1882 to 1S60

HISTORY of MERCER COUNTY NORTH DAKOTA

by C. B. HEINEMEYKK MRS. BEN JANSSEN NUKIH DAKOTA NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BOOK OR AUTHOR 331 05 00038 8478

HISTORICAL DITS I* of M MERCER COUNTY < :- North Dakota Dedicated To The School Children by C. B. Heinemeyer

Published by The Hazen Star

INDIANS So far as is known the early inhabitants of what is now Mercer ounty, were the tribes of Indians now known as the Mandans, Rees, [and Grosventre. The Assinoboines, Crows, Cheyennes, and Sioux frequently visited some of the aforementioned tribes. Sometimes it {was a friendly visit to barter and trade, and at times it was a hunting party, or a war party. Traces of one village, also many of the temporary camps on the upper Knife River and Spring Creek marked by teepee rings, denote by their arrangements that they are not of Mandan, Ree, or Grosventre origin^x The Mandans The origi•l n of this tribe is a much disputed question. Some writers claim that!they had seceded from the Sioux, others that they were descendants of white men, while another writer says that their original home was Ion the southeast coast of the United States. The Mandans were one of the most famous of the tribes in the west; they lived in fortified villages and most of their time was devoted to the growing of crops, especially corn. The Rees claim that the Mandans received their knowledge of cultivating corn from them, but! it is probable that the Mandans, while still at their old home in the southeastern part of the United States, were taught to plant corn; by the Indians of Mexico, where the corn plant undoubtedly originated; j The Rees These Indians are sometimes called Panamas, Panis, Aricara, Arickarees and Rus. Their kinfolks were the Pawnees with whom they carried on a large trade in horses. Like the Mandans, they were extensive corn growers and traded much of their surplus to neighboring tribes. Many of their traditions are about the growing, cultivating,

STATE LIBRARY C0.«W!'SS!Oft r>iou« n/1!/ and harvesting of corn. The women did all this work, and the different ...,.Missouri river seems to be a newly settled section of our state. , To be sure, as a political subdivision we ai'e comparatively young, only a matter of half a century; but every foot of it is historic ground. Long before the event of the first white man, thriving villages, inhabited by blue-eyed, white haired Indians, who lived in houses, were located here and there along the west bank of the "Big Muddy," near the mouths of the smaller streams. The valleys swarming with buffalo and antelope, the woodlands along the rivers with its deer and grouse, the numerous streams teeming with fish; these together with well tended patches of corn, beans and squash, kept the people of these villages from want. This was the life of the fabled Mandans when that gallant French- Canadian explorer, Chevalier de la Verendrye, found them in the year 1738. A peaceful nation, so different from their neighboring tribes, not only in their physical make-up, but also in their customs, usages and mode of living. From whence they came we do not know. The story of the Welsh Prince Madoc and his followers, who was supposed to have ruled them in 1170, is discredited by many. More likely they may be descendants of the once powerful Mayas of Central America. At any rate, they did not depend entirely on the hunt and chase for their subsistence. Strange as it may seem they worshiped one God, long before they had ever heard of the white man's God, whom they called by an Indian name meaning "The Elderman" (the High One). They had laws for the tribe, the village, the clan, and the indi­ vidual. A criminal, a civil code, and laws on health and santitation. Elaborate ceremonies were conducted in connection with birth, puberty, marriage, and death, both of males and females. Ceremonies, before and after the hunt, at planting time, at harvest, at the beginning of the four seasons, and also commemorating other great events, all were of a religious nature. It has been said that to learn the rituals, live up to them, and to fully take part in the ceremonies of their highest secret society (that of "The White Buffalo"), would take a lifetime. All of the early explorers and travelers comment on their well planned villages, fortifications, their gardens, and good earth lodges. Many make special mention of how well their villages were policed. While ruins of ancient Mandan villages have been found all along the Missouri, from the mouth of the Heart River to the mouth of the Little Missouri, the most eminent investigators believe, that the main or first village was located near the mouth of the Knife river. Verendrye in 1738 found them near Shell creek, on what is now the Ft. Berthold Reservation; Lewis and Clark in 1804 met the first band near Mandan. The strongest fortified village, that Lewis records, was located on what is now Sec. 36, Twp. 144, Rge. 84, Mercer county. The Ahnahaways who were a branch of the Hidatsa, now called Grosventre, had a village north of Stanton. The Ricara or Ree villages were also along the Knife river north of Stanton. Another Hidatsa or Grosventre village was located on the present court house grounds. At the Hidatsa village north of Stanton Capt. Clark first met Sakakawea, then a girl of sixteen, who was the wife of an independent trader named Charbonneau. It was reported to Captain Lewis, that as a young girl she had been taken captive by Crow Indians, a branch of the Hidatsa tribe, in a raid on the Shoshone, her parent tribe. Charbonneau had purchased her from these visiting Crow Indians and made her his wife. When Lewis and Clark continued their westward journey, Sakakawea (the Bird Woman) was chosen as the guide to blaze the trail for them across the "Shining Mountains" to the shores of the Pacific as she was the only one at the villages near the Knife river who had crossed the continental divide before.

The Small Pox Epidemic To our knowledge the saddest epoch in the history of our red family was during the year 1837. The great trade center at that time was Ft. Clark. Francis Chardon, a trader in this territory since 1828, was the factor at the time. Like most of the men of his vocation he kept a minute record of all his transactions, and also recorded any event of interest each day. Chardon's original journal is preserved in the manuscript division of the library of Congress. Several writers have given a descriptive account of the happenings at Ft. Clark during his service; all of these are copied from his journal. We will here give a resume of his diary dated June, July, August and September, 1837. On June 28, 1837, the steamboat St. Peters arrived at Ft. Clark. Early in July small pox broke out among the Indians at the village, near the Fort, and many died. Late in July cases of small pox and deaths from small pox were reported at all villages and camps. The Grosventre threatened to kill all the whites at the Fort. The Rees and Mandans gave dances, saying they danced because they had only a short time to live. Chardon reports that on July 30, 1837, "Four Bears," a mighty Mandan chief, one of the best friends the white man had, made the following address to the assembled Arickarees, and Mandans. It is an unusual example of Indian eloquence. "My Friends one and all, listen to what I have to say. Ever since I can remember, I have loved the whites. I have lived with them ever since I was a boy, and to the best of my knowledge, I have never wronged a white man. On the contrary, I have always protected them from insults of others, which they cannot deny. "The Four Bears" never saw a white man hungry, but that he gave him to eat, drink, and a buffalo skin to sleep on, in time of need. I was always ready to die for them, which also they cannot deny. I have done everything that a red skin could do for them. And how have they repaid it? With ingratitude! I have never called a white man a dog, but today I do pronounce them to be a set of black hearted dogs. They have deceived me, they whom I always considered brothers, have turned out to be my enemies. I have been in many battles, and often wounded, but these wounds of my enemies I exalt in; but today I am wounded and by whom, by those same white dogs that I always considered and treated as brothers. I do not fear death, my friends, you know it, but to die with my face rotten, that even the wolves will shrink with horror at seeing me, and say to themselves that is "The Four Bears" the friend of the whites. Listen well what I have to say, as it will be the last time you will hear from me, think of your wives, children, brothers, sisters, friends and in fact, all that you hold dear, all are dead or dying, their faces rotten, caused by those dogs, the whites. Think of all that, my friends, and rise up together and not leave one of them alive; "The Four Bears" will act his part." Chardon records that "The Four Bears" died that day—on the same day the Grosventre villages threatened death and destruction to all at the Fort. They swore vengeance against all whites, as, they said, the smallpox was brought there by the steamboat. In August the Mandans, leaving their sick, moved across the river (Missouri) to camp, thinking thereby to avoid the ravages of this terrible disease. A short time later the Arickarees, who had lived in Mandan lodges, moved on an island down river to make a new camp. Some of the sick that were left behind killed one attache of the Fort, John Cliner. The whites in return killed the Indians. Other attempts to kill the whites were made but without success. Many of the sick Indians jumped into the river and drowned, others committed suicide in diverse ways. During September the scourge had abated; only three attaches of the Fort were sick, the rest had recovered. Some of the Arickarees, remaining in the villages, were over their sickness. Those who were camped on the island, and the camp at the point of woods, below the Fort, were getting well, but did not return to the villages. The Mandans feared that their former allies, the Rees would unite with the Sioux. They made overtures to establish new villages far removed from the Fort; this was done some years later. It is not recorded as to the number of Arickarees and Grosventre, that succumbed to the disease. The Mandans seemed to have suffered the most, they were practically wiped out. Chardon reports that before the epidemic, the Mandans in the villages that traded at the Fort numbered some 800; after the disease had run its course, he reports 41 remaining. The Mandans remained on the opposite side of the river for a few years, when they recrossed to this side and established villages. These were located north of Stanton, but no trace of them can be found now, perhaps most of them were washed away by the continuous ravages of the Missouri river. Part of one however is still be seen in the Rock village at Manuel Rock, near the old river town, Expansion. This is supposed to be the last stand of the Mandans on this side of the river. After abandoning this village they moved to the "Three Villages" near old Ft. Berthold (on the north side of the Missouri river, opposite Ree), which was established in 1845 and named after M. Berthold, the first factor. Not until 1891, when allotments were made, did the Mandans make their place of abode on our side of the river. Indians of Mercer County of the Present Day The most prominent Indians who were allotted lands on that part of the Ft. Berthold Indian Reservation which is now in Mercer county, and are now living, are as follows: The Mandans "HENRY SITTING CROW," Chief of the Mandans. "CORNSTALK," wife of Sitting Crow, and daughter of Scatter Corn. "SCATTER CORN," (oldest Mandan woman now living), mother of "Cornstalk" and grandmother of Holding Eagle. "LITTLE OWL," whose wife is "Assinoboine woman" (Ree). "BULLHEAD" (Ben Benson). "YELLOW BREAST," (Grosventre) wife of Bullhead. "HARD HORN" (Charles Blake). "SON OF THE STARS" (Jess D. Mason), whose wife is Lucy Sears (French), daughter of Louis Sears, a member of the crew of the steamboat, St. Peter. "JAMES HOLDING EAGLE," son of Sitting Crow, whose wife is "Katherine Malnorie" (East Woman), daughter of Malnorie, the trader. The Rees "PAT STAR" ("Omaha Chief") "RUNNING WOLF" "MRS. SKUNK HEAD" "STRIBEY HORN" ("Red Dog") "SHORT BEAR" "YOUNG SNAKE" "ENEMY HEART" "BOY CHIEF" "LITTLE SOLDIER" "ALEX SAGE" ("Big Knife") "ED LOCKWOOD" ("Feathered Arrow") "FRANK FOX" ("Crow Tail") "ALBERT GILLETTE" "REUBEN DUCKET" "PAT MALNORIE," son of Malnorie, the trader. "MILES HORN," (one of the actors in the motion picture, "The Oregon Trail"). The Grosventre "MEDICINE STONE" (as a young man he served as a government Indian scout in various campaigns against the Sioux). EXPLORERS The First White Man Some historians believe that the Spanish adventurers from Mexico were the first to come in contact with the Indians along the upper Missouri, but this belief is not supported by records. It is not improbable that Raddison and Groselliers met with some Indians of the Missouri during their explorations in the years 1654 to 1660, and undoubtedly we will some day find records of voyageurs having visited among them as early as 1700. The first authentic account we have of the white man's visit to these Indians is that of Chevalier- de la Verendrye, a French-Canadian explorer who visited the Assinoboines and Mandans as early as 1738. M. de la Verendrye Verendrye explored Canada and northern Dakota in the above year taking possession of the country in the name of the king of France. According to his journal, or diary, he left Ft. La Reine, (on the site of Portage la Prairie, west of Winnipeg, Manitoba), on Sept. 18th, 1738. He passed the first mountain (Pembina) on Sept. 21st, and a few days later passed the second mountain, (Turtle). On Nov. 18th he visited an Assiniboine village where they told him of the Mandans. He then arranged to go to the Mandan villages and the Assiniboines accompanied him, the latter sending runners ahead to the Mandan villages. Upon the arrival of the runners the Mandans chose a meeting place about fourteen miles from their villages, where on the 28th, Verendrye arrived and where he met a Mandan chief and thirty men. In his journal Verendrye says: "I had the Mandan chief brought to my hut (tent) and one of his men presented me with Indian corn, on the ear, and tobacco which is not good. Certain authorities claim that two sons of Verendrye, who were with him on the exploration of 1738, made extensive explorations as far west as the present site of Helena, Mont., that they returned in a southwesterly direction until they came to a point in the territory which is now South Dakota. At this point they turned north and again visited the Mandan Indians on the Missouri river near Shell creek in the year 1743. This may be true, but cannot be verified because of inability to secure a copy of their journal, but much light will be thrown on this period (1740 to 1800) when the records of the Hudson Bay company become accessible to the general public. There is no doubt in my mind that the Hudson Bay company traders and the French Canadian voyageurs visited the Mandans during this period. Nothing daunts your French-Canadian voyageur; one of whom, Charles Le Raye, came to this territory in 1802. Charles Le Raye In his journal we find that he visited the Mandan and Grosventre villages at Batteau river (Knife river, Mercer county, North Dakota). Of their agricultural pursuits he says: "The Indians raise corn, beans, melons, pumpkins and tobacco. They carry on at these villages a considerable commerce with these productions; having much more than they want for their own consumption. It is a barter trade with neighboring nations, who never cultivate the ground, for such articles of European goods, as they have procured at the British establishments, at the falls of St. Anthony, or from traders; and also for horses, mules, dried meat, and other articles. Their principal customers are the Sioux, the Chein Indians (Cheyenne), Kites (Crows), Dotaime (Kiowa) the most of whom, except the Sioux reside on the river Chein (Cheyenne.)" Elsewhere he mentions a religious festival which was held annually when the first thunder was heard in the spring; this being the time of testing the seed corn to discover if it would germinate. Le Raye is the first to mention the Knife river; which he explored to its source, the big spring in the Killdeer mountains. In his journal he says, he camped at the forks (near the present site of Beulah) then followed the north fork, (which we call Spring Creek), discovered the "Salt Mountain" (alkali bluffs near Golden Valley) and then followed the fork west to the "Big Spring," and thence west thru the "Bad Lands." He went as far west at the Yellowstone river (Montana) and on his return to these Indian villages learned from the Indians that a large party of soldiers were on their way up the Missouri river. This was undoubtedly the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Lewis and Clark Expedition This expedition was sent out by President Jefferson to explore the northern portion of the Louisiana Territory.' The subjects of this sketch, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, started from St. Louis, Mo., which was then a frontier town, made their way up the Missouri 7 SUTE LIBRARY COtfWiSSIOf* BISMARCK, H. DAK.. ' 34 YEARS AGO FARMERS UNION The Mandan Mercantile Co. CENTRAL EXCHANGE, INC. .Minnesota Bldg., St. Paul, Minn. Started their first lumber yard in Mercer County at Mannhaven. Since Incorporated under the cooperative laws nf Minnesota then we have continuously operated at Over 5(1 affiliated cooperative stockholder companies Over 4,000 individual stockholders Stanton

The Far mm' Union ^enlral Fxrhanne. scrus as buying scent Hazen l.ir over 50,(100 memheis of ihc Farmers' Union in Norlli Dakota, Montana, Miniu'Mila, and Wisconsin, Beulah It distributed rnnprralively limine 1931 approxiinalrlySl.CCfl.- 000 worth of petroteum products, Hour, Iced, coal, tall, twine and Golden Valley oilier staple farm necessities ll is suppljinc petroleum products lo bH independent local CO. operative hulk oil companies. Many of the oldest families in Mercer ll operates 2(> retail brandies rt North Dakota and Wisconsin.

County have dealt with us, father and Below Arc, Approximate Figures fur 1931 Gross Volume: son, ever since they settled here. (Jasuline. 1,500 cars J 450,000.00 l.ubricaiine Oil. 500,000 Gallons 150.000.00 Crease, 360,000 I'mimls 24,000.00 We Are Proud Of These Fine Old Station Kquipwient 90.000.00 Binder Twine 260,0(10.00 Customers Coal. Salt. Feed and Miscelaneous 93,000,00

Stanton Hardware Occident Elevator Co.

Stanton, North Dakota The Pioneer Grain Buyers of Mercer County, Established at Mannhaven. North Dakota, in the year. 1898. Then known as The Lyons Elevator Company, YOUR SATISFACTION OUR A[H with Henry Pfenning as their first Manager. Oscar H. Thue, Prop. Since then we have conducted a successful grain. Iced, seed, and flour business at

COMPLIMENTS Hazen, N. Dak. Beulah, N. Dak. Farmers Educational And Co-operative Union of America. and North Dakota Division, Supporting Golden Valley, N. Dak. the following Business Institutions: FARMERS UNION TERMINAL ASSOCIATION, Because our numerous customers can always feel assured that our FARMERS UNION EXCHANGE, managers will greet them pleasantly and Farmers Union Livestock cordially, therefore, we hope that our Commission Co. continued future business transactions will be as pleasant as they have been Saint Paul, Minn. in the past.

ii ii ii' ^ u 'if- iy' ii' '!' a i. £, & Jl '5 & l river, visiting the Indian villages along its banks. During the winter of 1804-1805 they made their headquarters at a place north of the present site of Washburn, North Dakota. Early the next spring they set out again, followed the Missouri river to its source, crossed the Rocky mountains, found the Columbia river and sailed down to the Pacific ocean, returning the next year (1807) to St. Louis. It is a known fact that the Lewis and Clark expedition was nearly destitute of food when it reached the territory which now comprises western North Dakota, and unless they had obtained food they would have been compelled to retrace their steps and abandon further explorations. History substantiates the fact that from the Indians in this territory they obtained enough corn to continue their journey. After Lewis and Clark had visited these Indians and made peace with them the traders became more numerous, especially those from the northeast, who thought that their territory was about to be encroached upon. Among the first of these was one Alexander Henry, who paid Lewis and Clark a friendly visit at their winter quarters. Alexander Henry This early explorer visited the Indian villages along the Missouri in the summer of 1806, coming overland from the Pembina mountains, where he was in charge of a trading post. The first villages he came to were located at the mouth of Snake Creek (McLean county, North Dakota, a few miles southeast of the present town of Garrison, N. D.). His journal, dated July, 1806, recites the following: "The chief, Black Cat, conducted me to his hut where I found buffalo hides spread before the fire and the women at once brought me a great feast of corn, beans and dried buffalo." Later Henry visited other villages on the Missouri river, of which he says: "Everywhere I found the children and women hoeing corn, and in the woods found numerous patches of beans, squashes and corn." He notes as the reason why the Mandan Indians so frequently change their village sites, that the soil becoming exhausted by cultivation, they move to more fertile fields. He also states that he found the Mandans better and more extensive farmers than the Grosventre. At the time of Henry's visit to the Great village at Knife river, he met Francois Larocque who had been with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also Rene Jussaume, interpreter, who had lived among the Mandans for over fifteen years. He also found two young men in the employ of The North West Co., James Coldwell and Charles M'Kenzie, living with the Mandans. The most prominent trader to visit the upper Missouri river the year after Henry, was Manuel Lisa. Manuel Lisa Manuel Lisa was a Spaniard, whose headquarters were at St. Louis, Mo., and prior to coming north in the year 1807, dealt mostly with the Indians of New Mexico. He was a "Captain of Industry" in his day, and volumes could be written about him. After the return of the Lewis and Clark expedition Lisa immedi­ ately made preparations to establish posts in this unopened territory, and in 1807 ascended the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers to the mouth of the Big Horn river, where he built a fort. (Near the present site of Bighorn, Mont.) On his first trip up the Missouri, the Aricarees (Rees), who were awaiting his arrival, presented him with bags of corn. He established forts, or trading posts, at almost every important point on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. During the years 1809- 1811 he was the foremost man in the Upper Missouri Country. He was on friendly terms with every nation and tribe in this territory and well liked by both red and white, with the exception of the Hudson Bay traders. Lisa not only bartered in furs but also in corn. He traded with the Mandans and Rees for corn which he again traded to tribes which did not raise any. It has been said that prior to Lisa's coming, these tribes could not procure corn from the Rees and Mandans. During the War of 1812 Lisa was appointed sub-agent among the Indians by Governor Clark of Missouri, who then had jurisdiction over this territory. In his letter of resignation, dated 1817, Lisa mentions the fact that he had introduced large quantities of horses, horned cattle, hogs and domestic fowls; and also states that he introduced the seed of large pompions (pumpkins), large beans, the potato and turnip. Lisa's activities made others long for the rich trade with these Indians, with the result that at about this period John Jacob Astor thought he saw great opportunities in the fur trade on the Pacific coast, and sent out an expedition in 1811. Mr. Bradbury, an Englishman, was a member of the party. John Bradbury With the Hunt-Astorian expedition of 1811, was John Bradbury a botanist. After his return from the Northwest he published a book entitled, "Travels in the Interior of America." He mentions the subject of corn growing on the upper Missouri river as follows: "On the top of a hill about four miles from the Fort (Chittenden, in his book, "American Fur Trade," gives the location of this post near Manuel Rock and Creek, at the present site of the village of Expansion, N. D.) I had a fine view of a beautiful valley caused by a rivulet, being a branch of the Knife river. I returned to the Fort much gratified. On our approach some fields of Indian corn lay between us and the village, which I wished to avoid and, proposed that we should change our route as the corn was now nearly a yard high." Bradbury also makes the following mention of the Indian caches. "The nations on the Missouri, always liable to be surprised and plundered by the Teton villians (Sioux), annually conceal a quantity of corn, beans, etc., after harvest, in holes in the ground which are artfully covered up." During Mr. Bradbury's stay among the Indians of the Upper Missouri, he was accompanied by Mr/ Brackenridge of St. Louis. H. M. Brackenridge Judge Brackenridge came up the Missouri river with Manuel Lisa in 1811. Lisa's boats overtook the Hunt-Astorian expedition before they arrived at the Arickaree village in southern Dakota, where Brackenridge renewed the acquaintance of Mr. Bradbury. Both men visited the Ree, Grosventre, and Mandan villages, and their notes on the habits, customs, methods of agriculture, religious ceremonies, etc., are the same. 10 In his "Journal of a Voyage up the River Missouri" Brackenridge makes the following note on June 14th, 1811, while visiting the villages at Knife river (Mercer county, N. D.): "Mr. Bradbury and I took a walk into the upper village which is separated from the lower by a stream about twenty yards wide. Entered several lodges, the people of which received us with kindness, placed mats and skins for us to sit on; offered us something to eat; this consisted of fresh buffalo meat served in a wooden dish. They had a variety of earthen vessels in which they prepared their food or kept water. After the meat, they offered us homony of corn, dried in the milk, mixed with beans, which was prepared with buffalo marrow and tasted extremely well. Their most common food is homony and dried buffalo meat." Bradbury and Brackenridge returned down river as fellow travellers in one of the boats of Manuel Lisa. The next traveller to visit the Indians of the upper Missouri river was George Catlin. George Catlin Catlin was a traveller and an artist who visited all the Indian tribes along the Missouri and gave the world a minute description of their manners, customs and conditions. In his book entitled "North American Indians," we find: "I mentioned that I found these people (Mandans, Rees and Grosventres) raising abundance of corn; and I have happened to visit them in the season of their festivities, which annually take place when the ears of corn are of the proper size for eating." "The green corn is considered a great luxury. In this green state of the corn, it is boiled and dealt out in great profusion to the whole tribe who feast and surfeit upon it whilst it lasts; rendering thanks to the Great Spirit for the return of this joyful season, which they do by making sacrifices, by dancing, and singing songs of thanksgiving. This joyful occasion is one valued alike and conducted in a similar manner by most of the tribes who raise the corn, however remote they may be from each other. It lasts but a week or ten days, being limited to the longest term that the corn remains in the tender palatable state; during which time all hunting, and all war excursions, and all other avocations, are positively dispensed with, and all join in the most excessive indulgence of gluttony that can possibly be conceived." The year following Catlin's visit, the Indians had the distinction of entertaining Maximilian, Prince of Wied, the first European nobleman to penetrate this unknown empire. Maximilian, Prince of Wied. Being something of a writer Maximilian, Prince of Wied, con­ tributed his share to Indian history by first publishing his narrative in German, which in 1843 was translated into English. In part he says: "The Indians, residing in permanent villages, have the advantage of the roving hunting tribes, in that they not only hunt but derive their chief subsistance from their plantations which afford them a degree of security against distress. It is true, these Indians sometimes suffer hunger when the buffalo herds keep at a great distance, and their crops fail; but the distress can never be so great among the Missouri Indians, as in the tribes that live further northwards." "The plants which they cultivate are maize (corn), beans, French beans, gourds, sunflowers and tobacco, of which I brought home some ll seeds which have flowered in several botanic gardens. "The cultivation of the maize and other fields, of which each family prepares three, four, or five acres, takes place in the month of May. Rows of small furrows are made, into which the grains are thrown singly, and covered with earth. Three times in the summer the plants are hoed, and the earth heaped up against them, that the moisture may have better access to them. The harvest takes place in October, when men, women and children each lend a helping hand. At present the women use in their field labor, a broad iron hoe, with a wooden handle, which they obtain from the merchants. Charbonneau, (a French-Canadian interpreter, who lived among the Indians many years) recollected the time when they used the shoulder blade of the buffalo for this purpose. The fields are never fenced, but lie quite open and exposed." FRONTIERSMEN Captain Grant Marsh While we cannot consider Captain Grant Marsh, pioneer steamboat pilot on the upper Missouri river, a resident of what is now Mercer county, he did come in contact with the early frontiersmen, who sojourned within its bounds. In later years he helped to develop our county in so far, that he piloted the boats which hauled the golden grain, raised here, to the then distant railroad points; before the event of the railroad in our county. Grant Marsh was born in Pennsylvania in 1838. His first position on a river steamer was as a cabin boy at the age of twelve years. After serving his apprenticeship in the different positions on steamboats, he was enrolled as a mate in 1858. During the Civil War he was mate on several river boats owned or commandeered by the Union forces. He made his first trip up the Missouri in 1864 as a mate on a steamboat carrying troops under command of Gen. Sully. On this trip Ft. Rice was established and the steamboats were sent up river with supplies. The orders were to stop at the mouth of the Yellowstone river and await the arrival of General Sully and his troops, who were marching across country. On this expedition Gen. Sully met the Indians on July 28th, 1864, in the Battle of Tahkahokuty or Killdeer mountains, in which the Indians were completed routed. After a month's arduous march thru the Badlands, they reached the steamers, which were awaiting them near the mouth of the Yellowstone. In 1866 Captain Marsh was commissioned captain of the steamboat "Luella," bound from St. Louis to Ft. Benton. Later he commanded most of the wellknown steamers of the upper Missouri. Many of these were chartered by the government to convey troops, and supplies to the forts. During the Indian wars Captain Marsh was in command of several different boats. Among these was the historic steamboat "Far West" which carried the wounded soldiers of Major Reno's command, and also brought the first news of the "Custer Massacre" to Bismarck. Many notable generals and frontiersmen, such as Gen. Sherman, Gen. Sheridan, Gen. Terry, Gen. Forsyth, Gen. Miles, and "Buffalo Bill" were his passengers during the Indian campaigns. Capt. Marsh was an intimate friend of both "Yellowstone" Kelly, and "Lonesome Charley" Reynolds; and knew most of the hunters, trappers, wood-hawks, and early settlers of this territory. 12 Thanks to him for preserving to us the names of many of the local historical places, such as, Ft. Clark Flats, Elen Point, Knife River Landing, Coal Bluffs, Big Bend Flats, Manuel Rock, Willow Point, Ft. Berthold Crossing, and Malnorie Bend, and Creek. From 1900, until the N. P. railway built their branch line north of Mandan and thru our county, he commanded the boat "Expansion," and other boats of the Benton Packet Co., which were then engaged in carrying wheat from the river towns, Mannhaven, Expansion, and Ree; and lumber, and supplies to them. In 1909 Capt. Marsh, in conjunction with Mr. J. M. Hanson of St. Louis, Mo., a writer of note, published a book entitled: "The Conquest of the Missouri," which is a true story of the captain's life and experiences. The author of this sketch is greatly indebted to Captain Marsh for much of the historical data pertaining to the territory now comprising Mercer county and the people residing therein, during the time of his activities here. "Lonesome Charley" Reynolds Reynolds, Indian scout and hunter, first made his appearance in these parts in 1866. At that time he was engaged in supplying game for the garrison at Ft. Stevenson, which was located across the Missouri river, northwest of Big Bend. For some years he also lived at old Ft. Berthold and the "Three Villages" opposite Ree. His hunting grounds were in what is now Mercer county. Game was abundant in the Knife river valley; and large herds of antelope grazed in Antelope valley, hence its name. Reynolds always hunted alone; and never returned to the villages without a plentiful supply of meat. Because of his success as a hunter; the Indians thought he had some magic in a small black bottle. Upon his return from one of his hunting trips, when he had killed two elk; he encountered a band of Grosventre bucks near the trading post on Malnorie creek. A fight ensued, the bucks trying to secure the bottle of magic. Making good use of the butt end of their guns, Reynolds and Malnorie, the trader, drove off the bucks, some of them with sore heads. In 1875 Reynolds left for the Yellowstone with Captain Grant Marsh on the steamer "Josephine." Commissioned as chief of scouts, he was put in command of the Arickaree Indian scouts, attached to Major Reno's battalion of the 7th Cavalry. Reynolds was killed in a skirmish with the hostile Sioux at the Little Bighorn; immediately after the 'Custer Massacre" June 25, 1876. "Yellowstone" Kelly Luther Kelly came to Ft. Stevenson as a youth in 1868. At this time a pony express carried the mail from Ft. Abercrombie on the Red River, via Ft. Totten on Devils Lake, Ft. Stevenson, and Ft. Buford, at the mouth of the Yellowstone, to Ft. Benton near what is now Great Falls, Montana. The mail company seldom succeeded in getting the mail carried any farther than Ft. Totten, but occasionally it did get thru from Ft. Buford to Ft. Benton. The post commander at Ft. Stevenson had several half-breed Indians get the mail from Ft. Totten, but no one cared to take the mail from Ft. Stevenson to Ft. Buford. 13 Young Kelly, who was of an adventurous turn of mind, volunteered to get the mail to Ft. Buford, and back. The commandant outfitted him and Kelly started for Ft. Buford. At Shell Creek, now in Mountrail county, he was attacked by a small band of Sioux, but escaped unharmed. A week later he returned to Ft. Stevenson without mishap. After this he made the trip many times. Later he was engaged in putting up hay on this side of the river opposite Ft. Stevenson. The haying crew was attacked by a band of Sioux, and two men killed. The rest of the crew fled into the timber, but Kelly, who was a good shot, stood his ground, and the Indians retired without getting any of the horses or mules of the outfit. About 1870 Kelly made his headquarters at Ft. Buford, and explored the Yellowstone river almost to its source, that is how he earned his sobriquet "Yellowstone" Kelly. Because of his knowledge of the Yellowstone river, Gen. Forsyth, employed him as his guide during the general's explorations of this river. Kelly was a scout under government orders until 1883, when he received a lucrative appointment with the Indian department. John Nagel One of the most colorful characters, who at one time had his abode in what is now Mercer county, was John Nagel—sometimes called "John Eagle." He was born in old Saint Louis. In his early childhood his parents trekked west, and landed in California in 1849, during the exciting days of the gold rush. As a young man he prospected in different parts of the west following each gold strike; but never getting any of the precious metal himself. He finally came to Ft. Benton in 1864, and engaged passage on one of the steamboats. He had just heard of the Civil War and wanted to get back to Saint Louis, Mo., but did not have money enough to pay for his passage. On the upper river it was customary in those days for steamboats to tie at some convenient place along the shore and have the crew chop wood to last for a few days. John joined in this work, and thereby earned his passage as far as Yankton. The following year he came up the river on a steamboat as a cook. He quit his job when the boat got to Ft. Stevenson, and started a wood yard on this side of the river. Later he started one at Knife river, and the next spring he started another west of Manuel Rock. He employed others to chop the wood, and he sold it to the steamboats. Capt. Grant Marsh was one of his best customers. Bill Miller, whom some of the early settlers remember, was one of his "wood hawks," and Peter Causey, another old timer, ran the woodyard near Knife river. An old Indian fighter, named Meile, ran the wood yard near Ft. Stevenson. John Nagel was a much married man, he told the author.that he had married eight squaws legally. For a time he lived on the reserva­ tion. Later he moved on a strip of land between the Ft. Berthold Indian reservation, and the Ft. Stevenson Military Reserve, known as "No Man's Land." He engaged in raising horses and cattle. In 1907, after his death, the Indian department rounded up his horses on the reservation, sold some of them for unpaid pasture fees, and chased the rest of them off the reservation. He had about 250 to 300 horses, and said that they were plenty, he could still give each one of his children on the reservation five ponies apiece. John Nagel had lived among the redmen so long, no one would take him for a white man, except that he had a heavy full beard. He could speak the three Indian languages fluently, and also spoke English, and German well; but with unusual gutteral sounds. He usually wore an old trooper's hat, a buckskin coat, fringed leggings, and beaded moccasins; thus arrayed, together with his full beard and searching blue eyes, he made a picture of a real frontiersman, which he was. Peter Causey Peter Causey was a Civil War veteran who had drifted into this country in the seventies. Capt. Marsh first met him at the Knife River Wood Yard in the early eighties, at which time he was a wood chopper for John Nagel. He spent some of his time trapping, and this, together with a pension he received from the government, kept him from want. In the winter of 1882 Causey made monthly trips to a place across the Missouri named Weller, just east of Knife river, on the Bismarck—Ft. Stevenson mail route, to get his pension money. Occasionally he would bring the mail for others who lived on this side of the river. In the fall of 1883 he had established a postoffice at his place named Causey, with himself as postmaster. Some accounts have it that Causey was a squawman, and that he had a bloody fight with his red house keeper, and killed her. We believe this story has been confused with that of Billy Edwards, a squawman, who lived across the river opposite Causey's who was so cut up with a butcher knife in the hands of his squaw, that he died shortly after. The squaw, we are told returned to the Ft. Berthold reservation unmolested. There is a record of one Mrs. Alice Causey. We believe this lady was the wife of Peter Causey, and that she was a white woman. Bill Miller Bill Miller, came to Mercer county territory after having followed a career as prospector, hunter, trapper, and other frontier occupations. He first worked as a wood chopper at Knife River Landing, and came to Nagel's wood yard, which was located several miles west of Manuel Rock, about 1877 or 1878. Later he started a wood yard of his own, traded horses with the Indians and grew potatoes for sale to the steamboats. Many of the early German settlers near Expansion worked for Bill digging potatoes, for which they received the magnificent sum of twenty-five cents per ten hour day, and furnished their own meals. Old Bill had quite a reputation among the dusky belles of the reservation. It is said that up to the time, that the government discontinued giving blankets to the Indians as part of their rations; Bill had hundreds of blankets stored in a log house. All of these had been traded in for. food, small trinkets, and favors. Joe Dietrich Dietrich was a "wood hawk" in the real sense of the word. From 1870 to 1876 he spent most of his time in the wood camps along the Missouri, in what is now Mercer county chopping wood for the steam­ boats that plied the river. During the latter years he supervised the work of chopping wood and selling it for John Nagel in his yard at Knife River Landing, which was the largest wood yard north of Bismarck; employing as high as fifteen men at times. 15 A. A. SAILER UNION STATE BANK SUntnn. N I). FIRST CHARTERED AS GERMAN STATE BANK OF STANTON, N. D., NOV. 1908

