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FALLON COUNTY

O’Fallon Flashbacks

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

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southeast where you could see the road. Sometime in the afternoon we spied that "Wonder" coming past Dry Fork and on over the hill toward home. It was so shiny and black! It had lanterns in front that burned kerosene and once later it ran on kerosene. There were side curtains with isenglass windows you could snap on when it rained. It had running boards with a tool chest fastened on the driver's side. There were doors that opened and closed. Joe Litturno used to come down the west hill with his car full of kids. His car didn't have doors and the steering wheel was on the right side. I used to wonder how all those kids kept from falling out. Trips to Plevna were a breeze. We whisked right over those nine miles if we got up enough speed to make Larson's hill (next to Ed Christman's now), otherwise we had to back down and take another run. If that didn't work Dad backed up the hill. Flat tires were a headache. Dad patched tubes and put in boots. Finally he sent for some "es-en-key" from a catalogue. You filled the tire with sausage-like sections of this (it looked like soap eraser). The car rode like a lumber wagon and it lasted for a while until it crumbled.

R. W. Rose and his horses.

About this time (1917-'19) Women's Lib, delicately dubbed Suffrage, began exercising its infant lungs. Jeannette Rankin was to speak somewhere on the other side of Cabin Creek. The trail over there wound by a high mud butte on the Bell place. The dried gumbo covering it looked like wrinkled old skin. When we reached Cabin Creek the Model T didn't cross like a horse and buggy. Searching for a way, Dad found a couple of planks that he laid across the water and drove over.

Miss Rankin was invited to speak at Rose Park. She came. She was the first woman ever elected to the United States Congress.

School gradually evolved a much different life. None were very close. Aunt Pauline took Josephine with her when she taught the Clark School. The next year (1919) Mother taught the Abelt School west of us. It started in February and during the cold weather she and Jo stayed with the Austin Wilsons. How I wanted to go, too. Mother promised me when it was nice in the spring I could. I did. The desks seated two pupils and my seat mate was Dorothy Wilson. She had an older sister, Bernice, and brother, Raymond. Riding home from the west in the buggy Mother usually sang as she clicked the reins on Old Dick. One lilting melody was "The Glad May Morn". It fitted the season with meadowlarks singing and the hills greening.

A new neighbor, the Olsons, moved on Dry Fork by our crossing. Their children and Earl Smith were in need of schooling. Mother decided to teach in our home ('19-'20). Our living room was converted.

It was decided that Mother would teach the 4th, 5th and 6th grades in Westmore while Dad worked on the section. Nora Fink taught the primary. Alice and I enjoyed and progressed under her tutelage. Although I best remember her teaching us a cute song about "Johnnycake". Westmore had a high school in those days.

In 1922-'23 Mother taught the Clark School. After Dad got us established in the basement of the schoolhouse, he returned to Wisconsin to learn how to wire houses under Uncle Blaine.

Mother's pupils were: Alvina Bohle, Mary Geving, Jack Steinbach, Valentine and Frances Shartz, Anthony Ferrie, Nellie Breen, Rosalia, Louise and Richard Straub, Bennie Geving, Aileen and Willie Breen, Josephine, Alice and 1.

Lots of social gatherings were held at the schoolhouse on Saturday nights. The whole community was very sociable and enjoyed being together.

By this time Glen Doering had married Aunt Pauline. They were living on the Gillette (Mickey Duffield's) place east of Baker. Alice and I went to stay with them in March. Aunt Pauline helped us finish our studies. Dad came back to get his family and in June we said good-by to Montana.

Each year we were gone, Montana beckoned and called to us. We came back in 1928 to live in Baker, except Josephine, who entered St. Agnes' School of Nursing in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Both money and jobs were scarce. That winter Dad worked for the LaCross Grocery, then did electrical work. In the '30's he succeeded Pat Crow as County Assessor for a couple of terms, always returning to electrical work when other jobs ran out. He again became Assessor in '54. James B. Harter, former Baker teacher, was his deputy.

Mother helped in her way. She was a "natural born" teacher and devoted to that profession.

Alice and I graduated from Baker High School following in Mother's footsteps we became teachers.

Although Josephine was an R. N., her skill in an office served her equally well when the need came. She married Curtis Lee Smith of Lincoln, Neb. They lived in New Mexico and Arizona for a time coming to Baker in '43. Curtis worked for the MDU. Their two children, Diana Lee and Robert C., really spent most of their childhood here.

