin, was built in April, 1910, completed July 25, and opened for operation September 1, 1912. The story of railroad building in Pierce County would not be complete without mentioning the anticipated Brazil Railroad Line, proposed to serve the settlers between Rugby and Bis­ marck. The portion of Pierce County lying north of the Great Northern main line was settled first; in fact, a good many years before the southern part began to draw the attention of settlers. This was due mostly to lack of transportation facili- PIERCE COUNTY 45 ties. However, by 1905 a large enthusiastic settlement had grown up around the inland town of Brazil, and the big crops of 1904 and 1905 could not help but give hope and encourage­ ment to the new settlers. Before they could realize on their crops, however, the grain had to be put on the market. To haul it to Berwick, Tunbridge, or Rugby, or down to the Soo line was no easy task, especially in the winter when the snowdrifts were high and the temperature low. It must be remembered that the Fordville-Drake Soo line had not been built at that time. It was during these difficult times that a few of the most enterprising citizens of Brazil conceived the idea of a new rail­ road to be run between the Great Northern and Soo lines and possibly connect Bismarck and Rugby. The result was the in­ corporation of the Brazil Grain and Shipping Company for the purpose of building and equipping the new railroad. The amount of capital stock was set at the $200,000 mark and the officers to take charge of the corporation were: A. B. Fox, presi­ dent; James Costello, vice president; Amos Snook, treasurer; and, William E. Fox, secretary. The next step was to sell stock and raise the money necessary to build and equip the enter­ prise. For this purpose a delegation was sent to Saint Paul to contact James J. Hill and other high dignitaries. Failing to in­ terest the capitalists of the Twin Cities, the plan of sending a committee to England for the same purpose was discussed. Finally the action was postponed. Meanwhile, the Fordville- Drake Soo line was afterwards built and the proposed Brazil Railroad died a natural death. The evidence of the faith of the Brazil Grain and Shipping Company in their enterprise is still in existence. A short grade about a quarter of a mile west of the old Brazil Store may yet be seen by any visitor.

THE GREAT NORTHERN AND JAMES J. HILL Almost a decade before Mr. Hill built his railroad into this region, what is now Pierce County was merely a treeless, track­ less plain, where nobody lived as yet. It was not Mr. Hill's first venture in a new country. He had blazed the way through a new territory from the start. In company with Donald A. 46 PIERCE COUNTY

Smith, the great Canadian railroad builder, he obtained the shares of the more or less mythical Dutch bondholders, thus gaining control of the Saint Paul and Pacific, the oldest railroad in Minnesota. This railroad was badly run down but was des­ tined under Mr. Hill's supervision to grow first into the Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad (an enterprise of international scope) and at length into the Great Northern that linked the east with the west and transformed a wilderness into an empire.

The titanic Hill was first and foremost a railroad man, but he had a pronounced hobby, if not for farming at least for ad­ vising the farmer. Every little while one read in the newspapers that he had been expressing some opinion about the oldest and most vital of industries, and he could not speak too often or too emphatically in commending diversified farming. In a busi­ ness whose prosperity depends upon so many elements beyond our control, he contended we should have as many irons in the fire as possible. The farmer who depends on a single crop is like the man in the fable who put all his eggs in one basket and so lost everything when the basket was upset. The more crops the farmer raises the more secure he is of a living.

Mr. Hill did more than preach to the farmers too. He had some news for them. He made known his offer to make any farmer a present of a thoroughbred bull with no conditions whatever except that the farmer permit his neighbors to have free use of the stock for breeding purposes. Mr. Hill believed we were producing too much wheat and not enough milk and meat, and he made his offer in order to encourage us to develop high-grade cattle. In his speech at Rugby once I heard him jokingly remark that when the hard times came, some farmer sold Mr. Hill's gift (the thoroughbred bull) to the butcher for the reason that it brought him a better price than his scrub bull.

Mr. Hill believed in the practice of economy. Once he said, "Unless a boy can save something from his wages, however small they may be, he has not the seeds of success in him." He PIERCE COUNTY 47 could see farther into the future than most of us and his advice was sound and sensible.

THE BRAZIL FARMERS TELEPHONE COMPANY Up to the year 1900 the great stretch of prairie lying south of Rugby had hardly been scratched, but with the first epoch of the century started the second great influx of new settlers into Pierce County and especially to the fertile prairie lying south of the Great Northern Railway line. Amongst these new homesteaders were many sturdy pioneers with unlimited faith and hope. A few of them, under the leadership of their friend and promoter, Albert B. Fox, undertook the task of building a telephone line that would connect their inland town of Brazil with the outside world. The result was the organization of the Brazil Farmers Telephone Company. This was no small under­ taking. It was said to have been the first time in American his­ tory that a plan of this magnitude had been launched from a small inland town. However, the plan was undertaken and 200 miles of telephone lines were built with headquarters at Brazil, thirteen miles southwest of Rugby, and reaching out to the different farming communities and surrounding cities, towns, and villages. Exchanges were put in at Anamoose, Esmond, Rugby, Nanson, Barton, Overly, Fonda, Rolette, and other places. The Brazil Farmers Telephone Company, although seemingly successful at first, survived only for a short time before it died a natural death. The main reason for its failure was probably the fact that the users of phones were charged too small fees for the expenses and maintenance of the line and the further fact that the rapid increase in the use of automobiles soon required less and less necessity for the use of rural phones. The promoter of the Brazil Farmers Telephone Company, as stated before, was Mr. Albert B. Fox. He was one of the most energetic and enterprising characters of the second decade in the history of Pierce County. Besides organizing and directing the building of the telephone line, he studied the necessity of a railroad running south of Rugby. The result was the organi­ zation of the Brazil Grain and Shipping Company, described 48 PIERCE COUNTY more fully in another chapter of this book. Mr. Fox was born August 7, 1861, in a little city in Indiana called Reelsville, located about 47 miles west of Indianapolis. Here he was reared and educated. Except for a short time spent on a farm close by, he spent his youth and young manhood in this little Indiana city. There, in company with his brother, William B. Fox, he conducted a general mercantile business for a short time, where he also served as postmaster under President Grover Cleveland's administration. Later he operated a restaurant at Harrington, Kansas, for about four years. Then he was induced by the Rock Island Railway Company to take charge of and supervise a carpenter crew as its foreman for a year. From there he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he was employed as a traveling salesman in the machinery line. Mr. Fox's next move was in 1899, when he came to North Dakota to file on a claim as his homestead, this farm being located in Pierce County, thirteen miles southwest of Rugby. Here he started to build an inland town and named it Brazil. He established and conducted a gen­ eral mercantile business and also had charge of the Brazil post office. In 1887 Mr. Fox was married to Laura J. Girton and to this union were born three children, Vernon, Loren, and Hazel (Now Mrs. McKnuton), all of whom now reside in Canada.

THE EARLY CREAMERIES The first creamery organized in Pierce County was located at Barton in the spring of 1895, when some of the most progres­ sive farmers started their creamery and butter factory there. It was not only around Barton, however, that the farmers be­ gan to think more seriously about diversified farming. Cream­ eries and cheese factories sprung up all over the State during that period. Some of these creameries and factories were organ­ ized more or less loosely and were soon abandoned. Others are still operating and doing well. The creamery at Barton seemed to do well to start with but there was one drawback to the enterprise that had been over­ looked. It was soon learned that there were not enough cows in the vicinity to keep it going. This was a serious drawback to start with and when one of the best grain crops in the county PIERCE COUNTY 49

was harvested in the fall of that year it did not help the cream­ ery any. It was easier to haul wheat than to milk cows, and the creamery was abandoned. The second attempt to organize a cooperative creamery was realized when in 1913 the Rugby Creamery Company was in­ corporated, with a $9,000 capital stock. The stock was sold and the structure for the creamery was put up on the south side of Rugby. Business commenced. With Rugby as the center and more milch cows in a wider circle from which to draw cus­ tomers, much was expected. The anticipation looked forward to was, however, in the course of time doomed to disappoint­ ment. It was soon discovered that the creamery was operating at a loss and the stockholders were about to lose their invest­ ment. After some time the plant was abandoned and the re­ mains taken over by a private concern that soon turned the en­ terprise into a great success.

THE EARLY FLOUR MILLS From the days of the earliest settlements, a need was felt for some way to provide for enough flour for family consumption in Pierce County. At first, a few of the pioneers started to grind wheat by using their coffee mills, but that proved to be a slow process. Their needs were gradually provided for, how­ ever, by small gristmills springing up in the different parts of the communities. To start with, there were none of these mills in Pierce County, but the new settler was not embarrassed. He could drive up to Bottineau or Dunseith, where small mills had been built as early as 1885. At first these small mills were run by water power. The water from lakes up in the Turtle Moun­ tains flowing down in small streams through Oak Creek to Bot­ tineau and through Willow Creek to Dunseith furnished the power. Mr. Kolbflesh had built a mill at Bottineau and Mr. Gottbrecht another one at Dunseith. These mills proved to be of great help to the new settlers in and around Pierce County. In the dry years of 1889 and 1890, when the gophers were bad and the crops short, the pioneer would fill up a few sacks of wheat, throw them into his wagon box, hitch up his oxen, and drive up to Dunseith to have Mr. Gottbrecht grind it into flour 50 PIERCE COUNTY for him. Mr. Gottbrecht was always accommodating and his price reasonable. If the customer did not have the ready cash he would be satisfied with a small toll, usually about one-sixth of the wheat ground into the staff of life for the new settler. Mr. Gottbrecht built his mill in 1885. He hauled the material for his mill by team from Devils Lake. It was not a very elabor­ ate affair at first. Instead of modern rollers, old style burrs were used. Later on the burrs were taken out and rollers put in their place, and the mill was run by steam instead of water. Fire destroyed Mr. Gottbrecht's mill in 1913. Meanwhile, the business men of Rugby succeeded in inducing Mr. Lestikow to build a modern mill in their city. Mr. Lestikow was an experienced miller and operated the mill successfully for many years. It was later destroyed by fire. Another small mill in Pierce County was later built at Fero by the Farmers Cooperative and was for some time operated in connection with their elevator. For at least the first quarter of a century the farmers' needs were adequately taken care of by these small mills. Since then great changes have taken place in the milling industry. The many small mills scattered throughout the communities have given way to a few larger ones. The one which the people of Pierce County, as well as the whole State of North Dakota, are most interested in at the present time is the so-called State Mill and Elevator at Grand Forks. The ownership of this rests in the State of North Dakota. It is modern with up-to-date machi­ nery and equipment. Why then, you may ask, is it run at a con­ stant loss to the taxpayers? The reasons may be many. May I here suggest what in my opinion are three of them: in the first place, it was built at a time when construction cost was at its very height — exceeding three million dollars; in the second place, it is too large to be operated at its full capacity; and last, but not least, it is usually operated by politicians, and even though they may be ever so able in their own line, their minds do not run to milling. The existence of the mill at Drake, ac­ quired by the State in 1919, was of short duration and it was finally closed with considerable loss to the taxpayers. PIERCE COUNTY 51

THE COMING OF THE AUTOMOBILES With the coming of the present century so came the automo­ bile. The first ones to appear on the scene were crude and un­ finished, but in the summer of 1903 Henry Ford had really made a car that did run. From that time on the automobile in­ dustry has probably developed faster than any other industry ever did. It was calculated that by 1914 the number of cars in North Dakota exceeded the seventeen thousand mark and the number has been increasing ever since, and of course that would be only a small fraction of the automobiles used in the United States. As early as 1905, North Dakota passed a strict law for pos­ sessing and running automobiles. In comparison with the way cars are run today, the code of 1905 may be of interest to the reader. It provides that, "No driver of an automobile may ex­ ceed the speed of 8 miles per hour in any village or city, or 25 miles per hour on any road outside of said villages or cities." "The automobile must have a bell or horn which must be rung or blown when approaching behind or passing a team of horses." "The driver must use the muffler when driving in any town, village or city, and when meeting or passing teams, and must stop when signalled by any driver of a team, until he has passed." The penalty for violation was set at from ten to fifty dollars, or to serve in jail until such fine was paid.

