Welcome To

FALLON COUNTY

Return to Homepage

O’Fallon Flashbacks

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

USGENWEB NOTICE:

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written permission of the O'Fallon Historical Society and contact the listed MTGenWeb coordinator with prof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only,

Printed by Western printing & Lithography

Permission has been received to transcribe these pages for the specific purpose of web site genealogy.

These pages were transcribed by the use of computer OCR and the degree of "proofing" may be limited.

The original text was in the vernacular as it was written.

For the sake of reducing file size and the lack of quality in reproducing the graphics (pictures and sketches)-they were eliminated. The picture legends were retained as were the page numbers. Displayed in red color.

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

 

Women's Missionary Society, First Baptist Church at Plevna, Montana.

On November 7, 1920 1 was married to Jacob C. Opp at Plevna, Montana in the First Baptist Church where I am a Charter Member of the Women's Missionary Society.

We purchased our home in Plevna where we raised 5 children. My husband worked for the Milwaukee Railroad at Plevna until 1958 when he was transferred to Miles City. He worked there until he retired from the railroad in 1962. 1 decided to go to work then, so I worked at the Holy Rosary Hospital for 2 years and at the Olive Hotel for 5 years.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Opp, 1970, Golden Wedding Anniversary

We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary in November 1970. My husband passed away March 18, 1971. I am living by myself now in my home in Miles City.

Our children are: Emil, married to Arla Brockel; Richard, married to Shirley Kusler; Martha, married to Rudy Sieler; Ruben, married to June Kusler; and Loretta who is married to Albert Schaefer. I have eleven grandchildren.

MR. AND MRS. MARVIN MAURICE OVERLOCK

Marvin Overlock and family first came to this vicinity in August of 1970. Although he was trained as a minister he took a position as Science Teacher in the Junior High School of Baker, Montana. He taught Science for one year and then became a minister for the First Baptist Church in Baker. Although they came from Maine, a state most people think has a cold climate, the Overlocks found that the Montana climate was colder than they were used to. They also found it difficult to cope with the distances to be traveled in this "Big Sky Country."

Marvin was born in 1937 in Harmon, Maine where he received his elementary and high school education. To get his college education he attended the University of Maine and then took a correspondence course from the Moody Correspondence School.

He was married to Isabelle R. Baker at Harmon, Maine in 1963 and they have two daughters; Marilee Ann and Karen Marie.

He was Minister, Youth Director and Sunday School Teacher for the church and was also a 4-H leader, a Boy Scout Advisor and National Honor Society member and sponsor.

The Overlocks had trouble adjusting to the water in Baker and thought that our business and medical facilities were quite inadequate. They returned to their native Maine in 1972.

0. J. OWEN FAMILY

By Floretta Owen Compton

The 0. J. Owen family left Wisconsin in 1908 and numbered themselves with the "honyokers" who took up homesteads in southeastern Montana. Mr. Owen worked as a section hand for the Milwaukee Railroad for a short time, then went to Baker to join the real estate men who were trying to make a living by locating the incoming settlers on claims. The Owen homestead was between Baker and Plevna. In the very early days Mr. Owen wrote a poem entitled, "The Locatin' Bunch." Frank Becker, probably the last of that group, died fairly recently in Phoenix.

The real estate field was crowded, and about 1919, Mr. Owen left it and became the custodian of the Fallon County Court House, a position he kept until about a year before his death.

When Owen Jones Owen (a very Welsh name), died in 19:34, the local newspaper said, "One of the colorful lives in Baker history drew to a close---." His life had been a struggle against the twin handicaps of poor health and lack of formal education. Yet he took a keen interest in politics on every level, was a leader in many civic enterprises, and was an ever-faithful member of the Baker Lake Congregational Church. He loved to sing, and believed in keeping Sunday; one time he sat on his porch and sang hymns as the public streamed by to the fair grounds for some Sunday activity.

Once Mr. Owen was selling tombstones as a sideline. A farmer said he couldn't buy at present, but "maybe next year!" Mr. Owen said to daughter, Floretta, "It's a great country for next year!" The oil and rain and high prices were years away.

Mr. and Mrs. Owen were parents of six children: Helen, Ben, Floretta, Edwin, Eva, and Louis.

Edwin, fourth in line, drowned in Baker Lake in 1920. A friend from the Landis family went down with him. Several years later Ben saved a person who was drowning in the same lake!

Helen taught a rural school in Fallon County after high school. She was awarded a scholarship from the State Federation of Women's Clubs and attended the University of

-439

 

Montana. After graduation, she taught in Forsyth and was married to Donald Wilson, a druggist. They had one daughter, now Mrs. Jim Markins of Phoenix. Helen died in Tucson in 1966.

Ben, who was christened Bennett Benjamin and later known as B. B., stayed in Baker for some years after high school. He worked at Burns Bros. Garage. About 1938 Ben, Louis and Mrs. Owen (mother) moved to the western part of the state. Ben settled at Plains where he became a successful business man. In 1943 he married Mrs. Helen McCann, who had one daughter, Mrs. Lorin Hearst, of Missoula. One of Ben's greatest pleasures was visiting with old friends and he tried to attend the annual Montana picnic held each winter at Mesa, Ariz. He died of a heart attack while playing golf at Sun City, Ariz. in March, 1972.

Floretta also taught in rural schools in Fallon County and later worked for Lucy T. McLemore of the Baker Sentinel. She married Austin J. Compton in 1927 and they were divorced in 1936. Floretta and her three children lived in Idaho for many years as she taught in the Blackfoot schools for 18 years. Floretta often renewed old friendships during summer sessions at Dillon. She received her degree from Western Montana College in 1959. She is now residing in Idaho Falls and her only living daughter, Mrs. John Townsend, lives 25 miles away at Blackfoot.

