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

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cut and stacked and later made into bundles to be used as fuel. With drought, grasshoppers and blizzards in that flat and level country and with the memories of these hardships fresh in their minds they discouraged us in the thoughts of homesteading in a new country.

After five years on a farm we had a sale and moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. where Will motored on a Street Car for five years but was not contented. He would say, "Some day we will go west on a ranch." I was perfectly willing to go as I knew he would never be satisfied until he went west. After reading of claims to be taken near Baker, Montana, Will and his car conductor, B. Spalding, decided to go out there. So in the spring of 1910 Will and Spalding left for Montana. They both filed on a claim 1 1/2 miles north-west of the Willard post office which was run by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Anderson from Murdock, Minnesota. The Anderson's also had a small supply of groceries in one room of their home.

 

William Moscrip homestead shack-1910.

Will and Spalding returned home and resigned their jobs on the streetcar, and bought a carload of supplies to ship to Baker. Each bought a span of mules, a wagon and a plow, a couple of cows and a few chickens and groceries that would keep and some necessary furniture for the house. We landed on the claim in April 1910. There was not a fence or a well on the claim. We hauled water 1/2 mile from a spring on the Spalding claim, which joined ours on the north. In the fall we had a well dug near our barn and got very good drinking water. Later we bought the Spalding place and Spalding bought "Grandpa Shreve's" ranch. Although we didn't have any luxuries we were busy and happy and time went by so fast. We bought more land and shipped us a car load of cattle as we had decided to stay in Montana and make it our future home. We had a lot of disappointments; hail, drought, and grasshoppers, but we always had hopes that next year would be better. We had lovely neighbors and made life long friends, but so many now have passed away. We would all get together in our shacks and later on we met at the Farmer's Willard Club on the N. E. corner of section 7, owned by us. The hall was built by one carpenter with the help of all the neighbors in the community. It was for church, social gatherings, political elections, dances and etc. We had church services in our tarpaper shacks before the hall was built and all the neighbors would come. After church we would serve sandwiches, cake and coffee for lunch. I know the community people all appreciated the new hall.

On April 30, 1919 a son, Edward M. Moscrip, was born. We lived on the old ranch until the fall of '31 then bought the W Hey Ranch and lived there for 2 years until Edward finished the eighth grade. Then we moved to Baker and lived there until he finished high school in 1936. The fall of '36 we moved to Rapid City, S. D. where Edward entered The School of Mines. In the spring of 1937 we moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Edward planned to enter the University.

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We bought a grocery store and operated it until the fall of 1942. Edward was married in 1941 to Anna May Barnicle of Minneapolis.

In the spring of 1942 Edward enlisted in the Air Corps. He spent 9 months and received a medical discharge. We turned the store over to him and decided to go to Florida for the winter and come back and help him in the summer. In 1947 we sold the store. We had decided to spend 3 months in Florida, go to Montana for three weeks and then to Sioux Falls, S. D. where we were born. Our last trip to Montana was in 1956. I still own the ranch out there and it has been operated by Jake Schweigert and son and has been for 35 years or more. Our lives in Montana were busy and happy

years.

Edward was employed by the Dow Chemical Company for 20 years. He has now bought a lovely Apartment House in Lakeland, Florida. His daughter, Susan Furman, lives in Detroit, Mich. and has five children-so I have 4 great-grandchildren. Chuck Moscrip is married and lives in San

Francisco where he is a lawyer. Mary K. their youngest is in high school.

I live with Edward and family as they did not want me to live alone any more. I had a birthday September 6, 1972 and was 91 years old and am not as spry and alert as when we homesteaded in Montana, but am so very grateful that God has guided and cared for me all these years, in sickness and sorrow, in health and happiness.

William G. Moscrip passed away in Lakeland, Florida December 12, 1963 and is buried in Memorial Gardens in Lakeland.

GLADYS BURCH MOSELY

In 1908 my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Burch, decided to leave Texas and come north to "the land of opportunity. " 1 was nine months old at the time. We came as far as Belle Fourche, South Dakota by railway train and from there we made our way to the Ridgeway Community on Box Elder Creek in Montana. My father filed on a claim and started to farm. He also worked on some of the ranches around that part of the country. He later acquired a few cattle and sheep of his own.

One would think, that being so far from any settlements, there wouldn't be much to keep one occupied. It was thirty-five or more miles to Ekalaka and seventy-five or eighty miles to Belle Fourche. To the contrary there was plenty to do. Besides going to school, I had to help with the farm chores, the gardening and had to see after the younger children of the family. I also learned to mend, sew and cook. At times I had to ride horseback after the cattle. I liked to read so I spent many enjoyable hours with books. In the wintertime we went coasting, had skating parties, went to country dances and Christmas Community programs. In the summers we swam in the creek and reservoirs, attended local ball games and visited the neighbors.

The year of 1915 was a good year and the crops were "Great," so there was an influx of settlers. The winters of 1911, 1912 and 1919 were real hard, and after the winter of 1919 things were pretty bad. There was a great loss of livestock that winter.

One year the Box Elder flooded. The creek was a mile wide and the water was a foot deep in our house.

Some of our neighbors were; H. W. Ewalt, John Thompson, the Mahnkens, the LeFors, the Carmacks, Carl Burch and the Tom and Will Johnston families.

I attended grade school at the Johnston Rural School and went to the Carter County High School at Ekalaka. I went to college at Dillon, Montana and at Spearfish, South Dakota and became a school teacher. At first I taught in rural schools and then taught the fifth grade at Baker, Montana.

Claude Moseley and I were married in the church parsonage at Ekalaka on June 29, 1931. We had two girls; Ann (Mrs. Henry Haagenstad) and Mery Lee (Mrs. George Dietz).

My husband, Claude, passed away of a heart attack on February 2, 1965.

I have four grandchildren; Cathy Haagenstad Stevens, Kerry Haagenstad and Dawn and Dennis Dietz.

I live in my own home in Baker where I have lived for

WHY THE MOST FAMILY CAME TO MONTANA

The earlier settlers that came to Montana to homestead took squatter's rights. My uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Tull and family, left their home in Illinois, and came to Montana in 1909 to homestead about 40 miles south and east of Baker, Montana in a section of the county which was later known as the Knobs vicinity. Before there was a Knobs Post Office the Tulls got their mail at Concord, South Dakota which was located near the Little Missouri River and the Box Elder Creek. After the Tulls settled in Montana, Mrs. Tull's brother, Schuyler Most, and a nephew, Conard George, came out to the Knobs area and took up squatter's rights (that is to settle on public land under regulations by the government in order to get a title to it).

