A well known character of McIntosh County, both in the early and the later days is Herbert M. Larimer, known to young and old as "Herb". He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Larimer, born September 8, 1871, at North Bass Island, Ohio.

In June of the year 1886, Herb then a boy of nearly 15 years came to Dakota Territory with his father and brother James C. known as "Cliff". They came in "style" riding on a load of lumber. Few at that time were able to own a load of lumber to ride upon. From a statement of their financial condition at that time they evidently spent most of their capital on the load of lumber, as upon arriving here they possessed but $13.00, the combined family fortune.

This riding business must have been a hobby with Herb for we are told he enjoyed horse racing, and often rode as a jockey, being slight of stature and weighing about 90 pounds.

With the father and brother (the mother passed away before their westward trek) Herb settled about three miles southwest of Hoskins. Their home was a sod building and like all others sparingly furnished. Winter time was a period of suffering for him as he traveled a distance of three miles to school, making six miles a day on foot.

September 7, 1902, Rev. Farrand read the service uniting him in marriage to Anna M. Weber. Three children were born to this union, namely: Zella Zoe, born July 3, 1903, now at Racine, Wis.; Myrtle Mary, born September 13, 1904, deceased and Madge Loraine, born January 3, 1906, now at Racine, Wisconsin.

Herb began teaching school in 1892 and followed this profession for thirty-five years, teaching mostly in McIntosh County, he also served as Constable and County Surveyor. During 1907 he owned and operated a butcher shop in Ashley.

The Larimers made their home in Ashley and Herb was an active member of the Ashley Volunteer Fire Department and also of the Ashley Band. He participated in the organization of the McIntosh County Old Settlers Association which later merged with the McIntosh County Historical Society. Inspired by the aims of the latter he conceived the idea of a monument to the early pioneers of McIntosh County. This monument was designed and erected by him with some outside assistance. It is erected on the south shore of Lake Hoskins near Highway No. 11 and on the site of the old town of Hoskins, is of native rock, with the names of the pioneers and date of their arrival here chiseled in the rock. The base is of cement and above this a five foot high body of the inscribed rocks, topped by a pillar of small rock with a cannon ball rock at the peak. All these stones are securely set in cement and form a fitting land mark, designating the place where early settlers congregated and built up the town of Hoskins. Dedication services for this monument were held with Judge Hutchinson of LaMoure as speaker. Mary Erle Johnson, daughter of Wilbur Johnson who was the first baby born in Hoskins, dedicated the Pioneer Monument, with water taken from Lake Hoskins. The Highway Department recognized the service to posterity by Mr. Larimer and has placed markers one fourth mile on either side of the monument and also a large sign at the site of the structure.

Herb needs no monument to keep his memory green. His deeds of civic service will live on thru the ages. We regret that ill health keeps him in California away from the Dakota prairies which he loves and still calls home.

James C. Larimer, known to early residents of McIntosh County as "Cliff" was born at Sandusky City, Ohio, on August 23, 1873, and at the age of 13 accompanied his father, Richard A. Larimer, to McIntosh County, arriving here on June 16, 1886.

Mr. Larimer lived with his father until he was 22 years of age. During the time he made his home with his father he experienced the usual hardships of settlers of those days and says the outstanding hardship was when they were snowed in for ten days, and had to live on frozen rutabaga and lard made into soup, until they were able to get other provisions.

During the time Mr. Larimer lived with his father he helped out with the family finances by driving stage to Ellendale, he also drove stage to Eureka and Napoleon during those early years and at the age of 17 received a letter of recommendation to any school board recommending him as a teacher, he taught school in this county for five years.

Mr. Larimer served his country as Sergeant Troop "K" 8 th Cavalry in the Spanish-American War from May 18, 1895 to May 8, 1899, he was also a Corporal in 2 nd Company First Battalion, 164 th Depot Brigade during the World War.

He was one of the later homesteaders and was able to erect a little more modern buildings than those of earlier years. His house, barn and outbuildings were constructed of lumber, he also had been able to accumulate quite an array of machinery, having a binder, mower, sulky and gang plow, rake, drill, harrow, horses and some cattle, which at that time was considered to be worth in the neighborhood of $2000.00.

In 1900 he was married to Mary Ogden by Rev. S. B. Purvis at Minneapolis, Minn. Four children blessed this union all living, namely: Dorothy L. Cunningham, born January 26, 1905, and Helen L. Vanzi, born February 6, 1907, both living in Los Angeles, California; Don C. Larimer, born May 18, 1909, living in Portland, Oregon, and Margaret L. Martin, born October 26, 1911, now living in Glendora, California.

Mr. and Mrs. Larimer are members of the Episcopal Church and live in Glendora, California.