Eva took a beauty operator's course after high school and worked in Forsyth before her marriage to Herbert Goodrich in 1937. The Goodrich family had also lived at Baker. Eva and Herb have made their home at Plains for many years. Eva has been City Librarian for 11 years. They have one son and one daughter; Dean, of Denver, and Mrs. Ken Goodwin (Donna) of Post Falls, Idaho.

Louis, youngest son, has had a love for music. He served his country for 7 years and then did construction work out of Spokane for several years. In later years he usually divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. He has never married.

Mrs. Owen made her home in Plains for many years and passed away there in May, 1955.

MR. AND MRS. THOMAS LLOYD OWEN

I was born at Ironwood, Michigan on September 14, 1891, the son of Thomas N. and Jane Lloyd Owen. I feel that it was a privilege to have grown up in that part of the country As a boy I hunted and fished in the virgin land of Hiawatha. I received my elementary and high school education in Michigan and graduated from Carroll College in Wisconsin. In later years I attended Morticians College in Chicago. While going to school and in later life I was interested in all kinds of sports and I still go hunting and fishing. I will be eighty-two in September of 1973.

At the age of twenty-one, in 1912 1 came to Baker, Montana on the Milwaukee Train. In Baker I went into business with my brother-in-law Lewellyn (Lew) Price, Sr. I also had a homestead and ran Hereford Cattle.

I sold the homestead and volunteered in the United States Army in 1917. 1 was accepted as an Ambulance-Medical Corps Driver and was sent to the Mexican border for training. From there I was sent to Texas for Officers Training and was commissioned in Organization of the First Armored Tank Corps. At first I was kept in the United States as an instructor but at last I was sent overseas in the spring of 1918. 1 served in Europe until the Armistice in November of 1918.

After I returned to Baker I helped organize the Fallon Post No. 35 of the American Legion and was Post Commander. I have been active in the various organizations of the city and county. I was City Treasurer, was active in

Thomas Lloyd Owen

getting the Fallon Memorial Hospital in operation, was chairman of the school board, am a Past-president of Fallon County Homesteader's Club, participated in the County Division Fight, Past-Master and fifty years member of the Masonic Lodge, Past President of the Baker Commercial Club, now the Chamber of Commerce, since 1914, and am at present the oldest living member of that organization.

In 1925 Laura Yokley, the daughter of Robert Yokley Jr., an early day cattle driver and rancher in the Ekalaka country, and I were married in Miles City, Montana.

Laura went to grade school in Ekalaka and then when it was time for high school the family moved to Miles City for the school years. She graduated from the Custer County High School. The summers were spent on the ranch where Laura had her own horse. She found it great sport to hunt jack rabbits and chase coyotes with her brother.

The Owens have two daughters; Betty Lou Jensen of Gresham, Oregon and Eva Jane Smith of Billings.

ALTA 1. FOOTE PADDOCK

Alta Foote, daughter of Henry and Mary Foote, was born in 1902 at Audobon, Iowa. When she was very young the family moved to Minnesota and then in 1909, when Alta was six years old the family came to Montana where they homesteaded 14 miles south of Baker.

Neighbors remembered are Bert and Hosea Cate, Hank Gregors, Frank Stanhope, George Staff, Ben Huber and Andy and Frank Kreager and their families. While growing up she attended the Hidden Water School and worked at chores on the farm such as milking the cow. She also worked for the Ben Hubers in the summer time stacking headed grain at harvest time. Other families for whom she worked were the Henry Stenersons and the Dick Chesmores.

Leaving the family home, she went to work as a waitress in Baker and then she moved to Mildred, Montana where also waitress work was found. There she met and married Otis Paddock. After living in Glendive for two years the couple moved to a farm on the Powder River. They rented and moved to several places until 1936 when they went to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana to farm and work in the logging industry. Otis was killed in June 1957.

For 27 years Alta worked at the McNeal Nursery and the Bitterroot Creamery, after which she retired, sold the family

-440

Alta Foote Paddock

home and rented a small apartment. Their family consisted of six children; Ellen, Robert, Viola, Harley, Eleanor and Rex. There are 20 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Alta with her sister, Lilia Foote, came back to the Willard Community for the Fiftieth School Reunion in 1968. The Hidden Water, the Gregerson, the Lunder and the Willard schools were all in one district. About 150 persons gathered at the Willard Hall for the potluck dinner and the program.

After her retirement, traveling has taken her to 39 states and Canada. She has been to the east coast five times, Worlds Fair in New York, to Key West, Florida, got her feet wet in both oceans and she dipped her hands in the Gulf of Mexico. Montana traveling will fill her next few years. She is a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, The W.R.C. and belongs to a Birthday Club.

Helen and Paul Pearson, 1944

MR. & MRS. PAUL 0. PEARSON

Superior, Wisconsin, was the town where I first put in an appearance at the home of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Pearson. That was in 1906, and that was where my childhood was spent doing all the things a growing boy can find to do and going to school. I attended elementary and high school at Hinckly, Minn. and moved on to Business College at Superior, Wis. I then was employed in the Banking Business.

I married Helen Billet on June 28, 1941, at St. Paul, Minn. A few days later we set out by car for Baker, Montana where we arrived on July 7, 1941. We first rented an apartment from Mr. Hubbard, but shortly rented a house from Mr. L. Price.