However a little later Conard George was exploring in the Chalk Buttes country so decided to take a homestead there and raise cattle. Later his father, Rastus George from Missouri, came out and took a homestead near his son Conard.

Three Corners marker in the Knobs Vicinity, Many people haue had their pictures taken by this marker that marks where three states touch, North Dakota, South Dakota and N.lontana. People in the picture, right to left; Euelyn Most, Edna George, Conard George and Donald Most.

John George Most and wife, Elizabeth came to Montana in their senior years and homesteaded near their son, Schuyler Most. In 1917 George W. Most came out to Knobs to visit his parents, John and Elizabeth, his brother, Schuyler Most, and his sister, Mary Tull. He liked it here and bought a relinquishment from Frank Thomas and proved up on the piece of land. He sold his home in Illinois and moved his family out to Montana in March of 1918. Here they farmed and ranched for many years, like so many of the homesteaders did, although many of the hornsteaders moved away looking for a better and easier life.

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The Mosts remained and struggled through the poor years and with the better years, they were able to live and meet their debts. Grandpa and Grandma Most, as they were better known, passed away in their full years. Grandma in her 88th year and Grandpa in his 95th year. They are both buried in the Bonnievale Cemetery at Baker, Montana. Their son, George Most, passed away in 1945 after a short illness and was buried beside his parents.

George's wife, Catherine, lived on the ranch until 1958. Upon selling her ranch to Wayne Cox, she purchased a home in Baker and lived there for several years, at which time her health started to fail. She then moved in with her daughter Evelyn Most Knapp and husband, and lived with the ranch for several years. She passed away in the 88th year and is buried in the family lot.

George and Catherine Most had four children; three daughters and one son. Donald Most and wife and their six sons and one daughter all live in Sioux City, Iowa. Schuyler Most, George’s brother, and his wife, Gladys, moved to Troy, Montana. Gladys taught several schools in the Knobs vicinity before they moved to Troy. She also taught school in Troy for several years. Evelyn Most Knapp and husband, Wilbur, live on the ranch on Box Elder Creek which they bought from Iver Hyland in 1939. They still raise cattle and farm a little. They have one son, Conard, who is married and lives in Baker and runs a transmission shop. Ruby Most Phillips lives in Bremerton, Washington and Orel Most Ancelet lives in Medford, Oregon.

These early settlers now live in modern homes, and the ranches have enlarged in acres and much farming and ranching is being carried on.

 

 

Iuer Hyland ranch house, 1939 - the Knapps purchased the ranch that year. Left to right; Schuyler Most, George Most and Wilbur Knapp.

REFLECTIONS OF EVELYN MOST KNAPP

We had to go three miles for our mail to the Knobs Post Office. Mail days were Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I rode horseback usually after the mail. I was planning on riding the saddle horse named General for the mail. My sister, Ruby, wanted to go for the mail, and then my mother wanted to go for the mail. I said, "I'll hitch up General to the buggy and we will all go for the mail." General worked well in the fields with four horses to a drill but was never hitched to a buggy. My father had told me not to hitch General to the

Wilbur Knapp, one man hay crew, taken at the Iver Hyland rawch, 45 miles south of Baker on Box Elder Creek. Notice the long prairie grass.

buggy, but Father and brother, Donald, had gone to the pines for a load of poles to build a corral and weren't home at that time.

When I had General hitched to the buggy I just had the riding bridle on him. He stood very quiet while being harnessed to the buggy. I said to my folks, "Come see our Buggy Horse." I led him up a few steps, he felt those shaves and perhaps he thought they were spurs. He started off frightened, with me hanging on to the short reins. He went through Mother's nice garden. There was no fence around the garden. I heard my mother say, "Oh my beans." I was glad when we got through the garden, but he turned around and came back through the garden, through her nice bean patch, around our sod shanty, hit a "blow out," and the buggy took an awful bounce.

The buggy seat flew out. I was still holding on to the reins. He took off through the sage flat west of the house for about a fourth of a mile. By that time he had bucked around and was facing the buggy. Mother followed me. She undid the tug on one side, and I undid the tug on the other side. I spanked him with the tug and led him home. The buggy was wrecked, and no one went for the mail.

Soon after this, Jeannette Tull, a cousin, came riding up on a saddle horse. She thought it was funny. She said, "When Uncle George comes I'll tell him I hitched Blue Buck to the buggy and he wrecked it. " About that time here came Father and Donald with their load of poles. I watched them coming. They were looking at the buggy when they passed by. When they came in the house, Jeannette told them she had hitched Blue Buck to the buggy and wrecked it. I was sitting on a chair in a corner, and was my face red. Father looked at me and said. "Did you hitch General to the buggy?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Any time you folks want to go places the road is open."

That summer we had to walk three miles to church at the Hilmont School House, and walk back home. My mother walked with us. We went every Sunday. Before the summer passed my father bought a one seated "Jitney Car" with a fair sized box on the back. This way we all could ride and we thought it was a luxury. The cars were few in the neighborhood. Uncle Schuyler Most had a one seated car and we got to ride in it occasionally. 0. H. Knipfer owned a seven passenger car and it was about the first car in the country.

As I said before we came out to Montana in March of 1918. The depression hit us in 1919. There was no grass for the cattle, so we moved to Baker on the Latham place west of Baker. My father shipped hay from Cresbard, South Dakota to feed our cattle. He also sold hay to the farmers and made a living for his family.

We moved back to the homestead in the spring and put in a crop and managed to stay on the place throughout the

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years. We had bad years again in 1935-36 and many cattle froze to death, due to the long sub-zero weather. There wasn't much hay, so had to haul hay from Baker, down to Marmarth and on the ice on the Little Missouri River. The roads were blocked with snow.

Evelyn Most, cowgirl, 1929

It was a struggle to haul hay and get it to the cattle. Just about every neighbor lost some cattle. The "Vet" said the prolonged sub-zero weather causing frost in the spine of the cattle was what caused them to lie down and die. It was nine days getting the first load of hay to our cattle.

Donald left in his car taking Gene Frates with him. He was the teacher at Hilmont School and was boarding at our home. They left early in the morning of January 31 , 1935. That night about nine o'clock our dogs barked and here walked in Donald and Gene. They got as far as the Urvin Cox home. Mr. Cox told them maybe the snowplow would come out and if they waited until the next day he would go with them. Gene Frates decided not to go with them, so Donald and Roy Prichard went to Cox's the next morning and Mr. Cox and Lloyd Young went with Donald in his car.