FORTY YEARS OF PROHIBITION A whole book could be written on this subject, but space will not allow it here. Suffice it to note a few outstanding facts. Prohibition laws had been passed in different States before it became a national issue, but North Dakota has the distinction of having adopted it at its birth. The liquor question was a lively topic in the North Dakota Constitutional Convention and when that body had finished its deliberations and adjourned on August 17, 1889, Article 20, the prohibition clause, was a part of their work and was to be voted on separately by the people of North Dakota. At the election held on October 1, 52 PIERCE COUNTY the same year, there were 27,441 votes cast for the Constitution and 8,107 votes against it. Article 20 carried by a vote of 18,552 for it and 17,393 votes against it. The voters of Pierce County cast 124 votes for prohibition and 70 votes against it.

Thus the State of North Dakota started out with the prohibi­ tion clause incorporated in its Constitution. It was then up to the first Legislature to define the prohibition and to enact statutes for its enforcement. As time went on, the succeeding Legislatures strengthened the law by amendments and new statutes. The National Prohibition Act went into effect January 16, 1920.

The license system for the sale of intoxicating liquor had been in vogue in territorial days and the struggle between the wets and the drys still continued. The Constitution and the new laws had put the open saloon out of business but it was not long before "blind pigs" sprang up in spite of the new laws and the officers elected to guard them. The name of the pigs would indi­ cate that they were blind but many of them could see the en­ forcement officer at long distances. As the pigs multiplied, or­ ganizations of the drys increased. It was a fight between morale and appetite. Of the different societies that were organized to combat the traffic, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the State Enforcement League, and the Nonpartisan Alliance were the most influential. These organizations were at one time strong enough to elect governors. After forty years of struggle between the drys and the wets, the prohibition law was finally repealed in 1933. The drys say the fight is not over yet.

THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF NORTH AMERICA Little did the early pioneers realize that they had chosen their future home at or so near the center of North America. This distinction was recently called to their attention by one of our worthy citizens, Mr. Ed Patterson, who established the fact by erecting an appropriate memorial near Rugby, at the junction of Highways No. 2 and No. 3. PIERCE COUNTY 53

IMPORTANT EVENTS 191 I—The U. S. Congress passed the law providing for pub­ licity of campaign contributions. 1911—United States Postal Savings Banks were opened. 1912—The Republican National Convention met in Chicago June 18. Teddy Roosevelt's followers bolted and organ­ ized the Bull Moose Party. 1913—The Parcel Post System was inaugurated. 1914—Henry Ford established the five dollars a day minimum wage system. 1915—North Dakota abolished the death penalty. 1915—North Dakota passed the inheritance tax law. 1915—Henry Ford peace party sailed for Europe on Decem­ ber 4. 1916—The Panama Canal reopened for traffic. 1916—The Child Labor Law became operative. 1917—Twenty thousand women marched in suffrage parade in New York City on October 27. 1917—North Dakota adopted women suffrage. National wom­ en suffrage three years later. 1918—Postal aeroplane traffic opened. 1918—World War No. 1 ended November n. 1918—President Wilson, bearing his 14 points, sailed for the Peace Conference, December 5. 1920—National prohibition went into effect. Was repealed thirteen years later. 1921—On November 12, 1921, the Disarmament Conference convened in Washington, D. C, attended by representa­ tives from France, England, Italy, Japan, China, Hol­ land, Belgium, Portugal, and the United States. An agreement was reached to drastically disarm and reduce the navies, and some battleships and cruisers were later destroyed. After reaching an agreement to this effect, the conference adjourned February 6, 1922. 54 PIERCE COUNTY

IMPORTANT FACTS North Dakota was the first and only State to start out with a prohibition proviso. North Dakota is the only State which has recalled a Gov­ ernor. North Dakota is the only State to be served by a woman as Speaker of a Legislature. LIST OF PIONEER FAMILIES Following is a list of the pioneer families who had found their homes in Pierce County at the time of its organization in 1889. It records the name of the head of each family, giving his age at the time of his settling, as near as possible, and the num­ ber of members in his family. Division is made as to the families residing in various townships in Pierce County. There were at that time four hundred families with eight hundred members. For comparison, the 1940 population is also given. 1940 Popula- Age Members tion Alexanter 152-72-12 Berg, Carl O. ..1 152-72-12 Strand, Andrew 1

2 254 Antelope Lake 152-74-26 Schwarze, Ernest 2

2 136 Girard Lake 153-73-24 Redington, George 32 4 153-73-13 Smith, Chas. S. 28 1 153-73-4 Thruman, Edward 4 — 109 Meyer 156-72-6 Daigle, Dessie 6 156-72-2 Dickenson, Hiram 23 2 156-72-19 Heierdahl, Andrew 1 156-72-12 Holbrook, W. J. 28 5 156-72-7 Jacobson, Tonnes 2 156-72-9 McNet, Eli 27 1 156-72-1 Meyer, Frank 24 1 156-72-19 Nyhus, Ole J. 27 2 156-72-20 Teigen, John H. 30 1

21 165 PIERCE COUNTY 55

Christenson 156-73-19 Algreen, Nels 35 6 156-73-20 Anderson, Hans O. 23 4 156-73-21 Anderson, Lars O. 26 2 156-73-15 Bauker, Caleb 21 1 156-73-26 Braaten, Ed E. 28 3 156-73-35 Braaten, Ole E. 24 1 156-73-7 Craft, C. W. 1 156-73-7 Craft, John 27 1 156-73-5 Crandel, Betsey 1 156-73-5 Crandel, Frank 21 2 156-73-13 Crandel, William 24 1 156-73-12 Cutler, Wallace 41 8 156-73-21 Eide, Jacob 1 156-73-21 Eide, Knudt 1 156-73-23 Eklund, Carl H. 26 3 156-73-7 Enger, Peter 31 4 156-73-9 Fosness, Peter 32 3 156-73-7 Grove, Ha Ivor 1 156-73-7 Grove, Sven J. 35 4 156-73-25 Halvorson, Hans A. 31 5 156-73-22 Hanson, Anfin 1 156-73-13 Herbrandson, Hellick 25 1 156-73-13 Herbrandson, Herbrand 28 1 156-73-3 Hurd, Wm. S. 3 156-73-5 Irvin, Elmer 1 156-73-5 Irvin, Ezra 2 156-73-23 Krabseth, Edward 26 1 156-73-24 Kverk, Ole 34 6 156-73-10 Lavik, Andrew J. 28 3 156-73-10 Lavik, Ellef 1 156-73-22 Leraas, John 23 1 156-73-23 Nestigen, Lars 1 156-73-21 Oksendahl, Andrew 1 156-73-21 Oksendahl, Thomas 1 156-73-18 Olson, Sven 26 1 156-73-4 Overby, Gul 26 1 156-73-9 Overby, Ole J. 35 1 156-73-8 Sand, Aslak 5 156-73-9 Sand, Bartel 28 2 156-73-8 Sand, John 25 1 156-73-8 Sand, Knute 27 1 156-73-6 Sand, Martin 1 156-73-27 Saterlie, Siveret 21 1 156-73-22 Schwanbeck, Charles 21 1 156-73-14 Schwanbeck, Joachin 34 5 56 PIERCE COUNTY

156-73-11 Schwanbeck, John 28 1 156-73-11 Seel, Edward 28 1 156-73-19 Sjoman, John F. 35 1 156-73-1 Stall, Edward 1 156-73-12 Theroux, Louis 5 156-73-18 Tjon, Hans N. 34 1 156-73-2 Watts, John F. 34 2 156-73-6 Wright, Allen 45 1 156-73-6 Wright, William T. 28 4

114 235 Ness 156-74-11 Drege, John 3 156-74-11 Drege, Sivert J. 1 156-74-12 Jelseng, Anfln 26 4 156-74-13 Jelseng, Lasse 1 156-74-13 Jelseng, Rognvald 1 156-74-13 Larson, Andrew 1 156-74-13 Larson, Erick 32 1 156-74-32 Larson, Lars A. 25 2 156-74-24 Larson, Lars P. 2 156-74-24 Lindberg, Andrew G. 40 9 156-74-12 Sand, Andrew 1

26 244 Hurricane Lake 157-69-9 Babbit, John 32 6 157-69-28 Beckstrom, Carl 6 157-69-9 Best, A. H. 11 157-69-4 Best, E. O. 34 4 157-69-34 Clover, E. Y. 32 6 157-69-2 Davidson, Fanny 2 157-69-11 Eastman, W. H. 33 1 157-69-3 Else, James 31 2 157-69-1 Halloway, Fanny 1 157-69-11 Hiaasen, Kittil O. 1 157-69-29 Johnson, Julius 1 157-69-24 Karlson, Abraham 28 3 157-69-5 Landt, Warren S. 1 157-69-10 Runcorn, Frank 23 2 157-69-25 Sondalen, John O. 44 5 157-69-12 Spaun, George W. 39 4 157-69-2 Spielman, Evelyn 1 157-69-12 Taylor, Dilbert L. 35 5 157-69-1 Williams, Minor S. 5

66 172 PIERCE COUNTY 57

Rush Lake 157-70-3 Anderson, James E. 70 3 157-70-21 Carpenter, Thomas 157-70-13 Else, John George 25 1 157-70-12 Judson, James 4 157-70-15 Sneen, Andrew 2 157-70-23 Sneen, James 41 1 157-70-21 Steen, John 157-70-27 Steen, Ole J. 34 4

17 155

Tofte 157-71-33 Holbrook, Liston 23 1 157-71-32 Lindelien, Andrew 25 1 157-71-27 Tofte, Ole O. 157-71-34 Tofte, Ole S. 4 157-71-28 Tofte, Sivert O. 1

8 121

Torgerson 157-72-28 Allickson, Ole 50 1 157-72-30 Campbell, Seth 38 1 157-72-29 Densmore, Daniel 1 157-72-33 Garnhart, Charles 25 2 157-72-29 Harker, Jarvis 2 157-72-19 Hunter, Charles 26 1 157-72-32 Meyer, William H. 1 157-72-32 Rice, George 32 1 157-72-19 Sullivan, Owen 1 157-72-21 Torgerson, Lars 1 157-72-29 Torgerson, Ole 25 1

13 186

Walsh 157-73-5 Aamodt, Olaus 26 1 157-73-26 Allickson, Allick 24 1 157-73-23 Anderson, Henry 32 1 157-73-22 Anderson, J. O. 30 1 157-73-8 Anderson, Sven 29 1 157-73-22 Anonby, Martin H. 5 157-73-33 Becket, Louis 1 157-73-8 Berg, B. A. 2 157-73-5 Bjorgo, Ole E. 26 1 157-73-30 Bye, Christian A. 33 1 157-73-26 Creek, Frank 31 1 157-73-27 Creek, Lydia Estelle 1 58 PIERCE COUNTY

