Adam Nagel, Jr., the son of Adam Nagel and Christina Nagel (nee Miller) was born in South Russia on September 18, 1877.

As a young man Mr. Nagel accompanied his parents to America, settling first in South Dakota, later moving further north with his parents to McIntosh County, N. D., where the family settled on the Southwest Quarter of Section 7, Township 132, Range 68. Mr. Nagel lived with his parents until 1898, when he located in Lehr, N. D., and in company with John F. George started a general merchandise store which business was continued up to 1903, at which time Mr. Nagel was appointed as postmaster at Lehr and served in that capacity for a number of years.

In 1909 Mr. Nagel and Mr. Jacob Bittner engaged in the farm implement business, operating under the firm name of Nagel and Bittner until 1929.

In addition to being engaged in business in Lehr, Mr. Nagel also was quite extensively engaged in farming and also found time to hold various city and school offices. He served as State Representative of the 36 th Legislative District for one term and was twice elected as County Commissioner of McIntosh County.

In March, 1900, Mr. Nagel was united in marriage to Christena Wentz of Eureka, S. D., and to this union were born five children, namely: Herold Walter, born January 5, 1901, now living at Lehr, N. D.; Georgia Erna, born May 16, 1904, now living with her husband, Fred Boehler, Jr., on a farm southeast of Lehr, N. D.; Raymond Henry, now deceased; Ervin Herbert, born July 12, 1911, now living at Ashley, N. D.; Fern Irene, born July 4, 1919, now living with her sister, Mrs. Fred Boehler, Jr.

Mrs. Nagel was called to the Great Beyond on Sept. 11, 1935.

Mr. Nagel now makes his home at Lehr, N. D., where he is engaged in the insurance business, also manages and operates his extensive farm lands. He was remarried to Susie Wentz Kierbow in December, 1936.

An outstanding pioneer of the northern part of McIntosh County and one of the early settlers was Adam Nagel, Sr., born in Bergdorf, South Russia, on November 16, 1858.

As a young man and in 1876 he was married to Christina Miller, who was born in April, 1858.

In 1880, he, his wife and two children came to America, landing at Scotland, S. D., where Mr. Nagel homesteaded. After living at Scotland for a few years, he with others traveling in covered wagons, set forth for McIntosh County, arriving here in the spring of 1886, and settled on land about 7 miles southeast of the present site of Lehr, N. D., where he farmed for about fifteen years.

The early years spent by Mr. Nagel on the farm were full of hardships; with very little if any cash, 3 horses, a team of oxen, a wagon and plow he tried to make a living. The first year the family lived in a hut, a wagon box was also used as a shelter, later on they erected a sod house.

In 1901 Mr. Nagel moved to Lehr, where he engaged in business, first as an implement dealer, then in the grain business and later in general merchandise.

Mr. and Mrs. Nagel were the parents of eighteen children, eight of whom died in infancy, those living are Jacob Nagel, Adam Nagel, Jr., John A. Nagel and Margaretha (now Mrs. J. H. Jenner) all living at Lehr, N. D.; Sam Nagel of Carson, N. D.; Fredericka (now the wife of A. W. Meidinger) Ashley, N. D.;

Rosina, the wife of J. J. Mack, Lehr, N. D.; Mary, the wife of I. E. Giedt, Richardton, N. D., Christina (now Mrs. A. Schill) Lodi, California, and W. A. Nagel of Sacramento, California.

In addition to being active in business life in Lehr, Mr. Nagel served as Mayor of the city of Lehr, 1918-20. An office later held by his son Adam Nagel, Jr., who also served as County Commissioner for eight years and State Representative for three terms.

On July 8, 1908, Mrs. Nagel passed away after about a three months illness.

In 1909 Mr. Nagel was married to Katharina Ketterling (nee Boschee). He passed away on November 13, 1921. He was a member of the Evangelical Church and held several church offices until his death.

Born in South Russia on January 8, 1876, and emigrating with his parents to America when a very young boy was Jacob Nagel of Lehr, N. D.