Curtis L. Smith holding his daughter, Diana, son, Robert is i n the toy car.

Diana, her husband, Roland S. Gill of Basin, Mont., their three children, Roland, Carol Jo and Terrance now live in Baker.

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Robert married Lynda K. Bramlette of Fort Benton, Montana. They live in Dallas, Texas.

Alice sang her way through a brief life. She and John V. Starbuck of Valier, Mont. were wed in San Diego. Their daughter, Alice, her husband, Thomas Lynch, and children, John and Jennifer live in Long Beach, California.

Mercy Rose holding her granddaughter Alice Starbuck, daughter

of Alice Rose, 1942.

John Karch, the younger, cast his lot with me after he was discharged from the Army Air Force.

As a family the Roses never again lived on the Homestead. It was sold back to the Government. The beautiful years there are pleasant to remember.

Robert W. Rose holding his great grandson, R. C. Gill, son

of Diana Smith and Roland Gill.

FLORENCE McCOLLUM ROSE

I was raised and got my education at Springfield, South Dakota. In 1929 1 decided to see a bit of the world. Montana seemed far away then. I applied and was hired to teach the Wills Creek School in Cabin Creek Flats. My students were the children of Pete Pratt and John Perry and the small son of the Frank Bellis Family. I lived with the Frank Bellis Family.

My husband to be came through the country with fat lambs he was taking to market. He and his herder bedded the lambs in my school yard and they slept overnight in the school house. The next morning Earl Rose invited me to a Thanksgiving Dance at Plevna. Other dates followed and a year later we were married.

The night we were married was quite an amusing experience. Earl and I had our two witnesses with us. They were Freda Rose and Ralph Keener. We went to the Reverend Roy Phillipi's home in Baker. He was the minister for the Baker Community Church. There was a party going on at the parsonage so he said he'd go with us to the church. There we found the choir in practice so we went to the Court House across town. I remember the bright snow glittering in the moonlight and how the snow squeaked under our overshoes, because it was so cold.

We went first to the courtroom, but it was locked. Down the hall we went trying all the doors until, at last, we found one unlocked. There we had our simple ceremony in the County School Superintendent's office. She thought it was quite appropriate when I told her about it. Ruth Lyman took a real interest in her teachers and said she must have known her office would be needed and forgot to lock the door.

After a night in the Bridal Suite at the Baker Hotel we went out to the Rose ranch. The sheepherder wanted some time off, so our honeymoon was spent in the sheep wagon. .My Christmas vacation from school lasted ten days. We followed the sheep and cooked over an open fire at noon as the days were lovely and sunny.

I also taught in later years at Fred Fuch's school, at the Ludwig, Bechtold and Coal Springs schools near our home.

Earl and I and his parents, Ferd and Bertha Rose, raised food crops, sheep, stock cattle, Holstein milk cows and a string of saddle horses.

We had some good years but later drought, grasshoppers and the depression drove us out as it did many others, and Earl went into road construction work.

In 1941 we moved to Portland, Oregon where he worked in the shipyards. Later we lived at Silverton and Dallas, Oregon, where he worked as a welder. He retired in 1964.

In 1967 we spent six weeks in Baker, Montana. It was a dream come true for Earl Rose. He looked up old friends, visited relatives, traveled old trails, went to a rodeo at Ekalaka and a picnic at Medicine Rocks. It was a perfect visit for both of us. He died the following spring.

I now live on the Amargosa Desert near my son's home in a trailer house near Las Vegas, Nevada.

MR. AND MRS. CHRIST ROST

Christ Rost was born at Lexvig, Norway on December 12, 1862. He came to America in 1883 and settled at Muskegon, Michigan where he worked in a lumber camp. Several years later he moved to Clay County, Minnesota. On December 10, 1888, he married Anne Martha Dahl at Fargo, North Dakota. They made their home at Ulen, Minnesota where they farmed until 1908 when they moved to Montana and took up a homestead three and one half miles south of Ollie. He farmed there until 1920 when he moved to Ollie and served as janitor for the school for 25 years. He then retired to Baker. Christ and Anne Martha had six sons: Carl, Norman, Oliver, Alvin, Arnold and Elmer.

Christ was a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Ollie and a member of the Lutheran Church.

The Rosts celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1938 at the Odd Fellows Hall at Ollie. The tables were set for 125 guests, and ten years later (1948) they celebrated their Sixtieth Anniversary.