Another of the early pioneers of McIntosh County is the subject of this short history. Born at Bridgewater, Penn., on April 23, 1839, it was not until he was in middle life that Richard A. Larimer, then 47 years of age, together with his two sons, Herbert M. Larimer and James C. Larimer arrived in McIntosh County, as our informant says, on a load of lumber.

Mr. Larimer at the time he came to McIntosh County was a widower, his wife having died some time prior to his arrival here. He filed on land in Section 6, Township 129, Range 70, southwest of Hoskins, where he and his two sons started housekeeping with the combined resources of the father and boys amounting to the magnificent sum of $13.00.

A sod house consisting of one room ten by twelve feet was erected and thus began their lives in the new country. Farm equipment the first year consisted of a pick, a shovel, hoe, hand rake and a hand sled. Imagine a farmer in these days starting to farm with such an array of implements. The hand sled was about the most useful article on the farm, as it was used to haul hay for fuel, a distance of 3 or 4 miles.

The second year things were improved, for by that time the Larimers had been able to acquire additional farm equipment, consisting of a yoke of oxen, a wagon, plow, harrow and a stone boat.

Mr. Larimer served his country in the war of the Rebellion having at the age of 22, on May 13, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company "C" 24 th Regiment Volunteer Infantry of Ohio and served until June 22, 1864, when he was given an honorable discharge at Camp Chuso, Ohio.

Mr. Larimer has the distinction of being the first elected Judge of Probate in McIntosh County; Mr. Alanson Richards held the office before him but was an appointee of the County Commissioners; he held this office from January 1, 1889 to January 1, 1893.

Some years later Mr. Larimer made his home with his son James C. Larimer an his homestead about two miles northeast of Ashley, where on March 10, 1906, at the age of a little over 66 years he passed away. His two sons still live in Glendora, California.

Among those emigrating to Dakota in the early eighties we find William G. Lawhead, who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on July 14, 1860. Being a young man, single and with a desire to see the new country that was being opened up, and with about $150.00 cash started for McIntosh county, arriving here in March 1886. He came by train to Ellendale and from there by stage to Hoskins, filing on land near the South Dakota state line and about 10 miles southwest of Hoskins.

After filing on his land he returned east for a short time but in the spring of 1887 returned. Not having a family at that time Mr. Lawhead worked whenever he could find anything to do and in that way was able to support himself and pay for the frame house and barn he had built.

We assume Mr. Lawhead found single life not what it was cracked up to be, anyway in 1888 he was united in marriage to Miss Cora Luce, a sister of our townsman J. A. Luce. Rev. J. L. Sizer read the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Lawhead were the parents of four children, namely: George, born in 1890, now employed in the office of the International Harvester Company, Jacksonville, Florida;

Carl, born 1894, a construction worker in Coshocton, Ohio; William, born 1899, a construction worker in Greenwich, Ohio, and Ruth Mackey, born in 1891, now a Matron of a Girls Sorority House, Wooster, Ohio. Of the boys Carl and William both served in the World War, Carl as a member of the Intelligence Corps and William as a private.

In the same year Mr. Lawhead was married, he was appointed postmaster in Ashley and served 1888-1890, and about the some time he was the publisher of the McIntosh County Democrat, a weekly paper then being published in Ashley.

Mr. Lawhead now makes his home in Jacksonville, Florida.

Mrs. Lawrence, the daughter of Theodore and Barbara Castor, was born at Salem, Allegan county, Michigan, an April 15, 1864. On the 27 th of April, 1885, she accompanied her father and mother together with a sister Louisa, three brothers, Henry, Adam and William, and the James Briggs and Frank Broughman families on their trip in covered wagons to North Dakota, their destination being Glen Ullin, North Dakota.

We can best give you her history as told in her own words, she says "We had two covered wagons, including two teams of horses, three cows, two dozen chickens, and two pigeons which left us the first day of our journey. Chickens were killed and cooked on trip as we needed them, also made noodle soup. Had all the good things that the land offered to eat. Mrs. Broughman, Louisa, and Lilly Briggs had to do the cooking. Mrs. Briggs and I made the beds and got the wagons in shape for traveling. Everything had a place, and everything had to be in its place in order for the emigrants to ride.

We crossed the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien over to Dubuque, Iowa, on a ferry boat. We traveled on and got to the Iowa River. There we had another occupant for the wagon. The cow had a calf. We stopped there three days before we were able to travel, and here we had our first turtle soup which made us all sick. It was given to us by a farmer and he had been fattening it for some time. When we got to Groton, Dakota Territory, Mr. and Mrs. Broughman, Louisa and Tillie Broughman, and a young man they got acquainted with went to a show. We went on to Ellendale, D. T. There we met a man, proved to be George Lawrence, and he urged us to stop at Hoskins where we would meet the Michigan people. Camped at Basyes the next night. Mosquitoes about ate us up. Left there the next morning for Hoskins, arriving there late in the afternoon where we met all the land sharks who were anxious to locate us, and get the few dollars we had. We never arrived at Glen Ullin, the place we started for, but stopped at Hoskins Lake, McIntosh County, about the first of June. Camped here until houses could be built.