They first went the East Road, thinking the snow plow might open the oil road to the Booster Plant, but no such luck, so they came back. Lloyd decided to stay home and the others went on to the Webster Road. They didn't get very far on that road either. Donald was bucking snow with his car up to the radiator. He said, "Fellows we aren't going any further in the car," so they decided to walk.

It was so cold they held their mittens over their noses to keep them from freezing, however a snowplow came out on the West Road, so they stopped at the Norman Ranch. Jimmy Norman was home. He was wintering cattle for someone. He told these fellows he'd take them to Baker, but he would have to come right home, so as to be with the cattle in case a wind came up and blew the roads shut again.

Donald wanted to rent a truck to haul our hay, but no one would rent out trucks as there were too many trucks broken down already. Allen from Camp Crook had a truck for sale at Baker. Donald bought the truck but he had to mortgage his Dad's truck and also his car, in order to buy the truck. This took a few days before the deal was made.

Mr. Prichard was so worried over his family at home that he wanted to walk back home, as he feared they were starving, but Mr. Cox told him he couldn't walk back and take them food. That road was blocked by snow that night after they got to Baker. Mr. Cox didn't come out with Donald and Mr. Prichard.

They loaded the truck with hay and groceries and went by way of Marmarth and came down the Little Missouri River. Then they cut across country to our place. Carl Logar, a neighbor, had brought beans to the Prichards on horseback and Gene Frates had dug out coal from the slack pile until Schuyler Most was able to come with a team and sled of coal for the Prichards.

Mrs. George Most sent some frozen potatoes with Junior Prichard, who was only 12 years old. He rode a Shetland Pony to our place. I rode my saddle horse back with him, but as we mounted our horses Junior saw this truck coming from the east. It was Donald and Mr. Prichard. We rode over to the gate. Donald was honking the horn and was so happy to see so many cattle on their feet.

Mr. Prichard told Junior they would be over after a while and bring some grub. It surely lightened our hearts. As we rode up to Prichards, Jean came out all wrapped up ready to go look for Junior. Schuyler asked where Junior was, and was told that he had gone to Mosts for potatoes. Schuyler said, "He's probably froze to death in a snow bank." He thought Donald and Mr. Prichard had both frozen to death. There were no phones or any other communication of any kind. There was reason to worry, but all one could do was wait.

Schuyler had brought the coal to Prichards but had left before we rode up. I told Jean I'd try to catch up with my uncle and tell him that the men had arrived home. He never looked back so I never caught up with him until he drove into the yard where Mr. and Mrs. John Phillips were living.

Schuyler had some sage hens to take to the Phillips to eat. Mrs. Phillips came to the door and I heard Schuyler say to her, "I tell you its getting serious." I caught up with him and told them that Donald and Mr. Prichard were back home. It was like music to their ears.

Donald had groceries for several of the neighbors and he got them to them. It was the 9th of February when they got home.

Our father, my sister, Orel, and I fed our cattle straw while Donald was away. It was an old straw stack. Perhaps it was three years old, so we put straw in wash tubs and carried it in a sled to the feed troughs so the wind wouldn't blow it away.

We were getting pretty low on straw when Donald came with hay. We went into the winter with a hundred head of cattle. Twenty-eight head of our cattle froze to death. Some were our milk cows. The following winter was another bad one and we lost another eighteen head of cattle. These were the only winters that we lost cattle, and those were the winters we never forgot.

 

Snowy winter, 1965

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"WHY I LEFT MONTANA"

By Orel Most

In twenty years I grew up

Within Montana State.

I didn't know better lands

Outside her borders wait.

The wind I took for granted.

The wheat fields short and thin.

To wish for something better

I tho't would be a sin.

In the spring we planted.

No rain from north or south,

And hoppers ate the thistles

That grew in spite of drought.

We tried again-we tried in vain

With hopelessness about.

The hoppers, drought and wind combined,

They could not drive us out.

Then winter in her fulblast came

With howling wind and snow

We tried to buck the temperature

At fifty-five below.

Our food was getting mighty low.

Yet still felt no alarm.

Until our cattle froze to death

While standing in the barn.

With all the summer's pestilence,

I would have stayed no doubt.

But in the year of thirty-six,

That winter drove me out.

I'd like to go back there right soon

and visit - -not to stay,

To greet the faces dear to me,

And then be on my way.

One time an oil rig came out

Probed 'neath that earth so bare.

Oil was struck, the news was spread

That lightened our despair.

But men we call "Big Money"

Have kept it in the spout.

And until Montana spurts black gold,

Its weather keeps me out.

ELIJAH A. MULKEY

Source of information -WPA - Montana - Federal Writer's

Project and One-Hundred-One Ranch - Clarence Myhre

Res. Worker - 1940

Elijah Mulkey was born in La Fayette County, Missouri on March 15, 1862. His father was the owner of a plantation which was worked by Negro slaves. Both his parents died when he was five years old. He was adopted by the brother of Robert Yokley of Webster, Montana - a pioneer stockman of Eastern Montana.

He was taken from his home in Missouri to Texas - the land of large herds of cattle and horses - where he began his colorful career. At an early age he had shown a great love for cattle and horses and had gained a reputation as a rider and handler of horses. When only 17 he was in charge of a large herd of cattle and was made foreman in charge of men for one of the large cattle companies. Before long he was a "tophand" for the Standard Cattle Company whose headquarters were in Texas but whose forty thousand head of livestock were scattered through out the north and central western states. While still a young man he was in charge of trailing herds from Texas to the Montana range and then to Ames, Nebraska where the Standard Cattle Co. had purchased a

E. A. Mulkey, 1910 or 1912-on his favorite stock horse "Babe".

sugar beet factory. The beet pulp was ideal for fattening the cattle before sending them to market.

It was while Mr. Mulkey was working for the Standard Cattle Co. in 1892, that he was placed in charge of rangelands south of Baker. The State of Montana, at that time, being entirely open range.

The first herd of Hereford cattle arrived in Montana from Morecroft, Wyoming in the spring of 1888. They were scattered on different parts of the range and left to shift for themselves for two years. These were two-year-old steers and spayed heifers.

The headquarters for the new ranch was on the banks of the Little Beaver Creek 17 miles south of Baker. At first no buildings were constructed. The men who were left to take care of the herds stayed in Ekalaka or at Mr. Charles Emerson's, a pioneer rancher of Carter County.