The first stop made by the Nagel family was in Hutchinson County, S. D., and later traveling from there by team they arrived in McIntosh County, N. D., on May 10, 1886. His father homesteaded on the Southwest Quarter of Section seven, Township One Hundred Thirty Two, Range Sixty-eight. Here Mr. Nagel spent his boyhood helping his parents make a living. The early farm buildings on his father's farm were of sod, farm equipment consisted of a reaper, walking plow, seeder, harrow, mower, hay rake, three horses and two oxen.

Mr. Nagel was united in marriage to Karolina Bittner, the marriage service being read by Rev. Henry Lowen. To this union were born nine children, namely: John J. Nagel, born March 6, 1896; Lydia Nagel Tarnasky, born April 2, 1899; Theodore Nagel, born March 3, 1902; Emma Nagel Leischner, born December 5, 1904; Rose Nagel Scherbenske, born September 6, 1905, all farming near Lehr, N. D.; Martha Nagel Giedt, born March 20, 1907, living in Lodi, Cal., where her husband is employed in a winery; Bertha Nagel Ruff, born July 14, 1908, farming near Fredonia, N. D.; Walter Nagel, born September 28, 1911, and Edwin Nagel, born February 17, 1914, both farming near Lehr, N. D.

Mr. Nagel started to farm for himself in 1898, on the Southwest Quarter of Section twelve, Township One Hundred Thirty Two, Range sixty-nine and resided on this same land until the fall of 1923, when he moved to Lehr, N. D., where he has resided ever since.

When Mr. Nagel started farming their house was built of sod, his barn was a 26 by 30 frame structure, these were later replaced by a large frame house, two large frame barns, a granary, machine shed, two wells with windmills were later added. In 1906 Mr. Nagel constructed an earth filled dam on his farm to hold water for the livestock and poultry, this dam has been kept in repair and is still being used by his son Theodore Nagel who now owns the home farm.

Mr. Nagel was quite prosperous in his farming operations and at one time had acquired 1960 acres of land in Township 132, Range 69, McIntosh County, N. D.

Mr. Nagel served as Director of Loewenthal School District from 1923 to 1926 inclusive.

Johann Nagel's parents, Jacob and Louisa Nagel, were natives of Hoffnungstal, South Russia. Here he was born on April 26 th , 1861, and resided until 1886. In 1882, he was united in marriage to Christina Schlenker and four years later he and his wife came to America. Like many of their friends and neighbors in Russia, Mr. and Mrs. Nagel thought of America as the land of opportunity and a place to give their children the advantages that they did not receive. Their destination was McIntosh County. They went by rail to Ipswich and there bought a team of oxen and a wagon, and continued the rest of the journey overland to Hoskins. Here they filed on land which was located about nine miles southeast of the present site of the city of Ashley.

The first house they built was made of sod and stone, and the barn was attached to the house. After the house and barn was complete, the Nagels broke up the land for the seeding of crops. The only equipment they had for farming was a hand plow, consequently there were not many acres under cultivation that year.

Ipswich and Ellendale were the nearest towns at that time and it was to one of these towns that they hauled their grain and the buffalo bones. All the pioneers picked buffalo bones and sold them as it was their only means of support for their family until the crop could be harvested. These settlers did not make any unnecessary trips to town.

There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nagel, four of whom are living. Their names and addresses are: Magdalena, now Mrs. John J. Sackmann, living on a farm near Ashley, N. D.; Lydia, now Mrs. Jacob Schlenker, living in Minneapolis, Minn.; Otto, at Raymond, Montana, and Emil in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For a couple of years Mr. Nagel was a mail carrier, his route being to a small inland postoffice in the northwest part of the county.

After the death of Mr. Nagel's first wife, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Johanna Dobler. This marriage was performed on December 12 th , 1913. They lived in Ashley until Mrs. Nagel's death which occurred in 1936. Mr. Nagel died the following year.

