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O’Fallon Flashbacks

Copyright 1975 O'Fallon Historical Society, Baker, Montana. ALL RIGHTS RESEVED

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Copyright 1975 O'Fallon Historical Society, Baker, Montana. Printed by Western printing & Lithography

 

Family Histories

 

John Karch Sr. family

Standing Charley, Viola, Bertha, Ida, and John. Sitting John Sr. and Elizabeth.

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Family- Photograph [taken from Saturday Evening Post of August 1959]

 

Credit for founding this happy American clan belongs to the proud couple in the center, seventy-two-year-old German-born Adolph Rieger and his wife, Lydia, sixty-nine, whose first progeny, a son, first drew breath in 1911. By last spring the family had grown to seven sons, nine daughters, fifty-eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and was scattered over much of the West. It required months of planning to find a weekend when most of them could get together. Finally on Saturday, May thirtieth, Riegers and their spouses streamed into the patriarchal ranch between Miles City and Baker, in eastern Montana. Next morning everybody attended Congregational church services in nearby Plevna, then returned to the ranch for a day of visiting, reminiscing, picture taking and picnicking. Five grandchildren, the two great-grandchildren and three sons-in-law were unable to come, but the oldest Rieger-who arrived in this country at the age of four-could still count eighty-three relatives, including in-laws, in his photograph. He had still another consolation-a fifty-ninth grandchild was soon to be born, making for a total of at least seventy-seven lineal descendants to help him and Lydia celebrate their golden anniversary next February. ~ Photograph by John Bickel

 

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HARRY C. ABRAMS

I was born at Carlyle, Montana on Nov. 9th of 1923. My parents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Abrams. They did not homestead, but they did live on a farm at Carlyle where they did farming and raised stock.

Some of our neighbors were the Edwin Hartse, Earl Stark and Alvin Woodsend families.

As a boy I did all the things a boy on the land would have to do and went to school at the Slater School and later to the Ollie High School. I did not go to college, but engaged in the farmer-stockman occupation.

On July 8th, 1943, I married Kathleen E. Horton at Columbus, Montana. We are the parents of six children: Roberta J. Moon, Janet E. Singer, Vera M. Abrams, Charles A. Abrams, Evelyn K. Abrams and Alice J. Abrams.

KATHRYN MELLOR AGLER

Kathryn was born on the homestead of her parents, the Jack Mellors, north of Ekalaka in Carter County. She was born on January 13, 1917. When her birth was expected her father sent away for a "Doctor Book" and studied up on Midwifery. It was wintertime and there was no doctor available. As anticipated, "Katy" was born in the midst of a howling blizzard. She was delivered by her father without complications in a homestead shack on the Montana prairies.

Kathryn attended the Baker Grade Schools, graduated from the Baker High School and acquired her degree in Social Science from the Montana State University.

On September 9, 1939 she married Gerald Agler in Baker. They have three children: Linda Jo, Molly Lou and Britton.

Mary Elizabeth Thompson Allen in garden on the farm nine miles north of Plevna, Montana. Picture taken in 1910

MARY ELIZABETH [THOMPSON] ALLEN

I was born December 31, 1908 in Wibaux, Montana. My parents, James and Emma Thompson lived on a place near

Cap Rock on Cabin Creek.

About 1909 they homesteaded the south half of Section 18, nine miles north of Plevna. It was close to the Coal Springs School and Church. They raised both stock and wheat. There were some years when the crops did well and other years we were hailed out or there was insufficient moisture.

We lived in a friendly community, frequently visiting back and forth with the neighbors. Often dances were held in our homes or at the school house. Summer was the time for community or Sunday School picnics on some wooded creek.

Mary Elizabeth in the wheat field on the farm.

Our neighbors were the Rev. R. Whitakers, Robert Roses, Ferdinand Roses, Dick Foss, Poppletons, Van Dorans, Paynes, A. C. Woods, Burvees, McGaritys and DeGroffs. The latter spent their winters in St. Paul.

Esther Bailey Wheeler was my first grade teacher at the Coal Springs School, Frances Baily my second and Ethel Wheeler my third and fourth. Later I attended school in Plevna.

Dr. Baskett of Plevna and Dr. Potterton of Baker were our doctor and dentist.

About 1920, I, with my parents, moved to the west coast. We lived in Seattle and Portland for two years, then we made our permanent home in Redmond, Oregon.

In 1929 1 went into nursing school at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.

After I married Lloyd Allen in 1932 we made Portland, Oregon our home except for the two years we were with the U.S. Coast Geodetic Survey and traveled throughout the United States.

Our two sons are: Thomas J. and Roger L. Allen and our grandsons are Wayne and Paul.

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MR. AND MRS. OAKES K. AMES

Oakes Ames moved from Manson, Massachusets in May 1919 to Baker, Montana where he built a small cabin about four miles northeast of Baker. In September of that year he sent for his wife Emily, and three sons. His sons were Oliver, Lewis and Francis. The couple lived there until they moved to Oregon in about 1926. Oakes passed away in 1941 in Lafayette, Oregon. Emily Ames lived until 1953.

As a young man Oliver worked for A.K. Clark and Art Shires. Oliver and Lewis both served their country in France during World War 1. After returning from France, Oliver married Ina Zigler from South Dakota in 1920. They made their home on the Wilfong place about six miles northeast of Baker until they moved to Oregon in 1941. Oliver and Ina had three children; Alice, Gladys and Oakes K. Oliver passed away in 1968 and Ina died in 1973, both in Oregon. They left behind three children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Lewis married Fern Goodwin in 1921. They moved to Oregon later on where he passed away in 1959 leaving his widow and two daughters; Elaine and Gayle and five grandchildren.

Francis joined the army when he became 18 years old in 1918. He is now living in Oregon with his wife, the former Laurel O'Brian. They have one daughter, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

ALDEN AND PEARL ANDERSON

Montana was open to homesteading in 1909 and Elmer and Mathilda Roget were among the twenty or so young folks from Murdock, Minnesota to come and file claims in the Willard area. They proved up on their land and Alden was the first child in the family. He was born June 3, 1912.