First ranch house of the 101 Ranch on Little Beaver, it later burned.

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In 1890 the Standard Cattle Company decided to construct a few buildings on their 101 Ranch in Montana. Logs were cut in the Pine Hills of Carter County and hauled to the banks of the Little Beaver Creek. A log house was built for the men and poles were cut with which to construct corrals for the saddle horses. No corrals were used for the purpose of branding as all this type of work was done on the open range.

101 Ranch Roundup Camp.

After Mr. Mulkey was put in charge of the Montana 101 Ranch, the corrals, the bunkhouses and sheds were finished under his supervision. The spread was recognized as being one of the best planned and built ranching headquarters in the northwest.

Cook shack at Mulkey's 101 Ranch.

It was on one of his trips to Nebraska that Elijah met and married Miss Clara Dodge. He brought her back to the 101 Ranch where she easily adapted herself to the career of being a western rancher's wife. To this union was born one child, a girl, whom they named Violet, and in whose honor the post office known as Violet, Montana was named.

Violet or the location of the 101 Ranch was a natural stopping place on the trail between Belle Fourche, South Dakota and Wibaux, Montana. Freighters and travelers made regular stops to rest and feed their horses before continuing on their journey. Always the travelers were

Violet Mulkey and her pet antelope at the 101 Ranch.

greeted by Mr. Mulkey in the true western spirit. The 101 Ranch was also headquarters for community events and baptismals were often held in the waters of Little Beaver Creek, which wound its way through the ranch.

In 1905 the homesteaders and small ranchers began moving into Montana and settling on the range lands which had been used by the Standard Cattle Company and it was in this year that the large company decided to close out its operations in this part of the country. Accordingly the Company gave the Mulkeys a number of head of horses and sold them some cattle and transferred the 101 brand to them. Mr. and Mrs. Mulkey were then in the ranching business for themselves. They soon acquired a herd of more than 3000 head of cattle and continued to play a prominent part in the cattle industry.

 

 

Visitors at the 101, picture taken before the original house burned. Left to right, Mrs. Ed [Doue] Lawler, Dr. Potterton, Mr. Mulkey, Phyllis Rushton. Rushton, Baby - Anna Mae Lawler, Stella Potterton and Ed Cannon.

The operation became more and more confined by the coming of the homesteaders until only a small part of the original herd was kept.

Elijah A. Mulkey was a picturesque character of the western type whose life was surrounded with hardships and sorrows all of which gave him a wholesome, helpful philosophy of life. He was truly a man among men,

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demanding from them honesty and integrity. He had a reputation of a gentle, manly attitude and kindly consideration for women and children. To this end he lived his life. He died March 5, 1937 at the age of 75 years.

Ladies from Baker, out at the 101. Seated, Violet Mulkey and her mother. Left to right, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. L. E. [Ruth] Baker, Mrs. Lewis [Esther] La Cross, Mrs. Leo Burns, Mrs. Jay Comstock, Mrs. Doctor [Edith] Tarbox, Mrs. Paul Hubbard, Mrs. Martin [Birdie] Russell, Mrs. Ray Sutton [Mildred Lamb], Mrs. L. F. [Edith] Bruggeman. Far back between Mrs. Comstock and Mrs. Tarbox is Mrs. L. W. [Nellie Lou] Busch.

After Mr. Mulkey's death, Mrs. Mulkey carried on the operation of the ranch until her death. In later years there were few cattle on the ranch as sheep had taken their places. Some farming was done but mostly for feed for the livestock.

Violet Mulkey married "Tex" Atkinson the son of a Texas Doctor.

Tex Atkinson, husband of Violet Mulkey.

Pictures for this article loaned by Jean Emerson Hamilton.

MR. AND MRS. J. K. MUNSELL

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Kelly Munsell came to Baker, Montana in a Model T Roadster in 1935. They had lived in Minnesota before that, and that was where their son J. K. was born. R. K. (Buck) Munsell ran a butcher shop and grocery store in addition to having a ranch and doing some cattle buying on the side. JK was fourteen years old when his folks came to this community. He remembers that it was in the midst of the depression and the country was terribly dry with nothing but sage brush and jackrabbits growing. He says it was so dry that even the jack rabbits carried their own lunches. Times were real " tuff ". He remembers that at times he had only one pair of overalls and a patched shirt to wear.

The family lived in town and considered all of Fallon County its neighbors.

As he was growing up JK finished grade school and high school in Baker and worked all the time. There were no exceptions.

In 1944 JK married Rebecca Woolsey at Billings. Rebecca had come to Baker to teach school, as have so many of our women over the years. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Woolsey, did not homestead at McLeod but her grandparents did. Rebecca attended elementary school at McLeod and high school at Big Timber, Montana. Her college education was acquired at Billings.

Rebecca and JK are members of the Baker Community Church (Congregational) and have the Bowling Lanes in Baker. There are five children in the family. They are Graham, Kelly, Max, Launa and Neil.

"Buck" Munsell, the father, passed away several years ago and Mother Munsell, although not so well, is still living here.

Editor's note-"Bud" Price remembers that his dad "Lew" Price, Sr. considered "Buck" Munsell as a man who knew his cattle". It seems there was one cow in the herd of Herefords at the L. Price Ranch that always put out a good strong calf but the markings weren't up to the standards of the herd. Every year at calf buying time "Buck" would point to the new calf and say "I thought I told you to get rid of that cow.

There is her calf again". He could tell her calf when others couldn't.

MR. AND MRS. WESLEY MUNSELL

Wesley Francis Munsell was born in Redwood County, Minnesota on December 8, 1918, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Kelly Munsell. In December of 1934 the R.K. Munsells came to Baker, Montana when Wesley was sixteen years old. Mr. Munsell opened a butcher shop and grocery store. He was also a rancher and did some buying of livestock.

Wesley received his grade school and part of his high school education in Minnesota. He finished high school in Baker. After finishing high school in 1936 he ran the market for his father.

Agnes Weinschrott and Wesley Munsell were married on October 15, 1939 at Plevna, Montana. Agnes is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Weinschrott.

She grew up and got her education in Plevna. After finishing high school she attended college at Missoula, Montana. During the years at Plevna, besides the usual activities, she helped in her Dad's Hardware Store. From the age of six years she helped stock the shelves, dusted and helped take inventory.

In 1943, "Wes" and Agnes moved to the former Walker farm which is six miles south west of Baker. In 1946 they moved to Miles City, Montana to run the Miles City Packing Company, at the same time continuing the ranch operations.