I then went to work for Mr. Kierle as Assistant Cashier at the Baker National Bank, where I remained until I entered the Navy in World War 11, in August of 1943. During my years in Baker I worked as Scout Master for a troop of Boy Scouts and Helen was actively taken up with Sunday School work in the Baker Community Church. These days in Baker were the happiest of our lives!

I owned and managed the Empire State Bank of Cottonwood, Minn. until shortly before the end of 1972. After Jan. lst, 1973, 1 went to work as a $1.00 a year man in the public Service and Development Dept. of Southwest Minnesota State College. Helen has been teaching in recent years but is now retired. She enjoys golf. "Some boy scouts who belonged to Mr. Pearson's troop tell of the creamed dried beef dish that Mrs. Pearson once prepared on a scout hike. It went over so big, that the boys later demanded that their mothers make some at home!"

Wedding Picture of Selma Gregerson and Flace Pheb us, June 7, 1922

THE HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE

FLACE SMITHEN PHEBUS FAMILY

IN FALLON COUNTY, MONTANA

by Drury Gregor Phebus, 1973

Flace Smithen Phebus was one of seven children born to the union of Joesph S. Phebus and Martha S. Davis on Nov. 17, 1889 at Beaver City, Nebraska.

After graduation from high school in Beaver City, Nebraska, and a job as streetcar conductor in Los Angeles, California, Flace joined his brother, Drury Hamilton Phebus, in a homesteading venture in Eastern Montana.

The two brothers filed on adjoining homesteads which were located approximately ten miles directly south of Sumatra, Montana. Flace S. Phebus enlisted in the U.S. Army at Forsyth, Montana in 1917 during W W I and served

-441

 

in the same Outfit as Nick Wellenstein, an early Fallon County resident.

Phebus returned to the homestead after the war, but poor crops and the need for additional income forced him to seek employment with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad at Miles City, Montana.

Phebus was transferred to the job of warehouse Foreman at Baker, Montana in 1920.

Flace S. Phebus and Jess Hayes, the Station Agent, pretty well ran the Depot and Warehouse end of the "Milwaukee Railroad" business from 1920 until the two men retired in the 1960's.

Flace Smithen Phebus and Selma Amanda Gregerson were married on June 7, 1922 at the Gregor Gregerson Ranch at Willard, Montana. Six children were born to this union: Drury Gregor who married Ionia Simmons Wells. Their five children are Donovan Lee Simmons, Dawn Faye, Sherry Raye, Drury Scott and Michael Anton.

Gloria Mae who married Franklyn Dietz and their son is Randy Joe. Beverly Joyce married Bill Hill and their three children are Gregory Wayne, Drury Hayden and Beverly Jean. Romona Selma married Ronald Shepherd and their three children are Lana Jean, Lance Smithen and Chad Jason. Joan June married Francis Madler and their four children are Jeffery Land, Steven, Tracy and Louann. Sharon Lee married Jim Helgeson and their two children are Patrick and Michael.

Flace S. Phebus was very active in the Democratic Party politics during his lifetime. Congressman Arnold Olson made the statement, "Flace was an active Democrat when it was very hard to find a declared Democrat in Fallon County". Mrs. W. H. Blakemore often addressed him as "Mr. Democrat".

Phebus acquired land in the Medicine Rocks area of Fallon County in the 1930's. Land often sold for 50 cents per acre and many local people considered this too high a price to pay for land in this area. Phebus spent his retirement years in political party activity and developing his ranch. He passed away in 1967 and is buried in the Baker cemetery.

MAGDALENA EHRET PINNOW

We, my parents Matthias and Katherine Ehret and the children who were still at home, left Russia in April of 1912 and traveled across Europe by train, went by boat to Liverpool, England and then by ship to America. Liverpool I remember because of a shave, hair wash and haircut. My father was used to paying 10 cents for these in Russia but after the exchange of rubles to pounds, the barber charged him $1.20. Two of the things I remember about New York are- a 1 cent charge to immigrants for a cup of water, and two girls who didn't speak English tried to buy bread in a saloon. It didn't take long for them to get chased out of there. In Chicago, all of the immigrants were locked in a room overnight. We never knew why.

We stopped in Eureka, South Dakota to visit Father's brother, Michael, and family and then to Plevna, Montana by train. My sister, Mrs. George Fried, and two brothers, Matt and Jake Ehret, were already in Fallon County, so we moved into a 10 by 12 tar-paper shack on a homestead near theirs. This was in July 1912 and we had a barn built right away, but the shack was to be our home until December of that year. On September 12 we had a foot of snow and Father and Mother decided we would have to have our house right away. Carpenters built a two-bedroom house for us for $700. It stood on the homestead for about 30 years and is now moved to Baker.

Mr. and Mrs. Matthias Ehret and Daughter Magdalena, 1919

The school was one mile north of us and Rose O'Brien was the teacher. On Friday night after the first week of school, the schoolhouse burned down and that was the end of my education in this country! Dan O'Brien had a German-English dictionary and he came quite often to teach my brothers, Gottlieb and Ed, to speak English. My father died in 1921 and could read and write in both Russian and German, and understood Yiddish, but he said he could never learn that mixed-up English. My mother died at the age of 82 and she could speak and understand only a very little English. Most of our neighbors spoke German, church services were in German, and even the banker, Mr. Himsl, spoke German so it was hard for us to learn English.

Church was held in houses and finally a little shack was built, and every one attended. In 1916 we joined the Peace Lutheran Church at Plevna.

The Catholic Church at Plevna had carnivals and everyone in the community attended. On the 4th of July a big community picnic was held. Everyone brought his own food,

Fred and Magdalena Pinnow, 1959-33rd Wedding Anniversary

-442

and there were sack races, potato races, foot races, street baseball and other games. A big event was the women's spike nail driving contest and Mrs. John Weinschrott was always the winner.