157-73-27 Creek, Rosabelle 1 157-73-27 Creek, Viola 1 157-73-20 Dalseiden, Knut J. 23 1 157-73-3 Ellingson, Christian 4 157-73-3 Ellingson, Elling Sr. 2 157-73-3 Ellingson, Elling Jr. 1 157-73-3 Ellingson, Henry 1 157-73-3 Ellingson, Stina 1 157-73-14 Engebretson, Olaus 1 157-73-17 Espeseth, Gilbert K. 26 1 157-73-21 Feders, Maggie 1 157-73-32 Halvorson, Christian 28 1 157-73-9 Hamilton, Harry 1 157-73-9 Hamilton, May 1 157-73-10 Hamilton, Wm. A. 30 3 157-73-29 Hefta, Gunder H. 26 2 157-73-29 Hendrickson, Hans 37 6 157-73-6 Heller, Sven 1 157-73-25 Hunter, Stephen 23 1 157-73-21 Hyde, Ed. M. 1 157-73-35 Jessup, George 1 157-73-32 Larson, L. A. 2 157-73-19 Larson, Severin 23 1 157-73-15 Lovaas, Mike 26 1 157-73-15 Lovaas, Sam 2 157-73-35 McBride Ezra H. 34 2 157-73-20 Monger, Knudt O. 29 3 157-73-23 Olaveson, John 27 1 157-73-3 Olson, Martin 1 157-73-6 Olson, Ola 1 157-73-7 Olson, Peter 25 1 157-73-32 Poore, Byron E. 26 5 157-73-34 Sewel, George W. 37 2 157-73-17 Stamness, Stark 27 1 157-73-33 Strom, Edward 1 157-73-28 Thomas, Ransom L. 30 1 157-73-9 Tuff, W. R. 8 157-73-21 Underdahl, Botolf O. 1 157-73-29 Vaughn, H. S. 26 1 157-73-29 Vaughn, J. W. 29 1 157-73-30 Vaughn, N. A. 2 157-73-35 Vaughn, S. B. 1 157-73-22 Walsh, Thomas 24 2 157-73-28 Wilson, Andrew V. 1 PIERCE COUNTY 59

157-73-3 Wilson, George H. 157-73-34 Wilcox, Herbert H. 28

96 203 Dewey 157-74-25 Broderson, Jes C. 157-74-31 Bryn, Ole A. 24 157-74-11 Hanson, Ludvig (Didrik) 157-74-29 Haugen, Hans H. 36 157-74-29 Haugen, Herman 157-74-29 Haugen, Olaf 157-74-2 Haugen, Ole O. 157-74-3 Johnson, Anders 157-74-10 Johnson, John 157-74-26 Larson, Andrew 157-74-27 Larson, Bernt J. 157-74-22 Larson, Jacob 157-74-27 Larson, Robert 157-74-12 McGuire, Pat 157-74-1 Olson, Anton 157-74-1 Pehrson, Ola 157-74-26 Poland, Andrew B. 24 157-74-27 Poland, Bernt J. 33 157-74-22 Poland, Jacob E. 39 157-74-34 Sletten, Hans P. 27 157-74-23 Stamnes, Magne J.

33 173 Union 158-69-18 Baker, George 158-69-6 Baker, Henry 25 158-69-18 Beck, Peter 29 158-69-25 Dahlstrom, John 45 158-69-35 Deplazes, Plaze 30 158-69-10 Hatch, Walter L. 26 158-69-14 Johnston, D. H. 24 158-69-14 Krasner, William 24 158-69-11 Levine, Moses 30 158-69-7 Lynch, Abraham 30 158-69-34 Newgard, Ole 29

14 185 Wolford 158-70-24 Beck, Charles 25 158-70-12 Berrigan, Stephen J. 158-70-13 Edes, John 158-70-23 Hartley, Lewis 22 158-70-12 Hoover, George N. 30 60 PIERCE COUNTY

158-70-13 Hoover, Henry 28 1 158-70-2 Lynch, James 28 1 158-70-4 Murry, Robert 34 8 158-70-25 Petterson, Andrew 28 1 158-70-3 Williams, G. M. 1 158-70-35 Wren, Nils 1

25 211

East Barton 158-73-12 Anderson, John G. 1 158-73-5 Beach, Mary L. 1 158-73-2 Bentler, John 2 158-73-25 Berkaas, Christian B. 1 158-73-32 Bjornestad, Hans N. 32 1 158-73-18 Bodahl, Andrew O. 36 1 158-73-15 Bye, August A. 34 1 158-73-19 Bye, Iver 37 1 158-73-23 Bye, Markus A. 25 1 158-73-19 Bye, Severin 1 158-73-19 Cruden, P. M. 25 1 158-73-33 Dususke, John 25 1 158-73-7 Enger, Helge 23 1 158-73-6 Feeney, Anthony L. 1 158-73-6 Feeney, Frank 1 158-73-18 Funden, Hans H. 3 158-73-21 Galaski, Tifel 28 1 158-73-17 Gillmore, George 28 2 158-73-17 Gillmore, William 1 158-73-18 Grimeley, Ole F. 4 158-73-17 Gronvold, Reier 24 1 158-73-22 Hailing, Toiler 1 158-73-7 Hanson, Hans H. 25 1 158-73-8 Haugen, Hans H. 35 3 158-73-9 Haugen, Henry H. 30 1 158-73-6 Haugen, Torger E. 32 5 158-73-3 Hiller, Randy 4 158-73-18 Johnson, John 1 158-73-29 Julsrud, Anton 37 1 158-73-30 Julsrud, Karl 1 158-73-10 Larson, Mary 1 158-73-32 Lomerud, Even 29 5 158-73-28 Marausik, Charles 10 158-73-27 Marausik, Frank M. 24 1 158-73-4 Miller, Milo M. 27 2 158-73-26 Moe, Gilbert F. 29 2 158-73-10 Moe, Peter 27 1 PIERCE COUNTY 61

158-73-26 Moffet, Albert A. 26 1 158-73-20 Moffet, Arthur 34 1 158-73-29 Moffet, James W. 1 158-73-21 Moffet, Lovise E. 1 158-73-28 Moffet, William A. 28 3 158-73-11 Moore, David 30 3 158-73-9 Myhran, Toiler G. 30 1 158-73-27 Nash, James M. 51 4 158-73-5 Nash, M. J. 28 4 158-73-8 Nash, V. D. 25 3 158-73-26 Pederson, Ole 40 I 158-73-2 Pederson, Syvert 45 7 158-73-30 Ruud, Anton 1 158-73-19 Ruud, Julius 29 1 158-73-30 Ruud, Martin 1 158-73-31 Ruud, Ole E. 4 158-73-10 Ruud, Ole J. 26 1 158-73-30 Ruud, Thea 1 158-73-12 Torkilson, John 25 1 158-73-15 Ulstad, Oluf 25 1 158-73-3 Williams, George M. 1 158-73-29 Williams, Haydon M. 1 158-73-9 Winchel, Walter 23 1 158-73-21 Wysocke, Julius 24 2

114 20 Barton 158-74-29 Anderson, Andreas 27 1 158-74-21 Bakken, August H. 40 4 158-74-14 Bremseth, Christian O. 30 1 158-74-29 Dahl, Andreas 1 158-74-29 Dahl, Dennis 1. 25 3 158-74-29 Dahl, Iver 3 158-74-19 Dahl, Julianna 5 158-74-22 Dahl, Ole J. 158-74-2 Enger, Elling N. 26 158-74-8 Fluevog, Andrew A. 29 158-74-21 Fosser, Carl 158-74-21 Fosser, Christian 158-74-21 Fosser, Hans 158-74-21 Fosser, Sigvard 158-74-11 Grimeley, Ellef F. 33 10 158-74-11 Grimeley, Even 158-74-14 Gronvold, Fingar T. 22 158-74-13 Gronvold, Torger T. 26 158-74-7 Gudvangen, Mikel 62 PIERCE COUNTY

158-74-7 Gudvangen, Sjur M. 4 158-74-2 Haakenson, Lars 3 158-74-20 Hilleberg, Carl 26 6 158-74-25 Iverson, Christ 1 158-74-25 Iverson, Iver (Sund) 3 1 158-74-25 Iverson, Jens 1 158-74-25 Iverson, John 29 1 1 158-74-25 Iverson, Mary (Lavik) 1 158-74-3 Johnson, Andrew 34 1 158-74-19 Johnson, John B. 1 158-74-25 Jorstad, Peter 1 158-74-20 Krefting, Carl 25 3 1 158-74-20 Krefting, Soren 1 158-74-17 Moore, Sam 36 3 158-74-5 Moore, William 42 8 158-74-26 Ness, Ludvig H. 29 7 158-74-9 Nilson, Ole 30 1 158-74-1 Rushford, Daniel 28 1 158-74-21 Ruud, Andreas E. 6 158-74-30 Saude, John B. 29 3 158-74-10 Simpson, John 24 1 158-74-12 Stenerson, E. 24 1 158-74-12 Thykeson, Rolef G. 27 1 158-74-13 Tofsrud, Ole T. 24 1 158-74-33 Tolsby, Andreas 5 1 158-74-33 Tolsby, Ole A. 1 158-74-2 Torgerson, Ole 40 2 158-74-33 Torneby, Markus H. 26 1 158-74-8 Villand, Elling P. 26 2 158-74-4 Wadder, Albert 1 158-74-4 Wadder, Andrew 1 158-74-4 Wadder, Mary 1 158-74-4 Wadder, Nire 1 158-74-4 Wadder, William 1 158-74-7 Walker, Jonathan 39 4

121 171 Barton Village Aarstad, Hans 25 1 Bergan, Torger 2 Dahl, Martin O. 32 2 Evenson, Christian 40 6 Hagbo, Rev. B. 42 2 Hooey, Robert 35 2 Soby, Anton 1 — 16 157 PIERCE COUNTY 63

Rugby City Anderson, C. F. 32 2 Atkinson, Frank 2 Bigelow, C. A. 38 5 Black, Thomas 2 Blair, David 2 Briggs, David A. 31 2 Buck, M. W. Cartwright, Frank 27 Combs, Henry Combs, Seth Crook, F. A. 32 4 Ellefson, Ellef 28 Elmslie, George 30 Elmslie, Isabella Elmslie, William Erickson,. Charles A. 32 Erickson, Lina Fair, Thomas 41 Gordon, J. W. Graham, Annie Gunderson, Even 22 Hale, C. E. Hale, Clifford Hale, James A. 2 Harris, Annie Harris, Jennie Hermanson, Hagbert Hurd, H. C. 19 Jacobson, Nels 25 3 Jump, Frank 1 Lockwood, James 34 3 McBride, Fred 2 McBride, 1. M. 3 Madsen, Morris 28 4 Maglone, E. A. Master, Erick 31 Moncrief, Hugh 25 Moncrief, William 32 Morud, Peter Pool, John Rasmussen, Charles 24 Reynolds, 1. B. 25 2 Rideout, Wm. 1 Rudningen, E. O. 5 Russell, W. S. 28 4 64 PIERCE COUNTY

Ryding, A. P. 30 3 Sheppard, Mr. Sikes, Frank 28 1 Sikes, H. C. 2 Sikes, Hattie 1 Smith, Fred D. 2 Stenerson, Knute 45 8 Strommen, Ed. T. 28 1 Thomas, D. P. 32 2 Weiland, C. F. 3

104 2215

When Pierce County was organized in 1889, there were no inhabitants living in the following townships:

151-72 Hagel 154-73 Balta 151-73 Keller 154-74 Sandale 151-74 White 155-72 Reno Valley 152-73 Hillside 155-73 Tuscarora 153-72 Rosedale 155-74 Jefferson 153-74 Elling 158-71 Juniata 154-72 Elverum 158-72 Spring Lake

