When 21 years old, Friedrich Aipperspach arrived in McIntosh County, North Dakota, from Bergdorf, South Russia, where he was born on August 17, 1873.

He settled on land in the northwestern port of the county about ten miles northeast of Zeeland, North Dakota, where he has resided ever since.

Mr. Aipperspach was married to Magdalena Meidinger by Rev. Koepple of Zeeland, N. D., and to this union have been born thirteen children, all of whom are living, namely: Lydia Bader and Martha Nies of Wishek, N. D., Katherina Thurn, Friedrick A. Aipperspach, Otto Aipperspach, Clara Rutschke and Irene Aipperspach all of Zeeland, N. D.; Maria Jahraus, Herreid, S. D., Magdalena Buechler of Bowdle, S. D., Eva Oswald, Turtan, California, Esther Kaurle, Eureka, S. D., Lea Aipperspach and Christine Aipperspach both of Winnebago, Ill.

Arriving in McIntosh County the financial condition of Mr. Aipperspach was practically nothing, but by hard work and perseverance he gradually improved his condition. His first home in McIntosh County was built of clay and sod and in a short time he had acquired some of the necessary farm machinery permitting him to continue his farming operations. He was forced to sell wheat at forty cents a bushel and oats at twenty-five cents a bushel. Mr. Aipperspach says the drouth we have had in the past few years was not as severe as those experienced by him during the years of 1895, 1896 and 1897.

Mr. and Mrs. Aipperspach are members of the Lutheran Church.

Among the early pioneers of Hoskins and Lowell Valley, was Elvin Edison Amburn.

He was born in La Port, Iowa, on April 5 th , 1863, and came to Hoskins in 1886. His resources were low and he was eager to get work that he might earn some money to file on a homestead and make a home. He worked for George Lawrence who owned and operated a hardware store in Hoskins. Later he did blacksmithing and other odd jobs. On October 5 th , 1892, he was united in marriage to Anna M. Linn, who was born December 28 th , 1865, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and had come with her parents to McIntosh County and settled near Hoskins.

Mr. Amburn filed an a homestead in Lowell Valley and lived there until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Amburn, four children were born, all of whom are living. Ernest Alex, an accountant in Seattle, Wash.; Elbert Elvin, in the automobile industry in Yakima, Wash,; Gladys Linn, a welfare worker, in Yakima, Wash.; and Pearl Anna, now Mrs. R. A. Petty of Roseburg, Ore.

Mr. and Mrs. Amburn started married life with very little. Their home, as Mrs. Amburn speaks of it, was a small shanty, and even smaller was the building to shelter the stock. Their possessions consisted of four horses, a cow, wagon and a little farm machinery, also their household furnishings. The winters were long and very severe and they suffered many hardships and privations as were typical of those early days. Many times the storms were so severe and so much snow fell, that the buildings would be nearly covered.

Mrs. Amburn recalls the visits that were made by the Indian Tribes. The Amburn homestead seemed to be a half way point and a stopping place of the Indians going and coming from the reservations at Wahpetan and Fort Yates. They were friendly and seemed to appreciate all that was done to help them. There was always an Indian Policeman with them, although no evidence was ever shown that one was needed. Usually they brought a hundred or more ponies. Many times their children were ill and would be taken into the Amburn home and given care.

Mr. Amburn was postmaster in Lowell from 1906 to 1920. He held this position until his death, which was on September 14 th , 1920. He was buried in the Ashley Cemetery. Mrs. Amburn lived on the farm a couple of years after his death and then moved to Yakima, where she still resides.

When he was five years old, Daniel Barreither came with his parents to this country, from Lichenthal, Russia, where he was born on June 9 th , 1856.

The Barreither family arrived in Tripp, then in Dakota Territory, in 1861 and being near friends and relatives, they decided to locate there. Daniel grew to manhood there. Much of the time he was away from home, working and earning money to help his parents and to save for his own home. He worked until 1880, when he established a home for himself. On April 14 th , 1880, he was united in marriage to Margaretha Heyne. She was the daughter of Johan and Christine Heyne and came to this country with her parents from Russia, where she was born on August 20 th , 1862.

Numerous reports were afloat of the new land to the north that could be had for the asking. Every day, one could see covered wagons headed northward going to seek new homes. The call of the pioneer was too strong for Daniel, so in March in 1890, he and his family set forth to seek a new home in a new land. They arrived in McIntosh County on March 19 th , 1890, and located about 10 miles north of the present town of Zeeland, in the Beaver Creek Township.

Their finances were low when they arrived here, having $5.00 between them and starvation but they possessed courage and faith that could not be shattered. Surely, their lot was no harder than the other pioneers. Kindly friends and neighbors assisted them in building a sod house and barn. Not having much in the line of farm equipment, the neighbors helped them break some of the sod for spring planting. The grain was sown by hand, cut with a hand scythe and one might say, threshed by hand, as there were no threshing machines in the early days. The first year or so were ones never to be forgotten by these people. It was a struggle for existence, crops failed, winters were long and severe and there was no available work that Mr. Barreither might earn something for his family. When he was not working, he would hitch his oxen to the wagon and go out on the prairie and gather buffalo bones, slough hay and chips. The bones would be taken to Eureka or Ellendale and sold and the hay and chips used for fuel.

Conditions improved and in time, the Barreithers left the farm and moved to Zeeland. He was first engaged in a blacksmith shop, operating this for some time. Later he owned the Opera House in Zeeland.

Mr. and Mrs. Barreither were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are living and are: Mrs. Christian Stotz, Yankton, S. D.; Mrs. Andreas Meidinger, Wishek, N. D.; Mrs. Ludwig Roth, Galt, Cal.; Mrs. Jakob Wetzel, Zeeland, N. D.; Mrs. Alexander Gossert, Twin Falls, Idaho; Mrs. William Fried, Missoula, Mont.; and Mrs. Peter Hasenmueller, Zeeland, N. D.

Mr. Barreither took an active part in the development of this county, serving as County Commissioner for a number of years.

Mr. Barreither died on May 3 rd, 1926, and his wife died April 12 th , 1937. They were both laid to rest in the Zeeland Cemetery.

Charles Valentine Basye was born at Racine, Wisconsin, on February 14, 1854. After completing school he was a telegraph operator for a few years, then traveled for a Chicago clothing house for a short time, later filing on land near Hope, Dakota Territory.

He made his home at Hope for two or three years, then in 1883 disposed of his interests at that point and in company with his sister Mrs. DeLendrecie and a party of friends he spent the summer and fall viewing North and South Dakota as far west as the Missouri River in search of a suitable location for a stock ranch.

In the fall of 1883 he found what he was looking for on the bank of the lake now known as Coldwater Lake, plenty of range, plenty of water and a very desirable location for a cattle ranch. He then returned to Fargo and made arrangements to establish his ranch the following year.

His future wife Miss Florence Coyle arrived in Ellendale from Jackson, Ohio, on April 11, 1884 and was the same day joined in marriage to Mr. Bayse and went with him to Coldwater Lake to help him make a home on the prairies.

Mr. and Mrs. Bayse lived at Coldwater for 25 years and their home was a half-way house for stages, freighters and incoming settlers. Mr. Bayse for many years pursued the business of stock raising and profitably so, although he had his ups and downs the same as the grain farmer. He lost many head of stock from cold weather, blizzards and black leg.

After retiring from the business of ranching Mr. Bayse took up the study of Osteopathy at Des Moines, Iowa, and after receiving his diploma he was a successful practitioner at Lisbon and Dickinson, N. D. and at Calumet, Michigan. Later he returned again to McIntosh County for the summers, but going south or to the Pacific coast for the winters.

He was one of the three County Commissioners of McIntosh County appointed by Territorial Governor Gilbert A. Pierce in 1884 and held the office until 1891. He also was Postmaster of Coldwater postoffice from August 21, 1884 until the time of his death.