Alden Anderson on tractor which he made at the age of 21.

When Elmer's work was finished for the day he took up his musical instruments and Alden at an early age learned to play the mandolin and guitar. Alden also assisted his father in developing pictures. This was a family hobby which was shared by his mother and his Aunt Ella Roget Fost.

Alden attended the first school at Willard. It was held in the Willard Hall until the school was built. His first teacher was Miss Lois Conners. Other pupils were his cousin Pauline Anderson, Marion Price and Mary Zelstra. The schoolhouse was built by his father with the help of other local people. The school was open for 50 years before it ran out of pupils and was closed. Alden's grade schooling also included a few years in Minnesota while he was living with his grandparents, the Andrew Andersons, at Murdock.

Besides having an ear for music, Alden read everything he could on mechanics and before he was 21, he had built a tractor from "scratch", a small steam engine by scale and a stationary engine.

Homestead cabin of Elmer Anderson. Father of Alden Anderson. Elmer Anderson standing in front. Loaned by Olga Westrope.

During the depression the times were hard. The father, Elmer, passed away in 1927 from mastoids and Alden was left to care for his mother and sisters: Evelyn, Edna, Lois and Darleen.

Social gathering, 1918; Elmer Anderson family, Ted Bergstrom family, Albert Fost family, Fred Anderson family, and Sabin Berg family.

Social life in the early days consisted of the family dinners when aunts; the Fred Andersons, the Ted Bergstroms, the Sabin Bergs and Albert Fosts gathered together. Uncle Fred had many tricks up his sleeve, and Aunt Stella Bergstrom had pencil and blackboard games to entertain all the young folks. Most often a leaf from the table was put across some chairs to write on.

With his sister to sing along, Alden played for special gatherings at the Lutheran Church and sometimes with the

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help of other musicians at the Willard Hall for dances when the young folks of the community organized a club called the T N T Club.

Threshing grain on Elmer Anderson place. Mattie Anderson, Alden and Euelyn in foreground.

In 1927 Alden, along with his cousin, Raymond Fost, packed together a camping outfit and left for the West Coast to find work. They worked in a nursery trimming roses. They parted after a few months and Raymond returned home. Alden went on to California seeking work. With his mechanical background and knowledge, he went right to work. Almost from the beginning he has been in the tool making part and has the title of Master Mechanic.

He has made his home in San Diego with his wife Pearl. The family consists of two children, Darleen and Keith. Both are married and have several children each.

Charles' homestead and sod shanty, 1910.

CHARLES AND JENNY ANDERSON

Charles and Jenny Anderson were married in Livingston, Montana on November 21, 1908. At that time Mr. Anderson was working on the railroad. In 1910 they homesteaded approximately five miles west of Willard, Montana. In 1924 they purchased the Willard Store, which was previously owned and operated by Fred Anderson who was not related to them. Charles operated the Willard store and was postmaster from 1924 to 1936. During this time, besides operating the store and post office, he was also engaged in farming and herding cattle on the homestead. In 1936, the Andersons retired from the business and moved to Baker but continued to farm the land on which the store was located. Jenny and Charles still retained possession of their original homestead, however. The land was then farmed by Enoch Anderson, Charles Anderson's brother and by Arthur Linden, a nephew of Jenny's.

Charles and Jenny Anderson in front of Willard Store.

Enoch Anderson is currently living in Sweden, is married and has one daughter and two grandchildren. He is now 80 years old.

Both Charles and Jenny Anderson immigrated from Sweden but at different times. Jenny came to the United States from Ramkvilla, Sweden in 1904 and settled in Murdock, Minnesota where she lived until she moved to Livingston in 1906. Charles came to the United States in 1902 from Berga, Sweden and settled in Stillwater, Minnesota. In 1906 he moved to Livingston.

After their retirement in 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson lived in Baker until Charles death on September 9, 1954. Mrs. Anderson then moved to Billings in 1955 to live with a daughter until her death. Both Jenny and Charles Anderson are buried at Baker.

Willard Store, 1910.

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There were four children born to Jenny and Charles Anderson: Warner, Hazel, Walter and Mary Jane. Walter died on March 20, 1925 at the age of five years. Warner moved to Portland, Oregon where he lived until his death in 1955. Hazel died in Billings on February 6, 1971. Mary Jane is currently living in Billings with her husband and children.

ELMER AND MATTIE ROGET ANDERSON

By

Janis Israel

Granddaughter of Mrs. Fred Westrope

Life in the founding years of a Montana town wasn't easy, especially for a young girl barely out of her teens. The year was 1909, and Mattie Roget and her sister, Ella, left Minnesota for the new town of Baker, Montana, with the dream of getting a homestead of their own. Mattie was a headstrong young girl. She had worked since she was fifteen years old, and when she and her sister had heard that homesteaders were needed in eastern Montana, they were more than eager to go and to begin to build something of their own for the years to come.

Shortly after arriving in Baker by way of the Milwaukee Railroad, Mattie was hired as a pastry cook in a small restaurant owned and operated by a Mr. and Mrs. Nate Lloyd. A full month's work of cooking and baking made Mattie the sum of $27.50, a good amount of money in 1909.

The first step in establishing a homestead was to have a homestead shack. A ten by twelve foot tarpaper shack that would serve as home, cost Mattie $120, which she must live in for the duration of a year to validate her homestead.

Mattie Roget Anderson homestead shack, 1910.

There were other duties associated with those of a cook, as Mattie soon found out. A saloon was next door to the cafe in which she worked, and gunshots were often heard. On one of the more "rowdy" days, a group of men from next door dragged a bleeding cowboy into the restaurant and laid him on the counter. Since Baker was void of a doctor at the time, Mattie was elected to take care of the unfortunate "gentleman."

The first few years in Baker proved to be an education for the young Minnesota farm girl. One day she was told that some men from the roundup were going to "paint the town red" on payday. Now that sounded like a good idea to young Mattie, who thought the buildings were much too drab looking anyway! She soon found out what the term meant, however, when cowboys rode wildly through the streets firing their guns in the air!