PIERCE COUNTY POPULATION Name of Township 1889 1940 Name of Township 1889 1940 151-72 Hagel 476 156-74 Ness 26 244 151-73 Keller 238 157-70 Rush Lake 17 155 151-74 White 294 157-71 Tofte 8 121 152-72 Alexanter 2 254 157-72 Torgerson 13 186 152-73 Hillside 175 157-73 Walsh 96 203 152-74 Antelope Lake 2 136 157-74 Dewey 33 173 153-72 Rosedale 166 158-69 Union 14 185 153-73 Girard Lake 9 109 158-70 Wolford 25 211 153-74 Elling 374 158-71 Juniata 146 154-72 Elverum 300 158-72 Spring Lake 111 154-73 Balta 207 158-73 East Barton 114 208 154-74 Sandale 175 158-74 Barton 121 171 155-72 Reno Valley 205 Barton Village 16 157 155-73 Tuscarora 283 Balta Village 263 155-74 Jefferson 289 Wolford Village 206 156-72 Meyer 21 165 Rugby City 104 2215 156-73 Christenson 114 235 157-69 Hurricane Lake 66 172 801 9208 PIERCE COUNTY 65 Newspapers The newspapers have long been considered one of the achievements in the field of human enterprise and Pierce County has been no exception to the tradition. Many local newspapers have come and gone during its history. Soon after the coming of the early settlers a couple of newspapers made their ap­ pearance in Rugby Junction and have since kept pace with the coming events under various names and ownerships. On May 27, 1887, Mr. D. A. Briggs moved his plant from Grand Harbor to establish the first newspaper in Pierce County. He named it The Rugby Junction Advance. About a year later a second newspaper appeared upon the scene. D. P. Thomas established The Pierce County Tribune June 23, 1888. Jealousy soon sprang up between the new arrivals. Each was fighting for its life in the adopted field. After nearly two years of hard struggle the first one died a natural death and the life of the second one was saved by a transfer to H. C. Hurd ,and C. A. Bigelow. Mr. Hurd was the publisher of the Pierce County Tribune for a number of years of its early existence. These were the first newspapers in Pierce County. After that many others have tried their luck in the pub­ lishing game. The Pleasant Lake News was established in 1902 by L. H. Bratton and C. D. Stiles and continued for a short time. The Wolford Mirror was established at Wolford in 1905 by Mike Breen and continued by Mr. Breen for a number of years. During the year 1906 Frank L. Brandt commenced the publication of the Staats Anzieger in Rugby and continued to issue the same here until 1911 when he moved his plant to Bismarck to be continued from the Capitol city. Meanwhile the ownership of the Pierce County Tribune had found itself upon the hands of W. J. Anderson and H. B. Stager who continued its pub­ lication for a number of years. In 1909 L. H. Bratton incorporated his Rugby Optimist and continued its publication until it was emerged with the Pierce County Tribune and continued under his management. Meanwhile a few other newspapers made their appearance in Rugby but only periodically. Among these were the Pierce County Globe and the Pierce County Press. The former was taken over by the Pierce County Tribune just before we celebrated our Golden Jubilee in 1936 and the latter was afterwards bought by L. H. Bratton from Mr. Hauge and Mr. Solberg, the two young publishers and owners. Mr. Bratton has also established and published for shorter times local newspapers at Pleasant Lake, Barton and Silva. Mr. Bratton, the present owner and editor of the Pierce County Tribune, a consolidation of the Rugby Optimist, The Pierce County Globe, The Pierce County Press and the Pierce County Tribune is undoubtedly the oldest newspaper man in Pierce County in view of service. Mr. Frank A. Hornstein is his assistant and present manager and publisher of the Pierce County Tribune. 66 PIERCE COUNTY The Early Churches

Nearly all the early settlers came from Christian homes and surroundings and naturally with some religious feelings in their hearts they soon started to think about places for worship and churches. Churches could not be built at once but religious meetings could be called and worship conducted at their scant home. Many earnest prayers have been sent up from sod houses. A few of the many congregations organized towards the close of the last century and in the first decade of this century were afterwards dissolved. This, however, did not mean that the members thereof discontinued their church affiliations. They joined other church bodies near to them or more favorably situated after new roads were built and automobile transportation and other facilities became generally in use.

THE BETHANIA SKANDINAVISKE EVANGELISKE LUTHERSKE MENIGHED OF RUGBY On April I, 1888, Rev. J. U. Pedersen organized the Rugby Junction Menighed. This meeting was held in a small restaurant appropriated by Lina Iverson and Gertie Olson who afterwards became Mrs. C. A. Erickson and Mrs. Lovaas respectively. Fifteen members joined the menighed and proceeded to elect officers. Hans Hendrickson, Hans Tjon, and Morris Mad­ sen were elected trustees and C. F. Anderson, secretary. Having no funds on hand it was not considered necessary to elect a treasurer as yet. The mem­ bers were J. O. Anderson, C. F. Anderson, C. A. Erickson, Elling Ellingson Sr., Swen Grove, Halvor Grove, Hans Hendrickson, Nels Jacobson, Knut Manger, Morris Madsen, Hans Tjon, Anfin Jelsing, Knute Stenerson, Aslak Sand, Bartil Sand. Soon after the organization was completed Rev. B. L. Hagboe of the Conference faith was elected to be their pastor. He served the congregation through the first decade from 1888 to 1899. Ultimately differences of opinions arose among the members, namely over creeds. This resulted in a separation. Some of the members organized the Rugby United Church and others the Rugby Free Church. It is the latter we shall attempt to consider in this article. For some time the Rugby Free Church remained as part of the Rugby Junction Menighed. At a meeting held March 31st, 190$, the name was changed and the Bethania Skandinavisk Evangelisk Lu­ therske Menighed of Rugby was adopted. The officers selected were Sivert O. Tofte, F. T. Gronvold, and Nels Sostrom, trustees; H. W. Ellingson, secretary and treasurer. Rev. Carl S. Vang was elected pastor at a salary of $150.00 a year. At this meeting it was decided to start to build a church. At a meeting held July 28 th the same year each member agreed to pick and haul three quarters of a cord of prairie stones for the church foundation. The church was finally finished in 1907. Some of the main contributors to the building fund were Carl S. Vang, Tom Gronvold, Ole Tofte, and An­ drew Mygland $jo.oo each. Nels Sostrom, J. O. Anderson, H. W. Elling- PIERCE COUNTY 67 son, Ole S. Tofte, Sivert O. Tofte, and Andy Jones $100.00 each. F. T. Gronvold and O. T. Tofsrud $200.00 each and the Ladies Aid $665.37. This with other contributions however was not enough to finish the church so a loan of $800.00 had to be made. For this amount a note was given to James Fredrickson which was later paid back to him with interest. The cost of the church was about $3,000. Next year seats and furniture costing $173.00 was installed. Additions and improvements from time to time has made the church a beautiful and commodious edifice. New members have from time to time been added. The Ladies Aid, the Sunday School, Luther League, Dorcas Society and the choir has helped a great deal to make the church grow and prosper. Pastors—J. U. Pedersen 1888-88. B. L. Hagboe 1888-99. Carl S. Vang 1899-13. P. A. Strommen 1913-17. C. S. Nestvold 1917-24. H. R. Hofstad 1924-36. L. O. Gjerde 1936-46. Harald Grindal 1946-.

THE RUGBY FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH The Rugby United First Lutheran Church is one of the descendants of the Rugby Junction Menighed. The first congregation was one of Rugby's earliest menigheds. It was organized by J. U. Pedersen of the Conference faith in Lina Iversen and Gertie Olsons little restaurant on April 1, 1888. It started out with fifteen members. The officers elected were Hans Hend­ rickson, Hans Tjon, and Morris Madsen, trustees, with C. F. Anderson as secretary. Soon after the organization was completed. Rev. B. L. Hagboe was elected to serve as its pastor. He served during the first decade of Pierce County early church history, from 1888 to 1899. The early settlers were struggling through a period of hard times and the meager preacher's salary was not always so promptly forthcoming. It was reported that all that could be scraped up for his first year's salary amounted to only $21.60. For the first ten years up to 1899 the different Norwegian creeds had been working together in one union. The Rugby Junction Lutheran Church. They had no church building or regular meeting places but often met in homes and pub­ lic halls. The need of a church was felt by everybody. But differences of opinion among the members resulted in a division of the Rugby Junction Menighed. Several attempts were afterwards made to re-unite the two church branches of Rugby. At a meeting held March 2, 1903, a committee of seven, Ole Paulson, Ed. T. Strommen, Elling Ellingson, M. Madsen, John Johnson, E. Gunderson, and C. A. Erickson were named to confer with the Rugby Free Church for a union of the two churches and to report the result back on March 12th. At this meeting the union was not looked upon as favorably as formerly. However, no decision was made. C. A. Erickson, chairman, and E. Gunderson, secretary, had discussed the matter farther. At a meeting held August 22, 1903, the report from the two former meetings was not adopted. At a meeting held February I, 1904, it was resolved that the name of the church should be changed from the Norwegian Evan­ gelical Lutheran Church of Rugby to the United Lutheran Church of Rugby 68 PIERCE COUNTY and that all of the property of the former church be turned over to the new congregation. And on this date articles of incorporation of the United Lu­ theran Church of Rugby was signed by Elling Ellingson, John Blessum Sr., and J. T. Berdahl. In the meantime the menighed continued to prosper and grow in strength and influence with a steadily increasing list of members. Of great help and assistance to the congregation has been the Ladies Aid, the Sunday School, the Lutheran League, the L.D.R. association, and choir. These colleagues have worked hard and faithfully. In 1903 a nice church structure was erected and from time to time improved and beautified. It has a nice balcony and a commodious basement. An eighteen hundred dollar Hammond organ has later been installed.

Pastors:— Pastors:— J. U. Pedersen 1888-88 P. P. Hauglum 1911-15 B. L. Hagboe 1888-99 N. N. Knutsen 1915-22 M. O. Silseth 1899-01 G. A. Larson 1923-30 J. F. Swenson 1901-03 R. T. Wanberg 1930-32 D. Swenungson 1904-10 Alvon Nelson 1932-39 E. T. Quam 1910-11 Olaf O. Brandt -46

THE RUGBY FIRST METHODIST CHURCH The Methodist Church in Rugby was organized in May 1899, by Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Holbrook, Jos. Y. Yoder, C. F. Anderson, John F. Watts, Mrs. Mary Hurd and Estelle Thompson as charter members. The first elected officers were W. J. Holbrook, Knute Harmon, Jos. Y. Yoder, Estelle Thomp­ son, A. E. Healy, Anna Watts, Mrs. M. J. Hurd and E. C. Engersol. Serv­ ices were at first held in homes, the new Atkinson Hotel, and the depot, but it was not long until the members felt that they should have their own building to meet in and by 1901 this was accomplished. The Methodist Church of Rugby was erected. It was the second church building erected in Rugby Junction. The first construction of a church building in Rugby was accomplished by the Presbyterian congregation in 1897. One of the first ministers that came to conduct services for the Methodists was Dr. Draper from the Turtle Mountains. Continually since these early days the congre­ gation has grown and prospered. Pastors—A. J. Garry, 1898-00; Benja­ min Collins, 1900-01; A. J. Garry, 1901-01; E. M. Smith, 1901-02; U. L. McCloud, 1902-03; C. A. Bates, 1903-04; A. J. Allen, 1904-07; George W. B. Snell, 1907-09; Theo. Watts, 1909-09; W. A. Dunette, 1909-14; H. W. Haynes, 1914-15; Milton Clark Grabbe, 1916-17; E. W. Elayer, I9'7-i9i" C. D. Gabriel, 1919-21; A. F. Hooke, 1921-22; I. T. Ensign, 1922-24; J. R. Wenrich, 1924-26; John W. Methcalf, 1926-26; W. L. Rockwell, 1926-28; Thomas H. Smith, 1928-30; W. F. Dodge, 1930-32; S. J. Brooks, 1932-37; Nennie How, 1937-37; Herbert Brown, 1937-43; Geo. E. Muzzey, 1943-46. PIERCE COUNTY 69

