Illllillli^^ F Finley 75Th Diamond Jubilee, Shk 1897-1972
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Illllillli^^ F Finley 75th Diamond Jubilee, Shk 1897-1972. F55x c.l NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BISMARCK 58505 kin\/ 1 R 19,77 •0-6 >~ ' ' ' NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY 3 3105 000 7794 NORTH DAKOTA BOOK OR AUTHOR F e It is a privilege to be asked to write the foreword for your seventy-fifth anniversary publication. As an immigrant, I chose North pcdication Dakota as my home state because I was married to it. My wife, the former Marion Unkerholz comes from one of the pioneering families of the western part of the state. As a citizen, I cherish with greater emotional feeling the heritage which is now also mine. This book is being dedicated to the pioneers of this area, our forefathers who had the courage to face odds, the determination to overcome them and the vision for a great future. We who take for granted our modern amenities should pause to reflect with gratitude upon those who had to endure the hazards of taming a virgin area. Elwyn B. Robinson in "History of North Dakota" writes of the pioneers, "Their victory lay in adapting themselves to the prairie—sod houses and dugouts for shelter, fish and game for food, mutual helpfulness and self-reliance, and a concentration of wheat, the crop suited to the northern grassland." The optimism of our forebearers has given us a heritage which is one reason we who are descendents continue to live here. Those who have migrated to other parts of this land still speak nostaligically of their Great Plains experiences. The past is always to be built upon, thus we of the Lunar area hope that our progeny will look upon us kindly as we do our ancestors. We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to each who has contributed to the publication of this book. Our thanks also goes to all who have joined in celebrating the glories of our community. Rev. Lionel P. A. Muthiah Wesley Methodist Church 31 Djalan Kartini Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia North Dakota State Library Rismarck. N. D. 58505 a fo retf* r IT THE BEGINNING Even before the railroad was completed Before beginning on the early history of through the county, several enterprizing Finley, it is only fair to mention the men and settlers had begun what was to become the their corporations that promoted this area, City of Finley. The purpose for some of these and in turn helped give birth to the present settlers of course was purely speculative. city of Finley. They could buy the property at a low enough The Red River Land Company was in price and after the railroad came through sell corporated April 18, 1880, in Minneapolis with their property realizing a fair profit. For a capital stock of $500,000.00. The original some, of course, these investments were to directors of this company were J. A. Steele, become their livelihood and their homes. President, S. S. Small, Vice-President, and E. The first town in what is now the city of H. Steele, Secretary-Treasurer, all of Min Finley was called "Gilbert". This enterprizing neapolis. village was located on the NW% of the SWV4 of October 15, 1880 the Red River Land the NWV4 of Section 32, Township 147, Range Company purchased all of the Northern 56. For those of you more familiar with Finley, Pacific Railroad Company's land in Town this would be approximately within a line ships 144 to 146, inclusive, Ranges 55 and 56, from Mason Linnell's house south to Ted now known as Easton, Sherbrooke, Melrose, Jacobsons; then east to Art Johnsons, then Hugo, Carpenter and Colgate Townships, this north to Willard Jacobsons, returning the line land holding consisting of every odd numbered then westward to Mason Linnells. section. At the time of the purchase there were The original plat for this town was filed on not more than a half dozen inhabitants within September 18, 1896 by Mary E. Patterson. It twenty miles of the present City of Hope. They had been surveyed sometime during that began an intense advertizing campaign to same month by Frank A. Smith. Some of the boom the sale of their lands to Easterners. In earliest settlers there were: Mary E. Pat the spring of 1882 they began the erection of a terson, William Patterson, Robert D. Pat forty room hotel, electrically lighted, in order terson, C. J. Long, B. F. Wade, C. K. Norcott, to accomodate the land seekers. The building A. B. Cochrane, Nels Arneson and Nels and its fixtures