The men took tree claims and pre-emptions, North and West of Hoskins Lake. I took a pre-emption.

The men had to go fifty miles to Ellendale for lumber to build shacks for their families. They did some breaking, and sowed same flax, and made a garden. Also put up hay for the stock during the winter. Everybody in the County celebrated the fourth of July that year.

Louisa went to Ellendale to work for Mrs. Lewis about August first. Stayed there until the first of October. Then went to work for Mrs. Bergendale, and stayed until spring. I went to work at Hoskins for Stone, Shank and Lawrence Company, running the boarding house. Louisa spent Thanksgiving at home. When father and I were on our way home one of the horses had the blind staggers, and we were obliged to stay all night in Henry Garbleman's sod house. We had to take the horses in the shack as it was too cold to leave them outside all night.

While home, we attended a dance given in the Briggs shack. There were about 80 people present, and they danced all night in a house size 12' x 14'. We were all very neighborly, and had a glorious good time. Here is where I met Clare Johnson who had a cattle ranch at Green Lake which he afterwards sold to Andy Stone.

About the first of September that same fall, I experienced my first prairie fire which lasted most all night. They had to haul water to use. They burned around the house and hay stacks on Sunday afternoon before the fire struck them Monday morning. It was all that saved their house and hay.

Winter of 1886, George Lawrence and I were married by C. C. Hammond.

Summer of 1886 they had a big 4 th of July celebration at Hoskins, George Lawrence and E. E. Amburn came from Ellendale with the fireworks the morning of the celebration. That day there was a hard wind storm that blew the bowery down, and the roof off the Stone, Shank and Lawrence Company barn, and the horses broke loose, and went with the storm. Johnstones of the valley furnished the music for the dance. E. E. Amburn broke his finger playing ball.

Methodist Church was held in the Anderson store about every two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Geray preached. They drove with a horse and buggy or came horseback. That same summer a student teacher of the Congregational Church, Mr. Skimmens, also held services part of the time. Sunday School was organized, and both were held in the school house after it was finished.

Spring of 1887, Mr. and Mrs. George Lawrence and son Charles moved upon their claim which was south of Hoskins. June of 1887, there was a terrible wind storm and tore things up in general. Only leaving two houses on foundations in town."

After moving to Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence were in business for a short time before returning to Lansing, Michigan, where they engaged in bakery business until the death of Mr. Lawrence. After this the business was conducted by Mrs. Lawrence and her step son Charles, later she sold her interest to him and moved to Oakland, Oregon, where she lives at the present time.

George Lawrence served as a sharpshooter during the Civil War, his son Charles Lawrence, born March 1, 1874, served in the Spanish American War and passed away August 22, 1937.

John Layer was born in Iganfeld, South Russia, January 15, 1873, and was baptised and confirmed in the Lutheran church.

When a boy of 14 his parents, dissatisfied with conditions in Russia, embarked for America along with other families. Landing at New York arrangements for continuing their journey to Ipswich, S. D., were made. Here they rested and visited for two weeks and purchased a few necessary things with which to set up their new home in America. In 1886 they arrived in McIntosh County, homesteading about three miles west and nine miles north of the present site of Ashley. Their total farm equipment at this time was worth little more than $200.00. They had a mower, binder, wagon, oxen and harness. A little sod shanty was erected and housed their scanty furniture and what food, clothing and cooking utensils they had. The early years Mr. Layer spent with his parents, later establishing his own home, after his marriage to Johanna Housesauer by the Rev. J. Bauer. One son, Edwin H. was born to them and is now living in Lodi, California.

Mr. Layer tells of many hard times in the early days. After breaking sod, planting and harvesting grain and potatoes they had to be hauled long distances to market where small prices were paid for the products. To help meet the necessary expense of food, fuel and clothing, buffalo bones were picked up on the prairie and hauled with the stolid oxen to Ellendale where they were sold. People then did not consider this a hardship but rather good fortune that this extra income could be secured to help meet expenses.

