GOLDEN JUBILEE 1917 - 1967 June 30, July 1-2, 1967 RQSEGLEN. NORTH DAKOTA F Roseglen, North Dakota. .R68X c.2 NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BISMARCK 58501 m 2 8 1974 NORTH DAKOTA STATE LltiHAHY ^^ 3 3105 00040 "jin^a AUJi. && &^^ GOLDEN JUBILEE NORTH DAKOTA BOOK OR AUTHOR 1917 - 1967 •• »• *ZJ> LEV June 30, July 1-2, 1967 ROSEGLEN, NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota State Library Bismarck, ND 58501 ' -J v'- s - . PL "^^^sag**^*^-* Roseglen in about 1948 F Foreword This book is more than the history of 50 > ears of a little inland town in Western McLean County. It Is a story of the people who built the farms, the town, the institutions, and the organizations that make the entire Roseglen area one of the better strictly rural communities of our state. And it is more than the history of 50 years. It goes back to the turn of the century, when Patrick and Mike Glennon came from Iowa to squat in a verdant coulee, years ahead of the first homesteaders. The history is admittedly incomplete, stories of many of the area pioneers are missing or shortened because of lack of information. Though the committee in charge of preparing this anniversary book has worked hard, they do apologize for any omissions or inaccuracies. This committee expresses its sincere appreciation to all who have helped us in furnishing or preparing material for this book; to some credit is given herein, many others must remain anonymous. We thank especially the many advertisers whose financial assistance has made the preparation possible. It is well that we should be proud of our heritage. And that we should record its history for succeeding generations, that they may know how their fathers and grandfathers worked here to make on the virgin prairie an American community. May our children always be as proud of their history as we are of ours! Donnell and Anna Haugen Arnold and Edith Hill Ernest and Signe Giffey Lloyd and Blenda Kolden Earl and Evelyn Pederson Maurice and Thelma Snippen OF ^ ,c,b1 j-ebr" att *•"• nd my 6* r£»*' ,1W" V< olR" ation o) o! t at ornrne" eleo udt>o< • in on« dev • V" ti the ,ci»Wf V l to sp1 'this of f>°tV .„, th»" » e\ive. waningglo-1' V I r»otc [ore the [or y our ,illf th»t «cent^V-'-;. l*no- e he"'d into ' ch °f V" The rS ett at tuty Ve» ,v.„ !OT . rtoo' pa: gat" jutore- VJiUiarn VJl^O-.' Governor Guy DEDICATION We dedicate this book, not to the generations gone by, but to those generations who will come marching in from the future. May this wonderful area of ours continue a land of happy homes, and prosperous family farmers; secure in ownership of its fertile fields, and in enjoyment of the fruits of those fields! Will this continue to be true? We wish we knew! REMEMBER WHEN I remember When we found it quite a problem to keep the fire alight. We kindled it at morning, and banked it for the night. We carried coal and kindling in; we carried ashes out. Yes, the fire was quite a problem. Of that there is no doubt. But things are very different now, for time has changed all that. To build a fire now, all we do, is set the thermostat. I remember When on wash-day we were up before the sun. When everything took second place until the wash was done. We had no running water; we had no electric power. What then took almost half a day, is now done in an hour. Don't think that I exaggerate, or try to be dramatic, But Monday's just like Tuesday since our washer's automatic. I remember When a ten or twelve mile journey took almost an entire day. We had no automobile, nor concrete-paved highway. The roads were rough and narrow, the horses slow but sure. And there were many other hardships which a traveler must endure. But now there is no limit to the distance we can go. Why, we often drive a hundred miles to see the latest show. I wonder Now as I look back on how I toiled and slaved What has become, in recent years, all of the time I've saved? Helen Lemmon Roseglen Township History BY GORDON HILL (From a term paper prepared while studying at Minot State College in 1963.) INTRODUCTION This paper is a history of Roseglen Township covering the early settlement in 1902. It tells of the life of the settlers. One big threat in their early life was prairie fires. In 1916 a part of the township that had been included in the Fort Berthold Reservation was opened to homesteaders. In 1917 life was in­ terrupted from its normal course when the U.S. entered World War I and many of the boys in the area were called into the service. In the late 1920's the depression hit the area along with a series of crop failures. In 1941 the U.S. entered World War II and 24 boys from the area were called into the service of their country. As luck would have it all 24 boys returned home safe and sound after the war. The higher prices received during the war and following the war brought prosperity to the area and Roseglen became a progressive area. The farms in the area are kept up and although some of the houses are old they are modern and well kept. I would like to express my appreciation to my mother and father for all the help they gave me in finding information for this paper. I would also like to express thanks to all the other people who gave of their time and knowledge. A special thanks to my sister who typed this paper for me. A HISTORY OF ROSEGLEN TOWNSHIP Roseglen township is made up of flat level land for the most part. The northern half is flat with one coulee intersecting for a short distance along the northwest edge, (Section 12). This coulee is known as Glennon's coulee. The extreme east and the southern half is slightly more hilly, and has more rocks than the northern half. The extreme southeast corner is rough hilly land suitable for pasture purposes. The soil in this area is more sandy than the rest of the township. The soil is generally good for crops. The area usually receives from 5 to 20 inches of precipitation a year. Crops are generally fair to good in yields. In 1961 the area received a crop failure while in 1962 many farmers re­ ceived crops of twice the normal yields. Glennon's Ranch, established in 1894, from which Roseglen received part of its name. Roseglen Township (T, 149N, R. 87W)is located in the western part of McLean County. It is surrounded by Deepwater on the west, Amundsville on the northwest, Gate on the north, Blue Hill on the northeast, T. 149, R 86W, east (unorganized), Black- water on the southeast and T. 148, R 88W( unorganized) on the west southwest. Like most small areas, Roseglen Township does not have a spectabular history yet it has a history distinctly its own. Before the settlers came in mass to this area is was open range and used by the ranchers to the south. In 1884 Patrick Glennon settled on the open range in what is now known as Glennon's coulee. He homesteaded in 1902 when the land was opened to settlers for homesteading. When the settlers first came Patrick Glennon sold hay to those who arrived too late in the fall to put up their own. The Glennons were also the gardners of the area. They had huge gardens where they grew potatoes and a large assortment of other vegetables. They made huge root cellars where they stored this food until they could use it or sell it to the neighbors. These cellars could keep the potatoes and vegetables year around without spoilage. The early settlers made their homes out of whatever materials happened to be available. Some lived in sod shantys, others in tar paper shacks. Most, as soon as they could, built their homes out of lumber which usually came from a mill across the river or from Minot. By 1904 the people of Roseglen Township felt they needed a post office since the nearest one was in what is now Bluehill Township, then known as Oscar Post Office. In 1904 a petition for a post office was signed and sent to the postal department. Along with this petition was sent a letter with the surname of six settlers from the area as suggested names for the post office. The names submitted were Hill, Glennon, Snippen, Kolden, Shea and Rostad. All these were rejected by the Postal Department. A group of men then met at the Johannes Snippen home. The purpose was to find a name for the new post office that was to be established. A picture of roses on a seed catalogue caught the eye of one of the men and he sug- First store and post office at Roseglen. Notice the sod sides. gested that the name rose be combined with his neighbor's sur­ name Glennon and the name Roseglennon was sent to the Postal Department. The Postal Department shortened the name to Roseglen and accepted it, thus the post office became known as Roseglen. The post office was open for six months before the mail delivery route was extended to Roseglen. During this time John Snippen, the Postmaster, made the trip to Oscar everyday to pick up the mail and bring it back to the Roseglen Post Of­ fice.