In the year 1909 Mr. Bayse was taken ill but not thought to be serious. He was ill about a week but able to be up and around, but suddenly passed away while sitting at his desk. Mr. Bayse’s death so early in life was regretted by all who knew him as a pioneer, a helpful neighbor and a man with the finest sense of respect for the rights of others.

Mr. and Mrs. Bayse were the parents of one child Josephine Bayse, born June 10, 1887, now married to A. L. Barrett, and living at 1408 North Formosa Ave., Hollywood, California. Mrs. Bayse now makes her home in Los Angeles, California.

One of the earliest pioneers who settled in McIntosh County was Christian Bauer. Mr. Bauer was born in Hertzenberg, Island of Grimm, South Russia, on September 13 th , 1859. In 1867, he immigrated to America and located in Freeman, South Dakota.

Many people were moving northward where large tracts of land were being opened for homestead entry and in 1885, he too, came northward and filed on a homestead 1 mile south of the present site of the town of Zeeland.

He was united in marriage to Sophia Hofner by Rev. Melicher. Both were members of the Lutheran Church.

Their house was built of sod and the farm implements consisted of a wagon, plow, harrow, mower, rake, 2 oxen, cow and 2 horses. This was considered quite a layout of equipment and was worth about $450.00. Their life and experiences did not vary much from the other pioneers. There were hardships, sorrows and joys but they possessed the courage that was displayed among all the early pioneers of McIntosh County. The winters were long and hard but the spring found them ready to till the soil and plant more grain. Prices were low and sometimes the products could not be sold but in time his farming operations proved more successful and more land was purchased.

There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bauer, six sons and three daughters. They are: Edward, Reinhart, Theodore, Anna, Christian, Arthur, Emil, Freda and Elsa.

Mr. and Mrs. Bauer retired and moved into Zeeland in 1930, where they now reside.

One of the later arrivals in Ashley, was Karl Bauman. He was born in Germany, April 20th, 1867. He came to America and on to McIntosh County in 1892, when he was 25 years old. Before coming to Ashley, he worked for three or four months in a steel factory in Toledo, Ohio. He was compelled to do this because he did not have the wherewith to come to Dakota. The trip was made to Eureka by rail and from there he started to Ashley on foot. After walking all day and reaching a town at nightfall, one can well imagine his surprise when he found that he had been lost and had come back to Eureka instead of Ashley. With his spirits undaunted, he started out again the next morning for Ashley and this time reached his destination. He filed on a homestead seven and one half miles northwest of Ashley. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Barbara Hofert by Rev. Meyries. The Baumans were members of the Lutheran Church.

Their first house was made of sod and cost the sum of $2.50. They possessed a team of oxen and a stone boat and that was the extent of their first farm equipment. Mr. Bauman must have had faith in the old adage "Where there is a will, there is a way" because he had no money but with faith in the country, he began to farm. Little was realized the first year or so, because of drouth and when the crops were good, prices were poor. However. through hard work and careful living, he and his wife acquired considerable land and was acknowledged as one of McIntosh County’s best farmers. They suffered many hardships and trials, winters were very severe and lang. Sometimes the farm buildings were buried under the snow and a tunnel would have to be shoveled through the snow before they could get out of the house.

About nine years ago Mr. Bauman retired and having purchased a home, moved to Ashley. Mr. and Mrs. Bauman became the parents of fourteen children, all of whom are living. They are: Karl, farmer, Ashley; Oscar, farmer, Ashley; Rudolph, farmer, Venturia, N. D.; Hilda, now Mrs. Jacob Glaesman, Ashley; William, farmer, Ashley; Lydia, now Mrs. Jacob Raeszler, Ashley; Emil and August, Los Angeles, Calif.; Louisa, now Mrs. Herbert Stube, and Ida, now Mrs. Richard Neu, both in the state of Washington; Emma, now Mrs. Keith Johnstone, also in Washington; Otto and Ella at home, and Mary, now Mrs. Matt Nill, Ashley, N. D.

C. C. Becker was born in Beresina, South Russia, on the 23 rd day of July, 1859. His parents were Christian and Sarah Becker (nee Ley), his father being born in Beresina, on March 18, 1832, and his mother, also in Beresina, in 1835. Mr. Becker was united in marriage with Carolina Schlenker in Russia in the year of 1881. At this time Mr. Becker was a shoemaker in that country.

On April 19 th , 1885, the C. C. Becker family sailed for America, the sailing point being Bremen, Germany. It took them about twenty days to make the trip. They landed in New York and went to Scotland, Dakota Territory by rail. Here Daniel Boettcher was waiting for them. He assisted them on their trip to Ipswich, first helping them purchase a yoke of oxen, a cow and some groceries. The Becker family left for Hoskins, Dakota Territory, where they filed on land in Jewell District in Section 5, township 129, range 68. This trip was made with oxen and took two days.

Before Mr. Becker was able to obtain lumber from Ellendale to make window frames for the sod house that he was building, the family were compelled to live in their wagon. The box and canvas cover were lifted off of the wheels and the family lived in it for a couple of months, or more.

Their first stove was purchased at Ipswich for $16.00. Not having the cash to pay for it, Mr. Becker mortgaged his cow to pay for it. This stove was set up out-of-doors, on the prairie, as they had no house as yet, the cooking being done in this way. Long slough hay was twisted and used for fuel.

The Beckers brought several fur coats with them from Russia for friends of the family. Wheat was exchanged for these coots, and in turn, this grain was taken to a mill and ground into flour. They had flour for some time.

On September 3 rd , 1885, Mr. Becker obtained employment on a threshing outfit, working three weeks and receiving two dollars per day and board. When this work was completed he returned home and picked buffalo bones. He sold these at ten dollars a ton and realized fifty eight dollars.

During the winter of 1886 and 1887, C. C. Becker made three trips to Ellendale with his oxen and sled. He hauled groceries for the store at Hoskins, receiving one dollar for each hundred pounds. He earned one hundred dollars that winter, doing this kind of work.

He made a trunk, table, benches and bed out of lumber hauling the latter from Ellendale. A saw, hammer and a knife were the only tools he had at that time. Mr. Becker still has the home made trunk in his possession today. The family purchased a few dishes at Ipswich and some were given to them. These were all they had for several years. A small lamp was bought at Ellendale, paying thirty-five cents for it and it was the only one that they had. They purchased their first clock and cupboard with the money Mr. Becker received from selling the bones he had gathered.

A heating stove was made out of mud and stones. A chimney was built using mud bricks. This stove was placed in the partition between the two rooms of the home. An opening 12" x 16" was left in the stove, in the room in the kitchen, the twisted hay being put in there. The sod bricks were about 2" x 4" x 6" in size. Mr. Becker knew the art of brick making having learned it in Russia.

The later part of 1886, he built a new sod house, the size being 16’ x 38’. It was built on a stone foundation and had one door and three or four windows. The family lived in this house until they moved to Ashley, N. D., which was about 1895 and in the month of May.

In the fall of 1894, Mr. Becker was elected Judge of Probate Court of McIntosh County and served in this capacity for two terms. In 1895, he built a home in Ashley and moved his family to town. The Beckers still live in this house. In 1901, he was elected County Treasurer and held this office for two terms.

Mr. and Mrs. Becker were the parents of eight children. They are: Otilla, now Mrs. Andrew Weber, Ashley, N. D.; Lydia, now Mrs. Alex Johnston, Los Angeles, Cal.; Annetta, now Mrs. Chas Johnston, Venturia, N. D.; Emma, now Mrs. Heinrich, Herried, S. D.; Hulda, now Mrs. Emil Mayers, Grand Forks, N. D.; Viola, now Mrs. Schmidt, Minot, N. D.; Otto T. in Los Angeles, Cal.; and Enoch, also of Los Angeles, Cal. Both of their sons served in the World war and were honorably discharged. Otto served in the Artillery and Enoch in the Navy. Mr. and Mrs. Becker have twenty grand-children and eight great grand-children.