On March 21, 1926, I married Frederick Pinnow who had come over from Germany in 1913. We moved to the Sheehan place which we rented until 1932, and then we moved to our home place. Our five children all grew up there and I lived there until I moved to Billings in 1960.

Maggie and Fred Pinnow at the Home Place, 1953

In those days we worked hard farming and life wasn't easy. We raised up to 24 acres of potatoes for sale and in 1936 Fred was asked to write an article about raising potatoes and it was published in the Montana Farmer.

Our entertainment was mostly visiting with the neighbors and having them over for Sunday dinners. Our children are; Richard, who married Phyllis Rhode of Nebraska; Lillian, Mrs. Robert Joseph of Lewistown, Montana; Franklin and his wife, the former Barbara Rhode, manage the Holiday Inn Motel in Carrol, Iowa; Delphine is married to Raymond Maier and they farm west of Baker and Arnold married Vivian Ruff and they farm the home place. I have nine grandchildren. My oldest grandchild, Kathy Joseph will graduate from Concordia College this year. She spent four weeks in Europe last year where she visited Pinnow relatives in Dusseldorf. Roland Maier graduated from the Baker High School in 1972 and Wanda Maier, Steven and Kim Pinnow, Craig and Brain Pinnow are students in the Baker schools. Scott is a fifth grader in Carroll, Iowa and Neal, Arnold's boy, is a busy three-year-old.

Phyllis and Richard just returned from a trip to Spain, and two years ago they went to Europe and they also visited Pinnow relatives in Germany and behind the Iron Curtain. Lillian and Bob Joseph left for a 22nd. Anniversary trip to Germany, so our family has many pictures and slides to remind us of Fred's homeland.

Richard and Phyllis Pinnow are the J. I. Case Dealers of Baker, Montana, and are owners of the Pinnow Tractor and Implement Store.

Richard was born at Baker on August 6, 1927 to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pinnow who were stock raisers and farmers southeast of Baker. Some of the neighbors in the vicinity of their ranch were; Lloyd Young, E.P. Meffert, EX. Trout, J.J. O'Connor, W.W. Peck and Martin Tommerdahl.

Phyllis Rhode was born on February 15, 1932 at Polk, Nebraska, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred J.A. Rhode. For her elementary education Phyllis attended the Lutheran Parochial School at Polk, and to attain her high school education she went to the Polk High School. Her college education was acquired at Seward, Nebraska.

Richard and Phyllis were married on June 22, 1952 at Polk, Nebraska. For a while after they were married and before they went into the farm equipment business, they

lived on the Fred Pinnow farm which was ten miles south-east of Baker.

The Pinnow Family Group, 1966-Left to Right, Back Row Lillian in Front of her Husband, Bob Joseph, Delphine and Ray Maier, Phyllis and Richard Pinnow, Barbara and Franklin Pinnow and Arnold Pinnow Standing Behind his Wife, Vivian, who is Holding Craig Pinnow. Seated, Roland Maier, Kathy Joseph, Wanda Maier, Maggie Pinnow Holding Scott Pinnow, Kim and Steven Pinnow.

The Pinnows are members of the American Lutheran Church, and Phyllis is a member of ALCW, Naomi Circle, of that church. They have two sons; Steven Richard and Kim Kelvin, both at home.

Arnold Pinnow Family, Arnold, Vivian, Craig, Brian and Neal

ARNOLD PINNOW

I was born on January 30, 1940, to Fred and Magdalena Pinnow, at Miles City, Montana. As I was growing up I worked on my father's farm and ranch which was ten miles from Baker. I attended both high school and elementary school at Plevna, Montana, where I participated in most of the sports.

-443

Vivian Alene Ruff and I were married on October 1, 1960 at Plevna. I am an Elder of the Peace Lutheran Church at Plevna.

I took over my father's farm and ranch but had to add more acreage to it in order to make it more feasible economically. We didn't experience the "great depression" but we have had to contend with the weather and inflation. We were hailed out in 1962 and in 1964 we experienced one of the toughest winters. We found it quite a challenge to haul the children ten miles to school.

Vivian was born at Baker, Montana on September 23, 1941. She is the daughter of Theophil and Helen Ruff. Mr. and Mrs. Ruff were not homesteaders but were farmers and ranchers so Vivian helped on the farm and attended the Ehret Rural School for her elementary education. For her high school education she attended the Baker High School for one year and then finished the next three at the Plevna High School. After finishing high school she attended one year of college at the Eastern Montana State College at Billings.

Vivian and I have three sons; Craig, Brian, and Neal.

MR. AND MRS. KARL PLEISSNER

by Ella Pleissner Hitchcock

Karl Richard Pleissner was born to Karl Heinrich and Ernestine Pauline Singer Pleissner on October 31, 1882 in Reichenbach, in Vogtland, East Germany.

He was one of seven children (2 boys and 5 girls) and his parents were engaged in tapestry weaving. His brother was Albert and his sisters were Martha, Bertha, Anna, Hedwig and Ella Doris.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, embracing that until he joined the Baker Lake Congregational Church (now Community Church) shortly after it was organized.

In 1892 he moved to Baden Baden in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) area of Germany and made that his more or less permanent home until he came to America.

He was a good student, excelling in penmanship and artistic assignments. His workbooks were retained by teachers as outstanding examples. His greatest interests were athletics, art, music and literature. He had speech difficulty in school because of nervous stuttering and took treatments to overcome it by inhaling and singing.