A very interesting experience which took place in 1894 is told by Mr. Layer. With a man by the name of William "Billie" Martin he rode north of his homestead into the hills beyond the present farm home of James Luce near Danzig. Here two deer were sighted. The men, accompanied by faithful dogs, gave chase. The deer led them about one and a half miles northeast to a place then occupied by a Norwegian named Axel Winche. This farmer had carefully built a good barn for his cattle. The roof was of river poles covered with slough hay. At the time of this story snow was deep and the barn was completely covered. The deer, hotly pursued by the dogs, bounded over the snow and upon reaching the place where the barn was located, one of them crashed through down into a manger of the cattle barn. Axel was at this time doing the morning milking and was surprised and astonished to see a deer drop down from above. The cattle became excited and bedlam reigned. About this time Mr. Layer reached the barn door with "Billie" Martin following closely. A rope was found and the deer securely tied. After Axel finished his milking, the deer was placed upon a stone boat and Axel's horses hitched to it. With Mr. Layer sitting on the deer and Mr. Martin following with the saddle horses and dogs the party set out for the Martin home. Upon their arrival there they were greeted by "Uncle" Ed Lunn who assisted them in putting the tied deer in the granary. Mr. Lunn then went on to Ashley and sent word to Reagan & Hooper, Eureka, S. D., merchants. They came out and looked the deer over and bought it for $15.00.

After a number of years spent on the farm Mr. and Mrs. Layer moved to Ashley to make their home. Here Mr. Layer served successfully as deputy sheriff and also as city police officer. He engaged in the cattle buying business and also as public auctioneer for several years.

Mr. and Mrs. Layer are at the present time residing in Ashley. Mr. Layer has suffered ill health the past few years but in spite of that is a cheerful personality in the community.

Mrs. Leno was born in Kassel, South Russia, on April 20, 1856. Emigrating to America in 1878, she lived at Tripp, S. D., for a period of seven years. Traveling by emigrant car to Ipswich and from there by covered wagon, with other families, she arrived in McIntosh County in June, 1885, and the family settled on land about one and one-half miles south of Lehr, North Dakota.

Mrs. Leno was married to Andreas Lehr, and to this union there are five living children, namely: Fred Lehr, born in 1879, now living in California; Mrs. John Aman, born in 1881, now living in Lehr, N. D.; Andreas Lehr, Jr., born in 1883, a retired farmer now living in Lehr, N. D.; Mary Aman wife of G. F. Aman, born in 1892, and now living on a farm near Lehr, N. D., and Sam Lehr, born in 1900, an auto salesman living in Bismarck, N. Dak.

The early farm life of Mr. and Mrs. Lehr was the same as with other early pioneers. They had no money and their farm equipment consisted of four horses, four cows, two wagons, breaking plow, binder, mower and rake. Buildings were the common sod house and barn. Hoskins was then their nearest postoffice and Ipswich, S. D., their nearest trading town, to where they would haul buffalo bones to trade for foodstuffs. The first year in McIntosh County they raised no crop owing to lack of moisture, the following year was better and a good crop was raised. Mrs. Leno tells us that in her opinion the early winters were much more severe than now.

Mr. Lehr after farming far several years moved to the present site of Lehr, which town was named after him, and engaged in the grain and store business.

Mrs. Leno tells us that she has never received any government aid, although times were much harder in the early days than they now are.

After the death of Mr. Lehr, Mrs. Lehr married Mr. Leno, and now lives in Lehr.N. D.

The name of George W. Lilly is almost synonymous with the name of McIntosh County. Born April 7, 1855, in Lilly Chapel, Madison County, Ohio. He received his schooling and grew to manhood in the east.

One of many to heed the call of the Dakota prairies he left his home state in 1884 and headed westward. The usual entrance to McIntosh County was by way of Ellendale or Eureka but Mr. Lilly chose to come in from the north. He reached Bismarck by rail and from there traveled with horses to Hoskins. The road, where there was one, was little more than a prairie trail and the last fifty-five miles of that faded out and Mr. Lilly's road was anywhere he chose to drive. Several other men were with him and as they jogged along in their buckboard these prospectors conversed regarding a location for the establishment of a new town. They came upon the hill on the south shore of a clear blue lake and immediately decided that here was the ideal location they had been looking for. They staked out claims and returned to Bismarck to file on same. Some were never heard of again and others, Mr. Lilly amongst them, returned to the little town of Hoskins and carried on.

In September 1885, he brought to Dakota his bride who was Miss Eva Brown, they were married September 17, 1885, by a Methodist Minister at Madison, Wisconsin. The Lillys had a small frame building with a shingled gable roof for their home, this was perhaps the first permanent home in McIntosh County. Three daughters were born, namely: Jennie, wife of Carl B. Neal of Portland, Oregon, born December 30, 1887; Beatrice, wife of A. R. Grant of Portland, Oregon, born February 22, 1892, and Grace, wife of A. P. Patton of Placenta, California, born August 8, 1894.

The Lillys had only moderate means but did not consider any privations as hardships. They made the best of what they had and hoped for better things in the future.

Mr. Lilly was active in the civic affairs of the new town and at different times occupied several offices. He was one of the first group of County Commissioners in 1884, Deputy Register of Deeds 1884 to 1893, Representative from McIntosh County to the first State Legislature in 1889 or 1890, also Register of Deeds from 1893 to 1895 inclusive.