THE RUGBY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Presbyterian Church was built in 1897 and was the first church building in Rugby. The congregation was older than that. It was formed in 1886 in the Atkinson Hotel that was built soon after the railroad came through the same year. At first meetings were held in homes and public buildings. The first service was held in 1886 in the Atkinson Hotel. The first school house was built in 1889 and after that the upstairs of the same was used for religious services, each family bringing their own seats and also one chair extra for any stranger or visitor that might come to the meeting. Some meetings were also held in the first Court House that was built in 1897. These practices were continued until the church was built. Mrs. Bige- low, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Atkinson were the first directing board members to serve the congregation. When the church was built it was under the directorship of Rev. Samuel Harris who had filed on a homestead claim north of Rugby. He served as pastor from 1897 to 1899. The Ladias Aid was organized in 1893 and Sunday School soon afterwards. Pastors—Rev. Eckstrom 1886-87; Dr. Draper, 1887-91; Rev. Samuel Harris, 1891-99; Rev. Robert Johnson, 1899-06; Robert McHenry, 1906- 07; Henry Ketchem, 1907-10; A. G. McRury, 1911-11; W. M. Anderson, 1911-12; A. D. Collins, 1913-17; C. H. Grube, 1920-23; Robert Alexander, 1924-25; A. A. J. Hoog, 1925-27; Vern T. Suddeth 1927-30; James Carry, 1930-38; Harald Strandness, 1938-41; Thomas Adam, 1941-44; N. L. Daynard, 1946-. The present officers are, trustees: G. A. Troyer, H. D. Walland, Fred Shively, Mrs. L. C. Tipper, Leslie A. Heitsh, A. M. Nielsen, A. C. Scott, Carl W. Roberts, Mrs. Robert Tarbell. Elders: Fres Shively, H. B. Senn, George S. Davidson, J. W. Moffatt.

THE RUGBY ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH The Episcopal Church was organized in September 1891 by Bishop Walker in his missionary railroad car, called the Cathedral Car. Two of the prime movers of the organization were Jarvis Harker and Fred McDermott. Dur­ ing the first nine years the church did not have a resident pastor but the members usually attended church services in other churches, mostly in the Presbyterian Church. Soon, however, the members felt that they would like to have a church of their own to meet in. September 25, 1903, the corner­ stone for their church was laid and in 1905 the church was finished and ready for services. It is a magnificent structure with stained colored glass windows and modern in every way. It has the distinction of being built of home materials, stones picked up on the surrounding prairies nicely trimmed and fitted into walls of the church. Pastors: Rev. Sheridan, 1900-01; Rev. F. O. Jones, 1901-02; Rev. John Flockhart, 1902-02; Rev. Phil Cook, 1902-04; Rev. Frank S. Morehouse, 70 PIERCE COUNTY

1905-08; Rev. L. C. Parker, 1908-10; Rev. T. L. Parker, 1910-12; Rev. Wilfred Pigeon, 1913-14; Rev. L. K. Hurch, 1917-21; Rev. Leo Abbott, 1921-25; Rev. Tom Akeley, 1925-28; Rev. Basil Daugherty 1928-38; Rev. Robert A. Raimer, 1938-.

RUGBY LITTLE FLOWER CHURCH Little Flower Church is one of the early church organizations in Rugby. It was first named St. Cyrinus and later changed to St. Thereas, and later to the present name Little Flower Church. In the early days Father Turcott, Father Campeau and Father Burger came to preach the gospel to the pio­ neers. Meetings were often held in the new settlers' homes. The congregation was organized September 22, 1901. It was served by missionaries until in 1908 when Father Joseph H. Kern became the first resident pastor. The first church was a frame building, constructed in 1906 at a cost of $5,000.00. This church was in continuous use until it was replaced by a modern brick building at the cost of $72,000.00. When this commodious church was completed in 1928 the frame building was sold for $1,000.00 to be used for an apartment house. In 1942 a school brick building costing $26,200.00 was added to the congregation. In this modern school about 150 young students are receiving instruction from a staff of able and competent teachers. Pastors—Father Joseph H. Kern, 1908-13; Father Gerhard Wilkes, 1913- 13; Father Ludovicus Doering, 1913-15; Father J. A. Thiel, 1915-24; Father John Schoenberger, 1924-30; Father Pius Mutter, 1930-36; Rev. N. I. Cloos, 1936-46.

THE RUGBY GOSPEL TABERNACLE CHURCH The Gospel Tabernacle is one of the later churches in Rugby. It was organized in May 1939, by Rev. Herman G. Johnson, assisted by Rev. Clarence Larson. The first list of members consisted of 28 souls and has since grown to a considerable number. The first board of trustees was Mrs. R. J. Washburn, president; Harry Torneby, vice-president; and Haley Paus- son, assistant. A commodious church building was constructed in the summer and fall of 1939. Pastors—Rev. Herman Johnson, Rev. Clarence Larson, Rev. Margarit Knutson, Rev. Marjorie Trulin, Rev. Gladis Hartnell, Rev. A. M. Selness, Rev. Ward Williams.

THE FULDA CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Fulda Church is located on Section 7-155-74 ;n Jefferson Township about 9 miles southwest of Tunbridge. The land for the site was donated by Vincent Volk and accepted with thanks from the congregation. The church was named St. Anselms of Fulda after a missionary by that name who had formerly come from the town of Fulda in Germany. Among the early sponsors for the church were Egildie Koeng, Simon Bosch, Anton Voel- PIERCE COUNTY 71 ler and Vincent Volk. Missionaries that early came to preach the gospel and organize the church were Missionary St. Anselms and Father Monsignar Campeau from the Turtle Mountains. The church was built in 1901 and the parsonage in 1903. From time to time these buildings have been ex­ tended and improved upon making it a pride to any community. The five hundred members are enjoying regular meetings and services in this beautiful church. Pastors—Father Berenard Armold, 1901-03; Father John Burger, 1903-03; Father Jos. Thuille 1903-06; Father Olmar Bleil, 1906-08; Father Anton Nussbauner, 1908-16; Father Mathew Butala, 1916-18; Father Philip Bahner, 1918-21; Father George F. Trunk, 1921-24; Father Marius Engel, 1924-46.

ST. GEORGE CHURCH St. George Church was located on Section 24-156-72, ten miles southeast of Rugby. It was organized in 1902 by Father Sarophim Rona and usually referred to as the Syrian church. Some of the most active members may be remembered as George Srur, Joe Bossard, Charles Turk, Nick Shickani, Albert Shamma, Joe Esta, and others. It may also be interesting to remem­ ber that one of the above mentioned members who are still living in Rugby Mr. and Mrs. George Srur were married in this church in July, 1909. Of the once more than fifty families belonging to this church only three families are now remaining in the community. Some of them have died and others have moved to other localities. The church building was erected in 1902 but was in 1906 moved in to Rugby where it was later destroyed by fire. It was first organized by the Greek and Roman Catholics together but afterwards transferred to the latter congregation and dissolved.

THE EGELAND CHURCH The Egeland Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church was located seven miles northeast of Rugby in Torgerson Township. It was organized in the farm home of Ole Egeland in 1905. Meetings were held in farm homes and school houses until a church building was constructed, located on Section 24 in said township in 1908 at a cost of between eight hundred and one thousand dollars. One of the most outstanding members of this congregation was Ole Egeland, a lay man, a devout Christian who would often conduct Christian meetings. The organization was dissolved in 1923. The church building was sold for $300.00 and moved away. Pastors were Rev. Lorentz, Rev. L. T. Torgerson, Rev. B. Bekstrom, Rev. R. O. Staf, Rev. Christianson, Rev. Kreisgaard and Rev. Oakland. Dissolved.

THE BRAZIL CHURCH The Brazil congregation about 13 miles southwest of Rugby was organized 1907 by Rev. K. Figenbaum of the Synode faith as its pastor and Albert Johnson as secretary of the congregation. It was dissolved the year after­ wards and its 48 members joined other churches. Dissolved. 72 PIERCE COUNTY

THE JOHANESTAL CHURCH The Johanesthal Roman Catholic Church was located on Section 4-155-72 in Reno Valley Township. The church was built in 1908 under the pastorate of Father John and the leadership of Balzer and Frank Schiff, Joe Voelk, S. Weber, Ben Hornstein, Peter Claus, and others. Services in this church continued for sixteen years until 1924 when it was discontinued and the building sold to Joe Voelk to be used on his farm for a granary. The mem­ bers joined the Little Flower church in Rugby and the church in Balta. The bodies in the grave yard were also removed to these two places. Pastors who served were Father John, 1908-10; Father Wilkes, 1910-11; Father Kern, 1911-12; Father Doering, 1912-15; Father Thiel, 1916-24, and Father Schoenberger, 1924-24.

THE HIGHLAND CHURCH The Highland Church, also called the Sand Lake Menighed, located on Section 11-155-72 about thirteen miles southeast of Rugby was organized November 19, 1902. The church costing $1,325.00 was built 1905. Ladies Aid was soon organized and prospered for some time. After a number of years, however, services were discontinued and the church building sold and moved away. The $600.00 proceeds was put in the bank to be used to maintain the grave yard. The first officers were: M. J. Moen, Ole Eide, and E. Nestegaard, trustees, and Ed Aas, secretary and treasurer. Pastors: O. Glasoie, 1902-03; H. Hjertaas, 1904-05; D. Swenungsen, 1905-06; S. J. Brevik, 1906-07; N. J. Holm, 1907-12; P. P. Hauglum, 1913-14; P. J. Mykland, 1914-. Dissolved.

THE BETHEL CHURCH The Bethel United Church congregation, located seven miles southwest of Rugby, was organized 1899 with seventy members. The first trustees were S. M. Saterlie, Lars Anderson, and Martin Anseth, with Andrew Oksendal, secretary, and Osmund Selland Sr., treasurer. At first the meet­ ings were held in farm houses and school houses until in 1906 when the first church was built. This church was struck by lightning on August 7, 1934, and burned down. Soon afterwards, however, negotiations were started to provide for the building of a new church. A month later an abandoned church building at Overly was bought for $510.00 and moved down on trucks and erected on the premises. Benches and fittings were soon provided and the new church taken in use. An active Ladies Aid society and a well attended parochial school have been of great aid to the church work. Pastors —M. Silseth, 1900-01; S. F. Swenson, 1901-04; D. Swenungson, 1904-10; E. S. Quam, 1910-11; P. P. Hauglum, 1911-15; M. N. Knutson, 1915-18; J. C. Nestvold, 1918-25; C. A. Larson, 1925-30; Theodore Wanberg, 1930-. PIERCE COUNTY 73

THE TUNBRIDGE FREE CHURCH The Tunbridge Skandinaviske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed was at first a part of the Rugby Junction Menighed organized by Rev. J. U. Pe­ dersen April I, 1888, in a small Rugby restaurant, and consisting of fifteen members, referred to in this book on the report on the Rugby Free church page 86. This union continued until 1905 when it withdrew from the Rugby congregation to establish their own church. The year after they built their church located one mile south of Tunbridge on a two acre tract of land donated by Anfin Jelsing. Unfortunately in 1910 the church was struck by a bolt of lightning and burned down, but the members and friends were not discouraged, so by 1914 a new church was built bigger and better than the first one. In this nice comfortable new church regular services have been enjoyed ever since. The Ladies Aid, the Sunday School and young people's society has continually been of great help to the congregation. The first officers in the Tunbridge congregation were Hans Tjon, Knute Sand and Anfin Jelsing, trustees. The honor for long and faithful service is really due to A. G. Bale. He has served as one of the trustees besides taking care of the church for an unbroken period of twenty-two years, from 1914 to 1936. Pastors—J. U. Pedersen, 1888-88; B. L. Hagboe, 1888-99; Carl S. Vang, 1899-13; P. A. Strommen, 1913-17; C. S. Nestvold, 1917-24; H. R. Hofstad, 1924-36; L. O. Gjerde, 1936-46. Harald Grindal, 1946-.