HSTORE Name Changed To Union State Bank of Hazen. N. D„ And Moved To Hazen General Merchandise Aug. 1924 Stanton's Leading Store

When in Stanton get your meals at THE STANTON CAFE MR. AND MRS. STEVE WIEGER Meals and Lunches at Ml Hours LOY'S HOTEL Stanton, N. Dak. OFFICERS John Moses. Pres. & Director Wernli Motor Co. Jacob Krause, Vice Pres. & Director PaulGoetz, Director R. M. Stroup, Cashier Hazen, N. Dak. G. J. Krein, Asst- Cashier I HAZEN, N. DAK.

Fred Krause, Jr. Dan Krause HAZEN LUMBER CO. KRAUSE MERCANTILE COMPANY The Hazen Lumber Company was organ­ Hazen. N. D. ized and started in business in 1926 by R. A. Tracy and K. B. Tracy of Bismarck, and Henry Klein, taking over the yard Fred Krause Jr.. was first connected formerly operated as the Knife River with the Implement business together Lumber & Grain Co. with other lines at Expansion, N. Dak. in the year 1900, since 1915 we have hand­ Since its organization, the yard has been led Implements exclusively. For over 30 remodeled, some additions put on, cement years w; have enjoyed the patronage of drive way put in, and is today one of the the good people of Mercer County, and finest lumber stores in this part of the we shall endeavor to make it possible that country. such pleasant business relations may continue. A complete line of first class building ma­ terial, wire and fencing, paints, and We are handling the International \ Harvester Co. line of farm Implements, builders hardware is carried in stock at and have the most up to date place of all times, and under all conditions. business in the western slope, we keep Verily il is: a large stock oi repair parts in stock at all times. The yard of Service and System" " M*.„y. -J&,., M'g'r. GIVE US A CALL Some years later he conducted a butcher business in Bismarck. August Boerner of Stanton worked for him as sausage-maker in the early eighties. Dietrich died at Bismarck a few years ago, having attained a ripe old age. "Longhaired" Morgan An interesting character of the pioneer days of Mercer county was one "Longhaired Morgan," his real name was Morgan Spencer. Morgan was a highly educated man but preferred the life of a trapper, and hunter in the wilderness; his one hobby was to perfect himself in throwing the bowie knife. The reason for this we will tell later. His place of abode, a cabin built of logs, rock and sod, stood about 150 feet from the bank of Spring Creek, near its mouth. It had a trap door leading to a tunnel 300 feet long, which ended in a clump of bushes on the bank of the above mentioned stream. Some of the oldtimers think this ingenious arrangement was made as a precaution against a surprise attack from unfriendly Indians. Others think that "Longhaired" Morgan was a fugitive from justice, and figured this the best and safest way to make an easy get-a-way in case that he were trapped. He was somewhat of a mechanic, and with a small forge did much primitive blacksmithing. One of the handy things he made at this forge was a double picket pin, which no horse could pull out of the ground, so it is said. One old-timer is still in possession of a ring made from a silver dollar, a piece of handiwork by "Longhaired" Morgan. In 1885 he established a postoffice called Morganville, with himself as postmaster. This postoffice was at the end of the first pony express route, which started at Weller on the Bismarck-Ft. Stevenson stage route, crossed the Missouri at Elm Point, thence west, via Causey and Hazen to Morganville. The route from Causey west was known for many years as the "Old Morgan Trail." It is also interesting to know that the creeks on either side of the present town of Beulah were called East Morgan Creek and West Morgan Creek. Morgan left the country shortly before statehood, but again turned up at Bismarck, Mandan, and Dickinson in the early nineties. He had become a showman. With his long black hair, head covered with a turkey-red bandana, long fringed buckskin coat; and high-topped black boots; he gave exhibitions in knife throwing. To the present generation, who may not have seen such exhibitions, let it be known, that, besides skill, you had to have nerve. In short the performance was as follows. A planked wall about 6 ft. by 8 ft., against which, a comely woman stood with arms extended. The knife thrower would stand off some six or eight paces, throw a dozen and a half knives around her, outlining her posture as near as possible. Some years later it was reported that he had killed his wife, who had been his partner in these exhibitions, by a misdirected throw. "Four Paw" The reader will think, that judging by the name, the subject of this sketch will be an Indian. Far be it from anyone to call Dick Farrington an Indian. Dick was Irish down to the core; but many old-timers knew him by no other name than "Four Paw." It is said that while his mother was conversing with another lady, who knew him by no other name than "Four Paw," his mother referred to him as my son Richard this, and my son Richard that; at length the other lady asked: "And pray who is "Richard Farrington, Dick Farrington, I don't know him!" "And where is he at?" "Over by Sandy Roberts," answered his mother, "Sandy Roberts?" said the lady, "Oh! I know now whom you mean, Four Paw." Dick Farrington got the nickname "Four Paw" because he had traveled with a circus as a performer of acrobatic and tumbling stunts. The name of the circus, if the author is correct, was Forepaugh's Circus, and was nationally known. Dick Farrington and his brother Tom at one time owned one of the largest cattle ranches in Mercer county. This was located near the mouth of Otter Creek. It is also interesting to note that the town of Hazen is built on the original homestead of Dick Farrington. "Clubfoot" Wilson "Clubfoot" was originally a "wood hawk," later he became a horsetrader, and got a reputation as a bad hombre, because he liked two black mares owned by one Tony Wood. Clubfoot headed for the Little Missouri breaks with the "Blacks," and when he saw that he was followed, killed both of them. Some days later Bob McGahan, the sheriff, apprehended him, and brought him to Stanton in shackles. In those days, according to the unwritten law, a horsethief was hung without much ado. "Clubfoot" did not have such luck; first, he was in the hands of the sheriff, and second the good citizens of Stanton were much in need of his vote. On the day that Clubfoot was brought to Stanton, it seems there was also an election on. The question before the voters was as to whether or not, Causey or Stanton was to be the permanent county seat. The few voters north and west on Knife river favored Causey; those, living in and around Stanton, favored Stanton. Every nose had been counted, and it looked as if Causey would win. Clubfoot was asked which place he favored for the county seat, and upon answering "Stanton," his shackles were removed, and he was asked to register his vote. When the election closed, and the votes were counted, Stanton had won the county seat. Just by what majority Stanton won, our narrator has never told. The reader may think that the Sheriff, Bob McGahan, brought Clubfoot Wilson into Stanton, on election day on purpose; the author believes it was just a happy coincidence. Clubfoot was released and asked to vamoose, which he did. George Williams George Williams was the first stage driver from Mandan to Hensler, and later to Stanton. He and his wife lived on a claim near Stanton. "Loco Bill" Gowan "Loco Bill" was a real frontier character. He hunted and trapped, and had his headquarters near the mouth of Brady Creek, not far from the present site of Hazen. His nickname would indicate that his brain might be affected; but, according to Tom Farrington, he was not so crazy after all. Tom tells the following story about "Loco Bill." 18 One fall Bill took a bunch of beaver pelts to Hebron, to trade in for supplies for the winter. He didn't have half enough pelts to pay for the supplies he had bought; but told the storekeeper, he had plenty more at home. On being asked what he would sell those for, he said: "I'll sell them as they run!" The storekeeper accepted his offer. Bill never showed up with the pelts still due the storeman. Some months later when Bill again had some trading to do at Hebron, the storekeeper accosted him on the street, and asked him, "what about the beaver pelts you were to bring me?" Bill replied laconically, "Well, they're running yet." Steven Card Card was a trapper and hunter, he squatted on what is now the NWV4 of Sec. 36, Twp. 145, Rge. 85. He was a locator and helped many of the early pioneers locate their claims; later he made it a business of planting tree claims for non-residents. He was Mercer county's first surveyor, and held that office for many years. Bob McGahan McGahan was a riverman. He had been working on the steam­ boats plying between Yankton, Dakota Territory, and Ft. Benton, and came to the Knife river country with Steve Card in a skiff from Miles City, Mont., down the Yellowstone in 1882. He was the first man to file on a homestead in what is now Mercer county. He also had the distinction of being the first sheriff of Mercer county. McGrath Brothers Tom and Jim McGrath were the founders of the town of Stanton. Both of them came to the Knife river country in 1882. They built a log cabin, put in a stock of groceries, and, later that winter, established a' post office and called it Stanton. He was also one of the first county commissioners. "Sandy" Roberts Alexander F. Roberts and one Elmer Bush came to the Knife river country in October, 1882, and squatted on what is now part of the town • of. Hazen. In 1884 Roberts established the first postoffice in that part of the Knife river valley and named it Hazen. He was the first postmaster. Tom Raymond Raymond was an old buffalo hunter who had come from up the Missouri river before he came to the Knife river. He had an old buffalo gun, a Sharpe's rifle, with which he could hit large game at the distance of half a mile. One of the first teams of horses in the county was owned by him. Raymond Coulee, and Raymond Flats are named after him. Harvey Haven Harvey Haven, one of the first white men to settle in the western part of our county, came to what is now Mercer county from Detroit, Minn., in 1884. His main occupation was gathering buffalo bones, and because of this he broke the first trail from the head of Goodmans valley to Hebron. Many of the Indians used this trail—one case where the usual order of things were reversed, Indians followed a white man's trail. Mr. Haven established a postoffice on his ranch and called it Broncho. He was the first postmaster and Lee Haven, a nephew, the first mail driver.

19

1 1BR-W c00 M[ w IS S ! 0 f< IM' U > fxPP.t :f . 5'-:. Dftn. RISi^AK V PIONEERS

Edward Heinemeyer EDWARD HEINEMEYER and family, who were the first permanent white settlers in what is now Mercer county, came to the Knife river country in 1882. He was a farmer and it is largely through his efforts, that corn raising flourished here before it did in many other parts of the state. He procured his first seed from the Indians and by careful selection of seed for several years finally developed a variety known far and wide as "Heinemeyer Flint." During the late eighties and early nineties he sold many bushels to a leading seed house of the northwest. He was the first county supervisor of roads and postmaster of

20 Causey in the early days. He died on Dec. 14, 1924 at the age of 80 years. Members of his family are: Charles A., Oswald, Richard, Mrs. Elizabeth Loy, Mrs. Mary Peterson, Mrs. Bertha Knoop, and Miss Elsie.

D. W. Enyart H. C. Loy Aug. Boerner DAVID WARREN ENYART, a carpenter by trade, came to the Knife river settlement in the fall of 1883. He was the first county constable and served as sheriff from 1888 to 1893, county judge, 1893 to 1895, county treasurer 1895 to 1897, and register of deeds 1897 to 1899. Married to Luverna Belle Jones of Jones Island, Bigstone Lake, Minn., the family is blessed with eight children—Hugh Dell, Emma E., David W., Jess B., Virginia May, Glenn C, Mrs. Edna Anderson and Kenneth. HENRY CHARLES LOY came here from Chaska, Minn., in 1883, and was a steam engineer by trade. He was instrumental in getting the legislature to organize a county out of the territory comprising the Knife river country. He was appointed the first county assessor 21 and later served as county auditor, register of deeds, county superin­ tendent of schools, and county justice of the peace. He is married 'to Elizabeth Heinemeyer (daughter of Edward Heinemeyer), and the children of the family are: Henry E., Oscar (deceased) Ralph, Arthur, Leonard, Ted, Fred, and Miss Irma. AUGUST BOERNER was one of the first to file on a homestead in the Knife river settlement; this was in 1882. He was a butcher and worked at his trade in Bismarck during most of the year. Mr. Boerner is honorary president of the Mercer County Old Settlers' Association. He is married to Augusta Gappert of New Salem. The children of the family are Richard, Max, Paul, and a daughter, Mrs. Ida McKagerty of Los Angeles, Cal. JOSEPH E. STEPHENS came to the Knife river valley in the fall of 1883. He was elected the first clerk of court of our county and served two terms. Later he served as county commissioner for three years. He was married to Miss Adella Whitted in 1886. One son, Roy, was born to this union. His wife having died in March 1890, he married Miss Belle Wood of Stanton in the fall of 1893. To this union the following children were born: Winnifred, Everett, Mark, Vernon, Glenn and Maynard. Mr. Stephens was the first man to bring sheep into the Knife river valley; this was in 1889. During the depression of 1893 he bought 700 ewes, which together with those he had, became the largest band of sheep in the county. Besides his sheep and large land holdings he has been interested in the Hazen Lumber Co., the former Citizens State Bank of Hazen, and a bank at Golden Valley. CHARLES DOLAN came to the Knife river valley from the Black Hills in 1882. He was a mason by trade but had prospected and mined gold in the Hills for several years. In 1883 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Dunlavey of Mandan, and the family moved to the old homestead on Sec. 4, Township 144, Rge. 86, the same year. Mr. Dolan has the distinction of being the first man to mine coal in Mercer county. He died in 1898. ELIZABETH DOLAN, nee Moran, was born in Ireland and came to Janesville, Wis., with her parents. Here she married John Keeley who was doing railroad construction work, which took him to Winni­ peg, Canada, where he died. Later Mrs. Keeley married Michael Dunlavey and moved to Fargo. After two years residence there Mr. Dunlavey died and the family moved to Mandan. In 1878 Mrs. Dunlavey erected one of the first boarding houses in Mandan. During the construction of the main line of the Northern Pacific railroad west of the Missouri river, she was employed as a cook for the officials in the construction camps. She was married to Charles Dolan at Mandan in 1883 and came to the Knife river valley the same year. Of a happy disposition, her faith and trust in an All Wise Provi­ dence, sustained her thru the many trials and tribulations of frontier life. This pioneer, mother of the first white child born in Mercer county, (Mrs. Elizabeth Albers born in 1883), was laid to rest in 1926. Her other children are Thomas, deceased, John and Michael Keeley, 22 Terrence Dunlavey, Charles Dolan (deceased), Mrs. Kathryn Albers, and Mrs. Francis Gleason. JOHN W. GALLAGHER came to what is now Mercer county in the fall of 1884, settling near the present town of Hazen. He was married to Mrs. Kathryn Farrington, mother of Dick ("Four Paw") and Tom Farrington. Mr. Gallagher took a prominent part in county affairs in the early days and served as county commissioner for several years. He also held the office of postmaster at Hazen for many years. Many stories of this grand old man are told, but cannot be reproduced here. He died in 1925 at the ripe old age of 86 years. The descendants of this pioneer family are: Mrs. Mary McClure (a former county superintendent of schools), Mrs. Rose Hollst, Mrs. Kathryn Stanley (also former county superintendent), Jack Gallagher, Mrs. Alice Keeley, and Mrs. Sarah Strong. GEORGE KNOOP and his family, consisting of his wife Anna, daughter Ella, and son George, together with two young men, Alfred Schmidt, his brother-in-law, and Otto Krieger, a friend of the family, came to the Knife river settlement in 1884 from Buckeburg, Germany. Mr. Knoop had been a merchant in his home town in Germany, and while he lived on his homestead north of Stanton conducted a store for many years. He also served as county treasurer of Mercer county for several years. Two sad misfortunes happened to this estimable family. In 1894 the son, George, accidentally shot and killed himself and two years later the father was killed at New Salem, N. D., while trying to board a passenger train. The remaining children are Mrs. Ella Schafer of Hazen, N. D., Walter of Sidney, Mont., William and Herbert of Stanton, N. D., and Hertha (deceased). Mrs. Anna Knoop is now the wife of Mr. Otto Schafer of Stanton, N. D. CHARLES FREDERICK EGER, a former Mississippi river pilot from Red Wing, Minn., came to the Knife river settlement with his family in a covered wagon in 1884. He was married to Miss Mary Moullet and this family was blessed with the following children: Mrs. Lucy Moullet (deceased), Mrs. Amelia Richey (deceased), Eddie, Mrs. Tillie Schmidt, Charles (deceased), Mrs. Josephine Jacobs, Mrs. Rickey Schreiber, Mrs. Belle Wieger, Harvey and Andrew. Mr. Eger was very helpful in locating the first Germans from South Russia on their homesteads. He died in 1914 at the age of 80 years. OTTO SCHAFER, one of the early pioneers of Dakota Territory came to the Knife river settlement from Cass county in the Red river valley in 1884. He brought some horses and a small herd of cattle with him and settled on the old homestead east of Hazen. He later bought a large bunch of cattle at South Saint Paul, Minn., and shipped them out here. This was probably the first large herd of cattle to be brought to Mercer county. Mr. Schafer was married to Augusta Thomas in 1876, and their children are: Mrs. Mathilda Rush, William, Mrs. Mary Gallagher, % Pi IJ IT) 1903 1932 Dr. C. R. Chapman * THE J^ |P f ] STORE Dentist DR. L. G. EASTMAN

PHYSICIAN X Ray Service

AND THE WIEGMANNS HAVE

SURGEON Continuously Served the People Oflice Hours ot MORTON, MERCER, and OLIVER 9-12 1-5 Counties HAZEN, N. D. HAZEN. N. O. . For 50 Years

AND WILL CONTINUE THEIR JOHN MOSES I. 0. LEE POLICY OE SATISFACTORY SERVICE IN THE FUTURE

REAL ESTATE

LAWYER and I NEW SALEM, N. D. INSURANCE HAZEN, N. D. IS e Hazen, N. Dak. Hazen, N. Dak. BEULAH, N. D. .'jaUil'. (iv .<(• j h •!>• '<•>• •»; i

a' (jD UC (to (y 'ii fi: lib :ii' @ ,,} A, .5 Q Q gj £ *j, ® REAL ESTATE While we are not one of the Old © LOANS Settlers, we are glad thai we came here 9 GENERAL INSURANCE when we did. and have had a chance to © HAROLD MUELLER carry on the good work started by them. HAZEN. N. D. •IT1SBETTERTODEAN OWN Cn THANARCNTCFV Hazen Grain Co. J, Hazen, N. D. e W N A X FAIR PRICE GASOLINE WNAX. 1011'. PUKE PENNSYLVANIA Oil.. PERMIT NO. 331, GUS DAFFINRUD GREASES. TIRES. AND ACCESSORIES DEALER IN BIELOH SERVICE STATION GENERAL HARDWARE AND FURNITURE MERCER COUNTY ABSTRACT CO. STANTON, N.I). Abstracts and Examination of Title to Real E3tate in Mercer County WHEN IN HAZEN STOP Organized 1905 Incorporated 1909 Owner of Abstract of Real Estate Records as were destroyed in Court House Fire on RAY HAGEN'S Dec. 8, 190G CAFE AND CONFECTIONARY MEALS AND LUNCHES AT ALL HOURS <® ' PIG IN A M.ANKET OUR SPECIALTY SAILER'S LUNCH ROOM HAZEN SHOE SHOP MEALS - SHORT ORDERS • LUNCHES EMIL REICH, PROP. HMRNESS, SADDLE, BOOT, AND SHOE DR. GEO. F. McERLAIN JOSEPH COGIIUN 6) REPAIRING OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN ATTORNEY-AT-LAW MAIL ORDERS FILLED PROMPTLY Beulah, N. Dak. Beulah, No. Dak.

1 •gi (id ifr Cos Cat rd, gii ig- -ii. Edward (deceased), a former sheriff and clerk of court of Mercer county, Mrs. Martha Albers and Mrs. Clara Albers. PATRICK KEOGH came from DeGraff, Swift county, Minn., to the Knife river station (present site of Hebron, N. D.) on the N. P. railway, where he had a position as section foreman in 1882. He and his good wife, Kathryn, had four sons, Tom, James, Frank and John. They at first raised cattle in a small way, but in 1889 the father and brothers established a ranch on the present site of Tom Keogh's ranch; this they stocked with cattle of their own together with a large herd, which they kept on shares for S. F. Stroughton of Iowa. This was the beginning of one of the biggest, if not the largest ranch in Mercer county, that of the Keogh Bros., southwest of Beulah. JEREMIAH CROWLEY came to Mercer county with his wife Johanna and children from Huston county, Minn., in the spring of 1887. He filed on a homestead in Sec. 8-142-90 which later developed into the Crowley ranch. The children of this family are Patrick Henry, Mrs. Mary Pearl, Mrs. Nellie Gamble, Matt, Medge (deceased), Genevieve, Jack and Mrs. Alice McVey. HUGH McLAUGHLIN, one of the early pioneers of Dakota Territory, came to Bismarck in 1876, where he married Miss Ellen Lynch the same year. He was employed as a steamboat engineer and served under Captain Marsh and Captain Belk. In 1887 he was appointed Chief of Indian police on the Ft. Berthold Indian reservation. His duties frequently brought him to Mercer county, and during his incumbency of this office, he located a ranch on Sec. 8, Twp. 147, Rge. 89. In 1900 he resigned from the Indian department service and moved to his ranch, where he died on Nov. 23, 1920. The children of his family are: Charles, Mrs. Mamie McDonald Morck, Mrs. Lizzie Morris, Mrs. Helen Davidson, Howard, J. Spencer, Mrs. Alice Rosseau Haider, Mrs. Catherine Wittmayer, Clifford, Hazen, Mrs. Lillian Skalski, Mrs. Lucille Becker, Leo, and Elenor.