Mr. Lilly was associated with Mr. J. H. Wishek in business dealing in land, loans and banking during the early history of McIntosh County. He was personally acquainted with most of the residents of the county and enjoyed their friendships. He assisted the majority of them in making out their filing and final proof papers.

Mr. and Mrs. Lilly are of Methodist Faith and belonged to that same church when it was organized in 1889 in Ashley.

The year of 1894 the Lilly family departed from Dakota going to Ohio and several years later removed to Portland, Oregon, where Mr. and Mrs. Lilly still make their home.

Mr. Lilly is perhaps the oldest living McIntosh County pioneer and is still keenly interested in the progress of the county where he built his first home.

One of the progressive and outstanding pioneers of McIntosh County, one who has seen the ups and downs of the county for the past fifty three years, a man of implacable character and reputation is our subject Robert W. L. Linn.

The history of the Linn family can be traced back to pre-Revolutionary days, but space limits us, suffice to say that the parents of Mr. Linn, Andrew L. Linn and Ruth Ann Linn (nee Baily) were early residents and settlers of Pennsylvania and it was at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1861, that Robert W. L. Linn first saw the light of day.

In about 1864 the Linn family moved to Iowa and it was here that Mr. Linn received his early education. A desire to see a new country prompted Mr. Linn to go west and in 1885 he came to McIntosh County and filed on land in Section 20, Township 129, Range 68 to be followed shortly by his father and mother, two brothers and a sister all of whom filed on land in that vicinity. Those remaining of the Linn family are in addition to our subject, William A. Linn now of Kennewich, Washington, Dr. Wilbur N. Linn of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Anna Amburn of Yakima, Washington. The father having passed away an February 11, 1909, and the mother following him on February 19, 1912.

Mr. Linn had his share of early day hardships, his first home was a moving wagon, he cooked his own meals on a blacksmith forge and was kept busy breaking up prairie on his own, his fathers and brothers lands. His cash was soon exhausted but by good luck he secured employment with Mr. C. V. Basey, then located at Coldwater, earning $2.50 a day during the haying season with his team and wagon. Being an experienced engineer Mr. Linn also secured employment running a threshing engine in the Forbes, Ellendale, Ludden and Oakes territory, sometimes getting up in the Red River Valley country. He continued as an engineer an threshing engines for about fifteen years for two to four months each fall. This additional work, together with crops that were raised kept the wolf from the door.

Mr. Linn, as conditions improved, built himself a 10 by 12 frame shack which was more comfortable than the wagon as a home, Mr. Linn continued farming, working out and living alone until he was united in marriage to Hattie Clark, at Omaha, Nebraska, on May 25, 1892, the marriage service being read by Rev. S. P. James, minister of the Methodist Church of which Mr. Linn has been a life long member. To this union four children were born, one having passed away in infancy, those living are Ruth Addie, born November 24, 1893, now Mrs. James N. Smith, living at York, Nebraska, where she is employed in the Mothers Jewel's Home; Wilbur J. Linn, born August 8, 1896, living with his wife Caryl McGoon, an a farm near Ashley, N. D., and Kenneth R. Linn, born November 23, 1904, living on the farm with his father. Mrs. Linn passed away an November 16, 1906, at Des Moines, Iowa.

In November 1896 Mr. Linn disposed of his home south east of Ashley and purchased from C. C. Hammond 480 acres of his present farm a mile south west of Ashley and in 1900 he purchased an additional 320 acres from John and Ed. Beadle.

On November 28, 1907, Mr. Linn was remarried to Pauline Hedtke at Henderson, Minnesota, by Rev. S. L. Eyrick and this union was blessed by two children, namely: Andrew A. Linn, born June 8, 1909, now employed as a mechanical engineer at Williston. N. D.. and Richard G. Linn, born June 6, 1912, who lives with his wife Eleanor Opfer, at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he is employed as an engineer. Mrs. Pauline Hedtke Linn was called to the Great Beyond on December 30, 1920.

In addition to being active in farming and stockraising during his residence in McIntosh County, Mr. Linn was connected with the Ashley Milling Company, Ashley, N. D., from 1909 to 1919.

On March 25, 1922, Mr. Linn was again married to Mrs. Inez G. Farley, the service being performed by Rev. F. L. Green, pastor of the Methodist Church at Ashley, N. D. Mrs. Linn was called to her Maker on March 4, 1938. Mr. Linn makes his home on his farm near Ashley.