Daniel Nickisch was born in Sachsen by Karlsruhe, Oberschlesien, Germany, March 4, 1853, and came to this country as a young man. Mrs. Anna Milde Nickisch was born in Otag, Kreis Olau, Schlesien, Germany, on May 8, 1870, and came to this country with her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Nickisch were married in Douglas County, South Dakota, December 15, 1887. After living in Davidson County, South Dakota for a number of years they moved to Eureka, South Dakota, where Mr. Nickisch acted as immigration agent for the Northern Pacific railway. After residing in Eureka two years they moved to Wishek, North Dakota, and have made their home there ever since. During the time Mr. Nickisch has lived in Wishek he has been engaged in the insurance and real estate business, he has also been elected Justice of the Peace for a good many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Nickisch observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary on December 15, 1937, with appropriate ceremonies at the home of their son Daniel. In the presence of immediate relatives Rev. G. C. Landgrebe, Pastor of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Nickisch are members, delivered a very inspiring sermon. Later dinner was served to those present.

Mr. and Mrs. Nickisch have the following children: Emma West, residing at Pollock, South Dakota; Otto Nickisch, Butte, Montana; Rose Wieczorek, Corsica, South Dakota; Paul Nickisch, Redfield, South Dakota, and Gertrude Treick, Ashley, North Dakota. By a first marriage Mr. Nickisch has the following children: Traugott Nickisch, deceased; Gottlieb Nickisch, Wishek, North Dakota;

Augusta Simon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Daniel G. Nickisch, Wishek, North Dakota, and Anna Becker, Redfield, South Dakota.

There are 49 grand children and 59 great grand children. The above picture shows four generations of the Nickisch family. In the center is Daniel Nickisch, on his right is his son Gottlieb, on his left is his grandson Elmo, who is a son of Gottlieb; on Elmo's arm in his son Stevens. Little Stevens is one of Daniel Nickisch's 59 great grand children.---Wishek News.

Christoph Nitschke was born in South Russia, on April 24, 1859. He was confirmed on March 24, 1874 in the Lutheran faith.

Mr. Nitschke was united in marriage to Katharina Gebhardt, who was born in South Russia on December 14, 1862, she was also confirmed in the Lutheran faith on March 1, 1877.

Mr. and Mrs. Nitschke were the parents of six children, namely: Gottlieb, born July 28, 1886, now farming near Ashley, N. D.; Gottfried, born December 2, 1888, now deceased; John, born June 11, 1893, now farming near Ashley, N. D.;

Ottilia, born in 1899, now living with her husband Christ Wolf on a farm near Long Lake, S. D.; Gottfried, born in 1900, and Adolph born in 1902, both farming near Ashley, N. D. The son John served in the World War, having been inducted in the State of Washington.

In 1894 Mr. and Mrs. Nitschke together with their three children, Gottlieb, Gottfried and John, joined the great throng of emigrants to the United States. Their first year in America was spent with a brother, later they filed on land of their own and have made their home there ever since.

Hardships common to all early pioneers were experienced by the Nitschke family, to begin with they had practically nothing in the way of machinery or farm equipment. Their early farm home was the usual sod house. Hard work by the father and mother and their children was rewarded and as time progressed they were able to improve their condition.

The management of the farm has long since been turned over to younger hands and Mr. Nitschke now past 79 years of age and Mrs. Nitschke now past 75 are passing their declining years with their children.

Mr. Ogden was born at Crestline, Ohio, on Feb. 12, 1824, his wife Anna Ogden (nee Brewster) was born in Byron County, Wisconsin, December 12, 1842; she was a descendant of Elder Brewster of the Mayflower and Plymouth Colony.

From here on let us give you the life history of these two pioneers as told to us by their daughter Mary Ogden Larimer.

Mrs. Ogden prepared herself for the profession of teaching at the Winona, Minnesota State Normal School, now Teachers College. Mr. Ogden, one of the founders of that institution and its first principal, was her teacher and afterwards her husband. He resigned the position of principal in the second year of his incumbancy to volunteer in the Union army during the first year of the Civil War, he was commissioned a second Lieut., then first Lieut., and later a Captain in the 2 nd Wisconsin Cavalry, was captured while recruiting a colored troop, imprisoned at Macon, Georgia, escaped, then re-captured and exchanged at the close of the war. On his return to Minnesota at the close of the war he was married to this former pupil, Anna Brewster, on August 16, 1866.

