History of Kulm ND 1892-1957
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Transcribed by Missionary Allen E. Konrad, P.O. Box 2544, New Germany 3620, South Africa. E-mail address: <[email protected]> [Sept 2001] 1892 TO 1957 KULM, N. DAK. This Book is Dedicated To Our Forefathers: for their unswerving faith in the possibilities of a virgin land such as Kulm. To The Present Generation: who diligently and tenaciously hold to that heritage of faith. To Posterity: who in their time will carry on that faith which has shaped the destiny of Kulm. Forward A view of Kulm's history during the past sixty-five years has brought back memories to the large group of its citizens who have been taking a look at its past. With the memories has come an appreciation for the many pioneers named and unnamed, who braved the early hardships and left a heritage greater than they knew. As the time for the work was comparatively short and the workers are amateurs in journalism, many items of interest may be mission from the allotted pages. The histories of many early settlers do not appear as no information concerning them was available. Information and early photographs were furnished by children and grandchildren of these early pioneers. To the best of our knowledge, we take these statements as correct. Mistakes may have taken place in the construction of this book, so please bear with us, as we amateur writers did the best we could under the circumstances. The committee has worked with the co-operation of the community and therefore it has turned out to be a community project and we say, "History is not made by the majority, but by individual men and women." The committee takes this opportunity to express their appreciation to the Kulm Lions Club who sponsored this project, and to the scores of individuals who have given so generously of their time and efforts, their pictures, and information to make this book possible. Special appreciation goes to all business places and individuals who sponsored pages, bought advertising, etc. Appreciation also goes to Miss Margaret Rose, who gave us additional information from records stored in the State Historical Library at Bismarck. The book is sent forth with the hope that it may record some of the heritage of the past, give an appreciation of the present, and an inspiration for the future. MAGGIE ROSSMAN, Chairman [P3 Picture: JUBILEE COMMITTEE--Reinhold Beich, W.E. Brost, Harold Luck, L.A. Koenig, R.O. Gackle, Ernest Gackle, Ben Joenig, Sharpe Pruetz, William Jans, Treasurer; Anna Bjornson, Secretary; Mrs. R.L. Jans, Mrs. Art Okerlund, Mrs. Harry Nelson, Oscar Lange, Chairman.] [P3 Picture: ADVERTISING COMMITTEE--Dan Hoffman, Wm. Brauer, E.G. Dennis and Henry Gackle.] [P3 Picture: HISTORICAL BOOK COMMITTEE-- Mmes. Ervin Dennis, Sharpe Pruetz, W.E. Brost, Caleb Bjur, Mrs. E.H. Grosz, Anna Bjornson, Maggie Rossman, Mrs. Russell Gackle.] [P4 Picture: KULM CITY OFFICALS--Ed Hieb, City auditor; M.W. Gackle, Mayor; N.G. Isaak, alderman; W.E. Brost, alderman, Sam Henke, Jake Steinwand, Dan Hoffman and Harold Luck, aldermen.] [P4 Picture: KULM LIONS CLUB--Hugh Butrick, Helmuth Hermann, Everett Brovold, Jake Steinwand, Wm. Brauer, H.A. Brost, Wayne Hieb, Otto Schott, J.E. Grenz, Henry Gackle, Gottlieb Schock, Harold Fregien, Harry Isaak, Art Krein, Gilbert Holle, Ben Joenig, R.L. Jans, Walter Botsford, Ervin Dennis, M.C. Buechler, Harry Nelson, Harold Luck, W.E. Brost, N.G. Isaak, Sharpe Preutz, Reinhold Beich, Oscar Lange, Martin Gackle. Members not pictured: Nick Novakovich, Dr. E. Aarma, Dr. D.M. Cameron, Irvin Mogck, W.J. Hildebrand, Art Okerlund.] KULM LIONS CLUB The Kulm Lions Club was organized in April, 1942. The Lions Club Charter Night was held Tuesday, the 21st of April, 1942. The Charter night Chairman was Sharpe Pruetz and Oscar Lange was the Master of Ceremonies. The first elected officers were: F.W. Fergusson, President; W.J. Hildebrand, 1st Vice President; Wesley Fredenburg, 2nd Vice President; H.J. Miller, Secretary-Treasurer; Oscar Lange, Lion Tamer; Fred Strobel, Tail Twister. The first Board of Directors were the following men: E.M. Anderson, Ernest Gackle, Peter J. Eberhard and L.G. Hixon. The Charter Members were: C.W. Ware, Alex Smith, A.J. Smith, J.R. Zimmerman, Fred C. Strobel, Otto Gackle, Ernest Gackle, W.J. Hildebrand, Sharpe Pruetz, N.G. Isaak, L.G. Hixon, Ed Hieb, Joe Melicher, John A. Flegel, Art Mueller, Peter J. Eberhard, Dan Hoffman, C.C. Buechler, Harris Miller, Wesley Fredenburg, Oscar Lange, E.M. Anderson, M.W. Gack.e, W.E. Brost, F.W. Fergusson, J.D. Smith, Reinhold Beich, Jacob Ruff, John J. Gackle, G.M. Stephens, G.E. Chambers, F.C. Smith, John A. Rath, Otto