OUR COMMUNITY PRAIRIE TO PRESENT MARION, N, DAK. 1900-1975 P CM DEDICATION THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHRISTIAN BAERTSCH AND JOHN KNUDSEN UPON WHOSE LAND THIS CITY WAS FOUNDED, AND TO ALL WHO HAVE EVER LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY. EACH ONE CONTRIBUTED SOME MEASURE OF THEIR "SELF" THROUGH LOVE, WORSHIP, WORK, OR PLAY TO CREATE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OF CARING AND SHARING WHICH WE CALL "HOME". THANK YOU ALL, THE PIONEERS OF YESTERYEAR AND EVERY YEAR. North Dakota State Library Bismarck, N. D. 58505 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Marion Diamond Jubilee is being sponsored by THE GREATER MARION ASSOCIATION. ' The cover design was done by Walter Piehl, Jr., a native son of the Marion Community. He is a graduate of the Marion High School; Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota; and received his Masters Degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. At present he is an Assistant Art Professor at Minot State College, Minot, North Dakota. Photographers: Keith and Daryl Leistikow, sons of the Marion Community, engaged in farming. Compiled and edited by the Marion Diamond Jubilee History Committee. Printed by Sheyenne Publishing Company, Valley City, North Dakota. GREETINGS TO OUR READERS This Marion Diamond Jubilee History Book has been compiled to preserve our cherished heritage. With a deep sense of gratitude we wish to honor the hardy pioneers. They endured so many hardships as young adventurers who came to Dakota Territory to seek their livelihood and fortune. The Community is inspired by their faith in the land, their faith in God and their faith in themselves. These virtues have been carried through to the fourth and fifth generations now working the land and living in the Marion Community. The information herein has been gleaned from family histories, the book "Marion 1900-1950" and from memories. We have tried to be as accurate as possible but there are some discrepancies. We ask that you bear with us and remember that this was a gigantic undertaking involving nine months of research, typing, editing and proofreading. We wish to thank all those who made this book possible. Without your cooperation, photographs, family histories and advertising, this book could not have been published. Marion Diamond Jubilee History Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS BUSINESS HISTORY 9 VILLAGE BY-LAWS AND ORDINANCES 27 CHURCHES 29 SCHOOL 38 ORGANIZATIONS 51 FAMILY HISTORIES 60 JUBILEE COMMITTEES AND EVENTS 132 ADVERTISING 137 <J1 Aerial View, Marion, North Dakota, Mid-1960's <^.X7. AERIAL VIEW, MARION, NORTH DAKOTA, 1920 1. Depot 7a. Finch Lumber Yard 2. Standard Oil 8. Cream Station 3. Powers Elevator Company 9. Marion School 3a. Coal Shed 9a. Kaiser School or Sheridan No. 4 4. Andrews Grain Company 10. Marion Lutheran Church 5. Taussan Elevator Company 11. Sibley Residence 6. Marion Equity Elevator 18. Robert Liedall Garage 7. Lumber Yard 48. (not pictured) H. B. Richards Grain Company AERIAL VIEW, MARION, NORTH DAKOTA, 1920 12. National Hotel 21a. Bomberg Warehouse 30. Congregational Church 39. Leistikow Ice House 13. Marion Sentinel 22. Maisel Blacksmith Shop 31. Feed Mill 40. Grace Church 14. State Bank of Marion 23. Ladder Wagon 32. Sautebins 41. Deyoe and Co., Inc. 15. Millinery Shop 24. Fire Hall 33. Drug Store 42. Leistikow Meat Market 16. Sitz Store 25. Fire Bell Tower 34. Post Office 43. Pool Hall 17. Commercial Hotel 26. Marion Hall 35. 1st National Bank 44. Pappenfus Harness Shop 19. Dray Wagon 27. Bomberg Barn 36. Barbershop 45. Bakke & Trapp Hardware 20. Leavens Cafe 28. Deyoe Residence 37. Wendland Residence 46. Schommer Blacksmith 21. Bomberg Store 29. Greenwald Residence 38. John Trapp Residence 47. Christ Baertsch-Farm pv*~r- ^"^ %«-*Vl«to, bh*.vlon.4H.p. Looking west through Main Street, 1975 1916 Bird's Eye View of Marion oo PHnMMMM__fflM_H__-H Looking east down Main Street of Marion, 1975 Early scene on Marion's Main Street FROM PRAIRIE TO PRESENT MARION COMMUNITY BUSINESS VENTURES The histories of our early pioneers tell us that the Marion The name "Marion" was selected for the station by vicinity was settled in the early 1880's. This was nearly 20 Mr. E. H. McHenry, Chief Engineer of the Northern Pacific years before the town of Marion was built. These early Ry., in compliment to a daughter of Mr. C. S. Mellen, who pioneers encountered many hardships and unforgettable was president of the Northern Pacific at the time this experiences. branch line was constructed. The townsite was platted in 1900, on land to which Christian Baertsch (P. O. Griswold, In those days Grand Rapids was the nearest post office N.D.) received the U.S. Patent on June 26,1896. The