Both the Rosts are dead now but they left 28 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren at the time of Christ's death, 1957. Anne had died in 1955.

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Mr. and Mrs. Christ Rost on their Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary, 1948.

Golden Valley Oats-1918-Christ Rost Farm three miles south

of Ollie, Montana on the N. P. Branch out of Beach, North Dakota.

ARNOLD ROST

I was born on January 31, 1904 in Clay County, Minnesota. At the age of four years I came with my folks, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Rost, to Beach, North Dakota on the Northern Pacific train. From Beach we went to a homestead south of Ollie which was to be our home. We had to travel by team and wagon to get to our land. Our first night in Montana was spent at the Pete Hartse place which was one mile north of present day Carlyle. We went on to the homestead but since there was no house built there, as yet, we stayed with the Ed Wangs until the house was ready.

Our neighbors were; Ed Wang, John Tatley, Theo Roppe, Henry Smail, Carl Moen and Fred and Andrew Steen.

After we had lived on the farm for about four years my father, Ed Wang and Mr. Tatley built a telephone line using the fence for the line. Later we joined the regular telephone line when it was built.

At first we got our mail at Carlyle until Lee Greiner started a store and post office at Ollie. Before Mr. Greiner started his store we had to go by team and wagon to Beach or Baker for our supplies. When we did have to go that far for supplies we would get enough staples to last from six months to a year.

I went to grade school and high school at Ollie. After three years of high school at Ollie I went to Ulen, Minnesota where I graduated.

After I finished school I worked for the Ollie State Bank at Ollie until it closed in 1930. Then I went to Medora, North Dakota where I worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. I married Mary A. Metzger at Belfield, North Dakota on July 4, 1941. 1 went oa working for the railroad until 1945. After that I ran a grocery store for 1 1/2 years at Medora.

In 1948 Mary and I moved to Baker, where Mary is a beauty operator and I am in the painting profession.

I was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Ollie and attend the American Lutheran Church at Baker.

My wife and I have two sons; Roger Ronald and Robert Arnold.

MR. AND MRS. THEOPHIL RUFF

by Helen Krueg Ruff

My parents, John Krueg and Magdalena (Schaefer) Krueg were married on April 18, 1906 at their home in Odessa, South Russia and migrated to this country in April A that year. They were in the Artas, South Dakota area for about four years before coming to Montana and homesteaded about 8 miles south and west of Plevna. I was the fourth of seven children of whom only three of us lived to grow up, the others all died in infancy. In the year 1916, father bought land 10 miles south and 1 mile east of Plevna where they built a home and farmed. My mother was widowed after only 12 years of married life as my father passed away in the flu epidemic of 1918. Then mother had an auction sale and in the fall of 1919 moved to the town of Plevna with her three daughters, Magdalena (Mrs. Henry Hepperle), Helen (Mrs. Theophil Ruff) and Erna (Mrs. Karl Wenz).

My first three grades of school were completed at a country school 1 1/2 miles west of our farm. I was enrolled in the 4th grade at Plevna in the fall of 1919. There I continued my education until I graduated from high school in May 29, 1929. During the summer months, we three girls had to go to some relative or otherwise to help work. This work varied from baby sitting along with housework to milking cows by hand and helping in the harvest fields. Harvesting then was much more of a job than it is now when farmers own 12 to 24 ft. combines and big trucks and grain augers.

In the fall of 1929, 1 attended the then Miles City Business College taking a secretarial course, but by the time I completed this, jobs were very scarce as this was the beginning of what led into the depression when banks closed and business was poor. So I was again doing housework and spent some time cooking in the Holy Rosary Hospital at Miles City. On June 6, 1937 1 was married to Theophil Ruff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ruff of Mildred, Montana. We lived in that area, where he farmed, until the fall of 1939 when we leased my mother's farm south of Plevna. This we then bought through the estate after she passed away in 1947.

Our first child, a daughter, Vivian Alene was born to us on Sept. 23, 1941. She started her first grade at the country school known as the Ehret School. After completing the eighth grade, she entered the Baker School and completed one year of high school. Then the Plevna School District started a bus route past our place, so she went to high school there and graduated in 1959. After one year of college at Eastern Montana College, she was married on Oct. 1, 1960 to Arnold Pinnow, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pinnow, and they are now living on the Pinnow farm 10 miles southeast of Baker. They have 3 sons, Craig, Brian and Neal who are ages ten, six and two.