Other incidents took place occasionally, which might tempt one to say that early Baker had the makin's of a rugged western town. One afternoon Mattie walked into the Pearce store, which also served as Baker's first post office, only to find a group of men having their fun, at the expense of one very frightened fellow! Amidst a circle of laughing, cheering cowboys was a man desperately trying to avoid the bullets being fired at his feet at commands of "Dance, dance!" Needless to say, Mattie found it all quite exciting and naturally stayed to watch.

Fences were rarely seen around the newly homesteaded land around Baker, and in those days, scattered sightings of wild horses was not uncommon. One afternoon Mattie and her sister were visiting in the homestead shack when they heard an ominous thundering sound in the distance, growing louder and louder. One glance and the young women knew that danger was coming their way, and there was nothing they could do. Wild horses, when stampeding, run blind and destroy everything in their way. And nothing short of a miracle could possibly stop them until they ran their course. Imagine then, the girls' surprise when the herd split immediately upon reaching the tiny tarpaper shack, and thundered by on either side of it!

Adventures were many for the two young girls, but misfortune was destined to come their way. In 1911, shortly after Mattie had married Elmer Anderson and was pregnant with their first child, Ella, her sister, was stricken with typhoid fever and double pneumonia. The area doctor informed Mattie that there was nothing he could do, that her sister's case was definitely terminal. But Mattie refused to believe this, and for four long months, day and night, Mattie cared for her sister, and miraculously nursed her back to health.

Two years after the birth of her fifth child, Mattie had a terrifying premonition in a dream that her husband, Elmer, would die. Not long afterward in 1927, Elmer passed away of a mastoid infection. He was buried in his home state of Minnesota, and Mattie was left alone with five young children. Her eldest son, Alden, then in his early teens, kept the farm running until Mattie's marriage in 1931 to Fred Westrope. A son, Jack, was later born to them.

Mattie and Fred Westrope now reside at their farm near Willard, thirteen miles south of Baker. Four of Mattie's children: Alden, Evelyn, Lois and Edna live in San Diego, California, with their families. Another daughter, Darleen Kochel, resides in Bowman, North Dakota. Mattie and Fred's son, Jack, lives in Miles City, Montana.

FRED AND HULDA ANDERSON

During the spring of 1909, Theo Bergstrom and brother Henry Bergstrom and Albert Fost went out -to Baker, Montana from their home town of Murdock, Minnesota to file on homesteads.

The word came back to the Frank Lake Community and the homestead fever spread rapidly. Shortly after, Fred and Elmer Anderson, Alfred Berg, Sabin Berg, Oscar Swanson, Ella Roget (Mrs. Albert Fost) and Matilda Roget (Mrs. Elmer Anderson) and Hattie Bergstrom (Mrs. Charles Atkinson) left for Baker to file on land.

Shortly after, August Berg, Edgar Nelson, Alex Lindquist, Axel Bergdall, and Ole Roget went out to file on land.

During the fall of 1909, Fred, Elmer and Alfred Berg shipped out a carload of livestock and machinery and started farming the following spring.

Fred's homesite was close to the Ekalaka Trail and the stagecoach dropped off mail for the community at his place.

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Fred Anderson's first home and post office at Willard, Montana.

Later he succeeded in having a post office established at his place selecting the name Willard, (his middle name) and it remains that name to this day, although it has been moved 1/2 mile nearer to Willard Community Hall. Fred operated a General Merchandise Store in connection with the post office until moving to Minnesota during the spring of 1928.

Others from Minnesota who went out later and homesteaded or bought railroad land were Carl Fost, Otto Fost, Otto Berg, John Roget, Carl Roget, and Gilbert Gronseth.

Fred and Hulda had four children: Pauline of Minneapolis, Minn., Alvera (Mrs. Don Erickson), Eleanor (Mrs. Clinton Anderson) both of Rockford, Il. and Willard of Minneapolis.

Fred has a sister Mamie (Mrs. William Bergstrom) in Baker and two brothers, Walter, on a farm south of Murdock, Minn. and Arnold, a banker at Dassel, Minn. The late Mrs. Theo Bergstrom (Estelle) of this community was also a sister.

His wife Hulda passed away May, 1951 and Fred passed away March 2, 1961.

Walter C. Anderson homestead shack, 1916. Walter Anderson and Clarence Chatterton in picture.

W.G. ANDERSON

After graduating from Minnesota Agriculture School, I worked on my dad's 280-acre farm through 1916.

In the fall of 1916 1 went out to Willard, Montana where my brothers, Fred W. Anderson and Elmer Anderson and my sister, Mrs. Theo Bergstrom lived. There were other relatives and friends from Murdock, Minnesota living there also.

Four Anderson brothers - Left to right: Arnold, Fred, Walter and Elmer.

I bought a relinquishment on 320 acres located in Fallon County four miles west of the Knobs post office, from Clarence Chatterton. I moved out in March of 1917 and started farming. I farmed for four years with the drought cutting yields each year to a few bushels per acre.

Some neighbors in Knobs community-Chatterton brothers and Jake Sipma.

In the spring of 1921, 1 returned to Minnesota where I again operated my father's farm. I did this for four years until my brother Elmer took over and I went to trucking for the Murdock Farmers Creamery.

The winter of 1928 1 traded my Montana farm to Harry Nelson for a 195 acre farm in Minnesota, taking over a mortgage on the farm. It was tough going during the depression, but I pulled through it and am on the same place. I later added 80 acres to the farm.

I practiced diversified farming all the way. Lately, the trend is the dairy, beef or grain farming. When Lillian (my wife) passed away in 1945, 1 rented out my farm to Ardell Magnusen (my nephew) and lived in an apartment in part of the large house.

In 1960 1 purchased a 12 x 50 Rollo-Home trailer house and placed it next to my orchard. This is where I now live. I have an orchard of 85 trees or more as a hobby to take up the spare time. Most of my trees are home grafted. I add twenty to forty grafts each year.

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I have never regretted my Montana venture. It was a wonderful experience, getting out in a new country and getting to krow the wonderful friendly neighbors I had. There were the Richard Sipmas, the Dykhoffs, the Ed Celanders, the Dan Williams, the Nasset brothers, the Bush brothers and some names I can't recall. After all, that's 40 years ago

.