Beich, E.H. Grosz, and D.F. Brost. Charter members still belonging to the club are as follows: N.G. Isaak, Sharpe Pruetz, Dan Hoffman, Oscar Lange, M.W. Gackle, W.E. Brost, Reinhold Beich. The present officers of the club are Ben Koenig, President; E.G. Dennis, 1st Vice President; Harry Nelson, 2nd Vice President; Harold Luck, 3rd Vice President; M.C. Buechler, Secretary-Treasurer; Oscar Lange, Lion Tamer; Art Okerlund, Tail Twister. The present directors are Otto. E. Schott, Art Krein, Jacob Steinwand and Everett Brovold. The Lions Club sponsored many worth-while projects during its existence. The last major project sponsored was in promoting the idea of paving the streets in the city. It is well to mention that Oscar Lange was elected Lion Tamer when the club was first organized and has held that office continously to the present date. The Ashley Lions Club was the sponsoring club for the Kulm Lions. The Lions meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the City Auditorium at a dinner meeting served by the Kulm Homemakers Club. History of Kulm [P5 Picture: Main Street] The townsite of Kulm was established in 1892 on the northwest quarter of section 26, township 133, range 66. The Soo Line purchased 106 acres for a townsite and right of way. Wesley Organ appropriated another 40 acres for this purpose. All of this land had been formerly Wesley Organ's homestead. About this time Mrs. Christina Buechler and two sons, Fred and Christ, who were living in Merricourt and operating a general mercantile store and the post office there, decided to move their store to this new townsite. Two brothers, Fred Flegel and Christ Flegel living in the Kulm territory at that time, heard of this contemplated move and got in touch with Fred Buechler asking to have the job of digging the basement for this first store on main street. While they were digging the basement, a Soo Line surveyor approached Christ Flegel and asked what they would like to have the town named. As neither of the brothers could speak English at that time, Fred Buechler acted as interpreter. Christ Flegel through his interpreter told the surveyor that if it was up to him to name the new town, he would like to have it named Kulm for three reasons, first--because Kulm, Bessarabia, South Russia was his birthplace, second--Kulm, Germany was the birthplace of his ancestors, third--that most of the settlers living around the new site were from Kulm, Russia and Kulm, Germany. As a result of this request the name of Kulm was printed on a little station that was erected on the right of way in 1892. To gain the good will of the people and help build up the town, the railroad company constructed an enclosed shed 28 x 140 feet for stabling farmers teams free of charge, this building being located where Gackle Brothers coal sheds are now standing, in the northern part of the city of Kulm, right across the Soo Line tracks. An addition 16 x 28 feet was built on the east end of the shed, furnished with a stove and coal, where the farmers could stay day or night without pay for heat or lodging. At this time the station agent F.A. Evans informed the early settlers that the cars of grain were going out of Kulm in a steady stream and that the Soo Line planned to sink a well to furnish water for a tank as the nearest one was at Oakes, N. Dak. Because it was located in the south western tip of LaMoure County and near the corner of Dickey, McIntosh and Logan counties, it had a large territory to draw from and expanded rapidly. Kulm remained the western terminus of the Soo Line railroad until 1898 when it was extended west. [P6 Pictures: Grain Buyers at Kulm. Elevators; General Store. 1st Drug Store. Clara Grosz; M.W. Gackle] In a short time Kulm had seven grain elevators, which in one season received and shipped nearly one million bushels of grain Besides the elevators there were also street buyers of grain who had their scales on the site just north of John Stroehl's service station. The purchased grain was immediately loaded into railroad cars that were ordered in advance and were on side tracks. As high as 300 bushels of grain were taken in by these buyers in a day. The quantity of grain handled in Kulm was considerably larger than in any other town in LaMoure County. Besides the store of Mrs. Christine Buechler and sons, who were the first to do a general mercantile business in Kulm, having moved their building and goods from Merricourt in 1892, other general stores were started; one by Zellmer and Lange, later owned by G. Lange exclusively, and located on the present A.J. Smith block and the John Grosz store just north of the post office building, and the J.M.