On April 20, 1946 God gave us twins, a boy and a girl. The boy, Lyle James, lived only a day. The girl, Evelyn Kay,

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attended 4 years at the Ehret School and then went to Plevna where she graduated from high school in 1964. She took a 12-month business course at the National School of Business in Rapid City, South Dakota. She was married on June 11, 1966 to Calvin James Huber, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christ Huber of Baker. They have two sons, Troy and Ricky ages five and four.

Mr. and Mrs. Theophil Ruff and their home south of Plevna.

Our youngest daughter, Janice was born on Feb. 11, 1950. She completed both grade and high school in Plevna. She was married on May 23, 1969 to Floyd Ehret, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Ehret of Plevna. They have one son, Jeremey age 1 year.

Mr. and Mrs. Theophil Ruff and daughters Vivian, Evelyn and Janice.

We have continued to live on this farm since we bought it Theophil raises Hereford cattle and does grain farming. Besides doing the home work, I have been employed as clerk at Morrows Ace Hardware in Baker since April of 1961 and still hold that position.

We have both been and still are active in the Emmanuel Congregational church of Plevna. I am a member of the Ladies Aid, taught Sunday School classes for more than 16 years, also some Bible school. Theophil taught some years of Sunday School classes, sang in the church choir, was church secretary many years, treasurer, trustee and now is one of the Deacons. This is a short history of our lives up to the present time.

VIRGINIA RUSHTON [OTOSKI]

I

was born to Phyll and Leonard Rushton at Baker, Montana on November 19, 1917. My father was not a stockman nor was he a homesteader. He was associated with the Baker National Bank while the family lived in Baker.

Virginia Rushton [Otoski].

As I was growing up I took piano lessons, skied, played golf, went on picnics, played tennis, took fishing trips and visited relatives when we went on vacations.

I acquired my grade school and high school education in Baker, after which I attended the University of Washington for one year.

After the family left Baker in 1937 and moved to Butte, Montana I was a sales girl at the J. C. Penny Company in that city.

I was married to Laddie Otoski on June 14, 1941 at Butte.

After our marriage we lived in Butte for a year. My husband worked for the Government and still does. We lived in San Francisco, California, Salt Lake City, Utah and then Berkley, California where our two oldest boys were born. From there we were sent to Los Alamos, New Mexico where my husband joined the A.E.C. Our daughter was born there. After three years there we went to Albuquerque, New Mexico where we've been ever since. Our two younger boys were born here.

We are members of the Catholic Church and have been active in church work, scouting, and bridge, and have also done much volunteer work. We have vacationed in Montana numerous times.

Mother and Delphine, my younger sister, moved in with us in 1962 and were here off and on until Delphine's death in 1971. Mother then lived with her sister, Lucille Pietsch, who once taught in Baker. Mother is living with us at the present.

Our eldest son is a career man with the Air Force, is stationed in Guam, is married and has two sons.

Richard is a doctor and is doing his residency in Dermatology at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He's married and has one son.

Carol is married and lives in Manhattan Beach, California. Her husband is in the Antique Business, and she is a hostess for the T.W.A. As a result of her being an Airline Hostess we have had many trips in the United States, Greece, Spain and Portugal in Europe. At present we are contemplating a trip to Guam and Hong Kong. We have been to Hawaii and would like to go to the Holy Land. We do "love" to travel.

David is a freshman at New Mexico State University and is interested in every sport, especially skiing.

Mike is a junior in high school. He plays football, golfs and skis.

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We own our home here and are most happy with New Mexico-a most interesting and beautiful state.

Mother taught piano lessons in Butte and after Dad died in 1948 she has been here with us. She is still alert and loves to play bridge. She keeps up with everything. She had a hard life as Delphine was ill so many years.

My sister, Jean, lives in Darby, Montana. Her husband's last name is Thomas.

John Rusley, High School Graduation, 1924

JOHN K. RUSLEY

My parents, Knute John Rusley and Albertina (Keehn) Rusley, were Iowa and Minnesota farmers. I was born at Downer, Minnesota in December 1904. When I was six years old my folks came to Baker, Montana on an emigrant train. They were looking for a better, drier climate than Minnesota had to offer. In April of 1910 they settled on a homestead twenty-eight miles southeast of Baker. Their neighbors were the C. B. Scoles family and the Ole Gunderson family.