Owing to financial reverses suffered by the Linn family in Iowa they decided to move to Dakota. In the early part of 1886, he, his father and mother and two brothers W. A. Linn and Robert Linn and a sister Anna left their former home and started for McIntosh County by way of immigrant freight car, in which they had loaded five horses, three cows and a dog, plows, harrows, shelled corn, etc. The family arrived at Ellendale, N. D., in March, 1886 our subject being then 18 years of age, having been born at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on June 15, 1868.

From Ellendale the family went overland to a point south and east from the present site of Ashley in what is known as the Jewell settlement and on the first trip took some lumber for a shed for the horses and for the beginning of the house. Arriving at their building spot the three boys suffered a more or less severe attack of snow-blindness there still being a small amount of snow on the ground. After unloading, two of the brothers returned to Ellendale for more lumber and household utensils.

In order to comply with the tree-claim law many seeds were gathered and planted in boxes (mostly coffee boxes) to be transferred to the new soil. When they were about six inches high they were taken out of the boxes and planted in long rows. Practically all died the first summer. The hot winds burned up most of their garden and the flax they had seeded was so short it could not all be cut. There was no way to thresh it, and when during the winter the father pounded out some of it with a stick on the kitchen floor the few bushels it yielded would not grow when planted next summer. Water had to be hauled from a lake a half mile away, they had to dig three wells before they could get suitable water.

Our subject together with his brothers would go out working to help along with the family finances and often went as far as fifty miles to find work.

A second house was built in a year or so which later was used as a postoffice, residence and school house and Justice of the Peace office.

In the year 1888 on January 12 th Mr. Linn almost lost his life going from the barn to the house.

Again during the winter of 1887-1888 while driving a stage coach from Ellendale to Ashley Mr. Linn nearly lost his life being caught in a blizzard about 25 miles from town, but believing the mail must go through at all hazards he got through, though much frightened and severely chilled.

During one winter Mr. Linn being quite ambitious was allowed to study law in Ashley, for such a privilege he was required to cook for four bachelors. One was a physician, and as he had no experience in the culinary line and the Doctor was quite hard to please he had a hard time of it. One time the Doctor actually left the table to go elsewhere to get something to eat.

In the year 1890 Mr. Linn was appointed by a government sub-agent to take the U. S. Census, which he found quite difficult owing to the fact that he could speak no German and the settlers could speak no English.

In 1894 he was united in marriage to Retta Farr and to this union was born three children, namely: Julius Gilland, Cleveland, Ohio; Alberta May, living at Medford, Wis., and Ruth Ann Hirsch, living at Viroqua, Wis. After having served as school-teacher, interpreter, postmaster, Justice of the Peace, and stage driver, he entered a University, took a medical course and in due time emerged with a M. D. degree. He practiced general medicine in a village in East Central, Illinois for a while, later on moving to Oshkosh, Wis., where he took up special work and resides there at the present time.

The forefathers of Mr. Linn were early pioneers in America, having settled in Pennsylvania before the war for independence. Mr. Linn was born at Uniontown, Penn., in 1855 and at the age of nine moved with his parents to Iowa in 1864 where Mr. Linn lived until 1886 when he traveling by emigrant car from Iowa to Ellendale, N. D., and then by team and wagon to McIntosh County, locating in the Jewell settlement about 6 miles south east of Ashley, filed on land.

Mr. Linn suffered the usual hardships of early pioneers, but what seemed hardest to him was the breaking up of virgin prairie, having been used to the well cultivated farms of Iowa, and where the buildings were more modern and not sod shanties. Farm implements were scarce, Mr. Linn starting with a plow, harrow, disc and a seeder, he also had a team and wagon. Farm products were hauled many miles to market on a sled and with weather conditions permitting the round trip could be made in two days.

Mr. Linn was united in marriage to Mabel S. Pierson, by Rev. Howard, and to this union were born five children, the eldest John A. Linn, born Feb. 8, 1886, now a Minister of the Gospel; Emma B. Linn, born May 9, 1889; Harry A. Linn, born March 26, 1898, who saw service in the World War as a soldier in the 218 th Engineers; Julia E. Linn, born February 21, 1900, and Clara P. Linn, born September 27, 1903.

Mr. Linn served as County Superintendent of Schools in McIntosh County in 1894 and 1895 and was again elected to that office and served from 1901 to 1907 inclusive. He later engaged in business in Ashley, becoming the owner and manager of the Ashley Milling Company.

Failing health and a desire to go to same warmer climate caused Mr. Linn to dispose of his interests in McIntosh County and several years ago he moved to Kennewick, Washington, where he now resides.