His singing ability afforded him the opportunity to sing with the Meistersingers in Germany and later in South Dakota. His favorite pastime was going for a walk with his parents and friends on a Sunday.

He finished high school, attended a business school and became a printing apprentice for four years.

In September 1900 he was called into the army for two years, was battalion clerk and won the two acorns for sharp shooting. Following this term he worked as a lithographer in Stuttgart to broaden his experience.

He was desirous of going into business of his own but was discouraged by his father who thought he was still too young.

Of his first marriage-would rather not dwell on that-he had a daughter, Elisabeth who is still teaching in Germany and is my wonderful half-sister.

Karl left Germany and came to the United States in 1910 settling in New York City, filing his application for citizenship, which he did not receive until 1919. He worked as a substitute printer, but since he would not join the union, he could not obtain a regular job. During this time he attended night school and learned the English Language. He then went to Chicago and worked for a time, and was offered a good position in the South. However he felt the Negro was a problem, so instead he took a job in Eureka, South Dakota.

He arrived in Eureka in October 1911 and experienced his first blizzard the next day. He soon joined the local singing group and enjoyed many occasions in and out of town in performances. The group made quite a reputation for its ability. The Manner Choir sang only in German and Karl sang star roles in some of the dramatic works. He was also an alderman.

He met Mary Haftle at a college party in the spring. Eureka had a Normal School for training school teachers at that time. They were married October 31, 1912.

Feeling the call of the west and homesteading, Karl came to Baker, Montana in the latter part of 1915 and immediately filled on a claim. He began working on the early newspaper, ... "The Baker Sentinel." His sister-in-law, Martha (Mrs. George Colbo) was then teaching school at Knobs. His wife and two children, Karl, Jr. and Ella, arrived in February 1916.

In April of 1916 he received the papers on the claim 30 miles south of Baker, and then his family sat it out for the required time. On Saturday nights he quite often hired a horse and rode out to spend Sunday with them, taking sweet treats for the children. Mrs. Pleissner walked a mile or two to a neighbor's place to get eggs and cream.

He worked in Baker for "The Baker Sentinel" until September 1917 when he purchased "The Fallonite" from Butte Tipton and changed the name to "The Fallon County Times." In 1922 he purchased the building of the defunct "Baker Sentinel", which later started up again. Then he purchased "The Plevna Herald" in about 1928 and "The Baker Sentinel" in 1930, thereby assuming control of all the publications in the Fallon County. This guaranteed him contracts for county printing and there was no competition. Times were very rough and he borrowed considerable money to launch his paper. After several years he stopped the publication of the "Plevna Herald". The driving back and forth on printing days and the lessening of business, did not make it worth while.

Mr. Pleissner served as City Clerk for several years and was an active booster for civic affairs giving much publicity and generosity to promote causes. He received numerous national and presidential citations for public service during World War II. In 1940 he became a director in the Bank of Baker, and was vice president in later years.

Because he was classified as an "Enemy Alien" during World War I and new citizenship laws were being made and revised, he was unable to receive his final papers until 1922, however he had filed in 1910 and 1919. He passed the examination tests easily, and was complimented on his knowledge of United States History, legislation and civics, as he had a canny mind of analysis and logic. The examining officers and Judge Stanley E. Felt presided over the hearing. His sponsors were L. Price of Baker and V.S. Himsl of Plevna.

Karl retired from the printing business on December 1, 1952, having sold his business to Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop. The Pleissners then traveled to the West Coast several times and spent numerous vacations in Minneapolis, Fargo and Chicago. One of his more memorable trips was to the Chicago World Fair in 1933 where he met the still known Sally Rand. He enjoyed the hobby of gardening, caring for the 100 and some indoor plants, and enjoying the grandchildren and the great grandchildren.

Because of health problems he was advised to quit smoking, which he did in 1950, and one can always picture him with a cigar in his mouth continuously, or perhaps a pipe at night when he read a great deal. His hearing became quite

-444

 

a problem and developed into almost complete deafness, due to the continual shop press noises and hardening of the arteries. Early in 1966 he was diagnosed as having cancer of the lung and received five weeks of cobalt treatment. His eye sight began dimming. After his wife's death in December 1966, he was greatly motivated and took "a new lease on life" when he learned his daughter from a former marriage was living and that two of his sisters were alive, one of which was in the United States. It proved to be a most wonderful year, and, despite medical predictions, he lived one year longer than forecast, enjoying all with visitations from the German daughter and his sister from New Jersey. It was worth the wondering, "Why was I left and why didn't I die earlier?" It was a wonderful time for the entire family. Because of infirmities and the necessity of nursing care, he was put into the nursing home and hospital in 1967, where he remained until his death on December 10, 1967. He was alert and was able to be up and about until three weeks before he passed away.

His survivors include; Ella Doris Hitchcock of Baker, Karl William of Minneapolis, Lorentine Frances Clark of Longview, Washington, Ruth Aline Blaustein of Seattle, Washington, Rosemary Laskey of Fargo, North Dakota and Elisabeth Pleissner of Baden Baden, Germany. Three sons, Neil, Paul Kermit and an infant son preceded him in death. There are 18 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

One of the family treasured memories is that every Easter Dad Pleissner spent considerable time painting names and decorations on Easter Eggs, and some of these remain dating back to 1915. He did beautiful hand lettering, and if opportunity had permitted could have made a place for himself in the arts, as he had several water colors, pencil and ink sketches which he left. A small sketchbook, which Elisabeth has in Germany, has some fascinating work depicting some of the traditional and characteristic things one finds in Europe-for instance the tall chimneys with the long beaked birds nesting and hovering over them and small children in their unique poses.