THE ZION UNITED CHURCH The Zion Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed, located six miles south­ west of Tunbridge, was organized with seventy-five members in 1900. The first trustees were: John Chilie, Jacob Vangsnes and Charley Kindwal, and Hans Christianson, secretary, and Peter Trettevig, treasurer. Lasse Aafedt, John S. Drege and Thomas Oppen, deacons. Parochial school, Ladies Aid, and Young People's Society have been very active almost since the begin­ ning to help the church with their activities. In 1906 a beautiful church building was erected on the highest ground in the community so it could attract people from far and near to attend church. The cost of the church building was approximately $3,200.00. Pastors were: M. O. Silseth, J. F. Swenson, D. Swenungson, M. Quam, P. P. Hauglum, M. N. Knutsen, G. A. Larson, R. T. Wanberg, A. Nelson, and O. O. Brandt.

THE BARTON FREE CHURCH The Barton Free Church as it is now generally known, was organized by a conference minister, Rev. J. U. Pedersen on August 21, 1887, in Jens Iversens farm house. Rev. C. Saugstad had formerly prepared the way for the organization. The name adopted was the Denney Norske Evangeliske Menighed, named after Denney post office, now changed to Barton P. O. After serving at its pastor for nearly a year, Mr. Pedersen went out further west leaving the congregation to elect Rev. B. L. Hagboe who became the 74 PIERCE COUNTY

first residence minister. He was also serving many other churches in the new settlement, Rugby, Willow City, Tunbridge, Berwick, Bisbee and others. The Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed, known now as the Barton Free Church. Another Menighed, the United Church, was also existing in Barton at that time and strong sentiment soon developed to unite the two churches into one pastorate. This union was formed November 27, 1888, and Rev. B. L. Hagboe was elected pastor to serve the new union under the name of Denney Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed. After func­ tioning agreeably for a decade the union dissolved and the earlier two churches at Barton are now again working separately, each one holding its meetings in its own commodious church building. The Barton Free Church building was started in 1903 and completed in 1905. It has since installed a good bell and completed an up-to-date basement. Mrs. Hagbo, now Mrs. Vang, came to Barton a year later than Mr. Hagboe and she soon became of valuable assistance in the early church work. She managed to keep going a strong and useful Ladies Aid, a Young People's Society and other church activities. It may be of interest to be mentioned here that the first two children born and baptized in Pierce County was Hilda Maria, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin H. Anonby, born October 30, 1887, and baptized in February, 1888. And Edward, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellef Grime- lie, who was born October 31, 1887, and baptized on January 1, 1888. Pastors—Rev. J. U. Pedersen, 1887-88; Rev. B. L. Hagboe, 1888-00; Rev. Carl Vang, 1900-13; Rev. H. E. Bode, assisted, 1909-10; Rev. P. A. Strom­ men, 1913-18; Rev. C. G. Jorgenson, 1918-20; Rev. S. O. Swenson, 1920-25; Rev. V. S. Dahle, 1925-35; Rev. Joseph Nystuen, 1935-1935-41; Rev. Geo. Amundsen, 1941-.

THE BARTON UNITED CHURCH The Barton United Church was organized May 8, 1887, by Johannes Koperdal, a layman from the Mouse River vicinity under, the leadership of Rev. Reishus and Rev. Tonnesen of the Synode faith under the name of den Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed near Barton. Meanwhile, another church organization had been formed at Barton. On August 21, 1887, Rev. J. U. Pedersen, a conference minister, organized the Denney Norske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed. In about a year afterwards strong efforts were made to unite these two churches into one. At a meeting held on November 27, 1888, this was accomplished. The union was agreed to. The name Denney Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was adopted and Rev. B. L. Hagboe was elected to serve as its pastor. After about ten years' existence the union dissolved and each one of the now two churches are functioning independently. Each one assisted with Ladies Aid and Young People's Societies are enjoying their meetings in a good substantial church building. The pastors—Rev. Tonnesen, 1887-88; Rev. B. Hagboe, 1888-98; Rev. M. O. Silseth, 1899-01; Rev. J. F. Swenson, 1901-03; Rev. T. E. Tome- sen, 1903-34; Rev. E. A. Stausland, 1934-46. PIERCE COUNTY 75

THE MARKERS CHURCH The Markers (Odemark) Norsk Evangelisk Lutherske congregation united, located 6 miles southwest of Barton, was organized March 12, 1904, with 46 members and a faithful Ladies Aid Society functioning ever since. The pastor's salary to start with was $75.00 a year. Ludvig Hanson, Sam West- gard and Kristian Bye were the first trustees and Sam O. Wig, secretary and Kristian Ruud treasurer. The deacons were O. T. Lomerud, Nils Enge- bretson and Ole Westgard. A nice church building costing about $2,000.00 was erected in 1915. Rev. T. E. Tomeson was the pastor since the creation of the congregation until he was called by death 1941. Rev. E. A. Stausland, the present pastor, was elected to serve after Rev. Tomesen's death.

THE NORWEGIAN BAPTIST CHURCH The Norwegian Baptist congregation, located five miles southwest of Barton, was organized in 1893, with Markus Torneby, Hans Hiller and Sven Hiller as trustees, and Karl Krefting, secretary and treasurer. The pastors were Rev. L. J. Anderson, C. J. Hill and H. Lydom. The first church was built out of prairie sod in 1893 but afterwards a nice small frame building took the place of the sod building at the cost of $700.00 in 1906. The congregation was dissolved in 1926 and the church building sold to Olaf Krefting, a neighbor, for $125.00. Dissolved.

THE ZION CHURCH The Zion congregation, located seven miles northeast of Barton, was or­ ganized in 1901, and a substantial church building erected soon afterwards. The first officers were Christ Myhran and J. C. Johnson, trustees, and Ru­ dolph Thingvold, treasurer. By 1940 most of the members had joined the Barton Free Church and services in the Zion church were discontinued. The church building was sold and the proceeds used toward fixing up and beau­ tifying the basement under the Barton Free Church. The graveyard is still fenced and preserved. Pastors were Carl S. Vang, 1901-13; H. E. Bode, 1909-10; P. A. Strommen, 1913-18; C. G. Jorgenson, 1918-20; S. O. Swen­ son, 1920-25; V. S. Dahle, 1925-35; Joseph Nystuen, 1935-40. Dissolved.

THE BERWICK FREE CHURCH The Berwick Skandinaviske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed (also some­ times called the Strand Church) was organized 1887 by Rev. J. U. Peder­ sen with fifty members. The congregation continued to grow and at a meet­ ing1 held on May 19, 1894, Ole R. Twet and Hans Haugen were elected trustees and Ole E. Rue and Ingebret Strand, deacons, and Elias Larson, secretary. The meetings are now held in their nice commodious church built in 1901, with later improvements. Later officers serving have been Ole Rue, Elias Larson, Chr. Hageseth, Ole Hansen, L. Larvik, M. T. Aubol and others. An active Ladies Aid and a strong Young People's Society are add- 76 PIERCE COUNTY ing much strength to the church. Pastors—Rev. J. P. Pedersen, 1887-88; Rev. B. L. Hagboe, 1888-93; A. A. Brunswold, 1893-97; Rev. Mons Gjerde, 1897-98; Rev. O. J. Rossing, 1898-99; Carl S. Vang, 1899-13; Rev. P. A. Strommen, 1913-17; Rev. C. S. Nestvold, 1917-24; Rev. H. R. Hofstad, 1924-36; Rev. L. O. Gjerde, 1936-46; Rev. Harald Grindal, 1946-.

THE BERWICK VALDERS CHURCH The Berwick Valders Norske Synode Menighed was organized in the year 1899 with twenty-five members. The church was built later in which services are still conducted. Pastors—Rev. Th. J. E. Tonnesen, 1889-92; Rev. T. S. Reishus, 1893-94; Rev. E. I. Strom, 1895-97; Rev. C. D. Eiknes, 1897-99; Rev. C. M. Hallanger, 1911-19; Rev. C. L. Brevik, 1919-1919- 20; Rev. R. T. Wamberg, 1920-.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WOLFORD The Lutheran Church of Wolford is a combination of two earlier estab­ lished congregations in its vicinity. The Norske Synode organized the High­ land congregation in 1902 with 17 members. Rev. O. L. Brevig officiated as its pastor, 1902-12, who left the call to Rev. H. M. Norman, 1913-14, and Rev. Alfred Bredesen that year. Engers Norske Lutherske Kirke was another congregation organized in the vicinity 1904 with 32 members, and served by Rev. H. Bjertaas 1904-07; Rev. N. J. Holm, 1907-X2, and Rev. E. T. Silnes, 1912. These two congregations were finally merged into the Lutheran Church of Wolford now enjoying their meetings in a beautiful church constructed in 1909 at the cost of $5,000.00. This magnificent structure was raised under the pastorate of Rev. N. J. Holm, by a building committee of Ben Jacobson, T. T. Ettun and George Storlie. Rev. A. G. Nesset, installed on August 10, 1919, has now served the congregation for more than twenty years.

THE WOLFORD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Presbyterian Church of Wolford was organized October 4, 1923, by Rev. L. McEwen, pastor, and H. M. Landis, first elder. The first trus­ tees were Mr. B. J. Sieber, Mrs. Marie Else and Mrs. G. B. Losse. A long time before this and even before there was a Wolford, the Presbyterians met often in the old settlers' homes and in school houses and halls. But by this time they felt that they should establish a permanent meeting place and church of their own. With great assistance from the Ladies Aid it did not take long before they could erect a nice comfortable church, so they are now having regular meetings and well attended services. The present officers are H. M. Landis and C E. Hill, elders, and Mrs. J. T. Hawk, Mrs. C E. Hill and Mrs. D. I. Peters, trustees. Rev. Adam is serving the congre­ gation as their pastor at the present time. PIERCE COUNTY 77

THE HURRICANE LAKE CHURCH The Hurricane Lake church located in Section 23 in Hurricane Lake Township was built and occupied since 1910. On March 25, 1897, at the home of Ole Mikkelson, the neighbors met to organize the Hurricane con­ gregation and elect officers. John P. Rodland, Ole C. Olson and Thomas Wold, directors; Pete Brager, Johannes Nelson and Ole P. Negard, deacons, and John Sondalen, secretary. Having no money on hand as yet it was not considered necessary to elect a treasurer. Rev. A. A. Brunsvold was elected pastor with a salary of $75 a year. He occupied the position until 1920 when Rev. H. C. Caspersen assumed the duties of the pastorate until Rev. A. L. Larson of Churches Ferry was called. Mr. Larson is the present pastor. At first the services were conducted in the Norwegian language, but later Nor­ wegian and English were used alternately every other Sunday. Now the English language is universally used.