Ed Celander

Memories of these friends linger with me now through the sunset years of my life. A word of greeting to any of these and others I knew out there who may read these lines.

Clarence Chatterton

KATHERINE M. EGGE ANDERSON

This lady, together with her brother John, and sister Anna, came to the United States from their birthplace in Oslo, Norway, in the fall of 1905. An older brother, Rasmus, had immigrated to this country three years previously, and had taken a homestead in South Dakota, near the town of Bristol. It was this brother who had the money for the other three of his family to come, by steamship, to the new land.

Upon arrival in the new country, the three of them had to learn to speak the English language and get themselves some kind of employment. Katherine worked as a dishwasher at the Brooker Hotel. Later, as she got more experience, she became the assistant cook to the Scotch lady (Mrs. Schultz), who was the head cook at this hotel. Anna and John worked at various farm labor tasks.

One of the first men that Katherine met was the Methodist Sunday School teacher, Hans Peter Anderson. He had immigrated to the United States from Copenhagen, Denmark five years before and settled in the town of Bristol, South Dakota. Here he operated the local town dray-line, and in the winter put up ice for the railroad and the local patrons. Five years later-May 1910, Hans and Katherine were married.

They remained in Bristol for another year, and in August of 1912 their oldest boy Lloyd, was born. That same fall they moved farther west to Montana and homesteaded west of Baker and 15 miles south of Ismay.

To provide for his family, Hans worked in Ismay, where he laid all the water lines for the new town that was just beginning to build-with the coming of the railroad and the many homesteaders. This work was all hand labor, done with a pick and shovel. In the wintertime he cut and packed ice for the railroad and the towns-people. The ice was taken from the O'Fallon Creek.

Consequently it was the responsibility of Katherine to tend to the milk cows, chickens, garden and her family, which now consisted of another son, Hans, Jr., and a daughter, Alice, while her husband was busy with his town work.

They met with all the usual perils of the homesteader. In the winter of 1920 the homestead tar-paper shack burned and their few but prized possessions were lost. The family moved over to the Gibson place (the former Ted Redman place) for the winter, and another shack was moved onto the homestead place.

During those years, all the farming was done with horsepower, and the many work teams that they had were "broke" by the boys, Lloyd and Hans, and by their father. Following one of the many run-aways with the "broncs" and the machinery, Hans, Sr. had both ankles broken and was laid up for months. Because of this accident, it was necessary for the family to move closer to school, so they moved to the Bill Sidie place three miles south of Ismay and the children started school in Ismay that fall of 1923. During the winter they got even closer to town and school. They moved to the Cass place on the edge of Ismay.

Katherine busied herself with her family and another new son, Clarence, cooking for the many harvest hired hands, raising hundreds of chickens, and turkeys (which were shipped alive to the Butte market) and her big garden. The hired hands were many, as the farmland consisted of over 2,000 acres and it was all done with horses.

The many years of drought, grasshoppers, hailstorms and hard work gradually took its toll, and Hans, Sr. suffered a severe stroke in February of 1933. It paralyzed his right side and caused a loss of speech. He was committed to the mental institution at Warm Springs where he passed away in 1938. Katherine remained in Ismay with her family and with the help of the two older boys, paid off the many debts and managed to keep body and soul together. She worked in the W.P.A. sewing room with Mrs. Madge Monroe, as the Project Manager. She also cooked for the hot lunch program in the Ismay school when Mr. Herbert Goetz was the Superintendent.

The two oldest boys married and she still continued to live in her house with the youngest boy, Clarence, until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1941.

In June of 1941, she married August Swanson and two years later they moved to Miles City. In May of 1951, Gus passed away following a brief illness. She maintained her home at 115 North 8th and remarried in April of 1957 to Oscar Waite. In March of 1960 he passed away following a severe heart attack.

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You will find her still living at her home in Miles City, but she has had several years of failing health and is not quite so active, but in good spirits and glad to see all her many friends and acquaintances of many years.

HERBERT ARNKEN FAMILY

Herbert Arnken was born in Germany on January 17, 1920. His parents still live in Germany. During his boyhood he attended grade and elementary schools there.

In 1939, at the age of 19, he was drafted into the Military Service, where he remained until his capture in 1943. He was sent, at that time, as a prisoner of war to a POW camp in Tennessee where he stayed until 1946. He was returned to Europe, going to England and from there discharged to Germany in September of 1947.

In 1948 he married Frieda Fuchs, who was born in 1920. She was the daughter of Johann Fuchs, a farmer in East Germany. Here Frieda recieved her elementary and higher education, after which she became a seamstress and cook.

When East Germany was taken over by the Russians (after WW 11) in 1945 the family escaped to West Germany.

After their marriage, the Arnkens returned to the United States, settling near Plevna. Making the trip in February of 1950, the couple traveled by ship and then by train. They located on the Henry Fuchs farm, west of Baker, staying with relatives until 1952. Mrs. Arnken's grandparents had homesteaded near Plevna in 1909. (It was still Custer County at that time.)

In 1952, Herbert bought the Mikelson place. Frank Sparks, Ted Scheutzle and Jerry Smelter were their neighbors. Dry years in the early 50's made it diffucult to make a living on the farm so they sold out in 1957 and moved to Baker.

The couple have two children Barbel and Larry. Herbert is now engaged in oilfield and workover-rig service. Mrs. Arnken is a homemaker and cook at the Baker school lunch program.

They are affiliated with the American Lutheran Church. For relaxation they enjoy boating and camping.

THE HISTORY OF THE FRANK L. ASH FAMILY

By Beth Ash MeElfresh

In the spring of 1901 Frank Ash, our father, trailed a band of sheep from Great Falls, Montana to Little Beaver, North Dakota. Dad fell in love with the country and decided to move his family and ranching activities to North Dakota. As the land had not been surveyed, you could only take a squatter's right. Dad met a man by the name of George Smith who wanted to sell his improvements. The place was fenced, had a two-room cabin and a barn, which Dad bought. In the spring of 1902 Dad moved his family overland, by covered wagon from Stanford, Montana to Little Beaver, North Dakota.