The Ogdens spent their lives teaching and training others to teach. The young bride accompanied her husband south to Nashville, Tennessee, where their first professional work was in the Fisk School for Negroes, established by the Freedmen's Bureau after the war. Mr. Ogden was one of the founders and the first principal of Fisk School, now Fisk University, and Mrs. Ogden taught the primary classes. She also discovered and gave the first training to the marvelous voices that afterwards became famous in the first "Jubilee Singers." In spite of the noble work that the founders of Fisk were doing they were socially ostracized by the white race, so great was southern prejudice at that time. Therefore after the birth of their first child, John Brewster, in 1868, the Ogdens moved from Tennessee to Ohio, where for one year Mr. Ogden was principal of the Boys' Preparatory Department of Kenyon College at Gambier. It was at this place that the second son, Arthur Edwards, was born in 1870.

From Gambier they went to Worthington, where at that time the Ohio Central Normal School was located. Mr. Ogden served that institution as principal for ten years, from 1871 until 1881. Three other children were born while they lived at Worthington; Frederick Ingals in 1875, Mary in 1877, and Helen in 1881. Frederick died in infancy.

In 1873 Mrs. Ogden journeyed from Worthington to Boston, Massachusetts, with her two little sons, John, aged five, and Arthur, aged three, in order to place them in the kindergarten of Miss Mary J. Garland, and to herself take the kindergarten training from that pioneer of the new education. On Mrs. Ogden's return to Ohio she established at Columbus the first Kindergarten training school west of the Allegheny Mts. She also established other kindergartens and training schools for kindergarteners at Cleveland, Ohio, and at Chicago. While at the latter place she trained for kindergarten work, Mrs. Alice H. Putnam, who in turn was the training teacher of Miss Elizabeth Harrison, nationally known kindergarten authority. Miss Harrison has often lovingly referred to Mrs. Ogden as her "kindergarten grandmother."

In the fall of 1881 the Normal School was moved from Worthington to Fayette, Ohio, where Mr. Ogden continued as principal for one year. The next move of the family was to Washington, D. C., where for several years, from 1882 until 1886, while Mr. Ogden was exploring the West, Mrs. Ogden conducted a private kindergarten and training school for teachers. From Washington she was sent by the United States Commissioner of Education to New Orleans to conduct a model kindergarten at the World's Centennial Cotton Exhibition, 1883-84. While there she read an address before the International Congress of Educators. This address on kindergarten methods in education was published in pamphlet form by the Department of the Interior in 1884. It has been recently commented on by modern kindergarteners as contemporaneous in thought with the ideas of the present, and yet it was written over fifty years ago.

Mrs. Ogden's work next took her back to Minnesota, where she held the position of kindergarten training teacher on the faculty of the St. Cloud, Minnesota, State Normal School in 1886-1887.

By this time Mr. Ogden had become much interested in pioneering in Dakota Territory, and had gone to Bismarck to investigate the homesteading possibilities in the new West. There he met John H. Wishek and George W. Lilly who were interested in McIntosh County land, and with them and Alex McDonald he made the trip overland to the site of Hoskins. All were so delighted with the appearance of the country that they decided to locate there. This was as early as 1883. In 1884 Mr. Ogden returned to file on a homestead with the intention of eventually bringing his family there to live. His oldest son, John, had the hankering of most boys of sixteen to "go out west," so he was soon allowed to join his father at the little pioneer town being built at Hoskins on the south shore of beautiful Lake Hoskins.