Dad taught the family the love of music and opera when the children were all young and this appreciation has carried through the years. He sought the finer cultured life and took great pride and care in his dress and attire. He felt one should always took one's best. It was characteristic of him to wear a white shirt in the printing business, regardless whether somehow the shirt might acquire a streak of printer's ink. He had a friendly regard for everyone, and had at times to "eat crow" when insulted by some who remarked on his accent, or being accused of some of the atrocities attributed to the "dirty Huns" or cruel Germans, those thick blockheads. He had a great sense of pride, and yet enjoyed a good joke on himself. He retained the old country trait of feeling that the man was the head of the household and perhaps would never have fully accepted Women's Liberation as it exists today. He did value and appreciate his wife's patience and ability to smooth or alleviate some of the stress and short temper he manifested at times. He was an untiring worker and never refused to help someone out.

During Karl's first years in Baker he belonged to the Lutheran Church and then became a member of the Community Church in order to carry on a continuous church and Sunday School for the family since the Lutheran Church was so often pastorless. His own family in Germany was traditionally Lutheran.

Karl was one of the shortest members of his family, as his sisters and father were all tall in stature. He wore a mustache most of his life as an added note of distinction. He was fastidious about his appearance and always appeared smoothly shaven. He had a naturally pink and white complexion with keen hazel and grayish eyes, and took great pride in his typical Roman nose. In his younger years he sported a cane, which was typical of the German who needed it for his many walks and it was also the sign of a gentleman.

He enjoyed foods and snacks and taught the family much about cheeses, the smorgasbord type of eating, sandwiches of all types and candies; typically the Marzipan Which was a confection made basically of Almond paste (ground nuts), sugar and coloring and were fashioned into numerous intriguing and appetizing little shapes and figures. Christmas, too, was a colorful event, as he always put something extra into the festivity, some carryover from his childhood, or a European accent that was a specialty.

He liked attention, that is, he was sensitive to being left out or forgotten on family occasions, however this did not carry over in a public way, as he was quite modest and reticent when it came to public recognition or attention. He did not want to be in the limelight, and many times he was not given credit for things he had done. This proved itself when he passed away and I went through his papers noting the many persons who had owed him moneys for years and yet he kept charitable with them continually extending the credit and goodwill.

Mary Haftle was born December 19, 1888 in Funf Kirchen, St. Gotthard, Vienna Austria to Juliane Jundt and Michael Heftle. She was one of fourteen children, and came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States in 1890. The farnily remained there for several years with relatives who had preceded them.

Eight children of the family survived childhood and infancy; Charles, John, Martha, Annie, Rose, Tilly, Julia and Mary. Several years later the family moved to Eureka, South Dakota where Mary lived until 1916. Her father ran a livery stable, and the family lived in quite meager circumstances.

She attended local schools and since the school then only offered one year of high school, she had to work for a time and taught one year of country school with that background of education. Her mother died when she was sixteen, and this left her with the burden of five younger brothers and sisters to care for. She did manage to return to school for another year and graduated as valedictorian.

She took over the household completely, and also clerked in the Hepperle drygoods store where she worked until her marriage to Karl R. Pleissner.

Her mother was a Catholic and she was affiliated with that church until she was 12. This was an opposing factor in the family as her father was a Lutheran.

Ella Doris and Karl William were born to her in Eureka before they came to Baker where she and the children spent four summer seasons on the claim.

The family first lived in a small house north of the railroad tracks in Baker, and then in about 1918 they purchased a home on South Second Street West where they lived the rest of their lives. The other children in the family were born there. She was preceded in death by all of her family excepting for one sister, Rose. Although she had gone to the Lutheran church previously, Mary joined the Community Church with her husband. She was very determined to bring up her children with a serious regard for church attendance and instruction and encouraged them to participate in all the activities as much as possible.

She and her husband and a neighboring couple, Dr. and Mrs. A. D. Brewer organized a reading club in 1922, which was the beginning of our local library. She was a member of the library board until it became a county library in 1960.

She belonged to many organizations and was active in community work such as the Red Cross, War Sewing, The Anticline Club, president of the Women's Club, American Legion Auxiliary charter member and she belonged to the State Women's Press Organization.

-445

 

 

She took journalism courses by correspondence and received much favorable comment for her editing-especially for her column "On The Breeze". She had a keen sense of analysis, wisdom and patience and a canny sense of knowing the proper move in times of stress and when conflicts arose. She was a humble person, always friendly and did not desire or crave the material things or public fame.

In later years she was troubled by arthritis, diabetes and she suffered through three major heart attacks, failing hearing and almost complete loss of eyesight but yet she felt she must go on when she learned of her husband's cancerous condition. She tried always to keep her place and never assume too much.

One of her greatest joys came in 1932 when some friend called her and said, "Your name should be Virginia, since you are now the mother of three high school class presidents." Although her schooling was sparse and limited, she had a wit and a mental ability that far exceeded education. Her ability to write, edit, and use of vocabulary gave her a special ability.

She never minded having the joke hit her and often inspired the mischievous prank or idea that perhaps cast all dignity aside. She had the desire to give fine gifts for many occasions and she loved the traditional so holidays were never forgotten. Her Raisin Bread became a neighborhood tradition at Christmas time.

She never demanded and having lived frugally as a girl, she also died without ever wanting.

During the years from 1930 until 1950, when The Fallon County Times was sold, she spent time daily assisting with news writing, working out ads, bookkeeping and was "half of the business". She helped Dad make the business what it became, and her understanding, tact and diplomacy saved many a day. Her sense of value- honesty and integrity never dimmed.