House on Rusley Farm built in 1914

Although the winters here were cold they were not as cold as had been encountered in Minnesota, but it was harder to get to town, as the distance was longer and there were no roads and no bridges.

There was plenty of work for me to do on the farm. I was kept busy going to school, hoeing the garden and potatoes, milking the cows, feeding the hogs and calves and feeding the chickens. I had to help with the haying, the harvesting and the cleaning of the barns.

I started going to a country school and went there for four years, then the family moved to Baker where I finished grade school and graduated from the Baker High School in 1924.

John Rusley and Ice Boat, 1919

Margaret De Grande and I were married at Baker in 1933. Our sons are John Robert and Truman Gary Rusley.

During our active days we enjoyed going to the American Lutheran Church, dances, rodeos and branding bees, picnics and camping trips to the Long Pines, to box socials and school plays, card parties and ice skating. There were also the Fourth of July celebrations, which were held at different places, to attend.

Palmer Johnson and two Friends, 1922, Sunday Walk on the Railroad Tracks, I Wonder who Took the Picture?

I am retired now so can sit back and remember that some of the years the moisture was plentiful and then others were very dry. I was in Baker during the 1932 "price plunge", when the bottom fell out of everything.

MARTIN RUSSELL

Martin Leo Russell was born April 11, 1889 in Miller, South Dakota. In 1910 he came to Baker and homesteaded on a farm four miles south of Baker. A few years later he worked for William O'Loughlin in the local elevator.

On November 28, 1912, he was married to Miss Birdie Mary Severson in Miles City, Montana.

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Martin Russell, 1949

Birdie Russell, 1952

In 1916, Mr. Russell opened a furniture store in the back half of the building where the present Russell's Store is located. In 1923 he discontinued the furniture business, purchased the Joe Doull Clothing store and successfully operated Russell's Clothing Store. In 1933 he became a director of the Bank of Baker, later to be elected Vice-president in 1945 and President in 1950.

He was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Baker Commercial Club and a staunch supporter of every worthwhile movement. His precept was, "If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well." This applied to his business and to his family life and association with his fellowmen. He made the name Russell mean quality in every respect and he was a most generous and friendly man.

Eugene Russell, 1965

EUGENE RUSSELL

I was born in 1918 in Baker, in our family home which is still standing in the 300 block on South Second Street West. My parents were Martin Leo Russell and Birdie Severson Russell. I have an older sister, Maretta Russell (Rutelonis), and a younger brother, Richard. My father established Russell's Clothing Store in 1916, which is still located on Main Street in Baker.

Martin Russell Home on South Second Street West, Baker, Montana

Russell's Clothing Store in Baker, Montana as it looks today.

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Our family did everything together when we were small youngsters and one of the most enjoyable things I can remember before I started to school was that we went on picnics around Fallon County almost every Sunday. We also drove to the Black Hills, and camped out on the way down and then stayed in tents when we were in the Hills.

I attended the old Baker High School during the first two years of my elementary education, and then the Washington School was built, where classes were held for the first six grades. When we were all moved to the Washington School each one of us brought our play wagons, and we loaded our books and materials in them and had a caravan over to the other side of town. The next four years were spent at the Washington and then we attended the old High School for Junior High and our four years of high school.

The highlights for us when we were in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades, were the Operettas and I was privileged to be able to take one of the leading roles in these productions.

Carnivals were big events that took place when we were in high school. We had them every year and each student participated. "Spook Houses" the "Stage Show" with "Fish Ponds" and the Crowning of the Queen were ways we made money for the classes. I was kept busy three or four years in high school when I was Class President. I took an active part in the Music Department, playing trumpet in the band and singing in the Glee Club.

When I graduated in 1937, I was honored by having my name placed on the Honor Plaque. Twenty-six years later, my oldest daughter, Margo, was given that same honor, and her name was also placed on the Plaque.

After graduation from high school, I studied at the University of Montana and Kinman Business University, Spokane, Washington and graduated in Accounting. I spent several years working in various stores before joining the Army Air Force. Time was spent at Ft. Lewis, Washington; Fort George Wright, Spokane, Washington; Biggs Air Field, El Paso, Texas; Hempstead, Long Island, New York and Terceiras, Azores. In 1942, I married Miss Marjorie Guidinger of Spokane, Washington and after the war, we came back to live in Baker.