Johann Lippert was born in Neudorf, South Russia, on July 18, 1856, the son of Conrad and Katherina (Gaenger) Lippert. At the age of eleven he suffered the loss of his father. He was educated in the usual manner of that time, in a German religious school with approximately 200 pupils and one teacher. He learned "the Three R's" and studied the Bible. The teacher was allowed to have one assistant which was one of the more learned men from the village. The regular course of education started at the age of six and was completed at the age of fourteen or sixteen depending upon the learning ability of the child. Mr. Lippert completed his education at the age of fourteen and was confirmed in the village Lutheran church. Under the direction of his Uncle Jacob Lippert he learned to be a cabinet maker. After four years he set up his own workshop, making kitchen cupboards, trunks, chairs, wagons, beds, wardrobes and many other things. He obtained most of his trade from newlyweds. This training was to prove of great value to him later in the United States.

In the same village, Katherina Morlock, daughter of Christian and Anna Marie Kirschman Morlock was born and reared to young womanhood. She received her education in the same school and was also confirmed. Her work, after having finished school was that of general housework in the home. Her parents were well-to-do farmers who lived in the village and drove to and from their farmland which was near the village. Her father was an officer in the city hall for many years.

Johann Lippert married Katherina Morlock on the fifteenth of November, 1878. After six years of married life in this village they decided to go to America and in the beginning of October, 1884, they left by team with their two sons, August 3, and Ephraim 1. They took with them only their necessities and after one half day of journey they reach Brislof and from there went to Bremen, Germany, where they booked passage as first class passengers to America, the new land, not realizing the hardships that were to follow. The journey across the Atlantic proved uneventful except for the fact that on the third day at sea the ship sprang a leak and began to fill with water. The passengers were quite unaware of this until sailors came to the cabins demanding help by shouting unceremoniously "Do you all want to drown, 'you seven-portion eaters'?" The men gladly helped pump the water out of the ship and saved the day. After eight days at sea they arrived in New York Harbor and after the usual customs inspection and medical examinations for tracoma they were allowed to land. They considered themselves very fortunate, for many a family was broken up because one or two of its members had to go back. Due to unsanitary conditions on ships at that time tracoma was easily contracted and passengers afflicted with it were not allowed to land. From New York City they took a passenger train to Marion, South Dakota, where they stayed with the Jacob Hieb family over the winter. Mr. Lippert made his living by making furniture and selling it. His wife also helped along by doing crocheting and needle-work to sell. In April, 1885, they bought a yoke of oxen for $120, a used wagon for $35 and bows and canvas to cover the wagon. They started for their homestead, eleven miles southeast of Ashley, on which they had already started to erect a sod shanty. With them they brought all of their earthly possessions which included a cow and three chickens. Having not reached their destination by nightfall, they slept in a straw stack. One of the children lost his shoe so a cloth was tied around his foot until another pair could be bought. At the time of their arrival in America the family had but 300 rubles which isn't very much in American money, so by this time their funds were very low. For some time after reaching the homestead they slept an some hay which served as a bed. The sod house was a makeshift affair even after it was completed, for when it rained outside it also rained indoors. After each rain the bedding had to be taken out and dried. The mattress consisted of straw ticking stuffed with hay. This stuffing was later replaced by corn husks. Outdoors a crude oven was fashioned. This was a mere hole in the ground with a piece of iron or tin over the flames on which the bread was baked. Very often rainy or stormy weather spoiled the bread. Inside the shanty was a stove made with blocks of sod, very much like our modern fireplaces. Here, over the open fire, meals were cooked. Many immigrants who were also seeking homes often came to spend the night with them. Sometimes there were four or six families staying at the sod house. The floor served as sleeping quarters. The last one to spread his coat on the floor had to sleep in front of the door. The first occupation on the plains of Dakota was that of selling buffalo bones which were hauled to Ipswich and sold for $10 per ton. A wagonload usually weighed about eight hundred pounds. The trip took three days. When a hand plow could be bought wheat and other grains were planted. During the summer months rain was abundant and in the winter of 1896-97 there was so much snow that the sod shanty was completely covered except for the chimney. The blizzards were so severe that it was often necessary to run a rope from the barn to the house so that the person doing the chores could reach his goal without losing his way.

In 1892 an epidemic of diphtheria swept the country and took heavy toll among the pioneers, sometimes wiping out entire families. Being a cabinet maker, Mr. Lippert worked day and night making coffins and often officiated as a pastor at funerals when none was available.

Later Mr. Lippert started a small country store selling groceries, dry goods and shoes. His first dry goods stock consisted of one piece of brown and white checked apron gingham. Nevertheless his little store proved profitable and furnished all the nearby farmers with their needs. The things he needed for his store were hauled by team from Eureka, and later from Ashley. Later, however, he ordered directly from salesmen who came to the store.

By this time there was a family of eight children but in 1897-98 an epidemic of diphtheria again swept the country and the entire family was stricken. Death claimed three children in the short time of one week. They were Lydia, 12; Katheryn, 10; and Martha, 3. The sorrowful task of making coffins for his own children fell to Mr. Lippert.