I am sure "Mom" will never be forgotten. She was instrumental in leading her children to becoming good citizens and in spite of many illnesses that befell the family, she was never discouraged. She certainly never had the problems with her brood that are apparent today. Occasionally several of the children would run away for fun or do some hairbrained thing to raise the blood pressure, but these things did not shake the daily stability.

I recall the time when Neil, my brother, died (he had a special place in "Mom's" heart) because shortly after he was born he became very ill and she almost lost him. Again in his final illness this feeling surfaced, so she had a difficult time in accepting his loss. God Provided! Ruth suffered a near fatal illness which gave "Mom" cause to know that life must go on and there were other children for her to care for.

I was happy when she came to the hospital and stood by when Paul was delivered by Cesarean Section. She was so proud of that big 9 lb. 3 oz. grandson. I am sure she felt I did all right by her.

Many times I could detect the heartaches and tears in "Mom" because she wanted so much that things be right. She was so even tempered herself, that to see another flare up or do something to annoy another upset her too. Her biggest disappointments came after they retired when she so faithfully wrote family members and then in turn had to wait weeks for a reply. How happy each long distance call made her and her last concern was, oh, if she could only hold out for Dad.

God was merciful and one sunny December afternoon, on the 14th., about 4:30 P.M. she evidently felt pain, lay back on her bed in a ladylike manner and passed away. I found her about 5:30 and I knew then her work was finished. The reason for her going first we learned later, Dad was reunited with a family he hadn't heard from or seen since 1910.

KATHERINE PODERJAY [ROBERTSON]

As a child of four she came with her parents Lawrence and Mary Poderjay to Beach, North Dakota. There were three other children in the family. They had left the coalfields at Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she was born, to find a new home in the west along with a number of other coal miners. They stayed with the Sartz family for several months before homesteading about 20 miles south of Baker in 1909.

A home was built; the years were dry, crops poor and winters cold. Their place was a half way place on the road to Ekalaka and many nights they had overnight roomers. Poderjay freighted a couple years from Beach to Ekalaka.

Mr. Poderjay, finding that farming alone did not pay went into cattle raising. The cattle got a disease from some weeds and the loss was heavy. He made a deal to sell his place after a few years and a crooked lawyer left him empty handed.

Mode of transportation was by wagon or sled in winter. The family was Catholic. Social life centered around picnics, ball games at Willard and rodeos at Breckinridge's.

The children attended the log school at Shreves, also the Fletcher Creek School near their home by Webster where they lived a year. Their neighbors were the Dave Martins, the M. A. Shreves, the Haddocks and the Coreys.

In 1916 her aunt, Mrs. Anthony Schauer, and son, Harry, came to live and in 1918 another aunt, Mrs. Joe M unday, and family arrived. They made their home in Baker. By this time the Poderjay family had also moved to Baker. The following year they moved to Bearcreek, Montana where the father again went into coal mining. The family attended both grade and high school there. Son, Lloyd, was on the 19:29 Basket Ball team that took the state from Bearcreek.

Marriage for Katherine came in 1921 at Beach to Peter Back. Two children, Becky and Larry, were born of this union. In 1929 she went with other family members to Detroit to find work. Later she married Bill Robertson becoming a widow years later. She cared for her mother for many years and also worked full time at a hospital.

DR.

E. J. POTTERTON

After graduating from Marquette Dental School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had the great desire to go west and am the only member of my family to leave the beautiful state of Wisconsin. I took the Chicago Milwaukee train to Helena, Montana in 1910 to take the State Board and get my license in Dentistry. From there I went to Baker, Montana where I hung up my shingle as a Dentist and homesteaded south of Baker. I played football both in high school and college so was asked to be the first coach of the school football team.

 

 

E. J. Potterton entertaining relatives from Wisconsin at homestead, 1912.

-446

Dr. E. J. Potterton, June 1917. Wedding Picture.

I met my wife, Stella Olsen, at a dance in Ismay. She was a schoolteacher, in fact, she taught in a sod school house. She was also County Superintendent of Schools and I remember the good times taking a horse and buggy around the county campaigning. We were married in June 1917 and immediately took the train to Wisconsin for a honeymoon, consequently upon returning to Baker our friends treated us to a chivaree and we spent the night in jail. Two daughters were born to us, Rae in June 1918 and Ashley in November 1920.

Stella Olsen Potterton, wedding picture, 1917

Many good friends of those years come to mind: the Martin Russells, the Ed Lawlers, the L. F. Bruggemans, the Eddie Flastads, the J. R. Dickeys, the L. E. Rushtons and the Emil Raveys with whom we took a trip to the Yellowstone Park. I recall some nice weekends with a large group at the Mulkey's 101 Ranch. The children were always included and Dad Mulkey saw that they had a good time riding horseback. Another good friend at that time was Lew Jim, a Chinaman, who ran the Montana Cafe.

Stella died in August 1929 and I continued my practice until 1937 when I returned to my native Wisconsin with my youngest daughter. I have spent the last 21 years in Colorado to be near my daughters, 17 of which I lived in a cabin on the Poudre River out of Fort Collins. They were happy years of hiking and fishing. At present I am living with my daughter, Ashley, in Denver. People who formerly lived in and around Baker get together for a picnic each summer and I attend when my health permits.

Montana picnic at Denuer, Colorado, 1971. Dr. Potterton in the chair, 90 years old.

Picture loaned by Dorothy Scoles Minard.