The Swedish Settlement Goran Alderin, the great-grandfather of the present generation of Alderins and Danielsons, was the first permanent white settler near Ft. Clark. He came to Bismarck in 1882, and there made the acquaintance of John Satterlund; who was later known throughout the state as "King John," because of his political influence. John Satterlund at that time had a store and stopping place at Washburn; he induced Alderin to go there with him, and then advised him to go across the river near Ft. Clark, since he wanted to get farther out to start a settlement. Alderin built a log cabin, assisted by his sons Andrew, and Charley, and his daughter Christina, in 1882. He was the only settler between what is now Hensler and Stanton. In 1883 his son John Alderin and wife, and their three children, Regina, David, and Delora, came. The year following his son-in-law Herman Danielson and wife and their daughter Hanna followed, also Charles Skager, and wife, and three children. The year 1883 brought four new families to the settlement. These

25 were: George Alderin, and wife, and their two children, Anna and Stone; Hellick Bagley with three children, Birthina, Gilbert and Lina; M. P. Nyman and wife and four children; and A. Swanson and wife with their three children. Frank Ankerberg and wife and son Dan came in 1884. C. A. Johnson, and John Anderson, both single men, and Andrew Johnson, father of Fanny Johnson, came in 1886. All of these good folks came from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where most of them had worked in the steel mills, with the exception of Bagley. In 1887 Miss Fanny Johnson, her mother and sister came to Mercer county, direct from Sweden, to join their father, Andrew Johnson. The First Church Organization The Ft. Clark settlement has the honor of having the first per­ manent church organization in the county. It was organized in 1885 and called the Mission church. The ministers were Herman Danielson and Charles Skager. The officers were: John Alderin, Frank Ankerberg, N. P. Nyman, and Andrew Johnson. Later this organization was affiliated with the Baptist church. The first services were held in the homes of the different members; later, when the first school house was completed, services were held there. In 1905 the congregation built a splendid church, and the services have been held there since. The Ft. Clark School The schoolhouse at Ft. Clark was built in 1885 and was one of the first three schools in the county. The first teacher was Mrs. R. N. Cook. Many large meetings were held in this schoolhouse. In 1900 Oliver and Mercer county held their first Teachers' Institute at this school house with an attendance of some fifty teachers. These Institutes were held here several years. The curriculum was similar to those of our present day Normal Schools, and their main object was to give special training to those who taught the rural schools of both counties. Deapolis In 1888 Mr. Herman Danielson established a postoffice at his residence. In looking for an appropriate name, Mr. Danielson took his Bible, and the name of the city of Neapolis struck his fancy; but he changed the N to D, and thus created the name Deapolis. The Germans from South Russia At the close of the seventeenth century Germany, because of incessant wars, was destitute. The inhabitants had no land, and those that were free men wanted to leave the country. At about the same time Empress Catherine of Russia wanted to colonize the vast steppes of South Russia, then an unsettled country inhabited by wandering tribes of Tartars. To accomplish this, she sent agents to Germany, who induced many of the impoverished peasants and townspeople to emigrate, promising them exemption from military duties, free land, cattle, and implements. This marks the beginning of that large influx of settlers from all parts of Germany to Russia. Most of these Germans were Branden- burgers, Wuertembergers, many Alsatians, and some Swiss. The

2G German villages in South Russia invariably have the same names as those in Germany from which the settlers came; thereby substantiating their place of origin. A century later, descendants of these Russian-Germans, motivated by inducements of free land, came to America. Some writers claim that the first two families of Germans from Russia came to Dakota in 1872, and settled near Yankton. These were from Johannisthal, South Russia. During the years 1873-'74 and '75 a large number of families came to Yankton from South Russia. Among these were the ancestors of the following pioneer families represented in Mercer county today: The Bohrers, Hafners, Heihns, Hubers, Isaaks, Kellers, Kerners, Mettlers, Teskes, and Wiedenmeyers. The First German Immigrants from Russia to Settle in Mercer County One fine morning in May 1886 a large caravan of covered wagons started from Scotland in what is now South Dakota., It was under the leadership of Daniel Schimke and William Priebe, both originally from Elgenheim, South Russia. They had left the old country the previous year to seek their fortunes in the land of unlimited possibilities. John Suess, Sr., William Richter, and Robert Lauf were also of this party, which consisted of some 30 wagons. Their destination was nowhere in particular, but somewhere west of the Missouri river, where they might find level land, no stones, and deep black soil, land that would produce plenty wheat. Each member of the party had a strong high-wheeled wagon, covered with a canvas tarpaulin; two sturdy oxen, necessary cooking utensils, bedding, some tools, and a hand plow. Daniel Schimke also possessed two ponies and a compass. Their route lay thru Mitchell, Aberdeen, Williamsport to Bismarck, D. T. Here they crossed the Missouri river on a ferry to Mandan. Then they followed the Northern Pacific Railway company's right of way as near as possible to Hebron. While encamped at Hebron they saw several wagon loads of buffalo bones being unloaded, and were told that these sold for from $6.00 to $14.00 a load. These wagons undoubtedly belonged to Harvey Haven who made a business of gathering buffalo bones. Since money was what they were most in need of, they decided to make a permanent camp north of Hebron, and immediately began to gather bones and haul them to the railroad. It was at this camp that Schimke met H. C. Loy, at that time the one and only assessor for Mercer county, and Stephen Card, Mercer county's surveyor. (Just why the county assessor had to have the county surveyor with him, Schimke did not know). Card had shot a deer some miles north, and cached it because Loy would not carry it on the buckboard, the load being too heavy for his one horse. Loy and Card were out of bread, so they traded part of the deer for bread or "kuechle." Some of the men went with Card to get the deer. On their return the caravan feasted on venison. In the meantime Schimke told Loy that they were out looking for land. Loy told them that there was plenty of good land, such as they desired, north of Knife river near Stanton. He pointed out to them, in a general direction, where the promised land lay and how to get there. 27

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P w jt j;, .t) which are now the eastern part of Dunn county, thru the efforts of H. C. Loy, who was county auditor at the time. This territory was lost to Mercer county in 1898 through the negligence of the county officials, because they made no effort to assess the property, and collect taxes in those townships. The county at present consists of 24 full townships, and 10 frac­ tional townships, with a total area of 1,110 square miles. The total population in 1930 was 9,516. GHOST TOWNS Old Stanton Stanton was founded by the McGrath brothers, Thomas and James in 1883. It was located on the present site, and was designated as the county seat of Mercer county in 1884. Thomas McGrath was the first postmaster. McGrath Bros, built the first store. In 1884, George Williams ran a saloon, his place of business was a tent. Jesse Draper had a blacksmith shop in a log cabin. Lyman Fraser built a large hotel and H. C. Walker erected a store building. The "Stanton Pilot," edited by A. C. McCrorie, made its lirst appearance the same year. H. C. Loy was the proprietor of a restaurant. "'Scrap Iron" Bill Bryant, and L. S. Beaumont set up a saw-mill, and did a flourishing business in selling cottonwood lumber. The town grew rapidly until 1888, when it was said to have had 200 inhabitants. Some ten years later its last permanent resident, H. C. Walker, left to move to his ancestral home in Virginia. The county officials who lived on their farms kept their records and seals at their homes. Some of them would visit the courthouse occasionally, and once a month they all congregated there to draw .their pay. All the old buildings had been removed except the courthouse, a tall, two story box like affair, with innumerable windows, stood there like a lone sentinel—the last sign of a glorious past, it was destroyed by fire in 1905 and nothing remained but an old school house. Mercer City Mercer City was located on Section 5, Twp. 144, Rge. 85. It was platted by J. J. Luke, and A. V. Schallern, members of the Lutheran Colonization Bureau of Chicago, 111. (This concern also founded the town of New Salem and colonized that vicinity). About 25 lots were sold to people coming from Illinois. The only resident Mercer City ever had was Geo. Hawley, one of the first county commissioners. Several of the Albers' family first settled near the town, but later homesteaded near Hannover. Mannhaven In 1896, Henry Mann of New Salem, N. D., Jacob Bohrer, Sr., and Fred Bohrer, organized and sold stock in a company called the Mannhaven Mercantile and Transportation Company. The following year the town of Mannhaven erected a store building, and warehouse, and built the steamboat "Bismarck," for the purpose of carrying grain from Mannhaven to Bismarck. These ventures proved a success. In 1898 Henry Pfenning (now of Mandan) erected a lumber yard for 33

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'£»!-.•"! fAi QP. P\j Ki\ the Mandan. Mercantile Co., and a grain warehouse for the Lyon's Elevator Co. (Now the Occident Elevator Co.) John Wee put up a small building, and used it as a blacksmith shop. "The Mannhaven Journal," a weekly newspaper was established by John Young. Dr. L. G. Eastman, the first resident doctor in Mercer county, established his office here in 1900; later he moved to Krem and thence to Hazen. The Mercer County State Bank organized by Adam Sailer, Sr., Fred Bohrer, and attorney H. L. Van Benschoten, with E. M. Thompson as cashier, began to do business the year following. Adam Sailer, John Sailer, and Michael Zeiszler opened a general merchandise business under the name of "The New Store." With the event of the railroad, the town was abandoned; the merchants and business men moved to the railroad towns. The only residents there today are Tobias Bohrer, a son of one of the founders, and John Young the "Laird of Mannhaven." Expansion Expansion was founded by John Bloodgood of New Salem, and Jacob Kruckenberg of Hazen in 1899. These gentlemen, assisted financially by the farmers of that vicinity, built the steamboat "Ex­ pansion," the first to be erected in Mercer county. It was launched with elaborate ceremonies. Miss Kathryn Gallagher, now Mrs. William Stanley, christened the boat with a bottle of real champagne. The first storekeeper was Henry Sagehorn, who came from Ft. Yates, N. D., where he had been in charge of the soldiers' canteen; he was also the first postmaster. Later the store was bought by John Bohrer, Sr., who also erected an elevator. In 1905 the I. P. Baker interests established a lumber yard with John Bohrer, Jr., as manager. One year later it was taken over by Benjamin Stoelting. The town was abandoned several years ago. Krem The postoffice, Krem, was established by Carl Semmler in 1890. Eight years later it was moved to the present site. In 1899 Samuel Richter, Martin Netzer, and John Kunz built a 50-barrel capacity flour mill, which furnished a fine grade of flour. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1904, but rebuilt the following year. Martin Netzer built the first store which was managed by C. F. Schweigert, who also acted as postmaster. A year later Wm. Richter built another store which was under the management of C. G. Fuerst. Competition between these two stores was very keen, and the old saying: "Competition is the life of trade," proved true. Krem became the center of Mercer county trade. The farmers still hauled their grain to the river towns Expansion and Mannhaven; but most of their shopping was done at Krem. It rapidly became the largest town in the county, and vied with Stanton for the county seat. Krem lost the election, but gained new business enterprises. Dr. L. G. Eastman moved there from Mannhaven. A drug store, bank, pool hall, and a hardware store were erected. Frank Wernli established a lumber yard, and J. C. Schleppergrell issued "The Mercer County Star" (now "The Hazen Star").

34 The Northern Pacific Land Department sold their remaining lands to capitalists from Iowa. Crops were good, many new settlers came, and real estate prices went soaring. After the railroad was surveyed up the Knife river and Spring creek valleys, new townsites were platted, and most of the business men moved to Hazen. However, Krem is still on the map, Gottfried Heine, a grandson of one of the pioneers, conducts a well stocked general merchandise store, and also acts as postmaster. Ree In 1909 the Expansion Lumber and Mercantile Co., under the mangement of Benj. Stoelting, established a branch lumber yard on the NWV4 of Sec. 4 T. 147, R. 88, Ft. Berthold Indian reservation. A post office was established and called Stoeltington, with C. B. Heinemeyer as postmaster. The Bismarck Elevator & Investment Co. erected an elevator. The lumber yard and elevator were managed by Fred Kludt, and Thomas Figenskau. The post office name was later changed to Ree and several years later Jacob Bacal established a store. With the coming of the railroad, most of the farmers hauled their grain to Beulah, and Ree was abandoned. Kronthal Early in 1900 a postoffice was established in the Kronthal settle­ ment with Robert Heiser as postmaster, John Bohrer, Sr., erected a store which was managed by Mr. Heiser. Later the farmers erected a creamery, the first in the county. This was on Sec. 14, T. 146, Rge. 87. This venture was not a success, the distance to the nearest market, New Salem, was too far, and as the butter was hauled there by team, it was usually in a deplorable condition when it got there. The cream­ ery was destroyed by fire, and Bohrer moved his stock of merchandise to Expansion. Kasmer Kasimir Mastel, who had a blacksmith shop on his farm near Ree, established a postoffice, and called it Kasmer about 1910. The year following Eli Gunderson, and Ole Viken erected a store building and a small creamery. J. B. Field and associates from Minnesota established a bank. The "German-American" now the Gol-Valley American, published by Lee Dreveskracht, and printed on his homestead, was first mailed from the postoffice at Kasmer. With the event of the railroad most of its business men moved to Zap. BIGBEND A town was platted on Sec. 19, Twp. 147, Rge. 84, by a party of promoters from Milwaukee, Wis., headed by one Dr. Schutt, during 1905. Several hundred lots were sold to the dupable public in Milwaukee, and other Wisconsin towns. The only resident of the town was one poor Milwaukee laborer who had invested his life's savings in a lot, and had come out here to live. Troy This town was located on the present site of Beulah, N. D. Dr. Norman E. Vredenburg of Hebron, N. D., had the land plotted in 1911, and named it Troy. He built a commodious house, and a large store, 35

STATE LIBRARY C0y^' BISMARCK, fi DAK and leased both to one Carl Hanke, who put in a stock of hardware. Before the close of the year the doctor sold his holdings to the Tuttle Land Co., who later re-platted the site, and called it Beulah. i Stanton The town of Stanton is located on Sec. 6, Twp. 144, Rge. 84, pre­ empted by Thomas and James McGrath in 1883. They named the town after their mother, whose maiden name was Stanton. In a previous paragraph we have given you the history of Old Stanton. It's resuscitation was brought about by an odd coincidence. For several years most of the records were kept at the homes of the several county officials who lived in different parts of the county. Some of the taxpayers remonstrated, and asked that the officers be compelled to keep their records at the courthouse, and live at the county seat. In the summer of 1905 a mysterious fire consumed the old courthouse, and some of the records were destroyed. The following spring C. F. Schweigert was deputized to act as county auditor, county treasurer, and clerk of court, and took up his residence at Stanton. In 1907 Henry Fretheim put up a building which was used as a restaurant and store. The same fall Henry Sagehorn built a residence and Joseph Wiedenmeyer built Loy's Hotel. A small courthouse was also erected the same year. . During the year 1908 C. F. Schweigert established "The Mercer County Republican" with A. D. Brown as editor. The German State Bank, with L. Beinhauer as cashier, opened for business that fall. In 1909 building activities were of such great extent we cannot enumerate them. The new courthouse was built in 1910. The railroad construction crews also began their work from Mandan in 1910. By 1911 they had reached Sanger, and on July 4th, 1912, the first train pulled into Stanton. A stupendous celebration marked the event. In 1913 the construction work had reached a point near Golden Valley, and in 1914 the railroad was turned over to the operating department. Hazen Hazen is located on Sec. 18, Twp. 144, Rge. 86, the original home­ stead of "Four Paw" Richard Farrington. Benjamin Oster, the last owner, sold the land to the Tuttle Land Co., who platted the town, and named it Hazen. The first settlers in this community were the Dolans, Gallaghers and Schafers. The postoffice was established by Alexander "Sandy" Roberts in 1884, and was named after the Postmaster General, Hazen. Most of the prominent businessmen of Hazen moved to this new' townsite from Krem. The first buildings to be erected were those of The Knife River Lumber Co. This company was managed by Frank Wernli. Jack Gallagher's store and postoffice, Mike Keeley's store building, and Richard Farrington's hotel were built next. The Citizens State Bank opened its doors on Nov. 1, 1912, with " Jos. Stephens, president, Dr. L. G. Eastman, vice president, and Jacob Krause acting as cashier. Dr. L. G. Eastman moved here soon after from Krem, also J. C. Schleppergrell, editor, who changed the name of his newspaper to "The Hazen Star." During the following year numerous new business buildings were 36 K> & @ <6) ity MAJESTIC MERCER COUNTY -1932- BEULAH COAL - POWER - PROSPERITY

Population 951S, Number of farmo 770, Total THEATRE .acre3 452,974, Acres cultivated 180,251, Bushels wheat raised 1,147,996, Barley'270,- BEULAH, NORTH DAKOTA 395; Oats 137,480, Rye 53,636, Flax 27,019, Potatotoea 7,631, Corn £70,000. Cattle in. County 21,418, Sheep 9,439, HoraflD 5,814, Hogs 5,310, Milch Cows 5,918. Butter- rat produced 549,187 lb3, Value of farm machinery in County $1,727,856.00, Number of tractors 494, Number of trucks 236, Number of SEE AND HEAR automobiles 1,057. ALL THE LATEST It's so Wc anrj broad »nd boundless, .and ils heaven is so Wu& And the mettle of its people always rings so pure'and true.

Wc hare sold you traders, Trucks, and wind mills Wc have sold you engines, plows, and ftud mills, Wc have sold you hammers, saws, and hatchets, . Wc have sold you beds and springs and latches. We have enjoyed your trade, at our store You will always lind a welcome and an open door. : PICTURES

In a few short years, from virgin prairie, re • MON.-TUES. FRI.-SAT. have built a great Mercer County. Let ua now •atrive to build manhood acceptable to God , and man,

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A Home Owned Institution RUTH CANFIF.LD- H. 0. CHILSON STUDIO Embalrner and T.F. ZIMMERMAN, President Funeral Dirp.ctor PHOTOGRAPHERS LUDWIG FUCHS, Vice President Werner, N. Dak. Beulah, N. D. © A.T; ZIMMERMAN, Cashier rS> constructed, and by fall it looked like an old established town. Hazen's great advantage was inot only its location, but the fact that its business men had learned the value of community spirit when they were located at Krem, and this spirit prevails in Hazen to this day. Beulah The first white man who settled near what is now Beulah was Morgan Spencer, better known as "Longhaired Morgan," who in 1885 established a postoffice near the mouth of Spring Creek, and called it "Morganville." Two other old timers "Four Paw" and Tom Farring­ ton had a ranch just south of town on the Knife river, which they sold to Gideon Henderson in 1890. The town is located on Sec. 25; Twp. 144, Rge. 88, a railroad grant sold to John C. Tweet in 1905, who in turn sold it to Dr. Norman E. Vredenburg. In 1811 the doctor platted the land, and called the town- site Troy. Some months later he sold it to the Tuttle Land Co., who re-surveyed it, and named it Beulah, in honor of Beulah Stanchcombe, a niece of L. C. Pettibone, one of the officers of the company. The building now occupied by the Marshall-Malaise Hardware Co., was the first building erected . In 1914 after the regular train service was inaugurated, the postoffice name, Farrington, was changed to Beulah, and Joseph Evans was appointed postmaster. Some of the first places of business were: The First State Bank, Walter Kees, cashier. The Marshall-Nichus Lumber Co., Wm. Nichus manager, the Mandan Mercantile Co., Frank Schafer, manager, and The Beulah Independent, established by C. F. Schweigert and edited by Peter Reese. During the first years of its existence Beulah did not forge ahead like the other towns. The business men, with few execptions, were strangers. Most of them were new beginners, and had very little capital. There were no good roads leading into town, just an old trail or two. But the biggest drawback was, that the price of grain was from three to five cents lower than the prices in the neighboring towns. These discrepancies were remedied in a short time, and, with the event of the discovery of good coal veins and the developement of coal mining, Beulah soon became the largest town in the county. Zap The town of Zap is located on Sec. 14, Twp. 144, Rge. 89, the original homestead of Jacob Kraft. The earliest settler in the vicinity of the town was Gottlieb Wiege, father of Aug. Wiege, the Wiege ranch was established by him in 1890. The Tuttle Land Co. purchased a parcel of land just east of the present site, and named the station Zap, after a prominent family of bankers in Minnesota. This site proved to be unsatisfactory, and J. B. Field, Robt. M. Stroup, and Eli Gunderson platted the present site. All of the businessmen located at Kasmer moved to the new town. The first building to be erected was a store owned by Ole Viken and Eli Gunderson. The next building erected was the First State Bank with J. B. Field as cashier, and R. M. Stroup assistant cashier. Kasimir Mastel moved his tools and shop to the new town. George Slowey built a pool hall, and the first hotel was built by Roy Griggs. The Farmers Elevator was the first one to be erected. Miss Delia Thompson, now Mrs. Frank Tysver, was the first postmistress. 38 Zap was a very busy town until the shut-down at the Lucky Strike coal mine, which set back the business men and miners many thousands of dollars. Golden Valley Golden Valley is located on Sec. 15, Twp. 144, Rge. 90, originally a railroad grant. The first settler in the immediate vicinity was David Juzeler who established the Juzeler ranch in 1895. The townsite was platted by the Tuttle Land Co. of Bismarck, N. D., and the town named Olanta. Charles Scharf was appointed townsite agent and became its first resident. Mr. E. Bratsel, who had a store and a postoffice, which was named Golden Valley, on land nearby, moved his buildings to the new townsite. Lee Dreveskracht, editor of the "Golden Valley German-American," took up the matter of changing the name of the new town with the railroad company. Olanta, he said, didn't mean anything, whereas "Golden Valley" was more appropriate in so far that it ably described the vast fields of golden grain, in Goodmans valley. Golden Valley at one time boasted two strong banks, a flour mill, four large general merchandise stores and a good hotel. Several disastrous fires, during the past years, destroyed these fine buildings and almost wiped the town off the map. The vicinity of Golden Valley is underlaid with a deep vein of the finest coal in the state. Some of the largest cattle ranchers and grain farms in the county are situated in its territory, and it also enjoys a lucrative Indian trade. INDUSTRIES Agriculture The Indians were the first agriculturalists in this county. We learn that they raised corn, squash, pumpkins, beans, and tobacco. No doubt the early fur traders raised some vegetables at the different posts in the county. We do know that the "wood hawks" or wood choppers raised enough potatoes for their needs. The earliest pioneers raised corn, wheat, oats, and vegetables for their own use. It was not until after the arrival of the immigrants from South Russia that wheat became the main crop. Only a few settlers along Knife river had more than a few milch cows, and only two had.a small band of sheep. Before the event of the railroad very few farmers diversified. Wheat and flax were the main crops. Since then, we have many fine herds of dairy cattle; now a few farmers raise 50 hogs or more, the beef herds are a great improvement over the long horns, and dogies; quite a few farmers have small bands of sheep, and large flocks of turkeys are numerous. Agriculture will always be our main industry. For comparison we will give the following statistics. Lumbering Mercer county's native trees most adaptable for lumber are the cottonwoods. As early as 1884 one "Scrap Iron Bill" Bryan together with Louis Beaumont established a sawmill near Stanton. The timber to supply this mill was logged around Expansion and Ft. Berthold, and then floated down the Missouri in rafts. 39 About ten years later August Isaak and Christ Oster sawed lumber for many years in the bottom lands west of Big Bend. In recent years Joseph Novak, an experienced sawyer, sawed lumber near Ft. Clark and Stanton. For the past two years John Horning north of Stanton has sawed thousands of feet of boards and dimension stuff from Cottonwood logs in the bottom lands south of Mannhaven. Seemingly it is a profitable business for the owner, sawyer, and logger. Coal Mining There is nothing of record to prove to us that the early Indians knew of the use of coal for fuel; but some authorities claim they made use of it for war paint. Several of the early explorers mention a 'woody coal," meaning lignite, in their diaries, but none say that they tried to use it as fuel. Because of the abundance of wood along the Missouri river, the steamboat captains never attempted to use it for fuel for the boats until later years. . To our knowledge the first man to mine coal in Mercer county for domestic purposes was C. J. Dolan, the earliest settler in the Hazen community. Prior to his coming here, he had worked as a gold miner in the Black Hills. In 1884 he opened a mine which was located on what is now the Jacob Reichenberg farm. It was partly stripped and then undermined, but caved in after the first year's operation. The year following he opened a new mine on the old Gallagher place. We are also told that some of the early German settlers north of Stanton mined coal at the river bluffs in 1886. In 1887 one Joseph Plenty, an experienced mine operator from Scranton, Pennsylvania, bought the "Coal Bluffs" north of Stanton on the Missouri river, and opened what we might call the first com­ mercial coal mine in Mercer county. His plan was to load the coal from the mine entrance, on the side of the bluff which faced the river, direct onto barges; float them down the Missouri river to Yankton, Sioux City, and St. Louis. Several barges were loaded, but the venture was a failure. During a severe storm, one of the barges grounded on a sand bar, one struck a snag and sank; and the other turned turtle. Later he made another attempt, and successfully got one barge load to Bismarck; the profits however were so little, that he quit the business, and returned east. During the early nineties several small strip mines were in operation, these supplied the settlers with fuel. In 1899 the new Krem Flour Mill demanded a lot of coal, and several small strip mines were opened southeast of Krem, to supply this demand. Some six years later an underground mine at the Malke place west of Krem supplied the mill with coal. A few years later, in 1907, Geo. G. Schmidt, now of Beulah, an experienced miner from New Salem, opened an underground mine on Sec. 19, Twp. 145, Rge. 87, north of Beulah. This mine was the largest and best equipped mine in the county previous to 1917. In the spring of 1915 one Jacob Bosch, while making a well at the Frank Marshall residence in the town of Beulah, drilled thru 19 feet of coal. Geo. G. Schmidt, upon hearing this, immediately bought the 80 acres adjoining the town on the north. He opened a mine and shipped some 100. cars of coal. Carl Semmler, county auditor at the time, bought the land 40 TIME ana MOHEY Are words to conjure with. How often you have . heard tha expression ,,I have more time than money", A thousand years ago time .was not reckoned, a man spent hia lifetime fitting one rock into the temple. Only in the last few years have people come to value their time. Eefore the coming of the whiteman, Mercer bounty Indian squaws raised corn-a. native of this county-andto plow they used the shoulder fclade of a buffalo. ' 'Wood Hawks* •, in the early days, usea the spade to till their gardens. One of the first farmers of Mercer County to buy a gang plow waB ridiculed and his- neighbors said he was going "broke". In the short period of thirty years Mercer County has gone . from oxen end the walking plow to tractor farming. Such a transformation Is naturally not made with­ out growing pains. These pains will gradually disappear^ we attain maturity, as we become more fully equipped with time and labor saving tools. Time is Money. We progress as we save time and use the time saved to the best advantage. . J.B. FIELD Farm Implements "Service Since 1915" BEULAH and ZAP, N. D. • 'Our repair service is better and we can tell you why1

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A Co-operative Institution, incorporated tnd*r trie Laws of the State'of North Dakota; owned and operated by Farmers and Golden Valley Golden Vallej Cititens of Mercer County, North Dakota. NORTH DAKOTA North Dtkota YOUR PATRONAGE IS APPRECIATED! adjoining the townsite on the east, and opened a mine the same year. This was not a successful venture and was abandoned in 1916. The Beulah Mine In 1916, M. M. Mounts, who had considerable experience with Mining properties in Montana, through the solicitations of C. B. Heinemeyer, bought the old Semmler mine. He immediately engaged a surveyor; surveyed the property, and adjacent lands; drilled test holes to determine the extent of the coal field, and locate the best possible site for the shaft. Early in 1917, M. M. Mounts, E. A. Hughes, L. C. Pettibone and C. B. Little, organized the Beulah Coal Mining Co., took over Mr. Mount's property, dug a shaft, and mined what is known as the lower level. About 25 men were employed under the supervision of Mr. Mounts, and considerable coal was shipped that fall. Subsequent developments showed the operators, that the lower level would not last many years. Options on additional tracts of coal land containing 2500 acres were secured through the efforts of C. B. Heinemeyer, and thus the foundation to the present large enterprise was laid. In 1922 the company reorganized under the name of Knife River Coal Mining Co., retained Mr. Mounts as superintendent, and opened the present mine on Sec. 18, Twp. 144, Range 87. The present mine differs from the first or old mines in so far that it lies some two miles from the main line of the N. P. Ry. The vein of coal now being mined lies at a higher level than that of the old mine. It is approximately 18 feet thick, on the average, and does not contain any clay seams. There is no trouble from excess water which was the unfortunate case in the lower level of the old mine. Another advantage of the present mine is that it has a slope entrance instead of a shaft. Hauling the coal from the mine to the tipple is an added expense, but the absence of water and clay seam in the coal offset it. Since the installation of electric motors to pull the coal cars from mine to tipple, the expense of hauling has been brought down to a minimum. The old tipple was destroyed by fire in 1925. The new one, erected the same year, is built mostly of concrete and steel, and has all modern appliances to unload cars, screen coal, and load cars with box car loaders. At present the mine employs some 206 men. Since 1925, under the able management of Supt. M. M. Mounts and assisted by Mine Foreman John Erbele, it has become the largest producing mine in the state, shipping approximately 300,000 tons of coal annually. In 1928 the mine was sold to the United Public Service Co., Chicago, 111., and a year later it became a part of the vast Insull Interests. The Beulah Power Plant A power plant to furnish electric power in connection with the operation of the mine, was built by the Hughes Electric Co. in May, 1925. Later high-lines were built to Bismarck and Mandan, and service established to these cities. A year later more high-lines were built. One served all towns from Beulah west to Killdeer, on the north branch, and another to Dickinson. In 1927 the plant was enlarged to a 6,000 kilowatt capacity. Two turbines, one of 2500 KW and the other of 3500 KW are driven by 42 two 750 H.P. boilers. All of the fuel used is coal slack taken from the mine. One of the interesting sights is the cooling pond, just south of the power plant. The water for the operation of the plant is pumped from the Knife river into a 10,000 gallon tank, located oh the mine hill north of the plant. The water then runs into a 26,000 gallon tank, and is treated with lime to soften, and settle it. It is then filtered, and run into the.spray pond to cool the exhaust steam from the turbines. The purpose of cooling the steam is to recover the water in the steam to be used for the boilers. At this writing the present owners have extended their power lines into South Dakota, connecting up with the Northwestern Public Service Co.'s high-lines. The plant has been running up to full capacity since 1928. Continuous service is given to Aberdeen, Huron, Redfield, Mitchell, and Yankton, South Dakota. In North Dakota service is given to towns as far west as Medora, and to the east as far as Burnstad in Logan county. The plant was acquired by the Insull Interests of Chicago in 1929. This industry employs 15 men who are under the supervision of Mr. R. T. Hamilton, a courteous gentleman, who delights in showing visitors around. Zap Collieries The "Zap Strip Mine," as it is known locally, is the largest strip mine in the west Missouri country. It first began operations in 1922, and by this time the controlling company has acquired coal lands which are said to contain enough coal to keep them operating about 40 years. The coal veins on these tracts vary from 9 to 13 feet in thickness. The over-burden is from 30 to 55 feet. All mining operations are conducted with the most modern machinery, which is driven either by electricity, steam or gasoline. The output of this mine has averaged 160,000 tons yearly, since the beginning of operations. The trade name of the coal is "Indian Head," and it has had a wide sale in this state, and South Dakota. A large number of men are continually at work stripping, and at the height of the producing season, some 60 men are employed. The property is managed by Supt. Hadley Graves. Lucky Strike Mine This mine was opened by the Lucky Strike Coal Co., composed ofr Mr. Robt. M. Stroup, Mr. J. B. Field and Geo. M. Slowey of Zap, N. D., in 1917. , It had a successful run for a number of years. The coal was a high grade black shiny lignite and enjoyed a good domestic trade throughout the southern, and eastern parts of the state. Because of the popularity of the coal, outside parties contrived to get a con­ trolling interest in the mine, proceeded to reorganize, put on a profitable stock sales campaign, but did not manage the property for a profit. Through the manipulations of an unscrupulous manager, many miners and businessmen of Mercer county lost thousands of dollars. At present the mine is leased by the Zap Collieries and supervised by Mr. Hadley Graves. While the output has not come up.',to the production of past years; still it has had a successful year's run. About 25 men are employed. 43 s Gunderson Mine

Eli Gunderson, long a resident of Mercer county, opened this mine in 1924.