We left Great Falls on April 15th, driving six bronchos, just off the range. All of them were "snaky" as could be. One, which we called Em, would balk at the drop of a hat. All six were weak and would break out in lather of sweat every few miles.

Our family was only four at that time. It consisted of Mother (Mary Hedgepeth Ash), daughter Beth, fourteen, Jessie, one year, and our father, Frank L. Ash. Our little sister, Joy, joined the family after we moved to North Dakota. We only made twelve to fifteen miles a day at first. When we were about fifty miles out of Great Falls a snowstorm, a real blizzard, hit us. What a storm that was! After the sun came out and the snow melted we had spring rains and gumbo mud to contend with.

When we reached Miles City we crossed the Yellowstone River on the old Swing Ferry at Buffalo Rapids. Our teams were badly frightened. My little cow horse tried to jump off the ferryboat with me in the saddle. We had three hired men with us at the time. Jim Ainsley went back to Great Falls later to start down with the sheep. Two of the men were from England, Jim and John Ainsley, and a cowboy from Great Falls. It was all the men could do to hang on to the teams and saddle horses while crossing, so we were glad when this part of the trip was over. The trail went by way of Ekalaka, Montana to Little Beaver. A buffalo hunter, D. A. Russell, married a Sioux Indian woman named Ekalaka. They lived in southeastern Montana. The town of Ekalaka was named for Ekalaka Russell.

It was the summer of 1902 that I first met Waitman McElfresh, better known as "C Y Scout." At the time he was repping for the C Y. Bob Divine was wagon boss. The C Y was owned by J.M. Carey and brother of Cheyenne, Wyoming. This meeting took place soon after we had settled on Little Beaver. I had made the trip from Great Falls on horseback as I helped drive some of the loose horses and cattle for Dad. I was surely some of the tanned. Blue eyes and golden hair do not go very well with a tanned complexion, but that did not bother me too much, until I met the Scout.

We were a very happy family to have landed on Little Beaver safe and sound. The hills looked so nice and green. Dad and Mother picked the spot to build our new log house. The two-room cabin would be our bunkhouse later, when the new house was finished.

Frank and Mary Ash at their old log ranch home on Little Beauer, North Dakota, 1912. Presented to the Baker Museum by their daughters in 1971.

After Dad got his men on the job of building a six room house and a dam on Little Beaver, Mother and I drove him to Wibaux, Montana to take the train to Great Falls to meet his two sheepherders and Jim. Dad was a sheepman at this time and trailed six thousand sheep to North Dakota that summer.

The morning the men started cutting down cottonwood trees to build our new home, I thought I would take a ride down Little Beaver Creek to see if we had any neighbors. I saddled up my horse, Midget, and rode up on the bench back of the cabins near where our new home would be. It was a wonderful sight. Cattle were all I could see as far as the eye could carry. Dotted here and there were white canvas-covered

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chuck wagons and cowboys in groups of twos and threes. They had just finished the horse roundup and started on the calf roundup. It was a pretty sight to look on after wallowing through gumbo mud for a month.

I rode on down "Beaver" for a couple miles. After riding around a bend in the creek I came, suddenly, upon a little log cabin nestled at the foot of a hill, surrounded by cottonwood trees. I was glad to find we had neighbors within two miles of us. I was afraid that some old bachelor lived there. I rode up and called "Hello." A woman came to the door. I told her I was Beth Ash and that we had taken up a squatter's claim two miles above them on "Beaver" and that Dad was a sheepman. She said she was Mrs. Doc Spry and they had cattle and had lived there for about two years. She said she was surely glad to have neighbors so close. Mrs. Spry asked me to tie up my horse and come in and meet Mr. Spry. They had two small children, a boy, Kenny, and a little girl named Josephine.

I asked if we had any more neighbors and she said, "Yes, Bill Smith and wife live a mile above you on Beaver." I found out later that a family by the name of Wetherill also lived above us on Little Beaver. They had four children. Grace, the oldest was married to Tilden Martin. They had one baby named Violet. The other Wetherill children were Fred, Maud and Ina. These children and I grew up together.

In 1904 after Dad lost one band of sheep he went into the cattle business and ran cattle the rest of his ranching days.

Frank Ash and his range stallion at the Little Beauer Ranch in North Dakota, 1902. Giuen to the Baker Museum by his daughters in 1971.

THE FRANK ASH FAMILY IN

MONTANA and North Dakota

By Jessie Ash Shenefelt

Frank and Mary Ash came from northwestern Montana to Little Beaver in southwestern North Dakota in 1902. Frank L. Ash was born near Ashville, Maine in 1859. He went west, first to California, in the late 1800's. Mary Hedgepeth Ash was born in Nodaway County, Missouri in 1864. She also went west in the late 1800's, where she taught school in Oregon.

They came as ranchers to North Dakota and bought improvements on a squatter's claim from George Smith. Later this became the family homestead after the government surveys went through. With them were their two daughters, Beth and Jessie. Beth was born in the state of Washington and was thirteen years old when they reached Little Beaver. Jessie was born at Big Timber, Montana in 1901. Little sister Joy was born at Wibaux, Montana in 1902 after the ranch had been established.

The Ash family's neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. B.F. "Doc" Spry with their two children, Kenny and Josephine; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Smith (no relation to George) and Mr. and Mrs. Dell Wetherill with their three daughters and a son. Grace (Mrs. Tilden Martin), Maud and Ina were the girls and Fred, the son. Over on the Little Missouri, the neighbors were the George Loudolph family, the William Stark family, also Lee and Arthur Filds who were bachelors.

The Little Beaver post office was at the Ash ranch with Mrs. Ash, the first and only postmistress. The post office was discontinued when the Milwaukee Railroad came through. Mr. Ash helped with the organization of Bowman County, North Dakota and was the first assessor.