FLASHBACKS FROM ASHLEY POTTERTON WOODS

The name Baker recalls many happy years as a child -my dad pulling me to school on my sled across the "short cut" or over the dam road. On the coldest days I went with him for a bowl of chili at the Green Dragon.

I remember the Chautauqua came to Baker the summer of '28 or '29. They asked the "kids" to dress up and make a float representing their father's business. My dad said that dentists didn't advertise, but my sister, Rae, and I made plans anyway. She pulled me in the wagon. I was sitting on a little chair with a towel around my neck and holding a sign that said "Brush your teeth twice a day". Such fun parading down Main Street! Dad was surprised when he saw us from his office window. That night we all went across the stage and Rae and I went home with a box of candy.

I went to Wisconsin with my dad in 1937 and graduated from high school in Walworth, Wisconsin, returning to Baker in 1940. Rae was being married and I took her job as Cashier

-447

 

at the M.D.U. Co. It was in 1946, while working at the Fitzsimmons General Hospital, an Army Hospital at Denver, Colorado, that I met my husband, Harold Woods, who was in the service.

After his discharge, we were married in April 1947. He served his apprenticeship to be a Mortician in Denver and one year of School of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee. Upon his graduation we returned to Denver. He received his license in the summer of 1950 and we have made Denver our home ever since. A daughter, Dixie, was born in February 1950 and son, Warren, in January 1954.

RAYMOND S. PRATT

I was born on March 17, 1902 at Lansing, Michigan to Samuel and Minnie Pratt.

In March of 1912, when I was nine years old, my mother, my sister, Minnie, and I boarded the train in Owosso, Michigan to come to Baker, Montana to join my father and my two brothers, Jack and Bill.

Jack was 18 years older than I and Bill was 16 years older. Jack had a homestead 2 1/2 miles southeast of Baker. Julius Bessert had a homestead adjoining Jack's, the houses being a quarter of a mile apart.

When we arrived we went by wagon to the homestead Some of us stayed at Jack's house and the rest of us staved with Julius. We stayed there about two weeks while they prepared to go south to farm section 13 near Willard.

I was very interested in how they had the machinery hooked up for traveling. First came the tractor, a 500-gallon tank of gasoline was hooked behind, the six bottom plow, then the cook car with a drill hooked on the back of that. The packers and harrow were put in a wagon along with other necessary equipment. This wagon was pulled by a team of horses. Back of this was another team and wagon loaded with groceries, bedding, tents and miscellaneous items.

There were no buildings on section 13. The cook car was used for cooking and eating. We slept in tents. Minnie and 1 helped Mother with the cook car chores. She and I hauled water from Anderson's Store about one and a third mile away. We could get five barrels of water in the wagon at a time.

Julius and I became very good friends. I spent a lot of time with him while he was running the tractor. I'd run along ahead and pick up agates, Indian Arrow Heads, and even an occasional buffalo skull. Julius would carry a 22 rifle, a frying pan and a little bacon on his rig. He'd shoot a young Jackrabbit and fry it in the skillet which was secured on the manifold of the tractor. When the rabbit was cooked we'd have lunch.

I attended grade school and high school in Baker. Over the years I played football, basketball, and baseball and went out for track.

My sister, Minnie, was killed in 1915 in an auto accident on Watertank Hill at Baker, and she has the distinction of being the first person killed in an auto accident in Fallon County. She and my parents are buried in the cemetery at Baker.

In the spring of 1921 my folks moved to Great Falls, Montana. I tried my hand at many different things including lumber mills in Oregon and Washington, the J. C. Penny Company in Great Falls. and as a National Park Ranger in Yellowstone Park where I met my wife. While I was on duty at Yellowstone Lake I stood guard over President Coolidge as he slept in the Lake Hotel. Ruth, my wife, worked during her college summers in the Yellowstone Park as a waitress in the lodge. All the employees were college students. She also played the flute and played in many symphony orchestras She played her flute on the program which was given at the lodge for President Coolidge's Party.

Ruth Montgomery Pratt was born and lived in Iowa. Her parents were the Reverend and Mrs. W. A. Montgomery. She was a graduate of Coe College of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

After the Yellowstone Park experience I had my own business which was roasting and blending coffee and selling it to restaurants and institutions. I then went with the Culligan Water Conditioning Company in Wausau, Wisconsin when it was a new business. I had my own franchise. In 1963 1 sold my franchise and went into retirement.

After retirement, Ruth and I did some volunteer work with the Navajo Indians at Chinle, Arizona.

Picture from Montana Historical Society, Helena. John Hen ry Price and horse, Jack; owner of the [Crown W1 Ranch near Knowlton, Montana.

[COLONEL] JOHN HENRY PRICE

John Henry Price came from England and was reputed to have been a descendant of a titled family. He was an English Professor out of the University of Oxford, England.

He owned a horse ranch under the brand (Crown W) near Knowlton, Montana. He was a bachelor and employed a male cook and many cowboys. His ranch was about three miles from the Dragseth Ranch and his cook used to buy butter from Mrs. Dragseth. On his ranch was a racetrack and many hunting hounds. There were always lots of people visiting him and some of them were titled people from England.

He sold horses to the United States Army for Cavalry Horses and the money was given to the British Government to supply a Hospital Ship during World War 1.

At one time Col. Price owned the old Hills house in Baker.

He never was a Colonel (must have been a nickname) and never became a United States Citizen. At the time of his death he was "broke" and living at the County Farm at Miles City, Montana.

LEWELLYN AND EVA A. OWEN PRICE

Lewellyn Price (known to his friends as Lew) was born January 7, 1869, near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a member of the family which settled at an early date in that community. His father, David Price, went to Wisconsin as a settler just after

-448-