The mine is about worked out; last fall the miners began "pulling pillars," and recovered all the remaining coal. At this writing the mine is being abandoned. The tipple is being razed, and all equipment removed. Mr. Gunderson will open a new mine at another point.

Kamins Coal Mine

The Kamins Coal Co., operates this mine. It is located three miles west of Zap. This is one of the dry mines of the Zap—Beulah coal area. B. L. Kamins is manager of this enterprise. Forty nien are employed at the height of the season. Several other mines in the county that formerly shipped coal have been either abandoned or are now rated as wagon mines.

Wagon Mines Wagon Mines are such, where operations are not carried on in a big way. The output is not near as large as that of the shipping mines mentioned previously. Some are underground mines, and many are strip mines. Usually they employ from two to five men. They are generally shut down during the summer months; but are of importance industrially, because they give employment to many men in the fall and winter months. Most of the coal used for domestic purposes by the farmers and townspeople of the county, comes from these mines. A few of the most important ones listed by the State Mine Inspection Department are: Teuber Coal Mine, and Ben Janssen Mine at Stanton; Winmill Mine and Sailer Mine at Hazen; Carmichael Mine at Beulah, and Hoggarth Mine at Zap.. It is interesting to know that most of Mercer county, with an area of 1,110 square miles, is underlaid with a fine grade of lignite coal. Veins varying in thickness of from 5 feet to 40 feet have been reported in every township in the county.

The most important coal bed is the one designated by the North Dakota Geological Survey as the Beulah—Zap coal bed. This bed lies on both sides of the Knife river and Spring creek valleys, and extends from about Hazen, west to Golden Valley.

Two of the largest mines in the state are located in this area namely, the Knife River Coal Mining Co., an underground mine, near Beulah, and the Zap Colliery Co., a strip mine at Zap. It is because of these two large operators that Mercer county has led all other counties of the state in production of coal for the past six years. 44 BARNSDALL SERVICE STATION MAYTAG WASHE|Sf £ «E SQUARE TO YO YOUR MOTOR DeLaval Seperators GASOLINE GREASE KEROSENE TIRES MOTOR AND OILS B ACCESSORIES CompleteStocks Of BARNSDALL The World's First Refiner Lumber BEULAH. N. D. THEO. MUHLHAUSER. M'G'R. Hardware SAVE MORE MONEY Plumbing and on General Hardware Heating Supplies Speed Queen Washing Machine Radios - Refrigerators - Stoves Ranges - Paints - Oils - - Harnesses Fencing ECONOMY HARDWARE STORE Paints Beulah, N. D. TRUE TO IIS NAME MARSHALL-MALAISE BACAL'S STORE ; LUMBER COMPANY Beulah, No. Dale. GENERAL MERCHANDISE Where you can buy what WE HAVE COMPLETE STOCKS of you want at reasonable prices.

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ercer County

Dedicated to the Sturdy Pioneers Who Settled This County Over 75 Years Ago.

The following pages have been compiled by Mrs. Ben Janssen.

« c *

Thanks to the following for material:

The Hazen Star — The Reclamation Service

Mac Lehmkuhl for Irrigation Work — Mrs. William of Washburn

County Agent H. R. McKenzie

And to all who sent material and histories

46 MERCER COUNTY (Taken from The Hazen Star, June 17, 1937) Majestic Mercer was indeed correctly named when we consider that from a historical standpoint, we date back to 1738 as the earliest recorded date when the Indian villages on the Knife river were visited by De la Verendrye, who was escorted by Assiniboine Indians from the Turtle mountains to these villages. Later in 1745 his sons visited these same villages (N. Dak. His­ torical Society). Undoubtedly, numerous French voyagers visited these villages during the interval between 1745 and 1802. Missouri His­ torical Society records Chas. Le Raye visited the Indian villages, at the mouth of the Knife river, exploring this stream some twenty miles to Spring Creek, thence west across the Little Missouri to the Yellowstone river. The visit of Lewis and Clark in 1804 and 1805 and the finding of Sakakawea at the villages on the Knife river is a well known fact which can not be disputed. Alexander Henry's Journal records that traders and explorers from Pembina mountains visited at the Indian villages here in 1806. Manuel Lisa an Indian agent for the upper Missouri country had a fur trading post on the south side of the Missouri river where later the post office of Expansion was established. In 1811, John Bradbury, an English botanist, mentions these Indian villages and posts in Mercer county in his book, "Travels in the Interior of America." Also recorded by the Missouri Historical Society, 1832, and in 1833 Maximilian, Prince of Wied, visited this territory. In 1885 Henry H. Boiler, an American traveler and writer, spent some time among the Indians here. In enumerating the white men who were actual residents, it is hard to know who were the first. Charbonneau, the husband of Sakakawea, lived at the Stanton village prior to Lewis and Clark's visit in 1804. Post traders and wood choppers lived here and the earliest recorded as homesteaders are Peter C. Causey, an ex-soldier and scout, 1878; Ed Councilman and Joseph Dietrich, 1881. These men took squatters right homestead until this tract of land was thrown open for home­ steads in the spring of 1882. Bob McGahan, Steve Card and Councilman came down the Missouri from Fort Benton and stopped at Causey's trading post and wood yards and traveled up the Knife and chose their location for homesteads. Joe Beaubein and Bill Miller located west of Expansion trading furs and wood to the boats that traveled the Missouri. The Mannhaven Mercantile business was organized and became co-partners with S. P. Baker, owner of a fleet of steam and gasoline stern wheel boats navigating between Bismarck, Washburn and Fort Benton, Mont. Mannhaven became a shipping point by river of grain down stream and received merchandise for the store by boat upstream. As business grew and flourished more partners joined and incorporated in what was called "The Slope Mercantile Co." This establishment grew into a monstrous business, drawing on a large territory—Mercer, Oliver and part of Dunn county. They handled practically everything from a needle to a threshing machine. The Captains of the boats or pilots were Grant Marsh, Blund, and later the Leach Bros. The 47 STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION BISMARCK, N. OAK. .. latter were running the boats until 1912 when the N. P. railroad was built into the county. The first bank in the county was the Slope Mercantile Co., which did several hundred thousand dollars worth of business in a year. What seemed most important, their margin of profit never exceeded 10 per cent on their gross sales. The population of Mercer county in 1940 was 9611; in 1950 it was 8686. The first schools were erected in the early 80's. The first high school was built in Stanton after 1910. The first graduates in the county were Adolf Thue and Theodore Sailer. General Information on Mercer County Mercer county is located in the west central portion of the state just west of the Missouri river. Its elevation is generally from 2000 to 3000 ft. above sea level. This county has a land area of 710,400 acres. The average temperature for the growing months of June, July and August is from 65 to 65.5 degrees. The average precipitation is about 15 inches per year. The rainfall for the growing months of May and June is 6.2 inches. The frost-free season is about 122 days. The soil is affected by a thin layer of glacial till and is underlain by a residual material from shales and small stones chiefly. There are areas of sandy loam, gravelly loam and stony loam. There are a few poorly drained areas in the county. * * * By H. R. McKenzie, County Agent For the most part these facts are taken from the North Dakota Crop and Livestock Statistics of 1958. At the present time Mercer county has approximately 702,080 acres of land. Of this amount approximately 310,000 acres are devoted to crops. A little over 350,000 acres remain in virgin grass land. The remainder of the acres are devoted to woods, roads, towns and coal mine waste banks. The cropping pattern has changed somewhat in the past 25 years. There has been a decided swing towards larger corn acreages and tame hay, especially alfalfa. Of the land devoted to crops, approximately 34 per cent is devoted to wheat production, 9 per cent to oats, 6 per cent to barley, 5 per cent to flax, 14 per cent to corn, 12 per cent to summer fallow and 20 per cent to hay land. There has been a tremendous change in the methods used on the average farm in the county in the past 25 years. A tremendous swing towards mechanization has drastically changed the farm populations. In 1960 there are approximately 630 farms left in the county. There are an additional 65 farmers farming their land from town. All in all, this represents a reduction of nearly one-half of the farm population in the past 25 years. Livestock numbers have increased tremendously. Beef cattle numbers run about 37,000 head, while dairy cows number 8,000. This would leave an average of better than 70 head of livestock per farm for the farmers remaining in the county. Swine numbers have fluctuated greatly in recent years, but seem to be pretty well estimated at around 7,000 head. Sheep numbers have shown a definite upswing in the past 10 years and now number about 5,000. The poultry enterprise has suffered from lack of specification and the numbers of chickens and turkeys are very low. Chickens now number about 60,000 while turkeys number 12,500. There has been a great acceptance of commercial fertilizer in the 48 . county during recent years. In 1954, 37 tons of commercial fertilizer were used by Mercer county farmers. By 1959 the annual use of commercial fertilizer had jumped to over 700 tons. Nearly all of the land that had been tested in the county showed a very low level of •phosphate. Increases resulting from proper use of fertilizer have •, been tremendous. Most dollar-wise farmers feel that they have been getting $5.00 return for,every dollar invested in fertilizer applied to hard red spring wheat. The year 1960 was also,a year of substantial increases in soil bank acreages for Mercer county. At the present time over 17,000 acres of crop land have been retired from production. Included in this amount was the retirement of 65 total farm units. WHAT I REMEMBER By Mrs. Janssen When we came to Mercer county in 1903 the "Early Settlers" had lived here about twenty years. They had constructed a few bridges. Roads were trails between postoffices. Most homes were of rammed earth, with deep window seats, wooden gables and wooden doors, some with earth floors and roofs, others had shingles and wooden floors. Very little paint was to be seen. West of Stanton we had a river crossing with a stone for a marker to show the depth of the water. If the stone was covered, "stay out." If near the base, you could cross if the wagon box was tied down and the horses would swim. The Red Bridge was erected in 1915. It took all day to travel to Mandan and there were gates to open. After arriving at Mandan you could take the ferry, to, Bismarck fit / 0 . wait for the next train. /^^O^VVJTT^&'T-A*^^ KJ&^

52 The Dakota Star Mine, also known as the Truax-Traer Mine, was started in 1944 by the Truax-Traer Coal Co. It is a strip mine, with an output of 400 tons per hour and 3000 tons per day. Eight trucks are in use, each travelling 110 miles daily. It takes 2% minutes to fill a truck. A spur line runs six miles northwest from Hazen, with nine miles of railroad in the tipple area. The Beulah mine was an underground one, but now they are stripping east of the old mine. Most of their output is used for power at Beulah and different parts of the state. Mining at Zap The mining of coal began here in 1922. Originally the name of the mine was Zap Colliery Company, but it was changed in recent years to Dakota Collieries Company. The mine has been in constant operation since its beginning and the coal has been mined under the trade name of Indian Head Lignite. The average yearly production is 300,000 tons with 1,000,000 cubic yards of dirt moved to uncover the coal. The lignite runs to about 15,000 tons per acre. This production of coal begins by stripping, or removing an average of 39 feet of dirt from the 12 feet, or so, of lignite. These strips are from 80 feet to 100 feet wide. Dirt is cast into a previous cut (where the coal has already been mined). Stripping is done by two machines—a Marion 7200 electric walking (each step is 6 feet) dragline, purchased new in 1948, and a P & H 1055 run by diesel power, purchased new in 1947. The Marion 7200 is powered by a 250 horsepower electric motor, which uses either 2300 or 4000 volts. The length of the boom may be 135 feet or 120 feet, depending on the size of the bucket used— the bucket varying from 5 cubic yards to 7 cubic yards in size. By itself, the machine weighs 225 tons, including 30 tons of ballast. Air- controlled, one man runs the Marion 7200 with the help of an oiler. The P & H machine has a 100 foot boom with three cubic yard and four cubic yard buckets and is powered by a Buda diesel engine. Six gallons of diesel fuel are used hourly. This dragline is hydraulical- ly controlled and lifts about 20,000 pounds, including dirt and the bucket weight. The coal is cut by an electric vertical coal cutter, made in their own shops. It helps in recovering coal, makes a better road for the trucks and leaves no jagged edges. After this, all the lignite is drilled and blasted before loading, then cleaned by two bulldozers (Allis-Chalmers H. D. 10 and Interna­ tional T. D. 18). The latter are also used for leveling in front of stripping machines and for snow removal. Historically important is the coal-loader, a Marion 490 electric shovel, because it was built in 1928 and first used in the construction of Boulder dam. Today it is still working full time—the ZVz cubic yard dipper holding approximately three tons. A 125-horsepower motor powers this caterpillar-mounted shovel. The Marion 490 loads the coal into 20-ton Euclid coal-haulers which are powered by 200-horsepower Cummins diesel engines. They were purchased in the summer of 1949. Their maximum speed is 30 miles per hour and they use three gallons of diesel fuel an hour. With the loading of Indian Head Lignite into the trucks, the trucks leave the pit for the tipple. 53 At the tipple the coal is screened over shaker screens to size it into lump, furnace, stove, nut, stoker and crushed coal. Here it is also loaded into box and open railroad cars for shipment. About half of the amount produced at the mine is used for power house coal, the other half is for domestic use. About 40 are employed at the mine, and health and accident insurance and old-age pensions are provided for them. Several of the employees have been with the company since the mine started and labor turnover is small. Conservation measures are being carried out by the planting of 20,000 young trees on the bare "dirt" banks. Additional trees are to be planted each year. Following is a list of years and the tonnage mined each year in Mercer county, given by the State Mine Inspector. 1934—452,052 1943— 670,438 1951—1,270,720 1935—505,807 1944— 574,054 1952—1,104,243 1936—463,636 1945— 669,521 1953—1,009,059 1937—583,302 1946— 944,624 1954— 973,069 1938—565,141 1947—1,148,865 1955—1,018,221 1939—583,291 1948—1,226,764 1956—1,044,795 1940—594,797 1949—1,252,265 1957— 991,309 1941—627,766 1950—1,192,096 1958— 834,320 1942—672,760 1959— 873,148 Total tonnage mined during those years is 20,246,027. Farmers Co-operative Co., Zap The Farmers Co-operative Company of Zap was incorporated Jan. 24, 1914. Members of the board of directors were Fred Lang, Adam Herrmann, Carl Shadewalt, G. E. Thomas, Fred Brunmeier, John Lang, Jr., and Geo. Slowey. E. E. Prehn was the first grain buyer for the company. In June, 1954, The Farmers Co-operative Company of Zap pur­ chased the Peavey Elevator. The company now has a total capacity of 124,000 bushels of grain. The present board of directors are A. J. Dallman, president; Emil Horning, vice president; Albert Hoffmann, secretary; Christ Bieber and Martwin Herrmann. Arrow Creamery, Hazen The creamery was organized as the Nesbet Co-operative Creamery and was located in Oliver county near the John Rahn home, now the Emil Reich home. This co-operative was organized about 1911 by the following farmers: Ralph McCormick, E. L. Stetson and C. W. Stephens. The Nesbet postoffice was about a mile away, and they received mail by a horse and buggy stage from New Salem. The following were buttermakers during the ensuing years: Edward Elhard and Christ Wayne. After moving to Hazen, they were R. E. Itskin, Staley, Fred J. Smith and later Victor Stephens. After the railroad was completed it was decided to move the creamery. "High" Jones did the moving. Its first location was near where Otto Schwalbe's buildings are now located. In 1918 Wm. Chase was hired to build a brick and tile building up town. Fred Krause was the manager and thru bad deals the company went into receivership. After different operators, it was sold to C. M. Helfrich and the name was changed to "Arrow Creameries." Victor Stephens started working there in 1929 and on Jan. 6, 1936, he purchased the 33x70 building. Most of the time he operated with one man helper. The locker plant and office were added in 1945 and the cafe in June 1948. At present they employ six full time men, two or three part time men, a full time bookkeeper and from six to ten women and girls in the cafe. OTHER INDUSTRIES A sand and gravel pit was opened at Stanton in 1956. The operation involves excavating sand and gravel and running it through a washer and screening plant, where it is separated into five different sizes and stockpiled. It is run by Bill Faiman of Stanton and Gene Fisher of Dickinson. Jake Burkhardt started a chick hatchery in Zap in 1938. Karl Menge started a greenhouse in Beulah. The greenhouse is still in operation, but the hatchery was discontinued in 1959.

Aerial View of Garrison Dam Garrison Dam There was talk of a dam in this area for some time but the first convincing action was in 1933 when test drilling was started. Actual grading was started Oct. 4, 1946, followed with pile driver work on the bridge the next spring. The dam, built of compacted earth, extends more than two miles across the valley and has a maximum height of 210 feet above the stream bed. Into its construction went 70 million cubic yards of earth fill. The spillway is on the east side. The outlet works, located on the west side of the river, consists of an intake tower, nine tunnels, a stilling basin, and a tailrace. Three tunnels 22 feet in diameter and 55 $UTE LIBRARY COMMiSS Qh B1SUARCK, N. OAK. one 26 feet in diameter serve for reservoir regulation and flood control operation. The other five tunnels, each 29 feet in diameter, discharge through the powerhouse and serve for power operation. The entire project is estimated to cost $294,000,000. Total of lignite coal taken from the excavated area was 2% million cubic yards. When completely filled the lake will extend 200 miles above the dam. When all power units are installed (1960), the power plant will have an installed capacity of 400,000 kilowatts. Benefits beside the electricity will be flood control, navigation, irrigation, fish and wildlife, domestic water supply and other purposes. The river channel area below the regulating tunnels already has developed into one of the foremost fisheries in the state. The wide variety of game fish taken there—rainbow trout, walleyed pike, sand pike and northern pike—make it a special attraction to thousands of fishermen every week. Burns Irrigation . H. T. Burns and Homer Wretling, of Garrison, farm south of Stanton on what is called the Stanton Island, with Mr. Burns and family residing just south of town. During the season ,of 1959 they prepared 100 acres for irrigation. In constructing the main ditch, 4,700 feet long, they removed 20,000 yards of dirt and compacted the length of the ditch. A large stilling basin was constructed near the pump, said pump discharges 7,000 gallons of water a minute, with a tractor furnishing the power. The first water was pumped July 15. The yield was good even if it was late before the land was ready and some planting had been rather late. They hope to add 100 acres to the project each season for about five seasons. Fort Clark Irrigation Unit By Mac Lehmkuhl, Ditch Rider The first surveys in the Fort Clark area were made by the Surveyor General in 1880 and 1881. During 1889 to 1891 the area was mapped as part of the Missouri River Commissioner's survey of the river from Fort Benton, Mont., to Sioux City, Iowa. In 1831 Fort Clark was established as a military outpost. The area was occupied by fur traders and trappers until 1873, or the advent of railroads in the territory. Fort Clark is one of the 15 proposed pumping units along the Missouri river in western and central North Dakota. Authorization for the Unit was included in Section 9 of the Flood Control Act of 1944. In 1882 three men by the name of Alderin became the first permanent settlers in the area and their descendants still own land in the community. The present population of the unit, taken yearly by the project personnel, in the year 1959, is 22 families composed of 73 persons. Most of the acreage lies in Mercer county with the southern tip extending into Oliver' county. The Fort Clark unit is located on the west bank of the Missouri river, extending about six miles from the town of Fort Clark to within 2Vz miles from Stanton, the county seat of Mercer county. The unit is designed to irrigate 2,100 acres of bench and bottom land bordering the river from a pumping' plant installed at the upstream tip of the project. A net of 1882 acres was planned for immediate development. 56 , Bids for the construction of the Fort Clark project were opened December 18, 1951, at the Bureau of Reclamation office in Bismarck, N. D., with the final bid going to the Karshaj Construction Co. of Blair, Neb. They subrleased various phases of the construction to the Hagen Construction Co. of Park River, N. D., and Bohrer Construc­ tion Co. of Stanton, N. D, ... Construction of the unit commenced on April 22, 1952, and the first irrigation water was applied to land owned by Ted Danielson on August 14, 1953. A main pumping plant and two relift plants are required to deliver irrigation water. The main plant, with three units, is located in a steep bank of the Missouri river and will deliver water at two locations. Two of the pumps, each with a capacity of 15 cubic feet per second (c.f.s), will deliver water at the head of Canal B at elevation 1,747. The third pump at the main plant, will deliver water at the head of Canal A, elevation 1,701 at the rate of 10 c.f.s. Relift plant No. 1, with a capacity of five c.f.s., is located on Canal B to pump from elevation 1,742 to 1,771 on Lateral 2. Relift plant No. 2, with a capacity of four c.f.s., will pump from a point near the end of Canal B elevation 1,719 to 1,734 on Canal B. Power for the units comes from the Garrison dam power units and is supplied by the Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Canal A', constructed to a capacity of 10 c.f.s. extends 3.13 miles along the Missouri river bottom and will serve a potential net acreage of 362 acres. Twenty canal structures of standard design and one short lateral are required for the Canal A distribution system. Canal B, constructed to a capacity of 30 c.f.s. at the head, extends for 6.47 miles and will serve 1,677 acres of land. Fifty-three canal structures, two relift pumps, and a lateral system of 6.19 miles are required with the canal B system. Approximately four miles of drainage ditches were exacayated to take care of excess waters. Total cost of the project is slightly over $750,000. Total cost to the land owners is $66,000, payable in 40 years following a ten year development period, the balance to be paid by power and other revenues of other Missouri River Projects. Development of the project has steadily increased with 400 acres leveled by outside machinery at an average cost of approxi­ mately $50.00 per acre and 600 acres, plus, leveled by the landowners themselves with smaller land levelers. The use of irrigation water has increased from 62 acres irrigated in the year 1953 to 1,319 acres irrigated during the year 1959. Acreage value per irrigated acre shows (taken from the yearly crop census) $28.74 compared to $19.42 for dry land operations, for the year 1953. Acreage value per irrigated acre shows an increase to $55.97 compared to $13.32 for dry land operations in the year 1959. The first board of directors for the Fort Clark project were Joe Gustafson, chairman; Lyman Alderin, secretary and treasurer; Ted Danielson; and Frank Brazda. (Note by Mrs. Janssen: The following is the life of many who came to Mercer county between the early '80's to 1900. Mrs. Schwarz wrote this so well that I will use it almost as she wrote the copy.) THE MARTIN WEISZ FAMILY. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Weisz, and family, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Oster and family, Ben Oster's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Oster and family; Mr. and Mrs. Frederich Richter and family (The Richters were Dave Richter's parents .57 STATE ! i'BRARY COMMISSION BISMARCK, II DAK. and my cousins), arrived in Mercer county on April 19, 1888 from Bessarabia, South Russia. At New Salem my father bought a team of horses and a wagon. We came to stay with the William Richters at Krem. Mr. Richter met us at the Knife river with his team of oxen. He stopped us and said we should take his team to his farm and he and my father would drive the horses back to New Salem to get supplies. He said, "The oxen will take you to my home," which they did. We stayed with them for two weeks. My father took up a homestead two miles west of William Richter's and built a sod house. He bought a cow and a team of oxen and started to plow the land. There were few people here then. Mike Keeley and Jack Gal­ lagher lived near the Knife river. The Heinemeyers and the Lamberts were here. As they had been here a time they were able to sell some stock. Money was so scarce that people picked buffalo bones to sell. At first they were plentiful, but later they were getting scarce. The loads were taken to New Salem and traded for flour, matches and what was needed most. It was forty-five to fifty miles to New Salem. Mr. Mann and a lady, Mrs. Ott and her son worked in the store. They also kept people over-night when they came far. We got the wood for the roofs of our buildings from the Missouri river, which was five miles west and ten miles north. It was a long cold trip and hard work to chop and load the big trees. They had to start early in the morning, and it was late in the evening when they would return. It was hard to keep up with our church work. My father had built a house of stone and mud with a dirt floor. They would have church, or someone read the sermon, first at our house then at a neighbor's. So it was here and there. After we were here a while, my sister, who had been born on the ship coming over, passed away: The funeral was at our house and the funeral text was read by Mr. Schweigert, Mrs. Dan Krause's grandfather. He had come here about that time. Later Fredrich Richter built a granary, across the road from where Edward Richter used to live. We then used that for a church. I was sponsor for my sister's baby, Jacob Radke, who was christened there, about sixty years ago. Ed Machau's parents, the John Machaus, were married in our house. Said Ed Machau, died this past year at Hazen. At one time they had confirmation school at our house for six weeks. My father was postmaster at our place for a number of years. Later the postoffice was moved to Krem with Carl Semmler as postmaster. My father bought a book that was written in English and German. That was the way he learned to read and write. Later they had English school at the home. It was for three months during the winter •—one winter at my home, the next at William Richters, and once at John Kunz. The teachers were Jack Gallagher's three sisters, Mary, Rose and Katy. Later there was a teacher by the name of Mary Mickoule, each teaching one year. Then there was a schoolhouse built near where Herbert Weisz lives. I remember one time we had to say our Christmas pieces at the school on Christmas eve. Just before we left an Indian came, so my father said that mother and the children should go, and he would stay at home with the Indian. We were 58 really afraid to go and leave him alone, but we did go. When we had gone, he gave his knife and what he had to show that he wished to stay over-night. One time shortly before I was confirmed I had to stay at home to do the cooking. After the others had left, a whole line of wagons came into the yard. I certainly was scared as they were all Indians. It was in the fall and the citrons were outside. They each took one and held them up, asking if they could have them. I said, "Yes," and they went their way, except one boy who stayed behind and asked for butter. I had to go down into the deep root cellar to get the butter. We had watermelons in the cellar. He asked, "Why were those in the cellar?" I told him the others had to be cooked before they could be eaten. I gave him one, and he gave me the hankie he had around his neck. Then he left on horseback. They threw the citrons into the grass by the road after they found they could not eat them. At that time we could not sell our cream. One had to make it into butter. We had wooden pails which held ten or twelve quarts. We put the butter into them and covered it with a white cloth and put the wooden lid on. This was packed into wet hay and taken to New Salem where we sold it for a few cents a pound. At that time we did not know about canning. Carrots and beets were put into sand and kept in the cellar all winter. Watermelons were packed in barrels with red pepers, dill and salt water. Boards were placed over the top, weighted down with a stone to hold them in the brine. The boards and stone had to be washed once a week to keep them fresh. In this way they would keep until spring. Our other foods were dried beans, sauerkraut, potatoes, bread, kuchen and syrup. My father made a table board out of a two and half foot tree. He also made a trough from a log to water the horses and cattle. At that time prairie fires were a bad thing. Now more settlers had arrived and they would plow around in the neighborhood to prevent the fire from getting at the buildings. A fire guard was four furrows made about twenty feet apart and then burned out between. One time, about 60 years ago, before it had been burned out, the fire came. There was a storm so my father and two brothers, with other men, went to meet the fire to help put it out. They drove about eight miles to Links, but they could not stop the fire. They returned home very much afraid that their buildings would be burned. At the wagon trail going east and west near our home, my Mother and I fought the fire with wet sacks on forks and kept it from the farm. There was a clean corn field on the west side of the farm, and the fire burned into it a ways and then burned out. So this is the way, with God's help, our home was saved. In the morning everything was black as far as one could see. I was married to Matthew Schwarz in June, 1904. Later we moved to a farm three miles southwest of Hazen, where I am still residing. My family are all dead except myself. They were Nathaniel Weisz married Margretta Goetz, Portland, Ore.; Marie married August Radke, Portland, Ore; Helena married John Gieszler, Ashley; Gustave married JoAnn Linde, Krem. The Schwarz children are: Emil, Martin, William and Bernhard, all of Hazen; Rev. Richard Schwarz, Parkston, S. D.; Helen (Mrs. Ed Zenker) Regent; Marie (Mrs. Herbert Scheid) Hazen; Pauline (Mrs. Melvin Brinkmeyer) Steele; and Eva (Mrs. Bjarne Haugen) Minot. 59 MRS. FRED ALBERS died at the age of 72 in 1950. She had lived in Mercer county 42 years. The Albers children are Ed, Fred D., Emil, Ernest, Ervin, Mrs. Leonard Loewen, Herbert and Mrs. Lundstrom of Illinois, and Mrs. Onnstad of Washington. Fred Albers resides in Hazen. MRS. MARTHA (SCHAFER) ALBERS was among the first white children born in the county. She was a daughter of Otto Schafer. She passed away in 1951 at 65 years. Children: Roland, Otto and Elmer of Hazen; Albert at Hannover; Raymond in California; Ray at Wahpeton; Mrs. Joe Patton in Illinois; Mrs. Ervin Ellwein, Pick City; Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Swank in California. THE JOHN ALDERIN family came to Mercer county May 30, 1884. They came by train to Mandan, by ox team and lumber wagon to what is now Hensler, team and wagon driven by Andrew Alder­ in, being one week on the road. The oxen and folks being tired and not wanting to camp out another night, they were taken by a nice young man by the name of A. B. Strickler, a team of horses and wagon some fifteen miles further west to grandfa­ ther's cabin where we lived for a year or more. Their first home on Mr. Al- derin's homestead was a dugout, later a one room house was built. Coming from the city of McKees- port, Pa., this country looked great and roomy with its knee high grass to wander thru and trees and meadows along the river bank. They had bands of Indians visit them ever so often, making trades of goods. They had good times and hard times during the pioneer days. Theirs was a large family: Regina, David, Deborah, Edward, Mr. and Mrs. John Alderin Robert, Jennie, Arthur, Charles, Ellen, Gertrude, Olga and Lyman. Many have passed on to a better land. During the father's life time he held many county offices, did church work and was Sunday school teacher. Their mother was a good mother, always trying to teach them what was right. John Alderin was born at Gustafors, Varmland, Sweden, March 19, 1854. He died Sept. 1, 1904. Mrs. Alderin was born Amanda Lindberg, Oct. 19, 1856, and passed away Oct. 19, 1935. MATT AUWINGER, Hazen, lived in this area fifty-three years. He passed away in 1960, age 76. ADAM BAISCH, came to America in 1893. His children are David, Christ, Robert, Fred, Henry, Herbert, Christina, Paulina, Emma, Lydia and Ella.