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He is active in livestock organizations and in 1968 was president of the National Livestock Dealers Association and in 1969 was chairman of the Board of Directors. Besides these activities, Wes has taken an active part and has held offices in civic, school and church organizations.

Agnes has also been active in and held offices in church, school and civic organizations. She is on the Hospital Advisory Board, a member of the Hospital Guild, Pink Ladies, Scouts, 4-H, Red Cross, Heart Association and Cancer Association. Along with all these things over the years she has found time to play the organ, first at the St. Anthony Catholic Church at Plevna and later she played the organ and sang in the choir at the St. John's Catholic Church at Baker.

The Munsells have ten children. They are Russell, Susanne, Judith, John, Mary, Sally, Janice, Joseph, Deborah and Richard. There are six grandchildren.

ROBERT JAMES [MIKE] MURPHY

My parents were James and Martha (Hasty) Murphy, and I came to live with them on Feb. 17, 1928. They named me Robert James, but my dad immediately began calling me "Mike" as I was born on the day of my brother Pat's birthday, and my own son, Patrick was born later on a date only 2 days before our birthdays. So it has been "Pat and Mike" from the start!

Pat and Mike /R.

J.1 Murphy, 1928

My father had a claim south of Plevna and my mother's homestead was a short distance east of Baker. It was here that they lived and operated a dairy farm till 1918. Mother was a very successful hand with chickens, also. At one time, in very early days, she had a flock of large, meaty chickens called Black Langshans. These chickens had a row of small soft feathers all down the outside of their legs, and some neighboring "honyock" children were much intrigued by the feathered legs and said that the Black Langshan chickens wore "chaps"!

My family left this location in 1918 and moved to a site 12 miles east of Baker and 2 miles from the N.D. line, where they settled and where we still reside. There they proceeded to farm and build up a herd of Hereford cattle. Our place was near the old "Yellowstone Trail" and many people used to stop in to water their horses, and at times, Mother fed and provided a bed for travelers. Once several people were stranded there for a few days.

We lived through all the tribulations and satisfactions offered by a tricky Nature as well as the depression of the 30's. I can still remember the clothing and food received during the days of the W.P.A. And after 1938, when our home and all contents was destroyed by fire, times were "terrible tough". Many people gave up during those hard years, but we hadn't the money to leave so we stuck it out.

Some of our neighbors were the John Duffield, George Rankin, Jack Guth, the Joe Sonsalla and the Bradoc families. Jack Guth lived a short distance north of Highway 12 and not far from the N. Dakota line. He had raised 2 huge steers! He used to show the larger one at the fair. When the animal died, he had it mounted and traveled all over the U.S. exhibiting it in sideshows. My older brother, Harry Houston, went with him on one trip around the country. The mounted steer is now in a museum in Wyoming.

Elementary school was no problem since the Yellowstone School was not far from our home, but when high school years came, our parents had to have us boarded in Baker, where I graduated.

Yellowstone School, 1934

Back row, left to right; Eileen Green, Mildred Duffield, Eua Green. Second row, Margaret Duffield, Dee Vee Green. Third Row, Arthur Duffield, Pat Murphy, Bruce Duffield, Clenton Duffield. Front row, Mike Murphy, Doris Green, Bobby Duffield.

On May 27, 1951, I married Esther I. Williams at Baker. We ranch and farm on the homeplace. Among my earlier memories are good times at the big 4th of July Celebrations at Marmarth, and of school affairs and neighborhood picnics. There were dances at the Fertile Prairie Hall where a double bunk had been built over the coal bin, in one corner near the big old heating stove. Here the small fry, including me, were stowed away to sleep while the elders gaily danced the hours away.

I did all the things any active boy could find to do on a ranch, but the outstanding activity was learning to drive a team at an early age. I always found pleasure in driving, riding or training horses and in using them in doing the fieldwork. I was then, and still am, a lover of horses. We now raise ponies which we sometimes show at stock shows.

We have had 8 children only 3 of whom survive. LaTonne Rae, presently working in a bank, Daniel Van, and Patrick James are still at home and are still at school.

My mother was a charter member of the Baker Community Church.

I was selected Honorary Chapter Farmer for the F.F.A. in 1972.

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ESTHER 1. WILLIAMS

MRS. ROBERT J. [MIKE] MURPHY

I came along on October 5th, 1933, at Terry, Mont, and took up residence there with my parents, Mary McGee Williams and Forrest Williams. I was named Esther I. Williams. They were not homesteaders, nor did they go into stock raising. My father worked for sheepmen, and later, for the Milwaukee Railroad at Marmarth, N. D. and it was there that I received by elementary education.

My childhood was spent in all the usual pursuits enjoyed by small growing girls. I spent many summers with my grandparents Otto and Iva Burghduff at Ismay, Montana.

When I was 17 years of age, I was married to Robert James Murphy, more widely known as "Mike." We were married at Baker, Montana on May 27, 1951. Since then my home has been 2 miles west of the Montana-Dakota line and 12 miles east of Baker; in the Fertile Prairie Community.

Our daughter LaTonne Rae, has earned many awards in 4-H and school work, as well as trophies for showing Pony of America ponies. On High School graduation she was awarded the County 4-H scholarship and she also took a 4-H tour to Washington, D.C. She graduated from a Secretarial Course and now works in a bank. Daniel Van, and Patrick James have also won awards and trophies in 4-H and school work, and also for the showing of the ponies. They are still in school.

Our church is the Baker Community Church.

We have long enjoyed the involvement in the Fertile Prairie 4-H Club. We have enjoyed many dances and it was at a dance that I met my husband! We have enjoyed school programs and picnics along with neighborhood card parties. I recall one party where the ladies lined up behind a blanket curtain, extending their toes from under the lower edge of the curtain, then the men bid on their choice of toes! This was called a "Toe Party" or "Toe Social." Also I remember the big 4th of July Celebrations held in Marmarth when I was small.

I enjoy writing poetry and have won in a poetry contest as well as in a short essay contest, but I do not find time to engage in this activity as often as I should like to. I was also President of Baker Cowbells when the Baker Livestock Auction began in 1970 and our group has had the lunch counter since that time.

MARTHA MURPHY - MY LIFE STORY

Written in her own words in 1959

I, Martha Angela, was born May 22, 1885, at Medford, Maine. I was the youngest of eleven children born to Daniel and Sarah Hasty. Two of these eleven children died in infancy, (George and Nellie). In the proceding years, seven more have passed away. (Annie, Ida, Seth, John, Frank, Fred and Adeline). My sister Margaret (Maggie) and I are the only two of the family still living.