There was one small hotel in the town, but as "competition is the life of trade", a group of leading citizens decided to sponsor a rival eating house, so opened what was known as, "The Buster House". John was cook at the "Buster House" during the summer of 1886, when a boy of eighteen. The eating place was just a tent across the street from the Gulack and Gravesdale store. "Johnny" became famous in the community as a cook, and had as customers such men as John Wishek, Cash Hammond, Clair Johnson, Tom Rockey, Lew Tickner and others. But alas the day that the pig entered the tent in Johnny's absence and devoured the dough set to rise was a sorry day for both the young cook and the old pig. On his return the redhead of the family lived up to his reputation for fiery temper---but they had baking powder biscuits for supper that night.

Mr. Ogden and son John went home for a year, and gave glowing accounts of the wonders and beauties of the new land. The second son, Arthur, was begging to "go west" also, and the two little girls, Mary aged ten and Helen the six-year old, were filled with curiosity, a desire to see the prairies, and wonderful ideas about the joys of farm life. Therefore in June 1887 Mrs. Ogden gave up her position at St. Cloud, and with the three younger children followed her husband and eldest son to the "new west." They arrived at Hoskins on the afternoon of June 10, 1887, after a tiresome two-days' journey by stage over the last fifty miles from Ellendale.

After four years of farm experiences, some happy, some sorrowful, the Ogden family left the "proved-up" homestead in McIntosh County to go to Bismarck, where John Ogden was then State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

One of the experiences of the Ogden family was one relating to the well-remembered blizzard of January 12, 1888. At that time the father was in Milnor, N. D., holding the position of principal in the Normal School there. Arthur was with him attending school. The mother and John and the girls were "holding the claim" in McIntosh County. They were obliged to haul their coal twenty five miles by ox-team from Eureka, S. D. John left the farm with the faithful ox-team on the morning of January 11 th , expecting to be back the next night. The next morning John tried to start out in the face of the blizzard, for he knew the family was short of fuel, but he was driven back to town, the wise old oxen refusing to travel against the cutting wind and blinding snow. No doubt John owes his life to their sagacity. Meanwhile the family were having a hard time of it. Ed Ball was staying with the family doing the chores and taking care of the family, he was unable to see the barn and tied a long rope to the house and himself to insure his safe return from the barn. The house was almost covered with snow and he had to dig his way out, the coal was gone and they were twisting bundles of hay and flax straw for fuel, and considering what articles of furniture could best be spared to burn, then the sun began to break through the clouds on the afternoon of the 13 th and before sunset John arrived home with the small load of coal.

After being in Bismarck a little over a year the family removed to Mayville, N. D., where the mother taught in the State Normal School, Primary Department. In the fall of 1893 the family returned to Minnesota, where in Minneapolis, the mother conducted a kindergarten and training school for teachers in which work the father assisted when not engaged in literary work. They continued their joint labors in this field for fourteen years, when failing health caused both to give up the work they loved and moved to Seattle, Washington, where they lived with their younger daughter Mrs. K. C. Bachelder and her husband. A year later an April 12, 1908, Mrs. Ogden passed into Life Eternal, although nineteen years her senior Mr. Ogden lived over two years after she had gone and passed away in 1910. John Ogden, Jr., died in Los Angeles in 1937. The other members of the family are still living.

Miss Mary Paton homesteaded the Northwest Quarter of Section 31, Township 130, Range 69, now a portion of the platted city of Ashley.

Mr. Johann Pfeifle, a native of Friedensdall, Bessarabia, South Russia was born on March 13, 1872.

He in company with his parents, Andrew, and Rose Pfeifle, emigrated to America in 1884, settling first at Scotland, S. D. They remained at Scotland for a year when they moved to McPherson County, S. D.

Mr. Pfeifle spent his early boyhood with his parents and in 1895 filed on his own land about two miles south of the present site of Venturia, N. D.

In 1896 Mr. Pfeifle was married to Katherina Sayler, the daughter of Friedrich and Margaret Sayler (nee Schempp). Mrs. Pfeifle was born December 24, 1877 and came to America from South Russia with her parents in 1884.