In 1931, the Beckers observed their golden anniversary. At the present, they live in the same house they built when they came to Ashley, and occupy their time by weaving rugs realizing a living from this occupation.

Gottlieb Becker, son of Christian and Sarah Becker, accompanied his parents to America in 1886. He was born on February 6 th , 1875 in Beresina, South Russia, and was 11 years old when they left their native land to come here. Another son, C. Becker and his family hod immigrated to America and Dakota Territory in 1885, and it was in response to their solicitations that they decided to join them in this country.

The Becker family came to Ellendale by train and from there by ox team. Arriving in McIntosh County in April 1886, they filed on land in Jewell Township about six miles from Ashley. Their house was made of sod and had two rooms; the stove or oven was made of sod and stones, hay and dry grass being used as fuel. The furniture was home-made and consisted of benches, beds and a table. The farm equipment consisting of a breaking plow, the oxen and a drag, was very meager but sufficient to start farming. Lack of finances forced them to gather buffalo bones, which were hauled to Ellendale and exchanged or sold for the necessities of life, which consisted mostly of flour, coffee and syrup. During the severe winters and blizzards they had little to eat and barely enough to keep them warm. Indians were often seen enroute to the Missouri River from the Reservation in the Red River Valley, as they passed through this section of the country. They never caused any trouble but these pioneers always were fearful when they heard the Indians were traveling.

In 1893, Gottlieb Becker was united in marriage to Rosina Nitschke by Rev. Koepple of the Lutheran Church. They moved to their own land and started farming. Their house was built of sod but a little more modern, having a wooden floor. They farmed until 1902 when they moved to Ashley, Mr. Becker having purchased an interest in a General Merchandise Store. This he operated until 1928 when he retired from the store business and moved on a farm adjacent to Ashley on the south and where he farmed until 1936. In 1934 he purchased the garage from V. S. Collins and since that time has handled the Chevrolet agency.

There were six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Becker, five of whom are living and are: Mrs. Mary Straub, Ashley; Otto, in business with his father, Ashley; Emilie, Mrs. John Rau, Ashley; Ida, Mrs. E. W. Schock, Ashley, and Hugo, Bismarck, N. D. One son, Jacob, served in the World War and after his discharge from the army, operated a meat market in Ashley. He died on November 17 th , 1927, and internment was mode in the Lutheran Cemetery at Ashley.

Mr. Becker has always taken on interest in civic and political affairs. He was elected County Judge in 1912, and served in that capacity for two terms.

Mr. and Mrs. Becker are members of the Zion Lutheran Church of Ashley, and have taken an active part in the development of it. Mr. Becker is a deacon of the Lutheran Church, and has held this office for many years.

In 1935, Mr. Becker built a very comfortable home in Ashley where he and his wife reside.

Friederick Beglau was born in 1830 in Beresina, South Russia. He was married to Katherina Woeszner. In 1866, he and his wife, accompanied by their four children and a couple of other families, left their native land to come to America, arriving in McIntosh County on April 3 rd , 1886.

Mr. Beglau was then 56 years old and had about $700 in cash, which was quite a sum of money for those days. Coming by rail as far as they could, they then loaded their possessions in a wagon and drove northward until they reached Hoskins. They filed on a homestead twenty-five miles north east of Ashley.

They built a sod house and also a shelter for their four oxen and began to break up the land to put in a crop. Little was sown and little was the harvest. Farm products were very low in price, wheat being forty cents per bushel and milk products were not salable. Their farm implements were very modest, being a wagon, hand plow and a drag made of brush. Four oxen were used for plowing. Sometimes these animals were very stubborn and would have to be led.

Their nearest town was thirty miles away so trips were few and far between. Usually two or three neighbors would make a trip together. When the Beglaus first settled an their homestead, there was not a neighbor for miles, just the bleak prairie and hills. It was not long before other settlers came to file on land and settle in this new country. They soon become acquainted and many lasting friendships were formed.

These people always knew when Sunday came and although they did not have a church or minister, they would gather at some one’s home and hold services to worship their Maker.

Mr. and Mrs. Beglau had four children, all of whom were born in Russia. They are: Johannes, Gottlieb, Katharina and Friederick.

Mrs. Beglau died on May 9 th , 1888, and Mr. Beglau in Feb. in the year of 1903.

Both were buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, southeast of Hellwig.

The Beglaus were members of the Lutheran Church.

George Bender was born in Marienberg, South Russia, on January 26 th , 1879. When a boy of ten years, he came with his parents, Philip and Rosa Bender, and his brothers and sisters, to this country. They came to Eureka by train, there George’s father purchased a team of oxen and brought his family and their belongings to McIntosh County. This was in 1889.

He lived with his folks and helped them break and till the soil and eager to establish a home for himself, he filed an a homestead 9 miles southwest of Ashley in 1900. The same year he was married to Philephenia Reub. She was born in Kassel, South Russia, and had come to this country with her parents George and Christine Reub who had settled in McPherson County in 1887. The Benders first home was made of sod and stone and built by themselves. They had no money but owned four horses, four cattle and a plow, which was valued at about $300.00. The first years of their married life was an experience not to be forgotten, poor crops, no grain to sell, no sale for butter and eggs. This made it necessary to find work elsewhere in order to supply the family with food. However, better times came and there were fields of waving grain which were harvested and granaries were full, some to be sold and some for seed for the next year. In 1905 Mr. Bender bought a farm one mile south of Ashley and moved his family there, where they still live.

Mr. and Mrs. Bender were parents of fourteen children, thirteen of whom are living. They are: Philip of Wishek; John of Ashley; Ida, married to Chris Grosz of Ashley; Edward of Lehr; Benjamin of Long Lake, S. D.; William and Julius of Ashley; Marie, a married daughter living in Aberdeen; Frieda, another married daughter, living at Leola, S. D.; and Christian, Theodore, Otto and Anna, who are still unmarried and live at home.

Mrs. Bender, age 57, passed away at a hospital at Omaha, Nebraska, on January 1 st , 1938, following an operation to which she submitted the preceding day. Funeral services took place at the Zion Lutheran Church, Rev. J. C. Jung officiating. The body was interred in the Lutheran Cemetery south of Ashley.

Mr. Bender with his family has acquired about 1500 acres of farm land and today has a well equipped farm. Mr. Bender is a prominent resident in the community and he and his family are members of the Lutheran Church.

Martin Bender was born in Kassel, South Russia, in the year 1860, the son of John Bender, and while a native of Russia married Christina Knoll in 1883.

A desire to see America and make a new home started their emigration to the United States and in 1885 they left Russia and traveling by rail and water to the United States made their first stop at Tyndal, S. D. The next spring saw them on their way by ox team to McIntosh County, where about six miles West and two miles North of the present site of Venturia, N. D., Mr. Bender filed on three quarters of land.

In 1917, Mr. Bender had the misfortune to lose all his cattle and horses in a fire that also destroyed his fine barn. Mr. and Mrs. Bender continued their farming operations until the spring of 1928 when they left the farm and moved to Venturia, N. D. Idleness, however, was not in Mr. Bender’s make-up, so the next year he, together with his youngest son, engaged in operating a filling station in Venturia and continued that business until the spring of 1931 when he sold his interest in the business.

On July 3, 1931, Mr. Bender was called to the Great Beyond by his Maker. Internment was made in the Venturia cemetery. Mrs. Bender still makes her home in Venturia.

Mr. Bender was less fortunate than various other early pioneers, in that he not only had no property to speak of, when he arrived here, and what little he did have he had borrowed the money to buy.