Eugene Russell Home on South Second Street West, 1972

I joined my father in the Russell's Clothing Store and am now the owner of the store. My father and mother have both

died and are buried in St. John's Cemetery at Baker. We have four daughters, Margo, Suzanne, Lynn Mary and Jane.

Eugene Russell Family on Margo's Wedding Day, Left to Right, Jane in front of Marge, Eugene, Margo, Suzanne and Lynn

Our family interests have been in Scouting, and I was Cub Master for many years. I have taken an active part in the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus. I have been a director of the Bank of Baker for 23 years and was one of the original group of men who organized Radio Station KFLN. I now serve as vice-president of the Empire Broadcasting Company.

KENNETH G. RUSTAD

Kenneth Rustad was born on a homestead one mile south of Ollie, Montana on March 3, 1916, the son of George and Lola Rustad. His father had filed on this land during the fall of 1907.

Kenneth has two brothers; Hubert born on the homestead, August 8, 1919 and Ralph was born at Beach, North Dakota, March 21, 1922. The three boys all attended the Ollie School and all graduated from the Ollie High School. Ralph attended Eastern Montana College at Billings and during his Army Service during World War 11 attended the University of Oregon and Stanford University at Palo Alto, California. Kenneth attended the University of Montana at Missoula and the Johnson School of Business at Billings.

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After finishing his education Kenneth was employed for a few years as a secretary and as a bookkeeper in the Billings area, but returned to farming and ranching and owns the Don Sutherland Ranch four miles southwest of Ollie. He is married to the former Ella Irene Mendenhall of Miles City, and they have two children, Mrs. Thelma Kay Witt, and Allen Duane, who is engaged in ranching with his father after having served in the U. S. Navy Air Force in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The Rustads operate a typical grain and livestock ranch, which is comprised of the homesteads and holdings of early day settlers, i. e., Don Sutherland, John Stromme, Andrew Stromme, Ray Sutton, Leo Wiltgen, Gilbert Rustad, Martin Rustad, and the land in the Ollie Community known as Goodsos "; which was a favorite picnic area many years ago.

Kenneth was elected Fallon County Commissioner in November 1954 and has just begun a fourth six year term, breaking a record in tenure in this office in Fallon County. He is Past President of the Montana Association of County Commissioners, Western Region District of the National Association of Counties, and serves as a Director on the NACO National Board. (1973)

He was the first President of the Eastern Montana Regional Mental Health Board, which serves 16 counties and has been on the State Advisory Board of the Bureau of Land Management, the U. S. Dept. of the Interior, and present (1973) serves as a Director on the Montana Council of Regional Mental Health Boards. He was also the first President of the Fallon-Carter Counties Grain Growers Association., an affiliate of the Montana Grain Grower Association.

Kenneth states he is fortunate to be living during an era which had moved from farming with horses to present day diesel tractor farming; from the day of threshing machines and cook cars to harvesting with self propelled combines; from the day of the horse and buggy and the Model T Ford to this day of luxurious automobiles and jet airplanes; surely the most exciting and adventurous time in the history of eastern Montana.

Proud moments in his life have been in the meeting of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Vice President Spiro Agnew, through his affiliation with the National Association of Counties, Washingi,an, D. C.

GEORGE RUSTAD

George Rustad was born at Dale, Minnesota on Sept. 11, 1883 where he went to school with boys who were later to be his neighbors on homesteads at Ollie, Montana. These boys were Fred and Andrew Steen. They came to Montana together and homesteaded during the fall of 1907, each filing on a quarter in the same section. Later on, George's sister, Mary, homesteaded on the remaining quarter, she doing the housekeeping and George doing the farming. It was quite an accomplishment to break nearly 300 acres of sod with a walking plow, which he did.

The nearest railroad town at that time was Beach, North Dakota, so this is where George and his neighbors hauled their grain with horses and wagons, and bought their supplies. By wagon trail, this was a distance of about 30 miles.

In 1915 the Northern Pacific Railway built a spur line from Beach through Golva and Carlyle to Ollie, where the town of Ollie was also beginning. It is said that Ollie once boasted a population of 500 people. It had three grocery stores, two lumber yards, a blacksmith shop, a bank, drugstore, hotel, opera house, livery stable, ice house, saloon and about all of the services essential to the community at the time.

George Rustad was married to Lola Opperman at Baker on April 7, 1915, and to them three sons were born; Kenneth (1916), Hubert (1918) and Ralph (1922).