60 ALKIRE HISTORY. Earl (G. E.) Alkire and Frankie (McBride) came to Mercer county in 1906. They shipped stock and furnishings in by train. Their first home was a sod house built two and one-half miles west of Hazen. Winters were severe, and it was a long way to town for supplies. Once when they were short of meat they set traps for prairie chickens, and after catching them, they hated to kill them, thinking they were so pretty. Earl Alkire passed away in 1943. The children are Lawrence Alkire, Hazen; Mrs. R. O. Radke, Hazen; Albert Alkire, Seaside, Calif.; and Mrs. Ellsworth Foss, Hazen. MR. AND MRS. JULIUS BARTHEL, SR., settled in New Salem for one year after coming from Bochum, Germany. They moved to Krem in 1908 and later lived on a farm in that area. Mrs. Barthel passed away on October 20, 1945, and Mr. Barthel June 3, 1948 at the age of 78. Children of this family are Mrs. Abe Wittenberg, Sheldon, Wash.; Julius A. Hazen who lives on the homestead; Mrs. Herman H. Oster and Mrs. William E. Stitt, Reeder; Mrs. John M. Haas of Hamilton, Mont.; and Henry S. Barthel who died Feb. 26, 1953. HELLICK BAGLEY came in 1883 and homesteaded near the Olander farm at Deapolis. Their first home was a log cabin. In 1890 they moved to Oliver county and established the Bagley Ranch. The last few years John and his sister, Lena, have made their home at Stanton. The children born here were John and Emma. Three girls and one boy were born before they moved here. They are Mrs. Bertina Thompson of Washburn; Gilbert, deceased; Anna, de­ ceased, Emma, in Montana; Julia, Mrs. Perhasski. John said in early days in the fall, one could see some fire in the distance almost every evening. At first people would break their own fire guards. Later the county would hire the young men to prepare them. He said it was their only source of income. URSUS BAUER of Hazen came in 1905. He passed away in 1946 at the age of 88. Children are Mrs. Philip Benz; Mrs. Christ Entzel, Sidney, Mont.; Mrs. Don Pfenning, Driscoll; and Leo of Beulah. JOHN BASZLER, SR., came to Mercer county in 1889. He married Susan Ellwein in 1891. They lived two miles west of Mann­ haven. Children born to this union were Jacob Baszler, Butte, Mont.; Albert, St. Helen, Ore.; Mrs. Leonard Kilber, Stanton; Mrs. Katie Unterseher, Mrs. Jacob Huber and Mrs. Lydia Mohl of Hazen; Mrs. Ernest Stoelting, deceased in 1954; and John Baszler, Jr., who resided on the home place until six months before he passed away on Oct. 20, 1941. THE BERG BROTHERS came here in the early 1900's. Some settled in Oliver county, but Elias lived in Mercer county. In 1907 he married Selma Swanson, who had a homestead just southeast of his farm in Oliver county, where M. Schumann lives. In 1940 they retired to live in Bismarck. Mr. Berg died Dec. 18, 1955. In 1959 Mrs. Berg sold the property in Bismarck and moved here to be near her two daughters, Mrs. H. Wuerth and Mrs. M. Schumann. JOHN BECK, SR. Mr. and Mrs. Beck and five children came by a team and wagon to their farm 5Va miles northeast of Zap in 1905. 61 Their postoffice was Bodish. Their first home was a two room sod house. Their first grain was sent by barge from Stanton. Later they traveled to Hebron. When they took grain to the mill they would travel in caravans to get the flour and winter supplies. It would take four or five days for a trip. When Mr. Beck went to Bismarck to apply for citizenship papers, it took a week with a team and wagon. Mr. Beck passed away in 1955, age 84; and Mrs. Beck in 1946, age 71. One daughter, Mrs. John Kessler, passed away in 1954; Other children are John, Jr., Sawyer; Mrs. Chas. Brysan, Bismarck; Mrs. Fred Gubbe, Washington; Albert, Zap; Mrs. Leslie Bakken, Valley City; Mrs. Lawrence Lenoburg, Mcintosh, S. D.; Robert, Glad­ stone, Ore.; and Mrs. Gust Ganske in Canada. JACOB BOESHANS came here in 1895 and lived in a sod house eighteen miles north of Beulah. They had a team of horses, a covered wagon, two cows, and a walking plow. The next year they built a stone and clay house but lost all of their machinery and hay in a prairie fire. Henry lived on the home place until in 1948, when the government bought their farm for. the Garrison dam reservoir. Henry moved to Minnesota. Fred his brother, lives north of Beulah. John is deceased. JACOB BENZ. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob and Rosina Benz came to Mercer county in 1894 with his parents, Matt and Christina Benz, and four sons. They came by wagon and team from Freeman, S. D. At first they stayed for two weeks at Beaver Creek north of Beulah. Later they moved to the Expansion area. Their mail came to the Semmler home near Krem before the postoffice was established at Expansion. They took in sheep from Philip Blank of New Salem and cattle from Henry Lindemann of the same place, to keep on shares. They had one ox, a team of horses and a breaking plow. They built a house of sod, roofed with timbers and then covered with sod. They built a mud oven. First a big fire would be built. When it was hot, the fire was removed and bread was placed in to bake. Then closed tightly. Once their horses strayed into the area where the Jacob Bohrers lived. When they found more families living southeast of their home, they moved to that area. Jacob, Jr., still lives on the home place. Others in the family are Matt, Philip, John, Katherine Martin, Frido- lina Anderson, Paulina Schriever and Wilhelmina Benz. MR. AND MRS. JACOB BOHRER, SR., and sons, Fred and Joe, arrived in this country in May, 1887. They settled five and one-half miles south of Mannhaven, taking three quarters, a tree claim, home­ stead and a pre-emption. Their first home was a hut. They had a milk cow, a team of horses, an ox team and a breaking plow. The first spring they put in a crop of wheat, oats, corn and a garden. They had a good harvest. In later years Mr. Bohrer went into the store at Mannhaven. Jacob Bohrer, Sr., died in 1909, age 69 years. JOHN BOHRER, SR., came in October 1902 to New Salem by train and settled near Expansion. His children by his first marriage were Peter, Martin and Helen. By his second marriage: Dorthea, Hazen; Hertha Sailer, Tacoma, Wash.; Ernest, deceased; Walter of Bismarck; Emil of Hazen and Erhard. His wife died in 1917 and he married Emilia Sheck in 1918. She passed away in 1936 and Mr. Bohrer in 1926, age 80. . FRED BOHRER married Christina Sailer, now deceased. Their 62 children are Herbert, born in 1891; Tobias; Jacob and twins, Maria and Ida, of whom Ida is deceased, also deceased are Martha and Theo- phil. JOE BOHRER moved from Mannhaven to live in Stanton for a number of years. He was engaged in farming, selling cars and machinery. The children are Erhart in California, Oscar and Walter oi Minot, Roland, Ervin and Reita of Stanton; Mrs. Roy Graham, Dallas, Tex.; Mrs. Al McAdams of Minot; and Hertha in Washington, D. C.

(Left to right) John Sailer, Joe Bohrer, Paul Leupp, Mrs. Leupp, Mrs. Sailer, Mrs. Bohrer Mrs. Bohrer passed away in April 1954, age 70, and Mr. Bohrer in Dec. of the same year at age 78. He had lived in Mercer county 68 years. PETER BOHRER came here in 1899. He passed away in August 1934. He farmed north of Mannhaven and later moved east of Bismarck. Their children: Mrs. Herbert Schramm, Gait, California; Helmuth, Riverdale; Martha, Mrs. M. E. Vollmer, Marissa, Illinois; Richard, Arthur and E. C. Bohrer of Bismarck; Ernest, McMinnville, Oregon; Edna, Mrs. Wm. Ellwein, Robinson; and Theodore, Harrison, Indiana. MRS. ROSINA BOHRER, wife of Joseph Bohrer, Sr., lived here over 50 years. She was the mother of John Bohrer of Hazen; Jacob of Dodge; Mrs. Rosie Krause, Lodi, Calif.; and Henry, deceased. GEORGE BUCHFINK, SR., came to Mercer county before 1892. His homestead was about 18 miles northwest of Stanton. Later he moved to Stanton and resided just north of town until he passed away in 1950, age 85 years. Mr. Buchfink was a cattle buyer, as well as a farmer. Their children were Gustav of Zap, who died at age 65; Christina, Mrs. John Kruckenberg, Jr.; Mrs. Pauline Frasch of Sidney, Mont.; Mrs. Alex Mohl, Beulah; Mrs. Richard Isaak of Bismarck; George, Jr., Stanton; Fred of Hazen; and Mrs. Mollie Warnberg of California. Mrs. Buchfink passed away in 1953, age 85 years. 63 JOHN L. CASS was a school teacher, county attorney and news­ paper editor at Stanton from 1908 until.his death in 1934, age 83. Mrs. Cass passed away four years later. Their only daughter, Mrs. Irene Reinholt, passed away in 1948, age 54. Two of her sons, Milo and John, lost their lives in U. S. service, World War II. Lyle lives at Stanton; Mrs. Adam Schell, Turtle Lake; and Donald, Edward and Roger live at Fort Wayne, Ind. JACOB CHRISTMAN came to Mercer county with a sled and four horses, in 1896. They stayed at Ed Heinemeyer's farm the first night; then, with Jake Sailer the rest of the winter. They built their home, a mud house, six miles northwest of what is now Pick City. After the land was surveyed, they found their house to be on the section line and moved sixteen miles northwest to the Ree area on Beaver Creek. The children of this family who resided in Mercer county are Jake, deceased; William of Hazen, Christian, Mrs. Carl Baker of Bismarck; John, deceased, and two half brothers, Christ of Juna, Idaho, and Philip of Butte, Mont. William Christmann drove the stage for Mrs. Knoop from Mann­ haven to Hannover for a number of years. He claims to be the oldest broncho buster and stage driver in the county. MATT AND JOHN CROWLEY came here in 1887. At the age of six Jack Crowley and his brother came from Min­ nesota to North Dakota in 1887. They were of Irish descent. They came by train to Hebron, then across country to the ranch they still own south of Beulah. They remember the Indians coming and watching their mother make bread. At one time an Indian woman gave Jack two painted cups. Later the husband came and made him give them back, thus making him "an Indian giver." Before the bridge was built they would take people across the Knife river in their boat. Jack Crowley was married to Ruby May Rude in 1912. Eight children were born. One died in a plane crash in 1946. Robert; Mrs. Margaret Jenkins; Frank; Jim; Mrs. Florence Dyson; Helen; Freda; Dorothy Sendlingle. Jack never went to school, except one year at the AC in Fargo. On May 22, 1916, Jack captured a killer named Starkweather who had killed another hired man, Bill Osterman. Matt Crowley died five years ago and has been elected to the "Texas Hall of Fame." Mrs. Crowley passed away in 1951. The Crowleys have lived on the ranch for 73 years and this information came from Frances Crowley, the fourth generation residing there. MR. AND MRS. HERMAN DANIELSON came to Mercer county in 1882. They came by train to Bismarck and drove a team and wagon to the Deapolis area. Their first home was a log cabin on the farm later known as the Gordon Alderin homestead. Their oldest son, Paul, was one of the first white children born in the county. At the time of Sitting Bull's last uprising the family went into the hills and hid in a cave for four days. His father would walk to Mandan and bring home 50 pounds of flour on his back. Friendly Indians would follow him, and his mother would bake bread for them. The children are John, deceased; Adolf and Hanna, Mrs. Stone Alderin, Stanton; Joseph of LaMesa, Calif.; Helmer; Aaron; David, deceased; Robert; and Ella, Mrs. Sam Warford, deceased. 64 The Danielson home was the Deapolis postoffice for a number of years. THE DOLAN FAMILY. (Taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937.) In the summer of 1882 several railroad men seated at the dining table of the American House at Mandan, No. Dak., were discussing the possibilities of making a stake by taking up a homestead of 160 acres in the new country along the Knife river valley, just being surveyed and which soon would be thrown open for settlement. It was rumored the N. P. railroad would build up this valley within the next two years as the grade of the line to Medora was too steep, and following the Knife river valley would be much better and a cheaper way. Some of the men discussing this were Stephen Card, trapper, hunter and surveyor, and Tom Raymond who had just come back from this country. They were planning on making the trip before winter in order to take squatter's claims before this valley would be open for filing. Matt Bradey railroad engineer and Chas J. Dolan agreed to accompany them. In Sept. 1882 Stephen Card, Tom Raymond and Chas. J. Dolan started by way of the Missouri river road to this county. Matt Bradey was unable to go at this time so these three men with Raymond's team and wagon drove north to the Knife river and then west of the mouth of the Knife. Chas. Dolan chose the SE quarter of Sec. 4-144-86 and cut four logs and placed them upon the land as a squatter's right. Stephen Card's claim proved to be a school section and consequent­ ly did not file. Tom Raymond's claim was about five miles northeast of Stanton. In March 1883, Chas. J. Dolan, Frank Derbishire and Eli Baker and two small boys, John and Mike Keeley, came to the Knife river and built a log house, the ash logs for which had been cut by Dick Farrington, a young man who had taken a claim a few miles west of Dolans along the river. In July 1883 Mrs. Elizabeth Dolan came to the Knife river from Mandan. The Dolan family consisted then of Mr. and Mrs. Dolan, Thomas Keeley, Mike Keeley and John Keeley, sons of Mrs. Dolan during her first marriage, Terrence Dunlavey, son of Mrs. Dolan with her second husband, and Chas. Dolan, Jr. THE JOHN ELLWEINS, SR., came to America in 1886, lived at Freeman, S. D., for a year before coming to Mercer county. One son, John, was three years of age when they came here. Another son, William, and a daughter, Susan, now Mrs. John Bazler. They settled near the Adam Zeiszler farm. They slept in the overturned wagon box until their home was built. Mrs. John Ellwein, Jr., was a daughter of Peter Sailer who lived with his parents, the Adam Sailers, Sr. Children of the Ellwein, Jr., family are Ella, Mrs. Herbert Ziemann of Mandan; Frieda, Mrs. Herbert Stiefel, Menoken; Leo, Hazen; Albert, Pick City; Erwin of Lodi, Calif.; Hubert of Bismarck. John Ellwein passed away in Sept., 1959, age 75 years. THE FARRINGTON FAMILY. (See "Four Paw" in the forepart of this book for more about Dick Farrington.) Mrs. Farrington passed away in Oregon at the age of 59 in August 1932. She came to North Dakota in 1882. 65 The following is taken from The Hazen Star, June 24, 1937: Richard Farrington and his brother, Tom, came to Mercer county in the year 1879. They came by train to Mandan and walked from there into the county. Dick Farrington took squatter's rights on the land where Hazen now stands. EDWARD EGAR was born in Germany in 1834. He passed away at Stanton in 1915. He came to America with his parents when he was 13 years old. He lived at Red Wing, Minn., and worked on a steam boat. While there, he was married and had five children. After his wife's death he married Mary Moullette and to this union were born six children. The family settled in Mercer county in 1884. Their son Charley died in 1910. Bell, Mrs. Steve Wieger, resides at Stanton. Josephine, Mrs. Jake Jacobs, died in 1960. Richie, Mrs. Otto Schreiber, pass­ ed away in 1950. Harvey lost his life during the 1918 flu and An­ drew lives near Morristown, S. D. Mrs. Mary Egar passed away in 1916, age 57.

DR. L. G. EASTMAN came to Mannhaven about 1903. From there he moved to Krem and later to Hazen. He was the only doctor for miles around and had a large practice. He took an active part in civic, business and medical activities. He serv­ ed in World War I as a captain. Doctor Eastman passed away in 1940 at the age of 67. Mrs. Eastman died four years later. They had one daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Wm. Hastings. Dr. L. G. Eastman FOSS FAMILIES. Erick Foss lived in Oliver county and Clarence Fosses first resided in Oliver. Then in 1916 they moved to Mercer county. Erick Foss lost his life in the Sept. 12, 1903 blizzard. The cattle had strayed away, and in searching for them, he was lost and his body was not found until spring. Mrs. Clarence Foss told of the electric snow storm in Jan. 1917. Everything made of metal was full of electricity. One had to wear mittens to even touch the stove. MORTIMER E. FOWLER filed on a homestead on the Missouri river north of Stanton in the fall of 1902, moving here the next spring from Corona, S. D. The horses, cattle, farm machinery and household goods were shipped to New Salem. Several floods were encountered on the river bottom, the worst being in 1913 when they lost several hundred bushels of wheat, flax and most of their machinery. Mr. Fowler served one term as county sheriff in 1909-1910. The children are Susie, Mrs. Jorgen Lunde, Bismarck; Dennis, Stanton; Ernest, Kennewick, Wash.; John, Stanton; and Leslie, Bis­ marck. The farm was sold to Byron Grannis in 1945. Mrs. Fowler passed away in 1946 age 82 years, and Mr. Fowler in 1949 age 85 years. CHRIST FUERST was born in South Dakota November 16, 1879. His parents had emigrated a few years earlier from Russia. His mother passed away when he was four years of age. He came jto North Dakota in 1902 and took a homestead between Hazen and Beulah. He made his home with Emanuel Breitling who was a near neighbor. He did carpenter work and later went to Krem to work in Wilhelm Richter's store. There he was appointed postmaster. In 1908 he married Christina Netzer. In 1908 they moved to Stanton, where he served the public for the next 30 years. He was postmaster, clerk of court, county treasurer,

register of deeds and served in the bank at Stanton and Hazen. He passed away in 1941. Mrs. Fuerst moved to Fargo and later to Minne­ apolis where she now resides. Their children are Ida, Mrs. Max Marcil, Sherwood; Alice, Mrs. O. M. Christopherson, Minneapolis; Howard, Minot; and Leland, Lake Lotowana, Lee's Summit, Mo. THE GIESINGER FAMILY came to Mercer county in 1902 from Milbank, S. D. They resided on a farm west of Krem. Mr. Giesinger passed away in 1942, age 72 years and his wife in 1955 age 82. Their children are Mrs. Tillie Doll, Mandan; Edward and Ralph, Hazen; Adam in California; Raymond in Illinois; Mrs. John Janssen, deceased; Mrs. Margarete Usselmann; Mrs. Helen Vernon, Mandan; and Mrs. Frances Halverson in California. THE FRED GRANNIS FAMILY came to Stanton from McLean county in 1909. Mr. Grannis had a livery barn and did draying in town. They had a rooming house and hotel in Stanton. Byron lives north of Stanton. Mrs. R. E. Stuhr is in Washington; Esther, Mrs. Easton, Beulah; Hugh, Oregon; Mervil in Idaho. Mr. Grannis passed away in 1945 and Mrs. Grannis in 1951. THE GOETZ FAMILY came to Mercer county from Tripp, S. D., in 1886 and settled 14 miles west of Stanton. Their first home was built of sod and mud. Children are Katherine, Mrs. Gotthilf Grosz, deceased; Rosina, Mrs. John Grosz; Ed, Golden Valley; and Otto, Hazen; Lisebetha, Mrs.

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C. B. LOEWEN OLIVER-MERCER ELECTRIC & SONS CO-OPERATIVE, Insurance — All Lines INC. Hazen N. Dak. Hazen N. Dak. ..+4. Louie Goetz, Dodge; and Christina, Mrs. Jacob Goetz, Halliday; Peter, who passed away in 1957. '' GOTTHILF GROSZ lived here over 60 years. He married Katherine Tschaekofske, who passed away in 1947. They farmed northwest of Stanton and their son, Samuel, is on the home place. In later years they retired to live at Hazen. Mr. Grosz passed away in June 1958, age 84. Their children are Freda, deceased; Mrs. Barney Huber, Stanton; Peter, who died in the U. S. Army in World War II; and the following, who live at Hazen, Mrs. Emma Schramm; Albert, Edwin and Fred. Mrs. L. Lamphier lives in Minnesota. PAUL GOETZ of Hazen passed away in 1960, age 81 years. Mr. Goetz came here in 1898. Five years of that time he spent in Canada. He worked as a rancher for a transportation company. He had* a store in Krem and was postmaster for a time. In 1916 'he" built a .lumber yard at Zap. Later he sold that and constructed a garage in Hazen in 1920. He was county commissioner for a number of years. He appraised land for the Federal Land Bank.' At Hazen he was an active member of the town board. For many years he was a cattle buyer. The children are Erwin, Emil and Reuben of Hazen; Mrs. Forrest Stetson of Beulah. WILLIAM GOETZ came here; in 1894 and passed away in 1937, age 84. His children were Mrs. Regina Tschaekofske of Golden Valley; Mrs. Jacob Krause of Hazen; John, Beulah; Gottfried, Hazen; Jacob, Werner; Louis, Peter and Sam, Dodge. Gottfried Goetz of Hazen passed away in 1956. He had lived in the county 67 years. His children are Otto, Edwin and Arthur of Hazen; Leo, Fargo; Rev. Wm. Goetz of Iowa; Mrs. George Loeffelbein, Zap; Mrs. Emma Mittelsteadt, Killdeer; Mrs.'Wm. Gutknecht, Hazen and Mrs. Mary Chaney of California. JOHN GROSZ was born in Ergenheim, Russia, July 27, 1878, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Grosz. When, he was 14 years of age, in 1892, he came to the U. S. with his parents and settled on a farm northwest of Stanton. He married Rosina Tschaekofske on Nov. 4, 1897. She was the daughter of George Tschaekofske. She was born in 1877 and came to the U. S. when she was eight years old. She lived with her parents 10 miles north of Hazen. When the Groszes were married they settled on a farm 8V£ miles northwest of Stanton. They retired and moved to Hazen in 1943. He passed away April 15, 1957. Mrs. Rosina Grosz 4s living at Hazen. The children are Mrs. Mary J. Miller, Mrs. Irrna L. Ellwein, Mrs. Erna H. Weisz, Mrs. Hattie L. Kruckenberg, all of Hazen; Mrs. Irene ,H. Unterseher, Emil and Otto, all of Stanton; Herbert, Pick City; •Erhardt, Beulah; Mrs. Minnie Unterseher, Washington; Mrs. Ida C-j Birney, and Mrs. Evelyn F. Schuh of California; and Mrs. Lorentine R. James of Montana. RICHARD HEINEMEYER came to Mercer county with his parents in 1883 when he was two years old. His father was Ed Heinemeyer. His children are Ernest, Hazen; Emery, Washington; and Richard, Jr., Washington; Levi, Stanton; Charles, Idaho; Sylvan, Illinois; Stanley, Hebron; Kenneth, Wisconsin; Mrs. Melvin Rink, Stanley; and Mrs. Wm. Long of Washington. Richard passed away in 1954 age 75 years. His brother, Charles, was a rancher and county sheriff. He never married. He passed away in 1941 age 72 years.