The early hardships of the Bender family were many. The nearest trading point at that time being Ellendale, N. D., and many were the times he went there for flour, salt and other necessary provisions, making the 100 mile trip both ways on foot. Many times he was compelled to go a hundred miles from home in order to find work so as to support his family. In order to take his family to church he would hitch one ox and one horse to the hay rake and in that way was able to attend church services. Like many other earlier settlers Mr. Bender and family sought safety in Eureka, S. D., when it was reported that the Indians were on the war path.

Mr. Bender at one time sold one of his fine quarter sections of land for the "magnificent" sum of $100.00 in order to pay pressinq debts.

Mr. and Mrs. Bender were of Baptist faith and were blessed with eleven children all of whom are living, namely: Katherine Schnabel; Philpina Dockter; Christina Schrenk, wife of County Commissioner J. P. Schrenk; Bertha Krause; Samuel Bender, farmer; Genthon Bender, operator of a filling station and all living in or near Venturia, N. D.; Martin W. Bender, farmer of Zeeland, N. D.; August M. Bender, a carpenter of Victor, California; Lydia Woehl, of Wishek, N. D.; Albina Feioch, of Aberdeen, S. D.; and Frieda Krause, of Lehr, N. D.

Konrad Betsch was born February 18, 1852, in Borodino, South Russia, where he grew to manhood. Being the youngest member of his family he was excused from military duty. He was married to Rose Siverid, who was also a native of South Russia.

In 1877 along with other families Mr. and Mrs. Betsch left their home land and sought riches in the new country---America. Land was found suitable for a home about nine miles east of the present site of Tripp, S. D. For a number of years they farmed near Tripp but decided to move northward in 1888. They came by train to Eureka, S. D., and then were brought overland by Jacob Maier and filed an land in McIntosh County, N. D., about five miles from Coldwater Lake.

Here a home was established and the time was spent working during week days to make a living for the family. Sunday the burdens of the week were laid aside and Mr. and Mrs. Betsch and their children worshipped God with other members of the Evangelical Church.

Mrs. Betsch passed away July 16, 1923, and Mr. Betsch survived until August 30, 1934

Their children living are Magdalena, born August 8, 1888, widow of Philip Wagner of McLaughlin, S. D.; Jacob Betsch, born June 13, 1893, married to Christina Schilling, engaged in farming near Ashley, N. D., and Mathilda, born June 18, 1894, married to Fred Ritmiller and living in Ashley, N. D. Two other children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Betsch, Jacob who passed away as a child and Carolina who died when 44 years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Beveridge were among the early pioneers of McIntosh County. Mr. Beveridge was born in Scotland on December 1 st , 1844. In 1866, he was united in marriage to Mary Simpson. They came to America in 1876 and settled in Pennsylvania, later moving to Moingona, Iowa. There was quite a bit of talk of the new territory in the middle west and in the fall of 1884, Mr. Beveridge was one of the group of men that came to Dakota Territory to look over the country. The land seekers party stopped at Bismarck but Mr. Beveridge and a Mr. McGogy came to McIntosh County and both filed on land here. Mr. Beveridge filed on a pre-emption and a tree claim in Lowell Valley. He went back to Iowa for the winter and to get ready far the trip in the spring. This was truly an adventure for the Beveridges, they had never lived an a farm and knew little about it. However, in the spring of 1885, they shipped their belongings to Ellendale but because the trip took longer than was expected and stock could not be kept in a box car but a certain time, they were forced to unload at Frederick and haul their things to Ellendale. Their possessions consisted of some household goods, two mules, one cow and a calf, twelve chickens, wagon, hayrack, plow, harrow and scythe.

There were no buildings on the land, so the family were left in Ellendale until suitable buildings could be built. Lumber was bought and hauled from Ellendale. With this lumber, a room fourteen feet by sixteen feet, with a sod kitchen attached was erected. With their home ready far occupancy, Mr. Beveridge returned to Ellendale after his family, and upon their arrival here, they found that a prairie fire had swept this section of the county and all the feed for stock had been destroyed. This made another trip to Ellendale necessary and one that Mr. Beveridge never forgot. Coming back with the load of feed, he was caught in a big blizzard, upset his load a couple of times and when he got home, he found that it had taken him a week to make the trip.

That spring three acres of oats were planted and the yield was needed for feed for the stock. Money was scarce so Mr. Beveridge decided to take his eldest son Walter, and go to Iowa to work during the winter. Before they left they hauled coal and hay that the family might have fuel for the winter and be warm. Hay and straw were twisted and burnt in the stoves. In the spring they returned and more land was tilled and sown. In 1890 Mr. Beveridge became postmaster of Lowell Valley and held that position until 1900. In the year 1895 he was Justice of the Peace.

In the fall of 1890 word came that the Indians were on the war path and headed this way. The schools were closed and women and children bundled up and taken to Ashley where they spent the night. It was a night of anxiety and with the coming of daylight and no Indians, there was cause of rejoicing and everyone returned to their homes.

Another incident of early days as told by children of Mr. Beveridge is when he and a Mr. Spencer were trying to locate on the same land. A dispute arose and when they were about ready to go at one another with spades as lethal weapons, the locater settled the matter in Spencer’s favor, and he filed an the land, the most rocky quarter in Lowell Valley, while Mr. Beveridge went on a half mile further to find better land.

Mr. and Mrs. Beveridge were the parents of six children, namely: Walter, born in 1869, now living in Sylvania, Ohio; James G., born 1873, now living at Ashley, N. D.; Robert, who passed away in 1935; Nellie (now Mrs. J. N. McGogy), now living in Ashley, two other children who died in infancy. Mr. Beveridge died March 1, 1902, and was buried in the Ashley cemetery. Mrs. Beveridge lived in Ashley a number of years and passed away October 31, 1932. She was laid to rest beside her husband.

Robert Beveridge, known to old and young of Ashley and vicinity as "Bob", was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Beveridge. He was born in Miongona, Iowa, on January 6 th , 1876, and came with his parents to McIntosh County, when he was nine years old, and lived in Lowell Valley, where he grew to manhood.

Tho just a lad when he came here, he is worthy of being classed as a pioneer of this county. The first winter the Beveridges were here, Bob’s father, taking his oldest son with him, went back to Iowa to find work. To Bob and the other son, fell the lot of shouldering the responsibility of the family. The care of the stock and seeing that sufficient fuel was ever on hand was part of their work. It was a long, hard winter and one that was never forgotten.

Mr. Beveridge was the first teacher in Berlin Township. School was held in the Rempfer house and there were six pupils. Reading, writing and arithmetic were taught and tho it was only a three months term, much was accomplished in the short time.

In 1900, he entered partnership with his brother, Walter, in the merchandise business, in Ashley. Their place of business was in the building now occupied by the Jacob Schrenk Store. Later he disposed of his interest and moved to his farm, one mile north of Ashley.

He was united in marriage to Marion Farley in 1904 by Rev. Gosman. To them two sons were born: James Albert, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Howard Farley, of Sylvania, Ohio. Mr. Beveridge passed away on August 8 th , 1935, and is buried in the Ashley Cemetery. Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Beveridge has spent her time with her two sons.

Among the people from Beresina, South Russia, to pioneer in McIntosh County, was Georg Biederstedt. He was born in New Beresina on June 12 th , 1871, and lived there until he was nineteen years of age. Many of the people of that community had immigrated to America, and had written home of the advantages offered in this country. He decided to come to this land and establish a home for himself.

He arrived in Ashley on April 9 th , 1890. His finances were low, having five dollars to his name. Immediately he set to work to look for a job and it was work too, because there was no available work to be had around Ashley so he walked to Ellendale twice hoping to get work. The second time, he found employment with the Milwaukee Railroad. He worked there for nine months and received the sum of $1.10 per day. Board and room could be had for sixty cents per day but Georg preferred his own cooking, so boarded himself.