cost $40,000.00 and the "Hope Qualey. House" was famous far and near and proved At approximately the same time another to be a fine asset to the Town of Hope. town was begun just on the west side of the It was through their efforts that a hardy and railroad tracks on what is known as the determined class of people became the Original Townsite of Finley. This town, named pioneers of Steele County. It was also partially Walker, was an inspiration of The Dwight through their efforts that the railroad was Farm & Land Company. The town was named extended into the county in 1882 and completed in honor of a Bishop Walker, who used to through it in 1896. On Sunday, November 1st, travel the state and give his sermons from the 1896 an excursion train from Hope made its back of railroad cars. Sometime during the first stop at the twin cities of Gilbert and fall of 1896 the Dwight Farm & Land Company Finley on its way to Aneta. learned there was another town called "Walker" on the Great Northern Railway line Company to erect houses there. Finley had and they changed the name of their town to only a land office and a town pump. Then the "Finley" in honor of J. B. Finley, an official of roof seemed to fall in on Gilbert. There had the Great Northern Railroad Company. An been thirteen business lots and two residential early misconception was that the town had lots sold to the early settlers. The persons been named after L. O. Finn, of Hope, who had however, who had been selling the lots did not erected the first building in the town. This have clear title to the land and it reverted to building was the office of the Dwight Farm & the legal owner, W. H. M. Philip. Land Company, and is believed to be still Then in January of 1897 a deal was made standing. It is presently owned and occupied whereby the owners of the Townsite of Finley by Earl Spriggs, as the Spriggs Barber Shop purchased the entire Townsite of Gilbert. The on Main Street. two towns then combined under the name of Finley. Finley was incorporated as a village in In October of 1896 William Patterson's town November of 1903 with the following officers of Gilbert seemed to be leading Finley as C. K. elected: President, Frank E. Curry; Clerk, Norcott had a general store doing a thriving H. C. Bergum; Trustees, E. J. Pepper, Alf business; there were also a livery stable Windness, R. D. Patterson and B. J. Long. The owned by Horace Long, a restaurant, Marshall was W. H. Potter. blacksmith shop, and a coal and wood yard. A On July 12, 1926 Finley was incorporated as petition had also been circulated for a a city. The officers were: Mayor, B. J. Long; postoffice with Mrs. Norcott as postmistress. Clerk, Halfdan Petterson; Treasurer, E. H. There were also plans for the Cargill Bros. Gilbertson; Aldermen, Samuel Oxton, A. H. Elevator Co. and the St. Anthony Elevator Nelson, Knud Furos, and A. B. Mickelson. S. J. Peterson was one of the very first well stocked store, in 1913. Left to right: S. J. businessmen in town. Here is a picture of this Peterson, Otto Hjelt and P. A. Jorgenson. Finley Early History STREET SCENE This picture was taken looking east, and Picture Number 2 shows the same street shows the south side of Main Street about 1920. scene, but from the east looking west. EARLY FINLEY Going east down Main Street in the early 1900's you'd find the first building on the north side of the street would be the Spornitz Har ness shop, later operated by Wm. (Rube) Richtman, the cattle king. H. N. Horner had a real estate office in the east half of this first building. Then you'd stop at Pete and Charley Lar son's livery barn, later owned by Bill Bateman. Iver Seim bought him out, and he sold to Oscar Howland. The building was torn down when the bank was built as it was on part 1Y N, DAK. .FOR PINt-EY ORU< of the bank lot. PHOTO BY SI If you were looking for a building lot, you might stop in at Frank Curry's office as he With picture Number 3 we take a walk east was agent for Dwight Farm & Land Company. from the drug store, Needhams, on the left, to The Farmers Store would be the next stop, it the Woodman Hall, and Browns Hotel. The was built by W. W. Archer. Just beyond it was house at the far right, in the center of the the first barber shop, then a drug store picture, is out on the R. P. Archer farm. operated by Iver Stordahl, with T. E. Helgeson Back to the intersection, going east on the the pharmacist. Frank Skinner later had an south side, we could stop at the First National ice cream parlor and lunch room.