There were good years, and bad years; about as many of one as of the other. The drought of 1919 was a disaster to many of the Ollie people, the farmers having borrowed heavily to buy feed for their cattle and suffering severe losses of livestock during the hard winter of 1919-20.

George was not one who escaped unscathed. It was a real struggle to support a family and somehow make ends meet. The stock market crash of 1929, bank failures and the drought years of the 1930's are painful memories to those of us who are sons of pioneers such as George Rustad. We are proud of these men who had the stamina to survive and eventually succeed. It seems that most of them became Democrats as only 10 Republican votes were cast in the Ollie precinct in 1932.

Some of George's neighbors were R. E. Morrison, Carl Rose, Fred Steen, Andrew Steen, Ed Wee, Ed Wang, Christ Rost, J. K. Tatley, E. C. Stark, Lee Greiner, John Sliper, P. E. Bryson, Don Sutherland, Andrew and John Stromme, A. A. Vincilette, Bert Robinson, Ray Sutton and Elmer Orton. There were many more as there was a farmer on just about every quarter section in the Ollie community.

In later years, three of George's brothers settled near Ollie. Emil settled just across the state line in North Dakota. Gilbert and Martin purchased land southwest of Ollie. Martin stayed a short time and went back to Minnesota. Gilbert and Emil "stuck it out". Gilbert died in March, 1944. George died in April, 1961 and is buried in Baker. Sons Kenneth and Ralph ranch near Ollie, and Hubert ranches near Livingston, Montana. All are married and have also raised families. George's wife, Lola, resides in Baker (1973).

Paddy Ryan at Miles City Roundup, 1925.

PADDY RYAN, WORLD'S CHAMPION RIDER

By Audrey Shields Herigstad

"Here he comes!" the grandstand crowd yelled as the chute gate swung open and the big, black horse came out bucking. On his back sat Paddy Ryan, the World's Champion Cowboy. It was at the Miles City Roundup in July, 1925.

Paddy was ready and waiting for every turn the horse made. His spurs moved back and forth as lightning. He held the bridle reins in his left hand and a flashing quirt in his right. It was a gallant ride by the first place winner in that event.

Other events followed, and Paddy Ryan easily won first in all of them. The small, slender cowboy had ridden, roped, and tied in all the important world wide rodeos in recent years. He first won the World's Champion title at Pendleton, Oregon and later in London, England. He was a native son of Montana, and learned his trade when he was growing up and working on ranches near Ismay.

Another gate swung open. The angry steer made a desperate dash for freedom. Paddy was on his trusty horse and waiting, his spurs gently touched his horse. His rope was twirled into a loop and quickly caught the steer. He jumped from the horse and tied the animal in nine seconds flat. Some record! Some man! First place winner in the bulldogging event!

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It could be that Paddy Ryan set a world record that year as he was awarded the Sweepstakes prize for placing first in all events. I am glad that I was one of the grandstand crowd that went wild with cheering, that day, so long ago.

NOTE: The above was written many years ago for an English assignment. The part about the sweepstakes prize may have been my imagination! But, I do know that he was one of the greatest cowboys!

Fred Schell Family; Caroline and Fred with children Arlene and Oscar.

MRS. FRED SCHELL

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heimbuch homesteaded at Harreid, South Dakota in 1902. They raised a few cattle, a little grain and horses. Their daughter, Caroline Christina, was born at Harreid on November 27, 1909.

As she was growing up Caroline went to school and helped with the work in the house and on the farm.

In 1934 at the age of 25 Caroline came to Plevna, Montana. On December 6, 1934 she and Fred Schell were married at Plevna. They lived seven and one-half miles west of Baker. They ran into some bad years. There was a shortage of moisture and the winters of 1935 and 1936 were very cold.

The Schells attended the Congregational Church at Plevna, enjoyed rodeos and other entertainment at the Fallon County Fair, church and school picnics and a few box socials at the Tonquin School. They usually celebrated the Fouth of Julys at Plevna.

Fred and Caroline had two children; Oscar and Arlene Schell Heimbuch.

MRS. JACOB SCHELL

My parents, Frederick and Barbara Heberle, were homesteaders in South Dakota in about 1902. They wanted to take up a homestead because they were poor and had to make their living the best way they could.