Returning to Ashley, he filed on a homestead five miles north and two miles west of Coldwater. The first thing he did was to build a sod house and barn. He purchased two oxen, wagon, cow, mower and plow, and was eager to start spring work. He tilled the soil and planted his crop. Weather conditions seemed perfect that spring and summer until a hailstorm occurred and did considerable damage. However, when the crop was harvested, Mr. Biederstedt was surprised to find that he got fifteen bushels per acre, even though the hail struck his crop.

Most of the farmers and pioneers used oxen teams for their farm work and means of transportation and he recalls the time when horses were first brought into this section of the country. They were asking a high price for them and few farmers were able to purchase them. As conditions improved and better prices were received for their farm products, more horses were purchased and used, and in time the oxen team was as rare as the horses were in the early pioneer days.

On March 17 th , 1892, Mr. Biederstedt was united in marriage to Magdalena Schock, daughter of Imanuel Schock. They were members of the Iowa Synod Lutheran Church.

Mr. Biederstedt was elected as Sheriff of McIntosh County in 1898. He served in that capacity for one term.

In 1907, he sold his land in McIntosh County and bought a farm in Dickey County. He operated this farm for a number of years but at present is living in Merricourt, Dickey County, North Dakota.

G. A. Bietz was born June 26, 1878, and in the spring of 1885, at the age of seven came with his father and mother to McIntosh County, having spent three years at Scotland, S. D.

Mr. Bietz tells us a very interesting story about the early days of McIntosh County and we will try to tell it to you as told to us.

Mr. Bietz says the year 1885 was a hard year, his father brought with him about one years food supply when he came. Other families however were not as fortunate and when winter set in neighbors came to borrow flour and other supplies which were to be returned as soon as possible; however, returning borrowed goods was not easy that winter because some settlers had to get their flour from Hoskins, a distance of 25 or 30 miles, on a little hand made sled drawn by themselves and on account of that the Bietz family were out of flour by January, 1886. It was not necessary for the Bietz family to make the long trip for flour, because they had threshed, by hand, about ten bushels of wheat from the 1885 crop and as soon as the flour ran low they ground the wheat into flour in the coffee mill.

In 1886 there was a fair crop, threshing was done in the old-fashioned way, and snow covered the ground before threshing operations were complete. Most settlers had a little wheat for the winter of 1886-87, and coffee mills were kept busy grinding wheat into flour. It had to be run through three or four times to make it fit far baking. Potatoes were plentiful, other vegetables grew so plentiful that the surplus was used to feed hogs. Sugar and coffee were almost unknown, however, the Bietz family used roasted wheat for coffee and existed mainly on wheat grits, potato soup and corn meal mush. Everyone was healthy even though they did not have the more extensive menu that is common now. In those days too, outward appearances didn’t seem so important. Whiskers were very much in style. Shears were used instead of razors and these were used only about once a month.

During the fall of 1885, Mr. Bietz’s father and his brother John took two loads of buffalo bones to a town southeast of their place. It took almost two weeks before they returned home. At a certain lake where they camped overnight they found a muzzle loading shotgun which apparently had been used as a club because of its battered and bent condition. They also found some old knives and iron scattered about along with bones of human beings, indicating a fight with the Indians. Later handles were made for the knives from deer antlers and these with other Indian weapons and tools picked up on the prairie made quite a collection. During the summer of 1886 two men, who Mr. Bietz believes were surveyors for a railroad company came to their place, seeing the collection they offered to buy them; and when they showed Mr. Bietz $1.50 in coin he quickly sold the entire lot. He believed it very foolish for these men to wrap the relics so carefully but says if he had them today he would know better.

Game was plentiful and it was not unusual to see wild geese covering the sun like a cloud for a few minutes or to see them light on a stubble field of 20 acres and cover the entire tract, they had no gun so were unable to shoot any; however, one day in the spring of 1886, he and his brother Gottlieb saw a flock of 18 swan geese about 400 feet from the house, and after they had told their mother about it she asked the boys to drive them into the barn as they no doubt belonged to some of the new neighbors. You can imagine their surprise when the geese took to the air and flew away after they had driven them up to the barn. Mr. Bietz does not agree with an article he read in a paper in which it stated that the income of the early settlers in this vicinity was from furs of animals sold. He states that in December, 1886, his brother John shot a silver fox, they skinned and dried the fur and took it to Eureka the next spring and all he was able to get for it was a package of Bull Durham tobacco and a package of cigarette papers. During the year 1887 and 1888 his brothers trapped and poisoned three or four coyotes and a couple badgers. These were shipped to a fur company and instead of receiving a check for them, they received a bill advising the furs did not bring enough to pay for the transportation charges, being short twenty six cents. This amount his brothers still owe the fur house. Mr. Bietz has seen beaver that were shot and left lying beside the road because it was not worth the trouble to skin them. He has seen fifty muskrats shot at a lake and were not picked up for their fur. Deer and Antelope were plentiful and although others saw buffalo, none were seen by Mr. Bietz.

Mr. Bietz had the misfortune to lose his left leg in the fall of 1887, so attended country school as much as possible until 1894, when he attended the North Dakota Agricultural College at Fargo, N. D., after taking a four year course he taught country school for a number of years and later was employed as a bookkeeper in a store at Wishek, N. D.

In 1900, Mr. Bietz was elected as County Judge of McIntosh County, being then only 22 years of age, and according to newspaper reports of that time the youngest County Judge in the Dakotas. As County Judge Mr. Bietz joined in marriage about fifty couples, among them his own sister Lydia, now living in California, and says that he has not heard of any of the people he married ever having had a divorce. He had the unique distinction of having issued his own marriage license. Mr. Bietz also served as Clerk of Court, County Treasurer and County Auditor of McIntosh County.

On October 16, 1901, Mr. Bietz was joined in marriage to Christina Layer, and to this union eight children were born, namely: Albert, born August 20, 1902, living at Wishek, N. D.; Emil T., born Feb. 26, 1904, now in the U. S. Navy at Portsmouth, Va.; Maggie Thurn, living at Wishek, N. D., and born May 2, 1905; Gottlieb C., born Feb. 20, 1907, living at Ashley; Ruth E. Schaeffer, born Feb. 11, 1908, now living at Linton, N. D.; Alvin J., born Feb. 24, 1913, now teaching school in McIntosh County; Lenora A., born Feb. 11, 1915, now teaching school in McIntosh County; and Raymond, born December 17, 1920, now living in Ashley. and going to school. Mr. and Mrs. Bietz make their home in Ashley, and he tells us that there are many more interesting facts and experiences he could tell us.

One of the McIntosh County Pioneers who has seen this section grow from wilderness to a region of fine farms and enterprising towns, was Gottlieb Bietz, coming here with the great majority of McIntosh County pioneers. He was a native of South Russia, having been born in the neighborhood of Odessa. His father was Adam Bietz, who came with his parents from Germany, joined the tide of immigration to the region around the Black Sea in Russia. His father died when he was 18 months of age during the time when Russia raged with the Cholera epidemic.

When political and social conditions in Russia made it an unpleasant place to live for the freedom-loving Germans, he decided to seek a new home in America, as he had two brothers in America, they having come to Hutchinson County (now South Dakota) in 1875. Gottlieb Bietz then a young man in 1882 accompanied by his wife and four children, started on the long journey to America, after a long trip by ocean and rail the family arrived in Scotland, South Dakota.