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Heinemeyer Home Built in Early 1880's He taught school, was in the state legislature and with the land department. His children are Benton and Raymond of Bismarck. He was a nephew of Ed Heinemeyer. MR. AND MRS. JOHN HENDERSON came to Mercer county in 1896 from twelve miles south of Bismarck. Mr. and Mrs. George Suverley and their three children accompanied them. The Hendersons had four children. Their first home was a dugout in the river bank. Later they built a house part way into the bank about where the Beulah park is now located. Their hay meadow was where the town is now. Later Mr. Henderson filed on the homestead which is the Louie Sailer farm. Their income was from cattle and sheep. Many large prairie fires prevailed in those days. The Indians would come begging for food, and Mrs. Henderson would hide their supplies when she saw them coming. Roy Henderson, born Jan.;23, 1899, was among the first white children born in the county. • Mr. Henderson was the first to discover the coal along the river bank and learned it would burn. In 1917 they sold the farm and moved to Montana. The children of this family are Mrs. Florence Roedel, Bozeman, Mont.; Mrs. Isabel Thompson, Beulah; Mrs. Myrtle Ferguson of Tacoma, Wash.; Albert, Pendleton, Ore.; Roy, New Plymouth, Idaho; Wesley, Pendelton, Ore.; Johnnie, Donnelly, Idaho; and Walter, Nampa, Idaho. Mrs. Thompson had four children: Jessie of Beulah, who was an army pilot during World War II (He made 72 missions over Germany); Frances, Mrs. Lynn Johnson of Melrose, Mont.; Mrs. Joe Neet, Spokane, Wash.; and Vera, Mrs. Harold Heine of Beulah. MR. AND MRS. ADAM HERRMANN of Zap came to Mercer county from Butte, Neb., in May 1902. They shipped cattle and other goods to New Salem, and it took eight days to haul with teams and wagons to Mannhaven, driving the cattle with a pony. They stayed with the John Ellwein, Sr., and George Tschaekofske families for about a week, then moved to seven miles north of Zap and built a shed and a sod house. He had used his homestead right in Nebraska. Here he bought one section. Their first crop was eleven acres of corn. 71 .+*, HAZEN SHOE SHOP HAZEN BOWLING CENTER Shoe & Harness Repairing Lunches, Billiardsr Bowling Ed Huber; Prop. R. Elhardt

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-"——"* At first they traveled to Hebron with grain -and" to buy supplies. Later it was taken to Ree and shipped by boat. In 1913 the town ofs Zap was established. Mr. Herrmann took an active part in churchl and county affairs. The Herrmanns told of many hardships. Some' falls came so early that threshing had to be left until spring. In 1929J; the youngest son took over the farmland the parents moved to Zap.' Mrs. Herrmann died Oct. 14, 1938, and Mr. Herrmann April 17, 1954. The children are Mrs. John Wiedrich and Theodore of Zap; Mrs. Dorothy Fedderson of Beulah; Mrs. Theophil Reiner, Zap; Mrs. Hertha Weigum and Mrs. Ernest Hafner of Beulah; Ernest of Zap; Mrs. Sam Miller of Beulah; Mrs. Paul Ding of Stockton, Calif.; and one adopted son, Wm. Weigum of Mandan. MRS. HENRY HARTWIG was a widow with four children when she moved here from north of New Salem. They came with a.horse and sled the winter of 1907. Their home was ten miles -north- of* Beulah. She married John Boeckel, who died in 1910, leaving her with two small children. In 1911 she married John Lamberstein. Five daughters were added to the family. He passed away in 1946 and she in 1957. Children are Philip Hartwig; Bertha, Mrs. Erbele; Albert and Henry Hartwig; Louise, Mrs. Bloom; Ludwig Boeckel; Mary, Mrs. Lauberstein Haberle; Pauline Bauer; Theresa Haberle; Hertha Frank; and Irene Tabbert. JOHN HORNING, SR., came here in 1895. In their family were. Mrs. Carl Link, Mrs; Wm. Miller of Stanton and Mrs. Fred Fischer,5 deceased. John Horning, Jr., married Frederick Link. She died in 1956, after living here about 60 years. Mr. Horning passed away in 1957,; age 71 years. He was a farmer and in 1931 had a saw mill near Mannhaven. About 40 men were employed and 100,000 ft. of lumber were sawed. Their children were Arthur and Mrs. Wrh. Mutzenberger, Stanton; Herbert, of Washington; Ernest, Minneapolis; Walter, Wash­ ington; Mrs. Henry Boeshans, Minnesota; Mrs. Leo Becker, Mont.; Mrs. Virgil Schroeder, Wisconsin; Mrs. Merton Slinde and Mrs. Rudolf Kruckenberg, Stanton. MRS. T. HORNING passed away in 1955 after living here 58 years. Her children were Edward, Bismarck; Theobold, • Stanton; Mrs. Fred Kruckenberg and Mrs. Christina Bix, Beulah; Mrs. Julius Heine, Hazen; and Mrs. Art Horning, Stanton; Mrs. Jake Mutzenberger,' Stanton and Mrs. Dave (Ella) Heine. Mr. Horning died in 1954. ADOLF HORNING of Zap was a coal miner. Mr. Horning died in 1954. Mrs. Horning passed away in 1952. Children are Edwin, Detroit; Leo, Harold and Emil, all of Zap; Mrs. Dave Hawley and Mrs. Albert Weil, Zap; Doris and Arlene; Bernard and Eldor in. California. THE JACOB M. HUBER, SR., family consisting of the parents, and three children came to Mercer county in 1904. They lived at Mannhaven, where the father worked in the lumber yard. Later they lived on a farm north of Stanton. Bernhard, Marie and Katie were born in South Russia. Martha, Jake, Otto, Theodore and Elthor, were born here. Katie passed away some time ago. . THE ISAAK FAMILY. The Isaaks came to America with their: parents in 1878, when August was about 17 months old. They came" from a village 40 miles from the Black Sea, Georgia, South Russia. Christian and Catherine Isaak came to Mercer county in 1903. They shipped by rail to Underwood, then ferried across the Missouri' river at Mannhaven. They settled in Goodman Valley in. the western 73 LANG'S BAR 1 Beer — Wine — Liquor i f Herb and Katie f j Dial PI 5-3571 Stanton, North Dakota I SUPER VALU STORE Groceries and Dry Goods ISAAK MERCANTILE CO. j Ervin Jassmann and Caroline Isaak, Prop. i j Golden Valley North Dakota I

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,,, ., .- <• ...... part of the county. Their first postoffice was at Broncho. The first near school house was built in 1908. They told often of the extensive prairie fires which destroyed grazing land and property. Those living at Golden Valley are Gottlieb, Emanuel (E. C.) and Mrs. Pauline Brecht. Others of the family are Theresa, Mrs. Schatz; Dora; Lydia, Mrs. Tschaekofske; Jacob and Helena. AUGUST ISAAK, JR., and wife Katharina (Breitling) came to Mercer county Oct. 20, 1894, from Parkston, S. D. One son, David, was 19 months old and Richard, two months old. They traveled with a covered wagon and a caravan of loads of feed, household goods, a

3HL«/'% «*-*%»

«£•'** I A" «**i i* V" \

plow and a herd of twenty footsore cattle. They made the 450 mile trip in 21 days, with a two day stop-over at Fredonia, S. D. His mother said she enjoyed the trip. There were fifteen in the party including the children. John Isaak, a brother of August Isaak and his family came at the same time. Their food was bread, potatoes, prairie chickens and jack rabbits. That fall they made a sod house on their homestead, which was seven miles north of Hazen. The next year they started a seven room house of mud and stone. The larger room was used as a school room with Jack Gallagher as teacher. Later Mr. Isaak was a grain buyer at Mannhaven, where he also operated a ferry. He built a saw mill south of Mannhaven. In 1903 he moved to a farm seven miles northwest of Mannhaven. He was a member of the state legislature in 1913, 1915 and 1917. He passed away in California March 6, 1933. The children are David, Hazen, deceased April 1960; Richard, Bismarck; Mrs. Reine (Elizabeth) Guenthner, Montana; Arthur, Center; Fred P., Hazen; Mrs. Theo. (Anna) Huber, Hazen; Mrs. Reine (Esther) Schmoll, Laurel, Mont.; and Mrs. Eldor (Hilda) Bohrer, Valley City. Credit is given to Richard Isaak for obtaining data for a family tree, which he was two years making and covering 30 x 60 inches. Said tree dates back to 1758 and takes in about 500 relatives. ANDREW JOHNSON came in 1886 and the rest of the family a year later. When they came from Sweden they stopped in Pennsyl­ vania. Mr. Johnson walked from Mandan to his homestead in the Deapolis area. Their first home, a sod shack, was burned. Later 75 I I INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE I I j H. R. Engbrecht I j Golden Valley Beulah j I

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|. Organized in the fall of 1946 by McLean county farmers. I they built a log house. When there was an Indian scare, they would all go to the Nyman's home which was large enough to house all of the settlers. They remarked that in hauling hay with the ox cart the heel flies would trouble the oxen. To get away from the flies, the oxen would run into the creek, even with the hay load.

The Chas. A. Johnson Home Mrs. Johnson was a very busy woman. She sewed, cooked, made woven rugs, and was the mid-wife in the community. She would travel by single buggy, sled or walk. In later years it was the trusty Ford that answered the call. They had two daughters, Fanny and Mrs. Chas. (Anna) Alderin. Later they adopted eighteen-month old Hulda Olander when her mother passed away. Axel Johnson was born at Drothningholn, Sweden, Oct. 29, 1870. He came to McLean county in August 1888 and lived with an uncle and brother at Conkling, where he later homesteaded and lived. On July 18, 1906, he was married to Regina E. Alderin, the first couple to be married in the Deapolis church. Regina came here with her parents to Dakota Territory May 30, 1884, at the age of six years. They came by train to Mandan, ox team to Hensler and team and wagon to her grandfather's cabin made of logs and sod shingles which leaked at spells when the rain came down too fast. She said, "We lived with him for about a year. We then moved to my father's homestead, where our first home was a dugout, in which our bed was made of split rails covered with hay and blankets. After a while a one room log house was built, and we used our dugout for a milk house and cooling room. "After our marriage we moved to my homestead and lived there for a few years. Then we moved further south on land that Axel traded his homestead in McLean county for. We are still living at that place. We were in the farming business, but age having caught up with us, we now take it easy and let the younger folks do the farm work." The Johnsons have four children: Vivian, now Mrs. Boyd Dreves- kracht, Stanton, (Their children are Charles and Cheryl); Velva, now Mrs. Donald H. Halcrow, Drayton, (Their three children: Douglas, Dixon and Peter); Vernon, single and working at Stanton; and Vernice, now

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WELCOME OLD SETTLERS We are new in Mercer county compared to many of you, having lived here only nineteen years. We have enjoyed doing business with all you good people of Mercer county and hope to be able to serve you many more years. Bentley's Super Market V. E. Bentley and Sons Hazen North Dakota Mrs. Dale Ford, Stanton, (Their children are Rodney, Robert, Roger, Regina, Roberta and Randee Jean). "All living happy in good and bad times." THE ADAM KELLERS (by David Keller). My parents, the Adam Kellers, came to Mercer county in 1900. They came here from Tripp, S. D., and traveled by train to New Salem and from there to Beulah by team. They brought with them a family of four boys, Gottlieb, August, and David, all residing in and near Beulah, and Edward, who died in Bismarck in 1959. Their first home was on a homestead about ten miles north of Beulah, where three more children were born: Amelia (Mrs. Philip Hafner), Beulah; William of Bismarck; and Jacob of Wapato, Wash. My parents lived on this homestead until they retired and moved to Beulah, where both passed away in the forties. In 1907 I married Olga Fischer, who With her parents, cariie to Mercer county in 1897. We then homesteaded on land adjoining my parents' homestead, where we raised our family consisting of five boys and four girls. Mrs. Keller passed away in 1954 at the age of 65 years. The big news in 1913 was when we: heard about the coming of the railroad to Beulah. It was a big advance as up to the coming of the railroad, all of the supplies were brought from Mannhaven and Expansion by team. MIKE KEELEY came to Mercer county with his mother, then Mrs. Chas. Dolan. Later he married Alice Gallagher. When the town of Hazen was started, he built the Keeley Hotel. Mr. Keeley passed away in 1957 after living in the county 74 years. They had one son, Ronald, deceased in 1960. Mrs. Keeley resides in Minneapolis. JACOB KNELL came to Mercer county in September 23, 1905, and settled north of Zap. In 1916 he moved north of Krem. The first year he worked for Martin Oster for $200 per year, the next year at the John Schramm farm for $235.00 per year. John Knell came here in 1902 and lived two miles north of Hazen. Jacob Knell retired to live in Hazen in 1945. Their children are: Mrs. Ralph (Clara) . Neuberger; Mrs. Mike (Katherine) Neumann, Arnold, Traugott, and Walter, all of Hazen; and Mrs. Raymond (Lorintine) Zeiszler, Beulah. GEORGE KNOOP, SR., came here from Germany in 1883. The trip from New Salem was made with a team and wagon. They lived with the Heinemeyers until they filed on a claim four miles north of Stanton. Their first home was a log cabin, and in 1895 they bought the hotel at Stanton, took it down and transported the logs to the farm and made a nine room house, which still stands and is in use today (I960). " „. George Knoop was killed in 1897 when he attempted to board a moving train at New Salem. They had a store at the farm, and Mr. Knoop was county treasurer at the time of his death. During the time from 1902 to 1912 Mrs. Knoop had the stage route from Hannover to Mannhaven. Many hardships were experi­ enced with the work. Roads were poor and the bridge at Roy Stephens farm meant 20 miles extra per day for the team. Sometimes the horses were forced to swim across the Knife river behind the row boat. At one time a barge was constructed to transport the team arid buggy. The barge tipped and drowned the horses. '••' Names of the children are: George, deceased; Ells, deceased; Hertha, deceased; Walter age 70, Sidney, Mont.; Willie age 77 of Hazen; 79 ';' GREETINGS OLD SETTLERS i Full Line of Hardware, Furniture and Appliances

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Hazen — Beulah — Golden Valley

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24-Hour Ambulance Service St. Cloud Monuments Robert Erdman, Prop. Golden Valley North Dakota Herbert age 68 of Stanton. Herbert married Irene Larson in .1923. Their children are Walter, Grand Forks; Eleanor Novak, Grand Forks; and George, New Rockford. Herbert operated the ranch with grain and stock raising until 1946, when he moved to Stanton. In 1950 he was elected alderman, in 1958 he was elected mayor of Stanton. He is a member of the Civic club, and Mr. and Mrs. Knoop are active in church work. William Knoop of Hazen married Bertha Heinemeyer. They had two daughters, Mrs. Otto Goetz of Hazen and Mrs. Reuben Erickson of California. They celebrated their golden wedding anni­ versary in 1956. . DAN KRAUSE came in 1887 with his father, Fred Krause, Sr. The next spring his father walked to find work. Eight miles south of Mandan, or 85 miles from home, he worked the season with no way to let his family know where he was. Dan was president of the Old Settler's Assn. before he moved to Portland, Ore. His mother passed away in 1902, age 43 and his father in 1947 age 89 He had one sister, Mrs. Louise Schlaht of Los Angeles, Calif. Brothers are Fred Krause, Jr., Bismarck; and the following of Port­ land: Otto; Emil; and Gust. \ (Taken from The Hazen Star June 17, 1937) MR. AND MRS. FRED KRAUSE, SR., came to Mercer county in the fall of 1887. Upon arriving by train at New Salem, they came here with a team of oxen. They had two children, Dan of Portland and Fred of Hazen. The following were born later: Emil, Gust, and Louisa (Mrs. Louis Schlaht). The Krauses settled in the Expansion area. In order to augment his scant larder, during the first year or so, he was forced to seek part-time work in Mandan, walking barefoot from there occasionally. He would bring the family three pounds of butter which was their allotment for the year. JACOB KRAUSE came here in 1887. From Mandan he walked to the Expansion area, where he homesteaded. Later they moved near Krem. When they retired, they moved to California. Mr. Krause held county offices and would walk home for the week end. Their children: Mary, Mrs. Mary Schulz of California; Mrs. Anna Willoughby of California; Jacob F. in California; Otto, deceased in 1958; Magdaline, Mrs. Adolf Krueger, Hazen; Hertha, Mrs. Theo. Sailer of California; Bill of California; Ted of Colorado Springs; Ida, Mrs. Roy' Metcalfe, Cedar Rapids, la.; Elmer and Irene, Mrs. Arnold Heth of Los Angeles, Calif.; Arthur, the U. S. Navy and Frieda, de­ ceased in 1957. When Mr. Krause retired he was the oldest merchant in the county. He had a store at Expansion, Krem and Hazen. He had learned to speak the Indian language, and the Indians would come down the river from Ree to trade at his store. In the early days they gathered buffalo bones and hauled them to New Salem, the trip taking three or four days. Mr. Krause died age 77 years. His wife was Katherine Goetz. She passed away in 1949 age 72. Their daughter, Mrs. Adolph Krueger, claims to have lived in Hazen the longest of any one there, coming in 1912. THE GOTTLIEB KRAUSE FAMILY (Taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937). Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Krause came to Bismarck in 1887. In the spring of 1888 they came to Mercer county with a team and wagon and homesteaded north of Krem. With them came their si HAZEN REXALL DRUG STORE ! Prescriptions — Veterinary Supplies | I Cosmetics I s ! Hazen North Dakota I I T "~" I [ GAMBLES I I I J Authorized Dealer j I I i Hardware — Appliances — TV — Repair j i Wm. and Roland Backfisch, Owners ! | I j Golden Valley North Dakota I I . ; „_. I

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Dial PI 5-3081 Stanton, North Dakota J I three children, Dorothy (Mrs. Netzer) of Portland, Ore.; 'Christina (Mrs. Netzer) of Fort. Collins, Colo.; and Jacob Krause. His son Fred Krause, Sr., and family had come in the fall of 1887. The family stayed with Dan Radke and family for a few weeks until they had their sod house built. Jacob Krause was sixteen years old when they came here. He worked on the railroad and various other places until he was 21 years of age. At that time he homesteaded near Expansion. ADOLPH KRUEGER, SR., came here in 1896. They home­ steaded near Krem. They came in from Montana by covered wagon. At Great Falls they worked a while, then came to New Salem and north. They lived on the farm until 1936 when they moved to Hazen. At Krem Mr. Krueger did blacksmith work besides his farming. In early days they picked buffalo bones and hauled them to New Salem. Mr. Krueger worked on the railroad out of Mandan when he could or for other farmers, getting from 25 to 50 cents per day. They had two children: Adolph, Jr., and Mrs. Carl Sommer of Hazen. Mr. Krueger passed away in 1949 age 83. Mrs. Krueger died 1937 age 73. Her maiden name was Marian Peitch. They had married in Russia. THE GOTTLIEB KLAUDT FAMILY came to Mercer county in 1905. They had lived at Gackle for ten years. Two small girls died of diphtheria. Their homestead was north of Beulah. They helped to organize the first Baptist church in the county. The children of this family are Robert, John, Jake, Theodore, Emil, Arthur, Reinholt, Daniel, Christ, Katie, Pauline and Frieda. Mr. Klaudt died in 1950 age 82 years. His wife Mrs. Katherine (Becker) Klaudt died in 1957 age 84 years. THE KRUCKENBERG FAMILY. (Taken from The Hazen Star June 14, 1937). Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Kruckenberg, Sr., came directly to Mandan from Russia in the fall of 1888. With them came their six children, John, Jacob, Mary (Mrs. Christina Sailer) Catherine (Mrs. John Maas) deceased, Gottlieb, Jr., and Friederich, deceased. In Mandan they bought a team and wagon in which they came to Mercer county. John Kruckenberg, the oldest son stayed near Mandan with the Fred Krause, Sr., family during the winter, and in the spring he got work on the railroad. He worked at this for a couple of months when he was laid off. He had no money so he walked back to Mandan, a distance of 200 miles, having nothing to eat for three days. • The Kruckenberg family took a homestead near Expansion. During the winter they lived with their friends, the Gottlob Schuhs, who were from their old home in Russia. In the spring they made a sod house. In 1891 an epidemic of diphtheria broke out, taking the lives of many of the settlers. There were no doctors nearer than Bismarck. John Kruckenberg married Christina Buchfink. Their children are George, South Dakota; Herbert, California; Walter, Mayville; Ervin, U. S. Army; Benjamin, Washington; Mrs. Herman Grosz; Mrs. John Kruckenberg, Oregon; Mrs. Art Fastad, Underwood; Ernest and Jack of Hazen; Russel and Mrs. Marvin Guenthner both of Minotl GOTTLIEB KRUCKENBERG of Zap came here in 1896. The children are Mrs. Christ Ost and Mrs. Theophil Herman of Montana; Mrs. Robert Hoffman, Beulah; Mrs. Ernest Herrmann, Zap; Mrs. Katherine Hoeffner, Beulah; Mrs. Henry Brokaag, Mont.; Helmuth, «3 •£••«.*•—m-^— B*—M^—in—»K-^M——««—Hi *"-' ' ** **• " H" '", l"1 """ "" "" '" M'1 "" "•——M^—It I WOHLFEIL ELECTRIC 1 Authorized Dealer I General Electric Major Appliances ! Wiring and Service I Leonard Wohlfeil, Owner and Operator I Phone SH 8-3663 Hazen, North Dakota |

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Stanton North Dakota Edwin, Wilbert and Leonara; John, Hazen; Henry, Beulah; Gottlieb, Zap and Fredoria, California. Mr. Kruckenberg died in 1944. Jacob Kruckenberg came in 1888. His home was near Expansion. Children are Mrs. Anna Hill, Minnesota; Mrs. Martha Feigel, California; Mrs. Hilda Van Fleet, Wisconsin; and Ernest, Hazen. Mr. Kruckenberg died in 1948 age 77 years. WILLIAM KRUCKENBERG of Beulah was a'coal miner and farmer. He lived here 55 years. His children: Arnold and Eldor live in Washington and Mrs. Adam Schnaidt at Los Angeles, Calif. JOHN KRUCKENBERG of Hazen came in 1890. Children are Mrs. Rudolf Hintz, Golden Valley; Mrs. John Stepper, Montana; Mrs. Geo. Rathjen, Hazen; Mrs. Art Birkholz, Bismarck; Louie and Rudolf, Hazen. INGVALD LARSON came to Mercer county in the spring of 1893 from Norway. His brothers-in-law, the Bruvolds, who ranched near Richardton, N. D., allowed him a herd of cows to take away from the ranch. Larson brought the cows north. He built a stone house for living quarters and sheds for the cows on Spring Creek a half mile south of Golden Valley. He hired a couple by the name of Kleppe, the wife doing the cooking and Mr. Kleppe was a ranch hand. Some of the Kleppe boys were born on the ranch. Larson received one-half of the calves from the Bruvold herd for his share. By the time the settlers came in, he had a good sized herd. Unknown to him someone filed on the land where his buildings were. He then sold his cattle and filed on a homestead a half mile south of the Jutzler ranch. He married Marie Nielson on Feb. 9, 1911. They were married at the Broncho post office by Rev. Hardy. She came to the U. S. from Denmark on May 1, 1906. She lived in New York City three years, then came to North Dakota, filed on a homestead east of Dodge. They had five children Leonard, Wichita, Kan.; Mamie, Roundup' Mont.; Esther, Drummond, Mont.; Vivian, Dickinson; and Orville, Devils Lake. In the spring of 1910 Rev. Fimmerland came up from Stanton and organized the Spring Creek Lutheran church. Ingvald Larson was a charter member. In the fall of 1938 he retired from the farm and moved in to Golden Valley, where he lived until his death in 1952. Mrs. Larson is now living in Dickinson. MR. AND MRS. HERMAN LEINIUS, SR., and three children came from Baltimore to Mercer county in January 1913. Seeing people with fur coats and boots, they realized they were in a cold country. For a time Mr. Leinius worked for the butcher, Martin Gebert. The summer of 1914 they lived at the Ed Heinemeyer farm. In 1915 they moved to Michigan to take up a homestead. Frost took their first crop of beans, potatoes and corn, and they returned' to Stanton and bought the Meat Market. It has been in the family since that time. For a time her brother, Paul, assisted them. They went through many hardships, the flu and sickness, with additions to; the family. In 1917 a rain and hail storm took out their windows and damaged the roof. The rain poured in so fast that they were, forced to open the cellar door to let it run into the ground. They took many losses during the depression of the 30's. With the help of the oldest boy they started a meat market in Golden Valley. 85 State iiife off Iii@i

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I They attempted a sale to C. Vollmer and L. Kilber but were forced to take the meat market back. Later the youngest son took over the shop and has it doing well now. All of the family, even to the third generation, are butchers. The children are Herman, J., who has a Meat and Locker plant at Center; Anna Guenthner, assistant postmistress, Stanton; William F., Bowman; Louise, Mrs. E. Martin, Baltimore, Md.; Pauline, Mrs. H. Schweigert, California; and Martin, City Meat Market, Stanton. Mr. Leinius passed away in December, 1955. PAUL LEUPP came to Mercer county with his father, a Lutheran pastor in 1896. They had a homestead near Krem. Paul married Theresa Dobler. They celebrat­ ed their golden wedding before Mr. Leupp passed away in 1954. Mr. and Mrs. Leupp were very active in church work and were charter members of the Salem Lutheran church here at Stanton. Mr. Leupp was county official for about 43 years. Eight­ een years of that time he was auditor. The children are Arthur and Adolf, Stanton; Herbert, Palm Desert, Calif.; Paul, ElMonte, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Leupp Calif.; Mrs. Clifford Beeks, Washburn; Elsie, Bismarck and Mrs. Lloyd Williams, Moorhead, Minn.; Albert and Freida, deceased. Mrs. Leupp resides at the Old Peoples Home at Beulah. KARL AND GEORGE LINK came to America in 1892. They lived in South Dakota for two years, then in October 1894 they came to Mercer county with horses and a wagon. They stayed at Christ Wolf's home north of Hazen until their sod house was ready northwest of Stanton. A heavy snowfall early that winter hampered their work on the new home. Wilhelmine Link, wife of George Link, who passed away about 1956, came here in 1901. They lived north of Beulah. Their children were Theodore, Hazen; Arthur; Bismarck; Walter, Zap; Albert and Simon, Hazen; and Mrs. Henry Jankus, Hazen. She passed away in 1940 age 59 years. KARL LINK, JR., married Katherine Horning. She was born in South Dakota in 1892. She came to Mercer county as a child. They homesteaded south of Golden Valley in March, 1909. Mr. Link passed away in 1927, while residing west of Stanton. THE JOHN AND VERONIKA LINK family includes George, Wilhelm and Fredrich of Hazen, Mrs. Rosina Coffax of California and Gottlieb of Golden Valley. REV. FRANK LOEWEN came from South Dakota with his family in 1898. They came with a covered wagon. They settled on a farm east of Hazen on the Knife river. Their first home was a sod house and they traveled to New Salem for supplies. C. B. Loewen, one of his children, passed on in 1950. Henry moved to Missoula, Mont.; Mrs. Rosalia Kallis, Missoula; Mrs. Martin Rosenberg, deceased; Mrs. Henry Wittenberg lives at Newport, Wash.; and Mrs. Fred Kraft, at Stockton, Calif. 87 AARTHUN FUNERAL HOMES

Beulah and Hazen

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1946 1960 j STIEFEL'S VARIETY STORE AND BARBER SHOP I I Jewelry, Magazines, Drugs, Cosmetics, Gifts I j Stanton North Dakota

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^tl1 „, „—HI » K. M- »» .MI .- M na 1.« M „. m. »« «- *.. xi mi a* K. ., ,«{• j j FARMERS GRAIN COMPANY I i J Dealers in I I I Grain — Flour — Feed — Seeds I f I I Fertilizer f f | j Cleaning and Treating ! I Julius Wegner, Mgr. Golden Valley North Dakota Three Generations of Leupps Of the C. B. Loewen family, Leonard and Clarence live in Hazen; Mrs. Anna Schafer, Sidney, Mont.; and Mrs. Ernest Heinemeyer lives on the home place. Mr. Loewen introduced the cream separator to this territory and started the insurance business which is still carried on by the family. His wife died in 1946. H. C. LOY. The Loys celebrated their golden wedding at Stanton in 1939. They ran the Stanton hotel for a number of years. In October, 1943, they sold the hotel and moved to Mandan, where Mr. Loy passed away June 22, 1945 age 86. Mrs. Loy lived in Bismarck

H. C. Loy for a time and later moved to near New Salem and lived with her daughter, Erma, Mrs. C. Klusmann until she passed on in April 1956, age 86 years. Mr. Loy had been active in getting settlers to come to the county.