Beth had attended schools in Oregon and Montana. Jessie and Joy finished the grades on Little Beaver. Beth and Maud Wetherill were close friends and popular girls of the neighborhood attending many dances and parties. Both were married the same year. Beth married W. W. McElfresh, (better known as Scout) October 21, 1905. They made their early homes near Camp Crook, South Dakota and on Boxelder, Montana. In 1914 Ash and McElfresh as partners in the cattle business, moved the ranching operation to Custer County, north of the Yellowstone River in Montana. Jessie and Joy attended high school at Miles City. It was more fun to go to dances near the ranch than school parties in Miles City. However, they rode the thirty miles horseback to the roundup in Miles City to help celebrate the Fourth of July. Like cowboys they rode the range with their father and loved it.

Later Jessie attended Colorado State Teacher's College at Greeley and taught school near Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was married to F.H. Shenefelt of Divide, Wyoming in June 1920. Three sons were born to the Shenefelts: Francis L. born August, 1921; Harold E. (Bud) born December, 1923; and Thomas W. born January, 1926. Three little boys on a dry ranch during the dust storms and the depression, was hard on the parents to see them go without many of the good things of life if not the necessities. There were good times too. Country-dances and every winter a play was put on by the seniors of the community that proved very entertaining. Later the Shenefelt family moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where Mr. Shenefelt held a civil service job at Grand Teton National Park. Here life for the family was new and wonderful. Later the Sheriefelts adopted a grandson (eldest son of Francis, born in Australia in 1944) named Frant T., who joined the family in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Here Mr. Shenefelt was still employed in government service and Jessie was employed in nursing.

Joy received her B. A. at the University of Wyoming at Laramie. She has taught many places in both Wyoming and Montana. The last twenty-four years Joy has taught at the Big Horn School at Big Horn, Wyoming near Sheridan. Joy has devoted her life to children and education.

Frank L. Ash deceased November, 1928. W.W McElfresh deceased May, 1948. Mary Hedgepeth Ash deceased August, 1958. All are buried at Sheridan, Wyoming. F.H. Sheriefelt deceased January, 1969 is buried at Big Horn Mount Hope Cemetery.

All three Ash sisters reside in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Our ancestors went west to California. Grandfather Hedgpeth and wife, Jane, came back to Missouri. Grandfather became a Methodist minister and raised a family of five boys and two girls, one of which was Mary Ash.

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CHRISTMAS 1904 by Beth Ash McElfresh

This is a little story of my "coming out" party. The Ash family consisted of just five-Mother, Dad , and three children. I was the oldest, Beth by name, then two baby sisters, Jessie and Joy.

Dad, a rancher, had both sheep and cattle. His sheep brand was FLASH. F.L. were his initials and the last three letters of his brand spelled Ash. Put together they made his brand FLASH.

We lived on Little Beaver in the southwest corner of North Dakota and had the only post office ever established on Little Beaver. My mother was postmistress of the Beaver Post Office.

On November 10, 1904 1 had celebrated my sixteenth birthday, so I was allowed to put up my hair and I was graduated to floor-length dresses. Mother and Dad decided I should have a "coming out" party, and Christmas Eve was selected as the date for this party. Mother ordered me a lovely blue silk dress, floor length with puff sleeves. The V neck and puff sleeves were trimmed with cream colored lace.

Mother and I were busy for the next few weeks getting ready for the party. We made pounds of fruitcake and all kinds of candy.

Dad sent two cowboys to the Badlands for a Christmas tree, quite a tall one, which I spent much time decorating. We had had quite a lot of snow but not much cold weather so we looked for many guests. Mother baked layer cakes and roasted turkeys and beef.

Christmas Eve finally arrived. Ranchers and their families, cowboys with their girl friends, some on horseback, some in sleds and some in wagons, came from miles around. The ones who came a long distance were served hot sandwiches, cake and coffee by Mother. For music we had two violins and the caller, Henry May, played the mouth harp for the round dances and called the square dances.

The two baby sisters were put to bed early along with the babies of the guests for people did not have "baby sitters" in those early days. Everyone brought their children with them.

It was a lovely party. Henry May, floor manager, called a waltz and Scout McElfresh, my future husband, and I were the first ones on the floor. At midnight Mother, with the help of neighbor ladies, served a midnight supper of roast beef and turkey with all the trimmings that go with roast turkey. Cake and lots of hot coffee were also served. It was at this supper intermission that my engagement to Waitman McElfresh, better known as Scout, was announced; marriage to take place a year later.

At one in the morning Dad came in to tell the guests that a blizzard was raging and that the thermometer registered 60 degrees below zero. Then and there everyone decided to stay and dance the night through and go home after daylight.

Mother served breakfast to all and Dad gathered rocks to heat in the oven. These were placed in the wagons and sleds, packed in hay. Children wrapped in blankets were nestled in the hay and warm rocks for the long ride home.

It was a lovely party of sixty-six years ago. I doubt that a party of that kind would provide much of a thrill to the young people of today but a few old-timers who are left will remember parties of that kind with pleasure. As far as I know there are only two people living, besides my two sisters, who were at my party. They are Maud and Ina Seaman, two life-long friends. They were the Wetherill girls who married brothers, Al and Walt Seaman.

At this time Dad had two bands of sheep, one being wintered at home and one in the Badlands. The band in the Badlands perished the night of my party. The snow was so heavy and the wind so strong that the sheep were covered and smothered. The herder was able to save only about twenty head out of a large band.

On October 21, 1905, 1 was married to "Scout" McElfresh. At that time he was wagon boss for the CY. Scout quit the C Y to run his own ranch and cattle but Robert Carey asked him to come back as manager of the C Y. Scout told him he would if he would be allowed to run his own cattle in North Dakota and Montana. Mr. Carey said it was okay with him. At that time Scout had a line camp on Little Beaver and a ranch on Box Elder Creek, Montana. Tom Ridgeway ran our cattle for us and we started our married life at the C Y Ranch at Camp Crook, South Dakota. The ranch house was a two-room dugout. There was also a bunkhouse, barn and a good spring so the ranch was called C Y Buffalo Spring Ranch. I could ride and brand cattle, and in later years learned to cook behind a chuck wagon when necessary. As a hobby I have been writing short stories for the last twenty years.