After arriving in Scotland, Dakota Territory, Gottlieb Bietz made his home in Hutchinson County with his brother George Bietz, who is still living in Kaylor, S. D. In the fall of 1884, Gottlieb Bietz decided that he would go further North where there was still some land open to homestead, preemption and tree claim entry. He traveled by rail to Aberdeen which at that time was the end of the railroad, and from there was taken by some land Agent to the Northwestern corner of McIntosh County. And then and there he picked his farm and then went back to his brother George and stayed during the winter, and in the spring of 1885 he loaded his household goods, machinery, two pair of oxen, two cows and two horses, and went by rail to Ipswich, S. D. Here they loaded two wagons and started the slow journey toward the future home, taking eleven days for the trip.

There were quite a number of immigrants in that string of ox teams, and I can still remember whenever night came, quite a number of the men folks come to one of my father’s (Gottlieb Bietz’s waqons) and lifted the cast iron range from the wagon and supper was prepared for the entire home seeking families. The Bietz family was the only family which owned a cast iron stove.

After arriving on the location for the future home, the first few days were spent in preparing temporary shelter; after that was done the ox teams were hitched to the breaking plow and the virgin soil was turned over for the first time.

The first years crop was 10 bushels of wheat and about 40 bushels of flax, the harvesting was done with a scythe and two long butcher knives found on the prairie, the threshing was done by hand. The haying done the first year was with a scythe and the butcher knives. The 10 bushels of wheat harvested the first year was used for flour after having been ground through the coffee mill, the bread was wonderful. The fuel question for the settlers in the northwestern part of the county was not so hard as for the settlers in the eastern part of the county as wood for fuel could be obtained within a distance of 5 to 8 miles. The meat supply consisted of jack-rabbits, which were trapped at the hay stacks during the winter months and fish were obtained from Beaver Creek; a hole was chopped in the ice and a basket made of willows was inserted (what might be called a fish trap); it was left there about a week and then taken up and the fish taken out, sometimes there were from 50 to 75 fish in the trap; during the summer time, a small dam with rocks was built across the creek where the stream was only 8 or 10 feet wide, and opening was left in the center where the water would flow through and the trap was placed there; and sometimes the fish trap was so full it could hold no more. Beaver Creek can not now be compared to the stream in 1885 and 1886 at which time it was a running stream and could only be crossed in certain places where there was a gravel bottom.

In the years of 1885 and 1886, in the fall after the prairie fires had cleaned all the grass, buffalo bones were picked and hauled to Ipswich and Ellendale and sold; the trips by ox team took from 10 to 12 days.

In 1886 it was a little easier; a mower was purchased and all crops and hay were cut with the mower; raking was still done by hand made rakes. Wooden forks were also made from cherry trees cut on the banks of Beaver Creek. Threshing was still done by hand.

During the year 1887, Eureka became the trading point and farming was a little easier as from that time on there was a market for our grain and machinery could be obtained at a reasonable cost.

The above information was furnished by G. A. Bietz, son of Gottlieb Bietz, and for further information as to the Bietz family, see the history of G. A. Bietz in this book.

John Billigmeier was born in Leipzig, South Russia, on April 19 th , 1884, and came to this country with his parents in 1885. They stayed in the southern part of Dakota Territory during the winter and in the spring of 1886, they moved to McIntosh county, settling in the northeast part of this county, about eight miles from the present town of Fredonia. They came to Ellendale by train and from there to McIntosh County by oxen team, bringing with them all that they owned. They built a sod house and made the best they could of their new home. Mr. Billigmeier says that his parents were very poor and had little to do with, the farm implements consisting of a wagon, plow, drag, two oxen and a cow.

He can well remember the hardships of those early pioneer years as he was the oldest child in the family. Wheat sold for fifty or sixty cents per bushel, butter from three to seven cents per pound, while eggs brought from three to six cents per dozen and many were the times that the farmers had to take their products home with them because of no market.

Mr. Billigmeier was united in marriage to Amelia Gittel by Rev. Loewin. They belonged to the Congregational Church. Their family consists of three sons, all of whom are living: Theophil, working in California; Chester at Fort Lincoln, Bismarck; and Milton at home.

In 1920, John Billigmeier was elected Auditor of McIntosh County and moved his family to Ashley. He held this office until April 3 rd , 1929. Later he moved back to his farm near Fredonia, where he resides.

Jacob Bittner was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bittner and though only a boy of seven years recalls many of the early experiences and hardships of his family. John Bittner and his family came to America in 1879 and settled near Tripp, then in Dakota Territory. Here they lived and labored for seven years. There was much to be heard of the country to the north being opened to homeseekers, so they and seven other families decided to answer the pioneer call and travel northward. Four of the families loaded their belongings and shipped them to Ipswich by train, while the other four thought they would drive through. The ones going by train were John Bittner, Fred Zeigenhagel, Fred George and Andrew Lehr. Unloading their things at Ipswich, they went to Long Lake where Mr. Bittner’s parents lived. Here they left their wives and children, while they went scouting for a location. Leaving Long Lake, the men headed for McIntosh County and reached Hoskins. From there they traveled about twenty miles north where they found a place to make their future homes. After filing on the land, they went back for their families. When these men left Long Lake the first time, two other men joined their party, they were John Meyers and Valentine Hoff.

The first thing to be done was to improvise some kind of a shelter for the family. The wagon box was tipped sideways and two 2 x 4 used to support boards that were covered with sod for the roof. In this the family lived until the crop was put in and some money earned to purchase lumber for the house. Mr. Bittner and his daughter gathered buffalo bones, sometimes they gathered a wagon box full in a day. While they were gathering bones, Mrs. Bittner and Jacob broke up some of the sod for a crop. A team of horses and two oxen were used for plowing and it was Jacob’s job to lead them. The seed was sown by hand the first year. With the crop planted, the house was the next thing to think of. The bones were hauled to Ellendale and sold for $8.00 to $10.00 per load and lumber was purchased for the door and the window frames. All the original eight families located in this section of the county and each helped the other in erecting their houses and hauling the lumber.

Herds of buffaloes, antelope and deer were often seen on the prairies. Jacob Bittner recalls the time Valentine Hoff shot a buffalo cow and how excited they all were. Every family had buffalo meat to eat and what a treat it was. He says the pioneers and their children were much more appreciative and satisfied with the meat that was given them, than the people of today are with all the surplus commodities that they receive.

The winters were very severe and there was lots of snow. One time there was so much snow that they were unable to travel with team. They were entirely out of flour and a trip to town would have to be made. Mr. Bittner made a small sled and walked to Hoskins. He returned home with the flour and other supplies tied securely on the sled.

The second year these people were here they organized the Evangelical church. It was called the "Sod Church" but was a place to worship their Maker and give thanks for the blessings they had received. Jacob Bittner says he can still see one family coming to church, on a contraption made of a board about 12 inches wide and 12 feet long with apple boxes on it for the family to sit on, this was pulled by one horse. In the summer time he says they could come to church in header boxes, or on hay rakes, sometimes drawn by one horse and one ox.

On November 26 th , 1901, Jacob Bittner was married to Paulina Becker, the ceremony being performed by Rev. F. H. Brockmueller. To them, eleven children were born. Their names and addresses are: Emma, Mrs. Louis Goehring, Lodi, Cal.; Walter, Lehr, N. D.; Ida, Mrs. Robert Zeigenhagel, Lehr. N. D.; Alma, Mrs. Jacob Heinle, Lodi, Cal.; Erna, Mrs. Dick Strohmeier, Lodi, Cal.; Amanda, Mrs. Clarence Orth, Minneapolis, Minn.; Aaron, Lehr, N. D.; Raymond, Stockton, Cal.; Roy, Elmer and Norma at Lehr, N. D.

Mr. Bittner was engaged in farming for a number of years and later in a store and implement business at Lehr. He has taken an active part in the development and welfare of the town, county and state. He was elected and served as Representative to the Legislature; clerk of the school board in his district for two years and treasurer of the board for fifteen years.