In 1892, my father, mother, three brothers, (Fred, Frank, and John) one sister (Maggie) and myself moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota from Howland, Maine. One sister, Ida, married and remained in Maine. One brother, Seth, also stayed in Maine and passed away a year later. In 1893, another married sister, Addie (Mrs. R. 0. Dean) and her husband and family joined us in Minneapolis.

I had a cousin, Reuben Winchell, a son of my father's sister, ranching in Montana. He shipped cattle to Chicago each fall and would stop and visit us in Minneapolis, urging us to come to Montana. It was Reuben's sister-in-law that finally persuaded my folks to let my eighteen-year-old sister, Maggie, come to Montana with her for the summer.

Daniel and Sara Hasty, 1887

Parents of Martha Murphy, Maggie Damon and Addie Dean.

In the fall of 1897, Bill Damon, a sheep man living on O'Fallon Creek (near the present town of Mildred) wrote to my folks stating that he needed some help. They decided to move "West" and take the job at the Damon Ranch.

On November 2, 1897, we arrived by train at Fallon, in a snowstorm. We were met by Bill and taken to his ranch. The neighbors were scarce and lived miles apart and my mother was so homesick. She said that she thought she had arrived at the "jumping off place."

Damon ranch, Old 13 Ranch, on O'Fallon Creek. Later sold to Pope brothers of Miles City. It was located near where the town of Mildred now stands. Picture taken 1898. Mr. and Mrs. William Damon and daughter, Ida May and Martha Murphy, age 14.

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Mr. Damon maintained a Road Ranch in conjunction with his bands of sheep. A Road Ranch was a place where the freight wagon drivers and horses were cared for, on their journey between Ekalaka and Fallon or Terry, where they went for their supplies.

 

During the course of time, Bill Damon courted and married my sister Maggie, and the folks were out of a job, but they continued to live with them for awhile.

The summer of 1898, a brother, John, who had been working in Minneapolis was drowned, so the folks went back there, but his body was never recovered from the water. When they returned home, my brothers, Fred and Frank, came back with them, also my married sister, Addie (Mrs. R. 0. Dean) and her family came later.

My folks and my two brothers bought the Chapman place on Spring Creek where they ran cattle. My sister, Addie, and her husband and family went to work for Reuben Winchell. Later the folks sold the Chapman place to Johnson.

In the pioneer days, people could build wherever they so desired, so the folks moved to Sandstone Creek, (near the old townsite of Westmore). This settlement was the old LX Ranch. The house was a two-room structure dug into a side hill, with a log front. They later built a frame house, a og barn and other supporting buildings. At this time all was free range, with no fences, just a small fenced pasture for a milk cow, a team and several saddle horses. Everyone's cattle ran together until spring roundup. A chuckwagon followed the roundup, the cowboys had their tents and bed rolls, with a string of saddle horses. This was a typical roundup when the branding of the calves took place.

I finished my schooling in Glendive in 1900, when the town was very small. In fact, the first trees were being planted as city water had been installed.

Everyone seemed to keep well and happy. We had good times getting together, sometimes traveling many miles with a team and wagon, or buggy, or by saddle horse, to visit or spend an evening of dancing. The people were more carefree than they are now.

Bill Damon sold his place on Fallon Creek to the Pope brothers in 1902 and bought a place on Johnny Creek in the Badlands.

The year of 1903 my folks and I went to live with the Damons where we stayed for several years.

When I was nineteen, I met Albert (Al) Houston at a dance. We courted for nearly a year and on October 31, 1905 we were married. We had a big ranch wedding at the Titus Ranch with Rev. Steele of Wibaux performing the ceremony. Our friends, Orren Titus and Sadie Stuart were our witnesses. Our wedding trip was a short one into Miles City by train. While in Miles City we had our wedding pictures taken.

We spent our first year of married life in a home in the Badlands, not far from the Damon Ranch. The following year we moved to the Charlie Clark Ranch on Pennell Creek, where Al ran a band of sheep on shares.

Wibaux was our nearest shopping center.

Our first baby, a boy, was born at Wibaux, Oct. 3, 1906.

Just before Christmas, our sheepherder quit and Al went to Damons to get my folks to stay with me and my new baby as now he would have to go out with the sheep, and did not want me to be alone. The folks had gone to Glendive to spend the holidays with my brother, Frank, and his family. While they were in Glendive they were snowed in.

Clark was leaving for the east and since he failed to send out a new herder, which he said he would do, Al was forced to stay with the sheep the entire winter until March.

I've always believed this was a put-up job, but it was a long hard winter for me to be alone, but I did have my baby for some company.

Clark had two Norwegian brothers hired to tend sheep camp and do what ever had to be done, while they tended to their own sheep that were running on Pennell Creek and Cabin Creek. I have forgotten what their names were, but I believe it was Peterson. They batched there at Clark's and often told me that they were going to make their fortune with those sheep and return to Norway. I've often times wondered if thev made this fortune and where thev went.

They were very nice to me, and I did see them quite often when they came back to their camp at night They helped me in so many ways, for which I shall always be grateful.

That was a dreadful winter of 1906-1907. It started snowing the first day of January and snowed every day the entire month. I was practically alone, with a tiny baby until the last of February, but I guess the Lord was with me, as both of us kept well and comfortable.

This period of time seems like a bad dream now, and "My!" was I relieved and happy, when at last the snow melted, a herder came to the sheep camp, and my husband came home.

That following spring we bought a 20 x 20 foot tent, put a board floor in it, with a table, chairs, bed and cookstove, and I cooked for the lambing crew. I really enjoyed cooking for these men.

In early June, we moved back to the ranch, but hadn't taken the tent down yet, when a flash flood hit, and put a foot of water in it.

We had gone from the Clark Ranch to Sandstone to spend the day visiting my brother Fred's family when the noon storm hit. Torrents of water put the creeks out of their hanks. One of the horses broke loose from where they were tied to the wagon, so Al held the reins of the remaining one, so we wouldn't be left afoot. This horse could be either worked or ridden.

As the storm continued and the water rose in the creek, Al and a friend (Mr. Prettywood) decided everyone had better get on higher ground. So Mr Prettywood rode the horse, and carried each one of us to the other side of the creek to the high bank. Each time the horse had to swim the stream. After everyone was safely across the storm still continued, we took shelter in the Hunter and Anderson shearing pens. These pens were north of the present townsite of Baker.