STATF LIBRARY COMMISSION R^MARCK. N. DAK. I I FARMERS ELEVATOR OF HAZEN ! I Seed — ' Feed — Flour — Twine Fertilizer — Seed Cleaning j j Raymond Reiner, Manager 1 Hazen North Dakota I £„_„_„. .—, ,—„_, ,, . ._„_,._„_„_.,_„_„_

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j Hazen and Beulah Among those were Wm. Priebe, Dan Schimke, Wm. Richter, Johannes Klein, and Solomon Isaak. Mr. and Mrs. Loy Were active in the Old Settler's Assn. The children are Henry, Boyle, Alberta, Canada; Ralph, Grafton; Oscar, deceased; Arthur, Long Beach, Calif.; Leonard, Lomita, Calif.; Fred, Des Moines, Iowa; Theodore, Minot; and Erma, Mrs. Clarence Klusmann, New Salem. JOHN MAAS was born to Martin and Louisa Durr Maas Nov. 27, 1871, and came to Mercer county in 1894 age 23 years. He lived at Parkston, S. D., for one year before coming here. He settled 13 miles north of Hazen and married Katherine Kruckenberg, Dec. 12, 1897. She passed away in 1909, and the next year he married Maria Reich Kruckenberg. Mrs. Kruckenberg spun wool and made it into stockings and gloves. She made clothing such as shirts and overalls, sewing by hand. In early days they did the shopping at New Salem. After the railroad was built into Garrison, they hauled grain over during the winter. Fred said he saw his first train at Garrison. As there were no fences, the children had to herd the cattle. The first Lutheran church was built of sod near the Fred Adolf farm. Children are Fred, Bernhardt, Reinhold and William of Hazen; and Ottillia, Mrs. Ed Mittelsteadt deceased in 1953. Mr. Maas died in 1956, having lived here 62 years. GUST MALKE came here in 1897. He married Emma Miller in 1919. They lived six miles northwest of Hazen until 1944, when they moved to Hazen. Mrs. Malke died in 1959 age 60. Children are Harold of Billings, Mont.; Elaine, Mrs. Edward Suszek of Michigan state; Mrs. Leola Herman, Minneapolis; and Alice of Michigan.

FRED MALKES came here in 1894. ; ; JOHN (JACK) AND MAGGIE McLAUGHLIN, my parents, came to Mercer county in 1905, writes Mrs. Herman of Beulah. My mother was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1873 and my dad was born in Janesville, Wis., in 1874. Before coming to Dakota they had lived in Saint Paul. My dad came out before my mother and Joe. He had worked and bought a team of horses and met mother at New Salem. Their first house was a large soddie of three rooms, but each room had a door opening to the south, and in order to go from one room to the other it was necessary to take a few steps outdoors. The living room, which they considered quite elaborate, was all white­ washed. A woven rag rug covered the floor. Before laying the rug, a load of straw was put down first, so the rug was well cushioned. It was built west of Hazen and they lived on the homestead all their lives. I remember my parents telling of the prairie fire that started at John Heihns, near Beulah in the spring of 1913. It swept through despite the work of all the neighbors and traveled through and burned everything but the house. My dad cut the horses loose in the straw shed but they came back to the fire. The teacher let the children out from school and they would not have reached home safely but they had made it to a freshly plowed field. The morning after the fire everything was black and desolate. The buildings, the horses and the haystacks had all been burned. ':| 91 '-!i-:;-:J'K., , .f... . — - - - ... ., i -.11, im, ,|i- -nn nn an— iin itn nti mi- -MM nn nn tin mi—nn nn n * «J*H« IM MR—nn llrt K»—— M—Ki— im—IIB—- •* •• n» m» *•*• »• "" "" "" "" "" "» "• ",J« I I I HAZEN GRAIN COMPANY I | J i Seed — Twine — Flour — Feed Grinding I i I I Gas and Oil j 1 I j G. G. Blum j I Hazen North Dakota ! I i ,7„, ., ,„_„„ ,„_,, ,„ „„ „ ,„ „ ,,„ „ », „ „ „ „ .. .„ » „. ., >. ., .,}. ^„, .. ,. ,,. n .. ,. .. .. 1" " >. .11 UN .. II. im n. mi I.K ... „ „, ,. ,«,j. I HAZEN HIDE & FUR CO. i I New and Used Car Parts — Scrap Metals j Auto Glass — Radiator Repairing and Welding | ! Hazen North Dakota I

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J R. J. Keogh, Vice President I j D. H. Dettmann, Cashier I i "Member F. D. I. C." I I I Beulah North Dakota I ( . : My brothers are: Joseph and John, Hazen; Marguerite {Mrs. Carl Herman), Beulah. MR. AND MRS. FRED MILLER (taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937) came to Mercer county in the year 1887, and home­ steaded 13 miles north of Hazen. They had seven children, namely: John, Dryden, Wash.; Mary (Mrs. Solomon Isaak), Eureka, S. D.; Samuel and Gottlieb, Hazen; Fred and Emanuel, deceased; Sophia (Mrs. Gottfried Funk), Hazen. Picking buffalo bones, which were hauled to New Salem or Hebron to be sold, was their source of income until farming was well underway. Their house and barn were made of sod, the rafters being built of cottonwood timber. The hardships which these early settlers endured makes interesting reading. To quote Gottlieb Miller: jj "One- day Mr. Lenz and I started from home about noon to take a load of bones to Hebron. By evening we had gotten to the neighbor­ hood of Mike Keeley place, where we stopped for the night. During the night it rained very hard, and we sat under the wagon until morning. j By that time the road was so soft we were undecided as jto whether to go on, or go back. We finally decided to go on, and Mr. Lenz told me to go ahead as my team was best. It took two days to get from there to Hebron and two days ;Jo get back as far as the Knife river. Upon reaching it the river was so full, we couldn't cross it. We went down the south side -to the old Heinemeyer place, where there was a bridge. From there it was still twenty-five miles to our home. \ My mother was worried thinking .we had drowned, as we h&d been gone five days." C. B. MURRAY came in 1905 by train to New Salem and settled south of Beulah. Of this family Glen Murray lives at Beulah; Herman and Paul in Montana; Fern, Mrs. R. Nordine, Sentinel Butte; !and Irene, Mrs. John Sherman, Washington, D. C. SAM A. MURRAY came in 1905 and settled south of the present town of Beulah. Mrs. Murray passed away in 1951 and Sam in 1957. Their children are Ralph and Mrs. Edward Unruh, Zap; Mrs. Wilfred Herman, Golden Valley and Mrs. Bert Webber, Sidney, Mont. OTTO MUELLER was born at Tripp, S. D., on January 10, 1892. He passed away at Stanton on September 4, 1954. He lived on a farm near Golden Valley with his parents. In November 1917 he purchased the Stanton Telephone Exchange. He married Rosalia Mueller April 25, 1917. Mr. Mueller served four years as county treasurer and two and one-half years as auditor. They had two children—Gertrude L. }in California; and Oscar P., Medford, Ore. MARTIN NETZER and wife,. Euphrosye Heth, came to Mercer county in 1888, arriving penniless. They came by ox team and wagon from New Salem. They lived with friends until they moved onto their homestead near Krem. Their first home was made of sod, consisting of two rooms. Later they built a larger home of mud and rock. > They would go by stone boat to each other's homes to attejid church. There were Indian scares, and they would a\\ gather at one place to watch but they never were harmed. Sometimes friendly Indians would camp at the yard for days at a time. \ Mr. Netzer was in the partnership with Fred Bohrer and Heni-y Mann in the first store at Mannhaven. Later he started the store fat 93 I II® Faranare f ©-©pmfiwi ©©itpgmny

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I Krem. They would haul the eggs and home-made butter to New Salem with a wagon and bring back supplies for the store. He was in partnership with Sam Richter and Dan Schimke and built the flour mill at Krem. Herman Miller was also connected with the mill. It was a great help to the people to have their wheat made into flour so close to home. Mrs. Richter passed away in 1896 age 38. The family consisted of Mrs. Sailer of Bismarck; Mrs. Emma Danckers of Washington; Mrs. Christina Fuerst of Minneapolis; and John Netzer of Hazen. Mr. Netzer passed away in 1912 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sailer, who resided at Stanton at that time. John Netzers celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, at Hazen in 1958. When he resided near Stanton, he was the first farmer to ship a carload of wheat out of Stanton. MR. AND MRS. JOE NOVAK came to Mercer county in 1902 and settled in the Deapolis area. Mr. Novak was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1876. He was county commissioner for 12 years. He did farming and was a cattle buyer. For the past 30 years he has made his home in Stanton. He operates a saw mill and estimates he has sawed about two million feet of lumber along the Missouri river from the Garrison dam to above Mandan. CARL J. NYMAN lived in the Fort Clark area with his parents between the dates of 1885 and 1891. They all live in the east now with Carl at 216 Woodbridge St., Manchester, Conn. Two of the children were born here, Adolph and Christine. He told of the great blizzard of 1888 when many cattle were lost. He named the teachers as Mrs. Cook, Miss Gallagher and Miss Roberts, a sister of Sandy Roberts (See earlier pages). Mrs. Cook lost her way going home in the "Great Blizzard" and was out all night. Her feet were frozen so badly that one foot had to be amputated. THE OBERLANDERS first lived 6V2 miles southwest of Beulah. Their first home was of sod. Mrs. Oberlander was married first to Jacob Schmidt. He passed away in 1925. February 14, 1930 she married Fred Oberlander, who passed away in 1948. She passed on in 1950 age 63. The children are William Schmidt, Beulah; Mrs. Edwin Wolf, Hazen; Henry Schmidt and Mrs. Herb Teske, Beulah; and Mrs. Herb Sommers, Hazen. FRED OST came from Russia in 1902 and settled in the Krem area. The first winter was spent with relatives. The next spring they moved to the homestead, where the house was built of mud and stone by Steve Huber. A frame house was built in 1918. There was a large spring on the place that showed buffalo and cattle trails to the' site. Fred Ost lives on the home place. Others of the family are Christ, Whitefish, Mont.; Robert, Havre, Mont.; Gottfried, deceased 1955; Emilia, Mrs. Christ Jose, Beulah; Martha, Mrs. Carl Jose, Bismarck; Nathalia, Mrs. Jacob Pfennig of Driscoll. MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIAN OSTER (taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937) came to Mercer county on April 20, 1888 direct from Russia; first to New Salem, Morton county, where they bought a team of oxen and a wagon to drive north to Mercer county. Mr. Oster took up a' homestead right south and adjoining the present site of Hazen. Here they resided the remainder of their lives: Mr. Oster died in 1922. Mrs. Oster died in 1902. Their children were: Mrs. Jacob (Elizabeth) Tabert, deceased 1940; Christ, Hazen, deceased 95 1959; Adolf, Beulah (his wife died in 1931); John, deceased 1905; Martin, Hazen; Gottlieb, deceased 1933, (his wife lives in Hazen); Benjamin and Edward, Hazen. Mrs. Edward Oster passed away in 195?- '' ADAM.OSTER, SR., came in April 1888. He passed away in 1910. Their son, Adam, died in 1947. His wife lives in California; Alexander, deceased in 1957 (his wife lives in Bismarck); Emalia, deceased; Edward, Spokane, Wash.; Mrs. Gottlieb Mattheis, Olympia, Wash.; and Mrs. Rudolf (Magdalina) Brenner, Beulah. Christ Oster had the following children: Mrs. George (Emma) Wilfert, Missoula, Mont.; Mrs. Christ (Elizabeth) Kruckenberg, Hazen; Andrew, Washington; Reinholt; Mrs. Philip (Katherine) Hornbacker, Hazen; John in Montana; Mrs. Lydia Beyl, Montana; and Mrs. Leo (Ida) Halwick, Washington. THE OTTO OSTER FAMILY consisted of Ernest, Hazen; James, West Lafayette, Ind.; John at NDAC, Fargo. HERMAN OSTER had two children—Mrs. Keith (Diannie) Fran­ ces, Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Margarette, Reeder. THE EDWIN OSTER children are Sharold of NDAC, Fargo; and Shirley and Glenn of Hazen. PAUL OSTER'S children are at home: Jerome, Maryalen; Donald and Jackline. THE JOHN OSTER children are Anna, who lives in Minot; Martha, Mrs. Emanuel Miller, Hazen; and Fred, Gladstone, Ore. THE GOTTLIEB OSTER children are Lena, Grafton; Herbert and Albert, Hazen; Bertha, Mrs. Oscar Neuberger, Beulah; Ella, Mrs. Harold Heine; Arthur, Hazen and Mrs. (Anna) Jess Weind, Seattle, Wash. THE EDWARD OSTER children are Pauline, Mrs. Leo Wolf, Halliday; Henry, Hazen; Richard, Halliday; Walter in Montana; and Hulda, Mrs. Wm. Klaundt of Hebron. THE ADOLF OSTER children are Emanuel of Michigan; Edward, deceased in 1930; Jacob and Gust, Hazen; Herbert, Wing; Pauline, Mrs. Reinhold Adolf, Hazen; Theresa, Mrs. Emanuel Wolf, Circle, Mont.; Magdaline, Mrs. Rudolf Pischel, Fort Peck, Mont.; Emma, Mrs. Ervin Rotenberger of Florida; Ella, Mrs. Herbert Miller and Ida, Mrs. Emil Link, both of Stanton. THE BEN OSTERS had their golden wedding in 1953. Mrs. Oster's maiden name was Lydia Frank. They came to Mercer county by boat to Expansion from Bismarck in 1897. Clothing was made by hand, and she worked for others where help was needed. Ben Oster's grandparents came here in 1888. From New Salem they came with a wagon and a team of oxen. They gathered buffalo bones and sold them at Hebron or New Salem for from $9.00 to $11.00 per ton in trade. It was two years before the land was cultivated enough to furnish supplies. The children are Otto, born here in 1907 and died in 1955; Herman, Reeder; Paul, Renton, Wash.; Edwin and Natalie, Hazen. THE OLDS FAMILY. My father, Milo Nathan Olds (Mrs. Edith Janssen writes) came from Minnesota and my mother, Carrie Vernier, from Wisconsin. They were married at Milbank, S. D. We lived either at Milbank or on a farm near Corona until 1903 when we moved to Mercer county. Born to this union were Nathan, Stanton; Arthur, Glasgow, 96 - Mont.; Edith, Mrs. Ben Janssen; Harry of Plains, now deceased; Willie, deceased; and Leo of Seattle, Wash., who was born in North Dakota. In the fall of 1902 my father filed on the homestead on the Missouri river bottom. The next few years he bought adjoining land to make up the 400 acres known as the Olds Farm. They resided there until he was ill and moved to Stanton in 1916. He passed away in 1919 and Mother in 1945.

View of Flood at Milo Olds in 1911 Our first home was built for a granary. We lived in that the first summer and the lumber for the house was purchased in Washburn and shipped on the river in Capt. Marsh's boat. We shipped household goods, farm machinery, horses and cattle to New Salem. It was hard to market the produce in the early days. Grain was hauled to Underwood during the winter. Cattle were driven to New Salem or Washburn for shipment. In order to have a summer income we milked a number of cows. The cream was shipped to Hannover by stage. Later my mother made cheese. It was very good and did not have to be marketed so often. About once each month they would take a load of 25 pound cheeses to town. It was sold at Garrison, Washburn and New Salem. Neighboring farm­ ers would come to the house to buy it. In 1908 my mother added bee keeping to her industries. She would winter about 20 hives. She kept bees after she moved to town. Honey sold at the house and up and down the near towns. I am sure we had the first bees west of the Missouri river. She spun wool and knitted many articles of our clothing. After my father's death mother married a carpenter, Mrs. (Olds) Schafer Peter Schafer. He had resided at Stanton since 1909. He passed away at the age of eighty-two. My brother, Nathan, proved up on a homestead in the southern part of the state. In 1912 he constructed the first telephone service in Hazen. In 1916 he sold the exchange to Schumann and Richarton STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION BISMARCK, N. DAK. and as father was ill, Nathan moved onto the home place. He still manages the farm but lives in town. Arthur was a railroad man in Montana. He had a homestead near Wolf Point. Later he drilled wells, and he lives at Glasgow now and is a general handyman. Harry was a mechanic and handyman at Plains. He passed away in 1954. Willie was an engineer out of Wolf Point when he was stricken with the 1918 flu. Leo is a night watch­ man at a Seattle college. My husband, Ben Janssen, came to this area in 1906. We have a homestead south of town. We have resided in town since 1915. He constructed the first light plant in Stanton. Our son, C. M. Janssen, lives in Stanton. FREDRICH PFENNIG came to Mercer county in 1898. They farmed north of Beulah. He passed away in 1935, age 76. He had a half brother and a half sister. His children were Michael, Beulah, deceased; Fred, Beulah; John, Golden Valley; Dan, Driscoll; Jacob, Bismarck; and Albert, Hebron. One daughter, Mrs. Ed Horn lives in Golden Valley. MICHAEL PFENNIG passed away in 1957. He farmed north of Beulah, then moved to Beulah in 1944. His children are Mrs. (Martha) Theodore Heihn, Beulah; Mrs. (Hilda) Ingelo Eid, Beulah; Mrs. (Paul­ ine) Rayde Toon, The Dalles, Ore.; and Mrs. (Olga) Gottlieb Zeller, Beulah. THE PRIEBE FAMILY (Taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937). Mrs. Gottlieb Miller came to Mercer county with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Priebe. (See forepart of this book). They came in the year of 1886 from South Dakota in a covered wagon and oxen and with one cow and homesteaded ten miles northeast of Krem. There was no house for them to live in so they dug a hole in the ground and covered it with the canvas from the wagon. In this they slept. A rude fireplace was constructed by digging a hole in the ground, around which they put stones. In a few weeks they had built a sod house, which was warm and quite comfortable. Their beds were made by laying cottonwood timbers to form a rectangle and filling it with straw, over which they could place sheets. Mrs. Miller said, "My father had only $1.00 in his pocket when he arrived and was obligated to gather up buffalo bones to exchange for groceries. That first winter we had $1.00 worth of sugar, one bushel of potatoes and one gallon of kerosene. The kerosene was saved for special occasions. Ordinarily we would go to bed when it got dark and get up when daylight came. Sometimes we would make a light of a rag stuck in tallow. Flour sacks were used to make into clothes. Once in a while my father shot a rabbit or prairie chicken but ammunition was scarce." JOHN PULLES came to Mercer county August 1, 1909. He had charge of the First State Bank until 1929. He was born at Wabasha, Minn., and had lived at Harvey before coming to Mercer county. In Sept. 1913 he married Adelia Letzring, who passed on in 1942. His second marriage was to Lovica Belle Clough in July 1942. His children are Luverne, Mrs. William Leinius, Bowman; Byron P. Pulles, Hazen; Calvin, deceased, at the age of five. Mr. Pulles works at the Court House and claims to be the oldest notary in the county. MR. AND MRS. DANIEL RADKE came here in May, 1887, from Scotland, S. D., when I was four months old, writes G. G. Radke of 98 Golden Valley. They shipped to Ellendale, which was the end of the line. From there they came with an ox team and crossed on the railroad bridge at Bismarck. Their homestead was SEVi of Sec. 10-146-86, where they made a sod house. - In 1916 they sold the farm and moved to Golden Valley. l:4eft the farm in 1906 and worked for I. P. Baker at Expansion ih'fhe lumber yard and elevator. Later I was manager of the yard and elevator at Ree. Father secured work at a ranch near Mandan. The rancher's name was Hageroth. He worked there for two months, walking the distance there and back. During that fall my mother went to pick corn five miles from home. She made the trip each day carrying me with her. I would lie on the ground all day while she worked. She received a share of the corn. Myself, Gust and George live at Golden Valley; John, Billings, Mont.; William, Mountain Home, Idaho; Daniel, San Francisco, Calif.; and one sister, Mrs. E. C. Isaak, Golden Valley. HENRY RICHTER passed away in 1945 age 85 years. He had married Fridrika Netzer before coming to the United States. His wife preceded him in death. They came to Mercer county in 1887 and lived in the Krem area. They had five children: John and Gust, Hazen; Mrs. Jake Stiefel, Mrs. Adolf Neumann and Emanuel, Stanton. HENRY S. RUSSELL, born September 15, 1867, at Walton, N. Y., joined the westward movement with his parents, who were seeking a more healthful climate. They arrived in North Dakota in 1888 and located at Knox, where they acquired homesteads, as so many settlers did with the opening up of the Great Northwest for settlement. He married Lola V. Mendenhall in 1898 and moved to Mercer county in 1903, where their three children, Myrtle, Robert and Charles Russell, now reside. As was the experience of the many settlers who came to this new country, they were forced to endure the hardships of frontier living in struggling with rigorous climatic conditions and deprivation of the early days on the great plains of the Old West. To Henry S. Russell there was no place like North Dakota and through drought and depression he engaged in his stock-farming business, with various sidelines incident to the development of the economy of virgin soil. He experimented with various crops under these climatic conditions and aided many farmers of this community in securing markets for their products. The needy neighbor or stranger was never turned away from his door hungry or without some assistance. In the tradition of the Old West, there was always a word of encouragement, even on the darkest days, and in their associations hospitality became a reality. At the age of 78 years on July 13, 1946, Henry S. Russell laid down the burdens of this life, and left his wife, Lola V. Russell to survive him. Ten years later on Jan. 11, 1956, Lola V. Russell folded her tired hands and was laid to rest beside her husband. The 'Old Timers," to whom we wish to pay tribute, contributed to the development and stability of this community of the plains and made many advantages possible for those who are their descendants. May they rest in peace and God help us to carry on. HENRY SAGEHORN came to Mercer county about 1898. .He had a homestead near Krem and moved to Stanton in 1908. Mr. Sagehorn held County offices for over 30 years. Mrs! Sagehorn was a nurse and mid-wife during her years in Stanton. Mr. Sagehorn passed 99 away while visiting in Germany in 1931. Mrs. Sagehorn moved to California in 1940. One son, George is the only one remaining at Stan­ ton. John lives in Bismarck; Mrs. May Hovdet, Eldor, Roland, Mrs. H. H. Healey and Mrs. Jack Solom reside at Long Beach; Mrs. John Albers, Eagle Rock, Calif.; arid Mrs. Larry Isaac, Orange, Calif. One son, Helmer, deceased. Mrs. Sagehorn passed on in 1960. ADAM A. SAILER, son of Jacob and Pauline Sailer, was born in Mercer county in 1889. He has lived here all of his life and has been a merchant since he was grown except he spent five years farming in the Mannhaven area. He has resided in Stanton about 50 years. He married Emma Buchmann in 1912. They have one daughter, Selma, now Mrs. Ervin Bohrer, who is county treasurer. Mrs. Sailer passed away in 1955. The Ervin Bohrer children are Karen (Mrs. Jim Dubois) and Bill, a high school student, both of Stanton. THE JACOB SAILER children are Adam A. Sailer of Stanton; Emma Reinhardt, Bismarck; Ernestina Murschel, Minneapolis; and Lydia Wittmayer, Hazen. JOHN SAILER came to this country in 1887 from Russia when he was 14 years old. His sister, a widow with five children came later and married Jacob Unterseher. John Sailer married Marie Netzer at Krem in Nov. 1898. He was in the general merchandise business at Mannhaven until 1908, when he moved to Stanton. He operated a similar business until 1920 when he went into the implement business. He was among the first car salesmen in the county. He sold the Overland. At one time he was register of deeds and for eight years he served as county com­ missioner. He also served as chairman of the county welfare board