Mr. and Mrs. Bittner have a very comfortable home in Lehr where they reside.

J. A. T. Bjornson, a native of Wisconsin, though of Norwegian ancestry, was born in Perry, Dane County, Wisconsin, on January 1 st , 1861. He was the son of Gabriel and Gunhild Bjornson, both born in Norway.

He was educated in the high school at Madison, Wisconsin, and in the State University in that city, being graduated from the latter institution with the class of 1882, at which time the Bachelor of Arts Degree was conferred upon him. He lived in Black Earth and Madison, Wisconsin, and Ada, Minnesota, before coming to Dakota Territory and settling in Hoskins, McIntosh County in 1886. Having chosen the practice of pharmacy as his profession, he engaged in the drug business at Hoskins. In 1888, when the county seat, which was Hoskins, was moved to Ashley, he too moved his drug building and business there, continuing in the business until 1892. The building he moved to Ashley is now known as the Reule Beauty Parlor and is located on Main Street. In 1892 he sold his drug store and moved to Kulm, LaMoure County, where he again engaged in the drug business, operating it until 1911, when he established his home in the city of LaMoure and purchased an interest in the First National Bank of that city.

In 1894 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna F. Milne of Ellendale, Dickey County, North Dakota. Six children blessed this union. They are: Marvel, Gunhild, Marion, Perry, Anna and J. A. T., Jr.

Mr. Bjornson has always taken a keen interest in the vital political problems and issues of the day. In 1900 he was elected as a member of the State Legislature. After an interval of ten years he again was chosen for the same office and in 1912 was returned to the general assembly.

He is worthy of mention as one of the pioneers of McIntosh County and of the city of Ashley.

Mr. and Mrs. Bjornson reside in LaMoure, North Dakota.

Adolph Boschee was eight years old when he came to America with his parents. He was born on May 1 st , 1877 in Kassel, South Russia.

Many friends and relatives of the Boschees had come to this land and established new homes. They had written back to their homeland telling of the opportunities here, how they had filed on good land, paying just a small fee for it. Thus it was, that Valentine Boschee, Adolph’s father, and an Uncle, Friedrick Klotz and their families came to the United States. They arrived in Menno, now in S. D., in the fall of 1884 and spent the winter there with friends and relatives. Both of the men purchased a team of oxen, wagon and a cow and made preparations for their departure in the spring. The best land around Menno and the other places in the southern part of Dakota Territory were taken, but to the north there were fertile lands and it was to this section of the country they planned to go. In the spring, all their possessions were loaded in a freight car and with their families in the passenger coach, they went to Ipswich, which was the end of the railroad. Here they were greeted by a raging Dakota blizzard, rain, snow and sleet. It gave them some idea of what to expect, even though it was the first part of May. With all their things loaded in the wagons and the cows being led, they started northward. After going forty miles, they met a couple of men with a team, who offered to help them locate. Leaving their wives and children on the prairie, they traveled with these men, and located in Section 30, Twp. 131, Rge. 73. Then they returned for the families, they had left on the prairie. They arrived in McIntosh County on the 17 th day of May, 1885. Being late in the Spring, everybody was put to work. First the land was to be tilled for a crop, and potatoes, and flax were planted and a little patch of melons and cucumbers. Then came to building of their house. It was a long building of sod, one end being divided into two rooms, one a kitchen and the other for sleeping quarters. The other end of the building was the barn. An oven was built of stone and clay, extending through the partition and into both rooms, hay and weeds were used as fuel. A good fire was built in the morning and again in the evening, thus keeping the rooms warm. Before their house was built, they lived in and around the wagons, sleeping on the ground and under the wagons. The elements must have been in their favor; the first night they were in their new house, the heavens opened and an abundance of rain fell. They were awakened by the mud from the roof falling on the beds. Mr. Boschee and Mr. Klotz went out in their night clothes and shoveled the sod from the roof. The mud and sod did not come through but the rain certainly did, everything they had was soaked.

In farm equipment, they had a hand plow, scythe, 2 oxen, wagon, cow and a drag made of wood and shrubbery. The oxen and cow were used for plowing; seeding was done by hand and the grain was cut with the scythe and left to dry for threshing. The threshing rig Mr. Boschee had, was far different from the one of today. A circle about 30 feet in diameter was cleaned of weeds and grass, then it was sprinkled with water, smoothed and covered with clay and mud, smoothed again and left to dry and harden. On this, the grain was placed and the oxen driven over it, separating the kernels of grain from the hulls. Then the straw was tossed in the air with the hands, the wind carrying away the chaff. Adolph Boschee helped his father with the threshing and says they were satisfied with the implements they had then but there is quite a comparison between the threshing rig of his father’s and the up-to-date one that Adolph Boschee uses on his farm. Indians were often reported headed this way but they never came. Once the Boschee’s had their belongings loaded and were ready to go to town, when they were told it was a false report.

Adolph Boschee was united in marriage to Christina Krein, who was born on May 14 th , 1883. Rev. Otto Brunsch performed the wedding ceremony. They lived on their farm, Adolph doing carpenter work as a side line, until 1904 when they moved to Zeeland and Adolph began clerking in the Henne and Diebert Store. In 1908, he bought Mr. Diebert’s interest and remained in partnership with Mr. Henne until 1931.

In 1917, he bought a farm about two miles west of Zeeland on which his oldest son is living. In 1920 he bought the Haffner farm east of Zeeland.

Mr. and Mrs. Boschee have raised ten children, their names and addresses are:

Edwin, farmer, Zeeland, N. D.; August, Imp. Dealer, Zeeland, N. D.; Amelia, Mrs. Jacob Levi, Zeeland; Arthur, Ass’t. Postmaster, Zeeland; Laya, Mrs. Wade Zick, Chaffee, N. D.; Julius, Eugene, Thomas, Ervin and Milbert at home.

In 1929, Mr. Boschee was elected commissioner of his District, serving four years. He was elected a member of the town board of Zeeland, when it was organized in 1906. He served as school director for twelve years and has taken an active part in the welfare of the town of Zeeland and the community. At present he is a Director of the National Farm Loan Ass’n., and a Director of the Northwestern German Farmers Mutual Ins. Co., of Eureka, S. D.

Mr. and Mrs. Boschee reside on their farm, which joins the town of Zeeland.

In Knukstan, Russia, there lived a family who had heard much about America and many of their friends and relatives had been leaving Russia to cross the water and establish new homes in America. Thus it was, Fred Brandner, then a boy of twelve years, came to this country with his parents in 1886.

His parents filed an a homestead in Section twenty-nine, Township one hundred thirty-one, Range seventy-three. Tho only a boy, he remembers when they built their sod house and the few implements they had for farming, also that their first crop was sold for forty-five cents per bushel.

He was married to Elizabetha Merkel and to them twelve children were born, eleven of whom are living and are: Lydia, housewife, Bredger, Mont.; Emma, at home; Matthais, farmer Zeeland, N. D.; Julius, farmer, Zeeland, N. D.; Esther, housewife, Wheatland, N. D.; Constant, August, Rueben, Frieda, Dora and Meda, all at home.

Mr. Brandner is classed as one of McIntosh County’s best farmers. He has lived here nearly all his life, seen the seasons come and go, experienced drouths and hardships but still thinks that it is a pretty good place to live. He served as a member of the school board, being Director from 1898 to 1904 and School Clerk from 1904 to 1914. He and his family reside on the land that was homesteaded by his father.

Among the early emigrants from Russia to locate in McIntosh County, was John Brandner, Sr., and his wife Rosina. Mr. Brandner was born on the 8 th day of October, 1828. He was fifty eight years old when he and his family embarked for America.