A FIRST CLASS RURAL SCHOOL

BEAVER SCHOOL

By Margaret Oestreich & Joy Ash

Published in the Marmarth Mail about 1914

In 1908 the people living along the Beaver Creek realized that they must have a school. Josephine and Kennie Spry, Jessie and Joy Ash, Loring Cleaveland and Mary Bradac were of school age. After much preliminary work a district was finally organized, with the following school board: George Cleaveland, Frank Ash and Henry May. Mrs. M. E. Ash was appointed clerk, and Doc. Spry as treasurer.

School began May 1908, with Miss Clara Doyle as teacher. As no building could be gotten ready so soon, school was held in a room of Bradac's house.

In the fall a neat little schoolhouse was put up and each year since, has seen something added and some improvement made.

Last year, aided and encouraged by Supt. Saxvik, they decided to make it a first grade rural school. A Smith heating system was installed, a drinking fountain, individual cups, foot scrapers, mats, and all the other required material such as books, maps, globes, etc., were installed and a first grade teacher hired. One of the noticeable improvements has been the building of a small house for the teacher to live in.

When the school was declared to be first grade, the people decided to use the $100 received from the state in still further improving the grounds and building. New adjustable seats were ordered, the walls kalsomined cream, the wood work stained oak. Bright colored matting was placed on the floor. A large screen and a border of green burlap for the display of pictures and children's work and green shades at the windows complete the color scheme of the room and give it a cheerful, home-like aspect.

The library is all that could be desired and steadily improving, as each year sees ten or fifteen dollars' worth of new books added, aside from the textbooks, which are new and up-to-date. Much supplementary work is to be had in all grades.

Mr. Cleaveland, president of the Board, is always ready to do promptly and well what is required by the school. He has served constantly since the organization of the school. So also has Mr. Ash, the second member of the board. He, too, is deeply interested in the school and its affairs. Mrs. Spry has not held office for so long but has been a great help, since she was a trained and successful teacher before her marriage, and so understands the need of schools and teachers. Besides this, her large and helpful library has always been free of access to teachers. Mrs. Ash, who has been clerk all these years, has always proven herself faithful and efficient in the care of her

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books and other district affairs. She, too, has been a teacher and has the education of her children deeply at heart. Last, but not least, comes the treasurer, B. F. Spry. Everyone knows "Doc" and knows he is always ready to write a check or tell a funny story as the occasion demands. He is the only treasurer the district has had or is apt to have for years to come, which speaks well for his efficiency and integrity.

At one time the district included the whole of the western end of Bowman County, but it is no longer so large. As the population increased, sections were cut off and it shrank to its present proportions.

The fact that the Little Beaver has never been bridged has always been bad for the children on the east side of the district. The creek is unsafe many times in spring and fall, so in 1911 it was decided to build another school house over there and hire a teacher for the children who could not always cross Beaver. The school was built and paid for, the teachers in each school paid $60 per month, janitors hired and all other expenses met that year, which shows a substantial financial basis. This year it is planned to place this second school also on the first grade roll of honor.

It would be unfair to close without saying something of the children themselves. They are unusually earnest and faithful in their work. An epidemic of whooping cough could not keep them home. Josephine Spry, Joy Ash and Michael Carroll never missed a day on this account. Only the most severe illness can keep them at home. Many months the attendance has been perfect. One little girl, Joy Ash, has not missed a single day in the three consecutive years taught by myself.

Kennie and Josephine Spry have advanced to the eighth grade which they will enter next year. Jessie and Joy Ash, Mary Bradac and Willie Carroll enter sixth grade, Michael Carroll, third; while little Alois is just beginning this spring.

FUN AT THE ROUNDUP

Taken from the Marmarth Mail - 1911 by Joy Ash

Last Sunday a party of townspeople went out to the Ash ranch to enjoy the final doings of the roundup by the ranchers in those parts and all had an exceedingly good time.

The branding had started at the Ridgeway Ranch the Friday before and had progressed nicely until it reached the Ash Ranch Sunday for the final wrestling match with the calves, a finer lot than which has never been seen by the editor man. Evidently the season has been a very favorable one for calves and the calves belonging to the herds along the Montana line were especially favored. The branding fete which was a novel experience to part of the visitors, started off about 11 a.m. when Tom Devasher, one of the old rope experts of the country, mounted on a wise old cow-horse, began the interesting stunt of roping the calves by a hind leg and "snaking" them up to the fire where they were properly trimmed and branded and turned loose. To record all the humorous wrestling contests between the men and the bull calves would occupy too much space but to say that they were numerous and entertaining would be putting it lightly.

At the call to dinner everyone dropped work as if they had been shot, and made a grand march to the wash basin, where the cool water from the bountiful well was applied to good purpose, after which the heavily laden table was filled by fourteen hungry men, who did ample justice to the "Cuisine Unexcelled" of the Hotel De Ash, which is so ably presided over by Mrs. Ash, a most attentive homemaker and genial hostess. After some fifty hungry people had been fed, activities were again taken up in the corral.

In the afternoon, Mr. Devasher gave way to Tom Ridgeway and Tilden Martin, both of whom are old range men, but neither of whom are as expert with the rope as Mr. Devasher, and the fun began in real earnest, for when calves, and good healthy strong calves at that, were brought up to the "wrestlers" on all fours, and bounding like a bucking bronc, the gladiators sure had their hands full.

The day was very enjoyable as well as entertaining to the "tenderfooter" and fifty years from now the various grandaddy stories will undoubtedly entertain many grandchildren who have as little idea of the present ways as the children now have of fifty years ago.

Tom Ridgeway was an uncle of Mrs. Nick Wellenstein of Plevna, the former Ridgeway of Camp Crook, South Dakota. This incident took place at the home of F. L. Ash, summer of 1911, in Little Beaver, North Dakota.

FLOODS AND BLIZZARDS

IN NORTH DAKOTA - 1913

Written to Skidmore, Missouri paper in 1913

by Mary Hedgpeth Ash

Editor

of The New Era.

Dear Sir: Thinking that perhaps my good friends of Skidmore might be interested in knowing how we fared during the floods and blizzards that recently struck this part of North Dakota, and not having time to write to each of them, and knowing that they all, or at least all ought to be, readers of that paper, I am sending you a short description of the flood and blizzard.