After the storm subsided and we returned to the house, we had a mess to clean. The water left a heavy deposit of dirt on the floor. Al went to locate the other horse and rode over to the Clark ranch. There he found that the water had risen into the house about a foot deep, ruining everything that had been left on the floor. It had gotten into a trunk and damaged our wedding clothes and other keepsakes.

The following fall of 1907, we moved to the Phillips Ranch, north of Baker, where Al ran a band of sheep for this man. Our second baby, another boy, was born on February 10, 1908. We named him Harry Albert.

While we were living at this ranch, a small pimple appeared on Al's temple. He had cut it while shaving and it refused to heal.

We decided we'd better get closer to a doctor, so we left this place, and built a new home east of Baker. Al made a trip into Miles City for medical care, but had no beneficial results, so consequently, in August, he decided to go east for care. He went to Rockford, Illinois. There the doctors decided it was cancer. Not too much was known about the care or cure of this disease, at that time. He grew worse, and in June of 1909, 1 was called to be with him. I left my two boys with my folks, who were living with me then.

Homesteads were just being opened for filing, so before I left for Illinois, I filed on mine.

All the time that Al was in Illinois for medical care until I left to be with him, I did baking and the Lentz and Lang store sold it to the Freighters. When I decided to leave to be with my husband, Mrs. Hildreth took over my business, and sold it, in conjunction with the restaurant she managed. This restaurant was located where the fire hall is now.

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My husband, Al, passed away July 31, 1909, and was laid to rest beside his father, in the family plot at Rockford, Illinois.

I returned to Baker, to my homestead, and two boys. My folks continued living with me, and were indeed a comfort to me at this time. Since 1 was left with no financial aid, I was forced to do various things to make a living.

I set eggs under hens, hatched and sold the baby chicks, and poultry for eating. I also started the first dairy at Baker. I used the horse that we rode to get out of the raging waters of the flash flood, on my delivery wagon, to deliver the milk, cream and butter, etc. to my customers.

In three years time, 1 had completed proving up on my homestead. Each claim contained 160 acres, with mine between my brother Fred's claim, and my father's soldier claim. The railroad split each claim into two parts with an equal 80 acres on each side.

Fred's claim has the light plant on the north half, while the south half is owned by the Montana-Dakota Utilities.

The north half of my claim is owned by Allen Griffith, and the south half by Jack Baker.

Father's claim is owned by Howard Stanhope on the south half. On the north half the old Carbon Black Plant was built, but now that piece hasn't anything on it.

Roy Houston, Age - 6 months, Born - 1906

On September 17, 1910, I lost my oldest son, Roy, with an acute bowel obstruction. I was waiting for the train to take him to Miles City for surgery, when he passed away in my arms. His little grave was the first one in the Baker cemetery.

I continued on my place, with my youngest boy (Harry) together with my folks and seemed quite happy under the circumstances.

In 1911, I met Jim Murphy, who had come to Montana from Minnesota to homestead. He worked with my brother Fred, building roads. Our friendship grew and on December 18,1912, we slipped quietly into Bowman, North Dakota and were married.

We came back to the dairy east of Baker, built a new dairy barn and continued the business until the fall of 1916.

Grave marker

of Roy Houston, died - 1910, first grave in Baker Cemetery.

Wedding picture

of Martha Houston and James Murphy, December 18, 1912.

Our daughter, Margaret Cecilia, was born January 24, 1914. 1 stayed at home with Miss Scott and Dr. Young attending me.

We decided to quit the dairy business so held an auction sale, and sold all the cows but two. This sale was the first auction sale I had ever seen.

We continued to live on the place, and in the fall of 1917, sold the land to Mr. Deback, who built the Carbon Black Plant. That fall, we bought my nephew's (Erwin Dean) homestead of 320 acres, and in the spring of 1918 moved onto tile place.

This was known as the Fertile Prairie Community.

We experienced many obstacles including drought, grasshoppers, depression, and a fire that completely destroyed our home in June of 1938.

Two boys were added to our family. Patrick John, born February 17, 1920 and Robert James born February 17, 1928.

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Jim Murphy home which burned in 1928. Pat Murphy standing in the doorway.

The Murphy family, left to right; Harry, Dad Murphy, Mother Murphy, Margaret, Mary, Pat kneeling with Mike behind him.

We also have an adopted daughter, Mary Jane. Two boys served in the Armed Forces, Harry in the States and Pat saw overseas duty.

Jim passed away October 22, 1953 and was laid to rest in the family plot at Baker, Montana. He was 75 years of age on June 4, 1953.

Martha Murphy died September 13, 1969.

Martha Murphy receiving her 50 year membership in the Royal Neighbors of America from Marion Hanson, 1963.

Odin Myhre

ODIN MYHRE

By Alice Myhre Newell

Our Dad, Odin Sumner Myhre, was born March 9, 1884, in Clay County, Minnesota to Martin and Ovedia Myhre. His parents had immigrated to the United States from Norway in the early 1860's and eventually settled on a farm near Hawley, Minnesota in the early 1870's.

After the death of Dad's parents, the farm was sold and he then started to move westward working at different jobs. One was the planting of trees along the newly built railroad right-of-way in eastern North Dakota. Many of these trees are still growing along the Northern Pacific Railroad. In the spring of 1910 he came to the Baker area to help his brother, Arthur, who had settled on their homestead 16 miles south of Baker two years earlier. When the half section of land adjoining his brother was to be relinquished he bought it and "proved" up on it.

In the spring of 1911 Dad returned to Minnesota where he and Oline Braseth were married and they immediately came back to the homestead. They lived in the existing tarpaper shack, a common type of shelter for the homesteader, for some years.

Our Mother, Oline, was the daughter of Johan and Anna Braseth, who had also immigrated from Norway and Sweden, respectively. They, too, had settled and raised a family in the Hawley area and lived neighbors to the Myhres. Mother likely had some reserved thoughts about moving out west. Many preposterous stories were told of the "hell-raising" cowboys and the uncivilized Indians. Nonetheless she faced. her destiny and came out west. She soon adapted to western life and found the people unusually warm and friendly.

Then followed the years of hard work, breaking the new land for farming, acquiring a few head of horses and cattle and erecting buildings and fences. Neighbors worked together pooling their horses and machinery, particularly, at harvest time when it would take six to sixteen hands to man the machinery in order to get the harvesting and threshing accomplished. A rewarding sight it must have been to the farmer seeing the stacks of grain neatly arranged near the edge of the field while other fields were dotted with shocks of grain all awaiting the threshing machine to lumber in and finish the job.