The family came directly to McIntosh County and settled on a homestead in Section twenty-nine, Township One hundred Thirty One, Range Seventy-three, in April, 1886. They built a sod house and barn and with the little farm equipment they had, which consisted of 4 oxen, a cow, plow, and wagon, they set to work to get the land ready to put in a crop. They as all the rest of the newcomers, realized nothing from the first crops because of lack of moisture. Winters were severe and money scarce but their lot was not harder than the other settlers. Times improved and they thought they were better for the experience they had had.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brandner, three of whom survive. They are: Barbara, now Mrs. John Hass, Zeeland, N. D.; Fred Brandner, farmer living on the homestead, Zeeland, N. D., and Christine, now Mrs. Joseph Werre, Elgin, North Dakota.

Mr. Brandner died about twenty-five years ago.

The pioneer story of Gottlieb Breitling does not vary from those of other pioneers of our County. He was born in South Russia, on January 1 st , 1864. When he came to America in 1884, Scotland, S. D. was his destination. Financially embarrassed, he could go no further. He obtained work on the farm of Christian Ferderic for three and a half years, receiving $150.00 per year. This money he saved and later bought 2 horses, 2 cows and some blacksmith tools. He had learned the art of the blacksmith trade in Russia and had the advantage of the average farmer with this side line.

In 1888, he purchased a team of oxen, a wagon, harrow and plow and decided to go to the central part of the Territory where there was a better choice of land to file on. His stock and other possessions were loaded and shipped to Eureka. That being the end of the line, the trip from there was made across the country with wagon and team, the rest of the stock being tied to the wagon and led. He located and filed on the NE ¼ of Section 31, Township 129. Range 71, about fourteen miles from Ashley. Here he built a two room sod house. Lumber for it and the windows cost $30.00 and had to be hauled from Eureka. His farm equipment was considered about the best around the country and was valued at about $500.00. Having no ready money, he worked at his blacksmith trade on his farm. Many of his neighbors brought him work and one man walked twelve miles bringing him some work. His first three years here, there were no crops on account of the lack of moisture and the little he earned from his trade, did not go amiss.

Mr. Breitling often related an incident that happened to him and probably happened to any other pioneer that had to ask for credit. Being out of flour and having no money, it was necessary to ask for credit when they went to town, they had to have flour. The result was that a mortgage was given on two horses and two oxen for 50 pounds of flour.

Schools and churches were not established as yet, but the lack of church buildings did not keep these people from their worship. The family Bible was read from every day and on Sunday they would gather at the home of Mike Delzers for church service. The people in this community were of the Lutheran faith.

Mr. Breitling was united in marriage to Friedericka Dobler in 1888, Rev. Bedd performing the ceremony. Fifteen children were born to this union, 13 of whom are living and are: Christina, Mrs. Carl J. Bertsch, Greenway, S. D.; Lydia, Mrs. Henry G. Roth, Ashley, N. D.; Emily, Mrs. Carl G. Bertsch, Greenway, S. D.; Paulina, Mrs. Carl H. Bertsch, Baker, Mont.; Bertha, Mrs. August Mueller, Venturia, N. D.; Rahil, Mrs. Henry J. Rott, Fredonia, N. D.; Gottlieb and Gideon, farmers, Venturia, N. D.; Leha, Mrs. Samuel Bender, Venturia, N. D.; Arthur, farmer, Venturia, N. D.; Ruth, Mrs. Daniel Mueller, Venturia, N. D.; Adina, Mrs. E. T. Geidt, Bismarck, N. D.; and Rebecca, Bismarck, N. D.

Mr. and Mrs. Breitling retired from farming about five years ago and moved to Venturia, N. D., where they reside.

One of the numerous throng of German-Russian immigrants who came to McIntosh County in the early eighties was Jacob Breitling. He was born in Rumania, South Russia on February 26, 1862. In 1884 he came to America and settled at Scotland, S. D.

In 1886 Mr. Breitling arrived in McIntosh County, coming overland by ox team from Scotland and settled on land in the southwestern part of the county. A sod house and barn, with lumber used for roof and windows and doors at a total cost of $20.00 was soon erected and with a few farming implements consisting of a plow, two horses, two oxen and one cow, he began his long and successful farming career.

Mr. Breitling was one of the early postmasters of the county and conducted his business as postmaster in his home.

Like many other early settlers he helped support his family by picking buffalo bones which were hauled to Ellendale, N. D., and sold at around $5.00 a ton. Farming did not pay very great returns with wheat selling as low as 35 cents a bushel and butter from 3 to 5 cents a pound. Drouths took their toll during the time Mr. Breitling farmed the same as during the past years.

Mr. Breitling was married to Sophia Raugust by Rev Reichly, pastor of the Lutheran Church, of which they were members. Eight children were born to this marriage, namely: Hanna married to John Strobel and living in Mildred, Montana; Lydia married to John Hildenbrand, Manager of Thompson Yards, Ashley; Amelia, married to Arnold Ginnow, States Attorney of McIntosh County, Ashley; Theodore, living in Colorado Springs where he conducts a confectionery store; Walter, who is Deputy County Auditor, McIntosh County, married to Ida Stube, living in Ashley; Herbert, married to Hulda Roedel, now living in Niagara, N. D., where he is manager of a Lumber Yard and Hardware; Freida married to Arnold Mansell, living in Kansas City; and William living in Plainview, Arkansas. Theodore served as a volunteer in Training Camp at Fargo, N. D., during 1918.

Mr. Breitling was among those who left home, in McIntosh County, at the time it was reported Chief Sitting Bull was going on the warpath in the early nineties.

In addition to farming, during his 42 years residence in McIntosh County, Mr. Breitling spent ten years serving as County Judge and County Treasurer, during the years 1906 to 1915. He also owned and operated a general merchandise store for one year at Danzig, N. D.

Mr. Breitling passed away in November 1928, his wife having preceded him nearly seven years prior, she having died Dec. 4, 1921.

The information for this sketch was furnished us by Walter Breitling of Ashley, N. D.

James Briggs was born in Medina County, Ohio, on August 8 th , 1835. When he was nine years of age, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Briggs, moved to Michigan. Here James grew to manhood, being raised on a farm. At the age of twenty-three, he was married to Miss Minerva Grout of Camden, Ohio.

At the beginning of the Civil War, James Briggs offered his services as a volunteer in the private ranks, but owing to poor health, he was rejected. About six months before the war ended, Noah, his brother entered the ranks and at the same time, James was accepted. Both brothers served to the end of the war and received honorable discharge.

Upon his return home, he farmed for about fourteen years and then decided he would like to try the store business, so he left the farm and moved to Burnips Corners, Mich. In the year of 1885, Mr. Briggs closed out his store and his other interests and in company with Theodore Caster and Frank Braughman and families, started for McIntosh County, Dakota Territory. This little company started the trip an April 28 th, 1885, with two covered wagons, seeking new homes in the unsettled prairies of Dakota. They arrived at Hoskins, on Hoskins Lake in the afternoon of June 18 th , having been on the road fifty-one days. The trip was made without mishap or trouble of any kind. Two cows were led behind the covered wagons so there was a good supply of milk for the children and the rest of the group.

Mr. Briggs filed on a homestead near Lake Hoskins. With the assistance of his son William J., a young man of twenty-three years, he began farming. The family went through the usual experiences as the other pioneers, having years of drouth and some severe winters. Mrs. Briggs taught school for several years during the early pioneer days. She also did nursing, having had experience along that line, as her father was a physician and she had helped him considerably at different times.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, William J., who died October 23 rd , 1936, at the age of 74 years; Minnie, who died in infancy; and Lillie M., now Mrs. Charles Moore of Linton, N. D.

Mr. Briggs died in 1904, and Mrs. Briggs in 1910, and are both laid to rest in the Ashley Cemetery.

© Tim Stowell 2001-2017