I, Emma Heberle, was born at Eureka, South Dakota on December 26, 1900. 1 grew up on the farm where my father raised cattle and wheat. I walked to a country school. 2 ½ miles, most of the time. Sometimes in the winter the snow was pretty deep. Once in a while when the snow was very deep we would go to school with horses and sled. It happened more than once that the sled tipped over and emptied us out in the snow.

In the summer time I had to help in the fields on the farm. We worked hard, but we had plenty of chances to do things for entertainment. Once in a while we went to a dance and we went to church every Sunday with a horse and buggy at first. There were fairs, picnics and box socials. The Fourth of July was a big event for us.

Emma Heberle [Schell] in her parent's home in South Dakota, 1918.

In 1923 1 married Jacob Schell at Mound City, South Dakota. We settled eight miles south of Plevna, Montana. We went through drought, erosion and hail. Some of the winters were open and some were bad. During the depression the price of wheat was very low and we had to haul the wheat eight to ten miles to town with horses and wagon.

Our neighbors were all farmers like we were. I am retired now, but I have lived on the farm all my life.

Jacob and I had four children and eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Our children's names are; Elizabeth Bertha, Lillian Freda, Melvin Frederick and Vernon Eldon.

HORACE SCHENCK

My grandmother, Ida M. Schenck, and my father, Harry J. Schenck, homesteaded south of Marmarth, North Dakota in 1909. Elsewhere in this book are photostatic copies of the patent and certificate of ownership which were sent to my grandmother after she had "proved up" on the land.

My mother, Louise Emerson Schenck, was the daughter of Charles H. Emerson and Mary Hunter Emerson of southeastern Montana. My grandfather Emerson, came to that vicinity and established a ranch on Fletcher Creek in 1880. My mother was born in that area on the Little Beaver Creek near Ekalaka.

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I was born in 1930 at the Hildreth House, the hospital at that time, in Baker, Montana.

I grew up and attended elementary and high school in Baker and then attended college in Bozeman for a time and then took a short course in agriculture.

Harry Schenck and children, Mary Hunter, Horace and Charlie, 1937.

While growing up in Baker we, my sister, Mary Hunter Schenck, my brother, Charles Schenck and I had many memorable experiences. We attended the Baker Community Church (Congregational) in Baker and many activities, such as church suppers, Christmas Programs, parties and picnics were centered around it. I remember many good times attending dances at Mill Iron, Willard, the Legion Hall in Baker, Ekalaka, Green Acres (old Wildwood) west of Baker and Ollie. There were rodeos at the Fallon County Fair, the Days of 85 at Ekalaka, bucking horse sales and rodeos at various places to be enjoyed each year. We had lots of picnics at the Medicine Rocks, the Hunter, V 0, A 0 and 1 0 1 ranches on Little Beaver Creek.

Louise Emerson Schenck and children, Horace, Mary Hunter and Charlie, 1933.

The Fourth of Julys were always spent in Baker, Ekalaka, Plevna or Miles City and of course we always had great fun. I can also remember going to barn dances, school parties, roller skating and even a few "beer busts." Ha!

Friends, 1935, left to right, Charles Hayes, Beulah Repplinger, Bobby Nelson, Louise Fulton, Margaret La Cross, Francis Hayes, Larry Busch, Grace Hamilton, John Phillippi, Mary Hunter Schenck and Horace Schenck.

When not in school I worked on farms and ranches around the country. Here are two interesting recollections of my life. One time when I was riding in the Medicine Rocks area a severe hailstorm hit. I rode for cover and the nearest shelter was a fairly good-sized hole in the base of one of the sandstone rocks, so I decided to crawl in and wait until the storm blew over. I had been in there about five minutes when I heard a buzz. I turned around to look and "lo and behold" found I was rooming with a rattlesnake. Needless to say, I left in a hurry.

1939, neighborhood circus, left to right, Charlie Schenck, Bobby Loveless, Horace Schenck, Mary Hunter Schenck, .Alleridith Robinson, Eva Jane Owen, Rosemary Pleissner, Norma Kay Schroth and Joan Loveless.

Another time during Christmas Vacation I had been helping Alex Hamilton, my uncle, with his sheep, as his son Tom was in the army. As I recall, it was the winter of 1946-1947. We were moving the sheep from the 101 Ranch to the home place at the Ao ranch. We got caught in the worst blizzard I ever saw and no place to go except some corrals and an old building on Martha Colbo's land in the

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