Mr. and Mrs. Pfeifle were the parents of eleven children, one of whom is deceased, those living are Rose, wife of Wm. Jenner, Jr., Ashley, N. D.;

Martha, wife of Emanuel Schmitt, Mott, N. D.; Fred and Emil, also of Mott, N. D.; Maggie, wife of John Graff, living at Hosmer, S. D.; Julius, Venturia, N. D.; Hulda, wife of Gottlieb Graff, Mary, wife of John Schell, both of Hosmer, S. D.; Lydia and Willie, both living at home with their parents.

Among the few American-born early settlers of McIntosh County can be listed the Pipers.Mr. Warner R. Piper was a native of the state of Michigan, having been born onNovember 3, 1848. Nothing can be learned of his childhood or early life, exceptto say that he served far three years in the Civil War in the 9 th MichiganCavalry and that some time after his return from the service he was married to Nannie Giddings.

Mr. Piper and his family migrated to McIntosh County in 1886, and settled an a homestead in what is known as Lowell Valley. Hardships similar to other pioneers were common to the Piper family.

Mr. Piper was appointed County Commissioner of McIntosh County in April, 1891, and served in that capacity unti1 1894.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Piper, namely: Henry D., born June 30, 1878, now living with his wife at New Rockford, N. D. Henry Piper served McIntosh County as Clerk of Court for three terms, 1920-1926, he was also a member of the House in the 1933-34 Legislative Assembly. A daughter Glady, born September 12, 1884, now lives with her husband James Beveridge an their farm north of Ashley; Frank, born in 1887, who at the time of the World War was a mail carrier at Hettinger, N. D. Being anxious to serve his country, he answered the call in March, 1918, going from Ashley to Fort Riley, Kans., from there he was sent with his company to a camp in New Jersey where he remained until the call came to cross the water in September. Early in October he was stricken with pneumonia and passed away on October 9, 1918. The Frank Piper Post of the American Legion at Ashley, N. D., was named in his honor; a daughter Laura E., born on September 12, 1895, now lives with her husband Guy Lewis at Nampa, Idaho.

After the death of Mr. Piper on February 22, 1899, Mrs. Piper made her home in Ashley for several years passing away on April 1, 1934.

Martin Elmer Pratt was born May 1, 1863 in Canal Fulton, Ohio. His parents were poor and being the oldest son was obliged at the age of 16 to shift for himself; he left his home and went to Kansas to obtain work. In 1880 he left that state and went to Colorado, where he worked on the Santa Fe railroad. In the fall of that year he went to New Mexico working as a lineman. Later he went into Mexico, from there to California and then to Oregon. In the spring of 1885 he arrived in Jamestown, N. D., and after staying there a month was induced to come to McIntosh County by his Uncle, Martin Young, who was the first settler in McIntosh county.

He was married to Sallie Paxton on December 18, 1885, by then Probate Judge Alanson Richards. They were the first couple to be married in McIntosh county. The following spring they went to their homestead situated northeast of what is now the city of Wishek. In the fall of 1893 Mr. Pratt was named postmaster at Youngstown, which was started near Wishek. After continued crop failures Mr. and Mrs. Pratt moved to Kulm where Mrs. Pratt operated a restaurant. In 1898 he left Kulm and worked far the "Soo Line" building grade. In the fall of 1898 Mr. Pratt had his shack moved to the present site of Wishek, N. D. He served as postmaster at Wishek for several years, operating a dray line at the same time. Later was employed in an elevator in Wishek.

Leaving Wishek Mr. and Mrs. Pratt moved to Washington, where in 1932 he passed to the Great Beyond.

Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were the parents of seven children, namely: Elmer, born 1886, died 1888; Henry, born 1887; Charles, born 1888; Eva, born 1889; Pearl, born 1890, died in infancy; Lillian, born 1894; Wishek, born 1900, died 1910.

Some time after the death of her husband Mrs. Pratt remarried a Mr. Matis, and now at the age of 77, lives at Yakima, Washington.

Born in New Danzig, South Russia, in 1860, and coming to McIntosh County in 1885, surely qualifies John Pritzkau, as a pioneer. He came to America, accompanied by his wife, Elenor, nee Engel, when he was twenty-five years old and worked in and around Tindell, Dakota Territory for six months.