THE SILVA LUTHERAN CHURCH The Silva Lutheran Church, Trefoldigheds Skandinavisk Evangelisk Lu­ therske Menighed was organized November 22, 1900, on Mrs. Call's farm a short distance southeast of where Silva is now located. Mrs. Call was the mother of Doctor A. M. Call of Rugby. The village of Silva was founded in 1912 and the next year, 1913, the church was built costing about $2,- 500.00. This has from time to time been extended and improved. The first trustees elected were S. B. Knutson, Olaf Tollefson and Theodore Dokken. Mr. Tollefson was also the secretary. Ivar Ivarson, Charles Larson and Knut Torgerson were the first elected deacons. The Ladies Aid has been very active ever since they were organized at the home of Mr. Olaf Tollefson in 1903. The first officers were Mrs. M. Tinboe, president; Mrs. T. Torgerson, secre­ tary, and Mrs. Charles Larson, treasurer. At first the times were hard and the pastor's salary meager. The first year only $60.00 was agreed on until the times would be getting better. Pastors—Rev. M. O. Silseth, 1900-01; Rev. J. F. Swenson, 1901-04; Rev. H. Hjertas, 1904-05; Rev. Carl S. Vang, 1905-11; Rev. P. P. Hauglum, 1911-13; Rev. I. Hjertesen, Rev. N. J. Holm and Rev. Erickson have been among the later pastors.

THE SILVA METHODIST CHURCH In 1903 The Silva Methodist congregation was organized and at first meetings were held in members' homes and later in school houses and other public buildings. Later the church members decided that they would like to have a church building of their own. It so happened that the Methodist congregation at Riga, N. Dak., discontinued services and dismantled their church at that place. The Silva congregation then obtained the materials from the dismantled church building, loaded it up and transferred it to Silva and used it in building their church. Amongst the leaders in this un­ dertaking were Olaf Dokken, Virgil Scot, Frank Richardson, Herman Ro- 78 PIERCE COUNTY

mine and A. O. Gunnerud. Pastors were Rev. Crosely, Rev. Ben Collins, Rev. A. J. Carry, Rev. E. M. Smith, Rev. U. L. McCloud, Rev. C. A. Bates, Rev. A. J. Allen, Rev. W. B. Snell, Rev. Theodore Watt, Rev. W. A. Dunette, Rev. Milton Clark, Rev. E. W. Elayer, Rev. C. D. Gambriel, Rev. A. E. Hooke, Rev. I. T. Ensign, Rev. J. R. Wenrich.

GIRARD LAKE CHURCH Immanuel Norsk Evangelisk Lutherske Menighed was located near Girard Lake about eight miles south of Silva. This Synode Menighed was organized by Rev. H. M. Anestad in 1910. It kept on growing until it had one hun­ dred and thirty-four members in 1913. Later the congregation dissolved and the members joined other congregations. Dissolved.

EAST OF ORRIN CHURCH In 1902 a congregation was organized by Rev. Figenbaum and 20 mem­ bers, located five miles east of where Orrin is now located. It continued until 1911 when it was dissolved and its members joined other churches. Dissolved.

ST. MATHIAS CHURCH The Kondel Roman Catholic Church was located on a piece of land do­ nated by Mike Volk in Section 15-153-74 in Elling Township a short dis­ tance south from the present village of Orrin. The name Kondel was adopted by the early settlers that came from a village in Russia by that name. In 1903 a small church costing about $700.00 was built on a site on Section 15- This small church was continually used until 1917 when services were discontinued and the building disposed of for $200.00 and the organization joined in building their new church in Orrin named The Sacred Heart church of Orrin. Discontinued. •

THE SACRED HEART OF ORRIN The Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church of Orrin was established soon after the railroad came in, and Orrin was building. It was decided to discontinue services in the Kondel church south of the village and to build a larger church in the new village. The name St. Mathias church of Kondel was changed to Sacred Heart Church of Orrin. In 1917 a fine new church was built in Orrin. The members and friends did not long enjoy the use of their new church, however, until misfortune struck them. In 1924 a bolt of lightning struck the church and it was completely burned down to the ground. This misfortune did not discourage them, however, and before the year was out a new church costing $10,000.00 was built up again in Orrin. This was done under the supervision of Father Emil Steinach. This magnifi­ cent church has a seating capacity of four hundred souls and has been an enjoyable meeting place since it was built in 1924. A nice roomy parsonage costing $3,000.00, has also been enjoyed for a number of years. Again, on PIERCE COUNTY 79

March 13, 1944, a second misfortune struck the congregation. The church burned down the second time but plans are laid already to have the church rebuilt. Pastors—Father Herman Schmitz, 1911-13; Father Amelius Bubck, 1913-16; Father Herman Deker, 1916-20; Father Basil McKee, 1920-21; Father Anton Schimmel, 1921-23; Father Emil Steinach, 1924-25; Father M. W. Muellere, 1925-30; Father Sylvester Cullen, 1930-30; Father Richard Feuther, 1930-33; Father Edward Lippert, 1933-36; Father John Theilges, 1936-.

THE BALTA CHURCH The Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church of Balta was built before there was a Balta. The first church was built on Martin Axtman's farm on Section 6-154-73, Tuscarora Township, four miles northwest of the present village of Balta. Among the leaders of the undertaking were Peter Vetsch, Wendelin Schall, Joseph Hoffart, Martin Axtman, and others. The church was built in 1905. There was no bell, however, and the money was scarce. But that did not discourage the new settlers. Finally, one amongst them, Jacob Scheet, said, "I will donate my steer that can be sold at an auction and the money used for a bell." They all clasped their hands and approved the plan. That was not so soon forgotten. Even now it is often smilingly remarked that the first bell was a steer. When the Soo line came through in 1912, and the village of Balta was established, it was soon felt that a new church should be built there but to continue services in the present church until a new church could be built. In 1919, under the leadership of Father Phillip Bachner, the erection of the present brick church commenced and Father Phillip became the first resident pastor and lived in the new house that had been built for that purpose two years previously. Later Father Valentine Goetz, Father Boniface Axtman, Father Rolph Eisenzimmer had served in the new church. As soon as the new brick church was taken into use the services in the lumber church north of town were discontinued. The Balta brick church is a magnificent structure with stained colored windows and full basement of which all the people of Balta and the surrounding com­ munity are proud. The congregation is prosperous and growing in number.

THE EDEN VALLEY CHURCH Eden Valley Church, Norsk Evangelisk Lutherske Menighed, located 5 miles northwest of Selz, was organized June 26, 1898 with 67 members. Cornelius Heggen, Geo. T. Jorgensen and Ole Olson were elected trustees. Simon Heggen, secretary, and Halvor Brevik, treasurer, and Ole Bjork, Andr. Heggen and Mathias Simonson, deacons. The pastor's salary was at first $50.00 per year and economy had to be practiced all around. Meetings were first held in the farm homes and nearby school houses. In 1914 a church costing about $1,700.00 was built and in 1927 a basement and addi­ tions to the church were completed. A well organized Ladies Aid and Young 80 PIERCE COUNTY

People's Society have been of great help in the church work from the very beginning. A good and active choir has also been a valuable asset. Pastors— Rev. N. O. Fjeld, 1898-00; Rev. A. O. Fonkalsrud, 1900-01; Rev. T. J. Masker, 1901-06; Rev. C. Mehlen, 1906-.

THE STRASSBURG CHURCH The Strassburg St. Maria church, 6 miles north of Selz, was organized by Father James Brucheler 1899, in Joseph Weber's house. Two names were sug­ gested for the new church, Kondel and Strassburg. The latter won out. By 1900 the church building was completed and Father James Bucheler served as pastor until 1905. By that time 105 families had joined the church and soon a parsonage was erected. The Strassburg church continued to grow and prosper for many years but by 1931 people realized that it would be better to have a church in town so by that time the services discontinued at Selz. The parish home was sold and the church was dismantled and the materials hauled to Selz and used in building an addition to the St. Anthony Church at Selz. Pastors—Father James Bucheler, 1899-05; Father Gerhard Wilkes, 1905-08; Father James Buchler, 1908-10; Father Joseph Kern, 1910-10; Father M. V. Muller, 1910-14; Father Dicker, 1914-15; Father Anthony Nussbaumer, 1915-17; Father Ambrose Johamus, 1917-27; Father Basel Thums, 1917-27; Father Herbert Bierschinger, 1927-28; Father Tambert Weckwert, 1927-28; Father George Keim, 1928-29; Father John Lungert, 1929-31- Dissolved.

THE ST. BONIFACE CHURCH The St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church of Odessa was located on Sec­ tion 24-151-72 a short distance northeast of the present village of Selz close to the line between Benson and Pierce Counties. In fact the church was built in Pierce County but the cemetery was located across the line in Benson County. This was found by the first settlers to be a very desirable location for the church. It was said that the church was being built right on a wild flower bed found on the prairie. Therefore the church was also referred to as the church of Blumenfeld, the German name for a field of flowers Before a church building could be afforded a prayer building could be built. The prayer house was then put up but in 1905 a real church was then bu.lt. The congregation was organized in 1895 by Father Vincent Wher- ele at the home of Peter Werren. Regular services continued in this church until 1929 when it was discontinued and the church dismantled and most of the material hauled to Esmond and the Odessa church. Members found their way into other nearby churches. Pastors—Father A. B. Waeste, 1905- 07; Father Augustin Kern, 1907-10; Father M. B. Muellere, 1910-14; Father Herman Decker, 1914-15; Father Anthony Nussbaumer, 1915-17; Father Ambrose Johannes, 1917-17; Father Basil Thumm, 1917-. Dissolved. PIERCE COUNTY 81

THE SELZ CHURCH The St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church of Selz may be said to be a continuation of the Strassburg and Odessa churches that were built before the railroad came in to the village of Dallas, afterwards changed to Selz. After the automobiles and other ways of transportation had made travel more convenient, church members and friends decided to build a church in the new town of Selz. The leaders of the movement were Nic Lesmeister, Philip Keifer, Michael Burgard, A. J. Goosen and others. The St. Anthony church of Selz was organized 1916 under the pastorate of Father Nussbau­ mer. The new church was built in 1916 and 17. The first cost was $8,000.00, and afterwards $4,000.00 was spent for further improvements. In 1919 a comfortable rectory costing $6,000.00 was added to the property of the con­ gregation. The members of the Selz church are numbering over seven hun­ dred souls. Pastors—Father Nussbaumer, 1916-17; Father Ambrose Johanes, 1917-27; Father Basel Thumm, 1917-27; Father Menard, 1927-27; Father Herbert Burschinger, 1927-28; Father George Keim, 1928-29; Father John Lugert, 1929-39. , 82 PIERCE COUNTY

Ole T. Tofsrud

November 24, 1864, on the rockribbed shores of Norway, was born to his mother a little baby. Was it a girl? No, God had willed it to be a boy. His kind father was Torgus Olsen Tofsrud and his kind mother was Barbro Pedersdatter Hagen. As I was the first child born in the family it was de­ cided that I should be christened Ole in remembrance of my old grandfa­ ther, a name probably as old as the generation. As a child I was brought up and cared for by my kind parents. After I was getting a little older I re­ member of staying with my grandparents off and on and they were very kind to me but before long they had decided to leave their ancestral home in Norway to seek their home and fortune in a new country, the U. S. of America, a good decision. My father while living in the old country was a husmand (a cotter) occupying a small tract of land, a small farm called Tofsrud and owned by a storbonde (big farmer). As a husmand seldom had any money to pay the rent with to the storbonde it was customary for him to work it out, so many days in the year on the big farm. As the husmand hardly ever had any money he usually managed to eke out enough for his existence by making his own clothes and everything to live on in his own home. We had a few sheep and from the wool of these mother would carde and spin and weave enough clothes for the family. On our small patch of tillable land we raised enough grain, usually oats and barley, for our porrage and bread. Of course we had to thresh it out with a flail and after the grain was cleared out of the straw and shaff we took it to a small mill to have it ground into flour. The mill was made up of two flat stones, one on the top of the other and run by water power. The miller would take out a small portion of the flour as toll for the grinding. No money was involved in the transaction. Our living was simple but we usually had enough to eat. To get milk for our porridge and cream and butter for our bread we kept a cow or two and a few milking goats. It soon fell to my lot to take care of and herd these animals. In the spring and the summer, barefooted, I would start out early in the morning to gather cows, sheep and goats to bring them into the mountain side where they could pick the green grass to their taste. I would take my niste or dinner along and stay with them the whole day. When I got ready to open my niste and eat, the bell goat would always come around expecting to get a taste of it. She got to be so tame and inter­ ested in me that she would follow me wherever I would go. When the day was over and I might want to visit my neighbor, she would follow me there, too, and would usually lay down outside while I visited in the house until I got ready to go home, she would then pick herself up and follow me home, too. I felt so bad when my father sold my goat. When I got to be about five to six years old, I had to start going to school. The school house was located about three miles from our home but I would always walk there in the morning and walk back in the evening. We had to cross the river in the JPRCE COUNTY 83 morning and evening; but for that purpose we had a small boat to take us across so I early learned early to handle the oars to paddle the boat across the river.