deed and Jamestown and Valley City were popular trading from Mr. Baertsch to the Northern Pacific Ry. covering centers. As the years passed, closer towns were built right-of-way and station grounds is dated November 14, including Dickey and the inland towns of North Griswold 1900. and South Griswold. During the winter of 1900, a group of railway surveyors came from Minneapolis. They The Northern Pacific served this area with regular passenger, came from Casselton due southwest toward Dickey. The mail and freight service for many years. In 1960 the mail farmers of this area were surprised to hear that the railroad was discontinued and came in by truck. In 1961 the would very likely be built jn this direction. The surveying passenger service was discontinued and the train came in was completed and the decision made to build a branch line tri-weekly as a freight. May 1, 1968 Marion and Litchville from Casselton to Marion (60.18 miles). Construction became dualized with one agent serving both stations. began April 23, 1900. The contractor. Kirk and Barck, On March 3, 1970 the Northern Pacific merged with the who had the contract for the three miles extending from Great Northern and C. B. & Q. and became the Burlington the lake at Marion to the northeast, hired local boys to do Northern. Feb. 27,1973 a Van was put on to serve Marion, the grading: Charlie and Otto Yirchott, Frank Angevine, Litchville, Grand Rapids, Dickey, Adrian, Montpelier, and Ed Baertsch, Bill Henker and others. Earl Baertsch, a lad of Ypsilanti with headquarters at LaMoure. The Van is 10, was the water hauler for the workers. His equipment complete with desk, typewriter and files. In April, 1974 was a wooden water keg, a pony and an old buggy. The the LaMoure depot was closed and that station added to track reached Marion on Nov. 3, 1900 and on Nov. 8th a the Van route and headquarters were made at Jamestown, report was made in which it was said, "We are ready to N.D. At present, there seems to be no set day for the accept business for Marion." Commercial shipments for train, but it comes once a week if there are boxcars along points closer to Casselton had been handled prior to this by the line to be brought in or some to be shipped out. construction trains. Due to cold and bad weather, work on Norman Colebank is in charge of the Van route. This the track was not completed until Monday, December 31, spring 1975 the depot is being razed and will be missed by 1900. On that day the line was accepted by the Operating the citizens of this community. Thus with the coming of Department and regular operation was begun. The first the railroad, the village of Marion was founded on section passenger and freight train arrived in Marion, Jan. 1, 1901 10 of Sheridan Township on the land belonging to the first and gradually came to a stop at the Depot. There was settlers: Christ Baertsch who came in 1882 and John much excitement but the children feared being run over by Knudsen who arrived in 1885. this huge, moving, smoking train! The Northern Pacific served this area with a mixed train, which came in one day The town was platted by County Surveyor Porter. In this and left at 7 a.m. the following day. In 1910 or 12, new village the first station agent and his wife were Mr. and passenger service was daily, arriving in Marion at 2 p.m. and Mrs. Zopher Smith and the first section foreman was departing at 2:45 p.m. At this same time, there was a Captain Steel and his wife. They had three children, Frank, tri-weekly freight. The engines were housed overnite in a Lucy and Dan. The second station agent was W. S. Round House which was located in the Y of the railroad. Downing whose wife taught the old one room school. Some of the night watchmen were Anton Nelson, Ted In the early days before-the railroad was through this part Ottis, John Bacon, Henry Johnson and Einar Petersen. of the country, the post office was known as the Almo First Business in Marion: Maisel Blacksmith Shop, Andy Maisel, Emil Bassen, Johnny Maisel Marion, 1908 Taken from outside stairway of Johnston Land Co. Elevator 10 (or Elmo) Post Office run by Otto Dersch. The mail at this built in 1901 by Andrew Maisel. After several years, he time was brought from LaMoure by stage, carrier Gust sold to Mr. Lange who in turn sold to Emil Bassen and later Malmgren. In the year of 1903 soon after the railroad Art Alber operated it. Through the years the building has was finished, the mail contract was turned over to the been used for various purposes: Ralph Johnson had a Northern Pacific Railroad Co. At this time the post office service station there, followed by Donald Liebing, Eugene changed its name from Almo to Marion, the same as the Johnson and Nels Knudsen who used it again as a railroad station.