With the many new families in the community it wasn't long before the question of schooling arose. Again, the

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neighbors responded to the need, and a schoolhouse was built near the 101 Road and was called the Myhre School. During the school's existence some of the families, besides the Myhres, having children attending were the John Greens, the Andrew Kreagers, the Samuel Noftskers, the Henry Bergstroms, the A. W. Brownsons and the Henry DeGrands. Many others attended for short periods.

Myhres were affiliated mostly with the Minnesota Valley community though they lived on the edge of the Webster and Willard communities and often participated in their events. Each community boasted of its baseball team and on Sundays throughout the summer the rivals competed, with friends and neighbors giving their full support.

In about 1928 the community realized the need of a church. Religious services occasionally were held in the schoolhouse and in the Webster and Willard halls. Again, friends and neighbors gathered and built the Wesleyan Methodist Church. It too, was built near the 101 Road about a mile north of the Myhre school. Until it was moved into Baker in the late 30's it was referred to as the Church on the Hill.

Myhre's church affiliation was Lutheran. Services, Sunday School and Laides Aid were held in the homes and in the community halls with a visiting pastor conducting the services. "Laides Aids" weren't confined to the ladies only. Usually the whole family would go. While the ladies had their meeting, the men would visit and the young people would gather and be given Confirmation instructions. In about 1928 the American Lutheran Church was organized in Baker and the little country groups became a part of that parish.

Though the people worked hard, they found time for some social life, too. The Fourth of July was always widely observed... aside from what the day symbolized, it was midyear, a time to get their second breath, it was a time between the planting and the reaping ... it would likely be the only time they would take off until Thanksgiving. Thus, on the Fourth many gatherings were held throughout the countryside.

Picnic lunches were prepared and shared by a number of families at a designated stop. Our family often joined neighbors and friends at Willard or Webster. Many families gathered at Medicine Rocks but due to the distance we seldom went in the early years. In later years the A. W. Brownsons, who lived about four miles from us on Little Beaver Creek, hosted many memorable gatherings on the Fourth. The day would be spent in visiting, playing baseball, rodeoing or whatever pastime was most popular at the time. Many celebrations ended with dances in the evening.

As a means of raising money for some specified project in the community, socials of some sort would be held. The type of social would be decided and the ladies would prepare accordingly. A "basket social" involved the preparation of a tasteful lunch placed in a uniquely decorated box or basket. At some time during the evening the baskets would be auctioned off to the highest bidder. A "pie social" would bring out the ladies' specialties in pie-making. These would also be auctioned off. At a "shadow social" the obscure shadow of a lady behind a curtain would be sold to the highest bidder. While a "toe social" involved the auctioning of the lady's toe protruding from under a curtain. At all socials the lady would have prepared a lunch and would share it with her buyer.

The prices paid at the social would be unpredictable. The "bachelor" might have a deep hunger for a particular kind of pie and decide there would be no limit on the bid. Or the chance the fancy basket might belong to the new 'school marm,' while some young lad might get a bid for much less but find he had bought Grandma's . Dancing was usually a part of the socials.

Country dances were a popular get-together. Each community seemed to have persons who could provide music.

As a young man Dad had learned to "call" square dances so was often asked to participate. Parents would take their children and bed them down in various places but not before fathers had danced with their daughters and the sons with their mothers.

In 1927 our Mother's health began to fail and after two years illness she passed away leaving Dad with eight children to raise, the oldest sixteen and the youngest four years. By then the depression had set in. The future must have looked bleak, but like everyone else we managed.

In 1932 Dad was approached by friends to try his hand at politics. In November of that year he was elected to the Fallon County Board of Commissioners. In the next six years he was met with the many bitter difficulties the depression had brought about. He saw neighbors buckle under and many moved away from the community. A new era had set in. As families moved away, one by one, the little country schools, that once had been the hubs of the community, were closing down. Much of the farmland lay idle and to add to the existing conditions, droughts, dust and hailstorms persisted. Before long another era set in. War clouds were forming on the horizon and before the country had recovered from the rough "30's" we were deeply involved in another World War. One family after another saw their sons off to war. In our immediate neighborhood four different families lost sons in a short period of time. Our brother, Curtis, lost his life while on a practice flying mission off the coast of California. Other boys from the Minnesota Valley community who gave their lives in World War 11 were Denzil Kreager, John Bergstrom and Donald and Delbert Halsey.

Dad continued to maintain an interest in farming, having added to his holdings from time to time. His job as a County Commissioner demanded much of his time so the farming was turned over to his sons. He ran for the same office in 1938 but was defeated. He was re-elected in 1944 and again in 1956, making a total of 18 years served in this capacity. By this time his health began to fail and he went in to semi-retirement. During his years as a County Commissioner he served with Ray Lyman, Horace Sparks, Percy Stevens, Wesley Thompson, Art Kuehn, Elmer Wang, Karl Wenz, Joe Steffes and Kenneth Rustad.

In 1943 Dad married Iva Staff Brownawell. Iva was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Staff who had also homesteaded south of Baker. At the time of his death in 1959 he made his home in Baker.

Odin and Oline Myhre children were: Alice, who married Elmer Newell (deceased) whose children are, Leon, Calvin, Carren Caldwell, Russell, and Juline Kosmicki.

Myrtle, who died in 1955, having been born and died on same dates of the month as Dad.

Irene, who married Max Hansen (deceased) whose children are, Thomas, and Maxine Swanson and lives at Cresbard, South Dakota.

Curtis, who died in 1944 while serving in the Air Force.

Everett, who married Rose Ann O'Donnell, whose children are, Odin, Mary Alice and Paul, lives in Baker.

Mourice, who married Joyce Brownawell, whose children are, Curtis, Clayton, Moureen and Melody, lives in Miles City.

Ruth, who married Harvey Nichols, whose children are, Lennice Traweek, James, John, and Marjorie, lives on a ranch thirty five miles south of Baker.

Rodger, who married Fern Carlson, whose children are, Regina Hande, Rhonda Beach, Garnee and Jenifer, lives on a farm south of Baker.

Children of Odin and Iva Myhre were: Duane who married Catherine Hutchingson and lives at Winslow, Washington. Laurel, who married Ronald Heaton and lives at Winslow, Washington.

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Picture by Carol Karch-Chalk Buttes.-South of Ekalaka, Montana

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