There was no more free land available in the southern part of the territory, so after purchasing a team of oxen and a wagon, he and his wife joined a caravan and came north. They arrived in McIntosh County in the fall of 1885, and filed an land about seventeen miles northwest of Ashley. With the help of his wife, a sod house and barn were built and preparations were made for winter.

Most of the settlers coming to this county had little money and "credit" was an unknown factor. But these people were not any worse financially than any one else. Crop conditions were poor the first three years; the fourth crop encouraged them, gardens grew and the yield from these, seemed like a fortune to them. Withstanding the poor crops, the Pritzkaus worked diligently, making every penny count and as the saying goes" many mickels make a mockel" and through their thriftiness, they acquired more land and money.

Their first years of farming were done with very meager farm implements. All they possessed was a team of oxen and wagon, cow and plow. The oxen and cow were used for plowing, one handling the plow and usually the mother leading the three animals. Grain was cut by hand and threshing was done by driving the oxen on the grain and then tossing it in the air and wind to get rid of the chaff. When they were able to buy the modern farm equipment it probably meant more to them than a tractor does now to the farmer.

Mr. and Mrs. Pritzkau raised six children, their names are John, Lydia, Sam, William, Filo and Lillian. They attended the Baptist Church of which the mother and father were members.

About thirty years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Pritzkau moved into Logan County, near Burnstad. When they left there, they were considered one of McIntosh County's best farmers and were well to do.

Mr. Pritzkau died in 1931, and Mrs. Pritzkau moved to Napoleon, only to follow her husband in death the next year.

Paul Pudwill was born January 19, 1857, at Alt Danzig, South Russia. He was the son of Christoph and Katherina Pudwill.

While quite a young boy, he had to assume the responsibilities as head of the family, owing to the death of his father. He spent his boyhood trying to earn a living for his mother and family. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Katherina Pritzkau; the ceremony being read by Rev. Pritzkau, an uncle of the bride, and Pastor of the Baptist Church to which faith Mr. Pudwill ascribed.

Becoming dissatisfied with the progress he was making in Russia, and having a desire to acquire land, and have a home of his own in America, of which he hod heard so much about, he in the fall of 1886 together with his wife and their three children, Lydia, William and Emma, and his widowed mother left their native land and emigrated to America. They landed in New York on November 2, 1886, and proceeded from there by train to the home of Karl Koth, a brother-in-law, living at Tyndall, Dakota Territory. Here they remained over the winter of 1886-87, and in the middle of March left by team for Ipswich, South Dakota, with their farm equipment consisting of two horses, wagon, cow, breaking plow, seed, some household goods, and a dog. He had been advised by his brother-in-law to look for land of light soil which he was told was the best land for raising corn. Traveling in northwesterly direction, he finally found what he considered to be the ideal spot on the present site of Wishek, North Dakota, where he took up his pre-emption and tree claim in April 1887.

The erection of a sod house soon followed, land was broken up, and a flax crop seeded that spring. Although crops were not of the best, Mr. Pudwill managed to add to his equipment the following year by purchasing a pair of oxen. Crops such as were raised together with buffalo bones were hauled to Ipswich, South Dakota, later to Ellendale, N. Dak., and still later to Kulm, North Dakota, which became their trading point. Prices for crops were very low compared to present day prices, but being of a progressive hard working nature, and very conservative and saving, Mr. Pudwill gradually forged ahead. Coffee in the early days was unknown to the Pudwill family, in place they used roasted wheat and barley as a substitute.

In 1891, despairing of raising good crops on the light sandy soil selected by him, he located on Section 35, Township 131, Range 71, and continued to farm both tracts until 1898, when he sold his pre-emption and tree-claim which later became a part of the town site of Wishek, North Dakota.

About this time Mr. Pudwill engaged in his first and last business venture. He opened a restaurant in Wishek, North Dakota, on the present site of the Hofer Hardware Store. He soon gave in to the persuasions of his wife, sold the business and returned to the farm. Here he remained for several years, crops were good, Dame Fortune smiled, and rewarded his efforts. Their land holdings grew from year to year.