During the summer of 1898 the old shanty was abandoned for a new sod house with a wooden roof and floors. This was the largest house in the vicinity, having three large rooms with a lien the full length of the house. For one year this served as a school, the teacher's boarding place, as a church, and as a store building. Later a separate building was bought for the store. In 1902, Mr. Lippert bought a share in the Cash Bazaar. Here he remained as a stockholder for about two years, after which he bought a store in Venturia. Four years later he sold this and became sole owner of the Cash Bazaar at Ashley. At this time he also owned the Cash Hardware store but sold it soon after and centered his interest chiefly in the Cash Bazaar. In 1917 one of his sons, Ephraim, became ill with typhoid fever, and after several weeks' illness, passed away. Consequently, he sold his stock, intending to retire, but in 1924 he and August, his oldest son, re-established this business under the name of Lippert and Son. But this was shortlived for in April he was stricken with paralysis and his son took over the business.

For a year and ten months he was an invalid and on August 26, 1926, at the age of 70 he passed away. Mrs. Lippert, who is 78 years old and in fair health is still living in Ashley with her daughter, Mrs. Walt Schmidt. The surviving children are: August, who is in Lodi, Calif.; John, at Burton, Texas; Samuel, Mrs. G. D. Brosz, and Mrs. Walt Schmidt, all of Ashley.

When James A. Luce was five years of age, his parents W. L. and Ella Warren Luce came to Dakota Territory and settled in Ellendale. The following spring, 1886, they located in McIntosh County, in Section 75 and 26, Township 131, Range 70. The trip from Ellendale was made overland, their belongings being hauled by George Lawrence of Hoskins. James Luce was born on March 22 nd , 1881, in Westfield, Penn. He spent his boyhood days on the farm with his parents and though only a lad, has vivid recollections of the hardships and privations his parents endured.

He recalls an instance in the winter of 1888. His father and the Whipple boys were going from their claims to Hoskins and were caught in a blizzard. Not knowing where they were, they dug a hole in the snow bank and used the wagon box as a door to keep the snow out until the storm abated. When it was over, they found they were in Dry Lake and proceeded to Hoskins. Another time the family were out of flour, so his father walked to Ipswich to buy some. He used a wheelbarrow to haul the flour home.

Their house was made of sod as were all the houses of that day. They did not possess much in farm implements, a scythe and a hand rake. The seed was sown by hand, cut with the scythe and raked with the hand rake.

In 1905, on December 29 th , Mr. Luce was united in marriage to Florence Collins. Her parents were pioneers of McIntosh County, coming here in the early nineties. To them four children were born. They are: Lola, now Mrs. Walter Hezel, Watertown, S. D.; Fern, now Mrs. Sam Fischer, Watertown, S. D.; James 0., married to Olga Weber, living on his father's farm near Danzig, N. D.; and Floyd, married to Theophilia Reule. Floyd is at present employed at Minot; his wife operates a Beauty Parlor in Ashley.

Mr. and Mrs. Luce lived an their farm north of Ashley until 1918, when they moved to Ashley that their children might have better educational advantages. Mr. Luce has farmed extensively in McIntosh County and became quite well to do.

He still operates his farm but resides in Ashley.

Another native born American who sought his fortune and free government land in the great northwest was W. L. Luce, he was born in Westfield, Penn., in 1850.

Not much information is available as to his early life or boyhood days. He married Miss Ella Warren and sometime afterwards he and his family traveled by train as far as Ellendale, N. D., and from there overland by team to McIntosh County. In 1885 Mr. Luce filed timber-claim and homestead land in sections 25 and 26, township 131, range 70 about ten miles northeast of Hoskins.

Financial circumstances of the Luce family were very low at the time of their arrival, 525.00 covering their total wealth and with poor crops they had a hard time to make ends meet. Long hard winters and the fact that provisions had to be hauled 50 to 60 miles from Ellendale, N. D., and Ipswich, S. D., did not help matters any.

At the time of the Indian scare the Luce family, the same as many others, sought protection in Ashley and although it was only a scare it left unfavorable memories.

Mr. Luce made his home in McIntosh County until 1901, when he and Mrs. Luce left and moved to Michigan where in July, 1933, Mrs. Luce was called to her Maker. Mr. Luce followed her in 1934.

Mr. and Mrs. Luce were the parents of twelve children, namely: Cora, now Mrs. Lawhead, Jacksonville, Florida; Justice, Nellie and Mace all living at Grand Rapids, Mich.; Maude, now Mrs. Art Lewis, also living at Grand Rapids, Mich.;

Blance, Charles and Earl, now deceased; James A., now engaged in farming his extensive holdings near Danzig, and Ashley, N. D.; Clark, living at Detroit, Michigan; Grace and May.

© Tim Stowell 2001-2017