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First Shipment of Cars in Stanton — About 1910 The Sailers moved to Bismarck in 1944 after living in the county for 57 years. Mr. Sailer passed away in 1958 age 84 years. The Sailer children are Mrs. Walter Bohrer (Albina); Edwin, Ernest and John, Jr., all of Bismarck; Arthur, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Walter Buck (Ella), Fargo; Nestor, Mt. Vernon, 111.; Dr. Eldor Sailer, San Francisco, Calif.; Maurine and Dee, Los Angeles, Calif. Mrs. Sailer resides in Bismarck. JACOB SCHELL of Stanton came to Mercer county with his parents in 1887. He lived in the Mannhaven area until 1929. The next four years he lived at Terry, Mont. He then resided at Stanton until he entered the Joachim Home at Beulah. In 1905 he married Ursula Herman. She passed away in 1932. The children are: Reinholt and Edward, Portland, Ore.; Adam, Fort 100 Pierre, S. D.;C(Hilda) Mrs. Reinholt Bauer, New-Salem; (Martha) Mrs.. Leo Burdick of California;-1 (Ida) Mrs. Arthur Kruckenberg, Miles City, Mont.; (Renartha). Mrs. Gust Blum of Washington; and (Leona) Mrs. Ervin Keller of Fergus Falls Minn. Mr. Schell passed away April 6, 1960 age 81. JOHN SCHIMKE of Zap, age 80, came to Mercer county in 1910. It was in the spring and they crossed the Missouri river in a small boat amid chunks of floating ice. In the boat besides Mr. and Mrs. Schimke were two small children and his father-in-law, Mr. Zieman. Edward Schimke, north of Stanton, is a son of John Schimke. MR. AND MRS. ADOLF SCHLENDER, SR. (Taken from The Ha­ zen Star June 17, 1937). Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Schlender and sons, Gust and Adolf, came to Mercer county Oct. 10, 1890. Their means of conveyance being a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen which they purchased in New Salem. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schlender died on their farm north of Krem in 1893. Gust Schlender farms about twenty miles north of Hazen. His brother Adolf, Jr., farmed and raised a family north of Golden Valley. He died in 1934. OTTO SCHREIBER came to Mercer county with his parents in 1897. He taught school and was county superintendent of schools. He lived at Mannhaven for a time and had a newspaper, The Mann;j haven Journal, which I think was the first paper in the county. He" served as county official as clerk of court and auditor. For a time he ran the Mercer County Farmer, a newspaper at Stanton. He married Richey Egar in 1901. She passed away in 1950. The children are Arthur of Bismarck; Harold, Fargo; Roy, Stanton; Mrs. C. J. Jirikowic, Los Alamos, New Mex.; and A. M. Kilber, Minot. Mr. Schreiber passed away in Nov. 1959. CHRISTINA SCHUH came in 1900 and passed on in 1945. In 1943 they lived near Stanton on what was the C. Heinemeyer farm. During high water three sons attempted to rescue horses that were stranded on a haystack surrounded by water, and they lost their lives. The children are Mrs. John Mutzenberger Mrs. Emil Zuern, Herbert; Sam, Gust, Frieda, Hulda and Clara. :(.i JOHN SCHULTZ and family came to Mercer county Jan. 21, 1906, and settled six miles south of Beulah, near highway No. 49.. The: children of this family are Edward and William, Beulah; Ferdinand, Auburn, Wash.; Carl, Cornell, Wash.; Joseph, Hazen; Herbert, Bright- view, Canada; Paul; St. Paul, Minn.; and Mrs. Theo. Wentz, Dodge. CHRIST SCHWEIGERT came to Mercer county in 1900 and: settled in the Krem area. He married Regina Reichenberg in 1908 and moved to Stanton, where he edited the Mercer County Republican. Later he went into court house work and has been there since. At the present time he is clerk of court and county judge. Mrs! Schwei­ gert passed away in 1949 age 61 years. 'f:\. Their children are Elleanor and Wilbur, Stanton; Mrs. F. R. Jordon, in California; Mrs. Glen Larson of Regent; Fred and Herbert, in California; Emil, Bismarck. CARL SEMMLER came to Mercer county in October 1889. He- came by ship to Ellis Island then by train to New Salem and by-'a" team to Mercer county. They lived with the Adam Sailer family until the next spring when they built a sod house. In 1900 they moved to 101 Mannhaven, where' Mr. Semmler was postmaster. In 1910 he was elected county auditor and served until 1918. The children of this family are Benj. Semmler, deceased in 1960; Mina Semmler, Beulah'; and Rosalia Semmler Mueller, who has lived at Spokane, Wash., the past five years. MR. AND MRS. HENRY SIMPFENDERFER came here in 1906, crossing the river on the ice from Garrison. They stayed at Krem until they settled three miles northeast of Dodge. In 1934 they moved to Golden Valley. They traveled 40 miles to Hebron for supplies. One difficulty of ranching was the prairie fires which took the feed. Only, fire guards saved their lives and the buildings. He worked with his brother, Fred, in partnership with land and machinery except the homestead. Mr. Simpfenderfer built all of the buildings on the farm and was an invalid from a fall while working on the barn in 1917. He passed away in 1949 and his wife in March 1958. Their children are Carl J., Lodi, Calif.; Wm. H. pastor of Salem Lutheran church, Stanton; John, Dodge; and Albert, Golden Valley. MR. AND MRS. C. W. STEPHENS, a brother of Joe Stephens, came to Mercer county in August 1898. His brother met them in New Salem with an open buckboard and the only rain of the summer poured down on them all of the way (over 30 miles) to the Stephens homestead. At first they lived with the O'Neil family while Vera, the second oldest child, recuperated from whooping cough. Later they lived on the Joe Stephens claim until they located further south. Children of this family are Mrs. Bernice Clark, Bismarck; Victor and Emery, Hazen; V. Dean of Kansas; Mrs. John Divers and Miss Beulah Stephens of Jamestown. They remember the prairie fires that swept past the home. Their mother locked the two children in the sod house while she went to help fight the fire. On Christmas eve 1903 they left home at 2:30 and drove to the Joe Stephens Ranch to spend the evening. Mr. Stephens had made a very pretty Christmas tree of juniper. They started home about 10:00 p. m. and were lost in the blizzard. They unhitched the horses and stayed in the sled until morning. The sleigh bells made a merry tune but it was cold. As they had hay in the bottom of the sled with blankets and heated stones they huddled there without freezing. In the morning they completed the seven mile journey started the evening before. The four children ranged in age from 10 to two years. Mr. Stephens had worked for his brother Joe the first two years, then in 1900 moved to his homestead. They had a board shack until the soddie was completed, which took 61 loads of sod. It was completed November 17, when they moved in during a howling blizzard. The Stephens Ranch west of Stanton has been a landmark for over 65 years. Mr. Stephens' homestead was south of Stanton where he settled in 1893. Roy Stephens of Stanton was one of the first white children born in the county. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Stephens married Belle Wood and he started the sheep ranch. About 3000 sheep were kept. In later years Hereford cattle, 500 to 600 head, were kept. Born to this union were Mrs. (Winifred) Paul Martin, Minneapolis; Glen, Arizona; Everett; Mark; Vernon; and Maynard who have operated the ranch since the death of their father in 1935. Mrs. Stephens passed away in 1944. The fall of 1959 the boys sold to Carl Heinrich, whose two sons, 102 will operate the 4,460-acre spread. The Stephens boys expect to settle in Montana. ROBERT M. STROUP writes: "My brother and I came west in the year 1906. He settled in Montana and I in North Dakota. We traveled by train all the way from Pennslyvania. I made my home in Mercer county, filed on a homestead in the western part of North Dakota and lived there ever since." Mr. Stroup contributed a great deal to the development of our county thru his work in banking. Their children are George and Robert L., Hazen; Wayne, Garrison; and Mrs. James Leet, Darien, Conn., who lived in London, England, for eleven years. MR. AND MRS. JOHN SUESS, SR., came to Mercer county in the year of 1886. They came in a covered wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen. With them was Wm. Richter, Wilhelm Priebe, Dan Schimke and Robert Lauf. In their four wagons they had cooking utensils, bedding, some tools and a hand plow. With the Suesses were three children: John Suess of Hazen, Mathilda and Bertha, deceased. JOHN SUESS, SR. My grandfather, John Suess, Sr., (Emanuel Suess of Stanton writes), served from 1897 to 1901 and my father served from 1905 to 1909 as county judge. I am serving my 20th consecutive year in the court house; namely, four years as county treasurer and 16 years as register of deeds, which puts me in the third generation. There were three children in my grandparents' family, one son and two daughters; namely, John Suess, Jr., and Mrs. Robert (Mathilda) Lauf, Sr., and Mrs. August (Bertha) Gappert. There were six children in my parents' family: five sons, Christoph, John, Henry, William and Emanuel, and one daughter, Alvina. My parents came to North Dakota in the year 1898. I (Emanuel) have been a resident of this state for 60 years. MAGNUS AND JOSEPHA SWANSON, with their three children, came to Mercer county in April 1885. From Mandan to Deapolis they came with the stage driver. Their homestead was later the Mike Berger farm. The first home was a log cabin and a cave in the hillside, all with dirt floor. They purchased a team, wagon, two milk cows, a few chickens and a heating stove with a lid on top, where they could do their cooking. It was a mile walk to the nearest neighbor, where Mrs. Swanson could bake her bread. They hauled buffalo bones to New Salem and received $6.00 per ton. In this way they had money to buy a rake and mower. He secured work on a steamboat from Mandan to Ft. Buford to get money for flour and other necessities. He raised sheep on shares from Joe Stephens, and the children had to herd them as there were no fences. There were three months of school each year, but the two oldest children would take turns, every other week, going to school and herding the sheep. During one Indian scare they were ordered to take cover. They gathered at the best house and cave in the neighborhood and stayed for three days before returning home. The three children were John Swanson, who lost his life fighting a prairie fire in 1912, Mrs. Inga Johnson, Bismarck, who passed away in 1956; and Selma, Mrs. Elias Berg, Stanton. MR. AND MRS. Q. R. THUE and family came to Mercer county in 1907. They built a store in the Deapolis area near an elevator that stood on the river bank. Later they moved the store to Stanton. Mr. Thue was very active in getting the Stanton Park established. Mrs. Thue was active in all improvement work in the area, besides her church work. They made two trips back to Norway to visit friends and relatives. (Mr. Thue had come to the Minot area in 1884.) Their son, Adolf, now deceased, was one of the first two graduates from high school in the Stanton school. Monard and family live at Miami, Fla.; Denver and wife at Louisville, Ky.; Dena (Mrs. Ray Hagen) at Seattle, Wash.; Oscar and wife live at Fargo; Iver, Ida, Adolf and Richard, deceased. Mr. Thue passed away at age 83 in 1944. Mrs. Thue passed away at age 89 on June 12, 1951. Both are buried at Stanton. JOHNSON. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Johnson (Mrs. R. C. Thompson writes), came to Mercer county from Sweden in 1886. Their homestead was not far from Stanton, and they lived on the farm for 35 years. Their first home was of sod and logs. My father started life here with a capital of $2.00. He walked to Mandan and worked for a while and carried on his back about 40 miles the groceries he pur­ chased. The first years were hard and trying. Difficulties were fear of Indians; no money and too much snow. They had what it took— health, strength and courage and looked to God for help and guidance. They were interested in church and school. Father served as county commissioner and school district officer. They retired in 1921 and moved to Bismarck. Mr. Johnson passed away in July 1937 age 74 and Mrs. Johnson, February 1956 age 85. Children's names are Mrs. E. W. Johnson (Elna), Mrs. I. E. Berg (Goda) Mrs. R. C. Thompson (Anna), all of Bismarck; John William, deceased; Hyohner M. Johnson, Bismarck; and Linus Johnson, Washington. THE HARVEY TROUSDALE family came here in the spring of 1906. Their homestead was in the Kronthal area. The first home was a one room shanty, later two rooms. Everything was done on a small scale, plowing with one horse and a sulky plow and one cow supplied the family with milk, cream, butter and "pream," which was made by cooking the buttermilk a long time. They made their own soap. It kept the clothes white but was hard on hands. In order not to be without a Christmas tree, the parents cut part of another tree and wrapped it with green paper. It was trimmed with tinsel, cranberries and real candles. As the children were entering, the candles were lit and —WHIZ went the little tree. That was the end of wrapped trees in their home. They farmed for about 11 years then moved to Beulah, Golden Valley, then Dodge, where Mr. Trousdale was a grain buyer. Later he farmed south of Halliday. Mr. Trousdale passed away age 56 in 1932, and his wife 20 years later. THE ED TSCHAEKOFSKE FAMILY. My parents came to Mercer county (Ed Tschaekofske writes) in 1886 from Tripp, S. D., coming by train to New Salem. Their first home was 14 miles northwest of Stanton; Township 146, Range 85, on the southwest V4 section 20. Their first house was built of sod. ' When they first came to Mercer county, they had one team of 104 oxen and one team of horses that were shipped to New, Salem by train. One other incident that Was told was when Sitting Bull was on the warpath, my parents and the surrounding neighbors fled to Mandan for safety. When my parents came to Mercer county, the county had not even been surveyed and the sections had not been laid out. My brothers and sisters are as follows: Katherina (Mrs. Gotthilf Grosz), deceased—born in Russia in 1875; Rosina (Mrs. John Grosz), born in Russia in 1877; Peter, deceased, born in Russia in 1879; Edward, born in Mercer county in 1888 on March 9th; Otto, living'in Hazen, born in Mercer county in 1889; Elizabeth (Mrs. Louie Goetz), living in Dodge, born in 1891; and Christina (Mrs. Jake Goetz), living in Halliday, born in 1893. MRS. NETTIE TYSVER'S parents came to Oliver county in 1909. Later they moved to Mercer county. They had a homestead south of Beulah, or Farrington, as it was called then. Their neighbors were the Murrays and C. B. Urights. Their children are Nettie Tysver, Stanton; Mrs. Mabel Nodland, Glendive, Mont.; Mrs. Ella Miller, Arlington, Calif. THE GOTTFRIED UNRATHS came to America in 1907 and to Mercer county in 1908 by train to Hebron. Their first home was of sod. The first winter their meat supply was jack rabbits, which they trapped by putting hay and grass over a dry well. They would be attracted there to feed and then drop down in the well, where they could be caught. The children of this family are August, Emil, Gustav and Eugene, of Golden Valley; Roland, Oregon City, Ore.; Mrs. Henry Kruckenberg, Wing; and Mrs. Carl Neuberger, Golden Valley. Mrs. Solomina Unrath, nee Summerfield, passed away August 21, 1959 and Mr. Unrath, on January 30, 1953. MR. AND MRS. JACOB UNTERSEHER and son, John, came to Mercer county in the spring of 1889, by railroad to New Salem, across from there to near Mannhaven with a team of oxen. Later were born, Jacob, Jr.; Ludwig; David; Joseph; Otto and Arthur; also Mrs. Ben Krieger; Mrs. Gott. Krieger; and Mrs. Emanuel Richter. Mrs. Unterseher passed away in 1913 and Mr. Unterseher in 1931, age 62 years. Otto Unterseher passed away at the age of 55 years in November 1959. He had farmed north of Stanton. He leaves one son, Iver of Mandan. Jacob Unterseher, Jr., passed away in 1947. His children are Harold, Stanton; Reuben in South Dakota; Roland, Mrs. Dave Heine and Mrs. Albert Wegerle, all of Hazen. ADAM WEIGUM lived on a homestead seven miles north of Zap. He married Marie Becker in South Russia and came to the U. S.-.the next year, 1899. They moved to this county in 1902. They came by train to New Salem and with a wagon and three horses to their sod home. His wife died in 1938, and the next March he married Mrs. Magdalena Traxel, who resides in Hazen. He passed away, in 1941 of liver cancer, age 62. He has a brother, Gottfried, living at Golden Valley and a sister, Mrs. Dora Reiner, of Hazen. The Weigums moved to Zap in 1929. The children of this family are Peter and Jake, Zap; Ernest, Golden Valley; Emma, Mrs. Herman Walz, Beulah; Emilia, Mrs. Fred Walz, Bismarck; and Mrs. G. Kiehlbauch, Hazen. The following 105 STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION BISMARCK, H, DAK, are deceased: Lydia, Mrs. Herbert Kruckenberg; Wilhelm, who died at age of 18 with the !1918 flu; and two who died in childhood. AUGUST WEIL came here in September 1905. They lived south of Beulah until 1944, when they moved to Beulah. Although they had many hardships, they were very happy. Mr. Weil worked for the N. P. railroad for some time. Mr. Weil passed away Nov. 16, 1950 age 69. His wife, Mary, on March 24, 1959 age 74. The children are Ella, Mrs. Melvin Huber; Bill, Paul, and Alvin of Beulah; Susan, Mrs. John Wiedrich; Mrs. Glen Larson of Regan; Anna, Mrs. Martin Becker, Mandan; Arthur, Seattle; John, Missoula; Joe, Reeder; Ted, Kansas City; and Paulus, deceased. GUST WEISZ (this is taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1939) came to Mercer county in April, 1888, as a child two years of age, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Weisz. They came as far as New Salem by train and from there to this county with a team and wagon. He has one sister living, Mrs. Matt Schwartz. The Weisz family homesteaded near Krem. Gust Weisz says that his father often told them when the snow was too deep for the oxen, he walked to Stanton for groceries—even carrying home a 50 pound sack of flour-—a distance of sixteen miles. When funds were needed with which to buy groceries, they would go out and gather up a load of bones, which they would haul to Mandan or Hebron and exchange for groceries. A load of bones brought from $12.00 to $14.00. One time his father went to Hebron with a team of oxen to bring home a binder. On the way home he stopped at a water hole to allow the oxen to quench their thirst. The animals went into the hole and refused to come out. So there was nothing for him to do but wait patiently until they were ready, which was late in the evening. An interesting fact is the price of groceries. In those days 100 pounds of flour could be bought for $1.00. Eighteen pounds of coffee, $1.00; and good work shoes for about 85^. NATHANIEL WEISZ was born Jan. 19, 1878 in South Russia. Margasetha Goetz, whom he married in 1899, was born April 22, 1882. They came to the U. S. shortly after they were married. They settled on the farm north of Krem address now Hazen, and their son still resides on the home place. Children are Herbert and Eldor, Hazen; Anna, Mrs. Em. Stuhl- miller, Dodge; Adina, Mrs. Sam Neumann, Bismarck; Eva, Mrs. Otto Unterseher, Mandan; and Hattie, Mrs. Otto Miller, Hazen. MR. AND MRS. JACOB WERNER (Taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937) came directly from Crimea, Russia, to Mercer county in 1890. With them came their children; Jacobina (Mrs. Martin Hintz) deceased; Mary (Mrs. John Kruckenberg); Anetta (Mrs. Christian Stecker), deceased; Philip of Lodi, Calif.; Jacob of Zap; and Regina, deceased. Two children were born in this country but both died. The oldest son, Ludwig of Hazen,' did not come directly with his parents, but stopped at Duluth, Minn., where he worked in the woods during the first winter, coming to Mercer county about July 7, 1891. He had earned $27.00 that winter. The Werner family came with team from New. Salem. Mrs. Werner's sisters, Mrs. Frederich Schell and Mrs. Jacob Bohrer, were already here at that time, having emigrated from South Dakota in 1887. 106 The Werners homesteaded north of Krem about one-half .mile, east of the Ludwig Werner farm. Mr. Ludwig Werner said, "My father had about $48.00 when he landed in the county. He bought his first team, two small Indian ponies for $180.00 on time, from Carl Kuch, who left here to go to Oregon." , The family income consisted of what money the various children of the family earned by working out, the going wages at the time being about $3.00 per month. This family also remembered the diphtheria epidemic which took 33 children in the neighborhood in one month's time. Ludwig recalls that during the first year that he was married, he and his wife were obligated to make one pound of coffee and one pound of essence (Chicory) do for the whole year. THE JOE WIEDENMEYER family came by covered wagon, Nov. 21, 1898, and settled north of Zap. Later they moved to Stanton and built the building which is now the Miller Hotel in about 1908. Later they moved to California, then returned and built other buildings here. Mr. Wiedenmeyer passed away on Aug. 3, 1944, age 84. Mrs. Wiedenmeyer died on Feb. 14, in the same year, age 80. The following children are deceased: Gottlieb, Emil, Edward, Christina and Pauline. Mrs. (Rose) Joe LeClair lives in Montana; and Mrs. Ottilia Sutheimer lives at Helena, Mont. MR. FRED WINMILL passed away in 1935 age 72. He came to Mercer county about 1906. Their homestead was seven miles southwest of Stanton. He was county assessor for sixteen years. Deceased are Frank, Earl and David. William lives in Alberta, Canada; Ray Winmill at Tacoma, Wash.; Hetta Walls, Effie, Minn.; Guy at Dayton, Wash.; and A. Marilla Vollmer, Houston, Tex. ANDREW WITTMAYER came here June 13, 1894, from Hutch­ inson county in South Dakota. In the caravan of four covered wagons, besides the Wittmayers, were Adam and Jacob Sailer and the Jacob Benz family. The N. P. railroad ferried them across the Missouri river at Bismarck. They lived with the Bohrers until their homes were ready. The first year the Wittmayers took sheep on shares but struck hard luck as they lost fifty loads of hay in a prairie fire. The children are John Wittmayer and Fredricia, who married Karl Brombach. The Andrew and Lydia Wittmayer children are Richard, Stanton; Reinhold, Hazen; Art, Pick City; Selma, Mrs. John Ehli, Dodge; Erma' Mrs. Albert Sailer, and Hulda, Mrs. Emil Rathjen, Stanton; Freida) Mrs. Art Luken, Pick City; Emma, Mrs. Twining, and Cornell, both of Jamestown, N. D. MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIAN ZEISZLER (taken from The Hazen Star June 17, 1937) came to Mercer county May 13, 1887. They came to New Salem by rail and to Mercer county with a team of oxen and a wagon. The Zeiszler family located on Sec. 10, about 16 miles north of Hazen. They lived and slept in the open during the first few weeks, their only shelter from rain and storm being the overturned wagon box. Children of the family are Jacob; Katherina (Mrs. Weigum); Mike Adam and Wilhelmina (Mrs. Robert Neuberger); and George deceased' MR. AND MRS. JOHN ZIEMANN (Taken from The Hazen Star June 24, 1937) came to Mercer county in the year 1887. With them 'l07 came their son, Emanuel, who was 11 years old at the time and two sisters and a married5 brother Christ, now deceased. Mr. Ziemann came into South Dakota with $500, with which he bought supplies—flour, wagon, three cows and three horses, one of which cost him $140.00. These horses and wagon brought them to Mercer county, where they homesteaded 16 miles north of Hazen, Krem being their postoffice. After buying their equipment their resources were low, so they picked buffalo bones to exchange for groceries. The Ziemann family lived with the Priebe family until their house of sod and Missouri river cottonwood timber was built. JOHANN AND ELISABETA ZUERN (Fred Zuern writes) came to Mercer county in April 1900. We came by train from Tyndall, S. D. We arrived at New Salem, N. D., in April 1900 and from there we went by wagon to Mercer county. The first stop was at John • Osters, seven miles northwest of Hazen. We stayed there for two days, then we moved to Martin Osters, six miles north of Hazen and stayed there until my father built a house in May on the homestead quarter, the NW14 of Section 30, Township 145, Range 86. The house was built with shiplap 14 x 16 x 8 feet. This was our first home and is still on the same place. My youngest brother owns that place; his name is David Zuern. My parents came to America in May, 1894. We stayed in South Dakota seven years, then we came to North Dakota. My brothers, John and Fred were born in South Russia, Jacob and Lizzie were born in South Dakota and the youngest, David Zuern, was born in North Dakota. Since coming to the county we have lived around Hazen. My mother died in July, 1923, and father died in November, 1931. My mother was Geb Zweygardt. The Zuern children are Johann, born 1889; Fred, Jr., born 1892; Jacob, born 1896; Lizzie, born 1897; and David, born 1902. MR. AND MRS. DAN DANIELSON and two children left Sweden in 1898 to come to America. When they arrived in London the son was taken sick and passed away. Due to illness the wife and daughter returned to Sweden. Mr. Danielson came alone and arrived in the Deapolis area Aug. 12 of that year. He spent the first winter with his brother, the Herman Danielsons. In the summer he worked in Bismarck. He cut logs along the Missouri river bank and built a two-room cabin before his wife and daughter arrived in 1900. After arriving, the daughter contracted polio and was left partly crippled. Five children were born in Mercer county. Three have passed away. Mrs. Danielson and infant son passed on in 1911. Mr. Danielson lived until May, 1936. Theodore Danielson lives on the home place. John Danielson and wife reside on an adjoining farm. Vera, Mrs. Albin Alderin, lives in the Deapolis community. OTTO BAUMAN, the son of Albert Bauman and Emilia, nee Kant, was born June 2, 1880, in Brazil, South America. When he was IV2 years of age his parents migrated to the United States and settled near Le Sueur, Minn. In the winter of 1907 he came to North Dakota, and took up a homestead about 12 miles north of Dodge. In 1909 he married Mary Brecht, daughter of Frans Brecht of Hebron. To this union were born 11 children: Albert of Golden Valley; Irene Simpfenderfer of Stanton; Frank of Minot; Clara Leno of Mayville; Otto of Clarkston, Wash.; Vera Karkhoff; Paul of 108 Sidney, Mont.; Marie Steffen of Halliday; Vernon of Birmingham, Ala.; Norman of Long Beach, Calif.; and Vurl of Grand Forks. In 1914 Mr. Bauman moved onto a farm 10 miles north of Dodge. Here he resided until 1946 when he retired and made his home in Golden Valley. He was active in community and county affairs, serving as a member of the township school board for many years. He also served as county commissioner from 1923 to 1931 and from 1935 to 1939. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church six miles north of Dodge until he moved to Golden Valley when he joined Golgotha Lutheran church. In 1945 his health started failing which forced him to leave the farm. He passed away in August of 1950. Besides farming, he operated one of the first threshing rigs in this area. In 1908 he moved a steamer from Webster, S. D., to his farm. In 1909 he purchased one of the first kerosene tractors in this part of the country. This was before the railroad came in and fuel had to be hauled from Hebron by team, a distance of 48 miles. He continued to operate a threshing rig until the combines came in.

JACK GALLAGHER TELLS OF EARLY DAYS Jack Gallagher, Hazen, wrote the following for the Mandan Pioneer in 1933. "In the fall of 1884, I came with my parents at the age of six years. I wore a derby hat size TVk, with, the crown stove in and full of holes. We came here from Emmetsburg, Iowa, landed in New Salem and stayed in an emigrant house for a couple of days. Then we hired a man to haul us out to the Knife river with his team and wagon. He charged us ten dollars to make the trip. We surely were excited to see so many antelope on our way out. There were droves of fifty to seventy-five in a bunch. About the time we had driven twenty miles, we met an old hunter; his name was Bill Blohm. He was trying to carry two antelope, so he gave us one to lighten the load. We landed on the Knife river the next day, about one-half mile south of where Hazen now stands. We cut logs and in a week or so had a log cabin with two rooms, all mudded up and ready for Dakota blizzards. We had only three neighbors, Roberts from Australia, Jones from Ohio and Matt Brady from Ireland. They remained about a year and left. Years later, Brady's son, John, was elected sheriff of Morton county. There were no schools or churches in the county. We broke five acres of land the first year and sowed it to flax. The-next spring we threshed our flax with one horse and a tread power machine, got fourteen bushels off an acre. We hauled it into New Salem and sold it to the druggist, who was the only grain buyer at that time. His name was A. V. Schallern and he was well known in the country. Next year we planted wheat on the five acres and it yielded thirty-five bushels to the acre; We threshed it with a home­ made flail, hauled it to Mandan, and traded it to Charles Ourouk for groceries: We had more groceries than we wanted, so we left them in the store till the next fall. Trapping and hunting were real sports in those days. I had a suit-of white canvas, and whenever we wanted meat, I would crawl on my hands and knees right into a bunch of antelope and grab one. Then Dad would come with an ax and knock it down. There were all kinds of fur animals: red foxes, swift fox, bobcats, beaver, otter

109 and hundreds of mink. We sold our fox and otter for seyerity-five cents, mink for fifty cents, beaver and otter, one dollar a pound. The buffalo had just been killed off; their bones still had dry meat stuck on them. '• One big buffalo with a bell on came through our yard one morning. He had got loose from Riverside Ranch south of Mandan. The Indians killed him as soon as he reached the reserva­ tion. The prairie burned off every fall, and the blizzards raged all winter. We had to make fire guards about two hundred feet wide to save some grass for feed. In 1888 we planted one acre of onions and got one hundred and seventy bushels. Hauled them to Mandan and bought our first milch cow. It took a whole week to make the trip. I think some of her descendants are still around the country. The year 1889, checkers became the fad in the West Slope. Tom Evans of Gladstone drove sixty miles to play our champion, John Atkinson, but our man won the day! He died at Mandan this last winter. He was still a checker player. We had some dances in those days, and six couples were considered a large crowd, and would dance till sunrise with a mouth organ for music. Indians were real bold in those days, but we could make friends by giving them a cup of sugar. We got most of our clothes and shoes from them. There were plenty of horse thieves came through here. People that had horses used to keep an iron bar, padlocked on one side and bolted to a log on the other end. I learned some of their names. One was George Frazer; then there were Bill Crangel and Clifford Wilson. Bill Crangel came back here years after he left, and not far from our place, uncovered a large bag of money and left for good. We never had any grasshoppers in those days. Grouse, prairie dogs and jackrabbits were the only field pests. In the year 1889 and 1890, Texas cattle began to roam the country and the farmers began to flock in, gathered up the buffalo bones and hauled them to Hebron. They built mud houses and filled up the country in no time. We had a postoffice established at our place in 1889. Our mail was brought out from New Salem with a one horse cart, and came through Hannover, via Stanton, Munro, Stanton and then to Hazen. We got our mail three times a week. We had some school at that time, a three month term at some house where the most kids were. I liked driving oxen better than school, so stayed home. When this state was admitted to the Union, things took a little boom. People began to build lumber houses and hauled their lumber from New Salem and Hebron. There was great excitement when J. E. Tapley and his crew came and surveyed the land and stuck up the corner mounds. Then was when we were sure of where we lived. We happened to fall on Section 12-144-87, Mercer county. Still we had plenty of free range for cattle and kept lots of them, mostly from the one cow bought in Mandan. In the year 1900, I was appointed census enumerator. My part consisted of the west half of Mercer county and the east half of Dunn county. At that time the population was about one hundred and sixteen white people and several thousand head of stock, horses and cattle. Again in the year 1930, I enumerated two townships and the village "0 , of Hazen and found more people in one township now, than was in Mercer county altogether in the year 1900. Next year will be my golden anniversary in and around Hazen, I haven't been away from here two weeks at any time, and I am worth just about as much now as I was forty-five years ago. Never kicked at the way things have been and never intend to either. What's good enough for everybody else is good enough for me." [Jack Gallagher and Mary L. Schafer, daughter of Otto Schafer were married Oct. 7, 1902. Seven children were born to them: Cyril died Jan. 15, 1950; Quintin, Minneapolis; Maxwell, died May 15, 1934; Eugene, Rapid City, S. D.; Mark, Rapid City, S. D.; Catherine, Mrs. Joseph Just, Wayzata, Minn.; Albro, Wayzata, Minn. Mrs. Gallagher passed away in 1951 and Mr. Gallagher in 1957. A sister, Mrs. Catherine Stanley, age 86, lives in Minneapolis, Minn.]

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The Pioneers of Majestic Mercer Sing a song for the Pioneers of the long, long ago. Hail the covered wagon, the stern-wheeler chugging slow. The boys that cracked the bull-whip, and the boys that trapped the slough. While they were making Majestic Mercer. Hurrah! Hurrah! for maid and man. Hurrah! Hurrah! for all those in the van American, German, Irish and Scandinavian, While they were making Majestic Mercer. Eyes are dim, and hair is white; but every heart is stout. The Pioneer of the old frontier was never down and out. They had by far more griefs than we; but you'd always hear them shout. While they were making Majestic Mercer. Hurrah! Hurrah! even tho we've had no rain. Hurrah! Hurrah! we've got some golden grain, A dogie or two, some beaver pelt too, and the buffalo bone wagon train. While they were making Majestic Mercer. . Fifty years have come and gone, the setting sun is low. The happy ranks are thinning in the starlit afterglow; But still we catch the chorus of their song of long ago. While they were making Majestic Mercer. Hurrah! Hurrah! they've sung thruoui the years. Hurrah! Hurrah! we'll echo with our cheers. And ne-er forget, the honored debt we owe the Pioneers, The Pioneers of Majestic Mercer. . | —C. B. Heinemeyer !

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Pageant — Old Settler's Picnic at Stanton in 1931 VISIT OUR DAKOTA STAR MINE (Six miles north of Hasen)

WATCH THE MAKING OF A Champion Lignite

The Dakota Star Mine began operation* in 1944. It is the most up-to-date mining camp in North.Dakota, equipped with modern hollow-tile homes and mine buildings, all supplied with water and toilet facilities. DAKOTA STAR is a strip mine with a capacity output of 400 tons per hour— 3000 tons per day. Each of the eight 20-ton pit trucks travel about 110 miles daily. Only IVi minutes is required to fill a truck with the S-yard coal loading shovel after the overburden has been removed from the lignite with a 10-yard stripping shovel and a 6-yard dragline. DAKOTA STAR U served by the Northern Pacific Railway Company, with a six-mile spur extending north­ west from Hasen. Nine miles of track are required to serve the tipple area. The shipping point for DAKOTA STAR LIGNITE is called Truax. North Dakota. The DAKOTA STAR i.iine is a substantial taxpayer in Mercer County, directly and through its employees, all of whom contribute to the growth and welfare including schools and roaus o< Mercer County, the State and Nation through real and personal property taxes. incor» and sales taxes, as well as participation in programs for the improvement of th9 community in which the mine operates. Dakota Star Lignite It Produced By Truax-Traer Coal Company HAZEN mm 11 KIT.I