Easter Sunday, instead of being a day of sunshine and brightness, a day bespeaking spring's early greetings, a day when the ladies' go forth displaying their new spring millinery and Easter bonnets, was one of gloom and despair. For the weatherman treated us to one of the hardest snow storms of the season. In fact, it was a regular Nor'wester, a North Dakota blizzard and an Ohio flood all combined. It was not so severe or as long as I have seen but quite sufficient and lasted long enough, I assure you. On the Thursday following, a "chinook" wind began to blow and the snow vanished almost like magic. Then the small streams turned to mighty rivers and the valleys became seas of water.

We live about one hundred yards from a small stream called Beaver, and soon it was a raging torrent, bank full and at 8 o'clock Sunday night, March 31, it broke over the high banks and rushed down over the country up to our front porch. We then thought it high time to follow the example of the Patriarchs of old and "take to the hill country," which we did and that very unceremoniously too. The water covered the entire creek bottom until Monday night. Tuesday morning we returned to our home. What a desolate looking place it was with mud two inches deep over each of the six rooms. We had put everything in the house up out of reach of the water but the carpets, and the carpets-oh my! So you see why I said I did not have time to write to all my friends.

My incubator was setting in the house filled with eggs. I thought it was goodbye chicks, but yesterday I took off 101 little chickens and invite all my Skidmore friends up to eat fried chicken with us this summer.

We are thankful to say that we did not lose any stock, either in the blizzard or the flood. One brave old hen imagined she was a duck or a Noah's Ark, or something of the kind, and tried to swim the flood and lost her life.

The whole town of Marmarth was under water but no lives were lost. The spring here has been very backward and

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cold. I don't want to see any more total eclipse of the moon, Dakota blizzards, Ohio floods, chinook winds, Equinox and Easter Sundays all combined. It doesn't seem to be the most conducive to sweet dispositions and good health.

Wishing all my Skidmore friends a prosperous, happy year, I will ring off.

Mary Hedgpeth Ash

Marmarth, North Dakota

MR. AND MRS. GERARD [JERRY] ASHLEY

I, Jerry, was born at Meridith, Montana, a distance of 35 miles north of Miles City on July 8, 1916. My parents were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ashley. They did not homestead but lived on the ranch where I was born. They raised cattle and horses. My father "roped" for the L-7, the 101 and the Turkey Track outfits in the early 1900's. The Turkey Track outfit ran stock where Fallon County now is. When the railroad came through he worked on the crew building bridges and railroad fills. When that work was finished he stayed on and helped build the dam, which made Baker Lake. He used a "fresno" and a four horse team.

J.J. Ashley, father of Jerry Ashley, working for the Milwaukee Railroad near Baker in 1908.

We managed to weather the depression by selling the cattle and buying sheep and acquiring a smaller ranch close to Miles City. My mother passed away when I was only a baby, so I was, for the most part, reared by my father. I used to follow him around whenever and wherever I possibly could, and by doing so I learned to care for livestock and attend to ranch activities at an early age.

I attended the rural school north of Miles City and high school at Miles City. I did not go to college but went to work. In those days we used to go by team and wagon to Miles City to rodeos, 4th of July celebrations and horse racing events. One of my memories is of getting up in the dusky, early morning hours before "sun-up" to wrangle horses. When I was 18 years old I rode 40 miles to Miles City so that I could ride in the parade when they had their Jubilee Celebration in 1934. 1 had to ride all night to get there. What a thrill that was!

I spent much time herding sheep, of course, digging coal and hitching and driving a three bottom plow which was powered by nine or ten horses.

After I left home I worked at various jobs which included logging, haying, feeding cattle and breaking horses. Sometimes I got my room and board and sometimes I got fifty cents a day.

In 1937 1 married Marion Cain. We had two children, Marge and Dareen. This marriage did not last and we were divorced in 1945. After that I worked for the Fulton Ranch for several years. In 1950 1 married Dorothy Frankland Hanley. We have one daughter, Ann, who is attending college in Bozeman. I am presently employed by the M.D.U. at the Cabin Creek Plant.

Editors Note: Jerry Ashley died in November of 1973 and is buried at the Custer Battlefield.

W.B Frankland family in 1921. Mr. Frankland, Betty, Ada and Dorothy.

I, Dorothy Frankland, was born on the homestead of my parents, William and Adelaide Frankland, on October 11, 1915. My parents came to Montana in 1910 and homesteaded on Hay Creek, which is 30 miles northwest of Ismay. My father had always wanted to "prove up" on a homestead.

During my childhood I played alone most of the time, as I was the only child in the neighborhood for several years, but I did have the company of many adults. I used to take turns visiting some of our neighboring families as well as at grandmother's home, so I was "perhaps" a rather pampered child and somewhat old for my age. Some of those years the moisture was not sufficient for successful farming and the winters seemed long and severe. The 30 miles of prairie roads that we had to travel to get to town made traveling a real chore.

I can remember riding to the rural school on Hay Creek in a buggy or sleigh with heated bricks to keep my feet warm and being covered by a buffalo robe. Also I remember taking heated flat irons to bed at night to warm the bed and keep me warm.

My first school party was an affair to be remembered because, 'Wonders of Wonders', they served Jello! I had three woolen serge dresses which I wore with a collar and cuffs. The collar and cuffs were cleaned every day. I also had to wear long underwear under black sateen bloomers until Easter. Our Christmas tree was beautiful always. It was covered with lighted candles, each in its own little metal snap-on holder.

I shall never forget the Christmas that Santa couldn't come, but father met him in the woods where Santa gave him a decorated tree and told him that he would come later on. The real reason was that the snow was so deep that no mail could be had for a month. That was one of my best Christmas's because I had a father who had actually talked to Santa.

During the summer I can remember running to the cellar when a wind storm approached. I always made sure to carry along some graham crackers and cream since I was not one to suffer! I also enjoyed riding to town in the lumber wagon and having a treat of lemonade with real ice'in it.

 

We lived on the homestead until I was 7 years old. I attended the Hay Creek School and later the school at Ismay

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