In my studies I kept even with the other children of my age but fell a little behind with my arithmetic lessons. When I did, the bigger boys would help me out for the examinations but they would not do it without some compensation. I had no money so I would usually give them some nice but­ tons. After a while I sent for a textbook so I could study it during the evenings at home. I think the name of this book was Feragens regnebok. After that time it did not take me long before I got ahead of the other boys with the lessons and they would start to look to me for help. Thus I got back most of the buttons they had formerly gotten from me for the same purpose. After attending school for a few years the time came to study for the ministers, Rev. Ronke and Rev. Welhaven, who were then the pastors. After studying with them for a year I was confirmed by Welhaven. My folks were corresponding with our relatives over in America, and were asked to come over to see the country, so in 1882 we had decided to make the trip over the ocean. But there was one drawback. We did not have the money to buy tickets with, but that obstacle was overcome when my uncle Thor Pederson, who lived on his farm near Portland, North Dakota, was good enough to buy and send us tickets for our passage over to the new country. There were four of us in the family: Father, mother, brother Peter, and myself. The tickets called for passage on a small boat over the North Sea to England, by railroad over England and from there over the Atlantic Ocean on a larger boat of the Allan Line to America, and then by railroad to the destination. My ticket cost $64.00 which I tried to pay my uncle back by working for him on his farm near Portland. After a year's stay near Portland with our relatives we got a covered wagon and satrted out to go farther west to pick out a free homestead for father and mother to make their home on. We found such a place near where Churches Ferry is now located. There father filed on 160 acres of new land as his homestead. I was at that time too young to file on land so I stayed with my father to help him to get started on his new home. Part of this time I worked on the streets at Devils Lake, then called Creel City and on the new railway grade into the west end, now named Minnewaukan, an old Indian name. This was in 1883. In the spring next year I went back to the Portland vicinity to look for the summer's work with the intention of trying to go to school next winter. When the winter came I stayed with my grandparents and started to go to school in Portland, a distance of three miles from their place. This was quite a distance to walk back and forth each day so I made myself a pair of good skis and as I was well used to skis from the old coun­ try's hillsides the trips were made easy each day. After a while I was offered the job as janitor in the school house at a salary of $10.00 per month. This was not a very big pay but everything was cheaper those days so I started to 84 PIERCE COUNTY look around until I found a family place where they agreed to feed and keep me with their own family for the $10.00 a month so I got along fine. Next spring I started to work on a farm but the fever soon caught me that I should get a farm of my own, so in the spring of 1885 I located and filed on a quarter of land near where Barton is now located. The Great Northern Railway, then called St. Paul-Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad, was built only as far west as Devils Lake. I soon bought a yoke of oxen and a wagon, on time, and was going to start farming. I first built a sod house to live in and a sod barn for my oxen. The hardest thing was to get water so I started to dig a well. I dug fifty feet before I struck water but it had to be curbed so it would not cave in.

But to go sixty miles to Devils Lake to get boards for curbing was not so easy and besides the money was scarce so I hitched up my oxen and drove over to the Sand Hills about eight miles west of my place to pick up some poles about 6 inches in diameter that could be split into halves for the curb­ ing. This made a good strong curbing but another obstacle came up. We did not have any nails to fasten the slabs to the uprights with but that too was overcome. I had brought with me a wooden auger so I started to bore holes in each slab and in the stringers and made wooden plugs to fasten the curb­ ing with. This was slow work but I did not have anything else to do during the winter anyhow so it went all right. We got a strong well but the water tasted some from the curbing so Tom and Dick, my oxen, did not like it so that was one drawback. PIERCE COUNTY 85

The First Mail There were of course no post offices in Pierce County when the first settlers came and for some time afterwards. There were no newspapers and if there had been any they would have ceased to be new by the time they could have reached us. We wrote and received a few letters and sent for a few books so we had something to read. There was soon established a post office a short distance south of where Towner is now located, called Newport. Our mail was left there by the mail driver and picked up by Hans Oium who lived a little further north on Mouse River and a little closer to us. The five of us that had settled in the neigborhood of where Barton is now located got our mail at the Hans Oium place about 20 miles away. In the winter of 1885 and 1886 there was a lot of snow and of course no roads so we walked to the river for our mail. We always made the trip in one day. When the snow was deep we used skis. The next post offices established were Denney, now Barton, Hurricane Lake and Rugby. Ador Jevnager was the name of the sturdy young man that the pioneers of Pierce, McHenry and Ward Counties looked to for their mail and it was said of him that snow storms never halted Jevnager on his trip with the mail. He lived in the Villard settlement south­ west of where Towner is now located and his mail route was from Minne- waukan to Burlington, supplying Broken Bone Lake, Newport, Scriptown, Villard, Saint Carl, with mail. It took him several days to make the trip with his fleet horses. In the winter he used a homemade sleigh and in the summer time a buggy. The route was discontinued with the coming of the railroad in the summer of 1886.

Early Farming In the summer of 1885 the same year that I filed on my claim, I got four and a half acres broken up and ready for farming and the next summer fifty acres more. I also managed to break up some small pieces for others. That reminds me of a little incident. One of my former school mates who had filed on a tree claim about ten miles from my place, said to me, "If you will take your oxen and break up five acres of my claim I will give you this silver watch for it." I looked at the watch and said that he could consider it a bargain. But said he, "While you are at it you might as well break up five acres more and I will give you fifteen dollars for it next fall." So I broke up the ten acres as agreed on, but when I met him again he told me that he was going to take a trip back to the old country and would need the money for the trip but would pay me on his return. I did not meet him until a few years later. One day when I happened to be in Portland I noticed him across the street, but as soon as he noticed me he slipped into one of the blind pigs. I went in after him and asked him if he could pay me the fifteen dollars for the breaking. 86 PIERCE COUNTY

He looked at me and said that as he had been fooled into that country that was too dry and poor for anybody to live in so by right I should pay him for fooling him up there. I thought that statement was so comical I laughed at him, pulled out of my pocket an old money pouch, opened it and said, "How much do I owe you then, so I might as well pay you now." He caught the joke and said, "I didn't mean what I said. Have a drink with me." Some time afterwards he wrote me and said that if I could sell his right to his tree claim for fifty dollars and I could have whatever I got more for the breaking. I had an offer of fifty dollars but would have to take the buyer's note for it. I wrote to tell him about the offer and he wrote back and told me to make the deal. After the deal was made he offered to sell me the note at a fifteen dollars discount so I finally got my money for the breaking. My farming at that time was not very profitable. The crops of 1886 and 1887 were good, the 1888 crop looked good to start with but the early frost cut down the yield and the wheat was light in weight on account of the frost so the price was naturally small. The years 1889 and 1890 were very dry and the gophers were bad, too, so we hardly harvested anything to sell. Whatever the farmers could cut around the sloughs and wet places they would haul up to Dunseith to have it ground into flour to live on. Dunseith at that time had a small grist mill run by water power. In the fall of 1890 I sold my oxen and went out farther west to look for work. In company with Ole Haavengen, Andrew Bodahl and Markus Bye we took the train to Great Falls. The Great Northern had then been completed that far and started to build its line through the Rocky Mountains. Arriving on the train at Great Falls the four Dakota companions started out with luggage on their back to walk through Cut banks up to and through the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains until they reached the Kelly and Simpsons camp. On our way we camped out, cooking our meals over camp fires. One of our suppers was a real feast on a grouse bird that I shot with my revolver. When Mr. Simpson was approached for a job with the suggestion that reference and recommen­ dation could be furnished his prompt reply was, Young man, if you have ref­ erences don't show them in Montana, if we don't like a man here we fire him. You may stay here until we get our camp completed and if we need you then we may hire you, meanwhile, the board will cost you nothing. The result was that I worked for them for two years as their time keeper and clerk. When laborers got scarce in the mountains one hundred and fifty Italians from Cincinnati were hired for the camp. They worked by the day and boarded themselves. At first the construction work was not so well or­ ganized and three months passed before the paymaster came around. He was supposed to have come every month. Suddenly the paymaster appeared and ordered Mr. Kelly to have the payrolls ready by four c'olock the next day, to which command Mr. Kelly replied, "That will be impossible. I have only a green Norwegian to get them out." I stayed up all the next night to work on the payrolls and by four o'clock the next day the payrolls were ready and PIERCE COUNTY 87

the green Norwegian's pride swelled up considerably when the paymaster told Mr. Kelly that this was the best payroll on the whole line. The secret of it was that I worked while my competitors slept. The confidence thus won from Mr. Kelly was never lost. When the $64,000.00 contract in the Rocky Mountain was finished the camp moved to northern Idaho t» complete a smaller contract and from there on to eastern Washington. Thus keeping ahead with the grading construction on the Great Northern Railway on its line to the west coast.

After two years railroading I returned home with one thousand dollars in my pocket. I worked for a short time in the elevator at Barton for Mr. Gillmore. Part of my duties was to take care of and drive a blind horse, the usual motive power used in the then up-to-date elevators. I was soon then elected the county treasurer of Pierce County and as at times there was not much doing in the office I worked in the Jacobson's store and lumber yeard between times. The building used for the court house was located close by. In 1895 I went into business for myself, starting a general mercantile store in Rugby, running the same for ten years until 1905 when I sold the stock to Rohrer and McTavis and rented them the store building. In 1909 I was instrumental in organizing The Security Bank of Rugby and acted as its president until it was sold to the Citizens State Bank of Rugby in March, 1927. Among other activities performed in Pierce County and Rugby may be mentioned, a number of years served as county treasurer, president of the board of education and mayor of Rugby. And as a member of the state legislature for a number of terms. In 1898 was united in marriage to Miss Ragna Hiller, a native of Norway, who came to America as a child. To this union was born four children, all girls. Bertha who is in the mercantile business in Rugby; Tillie who became Mrs. John McBride, now a railroad man of Denver, Colorado; Rachel, a school teacher, now Mrs. Carl Lindberg, a machine dealer; and Lillian, a teacher and now for many years a steno­ grapher for the U. S. Government.