In 1906 Mr. Pudwill moved to a new home north of Danzig, North Dakota, where in addition to farming he engaged quite extensively in raising cattle. He gradually added to his land holdings until at the time of his untimely death on July 20, 1918, he owned 2160 acres of land in McIntosh County, North Dakota, and 160 acres in the state of Texas.

At the time of his death Mr. Pudwill was survived by his mother, his wife, and the following children, namely: Mrs. Lydia Herr, wife of August W. Herr, Wishek, North Dakota; William J. Pudwill, Ashley, North Dakota; Mrs. Emma Anderson, wife of Anthony Anderson living at Sidney, Montana; John J. Pudwill, Wishek, North Dakota; Mrs. Anna Donner, wife of T. T. Donner, Danzig, North Dakota; Theodore Pudwill, Danzig, North Dakota; Mrs. Sophia Meidinger, widow of John R. Meidinger, Ashley, North Dakota; Paul J. Pudwill, Danzig, North Dakota;

Jacob Pudwill, Ashley, North Dakota; Mrs. Kate Mensing, wife of R. G. Mensing, Ashley, North Dakota; David Pudwill, Danzig, North Dakota, and Harold Pudwill, Chicago, Illinois.

His mother died in 1926, and his wife passed away on June 27, 1932.

Coming to McIntosh County in 1885, qualifies Mrs. Quatier as an early pioneer. She was born on February 28 th , 1867, in New Danzig, South Russia, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brokofsky. She was united in marriage to William Quatier, the ceremony being performed by John Brokofsky, Sr.

She and her husband embarked for America and arriving in New York, they took the train for Bridgewater where they were met by an uncle, named Lawrence Pritzkau. Mr. Pritzkau had planned on going to McIntosh County to file on land but delayed the trip until the arrival of the Quatiers. Loading their belongings in a freight car, they boarded the train far Ellendale. Being the end of the railroad, the remainder of the trip was made by oxen team. Before coming to McIntosh County, they were told to contact John H. Wishek at Hoskins and that he would help them find a place to make their future home. They arrived at Hoskins on September 10 th , 1885, and called on Mr. Wishek. After being shown the available land, they filed on homesteads about fifteen miles northwest of Hoskins.

The first thing they did was to build a house. It was made of sod and served the purpose for a couple of years. Then Mr. Quatier built another one, this time it being made of clay and stones. This house has weathered the years and is occupied at the present time. The Quatiers did not have any equipment, and they bought their first oxen team and a cow from Jacob Mayers. Soon they purchased another team of oxen, a cow, rake, mower, pig, few chickens and a crude reaper. With these implements and equipment they started farming in this country. The first year or so they did not plant much of a crop because there was not much land broken, and the yield was very scarce but as time went on, more land was under cultivation and better yields gotten. Ellendale, a distance of about sixty miles, was their nearest town. They made four or five there a year, and it was a long weary trip, being made by oxen team.

Mrs. Quatier recalls the winter of 1887 and the severe storms. Many times people stopped at their place to ask where they were or wander there in a storm. One night a man caught out in a blizzard wandered around and finally stumbled in their house, exhausted and hungry. He was given food and every comfort they had and when the storm abated, was sent on his way. Mrs. Quatier also remembers the prairie fires of the early days, how they kept barrels of water and old clothes handy to fight the fire should it come their way.

There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Quatier. They are: Lydia and David, living on the homestead, Danzig, N. D.; Martha, a teacher at Wishek, N. D.; Elizabeth, a teacher in Danzig, N. D.; Marie, now Mrs. Snyder, Bismarck, N. D.; Lawrence and Henry on the farm near Danzig, N. D.; and William at Wishek, N. D.

Mr. Quatier died in 1916. Since his death Mrs. Quatier has resided on the farm but at present is living in Wishek with her daughter Martha.

© Tim Stowell 2001-2017